From steve at paradisebirding.com Thu Jan 1 08:27:07 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 08:27:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Santiam CBC Postponed to Saturday Message-ID: <9a341ea30901010827r2a6ab108t56115705ee8b1741@mail.gmail.com> Greetings Birders and Happy New Year, Due to severe avalanche danger and dangerous winds in the mountains, the Santiam Pass CBC has been postponed until this Saturday, 1/3. Hopefully this will give those Central Oregon birders who defected to the coast for the day a chance to redeem themselves by suppoting another of their local counts (yes, I realize that they coincidentally made the more advantageous decision -- that is, if they don't get buried in an avalanche -- but nonetheless ...). So, if you are interested in a lovely day of skiing, snowshoeing, or hiking in the high Cascades on Saturday (forecast is for 50% chance of snow showers and high of 28 deg, winds of 10 mph; partly sunny in Sisters), please consider joining us for the count. As usual, we will host the countdown at Suttle Lake Boathouse Restaurant, where they make a wicked Irish Coffee. Please email me or call 541-408-1753 to join the party! Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090101/faac588f/attachment.html From grantandstacy17 at gmail.com Thu Jan 1 09:01:08 2009 From: grantandstacy17 at gmail.com (Grant Canterbury) Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 09:01:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared-Doves in N Portland Message-ID: Yesterday (12/31) I saw a flock of seven Eurasian Collared-Doves by the top of the railroad cut near the University Park community center in North Portland. I've been waiting for them to show up here in the city since seeing them two or three years ago in eastern Oregon, and having heard reports coming in from the coast, Washington County, Sauvie Island... Have these been seen before by anyone within Portland city limits? Actually back in March I thought I had seen a pair, but on consideration they were suspiciously light-colored and turned out to be a couple of (more recently) escaped Ringed Turtle-Doves. This flock however was all Eurasian with darker undertail coverts. Prospectors from Sauvie Island? - Grant Canterbury -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090101/1da7613b/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Jan 1 09:08:19 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 09:08:19 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Fw: Emperor goose siteing Message-ID: <508136.6041.qm@web45313.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Gary Schaffer just sent this to me. Just in time for the Coquille Valley CBC! The location Gary describes is in the Bandon Harbor area where there is a Coast Gurard station just west of the Harbor (south jetty area). Tim --- On Thu, 1/1/09, Gary Shaffer wrote: > From: Gary Shaffer > Subject: Emperor goose siteing > To: "Tim Rodenkirk" > Date: Thursday, January 1, 2009, 12:42 AM > Tim If you think it is worthwhile would you post the goose > on OBOL. I can not access OBOL on my iPhone. It was also > seen by Howard Sands & Jeanine Felker of Medford. It > was last seen today floating downriver by the old coast > guard station. I took an Id picture. > Thanks-Gary Shaffer > > Sent from my iPhone From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Jan 1 09:20:52 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Thu, 01 Jan 2009 09:20:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Updated schedule/info for January CBCs Message-ID: <1230830452.3866.31.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, I've just caught up on the several CBCs that were rescheduled while I was gone for the Hart Mtn and Antone counts, so the schedule on Oregon Field Ornithologists' web page at: http://www.oregonbirds.org/2008-09_cbc.html is now up-to-date. This page gives dates and contact/organizational information, which has changed slightly in a few cases. Compilers & coordinators, I'd appreciate if you can check this information and let me know if I've missed anything. Happy birding in the New Year, Joel P.S. The remaining CBCs in Oregon are: Jan 1 Cowlitz-Columbia Santiam Pass Jan 2 Sauvie Island Jan 3 Airlie-Albany Coquille Valley Columbia Hills - Klickitat Valley Portland Silverton Tillamook Bay Umatilla County Yaquina Bay Jan 4 Eugene Jan 5 Upper Nestucca -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From manzed_99 at yahoo.com Thu Jan 1 09:25:46 2009 From: manzed_99 at yahoo.com (Dennis Manzer) Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 09:25:46 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Vaux's Swift documentary On the Wing to air on OPB Message-ID: <740120.49617.qm@web50410.mail.re2.yahoo.com> if (typeof YAHOO == "undefined") { var YAHOO = {}; } YAHOO.Shortcuts = YAHOO.Shortcuts || {}; YAHOO.Shortcuts.hasSensitiveText = false; YAHOO.Shortcuts.sensitivityType = []; YAHOO.Shortcuts.doUlt = false; YAHOO.Shortcuts.location = "us"; YAHOO.Shortcuts.document_id = 0; YAHOO.Shortcuts.document_type = ""; YAHOO.Shortcuts.document_title = "Vaux\u005c\u0027s Swifts movie On the Wing to air on OPB"; YAHOO.Shortcuts.document_publish_date = ""; YAHOO.Shortcuts.document_author = "manzed_99 at yahoo.com"; YAHOO.Shortcuts.document_url = ""; YAHOO.Shortcuts.document_tags = ""; YAHOO.Shortcuts.document_language = "english"; YAHOO.Shortcuts.annotationSet = { "lw_1230830510_0": { "text": "Happy New Year", "extended": 0, "startchar": 731, "endchar": 744, "start": 731, "end": 744, "extendedFrom": "", "predictedCategory": "MOVIE", "predictionProbability": "0.949056", "weight": 0.380734, "relScore": 1.43847, "type": ["shortcuts:/us/instance/other/movie/movie_name"], "category": ["MOVIE"], "wikiId": "Happy_New_Year_%28musical%29", "relatedWikiIds": [], "relatedEntities": [], "showOnClick": [], "context": "Happy New Year, OBOL! 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It\u0027s one", "metaData": { "visible": "true" } }, "lw_1230830510_3": { "text": "Oregon Public Broadcasting", "extended": 0, "startchar": 1895, "endchar": 1920, "start": 1895, "end": 1920, "extendedFrom": "", "predictedCategory": "MOVIE", "predictionProbability": "0.566536", "weight": 0.392529, "relScore": 8.43423, "type": ["shortcuts:/us/tag/other/wiki"], "category": ["WIKI"], "wikiId": "Oregon_Public_Broadcasting", "relatedWikiIds": [], "relatedEntities": [], "showOnClick": [], "context": "The movie is scheduled to air on OPB as follows: Oregon Public Broadcasting air dates: Wed. January 7, 2009 8 p.m. Fri. January", "metaData": { "visible": "true" } }, "lw_1230830510_4": { "text": "January 11", "extended": 0, "startchar": 2118, "endchar": 2127, "start": 2118, "end": 2127, "extendedFrom": "", "predictedCategory": "", "predictionProbability": "0", "weight": 0.189659, "relScore": 4.89533, "type": ["shortcuts:/us/tag/other/wiki"], "category": ["WIKI"], "wikiId": "January_11", "relatedWikiIds": [], "relatedEntities": [], "showOnClick": [], "context": "2009 8 p.m. Fri. January 9, 2009 2 a.m. Sun. January 11, 2009 1 p.m. check local listings for station information Watch", "metaData": { "visible": "false" } }, "lw_1230830510_5": { "text": "Beaverton, OR 97006", "extended": 0, "startchar": 2907, "endchar": 2925, "start": 2907, "end": 2925, "extendedFrom": "", "predictedCategory": "", "predictionProbability": "0", "weight": 0.20468, "relScore": 2.62518, "type": ["shortcuts:/us/instance/place/us/zip"], "category": ["PLACE"], "wikiId": "", "relatedWikiIds": [], "relatedEntities": [], "showOnClick": [], "context": "faces! Cheers! Dennis Yours for better birding! Dennis E. Manzer Beaverton, OR 97006 manzed_99 at yahoo.com", "metaData": { "geoArea": "31.3738", "geoCountry": "United States", "geoCounty": "Washington", "geoIsoCountryCode": "US", "geoLocation": "(-122.85907, 45.522221)", "geoName": "97006", "geoPlaceType": "Zip", "geoState": "Oregon", "geoStateCode": "OR", "geoTown": "Beaverton", "geoZip": "97006", "type": "shortcuts:/us/instance/place/us/zip", "visible": "false" } }, "lw_1230830510_6": { "text": "manzed_99 at yahoo.com", "extended": 0, "startchar": 3144, "endchar": 3162, "start": 3144, "end": 3162, "extendedFrom": "", "predictedCategory": "", "predictionProbability": "0", "weight": 1, "relScore": 0, "type": ["shortcuts:/us/instance/identifier/email_address"], "category": ["IDENTIFIER"], "wikiId": "", "relatedWikiIds": [], "relatedEntities": [], "showOnClick": [], "context": "Yours for better birding! Dennis E. Manzer Beaverton, OR 97006 manzed_99 at yahoo.com", "metaData": { "visible": "true" } } }; YAHOO.Shortcuts.headerID = "931a99af5026b65827860248ac77077a"; Happy New Year,?OBOL! ? ???? The movie On the Wing is a documentary about the Vaux's Swifts which stage at Portland's Chapman Elementary School each September prior to their annual fall migration.? It's one of the largest known roosting spots and is quite a sight to see in person. ? ???? The movie is scheduled to air on OPB as follows:? Oregon Public Broadcasting air dates: Wed. January 7, 2009 8 p.m. Fri. January 9, 2009 2 a.m. Sun. January 11, 2009 1 p.m. check local listings for station information ? ? Cheers! Dennis Yours for better birding! Dennis E. Manzer Beaverton, OR 97006 manzed_99 at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090101/e88c9127/attachment.html From manzed_99 at yahoo.com Thu Jan 1 09:37:27 2009 From: manzed_99 at yahoo.com (Dennis Manzer) Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 09:37:27 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Apology for "gibberish" Message-ID: <568125.28787.qm@web50412.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Happy New Year! ? ??? Please accept?my apology for the "gibberish" that went forth on my recent post for the OPB airing of On the Wing.? If you patiently scroll down to near the bottom the info appears correctly. ? Cheers! Dennis Yours for better birding! Dennis E. Manzer Beaverton, OR 97006 manzed_99 at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090101/90c7cb57/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Thu Jan 1 10:37:46 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Thu, 01 Jan 2009 11:37:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared-Doves in N Portland Message-ID: <20090101113746.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.14c54af62a.wbe@email.secureserver.net> I had an Eurasian collared-dove in Hollywood on September 11, 2007. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared-Doves in N Portland > From: "Grant Canterbury" > Date: Thu, January 01, 2009 9:01 am > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > Yesterday (12/31) I saw a flock of seven Eurasian Collared-Doves by the top > of the railroad cut near the University Park community center in North > Portland. I've been waiting for them to show up here in the city since > seeing them two or three years ago in eastern Oregon, and having heard > reports coming in from the coast, Washington County, Sauvie Island... Have > these been seen before by anyone within Portland city limits? Actually back > in March I thought I had seen a pair, but on consideration they were > suspiciously light-colored and turned out to be a couple of (more recently) > escaped Ringed Turtle-Doves. This flock however was all Eurasian with > darker undertail coverts. Prospectors from Sauvie Island? > - Grant Canterbury
_______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From greg at thebirdguide.com Thu Jan 1 10:49:00 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 10:49:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] No: WashCo Snow Owl, No Prairie Falcon Message-ID: <2CFE2E5A37FA41A9BB6E4ED60A6D0B56@GREG> I spent an hour 2 miles north of Cornelius yesterday without spotting any notable birds (or any birds other than juncos and soggy red-taileds. This morning I went to the junction of Glencoe and Zion Church roads at North Plains (6 miles NE of Cornelius) where the Snowy Owl was really reported from. I then drove all roads from Glencoe to Roy Rd between Zion Church and Hwy 26, looking for the owl and Stefan's Prairie Falcon from yesterday. I also watched for Rough-legged Hawks--quite rare in the Tualatin Valley. This area still has up to 3 inches of snow in some of the the fields and up to 7 inches of water across three different roads. It was raining hard and fog rose from off the snow limiting visibility to less than 1/2 mile. In about 12 miles of traveling farm fields I found 6 Red-tailed Hawks, 4 American Kestrels, 2 Bald Eagles, 1 California Gull, 2 Northern Flickers, and 1 Acorn Woodpecker flying across a field. Pretty typical for the area. The final noteworthy birds of 2008 have been added to the Washington County, Oregon, Bird Highlights: 2008 http://thebirdguide.com/washington/WashCo_2008.htm I've also updated the Annotated checklist of Washington County, Oregon http://thebirdguide.com/washington/washington%20birdlist.doc This document now has the current status of all birds of Washington County, Oregon, as well as individual records for those species with less than 10 records. Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Jan 1 12:26:28 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Thu, 01 Jan 2009 12:26:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Updated schedule/info for January CBCs In-Reply-To: <1230830452.3866.31.camel@localhost.localdomain> References: <1230830452.3866.31.camel@localhost.localdomain> Message-ID: <1230841588.3866.177.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello again, Sorry, I see that another CBC succumbed to this year's weather even as I was working on the schedule updates this morning: As Steve Shunk posted, the Santiam Pass is now scheduled for Saturday, January 3 due to avalanche hazard etc. (rather than today as my posting had stated). I've just updated the schedule on the OFO web page, once again. Like the numerous other CBC postponements so far, this one seems like a wise decision. Wil and I were keeping a leery eye on that snowpack as we came down the west side of Santiam Pass yesterday, knowing how much wet new snow has piled up on top of older snow. Happy & safe birding in the New Year, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Thu Jan 1 14:01:52 2009 From: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com (Jeff Fleischer) Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 14:01:52 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Fw: JV raptor run Message-ID: <807938.31311.qm@web50910.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message from Karen Cottrell from the Jordan VAlley area of SE Oregon --- On Thu, 1/1/09, Larry Cottrell wrote: > From: Larry Cottrell > Subject: JV raptor run > To: "Jeff Fleischer" > Date: Thursday, January 1, 2009, 1:15 PM > We did the Jordan Valley raptor run on12/29/08.It took 4 > hrs,154 mi., under pc/cloudy skies,temps 47-55 degrees and > winds 24 mph with gusts of 39 mph. There was snow on the > ground in the Arock and Jordan Valley areas. You can find > these areas on pages 92-93 Benchmark Maps. > RTHA- 5 > AMKE-2 > NOHA-8 > BAEA-I sub adult > GOEA-5 > RLHA-3 > Other birds seen on the route: > Horned Larks > Ravens > Canada Geese > Ringed neck Pheasant > Blackbirds moderate size flocks > Starlings again moderate size flocks > Assorted Passerines they didn't fly unless pushed, to > windy > Ducks flying unable to identify. > One interesting thing observed while we had snow on the > ground. Our resident Harriers hunted in our yard very close > to the house. They actually used the house as cover to sneak > in on the feeder. They would fly the creek bottom till they > were even with the house then come up and slip around to the > backyard. They were as close as 6 feet to the house. The > birds at the feeder would scatter, some under the motor > home, some to the Currant bush and the rest trying for the > hay stack.They were apparently successful at this ploy > although we did not see any successful hunts. > Karen > in true SE Or. > south of Burns Jct. > Malheur Co. From coffehound at gmail.com Thu Jan 1 15:14:19 2009 From: coffehound at gmail.com (Demian Ebert) Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 15:14:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Townsends Warblers and Slate-colored Junco in SE Portland Message-ID: Got back from walking the dog this afternoon and found 5 Townsend's warblers eating from my suet feeder. While watching them a slate-colored junco made an appearence. Two new yard birds on the first of the year. Maybe they'll stick around for the CBC. Demian Ebert SE Monroe St Milwaukie, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090101/aafa3dbd/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Thu Jan 1 16:32:51 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 19:32:51 -0500 Subject: [obol] Siletz Bay Little Blue Heron continues Message-ID: Saw the bird at about 10:30am today from the pullout just east of Gorton & Drift Creek. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ It?s the same Hotmail?. If by ?same? you mean up to 70% faster. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_broad1_122008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090101/3bb6c0b3/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Jan 1 17:04:48 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 01 Jan 2009 17:04:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] EMPEROR update Message-ID: The Emperor Goose is still at Bandon late afternoon, by the sewage plant. Also locally rare Common Goldeneye, 2 Eared Grebes. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com Information on Coquille Valley CBC: http://cvcbc.blogspot.com/ http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Thu Jan 1 17:25:52 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (Denise Hughes) Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 18:25:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ontario Raptor Route Message-ID: <000a01c96c79$0f18dca0$2d4a95e0$@net> I started off the new year with a day of birding. It was raining at home but by the time I got to the start of the route, there was a couple of inches of new snow on the ground. The entire route had 4 to 6 inches of snow on the ground. Red tailed Hawk - 48 American Kestrel - 33 Northern Harrier - 7 Bald Eagles - 4 (2 adult, 1st year, 1 3rd year) Rough legged Hawk - 2 Prairie Falcon - 2 Merlin - 1 Cooper's Hawk - 1 Sharp shinned Hawk - 1 Great Horned Owl - 1 Unidentified Buteo - 3 (most likely Red tails) Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090101/d26b0e42/attachment.html From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Thu Jan 1 17:33:10 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (dhughes55 at clearwire.net) Date: Fri, 02 Jan 2009 01:33:10 GMT Subject: [obol] Ontario Raptor Route Message-ID: <200901020133.n021XAcP030331@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Denise Hughes by http://birdnotes.net Date: January 1, 2009 Location: Malheur County, Oregon Low temperature: 26 degrees fahrenheit High temperature: 34 degrees fahrenheit Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 100% Precipitation: none This route starts at Ontario State Park and follows Hwy 201 and back roads to Farewell Bend State Park, back to west Ontario and the area southwest of Ontario. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 250 Tundra Swan 3 [1] Gadwall 35 American Wigeon 55 Mallard 50 Common Goldeneye 500 Ring-necked Pheasant 25 California Quail 100 Pied-billed Grebe 3 Great Blue Heron 2 Bald Eagle 4 Northern Harrier 7 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Cooper's Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 48 Rough-legged Hawk 2 American Kestrel 33 Merlin 1 Peregrine Falcon 2 American Coot 65 Ring-billed Gull 100 Rock Dove 70 Eurasian Collared-Dove 38 [2] Mourning Dove 65 Great Horned Owl 1 Northern Flicker 15 Black-billed Magpie 28 American Crow 10 Horned Lark 4 American Robin 35 European Starling 550 Cedar Waxwing 20 Song Sparrow 5 White-crowned Sparrow 75 Dark-eyed Junco 26 Red-winged Blackbird 25 Western Meadowlark 30 Brewer's Blackbird 10 House Finch 25 House Sparrow 100 Footnotes: [1] In a field off Annex Road with a large flock of Canada Geese [2] Seen between Ontario State Park and Hwy 95 Spur Total number of species seen: 40 From nepobirds at yahoo.com Thu Jan 1 18:23:14 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 18:23:14 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Help with ID: Unknown Hawk Message-ID: <937259.11624.qm@web46008.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> We just got back from Ridgefield NWR. It was a great birding day and we will send a list of birds in a short while. However, as we were leaving, we took a few photos of a hawk sitting in a field. He was not known to us on sight and now we are having a hard time IDing him. Can anyone help? Thanks. Photos are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nepobirds/3157650301/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/nepobirds/3158480348/ Seth Reams and Michelle King NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From celata at pacifier.com Thu Jan 1 18:21:48 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:21:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Unofficial Cottage Grove Christmas Bird Count - 1/1/2009 Message-ID: <495D7A3C.1000605@pacifier.com> I am in Cottage Grove for the next couple of days doing all that Christmas stuff I should have got out of the way last week, but for the snow. I Stayed within the boundaries of the Cottage Grove Christmas Count circle counting birds for about 4 hours at the most interesting spots in the circle. The best birds of the day were a very friendly NORTHERN PYGMY OWL, a couple WRENTITS and a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. 25 years ago, when the Cottage Grove count was still running a Red- Shouldered Hawk would have been a really good bird. If you spent any time today inside the Cottage Grove circle and would like to contribute a day list to the count, send it to me and I'll add it to the total. Temperature: 42 degrees Fahrenheit Wind direction: SW Prevailing wind speed: 12-19 km/h gusting to: 20-28 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 100% Precipitation: showers/intermittent rain Unofficial Cottage Grove Christmas Bird Count keeping inside the designated count circle. Dorena Lake, Cottage Grove Lake, Saginaw/ Delight Valley to the rest area on I-5 and Gowdyville. Hours by car: 3 Miles by car 52 Hours on foot 1 Hours by car 3 Birds seen (in taxonomic order): American Wigeon 96 Mallard 6 Green-Winged Teal 39 Ring-necked Duck 2 Lesser Scaup 1 Bufflehead 15 Hooded Merganser 6 Common Merganser 12 Pied-billed Grebe 25 Western Grebe 2 Double-crested Cormorant 30 Great Blue Heron 2 Cooper's Hawk 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 [1] Red-tailed Hawk 2 American Kestrel 3 Merlin 1 American Coot 15 Killdeer 9 Rock Dove 25 Mourning Dove 3 Northern Pygmy-Owl 1 Belted Kingfisher 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 7 Steller's Jay 3 Western Scrub-Jay 2 American Crow 273 Common Raven 4 Black-capped Chickadee 9 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 1 Bewick's Wren 1 Winter Wren 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet 20 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 7 Western Bluebird 9 [2] Hermit Thrush 1 American Robin 34 Wrentit 2 European Starling 4030 Yellow-rumped Warbler 12 Spotted Towhee 2 Fox Sparrow 19 Song Sparrow 25 Dark-eyed Junco 5 Brewer's Blackbird 25 Purple Finch 28 Pine Siskin 30 Footnotes: [1] Sears Rd near Saginaw overpass [2] Molitor Hill Total number of species seen: 51 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ From jbw at oregoncoast.com Thu Jan 1 18:45:17 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara & John Woodhouse) Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 18:45:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tillamook rain Message-ID: Anyone thinking of coming to the coast please watch the weather, we live just south of Tillamook out behind the Air Museum and we have had 4.8 inches of rain since 11pm last night and it is still raining hard here. Hopefully the flood waters will have gone down by saturday. Barbara & John Woodhouse Tillamook From celata at pacifier.com Thu Jan 1 18:57:02 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:57:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Northern Pygmy Owl photo Message-ID: <495D827E.9030004@pacifier.com> http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ From mariam at easystreet.net Thu Jan 1 19:10:25 2009 From: mariam at easystreet.net (Maria Michalczyk) Date: Thu, 01 Jan 2009 19:10:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Northern Pygmy Owl photo In-Reply-To: <495D827E.9030004@pacifier.com> Message-ID: Awesome picture of the NP owl. Maria > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ Lance L'Chien (Barkstrong) Inu Shu Cow (Snowball dog) From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Jan 1 19:36:10 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 03:36:10 +0000 Subject: [obol] Ten New Year's resolutions for birders posted to BirdFellow.com Message-ID: Greetings All, Today I posted a list of ten New Year's resolutions for birders to our blog at BirdFellow.com. Pay particular attention to #4, big years are not to be entered into lightly. Please use the "comments" link below the title to add your own birding resolutions to this list. Dave Irons _________________________________________________________________ It?s the same Hotmail?. If by ?same? you mean up to 70% faster. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_broad1_122008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090102/139f9b2d/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Jan 1 21:01:28 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 21:01:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coquille contexts Message-ID: <056b4a2c4bd54bdd8bb65fdb53b9f578@earthlink.net> If I were to chose a CBC as exemplary of western Oregon, Coquille Valley would surely be the one. Unlike other coastal counts, this one contains a meaningful amount of sunny, interior landscapes with vegetation typical of places much further inland. Rainfall at this part of the Oregon coast is substantially lower than points to the north, favoring Douglas-fir and Oregon White Oak over Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock. Accordingly, species usually missed on the Coos Bay CBC such as Western Bluebird and Scrub Jay are usually detected in the Coquille Valley. This is where two distinct mountain systems stare each other in the eyes. South of the Coquille River the Siskiyou- Klamath Mountain complex sticks out a ragged thumb. These metamorphic rocks are ancient by Oregon standards. They provide a highland continuum with the volcanic Cascades far to the east. The avian evidence of this arrangement is scant, but I recall Tim Rodenkirk reporting the interior sub-species of lodgepole pine within six miles of the Ocean in adjacent Curry County. Dave Fix has told me about the northern- most canyon live oaks in the Oregon Coast Range, along Highway 42. Though it's tempting to attribute these trees' occurrence to climate, I'd be curious to see exactly where they are growing. The chemistry of the metamorphic rocks is significantly different from the sedimentary deposits of the true Coast Range, whose southern limit is sharply defined by the Coquille River itself. Tyee Sandstone makes up most of the modest mountains that birders from Corvallis, Eugene, and Roseburg hasten through on their way to the beach. Just as interior and maritime plant communities come into intimate contact in this count circle, so do southern and northern. Madrone, chinkapin, and Oregon myrtle are all broadleaved evergreens that occur well to the north of this watershed, but along the Coquille River they are dominant aspects of the landscape. In the adjacent Coos watershed they are already diminished in number. When Alan Contreras gave me a fragment of topographic map showing the Norway Bottoms section of the count circle, the first thing I noticed was a tributary debouching at Johnson Pond with the romantic name of "Glen Aiken". In a phone conversation with my father yesterday I learned that the first, absolutely, positively first, soil survey in Oregon occurred here in the Coquille Valley. One would expect it to have been in populous Multnomah County, or Benton County where the state Ag school resides. But for some reason it was the Coquille Valley, about 1910, that first received the undivided attention of a soils scientist. This required some pioneering soil taxonomy, and one of the new soils described was named "Aiken". A red, clay soil of the uplands, derived from basalt parent material, almost every birder has seen it without knowing it. Thousands of acres of the Willamette and Umpqua Valleys are covered with it. Gradually smaller patches of it occur as far south as Red Bluff, California. The larger and richer state to our south began an accelerated series of soil surveys, adding soil temperature to standard attributes defining a given soil. Never mind that this is typically an imaginary characteristic as soil scientists doing field work seldom stick a thermometer in the holes they dig. The Aiken soils of Oregon are somewhat cooler than those of California, and the California surveys got published before the earlier Oregon surveys. In the name of nationwide consistency Oregon lost the name Aiken for its red hill soil despite hosting the type locality. The soils around Red Bluff bear the name to this day, while Oregon's head soil scientist, in ever tightening underwear, was forced to a second christening by spelling the original name backwards--"Nekia". I realize that this is completely off topic. But I am talking about a place of great biological and geological significance that the majority of Oregon's birders have no direct knowledge of. The revival of this count from its prolonged hiatus is a very good thing, and the large number of participants that Alan has attracted is most heartening. I am looking forward to a most excellent adventure in what happens to be the fiftieth anniversary of my father practicing soil science in Oregon. My guess is that the Coquille Valley was chosen for a soil survey due to the arrival of the railway.It came to Coos Bay in 1905, essentially the last corner of the continental US to be fully incorporated in the grasping web of capitalism. The railroad continued south in the following years until reaching a definitive terminus at Powers. Its arrival precipitated an irrational exuberance not seen again until the dotcom boom of the nineties. Not surprisingly, this bucolic landscape has acquired a post-industrial patina. Landslides not far from Eugene have closed the railroad forever. It had been relatively obsolete for decades. With luck it will revert to the public domain and be converted to a foot/bridle/ bicycle path like the one at the bottom of my hill here in the gloomy, snowbound north. Lars Norgren, Manning Oregon From roygerig at hotmail.com Thu Jan 1 21:40:40 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 21:40:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Dallas CBC Message-ID: We had a pretty nice day for the Dallas CBC on Tuesday, Dec. 30 after a couple weeks of cold and snow. Numbers of sparrows and finches were way down, and that may have had something to do with the fact that just a few miles south there was much less snow and cold. The birds may have moved further south. That is why they have wings. 14 birders counted 101 species, above average for the count. Worst misses were Eurasian Wigeon, Ring-billed Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Hutton's Vireo, Marsh Wren, Savannah Sparrow, and Lincoln's Sparrow. Best birds, or numbers, were 1 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, 5 MERLINS, 1 PRAIRIE FALCON, 1 PEREGRINE FALCON, 1 WHITE-TAILED KITE, 10 GREAT HORNED OWLS, 2 LONG-EARED OWLS, 1 LEWIS' WOODPECKER, 1 WRENTIT (In Dallas), 32 ACORN WOODPECKERS, 16 TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, 76 LESSER GOLDFINCHES. Some knucklehead also added 5 Lesser Plastic Flamingos, but I will ignore those. Count week bird: HERMIT THRUSH. We also had 91 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, a PILEATED WOODPECKER, only 1 PURPLE FINCH, only 6 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES (compared to 76 LESSERS), only 71 SONG SPARROWS, only 1 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, only 69 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, 46 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES (In Dallas, and as far as I know none have yet been seen in nearby Salem). Numbers of ducks and geese were low. Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Send e-mail faster without improving your typing skills. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_speed_122008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090101/19587f21/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Thu Jan 1 21:44:20 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 21:44:20 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR today Message-ID: <280303.74616.qm@web46009.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> First off, thanks to all who responded to our call for help IDing the raptor. It turns out that it was a Rufous Morph Red-Tailed Hawk. That was exciting news to us as we have never seen on of these before. Here is a list of all the birds that were seen or heard today (with positive IDs). Cackling Goose - 100+ Canada Goose - 1000+ Trumpeter Swan - 500+ (couldn't positively ID and Tundra) Gadwall - 8 American Wigeon - 14 Mallard - 100+ Cinnamon Teal - 12 Northern Shoveler - 60 Northern Pintail - 15 Green-Winged Teal - 15 Ring-Necked Duck - 8 Bufflehead - 7 Hooded Merganser - 12 Great Blue Heron - 20 Bald Eagle - 8 Northern Harrier - 6 Red-Tailed Hawk - 10 (plus the Red Morph) Rough-Legged Hawk - 1 American Kestrel - 4 Coot - 60 Killdeer - 1 Northern Flicker - 2 Scrub-Jay - 20 Crow - 10 Black-Capped Chickadee - 3 Red-Breasted Nuthatch - Heard Brown Creeper - 3 Bewick's Wren - 2 Winter Wren - Heard Robin - 12 Starling - 6 Spotted Towhee - 3 Fox Sparrow - 1 Song Sparrow - 8 Junco - 15 Red-Winged Blackbird - Heard Western Meadowlark - 2 Brewer's Blackbird - 50 Also, lots of unidentified Gulls and a few Hawks. A Great-Horned Owl was spotted by another party, just between markers 9 and 10. Seth Reams and Michelle King NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From cgates326 at gmail.com Thu Jan 1 21:46:09 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 21:46:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Prineville CBC Message-ID: The Prineville Christmas Bird Count went swimmingly. The weather was great. Counting our feeder watchers, we had 25 volunteers. We saw a total of 81 species. We did not set many records as the earlier cold weather seemed to clear out some species but a good time was had by all. HIGHLIGHTS: High Count Species: Merlin (9), Sora (2), Eurasian Collared-dove (77 the old record was 6), Western Bluebird (12), Harris's Sparrow (2), Tricolored Blackbird (57), Purple Finch (10), House Sparrow (1608) Unexpected Misses: Red Crossbill, Lincoln Sparrow, Pygmy Nuthatch, Pygmy Owl, American Coot Other cool birds: 7 Cackling Geese, 1 Eurasian Wigeon, 2 Ferruginous Hawks, 7 Prairie Falcons, 5 Virginia Rail, 1 Barn Owl (another freshly dead), Red-breasted Sapsucker, 1 Northern Shrike, 7 Varied Thrush, 1 American Pipit, 52 Lesser Goldfinch. Wild Kingdom Moment: 6 Bald Eagles descending on a lone, wounded Canada Goose on the ice at Ochoco Reservoir. Just outside the circle: David Schas and I found a Saw-whet Owl along the Crooked River and Nancy MacDonald had a Pygmy Owl at the Steins Pillar trailhead. Chuck Gates Powell Butte No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.2/1871 - Release Date: 1/1/2009 5:01 PM From sandyleapt at comcast.net Fri Jan 2 08:06:33 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:06:33 +0000 Subject: [obol] Strangely feathered Anna's Message-ID: <010220091606.9376.495E3B89000CE0FA000024A022058864429B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Hi Lee, I am so glad you posted this. Last year I asked whether or not immature male Anna's could change to their adult plumage without molting. The question sounded so silly, even to me, that it got no replies. I think the bird pictured is changing into adult plumage without actually molting. The picture you posted is of an immature male Anna's just like the ones I had in my garden the winters of 2006/2007 and 2007/2008. I would swear the the feathers slowly change color. It seems like the feathers develop a dark center and the color eventually suffuses the entire feather. I took a series of pictures of the young birds in my garden, I don't have one to watch and photograph as of yet this winter (2008/2009). I would love to know if the phenomenon has been documented somewhere. Thanks Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: "Lee and Lori Cain" <4cains at charter.net> > Evan took this shot of a male Anna's Hummingbird at our feeder yesterday. The > feathers around the bill are really weird (and kinda gross!). I would be very > interested to hear what you hummer experts out there think is going on with this > bird. http://thesprucelog.blogspot.com/ > > Lee Cain > Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: "Lee and Lori Cain" <4cains at charter.net> Subject: [obol] Strangely feathered Anna's Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 02:18:43 +0000 Size: 2169 Url: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090102/218fe7d8/attachment.mht From celata at pacifier.com Fri Jan 2 08:33:23 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 02 Jan 2009 08:33:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Snowy Owl Message-ID: <495E41D3.7070908@pacifier.com> My sister Robin reports that she and a friend saw a SNOWY OWL on November 1 near Sylvan (west of Portland). This is presumably the same bird that is now being report west of there near Hillsboro. So, it would seem the bird has been present for some time. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ From jvanmoo at sisna.com Fri Jan 2 09:18:30 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 09:18:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Klamath Falls Jan. 1, 2009 Message-ID: <6947C285-AE2C-43F8-AC62-4C9E2EE0A4E5@sisna.com> Marilyn Christian, Kevin Spencer and I birded a few hours on New Year's Day to get a good start on the year. Highlights included: a falcon hat trick--AMERICAN KESTREL, MERLIN, PRAIRIE FALCON; COOPER'S HAWK (3), MOUNTAIN QUAIL (3), CALIFORNIA TOWHEE. Also, before we met for birding: Marilyn had ACORN WOODPECKER, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, AND PYGMY NUTHATCH at her house; I had DOWNY WOODPECKER and STELLER'S JAY at my house--we didn't see any of these yard birds on our trip. List below in taxonomic order: Pied-billed Grebe Black-crowned Night Heron Great Blue Heron Great Egret Canada Goose Mallard Northern Shoveler Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Barrow's Goldeneye Common Goldeneye Bufflehead Common Merganser Hooded Merganser Ruddy Duck Bald Eagle Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Merlin Prairie Falcon California Quail Mountain Quail American coot Ring-billed Gull California Gull Herring Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Northern Flicker Western Scrub Jay Black-billed Magpie Common Raven Mountain Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Townsend's Solitaire American Robin European Starling California Towhee Lincoln's Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco House Finch Pine Siskin American Goldfinch Lesser Goldfinch House Sparrow Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From celata at pacifier.com Fri Jan 2 09:36:30 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 02 Jan 2009 09:36:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Strangely feathered Anna's In-Reply-To: <010220091651.23323.495E4614000867BF00005B1B22064244139B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> References: <010220091651.23323.495E4614000867BF00005B1B22064244139B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Message-ID: <495E509E.80009@pacifier.com> Bill Hilton renowned east-coast hummingbird expert suggests that this is a trick of the light. The white fringes around the dark centers give the illusion that the feather have a droplet shape. http://www.hiltonpond.org/images/RTHUHYMGorgetDetail01.jpg This was my very first impression, too, though I also entertained a more complicated surface tension/water accumulation hypothesis as well. There are, to my knowledge, no comensal flower mites in temperate North America. Gorget molt in Anna's Hummingbird (according to the BNA) takes 10-15 days. It happens fast. sandyleapt at comcast.net wrote: > Hi Lee, > > I just went back and reviewed my pictures. May I send you a few? > > Sandy Leaptrott > NE Portland > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > From: "Lee and Lori Cain" <4cains at charter.net> >> Interesting idea, Sandy. I really don't know yet, but you may be right -- >> it makes sense. I have also updated the blog to include another >> possiblility. >> Lee >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: >> To: "Lee and Lori Cain" <4cains at charter.net>; "OBOL" >> >> Sent: Friday, January 02, 2009 8:06 AM >> Subject: Re: [obol] Strangely feathered Anna's >> >> >>> Hi Lee, >>> >>> I am so glad you posted this. Last year I asked whether or not immature >>> male Anna's could change to their adult plumage without molting. The >>> question sounded so silly, even to me, that it got no replies. I think >>> the bird pictured is changing into adult plumage without actually molting. >>> The picture you posted is of an immature male Anna's just like the ones I >>> had in my garden the winters of 2006/2007 and 2007/2008. I would swear >>> the the feathers slowly change color. It seems like the feathers develop >>> a dark center and the color eventually suffuses the entire feather. >>> >>> I took a series of pictures of the young birds in my garden, I don't have >>> one to watch and photograph as of yet this winter (2008/2009). I would >>> love to know if the phenomenon has been documented somewhere. >>> >>> Thanks >>> >>> Sandy Leaptrott >>> NE Portland >>> -------------- Original message ---------------------- >>> From: "Lee and Lori Cain" <4cains at charter.net> >>>> Evan took this shot of a male Anna's Hummingbird at our feeder yesterday. >>>> The >>>> feathers around the bill are really weird (and kinda gross!). I would be >>>> very >>>> interested to hear what you hummer experts out there think is going on >>>> with this >>>> bird. http://thesprucelog.blogspot.com/ >>>> >>>> Lee Cain >>>> Astoria, Or >>> >>> >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> >> >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com >> Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.2/1872 - Release Date: 1/2/2009 >> 1:10 PM >> > > > -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ From tanager at nu-world.com Fri Jan 2 11:05:37 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 11:05:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Invasives in Eugene Message-ID: <000d01c96d0d$1962d640$4c2882c0$@com> OBOL- This morning while eating breakfast- Dan & I uttered a simultaneous moan- A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE flew out of the neighbor's cedar tree. Yesterday the 3 EUCD were at the Madsen tree farm on Clear Lake Rd. Anne Heyerly Barely one mile north of Skinner's Butte in Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090102/46144c28/attachment.html From dan-gleason at comcast.net Fri Jan 2 11:37:47 2009 From: dan-gleason at comcast.net (Dan Gleason) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 11:37:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] feather color In-Reply-To: <010220091606.9376.495E3B89000CE0FA000024A022058864429B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> References: <010220091606.9376.495E3B89000CE0FA000024A022058864429B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Message-ID: Sandy, The feathers of all birds are composed of a keratin matrix, similar to (but of different composition than) the scales on reptiles or the claws and nails of mammals. This is non-living material and once a feather is fully formed, it cannot change color by infusion of pigment into the feather. The incorporation of pigment into a feather occurs while the feather is forming as a feather bud in the follicle at the base of an existing feather. Deposition of pigment is under tight genetic control. Once the feather erupts through the outer layer of the dermis, blood begins to withdraw from the exposed portion. By the time the protective sheath breaks away and the feather unfurls, it is no longer living and all color is now fixed within the protein matrix. Feather wear can cause pigment within the matrix to become more exposed and give the impression that a bird has changed its plumage. For example, the shiny breeding plumage of a European Starling is the result of feather wear. This could be interpreted as "changing to adult plumage without molting" since the change is apparent but the actual molt comes later in the season after breeding. (But changing from immature to adult, always is the result of a molt, even in the starling.) In White-winged Crossbills, the plumage seems to change from pink to red but no change of pigment actually occurs. The red pigment is found in the shaft and barbs of the feathers and the barbules lack this pigment and appear white. The red color, filtered through the white, results in pink. As the barbules wear away, the underlying pigment becomes more exposed and the bird looks redder. Red Crossbills have the same feather wear but the barbules are also red in this species so it is red at all times no color change is apparent as the feathers age. A few species of birds (mostly tropical in dense forests) have feathers colored by pigments known as porphyrins. Porphyrins quickly fade when exposed to light. (Which is why birds with porphyrins in the body feathers live in dense, dimly lit regions.) The pinkish down on the belly of some bustards will fade to gray in 15-20 minutes if the outer feathers are spread apart, allowing sunlight to reach this down. The only other way to change feather color is by staining the outside. The belly of grebes sometimes turns brownish during the nesting season as it is stained by decaying vegetation within the nest. In the gorget of hummingbirds, the red iridescence is caused by the microstructure of the feather. The structure and alignment of the very specialized feather barbs causes specific wavelengths of light to be reflected back. As the angle changes, the feather looks black. Feather coloration is an interesting topic but much more complex than my very brief description here. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Jan 2, 2009, at 8:06 AM, sandyleapt at comcast.net wrote: > Hi Lee, > > I am so glad you posted this. Last year I asked whether or not > immature male Anna's could change to their adult plumage without > molting. The question sounded so silly, even to me, that it got no > replies. I think the bird pictured is changing into adult plumage > without actually molting. The picture you posted is of an immature > male Anna's just like the ones I had in my garden the winters of > 2006/2007 and 2007/2008. I would swear the the feathers slowly > change color. It seems like the feathers develop a dark center and > the color eventually suffuses the entire feather. > > I took a series of pictures of the young birds in my garden, I > don't have one to watch and photograph as of yet this winter > (2008/2009). I would love to know if the phenomenon has been > documented somewhere. > > Thanks > > Sandy Leaptrott > NE Portland > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > From: "Lee and Lori Cain" <4cains at charter.net> >> Evan took this shot of a male Anna's Hummingbird at our feeder >> yesterday. The >> feathers around the bill are really weird (and kinda gross!). I >> would be very >> interested to hear what you hummer experts out there think is >> going on with this >> bird. http://thesprucelog.blogspot.com/ >> >> Lee Cain >> Astoria, Or > > > > From: "Lee and Lori Cain" <4cains at charter.net> > Date: December 31, 2008 6:18:43 PM PST > To: "OBOL" > Subject: [obol] Strangely feathered Anna's > > > Evan took this shot of a male Anna's Hummingbird at our feeder > yesterday. The feathers around the bill are really weird (and kinda > gross!). I would be very interested to hear what you hummer experts > out there think is going on with this bird. http:// > thesprucelog.blogspot.com/ > > Lee Cain > Astoria, Or > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090102/b114afaa/attachment.html From dan-gleason at comcast.net Fri Jan 2 12:13:56 2009 From: dan-gleason at comcast.net (Dan Gleason) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 12:13:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Strangely feathered Anna's In-Reply-To: <495E509E.80009@pacifier.com> References: <010220091651.23323.495E4614000867BF00005B1B22064244139B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> <495E509E.80009@pacifier.com> Message-ID: While most hummingbird mites are tropical, at least one species in known in North America. I don't know its full range but it occurs in species of paintbrush found along portions of the California coast and is transported between flowers by Anna's, Allen's and Rufous Hummingbirds. Many years ago, I saw a photo of a Rufous Hummingbird from southern Oregon with what appeared to be mites on its bill. It had been feeding on a paintbrush flower when the photo was taken. At that time, I was not yet aware of hummingbird mites and did not consider that the mites could have originated in the flower. That was much too long ago now for me to recall details that would adequately explain this photo or if hummingbird mites were even a possibility. For those who may not know, hummingbird mites are small mites found within the blossoms of some flowers (nearly all tropical). Their entire life is spent in these flowers but they are too small to move from flower to flower by themselves. As the flower is beginning to shrivel, the mites await the arrival of a foraging hummingbird. When the bird feeds on the flowers nectar, the mites climb onto the beak and quickly crawl up and into the bird's nostrils. When the hummingbird feeds on another flower of the same species, the mites quickly leave the nostril, rush down the beak and into the safety of their preferred flower. Presumably, there is some chemical signal that tells them they have arrived at the right species of flower. The hummingbird appears to not be adversely affected. It is simply the transportation system for these tiny hitchhikers. More than 100 species of these mites are known but only one is known from North America. There is still much that we do not know about these creatures and it is suspected that more species probably exist than we now know. Dan Gleason Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Jan 2, 2009, at 9:36 AM, Mike Patterson wrote: > Bill Hilton renowned east-coast hummingbird expert suggests > that this is a trick of the light. The white fringes around > the dark centers give the illusion that the feather have a > droplet shape. > > http://www.hiltonpond.org/images/RTHUHYMGorgetDetail01.jpg > > This was my very first impression, too, though I also entertained > a more complicated surface tension/water accumulation hypothesis > as well. There are, to my knowledge, no comensal flower mites in > temperate North America. > > Gorget molt in Anna's Hummingbird (according to the BNA) takes > 10-15 days. It happens fast. > > > sandyleapt at comcast.net wrote: >> Hi Lee, >> >> I just went back and reviewed my pictures. May I send you a few? >> >> Sandy Leaptrott >> NE Portland >> -------------- Original message ---------------------- >> From: "Lee and Lori Cain" <4cains at charter.net> >>> Interesting idea, Sandy. I really don't know yet, but you may >>> be right -- >>> it makes sense. I have also updated the blog to include another >>> possiblility. >>> Lee >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: >>> To: "Lee and Lori Cain" <4cains at charter.net>; "OBOL" >>> >>> Sent: Friday, January 02, 2009 8:06 AM >>> Subject: Re: [obol] Strangely feathered Anna's >>> >>> >>>> Hi Lee, >>>> >>>> I am so glad you posted this. Last year I asked whether or not >>>> immature >>>> male Anna's could change to their adult plumage without >>>> molting. The >>>> question sounded so silly, even to me, that it got no replies. >>>> I think >>>> the bird pictured is changing into adult plumage without >>>> actually molting. >>>> The picture you posted is of an immature male Anna's just like >>>> the ones I >>>> had in my garden the winters of 2006/2007 and 2007/2008. I >>>> would swear >>>> the the feathers slowly change color. It seems like the >>>> feathers develop >>>> a dark center and the color eventually suffuses the entire feather. >>>> >>>> I took a series of pictures of the young birds in my garden, I >>>> don't have >>>> one to watch and photograph as of yet this winter (2008/2009). >>>> I would >>>> love to know if the phenomenon has been documented somewhere. >>>> >>>> Thanks >>>> >>>> Sandy Leaptrott >>>> NE Portland >>>> -------------- Original message ---------------------- >>>> From: "Lee and Lori Cain" <4cains at charter.net> >>>>> Evan took this shot of a male Anna's Hummingbird at our feeder >>>>> yesterday. >>>>> The >>>>> feathers around the bill are really weird (and kinda gross!). I >>>>> would be >>>>> very >>>>> interested to hear what you hummer experts out there think is >>>>> going on >>>>> with this >>>>> bird. http://thesprucelog.blogspot.com/ >>>>> >>>>> Lee Cain >>>>> Astoria, Or >>>> >>>> >>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> ------------ >>> >>> >>> >>> No virus found in this incoming message. >>> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com >>> Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.2/1872 - Release Date: >>> 1/2/2009 >>> 1:10 PM >>> >> >> >> > > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090102/8ca2188e/attachment.html From sparsons at canby.com Fri Jan 2 13:21:56 2009 From: sparsons at canby.com (sparsons at canby.com) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 13:21:56 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Jackson County Rambling Message-ID: <545481537c827d900e6c5317523b6557.squirrel@mail.web-ster.com> We came down from Canby to visit family, and I managed to squeeze in a little birding. At Denman, there was a Northern Mockingbird and a Loggerhead Shrike. At the VA Domacilary there was a Eurasian Widgeon. Mixed flocks of Canada and Greater White Fronted Geese in fields north of Eagle Point, plus a few Tundra Swan. A nice day to be out... From cncschneider at msn.com Fri Jan 2 15:02:33 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 15:02:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Green Heron Oregon Garden, Marion County Message-ID: Hi Birders, My sister and I watched a GREEN HERON, at the Oregon Garden, swallow a five inch long Common Carp (koi). I was surprised that a bird that small could swallow a fish that big. Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090102/af3397bf/attachment.html From cncschneider at msn.com Fri Jan 2 15:02:33 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 15:02:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Green Heron Oregon Garden, Marion County Message-ID: Hi Birders, My sister and I watched a GREEN HERON, at the Oregon Garden, swallow a five inch long Common Carp (koi). I was surprised that a bird that small could swallow a fish that big. Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090102/8484e216/attachment.html From cncschneider at msn.com Fri Jan 2 15:05:54 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 15:05:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Green Heron Oregon Garden, Marion County Message-ID: Hi Birders, My sister and I watched a GREEN HERON, at the Oregon Garden, swallow a five inch long Common Carp (koi). I was surprised that a bird that small could swallow a fish that big. Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090102/3c2d2534/attachment.html From kirkpat at charter.net Fri Jan 2 15:18:43 2009 From: kirkpat at charter.net (Douglas Kirkpatrick) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 15:18:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Baldie in Medford In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <841AAE7C2A67467C97EB10648C5A4510@D7CDFN81> Yesterday we spied a nice mature Bald Eagle soaring over southeast Medford. It's rare to see them away from the Rogue River and/or mountains, except in winter. Doug Kirkpatrick -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090102/b9a50c20/attachment.html From brrobb at comcast.net Fri Jan 2 15:43:31 2009 From: brrobb at comcast.net (Roger & Betty Robb) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 15:43:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Black-headed Grosbeak Message-ID: <43F3A97DCF03456A9B7D17360D61BA6C@RROffice> A feeder counter in my Eugene Christmas Count area called yesterday to report a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. I observed the bird this morning. Are there any Lane County records for wintering Black-headed Grosbeak? Oregon records? Roger Robb Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090102/36b45121/attachment.html From baybirders at embarqmail.com Fri Jan 2 15:51:22 2009 From: baybirders at embarqmail.com (Carol Cwiklinski & Steve Small) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 18:51:22 -0500 (EST) Subject: [obol] Tillamook CBC a" GO" Message-ID: <1247250997.1750801230940282868.JavaMail.root@md09.embarq.synacor.com> Hello, The roads are much better today as flood waters are receeding. The Tillamook Bay CBC is still scheduled for tomorrow Saturday Jan 3. We will meet at the Fern restaurant at 7:00 AM . If the Fern is once again inaccessible because of water, Plan B is to meet at the new Safeway. The new Safeway is located 1-2 blocks west of Hwy 101 north, on Third street. We will meet by the east entrance. Hope to see you there. Carol Cwiklinski 503-842-4661 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090102/79593084/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Fri Jan 2 16:46:14 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:46:14 +0000 Subject: [obol] Strangely feathered Anna's Message-ID: <010320090046.19470.495EB556000650B700004C0E22135285739B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Thanks Dan, I grow a lot of fuchsias in my garden. I noticed some fuchsia mite galls on one of my potted fuchsias when I brought it out of the garage and back to my unheated greenhouse this week. I know from my gardening contacts that these mites are spread by hummingbirds, so I've got mites and hummingbirds. I don't think that's what's going on the with hummingbird I took pictures of last winter. Thank you for the description of how feathers color. I sent a few pictures of the 2007/2008 hummingbird to Lee and Mike. If you would like to see the pictures I'm happy to send them to you. Looking at the pictures you can see how I might come up with my silly idea, even if it is incorrect. I love watching and learning about birds. Thanks again and let me know if you would like to see the pictures. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Dan Gleason > While most hummingbird mites are tropical, at least one species in > known in North America. I don't know its full range but it occurs in > species of paintbrush found along portions of the California coast > and is transported between flowers by Anna's, Allen's and Rufous > Hummingbirds. Many years ago, I saw a photo of a Rufous Hummingbird > from southern Oregon with what appeared to be mites on its bill. It > had been feeding on a paintbrush flower when the photo was taken. At > that time, I was not yet aware of hummingbird mites and did not > consider that the mites could have originated in the flower. That was > much too long ago now for me to recall details that would adequately > explain this photo or if hummingbird mites were even a possibility. > > For those who may not know, hummingbird mites are small mites found > within the blossoms of some flowers (nearly all tropical). Their > entire life is spent in these flowers but they are too small to move > from flower to flower by themselves. As the flower is beginning to > shrivel, the mites await the arrival of a foraging hummingbird. When > the bird feeds on the flowers nectar, the mites climb onto the beak > and quickly crawl up and into the bird's nostrils. When the > hummingbird feeds on another flower of the same species, the mites > quickly leave the nostril, rush down the beak and into the safety of > their preferred flower. Presumably, there is some chemical signal > that tells them they have arrived at the right species of flower. The > hummingbird appears to not be adversely affected. It is simply the > transportation system for these tiny hitchhikers. > > More than 100 species of these mites are known but only one is known > from North America. There is still much that we do not know about > these creatures and it is suspected that more species probably exist > than we now know. > > Dan Gleason > > Dan Gleason > ------------- > Dan Gleason > dan-gleason at comcast.net > 541 345-0450 > > > On Jan 2, 2009, at 9:36 AM, Mike Patterson wrote: > > > Bill Hilton renowned east-coast hummingbird expert suggests > > that this is a trick of the light. The white fringes around > > the dark centers give the illusion that the feather have a > > droplet shape. > > > > http://www.hiltonpond.org/images/RTHUHYMGorgetDetail01.jpg > > > > This was my very first impression, too, though I also entertained > > a more complicated surface tension/water accumulation hypothesis > > as well. There are, to my knowledge, no comensal flower mites in > > temperate North America. > > > > Gorget molt in Anna's Hummingbird (according to the BNA) takes > > 10-15 days. It happens fast. > > > > > > sandyleapt at comcast.net wrote: > >> Hi Lee, > >> > >> I just went back and reviewed my pictures. May I send you a few? > >> > >> Sandy Leaptrott > >> NE Portland > >> -------------- Original message ---------------------- > >> From: "Lee and Lori Cain" <4cains at charter.net> > >>> Interesting idea, Sandy. I really don't know yet, but you may > >>> be right -- > >>> it makes sense. I have also updated the blog to include another > >>> possiblility. > >>> Lee > >>> > >>> ----- Original Message ----- > >>> From: > >>> To: "Lee and Lori Cain" <4cains at charter.net>; "OBOL" > >>> > >>> Sent: Friday, January 02, 2009 8:06 AM > >>> Subject: Re: [obol] Strangely feathered Anna's > >>> > >>> > >>>> Hi Lee, > >>>> > >>>> I am so glad you posted this. Last year I asked whether or not > >>>> immature > >>>> male Anna's could change to their adult plumage without > >>>> molting. The > >>>> question sounded so silly, even to me, that it got no replies. > >>>> I think > >>>> the bird pictured is changing into adult plumage without > >>>> actually molting. > >>>> The picture you posted is of an immature male Anna's just like > >>>> the ones I > >>>> had in my garden the winters of 2006/2007 and 2007/2008. I > >>>> would swear > >>>> the the feathers slowly change color. It seems like the > >>>> feathers develop > >>>> a dark center and the color eventually suffuses the entire feather. > >>>> > >>>> I took a series of pictures of the young birds in my garden, I > >>>> don't have > >>>> one to watch and photograph as of yet this winter (2008/2009). > >>>> I would > >>>> love to know if the phenomenon has been documented somewhere. > >>>> > >>>> Thanks > >>>> > >>>> Sandy Leaptrott > >>>> NE Portland > >>>> -------------- Original message ---------------------- > >>>> From: "Lee and Lori Cain" <4cains at charter.net> > >>>>> Evan took this shot of a male Anna's Hummingbird at our feeder > >>>>> yesterday. > >>>>> The > >>>>> feathers around the bill are really weird (and kinda gross!). I > >>>>> would be > >>>>> very > >>>>> interested to hear what you hummer experts out there think is > >>>>> going on > >>>>> with this > >>>>> bird. http://thesprucelog.blogspot.com/ > >>>>> > >>>>> Lee Cain > >>>>> Astoria, Or > >>>> > >>>> > >>> > >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------- > >>> ------------ > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> No virus found in this incoming message. > >>> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com > >>> Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.2/1872 - Release Date: > >>> 1/2/2009 > >>> 1:10 PM > >>> > >> > >> > >> > > > > > > -- > > Mike Patterson > > Astoria, OR > > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: Dan Gleason Subject: Re: [obol] Strangely feathered Anna's Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 20:14:40 +0000 Size: 25682 Url: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090103/65a95962/attachment.mht From donalbri at teleport.com Fri Jan 2 16:48:43 2009 From: donalbri at teleport.com (Don Albright) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 16:48:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Upper Nestucca CBC CANCELLED Message-ID: Hi All, The Upper Nestucca CBC, which was originally scheduled for December 15, and then rescheduled to Monday, January 5, has been cancelled. Almost the entire count circle is still inaccessible due to snow on the ground, as well as heavy treefall in many areas, and probably some flood damage as well. Don Albright Newberg, Oregon donalbri at teleport.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090102/c082b759/attachment.html From kit at uoregon.edu Fri Jan 2 16:59:46 2009 From: kit at uoregon.edu (Kit Larsen) Date: Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:59:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene TV Message-ID: <200901030059.n030xp4n031383@smtp.uoregon.edu> This afternoon (Saturday, Jan 2), between rain showers, I found a few birds in the old dump area of Alton Baker Park, Eugene: 2 Turkey Vulture 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Peregrine Falcon 8 Golden-crowned Sparrow 5 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Fox Sparrow 1 Savannah Sparrow Kit Larsen Eugene From dan-gleason at comcast.net Fri Jan 2 20:01:28 2009 From: dan-gleason at comcast.net (Dan Gleason) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 20:01:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Black-headed Grosbeak In-Reply-To: <43F3A97DCF03456A9B7D17360D61BA6C@RROffice> References: <43F3A97DCF03456A9B7D17360D61BA6C@RROffice> Message-ID: <48968145-0CFF-4D9A-A669-86EFCDB6D655@comcast.net> Photos of the grosbeak were taken by Becky Uhler and can be viewed on flickr at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10388448 at N06/sets/72157611634090165/ Anyone care to comment about age? The stripes in the head seem less prominent than on first year males and the appearance seems closer to photos I have seen on winter plumage in adult males. I have not seen adults in the winter so I have no personal experience to go by. Anyone who has access to Birds of North America OnLine might wish to compare Becky's photos with the BNA photos of first winter male and adult winter male. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Jan 2, 2009, at 3:43 PM, Roger & Betty Robb wrote: > A feeder counter in my Eugene Christmas Count area called yesterday > to report a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. I observed the bird this > morning. Are there any Lane County records for wintering Black- > headed Grosbeak? Oregon records? > > Roger Robb > Springfield, OR > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090102/94debe4e/attachment.html From fitzbeew at gmail.com Fri Jan 2 20:07:07 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 20:07:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Possible Red Fox Sparrow in Eugene Message-ID: Obol, My parents' house is playing host to an odd-looking Fox Sparrow which I think is a Red Fox Sparrow. I posted some poor-quality, yet I believe diagnostic, photos at my photo site: http://picasaweb.google.com/fitzbeew/Birds# Any comments are welcome. Dan and Anne Heyerly have my parents' house in their Eugene CBC area for Sunday so they are going to try to see it on Sunday. If others want to try to see it, e-mail me and I can arrange that with my parents; they are very bird- and birder-friendly. Good birding, -Holly Reinhard Eugene, Oregon fitzbeew at gmail.com (this is my new e-mail address) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090102/d67c8e22/attachment.html From brrobb at comcast.net Fri Jan 2 21:02:08 2009 From: brrobb at comcast.net (Roger & Betty Robb) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 21:02:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Black-headed Grosbeak Message-ID: <75335257270A44B380E42F1B28B2EE22@RROffice> Hi Dan, I think this is a first winter male. An adult wouldn't show white in the supercillium and would have a very bold upper wingbar. Roger Robb Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090102/224c1f38/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Fri Jan 2 21:11:26 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 21:11:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Black-headed Grosbeak In-Reply-To: <48968145-0CFF-4D9A-A669-86EFCDB6D655@comcast.net> Message-ID: Few have seen this bird in winter, but this looks like an ad male to me, which shows the largest white patch at the base of the primaries. It will be interesting to see a plumage change if it stays. Larry _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Dan Gleason Sent: Friday, January 02, 2009 8:01 PM To: Roger & Betty Robb Cc: obol Subject: Re: [obol] Black-headed Grosbeak Photos of the grosbeak were taken by Becky Uhler and can be viewed on flickr at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10388448 at N06/sets/72157611634090165/ Anyone care to comment about age? The stripes in the head seem less prominent than on first year males and the appearance seems closer to photos I have seen on winter plumage in adult males. I have not seen adults in the winter so I have no personal experience to go by. Anyone who has access to Birds of North America OnLine might wish to compare Becky's photos with the BNA photos of first winter male and adult winter male. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Jan 2, 2009, at 3:43 PM, Roger & Betty Robb wrote: A feeder counter in my Eugene Christmas Count area called yesterday to report a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. I observed the bird this morning. Are there any Lane County records for wintering Black-headed Grosbeak? Oregon records? Roger Robb Springfield, OR _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090102/64b8da6e/attachment.html From campbell at peak.org Fri Jan 2 22:26:18 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 22:26:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pyrrhuloxia 2009, other area birds Message-ID: <079ACC0DE3574DA1936D360F94E9EADB@maryPC> The PYRRHULOXIA survived the cold snap and appears hale and hearty for the new year. Today it spent some time in our back yard, but it seems to head for deeper cover during bad weather. Yesterday, a windy day, it was in the protected area north of the house with the big oak tree. Nobody, as far as I know, has seen the Palm Warbler since December 22. The BLACK PHOEBE was on top of the church this morning. Yesterday, the first, I found a bright ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER in our back yard. A PRAIRIE FALCON flew over town today. I found a SWAMP SPARROW at Snag Boat Bend on Tuesday, the 30th. Right now the area is inaccessible due to flooding. (I was in my kayak when I found it.) Some of you, I think, have seen our back yard and might be marginally interested in what happens here when the water rises. Near flood stage we loose all of the lower yard, and about half of our property becomes a bay. Then we can count on having PIED-BILLED GREBES--often five or six--in our yard. I think they dive to pick worms out of the grass. The past four days we've had a female COMMON MERGANSER patrolling the shallow areas with her face under water and her crest pointing straight up, as if she were snorkeling. For the past two days a GREAT BLUE HERON has occupied a choice spot where the current flows in from the main channel, right past its legs. We've seen it chug down five or six fish. BELTED KINGFISHERS sometimes sit in the willows over the still water, and we always have at least one SPOTTED SANDPIPER bobbing along the water's edge. Of course, fantastically rare birds appear here all the time, but usually no one is around to see them. Randy Peoria -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090102/1502945f/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Jan 2 22:54:01 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 06:54:01 +0000 Subject: [obol] Possible Red Fox Sparrow in Eugene In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Holly, Despite the quality of the images, this looks to be a Red Fox Sparrow of the iliaca/zaboria ilk. It shows a very strong pattern to the face, lots of gray on the nape and upper back, and the wings are very reddish. Great find. Hopefully, it will stick around for the count and perhaps Anne or someone else can procure some better pictures. Dave Irons Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 20:07:07 -0800 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Possible Red Fox Sparrow in Eugene Obol, My parents' house is playing host to an odd-looking Fox Sparrow which I think is a Red Fox Sparrow. I posted some poor-quality, yet I believe diagnostic, photos at my photo site: http://picasaweb.google.com/fitzbeew/Birds# Any comments are welcome. Dan and Anne Heyerly have my parents' house in their Eugene CBC area for Sunday so they are going to try to see it on Sunday. If others want to try to see it, e-mail me and I can arrange that with my parents; they are very bird- and birder-friendly. Good birding, -Holly Reinhard Eugene, Oregon fitzbeew at gmail.com (this is my new e-mail address) _________________________________________________________________ Life on your PC is safer, easier, and more enjoyable with Windows Vista?. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/127032870/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090103/7f67daea/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Jan 2 23:56:51 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 07:56:51 +0000 Subject: [obol] Eugene TV In-Reply-To: <200901030059.n030xp4n031383@smtp.uoregon.edu> References: <200901030059.n030xp4n031383@smtp.uoregon.edu> Message-ID: I'm not sure how many Turkey Vultures are around Eugene this winter, but there must be a few. Last Monday I saw two off Gimpl Hill Rd. near the intersection with Sanford Rd and this morning I saw two more east of Fir Butte Rd. near the Amazon Canal and I also saw one more (can't remember the location) in recent days. Dave Irons > Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 16:59:46 -0800 > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > From: kit at uoregon.edu > Subject: [obol] Eugene TV > > > This afternoon (Saturday, Jan 2), between rain showers, I found a few > birds in the old dump area of Alton Baker Park, Eugene: > > 2 Turkey Vulture > 1 Red-shouldered Hawk > 1 Peregrine Falcon > > 8 Golden-crowned Sparrow > 5 Lincoln's Sparrow > 1 Fox Sparrow > 1 Savannah Sparrow > > Kit Larsen > Eugene > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ It?s the same Hotmail?. If by ?same? you mean up to 70% faster. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_broad1_122008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090103/966153dc/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sat Jan 3 08:03:14 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 03 Jan 2009 08:03:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene TV Message-ID: <495F8C42.9000104@pacifier.com> I spent the morning at the Delta Ponds and points North around the Airport, coming back through Fern Ridge. I saw a Turkey Vulture at Coyote Butte and one near the cemetery on W 11th. There were also several 100 CACKLING GEESE in the field across the street from the cemetery and at least 20 GREATER YELLOWLEGS in the puddles off Beltline. WHITE-TAILED KITE also at Coyote Butte, but nothing the cracker- jack counters of the Eugene CBC aren't likely to find. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ From dpvroman at budget.net Sat Jan 3 09:07:05 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 09:07:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Black-headed Grosbeak References: <43F3A97DCF03456A9B7D17360D61BA6C@RROffice> <48968145-0CFF-4D9A-A669-86EFCDB6D655@comcast.net> Message-ID: <878B158E8F8F4EE59D7AEC0F6F28C203@Warbler> This appears to be a "first winter" male to me (fledged in 2008; it became a Second Year bird Jan. 1). There is very little streaking in the breast and belly, females should show a little streaking at least. Also, note that some of the greater coverts (next to the tertials) have been replaced with black, white edges feathers. The remainder are brown and have not been replace. These black feathers should not occur on a female. The amount of white showing at the base of the primary flight feathers is more than a female should show. The bird has what I refer to as a "baby face" of a fledgling yet (the whites are really white). My thoughts, Dennis Subject: Re: [obol] Black-headed Grosbeak Photos of the grosbeak were taken by Becky Uhler and can be viewed on flickr at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10388448 at N06/sets/72157611634090165/ Anyone care to comment about age? The stripes in the head seem less prominent than on first year males and the appearance seems closer to photos I have seen on winter plumage in adult males. I have not seen adults in the winter so I have no personal experience to go by. Anyone who has access to Birds of North America OnLine might wish to compare Becky's photos with the BNA photos of first winter male and adult winter male. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Jan 2, 2009, at 3:43 PM, Roger & Betty Robb wrote: A feeder counter in my Eugene Christmas Count area called yesterday to report a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. I observed the bird this morning. Are there any Lane County records for wintering Black-headed Grosbeak? Oregon records? Roger Robb Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090103/f7faabb7/attachment.html From tanager at nu-world.com Sat Jan 3 12:08:09 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 12:08:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene "RED" FOX SPARROW Message-ID: <000b01c96ddf$000dd190$002974b0$@com> Saturday January 3, 2009 At approximately 10:30am today I successfully shot a series of photographs of the red Fox Sparrow visiting the back yard of Holly Reinhard's parents. I used the Canon that Anne typically uses, so you can expect fairly good quality images. They look pretty good on the small screen anyway. I have an appointment soon, so I will not be able to upload the photos to Anne's Picasa website today, but she will be here this evening after 7pm so look for a link posted to OBOL sometime after 7pm. This must be the year of the Red Fox Sparrow! It is quite a stunner! As Holly noted in her post to OBOL last evening, please contact her for arrangements to see this bird. She is in Coquille today helping out with that south coast CBC, so it likely would be folly to attempt to reach her for arrangements today. The bird has not been visible from the street and it would not be cool to enter their private yard without permission. THANKS HOLLY. GREAT FIND!!! Dan Heyerly Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090103/45a26725/attachment.html From pointers at pacifier.com Sat Jan 3 12:16:45 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Sat, 03 Jan 2009 12:16:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Swainson's there for CBC !!! In-Reply-To: <000b01c96ddf$000dd190$002974b0$@com> References: <000b01c96ddf$000dd190$002974b0$@com> Message-ID: <20090103201640.D85156A4F2@smtp2.pacifier.net> hi group ... the Swainson's Hawk was sitting in one of his favorite trees just waiting for us to show up to count him in the CBC ... he no doubt was enjoying the sunshine too !!!!!! http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Images09Jan/shillapoo_swainsons_hawk_01-02-09.jpg enjoy, Lyn Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From tom-escue at comcast.net Sat Jan 3 14:08:19 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 14:08:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] bald eagle Message-ID: <368DB72C89D049E683BAC5562BD8DB34@TomsPC> I saw a high flying BALD EAGLE near Jasper road and Dondea St in Springfield today. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090103/40714d4f/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sat Jan 3 16:53:36 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 19:53:36 -0500 Subject: [obol] Hillsboro birds (Washington Co) Message-ID: The wigeon flock at Amberglen Park south of The Streets of Tanasbourne contained a drake Eurasian x American Wigeon. There was not a single Thayer's Gull in the gull flock. A single pair of Wood Ducks continues at the Hillsboro Library ponds off Brookwood. A male Ruddy Duck was new for me for this location. At Jackson Bottom off Wood St, there were a surprising 12 SNOW GEESE and 79 Canvasback. No swans. 10 Eurasian Collared-Doves are still at 30939 Unger Rd about 5mi south of Hillsboro on 219. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ It?s the same Hotmail?. If by ?same? you mean up to 70% faster. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_broad1_122008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090103/85b36a37/attachment.html From pppahooie at comcast.net Sat Jan 3 16:57:48 2009 From: pppahooie at comcast.net (pppahooie at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:57:48 +0000 Subject: [obol] Preliminary Results - Sauvie Island CBC - OR side only Message-ID: <010420090057.25710.4960098C0001F2920000646E22070216330A070101080E9F9F9F@comcast.net> Friday January 2, 2009 Waking to find some new snow and ice on the ground, a small number of counters (9) set out to cover the Oregon side of the Sauvie Island CBC. We counted 89 species. Some notable finds were 1 Long-eared Owl, 26 Eurasian Collared Doves, 7 Red-throated Loons, 10 Western Grebes, 2 Red-shouldered Hawks and a flock of 4,500 Snow Geese. Reports are still coming in. Count week and feeder watch reports are welcomed. Look for the Ridgefield results - I know I'm eagerly awaiting them! K.Bachman -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090104/d4234809/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sat Jan 3 17:26:19 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 17:26:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] East Linn County Black Phoebe Message-ID: Instead of going to Tillamook today, I nursed a cold by the fire in the morning and took a nice walk in the afternoon to the old mill ponds at Griggs, between Lebanon and Crabtree, Linn County. There was a Black Phoebe working the edge of the main pond by the shops. There were also good numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers, mostly Myrtle, and the usual ducks and geese. There was a nice flock of 22 Western Meadowlarks in the grass field north of Snow Peak Road, west of Bond Road, where there were also a half-dozen Western Bluebirds. There were Acorn Woodpeckers at their usual locations, the oaks at the Nelson Farm, and at Griggs at the Lennox place. At our feeder, there is a White-throated Sparrow along with the Golden-crowned Sparrows, Juncos, Chestnut-backed and Black-capped Chickadees. The Brown Creepers were singing in the oaks out back. A very pleasant afternoon for a walk, and a good start to birding my home circle. Cheers, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090103/ae504088/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sat Jan 3 17:49:43 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 03 Jan 2009 17:49:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] More Pygmy Owl photos Message-ID: <496015B7.4050104@pacifier.com> I took over 20 shots of the Pygmy Owl I found at Dorena the other day. I uploaded the best of those to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/sets/72157612129657242/ For those who might be interested... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ From rfadney at hotmail.com Sat Jan 3 20:06:33 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 20:06:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Seven Mile lane Falcon Message-ID: While out shooting raptor pics today, my wife and I ran onto a Falcon that I am having trouble identifying. Here is a link to view the pictures, and below that is a link to the location of the bird. Photo link: http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/fatrichie/Falcon/ Map link: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=117899333720741961609.00045c600e8f1fbac421b&ll=44.433167,-123.022821&spn=0.004589,0.009656&t=h&z=17 We also were lucky enough to see three male harriers and seven female harriers all on Waggener Rd. in Linn County. As I was shooting pics of two of the females I got out of the van and nearly stepped on a male that was sitting like a statue near the ditch. He startled me so bad that I didn't even get one shot of him! Others we saw today were; 1000 plus Starlings in one field 5 Bald eagles (1 Juvenile 4 adults) 20 Kestrals 2 Rough Leg Hawks 8 Red Tail Hawks 2 Coopers Hawks Several unidentified hawks (probably Juvie Red Tails) A beautiful day for birding to be sure! Rich Adney _________________________________________________________________ Send e-mail faster without improving your typing skills. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_speed_122008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090103/e1aff581/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Jan 3 20:13:53 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:13:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coquille Valley CBC preliminary results Message-ID: A mostly sunny day in the Bandon-Coquille area allowed teams to enjoy the day. Preliminary species total is 148, with one or two more possible, including a possible Snow Bunting reported on count day. Highlight species included Emperor Goose, White-breasted Nuthatch, Barred Owl, Prairie Falcon, Common Yellowthroat, Say's Phoebe and Sandhill Crane. There were no really bad misses, although the ocean was almost empty all day except for murres. The most surprising misses were Green Heron, Sora, Glaucous Gull, Cedar Waxwing. Count week birds include kittiwake and Lesser Yellowlegs, both of which were in the area the previous day. Many record highs were set. Details in a few days. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com Information on Coquille Valley CBC: http://cvcbc.blogspot.com/ http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From tanager at nu-world.com Sat Jan 3 20:21:54 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 20:21:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene "Red" Fox Sparrow photos Message-ID: <001201c96e23$f9b72590$ed2570b0$@com> Obolinks, The private link below will take you to a special album Anne set up on Picasa that contains five photos I took of this beauty earlier Saturday morning (January 3, 2009) in the back yard of Holly Reinhard's parents, Dave and Cheri. The photos are diagnostic narrowing it to either the iliaca or zaboria subspecies of Fox Sparrow (Passarella iliaca). If anyone wants to hazard a guess as to which one it is . . . http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/obpC8GuTstRnZ_DEu0AvTQ?authkey=dZNDK1Ge WfE &feat=directlink As noted earlier today, and also yesterday by Holly, if you want to see this bird you need to know that it is coming to a feeder in her parent's back yard. It cannot be seen from the street. Contact Holly for access. Holly's e-mail address is "fitzbeew AT gmail.com" without the quotes and the AT is a placeholder for @. I will vouch for the friendliness of her parents and also the bird friendly back yard. Thanks Holly, Dave, and Cheri. Good Luck and good birding. Dan Heyerly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090103/6f062b8f/attachment.html From tanager at nu-world.com Sat Jan 3 20:27:30 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 20:27:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] "Red" Fox Sparrow link correction Message-ID: <001701c96e24$c1c12b30$45438190$@com> http://picasaweb.google.com/aheyerly/RedFoxSparrow?authkey=dZNDK1GeWfE &feat=directlink Try this link to the "Red" Fox Sparrow album on Picasa. Sorry. Dan Heyerly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090103/2a8ff069/attachment.html From campbell at peak.org Sat Jan 3 21:35:09 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 21:35:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pyrrhuloxia Information Update Message-ID: The Pyrrhuloxia was in our backyard, again, today. When I restricted access to our yard, I was under the impression that it had changed its favorite scratching grounds to places easily seen from Main Street. Since the weather has improved, it seems to be spending more time behind our house. Myself, I have a heart as hard as an industrial diamond, and about the same size, so I don't much care if people can't burnish their 2009 lists with this bird. Mary, though, feels bad if people come so far and then end up peering in vain toward our backyard. So, if you are hunting for this bird and can't find it along Main Street, you are welcome to take as long a look at our backyard as you want from north of our house. From there you can see all of our usual feeding areas, and our neighbor's, too, and I won't have to worry about finding people gazing hopefully up toward our bathroom windows and... Our house is 29756 Main Street, in Peoria. It's a little blue-gray job where Stark Street meets Main, beside the river. Peoria can be found in the Delorme Atlas, p. 47 A7. It's east of the Willamette River on Peoria Road, which runs between Corvallis and Harrisburg. Peoria is about 9 miles south of Hwy. 34 and 12 miles north of Harrisburg. An old church is at the south end of town, and Peoria Park (and boat ramp) is at the north end. Main Street runs between them, along the river. Birders are welcome to park in front of the white shop to the south of our house. Randy Peoria (of course) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090103/9482a444/attachment.html From uskestrel at yahoo.com Sat Jan 3 21:41:11 2009 From: uskestrel at yahoo.com (Carol Ledford) Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 21:41:11 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] "On the Wing" Documentary on OPB Message-ID: <608955.73648.qm@web54203.mail.re2.yahoo.com> I hope this information hasn't already been posted.? On Wednesday, January 7, OPB will be broadcasting Dan Viens' documentary film about "Portland's favorite flock of birds, the Chapman Swifts, a flock of Vaux Swifts that has taken up residence in the chimney of Chapman Elementary School in Northwest Portland during the month of September. Each night during the Swifts' residency, thousands of them fill the sky above the school. Then, just before sunset, the birds form a dramatic vortex and dive into the chimney in an amazing aerial display."? Several Portland birders and volunteers are in the documentary.? If you're interested in reading more about the film, which debuted last October as a Portland Audubon Society benefit, check out http://www.audubonportland.org/about/events/on-the-wing.? OPB showings: HDTV 10.1 ?Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 8:00 PM TV ?Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 8:00 PM TV ?Friday, January 9, 2009 at 2:00 AM TV ?Sunday, January 11, 2009 at 1:00 PM? Carol Ledford -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090103/3c13595e/attachment.html From nelsoncheek at charter.net Sat Jan 3 22:13:39 2009 From: nelsoncheek at charter.net (WALTER NELSON) Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 22:13:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yaquina Bay CBC - Preliminary Results Message-ID: <20090104060530.LABT128.aarprv06.charter.net@D9FD2761> The Yaquina Bay CBC was held today (1/03/09) in miraculously calm and sunny weather, though it was a bit chilly until mid-day. Still, after Thursday's storm, none of the 21 field observers and 6 feeder counters were complaining about weather. Species total came to 136 (above average) with no rarities and no terrible misses - except nobody could re-find the count week BLACK PHOEBE that was seen at the South Jetty area yesterday. Overall numbers of waterfowl seemed low, but possibly birds were more spread out than usual in all the flooded lowlands. The recent storms have finally convinced the BROWN PELICANS to move south but 10 lingered still, along with 2 HEERMAN'S GULLS (new to count). Seawatchers spotted NORTHERN FULMAR, SOOTY/SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE and all the expected alcids: COMMON MURRE, PIGEON GUILLEMOT, ANCIENT MURRELET, RHINOCEROUS AUKLET, and more than 30 MARBLED MURRELETS. Other good finds were 2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS in Sally's Bend, a single female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE at Seal Rock Stables, 1 WHITE-TAILED KITE, 2 BARN OWLS, 1 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, 12 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS reported from 3 different locations, and 2 SLATE-COLORED JUNCOS. Feeder watchers added 6 MOUNTAIN QUAIL, 4 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS plus a LESSER GOLDFINCH. Despite the recent sub-freezing weather the ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD count continues an upward trend with 30 birds found. MOURNING DOVES were new to the count only 4 years ago; they have been annual since, with 8 reported today. Additional species from count week include GLAUCOUS GULL (1st winter bird seen yesterday at the South Jetty parking pullout), CLARK'S GREBE, and EVENING GROSBEAK. ______________________ Rebecca Cheek, Compiler nelsoncheek AT charter.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090103/a13e9172/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Jan 3 23:12:10 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 07:12:10 +0000 Subject: [obol] Seven Mile lane Falcon In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Rich, This bird is a Prairie Falcon. Nice find. They are a very uncommon but annual wintering bird in the southern half of the Willamette Valley. Lars Norgren (from Banks), Karl Fairchild (from Corvallis), Jessie Leach who spotted the bird (from Dallas) and I had a Prairie Falcon near the small community of Norway on the Coquille Valley CBC today. This was only the 8th or 9th record for Coos Co. We didn't get this close though. Dave Irons From: rfadney at hotmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 20:06:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Seven Mile lane Falcon While out shooting raptor pics today, my wife and I ran onto a Falcon that I am having trouble identifying. Here is a link to view the pictures, and below that is a link to the location of the bird. Photo link: http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/fatrichie/Falcon/ Map link: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=117899333720741961609.00045c600e8f1fbac421b&ll=44.433167,-123.022821&spn=0.004589,0.009656&t=h&z=17 We also were lucky enough to see three male harriers and seven female harriers all on Waggener Rd. in Linn County. As I was shooting pics of two of the females I got out of the van and nearly stepped on a male that was sitting like a statue near the ditch. He startled me so bad that I didn't even get one shot of him! Others we saw today were; 1000 plus Starlings in one field 5 Bald eagles (1 Juvenile 4 adults) 20 Kestrals 2 Rough Leg Hawks 8 Red Tail Hawks 2 Coopers Hawks Several unidentified hawks (probably Juvie Red Tails) A beautiful day for birding to be sure! Rich Adney Send e-mail faster without improving your typing skills. Get your Hotmail? account. _________________________________________________________________ It?s the same Hotmail?. If by ?same? you mean up to 70% faster. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_broad1_122008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090104/19717076/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Sun Jan 4 07:00:55 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2009 07:00:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland CBC -- preliminary results Message-ID: <20090104150128.BE98EA8217@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> The Portland CBC was held yesterday, Jan 3. We lucked out on the weather, enjoying a cloudy but dry day. 137 field counters found 119 species, beating last year's record-smashing 118. Curiously, despite the tantalizing vagrants found in the past few weeks, the total was made up entirely of "regular Portland winter birds". The coveted "Eagle Eye Award" for best bird goes to Matt Crumbaker and friends, who spotted an AMERICAN DIPPER in Macleay Park. Matt's name will be inscribed forever in buckram on the trophy. Heroic owling by John Deshler, Jay Withgott, and Tim Shelmerdine contributed BARRED OWL (a first for count day), and NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL and NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, which had not been recorded in many years. In total we found 7 species of owls--just about all any reasonable person could expect in Portland. Other highlights were 2 PACIFIC LOONS, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 2 CINNAMON TEAL, and 2 NORTHERN SHRIKES. TUNDRA SWANS must have been holding a fly-in. The total of 438 obliterated the previous record for the Portland CBC. My thanks to my area leaders: John Fitchen, Pat Muller, Lynn Herring, Lori Hennings, Char Corkran and Sam Pointer. The record- setting species count was the result of their hard work to put well-qualified teams in the right habitats. They did a great job! Wink Gross, compiler Portland Christmas Bird Count From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Jan 4 08:32:29 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 08:32:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Nice Hawk Owl photo (in NY) Message-ID: <8704D907F3784D1E85952367895D2F18@Warbler> Great photo of a Hawk Owl that currently is in northern NY. Thought some of you out there would enjoy seeing it. Dennis http://www.jnphoto.net/northernhawkowl2.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090104/df253233/attachment.html From dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM Sun Jan 4 09:19:07 2009 From: dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM (Cheryl Whelchel) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 09:19:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Airlie CBC Possible hybrid duck and Vesper Sparrow Message-ID: Probably this will be one that got away, but for what its worth I have posted some poor pictures of what appears to possibly be a hybird of some sort. The pictures really don't help much. Perhaps my birding partner Phyllis will post a description as well. In addition to what I stated below, the tuft was visible with only binoculars, and was quite plain with the scope. If someone much more knowlegeable wants to chase this I can work on getting access to the pond. It was in the Bueana Vista area south on Independence. Cheryl Whelchel ----- Original Message ----- From: Cheryl Whelchel To: David Irons Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2009 8:57 AM Subject: Re: need help with 2 id's Thanks for the response. There were 2 other observers, one person had been birding for over 30 years. She is the one that first noticed the tuft and we studied it at 60 power for 20 minutes. So yes I think that it definitely had a tuft. Unfortuneatly it was on private property well away from the road, and access will be problematic. Again thanks for the great help. Cheryl Whelchel ----- Original Message ----- From: David Irons To: Cheryl Whelchel Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2009 11:05 PM Subject: RE: need help with 2 id's Hi Cheryl, Sorry for the late response. I just got back from doing the Coquille Valley CBC and I am scheduled to meet a couple people for pre-dawn owling at 5AM for tomorrow's Eugene CBC. If I got to bed this very instant I will get five hours of sleep. The sparrow is definitely a Vesper. The very neat complete eyering, relatively plain face (not as patterned as a Savannah) and the fine streaking on the breast and flanks make this a pretty straight forward ID. The duck is more of a challenge. I can't see what I would call a tuft in any of these images. Based on head shape along and the generally paleness in the face and your description, I would say the bird is likely a Ring-necked Duck. Though Tufteds resemble RNDU a bit, they have a very rounded crown and hindcrown. It is not squared off like a Ring-necked. There is the slight possibility of it being a hybrid Tufted X Lesser Scaup or even Tufted X Ring-necked, but with out a closer more clear image that would be tough to tell. If you have the opportunity, you might try to get out and see it again. If you are sure you saw even a little tuft, I would post this to OBOL and the Mid-Valley Birders site in hopes that someone can go out and refind it. Dave ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM To: llsdirons at msn.com Subject: need help with 2 id's Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 19:36:44 -0800 Hi Dave, I did the Airlie CBC today and found 2 unusual birds. The first is a sparrow and it is probably a Vesper Sparrow, but I wanted to run it by someone else. The second is a duck that is a bit more difficult, especially since it was a little too far away for decent pictures. It was a brown duck with a hint of white around its bill. The bill was a sort of gray with a black tip. The head had a rounded profile with what I would call a dark chocolate cap, and a tuft. It's back was a slightly darker brown than flanks. It held it's tail stiffly up sort of like a ruddy. It dove. I would love to call this a Tufted Duck, the problem is the eyes. It appeared to have a white eye ring and white line going postierior from the middle of the eye. To far away to really discern eye color, but seemed dark, not yellow. There were no other birds present so judging relative size was difficult. The amount of white around the bill on face was very slight. The remainder of face was chocolatly brown like the back. I can't rule out either Ring-necked or Tufted. The eyes are inconsistent with Tufted, and the shape of head and tuft are inconsistent with Ring-neck. I put pictures of both birds on my website. I will need to let Paul Adamus know asap, especially about the sparrow since the photo documentation is good. Thanks Cheryl Whelchel http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Send e-mail anywhere. No map, no compass. Get your Hotmail? account now. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090104/05639f7f/attachment.html From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Sun Jan 4 10:36:40 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 13:36:40 -0500 Subject: [obol] evening grosbeaks Message-ID: Eight EVENING GROSBEAKS are at one of my feeders at the present time -- first time I've seen them here this winter. Among the regular feeder birds (27 species, including a Cooper's) I've been getting hundreds of SISKENS the last couple of days, and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. A flicker often dumps all the seed out of my platform tube feeder, looking for hulled seeds. It can toss out a quart of seed in a short time. There are lots of ground birds that don't mind, even if I am not pleased. The lesser goldfinches have not been spotted again that were reported a week ago. Birdbath heavily used even on freezing or rainy days. I fill it daily -- sometimes with a milkjug full of hot water to melt the ice. Lona Pierce, Warren in Columbia County _________________________________________________________________ It?s the same Hotmail?. If by ?same? you mean up to 70% faster. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_broad1_122008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090104/e5b5d54b/attachment.html From mklittletree at comcast.net Sun Jan 4 11:25:48 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (michel Kleinbaum) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 11:25:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ankeny Kite Message-ID: I have sent this mail twice ( on Jan.2 and 3) but I don't think it was received on OBOL. ----- Original Message ----- From: "michel Kleinbaum" To: "OBOL" Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2009 10:28 AM Subject: Ankeny Kite >A pleasant surprise, yesterday, was the sighting of my first White-tailed Kite for Ankeny NWR. It was on Buena Vista Road; just west of the Mohoff Pond pullout and north of the RR tracks. > > Michel Kleinbaum S. Salem From dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM Sun Jan 4 11:29:58 2009 From: dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM (Cheryl Whelchel) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 11:29:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Vesper Sparrow location Message-ID: I don't know the name of the road it was on but if you are going north on Wells Landing RD and turn right where it dead ends into Hopville, then turn left on the unpaved road that has hops growing to the left of it. At the end of the hops the road turns right and there is a blackberry thicket in the corner. The bird responded quickly to pishing. Cheryl Whelchel ----- Original Message ----- From: Jamie S. To: Cheryl Whelchel Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2009 11:10 AM Subject: Re: [birding] Airlie CBC Possible hybrid duck and Vesper Sparrow Can you post a description of where you found the Vesper sparrow so anyone who would like to try and relocate it can do so? Thanks! Jamie Simmons Corvallis --- On Sun, 1/4/09, Cheryl Whelchel > wrote: From: Cheryl Whelchel > Subject: [birding] Airlie CBC Possible hybrid duck and Vesper Sparrow To: "obol" , "midvally birding" Date: Sunday, January 4, 2009, 9:19 AM Probably this will be one that got away, but for what its worth I have posted some poor pictures of what appears to possibly be a hybird of some sort. The pictures really don't help much. Perhaps my birding partner Phyllis will post a description as well. In addition to what I stated below, the tuft was visible with only binoculars, and was quite plain with the scope. If someone much more knowlegeable wants to chase this I can work on getting access to the pond. It was in the Bueana Vista area south on Independence. Cheryl Whelchel ----- Original Message ----- From: Cheryl Whelchel To: David Irons Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2009 8:57 AM Subject: Re: need help with 2 id's Thanks for the response. There were 2 other observers, one person had been birding for over 30 years. She is the one that first noticed the tuft and we studied it at 60 power for 20 minutes. So yes I think that it definitely had a tuft. Unfortuneatly it was on private property well away from the road, and access will be problematic. Again thanks for the great help. Cheryl Whelchel ----- Original Message ----- From: David Irons To: Cheryl Whelchel Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2009 11:05 PM Subject: RE: need help with 2 id's Hi Cheryl, Sorry for the late response. I just got back from doing the Coquille Valley CBC and I am scheduled to meet a couple people for pre-dawn owling at 5AM for tomorrow's Eugene CBC. If I got to bed this very instant I will get five hours of sleep. The sparrow is definitely a Vesper. The very neat complete eyering, relatively plain face (not as patterned as a Savannah) and the fine streaking on the breast and flanks make this a pretty straight forward ID. The duck is more of a challenge. I can't see what I would call a tuft in any of these images. Based on head shape along and the generally paleness in the face and your description, I would say the bird is likely a Ring-necked Duck. Though Tufteds resemble RNDU a bit, they have a very rounded crown and hindcrown. It is not squared off like a Ring-necked. There is the slight possibility of it being a hybrid Tufted X Lesser Scaup or even Tufted X Ring-necked, but with out a closer more clear image that would be tough to tell. If you have the opportunity, you might try to get out and see it again. If you are sure you saw even a little tuft, I would post this to OBOL and the Mid-Valley Birders site in hopes that someone can go out and refind it. Dave ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM To: llsdirons at msn.com Subject: need help with 2 id's Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 19:36:44 -0800 Hi Dave, I did the Airlie CBC today and found 2 unusual birds. The first is a sparrow and it is probably a Vesper Sparrow, but I wanted to run it by someone else. The second is a duck that is a bit more difficult, especially since it was a little too far away for decent pictures. It was a brown duck with a hint of white around its bill. The bill was a sort of gray with a black tip. The head had a rounded profile with what I would call a dark chocolate cap, and a tuft. It's back was a slightly darker brown than flanks. It held it's tail stiffly up sort of like a ruddy. It dove. I would love to call this a Tufted Duck, the problem is the eyes. It appeared to have a white eye ring and white line going postierior from the middle of the eye. To far away to really discern eye color, but seemed dark, not yellow. There were no other birds present so judging relative size was difficult. The amount of white around the bill on face was very slight. The remainder of face was chocolatly brown like the back. I can't rule out either Ring-necked or Tufted. The eyes are inconsistent with Tufted, and the shape of head and tuft are inconsistent with Ring-neck. I put pictures of both birds on my website. I will need to let Paul Adamus know asap, especially about the sparrow since the photo documentation is good. Thanks Cheryl Whelchel http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Send e-mail anywhere. No map, no compass. Get your Hotmail? account now. -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ list mailing list list at midvalleybirding.org http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090104/c1f5d160/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Sun Jan 4 11:30:42 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 11:30:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Seven Mile lane Falcon Message-ID: While I agree now that Rich Adney's bird is a Prairie Falcon, that wasn't my first impression. It has been a while since I've seen very many Prairie Falcons at close range. This bird was so pale blue-gray and so white on the underparts, and so unmarked on the underwing that I couldn't imagine it was a Prairie Falcon. I thought I was looking at the pale prairie form of Merlin! But of course the face pattern is all wrong. Correct me if I'm wrong, but most Prairie Falcons that cross over into the Willamette Valley in winter are juveniles. They are darker brown, buffy underneath with heavy streaking and heavy underwing markings in the wing pits. This bird seems to be an adult at the extreme pale and unmarked end of the spectrum. Now that Steve Dowlan is living in the middle of the range, he can correct me and tell me that this bird seems a normal Prairie Falcon to him! Photo link: http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/fatrichie/Falcon/ Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From greg at thebirdguide.com Sun Jan 4 11:36:10 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 11:36:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Texas Red-tail Message-ID: <7C2025B854EE460F8312D7576947FCDA@GREG> Hawk aficionados may enjoy puzzling over 4 photos of a pale Red-tailed Hawk taken by Kevin Smith in Del Rio, Texas back in October. Sometimes we get presumed Harlan's form here in Oregon. But Kevin's bird is quite pale and pretty. What is it? http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/_from_others Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Jan 4 11:38:35 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 11:38:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Seven Mile lane Falcon In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: The Prairie Falcon I saw at Peoria about Nov 19 struck me as very pale in the underparts. Likewise the Prairie Falcon yesterday at Norway Bottoms (Coquille Valley CBC) that Jessie Leach first spotted was quite pale. I suppose I may have been influenced by the dazzling sunlight reflected from the hundreds of acres of floodwaters surrounding said falcon's various perches. Lars Norgren On Jan 4, 2009, at 11:30 AM, Greg Gillson wrote: > While I agree now that Rich Adney's bird is a Prairie Falcon, that > wasn't my > first impression. It has been a while since I've seen very many Prairie > Falcons at close range. This bird was so pale blue-gray and so white > on the > underparts, and so unmarked on the underwing that I couldn't imagine > it was > a Prairie Falcon. I thought I was looking at the pale prairie form of > Merlin! But of course the face pattern is all wrong. > > Correct me if I'm wrong, but most Prairie Falcons that cross over into > the > Willamette Valley in winter are juveniles. They are darker brown, buffy > underneath with heavy streaking and heavy underwing markings in the > wing > pits. > > This bird seems to be an adult at the extreme pale and unmarked end of > the > spectrum. Now that Steve Dowlan is living in the middle of the range, > he can > correct me and tell me that this bird seems a normal Prairie Falcon to > him! > > Photo link: > http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/fatrichie/Falcon/ > > Greg Gillson > The Bird Guide, Inc. > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From whoffman at peak.org Sun Jan 4 12:05:11 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 12:05:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Texas Red-tail References: <7C2025B854EE460F8312D7576947FCDA@GREG> Message-ID: <8624A10AECA84D3CB48D847A230E15B8@D48XBZ51> Looks to me paler than average, but otherwise not atypical of juvenile Eastern Red-tailed Hawk Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg Gillson" To: "OBOL" Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2009 11:36 AM Subject: [obol] Texas Red-tail > Hawk aficionados may enjoy puzzling over 4 photos of a pale Red-tailed > Hawk > taken by Kevin Smith in Del Rio, Texas back in October. Sometimes we get > presumed Harlan's form here in Oregon. But Kevin's bird is quite pale and > pretty. What is it? > > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/_from_others > > Greg Gillson > The Bird Guide, Inc. > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From greenfant at hotmail.com Sun Jan 4 12:40:13 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 15:40:13 -0500 Subject: [obol] Prairie Falcon is back near Roy (Washington Co) Message-ID: At about 11am this morning I refound the PRAIRIE FALCON on Mountaindale Rd north of Roy just south of where 26 and 6 split. A Merlin was also in the area. Poor pictures are available on request. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ It?s the same Hotmail?. If by ?same? you mean up to 70% faster. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_broad1_122008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090104/8f5e2314/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Jan 4 13:19:47 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:19:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - 1/4/2009 Message-ID: <496127F3.1000001@pacifier.com> Columbia Estuary Report - 1/4/2009 Steve Warner found a BLACK PHOEBE on West Lake yesterday. I was able to relocate it today at the intersection of West Anderson Rd and Delmoor Loop Rd. The BARROW'S GOLDENEYE is still hanging out in front of the Dairy QUEEN. My day list, today: Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose Cackling Goose Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Northern Shoveler Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Surf Scoter Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Barrow's Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon American Coot Killdeer Dunlin Mew Gull Ring-billed Gull Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Rock Dove Belted Kingfisher Northern Flicker Black Phoebe Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin Varied Thrush European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Pine Siskin House Sparrow Total number of species seen: 57 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ From louisfredd at msn.com Sun Jan 4 13:45:15 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 13:45:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Evening Grosbeaks (Oregon City) Message-ID: Yesterday morning a pair of EVENING GROSBEAKS (M,F) briefly visited the yard, or more accurately, snow-free sections of our asphalted lane, where they seemed to be picking up grit or perhaps some birdseed. To the best of my knowledge they didn't go to the sunflower seed feeder. These are uncommon here, usually appear at any one time in very small numbers. and as above, just briefly. This is the first time I've ever seen them in January. I usually see them here the most often in late April and May, but I have now seen them in every month from September thru June inclusive, except November, and I suppose in the latter case it is merely a matter of time. These birds were in prime condition and beautiful plumage. I took them to be a good omen for the new year, which I share with you. Lou _________________________________________________________________ It?s the same Hotmail?. If by ?same? you mean up to 70% faster. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_broad1_122008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090104/024d7763/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sun Jan 4 14:25:19 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 22:25:19 +0000 Subject: [obol] Fw: Emperor goose siteing Message-ID: Emporer Goose has joined the domestics. And Greater White Front Goose at Redmond pond on South Jetty. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Tim Rodenkirk Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 17:08:19 To: Subject: [obol] Fw: Emperor goose siteing Gary Schaffer just sent this to me.? Just in time for the Coquille Valley CBC!? The location Gary describes is in the Bandon Harbor area where there is a Coast Gurard station just west of the Harbor (south jetty area). Tim --- On Thu, 1/1/09, Gary Shaffer wrote: > From: Gary Shaffer > Subject: Emperor goose siteing > To: "Tim Rodenkirk" > Date: Thursday, January 1, 2009, 12:42 AM > Tim If you think it is worthwhile would you post the goose > on OBOL.? I can not access OBOL on my iPhone.? It was also > seen by Howard Sands? & Jeanine Felker of Medford.? It > was last seen today floating downriver by the old coast > guard station.?? I took an Id picture. > Thanks-Gary Shaffer > > Sent from my iPhone ????? _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From Kyle.W.Bratcher at state.or.us Sun Jan 4 14:58:58 2009 From: Kyle.W.Bratcher at state.or.us (Kyle W Bratcher) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 14:58:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wallowa Valley Message-ID: I went down to the river today to try some Steelhead fishing but it was way to cold for me so I went looking for some birds. I took the back roads headed home and saw two Ravens flying around erratically and found out that they were harassing a Great-horned owl. Also in Enterprise on Fish Hatchery road I've been seeing some finches on my way to and from work but haven't been able to get a good look till today and confirmed my hunch that they were White-wing crossbills. If anyone is out this way, they are a pretty easy find. They are there a lot but its a terrible spot to stop so its best to walk. I've also been seeing a few Hooded merganzers which haven't been to common around here from what I can tell. I was up at the lake a few days ago and saw five grebes, 3 horned and 2 eared. Just out and about I've been seeing lots of Bald eagles and Rough-legged hawks. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090104/f0b8a003/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sun Jan 4 15:17:09 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 15:17:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Texas Red-tail Message-ID: There is a similar bird shown on page 363 (plate 417) of Brian Wheeler's "Raptors of Western North America". Showing an "Eastern" juve Red Tail, I think I'll agree with Wayne. This one is just a bit paler than the one shown in Wheeler's book. Rich Adney Looks to me paler than average, but otherwise not atypical of juvenile Eastern Red-tailed Hawk Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg Gillson" To: "OBOL" Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2009 11:36 AM Subject: [obol] Texas Red-tail > Hawk aficionados may enjoy puzzling over 4 photos of a pale Red-tailed > Hawk > taken by Kevin Smith in Del Rio, Texas back in October. Sometimes we get > presumed Harlan's form here in Oregon. But Kevin's bird is quite pale and > pretty. What is it? > > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/_from_others > > Greg Gillson _________________________________________________________________ Life on your PC is safer, easier, and more enjoyable with Windows Vista?. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/127032870/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090104/bcb772cd/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sun Jan 4 15:26:45 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 15:26:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Seven Mile Road Falcon Message-ID: Thanks everyone for the help, I was hesitant to call it a Prairie Falcon due to the lack of dark axillaries. I have not seen enough of this species in the field to be comfortable identifying it without OBOL's knowledgeable listers! Rich _________________________________________________________________ It?s the same Hotmail?. If by ?same? you mean up to 70% faster. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_broad1_122008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090104/87658c46/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Jan 4 14:33:17 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:33:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Emperor update Message-ID: Harvey Schubothe from Bandon sent me a note just now saying that the Bandon Emperor has started hanging out with the mixed flock of geese at the s jetty pond area. Two kinds of domestics and a white-front. They often do this. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com Information on Coquille Valley CBC: http://cvcbc.blogspot.com/ http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From pointers at pacifier.com Sun Jan 4 18:46:10 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2009 18:46:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Brown Pigeon ... Message-ID: <20090105024610.393346A4ED@smtp2.pacifier.net> hi group ... today (Jan 4) I saw a brown and white pigeon (Rock Pigeon) today at the Shillapoo Wildlife Area, south of Vancouver Lake ... same place the Swainson's Hawk is residing ... ok, Sibley says this coloration is rare ... is that valid ???????????? he was rather pretty ... the bird: http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Images09Jan/shillapoo_brown_pigeon_01-04-09.jpg his head: http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Images09Jan/shillapoo_brown_pigeon_head_01-04-09.jpg the wingtips: http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Images09Jan/shillapoo_brown_pigeon_wingtips_01-04-09.jpg enjoy, Lyn Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From winkg at hevanet.com Sun Jan 4 20:06:00 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:06:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 12/31/08 (tardy report) Message-ID: <20090105040559.C418CA823E@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 12/25 to 12/31/08. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 7 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 1 (1, 12/28) MOURNING DOVE 4 (3) Anna's Hummingbird 4 (3, 12/30) Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 (1, 12/31) Downy Woodpecker 2 (1, 12/29 & 31) Hairy Woodpecker 1 (1, 12/28) Northern Flicker 7 (2) GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET 2 (1+, 12/30) Bewick's Wren 1 (1, 12/28) Winter Wren 1 (1, 12/28) American Robin 4 (35, 12/28) Varied Thrush 6 (7) Black-capped Chickadee 7 (25, 12/30) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 7 (5) RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH 1 (2, 12/30) Brown Creeper 3 (2) Steller's Jay 6 (6) Western Scrub-Jay 6 (2) American Crow 4 (10, 12/28) EUROPEAN STARLING 2 (1, 12/28 & 30) House Finch 7 (11, 12/30) Pine Siskin 1 (2, 12/29) Spotted Towhee 7 (4) FOX SPARROW 1 (1, 12/29) Song Sparrow 7 (8) Dark-eyed Junco 7 (30, 12/28) In neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET Wink Gross Portland From lgoodhew at surfin-g.com Sun Jan 4 20:39:33 2009 From: lgoodhew at surfin-g.com (Larry & Jacque Goodhew) Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:39:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Late report Pine Warbler NO Message-ID: <49611E85.26545.551031D8@lgoodhew.surfin-g.com> Hi Arrived afternoon of Jan ! about 3:30 stayed in area till dark no bird . Spent next morning till about 1pm still no show. some wind and snow and clearing but cold. Lady who sees it at her house had not seen it at her feeder that day. Best bird there was a Evening Grosbeak. Larry and Jacque Goodhew Walla Walla WA From Oropendolas at aol.com Sun Jan 4 20:50:52 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 23:50:52 EST Subject: [obol] Eugene CBC Gyrfalcon Message-ID: Hello All, Laura Johnson, Bill Castillo and I had an immature GYRFALCON during the Eugene CBC today. It was at the wastewater treatment facility at the intersection of Prairie and Beacon roads north of Eugene. We had the key to enter the facility and flushed the bird off the ground before we saw it, where it was eating a Cackling Goose, as we drove through the gate this morning. It then perched on the center pivot irrigation sprinklers where it was seen later in the afternoon from outside the facility by several other parties. The center pivots can be seen from both Prairie and Beacon roads. There are thousands of Cacklers in the area, hopefully it will stick around awhile. Prairie Road parallels Hwy 99 between River Road and Hwy 99. Beacon Road runs east from Prairie Road and is between Meadow View and Awbrey roads. John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon **************Stay up-to-date on the latest news - from fashion trends to celebrity break-ups and everything in between. (http://www.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000024) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090104/f3861872/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Jan 4 21:11:51 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2009 21:11:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Winter Wrens Message-ID: I'll be posting details from the Coquille Valley CBC in a couple of days, but one of the strangest results is that we sent forty people into the field on a calm, pleasant day on which we set all sorts of records for various small birds, yet found only 22 Winter Wrens. This is a strange result and an all-time low; we average over 50. Have any other counts had such a result with Winter Wren this year? -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com Information on Coquille Valley CBC: http://cvcbc.blogspot.com/ http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From foglark at att.net Sun Jan 4 21:46:58 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 21:46:58 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Centerville (n. CA coast) CBC results Message-ID: <779847.95538.qm@web80005.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> The Centerville Beach To King Salmon CBC was conducted Sunday 1-4. Uh...where the heck is that? Well, it's in central-coastal Humboldt Co., CA, and takes in South Humboldt Bay and the Eel River delta, reaching north almost to the south end of Eureka (Eureka is in the Arcata circle). "Write-ins" (and therefore highlights) were Eur. Green-winged Teal, Long-tailed Duck, Brown Pelican (Duh Dept this year, of course), Am. White Pelican (very rare here--I saw one in 1992, and never again), Mountain Plover, Black-necked Stilt, Heermann's Gull, Glaucous Gull, Caspian Tern, Marbled Murrelet, Ancient Murrelet, Rhinoceros Auklet, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-naped Sapsucker, Say's Phoebe, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Northern Shrike, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, Swamp Sparrow, and Hooded Oriole. The count got about 187 species, which is either a record for this count or very close to it. Someone also brought a weathered head of a frigatebird with a rather small and pale bill that was found during a local beached bird survey not long ago--speculation is that it could conceivably be the Lesser Frigatebird seen north of Arcata in 2007. It was strange to sit in the restaurant chowing down on my institutional Denver omelette with this bizarre, half-mummified frigatebird head gaping open on the table next to me. Diane Pettey came down, joined in the count, and actually spotted the Mountain Plover while birding with her team on the south Humboldt spit (although the bird was known present several days earlier). She got killer photos of an Ancient Murrelet from the south jetty. We are going to take a spin around the area again Monday morning to try to scrape up a few more Humdingers for her. Thanks, Diane, for your enthusiasm and contributions. David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090104/1e1aef8b/attachment.html From sbkornfeld at msn.com Sun Jan 4 21:50:39 2009 From: sbkornfeld at msn.com (STEVE KORNFELD) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 21:50:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Little Blue Heron remains Message-ID: OBOL, I observed the Little Blue Heron today (Sunday) at 1600 inland from Siletz Bay. It was virtually in the same spot as previously described. It was feeding in the creek .7 miles east on Drift Creek Rd. It was about a half mile east of the red barn seen on the right just after your pass Gorton Road. Good Birding Steve Kornfeld Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090104/f6887011/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Sun Jan 4 22:05:20 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 22:05:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Jack Snipe at Fern Ridge? Message-ID: I believe I had a Jack Snipe at Fern Ridge this morning. I saw it quickly while walking along the south base of Fisher Butte on the Eugene CBC Sunday, Jan 4. I was the only person who saw the bird. We parked in the parking lot at the entrance of the track which goes north to Fisher Butte, from Highway 126 (11th Ave). At the private gate at the north end of this track, Ellen Cantor and I walked the lane to the right, or eastward, along a hedgerow. This lane is pooled with water and it is mucky. After going most of the way to the end of the hedgerow, we turned back and walked instead, in the tussocky grass to avoid the mud. About what would be the half-way point of the hedgerow, the snipe flushed from the grass about 2 ft. in front of me and made an arc, back into the grass. I gave a search where it had landed, but didn't find it. This is what impressed me as being different from Wilson's Snipe: 1) The bird was notably smaller. 2) The long, yellowish stripes on the back were especially contrasting and stood out in a way I had never seen on Wilson's. 3) The wings were rounded (not pointed as in Wilson's), which made it appear to fly differently (more fluttery?). 4) It did not make a vocal sound, but the flapping wings at take-off sounded hollow. 5) It flew low, not darting in different directions as Wilson's, and it quickly dropped into the grass, short of 50 ft. away. 6) I only had a dorsal view and saw no white. When I saw the bird, I only knew a few of the identifying field-marks, such as short bill, split supercilium, and lack of median crown stripe. There was no time to see any of those features, as the bird was too fast and quick to take cover. I did know that the Jack Snipe is smaller than a Wilson's. When I returned home, I found that the field guides describe, as being characteristic, all the things I noticed (except the hollow, flapping sound as the bird took off). We flushed many Wilson's Snipes during the day, and not one showed the behavioral patterns above, nor the rounded wings, and many (if not all) made the typical vocal note on flushing. I think this bird was a Jack Snipe, even considering that I was unable to see all the field marks. The best chance to find this bird would be with several people walking abreast, through the grass in this area (east of the north end of the Fisher Butte track). Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090104/4db3869d/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Sun Jan 4 22:11:43 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 22:11:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene CBC References: Message-ID: <002d01c96efc$7b6acaa0$6500a8c0@1120639> I was at my daughter's apartment in Eugene today (Broadway & Lawrence) and we had an Anna's Hummingbird at her feeder all afternoon. I'm sure it's not the only one, but given the cold, I thought I should mention it. Tom Crabtree Bend, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090104/35ea2a39/attachment.html From steve at paradisebirding.com Sun Jan 4 23:32:50 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 23:32:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Trumpeter Swans at Suttle Lake Message-ID: <9a341ea30901042332k6a60d7c5p8d6e5a11a529a15b@mail.gmail.com> Hello all, I will have a summary of the Santiam Pass CBC soon, but I realized today there may be some folks wanting this species for their Jefferson County lists. Saturday, we found two adult TRUMPETER SWANS at the unfrozen pool near the outlet of Suttle Lake, between the lodge and the dam at the head of Lake Creek. Parking is easy near the lodge, just off Hwy 20. We had a single Trumpeter twice on the Santiam CBC in 2006 and 2007, at Clear Lake, but never on the east side of the crest. We know of "captive" breeding adults in the region (Sisters and Bend) and we know that fledged young are freeflying and their dispersal patterns are unknown. I won't get into the details of countability, nor will I speculate further on the origin of these two individuals, but they were there as of Saturday for those who wish to look for these gorgeous birds. Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090104/16a3bdee/attachment.html From jplissner at yahoo.com Sun Jan 4 23:43:38 2009 From: jplissner at yahoo.com (Jonathan Plissner) Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 23:43:38 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Mockingbird (Bruce Rd, near Finley NWR) Message-ID: <435807.96535.qm@web45407.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Late Sunday morning, a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was present along Bruce Rd., at the first house north of the intersection with Bellfountain Rd., SW of Finley NWR. The bird appeared as it flew (nice white wing flashes) west across the road into a row of shrubs (primarily Photinia, I believe) bordering the road, in which it perched for several minutes before flying over the fence near the house and out of sight. Also possibly noteworthy for the morning was the BURROWING OWL present at one of the traditional culvert locations along Llewelyn Rd. I assume it was present for the Corvallis CBC as well but has become such a regular that it no longer warrants mention in the count summary. :) Jon Plissner -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090104/72da8a6b/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Mon Jan 5 05:57:05 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 05:57:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Winter Wrens References: Message-ID: <7A72C7DC2F7549BDB560880AFE4356BC@Warbler> No Winter Wrens were reported found on the Grants Pass CBC this year. This is the first time none were found. Count of 2005 found only one, which is the previous low. Dennis I'll be posting details from the Coquille Valley CBC in a couple of days, but one of the strangest results is that we sent forty people into the field on a calm, pleasant day on which we set all sorts of records for various small birds, yet found only 22 Winter Wrens. This is a strange result and an all-time low; we average over 50. Have any other counts had such a result with Winter Wren this year? -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From adamus7 at comcast.net Mon Jan 5 07:24:44 2009 From: adamus7 at comcast.net (Paul Adamus) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 07:24:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Results: Airlie-Albany CBC Message-ID: <03DABBD40A1A4CA1B8A6C5052222AC5B@paulb8b133e5f2> On cold and mostly rainless Saturday (Jan. 3), 30 people in 15 parties conducted the Airlie-Albany CBC. The circle is centered at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area north of Corvallis, and includes Ankeny NWR and McDonald-Dunn State Forest. The species total was 118, slightly below the maximum of 122. Best finds were VESPER SPARROW, GOLDEN EAGLE, SAY'S PHOEBE, BLACK PHOEBE, GREEN HERON, and REDHEAD. Notable misses were Ruffed Grouse, Mountain Quail, Greater Yellowlegs, and Mew Gull. Photos of what might be a Tufted Duck, taken from a considerable distance by Cheryl Whelchel (who also found and photographed the Vesper Sparrow), are at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/ I will be emailing the full list and tallies to all participants. If you'd like a copy, too, please email me. Paul Adamus (Compiler) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090105/7172a7e1/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Mon Jan 5 07:38:54 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 07:38:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Gyrfalcon photos Message-ID: <20090105073854.azdiuqnskkww8884@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Photos by John Sullivan: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/gallery/_from_others Greg From 5hats at peak.org Mon Jan 5 09:48:16 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 09:48:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] help with loon id Message-ID: <002601c96f5d$cccdf0a0$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Obol, On the Yaquina Bay CBC January 3 I found a puzzling loon between the jetties. In some respects it had the field marks of an Arctic Loon, but seemed to me to have some features of Common Loon. It was at times side by side with a Common Loon, so I was able to make comparisons. The most notable feature of this bird was that it had an obvious long white flank patch, which in fact extended nearly the full length of the underparts, much as shown by Sibley for Arctic Loon in first summer plumage. The bird, however, was much darker, indicating it was an adult. The other feature which seemed to indicate Arctic was that it consistently held its head somewhat tilted upward. In fact, on a number of occasions I saw it deliberately lift its head to resume this posture. There are two difficulties associated with this bird. One was that the only views I had of it, while reasonably close, were from the side and rear. The two loons were steadily traveling west with the tide. I watched them for a time from the large pullout area along the south jetty road, then moved to the base of the jetty proper just in time to come out behind them again. During this time Laura and I were joined by Bob Olson and his group, so we were able to view the loons through the scope. But we never did get a good frontal view. The other difficulty is that in nearly every other respect, the bird matched the Common Loon. It was the same size, had a bill of equal thickness, seemed at least on a couple of occasions to show a slight indentation of white at midneck (although I am not certain of this point), a similarly bluish colored bill with dark upper ridge and tip, and same head shape. Both birds, when viewed from the rear through the scope had very dark crowns and napes which showed a slight purple gloss in certain lights. The bill, while equal in thickness to that of the Common, was about two thirds as long, which would seem to favor Arctic. I did not happen to notice an eye ring on either bird. I have never seen a Common Loon with this plumage, and although I have seen Arctic Loon a couple of times, am not familiar enough with that species to know how they compare to Commons. At the time of the sighting I did not feel confindent to call it an Arctic Loon, but a subsequent study of field guides makes me wonder if perhaps it was a mistake to write it off as an unusual Common. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. Darrel Faxon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090105/223377d8/attachment.html From h2of0wl at hotmail.com Sun Jan 4 20:04:51 2009 From: h2of0wl at hotmail.com (h2of0wl at hotmail.com) Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:04:51 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Beaverton, Washington County, Oregon on January 04, 2009 Message-ID: <200901050404.n0544p6m007658@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Michael Culver by http://birdnotes.net Date: January 4, 2009 Location: Beaverton, Washington County, Oregon Low temperature: 31 degrees fahrenheit High temperature: 45 degrees fahrenheit Wind direction: Variable Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h gusting to: < 1 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 100% Precipitation: snow Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Eurasian Wigeon 1 American Wigeon 233 Mallard 84 Canvasback 6 Ring-necked Duck 1 Lesser Scaup 4 Bufflehead 8 Hooded Merganser 6 Common Merganser 8 Pied-billed Grebe 2 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Red-tailed Hawk 2 American Kestrel 1 American Coot 10 Herring Gull 2 Rock Dove 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Western Scrub-Jay 1 American Crow 6 American Robin 12 European Starling 20 House Finch 4 House Sparrow 2 Total number of species seen: 23 From rkorpi at hotmail.com Mon Jan 5 10:18:47 2009 From: rkorpi at hotmail.com (Ray Korpi) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 10:18:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] First-Winter Glaucous Message-ID: All, A first-winter GLAUCOUS GULL was on the Clark campus this morning. Must have stopped by knowing I couldn't get out to any CBCs this year! Ray Korpi rkorpi at hotmail.com Vancouver WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090105/828c7e24/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Jan 5 10:19:32 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 10:19:32 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] South Coast Overwintering Birds- from CBC results etc. Message-ID: <490031.67905.qm@web45308.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Based on CBC info and some other sightings it looks like there a couple new species (new within the last few years) overwintering on the south coast, species that were previously not known to overwinter here but routinely overwintered in the Willamette valley. One of these species, SAY'S PHOEBE, is overwintering in the Coquille Valley and on the north spit of Coos Bay. Several birds are also overwintering in Curry Co. including the Brookings area and near Cape Blanco. I don't know of any further overwintering records further north along the coast? A PRAIRIE FALCON was discovered on the Coquille valley CBC. As it turns out, there was one seen in the Coquille Valley in Feb. of 2008 and also several sightings during the winter of 2006/2007. Prior to this, in Coos Co., there was only one other winter record in Feb. of 1990. Looks like at least one bird has begun to regular overwinter in the Coquille Valley. Are there other overwintering records on the north coast also? Also, at least three C. YELLOWTHROATS overwintering this year in Coos Co. Pretty cool! Tim R Coos Bay From greg at thebirdguide.com Mon Jan 5 10:59:32 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 10:59:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] South Coast Overwintering Birds- from CBC results etc. Message-ID: <20090105105932.bcd1hgdc7scgow00@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Tim Rodenkirk's comments on an apparent increase in winter Prairie Falcons on the south coast in the last 3 years (since winter of 2006/2007) is interesting. It matches a similar phenomenon in Washington County. While Washington County is in the northern Willamette Valley, it is isolated all around by hills surrounding the Tualatin basin, and slightly higher than the adjacent Willamette Valley. This creates some minor but real differences in bird abundance from the rest of the Willamette Valley. Several "prairie" birds less common at various times of the year in the Tualatin basin than in the rest of the Willamette Valley include Western Kingbird, Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Shrike, Western Meadowlark, and Prairie Falcon. The first record of Prairie Falcon in Washington Co. was in 1982. There were 3 records in the 7 years between 2000-2006. The 8th record of Prairie Falcon occurred in the 2006/2007 and each winter since, as is the case down in Coos Co. Of course, it may be that there is a single bird here in WashCo that has wintered the past 3 years. This might be totally unrelated to the apparent increase seen in Coos Co. On the other hand, perhaps it is an indication of something going on with Prairie Falcons? Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From louisfredd at msn.com Mon Jan 5 11:14:56 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 11:14:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] GYRFALCON (Oregon City) Message-ID: About an hour ago I saw a white GYRFALCON hunting the airport fields just north of the Oregon City Golf Course. I pulled over and watched it directly opposite me at 150 yards. It was flying back and forth low over the N-S grass runway (The runway parallel to Beavercreek Rd in the vicinity of Oregon City High School. It broke off its hunt and flew off to the north in the direction of other large grassy fields. I had clear views of its underside and topside while it was making turns over the airstrip. Those details and its body proportions agreed closely with Sibley's illustration of "White adult". This is the first Gyrfalcon I have ever seen! Lou _________________________________________________________________ Send e-mail faster without improving your typing skills. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_speed_122008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090105/29ec77a3/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Mon Jan 5 11:52:05 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 11:52:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Area Birds Message-ID: <2b1bbd260901051152p71272a39j63e84f27024082b4@mail.gmail.com> Obol, I looked for and did not see the Gyrfalcon reported by John Sullivan. There were still many Cacklers in the area and 4 Red-tails, one of which was a dark morph. I cruised over to the airport where I found a white morph Rough-legged Hawk just west of the grain silos. Probably the same bird I found there earlier this winter. Just south of Milliron Rd (near Hwy 99) was a flock of ~120 TUNDRA SWANS. There were also 20 G WHITE-FRONTED GEESE in the area. Four Bald Eagles where bothering the geese, but the swans didn't seem to mind. -- Daniel Farrar Eugene, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090105/303c7bc8/attachment.html From brrobb at comcast.net Mon Jan 5 14:51:34 2009 From: brrobb at comcast.net (Roger & Betty Robb) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 14:51:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gyrfalcon, Lane County Message-ID: This afternoon at 2:00 I found the GYRFALCON perched on an irrigation pivot off Beacon Drive just east of Prairie Rd. The bird eventually flew to the south and out of sight. Thanks, John, Laura & Bill. Roger Robb Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090105/50ccf3ab/attachment.html From neiwert at verizon.net Mon Jan 5 15:43:23 2009 From: neiwert at verizon.net (Eric Neiwert) Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:43:23 -0600 (CST) Subject: [obol] Harlequin duck Netarts bay Message-ID: <1440509393.33854151231199004020.JavaMail.javamailuser@localhost> I don't know how unusual it is but it was new to us. On January 3, my wife and I observed a harlequin duck on Netarts bay near the Netarts bay RV park. I have pictures at http://gallery.me.com/neiwert/100037/DSCN0268/web.jpg and http://gallery.me.com/neiwert/100037/DSCN0271/web.jpg Eric Neiwert Troutdale From dpvroman at budget.net Mon Jan 5 15:44:44 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 15:44:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Golden-crowned Kinglet on CBCs Message-ID: <013C3F2BE47949D9A875265EE47A7C44@Warbler> Alan's message about the Winter Wrens reminded me about the Grants Pass CBC Golden-crowned Kinglet sum. It was none. After looking at past data for this species, this is what the numbers show. pre-2005, 50 or higher, a couple of years slightly less. 2005 - 13 birds 2006 - 13 2007 - 6 2008 - 0 Also, I don't recall a winter at our place (east the Merlin I-5 exit) I have not seen them, but none so far this winter. Any other counts with decreasing numbers for this species? Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090105/7bddcf7e/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Jan 5 15:48:56 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:48:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Golden-crowned Kinglet on CBCs In-Reply-To: <013C3F2BE47949D9A875265EE47A7C44@Warbler> Message-ID: Coquille Valley averages over 300 GC Kinglets; this year we had an almost all-time low of 98; the only worse year had extremely bad weather. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com Information on Coquille Valley CBC: http://cvcbc.blogspot.com/ http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: "Dennis P. Vroman" > Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 15:44:44 -0800 > To: > Subject: [obol] Golden-crowned Kinglet on CBCs > > Alan's message about the Winter Wrens reminded me about the Grants Pass CBC > Golden-crowned Kinglet sum. It was none. After looking at past data for this > species, this is what the numbers show. > > pre-2005, 50 or higher, a couple of years slightly less. > > 2005 - 13 birds > 2006 - 13 > 2007 - 6 > 2008 - 0 > > Also, I don't recall a winter at our place (east the Merlin I-5 exit) I have > not seen them, but none so far this winter. > > Any other counts with decreasing numbers for this species? > > Dennis (north of Grants Pass) > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From brrobb at comcast.net Mon Jan 5 16:12:05 2009 From: brrobb at comcast.net (Roger & Betty Robb) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 16:12:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Golden-crowned Kinglets Message-ID: <82266DF4A579409883AE82BE26A3BEBE@RROffice> The Florence Count had 174 Golden-crowned Kinglets compared to an average of 332. Our weather was fine, but perhaps the number of people birding the Coast Range was less than previous years. Or, there is a negative trend with kinglet populations. Roger Robb Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090105/c773e749/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Mon Jan 5 16:43:19 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 16:43:19 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: COMMON GOLDENEYE, etc Message-ID: <897788.13105.qm@web55103.mail.re4.yahoo.com> In addition to participating in the weekly Goose Survey at Ridgefield NWR, Scott Carpenter and I birded the River "S" Unit at Ridgefield NWR (~4mi W of I-5 at Exit 14 in SW Washington; http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ ). Highlights: COMMON GOLDENEYE: Scott Carpenter found, and pointed out, two COMMON GOLDENEYE on South Quigley Lake. They were in the open when we first saw them, but were soon headed into the shelter of the Cattails. Keep an eye out as they could show up anywhere there. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: This juvenile female, was first seen atop Teasel along the east side road, several hundred yards S of the Entrance Booth. I watched her perched a few times on Teasel, once on a sign post, once atop a nest box, and also on the long bramble line W & S of the Entrance Booth. I also watched her fly and miss a couple of rodents, after which she tried to run after rodents in the snow/grass. In six or eight attempts, I never saw her succeed. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores Complete list of 43 species seen / heard: Pied-billed Grebe Double-crested Cormorant AMERICAN BITTERN Great Blue Heron Cackling Goose Canada Goose Tundra Swan Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Ring-necked Duck Bufflehead COMMON GOLDENEYE Hooded Merganser (various locations, about 30 seen in all) COMMON MERGANSER (a dozen or more on Rest Lake) Ruddy Duck Bald Eagle Northern Harrier SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (east side toward the end of the loop) Red-tailed Hawk DARK MORPH RED-TAILED HAWK ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK American Kestrel American Coot SANDHILL CRANE Ring-billed Gull Great Horned Owl Belted Kingfisher Northern Flicker Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit Winter Wren American Robin European Starling Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird From goosemiller at gmail.com Mon Jan 5 16:46:31 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 16:46:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Need Panama birding information In-Reply-To: <82266DF4A579409883AE82BE26A3BEBE@RROffice> Message-ID: <4962a9d6.0e538c0a.12ca.ffffaebd@mx.google.com> Craig and I are thinking about going to Panama in September. Has anyone been there? Birded there? Any suggestions? Thank you and Happy New Year! Marilyn Miller Bend, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090105/0c9fabc8/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Mon Jan 5 17:07:48 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:07:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Golden-crowned Kinglets and Winter Wrens Message-ID: <20090106010746.CFB8FA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> The Golden-crowned Kinglets must be all up here. The Portland CBC had 915, not too far off the all-time high of 1051 recorded in 1941 and well above the past few years. On the other hand, Winter Wrens were down a bit: 97 as compared to 141 last year, but last year was unusually good. (All time high was 142 in 1942.) Wink Gross, compiler Portland CBC From jbw at oregoncoast.com Mon Jan 5 17:35:46 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara & John Woodhouse) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 17:35:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harlequin duck Netarts bay In-Reply-To: <1440509393.33854151231199004020.JavaMail.javamailuser@localhost> References: <1440509393.33854151231199004020.JavaMail.javamailuser@localhost> Message-ID: This is the 5th year the Harlequin has shown up here, he came first as a first year bird and as been coming ever since we look out for him every year. Barbara & John Woodhouse Tillamook At 5:43 PM -0600 1/5/2009, Eric Neiwert wrote: >I don't know how unusual it is but it was new to us. On January 3, my >wife and I observed a harlequin duck on Netarts bay near the Netarts bay >RV park. I have pictures at >http://gallery.me.com/neiwert/100037/DSCN0268/web.jpg >and >http://gallery.me.com/neiwert/100037/DSCN0271/web.jpg > >Eric Neiwert >Troutdale >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From celata at pacifier.com Mon Jan 5 18:14:08 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:14:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] From the regional editor: stuff I don't need details for Message-ID: <4962BE70.6090209@pacifier.com> Given that today is the last day of the count period, I think I can safely send out a note on details. Things I do not need details for: BROWN PELICAN Heermann's Gull Eurasian Collared Dove Black Phoebe in Oregon and along the Columbia River I also already have photos of: Shillipoo Swainson's Hawk Eugene Gyrfalcon Grants Pass Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Airlie Vesper Sparrow Corvallis Pyrrhuloxia I also have photos of the Portland Swainson's Thrush, but no word on whether it was seen inside the count window. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon Jan 5 18:16:36 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:16:36 +0000 Subject: [obol] Icy Birds Message-ID: <010620090216.13901.4962BF04000954F60000364D22068246939B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Hi Tom, Sounds like quite a few people had icy birds through the cold spell. I wonder if this is part of the reason some of the CBCs were missing Golden-crowned Kinglets? Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: "Tom Shreve" > We have Flickers and Steller's Jays with ice on their backs and necks this > morning. > Tom Shreve > > -----Original Message----- > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Craig Tumer > Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2008 10:52 AM > To: sandyleapt at comcast.net > Cc: OBOL > Subject: Re: [obol] Icy Birds > > The adult male Anna's hummingbird at my feeder this morning had quite a > significant icicle on his gorget, ice on his tail and a little ice hat. > He spent quite a bit of time sitting at the feeder feeding and flapping > his wings, presumably to generate heat and/or shake the ice off. A crow > at my feeder also had quite a bit of ice on his nape, making him look a > little like a jackdaw. > > There's been a shift in power at my hummingbird feeders. Earlier in the > week, an immature male Anna's was in charge, chasing away any other > hummer that got near, even the adult male. Since yesterday, the adult > male has taken over. He stays busy guarding both feeders. There was a > little civility first thing this morning, though. Three > female/immature-type Anna's fed on feeder, while the adult male filled > up at the second. Now that they're full and the male has defrosted, > he's busy patrolling the yard. > > Craig Tumer > SW Portland > > > -------- Original Message -------- > > Subject: [obol] Icy Birds > > From: sandyleapt at comcast.net > > Date: Sun, December 21, 2008 10:10 am > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org (OBOL) > > > > > > Hi all, > > > > I just noticed that Starlings and Robins are icing up in my neighborhood, > not enough that they cannot fly. The other birds; sparrows, finches, > juncos, chickadees, flickers, hummingbirds etc... seem to be fine--meaning > no ice. Is anyone else seeing icy birds? How long can they survive like > that? Would putting water for baths help the birds? or make it worse? > > > > Thanks > > > > Sandy Leaptrott > > NE Portland > > (a few miles east of PDX) > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From kaycarter at wbcable.net Mon Jan 5 18:17:31 2009 From: kaycarter at wbcable.net (kaycarter) Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:17:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Need ID Input Message-ID: I saw a bird between Adel and Plush on June 20, 2008, that I was pretty sure I knew what was immediately. However, I then came to question my ID, and have been mulling it over in the back of my mind ever since. I took two photos, but unfortunately my camera was accidentally on the wrong setting, so they are not in focus. The bird flew immediately after I took the second photo and I was not able to relocate it. I'd like to know what you folks think about this bird. It was roughly the size of a Robin. See the photos at: http://picasaweb.google.com/kaycarter13/OutOfFocus?authkey=AHEABxQv92Q#5287975346172160194 I have not processed the photos in any way - not even to crop them. Kay Carter Canby From john at bornagainbirdwatcher.com Mon Jan 5 18:45:53 2009 From: john at bornagainbirdwatcher.com (Born Again Bird Watcher) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 18:45:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] AOU or ABA checklist in Spanish? Message-ID: <00ff01c96fa8$e4af1c80$ae0d5580$@com> Good evening all, I'm in need of the "List of the 2,048 Bird Species known for the A.O.U. check-list area" or at least the ABA area checklist species in Spanish. Anyone have a suggestion where such a document might be located online? Many thanks in advance. Peace and good bird watching, John E. Riutta Born Again Bird Watcher LLC "Birds, Bugs, Books, and Business Consulting" Mobile: (503) 577-5383 E-mail: john at bornagainbirdwatcher.com Website: www.bornagainbirdwatcherllc.com Blog: www.bornagainbirdwatcher.com By Mail: P.O. Box A Scappoose, OR 97056 U.S.A. By Parcel Carrier: 32908 S.W. Keys Crest Drive Scappoose, OR 97056 U.S.A. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090105/584c5e01/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Mon Jan 5 18:58:32 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 18:58:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] South Coast Overwintering Birds- from CBC results etc. References: <490031.67905.qm@web45308.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <2BEA2CE581D0460F96D7842DE336AFD5@D48XBZ51> I observed a Prairie Falcon in January in Curry county in the mid-1970s. It flushed from a gravel bar in the lower Pistol River just east of Hwy 101. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim Rodenkirk" To: Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 10:19 AM Subject: [obol] South Coast Overwintering Birds- from CBC results etc. > Based on CBC info and some other sightings it looks like there a couple > new species (new within the last few years) overwintering on the south > coast, species that were previously not known to overwinter here but > routinely overwintered in the Willamette valley. > > One of these species, SAY'S PHOEBE, is overwintering in the Coquille > Valley and on the north spit of Coos Bay. Several birds are also > overwintering in Curry Co. including the Brookings area and near Cape > Blanco. I don't know of any further overwintering records further north > along the coast? > > A PRAIRIE FALCON was discovered on the Coquille valley CBC. As it turns > out, there was one seen in the Coquille Valley in Feb. of 2008 and also > several sightings during the winter of 2006/2007. Prior to this, in Coos > Co., there was only one other winter record in Feb. of 1990. Looks like > at least one bird has begun to regular overwinter in the Coquille Valley. > Are there other overwintering records on the north coast also? > > Also, at least three C. YELLOWTHROATS overwintering this year in Coos Co. > > Pretty cool! > > Tim R > Coos Bay > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From nepobirds at yahoo.com Mon Jan 5 19:10:34 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 19:10:34 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird Message-ID: <108782.76699.qm@web46010.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> We just received an email from a birder in the Forest Grove area, that has been host to a male Rufous Hummingbird. He never left after the seasons changed. How common is this for the area? She sent me a photo of him, sitting on a feeder in the snow. Quite an odd sight (at least for me). Any thoughts? Thanks. Seth Reams and Michelle King NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From tjanzen at comcast.net Mon Jan 5 19:21:45 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 19:21:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Need ID Input In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20090106032215.42C02A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear Kay, The bird appears to be a Rock Wren. Note the long, slightly decurved bill, the buffy flanks and the gray back. Sincerely, Tim Janzen Portland -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of kaycarter Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 6:18 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Need ID Input I saw a bird between Adel and Plush on June 20, 2008, that I was pretty sure I knew what was immediately. However, I then came to question my ID, and have been mulling it over in the back of my mind ever since. I took two photos, but unfortunately my camera was accidentally on the wrong setting, so they are not in focus. The bird flew immediately after I took the second photo and I was not able to relocate it. I'd like to know what you folks think about this bird. It was roughly the size of a Robin. See the photos at: http://picasaweb.google.com/kaycarter13/OutOfFocus?authkey=AHEABxQv92Q#52879 75346172160194 I have not processed the photos in any way - not even to crop them. Kay Carter Canby _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Mon Jan 5 19:32:57 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 03:32:57 +0000 Subject: [obol] Updated owl and wintering finch PHOTOS and QUIZ Message-ID: Hi all, The wonderful Mike Marsh and I birded the Okanogan area over New Year's weekend and we had a fantastic trip. We saw 5 owl species, 4 Northern Goshawks, and saw many wintering finches. Mike got his lifer HOARY REDPOLL! Yipee!!! People are probably getting tired of my long-winded, over-the-top postings so thought I would do something different by not post my sightings here. Instead, I have included it in my pBase blog. A photo quiz of a raptor is also included. At least it is a clear photo so crack at it!! For complete trip report and photos see: http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/okanogan_winter_&page=all Good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From marknikas at comcast.net Mon Jan 5 20:00:25 2009 From: marknikas at comcast.net (Mark Nikas) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 20:00:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] AOU or ABA checklist in Spanish? References: <00ff01c96fa8$e4af1c80$ae0d5580$@com> Message-ID: John, http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?lang=ES®ion=aou&list=clements This is an AOU list in Spanish as a web page but not a downloadable document. You could probably copy and paste the list into a spreadsheet without too much trouble. Mark Nikas From: Born Again Bird Watcher Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 6:45 PM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] AOU or ABA checklist in Spanish? Good evening all, I'm in need of the "List of the 2,048 Bird Species known for the A.O.U. check-list area" or at least the ABA area checklist species in Spanish. Anyone have a suggestion where such a document might be located online? Many thanks in advance. Peace and good bird watching, John E. Riutta Born Again Bird Watcher LLC "Birds, Bugs, Books, and Business Consulting" Mobile: (503) 577-5383 E-mail: john at bornagainbirdwatcher.com Website: www.bornagainbirdwatcherllc.com Blog: www.bornagainbirdwatcher.com By Mail: P.O. Box A Scappoose, OR 97056 U.S.A. By Parcel Carrier: 32908 S.W. Keys Crest Drive Scappoose, OR 97056 U.S.A. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090105/c8f80357/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Mon Jan 5 20:02:45 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 20:02:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] From the regional editor: stuff I don't need details for In-Reply-To: <4962BE70.6090209@pacifier.com> References: <4962BE70.6090209@pacifier.com> Message-ID: Hi Mike: I spent at least 1.5 hours looking for the thrush on count day with no luck. Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland On Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 6:14 PM, Mike Patterson wrote: > Given that today is the last day of the count period, I think I > can safely send out a note on details. > > Things I do not need details for: > BROWN PELICAN > Heermann's Gull > Eurasian Collared Dove > Black Phoebe in Oregon and along the Columbia River > > I also already have photos of: > Shillipoo Swainson's Hawk > Eugene Gyrfalcon > Grants Pass Yellow-bellied Sapsucker > Airlie Vesper Sparrow > Corvallis Pyrrhuloxia > > I also have photos of the Portland Swainson's Thrush, but no word on > whether it was seen inside the count window. > > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090105/4727f312/attachment.html From dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM Mon Jan 5 21:06:13 2009 From: dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM (Cheryl Whelchel) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 21:06:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fw: [birding] Re: Odd Duck on Airlie-Albany CBC Message-ID: ----- Original Message ----- From: Phyllis Bailey To: list at midvalleybirding.org Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 8:22 PM Subject: [birding] Re: Odd Duck on Airlie-Albany CBC Sorry this is so late. . .I had some computer problems earlier in the day that delayed my sending any messages anywhere. At any rate, I wanted to add my two cents to the discussion of the duck Cheryl Whelchel and I saw. The thing that made me really look at the bird hard was what I perceived as a tuft that came to an end halfway down the back of the duck's head. The head was roundish in shape, rather than sort of plumped up like a RNDU can look. She had a whitish patch on the side of her face near the base of the bill, not as prominent as on a scaup, but noticeable. The bill appeared to be mostly darkish, without the outstanding white marking of a ring-necked. But she did have a distinct eyering and a short line behind the eye. And the eye appeared to be dark. I would say that the most distinquishing features were the tuft and the head shape. I'm not going to be able to get back out to the site anytime soon, but perhaps someone with more experience could, and if the bird is still around, we could get an answer. Phyllis Bailey, Corvallis --- On Mon, 1/5/09, list-request at midvalleybirding.org wrote: From: list-request at midvalleybirding.org Subject: list Digest, Vol 34, Issue 3 To: list at midvalleybirding.org Date: Monday, January 5, 2009, 12:32 PM Send list mailing list submissions to list at midvalleybirding.orgTo subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/listor, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to list-request at midvalleybirding.orgYou can reach the person managing the list at list-owner at midvalleybirding.orgWhen replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specificthan "Re: Contents of list digest..."Today's Topics: 1. Vesper Sparrow location (Cheryl Whelchel) 2. Re: Vesper Sparrow location, SE Polk Co. (Joel Geier) 3. In Kansas - albino red-tail pics (Steve Seibel) 4. Sharpy takes chicken! (bouchdon at peak.org)----------------------------------------------------------------------Message: 1Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 11:29:58 -0800From: "Cheryl Whelchel" Subject: [birding] Vesper Sparrow locationTo: "obol" , "midvallybirding" Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"I don't know the name of the road it was on but if you are going north onWells Landing RD and turn right where it dead ends into Hopville, then turn lefton the unpaved road that has hops growing to the left of it. At the end of thehops the road turns right and there is a blackberry thicket in the corner. Thebird responded quickly to pishing.Cheryl Whelchel----- Original Message ----- From: Jamie S. To: Cheryl Whelchel Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2009 11:10 AMSubject: Re: [birding] Airlie CBC Possible hybrid duck and Vesper Sparrow Can you post a description of where you found the Vesper sparrow soanyone who would like to try and relocate it can do so? Thanks! Jamie Simmons Corvallis --- On Sun, 1/4/09, Cheryl Whelchel> wrote: From: Cheryl Whelchel> Subject: [birding] Airlie CBC Possible hybrid duck and Vesper Sparrow To: "obol" , "midvallybirding" Date: Sunday, January 4, 2009, 9:19 AM Probably this will be one that got away, but for what its worth I haveposted some poor pictures of what appears to possibly be a hybird of some sort. The pictures really don't help much. Perhaps my birding partner Phylliswill post a description as well. In addition to what I stated below, the tuftwas visible with only binoculars, and was quite plain with the scope. If someone much more knowlegeable wants to chase this I can work ongetting access to the pond. It was in the Bueana Vista area south onIndependence. Cheryl Whelchel ----- Original Message ----- From: CherylWhelchel To: DavidIrons Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2009 8:57 AM Subject: Re: need help with 2 id's Thanks for the response. There were 2 other observers, one person hadbeen birding for over 30 years. She is the one that first noticed the tuft andwe studied it at 60 power for 20 minutes. So yes I think that it definitely hada tuft. Unfortuneatly it was on private property well away from the road, andaccess will be problematic. Again thanks for the great help. Cheryl Whelchel ----- Original Message ----- From: DavidIrons To: CherylWhelchel Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2009 11:05 PM Subject: RE: need help with 2 id's Hi Cheryl, Sorry for the late response. I just got back from doing the CoquilleValley CBC and I am scheduled to meet a couple people for pre-dawn owling at 5AMfor tomorrow's Eugene CBC. If I got to bed this very instant I will getfive hours of sleep. The sparrow is definitely a Vesper. The very neat complete eyering,relatively plain face (not as patterned as a Savannah) and the fine streaking onthe breast and flanks make this a pretty straight forward ID. The duck is more of a challenge. I can't see what I would call atuft in any of these images. Based on head shape along and the generallypaleness in the face and your description, I would say the bird is likely aRing-necked Duck. Though Tufteds resemble RNDU a bit, they have a very roundedcrown and hindcrown. It is not squared off like a Ring-necked. There is theslight possibility of it being a hybrid Tufted X Lesser Scaup or even Tufted XRing-necked, but with out a closer more clear image that would be tough to tell.If you have the opportunity, you might try to get out and see it again. If youare sure you saw even a little tuft, I would post this to OBOL and theMid-Valley Birders site in hopes that someone can go out and refind it. Dave ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM To: llsdirons at msn.com Subject: need help with 2 id's Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 19:36:44 -0800 Hi Dave, I did the Airlie CBC today and found 2 unusual birds. The first is asparrow and it is probably a Vesper Sparrow, but I wanted to run it by someoneelse. The second is a duck that is a bit more difficult, especially sinceit was a little too far away for decent pictures. It was a brown duck with ahint of white around its bill. The bill was a sort of gray with a black tip. The head had a rounded profile with what I would call a dark chocolate cap, anda tuft. It's back was a slightly darker brown than flanks. It heldit's tail stiffly up sort of like a ruddy. It dove. I would love to callthis a Tufted Duck, the problem is the eyes. It appeared to have a white eyering and white line going postierior from the middle of the eye. To far away toreally discern eye color, but seemed dark, not yellow. There were no otherbirds present so judging relative size was difficult. The amount of white around the bill on face was very slight. Theremainder of face was chocolatly brown like the back. I can't rule out either Ring-necked or Tufted. The eyes areinconsistent with Tufted, and the shape of head and tuft are inconsistent withRing-neck. I put pictures of both birds on my website. I will need to let PaulAdamus know asap, especially about the sparrow since the photo documentation isgood. Thanks Cheryl Whelchel http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/---------------------------------------------------------------------- Send e-mail anywhere. No map, no compass. Get your Hotmail? accountnow. -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ list mailing list list at midvalleybirding.org http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/-------------- next part --------------An HTML attachment was scrubbed...URL:http://midvalleybirding.org/pipermail/list/attachments/20090104/c1f5d160/attachment-0001.htm------------------------------Message: 2Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:05:01 -0800From: Joel Geier Subject: Re: [birding] Vesper Sparrow location, SE Polk Co.To: Cheryl Whelchel Cc: midvally birding , obol Message-ID: <1231110301.3627.18.camel at localhost.localdomain>Content-Type: text/plainHi folks,The right turn off Wells Landing Road which Cheryl describes is WigrichRd., see DeLorme p. 53, B7. I don't know the name of the smaller gravelroad that goes off to the left. There are a couple such roads but fromthe description and some dim recollections of having been out there indaylight years ago, I think it's the longer one labelled as Haener Rd.If you go too far on Wigrich Rd., you'll be testing the amphibiouscapabilities of whatever vehicle you're operating. As of 8 PM lastevening (when I was out there in the dark again, unsuccessfully tryingto reach a reliable spot for Western Screech-Owl), the east end ofWigrich Rd. was under flood waters.Happy birding,JoelP.S. The hazelnut orchards in this area have been a good spot forwintering Chipping Sparrows in years past. I've never found them myself,but according to Roy Gerig, Don Albright et al. they are normally foundwith junco flocks in the older orchards.On Sun, 2009-01-04 at 11:29 -0800, Cheryl Whelchel wrote:> I don't know the name of the road it was on but if you are going north> on Wells Landing RD and turn right where it dead ends into Hopville,> then turn left on the unpaved road that has hops growing to the left> of it. At the end of the hops the road turns right and there is a> blackberry thicket in the corner. The bird responded quickly to> pishing.> > Cheryl Whelchel--Joel GeierCamp Adair area north of Corvallis------------------------------Message: 3Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 11:34:09 -0800From: "Steve Seibel" Subject: [birding] In Kansas - albino red-tail picsTo: list at midvalleybirding.orgMessage-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"***http://www.aeroexperiments.org/AlbinoRedTailedHawk1*Hi all-- I'll be near Wichita KS for a few more days, thought some mightenjoy this link to some snapshots I took of a partial albino / leucisticRed-tailed hawk I spotted near here.Steve-------------- next part --------------An HTML attachment was scrubbed...URL:http://midvalleybirding.org/pipermail/list/attachments/20090105/9f6fb091/attachment-0001.htm------------------------------Message: 4Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 12:32:06 -0800 (PST)From: bouchdon at peak.orgSubject: [birding] Sharpy takes chicken!To: mid-valley-nature at googlegroups.comCc: list at midvalleybirding.orgMessage-ID: <35822.192.104.231.235.1231187526.squirrel at webmail.peak.org>Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1Hello Birders,My coworker, Scobel Wiggins, has had a Sharp-shinned Hawk attack herBantam Chickens recently. The other day, the little rooster was killed. Hewas probably bravely defending his hens, may he rest in peace :-(The description of the bird fits that of Sharp-shinned Hawk. Ambitious! Myguess is that it was a female hawk.Don Boucherwww.neighborhood-naturalist.com------------------------------_______________________________________________list mailing listlist at midvalleybirding.orghttp://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/listEnd of list Digest, Vol 34, Issue 3*********************************** _______________________________________________ list mailing list list at midvalleybirding.org http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090105/c0d5cdd8/attachment.html From marciafcutler at comcast.net Mon Jan 5 21:25:05 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 21:25:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird In-Reply-To: <108782.76699.qm@web46010.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <108782.76699.qm@web46010.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <44990A73B11547CEA08EC32D7BC3E287@melvintrex4uoq> I can't answer Seth's question, but about a month ago I received some email from a person in the Corvallis area who claimed that they had an overwintering Rufous Hummingbird. All the pictures sent to me were taken this summer, but the person was insistent that they were still seeing the same hummingbird. I should probably follow up on this some more now that the CBC season is over (or nearly so for compilers). Marcia -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Seth Reams Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 7:11 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird We just received an email from a birder in the Forest Grove area, that has been host to a male Rufous Hummingbird. He never left after the seasons changed. How common is this for the area? She sent me a photo of him, sitting on a feeder in the snow. Quite an odd sight (at least for me). Any thoughts? Thanks. Seth Reams and Michelle King NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Jan 5 21:20:48 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:20:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pheasant question Message-ID: Today's debate question: Should the Ring-necked Pheasant be considered to have a self-sustaining population anywhere in western Oregon? -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com Information on Coquille Valley CBC: http://cvcbc.blogspot.com/ http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From tc at empnet.com Mon Jan 5 21:31:37 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 21:31:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pheasant question References: Message-ID: <148901c96fc0$0bbf9a40$6500a8c0@1120639> It certainly did for years and years prior to the current farming methods that no longer leave margins for fields and plant every square inch with crops. I certainly can't speak to the current state of the species in western Oregon, but it was doing fine in the 70s and 80s. Tom Crabtree, Bend ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan Contreras" To: "obol" Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 9:20 PM Subject: [obol] Pheasant question Today's debate question: Should the Ring-necked Pheasant be considered to have a self-sustaining population anywhere in western Oregon? -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com Information on Coquille Valley CBC: http://cvcbc.blogspot.com/ http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From marciafcutler at comcast.net Mon Jan 5 21:42:40 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 21:42:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Winter Wrens and G-c Kinglets Message-ID: <967E498D4D9C4F7F963A526F3909C10B@melvintrex4uoq> For the period 2002-2008, the Corvallis CBC shows the following results: WIWR GCKI 2002 34 167 2003 39 325 2004 106 539 2005 52 386 2006 42 526 2007 27 247 2008 24 172 For both species, the best years were between 2003 and 2006. For Winter Wrens, there's been a steady downward trend since 2004, but only the last 2 years are below 2002's numbers. Golden-crowned Kinglets show more variation, but 2008 is actually a bit higher than 2002. Marcia F. Cutler Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090105/6e0878bd/attachment.html From marciafcutler at comcast.net Mon Jan 5 21:44:51 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 21:44:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Winter Wrens and G-c Kinglets Message-ID: <527A8ACD1FC5441CB64E92C5D415F89E@melvintrex4uoq> For the period 2002-2008, the Corvallis CBC shows the following results: WIWR GCKI 2002 34 167 2003 39 325 2004 106 539 2005 52 386 2006 42 526 2007 27 247 2008 24 172 For both species, the best years were between 2003 and 2006. For Winter Wrens, there's been a steady downward trend since 2004, but only the last 2 years are below 2002's numbers. Golden-crowned Kinglets show more variation, but 2008 is actually a bit higher than 2002. Marcia F. Cutler Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090105/90857afb/attachment.html From marknikas at comcast.net Mon Jan 5 22:24:24 2009 From: marknikas at comcast.net (Mark Nikas) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 22:24:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pheasant question References: <148901c96fc0$0bbf9a40$6500a8c0@1120639> Message-ID: <20206E4125714F6B85F3E0D9997775EF@LIBRARY> Outside of a handful of "fee hunts" each year ODFW has not supplemented the wild pheasant population for some time but they are still out there. Numbers are certainly much lower and it's no longer a sure thing on many Christmas counts. Prime habitat is dwindling so numbers will never approach what they were in the past but it seems for now they continue as a viable population in Western Oregon. Mark Nikas -------------------------------------------------- From: "Tom Crabtree" Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 9:31 PM To: "Alan Contreras" ; "obol" Subject: Re: [obol] Pheasant question > It certainly did for years and years prior to the current farming > methods > that no longer leave margins for fields and plant every square inch > with > crops. I certainly can't speak to the current state of the species > in > western Oregon, but it was doing fine in the 70s and 80s. > > Tom Crabtree, > Bend > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Alan Contreras" > To: "obol" > Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 9:20 PM > Subject: [obol] Pheasant question > > > Today's debate question: > > Should the Ring-necked Pheasant be considered to have a > self-sustaining > population anywhere in western Oregon? > > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > Information on Coquille Valley CBC: http://cvcbc.blogspot.com/ > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From 5hats at peak.org Mon Jan 5 23:16:11 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 23:16:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] loon Message-ID: <001e01c96fce$aa8c3030$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Obol, As it turned out, while we were looking at the January 3 Yaquina Bay loon through the scope, Cindy Lippincott was filming it. She has sent me the video, which I will gladly forward to anyone who wants to see it. It looks to me like an Arctic Loon. Some of the supposed disturbing features don't seem to be so much of a problem according to the video. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090105/3d9177d6/attachment.html From 4cains at charter.net Mon Jan 5 23:35:52 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 23:35:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Need ID Input Message-ID: Rock Wren...yeah I agree. But what I am REALLY interested in is the apparent very recent lava flow the bird is standing on... any reports of reactivated vents or fissures in Eastern Oregon this year? Way cool!! Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090105/c58c99da/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Jan 5 23:43:38 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 23:43:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Westside pheasants Message-ID: <30c8fb0e9f776f36c3971342d9f96456@earthlink.net> As I recall neither Corvallis nor Brownsville CBCs recorded a PHEASANT last year. Eugene recorded a record low number. What are the statistics for this year's counts? It struck me at the time that this was the most meaningful data to be gleaned from those respective counts. Both Corvallis and Brownsville count circles get very close to Peterson Butte, the site of the first successful pheasant introduction in North America. To be sure, some birds are to be seen here and there, but they are probably relicts, rather than parts of a truly self-sustaining population. On two occasions last winter I stopped on the abandoned section of Jacobsen Rd (where there is a large gate) near Croeni Ponds in Hillsboro and flushed 13 female Ring-necked Pheasants. Stocked birds are generally males so I took this to be a group of wild birds. In both cases it was at dusk and all the birds were together when they flushed. I took this to be a roost. This is a forty or more acre property that Intel suspended development on. Presumably they or someone else will proceed with so-called "development" when they find the time is right. In the meantime farming has ceased on said ground and blackberries and queen anne's lace is steadily covering it. I stopped there several times in May and June of 2008 at dawn and heard singing Meadowlarks. This would be the only indication of their breeding in Washington County in my personal experience in the last ten or more years. While people may feel ambivalence towards the passing of an exotic species, it may be some sort of indicator. Where the pheasant survives, so may certain native species. But I wonder if habitat degradation is an adequate explanation. When was the last time anyone detected a pheasant on Finley NWR? It is inside the Corvallis count circle and I would hope it was covered in last year's count. When I birded Finley regularly in the 70s it was probably impossible not to get pheasant on a day's list. One can certainly not claim Finley has suffered from the advances of modern, clean agribusiness. To the contrary, it is undergoing one of the most successful habitat restorations I have had the pleasure to witness. Yet I believe pheasants have declined there at a rate similar to the rest of the Willamette Valley. The boom and subsequent whimpering fade out of introduced species is quite common. A bird may be quite abundant for decades, across multiple human generations and hence collective memory, and then decline over decades until it completely disappears. I believe this is the case with the Chinese Spotted Dove to our south and the Crested Myna to the north. The Bobwhite did the same in Oregon on both sides of the State. Various informants of my parents' age portrayed the species as common in Benton and Polk Counties in the fifties, while it had become rare by the early 70s. It is certainly gone from those areas now. In eastern Oregon the Bobwhite has disappeared everywhere although in many areas agricultural land fronts extensive areas of sagebrush and other wild landscapes. This begs the question that has been near the front of my mind this CBC season--When is the ODF&W going to set seasons and bag limits on Eurasian Collared Doves? Or perhaps the agency would rather ignore them all together after spending millions on the unsuccessful attempts to introduce a host of exotic game birds over the last half century. Lars Norgren From marknikas at comcast.net Tue Jan 6 00:36:31 2009 From: marknikas at comcast.net (Mark Nikas) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 00:36:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Westside pheasants References: <30c8fb0e9f776f36c3971342d9f96456@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <401BE6087457468E888547D508213803@LIBRARY> I too remember when Finley was crawling with pheasants. It was also heavily stocked by ODFW. They used to raise many thousands at EE Wilson for release throughout western Oregon. It was a very expensive operation. I don't know exact dates but it seems it was 15 or 20 years ago when they stopped large scale pheasant rearing. They tried Sichuan Pheasants in the 90's hoping they would have a better survival rate but that apparently didn't work out as they had hoped. I'd guess the decline in pheasant numbers documented on the CBCs would mesh pretty good with the termination of ODFW stocking. The old numbers were artificially high due to released birds whose survival rate was documented as being quite low. I'm sure the end of releases isn't the only factor contributing to the decline but it must be a major one. Mark Nikas -------------------------------------------------- From: "Norgren Family" Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 11:43 PM To: Subject: [obol] Westside pheasants > As I recall neither Corvallis nor > Brownsville CBCs recorded a PHEASANT > last year. Eugene recorded a record > low number. What are the statistics > for this year's counts? It struck > me at the time that this was the most meaningful > data to be gleaned from those respective > counts. Both Corvallis and Brownsville > count circles get very close to > Peterson Butte, the site of the first > successful pheasant introduction in > North America. > To be sure, some birds are to > be seen here and there, but they > are probably relicts, rather than > parts of a truly self-sustaining > population. On two occasions last > winter I stopped on the abandoned > section of Jacobsen Rd (where there > is a large gate) near Croeni Ponds > in Hillsboro and flushed 13 female > Ring-necked Pheasants. Stocked birds > are generally males so I took this > to be a group of wild birds. In both > cases it was at dusk and all the > birds were together when they > flushed. I took this to be a roost. > This is a forty or more acre property > that Intel suspended development on. > Presumably they or someone else will > proceed with so-called "development" > when they find the time is right. > In the meantime farming has ceased > on said ground and blackberries and > queen anne's lace is steadily covering > it. > I stopped there several times > in May and June of 2008 at dawn and > heard singing Meadowlarks. This would > be the only indication of their > breeding in Washington County in my > personal experience in the last ten > or more years. While people may feel > ambivalence towards the passing of > an exotic species, it may be some sort > of indicator. Where the pheasant survives, > so may certain native species. > But I wonder if habitat degradation > is an adequate explanation. When was the > last time anyone detected a pheasant on > Finley NWR? It is inside the Corvallis > count circle and I would hope it was > covered in last year's count. When I > birded Finley regularly in the 70s it > was probably impossible not to get > pheasant on a day's list. One can > certainly not claim Finley has > suffered from the advances of modern, > clean agribusiness. To the contrary, > it is undergoing one of the most > successful habitat restorations > I have had the pleasure to witness. > Yet I believe pheasants have declined > there at a rate similar to the rest > of the Willamette Valley. > The boom and subsequent whimpering > fade out of introduced species is > quite common. A bird may be quite > abundant for decades, across multiple > human generations and hence collective > memory, and then decline over decades > until it completely disappears. I > believe this is the case with the > Chinese Spotted Dove to our south and > the Crested Myna to the north. The > Bobwhite did the same in Oregon on both > sides of the State. Various informants > of my parents' age portrayed the species > as common in Benton and Polk Counties > in the fifties, while it had become > rare by the early 70s. It is certainly > gone from those areas now. In eastern > Oregon the Bobwhite has disappeared > everywhere although in many areas > agricultural land fronts extensive > areas of sagebrush and other wild > landscapes. > This begs the question that has > been near the front of my mind this > CBC season--When is the ODF&W going > to set seasons and bag limits on > Eurasian Collared Doves? Or perhaps the agency > would rather ignore them all together > after spending millions on the unsuccessful > attempts to introduce a host of exotic > game birds over the last half century. > Lars Norgren > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gorgebirds at juno.com Tue Jan 6 00:35:48 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 08:35:48 GMT Subject: [obol] Westside pheasants Message-ID: <20090106.003548.6076.1@webmail07.vgs.untd.com> I believe that the original stocking of pheasants was done by Oregon Governor Denny on Sauvie Island. And those birds were of the Mongolian subspecies that inhabited open areas. With the loss of the Willamette Valley grasslands another subspecies from Sichuan was introduced about thirty years ago as they are a bird of brushier habitats and could survive in second growth forests along the edge of the valley. Now the question is what subspecies are people seeing? Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Click to begin your health care training online. Request info today. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/PnY6rw3fQe8f4e7AHjA6KUfWkzgfIscsZ180yKqMvVJAqS0QySXkF/ From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Jan 6 05:49:49 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 05:49:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Westside pheasants In-Reply-To: <401BE6087457468E888547D508213803@LIBRARY> References: <30c8fb0e9f776f36c3971342d9f96456@earthlink.net> <401BE6087457468E888547D508213803@LIBRARY> Message-ID: <9e055552759d0541a92e83b2c0b9726e@earthlink.net> I hunted those pheasants and I can't imagine the survival rate was sufficient to affect the breeding population in spring. In 1973 it cost to ODF&W $5/bird from hatching to release. The put and take birds were easy to tell because they had no tails. There were a substantial number of wild birds at Finley then and they were very hard to get- they were smart, they were wary. The hatchery birds had all the sophistication of a white Leghorn or barred rock. At the time a hunting license cost $7.50, so the second bird of the season was profit in the eyes of my father, a perpetually starving graduate student. The situation was even more ludicrous because the pheasants were raised at E.E. Wilson in open topped pens. This attracted significant numbers of raptors. ODF&W could have covered the pens with chicken wire, but preferred to place leg-hold traps, the kind fur trappers use, on top of pole perches. Heavy anthropogenic raptor mortality was inevitable. Audubon Society of Corvallis got involved, initially by replacing the traps with a device that didn't break the legs of hawks and owls. Lars Norgren On Jan 6, 2009, at 12:36 AM, Mark Nikas wrote: > I too remember when Finley was crawling with pheasants. It was also > heavily stocked by ODFW. They used to raise many thousands at EE > Wilson for release throughout western Oregon. It was a very expensive > operation. I don't know exact dates but it seems it was 15 or 20 years > ago when they stopped large scale pheasant rearing. They tried Sichuan > Pheasants in the 90's hoping they would have a better survival rate > but that apparently didn't work out as they had hoped. I'd guess the > decline in pheasant numbers documented on the CBCs would mesh pretty > good with the termination of ODFW stocking. The old numbers were > artificially high due to released birds whose survival rate was > documented as being quite low. I'm sure the end of releases isn't the > only factor contributing to the decline but it must be a major one. > > Mark Nikas > > -------------------------------------------------- > From: "Norgren Family" > Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 11:43 PM > To: > Subject: [obol] Westside pheasants > >> As I recall neither Corvallis nor >> Brownsville CBCs recorded a PHEASANT >> last year. Eugene recorded a record >> low number. What are the statistics >> for this year's counts? It struck >> me at the time that this was the most meaningful >> data to be gleaned from those respective >> counts. Both Corvallis and Brownsville >> count circles get very close to >> Peterson Butte, the site of the first >> successful pheasant introduction in >> North America. >> To be sure, some birds are to >> be seen here and there, but they >> are probably relicts, rather than >> parts of a truly self-sustaining >> population. On two occasions last >> winter I stopped on the abandoned >> section of Jacobsen Rd (where there >> is a large gate) near Croeni Ponds >> in Hillsboro and flushed 13 female >> Ring-necked Pheasants. Stocked birds >> are generally males so I took this >> to be a group of wild birds. In both >> cases it was at dusk and all the >> birds were together when they >> flushed. I took this to be a roost. >> This is a forty or more acre property >> that Intel suspended development on. >> Presumably they or someone else will >> proceed with so-called "development" >> when they find the time is right. >> In the meantime farming has ceased >> on said ground and blackberries and >> queen anne's lace is steadily covering >> it. >> I stopped there several times >> in May and June of 2008 at dawn and >> heard singing Meadowlarks. This would >> be the only indication of their >> breeding in Washington County in my >> personal experience in the last ten >> or more years. While people may feel >> ambivalence towards the passing of >> an exotic species, it may be some sort >> of indicator. Where the pheasant survives, >> so may certain native species. >> But I wonder if habitat degradation >> is an adequate explanation. When was the >> last time anyone detected a pheasant on >> Finley NWR? It is inside the Corvallis >> count circle and I would hope it was >> covered in last year's count. When I >> birded Finley regularly in the 70s it >> was probably impossible not to get >> pheasant on a day's list. One can >> certainly not claim Finley has >> suffered from the advances of modern, >> clean agribusiness. To the contrary, >> it is undergoing one of the most >> successful habitat restorations >> I have had the pleasure to witness. >> Yet I believe pheasants have declined >> there at a rate similar to the rest >> of the Willamette Valley. >> The boom and subsequent whimpering >> fade out of introduced species is >> quite common. A bird may be quite >> abundant for decades, across multiple >> human generations and hence collective >> memory, and then decline over decades >> until it completely disappears. I >> believe this is the case with the >> Chinese Spotted Dove to our south and >> the Crested Myna to the north. The >> Bobwhite did the same in Oregon on both >> sides of the State. Various informants >> of my parents' age portrayed the species >> as common in Benton and Polk Counties >> in the fifties, while it had become >> rare by the early 70s. It is certainly >> gone from those areas now. In eastern >> Oregon the Bobwhite has disappeared >> everywhere although in many areas >> agricultural land fronts extensive >> areas of sagebrush and other wild >> landscapes. >> This begs the question that has >> been near the front of my mind this >> CBC season--When is the ODF&W going >> to set seasons and bag limits on >> Eurasian Collared Doves? Or perhaps the agency >> would rather ignore them all together >> after spending millions on the unsuccessful >> attempts to introduce a host of exotic >> game birds over the last half century. >> Lars Norgren >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Jan 6 06:46:49 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 06:46:49 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Pheasant question In-Reply-To: <20206E4125714F6B85F3E0D9997775EF@LIBRARY> Message-ID: <60320.99166.qm@web45310.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> On the north spit of Coos Bay breeding males can be heard crowing away in the spring through early June. I have noted this the past 10 years or so each spring. However, I have on one occasion actually seen a hunter release pheasant out there which his under 10 yr. old son went after with a shotgun a few minutes later so I imagine the population could be supplemented by others than ODFW. We have had singing Bobolinks out there also! Tim R Coos Bay --- On Mon, 1/5/09, Mark Nikas wrote: > From: Mark Nikas > Subject: Re: [obol] Pheasant question > To: "obol" > Date: Monday, January 5, 2009, 10:24 PM > Outside of a handful of "fee hunts" each year ODFW > has not > supplemented the wild pheasant population > for some time but they are still out there. Numbers are > certainly much > lower and it's no longer a sure thing > on many Christmas counts. Prime habitat is dwindling so > numbers will > never approach what they were in > the past but it seems for now they continue as a viable > population in > Western Oregon. > > Mark Nikas > > > > -------------------------------------------------- > From: "Tom Crabtree" > Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 9:31 PM > To: "Alan Contreras" > ; "obol" > > Subject: Re: [obol] Pheasant question > > > It certainly did for years and years prior to the > current farming > > methods > > that no longer leave margins for fields and plant > every square inch > > with > > crops. I certainly can't speak to the current > state of the species > > in > > western Oregon, but it was doing fine in the 70s and > 80s. > > > > Tom Crabtree, > > Bend > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Alan Contreras" > > > To: "obol" > > Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 9:20 PM > > Subject: [obol] Pheasant question > > > > > > Today's debate question: > > > > Should the Ring-necked Pheasant be considered to have > a > > self-sustaining > > population anywhere in western Oregon? > > > > > > -- > > Alan Contreras > > EUGENE, OREGON > > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > > Information on Coquille Valley CBC: > http://cvcbc.blogspot.com/ > > > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary > > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos > & News > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Jan 6 06:49:40 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 06:49:40 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Westside pheasants In-Reply-To: <30c8fb0e9f776f36c3971342d9f96456@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <539308.24855.qm@web45305.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> ODFW opened up a hunting season on Eurasian Collared-Doves last year, I think bag limits are similar to Mourning Doves but I'm not sure. Tim R Coos Bay --- On Mon, 1/5/09, Norgren Family wrote: > From: Norgren Family > Subject: [obol] Westside pheasants > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Monday, January 5, 2009, 11:43 PM > As I recall neither Corvallis nor > Brownsville CBCs recorded a PHEASANT > last year. Eugene recorded a record > low number. What are the statistics > for this year's counts? It struck > me at the time that this was the most meaningful > data to be gleaned from those respective > counts. Both Corvallis and Brownsville > count circles get very close to > Peterson Butte, the site of the first > successful pheasant introduction in > North America. > To be sure, some birds are to > be seen here and there, but they > are probably relicts, rather than > parts of a truly self-sustaining > population. On two occasions last > winter I stopped on the abandoned > section of Jacobsen Rd (where there > is a large gate) near Croeni Ponds > in Hillsboro and flushed 13 female > Ring-necked Pheasants. Stocked birds > are generally males so I took this > to be a group of wild birds. In both > cases it was at dusk and all the > birds were together when they > flushed. I took this to be a roost. > This is a forty or more acre property > that Intel suspended development on. > Presumably they or someone else will > proceed with so-called "development" > when they find the time is right. > In the meantime farming has ceased > on said ground and blackberries and > queen anne's lace is steadily covering > it. > I stopped there several times > in May and June of 2008 at dawn and > heard singing Meadowlarks. This would > be the only indication of their > breeding in Washington County in my > personal experience in the last ten > or more years. While people may feel > ambivalence towards the passing of > an exotic species, it may be some sort > of indicator. Where the pheasant survives, > so may certain native species. > But I wonder if habitat degradation > is an adequate explanation. When was the > last time anyone detected a pheasant on > Finley NWR? It is inside the Corvallis > count circle and I would hope it was > covered in last year's count. When I > birded Finley regularly in the 70s it > was probably impossible not to get > pheasant on a day's list. One can > certainly not claim Finley has > suffered from the advances of modern, > clean agribusiness. To the contrary, > it is undergoing one of the most > successful habitat restorations > I have had the pleasure to witness. > Yet I believe pheasants have declined > there at a rate similar to the rest > of the Willamette Valley. > The boom and subsequent whimpering > fade out of introduced species is > quite common. A bird may be quite > abundant for decades, across multiple > human generations and hence collective > memory, and then decline over decades > until it completely disappears. I > believe this is the case with the > Chinese Spotted Dove to our south and > the Crested Myna to the north. The > Bobwhite did the same in Oregon on both > sides of the State. Various informants > of my parents' age portrayed the species > as common in Benton and Polk Counties > in the fifties, while it had become > rare by the early 70s. It is certainly > gone from those areas now. In eastern > Oregon the Bobwhite has disappeared > everywhere although in many areas > agricultural land fronts extensive > areas of sagebrush and other wild > landscapes. > This begs the question that has > been near the front of my mind this > CBC season--When is the ODF&W going > to set seasons and bag limits on > Eurasian Collared Doves? Or perhaps the agency > would rather ignore them all together > after spending millions on the unsuccessful > attempts to introduce a host of exotic > game birds over the last half century. > Lars Norgren > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From sandyleapt at comcast.net Tue Jan 6 06:56:24 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:56:24 +0000 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird Message-ID: <010620091456.27109.49637118000DC410000069E522070208539B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Hi Seth, I've heard through a friend (guess that makes it a rumor) that a friend of hers has Rufous Hummingbirds year round. Since my friend never had a chance to check it out I filled that tidbit in the back of mind until now. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Seth Reams > We just received an email from a birder in the Forest Grove area, that has been > host to a male Rufous Hummingbird. He never left after the seasons changed. How > common is this for the area? She sent me a photo of him, sitting on a feeder in > the snow. Quite an odd sight (at least for me). Any thoughts? Thanks. > > Seth Reams and Michelle King > NE Portland, OR - Gateway area > portlandbirds.blogspot.com > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From celata at pacifier.com Tue Jan 6 07:29:59 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:29:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird Message-ID: <496378F7.1050607@pacifier.com> Rufous Hummingbirds do over-winter, though usually as first winter birds which makes it hard to be certain they are not some other _Selasphorus_ species (Allen's, Broad-tailed). Adult males are very unusual, but also the most unequivocal. That said, most of the Rufous Hummingbird reports I chase down turn out to be Anna's Hummingbirds. A substantial number of bird feeder folk are not particularly discerning when it comes to ID. They make assumptions. Many don't even own a field guide. A hummingbird is a hummingbird. A sparrow is a sparrow. I knew a lady who insisted she had a yard full of Harris's Sparrows. She knew that's what they were because she grew up with them back east. They were House Sparrows. Of course, I also knew a lady who insisted she had a Gray-crowned Rosy-finch coming to here feeder that turned out to be a Gray- crowned Rosy-finch, coming to her feeder. So it's important that we don't make assumptions, either. Knowing whether these really are _Selasphorus _ hummingbirds is useful information that may presage trends. Finding a nice way to tell someone they've got Anna's rather than Rufous Hummingbirds (or House Sparrows rather than Harris's Sparrows) is a useful people skill. And along the way you may find a Brambling or a Pyrrhuloxia. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ From whoffman at peak.org Tue Jan 6 07:46:22 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 07:46:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pheasant question References: <60320.99166.qm@web45310.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Over the years several subspecies of pheasants have been introduced in Oregon, nost recently "Sichuan" which I believe do not have neck rings. It is very possible that the genetic mongrels rersulting have lower survival than the original stock released in the 19th century. If so, we can expect an extended period of low numbers as selection weeds out deleterious gene combinations, then possibly a rebound, providing sufficient habitat remains. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim Rodenkirk" To: "obol" ; "Mark Nikas" Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 6:46 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Pheasant question On the north spit of Coos Bay breeding males can be heard crowing away in the spring through early June. I have noted this the past 10 years or so each spring. However, I have on one occasion actually seen a hunter release pheasant out there which his under 10 yr. old son went after with a shotgun a few minutes later so I imagine the population could be supplemented by others than ODFW. We have had singing Bobolinks out there also! Tim R Coos Bay --- On Mon, 1/5/09, Mark Nikas wrote: > From: Mark Nikas > Subject: Re: [obol] Pheasant question > To: "obol" > Date: Monday, January 5, 2009, 10:24 PM > Outside of a handful of "fee hunts" each year ODFW > has not > supplemented the wild pheasant population > for some time but they are still out there. Numbers are > certainly much > lower and it's no longer a sure thing > on many Christmas counts. Prime habitat is dwindling so > numbers will > never approach what they were in > the past but it seems for now they continue as a viable > population in > Western Oregon. > > Mark Nikas > > > > -------------------------------------------------- > From: "Tom Crabtree" > Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 9:31 PM > To: "Alan Contreras" > ; "obol" > > Subject: Re: [obol] Pheasant question > > > It certainly did for years and years prior to the > current farming > > methods > > that no longer leave margins for fields and plant > every square inch > > with > > crops. I certainly can't speak to the current > state of the species > > in > > western Oregon, but it was doing fine in the 70s and > 80s. > > > > Tom Crabtree, > > Bend > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Alan Contreras" > > > To: "obol" > > Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 9:20 PM > > Subject: [obol] Pheasant question > > > > > > Today's debate question: > > > > Should the Ring-necked Pheasant be considered to have > a > > self-sustaining > > population anywhere in western Oregon? > > > > > > -- > > Alan Contreras > > EUGENE, OREGON > > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > > Information on Coquille Valley CBC: > http://cvcbc.blogspot.com/ > > > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary > > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos > & News > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From 5hats at peak.org Tue Jan 6 07:53:39 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 07:53:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] loon video Message-ID: <000401c97019$93c87110$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Obolites, The video Cindy Lippincott took of the Jan 3 Yaquina Bay Loon takes a few minutes to download once you get the post, but for all you dial up people (of which I am one), the post itself comes straight through. So I am going to post it to the main list. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090106/24e6db4a/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Tue Jan 6 07:54:05 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 07:54:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fw: Loon Message-ID: <000501c97019$9526efa0$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> ----- Original Message ----- From: Cindy Lippincott and Bob Berman To: 5hats at peak.org Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 12:50 PM Subject: Loon Darrel, I guess you had no idea that I was taking a movie of the loon in question. I have just posted it on YouTube. Here's the URL. I'll let you post the URL on OBOL rather than doing it myself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6Ln4Sj8uZU Cindy -- ==================================================== Cindy Lippincott and Bob Berman 180 NW 73rd Court, Newport, Oregon 97365 541-265-7736 home 719-649-4588 cell ==================================================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090106/0cb3036f/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Jan 6 08:33:29 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:33:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Loon Message-ID: <496387D9.4090309@pacifier.com> This appears to be a white-sided COMMON LOON. It is very similar to the individual that had folks going along the Neawanna last year http://home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/temp/loon20080108.jpg The head-shape and strong contrast between the dark and light parts of the head are consistent with Common Loon. The bill seems very heavy. ----- Original Message ----- From: Cindy Lippincott and Bob Berman To: 5hats AT peak.org Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 12:50 PM Subject: Loon Darrel, I guess you had no idea that I was taking a movie of the loon in question. I have just posted it on YouTube. Here's the URL. I'll let you post the URL on OBOL rather than doing it myself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6Ln4Sj8uZU Cindy -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ From dpvroman at budget.net Tue Jan 6 08:42:53 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 08:42:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pheasant question References: Message-ID: <4A9066E4A85B4B548273ED614D9DE03D@Warbler> They are not doing all that well in the western part of the Rogue Valley (Grants Pass/Applegate areas). The very first Grants Pass CBC found 53 and it has gone down hill since. Your are lucky to see one in an entire year now-a-days. Last year's CBC there were none, this year 1 was found in the Murphy area. To my surprise, I spotted a pair on the IV CBC, a count 1st (recent releases maybe?, by who?). Perhaps the most influential factor with their decline in the western Rogue Valley is sub-divisions where there were fields. Dennis Today's debate question: Should the Ring-necked Pheasant be considered to have a self-sustaining population anywhere in western Oregon? -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From llsdirons at msn.com Tue Jan 6 08:45:02 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 16:45:02 +0000 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird In-Reply-To: <010620091456.27109.49637118000DC410000069E522070208539B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> References: <010620091456.27109.49637118000DC410000069E522070208539B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Message-ID: Hi Sandy, To be a bit blunt, if someone thinks they have Rufous Hummingbirds (plural) coming to their feeders all year round, they are mistaken. Rufous Hummingbird is not quite annual (meaning we don't average quite one per season for the entire state) during winter in Oregon. The odds of one person having multiple birds through the winter are pretty long. I looked at the image that Seth Reams received from a person in Forest Grove (referred to in the post below), and though the image is not that great, it is highly suggestive of Anna's and not a Rufous Hummer. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > From: sandyleapt at comcast.net > To: nepobirds at yahoo.com; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 14:56:24 +0000 > CC: nepobirds at yahoo.com > Subject: Re: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird > > Hi Seth, > > I've heard through a friend (guess that makes it a rumor) that a friend of hers has Rufous Hummingbirds year round. Since my friend never had a chance to check it out I filled that tidbit in the back of mind until now. > > Sandy Leaptrott > NE Portland > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > From: Seth Reams > > We just received an email from a birder in the Forest Grove area, that has been > > host to a male Rufous Hummingbird. He never left after the seasons changed. How > > common is this for the area? She sent me a photo of him, sitting on a feeder in > > the snow. Quite an odd sight (at least for me). Any thoughts? Thanks. > > > > Seth Reams and Michelle King > > NE Portland, OR - Gateway area > > portlandbirds.blogspot.com > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Send e-mail anywhere. No map, no compass. http://windowslive.com/oneline/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_anywhere_122008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090106/41425109/attachment.html From pmcclosky at earthlink.net Tue Jan 6 08:49:03 2009 From: pmcclosky at earthlink.net (Peter J. McClosky) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 08:49:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Birders Night In-Reply-To: <4A9066E4A85B4B548273ED614D9DE03D@Warbler> References: <4A9066E4A85B4B548273ED614D9DE03D@Warbler> Message-ID: <8D2C7158-8E03-4A78-BA81-5D1A34215E3E@earthlink.net> Does anyone know when the next Eugene Birders Night is scheduled? Peter ---- Peter J. McClosky Eugene, Oregon pmcclosky at earthlink.net pmcclosky at comcast.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090106/4f3cda47/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Jan 6 08:50:19 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:50:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pheasant question Message-ID: <49638BCB.7060102@pacifier.com> I blame the Turkeys... We all need to get Turkey Hunting licenses and take no prisoners... Subject: Re: Pheasant question From: "Dennis P. Vroman" Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 08:42:53 -0800 They are not doing all that well in the western part of the Rogue Valley (Grants Pass/Applegate areas). The very first Grants Pass CBC found 53 and it has gone down hill since. Your are lucky to see one in an entire year now-a-days. Last year's CBC there were none, this year 1 was found in the Murphy area. To my surprise, I spotted a pair on the IV CBC, a count 1st (recent releases maybe?, by who?). Perhaps the most influential factor with their decline in the western Rogue Valley is sub-divisions where there were fields. Dennis Today's debate question: Should the Ring-necked Pheasant be considered to have a self-sustaining population anywhere in western Oregon? -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer AT mindspring.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Jan 6 09:23:31 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 09:23:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ring-necked Pheasant references Message-ID: <20090106092331.ijk0polu9s04s848@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Eleven birds introduced in Linn County by Judge Denny in 1881; grew to over 1 million birds in Oregon by 1890; spread to California and Washington (Forest and Stream 34:493 (1890) fide Jobanek, 1997). From "Birds of Linn County, Oregon (1825-2000) http://thebirdguide.com/blc/blc.doc A history of the Ring-necked Pheasant in Oregon is here: http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=pf_output.cfm&file_id=8444 The hunter harvest in western Oregon is illuminating and can be found on page 9 of this document: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/upland_bird/harvest/2006_upland_harvest_figures.pdf From the mid 1960's to the mid 1970's the harvest was over 75,000 pheasants per year in western Oregon. It appears that substantial releases were stopped about 1986. That year the harvest was almost 50,000 pheasants. The next year only 25,000 pheasants. Since 1996 only one year had a harvest greater than 5,000 pheasants. The 2007 data shows about 3,000 hunters and 1,000 pheasants taken in western Oregon. Note that releases of hens began in 1978, according to page 1 of this document: http://www.jstor.org/pss/3782682 A Breeding Bird Survey trend from 1968 to 1994, showing steady downward trends, is here: http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/grass/h3091ore.htm Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From jeffharding at centurytel.net Tue Jan 6 09:48:16 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 09:48:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pheasant question In-Reply-To: References: <60320.99166.qm@web45310.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <31D784F0ABF04E228026565ADDC36282@laptop> Our area, in Linn County between Lebanon and Scio is one of the places where "Sichuan" Pheasants were released, and our sense is that they died out quickly. For a while there were ringless birds, but they rapidly became fewer. We still see cocks that seem to have reduced rings. I had three handsome regular-type Ring-necked cocks visiting the feeder over the weekend, and the population of such birds seems to be stable in our area. I suspect that they will hold on in areas like this indefinitely, where there is a mix of grazing, small woodlots, and seed crops. Are we concerned that they should be removed from the official Oregon Field Ornithologists list of Birds of Oregon, perhaps anticipating their demise? For now they are a part of the Oregon avifauna, but who can predict the future? Good birding, Jeff -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Wayne Hoffman Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 7:46 AM To: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com; obol; Mark Nikas Subject: Re: [obol] Pheasant question Over the years several subspecies of pheasants have been introduced in Oregon, nost recently "Sichuan" which I believe do not have neck rings. It is very possible that the genetic mongrels rersulting have lower survival than the original stock released in the 19th century. If so, we can expect an extended period of low numbers as selection weeds out deleterious gene combinations, then possibly a rebound, providing sufficient habitat remains. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim Rodenkirk" To: "obol" ; "Mark Nikas" Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 6:46 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Pheasant question On the north spit of Coos Bay breeding males can be heard crowing away in the spring through early June. I have noted this the past 10 years or so each spring. However, I have on one occasion actually seen a hunter release pheasant out there which his under 10 yr. old son went after with a shotgun a few minutes later so I imagine the population could be supplemented by others than ODFW. We have had singing Bobolinks out there also! Tim R Coos Bay --- On Mon, 1/5/09, Mark Nikas wrote: > From: Mark Nikas > Subject: Re: [obol] Pheasant question > To: "obol" > Date: Monday, January 5, 2009, 10:24 PM > Outside of a handful of "fee hunts" each year ODFW > has not > supplemented the wild pheasant population > for some time but they are still out there. Numbers are > certainly much > lower and it's no longer a sure thing > on many Christmas counts. Prime habitat is dwindling so > numbers will > never approach what they were in > the past but it seems for now they continue as a viable > population in > Western Oregon. > > Mark Nikas > > > > -------------------------------------------------- > From: "Tom Crabtree" > Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 9:31 PM > To: "Alan Contreras" > ; "obol" > > Subject: Re: [obol] Pheasant question > > > It certainly did for years and years prior to the > current farming > > methods > > that no longer leave margins for fields and plant > every square inch > > with > > crops. I certainly can't speak to the current > state of the species > > in > > western Oregon, but it was doing fine in the 70s and > 80s. > > > > Tom Crabtree, > > Bend > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Alan Contreras" > > > To: "obol" > > Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 9:20 PM > > Subject: [obol] Pheasant question > > > > > > Today's debate question: > > > > Should the Ring-necked Pheasant be considered to have > a > > self-sustaining > > population anywhere in western Oregon? > > > > > > -- > > Alan Contreras > > EUGENE, OREGON > > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > > Information on Coquille Valley CBC: > http://cvcbc.blogspot.com/ > > > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ - Commentary > > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ - Bird Photos > & News > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Jan 6 09:50:38 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:50:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pheasant question In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <496399EE.9030109@verizon.net> I'll second Tim's note that Pheasant is regularly singing on Coos Bay North Spit each spring, and sometimes we see broods, but not too often. I suspect they survive out there in small numbers, but I also suspect they are supplemented by the locals. I have seen N Bobwhite in the county on a rural road, I believe I or someone else have seen Chukar in the county on a rural road, and I have friends up Lamba Mtn way that have a neighbor that has or has had numerous game birds, some (many?) that have been released or escaped. So there is no doubt that there are folks who like to spread these things around and hunt them. At CBNS, the habitat for Pheasant is marginal, probably decreasing with time. However there is enough grass out there to still harbor some. One thing for certain, weather should not be a real issue. Pheasants do just fine in places like the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, etc etc. So in terms of weather, they can survive a Coos Bay winter or most Oregon winters in general. It probably comes down to habitat in most places. Cheers Dave Lauten Alan Contreras wrote: > Today's debate question: > > Should the Ring-necked Pheasant be considered to have a self-sustaining > population anywhere in western Oregon? > > > From celata at pacifier.com Tue Jan 6 11:11:02 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:11:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] releases, escapes and feral populations Message-ID: <4963ACC6.8030007@pacifier.com> As often as not, adding non-native species to the state leads us down this road of what counts and what doesn't. Should I count the Chukars I've seen in Clatsop Co. since they're on the Oregon list from established populations east of the Cascades? Does every Ring-necked Pheasant count equally even though there's a pretty good chance that a given individual is released bird in among the feral birds? We have pheasant "singing" out at Fort Stevens and along the Clatsop Plains. But we also have Guinea Fowl, California Quail, button quail and Bobwhites seen regularly, usually in the fall. Someone is almost certainly releasing game birds around here. There are those out there who advocate the removal of all introductions from "official" lists (not me, honest, I'm just the messenger). Crested Myna? Introduced and extirpated. Skylark? Introduced and nearly gone. House Sparrow (yes, House Sparrow), much reduced from it's peak in the early 20th century. The only real way to test the viability of these introduced species is to stop introducing them. Anybody see that happening anytime soon? -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Jan 6 11:24:44 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:24:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pheasants as self-sustaining species in Oregon? Message-ID: <1231269884.3633.22.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, Living next to E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area in Benton County, most of the pheasants that I see each year are clueless, pen-raised "refugees" from the annual fee hunt. These tend to disappear within a few weeks after hunting season, no doubt due to a near-complete lack of survival skills. Over the past decade at least, ODFW has released only roosters at this site, so these wouldn't form a sustaining population even if they had better a sense of how to use cover. I do occasionally run across hens which must come from some other provenance. 3 or 4 years ago I ran across a hen with about ten fledged young at Luckiamute Landing, so apparently there is still some breeding going on locally, in the wild. Occasionally I've seen Sichuan-type pheasants which ODFW no longer releases, so that also points to some persistence of wild-breeding birds. However, it would seem to be very difficult to ascertain to what degree these birds are part of a "self-sustaining" population, given that private hunting organizations and individuals could be releasing pen- raised pheasant hens. Perhaps ODFW has some data, if anyone is interested enough to ask them. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From 5hats at peak.org Tue Jan 6 12:16:38 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 12:16:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yaquina Bay loon Message-ID: <009a01c9703b$b1725010$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Obolites, Time to roll up our educational sleeves. In the past OBOL has proved useful in regard to sorting out the fine points in cases of difficult identification. I hope it will prove to be so in respect to the loon which we saw, and Cindy Lippincott videotaped, on January 3. As per my original post regarding the bird, at the time of the sighting, in spite of the fact that the bird showed an obvious white flank patch and posture consistent with Arctic Loon, I passed it off as an unusually plumaged Common Loon. After later reviewing the field guides I thought perhaps I had been mistaken, and I frankly thought Cindy's videotapes made a better case for Arctic Loon than did my impressions at the time of the sighting. Now that Mike Patterson has come out with a comment which agrees with my original assessment, I hope to initiate some discussion of the details of the plumage of this particular bird. If, as Mike suggests, this is a white sided Common Loon, just how "common" is it? I have been birding along the coast for about thirty five years, have seen thousands of loons,and this is the first time I have ever seen a Common Loon in this plumage. It must a very irregular thing for one to show it. At the time of the sighting one of my cautionary impressions was the bulk of the bill. It certainly looked larger than the bill is shown to be on Arctic Loon in the field guides. It was, as noted, somewhat shorter, but not necessarily slimmer than that of the accompanying Common. Just how significant is this mark on Arctic Loon? In the photos the bill appears to me to be slim enough to be within the expected range for the species, as compared with the drawings in the field guides, but how much overlap is there (if any) between bill thickness in Arctic and Common Loons? What about size? Standard difference between the two species is said to be five inches, but I have seen small Common Loons, and the Yaquina Bay bird from a few years back which received a consensus identification as an Arctic was a massive bird. I never saw that one in company with a Common, but it seemed to me to be every bit as large as most of them. The video was not as crisp as it might have been, but I cannot detect on it any signficant difference between the light and dark portions of the head that Mike suggests. Nor do I see in Sibley anything that would suggest such a difference, except perhaps for a slight amount of lighter feathering in the fore part of the neck on Common Loon. It looks to me that the video shows a dark border to the neck from top to bottom. Head shape: While looking at the bird, I noted that it had a flat crown, distinctly peaked in front, and somewhat less so in rear, and seemingly indistinguishable from that of the Common next to it. I see in Sibley no distinction in head shape between Arctic and Common, other than the fact that the former species appears somewhat finer and more delicate. The bird we saw appeared equal in bulk of head, which may be a factor, but what is the real distinction between head shape of the two species? As the views we had of the bird were nearly all from the rear, there may be some discrepancies between how the foreparts of the bird appeared to us and how they really were, but from what is visible in the video it appears that the entire foreneck of the bird is whiter and more distinctly delineated from the dark markings than would be expected on Common Loon. I will now have to spend more time looking at this feature on known Common Loons, but it seemed to me, both at the time of the sigting ( and in direct comparison with the Common) and while looking at the video that this was a distinctive feature between the two birds in question. The white flank patch on the videotaped bird looks to me to be shaped somewhat differently than that pictured in Sibley and other guides. Most of them show the high point of the patch to be at the rear, whereas the high point on the videotaped bird was more toward the center. I assume there may be some variation in this plumage feature on Arctic Loon, but is my assumption correct? Do we have photos, or enough of them, to support the importance ( or lack of it) of this particular feature? Another comparison seems worth mentioning. The Common Loon photos supplied by Mike Patterson show a bird with a white flank patch and some white intermixed with dark feathering along the sides. This is about what I would expect from a "white sided Common Loon". I would not necessarily expect that a similarly described bird would show immaculately white flank and sides as the Yaquina Bay bird showed, and as is depicted for Arctic Loon in the guides. With Arctic Loon, how much dark feathering, if any, is ever mixed in with the white sides and flanks? At this point I am much inclined to lean toward my original assessment, and that of Mike, that the bird at Yaquina Bay was an oddly plumaged Common Loon. But I think these field marks are worth discussing, and it would be interesting to hear from people who have more knowledge of them than I do. Of course, I suppose such a discussion might involve the use of the dreaded "H" word, so I just as well bring it up now. As Arctic Loon and Common Loon do in some places share breeding range, it seems the possibility of a hybrid between the two species does exist. Are there any such records in existence? Or even any suspicious ones? Just a thought. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090106/64757fe2/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Tue Jan 6 12:26:24 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 12:26:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pheasants as self-sustaining species in Oregon? References: <1231269884.3633.22.camel@localhost.localdomain> Message-ID: <00a601c9703d$133f47c0$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Joel, et al, From a different perspective: The two strongholds of what might be termed "self sustaining" populations of Ring-necked Pheasant in Oregon seem to be in the Columbia corridor between, say, Arlington and Pendleton (and north and south of those locations), and near Ontario. I have not been in the latter location enough in recent years to make any comment about the frequency of sighting birds there, or of any population increases or decreases. However, I bird Gilliam County rather regularly, and found it interesting that in the fall of 2008 I spent two days in the Condon-Arlington area without detecting a single pheasant. It was the first time I had ever birded in the county without listing this species. Also, last spring Laura and I were in Fossil, and just north of town noted a large pen holding perhaps five hundred of the birds. This location is just over one pass, and about forty miles, from Condon, so even birds sighted in southern Gilliam County might not in fact really be from self-sustaining populations. And I suspect the same thing is true around Pendleton and other Umatilla and Morrow County locations. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joel Geier" To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 11:24 AM Subject: [obol] Pheasants as self-sustaining species in Oregon? > Hello folks, > > Living next to E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area in Benton County, most of the > pheasants that I see each year are clueless, pen-raised "refugees" from > the annual fee hunt. These tend to disappear within a few weeks after > hunting season, no doubt due to a near-complete lack of survival skills. > Over the past decade at least, ODFW has released only roosters at this > site, so these wouldn't form a sustaining population even if they had > better a sense of how to use cover. > > I do occasionally run across hens which must come from some other > provenance. 3 or 4 years ago I ran across a hen with about ten fledged > young at Luckiamute Landing, so apparently there is still some breeding > going on locally, in the wild. Occasionally I've seen Sichuan-type > pheasants which ODFW no longer releases, so that also points to some > persistence of wild-breeding birds. > > However, it would seem to be very difficult to ascertain to what degree > these birds are part of a "self-sustaining" population, given that > private hunting organizations and individuals could be releasing pen- > raised pheasant hens. Perhaps ODFW has some data, if anyone is > interested enough to ask them. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Jan 6 12:54:15 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 12:54:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] February 21 pelagic trip: Laysan Albatross Message-ID: <20090106125415.tqn2zg7o944og4sg@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Friends, Is LAYSAN ALBATROSS on your "most wanted" list? There are only 6 weeks until our first Perpetua Bank pelagic trip of 2009! Laysan Albatross is the primary target bird! Saturday, February 21, 2009 Perpetua Bank pelagic trip 11 hours from Newport, Oregon $160 per person ($145 early signup discount this week only!) The target birds are: Laysan Albatross (6 of 7 trips in February/March) Short-tailed Shearwater (6 of 7 trips in February/March) Ancient Murrelet (4 of 7 trips in February/March) Expect good numbers of Northern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and Rhinoceros Auklets. Regulars include: Black-footed Albatross, Northern Fulmar, Sooty Shearwater, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Western Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, Common Murre, Cassin's Auklet, Marbled Murrelet, Rhinoceros Auklet. Birds on or near the jetties as we go out the bay include: Black Turnstone, Surfbird, Rock Sandpiper, Surf Scoter, Black Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Harlequin Duck, Red-necked Grebe, Red-throated Loon, Pacific Loon, and others. Marine mammals have included Gray Whale, Harbor Porpoise, Dall's Porpoise, Pacific White-sided Dolphin, California Sea Lion, Steller's Sea Lion, Northern Fur Seal, Harbor Seal. The archive of previous Perpetua Bank trip reports are here: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/archive_perpetua.htm You'll at least want to see last year's report with photos and narrative, when we saw a record 8 LAYSAN ALBATROSSES! http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/archive/03012008.htm Please check the full details and register at: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/ Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Jan 6 13:37:30 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:37:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bandon birds Message-ID: <4963CF1A.1070706@verizon.net> 1/6/09 Bandon Coos Cty There are now 2 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS at our feeder north of Bandon. I checked the feeder this morning that had the WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, but did not see it. I did see RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH there amongst other things. I saw the EMPEROR GOOSE, it was with the GREATER WHITE FRONTED GOOSE and the local domestics near the pond near the jetty. Also checked last evening for the mystery bird on Bandon Dunes but again could not find it. Cheers Dave Lauten Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From dinpdx at yahoo.com Tue Jan 6 14:04:11 2009 From: dinpdx at yahoo.com (Dwight) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 14:04:11 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] another loon at Yaquina Head Message-ID: <933397.84529.qm@web31602.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I saw the thread on OBOL regarding the loon in Yaquina Bay and so I thought I would share a recent loon sighting. I saw a loon on 12/30/08 while watching wales from the Yaquina Head Lighthouse north of Newport. The white flanks made me wonder if it was an Arctic Loon. One of the volunteers said it was a Common Loon, I didn't press her too much about it because she was counting whales. I don't think I even asked her about the white flanks. I took some digiscoped photos, the quality is poor but if anyone is interested they can be viewed here: http://birdshots.blogspot.com/ Good Birding, Dwight Porter Portland, OR From celata at pacifier.com Tue Jan 6 14:23:07 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:23:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] White-sided Common Loons... Message-ID: <4963D9CB.7000606@pacifier.com> http://www.flickr.com/photos/rick_leche/82188631/ http://www.mainebirding.net/birds/img/common-loon1.jpg http://www.geocities.com/tgrey41/Pages/CommonLoonp.html http://content.ornith.cornell.edu/UEWebApp/images/KTK_111902_100001_L.jpg http://www.pbase.com/mctodd/image/89152189 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Jan 6 15:45:45 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:45:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Heron Message-ID: The Little Blue was in its usual spot just past the red barn .6 miles up Drift Creek Rd about 10:30 this morning, mixed into a loose flock of gulls and crows. It had a little discussion with a crow that tried to get into the feeding area - the longer bill won. Weather on the coast was medium-vile, 30-mile winds and a drenching mist. Other birds were very hard to find. Florence was slightly better, with a small flock of Herring and Thayer's Gulls. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com Information on Coquille Valley CBC: http://cvcbc.blogspot.com/ http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From birdmandon at clearwire.net Tue Jan 6 15:44:42 2009 From: birdmandon at clearwire.net (Don Schrouder) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 15:44:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tis the season Message-ID: While out front washing the car in these summer temperatures (55 degrees in Eugene), one of my male Anna's Hummingbirds climbed straight up to the sky, dove down just over the Magnolia, and pulled up giving its distinctive pop sound. These hardy hummers sure like to start early in the new year! Don Schrouder birdmandon at clearwire.net From kirkpat at charter.net Tue Jan 6 16:22:37 2009 From: kirkpat at charter.net (Douglas Kirkpatrick) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 16:22:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tis the season In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <02A746CC28B24C54BE27A835BCC5EA42@D7CDFN81> "Hope springs eternal in the male ........ heart?" Doug Kirkpatrick Medford ========================== -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Don Schrouder Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 3:45 PM To: obol send Subject: [obol] Tis the season While out front washing the car in these summer temperatures (55 degrees in Eugene), one of my male Anna's Hummingbirds climbed straight up to the sky, dove down just over the Magnolia, and pulled up giving its distinctive pop sound. These hardy hummers sure like to start early in the new year! Don Schrouder birdmandon at clearwire.net _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From bcombs232 at gmail.com Tue Jan 6 16:40:24 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 16:40:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tis the season In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <8ce3a6520901061640s78efcc30h3602249e7b8c7641@mail.gmail.com> There was a male Anna's hummer singing his heart out from my holly tree this morning. Spring is busting out all over. On Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 3:44 PM, Don Schrouder wrote: > While out front washing the car in these summer temperatures (55 > degrees in Eugene), one of my male Anna's Hummingbirds climbed > straight up to the sky, dove down just over the Magnolia, and pulled > up giving its distinctive pop sound. These hardy hummers sure like to > start early in the new year! > > Don > Schrouder > > birdmandon at clearwire.net > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Eugene OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090106/289de7f0/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Tue Jan 6 17:11:21 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 17:11:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] golden eagle, Ridgefield NWR, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: I was at Post Office Lake this afternoon and observed an adult golden eagle soaring over the lake. It was at the Northend but viewable from the parkinglot at the end of Lower River Road. Bob Flores -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090106/7fb83c50/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Tue Jan 6 17:13:12 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 17:13:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] cinnamon teal at River S Unit, Ridgefield NWR, WA Message-ID: Had 5 teal along the tour loop just past the contact station on the left. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090106/92b4e07e/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Tue Jan 6 17:15:47 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 17:15:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] red-shouldered hawk, Ridgfield NWR, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: Had an individual sitting in a tree just past the Hunter Gate on River S Unit tour loop. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090106/ecfdd94e/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Jan 6 18:32:16 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:32:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Airlie CBC Rough-legged Hawks, Winter Wrens, G-c Kinglets, and bluebirds Message-ID: <1231295536.3515.15.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hi folks, I'm looking at the preliminary data from Paul Adamus' compilation of the Airlie-Albany CBC here, and thought these numbers might be of interest based on recent comments: 18 Rough-legged Hawks 51 Winter Wrens 293 Golden-crowned Kinglets The Rough-legged Hawk tally is a very healthy number for this area. At one point in the day, my daughter Martha and I had three in our sights simultaneously, just half a mile up the road from where we had just left a fourth hovering over a grass field. The Winter Wren and Golden-crowned Kinglet totals do seem a bit low for this count circle, though access to habitat was limited by snow (state forest lands) and flooding (bottomland forests). 176 Western Bluebirds was an encouraging tally. 13 of the 15 sectors reported at least one bluebird. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From ninerharv2 at msn.com Tue Jan 6 19:11:16 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 03:11:16 +0000 Subject: [obol] Pelicans misbehaving Message-ID: Tonight, national network news did report on brown pelican crisis in California. Many dying! Don't have strength to go on. Is our abundance in Oregon that seemed so unique and neat part of a bigger problem and are these birds really in jeopardy. Word is they are not coming off endangered list after all. Harv m Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Mike Patterson Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:32:34 To: ; Subject: [obol] Pelicans misbehaving I spent the morning in Seaside.? There were 62 BROWN PELICANS on the cobble beach at the Cove.? That alone is just wrong, given that Brown Pelicans are supposed to be in Baja by now, especially after all the snow and stuff.? But there were pelicans flying around downtown Seaside with the gulls and 40 or so more pelicans on the Necanicum across from the High School. But the topper was a swirling flock of 60+ in a thermal over Seaside Heights, 2 miles inland, that proceeded to head north after rising to a satisfactory elevation. This is just too many pelicans: http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From krallfamily at comcast.net Tue Jan 6 19:37:04 2009 From: krallfamily at comcast.net (Kathy) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 19:37:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harlequin duck at Netarts Bay Message-ID: <51CB9C98B922489180050BCADE32577E@D04KrallStudy> We saw one harlequin duck on Netarts Bay Dec. 25. On Dec. 26 we saw either two or three, also on Netarts bay (I don't have access to my written notes at the moment), and on Dec. 27 we saw several in Tillamook bay (we had walked about 2 miles north on the Bayocean spit road). Kathy and Mike Krall -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090106/92cffab8/attachment.html From alderspr at peak.org Tue Jan 6 19:45:25 2009 From: alderspr at peak.org (Karan & Jim Fairchild) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 19:45:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pheasant question References: <49638BCB.7060102@pacifier.com> Message-ID: And I would blame the loss of hedgerows/fencerows. Farmers may benefit from pavement-to pavement agriculture, but wildlife doesn't. I'd also contend that some canada/cackling geese prefer these larger fields for safer grazing--much to the chagrin of pavement-to pavement grass seed farmers. There's room and a welcome mat to turkey hunters at my place! Jim Fairchild 5 miles SW of Philomath ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Patterson" To: "OBOL" Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 8:50 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Pheasant question |I blame the Turkeys... | | We all need to get Turkey Hunting licenses and take no prisoners... | | | Subject: Re: Pheasant question | From: "Dennis P. Vroman" | Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 08:42:53 -0800 | | They are not doing all that well in the western part of the Rogue Valley | (Grants Pass/Applegate areas). The very first Grants Pass CBC found 53 and | it has gone down hill since. Your are lucky to see one in an entire year | now-a-days. Last year's CBC there were none, this year 1 was found in the | Murphy area. To my surprise, I spotted a pair on the IV CBC, a count 1st | (recent releases maybe?, by who?). | | Perhaps the most influential factor with their decline in the western Rogue | Valley is sub-divisions where there were fields. | | Dennis | | | Today's debate question: | | Should the Ring-necked Pheasant be considered to have a self-sustaining | population anywhere in western Oregon? | | | -- | Alan Contreras | EUGENE, OREGON | acontrer AT mindspring.com | | | _______________________________________________ | obol mailing list | obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org | http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol | | -- | Mike Patterson | Astoria, OR | http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ | | _______________________________________________ | obol mailing list | obol at oregonbirdwatch.org | http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol | From mlafaive at msn.com Tue Jan 6 20:20:02 2009 From: mlafaive at msn.com (Margaret LaFaive) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 20:20:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Northeast Oregon Birds Message-ID: Eric and I just spent Saturday to Tuesday (1/3/09-1/6/09) birding in NE Oregon. The weather started out cold (it got down to 2 degrees in Enterprise Saturday night), but had warmed up considerably by the time we left Tuesday (it was about 30 degrees in the Wallowa Valley). There was about a foot of snow on the valley floor. They had a lot of snow over the weekend in the Union Valley, but it was really warming up as we drove through today. Here are the birding highlights: WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS Thanks to Kyle Bratcher, on our way out of Enterprise this morning, we found a flock of about 25 WW Crossbills along Fish Hatchery Road. They are frequenting spruce trees about a half mile east of the fish hatchery. Kyle has been seeing them regularly. GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH and SNOW BUNTING On Sunday and Monday we saw a flock of about 350 birds made up of 85% Rosy-Finches, 10% Snow Bunting and 5% HORNED LARKS. Both times we saw this flock it was along Golf Course Road about half way between Enterprise and the Junction with Leap Lane. Today we saw a pure flock of 250 SNOW BUNTING in the same vicinity. WAXWINGS There was a large flock of 300 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in Elgin. On Sunday we found a flock of at least 300 Waxwings in Enterprise. These were mostly CEDARS with a few Bohemians mixed in. In Joseph there was a similar flock, but it was entirely Bohemians. There were also large numbers of AMERICAN ROBINS. All of these birds were feasting on trees with abundant red berries. (I'm not good with my tree ID, but these trees are all over in both Enterprise and Joseph and are really laden with fruit.) TREE SPARROWS We managed to see two small groups of TREE SPARROWS. One was along School Flat Road not far from the junction with Parsnip Creek Road. The other was near the junction of Crow Creek and Elk Mountain Roads. WILD TURKEY About dusk on Saturday there were 40 Wild Turkeys roosting in Cottonwoods along Highway 82 between Wallowa and Lostine. RAPTORS There were very good numbers of the expected raptors in the Wallowa Valley--with the exception of Golden Eagles (we didn't see any). Along Eggelson Road south of Enterprise there was a beautiful FERRUGINOUS HAWK with a HARLAN'S HAWK was nearby. We found a MERLIN in Joseph and another flying around Lostine. There was a NORTHERN PYGMY OWL along the Wallowa Lake road. EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES I know Eurasian Collared Doves are really not noteworthy anymore, but in January 2008 we saw about 10 in Imbler and last Saturday the same yard harbored at least 30. On the way home we birded at the wildlife area below McNary Dam. The combination of wind, a MERLIN and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK kept the passerines pretty much under cover, with the exception of a small flock of Cedar Waxwings and a few WHITE-CROWNED and SONG SPARROWS. We did see 30 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS roosting in the brushy vegetation around the ponds, and there were at least 5 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS at the base of the dam. Good Birding, Margaret LaFaive Portland, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090106/cd2050c2/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Tue Jan 6 20:59:10 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 20:59:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pheasant question References: <49638BCB.7060102@pacifier.com> Message-ID: Having enjoyed pheasants in the midst of the suburban west side of Portland as a kid and the densely settled slopes of Mt Tabor as an adult, I have to throw in one more thought about Ring-necked Pheasants. They are vulnerable to dogs. Ring-necked Pheasants nested Mt Tabor Pk, and males wandered into the neighborhood and displayed from the roof of my house. I could count on seeing young and females, too. But that was before all of Mt Tabor Pk became an off-leash area, and by the time it had been shrunk down to a smaller area, the pheasants were all gone. Pamela Johnston From dlrobbo at comcast.net Tue Jan 6 21:14:35 2009 From: dlrobbo at comcast.net (Doug Robberson) Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:14:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bar-tailed Godwit Migration Message-ID: Forward by Doug Robberson Tigard, OR Dear all, A paper on the migration of Bar-tailed Godwits from Alaska to New Zealand has just been published in Proc Roy Soc B - it is available for free download, open access at http://journals.royalsociety.org/content/224x500552515823/ Happy reading David Melville (posted on behalf of the authors) >>>> Rgds -- Dominic Mitchell Managing Editor, Birdwatch Solo Publishing Ltd The Chocolate Factory, 5 Clarendon Road London N22 6XJ, UK Tel: 020 8881 0550 / Web: www.birdwatch.co.uk Save the Azores Bullfinch! Visit www.justgiving.com/priolo From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Tue Jan 6 21:34:53 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:34:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] FW: Duck in a Truck Message-ID: <20090106213453.zq42mmxpw8owo4c4@webmail2.jimnorton.org> http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/weird/Trucking_Duck_All__National_.html ----- Forwarded message from md at teleport.com ----- Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 20:48:09 -0800 From: Sumner Sharpe Reply-To: Sumner Sharpe Subject: FW: Duck in a Truck To: obol-owner at oregonbirdwatch.org Only in Minnesota : Duck in a Truck Gotta' watch this one................ Duck in a Truck CLICK HERE _____ Get a free MP3 every day with the Spinner.com Toolbar. Get it Now. __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3742 (20090106) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com _____ My Outgoing Emails and Attachments Are Certified VIRUS FREE!!! Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.3/1878 - Release Date: 1/6/2009 7:56 AM This message contains information that is confidential and may be privileged. Unless you are the addressee (or authorized to receive for the addressee), you may not use, copy or disclose to anyone the message or any information contained in the message. If you have received the message in error, please advise the sender by reply e-mail and delete the message. ----- End forwarded message ----- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desires bring weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat." - Napoleon Hill ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- Only in Minnesota : Duck in a Truck Gotta' watch this one................ Duck in a Truck CLICK HERE _____ Get a free MP3 every day with the Spinner.com Toolbar. Get it Now. __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3742 (20090106) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com _____ My Outgoing Emails and Attachments Are Certified VIRUS FREE!!! Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.3/1878 - Release Date: 1/6/2009 7:56 AM This message contains information that is confidential and may be privileged. Unless you are the addressee (or authorized to receive for the addressee), you may not use, copy or disclose to anyone the message or any information contained in the message. If you have received the message in error, please advise the sender by reply e-mail and delete the message. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090106/d48292be/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: LittleYellowDuck2.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 9289 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090106/d48292be/attachment.jpg From valleybirder at gmail.com Tue Jan 6 21:47:17 2009 From: valleybirder at gmail.com (Mike) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 21:47:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tis the season In-Reply-To: <8ce3a6520901061640s78efcc30h3602249e7b8c7641@mail.gmail.com> References: <8ce3a6520901061640s78efcc30h3602249e7b8c7641@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: I think I've heard/seen display dives at my house during all months of the year, including the past three months. Mike Higgins Near Springfield High School On Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 4:40 PM, Barbara Combs wrote: > There was a male Anna's hummer singing his heart out from my holly tree > this morning. Spring is busting out all over. > > On Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 3:44 PM, Don Schrouder wrote: > >> While out front washing the car in these summer temperatures (55 >> degrees in Eugene), one of my male Anna's Hummingbirds climbed >> straight up to the sky, dove down just over the Magnolia, and pulled >> up giving its distinctive pop sound. These hardy hummers sure like to >> start early in the new year! >> >> Don >> Schrouder >> >> birdmandon at clearwire.net >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> > > > > -- > Barbara Combs obie '70 > Eugene OR > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090106/281c16fd/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Wed Jan 7 06:51:51 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:51:51 +0000 Subject: [obol] Tis the season Message-ID: <010720091451.20785.4964C187000C032D0000513122070208539B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> I guess hope does springs eternal in the male heart. I never would have thought of washing my car this weekend. Sandy Leapptrott NE Portland -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: "Douglas Kirkpatrick" > "Hope springs eternal in the male ........ heart?" > > Doug Kirkpatrick > Medford > > ========================== > > -----Original Message----- > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Don Schrouder > Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 3:45 PM > To: obol send > Subject: [obol] Tis the season > > While out front washing the car in these summer temperatures (55 > degrees in Eugene), one of my male Anna's Hummingbirds climbed straight up > to the sky, dove down just over the Magnolia, and pulled up giving its > distinctive pop sound. These hardy hummers sure like to start early in the > new year! > > Don > Schrouder > > birdmandon at clearwire.net > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From sandyleapt at comcast.net Wed Jan 7 07:07:55 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:07:55 +0000 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird Message-ID: <010720091507.17260.4964C54B0004C5460000436C22007340769B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Hi Dave, Thanks. I didn't look at the pictures Seth posted, I should have. The post reminded me that my friend and I had a conversation about a friend of hers who lives in the western Portland Metro Area who thought they had a Rufous Hummingbirds through the winter. Both of us thought "Nah" and I never followed up. One purely hypothetical question I have, is "if" a Rufous Humming bird did not migrate would that indicate the bird is more likely an Allen's? since Allen's, according to the books, don't migrate. Thanks again, Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: David Irons > > Hi Sandy, > > To be a bit blunt, if someone thinks they have Rufous Hummingbirds (plural) > coming to their feeders all year round, they are mistaken. Rufous Hummingbird is > not quite annual (meaning we don't average quite one per season for the entire > state) during winter in Oregon. The odds of one person having multiple birds > through the winter are pretty long. > > I looked at the image that Seth Reams received from a person in Forest Grove > (referred to in the post below), and though the image is not that great, it is > highly suggestive of Anna's and not a Rufous Hummer. > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > > > From: sandyleapt at comcast.net > > To: nepobirds at yahoo.com; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 14:56:24 +0000 > > CC: nepobirds at yahoo.com > > Subject: Re: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird > > > > Hi Seth, > > > > I've heard through a friend (guess that makes it a rumor) that a friend of > hers has Rufous Hummingbirds year round. Since my friend never had a chance to > check it out I filled that tidbit in the back of mind until now. > > > > Sandy Leaptrott > > NE Portland > > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > > From: Seth Reams > > > We just received an email from a birder in the Forest Grove area, that has > been > > > host to a male Rufous Hummingbird. He never left after the seasons changed. > How > > > common is this for the area? She sent me a photo of him, sitting on a feeder > in > > > the snow. Quite an odd sight (at least for me). Any thoughts? Thanks. > > > > > > Seth Reams and Michelle King > > > NE Portland, OR - Gateway area > > > portlandbirds.blogspot.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > obol mailing list > > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _________________________________________________________________ > Send e-mail anywhere. No map, no compass. > http://windowslive.com/oneline/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_anywhere_12 > 2008 -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: David Irons Subject: RE: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 16:45:04 +0000 Size: 3324 Url: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090107/175151f0/attachment.mht From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Jan 7 07:26:30 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:26:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Say's Phoebe In-Reply-To: <9C7378ED-BF66-479A-963C-5510445DE11C@comcast.net> Message-ID: See below, from Steve Gordon. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com Information on Coquille Valley CBC: http://cvcbc.blogspot.com/ http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News Cary Kerst and our team spotted > a Say's Phoebe at a pond in Cherokee Hills off Gimpl Hill Rd. on the > CBC. That seems like an unusual winter record for Eugene. Steve > From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Jan 7 07:35:02 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 07:35:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird In-Reply-To: <010720091507.17260.4964C54B0004C5460000436C22007340769B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> References: <010720091507.17260.4964C54B0004C5460000436C22007340769B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Message-ID: <7c9d9386636c86d18c435df515ee1284@earthlink.net> The Oregon subspecies used to be called the "Migratory Allen's Hummingbird". The non- migratory subspecies was native to the Channel Islands and has colonized the mainland (LA and so forth) in the course of the 20th Century. Lars Norgren On Jan 7, 2009, at 7:07 AM, sandyleapt at comcast.net wrote: > Hi Dave, > > Thanks. I didn't look at the pictures Seth posted, I should have. > The post reminded me that my friend and I had a conversation about a > friend of hers who lives in the western Portland Metro Area who > thought they had a Rufous Hummingbirds through the winter. Both of us > thought "Nah" and I never followed up. > > One purely hypothetical question I have, is "if" a Rufous Humming bird > did not migrate would that indicate the bird is more likely an > Allen's? since Allen's, according to the books, don't migrate. > > Thanks again, > > Sandy Leaptrott > NE Portland > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > From: David Irons >> >> Hi Sandy, >> >> To be a bit blunt, if someone thinks they have Rufous Hummingbirds >> (plural) >> coming to their feeders all year round, they are mistaken. Rufous >> Hummingbird is >> not quite annual (meaning we don't average quite one per season for >> the entire >> state) during winter in Oregon. The odds of one person having >> multiple birds >> through the winter are pretty long. >> >> I looked at the image that Seth Reams received from a person in >> Forest Grove >> (referred to in the post below), and though the image is not that >> great, it is >> highly suggestive of Anna's and not a Rufous Hummer. >> >> Dave Irons >> Eugene, OR >> >>> From: sandyleapt at comcast.net >>> To: nepobirds at yahoo.com; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 14:56:24 +0000 >>> CC: nepobirds at yahoo.com >>> Subject: Re: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird >>> >>> Hi Seth, >>> >>> I've heard through a friend (guess that makes it a rumor) that a >>> friend of >> hers has Rufous Hummingbirds year round. Since my friend never had a >> chance to >> check it out I filled that tidbit in the back of mind until now. >>> >>> Sandy Leaptrott >>> NE Portland >>> -------------- Original message ---------------------- >>> From: Seth Reams >>>> We just received an email from a birder in the Forest Grove area, >>>> that has >> been >>>> host to a male Rufous Hummingbird. He never left after the seasons >>>> changed. >> How >>>> common is this for the area? She sent me a photo of him, sitting on >>>> a feeder >> in >>>> the snow. Quite an odd sight (at least for me). Any thoughts? >>>> Thanks. >>>> >>>> Seth Reams and Michelle King >>>> NE Portland, OR - Gateway area >>>> portlandbirds.blogspot.com >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> obol mailing list >>>> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>>> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> obol mailing list >>> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> >> _________________________________________________________________ >> Send e-mail anywhere. No map, no compass. >> http://windowslive.com/oneline/hotmail? >> ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_anywhere_12 >> 2008 > > > > From: David Irons > Date: January 6, 2009 8:45:04 AM PST > To: , post OBOL > Subject: RE: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird > > > Hi Sandy, > > To be a bit blunt, if someone thinks they have Rufous Hummingbirds > (plural) coming to their feeders all year round, they are mistaken. > Rufous Hummingbird is not quite annual (meaning we don't average quite > one per season for the entire state) during winter in Oregon. The odds > of one person having multiple birds through the winter are pretty > long. > > I looked at the image that Seth Reams received from a person in Forest > Grove (referred to in the post below), and though the image is not > that great, it is highly suggestive of Anna's and not a Rufous Hummer. > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > > > From: sandyleapt at comcast.net > > To: nepobirds at yahoo.com; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 14:56:24 +0000 > > CC: nepobirds at yahoo.com > > Subject: Re: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird > > > > Hi Seth, > > > > I've heard through a friend (guess that makes it a rumor) that a > friend of hers has Rufous Hummingbirds year round. Since my friend > never had a chance to check it out I filled that tidbit in the back of > mind until now. > > > > Sandy Leaptrott > > NE Portland > > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > > From: Seth Reams > > > We just received an email from a birder in the Forest Grove area, > that has been > > > host to a male Rufous Hummingbird. He never left after the seasons > changed. How > > > common is this for the area? She sent me a photo of him, sitting > on a feeder in > > > the snow. Quite an odd sight (at least for me). Any thoughts? > Thanks. > > > > > > Seth Reams and Michelle King > > > NE Portland, OR - Gateway area > > > portlandbirds.blogspot.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > obol mailing list > > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > Send e-mail anywhere. No map, no compass. Get your Hotmail? account > now. _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 11730 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090107/cb37e2c8/attachment.bin From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Jan 7 07:37:05 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 07:37:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Say's Phoebe Message-ID: <7c14d78ebb7e7db7d60fd6ef623b665c@earthlink.net> As I recall last year's Eugene Count had two Say's in two different areas. One was at the huge dairy where Coyote Creek enters the circle. Lars Norgren From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Jan 7 08:01:32 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:01:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Airlie CBC Rough-legged Hawks, Winter Wrens, G-c Kinglets, and bluebirds In-Reply-To: <1231295536.3515.15.camel@localhost.localdomain> References: <1231295536.3515.15.camel@localhost.localdomain> Message-ID: <1231344092.3627.16.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hi again, To add some context to the raw numbers that I posted yesterday, here are some statistics based on the preceding 10 years of the Airlie CBC: Golden- Winter crowned Western Wren Kinglet Bluebird Mean 112 846 98 Std. dev. 64 534 56 Minimum 18 158 25 Maximum 203 1854 163 THIS YEAR 51 293 126 So this year's count is below average, by about one standard deviation, for both Winter Wrens and Golden-crowned Kinglets, but well above the minimum in both cases. Bluebird numbers were above average, but well within the normal range of variation. I didn't work up the statistics for Rough-legged Hawk, but this year's total of 18 compares with previous high counts of 13 (found in two different years). We might make it 17, since I suspect that one of the Rough-legged Hawks that Martha and I counted might have also been counted for an adjoining sector (Adair Village). Happy birding, Joel From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Wed Jan 7 08:32:35 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 08:32:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] owl behavior video link Message-ID: I had to share the following because it is so amazing to watch how the White-faced Scops-Owl changes its appearance. As for the handlers of the owls eliciting the behavior, that is another issue. It is educational so see what birds can do to themselves. The video is from Japan, but you needn't speak Japanese to enjoy this African owl's method of dealing with perceived enemies. The tape shows its response to two different enemies; one, a smallish barn owl, and then a humongous eagle-owl. Totally amazing the two behaviors the little BIG EYED owl displays. Shawneen Finnegan Portland, OR http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/29/10-incredible-animal-vide_n _153948.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090107/18ec9d36/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Wed Jan 7 09:00:25 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:00:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] owl behavior video link Message-ID: <20090107100025.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.f6daef1ae5.wbe@email.secureserver.net> I find it really interesting that as the eagle-owl's position relative to the scops-owl changes, the scops-owl turns and changes his position to conceal his white belly so that he looks more like a tree limb and remains as inconspicuous as possible. Great video! Thanks for sharing. Craig Tumer Portland, OR > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] owl behavior video link > From: "Shawneen Finnegan" > Date: Wed, January 07, 2009 8:32 am > To: OBOL > > > I had to share the following because it is so amazing to watch how the > White-faced Scops-Owl changes its appearance. As for the handlers of the > owls eliciting the behavior, that is another issue. It is educational so > see what birds can do to themselves. > > The video is from Japan, but you needn't speak Japanese to enjoy this > African owl's method of dealing with perceived enemies. The tape shows its > response to two different enemies; one, a smallish barn owl, and then a > humongous eagle-owl. Totally amazing the two behaviors the little BIG EYED > owl displays. > > Shawneen Finnegan > Portland, OR > > http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/29/10-incredible-animal-vide_n > _153948.html
_______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Jan 7 09:23:20 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:23:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slate-colored Message-ID: Craig Tumer and I saw two Slate-colored Juncos in Bandon on the CBC. I don't usually see them on the south coast and was surprised to find two. Are they particularly common in SW Oregon/NW Cal this year? I had seen none in Eugene. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From karma1123 at yahoo.com Tue Jan 6 22:05:20 2009 From: karma1123 at yahoo.com (Karin Juern) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 22:05:20 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Gyrfalcon Message-ID: <470901.28464.qm@web65602.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> Good evening Mike: ? I have included a copy the email?that I sent to the Forest Service and the response that I received back, showing that Ms Reinhart?forwarded it to a couple of groups that she felt would be interested in my sighting;?of course I don't mind sharing the location of the sighting.? We live @ NW Peak Road and NW View Terrace in Scappose.? From 1st Street, you would take EJ Smith Road up the hill; EJ Smith continues to the right, while straight ahead puts you onto Peak Road.? I hope this helps.? We have been watching as often as we can, mostly on the weekend, but have not seen the Gyrfalcon again. ? Wishing you luck on spotting it.? According to the FS website, it shows only between 2,000 to 3,000 birds left in the wild.? It is important to help those numbers improve.? Please keep me updated on your venture.? I am interested, as I have always enjoyed bird watching.? Best of Luck! ? Respectfully, Karin Juern "When God takes something from your hands, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better." ? ? "Hi all! We were forwarded this email from our Forest Service website today. ?I haven't seen any other info on this sighting so thought I would share. ?I'm also sending this to the Karin, who turned in the sighting. ?I don't know if she's seen the gyrfalcon since the 27th, but perhaps if you are interested you could email her if you plan to go "get a visual" yourself. Karin, I'm a birder and Forest Service employee and was forwarded your email because of my interest. The email addresses above are for Central Oregon birders and for Oregon birders, respectively. ?We use these two email addresses for sharing unusual sightings like yours. ?Thanks for sharing your info with the Forest Service, and for including such great detail! ? Denise Denise Reinhart G&A Specialist 3160 NE 3rd St. Prineville, OR ?97754 (Duty station: ?Ochoco National Forest) Phone: ?(541) 416-6549 ? ?FAX: ?416-6661 e-mail: ?dmreinhart at fs.fed.us ----- Forwarded by Denise M Reinhart/R6/USDAFS on 12/30/2008 12:36 PM ----- Mailroom R6 Central Oregon Sent by: Laura Jones 12/30/2008 11:06 AM To Dede Steele/R6/USDAFS at FSNOTES, Denise M Reinhart/R6/USDAFS at FSNOTES cc Subject Re: [WebEmail] Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) ? ? karma1123 at yahoo.com 12/27/2008 10:02 AM ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? To: ? ? ? ?Mailroom_R6_Central_Oregon at fs.fed.us ? ? ? ? cc: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Subject: ? ? ? ?[WebEmail] Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) ## ?Begin Transmission ?## USDA Forest Service - National Web Site Email Response Form. ==================================================================================== Posted on Saturday, December 27, 2008 at 13:02 Hours (Server time). From: Karin Juern Email: karma1123 at yahoo.com Message Subject: ? Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) Good Morning! This morning, my Mother and I were watching the birds that are around our house here in Scappoose. We have several bird feeders and an apple tree for them to feed off throughout the year, winter especially. ?While we were observing many varieties, including a woodpecker, the most beautiful bird flew past the window and settled into the tree. All the other birds took off so quickly, with the exception of the woodpecker, which stopped moving and was so still while this bird was sitting there. ?We were very close and were able to get a really good look at it. ?The whole time it was there, the woodpecker didn't move an inch, which we thought fascinating, until I realized that what we were looking at was indeed a bird of prey, only because I couldn't identify it just yet. Once the bird took off, the woodpecker high tailed it out of there. This prompted me to google "birds of prey found in Oregon" and your website came up. ?After looking through the ones that could be found in Oregon, I recognized the Gyrfalcon. ?Beautiful bird. ?It was amazing watching it watch us through the window. I don't know if your organization keeps track of sightings or not, but we wanted someone to know what we observed. ?If there is a better organization that could use this information, could you please send us in the right direction? ?Thank you so much. In addition, your website it awesome. Spent some time looking through and found it to be interesting, informative, and vast. ?Great site! Respectfully Karin Juern Scappoose Oregon ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? --- On Tue, 1/6/09, Michael Marsh wrote: From: Michael Marsh Subject: Gyrfalcon location? To: karma1123 at yahoo.com Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2009, 9:37 PM Hi Karin: ???? I was wondering if you've had any additional sightings of the Gyrfalcon?? A friend and I are going over to the Scappoose Bottoms tomorrow morning and have a try at seeing it, knowing that it will be a long shot.? Could you pls give me a rough idea of where you saw the bird.? I fully understand and respect that you do not want to reveal the exact location to a complete stranger, but if there is any way at all you could help us narrow down our search it would be greatly appreciated. ? ???? Congratulations on sighting this marvelous bird! ? ???? Best, Mike Marsh -- Mike Marsh Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090106/30af8067/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Jan 7 09:32:24 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 09:32:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slate-colored In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <9908e71d58ddd7f0d4d1f004dc3ff7a5@earthlink.net> The Pony Slough area got two on the Coos BAy CBC last year and the year before. None this year. I believe the birds on the Coos CBC two years ago were my first ever in Oregon. Here at my house in the frozen north there has been one or more present for two months now. I previously got them only during the northward migration spike in March. One at E.E. Wilson back in November was a Benton County first for me. Lars On Jan 7, 2009, at 9:23 AM, Alan Contreras wrote: > Craig Tumer and I saw two Slate-colored Juncos in Bandon on the CBC. I > don't usually see them on the south coast and was surprised to find > two. > Are they particularly common in SW Oregon/NW Cal this year? I had > seen none > in Eugene. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From brazzzle at gmail.com Wed Jan 7 09:49:15 2009 From: brazzzle at gmail.com (Braz) Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 09:49:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slate-colored In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <7ad948330901070949y66edf3f0qa6b54603219f0cc7@mail.gmail.com> Yes. Slate-Colored Juncos here almost daily for the last several weeks, on the Valley Floor in Medford, Oregon. Highest count at any one time has been 4. Other sightings have been reported on the Rogue Valley Audubon website. Previously I have only seen them here 2 out of the past 14 winters, and then only 1 or 2 individuals for a few days at a time. - Mark Brazelton Medford, Oregon On Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 9:23 AM, Alan Contreras wrote: > Craig Tumer and I saw two Slate-colored Juncos in Bandon on the CBC. I > don't usually see them on the south coast and was surprised to find two. > Are they particularly common in SW Oregon/NW Cal this year? I had seen > none > in Eugene. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090107/979e6600/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Wed Jan 7 10:51:57 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:51:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] FW: Duck in a Truck In-Reply-To: <20090106213453.zq42mmxpw8owo4c4@webmail2.jimnorton.org> References: <20090106213453.zq42mmxpw8owo4c4@webmail2.jimnorton.org> Message-ID: <4964F9CD.2000909@verizon.net> Good and funny. My favorite quote: "Maybe if everyone owned a duck, we wouldn't be so angry with each other." Maybe if all the Leaders in the World had a duck...... Cheers Dave Lauten Jim Norton wrote: > http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/weird/Trucking_Duck_All__National_.html > > ----- Forwarded message from md at teleport.com ----- > Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 20:48:09 -0800 > From: Sumner Sharpe > Reply-To: Sumner Sharpe > Subject: FW: Duck in a Truck > To: obol-owner at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > > > > > > Only in Minnesota > > > > > > > > > > : Duck in a Truck > > > > > > > > Gotta' watch this one................ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Duck in a Truck > > > > CLICK HERE > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _____ > > Get a free MP3 every day with the Spinner.com Toolbar. Get > > it > Now. > > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus > signature > database 3742 (20090106) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > _____ > > My Outgoing Emails and Attachments Are Certified VIRUS FREE!!! > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.3/1878 - Release Date: 1/6/2009 > 7:56 AM > > > This message contains information that is confidential and may be > privileged. Unless you are the addressee (or authorized to receive for > the > addressee), you may not use, copy or disclose to anyone the message or > any > information contained in the message. If you have received the message in > error, please advise the sender by reply e-mail and delete the message. > > > > ----- End forwarded message ----- > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Jim Norton > > "The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this > constantly in mind. Weak desires bring weak results, just as > a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat." - Napoleon Hill > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > > > > > Only in Minnesota > > > > > > > > > > : Duck in a Truck > > > > > > > > *Gotta' watch this one................* > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > *Duck in a Truck* > > > > *CLICK HERE > * > > > > > > > > * * > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Get a *free MP3* every day with the Spinner.com Toolbar. Get it Now > . > > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus > signature database 3742 (20090106) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > My Outgoing Emails and Attachments Are Certified VIRUS FREE!!! > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.3/1878 - Release Date: > 1/6/2009 7:56 AM > > > This message contains information that is confidential and may be > privileged. Unless you are the addressee (or authorized to receive for > the addressee), you may not use, copy or disclose to anyone the > message or any information contained in the message. If you have > received the message in error, please advise the sender by reply > e-mail and delete the message. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From nepobirds at yahoo.com Wed Jan 7 11:00:54 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 11:00:54 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Black-Throated Gray Warbler Message-ID: <49147.3614.qm@web46002.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I have made a few misidentifications in the past. But just a few minutes ago, I saw a Black-Throated Gray Warbler (Dendroica nigrescens) come into the yard with a huge flock (75-100) of Bushtits. There was no mistaking this guy. Gray back, white belly/chest and those tell-tale yellow dots (squares) in front of the eyes. Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo, but it was definitely him. I say "him" because the bird was very crisp in colors, had the white wing bars and had a black throat. Exciting stuff! Seth Reams and Michelle King NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From goosemiller at gmail.com Wed Jan 7 11:05:16 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 11:05:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] FW: Duck in a Truck In-Reply-To: <4964F9CD.2000909@verizon.net> Message-ID: <4964fcdb.14b48c0a.1f42.765c@mx.google.com> Hi Everyone: I have been saying for years that if everyone petted a goose everyday there would be no more wars! It is good to know that there are other people out there that believe in the power of animals! Happy New Year Marilyn Miller -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of DJ Lauten and KACastelein Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 10:52 AM To: Jim Norton Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] FW: Duck in a Truck Good and funny. My favorite quote: "Maybe if everyone owned a duck, we wouldn't be so angry with each other." Maybe if all the Leaders in the World had a duck...... Cheers Dave Lauten Jim Norton wrote: > http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/weird/Trucking_Duck_All__National_.html > > ----- Forwarded message from md at teleport.com ----- > Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 20:48:09 -0800 > From: Sumner Sharpe > Reply-To: Sumner Sharpe > Subject: FW: Duck in a Truck > To: obol-owner at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > > > > > > Only in Minnesota > > > > > > > > > > : Duck in a Truck > > > > > > > > Gotta' watch this one................ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Duck in a Truck > > > > CLICK HERE > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _____ > > Get a free MP3 every day with the Spinner.com Toolbar. Get > > it > Now. > > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus > signature > database 3742 (20090106) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > _____ > > My Outgoing Emails and Attachments Are Certified VIRUS FREE!!! > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.3/1878 - Release Date: 1/6/2009 > 7:56 AM > > > This message contains information that is confidential and may be > privileged. Unless you are the addressee (or authorized to receive for > the > addressee), you may not use, copy or disclose to anyone the message or > any > information contained in the message. If you have received the message in > error, please advise the sender by reply e-mail and delete the message. > > > > ----- End forwarded message ----- > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Jim Norton > > "The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this > constantly in mind. Weak desires bring weak results, just as > a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat." - Napoleon Hill > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > > > > > Only in Minnesota > > > > > > > > > > : Duck in a Truck > > > > > > > > *Gotta' watch this one................* > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > *Duck in a Truck* > > > > *CLICK HERE > * > > > > > > > > * * > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Get a *free MP3* every day with the Spinner.com Toolbar. Get it Now > . > > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus > signature database 3742 (20090106) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > My Outgoing Emails and Attachments Are Certified VIRUS FREE!!! > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.3/1878 - Release Date: > 1/6/2009 7:56 AM > > > This message contains information that is confidential and may be > privileged. Unless you are the addressee (or authorized to receive for > the addressee), you may not use, copy or disclose to anyone the > message or any information contained in the message. If you have > received the message in error, please advise the sender by reply > e-mail and delete the message. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From mklittletree at comcast.net Wed Jan 7 11:38:30 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (michel Kleinbaum) Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 11:38:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slate-colored References: Message-ID: <7AA0C14780FE435E91538CB5CC8D2E4D@michel1927> Yesterday, at Minto Brown Park, the lone Junco in a mixed sparrow flock turned out to be a Slate-colored. One White-throated Sparrow also there. Michel Kleinbaum S. Salem ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan Contreras" To: "obol" Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 9:23 AM Subject: [obol] Slate-colored Craig Tumer and I saw two Slate-colored Juncos in Bandon on the CBC. I don't usually see them on the south coast and was surprised to find two. Are they particularly common in SW Oregon/NW Cal this year? I had seen none in Eugene. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From celata at pacifier.com Wed Jan 7 12:08:48 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:08:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - 1/7/2008 Message-ID: <49650BD0.2010505@pacifier.com> Columbia Estuary Report - 1/7/2008 The weather has been sub-optimal for the past couple days, but at least it's not snowing... I met goose watcher (and sometimes hunter) along Wireless Rd this morning who reports a ROSS'S GOOSE in among CACKLING GEESE on Youngs Bay between Binder Slough and Capp Rd. I found no white geese this morning, but as stated above, the conditions are sub-optimal. He also reports a flock of 30+ SNOW GEESE in the area. A single SNOW GOOSE is hanging out with CACKLING GEESE at Circle Creek south of Seaside (you may want to wait for the flood waters to recede bef ore chasing it, however) http://www.tripcheck.com/popups/Cam.asp?camera=652&curRegion=1 The 3 TUNDRA SWAN I reported last week were just north of where they were last week in the Lewis and Clark basin. A BRANT was with the Astoria Airport flock of Cacklers. No BROWN PELICANS have been seen on the North Coast since 12/31. I've looked. Steve's looked. David's looked. Neal's looked. They've all gone to Southern California to be on television... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Jan 7 12:21:35 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:21:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slate-colored Juncos In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1231359695.4815.55.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hi folks, In contrast to other observations, not a single Slate-colored Junco was recorded among the 2043 juncos recorded on the Airlie CBC, or among the 169 juncos counted at Antone, for that matter. At Hart Mountain, it was hard enough to find Oregon Juncos in the wind, let alone anything more exotic. On the Antone CBC, I looked pretty closely though a couple of the bigger flocks to make sure that I wasn't overlooking a Slate-colored female, but I couldn't find a one. Normally we get one or two Slate-colored Juncos per hundred Oregon Juncos, so 0 for 169 is a low number. There were at least two Slate-colored Juncos (one male and one female) around E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area earlier in the winter, but they seem to have gone into hiding for last Saturday's Airlie count. Or, perhaps they kept moving through, on their way to places further south. My very subjective impression is that Slate-colored Juncos tend to arrive in the Willamette Valley as part of the later wave of wintering sparrows, and then are often associated with other sparrows from the north-central part of the continent. The places where they're showing up now could be productive to search for other goodies. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From sheilach at nwtec.com Wed Jan 7 13:26:10 2009 From: sheilach at nwtec.com (Sheila) Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 13:26:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Busy feeders Message-ID: First off I wish to thank Shawneen Finnegan for that link to the amazing changing owl, the link had changed but I was still able to find the video on the Huffington post site. Back home, the Rose-breasted grosbeak had the smarts to fuel up here and then head south to where it's warmer and dryer. I miss him. The "usual suspects" are stuffing their crops here and going nowhere. Mobs of EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES and PINE SISKINS fill the trays along with lesser numbers of BREWERS BLACKBIRDS, WHITE-CROWN, GOLD-CROWN, FOX and SONG SPARROW, SPOTTED TOWHEE, DOWNEY WOODPECKER, STELLERS & SCRUB JAY, fighting as allways, ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS, A AFRICAN-RINGED DOVE, HOUSE FINCHES, PURPLE FINCH, BLACK CAPPED, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, ROBINS, CALIFORNIA QUAIL,OREGON (DARK EYED) JUNCO, NORTHERN FLICKER, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, STARLINGS house hunting in my NEST-BOX TRAP and even a early HOUSE SPARROW tried to pick a spot in my NEST-BOX TRAP. Yes, those alien pests are already house hunting so it's time to get out the nest-box traps to greet them for the new nesting season. I've noticed fewer JUNCOS this year and a rapidly growing number of EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES. Sheila from soggy, foggy Harbor OR. Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency may read this email without warning, warrant, or notice. They may do this without any judicial or legislative oversight. You have no recourse or protection and everything you type may be used against you to detain you in a secret prison. From APBrockway at aol.com Wed Jan 7 14:12:57 2009 From: APBrockway at aol.com (APBrockway at aol.com) Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 17:12:57 EST Subject: [obol] Check out California brown pelicans found frail and far from home - Los Angel Message-ID: For those with slow video downloads, here is a newspaper article on the brown pelicans. _Click here: California brown pelicans found frail and far from home - Los Angeles Times_ (http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-pelicans6-2009jan06,0,6873436.story?track=rss) Al & Dottie Rapid City, SD **************New year...new news. Be the first to know what is making headlines. (http://www.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000026) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090107/931c3eba/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Wed Jan 7 15:43:40 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 15:43:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Red-Shouldered Hawk in Cottage Grove Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F01CF84AE@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> Yesterday evening I exited I-5 to purchase fuel in Cottage Grove. I drove around and spotted a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK sitting on a utility line next to the Chevron Station along Row River Road. It was looking for something to show up in the field next to the station. This spot is at Exit 162. I got some pictures after walking up to the bird as it perched on the utility line. I was able to stand under the bird as it was very tame. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090107/d0061996/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Jan 7 17:51:40 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 17:51:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Search for the Jack Snipe Message-ID: The Wed morning group searched the grassland south of Fisher Butte for the Jack Snipe that was flushed by me and Ellen Cantor on the Eugene CBC. A group of 12 of us formed a line and walked through the grass around an expanded area where the bird was found. We were not successful in finding the bird, but there is huge area that didn't get searched. The Jack Snipe might in time, be discovered as a regular wintering species in the Pacific states but in low numbers. Their habits of feeding by night and skulking beneath grass by day, make them practically undetectable, and the few individuals reported in California and Oregon were surprised by flushing or shot by hunters. In response to my first OBOL message about seeing this bird, I received a call from an interested birder living in the Bay area in California, who reported that her husband and a British birder friend, had flushed a Jack Snipe in the Klamath area about 20 yrs ago, but never reported it, likely because he perceived that no one would believe it. The bird was identified by the British birder. The snipe that I saw on count day was very different from Wilson's Snipe, and these differences are corroborated by field-guide descriptions. It flushed nearly at our feet, flying low or at an upward angle, revealing its upper side. It looked very dark, except for the buff streaking on the back, which is more pronounced and richer-colored than the Wilson's back streaking, each stripe being straighter and wider. The bird was immediately discerned as being smaller than a snipe should be. Its wings were rounded at the tips; not pointed. The flight path was unswerving, not zig-zag as a Wilson's, and the bird quickly dropped back into the grass; not flying up and away, or landing some distance from us, as Wilson's are inclined to do. Wilson's Snipe typically give a raspy call whenever they flush. Jack Snipe are typically silent when flushed, as was my bird. I was mistaken when I reported being the only observer. Ellen Cantor observed the same features that I did. The bird actually flushed between us, passed my legs, then it curved to land into the grass behind us. The area where the bird was seen is on the Fern Ridge visitor's and hunting schedule, which is only open on Sat, Sun, and Wednesdays. I hope this report will encourage others to look for this bird by walking in the grass where appropriate. Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090107/dc10f1f2/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Wed Jan 7 18:13:58 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:13:58 +0000 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird Message-ID: <010820090213.9822.49656166000C5C650000265E22007456729B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Thanks Lars, I appreciate the information OBOL subscribers are willing to share with me. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Norgren Family > The Oregon subspecies used to be called the > "Migratory Allen's Hummingbird". The non- > migratory subspecies was native to the > Channel Islands and has colonized the mainland > (LA and so forth) in the course of the 20th Century. > Lars Norgren > On Jan 7, 2009, at 7:07 AM, sandyleapt at comcast.net wrote: > > > Hi Dave, > > > > Thanks. I didn't look at the pictures Seth posted, I should have. > > The post reminded me that my friend and I had a conversation about a > > friend of hers who lives in the western Portland Metro Area who > > thought they had a Rufous Hummingbirds through the winter. Both of us > > thought "Nah" and I never followed up. > > > > One purely hypothetical question I have, is "if" a Rufous Humming bird > > did not migrate would that indicate the bird is more likely an > > Allen's? since Allen's, according to the books, don't migrate. > > > > Thanks again, > > > > Sandy Leaptrott > > NE Portland > > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > > From: David Irons > >> > >> Hi Sandy, > >> > >> To be a bit blunt, if someone thinks they have Rufous Hummingbirds > >> (plural) > >> coming to their feeders all year round, they are mistaken. Rufous > >> Hummingbird is > >> not quite annual (meaning we don't average quite one per season for > >> the entire > >> state) during winter in Oregon. The odds of one person having > >> multiple birds > >> through the winter are pretty long. > >> > >> I looked at the image that Seth Reams received from a person in > >> Forest Grove > >> (referred to in the post below), and though the image is not that > >> great, it is > >> highly suggestive of Anna's and not a Rufous Hummer. > >> > >> Dave Irons > >> Eugene, OR > >> > >>> From: sandyleapt at comcast.net > >>> To: nepobirds at yahoo.com; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > >>> Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 14:56:24 +0000 > >>> CC: nepobirds at yahoo.com > >>> Subject: Re: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird > >>> > >>> Hi Seth, > >>> > >>> I've heard through a friend (guess that makes it a rumor) that a > >>> friend of > >> hers has Rufous Hummingbirds year round. Since my friend never had a > >> chance to > >> check it out I filled that tidbit in the back of mind until now. > >>> > >>> Sandy Leaptrott > >>> NE Portland > >>> -------------- Original message ---------------------- > >>> From: Seth Reams > >>>> We just received an email from a birder in the Forest Grove area, > >>>> that has > >> been > >>>> host to a male Rufous Hummingbird. He never left after the seasons > >>>> changed. > >> How > >>>> common is this for the area? She sent me a photo of him, sitting on > >>>> a feeder > >> in > >>>> the snow. Quite an odd sight (at least for me). Any thoughts? > >>>> Thanks. > >>>> > >>>> Seth Reams and Michelle King > >>>> NE Portland, OR - Gateway area > >>>> portlandbirds.blogspot.com > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> _______________________________________________ > >>>> obol mailing list > >>>> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > >>>> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > >>> > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> obol mailing list > >>> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > >>> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > >> > >> _________________________________________________________________ > >> Send e-mail anywhere. No map, no compass. > >> http://windowslive.com/oneline/hotmail? > >> ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_anywhere_12 > >> 2008 > > > > > > > > From: David Irons > > Date: January 6, 2009 8:45:04 AM PST > > To: , post OBOL > > Subject: RE: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird > > > > > > Hi Sandy, > > > > To be a bit blunt, if someone thinks they have Rufous Hummingbirds > > (plural) coming to their feeders all year round, they are mistaken. > > Rufous Hummingbird is not quite annual (meaning we don't average quite > > one per season for the entire state) during winter in Oregon. The odds > > of one person having multiple birds through the winter are pretty > > long. > > > > I looked at the image that Seth Reams received from a person in Forest > > Grove (referred to in the post below), and though the image is not > > that great, it is highly suggestive of Anna's and not a Rufous Hummer. > > > > Dave Irons > > Eugene, OR > > > > > From: sandyleapt at comcast.net > > > To: nepobirds at yahoo.com; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 14:56:24 +0000 > > > CC: nepobirds at yahoo.com > > > Subject: Re: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird > > > > > > Hi Seth, > > > > > > I've heard through a friend (guess that makes it a rumor) that a > > friend of hers has Rufous Hummingbirds year round. Since my friend > > never had a chance to check it out I filled that tidbit in the back of > > mind until now. > > > > > > Sandy Leaptrott > > > NE Portland > > > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > > > From: Seth Reams > > > > We just received an email from a birder in the Forest Grove area, > > that has been > > > > host to a male Rufous Hummingbird. He never left after the seasons > > changed. How > > > > common is this for the area? She sent me a photo of him, sitting > > on a feeder in > > > > the snow. Quite an odd sight (at least for me). Any thoughts? > > Thanks. > > > > > > > > Seth Reams and Michelle King > > > > NE Portland, OR - Gateway area > > > > portlandbirds.blogspot.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > obol mailing list > > > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > obol mailing list > > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > Send e-mail anywhere. No map, no compass. Get your Hotmail? account > > now. _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: Norgren Family Subject: Re: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 15:35:17 +0000 Size: 12401 Url: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090108/28926a58/attachment.mht From bigfishyman at gmail.com Wed Jan 7 18:37:54 2009 From: bigfishyman at gmail.com (Bob Fish) Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 18:37:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gyrfalcon Message-ID: I have spent about a half hour after work the past couple days looking for the Gyrr, but no luck. I did see a female NORTHERN HARRIER, and a REDTAIL HAWK as well as several KESTRELS. "frustrated" in Creswell Bob Fish -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090107/0c184c31/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Jan 7 19:46:41 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:46:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 01/07/09 Message-ID: <20090108034643.3DEC1A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 01/01 to 01/07/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 6 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL 1 (12, 1/2) Gull sp. 1 (2, 1/2) Mourning Dove 3 (2) Anna's Hummingbird 5 (3) Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 (1, 1/2 & 5) Downy Woodpecker 1 (2, 1/4) Northern Flicker 5 (3, 1/4) Steller's Jay 6 (5) Western Scrub-Jay 4 (2) American Crow 3 (4) Black-capped Chickadee 6 (12) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 3 (2) BUSHTIT 1 (?[heard only], 1/7) Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 (1, 1/4 & 5) Brown Creeper 4 (2) Winter Wren 1 (1, 1/7) Golden-crowned Kinglet 3 (2) American Robin 2 (3, 1/5) Varied Thrush 6 (3) European Starling 2 (3, 1/2) Spotted Towhee 6 (4) Fox Sparrow 1 (1, 1/2) Song Sparrow 6 (10) Dark-eyed Junco 6 (30, 1/2) House Finch 6 (20, 1/2) Pine Siskin 2 (1, 1/5 & 7) Wink Gross Portland From Oropendolas at aol.com Wed Jan 7 21:51:29 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 00:51:29 EST Subject: [obol] Lane Co. Raptor Route #2 Message-ID: Hello All, I ran the Lane Co. Route #2 yesterday hoping to add Gyrfalcon to the count, but that didn't happen. The 80 mile route took 4.5 hours and covers the West Eugene Wetlands area and north between Greenhill Road and River Road to Hwy 36 near Junction City then between Hwy 99W and Washburn Road to the Lane County line. Numbers were very similar to 3 weeks ago with the exception of an additional 10 Harriers. Red-tailed Hawk - 33 American Kestrel - 45 Northern Harrier - 17 White-tailed Kite - 4 Bald Eagle - 3 Adults Rough-legged Hawk - 3 (2 were on Territorial Hwy just north of Cheshire, 1 was west of Junction City on Washburn north of Ferguson Rd.) Merlin - 1 John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1215047751x1200957972/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%26hmpgID=62%26bcd=De cemailfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090108/56d2e44d/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Jan 7 23:23:23 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:23:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 1-8-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * January 8, 2009 * ORPO0901.08 - birds mentioned Emperor Goose Brown Pelican LITTLE BLUE HERON Swainson?s Hawk Golden Eagle Gyrfalcon Sandhill Crane JACK SNIPE Heermann?s Gull Glaucous Gull Say?s Phoebe Cassin?s Vireo Clark?s Nutcracker Northern Mockingbird BROWN THRASHER Black-throated Gray Warbler PINE WARBLER Common Yellowthroat Wilson?s Warbler PYRRHULOXIA Black-headed Grosbeak - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 I was a little suprised to see two turtles sunning them selves on logs in Eugene on a little pond nexed to Riverpark Nursing Home on the west side of Goodpaster Island Road. The far one from me might have been a Slider type but the closer one was a Western Pond turtle. Yester day I saw my first for this winter as well as F.O.Y. for me Green Heron fly in and land on a low Willow limb inches above the water at this same pond, but I didn't see it today. The pair of Bald Eagles in the area is a?about a every day sight for many. As is several types of ducks. Only the Western Canada Geese seem to hang out here. I have a humming bird feeder hanging outside my wife's window at the nursing home that is visited by three?Anna's several times a day.. One adult male that was the most regular I havn't seenfor the last three days but a young male and a female still showing. ? Dave Brown Alvadore -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090107/0fbcc841/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Jan 8 06:22:38 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 06:22:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Falcon detections in western Oregon Message-ID: <568e0f2ac9bc0e469c9c0bd045e18b9f@earthlink.net> There has been a spate of falcon sightings this Christmas Count season with attendant speculation on what sort of trend this might signify for Prairie Falcons. The sample is really quite small and probably reflects changes in observer effort/experience level. When I made extensive, dedicated efforts to find large falcons between Washington County and Fern Ridge Reservoir three winters ago I was very conscious of viewing conditions. I abruptly changed plans to take advantage of dry, fog free days. It struck me that that winter was blessed with a great deal of fair weather. As I recall Mike Patterson saw Prairie Falcons at both Cottage Grove and the lower Columbia that year. These are both well removed from the time hallowed stomping grounds in Linn County. When the weather is fair more people spend more time in open, exposed landscapes. And when the weather is fair, time spent in the right place is vastly more effective. With visibility at 100m an observer can scan .03 square km. from a single stop. With visibility at 1 km (slightly more than 6 football field lengths) the potential area scanned from a single point goes up to 3 square km.. On the other hand, of the four Washington County sightings I have made of Prairie Falcons only one was the result of a dedicated search. The others were strictly incidental to my being in transit through appropriate habitat. Perhaps there is an art to analyzing anecdotal evidence. Lars Norgren From mlafaive at msn.com Thu Jan 8 06:36:46 2009 From: mlafaive at msn.com (Margaret LaFaive) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 06:36:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Heppner Raptor Route (plus Rosy-Finches and Blackbirds) Message-ID: Eric and I conducted the Heppner Raptor Route on Wednesday, 1/7. This route runs along Highway 74 from I84 to Heppner, then loops south past Willow Creek Reservoir and west to Rhea Creek road which it follows back to Highway 74. Here are the raptor totals: Red-tailed Hawk 23 American Kestrel 12 Northern Harrier 5 Golden Eagle 6 Rough-legged Hawk 6 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 Cooper's Hawk 1 Buteo sp. 1 Total 56 Miles Driven: 85.3 Time: 6.5 hours We had a few other interesting sightings along the route: There was a flock of 15 GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES foraging on a cliff face a half mile north of Ruggs along Rhea Creek Road. This is the third time we have found Rosy-Finches along Rhea Creek while doing the raptor survey. We saw 5 NORTHERN SHRIKES scattered along the route. And in Cecil there was a huge flock of blackbirds that we estimated contained 2000 birds, but we could easily be off by several hundred. The flock was primarily made up of BREWER's and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, but we counted at least 10 YELLOW-HEADS and 30 TRI-COLORED. There were also a few BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS in the mix. Good Birding, Margaret LaFaive Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090108/a5d15fcb/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Jan 8 09:07:06 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 09:07:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] How about this Cardinal in OR Message-ID: Here's a Cardinal for you. See the "Minnesota Birdnerd" web page below. Don't believe I have seen a bird of any species like this one. Would be a tough one for a bander to determine it's sex! Dennis http://minnesotabirdnerd.blogspot.com:80/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090108/ffa5468f/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Thu Jan 8 10:53:00 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 10:53:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Correction: Fern Ridge access (Jack Snipe report) Message-ID: I received this notice from ODFW: "Access regulations changed a few years ago for the Fisher Butte Unit or across Royal in the Royal Amazon unit. During the duck season the area is open daily until 1:00pm for hunting and closes at 2:00pm to all access, except the old bed of royal avenue and the short section of dike to the viewing platform." In my last report about the Jack Snipe search at Fisher Butte I gave the wrong impression about access schedule. Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090108/62b5ff64/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Thu Jan 8 11:51:18 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 11:51:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Warm Weather Surprise References: <388723.17617.qm@web59903.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <002f01c971ca$7beb4b00$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Dave, And here last night the Pacific Tree Frogs were singing. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: Dave Brown To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 8:22 PM Subject: [obol] Warm Weather Surprise I was a little suprised to see two turtles sunning them selves on logs in Eugene on a little pond nexed to Riverpark Nursing Home on the west side of Goodpaster Island Road. The far one from me might have been a Slider type but the closer one was a Western Pond turtle. Yester day I saw my first for this winter as well as F.O.Y. for me Green Heron fly in and land on a low Willow limb inches above the water at this same pond, but I didn't see it today. The pair of Bald Eagles in the area is a about a every day sight for many. As is several types of ducks. Only the Western Canada Geese seem to hang out here. I have a humming bird feeder hanging outside my wife's window at the nursing home that is visited by three Anna's several times a day. One adult male that was the most regular I havn't seenfor the last three days but a young male and a female still showing. Dave Brown Alvadore ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090108/3ab65a81/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Thu Jan 8 13:12:06 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 13:12:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos birds 1/8 Message-ID: I refound the PRAIRIE FALCON at Myrtle Point. For locals, it was along CR 136 accessed from Lower Norway Rd. The EMPEROR & GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were still on the freshwater pond at the south jetty of Bandon. In the Bandon harbor, there was 1 ROCK SANDPIPER with scores of BLACK TURNSTONES & SURFBIRDS on the floating docks. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090108/d439fd30/attachment.html From msligocki at earthlink.net Thu Jan 8 14:02:45 2009 From: msligocki at earthlink.net (Marti Ligocki) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 14:02:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Warm Weather Surprise References: <388723.17617.qm@web59903.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> <002f01c971ca$7beb4b00$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: <9CBF8707CC884FCCAD2605FA71802672@MartiPC> They were singing here in South Salem also. Marti Ligocki ----- Original Message ----- From: Darrel Faxon To: davebrownbirder at yahoo.com ; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 11:51 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Warm Weather Surprise Dave, And here last night the Pacific Tree Frogs were singing. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: Dave Brown To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 8:22 PM Subject: [obol] Warm Weather Surprise I was a little suprised to see two turtles sunning them selves on logs in Eugene on a little pond nexed to Riverpark Nursing Home on the west side of Goodpaster Island Road. The far one from me might have been a Slider type but the closer one was a Western Pond turtle. Yester day I saw my first for this winter as well as F.O.Y. for me Green Heron fly in and land on a low Willow limb inches above the water at this same pond, but I didn't see it today. The pair of Bald Eagles in the area is a about a every day sight for many. As is several types of ducks. Only the Western Canada Geese seem to hang out here. I have a humming bird feeder hanging outside my wife's window at the nursing home that is visited by three Anna's several times a day. One adult male that was the most regular I havn't seenfor the last three days but a young male and a female still showing. Dave Brown Alvadore ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.5/1882 - Release Date: 1/8/2009 8:13 AM -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090108/ac40031e/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Thu Jan 8 15:10:15 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:10:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] water, water, everywhere Message-ID: <496687D7.6070909@pacifier.com> According to the weather folks, more than 4 inches of rain fell in 24 hours here in Clatsop County. http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ From cgates326 at gmail.com Thu Jan 8 16:07:27 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 16:07:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] How about this Cardinal in OR In-Reply-To: Message-ID: I would be really interested in hearing thoughts about the genetics that might have produced this bird. Anyone have ideas? -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org]On Behalf Of Dennis P. Vroman Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 9:07 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] How about this Cardinal in OR Here's a Cardinal for you. See the "Minnesota Birdnerd" web page below. Don't believe I have seen a bird of any species like this one. Would be a tough one for a bander to determine it's sex! Dennis http://minnesotabirdnerd.blogspot.com:80/ No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.3/1879 - Release Date: 1/6/2009 5:16 PM -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090108/d21d03ae/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Thu Jan 8 16:58:18 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:58:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Birding circles and Google Earth Message-ID: <4966A12A.6070701@pacifier.com> I was chatting with Steve Warner about end of year list maintenance and he described to me his "birding circle" (Those wondering what a birding circle is may want to check _Oregon Birds_ 33:2 for the full skinny). He's been taking the concept very seriously, but because he's using a county map and a ruler, his description wasn't translating all that well over the phone. Until I fired up Google Earth... Using the measuring tool, one can define a 15 mile diameter between two points. Then import a circle using the overlay function, size a it to 15 miles, then scoot it around to optimize territory. Steve's circle covers Haystack Rock AND Saddle Mt, plus the Necanicum Estuary. I defined a circle that includes my house, Wireless Rd and most of Brownsmead (last night). Theoretically, I can do most of my circle by bus and bicycle. I can save that place and send the kmz file to anyone interested and they can upload it to their Google places. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ From darhawk500 at msn.com Thu Jan 8 16:59:54 2009 From: darhawk500 at msn.com (D Scott) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 16:59:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bald Eagle - Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Message-ID: Hello All I was spending some time today at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge in Sherwood, Oregon and was able to spot a Bald Eagle. Thanks to Marilyn for letting me grab a peak at him. Also saw the largest flocks of Canada Geese I have ever encountered, I'm talking huge numbers. With many up in th eair all at once. Very fun to watch, just don't be underneath as they fly overhead. Several Northern Pintails were observed and the common Mallard duck. http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottstudiophotography/ Derek Scott Sherwood, Or _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_howitworks_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090108/97f13da5/attachment.html From sheran at bendbroadband.com Thu Jan 8 17:08:58 2009 From: sheran at bendbroadband.com (Sheran Wright) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 17:08:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pine Warbler Message-ID: <5DB3449C17F84E5580400D7A4A23E79A@notebook> Hi, Birders: In his 1/8/09 RBA report Harry states that the Pine Warbler "is being seen". Is it? There have been no OBOL posts about the bird since the Goodhews said they looked for it on Jan. 1 and didn't locate it. Is there a more recent sighting? If so, I'd like to try for it before the next storm blows in. Any new information would be appreciated. Sheran Wright Bend From goosemiller at gmail.com Thu Jan 8 17:12:43 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 17:12:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pine Warbler In-Reply-To: <5DB3449C17F84E5580400D7A4A23E79A@notebook> Message-ID: <4966a478.14b48c0a.18d8.ffffe945@mx.google.com> Hi Sheran and Obol: Craig and I spent almost four hours looking for it on Sunday 1-4-09 and did not find it. But it was seen at 7:15 a.m. at a woman's feeder. We looked and walked and looked and walked! Dress Warmly! We had to leave at noon to drive back to Bend. Marilyn Miller -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Sheran Wright Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 5:09 PM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Pine Warbler Hi, Birders: In his 1/8/09 RBA report Harry states that the Pine Warbler "is being seen". Is it? There have been no OBOL posts about the bird since the Goodhews said they looked for it on Jan. 1 and didn't locate it. Is there a more recent sighting? If so, I'd like to try for it before the next storm blows in. Any new information would be appreciated. Sheran Wright Bend _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dinpdx at yahoo.com Thu Jan 8 17:21:58 2009 From: dinpdx at yahoo.com (Dwight) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 17:21:58 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] GREEN HERON-Fanno Creek Trail SW Portland Message-ID: <79726.78485.qm@web31605.mail.mud.yahoo.com> At 4:30 this afternoon I saw a GREEN HERON flying over the Portland Golf Club next to the Fanno Creek Trail in SW Portland (species #72 for the birdwalk). Birding the Local Patch, Dwight Porter Portland OR From calliope at theriver.com Thu Jan 8 17:36:54 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 18:36:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding circles and Google Earth In-Reply-To: <4966A12A.6070701@pacifier.com> References: <4966A12A.6070701@pacifier.com> Message-ID: Hi All, Alternatively, if one already knows the center of a circle and wants to draw it on Google Earth, the website http://dev.bt23.org/keyhole/circlegen/ is handy. Just enter the coordinates in decimal degrees (negative sign needed for longitude west), and the radius in meters (7.5 miles is 12070.08 m). It creates a kml file that you download and open with Google Earth. It's a very useful tool for CBC compilers. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- On Jan 8, 2009, at 5:58 PM, Mike Patterson wrote: > I was chatting with Steve Warner about end of year list maintenance > and he described to me his "birding circle" (Those wondering what > a birding circle is may want to check _Oregon Birds_ 33:2 for the > full skinny). He's been taking the concept very seriously, but > because he's using a county map and a ruler, his description wasn't > translating all that well over the phone. Until I fired up Google > Earth... > > Using the measuring tool, one can define a 15 mile diameter between > two points. Then import a circle using the overlay function, size > a it to 15 miles, then scoot it around to optimize territory. > > Steve's circle covers Haystack Rock AND Saddle Mt, plus the Necanicum > Estuary. I defined a circle that includes my house, Wireless Rd and > most of Brownsmead (last night). Theoretically, I can do most of my > circle by bus and bicycle. > > I can save that place and send the kmz file to anyone interested and > they can upload it to their Google places. > > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Jan 8 18:24:53 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 18:24:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Prairie Falcon continues at Vadis(Washington County) Message-ID: <8a6445ae83b17099c4b06484372c0721@earthlink.net> An adult PRAIRIE FALCON was along Harrington Road between Kerkman and Milne Roads from 9am to 9:40 and again at 1:30 and 3pm. It is quite tame and at three allowed me to park directly below the half-dead cedar it was perched in. This is presumably the same bird Stefan Schlick saw twice last week or so. More details later tonight. Lars Norgren From hhactitis at yahoo.com Thu Jan 8 18:44:04 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 18:44:04 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] For Larophiles only - European Gull ID question Message-ID: <713210.65335.qm@web37005.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all Larophiles, there is currently a gull in Hungary that some local birders believe to be a Ring-billed Gull. Without telling you what I think, I'd like to get your input on this bird (just scroll down on the page until you get to the first pictures): http://www.surfbirds.com/cgi-bin/gallery/display.cgi?gallery=gallery28 Just curious what the Orgeon gull lovers think .... with your prmission, I will pass your opinions on to the folks in Hungary. Happy Gulling Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090108/43be1a50/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Thu Jan 8 18:57:46 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 18:57:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] How about this Cardinal in OR In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Thanks for asking the question. It sent me on a hunt for more information as I had seen one of these oddities back in 1987. I was fortunate to be in Death Valley, California, where a bunch of us were all birding the same area. We were able to see and photograph a "probable" bilateral gynandromorph Black-throated Blue Warbler. It essentially looked female on one side and had the plumage of a hatch-year male on the other. Needless to say it wasn't collected as we were in a National Park. And I add the "probable" after reading a 1996 article in The Wilson's Bulletin reviewing Patten's 1993 article in Continental Birdlife. It was a very cool bird and had lead to an initial argument between finders Michael Patten and his friend Patty, who had spotted the bird about the same time, but had seen it from opposite sides. It brought new meaning to the "two-bird theory." A bilateral gynandromorph bird is pretty darned rare, but has been reported in domestic groups like chickens and pheasants (see excerpt below for more info). The best explanation I found was in a PDF about two House Sparrows captured in Spain which talks about the causes, being that it is known as an "endocrine abnormality in sexual genic expression". Per the link below "This phenomenon has been reported in small mammals, humans,birds and other animals such as invertebrates, especially butterflies (Benoit 1959, Hannah-Alava 1960). http://www.ornitologia.org/publicacions/19_25_29.pdf I did find an abstract on-line from a White-ruffed Manakin that was quite interesting, though I am not a member and can't access the whole article: The Wilson Journal of Ornithology Article: pp. 289?291 | Abstract | PDF (536K) Bilateral Gynandromorphy in a White-ruffed Manakin (*Corapipo altera* ) Jeffrey M. DaCosta, Garth M. Spellman, and John Klicka We report bilateral gynandromorphy in a White-ruffed Manakin (*Corapipo altera*) collected near Santa F?, Panam? in 2004. The specimen had an oviduct and ovary on the left side and a single testis on the right. The plumage was phenotypically female on the right side and male on the left. The weight and genetic affinity of the specimen were characteristically female. Both Z and W chromosomes were detected in genetic samples from multiple tissue types and toe pads from both feet. This report is a novel record of gynandromorphy in a suboscine passerine. This link talks more about Patten's bird: http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Wilson/v108n01/p0178-p0180.html Shawneen Finnegan, Portland On Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 4:07 PM, Charles Gates wrote: > I would be really interested in hearing thoughts about the genetics that > might have produced this bird. Anyone have ideas? > > -----Original Message----- > *From:* obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto: > obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org]*On Behalf Of *Dennis P. Vroman > *Sent:* Thursday, January 08, 2009 9:07 AM > *To:* obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > *Subject:* [obol] How about this Cardinal in OR > > Here's a Cardinal for you. See the "Minnesota Birdnerd" web page below. > > Don't believe I have seen a bird of any species like this one. Would be a > tough one for a bander to determine it's sex! > > Dennis > > http://minnesotabirdnerd.blogspot.com:80/ > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090108/f064f68e/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Jan 8 19:02:22 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:02:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] For Larophiles only - European Gull ID question In-Reply-To: <713210.65335.qm@web37005.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: To my eye there are at least two reasons why this is not a Ring-billed. The bill is a little small and has a mewish pattern, and the brownish wing pattern is way more like a Mew (Common) than like a first-winter Ringbill. Given the size and appearance, I will stick my neck much too far out and suggest that this is a Kamchatka Mew. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Hendrik Herlyn > Reply-To: > Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 18:44:04 -0800 (PST) > To: OBOL > Subject: [obol] For Larophiles only - European Gull ID question > > Hello all Larophiles, > > there is currently a gull in Hungary that some local birders believe to be a > Ring-billed Gull. Without telling you what I think, I'd like to get your input > on this bird (just scroll down on the page until you get to the first > pictures): > > http://www.surfbirds.com/cgi-bin/gallery/display.cgi?gallery=gallery28 > > Just curious what the Orgeon gull lovers think .... with your prmission, I > will pass your opinions on to the folks in Hungary. > > Happy Gulling > > Hendrik > _________________________________ > > Hendrik G. Herlyn > > 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 > > Corvallis, OR 97333 > > USA > > E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From chlaparl at wildblue.net Thu Jan 8 19:06:16 2009 From: chlaparl at wildblue.net (Jim Rogers) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 19:06:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Jay making like crow Message-ID: <6a6570ae0901081906x3bf1f3eal74c002bda55c9aaa@mail.gmail.com> Today in Port Orford I observed a Steller's Jay immitating a crow. The crow was about 200 feet away and about every 20 seconds would sound the typical three-note call ... AH-AH-AH. A few seconds later from about 30 feet away I'd hear the identical call - same pitch, same cadence, virtually identical, but not as loud and forceful...ah-ah-ah. I slipped around the brush and there near the top of a waxmyrtle was a jay, head tipped back, beak wide open, carefully copying the crow. I enjoyed the performance for about 10 minutes and moved on. I don't recall seeing this behavior before. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090108/4fac9d95/attachment.html From kcoe at orednet.org Thu Jan 8 19:20:07 2009 From: kcoe at orednet.org (kcoe at orednet.org) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 19:20:07 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Pine Warbler In-Reply-To: <5DB3449C17F84E5580400D7A4A23E79A@notebook> References: <5DB3449C17F84E5580400D7A4A23E79A@notebook> Message-ID: <50656.71.111.63.146.1231471207.squirrel@shemp.dialoregon.net> Birders, About a week ago I saw the PINE WARBLER in La Grande, Eastern Oregon. A friend said she saw it as recently as Tuesday, 6 Jan 09 at a feeder in the backyard of a house on Oak Street. The bird seems to be frequenting an area south of the hospital, along Walnut Street and south of B Avenue between Walnut and Oak Streets. It seems to be more visible, and frequents suet feeders during what we might consider bad weather, while during nicer weather it seems to not be as visible at the feeders. The few times I've seen it was early and late--7:30 am and 3:30 to 4:00 pm. Here's three pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/33826412 at N07/?saved=1 The warbler was first noticed on 20 Dec 08, so it may be around for the winter, if it can survive. Good luck. Kent 541 962-7049 (h) > Hi, Birders: > > In his 1/8/09 RBA report Harry states that the Pine Warbler "is being > seen". > Is it? There have been no OBOL posts about the bird since the Goodhews > said > they looked for it on Jan. 1 and didn't locate it. Is there a more recent > sighting? If so, I'd like to try for it before the next storm blows in. > Any new information would be appreciated. > > Sheran Wright > Bend > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From kcoe at orednet.org Thu Jan 8 19:22:27 2009 From: kcoe at orednet.org (kcoe at orednet.org) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 19:22:27 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Pine Warbler In-Reply-To: <5DB3449C17F84E5580400D7A4A23E79A@notebook> References: <5DB3449C17F84E5580400D7A4A23E79A@notebook> Message-ID: <50659.71.111.63.146.1231471347.squirrel@shemp.dialoregon.net> Birders, About a week ago I saw the PINE WARBLER in La Grande, Eastern Oregon. A friend said she saw it as recently as Tuesday, 6 Jan 09 at a feeder in the backyard of a house on Oak Street. The bird seems to be frequenting an area south of the hospital, along Walnut Street and south of B Avenue between Walnut and Oak Streets. It seems to be more visible, and frequents suet feeders during what we might consider bad weather, while during nicer weather it seems to not be as visible at the feeders. The few times I've seen it was early and late--7:30 am and 3:30 to 4:00 pm. Here's three pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/33826412 at N07/?saved=1 The warbler was first noticed on 20 Dec 08, so it may be around for the winter, if it can survive. Good luck. Kent 541 962-7049 (h) > Hi, Birders: > > In his 1/8/09 RBA report Harry states that the Pine Warbler "is being > seen". > Is it? There have been no OBOL posts about the bird since the Goodhews > said > they looked for it on Jan. 1 and didn't locate it. Is there a more recent > sighting? If so, I'd like to try for it before the next storm blows in. > Any new information would be appreciated. > > Sheran Wright > Bend > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From celata at pacifier.com Thu Jan 8 19:27:59 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:27:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] For Larophiles only - European Gull ID question Message-ID: <4966C43F.80305@pacifier.com> Looks mewish to me. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ From rlowe at casco.net Thu Jan 8 20:20:08 2009 From: rlowe at casco.net (Roy Lowe) Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 20:20:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Little Blue Message-ID: The Little Blue Heron was present again today in the pasture near the red barn on Drift Creek Road at Siletz Bay, however, most of the pasture was submerged due to flooding. A juv red-shouldered hawk was present on nearby Gorton Road. Salishan Spit resident Michael Mefford observed 7 brown pelicans flying south past Siletz Bay so small numbers continue to trickle by. At Nestucca Bay NWR 6 snow geese were mixed in with the Canada and cackling geese. This is the most I have seen here on the ground. Roy From davehelzer at mac.com Thu Jan 8 20:51:58 2009 From: davehelzer at mac.com (David Helzer) Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:51:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland Sandhills and Slate-Colored Message-ID: This afternoon there was a flock of 30-40 Sandhill Cranes high over Kelly Point in North Portland (Confluence of Willamette and Columbia Rivers). They went north. Last week on New Years Day there was a Slate-colored Junco in my yard in NE Portland. Dave Helzer Portland, Oregon From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Jan 9 07:30:08 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 07:30:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Roy, Oregon Copious raptors and waterfowl Jan8 Message-ID: Reports of frog choruses to the south reminds me that outside after the Coquille Valley CBC countdown there were a great many frogs audible, the first I have heard this year. In contrast the sky was cloudless and icy clear, Orion and cohorts blazing away as they seldom do in the misty moisty heavens of the beach. It all seems a dream, as I stand surrounded by two foot deep drifts of dirty snow. They were three and four feet high before yesterday's rain. Two birds caught my eye in the first flooded field north of Banks this morning along Hwy 47. They were at the water's edge but didn't look like duck. I turned the car around and discovered they were both Red-tailed Hawks, taking baths. After yesterday's deluge why would they be so inclined? But then for close to three weeks a bath was out of the question, with all the water frozen on the valley floor and usually under a foot of snow. I thought of Gyrfalcons in the far north that must pass seven or eight months without fresh liquid water. Did they take special delight in the first puddle in June? Vadis is a few miles east of Banks, or northeast of Roy. The last freeway exit after North Plains as one heads west on the Sunset Highway . What may be the only glider port in Oregon occupies the northeast corner of the exit complex. If you follow a few county roads back along the south side of the freeway towards North Plains you will come to a sub-division where every house has direct runway access to a private airstrip. All houses are the identical split-level ranch style, with a hangar where the garage would usually be. It is not by any means the only such development. Another similar airport/ subdivision lies a few miles further south and east. Half a century after the Eisenhower administration that spawned such curiosities, few of the hangars through the kitchen door still function as such. They have become over-sized garages or vaulted family rooms. Johnny and Susie still go to school in a car or bus and Mom and Dad don't fly Cessnas to work every day. None-the-less Metropolitain Portland's urban growth boundary interfaces with falconland in particulary variegated fashion here-abouts. The unpaved eastern end of Harrington Road ends at Milne Road, also unpaved and connecting Vadis with Cornelius-Schefflin Road. A half mile west on Harrington stands a lone red-cedar. The top half is dead while the bottom remains fairly bushy. It's an anomalous place for a red-cedar. Someone must have had a house here when Vadis and Schefflin had school houses. Today there's a raptor in the snag top, and a quick glance through the binocular proves it to be the hoped-for Prairie Falcon. While I'm extending the legs on my tripod it disappears. It reappears flying east over the perenial grassfield, something seemingly in its talons. Two things have occupied my thoughts in the half-hour before finding this bird. I believe Prairie Falcons on their breeding grounds in the Great Basin eat mostly ground squirrels. What do they eat in winter in the Willamette Basin? Greydiggers start hibernating in late summer and don't come out until February. Do these Prairie Falcons establish winter territories and hang around for a full season? In Washington County at least, it's rare for anyone to find one of these Prairie Falcons a second time. Not unheard of, but rare. This bird lands on a utility pole cross arm, a small burden quite evident. It is now about three poles to my east, nearly silhouetted against the morning sun. It shows no immediate interest in its prize, its crop already visibly bulging. After several minutes it does commence to eat and the silhouetted prey is clearly a large vole. When I crossed the median strip of the freeway a mile north of here last Sunday to look at swans there were roughly three vole tracks per square foot. The endemic Grey-tailed Vole is probably experiencing one of its population spikes. One study of penned voles produced a density of 2,280/ha.. In a few bites the vole is gone and the falcon wipes its beak repeatedly on the cross arm. A farm truck drives under the pole without eliciting any response, so I begin to back up towards the distant utility pole. The falcon leaves as I draw up beside it and flies in completely leisurely fashion westward to a pole almost even with the half-dead red-cedar. This puts the sun at my back and I try to see the color of the bird' cere-- that waxy looking skin at the base of the upper mandible. Juvenile falcons always have a gray or blue cere, adults a yellow one. At this point a female Kestrel begins to mob the Prairie Falcon with accompanying "klee,klee,klee"notes. When the bigger falcon ignores this the Kestrel lands at the bottom of the utility line's arc midway between the Prairie Falcon's pole and the next one east. That's how I left them at 9:40 when I went to work. About 1pm the skies were sunnier than ever and I had an errand at the nearest mall. I turned south at Mountaindale Road and picked up Harrington at its west end in Roy, where the chapel is dedicated to St Francis of Assissi, the patron saint of birds I've been told. At Kevin Duyck's rhubarb farm a half mile east(37955 Harrington Rd) there are up to 400 swans in the flood waters spilling out of the East Fork of Dairy Creek. This is by far the largest number I have seen anywhere in the Tualatin Basin in 25 years. It is too far for my optical equipment to reveal any Trumpeters, but I stop to scan for a more accurate count. At this point the several hundred Canada Geese in front of the swans start to pretend they are Dunlin. I'm not talking about Cacklers. These are full-sized Canada Geese, Duskies almost certainly, and they are rising from the ground in a tight flock, only to wheel back down when they get a few meters off the ground, then rise again with equally abnormal alacrity. Eight pound birds don't do a good Dunlin imitation, but the effort is still impressive even at a half mile remove. Such anserine histrionics can only be inspired by some doughty raptor, and alas it is no Gyrfalcon. A large adult Peregrine soon becomes evident, flying towards me on a tangent, only to disappear behind one of Kevin's barns. I drive east over Dairy Creek and quickly locate a Peregrine in the top of a broken fir to the south of the road. There is a large flood pool here full of Pintail and Green-winged Teal. The first Peregrine I ever saw in Washington County was over this same pond twelve years ago, in hot pursuit of teal. Today they seem absurdly blase compared to the geese. The Peregrine looks rather ruffled, as if it had just taken an overly thorough bath. On the north side of Harrington Road an all black buteo is hovering. It is really stunning. Very crisply marked. White and black bands across the undersides of the flight feathers, but the rest of the bird from lores to tail appears black. Luckily it breaks the hover and banks to reveal a red tail. It's the sort of bird that could generate a host of fantasy IDs. A pair of typical red-tails, likely a resident couple, appear right behind the black hawk and neither party recognizes the other's presence. I don't believe I'd seen such truly black Red-tailed Hawks before this year. One was along Highway 47 where the South Fork of Dairy Creek crosses back in November. As I recall, Wayne Hoffman saw one a day or two before or after out at the Coast. Back on the gravel stretch of Harrington there is a familiar lump on a pole up ahead. Sure enough the Prairie Falcon is still there. The light in the morning was good by winter standards, but now it's even better and I almost convince myself this is a different bird. After changing poles in its usual leisurely fashion it lands on the ground due north of me. The darkest feathers of all are the flanks and side coverts which are almost solid brown, so dark they approach black. The lightest feathers are on the tail. This morning they looked reddish, but in this brighter light they are a yellow-brown. The entire mantel has a pebbly appearance, each feather pale at the edges and dark in the center, the feathers of the upper back red enough to suggest a Kestrel. After standing on the ground quite awhile it flies low towards the north. At no time during these brief flights was it high enough to be visible from any distance. Returning from the mall an hour and a half later I make a brief detour from the Sunset Highway and to my surprise find that the cedar is visible from a vantage point over a mile to the east. A lump is in the dead top, and of course when I drive up it proves to be the Prairie Falcon. If the mouse population is as dense as I think, it has no incentive to move. And while it is ostensibly in direct competition with Kestrels, there must be more than enough to go around. Lars Norgren From jeffharding at centurytel.net Fri Jan 9 09:38:41 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 09:38:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon Birds Requests Circle Birding Notes Message-ID: <85BC5536662B4C5B937DF896F4E38FF9@laptop> We would like to include a series of short notes on birding in circles in the next Oregon Birds. A number of you have indicated in OBOL that you kept track of the birds you found in your own circle. We would like to know about your experience. Please send me a short account, on the order of 300 words, and we'll see what we can put together. In fact, accounts of any limited range birding would be interesting, for example, from dog-walks to farm-based listing. Any comments or questions are welcome. Good birding, Jeff Harding Editor, Oregon Birds >From Oregon Birds 33:2: Announcement: Circle Birding Added as a Category for Reporting Beginning on January 1, 2008, birders in Oregon are invited to take a new approach to the listing of bird species, and, at the end of the year, to report their results for publication in an issue of Oregon Birds. We are adding a new category to our traditional "state" and "county" year and life lists: "circle" birding. Each interested birder will select a limited area, a circle with a diameter of up to approximately 15 miles. Each birder may list all bird species he or she observes within that circle, following the usual ABA listing rules. The smaller scale of the listing "territory" will make it possible to bird the area without the need for as much car driving as is generally done with the other two categories of listing. At the same time, the allowed diameter of 15 miles ensures that the circles will be large enough to provide some diversity of habitats. With this approach, feeder watching, driving to the supermarket, walking the dog, jogging or biking for exercise, riding public transportation, etc., all have potential to become also occasions for birding so long as one is in the circle. (Note: We assume that the "life list" for each circle will be defined as the total of the birder's first year of birding that circle plus all species seen in subsequent years which were missed the first year. For that reason, "life list" totals will not be published until after the second year of circle listing.) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090109/88e96a23/attachment.html From parouzer at yahoo.com Fri Jan 9 09:52:09 2009 From: parouzer at yahoo.com (Pati Rouzer) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 09:52:09 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Remove from list Message-ID: <296787.9687.qm@web36603.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Obol; Please remove me from the list. Thank you. Pati -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090109/54fbe898/attachment.html From sheran at bendbroadband.com Fri Jan 9 11:26:12 2009 From: sheran at bendbroadband.com (Sheran Wright) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 11:26:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pine Warbler References: <5DB3449C17F84E5580400D7A4A23E79A@notebook> Message-ID: <4B96A3C4C8CA4700A5BE8E797648D525@notebook> Thanks to the folks who provided information and advice on this warbler. Tim Rodenkirk's suggestion to just "go bird La Grande for a few days" sound like sage advice since birding NE Oregon in winters is always fun---rare bird or no. Sheran ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sheran Wright" To: "OBOL" Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 5:08 PM Subject: [obol] Pine Warbler > Hi, Birders: > > In his 1/8/09 RBA report Harry states that the Pine Warbler "is being > seen". > Is it? There have been no OBOL posts about the bird since the Goodhews > said > they looked for it on Jan. 1 and didn't locate it. Is there a more recent > sighting? If so, I'd like to try for it before the next storm blows in. > Any new information would be appreciated. > > Sheran Wright > Bend > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.5/1883 - Release Date: 1/8/2009 6:05 PM From dan at heyerly.com Fri Jan 9 11:55:22 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Dan Heyerly) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 11:55:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] larophile comment Message-ID: <66DE8031D5D14E2CACD752C1DC7ADE84@Dan> I wouldn't call myself a Larophile by any means, nor would I go so far as to be seen with an outrageous bumper sticker such as "Lump Larids", but to me this bird's bill looks awfully thick for a Mew. Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090109/aa85b62e/attachment.html From foglark at att.net Fri Jan 9 12:30:11 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 12:30:11 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] gull in Hungary Message-ID: <505452.98499.qm@web80016.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Regarding the gull alluded to by Hendrik Herlyn @ OBOL, the heavy and well-marked bill is a teaser, but to my eye this gull seems "off" for Ring-billed. It has indistinctly marked tertials and coverts, unlike the rather strong pattern of angular dark centers and pale edges shown by Ring-billed. It has seems to have a more Mew- than Ring-billed- like pattern in the spread primaries. The wings at rest look a bit too long for Ring-billed. I don't know the other ssp. of Mew, though. Perhaps, as Alan C. suggests, it is a Kamchatka Gull, which I seem to recall has a somewhat heavier bill than North American-breeding Mew Gulls. A quick non sequiter: I was asked by Dave Irons to offer a guest blog for BirdFellow while he's in Baja, and I did. It can be found at that site. I hope you all enjoy it. David Fix Arcata, California 40 51 N 124 04 W -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090109/211934e6/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Jan 9 14:00:07 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:00:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon Birds Requests Circle Birding Notes In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1231538407.3526.30.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hi Jeff & All, I like the idea of "birding in circles" as this makes listing more of a neighborhood-scale game, and builds awareness of the bird habitat around us. However, I have a question regarding the "rules of the game" as laid out in Oregon Birds. Due to the coincidence of having our residence nearly at the center of the Airlie-Albany CBC circle, for some years after that circle was established, I used to keep track of the birds that I saw inside the circle. Similarly, for a while I kept track of birds that I (and others) had seen inside the Antone CBC circle. My lists for these circles from 2008 onward would not be nearly as much fun as the ones that started in 1999 or 2000. I'm guessing that other Oregon birders might be in the same boat, or even more so. E.g. I would love to see Larry McQueen's life list for the Eugene CBC circle, even if he's not counting that Jack Snipe yet. However, the way I read the rules for Oregon Birds, we're only supposed to count our "circle life lists" starting from January 1, 2008 -- even if we may have kept track long before that. Is that a correct interpretation? Or might the editors tolerate CBC-based circle lists that were started before 2008? Thanks & happy birding, Joel Jeff Harding wrote: > > (Note: We assume that the "life list" for each circle will be defined > as the total of the birder's first year of birding that circle plus > all species seen in subsequent years which were missed the first year. > For that reason, "life list" totals will not be published until after > the second year of circle listing.) -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From smithdwd at hotmail.com Fri Jan 9 14:38:41 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 22:38:41 +0000 Subject: [obol] Wash Cty Grey Jays Message-ID: This am, end of Dairy Creek Rd, a pair of Grey Jays were just beyond the concrete turnaround. Dairy Creek, as well as Killin "Wetland" was very high; Killin within a foot of the road at the culvert. David Smith _________________________________________________________________ More than messages?check out the rest of the Windows Live?. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090109/06fa2966/attachment.html From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Fri Jan 9 15:32:02 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 15:32:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Birder's Night <<>> Message-ID: OBOL- Eugene Birder's Night will be Jan 12 (second Monday of each Month) at 7pm. LOCATION IS NEW: Sacred Heart Hospital (downtown), 1255 Hilyard St; Conference Room A (across the hall from the Auditorium). Directions to Conference Room A: -enter main Lobby from Hilyard St -turn Left and walk down hall (past the cafeteria) to end of hall -turn Right and walk down hall (past Dining Room) to end of hall -turn Right and walk a few steps, then Left down the hall toward the Auditorium -Conference Room A (labelled simply Conference Room) is on the Right (across from a bank of telephones on the Left side of the hall) Parking: Parking lot structure (across Hilyard from the Lobby) charges $1/hour (I think). Street parking is not available on Hilyard per se, but is found on 13th, 12th (West of Patterson), and Patterson streets (street parking free after 6pm). Map is at this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=sacred+heart+hospital+eugene,+or&fb=1&split=1&cid=0,0,17378354515337851834&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image Agenda: usual reporting format, then a slideshow on Birds of Madagascar Note: we will have reliable access to audio/video support from this point on, so those wishing to bring a disc or laptop to show interesting images, etc should feel free to do so. For a lengthly presentation, please give me a heads-up so we can avoid conflicts. Barry McKenzie Eugene From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Fri Jan 9 16:51:46 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:51:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Culver Raptor Route Message-ID: <4967F122.8040303@gmail.com> Kei and I and Kim Kathol did our Raptor Route for Culver today under sunny skies. 24 Red-tailed Hawks 3 American Kestrels 2 Northern Harriers 1 Bald Eagle (3rd yr) 8 Rough-legged Hawks 1 Ferruginous Hawk 1 Prairie Falcon 1 Great Horned Owl Kevin Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090109/09a71ab0/attachment.vcf From johndeshler at yahoo.com Fri Jan 9 16:56:10 2009 From: johndeshler at yahoo.com (John Deshler) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 16:56:10 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] "I don't know what I'll see today, but it'll be better than a cubicle." Message-ID: <335192.68123.qm@web34204.mail.mud.yahoo.com> A great line, for anyone familiar with the office confines, from a story about a rare find in Texas...a Pine Flycatcher. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090109/ap_on_re_us/rare_bird From pamelaj at spiritone.com Fri Jan 9 17:30:16 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 17:30:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Jay making like crow References: <6a6570ae0901081906x3bf1f3eal74c002bda55c9aaa@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <337389AFE00E439CB99FE9E7CE57064F@yourw5st28y9a3> I heard a Jay do this once, and the Jay sounded like a distant Crow. I looked up and saw it moving its head with the calls, or would have been completely taken in. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: Jim Rogers To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 7:06 PM Subject: [obol] Jay making like crow Today in Port Orford I observed a Steller's Jay immitating a crow. The crow was about 200 feet away and about every 20 seconds would sound the typical three-note call ... AH-AH-AH. A few seconds later from about 30 feet away I'd hear the identical call - same pitch, same cadence, virtually identical, but not as loud and forceful...ah-ah-ah. I slipped around the brush and there near the top of a waxmyrtle was a jay, head tipped back, beak wide open, carefully copying the crow. I enjoyed the performance for about 10 minutes and moved on. I don't recall seeing this behavior before. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From brrobb at comcast.net Fri Jan 9 17:31:08 2009 From: brrobb at comcast.net (Roger & Betty Robb) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 17:31:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lincoln and Lane Coast Birds Message-ID: <50CB32926EDA43CC9E58A18A00A936D3@RROffice> The LITTLE BLUE HERON continues near Siletz Bay 0.7 miles east of Rt 101 on Drift Creek Rd past the red barn. Other birds of note today included a flock of 27 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS at the mouth of the D River in Depoe Bay, 2 ROCK SANDPIPERS on the north jetty at Newport and an ANCIENT MURRELET on the water at the mouth of Bob Creek in Lane County. Roger Robb Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090109/faff2506/attachment.html From masohlstrom at msn.com Fri Jan 9 18:14:51 2009 From: masohlstrom at msn.com (M A SOHLSTROM) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 18:14:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] larophile comment In-Reply-To: <66DE8031D5D14E2CACD752C1DC7ADE84@Dan> References: <66DE8031D5D14E2CACD752C1DC7ADE84@Dan> Message-ID: I just can't imagine who would be silly enough to do such a thing as display a "Lump Larids" bumper sticker! Shocking! Actually, it gets me some really weird looks from the teenagers who carry my groceries out.... (For the faithful...I'm still trying to find a way to produce this famous bumper sticker for distribution - let me know if you know a source for small quantity bumper sticker printing!) Cheers, Mary Anne Sohlstrom ----- Original Message ----- From: Dan Heyerly To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 11:55 AM Subject: [obol] larophile comment I wouldn't call myself a Larophile by any means, nor would I go so far as to be seen with an outrageous bumper sticker such as "Lump Larids", but to me this bird's bill looks awfully thick for a Mew. Dan Heyerly, Eugene _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090109/827fb5be/attachment.html From richarmstrong at comcast.net Fri Jan 9 18:27:30 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 18:27:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] glaucous gull References: <50CB32926EDA43CC9E58A18A00A936D3@RROffice> Message-ID: 1. a carload of us from corvallis went to the coast this morning to hopefully see the LITTLE BLUE HERON - we got there at 10 and roger robb had it in his scope - a wonderful way to begin. and the weather all day was also wonderful!! 2. at siletz bay there is a sort of path through the forest/marsh. besides a mixed flock of both kinglets, both chickadees, etc, we had a flock of RED CROSSBILLS that we got in a scope. in the bay there were red-breasted mergansers 3. boiler bay was slow but we did see RED-NECKED GREBE. 4. depoe bay had lots of oystercatchers and black turnstones, but no surfbirds 5. north of newport just across from 89th court i saw a group of gulls so we stopped. in the group was a 1st winter GLAUCOUS GULL. this is where a stream was emptying. 6. newport jetties had cooperative PACIFIC LOON with all the commons, posing harlequin duck, another red-necked grebe. we did not see rock sandpiper - probably too late as tide was low by then. we did see a red-breasted merganser "walking" on shore - mergansers walk funny! we also think we saw a STELLER'S SEA LION along with all the harbor seals. 7. behind the science center had many HORNED GREBES and 2 EARED GREBES that at 1 point were next to each other for comparison. we even saw a horned grebe take off and fly a ways! also a RED-THROATED LOON that was feeding right next to shore acting like it was snorkeling. there were 2 COMMON GOLDENEYE (females) among the 100's of buffleheads and surf scoters. there were also a flock of BRANT and 1 MARBLED GODWIT. there were a dozen black turnstones, again with no surfbirds at all. 8. and a few bald eagles and normal birds - all in all an excellent day at the oregon coast! Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090109/36dbf312/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Fri Jan 9 18:39:16 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 18:39:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Polk Co swans & dux Message-ID: Early this afternoon as I drove north on 99W I saw 5 Tundra Swans on a flooded area near south of Schmidt nursery, and closer to Helmick St Pk, a flock of ~50 Northern Pintail. The ducks sensibly swam away as I pulled over to look. Pamela Johnston From campbell at peak.org Fri Jan 9 19:04:28 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 19:04:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Peoria Pyrrhuloxia, Palm Warbler Message-ID: <9BF5DFFD6DBE4F289ED6979D390DE090@maryPC> Now that the weather's moderated, the PYRRHULOXIA has been popping into our backyard regularly. (You're welcome to search for it from north of our house--29756 Main Street.) At lunchtime today, I found the PALM WARBLER in the fir where it used to be seen regularly--just above the pump house, south of the greenhouse. As far as I know, it hadn't been seen since December 22nd, despite a lot of searching. (Seems like this should count for the CBC, doesn't it?--since it had to have been here the whole time.) A group of four TRUMPETER SWANS flew over, trumpeting. Randy Peoria -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090109/482172d7/attachment.html From sylviam at clearwire.net Fri Jan 9 20:05:18 2009 From: sylviam at clearwire.net (Sylvia Maulding) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 20:05:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Finley NWR Message-ID: <5f916ae60901092005w7800a95cqe915db9b605ab77@mail.gmail.com> This morning Paul, Don and I had two adult SNOW GEESE in with Canada/Cacklers along Bruce Rd. We could not relocate the N. Mockingbird. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090109/0fb9009e/attachment.html From bcombs232 at gmail.com Fri Jan 9 22:33:11 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 22:33:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Linn County birds Message-ID: <8ce3a6520901092233m3ed67b49u1c0b2d0e752c0deb@mail.gmail.com> I visited the Brownsville area today. There was a BELTED KINGFISHER at the rice ponds on Gap Road. Further south on Gap Road (and I do mean ON the road), there was a male RING-NECKED PHEASANT with a group of 8 females. If he can manage to stay out of traffic, he could provide the means to increase the population in the area significantly. Only one pheasant had been found in this portion of the circle on the CBC. I found a flock of about 40 WILD TURKEYS not far south of the pheasants, and another group of 6 or 7 along Northern Drive, east of town. A MERLIN was on a wire along Belts Drive where it parallels I-5. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Eugene OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090109/4ece0002/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Fri Jan 9 22:46:09 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:46:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Trumpeter Swans, Purple Finches, Sauvie Island Message-ID: <20090110064540.26085A8217@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> I spent a few hours out at Sauvie Island today (Jan 9). At the end of Oak Island Road there were about 30 PURPLE FINCHES (all immature or female). Nice to see a big flock of them. While walking around Wapato Access Trail, 7 TRUMPETER SWANS flew overhead, tooting their (toy) trumpets. A male EURASIAN WIGEON was in the pond (aka "Virginia Lake"). Wapato also had a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER and two PILEATED WOODPECKERS. Three more PURPLE FINCHES (including the only adult male I saw today) were along the east shore of the pond. Wink Gross Portland From jeffgill at teleport.com Fri Jan 9 23:11:14 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:11:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Central Point No. Cardinal - no. Message-ID: Since I was driving through the sunny and verdant Rogue Valley today, I stopped at the site that had occasionally hosted the female cardinal in December. No luck. That said, there are other feeders in the neighborhood. There have been at least four reports of cardinals in Oregon in the past 12 months - but none have stayed long. It occurred to me recently on a trip to Arizona that I was typically seeing mated pairs of cardinals, even in winter. Perhaps these Oregon birds just keep wandering in search of a mate, rather than settle in for the winter at a particular location. Jeff Gilligan From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Jan 9 23:56:38 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 23:56:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Willamette Basin transect-155 miles Dairy Creek to Coast Fork Message-ID: <3c266ecefeac2efe49af8ffd7b8ba6de@earthlink.net> I attended a wrestling meet in Cottage Grove today and as a result made as long a transect as I can recall in my natal watershed. Just as Hwy 26 merges with Hwy 6 (Tillamook Jct., between Banks and North Plains) a heavily laden Merlin crossed the road northbound as fast as it could. I pulled over and watched it go up to the top of the nearest hill, never getting more than three or four feet off the ground, never slowing down. At this point I saw that it was being pursued by a harrier. I drove up someone's driveway to the hilltop but couldn't relocate the Merlin. As I returned downhill I saw the Harrier again. I'll never know if it ate the Merlin's lunch. Multiple American Kestrels were visible throughout the mini- drama. The Prairie Falcon of the day before was not far away so I decided to try for the falcon slam as Eugene was almost in my trajectory. A detour east on Harrington Road found the PRAIRIE FALCON still in her half-dead red-cedar. I drove slowly under with the sunroof open. Not a feather ruffled. Only the first four miles of the trip had snow beside the road, but much of the rest of the journey was fog-shrouded. My main response to Diamond Hill Prairie is" too many raptors, not enough falcons". I got tired of checking them. THe majority were scruffy young BALD EAGLES, at least half a dozen. Two HArriers, four or five REd-tails, one Rough-legged HAwk sitting on the ground. THere were probably 15 raptors visible from a single vantage point. The sewage plant at Prairie and Beacon Rds did not reward me with a Gyrfalcon, although an adult Bald EAgle was present. Continuing south to the Weyerhauser mill on the south side of Cottage Grove nothing of note appeared. Lars Norgren From borealowl at comcast.net Thu Jan 8 20:45:07 2009 From: borealowl at comcast.net (borealowl at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:45:07 GMT Subject: [obol] Gyr Not Found at Scappoose Message-ID: <200901090445.n094j7Su031393@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Mike Marsh by http://birdnotes.net Date: January 7, 2009 Location: Scappoose Bottoms, Columbia County, Oregon On Wednesday Don Moore and I drove the back roads of Scappoose in search of the previously reported Gyrfalcon, but had no luck. Here's what we did see. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose Cackling Goose Tundra Swan 23 Green-Winged Teal Common Merganser Great Blue Heron 13 Great Egret 18 Northern Harrier 1 Red-tailed Hawk 2 American Kestrel 4 Black-bellied Plover 1 [1] Greater Yellowlegs 27 [2] Dunlin 33 [3] Long-billed Dowitcher 9 [4] Mew Gull 26 Glaucous-winged Gull 47 Rock Dove 11 Belted Kingfisher 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Steller's Jay 4 American Robin European Starling Song Sparrow White-throated Sparrow 2 [5] White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Pine Siskin 30 Footnotes: [1] All shorebirds were observed in the field (known by some as the "Short-eared Owl" field) which is on the property that has the mustard-yellow house on it. [2] Same locale. [3] Same locale. [4] Same locale. [5] One white-stripe and one tan stripe at the 90 degree right turn about 1/4 mi. past the yellow house. Total number of species seen: 30 From JohnSullivan at bowtecharchery.com Fri Jan 9 15:01:41 2009 From: JohnSullivan at bowtecharchery.com (John Sullivan) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 15:01:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Gyrfalcon - Yes Message-ID: <000001c972ae$3c423e20$b4c6ba60$@com> Hello All, I was able to sneak over to the Prairie and Beacon road wastewater treatment facility during lunch today and found the GYRFALCON perched on the northernmost center pivot irrigation tower. There was a goose kill on the ground below the falcon that 3 adult bald eagles were fighting over. I suspect that the goose was first taken by the falcon and then taken over by the eagles. Still lots of cacklers in the area, hopefully making it an attractive place for the Gyr to hang out for awhile. John Sullivan Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090109/18433a34/attachment.html From oregonbirds at gmail.com Fri Jan 9 19:53:30 2009 From: oregonbirds at gmail.com (Becky Clark) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 19:53:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Jay making like crow Message-ID: <47B689E977414566A87A1B460CB6886A@MainPC> sorry Pamela I thought I sent this to the group when I hit reply! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Becky Clark" To: "pamela johnston" Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 7:39 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Jay making like crow >I usually just read the messages and enjoy them but want to add that I had >a Stellars on my Patio a couple weeks ago who would fly in, land and then >caw, caw, caw At first I thought it was a crow off in the trees coming in >for a peanut but then I saw the head and beak of the Stellar moving. It was >an excellent imitation! > > Back to lurking, > > becky > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "pamela johnston" > To: "obol" > Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 5:30 PM > Subject: Re: [obol] Jay making like crow > > >>I heard a Jay do this once, and the Jay sounded like a distant Crow. I >> looked up and saw it moving its head with the calls, or would have been >> completely taken in. >> >> Pamela Johnston >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: Jim Rogers >> To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 7:06 PM >> Subject: [obol] Jay making like crow >> >> >> Today in Port Orford I observed a Steller's Jay immitating a crow. The >> crow was about 200 feet away and about every 20 seconds would sound the >> typical three-note call ... AH-AH-AH. A few seconds later from about 30 >> feet >> away I'd hear the identical call - same pitch, same cadence, virtually >> identical, but not as loud and forceful...ah-ah-ah. I slipped around the >> brush and there near the top of a waxmyrtle was a jay, head tipped back, >> beak wide open, carefully copying the crow. I enjoyed the performance for >> about 10 minutes and moved on. I don't recall seeing this behavior >> before. >> >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090109/9f9b38cd/attachment.html From slebel at thprd.org Thu Jan 8 14:09:01 2009 From: slebel at thprd.org (Shelley Lebel) Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:09:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Volunteers Needed for Breeding Bird Monitoring Program Message-ID: <496608FD.BEA5.00B8.0@thprd.org> PRESS RELEASE January 8, 2009 Contact: Tualatin Hills Nature Park Interpretive Center 15655 SW Millikan Way Beaverton, Oregon 97006 Kelly Perry, Park Ranger Phone: 503/629-6350 ext. 2521 Email: kperry at thprd.org For Immediate Release Volunteers Needed for Breeding Bird Monitoring Program (Master bird watchers only.) Looking for volunteers proficient in identifying birds by sight and sound for Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District?s Breeding Bird Monitoring Program. The Breeding Bird Monitoring Program focuses on tracking bird populations in selected Beaverton parks and are conducted during the peak of the breeding season, mid-May through the end of June. An initial volunteer training will occur March 22nd, 2009 from 9:00 am to noon at Tualatin Hills Nature Park. This training covers the District?s expectations for volunteers participating, the protocols for collecting data in parks, use of the datasheets and a determination of birding skill level. After orientation, sign up to monitor one of these parks: Tualatin Hills Nature Park, Greenway Park, Summercrest, Hyland Forest & Jenkins Estate. Individual orientation of site will be scheduled in April. Each volunteer will conduct three breeding bird surveys at their adopted park, per season, beginning May 15th and finishing by June 30th. Master bird watchers only. For more information contact Ranger Kelly Perry at 503/629-6350 x 2521 or kperry at thprd.org # # # -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090108/89ced09e/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Jan 10 06:27:03 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 06:27:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Collared-doves but no French hens in Christmas Valley Message-ID: <1231597623.3525.22.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hi folks, I picked up the Dec 24th issue of the Lake County Examiner while Wil and I were on way to the Hart Mtn CBC, and just got around to reading it. There on page 13 is a photo of two "ringed turtle doves." Yep, you can guess what species of dove they are. The photo is credited to Melany Tupper of Christmas Valley, who has spotted "as many as 12 amongst the pine trees in her yard." No partridges in pear trees were noted. However, during the Hart Mtn count on Dec 28th, Wil and I did find a bunch of chukars among bare trees at the mouth of Degarmo Canyon, and Craig Miller and Gene Dershewitz found one (Tundra) swan a-swimming. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From Oropendolas at aol.com Sat Jan 10 07:34:02 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 10:34:02 EST Subject: [obol] Eugene Gyrfalcon - No Message-ID: Hello All, The Gyrfalcon was last seen on Monday 01-05, when I posted this message from work. I have no idea how it could take 5 days to reach obol. I did not re-post because Roger Robb had posted his report that the bird was there, so I didn't think it was necessary. I went out to the Prairie and Beacon road wastewater treatment facility every day last week either during lunch or after work, with no luck relocating the Gyr. John Sullivan Springfield, OR In a message dated 1/10/2009 2:06:39 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, JohnSullivan at bowtecharchery.com writes: Hello All, I was able to sneak over to the Prairie and Beacon road wastewater treatment facility during lunch today and found the GYRFALCON perched on the northernmost center pivot irrigation tower. There was a goose kill on the ground below the falcon that 3 adult bald eagles were fighting over. I suspect that the goose was first taken by the falcon and then taken over by the eagles. Still lots of cacklers in the area, hopefully making it an attractive place for the Gyr to hang out for awhile. John Sullivan Springfield, OR _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol **************New year...new news. Be the first to know what is making headlines. (http://news.aol.com?ncid=emlcntusnews00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090110/030d06bd/attachment.html From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Sat Jan 10 13:04:13 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:04:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Odd Flicker Message-ID: <005601c97366$fe2e5ec0$fa8b1c40$@NET> I was looking through my old photos of Flickers and came across some taken at Baskett Slough a year ago of a FLICKER that appears to have half black, half red malars. I initially thought it must be a shadow but it appears on both malars. I have posted the photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_pix/ so you can judge for yourself. Has anyone else seen this on a Flicker? Tom Shreve -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090110/ebe0a1cb/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Jan 10 13:36:18 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:36:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coquille Valley CBC results Message-ID: I have placed the final Coquille Valley CBC results on the count web site at http://cvcbc.blogspot.com/. The format leaves something to be desired. Anyone who wants the more detailed breakouts can ask me for the excel file. Good weather and an excellent observer turnout produced a total of over 73,000 birds, nearly twice our previous record high. A lot of that was ducks. We found 148 species, which is our average species variety. In the 1991-2000 count era, we averaged 29 observers in the field; this count had 43. Emperor Goose, Barred Owl, Prairie Falcon, Say?s Phoebe and White-breasted Nuthatch were unusual new birds for the count, in addition to Eurasian Collared-Dove (aka Plump ?n? Tasty or P&T) and Cackling Goose. Other noteworthy species seen on fewer than half of previous counts included Common Yellowthroat (2nd record), Sandhill Crane (2nd record), White-fronted Goose, Brown Pelican (including some tired or injured birds), Northern Shrike, Lesser Goldfinch, Western Bluebird (seems to be increasing). The presence of 5 Western Scrub-Jays around Norway suggests that they may be expanding. There was also one in Bandon. We had Lesser Yellowlegs, Snow Goose and BL Kittiwake during the count week. Our worst misses were Green Heron, Glaucous Gull, Black Scoter and Sora, all of which we expected to find but which are present in very small numbers. The heron and gull may well not be in the count area now, though a Glaucous Gull was in the Bandon area in late November. The scoter has been increasingly hard to find in recent years. The Sora is undoubtedly in the circle ? next year we?ll need to find out which marshes they are in ahead of time. The count had never previously missed Ruddy Turnstone, but that species has also become hard to find in Oregon in winter. Other birds that are undoubtedly in the circle include Ruffed Grouse and Mountain Quail; we need to think about ways to get them next year. The big news is the exceptional number of high counts. We set records for an amazing 35 species, not counting the new birds. We also tied two previous records and came close to breaking a few more. The huge numbers were the waterfowl, where 14,000 wigeon and 11,000 pintail in particular obliterated previous highs. 25 Eurasian Wigeon were found. A few highs are worth special comment. 25 White-tailed Kites is nearly twice the average, and their presence in such numbers may explain in part why they are somewhat hard to come by farther north on the coast this year. The fact that 29 Northern Harriers is also double the usual number suggests that perhaps the valley has an unusually good supply of voles and other prey items this year. The fact that 62 Red-shouldered (!) and 52 Red-tailed hawks are both record high counts may add some weight to that theory, though Red-shouldered has a somewhat different prey base. Barn Owl is always in the valley, but the 8 we found this year is twice the average and was generated by only two owling teams and a drive-by, not including the Norway area, which is known to have some. I wonder if the recent severe flooding will disarrange the food supply sufficiently to affect these raptors. Three species, Killdeer, Wilson?s Snipe and American Robin, all set exceptional record highs probably related to the recent freeze and snow inland. There were a few odd low counts that I think are worth mentioning. The strikingly empty ocean (except for rock-circling murres), which probably cut our count by three or four species, produced only 3 White-winged Scoters, which is quite strange. The fact that a large observer turnout on a nice day found only three Sharp-shinned Hawks on a day that many sparrow species had record highs seems a little odd. The sizable numbers of Herring and Thayer?s Gulls that had been in the estuary for two days before the count simply went away. Three teams looked in vain and found only a handful; just one Thayer?s. Mew and Ring-billed were also down, but I saw many Ring-billed outside the circle near Myrtle Point on January 1, suggesting that the low was a flood-related event. Western Gulls seemed to be everywhere in numbers. Toward the end of the day, huge numbers of gulls were flying down the river. Some of these undoubtedly came from the pastures around Myrtle Point, just outside the circle. Next year we might station someone at a convenient choke-point, perhaps Rocky Point, to count this gull-stream. I was astonished that only five Hutton?s Vireos were reported on a nice day with so many observers in the field. I don?t know quite what to make of the remarkably low count of 22 Winter Wrens (five teams had none at all!), by far the lowest we have ever found. This seems likely to relate to a genuine lack of birds, for whatever reason. Golden-crowned Kinglets were also low, for a bird that should have been fairly obvious to active field teams. We had 100 Black Phoebes, which oddly enough is NOT a record high. They crossed the divide into the Coos Bay area not long ago and have become quite common there now. In another ten years they will be common as far north as Florence, where a couple of pairs now breed. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From ellencantor at gmail.com Sat Jan 10 14:45:03 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:45:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Pipits Message-ID: <7058c4c60901101445q1bafa729if17b8026733dccc0@mail.gmail.com> I did a lot of walking at Fern Ridge this morning, but didn't come up with the self-reported Oropendula or the sought after elusive Jack Snipe. But I did see 2 large flocks of AMERICAN PIPITS (about 50 in each flock) way out the old Royal Ave roadbed, about even with Gibson Island. Also saw several small peeps feeding with some Killdeer out on the mudflats between the roadbed and Gibson. I didn't have my scope but I'm pretty sure they were LEAST SANDPIPERS from their plumage..... A gorgeous day--warmed up considerably, feeling downright balmy by mid-day. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090110/128fba88/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Jan 10 14:46:27 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:46:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Emperor flock? Message-ID: There is a rumor from a local fisherman that ten Emperor Geese were seen at Bandon at low tide very recently. Harv Schubothe is going to check at low tide today (Saturday). -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From rakestraw.john at yahoo.com Sat Jan 10 15:06:01 2009 From: rakestraw.john at yahoo.com (John Rakestraw) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:06:01 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] portland gulls friday, fernhill wetlands saturday Message-ID: <266759.1298.qm@web59411.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> An hour at Portland's Westmoreland Park on January 9 produced six gull species and lots of "Olympic" hybrids. Pictures of each can be seen at http://johnrakestraw.net. (lump larids? Blasphemy!) Other notables were Eurasian Wigeon (females) and lots of Cackling Geese. On Saturday morning, most of Fernhill Wetlands (Washington County) was inaccessible due to high water. The southern pool can be reached from Geiger Road. You might be able to get into the northern sections from the bike path. Several large flocks of Tundra Swans flew over. A mixed flock of both kinglets, Brown Creeper, BC Chickadees, Bushtits, and Yellow-rumped Warblers was working the treeline along the east edge of Eagle's Perch Pond. Cheers, John Rakestraw Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090110/ff2e4b85/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Jan 10 15:31:47 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:31:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] PRAIRIE FALCON and swans continue at Roy/Vadis Message-ID: <60c7d7c9d33d71ffa1852430817839b8@earthlink.net> For the third day in a row the Prairie Falcon was perched near the east end of Harrington Road in Vadis. The large swan flock near the west end of Harrington Rd in Roy was again on Kevin Duyck's rhubarb farm. THey were closer to the road and more spread out than Thursday. Dairy Creek continues to rise and flood more fields. Lars Norgren From celata at pacifier.com Sat Jan 10 15:54:03 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:54:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lower Columbia Birderstrip - 1/10/2009 Message-ID: <4969351B.20103@pacifier.com> We did a make-up trip today, because I was out of town last weekend (even though Steve and several folks went out last weekend, also). Overcast and on the chilly side, but no rain until the last half- hour or so. Ducks were surprisingly hard to find given all the extra water. Two male CINNAMON TEAL at Turlay Ln off 101. Good numbers of TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS at several locations. Got to watch a MERLIN take a starling at Crosel Creek. Date: January 10, 2009 Location: Clatsop County, Oregon Lower Columbia Birders trip- Youngs Bay, Lewis and Clark River and Clatsop Plains Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose Cackling Goose Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal [1] Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-Winged Teal Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Barrow's Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Western Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Merlin [2] Peregrine Falcon American Coot Greater Yellowlegs Mew Gull Ring-billed Gull Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Anna's Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Marsh Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin Varied Thrush Wrentit European Starling Townsend's Warbler Spotted Towhee Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird House Finch Red Crossbill House Sparrow Footnotes: [1] At least 2 at Turlay Ln [2] Watched it take a starling at Crosel Crk Total number of species seen: 69 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ From bcombs232 at gmail.com Sat Jan 10 16:59:20 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:59:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tundra Swan with neck collar; White-tailed Kite NW of Eugene Message-ID: <8ce3a6520901101659t733e5aecp299b8e9496740075@mail.gmail.com> Today I found an adult TUNDRA SWAN with a blue neck collar. It was at one of the usual places for them - the corner of Vogt Road and Highway 36, southwest of Junction City. I had trouble reading the characters on the collar, as the bird was preening in a way that usually obscured the collar and finally took a nap with the collar no longer visible. My best guess is that the characters were K185. I am pretty sure of the K and the 5, but not so sure about the second and third characters. Has anyone else seen this bird and gotten a better look at the collar? I also found a WHITE-TAILED KITE along Washburn Lane. The bird was perched on the west side along the road where the roadside cover of bushes and small trees begins to be fairly dense when approached from the south. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Eugene OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090110/b0a35c88/attachment.html From Kyle.W.Bratcher at state.or.us Sat Jan 10 17:28:51 2009 From: Kyle.W.Bratcher at state.or.us (Kyle W Bratcher) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:28:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wallowa Count 1/10/09 Message-ID: I got out for a good part of the day today. I went out to the lake for and saw a flock of about 300 mallards and one juvenile Bald Eagle. Went out East of Joseph and saw about 20 Rough-legged Hawks and a few Red-tails. Afterwards I went out to golf course rd. to see if I could find the Snow Buntings but had no luck. I did however two flocks of Grey-Crowned Rosy-Finches that converged to form a flock of well over 400 birds. I was sure there would be a Bunting mixed in but after watching for quite some time the flock landed and was not visible in the field. I also went to the pond to see what was there and found the usual suspects: Tundra Swan, Mallards, Pin-tails, Coots, Common Goldeneye, Buffleheads, and one Pie-billed Grebe that I only see about once a month around here. I went down Egglson (sp?) road and found a new group of about 30 WW Crossbills. I have seen them there twice now and haven?t seen the ones on Fish Hatcher road for a few days. And the last bird of the day was a new one for me. A Merlin in Joseph that Eric and Mary found early this week. Good birding all. Joseph Kyle Bratcher -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090110/0f2a2de3/attachment.html From raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Sat Jan 10 17:37:48 2009 From: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com (Jeff Fleischer) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:37:48 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey Results - Linn Co. Message-ID: <649352.83987.qm@web50907.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Obolers, Today I spent 7.5 hours covering the southern portion of Linn County as part of the Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey held in January each winter. A total of 183.4 miles were driven. Most of the roads south of Hwy 228 south to Bowers Dr and between the Willamette River and the foothills around Brownsville make up the bulk of the route. The route also extends north of Brownsville and covers the major roads east of I-5 to the foothills north to Hwy 34. A small portion of the route continues north of Hwy 34 north to Spicer Rd. Weather was ideal for this count, with a high ceiling of clouds, no precipitation, and virtually no wind to speak of. Periodic spells of sun were available throughout the day making for an enjoyable effort. I started the count at 8:30 and finished the portion south of Hwy 228 by 2:00 PM. I finished the whole count at 4:05 PM. A total of 128 BALD EAGLES were counted on the route with 51 being full adult birds and 77 dark subadult birds. Virtually all of the birds found today were associated with sheep flocks and/or sheep carcasses. Several carcasses had 4 or 5 birds feeding on them. 49 birds were in the Diamond Hill DR/Gap Rd/Priceboro Rd/I-5 square. 110 birds were found south of Hwy 228. I would say that only about 10-15 birds were actually counted while flying, with the remainder entrenched around a food source. Jeff Fleischer Albany From raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Sat Jan 10 17:53:26 2009 From: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com (Jeff Fleischer) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:53:26 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Linn County notable birds Message-ID: <671671.75217.qm@web50903.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Obolers, While conducting the Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey as reported in my other posting, I also had some really nice (at least to me :) ) finds during the survey. Following is what I saw: Snow Goose - found 4 adults in amongst a flock of approximately 4-5000 Canada Geese located along Diamond Hill Dr. The flock was feeding in grass south of the road and east of the big powerline running north/south through this area. Emperor Goose - found 1 adult bird in the same flock of Canada Geese along Diamond Hill Dr. Canvasback - found at least 10 birds in the treatment ponds at the Diamond Hill Dr RV Park adjacent to I-5. White-tailed Kite - found one bird along Gap Rd south of Diamond Hill Rd Northern Shrike - found one adult bird on Belts Dr about half a mile east of Bond Butte Dr. Prairie Falcon - found two birds, one on Seefeld Dr east of I-5 and the other on Glacer Dr a few miles south of Hwy 34. White-fronted Goose - Found a small flock of 11 on Lake Creek Dr east of I-5 just west of Kirk Rd. Great Egret - Found 3 birds amongst a flock of Tundra Swans on Powerline Rd just south of Sub Station Dr along Powerline Rd. Western Meadowlark - a nice flock of 17 birds on Crook Dr east of Peoria Dr. These birds were associating with a field of annual grass planted this fall. Tundra Swan flocks were noted in several areas that are known areas of use in past winters south of Hwy 228/American Dr. All in all a pretty exhilerating day of good birding along with the 128 Bald Eagles that I also saw and previously posted. Jeff Fleischer Albany From dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM Sat Jan 10 18:31:23 2009 From: dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM (Cheryl Whelchel) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:31:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] [birding] Corv audubon field trip/weird goose pics In-Reply-To: <1ED95C5C7355409891DDA7C3BC327CBA@armstrong> References: <1ED95C5C7355409891DDA7C3BC327CBA@armstrong> Message-ID: I posted some pictures of the 2 weird geese we saw today at the following link. http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/ Cheryl Whelchel Tangent ----- Original Message ----- From: rich armstrong To: corvbird Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009 5:57 PM Subject: [birding] corvallis audubon field trip 1. 15 birders went on the corvallis audubon 1/2 day trip this morning. no rain at all, but quite cold. 2. we began at mcfaddin marsh where there were about 500 TUNDRA SWANS. everyone got good looks at pintails, american wigeon, green-winged teal, gadwall, coots, ring-necked ducks, and shovelers. there was 1 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 3. we heard a VIRGINIA RAIL (maybe 2) and cheryl welchel went back to car and got her tape and she called the bird into view for everyone. also a MARSH WREN was fairly cooperative 4. at the bridge still at mcfaddin we had pied-billed grebe and 2 weird canada geese - twice as much white on head and they were together. then we had a mixed flock of PURPLE FINCH (got them in scope), GOLDEN-CROWNED & RUBY CROWNED KINGLETS, yellow-rumped warblers, and chickadees. 5. at the cheadle marsh overlook we had scope looks at ROUGH-LEGGED & RED-TAILED HAWKS, NORTHERN HARRIER, and distant looks at blad eagle. there was 1 SNOW GOOSE among all the cacklers and canada geese - all saw it well. 6. at the 1st house we had scope views of ACORN WOODPECKER and WESTERN BLUEBIRD. VARIED THRUSH & WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH were seen but less cooperative. 7. at 25401 bruce road we looked for the mockingbird. cheryl saw the NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD for an instant but we could not refind it at all. there were many killdeer in the field and scrub jay, mourning dove, house finches, and northern flicker in trees. 8. we stopped at philomath sewage ponds. everyone saw ruddy duck, 1 female bufflehead, and lesser scaup as well as ducks seen earlier. 9. we were back by noon and i think all enjoyed the morning. Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 _______________________________________________ list mailing list list at midvalleybirding.org http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090110/3057a29d/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sat Jan 10 18:36:55 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 02:36:55 +0000 Subject: [obol] Emperor flock? Message-ID: I think we may have heard a whopper. Or maybe the big one got away. I went to the reported site provided by the fisherman at low tide and found no emporers or any other goose. I did find two glaucous gulls missed in last weeks Coquille CBC. Many more birds on the water this week. Also found one young brown pelican on the South Jetty. Very thin looking. There may be question on earlier emporer report. The one spotted last week remains with the domestics on Redmond Pond for a week now. If it came from the flock, would it not have returned? Alson the flock supposedly has been here a month. Yet no team spotted them in last week's Coquille CBC. Will check it out again tommorow. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Alan Contreras Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:46:27 To: Subject: [obol] Emperor flock? There is a rumor from a local fisherman that ten Emperor Geese were seen at Bandon at low tide very recently.? Harv Schubothe is going to check at low tide today (Saturday). -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sat Jan 10 18:47:23 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:47:23 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] [birding] Corv audubon field trip/weird goose pics In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <754620.71368.qm@web37006.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello Cheryl, from what I can see on the pictures, those geese appear to have orange-ish legs ... they may be Canada X White-front hybrids, I've seen some before that looked very similar. Interesting find Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Sat, 1/10/09, Cheryl Whelchel wrote: From: Cheryl Whelchel Subject: Re: [birding] Corv audubon field trip/weird goose pics To: "corvbird" , "rich armstrong" Cc: "obol" Date: Saturday, January 10, 2009, 6:31 PM I posted some pictures of the 2 weird geese we saw today at the following link. ? http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/ ? Cheryl Whelchel Tangent ----- Original Message ----- From: rich armstrong To: corvbird Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009 5:57 PM Subject: [birding] corvallis audubon field trip 1. 15 birders went on the corvallis audubon 1/2 day trip this morning. no rain at all, but quite cold. 2. we began at mcfaddin marsh where there were about 500 TUNDRA SWANS. everyone got good looks at pintails, american wigeon, green-winged teal, gadwall, coots, ring-necked? ducks, and shovelers. there was 1 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 3. we heard a VIRGINIA RAIL (maybe 2) and cheryl welchel went back to car and got her tape and she called the bird into view for everyone. also a MARSH WREN was fairly cooperative 4. at the bridge still at mcfaddin we had pied-billed grebe and 2 weird canada geese - twice as much white on head and they were together. then we had a mixed flock of PURPLE FINCH (got them in scope), GOLDEN-CROWNED & RUBY CROWNED KINGLETS, yellow-rumped warblers, and chickadees. 5. at the cheadle marsh overlook we had scope looks at ROUGH-LEGGED & RED-TAILED HAWKS, NORTHERN HARRIER, and distant looks at blad eagle. there was 1 SNOW GOOSE among all the cacklers and canada geese - all saw it well. 6. at the 1st house we had scope views of ACORN WOODPECKER and WESTERN BLUEBIRD. VARIED THRUSH & WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH were seen but less cooperative. 7. at 25401 bruce road we looked for the mockingbird. cheryl saw the NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD for an instant but we could not refind it at all. there were many killdeer in the field and scrub jay, mourning dove, house finches, and northern flicker in trees. 8. we stopped at philomath sewage ponds. everyone saw ruddy duck, 1 female bufflehead,?and lesser scaup as well as ducks seen earlier. 9. we were back by noon and i think all enjoyed the morning. Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978_______________________________________________ list mailing list list at midvalleybirding.org http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/_______________________________________________ list mailing list list at midvalleybirding.org http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090110/96603cea/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Jan 10 18:47:13 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:47:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Emperor flock? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: I suspect that the "flock" was beer-induced. Solitary Emperors, however, often arrive mid-winter and latch onto local flocks, becoming remarkably unwary. Thanks for checking. Frustrating to have Glaucous Gull and Rock Sandpiper wander off for count week and promptly return -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE > Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 02:36:55 +0000 > To: Alan Contreras , "obol at oregonbirdwatch.org" > > Subject: Re: [obol] Emperor flock? > > I think we may have heard a whopper. Or maybe the big one got away. > > I went to the reported site provided by the fisherman at low tide and found no > emporers or any other goose. > > I did find two glaucous gulls missed in last weeks Coquille CBC. Many more > birds on the water this week. > > Also found one young brown pelican on the South Jetty. Very thin looking. > > There may be question on earlier emporer report. The one spotted last week > remains with the domestics on Redmond Pond for a week now. If it came from the > flock, would it not have returned? > > Alson the flock supposedly has been here a month. Yet no team spotted them in > last week's Coquille CBC. > > Will check it out again tommorow. > > Harv > > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T > > -----Original Message----- > From: Alan Contreras > > Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:46:27 > To: > Subject: [obol] Emperor flock? > > > There is a rumor from a local fisherman that ten Emperor Geese were seen at > Bandon at low tide very recently.? Harv Schubothe is going to check at low > tide today (Saturday). > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? > Commentary > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? > Bird Photos & News > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From carolk at viclink.com Sat Jan 10 20:34:43 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:34:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lincoln county ANCIENT MURRELET & LITTLE BLUE HERON Message-ID: <000b01c973a6$1685c280$8c76fea9@home> OBOL: We set off this morning to look for the good birds reported in Lincoln county. We found: About 50 each of Surf & Black Scoters off the mouth of D River. A male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE and 7 Common Goldeneye at the mouth of Schooner Creek in Taft. At the wet pasture 0.7 mile east of Hwy 101, behind the red barn, we ran into Jim, Karen, & Karl Fairchild. We spotted a Great Egret that had us fooled for awhile. The Fairchilds found the LITTLE BLUE HERON about noon, as well as the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. Unfortunately, we were not there at the time, and only got back in time to see the hawk. At Boiler Bay we found White-winged Scoters and an adult Bald Eagle. At Depoe Bay we saw Surfbirds, Black Turnstone, Black Oystercatcher, black Crows, and black Brewer's birds. At Yaquina Bay south jetty we again met the Fairchilds, who told us about ANCIENT MURRELETS in the cove at Boiler Bay. We hurried back there and found 3 nice birds actively diving next to the kelp beds right below the parking lot. We continued back to the Drift Creek site and found the LITTLE BLUE HERON (finally) at 4 PM, feeding on nice big worms in the wet pasture. An immature Bald Eagle watched from a snag. Good birding, everyone, Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen From philliplc at charter.net Sat Jan 10 20:41:33 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:41:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] portland gulls friday, fernhill wetlands saturday References: Message-ID: <5D44190B786B425D8A8CF9EC48BC379E@Phil> At least based on the one photo the "Olympic" gull here looks a little too Herringy for comfort to me. I don't think the bill appears all that obnoxiously thick for Herring, and in my experience it can potentially be misleading to try to judge primary extension on swimming birds. Also there's an outside chance the primaries may not quite be fully grown. I think the nature of the hood markings - high contrast regular brownish blotches is more typical of Herring. Also the sort of boxy head shape and forward eye placement suggest Herring over Western/G-w. At least in the photo the mantle/primary contrast seems a bit high for Olympic. In my experience Olympic with medium-ish or paler mantle shades typically (always?) have primary tips that are obviously paler than black, which doesn't seem to be the case here. If I had to guess I would say this is a Herring (or possibly Herring x Glaucous-winged). If the mantle shade was appreciably darker than G-w and not just slatier (which is very hard to judge in photos) I would at least consider the longshot possibility of Vega. Just a thought. Cheers, Phil philliplc at charter.net > An hour at Portland's Westmoreland Park on January 9 produced six gull > species and lots of "Olympic" hybrids. Pictures of each can be seen at > http://johnrakestraw.net. (lump larids? Blasphemy!) From kskiivv at comcast.net Sat Jan 10 20:59:34 2009 From: kskiivv at comcast.net (kskiivv at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 04:59:34 +0000 Subject: [obol] Flicker question Message-ID: <011120090459.29091.49697CB5000ED444000071A3220702157390900707059C05@comcast.net> OBOLers, I live in South Salem and have Northern Flickers visiting my suet feeders regularly. Today I had what appears to be a hybrid Flicker. There was no visible red on the nape, which suggests it's not a Yellow-shafted. Wings had distinct yellow undersides, as did shaft. Head seemed more brown/beige--no grey or moustache markings visible. Other markings consistent with a female Red-shafted Flicker. Ideas? Regardless, it was a fun sighting for my family and I. Other backyard visitors today: Junco, Black-Capped and Chestnut Backed Chickadee, Towhee, Am. Robin, Varied Thrush, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Lesser Goldfinch, House Finch, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, White and Red Breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, House Wren, Scrub Jay, Starling, Pine Siskin, Anna's H-bird (male and female we've named Herbert and Hillary), Downy Woodpecker, Bushtit. Good Birding! Kevin Kompolt Salem, OR From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sat Jan 10 21:37:49 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 21:37:49 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Flicker question In-Reply-To: <011120090459.29091.49697CB5000ED444000071A3220702157390900707059C05@comcast.net> Message-ID: <547821.79337.qm@web37003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Kevin, what you saw was probably a Red-shafted X Yellow-shafted intergrade .... these are actually quite common in Oregon, much more so than sightings of pure Yellow-shafted Flickers. On a different note: You mentioned a House Wren in your back yard. At this time of year, that would be a very unusual visitor .... they migrate south and usually don't return to Oregon until mid- to late April. It would be great if you could document this bird through photographs. Happy backyard birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Sat, 1/10/09, kskiivv at comcast.net wrote: From: kskiivv at comcast.net Subject: [obol] Flicker question To: "OBOL na" Date: Saturday, January 10, 2009, 8:59 PM OBOLers, I live in South Salem and have Northern Flickers visiting my suet feeders regularly. Today I had what appears to be a hybrid Flicker. There was no visible red on the nape, which suggests it's not a Yellow-shafted. Wings had distinct yellow undersides, as did shaft. Head seemed more brown/beige--no grey or moustache markings visible. Other markings consistent with a female Red-shafted Flicker. Ideas? Regardless, it was a fun sighting for my family and I. Other backyard visitors today: Junco, Black-Capped and Chestnut Backed Chickadee, Towhee, Am. Robin, Varied Thrush, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Lesser Goldfinch, House Finch, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, White and Red Breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, House Wren, Scrub Jay, Starling, Pine Siskin, Anna's H-bird (male and female we've named Herbert and Hillary), Downy Woodpecker, Bushtit. Good Birding! Kevin Kompolt Salem, OR _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090110/289c546a/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun Jan 11 09:10:08 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 09:10:08 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Eagle Count- Coos Bay 1/10/2009 Message-ID: <546953.16690.qm@web45311.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Well our numbers are always lower than the valley, but it was astounding to see Jeff F's 150+ eagles- oh my gosh! I think we may have had a record day for eagles on the Coos Bay mid-winter eagle count though, see if you notice any differences between our (Jim Heaney and Yo) numbers and some of those valley counts: Sunny all day, 35-52F, light wind, absolutely stunning weather, 6 hrs., 67.1 miles: 8- BALD EAGLES 2- OSPREY 6- PEREGRINE FALCONS 4- NORTHERN HARRIERS 1- SNOWY EGRET 3- WHITE-TAILED KITES 13- RED-TAILED HAWKS 4- RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS 1- SHARP-SHINNED HAWK ENJOY! Tim R Coos Bay From whoffman at peak.org Sun Jan 11 11:10:59 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 11:10:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Brant Message-ID: <079219D700EB48938FF7C1BE45F11290@D48XBZ51> I spent some time looking at the (Black) Brant in Yaquina Bay from the HMSC nature trail this morning. I counted 105 Adults, 13 young of the year, and an additional 29 birds too far away to age. This is not as bad as my ageing attempt several weeks ago, but still indicated a very poor nesting season in 2008, at least for the Brant that come to Yaquina Bay. The total, 147, is about 35 less than recent counts in Yaquina Bay, so I suspect the remainder were up in Sally's Bend. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090111/d0c80711/attachment.html From marciafcutler at comcast.net Sun Jan 11 11:33:37 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 11:33:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Emperor flock? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Ditto, the Peoria Palm Warbler, Marcia F. Cutler Corvallis -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Alan Contreras Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009 6:47 PM To: HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE Cc: obol Subject: Re: [obol] Emperor flock? [cut] Frustrating to have Glaucous Gull and Rock Sandpiper wander off for count week and promptly return -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ - Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ - Bird Photos & News > From: HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE > Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 02:36:55 +0000 > To: Alan Contreras , "obol at oregonbirdwatch.org" > > Subject: Re: [obol] Emperor flock? > > I think we may have heard a whopper. Or maybe the big one got away. > > I went to the reported site provided by the fisherman at low tide and found no > emporers or any other goose. > > I did find two glaucous gulls missed in last weeks Coquille CBC. Many more > birds on the water this week. > > Also found one young brown pelican on the South Jetty. Very thin looking. > > There may be question on earlier emporer report. The one spotted last week > remains with the domestics on Redmond Pond for a week now. If it came from the > flock, would it not have returned? > > Alson the flock supposedly has been here a month. Yet no team spotted them in > last week's Coquille CBC. > > Will check it out again tommorow. > > Harv > > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T > > -----Original Message----- > From: Alan Contreras > > Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:46:27 > To: > Subject: [obol] Emperor flock? > > > There is a rumor from a local fisherman that ten Emperor Geese were seen at > Bandon at low tide very recently.? Harv Schubothe is going to check at low > tide today (Saturday). > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ - > Commentary > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ - > Bird Photos & News > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From nelsoncheek at charter.net Sun Jan 11 11:50:07 2009 From: nelsoncheek at charter.net (WALTER NELSON) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 11:50:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Raptor Route - Lincoln Co. Coast Message-ID: <20090111194143.SNCU128.aarprv06.charter.net@D9FD2761> Wayne Hoffman, Walt Nelson, and I completed the coastal section of the Lincoln Co. Raptor Route yesterday morning. Weather was overcast with gradual clearing by mid-day, winds calm. Birding was slow, particularly around Alsea Bay, but at Yaquina Head we witnessed a drama that made up for the low numbers. A very large, very dark (Peale's) Peregrine was attempting to catch a Pigeon Guillemot on the water's surface. The guillemot had an injured wing and could not dive further than a quick duck below the surface. The Peregrine would swoop down and the guillemot would dunk under for an instant to elude the grab, Peregrine would miss, circle around and gain altitude for the next pass. This went on for about a dozen attempts before the Peregrine managed to snag the guillemot, then lugged it over to a nearby rock. We watched for a while as the Peregrine plucked feathers and tore off and ate hunks. Wow! Never know what you'll see when you're out birding. Nothing else we saw was nearly as exciting, but we also found: Red-Tailed Hawk 9 Northern Harrier 1 Bald Eagle 11 (10 adults, 1 subadult) White-tailed Kite 3 (north end of Newport Airport) Peregrine Falcon 4 Also - Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (not seen by us but reported yesterday by C. Karlen and K. Fairchild, in the pasture frequented by the Little Blue Heron, which is on our regular route.) ______________________ Rebecca Cheek South Beach, OR 97366 nelsoncheek AT charter.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090111/a46791f0/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun Jan 11 12:51:03 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 12:51:03 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 1/11/2009 Message-ID: <917175.88495.qm@web45305.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> The PRAIRIE FALCON and the SANDHILL CRANE were still around today in the Coquille Valley, both near Norway. That's all for now, Tim R Coos Bay From peterpatricelli at comcast.net Sun Jan 11 13:04:56 2009 From: peterpatricelli at comcast.net (peterpatricelli) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:04:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Weird goose - probable WF x WHite cheeked hybrid Message-ID: <93914E41E07E4B2C9E56C0488101F3F7@PeterGateway> The weird goose pics posted yesterday can be compared to 2 pics on my website of a WF x Cackler family unit. http://www.flyfishingfotography.com/whitefront_snows_010.htm Those pics show a normal WF, a normal Cackler, and then 5 hybrids in an apparent family unit. Whether the ones reported yesterday are from a Cackler or actual Canada subspecies? cross is uncertain. Peter Patricelli www.flyfishingfotography.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090111/d0a67d45/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Sun Jan 11 13:28:39 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:28:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Pipits In-Reply-To: <7058c4c60901101445q1bafa729if17b8026733dccc0@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Ellen, I would like to know more about that Oropendula! Another hunt on Wed? Larry _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Ellen Cantor Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009 2:45 PM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Pipits I did a lot of walking at Fern Ridge this morning, but didn't come up with the self-reported Oropendula or the sought after elusive Jack Snipe. But I did see 2 large flocks of AMERICAN PIPITS (about 50 in each flock) way out the old Royal Ave roadbed, about even with Gibson Island. Also saw several small peeps feeding with some Killdeer out on the mudflats between the roadbed and Gibson. I didn't have my scope but I'm pretty sure they were LEAST SANDPIPERS from their plumage..... A gorgeous day--warmed up considerably, feeling downright balmy by mid-day. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090111/9597c943/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Jan 11 13:48:02 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:48:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Studies in ambiguity: a new set of quiz birds Message-ID: <496A6912.8090600@pacifier.com> http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/ambiguity20090111.html -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Studies in ambiguity http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/ambiguity20090111.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Jan 11 17:17:51 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:17:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lane Coast and Waldport birds Message-ID: I spent the day birding coastal Lane Co and north as far as Waldport with KC Childs and Sean Vierra. Pretty slow day, with morning filled with blowing mist. Afternoon was nice. Nothing really exotic. Male Eurasian Wigeon at Eckman Lk, Waldport. Plenty of Am Wigeon and Gadwall there (maybe 75 wigeon and 35 Gadwall, all scattered around the edge of the lake). Small numbers of gulls at all sites, with Yachats the best variety. Little on the ocean. Adult Peregrine at Lily Lake. 5-7 Townsend's warbs at the parking area under the bridge at Heceta Head. Lincoln's Sparrow at the crabdock cove, Florence, which is an uncommon place for one. The recent CBC missed it. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Sun Jan 11 17:36:07 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 01:36:07 +0000 Subject: [obol] Wallowas Winter Bird Report (Wallowa County) Message-ID: Hi all, My whirlwind trip to the Wonderful Wallowas with Dave S. went well. We found most of the wintering target species in the Lostine, Enterprise, and Joseph areas. We had a great time and Dave netted 7 lifers on the trip. Yipee!!! Surprisingly, much of the warm rains earlier in the week melted a lot of snow as some of the rural roads were bare or muddy. As usual McCully Creek near Joseph is hammered with snow so we had to snowshoe in the last mile or so where the junction splits. Cone crop and berries are at their fullest I have seen it but interestingly, we found no PINE GROSBEAKS in town but instead, observed several flocks of WHITE WINGED CROSSBILLS in the residental areas. The mischievous alpine parrot-like birds were feeding and ripping down cones while emitting their chet-chet-chet calls as they constantly flew to and from various cone-laden tree tops. To me they have a different flight pattern than the red crossbills and their calls are more electric in quality compared to their red cousins. Very cool birds to watch indeed! We also noted that both species were not mingling together when observed at various locations during the trip. If you need these elusive, erratic visitors as a lifer, this is the time to GO! It doesn't get any easier than this. No snowshoes or cross-country skis required to the proper habitat. You can see the birds right out of your car! I think the birds will stay around with this abundant cone crop. Melody Phillips and I first noticed the invasion mid-November at McCully Creek while Russ Namitz saw a few more weeks later. Thanks to Kyle Bratcher and Margaret LaFavie for their sightings as well! Here are the highlights and species seen: GREAT GRAY OWL: One magnificent bird along Hwy 3 about 20 miles north of Enterprise. SHORT EARED OWL: One hunting bird before dusk on School Flat Rd. LONG EARED OWL: One bird along Philberg Rd at dusk near Elgin. NORTHERN PYGMY OWL; Two birds one in Lostine and another at Wallowa Lake Rd. GREAT HORNED OWL: Three birds in Lostine, Joseph, and Enterprise. SPRUCE GROUSE; One beautiful male in spruce trees at McCully Creek. (Must snowshoe in) DUSKY GROUSE; Two birds in conifer trees at McCully Creek. RUFFED GROUSE; One bird at Hurricane Creek Rd SHARP TAILED GROUSE; Flushed two birds along Leap Lane GRAY PATRIDGE; A flock of five on Leap Lane. Eight birds along Praire Creek Rd. NORTHERN GOSHAWK: One adult bird along road leading to Lostine Campground. FERRGINOUS HAWK; One beautiful adult on Alder Slope Rd (same bird reported by LaFaive?) ROUGH LEGGED HAWK; Up to 6 birds mostly in Joseph. MERLIN; One bird in town of Enterprise near Courthouse. WHITE HEADED WOODPECKER; One flying bird at Wallowa Lake SP. NORTHERN SHRIKE; Up to 3 birds near Enterprise and Joseph. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS; A flock of 200 birds in Enterprise. 60 birds near Fish Hatchery Rd CEDAR WAXWINGS; A flock of 100 birds mixed with some Bohemians near Golf Course Rd. AMERICAN THREE SPARROWS; A flock of 5 birds near Leap Lane. WHITE THROATED SPARROW; One bird on Golf Course Rd. SNOW BUNTINGS; A pure flock of 150 plus birds along Ant Flat Hill Rd. GRAY CROWNED ROSYFINCHES; A flock of 350 plus birds along School Flat Rd and a few stranglers near Ant Flat Hill Rd. Some roosting at dusk near eaves of barns. PINE GROSBEAKS: A small flock of 15 birds along Hwy 3 about 22 miles north of Enterprise. A flock of 5 birds along Cascade Auto Route about 14 miles north of Enterprise. Three birds in McCully Creek. None were found in towns of Lostine, Enterprise or Joseph despite hordes of fruiting ornamental trees and hundreds of feasting robins! RED CROSSBILLS; A flock of 20 birds in Cascade Auto Route and 10 birds in town of Enterprise. WHITE WINGED CROSSBILLS; A large flock of 40 birds near City Center intersection and Fish Hatchery Rd, a dozen in Enterprise on Garfield and 1st St. A small flock of 5 birds at McCully Creek. A flock of 20 plus birds in Cascade Auto Route. COMMON REDPOLLS; A flock of 25 birds on Prairie Creek Rd not far from cemetery. Good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From vireogirl at yahoo.com Sun Jan 11 18:22:33 2009 From: vireogirl at yahoo.com (Vjera Thompson) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:22:33 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Lane & Linn weekend birds Message-ID: <13906.15548.qm@web56305.mail.re3.yahoo.com> OBOLers, Eddie and I made a quick stop at Peoria on the way home from Portland yesterday (1/10/09) and saw the PALM WARBLER. Today (1/11/09) we drove around the Gyr area (Prairie Rd, Meadowview Rd, Alvadore Rd, and other roads near the Eugene airport), and saw lots of other raptors but no Gyr. Other raptors seen include a N SHRIKE at milepost two on Meadowview Road, 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, several RED-TAILS, and 4+ BALD EAGLES. We found the flock of TUNDRA SWANS (off Vogt) and I counted ~340. Then we headed to Alton Baker for a walk. Highlights included a nice look at a LINCOLN'S SPARROW, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, a male EURASION WIGEON, and a HUTTON'S VIREO. Total species list for Alton Baker was 37--not far behind Area 10's total count for the whole day on the CBC last week (the sun does help!). Vjera & Eddie Thompson Eugene, OR vireogirl at yahoo.com From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Sun Jan 11 18:51:54 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:51:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Birder's Night -- NEW LOCATION - 2nd posting Message-ID: <87BAF43F-F1F2-4367-B956-C3669CB1FCBF@comcast.net> OBOL- Eugene Birder's Night will be Jan 12 (second Monday of each Month) at 7pm. LOCATION IS NEW: Sacred Heart Hospital (downtown), 1255 Hilyard St; Conference Room A (across the hall from the Auditorium). Directions to Conference Room A: -enter main Lobby from Hilyard St -turn Left and walk down hall (past the cafeteria) to end of hall -turn Right and walk down hall (past Dining Room) to end of hall -turn Right and walk a few steps, then Left down the hall toward the Auditorium -Conference Room A (labelled simply Conference Room) is on the Right (across from a bank of telephones on the Left side of the hall) Parking: Parking lot structure (across Hilyard from the Lobby) charges $1/hour (I think). Street parking is not available on Hilyard per se, but is found on 13th, 12th (West of Patterson), and Patterson streets (street parking free after 6pm). Map is at this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=sacred+heart+hospital+eugene,+or&fb=1&split=1&cid=0,0,17378354515337851834&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image Agenda: usual reporting format, then a slideshow on Birds of Madagascar Note: we will have reliable access to audio/video support from this point on, so those wishing to bring a disc or laptop to show interesting images, etc should feel free to do so. For a lengthly presentation, please give me a heads-up so we can avoid conflicts. Barry McKenzie Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090111/6d548458/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Sun Jan 11 18:58:44 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 02:58:44 +0000 Subject: [obol] Pine grosbeak and White winged crossbill invasion in OR and WA?? Message-ID: Hi all, To add to the discussion generated on INLAND NW of a good flight year for Pine Grosbeaks this winter, I would have to agree. Many birds have been seen and reported in the areas of North Central and North Eastern WA and now North Eastern Oregon near the Wallowas. Of course, my assessment is based on my limited experience and bird reports of the last few years. I have combed the archives pretty extensive the last ten years and I realize some birders don't report on these online birding forums of their sightings. Even then, there are only a handful of White winged crossbill reports. The last three summers and winters in the Wallowas did not produced any significant number of both species as I usually bird there several times a year. This last November, reports showed good numbers in early fall especially November in the higher elevations of the Wallowas and the Okanogan areas. There is a lot of ground to cover. If I recall correctly, the winter of 2006/2007 had good numbers as more pine grosbeaks were found at much lower elevations including Discovery Park in Seattle, several at the Skagit Game Range near Conner, WA, and one bird at Pittock Mansion in Portland, Oregon. White winged crossbills is a different story. These erratic birds are much more tougher to pin down since they feed on a much more varied diet and tend to move more from place to place when one food source is depleted. According to the the Davis, Clement and and Harris, the birds feed on extracting seeds of larches, cedars, spruces, and hemlock. They also take a variety of berries, spiders, and insects from their larvae. This probably explains why I have seen a few birds pick out protein matter from horse dung along some of the alpine trails that allow horse. In addition, their ideal habitat requires much more effort to reach or inaccessible in winter. So I really don't have a basis to compare as reports are so far and few. These birds probably breed in these high alpine areas of WA and Oregon where few birders hike and venture into. >From my research, I don't think there are any confirmed records of breeding in Oregon and Washington. I did hear several males burst into songs starting in late summer to early winter the last two years. Also, if these birds are not flying around, they tend to blend in quite well and are much quieter than the incessantly calling pine grosbeaks. As a result, birds are tougher to detect and numbers are more difficult to assess. Last winter, good numbers of XX bills trickled in the Okanogan Highlands and Salmo Pass areas and a reliable number remained at Stevens Pass. However, if you want an easy place to see white winged crossbills right now, the town of Enterprise, Oregon is the place to be. Several flocks have been seen in the cone-laden conifers in town the last several weeks. You can almost seem them out of your car without snowshoes and cross-country skis. For more details, see my recent weekend trip report below of birding the Wallowas in NE Oregon. It is a wonderful area to bird and the scenery is beautiful. You can never have a bad time in the WOWallowas! Good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From tanager at nu-world.com Sun Jan 11 19:26:52 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:26:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Counting Crows - Sunday afternoon in Eugene Message-ID: <001301c97465$9d192700$d74b7500$@com> No, this is not a celebrity sighting. Anne and I birded Skinner Butte this afternoon (3pm or thereabouts). It was pretty quiet up there except for a calling BROWN CREEPER, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, B-C CHICKADEES, and continuous freeway noise. There was a flock of 8 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS and one BEWICK'S WREN feeding near the west end of the grassy meadow up on top. Passersby told us about displaying ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS below the parking lot as well. One interesting and new development up there is that a major effort is underway to remove English Ivy. It looks rough right now, but I can see the positive potential because whomever/whatever group is doing this is leaving the native plants in place. There are huge piles of just-removed English Ivy piled up near the parking lot, and more piles are visible on the ground all through the north slope of the butte from top to bottom. It looks like most of the Himalayan Blackberries also have been removed. We headed over to Delta Ponds just west and north of Valley River Center and found a good group of WOOD DUCKS, LESSER SCAUP, two adult BALD EAGLES, AND PROBABLY 200 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS coming in to roost in the cottonwood trees along the river's edge. There was a large adult Beaver also working the edge of the pond and under the elevated walkway. The most interesting, to me anyway, spectacle this afternoon was the evening flight of AMERICAN CROWS. When we first got there, around 330pm I would guess, we noticed a large group of birds flying in a loose formation all headed SSE more or less directly over the mall buildings. The group stretched from horizon to horizon (south to north). I immediately started a count, because in recent days when looking out my office window downtown (just south of Skinner Butte) and usually between 4 and 5pm, a swirling group of crows would mill around in that area a few minutes before dissipating. I had estimated 200 birds more-or-less. Today I started at the southern horizon and worked my way north counting the flock. Anne counted also. It was pretty straightforward since the flock was strung out and moving relatively slowly, as compared to a blackbird or starling flock might be. After reaching 400+ Anne decided she'd watch some birds closer to us (not crows). I continued counting and eventually reached 950 and stopped, sort of. The stream of birds was nearly continuous, but as it slowed to a trickle I didn't watch continuously. It continued until dark. I would estimate the overall number exceeded 1,000 birds. This was not a continuous count, because we ran into Holly Reinhard and her friend (sorry, terrible with names) and watched the beaver and Wood Ducks for awhile and visited a bit, mixed in with more crow counting. As it was nearly dark, we were talking to a passing bicyclist acquaintance and a PEREGRINE FALCON ripped through and attacked (feigned) one of the crows as it was passing by. It was a tease. It continued north. It was a great afternoon to be out in the dry southern Willamette Valley. Good birding, Dan Heyerly Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090111/a910f53a/attachment.html From m.denny at charter.net Sun Jan 11 22:42:50 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:42:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pine Warbler search, Union Co. Message-ID: Hello All, MerryLynn and I went on a chase to LaGrande, Union Co. looking for the Pine Warbler. We missed the Warbler, but did see the following birds of interest. Eurasian Collared Dove....60 birds in Imbler at a feeder located at the north end of Newport Ave., Located 4 in Elgin, 13 in LaGrande along C Street. The Imbler concentration of this dove species is the largest I have observed in Oregon or the Pacific Northwest to date. I learned today that this dove species gives an almost alcid type squeal call reminisant of calls I have heard in the Rhino Auklet colonies when the adults return after sunset. Rough-legged Hawk....Black morph birds outside of Elgin and Cove. 12+ light morph birds between Cove and LaGrande. Bohemian Waxwing....150 birds in Cove along Water Street. Bald Eagle.....7 birds between LaGrande and Ladd Marsh feeding on voles in flooded fields along with many ravens. Black-backed Woodpecker-one ad. male between Oak and Cedar Streets in LaGrande (ML only). We missed the Pine Warbler, but greatly enjoyed our visit with several local Police Officers who had been called by suspicious residents wanting to know why people were in their neighborhood with binoculars on.. The officers were very polite and professional when they heard we were looking for the Pine Warbler. Later Mike .................................................................................. Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sun Jan 11 23:04:06 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:04:06 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Drift Creek Little Blue Heron etc. Message-ID: <222081.78073.qm@web37007.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello OBOL, Jamie Simmons and I birded the Lincoln County coast today. Highlights included: LITTLE BLUE HERON:? We found the bird around noon in the previously described spot near the red barn along Drift Creek road, in the company of several Glaucous-winged Gulls and one adult Thayer's Gull. EURASIAN (COMMON) TEAL: one picture-perfect drake along with 4 male Green-winged Teal and several females on a small pond along Hwy 20 between Toledo and Newport (just east of McNary Road). WHIMBREL: one at the South Jetty at Yaquina Bay GREATER YELLOWLEGS: one at the north end of Bayview pasture along Beaver Creek Road HARLEQUIN DUCK: 4-5 drakes at the South Jetty, Yaquina Bay Happy Birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090111/64298463/attachment.html From bcombs232 at gmail.com Mon Jan 12 02:06:38 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 02:06:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harrisburg Coburg Raptor Route Sunday January 11 Message-ID: <8ce3a6520901120206u25fc4a4ev70f3ab892d922b01@mail.gmail.com> Robin Gage and I did the Harrisburg-Coburg raptor route on Sunday, January 11. By the time we started the route, the morning mist had dissipated and the day began to turn into a sunny one. The temperature was above 50 degrees Fahrenheit by the time we finished. We drove 69.1 miles in 4 hours 45 minutes. Raptors found on the route: 19 Red-tailed Hawk 24 American Kestrel 8 Northern Harrier 15 Bald Eagle 8 adults 7 immatures 1 Buteo sp. 2 Merlin Red-tailed Hawk numbers were down from last month, and Rough-legged Hawks were nowhere to be seen. The Northern Harrier number is higher than most counts for the route in any month. We had seen only one Merlin on the route before, and this time it was the first raptor species of the day. Other species of note: We spent some of our time admiring flocks of AMERICAN PIPITS. Early in the day along Bowers Drive between Powerline Road and North Coburg Road we found a flock of about 460 American Pipits foraging in a field. There was no way we could examine each bird and complete the route, but we did spend some time looking over the flock and did not find any other species in it. Later in the day, along Bowers Drive west of North Coburg Road, we found a flock of about 120 American Pipits. We do not know whether this was a different flock or a splinter group from the flock we saw earlier in the day. These birds were flying around. Some were landing in a tree along the roadside, where we were, again, able to obtain some beautiful views of this species. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Eugene OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090112/c6e07951/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Mon Jan 12 07:23:55 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:23:55 +0000 Subject: [obol] White winged crossbills (photo) Message-ID: Hi all, Here is one photo of some White winged Crossbills taken this weekend in Wallowa County in NE Oregon. They are really invading the town of Enterprise, Oregon and surrounding areas! Low light and the birds are up high so I apologize for the poor quality but you can see the gloriously colored males. http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/image/108040346 Good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From carolk at viclink.com Mon Jan 12 07:58:31 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:58:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Benton county Mockingbird, owls Message-ID: <000701c974ce$a167f700$8c76fea9@home> OBOL: We paid a visit to Benton County on Sunday. At Toketee Marsh by the Coffin Butte landfill we saw 4 Cinnamon Teal, 3 bright drakes. On Llewellyn Rd. we saw the BURROWING OWL. On Bellfountain Rd. I called up a Wrentit. On the SW end of Bruce Rd. Carol spotted the NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD in a thick bush south of the white mailbox # 25401. It flew across the road and disappeared in the thick hedge by the house. Across the road from McFadden Marsh we found the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and the SNOW GOOSE. We puzzled over this bird awhile, since it had a rather small bill with a gray base and without any noticeable grin patch. However, it was a large goose, with a sloped forehead and a bill too big for a Ross's Goose. I think it fits Sibley's portrayal of a Lesser Snow Goose. At the prairie overlook on Finley Rd. we saw 2-3 White-tailed Kites and 7 W. Bluebirds. At Cabell Marsh we saw the legions of Tundra Swans & American Wigeons -- plus 2 Eurasian Wigeons-- and a Peregrine Falcon. We also heard 3 Great Horned Owls at dusk. After dark we visited the first 1.3 miles of Soap Creek Rd. west of Tampico Rd. We played a Saw-whet Owl tape and got responses from 2 BARN OWLS, 1 WESTERN SCREECH OWL, 3 GREAT HORNED OWLS, and finally a SAW-WHET OWL. It was a beautiful, warm, quiet evening. Good birding, everyone, Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen From msgellerman at gmail.com Mon Jan 12 13:16:47 2009 From: msgellerman at gmail.com (Michael Gellerman) Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:16:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Overwintering Birds, Bethany Pond, Washington Co. Message-ID: <1d0c413a0901121316h7b2a9580vf068b6c759dced0@mail.gmail.com> I was thinking about the weather, more extreme than our 15 years here at Bethany Pond (Washington Co.) and thought I would make a list of the birds that were we saw during the snow, ice, sleet and hail - most of which were regular visitors to the pond, feeders, or the yard. Overwintering Birds at Bethany Pond Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Great Egret* Pied-billed Grebe Canada Goose Cackling Goose Mallard American Wigeon Lesser Scaup Ring-necked Duck Common Merganser Hooded Merganser Bufflehead Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Bald Eagle American Kestrel Killdeer Ring-billed Gull California Gull Herring Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Rock Dove Mourning Dove Belted Kingfisher* Anna's Hummingbird Northern Flicker Downy Woodpecker Steller's Jay Western Scrub Jay American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Bewick's Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin Varied Thrush European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Brewer's Blackbird Red-winged Blackbird Lesser Goldfinch American Goldfinch Pine Siskin House Finch House Sparrow *Unusual in 15+ years to be here in the winter -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090112/d970c926/attachment.html From andy.frank at kp.org Mon Jan 12 14:48:20 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:48:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Columbia River, Mult County Message-ID: <3833C7717E6B4D51AD60B889787A046E@familyroom> I made several stops along the Columbia River in Multnomah County today. At NE Bridgeton and 5th, off Marine Drive East in Portland, there were 3 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS in the eastern most tree. At Broughton Beach, there was 1 PACIFIC LOON and multiple WESTERN GREBES. Further east, but still west of the I-205 bridge, there was a male REDHEAD. At Eagle Creek, there were multiple male and female BARROW'S GOLDENEYES and only female COMMON GOLDENEYES. There also was an AMERICAN DIPPER. Andy Frank From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Mon Jan 12 15:04:52 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:04:52 +0000 Subject: [obol] Photo Quiz of Mystery Raptor Message-ID: Hi all, I got almost 300 'lookers' for this photo quiz but less than 10 birders who venture guesses so far. I don't mean to stump anyone as I was originally off in my guess. These less seen color morphs make it difficult for most since often we do not get an opportunity to see or extensively study them. For better or worse, photos allow you extended looks of certain features. We all become better birders with more field experience. I still have A LOT to learn which makes this hobby so much fun and rewarding. I am going to wait a bit more before I reveal the correct ID but MANY THANKS to David Sibley and Jerry Liguori for confirming. http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/photo_quiz_ Bird on and learn, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From birdmandon at clearwire.net Mon Jan 12 15:04:07 2009 From: birdmandon at clearwire.net (Don Schrouder) Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:04:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Birding Southern Valley Message-ID: <8BF17CCD-0EFF-47A1-9A88-68230557F3DD@clearwire.net> Three of us did some birding around the southern Willamette Valley today with good results. We started out at Randy's place in Peoria where we finally found the PYRRHULOXIA on the second try. In between we walked on down the street and located the PALM WARBLER near its previous location. A drive down towards Finley gave us a BURROWING OWL on Llewellyn Rd. at its previous location at the end of the private runway. The NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD gave us a great look on Bruce Rd where we also had a very cooperative ROUGH-LEG HAWK as well as a hunting PEREGRINE FALCON diving down on the Cacklers in the field and causing them to flush and circle. Also saw many other good birds during a great day in the sunshine. Don Schrouder with Paul Sherrell and Sylvia Maulding. Birdmandon at clearwire.net From celata at pacifier.com Mon Jan 12 16:28:40 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:28:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - 1/12/2009 Message-ID: <496BE038.1030404@pacifier.com> Columbia Estuary Report - 1/12/2009 There are now at least 3 GLAUCOUS GULLS in pastures around Youngs Bay: a beautiful 2nd winter between Binder Slough and Tucker Creek, and two 1st winter birds at Wireless Rd. There may also be a 4th 1st winter on the Lewis and Clark (though it could be one of the Wireless birds). There's also at least one NELSON'S GULL and a pretty obvious GLAUCOUS x GLAUCOUS-WINGED hybrid. HERRING GULLS have become more scarce than they were before all the snow and rain, but there are a few around as well as scattered THAYER'S GULLS. There were 8 SNOW GEESE with CACKLING GEESE at Capp Rd. The Lewis and Clark TUNDRA SWANS have not been seen since the waters receded. There is a SWAMP SPARROW hanging out in a truck garden next to the wetland along DeLaura Beach Rd. It's easier to hear than to see... The BLACK PHOEBE reported from DelMoor Loop has not been seen since early last week. The spot is very birdy however and worth checking for other stuff. Steve Warner had CEDAR WAXWINGS in the holly trees across from his house yesterday (rare around here in the winter). It's been a really good winter for RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Studies in ambiguity http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/ambiguity20090111.html From Kyle.W.Bratcher at state.or.us Mon Jan 12 16:37:54 2009 From: Kyle.W.Bratcher at state.or.us (Kyle W Bratcher) Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:37:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Joseph Jar Message-ID: On my way home from work I stopped at a spot just out of Joseph and found a jar of Pygmy Nuthatches. A first for me and a cool bird indeed. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090112/769b4125/attachment.html From 4cains at charter.net Mon Jan 12 19:00:34 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:00:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report Message-ID: <43F6CD14F981493594B120D024567713@HAL> To add to Mike's update, the WHITE-THROATED SPARROW seen on the 5th Lane roadside kack in the Jeffers Gardens area during the CBC was still there a couple of days ago. And yesterday Evan photographed a few SURFBIRDS and BLACK TURNSTONES at the surf boulders in the Cove at Seaside. Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090112/79d607f9/attachment.html From davect at bendnet.com Tue Jan 13 09:04:50 2009 From: davect at bendnet.com (david tracy) Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:04:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Peregrine Falcon flies 954 miles in one day Message-ID: <93BD7A2E-0FD3-4A6E-968A-9A79FA78358D@bendnet.com> The folks working with Bud Anderson at the Falcon Research Group have recorded the longest one-day flight by a falcon using satellite telemetry. Here's the info from their most recent newsletter: http://frgnews.frg.org/ Begin forwarded message: Elizabetha Sets a New World Record Elizabetha, an adult female peregrine that we tagged in Chile on 21 January 2008 as part of the Southern Cross Peregrine Project, migrated north to Baffin Island, Canada, to breed last summer. After raising her family, she began to migrate south again on 22 September, generally following the classic US east coast route. On 19 October, she was flying off the coast of New Jersey when she apparently caught the counter-clockwise storm system of Hurricane Omar. With solid tail winds, she flew south all the way to Palm Beach, Florida in a day, a distance of at least 954 miles and a knock-out world record. None of us had even dreamed that a peregrine could fly that far in a single day. This is yet another example of how satellite transmitters are revolutionizing our understanding of so many organisms worldwide. As I write this bulletin (28 December), she is still migrating slowly south, having just arrived in Chile once again. She is demonstrating that some adult females perform an unanticipated ?slow migration? south, long suspected but now confirmed for the species." End forward --- I wonder how this stacks up against the recent satellite data recording the trans-Pacific migration of Bar-tailed Godwits and Bristle-thighed Curlews. david tracy davect at bendnet.com From jeffgill at teleport.com Tue Jan 13 12:20:45 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:20:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Yellow-throated Warbler ( Message-ID: I received a call from Terry Wahl regarding a Yellow-throated Warbler that he was watching as we spoke. Its near and on the three big blue silos... (just kidding - kind of like saying go to Little Beach...) Take the northern end of the FLORAS LAKE LOOP off Hwy. 101 and drive to the three big blue silos. They are about 200 feet off the loop road. The bird is feeding on and near the silos. The silo owner's telephone number is 541-921-7595. (That may be Dave Pitkin's number.) I can't recall if this is Coos or Curry Co. Its somewhere not far from the county line - I think. The property owner is OK with birders visiting. Call first if you want to enter the poperty. All of the birder civility norms are in order. Thankfully, I have seen the species in Oregon and an go to La Grande. What a state! Jeff Gilligan Portland From jeffgill at teleport.com Tue Jan 13 12:40:03 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:40:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Free money for bird conservation Message-ID: Delete now if you are looking for a post specific to birds in Oregon - though there is a connection - sort of. I know this is an unusual post. If you go to google and enter "unclaimed property Oregon" or "Oregon unclaimed property" you get to the State of Oregon site on which you can search for property being held by the state that belongs to you or friends or family. I was surprised to find that I likely have a bank account that I somehow forgot about that of which the state took custody. They have soemthing of mine. I was further surprised to find over 40 other accounts of some sort for various friends, family members, former class mates, neighbors, etc. About 35% of the people for whom I checked are due money. The state receives about $39,000,000 per year and gives the rightful owners about $9,000,000 per year back. Ass I recall, the state is holding about $265,000,000 of people's money. Print out the instruction sheet and the form if you show up on the list. Note the traps on the website. I suggest using the "Starts With" function rather than the "Spelled Exactly" function". If for no other reason, there were entry errors made by the state that can result in the name not showing up. My sister found over $35,000 due her company. Maybe the company you work for is due something and would give some to the birds. SO...if you find money that you wouldn't have otherwise found, why not give some to the American bird Conservancy, Audubon, or the The Nature Conservancy, or OFO. (That is how this segues to OBOL.) All the best. Jeff Gilligan From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Jan 13 14:45:06 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:45:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Prairie Falcon continues at Vadis Message-ID: The adult Prairie Falcon was on the second utility pole east of the snag top cedar on HArrington Rd at 8:30 1/13. Not detected 1/12. Large numbers of Cackling Geese were south of Hwy 26 on the east bank of Dairy Creek 1/12. 5000 or more, by far the most I have seen at this spot in 15 years. Various people commented on their exodus from the Portland area during the snowy weather, which continued at this spot through 1/4. 100s of swans continue to use the flooded bottoms visible from HArrington Rd.. Lars Norgren From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Jan 13 15:49:09 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:49:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Prairie Falcon continues at Vadis Message-ID: <20090113154909.np1vytnlesgokww8@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Photos of the Prairie Falcon on Harrington Road near Roy, Washington Co., Oregon Map: http://www.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&q=&ll=45.586714,-123.037133&spn=0.018651,0.02665&t=h&z=15 Photo by Stefan Schlick on January 1: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/_from_others Two photos from January 11: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/recent_photos Two additional photos from January 11: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/hawks Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Jan 13 17:14:40 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:14:40 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] YT Warbler- Curry Co. 1/13/2009 Message-ID: <317714.59264.qm@web45304.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> The YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was still present between 3;30 and 4PM at Rick McKenzie's ranch off Floras Lake Road. I talked to Terry Wahl and he said visitors would be OK tomorrow. Directions as follows: Take Hwy 101 just south of the small town of Langlois and turn right (west) onto the north entrance to Floras Lake. Follow this until you see the blue silos and park outside the compound just where the road takes a 90 degree turn to the south. The bird was flycatching about 30 feet off the ground on the south side of the eastern most silo when I was there. Terry said it was quite active earlier and was in several locations around the compound. It was calling when I was there and fairly easy to find. There were no other warblers around (usually there are a few Palm Warblers overwintering here) and the only other bird was a Black Phoebe. Dave Pitkin found the bird earlier in the day- nice find Dave!! I believe this is a first Curry record but am not totally sure. It's been quite warm on the south coast the past few days with temps in the 60's and 70's. The forecast is for much of the same the next couple of days. I went down to Floras Lake with the dogs after seeing the warbler and we kicked up 10 LAPLAND LONGSPURS in the short grass north of Floras Lake (right along where the trail goes out to the beach). Cool bird and another totally gorgeous day- hard to believe it's mid-January! Tim R Coos Bay From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Tue Jan 13 18:51:56 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:51:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Madras Raptor Route Message-ID: <496D534C.3000207@gmail.com> Kei and I did the Madras route today under high clouds and warm temps (60 degrees) with the following results: 31 Red-tail Hawks- TWO pairs were nest building! We saw both pairs putting the VERY FIRST branch in place! REALLY COOL! 22 American Kestrels 7 Northern Harriers 5 Rough-legged Hawks 1 Merlin 3 Prairie Falcons Kevin & Kei Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090113/e6374cdd/attachment.vcf From jbw at oregoncoast.com Tue Jan 13 19:27:24 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara & John Woodhouse) Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:27:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tillamook East raptor run. Message-ID: We decided to get our run in before it rained again. We had a mixture of fog and sun. Numbers were down from Dec. but up from Nov. From Yellow Fir Rd in the South to Fred Meyer in the north. REHA 23 AMKE 14 NOHA 2 Total 39 The fields have been flooded again so this may be why numbers were down. No Kites or eagles From bcombs232 at gmail.com Tue Jan 13 20:11:21 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:11:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harrisburg-Coburg Raptor Run Addendum - Black Phoebe Message-ID: <8ce3a6520901132011l14af4165h2fe733f7ea073336@mail.gmail.com> A conversation I had last night reminded me that Robin Gage and I found a BLACK PHOEBE in Coburg on Sunday, January 11 while we were doing our raptor route. The bird was perched on a wire in front of a barn just south of the corner of Coburg Bottom Loop and Funke Road, along the east side of Funke Road. This Black Phoebe was perched inches away - at most - from the where a Black Phoebe we found in this same location was perched on November 17, 2006. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Eugene OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090113/de62233c/attachment.html From bigfishyman at gmail.com Tue Jan 13 20:17:42 2009 From: bigfishyman at gmail.com (Bob Fish) Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:17:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gyrfalcon Message-ID: Just wondering if anyone has seen the Gyrfalcon? Bob in Creswell -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090113/25953b78/attachment.html From kingbird68 at comcast.net Tue Jan 13 21:49:01 2009 From: kingbird68 at comcast.net (Laura Whittemore) Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:49:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Nehalem Sewage Ponds, Tillamook County, Oregon on January 11, 2009 References: <200901130530.n0D5UEMS010037@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> Message-ID: Date: January 11-12, 2009 Location: Nehalem Sewage Ponds, Tillamook County, Oregon Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 100% Precipitation: none Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) Gadwall (Anas strepera) Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) [1] Green-Winged Teal (Anas crecca) Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) [2] Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) [3] Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) [4] Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) [5] Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) [6] Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) [7] Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) [8] Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) Mew Gull (Larus canus) Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) California Gull (Larus californicus) Western Gull (Larus occidentalis) Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) [9] Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) Common Raven (Corvus corax) [10] European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) Footnotes: [1] Abundant. [2] Three females. [3] Five females flying upriver. [4] One individual in nearby channel through fields on south side of road. [5] Classic hovering hunting style then dropped to ground, took off with prey and disappeared south into the mist. We were lucky. [6] Five individuals seen at once. [7] Bird on ground with prey surrounded by three crows who pulled its tail. Bird eventually abandoned prey. [8] Made a speedy pass low over two hedgerows for a possible ambush on the other side. It was out of view by then. [9] Individual flying very high (150 feet +) circling near three Ravens. Eventually got so high it disappeared into cloud cover overhead. [10] Abundant. Mixed with crows and gulls actively feeding on ground in nearby fields. A treat to see for us Portlanders who miss Ravens. Total number of species seen: 38 From withgott at comcast.net Tue Jan 13 22:14:46 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:14:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Linn Ross's Goose; Emperor; Peoria P&P; Finley/Benton birds Message-ID: I spent a productive day birding the Willamette Valley in Linn and Benton Cos. today. I located a number of "target birds" seen previously by others, and found a new ROSS'S GOOSE in Linn Co. PEORIA: I arrived at the Moore's yard at dawn and watched the first birds leave their roosts and begin feeding in the twilight. At this time I counted an astounding 8 (!) WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS feeding together beside the bushes to the NW of the Moore's house. I have never before seen this many in one spot (literally within a 3-m diameter) anywhere in the West. The PYRRHULOXIA had apparently roosted elsewhere, likely in the blackberry kack across the street and just NE of the Moore's home. I observed it perched there at 7:55. I then headed up the street and was fortunate to quickly find the PALM WARBLER, loosely cavorting with Yellow-rumps, across the street from the pumphouse/greenhouse/conifers south of the town park. A fast start to the day; I bid adieu to the Pyrrhuloxia, still perched in the blackberries, just 45 minutes after I had arrived. DIAMOND HILL ROAD: I found the gynormous flock of Cackling Geese just where Dave Irons had left them, on the north side of Diamond Hill Road (Linn Co.) 2.0 miles east of I-5. The 4 SNOW GEESE were with them, and after a couple of scans I located the EMPEROR GOOSE, just a tad shy of adult plumage. However, it wasn't until the flock took to the air that I saw that there was also a single adult ROSS'S GOOSE. It stayed on its own among the Cacklers, did not associate with the Snows, and was easily hidden behind the undulating 5,000-headed Cackler-Superorganism when the flock was on the ground. The wetlands immediately to the west had various ducks, and at least 350 AMERICAN PIPITS were between the geese and the ponds, along with a few HORNED LARKS. I then drove Belts Road, Gap Rd., Priceboro Rd., etc., but could not find Jeff Fleischer's Northern Shrike or WT Kite. FINLEY NWR and VIC.: In early afternoon I located the NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD SW of Finley, in exactly the spot reported by others: in the hedgerow and on the lawn of the first house on Bruce Rd. N of Bellfountain Rd., #25401. Finley NWR had countless hundreds of wigeon, pintail, teal, and other ducks, as well as a few hundred TUNDRA SWANS on Cabell Marsh. I saw 2 drake EURASIAN WIGEON and one clear hybrid EURASIAN x AMERICAN WIGEON. A flock of 400-500 DUNLIN also fed in Cabell Marsh, hard to see from the overlook (the trail is closed) until they take flight. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was at the bridge across McFadden Marsh. A GREAT HORNED OWL hooted in the distance from Finley Rd. I saw no Short-eared Owls or WT Kites at the Prairie Overlook, but at dusk saw one BURROWING OWL along Llewellyn Road (after having missed it in the daylight earlier). 11 GREAT EGRETS, 5 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, TUNDRA SWANS in several locations, 5 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, 1 PURPLE FINCH, and 1 PINE SISKIN (scarce this winter, at least in my neck of the woods) were other highlights of the day. Jay Withgott Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090113/449c487a/attachment.html From LCain at astoria.k12.or.us Tue Jan 13 22:24:43 2009 From: LCain at astoria.k12.or.us (Lee Cain) Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:24:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Humans as Superpredators - slightly off topic Message-ID: <515DDA9BF1AC1E42829D6CD2AA9FC40117B4EDB9@asdxcng.intra.astoria.k12.or.us> The following article I found very interesting -- it is nice to see a study supporting what many of us have long suspected. It is mostly about our accelerated selective effects on fish species through harvest methods and regulations, but I think there are some obvious connections to be made with bird harvest methods, habitat change, etc. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090112201123.htm Lee Cain Astoria High School 1001 W Marine Drive Astoria OR 97103 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090113/6aae6a11/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Tue Jan 13 23:09:44 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:09:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] FW: OBOL Pheasant Thread In-Reply-To: Message-ID: ------ Forwarded Message From: "TimBickler at aol.com" Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 14:26:18 EST To: "jeffgill at teleport.com" Subject: OBOL Pheasant Thread Lauten's is the correct view. Releases do not have anything to do with pheasant populations. Pheasant in the Valley were abundant in the 50's and 60's. I shot lots of them. None were anywhere close to a wildlife refuge or private hunting preserve--there weren't any of those back then. The hawks and great Horned Owls eat the released birds like popcorn. It's 2 things in the Valley--road side to roadside cultivation and grain isn't grown in the Valley anymore. as far as being a threatened species in Oregon. They are abundant in some years--dependent on spring weather--in good habitat in the Columbia Basin and the grain and alfalfa areas near Baker and Ontario. They are rarely anything other than difficult to bag, especially in the rough canyon-wheat field-CRP areas of the Basin, which are commonly acknowledged as being very difficult to hunt, with the advantages posed by physical features going solely to the birds. New year...new news. Be the first to know what is making headlines . ------ End of Forwarded Message -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090113/7e6fa6d6/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Jan 14 05:25:37 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 05:25:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Nehalem Sewage Ponds Message-ID: The Rough-legged Hawk strikes me as the most noteworthy species on Laura Whittemore's very successful visit. I have only seen this species twice on the Oregon coast. Since I began monitoring Obol I have noticed most reports from the coast come in mid-October, when this species first arrives statewide. Evidently almost none of them linger despite plenty of good looking habitat. Lars Norgren From ra15136 at yahoo.com Wed Jan 14 07:09:55 2009 From: ra15136 at yahoo.com (Rebecca) Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:09:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Wildlife Biologists Present Research at the Mazama Mountaineering Center - March 3 Message-ID: <330385.49591.qm@web84008.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Wildlife Biologists Present Research at the Mazama Mountaineering Center ? March 3, 2009 at 7pm ?? Where:????????? Mazama Mountaineering Center, 527 SE 43rd Avenue, ?????????????????????? Portland, OR 97215 (corner of SE Stark and SE 43rd Avenue) When:??? ???????Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 7-9pm Cost:? ????????????Donations Welcome More Info:??? Mazamas Office:? 503-227-2345 ? Each year, the Mazamas awards competitive grants to researchers who wish to study conservation of the environment, exploration of the natural world and enhancing the enjoyment and safety of outdoor recreation.? In what we hope will be an annual event, the Research Committee is showcasing fascinating research that we are funding.? Join us at the MMC on Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at 7pm for the opportunity to listen to three speakers present their research on the wildlife of the Pacific Northwest, complete with beautiful slides.? ? John Deshler, graduate student in the Department of Biology at Portland State University has explored nest-site habitat selection and breeding behaviors of the Northern Pygmy owls in the Tualatin Mountains in Oregon for the past two years.? Fifteen pygmy-owl nests were found and habitat variables quantified.? During this presentation, video, sound and pictures will be used to explore the fascinating and rarely seen habits of Northern Pygmy-owls. ? Northern Pygmy-owls (Glaucidium gnoma) are tough, mysterious little birds of western North America.? Individual adults weigh-in at a mighty 2 to 3 ounces.? These diurnal owls are detected primarily in sloped, forest and woodland habitats up to the treeline.? Pygmy-owls have been on Oregon?s Sensitive Species List since 1997 and much remains unknown about this bird.? However, this has not prevented some from claiming that pygmy-owls would benefit from logging, and that they never occur in dense contiguous forests.? ? For the past seven years, Dr. Suzanne C. Griffin, from the University of Montana, has led a comprehensive study of the Olympic marmot, a species unique to the upper slopes of the Olympic Mountains. The Olympic marmot thrived for millennia in an environment in which few animals can survive, but in recent years this hardy creature has disappeared from many areas. Dr. Griffin will begin with a discussion of the ecology of alpine-dwelling marmots, followed by a synopsis of her research into the extent and causes of the Olympic marmot decline. Finally, she will attempt to look into the future of this high-country sentinel. ? Andrew Shirk, graduate student at Western Washington University, will give a talk about his research on the decline of mountain goats in the Cascades, how his study helps understand the dynamics of this decline, and ways we can use this knowledge to reverse the decline. ? ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090114/129f081d/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Wed Jan 14 07:12:36 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:12:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Nehalem Sewage Ponds In-Reply-To: Message-ID: I have birded Tillamook County in winter many times through the decades. The islands in Tillamook Bay near the mouth of the Wilson River often have a wintering Rough-legged Hawk. I have also often seen wintering Rough-legs in the Nehalem Meadows near the subject sewage ponds. While the species is generally scarce along the coast, it isn't unexpected. Numbers vary greatly from year to year, and it is absent or almost so some years in the limited coastal areas suitable for the species. Jeff Gilligan. On 1/14/09 5:25 AM, "Norgren Family" wrote: > The Rough-legged Hawk strikes > me as the most noteworthy species > on Laura Whittemore's very successful > visit. I have only seen this species > twice on the Oregon coast. Since I > began monitoring Obol I have noticed > most reports from the coast come in > mid-October, when this species first > arrives statewide. Evidently almost > none of them linger despite plenty > of good looking habitat. Lars Norgren > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dcoggswell at hotmail.com Wed Jan 14 08:29:04 2009 From: dcoggswell at hotmail.com (Donald Coggswell) Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:29:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck Message-ID: I birded Columbia County yesterday, Tues. Jan. 13. Found nice male Tufted Duck with flock of Greater Scaup on Columbia R. in Woodson area about one mile upriver from Jones Beach. Rafts of diver ducks also include a few Lesser Scaup and a couple of Ring-necked Ducks. Four male Common Goldeneye were on the lower Clatskanie R. Also in the area a Rough-legged Hawk and a Peregrine Falcon. Don _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_explore_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090114/09ecea6f/attachment.html From jbw at oregoncoast.com Wed Jan 14 12:20:45 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara & John Woodhouse) Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:20:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Rough legged Hawks and Bluebirds Message-ID: When we first moved to the Oregon coast in the '90s we used to see Rough Legged Haeks most winters. Goodspeed Rd used to be a good spot for them, in recent years they have been scarce. An addition to our raptors on yesterdays run, we were surprised to see 5 Western Bluebirds on Munson Creek Rd and 8 of them on Eckloff Rd. Eckloff Rd used to be a surefire place to find them but not in the last few years hopefully they have come back to stay. Another unusual find was a Black Phoebe at the Air Museum. We saw one there once before, this time we could here it clearly but could not spot it. Barbara & John Woodhouse Tillamook From chlaparl at wildblue.net Wed Jan 14 14:24:13 2009 From: chlaparl at wildblue.net (Jim Rogers) Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:24:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yellow-throated Warbler Message-ID: <6a6570ae0901141424x2985081ar40aca30ba626defa@mail.gmail.com> The Langlois YTWA was still flycatching this morning from the 3 blue silos on Floras Lake road. Russ Namitz and I first saw the bird when the landowner, Rick McKenzie pointed it out to us at 11:15. There were also several Palm Warblers on the scene. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090114/ffa0a030/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Jan 14 15:12:55 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:12:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] OBOL Pheasant Thread In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1231974775.3522.46.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, A few comments on the remarks that were forwarded from Tim Bickler: > Releases do not have anything to do with pheasant populations. > Pheasant in the Valley were abundant in the 50's and > 60's. I shot lots of them. None were anywhere close to a wildlife > refuge or private hunting preserve .... I would agree that few released pheasants live long enough to breed, but the implied premise of this logic is doubtful: that private pheasant releases occurred only at refuges or private hunting reserves. Organizations such as 4-H clubs and Pheasants Forever have been releasing pheasants in ordinary farmland at least since the mid-1970s when I was involved raising and releasing them by the hundreds myself; I would guess they were doing this well before I got into the game. You can still buy Ring-necked Pheasant chicks in lots of 100, by mail order from hatcheries in the midwest ... not to mention bobwhites, Gambel's Quail, and even Scaled Quail! > grain isn't grown in the Valley anymore. This simply isn't true, if one looks around a bit. The past five years have seen a swing back to soft winter wheat, to the point where this accounts for (I'd estimate) about 1/5th of the acreage in southern Polk County. There is also a fair amount of sweet corn (plus a bit of silage corn), and some of the Christmas tree farms and dairies are planting sudan grass as a cover crop (more of a grain than a grass). I'm also seeing a few fields of oats locally, including some of the roads that I walked for ODFW's grassland birds survey last summer, where we mapped out the crops as we walked. The impression that one gets while driving through on major highways is not the same as you get when you actually map the crops on the ground -- or if you talk to farmers. Grass is still king in much of Linn Co. and the flatter parts of Lane, but even in those areas you see a swing to soft wheat, meadowfoam, and other non-seed-grass crops if you pay attention. The other big change going on (besides vineyards sprouting up everywhere you look) is a shift from grass-seed farming to large-scale nurseries. The latter type of agriculture is correlated with the most significant pesticide levels in streams -- that might be something else to think about. As for "fencerow-free" agriculture, that explanation may fit the southern part of the valley. However, anywhere north of Corvallis it's hard to find a quarter-section without a substantial fraction of brushrows and other permanent cover. You still don't see many pheasants. Despite surveying in some of the best remaining Western Meadowlark habitat on farmland in the valley, and finding other rare valley nesting species like Short-eared Owl and Northern Harrier, I didn't find any Ring-necked Pheasants. That makes me rather dubious about the argument that it's all about fencerows and crop type. Those things certainly play a role, but there are other factors. Something that no one has talked about is the current levels of raccoons, coyotes, opossums, and other meso-predators, which are pretty hard on fencerow-dependent, ground-nesting birds like pheasants. Again, ODFW's upland game folks will probably have the most useful data on pheasant populations and the impact of releases, if anyone cares to ask. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Jan 14 15:40:10 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:40:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wed morning, Eugene Message-ID: We birded LCC ponds (C. Goldeneye and Bufflehead), Stewart Pond and slough, and the very end of west 7th off Bertelsen Rd. Then a few of us checked the pond in the Lane Memorial Gardens (I think that's the name) on West 11th (Eurasian Wigeon). Canada/Cackling Goose - 200+ Mallard - 15 N. Shoveler - 45 Green-winged Teal - 100 American Wigeon - 30 Eurasian Wigeon - 1 Gadwall - 2 Ring-necked Duck - 1 Common Goldeneye - 1 at LCC Bufflehead - 2 at LCC Hooded Merganser - 5 D-c. Cormorant - 1 Redtailed Hawk - 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 (near the site of fresh Robin pluckings) G-w Gull - 3 Ring-billed Gull - 10 Herring Gull - 1 Ring-necked Pheasant - 1 Wilson's Snipe - 1 N. Flicker - 5 Belted Kingfisher - 1 Mourning Dove - 1 Robin - 8 Scrub Jay - 6 Am. Crow - 1 Bewick's Wren - 1 Starling - 20 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1 Golden-crowed Sparrow - 3 Roger Robb, Sylvia Maulding, Dennis Arendt, Sarah Vasconcellos, Kit Larsen, Diane Horgan, Don Schrouder, Paul Sherrell, Tom Mickel, Fred Chancey, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090114/b9acf679/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Wed Jan 14 16:02:51 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:02:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] sorry, Randy! Message-ID: My humblest apologies to Randy CAMPBELL, our community's much-valued Pyrrhuloxia Host and Peoria's Birder of the Century. In my Obol posting yesterday I inexplicably transformed his last name to "Moore," as in our Randy Moore of Horned Lark and Panama fame. My apologies to both Randys for the slip-up. I wish I could say that I also goofed and meant to type "Palm Tanager" instead of "Palm Warbler," but alas, I think the Campbell/Moore mixup was the only one. Thanks to Jamie Simmons for pointing this out. Jay Wxthrqyzgt, Portsmouth, OK > >Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:43:04 -0800 (PST) >From: "Jamie S." >Subject: Campbell not Moore >To: withgott at comcast.net > >Hi Jay, > >Thanks for posting your detialed trip report to our area. > >You noted the wrong Randy: Randy Campbell lives in Peoria; Randy >Moore lives in Corvallis and studies horned larks, etc. > >Jamie Simmons From WeberHome at att.net Wed Jan 14 17:13:36 2009 From: WeberHome at att.net (Cliff & Joanne Weber) Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:13:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lunch With The Birds Message-ID: <20090115011409.AFACDA8239@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> OBOL, hello; Lunch with the birds was more like lunch by the sea as Jackson Bottom Wetlands is practically one huge lake in every direction. Not a large variety at noon: Canada Geese, Pied bill Grebe, Red Tail Hawks, a Northern Harrier, the two adult Bald Eagles, a huge number of Ring neck Ducks, Common Merganser, and some Great Blue Herons. One of the Herons caught a catfish; and took its sweet time swallowing the poor thing. While mouthing the fish, a Red Tail Hawk swooped the Heron; apparently trying to make it drop its prey but had no success. Eventually the Heron did swallow the catfish and it made a huge bulge in its neck like an anaconda swallowing a pig. Where? . .City of Hillsboro, at the intersection of SW Wood Street and Hwy 219. Thomas Bros Portland street guide page 593, square B6. Wild In The City, pages 159-160. Exploring The Tualatin River Basin, pages 19-20. Google satellite image: http://tinyurl.com/ypd665 ADA friendly? . .Yes; really easy wheeler and walker access to a roofed and hand-railed deck. Some bench-style seating inside the shelter, and more outside along a sidewalk. Off-street parking? . . Yes Restrooms? . .Good ones available a mile south at Jackson's spiffy education center. McDonald's is closer, at the corner of Baseline and 1st Ave. Gourmet Coffee? . .Nearest Starbucks is at the corner of Main and 1st Ave. Convenient parking is competitive. McDonald's is closer, and the parking is plentiful. Information about Lunch With The Birds-- and additional Jackson Bottom Wetlands resources --is available online at www.jacksonbottom.org Cliff & Joanne Weber Beaverton (Bethany area) From raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Wed Jan 14 21:15:55 2009 From: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com (Jeff Fleischer) Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:15:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Fw: Raptor Route - Lincoln Co. Yaquina-Siletz Message-ID: <339441.24155.qm@web50912.mail.re2.yahoo.com> --- On Mon, 1/12/09, lamberson.janet at epa.gov wrote: > From: lamberson.janet at epa.gov > Subject: Fw: Raptor Route - Lincoln Co. Yaquina-Siletz > To: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com > Date: Monday, January 12, 2009, 12:59 PM > Jeff - could you post this to OBOL for me? I can't send > to OBOL from > this computer. Thanks! > ____________________________________________________________________________ > > Chuck Philo and I completed the Yaquina-Siletz section of > the Lincoln > Co. Raptor Route on Saturday morning (Hwy 101 at Kernville, > up the > Siletz River to Toledo and Newport via Yaquina Bay road). > Weather was > cloudy in the morning with some foggy patches and partly > cloudy in the > afternoon. Wind was light from the southeast, and > temperatures ranged > from 33 to 44 F. Birding was slow in the morning along the > northern > part of the Siletz River, but picked up somewhat around the > towns of > Siletz and Toledo. We added a new section to the route > consisting of > 3.5 road miles into Hidden Valley, accessing wet pasture > lands southwest > of Toledo. In this new section (3.5 of our total of 72.6 > miles), we > found 4 of our 10 Red-tailed Hawks and 1 of our 4 American > Kestrels, so > we will be including this section in future counts. > > We found a total of : > > Red-Tailed Hawk 10 (1 was an intermediate to dark rufous > morph, ala > Sibley) > Bald Eagle 1 (adult) > White-tailed Kite 2 (north of Siletz) > American Kestrel 4 (3 north of Siletz and 1 in Hidden > Valley) > > ______________________ > > > Janet Lamberson > Siletz, OR From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Jan 14 22:04:35 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:04:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 01/14/09 Message-ID: <20090115060437.158F9A8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 01/08 to 01/14/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 6 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) CACKLING GOOSE 2 (130, 1/9) CANADA GOOSE 1 (3, 1/13) SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 1 (1, 1/10) BAND-TAILED PIGEON 4 (3, 1/10) Mourning Dove 3 (4) Anna's Hummingbird 3 (4, 1/9) Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 (1, 1/9) Downy Woodpecker 3 (3, 1/13) Northern Flicker 3 (4, 1/9) PILEATED WOODPECKER 1 (1, 1/9) HUTTON'S VIREO 2 (1, 1/8 & 9) Steller's Jay 6 (5) Western Scrub-Jay 5 (1) American Crow 4 (10, 1/13) Black-capped Chickadee 6 (25, 1/13) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 3 (5) BUSHTIT 1 (5, 1/11) Red-breasted Nuthatch 5 (5, 1/9) Brown Creeper 4 (2) BEWICK'S WREN 1 (1, 1/13) Winter Wren 2 (3, 1/9) Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 (8, 1/9) RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET 1 (1, 1/11) American Robin 3 (6) Varied Thrush 3 (3, 1/11) European Starling 2 (1, 1/9 & 13) Spotted Towhee 5 (6) Fox Sparrow 1 (1, 1/12) Song Sparrow 6 (10) Dark-eyed Junco 6 (30) House Finch 6 (20, 1/9) Pine Siskin 2 (1, 1/11 & 12) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: EVENING GROSBEAK Wink Gross Portland From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Jan 14 23:24:59 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:24:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 1-15-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * January 15, 2009 * ORPO0901.15 - birds mentioned Emperor Goose Snow Goose Ross?s Goose Trumpeter Swan TUFTED DUCK LITTLE BLUE HERON YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER PINE WARBLER Palm Warbler PYRRHULOXIA Purple Finch - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday January 15. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. A PINE WARBLER is now being seen in LaGrande. It is being seen south of the hospital, south of B Avenue between Walnut and Oak Streets. On January 13 a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was seen along Flores Lake Loop Road near Langlois. Turn off Hwy 101 onto Flores Lake Loop and drive to three blue silos. The bird is being seen about the silos. On January 13 a TUFTED DUCK was on the Columbia River near Jones Beach west of Clatskanie. The Peoria PYRRHULOXIA is still being seen. A PALM WARBLER can be seen at the nearby boat ramp. The Siletz Bay LITTLE BLUE HERON continues to be seen. On January 10 an EMPEROR GOOSE, a ROSS?S GOOSE, and four SNOW GEESE were found among a large flock of geese east of Harrisburg. Thirty PURPLE FINCHES and seven TRUMPETER SWANS were seen January 9 on Sauvie Island. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090114/6da78c16/attachment.html From rdbayer at charter.net Wed Jan 14 23:25:57 2009 From: rdbayer at charter.net (Range Bayer) Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:25:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Newport: 8 Tundra Swans at Hatfield Marine Science Center Message-ID: <20090115022557.0YGM0.3105888.root@mp20> Hi, Near dusk on Jan. 14, Janet Lamberson noted that "a total of eight Tundra Swans, including one still in grey juvenal plumage, glided in and settled just off the HMSC Nature Trail in the darkening post-sunset evening. ... Before it was too dark to see, I was able to see with the scope that they had some yellow in the lores, and the eye was sort of nearly separate from the black area (base of the bill) on the face, ala Tundra, not Trumpeter. It was nice to see them! Maybe they will stay for the night." Range Bayer, Newport From campbell at peak.org Wed Jan 14 23:39:14 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:39:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] sorry, Randy! Message-ID: <1BB6E1BC3D5C4AF891B17B4FF0E3FC42@maryPC> No harm done, Jay. Randy Moore is widely described as intelligent, successful, handsome, and rich, and yet he's still more remarkable for his personal modesty. It's not surprising that someone might confuse the two of us. The one notable difference between us is that Randy Moore actually knows something about birds, while my success is due entirely to dumb luck and wild guessing. Randy Campbell -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090114/ec01fbbe/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Thu Jan 15 07:58:11 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 07:58:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] sorry, Randy! In-Reply-To: <1BB6E1BC3D5C4AF891B17B4FF0E3FC42@maryPC> References: <1BB6E1BC3D5C4AF891B17B4FF0E3FC42@maryPC> Message-ID: I'll take luck over knowledge anytime! : ) Thanks, Randy. At 11:39 PM -0800 1/14/09, M & R Campbell wrote: >No harm done, Jay. Randy Moore is widely described as intelligent, >successful, handsome, and rich, and yet he's still more remarkable >for his personal modesty. It's not surprising that someone might >confuse the two of us. The one notable difference between us is >that Randy Moore actually knows something about birds, while my >success is due entirely to dumb luck and wild guessing. > > >Randy Campbell > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090115/0258e3d6/attachment.html From gneavoll at comcast.net Thu Jan 15 08:32:27 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:32:27 +0000 Subject: [obol] Birds of Ridgefield NWR Message-ID: <011520091632.8351.496F651B0000E59F0000209F2216554886040401900E0A0209@comcast.net> GREAT BLUE HERONS (2) engaged in nuptial display at Ridgefield Wednesday a.m. (1/14/09). Two birds, viewed from Rest Lake blind, would face each other with bills pointed skyward, long neck plumes shaking, their wings spread wide and taking long, measured steps. This slow-motion vignette continued for some minutes . A gorgeous, well-marked HARLAN'S HAWK allowed close views along road by Marker #13, and a beautiful ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK shortly after, near Marker #14. Pair of AMERICAN KESTRELS displaying mating behavior near entrance station. One group of TUNDRA SWANS near n. end of Rest Lake numbered 80 birds; other large groups throughout refuge. Dense flocks of CACKLING GEESE (minima race) in several places, one such flock extending across road in vicinity of Schwartz Lake. NORTHERN PINTAILS predominated among scattered numbers of MALLARD, GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, NORTHERN SHOVELER, CINNAMON TEAL (pair), RING-NECKED DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON MERGANSER (1 m., 4 f.), HOODED MERGANSER, AMERICAN COOT. Highlight of morning (besides heron activity) a MINK swimming in channel along road through Oregon Ash woodland w. of blind, sometimes only its head appearing. Other times it would run along half-submerged branches, then poke its head in low-lying depressions and gnarled trunks along way. George Neavoll S.W. Portland From kiss at cot.net Thu Jan 15 08:47:57 2009 From: kiss at cot.net (Charlotte Ann Kisling) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:47:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Please add Message-ID: <496F68BD.2030502@cot.net> Hi, Please add me to the OBOL mailing list. Thank you. Charlotte Ann Kisling From SJJag at comcast.net Thu Jan 15 09:23:10 2009 From: SJJag at comcast.net (SJJag at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:23:10 +0000 Subject: [obol] Obolites in the News (local boy makes good) Message-ID: <011520091723.14307.496F70FE000D5183000037E32215586394090EB6B6AC@comcast.net> Noah Strycker is featured on the front page of the section "How We Live" in todays Oregonian. There is a nice article with pics of his Antartica adventure, brief history of Noah the birder and quotes from other Oregon Birders Dan Heyerly and Doug Robinson. Noah's blog of these Antartic experiences has been mentioned by Alan C. and perhaps others. The front of the Metro section today talks about this year's Brown Pelican die off. That is a lot of bird news in one day in the state's largest newspaper! Steve Jaggers Milwaukie, Or. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090115/5aea384e/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Thu Jan 15 09:36:26 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:36:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pine Warbler - La Grande - yes. Message-ID: After having not seen it late yesterday, today it was in the pines near the intersection of Meadow and Sunset at about 9:00 AM. I first detected it by calls that it was making in a non-native pine near that intersection. It eventually flew up hill a bit into a dense Ponderosa in a back yard. There is remained for about five minutes, occasionally making itself visible, but usually it was difficult to see. It eventually flew toward the northeast - in the general direction of the school, but I didn't see where it landed. Beautiful weather here. Dress warmly for the morning though. Yesterday afternoon there was dense fog from about Blalock Canyon to east of Pendleton. Once I got up the mountains I was soon out of the fog, and the temperature raised from 32 to as high as 48. The hilly area of town where the Pine Warbler is was above any fog - even at dawn. Jeff Gilligan (posting from La Grande) From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Jan 15 10:10:00 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:10:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] more on Pheasants Message-ID: <8c5e82bd37b91cad14d8250c1ef8598b@earthlink.net> Joel Geier points out that areas with good fencerows have no more pheasants than large, sterile grass seed farms. This has been my observation as well. How many pheasants does one encounter at Finley or Baskett Slough nowadays? There's plenty of good habitat but precious few pheasants. The meso-predator theory was popular in newspaper columns in the early seventies. Possums, house cats facilitated by suburban sprawl...none of them help the pheasants, but the biggest concentration I have seen of pheasants in the past year was near Croeni Ponds where I would expect above average numbers of possums, coons, and cats given its location on the edge of Hillsboro. California Quail are another introduced galliforme (not native north of Rogue Valley) that seems to be doing OK in western Washington County. They may well have decreased from past numbers, but I see them often and without dedicated effort around here. I would think they too would be vulnerable to meso-predators and habitat loss. Joel's comment on pesticide runoff from nurseries is very significant. When a fencerow disappears many people notice, while chemicals in the ditch are invisible. My only formal contact with the subject was a 400 level course at PSU in 1984 "Enviromental Toxicology". There I learned that many insecticides used to replace DDT, Aldrin, Dieldrin, etc had the virtue of not bio-accumulating, but they were acutely toxic to vertebrates. I have often wondered what impact these might be having on Meadowlark nestlings. Likewise, pheasant chicks are presumably eating insects and other invertebrates rather than seeds. I'm not sure how much insecticide is typically used in grass seed and grain fields. Not a whole lot I would guess. There is also the question of nitrates accumulating in the enviroment. Very few chemical fertilizers were used in the Willamette Valley prior to 1950, while the amount since has been enormous. This is something the small grain industry relies on very heavily. This Sunday I was discussing bacon with a chef. My oldest son had expressed misgivings about the nitrates in cured bacon. The chef told me that the typical baked potato puts more nitrates in the diner's body than a serving of bacon, as a result of agricultural residues. I would expect the impact of a relatively little amount of such chemicals on pheasant or meadowlark nestlings to be much greater than on an adult human. Lars Norgren From danpvdb at yahoo.com Thu Jan 15 10:57:48 2009 From: danpvdb at yahoo.com (Dan van den Broek) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:57:48 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] RFI Portland Bird Phenology Message-ID: <803650.27017.qm@web55306.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Hi All I am searching for a phenology of Portland area birds. There is a great one for the Corvallis area. That one is available here http://www.audubon.corvallis.or.us/migrants.shtml Somewhere I saw a more recent update in 2006. I thought I've seen phenologies for Washington Co. and Multnomah Co. Anybody have those? Thanks Dan van den Broek -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090115/3dd63161/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Jan 15 11:03:06 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:03:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] RFI Portland Bird Phenology In-Reply-To: <803650.27017.qm@web55306.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Adrian and Christopher Hinkle did one recently for the Handbook of Oregon Birds that Hendrik and I are working on. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Dan van den Broek > Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:57:48 -0800 (PST) > To: > Subject: [obol] RFI Portland Bird Phenology > > Hi All > > I am searching for a phenology of Portland area birds. There is a great one > for the Corvallis area. That one is available here > http://www.audubon.corvallis.or.us/migrants.shtml Somewhere I saw a more > recent update in 2006. > > I thought I've seen phenologies for Washington Co. and Multnomah Co. Anybody > have those? > > Thanks > Dan van den Broek > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From douglas.robinson at oregonstate.edu Thu Jan 15 11:55:03 2009 From: douglas.robinson at oregonstate.edu (Douglas Robinson) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:55:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow at EE Wilson, Benton County, 15 Jan Message-ID: I found a Henslow's Sparrow this morning in the field now famous for its Sedge Wren at EE Wilson, north of Corvallis, Benton County. The bird was in a small patch of broad-leaved grasses in the center of the field. To find the location, cut and paste the link below, which should be centered on the location. Park at one of the public parking areas along Camp Adair Road and walk north to a shed about 1.5 miles from Camp Adair Road. About 225-250 yards east of the shed, I tied a red and white flagging tape to a thistle. The bird was first flushed from a grassy patch 40-50 yards south of the flag. It flew north into a small briar patch just east of the flagging tape. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Camp+Adair+Road, +oregon&ie=UTF8&ll=44.715697,-123.210297&spn=0.03507,0.062313&z=14 The bird was very secretive. It flushed under foot and flew about 4 feet to a patch of grass, then sat partly in view as close as 8 feet from me. I really only got clear looks at the back, nape, and upper edges of wings when it was perched there. As I maneuvered to get looks at the rest of the bird, it flew to the briar patch. It had the typical jerky flight pattern of Henslow's Sparrow. The habitat is reasonable for this bird, but not great. The grass cover is not high like it often is in other places (Southeast USA) where these birds winter. The best patches, like the one the bird was in, are small and spread out in this field. To read more about the winter habitat in the Southeast, check this paper out: http://www.auburn.edu/~grandjb/wildpop/readings/Occupancy/Tucker_et_al_2003. pdf W. Douglas Robinson -- From dhaupt at tulelake.k12.ca.us Thu Jan 15 12:30:52 2009 From: dhaupt at tulelake.k12.ca.us (Dave Haupt) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:30:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow at EE Wilson, Benton County, 15 Jan In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <496F2C7C0200006700008FE0@mail.tulelake.k12.ca.us> Henslow's Sparrow would be phenomenal in the West as a migrant or wintering species. Are there existing records for this bird in Oregon? I don't even think coastal California (which gets many fantastic records) has many or any records of this bird. Did you get an overall structural view including the flattened head shape like Grasshopper Sparrow, and the short spiky tail? The reason I ask this is one late Fall in Monterey, CA I called in a "Henslow's Sparrow" based on mainly plumage coloration and general pattern. It later turned out when I refound it with others to be a tricky little Savannah Sparrow, which can lead to false IDs, especially in poor light. Just a word a caution. Dave Haupt Klamath Falls >>> Douglas Robinson 01/15/09 11:55 AM >>> I found a Henslow's Sparrow this morning in the field now famous for its Sedge Wren at EE Wilson, north of Corvallis, Benton County. The bird was in a small patch of broad-leaved grasses in the center of the field. To find the location, cut and paste the link below, which should be centered on the location. Park at one of the public parking areas along Camp Adair Road and walk north to a shed about 1.5 miles from Camp Adair Road. About 225-250 yards east of the shed, I tied a red and white flagging tape to a thistle. The bird was first flushed from a grassy patch 40-50 yards south of the flag. It flew north into a small briar patch just east of the flagging tape. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Camp+Adair+Road, +oregon&ie=UTF8&ll=44.715697,-123.210297&spn=0.03507,0.062313&z=14 The bird was very secretive. It flushed under foot and flew about 4 feet to a patch of grass, then sat partly in view as close as 8 feet from me. I really only got clear looks at the back, nape, and upper edges of wings when it was perched there. As I maneuvered to get looks at the rest of the bird, it flew to the briar patch. It had the typical jerky flight pattern of Henslow's Sparrow. The habitat is reasonable for this bird, but not great. The grass cover is not high like it often is in other places (Southeast USA) where these birds winter. The best patches, like the one the bird was in, are small and spread out in this field. To read more about the winter habitat in the Southeast, check this paper out: http://www.auburn.edu/~grandjb/wildpop/readings/Occupancy/Tucker_et_al_2003. pdf W. Douglas Robinson -- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From joellevin at comcast.net Thu Jan 15 12:52:10 2009 From: joellevin at comcast.net (Joel Levin) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:52:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] West coast Brown Pelican die-off Message-ID: <496FA1FA.4000004@comcast.net> From today's NY Times: More than 400 endangered California brown pelicans have been found dead or dying since late December, with disoriented and starving birds turning up on highways, in backyards, and even in the Arizona desert. Now, though, after an investigation with all manner of sinister theories ? from bird flu to poisoning by lingering fire retardant used to fight the region?s wildfires ? California fish and game officials say they are closing in on a more usual suspect: Mother Nature. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/us/16pelicans.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Thu Jan 15 13:50:40 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:50:40 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] [birding] Henslow's Sparrow - ride needed! In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <139457.9451.qm@web37003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> WOW - that would be an Oregon first and an awesome bird for Benton County! It would be great to get a detailed description of the bird (I assume no pictures were taken?). If anyone is going to chase this mega-rarity, I'd appreciate a ride! Email or call me at 541-738-2688. Thanks Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Thu, 1/15/09, Douglas Robinson wrote: From: Douglas Robinson Subject: [birding] Henslow's Sparrow at EE Wilson, Benton County, 15 Jan To: "obol at oregonbirdwatch.org" , "Midvalley Birding" Date: Thursday, January 15, 2009, 11:55 AM I found a Henslow's Sparrow this morning in the field now famous for its Sedge Wren at EE Wilson, north of Corvallis, Benton County. The bird was in a small patch of broad-leaved grasses in the center of the field. To find the location, cut and paste the link below, which should be centered on the location. Park at one of the public parking areas along Camp Adair Road and walk north to a shed about 1.5 miles from Camp Adair Road. About 225-250 yards east of the shed, I tied a red and white flagging tape to a thistle. The bird was first flushed from a grassy patch 40-50 yards south of the flag. It flew north into a small briar patch just east of the flagging tape. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Camp+Adair+Road, +oregon&ie=UTF8&ll=44.715697,-123.210297&spn=0.03507,0.062313&z=14 The bird was very secretive. It flushed under foot and flew about 4 feet to a patch of grass, then sat partly in view as close as 8 feet from me. I really only got clear looks at the back, nape, and upper edges of wings when it was perched there. As I maneuvered to get looks at the rest of the bird, it flew to the briar patch. It had the typical jerky flight pattern of Henslow's Sparrow. The habitat is reasonable for this bird, but not great. The grass cover is not high like it often is in other places (Southeast USA) where these birds winter. The best patches, like the one the bird was in, are small and spread out in this field. To read more about the winter habitat in the Southeast, check this paper out: http://www.auburn.edu/~grandjb/wildpop/readings/Occupancy/Tucker_et_al_2003. pdf W. Douglas Robinson -- _______________________________________________ list mailing list list at midvalleybirding.org http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090115/481e08a7/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Thu Jan 15 14:01:35 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:01:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] PHOTOS: Marshland Tufted Duck Message-ID: <496FB23F.5040804@pacifier.com> I went out to Marshland today to get photos of the TUFTED DUCK reported from there yesterday. I was reported by Donald Coggswell as being in the Woodson area, but it's actually along River Front Rd in Marshland. I saw it 1.25 miles east of the junction with Midland District Rd. http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ Also among the interesting things in the area were a single a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (no photo), a TRUMPETER SWAN and a possible CLARK'S GREBE... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Studies in ambiguity http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/ambiguity20090111.html From acontrer at mindspring.com Thu Jan 15 14:17:18 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:17:18 -0500 (EST) Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow at EE Wilson, Benton County, 15 Jan Message-ID: <28349204.1232057838465.JavaMail.root@elwamui-little.atl.sa.earthlink.net> I think this is a first record west of the Rockies, not sure. -----Original Message----- >From: Dave Haupt >Sent: Jan 15, 2009 3:30 PM >To: Douglas Robinson >Cc: OBOL >Subject: Re: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow at EE Wilson, Benton County, 15 Jan > >Henslow's Sparrow would be phenomenal in the West as a migrant or >wintering species. Are there existing records for this bird in Oregon? >I don't even think coastal California (which gets many fantastic >records) has many or any records of this bird. Did you get an overall >structural view including the flattened head shape like Grasshopper >Sparrow, and the short spiky tail? The reason I ask this is one late >Fall in Monterey, CA I called in a "Henslow's Sparrow" based on mainly >plumage coloration and general pattern. It later turned out when I >refound it with others to be a tricky little Savannah Sparrow, which can >lead to false IDs, especially in poor light. Just a word a caution. > >Dave Haupt >Klamath Falls > >>>> Douglas Robinson 01/15/09 11:55 >AM >>> >I found a Henslow's Sparrow this morning in the field now famous for >its >Sedge Wren at EE Wilson, north of Corvallis, Benton County. The bird >was in >a small patch of broad-leaved grasses in the center of the field. > >To find the location, cut and paste the link below, which should be >centered >on the location. Park at one of the public parking areas along Camp >Adair >Road and walk north to a shed about 1.5 miles from Camp Adair Road. >About >225-250 yards east of the shed, I tied a red and white flagging tape to >a >thistle. The bird was first flushed from a grassy patch 40-50 yards >south of >the flag. It flew north into a small briar patch just east of the >flagging >tape. > >http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Camp+Adair+Road, >+oregon&ie=UTF8&ll=44.715697,-123.210297&spn=0.03507,0.062313&z=14 > >The bird was very secretive. It flushed under foot and flew about 4 >feet to >a patch of grass, then sat partly in view as close as 8 feet from me. >I >really only got clear looks at the back, nape, and upper edges of wings >when >it was perched there. As I maneuvered to get looks at the rest of the >bird, >it flew to the briar patch. It had the typical jerky flight pattern of >Henslow's Sparrow. > >The habitat is reasonable for this bird, but not great. The grass cover >is >not high like it often is in other places (Southeast USA) where these >birds >winter. The best patches, like the one the bird was in, are small and >spread >out in this field. > >To read more about the winter habitat in the Southeast, check this >paper >out: > >http://www.auburn.edu/~grandjb/wildpop/readings/Occupancy/Tucker_et_al_2003. >pdf > > >W. Douglas Robinson > > >-- > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Alan Contreras - Eugene, Oregon From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Jan 15 14:43:40 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:43:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] 2nd N. Grants Pass raptor survey Message-ID: <75563A53E53F4D6EB8266841B1411B60@Warbler> Today (01-15-09) the 2nd North Grants Pass Raptor count was accomplished. Time: 3.25 hrs; miles driven: 38.2; weather: mid-level fog/clouds to partly cloudy Species observed: Red-tailed Hawk - 20 American Kestrel - 4 Red-shouldered Hawk - 4 White-tailed Kite - 3 Merlin - 1 Peregrine Falcon - 1 Cooper's Hawk - 2 Seen were 2 different pairs of Red-tails perched next to each others. One interesting observation was a Red-tail that dove on a Great Blue Heron standing in a field. Not sure what the Hawk had in mind; Heron ducked. Flock of around 50 AMERICAN PIPITS in a field along the route (Gunnell Rd). One male EURASIAN WIGEON in a large flock of Americans along Lower River Rd. One Great Blue Heron inching its way up river in the direction of a fellow fishing along the Rogue...think I heard it say, "Do you want that Sucker fellow?" Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090115/d90bae37/attachment.html From mklittletree at comcast.net Thu Jan 15 16:27:03 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (michel Kleinbaum) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:27:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fw: Ankeny swallows Message-ID: <61420B05F04A48028BF294C0377874B5@michel1927> ----- Original Message ----- From: "michel Kleinbaum" To: "OBOL" Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 4:20 PM Subject: Ankeny swallows > Mid-day today 4 Tree Swallows were hawking over Eagle Marsh but were not > seen again one and a half hour later. > > Michel Kleinbaum S. Salem > From celata at pacifier.com Thu Jan 15 16:37:24 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:37:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck Google map Message-ID: <496FD6C4.8040304@pacifier.com> He's a Google Map to the spot where I found the TUFTED DUCK today http://tinyurl.com/86qlet And a link to more photos from the set I took of the bird http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/sets/72157612570111253/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Studies in ambiguity http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/ambiguity20090111.html From richarmstrong at comcast.net Thu Jan 15 17:31:54 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:31:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] no Henslow's Sparrow Message-ID: 1.nanette & i could not make it out to e e wilson until 3, but we walked doug's field up & back, round & round, over & through for 100 minutes, on all sides of his red& white tape. we tromped through every patch of reasonable grass as best we could. 2. we flushed 3 snipe, 3 mourning doves, 2 garter snakes, and 1 sparrow. 3. the sparrow was on south side of the area (near where there is a tree with 4 trunks) and it was near the edge and darted into the brambles and we never saw it again. we did cover that area a few more times on all sides. 4. all i can tell you is it was a small sparrow, not a golden-crowned or fox or song. it could have been savanah's or lincoln's or the rare one - no clue. 5. anyway, it is a nice walk and there are red-tails, cooper's, & sharp-shinned hawks as well as all the big sparrows & towhees in the brambles. 6. we hope someone has better luck than we did - i don't think we can go tomorrow. Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Douglas Robinson" To: ; "Midvalley Birding" Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 11:55 AM Subject: [birding] Henslow's Sparrow at EE Wilson, Benton County, 15 Jan >I found a Henslow's Sparrow this morning in the field now famous for its > Sedge Wren at EE Wilson, north of Corvallis, Benton County. The bird was > in > a small patch of broad-leaved grasses in the center of the field. > > To find the location, cut and paste the link below, which should be > centered > on the location. Park at one of the public parking areas along Camp Adair > Road and walk north to a shed about 1.5 miles from Camp Adair Road. About > 225-250 yards east of the shed, I tied a red and white flagging tape to a > thistle. The bird was first flushed from a grassy patch 40-50 yards south > of > the flag. It flew north into a small briar patch just east of the flagging > tape. > > http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Camp+Adair+Road, > +oregon&ie=UTF8&ll=44.715697,-123.210297&spn=0.03507,0.062313&z=14 > > The bird was very secretive. It flushed under foot and flew about 4 feet > to > a patch of grass, then sat partly in view as close as 8 feet from me. I > really only got clear looks at the back, nape, and upper edges of wings > when > it was perched there. As I maneuvered to get looks at the rest of the > bird, > it flew to the briar patch. It had the typical jerky flight pattern of > Henslow's Sparrow. > > The habitat is reasonable for this bird, but not great. The grass cover is > not high like it often is in other places (Southeast USA) where these > birds > winter. The best patches, like the one the bird was in, are small and > spread > out in this field. > > To read more about the winter habitat in the Southeast, check this paper > out: > > http://www.auburn.edu/~grandjb/wildpop/readings/Occupancy/Tucker_et_al_2003. > pdf > > > W. Douglas Robinson > > > -- > > > _______________________________________________ > list mailing list > list at midvalleybirding.org > http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Jan 15 18:11:18 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:11:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] OBOL Pheasant Thread In-Reply-To: <1231974775.3522.46.camel@localhost.localdomain> References: <1231974775.3522.46.camel@localhost.localdomain> Message-ID: <496FECC6.6020401@verizon.net> Joel Geier wrote: > Something that no one has talked about is the current levels of > raccoons, coyotes, opossums, and other meso-predators, which are pretty > hard on fencerow-dependent, ground-nesting birds like pheasants. > > I'm not sure I can agree with this comment. Coons, coyotes, opossums, cats, etc etc etc are common in Wisconsin, and other Great Plains states that have gobs and gobs of pheasants. I find it hard to believe that these predators are really increasing that much that they would be the cause of pheasants being unable to survive well in Oregon. Furthermore, are raccoon and opossum numbers really that much higher than in the 70's or 80's? Be interesting to see this data. I'm not sure what is the cause of poor pheasant numbers, and I'm sure none of us have a real answer (only some study would potentially get at that). I just have my doubts that these predators, none of which are really big bird predators, would have that much of an impact. All the predators mentions (except cats) are very opportunistic predators, and there is way more food resources out there than pheasants. Yes, they may prey fairly heavily on eggs and even chicks, but the number of nests and chicks on the landscape compared to say voles and mice is probably pretty low. Another point, while sweet corn and a few other grains may be grown in the Valley, if you compare the actual number of acres of these crops to the number of acres of these crops in say South Dakota, or Wisconsin, for instance, I bet the number of acres is way less than those Great Plains states, which have gobs of pheasants. So, it may be simply that in the Great Plains, the pheasants just have that much more resources, high quality resources, to exploit, thus resulting in better (particularly overwinter) survival rates. And while habitat lose may be a factor, maybe there never was much good habitat to begin with........ Cheers Dave Lauten From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Jan 15 18:22:13 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:22:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Message-ID: <496FEF55.9060603@verizon.net> Hopefully this bird can be refound and photo'd. Just wanted to comment that Henslow's is a fairly short distance migrant, as I recall. They do not tend to breed very far north, and they do not winter very far south. If this bird can be confirmed, that would be an incredible dispersal/migrant movement for this species! And over tall mountains, something this species probably has never experienced before. Thanks to Doug for posting this bird! This is the kind of bird that could have gone unreported cause it seems so outlandish, yet without Doug's post, no one would know to go try and have a look. Cheers Dave Lauten From dbarendt at comcast.net Thu Jan 15 18:25:07 2009 From: dbarendt at comcast.net (Dennis Arendt) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:25:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Old Murrelets yes, Little Blue no Message-ID: <51A7EE5358664CAEB0717189270149F6@DennisArendt> George Grier and I went to the coast today. We searched for the Little Blue Heron near Driftcreek without finding it. We did find some nice seabirds on a beautiful day at the coast, calm waters, bright sun, no wind. We found four ANCIENT MURRELETS at Boiler Bay, with a MARBLED MURRELET and a few juvenile PIGEON GIUILLEMOTS. Three HARLEQUIN DUCKS were with Scoters off Tokatee-Skoochmann lookout. Also several RED-THROATED LOONS and a few alcids that were probably Ancient Murrelets, but the light was getting bad. We also had a EURASIAN WIGEON in a flooded farm pond north of highway 34, west of Toledo, between mileposts 3 and 4. It was a great day to be birding at the coast. Dennis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090115/6cd69d3a/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Jan 15 18:42:46 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:42:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] OBOL Pheasant Thread In-Reply-To: <496FECC6.6020401@verizon.net> References: <1231974775.3522.46.camel@localhost.localdomain> <496FECC6.6020401@verizon.net> Message-ID: <1232073766.3628.60.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hey Dave & All, Well, to start off with, I'm not overly concerned about the putative impending disappearance of Ring-necked Pheasants from our state list. Easy come, easy go. On the scale of conservation priorities from 1 to 10, I would rate this a minus 20. ODFW can always raise hatchery birds for people to shoot, if that's what they want to pay money for (the money does arguably produce some benefits for native species). If the pheasants die off between shooting seasons, it can't hurt native flora/fauna and might even be a plus. I base my sense of the raccoon population on the number that show up flattened on Hwy 99W, and the number that I've come face-to-face with while they're trolling along hedgerows among the fields. I definitely have seen far more in this part of Oregon than I ever ran across in my first 18 years, wandering the wheat, corn & soybean country of Minnesota. Personally I'd like to see a few more wolves & cougars to keep their numbers down, but that's just a personal preference. Virginia opossums, according to my understanding, only showed up in Oregon with the advent of the interstate highways system in the 1950s, so it's a fair presumption that they've been increasing since the 1950s and 1960s. As for grain growing, according to Oregon Department of Agriculture estimates, the amount of wheat planted in the Willamette Valley last year was 120,000 acres. That's nearly 200 square miles of wheat, in a valley with an agricultural area that's only about 150 miles long and only a few tens of miles wide in most places, especially if you take out the urban/suburban areas. In Minnesota when I was growing up & releasing pheasants by the score, the common wisdom was that the maximum sustained snow depth during winter was the main control on pheasant survival rates (and the main reason why restocked bobwhites almost never made it through the winter). That isn't much of a factor here, but I can guarantee that western Oregon has more hedgerows per square mile than anything that you'll find in the grain belt states (not to diss Wisconsin, but that's the dairy belt, and considerably more wooded than most of Minnesota or the Dakotas, let alone Iowa, Nebraska, etc.). So I think we have to look for some other factors. I'm not claiming any particular factor, just arguing against a rush to embrace any single explanation. Cheers & happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area, home of freaky grassland birds On Thu, 2009-01-15 at 18:11 -0800, DJ Lauten and KACastelein wrote: > Joel Geier wrote: > > Something that no one has talked about is the current levels of > > raccoons, coyotes, opossums, and other meso-predators, which are pretty > > hard on fencerow-dependent, ground-nesting birds like pheasants. > > > > > I'm not sure I can agree with this comment. Coons, coyotes, opossums, > cats, etc etc etc are common in Wisconsin, and other Great Plains states > that have gobs and gobs of pheasants. I find it hard to believe that > these predators are really increasing that much that they would be the > cause of pheasants being unable to survive well in Oregon. Furthermore, > are raccoon and opossum numbers really that much higher than in the 70's > or 80's? Be interesting to see this data. I'm not sure what is the > cause of poor pheasant numbers, and I'm sure none of us have a real > answer (only some study would potentially get at that). I just have my > doubts that these predators, none of which are really big bird > predators, would have that much of an impact. All the predators > mentions (except cats) are very opportunistic predators, and there is > way more food resources out there than pheasants. Yes, they may prey > fairly heavily on eggs and even chicks, but the number of nests and > chicks on the landscape compared to say voles and mice is probably > pretty low. Another point, while sweet corn and a few other grains may > be grown in the Valley, if you compare the actual number of acres of > these crops to the number of acres of these crops in say South Dakota, > or Wisconsin, for instance, I bet the number of acres is way less than > those Great Plains states, which have gobs of pheasants. So, it may be > simply that in the Great Plains, the pheasants just have that much more > resources, high quality resources, to exploit, thus resulting in better > (particularly overwinter) survival rates. > > And while habitat lose may be a factor, maybe there never was much good > habitat to begin with........ > > Cheers > Dave Lauten > From heinjv at dcwisp.net Thu Jan 15 19:54:10 2009 From: heinjv at dcwisp.net (Jim & Vikki Hein) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:54:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yellow-throated Warbler Message-ID: <5686BE80290B4D538BD2DE4946BF89AE@MAIN> Obol, My wife and I decided to escape the fog this morning from Roseburg. We looked for sun and lunch in Bandon and found both along with the YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER that was reported on the Floras Lake road at Langlois. It was exactly where reported on the east silo. The EMPEROR GOOSE was also in Bandon across the road from the small lake at the south jetty. A wonderful day on the Oregon coast. Jim Hein From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Jan 15 21:37:55 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:37:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] OBOL Pheasant Thread In-Reply-To: <496FECC6.6020401@verizon.net> References: <1231974775.3522.46.camel@localhost.localdomain> <496FECC6.6020401@verizon.net> Message-ID: <1232084275.3525.19.camel@localhost.localdomain> P.S. I'm not sure if I made my point clearly in the foregoing posting. Let's try again. When you have a high population of mesopredators, *and* you have certain species that are reliant on field borders for nesting, *and* those mesopredators have developed strategies of searching for nests along field borders, then it will be very hard for those nests to succeed. In the years that I've spent walking grass/mint/corn stubble fields in the mid-Willamette Valley, one very clear pattern is that mesopredator tracks -- raccoons and coyotes in particular, and foxes where they're around -- are concentrated along field borders, as veritable highways. It's so obvious that it's honestly never occurred to me to comment on it. But check it out sometime. You may see coyotes mousing in the middle of the fields, but they use field borders as regular trails -- and woe to any ground-nesting bird that tries to nest there, even if the border is 25 ft wide. One difference between Oregon and the upper Midwest is that, in the latter, most farmsteads have extensive shelter belts with grassy medians -- the kind that the Gurney's catalog used to recommend. Those are the places where I found the most nesting gamebirds (pheasants and Hungarian/gray partridges) in my youth, not in the fencerows or in the fields. If anyone in western Oregon were to plant a similar shelterbelt, it would soon be overtaken by thickets of Armenian blackberries, which provide some amazing denning habitat for the mesopredators we're speaking of. The wild black raspberries in the Midwest just don't compare with Oregon blackberries, in that regard, though I would still rather have wild raspberries to pick. Anyway, I hear rumor that there's a possible Henslow's Sparrow to look for in my neighborhood, so I plan to devote any spare time to that tomorrow, rather than this thread. Not to be confused with the Slow Hen's Sparrow in our back yard (the one that forages next to our slower hen, not the fast hen's sparrow). Cheers, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Jan 15 23:51:36 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:51:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] OBOL Pheasant Thread In-Reply-To: <1232073766.3628.60.camel@localhost.localdomain> References: <1231974775.3522.46.camel@localhost.localdomain> <496FECC6.6020401@verizon.net> <1232073766.3628.60.camel@localhost.localdomain> Message-ID: <49703C88.5010007@verizon.net> Joel Geier wrote: > Hey Dave & All, > > Well, to start off with, I'm not overly concerned about the putative > impending disappearance of Ring-necked Pheasants from our state list. > Easy come, easy go. On the scale of conservation priorities from 1 to > 10, I would rate this a minus 20. ODFW can always raise hatchery birds > for people to shoot, if that's what they want to pay money for (the > money does arguably produce some benefits for native species). If the > pheasants die off between shooting seasons, it can't hurt native > flora/fauna and might even be a plus. > Amen! Joel wrote: "One difference between Oregon and the upper Midwest is that, in the latter, most farmsteads have extensive shelter belts with grassy medians -- the kind that the Gurney's catalog used to recommend. Those are the places where I found the most nesting gamebirds (pheasants and Hungarian/gray partridges) in my youth, not in the fencerows or in the fields. If anyone in western Oregon were to plant a similar shelterbelt, it would soon be overtaken by thickets of Armenian blackberries, which provide some amazing denning habitat for the mesopredators we're speaking of. The wild black raspberries in the Midwest just don't compare with Oregon blackberries, in that regard, though I would still rather have wild raspberries to pick." I wrote: "And while habitat lose may be a factor, maybe there never was much good > habitat to begin with........" Uh, same thing, no? Just my point. Different habitat. Darrel wrote: "One, it doesn't seem reasonable that if there never was good habitat that pheasants would have done better decades ago than they are doing now. And the same thing holds true for Bobwhite, which were abundant in the valley at the same time the pheasants were at their peak." Were they really doing better decades ago? I'm not a pheasant expert, but just because they might have been more numerous decades ago doesn't mean that they were doing better. It could mean more were released. It could mean that it took a while for the predators to adjust to a new prey source. Darrel wrote: "Two, the removal of hedgerows and similar habitats would consolidate nesting attempts of gallinaceous birds into smaller areas, thus making them more vulnerable to predators. It would be the same principle as that which has been documented among nesting ducks in the prairie provinces of Canada." But Joel wrote: "That isn't much of a factor here, but I can guarantee that western Oregon has more hedgerows per square mile than anything that you'll find in the grain belt states" So which is true? Do we or don't we have "more" hedgerow? Darrel wrote: "Three, it might be possible that a higher number of acres of grain and (especially) corn grown in the midwest would provide predators (especially raccoons) with a lot of food which would make predation on gamebirds less of a necessity or temptation. Since these predators are, as you say, opportunistic, this would seem a valid assumption. " There is some confusion here, I meant more grain meant better feed for the pheasants thus possibly resulting in higher survival rates of pheasants, I didn't mean to imply that the grain was good feed for the predators. I agree that it is likely that some of these predators have increased. But whether you can actually attribute that to pheasant's decline is questionable. But I agree with Joel, and I know Darrel well enough that I am sure he agrees, that it is somewhat a mute point, cause most of us probably don't miss pheasant too much to get too hung up on this issue. Thanks for the fun gentlemen, Cheers Dave From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Jan 16 06:25:37 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 06:25:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] OBOL Pheasant Thread In-Reply-To: <49703C88.5010007@verizon.net> References: <1231974775.3522.46.camel@localhost.localdomain> <496FECC6.6020401@verizon.net> <1232073766.3628.60.camel@localhost.localdomain> <49703C88.5010007@verizon.net> Message-ID: <1232115937.3523.29.camel@localhost.localdomain> > So which is true? Do we or don't we have "more" hedgerow? > My answer to this is, "Yes!" That is, in western Oregon we have more hedgerow than anything close to the state that chose Ring-necked Pheasants as their state bird (what a goofy idea that was!). Local lore is that Camp Adair was chosen as a training base in WWII, because of the resemblance to the hedgerow country of Belgium. On the other hand, the amount of hedgerow seems to have decreased since the mid-1900s. At least, that's what I've heard from people who've been around longer than me! But I suspect that the linear nature of hedgerows is the key thing: Nest predators who figure it out can hunt them very efficiently. Just to throw out a couple other ideas: Another agricultural trend to think about (though it happened before my time here) was the near disappearance of the Willamette Valley hops industry due to disease problems. Independence still has its Hops Festival, and there are a few hops farms here and there. But according to a friend who grew up on a hops farm near Mt. Angel, it's nothing like it was. The acreage of caneberries in cultivation in the WV has supposedly also declined significantly, if you read the Capital Press. I'd think that both hops and caneberry farming practices would have been favorable to bobwhites and pheasants, due to the combination of cover and grassy foraging areas, and relatively little disturbance by machinery during the main nesting season. The one local place where I've seen a pheasant hen with fledglings, in recent years, was in a similar situation: very young tree plantings at Luckiamute Landing, with grassy/weedy medians. Well, enough on that. Now time for me to let our slow hens out and see if they can lure in a hen's-slow sparrow. Cheers, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From fsprucegrouse at yahoo.com Sun Jan 11 18:54:45 2009 From: fsprucegrouse at yahoo.com (Khanh Tran) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:54:45 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Pine grosbeak and White winged crossbill invasion in OR and WA?? Message-ID: <70286.70011.qm@web57310.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Hi all, To add to the discussion generated on INLAND NW of a good flight year for Pine Grosbeaks this winter, I would have to agree. Many birds have been seen and reported in the areas of North Central and North Eastern WA and now North Eastern Oregon near the Wallowas. Of course, my assessment is based on my limited experience and bird reports of the last few years. I have combed the archives pretty extensive the last ten years and I realize some birders don't report on these online birding forums of their sightings. Even then, there are only a handful of White winged crossbill reports. The last three summers and winters in the Wallowas did not produced any significant number of both species as I usually bird there several times a year. This last November, reports showed good numbers in early fall especially November in the higher elevations of the Wallowas and the Okanogan areas. There is a lot of ground to cover. If I recall correctly, the winter of 2006/2007 had good numbers as more pine grosbeaks were found at much lower elevations including Discovery Park in Seattle, several at the Skagit Game Range near Conner, WA, and one bird at Pittock Mansion in Portland, Oregon. White winged crossbills is a different story. These erratic birds are much more tougher to pin down since they feed on a much more varied diet and tend to move more from place to place when one food source is depleted. According to the the Davis, Clement and and Harris, the birds feed on extracting seeds of larches, cedars, spruces, and hemlock. They also take a variety of berries, spiders, and insects from their larvae. This probably explains why I have seen a few birds pick out protein matter from horse dung along some of the alpine trails that allow horse. In addition, their ideal habitat requires much more effort to reach or inaccessible in winter. So I really don't have a basis to compare as reports are so far and few. These birds probably breed in these high alpine areas of WA and Oregon where few birders hike and venture into. From my research, I don't think there are any confirmed records of breeding in Oregon and Washington. I did hear several males burst into songs starting in late summer to early winter the last two years. Also, if these birds are not flying around, they tend to blend in quite well and are much quieter than the incessantly calling pine grosbeaks. As a result, birds are tougher to detect and numbers are more difficult to assess. Last winter, good numbers of XX bills trickled in the Okanogan Highlands and Salmo Pass areas and a reliable number remained at Stevens Pass. However, if you want an easy place to see white winged crossbills right now, the town of Enterprise, Oregon is the place to be. Several flocks have been seen in the cone-laden conifers in town the last several weeks. You can almost seem them out of your car without snowshoes and cross-country skis. For more details, see my recent weekend trip report below of birding the Wallowas in NE Oregon. It is a wonderful area to bird and the scenery is beautiful. You can never have a bad time in the WOWallowas! Good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From dbrin13 at yahoo.com Mon Jan 12 10:54:13 2009 From: dbrin13 at yahoo.com (Diana Brin) Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:54:13 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Corvallis - birding with Fred Ramsey Message-ID: <524110.32582.qm@web110312.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> I tried to post this on the mid-valley list, but apparently there's a server problem, so to err on the better part of spreading the word, here is a great event: The Audubon Society of Corvallis will feature Fred Ramsey on field identification tips. Date: Thursday 15 January at First Presbyterian Church, 114 SW Eighth Street (corner of Monroe). Doors open at 7 pm, program begins about 8:15 pm. Everyone is welcome to share in this special event which will be both entertaining and informative. Diana Brin -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090112/b897f943/attachment.html From pmathios at comcast.net Fri Jan 16 09:04:52 2009 From: pmathios at comcast.net (pmathios at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:04:52 +0000 Subject: [obol] wood duck question Message-ID: <011620091704.27804.4970BE340005921300006C9C22147564029C0107089B0E039F@comcast.net> Can anybody tell me where I could find some relatively tame wood ducks to get close to for sketching and photography? Is there a local Willamette Valley park where they could be found? Thanks, Peter -- Mathios Studios Website - www.mathiosstudios.net Blog - www.mathios.blogspot.com Daily Paintings - www.petermathios.blogspot.com 541.812.0358 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090116/fa2df8bd/attachment.html From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Fri Jan 16 09:32:06 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:32:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Burns Jct. to Princeton and Burns Jct to Mcdermitt raptor runs Message-ID: <4F58EB0C1F804B9D8131DE6013974D45@larryPC> On Fri 9 Jan. we did the Burns Jct to Princeton run. We saw no raptors. We did see 1 Mtn. Bluebird and 1 Raven. Yesterday we were in McDermitt, on the way there we saw 1 Golden Eagle, 3 Rough leg Hawks. On the way home there was another Golden sitting on a power pole. The first one had not moved. The weather was warm in the afternoon, mid 50's, variable light wind. There had been fog in the area until Thurs. While in McDermitt their Doves were cooing and cuddling. I watched one pair for about 25 minutes. Karen Cottrell in true SE Or south of Burns Jct. in Malheur Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090116/227150ee/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Fri Jan 16 10:06:02 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 11:06:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] wood duck question Message-ID: <20090116110602.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.a30a7cd9cb.wbe@email.secureserver.net> Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden in Portland is a great place to get great up-close looks at several species of waterfowl. There are usually many wood ducks at the garden. People go to the gardens to feed waterfowl so the birds are relatively approachable. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] wood duck question > From: pmathios at comcast.net > Date: Fri, January 16, 2009 9:04 am > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > Can anybody tell me where I could find some relatively tame wood ducks to get close to for sketching and photography? Is there a local Willamette Valley park where they could be found? > Thanks, > Peter > > -- > Mathios Studios > Website - www.mathiosstudios.net > Blog - www.mathios.blogspot.com > Daily Paintings - www.petermathios.blogspot.com > 541.812.0358
_______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Jan 16 11:38:47 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 11:38:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] E.E. Wilson sparrow search (early report, sort of a maybe) Message-ID: <1232134727.3525.61.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, A half-dozen birders converged on the north end of E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area this morning, to search for the reported Henslow's Sparrow. I had to get back home so this is the early report. Between us we had five or six views of solitary, small, dark, furtive sparrows that might have worked for Henslow's (possibly all the same bird), though no views good enough to be anything close to confident. Here is the play-by-play from my recollection (just to get it down, I will try to sum up my impressions at the end with additional directions to follow by a second posting): On my way to the location that Doug Robinson flagged, around 7:45 AM, our border collie/aussie shepherd mix Heidi and I came in from across the field to the south, rather than from direction of the old shed. As we approached a circular, ~30 ft diameter clump of reed canary-grass (which turned out to be about 50 yards SW of Doug's flagging), a small, dark-backed, short-tailed and proportionally rather broad-winged sparrow flushed from a patch of weedy, lower grass about 10-15 ft ahead of us, and made a low (1 or 2 ft off the ground), direct flight of about 20-25 ft into the edge of the reed-canary grass, disappearing as it landed about a foot inside. It didn't vocalize during this flight. After waiting and trying some quiet pishing (little "tseeps" which tend to work for bringing Savannah Sparrows and Lincoln's Sparrows into view), without producing any vocalization from the bird, Heidi and I worked clockwise around the edge of the canary-grass clump. We flushed the bird once again, on the NW side of the clump, where it made a short flight of maybe 10 ft, parallel to the edge of clump and dropping back down inside it. So the bird must have moved ahead of us, staying on the ground, probably a distance of 30 to 50 feet before it took flight (my impression was that the bird was sticking to just inside the perimeter of the clump). After a bit more waiting, I saw two birders materialize out of the fog, who turned out to be Jay Withgott and Hendrik Herlyn. After pacing around the outside of the canary-grass clump a few times, we tried searching the area around the clump for a distance of about 50-75 yards in every direction, without flushing any sparrows (it was surprising how few sparrows that area had this morning). Eventually as we were all drifting back toward the clump, and I saw a dark, roundish sparrow very similar to the first one flush and make a similarly low, direct flight about 10-15 ft from a patch of weedy grass back into the NW corner of the canary-grass clump. Again, the bird landed just inside the outermost clump of canary-grass. Jay and Hendrik moved in from the NE side of the clump as I stayed put, until Jay was standing practically on top of where I'd seen the bird land. Then Jay moved through the clump while Hendrik and I followed on the flanks, but we didn't see any sign of the bird. It was amazing how it just disappeared. At this point, Rich Armstrong, Paula Vanderheul and Marcia Cutler from Corvallis showed up. We tried forming a broad skirmish line and walking through a couple of swaths of the habitat, but didn't see any small sparrows. After another period of milling about, Jay wandered over near Doug's flagged location and spotted another (or the same?) small dark-backed, low-flying sparrow. Well, I should let him describe it when he gets back in. I think he said that it made a couple of right-angled bends in its flight. After Jay informed us of this, we all converged on that place. I had one more brief look at a small, dark-backed sparrow making a low flight into and landing just inside the edge of patch of low, relatively open blackberries (maybe woodland trailing blackberries?), just a few paces east of Doug's flagging. This time I had an impression of a little more "float" (bird tipping its tail up) as it landed, maybe a little longer tail, and I thought I saw a bit of white under the tail. I was straight behind the bird this time, rather than at a rake or broadside angle as in previous views, so that might have made a difference in my impressions of the tail. Again, the bird seemed to completely disappear even with six of us all around the small thicket. At this point I had to head home, but the rest were going to keep searching the area until 11:30 or so. To sum up my overall impressions: 1. The small sparrow(s) that we saw were solitary in a patch with very few other sparrows. All sightings were within 50 yards or less of the places that Doug described. 2. Nothing about the general look, coloration, proportions, and behavior of the bird that I saw in the first three views would rule out Henslow's Sparrow, to my knowledge (though I have never seen a Henslow's Sparrow in my life, so I'm just going on book descriptions). The general shape in flight was consistent with the Ammodramus sparrows that I have some field experience with (Grasshopper and LeConte's). However: 3. I could not rule out a relatively dark, reddish Savannah Sparrow based on the few views I had. I've had them fool me before. The bird didn't look, fly or act like a Lincoln's Sparrow or Swamp Sparrow, which are the only other small sparrows that I'd expect in that area (the latter have a proportionally more long-tailed look, and normally I would recognize either as "Lincoln's-type" in such views). 4. If the bird was a dark/reddish Savannah Sparrow, it's surprising that it hasn't hooked up with the flock of Savannah Sparrows which has been around about 300 yards south of this location. Its behavior was in other ways not what I'd expect for a Savannah Sparrow (more furtive, unwilling to perch in response to light "tseeps," etc). 5. On the other hand, sometimes Savannah Sparrows don't act like Savannah Sparrows. So I'm not prepared to call the bird I saw anything more than a furtive and rather suspicious Savannah Sparrow which just might be a Henslow's Sparrow. Hopefully we'll hear more from the others after they return from the field. I gave Jay my phone number so at this point, no news is not good news. Better directions to follow .... Happy birding, Joel P.S. We didn't see any pheasants! I did find a fresh owl pellet which looked like it was probably from a Short-eared Owl, so that might be another bird to watch for out there. -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Jan 16 12:03:10 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:03:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Directions to the "Sedge Wren" patch at E.E. Wilson Message-ID: <1232136190.3525.85.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hi again folks, Although Doug Robinson's directions were quite precise and should get you to his red & white flagging on the teasel once you find the shed that he spoke of, it might help those who haven't visited the so-called "Sedge Wren" patch before, to have better directions to the famous shed. As Doug mentioned, you can walk in from any of the turnouts along the Camp Adair Rd., but from there you want to make sure to walk north on the right "street" within the wildlife area, or you might not see the shed. First, to get there: Camp Adair Rd. crosses Hwy 99W midway between Monmouth and Corvallis, at the Coffin Butte Regional Landfill which is very conspicuous on the west side of the highway, about a mile and a half south of the Polk/Benton County line. Turn east on Camp Adair Rd. and proceed past the headquarter to the next left turn, which is a small parking lot next to the WW II memorial park, and the gamebird display pens which host an array of exotic gamebirds. If that lot's full, there's a larger gravel parking lot just east of the memorial park, or else you can backtrack to one of the parking areas west of the HQ. Regardless of where you park, head for the north side of the E.E. Wilson headquarters (from the WW II memorial park, this is reached by walking north one block, then west one block). You want to be walking on the wide, paved road that proceeds (nominally) north from the headquarters. Go about 1-1/4 miles on this to find the shed. Along the way you'll cross a canal which opens into the Canal Pond on your right (a good Swamp Sparrow spot). Then you'll pass a restricted area with an oak grove on your right, with signs stating that it's closed to public access area. About 1/4 to 1/3 mile past the end of the restricted area, you should see a dilapidated old shed with chicken wire rather than walls on the sides, off to the right of the road. From there follow Doug's directions by walking about 225 yards east of the shed, and you'll be in the right area. Good luck & happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From lbviman at blackfoot.net Fri Jan 16 13:12:45 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:12:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] reported Henslow's Sparrow In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090116211155.9337F9B0052@mail.blackfoot.net> While not wanting to denigrate anyone's rarity, a question needs to be asked: what features ruled out the other 4 possibles Ammodramus sparrows, all of which HAVE been seen in the west: LeConte's, Nelson's sharp-tailed, Grasshopper, Baird's? - Jim Greaves, Montana From lammergeiereyes at aol.com Fri Jan 16 13:28:16 2009 From: lammergeiereyes at aol.com (lammergeiereyes at aol.com) Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:28:16 -0500 Subject: [obol] off topic; my photography Message-ID: <8CB46387A9FDC47-9DC-E21@mblk-d10.sysops.aol.com> Here is a link to a very limited and truly random assortment of my wildlife photography. It is ancillary to a broader personal website, under construction, but which law school seems determined to permanently forestall. http://www.flickr.com/photos/34328261 at N02/ Blake Matheson Carmel California & Portland Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090116/4ea8ff2c/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Jan 16 17:23:46 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:23:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] E.E. Wilson sparrow: Why not some other Ammodramus sp.? Message-ID: <1232155426.3612.20.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hi again folks, Re: Jim Greaves' question as to why the sparrow seen at E.E. Wilson was not one of the other four Ammodramus sp. that have occurred west of the Rockies, I would expect that the portions of the bird that Doug Robinson mentioned having had clear views of (nape, back, and wing edges) would be adequate for this distinction, though he did not elaborate on the details in his posting. Presumably he'll be sending in a more detailed description to the Oregon Bird Records Committee. Regarding my own views today (which may or may not have been of the same bird, although there seem to be precious few other birds in that immediate area), I'm still hung up on Ammodramus vs. Pseudoammodramus (namely Passerculus sandwichensis rufuskulkulus). If it was an Ammodramus sp. (the jizz I picked up in brief views was OK for that but hardly definitive), then it was one of the dark-backed kinds (by "back" here I mean the entire dorsal view of the bird in flight, not any particular patch). I'll go out on a limb here and say that the overall dorsal coloration of the bird in flight was a warm hue of brown, similar to our typical resident Song Sparrows. If you put that together with a presumption of an Ammodramus, then the choices are somewhat narrower. I'll go just a little farther out on the limb, and say I'm positive that I didn't see a LeConte's Sparrow today, as much as I would have liked to. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From 5hats at peak.org Fri Jan 16 17:46:35 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:46:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] The Willamette Valley, then and now Message-ID: <002701c97845$7b8c7950$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Obolites, I cannot speak with any authority, or even knowledge as to the decline or increase in pheasant populations in the Willamette Valley. Neither can I speak with any certainty as to causes of a seeming difference in populations between now and say, forty years ago. What I can do is share what I have heard from my father about what the Willamette Valley was like in the late 1920's and early 1930's, and point out some of the obvious differences between then and now. People can draw their own conclusions. Actually, I can give share one anecdotal comment from even further back, perhaps as long ago as the 1830's. That comment came from one Mr. Cox, who, according to my father, claimed to be the first white child born in the Oregon Territory. Whether or not his claim was true is, for the purpose of this post, irrelevant. He was in the Valley long enough ago to remember what it was like before there was much white settlement. He said he could remember when the valley floor was covered with a growth of native Timothy Grass as tall as a horses back, and there were no fences anywhere. My own father was born in 1905, and farmed in several places between Philomath and Lebanon until 1937. His recollection of that territory was that there were Bobwhite, pheasants, and jackrabbits everywhere. This assessment, at least in respect to the birds, agrees with what Gabrielson and Jewett had to say about them in Birds of Oregon, published in 1940. It is interesting that in respect to the Bobwhite, they comment, "In every county in the Willamette Valley from Multnomah to Lane, the diversified farming practiced there provide conditions s uitable for these quail." Their comments regarding pheasants are somewhat different. They note that after their initial release in 1881, "they increased at an amazing rate for a numbe of years, only to decrease again later until at present, despite the continued release of new birds, they occur only in small numbers compared to former years". So apparently even as long ago as 1940, or earlier, the status of this species as self-sustaining was a matter of some question. However one may understand these things, it must be remembered that the period in which my father was farming in the Valley was before the development of thousands of acres into urban settlement; before the heavy application of pesticides and herbicides on farm land; before diversified farming practices were largely replaced by grass seed farming; before the development of Interstate 5; before the use of automobiles became common place ( one of my father's stories was that sometime in the 1920's precisely three cars went past his Albany home on U.S. Highway 99 E during the course of an entire Sunday afternoon); before most of the things we now take for granted were in existence. Even if we had blow by blow documentation of all these things in sequence, and answerable statistical data regarding pheasant and quail populations corresponding to the changes, it would still be hard to prove any certain cause and effect relationship between them, even though we all can surmise that such correlation exists. Like every other biological scenario, it is full of complexities beyond our comprehension, and it leaves us with more questions than answers. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090116/3c46f8e2/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Fri Jan 16 18:48:45 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:48:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] The Willamette Valley, then and now References: <002701c97845$7b8c7950$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: I am not clear on when tractors became prevalent in the Willamette Valley to pull plows, harrows, and disks, but It was before my youth in the 1950s-60s. Anyway, pre-tractor agricultural communities, that depended on animal power - draft horses, oxen, mules - devoted 20-30% of their farmland to maintaining the animals. This included pasture, hayfields, oats, crops for silage. I have been told that in the midwest the conversion to mecanaical farming was accompanied by a major decline in biodiversity, as these land uses were phased out. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: Darrel Faxon To: Obol Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 5:46 PM Subject: [obol] The Willamette Valley, then and now Obolites, I cannot speak with any authority, or even knowledge as to the decline or increase in pheasant populations in the Willamette Valley. Neither can I speak with any certainty as to causes of a seeming difference in populations between now and say, forty years ago. What I can do is share what I have heard from my father about what the Willamette Valley was like in the late 1920's and early 1930's, and point out some of the obvious differences between then and now. People can draw their own conclusions. Actually, I can give share one anecdotal comment from even further back, perhaps as long ago as the 1830's. That comment came from one Mr. Cox, who, according to my father, claimed to be the first white child born in the Oregon Territory. Whether or not his claim was true is, for the purpose of this post, irrelevant. He was in the Valley long enough ago to remember what it was like before there was much white settlement. He said he could remember when the valley floor was covered with a growth of native Timothy Grass as tall as a horses back, and there were no fences anywhere. My own father was born in 1905, and farmed in several places between Philomath and Lebanon until 1937. His recollection of that territory was that there were Bobwhite, pheasants, and jackrabbits everywhere. This assessment, at least in respect to the birds, agrees with what Gabrielson and Jewett had to say about them in Birds of Oregon, published in 1940. It is interesting that in respect to the Bobwhite, they comment, "In every county in the Willamette Valley from Multnomah to Lane, the diversified farming practiced there provide conditions s uitable for these quail." Their comments regarding pheasants are somewhat different. They note that after their initial release in 1881, "they increased at an amazing rate for a numbe of years, only to decrease again later until at present, despite the continued release of new birds, they occur only in small numbers compared to former years". So apparently even as long ago as 1940, or earlier, the status of this species as self-sustaining was a matter of some question. However one may understand these things, it must be remembered that the period in which my father was farming in the Valley was before the development of thousands of acres into urban settlement; before the heavy application of pesticides and herbicides on farm land; before diversified farming practices were largely replaced by grass seed farming; before the development of Interstate 5; before the use of automobiles became common place ( one of my father's stories was that sometime in the 1920's precisely three cars went past his Albany home on U.S. Highway 99 E during the course of an entire Sunday afternoon); before most of the things we now take for granted were in existence. Even if we had blow by blow documentation of all these things in sequence, and answerable statistical data regarding pheasant and quail populations corresponding to the changes, it would still be hard to prove any certain cause and effect relationship between them, even though we all can surmise that such correlation exists. Like every other biological scenario, it is full of complexities beyond our comprehension, and it leaves us with more questions than answers. Darrel ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090116/2e74f0be/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Fri Jan 16 18:55:30 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:55:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Off topic: cyber birding "game" Message-ID: The Frontiers of Identification listserve recently had a thread about setting up computer-controllable video cameras in birding hotspots, and birders going online to operate the cameras and see "new" birds. I do not want to reopen that can of worms, but it suggested something different. I have been very impressed by the quality of some of the coverage in Google Earth, and decided to see if I could detect any birds in the images - and I succeded! I am not talking about the linked photos that you get by clicking on the little blue squares, but just birds visible in the vertical coverage. So here is the challenge: to find identifiable birds in these images. I did not find it easy, but its doable. So far I have found one species, in Oregon. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090116/fd493c81/attachment.html From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Fri Jan 16 19:29:43 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:29:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] ECBC Christmas Valley Raptor Survey Message-ID: <2DE7EA4CE1FC43CCAD70253FDA35F01F@KimPC> I drove the Christmas Valley Raptor Route today (Fri. 9/16) under clear skies, no snow cover, and temps.between 21 & 49 degrees F. It took 5 hr. 55 Min to drive 86.6 Miles. The species mix was a little different from last year and there were a few more birds enjoying the nice weather. See below. Beside the raptors, I saw 1 N, Shrike, 5 E. Collared Doves, 216 C. Ravens, 3 Coyotes, 81 Mule deer, and 67 Pronghorns plus lots of Am. Robins and Mtn. Bluebirds. Raptors Seen Jan. 16, 2009 Jan. 16, 2008 Red-tailed Hawk 32 26 Am. Kestrel 0 4 N. Harrier 0 2 Bald Eagle 4 A, 1 S 2 A, 1 S Golden Eagles 11 6 Rough-legged Hawk 25 14 Ferruginous Hawk 5 4 Unidentified Buteo 1 4 Prairie Falcon 4 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 0 Cooper's Hawk 1 0 Kim Boddie Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090116/2f2261e8/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Fri Jan 16 21:17:38 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:17:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Hunt: followup to Joel's message Message-ID: REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE TO RELOCATE AND CONFIRM THE E.E. WILSON HENSLOW'S SPARROW, Dated 16 January 2009 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Rich Armstrong, Marcia Cutler, Karl Fairchild, Joel Geier, Heidi Geier, Hendrik Herlyn, Paula Vanderheul, Jay Withgott TASK: The Committee, after duly appointing itself, tasked itself with refinding and confirming the illustrious Dr. Robinson's reported Henslow's Sparrow, in an attempt to increase the Oregon State List by one species and to bring glory to the State of Oregon and its birding community for the first documented individual of said species west of the Rockies. ACTIVITIES: Committee Members plodded, tromped, tripped, and stumbled over an increasingly tiresome area of grass, weedstalks, and brambles for all of the morning and half the afternoon. RESULTS: Committee Members' butts were collectively kicked by a little 5-inch bird. The Committee disintegrated in disarray throughout the day as members left, defeated, bruised, and psychologically beaten. .... Actually, it wasn't quite that bad. We had a good time, but boy, it was tough. I don't have much to add to Joel's excellent and detailed description, because after Joel left we never saw the bird again. That is, all of our observations were before 10:00 or so, despite off & on coverage by at least some of us until 3:30. I personally feel that our bird had to be the bird that Doug reported, because its behavior and locations were identical, and because in all the time we were there, in that whole area, there were NO other sparrows -- no other birds, in fact. All the Songs, Lincoln's, Foxes, etc., stayed in the bramble hedges that partially surround this grassier, lower-vegetation-profile area. Rich and Nanette had much the same experience yesterday afternoon. To repeat the upshot (read Joel's message for details): The bird or birds we flushed several times -- and, alas, never saw well -- was/were consistent with an Ammodramus sparrow in behavior and appearance. It was an extraordinarily elusive and sneaky bird, even for a sparrow. Given Doug's extensive experience with this species and given what we witnessed today, I am very intrigued by this bird. Despite our frustrations today, I would recommend that others pursue this bird, given the importance of confirming the species for Oregon. Kudos to Doug for finding the bird, and I hope that others can refind it and get good looks and photos. Jay Withgott, Portland PS -- I had 3 or 4 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS elsewhere at Wilson, Rich and I had a CINNAMON TEAL and HERRING GULL across the street at Toketee Marsh & Coffin Butte Landfill pond, and Karl and I had an entertaining STRIPED SKUNK parading around in broad daylight north of Doug's flagging tape. From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Fri Jan 16 21:19:43 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:19:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Dave Marshall's new book Message-ID: Today's mail at my office brought me Dave Marshall's new "Memoirs of a Wildlife Biologist." It reached the office early this afternoon and I thought I'd glance into it for a few minutes. After a while my staff started looking at me oddly because I hadn't moved from the same position. Eventually the office closed and I came home. And now, I see that as I set the book down, it is 9:00 p.m. I suppose that I should have dinner. This book, about Dave's life and his role in the establishment and growth of Oregon's wildlife refuges (and those of the west and indeed the country), is one of the finest nonfiction books I have ever read, about anything, anywhere. And I read a lot of books. Anyone interested in the history of Malheur NWR, of the valley refuges, of the endangered species act, of life in a fire watchtower as a 17-year-old, of early birding in Portland, of birding by bicycle in the Willamette Valley of the late 1930s, of the extraordinary experiences of an 18-year-old birder-kid dropped into the closing years of World War Two, should read this book. It is also so stuffed with humorous and astonishing anecdotes that you will absolutely fall from your chair - I will mention only the discovery of Nixon's Secretary of Defense prowling a marsh all by himself (a secret birder) and Dave keeping two Sandhill Cranes in the pilots lounge of the Anchorage airport overnight. This is an historical event, not just a publication. The book is available, as far as I know, only from the Audubon Society of Portland bookstore, 503-292-9453. Get yours soon in case they run out. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From jeffgill at teleport.com Fri Jan 16 21:23:50 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:23:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Hunt: followup to Joel's message In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Is there someone with a mist net and proper licensing who might try to capture, photograph, and release the bird? Jeff Gilligan On 1/16/09 9:17 PM, "Jay Withgott" wrote: > > REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE TO RELOCATE AND CONFIRM THE E.E. > WILSON HENSLOW'S SPARROW, Dated 16 January 2009 > > COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Rich Armstrong, Marcia Cutler, Karl Fairchild, > Joel Geier, Heidi Geier, Hendrik Herlyn, Paula Vanderheul, Jay > Withgott > > TASK: The Committee, after duly appointing itself, tasked itself > with refinding and confirming the illustrious Dr. Robinson's reported > Henslow's Sparrow, in an attempt to increase the Oregon State List by > one species and to bring glory to the State of Oregon and its birding > community for the first documented individual of said species west of > the Rockies. > > ACTIVITIES: Committee Members plodded, tromped, tripped, and > stumbled over an increasingly tiresome area of grass, weedstalks, and > brambles for all of the morning and half the afternoon. > > RESULTS: Committee Members' butts were collectively kicked by a > little 5-inch bird. The Committee disintegrated in disarray > throughout the day as members left, defeated, bruised, and > psychologically beaten. > > > > .... Actually, it wasn't quite that bad. We had a good time, but > boy, it was tough. I don't have much to add to Joel's excellent and > detailed description, because after Joel left we never saw the bird > again. That is, all of our observations were before 10:00 or so, > despite off & on coverage by at least some of us until 3:30. I > personally feel that our bird had to be the bird that Doug reported, > because its behavior and locations were identical, and because in all > the time we were there, in that whole area, there were NO other > sparrows -- no other birds, in fact. All the Songs, Lincoln's, > Foxes, etc., stayed in the bramble hedges that partially surround > this grassier, lower-vegetation-profile area. Rich and Nanette had > much the same experience yesterday afternoon. > > To repeat the upshot (read Joel's message for details): The bird or > birds we flushed several times -- and, alas, never saw well -- > was/were consistent with an Ammodramus sparrow in behavior and > appearance. It was an extraordinarily elusive and sneaky bird, even > for a sparrow. Given Doug's extensive experience with this species > and given what we witnessed today, I am very intrigued by this bird. > Despite our frustrations today, I would recommend that others pursue > this bird, given the importance of confirming the species for Oregon. > Kudos to Doug for finding the bird, and I hope that others can refind > it and get good looks and photos. > > Jay Withgott, Portland > > PS -- I had 3 or 4 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS elsewhere at Wilson, Rich > and I had a CINNAMON TEAL and HERRING GULL across the street at > Toketee Marsh & Coffin Butte Landfill pond, and Karl and I had an > entertaining STRIPED SKUNK parading around in broad daylight north of > Doug's flagging tape. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From withgott at comcast.net Fri Jan 16 21:25:48 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:25:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Barn Swallows at Baskett Slough Message-ID: After leaving the Sparrowfest, I stopped at the lookout at Baskett Slough NWR as the sun was setting. Five, or possibly six, BARN SWALLOWS were flying over the water. See the excellent article by Doug Robinson (yes, the same Doug Robinson) in the most recent issue of Oregon Birds dealing with the mysterious mid-winter Barn Swallow influx of the past several years. His article presents four hypotheses and gives birders advice on what to look for to help begin solving the mystery. Alas, my swallows today were too far away to see much that could help. There were also 2 SNOW GEESE amid the (rough estimate) 16,000 Cackling Geese, and there were impressive numbers of GW Teal (over a thousand or two, surely), as well as at least 700-800 DUNLIN and 100-plus LB DOWITCHERS. Wish I'd had longer and a bit more light to scope more effectively from this great vantage point. Finally, at least 20 HORNED LARKS flew over as I stood scoping from the kiosk. Jay W, Portland From rawieland at comcast.net Sat Jan 17 07:25:21 2009 From: rawieland at comcast.net (Rainer Wieland) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 07:25:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mystery call: owl or otherwise? Message-ID: My daughter heard and recorded a call in the middle of the night. We've puzzled over what this call may be and so I'm posting this for your suggestions and possible identification. She lives on a house boat on San Juan Island, WA. She posted details about the call on her blog http://orcawatcher.blogspot.com/2009/01/what-is-this-middle-of-night-mystery.html The recorded call can be played at http://tinyurl.com/7z54x6 Your feedback is appreciated. Cheers, Rainer Wieland Portland, OR From calliope at theriver.com Sat Jan 17 07:35:24 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 08:35:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Hunt: followup to Joel's message In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <3DD81E8D-7568-4670-AE84-0953B20D41EB@theriver.com> Hi All, My friend Gavin Bieber, who has done winter surveys of Henslow's Sparrows in Mississippi, tells me that their winter home range is usually only 100 square meters, and that the birds can be found in that little patch time and again all winter. Yes, that's only 10 meters by 10 meters! If it has indeed settled down for the winter, it should be right back where Doug found it. Wish I could join in the search. Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- On Jan 16, 2009, at 10:17 PM, Jay Withgott wrote: > > REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE TO RELOCATE AND CONFIRM THE E.E. > WILSON HENSLOW'S SPARROW, Dated 16 January 2009 > > COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Rich Armstrong, Marcia Cutler, Karl Fairchild, > Joel Geier, Heidi Geier, Hendrik Herlyn, Paula Vanderheul, Jay > Withgott > > TASK: The Committee, after duly appointing itself, tasked itself > with refinding and confirming the illustrious Dr. Robinson's reported > Henslow's Sparrow, in an attempt to increase the Oregon State List by > one species and to bring glory to the State of Oregon and its birding > community for the first documented individual of said species west of > the Rockies. > > ACTIVITIES: Committee Members plodded, tromped, tripped, and > stumbled over an increasingly tiresome area of grass, weedstalks, and > brambles for all of the morning and half the afternoon. > > RESULTS: Committee Members' butts were collectively kicked by a > little 5-inch bird. The Committee disintegrated in disarray > throughout the day as members left, defeated, bruised, and > psychologically beaten. > > > > .... Actually, it wasn't quite that bad. We had a good time, but > boy, it was tough. I don't have much to add to Joel's excellent and > detailed description, because after Joel left we never saw the bird > again. That is, all of our observations were before 10:00 or so, > despite off & on coverage by at least some of us until 3:30. I > personally feel that our bird had to be the bird that Doug reported, > because its behavior and locations were identical, and because in all > the time we were there, in that whole area, there were NO other > sparrows -- no other birds, in fact. All the Songs, Lincoln's, > Foxes, etc., stayed in the bramble hedges that partially surround > this grassier, lower-vegetation-profile area. Rich and Nanette had > much the same experience yesterday afternoon. > > To repeat the upshot (read Joel's message for details): The bird or > birds we flushed several times -- and, alas, never saw well -- > was/were consistent with an Ammodramus sparrow in behavior and > appearance. It was an extraordinarily elusive and sneaky bird, even > for a sparrow. Given Doug's extensive experience with this species > and given what we witnessed today, I am very intrigued by this bird. > Despite our frustrations today, I would recommend that others pursue > this bird, given the importance of confirming the species for Oregon. > Kudos to Doug for finding the bird, and I hope that others can refind > it and get good looks and photos. > > Jay Withgott, Portland > > PS -- I had 3 or 4 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS elsewhere at Wilson, Rich > and I had a CINNAMON TEAL and HERRING GULL across the street at > Toketee Marsh & Coffin Butte Landfill pond, and Karl and I had an > entertaining STRIPED SKUNK parading around in broad daylight north of > Doug's flagging tape. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Jan 17 07:46:31 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 07:46:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Hunt: followup to Joel's message Message-ID: <1232207191.3515.33.camel@localhost.localdomain> Jeff Gilligan wrote: > Is there someone with a mist net and proper licensing who might try to > capture, photograph, and release the bird? Jeff Gilligan How well do mist nets work on birds that act more like rodents than birds, and seem to have the ability to use underground vole runs? "We're looking for a vole with wings," was Jay's comment yesterday, and that was even before frustration set in. Maybe someone should lay out some corrugated tin sheets, like the ones that herpetologists use in other parts of E.E. Wilson, then see if the sparrow turns up hiding under one of those. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area southwest of The Shed. From dpvroman at budget.net Sat Jan 17 07:57:03 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 07:57:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Hunt: followup to Joel's message References: Message-ID: Good thought Jeff, As it turns out, this message was on "BIRDBAND" from an eastern bander and was about capturing this particular Sparrow about the time of the reported bird out our way. If a bander decides to capture the Sparrow in question, they might find it interesting, . Dennis "I hope one of you US banders can help me. Today I assisted a Georgia DNR biologist in an attempt to band Henslow's Sparrows (HESP). We found at least 10 birds, but were unable to band them. The thing that shocked me is that at least 4 of them flew THROUGH our 33 mm mesh nets, and 2 of them were not even slowed down. Only one was briefly detatained, while one just shrugged and kept going. This is the standard net we use for small passerines. I regularly catch chickadees, kinglets, gnatcatchers... Most of the birds I band as sparrows. I've never seen any bird but a hummer fly through this size net." Recommendations? Charlie Muise Lamar County, GA Subject: Re: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Hunt: followup to Joel's message > Is there someone with a mist net and proper licensing who might try to > capture, photograph, and release the bird? Jeff Gilligan From celata at pacifier.com Sat Jan 17 07:59:11 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 07:59:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mystery call: owl or otherwise? Message-ID: <4972004F.4000305@pacifier.com> It is very unlikely that this is owl noise. What it sounds like to me is geese. When geese roost at night, there are usually one or two that are on guard. What I'm hearing sounds like the discussions those geese have when something has caught their attention. It's never full out honking that you hear when they're flying or really disturbed. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Studies in ambiguity http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/ambiguity20090111.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Sat Jan 17 08:40:00 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 08:40:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mystery call: owl or otherwise? Message-ID: <20090117084000.cey5bqujkkc48ogs@webmail.thebirdguide.com> I hear a California Sea Lion. Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From sandyleapt at comcast.net Sat Jan 17 08:41:31 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:41:31 +0000 Subject: [obol] The Willamette Valley, then and now Message-ID: <011720091641.19928.49720A3B00090FFC00004DD822007610649B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Hi All, This thread got me to thinking. I grew up in Sherwood, I suppose that counts as the Willamette Valley. My pony and I parted company many times when a pheasant would burst from the cover of tall grass under his feet. The pheasants used to hang out in the tall grass that grew along the shoulder of the county roads. Now because of fire danger county road crews spray and cut the tall grass. Another thing, our family used to grow hay for our livestock, then we bought from the next door neighbor. I don't see many local hay fields anymore, I think they all turned into houses, grazed horse pastures and vineyards. There we lots of quail, I used to feed hundreds. They hung out in a hedge in the yard. I spread seed on the path that led from the kitchen to the parking lot each morning. There were always lots of little family groups running across the driveway and along the country roads. There aren't many around the old place anymore. Mom and dad have seen a few in the last couple years after not seeing any for years. I also remember grouse drumming in the woods, I never hear that anymore. One other thing, sort of off topic, we had banty chickens. The banties and the pheasants seemed to have hybridized. Some of the female banties laid started laying blue-green eggs. They chickens could fly like pheasants and some of them left the barn yard to live along the hedgerows with the pheasants. Our old farm was subdivided in to two and five-acre lots. Because of fire danger people are so darn tidy. Mind you we had one heck of a wild fire out there in the late 60s or early 70s where the fire department training station is, it burned right up to the peat bog on mom and dad's old place. People have removed all the underbrush and they mow what used to be tall grass pasture with and edging of snowberry, steeplebush, wild roses, ocean spray, red currant, oregon grape, wild hazel brush etc....Maybe we need to start a hedge row revival project. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: "Wayne Hoffman" > I am not clear on when tractors became prevalent in the Willamette Valley to > pull plows, harrows, and disks, but It was before my youth in the 1950s-60s. > Anyway, pre-tractor agricultural communities, that depended on animal power - > draft horses, oxen, mules - devoted 20-30% of their farmland to maintaining the > animals. This included pasture, hayfields, oats, crops for silage. I have been > told that in the midwest the conversion to mecanaical farming was accompanied by > a major decline in biodiversity, as these land uses were phased out. > > Wayne > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Darrel Faxon > To: Obol > Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 5:46 PM > Subject: [obol] The Willamette Valley, then and now > > > Obolites, > I cannot speak with any authority, or even knowledge as to the decline or > increase in pheasant populations in the Willamette Valley. Neither can I speak > with any certainty as to causes of a seeming difference in populations between > now and say, forty years ago. What I can do is share what I have heard from my > father about what the Willamette Valley was like in the late 1920's and early > 1930's, and point out some of the obvious differences between then and now. > People can draw their own conclusions. > Actually, I can give share one anecdotal comment from even further back, > perhaps as long ago as the 1830's. That comment came from one Mr. Cox, who, > according to my father, claimed to be the first white child born in the Oregon > Territory. Whether or not his claim was true is, for the purpose of this post, > irrelevant. He was in the Valley long enough ago to remember what it was like > before there was much white settlement. He said he could remember when the > valley floor was covered with a growth of native Timothy Grass as tall as a > horses back, and there were no fences anywhere. > My own father was born in 1905, and farmed in several places between > Philomath and Lebanon until 1937. His recollection of that territory was that > there were Bobwhite, pheasants, and jackrabbits everywhere. This assessment, at > least in respect to the birds, agrees with what Gabrielson and Jewett had to say > about them in Birds of Oregon, published in 1940. It is interesting that in > respect to the Bobwhite, they comment, "In every county in the Willamette Valley > from Multnomah to Lane, the diversified farming practiced there provide > conditions s uitable for these quail." Their comments regarding pheasants are > somewhat different. They note that after their initial release in 1881, "they > increased at an amazing rate for a numbe of years, only to decrease again later > until at present, despite the continued release of new birds, they occur only in > small numbers compared to former years". So apparently even as long ago as > 1940, or earlier, the status of this species as self-sustaining was a matter of > some question. > However one may understand these things, it must be remembered that the > period in which my father was farming in the Valley was before the development > of thousands of acres into urban settlement; before the heavy application of > pesticides and herbicides on farm land; before diversified farming practices > were largely replaced by grass seed farming; before the development of > Interstate 5; before the use of automobiles became common place ( one of my > father's stories was that sometime in the 1920's precisely three cars went past > his Albany home on U.S. Highway 99 E during the course of an entire Sunday > afternoon); before most of the things we now take for granted were in existence. > Even if we had blow by blow documentation of all these things in sequence, and > answerable statistical data regarding pheasant and quail populations > corresponding to the changes, it would still be hard to prove any certain cause > and effect relationship between them, even though we all can surmise that such > correlation exists. Like every other biological scenario, it is full of > complexities beyond our comprehension, and it leaves us with more questions than > answers. > > Darrel > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: "Wayne Hoffman" Subject: Re: [obol] The Willamette Valley, then and now Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 02:49:35 +0000 Size: 11729 Url: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090117/63a346be/attachment.mht From jeffgill at teleport.com Sat Jan 17 10:52:35 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 10:52:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Hunt: In-Reply-To: Message-ID: This is more complicated than I thought. Perhaps Joel's comments about corrugated tin sheets has merit. Might a few tin cans tucked into the grass also be a possibility? Perhaps corrugated plastic piping such as is used to drain water away form a house? That would reasonably mimic a vole's burrow. As always, we want to try to get physical evidence to support a first state record. This record (which I believe) is as almost all know is very surprising. That the species is not known to fly over mountain ranges and hasn't previously been recorded west of the Rockies really doesn't mean much. It is a very secretive species and I doubt that there is any evidence as to how high they can fly in migration. Additionally, even the Rockies and Cascades (as well as deserts) have patches of marshy grass and meadows. That it may only move rodent-like on its winter territory doesn't preclude it from being a wanderer that can fly long-distances. Note how many "skulky" rails and crakes have shown to be long distance vagrants. Its normal migration is generally from the northern tier of "eastern" states to southern states. Eastern migrants with migrations that are generally within the US (rather than to neo-tropical locations) are less likely to vagrate to Oregon. That written, Eastern Towhee and Red-headed Woodpecker occurred in Oregon in 2008, and Sedge Wren isn't that far off from that arbitrarily designated group of migrants. Really, that a species, even a pecies no one who I know predicted, can occur in Oregon as a vagrant shouldn't surprise us too much. A friend in California expressed some skepticism about this report, noting that the species hasn't been recorded in California. That shouldn't be a significant factor in considering this bird. Jeff Gilligan On 1/17/09 7:57 AM, "Dennis P. Vroman" wrote: > Good thought Jeff, > > As it turns out, this message was on "BIRDBAND" from an eastern bander and > was about capturing this particular Sparrow about the time of the reported > bird out our way. If a bander decides to capture the Sparrow in question, > they might find it interesting, . Dennis > > > "I hope one of you US banders can help me. Today I assisted a Georgia DNR > biologist in an attempt to band Henslow's Sparrows (HESP). We found at least > 10 birds, but were unable to band them. The thing that shocked me is that at > least 4 of them flew THROUGH our 33 mm mesh nets, and 2 of them were not > even slowed down. Only one was briefly detatained, while one just shrugged > and kept going. This is the standard net we use for small passerines. I > regularly catch chickadees, kinglets, gnatcatchers... Most of the birds I > band as sparrows. I've never seen any bird but a hummer fly through this > size net." > > Recommendations? > > Charlie Muise > Lamar County, GA > > > > > Subject: Re: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Hunt: follow-up to Joel's message > > >> Is there someone with a mist net and proper licensing who might try to >> capture, photograph, and release the bird? Jeff Gilligan > > From goosemiller at gmail.com Sat Jan 17 11:06:06 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 11:06:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mystery call: owl or otherwise? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <49722c1c.1b068e0a.4015.ffff836f@mx.google.com> The sound on my computer isn't great, but I don't think it is a goose. Maybe a seal? Marilyn Miller -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Rainer Wieland Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2009 7:25 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Cc: Monika Wieland Subject: [obol] Mystery call: owl or otherwise? My daughter heard and recorded a call in the middle of the night. We've puzzled over what this call may be and so I'm posting this for your suggestions and possible identification. She lives on a house boat on San Juan Island, WA. She posted details about the call on her blog http://orcawatcher.blogspot.com/2009/01/what-is-this-middle-of-night-mystery .html The recorded call can be played at http://tinyurl.com/7z54x6 Your feedback is appreciated. Cheers, Rainer Wieland Portland, OR _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From marciafcutler at comcast.net Sat Jan 17 11:27:20 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 11:27:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Hunt: followup to Joel's Message In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <72BE006ED9104105B0D9919011E57528@melvintrex4uoq> ADDENDUM: A subcommittee, consisting of Marcia Cutler, Hendrik Herlyn and Paula Vanderheul, was formed for the purpose of returning to a vehicle in order to get back to Corvallis by 11 a.m. During the course of the return, the subcommittee sighted a MERLIN eating some small creature. The Merlin retreated concommitant with our advance and then was chased out of its perching spot by a COOPER'S HAWK. Marcia F. Cutler Corvallis -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Jay Withgott Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 9:18 PM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Hunt: followup to Joel's message REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE TO RELOCATE AND CONFIRM THE E.E. WILSON HENSLOW'S SPARROW, Dated 16 January 2009 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Rich Armstrong, Marcia Cutler, Karl Fairchild, Joel Geier, Heidi Geier, Hendrik Herlyn, Paula Vanderheul, Jay Withgott TASK: The Committee, after duly appointing itself, tasked itself with refinding and confirming the illustrious Dr. Robinson's reported Henslow's Sparrow, in an attempt to increase the Oregon State List by one species and to bring glory to the State of Oregon and its birding community for the first documented individual of said species west of the Rockies. ACTIVITIES: Committee Members plodded, tromped, tripped, and stumbled over an increasingly tiresome area of grass, weedstalks, and brambles for all of the morning and half the afternoon. RESULTS: Committee Members' butts were collectively kicked by a little 5-inch bird. The Committee disintegrated in disarray throughout the day as members left, defeated, bruised, and psychologically beaten. .... Actually, it wasn't quite that bad. We had a good time, but boy, it was tough. I don't have much to add to Joel's excellent and detailed description, because after Joel left we never saw the bird again. That is, all of our observations were before 10:00 or so, despite off & on coverage by at least some of us until 3:30. I personally feel that our bird had to be the bird that Doug reported, because its behavior and locations were identical, and because in all the time we were there, in that whole area, there were NO other sparrows -- no other birds, in fact. All the Songs, Lincoln's, Foxes, etc., stayed in the bramble hedges that partially surround this grassier, lower-vegetation-profile area. Rich and Nanette had much the same experience yesterday afternoon. To repeat the upshot (read Joel's message for details): The bird or birds we flushed several times -- and, alas, never saw well -- was/were consistent with an Ammodramus sparrow in behavior and appearance. It was an extraordinarily elusive and sneaky bird, even for a sparrow. Given Doug's extensive experience with this species and given what we witnessed today, I am very intrigued by this bird. Despite our frustrations today, I would recommend that others pursue this bird, given the importance of confirming the species for Oregon. Kudos to Doug for finding the bird, and I hope that others can refind it and get good looks and photos. Jay Withgott, Portland PS -- I had 3 or 4 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS elsewhere at Wilson, Rich and I had a CINNAMON TEAL and HERRING GULL across the street at Toketee Marsh & Coffin Butte Landfill pond, and Karl and I had an entertaining STRIPED SKUNK parading around in broad daylight north of Doug's flagging tape. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From 4cains at charter.net Sat Jan 17 11:53:45 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 11:53:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mystery call: owl or otherwise? Message-ID: My first choice, given that this occurred next to a marina, is sea lion. I hear sounds identical to this all the time when I am looking at right them. Not a full out bark, but a short guttural vocalization is clearly heard 2/3 through the recording. Second choice is black bear, because it is also like very much like sounds I have heard bears make, but I don't know enough about the site to say if that is a likely occurrence. Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090117/dfdca487/attachment.html From lbviman at blackfoot.net Sat Jan 17 12:40:29 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:40:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] mist-netting Henslow's sparrow In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090117203937.B02369B0059@mail.blackfoot.net> Below question: Recommendation for net avoiding sparrow? Use a smaller mesh net, and since it's for specific species that stays low in vegetation, a one- or two-tier net should be all that's needed. At 01:00 PM 1/17/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >The thing that shocked me is that at >least 4 of them flew THROUGH our 33 mm mesh nets, and 2 of them were not >even slowed down. Only one was briefly detatained, while one just shrugged >and kept going. This is the standard net we use for small passerines. I >regularly catch chickadees, kinglets, gnatcatchers... Most of the birds I >band as sparrows. I've never seen any bird but a hummer fly through this >size net." > >Recommendations? > >Charlie Muise >Lamar County, GA From jvanmoo at sisna.com Sat Jan 17 12:40:07 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 12:40:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Winter Wings Festival Message-ID: <0E680D50-D773-4A69-B6F1-48A228B65581@sisna.com> Hi Folks, Looking for something to do Presidents' Day Weekend, February 13-15, 2009? Come to Klamath Falls for the Winter Wings Festival. Klamath Basin Audubon Society will host the 30th anniversary of the event (started as the Bald Eagle Conference) at Oregon Institute of Technology. Highlights; ***Pete Dunne, Director of the Cape May Bird Observatory, will be the keynote speaker on Friday, Feb. 13 ***Field Trips Flyouts Raptor Identification--Jeff Smith, Science Director, HawkWatch International Hawks for Beginners--Dick Ashford, Board President, Klamath Bird Observatory Refuge Discovery Photography-- Dave Menke, Lower Klamath NWR Outdoor Recreation Planner ***Workshops Birding by Ear--John Alexander, Director, Klamath Bird Observatory The Art of Pishing--Pete Dunne It's Not in My Field Guide!--Dan Gleason, author & retired Biologist, University of Oregon, OFO President Canon Photo Safari--Canon representatives ***Mini-sessions Harpy Eagles and other Neotropical Raptors--Ryan Phillips, Raptor Biologist, DeAnza College California Condor Recovery--Jesse Grantham, USFWS Biologist and California Condor Coordinator Oregon Owls--Damian Fagan, naturalist and photographer ***Receptions Keynote--Pete Dunne Aerie Afternoon Breakfast with the Eagles Taste of the Arts Also free family activities with hands-on nature-related craft projects and exhibits, live birds, vendors, displays, photo contest, etc. Visitors interested in more details should review the Festival website, www.winterwingsfest.org, for updated registration and program information. Call Travel Klamath at 1-800-445-6728 for travel information or contact Todd Christian, Festival Registrar at singingbear at charter.net or 541-850-0084 for festival brochures and registration information. On-line registration available. Special motel rates available from eight (8) motels and a B&B if you identify yourself as a festival attendee when you register. Hope to see you at the festival. Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090117/8df9cc2a/attachment.html From richarmstrong at comcast.net Sat Jan 17 13:25:53 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:25:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] no henslow's Message-ID: 1. a group that started at 1 at dawn and got to 6 people by 9 searched for the sparrow to about 11 this morning with ZERO success. 2. i don't think any of us even saw a possible candidate, absolutely nothing from the original field, which was a neat looking white icy tundra early, but with almost no fog today. 3. in surrounding fields we flushed lincoln's and song sparrows, but nothing else. 4. based on a couple we have seen in texas i agree with posts that henslow's can stay in same small area all winter, but unless this bird has figured out how to use vole holes or how to be under bramble patches, it was not in the field - and this field is probably 100/100 meters. we walked through every grass patch multiple times. 5. other birds seen include a snow goose, a shrike, multiple cooper's hawks, and a few varied thrushes as well as all the normals. Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090117/b99d54db/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Sat Jan 17 13:36:37 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:36:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Hunt: In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49724F65.7010701@verizon.net> Jeff Gilligan wrote: > > Additionally, even the Rockies and Cascades > (as well as deserts) have patches of marshy grass and meadows. > > > Just want to point out that despite being an Ammodramus, Henslow's Sparrow is not a marsh bird. Like Grasshopper Sparrow, this species prefers dry fields, at least in my experience. So, yes, meadows, but I don't think marshy grass really makes much of a difference to the species. I'm not sure about winter preference though. Cheers Dave Lauten > > > From Tana.Ellis at oregonstate.edu Sat Jan 17 13:30:27 2009 From: Tana.Ellis at oregonstate.edu (Ellis, Tana) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:30:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bird Banders and Point Counter needed Message-ID: BIRD BANDERS needed (mid May - Aug 2009) for a masters research project on the productivity of songbirds in early-seral conifer forest. Fieldwork will be in the Coast Range of north-western Oregon. Responsibilities include mist-netting, ageing/sexing and banding a variety of bird species, collecting blood samples, trapping arthropods, surveying vegetation, hiking in difficult terrain, navigating with GPS, and data entry. Workdays begin early (4-5 am) 5 to 6 days per week. Preferred applicants will have prior field experience banding and removing birds from mist-nets. Self-motivation, good physical condition, ability to work well in a group living situation, and willingness to spend long hours in the field are a must. Pay is $1550 to $2000 per month, depending on experience. Housing and transportation to and from field sites is provided. Work and play in the Corvallis area, where there are nearby opportunities for exceptional mountain and coastal recreation. TO APPLY: Please email letter of interest, resume, and three professional references to Tana Ellis (EM: tana.ellis AT oregonstate.edu). Candidates will be hired as applications are received. AVIAN POINT COUNTER needed (May - July 2009) for a masters research project on the occurrence of songbirds in early-seral conifer forest. Fieldwork will be in the Coast Range of north-western Oregon. Responsibilities include multi-species point counts, identifying field sites using GIS and aerial imagery, independently navigating logging roads using maps, surveying vegetation, hiking in difficult terrain, navigating with GPS, and data entry. Workdays begin early (4-5 am) 5 to 6 days per week. Candidates with a strong background in bird identification by sight and sound and previous experience point counting are strongly preferred. Self-motivation, good physical condition, ability to work well in a group living situation, and willingness to spend long hours in the field are a must. Pay is $1550 to $2000 per month, depending on experience. Housing and transportation to and from field sites is provided. Work and play in the Corvallis area, where there are nearby opportunities for exceptional mountain and coastal recreation. TO APPLY: Please email letter of interest, resume, and three professional references to Tana Ellis (EM: tana.ellis AT oregonstate.edu). Candidate will be hired as applications are received. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090117/371a97c7/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Sat Jan 17 14:31:26 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:31:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow - habitat in winter. Message-ID: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henslow's_Sparrow This site refers to the species migrating to marshy areas in winter. I googled "Henslow's Sparrow habitat". A Michigan conservation page refers to low, damp grassy habitats, and indicates that they also occur in drier habitats. Another site refers to wet pine forest floors in winter (wet pine forest floors...a strange concept to me...) My experience with the species is very limited. Decades ago a bander/birder in Illinois took me to site near Rockford where we saw territorial Henslow's Sparrows. As I recall, that site was a remnant of tall prairie grass, and that it was damp. Jeff Gilligan From withgott at comcast.net Sat Jan 17 14:56:13 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:56:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow - habitat in winter. In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: ... and of course, check out the paper that Doug Robinson pointed us all to in the first place, along with certain citations within it. (http://www.auburn.edu/~grandjb/wildpop/readings/Occupancy/Tucker_et_al_2003.pdf). It was in part his experience studying them in winter, leading to this publication, that enabled him to feel confidence in the identification. - J At 2:31 PM -0800 1/17/09, Jeff Gilligan wrote: >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henslow's_Sparrow > > >This site refers to the species migrating to marshy areas in winter. I >googled "Henslow's Sparrow habitat". > >A Michigan conservation page refers to low, damp grassy habitats, and >indicates that they also occur in drier habitats. > >Another site refers to wet pine forest floors in winter (wet pine forest >floors...a strange concept to me...) > >My experience with the species is very limited. Decades ago a bander/birder >in Illinois took me to site near Rockford where we saw territorial Henslow's >Sparrows. As I recall, that site was a remnant of tall prairie grass, and >that it was damp. > > >Jeff Gilligan > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From larmcqueen at msn.com Sat Jan 17 15:04:48 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 15:04:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Hunt: followup to Joel's message In-Reply-To: <3DD81E8D-7568-4670-AE84-0953B20D41EB@theriver.com> Message-ID: I found Henslow's wintering in Louisiana in dry grass in a pine forest. In my limited experience, they are reluctant to fly; people can practically stem on them as they sit tight. Kinda like Jack Snipe! Larry From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Jan 17 17:07:09 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 17:07:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] How to catch a vole with wings Message-ID: <1232240829.3630.45.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hi folks, Just to be clear, I was engaging in a bit of hyperbole with my comment about the putative Henslow's Sparrow seeming to make use of "underground vole runs." Just a bit of hyperbole, though. The bird does seem to move quickly under matted grasses, and I would not doubt that it's capable of using surficial vole runs which are abundant in the area in which it's been seen. Any attempt at mist-netting might be foiled by this behavior, unless the net is extremely well staked to the ground. Knowing how much trouble I've had keeping our banty hens from crawling under chicken wire staked to rough, grassy ground, and knowing what the ground looks like out there, this seems like a very difficult task. Still, if Doug managed to get a partial view, and based on the idea that this species tends to stick to a small winter territory, then I think that with patience and persistence, others will manage to do the same or better. Yesterday I had my best luck with a patient, stalking approach that has worked for me on other Ammodramus sp. in the upper Midwest, versus the "skirmish line" approach that a group of us we tried later on. I'm suspecting that the latter approach might work better in more uniform habitats where there are likely to be multiple Henslow's Sparrows. However a single bird in the type of habitat out there, which offers abundant patches of cover under brambles etc., could easily evade such tactics. I'll admit that I started off a little skeptical on this bird, despite the stellar qualifications of the initial reporter. However, the more I think about yesterday's encounter, the more I'm convinced that we were dealing with an Ammodramus sparrow. Starting from that, then based on the general coloration that I saw, it's hard to go with anything but Henslow's. I plan to keep working on this bird off and on for the next week, as often as I can find the time. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From cyncay at comcast.net Sat Jan 17 17:27:53 2009 From: cyncay at comcast.net (Cindy Talbott-Nelson) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 17:27:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mystery call: owl or otherwise? In-Reply-To: <20090117084000.cey5bqujkkc48ogs@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Message-ID: <20090118012755.96C31A8239@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> I'm with Greg. I hear sea lion also. C -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Greg Gillson Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2009 8:40 AM To: OBOL Subject: Re: [obol] Mystery call: owl or otherwise? I hear a California Sea Lion. Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.7/1895 - Release Date: 1/16/2009 3:09 PM From luk916 at hotmail.com Sat Jan 17 18:16:51 2009 From: luk916 at hotmail.com (Luke Redmond) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 21:16:51 -0500 Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island Barn Swallow, Jan 17 Message-ID: I birded Sauvie Island this afternoon for a few hours. The most notable bird was a BARN SWALLOW approximately 200m from the end of Rentenaar Rd at around 315pm. I had decent looks at it as it appeared to forage over the fields on both sides of the road and my best guess would be a second year bird based on the short outer tail feathers. Good birding. Luke Redmond _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?: Chat. Store. Share. Do more with mail. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_hm_justgotbetter_howitworks_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090117/ccc03023/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Sat Jan 17 19:24:48 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 19:24:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow - habitat in winter. References: Message-ID: <008501c9791c$53d3e290$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> All, All this discussion on Henslow's is making me grateful. I lived in Michigan in 1967-8, and birded a little. Precisely one time I saw a bird of this species perched on top of some tall grass stalks along a roadside ditch. They are a really unique appearing species if you happen to see them well. Guess I was fortunate. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Gilligan" To: "OBOL" Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2009 2:31 PM Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow - habitat in winter. > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henslow's_Sparrow > > > This site refers to the species migrating to marshy areas in winter. I > googled "Henslow's Sparrow habitat". > > A Michigan conservation page refers to low, damp grassy habitats, and > indicates that they also occur in drier habitats. > > Another site refers to wet pine forest floors in winter (wet pine forest > floors...a strange concept to me...) > > My experience with the species is very limited. Decades ago a > bander/birder > in Illinois took me to site near Rockford where we saw territorial > Henslow's > Sparrows. As I recall, that site was a remnant of tall prairie grass, and > that it was damp. > > > Jeff Gilligan > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jeffgill at teleport.com Sat Jan 17 19:48:26 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 19:48:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] How to catch a vole with wings In-Reply-To: <1232240829.3630.45.camel@localhost.localdomain> Message-ID: On 1/17/09 5:07 PM, "Joel Geier" wrote: > Hi folks, > > Just to be clear, I was engaging in a bit of hyperbole with my comment > about the putative Henslow's Sparrow seeming to make use of "underground > vole runs." > > Note that Doug Robinson indicated in a private email that Henslow's Sparrows do in fact retreat to tortoise holes when being harassed on their winter grounds in the south. That they might take refuge in vole holes in Oregon isn't that far fetched. Jeff Gilligan From namitzr at hotmail.com Sat Jan 17 20:36:23 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 20:36:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] EE Wilson birds & misc. comments, YTWA photo Message-ID: Early this morning at the flagged sparrow site at EE Wilson, there were a few notable birds that flew over. Two SNOW GEESE (both singles in differnt Canada flocks), NORTHERN SHRIKE, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK & 25 TUNDRA SWANS. On the way out, there was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW along the paved road. Rodent-like or not, stepped on or not, I was not able to detect any sparrow from the grass field itself (i.e. not in blackberry tangle). I was there from 7:30am to 10:30am. I did however, see 3 different voles, which got the blood pumping each time. I feel confident that, at least this morning, the bird was not present in the initial field where it was detected. At Fern Ridge Reservoir in Eugene, John Sullivan and I walked the field at the Fisher Butte Unit for 1.5 hrs where the Jack Snipe was reported without detecting a single snipe. Two marginal photos of the Langlois YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER can be seen here. http://surfbirds.com/albums/showgallery.php/cat/594 Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090117/0dbdb8ae/attachment.html From md at teleport.com Sat Jan 17 20:38:59 2009 From: md at teleport.com (Sumner Sharpe) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 20:38:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tree Swallows at Ridgefield Message-ID: <001201c97926$ae723c10$0b56b430$@com> We spotted three tree swallows this morning at Ridgefield. Sumner Sharpe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090117/a38ae423/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Sat Jan 17 20:58:38 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 20:58:38 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: DUNLIN, BARN & TREE SWALLOWS Message-ID: <214613.37515.qm@web55101.mail.re4.yahoo.com> My mother (Olive) and I birded from 8:30A.M. to 3:30P.M. at Ridgefield. We joined Carol Ledford 11A.M. onward on the River "S" Unit at Ridgefield NWR (~4mi W of I-5 at Exit 14 in SW Washington; http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ ). Highlights: TREE & BARN SWALLOWS: Bravo for Northward position holding SWALLOWS! Carol and I counted a combined minimum of six. Both BARN & TREE were first of the year for both of us. We saw these early SWALLOWS over the road between Rest Lake and S Big Lake. We watched them over both wetlands and while they crossed the road in front of us several times. DUNLIN: While we were on the E side of Rest Lake, Carol was scoping the shallow S end, where she spotted and counted 51 DUNLIN. They were a pretty surprising find for us on this bright and cold winter day. HOARFROST: When Olive and I arrived on the River "S" Unit at 8:30A.M. it was quite foggy and 27 degrees, with hoarfrost on Cattails, Teasels, spider webs, grasses, and nearly everything else -- Beautiful! Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores Complete list of 51 species seen / heard: Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Cackling Goose Canada Goose (~ 20 Dusky CGs, 4 with collars ) Tundra Swan Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Ring-necked Duck LESSER SCAUP Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Ruddy Duck Bald Eagle Northern Harrier (females, juveniles and one prime plumed male) COOPER'S HAWK (100 yds W of entrance booth) Red-tailed Hawk HARLAN'S RED-TAILED HAWK DARK MORPH RED-TAILED HAWK ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK American Kestrel American Coot Sandhill Crane Killdeer DUNLIN (51 counted on Rest Lake) Ring-billed Gull Belted Kingfisher Downy Woodpecker Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow TREE SWALLOW BARN SWALLOW Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin European Starling Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird From craig at greatskua.com Sat Jan 17 21:05:31 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:05:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow - habitat in winter. Message-ID: <20090117220531.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.6f6666823b.wbe@email.secureserver.net> All, I've enjoyed following the posts about the search for the reported Henslow's sparrow. I have some first-hand experience with Henslow's sparrow breeding and wintering habitat back East. In my previous job with an environmental consulting firm in Northern Virginia, I did a number of surveys and habitat assessments for Henslow's sparrows, which is a state-threatened species in Virginia. To prepare for this work, I did a good deal of research on what is known about Henslow's sparrow breeding habitat, and I did some vegetation characterization in a field at the Manassas National Battlefield Park where Henslow's sparrows successfully nested in summer 2005. In the core of their range, Henslow's sparrows typically nest in tallgrass prairie habitats or fields that resemble tallgrass prairie. Further east, where the species is more sparsely distributed, Henslow's sparrows most often nest in fields with a predominance of native warm season grasses such as Andropogon, Sorghastrum, and Schizycharium and a good diversity of native forbs. The fields in which they nest also often have occasional tree seedlings, which the sparrows use as singing perches. Henslow's sparrows are often found in the damp fields, but will use drier fields as well. In West Virginia and western Maryland, they nest in revegetated strip mines. I spent two weeks of March 2007 in east-central Arkansas, and during a free weekend, I did some birding at a site in south-central Arkansas where Henslow's sparrows winter. Habitat in this area would be characterized as open pine savanna. In this area, I saw three or four Henslow's sparrows in more open grassy meadows within the pines. This habitat is very different than typical nesting habitat. At this site, there were low, wet areas in the meadows, but the meadows were predominantly non-wetland. The grasses in the meadows were not particularly dense or tall. The Henslow's sparrows there were also not particularly hard to observe. When first flushed, they typically flew to another patch of grass and disappeared; but after being flushed two or three times, they typically flew to low, woody vegetation where they were easily observed (though they didn't often remain in the open for more than a minute or two). I've observed this type of behavior during fall migration in Virginia, as well. In my experience, grasshopper sparrows, Nelson's sharp-tailed sparrows, and saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrows are more difficult to observe in non-breeding season than Henslow's sparrows because they don't seem to flush to more easily observable areas, as the Arkansas Henslow's sparrows did for me. I've uploaded several photos of Henslow's sparrows and their winter habitat in Arkansas for anyone interested (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=craigPDX&target=PHOTO&id=5292483021662002722&aid=5292482976459218641&authkey=XYeqqRhdbDA&feat=email). You can see in the photos, that the herbaceous vegetation in this area is not particularly tall or dense - much lesstall and dense than the typical stand of reed canarygrass. But, regardless of Henslow's sparrow habitat preferences in the core of their distribution, out-of-range birds often turn up in not-so-typical habitats, so the fact that the reed canarygrass patch where the EE Wilson sparrow was observed doesn't mean that the bird is not a Henslow's sparrow. Hopefully the sparrow at E.E. Wilson can be found and its ID confirmed. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow - habitat in winter. > From: Jeff Gilligan > Date: Sat, January 17, 2009 2:31 pm > To: OBOL > > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henslow's_Sparrow > > > This site refers to the species migrating to marshy areas in winter. I > googled "Henslow's Sparrow habitat". > > A Michigan conservation page refers to low, damp grassy habitats, and > indicates that they also occur in drier habitats. > > Another site refers to wet pine forest floors in winter (wet pine forest > floors...a strange concept to me...) > > My experience with the species is very limited. Decades ago a bander/birder > in Illinois took me to site near Rockford where we saw territorial Henslow's > Sparrows. As I recall, that site was a remnant of tall prairie grass, and > that it was damp. > > > Jeff Gilligan > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sat Jan 17 21:32:28 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 21:32:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] The Hunting of the Ammodramus Message-ID: <051104068E0741E1BB318CCB7F150D3A@yourw5st28y9a3> After reading a day's worth of Henslow's Sparrow news and speculations, I feel obliged to offer some advice, as given by The Bellman in Lewis Carroll's The Hunting of the Snark: "'You may seek it with thimbles- and seek it with care; You may hunt it with forks and hope; You may threaten its life with a railway share; You may charm it with smiles and soap---" The peculiar wrinkle in Snark hunting is that YOU will disappear if it not a snark, so take encouragement from your advantage over the snark hunter. Pamela Johnston From margieparis1 at mac.com Sat Jan 17 21:36:33 2009 From: margieparis1 at mac.com (Margie Paris) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 21:36:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yellow-shafted Flicker in Eugene In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Dear Obol, Gary Tepfer had a Yellow-shafted Flicker at his suet feeder yesterday in the south Eugene hills. Best, Margie Paris 2394 Charnelton Street Eugene, OR 97405 (541) 484-0763 margieparis1 at mac.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090117/7b6a20cc/attachment.html From danpvdb at yahoo.com Sat Jan 17 21:49:35 2009 From: danpvdb at yahoo.com (Dan van den Broek) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 21:49:35 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Long-tailed Duck Boiler Bay flyby References: <001201c97926$ae723c10$0b56b430$@com> Message-ID: <213872.95544.qm@web55305.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Hi All PAS Master Birding group went to the coast today (January 17th). It was a sunny and warm day which made for pleasant winter birding. The highlight of the trip was a female Long-tailed Duck flying south with a flock of about 30 Surf Scoters at Boiler Bay. We also had Red-necked Grebes, Pigeon Guillemots, Marbled Murrelets, 2 Brown Pelicans flying north, and White-winged Scoters. Savannah Sparrow and Western Meadowlarks on the South Jetty Rd of Yaquina Bay. Two more Brown Pelicans, 4 Common Godeneye, Common Loons and a Pacific Loon at the Marina by the Marine Science Center. At Sally's Bend we had Red-breasted Mergansers, Horned Grebes, Brant, and a Ruddy Duck. We searched for Snow Buntings, Palm Warblers and Lapland Longspurs, but no luck. -Dan -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090117/03df48c9/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Jan 17 22:46:06 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:46:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Clatsop County 1/16-17 Message-ID: <6bf0d906e50fe18605a8c8d11cc59590@earthlink.net> Gulls at Wireless Road on Friday night were hard to observe. One flock to the north and west of the road (distant and into the sun) many gulls behind the barn where residue of crab processing is heaped by the cubic yard. An additional flock very distant under the powerline to the east. Among the birds on a barn roof I could discern a NELSON'S. All of the willows around Young's Bay are devoid of open catkins-"pussy willows"- at the moment. I noticed some out on the east side of Coos Bay the day before the Coos Bay CBC (December 13). I remember pussy willows on the north bank of the Coquille River in early December of 1988. Very widespread frost on Saturday morning from Seaside to Knappa, where I decided the Marshland Tufted Duck was too far and turned around at 5:30 am. A stiff east wind at Wireless Road before sunrise. Perhaps my excessive winter birding in Coos County has ruined me for life. I went to the Coast and spent the night in Clatsop County for the first time in decades because of the Pacific Rim Wrestling Tournament, but thew tipping point was a weather forecast promising temperatures in the sixties. No gulls between Binder Slough and Tucker Creek where Mike Patterson saw a second winter Glaucous Gull earlier this week. The fact that these fields were largely frozen was probably a contributing factor. The field north of Capp Road had at least 700 CACKLING GEESE. I scanned it carefully and it was pure CACKLERS, possibly all minima, save one pale pair of equally small size. More were coming in from the north the whole time I was there (I arrived at 8am). Eventually Western Canada Geese began to arrive in smaller flocks, but landed apart from the CACKLERS. Back at wireless road the gulls were concentrated well to the east of the sharp bend under the powerline. The wind was as strong as ever, my resolve at its weakest. No obvious Glaucous Gulls, nor the prospect there-of worth the obvious physical discomfort required. An adult RED-SHOULDERED HAWK due east of the jct with Stoner Road promised to be the best bird of the morning. Up the Lewis and Clark Road a flock of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE due west of the Lewis and CLark Cemetary. 8 adults and 12 juveniles. In the same flock a number of CACKLERS (all taverni if I remember right) and some Western Canadas. A flock 300m north had no Cacklers, but a dozen or more DUSKY CANADA GEESE, one with a neck collar too distant to read, and half a dozen Western Canadas. 6 GREATER SCAUP were on the river just upstream of the bridge that joins the Lewis and Clark Road to Fort Clatsop Road. Immediately east of Lewis and Clark Cemetary at least 100 RAVENS were gathered at the edge of the woods. It was very hard to get an accurate count as they were perched widely in trees, on the ground, flying about in very short sorties. When I heard them I assumed a dead elk or cow had attracted them. But closer inspection did not bear that out. I wonder if it could be some kind of early spring social event. On the Necanicum immediately west of Seaside High School I saw 4 Common GOLDENEYE in two separate flocks. Many gulls were loafing on flats created by the ebb tide, but nothing more exotic than HERRRING and THAYER'S. The flock moved about as the tide and low-tide pedestrians influenced them. Walking north along the shore at 2pm I came upon my first Seaside SCRUB JAYS. I saw some in Gearhart two years ago, and know they were already established in this part of Seaside then. But as a Willamette Valley native, it was a special feeling to watch them with my feet below the high-tide line. The shore pines at the spot in question are colonizing former saltmarsh, and resemble the structure of some juniper forests in eastern Oregon. Within the same minute of spotting the Scrub Jays I saw a second winter GLAUCOUS GULL in the very large flock of gulls loafing near the spot where Neawanna Creek joins the Neccanicum. In the bright early afternoon sunlight it looked unreal to the \naked eye- perhaps a beached Clorox bottle at the edge of the flock. But in the scope it became a gull, the same size and shape as its grungy compasnions. The Cove at sunset had no loons or Cormorants. HARLEQUIN DUCKS outnumbered all other birds on the water by the time I turned around at what may be called Third Point. I saw 5 in the first flock, almost within sight of the surfers' parking lot. Each subsequent flock was twice the size as the previous, and the breakers were twice as high. There were 37 ducks in the final flock. When 15 foot waves broke they sat calmly beneath, gradually emerging as the froth settled. I had seen at least 60 when fading light turned me around at 5:30. It did get up into the 60s at the High School for many hours in the afternoon. Lars Norgren From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Sat Jan 17 23:32:33 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 23:32:33 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] E.E.Wilson Midday Shift Message-ID: <752465.45506.qm@web30408.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I spent 3 hours at the location of the reported Henslow's Sparrow, arriving at noon, leaving at three. I saw no Ammodramus sparrows. Much of the time I stood silently alone. From time to time I played recordings of all 4 Ammodramus species. For a time, the habitat was disrupted by rabbit hunters, who fired perhaps 10 rounds within 100 meters of the sparrow site. Maitreya From raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Sun Jan 18 09:43:46 2009 From: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com (Jeff Fleischer) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 09:43:46 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] ECBC Linn County Unit 3 January raptor results Message-ID: <715603.89481.qm@web50905.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Obolers, Yesterday 1-17-09 I completed the second half of Unit 3's raptor survey for the East Cascades Bird Conservancy Winter Raptor Project. The day started under a blanket of fog which reduced visibility to under a quarter mile in a lot of places. By 11 AM, the fog was no longer a factor and visibility under sunny skies was unimpeded. It was a great day for looking for birds of prey and the results were no less than great! Unit 3 covers the area of Linn County bordered on the north by Hwy 34, on the south by Hwy 228, on the west by the Willamette River, and on the east by the foothills of the Cascades. A total of 189.7 miles were covered during 11 hours and 30 minutes of surveying on two days. Following is a listing of birds observed west (section A - the section that I did) and east (section B - completed by Cheryl Whelchel on 11-11) of I-5, the dividing line between these two sections: Section A / B / Jan 09 total / Dec 08 total Red-tailed Hawk 65 / 59 / 124 / 93 American Kestrel 56 / 41 / 97 / 64 Northern Harrier 11 / 15 / 26 / 13 Bald Eagle 19 / 41 / 60 / 25 Rough-legged Hawk 4 / 6 / 10 / 17 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 / 0 / 1 / 0 UnID Buteo 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 / 0 / 1 / 0 Prairie Falcon 1 / 2 / 3 / 1 Cooper's Hawk 2 / 0 / 2 / 0 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 / 0 / 2 / 0 Short-eared Owl 0 / 1 / 1 / 1 Burrowing Owl 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 The totals for RTHA were the second highest monthly count recorded in this project now into its fifth winter, trailing only the 168 tallied in Nov 05. The totals for AMKE were the fifth highest monthly count, short of the high of 115 counted in Dec 05. After "suffering" through the last two winters with noticeably lower numbers for these two major species in the project, it was indeed refreshing to see the return of "good" numbers again :) Of course, Bald Eagle numbers were again a significant contributor to the total count as well, part of the 128 that I saw last Saturday on the Linn County Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey. Regarding specific sightings yesterday in section A, the PEFA was seen along Oakville Rd at the start of the day, the PRFA was observed along Pugh Rd just west of the railroad tracks (Cheryl's two observations were on Glaser Rd and Ridge Dr east of I-5) , and the immature RSHA was seen on the south portion of Danner Rd just west of Powerline Rd. I checked all the major culverts that have provided shelter for Burrowing Owls and found zero birds and no fresh sign near or on the culverts. Plans are to conduct my raptor survey for Unit 4, which is located south of Unit 3, tommorrow. Unit 4 has historically been a bigger raptor number area since I started these surveys and I am looking forward to seeing comparable "good" numbers again in this area :) Jeff Fleischer Albany From kosciuch at gmail.com Sun Jan 18 09:41:51 2009 From: kosciuch at gmail.com (Karl Kosciuch) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 09:41:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ancient Murrelet - Bioler Bay - 1/17/09 Message-ID: Greetings - I had two Ancient Murrelets at Boiler Bay at noon on Saturday, 1/17/09. Both birds, one in alternate plumage, were found just south of the main vantage point Seems that these birds are hanging around the area and we had nice looks with a scope. Cheers, Karl -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090118/a515088e/attachment.html From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Sun Jan 18 10:09:31 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (Gerard Lillie) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 10:09:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Test Message-ID: <00c001c97997$e9859c40$bc90d4c0$@lillie@comcast.net> Test only -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090118/1e860a76/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Jan 18 10:42:28 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:42:28 +0000 Subject: [obol] High quality images of Acorn Woodpecker and American Robin needed. Message-ID: Greetings All, I am preparing a BirdFellow blog piece on the geographical variation in several bird species based on a recent trip to Baja California Sur. I don't have a good picture of either a local Acorn Woodpecker or a local American Robin for comparison to the resident Acorn Woodpeckers (which have dark eyes and more streaking) and the San Lucas American Robins (which are paler, call differently, and have different bill color) that I saw and photographed in B.C.S. If anyone has images of these relative common PNW birds, I would be most grateful. You will be properly credited in the photo. All I need is reasonable close-ups that show these species in profile in a .jpg file format. Please provide the date and location of the photo and what kind of camera setup was used to take the image. Thanks in advance for your help. I will post a note once I receive suitable materials so I won't get flooded with pix. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_howitworks_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090118/3d58e980/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Sun Jan 18 11:19:11 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:19:11 EST Subject: [obol] Little Blue Heron - New Location Message-ID: Hello All, We just received a call from Dan Heyerly, 11:00 AM Sunday, Jan. 18th. He is watching the LITTLE BLUE HERON at a slightly different location than previously reported. The Little Blue is being seen from Hwy 101 approximately 1/4 mile South of Drift Creek Road in Siletz Bay. There is a parking area on the east side of Hwy 101 just south of the Drift Creek Bridge that crosses Hwy 101. The Heron is approximately 100 yards south of this parking area on the Bay side of Hwy 101. John Sullivan & Laura Jonhson Springfield, Oregon **************Inauguration '09: Get complete coverage from the nation's capital.(http://www.aol.com?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000027) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090118/26f71417/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Jan 18 11:45:43 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:45:43 +0000 Subject: [obol] American Robin images received, still need an Acorn Woodpecker picture Message-ID: I have received a couple good images of American Robins, so you can refrain from sending more, but I am still in search of a good Acorn Woodpecker picture. Make sure that it shows the underparts and eyes if possible. Thanks, Dave Irons _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_howitworks_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090118/837b98e1/attachment.html From brownnab at gmail.com Sun Jan 18 12:26:58 2009 From: brownnab at gmail.com (Nancy Brown) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 12:26:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Off topic - Florida Birding Places Message-ID: Hello - A birder friend and I going to Florida Feb 19-25, to do some birding. We plan to visit the Ding Darling reserve on Sanibel Island, and also the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples (where I'll be staying). If anyone is familiar with Ding Darling and has some suggestions on the best places to hit there, or if there are other places we shouldn't miss in the area, I'd sure appreciate them. I understand the Wood Storks are back nesting at Corkscrew after a two year hiatus, so that'll be an amazing sight. Please respond off list - thanks! Nancy Brown NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090118/12d82e64/attachment.html From 4cains at charter.net Sun Jan 18 12:49:48 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 12:49:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck still at Woodson Message-ID: <2875F625553D4F17A8C1E0EBD76103C9@HAL> Evan and I found the TUFTED DUCK near Westport this am. It was with about 500 other scaup, near the dike, and allowed us to take photos which he may post later. The exact location was about 1/4 mile east of the junction of River Front Rd and Midland District rds, just east of the skinny willow island that is next to the road. Raptors seen in the area were: Red-tailed Hawk -- 8 Northern Harrier -- 5 Bald Eagle -- 4 American Kestrel -- 2 Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090118/446176c3/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Jan 18 13:17:11 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 13:17:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Raptor Count: Youngs Bay Route - 1/18/2009 Message-ID: <49739C57.9090104@pacifier.com> More kestrels than usual, curiously few Bald Eagles... Date: January 18, 2009 Location: Clatsop County, Oregon Temperature: 40 degrees fahrenheit Wind direction: SE Prevailing wind speed: 20-28 km/h Youngs Bay Route - 61mi; 2hr Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Bald Eagle 1 Northern Harrier 2 Red-tailed Hawk 8 American Kestrel 5 Total number of species seen: 4 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Studies in ambiguity http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/ambiguity20090111.html From lbviman at blackfoot.net Sun Jan 18 13:43:34 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:43:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Henslow's winter habitat In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090118214240.CD0939B0043@mail.blackfoot.net> I have zero experience with Henslow's sparrow but have trekked MANY wet pine forests in winter -- the entire coastal plain of the eastern part of North America is mixed hardwood-conifer, hardwood, and pure stands of pine forests, many of them at and just above sea level. Hence, "wet" in winter. If that's the area in which to find Henslow's "normally", then it makes sense to me, and would not be unlikely to find them in similar situations elsewhere. Perhaps by "non-marsh" researchers were referring to preferred "niche" rather than habitat - Jim Greaves, Montana At 01:00 PM 1/18/2009, Jeff Gilligan, at obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >Another site refers to wet pine forest floors in winter (wet pine forest >floors...a strange concept to me...) From douglas.robinson at oregonstate.edu Sun Jan 18 14:18:59 2009 From: douglas.robinson at oregonstate.edu (Douglas Robinson) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:18:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] More on the Henslow's Sparrow at EEWilson, 15 Jan Message-ID: Hi folks, I was out of town the last few days and responded to only a couple emails about the Henslow's Sparrow. Given the interesting range of responses, I thought I would summarize more about the sighting. First, here are the fieldmarks I saw from a distance of about 8 feet: chunky bodied sparrow with an olive nape, tertials with a broad rufous distal margin, and a scaly-appearing back. The back feathers were very round-tipped (not elongated) and black with dark chestnut toward the distal edges. Each feather was edged with a very narrow (about 1 mm) and uniform-width white fringe. It's the fringes on dark feathers that made the back appear "scaly." As I reported earlier, when I flushed the bird first by nearly stepping on it, it flew about 4 feet and dived into a patch of grass. The bunch of grass it was under had a gap in the canopy and I could see the bird move into an open space. I moved slightly and focused my binoculars on the bird. I could see the nape, back, and upper edge of the right wing (tertials) very clearly. The rest of the bird was mostly obscured by grass. I watched it there for several seconds and it was not moving. So I tried to shift to the side carefully so I could see the head better. As I did, the bird ran out of sight. I then took a couple steps forward to where it had been sitting and it flew into a briar patch. I watched carefully as it flew. When the bird flew, it did so with a "herky-jerky" movement; low flight that is somewhat indirect in that it seemed like the bird was being pulled forward by the side of its head, rather than going straight ahead. I quickly walked up to the briars and tried for 2 or 3 minutes to re-locate it. I had no success, but knew I had seen enough to make a conclusive identification (see below), and I decided that if other people were going to see it, I had better not harass it any more. (Yeah, imagine that; walking away from a Henslow's Sparrow in Oregon because you want others to have a chance at it. I did the same thing with the Sedge Wren last year in this same field. When I flushed the Sedge Wren as I was walking slowly through the field I hardly broke stride and kept right on walking. My first thought was: "Ah ha, a Sedge Wren. Other people will want to see that, so I'll leave it alone for now.") So, why is seeing the nape, back, and tertials enough for a conclusive identification? If you know Ammodramus sparrows, you know that is enough. First and foremost, no other species has a nape the same color. Henslow's has that dark olive-green color, which is like no other species. Second, combine that with a rufous wing patch caused by the colored patch in the tertials and the scaly-appearing back pattern and you have eliminated all the other possibilities. For example, LeConte's, Sharp-tailed, and Grasshopper sparrows have grayish napes (all with somewhat different patterns of streaking on them and Grasshoppers have more of a buffy-gray nape); Baird's has a paler, rather buffy nape. None of the other common local sparrows like Savannah, Swamp, Lincoln's or Song Sparrows have an olive nape. All the other species have back patterns that look streaky, which is largely caused by back feather shape and the occurrence of broader color patterns toward the margins of the back feathers. Henslow's is different in that, in fresher plumages as they would be in during fall and early winter, those fringes are narrow and give the whole back a scaly appearance. Last, the broad rufous tertial margins are not present in LeConte's (very buffy instead), Sharp-tailed (darker brown with narrow paler edge), Grasshopper (patterned brown and buff), Baird's (very buffy edges), Lincoln's (buffy to tan edges), nor Savannah (pale buffy fringe). Song and Swamp have some rusty-brown wing feathers, but typically the pattern is different; in Swamp the rusty is brighter toward the inner instead of outer edge and in Song the red-brown is dull and does not contrast that much with the rest of the wing. Note, too, that both Marsh and Sedge Wrens have streaky backs. I won't go into all the other reasons Henslow's Sparrows are not wrens. So, if you get a clear look at nape, back, and tertials, you can eliminate the other possible identifications. It's too bad the folks who tried later the afternoon I found the Henslow's Sparrow and the next day did not get a clear look, but they all know now how hard it is to relocate a Henslow's Sparrow during winter. They are incredibly elusive. They prefer to run on the ground whenever possible. When pressed, they hide in underground tunnels such as tortoise burrows (the Southeast USA) and vole holes. So, to finish a long email, let me summarize my experience with this and similar species. First, this is not the first Henslow's Sparrow I have seen. I have studied the species on its wintering grounds in Alabama and Florida. The previous posting had a link to a pdf of a paper I wrote with my graduate student on winter habitat use of Henslow's Sparrows. I have seen dozens of these guys during winter. That is another reason I did not continue to chase the EE Wilson bird for better looks. I know the bird's flight behavior, I know the key field marks that make a short or obscured look a conclusive identification, and I know how tough they are to see well. I have also seen the species regularly in Illinois during spring and summer (check my book Southern Illinois Birds, 1996, for a nice photo of a Henslow's Sparrow). Last, I have seen hundreds to thousands of all the aforementioned species except Baird's. I've gotten one look at Baird's ever, excepting studies of specimens in museums. LeConte's are regular in winter in southern Illinois and I have seen hundreds of them over the years; yes, hundreds. Enough of a long email. I hope someone else can get the bird to cooperate long enough to get good looks. Would be great to move this Henslow's Sparrow out of the single-observer record category and into a multi-observer Oregon record. Have fun out there, and try stomping through some fields this winter; you never know what you might kick up. Douglas Robinson -- W. Douglas Robinson Dept of Fisheries and Wildlife 104 Nash Hall And Oak Creek Lab of Biology Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331 http://fw.oregonstate.edu/robinson 541-737-9501 From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Sun Jan 18 15:00:20 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:00:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Columbia County Common Goldeneye, Thayer's Gull Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F01D7183A@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> Henry Horvat and I birded Columbia County yesterday and although we missed the Tufted Duck we did have a COMMON GOLDENEYE at the junction of Adams and Beeson Road. We saw at least 400 Greater Scaup voraciously feeding on clams or muscles when we got there mid-afternoon. A single SNOW GOOSE is wintering at the Trojan Nuclear Power Plant Park. Along Honeyman Road there was a single PEREGRINE FALCON and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK as well as 14 GREAT EGRET. In Scappoose Johnsons Landing Road had 40 DUNLIN, several LEAST SANDPIPER, and lone THAYER'S and HERRING GULL. There were two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE in a yard along Johnsons Landing Road. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090118/6bc14d82/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Sun Jan 18 15:16:02 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:16:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bird Vocalization ID Help Message-ID: No Sightings. If you are interested in a bird-id challenge based on vocalization samples, please visit http://westerngrebe.com/contest/ Please reply to me directly (and not to OBOL), since this is part of a competition that is happening right now. I will be happy to share the conclusions my brother and I reached and/or the official results once the competition is over. Thank you in advance for your interest. Scott Carpenter SW Portland scott at westerngrebe.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090118/fb75f654/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Jan 18 15:36:05 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:36:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] [birding] More on the Henslow's Sparrow at EEWilson, 15 Jan In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1232321765.3523.33.camel@localhost.localdomain> Thanks Doug, for posting the detailed description on this list. I was hoping that you were able to see that level of detail, from the views that you indicated. From my point of view, from going over the Ammodramus references, that's enough to clinch the ID. I'm furthermore convinced that the bird that I saw on Friday (almost surely the same one seen by Jay Withgott as well) had to be the same bird. It's hard to put it in any other pigeonhole. So that's enough for me for the time being. If I don't get a better view later on in the winter when that patch has quieted down, there's always the chance that I'll make a stopover in their regular breeding habitat some fine spring day. This is where the concept of "semi-lifers" comes in handy -- getting a better view later on, of a species that you're pretty sure you've seen, is as much fun as a completely new lifer. Your closing sentence (quoted below) is worth underlining: > Have fun out there, and try stomping through some fields this winter; you > never know what you might kick up. Taking and my daughter Martha and Heidi, the vole-sniffing dog, for a walk around the south half of the same refuge today, I noticed that there are several other grassy patches with similar habitat structure, some larger in area. We detoured through a few of those. Although we had to skip a few of the more interesting-looking patches due to rabbit hunters, and we didn't kick up anything out of the grass in the other patches, there is clearly a lot of habitat that could yield more surprises if covered on foot every winter. I'm still puzzled how a relatively short-range, north-south migrant could find its way out here. It doesn't fit the usual explanations for east-west vagrants that I've heard. Jeff Gilligan compared three other recent vagrants (Red-headed Woodpecker, Sedge Wren, and Eastern Towhee) which are sort of similar, but all have significant populations in Saskatchewan (so could start significantly closer to Oregon) and a generally SE-directed migration (so less likely to head SW with the magnetic navigation-flip idea). Anybody know of a theory that fits? Or is this just one very confused bird? Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Jan 18 15:48:11 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:48:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] [birding] More on the Henslow's Sparrow at EEWilson, 15 Jan Message-ID: <1232322491.3523.38.camel@localhost.localdomain> Oops, I meant to say "... a generally SE-directed migration (so MORE likely to head SW with the magnetic navigation-flip idea)." -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From namitzr at hotmail.com Sun Jan 18 16:07:14 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:07:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos birds Message-ID: Tim Rodenkirk, Eric Clough and I led our monthly Audubon outing this morning. We birded the lower part of Coos Bay (the body of water, not the town). There were 4-5 PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, a female LONG-TAILED DUCK, a BRANT (missed on the CBC) and 2 HARLEQUIN DUCKS. There were the usual loons, gulls, cormorants & ducks, but we were unable to find any goldeneye or Black Scoters. Out at Cape Arago, there were 5 BROWN PELICANS still surviving. About a dozen Northern Elephant Seals were hauled out on Simpson Reef while the numbers of California Sea Lion & Harbor Seal were way down and I couldn't find a single Steller's Sea Lion. There were 6-7 Gray Whales migrating by as well. There is a Slate-colored Junco coming to my feeder in Coos Bay. The EMPEROR GOOSE in Bandon is still being seen. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090118/d7529133/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Jan 18 16:15:17 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:15:17 +0000 Subject: [obol] No more Acorn Woodpecker or Am. Robin images needed Message-ID: I now have what I need for Acorn Woodpecker and American Robin images. Thanks to all who provided them, Dave Irons _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?: Chat. Store. Share. Do more with mail. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_hm_justgotbetter_howitworks_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090119/20b58d73/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Jan 18 16:24:48 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:24:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bird Vocalization ID Help Message-ID: <4973C850.2020905@pacifier.com> Here's another clue for you all.... http://www.audubon.org/statebirds/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Studies in ambiguity http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/ambiguity20090111.html From m.denny at charter.net Sun Jan 18 17:59:17 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 17:59:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Milton-Freewater Raptor Route results Message-ID: <3A387BF34FD746ABBBE7423866C13EEB@24FLIGHT> Hello all, Today Rodger and Ginger Shoemake and MerryLynn and I did the Milton-Freewater (Umatilla County) raptor route. 98 miles and the fog lifted so we could even see the hills!! Another fun day of raptor counting - here are the results: Red-tailed Hawk - 189 Rough-legged Hawk - 2 Ferruginous Hawk - 3 Am. Kestrel - 27 Prairie Falcon - 1 N. Harrier - only 1 Bald Eagle - 1 adult Cooper's Hawk - 1 N. Pygmy Owl - 1 - the highlight of the day!! New for this route. Northern Shrike - 1 No wind today - the majority of the birds were sitting. Later Mike .................................................................................. Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived From slcarpenter at gmail.com Sun Jan 18 18:05:07 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:05:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bird Vocalization ID Help In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Many thanks to those who responded -- the puzzle has been solved. Scott Carpenter SW Portland On Sun, Jan 18, 2009 at 3:16 PM, Scott Carpenter wrote: > No Sightings. > > If you are interested in a bird-id challenge based on vocalization samples, > please visit http://westerngrebe.com/contest/ > > Please reply to me directly (and not to OBOL), since this is part of a > competition that is happening right now. I will be happy to share the > conclusions my brother and I reached and/or the official results once the > competition is over. > > Thank you in advance for your interest. > > Scott Carpenter > SW Portland > scott at westerngrebe.com > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090118/46d43105/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Jan 18 18:48:46 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:48:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lane coast birds Message-ID: I spent Sunday 18 at the Lane Co. coast with Holly Reinhard and Chris Raabe. We had a very enjoyable day, though it was cold in the morning and east-windy in most locations. Best finds: *Three pairs of Cinnamon Teal at the Ada Grange at the se corner of Siltcoos lake. I don't recall hearing of these before and that location often has the earliest of the season. *A possible hybrid Greenwing x Eurasian teal at south slough off Canary Rd. It was slightly larger than the other greenwings and had a fairly obvious white horizontal stripe, a stripe that only seemed to occupy the rear 2/3 of where it should be. A bird worth another look. *1 Long-tailed Duck off Klootchman wayside in n Lane Co. *4 Brown Pelicans on the ocean off Sea Lion Caves. The ocean was otherwise rather empty. We also enjoyed up-close looks at two dippers doing their thing in Cape Creek right by the parking lot east of the 101 bridge at Heceta Head. An adult Ring-billed Gull at the north jetty flats this afternoon may be the same one that has been there off and on since November. In most years they don't use that area in winter. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From ErikKnight05 at comcast.net Sun Jan 18 18:46:15 2009 From: ErikKnight05 at comcast.net (ErikKnight05 at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 02:46:15 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, Marion County, Oregon on January 18, 2009 Message-ID: <200901190246.n0J2kFp2028467@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Erik Knight by http://birdnotes.net Date: January 18, 2009 Location: Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, Marion County, Oregon Wind direction: N Prevailing wind speed: 6-11 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 0% Precipitation: none from 11:50AM to 4:38PM. Spoke with the new refuge manager who pointed out that the Egret Marsh viewing platform is closed due to fire damage. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose Cackling Goose Tundra Swan 5 Gadwall 7 Eurasian Wigeon 2 [1] American Wigeon 357 Mallard Cinnamon Teal 7 [2] Northern Shoveler 133 Northern Pintail 560 Green-Winged Teal 767 Canvasback 13 Redhead 2 Ring-necked Duck 12 Lesser Scaup 26 Bufflehead 41 Hooded Merganser 11 Ruddy Duck 59 Pied-billed Grebe 9 Double-crested Cormorant 5 Great Blue Heron 6 Great Egret 8 Northern Harrier 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 [3] Cooper's Hawk 1 [4] Red-tailed Hawk 7 American Kestrel 4 American Coot 311 Killdeer 1 Dunlin 57 Long-billed Dowitcher 113 Great Horned Owl 1 [5] Belted Kingfisher 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 8 Western Scrub-Jay 7 Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 1 Bewick's Wren 2 Winter Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet American Robin European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler Spotted Towhee 2 Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco 9 Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird House Finch Footnotes: [1] males, SW corner of Eagle Marsh [2] Eagle & Pintail marshes [3] juv, Peregrine Pond [4] juv, Ankeny Hill Overlook [5] adult seen & heard-and photographed-along Rail Trail Total number of species seen: 51 From Kyle.W.Bratcher at state.or.us Sun Jan 18 19:45:25 2009 From: Kyle.W.Bratcher at state.or.us (Kyle W Bratcher) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:45:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wallowa County Message-ID: I had a great weekend. I finally go out with some other birders and learned a few things. It was great to get out and talk with some people that share my interest so thanks everybody. That being said I personally saw a fairly wide variety of birds. Some of the highlights are: Grey-crowned Rosy Finches, I have seen these quite a bit but seemed to be absent the last week so it was good to see them again. The White-winged Crossbills are still in the area. A couple of Prairie Falcons. A Merlin on Friday during work. A Pileated Woodpecker also during work. There are thousands of Bohemian waxwings in the Wallowa Valley right now and it takes very little effort to find them. There are also lots of nuthatches at Wallowa Lake Stat Park. But the biggest highlight for me was my first ever flock of about 20 Common Redpolls between Lostine and Enterprise. I have been looking for these birds for the last month or so and they showed up when I least expected it. On another note if people are in the area I can almost always make time to get out and look for some birds. E-mail is the best way to get a hold of me or you can leave a message at 541-740-1093. Good birding all. Kyle Bratcher Joseph Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090118/a8ba9846/attachment.html From roygerig at hotmail.com Sun Jan 18 19:51:00 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:51:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] EEWilson Henslow's, TV, Wrentit 1/18/09 Message-ID: Teresa and I made a slight detour on our way to see my parents near Crabtree (Linn County) today to look for the Henslow's Sparrow at EE Wilson (Benton Co.). After about a half hour of quietly watching and moving slowly along the pathways in the area of the red and white flagging where there was exactly one other bird, a SONG SPARROW, we flushed a much smaller bird which flew in a herky-jerky path to the east, stopping at the edge of the blackberry brambles where it landed in some teasl and immediately disappeared. A few minutes later it flushed again and went a little ways further into the blackberries and seemingly landed high up on the bramble but immediately disappeared again. I have seldom seen a bird disappear so quickly when it landed. Both times we saw it, it was clearly much smaller than the Song Sparrow and there was never another bird in the area. It was silent, flew low and not very direct and a rusty brown color was visible as it flew away from us. Everything seemed consistent with Henslow's, but I have never seen one. It did not seem at all like Grasshopper or Swamp Sparrow, and was obviously not Lincoln's. Just my two cents on a bird I know nothing about. Meanwhile, a TURKEY VULTURE flew over, my first of the spring (let me be the first to announce that Spring 2009 is on its way), and we heard a WRENTIT call twice, to the north of us. It was a beautiful day, and I was surprised to see only one other birder there, on our way out. Roy Gerig, Salem OR (Marion Co.) _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_howitworks_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090118/a93fbe73/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Jan 18 21:01:05 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 21:01:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bend to Peoria to Newport and back Message-ID: Good coast weather was too much to pass up so 4 of us from Central Oregon took a road trip to the coast via Peoria. Myself, Dean Hale, Kim Kathol and Darwin Wile were the crew. We saw a total of 104 species. We spent 3 1/2 hours looking for Pyrrhuloxia on two separate occasions and failed both times. We also failed to locate the Little Blue Heron although it looks like it is still in the area. We did find a few good birds though: 75 Brant at Yaquina Bay 1 Harlequin Duck female at south Jetty Newport 10 Black Scoter at Boiler Bay 1 Brown Pelican at Boiler Bay 2 White-tailed Kite just east of Alsea 18 Black Oystercatcher at Depoe Bay (Isn't that a lot in one location?) 1 Red-necked Grebe at South Jetty Newport 2 Great Egret just east of Waldport and another in Peoria 1 Whimbrel at South Jetty Newport 2-3 ROCK SANDPIPERS at Seal Rock 1 GLAUCUS GULL first winter bird at South Jetty Newport 1 Ancient Murrelet at Boiler Bay - We were not sure of this bird as it was a long way away bobbing in surf 1 Northern Shrike near Corvallis 1 Western Screech Owl in Peoria 1 Wrentit on the Horse Trail South Jetty Newport 3-5 White-throated Sparrow Peoria Chuck Gates Powell Butte HERE ARE THE REST Canada Goose Cackling Goose Tundra Swan Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganzer Common Merganzer Red-breasted Merganzer Ruddy Duck California Quail Red-throated Loon Pacific Loon Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Western Grebe Brandt's Cormorant Double-crested Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Great-blue Heron Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Merlin American Coot Killdeer Black Turnstone Surfbird Sanderling Dunlin Wilson's Snipe Mew Gull Ring-billed Gull California Gull Herring Gull Western Gull Glaucus-winged Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Belted Kingfisher Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Steller's Jay Scrub Jay American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Winter Wren American Dipper Ruby-crowned Kinglet Western Bluebird Hermit Thrush American Robin European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler Spotted Towhee Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brewer's Blackbird House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.9/1900 - Release Date: 1/18/2009 12:11 PM From tanager at nu-world.com Sun Jan 18 21:02:23 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 21:02:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lincoln Co. Sunday Jan. 18, 2009 Message-ID: <000301c979f3$1d98d960$58ca8c20$@com> As John Sullivan indicated Anne and I found the LITTLE BLUE HERON approximately one mile away from where it had been seen by others and last reported last weekend. We initially searched Drift Creek Rd., 0.7 mile east of Hwy. 101 in the vicinity of "the" red barn (in reality it was the only barn 0.7 mile from 101, but the 4th red barn we saw . . ) but had no luck other than a Great Egret and a couple Great Blue Herons. We backtracked to 101, went north to Lincoln City and searched the northern part of Siletz Bay before heading south on 101. We hit the jackpot just exactly as John Sullivan said, approximately 100 yards south of the Hwy 101 bridge over Drift Creek. We took a few photos, Anne shot a bunch through her Canon zoom and I managed a couple of digiscoped images with my point-and-shoot. The LBHE briefly preened and nicely showed off the dark primary tips, but mostly stood motionless in the sun on the edge of the bay. Thankfully the LBHE chose the side of the bay right next to Hwy. 101! The tide was out when we saw it. The pastures up Drift Creek Rd. were very frosty, and we are speculating maybe that had something to do with it having moved to the bay. We headed south in sunshine and stopped at Boiler Bay. There was little wind and very few birds. There was a small group of RED-THROATED LOONS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, two fly-by BLACK SCOTERS, a couple of groups of COMMON MURRES, and one PIGEON GUILLEMOT. One BROWN PELICAN flew by in a NORTHERLY direction at about noon!! We met Nate and Shannon Richardson of Corvallis while there, and they took over after we left. We didn't get far. We noticed a couple of white dots on the ocean (100-200 yards out and more or less even with the southern entrance into Boiler Bay State Park) so we stopped and got the scope on them. Since the sun was shining, it was shirt sleeve and flip flop weather, we took this rare opportunity to study well two ANCIENT MURRELETS. I walked back to inform the Richardsons while Anne kept the birds in the scope. All were able to get great looks at these two birds without having to constantly wipe moisture from rain-drenched optics. Nate's father John, his mother (sorry did not get name), and two other Eugene birders (Vicki James and Pam Otley) were also able to add this bird to their lists! We headed to Newport and the South Jetty where the highlight was two GLAUCOUS GULLS (YES TWO!) in the gull puddles right along the road. It was a great day birding in Lincoln County. Dan & Anne Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090118/5e71891b/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sun Jan 18 21:56:47 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 21:56:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] No Pine Warbler today - LaGrande Message-ID: Hi Obol No Pine Warbler for us today in LaGrande Four of us from Bend ran into Dave Trochell and some nice Portland birders also. No one saw it today. We birded the area for 5 hours. That being said, the area is still very very birdy and the residents were friendly and interested. We enjoyed close looks at WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLs, a pair of Golden Eagles with one carrying a stick, Prairie Falcon, Coop and Sharpie, and nice yard birds in the area. There are a lot of feeders and a LOT of Ponderosa pines scattered throughout that neighborhood. I hope people keep posting whether or not they find the bird. We were Sheran Wright, Pete Low, Steve Kornfeld and me. Good birding, Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com From tjanzen at comcast.net Sun Jan 18 22:11:45 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:11:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] No Pine Warbler yesterday - La Grande In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20090119061147.69C9BA8255@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear All, I can add to Judy's message below that no one saw the Pine Warbler yesterday either. Dave Trochell, Gerard Lillie, Shawneen Finnegan, Bob Lockett, Adrienne Lockett, and I spent quite a bit of time looking for it and none of us saw it either. Everyone else left by about 1 pm, but I birded the area until it got dark yesterday. The most interesting birds I saw in the neighborhood were 4 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES and a flock of about 50 CEDAR WAXWINGS. As far as I know, Jeff Gilligan was the last person to have seen the Pine Warbler and that was on January 15. If someone relocates the Pine Warbler, please post the sighting to OBOL. Sincerely, Tim Janzen Portland -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Judy Meredith Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2009 9:57 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] No Pine Warbler today - LaGrande Hi Obol No Pine Warbler for us today in LaGrande Four of us from Bend ran into Dave Trochell and some nice Portland birders also. No one saw it today. We birded the area for 5 hours. That being said, the area is still very very birdy and the residents were friendly and interested. We enjoyed close looks at WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLs, a pair of Golden Eagles with one carrying a stick, Prairie Falcon, Coop and Sharpie, and nice yard birds in the area. There are a lot of feeders and a LOT of Ponderosa pines scattered throughout that neighborhood. I hope people keep posting whether or not they find the bird. We were Sheran Wright, Pete Low, Steve Kornfeld and me. Good birding, Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com From raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Sun Jan 18 23:20:40 2009 From: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com (Jeff Fleischer) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:20:40 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] ECBC Winter Raptor Survey results for December 2008 Message-ID: <389.33927.qm@web50904.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Obolers, Following is a summary of the results collected around the state during December 2008 for the Winter Raptor Survey Project sponsored by the East Cascades Bird Conservancy. We are now conducting monthly surveys through March during this fifth winter for the project. During the oft times horrendous weather conditions that a lot of us experienced last month along with Christmas season demands, we still managed to get a total of 93 out of a possible 125 routes surveyed so project volunteers deserve a big hand for their efforts, even the ones who even DARED to think about doing their work but couldn't!! My heartfelt thanks for a job well done :) A total of 6998.2 miles of transects were surveyed which took 415 hours and 55 minutes to complete. A total of 5,683 birds were tallied with the following species breakdown: Red-tailed Hawk 2,715 American Kestrel 1,319 Northern Harrier 386 Bald Eagle 350 (212 adult, 115 subadult, 23 unaged) Golden Eagle 81 UNID Eagle 3 Rough-legged Hawk 447 Red-shouldered Hawk 44 Ferruginous Hawk 39 UNID Buteo 31 White-tailed Kite 73 Peregrine Falcon 32 Prairie Falcon 50 Merlin 13 UNID Falcon 1 Cooper's Hawk 33 Sharp-shinned Hawk 23 Northern Goshawk 1 UNID Accipiter 3 Osprey 2 Great Horned Owl 15 Barn Owl 2 Burrowing Owl 2 Short-eared Owl 2 Northern Pygmy Owl 1 Long-eared Owl 1 UNID Raptor 14 IN keeping with OBOL guidelines, I have not attached my monthly summary chart which displays in detail what was seen where. If any of you are interested in knowing more about these results please feel free to email me and I will forward the chart to you :) Jeff Fleischer Project Coordinator East Cascades Bird Conservancy Winter Statewide Raptor Survey Project From pat2ly at comcast.net Mon Jan 19 00:02:46 2009 From: pat2ly at comcast.net (Pat Tilley) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:02:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Polk Co. South Raptor Run Message-ID: Hello OBOL, Carol Karlen, Mary Lou Hornaday and myself completed the Raptor Run in South Polk County on Jan. 7, 2009. It was a cold, windy day, with some fog near the river and rain. Numbers lower than anticipated. We covered 104 miles in about 6.5 hours. Red-tailed Hawk: 20 American Kestrel: 21 Northern Harrier 8 Rough-legged Hawk 4 White-tailed Kite 2 20 Wild Turkeys in Buena Vista at the Boat Ramp +79 Swan, likely all Tundra along Tartar Rd. 12 Western Bluebirds on Buena Vista and Maple Grove Roads Pat Tilley Salem, OR. pat2ly at comcast.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090119/99e7d027/attachment.html From louisfredd at msn.com Mon Jan 19 06:48:55 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 06:48:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] CASSIN'S FINCH, MERLIN (Oregon City) Message-ID: Sunday, 18 Jan 09, 0800-0900h CASSIN'S FINCH Male, nice color. Perched in yard shrubbery, joined 5 House Finches to forage a bit on lawn underneath hanging sunflower feeder. Whole bird views, wonderful. Yard first. MERLIN "Taiga" Perched very briefly atop very tall fir. Merlins unusually scarce here this winter. Last winter also. Neither seen again for remainder of day. I think perhaps both brought to my doorstep (figuratively speaking, but for the Cassin's a few feet from literally) by stiff east winds overnight into Sunday morning. Good birding, Lou _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?: Chat. Store. Share. Do more with mail. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_hm_justgotbetter_explore_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090119/462f6f56/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Mon Jan 19 08:45:28 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 08:45:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Linn County Raptor Survey - Crabtree area Message-ID: <6D256AB6DD8B40C8BC09A72141409B7E@laptop> Yesterday and Saturday, Bill Thackaberry and I ran the ECBC Raptor Survey, Linn County Route 5, covering the area around Crabtree and Scio. We found raptor numbers similar to December but with more Bald Eagles, and no large Falcons. The increase in Bald Eagles in the area, to 13 from 1 on December 7th, may have something to do with lambing at the Thackaberry Sheep Farm, though they were not all around the farm, but in spread throughout the area, mostly one or two adults at a time. Only six were right on at the farm. Just to be clear, they aren't taking lambs, but in the lambing process there will be a few casualties, and there are always some carcasses around. Compared to last year, there are more Northern Harriers, mostly on Oupor Drive. It was lovely to watch three female harriers interacting with two redtails in the clear blue sky. It seemed the harriers would dive at each other as often as they would at the red-tails, or more often. Perhaps noteworthy was a flock of eight hen pheasants at Richardson's Gap Road and Snow Peak Drive. There were a few groups of Western Meadowlarks and Western Bluebirds, and a flock of American Pipits on the Cawrse Farm on Providence School Road. There were two Great Horned Owls calling on Griggs Drive just before dawn yesterday. Here are the numbers: Red-tailed Hawk - 32 American kestrel-22 Northern Harrier - 9 Bald Eagle, imm - 4 Bald Eagle, Ad - 9 Cooper's Hawk - 1 Sharp-shinned Hk 1 Unident. Accipiter 1 Great Horned Owls - 2 Miles 65 Hours 7 Good birding, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090119/1c870bc9/attachment.html From calliope at theriver.com Mon Jan 19 08:54:28 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:54:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Hunt In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1AF01190-D5A0-41D7-A592-26B49300EA5C@theriver.com> Hi All, On Jan 17, 2009, at 11:52 AM, Jeff Gilligan wrote: > A friend in California expressed some skepticism about this report, > noting that the species hasn't been recorded in California. But has Doug Robinson birded extensively in California? If not, that may explain their paucity of Sedge Wren records too (only 7 accepted). After all, he's found twice as many in Oregon as anyone has in California. Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- From rmkepler at gmail.com Mon Jan 19 09:02:18 2009 From: rmkepler at gmail.com (Ryan Kepler) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:02:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Finley NWR on Sunday Message-ID: <8400DB40-5372-4D54-8CF2-74872D9F08E4@gmail.com> Hello OBOLers Sunday was a wonderful day for birding out at Finely NWR. Highlights included a MERLIN right at the main entrance off HWY 99, two PILEATED WOODPECKERS in flight, six EURASIAN WIGEON with four at the pond by the red barn and another two at McFadden Marsh, three ROUGH LEGGED HAWK, two SNOW GEESE, tons of TUNDRA SWANS, as well as most of the usual suspects for the mid valley in winter. Bird on, Ryan Kepler From alderspr at peak.org Mon Jan 19 09:29:46 2009 From: alderspr at peak.org (Karan & Jim Fairchild) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:29:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Turkey vulture Curry Co. Jan 17 Message-ID: <6A5E548418D24EF7B3003DBAF4E026D2@HOMESTEAD> Hi Obolites- Sorry for the late post, but we just got back from a winter fog escape to the coast late last night. Our main quarry was the SUN, which we found in wonderful and warm abundance. We stayed in Bandon and mostly birded within 30 or so miles of it. On Saturday Jan 17 we went to the famous blue silos on Floras Lake Rd, Curry Co, and spent quite a bit of time looking for the YELLOW THROATED WARBLER and never found it. We did see one or two PALM WARBLERS there, foraging on the buildings and equipment. Also a TURKEY VULTURE on a nearby power pole, which the local birders informed us was early in that area. We returned to the silos 3 times during the day, and never saw the yellow throat. Several other people were also looking. We enjoyed visiting with friendly birders and very friendly local landowners and farmers. No other particularly notable birds during the 3 days, though we did see 4 BROWN PELICANS flying off of Cape Arago, one on the rocks as Bandon and several more flying north near Bandon. Also the EMPEROR GOOSE and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE were hanging with their domestic goose friends along the streets near the Bandon Jetty. Karan and Jim Fairchild From jvanmoo at sisna.com Mon Jan 19 09:31:09 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:31:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Klamath Falls, 1-18-09 Message-ID: Marilyn Christian and I birded around the Link River yesterday and found a juvenile BLACK SCOTER in the calm water just below the Link River dam. On Old Fort Rd. we found a NORTHERN PYGMY OWL being harrassed by a flock of Pygmy Nuthatches. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From greg at thebirdguide.com Mon Jan 19 10:48:03 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:48:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Deformed toes: Bewick's Wren Message-ID: <20090119104803.nu30aabhw8sg0880@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Photos I took of a Bewick's Wren at Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, last Friday show some ugly deformed swollen toes. I have heard of chickadees up near Seattle with deformed bills (Red-tailed Hawks too, up in BC?). This is the first I've seen of this malady (not counting gulls with club feet). Switch to "original size" under photo to see larger view. http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/108274923 http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/108274861 Samples of other photos taken over the weekend include: Fox Sparrow Great Blue Heron Black Turnstone Red-breasted Nuthatch Chestnut-backed Chickadee Golden-crowned Sparrow Canvasback Western Scrub-Jay Rock Sandpiper http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/_recent_photos I'm still working on uploading more... Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From dan at heyerly.com Mon Jan 19 10:51:34 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Dan Heyerly) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:51:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Hunt - Rich Hoyer's post Message-ID: Touch?! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090119/7b824df6/attachment.html From dan at heyerly.com Mon Jan 19 10:54:47 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Dan Heyerly) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:54:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Hunt - Hoyer clarification Message-ID: For those reading on Siler's site only, and not receiving the e-mails, the pronunciation goes: TOO-SHAY! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090119/8f8dad85/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Jan 19 11:00:13 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:00:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sparrow from Heck Message-ID: I hope people don't give up on the Sparrow From Heck. I hope to give it a try next weekend. I have not seen the location yet, but it seems to me that a standard skirmish-line rail-flush sort of approach is tactically wrong for this bird. We don't want it moving to the edge of the field, we want it moving to the middle where the chances of someone seeing it increase and where it needs to fly past someone head-first to get out. Therefore ideally Operation Lasso needs enough people to make a tighening-noose formation of some kind. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From campbell at peak.org Mon Jan 19 11:06:50 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:06:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pyrrhuloxia, Palm Warbler, Yes! Message-ID: <5137B5249249458DB2BD9D05B9840A26@maryPC> Since so many people seem to have struck out on the Pyrrhuloxia recently, I thought I'd tell you all that it is still here, found a few minutes ago in the scrubby patch east of Main Street and a block north of Stark Street. I put out feed there this morning. The Palm Warbler was feeding in the sunshine in the large fir just south of the greenhouse. The greenhouse in question is the one visible from the park's parking area. Peoria can be found in the Delorme Atlas, p. 47 A7. It's east of the Willamette River on Peoria Road, which runs between Corvallis and Harrisburg. Peoria is about 9 miles south of Hwy. 34 and 12 miles north of Harrisburg. An old church is at the south end of town, and Peoria Park (and boat ramp) is at the north end. Main Street runs between them, along the river. Our house is 29756 Main Street. Sometimes the Pyrrhuloxia visits our back yard. Birders are welcome to stand north of our house to check out the yard. Randy Campbell Peoria -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090119/1a582292/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon Jan 19 11:13:12 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:13:12 +0000 Subject: [obol] Sparrow from Heck Message-ID: <011920091913.2821.4974D0C80007498100000B0522069984999B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> What do these sparrows like to eat? Seems like enough people are looking for it that one could chum for sparrows, would it join a mixed flock to feed? So, people who are looking for the little bird--start bringing a little seed and mark the place you set up the feeding station so others can contribute when they come by. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland PS: Golden-crowned Sparrows; Juncos including a Slate-colored; House Sparrows and Finches; continue to abound in my garden. The White-throated Sparrow continue along with other assorted birds that should be here this time of year. -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Alan Contreras > I hope people don't give up on the Sparrow From Heck. I hope to give it a > try next weekend. > > I have not seen the location yet, but it seems to me that a standard > skirmish-line rail-flush sort of approach is tactically wrong for this bird. > We don't want it moving to the edge of the field, we want it moving to the > middle where the chances of someone seeing it increase and where it needs to > fly past someone head-first to get out. Therefore ideally Operation Lasso > needs enough people to make a tighening-noose formation of some kind. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From calliope at theriver.com Mon Jan 19 11:18:51 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:18:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sparrow from Heck In-Reply-To: <011920091913.2821.4974D0C80007498100000B0522069984999B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> References: <011920091913.2821.4974D0C80007498100000B0522069984999B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Message-ID: <0888E50B-63B8-4A31-9B30-FA0E09E28A55@theriver.com> Hi All, Good question Sandy. If one can find some untreated grass seed, that would be much better than any bird seed mix you'd buy at the store. Garden stores here in AZ have only grass seed treated with chemicals to keep birds from eating them. In any event, Henslow's Sparrows do not join mixed sparrow flocks. Remember, their winter home range is 100 square meters. That describes the typical Golden-crowned Sparrow's 10-minute foraging area, so you're not likely to see the two associate. Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- On Jan 19, 2009, at 12:13 PM, sandyleapt at comcast.net wrote: > What do these sparrows like to eat? Seems like enough people are > looking for it that one could chum for sparrows, would it join a > mixed flock to feed? So, people who are looking for the little > bird--start bringing a little seed and mark the place you set up the > feeding station so others can contribute when they come by. > > Sandy Leaptrott > NE Portland > > PS: Golden-crowned Sparrows; Juncos including a Slate-colored; > House Sparrows and Finches; continue to abound in my garden. The > White-throated Sparrow continue along with other assorted birds that > should be here this time of year. > -------------- Original message --- From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon Jan 19 11:22:08 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:22:08 +0000 Subject: [obol] Deformed toes: Bewick's Wren Message-ID: <011920091922.9927.4974D2E0000DF654000026C722069997359B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Hi Greg, I wonder if the Wren's feet were frostbitten during the cold weather? During the cold weather I noticed some Starlings with toes that appeared to be swollen. I also saw a Fox Sparrow scratch in the snow with both feet, then tuck one foot up into its soft little belly feathers while it pecked at the ground. The Fox Sparrow would then switch the foot it was standing on. I don't know why, but I didn't think birds get cold feet. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Greg Gillson > > Photos I took of a Bewick's Wren at Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, > last Friday show some ugly deformed swollen toes. I have heard of > chickadees up near Seattle with deformed bills (Red-tailed Hawks too, > up in BC?). > > This is the first I've seen of this malady (not counting gulls with > club feet). > > Switch to "original size" under photo to see larger view. > > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/108274923 > > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/108274861 > > Samples of other photos taken over the weekend include: > Fox Sparrow > Great Blue Heron > Black Turnstone > Red-breasted Nuthatch > Chestnut-backed Chickadee > Golden-crowned Sparrow > Canvasback > Western Scrub-Jay > Rock Sandpiper > > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/_recent_photos > > I'm still working on uploading more... > > Greg Gillson > Hillsboro, Oregon > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon Jan 19 11:29:51 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:29:51 +0000 Subject: [obol] Sparrow from Heck Message-ID: <011920091929.7548.4974D4AF0007AD1300001D7C22007610649B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Hi Rich, All we need is an organic grass seed farmer. I get my bird seed at the Backyard Bird Shop so there tends to be very little waste or leftover seed to sprout. You are right, a person does not want to be introducing a lot of non-native weed seed to a natural area. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Rich Hoyer > Hi All, > > Good question Sandy. If one can find some untreated grass seed, that > would be much better than any bird seed mix you'd buy at the store. > Garden stores here in AZ have only grass seed treated with chemicals > to keep birds from eating them. In any event, Henslow's Sparrows do > not join mixed sparrow flocks. Remember, their winter home range is > 100 square meters. That describes the typical Golden-crowned Sparrow's > 10-minute foraging area, so you're not likely to see the two associate. > > Rich > --- > Rich Hoyer > Tucson, Arizona > > Senior Leader for WINGS > http://wingsbirds.com > --- > > On Jan 19, 2009, at 12:13 PM, sandyleapt at comcast.net wrote: > > > What do these sparrows like to eat? Seems like enough people are > > looking for it that one could chum for sparrows, would it join a > > mixed flock to feed? So, people who are looking for the little > > bird--start bringing a little seed and mark the place you set up the > > feeding station so others can contribute when they come by. > > > > Sandy Leaptrott > > NE Portland > > > > PS: Golden-crowned Sparrows; Juncos including a Slate-colored; > > House Sparrows and Finches; continue to abound in my garden. The > > White-throated Sparrow continue along with other assorted birds that > > should be here this time of year. > > -------------- Original message --- > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Mon Jan 19 11:51:56 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:51:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Deformed toes: Bewick's Wren In-Reply-To: <011920091922.9927.4974D2E0000DF654000026C722069997359B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> References: <011920091922.9927.4974D2E0000DF654000026C722069997359B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Message-ID: <2b1bbd260901191151o6fa142b8m4ed95c279c20c41d@mail.gmail.com> Greg and Sandy, In general standing on one foot is more energy efficient for birds. This is seen very commonly in shorebirds (often reported as having a broken leg). During the banding season, swollen feet like seen in Greg's photos are one of the most common deformities I see. What causes this, I am not sure. It does not seem to be solely cold related, as I have seen it in summer and winter. Daniel On Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 11:22 AM, wrote: > Hi Greg, I wonder if the Wren's feet were frostbitten during the cold > weather? During the cold weather I noticed some Starlings with toes that > appeared to be swollen. I also saw a Fox Sparrow scratch in the snow with > both feet, then tuck one foot up into its soft little belly feathers while > it pecked at the ground. The Fox Sparrow would then switch the foot it was > standing on. I don't know why, but I didn't think birds get cold feet. > > Sandy Leaptrott > NE Portland > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > From: Greg Gillson > > > > Photos I took of a Bewick's Wren at Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, > > last Friday show some ugly deformed swollen toes. I have heard of > > chickadees up near Seattle with deformed bills (Red-tailed Hawks too, > > up in BC?). > > > > This is the first I've seen of this malady (not counting gulls with > > club feet). > > > > Switch to "original size" under photo to see larger view. > > > > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/108274923 > > > > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/108274861 > > > > Samples of other photos taken over the weekend include: > > Fox Sparrow > > Great Blue Heron > > Black Turnstone > > Red-breasted Nuthatch > > Chestnut-backed Chickadee > > Golden-crowned Sparrow > > Canvasback > > Western Scrub-Jay > > Rock Sandpiper > > > > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/_recent_photos > > > > I'm still working on uploading more... > > > > Greg Gillson > > Hillsboro, Oregon > > greg at thebirdguide.com > > http://thebirdguide.com > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Daniel Farrar Eugene, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090119/73b79239/attachment.html From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Mon Jan 19 11:59:02 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:59:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Deformed toes: Bewick's Wren In-Reply-To: <20090119104803.nu30aabhw8sg0880@webmail.thebirdguide.com> References: <20090119104803.nu30aabhw8sg0880@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Message-ID: <00d901c97a70$60d4e2a0$227ea7e0$@NET> Is it possible this is frostbite damage? I realize birds have ways to keep their feet warm by pulling them up or crouching to cover them but our weather was pretty cold for a while. I have pictures of a Song Sparrow on our (plastic) feeder during the cold weather that appears to have balls of ice on its toes. I first thought it was something under the bird on the feeder but it disappears in subsequent frames. A quick search turned up a mention of Mourning Doves losing toes to frostbite: http://www.ccmr.cornell.edu/education/ask/index.html?quid=967 Tom Shreve Tigard -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Greg Gillson Sent: Monday, January 19, 2009 10:48 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Deformed toes: Bewick's Wren Photos I took of a Bewick's Wren at Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, last Friday show some ugly deformed swollen toes. I have heard of chickadees up near Seattle with deformed bills (Red-tailed Hawks too, up in BC?). This is the first I've seen of this malady (not counting gulls with club feet). Switch to "original size" under photo to see larger view. http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/108274923 http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/108274861 Samples of other photos taken over the weekend include: Fox Sparrow Great Blue Heron Black Turnstone Red-breasted Nuthatch Chestnut-backed Chickadee Golden-crowned Sparrow Canvasback Western Scrub-Jay Rock Sandpiper http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/_recent_photos I'm still working on uploading more... Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From teena at bikerider.com Mon Jan 19 12:28:59 2009 From: teena at bikerider.com (Teena McKenzie) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:28:59 -0500 Subject: [obol] barn owl Message-ID: <20090119202859.53D4511581F@ws1-7.us4.outblaze.com> Last night just after dusk we spotted a barn owl hunting along the fern ridge gravel road at the end of Royal. It came right up to us twice, face to face checking us out before it swooped off into the trees. We walk there four nights a week and this is our first sighting at this location. -- Be Yourself @ mail.com! Choose From 200+ Email Addresses Get a Free Account at www.mail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090119/0541b308/attachment.html From mklittletree at comcast.net Mon Jan 19 12:35:03 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (michel Kleinbaum) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:35:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sparrow from Heck References: Message-ID: <5B63B94DF0194B65AAE6271856ED8295@michel1927> In May of 1961, Guy Tudor, Fred Heath and I drove down to Readington Airfield N.J. to try for our life Henslow's Sparrow. When we finally found one, it would flush, fly 3 or 4 feet and vanish in the grass. We adopted a sort of triangulation method, each pointing to the spot where the bird landed then walk towards it only to see the bird flush again 6 or more feet away. Eventually it landed, briefly, in the open, we got our 1-minute look and stopped the chase. They are now gone from New Jersey as they are from New York where I lucked out on one a couple of years later. Michel Kleinbaum S. Salem ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan Contreras" To: "obol" Sent: Monday, January 19, 2009 11:00 AM Subject: [obol] Sparrow from Heck I hope people don't give up on the Sparrow From Heck. I hope to give it a try next weekend. I have not seen the location yet, but it seems to me that a standard skirmish-line rail-flush sort of approach is tactically wrong for this bird. We don't want it moving to the edge of the field, we want it moving to the middle where the chances of someone seeing it increase and where it needs to fly past someone head-first to get out. Therefore ideally Operation Lasso needs enough people to make a tighening-noose formation of some kind. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From greg at thebirdguide.com Mon Jan 19 12:51:21 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:51:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] eBird local experts? Message-ID: <20090119125121.5q9z0mbfsoosgw0s@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Who are the Oregon eBird local experts? I have a question about a sighting that has been reviewed according to the eBird gadget. If anyone can tell me how to get actual data out of the eBird project, I'd appreciate knowing that, too! Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Mon Jan 19 13:29:11 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (Denise Hughes) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:29:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Nyssa and Vale Raptor routes Message-ID: <000601c97a7c$f8dd35f0$ea97a1d0$@net> Here are two raptor survey results from eastern Oregon Nyssa Red-tailed Hawks 36 American Kestrels 38 Northern Harriers 9 Bald Eagles 2 (adult) Prairie Falcons 2 Vale Red-tailed Hawks 43 American Kestrels 51 Northern Harriers 10 Rough legged Hawks 4 Merlins 2 Prairie Falcons 2 Barn Owl 1 Great Horned Owls 2 Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090119/a3bc24c6/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Mon Jan 19 13:33:07 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:33:07 +0000 Subject: [obol] Photo Quiz of Mystery Raptor REVEALED!! Message-ID: Hi all, Here is the breakdown of guesses for the mystery raptor who I named Ghengis. It was not an easy one so many thanks for participating! I usually don't enjoy photo quizzes myself but we all can something from them. Firstly, I neglected to say the hawk was photographed this early January in Conconully, WA (Okanogan Co) while birding with Mike Marsh. We had 52 birders who participated despite having over 2100 looks or 'hits' for this mystery raptor. Rough legged 26 Swainson's 20 Red shouldered 1 Broad winged 2 Harlan?s 3 Here is a SUMMARY to the correct ID. Swainson's can be ruled out based on the body shape and proportions and the fairly strong pattern on the wing coverts and scapulars. Harlan's should be more strongly black and white with some white spots in the scapulars and more white around the eyes. Things suggesting Rough-legged include small bill, white forehead, long wings reaching at least to the tail tip, and the overall mottled pattern. If you guess Dark-morph Rough-legged Hawk, you were CORRECT! MANY THANKS to David Sibley, Jerry Liguori, and Bud Anderson for confirming the ID. The latter two, being the raptor authorities. Also, you can see a few birder's comments as to what they guessed and why on my website. http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/photo_quiz_ Good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From winkg at hevanet.com Mon Jan 19 14:02:35 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:02:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Barn Swallow, Ancient Murrelets at Tierra del Mar Message-ID: <20090119220302.5D81EA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Pretty amazing weather at the coast this long weekend. This morning (Jan 19) a female BARN SWALLOW was foraging along the beach at Tierra del Mar (Tillamook Co.). Off shore, 4 ANCIENT MURRELETS were swimming just beyond the surf. (They, or 4 more just like them, were still here at 1PM.) 3 BLACK SCOTERS (1 male and 2 females) flew by. I've seen only one Aechmophorus grebe this weekend. It was a long way out, but, judging by it's pale back, I think it was a CLARK'S GREBE. Saturday afternoon, a close-in feeding frenzy attracted many COMMON MURRES, two ANCIENT MURRELETS, a few RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, a single winter-plumage TUFTED PUFFIN, and a RED- NECKED GREBE. At Sandlake this morning, we found about 50 BUFFLEHEADS, 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and 8 LONG-BILLED (presumably) DOWITCHERS. Over the weekend, I've seen about a half dozen BROWN PELICANS either swimming or flying by. I expected to find many dead pelicans on the beach but have found none. The only beached birds were a couple each of Common Murres and adult Black-legged Kittiwakes and an adult Western Gull. Yesterday morning, 5 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were foraging in a pasture off Redberg Rd. in South Tillamook Co. Wink Gross Tierra del Mar (and Portland) From magnus at pcez.com Mon Jan 19 14:05:24 2009 From: magnus at pcez.com (Elisabeth Magnus) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:05:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] question: semipalmated plovers and bloodworms/fireworms Message-ID: <4974f924.3471.0@pcez.com> Yesterday I was hiking along the bay at Bay Ocean Spit at low tide when I saw a semipalmated plover out on the mudflats who appeared to be gingerly messing about with an earthworm-sized marine worm. I couldn?t get a great view of the worm because I had no scope with me, but it was reddish-orange and looked flattened along one side. It could have been a polychaete (I looked up their pictures later and read that semipalms eat polychaetes), though I?m not sure what kind. If it had bristles I wouldn?t have been able to see them from my distance. The plover kept picking the worm up, tossing it around, and dropping it as the worm writhed about. Sometimes it held the worm by its middle, but even when it got the worm lengthwise by one end it didn?t swallow it, and in the end it abandoned it. A nearby gull who came over to take a look did not attempt to eat it either. A little later I saw another semipalm toy in the same way with another reddish-orange worm and again finally drop it. Would these be bloodworms, which bite? Fireworms, which have a stinging irritant in their bristles? (Are the latter even present in Tillamook Bay?) The warning coloration and the birds? behavior suggest that the worm had some kind of defense. If so, do semipalms ever eat these? Do they have some way around the defense? --Elisabeth Magnus ------------------- http://www.pcez.com From pamao at q.com Mon Jan 19 14:06:20 2009 From: pamao at q.com (Pam Otley) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:06:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Plovers near Halsey Message-ID: Hi all, Today, 1/19, I spotted 10 large plovers in a field near Halsey. They were associating with a mixed group of dunlin, killdeer, and starlings. They were larger than the killdeer. I was unable to determine wing markings or underwing black patches due to the distance and lighting. I am thinking they were Black-bellied Plovers due to their size. Directions to the field - 2 miles south from Halsey on Hwy 99E, turn left (east) on Twin Buttes W Drive, proceed .7 mile, they were on the north side of the road. Pam -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090119/e8b19867/attachment.html From rriparia at charter.net Mon Jan 19 14:32:18 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:32:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] KLAMCO RBA: BLACK SCOTER Message-ID: <20090119173219.B5TCT.1758511.root@mp19> OBOL, and Klamath Basin Bird News, The first winter female BLACK SCOTER, seen yesterday, Sunday, Jan. 18, by Julie Van Moorhem and Marilyn Christian was seen again today, the 19th. It was just below the Link River Dam, on the down side of the dam, in calm water just below the dam. It was also diving in the moving water just below the dam, in the area of a concrete outflow pipe. There were Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Mergansers in the vicinity also. It was actively diving and would stay down longer than the other divers. Sometimes it would hang close to a concrete barrier wall and viewing occurred by looking through bars atop the wall. To my knowledge, this is a first county record. It was photographed. Kevin Spencer rriparia at charter.net From lbviman at blackfoot.net Mon Jan 19 14:45:41 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:45:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Henslow's sparrow In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090119224446.0CD6B9B006C@mail.blackfoot.net> In response to how a relatively short-distance, probably relatively sedentary species can travel so far off course, I am reminded of the explanation for how rails and coots get so far afield - they are poor fliers, and if swept up in a storm can, will, and are blown to just about anywhere the storm may blow them, hence their great dispersal for such poor navigators. With storms sweeping SW to NE across the continent, there are reverse and at right angle winds as well into which such a bird may have been lifted, landing it far from where it expected (genetically-speaking) it would be - Jim Greaves, Montana At 01:00 PM 1/19/2009, Joel Geier at obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >Anybody know of a theory that fits? Or is this just one very confused bird? From dpvroman at budget.net Mon Jan 19 14:47:38 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:47:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Deformed toes: Bewick's Wren References: <20090119104803.nu30aabhw8sg0880@webmail.thebirdguide.com> <00d901c97a70$60d4e2a0$227ea7e0$@NET> Message-ID: <4BFA19D9622744E38B9BDFB79E1C6B40@Warbler> Have not looked at Greg's photo yet, but think about this. Low temps should not be a problem for passerine birds. Birds like Redpolls find sub-zero temps no problem. When living in northern NY we would have them and others species in minus 30-40 below temps. Our OR temps are pretty mild when you think about it. Have captured Mourning Doves and their legs/feet are soft and tender, not as hard and scale-like as passerines and I could see where they might be frost or cold damaged. Dennis > Is it possible this is frostbite damage? I realize birds have ways to > keep > their feet warm by pulling them up or crouching to cover them but our > weather was pretty cold for a while. I have pictures of a Song Sparrow on > our (plastic) feeder during the cold weather that appears to have balls of > ice on its toes. I first thought it was something under the bird on the > feeder but it disappears in subsequent frames. > A quick search turned up a mention of Mourning Doves losing toes to > frostbite: > http://www.ccmr.cornell.edu/education/ask/index.html?quid=967 > > Tom Shreve > Tigard From watice at msn.com Mon Jan 19 14:53:38 2009 From: watice at msn.com (BILL ROSIE TICE) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:53:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Hunt Message-ID: Hi Folks, I went to EE Wilson this morning to look for this Henslow's Sparrow. There were 2 other birders who got there about the same time as me, with their dog. I did not get their names. I found Doug's marker, and started slowly walking the field to the south. Little by little I made wider circles. I did not see even one sparrow-type bird for one half hour. Finally, I saw one fly into a small bramble patch at least 100 yards SW of the marker. So I walked over there. That particular look was into the sun, but I could tell it was small. I came to about 20 feet of the brambles and waited for 5 minutes, then slowly started to circle it, which took at least another 5 minutes as I was really in slow motion. I returned to my starting place, and decided to head 50 feet to the south, and make a sweep of the area beyond the brambles in case the bird had kept going in the same direction on foot. So I made the sweep and was just getting back to the small bramble when it flushed. I almost stepped on it. In hindsight, I must have come close to doing that when circling the patch the first time. It flew directly away from me, with that herky-jerky type of flight that Doug described, and landed on a bramble about 50 feet away. If I was not looking for a Henslow's, I would have suspected a Clay-colored/Brewer's/Chipping based on the size and the light colored head, which I was seeing as I was putting my binocs up to my eyes. The bird allowed me about a one second look through my bins, and I could then tell it was not one of those species. What I did see in that one second was a light brown face and head, just like the color on the head of a Harris' Sparrow (Sibley is best for that). I also did see a small, dark mark behind the eye. The impression I had was that of a very large supercilium, the area above the eye a little light in color than that below the eye. I should mention that the bird was in very bright sunlight. The back was darkish, and, while I did not hone in on the breast, I don't recall seeing streaks. I wish I had a few seconds more, but the bird then flew another 30 feet or so to more brambles and did land in a viewable spot, but I could not get on it, where it stayed for another few seconds, and then it flew to the south to the beginning of a long hedgerow of brambles. In 2-3 seconds it flew further down the row and I lost it after that, even though I trudged through the area for another 25 minutes. To describe the area, I would say to reach it look for the small fir tree south of Doug's marker. From there go west. You will see the bramble hedgerow, and beyond that is a small bramble patch that is just sough of the field with teasel. Good luck to whoever goes looking for this bird. It is not very cooperative. I can certainly say with Roy Gerig that it was not a Lincoln's Sparrow, and I have no experience with Henslow's. Well, it is now off to Mexico for 2 weeks of birding, sunshine, and R&R. I do hope someone can nail this bird down a little farther. I should have remembered to bring my Jeff Gilligan mask................. Bill Tice -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090119/a40a1a1a/attachment.html From lbviman at blackfoot.net Mon Jan 19 15:05:46 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:05:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Henslow's sparrow, chumming and chasing In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090119230450.D736E9B0054@mail.blackfoot.net> My limited experience with the genus, a Nelson's sharp-tail which landed in Santa Barbara County a couple falls ago, indicates they eat small insects and glean small seeds from live or dormant weeds. Of course, I don't know what weeds might still retain seeds at "Heck", but watching American Tree Sparrows this month, eating seeds a foot or so above deep snow from sparse weeds indicates to me that "chumming" might not work with birds that usually (?) glean seeds from plants, or eat small insects off the ground - Jim Greaves, Montana http://blackfoot.net/~larkwick/Nelsons_Sparrow.html ps. The idea posited by a different reader/writer, that surrounding the bird and forcing it to show itself might be in order, it seems to me such method may defeat the purpose of "friendly" competitive birding, and is hardly "sporting". If the point is to "prove" it's Henslow's sparrow, why not just shoot it and put it in a drawer at the nearest university or natural history museum? THAT would solve the problem of ID with the least "disturbance" to habitat; although that WAS the usual habit of proving the existence of such rare birds, even into and past the 1970's, it certainly isn't very nice - and in my estimation, no less nice than harassing the bird into a potential frenzy to leave by surrounding it with dogs and humans beating the bush, and I venture to say, would ruin the "sport" for many less than aggressive birders who merely want to see birds, not traumatize them. At 01:00 PM 1/19/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >Subject: Re: [obol] Sparrow from Heck >What do these sparrows like to eat? Seems like enough people are >looking for it that one could chum for sparrows, would it join a >mixed flock to feed? So, people who are looking for the little >bird--start bringing a little seed and mark the place you set up the >feeding station so others can contribute when they come by. > >Sandy Leaptrott >NE Portland From birdmandon at clearwire.net Mon Jan 19 14:58:30 2009 From: birdmandon at clearwire.net (Don Schrouder) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:58:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lane Co. Golden Eagle Message-ID: OBOL, After a good morning birding Alton Baker Park and relocating the RED- SHOULDERED HAWK found there in recent postings, I decided to spend some time west of Eugene. First stop was in Alvadore at the end of Starlite, just past Dave Browns place (Hi Dave). There were a couple thousand Geese and hundreds of ducks that I was in the process of scanning when something flushed everything up. I looked up from my scope and grabbed the binos to find an immature GOLDEN EAGLE hunting everything in sight. After several passes it landed in the oak trees to the west and waited for birds to return. After 25 minutes it made another attempt at lunch and landed on the ground by the flooded field for a couple of minutes before taking off and heading north. I then ran into Al Prigge and Bill Hunter on Franklin Road and they also had the bird earlier in the morning on Washburne Lane so it has been hanging around the area today. Also had a PEREGRINE FALCON hunting the fields and birds at the end of Starlite. Don Schrouder birdmandon at clearwire.net From dpvroman at budget.net Mon Jan 19 15:20:27 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:20:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Deformed toes: Bewick's Wren References: <011920091922.9927.4974D2E0000DF654000026C722069997359B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> <2b1bbd260901191151o6fa142b8m4ed95c279c20c41d@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Having banded 1000s of passerines, I have to agree with Daniel, deformed toes are not all that uncommon. There can be numerous causes, from avian pox on down. Dennis Greg and Sandy, In general standing on one foot is more energy efficient for birds. This is seen very commonly in shorebirds (often reported as having a broken leg). During the banding season, swollen feet like seen in Greg's photos are one of the most common deformities I see. What causes this, I am not sure. It does not seem to be solely cold related, as I have seen it in summer and winter. Daniel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090119/32d5c3b7/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Jan 19 15:44:53 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:44:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sparrow from Heck Message-ID: <1232408693.3627.23.camel@localhost.localdomain> Sandy Leaptrott wrote: > All we need is an organic grass seed farmer ....You are right, a person does > not want to be introducing a lot of non-native weed seed to a natural area. I can donate a half a pound or so mix of native Willamette Valley prairie seed (hand-harvested from our front-yard restoration, mix of prairie Junegrass, Roemer's fescue and maybe some Calapooia tufted hairgrass) for this effort, plus a pile of elegant madia which has pretty small seeds, slender cinquefoil, and whatever else I can spare. That's serious overkill for that patch, which is actually full of nasty non- native grasses. But since the bird is not a normal WV species, who says it has to go for the prime native habitats? Anyway, at least a native seed mix will do no harm. If anyone wants to stop by and pick this up tomorrow morning, our place is the second house south of the landfill along Hwy 99W (red house w/ white trim, green mailbox). Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From celata at pacifier.com Mon Jan 19 16:54:18 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:54:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Raptor Count: Columbia River Route - 1/19/2009 Message-ID: <497520BA.6080208@pacifier.com> Still plenty of east wind. NO kestrels, and given that more kestrels than average were farther west on the Youngs Bay count yesterday, I'm guessing this may be an artifact of the iciness of the last few weeks. Bald Eagle numbers also uncharacteristically low. Probably all gone to the valley for the sheep feast... Date: January 19, 2009 Location: Clatsop County, Oregon Temperature: 48 degrees fahrenheit Wind direction: E Prevailing wind speed: 12-19 km/h Columbia River Route: 3hrs; 62mi Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Red-throated Loon 2 [1] Bald Eagle 8 Northern Harrier 5 Red-tailed Hawk 11 Peregrine Falcon 3 [2] Footnotes: [1] Blind Slough, first time they've shown there since early December... [2] including the Jackson Rd pair courting -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Studies in ambiguity http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/ambiguity20090111.html From dlrobbo at comcast.net Mon Jan 19 16:58:21 2009 From: dlrobbo at comcast.net (Doug Robberson) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:58:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Movie Message-ID: http://www.vimeo.com/2885985 The person who shot the video says they are swallows. They appear to be swifts using a natural rock roost Doug Robberson Tigard, OR From celata at pacifier.com Mon Jan 19 17:07:39 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:07:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Movie Message-ID: <497523DB.5040106@pacifier.com> They look to be Cliff Swallows to me. It you watch carefully, you can see the pale rump patch on some individuals. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Studies in ambiguity http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/ambiguity20090111.html From dlrobbo at comcast.net Mon Jan 19 18:00:21 2009 From: dlrobbo at comcast.net (Doug Robberson) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:00:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Picture request Message-ID: Does anyone have a picture of a male Eurasian Wigeon in non-breeding plumage that I may use in teaching a class to non-profit organization. Doug Robberson Tigard, OR From frankdanl at yahoo.com Mon Jan 19 18:11:07 2009 From: frankdanl at yahoo.com (frank lospalluto) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:11:07 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Agency Lake_Ft. Klamath ECBC Raptor Run, Klamath Co., 01/18/09 Message-ID: <863497.50669.qm@web36704.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi! Yesterday under great observing conditions I completed the January ECBC Agency Lake_Ft. Klamath_RR. 82 miles in 4:45 hrs. RED-TAILED HAWK 42 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK 4 COOPER'S HAWK 2 BALD EAGLE 11 ADULTS, 3 SUBADULTS Other birds of interest: small flock of Evening Grosbeaks at Wood River Wetlands and Pygmy Nuthatches in the Ponderosa stand along Modoc Pt. Rd. just northwest of Williamson River. frank From jeffgill at teleport.com Mon Jan 19 18:38:36 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:38:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow - EE Wilson - Yes. Message-ID: Owen Schmidt and I visited the site today in afternoon where Doug Robinson originally located the Henslow's Sparrow. We had perfect views of the bird and saw all of the field marks. Remarkably (except for the fact that we expect Owen to do the remarkable in photography) Owen obtained several very good diagnostic photos of it. He will post them later today. Congratulations to Doug on the original find. We first saw only Song Sparrows on the periphery of the field. After seeing a bit of vague movement in the blackberries near Doug's red and white ribbon, we looked into that bush, but only a Song Sparrow emerged. As we were about to leave that spot, we heard the crunch of a dry leaf. We froze and waited. Eventually the Henslow's Sparrow ran through an opening on the ground, but only the back pattern was discernible. We waited longer and it popped into the open on an arching branch, but the light was poor due to the sun angle and it flew off to the margin of the thistles on the west side of the field. We visually marked the spot and circled around toward it from the west, but the bird was missing. We then looped back into the thistles to approach again from the west about 20 feet to the south. The small sparrow flew low into the field and landed near a dead dark forbe. The herky-jerky flight style was obvious both times it had flown. The head seems to go back and forth as it flies - with the bill often not pointed in the direction it was flying, and the tail may move laterally as well - though the bird flies in a rather straight line. It then flew to a small clump of blackberries, and then to a row of thistles where I saw it land on rather bare ground and run about 7 feet into cover. It runs VERY well - faster than I think a vole can. Fortunately, Owen was stationed on the far end of the thistle row and obtained the photos as it ran by. It then flew toward another berry thicket. As Owen was telling me he got photos, I was still watching the bird, which had landed on the outer part of the thicket in perfect sunlight. After reviewing the photos and having confirmed that we had both seen the Henslow's Sparrow well, we departed. What we saw on the bird was conclusive regarding the identification. It is very small, with a proportionately large bill. In the good light we saw it in, the nape and head generally (but particularly the eye-line) are yellow-sage in color. The dark back has bright white lines that are somewhat scalloped. The tertials (remember we had it in excellent light) were red rust-colored. As Doug Robinson indicated - no other species has this combination of features. The chest and sides have bold dark streaks. While the head was usually flat, at one point it raised the crown feathers a bit to give a shaggy appearance. The throat was whitish, with dark whisker streaks. Don't rely on the National Geographic Guide (5th edition) for identification help. The face is too dull and the back is very poorly illustrated in the Geo. Guide. That book shows the back as far too scalloped. It in fact does have something of a scalloped effect - but really the dark back is more lined in white running length-wise. Sibley illustrates the species well. For strategy, we recommend slow movements while listening for any faint noise of the bird in the dry vegetation. It never called while we were there. Don't expect it to be where you saw it land. It lands and runs fast and far. With quiet patience, it perches for a while in the open every once in a while. Too many people being aggressive in the search will cause it to be difficult to see. If you see where it lands, have at least one person keep a wide-angled search to see if it might take flight. It flies fast, low, and silently. Jeff Gilligan Portland From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Mon Jan 19 19:03:15 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:03:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck at Woodson Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F01D718A1@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> I stopped at Woodson in Columbia County (west of Clatskanie) and found the TUFTED DUCK this morning. A European Starling was imitating a Black Phoebe along River Front Road near the duck's location. At Brownsmead in Clatsop County I found a MERLIN and 5 BALD EAGLE. A strong east wind was blowing there. Mike Patterson was birding the area and we visited briefly. On the way home I stopped in Westport and there was no wind. It was birdy there with a dozen RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, BUSHTITS, BEWICK'S WREN, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES and a gorgeous RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090119/0faa4e82/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Mon Jan 19 19:07:31 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:07:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow - habitat in winter. References: Message-ID: I have a little experience with habitat in the southeast - actually a lot more with the habitat than with the sparrows! Some of the southeastern pines, particularly slash pine and longleaf pine, grow in seasonally damp savanna habitats. The pine trees tend to be well spaced, with a lot of light reaching the ground, and hebaceous ground cover. If fire is suppressed they grow up to shrubs and hardwood trees, but larger tracts usually burn often enough to keep things herbaceous. Low spots tend to have marsh plants, including pitcher plants, sundews, and Pinguicula. The important thing, though, is those areas have wet summers and the driest time of year is winter. So, they usually are pretty well drained and dried out when the sparrows would be present. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Gilligan" To: "OBOL" Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2009 2:31 PM Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow - habitat in winter. > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henslow's_Sparrow > > > This site refers to the species migrating to marshy areas in winter. I > googled "Henslow's Sparrow habitat". > > A Michigan conservation page refers to low, damp grassy habitats, and > indicates that they also occur in drier habitats. > > Another site refers to wet pine forest floors in winter (wet pine forest > floors...a strange concept to me...) > > My experience with the species is very limited. Decades ago a > bander/birder > in Illinois took me to site near Rockford where we saw territorial > Henslow's > Sparrows. As I recall, that site was a remnant of tall prairie grass, and > that it was damp. > > > Jeff Gilligan > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From jeffgill at teleport.com Mon Jan 19 19:22:52 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:22:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Finding the Henslow's Sparrow site. (EE Wilson) Message-ID: My version of how to get there: 1. Park at the visitors parking on Camp Adair Rd. 2. Walk past the pheasant, chukar, etc. pens. 3. When you see the old small building (I think it is red) with the white pole near it (perhaps once a flag pole) follow the mowed path across he grassy area and keep going. 3. Cross the ash swale creek on the wooden foot bridge ( a marker on the far side refers to Troop 250). 4. Find the old paved road and keep walking north. 5. When you get to the "T", go west (left). 6. You will soon see an old shed tot eh south-west. You can jump the wet ditch, or keep going until you reach a spot where there is a culvert over the ditch. 7. Go to the shed. 8. Look east with binoculars and you will see Doug's red and white tape on a thistle. 9. Go to the taped thistle. Start birding to the south within and on the margins of the "field" that is vaguely surrounded by blackberries and thistle. From oschmidt at att.net Mon Jan 19 19:32:19 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:32:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow photos posted Message-ID: ...... from earlier today: http://web.me.com/olschmidt/HESP/Index.html oschmidt at att.net Monday, January 19, 2009 From rawieland at comcast.net Mon Jan 19 19:40:14 2009 From: rawieland at comcast.net (Rainer Wieland) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:40:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mystery call: owl or otherwise? It's otherwise! Message-ID: Thanks for all of your posts suggesting what the recorded call at http://tinyurl.com/7z54x6 was in the middle of the night. Suggested sources of the call were: o Heron, probably Great Blue Heron o unlikely to be an owl; roosting geese o California Sea Lion o not a goose; maybe a seal o first choice sea lion, second choice black bear o sea lions o sea lion Well, we have a definitive answer. And it's none of the above! You can read about it at http://orcawatcher.blogspot.com/2009/01/mystery-solved.html Cheers, Rainer Wieland Portland, OR From cyncay at comcast.net Mon Jan 19 19:59:34 2009 From: cyncay at comcast.net (Cindy Talbott-Nelson) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:59:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mystery call: owl or otherwise? It's otherwise! In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20090120035935.0E8C2A8255@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Rainer, Aha, that's it a DC Cormorant imitating a sea lion, what a clever bird! Cynthia -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Rainer Wieland Sent: Monday, January 19, 2009 7:40 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Cc: Monika Wieland Subject: [obol] Mystery call: owl or otherwise? It's otherwise! Thanks for all of your posts suggesting what the recorded call at http://tinyurl.com/7z54x6 was in the middle of the night. Suggested sources of the call were: o Heron, probably Great Blue Heron o unlikely to be an owl; roosting geese o California Sea Lion o not a goose; maybe a seal o first choice sea lion, second choice black bear o sea lions o sea lion Well, we have a definitive answer. And it's none of the above! You can read about it at http://orcawatcher.blogspot.com/2009/01/mystery-solved.html Cheers, Rainer Wieland Portland, OR _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.7/1895 - Release Date: 1/19/2009 9:37 AM From whoffman at peak.org Mon Jan 19 20:02:28 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:02:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] South coast, and Baja Oregon Message-ID: I spent the 3-day weekend on the south coast, and down as far as Centerville Beach, CA, which is maybe 20 miles S. of Eureka. Highlights: Emperor Goose in Bandon: I spent quite a while Saturday and today watching it, and saw that it is at the very bottom of the pecking order in the flock. The Greater White-fronted Goose chased it several times, but seemed subservient to all the Barnyard Geese. The Barnyard Geese seemed more agressive and quarrelsome than I have noticed in the past. Ferrugineous Hawk. Nice Adult, pale phase, in the dairy fields just S of the Smith River, N. of Crescent City. Saw it on a power pole crossbar on Saturday PM along Lower Lake Rd., just N. of the barnyard with all the veal boxes. On Sunday PM it was in a treetop 1/4 mile wast of the Hwy 101 bridge over Smith River. I have not seen this bird mentioned on Calbirds, so maybe someone can cross-post. I think it would be pretty rare anywhere on the north coast? Peregrines: Five seen. One, near Ferndale, was doing what I call slow flight: flapping fast with shallow wingbeats, without traveling very fast at all. Red-shouldered Hawks: Saw 8 and later will post something about immature plumages. Brant: more than 1000 in the air over S. Humboldt Bay, seen from the South Spit. 3 Ravens on the beach at Crescent City attacking a live, beached Western Grebe. I suspect they would have killed it, but a passerby flushed them, and then a wave floated the grebe enough to get back into deeper water. Hundreds of Tundra Swans in a field near Ferndale, CA. Lowlights: According to Sheila in Harbor, Eurasian Flying Rats I mean Collared Doves have become common there. They are common form there all the way to Ferndale, anywhere that is not forested. A few around each farmyard or village in the Eel River Bottoms, Ditto the Smith River bottoms, ditto in Crescent City, Arcata, Eureka, McKinleyville. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090119/c2170f15/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Mon Jan 19 20:18:45 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 04:18:45 +0000 Subject: [obol] Henslow Sparrow photos Message-ID: Hi Owen and Jeff, With all due respect, I think you photographed two different birds. The first set I feel is a Lincoln's sparrow. I am studying the set with the three photos of a Ammodramus species but not totally convinced it is a Henslow without further examination. To me, the flat head, larger beak appearance and overall structure does not gel. A frontal view would have been helpful. Be curious what others think, this is simply my opinion. Thanks for getting documentation of such a skulker! All the best, Khanh Tran From ninerharv2 at msn.com Mon Jan 19 20:25:57 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 04:25:57 +0000 Subject: [obol] Henslow Sparrow photos Message-ID: I was about to make the same post and agree with Khahn Tran. The photos do not appear to me to be henslow sparrow. I am not sure we have two bird here but I wondered about that also. But none would appear to be Henslow. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: khanh tran Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 04:18:45 To: Subject: Re: [obol] Henslow Sparrow photos Hi Owen and Jeff, ? With all due respect, I think you photographed two different birds.? The first set I feel is a Lincoln's sparrow.? I am studying the set with the three photos of a Ammodramus species but not totally convinced it is a Henslow without further examination.? To me, the flat head, larger beak appearance and overall structure does not gel.? ? A frontal view would have been helpful. ? Be curious what others think, this is simply my opinion.? Thanks for getting documentation of such a skulker! ? All the best, ? Khanh Tran _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From birdboy at bkpix.com Mon Jan 19 20:30:52 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:30:52 +1300 Subject: [obol] Henslow Sparrow photos In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: OBOL and Henslow's hunters, Interesting photos. Looks like a particularly well-marked Lincoln's Sparrow to me, by structure and plumage (behavior notwithstanding). That doesn't mean a Henslow's isn't also out there, though... Good birding, Noah Strycker On 1/20/09, khanh tran wrote: > > > Hi Owen and Jeff, > > With all due respect, I think you photographed two different birds. The > first set I feel is a Lincoln's sparrow. I am studying the set with the > three photos of a Ammodramus species but not totally convinced it is a > Henslow without further examination. To me, the flat head, larger beak > appearance and overall structure does not gel. > > A frontal view would have been helpful. > > Be curious what others think, this is simply my opinion. Thanks for getting > documentation of such a skulker! > > All the best, > > Khanh Tran > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Mon Jan 19 20:33:59 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:33:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow Sparrow photos In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I just got home from the Wallowas and missing the Pine Warbler and just looked at Owen's photos. Looks like a Lincoln's to me also. Henslow's have a different shape, being much bigger billed and flatter headed, for starters. Will post more on the trip over yonder later. Cheers, Shawneen From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Mon Jan 19 20:35:16 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 04:35:16 +0000 Subject: [obol] Excellent Henslow's sparrow photos for comparsion. Message-ID: Hi Obolers! Here are photos from my favorite bird photographer of a Henslow's sparrow. It offers a wide variety of variation, angles, and lighting of a Henslow's sparrow that most field guides don't cover. Maybe it will shed some light for those that have never seen one in REAL life like me! Real photos are tough to come by-- especially something this clear and sharp! http://www.roysephotos.com/HenslowsSparrow.html Good birding, Khanh Tran From hhactitis at yahoo.com Mon Jan 19 20:46:49 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:46:49 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow photos posted In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <25148.38354.qm@web37005.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Owen, Jeff and the rest of OBOL, I have to agree with the previously offered opinions as to this bird: The first two pictures definitely show a typical Lincoln's Sparrow, and I believe the remaining shots to be of the same species, although that bird perches on the ground and appears flatter-crowned and bigger-billed - still, I don't see any of the characteristic scaling on the back, the bill should be paler and even bigger in a Henslow's, the color of the nape is all wrong, there is too much of a dark pattern on the cheeks, and the eye stripe and crown look wrong. I've compared Owen's shots with many pictures of Henslow's Sparrow on the web, and I believe this to be a case of a little too much wishful thinking - and quite likely a somewhat oddly behaving Lincoln's Sparrow. A valient effort to document an extremely elusive first for Oregon, and having unsuccesfully chased that bird myself, I can understand only too well how a fleeting glimpse at a potential candidate in the right area would get the heart rate up and one would concentrate on nothing but getting a decent picture ..... unfortunately, the visible results don't bear out the initial impression. I'm curious to see what others think about this bird/these birds .... Respectfully, Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Mon, 1/19/09, Owen Schmidt wrote: From: Owen Schmidt Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow photos posted To: "OBOL" Date: Monday, January 19, 2009, 7:32 PM ...... from earlier today: http://web.me.com/olschmidt/HESP/Index.html oschmidt at att.net Monday, January 19, 2009 _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090119/1a2da0ff/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Mon Jan 19 20:59:17 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:59:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Henslow Sparrow photos Message-ID: <20090119215917.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.0e12da74bb.wbe@email.secureserver.net> I agree with the previous posts by others. None of the birds in these photos appear to be Henslow's sparrows. The top three photos appear to be of a Lincoln's sparrows, and the bottom photos look like a different sparrow (probably savannah) to me. The bills of the birds in the photos posted by Schmidt are WAY too small. That's the first thing that struck me when I first looked at the photos. Henslow's sparrows have big, honkin' bills, and the flat-headed profile really accentuates the size of the bill on Henslow's sparrows. Here's a link to some photos of Henslow's sparrows I took in Arkansas in March 2007 for comparison. (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=craigPDX&target=PHOTO&id=5292483021662002722&aid=5292482976459218641&authkey=XYeqqRhdbDA&feat=email) The face pattern for the bird in the bottom three photos is also wrong for Henslow's sparrow. Note the relatively broad, distinct post-ocular stripe in Schmidt's photos. Henslow's sparrows have a very narrow post-ocular stripe, so narrow, that it often appears to be absent. Note also on Schmidt's photos, that the dark malar stripe curves up behind the auriculars. That's wrong for Henslow's sparrows. See my photos for comparison. Also, the head streaking on Henslow's sparrows is very dark, almost black. The heading streaking on Schmidt's sparrow is quite reddish. The back streaking on the sparrow in the bottom three photos appears way too heavy for a Henslow's sparrows, and the streaks don't have the scaly pattern caused by lighter feather edges as on Henslow's sparrows. Nice photos, but I don't think they are of Henslow's sparrows. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: Re: [obol] Henslow Sparrow photos > From: Shawneen Finnegan > Date: Mon, January 19, 2009 8:33 pm > To: OBOL OBOL > > > I just got home from the Wallowas and missing the Pine Warbler and > just looked at Owen's photos. Looks like a Lincoln's to me also. > Henslow's have a different shape, being much bigger billed and flatter > headed, for starters. > > Will post more on the trip over yonder later. > > Cheers, > Shawneen > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dinpdx at yahoo.com Mon Jan 19 21:15:42 2009 From: dinpdx at yahoo.com (Dwight) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:15:42 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] more Henslow's Sparrow photos for comparison Message-ID: <220276.68761.qm@web31607.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Khanh Tran posted some fine Henslow's Sparrow photos from Robert Royse. I've stumbled onto his work while searching for photos online and agree he does excellent photography. I thought I would share some Henslow's images from one of my favorite bird photographers, Mark Bartosik. His entire "current news photoblog" is worth exploring too. http://www.pbase.com/mbb/henslows_sparrow_010409 Good Birding, Dwight Porter Portland, OR From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Jan 19 22:00:18 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:00:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Revisions from Lane coast report Message-ID: After some additional research, I am not persuaded that we saw a hybrid teal at South Slough near Florence on Sunday. I think it was within the range of variation of Green-winged, some of which show a half-cooked pale horizontal stripe. I also forgot to mention that we saw a female Red-breasted Merganser far up the southeast lobe of Siltcoos Lake. I rarely see them on lakes along the coast. We saw a raft of Common Mergansers shortly after that for a nice comparison of the females. We saw a Black Phoebe along Canary Rd north of the LCC junction and heard one somewhere around the Ada Grange, but didn't see it. They have been regular in those areas for a few years now. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From oschmidt at att.net Mon Jan 19 22:06:07 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:06:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow photos re-posted Message-ID: <3D8F2549-0B77-4D95-994A-C376A1F35247@att.net> I've added a second page, with 11 photos of the bird on the ground in shadow: http://web.me.com/olschmidt/HESP/Index.html oschmidt at att.net Monday, January 19, 2009 From jeffgill at teleport.com Mon Jan 19 22:07:32 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:07:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Additional photos of the sparrow(s) Message-ID: I understand that Owen is posting additional photos of the sparrow or sparrows. As soon as I looked at the photos that were originally posted, I wondered whether the photos of the bird in the blackberry were of a Lincoln's Sparrow. I don't have time tonight to examine the matter closely enough. That said...I am not ruling out the dreaded "two Bird Theory" in regard to the photos. I will comment though that the Henslow's photographed on an apparent winter stalk in the Audubon Society Master Guide To Birding (Vol. 3) does not have the scaled back appearance as shown in at least some photos of summer birds. The scaly-backed aspect may be a matter of the season. Look at the additional photos Owen is posting. Some of the photos of the bird on the ground show the yellow-greenish color to the eye line. Some also show a bill much larger than that apparent in the photo of the bird in the berry bush. Additionally, the back and flanks of the birds Owen photographed seem to show bolder streaking than I would expect on a Lincoln's Sparrow. It should be noted that I couldn't see a sparrow either of the times Owen was photographing, and that when someone is trying to photograph a furtive bird, one can't ay that moment analyze the bird well. We were on the opposite sides of the berry patches. That said, if the bird on the ground isn't a Henslow's, we didn't see one. I am not sure that the bird in the bush isn't the same bird though, despite it looking quite different. I think it probably is the same bird. I suggest that people also google "Henslow's Sparrow" and click on the images button. More in the next day or two. (I have to go birding with a friend from California - Nick Lethaby - all day tomorrow.) Jeff Gilligan From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Jan 19 22:14:44 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:14:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Directions to Henslow's Sparrow patch Message-ID: <1232432084.3630.24.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, I could not view the photos that were posted on line, but I did react with some alarm to the directions. The route suggested by Jeff seems to go through the old scout jamboree site, then off toward the NE corner of the refuge before heading back west. It's an interesting walk and perhaps your best bet for seeing a wintering Green Heron, but it is not the most direct route by close to a mile. The other way that I suggested will get you there with less exertion, and does not require any ditch- hopping. Let me try again: Follow the previous directions to the parking area for the WW II memorial park. There should be some (not-so) Wild Turkeys in a pen right where you park. Proceed north past the turkeys, Egyptian Geese, Mountain Quail, Golden Pheasants etc., then the old hatchery building and guest-host RV. Just past the signboard next to a big oak (which tells the story of historic Wellsdale), turn LEFT and walk for about 200 yards with a cottonwood- lined pond to your left, until you get to the next intersection. The headquarters building will now be on your left (feel free to stop by and ask for a map of the refuge). You should be able to see a Barn Owl nest box on the north side of the adjacent equipment shed (take a peek, sometimes you can see a Barn Owl in there). There are also a bunch of swallow boxes on posts, and another guest-host RV (E.E. Wilson must have more guest hosts than any other place in the state ... there are several more south of Camp Adair Rd.). Turn the other direction and go NORTH from here along the paved road. You will cross a canal (without getting your feet wet), which opens into a pond to your right. Keep walking north. You will next pass an old orchard, then an oak grove on your right. Continue another 1/4 mile and then look for the previously described shed on your right. At this point you will have to leave the pavement, but not sooner. Walk east past the shed and go another 225 yards to get to Doug's red & white flagging, which is tied to a teasel stem. All sightings described thus far (except maybe Roy Gerig's) will now be within spitting distance for any self-respecting, watermelon-seed spitting matron from the heart of Henslow's Sparrow wintering territory. Bring along a few watermelon seeds if you want to calibrate your search radius. Happy birding, Joel P.S. By the way, bicycles are allowed in E.E. Wilson, and are a significantly quicker way to cover the distance. However, the blackberry vines are tough on inner tubes, so bring your patch kit. -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Mon Jan 19 22:19:18 2009 From: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com (Jeff Fleischer) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:19:18 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] ECBC Linn County Unit 4 raptor run Message-ID: <15123.74850.qm@web50904.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Obolers, Today, under absolutely beautiful skies and little wind, I conducted this months ECBC survey for Linn County Unit 4. I was ably assisted on the run by Glen Lindeman and Sue Hecox from Salem and we had phenominal success! Linn County Unit 4 is bordered on the north by Hwy 228/American Drive, on the west by the Willamette River, on the east by the foothills of the Cascades south of Brownsville, and on the south by Priceboro Rd. We covered the 130.8 mile route in 9 hours 20 minutes. The total count of 384 birds was second only to the 421 found in December 05. Following is a list of birds that were found today: Red-tailed Hawk 146 American Kestrel 82 Northern Harrier 65 Bald Eagle 76 (32 adults, 44 subadults) Rough-legged Hawk 7 Prairie Falcon 3 Peregrine Falcon 1 UNID large falcon 1 Cooper's Hawk 2 UNID raptor 1 The Red-tailed Hawk figure is the highest January figure for this route and third highest monthly total recorded. During the winter of 05-06, RTHA totals were the highest recorded so far for this project (Dec 05 - 235, Jan 06 - 143, and Feb 06 - 168). The American Kestrel figure was the highest since Feb 06. That winter, the highest AMKE numbers were found during Jan 06 (114) and Dec 05 (111). The Northern Harrier figure was the highest since Jan 06 (74) and short of the all time high totals of 103 and 101 for Feb 05 and Mar 05 respectively. The Bald Eagle total for today compares with 110 birds found in this Unit during the Mid Winter Bald Eagle Count conducted last Saturday when 128 total eagles were found inside and outside of Unit 4. Special sightings today included PRFAs found on Nixon Dr, Center School Rd, and Harris Dr. The PEFA was found on Diamond Hill Dr just east of Weatherford Rd. One unidentified large falcon was observed flying east into the foothills east of Gap Rd south of Belts Drive. We felt it was probably a PEFA but couldn't determine that for certain. And finally, I want to personally thank Glen and Sue for their enthusiastic help on what turned out to be a really great day of raptoring under perfect viewing conditions! :) Jeff Fleischer Albany From ninerharv2 at msn.com Mon Jan 19 22:35:48 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 06:35:48 +0000 Subject: [obol] Additional photos of the sparrow(s) Message-ID: I'll stick to our previous observation. These photos do not appear to be Henslows. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Jeff Gilligan Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 06:07:32 To: Subject: [obol] Additional photos of the sparrow(s) I understand that Owen is posting additional photos of the sparrow or sparrows.? As soon as I looked at the photos that were originally posted, I wondered whether the photos of the bird in the blackberry were of a Lincoln's Sparrow. I don't have time tonight to examine the matter closely enough. That said...I am not ruling out the dreaded "two Bird Theory" in regard to the photos. I will comment though that the Henslow's photographed on an apparent winter stalk in the Audubon Society Master Guide To Birding (Vol. 3) does not have the scaled back appearance as shown in at least some photos of summer birds. The scaly-backed aspect may be a matter of the season. Look at the additional photos Owen is posting.? Some of the photos of the bird on the ground show the yellow-greenish color to the eye line. Some also show a bill much larger than that apparent in the photo of the bird in the berry bush. Additionally, the back and flanks of the birds Owen photographed seem to show bolder streaking than I would expect on a Lincoln's Sparrow. It should be noted that I couldn't see a sparrow either of the times Owen was photographing, and that when someone is trying to photograph a furtive bird, one can't ay that moment analyze the bird well.? We were on the opposite sides of the berry patches. That said, if the bird on the ground isn't a Henslow's, we didn't see one. I am not sure that the bird in the bush isn't the same bird though, despite it looking quite different.? I think it probably is the same bird. I suggest that people also google "Henslow's Sparrow" and click on the images button. More in the next day or two.? (I have to go birding with a friend from California - Nick Lethaby -? all day tomorrow.) Jeff Gilligan _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jeffgill at teleport.com Mon Jan 19 22:42:58 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:42:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Owen's additional photos. Message-ID: You can se the additional photos by clicking on the underlined word "Ground" in the broad arrow. Craig Turner and others have interesting comments. I am certainly not an expert on Henslow's Sparrow. The best photo is #11. The bird in that photo is very similar to the Henslow's photographed in The Audubon Society Master Guide - in regard to the back pattern. The bird photographed in that guide definitely doesn't have a scaly back appearance. I think the back patter is a seasonal thing. The illustration of a juvenile Henslow's in this guide book shows the cheek being enclosed in black (including the malar as part of the triangle). Might a winter immature retain some of that aspect in showing a malar that curves up behind the auricular? I don't know. If it is an immature Henslow's, might it have reddish to the crown rather being black crowned. Again, I don't know, but we see that in White-crowned Sparrows. Finally, photo #11 shows a large bill, pale pink in color. The bill in that photo may be within the range for Henslow's. Finally, Tim Janzen pointed out that one of the photos of Henslow's in the Rising guide shows the crown being lifted and somewhat shaggy, somewhat similar to what is show in the photos of the bird in the bush - whether or not it is the same bird as the one on the ground. Jeff Gilligan From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Jan 19 22:50:28 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:50:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Directions to Henslow's sparrow patch Message-ID: <1232434228.3630.48.camel@localhost.localdomain> P.S. If you do follow Jeff's directions, might as well smell the roses along the way: About 200 yards before the northernmost point on this journey, you come through an area that has annually hosted what I believe may be Oregon's largest concentration of White-throated Sparrows. My high count for this winter was 5 or 6 (in a single view), but there may well be more than that if you look around. In recent winters, flocks totalling up to 18 or so have wintered here. Just past here, on the right, is the spot where Bill Proebsting reported another Sedge Wren in November. When you come to the T, the area to the right is a semi-regular spot for Swamp Sparrow and once had three (seems like someone found one there recently, though I've missed them this winter). Peek over the railroad tracks and you could see a Prairie Falcon or Northern Shrike (both close to annual), or a Short-eared Owl. This was also a one-time site for White Wagtail, but it's probably expecting too much for a repeat, especially since that field has been tiled so that the grass no longer drowns out in winter. Harris's Sparrows have been found in at least two spots along this walk, once before you get to the WTSP area, and once closer to the current patch of interest. Wrentits have colonized this area over the past 10 years so chances are that you'll hear one. I'm probably missing some other winter birds that Alan McGie and others found in that part of the refuge in years past. Anyway, it's not too bad of place to go birding, even if you're stressed about how to find the "sparrow from heck" at the end of the walk. Joel From jeffgill at teleport.com Mon Jan 19 22:51:03 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:51:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] FW: Vindicated, thanks! (re Henslow's) In-Reply-To: Message-ID: ------ Forwarded Message From: Douglas Robinson Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:10:01 -0800 To: Jeff Gilligan Conversation: Vindicated, thanks! Subject: Vindicated, thanks! Hi Jeff, Great work getting pictures of the Henslow's Sparrow! I appreciate that you trusted the ID and spent time chasing the bird. It's interesting that the photos of the bird on the ground don't show the white edges to the tips of the back feathers that I could see from very close range. Maybe it's light or focus. Anyway, looks like it is completely nailed down as a first for Oregon now. Cheers Doug -- ------ End of Forwarded Message From jeffgill at teleport.com Mon Jan 19 22:53:50 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:53:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] FW: More on the Henslow's Sparrow at EEWilson, 15 Jan In-Reply-To: Message-ID: In case this wasn't read earlier, I have forwarded Doug Robinson's comments regarding his sighting and his analysis. ------ Forwarded Message From: Douglas Robinson Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:18:59 -0800 To: "obol at oregonbirdwatch.org" Cc: Midvalley Birding Conversation: More on the Henslow's Sparrow at EEWilson, 15 Jan Subject: [obol] More on the Henslow's Sparrow at EEWilson, 15 Jan Hi folks, I was out of town the last few days and responded to only a couple emails about the Henslow's Sparrow. Given the interesting range of responses, I thought I would summarize more about the sighting. First, here are the fieldmarks I saw from a distance of about 8 feet: chunky bodied sparrow with an olive nape, tertials with a broad rufous distal margin, and a scaly-appearing back. The back feathers were very round-tipped (not elongated) and black with dark chestnut toward the distal edges. Each feather was edged with a very narrow (about 1 mm) and uniform-width white fringe. It's the fringes on dark feathers that made the back appear "scaly." As I reported earlier, when I flushed the bird first by nearly stepping on it, it flew about 4 feet and dived into a patch of grass. The bunch of grass it was under had a gap in the canopy and I could see the bird move into an open space. I moved slightly and focused my binoculars on the bird. I could see the nape, back, and upper edge of the right wing (tertials) very clearly. The rest of the bird was mostly obscured by grass. I watched it there for several seconds and it was not moving. So I tried to shift to the side carefully so I could see the head better. As I did, the bird ran out of sight. I then took a couple steps forward to where it had been sitting and it flew into a briar patch. I watched carefully as it flew. When the bird flew, it did so with a "herky-jerky" movement; low flight that is somewhat indirect in that it seemed like the bird was being pulled forward by the side of its head, rather than going straight ahead. I quickly walked up to the briars and tried for 2 or 3 minutes to re-locate it. I had no success, but knew I had seen enough to make a conclusive identification (see below), and I decided that if other people were going to see it, I had better not harass it any more. (Yeah, imagine that; walking away from a Henslow's Sparrow in Oregon because you want others to have a chance at it. I did the same thing with the Sedge Wren last year in this same field. When I flushed the Sedge Wren as I was walking slowly through the field I hardly broke stride and kept right on walking. My first thought was: "Ah ha, a Sedge Wren. Other people will want to see that, so I'll leave it alone for now.") So, why is seeing the nape, back, and tertials enough for a conclusive identification? If you know Ammodramus sparrows, you know that is enough. First and foremost, no other species has a nape the same color. Henslow's has that dark olive-green color, which is like no other species. Second, combine that with a rufous wing patch caused by the colored patch in the tertials and the scaly-appearing back pattern and you have eliminated all the other possibilities. For example, LeConte's, Sharp-tailed, and Grasshopper sparrows have grayish napes (all with somewhat different patterns of streaking on them and Grasshoppers have more of a buffy-gray nape); Baird's has a paler, rather buffy nape. None of the other common local sparrows like Savannah, Swamp, Lincoln's or Song Sparrows have an olive nape. All the other species have back patterns that look streaky, which is largely caused by back feather shape and the occurrence of broader color patterns toward the margins of the back feathers. Henslow's is different in that, in fresher plumages as they would be in during fall and early winter, those fringes are narrow and give the whole back a scaly appearance. Last, the broad rufous tertial margins are not present in LeConte's (very buffy instead), Sharp-tailed (darker brown with narrow paler edge), Grasshopper (patterned brown and buff), Baird's (very buffy edges), Lincoln's (buffy to tan edges), nor Savannah (pale buffy fringe). Song and Swamp have some rusty-brown wing feathers, but typically the pattern is different; in Swamp the rusty is brighter toward the inner instead of outer edge and in Song the red-brown is dull and does not contrast that much with the rest of the wing. Note, too, that both Marsh and Sedge Wrens have streaky backs. I won't go into all the other reasons Henslow's Sparrows are not wrens. So, if you get a clear look at nape, back, and tertials, you can eliminate the other possible identifications. It's too bad the folks who tried later the afternoon I found the Henslow's Sparrow and the next day did not get a clear look, but they all know now how hard it is to relocate a Henslow's Sparrow during winter. They are incredibly elusive. They prefer to run on the ground whenever possible. When pressed, they hide in underground tunnels such as tortoise burrows (the Southeast USA) and vole holes. So, to finish a long email, let me summarize my experience with this and similar species. First, this is not the first Henslow's Sparrow I have seen. I have studied the species on its wintering grounds in Alabama and Florida. The previous posting had a link to a pdf of a paper I wrote with my graduate student on winter habitat use of Henslow's Sparrows. I have seen dozens of these guys during winter. That is another reason I did not continue to chase the EE Wilson bird for better looks. I know the bird's flight behavior, I know the key field marks that make a short or obscured look a conclusive identification, and I know how tough they are to see well. I have also seen the species regularly in Illinois during spring and summer (check my book Southern Illinois Birds, 1996, for a nice photo of a Henslow's Sparrow). Last, I have seen hundreds to thousands of all the aforementioned species except Baird's. I've gotten one look at Baird's ever, excepting studies of specimens in museums. LeConte's are regular in winter in southern Illinois and I have seen hundreds of them over the years; yes, hundreds. Enough of a long email. I hope someone else can get the bird to cooperate long enough to get good looks. Would be great to move this Henslow's Sparrow out of the single-observer record category and into a multi-observer Oregon record. Have fun out there, and try stomping through some fields this winter; you never know what you might kick up. Douglas Robinson -- W. Douglas Robinson Dept of Fisheries and Wildlife 104 Nash Hall And Oak Creek Lab of Biology Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331 http://fw.oregonstate.edu/robinson 541-737-9501 _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------ End of Forwarded Message From godwit513 at msn.com Mon Jan 19 23:07:10 2009 From: godwit513 at msn.com (Ruth Sullivan) Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:07:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Excellent Henslow's sparrow photos for comparsion. References: Message-ID: Hello Khan, I am so glad that you put the excellent photos of the Henslow's Sparrow up on Obol. First it helps to been seeing this species in the field so you know how this bird really looks. I using the National Geographic "Birds of North America" Where the facial on the Henslow's looking quite green Olive.The comparison is extreme.I hope you all going to find the real Henslow's Sparrow. Cheers Ruth Sullivan Tacoma WA, ----- Original Message ----- From: "khanh tran" To: Sent: Monday, January 19, 2009 8:35 PM Subject: [obol] Excellent Henslow's sparrow photos for comparsion. > > Hi Obolers! > > Here are photos from my favorite bird photographer of a Henslow's sparrow. > It offers a wide variety of variation, angles, and lighting of a Henslow's > sparrow that most field guides don't cover. > > Maybe it will shed some light for those that have never seen one in REAL > life like me! Real photos are tough to come by-- especially something > this clear and sharp! > > http://www.roysephotos.com/HenslowsSparrow.html > > Good birding, > > Khanh Tran > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From llsdirons at msn.com Mon Jan 19 23:20:23 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:20:23 +0000 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow photos re-posted In-Reply-To: <3D8F2549-0B77-4D95-994A-C376A1F35247@att.net> References: <3D8F2549-0B77-4D95-994A-C376A1F35247@att.net> Message-ID: Greetings All, I think that the bird in these images is a Lincoln's Sparrow and not a Henslow's for the following reasons: 1. Even though the bill looks on the large size for a Lincoln's in a couple of the images, I think it is still too small for a Henslow's 2. The tail looks pretty long and rather squared off in most of the images. Typically, Ammodramus sparrows have noticeably short and somewhat spiked tails that are not evenly squared off at the end. 3. The dark submalar mark (below the broad buffy malar stripe that starts at the base of the bill), is broad and flairs out as it gets farther from the base of the bill eventually fanning out into the breast streaking. This is typical of Lincoln's Sparrow and I'm not finding images that show this look on a Henslow's. The dark stripe above the buffy malar is also fairly broad. This look is dead-on for a Lincoln's and does not fit Henslow's, which generally shows less obvious narrow black submalar and supramalar stripes. 4. For the most part, the base color of the face looks gray and does not show the expected olive tones of a Henslows. Also, the post-ocular strip does not really taper much as it approaches the back of the eye and meets the back of the eye. In looking at pictures and illustrations of Henslow's, they consistently show the post-ocular stripe tapering and becoming so narrow as to look almost absent as it reaches the back of the eye. > From: oschmidt at att.net > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:06:07 -0800 > Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow photos re-posted > > > > I've added a second page, with 11 photos of the bird on the ground in > shadow: > http://web.me.com/olschmidt/HESP/Index.html > > oschmidt at att.net > Monday, January 19, 2009 > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_howitworks_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090120/55bc92bc/attachment.html From carolk at viclink.com Tue Jan 20 00:05:03 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:05:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Audubon Birding Weekend to NE Oregon Message-ID: <000701c97ad5$e11bfba0$1a430a0a@home> OBOL: We just returned from an Audubon Birding Weekend trip to NE Oregon. Friday, Jan 16, we spent from 11-3 in LaGrande without finding the Pine Warbler. Saturday, Jan. 17, we spent mostly in fog near Enterprise & Joseph. We found: NO Gray Partridge, Snow Buntings or Redpolls 2 Gray-crowned Rosy Finches on School Flat Rd. 1 N. Shrike on Leap Ln. 30 Bohemian Waxwings with 160 Cedars in N. Enterprise; 150 more in Joseph 8 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS east of the Enterprise Fishhatchery 1 Pygmy Owl at the head of Wallowa Lake 25 Am. Tree Sparrows on Repplinger Rd., east of Enterprise (at canal crossing) Sunday, Jan. 18. we dodged the fog by going up to Prairie Creek early, then to Zumwalt Rd., then to Flora. We found: 250 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS swarming on the ground in the open field near the cemetery on the east slope of the Wallowa Lake moraine. 18 Wild Turkeys at Flora 1 N. Pygmy Owl off the Hwy 3 ~ 30 miles N of Enterprise 2 W. Screech Owls along Williamson Rd. after dark Monday, Jan. 119, we tried Ant Flat Rd. (impassable), Leap Ln.(no birds, fog), and School Flat Rd. (fog). We returned to Enterprise on Hwy 82. We found: 9 Gray-crowned Rosy Finches on School Flat Rd. NO Snow Buntings or Gray Partridge 75-200 COMMON REDPOLLS at m.p. 59 on Hwy 82. Following a tip from Kyle Bratcher, we stopped along Hwy 82 at the upper end of the passing lane (eastbound) east of Enterprise. We parked near a gate with a top crossbar, and walked across to the RR tracks. From there, Carol spotted the flock of little birds swarming in the alder catkins along the Wallowa River at the foot of the hill across a small field. We were able to walk over and get close looks. Thank you, Kyle!! 'Twas a fine weekend. Good birding, everyone, Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen From birdboy at bkpix.com Tue Jan 20 00:09:18 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:09:18 +1300 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow photos re-posted In-Reply-To: References: <3D8F2549-0B77-4D95-994A-C376A1F35247@att.net> Message-ID: Hi all, I think David is right on. In the ground images, the sparrow is active (running or walking), and its feathers are slicked back, approaching the flat-headed, large-billed look of a Henslow's or other Ammodramus. But plumage still identifies it as a Lincoln's, especially the face, crown, and nape patterns. This individual seems colorful - the rusty flight feathers, back patterning, and breast/side streaking are quite heavy as Lincoln's Sparrows go, but I see little reason to suspect it is something else. And Lincoln's Sparrows may be the most abundant wintering bird in that particular field. I remember hours spent trying to turn them into Sedge Wrens last winter, to no avail... though Karl's observation of a striped skunk nearby gives a new meaning to getting "skunked"! Good birding, Noah Strycker On 1/20/09, David Irons wrote: > > > > > > > > Greetings All, > > I think that the bird in these images is a Lincoln's Sparrow and not a > Henslow's for the following reasons: > > 1. Even though the bill looks on the large size for a Lincoln's in a couple > of the images, I think it is still too small for a Henslow's > > 2. The tail looks pretty long and rather squared off in most of the images. > Typically, Ammodramus sparrows have noticeably short and somewhat spiked > tails that are not evenly squared off at the end. > > 3. The dark submalar mark (below the broad buffy malar stripe that starts at > the base of the bill), is broad and flairs out as it gets farther from the > base of the bill eventually fanning out into the breast streaking. This is > typical of Lincoln's Sparrow and I'm not finding images that show this look > on a Henslow's. The dark stripe above the buffy malar is also fairly broad. > This look is dead-on for a Lincoln's and does not fit Henslow's, which > generally shows less obvious narrow black submalar and supramalar stripes. > > 4. For the most part, the base color of the face looks gray and does not > show the expected olive tones of a Henslows. Also, the post-ocular strip > does not really taper much as it approaches the back of the eye and meets > the back of the eye. In looking at pictures and illustrations of Henslow's, > they consistently show the post-ocular stripe tapering and becoming so > narrow as to look almost absent as it reaches the back of the eye. > > > >> From: oschmidt at att.net >> To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:06:07 -0800 >> Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow photos re-posted >> >> >> >> I've added a second page, with 11 photos of the bird on the ground in >> shadow: >> http://web.me.com/olschmidt/HESP/Index.html >> >> oschmidt at att.net >> Monday, January 19, 2009 >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _________________________________________________________________ > Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. > http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_howitworks_012009 From pygowl at gmail.com Tue Jan 20 00:10:21 2009 From: pygowl at gmail.com (Michael Marsh) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:10:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Free "Birding" Mags Message-ID: <90d831b70901200010m5f2e64c9kceb6da667e72e5aa@mail.gmail.com> Moving into a smaller house (you know, downsizing) and will be offering for sale or free various birding (and other) related items. Starting off slow, but I'd like to find someone who could use the most recent 4 issues of "Birding" mag. Vol. 40, nos. 3-6). You pay postage or pick up in Beaverton. First reply gets 'em. Good birding, Mike -- Mike Marsh Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090120/c10d1e88/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Tue Jan 20 00:16:10 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:16:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow photos re-posted In-Reply-To: <3D8F2549-0B77-4D95-994A-C376A1F35247@att.net> References: <3D8F2549-0B77-4D95-994A-C376A1F35247@att.net> Message-ID: I, too, sad to say, feel all these photos show a Lincoln's Sparrow, albeit possibly an atypical one in that the face seems to have more yellowish and less gray than is typical. The bill is just not as big as it needs to be for Henslow's. The strong post-ocular stripe helps give it that Melospiza jizz rather than Henslow's to me. And -- this is the only thing that occurs to me right now that others have not yet mentioned -- note how the nape is pretty thoroughly (if finely) streaked, and how the two brownish lateral crown stripes extend down and back, leaving traces through the nape (see, e.g., photo #5 in the "Ground" series). Henslow's nape should be relatively unpatterned and olive-colored, as far as I can tell. I'm no expert on this species (and I also do not have the Rising & Beadle guide, which would be helpful), but the photos don't do it for me. I also would not be willing to bet my life from the photos alone that it's a Lincoln's rather than, say, an odd-looking Song or Savannah. I think at this point the crucial thing is to determine whether this photographed bird is in fact the one we've all been chasing for the past several days. It sounds like it is, yet that bird truly has been displaying unusual and consistent behavior, and Doug saw white scaling on the back feathers of his original bird, so perhaps the real mccoy is still out there.... Kudos to Owen and Jeff and everyone else for putting their time in to investigate this challenging bird. Jay W, Portland >I've added a second page, with 11 photos of the bird on the ground in >shadow: >http://web.me.com/olschmidt/HESP/Index.html > >oschmidt at att.net >Monday, January 19, 2009 > > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jeffgill at teleport.com Tue Jan 20 00:29:27 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:29:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow photos re-posted In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Nick Lethaby and I have been going over photos from various sources - many on the internet. Based on that, I think the bird on the ground is likely the same bird as the one in the bush, and that it is a Lincoln's. Some photos of Lincoln's we looked at showed reddish on the tertial edges. There is a lot of variation though in the many photos we looked at of Henslow's. Some have the malar curving up onto the face. Some have streaked backs without scalloping. Some have bills that didn't look much different than a few of the photos Owen took of the bird on the ground. Some showed a dark line from the bill to the eye - but never as pronounced as that on the bird photographed by Owen. Some have back patterns very similar to the bird Owen photographed, and showed no real sign of scalloping. That said, I agree. It looks like a Lincoln's. It was a really sneaky thing for a Lincoln's. Jeff Gilligan On 1/20/09 12:09 AM, "Noah Strycker" wrote: > Hi all, > > I think David is right on. In the ground images, the sparrow is active > (running or walking), and its feathers are slicked back, approaching > the flat-headed, large-billed look of a Henslow's or other Ammodramus. > But plumage still identifies it as a Lincoln's, especially the face, > crown, and nape patterns. This individual seems colorful - the rusty > flight feathers, back patterning, and breast/side streaking are quite > heavy as Lincoln's Sparrows go, but I see little reason to suspect it is > something else. And Lincoln's Sparrows may be the most abundant > wintering bird in that particular field. I remember hours spent trying > to turn them into Sedge Wrens last winter, to no avail... though Karl's > observation of a striped skunk nearby gives a new meaning to getting > "skunked"! > > Good birding, > > Noah Strycker > > > On 1/20/09, David Irons wrote: >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Greetings All, >> >> I think that the bird in these images is a Lincoln's Sparrow and not a >> Henslow's for the following reasons: >> >> 1. Even though the bill looks on the large size for a Lincoln's in a couple >> of the images, I think it is still too small for a Henslow's >> >> 2. The tail looks pretty long and rather squared off in most of the images. >> Typically, Ammodramus sparrows have noticeably short and somewhat spiked >> tails that are not evenly squared off at the end. >> >> 3. The dark submalar mark (below the broad buffy malar stripe that starts at >> the base of the bill), is broad and flairs out as it gets farther from the >> base of the bill eventually fanning out into the breast streaking. This is >> typical of Lincoln's Sparrow and I'm not finding images that show this look >> on a Henslow's. The dark stripe above the buffy malar is also fairly broad. >> This look is dead-on for a Lincoln's and does not fit Henslow's, which >> generally shows less obvious narrow black submalar and supramalar stripes. >> >> 4. For the most part, the base color of the face looks gray and does not >> show the expected olive tones of a Henslows. Also, the post-ocular strip >> does not really taper much as it approaches the back of the eye and meets >> the back of the eye. In looking at pictures and illustrations of Henslow's, >> they consistently show the post-ocular stripe tapering and becoming so >> narrow as to look almost absent as it reaches the back of the eye. >> >> >> >>> From: oschmidt at att.net >>> To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:06:07 -0800 >>> Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow photos re-posted >>> >>> >>> >>> I've added a second page, with 11 photos of the bird on the ground in >>> shadow: >>> http://web.me.com/olschmidt/HESP/Index.html >>> >>> oschmidt at att.net >>> Monday, January 19, 2009 >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> obol mailing list >>> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> >> _________________________________________________________________ >> Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. >> http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_howitworks_01200>> 9 > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From carolk at viclink.com Tue Jan 20 00:40:59 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:40:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fw: Audubon Birding Weekend to NE Oregon - correction Message-ID: <001001c97ada$f4ae69a0$1a430a0a@home> Ooops! Milepost 59 on Hwy 82 is west of Enterprise, not east. Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carol Karlen" To: "OBOL" Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 12:05 AM Subject: Audubon Birding Weekend to NE Oregon > OBOL: > > We just returned from an Audubon Birding Weekend trip to NE Oregon. > > Friday, Jan 16, we spent from 11-3 in LaGrande without finding the Pine > Warbler. > > Saturday, Jan. 17, we spent mostly in fog near Enterprise & Joseph. We > found: > NO Gray Partridge, Snow Buntings or Redpolls > 2 Gray-crowned Rosy Finches on School Flat Rd. > 1 N. Shrike on Leap Ln. > 30 Bohemian Waxwings with 160 Cedars in N. Enterprise; 150 more in Joseph > 8 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS east of the Enterprise Fishhatchery > 1 Pygmy Owl at the head of Wallowa Lake > 25 Am. Tree Sparrows on Repplinger Rd., east of Enterprise (at canal > crossing) > > Sunday, Jan. 18. we dodged the fog by going up to Prairie Creek early, then > to Zumwalt Rd., then to Flora. We found: > 250 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS swarming on the ground in the open field near the > cemetery on the east slope of the Wallowa Lake moraine. > 18 Wild Turkeys at Flora > 1 N. Pygmy Owl off the Hwy 3 ~ 30 miles N of Enterprise > 2 W. Screech Owls along Williamson Rd. after dark > > Monday, Jan. 119, we tried Ant Flat Rd. (impassable), Leap Ln.(no birds, > fog), and School Flat Rd. (fog). We returned to Enterprise on Hwy 82. We > found: > 9 Gray-crowned Rosy Finches on School Flat Rd. > NO Snow Buntings or Gray Partridge > 75-200 COMMON REDPOLLS at m.p. 59 on Hwy 82. Following a tip from Kyle > Bratcher, we stopped along Hwy 82 at the upper end of the passing lane > (eastbound) east of Enterprise. We parked near a gate with a top crossbar, > and walked across to the RR tracks. From there, Carol spotted the flock of > little birds swarming in the alder catkins along the Wallowa River at the > foot of the hill across a small field. We were able to walk over and get > close looks. Thank you, Kyle!! > > 'Twas a fine weekend. > > Good birding, everyone, > > Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen > From pygowl at gmail.com Tue Jan 20 01:31:20 2009 From: pygowl at gmail.com (Michael Marsh) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:31:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Definitely a Henslow's (I think) Message-ID: <90d831b70901200131p21b5748bj827c1859a1e68475@mail.gmail.com> I photographed several Henslow's in Ohio in April of '08. None of my several field guides that use paintings to illustrate the birds does a stellar job with Henslow's. I would suggest putting those aside and seeking out photos, either on-line or in books. At the moment, I am looking at photos in "Sparrows of the United States and Canada" by Rising and Beadle, and in "The Audubon Society Master Guide to Birding" editted by Farrand. These photographs show field marks that closely match my photos, AND OWEN's. Let's have a look at a cupla obvious features and then I'm going to bed. 1. If you get a good look at a Henslow's and do not see green in the supercilium you are not looking at a Henslow's. And I'm not talking Olive, or a subtle shade of green. Every Henslow's I saw in Ohio had obvious Green Green, and so do all the photos in front of me. Owen's pics were not taken in the best of light, yet they still show some green--esp. pics 6, 8, 9, and 11. 2. Owen's pics show precisely the pattern of the moustachial, including it's location, size, and the fact that it's shaped like a comma. The sub-moustachial stripe and the malar stripe also closely match my photos and the ones in the books. 3. Owen's pics also clearly illustrate an unmarked nape, scalloping on the lower back, and the short spikey tail the some are say is long and un-spikey. Folks, this is a Henslow's. Not even debateable. JK. But I do find it somewhat amazing that several highly experienced and knowledgeable birders called this bird a Lincoln's. (I did too at first!). My congrats to Jeff and Owen for even finding the bird, not to mention Owen getting good diagnostic pics. This has been a fun exercize and, for me, a good learning experience. One of which, since there are experts on both sides, is that even the experts are sometimes wrong. Good night all. Mike -- Mike Marsh Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090120/49b128c3/attachment.html From douglas.robinson at oregonstate.edu Tue Jan 20 05:40:25 2009 From: douglas.robinson at oregonstate.edu (Douglas Robinson) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 05:40:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] A Henslow's on the ground is a Henslow's on the ground Message-ID: Hi folks, Kudos to Owen for getting such useful pictures! What an amazing photographer we have here in Oregon! Does any bird get away from him? I will be brief here and not nitpick too much. I can certainly see why some of you have reacted so strongly and said the bird in the bush is a Lincoln's Sparrow. I cannot understand why some of you have also said the bird on the ground is a Lincoln's, too. There is ONE thing that clearly rules out Lincoln's Sparrow: tail feather shape. It has acute tail feathers that all Ammodramus sparrows have. Lincoln's lacks acute tail feathers. Besides the tail feather shape of the bird on the ground completely eliminating Lincoln's, the bill is a honkin' big schnoz, the head shape is flat, the supercilium and nape look greenish, and that nice rufous patch on the wings is there. And, oh by the way, take a real close look at the wings on the bird in the bush. How many Lincoln's Sparrows have you seen with that much rufous-red? Don't they usually have pale brownish-black and tan wings, not rufous and black? I think the trouble with the bird in the bush is an artifact of strong light (washes out the colors, just like it does with gull mantles, so it turns that nice dark green face and nape to gray), the bird being agitated (wouldn't you be if you had been chased around a field for the last week?), and the angle of the photograph, which diminishes the head shape and bill size we want to see. I think if you look very closely, you can see that the tail has acute tips and is patterned the same as the bird on the ground. Anyway, the bottom line is that the bird on the ground is a Henslow's sparrow. ZERO DOUBT. Have fun, Douglas Robinson From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Tue Jan 20 06:47:27 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:47:27 +0000 Subject: [obol] Thanks to Mike Marsh and Doug Robinson for the excellent comments regarding Henslow's ID Message-ID: Hi all, With more photos added I was able to do more thorough research and examination. I am more convinced that the bird is indeed a HENSLOW! Mike Marsh and Doug Robinson made some excellent points and I was able to see some of the diagnostic features better in the latter photos. Initially, I thought there were two different birds based on the lighting and from the agitated pose given by the bird in the bush; it did not appear to have a flat head and other key features. Last night, Mike Marsh and I had a good discussion based on the original 5 photos and both agreed that there was a Ammodramus species in the second set of 3 photos but wasn't sure of what species yet. It was a great learning experience for me! Congrats to Doug Robinson for finding the bird and Kudos to Jeff and Owen for getting excellent documentation of a skulking species!!! Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) My original posting*********************************************************************************************** Hi Owen and Jeff, With all due respect, I think you photographed two different birds. The first set I feel is a Lincoln's sparrow. I am studying the set with the three photos of a Ammodramus species but not totally convinced it is a Henslow without further examination. To me, the flat head, larger beak appearance and overall structure does not gel. A frontal view would have been helpful. Be curious what others think, this is simply my opinion. Thanks for getting documentation of such a skulker! All the best, Khanh Tran From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Jan 20 06:49:26 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 06:49:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow photos re-posted Message-ID: <1232462966.3629.32.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, I finally was able to look at Owen's photos this morning (for some reason the link that was posted yesterday kept re-routing me to a blank page), and I can see the reason for puzzlement: These are two different, though superficially very similar birds. The bird in the bush is a Lincoln's Sparrow (and an agitated Lincoln's, at that) without a doubt(*). The amount of red in the wings is within the norms, especially considering that the overall color saturation in this photo is so high. It does appear to have coarser streaking on the sides than typical Lincoln's, but when their feathers are fluffed out, they can look like this. Everything else about this bird says, "Lincoln's." The bird on the ground is not a Lincoln's, also without a doubt(*). You just don't ever see a Lincoln's Sparrow with its crown feathers flattened this much. The bill shape looks right for Ammodramus, along with the rectrice tips as Doug has pointed out. I see no reason not to call it a Henslow's Sparrow, but I'm going to leave that call to those who have actual experience with the species in the field, beyond just watching a brownish blur fly over the grass and then vanish. The colors are rather washed out by strong sunlight, but perhaps with some digital magic, more detail (such as the reported scalloping) can be seen. As to the reasons why I'm convinced that these are two different birds, without a doubt(*): The bird on the ground has much finer and distinct markings around the malar patch, than the bird in the bush which also has dark smudges within this patch. There are also differences in the shape of the postocular stripe. I don't think these differences can be explained in terms of agitation. The differences in bill size are also apparent, even though the agitated state of the bird in the bush has the effect of making the bill seem smaller. So, nice photos, Owen! I think the one set (bird on ground) makes the case as well as anything we're likely to get, short of a bird in the hand. As for the other set (bird in bush) -- well, it's nice for a Lincoln's Sparrow have the chance to be a star, now & then! Though the bird is probably wondering, "Why in the hell are the cameras all on me?" That may explain its agitated state - stage fright. Happy birding, Joel (*) I love this expression, "without a doubt," especially seeing how it has been used by almost everyone who has expressed a viewpoint on these photos -- despite mutually exclusive views! Clearly if you want to participate in this forum, you should adopt this phrase and use it liberally -- PREFERABLY IN CAPITAL LETTERS LIKE THIS!!! If we keep up this freedom from doubt, perhaps in a few hundred years this can develop into a full-blown religious war between "Henslowite" and "Lincolnian" adherents, all of them without a doubt(*). Now happy inauguration day, everyone. -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Jan 20 07:39:08 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:39:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow photos re-posted In-Reply-To: <1232462966.3629.32.camel@localhost.localdomain> References: <1232462966.3629.32.camel@localhost.localdomain> Message-ID: <1232465948.3629.38.camel@localhost.localdomain> Er -- though still without a doubt! -- I guess I should review those bird topography terms, or else have more coffee before I start to type. Auriculars, not malar patch. Or "ear patch," to stick to a term that I would more ordinarily use. > The bird on the ground has much finer and distinct > markings around the malar patch, than the bird in the bush which also > has dark smudges within this patch. -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Jan 20 07:43:50 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:43:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] grassland birds Message-ID: <69dcee4745f5ec69141e218ecfe4b262@earthlink.net> Glad I sat out the sparrow spat. Being on dial-up is a significant deterrant, and I had Joel's experience of initially getting a blank page. My favorite Henry David Thoreau quote when I was a teenager was "I question the premise that the majority is always right. In fact, I put it to you that the majority is often wrong." Another grassland species continues to occupy my thoughts. Someone posted me privately about a PRAIRIE FALCON they saw at the base of Cape Blanco in September of 1966. My guess is that the South Coast has received more birder hours in the last ten years than the previous century. The level of skill of the observers has probably improved significantly. The same communicant also describes private raptor surveys 30 years ago between Eugene and Corvallis. One winter he and a friend documented seven distinct individuals. My first CBC was about 1971. We took a canoe from 53rd Street down to the mouth of the Mary's River. I don't recommend canoe counting. The 60s notion that alternative technology is by definition superior technology was surely at work there. Various groups tried it for a few years, and at least one of us ruined a very expensive Nikon binoccular as a result. It rained constantly on my excursion and the count of species and individuals was dismal. At one point we came to a place where tractors crossed the river in summer, creating a convenient landing. We beached the canoe and no sooner had reached the top of the bank when a falcon appeared from the north. This was very near the Corvallis Airport. It seemed to be large and we all three thought "Peregrine". It would have been a lifer for me. Remember this was 1971 and one could bird all year in Oregon without seeing a Peregrine. Reporting one on a CBC required some supporting details appropriate to real vagrants nowadays. We had seen a silhouette in the fog and rain. It got recorded as "falcon,sp." in the official tally. Only this winter it occurred to me that this bird was probably a PRAIRIE FALCON. I mention this here because at the time absolutely no one suggested that. As rare as Peregrines were then, a Prairie Falcon in the Willamette Valley was even more of an oddity to the collective conciousness of the time. It could also have been a Kestrel. Under poor light conditions distance is hard to calculate, and the crummy field mark of "size" becomes even more fuzzy. What remains eternal is the importance of expectations in our art and sport. Lars Norgren From shelmert at loswego.k12.or.us Tue Jan 20 07:53:27 2009 From: shelmert at loswego.k12.or.us (Shelmerdine, Timothy (Tim)) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:53:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lincoln County on Monday Message-ID: Hello, all. Taking advantage of the beautiful day and a day off, I went birding in Lincoln County yesterday. The LITTLE BLUE HERON was at the last location posted (by Dan Heyerly?), namely on Siletz Bay just south of where Drift Creek crosses under Hwy. 101. There were few birds at Boiler Bay, although there were whales far offshore. Two WHIMBREL were feeding on the rocks of one of the finger jetties off the south jetty of Yaquina Bay. I can't recall having seen them in January before. Other than that, it was a glorious day on the coast. Tim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090120/42d5ca8b/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Tue Jan 20 08:00:12 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:00:12 +0000 Subject: [obol] Excellent Lincoln's sparrow photos Message-ID: Hi all, Just for comparison and educational enlightment. Sometimes, we don't study common birds enough to really see what we take for granted. So much to learn and see! http://www.roysephotos.com/LincolnsSparrow.html All the best, Khanh Tran From philliplc at charter.net Tue Jan 20 08:23:52 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:23:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow photos re-posted Message-ID: <7CCEC51DDC5243ABBD737C0845062EC3@Phil> With due respect to everyone arguing for 2 birds I think there is clearly only one species in these photos and most likely one individual (Lincoln's). The bird is in a radically different posture on the ground which is probably changing the shape of the facial pattern slightly, but otherwise plumage details are identical. Also the compressed crown feathers make the bill appear larger, but note that the eye/bill size ratio stays about the same between photos. Cheers, Phil philliplc at charter.net From campbell at peak.org Tue Jan 20 08:38:51 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:38:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Photos Message-ID: <99F35D8909F54501BB181A591583836F@maryPC> What a great puzzler. For what it's worth (exactly two cents) here are some observations on the first five of Owen Schmidt's great photos: The bird in the bush and the bird on the ground have a completely different "jizz"--the bird in the bush being Lincolnesque, but slightly "off", and the bird on the ground not Lincolnesque at all. That said, they seem to have freakishly similar plumage for two different species. To me, the look of the tertials, especially. The bill of the bird in the bush (BiB) may appear smaller because of the raised crown--and lighting--and the bill of the bird on the ground (BoG) may appear larger because of the lowered crown--or flat head--and posture. Where the BoG is facing left the bill looks much smaller than where it's facing right. A Henslow's Sparrow, according to Sibley, is supposed to have a "short, dark, lateral throat stripe" between malar and throat. It appears thin in his illustration and in the National Geographic Guide, and in all of the images from VIREO (vireo.acnatsci.org)--assuming that those actually are pictures of Henslow's. Both BiB and BoG show a broad throat-stripe that fits Lincoln's better. VIREO also has pictures of Lincoln's with crown flattened, which makes the bill appear decidedly larger. I encourage Oregon expert's, who have seen many hundred's of Lincoln's, to look at as many images of Henslow's as possible. Randy Campbell expert-texpert -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090120/76bc0b16/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Jan 20 08:44:10 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:44:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Message-ID: <4975FF5A.7040609@verizon.net> Folks, With all due respect, I'm a bit in Phil's camp. The one field mark of the bird on the ground that might lean towards HESP is the tail shape, but honestly I'm not even convinced of this either. I disagree that the pictures of the bird on the ground are diagnostic. To me almost all the images show a gray face and nape. Not a single image of Henslow's elsewhere is anywhere near this gray. I see little to no green on this bird except for a small yellowish spot on the front of the supercilium. Joel comments that the malar area on the ground bird is different from the malar area on the bush bird, but that to me is stretching it because only one image on the ground really shows the malar and not well at all, so how do you know that this isn't an aspect of the way the bird is turned or the image itself? There is no frontal image of this bird to give us an idea of what the front looked like, so I think arguing over the malar area is somewhat mute - at least the ground images. In additional, to me, LISP has a more heavy marked malar than HESP, and these images show a pretty heavy malar so that leans towards LISP. I don't know for sure what this bird is, and I'm not arguing either way, but I'm not convinced these images seal the fate of the ID. It do think this is hilariously funny to watch the emails fly and people get convinced it is a LISP and then convinced it is a HESP. What does that tell you? That the images are diagnostic? Maybe? I have the ultmost respect for all the people who are commenting, but this is amazing to watch top notch birders seeing such different things in the same photos! Are we convincing ourselves? Or are the images not good enough? Thankfully I won't have to vote on this one! cheers Dave Lauten From llsdirons at msn.com Tue Jan 20 08:50:54 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:50:54 +0000 Subject: [obol] Henslow's pictures re-posted Message-ID: Greetings All, Much is being made of shape of the crown this bird. We should remember that the bulk of the Lincoln's Sparrows most of us see have popped up on top of a brush pile or hedgerow. In such cases the bird is, to some degree, stressed or alarmed. When alarmed, many species raise their crown feathers, which in the case of Lincoln's gives them the angular crown profile most of us associate with that species. That being said, they can relax their crown feathers giving them a flatter crown and larger-billed look. While general shape is useful in identifying birds like this, it is important to resist the temptation to over-value more subtle structural clues that can be quite plastic depending on whether the bird is alarmed or relaxed. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_explore_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090120/d39774fe/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Tue Jan 20 08:52:46 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:52:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] A Henslow's on the ground is a Henslow's on the ground Message-ID: <7CEEAF452E1B4CD79D15797D955FE18C@Phil> >How many Lincoln's Sparrows have you seen with that much rufous-red? http://www.tringa.org/bird_pictures/9098_Lincolns_Sparrow_04-02-2008_1.jpg From foxsparrows at aol.com Tue Jan 20 09:03:30 2009 From: foxsparrows at aol.com (foxsparrows at aol.com) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:03:30 -0500 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow photos posted In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <8CB493827177DDA-10F4-549@WEBMAIL-MB14.sysops.aol.com> Without going into great detail, since anything I would say has already been said.... I don't see anything definitive for Henslow's Sparrow in the photo set for "in the bush" or "on the ground..." I see Linclon's Sparrow in both sets. I have some experience with breeding Henslow's Sparrows in the "Piney Tract" in Clarion County, NW Pennsylvania (my home county). The species moved into this area after about 15 years of revegetation?following strip-mining, along with Prairie Warblers, Grasshopper Sparrows, Vesper Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows, Short-eared Owls and other grassland species. The place was a moonscape, but the recovery provided habitat for several species that were in seerious decline in PA... Much of this area was essentially seasonally wet prairie... that's where the Henslow's were found. Although I won't cite this brief (and now dated) experience with the species as key support for my opinion, I have banded many Lincoln's Sparrows. The "jizz" of this species is quite variable, depending upon its level of excitment. I must respectfully side with those who believe that the (very nice) photos are all of?Linclon's Sparrow. Steve Dowlan OWLHOOTER at AOL.COM Foxsparrows at aol.com -----Original Message----- From: Owen Schmidt To: OBOL Sent: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 7:32 pm Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow photos posted ...... from earlier today: http://web.me.com/olschmidt/HESP/Index.html oschmidt at att.net Monday, January 19, 2009 _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090120/727bd144/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Jan 20 09:19:04 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:19:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Some Lincoln's Sparrow photos Message-ID: <49760788.2060900@pacifier.com> Some Lincoln's Sparrow photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ I will add more as I dig them out of the files in my other computer... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR nullius in verba From pat2ly at comcast.net Tue Jan 20 09:34:46 2009 From: pat2ly at comcast.net (Pat Tilley) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:34:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Photo from OK. Message-ID: <8CAE5C01CECF47D985C6DB58A523D569@Desktop> Hello OBOL, For what it may be worth: Perhaps it would be helpful to have other actual photos of the Henslow's Sparrow to compare with Owen's fine pictures. A friend in Oklahoma referred me to the Oklahoma Photo Directory of Birds Listserv maintained by the Sutton Avian Research Center. http://www.suttoncenter.org/okbirds-directory2.html There are four excellent photos of the Henslow's Sparrow posted. http://www.suttoncenter.org/okbirdspix27.html#b http://www.suttoncenter.org/okbirdspix56.html#d http://www.suttoncenter.org/okbirdspix57.html#d http://www.suttoncenter.org/okbirdspix81.html#f Pat Tilley Salem -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090120/f8c94d44/attachment.html From dhaupt at tulelake.k12.ca.us Tue Jan 20 10:00:10 2009 From: dhaupt at tulelake.k12.ca.us (Dave Haupt) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:00:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Message-ID: <4975A0AA0200006700009034@mail.tulelake.k12.ca.us> OBOL, Great discussion thus far - really makes you study subtleties and structure. My suggestion is to look at these photos provided by Pat Tiley from Oklahoma ... http://www.suttoncenter.org/okbirdspix27.html#b http://www.suttoncenter.org/okbirdspix56.html#d http://www.suttoncenter.org/okbirdspix57.html#d http://www.suttoncenter.org/okbirdspix81.html#f ... and note the dark, scalloped mantle feather pattern of HESP, as well as the massive finch-like bill, and compare to these features to the bird in Owen's Photo #11 (on ground). These features may be more diagnostic than subtle color and markings on the face and nape. When I misidentified a Savannah Sparrow for Henslow's Sparrow in Monterey years ago its facial and nape color appeared olive green (in the fog) with facial markings approaching Henslow's. My amateur move was not to study tail shape, mantle pattern, and relative bill size. I believe these are the one to confirm the bird's ID. Dave Haupt Klamath Falls From davect at bendnet.com Tue Jan 20 10:09:32 2009 From: davect at bendnet.com (david tracy) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:09:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Owen's Sparrow Pics Message-ID: <5EF8B6A9-CE6F-452A-9D08-A8501AA405F0@bendnet.com> Other than the excellent points made by Doug Robinson and Mike Marsh, I can't recall ever seeing a Lincoln's Sparrow with such heavy, dark lines on the back. The streaks on the sides/flanks also appear heavy. In my experience, a Lincoln's back would appear to have finer dark streaks in these areas. This distinction seems quite obvious to me in most of Owen's "Ground" photos and in the online photos I have been reviewing this morning from various sources. I don't know Henslow's personally, have never seen one. But I've seen lots of Lincoln's. I tell folks to think of a Lincoln's as having streaks that appear drawn with a finely sharpened pencil. The bird in Owen's photos has back streaks that look like they were blobed in liberally with a leaky fountain pen. This feature holds regardless of things like agitation, posture, foreshortening, and is not subject to the lighting/color problems associated with taking photos in the shade with a digital camera at high ISO setting. Dave david tracy davect at bendnet.com From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Tue Jan 20 10:45:26 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:45:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow.... Message-ID: <2b1bbd260901201045t76baa0c3pe034a9db26987a23@mail.gmail.com> Obol, In my eyes Owen's photos do not show the acutely pointed tail of an *Ammodramus *sparrow, but rather the worn, tapered tail of a first winter Lincoln's Sparrow. Photo 9 shows this well. The photographed bird also shows a very buffy eye ring. This may not always hold true, but in the photos and illustrations I've seen Henslow's exhibits a white eye ring. Lastly, the median crown stripe of this bird is clearly gray in every photo. I see no buffy-olive as one should see in Henslow's. -- Daniel Farrar Eugene, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090120/bbb32e39/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Tue Jan 20 10:51:59 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David Bailey) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:51:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's vs. Lincoln's Sparrow Message-ID: <49761D4F.9000602@pdx.edu> I am strongly in the LINCOLN'S SPARROW camp with respect to Owen's photographs of the E.E. Wilson microtine sparrow. From close examination of both sets of images, I am convinced these are all from the same individual. Tail feather shape is difficult to discern from the photographs. One feather shows fairly well and while pointed, is irregular and obviously very worn. I am not sure how much can be inferred from such a worn retrix of its newly molted shape. One mark that I have been comparing between Lincoln's and Henslow's Sparrow pictures is the crown stripes. In Lincoln's they are rufous finely streaked with black. In Henslow's they appear very black, without the fine streaks. The Lincoln's Sparrow in Owen's images show the rufous stripes consistent with that species. As always, I remain open minded and would be delighted to be shown that my conclusions so far are in error. Thanks to all those involved in this sparrow event. Perhaps we the next rare bird contestant will be something easier like a Empidonax flycatcher! David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From g_g_allin at hotmail.com Tue Jan 20 10:56:28 2009 From: g_g_allin at hotmail.com (John Puschock) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:56:28 +0000 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Message-ID: Hi, First let me apologize if this gets posted several times. I sent similar versions to other OBOL members to forward to the list, but then I figured I might as well subscribe myself... I think most of this, except point 1, has already been posted by others The bird in all photos is a Lincoln's Sparrow. Here's the justification for that statement: 1) PRIMARY PROJECTION: One feature I just noticed in the Sibley guide and photos is that Henslow's Sparrows have a very short primary projection. The primaries barely extend beyond the tertials in Henslow's. Primary projection in Lincoln's is much longer, relatively speaking. The bird in the photos has a primary projection consistent with Lincoln's and not Henslow's. This is easy to see in the bird in the bush photo, but not as easy in the ground photos. See photos 5, 10, and 11. 2) The face appears to be gray, not olive. The nape also appears to be gray. 3) The eyering appears to be buff, not white. 4) Malar stripe (using the terminology of the Beadle and Rising guide) thickens as you move away from the bill. 5) Bill does not appear large enough (bill size may be exaggerated in the "ground" photos due to the bird having depressed its crown feathers). 6) Post-ocular stripe appears to be too thick immediately behind the eye. 7) I'm not sure if this is an actual difference between Lincoln's and Henslow's -- the guides don't have images of the birds from directly behind -- but the crown stripes appear to cross the nape and continue down to the back. I'm not sure if this is shown by Henslow's or if their crown stripes end at the nape. 8) The bird in the bush has a tail that is too long for Henslow's. While it's more difficult to discern tail length in the ground photos, the tail still appears too long as well. 9) While the visible tail feather appears to be narrow at the tip, I'm not sure if it can be said it's spiky like a Henslow's. The narrow portion of these feathers should extend further towards the body on a Henslow's if I'm not mistaken. The tail appears to be somewhat abraded, so some of the tail shape may be attributed to wear. John Puschock Seattle, WA (but formerly of PA and FL and elsewhere where I've seen about 50+ Henslow's) g_g_allin at hotmail.com http://www.birdtreks.com & http://www.zbirdtours.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?: Chat. Store. Share. Do more with mail. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_hm_justgotbetter_explore_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090120/273f1e6f/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Tue Jan 20 11:02:58 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:02:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow.... In-Reply-To: <2b1bbd260901201045t76baa0c3pe034a9db26987a23@mail.gmail.com> References: <2b1bbd260901201045t76baa0c3pe034a9db26987a23@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Photo 43.4 on page 202 of Beadle and Rising's Photographic Guide to Sparrows of the United States shows a Lincoln's Sparrow with a similar tail to the bird in Owen's photos. In my personal experience, I have seen both Henslow's and Lincoln's Sparrows many times in Illinois. During migration, I would often see Lincoln's Sparrows on the ground in a pose very similar to the one shown in Owen's photos of the bird on the ground (i.e., with a flattened crown). Of all the Henslow's Sparrows I have seen (mostly in spring/summer), not one had a lateral crown stripe that was reddish with black, as the bird in Owen's photos has (the two in the middle of the page at http://web.me.com/olschmidt/HESP/Index.html) Scott Carpenter SW Portland On Tue, Jan 20, 2009 at 10:45 AM, Daniel Farrar wrote: > Obol, > In my eyes Owen's photos do not show the acutely pointed tail of an *Ammodramus > *sparrow, but rather the worn, tapered tail of a first winter Lincoln's > Sparrow. Photo 9 shows this well. > > The photographed bird also shows a very buffy eye ring. This may not > always hold true, but in the photos and illustrations I've seen Henslow's > exhibits a white eye ring. > > Lastly, the median crown stripe of this bird is clearly gray in every > photo. I see no buffy-olive as one should see in Henslow's. > > -- > Daniel Farrar > Eugene, Oregon > jdanielfarrar at gmail.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090120/3dd56a0f/attachment.html From lammergeiereyes at aol.com Tue Jan 20 11:19:14 2009 From: lammergeiereyes at aol.com (lammergeiereyes at aol.com) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:19:14 -0500 Subject: [obol] More Armchair Bird ID In-Reply-To: References: <2b1bbd260901201045t76baa0c3pe034a9db26987a23@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <8CB494B1D4F7F80-1494-83C@MBLK-M29.sysops.aol.com> My Opinion and 2.50 will get you a bad latte. Everyone else has articulated the rationale better than I, but I believe the bird photographed to be a Lincoln's Sparrow. I also comment that the civility and the vitality with which the conversation has been carried out, has, thus far, remained notable. *holds breath Blake Matheson Portland Oregon and Carmel California -----Original Message----- From: Scott Carpenter To: OBOL Sent: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:02 am Subject: Re: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow.... Photo 43.4 on page 202 of Beadle and Rising's Photographic Guide to Sparrows of the United States shows a Lincoln's Sparrow with a similar tail to the bird in Owen's photos. In my personal experience, I have seen both Henslow's and Lincoln's Sparrows many times in Illinois.? During migration, I would often see Lincoln's Sparrows on the ground in a pose very similar to the one shown in Owen's photos of the bird on the ground (i.e., with a flattened crown). Of all the Henslow's Sparrows I have seen (mostly in spring/summer), not one had a lateral crown stripe that was reddish with black, as the bird in Owen's photos has (the two in the middle of the page at http://web.me.com/olschmidt/HESP/Index.html) Scott Carpenter SW Portland On Tue, Jan 20, 2009 at 10:45 AM, Daniel Farrar wrote: Obol, ? In my eyes Owen's photos do not show the acutely pointed tail of an Ammodramus sparrow, but rather the worn, tapered tail of a first winter Lincoln's Sparrow.? Photo 9 shows this well. The photographed bird also shows a very buffy eye ring.? This may not always hold true, but in the photos and illustrations I've seen Henslow's exhibits a white eye ring. Lastly, the median crown stripe of this bird is clearly gray in every photo.? I see no buffy-olive as one should see in Henslow's. -- Daniel Farrar Eugene, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090120/32db4caf/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Tue Jan 20 11:31:09 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:31:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's In-Reply-To: <4975A0AA0200006700009034@mail.tulelake.k12.ca.us> References: <4975A0AA0200006700009034@mail.tulelake.k12.ca.us> Message-ID: Being that most of us don't have much experience with Henslow's this is an interesting discussion. Because Owen's bird was photographed in the shade, certain colors are difficult to assess, like the gray versus green aspect. The reds do seem to show themselves a bit better, if that color is to be believed but both monitors. I have been reading Cornell's Birds of North America on line. I can see where people are having trouble. If the bird were sitting out in the sun with good light on it that would be wonderful, but the bird is in the shade, the position the bird is in such that we can't see the front or good profile of the whole body, and there are twigs in the way. I have looked at, home and at school, show the lateral crown stripes as being rufous with black center streaks and I don't recall anyone mentioning this. One thing I don't believe anyone has mentioned is that the lateral crown stripes. Per the photos that I have viewed on-line and in reading the BNA text, the crown of a Henslow's Sparrow is olive to buffy olive with black or blackish lateral crown stripes. Black, not brown or reddish. Per BNA Lincoln's Sparrow's head is: Head ruddy brown with fine black streaks and prominent gray-olive median stripe; sides of neck and nape gray, gray stripe over eye, inconspicuous buffy eye-ring, brownish gray cheeks outlined with dark brown stripes, malar region buffy; throat white with fine black streaks. Owen's sparrow in every photo appears to be a mix of rufous and black streaks. Here is a closeup for example of a Lincoln's: http://www.bbbo.org/photos/sparrows/LISP_eiseman_sp04.jpg Greg Lasley has wonderful photos of wintering Henslow's in Texas to compare. http://www.greglasley.net/henslow.html Cheers, Shawneen Finnegan Portland, OR On Tue, Jan 20, 2009 at 10:00 AM, Dave Haupt wrote: > OBOL, > Great discussion thus far - really makes you study subtleties and > structure. My suggestion is to look at these photos provided by Pat > Tiley from Oklahoma ... > http://www.suttoncenter.org/okbirdspix27.html#b > > http://www.suttoncenter.org/okbirdspix56.html#d > > http://www.suttoncenter.org/okbirdspix57.html#d > > http://www.suttoncenter.org/okbirdspix81.html#f > > ... and note the dark, scalloped mantle feather pattern of HESP, as > well as the massive finch-like bill, and compare to these features to > the bird in Owen's Photo #11 (on ground). These features may be more > diagnostic than subtle color and markings on the face and nape. When I > misidentified a Savannah Sparrow for Henslow's Sparrow in Monterey years > ago its facial and nape color appeared olive green (in the fog) with > facial markings approaching Henslow's. My amateur move was not to study > tail shape, mantle pattern, and relative bill size. I believe these are > the one to confirm the bird's ID. > > Dave Haupt > Klamath Falls > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090120/4b5e33d3/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Tue Jan 20 11:43:34 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:43:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Message-ID: <81b2a9930901201143i1e0dfafeo59ae61ab4b5cffa9@mail.gmail.com> I'm no sparrow expert and I've misidentified more birds on OBOL than I'd care to admit but, for what it's worth, the bird on the ground appears to have a lot more yellow/olive coloring on the supercilium than what I've seen in any Lincoln's Sparrow. (Although, I'd expect to see more on the nape than what Owen's [very nice] photos show.) Am I correct in assuming that Henslow's and Lincoln's aren't closely-related enough to hybridize? Brandon Eugene From dhewitt37 at gmail.com Tue Jan 20 11:47:35 2009 From: dhewitt37 at gmail.com (David Hewitt) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:47:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Life List 'sanitizing' Message-ID: <653eaf880901201147h5fc28530i4ee3dca0aeebcceb@mail.gmail.com> Just a little aside, that might be sorely needed at this point: Joel Geier's comment about 'semi-lifers' in connection with the Henslow's Sparrow reminded me of something similar I came across recently. Joel said: "This is where the concept of 'semi-lifers' comes in handy -- getting a better view later on, of a species that you're pretty sure you've seen, is as much fun as a completely new lifer." In his new-ish book A Supremely Bad Idea, Luke Dempsey mentions the phrase 'sanitizing your list' for getting a good look at a bird that you previously ticked even though views were poor, field marks weren't convincing, someone else convinced you that's what it was against your gut, etc. As an example, I saw my first Barrow's Goldeneye, a fall female/juvenile, on a little pond in Alaska. Having no experience with the species, I took a lady's word that Barrow's was the only bird around and thus that's what it must have been. The ID was far from convincing for me, mostly because the bill was a dull color with no clear markings (thus rousing consternation at what Sibley meant by 'usually' in the Barrow's description) and head shape seemed intermediate. In any case, it wasn't satisfying to my mind, but I checked it off anyway. I typically set a high standard for when something gets checked off my list, but this was a species I expected to have little chance at in the future (I lived in Virginia with no expectation of western transplant). When I got to see my first crisply plumaged pair of Barrow's here in Oregon this fall, I happily changed the entry in the 'where first seen' column of my spreadsheet and now consider the list 'sanitized'. I've found that the term comes in handy. * This is in no way a commentary on the Henslow's situation. I've got nothing to add on that one. Dave Hewitt Klamath Falls From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Tue Jan 20 11:53:39 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:53:39 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Lincoln's Sparrow Message-ID: <739975.83446.qm@web30407.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I uploaded a picture of a Lincoln's Sparrow taken at Fields Oasis here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30397515 at N07/?saved=1 The bird at Fields was running on the ground when photographed (notice the blurry foot).? Notice the asymmetrical shape and coloration of the rectrix.? The narrower web to the vein is dark, the wider side of the feather is light. The rectrix of the EE Wilson sparrow shows this same asymmetrical shape and coloration. I will not re-articulate the other points made by Irons, Strycker, Pickering, Bailey, et al. and simply join in the assessment, that all photos under discussion show a Lincoln's Sparrow. Maitreya ? ?Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.? Jonathan Livingston Seagull -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090120/59321fc5/attachment.html From lbviman at blackfoot.net Tue Jan 20 12:29:15 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:29:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Henslow photos In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090120202820.7712D9B0073@mail.blackfoot.net> First one Lincoln's; second one either Savannah or Song [looks very close to SOSP at my feeders]. Jim Greaves, Montana From lbviman at blackfoot.net Tue Jan 20 12:38:33 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:38:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Henslow's photos -> Lincoln's Message-ID: <20090120203737.EE91F9B007A@mail.blackfoot.net> Upon seeing the in-shadow 11 photos, I'd have to say only one species involved, Lincoln's. Note the finely streaked crown in the last few shots of head in profile, color and pattern typical for Lincoln's, not Savannah nor Song. But I could be wrong. Keep on trying! And thanks - >First one Lincoln's; second one either Savannah or Song [looks very close to SOSP at my feeders]. Jim Greaves, Montana From dendroicaman at peak.org Tue Jan 20 12:45:26 2009 From: dendroicaman at peak.org (dendroicaman at peak.org) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:45:26 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow In-Reply-To: <81b2a9930901201143i1e0dfafeo59ae61ab4b5cffa9@mail.gmail.com> References: <81b2a9930901201143i1e0dfafeo59ae61ab4b5cffa9@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <2666.128.193.161.10.1232484326.squirrel@webmail.peak.org> It was only a matter of time...the dreaded "H" word has come out. I've never heard of any such hybrid, but I'm no expert on Ammodramus. I would like to contribute a few other thoughts. First and foremost, one thing I keep in mind while birding is that anything that looks rare needs to match the textbook example perfectly. Rare birds are just that: rare. Likewise, aberrant plumages/wear patterns on common birds are uncommon, hence the name. To see unusual plumage on a rarity would be truly extraordinary. I've certainly never seen it. With this in mind, I'd say with about 90% certainty that Owen's photos show a Lincoln's Sparrow. I say 90% because of a variety of odd features. First, the tail looks short with unusually tapered feathers. I concur that first year birds tend to have more tapered feathers. Likewise, feathers on first year birds are frequently weaker because the feathers are grown in a relative hurry as the bird prepares to fledge. While I'm not familiar with Henslow's Sparrow molt patterns (nor especially familiar with that of Lincoln's), the flight feathers grown in the nest are retained all the way until the next full molt the following fall, often creating a highly worn look. With the quality of first-year feathers in mind, consider what sparrows do for a living--scratch around in leaves and brush, which frequently results in even more worn tails. I've seen this on multiple occasions in Towhees that I've banded. Even with this in mind, the tail looks shorter than I'd expect. I wonder if this bird may have met with an accident sometime in the fall and regrew a shorter tail? Either that or it's still regrowing. With the number of accipiters present in the area, I wouldn't be surprised if there were a few sparrows in the neighborhood that have had close calls. Secondly, I don't know if I've ever seen a Lincoln's with that much dark on the back. But it also does not show the strong white feather edging shown in the excellent Henslow's Sparrow photos from other parts of the country. Thirdly, the face coloration is a lot less gray than I've seen in many Lincoln's Sparrows. But it is clearly much less green than in the Henslow's photos. Likewise, neither species seems to show the faint yellow loral spot shown on this bird. The only NW species I know that has such a thing is a Savannah Sparrow. But on the side of Lincoln's, what jumps out at me most is the crown pattern. The rufous in the lateral crown stripes is classic Lincoln's and the gray median is as well. Nowhere have I found any photo of a Henslow's that looks remotely like this. I would finally like to mention, though that here is also no substitute for being there. Photos can tell us very little about behavior, flight pattern, etc. If this bird looked unusually small and behaved strangely in comparison to the other Lincoln's in the area, I would certainly be at pains to explain why a bird that was aberrant in size and behavior also showed weird plumage patterns, unless their was some biological explanation (I can't think of one here). But I would still wager that a common bird with aberrant plumage, size and behavior is still more likely than a first state record that shows aberrant plumage. Respectfully, Karl Fairchild Corvallis, OR P.S.--take a look at the pic of this juvenile Henslow's. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/672/galleries/photos/ES_050817__188/image_popup_view. It looks a lot better and has an interesting yellow loral spot. But the face is heavily streaked, which our bird clearly does not show. > I'm no sparrow expert and I've misidentified more birds on OBOL than > I'd care to admit but, for what it's worth, the bird on the ground > appears to have a lot more yellow/olive coloring on the supercilium > than what I've seen in any Lincoln's Sparrow. (Although, I'd expect > to see more on the nape than what Owen's [very nice] photos show.) > > Am I correct in assuming that Henslow's and Lincoln's aren't > closely-related enough to hybridize? > > Brandon > Eugene > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From hhactitis at yahoo.com Tue Jan 20 13:04:15 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:04:15 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow Message-ID: <396640.5384.qm@web37006.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello All, Well, this has been a very enlightening discussion (which has taken me away from my translation work far too long), and I have learned more about sparrow parts (and Henslow's parts in particular - a species I have actually never laid eyes on in the field) than I ever thought possible. Despite some good points made for this bird being a Henslow's, I firmly stick to my initially uttered impression that all of Owen's images show a Lincoln's Sparrow. I still can see nothing, even in the ground pictures, that is entirely inconsistent with Lincoln's, while I see many characteristics that speak against Henslow's. I will not go into detail again - excellent summaries have been posted by Irons, Strycker et al., but I must say that I would not vote for this record, were I still on the OBRC. That said, thanks to Owen and Jeff for their efforts in chasing the bird down, obtaining such wonderful pictures and fanning this enormously entertaining and educational discussion. The big question that remains in my mind: Is there a real Ammodramus still out there, or was it a funky Lincoln's all along? Respectfully Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090120/6b11f63c/attachment.html From watice at msn.com Tue Jan 20 13:04:26 2009 From: watice at msn.com (BILL ROSIE TICE) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:04:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow In-Reply-To: <81b2a9930901201143i1e0dfafeo59ae61ab4b5cffa9@mail.gmail.com> <2666.128.193.161.10.1232484326.squirrel@webmail.peak.org> References: <81b2a9930901201143i1e0dfafeo59ae61ab4b5cffa9@mail.gmail.com> <2666.128.193.161.10.1232484326.squirrel@webmail.peak.org> Message-ID: There is one small point I have not read in our Henslow's/Lincoln's discussions as yet. In the 2nd set of photos (especially # 11), one can clearly see the broken eyering at the rear of the eye. In all the plates and photos I have looked over of both birds, all make the distinction: for Lincoln's the eyering is unbroken, for Henslow's it is broken. Plus, the eyering in the pics appears to be fatter than what Lincoln's wound show. Even in the shade the supercilium, especially before the eye looks to me to be a cream color. Seems to me if it were the typical grey color, it would not look cream in the shade, would it? It appears to be these are 2 different birds here. I would suggest that neither of these may be the one Doug saw, and that a few of us ought to return to the sight and see what we can come up with. After looking over the pics, I am not sure either are what I saw yesterday, given that one second look. Bill Tice -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090120/5e72c032/attachment.html From campbell at peak.org Tue Jan 20 13:08:15 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:08:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] In praise of the Henslow's vs. Lincoln's thread Message-ID: Though, by now, this thread may appear to be interminable pointless nitpicking, I think this is one of the most important threads to ever drag on (and on) in this forum. It is a cautionary demonstration--to beginners, especially--of just how easy it is to screw up an ID. We now know that birders with many years of education and field experience can look at the very same pictures and without any doubt disagree about what they are seeing. Some of them are wrong. I've already edged toward the camp of the "bird on the ground same as the bird in the bush" faction, and into the "bird in the bush is not a Henslow's Sparrow" camp, but given my skills and history, that might militate in favor of Henslow's. Two other points made obvious by this thread: Colors, because of different conditions of light and points of view, are unreliable field marks. Shapes and relative sizes, because of changing postures and behaviors, are unreliable field marks. Good luck. Randy Campbell -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090120/476afac9/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Jan 20 13:15:10 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:15:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] A birder's tale (no. 117) Message-ID: <49763EDE.6090703@pacifier.com> Once upon a time, a young(ish) birder and his lovely wife were enjoying a picnic lunch of bread and cheese and raw vegetables at a wayside rest area somewhere in the southeastern part of our great state. Quite unexpectedly, a flycatcher appeared above them in a nearby juniper. It was brightly marked with a dark crown, back and wings and pale throat, breast belly and vent. It gave the impression of a smallish Eastern Kingbird, but was obviously not that species. It moved around through the branches of the trees in a manner the young(ish) birder had not seen before. He decided the combination of fieldmarks most closely matched Eastern Phoebe. This all happened in the dimly lit, late 20th Century, a time without cell phones, a time with limited internet access. A simpler time. As a result, he was unable to contact any of his fellow birders until very late in the day, hours after his initial observation. Others were not able to go looking for this marvel until the next morning. By all accounts there were plenty of folks looking for the bird the next day and they found it, working the sagebrush edge that bordered the picnic area. Fieldmarks were noted. Photographs were taken. Ticks were ticked. Everyone was happy and excited. Then the photos came back from the developer (simpler times, remember). The bird in the photographs was not an Eastern Phoebe. In the cold light of the still images, references could be consulted, plumages could be closely evaluated, wing formulas could be summed. The bird in the photos was a very brightly marked Willow Flycatcher, arguably somewhat out of context amidst the juniper and sagebrush. Ticks were unticked. Everyone was sad. To this day, the young(ish) bird maintains, though with less certainty or righteous indignation, that the bird he saw while picnicking with his lovely wife was not the same bird seen by the birding throngs the next day. There is always solace, no matter how tenuous, in the two bird theory. In time, other, unchallengeable Eastern Phoebes appeared. Ticks could be ticked. Everyone could be happy, again. The End -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Studies in ambiguity http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/ambiguity20090111.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Jan 20 13:22:20 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:22:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] More Lincoln's Sparrow photos- many in-hand Message-ID: <4976408C.8020801@pacifier.com> http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Studies in ambiguity http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/ambiguity20090111.html From douglas.robinson at oregonstate.edu Tue Jan 20 13:25:28 2009 From: douglas.robinson at oregonstate.edu (Douglas Robinson) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:25:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's (?) photos, maybe more than zero doubt Message-ID: Hi folks, In my pre-dawn and pre-coffee haste to dash off an email about Owen's photos, I said I had zero doubt about the identity of the bird photographed on the ground. Well, some good points have been made about inconsistent field marks. Although I am still not sure completely of the identity of the photographed bird (the tail feather shape still bothers me; I will look at specimens in the OSU collection and see what I can learn), I did do some comparisons of the photographed bird with my notes from the field and there is a major discrepancy, the back feathers. In my notes I wrote: " The back feathers were very round-tipped (not elongated) and black with dark chestnut toward the distal edges. Each feather was edged with a very narrow (about 1 mm) and uniform-width white fringe. It's the fringes on dark feathers that made the back appear "scaly." " As far as I can see on the bird in the photographs, there are two big differences with my notes: 1) I can't see that chestnut color toward the outer edges of each feather; and 2) the lateral margins look grayish, not white, are not narrow and don't extend all the way around each back feather. I mentioned this lack of fringes to Jeff Gilligan in an earlier email, but did not follow up on it properly. Unless others can see these marks and I am just missing them, I think the photographed bird is a different bird. Sorry for not making this comparison earlier. Doug From philliplc at charter.net Tue Jan 20 13:29:15 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:29:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow References: <81b2a9930901201143i1e0dfafeo59ae61ab4b5cffa9@mail.gmail.com><2666.128.193.161.10.1232484326.squirrel@webmail.peak.org> Message-ID: <3F66730C304F47918C76DE536327DD6D@Phil> On most Lincoln's the dark post-ocular stripe appears to extend all the way to the eye breaking the otherwise complete ring at the rear. The appearance of this bird is prototypical for Lincoln's in that respect. Cheers, Phil >There is one small point I have not read in our Henslow's/Lincoln's >discussions as yet. In the 2nd set of photos (especially # 11), one can >clearly see the broken eyering at the rear of the eye. In all the plates >and photos I have looked over of both birds, all make the distinction: >for Lincoln's the eyering is unbroken, for Henslow's it is broken. From acontrer at mindspring.com Tue Jan 20 13:46:20 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:46:20 -0500 (EST) Subject: [obol] A birder's tale (no. 117) Message-ID: <24340021.1232487980827.JavaMail.root@elwamui-darkeyed.atl.sa.earthlink.net> As another survivor of the pre-field-electronics age, and someone who participated in the empid chase in the junipers, I'll add an almost parallel story to Mike's. I was at Malheur HQ once, I think it was spring 2007 but I'd have to look it up. I was standing on the lawn and noticed a typical Gray Flycatcher to the west, near the low stone wall, dipping its tail and looking around. I watched it for a moment, then looked away. Perhaps two minutes later I heard a call note and looked back that way as some other birders came out of the thrush-grove near the parking area. Perched in the same bush that the flycatcher had been was a similar tail-bobbing flycatcher. We all sort of stared at it for a moment, then it made a quick local flight and called, returning to the same area. I looked over at Tim Rodenkirk and said something like "There was a Gray Flycatcher right there, but isn't this an Eastern Phoebe? I shot one quick photo. Tim was right near it and said "it IS an Eastern Phoebe" and then it flew toward the display pond. A few others saw it at that moment. The photo was not very good, but showed an Eastern Phoebe acceptable to the OBRC. Perhaps most interesting, neither bird was ever seen again, to my knowledge, despite the presence of many birders. Were they both really there? I think so. This recent sparrow discussion on obol is one of the best parts of obol. Back in the day, it would have taken nine months to gather half the information that we assembled in nine hours, and we have all learned a lot. This might even make gull i.d. more attractive to Mary Anne. The pleasure never ends. -----Original Message----- >From: Mike Patterson >Sent: Jan 20, 2009 4:15 PM >To: OBOL >Subject: [obol] A birder's tale (no. 117) > >Once upon a time, a young(ish) birder and his lovely wife were enjoying >a picnic lunch of bread and cheese and raw vegetables at a wayside rest >area somewhere in the southeastern part of our great state. Quite >unexpectedly, a flycatcher appeared above them in a nearby juniper. It >was brightly marked with a dark crown, back and wings and pale throat, >breast belly and vent. It gave the impression of a smallish Eastern >Kingbird, but was obviously not that species. It moved around through >the branches of the trees in a manner the young(ish) birder had not seen >before. He decided the combination of fieldmarks most closely matched >Eastern Phoebe. > >This all happened in the dimly lit, late 20th Century, a time without >cell phones, a time with limited internet access. A simpler time. As a >result, he was unable to contact any of his fellow birders until very >late in the day, hours after his initial observation. Others were not >able to go looking for this marvel until the next morning. > >By all accounts there were plenty of folks looking for the bird the next >day and they found it, working the sagebrush edge that bordered the >picnic area. Fieldmarks were noted. Photographs were taken. Ticks >were ticked. Everyone was happy and excited. > >Then the photos came back from the developer (simpler times, remember). > The bird in the photographs was not an Eastern Phoebe. In the cold >light of the still images, references could be consulted, plumages could >be closely evaluated, wing formulas could be summed. The bird in the >photos was a very brightly marked Willow Flycatcher, arguably somewhat >out of context amidst the juniper and sagebrush. > >Ticks were unticked. Everyone was sad. > >To this day, the young(ish) bird maintains, though with less certainty >or righteous indignation, that the bird he saw while picnicking with his >lovely wife was not the same bird seen by the birding throngs the next >day. There is always solace, no matter how tenuous, in the two bird >theory. > >In time, other, unchallengeable Eastern Phoebes appeared. Ticks could >be ticked. Everyone could be happy, again. > >The End > >-- >Mike Patterson >Astoria, OR >Studies in ambiguity >http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/ambiguity20090111.html > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Alan Contreras - Eugene, Oregon From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Jan 20 14:34:09 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:34:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Abe's Yellow-throated Henslow's Shorebird Sparrow Warbler thing....... Message-ID: <49765161.4010209@verizon.net> Folks, In case you are totally bored, completely frustrated, or ready to kill the next person who dares to debate the little flying vole in the weedy field somewhere in the great valley of Oregon that you will NEVER get a chance to see even if you cut all the weeds to stubs and smash every vole hole in the field, I thought I might mention that Kathy and I and Dave Ledig looked for the YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER on Monday afternoon (that be yesterday, the one that was at Floras Lake, Curry Cty) when it was sunny and HOT here on the coast (how's 86 degrees in the sun in our yard sound?), and we could not find it. Nor was it reported Saturday or Sunday. We were there Saturday and when we pulled up I saw a PEREGRINE FALCON flying away from the barn area with a small something in its talons. Kathy cursed me over and over for making the suggestion that maybe the said warbler became brunch. On a cheerier note, I took a look at Russ's photos of said Warbler, and I thought I just mention that I think everyone got the identification wrong. Yes, it superficially resembles a Yellow-throated Warbler, but what it really is is a Yellow-chinned Barn Bugger. This is a very rare Chinese species, only known from a small area of agricultural China, hence the reason why so many of you don't have a clue that that is what it was. In that part of China, you have to be a card carrying member of the Commie Party to gain access to this wonderfully depleted habitat area. What we know is that this species prefers barn yards, and despite being generally non-migratory, they do occasionally disperse great distances. There are a number of records spread throughout the US, most misidentified as Yellow-throated Warblers. If you are still with me on this one, you either are a friend of mine, you are getting a good laugh, or you are already cursing me and wishing I would just fade away or a tsunami would wipe me out the next time I survey for plovers. So I'll stop here..... PS - and about those White-breasted Nuthatches in Bandon.........never mind........ Cheers Dave Lauten Bandon, OR deweysage at verizon.net From douglas.robinson at oregonstate.edu Tue Jan 20 14:43:41 2009 From: douglas.robinson at oregonstate.edu (Douglas Robinson) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:43:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's, one more good lesson Message-ID: I like Alan and Randy's messages about useful lessons and the utility of OBOL. After too rapidly jumping on the hip-hip-hooray photo bandwagon this morning, I went birding all day, only to return and see that the wisdom of the crowds seemed to have reached consensus that the photos were of a Lincoln's. Naturally, this wreaked havoc with my brain. Did I screw up the field identification, too? Did I see what I thought I saw? I've seen dozens of those little sh*ts; how could I have done that? What did I actually see? After looking at dozens of images of Lincoln's and Henslow's today, good ones and bad ones, the latter question loomed larger and larger. What DID I see? Crap! So, here's the message and the lesson: Always write what you saw as soon as possible. Look at the bird as long as possible, but then immediately write your description. Do this even if you get a photo! All the discussion about what colors are on the sparrow photographs should convince us all from now on that we can not rely only on photos. If I had not written notes in the field, and now have been able to compare those notes with the photos, I truly would not have been able to figure out if the bird I saw in the field matched the marks on the photographed bird. Just too many new images overlaid on top of the memory that gets farther and farther away in time. Let's hope a Henslow's Sparrow can be found again at EE Wilson, or maybe this is just one that got away.... Doug From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Jan 20 14:53:34 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:53:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow In-Reply-To: References: <81b2a9930901201143i1e0dfafeo59ae61ab4b5cffa9@mail.gmail.com> <2666.128.193.161.10.1232484326.squirrel@webmail.peak.org> Message-ID: <497655EE.5070609@verizon.net> BILL ROSIE TICE wrote: > There is one small point I have not read in our Henslow's/Lincoln's > discussions as yet. In the 2nd set of photos (especially # 11), one > can clearly see the broken eyering at the rear of the eye. In all the > plates and photos I have looked over of both birds, all make the > distinction: for Lincoln's the eyering is unbroken, for Henslow's it > is broken. > Phil Pickering sent a link to an image of a Lincoln's Sparrow earlier this morning. If you go there, you'll see a wonderful photo of a Lincoln's Sparrow, with a broken eye ring in the rear. So much for that field mark........ Cheers Dave Lauten From acontrer at mindspring.com Tue Jan 20 15:02:40 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:02:40 -0800 (GMT-08:00) Subject: [obol] On the joy of incorrect identifications Message-ID: <15880225.1232492560298.JavaMail.root@mswamui-chipeau.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Doug, I can't remember if you know this story (many on obol do), but some years ago I identified a Red-necked Grebe floating on Netarts Bay, its long reddish neck obvious even at a distance. Unfortunately upon closer examination it proved to be Podiceps budweiser longneckii. So if you misidentified this sparrow, which strikes me as a somewhat atypical Lincoln's, you'll have to try a LOT harder to impress us with your badness. Some of us have set a very low standard indeed. Alan -----Original Message----- >From: Douglas Robinson >Sent: Jan 20, 2009 2:43 PM >To: "obol at oregonbirdwatch.org" >Subject: [obol] Henslow's, one more good lesson > >I like Alan and Randy's messages about useful lessons and the utility of >OBOL. > >After too rapidly jumping on the hip-hip-hooray photo bandwagon this >morning, I went birding all day, only to return and see that the wisdom of >the crowds seemed to have reached consensus that the photos were of a >Lincoln's. > >Naturally, this wreaked havoc with my brain. Did I screw up the field >identification, too? Did I see what I thought I saw? I've seen dozens of >those little sh*ts; how could I have done that? What did I actually see? > >After looking at dozens of images of Lincoln's and Henslow's today, good >ones and bad ones, the latter question loomed larger and larger. What DID I >see? Crap! > >So, here's the message and the lesson: Always write what you saw as soon as >possible. Look at the bird as long as possible, but then immediately write >your description. Do this even if you get a photo! All the discussion about >what colors are on the sparrow photographs should convince us all from now >on that we can not rely only on photos. If I had not written notes in the >field, and now have been able to compare those notes with the photos, I >truly would not have been able to figure out if the bird I saw in the field >matched the marks on the photographed bird. Just too many new images >overlaid on top of the memory that gets farther and farther away in time. > >Let's hope a Henslow's Sparrow can be found again at EE Wilson, or maybe >this is just one that got away.... > >Doug > > > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Alan Contreras - Eugene, Oregon From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Jan 20 15:47:31 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:47:31 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Some Coos Birds of Late Message-ID: <896524.74999.qm@web45305.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Great Henslow thread, been too busy birding to add much but it has been so impressive! Back in Coos County I saw the overwintering north spit of Coos Bay SAY'S PHOEBE on Monday (1st verified wintering record), it may have been the same one I saw out there in early November and is likely the bird I saw twice in December. I've checked for it many times at the lumber mill but only seem to see it about every three weeks. The other overwintering SAPH in the Coquille Valley near Norway found by Irons, Norgren, & Fairchild on the Coquile Valley CBC (the 2nd verified overwintering record) is also still around or was last week. Also on the north spit of Coos Bay was a PALM WARBLER, the first one I've seen out there in a couple months. Over in the SW corner of the county, up Bethel Mtn. Road (right on the Coos side of the Coos/Curry line), I found a HORNED LARK, only about the 4th Coos mid-winter record. Also up there was a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (one wintered there last year) and a pair of GOLDEN EAGLES, one of which drifted over into Curry Co. while I was watching it (a long overdue new Curry bird for me!). One addition Curry tidbit, while waiting for the Yellow-throated Warbler (without luck) near Floras Lake in Curry Co. last Saturday, several of us saw a distance white goose with some Canadas that was like a SNOW GOOSE, west of the silos a mile or so. The YT Warbler was last seen on Friday, so it looks like it's moved on. Happy birding all! Tim R Coos Bay From willclemons at yahoo.com Tue Jan 20 16:20:46 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:20:46 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] =?utf-8?q?Lincoln=27s_Sparrow_versus_Henslow=27s_Sparrow_I?= =?utf-8?q?D_=26_Killing_the_Ordinary_man=E2=80=A6?= Message-ID: <833800.79708.qm@web55103.mail.re4.yahoo.com> A) I have no opinion on the ID of this Sparrow. I do follow and understand the various points made by each person who takes a side. Thank you for doing so. I am now, and always will be, an Ordinary birder. As such I will leave it to those with more knowledge and experience, than I have. 2) I do however want to thank all who chimed in on this whole Lincoln's Sparrow versus Henslow's Sparrow ID puzzler. You have all added to our collective knowledge with ID tips a plenty, not to mention references. Birders I know and respect; names I know as reputable, but have never met, and more. This thread is a perfect example of but one way in which OBOL serves flocks of birders so well. Many of us Ordinary birders out here in OBOL land, may have opinions on this ID (or similar tough calls), but we are too timid to post them on OBOL. We do however, learn from others, and enjoy the reading. III) "It would have killed an Ordinary man!" I once had a neighbor/friend for ten of his 90 years. Every time I complemented him on something he knew or could do better than I could, his reply was always the above quote. That is how I feel (for myself) about this Lincoln's Sparrow versus Henslow's Sparrow ID, and all the photos taken and proffered. There have been many trusted expert opinions on each side of the Lincoln's Sparrow versus Henslow's Sparrow story. If I tried to resolve this Lincoln's Sparrow versus Henslow's Sparrow ID puzzle, it might just kill this Ordinary man by making my head explode. I told myself a good long while back, that I need to get down to EE Wilson again, but solely to study Sparrows. Now I may actually do it, though not to see a Henslow's. I will go because I believe that over the years folks have posted it as good sparrow habitat, and I could use some added schooling on Lincoln's etc. SO this year I will make an education day to EE Wilson. Thanks OBOL, for improving my life, now if you will excuse me I need to go take some aspirin, as just this mmodest thinking about Henslow's Sparrow versus Lincoln's Sparrow ID has made my head hurt, and I fear for my life. Keep explaining the tough ones to us, because we love you all for it. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores From kolwicz at minetfiber.com Tue Jan 20 16:29:17 2009 From: kolwicz at minetfiber.com (kolwicz at minetfiber.com) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:29:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hummer food Message-ID: <49766C5D.1030604@minetfiber.com> I make a 1:4 sugar:water mix for my hummers and it always gets cloudy within a few days, even now, during this cool/cold weather and I assume that it's contaminated. This happens even with the refrigerated unused portion over a few weeks time. I boil the mix hard for a minute or so, put it in a hot canning jar, then cool and cap it and then refrigerate it until needed. The feeder itself has a pint glass, hour-glass shaped, bottle on the red plastic feeder. The glass bottle is microwaved with water until it boils then that hot bottle is attached to the plastic feeder and inverted so the hot water sits in the previously cleaned plastic. Is the cloudy mix potentially harmful? Is there a better way to be sure my sugar solution is uncontaminated? Frank From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Tue Jan 20 16:35:18 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (gerard.lillie at comcast.net) Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:35:18 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] On the joy of incorrect identifications In-Reply-To: <15880225.1232492560298.JavaMail.root@mswamui-chipeau.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Message-ID: <1877345063.3124171232498118410.JavaMail.root@sz0066a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Ah yes. We have ALL been there, done that. Like the time in my dear old home state of Michigan when while driving slowly down a country road I yelled out "Pileated Woodpecker" only to have an American Robin fly in front of the car for all to see. Don't ask how I blew that one as there is no good answer. At least you have a very good excuse, Doug. Gerard Lillie Portland, OR Subject: [obol] On the joy of incorrect identifications Doug, I can't remember if you know this story (many on obol do), but some years ago I identified a Red-necked Grebe floating on Netarts Bay, its long reddish neck obvious even at a distance. ?Unfortunately upon closer examination it proved to be Podiceps budweiser longneckii. ? So if you misidentified this sparrow, which strikes me as a somewhat atypical Lincoln's, you'll have to try a LOT harder to impress us with your badness. Some of us have set a very low standard indeed. Alan -----Original Message----- >From: Douglas Robinson >Sent: Jan 20, 2009 2:43 PM >To: "obol at oregonbirdwatch.org" >Subject: [obol] Henslow's, one more good lesson > >I like Alan and Randy's messages about useful lessons and the utility of >OBOL. > >After too rapidly jumping on the hip-hip-hooray photo bandwagon this >morning, I went birding all day, only to return and see that the wisdom of >the crowds seemed to have reached consensus that the photos were of a >Lincoln's. > >Naturally, this wreaked havoc with my brain. Did I screw up the field >identification, too? Did I see what I thought I saw? I've seen dozens of >those little sh*ts; how could I have done that? What did I actually see? > >After looking at dozens of images of Lincoln's and Henslow's today, good >ones and bad ones, the latter question loomed larger and larger. What DID I >see? Crap! > >So, here's the message and the lesson: Always write what you saw as soon as >possible. Look at the bird as long as possible, but then immediately write >your description. Do this even if you get a photo! All the discussion about >what colors are on the sparrow photographs should convince us all from now >on that we can not rely only on photos. ?If I had not written notes in the >field, and now have been able to compare those notes with the photos, I >truly would not have been able to figure out if the bird I saw in the field >matched the marks on the photographed bird. Just too many new images >overlaid on top of the memory that gets farther and farther away in time. > >Let's hope a Henslow's Sparrow can be found again at EE Wilson, or maybe >this is just one that got away.... > >Doug > > > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Alan Contreras - Eugene, Oregon _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090121/dc0fadbc/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Jan 20 17:49:02 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:49:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] =?windows-1252?q?Lincoln=27s_Sparrow_versus_Henslow=27s_Sp?= =?windows-1252?q?arrow_ID_=26_Killing_the_Ordinary_man=85?= In-Reply-To: <833800.79708.qm@web55103.mail.re4.yahoo.com> References: <833800.79708.qm@web55103.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <49767F0E.6060607@verizon.net> Since we are on the topic of Henslow's Sparrow and Ordinary Birders, I thought I might just chime in that for those who have never seen this species on their breeding grounds, for all the frustration of positively IDing one, they must be one of the absolutely easiest species to find and learn....meaning learn the song. When you are in Henslow's Sparrow country, there is only one thing that sings like that. And it is simple. "Se-lick". That's it. No kidding. No warbles to figure from the other warblers, no buzzing to figure from the other buzzers, no trilling to figure from the other trillers. Just a simple "Se-lick". Most often from the top of a blade of grass. Sitting up in the open. No skylarking even. It's that simple. Really. For the most part. Just don't confuse it with the local grasshoppers. The real ones, not the sparrow one. It's really really cool, I highly recommend it. Cheers Dave Lauten Will Clemons wrote: > A) I have no opinion on the ID of this Sparrow. I do follow and understand the various points made by each person who takes a side. Thank you for doing so. I am now, and always will be, an Ordinary birder. As such I will leave it to those with more knowledge and experience, than I have. > > 2) I do however want to thank all who chimed in on this whole Lincoln's Sparrow versus Henslow's Sparrow ID puzzler. You have all added to our collective knowledge with ID tips a plenty, not to mention references. Birders I know and respect; names I know as reputable, but have never met, and more. This thread is a perfect example of but one way in which OBOL serves flocks of birders so well. Many of us Ordinary birders out here in OBOL land, may have opinions on this ID (or similar tough calls), but we are too timid to post them on OBOL. > > We do however, learn from others, and enjoy the reading. > > III) "It would have killed an Ordinary man!" > > I once had a neighbor/friend for ten of his 90 years. Every time I complemented him on something he knew or could do better than I could, his reply was always the above quote. > > That is how I feel (for myself) about this Lincoln's Sparrow versus Henslow's Sparrow ID, and all the photos taken and proffered. There have been many trusted expert opinions on each side of the Lincoln's Sparrow versus Henslow's Sparrow story. If I tried to resolve this Lincoln's Sparrow versus Henslow's Sparrow ID puzzle, it might just kill this Ordinary man by making my head explode. > > I told myself a good long while back, that I need to get down to EE Wilson again, but solely to study Sparrows. Now I may actually do it, though not to see a Henslow's. I will go because I believe that over the years folks have posted it as good sparrow habitat, and I could use some added schooling on Lincoln's etc. SO this year I will make an education day to EE Wilson. > > Thanks OBOL, for improving my life, now if you will excuse me I need to go take some aspirin, as just this mmodest thinking about Henslow's Sparrow versus Lincoln's Sparrow ID has made my head hurt, and I fear for my life. > > Keep explaining the tough ones to us, because we love you all for it. > > Will Clemons > SW of Portland > willclemons AT Yahoo dot com > > Birding: > The best excuse for getting outdoors > And avoiding chores > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > From hhactitis at yahoo.com Tue Jan 20 18:32:29 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:32:29 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] On the joy of incorrect identifications In-Reply-To: <1877345063.3124171232498118410.JavaMail.root@sz0066a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <277317.66660.qm@web37005.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I vividly remember the time Rich Hoyer and I sort of led the OSU Zoology Club field trip in South Eastern Arizona. We had pulled the van over to allow all participants excellent looks at a picture-perfect Swainson's Hawk perched within easy viewing distance. We diligently pointed out every field mark and explained how it clearly proved that this bird was a Swainson's Hawk and not a Red-tail .... until the little bastard flew, displaying a brilliant red tail! Needless to say, we had our work cut out for us to restore our reputation as exert birders for the remainder of the trip! Such goes life ... Cheers and happy birding to all Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Tue, 1/20/09, gerard.lillie at comcast.net wrote: From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net Subject: Re: [obol] On the joy of incorrect identifications To: "Alan Contreras" Cc: "Douglas Robinson" , obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2009, 4:35 PM #yiv529921445 p {margin:0;}Ah yes. We have ALL been there, done that. Like the time in my dear old home state of Michigan when while driving slowly down a country road I yelled out "Pileated Woodpecker" only to have an American Robin fly in front of the car for all to see. Don't ask how I blew that one as there is no good answer. At least you have a very good excuse, Doug. ? Gerard Lillie Portland, OR Subject: [obol] On the joy of incorrect identifications Doug, I can't remember if you know this story (many on obol do), but some years ago I identified a Red-necked Grebe floating on Netarts Bay, its long reddish neck obvious even at a distance. ?Unfortunately upon closer examination it proved to be Podiceps budweiser longneckii. ? So if you misidentified this sparrow, which strikes me as a somewhat atypical Lincoln's, you'll have to try a LOT harder to impress us with your badness. Some of us have set a very low standard indeed. Alan -----Original Message----- >From: Douglas Robinson >Sent: Jan 20, 2009 2:43 PM >To: "obol at oregonbirdwatch.org" >Subject: [obol] Henslow's, one more good lesson > >I like Alan and Randy's messages about useful lessons and the utility of >OBOL. > >After too rapidly jumping on the hip-hip-hooray photo bandwagon this >morning, I went birding all day, only to return and see that the wisdom of >the crowds seemed to have reached consensus that the photos were of a >Lincoln's. > >Naturally, this wreaked havoc with my brain. Did I screw up the field >identification, too? Did I see what I thought I saw? I've seen dozens of >those little sh*ts; how could I have done that? What did I actually see? > >After looking at dozens of images of Lincoln's and Henslow's today, good >ones and bad ones, the latter question loomed larger and larger. What DID I >see? Crap! > >So, here's the message and the lesson: Always write what you saw as soon as >possible. Look at the bird as long as possible, but then immediately write >your description. Do this even if you get a photo! All the discussion about >what colors are on the sparrow photographs should convince us all from now >on that we can not rely only on photos. ?If I had not written notes in the >field, and now have been able to compare those notes with the photos, I >truly would not have been able to figure out if the bird I saw in the field >matched the marks on the photographed bird. Just too many new images >overlaid on top of the memory that gets farther and farther away in time. > >Let's hope a Henslow's Sparrow can be found again at EE Wilson, or maybe >this is just one that got away.... > >Doug > > > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Alan Contreras - Eugene, Oregon _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090120/a04c3393/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Tue Jan 20 18:49:19 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:49:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] On the joy of incorrect identifications Message-ID: <00f601c97b72$dbcaf7d0$4e01a8c0@102889> Doug, Alan, et al, This episode underscores several points about OBOL and birding. 1. OBOL is a great source of information to the Oregon Birding Community. No one else has brought this up lately, but we owe a HUGE debt of gratitude to Jim Norton for keeping this going. We tend to take its existence for granted, but if it weren't for a volunteer devoting his time to keeping it running smoothly, we would still have to rely on a phone tree for information about rarities. So everybody, take some time and let Jim know publicly or privately that you appreciate what he does for us. THANK YOU, JIM! 2. Even the best birders in the state are human and can misidentify a bird. Alan mentioned one of his "blunders," I can add a couple of my beauts -- a Snowy Owl, Nyctea milkjugii and a Eurasian Dotterel, Phalaropus muddyi. We all do it and it's not anything to be ashamed of. Momentary embarrassment is likely, but it's not one of the seven deadly sins. So, don't be afraid of letting people know about your sightings, even if you could be wrong. I'm guessing that there are a few hundred people in Oregon who know an awful lot more about Henslow's Sparrows and finer ID points of Lincoln's Sparrows than they did a week ago. 3. A corollary to point 2, if you see something rare, don't be afraid to turn in your documentation of it to the OBRC. It establishes the record for a species occurrence in the state and contributes to an ever expanding knowledge base. Again, don't be afraid to be wrong. The absolute worst that can happen is you'll get a letter saying it wasn't accepted for XX reason. 4. The vast, vast majority of posters on OBOL are helpful people. I didn't hear a single person say, "@!#$%^& I drove umpteen miles to see that ______ _______ sparrow and it had been misidentified!" Obviously it was a bird that was confusing, at best and OBOL posters responded in a polite, appropriate, informative way. Not every list is so courteous. 5. Birds are fun. This exercise the last week was downright fun to observe, to read the posts, plan to go over and check out the bird and learn something in the process. The debates about which bird it was were educational and enjoyable. Thanks to all who participated in this endeavor. Tom Crabtree Bend, OR "Today the two most beautiful words in the English language were spoken 'President Obama.'" From winkg at hevanet.com Tue Jan 20 19:03:41 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:03:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow "singing" Message-ID: <20090121030343.EC8EBA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dave Lauten's post about the singing of Henslow's Sparrows reminded me of one of my favorite passages from Peterson's old "Field Guide to the Birds": Voice: The Henslow's perches atop a weed, from which it utters one of the poorest vocal efforts of any bird; throwing back its head, it ejects a hiccoughing 'tsi-lick'. As if to practice this 'song' so that it might not always remain at the bottom of the list, it often hiccoughs all night long. It's too bad we no longer have field guides that you can just read cover-to-cover for enjoyment. Wink Gross Portland From calliope at theriver.com Tue Jan 20 19:13:08 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:13:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Don't Give Up On Henslow's Message-ID: <5F80BC6A-F953-433D-8331-92BD3B795BC9@theriver.com> Hi All, The rest of the world won't know for sure if Doug actually saw a Henslow's Sparrow or not until someone else actually sees and photographs one there. But because a very confusing Lincoln's Sparrow was photographed in the same area does not mean that it was the same bird that Doug saw. So don't give up on trying to find the bird. I know if I were up there, I'd be out there looking around (and I'd take Joel up on the offer to use his bird seed). The number of birders tromping through that 100 square meters might have convinced the bird to take up a different territory nearby. By the way, for the naysayers who are forever resistant to all things new (such as first state records, and thereby scream "impossible") I did a quick bit of distance measuring on Google Earth. The distance from the northernmost breeding range of Henslow's Sparrow (in a good year, like, was it last year?) to its southernmost winter range is the same as from the former to western Oregon, about 1200 miles. The only difference is almost exactly 90?. On the other hand, there's only a tiny corner of northeastern California within a similar radius, so that state does not look like a good potential end point for a lost Henslow's Sparrow. Note that I'm going on the observation that a vast majority of vagrants that reach an end point err in direction only, not distance. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- From llsdirons at msn.com Tue Jan 20 23:28:22 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:28:22 +0000 Subject: [obol] Partial report on my recent trip to Baja now up on BirdFellow.com Message-ID: Greetings All, For anyone interested in a break from the riveting Henslow's vs Lincoln's Sparrow ID discussion, or just a little vicarious birding enjoyment, check out BirdFellow.com. Steve Mlodinow and I recently returned from eight days of birding and relaxation in Baja California Sur, where we saw 189 species including several rarities. I will break up the trip report into 3-4 installments that will appear on our blog over the next week or so. I'm still editing the 1019 images that came home on memory cards. Winter birding on the southern Baja peninsula offers a great opportunity to see local endemics, multiple "eastern" warblers, large numbers of shorebirds, terns, and marshbirds, and see lots of wintering passerines that summer north of the border along the west coast. If nothing else, it was nice to be someplace where the temperature was 40F+ warmer than an average January day in the Willamette Valley. Dave Irons _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_explore_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090121/3ae114d8/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Tue Jan 20 23:44:47 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:44:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow "singing" In-Reply-To: <20090121030343.EC8EBA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> References: <20090121030343.EC8EBA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: Listening to Henslow's Sparrows sing at night is the easiest way to detect them. The song is so quiet that it is easily overwhelmed in the daytime by louder sounds, but it carries nicely on a still night, and indeed they do often rock & roll all night long. This also mercifully alleviates the need to find the little buggers visually and pay attention to all those aggravating field marks. - JW, P At 7:03 PM -0800 1/20/09, Wink Gross wrote: >Dave Lauten's post about the singing of Henslow's Sparrows >reminded me of one of my favorite passages from Peterson's >old "Field Guide to the Birds": > > Voice: The Henslow's perches atop a weed, from which > it utters one of the poorest vocal efforts of any bird; > throwing back its head, it ejects a hiccoughing 'tsi-lick'. > As if to practice this 'song' so that it might not always > remain at the bottom of the list, it often hiccoughs all > night long. > >It's too bad we no longer have field guides that you can just >read cover-to-cover for enjoyment. > >Wink Gross >Portland > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Jan 21 05:50:30 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 05:50:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Don't give up on Henslow's Sparrow Message-ID: <1232545830.3510.31.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, Let me second Rich Hoyer's comments. All that's been proven is that there's a Lincoln's Sparrow in the same vicinity as the initially reported Henslow's Sparrow, which allowed itself to be photographed. We have all gained a lesson in the superficial similarities between two unrelated species that we never expected to have to distinguish between in Oregon. I wonder if Jeff & Owen's bird is really such an unusual Lincoln's Sparrow, or if it's just that we aren't accustomed to looking so closely at each & every Lincoln's Sparrow. For my part, I plan to do more observation of Lincoln's Sparrows on the ground, rather than just adding a dot to my tally sheet whenever I see one fly to the bushes, or hear one give its buzzy little call. Clearly I have a few things to learn about this species, even though for years I've been seeing 50 or more per winter, and usually a few in breeding habitat as well. There *were* some discrepancies between Doug's detailed description of the bird he saw, and the bird in Owen's photos (even in the one shot that looked more like an Ammodramus to me), e.g. the lack of scaly apearance on the back. While Doug may have been a bit hasty in going along with the photos that were posted, this doesn't necessarily mean that he blew the ID in the field. Looking at a flat, still photo is very different from looking at the real, living bird with the stereoscopic vision that most of are still blessed with. I would also not rule out the possibility that Jeff and Owen may have seen the right bird at least for part of the sequence that Jeff described, but photographed another that was easier to get clear views of. They may have been victims of a vicious game of "sparrow tag-team," where one sparrow flies into a bit of cover and another one flies out. The idea that just one single sparrow was in that patch of habitat did seem more than a little strange to me -- practically freakish. It's hard to find a patch with such a low density of sparrows, anywhere in E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area in the winter. More likely that perception was due to too many of us tromping around at once. I now have no doubt about one thing: I have no idea what kind of sparrow I saw out there last Friday. Lucky for me, the place is close enough that I can give it a few more tries this winter .... motorless tries, even. Happy birding, Joel P.S. As to the power of suggestion on one's perception of an evasive bird, I'm sure that somewhere in Google's archives you can look up my beautiful sketch of Oregon's first nesting Northern Hawk-Owl, which seemingly had its nest adopted by a Cooper's Hawk when I went back to check a couple of weeks later. I never did see the real Hawk-Owl while it was in Bend. -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area, capital of Heck From 5hats at peak.org Wed Jan 21 06:58:22 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:58:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] ode Message-ID: <000801c97bd8$b926cd10$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Is it? Was it? Could it be, Henslow's Sparrow, flying free? Or were you Lincoln's after all, Hiding in the grasses tall? Who's right? Who's wrong? It may be we will never know Which field mark it is you show. Doug may have been right all along. Whichever - - you caused quite a fuss, You Ammo-melodramus! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090121/8bfd5767/attachment.html From 4cains at charter.net Wed Jan 21 07:14:46 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:14:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Short-eared Owl, Astoria Airport Message-ID: <657D73B836AD493EBF1AAD9729FECBAA@HAL> Went for a run yesterday (in gorgeous crisp sunshine) on the Astoria Airport dike at about 1630 hrs. Saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk and Northern Harrier, but the best bird was a SHORT-EARED OWL hunting in the grasses at the end of the NW airstrip. Virginia Rails were noisy in the wetland. Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090121/b99b94ca/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Wed Jan 21 08:08:06 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:08:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Little Blue heron - perhaps a new location. (etc.) Message-ID: Nick Lethaby and I saw the Little Blue Heron Tuesday. It was feeding in a tidal pool on Siletz Bay on the north side of Cutler City. From the street that runs parallel to the bay, walk through a narrow public path between the houses to the grassy dune. The bird and the pool were just beyond the dunes. (There is a pump station of some sort across the street from where the public access trail starts.) A first year GLAUCOUS GULL was loafing in the channel near Mo's. There were also 6 Brown Pelicans there - my first ever in January in Oregon. A WHIMBREL was on the rocks along the south south side of the channel near the mouth of Yaquina Bay. Off to Chile and Argentina until late February. Jeff Gilligan Portland From rkorpi at hotmail.com Wed Jan 21 09:26:29 2009 From: rkorpi at hotmail.com (Ray Korpi) Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:26:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Red-naped Sapsucker at Clark College Message-ID: All, I just walked out of my office in Anna Pechanec Hall (APH) and found a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER for the third winter in the last five or so here at Clark College in Vancouver. THe bird was in the pine trees on the west end of APH. Off to my boring meetings! Ray Korpi rkorpi at hotmail.com Vancouver WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090121/e3413f8c/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Wed Jan 21 09:46:53 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:46:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Band-tailed Pigeon, Yamhill Co Message-ID: <44D419FC4AA9471B87173ACC8DD0F467@yourw5st28y9a3> A lone Band-tailed Pigeon appeared this morning at my feeders, possibly attracted by the 50 or so Juncos on the ground. This is the first one I have seen here in winter. The last left in October. Two Pine Siskins showed up as well. They're more common in McMinnville, which is loaded with birches. Pamela Johnston From tom-escue at comcast.net Wed Jan 21 10:27:44 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:27:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER Message-ID: <9159DFEC655C4AFF9A68E277C28347F4@TomsPC> I have a female YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER at my backyard suet feeder. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090121/0ee75f8b/attachment.html From dbarendt at comcast.net Wed Jan 21 12:32:24 2009 From: dbarendt at comcast.net (Dennis Arendt) Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:32:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene's Wednesday Bird sightings Message-ID: <5349C9329E454E55A9902C6055B36B96@DennisArendt> Eugene's Wednesday birders went to the Delta Ponds north of Valley River Center. The fog was not too thick nor the cold too severe to see ducks on the river, BALD EAGLES over head and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER in the bushes near the parking lot. Here is the list of our sightings. Cackling Goose (heard flying over) Canada Goose Wood Duck (m & f high in a tree) Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Northern Shoveler Green-winged Teal Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup (small numbers on river) Lesser Scaup (several on the river) Bufflehead Hooded Merganser (2m & 3f on ponds) Common Merganser Pied-billed Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron (5) Great Egret (1) Bald Eagle (2) American Coot Greater Yellowlegs (1 or 2) Wilson's Snipe Ring-billed Gull Glaucous-winged Gull (and may unidentified gulls) Rock Pigeon Anna's Hummingbird Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker (1 or 2) Northern Flicker Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit White-breasted Nuthatch (1) Brown Creeper (6 or more) Bewick's Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler (stayed low in brush) Yellow-rumped Warbler (singles in several places) Spotted Towhee Fox Sparrow (2) Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco (only a few) Red-winged Blackbird House Finch (heard) American Goldfinch (2) House Sparrow (mingling with really wild birds) Birders: Tom Mickel, Paul Sherrell, Don Schrouder, Fred Chancey, Sarah Vasconcellos, Sylvia Maulding, Roger Robb and Dennis Arendt -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090121/5d123b6f/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Wed Jan 21 13:34:06 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:34:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] The last sunny day... Message-ID: <497794CE.5050006@pacifier.com> According to the weather forecast, we're in for a change in the weather... I spent the morning taking advantage of the really nice light. http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Studies in ambiguity http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/ambiguity20090111.html From dpvroman at budget.net Wed Jan 21 15:04:11 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:04:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] 2nd S. Grants Pass raptor survey Message-ID: <7B5AAF0A377C4C8BBDCB214B5C6CB639@Warbler> Today (01-21-09) the 2nd South Grants Pass raptor survey was accomplished. Total of 3.0 hrs; 27.2 miles; weather: low to mid-level fog/overcast conditions. Observed were: Red-tailed Hawk - 11 American Kestrel - 4 Red-shouldered Hawk - 4 White-tailed Kite - 5 Merlin - 3 Cooper's Hawk - 1 The fog just doesn't want to leave, but it appears to be finally breaking up. In spite of some dense fog pockets, numbers of observed birds was pretty good. Was unable to find any Eagles this round, however. Number of Merlins found pretty good for here. No unusual birds found along the route. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090121/d56b2735/attachment.html From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Wed Jan 21 15:12:27 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (Jamie S.) Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:12:27 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Odd fem. Eurasian Wigeon, Corvallis 1/21 Message-ID: <36139.83803.qm@web39501.mail.mud.yahoo.com> An interesting?female EURASIAN WIGEON is at Stewart Lake (HP) today, Wed 1/21 at noon.? The head is obviously redder than the accompanying American Wigeons. In fact, it seems of more of a reddish hue than other females I've seen, more similar to the eclipse male shown in Waterfowl by Madge & Burn. The throat is also noticably light, a mark I haven't seen before. ? Otherwise, the usual suspects are there: Canvasback - 19 No. Shoveler - still lots Am. Wigeon - over 100 Lesser Scaup - 19 or more (in a variety of winter plumages) Ring-necked Duck - only a handful of females Green-winged Teal - 1 male Pied-billed Grebe? - 2 ? 2 black-tailed deer were on the east side of the lake. ? Jamie Simmons Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090121/62361ab0/attachment.html From andy.frank at kp.org Wed Jan 21 15:49:07 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:49:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] North Portland sightings today Message-ID: <510BAD19F1C84B929850B2B76A85CEDD@familyroom> Today Wink Gross and I birded north Portland with the following highlights: At Vanport Wetlands, there was an immature RED-SHOULDERED HAWK and 63 CANVASVACKS (by far the most I've ever seen there). Portland International Raceway: an adult RED-SHOULDERED HAWK; and a small collection of gulls that had remarkable variety with a single GLAUCOUS GULL, a THAYER'S, a HERRING, a CALIFORNIA, and small numbers of GLAUCOUS-WINGED, MEW and RING-BILLED GULLS. There was a EURASIAN WIGEON with many AMERICAN WIGEON. Columbia River Slough trail on south side of Smith-Bybee: a single TREE SWALLOW. At the "hole in the wall" off Marine Drive West: RED-THROATED LOON and COMMON GOLDENEYE. Broughton Beach was very quiet but had a WESTERN GULL and 2 HORNED GREBES. Andy Frank From rflores_2 at msn.com Wed Jan 21 17:34:27 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:34:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Horned Lark, Ridgefield NWR, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: Today I found a horned lark at the River S tour route this morning. The bird was on the se corner of Rest Lake right at the bend in the road. It was very cooperative and one photographer was able to get close up shots of the bird. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090121/f30d7c21/attachment.html From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Wed Jan 21 21:18:24 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (Jamie S.) Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:18:24 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Photos of female Eurasian Wigeon w/ light throat Message-ID: <847099.28933.qm@web39508.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I have posted 6 photos of the female Eurasian Wigeon at Stewart Lake (HP), Corvallis at the link below.? (The first 6 photos; click on each photo to see it larger.)? I included female American Wigeon for comparison in?4 of the cropped pics. ?The light-colored throat is obvious.? Sibley notes "often unmarked throat" but it's not as obvious in?his example?as in these photos. ? http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3573&l=16dd7&id=1533961816 ? Jamie Simmons' Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090121/43017660/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Jan 21 21:43:00 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:43:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 01/21/09 Message-ID: <20090122054303.68F1BA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 01/15 to 01/21/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 5 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Cackling Goose 1 (3, 1/16) Canada Goose 1 (5, 1/16) MALLARD 1 (2, 1/15) RED-TAILED HAWK 2 (1, 1/17 & 20) ROCK PIGEON 1 (1, 1/15) Band-tailed Pigeon 1 (1, 1/15) Mourning Dove 3 (5, 1/16) Anna's Hummingbird 4 (3) Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 (1, 1/15) Downy Woodpecker 2 (1, 1/16 & 20) HAIRY WOODPECKER 1 (1, 1/17) Northern Flicker 4 (2) Pileated Woodpecker 1 (2, 1/15) Hutton's Vireo 1 (1, 1/21) Steller's Jay 4 (5) Western Scrub-Jay 5 (1) American Crow 4 (2) Black-capped Chickadee 5 (20, 1/21) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2 (5, 1/21) Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 (4, 1/15) Brown Creeper 1 (2, 1/16) Winter Wren 1 (2, 1/16) Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 (5, 1/21) American Robin 4 (25, 1/20) Varied Thrush 3 (3) European Starling 3 (5, 1/21) Spotted Towhee 5 (5) Song Sparrow 5 (10) Dark-eyed Junco 5 (25, 1/21) House Finch 5 (30, 1/20) Pine Siskin 2 (4, 1/20) Evening Grosbeak 1 (11, 1/21) Wink Gross Portland From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Wed Jan 21 22:15:19 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 06:15:19 +0000 Subject: [obol] Updated Photo Gallery (Great Gray, Hawk Owl, and Northern SawWhet) Message-ID: Hi all, >From late spring 2008 to present, I had an extremely LUCKY and productive time finding owls. With a little bit of downtime, I condensed some second hand 'scraps' of images that I didn't load or was too hasty in developing and editing. The majority of the Great Grays and Hawk Owl images were taken in Alaska, BC, or Yukon this past spring. For this trip, I had 12 hawkowls during the 13 days I was there and 7 Great Gray owls on a 90-degree day between Fort Nelson and Toad River, BC in May! Anyhow, it was tough to pick a favorite but getting a wink from a Northern SawWhet Owl really made my day!! Also, seeing the dapper Great Gray owl in Chesaw, WA with Mike Marsh with lightly falling snow is tough to beat:) No one can ever look as good in a bow-tie than these magnificent boreal birds. Why I am wasting my time with fancy, alpine clucking chickens? Hope you enjoy and OWL the best!! http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/owl_images_of_2008_and_2009&page=all Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From mlvandyk at onlinemac.com Wed Jan 21 22:19:02 2009 From: mlvandyk at onlinemac.com (Marilyn van Dyk) Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:19:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Little Blue Heron Message-ID: A small group of us looked mid-morning today without success for the Little Blue Heron in locations where it had been seen previously.Irene Stewart and I found it this afternoon at about 4 p.m. in the northeast corner of Siletz Bay. We were scoping that area when the Little Blue Heron flew in and landed a few feet away from a Great Egret, allowing us to make good comparisons.This must be approximately the same location where Heyerlys reported having seen it on Sunday at 11 a.m.(See John Sullivan's post for directions.)Marilyn van Dyk From ellencantor at gmail.com Wed Jan 21 22:28:05 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:28:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mt. Pisgah singing Wrentit and flashing Kinglet Message-ID: <7058c4c60901212228o1cf3e3c7q8d213d635079ee6b@mail.gmail.com> Late yesterday afternoon I hiked in the sun at the north end of Mt Pisgah. FOX SPARROWS and SPOTTED TOWHEES popped out of every blackberry patch I stopped to pish at. Best patch though had a singing WRENTIT which popped up when I pished and a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET which excitedly flashed its ruby crown and approached ever closer in response to my pishing, finally flitting on to a seed stem within a couple of feet from me. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090121/fb1ea679/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Jan 21 23:30:55 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:30:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 1-22-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * January 22, 2009 * ORPO0901.22 - birds mentioned Canvasback TUFTED DUCK Black Scoter Brown Pelican LITTLE BLUE HERON Turkey Vulture Red-shouldered Hawk Ancient Murrelet Tufted Puffin Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Bohemian Waxwing HENSLOW?S SPARROW PYRRHULOXIA Cassin?s Finch White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday January 22. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On January 15 a HENSLOW?S SPARROW was reported from the EE Wilson SWA. Despite an extensive search the bird was not relocated. The Peoria PYRRHULOXIA and the Siletz Bay LITTLE BLUE HERON continue to be seen, as is the TUFTED DUCK east of Clatskanie. Small groups of BROWN PELICANS continue to be seen along the coast. On January 17 an early TURKEY VULTURE was near Langlois. That day two ANCIENT MURRELETS were at Boiler Bay. Four ANCIENT MURRELETS and one BARN SWALLOW were at Tierra del Mar. A winter plumage TUFTED PUFFIN was there January 16. On January 17 three TREE and three BARN SWALLOWS were at Ridgefield NWR. That day one BARN SWALLOW was on Sauvie Island. On January 21 one TREE SWALLOW was at Smith/Bybee Lakes. Two RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS and 63 CANVASBACKS were at the Vanport Wetlands that day. On January 18 a male CASSIN?S FINCH was in Oregon City. Six BARN SWALLOWS were seen January 16 at Baskett Slough NWR. Four TREE SWALLOWS were over Ankeny NWR January 15. On January 18 a TURKEY VULTURE was over the EE Wilson SWA. On January 18 a BLACK SCOTER was at the Link River Dam in Klamath Falls. Large flocks of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, along with smaller numbers of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS are still being seen in the Wallowa Valley. Up to 200 COMMON REDPOLLS were seen during the week along Hwy 82 west of Enterprise. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090121/c78e3323/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Thu Jan 22 08:06:06 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 08:06:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] more white throats Message-ID: <002c01c97cab$599bbbc0$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Obolites, White throated Sparrows are rare here at Thornton Creek ( Lincoln) in winter. Normally one will winter every five years or so. this year thee are two. One showed up January 14 and another on the 17th. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090122/65d5ccd4/attachment.html From calocitta8 at gmail.com Tue Jan 20 12:42:21 2009 From: calocitta8 at gmail.com (Jesse Ellis) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:42:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] The photographed sparrow In-Reply-To: <739975.83446.qm@web30407.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <739975.83446.qm@web30407.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Hey all- Very interesting discussion going on here. Many great comments have been posted. My opinion, after having seen Henslow's a few times in Minnesota (there was an "invasion" a few summers ago), is that the photographed bird is a Lincoln's. The color and patterning of the crown stripes, the bill size and shape, and the coloration of the face seem to me to rule out Henslow's. Anyway, my opinion is not truly that of an expert. I'm popping in to suggest that people pass this link: http://web.me.com/olschmidt/HESP/Index.html around to friends and experts in parts of the country where both species occur. Many of us should be experts on Lincoln's Sparrow, but I think few of us would have a good handle on variation present in Henslow's. I want to also state that my opinion on the ID of this individual is just that: my opinion of this individual. This is not to say there's not a Henslow's out there to be photographed. A Henslow's record for the west would be great, and we should not stop at these photos. Douglas Robinson's description is convincing. I'd be interested to hear how this photographed individual differs from his sightings. (White margins was one thing - any others?) At least it's not huge, white-billed, and very poorly videotaped. Jesse Ellis Seattle -- Jesse Ellis, Ph. D. Neurobiology and Behavior jme29 at cornell.edu 111 Mudd Hall Cornell University Ithaca, 14853 Also Seattle. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090120/eac92951/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Thu Jan 22 10:31:09 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 10:31:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] The photographed sparrow In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <009601c97cbf$98d407c0$4e01a8c0@102889> Jesse & others, I received three responses from professional guides with Field Guides, Inc. and all three of them unequivocally said it was a Lincoln's, too. Here are some of their comments: * In particular, there are too many fine streaks on the nape and on the throat side of the malar, just too much fine detail for a Henslow's that should be rather plain-faced and big billed. * For one, the bill is too small, face pattern is not right for Henslow's, etc. I am traveling now and can't give you more details than that for the moment. * I can see where one might be thinking Henslow's, but among inconsistencies, the bill is too small, the crown has reddish streaking (not found on Henslow's), and it has streaked rather than scalloped upperparts. Tom Crabtree, Bend, OR _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Jesse Ellis Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 12:42 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] The photographed sparrow Hey all- Very interesting discussion going on here. Many great comments have been posted. My opinion, after having seen Henslow's a few times in Minnesota (there was an "invasion" a few summers ago), is that the photographed bird is a Lincoln's. The color and patterning of the crown stripes, the bill size and shape, and the coloration of the face seem to me to rule out Henslow's. Anyway, my opinion is not truly that of an expert. I'm popping in to suggest that people pass this link: http://web.me.com/olschmidt/HESP/Index.html around to friends and experts in parts of the country where both species occur. Many of us should be experts on Lincoln's Sparrow, but I think few of us would have a good handle on variation present in Henslow's. I want to also state that my opinion on the ID of this individual is just that: my opinion of this individual. This is not to say there's not a Henslow's out there to be photographed. A Henslow's record for the west would be great, and we should not stop at these photos. Douglas Robinson's description is convincing. I'd be interested to hear how this photographed individual differs from his sightings. (White margins was one thing - any others?) At least it's not huge, white-billed, and very poorly videotaped. Jesse Ellis Seattle -- Jesse Ellis, Ph. D. Neurobiology and Behavior jme29 at cornell.edu 111 Mudd Hall Cornell University Ithaca, 14853 Also Seattle. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090122/8a706eff/attachment.html From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Thu Jan 22 13:54:18 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:54:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Siletz Little Blue Heron Message-ID: <003401c97cdb$fa03e0d0$ee0ba270$@NET> I saw the LITTLE BLUE HERON at the same point Marilyn did yesterday and took photos as some others were leaving. I have posted some of the photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_pix/ The bird was visible from the shoulder of hwy 101south of Lincoln City looking west in the vicinity of the ?Siletz River 229 ? mile? sign. The traffic and narrow shoulder make this a hazardous area to pull off but it is a short walk from some better and safer spots to stop to the north. I have also posted a picture of the sign. I posted a picture of a juvenile Little Blue taken in the Everglades for comparison. The low tide was around sunset and it will be a minus tide in the evening through the weekend so there will be large areas of the bay exposed and available for this bird and the Great Egrets that are there to feed well beyond the range where they will be easily identifiable. Those planning to go would do well to consult a tide table. We were very fortunate the bird chose to come in close enough to the road to be identifiable when there was so much tidal flat exposed. Thank you to all those who have posted updates on this bird. Tom Shreve Tigard -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090122/16d27941/attachment.html From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Thu Jan 22 14:01:54 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:01:54 -0500 Subject: [obol] more grosbeaks Message-ID: Today more than twenty EVENING GROSBEAKS were visiting one of my sunflower feeders. I have regularly been getting a small group of six the last month or so. If birdwatching south Columbia County, often there are nice views of swans and geese on Scappoose Bay if you drive on Old Portland Road thru Warren. Turn onto Bennett Road from Highway 30, over the tracks, to get to Old Ptld. Rd. The geese often graze in the pastures there, including white-fronted sometimes. There are resident domestic geese, too. Walk the Scappoose Bay Marina trail while in the neighborhood. I saw a HAIRY WOODPECKER there last week. The beavers are determined to cut trees in the small marina woodland that the marina staff are just as determined to save. Lona Pierce, Warren _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? goes where you go. On a PC, on the Web, on your phone. http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/learnmore/versatility.aspx#mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_WL_HM_versatility_121208 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090122/4c0df770/attachment.html From richarmstrong at comcast.net Thu Jan 22 16:12:55 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:12:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] no Henslow's References: Message-ID: 1. on the theory that doug's original sighting was probably a henslow's sparrow nanette & i did another walk through "the" field as well as adjoining fields. 2. it is somewhat depressing that in now 5 times spending an hour in "the" field walking on every grass clump and through the canary grass in every direction, etc, we have not flushed or seen any sparrow at all in that field. we saw voles (or whatever little things with no feathers scurry into a hole) and garter snakes, but not a sparrow. 3. north of doug's marker nanette flushed a lincoln's and an unknown strong flying light colored longer tailed sparrow that was definitely not a candidate. 4. so if there is a henslow's there it is much sneakier than henslow's in fields in texas were. 5. i think we are done with that field now, but i wanted to give it 1 last chance. hopefully someone else will do better. Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Jan 22 16:26:53 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:26:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] 2nd William-Applegate raptor survey Message-ID: <5D422E7317A640EAB75309A697F1EF80@Warbler> 2nd Applegate-Williams area raptor survey was completed today (01-22-09). Route is along the roads surrounding the towns of Murphy and Williams, Josephine Co. Total of 37.1 miles; 3.5 hours; weather: Overcast (thin at times) Found were: Red-tailed Hawk - 22 American Kestrel - 7 Bald Eagle - 1 (adult), 2 (Immature) Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 White-tailed Kite - 3 Cooper's Hawk - 1 Barn Owl - 2 (perched on rafter in barn, where else) Two immature Balds were a surprise; one scared an adult bird off its cottonwood perch and then landed in its place. Others were 4 Great Egrets (with several Great Blues), not often found in the Applegate valley in winter, but appear to be attracted to cattle sewage being sprayed over a pasture (likely after earthworms). Good number of American Robins around, Waxwings thinned out and must have taken the Merlins with them, none found today. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090122/bd407806/attachment.html From ptweet2005 at msn.com Thu Jan 22 19:35:16 2009 From: ptweet2005 at msn.com (NANCY FRASER) Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:35:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Western Bluebird Monitoring (off topic) Message-ID: Would you like to find out about bluebird monitoring volunteer opportunities in the northern Willamette Valley? Come to the Prescott Bluebird Recovery Project Spring Workshop in February. Where: Champoeg State Heritage Park Visitors' Center When: Saturday, February 21, from 9:00 am until noon No charge (parking will be paid by the project), tiny food items, and a lot of information to be presented. Come meet current volunteer monitors and banders. For more information, visit the PBRP Website www.prescottbluebird.com. Register to attend by e mailing from the website or calling 503 246 7920. Nancy Fraserptweet2005 at msn.com503 246 7920 home971 409 8540 cell -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090122/e886f736/attachment.html From rdbayer at charter.net Thu Jan 22 23:20:08 2009 From: rdbayer at charter.net (Range Bayer) Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:20:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Brant Wintering at Yaquina Bay Message-ID: <20090123022008.K9ENR.3621189.root@mp18> Hi, I counted 185 Brant at Yaquina Bay embayments this afternoon, which is about the same as the 185-188 Brant reported at Yaquina Bay on Jan. 3 & 5. This is the peak number so far this winter. On jan. 22, they were all at the Sally's Bend embayment. This was the latest posting for Brant in Lincoln County to the International Brant Monitoring Project. See the Observation Log link at http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/ for other Brant observations along the West Coast. Cheers, Range Bayer for Yaquina Birders & Naturalists From pygowl at gmail.com Fri Jan 23 01:35:55 2009 From: pygowl at gmail.com (Michael Marsh) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 01:35:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Red Fox Sparrow in West Portland Message-ID: <90d831b70901230135h246b19a5hc20f4fc3762a7387@mail.gmail.com> I've had a Fox Sparrow at my feeders since December 23. It did not occur to me until today that there is a good possibility it is a RED FOX SPARROW, so obviously it is not one of the redder ones. Pretty well matches up with the one pictured in the upper photo on page 187 of Beadle & Rising's "Sparrows of the US and Canada." Anyone who wants to get a life bird in the bank is welcome to come by and have a look. Any day now this bird is going to be split off from FOX SPARROW (Passerella iliaca). I think I've been hearing about this impending split for about 15 years. In fact, Beadle and Rising have already split them and they devote a chapter to four "species" that the AOU and the ABA consider subspecies but that they have elevated to species status. They call the RED FOX SPARROW Passerella iliaca, and the "subspecies" in my yard is P.i. zaboria. Wonder what the AOU would call my bird: P.i.i. zaboria? This is giving me a headache......................... Also in my yard on and off for the past two weeks are a male Townsend's Warbler, and one female each of Audubon's and Myrtle Warbler. Call to make sure I'm home if you want to see this little guy: 503-730-8638. I live in Rock Creek, near Tanasbourne. Remember, the split will be occurring very soon. Oh, unfortunately, I'll be out of town over the weekend but back on Mon. Best, Mike -- Mike Marsh Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090123/20156b0e/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Jan 23 08:50:38 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:50:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Garibaldi Rock Sandpiper photos Message-ID: <20090123085038.6ovjnlwm8k4owsk4@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Last weekend I got out of the freezing Valley fog over to Tillamook. At Garibaldi jetty, right under the Coast Guard tower, I found a ROCK SANDPIPER and a BLACK TURNSTONE together. These photos emerged from my digital darkroom.... Rock Sandpiper: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/108248934/original.jpg http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/108248935/original.jpg http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/108403750/original.jpg http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/108403751/original.jpg http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/108410188/original.jpg Black Turnstone: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/108373584/original.jpg Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From deweysage at verizon.net Fri Jan 23 10:07:56 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:07:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] American Bird Conservancy Message-ID: <497A077C.3030901@verizon.net> Folks, Got an email from American Bird Conservancy this morning, which carried news of some neat birds including a new subspecies of Antpitta from Columbia. But at the bottom of the email was a link to a story about Juan Fernandez Firecrown, a rare hummingbird. Go to this link to see a picture of a male, it will blow your socks off: http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/stories/081230.html Cheers Dave Lauten From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Jan 23 10:25:09 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:25:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Seabird bar chart and Feb 21 trip reminder Message-ID: <20090123102509.f8wl9hng40c888ko@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Friends, If you have a high speed Internet connection you may be interested in this 2-page abundance bar chart checklist of Oregon seabirds. (1.4 Mbytes) http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/pelagic_checklist.doc It displays 62 seabird species detected in Oregon at a resolution of half-month intervals. Besides listing the semimonthly abundance of all 29 of the regular species, this list includes such goodies as each sighting of JUAN FERNANDEZ and HAWAIIAN PETRELS, STREAKED and WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATERS, THICK-BILLED MURRES, and LONG-BILLED MURRELETS. It also includes hypothetical sightings of several species not yet accepted by the Oregon Bird Records Committee, including GREAT-WINGED PETREL, PARKINSON'S PETREL, RINGED STORM-PETREL, RED-FOOTED BOOBY, KITTLITZ'S MURRELET, WHISKERED AUKLET, and other surprises. For specific details on these rarities see: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/rare_seabirds.htm For my personal use, I print this Oregon seabird bar chart out on heavier card stock and flip it over on my single-sided printer, but it is worth the effort. Because, in addition to the bar chart, it also has a depth chart of the central Oregon coast from off Lincoln City to Florence. It shows the locations and depths of Heceta and Perpetua Banks, Depoe Basin, Hydrate Ridge, Newport Sea Valley, the Chicken Ranch, the Abyssal Plain, and more. It also has a list of 32 marine mammals recorded off Oregon (we've observed 18 of these on our trips). Last year we added GREATER SHEARWATER and WANDERING ALBATROSS to Oregon's seabird checklist with great photo-documentation from our pelagic trips. There are more rarities out there and about 1/3 of the participants now have decent cameras for recording shots of both common and unusual birds we might see. Thus, I encourage you to grab your camera and come out with us in 4 weeks: February 21, 2009, from Newport, Oregon. The target bird is LAYSAN ALBATROSS, but we also expect SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATERS and ANCIENT MURRELETS as rare but regular winter seabirds. We are running this trip a week earlier than last year in the hope of something more unusual (MOTTLED PETREL and PARAKEET AUKLET, but check the bar chart for other possibilities). The photo trip report from the past 3 years are here: March 18, 2006 with 1 SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS and 4 LAYSAN ALBATROSSES http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/archive/03182006.htm March 25, 2007 with 1 LAYSAN ALBATROSS and 7 HORNED PUFFINS http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/archive/03252007.htm March 1, 2008 with 8 LAYSAN ALBATROSSES and 1 MANX SHEARWATER http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/archive/03012008.htm To sign up for this exciting 11-hour trip on February 21, and view additional information, please visit our web site: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/ Thank you! Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com From tlove at linfield.edu Fri Jan 23 11:30:24 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:30:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] link to Owen's Henslow's pix? Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F1214968F51@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> I can't find Owen's website. Could someone send me or repost the link to his Henslow's photos? Thanks. Tom L. tlove at linfield.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090123/24f6e7a6/attachment.html From timkadlecek at msn.com Fri Jan 23 11:49:54 2009 From: timkadlecek at msn.com (Tim Kadlecek) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:49:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] (no subject) Message-ID: I birded virginia lake on sauvie island this morning. there were two highlight ducks on the lake. the first is what I believe to be a northern shoveler x blue-winged teal hybrid. this bird had the shnoz of a shoveler and the white facial crescent of a blue-winged. it had a whitish patch on its side toward the rump, similar to what both male ducks have. it was otherwise mostly brown. I would judge its overall size similar to a shoveler. the second highlight is a eurasian wigeon. both ducks were in separate small mixed flocks with other am. wigeons, northern shovelers, and green-winged teal. these birds were on the fore side of the lake, along the east side and slowly swam away from me as I got closer. It would be nice if somewhat could photograph the hybrid this weekend, since I don't have a good quality camera. tim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090123/8a98ae86/attachment.html From gmluft at yahoo.com Fri Jan 23 12:15:27 2009 From: gmluft at yahoo.com (Glenn Luft) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:15:27 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Bizarre junco Message-ID: <356848.99861.qm@web51602.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Photos of an odd junco were taken on Jan. 12 in the Washington Park area of NW Portland. Thought to be a leucistic junco, per Dan van den Broek of Portland Audubon. To view photos click on link below. http://www.flickr.com/photos/34658789 at N04/?saved=1 Rie Luft From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Fri Jan 23 13:10:59 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (ptsulliv at spiritone.com) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:10:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Test -- ignore Message-ID: <908d38c025da3700e49ac221c48d88c3@spiritone.com> asdf jklm ____ ____ sfkldj ____ ____ oiuqerqwopru From lammergeiereyes at aol.com Fri Jan 23 13:47:39 2009 From: lammergeiereyes at aol.com (lammergeiereyes at aol.com) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:47:39 -0500 Subject: [obol] More Photos; Sort of Off Topic Message-ID: <8CB4BBB58D9C0E1-4E0-D02@FWM-M30.sysops.aol.com> I've added a few hundred more photos below. The Birds are taxonomic-alphabetical [loosely following the latest by Sibley and Monroe]. Notes re mislables are appreciated. A good chunk are from either Central California or the Pacific Northwest. http://www.flickr.com/photos/34328261 at N02/sets/ Good birding, Blake Matheson Carmel California & Portland Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090123/5355d05d/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Fri Jan 23 14:03:04 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (ptsulliv at spiritone.com) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:03:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon listing - appeal & form Message-ID: <200901232203.n0NM34eh019365@sapphire.spiritone.com> Do you keep a list of the birds you've seen? In your lifetime? In Oregon? In your yard or your county? Did you pick up on the invitation to tally birds in a 15-mile diameter circle somewhere in 2008? The report form was in the center of the last issue of Oregon Birds. I've taken on the task of compiling the listing results for Oregon Birds. Thanks to Jamie Simmons, who did it for so many years. So far, I've heard from about 20 people. I'd like to invite you to send your tallies to me, for inclusion in a forthcoming issue of Oregon Birds. There are thresholds: Your Oregon state list needs to be over 250. For county lists, you need to have seen 100 species to be included in either the "life list" or "2008 year list" category. This doesn't have to be about ego, about whether your list is long or short, about whether you're leading the race in your county or whether someone else got ahead of you. It's just a reporting of facts: "I've seen X number of birds in location Y." The more facts we report, the more complete picture we'll have of what bird sightings are possible in various parts of Oregon. If you don't report, the final reort will be like looking at baseball statistics without including Mikey Mantle. Please join in. Simply fill in the table below with your numbers and send them to me at ptsulliv at spiritone.com Life 2008 _____ _____ Oregon _____ _____ Baker _____ _____ Benton _____ _____ Clackamas _____ _____ Clatsop _____ _____ Columbia _____ _____ Coos _____ _____ Crook _____ _____ Curry _____ _____ Deschutes _____ _____ Douglas _____ _____ Gilliam _____ _____ Grant _____ _____ Harney _____ _____ Hood River _____ _____ Jackson _____ _____ Jefferson _____ _____ Josephine _____ _____ Klamath _____ _____ Lake _____ _____ Lane _____ _____ Lincoln _____ _____ Linn _____ _____ Malheur _____ _____ Marion _____ _____ Morrow _____ _____ Multnomah _____ _____ Polk _____ _____ Sherman _____ _____ Tillamook _____ _____ Umatilla _____ _____ Union _____ _____ Wallowa _____ _____ Wasco _____ _____ Washington _____ _____ Wheeler _____ _____ Yamhill _XXX_ _____ Your chosen 15-mile circle Please include a description of where your circle is located. Thank you very much! Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan From timkadlecek at msn.com Fri Jan 23 14:12:15 2009 From: timkadlecek at msn.com (Tim Kadlecek) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:12:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] possible shoveler x blue-wing hybrid In-Reply-To: <113677.49273.qm@web55104.mail.re4.yahoo.com> References: <113677.49273.qm@web55104.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Message-ID: I'm sorry I forgot to include a subject on my last posting. will clemens sent me some photos of a hybrid shoveler x blue winged that scott carpenter had previously taken. I recall seeing scott's duck posted on obol before. the bird in scott's photos is NOT the same duck I saw. although it was quite foggy at ~8:15 this morning when I saw the duck, it was near the shore fairly close to where i was and I feel like I got a fairly good look at it with my binoculars. at first glance while scanning the water, i thought it was a blue-winged teal, given its white facial crescent, which I did not really expect to see there, therefore I took another better look at which point I noticed its obvious huge bill similar to a shoveler. the duck slowly swam farther away from shore where I could not see it as well due to the fog, however, I did notice its white patch on its side posteriorly as it was swimming away. this duck was otherwise essentially brown, as far as I could tell in the fog. there were both male and female shovelers in the same group of ducks, and the males had obvious rufous flanks and green heads and the females lacked any white on either their face or on their posterior side, even with the fog that was present. I now am looking at sibley's guide to birds on page 86 under northern shoveler. there is a picture of an adult fall male (sep-nov) that has a thin white facial crescent and which lacks the dark green head and bright rufous flanks. this very well could be the bird that I saw, instead of a hybrid. will clemens asked that I state specifically where I saw the duck. from the parking lot, take the path right at the shelter, counter clockwise around the lake. the path winds around the corner of the lake and then heads north. just after it starts heading north, there is a spot where the lake extends fairly close to the path, and this is where this duck was. just a ways further north is another area where the lake comes fairly close to the path and this is where the eurasian wigeon was. this spot is along the stretch of path that always has a bunch of golden crown sparrows and juncos and a frequent lincoln's with the fence on the right side of the path. by the time I went around the whole lake the fog had completely lifted and I was able to find the eurasian wigeon again, but most of the ducks were on the far side of the lake. hope this helps. tim -------------------------------------------------- From: "Will Clemons" Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 12:38 PM To: "Tim Kadlecek" Cc: "Scott Carpenter" Subject: Is this your Shoveler X ?? > Tim, > > Saw your post. > > 1) Do the attached pix fit the duck you saw at Virginia Lake? > > 2) The pix are not mine so please keep them to yourself unless the > photographer (Scott Carpenter) lets you use them (he is Cc on this Email). > > 3) Scott saw and photographed this guy on Nov 29, 2008 and posted the > find on Tweeters (see post w/links below). > > 4) Please say where exactly at VA Lake you saw this fellow, as some of us > may want to run out for a look. We have been looking for it at Ridgefield > NWR since it was first seen, but to no avail. > > Thanks, > > Will > ************************* > Scott Carpenter slcarpenter at gmail.com > Sat Nov 29 20:10:32 PST 2008 > > This afternoon at Ridgefield NWR in Clark County I observed what appears > to be a BLUE-WINGED TEAL X NORTHERN SHOVELER hybrid. I saw it from the > blind at the River S Unit. From the shoveler perspective, the bird had a > green head, yellow eye, rufous flanks, and a shoveler like bill. From the > blue-winged teal perspective, it had the white crescent on the face, and > was about the same size as nearby Cinnamon Teal. The white "hip patch" was > present, but had a cinnamon wash to it. > > The flank color was about the same as the nearby Cinnamon Teal, as was the > size of the bird. I initially focused on this and thought it was a > Cinnamon x Blue-winged Teal. However, I ran into the bird again and the > green head and yellow eye caught my attention. This, cominbed with the > bill structure/size, caused me to rethink my initial assessment, and > conclude it was a BLUE-WINGED TEAL x NORTHERN SHOVELER. > > Photos (poor, but sufficient) of this bird are online at: > http://westerngrebe.com/anas_hybrid/ > > Also present on Rest Lake were a male EURASIAN WIGEON as well as an > apparent hybrid male AMERICAN X EURASIAN WIGEON (in some of the photos > referenced above); both of these birds were present last week, too. An > adult BALD EAGLE put on quite a show attempting to nab a coot. Despite the > eagle landing in the water at one point, the coot somehow managed to > escape. > > Both the ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and the dark morph RED-TAILED HAWK put in > appearances, as did 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS that first appeared around 4:40 pm. > Last week around the same time and place I had only 1 SHORT-EARED OWL. > Also a repeat of last week just before sunset was the influx of 500+ > SANDHILL CRANES that are apparently roosting on the edge of Rest Lake, > best observed from the south end of Rest Lake. > > Once again, Swainson's Hawk was written on the board as having been seen > perched in a tree between posts 9 and 10. Unfortunately, all I could turn > up in that area were several Red-tailed Hawks. > > Scott Carpenter > Portland, Oregon > > > > From fitzbeew at gmail.com Fri Jan 23 14:33:18 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:33:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] LCC Birds (Common Goldeneye still there) Message-ID: Obol, Eva Aronica and I birded LCC and neighboring wetlands (across the street from campus; on 30th) today as part of my school point-count bird monitoring project. We had a total of 27 species. Highlights: At pond across 30th street we had a male Hooded Merganser and a Pied-billed Grebe, both species I had never seen before at LCC. In the middle pond on campus we had the female COMMON GOLDENEYE swimming and diving with a female Bufflehead. I got several photos in between her intermittent diving. Nice looks at one or two Lincoln's Sparrows going into the wetlands across the street from campus. I have had Lincoln's Sparrow here more than once. LCC owns a few acres of land across the street from campus; they bought it a few years ago to use for educational purposes. Prior to now, no bird surveys had been conducted there. I have found a nice variety of birds there over the past few months, including Cal. Quail, Wrentit (heard), Wood Duck, Am. Wigeon (I have never seen Am. Wig. at the "regular" LCC ponds), and Purple Finch. I am actually in need of one or two people to go with me to do the point-count surveys; if you are interested in getting up very early in the mornings, with a possibility for some nice birds, please let me know at this e-mail address. Good birding, -Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090123/1a18db40/attachment.html From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Fri Jan 23 15:47:57 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (Gerard Lillie) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:47:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon listing - appeal & form In-Reply-To: <200901232203.n0NM34eh019365@sapphire.spiritone.com> References: <200901232203.n0NM34eh019365@sapphire.spiritone.com> Message-ID: <008d01c97db5$053c4bc0$0fb4e340$@lillie@comcast.net> Thank you Jamie for all the years of your effort- I know it takes a lot of time to do what you have done. Gerard Lillie Mt. Tabor Portland , OR -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of ptsulliv at spiritone.com Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 2:03 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Oregon listing - appeal & form Do you keep a list of the birds you've seen? In your lifetime? In Oregon? In your yard or your county? Did you pick up on the invitation to tally birds in a 15-mile diameter circle somewhere in 2008? The report form was in the center of the last issue of Oregon Birds. I've taken on the task of compiling the listing results for Oregon Birds. Thanks to Jamie Simmons, who did it for so many years. So far, I've heard from about 20 people. I'd like to invite you to send your tallies to me, for inclusion in a forthcoming issue of Oregon Birds. There are thresholds: Your Oregon state list needs to be over 250. For county lists, you need to have seen 100 species to be included in either the "life list" or "2008 year list" category. This doesn't have to be about ego, about whether your list is long or short, about whether you're leading the race in your county or whether someone else got ahead of you. It's just a reporting of facts: "I've seen X number of birds in location Y." The more facts we report, the more complete picture we'll have of what bird sightings are possible in various parts of Oregon. If you don't report, the final reort will be like looking at baseball statistics without including Mikey Mantle. Please join in. Simply fill in the table below with your numbers and send them to me at ptsulliv at spiritone.com Life 2008 _____ _____ Oregon _____ _____ Baker _____ _____ Benton _____ _____ Clackamas _____ _____ Clatsop _____ _____ Columbia _____ _____ Coos _____ _____ Crook _____ _____ Curry _____ _____ Deschutes _____ _____ Douglas _____ _____ Gilliam _____ _____ Grant _____ _____ Harney _____ _____ Hood River _____ _____ Jackson _____ _____ Jefferson _____ _____ Josephine _____ _____ Klamath _____ _____ Lake _____ _____ Lane _____ _____ Lincoln _____ _____ Linn _____ _____ Malheur _____ _____ Marion _____ _____ Morrow _____ _____ Multnomah _____ _____ Polk _____ _____ Sherman _____ _____ Tillamook _____ _____ Umatilla _____ _____ Union _____ _____ Wallowa _____ _____ Wasco _____ _____ Washington _____ _____ Wheeler _____ _____ Yamhill _XXX_ _____ Your chosen 15-mile circle Please include a description of where your circle is located. Thank you very much! Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From pamelaj at spiritone.com Fri Jan 23 16:15:13 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:15:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] thanks to Jamie, greetings to Paul Message-ID: <8CBE107C18044E92A0135B2BEA1D89B0@yourw5st28y9a3> Let me add to Gerard's thanks that anybody who can take time to answer a lot of individual inquiries as Jamie has done is spending more than time at a job. I appreciate your efforts. My best to Paul as he stats the job. Pam Johnston From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Fri Jan 23 17:40:51 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (ptsulliv at spiritone.com) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:40:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon listing thresholds Message-ID: <200901240140.n0O1epEE008382@sapphire.spiritone.com> OBOL: Jamie pointed out to me that I mis-stated the Oregon state listing thresholds for inclusion in the published report in Oregon Birds: The threshold for your Oregon state life list is 300. The threshold for your Oregon state 2008 year list is 250. Thanks, Paul T. Sullivan ___________________________ Paul T. Sullivan wrote: ... > > I'd like to invite you to send your tallies to me, for inclusion in a forthcoming issue of Oregon Birds. There are thresholds: Your Oregon state list needs to be over 250. For county lists, you need to have seen 100 species to be included in either the "life list" or "2008 year list" category. > ... > Thank you very much! > > Good birding, everyone, > > Paul T. Sullivan From withgott at comcast.net Fri Jan 23 20:08:12 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:08:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lincoln Co. Coast - LBHE, Ancient M, Rock Sandpipers, etc. Message-ID: I birded the Lincoln County coast today. The LITTLE BLUE HERON evaded me the entire morning, so I headed south to Newport, and later was relieved to find it at Siletz Bay upon my return. I saw the heron at 4:00 pm standing on the beach along the south edge of the Cutler City peninsula at low tide, viewed at a distance from the pulloff along Hwy 101 between Drift Creek and Kernville. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was at Gorton & Drift Cr. Rds, and a VIRGINIA RAIL called from a flooded pasture along Drift Cr. Rd. 0.7 mi inland from Gorton. 1 ANCIENT MURRELET was swimming in the middle of Depoe Bay, while Surfbirds, Black Turnstones, & Sanderlings were in the cove just north of the bay. At Newport, I found 6 ROCK SANDPIPERS along the jetties with Surfbirds, Turnstones, Sanderlings, & Dunlin. 4 of the Rock Sandpipers were on the North Jetty and 2 were on the South Jetty. I think this may be the highest number I've found in one spot ever in OR or CA. I did not find any Harlequin Ducks. A RED-NECKED GREBE was in the channel. 2 GLAUCOUS GULLS were on the North Jetty, one having flown from the parking lot puddle on the south side. The 1st-winter bird looks white-winged enough to me to be pure, but the other one -- 2nd or 3rd-cycle -- looks like it may have somebody else's genes mixed in. I did not get a great view of this bird, and the bill looked good for Glaucous, but the primaries looked a bit too dark to be pure. Maybe someone else can get a better look. In Yaquina Bay behind the HMSC were 8 RED-NECKED GREBES, 1 EARED GREBE, and 200+ BRANT among the many other waterfowl. A very nice day at the coast! Jay Withgott, Portland From marciafcutler at comcast.net Fri Jan 23 20:19:02 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:19:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Benton Co. Raptor Run 1/22/09 Message-ID: <3EB4A68E869C45A890648847E20EC078@melvintrex4uoq> Yesterday, Jan Landau joined me in doing the Central Benton Co. raptor run. The route goes from just south of Corvallis to North Refuge Rd. through Finley NWR. It took us 5:20 hrs to cover the 60 mile route including about a ? mi. walk (approx. ? hr) on the boardwalk to and from Cabell marsh. At the Prairie Overlook we ran into a group of people from the Willamette Birding Trail committee including Joel Geier, Bill Proebsting, Pat Tilley and a lady whose name I don?t know. They reported seeing a Cooper?s Hawk there shortly before we arrived. We observed 5 similar-sized raptors cavorting in the distance to the south. I managed to discern enough marks to say that 3 of them were White-tailed Kites, it?s possible the other 2 also were this species. Three other raptors seen at the Prairie Overlook were also too far away to determine species. A Northern Shrike was seen in a small tree near the road at the north-west end of the prairie area. Red-tailed Hawk 42 American Kestrel 15 Northern Harrier 15 Bald Eagle 1 immature, 2 unknown age Rough-legged Hawk 11 White-tailed Kite 3 [Cooper?s Hawk 1] Burrowing Owl 1 ? on duty at the edge of the Venell airstrip by Llewellyn Rd. Raptor, sp. Large 5 Raptor, sp. Med-small 2 Marcia F. Cutler Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090123/d787250f/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Fri Jan 23 20:46:09 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:46:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay, 23 Jan Message-ID: In my previous posting I forgot to mention that I spent an hour seawatching at Boiler Bay. Things were fairly slow (for such a good seawatching spot), but here is what there was, from 7:50 to 8:45: 4,700 Common Murre (most flying S and far out) 49 White-winged Scoter 1 Black Scoter 4 Surf Scoter 1 BROWN PELICAN 14 Pelagic Cormorant 7 Brandt's Cormorant 10 Red-throated Loon 2 Common Loon 4 Loon Sp. 20 Western Grebe plenty o gulls 1 Gray Whale 4 Harbor Porpoise Judging by observations at other coastal spots later, the Murre flights continued at nearly this rate throughout the day. Jay W, Portland From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Fri Jan 23 20:54:04 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:54:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands today Message-ID: <340D43BC-5669-4395-8402-F886FB2E9289@gmail.com> I had to spend much of the day in the Forest Grove area, as my dog was at a Forest Grove vet having minor surgery. A couple of hours was spent in the morning at Fernhill Wetlands. Most of the birds seen below were in the morning when I strolled around the impoundments. I returned in the afternoon and bumped into Harry Nehls at the parking lot. Harry and I watched a young GLAUCOUS GULL that flew in while we were chatting. After Harry left an hour later, a second first-cycle GLAUCOUS GULL arrived and floated nearby the first. It was quite the mish-mash of gulls and mixes thereof. Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland Location: Fernhill Wetlands Observation date: 1/23/09 Notes: The two Glaucous Gulls were first-cycle, seen close to one another. One was photographed. Number of species: 39 Cackling Goose 1000 Canada Goose 75 Tundra Swan 98 Gadwall 24 American Wigeon 40 Northern Shoveler 150 Northern Pintail 475 Green-winged Teal 9 Canvasback 8 Lesser Scaup 21 Bufflehead 25 Hooded Merganser 1 Common Merganser 11 Ruddy Duck 3 Double-crested Cormorant 24 Great Blue Heron 17 Northern Harrier 2 Red-tailed Hawk 2 American Kestrel 1 Dunlin 2 Mew Gull 60 Ring-billed Gull 4 Western Gull 1 Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 50 California Gull 5 Herring Gull 5 Thayer's Gull 4 Glaucous-winged Gull 150 Glaucous Gull 2 Belted Kingfisher 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 2 Western Scrub-Jay 1 Marsh Wren 2 European Starling 10 Song Sparrow 25 Golden-crowned Sparrow 15 Red-winged Blackbird 40 Brewer's Blackbird 100 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090123/66adf273/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Fri Jan 23 21:04:28 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:04:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Barrow's Goldeneye too Message-ID: Sorry for the multiple messages. Forgot to add a few more birds.... The male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE continued today with a small flock of Commons at the mouth of Schooner Creek at Taft in the NE corner of Siletz Bay. A PEREGRINE FALCON was at Kernville, I had 45 or so RED CROSSBILLS at several sites around SIletz Bay, and a PIGEON GUILLEMOT was in the channel at Newport. I promise I'm done now; goodnight, all, J From rriparia at charter.net Fri Jan 23 22:56:42 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:56:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Take a look at this duck Message-ID: <20090124015642.6A6OH.1689065.root@mp07> OBOL, Last weekend I observed what I thought was an identifiable duck in Klamath Falls, but now having the very active diving duck frozen in images I took, I'm having second thoughts. If any of you wish to look at some of the better images I have I'd like your thoughts. I have 3 that may give clues. Kevin Spencer rriparia at charter.net From cgates326 at gmail.com Fri Jan 23 23:06:11 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 23:06:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] You don't see that every day Message-ID: Today at the Prineville Sewer Ponds, I found a Red-tailed Hawk feeding on a Ring-necked Duck. I don't know if he was scavenging the carcass or if he had dispatched a disabled bird. Either way, you don't see that every day. Chuck Gates Powell Butte No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.13/1912 - Release Date: 1/23/2009 6:54 PM From grantandstacy17 at gmail.com Sat Jan 24 10:10:50 2009 From: grantandstacy17 at gmail.com (Grant Canterbury) Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 10:10:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] dreaded ugly gull Message-ID: Okay y'all, I am only an aspiring gull nerd, but I checked the Howell/Dunn guide to gulls of the Americas out from the library and have been perusing it of evenings, so I know just enough to be dangerous now. Interesting bird I saw recently on the downtown Portland waterfront (sorry no photo), among the scattered Thayer's and swarms of Glaucous-wings and sundry hybrids. Large white-headed gull, third-cycle individual, very dark gray mantle with a few brownish feathers on the coverts, heavily streaked head with strikingly pale whitish eyes staring out as if from a mask, distinct series of prominent subterminal white spots on the primaries out to about P8. Bill was not the massive bulbous sort with jutting gonydeal angle typical of the bigger Glaucous-wings; but maybe not out of the range of a smaller female Glaucous-wing? I don't think I have a good eye for the subtleties yet. Pink legs, but I didn't particularly notice the tone of the color. So, the purer Glaucous-wings and Westerns are easily excluded by the mantle color and head streaking; and these characters above are generally consistent with Slaty-backed Gull, BUT they also all occur in some combination in the Glaucous-winged/Western hybrid swarm, and a hybrid is obviously a priori a lot more likely. I thought that the subterminal "string of pearls" on the primaries was a pretty good indicator of Slaty-backed, until I saw this picture of a hybrid GW-W wing closeup ( http://geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/6181/ocgl5.htm, bottom image) Which is, yes, just about like what I saw. And after looking at multiple pictures of bills for Slaty-backed, Glaucous-winged, and Westerns, I think that on the whole Slaty-backs are indeed more parallel-sided, less angled, a bit less robust? but there is not to me an obviously clear distinction in the borderline cases, and I have no idea which side of the divide this particular bird fell upon. So my question is? what do I do for my mental anguish? :-) ... No. I'm resigned to never knowing what this critter was for sure? I think? and I will assume it was a weird hybrid. But IN FUTURE, what the heck do I look for to tell the difference, when one of these should hove across my bow? Do I measure the bill with a protractor? Do I ask my dog to fetch a DNA sample (which I can tell you he would be more than happy to do)? Do I look for a handy bar code on the back of its neck? Suggestions welcome - Grant Canterbury -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090124/a98347ae/attachment.html From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Sat Jan 24 10:43:48 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 13:43:48 -0500 Subject: [obol] 60-70 grosbeaks Message-ID: They keep showing up from somewhere, more and more EVENING GROSBEAKS in Warren, Columbia County. Today it's between 60-70 birds, which are too many to fit on the feeders. They are also on the ground under the feeders, at the birdbaths, flying back and forth -- loud chirps as they sit in the trees. They don't stay all day long, although this morning they've been around for three hours. On Thursday while in Portland (20 miles from here), in our car waiting at a traffic light, a peregrine landed on the edge of a nearly building with a pigeon. It then flew off. Cool. Lona Pierce _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_howitworks_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090124/389d0a96/attachment.html From dinpdx at yahoo.com Sat Jan 24 12:56:47 2009 From: dinpdx at yahoo.com (Dwight) Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 12:56:47 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Fanno Creek Trail SW Portland HOODED MERGANSER Message-ID: <859527.97202.qm@web31608.mail.mud.yahoo.com> There was a male HOODED MERGANSER in Fanno Creek downstream from the footbridge next to Vista Brook Park in SW Portland this morning (Species #73 for my local birdwalk). I also saw an immature Red-tailed Hawk perched in a backyard next to the trail. A few days ago there was a pair of White-breasted Nuthatches along the trail. Good Birding, Dwight Porter Portland, OR From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sat Jan 24 16:02:12 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:02:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Linn County Sandhill Cranes Message-ID: <926CB7A38A4244F2B1DB2881CCEDC0A3@laptop> There are at least three Sandhill Cranes spending the winter north of Lebanon, neat Tennessee School in Linn County. There have been more in years past, but a local said that he thought another five might be around. Cheers, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090124/ea692b71/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Sat Jan 24 16:59:22 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:59:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Klamath odd duck photos Message-ID: <7D2CC17C86F24D09881814884870937A@GREG> Kevin Spencer sent 3 photos of a duck that presented ID difficulties for those viewing it at a distance. This was at Link River Dam, Klamath Falls, Oregon on 19 January 2009. Many have reported it as a female Black Scoter because of the pale face and contrasting dark crown. However, among other things, the long sloped bill is completely wrong for that species. The reddish eye and shape of the head and bill in the photos appear to be most similar to Canvasback. This matches the general _Aythya_ genus look of the duck. Just an oddly-plumaged Canvasback, or is it a hybrid? Hybrids don't always look like either of the parent species.... http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/gallery/_from_others Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Sat Jan 24 17:08:54 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 17:08:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Klamath odd duck photos In-Reply-To: <7D2CC17C86F24D09881814884870937A@GREG> References: <7D2CC17C86F24D09881814884870937A@GREG> Message-ID: <39F6462A-E982-4DD3-A979-0C45724DD40B@gmail.com> I was waiting to see if got additional photos, as he wrote and said that he and Dave Haupt were going to go look for it again. This is what I wrote to Kevin earlier this morning: "... My initial reaction is that it is a goldeneye x Hooded Merganser, hybrid, given they are both tree cavity nesters. The bill looks too thick at the base for Hooded, yet it has the right eye coloration and long warm-colored crest feathers, though slicked down. See Joe Morlan's comments at: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/Morlan%20hybrid%20goldeneye.htm There are some links on Joe's page to some photographs to compare to." There some very similar looking hybrids to this bird on some of the links. Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland On Jan 24, 2009, at 4:59 PM, Greg Gillson wrote: > Kevin Spencer sent 3 photos of a duck that presented ID difficulties > for > those viewing it at a distance. This was at Link River Dam, Klamath > Falls, > Oregon on 19 January 2009. Many have reported it as a female Black > Scoter > because of the pale face and contrasting dark crown. However, among > other > things, the long sloped bill is completely wrong for that species. > > The reddish eye and shape of the head and bill in the photos appear > to be > most similar to Canvasback. This matches the general _Aythya_ genus > look of > the duck. Just an oddly-plumaged Canvasback, or is it a hybrid? > Hybrids > don't always look like either of the parent species.... > > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/gallery/_from_others > > Greg Gillson > The Bird Guide, Inc. > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090124/d457bfe1/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sat Jan 24 17:23:34 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 17:23:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Klamath odd duck photos Message-ID: <497BBF16.2000504@pacifier.com> Keven sent me the best of these photos earlier in the week. I was flip-flopping between gadwallxsomething and an _Athyea_ cross of some sort, but the black back was vexing me. I had dismissed a goldeneye cross, because of apparent size, but if we assume that the size thing is a telephoto effect, then I agree with Shawneen that this is a goldeneye/merganser cross. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Studies in ambiguity http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/ambiguity20090111.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Jan 24 18:59:57 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:59:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lane Coast birds Message-ID: I spent the day at the coast with Daniel Farrar. Except for a fairly nonproductive stop at the Siltcoos River first thing this morning (there was a BULLDOZER out on the sand by the river mouth, presumably improving Snowy Plover habitat) and an equally blah bit at the jetties at the end of the day, we spent the whole day around Siltcoos Lake, which is usually the best birding in coastal Lane in midwinter. Best birds were a gorgeous male EURASIAN (COMMON) TEAL at Ada Grange, a hybrid teal at the same place, cooperative PYGMY-owl at Ada boatramp county park, 2 pelicans at north jetty, an astonishing number of cooperative crozzbill flocks, Clark's Grebe and a calling Common Loon from Darlings Resort. Bald Eagle nesting at the end of the Boy Scout peninsula carried sticks into the next and sat there for a bit. We did something of a census of Siltcoos, probably representing half of the lake, and including Canary Rd. and South Slough. Results below. Mallard - 300 Pintail - 21 Gadwall - 10 GW Teal - 70 Eurasian Teal - 1 (Ada Grange) Hybrid teal - 1 Canvasback - 70 Greater Scaup - 130 Lesser Scaup - 230 Ruddy Duck - 420 Bufflehead - 406 Ring-necked Duck - 95 Common Merganser - 1 Hooded Merganser - 12 Am Coot - 1260 Western Grebe - 305 Clark's Grebe - 1 (from Darling's) Horned Grebe - 6 Pac Loon - 1 Common Loon - 2 Red-throated Loon - 2 I thought it was interesting that all three loons were present on the lake. The hybrid teal had only a slight hint of a vertical sidebar and also showed a white line on the face on the lower side of the green patch. It showed no horizontal white area. The "pure" Eurasian had no vertical sidebar, a huge obvious horizontal white line and showed a white line around the whole face patch, most obvious on the lower part. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Jan 24 19:17:44 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:17:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Duck i.d. Message-ID: I am not persuaded that this is a merganser x goldeneye. The long neck seems unlikely to come from that pairing. Rich Hoyer suggests Redhead x Ringneck. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sat Jan 24 19:37:12 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:37:12 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Duck i.d. In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <12720.55427.qm@web37003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> To me, the bird bears a superficial resemblance to a first-year Red-crested Pochard (although bill and back color are all qrong for this species), which makes me think that Rich Hoyer's idea may have some merit, since Red-crested Pochard (albeit in a genus of its own, Netta) is more closely related to the Aythya ducks, and its overall shape has always reminded me a bit of a Redhead. On the other hand, the nice long crest does perhaps suggest Hooded Merganser influence ... who knows. Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Sat, 1/24/09, Alan Contreras wrote: From: Alan Contreras Subject: [obol] Duck i.d. To: "obol" Date: Saturday, January 24, 2009, 7:17 PM I am not persuaded that this is a merganser x goldeneye. The long neck seems unlikely to come from that pairing. Rich Hoyer suggests Redhead x Ringneck. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090124/20019390/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Sat Jan 24 20:10:09 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 20:10:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Duck i.d. References: Message-ID: <004901c97ea2$d3346d80$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Alan, This one is beyond me, but I did notice the bit of a crest at the back of the nape, (3rd photo) which would suggest some genetic connection to merganser of some type. (How about Common Merganser? they have long necks) Other than that, I wouldn't have a clue. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan Contreras" To: "obol" Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 7:17 PM Subject: [obol] Duck i.d. I am not persuaded that this is a merganser x goldeneye. The long neck seems unlikely to come from that pairing. Rich Hoyer suggests Redhead x Ringneck. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From 5hats at peak.org Sat Jan 24 20:15:12 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 20:15:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Little Blue, and others Message-ID: <005001c97ea3$8802e570$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Obolites, Laura and I attended a funeral today in Hillsboro. We took the coastal route up. At Siletz Bay we saw the Little Blue Heron almost immediately, as it was perched on a stick in the first cove south of Schooner Creek, just west of 101. The Barrow's Goldeneye was also in plain sight in the north end of the bay, just off from the rocky outcrops with a few trees on their tops. On the way home after the funeral, we stopped at Fernhill Wetlands, and saw one Glaucous Gull. I wish it was always that easy! Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090124/e9a52c25/attachment.html From raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Sat Jan 24 20:15:45 2009 From: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com (Jeff Fleischer) Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 20:15:45 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] ECBC raptor survey - Benton County North Message-ID: <99754.27229.qm@web50906.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Obolers, Today, I completed the monthly raptor survey for the Benton County North route. This area covers the area from Granger Rd near Lewisburg north to the Polk County border and encompasses the area all around Coffin Butte, the EE Wilson Wildlife Management Area, north along Independence Hwy, and as far east as the western edge of North Albany. Weather conditions were ideal for viewing, no fog, no wind, and 100% cloud cover which negated any problems with sunglare. It took me 5 hours 10 minutes to cover the 53.5 miles of roads. This was another banner survey for this route!! Following are the numbers: Red-tailed Hawk 92 ( topped the record of 88 seen last month) American Kestrel 26 Northern Harrier 10 Bald Eagle 4 (3adults, 1 subadult) Rough-legged Hawk 5 White-tailed Kite 1 Cooper's Hawk 2 pair seen 1/4 mile north of Hwy 20 on Independence Hwy Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 UnID accipiter 1 TOTAL 148 (topped the record of 135 seen last month) If anyone wants to see a diversity of raptor species in a small area go take a drive along Robison Rd just north of Coffin Butte :) I found the following along that road today: RTHA-24, AMKE-3, NOHA-1,BAEA-2, RLHA-1, WTKI-1. At the intersection of Robison and Wiles road, there were 10 RTHAs and one RLHA perched in the few remnant trees of a poplar grove that had been growing there for quite a few years but harvested last year for the pulp product I assume. As I was approaching this intersection I thought for a second that I was looking at a concentration of perched Turkey Vultures or Bald Eagles! I don't recollect seeing such a concentration of RTHAs before on any of my Willamette Valley surveys over the years, pretty cool :) The five RLHAs that I saw today were single birds on Pettibone Dr, Independence Rd near Metge Rd, Ryals Ave, Gilmour Rd, and Robison Rd. This survey was a very enjoyable day spent in the field! Jeff Fleischer Albany From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Jan 24 20:15:17 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 20:15:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Duck i.d. In-Reply-To: <004901c97ea2$d3346d80$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: I am not quite persuaded that there really is a crest. There are some feathers that are colored differently in sort of a wigeony/garganoid way, dropping at the rear, but I am not sure there is really a crest. Perhaps those who have seen the bird in the field would comment on whether there appeared to be a real crest. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Darrel Faxon <5hats at peak.org> > Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 20:10:09 -0800 > To: Alan Contreras , obol > Subject: Re: [obol] Duck i.d. > > Alan, > This one is beyond me, but I did notice the bit of a crest at the back > of the nape, (3rd photo) which would suggest some genetic connection to > merganser of some type. (How about Common Merganser? they have long necks) > Other than that, I wouldn't have a clue. > > Darrel > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Alan Contreras" > To: "obol" > Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 7:17 PM > Subject: [obol] Duck i.d. > > > I am not persuaded that this is a merganser x goldeneye. The long neck > seems unlikely to come from that pairing. Rich Hoyer suggests Redhead x > Ringneck. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From dhewitt37 at gmail.com Sat Jan 24 20:20:31 2009 From: dhewitt37 at gmail.com (David Hewitt) Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 20:20:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Swan Lake Raptor Run, and other birds of interest in K. Falls Message-ID: <653eaf880901242020n4e21716eha0d65a991ea3fb04@mail.gmail.com> Craig Ellsworth and I ran the January installment of the Swan Lake - Dairy raptor route for the ECBC today. We missed on owls this time, but had more species, and more of most species. Highlights were 4 PRAIRIE FALCONS, 1 FERRUGINOUS HAWK, 1 GOLDEN EAGLE feeding on an animal carcass, 18 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, and a count of over 40 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES in the town of Dairy along Hwy 70. Changes in the counts from the December route are given in brackets for each species below. The route begins just east of Klamath Falls and is entirely within Klamath County, running east to Bonanza. Snow was almost all gone, but there were a couple inches over most of the Swan Lake Valley. Weather was overcast, but we had generally good visibility. Temps were above freezing and got up to about 40 F. 3 hrs 50 min 69 miles RTHA = 56 [+10] AMKE = 3 [same] BAEA = 12 (6 Ad, 6 Imm) [+6; 3 of each] GOEA = 1 [+1] RLHA = 18 [+9] FEHA = 1 [same; in nearly the same place] PRFA = 4 [+4] SSHA = 1 [+1] Unid. Buteos = 3 [same] Missed Barn Owl this time. Elsewhere, at home by Upper Klamath Lake in Klamath Falls, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK continues in the marsh near the lower end of the lake. And, a lone NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was in a berry bush at the interchange for Hwy 97 on Nevada Ave. Dave Hewitt Klamath Falls From marciafcutler at comcast.net Sat Jan 24 20:38:33 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 20:38:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Klamath odd duck photos In-Reply-To: <7D2CC17C86F24D09881814884870937A@GREG> References: <7D2CC17C86F24D09881814884870937A@GREG> Message-ID: I agree with Greg that the shape of the head and bill appear similar to Canvasback, though the bill appears a bit shorter. The problem with any hybridization purely within the Aythya genus is that all Aythyas have a dark breast and this duck has light gray beneath the neck, then white. It may not be coincidental that one photo shows a female Common Goldeneye nearby. Just my 1/2 cents worth, Marcia F. Cutler Corvallis, OR -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Greg Gillson Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 4:59 PM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Klamath odd duck photos Kevin Spencer sent 3 photos of a duck that presented ID difficulties for those viewing it at a distance. This was at Link River Dam, Klamath Falls, Oregon on 19 January 2009. Many have reported it as a female Black Scoter because of the pale face and contrasting dark crown. However, among other things, the long sloped bill is completely wrong for that species. The reddish eye and shape of the head and bill in the photos appear to be most similar to Canvasback. This matches the general _Aythya_ genus look of the duck. Just an oddly-plumaged Canvasback, or is it a hybrid? Hybrids don't always look like either of the parent species.... http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/gallery/_from_others Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dhewitt37 at gmail.com Sat Jan 24 20:42:32 2009 From: dhewitt37 at gmail.com (David Hewitt) Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 20:42:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Comments about the mystery duck at the Link River Message-ID: <653eaf880901242042j7779459fj78f82641095b1c9a@mail.gmail.com> I took the liberty of passing along Kevin's photos of the mystery duck to some good birders in VA. I've pasted some comments that were generated below. Odd bird, and even after seeing it first-hand last weekend I don't have anything helpful to add. I admit to passing it off as a Black Scoter (gasp!). =================== >From Kurt Gaskill: Does not look like a No. Am, southern African, european or eastern Asian duck from my eye. A passing resemblance to Southern Pochard but many plumage elements missing such as the white flank at the waterline. From the profile and size, it seems more dabbler-like - and yet the observer tells us its dives! The dark bill pushes it past American Black Duck and suggests pochard elements, which helps on the diving bit. Ditto on the slightly sloped forehead-bill profile. Yet the head coloring is completely off and the back coloring is bad for European or asian pochards. Ferruginous would not have the neck color nor the long neck (not to mention the odd crown-nape contrast or the overall color, etc.). If I am forced to guess, then my guess is mutt duck. I will send to Jonathan as his resources are deeper than mine. I think the bottom line is, it's got some Aytha and/or Netta bloodlines. =================== >From Jonathan Alderfer: I actually found and photographed (slide, not digital) a bird similar to this one at Malibu Lagoon (CA) in September 1986. My first thought at the time was, "that can't be a female Black Scoter, can it?" My bird was a female Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina), a species rather common in waterfowl collections (the adult males are spectacular and very popular with aviculturists). The so-called "narrow-billed" pochards of the genus Netta, constitute a link between the dabbling ducks and the Aythya ducks, although they are clearly more-closely related to Aythya. The Malibu bird had a more-classic, partially orange bill, but that could be age related-- juveniles Red-crested Pochards have all-dark bills. The eye on the Oregon bird is orangish so it might be a young male? I have a book on duck hybids found in captivity (Hybrid Ducks, by Eric and Barry Gillham) and Red-crested Pochards figure fairly prominently--there's even a photo of a skin of a hybrid with Wood Duck! So, some other bloodline might account for the bill color. Anyway that's my best guess. From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sat Jan 24 21:09:23 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 21:09:23 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Comments about the mystery duck at the Link River In-Reply-To: <653eaf880901242042j7779459fj78f82641095b1c9a@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <229089.93448.qm@web37002.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Interesting that Johnathan Alderfer also thought of Red-crested Pochard, and Kurt Gaskill at least mentions another species in the Genus Netta. I still don't think the Klamath bird is a full-blooded RC Pochard (way too many plumage & structural inconsistencies), but there may indeed be some Netta genes in there somewhere ... ah, the joys of hybridization! Happy ducking to all Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Sat, 1/24/09, David Hewitt wrote: From: David Hewitt Subject: [obol] Comments about the mystery duck at the Link River To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Cc: "Kurt Gaskill" Date: Saturday, January 24, 2009, 8:42 PM I took the liberty of passing along Kevin's photos of the mystery duck to some good birders in VA. I've pasted some comments that were generated below. Odd bird, and even after seeing it first-hand last weekend I don't have anything helpful to add. I admit to passing it off as a Black Scoter (gasp!). =================== >From Kurt Gaskill: Does not look like a No. Am, southern African, european or eastern Asian duck from my eye. A passing resemblance to Southern Pochard but many plumage elements missing such as the white flank at the waterline. From the profile and size, it seems more dabbler-like - and yet the observer tells us its dives! The dark bill pushes it past American Black Duck and suggests pochard elements, which helps on the diving bit. Ditto on the slightly sloped forehead-bill profile. Yet the head coloring is completely off and the back coloring is bad for European or asian pochards. Ferruginous would not have the neck color nor the long neck (not to mention the odd crown-nape contrast or the overall color, etc.). If I am forced to guess, then my guess is mutt duck. I will send to Jonathan as his resources are deeper than mine. I think the bottom line is, it's got some Aytha and/or Netta bloodlines. =================== >From Jonathan Alderfer: I actually found and photographed (slide, not digital) a bird similar to this one at Malibu Lagoon (CA) in September 1986. My first thought at the time was, "that can't be a female Black Scoter, can it?" My bird was a female Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina), a species rather common in waterfowl collections (the adult males are spectacular and very popular with aviculturists). The so-called "narrow-billed" pochards of the genus Netta, constitute a link between the dabbling ducks and the Aythya ducks, although they are clearly more-closely related to Aythya. The Malibu bird had a more-classic, partially orange bill, but that could be age related-- juveniles Red-crested Pochards have all-dark bills. The eye on the Oregon bird is orangish so it might be a young male? I have a book on duck hybids found in captivity (Hybrid Ducks, by Eric and Barry Gillham) and Red-crested Pochards figure fairly prominently--there's even a photo of a skin of a hybrid with Wood Duck! So, some other bloodline might account for the bill color. Anyway that's my best guess. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090124/44dc3cf1/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sat Jan 24 21:55:55 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 05:55:55 +0000 Subject: [obol] Lincoln Co. Coast - LBHE, Ancient M, Rock Sandpipers, etc. Message-ID: The Harlequins continue to hang out at Seal Rock. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Jay Withgott Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 04:08:12 To: Subject: [obol] Lincoln Co. Coast - LBHE, Ancient M, Rock Sandpipers, etc. I birded the Lincoln County coast today.? The LITTLE BLUE HERON evaded me the entire morning, so I headed south to Newport, and later was relieved to find it at Siletz Bay upon my return.? I saw the heron at 4:00 pm standing on the beach along the south edge of the Cutler City peninsula at low tide, viewed at a distance from the pulloff along Hwy 101 between Drift Creek and Kernville. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was at Gorton & Drift Cr. Rds, and a VIRGINIA RAIL called from a flooded pasture along Drift Cr. Rd. 0.7 mi inland from Gorton. 1 ANCIENT MURRELET was swimming in the middle of Depoe Bay, while Surfbirds, Black Turnstones, & Sanderlings were in the cove just north of the bay. At Newport, I found 6 ROCK SANDPIPERS along the jetties with Surfbirds, Turnstones, Sanderlings, & Dunlin.? 4 of the Rock Sandpipers were on the North Jetty and 2 were on the South Jetty. I think this may be the highest number I've found in one spot ever in OR or CA.? I did not find any Harlequin Ducks. A RED-NECKED GREBE was in the channel. 2 GLAUCOUS GULLS were on the North Jetty, one having flown from the parking lot puddle on the south side. The 1st-winter bird looks white-winged enough to me to be pure, but the other one -- 2nd or 3rd-cycle -- looks like it may have somebody else's genes mixed in. I did not get a great view of this bird, and the bill looked good for Glaucous, but the primaries looked a bit too dark to be pure.? Maybe someone else can get a better look. In Yaquina Bay behind the HMSC were 8 RED-NECKED GREBES, 1 EARED GREBE, and 200+ BRANT among the many other waterfowl. A very nice day at the coast! Jay Withgott, Portland _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Jan 24 22:56:06 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 06:56:06 +0000 Subject: [obol] RFI: Record flocks of S-B Dows e. of the Cascades, eastside Ruffs? Message-ID: Greetings All, I am grinding away on the Fall 2008 NAB report and need to clarify a couple details. 1. This past August, Peter Low found a flock of 34 juv. Short-billed Dowitchers at Bend's Hatfield L. To my knowledge, this is the largest single day count ever found on Oregon's eastside (east of the Cascades). I know that small numbers of Short-billeds are regularly found among the swarms of Long-billeds around Malheur each fall, and I can recall seeing maybe a dozen in a day in the past, but nothing approaching Peter's count. Do any of you know of higher eastside tallies? 2. Birds of Oregon lists four e. Oregon records for Ruff and I found one more fall record (from Hatfield L. in the fall of 2003) since BOGR was published. Kim Owen and Steve Dougill had a Ruff at the Redmond sewage ponds this past September. By my count this would be just the 6th for e. Oregon. Are there any recent spring or summer records that might add to this total? Thanks in advance for your help, Dave Irons _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_explore_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090125/027500e0/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sun Jan 25 08:57:41 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 08:57:41 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Lincoln's Sparrow Message-ID: <175893.78304.qm@web46002.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Well, it only took the Lincoln's Sparrow 12 hours from the time it started snowing to end up back in the yard. We haven't seen him since late December when the last snow fell. Fun stuff! Seth Reams and Michelle King NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Jan 25 09:04:29 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 09:04:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Veery Question Message-ID: Did anyone observe Veery at Ochoco Ranger Station in the summers of 07 or 08? I have received no records and I did not find that species at that location during those times. Chuck Gates Powell Butte No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.13/1912 - Release Date: 1/23/2009 6:54 PM From di4tbirds at comcast.net Sun Jan 25 11:29:04 2009 From: di4tbirds at comcast.net (di4tbirds at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 19:29:04 +0000 Subject: [obol] Coast Birds Message-ID: <012520091929.13634.497CBD80000D578B0000354222165258569C0B9D070D9BCB070B@comcast.net> OBOL. I got back Saturday night from three days birding the coast from Coos Bay to Bandon. Highlights: Thursday: North Spit of Coos Bay Northern Shrike, Canvasback ducks, no Palm Warbler Friday At Cape Arago, Sunny, clear, NO WIND: High tide, 3 Marbled Murrelets, 1 Cassin's Auklet, 3 Harlequin ducks, 1 White-winged Scoter and a whale, breaching! Many Common Murres flying in long lines around the headland. Charleston Harbor at low tide with the mud exposed was a Snowy Egret. It was right across from the Coast Guard Station and behind the fancy restaurant. There are pull-offs there so you can watch birds comfortably. Saturday In Bandon the Emperor Goose and the White-fronted Goose crossed the intersection of Lincoln and Fifth streets escorted by their body guards( domestic geese). There were many flocks of Red Crossbills all along the coast. At Cape Arago they even came down to the grass and fed on the ground with the robins. They were in very bright plumage, reds and yellows. A very nice trip, away from the fog and into the sun. Diane Horgan From richarmstrong at comcast.net Sun Jan 25 12:18:56 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 12:18:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] listers References: Message-ID: <25FF9F0002D74BD5AA15992786669326@armstrong> 1. all non-listers just hit delete now! 2. i am just reminding those that are aba members that you have until the 31st to send your lists to aba. there were some last year that told me they weren't listed simply because they forgot to send it in. just trying to help. Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sun Jan 25 12:51:32 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 12:51:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Red-throated Loon nightfishing, Troutdale Message-ID: <2776086CC09744E0B76290FD56690FDB@yourw5st28y9a3> My husband, Steve Burock, called last night to say that a cormorant-like bird was diving for fish by the lights of the dock on the Columbia at Sundial in Troutdale. He couldn't see much color, and we talked about the possibilities. This morning he called again to say that it was a Red-throated Loon, and that he was also seeing Common Mergansers and Horned Grebes. Pamela Johnston From tanager at nu-world.com Sun Jan 25 13:27:27 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:27:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] TREE SWALLOWS - Lane County inland - Saturday Jan. 24, 2009 Message-ID: <001301c97f33$b8f1be00$2ad53a00$@com> Anne and I completed the 62-mile raptor route, Lane County Unit 1, on Saturday 1/24/2009. Highlights were purchasing apples from Bush's on Territorial Rd. and two MERLIN (one on K.R. Nielsen Rd. and one at the corner of Royal Ave. and Fisher Rd.) They were possibly the same individual, but their back colors and/or patterning were slightly different. We think there were two individuals. The two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were still present along Alvadore Rd. in the vicinity of the Franklin Rd. corner. There was a large group of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and DUNLIN in a new scrape just north of the barn/farm buildings where the Snowy Owl and Swainson's Hawk were a few winters ago. BALD EAGLES were abundant in the vicinity of Fern Ridge Dam on Clear Lake Rd. There were 38 imm. and 12 adults at that one location, and for the entire route we totaled 42 imm. and 15 adults. Possibly a new high. I'll have to check the numbers for that one year back when the Falcated Duck first showed up. As I recall the numbers that winter were very high too. We saw no Turkey Vultures, probably the first route in two years we have not seen them. I suppose the extended period of damp/cold/foggy weather over the last few weeks either drove them out or permanently removed them from the gene pool. I'll pass along the totals and species later, but I wanted to get the word out about the TREE SWALLOWS, after all this will probably be the only chance you will have to see them in 2009! While scoping the E. Coyote unit from the parking lot on K.R. Nielsen Rd., and also scoping east from K.R. Nielsen Rd. all along the nearly one mile from the RR Tracks to Cantrell Rd., we had Tree Swallows in view. They were hawking low along the ground over the entire grass seed field. They were "thin on the ground", but overall I would estimate between 12-20 individuals were present. Good birding. Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090125/690bf602/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Jan 25 13:51:11 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 21:51:11 +0000 Subject: [obol] RFI: Eastern Oregon Arctic Tern records Message-ID: Greetings All, Once again I need to tap into your collective memories and databases. Birds of Oregon: A General Reference makes not specific mention of Arctic Tern records from eastern Oregon. Last fall singles were seen at John Day Dam and Wickiup Res. and based on the circumstances of the observations (seen two days apart in the company of five Common Terns and a Long-tailed Jaeger at both sites) I think it is more than likely that one build was involved in both reports. Off hand I cannot recall any prior reports of Arctic Tern from e. of the Cascades, surely they exist. I would like to assemble this list so we can start accurately tracking the total number of eastside records. Eastern Washington has 12 records of this species, but they tend to get far more fall Common Terns on the eastside than Oregon. Thanks, Dave Irons _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_howitworks_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090125/0f85a0c6/attachment.html From phils at rio.com Sun Jan 25 14:06:38 2009 From: phils at rio.com (Phil and Christina) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:06:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] TREE SWALLOWS - Lane County inland - Saturday Jan. 24, 2009 In-Reply-To: <001301c97f33$b8f1be00$2ad53a00$@com> Message-ID: I saw a Turkey Vulture along Warthen Rd (west of Territorial Rd) a couple of days ago. Phil Shepard Elmira, OR -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org]On Behalf Of Anne & Dan Heyerly Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 1:27 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] TREE SWALLOWS - Lane County inland - Saturday Jan. 24, 2009 Anne and I completed the 62-mile raptor route, Lane County Unit 1, on Saturday 1/24/2009. Highlights were purchasing apples from Bush's on Territorial Rd. and two MERLIN (one on K.R. Nielsen Rd. and one at the corner of Royal Ave. and Fisher Rd.) They were possibly the same individual, but their back colors and/or patterning were slightly different. We think there were two individuals. The two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were still present along Alvadore Rd. in the vicinity of the Franklin Rd. corner. There was a large group of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and DUNLIN in a new scrape just north of the barn/farm buildings where the Snowy Owl and Swainson's Hawk were a few winters ago. BALD EAGLES were abundant in the vicinity of Fern Ridge Dam on Clear Lake Rd. There were 38 imm. and 12 adults at that one location, and for the entire route we totaled 42 imm. and 15 adults. Possibly a new high. I'll have to check the numbers for that one year back when the Falcated Duck first showed up. As I recall the numbers that winter were very high too. We saw no Turkey Vultures, probably the first route in two years we have not seen them. I suppose the extended period of damp/cold/foggy weather over the last few weeks either drove them out or permanently removed them from the gene pool. I'll pass along the totals and species later, but I wanted to get the word out about the TREE SWALLOWS, after all this will probably be the only chance you will have to see them in 2009! While scoping the E. Coyote unit from the parking lot on K.R. Nielsen Rd., and also scoping east from K.R. Nielsen Rd. all along the nearly one mile from the RR Tracks to Cantrell Rd., we had Tree Swallows in view. They were hawking low along the ground over the entire grass seed field. They were "thin on the ground", but overall I would estimate between 12-20 individuals were present. Good birding. Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090125/21e53d15/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Jan 25 14:32:49 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:32:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Baskett Slough birds Message-ID: My friend Jeff Hayes is away from his computer for a bit and asked me to post these birds from Baskett Slough on January 25. Barn Swallow - Coville Rd Imm. Golden Eagle - Coville Rd east of the main marsh White Pelican - Coville Rd Black Phoebe - Livermore Rd 1/2 mile north of Smithville Rd. Rough-leg - three along Livermore, which was generally stuffed with raptors. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From madsteins at hotmail.com Sun Jan 25 15:36:08 2009 From: madsteins at hotmail.com (Don Stein) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:36:08 -0500 Subject: [obol] BROWN PELICANS, Depoe Bay Message-ID: 8 BROWN PELICANS were seen flying south at 10 AM. Over this past week, another 9 have been observed southward bound. Don Stein Depoe Bay _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?:?more than just e-mail. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_hm_justgotbetter_explore_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090125/fe593829/attachment.html From darhawk500 at msn.com Sun Jan 25 15:54:47 2009 From: darhawk500 at msn.com (D Scott) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:54:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Dead Hawk or Juvenile Eagle Whom do I report it too. Message-ID: I was out near the TWR ( west side ) in Sherwood, yesterday and found a dead Hawk or Juvenile Eagle near the Bridge ( on west side of bridge) that goes over the Tualatin River off of Roy Rodgers road. I don't what killed it, as it is stuck up in a tree. I am wondering if this should even be reported. Any helps to what should be done is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Derek Scott Sherwood, Orhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/scottstudiophotography/2529362020/ _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_explore_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090125/eab5ca54/attachment.html From jcholleyjr at yahoo.com Sun Jan 25 16:07:50 2009 From: jcholleyjr at yahoo.com (Jack Holley) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:07:50 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] American Tree Sparrow Message-ID: <611597.47111.qm@web31308.mail.mud.yahoo.com> This afternoon I saw one under my feeders in my backyard. I live in Southeast Portland on Ellis Street. It was with the normal Oregon Juncos. Jack Holley -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090125/d90961aa/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sun Jan 25 16:19:38 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:19:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] ABA Listers Message-ID: <1FD3FE596AC74D3886BB7398E0254C9E@laptop> To add to Rich's note there is a convenient on-line form for submitting ABA lists here: http://www.aba.org/bigday/ You don't have to look around for your listing form or a stamp or anything, so if you are a member, there is no excuse, unless you don't keep track, which is fine too. I was pleased to reach 2000 for the world list last November, with a Crimson-breasted Gonolek nearing Maun, Botswana. To bring in Oregon birding, having dipped on the Wood Sandpiper at Fern Ridge, it was nice to see lots of them on their usual wintering grounds in Botswana, along with Greenshanks and Marsh Sandpipers. Perhaps when another one comes to Oregon, I'll be ready, but probably not. The Terek Sandpiper was a bonus, and it was fun to submit a formal report of it to the Rare Bird Committee of Birdlife Botswana, along with the Baillon's Crake at "Planet Baobab" near Nxai Pans and the Mosque Swallows on the road out of Linyanti. Good Birding, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090125/a506feca/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Jan 25 16:21:24 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:21:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] More north valley birds Message-ID: Jeff Hayes forgot to mention to me earlier that there was a first-year Glaucous Gull at Coville Rd (Baskett Slough) also. He also observed a Say's Phoebe on private land in east-central Clackamas County on January 23. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From kolwicz at minetfiber.com Sun Jan 25 16:29:38 2009 From: kolwicz at minetfiber.com (kolwicz at minetfiber.com) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:29:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ruby-crowned kinglet? Message-ID: <497D03F2.7050609@minetfiber.com> I got a quick look at something resembling an RCK in my yard just now and looked it up in my WESTERN bird book and it's either that or Hutton's vireo. Since I haven't seen any mentioned when I scanned the lists recently I was wondering - are they around? Frank From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Jan 25 16:35:59 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:35:59 +0000 Subject: [obol] Eastern Oregon records for Acorn Woodpecker? Message-ID: Greetings All, I am interested learning of any non-Klamath/Wasco County records of Acorn Woodpeckers e. of the Cascades. This fall George Grier found an Acorn Woodpecker at Malheur, which to my knowledge is the first ever for se. Oregon (Harney, Malheur, e. Lake counties). Birds of Oregon mentions 12 extralimital records for the eastside, but fails to list them aside from saying that there are multiple records from Klamath Co., which I already knew. I don't need reports from up along the Columbia River as I am well aware of the isolated populations up there. Thanks in advance for those who can fill in the blanks, Dave Irons _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail??more than just e-mail. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_hm_justgotbetter_howitworks_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090126/c109982d/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sun Jan 25 17:37:03 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 01:37:03 +0000 Subject: [obol] Ruby-crowned kinglet? Message-ID: Frank Don't know where you are but we have had both down here in Coquille valley. Far more rubys. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: kolwicz at minetfiber.com Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:29:38 To: Subject: [obol] Ruby-crowned kinglet? I got a quick look at something resembling an RCK in my yard just now and looked it up in my WESTERN bird book and it's either that or Hutton's vireo. Since I haven't seen any mentioned when I scanned the lists recently I was wondering - are they around? Frank _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From brrobb at comcast.net Sun Jan 25 18:04:53 2009 From: brrobb at comcast.net (Roger & Betty Robb) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:04:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Predators, West Eugene, Lane County Message-ID: <00E6C7B7C29F40DDB18A5B482100944F@RROffice> Late this afternoon I watched a PRAIRIE FALCON harass shorebirds and ducks at Meadowlark Prairie in west Eugene. Later I watched 16 NORTHERN HARRIERS and 1 SHORT-EARED OWL work the marsh at the end of Royal while listening to a GREAT HORNED OWL hooting from nearby Gibson Island. Roger Robb Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090125/bd82b489/attachment.html From carolk at viclink.com Sun Jan 25 18:18:36 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:18:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ruby-crowned kinglet? - & Hutton's Vireo Message-ID: <000401c97f5e$2a239c40$8c76fea9@home> Frank, Wherever you live, We were out birding today, and my Pygmy Owl tooting called in a mixed wintering flock with both a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a Hutton's Vireo on Patty Lane, off Hwy 99W, south of Amity. Both species are around in the winter. The Hutton's Vireo is a resident breeding species in western Oregon. The R-c Kinglets winter in the valley, but breed at higher elevation. Good birding, Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen ---------------------------- Subject: Ruby-crowned kinglet? From: "kolwicz AT minetfiber.com" Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:29:38 -0800 I got a quick look at something resembling an RCK in my yard just now and looked it up in my WESTERN bird book and it's either that or Hutton's vireo. Since I haven't seen any mentioned when I scanned the lists recently I was wondering - are they around? Frank From msligocki at earthlink.net Sun Jan 25 20:27:36 2009 From: msligocki at earthlink.net (Marti Ligocki) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:27:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ruby-crowned kinglet Message-ID: We've had RCBI at our suet several days in the last week and not before, even in the severe cold that had sparrows at the suet. Marti & Lew Ligocki South Salem -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090125/88f493e1/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sun Jan 25 21:07:09 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 21:07:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ruby-crowned kinglet? Message-ID: <81b2a9930901252107p7487dd2bof19324abdb61e192@mail.gmail.com> Frank, Could be either but, FWIW, RC Kinglets are pretty common in my yard in the winter. I typically look for the more pronounced eye ring on the RC Kinglet to distinguish between the two. I've seen far fewer RC Kinglets around here than usual this winter. They typically frequent my suet feeders, but are only showing up every now and again and are relegating themselves to foraging through the trees. Townsend's Warblers have also been relatively few and far between. It's been a strange winter. Brandon Eugene From ellencantor at gmail.com Sun Jan 25 22:07:00 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 22:07:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] peregrine falcon at Fern Ridge Message-ID: <7058c4c60901252207j7af75c50y2563e4fa9278e34a@mail.gmail.com> Birding in the drizzle today with Elaine Rees out in the Royal Unit at Fern Ridge. We walked out the old Royal roadbed and then over to Gibson Island. Big flocks of DUNLIN, AMERICAN PIPITS, and a flock of about 40 LEAST SANDPIPER. A flock of Dunlin flew very close to us, their wings sounding like rain. Best bird of the day was Elaine's initial spotting of a PEREGRINE FALCON at the top of one of the tallest conifers on Gibson Island. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090125/20c49c98/attachment.html From campbell at peak.org Sun Jan 25 22:43:42 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 22:43:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pyrrhuloxia, other good birds, alive and dead. Message-ID: <177D741D06444004B2D66EE9661E0A90@maryPC> I saw the Pyrrhuloxia this morning, in our backyard, and yesterday, up by Main Street and in the willows down by the river. Also, yesterday, we had a MERLIN streak over town, and I saw a large PEREGRINE try for a duck behind Pioneer Villa (at the I-5/228 interchange). It was unsuccessful, but it didn't look like it was trying very hard. On a sadder note, while walking Abraham Drive yesterday, Mary and I found a pile of feathers beside a culvert that has recently hosted a BURROWING OWL. The pile includes what looks to be a pretty good set of primaries from a bird of the same general size, color, and markings as a Burrowing Owl. No, Jeff, I didn't see a band, but I didn't find any legs, either. Randy Campbell Peoria All the birds (and remains) mentioned in this post were found without the use of a motor. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090125/05f5d47c/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Sun Jan 25 23:03:31 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:03:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island - 1/25/2009 Message-ID: <20090126000331.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.b8c7d9fce7.wbe@email.secureserver.net> I birded Sauvie Island between 10:00 and 1:00 today and had a few interesting sightings. - A RUFOUS MORH RED-TAILED HAWK was in the top of a tree near the end of Oak Island Road. - I counted 21 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES (aka "plump-n-tasties") in the trees surrounding a few houses on Reeder Road just south of Coon Point. - An immature RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was perched in a tree near the parking area at Coon Point. - A HARLAN'S HAWK was visible from the top of the dike at Coon Point. - I saw another (or maybe more likely the same???) Harlan's hawk perched in the trees to the west of Reeder Road, north of its intersection with Gillihan Road. - A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was with a flock of red-winged blackbirds in the top of a tree at the small ODFW parking area by the slough on Reeder Road, just north of its intersection with Reeder Road. There were several throusand red-winged blackbirds streaming by in flocks numbering up to several hundred birds. - An adult GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was with a flock of cackling geese in the field that's visible from the pull-out at the bend in Reeder Road just south of Gillihan Road. An interesting aberrant-plumaged CACKLING GOOSE was also in this field. This goose had an extensive white cheek patch that extended forward to the bill, and it had a narrow black line extending from the eye to the bill. The face pattern was much like that of a barnacle goose or the illustration of a Canada goose x barnacle goose hybrid in the Sibley guide, but the goose's body plumage was much like that of a typical cackling goose - not nearly as gray as a barnacle goose's plumage and browner than the hybrid illustrated in the Sibley Guide. Craig Tumer SW Portland From henry at formandstructure.net Mon Jan 26 05:22:10 2009 From: henry at formandstructure.net (Henry Horvat) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:22:10 -0500 Subject: [obol] Scappoose Bottoms Shorebirds Message-ID: <07C53281B0F03B42A788AEB0D85CC1E901119C05@BE057.mail.lan> OBOL'ers: On Sunday, 1/25/09 I birded Scappoose Bottoms and had a group of five Wilson's Snipe At two separate locations. At the seasonal farm field pond by the pallet factory on Johnson Landing Road were a flock of over 350 Dunlin. Henry Horvat Scappoose bottoms -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090126/45d2fa31/attachment.html From henry at formandstructure.net Mon Jan 26 05:22:35 2009 From: henry at formandstructure.net (Henry Horvat) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:22:35 -0500 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck-No Message-ID: <07C53281B0F03B42A788AEB0D85CC1E901119C06@BE057.mail.lan> Obol'ers On Saturday, 1/24/09 I birded Scappoose and did some pre-dawn owling. I managed to call a pair of Great Horned Owls in Scappoose Bottoms and had a N. Pygmy Owl call back to me in the hills above Scappoose. It was then onto the Marshland Dist. area to look for the Tufted Duck. I scoped the river twice with no luck. There are still huge numbers of both Scaup species present. Henry Horvat Scappoose Bottoms -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090126/b1d0b317/attachment.html From monroemolly at hotmail.com Mon Jan 26 09:06:55 2009 From: monroemolly at hotmail.com (Molly Monroe) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:06:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Snag Boat Bend Bridge Closure Message-ID: Date: January 22, 2009 Contact: Sallie Gentry, Refuge Ranger Snag Boat Bend Bridge Temporarily Closed Effective immediately, the bridge for the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge Snag Boat Bend Unit will be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic due to unsafe bridge conditions. The bridge is located about one mile south of Peoria off River Road. Foot traffic and bicycles may access the Unit through a gate on the east side of the bridge. Visitors are cautioned that parking along the state right-of-way and bridge access road is restricted. Boaters may access the Unit from the Willamette River. A recent engineering inspection found that the support beams on the south side of the bridge were unstable. The estimated replacement cost for the bridge exceeds $350,000, an unexpected expense not included in the current budget. Cost for bridge repairs alone are over $100,000. A reallocation of funds from other US Fish and Wildlife Service projects in the Northwest may be needed to get the repairs completed and the bridge reopened. Refuge staff strive to provide quality wildlife viewing opportunities and recreation for visitors. However, safety is our highest priority. We appreciate your patience and support. For more information about the closure, please contact the refuge at (541) 757-7236. Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8am ? 4pm, excluding Federal holidays. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_explore_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090126/c7324800/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Mon Jan 26 09:05:38 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:05:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Osprey and Pelicans Message-ID: <497DED62.9030205@verizon.net> I forgot to mention that on 22 Jan (last Thursday) while surveying at Coos Bay North Spit Coos Cty we saw an OSPREY hunting over the ocean and 2 BROWN PELICANS flew south. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From namitzr at hotmail.com Mon Jan 26 09:25:54 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:25:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Raptor Run 1/25 Message-ID: Time = 12pm - 4pm Distance = 72 miles Weather = variable, mostly cloudy, but rained during the last 45 minutes 10 Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Kestrel 2 Northern Harrier 1 Bald Eagle 3 Red-shouldered Hawk 6 White-tailed Kite 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Turkey Vulture Other birds included 1 Eurasian Wigeon, 1 Brant, 50+ Cackling Geese (2 flocks plus scattered singles) and 60 Wilson's Snipe (in one field). Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090126/abcc823a/attachment.html From mlafaive at msn.com Mon Jan 26 09:29:35 2009 From: mlafaive at msn.com (Margaret LaFaive) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:29:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck In-Reply-To: <07C53281B0F03B42A788AEB0D85CC1E901119C06@BE057.mail.lan> References: <07C53281B0F03B42A788AEB0D85CC1E901119C06@BE057.mail.lan> Message-ID: On Sunday, 1/26, Eric and I found the TUFTED DUCK at Marshland. It was about a quarter mile east of the Junction of River Front Road and Midland District Road. If you are coming from Portland, turn right off Highway 30 onto Point Adams Road which is about 2 miles west of Clatskanie. Follow this down to the river where it curves to the left and becomes River Front Road. When we first saw what turned out to be the target bird, it was actively feeding clear across the channel, right up against the bank of the big island (name?) that hugs the Oregon side of the Columbia there. It was really just out of ID range, but we could see a duck that looked like it had a dark back and bright white sides. We took a break to eat lunch and scoped the channel again. By then, the suspect duck had moved maybe 20 yards south of the island and it was no longer constantly diving. We were finally able to see the tuft and were satisfied with the ID. At that point, the duck took off and flew directly at us and landed about 40 feet away, giving us excellent binocular range views. Also along River Front Road, there was a lone SNOW GOOSE with a small group of CANADA GEESE. Good Birding, Margaret LaFaive Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090126/49cf6d4c/attachment.html From ronaldgp at onlinemac.com Mon Jan 26 09:30:35 2009 From: ronaldgp at onlinemac.com (ronaldgp at onlinemac.com) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:30:35 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Siletz Bay 1/25 Message-ID: <09060bdf7070192ee5818c622a1a13f2.squirrel@mail.onlinenw.com> I thought I might start the new year with a rare bird, so headed off to the coast with my wife to look for the Little Blue Heron again. Unfortunately, I forgot to call ahead to let the bird know I was coming. Apparently he had other business to attend to, and was not in any of the locations previously seen. All was not lost as the weather was cooperative and other birds abounded. Our treat for the day was at the southern end of the bay while we were parked just north of the bridge over the slough into the marsh on the east side of the highway. We had been lookng at some ducks when everything flew. Looking up we saw the Bald Eagle looking for a meal. After a while he gave up and went elsewhere. We were still in the car when the Rock Pigeons under the bridge flushed. A Peregrine Falcon passed 15 feet from us hot on the tail of one of the pigeons. As we scrambled out of the car, the pigeon was caught (yay team!) and brought to ground. However, the falcon's victory was short lived as the eagle returned, interested in taking the meal. The falcon took flight again and harassed the eagle while the very lucky pigeon flew off in the opposite direction. The eagle lost interest and headed south, so the falcon returned to look for the pigeon. Instead he found and chased off a second eagle. The falcon returned and performed a circluar search for his missing lunch for a while before he too left the area. All of this was clearly visible to the naked eye and through the bins, perhaps my best views of a peregrine. Now I really wish I had that expensive camera and lens... Ron Peterson McMinnville From mlafaive at msn.com Mon Jan 26 09:32:23 2009 From: mlafaive at msn.com (Margaret LaFaive) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:32:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck In-Reply-To: Message-ID: I got my dates mixed up. Make that Sunday, 1/25. _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Margaret LaFaive Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 9:30 AM To: 'OBOL' Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck On Sunday, 1/26, Eric and I found the TUFTED DUCK at Marshland. It was about a quarter mile east of the Junction of River Front Road and Midland District Road. If you are coming from Portland, turn right off Highway 30 onto Point Adams Road which is about 2 miles west of Clatskanie. Follow this down to the river where it curves to the left and becomes River Front Road. When we first saw what turned out to be the target bird, it was actively feeding clear across the channel, right up against the bank of the big island (name?) that hugs the Oregon side of the Columbia there. It was really just out of ID range, but we could see a duck that looked like it had a dark back and bright white sides. We took a break to eat lunch and scoped the channel again. By then, the suspect duck had moved maybe 20 yards south of the island and it was no longer constantly diving. We were finally able to see the tuft and were satisfied with the ID. At that point, the duck took off and flew directly at us and landed about 40 feet away, giving us excellent binocular range views. Also along River Front Road, there was a lone SNOW GOOSE with a small group of CANADA GEESE. Good Birding, Margaret LaFaive Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090126/2a8c492b/attachment.html From marciafcutler at comcast.net Mon Jan 26 11:24:51 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:24:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Possible Harlans Hawk, Benton Co. Message-ID: <33A784480E61438199BAD93503F55C3F@melvintrex4uoq> I forgot to mention that on our Central Benton Co. raptor run on 1/22/09, we saw a dark morph Red-tailed Hawk that could have been a Harlan's Hawk. This hawk was perched on one of the posts surrounding the (hunt club) corn field north of Refuge Rd. opposite the entrance to Finley NWR. The head and breast were all very dark brown, the belly was dark with white speckling. There was a vividly white patch on its nape. Unfortunately, we could never see the tail and I'm loath to call it a Harlan's (or Swainson's :-) ) only to have the bird show off it's red tail! Marcia F. Cutler Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090126/6c2cb3f9/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Mon Jan 26 11:49:05 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:49:05 +0000 Subject: [obol] Pygmy Owl, Snow buntings, and other winter bird PHOTOS Message-ID: Hi all, Here are some recent images from this weekend birding trip to the Okanogan Highlands near Chesaw, WA. Birding was very slow but we had a successful trip with quality looks of several wintering species. Some highlight moments................... We had a fearless, NORTHERN PYGMY OWL that perched 6 feet in front of us anddown low while looking for prey. We had a total of 9 pygmies for the two days. We love their false eyes, and arched eyebrows. At one point, the pint-sized owl flew about one foot above my client's head. I finally got some decent photos of these birds after many failures! For the first time, we got to witness a large flock of 400 SNOW BUNTINGS perched in trees rather than on wires or open fields. They were stunning against the blue skies and so mesmerizing to watch as if we were gazing in a complex kaliedoscope. There is one distinctive SNOW BUNTING in the photo that is almost in complete breeding plumage. Sibley's shows them reaching this form around March. Have a look, at first it made my heart jumped a bit:) Watching the perky and bouncy DIPPER do its move on the snow and swim in frigid water was a hoot. So charming and entertaining! I included a few images and particularly like the BALD EAGLE perched on the hoar frost branches and gray background. What a regal bird indeed! We had a great time in the magical Okanogan! http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/okanogan_winter_&page=all Good birding, Khanh From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Jan 26 14:34:49 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:34:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Crossbills, Robins return Message-ID: <9b143c0050731869a5997aac0adb23d4@earthlink.net> I heard REd CROSSBILLS overhead yesterday (1/25). I don't recall the last time they were in this neighborhood in far nw Washington County. It may have been over a year. On a more personal note, a ROBIN was calling near our house Friday morning(1/23) and again yesterday. However mundane this sounds to most readers, ROBINS are absent from this address for three months every winter. This year's return date seems right on avarage. I suspect the White-throated Sparrows reported by Darrel Faxon from his place on the western edge of the Coast Range also represent birds beginning a leisurely northward migration. Lars Norgren MANNING Oregon From lamberson.janet at epa.gov Mon Jan 26 16:08:02 2009 From: lamberson.janet at epa.gov (lamberson.janet at epa.gov) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:08:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Suttle Lake and Sisters In-Reply-To: <09060bdf7070192ee5818c622a1a13f2.squirrel@mail.onlinenw.com> References: <09060bdf7070192ee5818c622a1a13f2.squirrel@mail.onlinenw.com> Message-ID: We took a stroll around Suttle Lake (Jefferson County) on Saturday, with a side trip into Sisters. The lake was mostly frozen, with some open water at the west end. We enjoyed the following birds: Suttle Lake: Mallard Bufflehead Lesser Scaup (1 female) Common Merganser (pair) Bald Eagle (subadult, white tail feathers with black tips) Black-backed Woodpecker (on a burned tree) Downy Woodpecker Golden-crowned Kinglet Brown Creeper Red-Breasted Nuthatch Raven Steller's Jay Chestnut-backed Chickadee Mountain Chickadee Varied Thrush Dipper (below the dam in Lake Creek, singing his beautiful water song!) Sisters: Raven: Scrub Jay (alas, still no pinyon jays for me!) Mountain Chickadee Pygmy Nuthatch Robin Townsend's Solitaire Starling Dark-eyed Junco House Finch Janet Lamberson - Newport, OR From baileydc at pdx.edu Mon Jan 26 16:25:50 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David Bailey) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:25:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] A. Tree Sparrow in Portland Message-ID: <497E548E.100@pdx.edu> Any re-sightings of the AMERICAN TREE SPARROW in Portland? Is the yard in Multnomah or Clackamas County? There are very few records for the Portland region. Great find! David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From baileydc at pdx.edu Mon Jan 26 16:34:20 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David Bailey) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:34:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Seaside Osprey etc. Message-ID: <497E568C.7010500@pdx.edu> I saw an Osprey hunting Neawanna Creek in N. Seaside today. The bird was just upstream of the Hwy 101 bridge over the creek and east of the Seaside Sch. District bus garage across the highway from the high school. The OSPREY is likely the same individual as one that I saw 5 January. One was here January 2008 as well. Steve Warner reports a flock of nearly 100 SURFBIRD at The Cove in S. Seaside. A few COMMON GOLDENEYE are wintering in the Necanicum River Estuary up to Avenue G. Five GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE are still frequenting S. Seaside where I most recently saw them on a lawn along the Necanicum River bank at about Avenue T near the Gulf gas station. The SISKIN flocks common in December, seem to have left the area, though RED CROSSBILLS remain common around Sitka spruces. David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From jcholleyjr at yahoo.com Mon Jan 26 16:35:30 2009 From: jcholleyjr at yahoo.com (Jack Holley) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:35:30 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Am. Tree Sparrow Message-ID: <757955.51683.qm@web31307.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I worked all day today and just got home. Didn't see it when I got home. I work most of the day tomorrow, but will be home in the middle part of the day, from 9 to 12 noon or so. I'm a bus operator and have to do splits. Anyway,? My wife should be home, but don't ask her about birds because she isn't a birder. I don't mind if people want to try and see it. If no one is home I saw it in my backyard under the feeders. You will have to go through the gate on the drive way. My dog is normally indoors but she isn't a very good watch dog anyway. I hope someone else will see it. When I saw it I saw the spot in the center of a streakless breast and the crown was like the picture in the Geographic Book. My telephone number is 503-954-1913?? Jack Holley -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090126/0015afe4/attachment.html From pat2ly at comcast.net Mon Jan 26 17:05:02 2009 From: pat2ly at comcast.net (Pat Tilley) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:05:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Baskett Slough Message-ID: <5BC186B184BB4E4CA0B0E0390529236D@Desktop> Hello OBOL Doing the Dunlin survey today at Cackler Marsh (south side of Coville Rd), Mary Lou Hornaday and I observed: 15 Dowitcher, likely Short-billed, along the north shoreline of Cackler Marsh. This location is between the narrows pull out going east as one begins to drive up the hill. The marsh has some lovely muddy and straw hills and humps that the shorebirds enjoyed. 15 Dunlin feeding in the field on the north side of Coville Rd. along the track that we walk to go out to the ponds just north of the road. 207 Horned Lark on the south side of Coville Rd. just east of Smithfield Rd. coming down the hill toward Cackler Marsh. The field was covered with Horned Larks. Quite an astonishing site! 30 Killdeer It appeared that the Horned Larks and Killdeer were traveling together. And thousands of Geese! Molly are the numbers of Geese up this year? Beautiful sunny afternoon but a very cold 37 degrees. The wind was blowing hard, like an icy knife, and strong enough to make the flag stand straight out from the pole at HQ. Pat Tilley Salem, OR. pat2ly at comcast.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090126/4019df43/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Mon Jan 26 20:20:28 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:20:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Northeast Oregon-24-25 January Message-ID: <001701c98036$a0383fc0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> NORTHEAST OREGON 24-25 JANUARY 2009 After reading all the great trip reports on OBOL in the Enterprise area this January, we ventured to this part of northeastern Oregon to search for some of these "northern" birds. It snowed lightly much of the time, changing the landscape over two days from one covered in hoarfrost to a snowy one. We began Saturday morning by driving State Route 3 north to Flora both very early and again at dusk for Great Gray Owl. No luck on owls, but both times we encountered Pileated Woodpeckers right by the highway. Near Charolais Road we found corvids by the score: Steller's and Gray Jays, Clark's Nutcrackers, Black-billed Magpies, and Common Ravens. Though the forest here is mixed-conifer (ponderosa and lodgepole pine, western larch, Engelmann spruce, and Douglas-fir), these birds were most interested in the lodgepole pines. Next we slowly toured the native bunchgrass hillsides and CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) fields just north of Enterprise hoping to spot Sharp-tailed Grouse and Gray Partridge. We dipped on both of these. We did note a few raptors (Northern Harrier, Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks, and Golden Eagle), plus several Northern Shrikes. Along Golf Course Road we found 10 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS in a tiny (maybe 1/10th of an acre) log fence exclosure, with scattered small trees and rank grasses inside, surrounded by CRP fields. The town of Enterprise is alive with birds right now. American Robins and waxwings, mostly BOHEMIAN, are everywhere. And yes, a few starlings. On closer inspection though, the robins and Cedar Waxwings seemed wedded to fruiting trees (mountain ash, crabapples, and hawthorns?), while the Bohemian Waxwings we observed were mainly in the tall black cottonwoods where we watched them craning this way and that, snipping buds (see Birds of Oregon: a general Reference by Marshall et al. for a citation on this). Along Prairie Creek on the east outskirts of town we counted over 1000 Bohemian Waxwings in the tall cottonwoods. A few percent were Cedar Waxwings. West of town at Sunrise Road, there were another 800+ Bohemians, again in the tall cottonwoods. As other observers have noted, the multitudes of songbirds have attracted a MERLIN or two. We were, as always, were excited to watch one of these raptors rocket above the rooftops in Lostine. We then paid a short visit to the Enterprise Fish Hatchery. This neat spot was good for several additions to our waterfowl list: Northern Pintail, Gadwall, and Bufflehead (and American Coots!). However, we'll remember this site much more for the beautiful WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS energetically clambering about the cones atop the many spruce trees. Talk about a cool bird! Wallowa Lake was mostly frozen save for a sizeable opening at about mid lake. We noted Mallards by the hundreds milling about on the ice while 65 Common Mergansers and 10 Common Goldeneyes swam in the opening. At first light Sunday morning we made another circuit through the grasslands north of Enterprise, now snowy, hoping once again for grouse and partridge. Again no luck. The snow cover really seemed to bring in the larks, though. We had an exceptional experience at the west end of School Flat Road. Here we enjoyed a magical few minutes scoping through a big flock of Horned Larks (mostly white-throated birds from the north) and located five LAPLAND LONGSPURS, two SNOW BUNTINGS, and five GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCHES among 1500 Horned Larks coming to the snowy road for the tiny bits of grit showing. Another 50 rosy finches were along the roadside a mile or so to the south. We drove Prairie Creek Road southeast of Joseph keeping an eye out for redpolls (recently reported here), which we missed. We also checked the alders and water birch thickets along State Route 82 west of Enterprise (at Milepost 58) where these finches had also been noted recently, again coming up empty. At the small parking area at the entrance to the road leading up to the Ferguson Ski Area, several PINE GROSBEAKS called their lovely "chee-vlee" call. The open fields west and south of Enterprise and around Joseph have lots of raptors. Most were Red-tailed Hawks. Less numerous were Rough-legged Hawks. Evidently calving has started as we saw 6 Bald Eagles perched in a tall tree in a pasture full of cows with a few newborns. Exiting the area along the Wallowa River just west of Wallowa we counted seven WILD TURKEYS high up in black cottonwoods. In the river still farther west were six American Dippers. We made one final stop in Imbler for EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES at the northernmost house on Newport. Two doves hung for dear life in trees here, bracing against the frigid arctic gale that was whipping through the valley from the northwest. Two bonus birds for our trip list lurked in the shrubbery: White-crowned Sparrow and Red-winged Blackbird. Mammals included at least 90 mule deer, five white-tailed deer, a coyote or two, and several chattering red squirrels. Humankind seemed conspicuously scarce as merchants hereabouts complained. They and the townspeople were friendly, and welcome you. Plus the birding and scenery is great! Oh, we should mention the section of I-84 east from Pendleton to the summit was a challenge in both directions. On Friday night we crawled through pea soup fog until well east of the summit. On Sunday afternoon glaze ice covered the pavement on the final descent into Pendleton. Both times the clear message was to slow down or else. Otherwise road conditions were quite good for midwinter. Species noted: Canada Goose - 340 Mallard - 500 Northern Pintail - 2 Gadwall - 4 Common Goldeneye - 12 Bufflehead - 8 Hooded Merganser - 2 Common Merganser - 80 Ring-necked Pheasant - 3 WILD TURKEY - 7 California Quail - 10 Great Blue Heron - 2 Bald Eagle - 12 Northern Harrier - 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 Cooper's Hawk - 2 Red-tailed Hawk - 39, perhaps five obviously paired at presumed nest site Rough-legged Hawk - 8 Golden Eagle - 4 MERLIN - 1 American Coot - 10 Rock Pigeon -12 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE - 2 Belted Kingfisher - 1 Northern Flicker - 7 Pileated Woodpecker - 3 Gray Jay - 5 Steller's Jay - 20 Clark's Nutcracker - 5 Black-billed Magpie - 80 American Crow - 25 Common Raven - 30 Horned Lark - 2100 Black-capped Chickadee - 5 Mountain Chickadee - 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1 American Dipper - 6 Townsend's Solitaire - 3 American Robin - 255 BOHEMIAN WAXWING - 1820 Cedar Waxwing - 40 Northern Shrike - 4 European Starling - 180 AMERICAN TREE SPARROW - 10 Song Sparrow - 2 White-crowned Sparrow - 1 Dark-eyed Junco - 25 LAPLAND LONGSPUR - 5 SNOW BUNTING - 2 GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH - 52 PINE GROSBEAK - 2 House Finch - 25 Red Crossbill - 2 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL - 20 Pine Siskin - 5 American Goldfinch - 25 House Sparrow - 30 Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA steppie at nwinfo.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090126/88716b8c/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Jan 27 07:35:58 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 07:35:58 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds of Late Message-ID: <957169.5585.qm@web45311.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Joe Metzler's sharp eye and good imitation of a wounded rabbit brought a BARRED OWL in rather close in a wooded area next to the hospital in Coos Bay late Monday afternoon (1/26). This is the first report of this species from inside Coos Bay city limits I know of! We have only had this species on one Coos Bay CBC several years back, I imagine we'll see it again. Glenn Harkleroad reported a flock of 15 SNOW GEESE over Bandon Marsh this past weekend, that's the largest flock I've heard of here along the coast in recent years (we missed that species on the CV CBC too). There were two BROWN PELICANS hanging out in Charleston on 1/23. This species has stayed into February twice since 2000, looks like they will again this year. There were three REDHEADS out on the north spit on 1/22. There was a N. SHRIKE out there on 1/21 and two PALM WARBLERS on the 19th and 20th. It feels like winter again on the coast, wet and cool. Happy Birding all! Tim R Coos Bay From tallgrass4 at hotmail.com Tue Jan 27 07:50:09 2009 From: tallgrass4 at hotmail.com (Edmund Hertz) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 07:50:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Turkey Vulture Message-ID: On Monday the 26th there was a T.V. flying over hwy 99 between Eugene and Junction City, near the airport Edmund Hertz -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090127/d860384e/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Tue Jan 27 08:55:38 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 08:55:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] RFA: Lawrences Goldfinch from April 2001 obol archives Message-ID: <20090127085538.yrlz8ou5qo88gowk@webmail.pdx.edu> I am reviewing an OBRC report of 3-6 Lawrence's Goldfinches seen in Dallas 14 April 2001, but the current obol archives do not go back that far. Does someone on the list have access to the post. It was likely posted by Camille Fullington. Thanks for you help. David baileydc at pdx.edu Gearhart, Oregon From Jfitchen at aol.com Tue Jan 27 10:25:30 2009 From: Jfitchen at aol.com (Jfitchen at aol.com) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:25:30 EST Subject: [obol] Mult. Am. Tree Sparrow--not yet. Message-ID: Hello Obol, Bob Stites, Andy Frank and I went to check out the AMERICAN TREE SPARROW reported Sunday in southeast Portland at the home of Jack Holley, 10004 SE Ellis. His backyard is full of feeders that were visited intermittently by siskins, finches and juncos, but alas no tree sparrow--yet. Jack was most gracious and accommodating in sharing his yard with us. He indicated that birders are welcome to come and have a look. It's a good idea to call first (503-954-1913), but Jack said to feel free to visit even if there is no answer. Not only is Mr. Holley a good citizen of the birding community, he's a heck of a bird artist. He showed us hundreds of bird illustrations he has done with colored pencils. Given the quality of his are work and the discerning eye it reveals, it seems likely that his sighting of the tree sparrow is valid. This county Code-5 bird is worth some more effort. Cheers, John Fitchen Portland **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1215855013x1201028747/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%26hmpgID=62%26bcd=De cemailfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090127/744c73dc/attachment.html From puma at smt-net.com Tue Jan 27 14:16:26 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:16:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's sparrow, chumming and chasing In-Reply-To: <20090119230450.D736E9B0054@mail.blackfoot.net> References: <20090119230450.D736E9B0054@mail.blackfoot.net> Message-ID: <757E1DFF-030A-48E7-A79B-544DCFCDE865@smt-net.com> Dear Jim, Thank you for bringing up the subject of harassing this (these) sparrows at EE Wilson. OBOL needs to hear this more often, and I have told them many times, but not as nicely as you have here. Too many folks are obsessive - compulsive and will traumatize a bird just to tick their list. Bird conservation and common sense go out the window. They do not understand what I see as CONSTANT disturbance... " when I got to the patch, two other birders were there looking from 6:30 am, and, when I left 4 hours later, 3 more birders arrived ... etc. etc". How can this bird survive this kind of disturbance, for weeks. Of course this is NOT FAIR to the birds. Selfishness rules like a disease. So, let me suggest to bird spotters, be very careful what you put out there for OBOL to harass and stress. It is an ethical call, and maybe can be handled with more care by letting certain folks visit the bird only at certain times. This winter, MOUNTAIN QUAIL, and CALIFORNIA QUAIL have been seen together in the same coveys. It is on private property, and the property owner does not wish to have birders disturb these birds, as raptors keep these quail stressed enough. Pat Waldron East of Scio On Jan 19, 2009, at 3:05 PM, Jim Greaves wrote: > My limited experience with the genus, a Nelson's sharp-tail which > landed in Santa Barbara County a couple falls ago, indicates they eat > small insects and glean small seeds from live or dormant weeds. Of > course, I don't know what weeds might still retain seeds at "Heck", > but watching American Tree Sparrows this month, eating seeds a foot > or so above deep snow from sparse weeds indicates to me that > "chumming" might not work with birds that usually (?) glean seeds > from plants, or eat small insects off the ground - Jim Greaves, > Montana http://blackfoot.net/~larkwick/Nelsons_Sparrow.html > ps. The idea posited by a different reader/writer, that surrounding > the bird and forcing it to show itself might be in order, it seems to > me such method may defeat the purpose of "friendly" competitive > birding, and is hardly "sporting". If the point is to "prove" it's > Henslow's sparrow, why not just shoot it and put it in a drawer at > the nearest university or natural history museum? THAT would solve > the problem of ID with the least "disturbance" to habitat; although > that WAS the usual habit of proving the existence of such rare birds, > even into and past the 1970's, it certainly isn't very nice - and in > my estimation, no less nice than harassing the bird into a potential > frenzy to leave by surrounding it with dogs and humans beating the > bush, and I venture to say, would ruin the "sport" for many less than > aggressive birders who merely want to see birds, not traumatize them. > At 01:00 PM 1/19/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >> Subject: Re: [obol] Sparrow from Heck >> What do these sparrows like to eat? Seems like enough people are >> looking for it that one could chum for sparrows, would it join a >> mixed flock to feed? So, people who are looking for the little >> bird--start bringing a little seed and mark the place you set up the >> feeding station so others can contribute when they come by. >> >> Sandy Leaptrott >> NE Portland > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Jan 27 15:03:01 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:03:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's sparrow, chumming and chasing In-Reply-To: <757E1DFF-030A-48E7-A79B-544DCFCDE865@smt-net.com> References: <20090119230450.D736E9B0054@mail.blackfoot.net> <757E1DFF-030A-48E7-A79B-544DCFCDE865@smt-net.com> Message-ID: <497F92A5.8040307@verizon.net> I certainly hope that anyone suggesting that we don't harass birds also take into consideration whether or not they have a cat and let it outside. Or drive a car. Or have windows in their house. Cause all three of those things kill way way way way way way way more birds than humans chasing a bird around for a few hours or a few days. I'm not trying to suggest that you shouldn't consider whether you are harassing a bird, you should. But at the same time, look in the mirror and ask yourself what type of car you drive, how much gas it consumes, where you decide to eat meals (ie, MacDonald's???), and whether you are a consuming citizen of the US. 'Cause again, all those things contribute to far more bird deaths and habitat destruction than chasing a few birds. I'll shut up now, cause I realize this is a topic that probably causes a lot of grief on OBOL...... cheers Dave Lauten Pat Waldron wrote: > Dear Jim, > > Thank you for bringing up the subject of harassing this (these) > sparrows at EE Wilson. OBOL needs to hear this more often, and I have > told them many times, but not as nicely as you have here. Too many > folks are obsessive - compulsive and will traumatize a bird just to > tick their list. Bird conservation and common sense go out the > window. They do not understand what I see as CONSTANT disturbance... > " when I got to the patch, two other birders were there looking from > 6:30 am, and, when I left 4 hours later, 3 more birders arrived ... > etc. etc". How can this bird survive this kind of disturbance, for > weeks. Of course this is NOT FAIR to the birds. Selfishness rules > like a disease. > > So, let me suggest to bird spotters, be very careful what you put > out there for OBOL to harass and stress. It is an ethical call, and > maybe can be handled with more care by letting certain folks visit > the bird only at certain times. > > This winter, MOUNTAIN QUAIL, and CALIFORNIA QUAIL have been seen > together in the same coveys. It is on private property, and the > property owner does not wish to have birders disturb these birds, as > raptors keep these quail stressed enough. > > Pat Waldron > East of Scio > > > On Jan 19, 2009, at 3:05 PM, Jim Greaves wrote: > > >> My limited experience with the genus, a Nelson's sharp-tail which >> landed in Santa Barbara County a couple falls ago, indicates they eat >> small insects and glean small seeds from live or dormant weeds. Of >> course, I don't know what weeds might still retain seeds at "Heck", >> but watching American Tree Sparrows this month, eating seeds a foot >> or so above deep snow from sparse weeds indicates to me that >> "chumming" might not work with birds that usually (?) glean seeds >> from plants, or eat small insects off the ground - Jim Greaves, >> Montana http://blackfoot.net/~larkwick/Nelsons_Sparrow.html >> ps. The idea posited by a different reader/writer, that surrounding >> the bird and forcing it to show itself might be in order, it seems to >> me such method may defeat the purpose of "friendly" competitive >> birding, and is hardly "sporting". If the point is to "prove" it's >> Henslow's sparrow, why not just shoot it and put it in a drawer at >> the nearest university or natural history museum? THAT would solve >> the problem of ID with the least "disturbance" to habitat; although >> that WAS the usual habit of proving the existence of such rare birds, >> even into and past the 1970's, it certainly isn't very nice - and in >> my estimation, no less nice than harassing the bird into a potential >> frenzy to leave by surrounding it with dogs and humans beating the >> bush, and I venture to say, would ruin the "sport" for many less than >> aggressive birders who merely want to see birds, not traumatize them. >> At 01:00 PM 1/19/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >> >>> Subject: Re: [obol] Sparrow from Heck >>> What do these sparrows like to eat? Seems like enough people are >>> looking for it that one could chum for sparrows, would it join a >>> mixed flock to feed? So, people who are looking for the little >>> bird--start bringing a little seed and mark the place you set up the >>> feeding station so others can contribute when they come by. >>> >>> Sandy Leaptrott >>> NE Portland >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > From andrewm25 at earthlink.net Tue Jan 27 16:34:18 2009 From: andrewm25 at earthlink.net (Andrew Marshall) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:34:18 -0500 (EST) Subject: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 10, Issue 27 Message-ID: <16458070.1233102858641.JavaMail.root@mswamui-bichon.atl.sa.earthlink.net> > David, Camille and I were the original posters and observers, what do you need to know? best wishes Andrew >Message: 10 >Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 08:55:38 -0800 >From: "David C. Bailey" >Subject: [obol] RFA: Lawrences Goldfinch from April 2001 obol archives >To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >Message-ID: <20090127085538.yrlz8ou5qo88gowk at webmail.pdx.edu> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; DelSp="Yes"; > format="flowed" > >I am reviewing an OBRC report of 3-6 Lawrence's Goldfinches seen in >Dallas 14 April 2001, but the current obol archives do not go back >that far. Does someone on the list have access to the post. It was >likely posted by Camille Fullington. > >Thanks for you help. > >David >baileydc at pdx.edu >Gearhart, Oregon > > > please stop by my photo albums at http://atlanticsalmonflyguy.myphotoalbum.com/albums.php or find me at webshots under the pseudonym Atlanticsalmonflyguy. Comments are always appreciated. Thank-you! From andrewm25 at earthlink.net Tue Jan 27 17:02:11 2009 From: andrewm25 at earthlink.net (Andrew Marshall) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:02:11 -0500 (EST) Subject: [obol] lawrences gold finch and apologies Message-ID: <28007753.1233104531766.JavaMail.root@mswamui-bichon.atl.sa.earthlink.net> My apologies, I forgot to edit the subject line of my previous posting. I am one of the original posters of the 2001 sighting here in Dallas. What would you like to know David? Andrew ------------------------------ > >Message: 10 >Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 08:55:38 -0800 >From: "David C. Bailey" >Subject: [obol] RFA: Lawrences Goldfinch from April 2001 obol archives >To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >Message-ID: <20090127085538.yrlz8ou5qo88gowk at webmail.pdx.edu> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; DelSp="Yes"; > format="flowed" > >I am reviewing an OBRC report of 3-6 Lawrence's Goldfinches seen in >Dallas 14 April 2001, but the current obol archives do not go back >that far. Does someone on the list have access to the post. It was >likely posted by Camille Fullington. > >Thanks for you help. > >David >baileydc at pdx.edu >Gearhart, Oregon > > > please stop by my photo albums at http://atlanticsalmonflyguy.myphotoalbum.com/albums.php or find me at webshots under the pseudonym Atlanticsalmonflyguy. Comments are always appreciated. Thank-you! From Kyle.W.Bratcher at state.or.us Tue Jan 27 18:02:06 2009 From: Kyle.W.Bratcher at state.or.us (Kyle W Bratcher) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:02:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Finally got 'em! Message-ID: Hey all, I got new energy from Andy and Ellen Stepniewski's post to go look for Snow Buntings out North of Enterprise after a long few months of searching and searching. I found the huge flock of Horned Larks that I'm not comfortable putting a number on, there were a lot. Mixed in were some Snow Buntings (Whoo Hooo!) and I suspect like Andy and Ellen found some Longspurs but I don't own a scope and picking them out was too difficult to say for sure. I also saw the Grey-crowned Rosy-finches at the house on School flat road to the West of the intersection with Golf course rd. They had bird feed out for them so they were pretty concentrated. I also saw the Tree sparrows in the same place the Stepniewskis found them. And on my lunch I saw a Merlin at the fish hatchery. Pretty good day for minimal birding. Did I mention I finally found the Snow Buntings ;) Thank you Andy and Ellen. Kyle Bratcher. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090127/b27d5672/attachment.html From lbviman at blackfoot.net Tue Jan 27 19:13:01 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:13:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Henslow's sparrow, chumming and chasing In-Reply-To: <757E1DFF-030A-48E7-A79B-544DCFCDE865@smt-net.com> References: <20090119230450.D736E9B0054@mail.blackfoot.net> <757E1DFF-030A-48E7-A79B-544DCFCDE865@smt-net.com> Message-ID: <20090128031154.5D4729B0082@mail.blackfoot.net> I noticed another OBOL poster commenting that he'd spent the day tramping through every spot in the vicinity. I cannot image he missed crushing vegetation in the process, and just because it's dead, does not make it useless to wild birds... Hardly conducive to maintaining the rodent runs Henslow's sparrows might have hid inside -- which reminds me of a Black Rail hunt I heard or read about years ago, which led to some revisions of thinking and "rules" for bird-watching, rules I propose are on their way out with a younger crop of selfish pushy birders sporting the most expensive equipment and intentions (I witnessed several of these chasing a Magnolia warbler around for more than an hour in their frustration over having missed the one-day Dusky warbler from the day before, their actions frustrating to others who had wanted to at least see the Magnolia before it too finally flushed into the weeds and out of sight, leaving all humans at the site wandering around like the living dead). So many birders were intent on seeing that Black Rail, that, by golly, they all eventually got to see it! When of them lifted up his foot, the dead bird lay there for one all to marvel at. I wonder HOW dead a bird must be before it doesn't count on regional or life lists? - Jim Greaves, Montana At 03:16 PM 1/27/2009, Pat Waldron wrote: >Dear Jim, > > Thank you for bringing up the subject of harassing this (these) >sparrows at EE Wilson. OBOL needs to hear this more often, and I have >told them many times, but not as nicely as you have here. Too many >folks are obsessive - compulsive and will traumatize a bird just to >tick their list. Bird conservation and common sense go out the >window. They do not understand what I see as CONSTANT disturbance... >" when I got to the patch, two other birders were there looking from >6:30 am, and, when I left 4 hours later, 3 more birders arrived ... >etc. etc". How can this bird survive this kind of disturbance, for >weeks. Of course this is NOT FAIR to the birds. Selfishness rules >like a disease. > > So, let me suggest to bird spotters, be very careful what you put >out there for OBOL to harass and stress. It is an ethical call, and >maybe can be handled with more care by letting certain folks visit >the bird only at certain times. > > This winter, MOUNTAIN QUAIL, and CALIFORNIA QUAIL have been seen >together in the same coveys. It is on private property, and the >property owner does not wish to have birders disturb these birds, as >raptors keep these quail stressed enough. > > Pat Waldron > East of Scio > > >On Jan 19, 2009, at 3:05 PM, Jim Greaves wrote: > >>My limited experience with the genus, a Nelson's sharp-tail which >>landed in Santa Barbara County a couple falls ago, indicates they eat >>small insects and glean small seeds from live or dormant weeds. Of >>course, I don't know what weeds might still retain seeds at "Heck", >>but watching American Tree Sparrows this month, eating seeds a foot >>or so above deep snow from sparse weeds indicates to me that >>"chumming" might not work with birds that usually (?) glean seeds >>from plants, or eat small insects off the ground - Jim Greaves, >>Montana http://blackfoot.net/~larkwick/Nelsons_Sparrow.html >>ps. The idea posited by a different reader/writer, that surrounding >>the bird and forcing it to show itself might be in order, it seems to >>me such method may defeat the purpose of "friendly" competitive >>birding, and is hardly "sporting". If the point is to "prove" it's >>Henslow's sparrow, why not just shoot it and put it in a drawer at >>the nearest university or natural history museum? THAT would solve >>the problem of ID with the least "disturbance" to habitat; although >>that WAS the usual habit of proving the existence of such rare birds, >>even into and past the 1970's, it certainly isn't very nice - and in >>my estimation, no less nice than harassing the bird into a potential >>frenzy to leave by surrounding it with dogs and humans beating the >>bush, and I venture to say, would ruin the "sport" for many less than >>aggressive birders who merely want to see birds, not traumatize them. >>At 01:00 PM 1/19/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >>>Subject: Re: [obol] Sparrow from Heck >>>What do these sparrows like to eat? Seems like enough people are >>>looking for it that one could chum for sparrows, would it join a >>>mixed flock to feed? So, people who are looking for the little >>>bird--start bringing a little seed and mark the place you set up the >>>feeding station so others can contribute when they come by. >>> >>>Sandy Leaptrott >>>NE Portland >> >>_______________________________________________ >>obol mailing list >>obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From cncschneider at msn.com Tue Jan 27 19:27:13 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:27:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Great Backyard Bird Count Help Needed for the Oregon Garden Message-ID: Hi Birders, The Oregon Garden needs a couple of birders to lead bird walks on Saturday February 14 for the Great Backyard Bird Count. If you are interested please contact Trina Riemersma at trina at oregongarden.org or 503-874-8256. Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090127/6ec88fbc/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Tue Jan 27 20:51:53 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:51:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sherwood dead eagle, investigated Message-ID: <44D4A8B80A75410E97E5FC98ADED313C@yourw5st28y9a3> I passed along information about a presumed dead eagle near Tualatin River NWR to Peter Schmidt, a biologist there. He found a Canada Goose stuck in a tree and sent me the photographic evidence, including a close shot of the head which showed the familiar color pattern. Not wanting to litter anyone's inbox with pictures so slow to download and unattractive to look at, I will point out that refuge personnel are the ones to contact in cases where birds may have been illegally harmed. Pamela Johnston From hnehls6 at comcast.net Tue Jan 27 23:38:19 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 23:38:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] FW: Am Tree Sparrow In-Reply-To: <002101c98112$e2277180$9904f304@hppav> Message-ID: Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon ------ Forwarded Message From: Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:37:24 -0800 To: Subject: Fw: Am Tree Sparrow Hello, I have an American Tree Sparrow coming to the lawn where I throw seed for juncos and towhees. This bird has been visiting since the 24th. I live 10 miles SW of Eugene. Interested birders may come see. For directions, please call 541-607-6733. Thank you, Isabella ------ End of Forwarded Message -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090127/278f2158/attachment.html From wulfbird at gmail.com Wed Jan 28 01:35:10 2009 From: wulfbird at gmail.com (D. D.) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:35:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR 01/26/09 - Video In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Had a wonderful day at Ridgefield NWR. RED-TAILED HAWK - I was lucky enough to watch several Red-tailed hawk dive from perches to hunt. Here is one them. (Note: The link is video in HD. It may not playback well on older computers) http://vimeo.com/2990457 BALD EAGLE - I counted close to 10 individuals, 4 mature and 6 immature, the most I've ever seen in a day at Ridgefield. Several of them were actively hunting at the large lake. To everyone's surprise, we had one mature eagle swoop down to eat something it caught very close to the road. I could not make out what it caught, but I took some footage of it: http://vimeo.com/2987948 (The audio from the on-camera mic was useless. Please excuse the non-relevant audio). Full list in taxonomic order: Pied-billed Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Cackling Goose Canada Goose Tundra Swan Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel American Coot Ring-billed Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Sandhill Crane Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit White-breasted Nuthatch Song Sparrow American Robin Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Oregon junco Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird Good birding, Damian Portland, OR From Tana.Ellis at oregonstate.edu Wed Jan 28 08:40:13 2009 From: Tana.Ellis at oregonstate.edu (Ellis, Tana) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 08:40:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Avian point counter needed (May-July) Message-ID: AVIAN POINT COUNTER needed (May - July 2009) for a masters research project on the occurrence of songbirds in early-seral conifer forest. Fieldwork will be in the Coast Range of north-western Oregon. Responsibilities include multi-species point counts, identifying field sites using GIS and aerial imagery, independently navigating logging roads using maps, surveying vegetation, hiking in difficult terrain, navigating with GPS, and data entry. Workdays begin early (4-5 am) 5 to 6 days per week. Candidates with a strong background in bird identification by sight and sound and previous experience point counting are strongly preferred. Self-motivation, good physical condition, ability to work well in a group living situation, and willingness to spend long hours in the field are a must. Pay is $1550 per month. Housing and transportation to and from field sites is provided. Work and play in the Corvallis area, where there are nearby opportunities for exceptional mountain and coastal recreation. TO APPLY: Please email letter of interest, resume, and three professional references to Tana Ellis (EM: tana.ellis AT oregonstate.edu). Candidates will be hired as applications are received. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090128/b800a52a/attachment.html From steve at paradisebirding.com Wed Jan 28 11:56:40 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:56:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wallowa winter birding anyone? Message-ID: <9a341ea30901281156t164e116dmead5b5a5084042dc@mail.gmail.com> Hello OBOLers and COBOLers, I am going to lead a short weekend tour to the Wallowas in a couple weeks and wanted to extend the invitation to all of you. This tour is usually four or five days, but I thought three days would be better for light pocketbooks and busy schedules. Join me February 13-15 in Wallowa County for an outstanding winter birding experience. Bird reports from the region show this year to be productive for some very special birds, including COMMON REDPOLL, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, SNOW BUNTING, GRAY PARTRIDGE, and many more. We will depart from Sisters on Friday morning, stopping in Biggs to pick up any northern folks and returning Sunday evening. As with all our tours, we do all the driving in one vehicle with a maximum of 7 participants (so each person gets a window). We also plan all the lodging and meals, and we help you learn the birds and natural history of the region. This tour is especially enjoyable for beginning birders since species diversity is relatively low and the birding-spectacle factor is very high. If you are interested, please review the complete tour itinerary printable from here: http://www.paradisebirding.com/wallowas09.pdf You may also see our bird lists from past trips here: http://www.paradisebirding.com/ If you have any questions, respond to this email of leave a kemessage at 541-408-1753 Thanks to the webmasters for the indulgence! Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090128/7b35afe3/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Wed Jan 28 12:38:54 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:38:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Black Phoebe continues north of Grearhart Message-ID: <4980C25E.5050903@pdx.edu> Clatsop County Yesterday (Tuesday 27 Jan. 2009) I saw the BLACK PHOEBE that has been wintering along the linear slough at the junction of Delmore Loop Road and Anderson Roads, east off of Hwy 101 just north of Gearhart. Thee bird was calling constantly from the downed and lichen covered tree 40 m to the south DL Rd. Steve Warner and Mike Patterson have also been seeing it off and for most of the month. David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From podoces at yahoo.com Wed Jan 28 12:46:15 2009 From: podoces at yahoo.com (Matt Brady) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:46:15 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Henslow's sparrow, chumming and chasing Message-ID: <651618.21799.qm@web36804.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Jim et al: While not one of the "younger crop of selfish pushy birders sporting the most expensive equipment and intentions" that "chased away" the Magnolia Warbler at Ellings Park, Santa Barbara, on the 8th of October, 2007 that you referred to in your previous post, I do recall that it was your very own Lark Chadwick that was the root cause of the disappearance of the previous day's Dusky Warbler in the first place. So, may I suggest that before you call the kettle black, you examine your own actions and those of your companions first. Matt Brady Potter Valley, CA > >Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:13:01 -0700 >From: Jim Greaves >Subject: Re: [obol] Henslow's sparrow, chumming and chasing >To: Pat Waldron >Cc: OBOL >Message-ID: <20090128031154.5D4729B0082 at mail.blackfoot.net> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed > >I noticed another OBOL poster commenting that he'd spent the day >tramping through every spot in the vicinity. I cannot image he missed >crushing vegetation in the process, and just because it's dead, does >not make it useless to wild birds... Hardly conducive to maintaining >the rodent runs Henslow's sparrows might have hid inside -- which >reminds me of a Black Rail hunt I heard or read about years ago, >which led to some revisions of thinking and "rules" for >bird-watching, rules I propose are on their way out with a younger >crop of selfish pushy birders sporting the most expensive equipment >and intentions (I witnessed several of these chasing a Magnolia >warbler around for more than an hour in their frustration over having >missed the one-day Dusky warbler from the day before, their actions >frustrating to others who had wanted to at least see the Magnolia >before it too finally flushed into the weeds and out of sight, >leaving all humans at the site wandering around like the living >dead). So many birders were intent on seeing that Black Rail, that, >by golly, they all eventually got to see it! When of them lifted up >his foot, the dead bird lay there for one all to marvel at. I wonder >HOW dead a bird must be before it doesn't count on regional or life >lists? - Jim Greaves, Montana > >At 03:16 PM 1/27/2009, Pat Waldron wrote: >>Dear Jim, >> >> Thank you for bringing up the subject of harassing this (these) >>sparrows at EE Wilson. OBOL needs to hear this more often, and I have >>told them many times, but not as nicely as you have here. Too many >>folks are obsessive - compulsive and will traumatize a bird just to >>tick their list. Bird conservation and common sense go out the >>window. They do not understand what I see as CONSTANT disturbance... >>" when I got to the patch, two other birders were there looking from >>6:30 am, and, when I left 4 hours later, 3 more birders arrived ... >>etc. etc". How can this bird survive this kind of disturbance, for >>weeks. Of course this is NOT FAIR to the birds. Selfishness rules >>like a disease. >> >> So, let me suggest to bird spotters, be very careful what you put >>out there for OBOL to harass and stress. It is an ethical call, and >>maybe can be handled with more care by letting certain folks visit >>the bird only at certain times. >> >> This winter, MOUNTAIN QUAIL, and CALIFORNIA QUAIL have been seen >>together in the same coveys. It is on private property, and the >>property owner does not wish to have birders disturb these birds, as >>raptors keep these quail stressed enough. >> >> Pat Waldron >> East of Scio >> >> From tc at empnet.com Wed Jan 28 12:48:51 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:48:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's sparrow, chumming and chasing In-Reply-To: <651618.21799.qm@web36804.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <006301c98189$d3ccd950$4e01a8c0@102889> OK, guys, it's time to be nice. Let's not make this personal. If you want to do that, please take it offline. Tom Crabtree, Bend From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Wed Jan 28 12:56:54 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:56:54 -0500 Subject: [obol] birders as a threat Message-ID: These discussions that pop up now and again on obol are great. I remember reading the black rail story where overzealous birders trampled the rail to death. It was in an Audubon magazine years ago. Birders get "buck fever" once in a while, too. Other negative effects not already mentioned that bird lovers may have on birds: buying parrots collected from the wild, or putting up bird boxes and then just raising starlings and English sparrows. Not controlling disease at feeders. Tightly groomed landscapes. Not bringing kids to nature (hunting, fishing, birding, hiking, catching tadpoles or bugs, collecting rocks, finding cool mushrooms, putting out nuts for chipmunks or planting a native shrub just for wildlife): people seldom care about birds or other wild things if they don't enjoy those experiences when young. Lona Pierce, Warren _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_explore_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090128/2bbf4231/attachment.html From acontrer at mindspring.com Wed Jan 28 13:17:57 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:17:57 -0500 (EST) Subject: [obol] Henslow's sparrow, chumming and chasing Message-ID: <14453118.1233177477604.JavaMail.root@elwamui-karabash.atl.sa.earthlink.net> If someone in California has a dispute with someone in Montana over birder ethics, please don't borrow an Oregon birder chatgroup to throw House Sparrow eggs at each other. Alan Contreras -----Original Message----- >From: Matt Brady >Sent: Jan 28, 2009 3:46 PM >To: OBOL >Subject: Re: [obol] Henslow's sparrow, chumming and chasing > >Jim et al: > >While not one of the "younger crop of selfish pushy birders sporting the most expensive equipment and intentions" that "chased away" the Magnolia Warbler at Ellings Park, Santa Barbara, on the 8th of October, 2007 that you referred to in your previous post, I do recall that it was your very own Lark Chadwick that was the root cause of the disappearance of the previous day's Dusky Warbler in the first place. So, may I suggest that before you call the kettle black, you examine your own actions and those of your companions first. > >Matt Brady >Potter Valley, CA > > >> >>Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:13:01 -0700 >>From: Jim Greaves >>Subject: Re: [obol] Henslow's sparrow, chumming and chasing >>To: Pat Waldron >>Cc: OBOL >>Message-ID: <20090128031154.5D4729B0082 at mail.blackfoot.net> >>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed >> >>I noticed another OBOL poster commenting that he'd spent the day >>tramping through every spot in the vicinity. I cannot image he missed >>crushing vegetation in the process, and just because it's dead, does >>not make it useless to wild birds... Hardly conducive to maintaining >>the rodent runs Henslow's sparrows might have hid inside -- which >>reminds me of a Black Rail hunt I heard or read about years ago, >>which led to some revisions of thinking and "rules" for >>bird-watching, rules I propose are on their way out with a younger >>crop of selfish pushy birders sporting the most expensive equipment >>and intentions (I witnessed several of these chasing a Magnolia >>warbler around for more than an hour in their frustration over having >>missed the one-day Dusky warbler from the day before, their actions >>frustrating to others who had wanted to at least see the Magnolia >>before it too finally flushed into the weeds and out of sight, >>leaving all humans at the site wandering around like the living >>dead). So many birders were intent on seeing that Black Rail, that, >>by golly, they all eventually got to see it! When of them lifted up >>his foot, the dead bird lay there for one all to marvel at. I wonder >>HOW dead a bird must be before it doesn't count on regional or life >>lists? - Jim Greaves, Montana >> >>At 03:16 PM 1/27/2009, Pat Waldron wrote: >>>Dear Jim, >>> >>> Thank you for bringing up the subject of harassing this (these) >>>sparrows at EE Wilson. OBOL needs to hear this more often, and I have >>>told them many times, but not as nicely as you have here. Too many >>>folks are obsessive - compulsive and will traumatize a bird just to >>>tick their list. Bird conservation and common sense go out the >>>window. They do not understand what I see as CONSTANT disturbance... >>>" when I got to the patch, two other birders were there looking from >>>6:30 am, and, when I left 4 hours later, 3 more birders arrived ... >>>etc. etc". How can this bird survive this kind of disturbance, for >>>weeks. Of course this is NOT FAIR to the birds. Selfishness rules >>>like a disease. >>> >>> So, let me suggest to bird spotters, be very careful what you put >>>out there for OBOL to harass and stress. It is an ethical call, and >>>maybe can be handled with more care by letting certain folks visit >>>the bird only at certain times. >>> >>> This winter, MOUNTAIN QUAIL, and CALIFORNIA QUAIL have been seen >>>together in the same coveys. It is on private property, and the >>>property owner does not wish to have birders disturb these birds, as >>>raptors keep these quail stressed enough. >>> >>> Pat Waldron >>> East of Scio >>> >>> > > > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Alan Contreras - Eugene, Oregon From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Jan 28 13:45:32 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:45:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Photo reports: SLO Parakeet Auklet chase trip Message-ID: <20090128134532.kx4k2hciassw4ccw@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Two Parakeet Auklets were spotted off San Luis Obispo Co., California on January 17 during the Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival. http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/SLOC.html#1232251740 A chase trip was scheduled for the following weekend when 2 different birds were spotted. Parakeet Auklet is one of the rarities that we'll be looking for on our February 21 pelagic trip from Newport, Oregon. After all, they had to swim through Oregon to reach California! January 17, 2009 Photo by Brad Schram http://flickr.com/photos/chaparralbrad/3209171811/ http://flickr.com/photos/chaparralbrad/3205653046/ January 24, 2009: Don Robberson created this page for the chase trip, including photos of well-known California pelagic birders: Todd McGrath, Terry Hunefeld, Wes Fritz, Guy McCaskie, Jon Dunne, Brad Schram, and others. http://www.montereybay.com/creagrus/CAbirdsPAAU.html January 24, 2009: Terry Hunefeld's report: http://www.socalbirding.com/tripreports/jan242009avila.html Except for the Royal Tern and Black-vented Shearwater, which are unlikely off Oregon, and the absence of Black-footed and Laysan Albatross, which are expected off Oregon, the trip list could be from our planned February 21 trip from Newport, Oregon. It's only 3 weeks away! To join Oregon's "Parakeet Auklet chase trip" to search for this species and others, please visit our web site: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/ Oregon records of Parakeet Auklet: 1 January 1913: dead on beach at Netarts Bay, Tillamook Co. (OBRC). 17 January 1914: dead on beach at Newport, Lincoln Co. (OBRC). 21 February 1932: dead on beach at Taft, Lincoln Co. (OBRC). 5 February 1933: dead on beach at Delake, Lincoln Co. (OBRC). 23 February 1933: 3 dead on beach Sunset Beach, Clatsop Co. (OBRC). 26 February 1933: dead on beach at Gleneden, Lincoln Co. (OBRC). 13 August 1977: 2 at Cape Meares, Tillamook Co. (Greg Gillson). 3 December 1977: dead on Bayocean Beach (OBRC). 18 April 1982: dead on beach at Wandamere Beach, Lincoln Co. (OBRC). 7 September 1986: 4 birds 20 mi (32 km) west of Garibaldi, Tillamook Co. (OBRC). 7 November 1986: 2 birds from Cape Meares (not accepted by OBRC). 12 December 1994: dead on beach at Clatsop Beach, Clatsop Co. (OBRC). 24 February 1996: dead on beach at Beverly Beach, Lincoln Co. (OBRC). 5 March 1999: 4 dead Sunset Beach, Clatsop Co. 6 March 1999: dead Newport, Lincoln Co. (fide Roy Lowe). 8 March 1999: dead Newport, Lincoln Co. (fide Roy Lowe). 16 March 1999: dead at Beverly Beach, Lincoln Co. 17 September 2000: 50 mi (81 km) west of Seaside, Clatsop Co. (Korpi 2001). 17 September 2000: 50 mi (81 km) west of Curry Co. (Gilligan, Korpi 2001, OBRC). 4 November 2000: Boiler Bay, Lincoln Co.. 17 November 2000: Boiler Bay, Lincoln Co.. 21 February 2005: Inside jetties, mouth of Tillamook Bay, Tillamook Co. 6 February 2006: 2 dead on beach 5 miles south of Newport, Lincoln Co. (Bob Loeffel). 16 November 2006: Boiler Bay, Lincoln Co. (Phil Pickering). 22 November 2006: Boiler Bay, Lincoln Co. (Phil Pickering). January 2008: Hit a boat; brought to rehabilitator, Lincoln Co. (fide Stacy Strickland). 5 September 2008: Possible, from shore at Gardiner, Douglas Co. (Russ Namitz). 10 November 2008: Boiler Bay, Lincoln Co. (Phil Pickering). Greg Gillson greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/ From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Wed Jan 28 14:22:49 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:22:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Am Tree Sparrow seen 1/28 Message-ID: OBOL- The Am Tree Sparrow reported near Eugene was easily seen this afternoon (Wed, 1/28). The bird flushed upon my arrival, but returned within approx 10 minutes. The home-owner (Isabella) graciously invited me to view the bird from her front room: which gives a clear view of the bird at about a 10- foot range. The bird may also be viewed from outside. This is important because the leaf-pile the bird comes to is immediately in front of the living- room window/front door area; so approaching the front door will flush the bird away if it's present on the leaf-pile. When flushed, the sparrow fled to a near-by bare-branched Forcithia bush. The sparrow is hanging out with a mixed flock of Juncos, Song Sp, and Towhees. Isabella can be reached for directions at 541-607-6733. Barry McKenzie Eugene From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Jan 28 14:40:32 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:40:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harris's Sparrow, Rentenaar Rd, Sauvie Is. Message-ID: <20090128224445.1CAE4A823E@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Andy Frank, Jack Hurt and I birded Sauvie Island today. Best bird was an immature HARRIS'S SPARROW on Rentenaar Road just west of the parking area that is on the west side of the slough about half-way down. We also found 2 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS at the tall trees on the east side of the slough. Near the Harris's Sparrow was an adult WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW among the many GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS. In other words, we had a Zono Grand Slam all in the space of about 50 yards. Other good birds were two COMMON RAVENS along Reeder Rd, south of the intersection with Gillihan Loop Rd. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was calling (but we couldn't see it) at Sturgeon Lake dike. A SAVANNAH SPARROW was in a nice mixed flock of the more usual sparrows near Willow Bar access. About a dozen PURPLE FINCHES were at the Oak Island Rd gate. Wink Gross Portland From dan at heyerly.com Wed Jan 28 14:50:24 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Dan Heyerly) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:50:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] GLAUCOUS GULL in Salem Jan. 28, 2009 Message-ID: <30D91DE4EF0645B1A0BE7D9F5F3B57FE@Dan> I just got back to my office to find the following message waiting for me from Jeff Harding. The photos show a beautiful first cycle Glaucous Gull, no impurities, as it were. Nice one Jeff. Dan Heyerly Hey Dan, I photographed this Glaucous Gull just now here in Salem just now, on lunch, accross the street, at State and Airport. If you agree with ID, could you post a quick note on obol? Not that it is an RBA, and it will likely be here for the winter. . . . . There is also a nice white-headed Western Gull with all the Glaucous-winged and mixed birds. And another whitish gull with a dark-tipped pink bill, this one with pretty dark wingtips. More later, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090128/8fb2e48e/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Jan 28 14:58:09 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:58:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland CBC, final results Message-ID: <20090128225811.73B00A823E@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> The 83rd Portland CBC was held on Saturday, Jan 3. Compared to many counts, we lucked out on the weather, enjoying cloudy, but dry skies. We found 121 species (pending 1 or 2 in review), breaking last year's record of 118. We found one new all-time species (pending review): Cassin's Vireo. In addition, we recorded new all-time high numbers for 12 species: Species # this year (prev. record/year) Double-crested Cormorant 617 (582, 2002) Tundra Swan 438 (169, 2005) Bald Eagle 34 (26, 2007) Northern Harrier 12 (8, 1976) Red-tailed Hawk 116 (110, 2006) Merlin 9 (6, 2006 & 2007) Mourning Dove 357 (353, 1967) Great Horned Owl 11 (10, 2005) Downy Woodpecker 126 (86, 1951) Northern Flicker 308 (296, 1940) Black-capped Chickadee 1281 (1157, 2006) Townsend's Warbler 76 (50, 1998) 4 count week birds were recorded: Redhead, Eurasian Collared- Dove, Western Bluebird, and Evening Grosbeak. We found 7 species of owls, but the only shorebirds were Killdeer and Wilson's Snipe. Everyone who was worried about Anna's Hummingbirds in the recent cold weather can relax. Their numbers were down only slightly from the high count recorded in 2006 (169 vs 188). A summary of the 83 Portland Christmas Bird Counts, including detailed numbers for the last 13 years, can be found on the Audubon Society of Portland website at http://www.audubonportland.org/local-birding/christmas_count/83yr Wink Gross, compiler Portland CBC From dan at heyerly.com Wed Jan 28 15:21:28 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Dan Heyerly) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:21:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] GLGU photos Message-ID: It occurred to me after I sent the message regarding Jeff Harding's Glaucous Gull that some of you may want to see the photos. I refer you to Jeff directly. If you wish photos, please contact him at jeffharding at centurytel.net . Dan Heyerly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090128/22ea6059/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Jan 28 15:59:26 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:59:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wed morning, Eugene Message-ID: Dennis Arendt made arrangements to bird the land of Thistledown Farms, an organic farm north of Santa Clara (N. Eugene), on River Road. This land supports a variety of good habitats, such as backwater ponds and riverine forest, open fields and weed patches, and Oak woodland which has resident Acorn Woodpeckers. Our group has birded this area before, and it is included within the Eugene count circle. Barns and silos on this farm have resident Barn Owls, but the owner was unable to flush any at his urging, so we didn't see them. (I hope they were incubating). Following are the birds we did see: Pied-billed Grebe - 1 Turkey Vulture - 2 Gr. White-fronted Goose - 39 Canada Goose - several Wood Duck - 12 Red-tailed Hawk - 3 California Quail - 3 Gull - 1 probable Ring-billed Rock Pigeon - 5 Mourning Dove - 1 Acorn Woodpecker - 12 Red-breasted Sapsucker - 1 Downy Woodpecker - 1 N. Flicker - 4 Steller's Jay - 10 Scrub Jay - 8 + Am. Crow - 10 N. Raven - 2 Black-capped Chickadee - 8 Bushtit - 15 White-breasted Nuthatch - 2 Brown Creeper - 2 Am. Robin - 500 + Varied Thrush - 1 Starling - 50 Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler - 1 Spotted Towhee - 6 Fox Sparrow - 12 Song Sparrow - 40 Lincoln's Sparrow - 8 White-throated Sparrow - 1 White-crowned Sparrow - 15 + Golden-crowned Sparrow - 12 D-e Junco - 200 + (including 2 "Slate-colored" Junco) Red-winged Blackbird - 200 Purple Finch - 3 House Finch - 6 House Sparrow - 7 Sylvia Maulding, Ellen Cantor, Sarah Vasconcellos, Kimberly Cullen (newcomer), Roger Robb, Paul Sherrell, Tom Mickel, Fred Chancey, George Grier, Barry McKenzie, and Larry McQueen (Dennis had a cold and declined the birding). I did not double-check as I usually do, so I might have missed something. -- LM -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090128/d76aa3e4/attachment.html From Cathy.Nowak at state.or.us Wed Jan 28 16:46:47 2009 From: Cathy.Nowak at state.or.us (Cathy Nowak) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:46:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] ECBC La Grande Winter Raptor Route Message-ID: Birders, Laurie Allen and I ran the La Grande (Union County) Winter Raptor Route for the East Cascades Bird Conservancy today (1/28/09). The weather was magnificent, especially compared with some recent days. At the start it was about 30? F, winds were calm and cloud cover was near 100%. At the finish it was about 38? F, with wind at about 10mph and 80% cloud cover. The route was about 80 miles and took 6.5 hours to complete. This route covers much of the floor of the Grande Ronde Valley through mostly farm land with wind-break rows of trees and brush along creeks and ditches. Red-tailed Hawk 45 American Kestrel 5 Northern Harrier 7 Bald Eagle 1 Adult, 1 Juvenile Golden Eagle 1 Rough-legged Hawk 37 Prairie Falcon 2 Unidentified buteo 2 Other species seen (in no particular order): Common raven Black-billed magpie Red-winged blackbird Song sparrow White-crowned sparrow House sparrow Rock pigeon Brewer's blackbird Eurasian starling Great blue heron Mallard Dark-eyed junco (both Oregon and slate colored) American robin California quail Northern flicker We had a tantalizing flash of a large flock of finch-sized birds that, as a flock, seemed to turn the air pinkish. We could not get enough of a look to turn them into rosy-finches but we both felt sure that was what they were. Good Birding! M. Cathy Nowak -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090128/7a433cd9/attachment.html From wulfbird at gmail.com Wed Jan 28 19:35:46 2009 From: wulfbird at gmail.com (D. D.) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:35:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yellow-headed Blackbird - Ridgefield NWR Message-ID: I've received several emails from people in regards to my listing of a Yellow-headed Blackbird at Ridgefield NWR. My apologies, I should have specified that it was heard only. It was at South Quigley Lake (cattail marsh where they usually are located), with several Red-winged Blackbirds. It was a pretty recognizable vocalization. I also recall seeing it listed on the entrance board. Regards, Damian Portland, OR From bigfishyman at gmail.com Wed Jan 28 21:21:17 2009 From: bigfishyman at gmail.com (Bob Fish) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:21:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Chasing birds Message-ID: I appreciate discussions about how birds may or may not be affected by so-called "pushy" birders, but I think that accusatory statements about others, and otherwise derisive statements do not. Good birding Bob Fish Creswell -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090128/23e4254b/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Jan 28 22:06:35 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:06:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 01/28/09 Message-ID: <20090129060636.B5251A823E@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 01/22 to 01/28/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 6 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) COOPER'S HAWK 1 (1, 1/25) Red-tailed Hawk 1 (1, 1/26) Band-tailed Pigeon 2 (1, 1/22 & 23) Mourning Dove 6 (5, 1/22) Anna's Hummingbird 4 (3, 1/22) Downy Woodpecker 2 (2, 1/26) Northern Flicker 5 (2) Pileated Woodpecker 1 (2, 1/23) Hutton's Vireo 1 (1, 1/25) Steller's Jay 6 (7, 1/22) Western Scrub-Jay 4 (2) American Crow 3 (7, 1/23) Black-capped Chickadee 6 (15) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 3 (12, 1/22) Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 (2) Brown Creeper 1 (1, 1/26) BEWICK'S WREN 3 (1) Winter Wren 2 (1, 1/22 & 25) RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET 1 (1, 1/26) HERMIT THRUSH 1 (1, 1/27) American Robin 2 (3, 1/26) Varied Thrush 5 (3, 1/22) European Starling 2 (1, 1/24 & 26) Spotted Towhee 5 (6, 1/26) FOX SPARROW 1 (1, 1/24) Song Sparrow 6 (7) Dark-eyed Junco 6 (15) House Finch 6 (25, 1/26) Misses (species found at least 3 times in previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Cackling Goose, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Pine Siskin Wink Gross Portland From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Jan 28 23:27:27 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:27:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 1-29-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * January 29, 2009 * ORPO0901.29 - birds mentioned Trumpeter Swan Eurasian Green-winged Teal TUFTED DUCK American White Pelican Brown Pelican LITTLE BLUE HERON Turkey Vulture Osprey Red-shouldered Hawk Golden Eagle Glaucous Gull Black Phoebe Horned Lark Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Northern Mockingbird American Tree Sparrow Harris?s Sparrow Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting PYRRHULOXIA Yellow-headed Blackbird Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday January 29. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. The Peoria PYRRHULOXIA, Siletz Bay LITTLE BLUE HERON, and the TUFTED DUCK near Clatskanie continue to be seen. Small numbers of BROWN PELICANS continue along the coast. On January 25 a TURKEY VULTURE was at Coos Bay. A EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL was seen January 24 at Ada Station on the south shore of Siltcoos Lake. On January 26 an OSPREY was in Seaside. A BLACK PHOEBE is being seen near Gearhart. A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was found among a swarm of blackbirds January 25 on Sauvie Island. On January 28 a HARRIS?S SPARROW was along Rentenaar Road on the east side of the Island. An AMERICAN TREE SPARROW visited a southeast Portland feeder January 25. On January 23 two young GLAUCOUS GULLS were at the Fernhill Wetlands. A GLAUCOUS GULL was in Salem January 28. A GLAUCOUS GULL, BARN SWALLOW, GOLDEN EAGLE, WHITE PELICAN, and BLACK PHOEBE were at Baskett Slough NWR January 25. An AMERICAN TREE SPARROW is now coming to a feeder near Eugene. On January 24 up to 20 TREE SWALLOWS were at the south end of Fern Ridge Reservoir. Up to six TRUMPETER SWANS are now wintering between Lyle Washington and Mayer State Park near Rowena Oregon. On January 24 a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK and a MOCKINGBIRD were in Klamath Falls. Good numbers of the wintering specialties continue to be seen in the Wallowa Valley. On January 24 LAPLAND LONGSPURS, SNOW BUNTINGS, and ROSY-FINCHES were seen among a large swarm of HORNED LARKS along School Flat Road east of Enterprise. That?s it for this week - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090128/8dfdcd93/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Wed Jan 28 23:29:45 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:29:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Brant Numbers Wintering at Yaquina Bay Remain Stable Message-ID: Hi, The afternoon of Jan. 28, Janet Lamberson counted about 175 Brant lounging on the Idaho Flats mudflats off the Oregon State University Hatfield Marine Science Center Nature Trail. While she was counting, "a dozen or so flew by in the distance." So numbers are similar to the 185-188 counted at Yaquina Bay on Jan. 3, 5, & 22. This was the latest posting for Brant in Lincoln County to the International Brant Monitoring Project. See their Observation Log link at http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/ for other Brant observations along the West Coast. Cheers, Range Bayer for Yaquina Birders & Naturalists. After some experimenting, I am changing my email address to . From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Jan 29 08:20:12 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:20:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] male Selasphorus hummingbird, Bandon Coos Cty Message-ID: <4981D73C.3090005@verizon.net> 1/28 Bandon Coos Cty Yesterday afternoon a male SELASPHORUS hummingbird made a brief appearance at our feeder in our yard north of Bandon, Coos Cty. Certainly an early fellow! Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Jan 29 08:47:14 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:47:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] new bird species from China lives in caves! Message-ID: <4981DD92.6040608@verizon.net> http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090129/ap_on_sc/as_china_new_bird Pretty cool, but what is also really neat is the few sentences at the end of the article that suggest birding is taking grip in China! Imagine the number of new potential birders! Cheers Dave Lauten From marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Thu Jan 29 12:32:30 2009 From: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com (Marina Bouchot) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:32:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 10, Issue 29 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <007201c98250$b5a56600$20f03200$@bouchot@xpsoftware.com> RE: 20. new bird species from China lives in caves! (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) The Economist had a great article on birding in China just a couple of weeks ago that I found fascinating. You can read it here: http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12795527 Happy Birding everyone! Marina ************************************ From lbviman at blackfoot.net Thu Jan 29 13:05:17 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:05:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birder ethics, my reply to ad hominem In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090129210407.327B09B007E@mail.blackfoot.net> I wasn't aware my general comments about a few observations would elicit ad hominem type reply. But, I guess I should have expected it. I was more fascinated with what a camera-person a couple hundred feet in the air might have made of that silly group of humans chasing a small yellow dot through the weeds for an hour. And then speeding up the result for fun. As for what someone thinks of my wife, and who did what to what bird, I don't recall ANYONE ever commenting or suggesting that Lark chased away the Dusky warbler. Everyone has done such things. But to make it a personal comment on a public forum hardly seems righteous - given that I named no names, why would Matt have done so, unless he was one of the peeved looking for a scapegoat for his own poor fortune, or covering his own bad behavior? I agree with Alan, Matt. You got a beef with my wife, take it up with her, privately -- Jim Greaves, Montana At 01:00 PM 1/29/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >If someone in California has a dispute with someone in Montana over >birder ethics, please don't borrow an Oregon birder chatgroup to >throw House Sparrow eggs at each other. > >Alan Contreras From rakestraw.john at yahoo.com Thu Jan 29 13:25:09 2009 From: rakestraw.john at yahoo.com (John Rakestraw) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 13:25:09 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Vanport Wetlands RS Hawk, WT Sparrow Message-ID: <127020.4396.qm@web59411.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> I walked around Portland's Vanport Wetlands in the fog Thursday morning. A young RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was in the clump of trees near the SE corner of the wetlands. I had WHITE-THROATED, WHITE-CROWNED, GOLDEN-CROWNED, and FOX SPARROWS all in one binocular view at the NW corner of the wetland, across from the golf course. The fog hid most of the waterfowl, but there were lots of birds on the water. Cheers, John Rakestraw Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090129/8d75b621/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Thu Jan 29 15:08:25 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:08:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 10, Issue 29 In-Reply-To: <007201c98250$b5a56600$20f03200$@bouchot@xpsoftware.com> References: <007201c98250$b5a56600$20f03200$@bouchot@xpsoftware.com> Message-ID: Thank you, Marina, for bringing this to our attention. A wonderful article! At 12:32 PM -0800 1/29/09, Marina Bouchot wrote: >RE: 20. new bird species from China lives in caves! > (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) > >The Economist had a great article on birding in China just a couple of weeks >ago that I found fascinating. You can read it here: >http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12795527 > >Happy Birding everyone! Marina > >************************************ > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Thu Jan 29 16:33:42 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (dhughes55 at clearwire.net) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:33:42 GMT Subject: [obol] Washington County, Weiser area Message-ID: <200901300033.n0U0Xgn1027095@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Denise Hughes by http://birdnotes.net Date: January 28, 2009 Location: Washington County, Idaho Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 100% Precipitation: none Around Weiser, south to Payette County Line, and east of town on Cove Road Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 81 Gadwall 7 American Wigeon 10 Mallard 25 Northern Shoveler 2 Northern Pintail 5 Lesser Scaup 1 Common Goldeneye 15 Barrow's Goldeneye 1 Common Merganser 3 Ring-necked Pheasant 7 California Quail 40 Great Blue Heron 2 Great Egret 1 Northern Harrier 3 Red-tailed Hawk 17 Rough-legged Hawk 2 American Kestrel 9 Rock Dove 58 Mourning Dove 17 Northern Flicker 3 Black-billed Magpie 29 American Crow 57 American Robin 48 European Starling 250 Song Sparrow 6 White-crowned Sparrow 17 Dark-eyed Junco 25 Red-winged Blackbird 9 Western Meadowlark 2 Brewer's Blackbird 10 House Finch 17 House Sparrow 50 Total number of species seen: 33 From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Thu Jan 29 16:43:46 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (Denise Hughes) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:43:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Washington County, Weiser area In-Reply-To: <200901300033.n0U0Xgn1027095@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> References: <200901300033.n0U0Xgn1027095@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> Message-ID: <464db1a10901291643s20bd5ecftd5f4fb1a84f5c453@mail.gmail.com> Sorry, this was supposed to go to IBLE and not OBOL. I clicked the wrong box. Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho On Thu, Jan 29, 2009 at 5:33 PM, wrote: > This report was mailed for Denise Hughes by http://birdnotes.net > > Date: January 28, 2009 > Location: Washington County, Idaho > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090129/5d7838c2/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Thu Jan 29 18:54:18 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:54:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] swamp sparrow, Lower River Rd, Ridgfield NWR, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: Yesterday Joe Engler and I saw what we both thought was a swamp sparrow. The bird was seen quickly and gone. This evening I returned and found the bird again and indeed we were correct it is a swamp sparrow. It was seen about 60-100 yds beyond the parkinglot at the end of Lower River Rd. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090129/a0d2d6e9/attachment.html From hydie at q.com Thu Jan 29 19:44:41 2009 From: hydie at q.com (hydie lown) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:44:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] creswell raptor route Message-ID: We got out there Wednesday 1/28 with few days to spare before the end of the month, and counted 36 raptors, probably a record for us. The vast majority were north of Creswell again. RTHA 14 AMKE 15 NOHA 2 RLHA 2 WTKI 1 COOP 1 SHARPIE 1 Hydie and Don Lown -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090129/9f1469be/attachment.html From mlafaive at gmail.com Thu Jan 29 20:42:43 2009 From: mlafaive at gmail.com (Margaret LaFaive) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:42:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] dreaded ugly gull In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <6b92d50c0901292042x2c7eeedfrf083a5b30e95dde3@mail.gmail.com> First of all, I am not a gull aficionado. I have a much better than 50% chance of misidentifying any gull I see, but I do usually know when I'm seeing something different. Yesterday I was walking along the Willamette waterfront in downtown Portland and saw a really dark mantled gull. At the time I thought it deserved some attention from someone who knows their Larids. Later I thought I remembered a report of a dark gull on OBOL. Sure enough, after re-reading Grant's description, I am pretty certain this was his bird. Today I took my camera and was lucky to find the bird with a swarm that was feeding on a huge bread pile some locals had just thrown out. My photography skills leave about as much to be desired as my gull ID skills, but I have posted a few pictures at: http://picasaweb.google.com/mlafaive/DarkMantledGullDowntownPortlandOregon?feat=directlink I would be interested to hear what you gull experts think. Margaret LaFaive Portland, OR 2009/1/24 Grant Canterbury > Okay y'all, I am only an aspiring gull nerd, but I checked the Howell/Dunn > guide to gulls of the Americas out from the library and have been perusing > it of evenings, so I know just enough to be dangerous now. Interesting > bird I saw recently on the downtown Portland waterfront (sorry no photo), > among the scattered Thayer's and swarms of Glaucous-wings and sundry > hybrids. Large white-headed gull, third-cycle individual, very dark gray > mantle with a few brownish feathers on the coverts, heavily streaked head > with strikingly pale whitish eyes staring out as if from a mask, distinct > series of prominent subterminal white spots on the primaries out to about > P8. Bill was not the massive bulbous sort with jutting gonydeal angle > typical of the bigger Glaucous-wings; but maybe not out of the range of a > smaller female Glaucous-wing? I don't think I have a good eye for the > subtleties yet. Pink legs, but I didn't particularly notice the tone of > the color. > > > > So, the purer Glaucous-wings and Westerns are easily excluded by the mantle > color and head streaking; and these characters above are generally > consistent with Slaty-backed Gull, BUT they also all occur in some > combination in the Glaucous-winged/Western hybrid swarm, and a hybrid is > obviously a priori a lot more likely. I thought that the subterminal > "string of pearls" on the primaries was a pretty good indicator of > Slaty-backed, until I saw this picture of a hybrid GW-W wing closeup ( > http://geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/6181/ocgl5.htm, bottom image) > > Which is, yes, just about like what I saw. > > > > And after looking at multiple pictures of bills for Slaty-backed, > Glaucous-winged, and Westerns, I think that on the whole Slaty-backs are > indeed more parallel-sided, less angled, a bit less robust? but there is not > to me an obviously clear distinction in the borderline cases, and I have no > idea which side of the divide this particular bird fell upon. > > > > So my question is? what do I do for my mental anguish? :-) ... No. I'm > resigned to never knowing what this critter was for sure? I think? and I > will assume it was a weird hybrid. But IN FUTURE, what the heck do I look > for to tell the difference, when one of these should hove across my bow? Do > I measure the bill with a protractor? Do I ask my dog to fetch a DNA > sample (which I can tell you he would be more than happy to do)? Do I > look for a handy bar code on the back of its neck? > > > Suggestions welcome > > - Grant Canterbury > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090129/326e2143/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Jan 29 20:44:57 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:44:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Birders in China Message-ID: <21d8ade088157a8db4930da296f654fc@earthlink.net> There's a lengthy article in a recent New Yorker magazine about the nascent Chinese birding movement. I'm sorry I can't provide a link, and I'm too lazy to dig through my back issues. The author is presently a Manhattanite, but his brother lives in Bandon, Oregon. Lars Norgren From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Jan 29 21:02:27 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:02:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] SLATY-backed Gull in Portland? In-Reply-To: <6b92d50c0901292042x2c7eeedfrf083a5b30e95dde3@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Margaret, this looks to me like a third-year SLATY-backed Gull, though I have only seen adults myself. The only thing that seems a little off is that the legs are not very bright pink. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Margaret LaFaive > Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:42:43 -0800 > To: > Cc: Grant Canterbury > Subject: Re: [obol] dreaded ugly gull > > First of all, I am not a gull aficionado. I have a much better than 50% > chance of misidentifying any gull I see, but I do usually know when I'm > seeing something different. Yesterday I was walking along the Willamette > waterfront in downtown Portland and saw a really dark mantled gull. At the > time I thought it deserved some attention from someone who knows their > Larids. Later I thought I remembered a report of a dark gull on OBOL. Sure > enough, after re-reading Grant's description, I am pretty certain this was > his bird. Today I took my camera and was lucky to find the bird with a > swarm that was feeding on a huge bread pile some locals had just thrown > out. My photography skills leave about as much to be desired as my gull ID > skills, but I have posted a few pictures at: > > http://picasaweb.google.com/mlafaive/DarkMantledGullDowntownPortlandOregon?fea > t=directlink > > I would be interested to hear what you gull experts think. > > Margaret LaFaive > Portland, OR > > > > 2009/1/24 Grant Canterbury > >> Okay y'all, I am only an aspiring gull nerd, but I checked the Howell/Dunn >> guide to gulls of the Americas out from the library and have been perusing >> it of evenings, so I know just enough to be dangerous now. Interesting >> bird I saw recently on the downtown Portland waterfront (sorry no photo), >> among the scattered Thayer's and swarms of Glaucous-wings and sundry >> hybrids. Large white-headed gull, third-cycle individual, very dark gray >> mantle with a few brownish feathers on the coverts, heavily streaked head >> with strikingly pale whitish eyes staring out as if from a mask, distinct >> series of prominent subterminal white spots on the primaries out to about >> P8. Bill was not the massive bulbous sort with jutting gonydeal angle >> typical of the bigger Glaucous-wings; but maybe not out of the range of a >> smaller female Glaucous-wing? I don't think I have a good eye for the >> subtleties yet. Pink legs, but I didn't particularly notice the tone of >> the color. >> >> >> >> So, the purer Glaucous-wings and Westerns are easily excluded by the mantle >> color and head streaking; and these characters above are generally >> consistent with Slaty-backed Gull, BUT they also all occur in some >> combination in the Glaucous-winged/Western hybrid swarm, and a hybrid is >> obviously a priori a lot more likely. I thought that the subterminal >> "string of pearls" on the primaries was a pretty good indicator of >> Slaty-backed, until I saw this picture of a hybrid GW-W wing closeup ( >> http://geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/6181/ocgl5.htm, bottom image) >> >> Which is, yes, just about like what I saw. >> >> >> >> And after looking at multiple pictures of bills for Slaty-backed, >> Glaucous-winged, and Westerns, I think that on the whole Slaty-backs are >> indeed more parallel-sided, less angled, a bit less robust? but there is not >> to me an obviously clear distinction in the borderline cases, and I have no >> idea which side of the divide this particular bird fell upon. >> >> >> >> So my question is? what do I do for my mental anguish? :-) ... No. I'm >> resigned to never knowing what this critter was for sure? I think? and I >> will assume it was a weird hybrid. But IN FUTURE, what the heck do I look >> for to tell the difference, when one of these should hove across my bow? Do >> I measure the bill with a protractor? Do I ask my dog to fetch a DNA >> sample (which I can tell you he would be more than happy to do)? Do I >> look for a handy bar code on the back of its neck? >> >> >> Suggestions welcome >> >> - Grant Canterbury >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From baileydc at pdx.edu Thu Jan 29 21:26:47 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:26:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull in Portland Message-ID: <49828F97.4020608@pdx.edu> I just got though downloading Margeret's gull photos, enlarging them and scrutinizing them. I agree with Alan C. that the bird is a good candidate for a 3rd winter Slaty-backed Gull. The bill is very parallel-sided and, the eye is creamy-white within a dusky feathered depression of the skull; as well there is much spotting in the head and neck. To be certain of identifying the bird as this species I would need to see better photographs of the open wing and wing-tips to see the sub-terminal white tongue-tips to the outer primaries. The head-streaking on Slaty-backed Gulls is often more brownish-gray when what my monitor shows, but the pattern is consistent for that species being streaked and crowded on the crown grading to blotchy and dispersed on the lower neck annd sides of upper breast. Interestingly, this individual has a decidedly California Gull look to it, but I don't think that is what it is. To confirm the identification of the bird it would be helpful to have photos of the upper and lower spread wings, and of the bird in the company of other gulls in order to compare mantle shade coloring and relative sizes. Thanks for posting. I encourage others to head to Tom McCall's park tomorrow with some crusty chum and cameras. Respectfully, David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From philliplc at charter.net Thu Jan 29 21:38:49 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:38:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] dreaded ugly gull References: <6b92d50c0901292042x2c7eeedfrf083a5b30e95dde3@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <1694E13B365F4BAC94A208030A004C00@Phil> I see no reason to suspect it's not a Slaty-b. Has un-western-like forward eye placement and straight bill, typical S-b hood markings and whitish eye. Even looks like white tongues on P6-8 might be visible in the flight shots. If possible it would be helpful to post blow-ups of it in flight. Definitely not an ugly gull. This is one of my favorite sites - has over 300 photos of S-b. http://larus.hp.infoseek.co.jp/slayty.html Phil http://picasaweb.google.com/mlafaive/DarkMantledGullDowntownPortlandOregon?feat=directlink From grantandstacy17 at gmail.com Thu Jan 29 22:05:02 2009 From: grantandstacy17 at gmail.com (Grant Canterbury) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:05:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] SLATY-backed Gull in Portland? In-Reply-To: References: <6b92d50c0901292042x2c7eeedfrf083a5b30e95dde3@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Margaret - thanks so much for getting these pictures!! Yes, this is definitely the individual that I saw. On looking at the bill in the photos now it is not so confusingly intermediate as I had remembered, but to my eye pretty clearly on the Slaty-backed side of the morphology. Of course now I have been comparing photos of gull bills in books for several days while cudgeling my memory, so my eye is a bit better trained now than when I saw the bird. I have been mulling over my recollections quite a bit the past week, and I was just about on the point of dragging in Bayesian statistics to start estimating posterior probabilities (you may think I'm joking...) but I feel much better about this now! Yay! - Grant C. On Thu, Jan 29, 2009 at 9:02 PM, Alan Contreras wrote: > Margaret, this looks to me like a third-year SLATY-backed Gull, though I > have only seen adults myself. The only thing that seems a little off is > that the legs are not very bright pink. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > > > > > > > > From: Margaret LaFaive > > Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:42:43 -0800 > > To: > > Cc: Grant Canterbury > > Subject: Re: [obol] dreaded ugly gull > > > > First of all, I am not a gull aficionado. I have a much better than 50% > > chance of misidentifying any gull I see, but I do usually know when I'm > > seeing something different. Yesterday I was walking along the Willamette > > waterfront in downtown Portland and saw a really dark mantled gull. At > the > > time I thought it deserved some attention from someone who knows their > > Larids. Later I thought I remembered a report of a dark gull on OBOL. > Sure > > enough, after re-reading Grant's description, I am pretty certain this > was > > his bird. Today I took my camera and was lucky to find the bird with a > > swarm that was feeding on a huge bread pile some locals had just thrown > > out. My photography skills leave about as much to be desired as my gull > ID > > skills, but I have posted a few pictures at: > > > > > http://picasaweb.google.com/mlafaive/DarkMantledGullDowntownPortlandOregon?fea > > t=directlink > > > > I would be interested to hear what you gull experts think. > > > > Margaret LaFaive > > Portland, OR > > > > > > > > 2009/1/24 Grant Canterbury > > > >> Okay y'all, I am only an aspiring gull nerd, but I checked the > Howell/Dunn > >> guide to gulls of the Americas out from the library and have been > perusing > >> it of evenings, so I know just enough to be dangerous now. Interesting > >> bird I saw recently on the downtown Portland waterfront (sorry no > photo), > >> among the scattered Thayer's and swarms of Glaucous-wings and sundry > >> hybrids. Large white-headed gull, third-cycle individual, very dark > gray > >> mantle with a few brownish feathers on the coverts, heavily streaked > head > >> with strikingly pale whitish eyes staring out as if from a mask, > distinct > >> series of prominent subterminal white spots on the primaries out to > about > >> P8. Bill was not the massive bulbous sort with jutting gonydeal angle > >> typical of the bigger Glaucous-wings; but maybe not out of the range of > a > >> smaller female Glaucous-wing? I don't think I have a good eye for the > >> subtleties yet. Pink legs, but I didn't particularly notice the tone > of > >> the color. > >> > >> > >> > >> So, the purer Glaucous-wings and Westerns are easily excluded by the > mantle > >> color and head streaking; and these characters above are generally > >> consistent with Slaty-backed Gull, BUT they also all occur in some > >> combination in the Glaucous-winged/Western hybrid swarm, and a hybrid is > >> obviously a priori a lot more likely. I thought that the subterminal > >> "string of pearls" on the primaries was a pretty good indicator of > >> Slaty-backed, until I saw this picture of a hybrid GW-W wing closeup ( > >> http://geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/6181/ocgl5.htm, bottom image) > >> > >> Which is, yes, just about like what I saw. > >> > >> > >> > >> And after looking at multiple pictures of bills for Slaty-backed, > >> Glaucous-winged, and Westerns, I think that on the whole Slaty-backs are > >> indeed more parallel-sided, less angled, a bit less robust? but there is > not > >> to me an obviously clear distinction in the borderline cases, and I have > no > >> idea which side of the divide this particular bird fell upon. > >> > >> > >> > >> So my question is? what do I do for my mental anguish? :-) ... No. I'm > >> resigned to never knowing what this critter was for sure? I think? and I > >> will assume it was a weird hybrid. But IN FUTURE, what the heck do I > look > >> for to tell the difference, when one of these should hove across my bow? > Do > >> I measure the bill with a protractor? Do I ask my dog to fetch a DNA > >> sample (which I can tell you he would be more than happy to do)? Do I > >> look for a handy bar code on the back of its neck? > >> > >> > >> Suggestions welcome > >> > >> - Grant Canterbury > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> obol mailing list > >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > >> > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090129/d250c893/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Jan 30 07:01:34 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 07:01:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Exactly WHERE is the SLATY-BACKED GULL? Message-ID: <3bce7ac07ac4ffdf0dba78c0f3b1269a@earthlink.net> Is Tom McCall Park the correct address? Is this specific to a one block neighborhood? Lars Norgren From mlafaive at gmail.com Fri Jan 30 07:35:24 2009 From: mlafaive at gmail.com (Margaret LaFaive) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 07:35:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-Backed Gull in Portland Message-ID: <6b92d50c0901300735jd8034c3sc877388f30a3367f@mail.gmail.com> I appreciate the comments on this gull--I thought it might be interesting. I cropped and enlarged the two flight photos. I don't know if they will help much, but I have uploaded them along with a couple of shots of the bird among the gull swarm for mantle-comparison purposes. All of the photos are here: http://picasaweb.google.com/mlafaive/DarkMantledGullDowntownPortlandOregon?feat=directlink I have been seeing the gull in downtown Portland between the Steel and Morrison Bridges. Where I took the photos yesterday is where S. W. Ankeny abuts the river. There is a big sewer construction project underway right under the Burnside Bridge in this area. On Wednesday I saw the bird just north of this spot--both in the river and up on the concrete rail along the walkway. Let me know if you need more specific directions. I'm anxious for others to get a look at this one. Margaret -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090130/8b97a6a2/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Jan 30 08:05:45 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:05:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Red=tail with shoulder tag Message-ID: <282559f515edebd6155b60296da92744@earthlink.net> January 29 there was a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk with and orange shoulder tag bearing a black capital "E" at the corner of Blum Lane and Wilson River Loop Road, Tillamook County. Lars Norgren From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Jan 30 08:14:11 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:14:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tillamook Red-shouldered Hawk Message-ID: Opposite the end of Wilson River Loop Road nw of downtown Tillamook there is a large street that gives access to Fred Meyer. It dead ends providing ample parking and a 180 degree view of pasture and canary grass marsh. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was perched in a willow a short distance east of the road end. I believe it was adult, but it flew to a more distant perch as I was setting up the scope. I thought perhaps this remains a noteworthy species in that county. Certainly my first. Numerous LINCOLN'S SPARROWS presented themselves for inspection upon my uttering a single "pish". This spot is less than 200m west of the start of Goodspeed Road, somewhat famous for its Swamp Sparrows. Gulls were extremely conspicuous in their absence. I doubt I saw 20 from the mouth of Wilson River Canyon to Fred Meyer then all the way down to Cloverdale. Lars Norgren From grantandstacy17 at gmail.com Fri Jan 30 08:44:22 2009 From: grantandstacy17 at gmail.com (Grant Canterbury) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:44:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull in Portland Message-ID: This is the same general locality where I saw it a week or two ago (just south of the Burnside Bridge). Sounds like it has not been moving around much. - Grant C. From: Margaret LaFaive >> Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 07:35:24 -0800 >> >> [...]I have been seeing the gull in downtown Portland between the Steel and >> Morrison Bridges. Where I took the photos yesterday is where S. W. Ankeny >> abuts the river. There is a big sewer construction project underway right >> under the Burnside Bridge in this area. On Wednesday I saw the bird just >> north of this spot--both in the river and up on the concrete rail along the >> walkway. Let me know if you need more specific directions. >> >> >> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090130/eacfaa54/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Fri Jan 30 10:52:24 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:52:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] =?utf-8?q?Red=3Dtail_with_shoulder_tag?= Message-ID: <20090130115224.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.4d91ac676c.wbe@email.secureserver.net> This bird was captured at PDX and released near Tillamook in late October. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] Red=tail with shoulder tag > From: Norgren Family > Date: Fri, January 30, 2009 8:05 am > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > January 29 there was a juvenile > Red-tailed Hawk with and orange shoulder > tag bearing a black capital "E" at > the corner of Blum Lane and Wilson River > Loop Road, Tillamook County. Lars Norgren > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From galacres at comcast.net Fri Jan 30 13:25:35 2009 From: galacres at comcast.net (Patrick Gallagher) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:25:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Glaucous Gull, Airport Rd. and State St, Salem Message-ID: <8F57538D22114581985AF045B00DF70A@Gallagher> Jeff Harding's post on the Glaucous Gull encouraged me to stop at the Penitentiary site this noon. I didn't see it at first, but Jeff showed up and located it perched on the penitentiary building. Soon a car pulled in to feed the birds (the reason so many birds are at this spot) and the GLGU flew over the creek to the parking lot. We got great looks. It matches Sibley's first year gull, nearly pure white, dark eye, and pink bill with a black tip. It was wary of the car, however, and did not feed. Must be wilder than the rest of the gulls there. Jeff also spotted a possible Thayers Gull, although we never got a good look at its tail pattern. As I was sorting through the gulls, I saw one with a yellow eye, probably a ring-bill gull, but the ring on the bill was incomplete. But as it turned, the other (right) eye was dark! I have friends with different eye colors, but that apparently is due to mutations during development. Is it the same with gulls, or is this another ugly/hybrid gull issue? It appeared to be an adult bird, and the dark eye did not have obvious damage. Pat Gallagher Salem From dpvroman at budget.net Fri Jan 30 14:09:59 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:09:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Medford area female Cardinal back Message-ID: John Kemper received a call today from the person with the female Northern Cardinal in his back yard last month. He said it showed up again in his back yard this morning for a few minutes, after an absence of a month. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090130/62cf21df/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Fri Jan 30 14:51:05 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:51:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull - Portland Message-ID: The SLATY-BACKED GULL was near the Burnside bridge in Portland today from ~ 1 pm until ~ 2 pm. It perched several times on lights/fixtures on the bridge itself, and landed several times on the concrete posts on the sidewalk in the area south of the bridge along the river. I believe Steve Nord, Wayne Hoffman, and I all obtained photos of the upperside of the outstretched wings. I hope to have my photos online later today (sending this from my son's school, so not able to now). I believe Shawneen Finnegan and Elias Elias were still in the area when I left. South of the Hawthorne bridge along the riverfront was a nice collection of California Gulls. Scott Carpenter SW Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090130/792a9590/attachment.html From Cathy.Nowak at state.or.us Fri Jan 30 15:27:01 2009 From: Cathy.Nowak at state.or.us (Cathy Nowak) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:27:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] ECBC Raptor Route - South Union County Message-ID: I ran the East Cascades Bird Conservancy Winter raptor route in south Union County today. This route covers the south end of the Grande Ronde Valley and that portion of the Powder River Valley that is in Union County. The wind was blowing 25 mph sustained with gusts up to nearly 40 on the Grande Ronde Valley side while on the Powder River side the fields are still locked in deep snow but the wind was calm to just a breeze. The temperature at the start was about 28? F with mostly clear skies. At the finish, it was about 39? F and the sky was still mostly clear. Red-tailed Hawk 29 American Kestrel 1 Northern Harrier 7 Bald Eagle 6 (4 adults, 2 juveniles) Rough-legged hawk 7 Other species seen (in no particular order) Common raven Rock pigeon Northern flicker Starling Black-billed magpie American robin California quail House finch American goldfinch Mallard Dark-eyed junco Black-capped chickadee Rocky Mountain Elk Mule deer Coyote Red fox Fox squirrel M. Cathy Nowak -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090130/caf4d3a1/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri Jan 30 15:30:25 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:30:25 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos & Curry Birds of Late Message-ID: <739639.6475.qm@web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Knute Andersson found a N. MOCKER on the south end of Langlois yesterday (the 29th). It's across the road from the only gas station in town there. It was in plain view when I stopped on my way by there today. On the 29th out on the N. Spit of Coos Bay the SAY'S PHOEBE and pair of PALM WARBLERS continued. On the 28th the other overwintering Coos SAY'S PHOEBE was still at the farm house off Picture Valley road just north of Norway (a few miles north of Myrtle Point). No sign of the SANDHILL CRANE where it had been on the CV CBC though. The valley has dries up though so there are miles of green pastures it could have moved to. The EMPEROR GOOSE and G. White-fronted Goose were still with the domestic goose flock near the end of the south jetty road in Bandon on the 28th also. Es todo, Tim R Coos Bay From m_scatt at yahoo.com Fri Jan 30 16:25:23 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:25:23 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Portland SLATY-BACKED GULL-yes Message-ID: <40084.35035.qm@web55707.mail.re3.yahoo.com> The SLATY-BACKED GULL was on a lamp post on the north side of the Burnside bridge up to about 3:40 this afternoon. Jeff Marks and his son and several other birders viewed the gull as well. Unfortunately, it flew south to the vicinity of the Hawthorne Bridge. We believe that it landed near the dock at the firehouse on the east bank north of the Hawthorne Bridge. Thanks a ton to Scott for quickly posting OBOL and to the original finder/s of the bird. Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia From fitzbeew at gmail.com Fri Jan 30 16:46:11 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:46:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lane CC Birds: Ruddy Duck, Common Goldeneye, etc. Message-ID: Obol, I point-counted birds with my friend Myriah Marsh at Lane Community College ponds and wetlands across the street again this morning. I also went back the on-campus ponds myself later this afternoon and got a few more species. Highlights include: Pair of HOODED MERGANSERS on small pond across street from campus (I saw a male here last week as well) Pair of American Wigeon there as well (not an amazing bird but one I have only seen a few other times there) Pair of WRENTITS nearby this pond; one of them chattered and then sang for us. A RUDDY DUCK has appeared at the East pond on campus; this is a good sign, as they have historically bred and wintered here. I had not before seen any Ruddy Ducks since Lane CC drained the ponds last year, so hopefully this Ruddy Duck will bring others. Female COMMON GOLDENEYE continues hanging out with the Bufflehead on the East pond on campus (present this afternoon but I did not see her this morning). There was a nice Red-breasted Sapsucker milling around the firs near the ponds on campus; I had noticed a lot of holes drilled into the tree, so it was nice to see the bird! Good birding, -Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com From slcarpenter at gmail.com Fri Jan 30 17:03:17 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:03:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-Backed Gull Photos Message-ID: Photos of the SLATY-BACKED GULL taken Friday, 30 January 2009, along the Willamette River, just south of the Burnside bridge: http://westerngrebe.com/SBGU/ Congrats to Grant and Margaret on a great find, and thank you both for sharing it. Scott Carpenter SW Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090130/e4c67cf7/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Fri Jan 30 16:55:35 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:55:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] FW: Peregrine Falcon / south of Eugene on I-5 In-Reply-To: <49837C88.80200@efn.org> Message-ID: FYI, see below -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News ------ Forwarded Message > From: Bruce Newhouse > Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:17:44 -0800 > To: Alan Contreras > Subject: Peregrine Falcon / south of Eugene on I-5 > > (The OBOL server rejected this post, Alan. Could you be so good as to > forward for me? Thank you!) > > Alby Thoumsin just called to report sighting a PEREGRINE FALCON > harrassing European Starlings just east of I-5, just south of the Goshen > exit south of Eugene. 1:45 p.m Friday, January 30 > > Bruce Newhouse in Eugene > ------ End of Forwarded Message From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Fri Jan 30 17:45:23 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:45:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland SLATY-BACKED GULL-yes In-Reply-To: <40084.35035.qm@web55707.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <40084.35035.qm@web55707.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <26B98E95-D7EE-480D-84FB-3C9285F09752@gmail.com> I just go home a bit ago as I had to run errands after seeing the Slaty-backed Gull. While I was there from 12:45-2:15 it liked being on the Burnside Bridge, perched on one or more of the lampposts, looking down on the traffic. It flew north from the Burnside Bride and had disappeared from view when I left at 2:15 PM. Grant, excellent find and great shots by Scott and Margaret. Scott did a good job getting good photos showing the wing pattern, which I see he just posted. If it isn't obvious when you arrive, please note that it would occasionally lie down while up on the lampposts and would be become fairly difficult to pick out. There was a nice selection of gulls along the river to look at when the Slaty-backed wasn't in view. Good luck! Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland On Jan 30, 2009, at 4:25 PM, m_scatt at yahoo.com wrote: > The SLATY-BACKED GULL was on a lamp post on the north side of the > Burnside bridge up to about 3:40 this afternoon. Jeff Marks and his > son and several other birders viewed the gull as well. > Unfortunately, it flew south to the vicinity of the Hawthorne > Bridge. We believe that it landed near the dock at the firehouse on > the east bank north of the Hawthorne Bridge. > > Thanks a ton to Scott for quickly posting OBOL and to the original > finder/s of the bird. > > Adrian and Christopher Hinkle > Em Scattaregia > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From srnord101 at verizon.net Fri Jan 30 18:51:46 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:51:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland Slaty-backed Gull - more photos Message-ID: <000001c9834e$dba19fa0$92e4dee0$@net> OBOL; I've posted some photos of the Slaty-backed Gull seen today just south of the Burnside Bridge. Since Scott and I were both photographing the bird at the same time, many poses are similar. Photos can be seen here: http://www.pbase.com/srn_naturalist/slatybacked_gull We saw a nice collection of gulls along the waterfront, including California, Herring, Thayer's, Ring-billed, Mew, Western, Glaucous-winged and of course all the various messy hybrids. Convenient location to sort through gulls. Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From tetraka at yahoo.com Fri Jan 30 19:27:48 2009 From: tetraka at yahoo.com (Robert Lockett) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:27:48 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Exactly WHERE is the SLATY-BACKED GULL? References: <3bce7ac07ac4ffdf0dba78c0f3b1269a@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <721464.53603.qm@web38701.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Adrienne Wolf-Lockett, Tom McNamara and I had the Slaty--backed on the lawn south of the west end of the Hawthorne Bridge around 4 p.m. this afternoon, so the gull gets around a bit. We found it with a mob of other gulls and Canada Geese. Bob Lockett ________________________________ From: Norgren Family To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 7:01:34 AM Subject: [obol] Exactly WHERE is the SLATY-BACKED GULL? Is Tom McCall Park the correct address? Is this specific to a one block neighborhood? Lars Norgren _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090130/9da37850/attachment.html From redbear44 at msn.com Fri Jan 30 19:58:28 2009 From: redbear44 at msn.com (Thomas Hall) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 20:58:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ancient Murrelet Yaquina Lighthouse Message-ID: Looked at Depoe Bay for an ancient murrelt today with no success. Tried a few other places with no success. Finally after visiting the lighthouse and scoping the area out, took the first road after entering the Yaquina Lighthouse NWR to the left following the entrance and watched an Ancient Murrelet for 20 minutes right along the rocks at the end of the road to the south. Nice adult. Also found 5 Harlequin Ducks to the northeast side of the lighthouse, a bazillion scoters of all 3 species (especially surfs) and Common Murres. In addition, 2 juvenile Brown Pelicans were seen cruising south along the coast. It was a great day! Thomas Hall Livermore, CO -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090130/3fee5a56/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sat Jan 31 06:35:55 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 06:35:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos Red Knot 1/30/2009 Message-ID: <136060.41915.qm@web45315.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> The RED KNOT that first showed up in early December in the Empire area of Coos Bay (off Pigeon Point) is still around making it the 4th winter record for the county. It was with a couple thousand shorebirds, mostly Dunlin and Sanderling but also about 100 Leasties, 50+ Westerns, and maybe 20 BB Plovers. Good birding all! Tim R Coos Bay From sandyleapt at comcast.net Sat Jan 31 07:40:38 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 15:40:38 +0000 Subject: [obol] Turkey Vulture Message-ID: <013120091540.18158.498470F600058CB6000046EE22070009539B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Hi Edmund, LOL, acronyms are so funny. I am quite prone to communication errors because I take things literally. Just call me Gracie if you are old enough to remember. Seems like the FCC would be interested in this sighting. Do you think it has to do with the conversion to high definition in February? I wonder which subspecies you saw LCD or Plasma? Thanks ;) Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Edmund Hertz > > On Monday the 26th there was a T.V. flying over hwy 99 between Eugene and > Junction City, near the airport > > Edmund Hertz > > -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: Edmund Hertz Subject: [obol] Turkey Vulture Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:50:34 +0000 Size: 1528 Url: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090131/d90bffd7/attachment.mht From sandyleapt at comcast.net Sat Jan 31 08:17:49 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:17:49 +0000 Subject: [obol] White-headed Heron? Message-ID: <013120091617.10620.498479AD00086A480000297C22007507449B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Hi All. My husband tells me he saw a heron that looked like a Great Blue Heron except it has a white head. Has anyone else noticed such a thing? He saw it while driving along NE Marine Drive. It was on the north side of Marine Drive. For our east and west boundaries it was between the I-205 (Sam Jackson) Bridge (east) and the airport control tower (west). I asked him if it was the Great Egret we saw last Sunday at 33rd and NE Marine Drive. He said no, the bird has a dark gray body and a white head. If you happen to be down that way please watch for it and tell me what it might be. Thanks Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Jan 31 09:35:18 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 09:35:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] White-headed Heron? In-Reply-To: <013120091617.10620.498479AD00086A480000297C22007507449B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> References: <013120091617.10620.498479AD00086A480000297C22007507449B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Message-ID: This is close to the only Black=crowned Nightheron roost in Portland, which may appear to show more white on the head than a Great Blue. The Great Blue does have substantial areas of white and pale feathers on the head which could appear all white under some lighting conditions. Lars Norgren On Jan 31, 2009, at 8:17 AM, sandyleapt at comcast.net wrote: > Hi All. > > My husband tells me he saw a heron that looked like a Great Blue Heron > except it has a white head. Has anyone else noticed such a thing? > He saw it while driving along NE Marine Drive. It was on the north > side of Marine Drive. For our east and west boundaries it was between > the I-205 (Sam Jackson) Bridge (east) and the airport control tower > (west). > > I asked him if it was the Great Egret we saw last Sunday at 33rd and > NE Marine Drive. He said no, the bird has a dark gray body and a > white head. > > If you happen to be down that way please watch for it and tell me what > it might be. > > Thanks > > Sandy Leaptrott > NE Portland > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From hnehls6 at comcast.net Sat Jan 31 13:17:10 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:17:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland Slaty-backed Gull Message-ID: OBOLERS, I have heard that the Slaty-backed Gull was seen today at Westmoreland Park in southeastern Portland. I may be moving to the food supply. Harry Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090131/361115cd/attachment.html From loisbillranta at comcast.net Sat Jan 31 13:24:36 2009 From: loisbillranta at comcast.net (Ranta) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:24:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty Backed Gull Message-ID: Observed at 12:45 at Westmoreland Park, north of the casting pond. Bill Ranta -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090131/4b021702/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Sat Jan 31 14:50:14 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 14:50:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull - Portland Message-ID: As all of us were standing around in the fog on the riverbank downtown around noon, a gentleman on a bike named Art Clausing stopped by to tell us that he had seen the Slaty-backed Gull at Westmoreland Park this morning between 10:30 & 11:00. He showed his digital photos to Jim Danzenbaker and me, and voila, it was the bird! Thus began a mass birder exodus from the river, as we all headed to Westmoreland Park. There the bird put on a nice show for us at close range. It finally picked up and flew off to the NW (in the direction of the river downtown) at 1:50 pm, unfortunately just as several new birders had arrived. At this point my guess is that it is spending its mornings at Westmoreland and its afternoons at the river. There was also a gull that appeared to be a 1st-cycle barrovianus Glaucous Gull at Westmoreland. A great time was had by all. A big thanks to Art Clausing for alerting us all of the bird's whereabouts! Jay Withgott, grateful for finally seeing this long-elusive lifer, and right here at home in Portland, to boot! From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Jan 31 15:25:19 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 15:25:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull, White-eyed G-wing Message-ID: <2425bcdfb6d9abc9d5b71563c2bf45ce@earthlink.net> Jay Withgott summed it all up. He didn't mention that the prize bird spent five minutes threatening his shoes' integrity although he proffered no bread or other bribe. Eight species of gull at Westmoreland in dazzling sunlight. One intriguing gull looked like a Glaucous-wing adult with dusky wing-tips and a WHITE eye, just like the Slaty-backed. Also had a pale pink orbital ring. Anyone have experience with such a bird? I believe Shawneen got photos. Harry mentioned food supply. On weekends the number of people dumping bread at Westmoreland Park probably goes up substantially. Tom McCall Park (riverfront downtown) had few gulls in the morning. Out of towners take note: the road from Tom McCall to Westmoreland is easy. The street along the Willamette in downtown Portland is "Front". Follow it south to the Ross Island Bridge. First exit on the east end of the bridge is McGloughlin/99E. Follow it south past 17th Street light. An exit is marked "Sellwood/ Moreland". The park's right there, across from the first stop sign. If you miss the turn don't panic, "Reed College" exit is immediately after and yields the same results. Lars Norgren From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Sat Jan 31 15:49:11 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 15:49:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull, White-eyed G-wing In-Reply-To: <2425bcdfb6d9abc9d5b71563c2bf45ce@earthlink.net> References: <2425bcdfb6d9abc9d5b71563c2bf45ce@earthlink.net> Message-ID: I did get photos of it and its very pale eye. According to Steve Howell's book the occurrence of this is less then one percent. Very rare in Glaucous-winged Gulls. I got a good shot of Jay Withgott almost getting run over by the Slaty-backed! Will post to Fllckr when I have time. Right now I have to make up for the time spent gulling today instead of studying! Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland. On Jan 31, 2009, at 3:25 PM, Norgren Family wrote: > Jay Withgott summed it all up. > He didn't mention that the prize > bird spent five minutes threatening > his shoes' integrity although he > proffered no bread or other bribe. > Eight species of gull at Westmoreland > in dazzling sunlight. > One intriguing gull looked like a > Glaucous-wing adult with dusky wing-tips > and a WHITE eye, just like the Slaty-backed. > Also had a pale pink orbital ring. Anyone > have experience with such a bird? I believe > Shawneen got photos. > Harry mentioned food supply. On weekends > the number of people dumping bread at > Westmoreland Park probably goes up substantially. > Tom McCall Park (riverfront downtown) had > few gulls in the morning. > Out of towners take note: the road from > Tom McCall to Westmoreland is easy. The > street along the Willamette in downtown Portland > is "Front". Follow it south to the Ross Island > Bridge. First exit on the east end of the bridge > is McGloughlin/99E. Follow it south past 17th > Street light. An exit is marked "Sellwood/ > Moreland". The park's right there, across from > the first stop sign. If you miss the turn don't > panic, "Reed College" exit is immediately after > and yields the same results. Lars Norgren > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From cvmcrawford at gmail.com Sat Jan 31 16:06:50 2009 From: cvmcrawford at gmail.com (Corrinne Crawford) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:06:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] BAIKAL TEAL at Ridgefield Message-ID: <1b7470eb0901311606q7f335f64n5af6e3e8f00b9366@mail.gmail.com> This afternoon at about 2:30 pm we found a male Baikal Teal on the Ridgefield River S loop. The teal was on Schwartz Lake, between markers 12 and 13. Hope others can find it; it's a spectacular bird! Corrinne and Bryan Crawford -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090131/92346fcc/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Sat Jan 31 16:08:36 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:08:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland Birder's Night - Feb 3 Message-ID: <7E6C7993-E2EA-4C8E-BA65-10DF9497F364@gmail.com> Jim Danzenbaker asked me to post the following for him: Jim will show images of South Georgia Island - Subantarctic Avian Paradise. A travelogue of photos of Albatrosses, Penguins, Petrels, Mammals, Icebergs and a little history too! Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland From tlove at linfield.edu Sat Jan 31 17:01:36 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:01:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Salem Glaucous Gull Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F1214C15B1F@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> Happened to be in Salem today for my son's basketball game. The frosty white first winter GLAUCOUS GULL continues at the little feeding area just west of the junction of State St/Airport Rd. in south central Salem. I first spotted it up on the roof of the penitentiary behind (thanks Jeff), but then it flew down among the horde of GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS being fed there, for spectacular looks. There was also one nicely marked WESTERN GULL there too. Tom Love tlove at linfield.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090131/f15a7e8b/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sat Jan 31 17:23:09 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:23:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull, habitat Message-ID: <11A05EC2F35C4CA89B8CC9666BC002A1@D48XBZ51> As noted by others, I observed and photographed the 3rd-cycle Slaty-backed Gull yesterday afternoon at Tom McCall Park. Great bird - jizz was more different from other large gulls than I expected, or than I have noticed in photographs. Seems big-bodied, with the goose-butt that Al Jaramillo has described, but also seems long-necked, and a bit small-headed, in comparison to Western, GW, etc. I have spent a lot ot time over the past decade looking at gulls at stream outlets on the Oregon coast, and particularly at the Yaquina Bay South Jetty, and have never seen a Slaty-backed Gull in these places. I have been reading a lot about Slaty-back occurrences on hte West Coast, and I think I have figured out why I am not finding them in Lincoln County. Most seem to be occurring in places with human-supplied food, from the Sauvie Island pellet plant, to the Wireless Road pastures where manure is spread, to the Del Norte County pastures where manure is spread, to Half Moon Bay, which I gather is a loafing/bathing place for birds that feed at a nearby huge landfill. So, I suspect that the most likely place for Slaty-backed Gulls to occur more regularly in Oregon is in the dairy pastures around Tillamook. I do not hear much about people working through the gulls there, so maybe we should do more of that? Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090131/f115704b/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Jan 31 17:23:10 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:23:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Crook County Birds Message-ID: Yesterday we found 3 WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at the Prineville Sewer Ponds. We found 1 SNOW GOOSE on O'Neil Road. We also found a "white" Canada Goose with brown facial markings. Chuck Gates Powell Butte No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.14/1920 - Release Date: 1/27/2009 6:15 PM From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Jan 31 17:35:55 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:35:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Searchable database for Central Oregon Message-ID: For the past 6 years, I've been dutifully recording every Central Oregon bird sighting reported to obol, COBOL, birdnotes, and many other sources. I have arranged these records on an EXCEL spreadsheet that has over 60,000 entries. It is arranged alphabetically and can be easily searched by species, date, location, county, or reporter. All you need to access all this info is to have EXCEL or another compatible program (if you don't have a program, you can download OPENOFFICE and it will run pretty much any spreadsheet out there). I will send a copy of this spread sheet to anyone who wants it. I will warn you that it is pretty large (2KB) so it will take a while to download if you have dial-up. You may be asking yourself, "Why would anyone want this beast?" I think it is very handy to help with planning trips to this region. You can search for your favorite birds and find the best locations for that species. You can search the locations you are planning on visiting and see which birds are found around the time of your visit. If you are county listing, this baby can be a great help. Anyway, if it sounds like something you might use, let me know and I'll send it to you. Chuck Gates Powell Butte No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.14/1920 - Release Date: 1/27/2009 6:15 PM From sandyleapt at comcast.net Sat Jan 31 17:46:25 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2009 01:46:25 +0000 Subject: [obol] White-headed Heron? Message-ID: <020120090146.26585.4984FEF10008E7B1000067D922007510909B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Hi Lars, I showed Jim pictures of the of the Black-crowned Night-heron. He said it was definitely not one of those. The head was all white, and the bird was abnormally large for a Great Blue Heron. It may have looked large because the bird was closer to the road than when we see them on the airport. Jim tells me, no, it was not the light making the bird's head white. I asked if it's head was Bald-eagle white and he said yes. He saw it about 2:00 in the afternoon. I suppose it could be a leucistic bird. Hope I have time to run down to the river for a while tomorrow. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Norgren Family > This is close to the only Black=crowned > Nightheron roost in Portland, which may > appear to show more white on the head > than a Great Blue. The Great Blue does > have substantial areas of white and pale > feathers on the head which could appear > all white under some lighting conditions. > Lars Norgren > On Jan 31, 2009, at 8:17 AM, sandyleapt at comcast.net wrote: > > > Hi All. > > > > My husband tells me he saw a heron that looked like a Great Blue Heron > > except it has a white head. Has anyone else noticed such a thing? > > He saw it while driving along NE Marine Drive. It was on the north > > side of Marine Drive. For our east and west boundaries it was between > > the I-205 (Sam Jackson) Bridge (east) and the airport control tower > > (west). > > > > I asked him if it was the Great Egret we saw last Sunday at 33rd and > > NE Marine Drive. He said no, the bird has a dark gray body and a > > white head. > > > > If you happen to be down that way please watch for it and tell me what > > it might be. > > > > Thanks > > > > Sandy Leaptrott > > NE Portland > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > From range.bayer at gmail.com Sat Jan 31 18:00:17 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:00:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Jan. 30 Daily Astorian Article about Pelicans at Wildlife Center of the North Coast Message-ID: http://www.dailyastorian.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=398&ArticleID=57909 1/30/2009. Wildlife Center Treats Stranded Pelicans. Researchers Theorize Birds Stayed Too Long in Oregon. By Cassandra Profita, The Daily Astorian Excerpts: "Center Director Sharnelle Fee said the center is treating 36 California brown pelicans found along the northern Oregon and southwest Washington coasts. The birds are part of a major stranding event that has affected an estimated 300 to 400 pelicans in the region since mid-December. Thousands of pelicans stayed in Oregon longer than usual last year, as mild weather and abundant food supplies held steady through the end of November. "Experts now suspect the birds got caught in the winter storms along the Pacific Northwest coast during their southward migration and are now suffering from frostbite, hypothermia and exhaustion, among other ailments, after braving the snow and ice. ... "It's not unusual for Fee to see injured pelicans at the wildlife rehab center as they begin their migration southward. She can usually expect to treat around two dozen a year. This year she's taken in more than 80, and they're still trickling in. Some have had fractured wings, one has a leg injury. Many have frostbite." -- Range Bayer, Newport From 5hats at peak.org Sat Jan 31 18:17:39 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:17:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gilliam and Sherman Counties January 30-31 Message-ID: <000801c98413$45d371e0$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Obolites, Birded a bit in these two counties on dates specified. Only special birds in the former were a pair of Common Mergansers very near the mouth of the John Day River, mostly on the Gilliam side, reason for them being special is that they were the first I had ever encountered in the county-this in spite of the fact they are supposed to be easy, and I have birded Gilliam probably as much or more than any birder in Oregon. It is nice to finally see a nemesis bird. Good numbers of ducks below John Day dam. For a moment just south of the first turn on the road toward the dam I thought I had found a Tufted Duck. It was with scaup, but was much darker on the back, had gleaming white sides, and a peaked crown with a small crest. After studying the bird for a time I decided it was a Tufted x Scaup hybrid. The back was not quite black, being more darkish gray and contrasting with a greenish glossed head, and the tuft was as stated, a crest, not a true tuft as one would expect on an adult Tufted. At the far south pond on the road running south away from the dam there was a lone Eurasian Wigeon. Now a question: Has anyone ever seen a significant movement of birds of any kind going up or down the Columbia from the rest area overlook west of Arlington? The place almost always seems nearly devoid of birds. One would think, given the abundance of waterfowl and gulls found below both the John Day and McNary dams that at least occasionally there would be an observable movement of birds past this point in Gilliam County, but I certainly have never observed it, and wonder if anyone else ever has. Would a seawatch type coverage of this spot in, say, mid-May or mid-November have any potential for sighting such a movement? Any reports of observations, or thoughts or comments would be appreciated. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090131/fbb2a357/attachment.html From carolk at viclink.com Sat Jan 31 18:19:18 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:19:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] A very successful tour Message-ID: <000701c98413$82daeb40$71430a0a@home> OBOL: We went looking for reported birds today. At Colville Rd., Baskett Slough NWR, ~10:30 AM, we found: 25+ HORNED LARKS reported earlier by Pat Tilley Plus an adult Bald Eagle, various ducks and 4-5 TREE SWALLOWS In Salem at State St. & Airport Rd., at noon, after chumming with bread, we found: 1 first year GLAUCOUS GULL on the penitentiary roof (It showed up briefly as we were about to give up. Thanks to Jeff Harding. Plus Thayer's, Herring, & Ring-billed Gulls amid the G-w Gulls. On Tennessee Rd., north of Lebanon, ~1:30, we found: 3 SANDHILL CRANES in Linn county (finally!! after many searches) Jeff Harding, Thanks again! At the corner of Naito Parkway & Ankeny on the Portland waterfront, at 3:08 PM, after chumming with bread for only ~ 3 slices/10 minutes, we found: 1 SLATY-BACKED GULL. Thanks to the finders and reporters of this bird. Plus: Glaucous-winged, Western, Herring, Thayer's, and Ring-billed Gulls. We celebrated with a Guinness at Kell's Pub, around the corner! Aye, laddie, 'twas a fine day. ;-) Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen From millikan at viclink.com Sat Jan 31 18:24:35 2009 From: millikan at viclink.com (Barbara Millikan) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:24:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] owls in NW Polk county (almost Yamhill) Message-ID: <20090201022524.5B343A823E@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Tonight at 6:15 pm I am hearing a northern saw whet owl nonstop, with a screech owl calling every once in awhile. Just about every night I hear one to three great horned owls. If you want to come by, call 503 843-2548. If any of you want to add owl sounds to your lists, give us a call. Yrs. Barbara From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sat Jan 31 18:31:51 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:31:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hours info Ridgefield? Message-ID: The Ridgefield website does not give the info on closures, no map,etc. Well, anyway the link to their map is not active. Is this one of those refuges that has a seasonal partial closure? Like every other day - alternating hunting and rest for birds or whatever? If so, is it open Sunday? Monday? Can someone post info please. A gull and a nearby Teal add up to enough fun to go for a chase. Judy jmeredit at bendnet.com From slcarpenter at gmail.com Sat Jan 31 18:53:26 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:53:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hours info Ridgefield? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Ridgefield NWR is normally open everyday, although adverse weather can close it (e.g., it was closed for several days during that week of snowfall in the Portland metro area in December). I believe the gate at the River S Unit opens at 6 a.m. these days, although it could potentially be 7 a.m. The closing time varies with the season, but the closing time on my last visit was 6 p.m., and the days have been getting longer since then, so it should be open until at least then. You are allowed out of your car only at two locations on the River S Unit -- at the check-in kiosk and the observation blind. A scope can be quite useful. For what it is worth, hunting days are Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday. You can't ever bird in the hunting areas, but you can bird on River S and hear the shotguns. In my experience, waterfowl tend to congregate more in the River S unit on hunting days since it is a non-hunting area. To get to the River S Unit, head south from the town of Ridgefield on 9th Street. The refuge entrance will be on your right (west) after about 1/2 of a mile. The Carty Unit is north of town, and cannot be driven -- it must be walked. It has two decent size ponds. It is my understanding that there are no restrictions on where you can walk in the Carty Unit, even though there are very old "do no enter" signs. If you go, several of the Ridgefield regulars have walkie-talkies on channel 11, privacy code 22. If/when the Baikal Teal is refound, my guess is the word will get out pretty quickly. Good luck. Scott Carpenter SW Portland On Sat, Jan 31, 2009 at 6:31 PM, Judy Meredith wrote: > The Ridgefield website does not give the info on closures, > no map,etc. Well, anyway the link to their map is not active. > > Is this one of those refuges that has a seasonal partial closure? > Like every other day - alternating hunting and rest for birds > or whatever? If so, is it open Sunday? Monday? Can someone > post info please. > A gull and a nearby Teal add up to enough fun to go for a > chase. > Judy > jmeredit at bendnet.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090131/2bb6498d/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Jan 31 18:53:33 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:53:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Index to Oregon bird reports needed Message-ID: Last year I donated a set of American Birds to the North American Birds regional editor, and included my copy of the Index to Oregon bird reports that Clare Watson prepared some years ago. I forgot that I might still need that index for occasional projects, and apparently OFO does not have any more of them. Does anyone have one that they are not using that I could buy? I can always make a photocopy, but I'd rather have the easy-to-use saddle-stapled original. Sometime we need to get it scanned and made available in electronic form, but it would be a heck of a proof job. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From slcarpenter at gmail.com Sat Jan 31 18:59:51 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:59:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hours info Ridgefield? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Now I find the link... Per http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/Ridgefield/visit.html the refuge is currently open 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. Hunting appears to be over for the year (ended last week) -- see calender of Waterfowl Hunting Days at http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/Ridgefield/recreation/huntinghomepage.html Sorry for not getting it all in the first time. Scott Carpenter SW Portland On Sat, Jan 31, 2009 at 6:53 PM, Scott Carpenter wrote: > Ridgefield NWR is normally open everyday, although adverse weather can > close it (e.g., it was closed for several days during that week of snowfall > in the Portland metro area in December). > > I believe the gate at the River S Unit opens at 6 a.m. these days, although > it could potentially be 7 a.m. The closing time varies with the season, but > the closing time on my last visit was 6 p.m., and the days have been getting > longer since then, so it should be open until at least then. > > You are allowed out of your car only at two locations on the River S Unit > -- at the check-in kiosk and the observation blind. A scope can be quite > useful. > > For what it is worth, hunting days are Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday. > You can't ever bird in the hunting areas, but you can bird on River S and > hear the shotguns. In my experience, waterfowl tend to congregate more in > the River S unit on hunting days since it is a non-hunting area. > > To get to the River S Unit, head south from the town of Ridgefield on 9th > Street. The refuge entrance will be on your right (west) after about 1/2 of > a mile. > > The Carty Unit is north of town, and cannot be driven -- it must be > walked. It has two decent size ponds. It is my understanding that there > are no restrictions on where you can walk in the Carty Unit, even though > there are very old "do no enter" signs. > > If you go, several of the Ridgefield regulars have walkie-talkies on > channel 11, privacy code 22. If/when the Baikal Teal is refound, my guess > is the word will get out pretty quickly. > > Good luck. > > Scott Carpenter > SW Portland > > > On Sat, Jan 31, 2009 at 6:31 PM, Judy Meredith wrote: > >> The Ridgefield website does not give the info on closures, >> no map,etc. Well, anyway the link to their map is not active. >> >> Is this one of those refuges that has a seasonal partial closure? >> Like every other day - alternating hunting and rest for birds >> or whatever? If so, is it open Sunday? Monday? Can someone >> post info please. >> A gull and a nearby Teal add up to enough fun to go for a >> chase. >> Judy >> jmeredit at bendnet.com >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090131/dc55eb4e/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sat Jan 31 19:41:16 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:41:16 -0500 Subject: [obol] More notes on the Slaty-backed Gull in Portland Message-ID: Some more notes on the Slaty-backed Gull at Westmoreland Park today: It is indeed the same bird that was found at Tom McCall Park. The fact that this bird was refound at Tom McCall later in the afternoon is remarkable and shows that the distances these birds can travel effortlessly can be considerable. This is a 3rd-cycle bird, not an adult for the following reasons: Bill color (the adult winter should not show any dark color in the bill), limited white on the tail tips (adults show an amount comparable to a Western Gull) and mantle (there are some areas on our bird that haven't fully molted). Our bird showed its "keel" quite well. The lowest part of the bird (apart from the legs) was its belly which is the area between its legs and the undertail coverts. It kind of looks like a goose. This is in fairly stark contrast to the average GW/Western/Olympic Gull. The "string of pearls" were showing well when the bird took flight. Great references for understanding the fieldmarks are Howell & Dunn, Olson & Larson and Grant. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?:?more than just e-mail. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_hm_justgotbetter_explore_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090131/2552d68f/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Jan 31 20:11:01 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 04:11:01 +0000 Subject: [obol] More notes on the Slaty-backed Gull in Portland In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Greetings All, I would not call the distance between Westmoreland Park and Tom McCall Park "considerable" as it is at most about 5 miles as the gull flies. Here in Eugene, the local gulls roost on Fern Ridge Reservoir. During the day they routinely disperse north (to Brownsville), east (to Springfiled and probably Dexter Res.) and southeast (to Camas Swale just n. of Creswell) to sites that are upwards of thirty miles from this roost site. This dispersal pattern includes nearly every school athletic field, grocery store parking lot, and large park within the UGB (urban growth boundary) of Eugene/Springfield. As midday transitions into late afternoon small flocks of gulls can be seen flying to the west/northwest along the Willamette River and then out over west Eugene as these birds make their way back to the reservoir. Since gulls don't roost at Westmoreland Park, or even in downtown Portland (as I recall), we can assume that this comparatively short flight (10-12 minutes if the bird is flying 30mph) is just a leg in the daily travels of this bird. I suspect that if one were to spend the afternoon in McCall park they could see a fairly sizeable portion of the gulls that feed south of there during the day pass back to the north on their way to evening roosts. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: greenfant at hotmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:41:16 -0500 Subject: [obol] More notes on the Slaty-backed Gull in Portland Some more notes on the Slaty-backed Gull at Westmoreland Park today: It is indeed the same bird that was found at Tom McCall Park. The fact that this bird was refound at Tom McCall later in the afternoon is remarkable and shows that the distances these birds can travel effortlessly can be considerable. This is a 3rd-cycle bird, not an adult for the following reasons: Bill color (the adult winter should not show any dark color in the bill), limited white on the tail tips (adults show an amount comparable to a Western Gull) and mantle (there are some areas on our bird that haven't fully molted). Our bird showed its "keel" quite well. The lowest part of the bird (apart from the legs) was its belly which is the area between its legs and the undertail coverts. It kind of looks like a goose. This is in fairly stark contrast to the average GW/Western/Olympic Gull. The "string of pearls" were showing well when the bird took flight. Great references for understanding the fieldmarks are Howell & Dunn, Olson & Larson and Grant. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR Windows Live? Hotmail?:?more than just e-mail. Check it out. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_explore_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090201/80896a21/attachment.html From cvmcrawford at gmail.com Sat Jan 31 20:11:34 2009 From: cvmcrawford at gmail.com (Corrinne Crawford) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:11:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] More on Baikal Teal at Ridgefield Message-ID: <1b7470eb0901312011p7f614e97x5411b85ffa216165@mail.gmail.com> Hi all, In response to some questions about the Baikal Teal we saw today at Ridgefield, here are some details. We saw an unusual duck that we couldn't identify, and we at first assumed it was a hybrid of some sort. But we couldn't come up with any likely combination to account for what we saw--the white line around the entire dark head, the green and cream markings on the face, the vertical white bar similar to that on a green-winged teal. The teal was floating on Schwartz Lake among several pintails. After watching the bird for 20-30 minutes and drawing it for future reference, we began looking through several field guides we had in the car, and found Peterson's illustration of the male Baikal Teal that had all of the details we had noted. We took several photos (not that great) as the duck drifted nearer, and they are now posted on Flickr. We hope others more expert than we are will be able to see and photograph the bird. We found the teal on Schwartz Lake, between markers 12 and 13, on the auto tour loop of the River S unit. It was still there when we left at about 3 pm this afternoon. http://www.flickr.com/photos/34956104 at N04/sets/72157613212484888/ Corrinne and Bryan Crawford -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090131/bf592110/attachment.html From danpvdb at yahoo.com Sat Jan 31 20:18:36 2009 From: danpvdb at yahoo.com (Dan van den Broek) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:18:36 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Photo--Baikal Teal Message-ID: <221513.20451.qm@web55302.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Hi All Some friends of mine, Steve and Sybil Kohl, were lucky enough to be at Ridgefield today. They got word from the people (Corinne and Bryan) that found the bird and went to look for it. I attached the photo sent to me by Steve. Enjoy!!! Good luck tomorrow. Hope it stays around till Tuesday. Dan van den Broek -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090131/e57c027c/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 2009 Jan 31_2310_edited-1.JPG Type: image/jpeg Size: 269153 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090131/e57c027c/attachment.jpe From Oropendolas at aol.com Sat Jan 31 20:30:12 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:30:12 EST Subject: [obol] Lane Co. Raptor Route #2 - Golden Eagle Message-ID: Hello All, Tanya Bray and I did the Lane Co. Raptor Route #2 today. The 80 mile route took 5-1/4 hours and covers the West Eugene Wetlands area and north between Green Hill Road and River Road to Hwy 36 near Junction City then between Hwy 99W and Washburn Road to the Lane County line. We had a great day with several highlites. An Immature GOLDEN EAGLE was seen harassing ~5000 Cackling Geese + 1 SNOW GOOSE along Washburn Lane west of Junction City. 4 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were seen along the route including one gorgeous dark morph at Cox Butte and Washburn NW of Junction City. Another light morph was in this same area, the other two were north of the Eugene Airport along Green Hill Rd. Another, nearly black BUTEO was seen perched in this same area along the inaccessible Long Tom River between Cox Butte and Ferguson Roads. We thought it was possibly another dark Rough-leg while looking north at the bird in good light at ~ 3/4 mile. While looking at the bird in poor light from ~ 1/4 mile we were able to see bare tarsi in silhouette, ruling out RLHA. It would be nice to get a better look at this interesting raptor. Other bird highlites today were ~35 TREE SWALLOWS seen along Green Hill Rd. North of the Eugene Airport. NORTHERN SHRIKE at Meadowlark Prairie west of Eugene. A minimum of 18 TURKEY VULTURES were counted along the route today. The Raptor numbers for today: RTHA - 33 AMKE - 41 NOHA - 11 WTKI - 2 BAEA - 8 GOEA - 1 RLHA - 4 COHA - 2 John Sullivan Springfield, OR **************From Wall Street to Main Street and everywhere in between, stay up-to-date with the latest news. (http://aol.com?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000023) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090131/f9b6f252/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Sat Jan 31 20:33:27 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:33:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull not 1st to commute to Westmoreland Message-ID: <49852617.8080903@pdx.edu> In the mid-1990s I found a 3rd winter plumaged SLATY-BACKED GULL on Sauvie Island at the Pellet Plant in late December or January. This individual also showed up at Westmoreland Park in SE Portland. Gulls move around. The Laughing gull I found a few winters ago in Clatsop County, I first saw near Sunset Beach. I later observed it at the Seaside Cove 5 or more miles south. Westmoreland is one of my favorite birding haunts in Portland. It provides spectacular study opportunities for gulls--high species diversity and usually close views. Several other usually difficult to approach species are also often found at the park, especially waterfowl. Wonderful photos of the the Slaty-backed Gull--Thanks to all for posting and documenting this bird. The reddish-brown in the head patterning shows in the2nd and 3rd sets of photos that were posted. David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From baileydc at pdx.edu Sat Jan 31 20:41:18 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:41:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] More notes on the Slaty-backed Gull in Portland Message-ID: <498527EE.7020005@pdx.edu> From my experience, most of the Gulls staging the winter in the Portland area roost at the mouth of the Willamette River between Sauvie Island and Kelly Point Park at night. In my youth there were many log rafts along the Columbia River by Hayden Island and the gulls seemed to roost on them. The practice of rafting logs and leaving them in the river seems to has ceased. From 5hats at peak.org Sat Jan 31 20:42:16 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:42:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gilliam addendum Message-ID: <000f01c98427$77b59670$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Obol, A further note: On January 29 Arlington was swarming with Cedar Waxwings. We didn't see any Bohemians mixed in, but last February we saw a mixed flock a few miles east at Willow Cove, so anyone headed through Arlington in the next few days might give it a look. Most of the birds were up on the hill just south of the school and around the cemetery. Darrel & Laura -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090131/5e2fdf0c/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Sat Jan 31 20:48:14 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:48:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] More notes on the Slaty-backed Gull in Portland In-Reply-To: <498527EE.7020005@pdx.edu> References: <498527EE.7020005@pdx.edu> Message-ID: Many gulls also appear to roost at Vancouver Lake just across the state line. In the evening, it is possible to see hundreds heading north from Portland toward that general area. Scott Carpenter SW Portland On Sat, Jan 31, 2009 at 8:41 PM, David C. B ailey wrote: > From my experience, most of the Gulls staging the winter in the > Portland area roost at the mouth of the Willamette River between Sauvie > Island and Kelly Point Park at night. In my youth there were many log > rafts along the Columbia River by Hayden Island and the gulls seemed to > roost on them. The practice of rafting logs and leaving them in the > river seems to has ceased. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090131/e4d0e14d/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Jan 31 22:04:38 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:04:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland Area gull roosts Message-ID: <6b01b62977702b14f779e9c33e3520c3@earthlink.net> Fernhill Lake has 300-500 gulls on it in late afternoon and early evening sometimes in late fall and winter. Mornings and early afternoon there can be none to a few dozen. Anyone there after 3pm in the colder months can see the number of birds rise steadily until dark. The actual water treatment facility north of the parking lot attracts Mew Gulls throughout the day, but the larger species forage quite far afield. With minimal expenditure of energy these birds can soar to several thousand feet, and on a clear day must be able to survey a huge area. I imagine that a gull high above Beaverton can see Westmoreland and Fernhill simultaneously. My own corner of the Tualatin Valley has been under snow, then the bare ground frozen, for over six weeks. Foraging gull numbers have accordingly been low to non-existant save during the flooding mid-month. The potential of Tillamook's pastures was much in my mind when I ventured there this Thursday. I don't know where the thousands of birds I have seen there during past wrestling seasons were this week, but it wasn't inland from the bay. Lars Norgren From jschultz001 at centurytel.net Sat Jan 31 22:31:57 2009 From: jschultz001 at centurytel.net (J Schultz) Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:31:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fw: John Scharff Migratory Bird Festival (Harney County) Message-ID: Registration opens on February 9, 2009 April 3, 4, & 5 2009 John Scharff Migratory Bird Festival 484 North Broadway Burns, OR 97720 (541) 573-2636 Festival takes place at Burns High School and surrounding countyside. Email: info at migratorybirdfestival.com http://www.migratorybirdfestival.com/ http://www.migratorybirdfestival.com/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090131/25db160b/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Feb 1 04:55:56 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 04:55:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Best Birding Vistas Message-ID: Yesterday, it was a beautiful day in Central Oregon so I decided to drive to the top of Grizzly Butte which is north of Prineville. This site is only clear of snow about half the time in the winter but it is fairly clear now if you have a 4-wheel drive. There were no birds yesterday but Snow Buntings and Rosy-Finches frequent this location. The view, however, is simply one of the best in Central Oregon. It got me thinking about the most visually appealing birding locations in Oregon. It occurred to me that most obolites have never been to this location and there are probably many like it in Oregon. What are the most visually appealing birding sites in Oregon? The Steen's, Crater Lake, and Coxcomb Hill come to mind but these are known by most people. What are some of the less known but still spectacular places? I think the view from the top of Grizzly ranks #2 behind the Steen's Mountains. You can see Shasta to the south and Adams to the north. Every Cascade peak in between is in full view. You have a complete view of the Ochocos to the east and the canyons of the Deschutes are there in all their glory. Great spot. Chuck Gates Powell Butte No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.14/1920 - Release Date: 1/27/2009 6:15 PM From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Feb 1 04:58:49 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 04:58:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Central Oregon Database File Size Message-ID: Yesterday, I offered to send people a spreadsheet with the bird records for Central Oregon. Please note that I misreported the size of that file. It is 6.5 MB not 2 KB in size. I could zip it but I figured many would be unable to open it. Anyway, it's big. Gates Powell Butte No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.14/1920 - Release Date: 1/27/2009 6:15 PM From andrewm25 at earthlink.net Sun Feb 1 08:33:35 2009 From: andrewm25 at earthlink.net (Andrew Marshall) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 11:33:35 -0500 (EST) Subject: [obol] aka birdlist Message-ID: <33103699.1233506015901.JavaMail.root@elwamui-little.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Hi folks, Anyone have handy a copy of the AKA birdlist they can email me please? I would go to the archives but after the last round of house-keeping/anti-hacking on my computer I can't seem to get into them now. Thanks in advance Andrew please stop by my photo albums at http://atlanticsalmonflyguy.myphotoalbum.com/albums.php or find me at webshots under the pseudonym Atlanticsalmonflyguy. Comments are always appreciated. Thank-you! From greg at thebirdguide.com Sun Feb 1 09:06:50 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 09:06:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Steve Kohl's Baikal Teal photo Message-ID: <626701714EE14027B69F0928F9F56150@GREG> Steve Kohl's photo of the Vancouver, Washington, Baikal Teal from January 31 is here: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/_from_others I took the liberty of correcting levels and boosting the color saturation. What a great bird! Greg From jbw at oregoncoast.com Sun Feb 1 09:49:47 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara & John Woodhouse) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 09:49:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] scenic bird spots Message-ID: Another place with a view is the top of Mount Hebo on a clear day you can see at least 7 peaks and the other direction is the sea Haystack rock at PC is visible and more of the coast line. If you are there at the right time of the year you can also find Lady's tresses wild orchids. Barbara & John Woodhouse Tillamook From marciafcutler at comcast.net Sun Feb 1 10:47:11 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 10:47:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Best Birding Vistas In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <93186F3B56DC4679835F50A0F39B35EF@melvintrex4uoq> My favorite local birding vista is the top of Mary's Peak. On a very clear day (unfortunately more rare than when I first went up there in the 1960's) you can see from Mt. Shasta all the way north to Mt. Baker. In the other direction from the very top you can see the Yaquina Bay Bridge and Pacific Ocean. At the same time, you can hear Sooty Grouse booming, or see Snow Buntings, Pygmy Owls or Red Crossbills. Marcia F. Cutler Corvallis -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Charles Gates Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 4:56 AM To: obol Subject: [obol] Best Birding Vistas Yesterday, it was a beautiful day in Central Oregon so I decided to drive to the top of Grizzly Butte which is north of Prineville. This site is only clear of snow about half the time in the winter but it is fairly clear now if you have a 4-wheel drive. There were no birds yesterday but Snow Buntings and Rosy-Finches frequent this location. The view, however, is simply one of the best in Central Oregon. It got me thinking about the most visually appealing birding locations in Oregon. It occurred to me that most obolites have never been to this location and there are probably many like it in Oregon. What are the most visually appealing birding sites in Oregon? The Steen's, Crater Lake, and Coxcomb Hill come to mind but these are known by most people. What are some of the less known but still spectacular places? I think the view from the top of Grizzly ranks #2 behind the Steen's Mountains. You can see Shasta to the south and Adams to the north. Every Cascade peak in between is in full view. You have a complete view of the Ochocos to the east and the canyons of the Deschutes are there in all their glory. Great spot. Chuck Gates Powell Butte No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.14/1920 - Release Date: 1/27/2009 6:15 PM _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gismiller at gmail.com Sun Feb 1 11:55:23 2009 From: gismiller at gmail.com (Craig Miller) Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2009 11:55:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Best Birding Vistas In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4985FE2B.4080908@gmail.com> All, One of my favorite (little known) spots that can be accessed by vehicle is the top of Drake Peak in southern Lake County. Craig Miller Bend, OR Charles Gates wrote: > Yesterday, it was a beautiful day in Central Oregon so I decided to drive to > the top of Grizzly Butte which is north of Prineville. This site is only > clear of snow about half the time in the winter but it is fairly clear now > if you have a 4-wheel drive. There were no birds yesterday but Snow > Buntings and Rosy-Finches frequent this location. The view, however, is > simply one of the best in Central Oregon. It got me thinking about the most > visually appealing birding locations in Oregon. It occurred to me that most > obolites have never been to this location and there are probably many like > it in Oregon. What are the most visually appealing birding sites in Oregon? > The Steen's, Crater Lake, and Coxcomb Hill come to mind but these are known > by most people. What are some of the less known but still spectacular > places? I think the view from the top of Grizzly ranks #2 behind the > Steen's Mountains. You can see Shasta to the south and Adams to the north. > Every Cascade peak in between is in full view. You have a complete view of > the Ochocos to the east and the canyons of the Deschutes are there in all > their glory. Great spot. > > Chuck Gates > Powell Butte > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.14/1920 - Release Date: 1/27/2009 > 6:15 PM > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sun Feb 1 12:00:35 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 12:00:35 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Best Birding Vistas In-Reply-To: <4985FE2B.4080908@gmail.com> Message-ID: <121885.36277.qm@web37007.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I agree - an absolutely beautiful spot. The North Warners are one of Oscar's and my favorite areas to visit in Oregon, and the view from Drake peak is always breathtaking! Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Sun, 2/1/09, Craig Miller wrote: From: Craig Miller Subject: Re: [obol] Best Birding Vistas To: cgates at webformixair.com Cc: "obol" Date: Sunday, February 1, 2009, 11:55 AM All, One of my favorite (little known) spots that can be accessed by vehicle is the top of Drake Peak in southern Lake County. Craig Miller Bend, OR Charles Gates wrote: > Yesterday, it was a beautiful day in Central Oregon so I decided to drive to > the top of Grizzly Butte which is north of Prineville. This site is only > clear of snow about half the time in the winter but it is fairly clear now > if you have a 4-wheel drive. There were no birds yesterday but Snow > Buntings and Rosy-Finches frequent this location. The view, however, is > simply one of the best in Central Oregon. It got me thinking about the most > visually appealing birding locations in Oregon. It occurred to me that most > obolites have never been to this location and there are probably many like > it in Oregon. What are the most visually appealing birding sites in Oregon? > The Steen's, Crater Lake, and Coxcomb Hill come to mind but these are known > by most people. What are some of the less known but still spectacular > places? I think the view from the top of Grizzly ranks #2 behind the > Steen's Mountains. You can see Shasta to the south and Adams to the north. > Every Cascade peak in between is in full view. You have a complete view of > the Ochocos to the east and the canyons of the Deschutes are there in all > their glory. Great spot. > > Chuck Gates > Powell Butte > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.14/1920 - Release Date: 1/27/2009 > 6:15 PM > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090201/778e744a/attachment.html From gismiller at gmail.com Sun Feb 1 12:09:53 2009 From: gismiller at gmail.com (Craig Miller) Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2009 12:09:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Jefferson County birding Message-ID: <49860191.2060406@gmail.com> I had a chance to get out do a bit of birding in Jefferson County yesterday. The best bird of the day was a SURF SCOTER at Haystack Reservoir. Another excellent bird was a TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD found in a flock of about 600 Brewer's and Red-winged Blackbirds north of Madras. Other Highlights included: Common Goldeneye - 8 Haystack Reservoir Barrow's Goldeneye - 5 Pelton Rereg Overlook Bald Eagle - 10 in a field west of Culver and 1 at Pelton Rereg Overlook Northern Harrier - 7 Agency Plains Red-tailed Hawk - 32 Agency Plains Rough-legged Hawk - 3 Agency Plains Golden Eagle - 2 Pelton Rereg area American Kestrel - 12 Agency Plains Prairie Falcon - 3 Agency Plains Killdeer - 4 Pelton Reregulation Reservoir Eurasian Collared-Dove - 42 in and near Madras Northern Shrike - 1 Agency Plains Western Meadowlark - 22 at a single location in Agency Plains Craig Miller From bettymkn at netscape.com Sun Feb 1 12:27:01 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 12:27:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Black-headed grosbeak Message-ID: <20090201122701.1FE58E5D@resin09.mta.everyone.net> Just saw a male Black-Headed Grosbeak flying around at the back of the property. Another bird seemed to be moving with it but couldn't see if another male or maybe female. We had several summer residents last year so will have to wait and see if they are returning or just passing thru. Being new at birding I don't know if this is the usual time they should be returning. Foster Lake RV Resort, Foster, Oregon Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From ellencantor at gmail.com Sun Feb 1 12:36:01 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 12:36:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mt PIsgah White-breasted Nuthatch and more Message-ID: <7058c4c60902011236n22fa653r52a4aed2ea4ff44d@mail.gmail.com> Birded the north end of Mt Pisgah yesterday afternoon. Highlights included: mature BALD EAGLE On the east saddle (looping behind the north "peak") in mixed conifers and oaks, I was surrounded by a large mixed flock feeding in the lichens on the oaks. The flock was anchored by many BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES. Second in abundance, many curious and active RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS and there were quite a few SPOTTED TOWHEES. And then the little prizes: two CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, two GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, a BROWN CREEPER, 1 WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, and a DOWNY WOODPECKER. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090201/2ee706c2/attachment.html From davidmandell at earthlink.net Sun Feb 1 13:10:39 2009 From: davidmandell at earthlink.net (David Mandell) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 13:10:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] No Baikal Teal so far today Message-ID: Despite many sets of eyes looking, the Baikal Teal has not been refound so far today. David Mandell Portland, OR From 5hats at peak.org Sun Feb 1 13:41:07 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 13:41:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Best Birding Vistas References: Message-ID: <003e01c984b5$ce674070$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Chuck, One of the best vistas I have visited is the spot on Government Harvey Pass on the southern part of Winter Rim where an eastbound traveler first breaks out of the timber and the whole panorama of the Summer Lake basin spreads out several thousand feet below. Another, which is kind of surprising, is at the Lookout at the top of Green Mountain north of Fort Rock. The peak itself is not really all that high, but because of its location you can see for a long, long way in every direction. And Hat Point isn't all that bad! Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Charles Gates" To: "obol" Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 4:55 AM Subject: [obol] Best Birding Vistas > Yesterday, it was a beautiful day in Central Oregon so I decided to drive > to > the top of Grizzly Butte which is north of Prineville. This site is only > clear of snow about half the time in the winter but it is fairly clear now > if you have a 4-wheel drive. There were no birds yesterday but Snow > Buntings and Rosy-Finches frequent this location. The view, however, is > simply one of the best in Central Oregon. It got me thinking about the > most > visually appealing birding locations in Oregon. It occurred to me that > most > obolites have never been to this location and there are probably many like > it in Oregon. What are the most visually appealing birding sites in > Oregon? > The Steen's, Crater Lake, and Coxcomb Hill come to mind but these are > known > by most people. What are some of the less known but still spectacular > places? I think the view from the top of Grizzly ranks #2 behind the > Steen's Mountains. You can see Shasta to the south and Adams to the > north. > Every Cascade peak in between is in full view. You have a complete view > of > the Ochocos to the east and the canyons of the Deschutes are there in all > their glory. Great spot. > > Chuck Gates > Powell Butte > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.14/1920 - Release Date: > 1/27/2009 > 6:15 PM > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From drheath82 at verizon.net Sun Feb 1 14:48:34 2009 From: drheath82 at verizon.net (Mr David Heath) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 14:48:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Best Birding Vistas In-Reply-To: <003e01c984b5$ce674070$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> References: <003e01c984b5$ce674070$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: <000301c984bf$37664900$a632db00$@net> The top of Saddle Mountain a few miles east of Seaside can be pretty spectacular. I once went up there on a winter day when the east wind was blowing. It was a mite chilly, but I could see all the way from the Olympics to Mt. Jefferson. David -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Darrel Faxon Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 1:41 PM To: cgates at webformixair.com; obol Subject: Re: [obol] Best Birding Vistas Chuck, One of the best vistas I have visited is the spot on Government Harvey Pass on the southern part of Winter Rim where an eastbound traveler first breaks out of the timber and the whole panorama of the Summer Lake basin spreads out several thousand feet below. Another, which is kind of surprising, is at the Lookout at the top of Green Mountain north of Fort Rock. The peak itself is not really all that high, but because of its location you can see for a long, long way in every direction. And Hat Point isn't all that bad! Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Charles Gates" To: "obol" Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 4:55 AM Subject: [obol] Best Birding Vistas > Yesterday, it was a beautiful day in Central Oregon so I decided to drive > to > the top of Grizzly Butte which is north of Prineville. This site is only > clear of snow about half the time in the winter but it is fairly clear now > if you have a 4-wheel drive. There were no birds yesterday but Snow > Buntings and Rosy-Finches frequent this location. The view, however, is > simply one of the best in Central Oregon. It got me thinking about the > most > visually appealing birding locations in Oregon. It occurred to me that > most > obolites have never been to this location and there are probably many like > it in Oregon. What are the most visually appealing birding sites in > Oregon? > The Steen's, Crater Lake, and Coxcomb Hill come to mind but these are > known > by most people. What are some of the less known but still spectacular > places? I think the view from the top of Grizzly ranks #2 behind the > Steen's Mountains. You can see Shasta to the south and Adams to the > north. > Every Cascade peak in between is in full view. You have a complete view > of > the Ochocos to the east and the canyons of the Deschutes are there in all > their glory. Great spot. > > Chuck Gates > Powell Butte > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.14/1920 - Release Date: > 1/27/2009 > 6:15 PM > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jbw at oregoncoast.com Sun Feb 1 15:50:59 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara & John Woodhouse) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 15:50:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Black Phoebe Message-ID: We went into the Air museum for lunch today and found the Black Pheobe that has been hanging out there, today it was on a wire attatched to the North end of the Museum. This is the fourth time we have found it there it seems an unlikely spot but it appears to be there year round. Barbara & John Woodhouse Tillamook From craig at greatskua.com Sun Feb 1 16:00:13 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2009 17:00:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull - YES Message-ID: <20090201170013.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.108a0c3c8e.wbe@email.secureserver.net> On my way to Ridgefield this morning, I went to Westmoreland Park to look for the slaty-backed gull, but it wasn't there. In fact, there were very few gulls at the park at 8:30 AM. On the way back from an unsuccessful search for the Baikal teal, I swung by Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland to try for the slaty-backed gull, this time with success. At about 2:00 it was gorging on bread on the lawn just south of the Burnside Bridge. It, and all of the other birds, were startled by joggers and flew away. The slaty-backed gull circled over the area a few times and then flew to the top of a street light on the Burnside Bridge. I got it's attention by throwing more bread over the railing and into the water, and soon it and a mob of other gulls were back on the lawn, gorging themselves again. I watched it for about 20 minutes, and it was still in the area when I left. Craig Tumer SW Portland From celata at pacifier.com Sun Feb 1 16:14:15 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:14:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Photos from this week's photo safari Message-ID: <49863AD7.6030700@pacifier.com> No rare Siberian gulls or teal in this lot... http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Variations on a theme http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Feb 1 16:25:42 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 16:25:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] JoCo items Message-ID: A few notes from our place (just east of Merlin I-5 exit) from the last few days. The female DOWNY WOODPECKER continues to spent nights in an "A" frame shaped nesting box on the side of our shed (going on 3 months or so). OAK TITMICE are singing pretty much through the day (once the cold fog eases) and checking out nesting boxes. A female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD has been perching at the top of an oak tree once the sun gets out and it warms up and "hawking" insects from the air. With backlighting, you can see the insects as she nails them. A small (male) SHARP-SHINNED HAWK has been attempting to have a Junco for lunch, but I have not seen it capture anything yet. ...the usual suspects are hanging around, otherwise. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090201/b235365b/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sun Feb 1 17:22:05 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 20:22:05 -0500 Subject: [obol] Common Teal @ Happy Valley Wetland Park (Clackamas Co) Message-ID: A drake Common Teal (Eurasian Green-winged Teal) flew into the small duck pond in the middle of the park. There also were 5 Green-winged Teal around in the stormwater retention pond next to the small duck pond. Poor documentation type pictures are available on request. Park in the small parking area off 145th Ave just north of King Rd and follow the boardwalk west to the duck pond. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_explore_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090201/03fe497d/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sun Feb 1 18:05:31 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 18:05:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Saturday's "Raptoring" Message-ID: My wife and I were out in the East Linn raptor areas looking for Eagles eager to pose for some photos. After losing count somewhere over thirty Eagles, we stumbled onto a flock of 16 baldies, five of which were juvenile. They were in a pasture just north of Tub Run Road, and were patiently waiting for their turn at a sheep carcass. What I found odd about this, is that the carcass was being eaten on, and protected by, a very voracious Gull. This Gull was keeping all theses Eagles at bay while it enjoyed it's meal. I took several photos, from a distance at, first wondering if this was an albino Eagle or Hawk, getting all excited thinking I had struck it rich in finding something unusual. It was upon creeping much closer that I discovered that is was just a Gull bullying the big dudes! I don't know the variety of Gull, I'll let you folks argue that one since identifying Gulls is far down on my list of exciting things to do. There are just too many variables for me and adult A.D,D. We also stumbled upon a juvenile Peregrine Falcon on Diamond Hill Road. It was a camera ham, between that fact and low auto traffic I was able to take advantage of a very good photo opp. Here is a link to the gull pics, feel free to peruse the others as well. http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/3246135122/in/photostream/ Rich _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_explore_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090201/62507261/attachment.html From gorgebirds at juno.com Sun Feb 1 21:08:45 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 05:08:45 GMT Subject: [obol] Ridgefield Teal Hunt Message-ID: <20090201.210845.3781.0@webmail22.vgs.untd.com> Today Susan and I spent over five hours searching for the Baikal Teal reported yesterday from the Ridgefield NWR. What a great find. We had no luck on this bird but did enjoy a foggy but mild day of birding. The Red-winged Blackbirds are staking out their territories and there was a general feeling that the seasons were turning. Our best bird of the day was an adult GOLDEN EAGLE, that took a dead duck away from a gull at Swartz Lake. Hopefully the teal will be relocated again. Of course this is first record for Clark County. Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Get that special someone a beautiful flower bouquet delivered to their door. Click Here. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/PnY6rw2pSXnYkIPPsujYg2AsFK967ldvka4fRtO0Wv156rTxx1m8B/ From tshelmerdine at yahoo.com Sun Feb 1 21:29:01 2009 From: tshelmerdine at yahoo.com (Tim Shelmerdine) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 21:29:01 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Marion Co., Feb 1 Message-ID: <694273.28570.qm@web62107.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Hello, OBOLians.? After viewing the SLATY-BACKED GULL?on Saturday at Westmoreland with a number of talented birders (many of whom I shamefully admit know more about gulls than I do), I struck out on my own in Marion County on Sunday morning, in order to kill a few hours before the Super Bowl.? As I chummed in many?gulls with old bread crusts along the pullout at Mill Creek at State Street and Airport Road in Salem, both the gorgeous young (1st year?) GLAUCOUS GULL and an adult WESTERN GULL joined the flock.? I then went down to Ankeny NWR, where the ACORN WOODPECKERS at Liberty and Ankeny Hill Roads showed as expected.? There were of course?many ducks and geese on the refuge, but my personal best bird was a single BARN SWALLOW at one one of the ponds along Buena Vista.? I am still hoping to see one of the Red-shouldered Hawks that a number of you regularly report along Wintel Road.? Best wishes for many birds in 2009, Tim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090201/05128bd0/attachment.html From davehelzer at mac.com Sun Feb 1 21:37:21 2009 From: davehelzer at mac.com (David Helzer) Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2009 21:37:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull update Message-ID: <788DE081-65C8-4C34-8381-3FFA42810358@mac.com> The SLATY-BACKED GULL was still in downtown Portland this afternoon. Between 130 and 330 it was moving between lamp posts on the Burnside Bridge and the chum patch on the lawn south of the bridge, just south of the construction area, near SW Ankeny on the west bank. On Friday afternoon I missed the gull, but there was a male STELLER'S (NORTHERN) SEA LION in the Willamette between Burnside and Morrison, chowing down on a large Carp it has just caught. He was swimming around just below the waterfront with the live Carp in his jaws, thrashing the fish around. Quite a sight with the attendant flock of 40 gulls. Dave Helzer Portland, Oregon From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Feb 1 22:04:30 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 22:04:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Golden Eagle at Ridgefield Message-ID: I hesitated to post this bird, but now that Wilson has mentioned it I feel less of a fool. Everyone, but everyone I met dismissed this bird as a juvenile Bald Eagle. It was sitting on the shore of Swartz Lake drying its feathers, or so it seemed. Maybe it was just mantling over the unfinished duck. Ann Heyerly had just told me the negative results on the teal search when I noticed it. Something looked different but I wasn't certain so I didn't bring it to anyone's attention. After quite awhile it flew to the very large oak that grows beside the spur road with a new looking gate along the big dike (just after the S curve in the observation road). It sat there, with wings half spread. Before I could drive up to it it glided out into the field and alternated between stealing left-overs from harriers and mousing on foot. I was able to park close to it with favorable light and every time it moved it got closer to me. As it ran about chasing mice I could see the feathered tarsi. It would grab a bunch of straw and extract the mouse from this bundle. Various flood levels have apparently left numerous separate lines of straw and the mice are trying to hide under these. With its much larger talons the eagle can capture the prey and its cover, unlike the Red-tails and harriers that are presumably thwarted by this microtine subterfuge. If people think it unseemly that this mighty bird stoop to such lowly prey, I know Kestrels eat a great many earthworms and slugs, and I've read that Peregrines in Arizona spend most of their time chasing dragonflies. It eventually took a bath and flew back to the big oak. I drove around the loop and eventually parked right under the eagle as many other cars had done before me. It was preening and ignored me. What may throw people off is the great amount of nearly white feathers on the belly. The tail is completely dark with a darker terminal band and multiple sub-terminal bands. A fair amount of white is visible on the upper coverts when the wings are folded. Most of the fleshy parts at the base of the bill are yellow, so I take this to be nearly adult bird. A woman in a Volvo station wagon was taking pictures of a Bittern that stood fully exposed on the shore of Rest Lake when I made my second loop. Upon talking to her it turned out she had no idea what it was. "Oh, you mean that thing with the green legs?" It was no more than 3m from the road, but not visible to cars from most angles because of the shape of the shoulder. Overall I was impressed by the low number of puddle ducks present. With duck season definitively over on both banks of the Columbia they have little incentive to resort to the refuge. Lars Norgren From range.bayer at gmail.com Sun Feb 1 23:09:57 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 23:09:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Siletz Little Blue Heron on Jan. 31 Message-ID: Hi, Eric Horvath reports that the Little Blue Heron was visible from HWY 101 on Jan. 31, just 1/2 mile north of the bridge over the Siletz River. He also had 3 White-throated Sparrows in his South Beach yard on Feb 1. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport, From henry at formandstructure.net Mon Feb 2 06:15:52 2009 From: henry at formandstructure.net (Henry Horvat) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 09:15:52 -0500 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Wigeon, Red Shouldered Hawk, Roadkill Cardinals-Scappoose Bottoms Message-ID: <07C53281B0F03B42A788AEB0D85CC1E90115315B@BE057.mail.lan> Obolers: The seasonal ponds in Scappoose Bottoms have almost dried up so the shorebirds seen last week were gone. However from 11:00 AM till 1:45 PM I drove and walked the dikelands and managed to find the seasons first Cinnamon Teal and a male Eusasion Wigeon on the sloughs at the crown Zellerback trail. There was also a Red shouldered Hawk in a low tree south of the trail. Of course, the late afternoon was spent watching 22 Cardinals get picked off by my beloved Steelers. Go Stillerz! Henry Horvat Scappoose bottoms -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090202/a5accb76/attachment.html From pamao at q.com Mon Feb 2 06:36:09 2009 From: pamao at q.com (Pam Otley) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 06:36:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Monroe sewage pond Message-ID: On Sunday, seen at the Monroe sewage pond, Cinnamon Teal pair and 10 Wood Ducks! (also, N Shoveler pair, assorted Mallards, & a Killdeer) In the Long Tom River, from the Monroe Bridge, a male Common Merganser in handsome breeding plumage. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090202/4fe65d65/attachment.html From washingtonbirder at hotmail.com Mon Feb 2 08:55:17 2009 From: washingtonbirder at hotmail.com (washingtonbirder.Knittle) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 08:55:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] WA Birder List Reports are due Message-ID: Final call to submit 2008 List Reports to Washington Birder. Forms are available online: http://www.wabirder.com/forms.html Please email lists to info at wabirder.com or mail to address below. Ken Knittle Washington Birder 2604 NE 80th STVancouver WA 98665 mailto:info at wabirder.com Washington Birder online http://www.wabirder.com/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090202/6ea738c3/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Mon Feb 2 08:55:57 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 08:55:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Best Birding Vistas In-Reply-To: <003e01c984b5$ce674070$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: <4987259b.14b48c0a.0dfd.ffff98c9@mx.google.com> Hart Mountain is my favorite birding vista! Marilyn Miller -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Darrel Faxon Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 1:41 PM To: cgates at webformixair.com; obol Subject: Re: [obol] Best Birding Vistas Chuck, One of the best vistas I have visited is the spot on Government Harvey Pass on the southern part of Winter Rim where an eastbound traveler first breaks out of the timber and the whole panorama of the Summer Lake basin spreads out several thousand feet below. Another, which is kind of surprising, is at the Lookout at the top of Green Mountain north of Fort Rock. The peak itself is not really all that high, but because of its location you can see for a long, long way in every direction. And Hat Point isn't all that bad! Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Charles Gates" To: "obol" Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 4:55 AM Subject: [obol] Best Birding Vistas > Yesterday, it was a beautiful day in Central Oregon so I decided to drive > to > the top of Grizzly Butte which is north of Prineville. This site is only > clear of snow about half the time in the winter but it is fairly clear now > if you have a 4-wheel drive. There were no birds yesterday but Snow > Buntings and Rosy-Finches frequent this location. The view, however, is > simply one of the best in Central Oregon. It got me thinking about the > most > visually appealing birding locations in Oregon. It occurred to me that > most > obolites have never been to this location and there are probably many like > it in Oregon. What are the most visually appealing birding sites in > Oregon? > The Steen's, Crater Lake, and Coxcomb Hill come to mind but these are > known > by most people. What are some of the less known but still spectacular > places? I think the view from the top of Grizzly ranks #2 behind the > Steen's Mountains. You can see Shasta to the south and Adams to the > north. > Every Cascade peak in between is in full view. You have a complete view > of > the Ochocos to the east and the canyons of the Deschutes are there in all > their glory. Great spot. > > Chuck Gates > Powell Butte > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.14/1920 - Release Date: > 1/27/2009 > 6:15 PM > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From lamberson.janet at epa.gov Mon Feb 2 09:18:46 2009 From: lamberson.janet at epa.gov (lamberson.janet at epa.gov) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 09:18:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eagle Crest In-Reply-To: <1b7470eb0901311606q7f335f64n5af6e3e8f00b9366@mail.gmail.com> References: <1b7470eb0901311606q7f335f64n5af6e3e8f00b9366@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Another family ski weekend to central Oregon - I took a stroll around Eagle Crest Resort (Deschutes County) on Saturday, with a side trip into Redmond. The lake at Eagle Crest was mostly frozen, but the canyon trail along the Deschutes River was open and very enjoyable. I found the following birds: Canada Goose 210 Mute Swan 2* Mallard 125 Red-tailed Hawk 3 Prairie Falcon 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 2 Western Scrub-Jay 9 Steller's Jay 1 Black-billed Magpie 20 Common Raven 2 Mountain Chickadee 7 Bushtit 12 Canyon Wren 2 Winter Wren 1 Townsend's Solitaire 6 American Robin 23 European Starling 5 Song Sparrow 4 White-crowned Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco 5 House finch 25 * A woman I met in the trail suggested that the Mute Swans may have been a pair that seem to have disappeared from Drake Park in Bend. A brief side trip into Redmond produced the following additional species: American Kestrel Merlin - chasing a house sparrow House Sparrow No eagles at Eagle Crest, and alas still no Pinyon Jays for me! Janet Lamberson - Newport From tjanzen at comcast.net Mon Feb 2 11:04:57 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 11:04:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Common Teal @ Happy Valley Wetland Park (Clackamas Co) In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20090202190501.4FCA3A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear All, The male Common Teal that Stefan Schlick found yesterday in Happy Valley Wetland Park was still present this am. My wife and I found it in the retention pond just north of the boardwalk that is on the north side of the wetland. Just before we left it flew with 2 other female teal to a wetland area about 100 yards to the east. My wife was talking to a neighbor about the bird and I think they spooked the birds. Stefan has put some photos of the bird at http://flickr.com/photos/11715837 at N07. Sincerely, Tim Janzen _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Stefan Schlick Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 5:22 PM To: OBOL OBOL Subject: [obol] Common Teal @ Happy Valley Wetland Park (Clackamas Co) A drake Common Teal (Eurasian Green-winged Teal) flew into the small duck pond in the middle of the park. There also were 5 Green-winged Teal around in the stormwater retention pond next to the small duck pond. Poor documentation type pictures are available on request. Park in the small parking area off 145th Ave just north of King Rd and follow the boardwalk west to the duck pond. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090202/01a6a1a4/attachment.html From ericarothman at gmail.com Mon Feb 2 12:04:19 2009 From: ericarothman at gmail.com (Erica Rothman) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 12:04:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Black-tailed gnatcatchers in N. Portland? Message-ID: <136a65800902021204p24c89efbq7a1b67d3c8c456af@mail.gmail.com> Hi folks, I'm relatively new to Portland, and earned my birding stripes in Alaska and the high Sierras, so I'm familiar with some but not all of the species around here. How likely is it that I would be seeing Black-tailed Gnatcatchers in a fairly populated area in North Portland? I see them in small flocks, and I get a pretty good look at them. They're certainly gnatcatchers, not nuthatches or anything comparably sized. Can I believe my eyes? Thanks, Erica -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090202/472d8ebd/attachment.html From tjanzen at comcast.net Mon Feb 2 12:09:21 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 12:09:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Black-tailed gnatcatchers in N. Portland? In-Reply-To: <136a65800902021204p24c89efbq7a1b67d3c8c456af@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <20090202200925.38EBEA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear Erica, I would suggest you review the identification of Bushtits and make sure that this is not the species you are seeing. Sincerely, Tim Janzen _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Erica Rothman Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 12:04 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Black-tailed gnatcatchers in N. Portland? Hi folks, I'm relatively new to Portland, and earned my birding stripes in Alaska and the high Sierras, so I'm familiar with some but not all of the species around here. How likely is it that I would be seeing Black-tailed Gnatcatchers in a fairly populated area in North Portland? I see them in small flocks, and I get a pretty good look at them. They're certainly gnatcatchers, not nuthatches or anything comparably sized. Can I believe my eyes? Thanks, Erica -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090202/0cca87a1/attachment.html From millikan at viclink.com Mon Feb 2 12:42:45 2009 From: millikan at viclink.com (Barbara Millikan) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:42:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] owl question Message-ID: <20090202204342.2C56EA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> I have been calling the owl I hear at dusk and after dark a saw whet. It makes a repetitious even high poot sound for long periods of time. I noticed Pamela Johnson reported a northern pygmy owl about 20 miles from here, so I read up and listened to a number of calls on line. Now I am really confused. The calls are very similar to my ear. One site says that I would not hear the saw whet until late March when it is courting. Another says I would not hear pygmy owls after dark. So I would love to hear how to distinguish between them by ear if possible. I have found that I can get the owl to respond to my noise, but I haven't really tried calling it in. Yrs,, Barbara From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Feb 2 13:42:01 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 13:42:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] owl question In-Reply-To: <20090202204342.2C56EA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> References: <20090202204342.2C56EA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: The Saw-whet's call is rapid, maybe several toots per second. It's unlikely you would hear it before full dark. The Pygmy owl in our part of North America makes widely spaced toots, perhaps two seconds apart. Both are very common in the north Coast Range. It is about time for Pygmy Owls to be getting quite vocal. They like broken forest- a mix of maples and firs, mixed age classes. Saw-whets have a predeliction for even-aged pure conifers. Both species sound a lot like back-up alarms on heavy equipment. It seems like all species of owls where I live start vocalizing in February, which includes Barred and Screech. I am 3km into the forest at 300m in the Coast Range of Washington County. Lars Norgren On Feb 2, 2009, at 12:42 PM, Barbara Millikan wrote: > I have been calling the owl I hear at dusk and after dark a saw whet. > It makes a repetitious even high poot sound for long periods of time. > I noticed Pamela Johnson reported a northern pygmy owl about 20 miles > from here, so I read up and listened to a number of calls on line. > Now I am really confused. > The calls are very similar to my ear. > One site says that I would not hear the saw whet until late March > when it is courting. > Another says I would not hear pygmy owls after dark. > So I would love to hear how to distinguish between them by ear if > possible. > I have found that I can get the owl to respond to my noise, but I > haven't really tried calling it in. > Yrs,, > Barbara > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From acontrer at mindspring.com Mon Feb 2 14:03:54 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 17:03:54 -0500 (EST) Subject: [obol] owl question Message-ID: <7450101.1233612234422.JavaMail.root@mswamui-billy.atl.sa.earthlink.net> I would add to what Lars said that saw-whets will use younger forests than pygmys. I don't usually find pygmy in the 30-40 year old doug fir stands in winter where I do find Saw-whets. When I find them at all. -----Original Message----- >From: Norgren Family >Sent: Feb 2, 2009 4:42 PM >To: Barbara Millikan >Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >Subject: Re: [obol] owl question > > The Saw-whet's call is rapid, maybe >several toots per second. It's unlikely you >would hear it before full dark. The Pygmy >owl in our part of North America makes widely >spaced toots, perhaps two seconds apart. Both >are very common in the north Coast Range. It >is about time for Pygmy Owls to be getting >quite vocal. They like broken forest- a mix of >maples and firs, mixed age classes. Saw-whets >have a predeliction for even-aged pure conifers. >Both species sound a lot like back-up alarms >on heavy equipment. It seems like all species >of owls where I live start vocalizing in February, >which includes Barred and Screech. > I am 3km into the forest at 300m in the >Coast Range of Washington County. Lars Norgren >On Feb 2, 2009, at 12:42 PM, Barbara Millikan wrote: > >> I have been calling the owl I hear at dusk and after dark a saw whet. >> It makes a repetitious even high poot sound for long periods of time. >> I noticed Pamela Johnson reported a northern pygmy owl about 20 miles >> from here, so I read up and listened to a number of calls on line. >> Now I am really confused. >> The calls are very similar to my ear. >> One site says that I would not hear the saw whet until late March >> when it is courting. >> Another says I would not hear pygmy owls after dark. >> So I would love to hear how to distinguish between them by ear if >> possible. >> I have found that I can get the owl to respond to my noise, but I >> haven't really tried calling it in. >> Yrs,, >> Barbara >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Alan Contreras - Eugene, Oregon From oschmidt at att.net Mon Feb 2 14:18:43 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 14:18:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland Birders Night Feb 3rd Message-ID: <2A139CAE-8207-47D7-BBF5-30783CA3C6C7@att.net> ..... first Tuesday of February, Portland Audubon House, 5151 NW Cornell Road, 7:30 pm, all are welcome. Bird quiz, potpourri. Jim Danzenbaker will show images of South Georgia Island - Subantarctic Avian Paradise -- a travelogue of photos of Albatrosses, Penguins, Petrels, Mammals, icebergs and a little history too! [Second posting.] oschmidt at att.net Monday, February 2, 2009 From smithdwd at hotmail.com Mon Feb 2 16:15:19 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 00:15:19 +0000 Subject: [obol] SB GULL Mon pm:kerchink Message-ID: A group of about 1/2 dozen, including southerners up from Eugene and out of state Vancouverites were treated to brief but good looks at "The Gull". At about 2:40, many gulls were coming from the SE, Sylvia spotted the gull, at the "gull patch", south of the Burnside Bridge construction site. They quickly rose, circled overhead(allowing close up eye/head views), and dispersed. A few minutes later several of us followed it north over the east end of the Burnside Bridge, loosing it downriver (Siberia?). David Smith _________________________________________________________________ News, entertainment and everything you care about at Live.com. Get it now! http://www.live.com/getstarted.aspx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090203/1a247e37/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Mon Feb 2 16:44:24 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 16:44:24 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: Baikal Teal - Not seen by anyone Monday Message-ID: <856963.11168.qm@web55103.mail.re4.yahoo.com> To the best of my knowledge the Baikal Teal was not seen today by anyone. Mondays are our goose survey days, so today there was a team (one or more counter) on four separate parts of the RNWR. (River S Auto Tour Unit, Hunt Zone, Bachelor Island, and the Roth Unit) No team saw the teal. I am also not aware of any visitor that had success either, and it was a busier Monday than most. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores From cheron.ferland at mac.com Mon Feb 2 17:18:10 2009 From: cheron.ferland at mac.com (Cheron Ferland) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:18:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] osprey in westfir (Lane County) on saturday, january 31st (Cheron Ferland) Message-ID: <754568E9-5411-488A-88A0-9569298FDDFD@mac.com> i was surprised to see an osprey (with fish in tow) fly over my house in westfir on saturday, january 31st. seems awfully early for a southern migrant to be back in town. at first i thought it was an eagle but once it flew directly overhead and then landed in a snag where i could glass it, there was no doubt!!! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090202/8bb0087a/attachment.html From Jfitchen at aol.com Mon Feb 2 18:36:14 2009 From: Jfitchen at aol.com (Jfitchen at aol.com) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 21:36:14 EST Subject: [obol] Wither the elusive teal? Message-ID: Hello Obol, I've been studying aerial maps and thinking about where the BAIKAL TEAL may have gone. It is a mere stone's throw from the S Unit of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge to waterfowl-friendly spaces on Sauvie Island such as Sturgeon Lake, the marshes along North Reeder Road, and Rentenaar Road to name a few. For a bird who's has come all the way from Asia, 5-6 kms is not a long way to fly. Maybe we should broaden the search. Cheers, John Fitchen Portland **************Who's never won? Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music. (http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?ncid=emlcntusmusi00000001) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090202/d46d83f3/attachment.html From millikan at viclink.com Mon Feb 2 19:51:20 2009 From: millikan at viclink.com (Barbara Millikan) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:51:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] owl question Message-ID: <20090203035223.EA4FDA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Trying to get clearer, I went and listened to several recordings, and that's what confused me. Some of the calls on line are virtually identical for the two birds. But after hearing from several other more informed birders, I stand by my first call. I still think it's a saw whet. Our habitat, and its habits more closely match the saw whet. And I know we had a saw whet here other years because the first time I identified its call was the rising "wheip " sound that is supposed to resemble the noise of sharpening a saw. Barbara From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Mon Feb 2 20:21:35 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 04:21:35 +0000 Subject: [obol] Best Birding Vista (Hat Point near Imnaha, Oregon) Message-ID: Hi Obolers! In Oregon, I would rate Hat Point near Imnaha, Oregon to be my favorite. You can drive all the way up to the top reaching almost 7000 ft. It is here where sweeping vistas of the canyon, with its furrowed flanks and basalt terraces, preface the Hell's Canyon Wilderness. Each season produces a different mood and tone of color. Bird species include Great Gray Owls, Gray crowned rosy-finches, American 3-Toe Woodpeckers ,Williamson's Sapsuckers, Dusky and Spruce Grouse, Northern Goshawk,and White-winged crossbills just to name a few. In late spring, the riparian route leading to the vista provides songs of red eyed vireos, yellow breasted chats, and veeries. Of course, the beautiful Wallowas are conveniently en route! Here are two photo: http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/image/97353157 http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/image/97351780 Good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Feb 2 22:20:48 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 22:20:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] owl question In-Reply-To: <20090203035223.EA4FDA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> References: <20090203035223.EA4FDA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: The problem is there are two species of Pygmy Owls but they haven't been officially split. Somewhere in northern Utah the Pygmy Owls start tooting much faster than ours do. Good sets of recordings will say when and where they were made. There was some discussion of the two unrecognized species on this list within the last few months. Biogeography is the be-all and end-all of birding for me so I paid attention. I once came across a Saw-whet Owl tooting away in the Corvallis Watershed on the east side of Mary's Peak (circa March 20,1983). It was immediately after nightfall. Had the weather been clear it wouldn't have been quite dark yet. Of course in the deep woods this owl is so fond of, darkness comes early. I imitated its call and it flew within inches of my head. That's only twice I've seen this species, which I've probably heard 100 times. People more knowledgeable than I have opined it's the most abundant bird of prey in Oregon. The western end of the Yamhill basin makes a deep embayment into the Coast Range. Although one may be on the "valley floor" west of Willamina I would expect most species typical of further "upslope" to regularly occur at the bottom of the local landscape. The only other Saw-whet I've seen was shown to me by Mark Nebeker in January of 1977 on the Thackaberry property in Linn County. I recall no details of the general landscape, but believe the owl was roosting a few minutes' walk from cultivated ground. This particular bird was not territorial, but wintering. I believe it appeared many winters in a row and perched on the same Douglas-fir branch. As for any of its vocalizations resembling the sharpening of a saw, I'm inclined to agree with Eric Forsman. In Birds of Oregon a General Reference, he cites my dear friend Julio Delatorre's explanation that "saw-whet" is a corruption of the French "chouette". This is the generic term for all small owls. Lars Norgren On Feb 2, 2009, at 7:51 PM, Barbara Millikan wrote: > Trying to get clearer, I went and listened to several recordings, > and that's what confused me. Some of the calls on line are virtually > identical for the two birds. > But after hearing from several other more informed birders, I stand > by my first call. I still think it's a saw whet. Our habitat, and its > habits > more closely match the saw whet. > And I know we had a saw whet here other years because the first time > I identified its call was the rising "wheip " sound that is supposed to > resemble the noise of sharpening a saw. > Barbara > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Tue Feb 3 04:45:54 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 04:45:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Listing Form -- reminder Message-ID: <014301c98602$3e3dbda0$c7c963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Folks, This is a reminder for you to send in your listing results for publication in an upcoming issue of Oregon Birds. We're aiming for a deadline of mid-February. Simply fill in the table below with your total numbers as of the end of 2008 and send them to me at ptsulliv at spiritone.com This form can also be found on the OFO website at http://www.oregonbirds.org/listing.html Simply fill it in and send to me by email or regular mail to : Paul T. Sullivan, 4470 SW Murray Blvd. #26, Beaverton, OR 97005 The threshold for your numbers to be published are as follows: Oregon Life List: 300 Oregon Year List: 250 County Life and 2008 Year list: 100 Life 2008 _____ _____ Oregon State Oregon counties: _____ _____ Baker _____ _____ Benton _____ _____ Clackamas _____ _____ Clatsop _____ _____ Columbia _____ _____ Coos _____ _____ Crook _____ _____ Curry _____ _____ Deschutes _____ _____ Douglas _____ _____ Gilliam _____ _____ Grant _____ _____ Harney _____ _____ Hood River _____ _____ Jackson _____ _____ Jefferson _____ _____ Josephine _____ _____ Klamath _____ _____ Lake _____ _____ Lane _____ _____ Lincoln _____ _____ Linn _____ _____ Malheur _____ _____ Marion _____ _____ Morrow _____ _____ Multnomah _____ _____ Polk _____ _____ Sherman _____ _____ Tillamook _____ _____ Umatilla _____ _____ Union _____ _____ Wallowa _____ _____ Wasco _____ _____ Washington _____ _____ Wheeler _____ _____ Yamhill _XXX_ _____ Your chosen 15-mile circle Please include a description of where your circle is located. To date I have over 50 responses. I know there are a lot more out there. I'd like to encourage more folks to participate, simply because it is fun. You don't have to be a hotshot to join in. (At the same time, you don't have to keep any list if you don't want to.) Thank you very much! Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Feb 3 07:27:43 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 07:27:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] OFO listing info page (including motorless birding challenge) Message-ID: <1233674863.3633.97.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, Here's a new page to check out on the Oregon Field Ornithologists web site: http://www.oregonbirds.org/birdingrecords.html The aim for this page is to provide a home for records of various bird- listing efforts in Oregon, including big-year and big-day efforts by various means of transportation. For now there are two main items of interest: 1) Information on how to submit your regular listing totals for publication in the annual listing issue of /Oregon Birds/, and 2) A "motorless birding challenge," with examples of past "motorless" year lists plus a few that are in progress in 2009. The idea of motorless birding is explained on this web page. Let's just say it's flexible enough to accommodate relatively petroleum-dependent people like myself, who approach this as an expanded yard list, as well as people who've made more serious commitments to alternative transportation in their daily lives. Please let me know if you'd like to join in the "motorless birding challenge" by posting your 2009 finds. Public-transit-assisted lists are also very welcome, for you lucky birders who are blessed with a functioning public transit system in your community. So far we have four birders participating. One guy made it to 100 motorless birds in the month of January! I won't say who, but one hint is that he has a Pyrrhuloxia on his motorless list. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Feb 3 08:57:22 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 08:57:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] More than one species: Pygmy-Owl and Pacific Wren Message-ID: <20090203085722.xizcptil4ws0kg8o@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Lars reminded us that the Pygmy-Owl in the Rocky Mountains have a faster, often doubled, call, and could be a separate species from our birds. Likewise, the Pygmy-Owl in Arizona and Texas is likely a third separate species (Ridgway's Pygmy-Owl). Commercial voice recordings may not sound like the birds here... That reminds me that two Eastern Winter Wrens are being reported from Arizona and one from California right now. This form is now on the review list of the Arizona Records Committee. Oregon also has a review list for selected forms that aren't recognized as full species... yet (Red Fox Sparrow, Bewick's Swan, Gray-headed Junco, etc.). But that list doesn't include the Eastern Winter Wren. Maybe it should. Oregon's little rusty stub-tailed songster of the damp dark sword fern understory is the Pacific Wren, a subspecies of Winter Wren. Eastern Winter Wrens are less rusty, with a whiter throat and some white spotting on the back. The songs and calls are different (see National Geographic Field Guide for illustrations). Migrant autumn Winter Wrens at Malheur NWR probably deserve a closer look! A paper in 2008 recommends splitting (using the Biological Species concept that is accepted by the AOU), as the two forms nest in the same woods in British Columbia and do not interbreed. See this discussion of the above paper in a layman's terms with photos: http://slybird.blogspot.com/2008/07/winter-wren-is-multiple-species.html See this page on one of the current birds in Mesa, Arizona, with photos, sonograms, and sound recordings: http://www.azfo.org/gallery/2009/html1/WIWR_Mesa_Moore_20090124.html (This page also gives OFO and the OBRC a goal to shoot for in Records Committee web sites.) How about this by Brian E. Small, November 2008: A Look Into the Future: 15 New Species For North American Bird Photographers: http://www.naturescapes.net/docs/index.php/category-species-information/43-species-information/342-a-look-into-the-future-15-new-species-for-north-american-bird-photographers?tmpl=component&print=1&page= Have fun! Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From rfergus at audubon.org Tue Feb 3 13:34:51 2009 From: rfergus at audubon.org (FERGUS, Rob) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:34:51 -0500 Subject: [obol] Great Backyard Bird Count coming Feb 13-16 Message-ID: <69DABA3177B73144996A79E932FE6A7707609A054D@flamingo.int.audubon.org> Time to make plans for the Great Backyard Bird Count February 13-16. Last year Oregon birders reported 211 species on 1,469 checklists. It would be great to see those number obliterated this year! You can count anywhere in the U.S. or Canada-your backyard, local park, favorite birding spot, supermarket, wherever! You can submit checklists for as many locations as you want, and can submit a new checklist for each location each day. Remember, the more checklists we get, the more useful the data is for mapping bird abundance and distribution through time. Have fun out there and report your bird sightings during the count to www.birdcount.org. Rob Fergus Senior Scientist, Urban Bird Conservation National Audubon Society Audubon Birdscapes http://birdscapes.audubon.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090203/c4b4aef6/attachment.html From foglark at att.net Tue Feb 3 13:39:35 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 13:39:35 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] another world, by day (off topic, short) Message-ID: <911836.93825.qm@web80012.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> This is not about birds, but will be of interest to anyone who can look at the sky with a spotting scope. Today at the Arcata Marsh, I was able to share a sight with lunchtime walkers that startled everyone who looked through my scope. Knowing where Venus is at sunset, I backtracked through the noon sky with binoculars and, sure enough, found it--not brilliant, of course, since it was a bright day with a blue sky, but it was readily seen. It is presently a fat half-moon shape, sort of like the face patch on a Barrow's Goldeneye. It will seem remarkably large-looking and sharp, because at mid-day its shape isn't lost in its own dazzle. I had spotted Venus incidentally while birding during the day quite a few times in the past, but it never occurred to me to scope it. To find it, you can go out at sunset (or even before--it's already "out") (well, maybe not tonight, huh?) and hold a marker of some sort at arm's length. Then, during the day, find that approximate distance from the sun, fairly high in the sky, and search with bins. It did take me several minutes of searching but I finally found it. Venus is pale hospital-white and there is no (comparatively speaking) stationary object in the daytime sky with which to confuse it. I tried to see it with my naked eye but couldn't convince myself I really could (I'm sure Irons will eagerly take me up on this wretched shortcoming as soon as he can). It is truly awe-inspiring to see this other world while the sun is also high in the sky. David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090203/df081a14/attachment.html From marknikas at comcast.net Tue Feb 3 14:02:29 2009 From: marknikas at comcast.net (Mark Nikas) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 14:02:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] another world, by day (off topic, short) References: <911836.93825.qm@web80012.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1A70C8F0DE4C4FA9B6B780A33F894C34@LIBRARY> Long before my hair turned gray I used to navigate cargo planes around the world using just a sextant. Finding Venus during the daytime was real godsend. It provided a second line of position besides that obtained from the sun. What I wouldn't have given for one of today's $100 GPS units while in the middle of the ocean thousands of miles from the nearest land. Back closer to home (W Eugene) - last night from my backyard, I had a pair of Saw-whets and a pair of Great Horned Owls hooting and tooting away at the same time. Mark Nikas From: David Fix & Jude Power Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:39 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] another world, by day (off topic, short) This is not about birds, but will be of interest to anyone who can look at the sky with a spotting scope. Today at the Arcata Marsh, I was able to share a sight with lunchtime walkers that startled everyone who looked through my scope. Knowing where Venus is at sunset, I backtracked through the noon sky with binoculars and, sure enough, found it--not brilliant, of course, since it was a bright day with a blue sky, but it was readily seen. It is presently a fat half-moon shape, sort of like the face patch on a Barrow's Goldeneye. It will seem remarkably large-looking and sharp, because at mid-day its shape isn't lost in its own dazzle. I had spotted Venus incidentally while birding during the day quite a few times in the past, but it never occurred to me to scope it. To find it, you can go out at sunset (or even before--it's already "out") (well, maybe not tonight, huh?) and hold a marker of some sort at arm's length. Then, during the day, find that approximate distance from the sun, fairly high in the sky, and search with bins. It did take me several minutes of searching but I finally found it. Venus is pale hospital-white and there is no (comparatively speaking) stationary object in the daytime sky with which to confuse it. I tried to see it with my naked eye but couldn't convince myself I really could (I'm sure Irons will eagerly take me up on this wretched shortcoming as soon as he can). It is truly awe-inspiring to see this other world while the sun is also high in the sky. David Fix Arcata, California ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090203/c45b10fb/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Tue Feb 3 14:58:46 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:58:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Glaucous Gull in Salem - 2/3/2009 Message-ID: <20090203155846.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.b61cd1e9fd.wbe@email.secureserver.net> I had to go to Salem for work today so I had an opportunity to look for the GLAUCOUS GULL that has been seen at the small park on Mill Creek at the State Street/Airport Road intersection. When I arrived, the glaucous gull was resting on the lawn north of Mill Creek on the west side of the penitentiary fence with a small number of gulls and geese. It must have been pretty full already because it showed no interest in the Arby's curly fries I was feeding to the gulls on the south side of the creek. After I had been there about ten minutes, a red-tailed hawk soared overhead rather low, and all of the gulls that were resting on the lawn took flight. The glaucous gull landed in the stream just west of the small parking area, and I watched it for about twenty minutes as it bathed and preened. I was able to get some nice photos. I'll post some of the better ones online to share with others as soon as I get my laptop fixed and I'm able to get the photos off my camera. Among the many glaucous-winged and hybrid gulls, there were also a western gull, several herring gulls, a Thayer's gull, a California gull and several ring-billed gulls. Craig Tumer SW Portland From willclemons at yahoo.com Tue Feb 3 15:01:03 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 15:01:03 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Rough-legged Hawks (interesting article) Message-ID: <897606.75559.qm@web55107.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Thanks Khanh Tran, I just finished reading the short article on Rough-legged Hawks that you linked at: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/bird/bula/all.html Very informative and quite interesting. To my thinking this is one of the more fascinating hawks we see in our Northwest. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores From ed.mcvicker at comcast.net Tue Feb 3 16:56:09 2009 From: ed.mcvicker at comcast.net (Ed McVicker) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:56:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland Slaty-backed Gull Message-ID: <4988E7A9.7030900@comcast.net> ...was in the previously described spot just south of the Burnside Br. on the waterfront Tuesday afternoon between 1:30 and 2:00. Ed McVicker Portland From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Feb 3 17:37:59 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:37:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon state bird Message-ID: A bill was introduced in the Oregon legislature this week that would change the Oregon state bird from the meadowlark to the Osprey. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Feb 3 18:31:55 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:31:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Best Birding Vista Message-ID: <1233714715.3631.144.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, I have no arguments with any of the places that have been mentioned, except that: (1) the top of Mt. Pisgah (Wheeler Co.) offers all of the amenities that Chuck described, plus chance of Boreal Owl; (2) I tend to get hung up picking morels on the way to Hat Point; and (3) Marilyn's nomination of Hart Mtn could be made more specific: The view of Hart Mountain, while you soak in Hot Springs in January, as a Rough-legged Hawk levitates and rising steam turns to snow that floats back down to the steaming pool. I have wasted my life. (with apologies to the poet from whom the last line is stolen, something about a hammock on William Duffy's farm in Minnesota). The worst birding Vista is the one that Microsoft sells, or any other form of virtual birding. Any vista in the field is better than the one in front of you right now. Happy birding, Joel --- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From mimz607 at epud.net Tue Feb 3 18:40:09 2009 From: mimz607 at epud.net (mimz) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 18:40:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Osprey: True Trout Fishing Message-ID: <001201c98671$e7283c50$4afe64d0@Maff> These photos are exciting! Enjoy...maybe it was trying out for our state bird? http://www.miguellasa.com/photos/sspopup.mg?AlbumID=1001578 Marcia Maffei N. Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090203/7a6f4ac3/attachment.html From heinjv at dcwisp.net Tue Feb 3 19:57:37 2009 From: heinjv at dcwisp.net (Jim & Vikki Hein) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 19:57:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Douglas TV Message-ID: <97196684CE414F29829C9C87E971ABE9@MAIN> Obol I saw a Turkey Vulture this morning in Roseburg headed north as quickly as it could. It certainly looked like a migratory bird. First of the year for me. Jim Hein From rfadney at hotmail.com Tue Feb 3 20:04:56 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 20:04:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon state bird In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I can't say as I would disagree with this bill. Though I am curious why it came about. Sorry, but I've never understood why the Western Meadowlark scored the big honor anyway. I am, by the way. An Osprey fanatic. I could go on for hours on them, I've shot close to 15,000 pics of them, gotten them tattooed on my body and have been brought to tears by the tenderness, as the witness to a pair mating just this last year. And I have the pictures to prove the latter. Not the tears, just the mating! I think they deserve the designation. Rich > Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 17:37:59 -0800 > From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Oregon state bird > > A bill was introduced in the Oregon legislature this week that would change > the Oregon state bird from the meadowlark to the Osprey. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_explore_012009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090203/7d9d2e78/attachment.html From rriparia at charter.net Tue Feb 3 20:27:38 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 20:27:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon state bird In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20090203232738.72SRV.4386996.root@mp20> Oh, there goes Alan stirring the Chicken Pot Pie again. I can see it now. It'll be the visualists pitted against the auditorialists. Both are beautiful birds! And each has amazing attractions. If the Osprey does in fact become the Oregon State bird, I say we all head out for a field trip next January and look at one. As for the other blog item. Someone beat me to it. I favor Lake County's Winter Rim at Fremont Point as the amazing view. Kevin Spencer rriparia at charter.net ---- Alan Contreras wrote: ============= A bill was introduced in the Oregon legislature this week that would change the Oregon state bird from the meadowlark to the Osprey. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Tue Feb 3 21:45:06 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 21:45:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon state bird Message-ID: <81b2a9930902032145k44547891rd0d4f6b049c23424@mail.gmail.com> Well, then at least I can claim to have actually SEEN Oregon's state bird. -Brandon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090203/5964fc0c/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Tue Feb 3 22:00:45 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 22:00:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon state bird -- if it ain't broke... Message-ID: <000601c98691$1da45a60$05db63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Alan, Whose idea was this, anyway? What about all those school children who voted for and lobbied for making the Western Meadowlark the Oregon State Bird? Is the thing broken? I don't think so. So why fix it? The Western Meadowlark is a beautiful bird with a beautiful song. Keep it. Let the legislature go fix something that is broken... Paul T. Sullivan ----------------------- Subject: Oregon state bird From: Alan Contreras Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:37:59 -0800 A bill was introduced in the Oregon legislature this week that would change the Oregon state bird from the meadowlark to the Osprey. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer AT mindspring.com From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Tue Feb 3 22:22:41 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 22:22:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Best Birding Vista Message-ID: <000701c98691$1e5bea90$05db63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: I'm struck by how folks are electing overlooks from heights as the best birding vista. No one has mentioned the top of the Blue Mountains, and heights in Morrow or Gilliam counties, where one can see the whole range of the Cascades on a clear day. What about Barnhouse Spring campground, SE of Mitchell, or Paulina Peak at Newberry Crater? Or what about the view from Ecola St. Park, Cape Meares or Yaquina Head? But what about the view from Troy or the foot of Wallowa Lake? What about the view from the shore or surface of Lake Billy Chinook? What about the close view of a drumming Ruffed Grouse, or a nesting bird? Close views rather than distant ones. No one has mentioned the view from the parking lot at Malheur NWR headquarters at dawn on a fall day, as the geese rise off the display pond. Ahhh! Good birding, Paul T. Sullivan From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Feb 3 22:37:21 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 22:37:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Photo: leucistic Clark's Grebe at Port Orford Message-ID: <524CB9A263F946F186695F1DAFB32904@GREG> Photo by Knute Andersson. http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/gallery/_from_others Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Tue Feb 3 23:15:35 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 23:15:35 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Oregon state bird -- if it ain't broke... In-Reply-To: <000601c98691$1da45a60$05db63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Message-ID: <607714.29370.qm@web30404.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Paul's argument is well stated. IMO the Western Meadowlark is an exceptionally worthy state bird. On a different level, I see any discussion of birds by the Legislature as a positive development, and I would not be dismayed if such debates became an annual event. For example: is anyone interested in forming a lobby to make the SPOTTED OWL our State Bird? Maitreya Paul T. Sullivan wrote: > Alan, > Whose idea was this, anyway? What about all those school children who voted > for and lobbied for making the Western Meadowlark the Oregon State Bird? Is > the thing broken? I don't think so. So why fix it? > The Western Meadowlark is a beautiful bird with a beautiful song. Keep it. > Let the legislature go fix something that is broken... > Paul T. Sullivan > ----------------------- > Subject: Oregon state bird > From: Alan Contreras > Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:37:59 -0800 > A bill was introduced in the Oregon legislature this week that would change > the Oregon state bird from the meadowlark to the Osprey. > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer AT mindspring.com > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Feb 4 06:48:06 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 06:48:06 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Best Oregon Vistas Message-ID: <979255.12770.qm@web45314.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Mine are all ones I had to work for like the top of the Eagle Cap or the top of the Middle Sister or any of a slew of other cool mountain tops in the Cascades, Strawberries, Blues or Wallowas (I'm sure I'm forgetting a mountain range or two). For the most fun, try climbing one of these, camping on top, and using a spotting scope (or binos if you were to wimpy to lash your scope and tripod onto your backpack) to check out Venus or Saturn or a galaxy or two-truly out of this world! Off to AZ soon via Mohave National Preserve and some other lost back country, should be some good planet scoping weather down yonder. Have fun! Tim R Coos Bay From celata at pacifier.com Wed Feb 4 06:56:05 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:56:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Photo: leucistic Clark's Grebe at Port Orford Message-ID: <4989AC85.3020707@pacifier.com> How certain can we be that this bird is not showing melanin deficiencies in the bill coloration? The dark bits in the plumage around the face and on the back are more consistent with Western Grebe,,, -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Variations on a theme http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html From Rick.Krabbe at NETL.DOE.GOV Wed Feb 4 07:00:16 2009 From: Rick.Krabbe at NETL.DOE.GOV (Rick Krabbe) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:00:16 -0500 Subject: [obol] Best Oregon Vistas In-Reply-To: <979255.12770.qm@web45314.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <979255.12770.qm@web45314.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <49893D00.23F7.0095.0@NETL.DOE.GOV> Hi there; Lets cut to the chase here. The best vistas are the ones that include the best birds. That said, yesterday, about 3:45 PM, I found a Northern Mockingbird imbedded in the nice vista of the valley at the corner of Ridge Rd and Sand Ridge Rd. Central Linn county, a bit SW of Lebanon. There is a fair patch of habitat there along the fence rows and around Sand Ridge school. Happy vistas. Rick >>> "Tim Rodenkirk" 2/4/2009 6:48 AM >>> Mine are all ones I had to work for like the top of the Eagle Cap or the top of the Middle Sister or any of a slew of other cool mountain tops in the Cascades, Strawberries, Blues or Wallowas (I'm sure I'm forgetting a mountain range or two). For the most fun, try climbing one of these, camping on top, and using a spotting scope (or binos if you were to wimpy to lash your scope and tripod onto your backpack) to check out Venus or Saturn or a galaxy or two-truly out of this world! Off to AZ soon via Mohave National Preserve and some other lost back country, should be some good planet scoping weather down yonder. Have fun! Tim R Coos Bay _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090204/78c942c5/attachment.html From m.denny at charter.net Wed Feb 4 07:09:37 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 07:09:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Best Oregon Vistas References: <979255.12770.qm@web45314.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <49893D00.23F7.0095.0@NETL.DOE.GOV> Message-ID: <78E33229D2BF48E4B3B073C915527BEA@24FLIGHT> Hello All, The most amazing birding view I have seen is the top of the Oregon Canyon Mountains at Twin Buttes. In the late 1990s you could still look east at night and see no electric lights. Later Mike -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090204/de920866/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Feb 4 07:18:48 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 07:18:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Best Oregon Vistas Message-ID: <20090204151852.298A6A8240@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> OK. I nominate the view of Portland and Cascade Range from the Pittock Mansion. It's spectacular under many (although certainly not all) atmospheric conditions. Otherwise, why would I go there every morning? Wink Gross Portland From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Feb 4 07:21:07 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 07:21:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon state bird -- if it ain't broke... In-Reply-To: <607714.29370.qm@web30404.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <607714.29370.qm@web30404.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: As a teenager that was certainly my fondest opinion. The Spotted Owl is reasonably distinctive of Oregon, the state with the most forest. Lars Norgren On Feb 3, 2009, at 11:15 PM, Leith McKenzie wrote: > Paul's argument is well stated. IMO the Western Meadowlark is an > exceptionally worthy state bird. > > On a different level, I see any discussion of birds by the Legislature > as a positive development, and I would not be dismayed if such debates > became an annual event. > For example: is anyone interested in forming a lobby to make the > SPOTTED OWL our State Bird? > > Maitreya > > Paul T. Sullivan wrote: >> Alan, >> Whose idea was this, anyway? What about all those school children >> who voted >> for and lobbied for making the Western Meadowlark the Oregon State >> Bird? Is >> the thing broken? I don't think so. So why fix it? >> The Western Meadowlark is a beautiful bird with a beautiful song. >> Keep it. >> Let the legislature go fix something that is broken... >> Paul T. Sullivan >> ----------------------- >> Subject: Oregon state bird >> From: Alan Contreras >> Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:37:59 -0800 >> A bill was introduced in the Oregon legislature this week that would >> change >> the Oregon state bird from the meadowlark to the Osprey. >> -- >> Alan Contreras >> EUGENE, OREGON >> acontrer AT mindspring.com >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From mmarvin at spiritone.com Wed Feb 4 08:05:06 2009 From: mmarvin at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 09:05:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon State Bird - if it ain't broke Message-ID: <1F818DFF5A7444B284CC0A14BACDDFB0@D4786FC1> OBOL - It is broke, although why the Osprey is a better choice is not immediately apparent. There is some interesting information regarding the original choice at the website below, including other candidates much more representative of Oregon (Oregon junco, Varied Thrush) and a bit of coercion on the part of the ornithologist doing the classroom presentations. But apparently, the legislature never acted on the vote of the children, so perhaps that's why there's a bill. http://www.geosymbols.org/World/Oregon/Bird "The Oregon Audubon Society asked for a vote for a state bird in 1926. Of 85,000 votes cast, 45,000 went for the meadowlark. The mountain bluebird placed second, with 20,000 votes, while the varied thrush placed third. Other contestants included the white-crowned sparrow, song sparrow, and Oregon junco" Many other states have meadowlarks as their state bird, but besides that, it wasn't even a fair election, and may never have been. "Michale G. McQuade, Reference Archivist with the Office of the Secretary of State, failed to find a copy of any resolutions in the 1927 and 1929 Oregon Laws. McQuade noted, "Apparently . . . the legislature did not feel a legal follow-up was necessary."So, is the meadowlark really Oregon's official state bird? Some people go further, suggesting the election may not have even been fair. Harry Nehls, author of Familiar Birds of the Northwest, wrote "When the state gave the matter to the Audubon Society, the chair of the education committee, which sent out speakers to schools, took it on. His name was 'Papa' Riker. 'Papa' because the kids liked him and were always glad to see him." Riker conducted an educational trip through the schools, talking about the voting list, "and then he'd say, 'And I like the meadowlark.'" Good birding! Marcia Marvin, native Oregonian Good birding -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090204/5c0a68ea/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Wed Feb 4 08:19:02 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 08:19:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon State Bird - if it ain't broke Message-ID: <4989BFF6.1000804@pacifier.com> Well, given that the Western Meadowlark is in decline in Oregon http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/plotpgm0.pl?/sula/jrs/bbs07/htmind/05011.ore and Osprey is on the increase http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/plotpgm0.pl?/sula/jrs/bbs07/htmind/03640.ore it makes perfect sense that the legislature should be pro-active and switch species before we end up with an extirpated species for our State bird. I personally have serious issues with a State bird that lives in Central America during significant parts of its life-cycle. Heck, we might as well pick Pyrrhuloxia or Northern Caracara. I think a nice safe pick is European Starling. It celebrates all the things Joe-the-plumber good about American and is almost guaranteed not to go extinct on us... [Insert emoticons as necessary] -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Variations on a theme http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html From susanl at speedyquick.net Wed Feb 4 06:47:24 2009 From: susanl at speedyquick.net (Susan Lindstedt) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 09:47:24 -0500 Subject: [obol] Best Birding Vista References: <000701c98691$1e5bea90$05db63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Message-ID: <005101c986d7$7eb28890$6401a8c0@COMPUTER911F6D> Kiger gorge of Steens Mountain during late September. Walk out along the West rim of kiger, then find a comfortable spot to sit and watch raptors soar BELOW you. From goosemiller at gmail.com Wed Feb 4 08:56:23 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 08:56:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Best Birding Vista In-Reply-To: <000701c98691$1e5bea90$05db63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Message-ID: <4989c8b7.16538c0a.01b9.ffffeb6c@mx.google.com> Paul you are right. A close view of geese rising off of any body of water is truly the best birding vista in the world! Marilyn Miller -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Paul T. Sullivan Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 10:23 PM To: obol Subject: Re: [obol] Best Birding Vista OBOL: I'm struck by how folks are electing overlooks from heights as the best birding vista. No one has mentioned the top of the Blue Mountains, and heights in Morrow or Gilliam counties, where one can see the whole range of the Cascades on a clear day. What about Barnhouse Spring campground, SE of Mitchell, or Paulina Peak at Newberry Crater? Or what about the view from Ecola St. Park, Cape Meares or Yaquina Head? But what about the view from Troy or the foot of Wallowa Lake? What about the view from the shore or surface of Lake Billy Chinook? What about the close view of a drumming Ruffed Grouse, or a nesting bird? Close views rather than distant ones. No one has mentioned the view from the parking lot at Malheur NWR headquarters at dawn on a fall day, as the geese rise off the display pond. Ahhh! Good birding, Paul T. Sullivan _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Feb 4 09:23:13 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:23:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Views and birds Message-ID: There are views of places and there are views of bird spectacles. At the very real risk of pleasing Marilyn, I'll mention one of my experiences. A few years back I was at Fern Ridge dam in fall and was looking up with my binoculars at a raptor. I missed focus and accidentally focused on infinity. To my astonishment, infinity had something in it. Thousands of somethings. As high as my 10x binoculars would reach were tiny specks coming into view from the northwest. They got larger. I had to rest my neck for a moment a couple of times, but each time I looked up they were larger and there were more of them. They eventually became Canada Geese, by the thousands, and ended up going out toward the airport to land. I think that I had accidentally witnessed the very moment of the arrival of this flight directly from Alaska - the actual moment that they reached land and came down after two or three days in the air. I can't think of why they would have been so incredibly high to start with otherwise. Another kind of view. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From baileydc at pdx.edu Wed Feb 4 09:48:10 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:48:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Photo: leucistic Clark's Grebe at Port Orford Message-ID: <4989D4DA.4070609@pdx.edu> This Pied Grebe is a wonderful specimen regardless of the species we assign to it. I do agree with Mike Patterson that it is more likely a Western Grebe given the dusky plumage well below the eye. That the bill is bright yellow is likely a due to the leucistic pheonotype--look at the feet seen through the water, they appear bright yellow too, more so than I would expect for the typical grebe. David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From tamickel at rio.com Wed Feb 4 12:20:51 2009 From: tamickel at rio.com (Tom & Allison Mickel) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 12:20:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wednesday morning birdwalk Message-ID: <000d01c98706$1830e1a0$4892a4e0$@com> OBOL, The Eugene Wednesday morning group when to Alton Baker Park to check out the gulls. We didn't find anything unusual - just cold fog! Our list is below. Greater White-fronted Goose - 1 Cackling Goose - 2 Canada Goose - 25 Eurasian Wigeon - 1 American Wigeon - 40 Mallard - 30 Lesser Scaup - 5 Bufflehead - 3 Pied-billed Grebe - 2 Double-crested Cormorant - 10 Great Blue Heron - 5 - in nest trees Red-tailed Hawk - 2 American Coot - 5 Ring-billed Gull - 25 Herring Gull - 3 Thayer's Gull - 1 Western Gull - 2 Glaucous-winged Gull - 20 - includes hybrids w/Western Rock Pigeon - 30 Downy Woodpecker - 3 Hairy Woodpecker - 2 Northern Flicker - 1 - hybrid w/gray crown & nape, tan face, red nape patch & moustache stripe, red in wings & tail. Western Scrub-Jay - 8 American Crow - 15 Black-capped Chickadee - 8 Bushtit - 15 Brown Creeper - 2 Bewick's Wren - 5 Golden-crowned Kinglet - 5 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2 American Robin - 10 European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3 Spotted Towhee - 1 Song Sparrow - 5 Dark-eyed Junco - 6 Red-winged Blackbird - 1 House Finch - 4 Fred Chancey, Kimberly Cullen, George Grier, Kit Larsen, Sylvia Maulding, Barry McKenzie, Tom Mickel, Jim Regali, Roger Robb, Don Schrouder, Paul Sherrell, Randy Sinnott. From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Wed Feb 4 13:06:52 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 16:06:52 -0500 Subject: [obol] Oregon state bird Message-ID: I'd like a new state bird, but wouldn't choose the osprey. It's similar to the bald eagle -- our national bird -- in many ways, and isn't particularly associated with the Pacific Northwest. The big predatory birds shouldn't get all the glory. I much prefer the varied thrush as the state bird: beautiful plumage, beautiful simple song, strong Northwest association, and they go with our license plate tree well, too. The only downside would be they may one day be seldom seen, like the meadowlark, as temperate rain forests are turned into tree farms. Maybe people would understand that complex forests are different than tree farms, if our state bird was there in the understory. Lona Pierce, Warren _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_howitworks_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090204/95e54659/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Feb 4 13:12:05 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 13:12:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Cent Or Wednesday birders Hatfield ponds Message-ID: <3A2D92E99CDF4F1AA70DF86981A98F28@MOM> Birders Nothing unusual except that it is 60 degrees in February. > Hi birders > Eight of us went to Hatfield ponds. Some of the birds on the list > were from out window from Nancy P's. On the way back to the > car pool spot at noon, we saw TWO Merlins tangling > and fussing over shared airspace and perches around the dam at > Newport Ave bridge. They ended up sharing a tree. We wondered > if they were starting early courtship? > Ice is leaving at Hatfield, both front and back ponds. Near > the inlet at the back pond, we saw a Merlin. > > This report was mailed for Judy Meredith by http://birdnotes.net > Canada Goose 3 > Mallard 50 > Green-Winged Teal 16 > Lesser Scaup 30 > Bufflehead 80 > Ruddy Duck 25 > Red-tailed Hawk 3 > Merlin 1 - plus those two Newport Ave. > American Coot 30 > Rock Dove 5 > Mourning Dove 2 > Northern Flicker 2 > Western Scrub-Jay 2 > Pinyon Jay 50 > Black-billed Magpie 10 > American Crow 6 > Common Raven 2 > Mountain Chickadee 1 > Marsh Wren 1 > Townsend's Solitaire 5 > American Robin 40 > Cedar Waxwing 10 > Song Sparrow 6 > Dark-eyed Junco 3 > House Finch 6 > Total number of species seen: 25 > > Birders today - Jake Schas, Kris Iverson, Lynn Charlot Iverson, Don > Sutherland, Darwin Wile, Mike Golden, Marion Davidson, Judy Meredith. > Judy > jmeredit at bendnet.com From mchar5 at msn.com Wed Feb 4 14:22:49 2009 From: mchar5 at msn.com (Jim Harleman and/or Kathy McNeill) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 14:22:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Jackson County Harris's sparrow Message-ID: Obolers, The monthly Audubon Greenway walk in Central Point found a Harris?s sparrow with a large mixed flock of Golden-crowned and White-crowned sparrows this morning. The flock was about ? mile below the Pine Street bridge in Central Point. A total of 45 species was seen including a close look at a pair of Great-horned owls. Jim Harleman -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090204/f0d3cf55/attachment.html From jorrie at peak.org Wed Feb 4 15:14:28 2009 From: jorrie at peak.org (Jorrie & Ken) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 15:14:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird at Waldport Message-ID: We saw our first-of-the-season male Rufous Hummingbird just moments ago. Jorrie & Ken Ciotti Waldport, OR From celata at pacifier.com Wed Feb 4 16:28:12 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:28:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Osprey Bill (just in case you thought Alan was joshing) Message-ID: <498A329C.5010300@pacifier.com> 75th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2009 Regular Session NOTE: Matter within { + braces and plus signs + } in an amended section is new. Matter within { - braces and minus signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within { + braces and plus signs + } . LC 496 Senate Joint Resolution 16 Sponsored by Senator GIROD SUMMARY The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's brief statement of the essential features of the measure as introduced. Designates osprey (Pandion haliaetus) as official state bird. JOINT RESOLUTION Whereas Oregon is known both in fact and in the common imagination as a land of mighty forests and mighty rivers; and Whereas the osprey is a raptor whose habitat consists of forested areas around rivers and other waters and whose diet consists entirely of fish found in those waters; and Whereas the osprey resides in Oregon's forests and hunts the bounty of Oregon's rivers, lakes and estuaries and has done so since before recorded history; and Whereas the osprey is frequently present as a symbol of abundance in the lore of Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest; and Whereas the osprey, like many other raptors, suffered population declines as a result of the effects of DDT, but has demonstrated resiliency by returning to healthy population levels; and Whereas the osprey is unusual among raptors in its adaptability, successfully coexisting in proximity with significant human activity; and Whereas the osprey is emblematic of healthy forests, water and fish and, as a symbol of abundance, resilience and adaptability, represents some of the best qualities of Oregonians and the State of Oregon; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon: That the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is recognized as and is designated to be the official bird of the State of Oregon. ---------- http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measures/sjr1.dir/sjr0016.intro.html -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Variations on a theme http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html From whoffman at peak.org Wed Feb 4 16:49:14 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 16:49:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Photo: leucistic Clark's Grebe at Port Orford References: <524CB9A263F946F186695F1DAFB32904@GREG> Message-ID: <533A5319A1EB463A9296AA86348E6D83@D48XBZ51> Neat photo of a neat bird! Dark flank color suggests Western Grebe. Bill color looks more like Clark's but that likely is a effect of the pigment deficiency. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg Gillson" To: "OBOL" Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 10:37 PM Subject: [obol] Photo: leucistic Clark's Grebe at Port Orford > Photo by Knute Andersson. > > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/gallery/_from_others > > Greg Gillson > The Bird Guide, Inc. > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From gneavoll at comcast.net Wed Feb 4 17:00:02 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 01:00:02 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Red-shouldered Hawk at Sauvie In-Reply-To: <19838480.3579241233795303698.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1155091278.3581611233795602025.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (ad.) in tall trees along Sauvie Island Dike at Coon Point this a.m. NORTHERN SHRIKE hunting in blackberry row below west side of dike. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (imm.) in shrubbery along Rentenaar Road. George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090205/ce750a47/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Wed Feb 4 17:09:40 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 17:09:40 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Oregon State Bird - Who to contact... Message-ID: <697935.78590.qm@web55104.mail.re4.yahoo.com> The Bill to remove the Meadowlark, and name the Osprey the Oregon State Bird is sponsored by: Oregon State Senator Fred Girod, DMD 101 Fern Ridge Rd. Stayton OR 97383 Phone: 503-769-4321 Email: info at fredgirod.com Web site: www.fredgirod.com/ I could not find out who is behind the bill, only its sponsor. Will Clemons SW of Portland From bigfishyman at gmail.com Wed Feb 4 17:44:01 2009 From: bigfishyman at gmail.com (Bob Fish) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 17:44:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] I would like opinions Message-ID: A friend of mine had a Flicker in his yard and took some pics. My first impression was a Gilded Flicker, then after thinking about how improbable that was I guessed (not having seen any) that this was an intergrade Red-Shaft / Yellow-Shaft. The confusing part for me was the amount of brown above the eye, on the head down to near nape level. Here is the address: http://gallery.me.com/ferrareses#100180&view=grid&bgcolor=black&sel=8 I would like to here what people think email me, or post online bigfishyman at gmail.com Thanks Bob Fish Creswell -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090204/8b3b825d/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Wed Feb 4 19:01:47 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 19:01:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Grand Prairie Park Albany - Eurasian Collared-Dove flock Message-ID: I have been looking for Eurasian Collared-Doves in Linn County without luck until today. This afternoon there were at least 17 across the road to the east from Grand Prairie Park, in the yard of the house on the corner, easily viewed from the church parking lot. There were also at least two GREATER SCAUP - one female and one male, and at least a half-dozen Eurasian Wigeons and hybrid American x Eurasian. There were also many gulls, including Western, Herring, Glaucous-winged and Ring-billed, perhaps more for someone who cares to scrutinize immatures. Cheers, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090204/b8f1f014/attachment.html From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Wed Feb 4 19:13:44 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (Jamie S.) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 19:13:44 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] I would like opinions: flicker intergrade Message-ID: <214507.33380.qm@web39502.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Bob and Obolonians, ? Excellent photos of a flicker intergrade (red-shafted & yellow-shafted forms of northern flicker) nicely showing diagnostic characteristics!? The head?plumage, including red malar,?is mostly that of a red-shafted form and the tail and underwings are that of the yellow-shafted form.? It shows a hint of red on the nape (photos #19 & 23 especially), as in yellow-shafted.? Intergrades occur yearly, though?more frequently?in winter, in Oregon. ? Jamie Simmons Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090204/8c9144fb/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Feb 4 20:14:09 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 20:14:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Manning to St Helens Feb 3 Message-ID: <4ea494d017512083adb26348c38efff1@earthlink.net> Two GREATER YELLOWLEGS were at Lower Croeni Pond (near Liberty HS in Hillsboro). This is a very hard to get bird in the western Tualatin Valley in winter. Maybe they are migrants. No CINNAMON TEAL there, which is a consistent early spot, but one was at the Scappoose Sewage Treatment plant on the pond with an observation deck. In the slough across the street a female CANVASBACK was in a sizeable flock of RING-NECKED DUCKS. Three or four hundred gulls were feeding at a manure spreading device on Ellis Farm Road . The usual G-wings and Olympics with Herring Gulls for spice. Mew Gulls evenly spread through the flock seemed a little unusual. Best bird of the day were two SKYRAT LATTE at the first farm on Ellis Farm Road. A tick on my year's list, and the first I've seen in Columbia County. Anyone else seen or heard ECDO in Columbia County? There was an ACORN WOODPECKER in the Harrison Road grove. This is less than 100m east of Hwy 26 where there is a flashing yellow light after Hwy 6 "Y". Banks Road goes west at this crossroads, a possible route to Killin Wetland. I have seen Acorn Woodpeckers almost every try at this spot for 15 years, a handy place to pad the days list when going or returning from the Coast. Lars Norgren From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Feb 4 21:07:55 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 21:07:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] State birds Message-ID: <9e413f8874cd20c8eb51f78fd6d309a0@earthlink.net> The Osprey is one of the most widespread birds on earth, occupying nearly all appropriate habitat on SIX continents. Not a forest obligate either. It doesn't seem to have any stronger association with Oregon than all other pisciferous landscapes. My oldest son (a senior in high school) says it is a BAD ASS species. This is apparently the ultimate compliment in his system of values/language. John Lennon is "bad ass". Paul mcCartney isn't. My daughter thinks the Spotted Owl is a great candidate, especially since no states have appointed any owl to the spot. But she's equally happy with the Barred Owl, the species she knows best because they nest in our yard. Anything that might ruffle the feathers of those corporate bad asses (to use an earlier generation's meaning) MacMillan-Bloedel, Plum Creek, and Weyerhauser is bad ass with me. I had long hoped the Western Meadowlark's status as state bird might draw attention to all beleaguered grassland birds, but so far these are incredibly false hopes. That's my strongest argument for keeping it-- changing the species would be like sweeping a problem under the carpet. What's Japan's national bird? Lars Norgren From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Feb 4 21:10:05 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:10:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 02/04/09 Message-ID: <20090205051008.2DFC8A8240@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 01/29 to 02/04/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 7 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) CACKLING GOOSE 1 (100, 1/31) CANADA GOOSE 2 (20, 1/31) TUNDRA SWAN 1 (1, 2/2) Cooper's Hawk 1 (1, 1/29) Red-tailed Hawk 1 (1, 2/4) GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL 1 (1, 2/1) Band-tailed Pigeon 6 (4, 1/30) Mourning Dove 6 (8, 2/4) Anna's Hummingbird 5 (4) RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER 2 (4, 2/2) Downy Woodpecker 1 (2, 2/2) HAIRY WOODPECKER 2 (2, 2/2) Northern Flicker 7 (9, 2/2) Hutton's Vireo 1 (2, 2/4) Steller's Jay 7 (9, 2/2) Western Scrub-Jay 5 (1) American Crow 6 (5) Black-capped Chickadee 7 (15) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 6 (10, 1/30) BUSHTIT 3 (6, 1/31) Red-breasted Nuthatch 7 (5) Brown Creeper 6 (3) Bewick's Wren 1 (1, 2/1) Winter Wren 3 (2, 2/4) GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET 2 (2, 1/29 & 30) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 (1, 2/3) American Robin 7 (38, 2/3) Varied Thrush 5 (2) European Starling 5 (7, 1/29) Spotted Towhee 7 (8) Song Sparrow 7 (15) Dark-eyed Junco 7 (32, 2/2) House Finch 7 (20) PINE SISKIN 3 (7, 2/3) Wink Gross Portland From 5hats at peak.org Wed Feb 4 21:57:16 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 21:57:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon state bird -- if it ain't broke... References: <000601c98691$1da45a60$05db63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Message-ID: <003901c98756$9c879c00$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Paul, I agree. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul T. Sullivan" To: "obol" Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 10:00 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Oregon state bird -- if it ain't broke... > Alan, > > Whose idea was this, anyway? What about all those school children who > voted > for and lobbied for making the Western Meadowlark the Oregon State Bird? > Is > the thing broken? I don't think so. So why fix it? > > The Western Meadowlark is a beautiful bird with a beautiful song. Keep > it. > > Let the legislature go fix something that is broken... > > Paul T. Sullivan > ----------------------- > Subject: Oregon state bird > From: Alan Contreras > Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:37:59 -0800 > > A bill was introduced in the Oregon legislature this week that would > change > the Oregon state bird from the meadowlark to the Osprey. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer AT mindspring.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From Oropendolas at aol.com Wed Feb 4 22:46:52 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 01:46:52 EST Subject: [obol] Harlan's Hawk - Lane Co. Message-ID: Hello All, This afternoon, I relocated what I believe was the unidentified buteo from this past weekend's Raptor survey, and was able to get better looks at an adult HARLAN'S HAWK near the private hunting club wetlands west of Junction City on Washburn Lane. This is a very dark, near black bird with a little mottling of lighter brown in the upper breast and slightly lighter brown tertials. The tail is dark brown with a slight bit of rufous tones, faint black barring and black terminal band. It was interesting how silvery white the tail appeared from the underside and near black on the upper side. One adult NORTHERN SHRIKE, 6 Red-tails, (one imm. eating a Green-winged Teal) 5 Bald Eagles, no Rough-legs and no Golden Eagles were seen in the area tonight. John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon **************Stay up to date on the latest news - from sports scores to stocks and so much more. (http://aol.com?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000022) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090205/7db6ef48/attachment.html From bcombs232 at gmail.com Wed Feb 4 23:24:46 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 23:24:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon State Bird - Who to contact... In-Reply-To: <697935.78590.qm@web55104.mail.re4.yahoo.com> References: <697935.78590.qm@web55104.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <8ce3a6520902042324j7c4ff1ebv690911b015c1d7e9@mail.gmail.com> I sent the following quickly-composed message to the bill's sponsor. I costs many thousands of dollars just to put a bill in motion. That money could feed a lot of hungry people. "It is hard to believe that, given all the pressing matters of the Oregon state economy, someone would want to sponsor a bill (at considerable cost to taxpayers) that addresses such an issue. There is no pressing issue related to the state bird. Many, many people have no interest in a change. I hope you don't spend any more of the state's time or money on this bill." On Wed, Feb 4, 2009 at 5:09 PM, Will Clemons wrote: > > The Bill to remove the Meadowlark, and name the Osprey the Oregon State > Bird is sponsored by: > > Oregon State Senator Fred Girod, DMD > 101 Fern Ridge Rd. > Stayton OR 97383 > > Phone: 503-769-4321 > > Email: info at fredgirod.com > > Web site: www.fredgirod.com/ > > I could not find out who is behind the bill, only its sponsor. > > Will Clemons > SW of Portland > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Eugene OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090204/c7ea3c47/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Feb 4 23:24:46 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:24:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 2-5-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * February 5, 2009 * ORPO0902.05 - birds mentioned Cinnamon Teal BAIKAL TEAL Eurasian Green-winged Teal TuftedXscaup Duck Surf Scoter LITTLE BLUE HERON Turkey Vulture Osprey SLATY-BACKED GULL Rufous Hummingbird Northern Shrike Tree Swallow Northern Mockingbird Harris?s Sparrow NORTHERN CARDINAL Black-headed Grosbeak Tricolored Blackbird - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 Compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: Harry Nehls Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday February 5. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On January 31 a male BAIKAL TEAL was photographed at Schwartz Lake in the Ridgefield NWR. It could not be relocated. A third winter SLATY-BACKED GULL is now being seen at Tom McCall Park in downtown Portland and at Westmoreland Park a few miles farther south. The Siletz Bay LITTLE BLUE HERON is still being seen. On January 29 a MOCKINGBIRD was near Langlois. An early RUFOUS or ALLEN?S HUMMINGBIRD was at a feeder near Bandon January 28. A male RUFOUS HIMMINGBIRD was at a Waldport feeder February 4. On February 1 a CINNAMON TEAL was in Scappoose Bottoms. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was on Sauvie Island February 4. On February 1 a male EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL was at the Happy Valley Wetland Park southeast of Portland. A pair of CINNAMON TEAL were seen February 1 on the Monroe Sewage Ponds. A male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK was seen that day at the Foster Lake RV Park near Sweet Home. On February 3 a MOCKINGBIRD was near Lebanon. A flock of 35 TREE SWALLOWS and 18 TURKEY VULTURES were seen January 31 near the Eugene Airport. That day an OSPREY was over Westfir. A migrant VULTURE was over Roseburg February 3. The Central Point female NORTHERN CARDINAL was seen again January 30. On February 4 a HARRIS?S SPARROW was in Central Point. On January 30 a hybrid TUFTEDXSCAUP DUCK was at the John Day Dam on the Columbia River. On February 1 a SURF SCOTER was on Haystack Reservoir south of Madras and a TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD was north of Madras. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090204/24634d02/attachment.html From tlove at linfield.edu Thu Feb 5 06:49:22 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 06:49:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon state bird Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F1214D04C1D@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> This has to be sesquicentennnially-related (14 Feb)...hence the need to move quickly on this. If you care about this matter, whether substantively or because it's a waste of taxpayer money at a time of economic distress, or I suppose even if you're for this, then write Sen. Girod: info AT fredgirod.com Tom Love tlove at linfield.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090205/24f4a5df/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Thu Feb 5 07:59:27 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 07:59:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] sesquicentennnial Message-ID: <498B0CDF.9000307@pacifier.com> Those of you too young to remember the _Bucky Beaver Show_ may not be aware that Oregon was admitted to the Union on February 14, 1859. So, as Tom Love has pointed out, this would be the 150 year anniversary of Oregon's statehood. It's curious that this anniversary isn't being hyped more vigorously and even something as likely to foment controversy like a change in the state bird is getting so little attention... The Western Meadowlark is state bird for 6 states which is really its only weak point as a state bird for Oregon, if we don't count the fact that it's in serious decline and listed as a species of concern according to http://oregonstate.edu/ornhic/documents/2007_t&e_book.pdf . I can think of many worthy candidates for state bird that are more representative of Oregon and don't vacation elsewhere when the weather turns inclement. Western (or Clark's) Grebe Harlequin Duck Marbled Murrelet Spotted Owl Gray (Oregon) Jay Clark's Nutcracker Varied Thrush Chestnut-backed Chickadee Spotted (Oregon) Towhee Douglas-fir (type 4) Crossbill (not that there's anything wrong with type-2 or type-3) Independent of where you stand on the issue of meadowlarks vs ospreys, writing Mr Girod will probably not be sufficient. Letters need to be sent to all state representatives and they need to come from a wide swath of constituents, but especially young people. If you're like me, and don't actually remember who your state reps are see: http://www.leg.state.or.us/index.html -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Variations on a theme http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Feb 5 08:03:11 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 08:03:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] sesquicentennnial In-Reply-To: <498B0CDF.9000307@pacifier.com> Message-ID: Varied Thrush, of course, bears the OSU colors. Now THAT would be a controversy.... -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Mike Patterson > Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 07:59:27 -0800 > To: OBOL > Subject: [obol] sesquicentennnial > > Those of you too young to remember the _Bucky Beaver Show_ may not be > aware that Oregon was admitted to the Union on February 14, 1859. > So, as Tom Love has pointed out, this would be the 150 year anniversary > of Oregon's statehood. It's curious that this anniversary isn't being > hyped more vigorously and even something as likely to foment controversy > like a change in the state bird is getting so little attention... > > The Western Meadowlark is state bird for 6 states which is really its > only weak point as a state bird for Oregon, if we don't count the fact > that it's in serious decline and listed as a species of concern > according to http://oregonstate.edu/ornhic/documents/2007_t&e_book.pdf . > > I can think of many worthy candidates for state bird that are > more representative of Oregon and don't vacation elsewhere when the > weather turns inclement. > > Western (or Clark's) Grebe > Harlequin Duck > Marbled Murrelet > Spotted Owl > Gray (Oregon) Jay > Clark's Nutcracker > Varied Thrush > Chestnut-backed Chickadee > Spotted (Oregon) Towhee > Douglas-fir (type 4) Crossbill (not that there's anything wrong with > type-2 or type-3) > > > Independent of where you stand on the issue of meadowlarks vs ospreys, > writing Mr Girod will probably not be sufficient. Letters need to be > sent to all state representatives and they need to come from a wide > swath of constituents, but especially young people. > > If you're like me, and don't actually remember who your state reps > are see: http://www.leg.state.or.us/index.html > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Variations on a theme > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From withgott at comcast.net Thu Feb 5 08:18:24 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 08:18:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Broughton Beach & Sauvie Island, 4 Feb Message-ID: I fit some birding in among errands yesterday afternoon (Wed 4th) and had the following: Columbia River north of PDX airport: * 3 RED-THROATED LOONS (2 from Broughton Beach and 1 from E end of airport) * 1 COMMON LOON (from E end) * 1 possible Pacific Loon from Broughton Beach (far away. lost it. still need it in the county...) * 1 female COMMON GOLDENEYE among the hundreds of G & L Scaup. * 1 male REDHEAD (from E end) * 5 HORNED LARKS at Broughton Beach * Someday there will be a Tufted Duck among the many Scaup here, but not yesterday.... (By the way, if one wants a wonderful opportunity to compare the two scaup species, bring your scope here on a sunny winter afternoon without wind, park (CAREFULLY!) off Marine Drive where you see the scaup rafts, and enjoy. There are several hundred, they are about 50/50, and they often mix side by side.) Sauvie Island, hoping that the Baikal Teal had crossed the state line: * Hundreds of SNOW GEESE on Rentenaar Rd, but they dispersed before I could fully scan for Ross's * 20 or so CANVASBACK on Rentenaar and Reeder Rd. wetlands * several dozen TUNDRA SWAN * 10-12 SANDHILL CRANE * PURPLE FINCH over Rentenaar -- they seem numerous in the lowlands his winter * 2 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS in Zono flock on Rentenaar Rd. Tried hard for Harris's and struck out * 3 RED-THROATED LOONS (that makes 6 for the afternoon, wow!) on the river at the overlook just before getting to Rentenaar Rd. This is the same spot where last Feb. Jeff Gilligan and I had 4 Red-throated Loons. I'd propose this as evidence that this species therefore has a 25%/year mortality rate, except that all of yesterday's birds appeared to be in immature plumage. Perhaps just a great spot for them. There are lots of waterfowl and lots of habitat for the Baikal Teal to theoretically enjoy at Sauvie right now. Lighting on a sunny afternoon is frustrating at some sites, tho; I'd recommend going in the morning. Jay Withgott, Portland From tsnetsinger at centurytel.net Thu Feb 5 08:29:17 2009 From: tsnetsinger at centurytel.net (tsnetsinger at centurytel.net) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 16:29:17 GMT Subject: [obol] SLATY-BACKED GULL updates Message-ID: <20090205112917.alxfi8xxc0gwwww8@webmail2.centurytel.net> Hi All, I spent 3 hours on Wednesday looking for the Slaty-backed Gull along the waterfront from south of the Morrison Bridge to north of the Steel Bridge, but focusing on the Burnside Bridge area without success. There was one bird out across the river that looked promising (~1230) in poor-lighting but the bird disappeared or the lighting improved by the time I got over to the area for a closer look. Around 1 PM I thought I had hit the motherlode when a restaurant worker pulled out two garbage bags of bread crusts and dumped them on the lawn, but no dark-backed gulls appeared to the buffet. I also investigated the flock at Westmoreland Park around 4 PM, and while it was a large flock . . . nothing darker than a California Gull appeared. I'll be up again on Sunday and the bread-toting restauranteer said that he brings 4 bags on Sunday . . . so, I'll keep my fingers crossed for better luck then. In the meanwhile, please continue to post if you find (or don't find) THE GULL. Thanks, Tom Snetsinger thomas.snetsinger at oregonstate.edu 541-223-3300 From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Feb 5 08:34:48 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 08:34:48 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] sesquicentennnial In-Reply-To: <498B0CDF.9000307@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <213946.77373.qm@web45303.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> You forgot the WRENTIT! A very cool and unique species, perhaps the most common bird along the coast. However, it's easily overlooked and no self-respecting politican would go for anything that didn't jump out at them when they were outdoors like maybe an Osprey... Tim R in Ospreyfull Coos Bay --- On Thu, 2/5/09, Mike Patterson wrote: > From: Mike Patterson > Subject: [obol] sesquicentennnial > To: "OBOL" > Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009, 7:59 AM > Those of you too young to remember the _Bucky Beaver Show_ > may not be > aware that Oregon was admitted to the Union on February 14, > 1859. > So, as Tom Love has pointed out, this would be the 150 year > anniversary > of Oregon's statehood. It's curious that this > anniversary isn't being > hyped more vigorously and even something as likely to > foment controversy > like a change in the state bird is getting so little > attention... > > The Western Meadowlark is state bird for 6 states which is > really its > only weak point as a state bird for Oregon, if we don't > count the fact > that it's in serious decline and listed as a species of > concern > according to > http://oregonstate.edu/ornhic/documents/2007_t&e_book.pdf > . > > I can think of many worthy candidates for state bird that > are > more representative of Oregon and don't vacation > elsewhere when the > weather turns inclement. > > Western (or Clark's) Grebe > Harlequin Duck > Marbled Murrelet > Spotted Owl > Gray (Oregon) Jay > Clark's Nutcracker > Varied Thrush > Chestnut-backed Chickadee > Spotted (Oregon) Towhee > Douglas-fir (type 4) Crossbill (not that there's > anything wrong with > type-2 or type-3) > > > Independent of where you stand on the issue of meadowlarks > vs ospreys, > writing Mr Girod will probably not be sufficient. Letters > need to be > sent to all state representatives and they need to come > from a wide > swath of constituents, but especially young people. > > If you're like me, and don't actually remember who > your state reps > are see: http://www.leg.state.or.us/index.html > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Variations on a theme > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From celata at pacifier.com Thu Feb 5 08:42:35 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 08:42:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] sesquicentennnial In-Reply-To: <213946.77373.qm@web45303.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <213946.77373.qm@web45303.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <498B16FB.3070909@pacifier.com> Actually, I didn't forget. It was a deliberate omission for two reasons: 1) Those east of the Cascades might feel short-changed (it's the flaw with MAMU, too) 2) Do we really want to have to make all those grade school teachers use one of the 7 words you can't say on television in history class? Tim Rodenkirk wrote: > You forgot the WRENTIT! A very cool and unique species, perhaps the most common bird along the coast. However, it's easily overlooked and no self-respecting politican would go for anything that didn't jump out at them when they were outdoors like maybe an Osprey... > > Tim R > in Ospreyfull Coos Bay > > --- On Thu, 2/5/09, Mike Patterson wrote: > >> From: Mike Patterson >> Subject: [obol] sesquicentennnial >> To: "OBOL" >> Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009, 7:59 AM >> Those of you too young to remember the _Bucky Beaver Show_ >> may not be >> aware that Oregon was admitted to the Union on February 14, >> 1859. >> So, as Tom Love has pointed out, this would be the 150 year >> anniversary >> of Oregon's statehood. It's curious that this >> anniversary isn't being >> hyped more vigorously and even something as likely to >> foment controversy >> like a change in the state bird is getting so little >> attention... >> >> The Western Meadowlark is state bird for 6 states which is >> really its >> only weak point as a state bird for Oregon, if we don't >> count the fact >> that it's in serious decline and listed as a species of >> concern >> according to >> http://oregonstate.edu/ornhic/documents/2007_t&e_book.pdf >> . >> >> I can think of many worthy candidates for state bird that >> are >> more representative of Oregon and don't vacation >> elsewhere when the >> weather turns inclement. >> >> Western (or Clark's) Grebe >> Harlequin Duck >> Marbled Murrelet >> Spotted Owl >> Gray (Oregon) Jay >> Clark's Nutcracker >> Varied Thrush >> Chestnut-backed Chickadee >> Spotted (Oregon) Towhee >> Douglas-fir (type 4) Crossbill (not that there's >> anything wrong with >> type-2 or type-3) >> >> >> Independent of where you stand on the issue of meadowlarks >> vs ospreys, >> writing Mr Girod will probably not be sufficient. Letters >> need to be >> sent to all state representatives and they need to come >> from a wide >> swath of constituents, but especially young people. >> >> If you're like me, and don't actually remember who >> your state reps >> are see: http://www.leg.state.or.us/index.html >> >> -- >> Mike Patterson >> Astoria, OR >> Variations on a theme >> http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Variations on a theme http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Feb 5 08:55:49 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 08:55:49 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] South Coast Update Message-ID: <798056.3431.qm@web45302.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I talked to Terry Wahl and have the following updates for Currylands: 2 or 3 PALM WARBLERS overwintering on the family ranch near Cape Blanco. Also 2 SAY'S PHOEBES overintering plus another on the Curry side of the Coos/Curry line for a total of 3. On the funny note: it turns out the NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD in Langlois has been around since November. The guy who owns the gas station where it's been hanging thought it was a SHOREBIRD of some sort. Those Curry folks need some serious edukation. I was down in Curry Co. yesterday (the 4th) and had a really cool sighting. I was up in the mountains east of Hwy 101 SE of Langlois and was driving through a clearcut when I noticed 4 birds fly out of the only live plant around- a 10 foot high half-dead rhody. I stopped as I suspected they were W. BLUEBIRDS which they were. As they flew back toward the rhody I noticed that perched in the middle of it was a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL. The bluebirds had been surounding it when they flew off as I drove by. The bluebirds then returned to the base of the rhody and began making some agitated vocalizations I've never heard a bluebird make. This continued the whole time I was stopped (maybe 4 or 5 minutes). I decided to see if I could get the owl talking and I hooted a couple times and it immediately began vocalizing. All the sudden a HAIRY WOODPECKER flew in and landed on a lower branch of the rhody and began working its way upwards toward the owl. It was much taller bird than the owl so I don't think it was concerned, more perturbed. It got within about an inch of the owl and the owl finally hopped up to a higher branch. The woodpecker kept creeping up until it was an inch or so away again but then flew down to a lower branch. I left about this time (I was on a busy logging road and had to move). An interesting show for sure. Singing since 2/2- HUTTON'S VIREO. Also, heard my first WINTER WRENS singing the last week of January. BEWICK WRENS were singing yesterday, the 4th, at a couple spots on the north spit of Coos Bay. Saw my first redwood violets flowering in the coast range on 1/15. The manzanita is flowering at New River and this should be a good spot for ALLEN'S and RUFOUS HUMMERS now, I haven't had a chance to bird there in a while. Happy Birding all, Tim R Coos Bay From pamelaj at spiritone.com Thu Feb 5 09:43:36 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 09:43:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] state bird letter Message-ID: <63B9872E5B9E48629C2C1C1D38FB2B81@yourw5st28y9a3> I wrote Fred Girod and told him it would better to spend the attention and resources needed to pass this bill on improving the situation of the Western Meadowlark. I refrained from asking whether he didn't have better things to do than sponsor a stupid bill like this one. info at fredgirod.com Pamela Johnston From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Feb 5 10:00:12 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 10:00:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] I would like opinions: flicker intergrade References: <214507.33380.qm@web39502.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <69EDB8C255D74F67BF5ED82F5E6F78F2@Warbler> Would have to agree with Jamie, an Intergrade Flicker. This is one that if you just saw the shaft color when in flight and not much of the head you would consider it a Yellow-shafted. Just supports the fact you have to look at Flickers pretty closely, there not all just clean-cut Red-shafted/Yellow-shafted Flickers. Dennis Bob and Obolonians, Excellent photos of a flicker intergrade (red-shafted & yellow-shafted forms of northern flicker) nicely showing diagnostic characteristics! The head plumage, including red malar, is mostly that of a red-shafted form and the tail and underwings are that of the yellow-shafted form. It shows a hint of red on the nape (photos #19 & 23 especially), as in yellow-shafted. Intergrades occur yearly, though more frequently in winter, in Oregon. Jamie Simmons Corvallis ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090205/7b84a6c5/attachment.html From tsnetsinger at centurytel.net Thu Feb 5 10:51:36 2009 From: tsnetsinger at centurytel.net (tsnetsinger at centurytel.net) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 18:51:36 GMT Subject: [obol] PINE GROSBEAK Mary's Peak 2/5 Message-ID: <20090205135136.entgia4nk84gkc8g@webmail2.centurytel.net> Hi All, I got a call from Rich Armstrong, who got a call from Doug Robinson . . . Doug found a PINE GROSBEAK on Mary's Peak around 1030 AM on 2/5 (today). He said park at the upper gate . . . no snow . . .walk 1.5 miles and across the road from the campground there was a PINE GROSBEAK. Poor phone reception between Rich and myself, but that was the gist of it. Good luck, Tom From tetraka at yahoo.com Thu Feb 5 12:04:55 2009 From: tetraka at yahoo.com (Robert Lockett) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 12:04:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Orange-crowned Warbler SE Portland Message-ID: <759932.23468.qm@web38706.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I was pleasantly surprised to note a rather bright Orange-crowned Warbler at the suet feeder this morning. Must be an over-wintering bird, but I haven't seen it here before. I also have a male Townsend's and a female Yellow-rumped Warbler visiting the suet cake. The Y-R showed up just a couple of days ago, but the Townsend's has been present all winter (my yard has 7 decent-sized Doug firs). Robert Lockett -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090205/c46a301f/attachment.html From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Thu Feb 5 12:27:20 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 13:27:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Jordan alley raptor run Message-ID: We did JV raptor run on 27 Jan, 09.The temps ranged from 35 to 43degrees, sky P/C, wind WSW 9- 15 mph,snow cover was from 1"-6". Route was 122 mi. in 3.5 hrs. RTHA- 6 AMKE- 3 NOHA- 1 BAEA- 1 3 AD. 4 Sub AD GOEA- 8 RLHA- 7 Also seen on the route- Horned Larks, Ring-necked Pheasants, Canada Geese,Ravens, Ore. Juncos, Northern Flicker, Common Magpie, Blackbirds, and a Northern Shrike. Birds that have visited and have spent some time this winter with us- Robin, we don't have many visit here so it was nice to see one even if he didn't spend much time, a pair of House Finches, Northern Shrike, and an elusive Cooper's Hawk. We did a run to Burns on 30 Jan,09. Miles 197, P/C, temps in the 40's light wind. 1 Redtail Hawk and 1 Raven. In answer to Mike Denney- you can still look to the east and not see any lights from Oregon Canyon Mtns. There has not been many additions to the area. McDermitt hasn't grown at all. Karen in true SE Or. south of Burns Jct. in Malheur Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090205/d2c26d72/attachment.html From foglark at att.net Thu Feb 5 12:39:50 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 12:39:50 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Proposed Alternate Joint Resolution (attn: Hon. Rep. Girod, et al., ahem, amen) Message-ID: <986527.44668.qm@web80003.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Whereas, the oak-grassland savannah of the interior Western Oregon valleys has been overrun by humanity, and Whereas, urban growth boundaries are a joke, and Whereas, thousands of square miles of hardscape is to be deemed emblematic of a vigorous economy, and Whereas, there is little hope that the Fedwulgummit will ever serve the good & welfare of our grandchildren by paying people for not reproducing, and Whereas, generalist species shall generally inherit the Earth, and Whereas, since the political entities known as "Oregon" and "The United States Of America" will surely one day in the not-too-terribly-distant future cease to exist as they are presently organized, anyway, and Whereas, at that point, Mother Nature will simply continue to do as She has always done since before the latest Big Bang, Now let it be resolved that the attractive, innocuous, and mellifluous-voiced SKYRAT LATTE be known as Oregon's new state bird. ...is there a second, and a commotion from the floor-? / David Fix Former resident of Progress, Washington Co. - when it was actually almost its own little burg, a lone vehicle might pass on Scholls Ferry Road once every half a minute or so, 217 hadn't yet been laid out, and one-time Cardinal pitcher Lynn Lovenguth sold terrific, actual--as in real--beef jerky at his dumpy little store near where Washington Square now stands. I say. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090205/fdfedfbd/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Thu Feb 5 12:42:23 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 12:42:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] RING-NECKED PHEASANT Message-ID: <9B2AEB80A0394C78A275397EF38407BE@TomsPC> I don't know how common it is but I saw a male RING-NECKED PHEASANT in Eugene's Alton Baker Park this morning near the host house. Nothing else interesting seen. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090205/76f3d53d/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Feb 5 12:53:06 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:53:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Proposed Alternate Joint Resolution (attn: Hon. Rep. Girod, et al., ahem, amen) In-Reply-To: <986527.44668.qm@web80003.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: To David Fix's proposal I would only move the following amendment: "WHEREAS unlike the osprey, which has the flavor of old carp, they are plump and tasty," -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: David Fix & Jude Power > Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 12:39:50 -0800 (PST) > To: > Subject: [obol] Proposed Alternate Joint Resolution (attn: Hon. Rep. Girod, et > al., ahem, amen) > > Whereas, the oak-grassland savannah of the interior Western Oregon valleys has > been overrun by humanity, and > > Whereas, urban growth boundaries are a joke, and > > Whereas, thousands of square miles of hardscape is to be deemed emblematic of > a vigorous economy, and > > Whereas, there is little hope that the Fedwulgummit will ever serve the good & > welfare of our grandchildren by paying people for not reproducing, and > > Whereas, generalist species shall generally inherit the Earth, and > > Whereas, since the political entities known as "Oregon" and "The United States > Of America" will surely one day in the not-too-terribly-distant future cease > to exist as they are presently organized, anyway, and > > Whereas, at that point, Mother Nature will simply continue to do as She has > always done since before the latest Big Bang, > > Now let it be resolved that the attractive, innocuous, and mellifluous-voiced > SKYRAT LATTE be known as Oregon's new state bird. > > ...is there a second, and a commotion from the floor-? > > / David Fix > Former resident of Progress, Washington Co. - when it was actually almost its > own little burg, a lone vehicle might pass on Scholls Ferry Road once every > half a minute or so, 217 hadn't yet been laid out, and one-time Cardinal > pitcher Lynn Lovenguth sold terrific, actual--as in real--beef jerky at his > dumpy little store near where Washington Square now stands. I say. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Feb 5 12:58:28 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:58:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Keep the Meadowlark Message-ID: <1233867508.3624.49.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, The Western Meadowlark is the closest thing that we have to "charismatic megafauna," emblematic of the Willamette Valley's critically imperiled grasslands. It provides one of the most effective, two-sentence explanations that you can give to the general public on this crisis: This bird was once so common that schoolchildren voted for it as our state bird. Now it has nearly vanished as a nesting species in the Willamette Valley. Contrary to Lars' more pessimistic assessment, this really works when you talk to the average Joe or Jane. It makes even more of an impression on public officials. The other reasons that have been mentioned for keeping the Western Meadowlark as our state bird are all valid. I will add a few more: It is easily recognized. It has a beautiful song. It is seen very widely across the state (though now mostly in winter, west of the Cascades); I've even seen one in the Hoodoo area in Santiam Pass! Nothing against the other birds that have been mentioned, but I want to get across the point that there is a practical, conservation reason to keep the meadowlark as our state bird. It may be worth noticing that the bill's sponsor comes from an area where there could/should soon be critical habitat designations for some of the less charismatic Willamette Valley grassland species. As Mike Patterson stated, writing to the bill's sponsor is not sufficient. It's your own legislators -- and your local newspaper editor -- who ought to hear your opinions. Good birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From withgott at comcast.net Thu Feb 5 13:01:34 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 13:01:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Proposed Alternate Joint Resolution (attn: Hon. Rep. Girod, et al., ahem, amen) In-Reply-To: <986527.44668.qm@web80003.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <986527.44668.qm@web80003.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: I second the motion! What more appropriate symbol for our own rapidly invasive species to celebrate? -- The Rt Hon. Rep. J. Godwit, I-Portland At 12:39 PM -0800 2/5/09, David Fix & Jude Power wrote: >Whereas, the oak-grassland savannah of the interior Western Oregon >valleys has been overrun by humanity, and > >Whereas, urban growth boundaries are a joke, and > >Whereas, thousands of square miles of hardscape is to be deemed >emblematic of a vigorous economy, and > >Whereas, there is little hope that the Fedwulgummit will ever serve >the good & welfare of our grandchildren by paying people for not >reproducing, and > >Whereas, generalist species shall generally inherit the Earth, and > >Whereas, since the political entities known as "Oregon" and "The >United States Of America" will surely one day in the >not-too-terribly-distant future cease to exist as they are presently >organized, anyway, and > >Whereas, at that point, Mother Nature will simply continue to do as >She has always done since before the latest Big Bang, > >Now let it be resolved that the attractive, innocuous, and >mellifluous-voiced SKYRAT LATTE be known as Oregon's new state bird. > >...is there a second, and a commotion from the floor-? > >/ David Fix >Former resident of Progress, Washington Co. - when it was actually >almost its own little burg, a lone vehicle might pass on Scholls >Ferry Road once every half a minute or so, 217 hadn't yet been laid >out, and one-time Cardinal pitcher Lynn Lovenguth sold terrific, >actual--as in real--beef jerky at his dumpy little store near where >Washington Square now stands. I say. > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From vernd at oregonfast.net Thu Feb 5 13:16:19 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 13:16:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Proposed Alternate Joint Resolution (attn: Hon. Rep. Girod, et al., ahem, amen) In-Reply-To: References: <986527.44668.qm@web80003.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Do we have quorum? On Feb 5, 2009, at 1:01 PM, Jay Withgott wrote: > > I second the motion! > > What more appropriate symbol for our own rapidly invasive species > to celebrate? > > -- The Rt Hon. Rep. J. Godwit, I-Portland > > > > At 12:39 PM -0800 2/5/09, David Fix & Jude Power wrote: >> Whereas, the oak-grassland savannah of the interior Western Oregon >> valleys has been overrun by humanity, and >> >> Whereas, urban growth boundaries are a joke, and >> >> Whereas, thousands of square miles of hardscape is to be deemed >> emblematic of a vigorous economy, and >> >> Whereas, there is little hope that the Fedwulgummit will ever serve >> the good & welfare of our grandchildren by paying people for not >> reproducing, and >> >> Whereas, generalist species shall generally inherit the Earth, and >> >> Whereas, since the political entities known as "Oregon" and "The >> United States Of America" will surely one day in the >> not-too-terribly-distant future cease to exist as they are presently >> organized, anyway, and >> >> Whereas, at that point, Mother Nature will simply continue to do as >> She has always done since before the latest Big Bang, >> >> Now let it be resolved that the attractive, innocuous, and >> mellifluous-voiced SKYRAT LATTE be known as Oregon's new state bird. >> >> ...is there a second, and a commotion from the floor-? >> >> / David Fix >> Former resident of Progress, Washington Co. - when it was actually >> almost its own little burg, a lone vehicle might pass on Scholls >> Ferry Road once every half a minute or so, 217 hadn't yet been laid >> out, and one-time Cardinal pitcher Lynn Lovenguth sold terrific, >> actual--as in real--beef jerky at his dumpy little store near where >> Washington Square now stands. I say. >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090205/28da657e/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Thu Feb 5 13:22:05 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 16:22:05 -0500 Subject: [obol] White-throated Sparrow at Valley Memorial Park, Hillsboro (Washington Co) Message-ID: On my lunch break today I had a White-throated Sparrow Valley Memorial Park and Cemetery in Hillsboro. The bird was along the trail that follows Rock Creek west of the u-shaped pond. A first for the park, bringing the total for the park during my surveys up to 74. The bird list is available on request. The park is on the north side of TV Highway, about 1/2mi west of Brookwood. Duck numbers still haven't recovered after the deep freeze in late December. In late fall it was easy to get 10+ species of waterfowl with numbers around 200, nowadays there are only a total of about 20. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_explore_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090205/d04d0329/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Thu Feb 5 13:37:24 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 13:37:24 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Anybody going to chase the Pine Grosbeak? Message-ID: <923199.68300.qm@web37003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, if anyone plans to go looking for the Pine Grosbeak on Marys Peak, I would very much appreciate a ride - might be able to go this afternoon, definitely tomorrow morning. My number: 541-738-2688 Gracias in advance Hendrik "Carless in Corvallis" _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090205/151156c4/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Feb 5 13:40:43 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:40:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Why not Louisiana Waterthrush and a new National Park? Message-ID: <1233870043.3635.11.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello again folks, A check of the legislative web site shows that osprey-as-state-bird bill issues from the same dream factory that gave us the resolution calling for "Silver Falls National Park," in the previous legislative session. I think these issues can be dealt with in one swell foop of legislative efficiency: Let our new state bird be the one that is exclusively found in the proposed national park. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Feb 5 14:11:50 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 14:11:50 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Proposed Alternate Joint Resolution (attn: Hon. Rep. Girod, et al., ahem, amen) In-Reply-To: <986527.44668.qm@web80003.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <425531.34456.qm@web45309.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> An interesting idea, but I think Californica has cornered the market on hardscape, insane growth, and of course the SKYRAT LATTE. I think you should send your joint resolution to your Gubenator for the quorum you are seeking Mista Fix. Good try though. Plump and tasty indeed! Tim R Coot Bay --- On Thu, 2/5/09, David Fix & Jude Power wrote: > From: David Fix & Jude Power > Subject: [obol] Proposed Alternate Joint Resolution (attn: Hon. Rep. Girod, et al., ahem, amen) > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009, 12:39 PM > Whereas, the oak-grassland savannah of the interior Western > Oregon valleys has been overrun by humanity, and > > Whereas, urban growth boundaries are a joke, and > > Whereas, thousands of square miles of hardscape is to be > deemed emblematic of a vigorous economy, and > > Whereas, there is little hope that the Fedwulgummit will > ever serve the good & welfare of our grandchildren by > paying people for not reproducing, and > > Whereas, generalist species shall generally inherit the > Earth, and > > Whereas, since the political entities known as > "Oregon" and "The United States Of > America" will surely one day in the > not-too-terribly-distant future cease to exist as they are > presently organized, anyway, and > > Whereas, at that point, Mother Nature will simply continue > to do as She has always done since before the latest Big > Bang, > > Now let it be resolved that the attractive, innocuous, and > mellifluous-voiced SKYRAT LATTE be known as Oregon's new > state bird. > > ...is there a second, and a commotion from the floor-? > > / David Fix > Former resident of Progress, Washington Co. - when it was > actually almost its own little burg, a lone vehicle might > pass on Scholls Ferry Road once every half a minute or so, > 217 hadn't yet been laid out, and one-time Cardinal > pitcher Lynn Lovenguth sold terrific, actual--as in > real--beef jerky at his dumpy little store near where > Washington Square now stands. I say. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From markhamm at charterinternet.com Thu Feb 5 14:24:52 2009 From: markhamm at charterinternet.com (Mark Hamm) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 14:24:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] state bird Message-ID: Alan Contreras is on to something here, let's change the state song (don't know if we even have one) while we're at it. Depending on who wins the UO/OSU football game each year, the state song would be the fight song of the winning school! ....... the state bird could be a Varied Thrush when OSU wins and Donald Duck when UO wins. And on and on. From celata at pacifier.com Thu Feb 5 14:46:58 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:46:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] state bird Message-ID: <498B6C62.605@pacifier.com> Good Golly, is everybody on OBOL a transplant? First, I have to explain the difference between Bucky Beaver the Oregon mascot (used by OPB to teach history in the 1960's) and the carcinogen peddling spokesperson for Ipana toothpaste and now I have to teach everybody the official song of Oregon. Granted it's no Battle Hymn of the Republic, but... Oregon, My Oregon Words by J.A. Buchanan Music by Henry B. Murtagh Land of the Empire Builders, Land of the Golden West; Conquered and held by free men, Fairest and the best. On-ward and upward ever, Forward and on, and on; Hail to thee, Land of the Heroes, My Oregon. Land of the rose and sunshine, Land of the summer's breeze; Laden with health and vigor, Fresh from the western seas. Blest by the blood of martyrs, Land of the setting sun; Hail to thee, Land of Promise, My Oregon. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Variations on a theme http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html From gneavoll at comcast.net Thu Feb 5 15:01:24 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 23:01:24 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared-Dove Message-ID: <1888062515.3974061233874884768.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> May I speak a word in defense of the latest widespread addition to Oregon's avifauna, the Eurasian Collared-Dove? (1) It is a beautiful bird, giving Oregon four members of the Columbidae family. (2) It is a potentially valuable gamebird, with an open season now running concurrently with that for the Mourning Dove. (3) It does no harm that has been documented, adding interest and variety to farmsteads and rural areas around the state. (4) Its claim to residency is no less valid than that of the Chukar, the Gray Partridge, the Ring-necked Pheasant, the Northern Bobwhite, the Cattle Egret or the Sky Lark. (5) Albert Schweitzer's "respect for life" extends to every creature, behooving us to teach future birders to respect even these "aliens" in our midst. (6) The Eurasian Collared-Dove is here to stay, giving Oregon birders a new bird to look for, in time, in every county. Welcome, I say. We never can have enough beauty in our lives. George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090205/0ae5c655/attachment.html From pukeko at mcsi.net Thu Feb 5 15:37:52 2009 From: pukeko at mcsi.net (Ron Maertz) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 15:37:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] rufous Message-ID: <2A7BE193BAB5498A971548A0816F5AA1@RonPC> A male RUFOUS HUMMER was reported in Roseburg 1-28. It didn't stick around Maertz Glide -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090205/be68620e/attachment.html From mikedressel at comcast.net Thu Feb 5 15:57:13 2009 From: mikedressel at comcast.net (Mike Dressel) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 23:57:13 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Hummer in my backyard In-Reply-To: <1203396494.3526381233878217218.JavaMail.root@sz0106a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1712338417.3526591233878233845.JavaMail.root@sz0106a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> My wife and I spotted a hummer in our back yard this afternoon. I suspect it was an?Anna's female, but had me thinking it was a Rufous female for a moment. Most likely too soon for the latter........ Also a Yellow Rumped Warbler and Ruby Crowned Kinglet mike Michael J. Dressel McMinnville, Oregon 97128 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090205/9e455877/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Thu Feb 5 16:34:40 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:34:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Name that goose Message-ID: <498B85A0.2040709@pacifier.com> A non-gull bird quiz for February... http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Variations on a theme http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Thu Feb 5 17:07:44 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 17:07:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Name that goose In-Reply-To: <498B85A0.2040709@pacifier.com> References: <498B85A0.2040709@pacifier.com> Message-ID: I call them "Opossums with wings"! At least at Lane Memorial Gardens that's what they are! Sorry, I could not resist. > Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 16:34:40 -0800 > From: celata at pacifier.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Name that goose > > A non-gull bird quiz for February... > > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Variations on a theme > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_AE_Faster_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090205/a7707336/attachment.html From ronaldgp at onlinemac.com Thu Feb 5 18:22:29 2009 From: ronaldgp at onlinemac.com (Ronald G. Peterson) Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:22:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] state bird References: <498B6C62.605@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <498B9EE5.9030100@onlinemac.com> I, too, am a native son. I even know the tune.... Ron Peterson McMinnville, OR Mike Patterson wrote: >Good Golly, is everybody on OBOL a transplant? > >First, I have to explain the difference between Bucky Beaver >the Oregon mascot (used by OPB to teach history in the 1960's) >and the carcinogen peddling spokesperson for Ipana toothpaste >and now I have to teach everybody the official song of Oregon. > >Granted it's no Battle Hymn of the Republic, but... > >Oregon, My Oregon >Words by J.A. Buchanan >Music by Henry B. Murtagh > >Land of the Empire Builders, Land of the Golden West; >Conquered and held by free men, Fairest and the best. >On-ward and upward ever, Forward and on, and on; >Hail to thee, Land of the Heroes, My Oregon. > >Land of the rose and sunshine, Land of the summer's breeze; >Laden with health and vigor, Fresh from the western seas. >Blest by the blood of martyrs, Land of the setting sun; >Hail to thee, Land of Promise, My Oregon. > > > > > From bigfishyman at gmail.com Thu Feb 5 18:54:37 2009 From: bigfishyman at gmail.com (Bob Fish) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 18:54:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Washburn Ln area Message-ID: I drove out to Washburn Ln. On the way I saw 200+ Tundra swans, with 40-50 White Fronts in the middle. At Washburn I saw both male and female Northern Harriers, the male was flying low, and the female was on the ground feeding. I saw several Red-Tail Hawks...5 in flight, two in trees. One was, I thought, a juvenile Harlans sitting on top of a small tree on the west side of the road near where one was reported recently, probably male-- based on the size. The reasons I thought juvenile were the yellow iris, and dark banding on the tail. Just up the road in the ponds their were 15-20 Pintails, Several Green-Winged Teals, one peep I couldn't get good looks at. Many Killdeer, Robins and Juncos. Thanks to all who helped clarify the Flicker. I did not notice the faint red on the nape. Bob Fish Creswell, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090205/58515005/attachment.html From mlafaive at msn.com Thu Feb 5 19:27:54 2009 From: mlafaive at msn.com (Margaret LaFaive) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 19:27:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: SNOWY OWL - Morrow County Message-ID: Eric Henze just called me to report that this afternoon (Thursday, February 5, 2008) he saw a SNOWY OWL while running the Ione Raptor Route. The bird was on the Ione-Boardman Road about 1/2 mile west of its junction with Strawberry Rd. (Delorme, p. 85 B5). There is an old homestead on east side of Ione-Boardman with some dilapidated buildings and trash scattered around. The owl was sitting next to or on a concrete foundation. He first saw the bird about Noon. When he went back to the location a couple of hours later, the bird was in the same place. While he was watching, it flew back behind the homestead and landed on a concrete structure. This is almost exactly the same spot where Eric found 2 Snowy Owls last winter. Good Birding, Margaret LaFaive Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090205/087d8406/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Thu Feb 5 19:48:41 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 19:48:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Name that goose References: <498B85A0.2040709@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <008801c9880d$cd95d1b0$6500a8c0@1120639> Name that goose? I'd say George and Abe.... ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Patterson" To: "OBOL" Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 4:34 PM Subject: [obol] Name that goose >A non-gull bird quiz for February... > > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Variations on a theme > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > From davehelzer at mac.com Thu Feb 5 20:23:10 2009 From: davehelzer at mac.com (David Helzer) Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:23:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Glaucous Gull downtown Portland - no Slaty-backed seen Message-ID: <18CF8385-5E08-4C32-8725-7B40902D77AB@mac.com> I stopped by the previously described Slaty-backed Gull spot at the west end of the Burnside bridge today. I was there for about 5 minutes around 9 am and a flock of gulls were at the chum patch. No Slaty-backed, but there was a nice GLAUCOUS GULL in the mix. Dave Helzer Portland, Oregon From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Thu Feb 5 20:40:21 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 20:40:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] grade school word Message-ID: <000301c98815$27ce92f0$24db63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Wren? ;-) Paul ------------------------ Subject: Re: sesquicentennnial From: Mike Patterson Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 08:42:35 -0800 Actually, I didn't forget. It was a deliberate omission for two reasons: 1) Those east of the Cascades might feel short-changed (it's the flaw with MAMU, too) 2) Do we really want to have to make all those grade school teachers use one of the 7 words you can't say on television in history class? Tim Rodenkirk wrote: > You forgot the WRENTIT! A very cool and unique species, perhaps the most common bird along the coast. However, it's easily overlooked and no self-respecting politican would go for anything that didn't jump out at them when they were outdoors ... > > Tim R > > --- -----------------> >> From: Mike Patterson >> Subject: [obol] sesquicentennnial >> To: "OBOL" >> Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009, 7:59 AM >>...>> >> I can think of many worthy candidates for state bird that are >> more representative of Oregon and don't vacation elsewhere when the >> weather turns inclement. >> >> Western (or Clark's) Grebe >> Harlequin Duck >> Marbled Murrelet >> Spotted Owl >> Gray (Oregon) Jay >> Clark's Nutcracker >> Varied Thrush >> Chestnut-backed Chickadee >> Spotted (Oregon) Towhee >> Douglas-fir (type 4) Crossbill ...>> -- >> Mike Patterson >> Astoria, OR From 5hats at peak.org Thu Feb 5 20:43:26 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 20:43:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] South Coast Update References: <798056.3431.qm@web45302.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <002e01c98815$75fb6430$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Tim, Reminds me of a story I had forgotten. Once over in the woods near LaPine I saw a Pygmy Owl sitting in the upper branches of a pine. A Hairy Woodpecker was working its way up the trunk. When it came to the owl, it leaned back, looked for a moment at the opponent, then gave it a savage peck. Owl promptly flew off. score one for the woodpecker. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim Rodenkirk" To: Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 8:55 AM Subject: [obol] South Coast Update >I talked to Terry Wahl and have the following updates for Currylands: > > 2 or 3 PALM WARBLERS overwintering on the family ranch near Cape Blanco. > Also 2 SAY'S PHOEBES overintering plus another on the Curry side of the > Coos/Curry line for a total of 3. > > On the funny note: it turns out the NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD in Langlois has > been around since November. The guy who owns the gas station where it's > been hanging thought it was a SHOREBIRD of some sort. Those Curry folks > need some serious edukation. > > I was down in Curry Co. yesterday (the 4th) and had a really cool > sighting. I was up in the mountains east of Hwy 101 SE of Langlois and > was driving through a clearcut when I noticed 4 birds fly out of the only > live plant around- a 10 foot high half-dead rhody. I stopped as I > suspected they were W. BLUEBIRDS which they were. As they flew back > toward the rhody I noticed that perched in the middle of it was a NORTHERN > PYGMY-OWL. The bluebirds had been surounding it when they flew off as I > drove by. The bluebirds then returned to the base of the rhody and began > making some agitated vocalizations I've never heard a bluebird make. This > continued the whole time I was stopped (maybe 4 or 5 minutes). I decided > to see if I could get the owl talking and I hooted a couple times and it > immediately began vocalizing. All the sudden a HAIRY WOODPECKER flew in > and landed on a lower branch of the rhody and began working its way > upwards toward the owl. It was > much taller bird than the owl so I don't think it was concerned, more > perturbed. It got within about an inch of the owl and the owl finally > hopped up to a higher branch. The woodpecker kept creeping up until it > was an inch or so away again but then flew down to a lower branch. I left > about this time (I was on a busy logging road and had to move). An > interesting show for sure. > > Singing since 2/2- HUTTON'S VIREO. Also, heard my first WINTER WRENS > singing the last week of January. BEWICK WRENS were singing yesterday, the > 4th, at a couple spots on the north spit of Coos Bay. Saw my first > redwood violets flowering in the coast range on 1/15. The manzanita is > flowering at New River and this should be a good spot for ALLEN'S and > RUFOUS HUMMERS now, I haven't had a chance to bird there in a while. > > Happy Birding all, > Tim R > Coos Bay > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Feb 5 21:01:11 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 21:01:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared-Dove In-Reply-To: <1888062515.3974061233874884768.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> References: <1888062515.3974061233874884768.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1fbc5d2fa5de3a81c6642067f5beac8b@earthlink.net> Minor correction: Cattle Egrets got to the New World under their own power, or so I am told. Lars Norgren On Feb 5, 2009, at 3:01 PM, gneavoll at comcast.net wrote: > May I speak a word in defense of the latest widespread addition to > Oregon's avifauna, the Eurasian Collared-Dove? > > (1) It is a beautiful bird, giving Oregon four members of the > Columbidae family. > > (2) It is a potentially valuable gamebird, with an open season now > running concurrently with that for the Mourning Dove. > > (3) It does no harm that has been documented, adding interest and > variety to farmsteads and rural areas around the state. > > (4) Its claim to residency is no less valid than that of the Chukar, > the Gray Partridge, the Ring-necked Pheasant, the Northern Bobwhite, > the Cattle Egret or the Sky Lark. > > (5) Albert Schweitzer's "respect for life" extends to every creature, > behooving us to teach future birders to respect even these "aliens" in > our midst. > > (6) The Eurasian Collared-Dove is here to stay, giving Oregon birders > a new bird to look for, in time, in every county. > > Welcome, I say. We never can have enough beauty in our lives. > > George Neavoll > S.W. Portland > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Feb 5 21:10:00 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:10:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared-Dove In-Reply-To: <1fbc5d2fa5de3a81c6642067f5beac8b@earthlink.net> Message-ID: Yes, Cattle Egret reached South America apparently through natural means and moved north. I hear that the dove was originally called Collard Dove without a hyphen because it eats so well with collard greens. The spelling was accidentally changed later by some AOU committee. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From pamelaj at spiritone.com Thu Feb 5 21:20:50 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 21:20:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared-Dove References: <1888062515.3974061233874884768.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <512C0B611F3F4BCEA6EEE6C451FA5D05@yourw5st28y9a3> Skipping 1-3, let me comment upon the following. Point 4: This is a little weak, considering that the Cattle Egret, which also made its way here without assistance or replenishment of its numbers, hasn't been seen in these parts for quite a while. Point 5: I will not lower myself throw a punch at Albert Schwietzer. Point 6: The Collared Dove, no matter how venturesome, pretty, sonorous, tasty, or in any other way pleasing, might not go the distance, and could be gone of its own accord in 10 years. I can only hope the Meadowlark will go the distance, and the Osprey likewise. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: gneavoll at comcast.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 3:01 PM Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared-Dove May I speak a word in defense of the latest widespread addition to Oregon's avifauna, the Eurasian Collared-Dove? (1) It is a beautiful bird, giving Oregon four members of the Columbidae family. (2) It is a potentially valuable gamebird, with an open season now running concurrently with that for the Mourning Dove. (3) It does no harm that has been documented, adding interest and variety to farmsteads and rural areas around the state. (4) Its claim to residency is no less valid than that of the Chukar, the Gray Partridge, the Ring-necked Pheasant, the Northern Bobwhite, the Cattle Egret or the Sky Lark. (5) Albert Schweitzer's "respect for life" extends to every creature, behooving us to teach future birders to respect even these "aliens" in our midst. (6) The Eurasian Collared-Dove is here to stay, giving Oregon birders a new bird to look for, in time, in every county. Welcome, I say. We never can have enough beauty in our lives. George Neavoll S.W. Portland ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From kathyp at countrycablevision.net Thu Feb 5 21:41:05 2009 From: kathyp at countrycablevision.net (kathy) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 21:41:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-Backed Gull Found Message-ID: <05388BBE4F01431CA457229DB42B0D40@useru9ukxkkpjf> After looking for the Slaty-Backed Gull on Tuesday morning without success, I returned today (Thursday) afternoon and found it with a large flock of other gulls north of the Burnside Bridge. I arrived and parked the car south of the Burnside Bridge at 3:15 PM. I didn't see any gulls in the grassy area or in the river so I walked around the construction site to the north side of the bridge. A number of gulls were flying over the river and a small group were sitting on the grassy area. I brought two loaves of bread and started pitching some over the railing into the river and that brought many gulls to the area. Then I started throwing the bread to the gulls on the grass and the Slaty Backed flew in and landed. I was so sorry I forgot my small digital camera because it was close enough to get a good picture without a scope. I tossed bread for nearly an hour and two other birders looking for the gull showed up. One person works nearby and has been searching the area for a week. All the gulls flew several times when a helicopter took off from a rooftop across the street, but came back for the bread. Usually the Slaty Backed was among them. The other gulls are much more aggressive and the Slaty Backed hangs back from the pack. I tried throwing the bread pieces directly to the Slaty Back so it was able to nab a few crumbs. Thanks goes to Ed McVicker who posted seeing the gull on Tuesday and gave me some good tips. The key seems to be arriving after 2:00 PM and having bread to attract the flock. Happy Birding, Kathy Patterson Salem, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090205/2a1c314c/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Fri Feb 6 00:24:27 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 00:24:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared-Doves Message-ID: <000301c98834$5871f4f0$15c963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> George, I'm with you. The Eurasian Collared-dove does not deserve the negative nickname in current use. They are attractive. They have a natural place in their Eurasian homeland. They do not seem to be detrimental to native species here in America, and even if they were, there's no way to extirpate them. Yes, they are prolific and their numbers have exploded across Oregon in the last couple years. Getting around as I do, I've seen then in 23 counties. Carol is ahead of me. Fun. Enjoy. Paul T. Sullivan --- Original Message ----- From: gneavoll AT comcast.net To: obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 3:01 PM Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared-Dove May I speak a word in defense of the latest widespread addition to Oregon's avifauna, the Eurasian Collared-Dove? (1) It is a beautiful bird, giving Oregon four members of the Columbidae family. (2) It is a potentially valuable gamebird, with an open season now running concurrently with that for the Mourning Dove. (3) It does no harm that has been documented, adding interest and variety to farmsteads and rural areas around the state. (4) Its claim to residency is no less valid than that of the Chukar, the Gray Partridge, the Ring-necked Pheasant, the Northern Bobwhite, the Cattle Egret or the Sky Lark. (5) Albert Schweitzer's "respect for life" extends to every creature, behooving us to teach future birders to respect even these "aliens" in our midst. (6) The Eurasian Collared-Dove is here to stay, giving Oregon birders a new bird to look for, in time, in every county. Welcome, I say. We never can have enough beauty in our lives. George Neavoll S.W. Portland From 5hats at peak.org Fri Feb 6 07:12:53 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 07:12:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared-Dove References: Message-ID: <001b01c9886d$6550b290$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Alan, No, no. That was only the first time the AOU changed the name. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan Contreras" To: "obol" Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 9:10 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Eurasian Collared-Dove Yes, Cattle Egret reached South America apparently through natural means and moved north. I hear that the dove was originally called Collard Dove without a hyphen because it eats so well with collard greens. The spelling was accidentally changed later by some AOU committee. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Feb 6 09:03:18 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2009 09:03:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Status of Ring-necked Pheasants and Mountain Quail in Oregon Message-ID: <1233939798.3633.119.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, Below are some comments forwarded with permission from Dave Budeau, the Upland Game Bird Coordinator for Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. I asked Dave for his impressions on the status of wild populations of Ring-necked Pheasants (and also about population trends for Mountain Quail). I've patched in a couple of additional notes that Dave sent, as footnotes at the end of this. Happy reading, Joel Geier -- On February 2 Dave Budeau wrote: ... We likely have self-sustaining populations of pheasants statewide where suitable habitat is found. There are certainly many fewer birds on the west side of Oregon than, say, 30 years ago, but they still occur. (For example, I live just south of Turner and last spring I heard ~4 different roosters crowing and on our place did see one hen with a brood of 4 in early Sept). ODFW does release roosters (only) at a few select areas. ODFW is not releasing hens anywhere within the state. Though it is possible that some private folks are releasing hens, the survival of these birds is likely very low. Also, a permit must be obtained from the local ODFW office prior to releasing any domestically raised or imported wildlife. Based on our harvest surveys, Oregon hunters in 2008 harvested about 33,000 wild rooster pheasants statewide. This is typical, usually 30 to 40K/year, in a good year like 2005 it might be 60,000. Most (~55% this year) of the harvest occurs in northern Malheur County and the Columbia Basin, but usually there are about 1500 harvested annually in western Oregon.[*] We have certainly detected a long-term decline in pheasants, particularly on the west side from the early 1960s through the early 1990s. This was a time when the agricultural practices and crops grown were changing dramatically, from cereal grains to grass seed. The increase in grass seed production was a boon to some species like geese, while a detriment to others like pheasants. In regards to Mountain quail, numbers may be down this year. All upland game bird numbers have been down the last couple of years after peaking in 2005. Weather seems to be the biggest factor in the annual population changes. However, most species (mt. quail too) experienced good production in 2008 - there were just fewer adults to begin with. Based on the observations that we have received, it does appear that the distribution of mountain quail is still expanding in the state. Particularly, in the southeast counties of Lake and Harney.[**] [*] As a point of clarification, the harvest figure of ~1500 wild pheasants in recent years is for all of western Oregon, but typically two-thirds or more of the western Oregon harvest comes from NW Oregon, which we assume is the Willamette Valley. We define NW Oregon as all Counties north of Douglas Co. and west of the crest of the Cascades. In 2006 the estimated harvest for NW Oregon was 1020, 2007 it was 900, in 2008 the survey is not complete but preliminary numbers suggest it is going to be higher - near 1500 birds. [**] We have a map on our website that has most of the mt. quail observations. It is buried, and not that easy to find, so I have included the link: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/upland_bird/projects/mtn- quail-distribution-2.pdf And there are mt. quail known to occur on the Nevada side of the border. One observation near Disaster Peak, NV, was included on our map. Dave Budeau Upland Game Bird Coordinator Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 3406 Cherry Avenue NE Salem, OR 97303 Ph: 503-947-6323 email: david.a.budeau at state.or.us From mlafaive at msn.com Fri Feb 6 09:37:16 2009 From: mlafaive at msn.com (Margaret LaFaive) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 09:37:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-Backed Gull Found In-Reply-To: <05388BBE4F01431CA457229DB42B0D40@useru9ukxkkpjf> References: <05388BBE4F01431CA457229DB42B0D40@useru9ukxkkpjf> Message-ID: It's amazing how effective the chumming can be. On Wednesday I walked the waterfront on the west side of Willamette between the Morrison and Steel bridges and saw very few gulls. Then I walked along the east side Esplanade and across the Burnside Bridge. As I reached the east side of the Bridge I saw the restaurant worker Tom Snetsinger mentioned throwing out his bags of bread, and a big pile of gulls literally seemed to come from nowhere. Actually what I think they are doing is loafing out of sight on the roofs of buildings along the Naito Parkway (Front Street) just waiting for something interesting (like a bread bag) to show up. Good Birding, Margaret LaFaive From: kathyp at countrycablevision.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 21:41:05 -0800 CC: kathyp at countrycablevision.net Subject: [obol] Slaty-Backed Gull Found After looking for the Slaty-Backed Gull on Tuesday morning without success, I returned today (Thursday) afternoon and found it with a large flock of other gulls north of the Burnside Bridge. I arrived and parked the car south of the Burnside Bridge at 3:15 PM. I didn't see any gulls in the grassy area or in the river so I walked around the construction site to the north side of the bridge. A number of gulls were flying over the river and a small group were sitting on the grassy area. I brought two loaves of bread and started pitching some over the railing into the river and that brought many gulls to the area. Then I started throwing the bread to the gulls on the grass and the Slaty Backed flew in and landed. I was so sorry I forgot my small digital camera because it was close enough to get a good picture without a scope. I tossed bread for nearly an hour and two other birders looking for the gull showed up. One person works nearby and has been searching the area for a week. All the gulls flew several times when a helicopter took off from a rooftop across the street, but came back for the bread. Usually the Slaty Backed was among them. The other gulls are much more aggressive and the Slaty Backed hangs back from the pack. I tried throwing the bread pieces directly to the Slaty Back so it was able to nab a few crumbs. Thanks goes to Ed McVicker who posted seeing the gull on Tuesday and gave me some good tips. The key seems to be arriving after 2:00 PM and having bread to attract the flock. Happy Birding, Kathy Patterson Salem, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090206/cee7d83d/attachment.html From rakestraw.john at yahoo.com Fri Feb 6 09:37:37 2009 From: rakestraw.john at yahoo.com (John Rakestraw) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 09:37:37 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] feeding gulls Message-ID: <904808.44007.qm@web59406.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> Does anyone know the effects of bread on gulls? It is suspected of causing debilitating wing deformations in waterfowl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Wing). But since gulls normally eat a "richer" diet than ducks, maybe it isn't an issue. I wonder if dry cat food would be a more nutritious alternative. Anyone have any hard science to share? John Rakestraw Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090206/f6f87e91/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Fri Feb 6 10:09:52 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 10:09:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Name that goose In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <498c7cef.1c048e0a.592a.4242@mx.google.com> Regarding calling geese derogatory names, I don't find them amusing. Geese are beautiful birds! Marilyn Miller _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of R. Adney Jr. Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 5:08 PM To: OBOL Subject: Re: [obol] Name that goose I call them "Opossums with wings"! At least at Lane Memorial Gardens that's what they are! Sorry, I could not resist. > Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 16:34:40 -0800 > From: celata at pacifier.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Name that goose > > A non-gull bird quiz for February... > > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Variations on a theme > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _____ Windows LiveT: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. Check it out. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090206/802fbee4/attachment.html From dan-gleason at comcast.net Fri Feb 6 10:27:50 2009 From: dan-gleason at comcast.net (Dan Gleason) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 10:27:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] feeding gulls In-Reply-To: <904808.44007.qm@web59406.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> References: <904808.44007.qm@web59406.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> Message-ID: I suspect that bread is not the best of diets for gulls or any other bird but the condition known as "angel wing" seems to only occur in waterfowl. Geese are affected more often than ducks but ducks and swans can fall victim to this as well. If you are not acquainted with this problem, John's reference will provide you with some information. You may have seen it and not known its cause. The tips of the wings point outward, away from the body as if broken, rendering the birds flightless. The condition is not known in wild populations of birds, it only occurs where young birds are fed bread at public ponds. There are some reasons why I would expect gulls to not be affected but let me just explain more about this condition. It happens when the birds are young and the bones are growing. A diet high in carbohydrates and protein (bread, popcorn, etc.) causes the feathers of the young birds to grow too fast. Eventually, the weight of the wing feathers becomes more than the developing bones of the wrist can support and the wings twist outward. As the bones continue to ossify, the wings become permanently fixed in this position, rendering the bird flightless. It is more complex than just high carbohydrate alone. The high levels of carbohydrate and protein raise the blood sugar and cause a decrease in the levels of vitamins D and E. Both wings are often affected but sometimes, only the left wing is affected. For unknown reasons, it is very rare to have only the right wing affected and the left nearly normal. One of the reasons that I would expect gulls to not be affected is the age at which it occurs in the birds. Waterfowl are precocial, with the young leaving the nest upon hatching. If this is in an area where people feed bread to birds, the young birds will readily eat what is offered, having learned from their parents that this is food. Gulls are semi-altricial and remain in the nest until fully grown. Thus, their wing structure is fixed before any exposure to bread offerings occur. Adults may be feeding on bread where offered but they are also feeding on a variety of other foods so what they bring to their nestlings is a much more balanced diet. Also, while gulls seldom turn down a handout, they spend most of their foraging time seeking non-human foods and become less dependent on people then geese and ducks in parks. It would be interesting to know if young gulls would develop angel wing if given a diet as deficient as some young geese and ducks get. However, no matter how interesting, its not an experiment that I would like to see anyone do. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Feb 6, 2009, at 9:37 AM, John Rakestraw wrote: > Does anyone know the effects of bread on gulls? It is suspected of > causing debilitating wing deformations in waterfowl (http:// > en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Wing). But since gulls normally eat a > "richer" diet than ducks, maybe it isn't an issue. I wonder if dry > cat food would be a more nutritious alternative. > > Anyone have any hard science to share? > > John Rakestraw > Portland > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090206/962bd002/attachment.html From kit619 at ida.net Fri Feb 6 10:51:24 2009 From: kit619 at ida.net (Kit Struthers) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 11:51:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Dubois (Idaho) Grouse Days Message-ID: I invite you to attend the 7th Annual Dubois Grouse Days (Fostering Partnerships for Grouse Conservation). This is a two-day event (April 17 & 18, 2009) to celebrate the shrub-steppe ecosystem and the distinctive animals which live there. Stressing conservation and education, the event features a banquet, arts and craft booths, kids activities, presentations by biologists and ranchers, raffle and silent auction, and guided tours to grouse breeding grounds to view Greater Sage-Grouse and Sharp-tailed Grouse courtship, a visit to The Nature Conservancy's Crooked Creek Ranch and other local highlights, and an animal display by Safari Club International. Contact Curtis Keetch: ckeetch71 at hotmail.com; Phone: 208-521-1357. Website (soon to be up) www.grousedays.org Kit Struthers, Idaho Falls, ID kit619 at ida.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090206/827631ed/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Fri Feb 6 11:12:50 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 11:12:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Name that goose References: <498B85A0.2040709@pacifier.com> Message-ID: My thoughts would be to have folks submit captions for the Gull photo. In keeping with the recent messages regarding bread for Gulls, how about this one..."Sure, I can swallow that loaf of white bread" Dennis >A non-gull bird quiz for February... > > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Variations on a theme > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html From dan-gleason at comcast.net Fri Feb 6 11:17:20 2009 From: dan-gleason at comcast.net (Dan Gleason) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 11:17:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Name that goose In-Reply-To: <498c7cef.1c048e0a.592a.4242@mx.google.com> References: <498c7cef.1c048e0a.592a.4242@mx.google.com> Message-ID: Marilyn, I agree with you. Each creature has its own beauty and its own special and fascinating attributes. The statement in question may have been made in jest but it is meant to be negative to geese and implies negative feelings about possums as well. It's true that possums are not native to the west, but if people would take the time learn about them, they might respect them more. Possums, for example, are completely immune to the venom of pit vipers and suffer no effects from rattlesnake bites, and they have a measured intelligence level that is higher than dogs. (Yet, we continue to call them stupid.) Maybe equating geese with possums is complimentary after all. Starlings are another bird we love to hate. Yet, from a biological perspective, they have some very fascinating attributes. And there are many studies that show them not to have such great negative impact on native species as we seem to always want to portray. Making quick value or moral judgments about a species will often lead to trouble. A term I have heard used for this is "biobigotry." I think it is an appropriate term and I have started to use it when appropriate. We might look negatively at starlings and House Sparrows but some people have similar feelings about raptors and shoot them. It's easy to appreciate the visual beauty of a Western Tanager but harder to see it in a Starling. But it is there if you will take the time to look for it. Don't get me wrong; I'm not a champion of starlings. But I do think that we do them, and ourselves, a great disservice by making quick judgments and failing to understand some of the more subtle and complex aspects of this and other species. The next time you see a fly, don?t swat it. Instead, watch it and marvel at how it can make twists and turns in the air, often avoiding being hit by your hand. Then watch as it comes to a stop, alighting upside-down on the ceiling. How did it do that? A barrel-roll or a somersault? And even more wondrous is the fact that it stays on the ceiling without falling off! I suspect that is something none of us can do. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Feb 6, 2009, at 10:09 AM, Marilyn Miller wrote: > Regarding calling geese derogatory names, I don?t find them > amusing. Geese are beautiful birds! > > Marilyn Miller > > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol- > bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of R. Adney Jr. > > Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 5:08 PM > To: OBOL > Subject: Re: [obol] Name that goose > > I call them "Opossums with wings"! At least at Lane Memorial > Gardens that's what they are! > > Sorry, I could not resist. > > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090206/0c3915ba/attachment.html From prigge1 at mindspring.com Fri Feb 6 11:20:54 2009 From: prigge1 at mindspring.com (Allen Prigge) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 11:20:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Test Message-ID: <4205F558E3DE442AA63DA929D4F6688A@alrup5ujaxzzmc> Test Only -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090206/5d1b8099/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Fri Feb 6 11:40:24 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 11:40:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Name that goose In-Reply-To: References: <498c7cef.1c048e0a.592a.4242@mx.google.com> Message-ID: Yes, the statement was made in jest. I had chosen to show a sense of humor regarding the geese, and the overabundance of them in the Eugene area. Similarl to the statement in the Woody Allen screenplay "Stardust Memories" where pigeons were described as "rats with wings". I also have a bit of interest in Geese, I photograph them often, they have unique personalities and are camera hams. I can't say as much for the opossums however. I apologize to anyone who was offended, and I will forgo any further attempts at humor relating to birds of any species. Rich From: dan-gleason at comcast.net Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 11:17:20 -0800 To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Name that goose Marilyn, I agree with you. Each creature has its own beauty and its own special and fascinating attributes. The statement in question may have been made in jest but it is meant to be negative to geese and implies negative feelings about possums as well. It's true that possums are not native to the west, but if people would take the time learn about them, they might respect them more. Possums, for example, are completely immune to the venom of pit vipers and suffer no effects from rattlesnake bites, and they have a measured intelligence level that is higher than dogs. (Yet, we continue to call them stupid.) Maybe equating geese with possums is complimentary after all. Starlings are another bird we love to hate. Yet, from a biological perspective, they have some very fascinating attributes. And there are many studies that show them not to have such great negative impact on native species as we seem to always want to portray. Making quick value or moral judgments about a species will often lead to trouble. A term I have heard used for this is "biobigotry." I think it is an appropriate term and I have started to use it when appropriate. We might look negatively at starlings and House Sparrows but some people have similar feelings about raptors and shoot them. It's easy to appreciate the visual beauty of a Western Tanager but harder to see it in a Starling. But it is there if you will take the time to look for it. Don't get me wrong; I'm not a champion of starlings. But I do think that we do them, and ourselves, a great disservice by making quick judgments and failing to understand some of the more subtle and complex aspects of this and other species. The next time you see a fly, don?t swat it. Instead, watch it and marvel at how it can make twists and turns in the air, often avoiding being hit by your hand. Then watch as it comes to a stop, alighting upside-down on the ceiling. How did it do that? A barrel-roll or a somersault? And even more wondrous is the fact that it stays on the ceiling without falling off! I suspect that is something none of us can do. Dan Gleason -------------Dan Gleasondan-gleason at comcast.net541 345-0450 On Feb 6, 2009, at 10:09 AM, Marilyn Miller wrote: Regarding calling geese derogatory names, I don?t find them amusing. Geese are beautiful birds!Marilyn Miller From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of R. Adney Jr. Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 5:08 PM To: OBOL Subject: Re: [obol] Name that gooseI call them "Opossums with wings"! At least at Lane Memorial Gardens that's what they are! Sorry, I could not resist. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_AE_Faster_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090206/db6c2467/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Fri Feb 6 11:50:12 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 11:50:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Name that goose In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <006001c98894$1fea35b0$4e01a8c0@102889> Rich & Dan, Don't worry about it. Marilyn is the only one who would be offended by such comments, and after many years of our attempts at humor disparaging geese, she is better natured about it and is used to it at least. I'm sure most of us actually appreciate geese more than we let on in her presence. Tom Crabtree Bend _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of R. Adney Jr. Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 11:40 AM To: OBOL Subject: Re: [obol] Name that goose Yes, the statement was made in jest. I had chosen to show a sense of humor regarding the geese, and the overabundance of them in the Eugene area. Similarl to the statement in the Woody Allen screenplay "Stardust Memories" where pigeons were described as "rats with wings". I also have a bit of interest in Geese, I photograph them often, they have unique personalities and are camera hams. I can't say as much for the opossums however. I apologize to anyone who was offended, and I will forgo any further attempts at humor relating to birds of any species. Rich _____ From: dan-gleason at comcast.net Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 11:17:20 -0800 To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Name that goose Marilyn, I agree with you. Each creature has its own beauty and its own special and fascinating attributes. The statement in question may have been made in jest but it is meant to be negative to geese and implies negative feelings about possums as well. It's true that possums are not native to the west, but if people would take the time learn about them, they might respect them more. Possums, for example, are completely immune to the venom of pit vipers and suffer no effects from rattlesnake bites, and they have a measured intelligence level that is higher than dogs. (Yet, we continue to call them stupid.) Maybe equating geese with possums is complimentary after all. Starlings are another bird we love to hate. Yet, from a biological perspective, they have some very fascinating attributes. And there are many studies that show them not to have such great negative impact on native species as we seem to always want to portray. Making quick value or moral judgments about a species will often lead to trouble. A term I have heard used for this is "biobigotry." I think it is an appropriate term and I have started to use it when appropriate. We might look negatively at starlings and House Sparrows but some people have similar feelings about raptors and shoot them. It's easy to appreciate the visual beauty of a Western Tanager but harder to see it in a Starling. But it is there if you will take the time to look for it. Don't get me wrong; I'm not a champion of starlings. But I do think that we do them, and ourselves, a great disservice by making quick judgments and failing to understand some of the more subtle and complex aspects of this and other species. The next time you see a fly, don't swat it. Instead, watch it and marvel at how it can make twists and turns in the air, often avoiding being hit by your hand. Then watch as it comes to a stop, alighting upside-down on the ceiling. How did it do that? A barrel-roll or a somersault? And even more wondrous is the fact that it stays on the ceiling without falling off! I suspect that is something none of us can do. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Feb 6, 2009, at 10:09 AM, Marilyn Miller wrote: Regarding calling geese derogatory names, I don't find them amusing. Geese are beautiful birds! Marilyn Miller From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of R. Adney Jr. Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 5:08 PM To: OBOL Subject: Re: [obol] Name that goose I call them "Opossums with wings"! At least at Lane Memorial Gardens that's what they are! Sorry, I could not resist. _____ Windows LiveT: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. Check it out. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090206/c9639d46/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Fri Feb 6 11:50:36 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 11:50:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Name that goose Message-ID: <81b2a9930902061150r48763fcby85440f112b167b73@mail.gmail.com> Since it's Friday, perhaps we could all benefit from mellowing out over a drink. In the spirit of this thread, I suggest Grey Goose vodka. Brandon Eugene From dan-gleason at comcast.net Fri Feb 6 12:07:36 2009 From: dan-gleason at comcast.net (Dan Gleason) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 12:07:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Name that goose In-Reply-To: <006001c98894$1fea35b0$4e01a8c0@102889> References: <006001c98894$1fea35b0$4e01a8c0@102889> Message-ID: <1B3BE5C7-D828-4C63-B2DD-9A31EAC3EC77@comcast.net> I was also not offended and understood the attempted humor. I simply saw it as an opportunity to remind ourselves to be careful about judgments and oversimplification. They have gotten us into trouble far too often. I apologize to anyone who thought I was on a rant or really upset by the statement made. It was not my intent to make anyone feel badly. To turn to birds for a moment --- It has been interesting to watch the interactions at our suet feeder with the arrival of two Yellow- rumped Warblers. They seldom come to our home but we always have Townsend's Warblers each winter. The Townsend's seem a bit intimidated by the Yellowrumps and leave the suet to sit in a nearby branch when one or both Yellowrumps fly to the suet. It didn't take long, however, for the Townsend's to learn a new trick. Now, when the Yellowrumps arrive, the Townsend's move to the ground and await the tidbits of suet knocked free by the Yellowrump. An easy meal, although there is competition from the juncos. Enjoy the birds and please do keep your sense of humor alive and active. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Feb 6, 2009, at 11:50 AM, Tom Crabtree wrote: > Rich & Dan, > > > > Don?t worry about it. Marilyn is the only one who would be > offended by such comments, and after many years of our attempts at > humor disparaging geese, she is better natured about it and is used > to it at least. I?m sure most of us actually appreciate geese more > than we let on in her presence. > > > > Tom Crabtree > > Bend > > > > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol- > bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of R. Adney Jr. > Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 11:40 AM > To: OBOL > Subject: Re: [obol] Name that goose > > > > > Yes, the statement was made in jest. I had chosen to show a sense > of humor regarding the geese, and the overabundance of them in the > Eugene area. Similarl to the statement in the Woody Allen > screenplay "Stardust Memories" where pigeons were described as > "rats with wings". > > I also have a bit of interest in Geese, I photograph them often, > they have unique personalities and are camera hams. I can't say as > much for the opossums however. > > I apologize to anyone who was offended, and I will forgo any > further attempts at humor relating to birds of any species. > > > Rich > > From: dan-gleason at comcast.net > Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 11:17:20 -0800 > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Name that goose > > Marilyn, > > > > I agree with you. Each creature has its own beauty and its own > special and fascinating attributes. The statement in question may > have been made in jest but it is meant to be negative to geese and > implies negative feelings about possums as well. It's true that > possums are not native to the west, but if people would take the > time learn about them, they might respect them more. Possums, for > example, are completely immune to the venom of pit vipers and > suffer no effects from rattlesnake bites, and they have a measured > intelligence level that is higher than dogs. (Yet, we continue to > call them stupid.) Maybe equating geese with possums is > complimentary after all. Starlings are another bird we love to > hate. Yet, from a biological perspective, they have some very > fascinating attributes. And there are many studies that show them > not to have such great negative impact on native species as we seem > to always want to portray. > > > > Making quick value or moral judgments about a species will often > lead to trouble. A term I have heard used for this is "biobigotry." > I think it is an appropriate term and I have started to use it when > appropriate. We might look negatively at starlings and House > Sparrows but some people have similar feelings about raptors and > shoot them. It's easy to appreciate the visual beauty of a Western > Tanager but harder to see it in a Starling. But it is there if you > will take the time to look for it. Don't get me wrong; I'm not a > champion of starlings. But I do think that we do them, and > ourselves, a great disservice by making quick judgments and failing > to understand some of the more subtle and complex aspects of this > and other species. > > > > The next time you see a fly, don?t swat it. Instead, watch it and > marvel at how it can make twists and turns in the air, often > avoiding being hit by your hand. Then watch as it comes to a stop, > alighting upside-down on the ceiling. How did it do that? A barrel- > roll or a somersault? And even more wondrous is the fact that it > stays on the ceiling without falling off! I suspect that is > something none of us can do. > > > > Dan Gleason > > > > ------------- > > Dan Gleason > > dan-gleason at comcast.net > > 541 345-0450 > > > > > > > On Feb 6, 2009, at 10:09 AM, Marilyn Miller wrote: > > > > Regarding calling geese derogatory names, I don?t find them > amusing. Geese are beautiful birds! > > Marilyn Miller > > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol- > bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of R. Adney Jr. > > Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 5:08 PM > To: OBOL > Subject: Re: [obol] Name that goose > > I call them "Opossums with wings"! At least at Lane Memorial > Gardens that's what they are! > > Sorry, I could not resist. > > > > > Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. Check > it out. > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090206/623d7369/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Fri Feb 6 12:24:08 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 12:24:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Airplane1-Hawk0 Message-ID: http://www.kgw.com/travel/stories/ kgw_020509_news_portland_airport_hawk.206fb0a1.html Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090206/4ece7d06/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Fri Feb 6 13:51:53 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:51:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Name that goose Message-ID: <498CB0F9.2080602@pacifier.com> Note to self: no more goose quiz birds. too controversial stick to blurry pictures of sparrows -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Variations on a theme http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html From louisfredd at msn.com Fri Feb 6 14:17:33 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 14:17:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Last Week, Jan 24-30, Oregon City Message-ID: Counted 28 species for the week from the yard. The following, observed from the yard or in vicinity of Oregon City, of most interest to me. Sat 24th RED-TAILED HAWK After virtual absence in the immediate area from the latter half of last fall on, raptors re-appeared in mid-January. PURPLE FINCH M Beginning mid-January I began seeing individual Purple Finches passing through every few days or so. I rarely see these finches in the yard in January. Mon 26th AMERICAN KESTREL M,F separately. A pair hunted in this area regularly in the autumn but disappeared in mid-December with the onset of sub-freezing weather and snowfall. Kestrels not seen since except a pair last week. Despite those and these two, I have seen no indication kestrels have re-established on the local landscape as formerly. MERLIN A quick fly by just before dark. RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER (2) At least one sapsucker regularly foraged in the yard last fall but also disappeared in mid-December. None seen since except for these and one last week. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET (2) First this winter. I saw unusually few (3) last fall. Tue 27th BUFFLEHEAD M,F pair. Oregon City requires developers to build small sediment retention ponds (1/8 ac or less) to clarify, a little, stormwater runoff before its discharge into local streams. The Buffleheads were paddling about and diving for food on the bleakest of these next to Glen Oak Road. This one is rectangular, steep masonry block walls on three sides, looks like a flooded basement, but these little ducks seemed to be content with it for the afternoon. Wed 29th SHARP-SHINNED HAWK Adult All slate black above except for a little white on the tip of its tail, immaculate plumage. It prowled the rim of the bird bath, disappeared when I looked away. I soon spotted it again on the ground below the bath with a siskin pinned beneath its feet. Better it was fed than the neighbors' cats, much as I feel kindly toward all living things. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_howitworks_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090206/4a83c591/attachment.html From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Fri Feb 6 14:23:00 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 14:23:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Birder's Night: Monday, Feb 9 Message-ID: <46EA2498-6BF4-4CC6-9E5D-B36FFD937567@comcast.net> OBOL- Eugene Birder's Night will be Feb 9 (second Monday of each Month) at 7pm. LOCATION IS NEW: Sacred Heart Hospital (downtown), 1255 Hilyard St; Conference Room A (across the hall from the Auditorium). Directions to Conference Room A: -enter main Lobby from Hilyard St -turn Left and walk down hall (past the cafeteria) to end of hall -turn Right and walk down hall (past Dining Room) to end of hall -turn Right and walk a few steps, then Left down the hall toward the Auditorium -Conference Room A (labelled simply Conference Room) is on the Right (across from a bank of telephones on the Left side of the hall) Parking: Parking lot structure (across Hilyard from the Lobby) charges $1/hour (I think). Street parking is not available on Hilyard per se, but is found on 13th, 12th (West of Patterson), and Patterson streets (street parking free after 6pm). Map is at this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=sacred+heart+hospital+eugene,+or&fb=1&split=1&cid=0,0,17378354515337851834&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image Agenda: usual reporting format, then a slideshow on Birds of Maine (Holly Reinhard)...bring a field guide to Eastern North America! Note: we will have reliable access to audio/video support from this point on, so those wishing to bring a disc or laptop to show interesting images, etc should feel free to do so. For a lengthly presentation, please give me a heads-up so we can avoid conflicts. Barry McKenzie Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090206/11d1478e/attachment.html From prigge1 at mindspring.com Fri Feb 6 14:45:16 2009 From: prigge1 at mindspring.com (Allen Prigge) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 14:45:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Yellowlegs, Eugene, Lane County Message-ID: Not a real biggie, but yesterday ~10:00am a Lesser Yellowlegs was seen at the Delta Pond visible from the bike path between the Valley River footbridge and Goodpasture Island Rd. Also seen there, a Northern Shoveler transitioning from juvenal to adult plumage. Must be a late bloomer. Also yesterday pm on condo grounds behind my unit a (blush) "Wild" Turkey copulation. Seems a bit early. AAP -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090206/8c3f8272/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Fri Feb 6 17:51:07 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 17:51:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared-Doves nr. Verboort/Fernhill Wetlands Message-ID: I was back over in Forest Grove again today and took a stroll around Fernhill Wetlands. It was overcast and cool, with a slight breeze. It was a pleasant selection of birds, with nothing out of the ordinary. Best sighting was of Lars Norgren. Actually, what I did see on the way to there were 6 Eurasian Collared Doves along route 47. I know they are seen in the town of Verboort very close by, so perhaps they are part of that group. They were in a tree on the east side of Route 47, about 1.8 miles north of the NW Verboort Road/ Highway 47 junction. Just to learn how to do it I made a make on Google maps showing where they were. Google Maps Link: Location: Fernhill Wetlands Observation date: 2/6/09 Number of species: 41 Cackling Goose 600 Canada Goose 50 Tundra Swan 30 Gadwall 30 American Wigeon 10 Mallard 40 Northern Shoveler 50 Northern Pintail 1000 Green-winged Teal 30 Canvasback 8 Ring-necked Duck 125 Lesser Scaup 12 Bufflehead 20 Common Merganser 6 Ruddy Duck 59 Double-crested Cormorant 12 Great Blue Heron 8 Red-tailed Hawk 2 American Kestrel 1 Mew Gull 20 Ring-billed Gull 2 Western Gull 2 Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 10 California Gull 1 Herring Gull 1 Thayer's Gull 1 Glaucous-winged Gull 35 Northern Flicker 1 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Brown Creeper 1 Bewick's Wren 1 Marsh Wren 1 American Robin 1 European Starling 50 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1 Spotted Towhee 2 Song Sparrow 10 Golden-crowned Sparrow 5 Red-winged Blackbird 5 Brewer's Blackbird 50 Cheers, Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090206/33f7a1c5/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Fri Feb 6 18:14:21 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 18:14:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Name that goose In-Reply-To: <81b2a9930902061150r48763fcby85440f112b167b73@mail.gmail.com> References: <81b2a9930902061150r48763fcby85440f112b167b73@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Great suggestion Brandon! And thanks everyone else for your kind words! Maybe I'll put a humor warning in the subject line next time. I try to find humor in most things in life, and even if someone is laughing at my expense, at least they are laughing. I figure I can go through life being grouchy and unhappy, or laughing and smiling. I choose the latter. Birds are a passion to me, I don't take them lightly as anyone who knows me can attest. I go on about them ad-nauseum to anyone who will listen And Lars, I don't think I'll be following in culinary footsteps anytime soon, how ever I do know someone who has eaten opossum and liked it. But Porcupine?? > Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 11:50:36 -0800 > From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Name that goose > > Since it's Friday, perhaps we could all benefit from mellowing out > over a drink. In the spirit of this thread, I suggest Grey Goose > vodka. > > Brandon > Eugene > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_explore_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090206/cf80e7a6/attachment.html From tedschroeder0800 at hotmail.com Fri Feb 6 19:53:08 2009 From: tedschroeder0800 at hotmail.com (ted schroeder) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 19:53:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Morrow County Snowy Owl Message-ID: The Snowy Owl seen yesterday by Eric Henze and reported by Margaret LaFaive to OBOL was present again today in the same location (At an old homestead on the east side of the Ione-Boardman Rd, .3 miles SW of it's junction with the west end of Strawberry Lane) near Ione. As Eric had seen, the owl favors perching on a concrete foundation surrounded by junk. The owl seems quite wary. Initially, we found it on the foundation 75 yards off of the road. We watched it from the vehicle for 15 minutes. Then, our gently attempting to pull off of the pavement caused it to fly to a post 400-500 yards to the south, so we went to lunch. Upon returning from lunch in Ione 2 hours later, the owl had returned to the foundation. We watched it from the road for 15 minutes and then headed for home. It seems unlikely that this bird would tolerate being approached close enough to obtain good photos unless you are set up with a first rate, high power digi-scope setup. Even then, all of the trash is hardly an optimal setting. The owl is fairly heavily spotted, so may be a first year bird or a female. For those of you not familiar with the terrain in that area, it is primarily rolling, cultivated fields with sparse vegetation elsewhere, except in some of the drainages. We saw quite a few widely scattered Horned Larks, one Prairie Falcon and one Rough-legged Hawk in the nearby area. Thanks to Eric and Margaret for reporting the Snowy Owl. They are always such a treat to see. Ted Schroeder----------La Grande _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_explore_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090206/617a0545/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Fri Feb 6 19:54:18 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 19:54:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland Slaty-Backed Gull Continues Message-ID: In need of my weekly Slaty-backed Gull fix, I headed to downtown Portland this afternoon. I started my search at 2:40 just north of the Burnside bridge on the west side of the Willamette. I walked south from there to south of the Hawthorne bridge, and then headed back north, up to just south of the Burnside bridge. At around 4:15, I noticed Greg Baker on the east side of the river waving his arms -- the SLATY-BACKED GULL appeared to be in spitting distance of him. Per a conversation I had with George Neavoll, apparently someone had dumped doughnuts in the river from the east side about 30-40 minutes (or so) before that. Between 4:15 and 4:52, the SLATY-BACKED GULL made two or three very brief appearances on the west side of the river (again just south of the Burnside bridge), but it definitely favored the east side. It allowed many people (mostly joggers and cyclists) to get relatively close. It perched repeatedly on a rail that was about 3 feet or so from the ground. This spot is reachable by taking the stairs down from the southeast side of the Burnside Bridge, and then turning at the spot that allows you to do a 180 degree turn and head lower toward the river (and back north under the Burnside Bridge). The gull was favoring that area at the 180 degree turnaround. I've put three photos of the SLATY-BACKED GULL in this location online at: http://westerngrebe.com/PortlandGulls/ . Not good photos of the bird, per se, but they show where it was, with some familiar downtown landmarks in the background (Hawthorne bridge, that pinkish building). Also noteworthy was a 1st year GLAUCOUS GULL south of the Hawthorne bridge on the west side of the river, also pointed out to me by Greg Baker, and presumably the same bird seen last Saturday by Will Clemons and others (?). Of the dozen or so GLAUCOUS GULLS I've seen over the years (mostly in the central U.S.), this one has a relatively small bill and the most gentle appearance. The best match for the head that I've found in field guides thus far is photo 218 on page 199 of Olsen & Larsson's Gulls of North America, Europe, and Asia, which depicts a pallidissimus subspecies. Two photos of this bird are at the bottom of the page of the link above. Perhaps some gull experts out there can straighten me out, since the pallidissimus subspecies seems the least likely to show up here. Scott Carpenter SW Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090206/da92b5c3/attachment.html From mavethegreat at hotmail.com Fri Feb 6 21:54:44 2009 From: mavethegreat at hotmail.com (David G Crisman) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 21:54:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield and Red-Shouldereds Message-ID: I've noticed that there have been quite a few Red Shouldered Hawk sightings around this winter, and I wondered why. Is this normal for these places and this time of year? It seems like the occasions have been increasing. Also, I haven't spent much time at Ridgefield NWR, and I'm interested in hearing from people how best to spend your time there as I'm planning a visit. David Crisman Tigard, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_explore_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090206/84d63102/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Feb 7 08:03:30 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 08:03:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield and Red-Shouldereds In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <9cdf0cc26d00623f883a597f8620f049@earthlink.net> This species, like the Black Phoebe, has been steadily expanding northward through Oregon since about 1975. Post breeding dispersal results in far more birds here at the north end of the state in winter than at other seasons. THe majority of these birds are juvenile. I noted a pair along Hwy 30 this Tuesday, I believe it was MP 75, just north of the Cornelius Pass Jct.. This is the Multnomah Channel, Sauvie Island's western boundary. Minutes before reading your posting I was musing on the absence of 'Shoulders in my part of Washington County. Haven't seen a one in close to a calendar year. Perhaps they're all at your end instead. Lars Norgren On Feb 6, 2009, at 9:54 PM, David G Crisman wrote: > I've noticed that there have been quite a few Red Shouldered Hawk > sightings around this winter, and I wondered why.? Is this normal for > these places and this time of year?? It seems like the occasions have > been increasing.? > ? > Also, I haven't spent much time at Ridgefield NWR, and I'm interested > in hearing from people how best to spend your time there as I'm > planning a visit. > ? > David Crisman > Tigard, OR > > Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. Check it > out. _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From rie at pcfubar.net Sat Feb 7 10:47:02 2009 From: rie at pcfubar.net (roger morris) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 10:47:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Name that goose In-Reply-To: References: <81b2a9930902061150r48763fcby85440f112b167b73@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: On Fri, Feb 6, 2009 at 6:14 PM, R. Adney Jr. wrote: > > And Lars, I don't think I'll be following in culinary footsteps anytime > soon, how ever I do know someone who has eaten opossum and liked it. But > Porcupine?? > If you don't cook Porcupine right, it sticks in your throat. (I'll probably be needled for that line) Roger -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090207/08e6afba/attachment.html From loisbillranta at comcast.net Sat Feb 7 11:44:18 2009 From: loisbillranta at comcast.net (Ranta) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 11:44:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull found Message-ID: The Slaty-backed Gull was found by my dad (Bill Ranta) and I (Niko Ranta) just north of the Burnside bridge on the east side at approximately 11am this morning. We were able to quickly find the bird by tossing bread crumbs to a passing juvenile gull, of which more gulls proceeded to join in. It appeared very quickly, within 30 seconds, and proceded to circle around for the few minutes we watched it but made little to no attempt to land on the water. Only bread that the Slaty-backed Gull got was one that was tossed on the water near it, of which it promptly dove for it than took off. ~Niko Ranta -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090207/b5207f50/attachment.html From kolwicz at minetfiber.com Sat Feb 7 13:58:20 2009 From: kolwicz at minetfiber.com (kolwicz at minetfiber.com) Date: Sat, 07 Feb 2009 13:58:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yellow-rump/Townsends interactions Message-ID: <498E03FC.6000208@minetfiber.com> I have had YRW and Townsends at my suet all winter and the YWR is king of the lump, as long as the challengers are similar sized or smaller. "Bad Bob", as we know him, actively attacks Townies, chickadees and nuthatches and drives them completely away from the feeder. He'd love to chase the feeding-frenzies of bush tits, too, but can't seem to figure out if they are one big organism or a lot of little ones. He will chase some of the stragglers around the edges of the swirling mass, but is really puzzled by the flock as it amorphously re-shapes the feeding mass as he approaches them, but won't leave the suet. They just sort of flow around behind "him" (?). Frank From jorrie at peak.org Sat Feb 7 16:08:27 2009 From: jorrie at peak.org (Jorrie & Ken) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 16:08:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Incoming Hummers and Nesters Message-ID: Yesterday and today there were 2 male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS at the Perky Pet feeder at the same time. There just might be a couple more out there. Also, some female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS were collecting cotton for their nests. Jorrie & Ken Ciotti Waldport, OR From willclemons at yahoo.com Sat Feb 7 17:00:40 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 17:00:40 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Portland: SLATY-BACKED GULL - Yes Message-ID: <446482.34854.qm@web55101.mail.re4.yahoo.com> A bit before 2:30 Saturday afternoon, I arrived at Waterfront Park on the S side of the Burnside Bridge. At least 6 other birders were there watching and feeding a gull flock. The SLATY-BACKED GULL was a stand out in the crowd! I watched it from about 2:30 until around 3PM. I did not see it after that, but assume it was hanging around on the lower structure of the Burnside Bridge. I was only about 20 feet from it when it was on the grass. It was in the water about 50 yards from the seawall for while, and then it flew, making a few large circles which made for good binocular views of upper and under wings. A wonderful Gull! Last I saw of it it was on one of the street lamp heads on the Burnside Bridge, and I saw it on at least 3 lamp heads up there before I lost it. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com From celata at pacifier.com Sat Feb 7 17:16:14 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:16:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pine Grosbeak at Saddle Mt. Message-ID: <498E325E.2020208@pacifier.com> Marc Dragiewicz went up Saddle Mountain last week and found several PINE GROSBEAKS at the saddle. He got pictures, though he didn't bring them with him today to today's gathering. We tried for the Tufted Duck at Marshland today, but did not find it. There is a RED-NECKED GREBE in Blind Slough at Brownsmead. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Variations on a theme http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Sat Feb 7 17:19:26 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 17:19:26 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR Saturday - Usual birds Message-ID: <395068.11442.qm@web55102.mail.re4.yahoo.com> My Mother (Olive) and I birded the River "S" Unit at Ridgefield NWR (~4mi W of I-5 at Exit 14 in SW Washington; http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ ). Aprox 8:30am to 11:30am, one loop only today. Cool, quiet and breezy. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores Complete list of 40 species seen / heard: Pied-billed Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Cackling Goose Canada Goose Tundra Swan Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Ruddy Duck Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk Dark Morph Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel American Coot Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Long-billed Dowitcher Great Horned Owl Northern Flicker Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird House Finch From birder at iinet.com Sat Feb 7 18:45:52 2009 From: birder at iinet.com (Sherry Hagen) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 18:45:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed & other gulls today Message-ID: <942A3D4B2A77460887A2377230832593@Sherry> After seeing & photographing the Slaty-backed Gull south of the Burnside Bridge as it fed in the water and then close-up on the park grass, we ventured to Westmoreland Park and Crystal Springs. We saw two immature gulls there that I photographed and would like to be sure of their identity. We believe them to be a Glaucous Gull and possibly a hybrid. We would appreciate the gull experts to give us their opinion of these two gulls correct identify. Thanks in advance. See the photos at: http://home.comcast.net/~littlebirder/gulls09.html Sherry Hagen Vancouver, WA birder at iinet.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090207/de07e8f7/attachment.html From WeberHome at att.net Sat Feb 7 18:51:37 2009 From: WeberHome at att.net (Cliff & Joanne Weber) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 18:51:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Scappoose Bottoms Message-ID: <20090208025154.BDA8EA8271@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> OBOL, hello! Deciding to skip the Audubon Society's Raptor Road Trip at Sauvi Island this year, we opted for the SB on this gloriously sunny day. What we like best about the Bottoms is that we can drive its loop at a snail's pace just like the loop road at Ridgefield and take in the sights without having to worry about aggravating drivers behind us. Anyway we pulled off the road by some old farm buildings to watch a Merlin perched on a low telephone wire, and after a few minutes, the Merlin took off to the northwest and an American Kestrel came and perched in almost the very spot on the wire recently occupied by the Merlin; which reminded me of the old-fashioned midget tag team wrestling matches we used to watch on television as kids in 1950's San Diego. (Does that date me or what!?) Pro wrestlers in those days barely made a living; now they're world wide super stars and hulkier than a Shrek on steroids. The pastures out there in the Bottoms were practically littered with Northern Harriers of both genders. We saw the strangest sight-- what appeared to be a Bald Eagle's nest right in the middle of a Heron rookery! It should be interesting to see how the two species of birds interact during the nesting season. There's a somewhat similar tense situation at Jackson Bottom wetlands out in Hillsboro. A Red Tail hawk pair have been nesting for a number of years right next door to the Heron rookery out by the sanitary landfill with apparently no neighbor-from-hell repercussions; at least during nesting season. But I'm told that when the youngster's of both species fledge, the truce is over and the raptors and the waders go their separate ways till next year. Where? . . Access Scappoose Bottoms from Hwy 30 north out of Portland at Johnson Landing Rd (a.k.a. Dike Rd) located on page 474 of the Thomas Bros Portland street guide. Follow the Dike road for a ways and go right on E. Honeyman Road to where it forks with Ellis Farm Road and N. Honeyman Rd. We skipped the farm road and took the fork to N. Honeyman Rd and followed it around past the airport to West Lane Road. Here you have the option of going north on West Lane road back out to Hwy 30 or go south to E. Columbia Blvd. Turn right on E. Columbia and it will take you to Hwy 30. The Bottoms are a large area that can't really be pin-pointed on a map like a specific street address. The center of mass is located approximately at the Google Earth map below. http://tinyurl.com/afcmaf Accommodations? . . Lots of restaurants and opportunities for potty breaks and coffee in the city of Scappoose. You might even like to try the Scappoose Inn/Bed and Breakfast at the intersection of N. Honeyman Road and West Lane Road. I think they open for patronage around 11:am. ADA Friendly in the Bottoms? . . Not really. Off-Street parking? . . Scarce. Lots of places to pull off along the shoulder. Cliff & Joanne Weber Beaverton (Bethany area) From whoffman at peak.org Sat Feb 7 19:04:08 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 19:04:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed & other gulls today References: <942A3D4B2A77460887A2377230832593@Sherry> Message-ID: Nice birds. Both are Glaucous Gulls. The upper photo appears to be second cycle (hatched in 2007). The lower one is a first-cycle Glaucous Gull, toward the darker end of the spectrum. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: Sherry Hagen To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2009 6:45 PM Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed & other gulls today After seeing & photographing the Slaty-backed Gull south of the Burnside Bridge as it fed in the water and then close-up on the park grass, we ventured to Westmoreland Park and Crystal Springs. We saw two immature gulls there that I photographed and would like to be sure of their identity. We believe them to be a Glaucous Gull and possibly a hybrid. We would appreciate the gull experts to give us their opinion of these two gulls correct identify. Thanks in advance. See the photos at: http://home.comcast.net/~littlebirder/gulls09.html Sherry Hagen Vancouver, WA birder at iinet.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090207/8bb421f9/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Sat Feb 7 19:24:05 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 19:24:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Interesting Sapsucker in Hillsboro Message-ID: This afternoon I came across an apparent RED-BREASTED x RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER. The bird was at the Hillsboro Public Library on NE Brookwood Parkway. It was in the trees that are adjacent to and immediately south of the library parking lot. I managed to get several bad photos, but they do show much of the plumage. I never did get a good look at the breast, so I can't comment any more than what the photos show on the absence/presence of a black bib. The photos are online at: http://tinyurl.com/am5ros Also in the same area were 3+ ACORN WOODPECKERS. The library ponds had 5 HOODED MERGANSERS, several RING-NECKED DUCKS, and a male LESSER SCAUP among other waterfowl. Although this location does not exactly provide a wilderness experience, it does allow you to get very close to these species, and can be good for photography. A passerby mentioned he's heard BARRED OWLS calling from the woods east of the library (he then performed a very nice imitation of a BARRED OWL call). Scott Carpenter SW Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090207/b0d2628e/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Feb 7 19:53:53 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 19:53:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sherry Hagen's gulls Message-ID: These opinions are offered by an enthusiast on the steepest part of the learning curve, not a self-proclaimed expert. The first picture strikes me as a second year GLAUCOUS GULL and the second picture is a first year GLAUCOUS GULL. Perhaps the same one present last Saturday (Jan.31) when a good number of folks saw the S-B at Westmoreland. These first year Glaucous seem to frequently be grungy in Oregon. A bird looking like this one was at Fernhill Lake and the fields of Banks last winter. The first person to report it (I forget who) had photos and suggested it was a hybrid. The ensuing consensus was that it was a normal, pure, first year Glaucous. I wonder if Glaucous Gull reports in Oregon could be on the rise as more birders realize how dark they can be. Anybody care to give me some hints on the Glaucous/Herring/G-wing hybrids? I only seriously contemplated them a day or two ago. Is there any merit to Sibley's presentation? It did nothing for me, but maybe I just haven't advanced to that level. Perhaps there's a website with pictures of these hybrids? Thanks in advance, Lars Norgren From bcombs232 at gmail.com Sat Feb 7 19:54:38 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 19:54:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harrisburg-Coburg Raptor Run February 7, 2009 plus Black Phoebe in different location Message-ID: <8ce3a6520902071954t43fa686eq9eeb9eb785ee9b6a@mail.gmail.com> Anticipating a lengthy rainy/showery period, Robin Gage and I decided to do the February Harrisburg-Coburg Raptor route today, February 7. The weather was slightly foggy, but not foggy enough to affect the visibility of any birds within scoping range. There was no rain, but there was some wind in the morning. We drove 74.5 miles, a little longer than usual, because we had to backtrack a number of times to check on birds we did not see well the first time around. With Red-tailed Hawk and American Kestrel numbers down slightly from last month and a spurt in the eagle population, Bald Eagle was the most numerous species of the day. There were a lot of small lambs in the flocks of sheep. One ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was in the area, and a PRAIRIE FALCON sat on a utility pole on the south end of Powerline Road near where it splits off from Coburg Road. To the north of the bridge on Wyatt Road on the way to Detering Orchards, there was a BLACK PHOEBE hunting insects from perches in the woody debris on the east bank of the creek, accompanied by a number of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. This bird was in Linn County, some distance from Coburg, where we have previously found Black Phoebe on the route. A small flock of WESTERN MEADOWLARKS was in a pasture along Priceboro Road. We also enjoyed views of a RED FOX with a beautiful thick winter coat as it trotted through a field on the east side of North Coburg Road just north of Bush Gardens Drive. Raptor tallies: 17 Red-tailed Hawk 23 American Kestrel 3 Northern Harrier 25 Bald Eagle (10 adults, 15 immatures) 1 Rough-legged Hawk 1 Prairie Falcon 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Eugene OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090207/96f4c805/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Feb 7 20:18:02 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 20:18:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] CLARK'S GREBE Tillamook County Message-ID: <0ed634816de94bb84d8f9578b9e0c50b@earthlink.net> A single CLARK'S GREBE was on the east side of Lyttle LAke in Rockaway at 2pm 1/7. A Horned Grebe was nearby. As last Tuesday (2/27) the fields along the main roads at Tillamook had no gulls, but there were two flocks at the east end of Wilson River Loop Road at 10 am. This coincided with high tide, and a rather high one at that. One flock of about 200 gulls was right up to the fence where the bridge crosses to Latimer Road (maybe? I didn't cross the bridge to get the other road's name). They were rather skittish, but returned repeatedly to within feet of the road. Nothing present to compete with Metropolitan Portland. Herring and Thayer's seemed to outnumber Westerns. Lars Norgren From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Feb 7 20:23:42 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 20:23:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Interesting Sapsucker in Hillsboro In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <5ebbcabb812b430773729f49f514d225@earthlink.net> This probably explains the bird I saw late last winter. I was on the way to Costco with my wife when I caught a glimpse of something landing on the backside of a tree on the west side of Brookwood. There is a single line of trees. To my wife's credit she let me turn around when I said I almost thought I'd seen a Red-headed Woodpecker. We found no bird of any description. This was within a few yards of the spot described by Scott. Lars Norgren On Feb 7, 2009, at 7:24 PM, Scott Carpenter wrote: > This afternoon I came across an apparent RED-BREASTED x RED-NAPED > SAPSUCKER.? The bird was at the Hillsboro Public Library on NE > Brookwood Parkway.? It was in the trees that are adjacent to and > immediately south of the library parking lot. > > I managed to get several bad photos, but they do show much of the > plumage.? I never did get a good look at the breast, so I can't > comment any more than what the photos show on the absence/presence of > a black bib.? The photos are online at:? http://tinyurl.com/am5ros > > Also in the same area were 3+ ACORN WOODPECKERS. > > The library ponds had 5 HOODED MERGANSERS, several RING-NECKED DUCKS, > and a male LESSER SCAUP among other waterfowl.? Although this location > does not exactly provide a wilderness experience, it does allow you to > get very close to these species, and can be good for photography.? A > passerby mentioned he's heard BARRED OWLS calling from the woods east > of the library (he then performed a very nice imitation of a BARRED > OWL call). > > Scott Carpenter > SW Portland > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sat Feb 7 21:17:21 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 21:17:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck near Marshland via Clatskanie Message-ID: <46643B4F2F7B487D9B6BCCDCD1E9B331@laptop> There was a TUFTED DUCK North of Clatskanie, Columbia County, visible from Erickson Dike Road, which is reached by way of Beaver Falls Road. The bird was with a flock of about fifty scaup at that location, and a single CANVASBACK. One might be tempted to suggest it is the same one that was less than a mile west, on River Front Road, but I?m not sure we have objective evidence of that. There is a lot of territory out there, and a lot of ducks on the river to sort through. What percent do you suppose we sample? I found the bird on a run up to Columbia County hoping to find four county birds to make the 100 species target. I found the following 13: Ring-necked Pheasant, heard before dawn in Scappoose Bottoms Great Horned Owl, seen at dawn in Scappoose Bottoms Sandhill Cranes, Scappoose Bottoms Rough-legged Hawk, Scappoose Bottoms Yellow-rumped Warblers, Scappoose Bottoms Piliated Woodpecker, Scappoose Bottoms Cooper?s Hawk, Scappoose Trumpeter Swans, near Goble Glaucous-winged Gull, Rainer Power Plant Greater Scaup, Erickson Dike Road Tufted Duck, Erickson Dike Road Canvasback, Erickson Dike Road Common Goldeneye, Kallunki Road, near ?Port Westward? So having listed 109 species in Columbia County, I don?t need to go back, except for the Blue Moon Caf? Middle Eastern Cuisine and Brewpub. Good Birding, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090207/df6a49ba/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sat Feb 7 21:26:26 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 21:26:26 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island raptors, etc. Message-ID: <121491.42914.qm@web55701.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Today we volunteered at Raptor Road Trip on Sauvie Island. We saw a single GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE near the kennels at Coon Point. Many SANDHILL CRANES and SNOW GEESE were flying around. There were about 25 peeps flying around down on Sturgeon Lake, presumably LEAST SANDPIPERS. A MERLIN was chasing a kestral over the dike. Just beyond Coon Point we saw a GREAT-HORNED OWL, and in the next tree over, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. At the viewing blind, there were over a thousand SNOW GEESE, and a variety of other waterfowl. At Rentenaar Road, we led bird walks from 10:30 to 1:30. The best bird at Rentenaar Road was a PRAIRIE FALCON, found by Dave Helzer. It was visible for over an hour as it perched in an oak and ate what appeared to be a Western Scrub-jay. There were two GREAT-HORNED OWLS on the dike. Many SANDHILL CRANES and SNOW GEESE were in the area. A COMMON RAVEN circled over. At about the same time, 3 TREE SWALLOWS flew by headed north. A TRUMPETER SWAN and 2 MERLINS were reported too, but we did not see them. There were many TUNDRA SWANS. After the Raptor Road Trip was over, we took a brief walk at Wapato Greenway (Virginia Lake). Highlights there were a EURASIAN WIGEON, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and 3 PURPLE FINCHES. Here are the raptors we saw: Northern Harrier--6 Bald Eagle--17 (birders at Coon Point saw 14 at once, meaning that many more than 17 were around) Sharp-shinned Hawk--1 Red-shouldered Hawk--1 Red-tailed Hawk--16 Merlin--1 (not including 2 more at Rentenaar Road that we did not see) American Kestral--6 PRARIE FALCON--1 Great-horned Owl--3 Thanks to everyone who helped on Raptor Road Trip. It was a gorgeous day! Good Birding, Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sat Feb 7 21:28:55 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 21:28:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Marys Peak Pine Grosbeak - NO; Llewellin Rd. Burrowing Owl - YES Message-ID: <797913.92279.qm@web37003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, Jamie Simmons, Oscar Harper and I went out this afternoon in search of the elusive Pine Grosbeak on Marys Peak. We spent a couple of hours in beautiful sunshine above the clouds in a virtually birdless zone, enjoying great views of the Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Hood, but no grosbeaks, Pine or otherwise, and hardly any other avian lifeforms except a few Chestnut-backed Chickadees and a Common Raven. En route, we stopped along Lllewellin Rd. south of Corvallis and refound the BURROWING OWL that has been there all winter. See picture at: http://www.new.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30241595&l=4b8f8&id=1383356632 Also along LllewellinRd., we found a flock of 8-9 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS and a couple of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS. A great day to get out of the house, even without a new county bird! Good Birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090207/34e73487/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Sat Feb 7 21:46:24 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 21:46:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] off topic... sort of. Message-ID: <18E18BE5-3291-4CBE-BE9B-F5C231F94E58@oregonfast.net> Hello OBOL. I had a meeting in Eugene today and I decided to go to Finley afterwards. I then decided to head to Alsea Falls which in turn sent me to Alsea. My next plan was to take Five River rd to Deadwood. Five River rd turns into FS 32 and after about 14 miles or so I came upon the purpose of this post. FS 32 is washed out and i had to double back. That was no fun. There was a nice sunset though as see from a ridge where the rest of the coast range shone blue with a bright orange sky. Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090207/bd1bd274/attachment.html From raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Sat Feb 7 22:41:02 2009 From: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com (Jeff Fleischer) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 22:41:02 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Fw: ECBC Linn County Unit 3 A raptor survey Message-ID: <285697.45592.qm@web50904.mail.re2.yahoo.com> --- On Sat, 2/7/09, Jeff Fleischer wrote: > From: Jeff Fleischer > Subject: ECBC Linn County Unit 3 A raptor survey > To: obol at lists.orst.edu > Date: Saturday, February 7, 2009, 10:36 PM > Obolers, > > Under a high ceiling of 100 percent cloud cover for most of > the day, I surveyed the Linn Co. Unit 3 A raptor route > today. Viewing conditions were perfect and the birds were > out! The route covers the area between Hwy 34 and American > Dr near Halsey and from the Willamette River east to I-5. A > total of 104.7 miles were covered in 8 hours 35 minutes. > Following are the birds found today, with numbers in ( ) > found on Dec 20, 2008 for comparison: > > > Red-tailed Hawk 61 (53) > American Kestrel 61 (44) > Northern Harrier 15 ( 7) > Bald Eagle 20 adult,9 subadult (8 ad, 9 sub) > Rough-legged Hawk 3 ( 9) > Prairie Falcon 2 ( 0) > Merlin 1 ( 0) > Burrowing Owl 0 ( 1) > Short-eared Owl 0 ( 1) > > > The increase in American Kestrels was definitely noticeable > this trip as were the Bald Eagles. The Merlin was found on > Arthur Dr and the 2 Prairie Falcons were found on Green > Valley Rd just east of Pugh Rd and on Dannen Rd just north > of the town of Halsey. The Rough-legged Hawks were on > Oakville Rd just south of Hwy 34, on Church Rd, and on Pugh > Rd. The increase in Bald Eagle numbers was directly related > to more sheep flocks in this area compared with last month. > Another bird of note was a Northern Shrike located on > Fayetteville Rd just east of Pugh Rd. > > Jeff Fleischer > Albany From fschrock at gmail.com Sat Feb 7 23:29:14 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 23:29:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Marys Peak Pine Grosbeak - NO; Llewellin Rd. Burrowing Owl - YES In-Reply-To: <797913.92279.qm@web37003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <797913.92279.qm@web37003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <390ebd880902072329i77edd6b8xa6e367c54bde481b@mail.gmail.com> I also visited the "virtually birdless zone" of Marys Peak today, but one active Pygmy-Owl < http://empids.blogspot.com/ > filled a large section of forest with a "presence" and authority far out of proportion to his diminutive size. At least the Chickadees seemed to have no doubt about who the boss was in their woods today. When he showed up, they disappeared. ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== On Sat, Feb 7, 2009 at 9:28 PM, Hendrik Herlyn wrote: > Hello all, > > Jamie Simmons, Oscar Harper and I went out this afternoon in search of the > elusive Pine Grosbeak on Marys Peak. We spent a couple of hours in beautiful > sunshine above the clouds in a virtually birdless zone, enjoying great views > of the Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Hood, but no grosbeaks, Pine or > otherwise, and hardly any other avian lifeforms except a few Chestnut-backed > Chickadees and a Common Raven. > > En route, we stopped along Lllewellin Rd. south of Corvallis and refound > the BURROWING OWL that has been there all winter. See picture at: > > http://www.new.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30241595&l=4b8f8&id=1383356632 > > Also along LllewellinRd., we found a flock of 8-9 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS and a > couple of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS. > > A great day to get out of the house, even without a new county bird! > > Good Birding > > Hendrik > > > > _________________________________ > Hendrik G. Herlyn > 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 > Corvallis, OR 97333 > USA > E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090207/c2f7a957/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sat Feb 7 23:29:48 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 23:29:48 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Mystery Bird - ID Quiz Message-ID: <165918.81605.qm@web37008.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Howdy Folks, I went through a bunch of old photos today and came across this shot. Just for the fun of it, I decided to put this out as a new bird ID quiz. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2015580&l=0c4fa&id=1383356632 My only hint: this is a species that has been seen in Oregon. Please send your answers to me, not to the list, to let others play the game without undue influence. I'll post the answer in a few days. Have fun Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090207/a4cf92d3/attachment.html From rockawaybirder at yahoo.com Sun Feb 8 07:32:29 2009 From: rockawaybirder at yahoo.com (Ilene Samowitz) Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2009 07:32:29 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Great Grey Owl, Snow Geese and Eagles Message-ID: <673495.34191.qm@web31815.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I added some new photos to my website. The first two were photos taken in May 2008 in La Grande of the Great Grey Owls. The link to the first one is: http://www.ilenesamowitz.com/gallery/6747805_PNjrR/1/#469080100_Fu8mo-A-LB and then click through the next 6 images to see the second great grey owl, recent snow geese, and eagles. Enjoy. Ilene Samowitz Seattle, WA Rockaway Beach, OR www.ilenesamowitz.com www.ilenesamowitzphoto.com http://blog.ilenesamowitzphoto.com/ From sandyleapt at comcast.net Sun Feb 8 08:51:57 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:51:57 +0000 Subject: [obol] Name that goose Message-ID: <020820091651.25161.498F0DAD000C34890000624922007374789B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Thanks for the pictures and information Mike, I am enjoying the gulls that winter in Gresham. In the morning the gulls were checking me out to see if I had anything for them to eat as I walked from the car to the building. I started carrying a little whole-wheat bread so that if they are around I can feed them. They are so inquisitive, beautiful and to me puzzling. I think I saw a Glaucous-winged Gull, a Mew Gull, a California Gull and ?? The reason I try to figure out which type Gull I'm looking at is the challenge. I like puzzles. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Mike Patterson > Note to self: no more goose quiz birds. too controversial > stick to blurry pictures of sparrows > > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Variations on a theme > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From lbviman at blackfoot.net Sun Feb 8 09:14:04 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Sun, 08 Feb 2009 10:14:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Name that goose In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090208171238.352329B0050@mail.blackfoot.net> Canada in a herd of Cackling. From lbviman at blackfoot.net Sun Feb 8 09:14:55 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Sun, 08 Feb 2009 10:14:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] OBOL name that goose In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090208171329.2AEC59B005B@mail.blackfoot.net> Possums don't poop all over lawns. At 01:00 PM 2/6/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >From: "R. Adney Jr." >Subject: Re: [obol] Name that goose >To: OBOL >Message-ID: >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > >I call them "Opossums with wings"! At least at Lane Memorial >Gardens that's what they are! > >Sorry, I could not resist. From lbviman at blackfoot.net Sun Feb 8 09:22:20 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Sun, 08 Feb 2009 10:22:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon state bird discussion In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090208172053.BFD5D9B006A@mail.blackfoot.net> All this talk of naming ECDO to be Oregon's state bird! The comments that it has not APPARENTLY been implicated in detriment is like listening to people say the cowbird, because it's native, deserves to be protected, even where it is proven to be adversely impacting numerous T&E species. It is at best silly. ECDO has not been here long enough, and like the Knapweed that affects areas of Montana larger than Oregon, should be stopped before it becomes a "problem", but not likely to happen. In Santa Barbara CA where it was unknown a decade ago, and Mourning doves were abundant, the latter are now becoming less than "common", while ECDO continue to copulate in the streets all year and raise young at many times the rate of normal MODO. But, I suppose one could say, most of our species will succumb to the siren songs of the UN-usual species as we give our nation and states over to the ONE-world fanaticism that's gripping our collective psyches... Long live the Labrador Duck. - Jim Greaves, Montana From lbviman at blackfoot.net Sun Feb 8 09:25:43 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Sun, 08 Feb 2009 10:25:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Colored Doves In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090208172417.773B49B0064@mail.blackfoot.net> I think it was initially confused with the Terkel Dove, something to do with an obscure author, before THAT mis-spelling was discovered, and because of its propensity to hang around near water, they changed it to Turtle Dove, but that didn't work, so they re-invented it, much as our politic has been. At 01:00 PM 2/6/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >Alan, > No, no. That was only the first time the AOU changed the name. > >Darrel >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Alan Contreras" >To: "obol" >Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 9:10 PM >Subject: Re: [obol] Eurasian Collared-Dove > > >Yes, Cattle Egret reached South America apparently through natural means and >moved north. > >I hear that the dove was originally called Collard Dove without a hyphen >because it eats so well with collard greens. The spelling was accidentally >changed later by some AOU committee. > > >-- >Alan Contreras From richarmstrong at comcast.net Sun Feb 8 09:41:26 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2009 09:41:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] enterprise/joseph trip References: Message-ID: 1. nanette & i did a 4 day trip from corvallis out to enterprise/joseph area from 2/3-6. being wimps from texas we followed the weather forcast carefully and we did pick fantastic weather with no rain/snow, lots of sun, and daytime temps in mid 30's. 2. 1st we stopped at westmorland and riverfront to not see the slaty-backed gull that we had missed twice on 1/31. 3. west of lostine we had a dark morph FERRUGINOUS HAWK and a couple GOLDEN EAGLES. 4. thanks to kyle bratcher for telling us the best places to go and for going out with us for a couple hours. without him we would not have seen all the birds we saw. 5. highlights in enterprise/joseph area a. COMMON REDPOLL - did not find them along 82 where kyle said others had seen them, but we were very lucky to find a flock of 10-15 birds on liberty street about 1/4 mile from imnaha highway b. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL - search the 4 mile corridor of spruce trees between enterprise and joseph for 4+ hours over 2 days including the side streets and finally found flock of about 10 on west dorance on 2nd day. they are obviously not as abundant as they have been throughout the winter c. PINE GROSBEAK - after looking at various spots from prairie creek and other roads, and after hiking probably 3 miles up mccully creek and 3 miles back, we found flock of 6 birds practically back at our car, maybe 1/3 mile from ferguson parking area. d. BOHEMIAN WAXWING - oddly we found small flock of cedar waxwings on 82 looking for redpolls, then small flock of cedars near fish hatchery, then 2 cedars with robins looking for crossbills, and we were wondering what was going on. then we found 100 bohemians just west of joseph along 82, and saw 100+ next day looking for crossbills. so still plenty around. e. NORTHERN GOSHAWK - nanette saw 1 bird fly by from maybe 1/2 mile from ferguson parking area - i miised it. f. GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCHES - after driving golf course and school flat and seeing just a few horned larks, kyle took us back out there at 4 pm to a barn about 1/2 mile from where golf course hits school flat. apparently they put out corn about 4 and the birds come in and feed and then roost under the eaves of the barn. there were probably 50 birds. most all were HEPBURN race, but there was at least 1 TEPHROCOTIS race (either we saw more than 1 or the same bird 6 or 7 times as they flew up to wires over to barn to fence posts and back to the corn many times) g. TREE SPARROW - kyle found us 3 birds near farm about 1.5 miles further on school flat and then nanette found 2 birds in a bush beyond leap lane going toward lostine. h. NORTHERN SHRIKE - 1 on school flat near rosy finch barn, and 1 on prairie creek i. we looked for snow buntings on all of those roads and found none. j. HARLAN'S HAWK - 1 off liberty road and 1 off road to ferguson. also many dark morph red-tailed hawks - would be a great area for a raptor run k. many rough-legged hawks including 1 dark morph. l. only woodpeckers were 2 pileated and 2 hairy m. up toward ferguson we had 2 CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS, 1 GRAY JAY, many MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES 6. we did stop in la grande where there were 8 EURASIAN-COLLARED DOVES near sunset and meadow 7. we also stopped at umatilla nwf where we had 8 blad eagles and 1 lincoln's sparrow 8. then on way back through portland we tried riverfront and westmorland and again did not see the slaty-backed gull. and yes we threw out some bread at riverfront every time and gulls came in - just not the 1 everyone is seeing. 9. all in all an excellent trip Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090208/b56c497d/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Feb 8 14:12:15 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2009 14:12:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Paulina WRS Message-ID: I expected snow this morning when I woke up but sunshine greeted me instead. I decided to do a quick raptor survey in eastern Crook County. Here are my results. Bald Eagle - 5 Juves and 4 Adults Northern Harrier - 2 Red-tailed Hawk - 9 Rough-legged Hawk - 4 Golden Eagle - 5 Prairie Falcon - 4 I also had 6 Northern Shrikes and 1 Collared Dove. Chuck Gates Powell Butte No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.19/1939 - Release Date: 2/7/2009 1:39 PM From srnord101 at verizon.net Sun Feb 8 15:19:47 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Sun, 08 Feb 2009 15:19:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Interesting Sapsucker in Hillsboro Message-ID: <000001c98a43$bc6afd60$3540f820$@net> OBOL; Following up on Scott Carpenter's sighting yesterday of a possible hybrid sapsucker, I visited the Tanasbourne branch of the Hillsboro Public Library on Brookwood Dr. I found the sapsucker in a grove of trees behind the library (East?). There are several ponds behind the library, part of Dawson Creek Park. These ponds had 7 Hooded Mergansers, some Ring-necked Ducks, and many Mallards. The sapsucker was in a grove of the trees on the opposite side of these ponds. I was able to get some photos of this sapsucker that seems to show mixed features of Red-breasted Sapsucker and Red-naped Sapsucker. I'm not familiar with hybrids of these two species however. Photos can be found here: http://www.pbase.com/srn_naturalist/sapsucker Also seen were 3 ACORN WOODPECKERS, 2 WOOD DUCKS, many AMERICAN WIGEONS, and a belligerent PIED-BILLED GREBE that doggedly chased the HOODED MERGANSERS. Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From BStitesPDX at aol.com Sun Feb 8 15:22:58 2009 From: BStitesPDX at aol.com (BStitesPDX at aol.com) Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2009 18:22:58 EST Subject: [obol] N.E. Oregon Trip 2/4 to 2/6/09 Message-ID: Mike Rodegerdts and I also traveled to the NE corner of the state looking for winter specialities. We did not see the Armstrong's, but did see most of the same birds. We were somewhat disappointed that the overall numbers seemed to be down from previous winters. In addition to the Armstrong list, we saw 2 Merlins. One in Lostine and another in Enterprise. Wallowa Lake had a large flock of Red Crossbills and Clarkes Nutcrackers. Along the Wallowa river we had a nice male Red-breasted Merganser along with several Common Goldeneyes. We also spent some amount of time searching the La Grande neighborhood that hosted the Pine Warbler last month. The bird could not be relocated as of 2/6/09, but both species of Waxwings were still in the area! A trip up to Morgan Lake was beautiful, but not very birdy. Good Birding-Bob Stites-Portland **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1218550342x1201216770/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%26hmpgID=62%26bcd=fe bemailfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090208/246a4aed/attachment.html From nettielh at yahoo.com Sun Feb 8 15:42:45 2009 From: nettielh at yahoo.com (nettielh at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 08 Feb 2009 23:42:45 GMT Subject: [obol] So many varieties ... middle of Beaverton Message-ID: <200902082342.n18Ngjs4021571@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Annette Lange Hildebrand by http://birdnotes.net Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Koll Center Wetlands Park, Washington County, Oregon Such a lovely day .... so many different "ducks" and birds of a feather .... all just a "stone's throw" from shopping and hub-bub ... amazing! (Hummingbird ID is a guess .... also no nutrias or otters seen this particular day ... but still active signs of beavers) Take care Annette Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose Gadwall Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-Winged Teal Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Unknown Scaup Bufflehead Common Merganser Ruddy Duck Pied-billed Grebe Great Blue Heron Great Egret Red-tailed Hawk American Coot Killdeer Unidentified Dowitcher Unidentified gull Mourning Dove Anna's Hummingbird Northern Flicker Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Bewick's Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow Total number of species seen: 38 From gls-ses at softcom.net Sun Feb 8 16:05:25 2009 From: gls-ses at softcom.net (Gary) Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2009 16:05:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull Message-ID: <4CC0164294B54810A40B9166B7E2D3EB@your4dacd0ea75> Slaty-backed Gull 3:15pm Sunday. North side of Burnside bridge, on the east side of river sitting on the dock. Gary Settje Vancouver -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090208/6a8234d8/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Sun Feb 8 16:55:36 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2009 16:55:36 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] SLATY-BACKED GULL: Still at Portland Waterfront Area Message-ID: <993306.47481.qm@web55102.mail.re4.yahoo.com> This morning I searched Westmoreland Park, looking for the two Glaucous Gulls photographed by Sherry Hagen. I did not find either of them. I did not find the Slaty-backed Gull there either. I met Don and Carol Kohler there, where they were also looking for the Slaty-backed. Once it was apparent that it was not there we headed separately to downtown Portland's Waterfront Park near the W end of the Burnside Bridge. After looking for a while we walked down toward the S end of the park and checked for Gulls there. There was a 1st year GLAUCOUS GULL there, but no Slaty-backed. When we arrived back to the lawn/seawall area on the S side of the Burnside Bridge, we bumped into two birders (sorry, I do not know their names), who told us they had walked over to the E side of the Willamette River on the only dock between the Burnside and Steel Bridges. Don & Carol Kohler and I began walking North of the Burnside Bridge, where we bumped into Dave Irons and Diane Petty at the W seawall looking across the River to the E side dock where the SLATY-BACKED GULL was hanging out with dozens of other gulls. Chumming with bread from the W side, eventually enticed more and more Gulls to fly west. The SLATY-BACKED GULL flew over also, but to the area S of the Bridge rather than to our position on the N side. Unseen by us (construction under the Bridge blocks views), someone had dumped a large amount of bread on the lawn S of the Bridge. As we all moved quickly from the N side to the S side of the Burnside Bridge, Dave Irons got there first just in time to watch the SLATY-BACKED GULL briefly on the lawn, before it flew again, and ultimately returned to the dock on the E side of the Willamette. Eventually, all split up: -Dave Irons and Diane Petty, to get scopes, -Don & Carol Kohler to take a break and warm up -I decided to walk across the Steel Bridge and over to the E side dock. Luck was with me as the SLATY-BACKED GULL remained on the dock or in the water near the dock. At one time, I was feeding it from about 5-6 feet. The SLATY-BACKED GULL is quite shy relative to other Gulls, and seemingly more timid around them than around humans with gifts of bread. While I was on the dock, Don & Carol Kohler arrived on the dock and also got very close views and photos of the SLATY-BACKED GULL. This gull is definitely worth it, and likely will hang around for a while. Based on earlier reports, it appears that someone daily (afternoons ~ 1-2 ish) dumps a large pile of bread scraps on the lawn S of the Burnside Bridge. Keep in mind that the E side dock is not really visible from the S side lawn/seawall area. PATIENCE is the 1st message. Check the E SIDE DOCK is the 2nd message. I got there around noon and left for home around 3PM. The SLATY-BACKED GULL was still on the E side dock when I left. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com From dcoggswell at hotmail.com Sun Feb 8 18:26:19 2009 From: dcoggswell at hotmail.com (Donald Coggswell) Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2009 18:26:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Snowy Owl - No Message-ID: Following a dense fog in the morning Saturday, Stefan and I were unable to locate the Snowy Owl found by Eric on Ione-Boardman Road. Searched a wide area around the demolished home site with no luck. Checked again this morning (Sunday) but fog was too dense to see anything. There was a nice flock of goldeneyes (30+) below John Day dam, mostly Barrow's. There was a Eurasian Wigeon in the backwater pond between Deschutes River and Celilo. The nature trail behind the Gorge Discovery Center had a Mountain Chickadee and Hermit Thrush. Kyle Bratcher is enroute to Mexico and asked me to report a Eurasian Wigeon he found on the refuge at Umatilla. Apparently, his first east of the Cascades. Don _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_howitworks_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090208/995df840/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Feb 8 18:47:00 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 08 Feb 2009 18:47:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] The Grebage of Blind Slough Message-ID: <498F9924.7050401@pacifier.com> All photos taken along the same 200 or so meters of Penttila Rd this weekend. http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Variations on a theme http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Sun Feb 8 19:16:30 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2009 19:16:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Clatskanie Area Tufted Duck Continues Message-ID: >From 4:15 until 4:50 this afternoon, I observed the Clatskanie area male TUFTED DUCK about 1.3 miles east of Midland Rd., in the river near 15114 River Front Rd. Its tuft was obvious less than half the time, but its black back and very white flanks stood out, as did its small size relative to the nearby GREATER SCAUP (it was slightly smaller in length and not nearly as bulky looking). Prior to seeing the TUFTED DUCK, I spent several hours searching mostly along Erickson Dike Rd, but also along River Front Rd. I scoped out every duck in every flock (I estimate I investigated 1,700+ individuals before finding the TUFTED DUCK in what turned out to be the final group of ducks I encountered) and was not able to locate a second TUFTED DUCK in the area. I did, however, see a female CANVASBACK along Erickson Dike Rd -- not sure if it was the same one seen by Jeff Harding. Approximately 70% of the waterfowl I observed along both Erickson Dike Rd and River Front Rd was within a quarter mile or so of the TUFTED DUCK. The next biggest flock was primarily GREATER SCAUP, about 2 miles (as the duck flies) from the TUFTED DUCK. Scott Carpenter SW Portland On Sat, Feb 7, 2009 at 9:17 PM, Jeff Harding wrote: > There was a TUFTED DUCK North of Clatskanie, Columbia County, visible > from Erickson Dike Road, which is reached by way of Beaver Falls Road. The > bird was with a flock of about fifty scaup at that location, and a single > CANVASBACK. One might be tempted to suggest it is the same one that was less > than a mile west, on River Front Road, but I'm not sure we have objective > evidence of that. There is a lot of territory out there, and a lot of ducks > on the river to sort through. What percent do you suppose we sample? > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090208/66c360e1/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Sun Feb 8 19:45:13 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2009 19:45:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Emperor Goose and Willets Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F01E21D25@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> I birded the Coos Bay area and Bandon on Friday February 6th. There were five WILLETS across from Motel 6 in Coos Bay along Bayshore Drive. At Empire the RED KNOT was visible and a MERLIN was present along the tree line. In Bandon the EMPEROR GOOSE was present along the road near the end of the south jetty. A WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was with the EMPEROR GOOSE and I took some picture of the two birds standing together. They were with the large domestic geese. On Saturday the EMPEROR GOOSE was present when I stopped there. It was on the pond just before the end of the jetty road. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090208/41bfe124/attachment.html From campbell at peak.org Sun Feb 8 21:25:23 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2009 21:25:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pyrrhuloxia Information Update Message-ID: <3F2C6F265C2E44E1A483044EACD7BFE1@maryPC> My information is, apparently, that I don't have much information. If I remember right, I last noticed the Pyrrhuloxia the morning of January 25, two weeks ago. I haven't been looking for it specifically, and, as far as I know, few birders have been hunting the area, so it might still be hanging around somewhere. I haven't seen the Palm Warbler for about as long, but that bird is good at hiding. As for other birds unseen, I found my first AMERICAN GOLDFINCH of this year on January 30, and I've been keeping an eye out for them. I haven't seen a Lesser yet this year. In compensation, maybe, I got a new yard bird this morning when three SNOW GEESE flew over in a flock of Cacklers. Randy Campbell Peoria -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090208/2ccdbb2e/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Sun Feb 8 21:25:47 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2009 21:25:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Colored Doves References: <20090208172417.773B49B0064@mail.blackfoot.net> Message-ID: <004c01c98a76$e2b58250$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Obolites, All joking aside: Turtle Dove was from the Anglo-Saxon turtla, which was an imitation of the bird's call. Chaucer wrote of "the wedded turtil with her hearte trewe", and the King James Bible, in Song of Solomn 2:12, says "The voice of the turtle is heard in our land". It was not until later in the sicteenth and seventeenth centuries that the name turtle dove began to come into common usage. In one sense, it was to help distinguish the larger species of doves from the smaller ones, but a more significant reason for the change was that English mariners of the time began to come into contact with sea turtles. It is thought that the word was possibly a corruption for the French "tortue" or possibly, that the creature was so named for a fanciful resemblance of its neck to that of a turkey. In any case, their gradually came to be a need to distinguish the feathered turtle from the seagoing one. Hence, the name turtle-dove . The evolution of language is sometimes quite a fascinating thing. A similar story is given to the robin. The bird so called in England was originally known as Redbreast, and Robin was an anthropomorphic addition given by people of sentiment. Eventually the original name was dropped and the familiar one retained. I gleaned this information from the Dictionary of American Bird Names by Eanest A. Choate. I highly recommend it to any birder who does not have a copy in his library. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Greaves" To: Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2009 9:25 AM Subject: [obol] Colored Doves >I think it was initially confused with the Terkel Dove, something to > do with an obscure author, before THAT mis-spelling was discovered, > and because of its propensity to hang around near water, they changed > it to Turtle Dove, but that didn't work, so they re-invented it, much > as our politic has been. > > At 01:00 PM 2/6/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >>Alan, >> No, no. That was only the first time the AOU changed the name. >> >>Darrel >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "Alan Contreras" >>To: "obol" >>Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 9:10 PM >>Subject: Re: [obol] Eurasian Collared-Dove >> >> >>Yes, Cattle Egret reached South America apparently through natural means >>and >>moved north. >> >>I hear that the dove was originally called Collard Dove without a hyphen >>because it eats so well with collard greens. The spelling was >>accidentally >>changed later by some AOU committee. >> >> >>-- >>Alan Contreras > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Sun Feb 8 22:31:19 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2009 22:31:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Birder's Night >>>second notice<<< Message-ID: OBOL- Eugene Birder's Night will be Feb 9 (second Monday of each Month) at 7pm. LOCATION IS NEW: Sacred Heart Hospital (downtown), 1255 Hilyard St; Conference Room A (across the hall from the Auditorium). Directions to Conference Room A: -enter main Lobby from Hilyard St -turn Left and walk down hall (past the cafeteria) to end of hall -turn Right and walk down hall (past Dining Room) to end of hall -turn Right and walk a few steps, then Left down the hall toward the Auditorium -Conference Room A (labelled simply Conference Room) is on the Right (across from a bank of telephones on the Left side of the hall) Parking: Parking lot structure (across Hilyard from the Lobby) charges $1/hour (I think). Street parking is not available on Hilyard per se, but is found on 13th, 12th (West of Patterson), and Patterson streets (street parking free after 6pm). Map is at this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=sacred+heart+hospital+eugene,+or&fb=1&split=1&cid=0,0,17378354515337851834&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image Agenda: usual reporting format, then a slideshow on Birds of Maine (Holly Reinhard)...bring a field guide to Eastern North America! Plus: birds of Baja and (if time allows) Antarctica (!). Note: we will have reliable access to audio/video support from this point on, so those wishing to bring a disc or laptop to show interesting images, etc should feel free to do so. For a lengthly presentation, please give me a heads-up so we can avoid conflicts. Barry McKenzie Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090208/25cddc8e/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Mon Feb 9 00:52:25 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2009 00:52:25 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Mystery bird revealed Message-ID: <895313.89891.qm@web37002.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, I received 15 responses today to my impromptu mystery bird quiz. Eleven of you correctly identified the bird as a BRAMBLING. Other guesses (one each) were White-throated Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Rustic Bunting, and Dotterel. No, this was not one of the 11 Oregon records of Brambling. I digiscoped this adult male Brambling in winter plumage with my very mediocre little digicam in my back yard in Greifswald, Germany, on March 28, 2006. The big double orange wingbars should have been a valuable clue! Here's a link to a more conventional shot of the same bird: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30243804&l=45a72&id=1383356632 Congratulations to all who got it right, and thanks for participating. Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090209/4fb3b600/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Mon Feb 9 01:07:49 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2009 01:07:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Newport: Black Phoebe on Feb. 4 Message-ID: Hi, Matt Hunter visited Newport on Feb. 4. On the beach at Nye Beach, down the street from the Chowder Bowl, he saw a Black Phoebe "flying and calling around the buildings just in from the beach (either side of the parking area)." He reported it on Feb. 4, but I just read his email about it tonight. Range Bayer, Newport From lamberson.janet at epa.gov Mon Feb 9 08:56:49 2009 From: lamberson.janet at epa.gov (lamberson.janet at epa.gov) Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2009 08:56:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yaquina-Siletz Raptor Run 7 February 2009 Message-ID: Chuck Philo and I did the Yaquina-Siletz Raptor Run on Saturday (7 February) 2009 under partly sunny skies. We started out with fog from Kernville to Siletz, so missed any kites that might have been out there in the distant trees. Just north of Siletz, the skies cleared, and from then on we found a total of - 17 Red-tailed Hawk 3 American Kestrel 2 adult Bald Eagle - no harriers, accipiters or kites. We are getting to know some of the hawks on a personal level - we "know where they live"! Janet Lamberson Newport, OR From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon Feb 9 09:06:58 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:06:58 +0000 Subject: [obol] Proposed Alternate Joint Resolution (attn: Hon. Rep. Girod, et al., ahem, amen) Message-ID: <020920091706.24102.499062B2000AE70500005E2622064246139B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Okay, I'm a native Oregonian as are my parents and siblings. My Mom even sings the State Song of Oregon on occassion. How about mandating (poor choice of words given the overpopulation thread in this conversation), that people plant oak trees in their gardens and grassland savanna plants on their roofs. Double-decker living would fit in the green legacy our current Governor wants to leave to our state and we could have Meadowlarks and Killdeer sing from our roof tops. One could fence the roof to keep the cats, raccoons, possums and burglars out orf the nesting areas. I suppose having mice and snakes on the roof will not be popular with everyone. Western Meadowlarks can still be found within the city limits of Portland, Gresham, and Fairview. Two were found during the Portland CBC this year. I don't think anyone found an Osprey. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Tim Rodenkirk > An interesting idea, but I think Californica has cornered the market on > hardscape, insane growth, and of course the SKYRAT LATTE. I think you should > send your joint resolution to your Gubenator for the quorum you are seeking > Mista Fix. > > Good try though. > > Plump and tasty indeed! > > Tim R > Coot Bay > > > --- On Thu, 2/5/09, David Fix & Jude Power wrote: > > > From: David Fix & Jude Power > > Subject: [obol] Proposed Alternate Joint Resolution (attn: Hon. Rep. Girod, et > al., ahem, amen) > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009, 12:39 PM > > Whereas, the oak-grassland savannah of the interior Western > > Oregon valleys has been overrun by humanity, and > > > > Whereas, urban growth boundaries are a joke, and > > > > Whereas, thousands of square miles of hardscape is to be > > deemed emblematic of a vigorous economy, and > > > > Whereas, there is little hope that the Fedwulgummit will > > ever serve the good & welfare of our grandchildren by > > paying people for not reproducing, and > > > > Whereas, generalist species shall generally inherit the > > Earth, and > > > > Whereas, since the political entities known as > > "Oregon" and "The United States Of > > America" will surely one day in the > > not-too-terribly-distant future cease to exist as they are > > presently organized, anyway, and > > > > Whereas, at that point, Mother Nature will simply continue > > to do as She has always done since before the latest Big > > Bang, > > > > Now let it be resolved that the attractive, innocuous, and > > mellifluous-voiced SKYRAT LATTE be known as Oregon's new > > state bird. > > > > ...is there a second, and a commotion from the floor-? > > > > / David Fix > > Former resident of Progress, Washington Co. - when it was > > actually almost its own little burg, a lone vehicle might > > pass on Scholls Ferry Road once every half a minute or so, > > 217 hadn't yet been laid out, and one-time Cardinal > > pitcher Lynn Lovenguth sold terrific, actual--as in > > real--beef jerky at his dumpy little store near where > > Washington Square now stands. I say. > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From rie at pcfubar.net Mon Feb 9 09:25:51 2009 From: rie at pcfubar.net (Roger) Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2009 09:25:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Proposed Alternate Joint Resolution (attn: Hon. Rep. Girod, et al., ahem, amen) In-Reply-To: <020920091706.24102.499062B2000AE70500005E2622064246139B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> References: <020920091706.24102.499062B2000AE70500005E2622064246139B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Message-ID: <669E5142-CA4B-45C1-B7D2-8DCCEE796B1B@pcfubar.net> How about a "state songbird" for the western meadowlark, and "state raptor" for the osprey. Roger On Feb 9, 2009, at 9:06 AM, sandyleapt at comcast.net wrote: > Okay, I'm a native Oregonian as are my parents and siblings. My Mom > even sings the State Song of Oregon on occassion. > > How about mandating (poor choice of words given the overpopulation > thread in this conversation), that people plant oak trees in their > gardens and grassland savanna plants on their roofs. Double-decker > living would fit in the green legacy our current Governor wants to > leave to our state and we could have Meadowlarks and Killdeer sing > from our roof tops. One could fence the roof to keep the cats, > raccoons, possums and burglars out orf the nesting areas. I suppose > having mice and snakes on the roof will not be popular with everyone. > > Western Meadowlarks can still be found within the city limits of > Portland, Gresham, and Fairview. Two were found during the Portland > CBC this year. I don't think anyone found an Osprey. > > Sandy Leaptrott > NE Portland > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > From: Tim Rodenkirk >> An interesting idea, but I think Californica has cornered the >> market on >> hardscape, insane growth, and of course the SKYRAT LATTE. I think >> you should >> send your joint resolution to your Gubenator for the quorum you are >> seeking >> Mista Fix. >> >> Good try though. >> >> Plump and tasty indeed! >> >> Tim R >> Coot Bay >> >> >> --- On Thu, 2/5/09, David Fix & Jude Power wrote: >> >>> From: David Fix & Jude Power >>> Subject: [obol] Proposed Alternate Joint Resolution (attn: Hon. >>> Rep. Girod, et >> al., ahem, amen) >>> To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009, 12:39 PM >>> Whereas, the oak-grassland savannah of the interior Western >>> Oregon valleys has been overrun by humanity, and >>> >>> Whereas, urban growth boundaries are a joke, and >>> >>> Whereas, thousands of square miles of hardscape is to be >>> deemed emblematic of a vigorous economy, and >>> >>> Whereas, there is little hope that the Fedwulgummit will >>> ever serve the good & welfare of our grandchildren by >>> paying people for not reproducing, and >>> >>> Whereas, generalist species shall generally inherit the >>> Earth, and >>> >>> Whereas, since the political entities known as >>> "Oregon" and "The United States Of >>> America" will surely one day in the >>> not-too-terribly-distant future cease to exist as they are >>> presently organized, anyway, and >>> >>> Whereas, at that point, Mother Nature will simply continue >>> to do as She has always done since before the latest Big >>> Bang, >>> >>> Now let it be resolved that the attractive, innocuous, and >>> mellifluous-voiced SKYRAT LATTE be known as Oregon's new >>> state bird. >>> >>> ...is there a second, and a commotion from the floor-? >>> >>> / David Fix >>> Former resident of Progress, Washington Co. - when it was >>> actually almost its own little burg, a lone vehicle might >>> pass on Scholls Ferry Road once every half a minute or so, >>> 217 hadn't yet been laid out, and one-time Cardinal >>> pitcher Lynn Lovenguth sold terrific, actual--as in >>> real--beef jerky at his dumpy little store near where >>> Washington Square now stands. I say. >>> _______________________________________________ >>> obol mailing list >>> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Feb 9 14:01:15 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2009 14:01:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Vega Gull ? at Fernhill Lake, Forest Grove Message-ID: <1077b2da367939240621b862e52ddc96@earthlink.net> I saw an immature gull at Fernhill this morning that seems a good fit for a second year Vega. Smaller than a Western and bigger than a Mew. The primaries went way out behind the tail like a Thayer's. Both primaries and folded tertials were much darker than any other part of the body. The rest was very pale, paler than all immature G-wings. The back was scaly, reminiscent of some juvenile loons. I haven't seen a gull all winter with such distinct and at the same time fuzzy pattern. They were bold, clean lines of dark and light, but not crisp. The bill was too big for a Thayer's and too small for G-wing/Western, dark, turning pale on the basal two thirds of the lower mandible. The head was very pale, the nape, neck and lower face all the same pale brown, devoid of any stripes, flecks,flakes, but above and in front of the eyes was darker gray, sort of like the partial hood on a Sabine's Gull. It first caught my eye due to the overall paleness. Unlike any gull I've seen this winter. Lars Norgren From cncschneider at msn.com Mon Feb 9 15:29:29 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2009 15:29:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Salem GLAUCOUS GULL 2/7/09 Message-ID: Hi Birders, My sister and I found the GLAUCOUS GULL at the park west of the intersection of State and Airport Rd. in Salem. The WESTERN GULL was also there. The GLAUCOUS GULL stood out because of its larger size and pale coloration although looking at it head on it is easier to pass over because its breast is dirty. It was a lifer for both of us. There also were two CANADA X GRAYLAG GOOSE hybrids. They had a very interesting combination of plumage characteristics and the structure was intermediate between the two parent species. Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090209/56213f32/attachment.html From hkrueger at cableone.net Mon Feb 9 17:19:11 2009 From: hkrueger at cableone.net (J. Harry Krueger) Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2009 18:19:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] S.r.daggetti (Red-breasted Sapsucker - Southern subspecies) vagrancy Message-ID: <62692df00902091719j518c4d85oeee628e3e3665d70@mail.gmail.com> This past Saturday, 2/7/2009, Louie Quintana and I found a *Red-breasted Sapsucker *of the southern subspecies (*Sphyrapicus ruber daggetti)* in southern Washington, east of Oak Park, Cowlitz County, along State Route 4. I'm personally very familiar with both races of this bird, this apparent female individual clearly showing all the morphological distinctiveness of the *daggetti*. What makes this sighting noteworthy and somewhat remarkable is the fact that *S.r.ruber *(the northern subspecies) is expected as the only race in both WA and OR (except perhaps in the very extreme southern portion bordering CA). It is my understanding that this winter there has been a wider than normally expected dispersal of Red-breasted Sapsucker in the Pacific NW. Some issues for OR/WA birders to possibly consider in relationship to this sighting are: 1. Is *S.r.daggetti *always confined to its until now understand dispersal boundary around the CA/OR border, or has the subspecies been overlooked by birders in the past and actually does occur regularly much further north than believed in winter? Or 2. Has the wider/larger than "normal" dispersal this winter triggered a movement of *daggetti* further north than expected, and can an isolated/ one time pattern be established as birders begin to consciously note subspecies differentiation for the remainder of the winter. And finally 3. There is the possibility that this is an isolated, erratic movement of one individual. (Ironically though, upon returning to Boise, *S.r.dagettii *was today seen by experienced observers in a city park just across the Boise River from Boise State University for what is the state's fifth reported occurrence of Red-breasted Sapsucker... subspecies of the previous observations is not clear presently). 4. Could it be that *S.r.daggetti *is the "long-distance mover" between the two races? A bird my son Skylar and I discovered at the Pitman WMA in the southern Nevada desert a few years ago was also *daggetti.* Is there a pattern of vagrancy by the southern race alone or are there records of * S.r.ruber* displacement also? Ideas. perspectives and observations on this issue would be welcome. J. Harry Krueger Boise, ID -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090209/da844678/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Feb 9 17:49:25 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:49:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] S.r.daggetti (Red-breasted Sapsucker - Southern subspecies) vagrancy In-Reply-To: <62692df00902091719j518c4d85oeee628e3e3665d70@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Daggetti is not limited to the border region of Oregon and California, really. It is regular in south-central Oregon north to northern Klamath Co and the forested parts of Lake Co, and east to the Warner range. I have seen it several times in central Deschutes county northwest of Bend. I have also seen it at least twice at Malheur NWR, where it seems to wander on occasion. Lots of hybrids with Red-napes in e. Lake County. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: "J. Harry Krueger" > Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2009 18:19:11 -0700 > To: Tweeters WA , OBOL > Subject: [obol] S.r.daggetti (Red-breasted Sapsucker - Southern subspecies) > vagrancy > > This past Saturday, 2/7/2009, Louie Quintana and I found a *Red-breasted > Sapsucker *of the southern subspecies (*Sphyrapicus ruber daggetti)* in > southern Washington, east of Oak Park, Cowlitz County, along State Route 4. > I'm personally very familiar with both races of this bird, this apparent > female individual clearly showing all the morphological distinctiveness of > the *daggetti*. > What makes this sighting noteworthy and somewhat remarkable is the fact that > *S.r.ruber *(the northern subspecies) is expected as the only race in both > WA and OR (except perhaps in the very extreme southern portion bordering > CA). It is my understanding that this winter there has been a wider than > normally expected dispersal of Red-breasted Sapsucker in the Pacific NW. > Some issues for OR/WA birders to possibly consider in relationship to this > sighting are: > 1. Is *S.r.daggetti *always confined to its until now understand dispersal > boundary around the CA/OR border, or has the subspecies been overlooked by > birders in the past and actually does occur regularly much further north > than believed in winter? Or > 2. Has the wider/larger than "normal" dispersal this winter triggered a > movement of *daggetti* further north than expected, and can an isolated/ one > time pattern be established as birders begin to consciously note subspecies > differentiation for the remainder of the winter. And finally > 3. There is the possibility that this is an isolated, erratic movement of > one individual. (Ironically though, upon returning to Boise, *S.r.dagettii > *was today seen by experienced observers in a city park just across the > Boise River from Boise State University for what is the state's fifth > reported occurrence of Red-breasted Sapsucker... subspecies of the previous > observations is not clear presently). > 4. Could it be that *S.r.daggetti *is the "long-distance mover" between the > two races? A bird my son Skylar and I discovered at the Pitman WMA in the > southern Nevada desert a few years ago was also *daggetti.* Is there a > pattern of vagrancy by the southern race alone or are there records of * > S.r.ruber* displacement also? > > Ideas. perspectives and observations on this issue would be welcome. > > J. Harry Krueger > Boise, ID > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From srnord101 at verizon.net Mon Feb 9 20:28:06 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:28:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hillsboro Sapsucker - Hybrid, S.r. daggetti, or just odd plumage? Message-ID: <000001c98b37$f8db6600$ea923200$@net> OBOL; The photos I've posted of the sapsucker seen at Dawson Park in Hillsboro, has generated a few comments questioning if this bird is in fact a hybrid and not just a regular Red-breasted Sapsucker. Photos here: http://www.pbase.com/srn_naturalist/sapsucker The plumage of this bird is unlike any Red-breasted Sapsucker I've seen in this area, lacking an entirely red head and having a boldly pattern face with a great deal of black. This bird does resemble the Red-breasted subspecies S.r daggetti normally found in the southern part of its range, not typical to the Portland area. However the Hillsboro bird does show two characteristics, that according to Sibley shouldn't be seen in daggetti. The Hillsboro bird has a small amount of black on the back of its crown, and the white pattern on the back is in two rows like that found in a Red-naped Sapsucker, not the limited single row of the Red-breasted. The Hillsboro bird does lack any black on the breast which I would expect in a typical hybrid of Red-breasted X Red-naped. Is this mark sometimes lacking, or could this be a second generation hybrid which might lack that mark? So the questions for anyone familiar with sapsuckers: 1. Does this bird show evidence of being a hybrid of some sort? 2. Is this an out of range S.r. daggetti, and has this subspecies ever been seen this far north? 3. Or is this simply a plumage of a Red-breasted Sapsucker not often seen in this area? Any thoughts? Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Tue Feb 10 04:44:32 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 04:44:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] final reminder on listing results Message-ID: <002f01c98b7e$e454e980$e5c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: This is a last reminder to folks to send in their 2008 listing results. I'd like to encourage everyone to participate, so we can make the final published report as complete and up to date as possible. Simply fill in the table below with your total numbers as of the end of 2008 and send them to me at ptsulliv at spiritone.com This form can also be found on the OFO website at http://www.oregonbirds.org/listing.html Simply cut it out, fill it in, and send it to me by email or regular mail to : Paul T. Sullivan, 4470 SW Murray Blvd. #26, Beaverton, OR 97005 The threshold for your numbers to be published are as follows: Oregon Life List: 300 Oregon Year List: 250 County Life and 2008 Year list: 100 Life 2008 _____ _____ Oregon State Oregon counties: _____ _____ Baker _____ _____ Benton _____ _____ Clackamas _____ _____ Clatsop _____ _____ Columbia _____ _____ Coos _____ _____ Crook _____ _____ Curry _____ _____ Deschutes _____ _____ Douglas _____ _____ Gilliam _____ _____ Grant _____ _____ Harney _____ _____ Hood River _____ _____ Jackson _____ _____ Jefferson _____ _____ Josephine _____ _____ Klamath _____ _____ Lake _____ _____ Lane _____ _____ Lincoln _____ _____ Linn _____ _____ Malheur _____ _____ Marion _____ _____ Morrow _____ _____ Multnomah _____ _____ Polk _____ _____ Sherman _____ _____ Tillamook _____ _____ Umatilla _____ _____ Union _____ _____ Wallowa _____ _____ Wasco _____ _____ Washington _____ _____ Wheeler _____ _____ Yamhill _XXX_ _____ Your chosen 15-mile circle Please include a description of where your circle is located. I am working on compiling all the input I've received, and I intend to send out a "proof" to each person who contributes once I get the data entered. I'd like to encourage more folks to participate, simply because it is fun. You don't have to be a hotshot to join in. At the same time, you don't have to keep any list if you don't want to. Thank you very much! Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Tue Feb 10 04:51:42 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 04:51:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Listing 100 species in every Oregon county Message-ID: <003201c98b7e$e6d63d30$e5c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Folks, Have you seen 100 species in each of Oregon's 36 counties? I know there are a number of people who have reached this goal. I'd like to list them in the listing results to be published in Oregon Birds. Please let me know if you have reached this goal, and the year you reached it. Thanks, Paul T. Sullivan ptsulliv at spiritone.com From dpvroman at budget.net Tue Feb 10 06:13:29 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:13:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Birds move north Message-ID: Web article on bird species northward movement (see link below). Likely nothing new to those watching birds. Does show the value of CBC data and other long term data files. Dennis http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29104238/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090210/3ef21294/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Feb 10 06:17:48 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:17:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Trumpeter Swan flock still near Airlie Message-ID: <1234275468.3623.31.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, In an effort to get a decent count of the TRUMPETER SWAN flock wintering in southern Polk Co., before they head north in a couple of weeks, I detoured up toward Airlie yesterday afternoon. There were about 90 swans in the field to the NE of the intersection of Airlie Rd. and Berry Creek Rd. I counted 48 definite Trumpeters and guessed that at least a couple more with their heads down and/or obscured by others were also Trumpeters. So I came up with 50 (plus or minus a couple) as an estimate. The rest of the swans appeared to be Tundra Swans. Most of the swans closer to the road were Trumpeters while the ones further back were mainly Tundras, though there was a lot of mingling so it would be hard to get a more precise count. The numbers suggest that this flock has remained stable from past years. The other, smaller groups of Trumpeters showing up around the valley must reflect an overall increase in wintering numbers. Also of interest were two SHORT-EARED OWLS sitting up in the same field, and a WHITE-TAILED KITE perched on a fencepost right behind the flock. It was fun to have Trumpeters, Tundras, Short-eared Owls and a kite all lined up in one scope view. A couple of miles to the east, I saw five more swans which appeared to be Tundra Swans, plus a PRAIRIE FALCON which was a few poles south of Airlie Rd. on De Armond Rd. Happy birding, Joel P.S. I regret to say, this was a motorized trip. I've been trying to get my old neglected bicycle tuned up. However I was getting worried that no one would get a decent count before the Trumpeter flock heads north in late February ... so that's my excuse for cheating. I did pick up a frame pump on this trip to town, so hope to get back up there in motorless mode. -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Feb 10 08:01:14 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 08:01:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hillsboro Sapsucker - Hybrid, S.r. daggetti, or just odd plumage? Message-ID: <20090210080114.bxrlvey08484c48w@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Steve, Good question! Is it normal variation in the Southern Red-breasted Sapsucker (S.v. daggetti) or a hybrid? It is my opinion that this is a hybrid Red-naped x Red-breasted Sapsucker. Here's why. While the white line from the bill down the side of the neck is often apparent in daggettit Red-breasted sapsucker, and some black pattern can show through, the black and white pattern in the face is too prominent for daggetti. I must disagree with your statement that there is no black on the breast, however. The black chest crescent shows as black bases through the red in several of your photos, especially "sapsucker04.jpg" (http://www.pbase.com/srn_naturalist/image/109010597) Please review this recent article by Dave Irons: http://birdfellow.com/journal/2008/12/23/dont_be_suckered_by_sapsuckers Compare this typical daggetti: http://image53.webshots.com/153/3/63/73/2903363730040004820kqFXsz_ph.jpg Photo by Joe Morlan in san Francisco in March 2006. Here is another daggetti showing more face pattern: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/49/159585624_cb357fec8c_b.jpg January 2006 in Santa Maria, California by Jamie Chavez. Here is a hybrid sapsucker I photographed in San Diego in October 2008 with strong black chest crescent: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/105958880 The Sisters area of Oregon is a good place to see hybrids of Red-breasted (ruber) and Red-naped Sapsuckers. I believe I have seen the daggetti form of Red-breasted Sapsucker as far north as Albany, though ruber is the expected form south through the Willamette Valley. Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com Subject: Hillsboro Sapsucker - Hybrid, S.r. daggetti, or just odd plumage? From: "Steve Nord" Date: Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:28:06 -0800 OBOL; The photos I've posted of the sapsucker seen at Dawson Park in Hillsboro, has generated a few comments questioning if this bird is in fact a hybrid and not just a regular Red-breasted Sapsucker. Photos here: http://www.pbase.com/srn_naturalist/sapsucker The plumage of this bird is unlike any Red-breasted Sapsucker I've seen in this area, lacking an entirely red head and having a boldly pattern face with a great deal of black. This bird does resemble the Red-breasted subspecies S.r daggetti normally found in the southern part of its range, not typical to the Portland area. However the Hillsboro bird does show two characteristics, that according to Sibley shouldn't be seen in daggetti. The Hillsboro bird has a small amount of black on the back of its crown, and the white pattern on the back is in two rows like that found in a Red-naped Sapsucker, not the limited single row of the Red-breasted. The Hillsboro bird does lack any black on the breast which I would expect in a typical hybrid of Red-breasted X Red-naped. Is this mark sometimes lacking, or could this be a second generation hybrid which might lack that mark? So the questions for anyone familiar with sapsuckers: 1. Does this bird show evidence of being a hybrid of some sort? 2. Is this an out of range S.r. daggetti, and has this subspecies ever been seen this far north? 3. Or is this simply a plumage of a Red-breasted Sapsucker not often seen in this area? Any thoughts? Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro From bknowles at uoregon.edu Thu Feb 5 14:09:17 2009 From: bknowles at uoregon.edu (brian knowles) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 14:09:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] mandarin duck in downtown eugene Message-ID: <1233871757.73860.alphamail@mailapps2.uoregon.edu> Hello all, i never post, but i appreciate those of you who do. This afternoon around 1pm i saw a male mandarin duck in the canal that intersects Hilyard, near Broadway between the sorority houses. First time for me. It was beautiful. thanks again OBOLers brian From bethmcke at msn.com Fri Feb 6 05:22:17 2009 From: bethmcke at msn.com (Beth McKee) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 05:22:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Owl Question Message-ID: Dear Barbara and fellow birders, I just saw your post about the saw whet owl and your discussion about its habitat brought to mind a book that I recently purchased by author Paul Bannick that's called "The Owl and The Woodpecker: Encounters with North America's Most Iconic Birds". The book contains a very good audio of calls and drumming by Martyn Stewart which might help with identifying the owl. The photography in the book is amazing but so is the approach to looking at North American habitats--through Owls and Woodpeckers. As Paul points out, "most owls and woodpeckers are indicator species and those that are not, change their habitats for the benefit of other species and are thus keystone species". In case you are interested, check out www.paulbannick.com where you can see some of the stunning photography. There are also sample pages from his newly released book, reviews and more. I've already learned so much through the voice of the author and his photos so I wanted to pass the recommendation along. Regards, Beth McKee >From her temporary perch in Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090206/ed3c8a50/attachment.html From mikedressel at coomcast.net Sun Feb 8 16:33:58 2009 From: mikedressel at coomcast.net (Mike Dressel) Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2009 16:33:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sunday, 2/8/09 Message-ID: <004101c98a4e$190722b0$4b156810$@net> 12 mourning doves at once in the backyard today and bushtits by the double dozen. mike Mike Dressel McMinnville, Oregon 97128 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090208/4028f950/attachment.html From susankennedymcnutt at gmail.com Tue Feb 10 04:24:38 2009 From: susankennedymcnutt at gmail.com (Susan Kennedy-McNutt) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 04:24:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] FYI (off topic) Ca Condor Research Message-ID: <9AA48204-B20D-4F17-8DFF-F83FD0C801BE@gmail.com> I received this email message from my church this morning, thought it may be of interest to some: One of our parishioners, David Moen is featured in today?s Oregonian (front page & page A10) in an article about his California Condor research. His Master's degree is related to restoring these birds to their ancient sites in the Pacific Northwest. He will also be featured on Oregon Field Guide on KOPB (channel 10) regarding this research, which is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. this Thursday evening, and repeated on next Sunday both at 2:30 a.m. and again at 6:30 p.m. Susan -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090210/cfa1c042/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Tue Feb 10 09:04:30 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:04:30 +0000 Subject: [obol] Hillsboro Sapsucker - Hybrid, S.r. daggetti, or just odd plumage? In-Reply-To: <20090210080114.bxrlvey08484c48w@webmail.thebirdguide.com> References: <20090210080114.bxrlvey08484c48w@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Message-ID: Greetings All, I would concur with Greg Gillson's assessment of this bird. I too think the face pattern (black and white) is excessive for a daggetti Red-breasted Sapsucker. I also agree that you can see evidence of a black where the breast shield ("crescent") would appear on a Red-naped and there is another image where can see a hint of the black throat frame expected on that species. One other thing to look at is the back pattern. The second link to a daggetti picture that Greg provided a link for offers a nice example of the back pattern of a Red-breasted. On Red-breasteds, the back is mostly black with two distinct and fairly narrow troughs of white barring divided by a fairly wide trough of black. This is shown well in that image. While Red-naped Sapsuckers have a superficially similar pattern on the back, the troughs of white barring down the back tend to be less crisply defined, and a little wider, which serves to narrow the black trough down the middle. In my opinion, the back pattern of the Hillsboro bird is more like that of a Red-naped. It is important to remember that hybridization between these two species is quite common and, like Western X Glaucous-winged Gulls, we should expect to see a whole range of intergrade plumage expressions in these crosses and back-crosses. Some will look very much like pure Red-napeds and others will look much like pure Red-breasteds and then there will birds that are clearly right in the middle. The hybrid pictured at the BirdFellow.com link that Greg referenced is sort of in the middle of this cline. Dave Irons > Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 08:01:14 -0800 > From: greg at thebirdguide.com > To: srnord101 at verizon.net > CC: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Hillsboro Sapsucker - Hybrid, S.r. daggetti, or just odd plumage? > > > Steve, > > Good question! > > Is it normal variation in the Southern Red-breasted Sapsucker (S.v. > daggetti) or a hybrid? > > It is my opinion that this is a hybrid Red-naped x Red-breasted > Sapsucker. Here's why. > > While the white line from the bill down the side of the neck is often > apparent in daggettit Red-breasted sapsucker, and some black pattern > can show through, the black and white pattern in the face is too > prominent for daggetti. I must disagree with your statement that there > is no black on the breast, however. The black chest crescent shows as > black bases through the red in several of your photos, especially > "sapsucker04.jpg" (http://www.pbase.com/srn_naturalist/image/109010597) > > Please review this recent article by Dave Irons: > http://birdfellow.com/journal/2008/12/23/dont_be_suckered_by_sapsuckers > > Compare this typical daggetti: > http://image53.webshots.com/153/3/63/73/2903363730040004820kqFXsz_ph.jpg > Photo by Joe Morlan in san Francisco in March 2006. > > Here is another daggetti showing more face pattern: > http://farm1.static.flickr.com/49/159585624_cb357fec8c_b.jpg > January 2006 in Santa Maria, California by Jamie Chavez. > > Here is a hybrid sapsucker I photographed in San Diego in October 2008 > with strong black chest crescent: > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/105958880 > > The Sisters area of Oregon is a good place to see hybrids of > Red-breasted (ruber) and Red-naped Sapsuckers. > > I believe I have seen the daggetti form of Red-breasted Sapsucker as > far north as Albany, though ruber is the expected form south through > the Willamette Valley. > > Greg Gillson > Hillsboro, Oregon > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > > Subject: Hillsboro Sapsucker - Hybrid, S.r. daggetti, or just odd plumage? > From: "Steve Nord" > Date: Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:28:06 -0800 > > OBOL; > > The photos I've posted of the sapsucker seen at Dawson Park in Hillsboro, > has generated a few comments questioning if this bird is in fact a hybrid > and not just a regular Red-breasted Sapsucker. Photos here: > http://www.pbase.com/srn_naturalist/sapsucker > > The plumage of this bird is unlike any Red-breasted Sapsucker I've seen in > this area, lacking an entirely red head and having a boldly pattern face > with a great deal of black. This bird does resemble the Red-breasted > subspecies S.r daggetti normally found in the southern part of its range, > not typical to the Portland area. However the Hillsboro bird does show two > characteristics, that according to Sibley shouldn't be seen in daggetti. > The Hillsboro bird has a small amount of black on the back of its crown, and > the white pattern on the back is in two rows like that found in a Red-naped > Sapsucker, not the limited single row of the Red-breasted. The Hillsboro > bird does lack any black on the breast which I would expect in a typical > hybrid of Red-breasted X Red-naped. Is this mark sometimes lacking, or > could this be a second generation hybrid which might lack that mark? > > So the questions for anyone familiar with sapsuckers: > 1. Does this bird show evidence of being a hybrid of some sort? > 2. Is this an out of range S.r. daggetti, and has this subspecies ever been > seen this far north? > 3. Or is this simply a plumage of a Red-breasted Sapsucker not often seen in > this area? > > Any thoughts? > > Good Birding > Steve Nord > Hillsboro > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_howitworks_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090210/5a0b532f/attachment.html From marciafcutler at comcast.net Tue Feb 10 11:01:06 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:01:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] FYI (off topic) Ca Condor Research In-Reply-To: <9AA48204-B20D-4F17-8DFF-F83FD0C801BE@gmail.com> References: <9AA48204-B20D-4F17-8DFF-F83FD0C801BE@gmail.com> Message-ID: <5A3E692F78A04CB1B64DAA3062D6FA96@melvintrex4uoq> David Moen is also scheduled to speak on his condor research at the general meeting of the Audubon Society of Corvallis on Thursday, Feb. 19th. The meeting is at the First Presbyterian Church, 114 Eighth Street, Corvallis. The business meeting starts at 7:30 and the speaker at about 8 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Marcia F. Cutler Corvallis _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Susan Kennedy-McNutt Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 4:25 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] FYI (off topic) Ca Condor Research I received this email message from my church this morning, thought it may be of interest to some: One of our parishioners, David Moen is featured in today's Oregonian (front page & page A10) in an article about his California Condor research. His Master's degree is related to restoring these birds to their ancient sites in the Pacific Northwest. He will also be featured on Oregon Field Guide on KOPB (channel 10) regarding this research, which is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. this Thursday evening, and repeated on next Sunday both at 2:30 a.m. and again at 6:30 p.m. Susan -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090210/2cc026ca/attachment.html From goosemiller at msn.com Tue Feb 10 11:06:25 2009 From: goosemiller at msn.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:06:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eagle Watch Feb 21 Feb 22, 2009 Message-ID: Hi Obol: I have a PDF file attachment I can send to people. Eagle Watch is about a 20 minute drive from Madras or an hour drive north of Bend. About 600 people attend each year. Marilyn Miller Eagle Watch 2009 -Schedule of Events- Saturday, February 21, 2009 * Please Note: All events & Activities at the Round Butte Overlook Park -unless otherwise noted! 9-10am Greeting & Partner Recognition (Paul Patton; ("Aerie 1")) Status of Bald Eagles in Oregon (Frank Isaacs; ("Aerie 1")) 10am-1130am Eagle Viewing: (Building, *VP A & B) Live Birds of Prey (The High Desert Museum) 10am-Noon Bird Watching Tour (East Cascades Bird Conservancy) 1130am-1230pm Lunch & Refreshments The 2009 "Order Of The Eagle" Presentation 1230-1pm "Wind Power in the Columbia Basin" (Tim Pitz) 1-3:30pm Presentations: "Aerie 1": 1pm & 2:15pm: "The Eagles of Lake Billy Chinook" (Jamie Hurd, CTWS/Thad Fitzhenry, PGE) 1:25pm & 2:40pm: "Bald Eagles: Watching Them Watch Us Watch Them" (Frank Isaacs, OEF) 1:50pm& 3:05pm: "Golden Eagle Migration: Where Do They Go?" (Tim Pitz) "Aerie 2": 1pm & 2:15pm: : "Boxing Up Kestrels" (Jim Anderson) 1:25pm & 2:40pm: "Tangled Trouble: Raptors and Barbed Wire Don't Mix" (Jeannette Bondsteel) 1:50pm& 3:05pm: " Pacific Northwest Condors: Field Work Update" (David Moen, Oregon Zoo) Live Birds of Prey (The High Desert Museum) Eagle Viewing: (Building, *VP A & B) Bird Watching Tour (East Cascades Bird Conservancy) 3:30pm "Which Eagle Is That? " (Game Show) Sunday, February 22, 2009 5:30 am *"Sunrise Eagle Tour" (Walt Wolfe for Raven Research) 10am-Noon Presentations: "Aerie 1": 10am & 10:50am: "Bald Eagles and You: Watching Them Watch Us Watch Them" (Frank Isaacs, OEF) 10:25am & 11:15am: "The Eagles of Lake Billy Chinook" (Jamie Hurd, CTWS/Thad Fitzhenry, PGE) "Aerie 2": 10am & 10:50am: "Dark Skies are for the Birds" (Dr. Jan Dabrowski, Marylhurst University) 10:25am & 11:15am: " Pacific Northwest Condors: Field Work Update" (David Moen, Oregon Zoo) Live Birds of Prey (The High Desert Museum) Eagle Viewing: (Building, *VP A & B) Bird Watching Tour (East Cascades Bird Conservancy) Noon-1pm Lunch & Refreshments (Telephone Pioneers of America) 1-1:30pm "Wind Power in the Columbia Basin" (Tim Pitz) 1:30-2:15pm Raptor Identification Contest! (Chris Carey, ODF&W) 2:30-3:30pm Native American Cultural Program (CTWS) 3:30pm Grand Prize Drawing!!! Eagle Watch 2009 Concludes... *(see below) Bonus Activities * Extended Eagle Viewing at Viewpoints (All-as able to) * 4-5pm: Eagle Viewing at Smith Rock State Park (David Vick & Julian Colesberry) On-going both days: Partner Booths(Yurts): The Museum at Warm Springs, USF&W, East Cascades Bird Conservancy, The High Desert Museum Oregon 150 Display: OPRD Fish Passage project information (in building): Portland General Electric Art Showcase & Sales(Yurt): John Finch, Native Images; David Rhodes, photographer; John Finch: Indian Fry Bread; Native American beadwork Kids Activities(Yurt): Jeannette Bondsteel/Volunteers: coloring contest, puzzles/games, etc. Book Sales:(Art Showcase & Sales Yurt): Brad Smith; Paulina Springs Books Souvenir sales: Confirmed Eagle Watch Raffle: Confirmed Marilyn Miller Bend, Oregon goosemiller at msn.com From louisfredd at msn.com Tue Feb 10 11:17:18 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:17:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hillsboro sap-sucker, etc. Message-ID: This composed mostly before responses of Greg Gillson and David Irons, so an independent opinion to that extent. I should note that: (1) Red-naped Sapsucker is a nemesis, partly owing to my lack of much birding in Eastern O; and (2) I don't care to reveal my average score on bird quizzes. On the other hand, I have observed Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (NYS) and R. r. daggeti (OR) within the past 8 mos, to pad my resume a bit. Superficially this looks like the Southern (dagetti) form of Red-breasted Sapsucker illus per Sibley. However, USGS gives 3 definite field marks for distinguishing the two ssp, Southern v Northern: (1) rows of feathering on back white v buff, (2) pale red v deep red on head and throat, (3) elongated white facial stripe v white restricted to lore. The head of the Northern is expected to be entirely red except for the white lore and a black spot before the eye. Differences (1) and (2) are not shades of gray to speak, in my experience, but striking (see new Smithsonian field guide, e.g.). The Sibley guide does not in my opinion give one a good impression of differences (1) and (2). Evaluating those key USGS differences in this instance, I concluded this was not R. r. dagetti. The helpful Smithsonian guide shows a photo of a verified Red-breasted X Red-naped hybrid. ID's accompanying Googled images shouldn't be trusted on this subject! I think the subject sapsucker looks much like the Smithsonian example, without overstretching one's imagination. Otherwise my inspection of Steve Nord's and Scott Carpenter's excellent photos agreed in detail with commentaries by Gillson and Irons. The black throat frame is obscure but perceptible across the chest, and a pale stripe outside the black frame is likewise obscure but perceptible (see Sibley illus of RBSA v RNSA in this) to additionally suggest RB- X RNSA parentage to me. Concurently there is a report on Tweeters of a Southern RBSA observed in Cowlitz Co, WA, no description, no photo. The same reports a Southern recently observed by Boise ID birders. It also notes that this winter there was widespread dispersal of Red-breasted Sapsuckers in the Pacific NW, no details given. This am's Oregonian carries an article (pA2) "Birds Migrating Farther North", illustrated by an excellent map developed by Audubon, showing extent of such change for familiar species such as Purple Finch and Varied Thrush, for the 40 year span 1966 thru 2005. During that time average January temperature in the US increased 5 F! Perhaps we shall see Southern-like RBSA more frequently in the northern Willamette Valley, in the near future, as a consequence. At present a Red-breasted Sapsucker is gathering sap from the big maple in my yard. It agrees with Northern with respect to USGS differences (1) and (2) but clearly has a white facial stripe (3) as characteristic of Southern. I suppose this to be either a hybrid or intergrade RBSA of the two subspecies. This is apparently the same sapsucker that foraged here in the autumn, disappeared after snow cover until late January, now is coming daily again, for the time being. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_explore_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090210/7b8b62fc/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Feb 10 12:17:24 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:17:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] An odd gull at Wireless Rd. Message-ID: <4991E0D4.6060706@pacifier.com> Here's a gull that stood out from the pack of cold wet gulls at Wireless Rd this morning. What do you think it is? http://home.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/uggu/ugly_gull.html -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Variations on a theme http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html From ellencantor at gmail.com Tue Feb 10 14:24:58 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:24:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Orange-crowned Warbler Message-ID: <7058c4c60902101424ybb1bb83v1675240bda83b235@mail.gmail.com> Yesterday I heard a frantic jumble of half sung call chirps and looked up in my yard's ornamental plum tree to see my first ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER of the year--right here in my center west Eugene neighborhood.. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090210/61f3db53/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Tue Feb 10 16:42:01 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:42:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yaquina Bay Brant Getting Restless or Migrating? Message-ID: Hi, Brant regularly overwinter at Yaquina Bay, but they do so only east of the Yaquina Bay Bridge at the embayments where there are large quantities of native eelgrass (Zostera marina). A sign of Spring restlessness or possible migration is when they show up west of the Yaquina Bay Bridge, usually at the rock shelf at the northwest side of the Bridge. Last year, they were first recorded there on March 4, though they may have been there earlier. This year, Janet Lamberson first saw Brant on the rock shelf at the northwest side of the Yaquina Bay Bridge at lunchtime of Feb. 3. They were too distant from her location to count. During the early evening of Feb. 4, Laimons Osis estimated at least 164 Brant west of the Bridge. Matt Hunter independently also saw Brant west of the Bridge on Feb. 4. The afternoon of Feb. 6, I had counts of 185 and of 191 Brant at Yaquina Bay embayments, but it was frustrating to count them because Bald Eagles kept flushing them. First a subadult eagle disturbed them from Idaho Flats, then an adult flushed them after they landed at Sally's Bend. I then went west of the Bridge and found no Brant there. So it is not clear if Brant at Yaquina Bay were just restless and flying around to locations where they have not been earlier in the winter, or if spring migration may have started. Perhaps eagle disturbance is causing them to move around more. In any case, they are not west of the Bridge all the time yet. This is the latest posting for Brant in Lincoln County to the International Brant Monitoring Project. See their Observation Log link at http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/ for other Brant observations along the West Coast. Cheers, Range Bayer for Yaquina Birders & Naturalists From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Tue Feb 10 16:52:29 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:52:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Willamette V. NWRs and Coast Message-ID: <3A289BE2CD1246CEAB4C51806A8D60BE@KimPC> We took a 4day trip over the hill this weekend. Fri. afternoon I visited Finley and Ankeny NWRs. I saw lots of waterfowl and Raptors but nothing you would not expect. Sat. morning I visited Basket Slough with the same results except I was able to observe 4 falcons. The Kestrel, Merlyn and Peregrine were off Colville Rd. and the Prairie was on a pole on Smithfield Rd. The Peregrine was on a treetop 1/2 mile away but it took off and I watched it through my scope fly around for over 5 minutes. On Sunday we took the trail on the bay by the Hatfield Marine Center. The tide was up and we watched a raft of Brant out in the bay take off and fly toward us and land 100 ft. away by the viewing shelter. I have never been that close to them before, beautiful birds. Talk about being close, on Mon. during the snow storm we stopped by Devil's Punchbowl to watch the waves in the bowl (high tide). When we got out of the car I saw a Raptor sitting in a tree by the cliff. It was an Adult Tundra Peregrine. I was able to walk up to within 30 feet of the tree and it just sat there and watched me as I watched it. I have never been that close to a stationary Peregrine before, especially a Tundra with the bright silver chest. We also watched a group of 10 Black Oystercatchers on a rock close to us. I am sure the Peregrine was also watching them from less than 100 yards away. ----kim Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090210/270dbc59/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Tue Feb 10 20:59:55 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:59:55 +0000 Subject: [obol] Can someone claim an Acorn Woodpecker image sent to me Message-ID: Greetings All, A couple weeks ago I sent out requests for images of Acorn Woodpeckers. Someone sent me wonderful picture taken with a Canon 30 D camera. The bird is in sun facing the photographer. Somehow my wires got crossed and I recorded that the picture had come from Gary Palmer in Medford. Gary assures me that the picture is not his. I am using this image for a blog piece that I am doing for BirdFellow.com and I want to properly credit the photographer. I remember getting pictures from John Sullivan, but this is not the image from him and my recollection is that he has another brand of camera. Thanks in advance for helping solve this mystery, Dave Irons _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_howitworks_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090211/b7b97ff0/attachment.html From mariam at easystreet.net Tue Feb 10 21:55:47 2009 From: mariam at easystreet.net (Maria Michalczyk) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:55:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Owls in South Salem Last Night In-Reply-To: Message-ID: I tried to post this last night...sorry for jumping on your email but it is relevant. > > This evening we were courted by at least two owls. Unfortunately I do not know these birds sounds at all. We have tall fir trees and I could swear at least one was in a tree above my head. What was even eerie was the full moon was out and the bantering of owl choir lasting at least 2-3 hours. My husband said he heard them a couple of nights ago. So do owl migrate? I am thinking it is bird courting time? I saw red tail hawks circling around our house two weekends ago. Is there some special hooting that you all might be able to share so that I could get an idea who these owls are. Lance L'Chien (Barkstrong) Inu Shu Cow (Snowball dog) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090210/91231a45/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Tue Feb 10 22:00:32 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 06:00:32 +0000 Subject: [obol] New BirdFellow post about Mark Koninendyke Message-ID: Greetings All, A rather unexpected recent episode inspired me to post a piece about one of Oregon's best unknown birders, Mark Koninendyke. Many of you may have heard me or others share stories of birding adventures with Mark, or maybe you've run across his name in the cited observers of rare birds found in Oregon from the late 1960s-mid 1980s. Mark was an extremely talented field ornithologist, with keen eyes and ears, an inquisitive mind, and a wanderlust that fed a never-ending desire to explore those places few Oregon birders ever visit. In his "In Memorium" piece, written about Mark after his death in 1986, Jeff Gilligan credits Mark and Harry Nehls with being the first to recognize the vagrant potential of the oasis at Fields. Back in 1974, Mark and Harry found a singing Clay-colored Sparrow n. of Fields in June! Mark's attention to detail once saved several of us from what would have been a major ID blunder many years ago. An odd hummingbird showed up at a southwest Portland feeder, and it was initially identified as a Lucifer Hummingbird. All the birding luminaries of the day (I think there were eight of us) convened one morning to check off a fabulous tick for our Oregon lists. We had been watching the bird for many minutes and by the power of group think (and expecting to see a Lucifer) we were all satisfied that we had seen a Lucifer Hummingbird. As we stood around exchanging congratulations and high fives, Mark continued looking at the bird and then quietly mentioned that he was seeing some purple iridescence on the forehead and crown of the bird. We all returned to studying the bird and very quickly realized that he was right. Once our objectivity was restored, we all recognized that the bird was actually a Costa's and not a Lucifer Hummingbird. At the time, I think this was just the second Costa's ever recorded in Oregon, so we still added a state bird. Lucifer Hummingbird remains unrecorded from Oregon. Many of you may never have even heard of Mark, but his story is one that is likely to resonate with all birders. We all have favorite birding companions, and in many cases these folks are among our dearest friends. In all likelihood, nearly every one of us has had a dear friend or, perhaps, someone we knew from birding come to an untimely end. Upon reading the BirdFellow piece, I would encourage those of you who knew Mark to share a favored story about him. Once you read the piece, you'll know why. The referenced piece is the most recent post at BirdFellow.com Dave Irons BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_AE_Faster_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090211/4ae5cbae/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Tue Feb 10 22:09:57 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:09:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Morrow County Snowy Owl - Yes Message-ID: Hi birders Don and Jerry Sutherland and I tried for this bird on Sunday but there was too much fog. We came back from Wallowa county area today and had fine conditions there. We found the bird in the same location as was posted last week, along Ione-Boardman Road, about .3 mile south of the junction with Strawberry Rd. Beautiful bird, looks strong and healthy. Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com From jmeredit at bendnet.com Tue Feb 10 22:59:19 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:59:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wallowa County Message-ID: <6AE589F0CCE94D7ABA85A430F8642118@MOM> Hi birders Went with Don Sutherland and Jerry Sutherland to the Wallowa county area for a couple of days. Highlights: Unexpected but perhaps not so rare or sought after, one YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER in Joseph at the Mormon Church, up on the hill not far from the High School. TREE SPARROWS - Lostine along Jim Down Dr, also near Enterprise, Golf Course Rd about 1 mile before School Flat Rd, and about 60 birds off Repplinger Rd in a weedy patch along a dry ditch. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS - Wortman Ranch along Hwy 82 before Enterprise, there were many hundreds of BOWA, also Pileated WP flying by. Also BOWA about 100 near Bronze Works in Joseph. A few were at yards in Enterprise with Mtn Ash trees. PINE GROSBEAKS - Ferguson Ridge out of Joseph, near the Ferguson Ski Club parking lot. We also saw probably the same flock about 1/2 mile up toward McCully Creek. Saw 8 birds. Was this the ? same flock that Rich and Nannette saw? How many in that flock? WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS - Joseph area, tops of Spruce trees, saw 3 different times toward south end of town. One tree had about 12 birds in it. LAPLAND LONGSPUR - Golf Course Rd, about1/2 mile from intersection with School Flat. Two or more birds, with a small flock of the larger and paler sub-species of Horned Lark. One Longspur was in breeding plumage. GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH - single bird with Horned Larks and one alone along Golf Course Rd out of Enterprise. We studied a lot of flocks of Horned Larks, watched feeders and were unable to find Redpolls or Snow Buntings. We looked everywhere for Gray Partridge and did not score. Raptors conspicuous throughout the area. Scenery and company were perfect. Good birding, Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com From tedschroeder0800 at hotmail.com Tue Feb 10 23:13:39 2009 From: tedschroeder0800 at hotmail.com (ted schroeder) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:13:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Owls in South Salem Last Night In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: www.owling.com has recordings of all of the north american owls that you can listen to by clicking on each species and then clicking on the sonogram graphs found toward the bottom of the species page. Ted------------La Grande Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:55:47 -0800 From: mariam at easystreet.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Owls in South Salem Last Night I tried to post this last night...sorry for jumping on your email but it is relevant. This evening we were courted by at least two owls. Unfortunately I do not know these birds sounds at all. We have tall fir trees and I could swear at least one was in a tree above my head. What was even eerie was the full moon was out and the bantering of owl choir lasting at least 2-3 hours. My husband said he heard them a couple of nights ago. So do owl migrate? I am thinking it is bird courting time? I saw red tail hawks circling around our house two weekends ago. Is there some special hooting that you all might be able to share so that I could get an idea who these owls are. Lance L'Chien (Barkstrong) Inu Shu Cow (Snowball dog) _________________________________________________________________ See how Windows connects the people, information, and fun that are part of your life. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093175mrt/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090210/825ec2e0/attachment.html From pygowl at gmail.com Wed Feb 11 09:06:49 2009 From: pygowl at gmail.com (Michael Marsh) Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 09:06:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wireless Road Gull Message-ID: <90d831b70902110906o4bba08e3tf98acd1f2812569@mail.gmail.com> It's a Wtn Gull that Mike trapped and put a black shoe polish dot next to the red one. Cool bird and nice pics, Mike. OK, c'mon, don't keep us in suspense. I sure can't figure this guy out................. -- Mike Marsh Portland, OR/Tacoma, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090211/fc75aef5/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Wed Feb 11 09:17:07 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 09:17:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bandon OR Selasphorus hummers Message-ID: <49930813.2030902@verizon.net> Wed 2/11 Bandon Coos Cty Just got home from being away for a week and the yard here north of Bandon, is filled with SELASPHORUS hummingbirds (males) and singing Song Sparrows. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From andy.frank at kp.org Wed Feb 11 13:55:18 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:55:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island Turkey Vulture and Great Horned Owl nesting Message-ID: I toured around Sauvie Island this morning. Best birds were a single TURKEY VULTURE heading west over Oak Island Rd (it seems like they are getting earlier every year) and a GREAT HORNED OWL sitting on a nest 1.9 miles past Coon Point. For those who know the spot, what's interesting is that the owl is not in the nest that has been used the past several years, but is in a nearby tree in a nest used by Red-tailed Hawks in previous years. This tree is closer to the road and slightly south of the previous owl nest tree. One advantage of early nesting is that you get your choice of nest. Andy Frank From tom-escue at comcast.net Wed Feb 11 14:31:51 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:31:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] TURKEY VULTURE Message-ID: I saw my first TURKEY VULTURE circling above I-105 (Eugene-Springfield Highway) and Mohawk in Springfield today. It was being harassed by a single crow. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090211/7fbaf295/attachment.html From tamickel at rio.com Wed Feb 11 15:47:29 2009 From: tamickel at rio.com (Tom & Allison Mickel) Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:47:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wednesday morning birding Message-ID: <002301c98ca3$19c35780$4d4a0680$@com> OBOL, This morning we birded areas around the Eugene airport and Fern Ridge Reservoir. Highlights included 1 BRANT and 1 ROSS'S GOOSE in with a few thousand CACKLING GEESE along Washburne Ln west of Junction City, 5 EURASIAN WIGEON on Kirk Pond, and 1 HORNED LARK just south of Awbery Ln on the east side of Greenhill Rd. Ross's Goose - 1 Cackling Goose - thousands! Canada Goose - 50 Brant - 1 Tundra Swan - 200 Gadwall - 6 Eurasian Wigeon - 6 American Wigeon - 250 Mallard - 50 Northern Shoveler - 20 Northern Pintail - 125 Green-winged Teal - 30 Ring-necked Duck - 25 Greater Scaup - 10 Lesser Scaup - 2 Bufflehead - 10 Hooded Merganser - 1 Common Merganser - 2 Ring-necked Pheasant - 3 Pied-billed Grebe - 3 Double-crested Cormorant - 50 Great Blue Heron - 2 Great Egret - 20 Turkey Vulture - 1 White-tailed Kite - 2 Bald Eagle - 15 Northern Harrier - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 20 Rough-legged Hawk - 1 American Kestrel - 15 American Coot - 5 Killdeer - 20 Greater Yellowlegs - 3 Dunlin - 250 Wilson's Snipe - 2 Ring-billed Gull - 25 Glaucous-winged Gull - 5 Mourning Dove - 1 Belted Kingfisher - 1 Downy Woodpecker - 1 Northern Flicker - 3 Western Scrub-Jay - 10 American Crow - 50 Common Raven - 2 Horned Lark - 1 Black-capped Chickadee - 6 White-breasted Nuthatch - 4 Brown Creeper - 1 Bewick's Wren - 2 American Robin - 10 European Starling American Pipit - 10 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 4 Spotted Towhee - 4 Fox Sparrow - 1 Song Sparrow - 12 Golden-crowned Sparrow - 20 Dark-eyed Junco - 20 Red-winged Blackbird - 60 Western Meadowlark - 2 Brewer's Blackbird - 2 House Finch - 5 Observers - Jim Carlson, Fred Chancey, Sylvia Maulding, Barry McKenzie, Tom Mickel, Don Schrouder, Paul Sherrell, Sarah Vasconcellos. From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Feb 11 16:36:46 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:36:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Airlie Trumpeter Swans, GWF Geese, Savannah Sparrow flock etc. Message-ID: <1234399006.3629.36.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hi folks, This afternoon a few TRUMPETER SWANS and TUNDRA SWANS were still along Airlie Rd. SE of the hamlet of Airlie, s. Polk Co., though the bulk of the flock (about 90 of the swans) have moved to a field about 1/2 mile south of Airlie Rd., off of Berry Creek Rd. Five Trumpeters flew low over me as I was biking along Airlie Rd., vocalizing to make for an easy identification, and then landed in a field a bit NW of De Armond Rd. This is the same place where I saw five swans two days ago; I wrote them off as Tundras but didn't get a good look because it was a hazardous place to pull off to the side in the minivan. With a bicycle, it was safer to get a good look. Assuming that these are the same five swans, my total estimate of this year's Trumpeter Swan flock in the Airlie area should be raised to 55. A flock of nine GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were still hanging out in the field farther west, with 7 or 8 Tundra Swans. I couldn't spot the two Short-eared Owls that were there a couple of days ago, but they might just have been hunkered down in the grass. A WHITE-TAILED KITE was perched on the fenceline to the north (and possibly a second farther off). A flock of close to 100 SAVANNAH SPARROWS were coming down to water in a ditch, from the cover crop that the Xmas tree farm uses (sudan grass?). That's the more Savannah Sparrows than I've seen around here during winter in the last five or six years; I wonder if they might be migrants already. I didn't see the Prairie Falcon today. On the theory that it might have moved farther south on De Armond Rd., I tried looping back on that road. Big mistake! There is a thick new coat of fresh gravel on this road. Within a mile my back tire was off the rim and the inner tube wouldn't hold air. Being a bicycle birding rookie, I didn't have a patch kit along. I'd thought about that before leaving home, but figured, "Well, in the worst case I can always walk home." It was good that I had a worst-case plan. I wound up walking the bike the remaining 4 or 5 miles back home. At least it was a nice afternoon with a few sun breaks. I saw four ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS (two along Airlie Rd. before the flat tire) plus the usual Northern Harriers and Red- tailed Hawks, about 20 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, and gazillions of AMERICAN ROBINS which really seem to be massing in this area now. I was watching and listening for Horned Larks but didn't detect any. Close to home at Toketie Marsh (Coffin Butte landfill's remedial wetlands, s.i.c.), there were four CINNAMON TEAL (3 drakes and a hen) and a first-winter GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL which seemed to have an injured wing. It looks like BEAVERS (yes, not the nutria which are always there) have made it across the highway from E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area and are starting to work on some of the poplars around the landfill. Now, having enjoyed considerably more of the afternoon than I'd planned on, I guess I'd better get to work. Happy birding, Joel -- Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From gneavoll at comcast.net Wed Feb 11 16:48:15 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:48:15 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed still on Willamette In-Reply-To: <2135011568.322561234399433619.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <677799551.324071234399695181.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> SLATY-BACKED GULL still on river with dozens of other gulls on eastside dock between Steel, Burnside bridges between 2:30-3 p.m. today (2/11/09). "String of pearls" (white subterminal spots on primaries) easily visible when bird stretched wings, as viewed from path along river (above dock). Path accessible from e. end of either bridge. George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090212/ffa2291b/attachment.html From bcombs232 at gmail.com Wed Feb 11 18:52:50 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:52:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Scanner for slides, photos, text (OCR) - what's best? Message-ID: <8ce3a6520902111852leca9401i51d200fef8c1a828@mail.gmail.com> I am looking for a scanner that I can use for old bird photos and slides, as well as text. Does anyone have a favorite scanner for these purposes? The Epson Perfection V500 looks promising, but I would like to hear from people with hands-on experience with this and other scanners. I would also like to hear about people's experience with OCR software. Which has provided you the highest yield with respect to accuracy? Thanks for your help. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Eugene OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090211/9b7df132/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Feb 11 20:14:50 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:14:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Cent Oregon Wednesday birders Sisters area. Message-ID: <5BE0AD6088F44D4A968807BFDFF852BB@MOM> Birders Nothing rare but fun sorting out the birds. We planned to go to Trout Creek Swamp but snow plows made a roadblock on that road. Nine of us went to Sisters area including Camp Polk, then to a feeder in Sisters, Cold Springs CG, the old Patterson Ranch with the elk, where we met up with John Gerke and wrangled a visit to their home for feeder watching. CP means Camp Polk. Canada Goose 16 - two at CP Mallard - 20- 2 at CP Bald Eagle - One at the elk ranch. What a confusing bird. Among the nine of us, we suggested 5 different possible IDs. It was apparently 2nd year Bald with a dark head and throat, white abdomen, banded tail. When it flew it helped a lot with the ID! Red-tailed Hawk - 3 - one CP Rough-legged Hawk - 5 - all in the field at the elk ranch. American Kestrel - 2 Rock Dove Mourning Dove Hairy Woodpecker - 1 - by the former Rays Groc in Sisters White-headed Woodpecker - 2 - a female Elk ranch and a male at Gerkes. We enjoyed it feeding upside down from the suet cage designed to prevent Starlings from getting the food. It also took sunflower seeds, poked them into a crevice in one of their snags and pounded on it to open the seed and ate it, went back for more. Fun to watch. Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay Pinyon Jay -about 50 coming to feeder near old Ray's Groc. Black-billed Magpie - 12 CP American Crow - Bend near Nancy P Common Raven several, 2 CP Mountain Chickadee - CP and Sisters Forest Service feeders. Red-breasted Nuthatch Pygmy Nuthatch Winter Wren - 1 at Cold Springs. Ask Kevin Smith to show you his most excellent photos of the bird on green veg on the water with crisp white snow in background. Beautiful sight. American Dipper - 1 at CP Townsend's Solitaire -CP and elsewhere American Robin -CP and elsewhere Varied Thrush - 1 at Cold Springs. European Starling Spotted Towhee 1- at Gerkes Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow - only at Gerkes Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird House Finch Red Crossbill - 12 Cold Springs Pine Siskin - 5 at Gerkes House Sparrow Total species 35 Check ECBC website for more info on schedules. www.ecbcbirds.org Good birding, Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com From mariam at easystreet.net Wed Feb 11 21:03:44 2009 From: mariam at easystreet.net (Maria Michalczyk) Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:03:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Owls in South Salem Last Night In-Reply-To: Message-ID: > thanks Ted. Maria > > www.owling.com has recordings of all of the north > american owls that you can listen to by clicking on each species and then > clicking on the sonogram graphs found toward the bottom of the species page. > > Ted------------La Grande > > > > Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:55:47 -0800 > From: mariam at easystreet.net > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Owls in South Salem Last Night > > I tried to post this last night...sorry for jumping on your email but it is > relevant. >> >> This evening we were courted by at least two owls. Unfortunately I do not > know these birds sounds at all. We have tall fir trees and I could swear at > least one was in a tree above my head. What was even eerie was the full > moon was out and the bantering of owl choir lasting at least 2-3 hours. My > husband said he heard them a couple of nights ago. > > So do owl migrate? I am thinking it is bird courting time? I saw red > tail > hawks circling around our house two weekends ago. Is there some special > hooting that you all might be able to share so that I could get an idea who > these owls are. > > Lance L'Chien (Barkstrong) > Inu Shu Cow (Snowball dog) > > > > See how Windows connects the people, information, and fun that are part of > your life. See Now > Lance L'Chien (Barkstrong) Inu Shu Cow (Snowball dog) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090211/284a1288/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Wed Feb 11 21:30:32 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 05:30:32 +0000 Subject: [obol] Updated PHOTOS: Northern Hawk Owl, Northern Sawwhet and WW Xbills..... Message-ID: Hi Obolers! Bill Bradford (Portland, Oregon) and I had a marvelous trip visiting Northcentral WA (Okanogan, Douglas, and Yakima County) for wintering owls and finches. Bill got to see 12 'lifers' on this trip. It was thrilling to see Bill's reactions as we extremely fortunate to have great looks of almost all of our target species. We did extremely well seeing 8 species of owls, encountering good diversity of raptors, and enjoying several flocks of white winged crossbills. Despite dipping on the Yellow billed Loon, Gyrfalcon, and Great Gray it was a fun, rewarding trip. ************Here is our list of species found********************* NORTHERN HAWK OWL: The magnificient owl was actively hunting from perch to perch in a kestrel-like manner. The bird was seen throughout this weekend on B NE and 15th. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL: Found and heard 3 birds. One at Bridgeport State Park, one on Central Ferry Rd, and a calling bird at Conconully State Park. NORTHERN PYGMY OWL: (A total of 9 birds) Birds were scattered in the Okanogan Highlands on Davies, Chesaw, Molson, Bolster, and Mary Ann Creek Rd. One bird on Hwy 97 near Crumbacher Rd and one tooting near Conconully State Park. WESTERN SCREECH OWL; The bird at Sherman Park in Yakima, WA still persists in the cottonwood cavity. Thanks to Richard Rapp for helping us located the cryptic 'Houdini'. LONG EARED OWL: We had several looks of a flighty bird near the Moxee Agricultural Station near Yakima, WA. Another probable bird flushed near Konnowac Pass Rd. SHORT EARED OWL: One bird hunting on Conconully Rd near Happy Hill Rd. BARRED OWL; One bird in the Havillah Sno-Park before dusk. GREAT HORNED OWL; (10 birds total). Seven birds on Havillah and Nealey Rd in Okanogan Highlands. Two birds on Happy Hill Rd and one bird on Central Ferry Rd. NORTHERN GOSHAWK; One flighty adult in the Moxee Agricultural Station. PRAIRIE FALCON: 5 birds near Hwy 24 on Des Marnier and Konnowac Pass Rd near Moxee. MERLIN: 4 birds in the Moxee area along Hwy 24. I can see why Marv Breece has an affinity for them. GOLDEN EAGLE: (4 birds total) One in the Havillah Rd, Hwy 97 near Toppenish, and one on Dyer Hill Rd where we had cripping looks of one bird 6 feet from the car. ROUGH LEGGED HAWK; About 8 birds total on trip. SHARP TAILED GROUSE: (27 birds in two locations)20 birds near Happy Hill Rd and 7 birds flushed near dusk on Byers Rd near Chesaw in the Okanogan Highlands. RUFFED GROUSE; (7 birds total) Birds feeding in quaking aspens on Davies, Molson, Mary Ann Creek, and Nine mile Rd. GRAY PATRIDGE: 3 flocks talling 21 birds total. A small flock found at night on Division Rd near Bridgeport, several on Cameron Lake Rd and one flock on Davies Rd near Chesaw. NORTHERN SHRIKE: (15 birds total). Birds found in Chesaw, Bridgeport, Mansfield, Moxee, and Toppenish areas. We had one obliging bird burst into full song on Pumphouse Rd near the Toppenish NWR!! TOWNSEND SOLITAIRE: 5 birds on Salmon Creek Rd near Conconully. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS; Only one small flock of 40 birds near Chesaw, WA. SNOW BUNTINGS: A small flock of 20 birds near Mansfield on Hwy 174 mixed with Horned Larks. GRAY CROWNED ROSYFINCHES; A flock of 60 birds on Nealey Rd and 3 birds on Davies Rd in the Okanogan Highlands. Flocks consist of both interior and coastal forms. Birds are starting to molt into their breeding plumage. AMERICAN TREE SPARROW. A group of 4 birds on Happy Hill Rd near Conconully. PINE GROSBEAKS: (28 birds total in 3 different flocks). A flock of 20 on Toroda Creek Rd and 5 birds on Bolster Rd in the Okanogan Highlands;3 birds on Salmon Creek Rd near Conconully. Numbers have dropped a bit since January. EVENING GROSBEAKS; A small flock of 10 birds in Conconully. Haven't seen very many birds this past winter. They seem tougher to find that I expect. RED CROSSBILLS: A dozen birds near the ponderosa pines on Central Ferry Rd. WHITE WINGED CROSSBILLS; (33 birds total) with 10 birds on First and Walnut in Mansfield. 10 birds on Happy Hill Rd, 3 birds on Salmon Creek Rd, and 10 birds in the town of Conconully. We had cripping looks of these exquisite crossbills in Conconully where they were perched 15 feet above our heads. The black chevrons on the undertail coverts are really neat and are not depicted very well in several field guides. You can never see too many of these birds!! I didn't have alot of time to snap photos but here is the link to my updated photos. http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/okanogan_winter_&page=all Hope you enjoy and good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From range.bayer at gmail.com Wed Feb 11 21:30:51 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:30:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yaquina Bay Brant Getting Restless or Migrating? [Another Alternative] Message-ID: Hi, Brant at Yaquina Bay winter east of the Yaquina Bay Bridge at embayments. In 2008, they were first recorded west of the Bridge at a rock shelf on the north side of the channel on March 4, although they may have been present earlier and not observed. This year, Wayne Hoffman writes: "Eelgrass is the preferred winter food of Brant, but they also eat the green alga Ulva or 'sea lettuce.' They have been going to the rock ledge west of the bridge and feeding, apparently on Ulva, for decades. I know I saw them in that area in the 1960s. I think the seasonality has more to do with seasonal growth of the Ulva than with the birds' restlessness. This year I saw them in that area on 31 January, which is earlier than usual, but I suspect all that sun we had in January spurred algal growth." Wayne's point is well taken. It seems reasonable that Brant would prefer fresh Ulva growth over old eelgrass plants. Unfortunately, I do not know of anyone monitoring Ulva growth at the rock ledge to see if there was a spurt of growth this January. In skimming through and comparing solar radiation (scroll down http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/weather/summaries/index.html) and water temperature data (see bottom of http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/data_menu.shtml?stn=9435380%20South%20Beach,%20OR&type=Meteorological+Observations) at the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center at Yaquina Bay between January 2008 and January 2009, it appears that solar radiation was greater and water temperatures warmer at times this year. Perhaps these led to increased Ulva growth, but a more comprehensive analysis that also considers growth factors in Ulva is needed. Range Bayer for Yaquina Birders & Naturalists. On Tue, Feb 10, 2009 at 4:42 PM, Range Bayer wrote: > Hi, > > Brant regularly overwinter at Yaquina Bay, but they do so only > east of the Yaquina Bay Bridge at the embayments where there are large > quantities of native eelgrass (Zostera marina). > > A sign of Spring restlessness or possible migration is when they > show up west of the Yaquina Bay Bridge, usually at the rock shelf at > the northwest side of the Bridge. Last year, they were first recorded > there on March 4, though they may have been there earlier. > > This year, Janet Lamberson first saw Brant on the rock shelf at the > northwest side of the Yaquina Bay Bridge at lunchtime of Feb. 3. They > were too distant from her location to count. > > During the early evening of Feb. 4, Laimons Osis estimated at least > 164 Brant west of the Bridge. Matt Hunter independently also saw > Brant west of the Bridge on Feb. 4. > > The afternoon of Feb. 6, I had counts of 185 and of 191 Brant at > Yaquina Bay embayments, but it was frustrating to count them because > Bald Eagles kept flushing them. First a subadult eagle disturbed them > from Idaho Flats, then an adult flushed them after they landed at > Sally's Bend. I then went west of the Bridge and found no Brant > there. > > So it is not clear if Brant at Yaquina Bay were just restless and > flying around to locations where they have not been earlier in the > winter, or if spring migration may have started. Perhaps eagle > disturbance is causing them to move around more. In any case, they > are not west of the Bridge all the time yet. > > This is the latest posting for Brant in Lincoln County to the > International Brant Monitoring Project. See their Observation Log > link at http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/ for other Brant observations > along the West Coast. > > Cheers, > > Range Bayer for Yaquina Birders & Naturalists From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Feb 11 23:28:43 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:28:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 2-12-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Portland * Oregon * February 12, 2009 * ORPO0902.12 - birds mentioned Snow Goose Emperor Goose Cinnamon Teal TUFTED DUCK Turkey Vulture Prairie Falcon Sandhill Crane Willet Lesser Yellowlegs Red Knot SLATY-BACKED GULL Snowy Owl Pine Grosbeak - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday February 12. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls 503-233-3976. The SLATY-BACKED GULL is still being seen along the Portland waterfront. It is now seen more often on the east side of the river near the Burnside Bridge. The TUFTED DUCK continues to be seen along the Columbia River north of Clatskanie. On February 5 a PINE GROSBEAK was on Marys Peak. Several were recently reported on Saddle Mountain east of Seaside. On February 6 five WILLETS and a RED KNOT were at Coos Bay. The EMPEROR GOOSE continues at Bandon. Good numbers of SANDHILL CRANES and SNOW GEESE are still being seen on Sauvie Island. A PRAIRIE FALCON was on the Island February 7. A TURKEY VULTURE was over Sauvie Island February 11. Four CINNAMON TEAL were at the EE Wilson SWA February 11. A LESSER YELLOWLEGS was in Eugene February 5. On February 5 a SNOWY OWL was seen along Ione-Boardman Road northeast of Ione. It has remained. The Northeast Oregon specialties are still being seen in the Wallowa Valley. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090211/0aa51241/attachment.html From campbell at peak.org Thu Feb 12 07:49:31 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 07:49:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pyrrhuloxia Information Update, Feb. 12, 7:43 am Message-ID: <06B6263DAC464ED0B9F9CB48C82B73CB@maryPC> After an absence of more than two weeks, the Pyrrhuloxia appeared behind our house this morning. Randy Campbell Peoria -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090212/bd51bb73/attachment.html From ellencantor at gmail.com Thu Feb 12 08:29:05 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:29:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] spring sing Message-ID: <7058c4c60902120829y13409fcfl5601abc90457e81@mail.gmail.com> Blue sky, sun, and a heartily singing SONG SPARROW greeted my bike ride along Amazon Creek on the Eugene Fern Ridge bike path. He had claimed the tallest twig of a willow shrub by the creek. Bright plumage, clear song, and way more indicative than a groundhog! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090212/6dcc2458/attachment.html From Bobolink06 at comcast.net Thu Feb 12 10:53:06 2009 From: Bobolink06 at comcast.net (Bobolink06 at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:53:06 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Mandarin Duck , Eugene In-Reply-To: <2058987299.3372751234464779249.JavaMail.root@sz0011a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1847006610.3372771234464786467.JavaMail.root@sz0011a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Obolistas:? Jack Anderson and I refound the Mandarin Duck previously reported. It was swimming in the canal between Alder and Hilyard just north of 11th. We saw the duck at both bridges which cross the canal.This is a spectacular bird and worth viewing , even if is not countable. Bird on, Bob Bender -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090212/35ac241f/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Thu Feb 12 10:53:47 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:53:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 02/11/09 Message-ID: <20090212185352.3FB1BA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 02/05 to 02/11/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 7 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Band-tailed Pigeon 4 (3, 2/6) Mourning Dove 5 (7) Anna's Hummingbird 5 (3) Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 (1, 2/6 & 9) Downy Woodpecker 4 (2) Hairy Woodpecker 3 (1) Northern Flicker 5 (2) Steller's Jay 7 (6) Western Scrub-Jay 6 (1) American Crow 7 (4) Black-capped Chickadee 7 (15) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4 (4) Bushtit 2 (10, 2/7) Red-breasted Nuthatch 7 (4) Brown Creeper 3 (1) Bewick's Wren 1 (1, 2/11) Winter Wren 2 (2, 2/7 & 9) Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 (2, 2/7) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 (1, 2/7) American Robin 7 (20) Varied Thrush 4 (4, 2/6) European Starling 4 (1) Spotted Towhee 7 (7) FOX SPARROW 1 (1, 2/8) Song Sparrow 7 (12, 2/11) Dark-eyed Junco 7 (25) House Finch 7 (20) Pine Siskin 3 (15, 2/7) Wink Gross Portland From marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Thu Feb 12 12:00:23 2009 From: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com (marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com) Date: 12 Feb 2009 12:00:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 11, Issue 12 Out of Office Message-ID: <20090212200023.15289.qmail@mail01.lax1.becotech.net> Thank you for contacting XP Software! I will be out of the office Thursday, February 12th and returning Tuesday, February 16th. If you require immediate assistance, please call 1-888-554-5022 and ask for anyone in the sales department. Our account managers will be happy to assist you with anything you require. Alternatively, you may forward your email inquiry to nicole.highhouse at xpsoftware.com for assistance by email. Thank you! Respectfully, Marina Bouchot Senior Account Executive Phone: 888-554-5022 x8973 Fax: 888-554-5122 Email: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Web: http://www.xpsoftware.com MODEL WITH CONFIDENCE From gneavoll at comcast.net Thu Feb 12 15:05:51 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:05:51 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Birds of Ridgefield NWR In-Reply-To: <1575820447.672351234475418745.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <135401855.708341234479951824.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Flotilla of 155 RUDDY DUCKS strung across Ridgefield's Rest Lake this a.m. Four TRUMPETER SWANS counted among scattered numbers of Tundras. Magnificent HARLAN'S HAWK with suggestion of white streaking on upper breast, whitish tail with dark terminal band (seen well later in flight), on roadside signpost between Markers 13 and 14. Lingering chocolate-breasted DUSKY CANADA GOOSE wandering along channel w. of Canvasback Lake. Back in Portland, meanwhile, flock of 14 CEDAR WAXWINGS feeding on juniper berries at n.w. corner of N. Lombard, John streets, where birds have been seen for past week. George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090212/50d67f7b/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Feb 12 14:52:53 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:52:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Cool article on songbird migration Message-ID: <4994A845.1000001@verizon.net> Check it out: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090212/ap_on_sc/sci_speedy_songbirds Cheers Dave Lauten From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Feb 12 15:22:56 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:22:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bird migration article Message-ID: <8083F877F9954DA8B0039F016C373DBB@Warbler> The web page below is on tracking migratory Wood Thrush in the east. It's likely that our western songbirds will have similar data collected. Think someone is working with west Swainson's Thrush populations oh a similar study. Dennis P.S. Like the written description of the Wood Thrush song "Ee-oh-lay." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29167346/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090212/6fb86e2b/attachment.html From dns at efn.org Thu Feb 12 15:26:40 2009 From: dns at efn.org (David Stone) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:26:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mandarin Duck , Eugene In-Reply-To: <1847006610.3372771234464786467.JavaMail.root@sz0011a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> References: <1847006610.3372771234464786467.JavaMail.root@sz0011a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: Thanks Bob. It was still there today and should be there for a while. The sorority (Phi Gamma Something?) by the canal says it has been there on and off for a while. They feed the ducks, mostly mallards, have adopted the mandarin and named it "Rambo", apparently for its aggressive nature. Poor, innocent, beautiful duck. Dave Stone On Feb 12, 2009, at 10:53 AM, Bobolink06 at comcast.net wrote: > Obolistas:? Jack Anderson and I refound the Mandarin Duck previously > reported. It was swimming in the canal between Alder and Hilyard just > north of 11th. We saw the duck at both bridges which cross the > canal.This is a spectacular bird and worth viewing , even if is not > countable. Bird on, Bob Bender > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 909 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090212/200b091e/attachment.bin From celata at pacifier.com Thu Feb 12 15:49:14 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:49:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Raptor Count: Youngs Bay - 2/12/2009 Message-ID: <4994B57A.7030805@pacifier.com> Date: February 12, 2009 Location: Clatsop County, Oregon Youngs Bay Route - 2hrs; 63mi Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Bald Eagle 6 Northern Harrier 1 Red-tailed Hawk 9 American Kestrel 4 Total number of species seen: 4 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Variations on a theme http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html From Jesse_DElia at fws.gov Thu Feb 12 16:02:01 2009 From: Jesse_DElia at fws.gov (Jesse_DElia at fws.gov) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:02:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Jesse DElia/RO/R1/FWS/DOI is out of the office. Message-ID: I will be out of the office starting 02/09/2009 and will not return until 02/17/2009. I will respond to your message when I return. From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Thu Feb 12 16:41:47 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:41:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Madras Raptor Route Message-ID: <4994C1CB.3030105@gmail.com> Here is the February Madras Raptor Route results. Please note that we have changed the route slightly by substituting IVY Ln for Hickory Ln just after Boise. This gives us a paved road with continuous power poles rather than gravel and non-continuous power poles. Also, they have placed a street sign designating the last street of the route as Cherry Ln. Again NO Owls this trip, BUT the Red-tail pair at 3286 Hickory Ln have completed building the nest they started in mid-January but have not started sitting yet. There are mated pairs on Hickory in two places, Deschutes, and at 6921Columbia. A number of Kestrels seemed to be paired up also. 35 Red-tailed Hawks 17 American Kestrels 4 Northern Harriers 3 Golden Eagles (two juvies, one adult) 3 Rough-legged Hawks Kevin & Kei Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090212/ae444c90/attachment.vcf From greg at thebirdguide.com Thu Feb 12 17:23:20 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:23:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Common Teal, Tigard, Oregon Message-ID: Greg Baker documented a Common Teal with a photo "at Cooks Park, east end of East Parking Lot, at the Kristine Ann Tupling Pond (2/12/09)." In Europe this form is recognized as a separate species from the American Green-winged Teal, but only a subspecies following the AOU check-list for North America. This could change in the future. For ID pointers (especially help with hybrids) see: http://thebirdguide.com/identification/Eurasian_Teal/teal_hybrid.htm Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From pukeko at mcsi.net Thu Feb 12 18:49:16 2009 From: pukeko at mcsi.net (Ron Maertz) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:49:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] SLATY YES Message-ID: Howdy The dirty headed bread scooper was seen from 1315 to 1345 at the construction site by Burnside bridge. We had walked around for 2 hours scruntinizing every dark backed western type gull. I wasn't sure I would be able to ID it until it showed up and it stuck out like a sore thumb. We had just refed the parking fee monster for another couple hours and decided to bring out the bread. Once my wife got the bag out it came in like a heat seeking missile. The other gulls definitely didn't enjoy its company and pecked at it and chased it. It was a good day for a lifer for both of us. The travel weather was perfect. Even the drug deals going down didn't put a damper on things. In general the degenerates were pretty passive. It was worth the trip. Maertz Glide -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090212/20e2d0b0/attachment.html From drheath82 at verizon.net Thu Feb 12 20:01:24 2009 From: drheath82 at verizon.net (Mr David Heath) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:01:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Common Teal, Tigard, Oregon In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <003401c98d8f$bf6e33c0$3e4a9b40$@net> The revised "Clements" list, now maintained by Cornell Lab, re-lumps them. David -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Greg Gillson Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 5:23 PM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Common Teal, Tigard, Oregon Greg Baker documented a Common Teal with a photo "at Cooks Park, east end of East Parking Lot, at the Kristine Ann Tupling Pond (2/12/09)." In Europe this form is recognized as a separate species from the American Green-winged Teal, but only a subspecies following the AOU check-list for North America. This could change in the future. For ID pointers (especially help with hybrids) see: http://thebirdguide.com/identification/Eurasian_Teal/teal_hybrid.htm Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From brrobb at comcast.net Thu Feb 12 20:18:00 2009 From: brrobb at comcast.net (Roger & Betty Robb) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:18:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull Message-ID: <45551483B16F46CD9992CF3B348D6621@RROffice> The SLATY-BACKED GULL was found today a little after 3:00 on the river just west of the construction site by Dennis Arendt, Kit Larsen, George Grier, Rich & Nanette Armstrong and me. The gull appeared out of nowhere as we tossed bread into the river. Interestingly, we birded the grass by the construction site & vicinity from 1:30-3:00 and missed the bird though Ron Maertz found it. Be patient! Roger Robb Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090212/5c59f8b0/attachment.html From gorgebirds at juno.com Thu Feb 12 22:11:51 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:11:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Clark County Ross' Goose Message-ID: <20090212.221151.5088.4.gorgebirds@juno.com> On Thursday, 2/12, Susan and I found a ROSS' GOOSE in the Vancouver Lake Lowlands. The bird was in a flock of about 3,000 mixed "white-checked" geese across from the collection of houseboats at Kadow's Marina on Lower River Rd. There are tens of thousands of geese in the lowlands now, the majority are CACKLING GEESE of several subspecies along with CANADA GEESE including dozens of DUSKY CANADA GEESE. We saw about 30 GREAT EGRETS in the fields at the Shillapoo Lake WDF&W area north of Vancouver Lake Park. One of the egrets was perched in the trees at the heronery there. Wilson Cady Skamania County, WA ____________________________________________________________ Click for free info on marketing degrees and make up to $150K/ year http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/PnY6rw1UR1goMstQ75xycqOgNuO6hUVc7qmD0OV5vZPT4OrxCFxyx/ From louisfredd at msn.com Thu Feb 12 23:54:22 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:54:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS (Oregon City) Message-ID: Two BCHU (M,F) observed yesterday afternoon (11 Feb 09, 1630h), at the deck feeder outside our kitchen, also perched on branches of old lilac within a few feet of feeder, at distances from me of 10-15 ft. This feeder guarded by a F Anna's, one other F Anna's guards another feeder on opposite side of house, both F's easy to tell apart. One M Anna's constant through winter until late January, departed abruptly. M's visit infrequently now.I did not see the BCHU today. I noticed the M BCHU at the feeder while in the kitchen. I went to the door for closer look, no binoculars. Sideview in dull light, sides all green, gorget black without iridescence and without "handlebar moustache" extension to side of throat for M Anna's. I noticed at once bill seemed too slender, too curved for Anna's. It flew to a lilac branch and perched in a patch of bright sunlight, face toward me, observed 10 sec or so. Gorget filled throat, well shaped for BCHU, all flat black, never showed a trace of iridescence despite head movements in bright light. Forehead also dark, also without iridescence. I went to another room for binoculars to see more detail, when I returned it was gone. I went out to to look for it. Quickly found the F Anna's, high up in the crown of a tree overlooking the feeder. No sign of BCHU. I worked around to sunny west side of house, found myself between two hummingbirds foraging in separate flowering shrubs. One promptly flew right past me. Fortunately I had my hearing aids on and I could hear its wings "rattle" as it flew by. Sound very different from that of Anna's wing-noise I hear daily. I lost both birds. Supper chores couldn't wait, so I went back inside. I cheated on chores a little to look out the door one more time. Surprised to see the F BCHU, perched in lilac, sunlit, about where the M had been, faced away from me. Body form slender, wings reached tip of tail. Its back remarkably emerald green, glass-like. Very beautiful in sunlight. Side of neck light gray, some minor stipling at base of throat. Small white teardrop just behind eye, no other mark on head. Bill long, slender, somewhat downcurved. Overall appearance of head and bill very similar to other F BCHU I have seen. It thrust its tongue out a couple of times, lifted wing horizontally to preen side. With binoculars, lifted wing rather even in width, bowed, blunt at end. Wing shape as shown for BCHU in Smithsonian field guide. Wing shape an excellent character for distinguishing F BCHU from Anna's or Costa's. Attractors yesterday afternoon were yellow flowering witch-hazel, pink flowering Viburnum bodnantense, 5:1 water:sugar nectar, and presence of other hummingbirds. I suspect hummingbirds were foraging in the shrubs for pollinating insects not nectar. I have seen BCHU here on four occasions going back 5 years. Prior instances mid-May through early July, one to multiple dates per instance, 1-2 birds per instance. Last year I reported a F in mid-May to OBOL. I also saw 2 (F, Immature) in early July, not reported to OBOL. All previous F or I. Other instances were within a period of the year in which BCHU are expected in Oregon. Birds of Oregon: a General Reference gives earliest reported arrivals in Oregon in late March, all those west of the Cascades, widespread from coast to interior valleys as far north as Eugene. This observation is remarkably early compared with those and somewhat more northerly. BO:GR notes BCHU has become a regular spring migrant in Oregon only since the 1980's or so, suggests urban growth may be responsible through cultivation of exotic flowering plants and use of feeders. Warming temperatures late winter and early spring must also be influential. All of those factors on the increase. This observation may reflect a continuation of the species' recent range extension in Oregon. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_explore_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090212/7ba00681/attachment.html From madsteins at hotmail.com Fri Feb 13 01:40:27 2009 From: madsteins at hotmail.com (Don Stein) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 04:40:27 -0500 Subject: [obol] Little Blue Heron Message-ID: Thursday 2/12, 10:30 AM The LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen in its recent Siletz Bay locale, by Hwy 101, just south of Drift Creek. It was feeding within 10-15 feet of a GREAT BLUE HERON and a GREAT EGRET. Three pairs of NORTHERN PINTAILS were at Siletz Keys. Don Stein _________________________________________________________________ Stay up to date on your PC, the Web, and your mobile phone with Windows Live. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093185mrt/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090213/3ba17c16/attachment.html From peterpatricelli at comcast.net Fri Feb 13 07:23:57 2009 From: peterpatricelli at comcast.net (peterpatricelli) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:23:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Barbara Combs - scanner Message-ID: <303426AED54B4AA78C899416CC38B968@PeterGateway> Barbara, I have a Minolta Dimage 5400 elite that is a spare. I would sell for a very good price. If interested, email (peterpatricelli at comcast,net) me. Peter Patricelli www.flyfishingfotography.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090213/cd223d91/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Fri Feb 13 08:37:24 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:37:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Common Teal, Tigard, Oregon Message-ID: <20090213093723.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.7c65a59050.wbe@email.secureserver.net> The Common Teal was still at the pond east of the east parking lot in Cook Park in Tigard at 8:00 AM this morning (2/13). It was feeding on the east side of the pond with a group of approximately 20 American Green-winged Teal. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] Common Teal, Tigard, Oregon > From: "Greg Gillson" > Date: Thu, February 12, 2009 5:23 pm > To: "OBOL" > > > Greg Baker documented a Common Teal with a photo "at Cooks Park, east end of > East Parking Lot, at the Kristine Ann Tupling Pond (2/12/09)." > > > > In Europe this form is recognized as a separate species from the American > Green-winged Teal, but only a subspecies following the AOU check-list for > North America. This could change in the future. > > For ID pointers (especially help with hybrids) see: > http://thebirdguide.com/identification/Eurasian_Teal/teal_hybrid.htm > > Greg Gillson > The Bird Guide, Inc. > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From ginnyknepper at hotmail.com Fri Feb 13 09:16:51 2009 From: ginnyknepper at hotmail.com (Ginny Knepper) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:16:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Belize birding Message-ID: I am planning a trip to Belize for around March 2010. Having never been there before I would appreciate any info, advice, thoughts, ideas of where to go. Even considering hooking up with a tour group for part of the trip but have no idea who is reputable. Any books that would be good resources would also be appreciated. You can respond to me at: ginnyknepper at hotmail.com Thank you, Ginny Knepper _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_howitworks_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090213/dcbf8f7b/attachment.html From marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Fri Feb 13 12:00:28 2009 From: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com (marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com) Date: 13 Feb 2009 12:00:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 11, Issue 13 Out of Office Message-ID: <20090213200028.6077.qmail@mail01.lax1.becotech.net> Thank you for contacting XP Software! I will be out of the office Thursday, February 12th and returning Tuesday, February 16th. If you require immediate assistance, please call 1-888-554-5022 and ask for anyone in the sales department. Our account managers will be happy to assist you with anything you require. Alternatively, you may forward your email inquiry to nicole.highhouse at xpsoftware.com for assistance by email. Thank you! Respectfully, Marina Bouchot Senior Account Executive Phone: 888-554-5022 x8973 Fax: 888-554-5122 Email: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Web: http://www.xpsoftware.com MODEL WITH CONFIDENCE From slcarpenter at gmail.com Fri Feb 13 14:12:26 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:12:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tualatin River NWR: Slate-colored Junco, W Bluebirds Message-ID: Around 12:45 p.m. on Friday, 13 February 2009, I encountered a single SLATE-COLORED JUNCO in a flock of Oregon Juncos at the entrance to Tualatin River NWR in Sherwood, Washington County. At first, I saw it on the west side of the refuge entrance road at the entrance gate, and then it flew to the oak northwest of the entrance gate. This is at the main entrance off of Hwy 99-W. Also in this oak savannah area was a flock of 8+ WESTERN BLUEBIRDS. According to the volunteers at the visitor center, the bluebirds have been there for at least a month. Scott Carpenter SW Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090213/b5a2efc3/attachment.html From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Fri Feb 13 15:06:23 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:06:23 -0500 Subject: [obol] Townsend's Message-ID: Finally -- a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, a bright male in the yard. It's the first I've seen this winter. Gorgeous little guy. Lona Pierce, Warren, in Columbia County _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_howitworks_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090213/675e37a5/attachment.html From kiss at cot.net Fri Feb 13 15:55:28 2009 From: kiss at cot.net (Charlotte Ann Kisling) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:55:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Wigeon count Message-ID: <49960870.9070501@cot.net> A couple of days ago, Dave Menke, the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Outdoor Recreation Manager counted a total of 41 male Eurasian Wigeon on Lower Klamath. The true figure is undoubtedly much higher than that. Dave would like to have a group of two person counting teams cover as much of Lower Klamath as we can. The count would take place on Friday, February 20 and probably last no more than four hours. If you would like to take part in this count, please contact Dave at the refuge either by phone by calling (530) 667-2231 or by e-mailing him at dave_menke at fws.gov. Note the underscore after his first name. This sounds like it will be a lot of fun as well as educational. Charlotte Ann Kisling From celata at pacifier.com Fri Feb 13 16:07:32 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:07:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Raptor Count: Columbia River - 2/13/2009 Message-ID: <49960B44.3000801@pacifier.com> Date: February 13, 2009 Location: Clatsop County, Oregon Columbia River Route - 3.5hrs; 65mi Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Bald Eagle 25 Northern Harrier 9 Red-tailed Hawk 14 American Kestrel 2 Peregrine Falcon 1 Total number of species seen: 5 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Variations on a theme http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Fri Feb 13 16:52:29 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:52:29 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Great Backyard Bird Count story Message-ID: <881594.19289.qm@web46013.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> KATU (channel 2) is doing a segment on the GBBC tonight during their 6pm broadcast. Just a heads up. Good birding to all! Seth Reams and Michelle King NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com 1/4 acre, suburban, 61 feeders From celata at pacifier.com Fri Feb 13 17:09:35 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:09:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Great Backyard Bird Count Message-ID: <499619CF.9080100@pacifier.com> I will be doing a bird walk at 09:00 tomorrow at Fort Clatsop, followed by a presentation entitled _Winter Birds of Clatsop County_ as part of the National Park's weekend long participation effort for the GBBC. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Variations on a theme http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html From kosciuch at gmail.com Fri Feb 13 17:24:47 2009 From: kosciuch at gmail.com (Karl Kosciuch) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:24:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] any Rock Sandpiper along the coast? Message-ID: Greetings all, I'm on the coast this weekend and have yet to see a Rock Sandpiper in OR and was wondering if anyone had a reliable or regular spot for ths species. Much appreciated, Karl Kosciuch -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090213/57e6c906/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Fri Feb 13 17:32:29 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:32:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Townsend's Message-ID: <81b2a9930902131732na1d10asa73d0994ad4f0857@mail.gmail.com> I didn't get my first TOWNSEND'S of the winter until early January, and it wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that I've had a semi-regular at the suet feeders. And outside of only occasionally seeing (and mostly hearing) VARIED THRUSHES up in the trees, my first recorded yard visitor wasn't until yesterday morning. RC KINGLETS have also been unusually sparse. It's been a pretty weak season for winter migrants in my immediate area. Interestingly, I've been hosting at least 8 different MALLARDS for the past few weeks. Good thing that cracked corn is relatively cheap. Brandon Eugene ----- Subject: Townsend's From: Bobbett Pierce Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:06:23 -0500 Finally -- a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, a bright male in the yard. It's the first I've seen this winter. Gorgeous little guy. Lona Pierce, Warren, in Columbia County From nancymacdo at gmail.com Fri Feb 13 17:37:06 2009 From: nancymacdo at gmail.com (Nancy MacDonald) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:37:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Morrow County Snowy Owl References: <0515A111-3D28-4B3B-8A01-78599BD4F225@gmail.com> Message-ID: > From: Nancy MacDonald > Date: February 13, 2009 5:25:08 PM PST > To: Obol > Cc: cobol > Subject: RE: Morrow County Snowy Owl > > > Hello birders, > > The Snowy Owl was there today (2-13) exactly where Ted said it would > be. Thanks to him for the excellent directions. We found it at about > 1:00 in 35 degree overcast weather. Although it was somewhat > hunkered down, it was facing us directly and we got great looks at > it. We were able to leave the car and stand on the bank to view it. > I would recommend treating it as Ted described, however, and > consider it wary. We had lunch at the Ione Pub and Grill. We would > recommend it for friendly people and good food. > > Nancy MacDonald > Prineville > > > > Below is Ted's report again: > > Begin forwarded message: > >> From: ted schroeder >> Date: February 6, 2009 7:53:08 PM PST >> To: OBOL bird list >> Subject: [obol] Morrow County Snowy Owl >> >> The Snowy Owl seen yesterday by Eric Henze and reported by Margaret >> LaFaive to OBOL was present again today in the same location (At an >> old homestead on the east side of the Ione-Boardman Rd, .3 miles SW >> of it's junction with the west end of Strawberry Lane) near Ione. >> As Eric had seen, the owl favors perching on a concrete foundation >> surrounded by junk. >> >> The owl seems quite wary. Initially, we found it on the foundation >> 75 yards off of the road. We watched it from the vehicle for 15 >> minutes. Then, our gently attempting to pull off of the pavement >> caused it to fly to a post 400-500 yards to the south, so we went >> to lunch. Upon returning from lunch in Ione 2 hours later, the owl >> had returned to the foundation. We watched it from the road for 15 >> minutes and then headed for home. >> >> It seems unlikely that this bird would tolerate being approached >> close enough to obtain good photos unless you are set up with a >> first rate, high power digi-scope setup. Even then, all of the >> trash is hardly an optimal setting. >> >> The owl is fairly heavily spotted, so may be a first year bird or a >> female. >> >> For those of you not familiar with the terrain in that area, it is >> primarily rolling, cultivated fields with sparse vegetation >> elsewhere, except in some of the drainages. We saw quite a few >> widely scattered Horned Larks, one Prairie Falcon and one Rough- >> legged Hawk in the nearby area. >> >> Thanks to Eric and Margaret for reporting the Snowy Owl. They are >> always such a treat to see. >> >> Ted Schroeder----------La Grande >> > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090213/aad28ab5/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Fri Feb 13 18:09:46 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 02:09:46 +0000 Subject: [obol] Thayer's Gulls Today Message-ID: <021420090209.11581.499627EA000188FC00002D3D22007510909B9F0E0A04970B020E9C@comcast.net> Hi All, This morning there were gulls in the parking lot so I fed them before going in to the office. There were a dozen or so adult Glaucous-Winged gulls, two adult Thayer's Gulls, and some juvenile birds. I had my handy-dandy "Birds of the Willamette Valley Region" with me so I could check field marks. These birds are or were in Gresham this morning. The first thing I noticed with all the gulls that came is none had yellow legs or yellow-green legs like the last bunch I fed. Everyone had pink legs. Then I noticed how big the gulls closest to me were, they had some brown streaking on the head and back of neck, eyes not too bright a color, beaks were yellow with a good-sized red spot, mantel and wings same color of pearl gray. Birds in flight had a white edge to their wings and bright white tails. Those had to be Glaucous-Winged gulls. Then a couple smaller gulls joined the flock. They stayed behind the larger gulls, they had rounded heads, dark eyes, yellow bills with some red and no black. The mantel was gray, the wings were black. The legs were two, maybe three times darker than the legs of the Glaucous-Winged gulls. The heads were rounded and the bill small compared to the Glaucous-Winged gulls. The smaller gulls had brown streaking on the their heads and back of necks and also a line of soft brown that came f rom th e nape/neck that softly defined the lower edge of the throat, sort of like a chin strap. Those had to be Thayer's. No ugly gulls. Only lovely gulls. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland From srnord101 at verizon.net Fri Feb 13 18:27:36 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:27:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull today Message-ID: <000001c98e4b$cd3cb910$67b62b30$@net> OBOL; The SLATY-BACKED GULL continues to be seen along the Westside of the Portland waterfront. At 11:15, I saw the gull just south of the Burnside Bridge on the Westside of the river, near the construction area. I then walked south to the cove just south of the Hawthorne Bridge. This was at 12:00ish, here I found a man surround by hundreds of gulls as he tossed bread out to the crowd. The SLATY-BACKED GULL was mixed in with this assortment of gulls. I also found 2 GLAUCOUS GULLS here. I took more photos, adding a few to my webpage that show this bird in association with other species, including one photo of the SLATY-BACK standing next to an adult WESTERN and HERRING GULL showing the differences in mantle colors. Photos here: http://www.pbase.com/srn_naturalist/slatybacked_gull Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From kirkpat at charter.net Fri Feb 13 20:16:27 2009 From: kirkpat at charter.net (Douglas Kirkpatrick) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:16:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull today In-Reply-To: <000001c98e4b$cd3cb910$67b62b30$@net> Message-ID: <20B213064E304316A7E36CE672A3DDF2@D7CDFN81> Just out of curiosity, are there any birders coming in from out of OR to see this bird? Doug Kirkpatrick Medford From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Feb 13 21:15:06 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 05:15:06 +0000 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull today In-Reply-To: <20B213064E304316A7E36CE672A3DDF2@D7CDFN81> References: <000001c98e4b$cd3cb910$67b62b30$@net> <20B213064E304316A7E36CE672A3DDF2@D7CDFN81> Message-ID: Doug et al., I would be surprised if anyone traveled from farther out of state than Washington to chase this bird. Slaty-backed Gulls have been found annually along the West Coast in recent years, with more sightings in Washington and California than there have been in Oregon. About the only reason someone might come from farther afield for this bird would be if they were doing a big year in the Lower 48. Someone from the East Coast could take a shorter trip and see the Slaty-backed that is Connecticut right now. Dave Irons > From: kirkpat at charter.net > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:16:27 -0800 > Subject: Re: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull today > > > Just out of curiosity, are there any birders coming in from out of OR to see > this bird? > > > Doug Kirkpatrick > Medford > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_howitworks_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090214/b2a5e06e/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Fri Feb 13 22:12:40 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:12:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] =?utf-8?q?any_Rock_Sandpiper_along_the_coast=3F?= Message-ID: <20090213231240.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.84710de3d6.wbe@email.secureserver.net> I'll be on the coast next Friday afternoon and will have an opportunity to look for rock sandpipers. I'm also interested in hearing of any recent sightings of rock sandpipers or suggestions of reliable locations to look for them. Thanks, and good birding! Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] any Rock Sandpiper along the coast? > From: Karl Kosciuch > Date: Fri, February 13, 2009 5:24 pm > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > Greetings all, > I'm on the coast this weekend and have yet to see a Rock Sandpiper in OR and > was wondering if anyone had a reliable or regular spot for ths species. > Much appreciated, > Karl Kosciuch
_______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sat Feb 14 06:52:09 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 06:52:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Birders from out of state - Slaty-backed Gull In-Reply-To: <20B213064E304316A7E36CE672A3DDF2@D7CDFN81> References: <000001c98e4b$cd3cb910$67b62b30$@net> <20B213064E304316A7E36CE672A3DDF2@D7CDFN81> Message-ID: <33553C91673E4B5E9DB309753F03E731@laptop> There were two birders from Idaho at the Burnside Bridge when I was there on Saturday the 7th. -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Douglas Kirkpatrick Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 8:16 PM To: 'OBOL' Subject: Re: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull today Just out of curiosity, are there any birders coming in from out of OR to see this bird? Doug Kirkpatrick Medford _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sat Feb 14 07:04:40 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 07:04:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Snowy Owl - second bird reported ? Morrow County Message-ID: <98C05F9BC5B44E14875118F7B794812E@MOM> A birder sent this to me. Sounds like the bird was seen near the county line between Gilliam and Morrow? See below. Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2009 12:59 AM Subject: RE: owl? Hi judy... We found the owl... it was not at the homestead, but about 50 feet off Strawberry Rd, maybe a 1/4 mile from the junction of Ione/Boardman and strawberry. Great looks... we watched from the car, but did not photograph... it was just sitting low in the field. Maybe just have caught a meal. but we found a second Snowy Owl, more heavily mottled... 25 miles east of Condon....driving on 206. We flushed this owl from a signpost right next to the road... too far away, and too different from coloration of ione owl... maybe this will be another good year for them in oregon... great country out there.. had lot's of AMKE, RTHA, and RLHA. > Amy > Did you find the Snowy Owl? > Judy Meredith -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090214/b44bf691/attachment.html From hkrueger at cableone.net Sat Feb 14 07:55:59 2009 From: hkrueger at cableone.net (J. Harry Krueger) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 08:55:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birders from out of state - Slaty-backed Gull In-Reply-To: <33553C91673E4B5E9DB309753F03E731@laptop> References: <000001c98e4b$cd3cb910$67b62b30$@net> <20B213064E304316A7E36CE672A3DDF2@D7CDFN81> <33553C91673E4B5E9DB309753F03E731@laptop> Message-ID: <62692df00902140755w40e8306fu601eed7e5c3e5593@mail.gmail.com> Yes... and one of them was wearing that da-- orange and blue color gear representing some foreign college football team from a place called "BSU...." (As a precaution catering to our desire for physical survival, we do change clothes before venturing into Lynn Co.) :) Seriously though, one of the things we noticed was that the gull "disappears" by itself, even though most, if not all, of the other gulls it associates with are still present until just about sundown. Both days we were there it was not to be seen after about 4:30... despite our assistance in helping the local bread producing economy. Has it been seen later? J. Harry Krueger Boise, ID On Sat, Feb 14, 2009 at 7:52 AM, Jeff Harding wrote: > There were two birders from Idaho at the Burnside Bridge when I was there > on > Saturday the 7th. > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Douglas Kirkpatrick > Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 8:16 PM > To: 'OBOL' > Subject: Re: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull today > > > Just out of curiosity, are there any birders coming in from out of OR to > see > this bird? > > > Doug Kirkpatrick > Medford > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090214/badc18bc/attachment.html From hkrueger at cableone.net Sat Feb 14 08:26:23 2009 From: hkrueger at cableone.net (J. Harry Krueger) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 09:26:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] any Rock Sandpiper along the coast? In-Reply-To: <20090213231240.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.84710de3d6.wbe@email.secureserver.net> References: <20090213231240.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.84710de3d6.wbe@email.secureserver.net> Message-ID: <62692df00902140826t6d3b1ae9ucec490602ce0884@mail.gmail.com> Rock Sandpiper was present Sunday, January 7 on the Barview jetty, as well as the expected Black Turnstone and Surfbird. J. Harry Krueger Boise On Fri, Feb 13, 2009 at 11:12 PM, Craig Tumer wrote: > I'll be on the coast next Friday afternoon and will have an opportunity > to look for rock sandpipers. I'm also interested in hearing of any > recent sightings of rock sandpipers or suggestions of reliable locations > to look for them. > > Thanks, and good birding! > Craig Tumer > SW Portland > > > -------- Original Message -------- > > Subject: [obol] any Rock Sandpiper along the coast? > > From: Karl Kosciuch > > Date: Fri, February 13, 2009 5:24 pm > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > > > > Greetings all, > > I'm on the coast this weekend and have yet to see a Rock Sandpiper in OR > and > > was wondering if anyone had a reliable or regular spot for ths species. > > Much appreciated, > > Karl Kosciuch
_______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090214/88ee7c92/attachment.html From pointers at pacifier.com Sat Feb 14 09:24:20 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 09:24:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] do Scrub Jays mimic ??? Message-ID: <20090214172417.1E693819F@smtp3.pacifier.net> hi ... I'm aware of Stellers Jays mimicing other sounds and have actually heard and watched one screeching like an eagle and chattering like a squirrel ... however I am wondering if Western Scrub Jays do this ??? ... we've been hearing a hawk screeching every morning and this morning it was coming from our backyard ... the only bird we saw was a Western Scrub Jay, however we were not able to see if it was the screecher or not ... I searched through old Tweeters and OBOL archives and nothing popped up on my search words, plus I did a google search on mimcry and Scrub Jays ... nothing I found at the obvious sources ... so, OBOL and Tweeters --- is mimcry in Scrub Jays too ??? ... is it perhaps common in ALL Jays ??? thanks, Lyn Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From steve at paradisebirding.com Sat Feb 14 11:17:43 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 11:17:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Woodpecker Wonderland Festival June 2009 Message-ID: <9a341ea30902141117j73b91f8ap83bc77348174f234@mail.gmail.com> Greetings birders, I am excited to invite you to the 2nd annual Woodpecker Wonderland Festival, June 5-7, 2009, in lovely Camp Sherman, Oregon. We will have a full weekend of field trips, presentations, meals, and more. The artwork for the event is now posted here: http://www.paradisebirding.com/sys-tmpl/woodpeckerwonderland/ and will be available on T-shirts, hats, and posters very soon. We still have a limited supply of shirts and hats from 2008; they are $20 each (including shipping), and the artwork for these is here: T-shirts in navy and tan - http://paradisebirding.com/picidae/wwfestshirt08.gif Hats in tan - http://paradisebirding.com/picidae/wwfesthat08.gif Registration for the 2009 festival will begin March 1, so mark your calendars and stay tuned at www.woodpeckerwonderland.com for all the updates. *See you in Camp Sherman this summer!* Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090214/ad27aa2d/attachment.html From rfergus at audubon.org Sat Feb 14 11:20:59 2009 From: rfergus at audubon.org (FERGUS, Rob) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 14:20:59 -0500 Subject: [obol] OR GBBC Update--Day 2 Message-ID: <69DABA3177B73144996A79E932FE6A770760BC680C@flamingo.int.audubon.org> So far, Oregon birders have reported 123 species on the Great Backyard Bird Count...still a ways to go to reach the 211 species reported last year. Remember you can report from a single location on each of the four days of the count (Friday-Monday) and we welcome checklists from as many places as you bird. So this weekend feel free to report every last crow you see...even the birds you see driving madly to the store to pick up that last minute valentine's day gift... Have fun out there, find some great birds, and report them to www.birdcount.org. Rob Fergus Senior Scientist, Urban Bird Conservation National Audubon Society Audubon Birdscapes http://birdscapes.audubon.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090214/51335208/attachment.html From quetsal48 at comcast.net Sat Feb 14 11:53:22 2009 From: quetsal48 at comcast.net (Craig Merkel) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 11:53:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Black Phoebe Message-ID: <01FE5A828D884DA3A58CA83BD41CE3DF@lastmaskin> Yesterday there was a Black Phoebe at the pond near the viewing platform at Fern Ridge. Craig Merkel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090214/7955b930/attachment.html From marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Sat Feb 14 12:00:30 2009 From: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com (marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com) Date: 14 Feb 2009 12:00:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 11, Issue 14 Out of Office Message-ID: <20090214200030.3525.qmail@mail01.lax1.becotech.net> Thank you for contacting XP Software! I will be out of the office Thursday, February 12th and returning Tuesday, February 16th. If you require immediate assistance, please call 1-888-554-5022 and ask for anyone in the sales department. Our account managers will be happy to assist you with anything you require. Alternatively, you may forward your email inquiry to nicole.highhouse at xpsoftware.com for assistance by email. Thank you! Respectfully, Marina Bouchot Senior Account Executive Phone: 888-554-5022 x8973 Fax: 888-554-5122 Email: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Web: http://www.xpsoftware.com MODEL WITH CONFIDENCE From nebekermark at yahoo.com Sat Feb 14 13:25:25 2009 From: nebekermark at yahoo.com (Mark) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 13:25:25 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull today Message-ID: <89087.73769.qm@web57309.mail.re1.yahoo.com> It was there today ~11:00 off Davis St. On Feb 13, 2009, at 6:27 PM, "Steve Nord" wrote: OBOL; The SLATY-BACKED GULL continues to be seen along the Westside of the Portland waterfront. At 11:15, I saw the gull just south of the Burnside Bridge on the Westside of the river, near the construction area. I then walked south to the cove just south of the Hawthorne Bridge. This was at 12:00ish, here I found a man surround by hundreds of gulls as he tossed bread out to the crowd. The SLATY-BACKED GULL was mixed in with this assortment of gulls. I also found 2 GLAUCOUS GULLS here. I took more photos, adding a few to my webpage that show this bird in association with other species, including one photo of the SLATY-BACK standing next to an adult WESTERN and HERRING GULL showing the differences in mantle colors. Photos here: http://www.pbase.com/srn_naturalist/slatybacked_gull Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From wolfpackdeans at bellsouth.net Sat Feb 14 14:42:31 2009 From: wolfpackdeans at bellsouth.net (Eric Dean) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 17:42:31 -0500 Subject: [obol] Birders from out of state - Slaty-backed Gull Message-ID: <515BFB85F9704F59B5AE6003DA672E49@mainlaptop> Hi all, I have been following your listserve for a while now in preparations of an upcoming trip. My wife and I will be travelling from NC this coming Wed (Feb 18) to spend a week along the Oregon coast. My first objective after landing in Portland is to see the gull. We should get in about 1:30, and any postings of success or failure that day would be greatly appreciated as I can access these mailings on my phone. I missed one other Slaty-backed near Sea-Tac years ago that was much less reliable than this bird. Thanks in advance for any help! Eric Eric & Celia Dean 112 Armstrong Dr Goldsboro NC 27530 919-736-7264 (home) 919-920-1542 (cell) wolfpackdeans at bellsouth.net "....I realized that if I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes." Charles Lindbergh From marciafcutler at comcast.net Sat Feb 14 15:17:43 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 15:17:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] do Scrub Jays mimic ??? In-Reply-To: <20090214172417.1E693819F@smtp3.pacifier.net> References: <20090214172417.1E693819F@smtp3.pacifier.net> Message-ID: <9E392B763D054A0882A4093A7D0EFEB1@melvintrex4uoq> Yes, Scrub Jays do mimic other sounds. I watched one doing an excellent House Finch song some years ago. There have been a few reports on OBOL over the years about Scrub Jay mimicry. Marcia F. Cutler Corvallis -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Lyn Topinka Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2009 9:24 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] do Scrub Jays mimic ??? hi ... I'm aware of Stellers Jays mimicing other sounds and have actually heard and watched one screeching like an eagle and chattering like a squirrel ... however I am wondering if Western Scrub Jays do this ??? ... we've been hearing a hawk screeching every morning and this morning it was coming from our backyard ... the only bird we saw was a Western Scrub Jay, however we were not able to see if it was the screecher or not ... I searched through old Tweeters and OBOL archives and nothing popped up on my search words, plus I did a google search on mimcry and Scrub Jays ... nothing I found at the obvious sources ... so, OBOL and Tweeters --- is mimcry in Scrub Jays too ??? ... is it perhaps common in ALL Jays ??? thanks, Lyn Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From WeberHome at att.net Sat Feb 14 15:58:32 2009 From: WeberHome at att.net (Cliff & Joanne Weber) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 15:58:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island Message-ID: <20090214235856.203C2A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> OBOL, hello! To our good fortune somebody dumped a bag of chicken feed or some such in their driveway on Reeder Beach road and attracted a small flock of perhaps ten to fifteen Ring Neck Doves. Whether they were of the Eurasian Collared or the African/Barbary variety we can't be positive; but we are quite sure they weren't of the Mourning variety. Sure enough, the Great Horned Owl mommy of Reeder Beach Road fame that Andy Frank reported Wed, 11 Feb 2009, has set up housekeeping in the old Red Tail nest near the road instead of its usual tree a couple of hundred yards further out in the field. She's hunkered down pretty good in there with mostly just her back and some tail feathers showing so you've really got to stare with your optics to see her. Some fellow birders reported watching a Northern Harrier take a bunny not too far from Coon Point. This surprised us a bit as we didn't think the Marsh Hawks would mess with anything larger than a vole. But it had both sets of talons stuck in the hare and was gutting the poor thing for lunch. Most of the shot gunning has stopped out on the island, so large numbers of migratory birds have returned to the vernal pool out by the ODFW shelter on Reeder Beach road. Lots of Snow Geese, Sand hill Cranes, and even a few Canvas Backs in the duckie mix out on the water; where three scruffy-looking immature Bald Eagles were using the pool for a bird bath. Compared to the duckies and the Snow Geese, those Baldies looked the size of Turkeys! Cliff & Joanne Weber Beaverton (Bethany area) From kirkpat at charter.net Sat Feb 14 16:58:29 2009 From: kirkpat at charter.net (Douglas Kirkpatrick) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:58:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harriers in the Mountains In-Reply-To: <20090214235856.203C2A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: Well, maybe not mountains but at 4000 ft above Ashland on Hwy 66. I saw a nice specimen zooming across the highway as I was driving down from Hyatt Lake yesterday. (Along with Lewis WP's, junco's and occasional bluebird that I associate with this area.) The question is: How unusual is this, or not? I usually associate Harriers with the valleys and open fields. I've never seen one at this altitude and terrain (steep) before. Comments appreciated. Doug Kirkpatrick Medford From oschmidt at att.net Sat Feb 14 17:03:12 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 17:03:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull Saturday, February 14, 2009 Message-ID: <618303C9-D154-4371-A442-B9862F747490@att.net> I saw the bird from Tom McCall Waterfront Park looking east across the river to the floating dock, which is part of the Eastside Esplanade, shortly after I arrived around 1:00 pm ........ as pointed to by Anne and Dan Heyerly. We were standing just north of the construction under the Burnside Bridge. A boat stirred the birds at the floating dock and it disappeared for about 3 hours. Shortly after 4:00 pm it reappeared on a light fixture on the Burnside Bridge, northeast corner ..... as pointed to by Lynn Topinger (sp?). Again, we were standing just north of the Burnside Bridge. Lynn Gearhart and I walked around to the top side of the bridge hoping for a better view, but by the time we got there the bird had disappeared again. My parking meter had run out ...... so that was it for me. Distant shots, distant looks ........ oschmidt at att.net Saturday, February 14, 2009 From tom-escue at comcast.net Sat Feb 14 17:08:54 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 17:08:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Black Phoebe is back Message-ID: One of the BLACK-PHOEBES is back at the Booth-Kelly log pond in Springfield. I do not believe the bird wintered there as I have checked numerous times. It is hanging out near the buildings along the creek. I also saw a red-shafted female FLICKER there. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090214/5679e89c/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Feb 14 17:53:12 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 17:53:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harriers in the Mountains In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Harrier is fairly common in montane areas in fall migration. My guess is that they would use such areas in spring as well. They breed at that elevation in e. Oregon. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Douglas Kirkpatrick > Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:58:29 -0800 > To: > Subject: [obol] Harriers in the Mountains > > Well, maybe not mountains but at 4000 ft above Ashland on Hwy 66. I saw a > nice specimen zooming across the highway as I was driving down from Hyatt > Lake yesterday. (Along with Lewis WP's, junco's and occasional bluebird that > I associate with this area.) > > The question is: How unusual is this, or not? I usually associate Harriers > with the valleys and open fields. I've never seen one at this altitude and > terrain (steep) before. > > Comments appreciated. > > Doug Kirkpatrick > Medford > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From rriparia at charter.net Sat Feb 14 17:56:28 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 17:56:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Winter Wings Big Day Trip Message-ID: <20090214205628.927CH.729145.root@mp15> OBOL and Klamath Basin Bird News, Winter Wings Festival, that highlights the Bald Eagle and the northward movement of waterfowl back into the Klamath Basin, was held this weekend. BJ Matzen and I and our group had a terrific and fun day today, Valentine's Day, while birding around the southern part of the Klamath Basin including portions of the Tule Lake and Lower Klamath NWRs. Highlights include: male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, basic plumaged HORNED GREBE, Lake Ewauna, approx. 70 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, Link River, FERRUGINOUS HAWK, near Chin and Beusing Rds., more than 60 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, @ 10 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD (among >2K Red-winged Blackbirds,Modoc-Siskiyou Co. Line Rd. along Sump 1-B Tule Lake NWR. EURASIAN WIGEON- 2 ( we didn't search for the reported multitudes and finding those 2 were relatively easy), probably > 40K SNOW GEESE (a few Blue Forms seen), > 3K AMERICAN WIGEON, all south of B Intersection Lower Klamath NWR Tour Route, LAPLAND LONGSPUR- 1, Possible McCown's Longspur, not positive due to movement of flock), mixed in with Horned Larks- 40, north of SW corner along west side of LKNWR Tour Route. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK-1, near Indian Camp Golf Course, Hill Rd, 4 mi. N of Tule Lake NWR Headquarters. And probably over 53 BALD EAGLEs while touring around. 66 Species. Kevin Spencer rriparia@ charter.net From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Feb 14 18:16:31 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 18:16:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harriers in the Mountains In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Quite routine in my experience. Especially this time of year. I live at 300m in the north Coast Range. Although we're only 3km west of open landscape, the Tualatin Hills commence a short distance further east, putting us in the middle of extensive forest. I have seen them fly directly over our house, where trees are continuous for many 100m in all directions, as well as over clearcuts a short walk away. Their flight is always leisurely, not quite purposeful, but I presume they are migrating. Given their size and shape, and considering the habitat, I feel there is the constant danger of mistaking them for Goshawks, especially if one were to glance up and catch a glimpse of a few seconds between tree tops. Lars Norgren MANNING, Oregon On Feb 14, 2009, at 4:58 PM, Douglas Kirkpatrick wrote: > Well, maybe not mountains but at 4000 ft above Ashland on Hwy 66. I > saw a > nice specimen zooming across the highway as I was driving down from > Hyatt > Lake yesterday. (Along with Lewis WP's, junco's and occasional > bluebird that > I associate with this area.) > > The question is: How unusual is this, or not? I usually associate > Harriers > with the valleys and open fields. I've never seen one at this altitude > and > terrain (steep) before. > > Comments appreciated. > > Doug Kirkpatrick > Medford > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Feb 14 18:24:11 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 18:24:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Golden Eagle over St Helens Message-ID: <1666173ccbc984103a714e761dfad888@earthlink.net> An immature GOLDEN EAGLE was soaring directly above St Helens High School (Columbia County) at noon, Feb.14. It set its wings and glided due east until it was out of sight, having never flapped its wings. Lars Norgren From rriparia at charter.net Sat Feb 14 19:34:12 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 19:34:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harriers in the Mountains In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20090214223412.NND3B.728527.root@mp14> The Hyatt Lake area is quite open, and seems like their preferred hunting habitat; short vegetation/meadows/grasslands where they can hunt small mammals and birds. It seems like the same circumstances that they would encounter in the Klamath Basin, at nearly the same elevation, temperature, snow cover, but with maybe less competition. Kevin Spencer Klamath Falls rriparia at charter.net ---- Douglas Kirkpatrick wrote: ============= Well, maybe not mountains but at 4000 ft above Ashland on Hwy 66. I saw a nice specimen zooming across the highway as I was driving down from Hyatt Lake yesterday. (Along with Lewis WP's, junco's and occasional bluebird that I associate with this area.) The question is: How unusual is this, or not? I usually associate Harriers with the valleys and open fields. I've never seen one at this altitude and terrain (steep) before. Comments appreciated. Doug Kirkpatrick Medford _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From rriparia at charter.net Sat Feb 14 19:38:33 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 19:38:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harriers in the Mountains In-Reply-To: <20090214223412.NND3B.728527.root@mp14> Message-ID: <20090214223833.ZVV4U.728667.root@mp14> I need to add that they move around and will even soar to quite high elevations. They are always focused on hunting and may have been checking out other places. Kevin Spencer rriparia at charter.net ---- Kevin Spencer wrote: ============= The Hyatt Lake area is quite open, and seems like their preferred hunting habitat; short vegetation/meadows/grasslands where they can hunt small mammals and birds. It seems like the same circumstances that they would encounter in the Klamath Basin, at nearly the same elevation, temperature, snow cover, but with maybe less competition. Kevin Spencer Klamath Falls rriparia at charter.net ---- Douglas Kirkpatrick wrote: ============= Well, maybe not mountains but at 4000 ft above Ashland on Hwy 66. I saw a nice specimen zooming across the highway as I was driving down from Hyatt Lake yesterday. (Along with Lewis WP's, junco's and occasional bluebird that I associate with this area.) The question is: How unusual is this, or not? I usually associate Harriers with the valleys and open fields. I've never seen one at this altitude and terrain (steep) before. Comments appreciated. Doug Kirkpatrick Medford _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From monroemolly at hotmail.com Sat Feb 14 19:47:13 2009 From: monroemolly at hotmail.com (Molly Monroe) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 19:47:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Newport Black Phoebe In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: We saw a Black Phoebe in Newport this morning on a walk down to Nye Beach. It was just below the street level cliffs at the paved walkway wrapping down the hill and then it came down to the rocks on the beach just below the walkway and looked to be picking insects off the side of the cliff. Wasn't sure how unusual this was but it was quite a treat to watch one work with the ocean behind us! Sounds like there's a few moving through... Molly~ _ ( '< / ) ) //"Endangered species are sensitive indicators of how we are treating the planet and we should be listening carefully to their message > From: obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: obol Digest, Vol 11, Issue 14 > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 12:00:01 -0800 > > Send obol mailing list submissions to > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > obol-owner at oregonbirdwatch.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of obol digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: obol Digest, Vol 11, Issue 13 Out of Office > (marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com) > 2. Tualatin River NWR: Slate-colored Junco, W Bluebirds > (Scott Carpenter) > 3. Townsend's (Bobbett Pierce) > 4. Eurasian Wigeon count (Charlotte Ann Kisling) > 5. Raptor Count: Columbia River - 2/13/2009 (Mike Patterson) > 6. Great Backyard Bird Count story (Seth Reams) > 7. Re: Great Backyard Bird Count (Mike Patterson) > 8. any Rock Sandpiper along the coast? (Karl Kosciuch) > 9. Re: Townsend's (Brandon Green) > 10. Fwd: Morrow County Snowy Owl (Nancy MacDonald) > 11. Thayer's Gulls Today (sandyleapt at comcast.net) > 12. Slaty-backed Gull today (Steve Nord) > 13. Re: Slaty-backed Gull today (Douglas Kirkpatrick) > 14. Re: Slaty-backed Gull today (David Irons) > 15. Re: any Rock Sandpiper along the coast? (Craig Tumer) > 16. Birders from out of state - Slaty-backed Gull (Jeff Harding) > 17. Snowy Owl - second bird reported ? Morrow County (Judy Meredith) > 18. Re: Birders from out of state - Slaty-backed Gull > (J. Harry Krueger) > 19. Re: any Rock Sandpiper along the coast? (J. Harry Krueger) > 20. do Scrub Jays mimic ??? (Lyn Topinka) > 21. Woodpecker Wonderland Festival June 2009 (Stephen Shunk) > 22. OR GBBC Update--Day 2 (FERGUS, Rob) > 23. Fern Ridge Black Phoebe (Craig Merkel) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: 13 Feb 2009 12:00:28 -0800 > From: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com > Subject: Re: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 11, Issue 13 Out of Office > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Message-ID: <20090213200028.6077.qmail at mail01.lax1.becotech.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > Thank you for contacting XP Software! I will be out of the office Thursday, February 12th and returning Tuesday, February 16th. If you require immediate assistance, please call 1-888-554-5022 and ask for anyone in the sales department. Our account managers will be happy to assist you with anything you require. Alternatively, you may forward your email inquiry to nicole.highhouse at xpsoftware.com for assistance by email. > > Thank you! > > Respectfully, > Marina Bouchot > Senior Account Executive > Phone: 888-554-5022 x8973 > Fax: 888-554-5122 > Email: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com > Web: http://www.xpsoftware.com > MODEL WITH CONFIDENCE > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:12:26 -0800 > From: Scott Carpenter > Subject: [obol] Tualatin River NWR: Slate-colored Junco, W Bluebirds > To: obol > Message-ID: > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Around 12:45 p.m. on Friday, 13 February 2009, I encountered a single > SLATE-COLORED JUNCO in a flock of Oregon Juncos at the entrance to Tualatin > River NWR in Sherwood, Washington County. At first, I saw it on the west > side of the refuge entrance road at the entrance gate, and then it flew to > the oak northwest of the entrance gate. This is at the main entrance off of > Hwy 99-W. > > Also in this oak savannah area was a flock of 8+ WESTERN BLUEBIRDS. > According to the volunteers at the visitor center, the bluebirds have been > there for at least a month. > > Scott Carpenter > SW Portland > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090213/b5a2efc3/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:06:23 -0500 > From: Bobbett Pierce > Subject: [obol] Townsend's > To: obol > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > > Finally -- a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, a bright male in the yard. It's the first I've seen this winter. Gorgeous little guy. > Lona Pierce, Warren, in Columbia County > > _________________________________________________________________ > Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. > http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_howitworks_022009 > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090213/675e37a5/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:55:28 -0800 > From: Charlotte Ann Kisling > Subject: [obol] Eurasian Wigeon count > To: OBOL > Message-ID: <49960870.9070501 at cot.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > A couple of days ago, Dave Menke, the Klamath Basin National > Wildlife Refuge Outdoor Recreation Manager counted a total of 41 male > Eurasian Wigeon on Lower Klamath. The true figure is undoubtedly much > higher than that. Dave would like to have a group of two person counting > teams cover as much of Lower Klamath as we can. The count would take > place on Friday, February 20 and probably last no more than four hours. > If you would like to take part in this count, please contact Dave at the > refuge either by phone by calling (530) 667-2231 or by e-mailing him at > dave_menke at fws.gov. Note the underscore after his first name. This > sounds like it will be a lot of fun as well as educational. > Charlotte Ann Kisling > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:07:32 -0800 > From: Mike Patterson > Subject: [obol] Raptor Count: Columbia River - 2/13/2009 > To: OBOL > Message-ID: <49960B44.3000801 at pacifier.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Date: February 13, 2009 > Location: Clatsop County, Oregon > > > Columbia River Route - 3.5hrs; 65mi > > Birds seen (in taxonomic order): > > Bald Eagle 25 > Northern Harrier 9 > Red-tailed Hawk 14 > American Kestrel 2 > Peregrine Falcon 1 > > Total number of species seen: 5 > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Variations on a theme > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:52:29 -0800 (PST) > From: Seth Reams > Subject: [obol] Great Backyard Bird Count story > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Message-ID: <881594.19289.qm at web46013.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > KATU (channel 2) is doing a segment on the GBBC tonight during their 6pm broadcast. Just a heads up. Good birding to all! > > Seth Reams and Michelle King > NE Portland, OR - Gateway area > portlandbirds.blogspot.com > 1/4 acre, suburban, 61 feeders > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 7 > Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:09:35 -0800 > From: Mike Patterson > Subject: Re: [obol] Great Backyard Bird Count > To: OBOL > Message-ID: <499619CF.9080100 at pacifier.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > I will be doing a bird walk at 09:00 tomorrow at Fort Clatsop, followed > by a presentation entitled _Winter Birds of Clatsop County_ as part > of the National Park's weekend long participation effort for the GBBC. > > > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Variations on a theme > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 8 > Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:24:47 -0800 > From: Karl Kosciuch > Subject: [obol] any Rock Sandpiper along the coast? > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Message-ID: > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Greetings all, > I'm on the coast this weekend and have yet to see a Rock Sandpiper in OR and > was wondering if anyone had a reliable or regular spot for ths species. > Much appreciated, > Karl Kosciuch > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090213/57e6c906/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 9 > Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:32:29 -0800 > From: Brandon Green > Subject: Re: [obol] Townsend's > To: OBOL , ensatina3 at hotmail.com > Message-ID: > <81b2a9930902131732na1d10asa73d0994ad4f0857 at mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > I didn't get my first TOWNSEND'S of the winter until early January, > and it wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that I've had a semi-regular > at the suet feeders. And outside of only occasionally seeing (and > mostly hearing) VARIED THRUSHES up in the trees, my first recorded > yard visitor wasn't until yesterday morning. RC KINGLETS have also > been unusually sparse. It's been a pretty weak season for winter > migrants in my immediate area. > > Interestingly, I've been hosting at least 8 different MALLARDS for the > past few weeks. Good thing that cracked corn is relatively cheap. > > Brandon > Eugene > > ----- > Subject: Townsend's > From: Bobbett Pierce > Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:06:23 -0500 > > Finally -- a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, a bright male in the yard. It's the first I've > seen this winter. Gorgeous little guy. > > Lona Pierce, Warren, in Columbia County > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 10 > Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:37:06 -0800 > From: Nancy MacDonald > Subject: [obol] Fwd: Morrow County Snowy Owl > To: Obol > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > > > > > From: Nancy MacDonald > > Date: February 13, 2009 5:25:08 PM PST > > To: Obol > > Cc: cobol > > Subject: RE: Morrow County Snowy Owl > > > > > > Hello birders, > > > > The Snowy Owl was there today (2-13) exactly where Ted said it would > > be. Thanks to him for the excellent directions. We found it at about > > 1:00 in 35 degree overcast weather. Although it was somewhat > > hunkered down, it was facing us directly and we got great looks at > > it. We were able to leave the car and stand on the bank to view it. > > I would recommend treating it as Ted described, however, and > > consider it wary. We had lunch at the Ione Pub and Grill. We would > > recommend it for friendly people and good food. > > > > Nancy MacDonald > > Prineville > > > > > > > > Below is Ted's report again: > > > > Begin forwarded message: > > > >> From: ted schroeder > >> Date: February 6, 2009 7:53:08 PM PST > >> To: OBOL bird list > >> Subject: [obol] Morrow County Snowy Owl > >> > >> The Snowy Owl seen yesterday by Eric Henze and reported by Margaret > >> LaFaive to OBOL was present again today in the same location (At an > >> old homestead on the east side of the Ione-Boardman Rd, .3 miles SW > >> of it's junction with the west end of Strawberry Lane) near Ione. > >> As Eric had seen, the owl favors perching on a concrete foundation > >> surrounded by junk. > >> > >> The owl seems quite wary. Initially, we found it on the foundation > >> 75 yards off of the road. We watched it from the vehicle for 15 > >> minutes. Then, our gently attempting to pull off of the pavement > >> caused it to fly to a post 400-500 yards to the south, so we went > >> to lunch. Upon returning from lunch in Ione 2 hours later, the owl > >> had returned to the foundation. We watched it from the road for 15 > >> minutes and then headed for home. > >> > >> It seems unlikely that this bird would tolerate being approached > >> close enough to obtain good photos unless you are set up with a > >> first rate, high power digi-scope setup. Even then, all of the > >> trash is hardly an optimal setting. > >> > >> The owl is fairly heavily spotted, so may be a first year bird or a > >> female. > >> > >> For those of you not familiar with the terrain in that area, it is > >> primarily rolling, cultivated fields with sparse vegetation > >> elsewhere, except in some of the drainages. We saw quite a few > >> widely scattered Horned Larks, one Prairie Falcon and one Rough- > >> legged Hawk in the nearby area. > >> > >> Thanks to Eric and Margaret for reporting the Snowy Owl. They are > >> always such a treat to see. > >> > >> Ted Schroeder----------La Grande > >> > > > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090213/aad28ab5/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 11 > Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 02:09:46 +0000 > From: sandyleapt at comcast.net > Subject: [obol] Thayer's Gulls Today > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org (OBOL) > Message-ID: > <021420090209.11581.499627EA000188FC00002D3D22007510909B9F0E0A04970B020E9C at comcast.net> > > > Hi All, > > This morning there were gulls in the parking lot so I fed them before going in to the office. There were a dozen or so adult Glaucous-Winged gulls, two adult Thayer's Gulls, and some juvenile birds. I had my handy-dandy "Birds of the Willamette Valley Region" with me so I could check field marks. These birds are or were in Gresham this morning. > > The first thing I noticed with all the gulls that came is none had yellow legs or yellow-green legs like the last bunch I fed. Everyone had pink legs. Then I noticed how big the gulls closest to me were, they had some brown streaking on the head and back of neck, eyes not too bright a color, beaks were yellow with a good-sized red spot, mantel and wings same color of pearl gray. Birds in flight had a white edge to their wings and bright white tails. Those had to be Glaucous-Winged gulls. Then a couple smaller gulls joined the flock. They stayed behind the larger gulls, they had rounded heads, dark eyes, yellow bills with some red and no black. The mantel was gray, the wings were black. The legs were two, maybe three times darker than the legs of the Glaucous-Winged gulls. The heads were rounded and the bill small compared to the Glaucous-Winged gulls. The smaller gulls had brown streaking on the their heads and back of necks and also a line of soft brown that came f > rom th > e nape/neck that softly defined the lower edge of the throat, sort of like a chin strap. Those had to be Thayer's. > > No ugly gulls. Only lovely gulls. > > Sandy Leaptrott > NE Portland > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 12 > Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:27:36 -0800 > From: "Steve Nord" > Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull today > To: "OBOL" > Message-ID: <000001c98e4b$cd3cb910$67b62b30$@net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > OBOL; > > The SLATY-BACKED GULL continues to be seen along the Westside of the > Portland waterfront. At 11:15, I saw the gull just south of the Burnside > Bridge on the Westside of the river, near the construction area. I then > walked south to the cove just south of the Hawthorne Bridge. This was at > 12:00ish, here I found a man surround by hundreds of gulls as he tossed > bread out to the crowd. The SLATY-BACKED GULL was mixed in with this > assortment of gulls. I also found 2 GLAUCOUS GULLS here. I took more > photos, adding a few to my webpage that show this bird in association with > other species, including one photo of the SLATY-BACK standing next to an > adult WESTERN and HERRING GULL showing the differences in mantle colors. > Photos here: http://www.pbase.com/srn_naturalist/slatybacked_gull > > Good Birding > Steve Nord > Hillsboro, OR > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 13 > Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:16:27 -0800 > From: "Douglas Kirkpatrick" > Subject: Re: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull today > To: "'OBOL'" > Message-ID: <20B213064E304316A7E36CE672A3DDF2 at D7CDFN81> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > > Just out of curiosity, are there any birders coming in from out of OR to see > this bird? > > > Doug Kirkpatrick > Medford > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 14 > Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 05:15:06 +0000 > From: David Irons > Subject: Re: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull today > To: Douglas Kirkpatrick , post OBOL > > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > > Doug et al., > > I would be surprised if anyone traveled from farther out of state than Washington to chase this bird. Slaty-backed Gulls have been found annually along the West Coast in recent years, with more sightings in Washington and California than there have been in Oregon. About the only reason someone might come from farther afield for this bird would be if they were doing a big year in the Lower 48. Someone from the East Coast could take a shorter trip and see the Slaty-backed that is Connecticut right now. > > Dave Irons > > > > From: kirkpat at charter.net > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:16:27 -0800 > > Subject: Re: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull today > > > > > > Just out of curiosity, are there any birders coming in from out of OR to see > > this bird? > > > > > > Doug Kirkpatrick > > Medford > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _________________________________________________________________ > Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. > http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_howitworks_022009 > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090214/b2a5e06e/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 15 > Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:12:40 -0700 > From: "Craig Tumer" > Subject: Re: [obol] any Rock Sandpiper along the coast? > To: "Karl Kosciuch" > Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Message-ID: > <20090213231240.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.84710de3d6.wbe at email.secureserver.net> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > I'll be on the coast next Friday afternoon and will have an opportunity > to look for rock sandpipers. I'm also interested in hearing of any > recent sightings of rock sandpipers or suggestions of reliable locations > to look for them. > > Thanks, and good birding! > Craig Tumer > SW Portland > > > -------- Original Message -------- > > Subject: [obol] any Rock Sandpiper along the coast? > > From: Karl Kosciuch > > Date: Fri, February 13, 2009 5:24 pm > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > > > > Greetings all, > > I'm on the coast this weekend and have yet to see a Rock Sandpiper in OR and > > was wondering if anyone had a reliable or regular spot for ths species. > > Much appreciated, > > Karl Kosciuch
_______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 16 > Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 06:52:09 -0800 > From: "Jeff Harding" > Subject: [obol] Birders from out of state - Slaty-backed Gull > To: > Message-ID: <33553C91673E4B5E9DB309753F03E731 at laptop> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > There were two birders from Idaho at the Burnside Bridge when I was there on > Saturday the 7th. > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Douglas Kirkpatrick > Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 8:16 PM > To: 'OBOL' > Subject: Re: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull today > > > Just out of curiosity, are there any birders coming in from out of OR to see > this bird? > > > Doug Kirkpatrick > Medford > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 17 > Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 07:04:40 -0800 > From: "Judy Meredith" > Subject: [obol] Snowy Owl - second bird reported ? Morrow County > To: "obol" > Message-ID: <98C05F9BC5B44E14875118F7B794812E at MOM> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > A birder sent this to me. Sounds like the bird was seen > near the county line between Gilliam and Morrow? See > below. > Judy Meredith > jmeredit at bendnet.com > > Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2009 12:59 AM > Subject: RE: owl? > > > Hi judy... > > We found the owl... it was not at the homestead, but about 50 feet off Strawberry Rd, maybe a 1/4 mile from the junction of Ione/Boardman and strawberry. Great looks... we watched from the car, but did not photograph... it was just sitting low in the field. Maybe just have caught a meal. > but we found a second Snowy Owl, more heavily mottled... 25 miles east of Condon....driving on 206. We flushed this owl from a signpost right next to the road... too far away, and too different from coloration of ione owl... maybe this will be another good year for them in oregon... > > great country out there.. had lot's of AMKE, RTHA, and RLHA. > > > Amy > > Did you find the Snowy Owl? > > Judy Meredith > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090214/b44bf691/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 18 > Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 08:55:59 -0700 > From: "J. Harry Krueger" > Subject: Re: [obol] Birders from out of state - Slaty-backed Gull > To: OBOL > Message-ID: > <62692df00902140755w40e8306fu601eed7e5c3e5593 at mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Yes... and one of them was wearing that da-- orange and blue color gear > representing some foreign college football team from a place called > "BSU...." (As a precaution catering to our desire for physical survival, we > do change clothes before venturing into Lynn Co.) > :) > > Seriously though, one of the things we noticed was that the gull > "disappears" by itself, even though most, if not all, of the other gulls it > associates with are still present until just about sundown. Both days we > were there it was not to be seen after about 4:30... despite our assistance > in helping the local bread producing economy. Has it been seen later? > > J. Harry Krueger > Boise, ID > > On Sat, Feb 14, 2009 at 7:52 AM, Jeff Harding wrote: > > > There were two birders from Idaho at the Burnside Bridge when I was there > > on > > Saturday the 7th. > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Douglas Kirkpatrick > > Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 8:16 PM > > To: 'OBOL' > > Subject: Re: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull today > > > > > > Just out of curiosity, are there any birders coming in from out of OR to > > see > > this bird? > > > > > > Doug Kirkpatrick > > Medford > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090214/badc18bc/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 19 > Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 09:26:23 -0700 > From: "J. Harry Krueger" > Subject: Re: [obol] any Rock Sandpiper along the coast? > To: OBOL > Message-ID: > <62692df00902140826t6d3b1ae9ucec490602ce0884 at mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Rock Sandpiper was present Sunday, January 7 on the Barview jetty, as well > as the expected Black Turnstone and Surfbird. > > J. Harry Krueger > Boise > > On Fri, Feb 13, 2009 at 11:12 PM, Craig Tumer wrote: > > > I'll be on the coast next Friday afternoon and will have an opportunity > > to look for rock sandpipers. I'm also interested in hearing of any > > recent sightings of rock sandpipers or suggestions of reliable locations > > to look for them. > > > > Thanks, and good birding! > > Craig Tumer > > SW Portland > > > > > -------- Original Message -------- > > > Subject: [obol] any Rock Sandpiper along the coast? > > > From: Karl Kosciuch > > > Date: Fri, February 13, 2009 5:24 pm > > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > > > > > > > Greetings all, > > > I'm on the coast this weekend and have yet to see a Rock Sandpiper in OR > > and > > > was wondering if anyone had a reliable or regular spot for ths species. > > > Much appreciated, > > > Karl Kosciuch
_______________________________________________ > > > obol mailing list > > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090214/88ee7c92/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 20 > Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 09:24:20 -0800 > From: Lyn Topinka > Subject: [obol] do Scrub Jays mimic ??? > To: OBOL > Message-ID: <20090214172417.1E693819F at smtp3.pacifier.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed > > > hi ... > > I'm aware of Stellers Jays mimicing other sounds and have actually > heard and watched one screeching like an eagle and chattering like a > squirrel ... however I am wondering if Western Scrub Jays do this ??? > ... we've been hearing a hawk screeching every morning and this > morning it was coming from our backyard ... the only bird we saw was > a Western Scrub Jay, however we were not able to see if it was the > screecher or not ... I searched through old Tweeters and OBOL > archives and nothing popped up on my search words, plus I did a > google search on mimcry and Scrub Jays ... nothing I found at the > obvious sources ... so, OBOL and Tweeters --- is mimcry in Scrub Jays > too ??? ... is it perhaps common in ALL Jays ??? > > thanks, > Lyn > > > > > > Lyn Topinka > http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com > http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com > http://RidgefieldBirds.com > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 21 > Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 11:17:43 -0800 > From: Stephen Shunk > Subject: [obol] Woodpecker Wonderland Festival June 2009 > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org, COBOL , > Roger at campshermanstore.com > Message-ID: > <9a341ea30902141117j73b91f8ap83bc77348174f234 at mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Greetings birders, > I am excited to invite you to the 2nd annual Woodpecker Wonderland Festival, > June 5-7, 2009, in lovely Camp Sherman, Oregon. We will have a full weekend > of field trips, presentations, meals, and more. The artwork for the event is > now posted here: > http://www.paradisebirding.com/sys-tmpl/woodpeckerwonderland/ and will be > available on T-shirts, hats, and posters very soon. > > We still have a limited supply of shirts and hats from 2008; they are $20 > each (including shipping), and the artwork for these is here: > T-shirts in navy and tan - > http://paradisebirding.com/picidae/wwfestshirt08.gif > Hats in tan - http://paradisebirding.com/picidae/wwfesthat08.gif > > Registration for the 2009 festival will begin March 1, so mark your > calendars and stay tuned at www.woodpeckerwonderland.com for all the > updates. > > *See you in Camp Sherman this summer!* > Steve Shunk > > -- > Stephen Shunk > Paradise Birding > Sisters, OR USA > www.paradisebirding.com > 541-408-1753 > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090214/ad27aa2d/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 22 > Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 14:20:59 -0500 > From: "FERGUS, Rob" > Subject: [obol] OR GBBC Update--Day 2 > To: "obol at oregonbirdwatch.org" > Message-ID: > <69DABA3177B73144996A79E932FE6A770760BC680C at flamingo.int.audubon.org> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > So far, Oregon birders have reported 123 species on the Great Backyard Bird Count...still a ways to go to reach the 211 species reported last year. > > Remember you can report from a single location on each of the four days of the count (Friday-Monday) and we welcome checklists from as many places as you bird. So this weekend feel free to report every last crow you see...even the birds you see driving madly to the store to pick up that last minute valentine's day gift... > > Have fun out there, find some great birds, and report them to www.birdcount.org. > > Rob Fergus > Senior Scientist, Urban Bird Conservation > National Audubon Society > > Audubon Birdscapes > http://birdscapes.audubon.org > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090214/51335208/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 23 > Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 11:53:22 -0800 > From: "Craig Merkel" > Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Black Phoebe > To: > Message-ID: <01FE5A828D884DA3A58CA83BD41CE3DF at lastmaskin> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Yesterday there was a Black Phoebe at the pond near the viewing platform at > Fern Ridge. > > > > Craig Merkel > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090214/7955b930/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > End of obol Digest, Vol 11, Issue 14 > ************************************ _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_AE_Faster_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090214/ce6e7bf8/attachment.html From kirkpat at charter.net Sat Feb 14 22:40:26 2009 From: kirkpat at charter.net (Douglas Kirkpatrick) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:40:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harriers in the Mountains In-Reply-To: <20090214223412.NND3B.728527.root@mp14> Message-ID: Kevin, Right, I agree. The problem is that I saw it on the way down the hill in very steep terrain which was a puzzle.... Douglas The Hyatt Lake area is quite open, and seems like their preferred hunting habitat; short vegetation/meadows/grasslands where they can hunt small mammals and birds. It seems like the same circumstances that they would encounter in the Klamath Basin, at nearly the same elevation, temperature, snow cover, but with maybe less competition. Kevin Spencer Klamath Falls rriparia at charter.net ---- Douglas Kirkpatrick wrote: ============= Well, maybe not mountains but at 4000 ft above Ashland on Hwy 66. I saw a nice specimen zooming across the highway as I was driving down from Hyatt Lake yesterday. (Along with Lewis WP's, junco's and occasional bluebird that I associate with this area.) The question is: How unusual is this, or not? I usually associate Harriers with the valleys and open fields. I've never seen one at this altitude and terrain (steep) before. Comments appreciated. Doug Kirkpatrick Medford _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From campbell at peak.org Sat Feb 14 23:41:50 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 23:41:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harriers in the Mountains Message-ID: <9B3A4AF710FB4BF8A57E0EBB31B8B35F@maryPC> Summertime three years ago I was climbing up the southwest side of Mount Jefferson when I was passed by a Harrier lazily zig-zagging it's way up the same gulley. It seemed to be hunting whatever was able to survive in the grass and scree just below timberline--pikas, maybe. I lost track of it at 7,000+ ft, when it left me far behind. Not an hour later I saw a House Wren among the stunted evergreens on the south ridge, at about 7,500 ft. Those birds really get up there high, but they do have wings. Randy Campbell -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090214/bdc5caec/attachment.html From fschrock at gmail.com Sun Feb 15 00:23:46 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:23:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Junco feeding behavior Message-ID: <390ebd880902150023h587e196an672cb57da02bd701@mail.gmail.com> Just curious...... I've been offering Niger thistle seed in my backyard for years, and until this year the only birds regularly taking seed from the feeder have been finches, and occasionally a nuthatch checks it out. A few weeks ago a Dark-eyed Junco started landing on the feeder and taking a few seeds, and now he's becoming regular at it. (photo at http://empids.blogspot.com) I'm wondering how common or uncommon this is. Has this been happening at others' feeders? Maybe "my" Juncos are just slow to catch on, although they've been picking up crumbs on the ground below the feeder for a long time. Now I'm going to be watching to see if other Juncos follow the example of this pioneer. ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090215/e8404bb1/attachment.html From jbw at oregoncoast.com Sun Feb 15 07:21:50 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara & John Woodhouse) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 07:21:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Junco feeding behavior In-Reply-To: <390ebd880902150023h587e196an672cb57da02bd701@mail.gmail.com> References: <390ebd880902150023h587e196an672cb57da02bd701@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: We have had juncos and worst still Flickers at our sock feeders believe me they make short work of the seed socks! Barbara & John Woodhouse Tillamook At 12:23 AM -0800 2/15/2009, Floyd Schrock wrote: >Just curious...... I've been offering Niger thistle seed in my >backyard for years, and until this year the only birds regularly >taking seed from the feeder have been finches, and occasionally a >nuthatch checks it out. A few weeks ago a Dark-eyed Junco started >landing on the feeder and taking a few seeds, and now he's becoming >regular at it. (photo at >http://empids.blogspot.com) I'm >wondering how common or uncommon this is. Has this been happening >at others' feeders? Maybe "my" Juncos are just slow to catch on, >although they've been picking up crumbs on the ground below the >feeder for a long time. Now I'm going to be watching to see if >other Juncos follow the example of this pioneer. > >==================== >Floyd Schrock >McMinnville, Oregon USA >http://empids.blogspot.com >==================== > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090215/e411cc24/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Feb 15 07:40:07 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 07:40:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] FWD: Yakima Robin numbers Message-ID: <49983757.5020704@pacifier.com> Subject: re: Yakima Robins From: "Scott Downes" Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 19:02:26 -0800 Tweets, Wanted to elaborate just a little on this. Several of us in Yakima put a dedicated effort this year to do two "formal" counts from the same location on Friday and Saturday night. As Jeff indicated his group tallied just slightly over 92,000 (92,633 to be exact) on Friday eve. My group tonight repeated the count. Our main goal was not to pit one night against the other, but to see if numbers fluctuated from night to night. I'm going to paste in a message I just sent to birdyak: ******************************************************************************** Here is a recap of the "two night event". Last night the team counted 92, 633 robins. Tonight there were three of us, Rich, I and Kelly. We divided the sky. A few robins were beginning to move when I got there at 4:10. Rich and Kelly's methods differed a little from mine. They counted for 5 minute intervals estimating the best they could. Rich had Hwy.12 north to our station, Kelly had directly overhead and I took everything north of our station (many of them are higher and up to a mile north of the counting station). I counted by 50's, but could only keep up that pace for 2 minutes, so I counted for 2 minutes, took a minute off to rest my eyes and made the assumption that the per minute rates were same for the third minute as the first two. For example, at 4:42-4:44 I counted 1850 robins and estimated that from 4:44-4:45 there were approximately 925 that I missed (1850/2). As stated by Jeff the peak seemed to be from about 4:45-5:00. During the peak each counter was getting roughly 900-1000 robins per minute, so going past in total was about 2700 or so robins per minute, wow! I just got home tallied and the numbers. Kelly had 25, 250 in his path, Rich had 31, 700 in his path and I had 41, 631. This comes to a total of 98, 581. I would bet that either night we are only accurate at best to +/-5000 robins, so basically the two nights tallied fairly close totals (saturday was 5,948 higher or 6% higher) that difference is well within the margin of error I'm sure the count has. Given the sheer number of robins going past, it is actually amzing to me that there was such regularity in the two nights. Our count ended at 5:30 for a total of 1 hour 20 minutes. ******************************************************************************* Thats really an amazing. Not only in the sheer numbers, but that two groups over two different nights have counted the birds flying into the roost and gotten such close numbers. The big question still unanswered is that are these the same birds each night or is there some push to the north each day and new birds move in. We still don't know as attempts to examine the roosts in the morning have found much fewer birds than the evening, so birds are getting away uncounted in the morning. This two night count though suggests that there is some multiple night stability in the roost. If you are just looking for something to do, come on over to the roost in the next week or so and witness an amazing event. Just try to imagine the 2700 or so birds per minute that I mention above! Feel free to email me for directions to the viewing area if you need them or I'm sure Jeff would be happy to answer directions as well. Scott Downes downess AT charter.net Yakima WA _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman2.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Variations on a theme http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sun Feb 15 07:41:09 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 07:41:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Snipe Winnowing in Linn County Message-ID: <0EB3E6B8DA0C4DA690374849CAA4D0A4@laptop> At 6:30 this morning, a Wilson's Snipe was winnowing over the marshy pasture across the road. This is right on schedule, perhaps a day earlier than the earliest winnowing I have recorded here. Of course they have been around all winter, but the quavering noise made by tail feathers in a display flight only starts up in early spring. There was a White-throated Sparrow at the feeder yesterday, as there has been most of the winter. Good birding, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090215/d8f6eb76/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Feb 15 07:45:16 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 07:45:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Singing Message-ID: Juncos have been doing some singing occasionally around my house since Feb. 7 -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Feb 15 08:01:46 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 08:01:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Singing References: Message-ID: Yard singers at our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit; Josephine Co) include: White-breasted Nuthatch Black-capped Chickadee Oak Titmouse Lesser Goldfinch (throughout the day now) Anna's Hummingbird and Purple Finch are just starting to practice their song. funny, don't recall hearing Juncos yet, would think they should be. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Subject: [obol] Singing Juncos have been doing some singing occasionally around my house since Feb. 7 -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From alderspr at peak.org Sun Feb 15 08:28:41 2009 From: alderspr at peak.org (Karan & Jim Fairchild) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 08:28:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Singing References: Message-ID: <3F93CCD2F110425788FA75B6AFE7A794@HOMESTEAD> At our house, song sparrows, juncos, house finches, spotted towhees, black capped chickadees, mourning doves and Hutton's vireos all sing on occasion, with song sparrows being the most regular. Karan Fairchild 6 mi SW of Philomath, Benton Co ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dennis P. Vroman" To: "Alan Contreras" ; "obol" Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 8:01 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Singing | Yard singers at our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit; Josephine Co) | include: | | White-breasted Nuthatch | Black-capped Chickadee | Oak Titmouse | Lesser Goldfinch (throughout the day now) | Anna's Hummingbird | and Purple Finch are just starting to practice their song. | | funny, don't recall hearing Juncos yet, would think they should be. | | Dennis (north of Grants Pass) | | Subject: [obol] Singing | | | Juncos have been doing some singing occasionally around my house since Feb. | 7 | | -- | Alan Contreras | EUGENE, OREGON | acontrer at mindspring.com | | | _______________________________________________ | obol mailing list | obol at oregonbirdwatch.org | http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol | From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sun Feb 15 09:13:40 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 09:13:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Singing References: <3F93CCD2F110425788FA75B6AFE7A794@HOMESTEAD> Message-ID: Do you call it singing when it's a Great Horned Owl? Or a Hutton's Vireo? In addition to Juncos, those are the singers we're hearing NW of McMinnville, between the snow showers. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: "Karan & Jim Fairchild" To: "Dennis P. Vroman" ; "Alan Contreras" ; "obol" Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 8:28 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Singing At our house, song sparrows, juncos, house finches, spotted towhees, black capped chickadees, mourning doves and Hutton's vireos all sing on occasion, with song sparrows being the most regular. Karan Fairchild 6 mi SW of Philomath, Benton Co ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dennis P. Vroman" To: "Alan Contreras" ; "obol" Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 8:01 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Singing | Yard singers at our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit; Josephine Co) | include: | | White-breasted Nuthatch | Black-capped Chickadee | Oak Titmouse | Lesser Goldfinch (throughout the day now) | Anna's Hummingbird | and Purple Finch are just starting to practice their song. | | funny, don't recall hearing Juncos yet, would think they should be. | | Dennis (north of Grants Pass) | | Subject: [obol] Singing | | | Juncos have been doing some singing occasionally around my house since Feb. | 7 | | -- | Alan Contreras | EUGENE, OREGON | acontrer at mindspring.com | | | _______________________________________________ | obol mailing list | obol at oregonbirdwatch.org | http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol | _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sun Feb 15 09:19:26 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 09:19:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] do Scrub Jays mimic ??? References: <20090214172417.1E693819F@smtp3.pacifier.net> Message-ID: After 16 years in overlapping Scrub and Steller's territory, and more with Scrub alone, I'd have to say the Scrub Jays don't mimic. I recall Blue Jays doing what I would call ventriloquism, which is to say dropping the loudness of their calls, which makes them seem more distant, but I can't speak to whether they did any mimicry. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lyn Topinka" To: "OBOL" Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2009 9:24 AM Subject: [obol] do Scrub Jays mimic ??? hi ... I'm aware of Stellers Jays mimicing other sounds and have actually heard and watched one screeching like an eagle and chattering like a squirrel ... however I am wondering if Western Scrub Jays do this ??? ... we've been hearing a hawk screeching every morning and this morning it was coming from our backyard ... the only bird we saw was a Western Scrub Jay, however we were not able to see if it was the screecher or not ... I searched through old Tweeters and OBOL archives and nothing popped up on my search words, plus I did a google search on mimcry and Scrub Jays ... nothing I found at the obvious sources ... so, OBOL and Tweeters --- is mimcry in Scrub Jays too ??? ... is it perhaps common in ALL Jays ??? thanks, Lyn Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From vireogirl at yahoo.com Sun Feb 15 09:21:19 2009 From: vireogirl at yahoo.com (Vjera Thompson) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 09:21:19 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Alton Baker Osprey Message-ID: <644871.36042.qm@web56304.mail.re3.yahoo.com> OBOLers, Eddie and I went for walks in Alton Baker last weekend (2/7) and yesterday (2/14). Yesterday we saw an OSPREY being harassed by a group of Crows. Last Saturday we had 2 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS between the running trail and the river path, and we also had a SPOTTED SANDPIPER out on rocks in the river. Good birding, Vjera Thompson Eugene, OR vireogirl at yahoo.com From louisfredd at msn.com Sun Feb 15 09:21:46 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 09:21:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harriers in the Mountains Message-ID: End of September2007, I saw an immature Northern Harrier very energetically hunting close above the ground in a rugged arroyo near Ten Cent Meadow, el 6900 ft, on the divide between Van Horn and Cottonwood basins, Harney Co. I didn't think this unusual as I was in the midst of hundreds of birds at the time, representing many species, various families, ranging in size from tiny Ruby-crowned Kinglets (numerous) on up to Golden Eagle. At that location both landform and prevailing winds can concentrate a wonderful collection of migrating birds in autumn. Nearer home, I visited Hawk Watch's Bonney Butte site, Mt Hood Nat'l Forest, on October 29 last year. HW's annual counting/banding season, from August 27 thru October 31, was virtually over. Summit el Bonney Butte is 5600 ft. HW's tally board recorded on my camera shows a "to date" total of 19 Northern Harriers (13/2007) vs, e.g., 350 Red-tailed Hawks (388/2007). A total of 3 harriers had been lured and banded. In percentage terms that indicates Northern Harriers quite aggressively hunt even thickly forested, and in this case if you will, steep mountainous terrain in migration. In New York State a few years back, I came upon an adult male Northern Harrier in a low elevation foothills forest in early June. It was perched in a tree watching thick brushy cover in a power line corridor. From the above I think Northern Harriers are skillful hunters in migration, adept in terrain and plant cover found at all elevations. Lou _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_howitworks_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090215/da70eb63/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sun Feb 15 09:26:51 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 09:26:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harriers in the Mountains References: <9B3A4AF710FB4BF8A57E0EBB31B8B35F@maryPC> Message-ID: One fall my husband and I hiked to the lookout site above Anthony Lakes and saw a lone Harrier, apparently migrating south over the mountains. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: M & R Campbell To: obol Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2009 11:41 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Harriers in the Mountains Summertime three years ago I was climbing up the southwest side of Mount Jefferson when I was passed by a Harrier lazily zig-zagging it's way up the same gulley. It seemed to be hunting whatever was able to survive in the grass and scree just below timberline--pikas, maybe. I lost track of it at 7,000+ ft, when it left me far behind. Not an hour later I saw a House Wren among the stunted evergreens on the south ridge, at about 7,500 ft. Those birds really get up there high, but they do have wings. Randy Campbell ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From alderspr at peak.org Sun Feb 15 09:31:37 2009 From: alderspr at peak.org (Karan & Jim Fairchild) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 09:31:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Singing References: Message-ID: <3C5F64E8DBA5467E97D8DA463C685F77@HOMESTEAD> Addendum- Just this morning heard a winter wren and wrentit singing also. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dennis P. Vroman" To: "Alan Contreras" ; "obol" Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 8:01 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Singing | Yard singers at our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit; Josephine Co) | include: | | White-breasted Nuthatch | Black-capped Chickadee | Oak Titmouse | Lesser Goldfinch (throughout the day now) | Anna's Hummingbird | and Purple Finch are just starting to practice their song. | | funny, don't recall hearing Juncos yet, would think they should be. | | Dennis (north of Grants Pass) | | Subject: [obol] Singing | | | Juncos have been doing some singing occasionally around my house since Feb. | 7 | | -- | Alan Contreras | EUGENE, OREGON | acontrer at mindspring.com | | | _______________________________________________ | obol mailing list | obol at oregonbirdwatch.org | http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol | From alderspr at peak.org Sun Feb 15 09:34:01 2009 From: alderspr at peak.org (Karan & Jim Fairchild) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 09:34:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Singing References: <3F93CCD2F110425788FA75B6AFE7A794@HOMESTEAD> Message-ID: <1109004222FA4223AEAFA3AF30D19D6F@HOMESTEAD> Then there's red- breasted nuthatches and chestnut-backed chickadees- I'm not sure how to define when they sing. We have great horned owls too. Karan Fairchild 6 mi SW of Philomath, Benton Co ----- Original Message ----- From: "pamela johnston" To: "obol" Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 9:13 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Singing | Do you call it singing when it's a Great Horned Owl? Or a Hutton's Vireo? In | addition to Juncos, those are the singers we're hearing NW of McMinnville, | between the snow showers. | | Pamela Johnston | ----- Original Message ----- | From: "Karan & Jim Fairchild" | To: "Dennis P. Vroman" ; "Alan Contreras" | ; "obol" | Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 8:28 AM | Subject: Re: [obol] Singing | | | At our house, song sparrows, juncos, house finches, spotted towhees, black | capped chickadees, mourning doves and Hutton's vireos all | sing on occasion, with song sparrows being the most regular. | | Karan Fairchild | 6 mi SW of Philomath, Benton Co | | | ----- Original Message ----- | From: "Dennis P. Vroman" | To: "Alan Contreras" ; "obol" | | Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 8:01 AM | Subject: Re: [obol] Singing | | || Yard singers at our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit; Josephine Co) || include: || || White-breasted Nuthatch || Black-capped Chickadee || Oak Titmouse || Lesser Goldfinch (throughout the day now) || Anna's Hummingbird || and Purple Finch are just starting to practice their song. || || funny, don't recall hearing Juncos yet, would think they should be. || || Dennis (north of Grants Pass) || || Subject: [obol] Singing || || || Juncos have been doing some singing occasionally around my house since | Feb. || 7 || || -- || Alan Contreras || EUGENE, OREGON || acontrer at mindspring.com || || || _______________________________________________ || obol mailing list || obol at oregonbirdwatch.org || http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol || | | _______________________________________________ | obol mailing list | obol at oregonbirdwatch.org | http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol | | _______________________________________________ | obol mailing list | obol at oregonbirdwatch.org | http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol | From raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Sun Feb 15 09:45:06 2009 From: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com (Jeff Fleischer) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 09:45:06 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] ECBC Linn Co. Unit 4 raptor survey Message-ID: <774038.44033.qm@web50910.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Obolers, Yesterday I spent the day at play driving around the southern portion of Linn County counting raptors. I completed the Linn Co. Unit 4 route in 9 hours 25 minutes, covering 135.7 miles. This route covers the area south of Hwy 228 to near the Linn/Lane County line and stretches from the Willamette River east to the foothills south of Brownsville along Gap Rd. Weather conditions were ideal, with 100 percent cloud cover for most of the day and virtually no wind to speak of. Around 3 PM a rain squall passed through the southern part of the route while I was driving along Priceboro Rd, providing about 10 minutes of not so good viewing opportunities but once it passed, the weather was clear, sunny, and everything seemed to have a sparkle to it :) Following are the totals observed, with January 09 numbers in ( ) for comparison: date 2-14-09 1-19-09 miles 135.7 130.8 time 9:25 9:20 Red-tailed Hawk 78 (146) American Kestrel 67 (82) Northern Harrier 33 (65) Bald Eagle adult 26 (32) Bald Eagle subadult 24 (44) Rough-legged Hawk 7 (7) Peregrine Falcon 1 (1) Prairie Falcon 2 (3) UNID Falcon -- (1) Cooper's Hawk 1 (2) UNID Accipiter 1 (--) UNID Raptor -- (1) Total 241 384 As you can see, the numbers dropped off in the last 3-4 weeks. It seemed that I had to work extra hard to "gather in the crop", making sure to scan as much of the oak and ash trees as possible from all angles to "catch" Redtails. I also really had to scan all of the fields to pick up any Northern Harriers that were perched on the ground. One thing I did notice was that some of the Redtails that I saw were circling way up in the sky so my guess is I missed a bunch of birds that I simply could not see while they were out and soaring. It is getting that time of year when they do this sort of thing :) Anyway, I wanted to pass along a wonderful observation moment that I had along Gap Rd towards the end of the survey. For those of you familiar with this particular area, it was near the big red storage shed/barn just south of the ash swale about half a mile south of Diamond Hill Rd where a few White-tailed Kite observations have been made this winter. I had just approached this area from the south after seeing a Prairie Falcon and was feeling pretty good about seeing a good bunch of birds along Priceboro Rd and the southern portion of Gap Rd. I stopped to look at a Redtail perched in a tree when a Harrier flew by in front of me. Then, as I was scanning some other trees, I saw a Rough-legged Hawk. Scanning some more, I found a beautiful adult Cooper's Hawk, which was perched facing the sun and showing off its black cap and reddish chest colors. Then, another Rough-legged Hawk flew by. A minute or two later, two adult Bald Eagles passed overhead, flying to their evening roost. A Kestrel flew in from the west and landed on a wire right near me. Continued scanning of other trees in the distance netted a few more Redtails. To give you further perspective on this particular area, in the past I have found White-tailed Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, Golden Eagle, and Sharp-shinned Hawk from this very spot. To say the least, Gap Rd south of Diamond Hill Rd is one of my favorite drives for birds :) Added to all this viewing pleasure was the stunning clarity and sharpness and brightness that one gets after a rainstorm followed by sunshine. It was a magical 15 minutes of raptor watching! I also wanted to mention a couple other nonraptor bird observations. While driving east on Ranch Dr off of Lake Creek Dr, my first of the year TURKEY VULTURE passed right in front of me. There were many hundreds of TUNDRA SWANs also in their normal Lake Creek Dr area haunts. And, as part of the continuing saga of WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, I noted this species in four different areas on this trip - along Crook Dr just west of Malpass Rd south of the James River paper mill west of Halsey, along Twin Buttes W Dr west of Rolland Rd, along Harris Dr west of Rolland Rd, and of course all over the place along Belts Rd off of Gap Rd. I have spent enough time driving all around Linn County to know that these birds are out there for the viewing and you just have to take the time to look for them. The past discussion of replacing this species as our state bird just goes to show how the uninformed folks in power positions really are focused on flash and not substance. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy watching Ospreys when they are here for 8 or 9 months but maybe we should grab on to the legislators right now and take them for a ride to see if they can find any for us :) Long live the Western Meadowlark as our state bird!!! Oh good grief, enough with the political soapbox stuff, I'm not that sort of person as most of you know :) All in all, another great way to spend a day during the winter here in Oregon! Jeff Fleischer Albany From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sun Feb 15 09:58:08 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 09:58:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Singing Message-ID: <81b2a9930902150958y56ade2e8x66ffcf40a734961d@mail.gmail.com> I've heard recent singing in my neighborhood as well, particularly BC Chickadees in the early morning. Over the past week, I've also been hearing what sounds an awful lot like the truncated song of a Western Wood-Pewee. I'm assuming that this is most likely a mimicking Starling. Brandon Eugene From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Feb 15 10:05:15 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 10:05:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Singing In-Reply-To: <81b2a9930902150958y56ade2e8x66ffcf40a734961d@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: I ca alwys tell when spring is near because the Starlings start throwing in a pewee song. They don't seem to do this midwinter, just from Feb onward. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Brandon Green > Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 09:58:08 -0800 > To: OBOL > Subject: Re: [obol] Singing > > I've heard recent singing in my neighborhood as well, particularly BC > Chickadees in the early morning. Over the past week, I've also been > hearing what sounds an awful lot like the truncated song of a Western > Wood-Pewee. I'm assuming that this is most likely a mimicking > Starling. > > Brandon > Eugene > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From smithdwd at hotmail.com Sun Feb 15 10:29:19 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 18:29:19 +0000 Subject: [obol] LBHeron Siletz Bay Message-ID: At 10 am the LBHeron was with a GBHeron and GrEgret along east side Hywy101, 200 yds south of Drift Creek Bridge. The three were about 50' from the road; great size comparison. This is the mouth of Drift Creek into the Bay. Heavy traffic; no scoping. David Smith _________________________________________________________________ Invite your mail contacts to join your friends list with Windows Live Spaces. It's easy! http://spaces.live.com/spacesapi.aspx?wx_action=create&wx_url=/friends.aspx&mkt=en-us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090215/de036f13/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Feb 15 10:51:18 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 10:51:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Song of the Meadowlark Message-ID: During the first week of the year when melting snow caused temporary flooding along Dairy Creek, I was parked at the bridge east of Roy (WashCo) scanning swans and raptors. I heard the song of an Eastern Meadowlark sung three times in succession. This spot is Washington County's equivalent to Belt's Road/Diamond Hill in Linn County--the grassland bird index is higher than average. But I didn't experience any rush of adrenaline. I had seen a Starling fly into an ash tree a minute before as I turned 180 degrees to scope to the north. I turned around and the Starling was still there, right where the call came from. In my experience Starlings give imitations at a faster speed than their model, and usually a medley of species. This one flew away without additional comment. It's delivery was also evenly spaced, the way a Meadowlark would sing, not three bytes spliced together without a pause. Now that I come to think of it, I have mistaken Starlings on the wing, seen from a distance, for Meadowlarks, and vice versa. I imagine we all have. Lars Norgren From marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Sun Feb 15 12:00:47 2009 From: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com (marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com) Date: 15 Feb 2009 12:00:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 11, Issue 15 Out of Office Message-ID: <20090215200047.20171.qmail@mail01.lax1.becotech.net> Thank you for contacting XP Software! I will be out of the office Thursday, February 12th and returning Tuesday, February 16th. If you require immediate assistance, please call 1-888-554-5022 and ask for anyone in the sales department. Our account managers will be happy to assist you with anything you require. Alternatively, you may forward your email inquiry to nicole.highhouse at xpsoftware.com for assistance by email. Thank you! Respectfully, Marina Bouchot Senior Account Executive Phone: 888-554-5022 x8973 Fax: 888-554-5122 Email: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Web: http://www.xpsoftware.com MODEL WITH CONFIDENCE From kirkpat at charter.net Sun Feb 15 13:53:35 2009 From: kirkpat at charter.net (Douglas Kirkpatrick) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 13:53:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Raptor behavior In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <38C468F1D0B34B059CC9FF4915BE57D9@D7CDFN81> Speaking of Harriers I was just outside looking at a tree that needs pruning in my back yard when a robust female Red tail Hawk chased a skinny (by comparison) Sharp-shin through my yard only 15 feet from me. This is perhaps not earth-shaking but as the Sharp-shin made one quick twist to avoid the Red tail it made a distinct "squeak". I've never heard a Sharpie make this noise before but then I never had the benefit of my new hearing aids either. They really help with the high-pitched sounds.... Doug Kirkpatrick Medford From celata at pacifier.com Sun Feb 15 14:20:08 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 14:20:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Post-Valentine's Day Photo Quiz... Message-ID: <49989518.9010406@pacifier.com> http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Variations on a theme http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html From FoxSparrows at aol.com Sun Feb 15 14:50:57 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 17:50:57 EST Subject: [obol] Desert Thrashers photo gallery Message-ID: I've posted some photos of thrashers from arid lands: _http://picasaweb.google.com/Sagesprrow/DesertThrashers_ (http://picasaweb.google.com/Sagesprrow/DesertThrashers) # If you find thrashers to be as intriguing as I think they are, you might enjoy these photos... Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm_ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1218822736x1201267884/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%26hmpgID=62%26bcd=fe bemailfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090215/b928655b/attachment.html From johndeshler at yahoo.com Sun Feb 15 14:53:38 2009 From: johndeshler at yahoo.com (John Deshler) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 14:53:38 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] do Scrub Jays mimic ??? Message-ID: <598556.87624.qm@web34207.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I love this question because it reminds me of all the times I've been fooled by jays. The full account on Western Scrub Jays from Cornell's Birds of North America Online does not mention mimicry by this species, but does mention mimicry of other species by the Florida Scrub Jay in its "warble-song". In Forest Park, Steller's Jays sometimes respond to my pygmy-owl calls with a mimicked red-tailed hawk jeer/keer call. It immediately gets my attention because red-tailed hawks are a regular presence below the forest canopy, and an RTH did indeed kill a newly fledged pygmy-owl last year. Of course, Gray Jays mimic pygmy-owls, but seem unable or disinclined to sustain the calling bout and maintain the proper interval between notes. When I lived back in Florida at least one Blue Jay in my yard would regularly make weak Osprey and Red-shouldered hawk calls, and then elbow its buddy in the ribs and laugh at me when I looked up in the sky to find the raptors. The jays are separated into multiple genera so perhaps their evolutionary history dictates the presence or absence of mimicry behavior. John Deshler Portlandia From whoffman at peak.org Sun Feb 15 16:25:02 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 16:25:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] FWD: Yakima Robin numbers References: <49983757.5020704@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <8AD1BF49F58D4D30BB5F7031B59DAF83@D48XBZ51> Is this location within the area covered by the radars that have been detecting fall Barn Swallow roosts? Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Patterson" To: "obol" Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 7:40 AM Subject: [obol] FWD: Yakima Robin numbers > Subject: re: Yakima Robins > From: "Scott Downes" > Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 19:02:26 -0800 > > Tweets, > Wanted to elaborate just a little on this. Several of us in Yakima put a > dedicated effort this year to do two "formal" counts from the same > location on Friday and Saturday night. As Jeff indicated his group > tallied just slightly over 92,000 (92,633 to be exact) on Friday eve. My > group tonight repeated the count. Our main goal was not to pit one night > against the other, but to see if numbers fluctuated from night to night. > > > I'm going to paste in a message I just sent to birdyak: > > ******************************************************************************** > > > Here is a recap of the "two night event". Last night the team counted > 92, 633 robins. Tonight there were three of us, Rich, I and Kelly. We > divided the sky. > A few robins were beginning to move when I got there at 4:10. Rich and > Kelly's methods differed a little from mine. They counted for 5 minute > intervals estimating the best they could. Rich had Hwy.12 north to our > station, Kelly had directly overhead and I took everything north of our > station (many of them are higher and up to a mile north of the counting > station). I counted by 50's, but could only keep up that pace for 2 > minutes, so I counted for 2 minutes, took a minute off to rest my eyes > and made the assumption that the per minute rates were same for the > third minute as the first two. For example, at 4:42-4:44 I > counted 1850 robins and estimated that from 4:44-4:45 there were > approximately 925 that I missed (1850/2). As stated by Jeff the peak > seemed to be from about 4:45-5:00. During the peak each counter was > getting roughly 900-1000 robins per minute, so going past in total was > about 2700 or so robins per minute, wow! I just got home tallied and the > numbers. Kelly had 25, 250 in his path, Rich had 31, 700 in his path and > I had 41, 631. This comes to a total of 98, 581. I would bet that either > night we are only accurate at best to +/-5000 robins, so basically the > two nights tallied fairly close totals (saturday was 5,948 higher > or 6% higher) that difference is well within the margin of error I'm > sure the count has. Given the sheer number of robins going past, it is > actually amzing to me that there was such regularity in the two nights. > Our count ended at 5:30 for a total of 1 hour 20 minutes. > > ******************************************************************************* > Thats really an amazing. Not only in the sheer numbers, but that two > groups over two different nights have counted the birds flying into the > roost and gotten such close numbers. The big question still unanswered > is that are these the same birds each night or is there some push to the > north each day and new birds move in. We still don't know as attempts to > examine the roosts in the morning have found much fewer birds than the > evening, so birds are getting away uncounted in the morning. This two > night count though suggests that there is some multiple night stability > in the roost. > > > If you are just looking for something to do, come on over to the roost > in the next week or so and witness an amazing event. Just try to imagine > the 2700 or so birds per minute that I mention above! Feel free to email > me for directions to the viewing area if you need them or I'm sure Jeff > would be happy to answer directions as well. > > > Scott Downes > downess AT charter.net > Yakima WA > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters AT u.washington.edu > http://mailman2.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Variations on a theme > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From whoffman at peak.org Sun Feb 15 16:26:36 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 16:26:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] do Scrub Jays mimic ??? References: <20090214172417.1E693819F@smtp3.pacifier.net> Message-ID: Blue jays in Florida regularly mimicked Red-shouldered Hawks Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "pamela johnston" To: "obol" Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 9:19 AM Subject: Re: [obol] do Scrub Jays mimic ??? > After 16 years in overlapping Scrub and Steller's territory, and more with > Scrub alone, I'd have to say the Scrub Jays don't mimic. > > I recall Blue Jays doing what I would call ventriloquism, which is to say > dropping the loudness of their calls, which makes them seem more distant, > but I can't speak to whether they did any mimicry. > > Pamela Johnston > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Lyn Topinka" > To: "OBOL" > Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2009 9:24 AM > Subject: [obol] do Scrub Jays mimic ??? > > > > hi ... > > I'm aware of Stellers Jays mimicing other sounds and have actually > heard and watched one screeching like an eagle and chattering like a > squirrel ... however I am wondering if Western Scrub Jays do this ??? > ... we've been hearing a hawk screeching every morning and this > morning it was coming from our backyard ... the only bird we saw was > a Western Scrub Jay, however we were not able to see if it was the > screecher or not ... I searched through old Tweeters and OBOL > archives and nothing popped up on my search words, plus I did a > google search on mimcry and Scrub Jays ... nothing I found at the > obvious sources ... so, OBOL and Tweeters --- is mimcry in Scrub Jays > too ??? ... is it perhaps common in ALL Jays ??? > > thanks, > Lyn > > > > > > Lyn Topinka > http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com > http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com > http://RidgefieldBirds.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From cvmcrawford at gmail.com Sun Feb 15 16:49:29 2009 From: cvmcrawford at gmail.com (Corrinne Crawford) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 16:49:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Scrub jay mimicry Message-ID: <1b7470eb0902151649m7fbd2a67ua2d18b716f2091af@mail.gmail.com> Just last week I watched 2 Western Scrub Jays in my yard as they did a passable imitation of White-breasted Nuthatch. Corrinne Crawford Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090215/53acf36e/attachment.html From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Sun Feb 15 17:06:42 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:06:42 -0500 Subject: [obol] purple finches and pussy willows Message-ID: I noticed today that the PURPLE FINCHES are breaking up and consuming the fresh furry white buds of a pussy willow tree in our yard. I cut a bud in half to figure out what they were eating -- I assume they are after the green core because the fur doesn't seem all that appealing. Lona Pierce, Warren, Columbia County _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_AE_Faster_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090215/01711ded/attachment.html From sparsons at canby.com Sun Feb 15 18:03:19 2009 From: sparsons at canby.com (Steve and Diana Parsons) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 18:03:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield American Bittern Message-ID: Diana and I found a very tame bittern at Ridgefield today. The bird was about a 1/3 of a mile out from the pay booth, immediately beside the road, on the left. We took about 30+ pictures from a distance of 10-15 feet. If anyone would like to post one to the Ridgefield web site, give me a shout, and I will send a jpeg to you. Isn't this a bit early for bitterns? Steve From Kyle.W.Bratcher at state.or.us Sun Feb 15 19:19:42 2009 From: Kyle.W.Bratcher at state.or.us (Kyle W Bratcher) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 19:19:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wallowa County Redpolls Message-ID: I was on my way into town today and stopped to see about 12 Redpolls at the same place I found them last month. About half way between Lostine and Enterprise at the east end of the passing lane. Cheers. Kyle Bratcher -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090215/43b18bb9/attachment.html From rfergus at audubon.org Sun Feb 15 19:23:06 2009 From: rfergus at audubon.org (FERGUS, Rob) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:23:06 -0500 Subject: [obol] Oregon GBBC Update--end of Day 3 Message-ID: <69DABA3177B73144996A79E932FE6A770760C67994@flamingo.int.audubon.org> With three days down and only one more to go, Oregon birders have reported 176 species on 506 checklists. To see what birds have been reported in the state, visit: http://gbbc.birdsource.org/gbbcApps/statelinks Can you help fill in some holes? Take a look to see how your town or city is doing here: http://gbbc.birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=step2Place&action=continue&reportType=place&place=city And please help get the word out for the final day of the count. Two GBBC birders up here in Pennsylvania found the state's first Western Grebe this weekend. You never know what you may find, so get out and have some fun. And report your bird sightings to www.birdcount.org. Rob Fergus Senior Scientist, Urban Bird Conservation National Audubon Society Audubon Birdscapes http://birdscapes.audubon.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090215/b59d0865/attachment.html From pointers at pacifier.com Sun Feb 15 19:35:25 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 19:35:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] UPDATE: do Scrub Jays mimic ??? In-Reply-To: <598556.87624.qm@web34207.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <598556.87624.qm@web34207.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <20090216033528.52AAA6F0AD@smtp1.pacifier.net> hi folks ... thanks for all the replies ... the "plot thickens" as this morning I was watching a Stellers Jay sitting in the tree next to the suet block yelling (in Stellers language) at the Bushtits (a.k.a. "Bushtwits" at our place) at the suet ... the Steller's guy was getting rather agitated looking as he was hopping from branch to branch ... he then flew into the pine tree about 10 feet away and disappeared within its depths ... and then came the hawk screech !!!! ... it's effect was electric as the Bushtwits immediately dispersed ... after about 3 screeches all was quiet ... about 3 minutes later I saw two birds leave that tree and fly off ... one was the Stellers and the other was about the same size and dark colored but I couldn't identify it in the trees ... so ... I'm thinking the culprit just might be the Stellers becuase of the timing of the screeches this mornng ... and we just didn't see him the other day when we saw the Scrub Jay sitting there ... the Stellers BTW has been caught at the suet block so I'm thinking he's claiming it as his !!! ... LOL !!!!!!!!! thanks again, Lyn Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sun Feb 15 19:45:56 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 19:45:56 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Oaks Bottom, singing birds, etc. Message-ID: <908968.16485.qm@web55707.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Today (Sunday) at Oaks Bottom we saw and heard lots of birds. Our total of 53 species wasn't bad considering that few waterfowl were around. We did see 3 GREATER SCAUP and 4 CANVASBACKS on the lake. On the east bluff trail there were two WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, the first we've seen there for many months. A TURKEY VULTURE flew low over us at the south meadow, and then flew northeast. Lots of birds were singing. We saw/heard at least 39 LESSER GOLDFINCHES. There were also 24 ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS. We located 3 active hummingbird nests, with hummers constantly importing a variety of nesting materials. Both of these species have dramatically increased at Oaks Bottom in the last 5 or so years. We used to only see Lesser Goldfinches very locally on Mt. Tabor. Also interesting was a leucistic, tawny colored SONG SPARROW, much brighter than our typical northwest Song Sparrows. The same bird was present nearby in early January. It's really feeling like spring out there! Good Birding. Adrian and Christopher Hinkle, Em Scattaregia From haller1234 at msn.com Sun Feb 15 19:46:42 2009 From: haller1234 at msn.com (DON SHARON HALLER) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 19:46:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harriers in the Mountains Message-ID: Soaring male, along the cliffs of Hurricane Divide, . from floor of Hurricane Cr. Canyon, 5400 ft, Wallowa County, OR, mid July, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090215/3d7c96f0/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Sun Feb 15 20:56:35 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:56:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harriers in the Mountains References: Message-ID: <006c01c98ff2$f4a9dc00$0000a398@your5rlp3a9516> Obolites, It wasn't at high elevation, but Chuck Philo and I once saw a Northern Harrier do a pretty skillful job of hunting in an early stage cleacut a few miles northeast of Newport. The trees in the clearcut were still young enough they had not formed crown closure, and the harrier was hunting low through them. We saw it come around a corner, with one foot reach down and pluck a chipmunk off a large stump, and continue on without so much as missing a wingbeat. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: LOUIS C FREDD To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 9:21 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Harriers in the Mountains End of September2007, I saw an immature Northern Harrier very energetically hunting close above the ground in a rugged arroyo near Ten Cent Meadow, el 6900 ft, on the divide between Van Horn and Cottonwood basins, Harney Co. I didn't think this unusual as I was in the midst of hundreds of birds at the time, representing many species, various families, ranging in size from tiny Ruby-crowned Kinglets (numerous) on up to Golden Eagle. At that location both landform and prevailing winds can concentrate a wonderful collection of migrating birds in autumn. Nearer home, I visited Hawk Watch's Bonney Butte site, Mt Hood Nat'l Forest, on October 29 last year. HW's annual counting/banding season, from August 27 thru October 31, was virtually over. Summit el Bonney Butte is 5600 ft. HW's tally board recorded on my camera shows a "to date" total of 19 Northern Harriers (13/2007) vs, e.g., 350 Red-tailed Hawks (388/2007). A total of 3 harriers had been lured and banded. In percentage terms that indicates Northern Harriers quite aggressively hunt even thickly forested, and in this case if you will, steep mountainous terrain in migration. In New York State a few years back, I came upon an adult male Northern Harrier in a low elevation foothills forest in early June. It was perched in a tree watching thick brushy cover in a power line corridor. From the above I think Northern Harriers are skillful hunters in migration, adept in terrain and plant cover found at all elevations. Lou ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. See how it works. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090215/b6961ed9/attachment.html From gneavoll at comcast.net Sun Feb 15 21:00:08 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:00:08 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Brant on Yaquina Bay In-Reply-To: <398054084.446121234760128960.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1299643666.446891234760408586.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Flock of 140-plus BRANT circling tightly over bay w. of Yaquina Bay Bridge, then settling on, along bay at bridge's n. end on Saturday, 2/14/09; still there a day later. SURF SCOTERS also numerous on bay. George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090216/37fb131a/attachment.html From hydie at q.com Sun Feb 15 21:01:16 2009 From: hydie at q.com (hydie lown) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:01:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Creswell Raptor Route Message-ID: We had another good day today, with 36 raptors, the same record setting number as January, but with a different mix and geographical distribution of species. Redtailed Hawk 15 Am. Kestrel 10 N. Harrier 4 Bald Eagle 3 ( 2 adult, 1 immature) WT Kite 4 3 hours, 60 miles. Hydie and Don Lown -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090215/4b49a486/attachment.html From sbkornfeld at msn.com Sun Feb 15 22:01:32 2009 From: sbkornfeld at msn.com (STEVE KORNFELD) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:01:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bahama bird guide Message-ID: OBOL, Anybody out there have "A birder's guide to the Bahamas Islands" by Anthony White? If so, are you looking to get rid of it? thanks Steve Kornfeld Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090215/3fcb2374/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Feb 15 22:09:22 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:09:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield American Bittern In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <0f70781538f98ee5d577fccec9bbe38a@earthlink.net> It was there on Baikal Tealess Day (Feb 1), posing within 3m of the road, but oddly out of sight from nearly all angles. It was frozen in a head up position although it was hidden by no vegetation whatever. One woman was fortunate enough to see it and must have gotten great photos. I looked back after passing her car and chanced to see the bird. When we spoke a mile later it turned out she had no idea what it was-"You mean that thing with the green legs?" The species over-winters in western Oregon to a limited extent, showing up on CBCs, where it is always considered a good bird. I'm guessing they may be of similar abundance in this season to Green Herons but given habitat preference and behavior are much harder to detect. Maybe ten years ago I stopped on the causeway at Killin Wetlands (Cedar Canyon Rd, west of Banks) this time of year. I was looking at ducks well off shore, three of my children were in the car with me. After being parked there for quite awhile, maybe over five minutes, one child pointed out a Bittern on the shore no more than 5m from the car. It was motionless, with no vegetation higher than its ankles. I would have driven off without seeing it if I had been alone. Lars Norgren On Feb 15, 2009, at 6:03 PM, Steve and Diana Parsons wrote: > Diana and I found a very tame bittern at Ridgefield today. The bird > was about a 1/3 of a mile out from the pay booth, immediately beside > the road, on the left. We took about 30+ pictures from a distance > of 10-15 feet. If anyone would like to post one to the Ridgefield > web site, give me a shout, and I will send a jpeg to you. Isn't > this a bit early for bitterns? > > Steve > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From tanager at nu-world.com Sun Feb 15 23:22:42 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 23:22:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] AM Bittern at Ridgefield Message-ID: <002d01c99007$5bab65e0$130231a0$@com> On the day AFTER the Baikal Teal was seen and photographed at Ridgefield a couple of weekends ago, Anne took a series of photos of probably this same bittern consuming a vole. It had caught it near the water edge, probably 15 feet from the car on the driver's side right after the auto-tour-route road emerges from the woods. The already-deceased rodent was probably 4-5 inches long and it was apparent the bird had a bit of trouble swallowing it. You could literally see the lump in its throat gradually descend before the bittern resumed stalking additional prey. We also saw GB herons consuming kicking voles that day out in the grassy areas, but none were the size of the animal the bittern caught. Dan Heyerly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090215/15a052d7/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Feb 16 01:17:15 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 01:17:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull at Fernhill Lake Message-ID: <6081725a2694a3ed1bcaa87b21c5cf95@earthlink.net> This afternoon at a little past four I saw a second winter SLATY-BACKED GULL at Fernhill Lake. I had just begun giving it close scrutiny when a novice birder asked me about the identity of some mongrel mallards--tame ducks that had been dumped by their bored owners. This may be a county record so I apologize for sort of dropping the ball. I spent the rest of the available daylight talking to the novice and his wife, an even more enthusiastic birdwatcher. The gull flock was at its best for Fernhill this winter. Over 100 large gulls within dozens of meters from shore in dazzling sunlight. Someone must have fed them before my arrival as such a large number is typically only in mid-pool at this hour and only observable by scope. Flock composition was different also, with few adult Glaucous-wing/Olympic Gulls and a great many juveniles of same. The highest number of pure adult Westerns I can recall at this spot (at least 10) and also the highest count of Herring Gulls(at least 15). A preponderance of the latter were second and third year birds. It would have been interesting to make a systematic census of the gulls present. Thayer's seemed to be at their lowest for this season. Salient points observed in the Slaty-backed were: White eye; long,thin bone-colored bill with a black tip(as I recall, turning into a broad ring); a pale head and neck with freckles like the downtown Portland bird; black primary tips without spots, narrower than G-wings', extending further beyond the tail; an evenly gray mantle (not esp. dark) contrasting with much paler, grungy, mottled wings. A group of people approached on the western dike and the gulls apparently hoped for more food and all briefly flew over there. I did not relocate the S-b when the flock returned to my shore, entirely due to a lack of effort on my part. If I hadn't had such stellar looks at the third year bird in Westmoreland Jan 31 I would have certainly been more sedulous today. Lars Norgren From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Feb 16 06:06:26 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 06:06:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Saw-whet owls "singing" now Message-ID: <1234793186.3629.32.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, I've mentioned this on the Mid-Valley list but it probably applies to most of western Oregon, wherever there are dense conifers: NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS seem to be "singing" regularly now. I'm hearing one or two most mornings between 5:00 and 5:45 AM, sometimes with a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL joining in. Once the Great Horned Owls start up around 6 AM, the smaller owls stop. No messing around with tape players in the dark required: Just find a quiet spot close to suitable habitat, bring along a thermos of coffee, and enjoy the stars while you listen. Happy owling, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From m.denny at charter.net Mon Feb 16 07:41:59 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 07:41:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] N.Umatilla County Raptor Route Message-ID: Hello all, Yesterday we joined Rodger and Ginger Shoemake for our very enjoyable monthly raptor route - with the weather going from wind, snow, fog, rain to breezy with sunshine at times. Red-tailed Hawk - 184 with many on nest but still a lot of dark-morph and a couple Harlan's. Rough-legged Hawk - 5 Ferruginous Hawk - 1 - always the highlight of the buteos!! Northern Harrier - 3 - scarce this year. Bald Eagle - 1 subadult sitting over the huge feedlots out of Umapine American Kestrel - 21 Prairie Falcon - 2 Great Horned Owl - 4 - with 3 sitting on nest Barn Owl - 1 in hole in dirt bank. Total - 233 As we were coming around our home block a nice Northern Goshawk flew over - Later, M & ML .................................................................................. Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived From nelsoncheek at charter.net Mon Feb 16 08:48:20 2009 From: nelsoncheek at charter.net (WALTER NELSON) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 08:48:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lincoln Co. Coast Raptor Route Message-ID: <20090216163842.HXDP25639.aarprv04.charter.net@D9FD2761> On Saturday 2/14 Wayne Hoffman and I completed the coastal route for the Lincoln Co. Raptor Survey. Weather was sunny and calm in the southern section, but we ran into cloud cover and a brief shower as we traveled north. We drove 61 miles in 4.75 hrs and found: Red-tailed Hawk 11 American Kestrel 1 Northern Harrier 2 Bald Eagle 7 (6 adults, 1 undetermined) White-tailed Kite 1 Peregrine Falcon 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 ______________________ Rebecca Cheek South Beach, OR 97366 nelsoncheek AT charter.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090216/b651c04d/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Mon Feb 16 08:48:39 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 08:48:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] purple finches and pussy willows References: Message-ID: Purple Finches forage on other buds as well. Commonly, on Oak buds down our way. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) I noticed today that the PURPLE FINCHES are breaking up and consuming the fresh furry white buds of a pussy willow tree in our yard. I cut a bud in half to figure out what they were eating -- I assume they are after the green core because the fur doesn't seem all that appealing. Lona Pierce, Warren, Columbia County -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090216/ae8be39f/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Mon Feb 16 10:51:55 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:51:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] purple finches and pussy willows References: Message-ID: <96450D8B1B4941A39BA3FD01371E3A20@yourw5st28y9a3> I've seen Purple Finches eating buds and blossoms of wild cherry, too. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: Dennis P. Vroman To: Bobbett Pierce ; obol Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 8:48 AM Subject: Re: [obol] purple finches and pussy willows Purple Finches forage on other buds as well. Commonly, on Oak buds down our way. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) I noticed today that the PURPLE FINCHES are breaking up and consuming the fresh furry white buds of a pussy willow tree in our yard. I cut a bud in half to figure out what they were eating -- I assume they are after the green core because the fur doesn't seem all that appealing. Lona Pierce, Warren, Columbia County ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Mon Feb 16 12:00:29 2009 From: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com (marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com) Date: 16 Feb 2009 12:00:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 11, Issue 16 Out of Office Message-ID: <20090216200029.30393.qmail@mail01.lax1.becotech.net> Thank you for contacting XP Software! I will be out of the office Thursday, February 12th and returning Tuesday, February 16th. If you require immediate assistance, please call 1-888-554-5022 and ask for anyone in the sales department. Our account managers will be happy to assist you with anything you require. Alternatively, you may forward your email inquiry to nicole.highhouse at xpsoftware.com for assistance by email. Thank you! Respectfully, Marina Bouchot Senior Account Executive Phone: 888-554-5022 x8973 Fax: 888-554-5122 Email: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Web: http://www.xpsoftware.com MODEL WITH CONFIDENCE From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Mon Feb 16 12:17:30 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:17:30 +0000 Subject: [obol] White winged and Red Crossbills (Type 1-4) vocalization--Great Link!! Message-ID: Hi all, Here is a very useful link to differences in crossbill vocalizations for both White winged and Red Crossbills (Type 1-4). There is also a description for each species or type. http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/introduction-to%20crossbill-vocalizations Enjoy and hope you get out to witness the White winged Crossbills invasion in parts of Northcentral and Northeastern WA and NE Oregon. Good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From ellencantor at gmail.com Mon Feb 16 15:23:20 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:23:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Townsend's Warbler and more Message-ID: <7058c4c60902161523q6ff67355p73548023524b60a9@mail.gmail.com> A birdy day in my neighborhood in west central Eugene...LOTS of flocks of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS carousing noisily through the entire neighborhood. In one tall conifer, a bright male TOWNSEND'S WARBLER joined the Yellow-rumped gang. Besides the usual assortment of winter birds, I was also treated to a very close view through my window of a BEWICK'S WREN perched on an azalea bush. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090216/38390b10/attachment.html From cncschneider at msn.com Mon Feb 16 16:41:20 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:41:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Questionable GBBC Data Message-ID: Hi Birders, I noticed that there were 4 Green Herons reported from Lincoln City and all 4 were reported from one checklist. I checked on some CBC record for the central coast and the largest number reported was 1 individual per count. All the GBBC records for the Pacific Northwest are 3 or smaller except for a record of 8 individuals from Yakima that were all on one check list from 2007. I think that maybe the Green Heron reports from Lincoln City in 2009 and the Yakima report from 2007 should be checked. Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090216/f807fc61/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Mon Feb 16 18:12:01 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (greg at thebirdguide.com) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:12:01 GMT Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands Gulls Message-ID: <200902170212.n1H2C1fr015942@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Greg Gillson by http://birdnotes.net Date: February 16, 2009 Location: Fernhill Wetlands, Washington County, Oregon Checking gull roost on Fernhill Wetlands at dusk for reported 2nd year Slaty-backed Gull seen yesterday evening. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Bald Eagle 3 [1] Mew Gull 100 California Gull 1 Herring Gull 12 [2] Thayer's Gull 11 [3] Western Gull 3 [4] Glaucous-winged Gull 75 Glaucous-winged x Western Gull 150 Footnotes: [1] Bald Eagle: appeared to be two 1st year and a 2nd year bird. [2] Herring Gull: 8 adult, 3 first year, 1 second year [3] Thayer's Gull: 8 adult, 2 second year, 1 first year [4] Western Gull: 1 definite, 2 others likely Total number of species seen: 8 From birdboy at bkpix.com Mon Feb 16 18:23:31 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 18:23:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] February at Malheur Message-ID: Hi birders, My dad and I spent the weekend birding and exploring Malheur and Harney Co. February is the least-birded month at Malheur, probably because it's mostly a bird-free zone this time of year. In one half-day stretch between Burns Junction, Basque, Whitehorse Ranch, and Fields, we saw exactly four birds. We still found about 50 species overall, though, most notably: Center Patrol Road: 5 - AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS 150 - HORNED LARKS Headquarters: 1 - EURASIAN WIGEON 1 - NORTHERN SHRIKE 8 - BALD EAGLES Diamond Road Junction: 1 - LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE Buena Vista: 2 - CACKLING GEESE Page Springs: 1 - RED-SHOULDERED HAWK 2 - BROWN CREEPERS Frenchglen: 2 - SLATE-COLORED JUNCOS 1 - CEDAR WAXWING Fields: 3 - PINE SISKINS COUGAR tracks were all over Page Springs, upriver and upcanyon, in snow less than a day old. We followed one set of tracks up into surrounding rimrock and found a deer - or what was left of it, under some juniper trees, mostly eaten. Even the skull was crunched in half! I wonder if the big cat was watching us there. We never saw it, and there were no new signs the next day. It was pretty fascinating to follow the tracks; in some cases, they led right up or down rocky faces that were too steep for us to climb. Weather was relatively nice - highs in the 30s and lows in the upper teens. Inch or two of new snow on Friday night, then snow flurries the rest of the weekend. Malheur Field Station has a "deluxe" trailer on OO Road, called "Harrier" - it's even got a wood stove! Good birding, Noah Strycker (and Bob Keefer) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090216/111efe20/attachment.html From smithdwd at hotmail.com Mon Feb 16 20:28:23 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:28:23 +0000 Subject: [obol] North Coast Highlights 14-16 Feb Message-ID: 14 Feb, ASoP tour. Lyttle Lake (Rockaway): Clark's Grebe. Nestucca Bay area: WT Kite, RS Hawk, 15 Feb, Drift Creek into Siletz Bay: LB Heron 16 Feb, 7:20 am Schooner Creek mouth into bay(near rocks) 9 Golden i; 1 a male Barrow's Golden i. Nye Beach, 150yds south of Visual Arts Center(against sandstone cliff: Black Phoebe. This was at 8:15 am(pre insects) so it was sitting quietly, pumping tail. I saw it fly in, otherwise may have missed it in the bushes. Depoe Bay: 3 A Oystercatchers, a kingfisher working the wave splashed pools, and RW and Brewer's Blackbirds near the surf?? Nestucca area: light RL Hawk near road hovering. Nehalem Bay: Eared Grebe. Fenk Rd. 1000+ Wigeon, at least 7 (lots of headbobbing) male Eurasian in the field. Warm and sunny; lots of vacationers. David Smith _________________________________________________________________ News, entertainment and everything you care about at Live.com. Get it now! http://www.live.com/getstarted.aspx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090217/a22ff088/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Mon Feb 16 21:59:41 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:59:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Kittiwakes, Ancient Murrelet, Tierra del Mar Message-ID: <20090217055948.BB281A8236@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Both Sunday and today at Tierra del Mar (Tillamook Co.)there were 3 or 4 adult BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES foraging, apparently, just beyond the surf line. Kind of a treat to watch them so close to shore. Saturday afternoon, I got a brief glimpse of an ANCIENT MURRELET among a handful of MARBLED MURRELETS and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS. I was excited to add Ancient Murrelet to the Great Backyard Bird Count list, but it was not on the "Oregon Coastal Counties" checklist. Thick-billed Murre and Long-billed Murrelet, neither of which I've ever seen in Oregon, were on the list, but not Ancient Murrelet. Wink Gross Portland From llsdirons at msn.com Mon Feb 16 23:48:05 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:48:05 +0000 Subject: [obol] New BirdFellow.com journal post Message-ID: Greetings All, Today we posted the first of a three-part series of photo essays. These posts explore some of the interesting subspecies that occur in Baja California Sur. All are species familiar to most West Coast birders, but these are birds you would hardly recognize if you saw them in your local patch. Today's post covers House Finches. The male House Finches in B.C.S. show far more extensive and deeper red than any House Finch you might see in western U.S., or elsewhere in the U.S. Tuesday's post will explore the very unique San Lucas Robins, which are a subspecies of American Robin. They are quite different in terms of plumage, bill color, and vocalizations. Later in the week, we'll look at Acorn Woodpeckers. The birds in B.C.S. have dark eyes, are more streaked below, and the light area wrapping around the face is entirely yellow rather than mostly white like all other populations of Acorn Woodpecker. These journal posts can be viewed at BirdFellow.com. We encourage your questions, comments, and general feedback about the nature of our posts. We are also interested in hearing from folks who might have a good topic to explore in one of these posts. Simply click on the "comments" link right below the title and tell us what you think. Dave Irons BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Get more out of the Web. Learn 10 hidden secrets of Windows Live. http://windowslive.com/connect/post/jamiethomson.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!550F681DAD532637!5295.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_domore_092008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090217/a5d758c9/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Tue Feb 17 06:13:36 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 06:13:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Backyard Bird Count - Blue Jays Message-ID: Blue Jays were reported in Oregon less commonly this year, 24, compared to 37 last year. Is this an index of something? Jeff http://gbbc.birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport &reportName=SpeciesCity&species=blujay&state=US-OR&year=2009 2009 Results: Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata): Oregon Other years: 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Town Number of Birds Number of Checklists Reporting the Species Bend 4 3 Salem 5 2 Albany 1 1 Corvallis 2 1 Grants Pass 2 1 Gresham 3 1 Portland 2 1 Redmond 3 1 Sublimity 2 1 Total 24 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090217/c0d2c87d/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Tue Feb 17 06:31:15 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 06:31:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Backyard Bird Count - Blue Jays References: Message-ID: Would love to find those Blue Jays in the Grants Pass area (none documented for the County that I'm aware of). Seeing as they are on the list adjacent to the expected Jay species, it's possible someone just entered their tally under Blue Jay in error. ....in the mean time, if the Grants Pass Blue Jays are relocated, I will be out looking for them too. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Blue Jays were reported in Oregon less commonly this year, 24, compared to 37 last year. Is this an index of something? Jeff http://gbbc.birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport&reportName=SpeciesCity&species=blujay&state=US-OR&year=2009 2009 Results: Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata): Oregon Other years: 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Town Number of Birds Number of Checklists Reporting the Species Bend 4 3 Salem 5 2 Albany 1 1 Corvallis 2 1 Grants Pass 2 1 Gresham 3 1 Portland 2 1 Redmond 3 1 Sublimity 2 1 Total 24 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090217/aaa49fe3/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Tue Feb 17 07:36:33 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:36:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Backyard Bird Count - Blue Jays In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <499ad97e.15528c0a.1840.0388@mx.google.com> I have heard of no Blue Jays being around the Bend area this year. If they are I would like to see them! Marilyn Miller _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Harding Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 6:14 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Backyard Bird Count - Blue Jays Blue Jays were reported in Oregon less commonly this year, 24, compared to 37 last year. Is this an index of something? Jeff http://gbbc.birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport &reportName=SpeciesCity&species=blujay&state=US-OR&year=2009 2009 Results: Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata): Oregon Other years: 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Town Number of Birds Number of Checklists Reporting the Species Bend 4 3 Salem 5 2 Albany 1 1 Corvallis 2 1 Grants Pass 2 1 Gresham 3 1 Portland 2 1 Redmond 3 1 Sublimity 2 1 Total 24 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090217/bad56b73/attachment.html From foxsparrows at aol.com Tue Feb 17 07:32:39 2009 From: foxsparrows at aol.com (foxsparrows at aol.com) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:32:39 -0500 Subject: [obol] February at Malheur In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <8CB5F2C19BEA7FF-1724-112E@WEBMAIL-MA17.sysops.aol.com> Noah's experience is an indicator of why a Hareny Co. resident like me doresn't have much to say about winter birding around the county! However,?the winter 0f 2006 was better for rapotors... 07 and 08 have been kinda slim. CPT has been reliable for about 5 or so American Tree Sparrows each of the past 3 winters. The Silvies River floodplain north of Burns is full of dense willows and dogwood, and still is pretty much empty of birds during mid-winter. A Red-shouldered Hawk in midwinter in this county is certainly a nice find! On the subject of cougars at Page Springs.... when I counted birds for the CBC at Page Springs in mid-December, I followed fresh cougar tracks in the snow down the river, into the Nature Trail canyon, and through the campground. I kinda felt like some big kitty was watching me then too... A note for spring campers to Page Springs: A new restroom has been installed, as well as a new water system that delivers water to more campsites. New picnic tables have been delivered as well, and will be installed before spring migrant season kicks into gear. Hi birders, My dad and I spent the weekend birding and exploring Malheur and Harney Co. February is the least-birded month at Malheur, probably because it's mostly a bird-free zone this time of year. In one half-day stretch between Burns Junction, Basque, Whitehorse Ranch, and Fields, we saw exactly four birds. We still found about 50 species overall, though, most notably: Center Patrol Road: 5 - AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS 150 - HORNED LARKS Headquarters: 1 - EURASIAN WIGEON 1 - NORTHERN SHRIKE 8 - BALD EAGLES Diamond Road Junction: 1 - LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE Buena Vista: 2 - CACKLING GEESE Page Springs: 1 - RED-SHOULDERED HAWK 2 - BROWN CREEPERS Frenchglen: 2 - SLATE-COLORED JUNCOS 1 - CEDAR WAXWING Fields: 3 - PINE SISKINS COUGAR tracks were all over Page Springs, upriver and upcanyon, in snow less than a day old. We followed one set of tracks up into surrounding rimrock and found a deer - or what was left of it, under some juniper trees, mostly eaten. Even the skull was crunched in half! I wonder if the big cat was watching us there. We never saw it, and there were no new signs the next day. It was pretty fascinating to follow the tracks; in some cases, they led right up or down rocky faces that were too steep for us to climb. Weather was relatively nice - highs in the 30s and lows in the upper teens. Inch or two of new snow on Friday night, then snow flurries the rest of the weekend. Malheur Field Station has a "deluxe" trailer on OO Road, called "Harrier" - it's even got a wood stove! Good birding, Noah Strycker (and Bob Keefer) Steve Dowlan OWLHOOTER at AOL.COM -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090217/2b619f18/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Tue Feb 17 08:19:12 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:19:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (?) at Baskett Slough NWR=16 Feb. Message-ID: <000601c9911b$82f35760$3700a8c0@windypoint99> Birders, Yesterday afternoon at about 3 pm, four birders from the Yakima Valley Audubon Society briefly observed a sapsucker we ascribed as a female Yellow-bellied. Instantly appreciating its rarity in OR, I had all of us closely observe this bird. It was atop a small tree (old apple?) at the beginning of the Baskett Butte Interpretive Trail (middle of Coville Rd. in the refuge). From the trail info board look at the parking area here it was the first tree on your left beyond the board (west side of trail). The bird fled the scene after perhaps 15 seconds, we thought to the oaks on the knoll to he west of the trail. We searched that area and on up to the top of the interpretive trail for an hour without any success in relocating the bird. The only other woodpeckers we found on this search were a couple Hairies at the top of the butte. My only reservation in the id here is, of course the species rarity here in Oregon (15 or so records at time of publication of Birds of Oregon: a general reference -Marshall et al.) and the possibility some Red-naped Sapsuckers lack any red on their throat. Otherwise, it matched very well the female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker depicted in our big Sibley. I will delve into the fairly recent Birding article on sapsucker id. later today for more insight into this identification but wanted to get the word out now. We'd greatly appreciate Oregon birders check this spot out to perhaps confirm our sighting! Knowing that sapsuckers will revisit favored feeding trees through the day makes it plausible the bird might return to this spot. BTW, you folks in Oregon have fabulous birding, scenery, and natural history! More later on our 3-day trip to Ankeny NWR and the central coast. Andy Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090217/c30ac7e2/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Feb 17 08:24:47 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:24:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Backyard Bird Count - Blue Jays Message-ID: <499AE4CF.1080203@pacifier.com> If one chooses to put the time into it, there are several species that are regularly reported for the GBBC that are almost certainly in error. Blue Jay is the most obvious, but arguably the most forgivable. Most "jays" in Oregon are blue and a significant number of backyard birders are operating from a vernacular database, not a scientific one. The parent database, ebird, has filters that can catch these errors, but they have not been systematically vetted by local experts (I don't have the time, do you?). As a consequence, one has to confirm Orange-crowned Warbler, but not Black and White Warbler; WesternxGW hybrid, but not Glaucous Gull. More problematic are the "stealth" errors. Have a look at where California Towhee and Pygmy Nuthatches were seen (or Green Herons as was mentioned yesterday). Again, there are regional filters, but no person-power to vet them all properly. We can complain all we want (and God knows, I've been complaining for 12 years now, see _Thoughts on an errant Albatross_ at: http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/02/gbbc20082019.html ), but what the system really needs are extra hands. At the bigger picture level, it's also important to keep the whole project in perspective. Most of the point of the Great Backyard Bird Count is to celebrate the pastime, not collect definitive data. The folks at the GBBC site spend more time touting the number of lists submitted than species seen. And in this day and age, we should be focusing on the remarkable level of interest there seems to be among folks who apparently don't own a decent field guide, but still want to send in data. They are not going to get the technical assistance they need from the Cornell website. Educating local participants and the folks at Cornell about Blue Jays and California Towhees has to come from the local experts. Birdsource has given these folks there first push, it's up to us to get them the rest of the way. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Variations on a theme http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html From dpvroman at budget.net Tue Feb 17 08:40:09 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:40:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Backyard Bird Count - Blue Jays - Cal Towhees References: <499AE4CF.1080203@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <43EFFB8ED6AE4D8C83E02ECB7F05DB52@Warbler> I found 2 CALIFORNIA TOWHEES at two different locations near our place (managed to get one reported) and was surprised to find it in the "rare" bird species list for Oregon. Sent a comment that Cal Towhees are year-long residents in sw OR (Josephine and Jackson Co at minimum) in specific habitat types. I can see where it could be a problem to include some "common" species that are in small geographic area within a State or region. Would think there would be a way of filtering out the obvious mistaken reports, but then I don't know much about setting up web page data entry. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) > If one chooses to put the time into it, there are several species that > are regularly reported for the GBBC that are almost certainly in error. > > Blue Jay is the most obvious, but arguably the most forgivable. Most > "jays" in Oregon are blue and a significant number of backyard birders > are operating from a vernacular database, not a scientific one. > > The parent database, ebird, has filters that can catch these errors, but > they have not been systematically vetted by local experts (I don't have > the time, do you?). As a consequence, one has to confirm Orange-crowned > Warbler, but not Black and White Warbler; WesternxGW hybrid, but not > Glaucous Gull. > > More problematic are the "stealth" errors. Have a look at where > California Towhee and Pygmy Nuthatches were seen (or Green Herons as > was mentioned yesterday). Again, there are regional filters, but no > person-power to vet them all properly. > > We can complain all we want (and God knows, I've been complaining for > 12 years now, see _Thoughts on an errant Albatross_ at: > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/02/gbbc20082019.html > ), but what the system really needs are extra hands. > > At the bigger picture level, it's also important to keep the whole > project in perspective. Most of the point of the Great Backyard Bird > Count is to celebrate the pastime, not collect definitive data. The > folks at the GBBC site spend more time touting the number of lists > submitted than species seen. And in this day and age, we should be > focusing on the remarkable level of interest there seems to be among > folks who apparently don't own a decent field guide, but still want > to send in data. They are not going to get the technical assistance > they need from the Cornell website. Educating local participants and the > folks at Cornell about Blue Jays and California Towhees has to come from > the local experts. > > Birdsource has given these folks there first push, it's up to us to > get them the rest of the way. > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Variations on a theme > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html From llsdirons at msn.com Tue Feb 17 08:57:10 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:57:10 +0000 Subject: [obol] Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (?) at Baskett Slough NWR=16 Feb. In-Reply-To: <000601c9911b$82f35760$3700a8c0@windypoint99> References: <000601c9911b$82f35760$3700a8c0@windypoint99> Message-ID: Andy, This may sound strange, but pure Red-naped Sapsuckers are almost as rare in the Willamette Valley as Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. If indeed members of your groups took good notes about the appearance of this bird, a certain ID seems pretty likely. Since you call this a female, I'm presuming that the bird you saw was an adult. If it looked at all like a juv. it was a certain Yellow-bellied (see molt comments below). I've read and re-read the most recent Birding sapsucker ID article (Mlodinow et al.) and there are a couple things to look for. 1. Red on the nape -- Mlodinow et al. examined many museum specimens of Red-naped Sapsuckers and all taken after early Oct, including hatch-year birds, had some red-tipped feathers on the nape (more precisely the nuchal patch). Hatch-year Red-naped Sapsucker molt from juv. to first basic plumage before reaching their wintering grounds, thus by this time of year they look like adults. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers molt after reaching their wintering grounds and typically retain their juvenile plumage until they molt in early spring. Sibley makes note of this in his date ranges for juv. plumages of the two species. 2. Pattern of the back -- Red-naped Sapsuckers have a mostly black back with two troughs of horizontal white barring divided by an unbarred black trough down the middle. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, particularly females, show no real breaks in the barring, which extends almost all the way across the back leaving very limited solid black areas. It should also be noted that this barring is typically not clean white (as it is in Red-napeds). The barring has a more buffy golden quality. 3. It is more subtle, but the throat patch of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is smaller due to the steeper downward angle of the black malar stripe that connects into the frame around the throat. This black throat frame is also a bit broader, which serves to constrict the throat patch. One final point, a high percentage of the "Red-naped Sapsuckers" reported west of the Cascades ultimately prove to be Red-naped Sapsucker X Red-breasted Sapsucker hybrids and intergrades (F2+). In 30+ years of birding in w. OR, I've seen one definitive Red-naped, a couple intergrades, and two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. Thanks for taking the time to post this bird, as I'm sure it will be of interest to some of the Polk County listers. There may be a county record for Yellow-bellied, but off hand I can't recall a recent one. Please report any other sightings or numbers that might be worthy of inclusion in either the North American Birds or Oregon Birds field notes columns. Silly me, somwhere along the line I volunteered to write both. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: windypointandy at dishmail.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:19:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (?) at Baskett Slough NWR=16 Feb. Birders, Yesterday afternoon at about 3 pm, four birders from the Yakima Valley Audubon Society briefly observed a sapsucker we ascribed as a female Yellow-bellied. Instantly appreciating its rarity in OR, I had all of us closely observe this bird. It was atop a small tree (old apple?) at the beginning of the Baskett Butte Interpretive Trail (middle of Coville Rd. in the refuge). From the trail info board look at the parking area here it was the first tree on your left beyond the board (west side of trail). The bird fled the scene after perhaps 15 seconds, we thought to the oaks on the knoll to he west of the trail. We searched that area and on up to the top of the interpretive trail for an hour without any success in relocating the bird. The only other woodpeckers we found on this search were a couple Hairies at the top of the butte. My only reservation in the id here is, of course the species rarity here in Oregon (15 or so records at time of publication of Birds of Oregon: a general reference -Marshall et al.) and the possibility some Red-naped Sapsuckers lack any red on their throat. Otherwise, it matched very well the female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker depicted in our big Sibley. I will delve into the fairly recent Birding article on sapsucker id. later today for more insight into this identification but wanted to get the word out now. We'd greatly appreciate Oregon birders check this spot out to perhaps confirm our sighting! Knowing that sapsuckers will revisit favored feeding trees through the day makes it plausible the bird might return to this spot. BTW, you folks in Oregon have fabulous birding, scenery, and natural history! More later on our 3-day trip to Ankeny NWR and the central coast. Andy Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net _________________________________________________________________ See how Windows connects the people, information, and fun that are part of your life. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093175mrt/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090217/01f62c87/attachment.html From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Tue Feb 17 09:36:18 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (Denise Hughes) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:36:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ontario Raptor Route Message-ID: <464db1a10902170936m64404e65p4e39cf81d8cddbe7@mail.gmail.com> Raptor numbers were way down this month. But the ground is covered with several inches of ice crusted snow so the birds may have moved on. Red-tailed Hawk - 36 American Kestrel - 17 Northern Harrier - 2 Golden Eagle - 2 Great Horned Owl - 1 Cooper's Hawk - 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2 Unidentified Bueto - 2 Other birds seen were Belted Kingfisher, lots of Pintails and Goldeneyes, White crowned Sparrows, Robins and way too many Eurasian Collared Doves. -- Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho dhughes55 at clearwire.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090217/884c6c20/attachment.html From dan-gleason at comcast.net Tue Feb 17 11:01:15 2009 From: dan-gleason at comcast.net (Dan Gleason) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:01:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Warning about possible false link References: <20090216200029.30393.qmail@mail01.lax1.becotech.net> Message-ID: <19B4F753-47A8-4B54-9148-33B3B55FA80D@comcast.net> Barbara and I were out of town until late last night so I am just now catching up with email. The email below (minus the active link) has come to my email twice last week and I now see it appearing on OBOL. I know nothing about "XP Software" so the seemingly personal message can't be real. I would be extremely cautious about clicking the link as I strongly suspect this is an attempt to get your contact info. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 Begin forwarded message: > From: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com > Date: February 16, 2009 12:00:29 PM PST > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 11, Issue 16 Out of Office > Reply-To: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com > > Thank you for contacting XP Software! I will be out of the office > Thursday, February 12th and returning Tuesday, February 16th. If > you require immediate assistance, please call 1-888-554-5022 and > ask for anyone in the sales department. Our account managers will > be happy to assist you with anything you require. Alternatively, > you may forward your email inquiry to ---- for assistance by email. > > Thank you! > > Respectfully, > Marina Bouchot > Senior Account Executive > Phone: 888-554-5022 x8973 > Fax: 888-554-5122 > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090217/a30bb563/attachment.html From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Tue Feb 17 11:10:39 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (Denise Hughes) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:10:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Warning about possible false link In-Reply-To: <19B4F753-47A8-4B54-9148-33B3B55FA80D@comcast.net> References: <20090216200029.30393.qmail@mail01.lax1.becotech.net> <19B4F753-47A8-4B54-9148-33B3B55FA80D@comcast.net> Message-ID: <464db1a10902171110r39fc7438mc7457ae31d0ee615@mail.gmail.com> The person sending this response may have set her email to respond with an 'out of office' message. Any emails that go to her account will get an automatic response. You can do this with your own email account. Or as you say, this could be more spam. Denise Hughes Caldwell, ID On Tue, Feb 17, 2009 at 12:01 PM, Dan Gleason wrote: > Barbara and I were out of town until late last night so I am just now > catching up with email. > The email below (minus the active link) has come to my email twice last > week and I now see it appearing on OBOL. I know nothing about "XP Software" > so the seemingly personal message can't be real. I would be extremely > cautious about clicking the link as I strongly suspect this is an attempt to > get your contact info. > > Dan Gleason > ------------- > Dan Gleason > dan-gleason at comcast.net > 541 345-0450 > > > Begin forwarded message: > > *From: *marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com > *Date: *February 16, 2009 12:00:29 PM PST > *To: *obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > *Subject: **Re: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 11, Issue 16 Out of Office* > *Reply-To: *marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com > > Thank you for contacting XP Software! I will be out of the office Thursday, > February 12th and returning Tuesday, February 16th. If you require > immediate assistance, please call 1-888-554-5022 and ask for anyone in the > sales department. Our account managers will be happy to assist you with > anything you require. Alternatively, you may forward your email inquiry to > ---- for assistance by email. > > Thank you! > > Respectfully, > Marina Bouchot > Senior Account Executive > Phone: 888-554-5022 x8973 > Fax: 888-554-5122 > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho dhughes55 at clearwire.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090217/de309c71/attachment.html From watice at msn.com Tue Feb 17 11:45:31 2009 From: watice at msn.com (BILL ROSIE TICE) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:45:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] No sapsucker this morning Message-ID: Hi All, I went to BSNWR to look for the reported Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. As it was steadily raining, I sat in my truck and watched the apple trees for about 45 minutes. Finally the rain let up and I walked up the trail to where it forks. Then I checked the apple trees in back of the outhouse. There were plenty of birds around, but no sapsucker. If it prefers apple trees, it may still be around as there are a good number along Colville Rd just east of the parking lot, as well as along the road to the east slough, which is closed now. Plus, there are scattered ones in back of the outhouse and along the trail up to the butte to check. I plan to return tomorrow mid morning to look some more. Bill Tice -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090217/d9e712fd/attachment.html From marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Tue Feb 17 12:16:55 2009 From: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com (Marina Bouchot) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:16:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Apologies to All for the Auto Response! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <02c801c9913c$ae8448a0$0b8cd9e0$@bouchot@xpsoftware.com> A sheepish apology to all OBOLers for the Autoresponder messages that have populated this list for the past 6 days! We have a new email system here at my office and it looks like the kinks are still being worked out. I am counting my blessings I get the once a day digest otherwise this really could have been a total disaster! I am indeed just your average, ordinary bird lover who happened to be out of town enjoying the wilds of Big Sky Montana for an amazing winter weekend. Rest assured, no one is collecting your emails and having returned, this will no longer be a concern for this list moving forward. My apologies and continued happy birding to one and all.... Marina (of XP Software notoriety) ------------------------------ Message: 19 Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:01:15 -0800 From: Dan Gleason Subject: [obol] Warning about possible false link To: OBOL OBOL Message-ID: <19B4F753-47A8-4B54-9148-33B3B55FA80D at comcast.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Barbara and I were out of town until late last night so I am just now catching up with email. The email below (minus the active link) has come to my email twice last week and I now see it appearing on OBOL. I know nothing about "XP Software" so the seemingly personal message can't be real. I would be extremely cautious about clicking the link as I strongly suspect this is an attempt to get your contact info. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 ------------------------------ Message: 20 Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:10:39 -0700 From: Denise Hughes Subject: Re: [obol] Warning about possible false link To: OBOL OBOL Message-ID: <464db1a10902171110r39fc7438mc7457ae31d0ee615 at mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" The person sending this response may have set her email to respond with an 'out of office' message. Any emails that go to her account will get an automatic response. You can do this with your own email account. Or as you say, this could be more spam. Denise Hughes Caldwell, ID From jmoodie at cocc.edu Tue Feb 17 12:51:37 2009 From: jmoodie at cocc.edu (Jim Moodie) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:51:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] [OBOL] Warning about possible false link In-Reply-To: <464db1a10902171110r39fc7438mc7457ae31d0ee615@mail.gmail.com> References: <20090216200029.30393.qmail@mail01.lax1.becotech.net><19B4F753-47A8-4B54-9148-33B3B55FA80D@comcast.net> <464db1a10902171110r39fc7438mc7457ae31d0ee615@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: I googled XP Software and its NA branch office is in Portland, and Ms Bouchot's phone number matches the website number. The software is for hydrology projects, so I don't think there is malicious intent here. Cheers, Jim Dr. Jim Moodie Dept of Science COCC From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Denise Hughes Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 11:11 AM To: OBOL OBOL Subject: Re: [obol] Warning about possible false link The person sending this response may have set her email to respond with an 'out of office' message. Any emails that go to her account will get an automatic response. You can do this with your own email account. Or as you say, this could be more spam. Denise Hughes Caldwell, ID On Tue, Feb 17, 2009 at 12:01 PM, Dan Gleason wrote: Barbara and I were out of town until late last night so I am just now catching up with email. The email below (minus the active link) has come to my email twice last week and I now see it appearing on OBOL. I know nothing about "XP Software" so the seemingly personal message can't be real. I would be extremely cautious about clicking the link as I strongly suspect this is an attempt to get your contact info. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 Begin forwarded message: From: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Date: February 16, 2009 12:00:29 PM PST To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 11, Issue 16 Out of Office Reply-To: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Thank you for contacting XP Software! I will be out of the office Thursday, February 12th and returning Tuesday, February 16th. If you require immediate assistance, please call 1-888-554-5022 and ask for anyone in the sales department. Our account managers will be happy to assist you with anything you require. Alternatively, you may forward your email inquiry to ---- for assistance by email. Thank you! Respectfully, Marina Bouchot Senior Account Executive Phone: 888-554-5022 x8973 Fax: 888-554-5122 _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho dhughes55 at clearwire.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090217/ae9ad3c2/attachment.html From David.Mellinger at oregonstate.edu Tue Feb 17 12:55:25 2009 From: David.Mellinger at oregonstate.edu (Dave Mellinger) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:55:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull in the morning? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <499B243D.9010907@oregonstate.edu> Has anyone seen the Slaty-backed Gull early in the morning? I'm going to be in Portland early on Saturday.... Dave From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Tue Feb 17 14:23:38 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:23:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Redtail Hawks in Klamath Co. Message-ID: <264B7CD5DD264AF5A24879A780EB707C@larryPC> On Monday as I was leaving Klamath Falls area to return to Jordan Valley I saw two Redtail Hawks sitting on a power pole. The unusual thing about it was that they were sitting side by side. There was the definite size comparison. The female looked extremely large but was probably normal as the male was small. They were sitting on the power pole to the left of the intersection of Algoma Rd. and Old Fort Rd. They probably nest up the ridge on the west side of Old Fort Rd. About the lack of birds in the Burns Jct, Basque and Whitehorse area, they are around the ranch houses or on the creek. We have a flock of Blackbirds that are singing up a storm in our Elm tree and the Horned Larks are still in the sage brush at the gravel pit. The raptors move out when we get snow. Our raptor count has been low this year and when we find them they are near houses. Karen in true SE Or. south of Burns Jct. in Malheur Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090217/3dbb9e9c/attachment.html From bettymkn at netscape.com Tue Feb 17 16:57:45 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:57:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sibley Guide and Others Message-ID: <20090217165745.6E7A1C09@resin09.mta.everyone.net> For those that may not have the new Sibley Guide for whatever reasons, check out the following site. You can't carry it in your pocket on a field trip but you can reference it. Other field guides for flowers, butterflies, etc. http://www.enature.com/home/ Great site for kids too. Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From rflores_2 at msn.com Tue Feb 17 19:12:28 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:12:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gaggle of green-winged teal, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: At the intersection of Carty Rd and Hillhurst Rd there is a shallow depression in a field that has accumulated some water. Today there was about 3-4,000 green-winged teal feeding like mad. Also a few mallards, pintail and wigeon as well. In cluded were two Eurasian wigeon. I also found a male green-winged that lacked the white vertical bar (the North American subspecies) or the white-strip on scapulars as in the Eurasian subspecies. It was a very interesting bird a bit grayer looking than the thousands it fed next to. This site is worth keeping an eye on because of the shear numbers of teal. Interesting note after watching the interesting male it melted into the group and even though I tried I could not find it again so be patient as you look through the bubbling mass of teal! Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090217/9ef46544/attachment.html From brrobb at comcast.net Tue Feb 17 20:16:04 2009 From: brrobb at comcast.net (Roger & Betty Robb) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:16:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Black Phoebe, Eugene Message-ID: <701CA5C5743744C59C1BC4F391CA33CC@RROffice> This afternoon while running in Alton Baker Park, I found a BLACK PHOEBE along the canoe path east of the main parking area where the gravel trail turns to bark. Roger Robb Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090217/b5dbf311/attachment.html From marciafcutler at comcast.net Tue Feb 17 21:44:03 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:44:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Central Benton Co. Raptor Run 2/17/09 Message-ID: <5044A6598DD24DF287FAC0740AAAE3ED@melvintrex4uoq> Today, Jan Landau, Wanda Parrott and I did this month?s raptor run for Central Benton Co. Compared to last month, numbers of American Kestrels, Northern Harriers and Northern Rough-legged Hawks were down a little bit. However, there were more Red-tailed Hawks. Interestingly, the increase in numbers was confined primarily to the east side of Highway 99W (Kiger Island (+2) and Lakeside Dr ? which is off Smith Loop (+10). Normally, raptor numbers on this side of the highway are rather sparse, but there were quite a few paired off Red-tails and lots of aerial courtships. The unidentified Buteos and other raptors were mostly lurking in the far southern reaches of the prairie seen from the Prairie Overlook at Finley. The buteos were probably Red-tails. One perched, immature hawk seen from the back was either a small Red-tailed Hawk or a Red-shouldered Hawk. The Bald Eagles were at Cabell Marsh, one at either end. The Peregrine Falcon was perched in a tree west of the Corvallis Airport. We covered 62 miles in 5.25 hrs. including about ? hr. walk on the boardwalk to Cabell Marsh. January?s totals are in parentheses Red-tailed Hawk ? 50 (42) American Kestrel ? 12 (15) Northern Harrier ? 12 (15) Bald Eagle ? 1 adult, 1 immature (1 immature, 2 unknown) Rough-legged Hawk ? 9 (11) White-tailed Kite ? 0 (3) Peregrine Falcon ? 1 (0) Burrowing Owl ? 1 (1) Unidentified Buteos ? 4 (5) Unidentified Raptors ? 4 (2) Marcia F. Cutler Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090217/74d7f17e/attachment.html From lamberson.janet at epa.gov Wed Feb 18 08:12:18 2009 From: lamberson.janet at epa.gov (lamberson.janet at epa.gov) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:12:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Redmond area birds Message-ID: We spent a winter weekend with friends in Redmond and with other friends at Eagle Crest Resort near Redmond. Hubby went skiing and we also had a chance to walk around and do some birding - here's what we found: Pinyon jays - YES! finally! Thanks Mike! We experienced a flock of about 80 along the paved walking path between the houses on Murrelet Drive and the highway. Phil had just been joking about not finding any owls when the great horned owl flew from a tree right above us! We had a good look at the merlin at Cline Falls - Mike: I think I stand corrected! The pair of golden eagles were interacting as one did a roll and they locked talons and tumbled nearly to the ground. 2/14 Borden Beck Wildlife Reserve 2/15 Eagle Crest Resort East of Highway Mallard 10 Canada Goose. 110 California Quail 10 American Wigeon 22 Great Blue Heron 1 Common Merganser 18 Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Kestrel 2 Great Horned Owl 1 Northern Flicker 2 Northern Flicker 1 Western Scrub-Jay 1 Northern Shrike 1 Townsend's Solitaire. 12 Black-billed Magpie 1 American Robin 35 Common Raven. 6 Cedar Waxwing 6 Canyon Wren 1 Townsend's Solitaire. 6 2/15 Eagle Crest Resort Canyon Trail American Robin 10 Mute Swan 2 Song Sparrow. 2 Mallard 44 White-crowned Sparrow 1 Bufflehead 1 Red-winged Blackbird. 12 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Lesser Goldfinch 8 Black-billed Magpie 14 Mountain Chickadee 6 2/14 Steelhead Falls, Deschutes River Canyon Wren 3 Common Merganser 2 Song Sparrow. 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Golden Eagle. 2 Rock Pigeon 2 2/16 Cline Falls - Highway Bridge to Falls unknown flock of dark birds 30 Canada Goose. 4 Merlin: 1 2/14 Redmond Area Feeder Mourning Dove 6 Mountain Chickadee 2 Black-billed Magpie 1 House Sparrow 15 American Crow 45 American Dipper 4 2/15 Eagle Crest Resort West of Highway Red-tailed Hawk 1 2/16 Sisters Mourning Dove 20 Common Raven. 1 Northern Flicker 3 Red Crossbills 40 Steller's Jay 1 Pinyon Jay 80 Common Raven. 1 Townsend's Solitaire. 14 American Robin 12 European Starling 30 Dark-eyed Junco 10 House Finch 2 Janet Lamberson Newport, OR From davebrownbirder at yahoo.com Sat Feb 14 23:17:22 2009 From: davebrownbirder at yahoo.com (Dave Brown) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 23:17:22 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Northern Harrier high in the mountains Message-ID: <726075.37068.qm@web59914.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> On August 6 th. 1994 my son-in-law Craig Peters and I was climbing the South Sister and was far above timberline when a harrier flew over our heads then dropped down flying over piles of rocks looking for Pikas would be my guess. We must have been close to the 9000 foot level. We came up to some other hikers that also saw it and i.d. it and was also amazed at seeing one so high on the mountain. I don't know if one would be in migration that early in the summer or not. ? Dave Brown Alvadore?? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090214/266cd4d1/attachment.html From fortrocker at gmail.com Mon Feb 16 13:50:37 2009 From: fortrocker at gmail.com (W.Parker) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:50:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sooty Fox Sparrow, north Lake County Message-ID: <10102d0e0902161350y4a9421bcg93fb5e70cccd8f48@mail.gmail.com> Greetings, This sparrow was first noted at my home approx. 15 miles east of the town of Fort Rock in north Lake County on 14 Feb. I was able to get these photos of it (through the window) this morning. It's quite a treat! Have you had other sitings in this area? Thank you, Wendy Parker -- "This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it." -R.W. Emerson -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090216/6d696604/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: sparrow1.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 130199 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090216/6d696604/attachment.jpg -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Sparrow2.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 408885 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090216/6d696604/attachment-0001.jpg From rfergus at audubon.org Mon Feb 16 21:19:28 2009 From: rfergus at audubon.org (FERGUS, Rob) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:19:28 -0500 Subject: [obol] GBBC Update--Day 4--Final Day of Counting Message-ID: <69DABA3177B73144996A79E932FE6A770760C67B2A@flamingo.int.audubon.org> Today was the last day of counting for the GBBC. Thanks to everyone who has submitted counts so far. Data entry will be open through the end of the month, so please submit any counts you haven't put in yet. You can see statewide totals at: http://gbbc.birdsource.org/gbbcApps/statelinks Totals for your community are here: http://gbbc.birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=step2Place&action=continue&reportType=place&place=city If you know of sightings of birds that aren't showing up on your state or local lists yet, please make sure that they get reported. As most of you probably know, we have a dedicated team of reviewers who have to verify unusual reports before they show up on the website. So if you reported something really good for your area, or even unusually large numbers of regular species, please be patient with our volunteer reviewers as they work their way through all the flagged unusual sightings. Likewise, if you see something that seems out of place...feel free to email citizenscience at audubon.org with the location and species in question and we will forward to the reviewers in your area. Thanks for all the help. I'll send out more updates as more reports come in. Lets get all our reports in for this 12th and best ever GBBC! Rob Fergus Senior Scientist, Urban Bird Conservation National Audubon Society Audubon Birdscapes http://birdscapes.audubon.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090217/f1f27ecf/attachment.html From Cathy.Nowak at state.or.us Wed Feb 18 08:34:44 2009 From: Cathy.Nowak at state.or.us (Cathy Nowak) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:34:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mark Your Calendars - 4th Annual Ladd Marsh Birdathon Message-ID: Birders, Mark your calendars for the 4th Annual Ladd Marsh Birdathon at the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area near La Grande, Oregon May 8, 9 and 10, 2009. The web page at the link below includes a draft agenda and information about the Birdathon. http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/viewing/events/index.asp Field trip destinations and schedules are still being worked out but should include trips to Baker County to look for sage grouse, Rhinehart Canyon where last year's participants saw 7 warbler species among other birds, Spring Creek to look for great gray owl and other forest species, Zumwalt Prairie for grassland species and other great northeast Oregon locations. Plan to make a weekend of it. For more information if the web page doesn't answer your questions, call me at the number below. Good Birding, Cathy M. Cathy Nowak Fish and Wildlife Biologist ODFW Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area 59116 Pierce Road La Grande, OR 97850 541-963-4954 Cathy.Nowak at state.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090218/0da27bcf/attachment.html From grantandstacy17 at gmail.com Wed Feb 18 08:41:13 2009 From: grantandstacy17 at gmail.com (Grant Canterbury) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:41:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared-Doves, N Portland Message-ID: Yesterday evening and this morning I saw a flock of several Eurasian Collared-doves near the gardens north of the University Park community center in North Portland, at almost the same location where I saw a flock in late December. This morning they were flying in chase of one another and calling, obviously audible from a good distance away. Interesting to watch as the species becomes established; I suppose from here on out they will not be noteworthy as unusual. - Grant Canterbury -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090218/8358dab9/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Feb 18 09:35:39 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 09:35:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Laysan Albatross and Parakeet Auklet trip this Saturday Message-ID: <20090218093539.lp4ock0beo44cg48@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Friends, The forecast looks good for getting out on the ocean for our annual LAYSAN ALBATROSS search trip, Saturday, February 21, 2009. We have found these birds on 6 of 7 February and March Perpetua Bank trips, with a high of 8 birds. 2008 trip report: 8 LAYSAN ALBATROSS, 1 MANX SHEARWATER, 1 Short-tailed Shearwater, 1 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, 1 Rock Sandpiper Photos: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/archive/03012008.htm 2007 trip report: 1 LAYSAN ALBATROSS, 2 Short-tailed Shearwater, 35000 Common Murre, 200 Pigeon Guillemot, 500 Rhinoceros Auklet, 3 Tufted Puffin, 7 HORNED PUFFIN Photos: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/archive/03252007.htm 2006 trip report: 4 Long-tailed Duck, 4 LAYSAN ALBATROSS, 60 Black-footed Albatross, 1 SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS, 1 FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER, 8 Short-tailed Shearwater, 60 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, 90 Black-legged Kittiwake Photos: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/archive/03182006.htm 2003 trip report: 1 LAYSAN ALBATROSS, 2 MANX SHEARWATER, 4 Short-tailed Shearwater, 153 Black-legged Kittiwake, 22 ANCIENT MURRELET, 95 Cassin's Auklet, 231 Rhinoceros Auklet Photos: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/archive/03012003.htm The current forecast for Saturday calls for light ESE winds coming _from_shore_ that will produce small wind waves (2 feet or less!). SSW swell of 8 feet is moderate, well-spaced. There is a chance of rain, so dress as normal for an Oregon pelagic trip! Sunday it looks windy and wet, so winds may increase Saturday afternoon. We have only 11 passengers, so room for 16 more. Reserve now, or show up Saturday morning at Newport Tradewinds on the bayfront at 6:30 am for roll call and orientation, with prompt 7 am departure. Scheduled return is 6 pm, but we'll likely make sure we're inside the jetties before dusk about 5:15 pm or so. Cost is $160 by check payable to The Bird Guide, Inc. Preparation material if you intend on joining us: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/newport_preparation_tradewinds.htm Two recent trips from southern California have recorded multiple PARAKEET AUKLETS, and another "chase trip" is scheduled from Santa Barbara. These Arctic birds are more likely in Oregon and this is the perfect time for this rare Oregon bird. These birds seem about mid-way between CASSIN'S and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS in size, shape, and plumage! See photos of California birds: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chaparralbrad/3205653670 Status of Oregon PARAKEET AUKLETS: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/rare_seabirds.htm 28 reports of 39 birds, 13 records accepted by the OBRC (others not submitted), 21 beach-cast dead birds on 15 dates. Primarily November-March: 1 in August, 4 in September, (none) in October, 6 in November, 2 in December, 3 in January, 7 in February, 4 in March, 1 in April. Guides for this trip are Tim Shelmerdine, Tom Snetsinger, David Mandell, Shawneen Finnegan, special guest Jim Danzenbaker, chummer Amy Kocourek, and myself. If you can't make this trip, there is still a good chance for LAYSAN ALBATROSSES on our April 18 trip. The next trip after this is August 8. To sign up and for more details on this or other trips: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/ Greg Gillson greg at thebirdguide.com From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Feb 18 10:33:57 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:33:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Migrant finches Message-ID: Two adult male and two brown Purple Finches are at my S Eugene feeders today, the first in a couple of months, at least. I usually see them in spring, but typically in March or early April. These are a little early. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From rfilby at charter.net Wed Feb 18 10:56:21 2009 From: rfilby at charter.net (rfilby) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:56:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird in Newport Message-ID: <20090218185623.ZKWU25639.aarprv04.charter.net@Roy-PC.charter.net> Yesterday (Feb. 17) the first male Rufous Hummingbird arrived at our feeder in north Newport. We have kept track of the first arrival for the past 5 years and it has bee remarkably consistent, Feb. 23 - 25. Hence it is about a week early this year - no doubt due to the warm weather we have been having on the coast (no sign of their "chauffeurs" , the Turkey Vultures, however!) Roy Filby and Cathy Grimm Newport _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From foglark at att.net Wed Feb 18 12:30:04 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:30:04 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] hawks, phoebes, jays Message-ID: <677989.74648.qm@web80006.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I saw the post on OBOL about the size difference of a pair of Red-tails sitting together near Klamath Falls. This was interesting because one seldom can see much size difference in Red-tails perched together. Good eyes. Some other species of raptors with no plumage differences can be tentatively sexed as well. Each member of a pair of adult Bald Eagles sitting side-by-side often are very slightly different in size, the male (?) smaller and somewhat smaller-headed and smaller-billed, and the female (?) larger. And male and female Peregrines and Prairie Falcons also have very slightly different average proportions, flight styles, and appearance while soaring. Roger Robb's note that he saw a Black Phoebe in Alton Baker Park (an old stomping ground of mine, 25-30 years ago) got me to wondering whether anyone has considered doing a search of bridges over the Willamette, the Amazon Canal, Coyote Creek, and similar waterways around Eugene for nesting phoebes? It could make a good student project if nothing else and, if the birds continue to increase, they could be tracked. And, reading that Pinyon Jays were seen on Murrelet Drive, is it possible that anyone will ever see a murrelet from a street named Pinyon Jay Drive? Gosh but I doubt it... Locally here in Humboldt County, the bird believed to be a Black X Say's Phoebe, first found on the Centerville CBC, continues north of Ferndale (707-822-5666 for detailed directions), a Brown Thrasher is still in Stan Harris's backyard, and we still have at least 14 White-throated Sparrows in our own yard. There are several tens of thousands of Aleutian Cackling Geese in the Humboldt Bay lowlands now and they should continue increasing for another month or so. Hard to imagine there were only a few hundred alive forty years ago. Truly a wildlife restoration success story. David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090218/3a84f95a/attachment.html From kit at uoregon.edu Wed Feb 18 12:32:40 2009 From: kit at uoregon.edu (Kit Larsen) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:32:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wed morning Message-ID: <200902182032.n1IKWTJJ021201@smtp.uoregon.edu> The Eugene Wednesday morning birding group visited Buford Park/Mt Pisgah (Lane County) this morning (Feb 18), following the water trail through the arboretum and across the south meadow where considerable habitat restoration has been undertaken with many trees planted and large areas of blackberry removed. Avian activity was dominated by Robins, which seemed to be everywhere, and Steller's Jay, with calls filling the air. The best birds were the pair of Pileated Woodpeckers that allowed decent looks. We heard the calling at various times, but never when we saw them. Birds seen, with approximate numbers Double-crested Cormorant - 2 Wood Duck - 2 Mallard - 4 Common Merganser - 3 Red-tailed Hawk - 3 Osprey - 1 (near the old Bring site, seen from car) American Kestrel - 2 Mourning Dove - 10 Great Horned Owl - 1 Belted Kingfisher - 2 Downy Woodpecker - 6 Pileated Woodpecker - 2 Steller's Jay - 30 Scrub Jay - 10 American Crow - 4 Black-capped Chickadee - 12 White-breasted Nuthatch - 2 Brown Creeper - 8 Bewick's Wren - 4 Winter Wren - 3 Golden-crowned Kinglet - 6 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 4 American Robin - 200 European Starling - 30 Hutton's Vireo - 1 (heard by some) Spotted Towhee - 6 Song Sparrow - 8 Golden-crowned Sparrow - 2 Dark-eyed Junco - 20 Lesser Goldfinch - 2 Kit Larsen Eugene, OR with Jack Anderson, Dennis Arendt, Jim Carlson, Fred Chancy, George Grier, Sylvia Maulding, Tom Mickel, Roger Robb, Don Schrouder, and Paul Sherrell From dpvroman at budget.net Wed Feb 18 14:22:31 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:22:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Migrant finches References: Message-ID: Have had an increase in there numbers at our place near the Merlin I-5 exit over the last couple of week (even a bit of singing). With the somewhat mild conditions, they could on the move a bit early this year. Also, heard a SPOTTED TOWHEE singing yesterday morning. Nothing to sing about this morning in the fog. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Two adult male and two brown Purple Finches are at my S Eugene feeders today, the first in a couple of months, at least. I usually see them in spring, but typically in March or early April. These are a little early. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From dpvroman at budget.net Wed Feb 18 14:42:44 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:42:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] 3rd N.Grants Pass raptor survey Message-ID: <23AA7FEB51534D3AA832720A881178F9@Warbler> Today (02-18-09) the 3rd North Grants Pass Raptor count was accomplished. Time: 3.25 hrs; miles driven: 38.2; weather: low level fog early to mostly clear. Species observed: Red-tailed Hawk - 16 American Kestrel - 8 (pair copulating) Northern Harrier (included here, seen 02-15-09 along survey route) Bald Eagle - 1 (adult) Red-shouldered Hawk - 7 White-tailed Kite - 1 Merlin - 1 Cooper's Hawk - 1 Others of interest: 1 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, 1 TREE SWALLOW (my 1st for this year; not my earliest for Grants Pass area, but appears to be my earliest for the Lower River Road area). Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090218/7daaf2e6/attachment.html From shelmert at loswego.k12.or.us Wed Feb 18 15:28:05 2009 From: shelmert at loswego.k12.or.us (Shelmerdine, Timothy (Tim)) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:28:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] NE OR last weekend Message-ID: I spent Sunday and Monday of President's Day weekend in Enterprise and Joseph. I had a commitment on Saturday and so was only able to spend most of two days in the area. My sightings are similar to other lists that have been posted, maybe a little fewer due to the shorter amount of time and only having one set of eyes with which to simultaneously drive and bird. Notable species: GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH -- about 200 with the Horned Larks on Golf Course Road. AM TREE SPARROW -- 4 popped up in a small group of trees on Leap Lane, just west of School Flat Road. GRAY PARTRIDGE -- 10 flew by me as I first saw the Tree Sparrows at the above location. NORTHERN SHRIKE -- 1 along Hwy 3 just south of Leap Lane. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL -- similar to the Armstrongs' experience, I had a nice group (15?) along West Dorrance Lane. This being my #1 target bird, I spent hours searching for this species in Enterprise, Joseph and along the roads off of Hurricane Creek Road. BOHEMIAN WAXWING -- perhaps 100 along Sunrise Rd. (Dr.?), west of Enterprise. For the first time, I saw a number below eye level as they flew down to drink out of a creek. Notable misses: PINE GROSBEAK -- tried the area between Ferguson Ridge and McCully Creek for a little while. COMMON REDPOLL -- I wish I had my computer and had seen Kyle's post Sunday night. Oh well. SNOW BUNTING -- these seem to be tough this winter. This is a nemesis for me in this county anyway. Any BUTEO besides Red-tails. Also, I had no joy with the Snowy Owl either north or south of the junction of Strawberry Lane and the Ione-Boardman Road in Morrow County just before dark. Maybe it is wandering? In any case, this area is so beautiful that the trip was entirely worthwhile, even if some of my target species eluded me. Cheers, Tim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090218/6cb9cd65/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Wed Feb 18 15:50:02 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:50:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] SHARP-SHINNED Message-ID: This afternoon a SHARP-SHINNED made at least two attempts at a meal in my back yard. Both times it tried to flush a house sparrow from a pile of brush but did not succeed. It did not appear the least bit concerned about my dogs being in the back yard until they approached it. My neighbor has a couple of chickens. Would a sharpie go after a full-sized chicken? How about a pigeon? Pigeons visit my yard daily (unfortunately). Just curious. Tom in Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090218/f5bef583/attachment.html From dinpdx at yahoo.com Wed Feb 18 16:25:43 2009 From: dinpdx at yahoo.com (Dwight) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:25:43 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] PEREGRINE FALCON SW Portland Message-ID: <175928.76929.qm@web31608.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I saw an adult Peregrine Falcon soaring over the Garden Home area of SW Portland at noon today- the first one I've ever seen in the neighborhood (Birdwalk Species #74). Birding the Local Patch, Dwight Porter, Portland, OR From Kyle.W.Bratcher at state.or.us Wed Feb 18 16:41:37 2009 From: Kyle.W.Bratcher at state.or.us (Kyle W Bratcher) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:41:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mexico bird pics Message-ID: Hey all, I just got back from Mexico this weekend and thought I would share a few bird photos. I wish I had a better camera and I would have some great stuff but I thought these were nice anyway. Some are birds we have all seen in Oregon but some are somewhat unique. Good Birding http://www.flickr.com/photos/32547498 at N02/ Kyle Bratcher -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090218/535a03f4/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Feb 18 17:24:56 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:24:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fw: [COBOL] WHITE THROATED SPARROW - Cent or Wednesday birders inRedmond Message-ID: <47E4E2D1CF604940BB9F48B31E5E3E7D@MOM> Birders, We had a great close up view of a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in Redmond today. We were in the neighborhood (in)famous for Eurasian Collared Doves ( two there ) around 26th and 27th and Pumice. One of our other cool sightings enjoyed by all was a Merlin hunting at the Redmond sewer ponds (SP), flying close to our vehicles, in a casual chase with a Killdeer. It didn't try hard enough to score lunch. > > This report was mailed for Judy Meredith by http://birdnotes.net > Canada Goose - one carcass with a band on leg, out on island at SP. > Mallard > Northern Pintail > Ring-necked Duck > Lesser Scaup > Bufflehead > Common Goldeneye > Barrow's Goldeneye - two, SP > Red-tailed Hawk > Merlin > Killdeer > Rock Dove > Eurasian Collared-Dove - two > Mourning Dove > Great Horned Owl - two, Owl thicket. > Northern Flicker > Steller's Jay > Western Scrub-Jay > Black-billed Magpie > Common Raven > Mountain Chickadee > American Robin > Varied Thrush > European Starling > Song Sparrow > White-throated Sparrow - one. We don't get many on the east side, not even > annually in the county. > White-crowned Sparrow > Dark-eyed Junco > Western Meadowlark - starting to sing now > House Finch > American Goldfinch > House Sparrow > Birders today Sherrie Pierce, Cindy Zalunardo, Darwin Wile, Charley Berry, > Marion Davidson, Don Sutherland, Kim Owen, Kim Kathol, Howard Horvath, > Judy > Meredith. > Next week, Sunriver area. Check COBOL for meeting time which WILL LIKELY > BE EARLIER in AM. > Good birding, > Judy Meredith, > jmeredit at bendnet.com From kirkpat at charter.net Wed Feb 18 17:36:36 2009 From: kirkpat at charter.net (Douglas Kirkpatrick) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:36:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] SHARP-SHINNED In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <330BA44FE517403583D970C2FCC0C8D8@D7CDFN81> Hi, Tom and others, You never know what a raptor will try. When I lived in Utah some years back a reputable birder saw a Peregrin stoop on a great blue heron! Doug Kirkpatrick Medford _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Tom Escue Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 3:50 PM To: obol at oregojnbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] SHARP-SHINNED This afternoon a SHARP-SHINNED made at least two attempts at a meal in my back yard. Both times it tried to flush a house sparrow from a pile of brush but did not succeed. It did not appear the least bit concerned about my dogs being in the back yard until they approached it. My neighbor has a couple of chickens. Would a sharpie go after a full-sized chicken? How about a pigeon? Pigeons visit my yard daily (unfortunately). Just curious. Tom in Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090218/37c1d7c8/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Wed Feb 18 17:51:51 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:51:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] female Selasphorus Bandon Coos Cty Message-ID: <499CBB37.9090400@verizon.net> 2/18 this afternoon, a female SELASPHORUS hummingbird was at the feeder, north of Bandon, Coos Cty. cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein From sparsons at canby.com Wed Feb 18 19:10:44 2009 From: sparsons at canby.com (Steve and Diana Parsons) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:10:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield Bittern Message-ID: <1F91BE9E-FEFE-4718-8D46-D80FF4C0CE10@canby.com> The bittern at Ridgefield was in the same place, along the left side of the road about 1/2 mile out from the entrance booth. The bird is amazingly tame, allowing multiple cars to stop immediately beside and take photos for as long as you want. On our third trip around, the bird caught a frog and treated us to a display of its gourmet skills. A leg on each side of the bill as it slipped down. I had the pleasure of introducing a friend to birding, and he got quite a treat today courtesy of the bittern. We found a rough legged and a great horned owl, and most of the usual suspects were present as well. The raptors did not seem as numerous, but most were there. Steve From jeffharding at centurytel.net Wed Feb 18 19:16:32 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:16:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Salem Glaucous Gull - Botswana Photo Link Message-ID: <6C00BE44086246A9A05E1190CED2CD9C@laptop> The lovely white Glaucous Gull at State and Airport in Salem was still there at noon today, along with a bunch of the usual suspects. On a slightly off topic note, I have gotten a start at putting photos from our trip to Botswana up: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06 There are more to add, but it's a start. Good birding, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090218/ed84e146/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Wed Feb 18 20:53:57 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (rfadney at hotmail.com) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:53:57 -0500 Subject: [obol] National Geographic News Message-ID: <200902190453.n1J4rvHu013439@httpd1.int.ngeo.com> rfadney at hotmail.com has sent you this story from National Geographic News. We hope you enjoy it http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/02/090218-extinct-bird-photo.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Wed Feb 18 20:57:04 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:57:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] National Geographic News link In-Reply-To: <200902190453.n1J4rvHu013439@httpd1.int.ngeo.com> References: <200902190453.n1J4rvHu013439@httpd1.int.ngeo.com> Message-ID: Words can not explain my disgust for what humans do sometimes... > Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:53:57 -0500 > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > From: rfadney at hotmail.com > Subject: [obol] National Geographic News > > rfadney at hotmail.com has sent you this story from National Geographic > News. We hope you enjoy it > > http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/02/090218-extinct-bird-photo.html > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Get more out of the Web. Learn 10 hidden secrets of Windows Live. http://windowslive.com/connect/post/jamiethomson.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!550F681DAD532637!5295.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_domore_092008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090218/0deef2ba/attachment.html From 4cains at charter.net Wed Feb 18 21:56:44 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:56:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Warrenton Northern Saw-whet Message-ID: <8E0F555471E7421C920C622747549086@HAL> One NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was tooting away whilst soccer was played -- tonight at the Warrenton Soccer Complex. Sounded like it was in the spruce forest just north of the West Field - technically part of Fort Stevens. Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090218/50620e08/attachment.html From jbw at oregoncoast.com Wed Feb 18 22:00:49 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara & John Woodhouse) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:00:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tillamook East Raptor run Message-ID: Tillamook east is from Yellow Fir road in the south to Freddies in the North. mainly to the east of 101. Overcast with some sun breaks a really nice day. Time 4hrs 18mins Miles 62 RTHA 20 AMKE 8 NOHA 2 BAEA 4 juv. 1 WTKI 3 PEFA 1 CUHA 1 Total 40 Barbara & John Woodhouse Tillamook From madsteins at hotmail.com Wed Feb 18 22:41:40 2009 From: madsteins at hotmail.com (Don Stein) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 01:41:40 -0500 Subject: [obol] BLACK PHOEBE at Nye Beach Message-ID: Between 2:30 AND 3:15, in full sun, the BLACK PHOEBE was very actively sallying forth over the beach from the first clump of bushes south of the parking lot next to the Visual Arts Center in Newport. To get to the beach, it may be best to exit the parking lot to the south and walk south right beside the blue building and then down the slope to the beach. This route avoids the effluent stream and the graffiti sign warning that the water is contaminated. The leafless bushes are 25 ft to the south of the blue building. As we were leaving, the bird flew east over the Visual Arts building and disappeared. Yesterday, Dick Demarest and I searched up and down the beach twice in vain for the bird on a drizzly day. Nearby at the mini jetty, a pair of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were frolicking in the surf and wading in the water. A third cycle HERRING GULL was on the roof of the Arts Center. Don Stein and Kate Madison _________________________________________________________________ Get more out of the Web. Learn 10 hidden secrets of Windows Live. http://windowslive.com/connect/post/jamiethomson.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!550F681DAD532637!5295.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_domore_092008 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090219/035d818b/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Feb 18 23:27:17 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:27:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 2-19-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * February 19, 2009 * ORPO0902.19 - birds mentioned Ross?s Goose Eurasian Wigeon American Wigeon Great Egret LITTLE BLUE HERON Turkey Vulture Golden Eagle SLATY-BACKED GULL Snowy Owl Rufous Hummingbird YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER Black Phoebe Tree Swallow Bohemian Waxwing Fox Sparrow PYRRHULOXIA - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday February 19. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. A possible YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was reported February 16 on the Baskett Butte Trailhead in Baskett Slough NWR. The Peoria PYRRHULOXIA was again February 12. The downtown Portland SLATY-BACKED GULL continues to be seen. On February 16 a second winter SLATY-BACKED GULL was reported from the Fernhill Wetlands in Forest Grove. The Siletz Bay LITTLE BLUE HERON continues to be seen. Migrant TURKEY VULTURES were seen during the week over Oaks Bottom in Portland and over Prineville. A TREE SWALLOW was seen February 18 near Grants Pass. A male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was in Newport February 17. On February 14 seven EURASIAN WIGEON were among a large flock of AMERICAN WIGEON at Fenk Road near Tillamook. On February 12 a ROSS?S GOOSE and 30 GREAT EGRETS were in the Vancouver Lake Lowlands. An immature GOLDEN EAGLE was over Saint Helens February 14. A BLACK PHOEBE is now regularly seen in Alten-Baker Park in Eugene. On February 14 the SNOWY OWL was seen along the Ione-Boardman Road northwest of Ione. A second SNOWY OWL was seen that day along Hwy 206, 35 miles east of Condon. On February 15 four BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were in Redmond. A very out of place SOOTY FOX SPARROW was photographed February 14 in Lake County 15 miles east of Fort Rock . That?s it for this week - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090218/25eb86f5/attachment.html From estenard at yahoo.com Thu Feb 19 08:37:18 2009 From: estenard at yahoo.com (Ellen Stenard) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:37:18 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Birding Central Asia - Resources and Tips? Message-ID: <930232.27465.qm@web57005.mail.re3.yahoo.com> I will be?traveling to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan this summer and was wondering if anyone has birded in that neck of the world.? Tips, books and resources would be much appreciated.? Please contact me off-list:? estenard at yahoo.com Thank you, happy birding. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090219/1ec7a0be/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Thu Feb 19 09:55:25 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:55:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 02/18/09 Message-ID: <20090219175600.37491A823B@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 02/12 to 02/18/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 4 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) COOPER'S HAWK 1 (1, 2/14) PEREGRINE FALCON 1 (1, 2/13) Band-tailed Pigeon 1 (2, 2/17) Mourning Dove 4 (11, 2/14) Anna's Hummingbird 3 (3, 2/14) Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 (1, 2/13) Downy Woodpecker 2 (2, 2/13) Northern Flicker 4 (2) Steller's Jay 4 (5) Western Scrub-Jay 4 (1) American Crow 2 (1, 2/14 & 17) Black-capped Chickadee 4 (20, 2/17) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 3 (2) Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 (5) Brown Creeper 2 (2, 2/14) Bewick's Wren 3 (1) Winter Wren 3 (3) American Robin 4 (10, 2/17) Varied Thrush 4 (3) European Starling 1 (1, 2/17) Spotted Towhee 4 (6) Song Sparrow 4 (10) Dark-eyed Junco 4 (25) House Finch 4 (25, 2/17) Pine Siskin 2 (20, 2/12) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: WESTERN SCREECH- OWL Misses (species found 3 days in previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Hairy Woodpecker, Bushtit, Golden-crowned Kinglet Wink Gross Portland From windypointandy at dishmail.net Thu Feb 19 11:23:50 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:23:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ankeny to Newport-14-16 February Message-ID: <000601c992c7$a672d320$3700a8c0@windypoint99> OREGON COAST 14-16 FEBRUARY 2009 Ellen and I led a Yakima Valley Audubon Society three-day "President's Weekend trip to the central Oregon, starting in the Willamette Valley, then moving to the coast. We began at the Ankeny NWR interpretive viewpoint on Ankeny Hill Road, an overlook offering a picturesque vista of rolling hills mantled in oak savanna, Oregon ash bottomlands, fields, and marshes. What a great setting to start a birding trip! We watched a close by Great Egret snatch a vole from the grassy field. A couple of Acorn Woodpeckers were atop an oak snag, riddled with holes, serving as their granary tree, at the corner of Buena Vista Road a few hundred yards walk away. Western Scrub-Jays squawked everywhere. Of course there were geese, thousands of them! Apparently most are Dusky Canada's, a subspecies that has a restricted breeding range in Alaska's Copper River delta. We then took the boardwalk trail to a blind overlooking Egret Marsh. Purple Finches munched away on Oregon ash seeds, and Brown Creepers and White-breasted Nuthatches called. Mammal-wise, we admired nutria and coyotes. On the way to Newport we detoured to Airlie Road where we studied Tundra and Trumpeter Swans. Several White-tailed Kites and Rough-legged Hawks hovered over nearby fields making this another very good stop. Sunday morning started out rainy and windy at our first stop at Idaho Point on the south side of Yaquina Bay. It was blustery and unpleasant here so we retreated a short distance west along the road to a sheltered spot. Coastal forest and second growth scrub is on the landward side of the roads here, estuary habitats on the bay side. Along with the habitat diversity we tallied bird species diversity. At this one stop we tallied 48 species! In the scrubby growth we admired a stunning male Anna's Hummingbird and a number of Fox Sparrows plus a nice selection of "wetside" songbirds such as chickadees, kinglets, thrushes, nuthatches, Bushtit, and sparrows. In the tall Sitka spruce we heard Red Crossbills. Out in the bay there was a good selection of bay and sea ducks (Surf Scoters by the hundreds), and loons and grebes. On the mudflats were hundreds of Dunlin and a few Sanderlings. Bald Eagles flapped by too. Providing a nice study here were two male and one female EURASIAN WIGEONS. We moved on to the Yaquina Bay south jetty. An immature GlAUCOUS GULL (with a hint of hybridism) and a Black-legged Kittiwake, along with a few Red-necked Grebes, and a Pigeon Guillemot, were our best birds here. At low tide we hit Seal Rocks. The sun shone warmly here and we enjoyed a beach walk. We had great views of all of Oregon's expected "rockpipers" here: Black Turnstone, Surfbird, Rock Sandpiper (2), and Black Oystercatcher. Because it was a holiday and the beach a bit of a zoo, the rockpipers were on the rocks on the second tier of outcrops. Several Harlequin Ducks surfed in the roiling waters just a few yards offshore and a Peregrine Falcon, the only one on our trip, sped by, close above the water, putting up all the shorebirds. On a tip we checked out Alsea Bay bridge where a Peregrine Falcon pair were in residence. No falcons today so we hit the Subway for lunch. We returned to Newport via South Beaver Creek Road, with open fields and wetlands. At one stop, Ike (sharp-eyed as ever) spotted a Violet-green Swallow, at another a Virginia Rail and Hutton's Vireo called. At Ona Beach State Park we took a short walk out to the creek mouth to view the bathing and roosting gulls. A few Thayer's and the odd Herring Gull provided a close study. In the tall Sitka spruce a male Townsend's Warbler probed about the myriad of cones along with a troop of Chestnut-backed Chickadees. The lawn area by the picnic tables boasted a hermit Thrush foraging like a robin. We then stopped at Yaquina Bay State Park. In the brushy patches at the overlook of the jetty a pair of Wrentits gave us stunning views. We all agreed the field guides portray this a drab brown bird, failing to do justice to its pretty hues of grays and browns. Our final stop on Sunday was at Nye Beach where we easily located the stakeout BLACK PHOEBE, here a modest distance north of its usual range. It is a species on the move so pioneering individuals are to be expected north and east of its known distribution. Monday morning some of us took a dawn walk along the side of the reservoir that provides drinking water for Newport. We noted a couple flocks of Red Crossbills, a few goldeneyes and Buffleheads and Double-crested cormorants and a Hutton's Vireo briefly sang from the red alders. Monday morning we hit Yaquina Head and were amazed to see thousands of Common Murres! Why amazed? A week ago Ellen and I could only find a handful of murres. Apparently the murres were starting to congregate near their nesting rocks here, in preparation for breeding. We also scoped Brandt's Cormorants coming into breeding plumage, and had Black Oystercatchers piping their loud whistles. Black Scoters, common north of Yaquina Head, were mostly far out and provided us with barely satisfying scope views. Boiler Bay was good for its magnificent crashing waves. Offshore we watched Black-legged Kittiwakes flying about. A pair of distant Marbled Murrelets, a few Common Murres, and Pigeon Guillemots rounded out our seawatch here. The assortment of loafing gulls on the lawn by the picnic tables included another GLAUCOUS GULL, this individual appearing more-or-less of purebred parentage. A handsome adult Thayer's Gull afforded a good study too. Though US-101 was very busy, we stopped just south of Drift Creek on Siletz Bay and scoped the immature LITTLE BLUE HERON, a stakeout bird. This species is of casual occurrence in Oregon. Returning home, four of us remaining (comprising the Kamikaze crew) toured Baskett Slough NWR. This refuge has habitats much like Ankeny NWR. To our trip list we added California Quail, Hairy Woodpecker, Horned Lark, Western Bluebird (12- another sign spring is on the way!), and YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, another of casual occurrence in Oregon. Our view of the sapsucker in an old apple tree at the start of the Baskett Butte Trail was very brief but we noted its key features: a completely white throat, lack of any red on its nape, and s back obviously showing brownish tones. We called this individual an adult female. "Among the identification quandaries presented by Yellow-bellied and Red-naped Sapsuckers, the least challenging is presented by adult female Yellow-bellieds, in which the entirely white throat and white nape should make identification straightforward." (Mlodinow et al. 2006. Variation in Yellow-bellied and Red-naped Sapsuckers. Birding 38:6. 42-51.). We searched the area for an hour without relocating our prize, coming across only Hairy Woodpeckers. Nevertheless, it was a great way to finish this trip! We ended with 120 species including a memorable selection of the expected birds at this season in western Oregon. Our biggest miss? Pine Siskin! Ellen and I explored this tour on our own 7-8 February without hearing or seeing any Pine Siskins. The same was true with the group 14-16 February. Where have these birds gone? Species list: Tundra Swan Trumpeter Swan Gr. White-fronted Goose Canada Goose Cackling Goose Brant Wood Duck Gadwall EURASIAN WIGEON American Wigeon American Green-winged Teal Mallard Northern Pintail Northern Shoveler Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Harlequin Duck Black Scoter Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Common Goldeneye Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck California Quail Red-throated Loon Pacific Loon Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Western Grebe Brandt's Cormorant Double-crested Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Great Blue Heron Great Egret LITTLE BLUE HERON White-tailed Kite Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon Virginia Rail American Coot Killdeer Black Oystercatcher Black Turnstone Surfbird Sanderling Rock Sandpiper Dunlin Mew Gull California Gull Herring Gull Thayer's Gull Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull GLAUCOUS GULL Black-legged Kittiwake Common Murre Pigeon Guillemot Marbled Murrelet Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Anna's Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Acorn Woodpecker YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker BLACK PHOEBE Hutton's Vireo Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Common Raven Horned Lark Violet-green Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Marsh Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Western Bluebird Hermit Thrush American Robin Varied Thrush Wrentit European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler Townsend's Warbler Spotted Towhee Savannah Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brewer's Blackbird Purple Finch House Finch Red Crossbill House Sparrow Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA Steppie at nwinfo.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090219/67939b36/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Thu Feb 19 11:37:53 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:37:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fwd: North American Bird Phenology Program- Become an Online Participant! Message-ID: <499DB511.2020609@pacifier.com> Greetings All: We have finally put together an online data entry program for the 6 million Bird Migration Cards kept at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. Over 100,000 of these 2x5 cards from the 1880's onward are now scanned in and you can now make a real contribution (and see some very neat records by bird heads dead for over 100 years) by entering data from the scanned migration cards from your computer terminal. What else would you be doing during your lunch hour anyway? In any case please consider entering some data for us, even a little as we are running out of money for the project and need to recruit more and having a good data entry showing will help. sam droege Sam Droege sdroege at usgs.gov w 301-497-5840 h 301-390-7759 fax 301-497-5624 USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center BARC-EAST, BLDG 308, RM 124 10300 Balt. Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705 Http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov "The bird has no definite path to follow." - Cameroon - -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Variations on a theme http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/01/20090129.html -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: Sam Droege Subject: Fw: North American Bird Phenology Program- Become an Online Participant! Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:18:37 -0500 Size: 120245 Url: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090219/f672e548/attachment.eml From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Feb 19 12:59:24 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:59:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ankeny to Newport Message-ID: <39557b9641665a319b1b9622db04d3e1@earthlink.net> The Wrentits in northern Oregon are part of what used to be called Dusky Wrentit. I don't know if the subspecies is still sanctioned. THe Pallid Wrentit occupied southern interior Oregon and California. THe birds in southern California, where the majority of potential field guide users would be, are reminiscent of bushtits or LeConte's Thrashers or Abert's Towhees--extremely drab gray, the generic desert-tone. Check out the latest article in David Irons' blog BirdFellows. It shows a number of southern Baja California versions of familiar Oregon birds. They look quite different sometimes. The west coast is to me a fascinating continuum from the Queen Charlotte Islands to Cabo San Lucas. Despite huge differences in climate, many species of birds (and mushrooms, vascular plants, etc.) occur over a major portion of this great latitude with accompanying local adaptations. Lars Norgren From namitzr at hotmail.com Thu Feb 19 13:25:03 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:25:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Raptor Survey 2/16 Message-ID: Barbara Taylor and I concluded the February survey without incident on Sunday. 0830-1330 73 miles partly cloudy 1 American Kestrel 1 Peregrine Falcon 15 Red-tailed Hawk 6 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Northern Harrier 2 White-tailed Kite 1 Turkey Vulture Other notable species were 6 Eurasian Wigeon 50+ Cackling Geese Cheers, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090219/9401c218/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Feb 19 14:19:19 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:19:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] 3rd S.Grants Pass raptor survey Message-ID: Today (02-19-09) the 3rd South Grants Pass raptor survey was accomplished. Total of 3.0 hrs; 26.9 miles; weather: fog (early) to high-level overcast conditions. Observed were: Red-tailed Hawk - 13 American Kestrel - 4 Red-shouldered Hawk - 8 (see note below) White-tailed Kite - 2 Merlin - 1 Cooper's Hawk - 1 Between the north and south GP surveys this time out, a total of 17 Red-shouldered Hawks were detected. This is perhaps the highest total for them I have gotten on these surveys. More than half tallied were heard calling. They are pretty vocal at this time, which helps to detected them for sure. Found 2 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES, 1 at two different locations. Also, another TREE SWALLOW along Leonard Rd. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090219/88cc7d1a/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Thu Feb 19 15:00:43 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:00:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sea Otter Photographed and Confirmed at Depoe Bay Message-ID: Hi. Jim Rice of the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network emailed me that Morris Grover has sighted and photographed a sea otter in Depoe Bay harbor. It's been hanging out in front of the Coast Guard boat barn, apparently eating crabs. The story with a photo is also at http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/rare_sea_otter_confirmed_at_de.html Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport From douglas.robinson at oregonstate.edu Thu Feb 19 15:42:14 2009 From: douglas.robinson at oregonstate.edu (Douglas Robinson) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:42:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] The emporer (goose) has lost its clothes... and more In-Reply-To: Message-ID: >From Randy Moore: In the course of talking with a goose hunt check station attendant yesterday, I was shown a picture of an odd goose shot by a hunter somewhere (I think) in Linn County. I was amazed to see a photo of an adult emperor goose stretched out on the ground! Argh. The hunter apparently thought it was a blue phase snow goose. Anyhow, although the attendant didn't know if it was kosher to give me the details of the incident that cooked the goose's goose, she did say that she'd seen the bird alive just prior to its demise at the new WRP project off of Diamond Hill Road in southern Linn County. That place continues to produce scads of really interesting and uncommon to rare birds for the Willamette Valley, as well as the second largest known population of streaked horned larks in existence last year. cheers, randy Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090219/fbb88e47/attachment.html From ra15136 at yahoo.com Thu Feb 19 16:03:16 2009 From: ra15136 at yahoo.com (Rebecca) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:03:16 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Pygmy-owls, Marmots and Mountain Goats - Research presentation - March 3, 7 PM Message-ID: <374505.46700.qm@web84003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Wildlife Biologists Present Research at the Mazama Mountaineering Center 527 SE 43rd Ave, Portland OR 97215 Portland OR March 3, 2009 at 7 PM Each year, the Mazamas awards competitive grants to researchers who wish to study conservation of the environment, exploration of the natural world and enhancing the enjoyment and safety of outdoor recreation. In what we hope will be an annual event, the Research Committee is showcasing fascinating research that we are funding. Join us at the MMC on Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at 7 PM for the opportunity to listen to three speakers present their research on the wildlife of the Pacific Northwest, complete with beautiful slides. John Deshler, graduate student in the Department of Biology at Portland State University has explored nest-site habitat selection and breeding behaviors of the Northern Pygmy owls in the Tualatin Mountains in Oregon for the past two years. Fifteen pygmy-owl nests were found and habitat variables quantified. During this presentation, video, sound and pictures will be used to explore the fascinating and rarely seen habits of Northern Pygmy-owls. Northern Pygmy-owls (Glaucidium gnoma) are tough, mysterious little birds of western North America. Individual adults weigh-in at a mighty 2 to 3 ounces. These diurnal owls are detected primarily in sloped, forest and woodland habitats up to the treeline. Pygmy-owls have been on Oregon?s Sensitive Species List since 1997 and much remains unknown about this bird. However, this has not prevented some from claiming that pygmy-owls would benefit from logging, and that they never occur in dense contiguous forests. For the past seven years, Dr. Suzanne C. Griffin, from the University of Montana, has led a comprehensive study of the Olympic marmot, a species unique to the upper slopes of the Olympic Mountains. The Olympic marmot thrived for millennia in an environment in which few animals can survive, but in recent years this hardy creature has disappeared from many areas. Dr. Griffin will begin with a discussion of the ecology of alpine-dwelling marmots, followed by a synopsis of her research into the extent and causes of the Olympic marmot decline. Finally, she will attempt to look into the future of this high-country sentinel. Andrew Shirk, graduate student at Western Washington University, will give a talk about his research on the decline of mountain goats in the Cascades, how his study helps understand the dynamics of this decline, and ways we can use this knowledge to reverse the decline. From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Feb 19 18:08:13 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:08:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull continues at Fernhill Message-ID: <7e04b788c59e9acfcedd2390c76707b8@earthlink.net> At 3:30 this afternoon (2/19) the second year S-B was at Fernhill Lake with a paltry score of other large loafing Larids. Even if I'd had a camera it was far enough off shore to render digiscoping futile. I gave it greater scrutiny than on Presidents' Day. A smudge is present around the eye, fine brown streaking on the back of the lower neck. Darkly smudged under-tail coverts. This is a very big gull. So big that for awhile I mistook the half-dozen adult Westerns it was consorting with for Thayer's. The bill seems big, with an undeniable gonydeal angle. This species is known to hybridize with G-wings. Lars Norgren From gmluft at yahoo.com Thu Feb 19 18:09:44 2009 From: gmluft at yahoo.com (Glenn Luft) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:09:44 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Snowy Owl in Umatilla area Message-ID: <830616.9120.qm@web51609.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Glenn and I are going through the Umatilla area this Sunday and would like to see if the Snowy Owl is still around. Would whoever saw the owl please email me the directions to where it was seen? Thanks, Rie Luft From rfadney at hotmail.com Thu Feb 19 18:11:55 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:11:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bandon Emperor pictures Message-ID: Lest everyone remain of the opinion that I have some sort of aversion to geese in general! I have posted a few images of the Bandon Emperor Goose. It is absolutely beautiful and very tame now, I was even able to feed it by hand (pay for the photo shoot!). As much food as is available from the locals there, I can't see this beautiful little fellow going anywhere anytime soon. Hopefully it stays far from Linn County! Also, it is very well protected by the resident Swan Geese. If anyone is interested in a full size file to print, drop me a note. http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/fatrichie/Birds/P2155277.jpg Rich p.s. I was reading an article on domestic breeds of geese in the UK, and it included this "HUMOROUS" quote "Unofficially, there are two kinds of Chinese geese: those that hate the world and everything that moves within it, and those which have to be picked up and carried to their shed." I got a kick out of it! _________________________________________________________________ Stay up to date on your PC, the Web, and your mobile phone with Windows Live. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093185mrt/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090219/31362d92/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Thu Feb 19 19:05:01 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:05:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gull ID confirmation please. Message-ID: OK, I gave it a shot. Here is a link to a picture of a Gull that I believe is a Glaucous Winged Gull. I think it is do to the description in Sibley. The dark iris and light February through September head plumage description lead me to this decision. Please help me confirm or disprove the identification. I am opening my mind to this Gull ID thing. Everyone seems to have fun with identifying them. I don't want to miss out on the fun, though I probably picked and easy one and you'll all get a good chuclke out of it! http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/fatrichie/Birds/P2145144.jpg Thanks all, Rich _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_howitworks_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090219/4af02ed1/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Feb 19 20:24:08 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:24:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Birds of East Asia is out Message-ID: Mark Brazil's Birds of East Asia, which includes all of the Asian vagrants that might occur in the northwest, is out. It costs $40, give or take, in paperback, and the paperback is very solidly built. It covers everything from Taiwan northward, roughly west to the Irkutsk region of Russia. I have no particular expertise on Asian birds, but a quick read-through brings these thoughts to mind. We now have a very good complete reference to Asian vagrants. The amount of detail is almost always appropriate, for example quite a lot on the nasty Asian warblers and flycatchers. Good text (with very small print); good basic info on movements, including some very basic notes on vagration patterns, mainly within Asia but sometimes mentioning North America. Maps are readable and very helpful, though I am not really qualified to comment on their accuracy. Illustrations are a mixed bag. Several people contributed, and a lot of them are good, e.g. raptors, gulls, snipe and pipits, though the latter seem universally a little dark, almost as though there was some oddity in the printing process. Some of the illustrations have the curiously "wrong" look of birds illustrated by people who have never seen them in the wild. Many of the shorebirds seem slightly off in proportion or coloring, though the plovers are good. The swallows are peculiar little cutouts and the Bohemian Waxwing seems to have been fathered by a nuthatch, there being insufficient bird abaft the beam. But a lot IS good in the illustrations. Well worth having for anyone who thinks they might stumble onto a vagrant. This is especially true for those who normally carry Sibley instead of Geo, the former being exceptionally weak in Asian vagrants. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Thu Feb 19 20:52:04 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:52:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Summer Lake - Wagontire ECBC Raptor Survey. Message-ID: Today, 2/19, I joined Lowell Franks on his Summer Lake - Wagontire Raptor Survey Route. It was a great day with a count of 74 raptors, the highest yet. See below list. We drove 177 route miles in 8 1/2 hours with mostly calm winds, temps 16 - 40 degrees, under high thin clouds. The morning started off with a lek containing 19 Sage Grouse. After a mile we drove by a herd of 80+ Pronghorns, also saw another herd of about 20. We counted at least 65 Mule Deer and 2 Coyotes. The kicker on the mammal scene was a herd of 60 - 80 Bighorn Sheep on Hgwy 395 MP 78 on the east side of Lake Abert. The hillside was alive with them and all within a couple hundred yards of the highway. We couldn't find any big rams though, they were probably up on top watching us. What a great day in the Great Basin. Raptors Counted; Red-tailed Hawk 27 Northern Harrier 6 Bald Eagle 11A, 5s Golden Eagle 7 Rough-legged Hawk 12 Prairie Falcon 4 Great-horned Owl 2 ----kim boddie Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090219/066b964b/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Feb 19 22:43:13 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 06:43:13 +0000 Subject: [obol] Gull ID confirmation please. In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Rich, You ID of this gull is correct. It is an adult Glaucous-winged Gull. Perhaps the most important feature is that the wing tips match the color of the back (sometimes referred to as the mantle). It is obviously one of the larger pink-legged species. It is the only species in this group with matching gray back and gray wingtips. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: rfadney at hotmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:05:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gull ID confirmation please. OK, I gave it a shot. Here is a link to a picture of a Gull that I believe is a Glaucous Winged Gull. I think it is do to the description in Sibley. The dark iris and light February through September head plumage description lead me to this decision. Please help me confirm or disprove the identification. I am opening my mind to this Gull ID thing. Everyone seems to have fun with identifying them. I don't want to miss out on the fun, though I probably picked and easy one and you'll all get a good chuclke out of it! http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/fatrichie/Birds/P2145144.jpg Thanks all, Rich Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. See how it works. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_AE_Faster_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090220/46d27cb2/attachment.html From jvanmoo at sisna.com Fri Feb 20 08:38:21 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:38:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Klamath Basin 2-19-09 Message-ID: <881A918C-9411-40AB-A1BC-BA9410C32048@sisna.com> On a raptor survey yesterday Marilyn Christian and I spotted a DOUBLE- CRESTED CORMORANT at Wilson's Reservoir (Crystal Springs Rd), a MERLIN (Joe Wright Blvd) and 105 CANVASBACK at a pond along Mann Rd., a PRAIRIE FALCON (Hill Rd near Nuss Pond) and many RED-TAILED HAWKS and BALD EAGLES. It seems a little early for the cormorant. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From jorrie at peak.org Fri Feb 20 09:54:50 2009 From: jorrie at peak.org (Jorrie & Ken) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:54:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] 3 Rufous Hummers at Waldport Message-ID: <2E045D16-F2FE-4AF1-9095-DCBFD4EF08C5@peak.org> This morning there were 3 male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS at the feeders at the same time. Yippee! Jorrie & Ken Ciotti Waldport, OR From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Feb 20 10:44:18 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:44:18 +0000 Subject: [obol] National Geographic News In-Reply-To: <200902190453.n1J4rvHu013439@httpd1.int.ngeo.com> References: <200902190453.n1J4rvHu013439@httpd1.int.ngeo.com> Message-ID: Greetings All, So as to not start a classic February OBOL thread on this topic, those interested in another perspective on this story can visit BirdFellow.com. We just posted a piece to the online journal. There is a public comments forum for those interested in further discussion of this issue. We'd love to hear your thoughts. Dave Irons > Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:53:57 -0500 > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > From: rfadney at hotmail.com > Subject: [obol] National Geographic News > > rfadney at hotmail.com has sent you this story from National Geographic > News. We hope you enjoy it > > http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/02/090218-extinct-bird-photo.html > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_howitworks_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090220/c5dd3c7d/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Fri Feb 20 11:26:30 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:26:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Red-shouldered Hawk Eating Earthworms at South Beach Message-ID: Hi, On Feb. 20, Mike Rivers of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department reports that a Red-shouldered Hawk has been around the South Beach State Park and "seems to be digging up worms with its talons in our grass at the South Beach office south of our campground." I don't think this behavior has been noted for them before in Lincoln County, but Googling "red-shouldered hawk worms," reveals that this has sometimes been noted elsewhere (e.g., go down page at http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.3356/0892-1016(2007)41%5B254:EHBRHB%5D2.0.CO%3B2?cookieSet=1). Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Feb 20 11:31:19 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:31:19 +0000 Subject: [obol] Red-shouldered Hawk Eating Earthworms at South Beach In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Range, I know that Red-shouldered Hawks eat a lot of snakes, thus it makes some sense that they might capture the occasional earthworm. Dave Irons > Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:26:30 -0800 > From: range.bayer at gmail.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > CC: Mike.Rivers at state.or.us; range.bayer at gmail.com; Dennis.Comfort at state.or.us > Subject: [obol] Red-shouldered Hawk Eating Earthworms at South Beach > > Hi, > > On Feb. 20, Mike Rivers of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department > reports that a Red-shouldered Hawk has been around the South Beach > State Park and "seems to be digging up worms with its talons in our > grass at the South Beach office south of our campground." > > I don't think this behavior has been noted for them before in > Lincoln County, but Googling "red-shouldered hawk worms," reveals that > this has sometimes been noted elsewhere (e.g., go down page at > http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.3356/0892-1016(2007)41%5B254:EHBRHB%5D2.0.CO%3B2?cookieSet=1). > > Cheers, > > Range Bayer, Newport > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_explore_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090220/b652f0dd/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Fri Feb 20 13:24:11 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:24:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Jan. Lincoln Co. Bird Notes Received Through 1/31 Message-ID: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BIRD FIELD NOTES from the January 2009 Sandpiper 30(1) for Observations Received Through 1/31 by Range Bayer The Sandpiper is a publication of Yaquina Birders and Naturalists, a Lincoln County (Oregon) natural history group. Comments in this column about abundance or seasonality refer to Lincoln County only. There are more Lincoln County sightings that have been sent to me and that I have compiled from Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL) to report them all. Only those considered particularly noteworthy are included here. If you have any Lincoln County field notes, please share them with Range (range.bayer at gmail.com [new email address]; P.O. Box 1467, Newport, OR 97365; 541-265-2965) by the 20th of the month. Bird field notes columns in the Sandpiper since 1992 are at, in all lower case letters, http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#recent Many Lincoln Co. sites are in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide (http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/). Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations: BEAVER CREEK: creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, BOILER BAY: State Wayside about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, HMSC: OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of the HMSC, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH: State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SALLY'S BEND: large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, YBCBC: Yaquina Bay Christmas Bird Count on 1/3, YBNJ: Yaquina Bay North Jetty, YBSJ: Yaquina Bay South Jetty. 31 YEARS: BEACHED BIRD REPORT FOR 2008 BLo completed the annual report for the 31st year of approximately weekly beached bird surveys along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach. Participants in 2008 included B&SLo, L&VO, and BO. Some of the highlights from BLo's summary are given below. Birds other than Common Murre chicks totaled 488 in 200, which is slightly above the average annual count for the previous 30 years (471). The most numerous beached birds were Northern Fulmars (209) and murre chicks (107). No rare species were found in 2008. For the third year in a row, Western Grebe mortality (23) was high, though still short of the 43 recovered in 2006. Sooty Shearwaters (7) were low for the fifth year running. This is coincident with the declining numbers of these birds showing on their nesting areas on islands south of New Zealand. Adult Common Murre counts were in the usual range. Murre chick counts were the 3rd highest in the last 10 years, though still way below the high counts of earlier years. The 8 Rhinoceros Auklets in 2008 is a return to usual levels for this species and contrasts with the 143 and 71 found in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Thanks to BLo and his team of observers for doing this and to BLo for sharing his results! YAQUINA BAY CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT ON 1/3 by Compiler RC The CBC was held in miraculously calm and sunny weather, though it was a bit chilly until mid-day. Still, after the 1/1 storm, none of the 21 field observers and 6 feeder counters were complaining about weather. Species total came to 136 with no rarities and no terrible misses - except nobody could re-find the count week BLACK PHOEBE that was seen at the YBSJ area on 1/2. Overall numbers of waterfowl seemed low, but possibly birds were more spread out than usual in all the flooded lowlands. The recent storms have finally convinced the BROWN PELICANS to move south but 10 lingered still, along with 1 HEERMANN'S GULL (new to count). Seawatchers spotted NORTHERN FULMAR, SOOTY/SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE and all the expected alcids: COMMON MURRE, PIGEON GUILLEMOT, ANCIENT MURRELET, RHINOCEROUS AUKLET, and more than 30 MARBLED MURRELETS. Other good finds were 2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS in Sally's Bend, a single female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE at Seal Rock Stables along south Beaver Creek, 1 WHITE-TAILED KITE, 2 BARN OWLS, 1 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, 12 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS reported from 3 different locations, and 2 SLATE-COLORED DARK-EYED JUNCOS. Feeder watchers added 6 MOUNTAIN QUAIL, 4 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS plus a LESSER GOLDFINCH. Despite the recent sub-freezing weather the ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD count continues an upward trend with 48 birds found. MOURNING DOVES were new to the count only 4 years ago; they have been annual since, with 8 reported. Additional species from count week include GLAUCOUS GULL (1st winter bird seen at the YBSJ parking pullout), CLARK'S GREBE, and SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. -------------- RB's Note. This is the 10th consecutive year that RC has been Compiler, and she has done an outstanding job of organizing this CBC! In her past 4 of 5 CBC's, 130 or more species were found. In the previous 31 CBC's, 130 or more species were only recorded twice (1988 [131] & 1989 [130]). The species total this year ties this CBC's record of 136 on 2 Jan. 2005. RC, thanks for your efforts! WATERFOWL BRANT numbers were pretty stable at Yaquina Bay embayments in January. During the 1/3 YBCBC, BO & CL counted 185. On 1/5, JL counted 188; on 1/22, RB found 185; and, on 1/28, JL counted 175 Brant lounging at Idaho Flats mudflats and while she was counting, "a dozen or so flew by in the distance." On 1/11 at Idaho Flats, WH observed 105 adults, 13 young of the year, and an additional 29 birds too far away to age; more could have been upriver at Sally's Bend. WH notes that this adult:young ratio indicates "a very poor nesting season in 2008, at least for the Brant that come to Yaquina Bay." YB&N is a project partner of the International Brant Monitoring Project (IBMP) (http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/), and RB relays on significant reports of Brant in Lincoln County to their Observation Log (see link on the left side of their web page). At dusk on 1/14, JL saw 8 TUNDRA SWANS (including 1 grayish immature) gliding in and settling just off the HMSC Nature Trail. Near dusk the next day, HS spotted 13 swans in the middle of the Sally's Bend. On 1/11, HH & JS found a drake EURASIAN (COMMON) TEAL with 4 male Green-winged Teal and several females on a small pond along HWY 20 between Toledo and Newport. Several EURASIAN WIGEON were viewed at various locations. A female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE with its entire bill "as bright as neon orange yellow" (LO) was at Seal Rocks Stables in south Beaver Creek on the 1/3 YBCBC and 1/22 (LO). A male was at the mouth of Schooner Creek in north Siletz Bay on 1/10 (PS& CK), 1/23 (JW), and 1/24 (D&LF). HARLEQUIN DUCK S were widely distributed with 1-4 at the YBSJ on 1/9 (RA & others) and 1/11 (HH & JS), 4 at Seal Rocks on 1/25 (LO), 1 at Boiler Bay on 1/18 (CG & others), and 5 at Yaquina Head on 1/30 (TH). 2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were tallied during the 1/3 YBCBC (KM), and our only other report was of "a female Long-tailed Duck flying south with a flock of about 30 Surf Scoters at Boiler Bay" on 1/17 (DvB & others). KM found a mostly white (leucistic) SURF SCOTER that looked like a miniature Trumpeter Swan at Lost Creek between Newport and Ona Beach during the 1/3 YBCBC. BROWN PELICAN UPDATE FOR DECEMBER Although we had records in all months of the year previously, 2008 was the first year in which we had records every month in the same year. As reported in last month's Sandpiper, Brown Pelicans numbered in the low thousands until at least 12/18 (PP) but had declined at Siletz Bay to 200 on 12/21 and 125 on 12/24 (PP). Pelicans were much more abundant in early and mid-December than they have been in past years. Storms and cold weather may have contributed to the departure of most pelicans by 12/21. HMSC weather data indicate that storms on 12/12-13 had peak gusts of 41-54 mph and that daily low temperatures dipped below freezing (24-30F) on 12/14-17 (http://weather.hmsc.orst.edu/). Another storm with peak gusts of 41 mph was recorded on 12/20-21. Along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach, 2 adult pelicans were found dead the last week of December (B&SLo, L&VO). It is rare for them to find any, but the total this December is the same as in December 2006, so it is not unprecedented. Since 1997, BLo's team found no pelicans in 1997- 1999 and 2001-2005, 1 in Oct. 2000, 2 in Dec. 2006, and 2 in 2007 (one each in July and October). BROWN PELICANS: DISORIENTED, WEAK, & DYING In early Jan., reports of many weakened and more than 400 dead and dying Brown Pelicans began appearing in Californian newspapers, the Seattle Times, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, International Herald Tribune, TV stations, National Public Radio (NPR), Sydney (Australia) Daily Telegraph, and elsewhere. Disoriented and starving pelicans were turning up on highways and backyards in California and even discovered in Arizona and New Mexico. This was a very big story, and I Googled over 75 web pages about it. However, some of the stories had obvious errors, which can make one skeptical. For example, MW's story in the Sacramento Bee included a map for Brown Pelicans that shows the Oregon Coast as "New turf in recent years due to warmer weather and water, according to researchers." However, they have been along the Oregon Coast for many, many years. Stories focused on the cause of the pelican's plight. Initial theories were poisoning by domoic acid (a neurotoxin found in some algae blooms), bird flu, or poisoning from fire retardant used to fight California's wildfires. However, only 4 of 19 pelicans tested positive for domoic acid and levels were low (CPr). On 1/30, CPr wrote: "Experts now suspect the [pelicans] got caught in the winter storms along the Pacific Northwest coast during their southward migration and are now suffering from frostbite, hypothermia and exhaustion, among other ailments, after braving the snow and ice." Hypothermia and exhaustion could lead to disorientation. At one Californian rehab center, 60-65 of the pelicans had dead and blackened skin on their feet and/or feeding pouches that was consistent with frostbite (MW). Some pelicans brought to the Wildlife Center of the North Coast in Astoria also had frostbitten feet and partial amputations were being considered (CPr). Sharnelle Fee of the Astoria rehab center noted that they had not had pelicans with frostbite before (CPr). Frostbite occurs when skin tissue freezes, and "Windchill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by wind and cold. As the wind increases, it draws heat from the body, driving down skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature" (National Weather Service [NWS], http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/windchill/windchillglossary.shtml). The NWS notes that "Wind chill can bring the temperature to below freezing for humans and animals." Other references indicate that humans can differ in when they get frostbite, with people that are wet or who have poor blood circulation being more vulnerable. The duration of exposure is also important in determining when frostbite can occur. Wind chill charts for estimating when humans develop frostbite have been developed by the NWS (http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/lkn/windchill.php), but I have not found a similar chart for pelicans. At the HMSC (http://weather.hmsc.orst.edu/) on 12/15, the low temperature was 25F and the high was 30F; at noon, the temp was 29F with a 16 mph wind, which is a wind chill of 17F (http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/projects/wxcalc/windChill.php). The wind chill chart indicates that frostbite can develop in humans in 30 minutes with this wind chill or even at a temperature of 35F with a 5 mph wind. Pelicans were probably more vulnerable to frostbite along the northern Oregon coast. 490 live pelicans were tallied during the 12/14 Columbia Estuary Christmas Bird Count (MP in OBOL). At the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, low temps were 26-31F during 12/14-23 (http://www.wunderground.com/US/OR/Astoria.html). So it is plausible that some pelicans that lingered in Oregon suffered hypothermia or developed frostbite, especially since they are a warm climate species, may have become wet while trying to feed, and they are generally not sheltered from winds. Waterbirds that normally winter here may have plumage, skin, and blood circulation that insulate them from hypothermia and frostbite. Wintering waterbirds have not been brought to the Astoria rehab center with frostbite (CPr), though they would have been exposed to freezing temperatures that could have caused frostbite in humans according to the Wind Chill chart. Freezing temps near the Oregon coast where pelicans occur is uncommon but not rare. For example, there were two days when the low was 21-22F and the high was 26-29F at the HMSC in December 1998. Pelicans lingered too long along the Oregon coast this December. A web search revealed that many Brown Pelicans also got frostbite and had to be rescued when they lingered abnormally long along the East Coast at Chesapeake Bay in February 2007 (http://www.somdnews.com/stories/020907/rectop155026_32083.shtml). Evidently, pelicans sometimes make bad choices, and their "migration" is not as fixed as for some species. BROWN PELICANS IN JANUARY So did any pelicans remain here in January? Or did they learn their lesson and depart for warmer climes? In the 16 January's of 1993-2008, no pelicans were recorded in half the years, there was 1 report in 3 years, 2 reports in 1 year, 3 reports in 2 years (1999 and 2008), and 4 reports in 2 years (1998 and 2003)(FN). Usually singletons were noted, but 2-6 were reported in 1998, 1999, 2003, and 2008 (FN). This January, we had 11 reports, with their numbers in parentheses: 1/3 (10) on YBCBC (RC), 1/6 (11) near Siletz Bay (MM, fide RL), *1/17 (2) at Boiler Bay (DvB), *1/17 at Yaquina Bay (DvB), *1/18 (1) at Boiler Bay (D&AH; CG & others), *1/20 (6) at Yaquina Bay (JG & NL), 1/22 (5) at Seal Rocks (LO), *1/23 (1) at Boiler Bay (JW), 1/24 (9) near Siletz Bay (MM, fide RL), 1/25 (8) at Depoe Bay (DS), and 1/30 (2 juveniles) at Yaquina Head (TH). There were many more sightings than in recent years, but 5 of the 11 reports were from out-of-county birders that were in Lincoln County to see the rare LITTLE BLUE HERON (asterisked reports). With the increased observation effort that these talented birders brought, it can be expected to get more pelican reports than we would have had in other years. But even without the asterisked reports, there were more sightings and higher numbers than during January in 1993-2008. Could this become the second year in a row with records every month of the year? Time will tell... HERONS & EGRETS The LITTLE BLUE HERON first recorded in the Siletz Bay area on 12/11 by BM (fide RL) was observed on 14 days in January by many observers, including many who traveled from outside of Lincoln County to see it. The latest report was 1/31 (EH). TShr posted his 1/22 photos, including one near a GREAT EGRET for size comparison, at http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_pix/ The Little Blue attracted many skilled Oregon birders, who found many uncommon bird species that would have otherwise been missed. At least one GREAT EGRET was found during the 1/3 YBCBC, 1/10 & 1/22 at Siletz Bay (many observers looking for the Little Blue), 1/18 east of Waldport (CG & others), and 1/25 at Beaver Creek (LO). [Image Not Included: Barry McPherson's Jan. 10 digiscoped photo with his cell phone of the Little Blue Heron and part of its reflection at Siletz Bay. The heron was distant, and Barry could see it well in his spotting scope. In digiscoping, a digital camera is put up to a spotting scope eyepiece to take a photo. The results are often quite good. Unfortunately, Barry forgot his digital camera, so he thought "why not try my cell phone camera?" So he digiscoped by putting the camera lens of his cell phone up to the scope eyepiece and took this picture. Not the greatest results, but the photo is still very worthwhile!] RAPTORS Oregon Winter Raptor Surveys give a good relative index to the abundance of different wintering raptor species and are coordinated by the East Cascades Birds Observatory (ECBC) (http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=73). The Lincoln County Raptor Coast Route is about 61 miles and runs along Hwy 101 from the north side of Alsea Bay to Taft area of Lincoln City, with nearby inland valleys; it was conducted on 1/10 by WH, WN, & RC. The Inland or Yaquina River-Siletz Route runs from the HWY 101 Kernville exit along HWY 229 south to HWY 20, then along Business HWY 20 through Toledo and down the Yaquina River along north Yaquina Bay Road, with some digressions; this month it included Hidden Valley; it was done on 1/10 by JL & CP. The biggest differences in results between routes this month were that Bald Eagles and Peregrines were mostly or only found along the coastal route and kestrels were only recorded inland. WHITE-TAILED KITES were viewed during the 1/3 YBCBC, the Raptor Routes, and 1 was also found in a field near Logsden on 1/10 & 17 (BLl). BALD EAGLES were common during the 1/3 YBCBC and Raptor Routes and an adult also flew over the HMSC parking lot, where PR waited to lead the 1/17 YBNFT. A COOPER'S HAWK was eating a brush rabbit that it had pulled under brush near the Oregon Coast Aquarium Gift Shop on 1/20 (BLl), and another was a regular in January at BB's Yachats home. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK records were during the 1/3 YBCBC (RC & BLo), at Siletz Bay on 1/8, 10, & 24 (many observers), and at South Beach State Park 1/17 (JL). On 1/14, BB and a friend drove 5.5 mi. up the Yachats River. They espied a RED-TAILED HAWK feeding on a large salmon carcass at the river's edge--nutrient recycling! MERLINS continue to be scarce this winter. There were none during the Raptor Routes, and our only report was 1 at Yaquina View School playground in Newport on 1/8 (CP). Our only AMERICAN KESTREL reports besides during the Inland Raptor Route were during the 1/3 YBCBC and on 1/25 at Beaver Creek (LO). At Yaquina Head in December, PEREGRINE FALCONS (14 days) were more frequent than BALD EAGLES (9 days) (BLM). During the 1/11 Lincoln Co. Coast Raptor Route at Yaquina Head, WH, WN, & RC saw a large, dark (Peale's) Peregrine, and RC wrote that it: "was attempting to catch a Pigeon Guillemot on the water's surface. The guillemot had an injured wing and could not dive further than a quick duck below the surface. The Peregrine would swoop down and the guillemot would dunk under for an instant to elude the grab, Peregrine would miss, circle around and gain altitude for the next pass. This went on for about a dozen attempts before the Peregrine managed to snag the guillemot, then lugged it over to a nearby rock. We watched for a while as the Peregrine plucked feathers and tore off and ate hunks. Wow! Never know what you'll see when you're out birding!" At a bridge in south Siletz Bay on 1/25, RP noted: "We were still in the car when Rock Pigeons under the bridge flushed. A Peregrine Falcon passed 15 feet from us hot on the tail of one of the pigeons. As we scrambled out of the car, the pigeon was caught and brought to the ground. However, the falcon's victory was short lived as the eagle returned, interested in taking the meal. The falcon took flight again and harassed the eagle while the very lucky pigeon flew off in the opposite direction. The eagle lost interest and headed south, so the falcon returned to look for the pigeon. Instead he found and chased off a second eagle. The falcon returned and performed a circular search for his missing lunch for a while before he too left the area." Peregrine Falcons were also recorded on the 1/3 YBCBC, chasing European Starlings at Alsea Bay on 1/7 (P&EW), and on 1/23 at Kernville (Siletz Bay)(JW), 1/25 in lower Beaver Creek (LO), 1/26 at Toledo (SK), and 1/28 at Alsea Bay (fide MR). Lincoln County Raptor Routes Coast_____ Inland___ 12/6 1/10 12/6 1/10 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 0 No. Harrier 3 1 1 0 White-t. Kite 0 3 8 2 Sharp-shin. Hawk 1 0 1 0 Cooper's Hawk 0 0 0 0 Accipiter sp. 0 0 0 0 Red-should. Hawk 0 0 0 0 Red-tail. Hawk 10 9 9 10 Bald Eagle ad. 6 10 2 0 " " subadults 0 1 0 0 " " unknown 0 0 0 1 " " total 6 11 2 0 Merlin 0 0 0 0 Am. Kestrel 0 0 1 4 Peregrine Falcon 2 4 0 0 RAPTOR SUM 22 28 22 17 Hours 4.5 - 4.3 4.7 Miles 61 - 55 73 SHOREBIRDS-MURRELETS We only had 2 reports of 10 or more BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS. Both were for Depoe Bay; RR found 27 on 1/9, and CG & others counted 18 on 1/18. If you see concentrations of 10 or more anywhere along the Oregon Coast, please email oystercatcher researcher Elise Elliott-Smith (eelliott- smith at usgs.gov). RA and others saw our only MARBLED GODWIT; 1 at Idaho Flats on 1/9. 1-2 WHIMBRELS were at the YBSJ on 1/11 (HH & JS), 1/18 (CG & others), 1/19 (TShe), and 1/20 (JG & NL). A small flock used to winter at Yaquina Bay in the 1970's, but they have largely been absent in winter in recent years. 2 ROCK SANDPIPERS were on the YBNJ on 1/9 (RR). On 1/24, JW counted 4 on the YBNJ and 2 on the YBSJ; they were with Surfbirds, turnstones, Sanderlings, and Dunlin. JW adds: "I think this may be the highest number I've found in one spot ever in Oregon or California." 2-3 were also at Seal Rocks on 1/18 (CG & others). 1-2 immature GLAUCOUS GULLS were widely distributed and reported at the YBSJ on 1/2 (fide RC) 1/18 (D&AH; CG & others), & 1/27 (JL); YBNJ on 1/24 (JW), north of Yaquina Head on 1/9 (RA), near Gorton Road east of Siletz Bay on 1/10 (JL & CP), and at north Siletz Bay on 1/20 (JG & NL). ANCIENT MURRELET were distinguished during the 1/3 YBCBC, at Boiler Bay on 1/10, 15, 17, & 18 (many observers), at Depoe Bay on 1/24 (JW), and at Yaquina Head on 1/30 (TH). More than 30 MARBLED MURRELETS were recorded during the 1/3 YBCBC, but there were few other reports: Boiler Bay on 1/15 & 17 (DA & GG; DvB & others). Ancients were more frequent. OWLS-LESSER GOLDFINCH A BARRED OWL reappeared at D&JD's home south of Depoe Bay on 1/5. The unseasonably warm weather in mid-January led to a BEWICK'S WREN singing in South Beach (EH). CP saw a flock of 5 CEDAR WAXWINGS in his neighbor's yard in Toledo on 1/7, and EH also watched 5 in Newport near the OSU Credit Union on 1/23. They were sporadically recorded in Lincoln County in 5 of 20 January's during 1973-1992--they were rarer in February, March, and April, when they were recorded only 2 years each month (SemiL). 4 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were tallied during the 1/3 YBCBC, and 2 were in South Beach daily in mid- and late January (EH). 1 appeared at DF's Thornton Creek home (about midway between Toledo and Eddyville along HWY 20) on 1/14 and a second showed up on 1/17, which were the first there in several years. One of their favored winter haunts of WESTERN MEADOWLARKS is Yaquina Head, and they were recorded there 7 days during 12/20-29 (BLM). Other than the 1/3 YBCBC, our only other report was at the YBSJ on 1/17 (DvB & others). 2 LESSER GOLDFINCHES were in South Beach in brush south of the Yaquina Bay Bridge on 1/6 (EH). OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Dennis Arendt, Rich Armstrong, Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Dan van den Broek (DvB), Bureau of Land Management staff at Yaquina Head (BLM), Rebecca Cheek, CoastWatch (a volunteer project monitoring one- mile segments of the Oregon coast; http://oregoncoastwatch.org/), Dick & Judy Demarest, Darrel & Laura Faxon (some of DF's bird records are at http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#thornton_creek, Chuck Gates, Jeff Gilligan, George Grier, Thomas Hall, Hendrik Herlyn, Dan & Anne Heyerly, Wayne Hoffman, Eric Horvath, Carol Karlen, Steve Kupillas, Janet Lamberson, Nick Lethaby, Cindy Lippincott, Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Bill Medlen, Michael Mefford, Kathy Merrifield, Walt Nelson, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln Co. records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#recent [all lower case letters]), Bob Olson, Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Mike Patterson, Ron Peterson, Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, Cassandra Profita (CPr)(1/30/2009. Wildlife Center Treats Stranded Pelicans. Researchers Theorize Birds Stayed Too Long in Oregon. The Daily Astorian at http://www.dailyastorian.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=398&ArticleID=57909), Paul Reed, Maggie Rivers, Roger Robb, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive at OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Tim Shelmerdine (TShe), Howard Shippey, Tom Shreve (TShr), Jamie Simmons, Don Stein, Paul Sullivan, Matt Weiser (1/17/2009. Ailing Brown Pelicans May Be Victims of Frostbite. The Sacramento Bee [Sacramento, California] at http://www.sacbee.com/ourregion/story/1549982.html), Jay Withgott, Pat & Elizabeth Wood, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (YBNFT Field Trip led by PR). From larmcqueen at msn.com Fri Feb 20 13:59:22 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:59:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Red-shouldered Hawk Eating Earthworms at South Beach In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I can't locate it now, but published somewhere, is a picture of a Screech Owl with earthworms for its young. For symmetry, a picture of a Robin holding a snake above the gaping mouth of its nestling is on page 7 of the Nat Geo Society's "Song and Garden Birds of North America" (1964). Larry McQueen _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of David Irons Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 11:31 AM To: range.bayer at gmail.com; post OBOL Cc: mike.rivers at state.or.us; dennis.comfort at state.or.us Subject: Re: [obol] Red-shouldered Hawk Eating Earthworms at South Beach Hi Range, I know that Red-shouldered Hawks eat a lot of snakes, thus it makes some sense that they might capture the occasional earthworm. Dave Irons > Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:26:30 -0800 > From: range.bayer at gmail.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > CC: Mike.Rivers at state.or.us; range.bayer at gmail.com; Dennis.Comfort at state.or.us > Subject: [obol] Red-shouldered Hawk Eating Earthworms at South Beach > > Hi, > > On Feb. 20, Mike Rivers of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department > reports that a Red-shouldered Hawk has been around the South Beach > State Park and "seems to be digging up worms with its talons in our > grass at the South Beach office south of our campground." > > I don't think this behavior has been noted for them before in > Lincoln County, but Googling "red-shouldered hawk worms," reveals that > this has sometimes been noted elsewhere (e.g., go down page at > http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.3356/0892-1016(2007)41%5B254:EHBRHB%5D2.0.C O%3B2?cookieSet=1). > > Cheers, > > Range Bayer, Newport > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _____ Windows LiveT: Keep your life in sync. Check it out. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090220/0a5d5a58/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Fri Feb 20 14:02:46 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:02:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Red-shouldered Hawk Eating Earthworms at South Beach References: Message-ID: A few days ago I was taking to a USDA Forest Service biologist who knows his birds really well. He mentioned to me that a Red-shouldered Hawk at his place just south of Grants Pass a few miles was feeding on earthworms. Perhaps "mini" snakes for them. Have seen American Kestrels feeding on them also. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Subject: Re: [obol] Red-shouldered Hawk Eating Earthworms at South Beach Hi Range, I know that Red-shouldered Hawks eat a lot of snakes, thus it makes some sense that they might capture the occasional earthworm. Dave Irons > Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:26:30 -0800 > From: range.bayer at gmail.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > CC: Mike.Rivers at state.or.us; range.bayer at gmail.com; Dennis.Comfort at state.or.us > Subject: [obol] Red-shouldered Hawk Eating Earthworms at South Beach > > Hi, > > On Feb. 20, Mike Rivers of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department > reports that a Red-shouldered Hawk has been around the South Beach > State Park and "seems to be digging up worms with its talons in our > grass at the South Beach office south of our campground." > > I don't think this behavior has been noted for them before in > Lincoln County, but Googling "red-shouldered hawk worms," reveals that > this has sometimes been noted elsewhere (e.g., go down page at > http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.3356/0892-1016(2007)41%5B254:EHBRHB%5D2.0.CO%3B2?cookieSet=1). > > Cheers, > > Range Bayer, Newport > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. Check it out. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090220/02ffc08e/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Fri Feb 20 14:20:26 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:20:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Red-shouldered Hawk Eating Earthworms at South Beach In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <499F2CAA.7060803@verizon.net> When we lived in Wisconsin, we found Broad-winged Hawks would sit by the side of the road, especially after spring rain, and snag the earthworms that crawled onto the asphalt. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Range Bayer wrote: > Hi, > > On Feb. 20, Mike Rivers of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department > reports that a Red-shouldered Hawk has been around the South Beach > State Park and "seems to be digging up worms with its talons in our > grass at the South Beach office south of our campground." > > I don't think this behavior has been noted for them before in > Lincoln County, but Googling "red-shouldered hawk worms," reveals that > this has sometimes been noted elsewhere (e.g., go down page at > http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.3356/0892-1016(2007)41%5B254:EHBRHB%5D2.0.CO%3B2?cookieSet=1). > > Cheers, > > Range Bayer, Newport > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > From dpvroman at budget.net Fri Feb 20 14:35:39 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:35:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] 3rd Williams/Applegate raptor survey Message-ID: 3rd Applegate-Williams area raptor survey was completed today (02-20-09). Route is along the roads surrounding the towns of Murphy and Williams, Josephine Co. Total of 37.0 miles; 3.5 hours; weather: mostly clear to partly cloudy Found were: Red-tailed Hawk - 8 American Kestrel - 4 (pair copulating) Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 White-tailed Kite - 1 Peregrine Falcon - 1 Turkey Vulture - 1 (foraging on dead Deer along road) Red-tail numbers way down from last survey (22 birds); Others less also. Perhaps the good weather had something to do with the low numbers. Others of interest: Heard, then saw 1 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (makes 3 different locations for them along raptor routes). Pair of GREAT BLUE HERONS on a nest in large cottonwood. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090220/a8e3b4c0/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Fri Feb 20 14:43:04 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:43:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sea otter article Message-ID: <499F31F8.7040402@verizon.net> http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/8041009-41/story.csp Well the sea otter from Depoe Bay made the news. I just want to comment that in the story they say this is the first confirmed record in Oregon in 103 years. That is not quite the truth. There have been other confirmed sitings, including one by myself and a few others which was photographed and sent along to USFWS. It was decided at the time that the information would be kept "quiet", for fear that said sea otter might meet its demise by certain folks who do not want sea otters in Oregon, hence we never made the siting public. Cheers Dave Lauten Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From doxies at tymewyse.com Fri Feb 20 15:23:27 2009 From: doxies at tymewyse.com (Julie) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:23:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sea otter article References: <499F31F8.7040402@verizon.net> Message-ID: <89089F20A09146EDA1C2F171A738BB49@emachine61b2a0> I worked at Whale Cove, (about 2 miles south of Depoe Bay) in the early-mid '70's, and I have fond memories of watching one there that seemed to delight in teasing the gulls. The otter would crush shellfish on a rock on it's chest while floating on it's back. When the gulls would attempt to share in the bounty, the otter would dive. ----- Original Message ----- From: "DJ Lauten and KACastelein" To: "Oregon Birders On Line" Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 2:43 PM Subject: [obol] Sea otter article > http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/8041009-41/story.csp > > Well the sea otter from Depoe Bay made the news. I just want to comment > that in the story they say this is the first confirmed record in Oregon > in 103 years. That is not quite the truth. There have been other > confirmed sitings, including one by myself and a few others which was > photographed and sent along to USFWS. It was decided at the time that > the information would be kept "quiet", for fear that said sea otter > might meet its demise by certain folks who do not want sea otters in > Oregon, hence we never made the siting public. > > Cheers > Dave Lauten > Bandon OR > deweysage at verizon.net > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From deweysage at verizon.net Fri Feb 20 16:57:39 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:57:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sea otter article In-Reply-To: <89089F20A09146EDA1C2F171A738BB49@emachine61b2a0> References: <499F31F8.7040402@verizon.net> <89089F20A09146EDA1C2F171A738BB49@emachine61b2a0> Message-ID: <499F5183.80100@verizon.net> Someone refreshed my memory that there was one off Cape Arago a couple of years ago, well documented. Cheers Dave Lauten Julie wrote: > I worked at Whale Cove, (about 2 miles south of Depoe Bay) in the early-mid > '70's, and I have fond memories of watching one there that seemed to delight > in teasing the gulls. The otter would crush shellfish on a rock on it's > chest while floating on it's back. When the gulls would attempt to share in > the bounty, the otter would dive. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "DJ Lauten and KACastelein" > To: "Oregon Birders On Line" > Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 2:43 PM > Subject: [obol] Sea otter article > > > >> http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/8041009-41/story.csp >> >> Well the sea otter from Depoe Bay made the news. I just want to comment >> that in the story they say this is the first confirmed record in Oregon >> in 103 years. That is not quite the truth. There have been other >> confirmed sitings, including one by myself and a few others which was >> photographed and sent along to USFWS. It was decided at the time that >> the information would be kept "quiet", for fear that said sea otter >> might meet its demise by certain folks who do not want sea otters in >> Oregon, hence we never made the siting public. >> >> Cheers >> Dave Lauten >> Bandon OR >> deweysage at verizon.net >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > From whoffman at peak.org Fri Feb 20 18:28:30 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:28:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ankeny to Newport-14-16 February References: <000601c992c7$a672d320$3700a8c0@windypoint99> Message-ID: Hi - It was good meeting you at the South Jetty on Sunday. A couple of explanations: 1. Field guides show Wrentits as "drab brown bird(s)" because that is the way they look in California, particularly southern California. Wrentits have a lot of geographic variation, and ours, at the northern end of their range have the brightest undreparts, and are altogether fancier-looking than the drab Californians. 2. The Murres at Yaquina Head Common Murres on the Oregon Coast visit their colony sites periodicallly througfh the winter. Weather seems to be a controlling factor, but if the weather is suitable, they show up on the water next to the colony in numbers comparable to the numbers that use the colony each year. Occasionally we catch one of these visitation days on a CBC, and get a national high count. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: Andy Stepniewski To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 11:23 AM Subject: [obol] Ankeny to Newport-14-16 February OREGON COAST 14-16 FEBRUARY 2009 Ellen and I led a Yakima Valley Audubon Society three-day "President's Weekend trip to the central Oregon, starting in the Willamette Valley, then moving to the coast. We began at the Ankeny NWR interpretive viewpoint on Ankeny Hill Road, an overlook offering a picturesque vista of rolling hills mantled in oak savanna, Oregon ash bottomlands, fields, and marshes. What a great setting to start a birding trip! We watched a close by Great Egret snatch a vole from the grassy field. A couple of Acorn Woodpeckers were atop an oak snag, riddled with holes, serving as their granary tree, at the corner of Buena Vista Road a few hundred yards walk away. Western Scrub-Jays squawked everywhere. Of course there were geese, thousands of them! Apparently most are Dusky Canada's, a subspecies that has a restricted breeding range in Alaska's Copper River delta. We then took the boardwalk trail to a blind overlooking Egret Marsh. Purple Finches munched away on Oregon ash seeds, and Brown Creepers and White-breasted Nuthatches called. Mammal-wise, we admired nutria and coyotes. On the way to Newport we detoured to Airlie Road where we studied Tundra and Trumpeter Swans. Several White-tailed Kites and Rough-legged Hawks hovered over nearby fields making this another very good stop. Sunday morning started out rainy and windy at our first stop at Idaho Point on the south side of Yaquina Bay. It was blustery and unpleasant here so we retreated a short distance west along the road to a sheltered spot. Coastal forest and second growth scrub is on the landward side of the roads here, estuary habitats on the bay side. Along with the habitat diversity we tallied bird species diversity. At this one stop we tallied 48 species! In the scrubby growth we admired a stunning male Anna's Hummingbird and a number of Fox Sparrows plus a nice selection of "wetside" songbirds such as chickadees, kinglets, thrushes, nuthatches, Bushtit, and sparrows. In the tall Sitka spruce we heard Red Crossbills. Out in the bay there was a good selection of bay and sea ducks (Surf Scoters by the hundreds), and loons and grebes. On the mudflats were hundreds of Dunlin and a few Sanderlings. Bald Eagles flapped by too. Providing a nice study here were two male and one female EURASIAN WIGEONS. We moved on to the Yaquina Bay south jetty. An immature GlAUCOUS GULL (with a hint of hybridism) and a Black-legged Kittiwake, along with a few Red-necked Grebes, and a Pigeon Guillemot, were our best birds here. At low tide we hit Seal Rocks. The sun shone warmly here and we enjoyed a beach walk. We had great views of all of Oregon's expected "rockpipers" here: Black Turnstone, Surfbird, Rock Sandpiper (2), and Black Oystercatcher. Because it was a holiday and the beach a bit of a zoo, the rockpipers were on the rocks on the second tier of outcrops. Several Harlequin Ducks surfed in the roiling waters just a few yards offshore and a Peregrine Falcon, the only one on our trip, sped by, close above the water, putting up all the shorebirds. On a tip we checked out Alsea Bay bridge where a Peregrine Falcon pair were in residence. No falcons today so we hit the Subway for lunch. We returned to Newport via South Beaver Creek Road, with open fields and wetlands. At one stop, Ike (sharp-eyed as ever) spotted a Violet-green Swallow, at another a Virginia Rail and Hutton's Vireo called. At Ona Beach State Park we took a short walk out to the creek mouth to view the bathing and roosting gulls. A few Thayer's and the odd Herring Gull provided a close study. In the tall Sitka spruce a male Townsend's Warbler probed about the myriad of cones along with a troop of Chestnut-backed Chickadees. The lawn area by the picnic tables boasted a hermit Thrush foraging like a robin. We then stopped at Yaquina Bay State Park. In the brushy patches at the overlook of the jetty a pair of Wrentits gave us stunning views. We all agreed the field guides portray this a drab brown bird, failing to do justice to its pretty hues of grays and browns. Our final stop on Sunday was at Nye Beach where we easily located the stakeout BLACK PHOEBE, here a modest distance north of its usual range. It is a species on the move so pioneering individuals are to be expected north and east of its known distribution. Monday morning some of us took a dawn walk along the side of the reservoir that provides drinking water for Newport. We noted a couple flocks of Red Crossbills, a few goldeneyes and Buffleheads and Double-crested cormorants and a Hutton's Vireo briefly sang from the red alders. Monday morning we hit Yaquina Head and were amazed to see thousands of Common Murres! Why amazed? A week ago Ellen and I could only find a handful of murres. Apparently the murres were starting to congregate near their nesting rocks here, in preparation for breeding. We also scoped Brandt's Cormorants coming into breeding plumage, and had Black Oystercatchers piping their loud whistles. Black Scoters, common north of Yaquina Head, were mostly far out and provided us with barely satisfying scope views. Boiler Bay was good for its magnificent crashing waves. Offshore we watched Black-legged Kittiwakes flying about. A pair of distant Marbled Murrelets, a few Common Murres, and Pigeon Guillemots rounded out our seawatch here. The assortment of loafing gulls on the lawn by the picnic tables included another GLAUCOUS GULL, this individual appearing more-or-less of purebred parentage. A handsome adult Thayer's Gull afforded a good study too. Though US-101 was very busy, we stopped just south of Drift Creek on Siletz Bay and scoped the immature LITTLE BLUE HERON, a stakeout bird. This species is of casual occurrence in Oregon. Returning home, four of us remaining (comprising the Kamikaze crew) toured Baskett Slough NWR. This refuge has habitats much like Ankeny NWR. To our trip list we added California Quail, Hairy Woodpecker, Horned Lark, Western Bluebird (12- another sign spring is on the way!), and YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, another of casual occurrence in Oregon. Our view of the sapsucker in an old apple tree at the start of the Baskett Butte Trail was very brief but we noted its key features: a completely white throat, lack of any red on its nape, and s back obviously showing brownish tones. We called this individual an adult female. "Among the identification quandaries presented by Yellow-bellied and Red-naped Sapsuckers, the least challenging is presented by adult female Yellow-bellieds, in which the entirely white throat and white nape should make identification straightforward." (Mlodinow et al. 2006. Variation in Yellow-bellied and Red-naped Sapsuckers. Birding 38:6. 42-51.). We searched the area for an hour without relocating our prize, coming across only Hairy Woodpeckers. Nevertheless, it was a great way to finish this trip! We ended with 120 species including a memorable selection of the expected birds at this season in western Oregon. Our biggest miss? Pine Siskin! Ellen and I explored this tour on our own 7-8 February without hearing or seeing any Pine Siskins. The same was true with the group 14-16 February. Where have these birds gone? Species list: Tundra Swan Trumpeter Swan Gr. White-fronted Goose Canada Goose Cackling Goose Brant Wood Duck Gadwall EURASIAN WIGEON American Wigeon American Green-winged Teal Mallard Northern Pintail Northern Shoveler Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Harlequin Duck Black Scoter Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Common Goldeneye Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck California Quail Red-throated Loon Pacific Loon Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Western Grebe Brandt's Cormorant Double-crested Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Great Blue Heron Great Egret LITTLE BLUE HERON White-tailed Kite Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon Virginia Rail American Coot Killdeer Black Oystercatcher Black Turnstone Surfbird Sanderling Rock Sandpiper Dunlin Mew Gull California Gull Herring Gull Thayer's Gull Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull GLAUCOUS GULL Black-legged Kittiwake Common Murre Pigeon Guillemot Marbled Murrelet Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Anna's Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Acorn Woodpecker YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker BLACK PHOEBE Hutton's Vireo Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Common Raven Horned Lark Violet-green Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Marsh Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Western Bluebird Hermit Thrush American Robin Varied Thrush Wrentit European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler Townsend's Warbler Spotted Towhee Savannah Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brewer's Blackbird Purple Finch House Finch Red Crossbill House Sparrow Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA Steppie at nwinfo.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090220/06483749/attachment.html From fitzbeew at gmail.com Fri Feb 20 18:40:13 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:40:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lane CC Birds Message-ID: Obol, My dad and I conducted my bird surveying today at Lane Com. College this morning. Highlights included: 1 BLACK PHOEBE on the West Pond (of the three sewage treatment ponds on campus) 6 SCAUP, also on the West Pond 1 Lincoln's Sparrow on the North side of 30th Female Common Goldeneye was still at the ponds, making it over a month that she has stayed at Lane. Unfortunately, I did not see any Ruddy Ducks today, which was disappointing. However, the Scaup were a good sign that, hopefully, some of the ducks who have been here for years will come back. Good birding, -Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090220/07401b35/attachment.html From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Fri Feb 20 19:19:05 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:19:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Christmas Valley ECBC Raptor Survey Message-ID: <5869F5AE402B483BAC82D19C26C48577@KimPC> Today, 2-20, was another great day in the Great Basin. Lowell Franks and I drove the Christmas Valley route under clear skies with calm winds and temps between 32 and 51 degrees F. We drove 82 miles in 5 1/2 hours. We didn't get too see a big herd of sheep but it still was a great day. Both yesterday and this morning I drove up to Lowell's house in Ft. Rock with a mature Bald Eagle sitting on the power pole in front of his house. There were also Mtn. Bluebirds all over the basin. In addition to the raptors listed below we also observed 39 more traveling to and from the route along with 54 mule deer, 1 Coyote, and 178 Pronghorns in 3 separate herds. Raptors on Route; Red-tailed Hawk 30 Bald Eagle 2 A, 1 S Golden Eagle 4 Rough-legged Hawk 23 Ferruginous Hawk 3 Unidentified Buteo 3 Prairie Falcon 2 Total 68 ----kim Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090220/6c9cb629/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Fri Feb 20 19:21:37 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:21:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sea otter article In-Reply-To: <499F31F8.7040402@verizon.net> References: <499F31F8.7040402@verizon.net> Message-ID: My wife and I (and about 30 others) also saw one. In Yachats about two years ago, also in late winter. I would not have known what it was, but one of the others who saw it, was a marine biology student at the university of Washington. He identified it as a Sea Otter due mostly to the size, where it was feeding and what it was eating. Sea Urchin. I took several photos that I will be frantically looking for this weekend. At the time I really didn't think it was such a big deal, neither did the student that identified it. I guess we were wrong! And after reading your note Dave, for once I am kind of glad I was ignorant! Rich Adney > Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:43:04 -0800 > From: deweysage at verizon.net > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Sea otter article > > http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/8041009-41/story.csp > > Well the sea otter from Depoe Bay made the news. I just want to comment > that in the story they say this is the first confirmed record in Oregon > in 103 years. That is not quite the truth. There have been other > confirmed sitings, including one by myself and a few others which was > photographed and sent along to USFWS. It was decided at the time that > the information would be kept "quiet", for fear that said sea otter > might meet its demise by certain folks who do not want sea otters in > Oregon, hence we never made the siting public. > > Cheers > Dave Lauten > Bandon OR > deweysage at verizon.net > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Discover 10 secrets about the new Windows Live. http://windowslive.com/connect/post/jamiethomson.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!550F681DAD532637!7540.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_ugc_post_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090220/e3f97074/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Fri Feb 20 19:41:30 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:41:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Black Phoebe at Baskett Message-ID: Bonnie Laux and I went to Baskett Slough today and had a life sighting of Bill and Rosie Tice. The weather was delightful and our other sightings unremarkable except for the great sunlight and a Black Phoebe out hawking insects across from the barn at the end of Livermore Rd. We detected no woodpeckers at all. We walked the Baskett Butte trail and were shocked at the extensive winter breakage of oak and maple trees. Pamela Johnston From marciafcutler at comcast.net Fri Feb 20 20:05:16 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:05:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Australia Trip Message-ID: <5A666B03ACBB4D4D8DFF9300A42326B3@melvintrex4uoq> Hi, Fred Ramsey asked me to post this for him. Members of the Audubon Society of Corvallis will tour Australia in November of this year, and there are a few openings available (total size: 16 people). You do not need to be a member of ASC to join the tour. This tour visits the Red Center south of Alice Springs, the SW corner out of Perth, the Flinders Ranges and Grampians National Parks in South Australia and Victoria, the south coast of Victoria, Bruny Island on Tasmania, and the Atherton Tablelands west of Cairns. We will fly out of LAX on 28 October and return to LAX on 1 December. The cost of this tour will be $8.5k, including all airfare (excluding getting to and from LAX), ground transportation, lodging, and meals. The tour leader is Fred Ramsey, who has lived in Australia for two years, visited several other times, has toured most of these areas, is well-acquainted with Australia's birds, mammals, butterflies, and reptiles, and who led ASC's successful 2007 Australia tour of the Top End and eastern Australia. Anyone interested in joining this tour should contact Fred by email: flramsey5 at comcast.net. He will send a complete itinerary and answer any questions you may have. Marcia F. Cutler Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090220/9ecd99ed/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Fri Feb 20 21:41:06 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:41:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sea otter article In-Reply-To: <499F31F8.7040402@verizon.net> References: <499F31F8.7040402@verizon.net> Message-ID: Hi, News media articles have varied in the depth of their investigation and coverage of the sea otter. Articles in the Newport News-Times (http://www.newportnewstimes.com/articles/2009/02/20/news/news03.txt) and Oregon Live (http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/02/rare_sea_otter_confirmed_at_de.html) are more informative than the article cited below from the Eugene Register Guard. For example, they mention other reports (including at Cape Arago in 2003). The Newport News-Times mentions an unconfirmed sighting this year on Jan. 13 at Yaquina Head that suggests that at least one may have been around in the area for some time. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport On Fri, Feb 20, 2009 at 2:43 PM, DJ Lauten and KACastelein wrote: > http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/8041009-41/story.csp > > Well the sea otter from Depoe Bay made the news. I just want to comment > that in the story they say this is the first confirmed record in Oregon > in 103 years. That is not quite the truth. There have been other > confirmed sitings, including one by myself and a few others which was > photographed and sent along to USFWS. It was decided at the time that > the information would be kept "quiet", for fear that said sea otter > might meet its demise by certain folks who do not want sea otters in > Oregon, hence we never made the siting public. > > Cheers > Dave Lauten > Bandon OR > deweysage at verizon.net > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From nelson_sm at centurytel.net Sat Feb 21 06:07:50 2009 From: nelson_sm at centurytel.net (Sally Nelson) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 06:07:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Where Eagles Gather: Creswell Message-ID: <004e01c9942e$0895a0c0$7bb5ced1@oemcomputer> Dear OBOLinks, I went into the back yard about 2:30 yesterday afternoon, with binoculars, just in time to see 8 eagles circling overhead. Two were adult bald eagles with all white heads and tails, the others equally large and distinctively shaped but mottled. They were close together, at seemingly same altitude and quite a tight spiral. As I watched the spiral turn about 4 times, it drifted south out of sight. I also heard a few high-pitched, down-slurred calls, each broken into about 9 staccato notes, that seemed to come from those birds, but previous bald eagles here have been silent singles. There were Steller's Jays all about, and it was not unlike their voice quality, but I've never heard that exact pattern from them before. Other bird-listeners....? Since I haven't even seen the one adult eagle that frequented a BPA pole out in Camas Swale since December, I suppose that this group was doing something migratory. They may have been ridge soaring along the first line of coast range hills that starts here and used a little local warm spot to go upstairs a bit. My new spring motto is "Go out; look up; rejoice" . Well, okay, that is my motto every spring, but none the worse for that ;-] Sally Sally Nelson nelson_sm at centurytel.net Creswell (s. of Eugene), OR From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Feb 21 09:19:08 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 09:19:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene finches Message-ID: Purple Finch numbers are increasing in s Eugene, and siskins that have not been at my feeder for six weeks have returned. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com Another vixen following the Fleet Foxes ! http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From smithdwd at hotmail.com Sat Feb 21 09:35:55 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:35:55 +0000 Subject: [obol] Fernhill prosable SBGull Sat pm Message-ID: From: smithdwd at hotmail.com Subject: SB Gull/Fernhill Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 03:52:35 +0000 At about 3:30pm the gull population jumped from 20 to 60 in a few minutes. One gull, I thought, met the description per Lars, Sibley, and some googled photos(keeping in mind variability+++). It did have the darker grey mantle and upper wing, darker brown non spotted primaries, correct bill shape(bone colored 2/3 to black tip), and an obviously WHITE iris. It was amongst the gaggle of gulls, was hassled once by a couple gulls, and was similar in size to WE,HE,CA,TH(these I could ID SOME well, the rest were a rainbow, or Mews). I'd like to see one of the Gull Guys find this(I'm gone a week and 1/2) or to see an IDed photo of this. The only "other" gull with similar field guide eye was 2nd winter Vega in Sibley. The dark eye smudging was not as prominent as Burnside SBGull. David Smith What can you do with the new Windows Live? Find out _________________________________________________________________ Show them the way! Add maps and directions to your party invites. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/products/events.aspx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090221/bcb1bcb5/attachment.html From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Sat Feb 21 11:03:48 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 11:03:48 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Sea Otters vs. River Otters Message-ID: <826311.20517.qm@web51808.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hi OBOL: With all the discussion of sea otters, I know people will be on the look out for them. I wanted to mention that river otters are very often confused for sea otters as they enter the ocean at the mouth of rivers. While there are many anatomical differences, the easiest way to tell them apart is size and behavior. River otters are about half the size of southern sea otters....if you've seen the northern sea otters at the Oregon Coast Aquarium or in WA/AK, river otters are much much smaller than these as northern sea otters can be about twice as big as southern sea otters. It is much more likely that we'll see southern sea otters on the Oregon Coast (email if you want to know why). Behavior is by far the easiest way to tell them apart, especially from a distance. Southern sea otters don't haul out and they eat and groom in the water, usually while floating around on their backs cute as be. River otters eat on land and of course get out of the water. Also, if you see an otter floating on its back for any length of time, that's a sea otter, not a river otter. Female otters will float on their backs with the pups on their belly...one of the most adorable sights in you'll ever see nature....but also much more unlikely to see in Oregon, at least for now (if you see this it would be amazing front page Oregonian news for sure). I'm almost certain all the sea otters spotted in Oregon in the last couple of decades have been males which tend to wander much further than females and can be solitary. Cindy From drheath82 at verizon.net Sat Feb 21 12:57:56 2009 From: drheath82 at verizon.net (Mr David Heath) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:57:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pale Thrush In-Reply-To: <826311.20517.qm@web51808.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <826311.20517.qm@web51808.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <000001c99467$137cad10$3a760730$@net> A short while ago I encountered an extremely pale thrush hanging out with a few Am. Robins on the grounds of my condo. Most likely just a pigment-deprived Robin, but I've posted a few pictures if anyone would like to view and perhaps comment. http://www.flickr.com/photos/drheath/ David From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Sat Feb 21 13:21:40 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:21:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Jordan Valley raptor run Message-ID: We did the JV run today while the weather was nice. Time was 9:00-1:00, tempsrangedfrom 27-50 degrees, sunny skies, calm wind, 155 mi. There were patches of snow mostly on the east and north facing slopes. Comparing this year to last year we had more raptors seen. The count is down from Jan. count. RTHA- 9 AMKE- 2 NOHA- 2 BAEA- 1 adult GOEA- 1 RLHA- 2 FEHA- 1 FALC- 1 female Prairie Falcon Also seen during the drive were- Canada Geese, [lots, eating the first green sprouts of grass], Horned Larks, Red winged Blackbirds[ singing], Juncos, [Oregon variety],many Ring-necked Pheasants [male and female], Ravens, American Robins[mostly in the area close to the town of Jordan Valley], ducks [only identifiable were Mallards], 2 Shrikes,Common Magpies. Saw a "Picket pin" also known as Belding Ground Squirrel and an unidentifiable Chipmunk, he ran very quickly across the road. There was a large amount of geese, they were in the areas we see them on the other months but were also in many pastures and feed lots. Makes me think Spring is not far off as these guys are planning on leaving for the far north soon. Karen in the true SE Or. south of Burns Jct. in Malheur Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090221/07766fd1/attachment.html From judie310hansen at comcast.net Sat Feb 21 13:22:07 2009 From: judie310hansen at comcast.net (Hansen Judith) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 13:22:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pale Thrush In-Reply-To: <000001c99467$137cad10$3a760730$@net> References: <826311.20517.qm@web51808.mail.re2.yahoo.com> <000001c99467$137cad10$3a760730$@net> Message-ID: <8AF79BB8-26D0-48AA-A94D-22F04B94E602@comcast.net> Too bad you didn't get a photo of the upper bill so that we could take a look at its culmen as discussed in the February 19 Birdfellow.com discussion. It's also difficult to tell whether the supercilium extends beyond the eye. Perhaps your robin is a San Lucas robin that decided to wander north. Judie Hansen On Feb 21, 2009, at 12:57 PM, Mr David Heath wrote: > A short while ago I encountered an extremely pale thrush hanging out > with a > few Am. Robins on the grounds of my condo. Most likely just a > pigment-deprived Robin, but I've posted a few pictures if anyone > would like > to view and perhaps comment. > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/drheath/ > > David > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From mikedressel at comcast.net Sat Feb 21 14:11:21 2009 From: mikedressel at comcast.net (Mike Dressel) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:11:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] McMinnville Message-ID: <002e01c99471$544c6d80$fce54880$@net> We had an uncommon visit to our feeder from a Townsend's Warbler this morning. Also a Yellow Rumped warbler, Ruby Crowned Kinglet, and a male and a female (not together) Downy Woodpeckers. These were among the Usual Suspects made up of finches, bushtits, juncos, mourning doves, a house wren and a few sparrows. mike -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090221/aed6973d/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Sat Feb 21 15:13:54 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:13:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] two black-phoebes Message-ID: <60F65DD2568145D39364A274572F58F7@TomsPC> There are now two BLACK-PHOEBES at the Booth-Kelly pond area in Springfield. They are hanging near the large green open-air barn. A pair nested there last year. I also saw two KILLDEER in the gravel. An oddity. There was a freshly dead PIGEON dangling from the fabric netting that had been put up to keep birds from roosting in the barn. The bird had become entangled. I'd rather see a pigeon as a hawk's lunch. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090221/9760bf54/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sat Feb 21 15:21:05 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:21:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Say's Phoebe, Yamhill Co Message-ID: <5F7C528CBBE44E009179F4E900392B2C@yourw5st28y9a3> A Say's Phoebe was hawking from the roof of the barn and arena on Pike Rd outside Yamhill earlier this afternoon. This is a good spot for them in spring and fall. Pamela Johnston From forcreeks at earthlink.net Sat Feb 21 16:40:32 2009 From: forcreeks at earthlink.net (Steve Berliner) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:40:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Green Heron bait fishing Message-ID: <380-22009202204032718@earthlink.net> One of our dragonfly friends of Oregon Field Guide fame, sent me this video link. Neither he nor I have heard of anything quite like it. I've seen nature programs and video showing how herons can stir up the water to attract fish, but this is at another level than inherited instinctual behavior. This bird could eat the bread crumb like the other birds, but opts instead to parley this pittance into a high protein feast, and reuse it at that. Some of you are experts, so if you know anything about this fishing behavior please share. Wouldn't this be perfectly analogous to a Heron placing something for a rodent in front of a bush and then hiding beside the bush for example? I apologize if this has appeared before, as I don't always read every daily subject line. http://maniacworld.com/bird-uses-bait-to-catch-fish.html Steve Berliner forcreeks at earthlink.net Steve Berliner forcreeks at earthlink.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090221/6b2d8f3a/attachment.html From pat2ly at comcast.net Sat Feb 21 16:54:36 2009 From: pat2ly at comcast.net (Pat Tilley) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:54:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Polk County Raptor Route South Message-ID: On 2.19.09 Carol Karlen and Pat Tilley completed the Polk County South Raptor Route, 111 miles in about 4 hours. Beautiful sunny day, about 47 degrees. We counted: RTHA: 58 AMKE: 30 NOHA: 11 RLHA: 2 Prairie Falcon 1 De Armond Rd. off Airlie Rd. west of the Suver Jct. about one half mile west of the Benton County line sign, perching on the telephone poles. The flock of Trumpeter Swan and the 8 Greater White-fronted Geese were still along Airlie Rd. just west of De Armond as reported earlier by Joel Geier. Pat Tilley Salem -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090221/1bbe3352/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Feb 21 17:10:30 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 01:10:30 +0000 Subject: [obol] Pale Thrush In-Reply-To: <000001c99467$137cad10$3a760730$@net> References: <826311.20517.qm@web51808.mail.re2.yahoo.com> <000001c99467$137cad10$3a760730$@net> Message-ID: Hi David, On occasion I've seen American Robins in Oregon that resemble this bird. In all likelihood the explanation is feather wear and bleaching. This bird still has a fairly orange upper breast, but appears pretty tawny to cream-colored from the lower breast on down. American Robins go through a pre-basic molt starting in June, which would suggest the plumage on this bird is about 8-9 months old. While it would be fun if this bird were actually San Lucas Robin (described and pictured on the BirdFellow.com journal post) the odds of that being the case are beyond slim. That population is highly isolated and unknown from anywhere but its home range, which is more that 2500 miles from here. The base of the bill on your bird looks pretty yellow and the amount of orange and the hue of the orange on the breast is unlike that of a female San Lucas Robin. American Robins are highly variable, and like most birds one could write a lengthy paper describing all the potential variations. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > From: drheath82 at verizon.net > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:57:56 -0800 > Subject: [obol] Pale Thrush > > A short while ago I encountered an extremely pale thrush hanging out with a > few Am. Robins on the grounds of my condo. Most likely just a > pigment-deprived Robin, but I've posted a few pictures if anyone would like > to view and perhaps comment. > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/drheath/ > > David > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Discover 10 secrets about the new Windows Live. http://windowslive.com/connect/post/jamiethomson.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!550F681DAD532637!7540.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_ugc_post_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090222/25aa48dd/attachment.html From markhamm at charterinternet.com Sat Feb 21 17:29:15 2009 From: markhamm at charterinternet.com (Mark Hamm) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:29:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] TVs Message-ID: Saw 18 turkey vultures kettling above downtown Roseburg at 5 pm today. They were in a tight spiral, as they gained elevation they would peel off to the northwest one or 2 at a time. Very cool. From dan-gleason at comcast.net Sat Feb 21 18:01:22 2009 From: dan-gleason at comcast.net (Dan Gleason) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 18:01:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Green Heron bait fishing In-Reply-To: <380-22009202204032718@earthlink.net> References: <380-22009202204032718@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <29C8963A-EA4D-4E54-B23B-1CC5478E90CA@comcast.net> This type of baiting behavior is well-documented in Green Heron. I have seen this done myself on a couple of occasions. Once, I watched as a birds used a goldfish cracker that someone had discarded. The cracker was floating nearby where the heron was fishing. The heron picked it up and carefully placed it on the water at a new location a few feet away. It didn't take long before it successfully caught a small fish and moved the "lure" closer to shore for another attempt which was also successful. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Feb 21, 2009, at 4:40 PM, Steve Berliner wrote: > > One of our dragonfly friends of Oregon Field Guide fame, sent me > this video link. > Neither he nor I have heard of anything quite like it. I've seen > nature programs and video showing how herons can stir up the water > to attract fish, but this is at another level than inherited > instinctual behavior. This bird could eat the bread crumb like the > other birds, but opts instead to parley this pittance into a high > protein feast, and reuse it at that. Some of you are experts, so > if you know anything about this fishing behavior please share. > Wouldn't this be perfectly analogous to a Heron placing something > for a rodent in front of a bush and then hiding beside the bush for > example? I apologize if this has appeared before, as I don't always > read every daily subject line. > > http://maniacworld.com/bird-uses-bait-to-catch-fish.html > > > Steve Berliner > forcreeks at earthlink.net > > > Steve Berliner > forcreeks at earthlink.net > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090221/9590b02d/attachment.html From 4cains at charter.net Sat Feb 21 18:32:16 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 18:32:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Astoria Rufous Message-ID: <5CB370E7EF104B079435150E3879A6B6@HAL> Lori reports our first male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD showed at the feeder today, 3 mi south of Astoria. Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090221/467ed94e/attachment.html From marshwren at pondhouse.com Sat Feb 21 19:08:54 2009 From: marshwren at pondhouse.com (Suzanne Staples) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 19:08:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Redtails eating earthworms Message-ID: <78680c550902211908h55d04818rd49b7392c5a098ea@mail.gmail.com> The hawk seen eating earthworms may have an injury that is preventing other hunting. I work at the Wildlife Rehab Center of the North Coast and our director, Sharnelle Fee, told me that when hawks are prevented from hunting 'normally', usually by in injury, they will hunt earthworms in order to stay alive. We've gotten in injured hawks with dirt and mud impacted inside the upper curve of their beak. It has taken a metal forceps to dig it out, it's so tightly packed in there- which could indicate a lot of digging in the dirt for something. Suzanne -- Suzanne Staples marshwren at pondhouse.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090221/0b231072/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Sat Feb 21 19:56:49 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 19:56:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Message-ID: Obolers, Was at the Fernhill Wetlands this afternoon. There was no gull fly-in as previously reported, so no sighting of the possible Slaty-backed Gull. Did have the first Tree Swallow of the season and four Bald Eagles, 3 in first year plumages and 1 in third third year plumage. There is also a sharp increase in Cackling Geese. The northward push is now underway. Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090221/8f1db419/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sat Feb 21 20:19:34 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 20:19:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Crabtree-Scio ECBC Raptor Survey Route Message-ID: <1E9C9F2AE0DA4202B3E424E27C35872C@laptop> Bill Thackaberry and I ran the ECBC Winter Raptor Survey, Linn County Route 5 today (Crabtree-Scio). We counted about the same number of raptors as last month, and added a new species for me, a Rough-legged Hawk on Oupor Road. There was also a striking bird that I counted as a Red-tailed Hawk, but in fact I am unsure of the identity, and it could be a Rough-legged Hawk. There is a photo here: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/Raptors#5305418305811657394 The hawk is aberrant, looking very white, though the wings are black and white, with several milky-white primaries forming a pair of neat symmetrical wedges in each wing in flight. The breast and belly, not in the photo are very white, but with a few broad streaks. The tail, in the photo, is light, with a white terminal band, and a wide, diffuse dark band, but white above that. The tail is like a Rough-legged Hawk's. It also perched in the small branches of trees, like a Rough legged. But the legs are not feathered, or at least in the photo, it looks like the tarsus is bare. The head was very white, but with a dark streak through the eye, and a dark mark down the cheek, much as Sibley shows for a "light adult Male". But for the apparent lack of feathers on the tarsus, and the lack of a dark belly band, I would call it a Rough-legged Hawk. So perhaps someone can help. I went back at about 5:00 to see if I could get better photos. The bird was in the same place, but seemed skittish, and between that and the failing light, I got no more images. The hawk was in the same place we found a White-tailed Kite a few years ago, east of Crabtree, in the triangle formed by Fish Hatchery Drive, Freeman Road and Lombardy Drive. It is marked in the picasaweb site. Other good birds included a Eurasian Wigeon at Richardson's Gap Road and Snow Peak Drive and a Horned Lark at Brewster and Balm, in a clover field. Here are the numbers: Red-tailed Hawk 32 American Kestrel 17 Northern Harrier 5 Bald Eagles 12 Adult 7 Imm 5 Rough-legged Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Great Horned Owl 1 (The last heard early AM) Miles driven 63 Hours 5 What a good day for it! Cheers, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090221/27c8726f/attachment.html From nettielh at yahoo.com Sat Feb 21 20:47:48 2009 From: nettielh at yahoo.com (Annette (Lange) Hildebrand) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 20:47:48 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Koll Wetlands, Beaverton, also Hooded Mergansers Message-ID: <339531.61074.qm@web50201.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Koll Wetlands - Beaverton - between Hall and Scholl's Ferry, west of Nimbus Sorry for the continual posts ..... just still can't get over what parts of beautiful nature is trying to survive .... and ind?so doing,?bless the viewers ... right here in the city.? (thank goodness for caution of flooding ... so that areas like this can be saved ) ? In the Little south pond, I call now, Dead Oak Island, .... not only was there one Pintail, a femail Ruddy, Am. Coots, A male Shoveler, Green wing Teals ..... ONE WITH ORANGE HEAD... ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090221/866f11c2/attachment.html From nettielh at yahoo.com Sat Feb 21 20:52:58 2009 From: nettielh at yahoo.com (Annette (Lange) Hildebrand) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 20:52:58 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Koll Wetlands .... Hooded Merganser also Message-ID: <777143.51658.qm@web50207.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Got so carried away ... sent mail before finishing. Sorry. Bittern, Yellow Rumps, Egret, Red-Tail, Mourning Doves, Red-Wings, Bush Tits, Chickadees Wren ... and ducks of variety !? Pin tail, Canvas Back, Scaup, Ring-Necked, Shoveler, Green-Winged Teal, Coot, Ruddy, Common Merg. and :Hooded Merg pair .... floating along .....! ... plus more .... just a sampling. ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090221/46145d22/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Feb 21 22:08:54 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 22:08:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Slaty-back Message-ID: All of David Smith's comments on this bird resonate strongly with mine. The eye smudge is understated relative to the Burnside bird, the Sibley illustration of a Vega is an intriguing fit. I haven't succeeded in finding an on-line photo of Vega at this stage. The ones I could find convey a more gracile bird than the white-eyed curiosity at Fernhill. I doubt I would have called this bird so specifically if I hadn't had such excellent prolonged studies of a Slaty-back so recently; and gotten an extremely close view in strong sunlight, which made the eye color obvious. The pelagic tip today enjoyed good weather considering the season. Missed the best bird of the day while I was indoors- a Glaucous-winged X Herring Gull hybrid. Lars Norgren From jorrie at peak.org Sun Feb 22 08:41:35 2009 From: jorrie at peak.org (Jorrie & Ken) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 08:41:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Band-tailed Pigeons Message-ID: <5F37F826-717C-4DAC-9143-C5849D3795F5@peak.org> Two BAND-TAILED PIGEONS showed up today. Our first of the season. We've had 3 male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS at the feeders at the same time for the past few days. There are more out there, but getting them all to come to the feeder at the same time for a count is difficult. :-) Jorrie & Ken Ciotti Waldport, OR From katandbill at yahoo.com Sun Feb 22 09:51:32 2009 From: katandbill at yahoo.com (Kat & Bill) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 09:51:32 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Eugene - Our First Rufous Hummer 2/21 Message-ID: <679302.35670.qm@web53911.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hi OBOL, It's time to get out our spare hummer feeder! We had our first RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD yesterday. Last weekend we had a pair of RED-TAILED HAWKS circling the neighborhood. Spring is coming! Kat in Eugene From gmluft at yahoo.com Sun Feb 22 10:10:52 2009 From: gmluft at yahoo.com (Glenn Luft) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 10:10:52 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Enterprise Message-ID: <831704.40991.qm@web51603.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Glenn and I were in Enterprise and Joseph Thursday the 19th through noon on Saturday 21st. A real raptor road trip: N. Harrier: 7 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: 1 RT Hawk: 42, including 2 on a nest ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK: 11 GOLDEN EAGLE: 2 Bald Eagle: 17 American Kestral: 1 PRAIRIE FALCON: 3 Noted a Bald Eagle on Golf Course Rd sitting on a fence post with its right leg extended and its talon clenched. Reported it to Fish and Wildlife and at this point it's not able to be captured but the property owner has been notified and it is being monitored. Its location: 1/10th of a mile beyond the first abandoned barn on the right heading up Golf Course Rd. on the right side of the road on the closest snowy bank. Other notables: 100's of HORNED LARKS but pairing up, no longer in flocks. We found 8 GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES just north of the log fence enclosure in the taller grass on the ground 4 miles past the above-mentioned barn. Several flocks of AM. TREE SPARROWS of 8 to 12 birds were found in the log fence enclosure as well as 2 miles east of the western end of School Flat Road at the downgrade with the steep curve. Near the entrance to Golf Course Road a flock of 13 AM GOLDFINCH, with another flock of 15 on Dobbin Rd. A flock of 60+ BOHEMIAN WAXWING were found on the eastern edge of town, in a juniper bush, with a few CEDARS, so a nice comparison. 12 COMMON GOLDENEYE on the pond near the grain silos. 4 TOWNSEND SOLITAIRE around town and on route to Joseph. Saturday morning we joined up with Kyle Bratcher and we got a good scope look at our only WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, a female, on Green Valley Rd on the way to Joseph. We also had a solid look at an early? HAMMOND FLYCATCHER, perched on top of a spruce in the same area. Would like to have a confirmation. The SHARP-SHINNED juv. was seen in the same juniper bush that had held the Waxwings, looking for breakfast. Got good close looks at the nape of its neck: no sign of paleness; whitish brow. Next to the robins around nearby, it appeared just a little larger. According to Kyle a SSHA has been recently reported in this same area; most likely the same one. Around 10:30 we joined up with Don Cogswell and the 4 of us scouted for COMMON REDPOLL along the RR tracks between Enterprise and Lostine, where Kyle regularly sees them, but they eluded us. After lunch we left Kyle and Don and headed home to Portland, stopping on the way to see the SNOWY OWL at Ione-Boardman and Strawberry Lane, west of Strawberry. It was not on the concrete wall, as reported, but perched in the vicinity of the house. At 4:30 pm under a lowering sky and a scrim of light fog the owl appeared ghost-like and ethereal, a magical gift to end 3 days of terrific birding. Rie Luft From quetsal48 at comcast.net Sun Feb 22 10:41:42 2009 From: quetsal48 at comcast.net (Craig Merkel) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 10:41:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Banded Flicker Message-ID: <93A8FA9FB0C64E93A067DE9777AE44F6@lastmaskin> Yellow-Shafted Flicker at my feeder this morning in Eugene. Orange band on the left leg and Yellow band on the right leg. Craig Merkel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090222/a8afd431/attachment.html From hydie at q.com Sun Feb 22 10:40:42 2009 From: hydie at q.com (hydie lown) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 10:40:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Band-tailed Pigeon in Lane County Message-ID: When I got home from jogging in the rain this morning, a Band-tailed Pigeon was in the top of one of the fir trees above the birdfeeders. Hydie Lown South of Creswell -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090222/a2d409cd/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Feb 22 13:22:40 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:22:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Banded Flicker References: <93A8FA9FB0C64E93A067DE9777AE44F6@lastmaskin> Message-ID: <72F302D310A74FDD9A78487E674FCFC1@Warbler> Craig, If you have not found out where send this, check the Bird Banding Lab's web page below. http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/homepage/call800.htm On it you will find a link to this page that shows you how to report a color banded bird. http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/homepage/reptauxm.htm I'm sure OBOL members would like to hear what you find out on this bird, Dennis Subject: [obol] Banded Flicker Yellow-Shafted Flicker at my feeder this morning in Eugene. Orange band on the left leg and Yellow band on the right leg. Craig Merkel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090222/8e0fac5f/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Feb 22 13:22:45 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:22:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Rare Oregon bird book for sale Message-ID: I came across a copy of a very hard to find Oregon bird publication recently. I have a copy of my own so will sell this one. Woodcock, A.R. 1902. Annotated List of the Birds of Oregon. Oregon Ag Exp Station (published as Bulletin No. 68 by Oregon Ag College, precursor of OSU). 118 page paper, staple-bound. This was the first true statewide annotated list for Oregon. Very good condition except for cover sheet, which has been taped onto the body with some dubious brown tape. Library markings on front cover sheet. $49 postpaid. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com Collective nouns: A coincidence of chickadees A flirt of bushtits A fester of starlings http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From alderspr at peak.org Sun Feb 22 13:26:04 2009 From: alderspr at peak.org (Karan & Jim Fairchild) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:26:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Band-tailed Pigeon in Lane County References: Message-ID: <50604BA775F5472FADD74F1452349420@HOMESTEAD> Our first Band-tailed Pigeon showed up just now!! And our first Purple Finches yesterday. It's really fun to track potential arrivals via OBOL. Now we're eagerly awaiting the first Rufous Hummer! Karan Fairchild 6 mi SW of Philomath, Benton Co. ----- Original Message ----- From: hydie lown To: obol Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 10:40 AM Subject: [obol] Band-tailed Pigeon in Lane County When I got home from jogging in the rain this morning, a Band-tailed Pigeon was in the top of one of the fir trees above the birdfeeders. Hydie Lown South of Creswell ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090222/89f3668d/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Feb 22 13:33:27 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:33:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Jo Co Rufous Hummer Message-ID: <9E3E80A039074324A3B26BE9291D67E5@Warbler> Yesterday (02-21-09) Phil Hicks had a RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD show up at their place east of Grants Pass. I'm still looking; pass my earliest date, so will not break any records when one does. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090222/6029bdb7/attachment.html From madsteins at hotmail.com Sun Feb 22 14:41:21 2009 From: madsteins at hotmail.com (Don Stein) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:41:21 -0500 Subject: [obol] Little Blue Heron, Siletz Message-ID: LATE POSTING for Sunday 2.22, 3 PM LITTLE BLUE HERON seen at the usual spot: Siletz NWR, NE corner, on Hwy 101, 150 yds south of Drift Creek Bridge. As has been stated many times, birders need to use utmost caution in viewing this bird from the shoulder of 101, because of the abrupt drop-off down to water level, and 60 mph traffic. The only safe parking here is immediately south of the Drift Creek bridge, on the east side of 101. For those unfamiliar with this stretch of 101, the sensible way to begin looking for the bird is to park on the broad, wide shoulder on the west side of the Hwy, about 1/2 the distance between Drift Creek Bridge and the Siletz River Bridge. Using a scope, one can usually determine whether or not the bird is there. If you have a low-slung car, avoid the road drop off onto the grassy shoulder. Don Stein _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?:?more than just e-mail. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_hm_justgotbetter_explore_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090222/6d5d517c/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sun Feb 22 17:20:04 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:20:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pyrrhuloxia Friday Message-ID: OBOL Four happy birders saw the bird Friday a.m. at the bramble patch north of the Campbell residence, east side of Main just 1/2 block north of Stark. It came out to the seed at 9:10 for a minute or two and then for some lengthier feecding time at 9:30. So it is still there! Also White-throated Sparrows still there. Thanks to the Campbells for cont to post info. Good birding Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sun Feb 22 17:25:40 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:25:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Longt-tailed Duck Newport today Sunday a.m Message-ID: <4E4566E904C5448CA72B67CFE657F359@MOM> Hi birders No duck in Yaquina bay or on the way to and from the bay for the pelagic. We saw one though upriver from Sally's Bend, near Yaquina View Avenue very close to the pilings there. Also about 30 Canvasbacks. Bird with Peter Low, he misses nothing. Good birding Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com From namitzr at hotmail.com Sun Feb 22 18:42:58 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:42:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lincoln County birds 2/22 Message-ID: There was a nice assortment of dabbling and diving ducks at the Lincoln City Wastewater Treatment Plant located on the south side of Schooner Creek. I missed the Little Blue Heron at noon, but I'm glad it is still around. While looking for it, I talked to a couple from SE Portland who said they saw 2 swans fly over the highway. I have no more information. The BLACK PHOEBE was still at Nye Beach flycatching along the beach north of the parking lot. Along Beaver Creek Rd (east of Ona State Park) there was a EURASIAN WIGEON with other dabblers, 3 TREE SWALLOWS and a new county bird for me, an AMERICAN KESTREL. At Yachats, there were easily 1000+ gulls roosting on the beach. As I was setting up my scope, they all spooked from a running dog and scattered. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090222/2530aecb/attachment.html From markhamm at charterinternet.com Sun Feb 22 18:55:22 2009 From: markhamm at charterinternet.com (Mark Hamm) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:55:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] North Roseburg RR Message-ID: 2/20/09 North Roseburg Raptor survey start at 8 am rain 43 deg. 96.1 miles total time: 7 hrs 47 min red-tail hawk 39 Amer. Kestral 12 Bald Eagle 5 adult, 11 sub-adult 1 golden red-shouldered hawk 3 White-tailed Kite 3 Falcon 1 unid Cooper's Hawk 2 also saw herons on nest, one of the RTHA was 'pied' or partial albino, and the first 6 eagles we saw were in a soaring bunch Thanks to Meredith, Doris and Regine for helping. Mark Hamm From markhamm at charterinternet.com Sun Feb 22 19:03:28 2009 From: markhamm at charterinternet.com (Mark Hamm) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:03:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Herons on nest Message-ID: <22F48F9F-BA3D-4BC9-B1AF-CB4580B092C9@charterinternet.com> I mentioned this in the raptor survey report but felt it needed it's own subject line. On 2/20 we saw 5 herons on nest in Garden Valley west of Roseburg. Later we saw 8 or so GBHE in the tops of conifers near Plat I, these weren't on nest. Maybe it was pseudo-nesting behavior or males claiming nests or possible nest sites? We also saw 5 turkey vultures. From brrobb at comcast.net Sun Feb 22 19:30:25 2009 From: brrobb at comcast.net (Roger & Betty Robb) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:30:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow - PA Message-ID: <9B7B249FB4F049A18DDC3606230F743F@RROffice> An east coast friend sent me this link to some fine photos of a Henslow's Sparrow found this January in SE PA. http://www.howardsview.com:80/Henslows/Henslows.html Roger Robb Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090222/65c56b7a/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Sun Feb 22 20:29:02 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:29:02 EST Subject: [obol] Glaucous Gull- Lane Co. Message-ID: Hello All, There was one first winter GLAUCOUS GULL in a flock of several hundred gulls on Meadow View and Alvadore Road north of the Eugene Airport this afternoon. This flock was about half MEW and half large gulls including several HERRING and at least one adult THAYER'S GULL. A little further north along Alvadore Road north of Franklin Road was an even larger flock of all RING-BILLED and MEW plus 20 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS. Also, 60 WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were with several hundred TUNDRA SWANS north of Hwy 34 east of Alvadore Road. John Sullivan . Springfield, Oregon **************Need a job? Find an employment agency near you. (http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?query=employment_agencies&ncid=emlcntusyelp00000003) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090222/6a9568bb/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sun Feb 22 20:47:27 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:47:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island 2/22/09 Message-ID: Tracey and I went to Sauvie Island today to cap off a weekend in the big city. At first, on the south side of the island we were to say the least disappointed. Robins, who are very interesting in their own right, and four Cormorants were the highlights. We set out to find something on Reeder road, and happily were not as disappointed! Near the end of the pavement, we found a flock of thirty plus Sandhill Cranes. They were practicing their "touch and goes", chattering and feeding when a female Northern Harrier on a mission decided to shake them up a bit. As luck would have it all the cranes chose a flight path right over my head to escape the Harriers advances. Too bad the camera battery chose then to go dead!!!!! Several colorful words were spoken very loudly! What a beautiful sight and sound though. I felt gifted by god that they chose to fly over me. They were magnificent! We headed back east and stopped at a kiosk near Gay Lake and saw two Bald Eagles heading toward several hundred Snow Geese. I was able to photograph the Eagles, one adult and one juvenile, pretty much just playing with the geese. They flew amongst them, teasing, chasing, hitting them and strafing them from only inches above the water. Then they just went on their way to the east. All the while the geese threw a huge fit, flying in circles, being very vocal and finally settling back down after the eagles went on their way. What an amazing sight to see all those geese take off and return. I just had to share this experience. I am sure you all have had the same type of experience. But for me it was almost an awakening, the sight, the sounds, WOW, what a good day! Rich _________________________________________________________________ It?s the same Hotmail?. If by ?same? you mean up to 70% faster. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_AE_Same_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090222/5799e7ea/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Feb 22 21:24:26 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:24:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Lake Sunday night Message-ID: 102 Ruddy Ducks were on Cattail Marsh, a conservative number since many were diving. I don't recall seeing a larger number west of the Cascade summit before. 7 CANVASBACK were in their midst. Almost no smaller gulls were present. Thinking the Olympic flock was dominated by immature birds (maybe 2im./1 adult?) I began to count them and found the ratio perfectly even by the time I got to 105 total birds. The total flock probably didn't exceed 120 birds at sunset, which seems a great decrease in a week's time. THe mystery gull was absent at 4 o'clock. Nor was it obviously present when I came back at 5. But when scanning the flock from the south after looking at Cattail Marsh, I thought it might have slipped in. As I proceeded to a closer vantage some of the flock flew over to the parking lot. A large group of humans were starting out on a crepuscular perambulation, and the gulls were prepared for a handout. They got none, but milled about for awhile. I have noticed earlier this week that the roosting flock would fly over to groups of people even though no bread was being tossed around, while single and double pedestrians attracted no attention. It was overcast and very dark, hardly conducive to digiscoping with my marginal equipment so I left. My visit on Thursday afternoon was inspired as much by a hope for Tree Swallows as another look at the Slaty-back. I didn't walk around any of the dikes in the quarter hour available to me, so the negative data was shaky at best. But Harry's sighting on Saturday bears out a hunch. Tonight had a warm, velvety feel to it. For decades I have looked forward to the Tree Swallow's return in the week following Valantine's Day, but now I perceive it as a harbinger of the Gulls' departure more than the return of Spring. Lars Norgren From gismiller at gmail.com Sun Feb 22 21:48:41 2009 From: gismiller at gmail.com (Craig Miller) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:48:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eagle Watch - Great Birds! Message-ID: <49A238B9.3050505@gmail.com> Hi all, Under the great leadership of my wife Marilyn, and the help of other volunteers Kevin and Kei Smith, Tom Crabtree, and Dean Hale, ECBC did another spectacular job at the Eagle Watch this weekend. I had the really fun task of leading four bird tours over two days, tallying a total of 52 species! We saw a good variety of raptors, and some early signs of spring. In addition to the birds reported by Tom yesterday, other highlights included: Common Loon - (1) Pelton Rereg Reservoir Cackling Goose - (12 minima, 1 taverneri) field south of Culver Northern Harrier - (2) fields around Culver Cooper's Hawk - (1) Culver RED-SHOULDERED HAWK - (1) Pelton Rereg Reservoir - 2nd Jefferson Co. record Red-tailed Hawk - (many) everywhere Rough-legged Hawk - (4) fields around Culver, and one circling around the main event at Round Butte Park American Kestrel - (6) fields around Culver Merlin (1) - Culver Prairie Falcon (2) - Cove overlook Killdeer (15) - fields around Culver and Pelton Rereg Reservoir SAY'S PHOEBE (3) - Pelton Rereg Reservoir and area (early spring arrivals) TREE SWALLOW (1) - Pelton Rereg Reservoir (unusually early for Central Oregon) VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (1) - Pelton Rereg Reservoir (earliest spring arrival for the tricounty area) Canyon Wren (1) - Pelton Rereg Reservoir Marsh Wren (1) - Pelton Rereg Reservoir FOX SPARROW - altivagans "slate-colored" (1) - Pelton Rereg Reservoir Fox Sparrow - unalashencensis "sooty" (1) - Pelton Rereg Reservoir Golden-crowned Sparrow (31) - Pelton Rereg Reservoir White-crowned Sparrow (35) - Pelton Rereg Reservoir Hopefully many more birders can join the excitement next year so we can come up with even more great bird sightings! Craig Miller From madsteins at hotmail.com Sun Feb 22 22:00:30 2009 From: madsteins at hotmail.com (Don Stein) Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 01:00:30 -0500 Subject: [obol] Red Crossbills Depoe Bay Message-ID: LATE POST: Saturday 2.21, 10:15 AM. 38 RED CROSSBILLS, eating grit beside a walkway along the basalt cliff, south Depoe Bay. More calling in adjacent Sitka Spruces. About half and half adult males/females. Don Stein Depoe Bay _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?:?more than just e-mail. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_hm_justgotbetter_explore_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090223/0cc3134e/attachment.html From ellencantor at gmail.com Sun Feb 22 22:01:30 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 22:01:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] RED CROSSBILLS near Cascade Head Message-ID: <7058c4c60902222201g1e9dcc5av1165e78d6334293@mail.gmail.com> Spent the weekend on the coast across the Salmon River from Cascade Head north of Lincoln City. On Saturday a small flock of RED CROSSBILLS was noisily feeding high in the conifers. Also saw a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER on Sunday in a mixed flock of primarily CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090222/2ff0b0fc/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Feb 23 06:48:25 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 06:48:25 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 2/22/2009 Message-ID: <832425.72257.qm@web45310.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Back from a couple weeks of mostly sunny dry weather to good 'ole soggy Coos Bay where we had 1.6 inches of rain yesterday with lots more to come. During a break in the rain I snuck in a trip to the North Spit of Coos Bay and the overwintering SAY'S PHOEBE was out flycatching at the mill and the two PALM WARBLERS were still around also. Back at home it was nice to see a pair of RUFOUS HUMMERS at our feeders. Have a good one! Tim R Coos Bay From Hawkowl4 at aol.com Mon Feb 23 11:43:11 2009 From: Hawkowl4 at aol.com (Hawkowl4 at aol.com) Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:43:11 EST Subject: [obol] Digest version Message-ID: Hello - I tried to find the options menu to subscribe to the digest format and not have long lists. I don't remember my code and didn't want to sign up again and get double e-mails from OBOL - please advise on how to get the digest format. Mike Wihler **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1218822736x1201267884/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID %3D62%26bcd%3DfebemailfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090223/c411b96a/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Feb 23 12:41:28 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:41:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Forward into the past Message-ID: <49A309F8.70007@pacifier.com> I spent the weekend at the North American Bird Phenology Program data entry site transcribing data cards into the database. The process is fairly straight forward and, like computer solitaire, kind of addictive, though arguably more productive. For additional info go to: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bpp/ or read an extended essay about my weekend with dead phenologists at: http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Forward into the past http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/02/20090223.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Mon Feb 23 13:29:13 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:29:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow - PA In-Reply-To: <9B7B249FB4F049A18DDC3606230F743F@RROffice> References: <9B7B249FB4F049A18DDC3606230F743F@RROffice> Message-ID: Thanks for sharing this website, Roger. I would like to suggest that everyone peruse the homepage and have a look especially at the series of Orange-crowned Warbler photos (actually of a single bird). The differences shown by this eastern bird and the western races found in Oregon are enough to make this bird look like a different species. Larry _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Roger & Betty Robb Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 7:30 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] Henslow's Sparrow - PA An east coast friend sent me this link to some fine photos of a Henslow's Sparrow found this January in SE PA. http://www.howardsview.com:80/Henslows/Henslows.html Roger Robb Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090223/09a22595/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Mon Feb 23 14:38:32 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:38:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Forward into the past Message-ID: <000701c99607$7a4e2950$33db63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Mike & OBOL, I read your blog and -- between the lines -- your enthusiasm at peering into treasures of the past. It is thrilling, isn't it? You asked how many other treasuries lie hidden. I'm sure there are many. I spent my weekend at a Fishtrap writers conference discussing Re-imagining the Wild. http://www.fishtrap.org/ Folks talked about leaving a legacy of wild spaces for future generations. They asked what folks will think of us 10,000 years from now? What will the earth look like? I thought about my time at the John Day Fossil Beds, interpreting a bit of Oregon's past to today's visitors: telling them about Oregon's tropical climate and saber-toothed cats. So much has transpired, most before we got here. We can only dig a bit here and there in the records of the past, unearthing jumbled gems and marveling at what went before. We can move some of the stored treasure to another form of storage: from beds of ash to display shelves, from cards to a digital database. Some future digger will have to uncover the traces we leave. Enjoy the marvels you find. Share some of the prettiest. Good transcribing, Paul Sullivan ----------------------------- Subject: Forward into the past From: Mike Patterson Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:41:28 -0800 I spent the weekend at the North American Bird Phenology Program data entry site transcribing data cards into the database. The process is fairly straight forward and, like computer solitaire, kind of addictive, though arguably more productive. For additional info go to: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bpp/ or read an extended essay about my weekend with dead phenologists at: http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Forward into the past http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/02/20090223.html From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Mon Feb 23 15:07:09 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:07:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Tree Sparrow Message-ID: <20090223150709.gorc9drlicsogkgg@webmail2.jimnorton.org> ----- Forwarded message from bob at waterwatch.org ----- Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:37:42 -0800 From: Bob Reply-To: bob at waterwatch.org Subject: Tree Sparrow To: obol-owner at oregonbirdwatch.org On February 21 Bill and Dave Hunter and I found a tree sparrow near the end of Siltcoos Beach Road. We parked in a turnoff on the north side of the road to walk down to the beach on the north side of the Siltcoos River mouth. The tree sparrow was located on the south side of the road about 30 yards in. We also located a snowy plover on the beach just north of the Siltcoos mouth. A glaucous gull was at the Florence marina. On February 22, a dense raft of 1,000 to 2,000 common murres were seen just south of the light house north of Sea Lion Caves off Hwy 101 - a peregrine falcon took off from the cliffs below us. Bob Hunter ----- End forwarded message ----- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From greg at thebirdguide.com Mon Feb 23 15:19:55 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:19:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Trip results & photos: Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 February 2009 Message-ID: <53A18913C5C442C89C214BB7F9DA0483@GREG> Pleasant weather and seas and good birds made The Bird Guide's first pelagic trip of the year a great success! Eight guides joined the 15 participants, so there was ample help for all to spot and learn identification. It was a fun trip. The target for this trip was LAYSAN ALBATROSS. And, success! A bird came in and circled the boat early in the trip providing great looks for all. This makes 7 of 8 annual February and March Perpetua Bank trips recording this striking winter species. The 114 migrant RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, most in full breeding plumage, were expected. However, we were surprised by the 2000 CASSIN'S AUKLETS, most about 6-15 miles offshore in a band of exceptionally smooth water. This is our 3rd highest total (10,000 in October 2002) and was a complete surprise for this time of year. As David Mandell said, "miles and miles of gray rubber duckies happily floating along." This trip belonged to the gulls, though. We had 8 species and two additional hybrids. And we're still puzzling out one gull from the photos (either an odd large, pale Thayer's or a hybrid Herring x Glaucous-winged). Two GLAUCOUS GULLS graced this trip, the final one in the marina at Newport when nearly dark. We also had a NELSON'S (HERRING x GLAUCOUS) GULL at one of the three chum stops. The amazing 50(!) THAYER'S GULLS were exceeded only by the 80 HERRING GULLS and the typical 159 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES. One of the THAYER'S GULLS was banded with a numbered yellow flag. If anyone knows about this, please let me know. A few SOOTY and PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS were rather early, with no short-tailed shearwaters perhaps more surprising. Unfortunately, only a few people saw and identified a rare HORNED PUFFIN flying away and several small uncooperative flocks of distant ANCIENT MURRELETS. We counted exactly 20 pairs of MARBLED MURRELETS late in the day on two miles of ocean near shore just south of the moth of Yaquina Bay. Everyone had great views of these cute birds. We then entered the bay at dusk picking out a ROCK SANDPIPER on the Yaquina Bay south jetty. Trip photos: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/pelagic_trip_photos Brant 140 (bay) Greater Scaup 4 (bay) Surf Scoter 350 White-winged Scoter 45 Common Goldeneye 6 (bay) Bufflehead 4 (bay) Western Grebe 5 Red-necked Grebe 7 (bay and near shore) Horned Grebe 4 (bay) Common Loon 60 (most in bay) Red-throated Loon 4 (bay fly overs) Pacific Loon 2 Great Blue Heron 3 (bay) Black-footed Albatross 10 LAYSAN ALBATROSS 1 Northern Fulmar 104 Pink-footed Shearwater 6 Sooty Shearwater 13 Surfbird 10 (jetty) Black Turnstone 4 (jetty) ROCK SANDPIPER 1 (jetty) peep 75 Mew Gull 50 (near shore) California Gull 5 Herring Gull 80 Thayer's Gull 50 Western Gull 40 (most in bay and near shore) Glaucous-winged Gull 25 (most in bay) GLAUCOUS GULL 2 (one in bay, one 5 miles off shore) Black-legged Kittiwake 159 Glaucous-winged x Western Gull 30 Herring x Glaucous Gull 1 Common Murre 200 Pigeon Guillemot 25 Marbled Murrelet 40 Cassin's Auklet 2000 Rhinoceros Auklet 114 ANCIENT MURRELET 26 (Jim Danzenbaker, Tom Snetsinger) HORNED PUFFIN 1 (David Mandell, Jim Danzenbaker) Harbor Seal 8 (bay) California Sea Lion 10 (most in bay) Steller's Sea Lion 10 Northern Fur Seal 2 (Russ Namitz) Harbor Porpoise 6 Dall's Porpoise 3 Pacific White-sided Dolphin 2 Our next trip is April 18. We expect higher numbers of most of the species seen on Saturday's trip, plus more tubenoses (shearwaters and fork-tailed storm-petrels), phalaropes, terns and perhaps jaegers. There is still a chance for Laysan Albatrosses, too. This is the peak of the waterfowl and shorebird migration, and the beginning of the songbird migration, so a great time to spend the weekend birding the central Oregon coast. I actually can't think of a better place in Oregon to be watching birds in late April than along the coast. See our web site for details: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/ Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com From willclemons at yahoo.com Mon Feb 23 15:30:08 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:30:08 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: SAGE SPARROW Message-ID: <615948.74808.qm@web55101.mail.re4.yahoo.com> At about 8 A.M. Monday morning, Scott Carpenter and Steve Nord, found a beautiful SAGE SPARROW on the River S Unit of Ridgefield NWR. Subsequently it was seen also by, Clay Davis and his friend Kathy, Barry Woodruff, Al Larrabee, Wilson Cady, and myself. Wilson Cady indicated it is a Clark County first. The bird was on the road near the Bachelor Island Wetland plaque. It subsequently moved along the road toward the Observation Blind, though it remained within 75 yarda of the plaque, and the lone tree there. It was a stunning find and was seen in good light considering the showery nature of the morning. I think it was last seen between 10:30 A.M. and Noon. When it rained more than a drizzle, the bird took cover. It was seen along both edges of the road, in similar fashion to what we regularly see with Song, and Golden-crowned Sparrows. One somewhat amusing tidbit of interest (to me at least) was that at one point while I was within 20 feet of it, and watching it hunting seeds at the road edge, I noticed a 2.5-3 inch earth worm moving next to it and heading back to the grass and out of the road. The worm was clearly seen, and ignored by the SAGE SPARROW that was no more than 3-4 inches away. I was amused as I have occasionally seen other sparrows eat grubs that they happen on. I know Sparrows prefer seed, but this bounty was there for the plucking, yet overlooked. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com From slcarpenter at gmail.com Mon Feb 23 16:44:30 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:44:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR Sage Sparrow - Photos Message-ID: This morning around 8 am, Steve Nord and I came across a SAGE SPARROW on the auto-tour route of the River S Unit of Ridgefield NWR in Clark County, Washington. Photos of this bird are online at: http://www.westerngrebe.com/SASP/ As a heads up to its behavior, don't assume it will be on the ground. Steve and I first noticed this bird due to its flycatching behavior from a low bush. Almost immediately after that, though, the bird flew to the ground and remained in the road as we watched it over the next several minutes. It even attempted to eat a very dried up earth worm before moving on to seeds. The bird was on the auto-tour route as you approach the blind. It was near the plaque for the Bachelor Island Wetland, which is next to the lone large tree on the left hand side of the road (the last big tree before the blind parking lot). This location is about 3.5 miles, as the lost sparrow flies, from Rentenaar Rd on Sauvie Island. Scott Carpenter Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090223/7c2430a4/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Feb 23 18:06:39 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:06:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR Sage Sparrow - Photos In-Reply-To: Message-ID: On April 27, 1973, Sayre Greenfield found a Sage Sparrow in south Eugene, singing away from the softball backstop at Roosevelt Middle School. By that evening it had gone elsewhere. Late Feb is a hair early, but they do slop over. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Scott Carpenter > Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:44:30 -0800 > To: obol > Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR Sage Sparrow - Photos > > This morning around 8 am, Steve Nord and I came across a SAGE SPARROW on the > auto-tour route of the River S Unit of Ridgefield NWR in Clark County, > Washington. Photos of this bird are online at: > http://www.westerngrebe.com/SASP/ > > As a heads up to its behavior, don't assume it will be on the ground. Steve > and I first noticed this bird due to its flycatching behavior from a low > bush. Almost immediately after that, though, the bird flew to the ground > and remained in the road as we watched it over the next several minutes. It > even attempted to eat a very dried up earth worm before moving on to seeds. > > The bird was on the auto-tour route as you approach the blind. It was near > the plaque for the Bachelor Island Wetland, which is next to the lone large > tree on the left hand side of the road (the last big tree before the blind > parking lot). > > This location is about 3.5 miles, as the lost sparrow flies, from Rentenaar > Rd on Sauvie Island. > > Scott Carpenter > Portland, Oregon > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From andy.frank at kp.org Mon Feb 23 18:29:22 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:29:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] The squirrel always wins Message-ID: My daughter Amy frequently reminds me that the squirrel always wins. Despite my efforts to squirrel-proof the bird feeders, the squirrel always finds a way to get its share. Now even our hummingbird feeder isn't safe. This squirrel has learned to hang upside down and gently tip the feeder and then drink from the downward side. A photo is at http://andyfrank.blogspot.com/. My other daughter Lisa and I had a nice run this afternoon along the waterfront between the Freemont and Steel bridges. The highlight was a Horned Grebe, only the 2nd one we've found running there. There also were Mallards, Wood Ducks, American Coot and a few Lesser Scaup on the docks just north of the Steel Bridge. Andy Frank From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Mon Feb 23 21:51:56 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:51:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bandon Emperor Goose and G. WF Goose Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F01EA0462@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> On Saturday I observed and photographed the Emperor and Greater White-fronted Goose in Bandon near the south jetty. The birds were with the domestic geese on a side street just off the road to the jetty. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090223/7a5435b2/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Mon Feb 23 22:01:01 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:01:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wrentit and Red-shouldered Hawk at Jasper Park, Lane County Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F01EA0464@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> I observed a Wrentit at Jasper State Park south of Springfield near Pleasant Hill this afternoon. I first heard the bird singing and after pishing the bird came out in the open 10 feet from me. The bird was 50 feet beyond the gate at the entrance to the park. In this same area a Red-shouldered Hawk called from the wooded area. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090223/b5004406/attachment.html From krallfamily at comcast.net Mon Feb 23 22:01:02 2009 From: krallfamily at comcast.net (Kathy) Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:01:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] rufous hummer Message-ID: <343AEDC52279498C9A19CC9533433D6F@D04KrallStudy> We saw our first rufous hummer (male) at Willamette Park in Portland last Saturday. Recently we saw a large number of red shouldered hawks in Sonoma & Marin counties, CA. There were two right on the Stanford U. campus. One was immature, and very ragged looking. It kept crying out to the other, which was mature with very crisp feathers. The mature one kept flying away and then back to the immature one. There was no nest. We weren't sure what was going on. We took a number of photos, in case anyone is interested. http://picasaweb.google.com/michael.a.krall/SauvieIslandPointReyesSebastopolStanford#5304725496488414450 http://picasaweb.google.com/michael.a.krall/SauvieIslandPointReyesSebastopolStanford#5304725594809905650 http://picasaweb.google.com/michael.a.krall/SauvieIslandPointReyesSebastopolStanford#5304726492371808418 Kathy and Mike Krall -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090223/61288d66/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Mon Feb 23 23:31:53 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:31:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] NOT about birds but Comet Lulin in the bins Message-ID: Anyone up for a few minutes outdoors now might be able to see Comet Lulin. I have looked a few times in the past couple of hours and finally found it. It was blurry but showed greenish with a blurry tail. Looked like a fuzz ball in the bins, but the tail showed better with scope. It is to the SE now, near Saturn. Our sky is not too clear tonight, hopefully better where others might try to look for it. Judy jmeredit at bendnet.com From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Feb 24 13:53:09 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:53:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Winter Wrens and other familiar (or not so familiar?) birds seen far from home Message-ID: <1235512389.3524.36.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hi folks, Last week while in Sweden for work, I encountered a group of three WINTER WRENS during an evening walk. Apart from being about 150 miles north of their normal winter range, their vocalizations and behavior were interesting. They were giving a dry, rattling sort of call, unlike anything I've heard from our Pacific Northwest Winter Wrens (which others have mentioned, may soon be split off as "Pacific" Wren). Also, the group flew from low cover where I first saw them, up to about 10 m high in a tree, where it looked like they were going to roost under some loose bark. Has anyone noticed our "Pacific" Wrens using such roosts? On the same walk I flushed a Long-eared Owl. Other circumpolar species that I encountered over the weekend included Mallard, Northern Harrier, Rough-legged Hawk, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Common/Northern Raven, Bohemian Waxwing, Common Redpoll and Hoary Redpoll. I've been looking for Hoary Redpolls in redpoll flocks on both continents since I was a teenager, so that last one was fun. Apparently this is an irruption year for Hoary Redpolls in northern Europe, due to conditions in the high Arctic. Maybe it's worth looking closely at those redpoll flocks around Joseph & Enterprise! The Collared-Dove was actually the first one that I've ever seen in Sweden, where they're also expanding their range. If you throw in a kestrel, black-billed magpies, tree sparrows, and goldfinches, it does almost sound like a Wallowa Co. trip report -- though the last four were all of the European/Eurasian species. In a few years, perhaps we'll be saying the same about those Winter Wrens. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area near Corvallis From pukeko at mcsi.net Tue Feb 24 14:52:20 2009 From: pukeko at mcsi.net (Ron Maertz) Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:52:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] phoebe Message-ID: <95624054DD434A8D967E1EE124C01309@RonPC> Hi There was a SAY'S PHOEBE on my neighbors property a few days ago Are there any winter records of WEST. WOOD PEWEE in western Oregon? I certainly can't remember hearing of any. I had a report from earlier this month. Maertz Glide -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090224/afd3fc95/attachment.html From ahartell at uoregon.edu Tue Feb 24 15:03:33 2009 From: ahartell at uoregon.edu (Amy M. Hartell) Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:03:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] permission to post to this list Message-ID: <1235516613.294280.alphamail@mailapps2.uoregon.edu> ahartell at uoregon.edu From dpvroman at budget.net Tue Feb 24 15:24:17 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:24:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] phoebe References: <95624054DD434A8D967E1EE124C01309@RonPC> Message-ID: <11E0D75CE83A41C693832B43C5EE2C75@Warbler> Ron, Checked Alan Contreras's "NW Birds in Winter" and there were no entries for Wood-Pewee. Not sure what's in Birds of OR General Reference. One thing to note is that Starlings are beginning to sing now, and I'm sure your aware of how much they imitate other bird species. One call they do really good is Western Wood-Pewee. If you didn't hear it coming from the Starling's bill, you would think it was coming from a real Wood-Pewee. They are that good with this call. Dennis Hi There was a SAY'S PHOEBE on my neighbors property a few days ago Are there any winter records of WEST. WOOD PEWEE in western Oregon? I certainly can't remember hearing of any. I had a report from earlier this month. Maertz Glide ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090224/0aeb37c2/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Feb 24 20:09:26 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:09:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Spring migration timetable on OFO website Message-ID: <1235534966.3510.11.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, With spring migration fast upon us, perhaps it will be helpful to have an idea as to when to expect the incoming birds. For years, Alan McGie has compiled a phenology table for spring migration in the Corvallis area, based on field notes as published in /The Chat/ newsletter since 1970. You can view the latest version of Alan's table at: www.oregonbirds.org/phenology.html The table is specific to the Corvallis area, but should give a good idea of first-arrival dates for most other places in the Willamette Valley. Coastal areas usually run a bit ahead of Corvallis, while migration east of the Cascades runs a little later. If anyone has developed phenology tables for other places in Oregon, I'll be happy to add them to this web page. Happy migration, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From willclemons at yahoo.com Tue Feb 24 20:16:28 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:16:28 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: SAGE SPARROW still there Tuesday Message-ID: <936518.65396.qm@web55107.mail.re4.yahoo.com> I just talked to Al Larrabee. and he said that he saw the SAGE SPARROW again today. It was in the same location as posted earlier (near the Bachelor Island Wetland plaque). It was feeding at the road edge. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores From gismiller at gmail.com Tue Feb 24 21:18:03 2009 From: gismiller at gmail.com (Craig Miller) Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:18:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] phoebe In-Reply-To: <95624054DD434A8D967E1EE124C01309@RonPC> References: <95624054DD434A8D967E1EE124C01309@RonPC> Message-ID: <49A4D48B.9070905@gmail.com> Hi Ron, A super-rarity (such as Greater Pewee) is at least as likely as Western Wood-Pewee this time of year. An empid (such as Least or Hammond's Flycatcher) would be much more likely than Western Wood-Pewee. So, unless photographic documentation can be obtained, the report will be met with a high degree of skepticism. Craig Miller Ron Maertz wrote: > Hi > There was a SAY'S PHOEBE on my neighbors property a few days ago > > Are there any winter records of WEST. WOOD PEWEE in western Oregon? I > certainly can't remember hearing of any. > I had a report from earlier this month. > Maertz > Glide > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From birdboy at bkpix.com Tue Feb 24 21:40:01 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:40:01 +1300 Subject: [obol] Lane Co. Sandhill Cranes, And A Broken Leg Message-ID: Hi Birders, After I broke my leg skiing Mt Bachelor on Sunday, they told me I wouldn't walk for three months without crutches. I figured my spring birding would be cut a little short... but maybe not! I'm now lying in bed at home, contemplating my bones being screwed back together next Monday, and a flock of SANDHILL CRANES just flew over, heading north, at 9pm. Judging by sound, there were about 30. My "crutch list" has officially begun! And spring is upon us ;) Good birding, Noah Strycker, (5 miles east of Creswell) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090225/c17ea154/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Tue Feb 24 21:57:18 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:57:18 +0000 Subject: [obol] Crutch List In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I like Noah's idea of a crutch list, although this sounds more like a "bed list." The notion of a crutch list reminds me of spending most of a summer on crutches after getting two pins put in my knee (still there) during the summer of 1980. Being young and slightly more insane than I still am, I continued to bird like a fiend. I managed to completely wear through the first set of rubber tips in less than a month. I also managed to find Multnomah County's first Buff-breasted Sandpiper way out on the mudflat on Sturgeon Lake during my "recovery" period. It was late August and the temps were in the low 90's. I climbed a fence, crutched my way out to the edge of the lake (from the Oak Island end of the dike) and with bins -- can't carry a scope when on crutches -- picked out an odd looking buffy shorebird that was about 600 yards down the mudflat in the heat waves. I made my way across a sizeable expanse of semi-wet mud until I got close enough to positively ID the bird. Several other birders went out and relocated the bird. Many were confused by the single footprints accompanied by a set of 2" diameter holes on each side. When they found out I'd been all the way out there on crutches, my lunacy was confirmed. Dave Irons Eugene, OR Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:40:01 +1300 From: birdboy at bkpix.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Lane Co. Sandhill Cranes, And A Broken Leg Hi Birders, After I broke my leg skiing Mt Bachelor on Sunday, they told me I wouldn't walk for three months without crutches. I figured my spring birding would be cut a little short... but maybe not! I'm now lying in bed at home, contemplating my bones being screwed back together next Monday, and a flock of SANDHILL CRANES just flew over, heading north, at 9pm. Judging by sound, there were about 30. My "crutch list" has officially begun! And spring is upon us ;) Good birding, Noah Strycker, (5 miles east of Creswell) _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail??more than just e-mail. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_hm_justgotbetter_howitworks_022009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090225/3068f109/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Feb 24 22:13:06 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:13:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lane Co. Sandhill Cranes, And A Broken Leg In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Noah is actually emulating Roger Tory Peterson, though Peterson didn't break his leg to do it. On one day Peterson decided to stay in bed rather than go out birding with friends, but through his open window heard more species than the field team found. And Noah, this would be a GREAT time for you to write your book about Antarctica..... -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Noah Strycker > Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:40:01 +1300 > To: > Subject: [obol] Lane Co. Sandhill Cranes, And A Broken Leg > > Hi Birders, > > After I broke my leg skiing Mt Bachelor on Sunday, they told me I wouldn't > walk for three months without crutches. I figured my spring birding would be > cut a little short... but maybe not! > > I'm now lying in bed at home, contemplating my bones being screwed back > together next Monday, and a flock of SANDHILL CRANES just flew over, heading > north, at 9pm. Judging by sound, there were about 30. My "crutch list" has > officially begun! And spring is upon us ;) > > Good birding, > > Noah Strycker, > > (5 miles east of Creswell) > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Tue Feb 24 22:29:33 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 06:29:33 +0000 Subject: [obol] Addiction birding and updated PHOTOS: Yellow billed Loon, Hawkowl, and others.... Message-ID: Hi Obolers, Here are my recent birds photos from last weekend's trip to Northcentral WA (Okanogan and Douglas Co). http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/okanogan_winter_&page=all **********************TRIP REPORT************************************ Sorry for another banal and lackluster report but here it is... I had a fun time birding with Ned McGarry (Lake Sammamish) this weekend. Weather, company, and quality of birds made it a great experience. It was nice to meet and exchange notes with Matt Pike and his pa. Always a great pleasure to see birders get 'lifers'! I am always interested to see what transitions during this time of year in the Okanogan. Well, heck--- year round to be honest:) Definitely one of my slower bird trips this winter in terms of numbers and diversity. Noticeably absent on this trip and winter were large flocks of Snow Bunting. We did not see one bird this trip. This winter the largest flock reported in both counties consisted of 500-700 birds in the Okanogan Highlands near Davies Rd. Cameron Lake Rd produced very few buntings as I have seen up to 1000 birds in 2007 here and other several sizable flocks in the Highlands in past winters. I suspect some may started moving North already with not much snow pack or snow cover this year. ************Here is our list of SPECIES found********************* YELLOW BILLED LOON: The straw colored bird was very distinctive as it fed with along the Common Loons. We were thrilled to study the loonies about 75 yards from our car. Lighting and water reflection was excellent. Bird has been in Bridgeport, WA near Chief Joseph Dam. NORTHERN HAWK OWL: The magnificient owl was abit subdued on both days. On Sunday it was perched really low on a tree on B NE and 15th. Bird is located in Mansfield, WA. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL: The kitten-like bird still persists at Brideport State Park. I photographed the pellets and placed a nickel for size comparison. NORTHERN PYGMY OWL: (A total of 5 visual birds) Birds were scattered in the Okanogan Highlands on Havillah, Chesaw, Bolster, and Dry Gulch Rd. A couple of them were down low and had great looks. BARRED OWL; One bird in the Havillah Sno-Park before dusk. GREAT HORNED OWL; (9 birds total). Eight birds on Havillah, Molson, and Nealey Rd in Okanogan Highlands. Other bird was at Mansfield Cemetery and one on a nest on Central Ferry Canyon Rd. PRAIRIE FALCON: One bird along Spring Coulee Rd near Okanogan,WA. Crippling looks at one about 2 car lengths away. Gorgeous falcon! MERLIN: 1 bird along Hwy 97 towards Orondo area. ROUGH LEGGED HAWK; About 4 birds on the trip total. SHARP TAILED GROUSE: (7 birds) We flushed a group of 5 birds on the ground near a drainage on Happy Hill Rd near Conconully. They must have been roosting there early morning. We had 1 bird close to the road and a distant one in heavy fog. Numbers decreasing since December as birds are dispersing elsewhere. RUFFED GROUSE; (1 bird) One elegant red morph, pollo-poulet along Pontiac Ridge Rd in Chesaw, WA. NORTHERN SHRIKE: (6 birds total). Birds found in Chesaw, Bridgeport,and Mansfield. One vocal bird near the Harris Sparrow site on Moe and Grange Rd. PYGMY NUTHATCH: We had a few birds feeding on large cones at eye level and close on Central Ferry Rd. TOWNSEND SOLITAIRE: 2 birds on Salmon Creek Rd near Conconully. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS; (5 flocks total about 100 birds) Several small fleeting flocks at Bridgeport State Park, Central Ferry Canyon Rd, and Leavenworth. GRAY CROWNED ROSYFINCHES; (Roughly 170 birds in three locations) A flock of 100 birds on Grange Rd, 50 on Nealey Rd and dozen birds on Hungry Hollow Rd in the Okanogan Highlands. Flocks consist of both interior and coastal forms. Some of the Baskin Robbins flavor-of-the-month snowbirds are starting to melt more chocolate and less raspberry for spring. Beaks are starting to be more licorce colored in tone. Always a treat to watch. PINE GROSBEAKS: (20 birds total). A flock of 20 on Mary Ann Creek Rd. Birds gleaning seeds on ground and eating needles on trees. EVENING GROSBEAKS; A small flock of 10 birds in Conconully. Haven't seen very many birds this past winter. Love their calls. COMMON REDPOLL; A flock of 75 bird on Mary Ann Creek Rd. We got to watch them up close off and on for 20 minutes. HOARY REDPOLL; A possible one as I zoned in on a very pale bird with a clean rump on a river birch tree about 10 yards away. Ned was not able to get on it right away but we both did see a clearly pale bird flying with the main flock. Would have liked to have longer looks to confirm. These birds are always jittery and kept disappearing in and out of snow depressions upslope while feeding on weedy material. RED CROSSBILLS: A flock of 20 birds near the ponderosa pines on Central Ferry Rd. We had close looks of one pair feeding each other. WHITE WINGED CROSSBILLS; (12 birds total). We re-found the flock that was seen 2 weeks ago in Conconully. This time the birds were much higher up on a cone laden conifer on La-Una and Esther Rd. Nevertheless, these exquisite birds were glorious in sunny light. Great fun to see them pick up the cones and rip them apart. At times small seed debris were flying around us and had falling cones as well! Conconully is a great little town and has proven productive for me over the last 3 winters. The restrooms in the State Park are heated for your derriere--a nice perk, indeed. Good birding from the Okanogan addict. There are worse addictions:) Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From rockawaybirder at yahoo.com Tue Feb 24 22:43:51 2009 From: rockawaybirder at yahoo.com (Ilene Samowitz) Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:43:51 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Snow Geese, Bald Eagle, Short-eared Owls, and Northern Harriers in the Skagit Message-ID: <150018.39844.qm@web31815.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I too went to the Skagit on Saturday and enjoyed the beautiful weather and was able to get some nice shots. Here is the link to the newest shots I added to my Smugmug gallery: http://www.ilenesamowitz.com/gallery/6747805_PNjrR/1/#479069060_aTC2K-A-LB and the link to this posting on my blog.... http://blog.ilenesamowitzphoto.com/ May the light be with you... Ilene Samowitz North Matthews Beach, Seattle, WA Rockaway Beach, OR www.ilenesamowitz.com www.ilenesamowitzphoto.com From dpvroman at budget.net Wed Feb 25 05:54:08 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:54:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Crutch List References: Message-ID: A few years back my left knee was acting up and I couldn't get around at all (couldn't drive...clutch operation was out). Spent a lot of time just sitting outside our door and watching feeder birds. That's when a Rose-breasted Grosbeak showed up. The only one I know of documented for Josephine County. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) I like Noah's idea of a crutch list, although this sounds more like a "bed list." The notion of a crutch list reminds me of spending most of a summer on crutches after getting two pins put in my knee (still there) during the summer of 1980. Being young and slightly more insane than I still am, I continued to bird like a fiend. I managed to completely wear through the first set of rubber tips in less than a month. I also managed to find Multnomah County's first Buff-breasted Sandpiper way out on the mudflat on Sturgeon Lake during my "recovery" period. It was late August and the temps were in the low 90's. I climbed a fence, crutched my way out to the edge of the lake (from the Oak Island end of the dike) and with bins -- can't carry a scope when on crutches -- picked out an odd looking buffy shorebird that was about 600 yards down the mudflat in the heat waves. I made my way across a sizeable expanse of semi-wet mud until I got close enough to positively ID the bird. Several other birders went out and relocated the bird. Many were confused by the single footprints accompanied by a set of 2" diameter holes on each side. When they found out I'd been all the way out there on crutches, my lunacy was confirmed. Dave Irons Eugene, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090225/a6f27701/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Feb 22 17:59:24 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:59:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Crook Birding Message-ID: Had a few hours to burn today so I toured around Prineville. 2 Tundra Swans at Johnson Cr. Reservoir 2 Hooded Meganzers at Swan Pond 10 Juve Bald Eagles at Elliott Lane 2 Ring-billed Gulls at Prineville Sewer Ponds 1 CA Gull same place 17 Eurasian Collared Doves at Wainright Road, 2 more in Prineville 1 Northern Shrike in O'Neil 45 Cedar Waxwings in the only tree left in Prineville with fruit on it 8 large groups of blackbirds in various locations. A few Tricolored BB in the O'Neil Valley Chuck Gates -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090222/869dac1a/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Feb 25 09:05:54 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:05:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] New book is out Message-ID: I am pleased to report that my new book "Afield: forty years of birding the American west" has been released by OSU Press. This memoir will be available at finer bookstores everywhere, though in candor your best bets to start with will be Portland Audubon Society, Black Sun Books in Eugene and the Malheur Field Station. There will be an official signing event at the Field Station on Memorial Day weekend. For those of you whose finer bookstores do not yet stock this hot seller, it may be ordered using the ISBN no. 978-0-87071-420-7 Illustrations are by Ram Papish of Newport. Some of you are mentioned.... -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From tc at empnet.com Wed Feb 25 09:17:59 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:17:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] New book is out In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <003001c9976d$028db2c0$4e01a8c0@102889> Congrats on the publication, Alan. I don't see mention of the word curmudgeon in the write-ups for the book. What's up with that? For those of us without immediate access to "finer bookstores," it is available through Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/Afield-Forty-Years-Birding-American/dp/0870714201/ref= sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1235582047&sr=11-1 Tom Crabtree Maybe mentioned in Bend, OR -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Alan Contreras Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 9:06 AM To: obol; Young Birders Subject: [obol] New book is out I am pleased to report that my new book "Afield: forty years of birding the American west" has been released by OSU Press. This memoir will be available at finer bookstores everywhere, though in candor your best bets to start with will be Portland Audubon Society, Black Sun Books in Eugene and the Malheur Field Station. There will be an official signing event at the Field Station on Memorial Day weekend. For those of you whose finer bookstores do not yet stock this hot seller, it may be ordered using the ISBN no. 978-0-87071-420-7 Illustrations are by Ram Papish of Newport. Some of you are mentioned.... -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ - Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ - Bird Photos & News _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From baileydc at pdx.edu Wed Feb 25 10:30:13 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (baileydc at pdx.edu) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:30:13 GMT Subject: [obol] Gearhart Rufous Hummingbird (Clatsop Co.) Message-ID: <200902251830.n1PIUDf9022711@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for David C. Bailey by http://birdnotes.net Date: February 25, 2009 Location: 448 Ridge Drive, Gearhart, Clatsop County, Oregon First Rufous Hummingbird noted for the year. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Western Gull 1 Glaucous-winged Gull 1 Glaucous-winged x Western Gull 1 Anna's Hummingbird 1 Rufous Hummingbird 1 [1] Northern Flicker 3 Steller's Jay 6 American Crow 2 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 5 Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 Brown Creeper 1 Bewick's Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 American Robin 20 Varied Thrush 1 European Starling 1 Townsend's Warbler 2 Spotted Towhee 2 Fox Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 1 White-crowned Sparrow 1 Golden-crowned Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco 2 Pine Siskin 1 Footnotes: [1] Rufous Hummingbird: First of the year; adult male. Total number of species seen: 25 From nepobirds at yahoo.com Wed Feb 25 10:41:29 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:41:29 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Black-Headed Grosbeaks Message-ID: <767091.21737.qm@web46015.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> This morning, as Michelle was leaving for work, we were walking down our front porch steps and heard the unmistakable song of the Black-Headed Grosbeak. We stopped in our tracks and froze. Listened for a minute or so and then, sure enough, the singing started again. I looked through our records, and as far as I can tell, this is way too early for them (at least in our neighborhood). I looked around the neighborhood this morning but didn't find it. Then, just a few minutes ago, I heard it again. It sounds as though it's only 3 or 4 backyards away. I am going back out to see if I can find it. Seth Reams and Michelle King NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From johnpam at mtangel.net Wed Feb 25 10:59:00 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:59:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sandhill Cranes Going North Now Message-ID: Just had 3 groups of Sandhill Cranes going north very fast at moderate height. Sauvies Island and Ridgefield should be teeming with them soon. Hard to count these fast fliers: about 170-180+ John Thomas 5 mi NNE of Silverton From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Wed Feb 25 11:50:01 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:50:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Black-Headed Grosbeaks Message-ID: <81b2a9930902251150q2c2de27cgecf1bf5a20d3ef65@mail.gmail.com> Given that they typically don't show up until early May, this would be rather unusual.? Are you sure that it wasn't a Robin? (Lots of them singing right now.) I'm not sure how often Starlings mimic BHGBs, but that may be another possibility. Brandon Eugene ----- Subject: Black-Headed Grosbeaks From: Seth Reams Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:41:29 -0800 (PST) This morning, as Michelle was leaving for work, we were walking down our front porch steps and heard the unmistakable song of the Black-Headed Grosbeak. We stopped in our tracks and froze. Listened for a minute or so and then, sure enough, the singing started again. I looked through our records, and as far as I can tell, this is way too early for them (at least in our neighborhood). I looked around the neighborhood this morning but didn't find it. Then, just a few minutes ago, I heard it again. It sounds as though it's only 3 or 4 backyards away. I am going back out to see if I can find it. Seth Reams and Michelle King NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Feb 25 15:01:47 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:01:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wed morning Message-ID: Rain. We took 2 cars to bird the roads north of Fern Ridge, which included Greenhill, Meadowview, Washburn, and Franklin Rds. Large flocks of geese, Dunlin, and gulls were the main attractants (pheromones not involved). Pied-billed Grebe - 1 Great Egret - 6 Canada / Cackling Goose (mixed flocks) - 5,000 + Wood Duck - 2 Mallard - 40 N. Shoveler - 40 Green-winged Teal - 50 Hooded Merganser - 2 Bald Eagle - 8 Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Am. Kestrel - 12 Wild Turkey - 50 Am. Coot - 8 Killdeer - 12 Black-bellied Plover - 1 Dunlin - 8,000 Long-billed Dowitcher - 35 Mew Gull - 100? Ring-billed Gull - 100? Herring Gull - 1 Western Gull - 1 Glaucous Gull - 1 (same location as previously reported) Glaucous-winged Gull - 2 Mourning Dove - 38 N. Flicker - 4 Black Phoebe - 1 at the Franklin / Long Tom Bridge N. Shrike - 2 Scrub Jay - 8 Am. Crow - 2 N. Raven - 9 Black-capped Chickadee - 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 Am. Robin - 300 E. Starling - 155 Yel-rumped Warbler - 6 Song Sparrow - 2 White-crowned Sparrow - 16 D-e Junco - 65 Red-winged Blackbird - 200+ Brewer's Blackbird - 25 Don Schrouder, Sylvia Maulding, Paul Sherrell, Fred Chancey, Dennis Arendt, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090225/e7470996/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Feb 25 15:07:09 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:07:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] ECBC Wednesday Cent Or birders, Sunriver and Lazy River South areas Message-ID: <3053DA369D5E4C9BB7DFA48DAA3326A5@MOM> Birders Eight of us birded in the snow and wind zone of the south part of the county. It was sunny some of the time but the birds were not very active for us. Not a bluebird day! We hoped for owls and did not find any at all. We had a few great laughs, mostly over birds that offered some controversy with identification. Birders today were Carol O'Casey, Ann Bershaw, Marion Davidson, Don Sutherland, Lynne Iverson, Darwin Wile, Kim Kathol, and Judy Meredith. Next week we go to Bend area birding spots. Also note that Dave Tracy's weekly ECBC Birding by Ear starts March 10 and the season of weekend field day trips begins March 21. Lots of options if you want to get out to do some birding with a group. This report was mailed for Judy Meredith by http://birdnotes.net SR is Sunriver. SP is sewage ponds. Greater White-fronted Goose 1 - with Canadas at SR airport Canada Goose 160 Cackling Goose 1 - with Canadas at SR airport Tundra Swan 1- marsh between Nature Ctr and Marina. This bird had a speck of yellow on the bill yet the bill was straight like a Trumpeter. There was alternatively a "v" over the bill or straight line over bill.Different angles made it look very different. It was not that much larger than the geese however and we settled on calling it a Tundra. Mallard 30 Bufflehead 12 - Sunriver SP ( Lake Penhollow) Barrow's Goldeneye 9 - Sunriver SP - displaying males! Hooded Merganser 1 California Quail 10 - running near Quail Run. Bald Eagle 2 - 2 yr and a 4 yr, field at Prairie/Huntington. Northern Harrier 1 - Airport SR. Amazingly similar to one of the Rough Legged Hawks out there. Red-tailed Hawk 3 Rough-legged Hawk 3 - Airport SR. Rock Dove 1 Mourning Dove 9 Northern Flicker 2 Northern Shrike 1 Steller's Jay 1 Common Raven 15 Mountain Chickadee 15 American Robin 30 European Starling 5 Dark-eyed Junco 10 Red-winged Blackbird 25 - Singing was beautiful! Western Meadowlark 1 House Finch 10 Red Crossbill 54 - around Quail Run area. Total number of species seen: 27 Good birding, Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Feb 25 15:22:19 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:22:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pos. Lesser Black-backed Gull Message-ID: Obolers, On February 21 I photographed a dark backed gull with white eyes at Westmoreland Park in Portland. I couldn?t get it to fit anything so I hit the books and worried the images and finally decided it was a third winter Lesser Black-backed Gull. Need some verification on this, so if in the park keep an eye out for this rather distinctive bird. If I remember correctly someone recently had a white eyed Western Gull in the park. It could have been the same individual. Harry Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090225/b6c753a4/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Wed Feb 25 15:43:07 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:43:07 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: SAGE SPARROW still there Wednesday Message-ID: <644268.92951.qm@web55104.mail.re4.yahoo.com> I just received an email from Lyn Topinka. She said that she saw and photographed the SAGE SPARROW this morning (Wednesday). It was feeding at the road edge. WARNING: While it was in approximately the same location as posted earlier (near the Bachelor Island Wetland plaque). Folks should begin looking for it on the road as soon as The Observation Blind is in view, or about 200 yards before the Bachelor Island Wetland tree and plaque. Begin looking as soon as you get to MP 6 (Marker Post #6). Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores From birder at iinet.com Wed Feb 25 15:48:21 2009 From: birder at iinet.com (Sherry Hagen) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:48:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sage Sparrow / Sandhill Crane Message-ID: Around 2 PM I viewed and photographed the SAGE SPARROW at Ridgefield NWR. I waited in the car just past the bend in the road. This is just after where the creek passes under the road and the blackberry bushes start. It flew out from the bushes to the left side the road (50-100 yds before the big tree) and began eating alongside the road. I inched forward with the car stopping to take more photos until it was just in front of the car. About then someone drove between me and the bird and it flew. I believe it came back and landed in the grasses to the left but not sure since I could not locate it. Having gotten a lot of photos I moved on. While waiting I saw 35-40 sandhill crane fly over. Their calling is what drew me to look for them. Also saw Tree Swallows. Sherry Hagen Vancouver, WA birder at iinet.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090225/ab4e4d2e/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Wed Feb 25 15:57:13 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:57:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Rare Hybrid Bird Alert: Rufous x Anna's Hummingbird Message-ID: <49A5DAD9.2050508@pdx.edu> Oregon Birders, An adult male ANNA'S x RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD hybrid showed up at my feeder yesterday and continues today. I passed this bird off as an Anna's yesterday due to brief and poor looks at it and talked myself out of the reality of seeing some rufous on it. Great views today. Song is like Anna's. Gorget is pinkish-red with orange hues. Rufous color in retrices at bases and on lower sides of neck above wrist. At this point I am making the best guess that the Selasphorus parent was a Rufous and not some other species. I haven't gotten a great look at the shape of the retrices yet. The bird will sing from exposed perch from the mid-level branches of a birch tree, but more often from inside the middle of one of the several rhododendron shrubs in the yard. I don't recall that singing from a hidden perch is characteristic of Anna's. I have always observed Anna'a singing from exposed perches. I captured many images digitally with the fine camera Jim J. is lending me. It will be a bit before I figure out how to download them and them, process them, and then post them. 448 Ridge Drive in Gearhart if any want to come by. Please call me 503/739-3083 first. David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From celata at pacifier.com Wed Feb 25 16:16:05 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:16:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] First Rufous Message-ID: <49A5DF45.2040004@pacifier.com> I'm pretty sure I heard RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD on Monday, but I didn't actually see one until to today at my home feed. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Forward into the past http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/02/20090223.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Wed Feb 25 16:22:56 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:22:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Seaside: Heerman's and Glaucous Gulls Message-ID: <49A5E0E0.4080702@pdx.edu> 25 February 2009 Seaside, Clatsop Co. Seaside Cove: 1st winter HEERMAN'S GULL which is certainly unseasonal. Have any others been hanging on the coast this winter? Necanicum River Mouth east of the sewage treatment plant: 1st winter GLAUCOUS GULL, an enormous and white individual with a massive and long dipped in ink pink-based bill. I thought the bird was piece of Styrofoam floating in the estuary until I put my bins to it. This gull is larger than the many Glaucous-winged, Westerns, and their crosses in the area. David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From birder at iinet.com Wed Feb 25 16:48:25 2009 From: birder at iinet.com (Sherry Hagen) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:48:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sage Sparrow/ Northern Shrike Message-ID: My husband just called from Ridgefield NWR and he just saw the SAGE SPARROW but this time closer to the big tree (4:40 PM) as poted in instruction before. Just beyond the big tree he saw a NORTHERN SHRIKE working the area. Let's just hope he doesn't have Sage Sparrow for a meal. Sherry Hagen Vancouver, WA birder at iinet.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090225/4b166b52/attachment.html From krallfamily at comcast.net Wed Feb 25 17:26:27 2009 From: krallfamily at comcast.net (Kathy) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:26:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] sandhill cranes Message-ID: <2A084585E2334C0D9454F1A7E6CC3E03@D04KrallStudy> I also first heard and then saw a large( 30-40 ) flock of sandhill cranes heading to the NW over our house in SW Portland about 11 am today. Kathy Krall -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090225/c3d9407a/attachment.html From frankdanl at yahoo.com Wed Feb 25 19:53:25 2009 From: frankdanl at yahoo.com (frank lospalluto) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:53:25 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Agency Lake/Ft.Klamath Raptor Run,02/25 Message-ID: <568464.77037.qm@web36707.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi! Ran the Agency Lake/Ft. Klamath raptor survey today under some blustery,cloudy conditions. 4:05 hrs. 82.5 miles Red-tailed Hawk 43 American Kestrel 2 Northern Harrier 1 Bald Eagle 15 adults, 19 subadults Rough-legged Hawk 12 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Prairie Falcon 1 Great Horned Owl 1 Notes: 1 Red-shoulder near Modoc Pt.Rd. and Toqua Rd. 1 Red-shoulder along Nicholson Rd. near downtown Ft.Klamath 1 Northern Shrike at Hagelstein Park 30 Bald Eagles in fields between Shady Pine Rd. and Highway 97 good birding, frank From baileydc at pdx.edu Wed Feb 25 20:26:33 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David Bailey) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:26:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Photos: Rubous x Anna's Hummingbird Hybrid in Gearhart Message-ID: <49A619F9.6040203@pdx.edu> http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=101757&id=1143004111&l=26b59 From baileydc at pdx.edu Wed Feb 25 20:30:29 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David Bailey) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:30:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Photos: Rufous x Anna's Hummingbird Hybrid in Gearhart Message-ID: <49A61AE5.1050302@pdx.edu> Some cropped jpeg images of the Rufous Hummingbird x Anna's Hummingbird hybrid in my yard today can be seen by using this link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=101757&id=1143004111&l=26b59 The bird was making trips to the feeder until dark tonight. As with most hummingbirds, the colors were quite variable and depended on the angle of reflected light off the subject. David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From jeffharding at centurytel.net Wed Feb 25 21:52:48 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:52:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Interesting Gull in Salem - Thayers/Iceland - but no Glaucous Gull Message-ID: <154117BF009F48B59D794B8EC7DD50FA@laptop> At lunch-time, today, February 25, I visited the little park in Salem at the corner of Airport and State. There seemed to be fewer gulls than last week, and I did not see the neat pale Glaucous Gull that had been there. There was another gull, though, a first-winter bird, noticeably smaller than the Olympic Gulls that make up most of the flock, and very neatly patterned. The wingtips are paler than the illustrations I find for Thayer's, but darker than expected for Iceland, though Sibely illustrates a gull much like this one for a dark Iceland. The striking thing about this bird is the patterned tertials, a mark pointed out in Sibley for Iceland, but not mentioned in Kenn Kaufman's bit in Advanced Birding. Looking at several on-line photos, the Thayer's represented do have rather solid tertials, quite unlike the bird in Salem. The Iceland Gulls have much paler wingtips usually, but some look similar to this bird, and all have the strikingly patterned tertials. Here are photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/InterestingGull#530684747232568030 6 There are a couple of images of the head. The base of the bill is light. Is this the grayness mentioned by Kaufman as a mark for Iceland, or is the base of the bill becoming pink, as expected in Thayer's? Kaufman does say the relationship between Thayer's and Iceland is clinal, so we should probably lump them anyway. But this individual is rather striking in it's markings, and worth looking at. Not what you would call ugly at all. For folks who aren't interested in gulls, I put up a gallery of hummingbirds from the tropics on the picasaweb site too. There are more to add, but other things to do as well. Good birding, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090225/3e1bbdea/attachment.html From gismiller at gmail.com Wed Feb 25 22:21:17 2009 From: gismiller at gmail.com (Craig Miller) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 22:21:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Correction on Central Oregon Fox Sparrow Message-ID: <49A634DD.4030302@gmail.com> Hi all, I reported seeing a gray-headed Fox Sparrow last Sunday and called it /altivagans/ subspecies. It actually was closer in appearance to /shistaceae /-- uniform grayish head and nape and medium size (not thick) bill. Craig Miller From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Feb 25 23:30:42 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:30:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 2-26-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * February 26, 2009 * ORPO0902.26 - birds mentioned Layman Albatross Pink-footed Shearwater LITTLE BLUE HERON Turkey Vulture Sand hill Crane Hermann's Gull LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL SLATY-BACKED GULL Glucose Gull Casein's Auklet HORNED PUFFIN Band-tailed Pigeon Rufus Hummingbird YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER Say?s Phoebe Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow American Tree Sparrow Sage Sparrow PYRRHULOXIA Red Crossbill * transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Knells 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Knells coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday February 26. If you have anything to add call Harry Knells at 503-233-3976. A possible third winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen February 21 at Westmoreland Park in Portland. The SLATY-BACKED GULL continues to be seen along the Portland waterfront. The Peoria PYRRHULOXIA and the Islets Bay LITTLE BLUE HERON continue to be seen. TURKEY VULTURES, TREE SWALLOWS, BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, and SAY? S PHOEBES are now arriving in the state. SANDHILL CRANES are now being seen flying northward over the Willamette Valley. RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS reached Portland and Astoria by February 21. GLAUCOUS GULLS are being regularly reported. Large numbers of RED CROSSBILLS are now being seen along the coast. The February 21 offshore boat trip out of Newport found a LAYSAN ALBATROSS, some PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, 2000 CASSIN?S AUKLETS, and a HORNED PUFFIN. A late HEERMANN?S GULL was at Seaside February 25. A TREE SPARROW was seen February 21 along the Siltcoos Beach Road south of Florence. A SAGE SPARROW is now being seen in Ridgefield NWR. On February 22 a TREE SWALLOW, a VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, and three SAY?S PHOEBES were at the Elton Reservoir near Warm Springs. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090225/e18e26b1/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Feb 25 23:50:05 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:50:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 2-26-09 In-Reply-To: Message-ID: > - RBA > * Oregon > * Portland > * February 26, 2009 > * ORPO0902.26 > > - birds mentioned > > Laysan Albatross > Pink-footed Shearwater > LITTLE BLUE HERON > Turkey Vulture > Sandhill Crane > Heermann's Gull > LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL > SLATY-BACKED GULL > Glaucous Gull > Cassin's Auklet > HORNED PUFFIN > Band-tailed Pigeon > Rufous Hummingbird > YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER > Say?s Phoebe > Tree Swallow > Violet-green Swallow > American Tree Sparrow > Sage Sparrow > PYRRHULOXIA > Red Crossbill > > - transcript > > hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) > number: 503-292-6855 > To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 > compiler: Harry Nehls > coverage: entire state > > Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report > was made Thursday February 26. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at > 503-233-3976. > > A possible third winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen February 21 at > Westmoreland Park in Portland. The SLATY-BACKED GULL continues to be seen > along the Portland waterfront. The Peoria PYRRHULOXIA and the Siletz Bay > LITTLE BLUE HERON continue to be seen. > > TURKEY VULTURES, TREE SWALLOWS, BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, and SAY? S PHOEBES are > now arriving in the state. SANDHILL CRANES are now being seen flying northward > over the Willamette Valley. RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS reached Portland and Astoria > by February 21. GLAUCOUS GULLS are being regularly reported. > > Large numbers of RED CROSSBILLS are now being seen along the coast. The > February 21 offshore boat trip out of Newport found a LAYSAN ALBATROSS, some > PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, 2000 CASSIN?S AUKLETS, and a HORNED PUFFIN. A late > HEERMANN?S GULL was at Seaside February 25. A TREE SPARROW was seen February > 21 along the Siltcoos Beach Road south of Florence. > > A SAGE SPARROW is now being seen in Ridgefield NWR. On February 22 a TREE > SWALLOW, a VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, and three SAY?S PHOEBES were at the Pelton > Reservoir near Warm Springs. > > That?s it for this week. > > - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090225/439cba97/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Thu Feb 26 06:24:41 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 06:24:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Barn Owl bill clacking Message-ID: <34B0443A56574D2799C336FC248ACE8D@laptop> Just now there was a Barn Owl outside the house, shrieking and bill-clacking. Cheers, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090226/0a1b21a0/attachment.html From rneyer at gmail.com Thu Feb 26 07:49:05 2009 From: rneyer at gmail.com (Rob Neyer) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:49:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tonight on OPB Message-ID: OREGON FIELD GUIDE: "Malheur Refuge in Danger" I don't know exactly what that means, but it sure doesn't sound good. Let's watch tonight, and do whatever we can afterward. -rob -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090226/6ad171c0/attachment.html From rkorpi at hotmail.com Thu Feb 26 08:39:31 2009 From: rkorpi at hotmail.com (Ray Korpi) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:39:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sandhill Cranes YEsterday Message-ID: All, The Sandhill Crane migration yesterday was also apparent at the Clark College campus as several folks reported flocks to me. I had one flock of 34 while coming out of a restaurant from lunch right near campus. In the 15+ years I have been here, I had only had cranes once before yesterday's sightings--something in the weather patterns must have pushed several flocks a little farther east than the normal SW Portland and over the West Hills transit. Ray Korpi rkorpi at hotmail.com Vancouver WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090226/976f5bcc/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Thu Feb 26 09:04:54 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:04:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] FWD: Looking for a Rufous Hummingbird nest location Message-ID: <49A6CBB6.1050209@pacifier.com> Hello Mike, I am a wildlife film producer currently working on an hour long documentary on hummingbirds for the PBS program Nature. I am interested in 2 thing regarding the Rufous hummingbird and was wondering if you could help me out. 1. I am looking for a place- perhaps a yard with a lot of feeders- to try and film the rufous shuttle display. I had some luck with this last spring in Victoria BC, but would like to try it in Oregon or Washington this spring. If you know of a yard that has territorial males that would be great. 2. I am looking for a rufous hummingbird nest to film this spring as well. If you know eager birders or good nest finders I would love to talk with them. Look forward to hearing from you! Warm Regards. Ann Prum -- Ann Johnson Prum Coneflower Productions 151 Everit Street New Haven, CT. 06511 203-393-5272 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Forward into the past http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/02/20090223.html From Cathy.Nowak at state.or.us Thu Feb 26 09:00:56 2009 From: Cathy.Nowak at state.or.us (Cathy Nowak) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:00:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sandhill Cranes near La Grande Message-ID: Dave Larson spotted our first-of-the-season sandhill cranes on the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area yesterday (February 26). He was pretty sure they were of the "lesser" subspecies. The greaters that nest here should begin arriving any day now. M. Cathy Nowak Fish and Wildlife Biologist ODFW Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area 59116 Pierce Road La Grande, OR 97850 541-963-4954 Cathy.Nowak at state.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090226/ead6c9a8/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Thu Feb 26 09:09:49 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:09:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Interesting Gull in Salem - Thayers/Iceland - but noGlaucous Gull Message-ID: Very interesting gull, but based on structure I think it probably has to be at least mostly Thayer's. Seems well towards the chunky, long-legged end for the Thayer's/Kumlien's complex, and in particular the bill size and length in proportion to the eye appear quite extreme for Kumlien's. Also the body is fairly dark and filled in, and overall the plumage lacks the sort of frosty quality most east coast Kumlien's have. Extreme pale-end Thayer's can have patterning that trends into something Kumlien's-like, although if this is a "pure" Thayer's it would be one of the more extreme examples I've seen. Certainly possible there are Iceland genes at work here. Phil > http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/InterestingGull#530684747232568030 From baileydc at pdx.edu Thu Feb 26 10:31:33 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (baileydc at pdx.edu) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:31:33 GMT Subject: [obol] Clasop Beaches avian floatsam from yesterday's storm Message-ID: <200902261831.n1QIVXY0008159@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for David C. Bailey by http://birdnotes.net Date: February 26, 2009 Location: Clatsop Beaches, Clatsop County, Oregon Precipitation: none Auto survey of beach from Geahart to wreck of Peter Iredale and back this morning. All carcasses were recently beached, and at least three looked recently killed or scavenged by raptor. One Fulmar was a beautiful specimen in rigor. I image more things will wash in over the next few days. Two Adult BALD EAGLES were on the pole at west side of Camp Rilea near piles of feathers and deceased Fulmar and Kitiwake. Kitiwake had head on my way north, but not when I came back! Adult Peregrine falcon with stuffed crop was loafing on Far NW corner of Camp Rilea on driftwood in high wrack line. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Northern Fulmar 10 [1] Short-tailed Shearwater 1 [2] Black-legged Kittiwake 1 [3] Footnotes: [1] Northern Fulmar: 5 pale and white plumaged; 5 dusky-gray plumaged. All recent wrecks. [2] Short-tailed Shearwater: fresh wrecked and scavenged. [3] Black-legged Kittiwake: Adult fresh raptor kill Total number of species seen: 3 From winkg at hevanet.com Thu Feb 26 10:44:44 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:44:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 02/25/09 Message-ID: <20090226184446.82A57A823E@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 02/19 to 02/25/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 7 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Band-tailed Pigeon 2 (2, 2/23) Mourning Dove 6 (6, 2/23) Anna's Hummingbird 5 (3) Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 (1, 2/19) Downy Woodpecker 1 (1, 2/23) HAIRY WOODPECKER 1 (1, 2/20) Northern Flicker 6 (4, 2/19) PILEATED WOODPECKER 1 (1, 2/20) Steller's Jay 7 (8, 2/22) Western Scrub-Jay 3 (1) American Crow 7 (15, 2/20) Black-capped Chickadee 7 (12) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 6 (10) BUSHTIT 1 (6, 2/23) Red-breasted Nuthatch 7 (6, 2/20) Brown Creeper 3 (1) Bewick's Wren 3 (2, 2/19) Winter Wren 6 (2) RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET 1 (1, 2/20) American Robin 7 (30, 2/19) Varied Thrush 6 (8, 2/22) European Starling 5 (7) Spotted Towhee 7 (7) FOX SPARROW 1 (1, 2/22) Song Sparrow 7 (15, 2/19) Dark-eyed Junco 7 (25) House Finch 7 (25, 2/20) RED CROSSBILL 1 (?[heard only], 2/20) Pine Siskin 5 (15, 2/22) LESSER GOLDFINCH 1 (3, 2/25) Wink Gross Portland From m.denny at charter.net Thu Feb 26 11:52:21 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:52:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gyrfalcon/Klamath Falls Message-ID: <6F22A3EC6460467988FCC998662D68D4@24FLIGHT> Hello all, Larry and Jacque Goodhew just called from Klamath Falls - they were birding south of Klamath and a couple miles east of Worden along Township Rd. yesterday and had a white Gyrfalcon sitting on irrigation pipe just off the road. Couldn't reach anyone locally last night so called me today. Hope someone else can get out and find this visitor from the north! Good luck, ML .................................................................................. Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived From bettymkn at netscape.com Thu Feb 26 12:07:46 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:07:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Foster Lake Birds Message-ID: <20090226120746.8C124C00@resin09.mta.everyone.net> What a great day!!!!! First I would like to thank all of you that are so generous in sharing your photos. They help me in identifying the birds so much better than all the books I have. Reading all your conversations I was able to identify two firsts this morning. They are not regulars here but caught them passing thru. I saw my first Varied Thrush for a few seconds--beautiful. About the same time at least 3 flickers stopped by the feeder area. They had all the markings of the Red-Shafted Flicker except at least one of them had an added orange color on the throat. It wasn't grey as the books say. The Spotted Towhee stopped by but he lives somewhere around here at the present. I do have a LBJ that I can't figure out. Definite two white head bars, black center chest spot, and very heavily golden brown streaked chest. Not a regular but I have seen them several times. A Comorant was floating on a log out on the lake a couple days ago--first I've seen here but they could easly follow the river up looking for lunch. The lake is low so it probably could be good fishing. Back to the birds. Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com Foster Lake _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Feb 26 12:58:38 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:58:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pos. Lesser Black-backed Gull In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <40c8abc8db298be954689bfbaf33a194@earthlink.net> THe odd white-eyed gull at Westmoreland on Jan. 31 was a G-wing which Shawneen Finnegan got a good picture of. Lars Norgren On Feb 25, 2009, at 3:22 PM, Harry Nehls wrote: > Obolers, > > On February 21 I photographed a dark backed gull with white eyes at > Westmoreland Park in Portland. I couldn?t get it to fit anything so I > hit the books and worried the images and finally decided it was a > third winter Lesser Black-backed Gull. > > Need some verification on this, so if in the park keep an eye out for > this rather distinctive bird. > > If I remember correctly someone recently had a white eyed Western > Gull in the park. It could have been the same individual. > > > Harry > > > Harry Nehls > Portland, Oregon > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From baileydc at pdx.edu Thu Feb 26 14:53:29 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:53:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Rare Hybrid Bird Alert: Rufous x Anna's Hummingbird in Gearhart In-Reply-To: <49A63F17.2080107@pdx.edu> References: <49A63615.1040103@pdx.edu> <3608FF44336340BC8CA4F0E537B4C8BA@YOUR21526C1853> <49A63F17.2080107@pdx.edu> Message-ID: <49A71D69.4090401@pdx.edu> The Rufous x Anna's Hummingbird I first detected 24 February 2009 is back again today. I first detected it today at 1415 this afternoon. I first saw a hummingbird at around 0930 when a female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD showed up at my feeder. I had not seen this bird yesterday. Then a male (or more than one) RUROUS HUMMINGBIRD began frequenting the feeder around 1100. Around 2pm this afternoon I first detected the ANNAS x RUFOUS hybrid male. It had immediately began defending the perimeter of the feeder (my yard) from the numerous attempts of a male RUFOUS to feed at the feeder. It sat inn the Cherry and Birch and chirped and also sang. It also sang again from a perch in the inside middle of a rhododendron bush in my yard. There are hummingbird feeders that I know about across the street from my yard and down the street. I imagine the hybrid male was defending those feeders earlier in the day, but who knows? David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From willclemons at yahoo.com Thu Feb 26 15:49:11 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:49:11 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: SAGE SPARROW still there Thursday Message-ID: <317004.97429.qm@web55102.mail.re4.yahoo.com> I just received a phone call from Jim Cruce. He said that he saw and photographed the SAGE SPARROW this afternoon between 12:30 and 1P.M. (Thursday). It was feeding at the road edge in the vicinity of the Bachelor Island Wetland tree and plaque. He saw it just beyond the plaque, on the right side of the road. WARNING: While it was in approximately the same location as posted earlier (near the Bachelor Island Wetland plaque). Folks should begin looking for it on the road as soon as The Observation Blind is in view, or about 200 yards before the Bachelor Island Wetland tree and plaque. Begin looking as soon as you get to MP 6 (Marker Post #6). Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores From jvanmoo at sisna.com Thu Feb 26 19:47:57 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:47:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Klamath Falls, 2-26-09 Message-ID: <17E645E8-1C2F-42B1-8E84-8FBF86C994DE@sisna.com> I birded around Klamath Falls today. I had 4 target birds from recent posts--GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Shady Pine Rd), NORTHERN SHRIKE (Haglestein Park), NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Link River trail), and MEW GULL. I found the first three but dipped on the gull. I also found 3 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS (2 males,1 female) on Algoma Rd, HORNED GREBE (Lake Ewauna/Veterans' Park), SNOW GOOSE AND ROSS' GOOSE (Lower Klamath NWR/OR side 2 miles east of Straits Drain), EVENING GROSBEAK (10 along Front St), and TURKEY VULTURE (Hill Rd--1st of year for me), Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From slcarpenter at gmail.com Thu Feb 26 20:37:32 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 20:37:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wallowa County Birding: Rosy-finches Abound, etc. Message-ID: I woke up in Enterprise this morning to howling winds and sideways snow; this weather was going on from at least 4 a.m. until 6 a.m. or so. Most of the bad winter weather was gone by 8 a.m. or so, but left enough snow to make the birding a bit easier than I suspect it would have been without the snow. Most paved roads were snow covered in the morning, but pack to pavement by the evening. The gravel roads I drove remained snow covered all day. Highlights below. GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH (I was able to identify only Hepburn race, although I did not look at each bird): - 1 at 10:00 a.m. on School Flat Rd at barn that is about 0.25 miles north of Golf Course Rd (previously mentioned on OBOL as spot where they are roosting) - tight flock of 350-450 at 10:25 a.m. on Leap Rd about 2.4 mile W of Hwy 3 (1.8 mile E of School Flat Rd); were quite a ways off but stood out due to snow covered ground - from 11:29 - 11:47, a loose flock of 1,200+ on Leap Lane just north of Parsnip Creek Rd; initially saw them in the canyon portion of the road, the birds were on the west side of the road up on the rocks; dozens at a time would fly in to drink from the creek and many stayed below eye level to feed; at one point, a male NORTHERN HARRIER came through and was promptly escorted out by a flock of 500-700 rosy-finches - flock of 4 on Parsnip Creek Rd about 2.4 miles west of Leap Lane; these 4 were very accommodating and were within 4ft - 30ft from my car for over 30 minutes SNOW BUNTING: - 6 mixed in with loose flock of ~1,500+ HORNED LARKS on Golf Course Rd about 3 miles north of town, at around 8 a.m.; returned to same spot at 2 p.m. and saw only a handful of Horned Larks BOHEMIAN WAXWING: - 68 in a flock at 3:30 p.m. at the NE corner of the intersection of 1st & Wm E Williams Ave in Joseph; 3 Cedar Waxwings were also feeding in the same area - 26+ at 4:54 p.m. near Sunrise Rd west of Enterprise; the flock was in a tree west of the bridge, north of the Wallowa River WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL: - 2 at ~7:30 a.m. at the fish hatchery in enterprise; they flew over calling (I never saw them perched); I searched in vain at locations previously reported on OBOL; will try again Friday AMERICAN-TREE SPARROW: - 2+ at 10:59 a.m. on Leap Lane 1.7 mile west of School Flat Rd - 3 at 1:44 near white house with aqua shutters on School Flat Rd (address of house was 80916 School Flat Rd) SLATE-COLORED JUNCO: - 1 with many OREGON JUNCOS at intersection of Parsnip Creek Rd and Leap Lane I encountered at least 8 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS today and 6+ BALD EAGLES; also several adult male NORTHERN HARRIERS. I did NOT encounter any redpolls, longspurs, Pine Grosbeaks, or Northern Shrikes (I am not suggesting they are not here, though). Joseph was foggy & snowy when I was there; Enterprise and areas north and west of Enterprise were mostly sunny. Thank you to all who have posted their trip reports from this region -- they have been immensely useful to me on my first visit to this area. Scott Carpenter currently in Enterprise, Oregon normally in Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090226/e2eb0df0/attachment.html From LCain at astoria.k12.or.us Thu Feb 26 21:55:40 2009 From: LCain at astoria.k12.or.us (Lee Cain) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:55:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] NE King Ave, Warrenton -- Raptors Message-ID: <515DDA9BF1AC1E42829D6CD2AA9FC40114F0F7EC57@asdxcng.intra.astoria.k12.or.us> This report was mailed for Lee Cain by http://birdnotes.net Date: February 26, 2009 A two-hour late start for schools due to early morning black ice meant that I should go birding, right? So at 0730-0830 hrs, it was off to NE King Ave (Bayfront ORV site) in Warrenton. I managed to pick-up 6 raptor species and my first ever inside-the-estuary SANDERLINGS, all before the next snow flurry hit. Then it was off to the lab to wow and amaze 9th graders with a vacuum pump! BIRDS SEEN (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 143 Mallard 58 Green-Winged Teal 40 Canvasback 3 Greater Scaup 25 Surf Scoter 2 Bufflehead 55 Common Merganser 3 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Bald Eagle 1 [1] Northern Harrier 1 Cooper's Hawk 1 [2] Red-tailed Hawk 1 Rough-legged Hawk 1 Virginia Rail 2 Sanderling 14 [3] Dunlin 533 Western Gull 100 Glaucous-winged Gull Glaucous-winged x Western Gull Unidentified gull 200 Loggerhead Shrike 1 American Crow 55 Black-capped Chickadee 1 Bewick's Wren 4 Marsh Wren 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5 American Robin 43 European Starling 20 Fox Sparrow 12 Song Sparrow 25 Golden-crowned Sparrow 2 Red-winged Blackbird 27 Footnotes: [1] juv [2] juv [3] at river mouth Total number of species seen: 33 Lee Cain Astoria High School 1001 W Marine Drive Astoria OR 97103 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090226/7880d7b9/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Thu Feb 26 22:33:46 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:33:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Salem Gull Flock Message-ID: <9E19F1AB848F4D159D94685A2CCD5ECF@laptop> I visited the gull flock at Airport and State in Salem today, Feb 26 at noon, but could not fined the frosty-white Glaucous Gull that was there last week, nor the nicely marked Thayer's/Kumlien's Gull that was there yesterday. I thought a photograph the gull on the fresh snow would make it seem a little more Icelandic, but had no such luck. Just now, on a walk from the house, a Saw-whet Owl responded to my crude whistling. Or it was going to sing anyway, since it is a lovely starry night. Cheers, Jeff Harding Linn County, between Lebanon and Crabtree -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090226/a763cd34/attachment.html From geraldham at comcast.net Fri Feb 27 00:35:22 2009 From: geraldham at comcast.net (geraldham at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:35:22 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Fwd: ........Sandhill Cranes In-Reply-To: <1698973392.498201235723422713.JavaMail.root@sz0058a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <223750678.498341235723722890.JavaMail.root@sz0058a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: geraldham at comcast.net To: tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 12:30:22 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: ........Sandhill Cranes ..........Tuesday night at about 8:oo pm heard 2 separate groups of Sandhill Cranes flying over Brush Prairie area (...a bit northeast of Vancouver, Wash.) that sounded like they were heading northwest . Since it was dark I couldn't observe the numbers, but sounded like 5 or 6 in each of the 2 successive groups---not many. ..........Of itself not unusual news, but Brush Prairie is east of the usual migratory path over SW. Portland hills up along northwards along the Columbia River, and......this is the 1st time I have heard Sandhill Cranes fly over *this* area. As someone else mentioned weather patterns may have pushed the migratory path further east over Vanc. and eastwards. ..........Heard a great number of migratory resident Canada Geese pass overhead over Brush Prairie after dark yesterday evening, but this is a usual wintertime occurance for us. Cheers......Gerald Hamilton Brush Prairie, Wash. geraldham at comcast.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090227/60f2aa5a/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Feb 27 08:24:03 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:24:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Spring migrant phenology for Portland on OFO website Message-ID: <1235751843.3512.65.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hi folks, A spring arrival/migrant timetable for the Portland Metro area, as compiled by Christopher and Adrian Hinkle, is now available at the following link: http://www.oregonbirds.org/phenology.html along with Alan McGie's similar timetable for the Corvallis area. Thanks to Em Scattaregia for sending me Christopher & Adrian's compilation. Hopefully having these compilations on the web will give more birders an idea as to when to be the lookout for particular migrants. These may also provide some context for early, heard-only reports of Cassin's Vireo, Western Wood-Pewee, etc. which might be the work of skillful mimics such as Purple Finch, European Starling etc. It would be great if we could add similar tables for other regions of Oregon which have distinctive bird phenologies, such as the South Coast, North Coast, Central Oregon, Southeast & Northeast Oregon! Happy spring migration, Joel P.S. Also on OFO's home page, www.oregonbirds.org, you can find a link to the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center's project for volunteers to transcribe migration cards from long-gone birders, as Mike Patterson mentioned. I tried doing a few cards and can confirm that this can be addictive as well as intriguing: One card for Horned Puffins on an Aleutian Island in 1936, just a few years before WW II brought the world to this remote island arc; another for an ordinary spring migrant in a small town in Ohio in 1916, while WW I was raging in Europe. -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From winkg at hevanet.com Fri Feb 27 09:48:15 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:48:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Patuxent phenology project Message-ID: <20090227174817.53C83A8217@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> I'd like to second (or third) Mike and Joel's endorsement of this project. Typing in the data carefully collected and turned in a hundred years ago, one feels a connection with amateur birders who hoped, like us, that their observations would be useful. Even better, it makes their wish come true. Try it! http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bpp/ Wink Gross Portland From jvanmoo at sisna.com Fri Feb 27 10:17:29 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:17:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Klamtah Falls: New Yard Bird 2/27/09 Message-ID: <4A618CE8-D17F-4926-8C70-45182B3989C7@sisna.com> Excitement at my house this AM! Took out the garbage and heard the Steller's Jays making a fuss in the pines of my neighbor's yard to the north. Figured it was a Great Horned Owl that they were harassing. Turned to go back in and heard another ruckus in the south neighbor's yard and figured it was the same thing--a Great Horned Owl. Wandered over to the edge of my yard looking for the owl and watching the jays (about 12) when they started to fly toward my back yard, veering into the front yard and, lo! and behold!, they were chasing a small owl. It landed in a Ponderosa pine in my front yard and I thought it might be a Northern Pygmy Owl or maybe a Saw-whet. Ran inside to get the bins and came back and it was still there, snugged up to the trunk. With the bins it didn't look like a pygmy and when I got on the front of it I thought WESTERN SCREECH OWL. Watched for five minutes or so and raced back in to get the scope out of the car. Got the scope on it and indeed it was a screech owl. I watched it for about 15 or 20 minutes from different angles while my hands froze and my breakfast got cold (you can eat any time and your hands will eventually warm up!) The jays harassed the owl the entire time I watched and then the owl flew to another tree and they followed it. Quite a treat! My only other screech owl in OR was last year at about this same time in Loeb SP near Brookings and that was only an audible. Yard bird # 103. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From baileydc at pdx.edu Fri Feb 27 12:43:01 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:43:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Rufous x Anna's Hummingbird still showing well in Gearhart In-Reply-To: References: <49A5DAD9.2050508@pdx.edu> <49A61CF5.6060900@pdx.edu> Message-ID: <49A85055.2040208@pdx.edu> The hummingbird has been in our yardsince at least 0930 this morning. I had a pleasant visit with Lew and Marti Ligocki and Pat Tilley from Salem over the last hour. They all got many photographs of the bird who was showing quite well from his favored perches on the birch tree and on his frequent trips to lick from the feeder. He was calling frequently and sang a few times. I heard a male Rufous flying nearby in the neighborhood and a female Anna's was also around. Seems like the he is going to be around for a while. see photos at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=101757&id=1143004111&l=26b59 David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org >> [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of David C. B ailey >> Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 3:57 PM >> To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> Subject: [obol] Rare Hybrid Bird Alert: Rufous x Anna's Hummingbird >> >> Oregon Birders, >> >> An adult male ANNA'S x RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD hybrid showed up at my feeder >> yesterday and continues today. I passed this bird off as an Anna's >> yesterday due to brief and poor looks at it and talked myself out of the >> reality of seeing some rufous on it. Great views today. Song is like >> Anna's. Gorget is pinkish-red with orange hues. Rufous color in retrices >> at bases and on lower sides of neck above wrist. At this point I am >> making the best guess that the Selasphorus parent was a Rufous and not >> some other species. I haven't gotten a great look at the shape of the >> retrices yet. The bird will sing from exposed perch from the mid-level >> branches of a birch tree, but more often from inside the middle of one >> of the several rhododendron shrubs in the yard. I don't recall that >> singing from a hidden perch is characteristic of Anna's. I have always >> observed Anna'a singing from exposed perches. >> >> I captured many images digitally with the fine camera Jim J. is lending >> me. It will be a bit before I figure out how to download them and them, >> process them, and then post them. >> >> 448 Ridge Drive in Gearhart if any want to come by. Please call me >> 503/739-3083 first. >> >> David >> >> David C. Bailey >> Gearhart, Oregon From jeffharding at centurytel.net Fri Feb 27 14:19:43 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (jeffharding at centurytel.net) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:19:43 -0500 Subject: [obol] Salem Glaucous Gull Back - no Kumlein's/Thayer's Message-ID: <20090227171943.t5zwogs403mswss8@webmail2.centurytel.net> I visited the flock of gulls at State and Airport in Salem at noon, and found the large white Glaucous Gull, presumably the same one that was there last week. So apparently they come and go here, and it is worth stopping by if you ar in the area. The small gull that, while dark, bore the checkered tertials and tail of a Kumlien's (Iceland) Gull was not there this afternoon. My photographs are still here: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/InterestingGull# Phil Pickering's opinion, which bears a great deal of weight with me, is that the structural characteristics make it Thayer's with an interesting plumage pattern. But what if the structural characteristics overlap in the species, and in this bird are within the range of variation of Kumlien's? The plumage characteristics in the tertials, the tail, and the white line on the outer edge of the primaries may be definitive for Kumlien's. I am still considering the matter, but thinking of bothering the bird records committee with a report. good birding, Jeff From johnpam at mtangel.net Fri Feb 27 14:22:00 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:22:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] More Sandhills-Silverton Message-ID: Over 120+ Sandhill Cranes just flew over at 2 PM, Friday. Heading north, strong and steady with no pauses to circle and gain altitude. Conservatively seen 300+ in last few days. John Thomas 5 mi NNE Silverton (edge of foothills) From LCain at astoria.k12.or.us Fri Feb 27 15:24:07 2009 From: LCain at astoria.k12.or.us (Lee Cain) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:24:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] NE King Ave, Warrenton -- Raptors Message-ID: <515DDA9BF1AC1E42829D6CD2AA9FC40115966F7C61@asdxcng.intra.astoria.k12.or.us> Dreadfully sorry people -- I saw a NORTHERN SHRIKE in Warrenton yesterday, NOT a Loggerhead.....you would think that when Birdnotes.net asked me if I was sure I wanted the data that way that I would have checked it, but I didn't... Lee Cain Astoria High School 1001 W Marine Drive Astoria OR 97103 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090227/8f3f74b9/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Fri Feb 27 15:25:25 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:25:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Jo Co finds Message-ID: Crag and Judy Corder, eastern Washington State residents, needed a few more species for Josephine County to have at least 100 species for all the Oregon Counties. I'm happy to report they now have 100 in all OR counties. We found about 75 species total. Here's some of the more interesting finds we made: 02-25-09: 1 CACKLING GOOSE (have not seen any around for a while now, good find) 1 EURASIAN WIGEON male "pure" YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER (not even a hint of intergradation) at Whitehorse Park 02-26-09 (birded the Cave Junction area) 1 female COMMON GOLDENEYE (Lake Selmac, hard to find species for the county) 8 or so VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS north of Kerby (on the early side) 2 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES south of Cave Junction, near Rough and Ready mill (my 4th location for them this year so far) Of all the species they didn't have, STELLER'S JAY was a real surprise to me. I'm happy to report that's now history. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090227/6101cca5/attachment.html From mikedressel at comcast.net Fri Feb 27 16:10:07 2009 From: mikedressel at comcast.net (Mike Dressel) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:10:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Friday, on Sherwood-Tualatin Road Message-ID: <001801c99938$ea8b5d30$bfa21790$@net> >From the car, and without field glasses, I spotted what appeared to be a Great Egret in a wetland area on the north side of the Tualatin-Sherwood Road. The wetland area is just west (1/4 to 1/2 mi. as the egret flies) of the UPS depot off SW 90th. The distance from the road was perhaps 150 - 200 yards and the view was clear, I had no way of getting closer. mike -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090227/ca0d74af/attachment.html From kiss at cot.net Fri Feb 27 17:02:07 2009 From: kiss at cot.net (Charlotte Ann Kisling) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:02:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] leucistic Bald Eagle Message-ID: <49A88D0F.9040702@cot.net> Hi all, A leucistic Bald Eagle has been reported being seen near the town of Malin since Monday. I saw the bird today around 11:15 along Pickett Road 0.4 miles east of Harpold Road. It was perched on a sprinkler about 200 yards north of Pickett. I am sure that it is the same eagle that was in that area a couple of years ago. If you are coming from Klamath Falls, go south on Highway 39 and through the town of Merrill. From there, take to road to Malin. Eventually, you will come to Harpold. Go north on Harpold until you get to Pickett. If you do not find the bird there, search the nearby fields. It has always been found in fields that have an abundant supply of Belding's Ground Squirrels. Charlotte Ann From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Feb 27 19:12:37 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:12:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] WashCo Glaucous Gull Message-ID: A first cycle GLAUCOUS GULL was at Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, this evening at dusk. This makes about 16 county records and follows two together here about one month ago. The reason I was here was to follow up on a Snowy Egret reported on eBird. The map put it on the dike midway in the middle of the overflowing lakes, not a good sign--as that is an unlikely habitat. Also, winter is not the time they show up. Except for some wintering at Coos Bay in the past (any recently?), this egret arrives in the state in mid April and departs by October. I knew that most likely this was a Great Egret misidentified or mis-marked, but an immature Little Blue Heron is possible, so I gave it a half hour shot since I live close. This would have been the 4th county record if confirmed. Alas, no white herons of any kind. So had to settle for a white gull. Of course, maybe there really is a Snowy Egret out there, so keep on the lookout if you're out that way. The ponds are all very high. Except for good numbers of RUDDY DUCKS and CANVASBACKS I did not note anything very interesting in my short visit. Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From proebstw at gmail.com Fri Feb 27 19:53:24 2009 From: proebstw at gmail.com (William Proebsting) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:53:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird Message-ID: <350fb8dd0902271953u64e649b1he4da4ecf8e14dc9d@mail.gmail.com> Just before 5pm today, a male Rufous Hummingbird arrived in our garden outside Corvallis. Bill and Lena Proebsting -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090227/893b94d3/attachment.html From phils at rio.com Fri Feb 27 19:57:00 2009 From: phils at rio.com (Phil and Christina) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:57:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird In-Reply-To: <350fb8dd0902271953u64e649b1he4da4ecf8e14dc9d@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Our first of the year here west of Elmira was yesterday. Phil -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org]On Behalf Of William Proebsting Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 7:53 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird Just before 5pm today, a male Rufous Hummingbird arrived in our garden outside Corvallis. Bill and Lena Proebsting -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090227/629567e4/attachment.html From frankdanl at yahoo.com Fri Feb 27 20:54:50 2009 From: frankdanl at yahoo.com (frank lospalluto) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:54:50 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Malin Raptor Run, Klamath Co., 02/27/09 Message-ID: <313483.61102.qm@web36706.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi! Ran the Malin raptor survey under ptly cloudy skies and a steady breeze. 48.2 miles in 3hrs. Red-tailed Hawk 26 American Kestrel 4 Northern Harrier 1 Rough-legged Hawk 2 Bald Eagle 2 adults,4 subadults Prairie Falcon 1 Merlin 1 Highlights: Leucistic Bald Eagle along Pickett Rd.(Charlotte's bird) Say's Phoebe- 1 along Pickett House Finch flock of 40+ on Micka Rd. Also stopped by Township Rd. but did not find the previously reported Gyrfalcon . ( there was a light morph Rough-legged there seen by Charlotte Kisling and myself.) good birding, frank From jorrie at peak.org Sat Feb 28 09:46:03 2009 From: jorrie at peak.org (Jorrie & Ken) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 09:46:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Dozen Rufous Hummingbirds Message-ID: <17C12750-956D-4D61-813E-A7C647A338FD@peak.org> The RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD activity has picked up the last few days. This morning there were a 12 males at the front feeders. It seems that they travel in groups during the migration. They are up early while it is still a little dark to drink from the feeders. Guess they want to get an early start to avoid the traffic northbound. Jorrie & Ken Ciotti Waldport, OR From kskiivv at comcast.net Sat Feb 28 10:34:43 2009 From: kskiivv at comcast.net (kskiivv at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:34:43 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Anna's with a prickly problem Message-ID: <1567189571.3429201235846083397.JavaMail.root@sz0158a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> I live in South Salem, and for about the past week, we've had an Anna's regularly visiting our feeders that has an unusual protuberance from it's back. This morning I was able to get a few pictures through a window. This does not appear to hinder the bird's flight, and it's behavior is otherwise unremarkable. It may be a pine needle or something similar. Take a look and offer your theories. We've nicknamed it Excalibur. Here are some photos. Also, two Turkey Vultures were viewed this week at Minto Brown Park here in South Salem. Kevin Kompolt http://public.fotki.com/kskiivv/feathers/excalibur1.html http://public.fotki.com/kskiivv/feathers/excalibur2.html http://public.fotki.com/kskiivv/feathers/excalibur3.html http://public.fotki.com/kskiivv/feathers/tvminto.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090228/2f8e1ce1/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Sat Feb 28 11:51:48 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 11:51:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Article in Sunday "Oregonian" on Young Birders Message-ID: Nice article in today's Early Edition of "The Sunday Oregonian" on the birder guys from Mt Tabor. Right on the front page too! "Boys of a Feather Count Together" Made my day. Now to go looking for early migrants.... John Thomas Silverton From sherrell1501 at comcast.net Sat Feb 28 12:09:57 2009 From: sherrell1501 at comcast.net (sherrell1501 at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:09:57 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Lane County Say's Phoebe Message-ID: <106177464.928991235851797894.JavaMail.root@sz0046a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> I located a Say's Phoebe this morning just east of the Mt. Pisgah parking lot (east sde ).? From the parking lot continue east on Ridgeway past Dery Lane.. The bird?was feeding from wires and posts along the first driveway south of Ridgeway once you are past Dery Lane .???I viewed the bird from Ridgeway : the driveway?is private. Paul Paul Sherrell sherrell1501 at comcast.net? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090228/2a5a15ca/attachment.html From vireogirl at yahoo.com Sat Feb 28 12:23:09 2009 From: vireogirl at yahoo.com (Vjera Thompson) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:23:09 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Alton Baker Say's Phoebes Message-ID: <996343.51293.qm@web56306.mail.re3.yahoo.com> OBOLers, Eddie and I just returned from a walk at Alton Baker in Eugene. We found a group of 4 SAY'S PHOEBES in the middle of the old dump near where we had a group of 4 three years ago (3/26/2006). After we left them we had another SAY'S PHOEBE near the pond which we suspect was a 5th bird. Today we also had a group of 12+ N FLICKERS together in the young trees at the west end of the old dump. This seems like a big group to see at once. We also had at least 6 W MEADOWLARKS out there, which was nice to see. They were even trying to sing! Last week (2/20/2009) we walked the Meadowlark Prairie path and had a SHRIKE near the Checkermallow access. All species reported to birdnotes.net. Good birding! Vjera & Eddie Thompson Eugene, OR vireogirl at yahoo.com From tlove at linfield.edu Sat Feb 28 12:31:31 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:31:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sandhill Cranes - SE Washington Co 27 Feb Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F12156B5CD9@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> 37 calling Sandhill Cranes due north over Durham, SE Washington Co, at 5:26 p.m. Friday, 27 February. Spectacular. Tom Love tlove at linfield.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090228/d7ba15cc/attachment.html From clausing at uiuc.edu Sat Feb 28 13:10:40 2009 From: clausing at uiuc.edu (Arthur Clausing) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 13:10:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck in Multnomah County Message-ID: <9400C315-F5D5-4003-8566-BFDBE3D7B788@uiuc.edu> Yesterday just past noon, I watch a male Tufted Duck swimming on the Columbia river for about 20 minutes. It was with a group of about four Scaups. As usual, I was on my bicycle, hence, on the dedicated bicycle path along the Columbia river. The location where I saw this duck is about 1 1/2 miles east of the I205 bridge at the point where the bicycle path crosses Marine Drive. Between NE 122nd and this point, the bicycle path is on the south side of Marine Driver. Going east, the path then crosses Marine Dr. and lies on the north side for the next two miles or so before it ends just east of the Blue Lake area. Hence, the point where I saw this duck was on the east end of this two mile portion, the portion on the north side of Marine Drive. I have several pictures of this duck giving front, back and side views. Art Clausing The birding bicyclist From louisfredd at msn.com Sat Feb 28 13:18:20 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 13:18:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon City, Feb 14-20 Message-ID: Observed from yard: Feb 14 RED-TAILED HAWK Distant, soaring. Feb 15 AMERICAN CROW 20 About half of these a small flock headed north crosswise to local crows' paths. Similar observation 02/19. Return migration I suspect. Feb 16 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK Watched bird feeding area very closely (wing's length?). Recognizable from last week, back for seconds, perhaps. Feb 17 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET12 Not frequently seen in most winters, very scarce this past fall-winter to date. Feb 18 MERLIN Single fly-by, tree top level, into last rays of daylight. Feb 19 COOPER'S HAWK Single fly-by, roof top level, noon, headed north. Feb 20 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT FOYr Fairly high, am, headed SE into Clackamas drainage. These fly-overs in general direction of Estacada, usually singles, occur from last week December through end of February, most years. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Life without walls. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090228/ad2067b7/attachment.html From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Sat Feb 28 13:20:23 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (Denise Hughes) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 14:20:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Turkey Vulture Message-ID: <464db1a10902281320m174f436y140524361d87aa90@mail.gmail.com> I was with my bird club in Malheur County today; we birded the area around the Owyhee Reservoir. We had a single Turkey Vulture, lots of Snow and White fronted Geese as well as Canada Geese, Goldeneyes, Pintails, Mallards, Wigeons, and Common Mergansers. The wind was howling so the tweety birds stayed hunkered down. -- Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho dhughes55 at clearwire.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090228/0b4a39ba/attachment.html From clausing at uiuc.edu Sat Feb 28 13:33:54 2009 From: clausing at uiuc.edu (Arthur Clausing) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 13:33:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] CORRECTION: Tufted Duck in Multnomah County Message-ID: Sorry, two critical east/west errors in the description of the location, I am a terrible proofreader. Yesterday just past noon, I watched a male Tufted Duck swimming on the Columbia river for about 20 minutes. It was with a group of about four Scaups. As usual, I was on my bicycle, hence, on the dedicated bicycle path along the Columbia river. The location where I saw this duck is about 1 1/2 miles east of the I205 bridge at the point where the bicycle path crosses Marine Drive. Between NE 122nd and this point, the bicycle path is on the south side of Marine Driver. Going east, the path then crosses Marine Dr. and lies on the north side for the next two miles or so before it ends just WEST of the Blue Lake area. Hence, the point where I saw this duck was on the WEST end of this two mile portion, the portion on the north side of Marine Drive. I have several pictures of this duck giving front, back and side views. Art Clausing The birding bicyclist From davidmandell at earthlink.net Sat Feb 28 14:07:08 2009 From: davidmandell at earthlink.net (David Mandell) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 14:07:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mult. Tufted Duck Message-ID: <65F359DA-8CD1-40ED-83C5-C5C14090A99B@earthlink.net> The Tufted Duck was still there as of 1pm this afternoon, although now joined by 150-200 Scaup of both flavors and a few Ring-Necked Ducks. John Fitchen refound it at about 158th and Marine Drive. Thanks Art for this great find! David Mandell From dpvroman at budget.net Sat Feb 28 14:07:18 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 14:07:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] JoCo Rufous Hummer Message-ID: <1F34EDE866594C229747DAB3C54664CC@Warbler> This afternoon (02-28-09), a male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD made an appearance at our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit). Not my earliest, but earlier than some past years. Just made it in February. So, migration is officially under way at our place. As posted previously, one was found east of GP on 02-21-09. A check of early arrival dates for VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW showed that those seen off Finch Road near Kerby on 02-26-09 beat the previous early date of 03-01-1977 (Steve Summers at Whitehorse Park) for the County. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090228/9a8f773e/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sat Feb 28 14:09:15 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 14:09:15 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos Swallows 2/28/2009 Message-ID: <680530.24704.qm@web45316.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Both VG SWALLOWS and TREE SWALLOWS in Myrtle Point along with 4+ CEDAR WAXWINGS. A couple TURKEY VULTURES also. On 2/27 there were 4 REDHEADS out on the north spit of Coos Bay and the SAY'S PHOEBE was out flycatching also saw one of the overwintering OSPREY. The EMPEROR GOOSE was still around in Bandon too. That's it for now- enjoy all! Tim R Coos Bay From Jfitchen at aol.com Sat Feb 28 14:14:42 2009 From: Jfitchen at aol.com (Jfitchen at aol.com) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:14:42 EST Subject: [obol] Mult TUFTED DUCK--Yes! Message-ID: Hello Obol, At a little after 1:00 p.m. today I saw the TUFTED DUCK discovered by Art Clausing (he's the guy who rode up to a bunch of us near the Burnside Bridge looking for the Slaty-backed Gull and said, "Oh, I just saw that bird at Westmoreland Park"--where, indeed, the bird was then ensconced). And this morning he ran into David Mandell at Westmoreland and mentioned in an off-hand, casual conversation that he had seen a Tufted Duck on the Columbia River yesterday morning. David called me and I got out there as quickly as possible, and was soon to be joined by Andy Frank. The bird is a gorgeous male with pure white sides, jet black back, pale blue bill and spectacular tuft, especially when it is blowing in the stiff east wind. Many thanks to Mr. Clausing (keep riding your bike, Art) and to David for alerting me to this county Code-5 bird. Just to add a little detail to the description of where the bird was seen: this afternoon it was about 100 yards west of the intersection of NE 158th and Marine Drive, feeding with a mixed flock of about 50 scaup and Ring-necked Ducks. It was no more than 50 yards from the shore. At 158th you will see two large corrugated pipes going into the river and a weather-beaten sign that reads "Caution: Submerged Outlet." Andy Frank took lots of photos and should be posting them later today. Cheers, John Fitchen Portland **************You're invited to Hollywood's biggest party: Get Oscars updates, red carpet pics and more at Moviefone. (http://movies.aol.com/oscars-academy-awards?ncid=emlcntusmovi00000001) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090228/9a177fb1/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Sat Feb 28 14:28:45 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 14:28:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Rufous x Anna's Hummingbird still showing well in Gearhart In-Reply-To: <49A85055.2040208@pdx.edu> References: <49A5DAD9.2050508@pdx.edu> <49A61CF5.6060900@pdx.edu> <49A85055.2040208@pdx.edu> Message-ID: <49A9BA9D.9030401@pdx.edu> The hybrid hummingbird continue to defend the feeder here in Gearhart today (Sat. 28 Feb 2009) I will post when I am no longer detecting it here. Otherwise, you can probably assume it is still around. David David C. B ailey wrote: > The hummingbird has been in our yardsince at least 0930 this morning. > I had a pleasant visit with Lew and Marti Ligocki and Pat Tilley from > Salem over the last hour. They all got many photographs of the bird > who was showing quite well from his favored perches on the birch tree > and on his frequent trips to lick from the feeder. He was calling > frequently and sang a few times. I heard a male Rufous flying nearby > in the > neighborhood and a female Anna's was also around. Seems like the he is > going to be around for a while. > > see photos at: > http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=101757&id=1143004111&l=26b59 > > David > > David C. Bailey > Gearhart, Oregon >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of David C. B ailey >>> Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 3:57 PM >>> To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> Subject: [obol] Rare Hybrid Bird Alert: Rufous x Anna's Hummingbird >>> >>> Oregon Birders, >>> >>> An adult male ANNA'S x RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD hybrid showed up at my >>> feeder yesterday and continues today. I passed this bird off as an >>> Anna's yesterday due to brief and poor looks at it and talked myself >>> out of the reality of seeing some rufous on it. Great views today. >>> Song is like Anna's. Gorget is pinkish-red with orange hues. Rufous >>> color in retrices at bases and on lower sides of neck above wrist. >>> At this point I am making the best guess that the Selasphorus parent >>> was a Rufous and not some other species. I haven't gotten a great >>> look at the shape of the retrices yet. The bird will sing from >>> exposed perch from the mid-level branches of a birch tree, but more >>> often from inside the middle of one of the several rhododendron >>> shrubs in the yard. I don't recall that singing from a hidden perch >>> is characteristic of Anna's. I have always observed Anna'a singing >>> from exposed perches. >>> >>> I captured many images digitally with the fine camera Jim J. is >>> lending me. It will be a bit before I figure out how to download >>> them and them, process them, and then post them. >>> >>> 448 Ridge Drive in Gearhart if any want to come by. Please call me >>> 503/739-3083 first. >>> >>> David >>> >>> David C. Bailey >>> Gearhart, Oregon > > From andy.frank at kp.org Sat Feb 28 15:24:15 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:24:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck photos Message-ID: <7DC8C0DB5EA242589E15529129045DAC@familyroom> Not beautiful, but diagnostic photos are at http://andyfrank.blogspot.com/. Left-clicking enlarges them. The bottom photo is of the raft of birds that it was in. If you left-click on the photo and look closely you can see the Tufted Duck with its tuft out. The tuft is quite obvious when the bird is facing into the wind (1st and 3rd photos), but the 2nd photo down shows that when facing with the wind at its back, the tuft is not seen. I'll add this makes me wonder what I've missed by not looking closely at the rafts of scaup on the Columbia. My compliments to Art Clausing on a great find.. Andy Frank From willclemons at yahoo.com Sat Feb 28 16:15:54 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:15:54 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: SAGE SPARROW Not Seen Friday or Saturday Message-ID: <134864.3535.qm@web55107.mail.re4.yahoo.com> The SAGE SPARROW that was seen four days in a row (Mon 2/23 thru Thurs 2/26) on the River S Unit at Ridgefield NWR was not seen on Friday or Saturday. I was there Saturday from about 8AM until about 3PM and made 2 loops without seeing it. A lot of other birders were there as well, and many were more patient than I was, but still there were no reported sightings of the SAGE SPARROW. It is likely still at the Refuge, but has opted for another patch of turf to hang out at. The SAGE SPARROW was also seen on Monday Feb 16th during the weekly Goose Survey. That sighting was brief and only by one survey volunteer on an "out of bounds" Unit. That sighting was not fully realized until Monday Feb 23rd when it was seen by several birders and a positive ID was obtained. My reason for including this is that I believe it may well show again on the River S Unit. Keep your eyes open for all sparrow like birds on the road edges anywhere on the River S Unit. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores From bigfishyman at gmail.com Sat Feb 28 16:35:44 2009 From: bigfishyman at gmail.com (Bob Fish) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:35:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Turkey Vulture Message-ID: Yesterday (4/27) I saw a Turkey Vulture fly over I-5 South,2 miles north of Creswell, It was headed NE. Not that I was birding while driving... Bob Fish Creswell, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090228/f660b061/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Sat Feb 28 17:27:22 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:27:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck photos Message-ID: <49A9E47A.2030509@pdx.edu> Great photos Andy--what a great bird! You can see in your photos the unique shape to the white sides of the Tufted Duck as well. This often stands out more than the tuft or black back when scanning for males of this species in scaup flocks at a distance. Posterior to anterior the top of the white patch rises falls and then rises again somewhat more steeply and then drops more abruptly where it forms the boarder between the white sides and the black breast. Thus, the dorsal edge of the white patch forms a somewhat irregular sine-wave. The white portion of the sides of the Tufted Duck reminds me of a histogram of some non-parametric data. The scaup do not seem to have the rise in the white anteriorly and Ring-necked ducks have grayer sides with the contrasting white "triangle" at the anterior portion of the side. I am curious how many Greater Scaup are being seen along the Columbia River in Portland this year. In most of the last 25 years or so, only a handful had been seen each year, though recently the frequency of reports and number of reported individuals has increased. I wonder if the food resources in the Portland/Vancouver reach have increased in the past few years, since Greater Scaup have in the same last 25 years or so been regular and wintering in large numbers downstream in Columbia county to the coast and upstream from Hood River County eastward. David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Sat Feb 28 17:29:29 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:29:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lane Co Coast Kittiwakes Message-ID: <2b1bbd260902281729q76ca11f4j4113fbe592e933ae@mail.gmail.com> There were a half dozen BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES between the jetties at the mouth of the Siuslaw River around lunch time today. All were adults except a single 1st winter bird. -- Daniel Farrar Eugene, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090228/8aab1fff/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Feb 28 17:20:55 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:20:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Violet-green & Tree Swallows at E.E. Wilson, Benton Co. Message-ID: <1235870455.3620.12.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, This afternoon about 70 TREE SWALLOWS and 10 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were foraging over ponds at the E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area in Benton Co. north of Corvallis. The Violet-Greens are a couple of days ahead of the average arrival date for the Corvallis area, based on Alan McGie's phenology (www.oregonbirds.org/phenology.html). I looked for but couldn't relocate the Swamp Sparrow that was in the south end of the wildlife area in mid-February. The TRUMPETER SWAN flock near Airlie was still around on Wednesday (25 Feb) but I haven't checked on them since then. They usually depart about when the first Rufous Hummingbirds show up. Happy spring migration, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From msgellerman at gmail.com Sat Feb 28 17:39:53 2009 From: msgellerman at gmail.com (Michael Gellerman) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:39:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tree Swallows, Washington Co. Message-ID: <1d0c413a0902281739n6a1bda4ay7aa07424eec0deb3@mail.gmail.com> We saw our first Tree Swallows this evening over Bethany Pond, Washington Co. They typically do not arrive at the pond until March 17 - 20 probably because it is a small area tucked up in the corner here of Tualitin Valley. Nice to see though. Still looking for our first Rufous Hummingbirds. Mike Gellerman -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090228/1d87b3ee/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sat Feb 28 18:24:21 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:24:21 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] TUFTED DUCK-yes Message-ID: <792242.39665.qm@web55706.mail.re3.yahoo.com> At just before 5:00 pm today, we located the TUFTED DUCK at 158th and Marine Drive. We got excellent views. It was with a large flock of scaup (200+). There were hundreds more scaup, mostly greater, scattered along the river. We also saw BUFFLEHEADS, RING-NECKED DUCKS, and 2 RED-THROATED LOONS. Heads up: the only parking in this vicinity is in corporate parks which are signed No Trespassing. Adrian and Christopher Hinkle, Em Scattaregia From alderspr at peak.org Sat Feb 28 18:25:04 2009 From: alderspr at peak.org (Karan & Jim Fairchild) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:25:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] [birding] Violet-green & Tree Swallows at E.E. Wilson, Benton Co. References: <1235870455.3620.12.camel@localhost.localdomain> Message-ID: <2A33AC0F266A4AB0B0E9025BFF3058BC@HOMESTEAD> Hi all- About 5:30 this afternoon, while driving along Reservoir Road north of Philomath, I became aware of a large flock of swallows flying over the road and nearby fields, looked like one hundred or more. There was no place to stop to check them out better, but I think, from the location and numbers and "jizz", that they were VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. It was very exciting in any case! Karan Fairchild Benton County ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joel Geier" To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" ; "MidValley Birds" Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 5:20 PM Subject: [birding] Violet-green & Tree Swallows at E.E. Wilson, Benton Co. | Hello folks, | | This afternoon about 70 TREE SWALLOWS and 10 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were | foraging over ponds at the E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area in Benton Co. north | of Corvallis. The Violet-Greens are a couple of days ahead of the | average arrival date for the Corvallis area, based on Alan McGie's | phenology (www.oregonbirds.org/phenology.html). | | I looked for but couldn't relocate the Swamp Sparrow that was in the | south end of the wildlife area in mid-February. | | The TRUMPETER SWAN flock near Airlie was still around on Wednesday (25 | Feb) but I haven't checked on them since then. They usually depart about | when the first Rufous Hummingbirds show up. | | Happy spring migration, | Joel | | -- | Joel Geier | Camp Adair area north of Corvallis | | _______________________________________________ | list mailing list | list at midvalleybirding.org | http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list | http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ | From rfadney at hotmail.com Sat Feb 28 18:39:25 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:39:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ankeny Message-ID: Drove to Ankeny today, not a lot going on but I did see a Turkey Vulture in the meadow south of Eagle Marsh. Pairs of Northern Shovelers were foraging together at Peregrine Marsh. It was really interesting to see them paired up like they were. I guess it wasn't singles weekend! At Eagle Marsh we saw two pair of Buffleheads cruising around without a lot of other birds around the area. Infield #8 we watched an enormous flock of cacklers feeding, an Eagle came into the area and spooked 75% of them up at once. What an amazing sound and sight, there were easily a thousand birds taking flight in a panic at the same time. I hope the picture and video come out, the light was not the best! Rich _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Life without walls. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090228/89dfc0de/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sat Feb 28 18:45:14 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:45:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ankeny correction Message-ID: Pintail Marsh, NOT Peregrine Marsh, my wife corrected me.... _________________________________________________________________ Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/personalize.aspx?ocid=TXT_MSGTX_WL_HM_express_032009#colortheme -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090228/3ae94a53/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sat Feb 28 18:45:26 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:45:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ankeny correction Message-ID: Pintail Marsh, NOT Peregrine Marsh, my wife corrected me.... _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Life without walls. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090228/318a6b61/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Sat Feb 28 18:52:07 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:52:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Kittiwake Message-ID: Obolers, Received a phone call this afternoon reporting a Black-legged Kittiwake over the Columbia River off St. Helens. Another gull to watch out for. Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090228/604ba6d9/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Sat Feb 28 19:01:50 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:01:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Turkey Vulture Bandon Coos Cty Message-ID: <49A9FA9E.9090706@verizon.net> 2/28 Bandon Coos Cty TURKEY VULTURE, over yard this afternoon. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Feb 28 19:40:40 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:40:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Young birder story Message-ID: Adrian and Christoper Hinkle are featured in the Sunday Oregonian. Some of that is now on the Oregonian web site: http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/ Of course, the paper got the names reversed, but hey, who doesn't? -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From pointers at pacifier.com Sat Feb 28 20:22:06 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:22:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] TUFTED DUCK - PIX In-Reply-To: <792242.39665.qm@web55706.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <792242.39665.qm@web55706.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <20090301042204.03FA06A4FD@smtp2.pacifier.net> thanks for posting this information so quickly ... it gave me a good excuse to get out of the house !!!!! ... weather was a bit blustery and I could have used my winter parka, but the ducks were co-operative ... here's a few pix ... click on each image to enlarge ... http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Birds/tufted_duck.html enjoy, Lyn Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From dhewitt37 at gmail.com Sat Feb 28 21:09:46 2009 From: dhewitt37 at gmail.com (David Hewitt) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:09:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Swan Lake - Dairy Raptor Run, and other birds around Klamath Falls Message-ID: <653eaf880902282109yf9d961et49c73aa93b09fca7@mail.gmail.com> Craig Ellsworth and I ran the winter's final Swan Lake - Dairy route for the ECBC Raptor Survey today. All the snow was gone except for some small patches on north-facing slopes in the Swan Lake valley. Mostly cloudy with a high ceiling; made for a nice observing day. Began at 36 deg F and finished at 43 deg F. No wind to speak of. Overall raptor diversity was down, but we had some nice highlights: 2 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS (one on the same pole we got it on in January), a huge number of RTHAs even for this area (71), and a GREAT HORNED OWL on a nest. A number of the RTHAs were soaring and looked like migrants; ditto for the subadult BAEAs, which were all in a loose kettle northeast of Dairy with some RTHAs. One RTHA was strikingly light and matched Sibley's drawing of the Southwestern race. One buteo that I finally dumped into the UNID group looked like a dark morph RLHA, but it never showed its underwings and was too far to peg without a lift-off (for us anyway). It showed a mostly dark tail briefly once, so didn't match a Harlan's RTHA. We also saw a loose flock of 163 SANDHILL CRANES in the Swan Lake valley, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, a mass of SNOW/ROSS'S/GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on Alkali Lake (with a few TUNDRA SWANS), a few MOUNTAIN and WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, and a bunch of KILLDEER. 3 hrs 21 min 65.8 miles For comparison, trailing numbers in brackets are previous surveys, as [Jan / Dec]. RTHA = 71 [56 / 46] AMKE = 0 [3 / 3] (where were they?) BAEA = 8 (4 Ad, 4 Imm) [12 / 6] GOEA = 0 [1 / 0] RLHA = 24 [18 / 9] FEHA = 2 [1 / 1] PRFA = 0 [4 / 0] SSHA = 0 [1 / 0] BNOW = 0 [0 / 1] GHOW = 1 [0 / 0] Unid. Buteos = 4 [3 / 3] Elsewhere around Klamath Falls ... At home on Front Street this morning we had a couple of EVENING GROSBEAKS at the feeders, which have been here for a couple weeks, and when I got home from the raptor run we had a BROWN CREEPER on a tree in the yard. Also saw the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK that has spent the winter around the little marsh near the lower end of the lake along Lakeshore Drive. A report was submitted to eBird (http://ebird.org/Klamath-Siskiyou). -- Dave Hewitt Front Street, KFalls From uuspirit at yahoo.com Sat Feb 28 21:30:49 2009 From: uuspirit at yahoo.com (Mary Reese) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:30:49 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Info needed re Moses Lake area Message-ID: <344892.48676.qm@web54110.mail.re2.yahoo.com> We are?considering going to Moses Lake / Potholes / Othello (Washington) area the last week of May.? It looks good on a map, but have any of you birded there?? Is is worth the trip?? If so, any tips about where to stay (inexpensive, casual), hot spots to visit, trails to hike, auto tours, etc.? How does it compare to Malheur?? We've been there a zillion times and thought we might try something different this Spring.? Please reply privately. ? Thanks :-) Mary Reese & Jim Allen Portland / Fairview -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090228/0da932d9/attachment.html From tanager at nu-world.com Sat Feb 28 22:34:24 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 22:34:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lane Co. Raptor Route (Unit 1) Feb. 28, 2009 Message-ID: <003c01c99a37$c3d16a90$4b743fb0$@com> Obolinks, Lane Co. Raptor Route Unit #1 is that area west of Greenhill Rd. bounded by Cantrell Rd. on the south, Territorial Rd. on the west, and Hwy. 36 on the north. This area more or less encircles Fern Ridge Reservoir west of Eugene. It was chilly, but visibility was good (miles). Temperatures ranged from 37 to 44-degrees F. from 1200h-1605h, wind was out of the NNE at 6-8 mph, and we drove/rode 60 miles. We saw a few drops of rain, but only on the windshield. At least I think that was rain! There were a lot of geese flying around everywhere we went. There were three in our party, Noah Strycker, Anne Heyerly, and myself. Raptor numbers were low. The Bald Eagle count was way down from January, which likely was due to the absence of perches at the reservoir itself. The pool was way up, but not at summer level. Highlights were a Merlin along Territorial Rd. just south of the Clear Lake Rd. intersection, a Northern Shrike along Bond Lane west of the airport near where a canal passes under the road, and two light-phase Rough-legged Hawks at Qwanu Acres (the hunting club) along Alvadore Rd. approximately ? mile north of the Franklin Rd. intersection. We also observed many Tree and Violet-green Swallows at every stop (almost) and also many times while we were moving. Here are the numbers: Red-tailed Hawk 27 American Kestrel 17 Northern Harrier 13 Bald Eagle (adult/imm) 16 (6/10) Rough-legged Hawk 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 3 White-tailed Kite 2 Merlin 1 Turkey Vulture 10 and if you count a Northern Shrike as a raptor, 1. We saw no large falcons (no perches for Peregrines at Fern Ridge) or Accipiters. There is still a very large flock of Dunlin, and a smaller flock of Black-bellied Plovers and Least Sandpipers, at Fern Ridge, so I suspect there might still be a Peregrine around, but we didn?t see one today. Good birding, Dan Heyerly Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090228/f85190ec/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Sat Feb 28 22:40:44 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 01:40:44 EST Subject: [obol] Lane Raptor Route #2 Message-ID: Hello All, Good visibility and no rain were enjoyed during the route today. The 80 mile route took 5.5 hours and covers the West Eugene Wetlands area and north between Greenhill Road and River Road to Hwy 36 near Junction City then between Hwy 99W and Washburn Road to the Lane County line. Numbers were down, but diversity was up. Red-tailed Hawk - 23 American Kestrel - 45 Northern Harrier - 9 White-tailed Kite - 4 Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 Bald Eagle - 1 Immature Rough-legged Hawk - 3 (2 on Territorial Hwy just north of Cheshire, 1 west of Junction City on Washburn north of Ferguson Rd.) Merlin - 1 Peregrine Falcon - 1 Cooper's Hawk - 1 Barn Owl - 1 (in the nest box on the old Barn at Meadow View and Hwy 99) John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon **************Get a jump start on your taxes. Find a tax professional in your neighborhood today. (http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?query=Tax+Return+Preparation+%26+Filing&ncid=emlcntusyelp00000004) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/c4f391f3/attachment.html From fschrock at gmail.com Sat Feb 28 22:50:55 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 22:50:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Turkey Vulture in McMinnville Message-ID: <390ebd880902282250g73fbee79w9d8261cbcf2600b7@mail.gmail.com> For the record, I saw a lone Turkey Vulture cruising over the Linfield College campus today, Feb. 28. This is about two weeks earlier than I usually see them here. ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090228/4d306dda/attachment.html From tanager at nu-world.com Sat Feb 28 23:02:25 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:02:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lane Co. birding 2/28/2009 Message-ID: <004f01c99a3b$ad2f8390$078e8ab0$@com> In addition to the raptors mentioned earlier in my Lane Co. Raptor Route (Unit #1) report, we had many Tree Swallows and Violet-Green Swallows in several areas, but they were most common in areas where there was water present. Two Eurasian Wigeon were with the small group of American Wigeon at the cemetery pond along West 11th Ave. There was a lone Redhead on Kirk Pond (NE corner) along with several Greater Scaup. White-breasted Nuthatch was calling in the Ash grove along Cantrell Rd. (East Coyote unit parking lot). Several flocks of Western Bluebirds were seen (Cantrell Rd. and Territorial Rd.). There were large flocks of American Robins everywhere. Robins evidently are on the move. On Meadowview Rd. near the Greenhill Rd. intersection there was a small flock of Tundra Swans and a group of Greater White-fronted Geese loosely associating with the swans. I think that is all of the non-raptor highlights. One thing we did notice was that several Harriers seemed to be doing what appears to have been a display flight in several areas (along K.R. Nielsen Rd., Royal Ave.). Oh yes, also at home this morning while having breakfast, a first-of-the-year-for-us male Rufous Hummingbird took over one of our feeders. This afternoon there was no sign of him. Good birding! Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090228/2eae1b60/attachment.html From vanm at sisna.com Wed Feb 25 19:09:36 2009 From: vanm at sisna.com (Bill Van Moorhem) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 03:09:36 -0000 Subject: [obol] Bandon 2-23-09 Message-ID: <9B2E5990-8F3F-4AAA-A9EE-8ADE585E48B4@sisna.com> My husband and I just visited Bandon for a couple of days. Most notable birds were the EMPEROR GOOSE on the South Jetty Rd (not sure that's the official name of the street). It was along the roadside below the Assisted Living facility where the road curves to go to the south jetty. I also saw a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at the host site for loop A at Bullard's Beach SP on Monday and Tuesday. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From katandbill at yahoo.com Sun Mar 1 08:57:19 2009 From: katandbill at yahoo.com (Kat & Bill) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 08:57:19 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Finley NWR Saturday 2/28 Message-ID: <741392.95594.qm@web53911.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hi OBOL, We went to Finley yesterday to help with the planting project. On the way home we came back via Bellfountain Road to Bruce Road. The highlights at the last pull out by McFadden's Marsh were two pairs of NORTHERN PINTAILS and 6 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. There was a lot more going on in the marsh area, but we didn't bring the binoculars. Duh! We left in the morning before all the coffee was swilled and just weren't thinking clearly... Kat in Eugene From glenn_rie at yahoo.com Sun Mar 1 11:21:56 2009 From: glenn_rie at yahoo.com (Rie Luft) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 11:21:56 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] TUFTED DUCK Message-ID: <424365.44390.qm@web112211.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Glenn and I saw the TUFTED DUCK at 158th and Marine Drive this morning at 10:15am along with several other birders. A large flock of scaup with the Tufted Duck among them flew in from downstream to join the smaller group of scaup and ring-necked ducks around 10:10 about in the middle of the channel. The flock gradually floated closer to shore and good views of the TUDU were to be had about 50 yds out, its tuft clearly apparent blowing in the brisk wind. The flocks seem to be working between the floating home community and about the same distance downstream from 158th. Rie Luft -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/16b9f46c/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Mar 1 11:24:39 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 11:24:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Arrival data for Clatsop Co. & Eugene/Springfield areas; more motorless birds Message-ID: <1235935479.3623.13.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, Thanks to Mike Patterson and Tom Mickel for spring arrival compilations for Clatsop Co. and the Eugene/Springfield areas, respectively. See: http://www.oregonbirds.org/phenology.html for the whole batch. With five western Oregon birders participating in the "motorless birding" challenge, the combined tally of bird species found this way during January & February was at least 140: http://www.oregonbirds.org/Listing/motorless.html ... and it's just starting to get nice out there! Happy spring birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From srnord101 at verizon.net Sun Mar 1 12:10:10 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 12:10:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland Slaty-backed Gull continues, Marine Dr. Tufted Duck Message-ID: <000501c99aa9$ba163d60$2e42b820$@net> OBOL; This morning I walked the Westside of the Portland waterfront. At 10:30, the 3rd year SLATY-BACKED GULL was seen just south of the Burnside Bridge. The overall number of gulls seemed lower than previous weeks. Along with the usual assortment of gulls I found 2 GLAUCOUS GULLS just south of the Hawthorne Bridge. Earlier I birded along Marine Drive to look for the TUFTED DUCK. At 7:30am, I found the male east of 158th, near the houseboat community. The flocks were very active and soon it flew to the west of 158th. Then the TUFTED DUCK flew to near the end of 158th. The bird was actively feeding, so I lost sight of it many times, making it a challenge to watch even when I "knew" where it was. Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From sheilach at nwtec.com Sun Mar 1 13:00:30 2009 From: sheilach at nwtec.com (Sheila) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 13:00:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] The Bandtails have arrived at last Message-ID: <9EF20F0084F84186A82114E96E5BBA0F@userdb934c10ae> It's the first of March and the winter doldrums are over, the BANDTAILED PIGEONS have arrived along with the rain. It's been a bad late winter for STARLINGS and HOUSE SPARROWS who find my nest-box trap irresistable.The few HOUSE SPARROWS that have tried to choose one of my nest boxes were scared off by a close BB pellet. Other wise, the "usual suspects" are still here, FOX, WHITE CROWN, GOLD CROWN and WHITE THROATED SPARROWS. "My" SONG SPARROW had a rough winter,a preditor almost got him last week.He showed up at the feeder missing his tail, hopping on one leg and he was bloody on his right thigh. He dissapeared for a couple of days and another SONG SPARROW took his place at the feeder, then he showed up again, still tailess and hopping on one leg but he was back. His left toes are black and curled up but he tries to use it at times. He's a tough little bird and I hope he will make it to spring. Other regulars here are the HOUSE FINCHES, SPOTTED TOWHEES, NORTHERN FLICKERS, BLACK CAPPED & CHESTNUT BACKED CHICKADEES, ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS,PURPLE FINCH, CEDAR WAXWINGS, ROBINS, STARLINGS, BREWERS BLACKBIRDS, CROWS, RAVEN, WESTERN GULLS, a NORTHERN HARRIER flew low over the feeders scaring off the birds, EURASIAN COLLARED and AFRICAN RINGED DOVES are still here but in smaller numbers than in fall. A few PINE SISKINS have showed up off and on but not in large flocks, no American goldfinches or Lesser goldfinches have been seen all winter. I hope the Barn swallows that built a nest over the front door but didn't use it will return to find their nest intact and this time raise some young in it. Sheila from soggy Harbor Oregon "Marinoism -- The belief that everything from political to religious indoctrination is an abject fraud, used to control the minds of this planet's citizenry as a means of effective social control, and that the individual must seek their own higher truths in order to rise above these psychological bonds which society uses to enslave them." From kasey_church at yahoo.com Sun Mar 1 14:29:52 2009 From: kasey_church at yahoo.com (Kasey Church) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 14:29:52 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Northern Shrike Message-ID: <495570.41926.qm@web111108.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Went out this morn and saw the beautiful Tufted Duck around 10am on Marine Dr. Then headed down to Smith and Bybee where I saw the Northern Shrike that apparently has been wintering there. I was lucky enough to see it a couple weeks ago during the GBBC, but today it sat very still and pretty and I was able to watch it for a long time along with a skulking coyote that was rummaging around in the Canary grass nearby. A good day. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/e0c5affa/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sun Mar 1 15:01:37 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 15:01:37 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Say's Phoebe, Oaks Bottom (Portland) Message-ID: <672174.34605.qm@web55703.mail.re3.yahoo.com> We were on the Springwater Corridor at Oaks Bottom at around noon today when Adrian spotted a SAY'S PHOEBE on the far side of the lake. We scoped it, but it was still an unsatisfying view. We hurried around the lake and got much better views from the east trail. The phoebe was flycatching and landing in the small snags and dead vegetation in the eastern half of the lake. We last viewed it just before 12:30. On our way home, we briefly stopped at Westmoreland Park. Although we didn't see anything resembling the possible Lesser Black-backed Gull, we saw 2 female EURASIAN WIGEONS and a surprising 56 MEW GULLS. Good Birding, Adrian and Christopher Hinkle, Em Scattaregia From 5hats at peak.org Sun Mar 1 16:33:34 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 16:33:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] speaking of arrival dates...... Message-ID: Does anyone out there have an average arrival date for Grasshopper Sparrow east of the Cascades? Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/66584efe/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sun Mar 1 16:52:56 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 16:52:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harlan's Redtailed or Rough-legged Hawk Message-ID: <9C30BC622517467C8335B764907E4214@laptop> Dan Heyerley, Dan Gleason and I looked at a buteo east of Crabtree, Linn County that was not easy to pigeonhole. Bill Thackaberry and I found it last weekend, and it was still there this afternoon. The bird shows a degree of albinism that obscures some field marks. The albinism is expressed by a mix of dark and milky-white feathers on the back and in the primaries. The breast and belly are also very white, but with a few broad streaks on the belly. The tail is very similar to a Harlan's tail in the recent Birding article on variation in Harlan's tails by William Clark, figure 6. The tail has a rusty terminal band, and a narrow dark subterminal band, proximal to which is a wide area that is whitish, with darker "grizzling". The head of this bird is very white, with a dark line through the eye and a dark smudge on the cheek, much as illustrated in Sibley for the light adult female Rough-legged. The bill is small, like a Rough-legged. The tarsi are apparently bare, shown in one of my photos. Dan had a chance to see the legs when it stretched and eliminated, and he said the legs looked bare, and yellow. The bird would perch in the top of small trees on small twigs, as illustrated in Sibely for Rough-legged Hawks My photos, and the location can be seen here: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/Raptors# Cheers, Jeff Harding -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/c866fc40/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Sun Mar 1 17:28:34 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 20:28:34 EST Subject: [obol] Alton Baker Say's Phoebes Message-ID: At least 3 of the SAY'S PHOEBES reported yesterday by Vjera and Eddie were still out in the old dump prairie this afternoon. John Sullivan Springfield, OR In a message dated 2/28/2009 12:23:58 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, vireogirl at yahoo.com writes: OBOLers, Eddie and I just returned from a walk at Alton Baker in Eugene. We found a group of 4 SAY'S PHOEBES in the middle of the old dump near where we had a group of 4 three years ago (3/26/2006). After we left them we had another SAY'S PHOEBE near the pond which we suspect was a 5th bird. Today we also had a group of 12+ N FLICKERS together in the young trees at the west end of the old dump. This seems like a big group to see at once. We also had at least 6 W MEADOWLARKS out there, which was nice to see. They were even trying to sing! Last week (2/20/2009) we walked the Meadowlark Prairie path and had a SHRIKE near the Checkermallow access. All species reported to birdnotes.net. Good birding! Vjera & Eddie Thompson Eugene, OR vireogirl at yahoo.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol **************Get a jump start on your taxes. Find a tax professional in your neighborhood today. (http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?query=Tax+Return+Preparation+%26+Filing&ncid=emlcntusyelp00000004) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/873f1e94/attachment.html From yvanbruggen at charter.net Sun Mar 1 17:37:17 2009 From: yvanbruggen at charter.net (Philip Van Bruggen) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 17:37:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] dowitchers Message-ID: <083FB6478BDF420B9FE91132EA9731C2@Home> We saw several long-billed dowitchers at Basket Slough 2/27/09. Phil and Bonnie Van Bruggen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/b8553834/attachment.html From yvanbruggen at charter.net Sun Mar 1 17:48:40 2009 From: yvanbruggen at charter.net (Philip Van Bruggen) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 17:48:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] dowitchers #2 Message-ID: <3C104F613F07448D91F6B1D8B8E525AA@Home> I forgot to add for those that don't know, that Baskett Slough is off of Highway 22 west of Salem. Instead of going to the look-out spot, turn north onto Smithfield Road and then immediately east to Coville Road. There was one dowticher among the flock that looked like it might be a short-billed, but only one of us spotted it so we are not sure. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/74371cf9/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Mar 1 18:01:53 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 18:01:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harlan's Redtailed or Rough-legged Hawk Message-ID: <49AB3E11.7000202@pacifier.com> Note the unfeathered tarsi... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Forward into the past http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/02/20090223.html From steve at stevenrhalpern.com Sun Mar 1 18:15:07 2009 From: steve at stevenrhalpern.com (Steve Halpern) Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 18:15:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sauvies island - Golden eagle Message-ID: <49AB412B.10906@stevenrhalpern.com> Feb 28 first tree swallow of spring March 1 adult golden eagle across from the east side viewing platform From rfadney at hotmail.com Sun Mar 1 18:18:39 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 18:18:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pics from Ankeny Message-ID: Well after developing my images from 2/28 at Ankeny, I made a pleasant discovery. What I thought were Buffleheads were actually Crested Mergansers. There was one I am having trouble with as far as identifying. It may just be a Northern Shoveler, but I don't think so. Here is a link to pics from the trip. Please check out the "Who am I" bird and let me know what you all think. http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=278960110/a=100504741_100504741/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=comcast2 Rich _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Life without walls. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/4b130bac/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sun Mar 1 18:28:47 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 18:28:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harlan's Redtailed or Rough-legged Hawk In-Reply-To: <9C30BC622517467C8335B764907E4214@laptop> References: <9C30BC622517467C8335B764907E4214@laptop> Message-ID: I drive through that area every week and have seen the same bird twice. I have not had a camera with me, since when I am traveling through that area I am supposed to be working. Not birding! I got a good look at the bird from the front and considered it to be a dark (albeit screwed up dark) Red Tail also due to the tarsi as Mike said. I will take the big lens and try to get some shots of it. Rich From: jeffharding at centurytel.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 16:52:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harlan's Redtailed or Rough-legged Hawk Dan Heyerley, Dan Gleason and I looked at a buteo east of Crabtree, Linn County that was not easy to pigeonhole. Bill Thackaberry and I found it last weekend, and it was still there this afternoon. The bird shows a degree of albinism that obscures some field marks. The albinism is expressed by a mix of dark and milky-white feathers on the back and in the primaries. The breast and belly are also very white, but with a few broad streaks on the belly. The tail is very similar to a Harlan?s tail in the recent Birding article on variation in Harlan?s tails by William Clark, figure 6. The tail has a rusty terminal band, and a narrow dark subterminal band, proximal to which is a wide area that is whitish, with darker ?grizzling?. The head of this bird is very white, with a dark line through the eye and a dark smudge on the cheek, much as illustrated in Sibley for the light adult female Rough-legged. The bill is small, like a Rough-legged. The tarsi are apparently bare, shown in one of my photos. Dan had a chance to see the legs when it stretched and eliminated, and he said the legs looked bare, and yellow. The bird would perch in the top of small trees on small twigs, as illustrated in Sibely for Rough-legged Hawks My photos, and the location can be seen here: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/Raptors# Cheers, Jeff Harding _________________________________________________________________ Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/personalize.aspx?ocid=TXT_MSGTX_WL_HM_express_032009#colortheme -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/0b8bb5af/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sun Mar 1 19:01:01 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 19:01:01 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Pics from Ankeny In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <21276.56840.qm@web37001.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Nice pictures. Your "mystery" duck is a male Ruddy Duck molting into alternate plumage. And just for the record, the correct name of your mergansers is "Hooded", not "Crested" - although they certainly show more of a crest than a hood. Good birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Sun, 3/1/09, R. Adney Jr. wrote: From: R. Adney Jr. Subject: [obol] Pics from Ankeny To: "OBOL" Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009, 6:18 PM #yiv1542977775 .hmmessage P { margin:0px;padding:0px;} #yiv1542977775 { font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} Well after developing my images from 2/28 at Ankeny, I made a pleasant discovery.? What I thought were Buffleheads were actually Crested Mergansers.? There was one I am having trouble with as far as identifying.? It may just be a Northern Shoveler, but I don't think so. Here is a link to pics from the trip.? Please check out the "Who am I" bird and let me know what you all think. http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=278960110/a=100504741_100504741/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=comcast2 Rich Windows Live?: Life without walls. Check it out. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/4bdcc3c0/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sun Mar 1 19:17:49 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 19:17:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pics from Ankeny In-Reply-To: <21276.56840.qm@web37001.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <21276.56840.qm@web37001.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: DUH, I was looking at Sibley's guide, I have no clue where "Crested" came from other than the description as a "Crest lowered" and "Crest raised". Go ahead and give me a bad time about that one! I had considered the Ruddy Duck, but I was unsure because of the partial white cheek. Thanks Judy and Hendrik! Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 19:01:01 -0800 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com Subject: Re: [obol] Pics from Ankeny To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org; rfadney at hotmail.com Nice pictures. Your "mystery" duck is a male Ruddy Duck molting into alternate plumage. And just for the record, the correct name of your mergansers is "Hooded", not "Crested" - although they certainly show more of a crest than a hood. Good birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Sun, 3/1/09, R. Adney Jr. wrote: From: R. Adney Jr. Subject: [obol] Pics from Ankeny To: "OBOL" Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009, 6:18 PM Well after developing my images from 2/28 at Ankeny, I made a pleasant discovery. What I thought were Buffleheads were actually Crested Mergansers. There was one I am having trouble with as far as identifying. It may just be a Northern Shoveler, but I don't think so. Here is a link to pics from the trip. Please check out the "Who am I" bird and let me know what you all think. http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=278960110/a=100504741_100504741/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=comcast2 Rich Windows Live?: Life without walls. Check it out. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Groups: Create an online spot for your favorite groups to meet. http://windowslive.com/online/groups?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_groups_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/3dc5a03b/attachment.html From lammergeiereyes at aol.com Sun Mar 1 19:21:16 2009 From: lammergeiereyes at aol.com (lammergeiereyes at aol.com) Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 22:21:16 -0500 Subject: [obol] Eugene Eurasian Message-ID: <8CB68FD15563172-128C-2EBB@webmail-db05.sysops.aol.com> Of minor interest to Eugene locals may be two Eurasian Wigeon (I male- 1 female) frequenting tributaries in Alton Baker Municipal park. I had them Saturday afternoon while strolling on lunch break from the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference at UO. There was also a Greater White-fronted Goose mingling with the park's abundant half-cast fowl. Blake T. Matheson Carmel, California & Portland, Oregon -- "Men still live who, in their youth, remember Passenger Pigeons. Trees still live who, in their youth, were shaken by a living wind. But a decade hence only the oldest oaks will remember, and at long last only the hills will know." Leopold -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/3a2aff7b/attachment.html From SJJag at comcast.net Sun Mar 1 20:32:20 2009 From: SJJag at comcast.net (SJJag at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 04:32:20 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] RFI, scope question, anyone have experience with the Leica 62mm scopes? Message-ID: <2091874616.908321235968340559.JavaMail.root@sz0081a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> I am thinking about a small scope, Leica's 62 looks v. good and not as expensive as the Savorski 65 (sweet little scope that it is). I am particularly interested in eye piece compatibility for eyeglass wearers. Thanks in advance, Steve Jaggers Milwauike, Or. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090302/269f681b/attachment.html From cncschneider at msn.com Sun Mar 1 20:50:36 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 20:50:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] bird identification help Message-ID: On a bike ride today I saw a flock of 300 (approx.) birds. They were in an old cauliflower field, it was mud, grass, and old cauliflower stalks. As I biked by I spooked them out of the field. (There was also a flock of killdeer in the field.) They were about sparrow size, had average to long tails, were dark (I didn't get many details because they were back lit against the sky), and their wings were about average length and somewhat pointed. Their flight pattern and flock habit was very different from any other bird I am familiar with. They had a undulating flight pattern but not as distinct as a goldfinch. They stayed together as a flock while flying but with some birds drifting out to the edge and then back to the center. The whole flock circled the field a couple of times and then landed further away in the same field but I couldn't see them. Their call was distinct it was a high pitched, slightly buzzy whistled two note call. They weren't blackbirds, starlings, shorebirds, or meadowlarks. I don't think they were sparrow because they didn't have a sparrow type call. I thought they might be Horned Larks, so when I got home listened to their call and it sounded similar. I tried to find pictures of Horned Lark flock but couldn't find any. Are these bird identifiable to a species? I'd appreciate any help. Thanks in advance, Matthew Schneider Silverton, OR cncschneider at msn.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/c9eddfcb/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Mar 1 21:00:35 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 21:00:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] bird identification help In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1e3439dc1d50c161a33b299f9d43f938@earthlink.net> This is an enormous number for the Willamette Valley, but the description of flight pattern is quite good for Horned Lark. Lars Norgren On Mar 1, 2009, at 8:50 PM, Carl & Christine Schneiders wrote: > On a bike ride today I saw a flock of 300 (approx.) birds.? They were > in an old cauliflower field, it was mud, grass, and old cauliflower > stalks.? As I biked by I spooked them out of the field. (There was > also a flock of killdeer in the field.)? They were about sparrow size, > had average to long tails, were dark (I didn't get many details > because they were back lit against the sky), and their wings were > about average length and somewhat pointed.? Their flight pattern and > flock habit was very different from any?other bird I am familiar > with.???They?had a undulating flight pattern but not as distinct as a > goldfinch.??They stayed together as a flock while flying?but with some > birds drifting out to the edge and then back to the center.? The > whole?flock circled the field a couple of times and then landed > further away in the same field?but?I couldn't see them.? Their call > was distinct it was a high pitched,?slightly buzzy whistled two note > call.? They weren't blackbirds, starlings, shorebirds, > or?meadowlarks.? I don't think they?were sparrow because they didn't > have a sparrow type call. > ? > I thought they might be?Horned Larks, so when I got home listened to > their call and it sounded similar.? I tried to find pictures of Horned > Lark flock but couldn't find any.? Are these bird identifiable to a > species?? I'd appreciate any help. > ? > Thanks in advance, > Matthew Schneider > Silverton, OR > cncschneider at msn.com_______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From whoffman at peak.org Sun Mar 1 21:31:08 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 21:31:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Klamath Basin Message-ID: <00CD1C59179F43FD9ACF7387E12B5BCC@D48XBZ51> I just returned from a 3-day weekend in the Klamath Basin, with a brief excursion over to Summer Lake. Highlights were 10,000+ Tundra Swans, immense numbers of Snow Geese, many eagles, other raptors. Rarest Bird: Bewick's Swan. Was in a concentration of Tundra Swans this morning (March 1) that I estimated at 4400 birds. I cannot remember the name of the location, but it is an embayment with several dikes on the southwest side of Upper Klamath Lake, visible from Hwy 140 between Doak Mtn. and the Running Y Ranch. Most out-of-habitat bird: Immature Goshawk perched in a small dead tree on the shore of Tule Lake south of Refuge HQ. Was very accomodating - posed for lots of photos, seemed unconcerned by my presence. Early (?) several Yellow-headed Blackbirds in large flocks of Redwinged Blackbirds, on Lower Klamath NWR, both sides of stateline road. Most aberrant: leucistic Adult Bald Eagle north of Malin. Raptors: Red-tails: many, many. surprising numbers of the russet-headed dark phase - one place 6 were in the same field. 2 dark phase that were all black except for dark red tails and some pale in wing linings. Quite a fvew locals visiting nests. Rough-legs: quite a few, probably 70% pale phase. Ferrugineous Hawk: 3, all pale. Red-shouldered Hawk. 4. One Ad. and one imm. at the outlet of Lower Klamath NWR tour route, one imm just north of Tule Lake NWR HQ, one Ad. in Langell Valley. Golden Eagle 6. Cooper's Hawk 1, near La Pine. Prairie Falcon 0. maybe first time I have been skunked in that area? Waterfowl: Cackling Goose 3, on Lower Klamath NWR tour route - not minima. Ross's Goose quite a few, but seemed to be much lower numbers than Snows, and mostly mixed in. In previous spring trips they seemed more segregated. (Maybe most of the Ross's are not there yet?) Snow Goose: Huge flocks all over the place. Some one wrote 150,000 on the book at NWR HQ. I did not count, but can believe it. White-fronted Goose: 10,000 maybe, pretty scattered. Ducks: relatively low diversity. Did not see Barrow's goldeneyes, which usually are pretty easy, but did not spend time scoping distant birds on the lake. others: 16 Sandhill Cranes in a barnyard in Langell Valley Grebes: a few each of Western and Clark's. Northern Shrike: 3 Say's Phoebe 2, including one in a very snowy place on Klamath Marsh. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/6c8cb39e/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Mar 1 22:07:46 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 06:07:46 +0000 Subject: [obol] bird identification help In-Reply-To: <1e3439dc1d50c161a33b299f9d43f938@earthlink.net> References: <1e3439dc1d50c161a33b299f9d43f938@earthlink.net> Message-ID: Hi Matthew, The birds you saw were almost assuredly American Pipits. To my knowledge, there is nowhere in the Willamette Valley where one can expect (or even hope) to see 300 Horned Larks at one time. This is a large flock even for American Pipits, which are generally in flocks in the 80-150 range. However, just last weekend Dan Heyerly and I found a flock of 400+ American Pipits southwest of Lebanon in Linn Co. I don't know what the total wintering population of Horned Larks is for the Willamette Valley, perhaps Bob Altman, Randy Moore, or Doug Robinson can weigh in as they are the local authorities on such matters. The Horned Larks that winter in the valley are the rare "Streaked" Horned Larks (subspecies strigata) and if I'm remembering the numbers correctly, a flock of 300 would represent nearly 25% of the total population of that subspecies. Conversely, American Pipits winter by the thousands in the Willamette Valley, though they are not particularly conspicuous since they spend most of their time far out in large grassy expanses. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > From: gnorgren at earthlink.net > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 21:00:35 -0800 > To: cncschneider at msn.com > CC: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] bird identification help > > This is an enormous number for the Willamette Valley, > but the description of flight pattern is quite good > for Horned Lark. Lars Norgren > On Mar 1, 2009, at 8:50 PM, Carl & Christine Schneiders wrote: > > > On a bike ride today I saw a flock of 300 (approx.) birds. They were > > in an old cauliflower field, it was mud, grass, and old cauliflower > > stalks. As I biked by I spooked them out of the field. (There was > > also a flock of killdeer in the field.) They were about sparrow size, > > had average to long tails, were dark (I didn't get many details > > because they were back lit against the sky), and their wings were > > about average length and somewhat pointed. Their flight pattern and > > flock habit was very different from any other bird I am familiar > > with. They had a undulating flight pattern but not as distinct as a > > goldfinch. They stayed together as a flock while flying but with some > > birds drifting out to the edge and then back to the center. The > > whole flock circled the field a couple of times and then landed > > further away in the same field but I couldn't see them. Their call > > was distinct it was a high pitched, slightly buzzy whistled two note > > call. They weren't blackbirds, starlings, shorebirds, > > or meadowlarks. I don't think they were sparrow because they didn't > > have a sparrow type call. > > > > I thought they might be Horned Larks, so when I got home listened to > > their call and it sounded similar. I tried to find pictures of Horned > > Lark flock but couldn't find any. Are these bird identifiable to a > > species? I'd appreciate any help. > > > > Thanks in advance, > > Matthew Schneider > > Silverton, OR > > cncschneider at msn.com_______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Life without walls. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090302/ccd668cc/attachment.html From oschmidt at att.net Sun Mar 1 22:26:23 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 22:26:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tuesday March 3rd is Birders Night Message-ID: ....... Portland Audubon House, 5151 NW Cornell Road, Portland ....... 7:30 pm. Bird Quiz, potpourri, bring your bird videos and/or photos. All are welcome. Jeff Gilligan will show photos from Chili, his voyage through the Beagle Channel and Magellan Straits to the Falklands, and Argentina ......... oschmidt at att.net Sunday, March 1, 2009 From campbell at peak.org Sun Mar 1 22:40:29 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 22:40:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Peoria birds Message-ID: I was working in the yard this afternoon, in the rain, when my day was suddenly lightened by the year's first appearance of TREE SWALLOWs. The occasion has me waxing poetic--or poetastic, as the case may be. Ahem... Loveliest of birds, the swallow flies Bringing spring to northern skies. For his mate he darts above, Composing arabesques of love. Now, of my four score years and ten, Forty will not come again, And take from ninety springs two score, It only leaves me fifty more. Fifty springs leave little time To see the swallow in this clime, So come fall south I'll fly To find the tropic swallow's sky. Or something like that. Apologies to A.E. Housman (and anyone of actual poetic sensibility). It's been a quiet week here in Peoria. Last Sunday I added a GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL to my yard list, which would be unremarkable except that I got the opportunity to study the bird as it harassed an adult BALD EAGLE. Instead of simply flying past and leaving me wondering, as gulls usually do, it stayed in sight over the river while it made several attacks on the eagle, giving me time to pick out all the field marks of a third year G-w Gull, and impressing me with its speed and maneuverability. The eagle looked slow and sluggish in comparison. Earlier that morning, we had other eagle action when two sub-adult Bald Eagles tried to snatch a COMMON MERGANSER out of the middle of the river. They took turns swooping at it, forcing it to dive at least four times, and one eagle even plunged into the river in an attempt to fish it out. The merganser was a straggler from a group of males, who turned and swam heroically back upstream to their distressed companion. Once it was impossible for the eagles to pick out a single victim, they flew off to the arcade, or wherever eagle punks go. Bulliest of birds, the eagle tries to steal the lunch of other guys... As far as I know the PYRRHULOXIA was last seen Friday the 20th. I haven't been looking very hard, lately, but other birders are still straggling though town. If you are one of them and you see the bird, could you please post your find? Remember, at the moment you see it you will be the very latest person--and maybe the last--to have ever seen a Pyrrhuloxia in Oregon. Randy Peoria -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/4490340d/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Sun Mar 1 23:16:50 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:16:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] [Fwd: Birds in Gearhart today; Rufous x Anna's Hummer no confirmed sighting] Message-ID: <49AB87E2.50204@pdx.edu> -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Birds in Gearhart today; Rufous x Anna's Hummer no confirmed sighting Date: Mon, 02 Mar 2009 07:06:51 GMT From: baileydc at pdx.edu To: baileydc at pdx.edu This report was mailed for David C. Bailey by http://birdnotes.net Date: March 1, 2009 Location: Gearhart, Clatsop County, Oregon I may have seen the hybrid Rufous x Anna's Hummingbird this morning, but after fleeting looks at the suspect, later that day I got diagnostic looks of Male Rufous and Anna's Humingbirds and a female Anna's Mike Patterson came by for an hour or more and saw some of the birds. The suspected hybrid did not show well, but perhaps that was do the incessant peregrinations she made around the yard along with various loud vocalizations. I had not noticed previously a male Anna's at the feeder for sure until today. I got great looks at it once Mike had left. We will see what tomorrow will bring. Later in the day my family took a brisk walk down to little Beach. I encounterd at least one additional male Rufous Hummingbird in town. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 10 Mallard 80 Northern Pintail 10 Bufflehead 10 Bald Eagle 4 Northern Harrier 1 Killdeer 1 Mew Gull 1 California Gull 1 Thayer's Gull 1 Western Gull 1 Glaucous-winged Gull 1 Glaucous-winged x Western Gull 5 Anna's Hummingbird 2 [1] Rufous Hummingbird 2 [2] Northern Flicker 2 Steller's Jay 6 American Crow 10 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 Brown Creeper 1 Bewick's Wren 1 House Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 American Robin 3 Varied Thrush 6 European Starling 1 Spotted Towhee 2 Fox Sparrow 4 Song Sparrow 2 Golden-crowned Sparrow 6 Dark-eyed Junco 10 Red Crossbill 1 Pine Siskin 6 Footnotes: [1] Anna's Hummingbird: male and female [2] Rufous Hummingbird:both males Total number of species seen: 35 From dennis at dennisgalloway.com Mon Mar 2 10:39:20 2009 From: dennis at dennisgalloway.com (Dennis Galloway) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 10:39:20 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] ? Message-ID: <49821.24.20.202.78.1236019160.squirrel@webmail6.pair.com> Is there some way I can respond to a specific post, i.e., respond to a particular person? Thanks! From rie at pcfubar.net Mon Mar 2 10:42:59 2009 From: rie at pcfubar.net (Roger) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 10:42:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] ? In-Reply-To: <49821.24.20.202.78.1236019160.squirrel@webmail6.pair.com> References: <49821.24.20.202.78.1236019160.squirrel@webmail6.pair.com> Message-ID: Try 'reply-all', then remove the OBOL address On Mar 2, 2009, at 10:39 AM, "Dennis Galloway" wrote: > Is there some way I can respond to a specific post, i.e., respond > to a > particular person? > > Thanks! > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From roygerig at hotmail.com Mon Mar 2 10:44:34 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 10:44:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ankeny NWR and Minto Park Sunday 3/1/09 Message-ID: With my monthly environmental middle school bird research group, we saw a pair of PILEATED WOODPLECKERS working some very large trees beside the Willamette River at Minto-Brown park in Salem yesterday morning (3/1/09). That may be the first time I have ever seen a pair of PIWOs there. In my experience the species is very uncommon at Minto-Brown Park. Later yesterday I saw approximately 200 swallows, a roughly equal mix of TREE and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS at Ankeny NWR south of Salem. Those were the first swallows I've seen except for a few singles here and there during the past couple of weeks. Later, also at Ankeny, Glen Lindemann and I also saw 800 MEW GULLS. Usually Mew Gulls can be found across the Willamette River from there on the west side. I've seldom if ever seen them at Ankeny NWR. Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_70faster_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090302/ad05ab5e/attachment.html From monroemolly at hotmail.com Mon Mar 2 11:48:06 2009 From: monroemolly at hotmail.com (Molly Monroe) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 11:48:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] FW: Ankeny Tree Planting In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Please pass this on to anyone interested in tree planting this coming Friday. Also, please RSVP to John at the number below so we have an idea of how many are able to help out. Thanks very much, Molly~ "Volunteers Needed for Habitat Restoration Project at Ankeny NWR" Help restore native riparian forests at Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge by joining refuge staff and volunteers on Friday, March 6th, from 9am until 12pm. The project will involve planting approximately 1,500 native cottonwood, ash, and red alder bare-root stock trees in an old field area near the Rail Trail hiking area. Holes will be pre-dug. Participants will meet in the Rail Trail parking lot off Wintel Road. Dress appropriate for weather, which may include rain wear, gloves, and boots. Bring a shovel if possible. Sporadic examples of existing riparian forest habitat may currently be seen along Rail Trail. The plants that live in this area are accustomed to flooding in the winter and low water levels in the summer. They have adapted to be able to live in the challenging environment of the riparian forest. The dense understory of this habitat provides refuge for many different types of wildlife. Wood ducks, barred owls, otters, and red-legged frogs prefer riparian habitats such as this. Long-term refuge management goals include habitat restoration and improvement for the continued survival of wildlife populations in the Willamette Valley. Ankeny NWR is located off Interstate 5 at exit 243, Ankeny Hill Road, which is about 10 miles north of Albany and 12 miles south of Salem. Driving west over I-5 on Ankeny Hill Rd, stay straight (south) at next intersection and drive Wintel Rd about 1 mile to the Rail Trail parking area on the left. For more information, contact Sallie Gentry at 541-757-7236 or John Gahr at 503-623-2749. Sallie Gentry Visitor Services Manager Willamette Valley NWR Complex 26208 Finley Refuge Road Corvallis, OR 97333 Office: 541-757-7236 Fax: 541-757-4450 "Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best." William Blake _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Life without walls. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090302/e9c1e9fc/attachment.html From mklittletree at comcast.net Mon Mar 2 11:53:25 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (michel Kleinbaum) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 11:53:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ankeny NWR and Minto Park Sunday 3/1/09 References: Message-ID: <1E89EE99F79F4258B1129ACC689CD27A@michel1927> Hello, Later, also at Ankeny, Glen Lindemann and I also saw 800 MEW GULLS. Usually Mew Gulls can be found across the Willamette River from there on the west side. I've seldom if ever seen them at Ankeny NWR. I have seen Mew Gulls yearly at Ankeny in the winter months - mostly February and March. Usually just west of the RR tracks on Wintel Rd.; sometimes in large numbers (3-400). Rarely elsewhere though except at nearby Pintail Marsh. Michel Kleinbaum S. Salem ----- Original Message ----- From: Roy Gerig To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 10:44 AM Subject: [obol] Ankeny NWR and Minto Park Sunday 3/1/09 With my monthly environmental middle school bird research group, we saw a pair of PILEATED WOODPLECKERS working some very large trees beside the Willamette River at Minto-Brown park in Salem yesterday morning (3/1/09). That may be the first time I have ever seen a pair of PIWOs there. In my experience the species is very uncommon at Minto-Brown Park. Later yesterday I saw approximately 200 swallows, a roughly equal mix of TREE and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS at Ankeny NWR south of Salem. Those were the first swallows I've seen except for a few singles here and there during the past couple of weeks. Later, also at Ankeny, Glen Lindemann and I also saw 800 MEW GULLS. Usually Mew Gulls can be found across the Willamette River from there on the west side. I've seldom if ever seen them at Ankeny NWR. Roy Gerig, Salem OR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. Find out more. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090302/415a1abb/attachment.html From tsnetsinger at centurytel.net Mon Mar 2 11:55:17 2009 From: tsnetsinger at centurytel.net (tsnetsinger at centurytel.net) Date: Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:55:17 -0500 Subject: [obol] Green-backed Selasphorus Hummingbird? Message-ID: <20090302145517.8n0x4orzq0vf4soo@webmail2.centurytel.net> OBOL, My experience with Allen's Hummingbirds amounts to watching some flight displays on the southern Oregon coast a couple of years ago and a similar experience in southern California back in the mid 1990s. On Saturday, as I was washing dishes and Christina chatted on the phone with a friend, the first hummingbird of the year arrived at our feeder. Christina's shouts of HUMMINGBIRD! HUMMINGBIRD! HUMMINGBIRD! brought my attention to our feeder. I saw the bright coppery gorget, rufous undersides, and rufous tail and pronounced it a Rufous Hummingbird. Ten minutes later, Christina insisted that she could not seen any rufous on the back of the bird. We both studied the bird closely for several minutes and I took a bunch of what proved to be very dark photos. (When I get home tonight I will try to see if they show anything that would be helpful in IDing the bird, but in the meantime I did want to query the group. I know that there are records of green-backed Rufous Hummingbirds and I! think there is a Benton County record of an Allen's Hummingbird, but I don't have a sense of how to differentiate a green-backed Rufous from an Allen's or what the odds are for occurence of each of them in the Willamette Valley (Brownsville, Linn County). I would appreciate any insight into the relative occurrence of completely green-backed Rufous Hummingbirds and their identification. Thanks, Tom Snetsinger Brownsville, OR From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Mar 2 12:24:53 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 12:24:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] FOS Violet=G Message-ID: <22d26cb97f65b082fce315933b85539e@earthlink.net> A single Violet-green Swallow flew over the Manning Trailhead of Banks-Vernonia Linear Park this morning. The earliest V-G I've personally seen was March 6 1973. That was in Corvallis. This is also one of the few times my first swallow of the year was not over a pond, and the first time I've seen V-G before Tree Swallow. This one was headed purposefully north. Lars Norgren From celata at pacifier.com Mon Mar 2 12:41:20 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:41:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Green-backed Rufous Hummingbirds Message-ID: <49AC4470.1010906@pacifier.com> Most Rufous Hummingbirds have some green on the back. It turns out that green-back-ed-ness is not a very useful field mark... I've been banding Rufous Hummingbirds since about 1985 and have quantified the amount of green on the backs of 100's of males. I even wrote it up for _Oregon Birds_ http://home.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/humm/HUMMREPORT.html The typical male looks like this (plus or minus): http://home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/humm/RUHU200803015.jpg And extreme cases can look like this: http://home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/humm/RUHU2004040101b.JPG Does this mean you don't have an Allen's coming to your feeder? No, it doesn't. There's a specimen record from Corvallis and two in-hand ID's from the HUNDREDS of Rufous Hummingbird I've caught in Clatsop County. The only definitive way to ID an Allen's out-of range is to measure its tail feathers (or catch it displaying). If you've got a good camera and can get a decent shot of a spread tail, we can get a positive ID. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Forward into the past http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/02/20090223.html From lbviman at blackfoot.net Mon Mar 2 12:57:32 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:57:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] green-backed Selasphorus, and guide "errors" In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090302205534.817949B00BD@mail.blackfoot.net> Thought the following observation might be of interest, since field guides say females of Allen's "lack" rufous on back: http://blackfoot.net/~larkwick/hummingbirds_2.html Jim Greaves, Thompson Falls MT At 01:00 PM 3/2/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >Message: 30 >Date: Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:55:17 -0500 >From: tsnetsinger at centurytel.net >Subject: [obol] Green-backed Selasphorus Hummingbird? > >OBOL, >My experience with Allen's Hummingbirds amounts to watching some >flight displays on the southern Oregon coast a couple of years ago >and a similar experience in southern California back in the mid >1990s. On Saturday, as I was washing dishes and Christina chatted on >the phone with a friend, the first hummingbird of the year arrived >at our feeder. Christina's shouts of HUMMINGBIRD! HUMMINGBIRD! >HUMMINGBIRD! brought my attention to our feeder. I saw the bright >coppery gorget, rufous undersides, and rufous tail and pronounced it >a Rufous Hummingbird. Ten minutes later, Christina insisted that she >could not seen any rufous on the back of the bird. We both studied >the bird closely for several minutes and I took a bunch of what >proved to be very dark photos. (When I get home tonight I will try >to see if they show anything that would be helpful in IDing the >bird, but in the meantime I did want to query the group. I know that >there are records of green-backed Rufous Hummingbirds and I! > think there is a Benton County record of an Allen's Hummingbird, > but I don't have a sense of how to differentiate a green-backed > Rufous from an Allen's or what the odds are for occurence of each > of them in the Willamette Valley (Brownsville, Linn County). I > would appreciate any insight into the relative occurrence of > completely green-backed Rufous Hummingbirds and their identification. > >Thanks, >Tom Snetsinger >Brownsville, OR From ladwil at comcast.net Mon Mar 2 13:14:33 2009 From: ladwil at comcast.net (Lisa Ladd-Wilson) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 13:14:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] tufted duck Marine Drive Message-ID: Several of us were out Sunday trying to find the tufted duck among the scaup and ring-necks. We got very very cold but never found the duck, alas. Lisa Ladd-Wilson From jschultz001 at centurytel.net Mon Mar 2 13:31:17 2009 From: jschultz001 at centurytel.net (J Schultz) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 13:31:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fw: Frenchglen Camera Message-ID: <39593CF9475E4FC89BF2980ECA26DE3E@JimPC> In case everyone hasn't heard, ODOT has added the Frenchglen school district's camera to Tripcheck. Now if you go to http://www.tripcheck.com/ then click on the Se section and then click on the camera shown above the words "Roaring Springs Ranch" you can see "all the action" there. I hope I haven't repeated something already posted on OBOL. Jim Schultz -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090302/a4d77df6/attachment.html From smithdwd at hotmail.com Mon Mar 2 14:34:43 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 22:34:43 +0000 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck-Yes barely Message-ID: The Marine Dr TUDuck was seen about 12:15 west of 138th, amongst pilings with a couple scaup. Many of us searched the plentiful rafts of L & G Scaup and the few RNDucks further east. Jim Allen called me down as I was headed home; the original cyclist, Art had spotted it. Thanks to both; cool bird-shakes it 's tuft! David Smith _________________________________________________________________ Show them the way! Add maps and directions to your party invites. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/products/events.aspx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090302/2083d782/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Mar 2 14:47:56 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 14:47:56 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] green-backed Selasphorus, and guide "errors" In-Reply-To: <20090302205534.817949B00BD@mail.blackfoot.net> Message-ID: <721183.93599.qm@web45309.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> In southern Coos Co., you'll often see Rufous or Allen's referred to as Selasphorus sp. basically because they are so hard to tell apart and both breed in the vicinity. Although I know of no substantiated hybrid records, I suspect that may happen down here. I have seen all red-backed Selasphorus do the Allen's type pendulum display, and all green-backed males do the rufous type display. Basically, unless I see an all red-backed male do a definite Rufous type display or a mostly green-backed male do an Allen's type display I call them Selasphorus sp. I have been doing point counts at New River in SW Coos for 13 years and I think Allen's are probably the more common breeder, but that's my best guess. I'd say about 80% of the males I see doing Allen's type displays in the March through May breeding window are not completely green-backed, usually in the 50-75% category and sometimes with hardly any green as I mentioned. It sure would be a great project to try and net some of these New River to Bandon Selasphorus Hummers and measure who is who and how much green individuals of each species have as well as to check for hybridization. As for elsewhere in Oregon, Sibley says 5% of the Rufous can be at least partially green-backed and Mike Patterson has proof of that so its frustrating when a green-backed male Rufous/Allen's shows up at a feeder because its really tough to call unless you get photos of the tail feathers... By the way, New River is hopping with hummers usually about mid-March- the manzanita is in full bloom and they can be thick. Happy hummingbirding, Tim R Coos Bay --- On Mon, 3/2/09, Jim Greaves wrote: > From: Jim Greaves > Subject: Re: [obol] green-backed Selasphorus, and guide "errors" > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Monday, March 2, 2009, 12:57 PM > Thought the following observation might be of interest, > since field > guides say females of Allen's "lack" rufous > on back: > > http://blackfoot.net/~larkwick/hummingbirds_2.html > > Jim Greaves, Thompson Falls MT > > At 01:00 PM 3/2/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org > wrote: > >Message: 30 > >Date: Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:55:17 -0500 > >From: tsnetsinger at centurytel.net > >Subject: [obol] Green-backed Selasphorus Hummingbird? > > > >OBOL, > >My experience with Allen's Hummingbirds amounts to > watching some > >flight displays on the southern Oregon coast a couple > of years ago > >and a similar experience in southern California back in > the mid > >1990s. On Saturday, as I was washing dishes and > Christina chatted on > >the phone with a friend, the first hummingbird of the > year arrived > >at our feeder. Christina's shouts of HUMMINGBIRD! > HUMMINGBIRD! > >HUMMINGBIRD! brought my attention to our feeder. I saw > the bright > >coppery gorget, rufous undersides, and rufous tail and > pronounced it > >a Rufous Hummingbird. Ten minutes later, Christina > insisted that she > >could not seen any rufous on the back of the bird. We > both studied > >the bird closely for several minutes and I took a bunch > of what > >proved to be very dark photos. (When I get home tonight > I will try > >to see if they show anything that would be helpful in > IDing the > >bird, but in the meantime I did want to query the > group. I know that > >there are records of green-backed Rufous Hummingbirds > and I! > > think there is a Benton County record of an > Allen's Hummingbird, > > but I don't have a sense of how to differentiate a > green-backed > > Rufous from an Allen's or what the odds are for > occurence of each > > of them in the Willamette Valley (Brownsville, Linn > County). I > > would appreciate any insight into the relative > occurrence of > > completely green-backed Rufous Hummingbirds and their > identification. > > > >Thanks, > >Tom Snetsinger > >Brownsville, OR > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dpvroman at budget.net Mon Mar 2 15:23:49 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 15:23:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] JoCo R.C. Kinglet Message-ID: <5BF202A8669E4E21B165CD085045C2C2@Warbler> A RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET showed up at our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit) today (03-02-09) after going undetected here for about 2 months. Could be a migrant on the move. Kinglet migration at our place (from banding data) is late March and through April. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090302/c62fd3af/attachment.html From chasestars5 at msn.com Mon Mar 2 15:28:07 2009 From: chasestars5 at msn.com (STEPHANIE CHASE) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 23:28:07 +0000 Subject: [obol] unsubscribe In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: To Whomever this might concern, Thank you so much for all your information, your a wonderful group, however, I want to unsubscribe and I can't rmember my password, so perhaps you could just stop sending me the emails. Thank you so muchSincerely,Stephanie Chase > From: obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: obol Digest, Vol 12, Issue 2 > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 12:00:01 -0800 > > Send obol mailing list submissions to > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > obol-owner at oregonbirdwatch.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of obol digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Portland Slaty-backed Gull continues, Marine Dr. Tufted Duck > (Steve Nord) > 2. The Bandtails have arrived at last (Sheila) > 3. Northern Shrike (Kasey Church) > 4. Say's Phoebe, Oaks Bottom (Portland) (m_scatt at yahoo.com) > 5. speaking of arrival dates...... (Darrel Faxon) > 6. Harlan's Redtailed or Rough-legged Hawk (Jeff Harding) > 7. Re: Alton Baker Say's Phoebes (Oropendolas at aol.com) > 8. dowitchers (Philip Van Bruggen) > 9. dowitchers #2 (Philip Van Bruggen) > 10. Re: Harlan's Redtailed or Rough-legged Hawk (Mike Patterson) > 11. Sauvies island - Golden eagle (Steve Halpern) > 12. Pics from Ankeny (R. Adney Jr.) > 13. Re: Harlan's Redtailed or Rough-legged Hawk (R. Adney Jr.) > 14. Re: Pics from Ankeny (Hendrik Herlyn) > 15. Re: Pics from Ankeny (R. Adney Jr.) > 16. Eugene Eurasian (lammergeiereyes at aol.com) > 17. RFI, scope question, anyone have experience with the Leica > 62mm scopes? (SJJag at comcast.net) > 18. bird identification help (Carl & Christine Schneiders) > 19. Re: bird identification help (Norgren Family) > 20. Klamath Basin (Wayne Hoffman) > 21. Re: bird identification help (David Irons) > 22. Tuesday March 3rd is Birders Night (Owen Schmidt) > 23. Peoria birds (M & R Campbell) > 24. [Fwd: Birds in Gearhart today; Rufous x Anna's Hummer no > confirmed sighting] (David C. B ailey) > 25. ? (Dennis Galloway) > 26. Re: ? (Roger) > 27. Ankeny NWR and Minto Park Sunday 3/1/09 (Roy Gerig) > 28. FW: Ankeny Tree Planting (Molly Monroe) > 29. Re: Ankeny NWR and Minto Park Sunday 3/1/09 (michel Kleinbaum) > 30. Green-backed Selasphorus Hummingbird? (tsnetsinger at centurytel.net) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 12:10:10 -0800 > From: "Steve Nord" > Subject: [obol] Portland Slaty-backed Gull continues, Marine Dr. > Tufted Duck > To: "OBOL" > Message-ID: <000501c99aa9$ba163d60$2e42b820$@net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > OBOL; > > This morning I walked the Westside of the Portland waterfront. At 10:30, > the 3rd year SLATY-BACKED GULL was seen just south of the Burnside Bridge. > The overall number of gulls seemed lower than previous weeks. Along with > the usual assortment of gulls I found 2 GLAUCOUS GULLS just south of the > Hawthorne Bridge. > > Earlier I birded along Marine Drive to look for the TUFTED DUCK. At 7:30am, > I found the male east of 158th, near the houseboat community. The flocks > were very active and soon it flew to the west of 158th. Then the TUFTED > DUCK flew to near the end of 158th. The bird was actively feeding, so I > lost sight of it many times, making it a challenge to watch even when I > "knew" where it was. > > Good Birding > Steve Nord > Hillsboro, OR > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 13:00:30 -0800 > From: "Sheila" > Subject: [obol] The Bandtails have arrived at last > To: > Message-ID: <9EF20F0084F84186A82114E96E5BBA0F at userdb934c10ae> > Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="Windows-1252"; > reply-type=original > > It's the first of March and the winter doldrums are over, the BANDTAILED > PIGEONS have arrived along with the rain. > > It's been a bad late winter for STARLINGS and HOUSE SPARROWS who find my > nest-box trap irresistable.The few HOUSE SPARROWS that have tried to choose > one of my nest boxes were scared off by a close BB pellet. > > Other wise, the "usual suspects" are still here, FOX, WHITE CROWN, GOLD > CROWN and WHITE THROATED SPARROWS. > > "My" SONG SPARROW had a rough winter,a preditor almost got him last week.He > showed up at the feeder missing his tail, hopping on one leg and he was > bloody on his right thigh. > He dissapeared for a couple of days and another SONG SPARROW took his place > at the feeder, then he showed up again, still tailess and hopping on one leg > but he was back. His left toes are black and curled up but he tries to use > it at times. > He's a tough little bird and I hope he will make it to spring. > > Other regulars here are the HOUSE FINCHES, SPOTTED TOWHEES, NORTHERN > FLICKERS, BLACK CAPPED & CHESTNUT BACKED CHICKADEES, ANNA'S > HUMMINGBIRDS,PURPLE FINCH, CEDAR WAXWINGS, ROBINS, STARLINGS, BREWERS > BLACKBIRDS, CROWS, RAVEN, WESTERN GULLS, a NORTHERN HARRIER flew low over > the feeders scaring off the birds, EURASIAN COLLARED and AFRICAN RINGED > DOVES are still here but in smaller numbers than in fall. > > A few PINE SISKINS have showed up off and on but not in large flocks, no > American goldfinches or Lesser goldfinches have been seen all winter. > > I hope the Barn swallows that built a nest over the front door but didn't > use it will return to find their nest intact and this time raise some young > in it. > > Sheila from soggy Harbor Oregon > > > "Marinoism -- The belief that everything from political to religious > indoctrination is an abject fraud, used to control the minds of this > planet's citizenry as a means of effective social control, and that the > individual must seek their own higher truths in order to rise above these > psychological bonds which society uses to enslave them." > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 14:29:52 -0800 (PST) > From: Kasey Church > Subject: [obol] Northern Shrike > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Message-ID: <495570.41926.qm at web111108.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Went out this morn and saw the beautiful Tufted Duck around 10am on Marine Dr. Then headed down to Smith and Bybee where I saw the Northern Shrike that apparently has been wintering there. I was lucky enough to see it a couple weeks ago during the GBBC, but today it sat very still and pretty and I was able to watch it for a long time along with a skulking coyote that was rummaging around in the Canary grass nearby. A good day. > > > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/e0c5affa/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 15:01:37 -0800 (PST) > From: "m_scatt at yahoo.com" > Subject: [obol] Say's Phoebe, Oaks Bottom (Portland) > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Message-ID: <672174.34605.qm at web55703.mail.re3.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > > We were on the Springwater Corridor at Oaks Bottom at around noon today when Adrian spotted a SAY'S PHOEBE on the far side of the lake. We scoped it, but it was still an unsatisfying view. We hurried around the lake and got much better views from the east trail. The phoebe was flycatching and landing in the small snags and dead vegetation in the eastern half of the lake. We last viewed it just before 12:30. > > On our way home, we briefly stopped at Westmoreland Park. Although we didn't see anything resembling the possible Lesser Black-backed Gull, we saw 2 female EURASIAN WIGEONS and a surprising 56 MEW GULLS. > > Good Birding, > > Adrian and Christopher Hinkle, > Em Scattaregia > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 16:33:34 -0800 > From: "Darrel Faxon" <5hats at peak.org> > Subject: [obol] speaking of arrival dates...... > To: "Obol" > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Does anyone out there have an average arrival date for Grasshopper Sparrow east of the Cascades? > > Darrel > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/66584efe/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 16:52:56 -0800 > From: "Jeff Harding" > Subject: [obol] Harlan's Redtailed or Rough-legged Hawk > To: > Message-ID: <9C30BC622517467C8335B764907E4214 at laptop> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Dan Heyerley, Dan Gleason and I looked at a buteo east of Crabtree, Linn > County that was not easy to pigeonhole. Bill Thackaberry and I found it last > weekend, and it was still there this afternoon. The bird shows a degree of > albinism that obscures some field marks. The albinism is expressed by a mix > of dark and milky-white feathers on the back and in the primaries. The > breast and belly are also very white, but with a few broad streaks on the > belly. The tail is very similar to a Harlan's tail in the recent Birding > article on variation in Harlan's tails by William Clark, figure 6. The tail > has a rusty terminal band, and a narrow dark subterminal band, proximal to > which is a wide area that is whitish, with darker "grizzling". The head of > this bird is very white, with a dark line through the eye and a dark smudge > on the cheek, much as illustrated in Sibley for the light adult female > Rough-legged. The bill is small, like a Rough-legged. The tarsi are > apparently bare, shown in one of my photos. Dan had a chance to see the legs > when it stretched and eliminated, and he said the legs looked bare, and > yellow. The bird would perch in the top of small trees on small twigs, as > illustrated in Sibely for Rough-legged Hawks > > > > My photos, and the location can be seen here: > > > > http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/Raptors# > > > > > Cheers, > > Jeff Harding > > > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/c866fc40/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 7 > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 20:28:34 EST > From: Oropendolas at aol.com > Subject: Re: [obol] Alton Baker Say's Phoebes > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > > At least 3 of the SAY'S PHOEBES reported yesterday by Vjera and Eddie were > still out in the old dump prairie this afternoon. > > John Sullivan > Springfield, OR > > > In a message dated 2/28/2009 12:23:58 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, > vireogirl at yahoo.com writes: > > > OBOLers, > > Eddie and I just returned from a walk at Alton Baker in Eugene. We found a > group of 4 SAY'S PHOEBES in the middle of the old dump near where we had a > group of 4 three years ago (3/26/2006). After we left them we had another > SAY'S PHOEBE near the pond which we suspect was a 5th bird. > > Today we also had a group of 12+ N FLICKERS together in the young trees at > the west end of the old dump. This seems like a big group to see at once. We > also had at least 6 W MEADOWLARKS out there, which was nice to see. They > were even trying to sing! > > Last week (2/20/2009) we walked the Meadowlark Prairie path and had a SHRIKE > near the Checkermallow access. > > All species reported to birdnotes.net. > > Good birding! > Vjera & Eddie Thompson > Eugene, OR > vireogirl at yahoo.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > **************Get a jump start on your taxes. Find a tax professional in your > neighborhood today. > (http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?query=Tax+Return+Preparation+%26+Filing&ncid=emlcntusyelp00000004) > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/873f1e94/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 8 > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 17:37:17 -0800 > From: "Philip Van Bruggen" > Subject: [obol] dowitchers > To: > Message-ID: <083FB6478BDF420B9FE91132EA9731C2 at Home> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > We saw several long-billed dowitchers at Basket Slough 2/27/09. Phil and Bonnie Van Bruggen > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/b8553834/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 9 > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 17:48:40 -0800 > From: "Philip Van Bruggen" > Subject: [obol] dowitchers #2 > To: > Message-ID: <3C104F613F07448D91F6B1D8B8E525AA at Home> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > I forgot to add for those that don't know, that Baskett Slough is off of Highway 22 west of Salem. Instead of going to the look-out spot, turn north onto Smithfield Road and then immediately east to Coville Road. There was one dowticher among the flock that looked like it might be a short-billed, but only one of us spotted it so we are not sure. > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/74371cf9/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 10 > Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 18:01:53 -0800 > From: Mike Patterson > Subject: Re: [obol] Harlan's Redtailed or Rough-legged Hawk > To: Jeff Harding , OBOL > > Message-ID: <49AB3E11.7000202 at pacifier.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Note the unfeathered tarsi... > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Forward into the past > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/02/20090223.html > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 11 > Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 18:15:07 -0800 > From: Steve Halpern > Subject: [obol] Sauvies island - Golden eagle > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Message-ID: <49AB412B.10906 at stevenrhalpern.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Feb 28 > first tree swallow of spring > > March 1 > adult golden eagle across from the east side viewing platform > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 12 > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 18:18:39 -0800 > From: "R. Adney Jr." > Subject: [obol] Pics from Ankeny > To: OBOL > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > > > Well after developing my images from 2/28 at Ankeny, I made a pleasant discovery. What I thought were Buffleheads were actually Crested Mergansers. > > There was one I am having trouble with as far as identifying. It may just be a Northern Shoveler, but I don't think so. > > Here is a link to pics from the trip. Please check out the "Who am I" bird and let me know what you all think. > > > http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=278960110/a=100504741_100504741/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=comcast2 > > Rich > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Windows Live?: Life without walls. > http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_032009 > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/4b130bac/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 13 > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 18:28:47 -0800 > From: "R. Adney Jr." > Subject: Re: [obol] Harlan's Redtailed or Rough-legged Hawk > To: OBOL > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > > > I drive through that area every week and have seen the same bird twice. I have not had a camera with me, since when I am traveling through that area I am supposed to be working. Not birding! > > I got a good look at the bird from the front and considered it to be a dark (albeit screwed up dark) Red Tail also due to the tarsi as Mike said. I will take the big lens and try to get some shots of it. > > Rich > > > From: jeffharding at centurytel.net > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 16:52:56 -0800 > Subject: [obol] Harlan's Redtailed or Rough-legged Hawk > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Dan Heyerley, Dan Gleason and I looked at a buteo east of > Crabtree, Linn County that was not easy to pigeonhole. Bill > Thackaberry and I found it last weekend, and it was still there this afternoon. > The bird shows a degree of albinism that obscures some field marks. The > albinism is expressed by a mix of dark and milky-white feathers on the back and > in the primaries. The breast and belly are also very white, but with a few > broad streaks on the belly. The tail is very similar to a Harlan?s tail > in the recent Birding article on variation in Harlan?s tails by William > Clark, figure 6. The tail has a rusty terminal band, and a narrow dark > subterminal band, proximal to which is a wide area that is whitish, with darker > ?grizzling?. The head of this bird is very white, with a dark line > through the eye and a dark smudge on the cheek, much as illustrated in Sibley > for the light adult female Rough-legged. The bill is small, like a > Rough-legged. The tarsi are apparently bare, shown in one of my photos. Dan had > a chance to see the legs when it stretched and eliminated, and he said the legs > looked bare, and yellow. The bird would perch in the top of small trees on > small twigs, as illustrated in Sibely for Rough-legged Hawks > > > > My photos, and the location can be seen here: > > > > http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/Raptors# > > > > Cheers, > > Jeff Harding > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. > http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/personalize.aspx?ocid=TXT_MSGTX_WL_HM_express_032009#colortheme > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/0b8bb5af/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 14 > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 19:01:01 -0800 (PST) > From: Hendrik Herlyn > Subject: Re: [obol] Pics from Ankeny > To: OBOL , "R. Adney Jr." > > Message-ID: <21276.56840.qm at web37001.mail.mud.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Nice pictures. Your "mystery" duck is a male Ruddy Duck molting into alternate plumage. And just for the record, the correct name of your mergansers is "Hooded", not "Crested" - although they certainly show more of a crest than a hood. > > Good birding > > Hendrik > > _________________________________ > > Hendrik G. Herlyn > > 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 > > Corvallis, OR 97333 > > USA > > E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com > > --- On Sun, 3/1/09, R. Adney Jr. wrote: > From: R. Adney Jr. > Subject: [obol] Pics from Ankeny > To: "OBOL" > Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009, 6:18 PM > > > > > #yiv1542977775 .hmmessage P > { > margin:0px;padding:0px;} > #yiv1542977775 { > font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} > > > Well after developing my images from 2/28 at Ankeny, I made a pleasant discovery.? What I thought were Buffleheads were actually Crested Mergansers.? > > There was one I am having trouble with as far as identifying.? It may just be a Northern Shoveler, but I don't think so. > > Here is a link to pics from the trip.? Please check out the "Who am I" bird and let me know what you all think. > > > http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=278960110/a=100504741_100504741/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=comcast2 > > Rich > > > > Windows Live?: Life without walls. Check it out. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/4bdcc3c0/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 15 > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 19:17:49 -0800 > From: "R. Adney Jr." > Subject: Re: [obol] Pics from Ankeny > To: OBOL > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > > DUH, I was looking at Sibley's guide, I have no clue where "Crested" came from other than the description as a "Crest lowered" and "Crest raised". Go ahead and give me a bad time about that one! > > I had considered the Ruddy Duck, but I was unsure because of the partial white cheek. > > Thanks Judy and Hendrik! > > > > > > > > > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 19:01:01 -0800 > From: hhactitis at yahoo.com > Subject: Re: [obol] Pics from Ankeny > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org; rfadney at hotmail.com > > Nice pictures. Your "mystery" duck is a male Ruddy Duck molting into alternate plumage. And just for the record, the correct name of your mergansers is "Hooded", not "Crested" - although they certainly show more of a crest than a hood. > > Good birding > > Hendrik > > _________________________________ > > Hendrik G. Herlyn > > 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 > > Corvallis, OR 97333 > > USA > > E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com > > --- On Sun, 3/1/09, R. Adney Jr. wrote: > From: R. Adney Jr. > Subject: [obol] Pics from Ankeny > To: "OBOL" > Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009, 6:18 PM > > > > > > Well after developing my images from 2/28 at Ankeny, I made a pleasant discovery. What I thought were Buffleheads were actually Crested Mergansers. > > There was one I am having trouble with as far as identifying. It may just be a Northern Shoveler, but I don't think so. > > Here is a link to pics from the trip. Please check out the "Who am I" bird and let me know what you all think. > > > http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=278960110/a=100504741_100504741/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=comcast2 > > Rich > > > > Windows Live?: Life without walls. Check it out. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _________________________________________________________________ > Windows Live? Groups: Create an online spot for your favorite groups to meet. > http://windowslive.com/online/groups?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_groups_032009 > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/3dc5a03b/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 16 > Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 22:21:16 -0500 > From: lammergeiereyes at aol.com > Subject: [obol] Eugene Eurasian > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Message-ID: <8CB68FD15563172-128C-2EBB at webmail-db05.sysops.aol.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Of minor interest to Eugene locals may be two Eurasian Wigeon (I male- 1 female) frequenting tributaries in Alton Baker Municipal park. I had them Saturday afternoon while strolling on lunch break from the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference at UO. There was also a Greater White-fronted Goose mingling with the park's abundant half-cast fowl. > > > Blake T. Matheson > Carmel, California & Portland, Oregon > -- > "Men still live who, in their youth, remember Passenger Pigeons. Trees still live who, in their youth, were shaken by a living wind. But a decade hence only the oldest oaks will remember, and at long last only the hills will know." Leopold > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/3a2aff7b/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 17 > Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 04:32:20 +0000 (UTC) > From: SJJag at comcast.net > Subject: [obol] RFI, scope question, anyone have experience with the > Leica 62mm scopes? > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Message-ID: > <2091874616.908321235968340559.JavaMail.root at sz0081a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > > > > I am thinking about a small scope, Leica's 62 looks v. good and not as expensive as the Savorski 65 (sweet little scope that it is). > > > > I am particularly interested in eye piece compatibility for eyeglass wearers. > > > > Thanks in advance, > > > > Steve Jaggers > > Milwauike, Or. > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090302/269f681b/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 18 > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 20:50:36 -0800 > From: "Carl & Christine Schneiders" > Subject: [obol] bird identification help > To: "obol" , "midvalleybirding" > > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > On a bike ride today I saw a flock of 300 (approx.) birds. They were in an old cauliflower field, it was mud, grass, and old cauliflower stalks. As I biked by I spooked them out of the field. (There was also a flock of killdeer in the field.) They were about sparrow size, had average to long tails, were dark (I didn't get many details because they were back lit against the sky), and their wings were about average length and somewhat pointed. Their flight pattern and flock habit was very different from any other bird I am familiar with. They had a undulating flight pattern but not as distinct as a goldfinch. They stayed together as a flock while flying but with some birds drifting out to the edge and then back to the center. The whole flock circled the field a couple of times and then landed further away in the same field but I couldn't see them. Their call was distinct it was a high pitched, slightly buzzy whistled two note call. They weren't blackbirds, starlings, > shorebirds, or meadowlarks. I don't think they were sparrow because they didn't have a sparrow type call. > > I thought they might be Horned Larks, so when I got home listened to their call and it sounded similar. I tried to find pictures of Horned Lark flock but couldn't find any. Are these bird identifiable to a species? I'd appreciate any help. > > Thanks in advance, > Matthew Schneider > Silverton, OR > cncschneider at msn.com > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/c9eddfcb/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 19 > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 21:00:35 -0800 > From: Norgren Family > Subject: Re: [obol] bird identification help > To: "Carl & Christine Schneiders" > Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Message-ID: <1e3439dc1d50c161a33b299f9d43f938 at earthlink.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > This is an enormous number for the Willamette Valley, > but the description of flight pattern is quite good > for Horned Lark. Lars Norgren > On Mar 1, 2009, at 8:50 PM, Carl & Christine Schneiders wrote: > > > On a bike ride today I saw a flock of 300 (approx.) birds.? They were > > in an old cauliflower field, it was mud, grass, and old cauliflower > > stalks.? As I biked by I spooked them out of the field. (There was > > also a flock of killdeer in the field.)? They were about sparrow size, > > had average to long tails, were dark (I didn't get many details > > because they were back lit against the sky), and their wings were > > about average length and somewhat pointed.? Their flight pattern and > > flock habit was very different from any?other bird I am familiar > > with.???They?had a undulating flight pattern but not as distinct as a > > goldfinch.??They stayed together as a flock while flying?but with some > > birds drifting out to the edge and then back to the center.? The > > whole?flock circled the field a couple of times and then landed > > further away in the same field?but?I couldn't see them.? Their call > > was distinct it was a high pitched,?slightly buzzy whistled two note > > call.? They weren't blackbirds, starlings, shorebirds, > > or?meadowlarks.? I don't think they?were sparrow because they didn't > > have a sparrow type call. > > ? > > I thought they might be?Horned Larks, so when I got home listened to > > their call and it sounded similar.? I tried to find pictures of Horned > > Lark flock but couldn't find any.? Are these bird identifiable to a > > species?? I'd appreciate any help. > > ? > > Thanks in advance, > > Matthew Schneider > > Silverton, OR > > cncschneider at msn.com_______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 20 > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 21:31:08 -0800 > From: "Wayne Hoffman" > Subject: [obol] Klamath Basin > To: "OBOL" > Message-ID: <00CD1C59179F43FD9ACF7387E12B5BCC at D48XBZ51> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > I just returned from a 3-day weekend in the Klamath Basin, with a brief excursion over to Summer Lake. > > Highlights were 10,000+ Tundra Swans, immense numbers of Snow Geese, many eagles, other raptors. > > Rarest Bird: Bewick's Swan. Was in a concentration of Tundra Swans this morning (March 1) that I estimated at 4400 birds. I cannot remember the name of the location, but it is an embayment with several dikes on the southwest side of Upper Klamath Lake, visible from Hwy 140 between Doak Mtn. and the Running Y Ranch. > > Most out-of-habitat bird: Immature Goshawk perched in a small dead tree on the shore of Tule Lake south of Refuge HQ. Was very accomodating - posed for lots of photos, seemed unconcerned by my presence. > > Early (?) several Yellow-headed Blackbirds in large flocks of Redwinged Blackbirds, on Lower Klamath NWR, both sides of stateline road. > > Most aberrant: leucistic Adult Bald Eagle north of Malin. > > Raptors: > > Red-tails: many, many. surprising numbers of the russet-headed dark phase - one place 6 were in the same field. 2 dark phase that were all black except for dark red tails and some pale in wing linings. Quite a fvew locals visiting nests. > > Rough-legs: quite a few, probably 70% pale phase. > > Ferrugineous Hawk: 3, all pale. > > Red-shouldered Hawk. 4. One Ad. and one imm. at the outlet of Lower Klamath NWR tour route, one imm just north of Tule Lake NWR HQ, one Ad. in Langell Valley. > > Golden Eagle 6. > > Cooper's Hawk 1, near La Pine. > > > Prairie Falcon 0. maybe first time I have been skunked in that area? > > Waterfowl: > > Cackling Goose 3, on Lower Klamath NWR tour route - not minima. > > Ross's Goose quite a few, but seemed to be much lower numbers than Snows, and mostly mixed in. In previous spring trips they seemed more segregated. (Maybe most of the Ross's are not there yet?) > > Snow Goose: Huge flocks all over the place. Some one wrote 150,000 on the book at NWR HQ. I did not count, but can believe it. > > White-fronted Goose: 10,000 maybe, pretty scattered. > > Ducks: relatively low diversity. Did not see Barrow's goldeneyes, which usually are pretty easy, but did not spend time scoping distant birds on the lake. > > others: > > 16 Sandhill Cranes in a barnyard in Langell Valley > > Grebes: a few each of Western and Clark's. > > Northern Shrike: 3 > > Say's Phoebe 2, including one in a very snowy place on Klamath Marsh. > > Wayne > > > > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/6c8cb39e/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 21 > Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 06:07:46 +0000 > From: David Irons > Subject: Re: [obol] bird identification help > To: Norgren Family , > Cc: post OBOL > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > > Hi Matthew, > > The birds you saw were almost assuredly American Pipits. To my knowledge, there is nowhere in the Willamette Valley where one can expect (or even hope) to see 300 Horned Larks at one time. This is a large flock even for American Pipits, which are generally in flocks in the 80-150 range. However, just last weekend Dan Heyerly and I found a flock of 400+ American Pipits southwest of Lebanon in Linn Co. > > I don't know what the total wintering population of Horned Larks is for the Willamette Valley, perhaps Bob Altman, Randy Moore, or Doug Robinson can weigh in as they are the local authorities on such matters. The Horned Larks that winter in the valley are the rare "Streaked" Horned Larks (subspecies strigata) and if I'm remembering the numbers correctly, a flock of 300 would represent nearly 25% of the total population of that subspecies. Conversely, American Pipits winter by the thousands in the Willamette Valley, though they are not particularly conspicuous since they spend most of their time far out in large grassy expanses. > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > > > > > From: gnorgren at earthlink.net > > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 21:00:35 -0800 > > To: cncschneider at msn.com > > CC: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Subject: Re: [obol] bird identification help > > > > This is an enormous number for the Willamette Valley, > > but the description of flight pattern is quite good > > for Horned Lark. Lars Norgren > > On Mar 1, 2009, at 8:50 PM, Carl & Christine Schneiders wrote: > > > > > On a bike ride today I saw a flock of 300 (approx.) birds. They were > > > in an old cauliflower field, it was mud, grass, and old cauliflower > > > stalks. As I biked by I spooked them out of the field. (There was > > > also a flock of killdeer in the field.) They were about sparrow size, > > > had average to long tails, were dark (I didn't get many details > > > because they were back lit against the sky), and their wings were > > > about average length and somewhat pointed. Their flight pattern and > > > flock habit was very different from any other bird I am familiar > > > with. They had a undulating flight pattern but not as distinct as a > > > goldfinch. They stayed together as a flock while flying but with some > > > birds drifting out to the edge and then back to the center. The > > > whole flock circled the field a couple of times and then landed > > > further away in the same field but I couldn't see them. Their call > > > was distinct it was a high pitched, slightly buzzy whistled two note > > > call. They weren't blackbirds, starlings, shorebirds, > > > or meadowlarks. I don't think they were sparrow because they didn't > > > have a sparrow type call. > > > > > > I thought they might be Horned Larks, so when I got home listened to > > > their call and it sounded similar. I tried to find pictures of Horned > > > Lark flock but couldn't find any. Are these bird identifiable to a > > > species? I'd appreciate any help. > > > > > > Thanks in advance, > > > Matthew Schneider > > > Silverton, OR > > > cncschneider at msn.com_______________________________________________ > > > obol mailing list > > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _________________________________________________________________ > Windows Live?: Life without walls. > http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_032009 > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090302/ccd668cc/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 22 > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 22:26:23 -0800 > From: Owen Schmidt > Subject: [obol] Tuesday March 3rd is Birders Night > To: OBOL > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes > > > ....... Portland Audubon House, 5151 NW Cornell Road, Portland ....... > 7:30 pm. Bird Quiz, potpourri, bring your bird videos and/or photos. > All are welcome. Jeff Gilligan will show photos from Chili, his > voyage through the Beagle Channel and Magellan Straits to the > Falklands, and Argentina ......... > > oschmidt at att.net > Sunday, March 1, 2009 > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 23 > Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 22:40:29 -0800 > From: "M & R Campbell" > Subject: [obol] Peoria birds > To: "obol" , "Midvalley birding" > > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > I was working in the yard this afternoon, in the rain, when my day was suddenly lightened by the year's first appearance of TREE SWALLOWs. The occasion has me waxing poetic--or poetastic, as the case may be. Ahem... > > Loveliest of birds, the swallow flies > Bringing spring to northern skies. > For his mate he darts above, > Composing arabesques of love. > > Now, of my four score years and ten, > Forty will not come again, > And take from ninety springs two score, > It only leaves me fifty more. > > Fifty springs leave little time > To see the swallow in this clime, > So come fall south I'll fly > To find the tropic swallow's sky. > > > Or something like that. Apologies to A.E. Housman (and anyone of actual poetic sensibility). > > It's been a quiet week here in Peoria. Last Sunday I added a GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL to my yard list, which would be unremarkable except that I got the opportunity to study the bird as it harassed an adult BALD EAGLE. Instead of simply flying past and leaving me wondering, as gulls usually do, it stayed in sight over the river while it made several attacks on the eagle, giving me time to pick out all the field marks of a third year G-w Gull, and impressing me with its speed and maneuverability. The eagle looked slow and sluggish in comparison. > > Earlier that morning, we had other eagle action when two sub-adult Bald Eagles tried to snatch a COMMON MERGANSER out of the middle of the river. They took turns swooping at it, forcing it to dive at least four times, and one eagle even plunged into the river in an attempt to fish it out. The merganser was a straggler from a group of males, who turned and swam heroically back upstream to their distressed companion. Once it was impossible for the eagles to pick out a single victim, they flew off to the arcade, or wherever eagle punks go. > > Bulliest of birds, the eagle tries > to steal the lunch of other guys... > > As far as I know the PYRRHULOXIA was last seen Friday the 20th. I haven't been looking very hard, lately, but other birders are still straggling though town. If you are one of them and you see the bird, could you please post your find? Remember, at the moment you see it you will be the very latest person--and maybe the last--to have ever seen a Pyrrhuloxia in Oregon. > > > Randy > > Peoria > > > > > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090301/4490340d/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 24 > Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:16:50 -0800 > From: "David C. B ailey" > Subject: [obol] [Fwd: Birds in Gearhart today; Rufous x Anna's Hummer > no confirmed sighting] > To: Mike Patterson , obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Message-ID: <49AB87E2.50204 at pdx.edu> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > > > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: Birds in Gearhart today; Rufous x Anna's Hummer no confirmed > sighting > Date: Mon, 02 Mar 2009 07:06:51 GMT > From: baileydc at pdx.edu > To: baileydc at pdx.edu > > > > This report was mailed for David C. Bailey by http://birdnotes.net > > Date: March 1, 2009 > Location: Gearhart, Clatsop County, Oregon > > > I may have seen the hybrid Rufous x Anna's Hummingbird this morning, > but after fleeting looks at the suspect, later that day I got > diagnostic looks of Male Rufous and Anna's Humingbirds and a female > Anna's Mike Patterson came by for an hour or more and saw some of the > birds. The suspected hybrid did not show well, but perhaps that was > do the incessant peregrinations she made around the yard along with > various loud vocalizations. I had not noticed previously a male > Anna's at the feeder for sure until today. I got great looks at it > once Mike had left. We will see what tomorrow will bring. > > Later in the day my family took a brisk walk down to little Beach. I > encounterd at least one additional male Rufous Hummingbird in town. > > Birds seen (in taxonomic order): > > Canada Goose 10 > Mallard 80 > Northern Pintail 10 > Bufflehead 10 > Bald Eagle 4 > Northern Harrier 1 > Killdeer 1 > Mew Gull 1 > California Gull 1 > Thayer's Gull 1 > Western Gull 1 > Glaucous-winged Gull 1 > Glaucous-winged x Western Gull 5 > Anna's Hummingbird 2 [1] > Rufous Hummingbird 2 [2] > Northern Flicker 2 > Steller's Jay 6 > American Crow 10 > Black-capped Chickadee 2 > Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2 > Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 > Brown Creeper 1 > Bewick's Wren 1 > House Wren 1 > Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 > American Robin 3 > Varied Thrush 6 > European Starling 1 > Spotted Towhee 2 > Fox Sparrow 4 > Song Sparrow 2 > Golden-crowned Sparrow 6 > Dark-eyed Junco 10 > Red Crossbill 1 > Pine Siskin 6 > > Footnotes: > > [1] Anna's Hummingbird: male and female > [2] Rufous Hummingbird:both males > > Total number of species seen: 35 > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 25 > Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 10:39:20 -0800 (PST) > From: "Dennis Galloway" > Subject: [obol] ? > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Message-ID: <49821.24.20.202.78.1236019160.squirrel at webmail6.pair.com> > Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1 > > Is there some way I can respond to a specific post, i.e., respond to a > particular person? > > Thanks! > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 26 > Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 10:42:59 -0800 > From: Roger > Subject: Re: [obol] ? > To: "dennis at dennisgalloway.com" > Cc: Obol > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed; delsp=yes > > Try 'reply-all', then remove the OBOL address > > > > On Mar 2, 2009, at 10:39 AM, "Dennis Galloway" > wrote: > > > Is there some way I can respond to a specific post, i.e., respond > > to a > > particular person? > > > > Thanks! > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 27 > Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 10:44:34 -0800 > From: Roy Gerig > Subject: [obol] Ankeny NWR and Minto Park Sunday 3/1/09 > To: > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > > With my monthly environmental middle school bird research group, we saw a pair of PILEATED WOODPLECKERS working some very large trees beside the Willamette River at Minto-Brown park in Salem yesterday morning (3/1/09). That may be the first time I have ever seen a pair of PIWOs there. In my experience the species is very uncommon at Minto-Brown Park. > > > > Later yesterday I saw approximately 200 swallows, a roughly equal mix of TREE and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS at Ankeny NWR south of Salem. Those were the first swallows I've seen except for a few singles here and there during the past couple of weeks. > > > > Later, also at Ankeny, Glen Lindemann and I also saw 800 MEW GULLS. Usually Mew Gulls can be found across the Willamette River from there on the west side. I've seldom if ever seen them at Ankeny NWR. > > > > Roy Gerig, Salem OR > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. > http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_70faster_032009 > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090302/ad05ab5e/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 28 > Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 11:48:06 -0800 > From: Molly Monroe > Subject: [obol] FW: Ankeny Tree Planting > To: , , > Natural Areas CSC , obol > > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > > Please pass this on to anyone interested in tree planting this coming Friday. Also, please RSVP to John at the number below so we have an idea of how many are able to help out. > > Thanks very much, > > Molly~ > > > > "Volunteers Needed for Habitat Restoration Project at Ankeny NWR" > > Help restore native riparian forests at Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge by > joining refuge staff and volunteers on Friday, March 6th, from 9am until > 12pm. The project will involve planting approximately 1,500 native > cottonwood, ash, and red alder bare-root stock trees in an old field area > near the Rail Trail hiking area. Holes will be pre-dug. > Participants will meet in the Rail Trail parking lot off Wintel Road. > Dress appropriate for weather, which may include rain wear, gloves, and boots. > > Bring a shovel if possible. > > Sporadic examples of existing riparian forest habitat may currently be seen > along Rail Trail. The plants that live in this area are accustomed to > flooding in the winter and low water levels in the summer. They have > adapted to be able to live in the challenging environment of the riparian > forest. The dense understory of this habitat provides refuge for many > different types of wildlife. Wood ducks, barred owls, otters, and > red-legged frogs prefer riparian habitats such as this. Long-term refuge > management goals include habitat restoration and improvement for the > continued survival of wildlife populations in the Willamette Valley. > > Ankeny NWR is located off Interstate 5 at exit 243, Ankeny Hill Road, which > is about 10 miles north of Albany and 12 miles south of Salem. Driving > west over I-5 on Ankeny Hill Rd, stay straight (south) at next intersection and drive Wintel Rd about 1 mile to the Rail Trail parking area on the left. > > For more information, contact Sallie Gentry at 541-757-7236 > > or John Gahr at 503-623-2749. > > Sallie Gentry > Visitor Services Manager > Willamette Valley NWR Complex > 26208 Finley Refuge Road > Corvallis, OR 97333 > Office: 541-757-7236 > Fax: 541-757-4450 > > "Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds > sang there except those that sang best." William Blake > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Windows Live?: Life without walls. > http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_032009 > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090302/e9c1e9fc/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 29 > Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 11:53:25 -0800 > From: "michel Kleinbaum" > Subject: Re: [obol] Ankeny NWR and Minto Park Sunday 3/1/09 > To: "Roy Gerig" , > Message-ID: <1E89EE99F79F4258B1129ACC689CD27A at michel1927> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Hello, > Later, also at Ankeny, Glen Lindemann and I also saw 800 MEW GULLS. Usually Mew Gulls can be found across the Willamette River from there on the west side. I've seldom if ever seen them at Ankeny NWR. > > > I have seen Mew Gulls yearly at Ankeny in the winter months - mostly February and March. Usually just west of the RR tracks on Wintel Rd.; sometimes in large numbers (3-400). > Rarely elsewhere though except at nearby Pintail Marsh. > Michel Kleinbaum S. Salem > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Roy Gerig > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 10:44 AM > Subject: [obol] Ankeny NWR and Minto Park Sunday 3/1/09 > > > With my monthly environmental middle school bird research group, we saw a pair of PILEATED WOODPLECKERS working some very large trees beside the Willamette River at Minto-Brown park in Salem yesterday morning (3/1/09). That may be the first time I have ever seen a pair of PIWOs there. In my experience the species is very uncommon at Minto-Brown Park. > > Later yesterday I saw approximately 200 swallows, a roughly equal mix of TREE and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS at Ankeny NWR south of Salem. Those were the first swallows I've seen except for a few singles here and there during the past couple of weeks. > > Later, also at Ankeny, Glen Lindemann and I also saw 800 MEW GULLS. Usually Mew Gulls can be found across the Willamette River from there on the west side. I've seldom if ever seen them at Ankeny NWR. > > Roy Gerig, Salem OR > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. Find out more. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090302/415a1abb/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 30 > Date: Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:55:17 -0500 > From: tsnetsinger at centurytel.net > Subject: [obol] Green-backed Selasphorus Hummingbird? > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Message-ID: <20090302145517.8n0x4orzq0vf4soo at webmail2.centurytel.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > OBOL, > My experience with Allen's Hummingbirds amounts to watching some flight displays on the southern Oregon coast a couple of years ago and a similar experience in southern California back in the mid 1990s. On Saturday, as I was washing dishes and Christina chatted on the phone with a friend, the first hummingbird of the year arrived at our feeder. Christina's shouts of HUMMINGBIRD! HUMMINGBIRD! HUMMINGBIRD! brought my attention to our feeder. I saw the bright coppery gorget, rufous undersides, and rufous tail and pronounced it a Rufous Hummingbird. Ten minutes later, Christina insisted that she could not seen any rufous on the back of the bird. We both studied the bird closely for several minutes and I took a bunch of what proved to be very dark photos. (When I get home tonight I will try to see if they show anything that would be helpful in IDing the bird, but in the meantime I did want to query the group. I know that there are records of green-backed Rufous Hummingbirds and I! > think there is a Benton County record of an Allen's Hummingbird, but I don't have a sense of how to differentiate a green-backed Rufous from an Allen's or what the odds are for occurence of each of them in the Willamette Valley (Brownsville, Linn County). I would appreciate any insight into the relative occurrence of completely green-backed Rufous Hummingbirds and their identification. > > Thanks, > Tom Snetsinger > Brownsville, OR > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > End of obol Digest, Vol 12, Issue 2 > *********************************** -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090302/d316a43b/attachment.html From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Mon Mar 2 16:02:55 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:02:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mystery Red-tailed Hawk Message-ID: <49AC73AF.1090403@gmail.com> I have just up-loaded four photos of a Red-tailed Hawk I photo'd in Del Rio, Texas last October. You will find these on my web site at http://www.kevinsmithnaturephotos.com click on "What is it? Mystery Bird" in the left column. My reason?? I have sent these photos to a number of birders across the US (some of them nationally known 'experts') and have received FOUR different answers back. So, I put it to you, my friends and fellow birders. WHICH Red-tail IS this bird and WHY?? I would like to put them in with the rest of the Diurnal Raptors I show in my web site, BUT I would like to label them correctly when I do. Have fun! Please send me your opinion and an explanation for your decision at info at kevinsmithnaturephotos.com Thanks for your help. Kevin Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090302/431e2999/attachment.vcf From willclemons at yahoo.com Mon Mar 2 16:47:42 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 16:47:42 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: GOLDEN EAGLE juvenile Message-ID: <555979.27387.qm@web55105.mail.re4.yahoo.com> In addition to our regular Monday Goose Survey, I birded the River "S" Unit at Ridgefield NWR today. I was there from about 7:30A.M. until about 2:45P.M. (~4mi W of I-5 at Exit 14 in SW Washington; http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ ). Highlights: GOLDEN EAGLE: This was a stunning juvenile GOLDEN EAGLE and it was seen briefly circling (maybe a 15-18 circles) over South Quigley Lake, before moving off to the NW. It was also seen by Clay Davis, Kathy Davis, Scott Carpenter, and Steve Nord. The sun was bright and the leading edges of its upper wings were a wonderful golden brown as was a good portion of the head and neck. Its tail was the classic two color white with a dark terminus. As an added treat an adult BALD EAGLE joined it and together they circled in the same small thermal. They remained on oppisite sides of the circle, and this allowed for excellent binocular contrast of the head and bill differences between the two species. Soon the BALD EAGLE was joined by a second adult BALD EAGLE, and together the two BALD EAGLES paired and with a small flight dance move, headed off to the North, leaving the GOLDEN EAGLE alone again. At one point it was nearly directly over my car at about 100 feet high. Beautiful Bird! Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores Complete list of 55 species seen / heard: Pied-billed Grebe American Bittern Great Blue Heron Cackling Goose Canada Goose Tundra Swan Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Ruddy Duck Bald Eagle Golden Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk American Kestrel American Coot Sandhill Crane Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Least Sandpiper Long-billed Dowitcher Mourning Dove Barn Owl Great Horned Owl Belted Kingfisher Red-breasted Sapsucker Northern Flicker Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Tree Swallow Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Marsh Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird House Finch From celata at pacifier.com Mon Mar 2 16:47:56 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:47:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Two white gulls Message-ID: <49AC7E3C.2040109@pacifier.com> There have been lots of interesting gulls at Wireless Rd over the past couple of days, but construction crews work on the plumbing out Jeffers Garden way have made the scoping a challenge. Check out these mediocre photos of two white gulls and see what you think. http://home.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/uggu/ugly_gull.html I'll be working the gull field all this week trying for better representative shots... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Forward into the past http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/02/20090223.html From rie at pcfubar.net Mon Mar 2 17:13:48 2009 From: rie at pcfubar.net (roger morris) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 17:13:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] eagle observation Message-ID: A couple of weeks ago, I saw a couple of young Bald Eagles at Finley. They were swooping down and appeared to be trying to grab something, fish? They'd come up with a small clump of grass. I would expect the bird to drop the grass and come back around. They appeared to hang onto the grass even as they came in for another attempt. The grass was in the marsh, I suppose the fish was in that area. they never did get anything before they flew off. The other thing I noticed, they seemed to always make an approach from the south. they'd come in, grab at whatever, go up and fly around and do it again. Does approaching that way minimize the glare on the water? Pics for those interested: http://www.pcfubar.net/feb16 Roger From iain.t.morris at gmail.com Mon Mar 2 17:16:12 2009 From: iain.t.morris at gmail.com (Iain Morris) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 17:16:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bend/Crook Co 03/01/09 Message-ID: <8F4A3983-7ADE-4D8F-9D01-5021D2CB1C01@gmail.com> Greetings, Some wet and stormy weather made for brisk birding in Crook County. Are we still in Central Oregon? First stop was Drake Park to warm up the eyes. We saw a solitary Bufflehead, a small group of American Wigeon and a Wood Duck pair that have been hanging out with the usual Mallards and CaGo for over a week now. The Wood Duck pair is unusually friendly and are pretending to be Mallards whenever someone walks by who might offer up some breadcrumbs. A Kingfisher buzzed the pond as we left. At the Bend Sewage ponds, we saw several Townsend Solitaire perched on the junipers by the road. At the first pond were many Killdeer, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, and Green Winged Teal. The next stop was Houston Lakes above Prineville. A spotting scope is recommended for this location. Two pairs of Hooded Mergansers were seen, along with a big pack of male Common Merganser. It seemed to be an unusually large group. A small group of Trumpeter Swan were also napping in the shallows. Several Rough-Legged Hawk were seen in the adjacent fields. Cheers, Iain and Desiree, Bend From pamelaj at spiritone.com Mon Mar 2 19:26:43 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 19:26:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] eagle observation References: Message-ID: <2C3452F1596F48799361D0D5625B1116@yourw5st28y9a3> I'd suggest that the eagle flew in a certain direction because the wind was favorable if it was breezy, or else the light was good, as you have already considered. As for what it was doing, fishing looks very likely, and as for why it had grass, or something like it, on its feet, my suggestion is that it wasn't enough of a hindrance to fishing that the bird needed to remove it. Wet or rotting grass would cling to the toes and call for some time spent perched to remove it. I've seen a Bald Eagle trailing a mass of wet vegetation as it flew away from a wetland, so that's not too peculiar. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: "roger morris" To: "Obol" Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 5:13 PM Subject: [obol] eagle observation A couple of weeks ago, I saw a couple of young Bald Eagles at Finley. They were swooping down and appeared to be trying to grab something, fish? They'd come up with a small clump of grass. I would expect the bird to drop the grass and come back around. They appeared to hang onto the grass even as they came in for another attempt. The grass was in the marsh, I suppose the fish was in that area. they never did get anything before they flew off. The other thing I noticed, they seemed to always make an approach from the south. they'd come in, grab at whatever, go up and fly around and do it again. Does approaching that way minimize the glare on the water? Pics for those interested: http://www.pcfubar.net/feb16 Roger _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From washingtonbirder at hotmail.com Mon Mar 2 19:47:36 2009 From: washingtonbirder at hotmail.com (washingtonbirder.Knittle) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 19:47:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] WA Birder 2008 List/Big Day Reports Message-ID: 2008 List and Big Day Reports are available on the Washington Birder website. You will find them at: http://www.wabirder.com/online.html Ken Knittle Vancouver WA 98665 mailto:washingtonbirder at hotmail.com Washington Birder online http://www.wabirder.com/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090302/5bc0da62/attachment.html From jbw at oregoncoast.com Mon Mar 2 22:18:24 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara & John Woodhouse) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 22:18:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] eagle observation In-Reply-To: <2C3452F1596F48799361D0D5625B1116@yourw5st28y9a3> References: <2C3452F1596F48799361D0D5625B1116@yourw5st28y9a3> Message-ID: We have seen Eagles use the grass in their nests to line it. Barbara Woodhouse. From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Mon Mar 2 22:42:47 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 22:42:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Audubon Birding Weekend report Message-ID: <00c901c99bcc$1ec461b0$0dc963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: 21 good folks joined Carol Karlen & me for an Audubon Birding Weekend trip to Curry County, Feb. 28 - Mar 1. Saturday we escaped rain until the end of the afternoon. Sunday the rain began ~ 8-9 AM and intensified. We headed homeward ~ 10 AM. Highlights, south to north Winchuck River: Dippers, Turkey Vultures, a few Violet-green Swallows, Bald Eagle McVay park on Oceanview Dr. : Black Oystercatcher, Surfbird, Red-throated Loon, Hermit Thrush, Cedar Waxwings, E. Collared-doves Benham Ln & Hwy 101, Harbor: Red-shouldered Hawk Mouth of Chetco R.: Black-legged Kittiwakes, Spotted Sandpiper, Anna's Hummingbird Harris Beach St. Pk.: Northern Harrier over offshore rock Lone Ranch wayside: 3 Brown Pelicans, Peregrine Falcon, Wrentit, 60 Yellow-rumped Warblers going north, Black Oystercatcher, Harlequin Duck, Fox Sparrow Pistol River: Black Phoebes, Wild Turkeys, Cackling Geese Gold Beach marina: Sanderlings, Black Turnstone, Horned Grebe, Western Grebe, Coot Old mill site, 5 mi up Rogue River: Western Meadowlark, Great Egret, 50 Violet-green Swallows North jetty road: NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, in the rain, at blue house across from Jot's motel Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Glaucous Gull Bandon: Emperor Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose Empire: Snowy Egret, Brant, Pigeon Guillemot Yachats: Heermann's Gull - immature Newport: Common Loons, Brant, Harlequin Duck 'Twas a fine weekend, Paul T. Sullivan Audubon Birding Weekends (503) 646-7889 http://www.audubonportland.org/trips-classes-camps/adult/weekends From baileydc at pdx.edu Mon Mar 2 23:48:23 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:48:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Seaside & Clatsop Beaches update Message-ID: <49ACE0C7.2010302@pdx.edu> 2 March 2009 Clatsop County A bright white GLAUCOUS GULL was at the Necanicum Estuary today. Two more GLAUCOUS GULLSwere north on the beach, one a second-winter bird eating dead Sea Lion. Three LAPLAND LONGSPURS were on the beach and foredune north of Sunset Beach access to the first Camp Rilea pole. 500 SANDERLINGS and 150 DUNLIN were on the beach between Gearhart and N. end of Rilea. A large immature PEREGRINE FALCON was on the beach as well. No hybrid hummingbird at my Gearhart feeder today, but displaying male ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, female ANNA'S, and male RUFOUS. David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From woodenapple at juno.com Tue Mar 3 00:08:07 2009 From: woodenapple at juno.com (woodenapple at juno.com) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 08:08:07 GMT Subject: [obol] Obol: Klamath Basin trip list Message-ID: <20090303.000807.9998.0@webmail15.vgs.untd.com> Greetings, Obolists! My wife and I returned this afternoon (Mon.) from our annual 3+ day winter trip to the Klamath Basin. We birded from Klamath Forest Marsh on the north to Tule Lake NWR in the south with many points in between. Details on any sighting upon request. Grebe, Pied-billed Horned (2 on Lake Ewauna) Western Clark's Pelican, Am. White D-C Cormorant Great Blue Black-crowned Night-Heron Goose, Gr. White-fronted Snow Ross's (seen in mostly pure flocks; also two "blue" Ross's Canada Tundra Swan Mallard Cinnamon Teal N. Pintail Green-winged Teal N. Shoveler Gadwall Eurasian Wigeon Am. Wigeon Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Common Goldeneye Barrow's Goldeneye Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Ruddy Duck Bald Eagle N. Harrier Red-Shouldered Hawk (1 imm., Miller Island, just east of HQ complex) Red-tailed Hawk (including one with a color I've never seen before, a beautiful coppery-orange) Rough-legged Hawk Golden Eagle (one of which is the winner of the WOW! award for the trip. We were on the Tule Lake auto route headed north with water to the right and a strong wind coming from behind and slightly to the right of us. Off in the distance ahead, perhaps 100m, a large buteo was perched on some low object and then took flight in our direction in a straight line, right at the water's edge. When we got the binos on it, we saw it was an adult Golden Eagle. It got larger and LARGER and finally passed not more than 5m from us! What was even more remarkable was that other than flapping a couple of times to get airborne, it had covered the whole distance into the wind without a single wingbeat. It had engaged in a manner of dynamic soaring by setting its body at an angle to the wind and by utilizing a bit of updraft as the wind hit the edge of the dike. A slight twitch as it passed gave it perhaps an additional meter of clearance from our car. This bit of airmanship would have put even Captain Sullenberger to shame!) Am. Kestrel Prairie Falcon (4, all south of Ft. Klamath town) Ring-necked Pheasant Cal. Quail Am. Coot Sandhill Crane Killdeer Ring-billed Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Eur. Collared Dove (on Nicholson Rd., w. of Ft. Klamath town) Great Horny Owls (including two pairs copulating) Short-eared Owl (L. Klamath NWR, mid afternoon, practically threw itself at us) Belted Kingfisher Downy Woodpecker N. Flicker Say's Phoebe (several individuals) Shrike sp. (at Hagelstein Park; quick view not definitive for species) Steller's Jay W. Scrub Jay Bl.-billed Magpie Common Raven Violet-green Swallow (ca. 50 at Lower Klamath NWR) (Tree Swallow - likely but not quite definitive, with above) Mtn. Chickadee Titmouse (presumed Juniper, Moore Park and Link River) Bushtit White-breasted Nuthatch Pygmy Nuthatch Brown Creeper (several birds, Moore Park) Bewick's Wren Marsh Wren (call only) Golden-cr. Kinglet Ruby-cr. Kinglet W. Bluebird Mtn. Bluebird Townsend's Solitaire Am. Robin N. Mockingbird (Link River trail) E. Starling Spotted Towhee Cal. Towhee (ca. 1 mile s. of Tule Lake HQ) Song Sparrow Wh.-crowned Sparrow Golden-cr. Sparrow Dk.-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird W. Meadowlark Yellow-headed Blackbird (ca. 30 in a mixed flock, L. Klamath NWR) Brewer's Blackbird House Finch House Sparrow Rudi ____________________________________________________________ Sleep with security. Protect your family with a home security system today. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTLyNM7u66iwxi20fyNIsmhBzf9zfZROJbrqv931je8nlX2DFlOXCo/ From llsdirons at msn.com Tue Mar 3 00:21:42 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 08:21:42 +0000 Subject: [obol] "Take a Stand for Land" in honor of Al Miller and Mike Uthoff Message-ID: Greetings All, Today's post to the BirdFellow.com online journal is another offering from former Oregonian David Fix, who now lives in Bayside, Humboldt County, California. His piece, "Take a Stand for Land" is timely in the sense that it comes at a time when Oregon has recently lost two champions of urban habitat preservation. In the past three weeks, both Al Miller and Mike Uthoff have passed from our midst. Al and Mike were both heavily involved in the Portland Audubon Society (now the Audubon Society of Portland) for large portions of their adult lives. Their collective efforts, along with those of the countless volunteers and new members their charismatic leadership attracted, continue to shape the culture of this local chapter. I called David today and told him that his piece was going to be posted and realized as we talked that I had neglected to inform him of the losses of this two wonderful gentleman. David knew both of them well from his years in Portland. Mike and Al would have been proud of David's efforts on behalf of a small local wetland. Coincidentally, Mike spent time in Humboldt Co. He attended Humboldt State Univ. on a football scholarship before eventually completing Bachelor's and Master's degree programs at Portland State University. My favorite memories of Mike involve a van trip the he and I lead to eastern Oregon in late September 1980. I had proposed that we do a trip to Hart Mountain and the Warner Mountains to see if we could find evidence of migrant raptors using those ridgelines. Mike loved the high desert and enthusiastically volunteered to co-lead and help coordinate the trip. While I knew birds, Mike ran circles around me and most anyone else you might encounter when it came to knowledge of geology, botany, and the natural history of the high desert. I certainly learned more than I taught on that trip. I was 20 when we left Portland and had my 21st birthday during the trip. My mom signed up for the trip and unbeknownst to me she packed away a single Moosehead Ale for me to drink on my birthday. On the night of my birthday she pulled it out and gave it to me. I ended up drinking that beer as I sat alone on the lawn outside the Christmas Valley motel enjoying a galaxy of stars on an absolutely clear night. We covered lots of ground on that tour, visiting Hart Mountain, the Warner Valley, Abert Lake, Summer Lake, Christmas Valley, Fort Rock, and a whole bunch of other places I can't remember. We found a Stilt Sandpiper and a Sabine's Gull at Summer Lake. To learn more about Al Miller and Mike Uthoff, visit the Audubon Society of Portland's website at: www.audubonportland.org. Dave Irons BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Contacts: Organize your contact list. http://windowslive.com/connect/post/marcusatmicrosoft.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!503D1D86EBB2B53C!2285.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_UGC_Contacts_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090303/5bc73d23/attachment.html From d.rhein at comcast.net Tue Mar 3 05:44:53 2009 From: d.rhein at comcast.net (Darin) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 05:44:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Odd duck at Summer Lake Park Message-ID: <8F8D62CF5D174BD9B9EBE56219298635@daingtanfxkwk9> I went to Summer Lake Park in Tigard on Saturday with some friends for a little bird watching and photography. While there, I noticed this duck hanging out with a small group of Mallards. Anyone know what it is? I haven't had any luck looking it up in feild guides. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/cougar101/Bird/UnknownDuck21.jpg Darin in Newberg -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090303/a0d8d675/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Mar 3 06:42:39 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 06:42:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Odd duck at Summer Lake Park In-Reply-To: <8F8D62CF5D174BD9B9EBE56219298635@daingtanfxkwk9> References: <8F8D62CF5D174BD9B9EBE56219298635@daingtanfxkwk9> Message-ID: This is a mongrel Mallard, feral at best. The white throat may come from some Pekin ancestry. There is an all dark variety called Black Cayuga. A flock of nearly twenty, nearly identical looking birds was at Fernhill Lake in Forest Grove. It has shrunk greatly over the winter. I'd like to think the missing members provided resident eagles with some extra calories during the colder season. At the moment Fernhill Lake has a white Greylag(Anser anser) and a natural plumaged one, plus a white Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides). They are all capable of flight, leaving the immediate neighborhood regularly. A greylag mated with a Canada Goose last spring and for many months their potentially ambiguous off- spring were much in evidence. While at Fernhill on the Sunday of the GBBC a novice birder next to me spent 15 minutes poring over Sibley before asking my advice on a duck nearly identical to the one in this posting. I regret not intruding a little earlier so he could have had more time to enjoy the wild ducks. I had not previously thought of this potential hazard posed by dumped ducks. Lars Norgren On Mar 3, 2009, at 5:44 AM, Darin wrote: > > ?I went to Summer Lake Park in Tigard on Saturday with some friends > for a little bird watching and photography. While there, I noticed > this duck hanging out with a small group of Mallards. Anyone know what > it is? I haven't had any luck looking it up in feild guides. > ? > http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/cougar101/Bird/UnknownDuck21.jpg > ? > Darin in Newberg_______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From mklittletree at comcast.net Tue Mar 3 09:40:49 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (michel Kleinbaum) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 09:40:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Turkeys at Ankeny Message-ID: I have never seen a Turkey at Ankeny so I was surprised to see 14 of them loafing right in front of the Rail Trail parking area, oblivious of people and cars, the toms showing off their finery. Have they been introduced in the refuge? While there, I was chatting with a Law Enforcement Officer who informed me that the Egret Marsh boardwalk, after reopening last week was closed again, due to a second case of arson. Michel Kleinbaum S. Salem From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Mar 3 10:45:46 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 10:45:46 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coastal Lane Ross's Goose- December? Message-ID: <392890.2617.qm@web45315.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> There was one reported near Florence on December 19, 2008- anyone else out in OBOL land see it after that date? Thanks! Tim Rodenkirk Coos Bay From rneyer at gmail.com Tue Mar 3 11:55:49 2009 From: rneyer at gmail.com (Rob Neyer) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 11:55:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck still in its assigned spot (Portland) Message-ID: At 1130 today, the Tufted Duck was spotted in the Columbia River, close to shore and roughly 100 yards west of 138th Ave. Of course the tuft is the most obvious field mark, but the pure white sides are perhaps more striking. And from the way this bird was chasing around female Scaup, it has no idea it's running with the wrong crowd. -rob -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090303/75ee011c/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Tue Mar 3 12:09:50 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 12:09:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Odd duck at Summer Lake Park In-Reply-To: <8F8D62CF5D174BD9B9EBE56219298635@daingtanfxkwk9> References: <8F8D62CF5D174BD9B9EBE56219298635@daingtanfxkwk9> Message-ID: <3B962B2B-F0A0-4413-BE9B-EC5AB4896EF6@oregonfast.net> I've always called them a "Whoops" duck. On Mar 3, 2009, at 5:44 AM, Darin wrote: > I went to Summer Lake Park in Tigard on Saturday with some friends > for a little bird watching and photography. While there, I noticed > this duck hanging out with a small group of Mallards. Anyone know > what it is? I haven't had any luck looking it up in feild guides. > > http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/cougar101/Bird/ > UnknownDuck21.jpg > > Darin in Newberg > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090303/249c51e0/attachment.html From mmarvin at spiritone.com Tue Mar 3 12:36:28 2009 From: mmarvin at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 12:36:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] The spottedness of towhees Message-ID: <29F1DBA1-3110-4351-8A30-7F1A95021465@spiritone.com> OBOLi - I've been noticing some *very* spotted towhees in my yard since I got back from a two month stay elsewhere. It seems to me that before I left, in December, they weren't showing nearly as much white. I know our towhees tend to show more black, but does the white "wear off" as the feathers age? Thanks for your input. Marcia -- Marcia Marvin * mmarvin at spiritone.com * SW Portland, OR, USA From celata at pacifier.com Tue Mar 3 13:13:10 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:13:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Major change in endangered species policy (good news) Message-ID: <49AD9D66.8020505@pacifier.com> For Immediate Release March 3, 2009 March 3, 2009 MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES SUBJECT: The Endangered Species Act The Endangered Species Act (ESA), 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., reflects one of the Nation's profound commitments. Pursuant to that Act, the Federal Government has long required a process of broad interagency consultation to ensure the application of scientific and technical expertise to decisions that may affect threatened or endangered species. Under that interagency process, executive departments and agencies (agencies) contemplating an action that may affect endangered or threatened species have long been required, except in certain limited circumstances, to consult with, and in some circumstances obtain the prior written concurrence of, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and/or the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) -- the expert agencies that have the primary responsibility to ensure that the ESA is implemented in accordance with the law. On December 16, 2008, the Departments of the Interior and Commerce issued a joint regulation that modified these longstanding requirements. See 73 Fed. Reg. 76272. This new regulation expands the circumstances in which an agency may determine not to consult with, or obtain the written concurrence of, the FWS or NMFS prior to undertaking an action that may affect threatened or endangered species. But under the new regulation, agencies may continue the previous practice of consulting with, and obtaining the written concurrence of, the FWS and NMFS as a matter of discretion. I hereby request the Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce to review the regulation issued on December 16, 2008, and to determine whether to undertake new rulemaking procedures with respect to consultative and concurrence processes that will promote the purposes of the ESA. Until such review is completed, I request the heads of all agencies to exercise their discretion, under the new regulation, to follow the prior longstanding consultation and concurrence practices involving the FWS and NMFS. This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. Agencies shall carry out the provisions of this memorandum to the extent permitted by law and consistent with statutory authorities. The Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register. BARACK OBAMA # # # -- Ellen Paul Executive Director The Ornithological Council ellen.paul at verizon.net "Providing Scientific Information about Birds" www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Forward into the past http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/02/20090223.html From birder at iinet.com Tue Mar 3 14:04:50 2009 From: birder at iinet.com (Sherry Hagen) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 14:04:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck Message-ID: The Tufted Duck was still there at 1 PM today along Marine Drive west of the 138th in amongst the pilings with many scaup. He was very active the whole time I watched him (45 minutes), diving and moving amongst the others from one spot to another. If at first you don't see him, keep looking for he may be diving and hard to find but once you see him there is no doubt. Lovely bird. Sherry Hagen Vancouver, WA birder at iinet.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090303/63411cd6/attachment.html From d.rhein at comcast.net Tue Mar 3 14:41:46 2009 From: d.rhein at comcast.net (Darin) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 14:41:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Odd duck at Summer Lake Park References: <8F8D62CF5D174BD9B9EBE56219298635@daingtanfxkwk9> <54C7EF84-4D43-426A-BED1-A24549134109@gmail.com> Message-ID: To all who replied, I wondered if it was some sort of mongrel hybryd Mallard because of the darker head and neck, but I'm fairly inexperienced at birding and thought I'd check with the experts. Thanks, Darin in Newberg ----- Original Message ----- From: Shawneen Finnegan To: Darin Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 6:31 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Odd duck at Summer Lake Park Darin: This is mallard hybrid with a domestic something or another. There are some pretty strange combos at duck ponds that look like they have mallard genes. Shawneen in Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090303/a3bfc3f1/attachment.html From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Tue Mar 3 14:46:10 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:46:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Last Culver Raptor Route Message-ID: <49ADB332.9000706@gmail.com> Kei and I did our last Culver Raptor Route of the season today under cloudy and sometimes wet skies with a total of 58 birds in 26 miles as follows: Temp 44-50 degrees 29 Red-tailed Hawks 4 Kestrels 8 Northern Harriers 2 Bald Eagles- one juvi, one 2nd yr 12 Rough-legged Hawks 1 Ferruginous Hawk 1 Prairie Falcon and another just off course 1 Merlin AND ANOTHER just as we got back home and LOTS of Killdeer though I didn't keep count there were over 20 on the route. Kevin & Kei Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090303/fee55e51/attachment.vcf From birder at iinet.com Tue Mar 3 14:53:44 2009 From: birder at iinet.com (Sherry Hagen) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 14:53:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck site... strange duck Message-ID: I have a question for the duck experts. While viewing and photographing the Tufted Duck, I also took some other photos and when I got home and started looking at them noticed that the duck with the Ring-necked Duck was not what it should be. It has a ring on the neck which we all know is usually not visible but also has the back pattern of a scaup. Let me know what you think. Thanks http://home.comcast.net/~littlebirder/ducks.htm Sherry Hagen Vancouver, WA birder at iinet.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090303/e8a7141f/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Tue Mar 3 16:01:14 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:01:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] migrant arrival: female Rufous Hummingbird Clatsop Co. Message-ID: <49ADC4CA.40408@pdx.edu> 3 March 2009 Migrant Arrival Gearhart, Clatsop Co. First FEMALE RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD showed up at my feeder today. Male and female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS and male RUFOUS continue. I have not detected the hybid hummingbird since Saturday. An OSPREY was fishing the Necanicum Estuary in the river channel west of the Seaside High School this afternoon--migrant or the one that has been seen intermittently all winter is anyone's guess. David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From ellencantor at gmail.com Tue Mar 3 16:57:31 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 16:57:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Urban Turkeys Message-ID: <7058c4c60903031657j21d68832vd02b73ff1d876152@mail.gmail.com> Driving down Polk St late this afternoon (in south central Eugene), 5 WILD TURKEYS astonished me by strolling down Polk Street near 27th Ave. They'd evidently learned their pedestrian safety rules well, as they were walking on the side of the street, facing the oncoming traffic. They seemed to be enjoying their outing, chattering away and bobbing their heads as they went. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090303/57dcc146/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Tue Mar 3 18:29:12 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 18:29:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] The spottedness of towhees References: <29F1DBA1-3110-4351-8A30-7F1A95021465@spiritone.com> Message-ID: <393C5220812845B3AB2A161958858037@D48XBZ51> Hi- Our resident Spotted Towhees west of the Cascades have the fewest and/or smallest spots of the several subspecies. Occasionally in winter, and more often in spring (e.g., now into April) I see towhees coming through that are of one of the interior subspecies. They have more and larger spots, and also tend to have a different, less red shad of orange on their flanks. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marcia Marvin" To: "OBOL" Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 12:36 PM Subject: [obol] The spottedness of towhees > OBOLi - > > I've been noticing some *very* spotted towhees in my yard since I got > back from a two month stay elsewhere. It seems to me that before I > left, in December, they weren't showing nearly as much white. I know > our towhees tend to show more black, but does the white "wear off" as > the feathers age? > > Thanks for your input. > > Marcia > > > -- > Marcia Marvin * mmarvin at spiritone.com * SW Portland, OR, USA > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From whoffman at peak.org Tue Mar 3 18:35:23 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 18:35:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] "New" species of Red Crossbill. Message-ID: <174098E4241141EDA7B4DDCEFE743000@D48XBZ51> An article in the latest issue of the journal Condor describes a sedentary population of Red Crossbills from southern Idaho as a separate species. It is an interesting article (available at the link below, and has stirred up quite a bit of interest on some other listserves. The localities where it lives are in the "South Hills" south of Twin Falls and on Albion Mountain. These are not all that far from southeastern Oregon, but it apparently is quite sedentary, and not known to stray. Wayne http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.1525/cond.2009.080042 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090303/e7aa4c91/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Mar 3 19:19:04 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:19:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] "New" species of Red Crossbill. Message-ID: <49ADF328.1000800@pacifier.com> I spent the afternoon studying this paper as well as reading the comments posted on ID frontiers. First, let's be clear, this is a proposed new species. The AOU has not acted on it. It has not yet been added to the "official" North American list. There are a couple of points which are causing some consternation among the folks on ID-Frontiers. "South Hills Crossbills have distinctive flight calls that they initially learn by imitating their parents and later by alter to match the call of their mates." and "We found one instance of a female of call type 2 shifting its call to match that of its mate, a South Hills Crossbill, in successive years..." This suggests that using call to differentiate between call-types is an unreliable mechanism for judging positive assortment in individual crossbills and it muddies the waters in field studies. Only those studies that capture, measure and color-mark birds would be reliable for studying positive assortment. On the DNA front: "Using amplified fragment length polymorphisms, we have not found fixed differences among call type 2, call type 5, and the South Hills Crossbill, but have found significant levels of genetic differentiation based on inferred variation in allele frequency and F(ST) estimates. This genetic structure is consistent with recent divergence in the face of gene flow among call types of Red Crossbills." Assuming I'm reading this correctly (feel free to jump in and correct me if I'm not), the arguments justifying the larger split of all Red Crossbills are being used to justify this new split. Given that this larger split is very controversial, complicated by both the nomadic, irruptive nature of Red Crossbills and the documented plasticity of finch-bills. Using the larger split to justify this narrower split seems a bit circular... I can think of lots of reason to go look for crossbills in the South Hills of Idaho, but I wouldn't count on "new tick" being one of them any time soon. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Forward into the past http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/02/20090223.html From cncschneider at msn.com Tue Mar 3 19:20:16 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 19:20:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bird Identification Help: The answer Message-ID: Hi birders, Thank you for the ID. help. The answer is American Pipit. All the e-mails except for one suggested American Pipit. The call of an American Pipit was very similar to what I heard, and the color of the birds I saw better matched American Pipits. Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090303/9034c8e9/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Tue Mar 3 20:02:47 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 04:02:47 +0000 Subject: [obol] Tricks to seeing 9 species of owls in 3.5 days in NC WA (Longish) Message-ID: Hi all, There are no tricks or secret, you just get LUCKY!!:) For 3.5 day trip (Feb.27 to Mar 2) to Northcentral WA, I was hoping to just kick back and focus on getting photos. Well, unfortunately I didn't do too well getting quality photos but the birding was quite AWESOME. I was plesantly surprised to see these lovely and amazing birds in Okanogan and Douglas Co. this weekend and thought my report would be short. I would have never dreamed of seeing 9 species of owls in one trip and seeing almost all of the target wintering species except for Lapland Longspur! I fortuitously ran into Mike Marsh (now an official Tweets) and he joined me for part of the trip. Please give Mike a warm Tweeters welcome. I am sure he will dig up some rarities in WA. He is one of kindest, most positive birders around and was a great cataylst for inspiring me to bird again after a ten year break. He will be greatly missed in OBOLand. While I am at it, I would like to publicly acknowledge some kind birders and individuals who contributed to my success over the the years. Many thanks to all who have posted but especially to MEREDITH SPENCER for keeping us informed with the Douglas Co. 'Hot Birds'. As always I wanted to knowledge and thank ANDY STEPNIEWSKI for writing such a FINE and WONDERFUL piece on the Okanogan and Douglas Co in the WA Birder's Guide. Indeed, an outstanding contribution for all birders from around the world!!! Lastly, thanks to RUTH and PATRICK SULLIVAN for their invaluable trip and photo reports over the years. Generating trip reports takes quite a bit of time. You are a great influence to me and thanks for all your support. I have noticed a LACK of good rarities found since Patrick's death. Here is my trip report.. ****************SPECIES SEEN (Okanogan and Douglas. CO)*************** YELLOW BILLED LOON: Bird was seen on 2/27 on pull out that veers to the left once you enter Murphy Rd from Chief Joseph Dam (Bridgeport, WA). It was not associating with the Common Loons. LONG TAILED DUCK: One female along Hwy 97 around MP 139 not far from Orondo, WA Hwy 2 and Hwy 97 intersection. NORTHERN HAWK OWL: Magnificent bird was seen on 2/27 and 3/2 at B NE and 15th near Mansfield, WA. SNOWY OWL: One striking bird seen about 500 yards from H NE and 14th in Mansfield, WA. Bird seen on 2/27. GREAT GRAY OWL; Thanks to a pair of mobbing ravens, I located a distant bird near dusk on Pontiac Ridge Rd. Such elusive birds and I had to work to find one! I have yet to find one in the staked-out Sno-Park! All 4 birds birds this winter have been found elsewhere in the Highlands. GREAT HORNED OWL; (6 birds total). Three birds in Mansfield, including a GIGANTIC, dark colored bird. Three birds in Okanogan Highlands. BARRED OWL; One vocal bird at Havillah Sno-Park in early morning. LONG EARED OWL; (2 birds). One bird located near Happy Hill Rd near Conconully, WA and one at seen dusk on Davies Rd near Chesaw, WA. SHORT EARED OWL; (3 birds). I flushed three birds near the ground and at the base of some aspen trees on Mary Ann Creek Rd while getting out to urinate. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL; (3 birds). One seen at Bridgeport State Park, a fleeting shadow of one at Havillah Sno-Park, and one heard on Mary Ann Creek Rd in the Okanogan Highlands. NORTHERN PYGMY OWL: (12 birds). All were visuals and no playbacks were needed!! Three birds near Twisp and Winthop, WA along Lake Patterson Rd, Loup Loup Pass, and Hwy 20 near Twisp. Eight birds in Okanogan Highlands on Bolster, Bartroff, Davies, Havillah, Chesaw, Toroda Creek, and Hungry Hollow Rd. Remaining bird in Conconully, WA near Liar's Cove area. One pymgy on Havillah RD seen hunting at eye level. While photographing the subject, the bird took off about 30 yards and postioned himself across an abandoned school bus. Within the 3 minute period, the owl kept darting and banging itself at the bus's window back and forth. I didn't realize what was going on until I saw a mouse scurrying from inside the window! It's target was frantically moving along the window blinds. Amazing hearing or vision from the pygmy owl to detect the prey from 150-175 feet away! I got to see a pygmy owl hack a pellet at eye level on Bartoff Rd. Way cool, my first observation! GYRFALCON; (2 birds in two locations). After subsequent failures, re-found the one gray adult near Hwy 172 and G NE in Mansfield. Perhaps, the same bird discovered by Gina and Michael W. I located a new, dark morphed adult in Conconully, WA. perched on a rock along Hess Lake Rd. NORTHERN GOSHAWK; (3 birds). Crippling looks of an adult sitting on a barn on Havillah Rd, immature was seen on Nealy Rd, and another adult on Central Ferry Rd near Bridgeport, WA. PRAIRIE FALCON: One bird on Fletcher Rd near Okanogan, WA. MERLIN: (2 birds). One along Hwy 17 and Hwy 97 near Monse, WA flushing a flock of 1000 plus Bohemian Waxwings. Another one on Hwy 20 near Okanogan, WA. GOLDEN EAGLE: One magnificent adult near Riverside Cutoff. ROUGH LEGGED HAWK; (30 birds roughly). About 6 birds in Okanogan Highlands and 2 dozen birds on the Waterville Plateau. Perhaps, with more ground cover exposed the birds have resurged their presence. EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES; (36 birds in several locations). STOP REPORTING THEM!! Anyhow, they were in Malott, Omak, Okanogan and Mansfield, WA. SHARP TAILED GROUSE: (14 birds in 3 locations). A dozen birds in late afternoon on Happy Hill Rd. One bird on Mary Ann Creek Rd in Okanogan Highlands, and one at a new location along Hwy 20 at MP 179.5 (Very close to the main Hwy) RUFFED GROUSE; (3 Birds). Three forging chickens on Chesaw Rd near Mary Ann Creek intersection. GRAY PATRIDGE: (12 birds in 2 locations). A small flock of 9 birds along Mary Ann Creek Rd and 3 near Molson on Nine Mile Rd. CHUKAR: (20 birds in 2 locations). A dozen birds on Riverside Cutoff Rd and roughly 8 on Fanchers Dam Rd near Tonasket. PILEATED WOODPECKER; (2 birds). One male on Mary Ann Creek Rd and a female on Davies Rd in Okanogan Highlands. Always a treat to see! BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS; (1200 birds in 2 locations). A large flock of 100 birds plus on Hwy 97 and Hwy 17 near Monse, WA. Flushed by a Merlin. Another flock of 200 birds on Hwy 20 near Okanogan, WA. NORTHERN SHRIKE: (12 birds in several locations). Birds were strewn in Conconully, Winthrop, Bridgeport, and Mansfield locations. AMERICAN TREE SPARROW; One bird on Mary Ann Creek Rd. SNOW BUNTINGS; A flock of 50 birds near dusk on Dry Gulch Rd in Havillah, WA. GRAY CROWNED ROSY FINCHES; (100 birds at 2 locations). One flock of 25 birds near Riverside Cutoff Rd near Omak and 75 birds on Nealy Rd. PINE GROSBEAK; (85 birds at 2 location). A large flock of 75 birds on Mary Ann Creek Rd and 10 birds near town of Twisp, WA. CASSIN'S FINCH. One pair on Nealy Rd in Okanogan Highlands. WHITE WINGED CROSSBILLS: (16 birds in 2 locations). The flock of a dozen birds were feasing on cone laden conifers in the town of Conconully, WA. A group of four birds were also in Mansfield on Railroad and Wilmot Rd. COMMON REDPOLL: (125 birds). A group of 100 birds located on Chesaw Rd near Mary Ann Creek intersection. Smaller group of 40 birds on Bolster Rd. HOARY REDPOLL: Mike Marsh and I located the possible HOARY that Ned McGarry and I had last weekend. This extremely pale bird was again associating with the same sized flock of Common Redpolls. Both times, I got brief looks. Combined with what I saw last weekend with some of Mike's and Ned's observations, I am CONFIDENT that it was a male HOARY REDPOLL. This time, I got to see the stubby beak well enough and the clear rump was seen the weekend before. I have several experiences with these birds in the Yukon, BC and Alaska areas. We tried in vain to get a photo with these jittery birds. I noticed the Common Redpolls are looking much darker and streaker this time of year compared to in December; so finding a 'pale' bird to zone in is much easier. Finally, what an OUTSTANDING winter and a memorable way to end the season. A great way to end on a high note! I can't wait for late spring!!! LINK to my recent photos and hope you enjoy. Maddening to photograph avian subjects! Many are for documentation purposes. http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/okanogan_winter_&page=all All the BEST, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Tue Mar 3 20:02:56 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 04:02:56 +0000 Subject: [obol] Tricks to seeing 9 species of owls in 3.5 days in NC WA (Longish) Message-ID: Hi all, There are no tricks or secret, you just get LUCKY!!:) For 3.5 day trip (Feb.27 to Mar 2) to Northcentral WA, I was hoping to just kick back and focus on getting photos. Well, unfortunately I didn't do too well getting quality photos but the birding was quite AWESOME. I was plesantly surprised to see these lovely and amazing birds in Okanogan and Douglas Co. this weekend and thought my report would be short. I would have never dreamed of seeing 9 species of owls in one trip and seeing almost all of the target wintering species except for Lapland Longspur! I fortuitously ran into Mike Marsh (now an official Tweets) and he joined me for part of the trip. Please give Mike a warm Tweeters welcome. I am sure he will dig up some rarities in WA. He is one of kindest, most positive birders around and was a great cataylst for inspiring me to bird again after a ten year break. He will be greatly missed in OBOLand. While I am at it, I would like to publicly acknowledge some kind birders and individuals who contributed to my success over the the years. Many thanks to all who have posted but especially to MEREDITH SPENCER for keeping us informed with the Douglas Co. 'Hot Birds'. As always I wanted to knowledge and thank ANDY STEPNIEWSKI for writing such a FINE and WONDERFUL piece on the Okanogan and Douglas Co in the WA Birder's Guide. Indeed, an outstanding contribution for all birders from around the world!!! Lastly, thanks to RUTH and PATRICK SULLIVAN for their invaluable trip and photo reports over the years. Generating trip reports takes quite a bit of time. You are a great influence to me and thanks for all your support. I have noticed a LACK of good rarities found since Patrick's death. Here is my trip report.. ****************SPECIES SEEN (Okanogan and Douglas. CO)*************** YELLOW BILLED LOON: Bird was seen on 2/27 on pull out that veers to the left once you enter Murphy Rd from Chief Joseph Dam (Bridgeport, WA). It was not associating with the Common Loons. LONG TAILED DUCK: One female along Hwy 97 around MP 139 not far from Orondo, WA Hwy 2 and Hwy 97 intersection. NORTHERN HAWK OWL: Magnificent bird was seen on 2/27 and 3/2 at B NE and 15th near Mansfield, WA. SNOWY OWL: One striking bird seen about 500 yards from H NE and 14th in Mansfield, WA. Bird seen on 2/27. GREAT GRAY OWL; Thanks to a pair of mobbing ravens, I located a distant bird near dusk on Pontiac Ridge Rd. Such elusive birds and I had to work to find one! I have yet to find one in the staked-out Sno-Park! All 4 birds birds this winter have been found elsewhere in the Highlands. GREAT HORNED OWL; (6 birds total). Three birds in Mansfield, including a GIGANTIC, dark colored bird. Three birds in Okanogan Highlands. BARRED OWL; One vocal bird at Havillah Sno-Park in early morning. LONG EARED OWL; (2 birds). One bird located near Happy Hill Rd near Conconully, WA and one at seen dusk on Davies Rd near Chesaw, WA. SHORT EARED OWL; (3 birds). I flushed three birds near the ground and at the base of some aspen trees on Mary Ann Creek Rd while getting out to urinate. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL; (3 birds). One seen at Bridgeport State Park, a fleeting shadow of one at Havillah Sno-Park, and one heard on Mary Ann Creek Rd in the Okanogan Highlands. NORTHERN PYGMY OWL: (12 birds). All were visuals and no playbacks were needed!! Three birds near Twisp and Winthop, WA along Lake Patterson Rd, Loup Loup Pass, and Hwy 20 near Twisp. Eight birds in Okanogan Highlands on Bolster, Bartroff, Davies, Havillah, Chesaw, Toroda Creek, and Hungry Hollow Rd. Remaining bird in Conconully, WA near Liar's Cove area. One pymgy on Havillah RD seen hunting at eye level. While photographing the subject, the bird took off about 30 yards and postioned himself across an abandoned school bus. Within the 3 minute period, the owl kept darting and banging itself at the bus's window back and forth. I didn't realize what was going on until I saw a mouse scurrying from inside the window! It's target was frantically moving along the window blinds. Amazing hearing or vision from the pygmy owl to detect the prey from 150-175 feet away! I got to see a pygmy owl hack a pellet at eye level on Bartoff Rd. Way cool, my first observation! GYRFALCON; (2 birds in two locations). After subsequent failures, re-found the one gray adult near Hwy 172 and G NE in Mansfield. Perhaps, the same bird discovered by Gina and Michael W. I located a new, dark morphed adult in Conconully, WA. perched on a rock along Hess Lake Rd. NORTHERN GOSHAWK; (3 birds). Crippling looks of an adult sitting on a barn on Havillah Rd, immature was seen on Nealy Rd, and another adult on Central Ferry Rd near Bridgeport, WA. PRAIRIE FALCON: One bird on Fletcher Rd near Okanogan, WA. MERLIN: (2 birds). One along Hwy 17 and Hwy 97 near Monse, WA flushing a flock of 1000 plus Bohemian Waxwings. Another one on Hwy 20 near Okanogan, WA. GOLDEN EAGLE: One magnificent adult near Riverside Cutoff. ROUGH LEGGED HAWK; (30 birds roughly). About 6 birds in Okanogan Highlands and 2 dozen birds on the Waterville Plateau. Perhaps, with more ground cover exposed the birds have resurged their presence. EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES; (36 birds in several locations). STOP REPORTING THEM!! Anyhow, they were in Malott, Omak, Okanogan and Mansfield, WA. SHARP TAILED GROUSE: (14 birds in 3 locations). A dozen birds in late afternoon on Happy Hill Rd. One bird on Mary Ann Creek Rd in Okanogan Highlands, and one at a new location along Hwy 20 at MP 179.5 (Very close to the main Hwy) RUFFED GROUSE; (3 Birds). Three forging chickens on Chesaw Rd near Mary Ann Creek intersection. GRAY PATRIDGE: (12 birds in 2 locations). A small flock of 9 birds along Mary Ann Creek Rd and 3 near Molson on Nine Mile Rd. CHUKAR: (20 birds in 2 locations). A dozen birds on Riverside Cutoff Rd and roughly 8 on Fanchers Dam Rd near Tonasket. PILEATED WOODPECKER; (2 birds). One male on Mary Ann Creek Rd and a female on Davies Rd in Okanogan Highlands. Always a treat to see! BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS; (1200 birds in 2 locations). A large flock of 100 birds plus on Hwy 97 and Hwy 17 near Monse, WA. Flushed by a Merlin. Another flock of 200 birds on Hwy 20 near Okanogan, WA. NORTHERN SHRIKE: (12 birds in several locations). Birds were strewn in Conconully, Winthrop, Bridgeport, and Mansfield locations. AMERICAN TREE SPARROW; One bird on Mary Ann Creek Rd. SNOW BUNTINGS; A flock of 50 birds near dusk on Dry Gulch Rd in Havillah, WA. GRAY CROWNED ROSY FINCHES; (100 birds at 2 locations). One flock of 25 birds near Riverside Cutoff Rd near Omak and 75 birds on Nealy Rd. PINE GROSBEAK; (85 birds at 2 location). A large flock of 75 birds on Mary Ann Creek Rd and 10 birds near town of Twisp, WA. CASSIN'S FINCH. One pair on Nealy Rd in Okanogan Highlands. WHITE WINGED CROSSBILLS: (16 birds in 2 locations). The flock of a dozen birds were feasing on cone laden conifers in the town of Conconully, WA. A group of four birds were also in Mansfield on Railroad and Wilmot Rd. COMMON REDPOLL: (125 birds). A group of 100 birds located on Chesaw Rd near Mary Ann Creek intersection. Smaller group of 40 birds on Bolster Rd. HOARY REDPOLL: Mike Marsh and I located the possible HOARY that Ned McGarry and I had last weekend. This extremely pale bird was again associating with the same sized flock of Common Redpolls. Both times, I got brief looks. Combined with what I saw last weekend with some of Mike's and Ned's observations, I am CONFIDENT that it was a male HOARY REDPOLL. This time, I got to see the stubby beak well enough and the clear rump was seen the weekend before. I have several experiences with these birds in the Yukon, BC and Alaska areas. We tried in vain to get a photo with these jittery birds. I noticed the Common Redpolls are looking much darker and streaker this time of year compared to in December; so finding a 'pale' bird to zone in is much easier. Finally, what an OUTSTANDING winter and a memorable way to end the season. A great way to end on a high note! I can't wait for late spring!!! LINK to my recent photos and hope you enjoy. Maddening to photograph avian subjects! Many are for documentation purposes. http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/okanogan_winter_&page=all All the BEST, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From jeffharding at centurytel.net Tue Mar 3 20:31:34 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 20:31:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Albinistic Harlan's Hawk still east of Crabtree, Linn County Message-ID: The partial albino Harlan's Hawk was on location east of Scio this evening, when I stopped on the way home from work. The bird is hanging out north of Lambardy, where it intersects with Freeman Road and Fish Hatchery Drive. William S. Clark, author of the article in Birding on Harlan's tails was kind enough to weigh in, confirming the identity as Harlan's, but as someone said, "color-challenged". I posted a flight-photo here: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/HarlanSHawk#5309152034404473026 Cheers, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090303/dd36b1a9/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Tue Mar 3 20:41:02 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 20:41:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Salem Gull Flock - another Glaucous Gull? Message-ID: <6D31D51C8B2641A885C5DBB1D862B5F7@laptop> I visited the gull-feeding station again today. I risk being labeled as a larophile by continuing to go there, but I'm not. It is very convenient to my place of employment, and what else is there to do on lunch? There was a very pale large gull there, very similar to the large frost one that was there last week, but with two differences - it has a light eye, and isn't as large as most of the Olympic Gulls that are hanging out there. I posted photos of this bird here: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/InterestingGulls# There are also images of other gulls present, some identifiable and some questionable. I put up a number of what I guess are Thayer's Gulls. Good Birding, Jeff If you can't be where you want to bird, bird the place you be. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090303/44689f72/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Mar 3 20:55:39 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:55:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] High counts from Oregon CBCs this winter Message-ID: <1236142539.3521.24.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, Which Christmas Bird Counts in Oregon this past winter recorded the most Ross's Geese? Cackling Geese? Trumpeter Swans? Lesser Scaup? Turkey Vultures? Hairy Woodpeckers? Eurasian Collared-Doves? Parrots?!? See: http://www.oregonbirds.org/cbchighs.html Happy browsing, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From windypointandy at dishmail.net Tue Mar 3 21:18:07 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 21:18:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] After the storm on the central coast-2 March Message-ID: <000601c99c88$a7c6f8d0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> Birders, After Paul Sullivan's very rewarding Curry County trip this past weekend we headed north in the rain and wind staying in Florence Sunday night, taking dinner at the recommended Waterfront Depot-try the crab encrusted halibut. We awoke to sunshine and relative calm Monday morning. We certainly welcomed this change in weather! On a beach walk at the Siltcoos River mouth, Ellen spotted three SNOWY PLOVERS in the dry sand with wrack up from the high tide line. We took time to admire these beautiful birds. Offshore, a steady stream of BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES and one NORTHERN FULMAR, evidently driven towards the coast by the storm, headed south just beyond the breakers. Back from the ocean we thoroughly enjoyed the Lagoon Trail, which parallels an old oxbow of the Siltcoo River amid very beautiful Sitka spruce, shore pine and wetland habitats. Hutton's Vireo and Hermit Thrush, and scads of noisy Red Crossbills rewarded our efforts here. Seawatching west from the Siuslaw South Jetty River dunes produced yet more kittiwakes, these birds milling about offshore. Another stint of scoping from the vantages at Sea Lion Caves yielded many more BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, here actively foraging. These birds were diving exactly as a tern does by plunging headfirst and disappearing underwater. In all this morning we noted 300 or more kittiwakes off the central Oregon coast this morning. Amid the kittiwakes were small numbers of Common Murres, Marbled Murrelets, and Rhinoceros Auklets. The bright sunshine allowed us to say the scores of kittiwakes here seemed most attracted to the big patches of "green" water as opposed to the adjacent "blue" water. Can anybody tell us if ocean color here is related to water depth, nutrients, currents, or some other factor such as kelp beds? Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA steppie at nwinfo.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090303/09f92065/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Tue Mar 3 21:48:30 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 21:48:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] "Take a Stand for Land" in honor of Al Miller and Mike Uthoff In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <11F4F67B-1617-4AF7-B5F5-12BA67BD60E9@oregonfast.net> Hello OBOL, How sad to learn of Mike Uhtoff's passing. Mike was THE person who influenced me in developing an interest in Natural history. I was part of a program to bring science to "inner city" kids when I was a 6th grader at Irvington Elementary in Portland that was led by Mike. My first exposure to Birds, geology and all other things nature, as well as Sauvie Island, and Ridgefield and ultimately Hancock. When in the 8th grade our class had a fundraising project to try and go to San Francisco. We fell short and spent the money on a trip to Hancock and I remember Mike and Kathy and the kids living shoehorned upstairs in Berry Hall. What a huge sacrifice for all of them to bring natural history education to students who came to Central Oregon. I made a repeat trip that summer to Hancock and eventually helped out up at PDX Audubon over the years while home on leave from the Coast Guard. Kathy always had a pot of great soup on the stove..... Yummmm They were living where the Admin building is now if I remember correctly. I lost track with them over the years, and last saw them at Hancock's 50th anniversary reunion several years back. Man that guy had the driest sense of humor. He would lure you in and then just kind of look at you when you realized you were hooked. Too funny! You know, I never went to college for a big degree in the sciences like i thought I would, and haven't really made much of a dent influencing people in the importance of the natural world. What I do have is a simple respect and reverence for the world around us. I recycle, drive a rig that gets good gas mileage, and try and do the right thing. I like to Bird and photograph the wilds around my place in hopes of generating a little interest similar to, I see now, what Mike gave to me way back. Vern Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com On Mar 3, 2009, at 12:21 AM, David Irons wrote: > Greetings All, > > Today's post to the BirdFellow.com online journal is another > offering from former Oregonian David Fix, who now lives in Bayside, > Humboldt County, California. His piece, "Take a Stand for Land" is > timely in the sense that it comes at a time when Oregon has > recently lost two champions of urban habitat preservation. In the > past three weeks, both Al Miller and Mike Uthoff have passed from > our midst. Al and Mike were both heavily involved in the Portland > Audubon Society (now the Audubon Society of Portland) for large > portions of their adult lives. Their collective efforts, along with > those of the countless volunteers and new members their charismatic > leadership attracted, continue to shape the culture of this local > chapter. > > I called David today and told him that his piece was going to be > posted and realized as we talked that I had neglected to inform him > of the losses of this two wonderful gentleman. David knew both of > them well from his years in Portland. Mike and Al would have been > proud of David's efforts on behalf of a small local wetland. > Coincidentally, Mike spent time in Humboldt Co. He attended > Humboldt State Univ. on a football scholarship before eventually > completing Bachelor's and Master's degree programs at Portland > State University. > > My favorite memories of Mike involve a van trip the he and I lead > to eastern Oregon in late September 1980. I had proposed that we do > a trip to Hart Mountain and the Warner Mountains to see if we could > find evidence of migrant raptors using those ridgelines. Mike loved > the high desert and enthusiastically volunteered to co-lead and > help coordinate the trip. While I knew birds, Mike ran circles > around me and most anyone else you might encounter when it came to > knowledge of geology, botany, and the natural history of the high > desert. I certainly learned more than I taught on that trip. > > I was 20 when we left Portland and had my 21st birthday during the > trip. My mom signed up for the trip and unbeknownst to me she > packed away a single Moosehead Ale for me to drink on my birthday. > On the night of my birthday she pulled it out and gave it to me. I > ended up drinking that beer as I sat alone on the lawn outside the > Christmas Valley motel enjoying a galaxy of stars on an absolutely > clear night. We covered lots of ground on that tour, visiting Hart > Mountain, the Warner Valley, Abert Lake, Summer Lake, Christmas > Valley, Fort Rock, and a whole bunch of other places I can't > remember. We found a Stilt Sandpiper and a Sabine's Gull at Summer > Lake. > > To learn more about Al Miller and Mike Uthoff, visit the Audubon > Society of Portland's website at: www.audubonportland.org. > > Dave Irons > BirdFellow.com > > > > > > Windows Live? Contacts: Organize your contact list. Check it out. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090303/e2aaaafe/attachment.html From romain at frontiernet.net Tue Mar 3 23:14:59 2009 From: romain at frontiernet.net (Romain Cooper) Date: Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:14:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] "Take a Stand for Land" in honor of Al Miller and Mike Uthoff In-Reply-To: <11F4F67B-1617-4AF7-B5F5-12BA67BD60E9@oregonfast.net> References: <11F4F67B-1617-4AF7-B5F5-12BA67BD60E9@oregonfast.net> Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20090303224531.026cc868@frontiernet.net> Yes, It is sad. I first met Mike on a Rogue Valley Audubon trip to the Warner Basin, Hart Mountain in May, 1987. This is after he had moved from Portland to Ashland. We camped near and in the old BLM CCC cabin. A wonderful trip (my introduction to the area) with a ferocious evening thunderstorm that destroyed several of the tents. (Refugees headed into the cabin.) Christie took some great photos of the storm and her slides of that trip include one with my son (then 10 yrs old) with Mike and others standing around a spotting scope. Just pulled the slides out for memory's sake. Mike was extremely kind, generous and patient. He and Kathy were very generous when it came to supporting SW Oregon environmental advocacy and education organizations. As many of you know, Mike and Kathy founded (and the family still runs) Ashland's Northwest Nature Center, a wonderful place. Mike was affected by Alzheimer's the last few years. The contributions that Mike made in our corner of the state are legion. The legacy is enormous. Thank you, Dave and Vern, for the fitting tributes. Romain At 09:48 PM 3/3/2009, Vern DiPietro wrote: >Hello OBOL, > How sad to learn of Mike Uhtoff's passing. Mike was THE person > who influenced me in developing an interest in Natural history. >Vern > Romain Cooper 10398 Takilma Road Cave Junction, OR 97523 541-592-2311 From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Mar 4 07:30:08 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 04 Mar 2009 07:30:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] CBC high counts: A few adjustments Message-ID: <1236180608.3525.62.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hi folks, I should have added a disclaimer, that the Oregon CBC high counts posted at: www.oregonbirds.org/cbchighs.html are still provisional. The review process for the data in the National Audubon Society database has not been completed yet. In fact, a few counts that happened still haven't shown up in the database yet. The compilers for three of those counts were kind enough to send me an advance copy of their results, but it looks like I overlooked one major count (Sauvie Island). So please view these high count "standings" as just for fun. That said, I've fixed a couple of errors that were brought to my attention. A couple of Slate-colored Junco tallies numbering in the hundreds were probably supposed to be regular Oregon Juncos. The eight Barred Owls rumored to be in Prineville turned out to be Barrow's Goldeneyes (this was caused by a glitch in a sorting function in my spreadsheet). If you spot any other obvious errors, please let me know. Once the major glitches are sorted out, I plan to post a downloadable spreadsheet that gives the provisional results from all Oregon CBCs (not just the high counts). Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From celata at pacifier.com Wed Mar 4 08:21:07 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 04 Mar 2009 08:21:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] CBC high counts: A few adjustments Message-ID: <49AEAA73.2040806@pacifier.com> It should also be noted that the Regional Editor has not finished with the editing of all those numbers. I'm actually kind of surprised that the recent numbers are even available, yet. It is unusual for most of these numbers to change, but sometimes the numbers get mis-entered or the species claimed is undocumented and must be... um... fixed. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Forward into the past http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/02/20090223.html From deweysage at verizon.net Wed Mar 4 08:53:27 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Wed, 04 Mar 2009 08:53:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] After the storm on the central coast-2 March In-Reply-To: <000601c99c88$a7c6f8d0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> References: <000601c99c88$a7c6f8d0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> Message-ID: <49AEB207.3060801@verizon.net> Andy Stepniewski wrote: > > > > On a beach walk at the Siltcoos River mouth, Ellen spotted three SNOWY > PLOVERS in the dry sand with wrack up from the high tide line. We took > time to admire these beautiful birds. > Anyone who writes "we took time to admire these beautiful birds" has to be totally cool. Cheers Dave Lauten er......Snowy Plover biologist....... ;-) From jvanmoo at sisna.com Wed Mar 4 09:37:19 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 09:37:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Klamath Falls, Monday, March 2 Message-ID: Marilyn Christian and I birded Monday in the rain and snow. We went to Shady Pine Rd to look for the GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE that I saw the previous Monday. This time we found two male grackles on Elderberry Lane. We also saw 3 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS on Algoma Rd. We drove to the Oregon Drain looking for the Eurasian Wigeon I saw on Sunday, March 1, but with the rain and high wind we didn't get out and put up a scope so we didn't see them. We didn't see the MEW GULL at Lake Ewauna either. Good biding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From cncschneider at msn.com Wed Mar 4 10:16:07 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 10:16:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] CBC high counts: A few adjustments In-Reply-To: <1236180608.3525.62.camel@localhost.localdomain> References: <1236180608.3525.62.camel@localhost.localdomain> Message-ID: Hi, I got the provisional results for the Silverton CBC from the compiler and the 5 Short-eared Owls on the high count table are not on the provisional results I have. Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon -------------------------------------------------- From: "Joel Geier" Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 7:30 AM To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" Cc: "Central Oregon Birders" ; "MidValley Birds" Subject: [obol] CBC high counts: A few adjustments > Hi folks, > > I should have added a disclaimer, that the Oregon CBC high counts posted > at: > > www.oregonbirds.org/cbchighs.html > > are still provisional. The review process for the data in the National > Audubon Society database has not been completed yet. In fact, a few > counts that happened still haven't shown up in the database yet. The > compilers for three of those counts were kind enough to send me an > advance copy of their results, but it looks like I overlooked one major > count (Sauvie Island). > > So please view these high count "standings" as just for fun. That said, > I've fixed a couple of errors that were brought to my attention. A > couple of Slate-colored Junco tallies numbering in the hundreds were > probably supposed to be regular Oregon Juncos. The eight Barred Owls > rumored to be in Prineville turned out to be Barrow's Goldeneyes (this > was caused by a glitch in a sorting function in my spreadsheet). If you > spot any other obvious errors, please let me know. > > Once the major glitches are sorted out, I plan to post a downloadable > spreadsheet that gives the provisional results from all Oregon CBCs (not > just the high counts). > > Happy birding, > Joel > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From dennis at dennisgalloway.com Wed Mar 4 10:21:54 2009 From: dennis at dennisgalloway.com (Dennis Galloway) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 10:21:54 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Pygmy Owl Message-ID: <50166.24.20.202.78.1236190914.squirrel@webmail12.pair.com> Walking with a friend on 2/13/09 mid-day near Pengra Landing on the Willamette (south of Fall Creek, OR), not birding, no binoculars, but got close enough to see my first Northern Pygmy Owl, almost an unbird! From romain at frontiernet.net Wed Mar 4 10:29:20 2009 From: romain at frontiernet.net (Romain Cooper) Date: Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:29:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Northwest Nature Shop - Ashland Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20090304102251.04a50ef0@frontiernet.net> The Ashland business that Mike Uthoff and Kathy founded (and the family still runs) is the Northwest Nature Shop (not the Northwest Nature Center. Oops.) http://www.northwestnatureshop.com Romain Cooper 10398 Takilma Road Cave Junction, OR 97523 541-592-2311 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090304/da402343/attachment.html From jorrie at peak.org Wed Mar 4 10:39:28 2009 From: jorrie at peak.org (Jorrie & Ken) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 10:39:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Incoming Rufous & Display Message-ID: <2D35207A-3515-4B72-943D-B0F4CAA568B1@peak.org> Last night, there were 28 hummers at the feeders. There has been one female or sub-adult RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD so far. However, a male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD is doing his display dive today - heard and saw him a couple of times so far. He must be practicing or trying to impress the female ANNA'A HUMMINGBIRDS that are presently collecting nesting materials. It was last March 8th, that we had over 50 hummers at the feeders (see http://www.birdsamore.com/videos/hummer-migration.htm) during the migration. It would be nice to have even more this year. Jorrie & Ken Ciotti Waldport, OR From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Mar 4 10:57:35 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:57:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] CBC high counts: A few adjustments In-Reply-To: References: <1236180608.3525.62.camel@localhost.localdomain> Message-ID: <1236193055.5542.22.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hi Matthew & All, Thanks for spotting this. This another count where I got data that weren't in the NAS CBC database yet, and it looks like there was a glitch similar to the Prineville Barred Owls when I did the taxonomic sorting. Try 5 Snow Geese instead of 5 Short-eared Owls. Everybody else: If you spot a glitch in a particular count, please just send me a note so that we don't clog up OBOL. I'll make the fixes on the web site, as I've done just now for this one. My suggestion is to bookmark that link: http://www.oregonbirds.org/cbchighs.html rather than copying off the data, since the data are provisional and subject to change. Even after fixing whatever glitches I've introduced on my own, all of the CBC results that this table is based on are still subject to review by the Regional CBC Editor ... as was mentioned this morning by someone who knows that personage pretty well. Thanks & happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis On Wed, 2009-03-04 at 10:16 -0800, Carl & Christine Schneiders wrote: > Hi, > > I got the provisional results for the Silverton CBC from the compiler and > the 5 Short-eared Owls on the high count table are not on the provisional > results I have. > > Matthew Schneider > Silverton, Oregon > From gneavoll at comcast.net Wed Mar 4 11:08:52 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 19:08:52 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck on Columbia In-Reply-To: <22071704.4260181236193415749.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <555697916.4263201236193732852.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> TUFTED DUCK still on Columbia River, perhaps 100 yards or more upstream from intersection of Marine Drive with N.E. 138th in Portland, between 9:30 and 10 a.m. today (3/4/09). A gorgeous bird with its gleaming white sides and black back, swirling its long black tuft around as it swam with raft of 100-plus SCAUP. Eagle flying upstream finally put up entire flock - an eagle that looked very much like an ad. GOLDEN. Overall golden brown plumage, proportionately smaller head, bill than Bald suggest this (unlikey though it would seem). Walking/bicycling trail along Columbia at this point provides safe viewing; parking on street available at upper end of 138th across Marine Drive. George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090304/8cf1c842/attachment.html From doxies at tymewyse.com Wed Mar 4 12:15:45 2009 From: doxies at tymewyse.com (Julie) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 12:15:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Injured Red-tail rescued Message-ID: <9B967546D4FC4938AFAFAAA0DB7A7BD1@emachine61b2a0> News Release from: Oregon State Police INJURED HAWK STRUCK BY VEHICLE ON INTERSTATE 5 EXTRICATED AND TAKEN TO AUDUBON SOCIETY FOR TREATMENT (PHOTOS) Posted: March 4th, 2009 11:48 AM Photo/sound file: http://www.flashnews.net/images/news/030409.hawk.1.JPG Photo/sound file: http://www.flashnews.net/images/news/030409.hawk.3.JPG Photo/sound file: http://www.flashnews.net/images/news/030409.hawk.4.JPG An Oregon State Police (OSP) Fish & Wildlife trooper and Milwaukie-area man worked together to rescue a hawk that was lodged in the front section of the man's sport utility vehicle after it was struck Wednesday morning on Interstate 5. The hawk was transported by the trooper to the Audubon Society of Portland to be examined for its injuries. On March 4, 2009 at approximately 6:30 a.m. a Ford Expedition driven by the man was northbound on Interstate 5 at freeway speeds near the Canby exit when an adult red tail hawk flew in front of the vehicle and was struck. After stopping, the man checked the front of his vehicle and discovered the hawk had broken through the front grill and was injured, stuck between the radiator and grill. OSP Senior Trooper Mike Hanson responded to the man's residence in Milwaukie. With the man's help, they removed the vehicle's front grill and dislodged the injured hawk. Senior Trooper Hanson transported the injured hawk to the Audubon Society of Portland's Wildlife Care Center for an examination of its injuries by Veterinarian Deb Sheaffer. Preliminary examination is encouraging. Questions for the Audubon Society of Portland can be directed to Deb Sheaffer at (503) 292-0304. Photograph Source: Oregon State Police -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090304/15ca80ba/attachment.html From doxies at tymewyse.com Wed Mar 4 12:25:59 2009 From: doxies at tymewyse.com (Julie) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 12:25:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hawk photo links Message-ID: <3AE4D7E15E394F6FA1CD20D9AF91E65B@emachine61b2a0> For some reason the links won't work from the copy and paste. Anyone wanting photos e-mail me and I'll send. One shows bird behind grill, and the others look the same to me, with the hawk in a carrier. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090304/8af74699/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Mar 4 12:31:39 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 12:31:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wed morning, Alton Baker Park Message-ID: We searched the open area of "Day Island" at the east end. Gulls were feeding in one area of the Willamette River - one gull had gleaming white primaries, a suspected immature Glaucous Gull, but the bird disappeared before we could study it carefully. We found only one of the Say's Phoebes reported some days ago when there were 5. Pied-billed Grebe - 3 D-c Cormorant - 8 Great Blue Heron - 5 Canada Goose - many scattered Cackling Goose - flock of 175 Wood Duck - 1 Mallard - 25 Gadwall - 2 Les. Scaup - 5 Bufflehead - 2 C. Merganser - 4 Osprey - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Merlin - 1 Ring-necked Pheasant - 1 Coot - 3 Killdeer - 3 Mew Gull - 3 Ring-billed Gull - 1 Glaucous-winged Gull - 15+ Glaucous Gull ? - 1 Rock Dove - 7 Belted Kingfisher - 1 Downy Woodpecker - 3 Say's Phoebe - 1 Scrub Jay - 5 Am. Crow - 2 Black-capped Chickadee - 4 Bushtit - 20 Brown Creeper - 3 Bewick's Wren - 2 Hermit Thrush - 1 in my yard (LM) Am. Robin - 300 Starling - 100 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 5 Spotted Towhee - 8+ Savannah Sparrow - 1 Song Sparrow - 10 Golden-cr. Sparrow - 30+ D-e Junco - 40 Red-winged Blackbird - 2 Western Meadowlark - 5 House Finch - 12 Pine Siskin - heard Jim Carlson, Barry McKenzie, Tom Mickel, Fred Chancey, Sylvia Maulding, Roger Robb, George Grier, Paul Sherrell, Don Schrouder, Craig Merhel (newcomer), and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090304/3decd6e5/attachment.html From pointers at pacifier.com Wed Mar 4 14:07:35 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (pointers at pacifier.com) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 14:07:35 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Marine Drive --- What are the dummy Owls for ??? In-Reply-To: <3AE4D7E15E394F6FA1CD20D9AF91E65B@emachine61b2a0> References: <3AE4D7E15E394F6FA1CD20D9AF91E65B@emachine61b2a0> Message-ID: <3504.130.118.152.172.1236204455.squirrel@webmail.iinet.com> hi group ... went to see if we could located the Tufted Duck at lunch ... no luck ... many many Scaups stretched out in a long line ... unfortunately the birds flew before we could get them all studied ... BTW, we parked off of 138th but the majority of the group was nearer to 158th ... nice day to walk the bike path however ... interestingly, we saw no Ring-necked Ducks in this grouping, just hundreds of Scaup (maybe one or two Ring-necks) ... when I spotted the Tufted Duck on saturday there were quite a few Ring-necked Ducks ... there was another raft of ducks east of the 158th pipes, however we didn't have enuf time to walk down the to have a look ... on our way back to 138th we noticed 2 dummy owls purched on the telephone poles ... does anyone know what they are to keep away ???? ... thanks, Lyn Lyn Topinka http://englishriverwebsite.com/ http://columbiariverimages.com/ http://ridgefieldbirds.com/ From d.rhein at comcast.net Wed Mar 4 14:41:48 2009 From: d.rhein at comcast.net (Darin) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 14:41:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Injured Red-tail rescued Message-ID: <492FD7D26C574937A612FF443A0E1415@daingtanfxkwk9> So, the guy drove all the way from I-5 near Canby to Milwaukie with the hawk stuck in his grill? Darin Julie wrote: >On March 4, 2009 at approximately 6:30 a.m. a Ford Expedition driven by the man >was northbound on Interstate 5 at freeway speeds near the Canby exit when an >adult red tail hawk flew in front of the vehicle and was struck. After >stopping, the man checked the front of his vehicle and discovered the hawk had >broken through the front grill and was injured, stuck between the radiator and >grill. > > >OSP Senior Trooper Mike Hanson responded to the man's residence in Milwaukie. >With the man's help, they removed the vehicle's front grill and dislodged the >injured hawk. > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090304/cc0fd2ae/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Mar 4 16:10:58 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:10:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Golden Eagle, Oak Island (Sauvie Island) Message-ID: <20090305001100.A52C8A8293@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> This morning about 9:30AM, while walking back on the west side of Oak Island after doing my point count, I saw an adult GOLDEN EAGLE flying north from Multnomah County into Columbia County. Golden hackles gleaming in the bright sunshine. A new Sauvie Island bird for me. There were also at least 5 TREE SWALLOWS on Oak Island. Later I met up with Andy Frank, and we continued on towards the north end of Reeder Road. Just a few feet south of the Mult-Col County Line, random pishing out the car window drew no less than 6 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS--all in the length of maybe 20' of blackberry hedge. At the end of the pavement on Reeder Rd, we spotted 6 RED-THROATED LOONS circling around and landing to join 2 more already on the Columbia River. PEREGRINE FALCONS were hunting at Oak Island Rd (an immature) and Rentenaar Rd (adult). A hybrid EURASIAN X AMERICAN WIGEON was at the west end of Rentenaar Rd. FOX SPARROWS and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS were scarce. We only found two of the former and one of the latter. Wink Gross Portland From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Mar 4 16:25:21 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 16:25:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck on Columbia In-Reply-To: <555697916.4263201236193732852.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> References: <555697916.4263201236193732852.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <86aaea87b198c3a3e1a7754c7ad1859a@earthlink.net> Golden Eagles are being reported at well above the average level in the greater Portland area this winter. The one at Sauvie Island today is different from the one at Ridgefield a few days ago as the latter was an immature. Given the timing, the adult George saw is almost certainly a different bird from the one Wink reported downstream, headed in the opposite direction. LArs Norgren On Mar 4, 2009, at 11:08 AM, gneavoll at comcast.net wrote: > TUFTED DUCK still on Columbia River, perhaps 100 yards or more > upstream from intersection of Marine Drive with N.E. 138th in > Portland, between 9:30 and 10 a.m. today (3/4/09). A gorgeous bird > with its gleaming white sides and black back, swirling its long black > tuft around as it swam with raft of 100-plus SCAUP. Eagle flying > upstream finally put up entire flock - an eagle that looked very much > like an ad. GOLDEN. Overall golden brown plumage, proportionately > smaller head, bill than Bald suggest this (unlikey though it would > seem). > > Walking/bicycling trail along Columbia at this point provides safe > viewing; parking on street available at upper end of 138th across > Marine Drive. > > George Neavoll > S.W. Portland > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From clausing at uiuc.edu Wed Mar 4 16:49:12 2009 From: clausing at uiuc.edu (Arthur Clausing) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 16:49:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck Message-ID: The first two times I found the Tufted Duck, last Friday and this Monday, it was at the same spot, at the west end of the portion of the path that lies on the north side of Marine Dr.(the house at this location has the street address 14005). At about 2 pm today, just before it started raining, it was downstream several hundred yards, on the west side of that string of houses. Art Clausing From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Mar 4 17:34:05 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 17:34:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bend - Cent Or Wednesday birders in Bend. Message-ID: <47E90DB824F4405EAE9337A80550891E@MOM> > Birders, > We went to Drake Park, 2 blocks of birdy yards along there, 1st > Street Rapids Trail and Sawyer Park. We had a snowy morning with > occasional sun peeking out. The birds were surprisingly active and > some in song. It was very nice to have Steve-the Ears-Dougill > with us. First bird today was a light brown Merlin, not the usual very > dark bird. We enjoyed close up study of the female Mandarin Duck > upstream from Sawyer Park. We could NOT find the Cackling Goose > that Robb Reavill has seen this winter at Drake Park. We found two > very cooperative Dippers and one very UNcooperative Sharp-shinned > Hawk that just would NOT allow us good views and encouraged us > to take sides trying to identify it. Still lots of small flocks of > Waxwings > about but no Bohemians with them. Howard mentioned Swallow but > I don't know which or if it was a real deal. ?? So possilble swallow sp. > Report was mailed for Judy Meredith by http://birdnotes.net > Canada Goose 100 > Trumpeter Swan 7 > Wood Duck 18 > ** Mandarin Duck 1 - escape artist. > American Wigeon 70 > Mallard 45 > Bufflehead 1 > Common Merganser 1 > Bald Eagle 1 > Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 > Red-tailed Hawk 2 > Merlin 1 > American Coot 1 > Rock Dove 2 > Mourning Dove 10 > Belted Kingfisher 2 > Downy Woodpecker 1 - Good spottingby Sarah. > Northern Flicker 10 > Steller's Jay 1 > Western Scrub-Jay 8 > American Crow 3 > Common Raven 5 > Mountain Chickadee 6 > Bushtit 5 > Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 > Pygmy Nuthatch 3 > American Dipper 2 - lifer high-5s to Lindsay > Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4 > Townsend's Solitaire 3 > American Robin 65 > European Starling 3 > Cedar Waxwing 70 > Song Sparrow 3 > Dark-eyed Junco 26 > Red-winged Blackbird 20 > House Finch 25 > Red Crossbill 8 > Pine Siskin 22 > American Goldfinch 16 > Evening Grosbeak 15 > House Sparrow 3 > Total number of species seen: 41 > Birders today Lindsay Seidenverg, Sarah Schnieder, Darwin Wile, Mike > Golden, > Steve Dougill, Howard Horvath and Judy Meredith. > Good birding, > Judy Meredith > jmeredit at bendnet.com > From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Mar 4 18:47:49 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 18:47:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] OBOL Anniversary: 16 years Message-ID: Sixteen years ago this month, March 1993, there was another SLATY-BACKED GULL in Portland, the first state record at Sauvie Island, remaining from its discovery the previous December. Only a few leading edge businesses and colleges had email then--after all, the first commercial email wasn't available until 1989. The World Wide Web as we know it didn't exist. It would be a year before the Netscape browser appeared on the scene and then another year before Windows Internet Explorer. Some local computers were hooked to telephone modems and you could call them up, gopher to find text files, and ftp them to your computer and read them on your green or amber monitors. If these words are foreign to you and you don't remember this, it's probably for the better. Back to my story.... Amid this nascent technology, BirdChat, the national birding chat line still in existence, began to operate in 1991. A few Oregon birders found each other's email addresses in BirdChat postings in early 1993 and began to relay status reports on the RARE GULL and other bird sightings back and forth between Portland and Corvallis. Rather than type all 6 Oregon birders' names each time, Gillson created an address group in his email that he named "Oregon Birders On-Line," and OBOL was born. [As an aside, it should be noted that the word "online" wasn't coined into popular usage yet, a similar case as to why the AOU's checklist is called a "Check-List."] For future birding trivia quizzes, the first six members of OBOL were: Rich Hoyer, Skip Russell, Bob O'Brien, Tony Mendoza, Marshall Beretta, and Greg Gillson. In November 1991 there were 60 members of OBOL and messages were still being manually forwarded. That's when a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER and a TRICOLORED HERON appeared in Lincoln County. That weekend in November 1991 marked a change in Oregon birding. The rarity chase that weekend involved most of the members of OBOL, many of whom had never met each other in person before. It wasn't long before OBOL grew, and Rich Hoyer moved it to an OSU listserv. This marked the death-knell of the dreaded rare bird alert phone tree, which always seemed to fail before I received the call. [There were no cell phones and many people did not have message machines.] Most of my notification of rare birds before OBOL came on Tuesdays when Harry Nehls updated the "Portland Audubon Rare Bird Alert." 292-0661. The only number besides my 7th grade locker combination that I have ever managed to memorize (29-5-14). Even with the phone tree and Harry's weekly taped message, many rare birds went unreported before OBOL. Birders were anxious to see the seasonal summaries in American Birds, and later in Oregon Birds, that appeared in their mailboxes quarterly [real mailboxes, by the curb, next to the milk box]. There they could read and see what rare bird they had missed... a year or more ago! Birding technology has changed dramatically in the past 16 years, and will continue to do so. Even more fascinating, this technology boost has actually changed what it means to be a birder. That, perhaps, is a story for a different venue. Greg Gillson greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From whoffman at peak.org Wed Mar 4 18:52:27 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 18:52:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] "New" species of Red Crossbill. References: <49ADF328.1000800@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <371086A403CA468697FEE5AB971E5DD2@D48XBZ51> Hi - I agree with you that the alteration of calls is a major complication in understanding the taxonomic status of the call-types in general, as well as this one. However, I interpret the genetic information differently. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Patterson" To: "OBOL" Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 7:19 PM Subject: Re: [obol] "New" species of Red Crossbill. >I spent the afternoon studying this paper as well as reading the > comments posted on ID frontiers. First, let's be clear, this is > a proposed new species. The AOU has not acted on it. It has not > yet been added to the "official" North American list. > > There are a couple of points which are causing some consternation > among the folks on ID-Frontiers. > > "South Hills Crossbills have distinctive flight calls that they > initially learn by imitating their parents and later by alter to > match the call of their mates." > > and > > "We found one instance of a female of call type 2 shifting its call > to match that of its mate, a South Hills Crossbill, in successive > years..." > > This suggests that using call to differentiate between call-types > is an unreliable mechanism for judging positive assortment in > individual crossbills and it muddies the waters in field studies. > Only those studies that capture, measure and color-mark birds would > be reliable for studying positive assortment. > > On the DNA front: > "Using amplified fragment length polymorphisms, we have not found fixed > differences among call type 2, call type 5, and the South Hills > Crossbill, but have found significant levels of genetic differentiation > based on inferred variation in allele frequency and F(ST) estimates. > This genetic structure is consistent with recent divergence in the > face of gene flow among call types of Red Crossbills." > > Assuming I'm reading this correctly (feel free to jump in and > correct me if I'm not), the arguments justifying the larger > split of all Red Crossbills are being used to justify this new > split. Given that this larger split is very controversial, > complicated by both the nomadic, irruptive nature of Red Crossbills > and the documented plasticity of finch-bills. Using the larger > split to justify this narrower split seems a bit circular... > > I can think of lots of reason to go look for crossbills in the > South Hills of Idaho, but I wouldn't count on "new tick" being > one of them any time soon. > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Forward into the past > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/02/20090223.html > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From m.denny at charter.net Wed Mar 4 19:42:48 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 19:42:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] "New" species of Red Crossbill. References: <49ADF328.1000800@pacifier.com> <371086A403CA468697FEE5AB971E5DD2@D48XBZ51> Message-ID: <76D21100CA9643AD98214DCD13D2A77B@24FLIGHT> Hello All, A "new" Red Crossbill species in Idaho? How have so many birders and biologists missed this one up until now? Later Mike From whoffman at peak.org Wed Mar 4 20:21:19 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 20:21:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] "New" species of Red Crossbill (long). References: <49ADF328.1000800@pacifier.com> Message-ID: Hi, Mike I pretty much agree with your comments about the call switching. However, I read the admittedly difficult wording describing the genetic evidence as a comparison of "South Hills Crossbill" to combined genetic data from the other 2 call types that are regular in the South Hills. This seems different to me than "the arguments justifying the larger split of all Red Crossbills are being used to justify this new split." I have not followed all the recent literature on AFLP analyses, but my recollection is that commonly "good" species do show fixed differences. Like most genetic analyses applied to questions of speciation, well-documented fixed differences are generally considered definitive of species status, but lack of fixed differences does not disprove species status. Here, fixed differences would not really be expected under the speciation scenario proposed, because they are a product of accumulation of differences through time in neutral features of DNA. This scenario proposes very rapid speciation (within the last several thousand years). I have also waded through the comments on Frontiers of Identification, and I am a bit dismayed at the number of people who (unlike you) expressed strong opinions before reading the paper. Some good points were raised, but in my opinion more of the scepticism was based on preconceptions about how speciation "should" occur than on the actual science presented. For the past 10 years I have been working on salmon habitat restoration (bear with me, this is relevant, and eventually will get back to crossbills) and in the process I have tried to learn all sorts of things about the biology of salmon. One of the most impressive things about salmonids is their ability to adapt incredibly rapidly to environmental change, or to different environments. For example, the Fraser River system in British Columbia has at least 50 "stocks" of Sockeye Salmon that show enough genetic differences to conclude that effective crossing is rare, and that have some level of morphological and behavioral differentiation, demonstrated to be genetically based. The Fraser River basin was glaciated until about 12,000 years ago, so all this divergence has happened since then. Other examples exist of visible responses to selection (e.g., on run timing) in a few generations. Now for the relevance: I have concluded that the things we learned about speciation in college courses apply pretty well to most groups of vertebrates (and many other animals), but here and there are groups where combinations of anomalous genetics, life history patterns, mate selection patterns, and/or patterns of natural selection combine to foster explosive species radiations. This applies to a few groups of birds, as well as fish and other animals. Among fish, explosive radiations are well documented for cichlids in some of the big east African lakes, and for other fish assemblages in Lake Baikal and if I remember correctly, a lake in the Phillipines. In my opinion, applying the Biological Species Concept rigorously to salmonids would lead to the naming of many more species - this has not happened mainly because of inconvenience issues rather than objective biological ones. Numerous places around the northern hemisphere have lakes with 2 or more "kinds" of Arctic Char that differ in size, diet, timing of spawning, and have a degree of genetic distinctiveness indicating no interbreeding. But naming all of these as species would be inconvenient for management and for scientific study. A similar situation is being studied with Three-spined Sticklebacks in Puget Sound and coastal British Columbia, where marine sticklebacks colonized freshwater habitats and differentiated into distinctive (from the marine ancestors) forms that are reproductively isolated, within the last 10-12,000 years since the ice melted. Many of the freshwater populations look very similar to each other, but evolved separately from the marine ancestors. Among birds, it appears that combinations of anomalous genetics, life history patterns, mate selection patterns, and/or patterns of natural selection have led to greatly increased capability for differentiation in a handful of groups. In a Frontiers of Identification post today Alvaro Jaramillo referred to Indigobirds and Darwin's Finches more or less in this context. Others, in my opinion, include Empidonax flycatchers, northern geese, and crossbills. In Empidonax, the factors probably include mate choice based on calls that are under very tight genetic control, and narrow ranges of breeding habitat preference (possibly also under genetic control). The result is multiple species nesting in the same general area but pretty consistently sorting by habitat, and maintaining genetic integrity by call-based mate choice. For northern geese, the relevant factors include long-term monogamy, migration in groups composed of families that nest in fairly close proximity, and pairing on the wintering grounds, within these flocks, as well as considerable capacity to respond to environmental/climatic selection on body size and proportions. You do not have to accept Harold Hanson's and Bertin Anderson's splitters' taxonomy to see that patterns and propensity for differentiation in Canada and "Cackling" geese are very different than in most birds. And, the Bean Goose, White-fronted Goose and Brant groups show some of the same propensity. For crossbills, I suspect some of the relevant factors have to do with the advantages of having bill sizes adapted to particular species of cones, as a driver of assortative mating. If large-billed crossbills that feed most effectively on pines were to mate with small-billed ones that did best on spruce or hemlock, their offspring might not be well-adapted to any of the available cones. The association into flocks and associative mating by call types provides mechanisms to reduce the frequency of such disadvantageous pairings. The important point is that these particular groups of fish, birds, and other animals challenge the species concepts that work fairly well for the rest of their groups. Calling all the "Red" Crossbills one species ignores biologically significant evolutionaly differentiation. But if they are all called species, they are very different "sorts" of species than most of the other birds we encounter. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Patterson" To: "OBOL" Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 7:19 PM Subject: Re: [obol] "New" species of Red Crossbill. >I spent the afternoon studying this paper as well as reading the > comments posted on ID frontiers. First, let's be clear, this is > a proposed new species. The AOU has not acted on it. It has not > yet been added to the "official" North American list. > > There are a couple of points which are causing some consternation > among the folks on ID-Frontiers. > > "South Hills Crossbills have distinctive flight calls that they > initially learn by imitating their parents and later by alter to > match the call of their mates." > > and > > "We found one instance of a female of call type 2 shifting its call > to match that of its mate, a South Hills Crossbill, in successive > years..." > > This suggests that using call to differentiate between call-types > is an unreliable mechanism for judging positive assortment in > individual crossbills and it muddies the waters in field studies. > Only those studies that capture, measure and color-mark birds would > be reliable for studying positive assortment. > > On the DNA front: > "Using amplified fragment length polymorphisms, we have not found fixed > differences among call type 2, call type 5, and the South Hills > Crossbill, but have found significant levels of genetic differentiation > based on inferred variation in allele frequency and F(ST) estimates. > This genetic structure is consistent with recent divergence in the > face of gene flow among call types of Red Crossbills." > > Assuming I'm reading this correctly (feel free to jump in and > correct me if I'm not), the arguments justifying the larger > split of all Red Crossbills are being used to justify this new > split. Given that this larger split is very controversial, > complicated by both the nomadic, irruptive nature of Red Crossbills > and the documented plasticity of finch-bills. Using the larger > split to justify this narrower split seems a bit circular... > > I can think of lots of reason to go look for crossbills in the > South Hills of Idaho, but I wouldn't count on "new tick" being > one of them any time soon. > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Forward into the past > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/02/20090223.html > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Mar 4 21:40:29 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:40:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 03/04/09 Message-ID: <20090305054032.72213A8280@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 02/26 to 03/04/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 6 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) BALD EAGLE 1 (1, 2/28) RED-TAILED HAWK 3 (2) GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL 1 (1, 2/27) Band-tailed Pigeon 4 (2, 3/2) Mourning Dove 5 (7) Anna's Hummingbird 6 (3) Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 (1, 3/2 & 3) Downy Woodpecker 2 (2, 3/2) Northern Flicker 5 (8, 3/2) Pileated Woodpecker 2 (1, 3/2 & 3) HUTTON'S VIREO 1 (1, 3/2) Steller's Jay 6 (7) Western Scrub-Jay 3 (1) American Crow 6 (20, 2/28) Black-capped Chickadee 6 (12) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 6 (5) Bushtit 1 (15, 3/3) Red-breasted Nuthatch 6 (6) Brown Creeper 3 (1) Bewick's Wren 3 (3, 2/28) Winter Wren 4 (2) American Robin 6 (25, 3/3) Varied Thrush 5 (6, 3/2) European Starling 3 (15, 3/2) Spotted Towhee 6 (7) Fox Sparrow 3 (2, 3/3) Song Sparrow 6 (12) Dark-eyed Junco 6 (30, 3/3) House Finch 6 (15) Pine Siskin 4 (30) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: WESTERN SCREECH- OWL Wink Gross Portland From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Mar 4 23:32:45 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:32:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 3-5-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * March 5, 2009 * ORPO0903.05 - birds mentioned Trumpeter Swan Tundra Swan (Bewick?s) TUFTED DUCK Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Gyrfalcon Sandhill Crane SLATY-BACKED GULL Glaucous Gull Black-legged Kittiwake Rufous Hummingbird Say?s Phoebe Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Bewick?s Wren Northern Mockingbird Lapland Longspur NORTHERN CARDINAL Great-tailed Grackle - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday March 5. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. A bright male TUFTED DUCK is now being seen on the Columbia River in North Portland. It is being seen off Marine Drive east of I205 among the large rafts of GREATER and LESSER SCAUP. On March 3 a female NORTHERN CARDINAL visited a feeder in Salem. The Portland Waterfront SLATY-BACKED GULL continues to be seen. During the week major flights of SANDHILL CRANES, TREE and VIOLET- GREEN SWALLOWS, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, and SAY?S PHOEBES entered the state. Good numbers of BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES were moving along the coast. On February 28 a KITTIWAKE was photographed on the Columbia River off Columbia City near St. Helens. On March 2 three GLAUCOUS GULLS and three LAPLAND LONGSPURS were on Clatsop Beach north of Gearhart. On February 26 three TRUMPETER SWANS were at Hatfield Lake. A singing BEWICK?S WREN was found February 27 at Lower Bridge west of Terrebonne. On February 26 two GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES and a MOCKINGBIRD were seen near Klamath Falls. Waterfowl are now gathering in the Klamath Basin. On February 28 a BEWICK?S TUNDRA SWAN was picked out of about 10,000 TUNDRA SWANS in the Lower Klamath NWR. On February 26 a white GYRFALCON was reported east of Worden. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090304/d1a98f89/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Mar 5 09:17:38 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:17:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] cacophony of birds..... Message-ID: <49B00932.7020105@verizon.net> .....in our yard, this morning, the entire place is one big wall of bird song, calls, chirps, chips, and chatter.....everyone is talking and singing.....sounds great..... Bandon Coos Cty Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein deweysage at verizon.net From jeff17_marks at msn.com Thu Mar 5 11:40:24 2009 From: jeff17_marks at msn.com (Jeff Marks) Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 11:40:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck on Columbia Message-ID: The TUFTED DUCK was on the Columbia R. about 150-200 m west (downriver) of the intersection of Marine Drive and NE 138th in Portland between 10:30 and 11:00 a.m. today. It was easily seen from just past the westernmost house that's along the north side of Marine Drive. ***************** Jeff Marks 4241 SE Liebe Street Portland, OR 97206 503-774-4783 Birds of Montana Project http://mtaudubon.org/ ***************** -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090305/b79c3706/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Thu Mar 5 12:12:10 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 12:12:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Cascade Head 3/4 Message-ID: (Yesterday) Mostly quiet, but - 10-12 Townsend's Warbler (single flock) 1 Orange-crowned Warbler numerous Rufuous Hummingbird +3 immature Eagles flying closely together around the meadow for most of the time I was there. Assume local siblings. http://philliplc.com/images/xch09000.jpg Winter landslide that wiped out a bunch of alder on the cliff face that I suspect had been a big draw for passerines coming off the ocean. http://philliplc.com/images/xch09001.jpg http://philliplc.com/images/xch09002.jpg http://philliplc.com/images/xch09003.jpg http://philliplc.com/images/xch09004.jpg Phil philliplc at charter.net From srnord101 at verizon.net Thu Mar 5 12:11:54 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:11:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Common Teal at Fernhill Wetlands Message-ID: <000001c99dce$a142c060$e3c84120$@net> OBOL; Today between 10:30-11:00, I watched a male COMMON TEAL (Eurasian Green-winged Teal) at Fernhill Wetlands. The bird was associating with about 20 American Green-winged Teal on Eagle Perch Pond. The birds were in the NE corner (? - the corner most distant from the 2 nearby roads). Male appeared to be full-blooded Eurasian, having a bold horizontal white stripe, it lacked the vertical stripe of the Americans, and had bold white lines on its face. Also at Fernhill, less gull diversity, 300+ MEW GULLS, 1 HERRING GULL, 2 WESTERN GULLS and only 1 GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL. 130 RUDDY DUCKS and 6 CANVASBACK on Cattail Lake. 10 TUNDRA SWANS and 1 GREAT EGRET. Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From glenn_rie at yahoo.com Thu Mar 5 12:25:32 2009 From: glenn_rie at yahoo.com (Rie Luft) Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 12:25:32 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Red-tailed Hawk Message-ID: <217639.74411.qm@web112222.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Yes, the hawk not only survived the initial impact but also the trip from the Canby exit to Milwaukie! Deb Sheaffer told me last night that x-rays show no broken bones either. The hawk seems to be doing well but of course is being watched for neurological signs of head injury. Rie Luft -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090305/3726a503/attachment.html From sheilach at nwtec.com Thu Mar 5 12:27:10 2009 From: sheilach at nwtec.com (Sheila) Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 12:27:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] A streak of fire Message-ID: The migrants are coming, the migrants are coming, the migrants are coming! Today I saw a streak of flame zip from my feeder, a closer look reveiled RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, now the ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD has something to squabble with. Also new this year was a flock of hungry BAND TAILED PIGEONS. The regulars are still here are BREWERS BLACKBIRD, EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES, NORTHERN FLICKER, ROBIN, WHITE-CROWN, GOLD-CROWN, WHITE THROATED, FOX and SONG SPARROW, CALIFORNIA QUAIL, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, BLACK CAPPED, CHESTNUT CAPPED CHICKADEE, "OREGON" JUNCO, SPOTTED TOWHEE, HOUSE FINCH, HOUSE SPARROW, STARLING and one poor little lonely PINE SISKIN. The sky is leaking again much to the discomfort of the birds. Sheila from Harbor Oregon "Marinoism -- The belief that everything from political to religious indoctrination is an abject fraud, used to control the minds of this planet's citizenry as a means of effective social control, and that the individual must seek their own higher truths in order to rise above these psychological bonds which society uses to enslave them." From forobol at msn.com Thu Mar 5 12:51:42 2009 From: forobol at msn.com (Al Ahlgrim) Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 12:51:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck update March 5th Message-ID: Multnomah County The Tufted Duck was seen at 11:15 AM today about 200 yards WEST of 138th and Marine Dr. At about 11:25 it and the much of the huge Scaup flock flew EAST and settled near 138th. A scope was invaluable as the flock was near mid river when we saw it. Thanks to the couple from Yakama for all the fun while we were there! Al Ahlgrim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090305/05b4e78e/attachment.html From sparsons at canby.com Thu Mar 5 16:25:43 2009 From: sparsons at canby.com (Steve and Diana Parsons) Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 16:25:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield 3-5 Message-ID: <67AF58FA-FC22-48C0-A081-986D0978A3E3@canby.com> It was a nice, but drippy day at the refuge. The highlights were the harlan's hawk at the far end of Rest Lake, plus the barn owl and great horned owls were in their typical haunts. A few more yellow rumps are showing up. Encountered a TURKEY, too. This one was of the white bearded variety, and drove a Land Rover. He just had to hit the horn when a Subaru didn't get out of the way quick enough. On the bright side, the owl didn't move, and the TURKEY was not seen again. From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Mar 5 16:33:19 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 16:33:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] GOLDEN EAGLE-Polk County Message-ID: <97466ec1dc1b383856361ea78c40d86e@earthlink.net> An adult GOLDEN EAGLE was on the first power pole west of Livermore Rd. at 11:15am. This is about 1/2mile north of Smithfield Rd at the north end of Baskett Slough NWR. It was drying its feathers (just had a bath?) then took off and flew nne. I last saw it circling over the next hill north of the powerline. All these Golden sightings in quick succession make me wonder if these are migrants rather than wintering birds. Lars Norgren From jmeredit at bendnet.com Thu Mar 5 22:10:03 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 22:10:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Peoria - NO Pyrrhuloxia Message-ID: <60D1EDDC295C4BD38CC0BC4DB11793D7@MOM> Diane Kook and I took a little spin over the snowy Cascades to try for the Peorhuloxia but did not find it. We spent a couple of hours and enjoyed the many sparrows there, singing away now, but no Pyrrhuloxia. We were there from about 9:20 to 11:30. Three Downy Woodpeckers were at Randy and Mary's house showing very civilized behavior, taking turns at the suet feeder, climbing inside it just one at a time to feed. Amazed to see 9 Bald Eagles along American Lane, all feeding on a single carcass. So, is the Pyrrhuloxia gone? Good birding, Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Mar 6 08:28:57 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 08:28:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER Livermore Road Polk County Message-ID: At 11am March 5 I saw a SEMI=PALMATED SANDPIPER along Livermore Road. If my memory is correct the puddle it was feeding in is 2.1 miles north of Smithfield Rd., the gravel road that skirts the northern egde of Baskett Slough NWR. This is the largest puddle along the east side of Livermore Rd., located at the very lowest point of the road. It begins to climb towards Perrydale after the puddle. The bird was feeding in the narrow water at the southern end of the puddle which is either a drain or feeder for same body of water. I didn't have a field guide with me at the time and although it was a terrible fit for Least Sandpiper, that's what I settled for until I got home and had time after dinner to look at Sibley. The bird did not have yellow legs, but I figured they might be muddy ( even the hillside soils in this part of Polk County are very dark) plus I was looking towards the sun (albeit obscured by clouds) through a scope at considerable distance. The bird was crisply marked, neither grungy nor brown. It had a well defined cap and eye-line, a finely marked breast, the streaks restricted to a narrow zone on the upper chest. The bill was very straight and short. It was as small, probably smaller, than the many pipits in attendance Horned Larks were extremely abundant. See separate posting. Lars Norgren I am NOT reporting a Semi-palmated Plover, as should be obvious from the description. People routinely transpose the two on this list. From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Mar 6 08:51:57 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 08:51:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Streaked HORNED LARK on Livermore Road POLK COUNTY Message-ID: People wishing to get really good looks and/or photos of Horned Larks, the very colorful and somewhat rare Streaked HOLA no less, might want to consider a visit to Livermore Road se of Perrydale. Courtship is in high season and yesterday I observed seven different pairs from the driver's seat before I switched my attention to something else (maybe driving?). Only one car shared the road with me in the better part of an hour, so don't feel undo alarm. The first pair was about a 1/2 mile south of the Perrydale-McCoy Road, where a property line is evident by a change in crops, and a lone fence-post left to mark the boundary. A pair of birds flew off the road and landed beside a large patch of bare mud. The male immediately began a courtship dance while the female either fed or feigned as much. Is this sincere or ritualized disinterest? Singing larks were audible almost constantly for the next mile southbound. A good time and place to learn this surprisingly faint call as there are no competing sounds. There was consistently a pair of larks every 0.1 mile for the length of this stretch of road. All in pairs, and all spending significant time in the road. In flight the black and white tail makes these very obvious birds, but once on the ground they disappear, even when only 10 or 15m away. Their showy plumage belies a very effective camoflage for the habitat. The large puddle at the low point in Livermore Road had numerous pairs of larks on its shore, but even greater number of American Pipits. Be forewarned. The pipits are not in pairs. The larks will remain here long after the Pipits have left for the tundra, but the grass is getting taller every day, and once the larks have eggs to incubate they may cease this indiscrete behaviour on the shoulders of the road. They will continue singing well into June. Lars Norgren From johnpam at mtangel.net Fri Mar 6 10:54:56 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 10:54:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Streaked Horned Larks- Baskett Slough NWR-add comment Message-ID: Horned Larks were also seen just below (to the north and northeast) of the main wildlife viewing area on Hwy 22 this past Tuesday. They are bright and colorful when facing into whatever optics you can turn their way but seemingly disappear when sideways or facing the other way. You would swear nothing was there at first....These larks were also calling. Also, a couple of us found American Pipits and Horned Larks on Livermore approx. 1.8 miles north of the intersection with Smithfield in the past weeks. The field on the west side between the road and a private pond was usually most productive though our small group struck out on larks and pipits last Tuesday. Lars Norgren's report sort of jump-started my overdue report on the larks so apologize for late report. We also saw 3 TVs on Tuesday and several Rough-legged Hawks -along with N Harrier, Am Kestrel and a large number of Red-tails. Surprisingly, we saw no Bald Eagles at the refuge but found 3 later over at Mission Mill St Park sitting in the giant cottonwood tree. Large flocks of geese were in an uproar over there and the eagles may have been partly responsible. John Thomas Silverton area From celata at pacifier.com Fri Mar 6 13:09:21 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:09:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Manx shearwater at SJCR Message-ID: <49B19101.8030109@pacifier.com> I stopped by the South Jetty of the Columbia River this morning, hoping to see a fulmar or something. There were good numbers of BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES feeding just outside the breaks and more farther out in larger feeding flocks. While watching kittiwakes, I notice a small, black and white tubenose drift through, flapping only rarely when it made a turn. It was all dark above and immaculate white below. The white extended to the end of the under-tail coverts. The wing-linings were also completely white. The combination of field marks indicates MANX SHEARWATER and actually represents one of most extended looks I've had of one of these beasties. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Greater Scaup 1 [1] Surf Scoter 40 Red-throated Loon 25 Common Loon 2 Horned Grebe 1 Red-necked Grebe 1 MANX SHEARWATER 1 [2] Brandt's Cormorant 1 Pelagic Cormorant 6 Bald Eagle 6 Mew Gull 100 Thayer's Gull 1 Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Black-legged Kittiwake 150 [3] Rhinoceros Auklet 35 [4] Footnotes: [1] on the ocean with RHAU [2] Extended view close views (<500m) for over a minute. Smallish, all dark above, nearly immaculate white below including under-tail coverts and white wing linings. [3] Many were fishing close in with the RHAU [4] At least to groups. Total number of species seen: 16 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Forward into the past http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/02/20090223.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Fri Mar 6 13:25:33 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 13:25:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Exhibit of Bird Illustrations Message-ID: Dear Friends, You are invited to an open house with Lane County Audubon Society, as we celebrate "an evening with the birds," featuring an exhibit of bird illustrations by Larry McQueen. The event will take place on Wednesday, March 11, from 5 to 7 PM in the first-floor administration suite of the Univerity of Oregon Law Center, Agate and 15th Street. Larry will be present. Larry's exhibit, entitled "Birds for Books", is a selection of his contributions to three field guides: "Birds of Peru", "Birds of South Asia", and "All the Birds of North America". The exhibit will remain on display through July 31, 2009. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090306/6ec4ca66/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Fri Mar 6 14:26:17 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:26:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Red-tailed Hawk on beach carcass Message-ID: <49B1A309.1000902@verizon.net> 3/6 Coos Bay North Spit, Coos Cty In the many years we have spent on the beach, today we saw something new: a RED-TAILED HAWK on a cormorant carcass on the beach. Appeared it was scavenging. I've seen RT Hawks scavenge occasionally, but not on the beach, and there are carcasses there all the time (like the nicely fresh light plumaged Fulmar today). Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Mar 6 17:50:08 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 01:50:08 +0000 Subject: [obol] Recent additions to the BirdFellow.com Journal Message-ID: Greetings All, We've added several posts to the BirdFellow.com journal this week, including offerings on local conservation efforts by David Fix and a primer on finding rare birds by Steve Mlodinow. I invite you to check them out over the weekend. We are trying to pick up the pace on postings so you can expect new postings almost daily. Enjoy, Dave Irons BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Groups: Create an online spot for your favorite groups to meet. http://windowslive.com/online/groups?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_groups_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/d9813f2c/attachment.html From smithdwd at hotmail.com Fri Mar 6 18:38:48 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 02:38:48 +0000 Subject: [obol] Glaucous Gull-Fernhill Message-ID: A near all white GL Gull came to the main pond by about 4:30pm(about 60 gulls). The 1st or 2nd winter bird(I'll send photos to Greg) had a black tipped, bubble gum bill with the pm sun highlighting the colors. Most of the time it,s bill was tucked. I left at 5 as about a 100 more gulls were coming in from the western fields. David Smith _________________________________________________________________ Drag n? drop?Get easy photo sharing with Windows Live? Photos. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/products/photos.aspx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/7c057a74/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Fri Mar 6 20:16:26 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 20:16:26 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Help with ID's Message-ID: <868544.93465.qm@web46001.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Hiya fellow OBOLers, All of these photos were taken in Beaverton near or in THNP. We need all of your expertise again. We have a few questions as to the identity of 3 different birds. These are probably stupid questions, but they need to be asked, nonetheless. We have posted the photos here http://www.portlandbirds.blogspot.com/ The first is a Goose that was amidst a flock (roughly 50) of Canada Goose in Beaverton today and Michelle and I thought that it was a rare, partially leucistic Canada Goose. But upon further research after getting home, we understand that even leucistic Canada Goose have black legs. We only got one photo, as a car was barreling down on us. So what is this guy? The second set of photos is of a Sparrow? of some kind. I first thought that it was another Lincoln's (we found one today), but after looking at the photos when we got home, he doesn't really fit the bill (no pun intended). He has a very dark patch on the top of his head, he was very spotty underneath his belly and very dark streaks on his back and wings. He was making a noise like we have never heard and could not imitate if our lives depended on it. But it was not a Song Sparrow song. Nor, did he have the Lincoln's behavior. Any ideas? The third and final photo is of a Wigeon that stood out to us. He was among about 60 American Wigeons, but there is a reddish/brown stripe down his head, instead of the normal green. No matter what light or what angle, this coloring was always present. Is this some type of hybrid? I have larger photos if needed, so just let us know. Thank you so much for your help! Seth Reams and Michelle King NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From namitzr at hotmail.com Fri Mar 6 21:10:19 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 21:10:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Winchester Bay pelican & odd gull flock Message-ID: There was a BROWN PELICAN roosting with gulls at the south jetty of Winchester Bay. When I started walking out towards the jetty, I noticed a flock of birds over the water flying into the setting sun. They were gulls, probably about 60, and were flying in a tight flock almost like shorebirds. I can only say they were quite a bit smaller than nearby Western Gulls. They were flying high in unison, swinging left and right and finally they all swooped down towards the water and flew in the wave troughs. My guess is that they were Mew Gulls, I didn't get a Bonaparte's Gull feel from them, but I really don't know. It could have been a flock of Bulwer's Petrels, we'll never know, but it was interesting behavior. I looked for an eagles or falcons harassing these birds, but couldn't find any. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090306/9c78e67a/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Mar 6 21:42:17 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 21:42:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Help with ID's Message-ID: Seth, Your photos make it so much easier to help you. I've noted that most birders want to help each other learn, but there is often a frustration level between observer and helper because the bird can't be described by the observer in a way the helper can visualize it. Even poor photos can help in this regard. I've helped people with camera phone pics that have been satisfactory for identification, though you wouldn't want to frame them and hang them on a wall. In this case, I'll start with the goose. It is a domestic goose, recognized by the thick pink bill, pink legs and deep belly. It is about 1.5 times the length of a Greater White-fronted Goose, but about 5 times heavier! These domestic geese, whether brownish or all-white, derive from the Graylag Goose, also called Barnyard Goose in Sibley. Sibley has a plate of domestic waterfowl on page 89 of my first edition book. You can also see the Swan (Chinese) Goose, Muscovy and various common domestic forms of Mallard on that page. The iridescent colors on the heads of many ducks is from refraction of light and depends upon the width of the feather veins and the angle of light. There is wide variation in the heads of American Wigeon anyway--from dark-specked ones to others with extensive creamy heads. This is a frequent topic on OBOL. Hybrid American x Eurasian Wigeon usually have some combination of pink and gray on the sides and some kind of cinnamon on the head (not just the ear patch, which can be greenish even on pure Eurasian Wigeon). Again, see a couple of examples in Sibley, but there is additional variation possible than what is shown. Finally, your sparrow is, indeed, a Lincoln's Sparrow. The fine dark flank streaking on a buffy background that goes across the upper breast but not belly is good, as is the pattern of streaking on the head. The buffy malar stripe bordered by dark is diagnostic. Besides a thin high-pitched squeak, they also give a common "chap" call, like a soft call of the common wintering Sooty Fox Sparrow, which give a harder "chup" or "check" call. An immature Swamp Sparrow may look quite similar, but would show a bright foxy-red wing panel in your photos. The bill looks thin from the angle photographed, and Lincoln's do have smaller bills than Song Sparrows. This bird is certainly a Melospiza sparrow (Song, Lincoln's, Swamp) with rounded head, plump, with a longer rounded tail. Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From nepobirds at yahoo.com Fri Mar 6 22:19:56 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 22:19:56 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Help with ID's Message-ID: <822208.11228.qm@web46008.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I respectfully disagree with Greg. The Goose shows signs of being of the Canada variety. The sparrow needs to be more closely looked at and the wigeon is definitely a hybrid of some kind. Samuel Bergine From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Fri Mar 6 22:54:53 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (Jamie S.) Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 22:54:53 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Help with IDs Message-ID: <980017.7275.qm@web39502.mail.mud.yahoo.com> No doubts. Greg is right on with all 3 birds. Jamie Simmons Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090306/4fafc840/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Mar 6 22:53:49 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 22:53:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Seth Reams' goose Message-ID: Greg is right that it's a barnyard goose. The angle of the photo provides for some ambiguity, but this bird appears to be very high browed due to a knob on its beak- Anser cygnoides, the Swan Goose, rather than Anser anser , the Graylag. I'm sure either is capable of hybridizing with a Canada Goose, as a sizeable family involving a cross with the latter was frequenting Fernhill Wetlands last fall. They were all good flyers despite their robust proportions. Lars Norgren From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Mar 6 23:11:12 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 07:11:12 +0000 Subject: [obol] Help with ID's In-Reply-To: <822208.11228.qm@web46008.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <822208.11228.qm@web46008.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Hi Seth/Sameul and whoever, While we're being respectfully disagreeable, I'm in Greg's camp on both the sparrow and the wigeon. The sparrow is a slam dunk Lincoln's and the wigeon, while goofy looking, is within the range of variation (which is substantial) for American Wigeon. Just because something looks different than what you expect to see for a certain species, does not by default make it not that species or "a hybrid of some kind." I can assure you that Greg is not shooting from the hip on either of these birds. He has spent a great deal of time, as have I, studying and photographing the variation in American Wigeon and Eurasian Wigeon. My money says he can readily separate the females readily as well. As Greg pointed out in his post, the head stripe is made up of iridescent feathering, which can very in color substantially. Every other aspect of the head pattern of this bird is dead on for a male American Wigeon. There is no hint of the cinnamon coloration shown on the head of male Eurasians. Additionally, Greg pointed out (quite accurately) that hybrid male wigeon typically show some combination of gray and pinkish brown on the flanks. This bird does not appear intermediate in that regard. As for the goose, I tend to avoid trying to put names on any goose that involves parentage of the "park goose" (Anser exotica) variety, so I didn't even take a close look at it, and probably won't. While I am not one to discourage taking a closer look at birds, it is important to remember that the overwhelming number of all birds we see are those that are expected. Individual variation in birds is great due to annual molt cycles, feather wear, sun-bleaching of feathers, and in some cases mineral deposits on the feathers (i.e. rusty faces on Snow Geese). It takes lots of time in the field and lots of years of experience (which Greg certainly has) to appreciate the full range of variation some species show. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 22:19:56 -0800 > From: nepobirds at yahoo.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Help with ID's > > > I respectfully disagree with Greg. The Goose shows signs of being of the Canada variety. > > The sparrow needs to be more closely looked at and the wigeon is definitely a hybrid of some kind. > > Samuel Bergine > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_70faster_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/81158a16/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sat Mar 7 03:28:02 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 03:28:02 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Help with ID's In-Reply-To: <868544.93465.qm@web46001.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <529240.41068.qm@web37008.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I am going to join Greg and Jamie on all three counts as well - some kind of barnyard goose, Lincoln's Sparrow, and American Wigeon ... Happy Birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Fri, 3/6/09, Seth Reams wrote: From: Seth Reams Subject: [obol] Help with ID's To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Friday, March 6, 2009, 8:16 PM Hiya fellow OBOLers, All of these photos were taken in Beaverton near or in THNP. We need all of your expertise again. We have a few questions as to the identity of 3 different birds. These are probably stupid questions, but they need to be asked, nonetheless. We have posted the photos here http://www.portlandbirds.blogspot.com/ The first is a Goose that was amidst a flock (roughly 50) of Canada Goose in Beaverton today and Michelle and I thought that it was a rare, partially leucistic Canada Goose. But upon further research after getting home, we understand that even leucistic Canada Goose have black legs. We only got one photo, as a car was barreling down on us. So what is this guy? The second set of photos is of a Sparrow? of some kind. I first thought that it was another Lincoln's (we found one today), but after looking at the photos when we got home, he doesn't really fit the bill (no pun intended). He has a very dark patch on the top of his head, he was very spotty underneath his belly and very dark streaks on his back and wings. He was making a noise like we have never heard and could not imitate if our lives depended on it. But it was not a Song Sparrow song. Nor, did he have the Lincoln's behavior. Any ideas? The third and final photo is of a Wigeon that stood out to us. He was among about 60 American Wigeons, but there is a reddish/brown stripe down his head, instead of the normal green. No matter what light or what angle, this coloring was always present. Is this some type of hybrid? I have larger photos if needed, so just let us know. Thank you so much for your help! Seth Reams and Michelle King NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/b6003400/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sat Mar 7 05:53:54 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 05:53:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Griggs Mill Pond (Linn County) Red-shouldered Hawk Message-ID: There was a Red-shouldered Hawk at the old mill pond at the corner of Griggs Drive and Brewster Road, between Lebanon and Crabtree yesterday morning. I just saw it flash across the road as I was pulling up to join the car-pool at 6:45 in the morning, and did not have time to scrutinize it. Cheers, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/8dc3c742/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sat Mar 7 07:17:02 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 07:17:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hybrid Wigeon Message-ID: I had the opportunity to study hybrid American/Eurasian Wigeons at Grand Prairie Park in Albany, Linn County last month. Some photos are posted here: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/Waterfowl# There are images of a nice American drake, one with the creamy cheeks, a hybrid, and a Eurasian, though the latter has a trace green in the face. There are also images of Greater and Lesser Scaup. I would not mind comments - I may not have it right. Some poor images are at the end, mainly to put pins in the map in different places. One is a Common Pochard (Portugal), and if I saw it in Oregon, I might pass it up as a Canvasback. There is an image of Canvasbacks in Oregon for comparison. Good birding, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/fa12e3bc/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sat Mar 7 08:05:49 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 08:05:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummer, Eugene Message-ID: <81b2a9930903070805h54f4aeadvdc941c484686363a@mail.gmail.com> My yard's first-of-the-year showed up this morning. It made a bee-line for the nectar feeder, so I'm assuming that it's probably been around for a couple of days. -Brandon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/e30dfb35/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Sat Mar 7 08:47:49 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 08:47:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Help with ID's - goose In-Reply-To: <868544.93465.qm@web46001.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <49b2a534.1aba720a.2f47.ffffb3c2@mx.google.com> Hi Everyone: I think it is a hybrid Embden goose and a Canada goose. Fuzzy-Bird (my white goose) is an Embden and the goose in the photo has quite a few of the same characteristics as my goose. By the way Fuzzy-Bird will be 13 years old on April 9, 2009! Marilyn Miller -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Seth Reams Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 8:16 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Help with ID's Hiya fellow OBOLers, All of these photos were taken in Beaverton near or in THNP. We need all of your expertise again. We have a few questions as to the identity of 3 different birds. These are probably stupid questions, but they need to be asked, nonetheless. We have posted the photos here http://www.portlandbirds.blogspot.com/ The first is a Goose that was amidst a flock (roughly 50) of Canada Goose in Beaverton today and Michelle and I thought that it was a rare, partially leucistic Canada Goose. But upon further research after getting home, we understand that even leucistic Canada Goose have black legs. We only got one photo, as a car was barreling down on us. So what is this guy? The second set of photos is of a Sparrow? of some kind. I first thought that it was another Lincoln's (we found one today), but after looking at the photos when we got home, he doesn't really fit the bill (no pun intended). He has a very dark patch on the top of his head, he was very spotty underneath his belly and very dark streaks on his back and wings. He was making a noise like we have never heard and could not imitate if our lives depended on it. But it was not a Song Sparrow song. Nor, did he have the Lincoln's behavior. Any ideas? The third and final photo is of a Wigeon that stood out to us. He was among about 60 American Wigeons, but there is a reddish/brown stripe down his head, instead of the normal green. No matter what light or what angle, this coloring was always present. Is this some type of hybrid? I have larger photos if needed, so just let us know. Thank you so much for your help! Seth Reams and Michelle King NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From goosemiller at gmail.com Sat Mar 7 08:55:06 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 08:55:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Seth Reams' goose In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <49b2a6e8.19bd720a.04af.ffff90da@mx.google.com> I am going to have to disagree with Lars. I believe it is an Embden hybrid. Embden's are a descendent of the Graylag goose. I also have Affie-Goose; she is my little female Brown Chinese Goose. Brown Chinese Geese are a descendent of the Swan goose and the photo does not show the knob you would expect from a Chinese/swan goose. The goose in the photo has the same type forehead of an Embden goose. I have literally spent thousands of hours studying geese! Anyways, the goose in the photograph is a really beautiful goose! I want to thank Seth for taking a picture of it and sharing. Marilyn Miller -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Norgren Family Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 10:54 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Seth Reams' goose Greg is right that it's a barnyard goose. The angle of the photo provides for some ambiguity, but this bird appears to be very high browed due to a knob on its beak- Anser cygnoides, the Swan Goose, rather than Anser anser , the Graylag. I'm sure either is capable of hybridizing with a Canada Goose, as a sizeable family involving a cross with the latter was frequenting Fernhill Wetlands last fall. They were all good flyers despite their robust proportions. Lars Norgren _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Mar 7 09:14:15 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 09:14:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Seth Reams' goose In-Reply-To: <49b2a6e8.19bd720a.04af.ffff90da@mx.google.com> References: <49b2a6e8.19bd720a.04af.ffff90da@mx.google.com> Message-ID: As I wrote, the photo angle makes for ambiguity. There has been a free-flying Embden at Fernhill Lake for quite awhile, quite possibly the parent of the hybrid flock. Seeing this behemoth airborne is truly one of the more remarkable experiences I have had in 40 years of birding. Lars Norgren On Mar 7, 2009, at 8:55 AM, Marilyn Miller wrote: > I am going to have to disagree with Lars. I believe it is an Embden > hybrid. > Embden's are a descendent of the Graylag goose. I also have > Affie-Goose; > she is my little female Brown Chinese Goose. Brown Chinese Geese are a > descendent of the Swan goose and the photo does not show the knob you > would > expect from a Chinese/swan goose. The goose in the photo has the same > type > forehead of an Embden goose. I have literally spent thousands of hours > studying geese! > > Anyways, the goose in the photograph is a really beautiful goose! I > want to > thank Seth for taking a picture of it and sharing. > > Marilyn Miller > > -----Original Message----- > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Norgren Family > Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 10:54 PM > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Seth Reams' goose > > Greg is right that it's a barnyard goose. > The angle of the photo provides for some ambiguity, > but this bird appears to be very high browed > due to a knob on its beak- Anser cygnoides, > the Swan Goose, rather than Anser anser , > the Graylag. I'm sure either is capable of > hybridizing with a Canada Goose, as a sizeable > family involving a cross with the latter was > frequenting Fernhill Wetlands last fall. They > were all good flyers despite their robust > proportions. Lars Norgren > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From rfadney at hotmail.com Sat Mar 7 09:31:34 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 09:31:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Griggs Mill Pond (Linn County) Red-shouldered Hawk In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Thanks Jeff! I am going out in the area today, to try and shoot the albinistic Harlan's. I thought I saw a Red Shouldered in that area Thursday while passing through to Lebanon about 1:00pm, but I just got a glance at it's underside. I'll post a report later. Rich From: jeffharding at centurytel.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 05:53:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Griggs Mill Pond (Linn County) Red-shouldered Hawk There was a Red-shouldered Hawk at the old mill pond at the corner of Griggs Drive and Brewster Road, between Lebanon and Crabtree yesterday morning. I just saw it flash across the road as I was pulling up to join the car-pool at 6:45 in the morning, and did not have time to scrutinize it. Cheers, Jeff _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_70faster_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/fda0c8f6/attachment.html From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Sat Mar 7 10:20:32 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Sat, 07 Mar 2009 10:20:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] The results are IN ! Message-ID: <49B2BAF0.5080701@gmail.com> Here are the results from my Red-tail Hawk photos (so far). Anyone ELSE wish to put in their 2 cent's worth?? Kevin Smith 4 Krider's Hawk 1 Harlan's Hawk 2 Eastern juvenile 2 Fuerte's Hawk 1 Loch Ness Monster -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/08aa93ed/attachment.vcf From clausing at uiuc.edu Sat Mar 7 10:52:14 2009 From: clausing at uiuc.edu (Arthur Clausing) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 10:52:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Green birding on Sauvie Island Message-ID: <488675EA-CBE2-484B-B506-B6E6CBEA2D20@uiuc.edu> Yesterday I took a birding/bicycling trip to Sauvie Island, a PERFECT day for such an event. The biggest advantages of birding with a bicycle probably are one?s unobstructed view and adequate space to pull off and park at almost every point on route. The biggest disadvantages probably are the impossibility of dressing appropriately for the event, and the inability (or undesirability) to carry a tripod and expensive optics. Generally, I carry an inexpensive camera and Nikon Monarch binos. Generally, I do not carry a bird book or take notes during my rides (my greatest sin?). I waited for the fog to clear yesterday morning before leaving home. I arrived on the island about 10:30 and left for home about 4:00. My greatest surprises were the relatively smooth and quite traverses of Rentenaar Rd and the gravel portion of Reeder road. My biggest disappointment was not finding any White-throated sparrows ? my target bird. Statistics of interest to bicyclists: total distance: 72 miles; total time: 8 hrs; riding time: 5 1/2 hrs; average speed: 13.6 MPH. Birding aspects: I saw hundreds (??) of sparrows and had surprising close and long looks at all sparrow species seen. I did not see any loons or grebes on the Columbia river. (The river was smooth as glass; however, I did not spend a lot of time staring at its surface.) I mentally recorded the following 42 species on the island portion of my ride. My best engineering approximation for the number of each specie is also given. Snow Goose >1000 Cackling Goose >2000 Canada Goose >1000 Tundra Swan >20 Gadwall <5 Mallard >100 Northern Shoveler >20 Northern Pintail <10 Green-winged Teal >10 Canvasback <5 Ring-necked Duck <10 Lesser Scaup <10 Bufflehead <10 Common Merganser <10 Double-crested Cormorant >20 Great Blue Heron >10 Great Egret 1 Bald Eagle >10 (one on nest) Red-tailed Hawk >10 American Kestral 5 American Coot >100 Sandhill Crane >1000 Glaucous-Winged Gull et al no idea Mourning Dove >10 Great Horned Owl 1 (on nest) Downy Woodpecker 3 Northern Flicker >10 Western Scrub Jay >10 American Crow >200 Black-capped Chickadee <5 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 American Robin >50 European Starling 100s Spotted Towhee <10 Fox Sparrow 5 Song Sparrow >50 Lincoln's Sparrow 2 White-crowned Sparrow >50 Golden-crowned Sparrow >100 Dark-eyed Junco >10 Red-winged Blackbird <10 House Sparrow <10 Art Clausing -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/2b40963c/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Sat Mar 7 12:03:48 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 12:03:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Peregrine Falcon traffic at Ridgefield NWR, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: Things were a little slow at Ridgefield NWR, River S Unit this morning. I did see three different peregrine falcons and they kept the waterfowl nervous. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/f7bffcc5/attachment.html From srnord101 at verizon.net Sat Mar 7 11:55:01 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Sat, 07 Mar 2009 11:55:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands - Swamp Sparrow, Common Teal Message-ID: <000001c99f5e$9a8501c0$cf8f0540$@net> OBOL; This morning (8:30-10:10) I found the male COMMON TEAL again on The Eagle Perch Pond. The teal are challenging to see as they are feeding in the heavy vegetation. Also in the grasses on the eastside of the Cattail Lake I found a SWAMP SPARROW. Some other birds seen: Tundra Swan 28 Wood Duck 1 Northern Shoveler 480 Canvasback 9 Ruddy Duck 172 Bald Eagle 5 (1 adult on the nest, and 1 adult, a 3rd year bird and 2 other immature birds perched in the trees east of Cattail lake) Dunlin 2 Least Sandpiper 22 Mew Gull 421 Tree Swallow 3 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From jvanmoo at sisna.com Sat Mar 7 12:06:21 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 12:06:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Birding Arcata/Eureka, CA Message-ID: <3E832FDD-CA41-42D5-BAD1-786F22A8EDD5@sisna.com> Hi, I am planning to bird in the Arcata area either mid-April (Godwit Days festival) or one of the first two weeks in May. Does anyone in obol- land have an opinion about which time period would be better for weather conditions? How about the birds to see--mostly passerines in May, shorebirds in April? Which time period would you recommend if you have birded there in the spring? Any help would be appreciated. Please reply directly to me instead of obol Thanks, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From rflores_2 at msn.com Sat Mar 7 12:17:35 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 12:17:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR, River S Unit Closed the Month of April Message-ID: As part of the second phase to repair and upgrade the River S Unit bridge it will be out of service during the Month of April. The planking needs to be removed so the Contractor can upgrade the bridge railings. The railings were deemed in need of repair during the last Bridge Inspection. To complete the work as soon as possible the bridge will be closed the Month of April. Bob Flores Refuge Manager Ridgefield NWRC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/3d3454d7/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sat Mar 7 13:10:03 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 21:10:03 +0000 Subject: [obol] Nesting Bald Eagles Fernhill/Jackson Message-ID: Saw the 4 bald eagles, not the one on the nest, at Fernhill. Found one on nest at Jackson Bottom on Arbor Rose side just north of apts. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Steve Nord Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 19:55:01 To: Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands - Swamp Sparrow, Common Teal OBOL; This morning (8:30-10:10) I found the male COMMON TEAL again on The Eagle Perch Pond.? The teal are challenging to see as they are feeding in the heavy vegetation. Also in the grasses on the eastside of the Cattail Lake I found a SWAMP SPARROW.? Some other birds seen: Tundra Swan 28 Wood Duck 1 Northern Shoveler 480 Canvasback 9 Ruddy Duck 172 Bald Eagle 5 (1 adult on the nest, and 1 adult, a 3rd year bird and 2 other immature birds perched in the trees east of Cattail lake) Dunlin 2 Least Sandpiper 22 Mew Gull 421 Tree Swallow 3 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR ? _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From ellencantor at gmail.com Sat Mar 7 14:18:52 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 14:18:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hawkish day at Eugene's Amazon Canal Message-ID: <7058c4c60903071418l4eb3e766o55aa66b652291746@mail.gmail.com> This morning Elaine Rees and I birded the north side of the Amazon Canal going west from Fisher Rd just north of Royal Ave., near the Fern Ridge Refuge. Lots of raptors: Among the many RED-TAILS, one pair looked as if they were in courtship flight: talons extended, tandem flying and diving displays. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK cried out as he flew. A COOPER'S HAWK cried out and flew by. We saw one adult BALD EAGLE perched on a tree across the mouth of the canal. Three immature BALD EAGLES circled very low directly above us, accompanied by a RAVEN. An OSPREY flew far above the immature Eagles. NORTHERN HARRIERS glided around. Other birds of note: 3 MEADOWLARKS--one a very bright male, which puffed up and strutted every time he came to a hillock in the field. COMMON MERGANSER in the canal. Quite a few VARIED THRUSHES singing. VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/72774bd7/attachment.html From davehelzer at mac.com Sat Mar 7 14:38:17 2009 From: davehelzer at mac.com (David Helzer) Date: Sat, 07 Mar 2009 14:38:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Osprey in Portland March 6 Message-ID: <3F712C46-63F9-4A57-BA75-A75E2F88105C@mac.com> Yesterday (3/6/09) there was an OSPREY east of Portland Airport. Dave Helzer Portland, OR From willclemons at yahoo.com Sat Mar 7 15:34:50 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 15:34:50 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] FWD: Subject: Ridgefield NWR, River S Unit Closed the Month of April Message-ID: <201309.29797.qm@web55103.mail.re4.yahoo.com> For all readers of OBOL on Siler's site: (http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html) I have FWDed the below double post on Tweeters but did not show up on Siler's OBOL site. Will ****************************************** From: "Bob Flores" Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 12:17:35 -0800 As part of the second phase to repair and upgrade the River S Unit bridge it will be out of service during the Month of April. The planking needs to be removed so the Contractor can upgrade the bridge railings. The railings were deemed in need of repair during the last Bridge Inspection. To complete the work as soon as possible the bridge will be closed the Month of April. Bob Flores Refuge Manager Ridgefield NWRC_______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From pukeko at mcsi.net Sat Mar 7 16:04:33 2009 From: pukeko at mcsi.net (Ron Maertz) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 16:04:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] lit blue heron Message-ID: Hi Has the LITTLE BLUE HERON been seen in recent days? Thanks Maertz Glide -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/10eac0b4/attachment.html From gneavoll at comcast.net Sat Mar 7 16:08:06 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 00:08:06 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield closure In-Reply-To: <377904781.5500711236470623737.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <697553888.5501771236470886244.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Close Ridgefield for the entire month of April? So we are to miss the first wave of warblers and flycatchers, the springtime "thunder pumping" of the bittern, the early arrivals of the shorebirds, all the sights and sounds of a Northwesterrn wetland in spring - because USF&WS couldn't schedule the bridge replacement work during the slow months of the year? Bring us a break, guys! We all need that "tonic of wildness" of which Thoreau speaks. By April we need it real bad. George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090308/264b090e/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Sat Mar 7 16:22:52 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 16:22:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] correction on Ridgefield NWR Bridge Closure Message-ID: The bridge will be closed from the 30th of March to the end of April. Sorry for any confusion. Bob Flores Refuge Manager Ridgefield NWRC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/5819a21c/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Sat Mar 7 16:30:11 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 16:30:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield closure References: <697553888.5501771236470886244.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: George, We originally planned on closing the bridge in February because I knew people would be itching to get out as the weather becomes warmer and the migrants begin some movement. What happened is the materials needed could not be acquired in a timely manor and it pushed the date back. We pushed the Engineers and Contractors hard to even make the April date because we knew we did not want the closure in May! Hopefully we will be able to forgo any additional bridge repairs for years to come. If lucky in the future we may even see a new bridge? Sorry for the inconvenience. Bob Flores Refuge Manager Ridgefield NWRC ----- Original Message ----- From: gneavoll at comcast.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 4:08 PM Subject: [obol] Ridgefield closure Close Ridgefield for the entire month of April? So we are to miss the first wave of warblers and flycatchers, the springtime "thunder pumping" of the bittern, the early arrivals of the shorebirds, all the sights and sounds of a Northwesterrn wetland in spring - because USF&WS couldn't schedule the bridge replacement work during the slow months of the year? Bring us a break, guys! We all need that "tonic of wildness" of which Thoreau speaks. By April we need it real bad. George Neavoll S.W. Portland ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/593206ec/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sat Mar 7 16:20:42 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 16:20:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield closure References: <697553888.5501771236470886244.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <15C8CEF1AB6E4B1CAB89D16D33EBD586@yourw5st28y9a3> Try Sauvie Is., Ankeny, and Baskett Slough. have fun, Pam Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: gneavoll at comcast.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 4:08 PM Subject: [obol] Ridgefield closure Close Ridgefield for the entire month of April? So we are to miss the first wave of warblers and flycatchers, the springtime "thunder pumping" of the bittern, the early arrivals of the shorebirds, all the sights and sounds of a Northwesterrn wetland in spring - because USF&WS couldn't schedule the bridge replacement work during the slow months of the year? Bring us a break, guys! We all need that "tonic of wildness" of which Thoreau speaks. By April we need it real bad. George Neavoll S.W. Portland ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/8312a627/attachment.html From bettyehunt at aol.com Sat Mar 7 16:32:29 2009 From: bettyehunt at aol.com (bettyehunt at aol.com) Date: Sat, 07 Mar 2009 19:32:29 -0500 Subject: [obol] Injured Red-tail rescued In-Reply-To: <492FD7D26C574937A612FF443A0E1415@daingtanfxkwk9> References: <492FD7D26C574937A612FF443A0E1415@daingtanfxkwk9> Message-ID: <8CB6D9C7F9967DA-D74-3146@WEBMAIL-MC16.sysops.aol.com> How cool - made the Oregonian!? My cousin has a "rescued-from-the-middle-of-the-road" duckling named Lucky, but I believe this bird should be named Luckier. -----Original Message----- From: Darin To: OBOL Sent: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 2:41 pm Subject: Re: [obol] Injured Red-tail rescued So, the guy drove all the way from I-5 near Canby to Milwaukie with the hawk stuck in his grill? ? Darin ? Julie wrote: >On March 4, 2009 at approximately 6:30 a.m. a Ford Expedition driven by the man >was northbound on Interstate 5 at freeway speeds near the Canby exit when an >adult red tail hawk flew in front of the vehicle and was struck. After >stopping, the man checked the front of his vehicle and discovered the hawk had >broken through the front grill and was injured, stuck between the radiator and >grill. > > >OSP Senior Trooper Mike Hanson responded to the man's residence in Milwaukie. >With the man's help, they removed the vehicle's front grill and dislodged the >injured hawk. > _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/b10302a1/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Sat Mar 7 17:12:21 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 17:12:21 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] FWD: Subject: correction on Ridgefield NWR Bridge Closure Message-ID: <796409.55126.qm@web55102.mail.re4.yahoo.com> For all readers of OBOL on Siler's site: (http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html) I have again FWDed the Bob Flores below double post from Tweeters which did not show up at all on Siler's OBOL site. Note: -River S Unit's last open day will be Sunday, March 29th -River S Unit's next open day will be Friday, May 1st Will ****************************************** Subject: correction on Ridgefield NWR Bridge Closure From: "Bob Flores" Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 16:22:52 -0800 The bridge will be closed from the 30th of March to the end of April. Sorry for any confusion. Bob Flores Refuge Manager Ridgefield NWRC_______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From richarmstrong at comcast.net Sat Mar 7 17:36:53 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 17:36:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] newport area Message-ID: <0ED737BFC2664B7FB70E35E739719DFA@armstrong> 1. only 4 from corvallis audubon braved the trip to the coast today. it rained just a tiny bit at boiler bay, but was a little windy and a little cold all day. all in all a decent day. 2. highlights were a. RHINOCEROUS AUKLET at boiler bay b. GLAUCOUS GULL (1st winter) at newport gull puddle c. RED-NECKED GREBE in almost complete breeding plumage d. HORNED & EARED GREBES for comparison as well as western grebes e. a very close RED-THROATED LOON (in partial breeding plumage) and a few common loons f. both male & female HARLEQUIN DUCKS g. many SURFBIRDS & BLACK TURNSTONES, but we could not find a rock sandpiper h. many pelagic cormorants sporting the white back of wings as they come into breeding plumage i. PIGEON GUILLEMOTS in breeding plumage j. many RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS k. hundreds of surf scoters and a couple white-winged scoters l. bald eagles of course m. quite a few GREATER SCAUP and we never found a lesser scaup all day n. 100+ BRANT 3. and we studied various plumages of western, glaucous-winged, hybrids, herring, california, and mew gulls - unfortunately i could not find a thayers at all. Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/9803b298/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sat Mar 7 17:45:57 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 20:45:57 -0500 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands - Swamp Sparrow, Common Teal In-Reply-To: <000001c99f5e$9a8501c0$cf8f0540$@net> References: <000001c99f5e$9a8501c0$cf8f0540$@net> Message-ID: Greg Gillson and I saw the Swamp Sparrow at around 1:30pm. The exact location is at http://maps.live.com/?v=2&encType=1&cid=F88B71D5975B80C6!132. A relatively poor picture of the bird can be found on my blog at birdmeister.wordpress.com. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR > From: srnord101 at verizon.net > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 11:55:01 -0800 > Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands - Swamp Sparrow, Common Teal > > OBOL; > > This morning (8:30-10:10) I found the male COMMON TEAL again on The Eagle > Perch Pond. The teal are challenging to see as they are feeding in the > heavy vegetation. > > Also in the grasses on the eastside of the Cattail Lake I found a SWAMP > SPARROW. > > Some other birds seen: > > Tundra Swan 28 > Wood Duck 1 > Northern Shoveler 480 > Canvasback 9 > Ruddy Duck 172 > Bald Eagle 5 (1 adult on the nest, and 1 adult, a 3rd year bird and 2 other > immature birds perched in the trees east of Cattail lake) > Dunlin 2 > Least Sandpiper 22 > Mew Gull 421 > Tree Swallow 3 > Lincoln's Sparrow 1 > > > Good Birding > Steve Nord > Hillsboro, OR > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Contacts: Organize your contact list. http://windowslive.com/connect/post/marcusatmicrosoft.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!503D1D86EBB2B53C!2285.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_UGC_Contacts_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/4d51febb/attachment.html From smithdwd at hotmail.com Sat Mar 7 19:43:54 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 03:43:54 +0000 Subject: [obol] Alton Baker Say's Phoebe Message-ID: Thanks to Vjera's excellent map and directions I walked right up to a lone Say's Phoebe in the middle of the East Natural Area in Alton Baker Park at 10am Sat. David Smith _________________________________________________________________ More than messages?check out the rest of the Windows Live?. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090308/a410926a/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Mar 7 21:50:27 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 21:50:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Central Oregonian doing some valley birding Message-ID: I had to go to Portland this weekend for a Driver's Ed conference (Yes, it's just about as exciting as it sounds). I decided to come over a day early and try for some of the rarities I've missed. I started Friday morning by missing the Pyrrhuloxia in Peoria. I spent the afternoon moving back and forth between the Portland waterfront and Westmoreland Park but I did not find the Slaty-backed Gull. I was able to find the Tufted Duck by 138th thanks to some help by a local birder. Even though I missed 2 of the 3 birds I wanted to see, I really enjoyed a very nice day. It may sound a little mundane to the valley types but spending the day looking at White-throated Sparrows, Mew Gulls, Greater Scaup, Bewick's Wrens, and Purple Finches is just plain fun to an east-side drylander like me. Chuck Gates Powell Butte Crook County -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090307/dec7c133/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Sat Mar 7 23:05:28 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 23:05:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bad photos: Glaucous Gull, Swamp Sparrow Fernhill Wetlands Message-ID: I managed about the same quality of photos as did Stefan. He was digiscoping and I had the digital SLR and 100-400 mm lens. Since I think this is the first photo-documented SWAMP SPARROW for the county, and the first reported county bird since December 2006, I'll take these photos, poor as they may be. This bird is an adult, which in itself is unusual, I believe. But the answer to this question is not in Birds of Oregon: a general reference. 2003. Marshall, Hunter, Contreras. I also managed to pull out a first cycle GLAUCOUS GULL from the center of the lake with my camera. This is 200-250 yards, looking at the maps, which is an impressive distance to get a workable photo. My photos, with status commentary, are on the 2009 Washington County Bird Highlights page: http://thebirdguide.com/washington/WashCo_2009.htm David Smith digiscoped this same GLAUCOUS GULL yesterday. His best photo is on this page: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/_from_others If you want good photos, I've added about 50 in the last month to my "recent photos" page: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/_recent_photos Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Mar 8 10:44:56 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 10:44:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] JoCo female Rufous Hummer Message-ID: This morning (03-08-09) noticed at least 2 female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS at our place just east of the Merlin I-5 exit. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090308/efc0f88d/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sun Mar 8 11:22:27 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 18:22:27 +0000 Subject: [obol] Bad photos: Glaucous Gull, Swamp Sparrow Fernhill Wetlands Message-ID: The glaucous gull was still out this morning! Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Greg Gillson Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 07:05:28 To: Subject: [obol] Bad photos: Glaucous Gull, Swamp Sparrow Fernhill Wetlands I managed about the same quality of photos as did Stefan. He was digiscoping and I had the digital SLR and 100-400 mm lens. Since I think this is the first photo-documented SWAMP SPARROW for the county, and the first reported county bird since December 2006, I'll take these photos, poor as they may be. This bird is an adult, which in itself is unusual, I believe. But the answer to this question is not in Birds of Oregon: a general reference. 2003. Marshall, Hunter, Contreras. I also managed to pull out a first cycle GLAUCOUS GULL from the center of the lake with my camera. This is 200-250 yards, looking at the maps, which is an impressive distance to get a workable photo. My photos, with status commentary, are on the 2009 Washington County Bird Highlights page: http://thebirdguide.com/washington/WashCo_2009.htm David Smith digiscoped this same GLAUCOUS GULL yesterday. His best photo is on this page: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/_from_others If you want good photos, I've added about 50 in the last month to my "recent photos" page: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/_recent_photos Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sun Mar 8 11:36:13 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 18:36:13 +0000 Subject: [obol] Glaucous Gull, Swamp Sparrow Fernhill Wetlands Message-ID: In addition to Glaucous, we also found the swamp sparrow. Wife got one very good photo. Will post when we get back to Bandon later this weekend. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: "Harvey Schubothe" Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 18:22:26 To: Greg Gillson; Subject: Re: [obol] Bad photos: Glaucous Gull, Swamp Sparrow Fernhill Wetlands The glaucous gull was still out this morning! Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Greg Gillson Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 07:05:28 To: Subject: [obol] Bad photos: Glaucous Gull, Swamp Sparrow Fernhill Wetlands I managed about the same quality of photos as did Stefan. He was digiscoping and I had the digital SLR and 100-400 mm lens. Since I think this is the first photo-documented SWAMP SPARROW for the county, and the first reported county bird since December 2006, I'll take these photos, poor as they may be. This bird is an adult, which in itself is unusual, I believe. But the answer to this question is not in Birds of Oregon: a general reference. 2003. Marshall, Hunter, Contreras. I also managed to pull out a first cycle GLAUCOUS GULL from the center of the lake with my camera. This is 200-250 yards, looking at the maps, which is an impressive distance to get a workable photo. My photos, with status commentary, are on the 2009 Washington County Bird Highlights page: http://thebirdguide.com/washington/WashCo_2009.htm David Smith digiscoped this same GLAUCOUS GULL yesterday. His best photo is on this page: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/_from_others If you want good photos, I've added about 50 in the last month to my "recent photos" page: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/_recent_photos Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From WRBradford at aol.com Sun Mar 8 12:03:43 2009 From: WRBradford at aol.com (WRBradford at aol.com) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 15:03:43 EDT Subject: [obol] Say's Phoebe - PDX Message-ID: A SAY'S PHOEBE was hanging out west of Ikea on the north side of Alderwood Road in Portland this morning. It could be seen close to or on a barbed wire fence that runs along the northeast side of the stream, across from the airport employee parking lot. We saw the bird best by standing in front of the large metal gate, 50 feet right of the sign, "PIC E-Zone Watershed(?) Area" which marks the beginning of an asphalt path running parallel to Alderwood. There's an active RED-TAILED HAWK'S nest between the path and Alderwood, about 150 yards down the path. Following the path back across Alderwood, as it skirts the employee parking lot, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK could be seen in a tree across the slough to the south of the lot. There were a few HOODED MERGANSERS on Johnson Lake, a short walk down Glass Plant Road from the east end of the path between the airport employee parking and the slough. Bill Bradford NE Portland **************Check all of your email inboxes from anywhere on the web. Try the new Email Toolbar now! (http://toolbar.aol.com/mail/download.html?ncid=txtlnkusdown00000027) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090308/d07aab6c/attachment.html From 4cains at charter.net Sun Mar 8 12:09:09 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 12:09:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] first female Rufous Message-ID: <03DE5F99DAA146CCB73AD1EA01B9087E@HAL> Our first female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD showed up yesterday-- and at least one of the three or so males already here has been displaying. Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090308/6e1bfb94/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Mar 8 13:37:01 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 08 Mar 2009 13:37:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - 3/8/2009 Message-ID: <49B42C6D.3090404@pacifier.com> Columbia Estuary Report - 3/8/2009 There were 9 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS at Wireless Rd this morning. Ocean conditions at the South Jetty were not nearly so nice this morning as they were Friday, but good numbers of BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES continue. Neal Maine reports a BLACK PHOEBE from the Neacoxie at the Fort to Sea Trail Bridge Friday. This is at least a mile north of the area where one has been wintering on West Lake and may be a different individual. Female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS were seen at my house on Friday and Lee Cain's today. David Bailey reported a female earlier in the week from Gearhart. The GLAUCOUS GULL incursion continues with at least one (maybe 2) at Necanicum Estuary and at least 3 from Wireless Rd. There are several other starkly white gulls at Wireless Rd which may or may not also be Glaucous Gulls, but definitely do not seem to be pale extreme pure Glaucous-winged Gulls. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Forward into the past http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/02/20090223.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Mar 8 13:38:20 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 08 Mar 2009 13:38:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] More white-winged gulls at Wireless Message-ID: <49B42CBC.9020106@pacifier.com> As promised, I've added more photos of white-winged gulls from the pastures at Wireless Rd. They are not necessarily the same individuals as those originally posted. One of the photos is of an obvious GLAUCOUS GULL (there were at least three easily identifiable GLAUCOUS GULLS in the fields today), but the others are more suspect individuals. http://home.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/uggu/ugly_gull.html -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Forward into the past http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/02/20090223.html From roygerig at hotmail.com Sun Mar 8 13:47:30 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 13:47:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Baskett Slough Phoebes 3/6/09 Message-ID: Friday morning (3-6-09) I took a quick drive through BSNWR west of Salem and saw a BLACK PHOEBE at the south end of Livermore Road where one has often been seen over the past several years. The BLPH was somewhat expected, but then just 5 minutes later I saw a SAY'S PHOEBE just 1/2 mile west, at the house near the vineyard driveway. The house is along Smithfield Road at the NW corner of the refuge. Only the second time I have ever seen both phoebe species on the same day at Baskett Slough. Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/personalize.aspx?ocid=TXT_MSGTX_WL_HM_express_032009#colortheme -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090308/54a992c0/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Sun Mar 8 14:59:10 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Sun, 08 Mar 2009 13:59:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull - Portland. Message-ID: The previously reported Slaty-backed Gull was on a light post on the Burnside Bridge at 1:30 PM. Jeff Gilligan Portland From davidmandell at earthlink.net Sun Mar 8 15:31:43 2009 From: davidmandell at earthlink.net (David Mandell) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 15:31:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island all white Cackling Goose Message-ID: There was an all white Cackling Goose in a large flock of minima at the end of Retenaar Road. The bird gave a very good impression of a Ross's Goose (small white goose, with small head and stubby bill), but was pretty much exactly the same size and shape of the rest of cacklers, and had no black on the wings. When it flew in a bit closer it seemed to also have a black bill and a very faint ghosting of a back pattern. In flight, the wings and back were lightly frosted, almost like a second-cycle Glaucous-winged Gull. There was another individual in the same flock that was unusually pale winged, although not nearly as striking as this other bird. David Mandell Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090308/b460377b/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sun Mar 8 15:42:31 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 22:42:31 +0000 Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island all white Cackling Goose Message-ID: We had a very similar sighting today at Fernhill of such of a goose coming from the north, touching down briefly and then continuing south. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: David Mandell Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 22:31:43 To: Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island all white Cackling Goose There was an all white Cackling Goose in a large flock of minima?at the end of Retenaar Road. ?The bird gave a very good impression of a Ross's Goose (small white goose, with small head and stubby bill), but was pretty much exactly the same size and shape of the rest of cacklers, and had no black on the wings. ?When it flew in a bit closer it seemed to also have a black bill and a very faint ghosting of a back pattern. In flight, the wings and back were lightly frosted, almost like a second-cycle Glaucous-winged Gull. ?There was another individual in the same flock that was unusually pale winged, although not nearly as striking as this other bird. David Mandell Portland, OR From tanager at nu-world.com Sun Mar 8 16:51:47 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 16:51:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] help for visiting birder Message-ID: <002401c9a048$d81a46e0$884ed4a0$@com> I received a request for information on finding Mountain Quail in Oregon. He would also like to locate Pinyon Jay and Hermit Warbler (should be arriving around the 25 of April in Western Oregon). Philip will be in Oregon the last week of April and the first week in May. I know he plans on visiting the Sisters area for White-headed Woodpeckers. Phil- this is a good area for the Jay also. Any feeder watchers out there? Please contact Philip Critchlow (from Victoria, BC) at: pmcritchlow at shaw.ca Thank you, Anne Heyerly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090308/2e1a67d8/attachment.html From dinpdx at yahoo.com Sun Mar 8 17:43:48 2009 From: dinpdx at yahoo.com (Dwight) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 17:43:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Yard Bird Photo- Cooper's Hawk Message-ID: <716390.8090.qm@web31603.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I noticed a crow doing crazy aerobatics above the parking lot when I came home this afternoon, he apparently had a problem with this visitor, an immature Cooper's Hawk: http://www.pbase.com/dwight_porter/image/109993626 Dwight Porter Portland From namitzr at hotmail.com Sun Mar 8 17:43:59 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 17:43:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Raptor Survey 3/8 Message-ID: 0900-1300 74 miles in 4 hrs Rain, hail, sun & wind present 10 Red-tailed Hawks 2 American Kestrels 3 Northern Harriers 4 Bald Eagles 6 Red-shouldered Hawks 2 White-tailed Kites 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 17 Turkey Vultures Other notable species for the south coast include 1 Eurasian Wigeon, 10+ Cackling Geese and 6 Western Bluebirds. Larger numbers of Canvasback and Wilson's Snipe were noted. Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090308/80819cb5/attachment.html From Jfitchen at aol.com Sun Mar 8 17:52:54 2009 From: Jfitchen at aol.com (Jfitchen at aol.com) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 20:52:54 EDT Subject: [obol] PDX Say's Phoebe, Yes. Message-ID: Hello Obol, This afternoon at 4:30 p.m. I found the SAY'S PHOEBE reported earlier today by Bill Bradford at PDX. The detailed directions were very helpful, including the "PIC E-Zone Watershed Area" sign--when I saw that I was sure I was in the right place. The bird was not visible from the gate so I simply walked the barbed wire fence line to the north of the "stream." I found the phoebe fly-catching from the last of the white-tipped fence posts some 200 yards northeast of the gate. Thanks Bill, nice bird. Cheers, John Fitchen Portland In a message dated 3/8/2009 12:05:08 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, WRBradford at aol.com writes: A SAY'S PHOEBE was hanging out west of Ikea on the north side of Alderwood Road in Portland this morning. It could be seen close to or on a barbed wire fence that runs along the northeast side of the stream, across from the airport employee parking lot. We saw the bird best by standing in front of the large metal gate, 50 feet right of the sign, "PIC E-Zone Watershed(?) Area" which marks the beginning of an asphalt path running parallel to Alderwood. There's an active RED-TAILED HAWK'S nest between the path and Alderwood, about 150 yards down the path. Following the path back across Alderwood, as it skirts the employee parking lot, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK could be seen in a tree across the slough to the south of the lot. There were a few HOODED MERGANSERS on Johnson Lake, a short walk down Glass Plant Road from the east end of the path between the airport employee parking and the slough. Bill Bradford NE Portland ____________________________________ Check all of your email inboxes from anywhere on the web. _Try the new Email Toolbar now_ (http://toolbar.aol.com/mail/download.html?ncid=txtlnkusdown00000027) ! _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol **************Worried about job security? Check out the 5 safest jobs in a recession. (http://jobs.aol.com/gallery/growing-job-industries?ncid=emlcntuscare00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090308/61d9737b/attachment.html From SJJag at comcast.net Sun Mar 8 18:12:51 2009 From: SJJag at comcast.net (SJJag at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 01:12:51 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] RFI, birding Maine/Nova Scotia Message-ID: <1487478231.3731391236561171110.JavaMail.root@sz0081a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hello Traveling Birders Linda and I are going East this summer. Anyone with exp. in Maine and/or Nova Scotia willing to comment, suggest, mention resources? Thanks in advance. Steve Jaggers Linda Neumann Milwaukie, Or. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090309/5009ecd2/attachment.html From krallfamily at comcast.net Sun Mar 8 19:37:15 2009 From: krallfamily at comcast.net (Kathy) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 19:37:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] hooded mergansers, wind turbines Message-ID: <78F68FC04CFB4A079D19651D1A2E11D3@D04KrallStudy> Hello OBOL We saw a beautiful pair of hooded mergansers at Killen Marsh this afternoon. They were there 3 weeks ago as well. Attended a presentation at the Oceanside Community Club Saturday by Principle Power, Inc. regarding planned placement of up to 30 wind turbines off the coast of Tillamook county...each 400 feet tall! Impact on pelagic and migrating birds? Kathy and Mike Krall -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090308/bdb54092/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sun Mar 8 20:07:57 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 20:07:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield (WA) COMMON TEAL Message-ID: <863679.74219.qm@web55702.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Today Christopher spotted a "COMMON" (GREEN-WINGED) TEAL at marker #5 on the River S Unit at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington. It was feeding with a few other green-wings. We also saw many swallows (mostly Tree, with about 15 Violet-greens), 3 CINNAMON TEAL, 90 distant shorebirds on Rest Lake (LEAST SANDPIPERS, DOWITCHERS and DUNLIN), a GREAT-HORNED OWL, a BARN OWL, and 3 TURKEY VULTURES. I would say that spring's here, but it snowed on us several times today. Good Birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle, Em Scattaregia From mlafaive at msn.com Sun Mar 8 20:21:18 2009 From: mlafaive at msn.com (Margaret LaFaive) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 20:21:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Swamp Sparrow and Glaucous Gull Message-ID: About 3:00 this afternoon Eric and I and another birder (sorry, I did not get your name) found the Fernhill Wetlands SWAMP SPARROW in the grass and brush at the NE corner of Cattail Lake (the middle pond). The bird was foraging right along the water's edge. After carefully studying all of the gulls on Fernhill Lake, we finally found the GLAUCOUS GULL in the muddy field just west of the wetlands. Good Birding, Margaret LaFaive Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090308/009db4b2/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Mar 8 20:29:17 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 03:29:17 +0000 Subject: [obol] hooded mergansers, wind turbines In-Reply-To: <78F68FC04CFB4A079D19651D1A2E11D3@D04KrallStudy> References: <78F68FC04CFB4A079D19651D1A2E11D3@D04KrallStudy> Message-ID: >From what I've heard, wind turbines are pretty hard on migrant birds. It's hard to imagine how this proposed project wouldn't have some extremely negative side effects. Given that most tubenoses and alcids fly low to the water and that these things are going to be 400' tall, my guess is that they would be mostly unaffected, unless they crash into the support poles at night. However, gulls, pelicans, cormorants and many species of migrant shorebirds and waterfowl fly at altitudes that would make them susceptible to these giant fans. In particular, one species and two additional subspecies of geese immediately come to mind as a potential victims. Both Greater White-fronted and Aleutian Cackling geese are known to make long trans-Pacific flights from the Arctic typically returning to land along the central Oregon coast and farther south. On last fall's repositioning cruise we had a southbound flock of 36 Aleuts about 50 miles off Coos County and they were flying about 250-300 feet off the water. Lastly, the entire population of the extremely rare (150 or so birds) Semidi Island Cackling Goose winters in southern Tillamook Co. Surely USFWS biologists Roy Lowe and Dave Pitkin are aware of this proposal and hopefully their input and recommendations will be valued by whomever overseas the permitting of this type of project. I would like to know more of the particulars of this proposal, such as how far offshore these turbines will be placed, how will they be aligned (an east-west configuration makes the least amount of sense, kind of like a gill net for birds), the dimensions of the blades, and how far off the water the center of the turbine would be. Please reply off-list if you can provide such details. Better yet, is there a website where one can learn more about this proposal and who stands to make $$$$ from it? Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: krallfamily at comcast.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 19:37:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] hooded mergansers, wind turbines Hello OBOL We saw a beautiful pair of hooded mergansers at Killen Marsh this afternoon. They were there 3 weeks ago as well. Attended a presentation at the Oceanside Community Club Saturday by Principle Power, Inc. regarding planned placement of up to 30 wind turbines off the coast of Tillamook county...each 400 feet tall! Impact on pelagic and migrating birds? Kathy and Mike Krall _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Groups: Create an online spot for your favorite groups to meet. http://windowslive.com/online/groups?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_groups_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090309/0399abe4/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sun Mar 8 20:54:07 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 20:54:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] hooded mergansers, wind turbines References: <78F68FC04CFB4A079D19651D1A2E11D3@D04KrallStudy> Message-ID: I don't know enough to post but I will anyway! I hope someone more informed posts some details. IMHO, I think these are coming up in every community. There is supposed to be a process of environmental assessment so that issues of timing of migration and turning off or slowing the blades during heavy migration times for birds and insects will result in fewer kills assoc with wind power etc. It is very difficult to figure out all the engineering talk and my belief right now is that power companies, developers, are going to rush through proposals hoping to get on the bandwagon of stimulus for jobs and "green energy". I think all of us have to watch carefully and be informed about what is happening in our communities. Are the Audubons, Sierra Clubs, OFOs, ECBCs and ONDAs in the state getting involved? Years ago, Oregon Audubons did lots of work on wind power. I believe they were effective in some changes in location along the Columbia or stopping it and not losing so many birds. Raptors, butterflies, dragonflies, etc are some of the critters that stand to be killed if these things are put in pathways of migration and run at full speed during migration. Location and how they operate needs to be carefully examined - IMHO. Biologists here in Central Oregon are working hard regarding wind power. Some individuals in the "conservation community" are writing letters. Where will this go? How many projects are on the table right now in Oregon? What birds are most at risk? Judy Meredith----- Original Message ----- From: David Irons To: krallfamily at comcast.net ; post OBOL Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 8:29 PM Subject: Re: [obol] hooded mergansers, wind turbines >From what I've heard, wind turbines are pretty hard on migrant birds. It's hard to imagine how this proposed project wouldn't have some extremely negative side effects. Given that most tubenoses and alcids fly low to the water and that these things are going to be 400' tall, my guess is that they would be mostly unaffected, unless they crash into the support poles at night. However, gulls, pelicans, cormorants and many species of migrant shorebirds and waterfowl fly at altitudes that would make them susceptible to these giant fans. In particular, one species and two additional subspecies of geese immediately come to mind as a potential victims. Both Greater White-fronted and Aleutian Cackling geese are known to make long trans-Pacific flights from the Arctic typically returning to land along the central Oregon coast and farther south. On last fall's repositioning cruise we had a southbound flock of 36 Aleuts about 50 miles off Coos County and they were flying about 250-300 feet off the water. Lastly, the entire population of the extremely rare (150 or so birds) Semidi Island Cackling Goose winters in southern Tillamook Co. Surely USFWS biologists Roy Lowe and Dave Pitkin are aware of this proposal and hopefully their input and recommendations will be valued by whomever overseas the permitting of this type of project. I would like to know more of the particulars of this proposal, such as how far offshore these turbines will be placed, how will they be aligned (an east-west configuration makes the least amount of sense, kind of like a gill net for birds), the dimensions of the blades, and how far off the water the center of the turbine would be. Please reply off-list if you can provide such details. Better yet, is there a website where one can learn more about this proposal and who stands to make $$$$ from it? Dave Irons Eugene, OR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: krallfamily at comcast.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 19:37:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] hooded mergansers, wind turbines -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090308/59fe6203/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Sun Mar 8 20:59:29 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Sun, 08 Mar 2009 20:59:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wind Turbines off OR Coast: was Hooded Mergansers Message-ID: <49B49421.50108@pdx.edu> Dave, The information from which to start googling was provided in the original posting. I put in "Principle Power turbine Oregon" and got numerous hits. This one I briefly looked at: http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2009/03/02/principle-power-raising-20m-to-build-worlds-first-floating-wind-farm/ The turbines I have heard about are slated to go off the coast of Garner, or maybe that was tidal powered turbines. In any case, a key to placing these turbine site is a land-based site where the generated energy can enter the grid. Hence Garner is a prime spot because of the defunct International Paper Mill site there and the set up they have there that used to be used for the mill. I think there is a main link to the electrical grid there too. These offshore energy generation plants (wind or wave) also have implications for the proposed marine reserve networks the state is attempting to establish. The hybrid hummingbird seems to be gone for good from my yard in Gearhart. David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon > Hello OBOL > > We saw a beautiful pair of hooded > mergansers at Killen Marsh this afternoon. They were there 3 weeks ago as > well. > Attended a presentation at the Oceanside Community > Club Saturday by Principle Power, Inc. regarding planned placement of up to 30 > wind turbines off the coast of Tillamook county...each 400 feet tall! Impact on > > pelagic and migrating birds? > > Kathy and Mike Krall > From vernd at oregonfast.net Sun Mar 8 21:05:03 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 21:05:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wind Turbines off OR Coast: was Hooded Mergansers In-Reply-To: <49B49421.50108@pdx.edu> References: <49B49421.50108@pdx.edu> Message-ID: <8F353BD6-ADEB-4128-8F92-C2414833103A@oregonfast.net> Small correction: The vacant IP mill site is in Gardner, just North of Reedsport. On Mar 8, 2009, at 8:59 PM, David C. B ailey wrote: > Dave, > > The information from which to start googling was provided in the > original posting. I put in "Principle Power turbine Oregon" and got > numerous hits. > > This one I briefly looked at: > > http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2009/03/02/principle-power- > raising-20m-to-build-worlds-first-floating-wind-farm/ > > The turbines I have heard about are slated to go off the coast of > Garner, or maybe that was tidal powered turbines. In any case, a > key to > placing these turbine site is a land-based site where the generated > energy can enter the grid. Hence Garner is a prime spot because of the > defunct International Paper Mill site there and the set up they have > there that used to be used for the mill. I think there is a main > link to > the electrical grid there too. > > These offshore energy generation plants (wind or wave) also have > implications for the proposed marine reserve networks the state is > attempting to establish. > > The hybrid hummingbird seems to be gone for good from my yard in > Gearhart. > > David > > David C. Bailey > Gearhart, Oregon > > > >> Hello OBOL >> >> We saw a beautiful pair of hooded >> mergansers at Killen Marsh this afternoon. They were there 3 weeks >> ago as >> well. >> Attended a presentation at the Oceanside Community >> Club Saturday by Principle Power, Inc. regarding planned placement >> of up to 30 >> wind turbines off the coast of Tillamook county...each 400 feet >> tall! Impact on >> >> pelagic and migrating birds? >> >> Kathy and Mike Krall >> > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090308/04c4d9bc/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Sun Mar 8 21:26:01 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 21:26:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wind Turbines off OR Coast: was Hooded Mergansers In-Reply-To: <49B49421.50108@pdx.edu> References: <49B49421.50108@pdx.edu> Message-ID: Also yes, there IS a big substation that fed the paper mill and the lumber mill. IP makes us on Siltcoos Lake a little nervous as they control the "right" to water from the lake which used to feed Tackenitch Lake which fed the Paper mill. They own and maintain the dam which controls the lake level. They recently drained Siltcoos way down, removed and replaced the dam gates. It was interesting to see the lake at fairly near pre-dam levels. IP currently has the dam and water rights for sale. Like I said.... nervous. Vern On Mar 8, 2009, at 8:59 PM, David C. B ailey wrote: > Dave, > > The information from which to start googling was provided in the > original posting. I put in "Principle Power turbine Oregon" and got > numerous hits. > > This one I briefly looked at: > > http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2009/03/02/principle-power- > raising-20m-to-build-worlds-first-floating-wind-farm/ > > The turbines I have heard about are slated to go off the coast of > Garner, or maybe that was tidal powered turbines. In any case, a > key to > placing these turbine site is a land-based site where the generated > energy can enter the grid. Hence Garner is a prime spot because of the > defunct International Paper Mill site there and the set up they have > there that used to be used for the mill. I think there is a main > link to > the electrical grid there too. > > These offshore energy generation plants (wind or wave) also have > implications for the proposed marine reserve networks the state is > attempting to establish. > > The hybrid hummingbird seems to be gone for good from my yard in > Gearhart. > > David > > David C. Bailey > Gearhart, Oregon > > > >> Hello OBOL >> >> We saw a beautiful pair of hooded >> mergansers at Killen Marsh this afternoon. They were there 3 weeks >> ago as >> well. >> Attended a presentation at the Oceanside Community >> Club Saturday by Principle Power, Inc. regarding planned placement >> of up to 30 >> wind turbines off the coast of Tillamook county...each 400 feet >> tall! Impact on >> >> pelagic and migrating birds? >> >> Kathy and Mike Krall >> > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090308/94c4fde8/attachment.html From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Sun Mar 8 21:59:00 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 21:59:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Birder's Night: Monday March 9 Message-ID: <46B3527D-424C-45DA-B390-CCDD16B7B9A4@comcast.net> OBOL- Eugene Birder's Night will be March 9 (second Monday of each Month) at 7pm. LOCATION: Sacred Heart Hospital (downtown), 1255 Hilyard St; Conference Room A (across the hall from the Auditorium). Directions to Conference Room A: -enter main Lobby from Hilyard St -turn Left and walk down hall (past the cafeteria) to end of hall -turn Right and walk down hall (past Dining Room) to end of hall -turn Right and walk a few steps, then Left down the hall toward the Auditorium -Conference Room A (labelled simply Conference Room) is on the Right (across from a bank of telephones on the Left side of the hall) Parking: Parking lot structure (across Hilyard from the Lobby) charges $1/hour (I think). Street parking is not available on Hilyard per se, but is found on 13th, 12th (West of Patterson), and Patterson streets (street parking free after 6pm). Map is at this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=sacred+heart+hospital+eugene,+or&fb=1&split=1&cid=0,0,17378354515337851834&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image Agenda: usual reporting format and chit/chat Note: we will have reliable access to audio/video support from this point on, so those wishing to bring a disc or laptop to show interesting images, etc should feel free to do so. For a lengthly presentation, please give me a heads-up so we can avoid conflicts. Barry McKenzie Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090308/c6f23066/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Mar 8 22:06:48 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 21:06:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Purple Finch returns Message-ID: <4f9181a04f21bea910d186984ab4fa22@earthlink.net> A male Purple Finch came to our feeder yesterday morning and again this morning. Based strictly on memory I'd say this was way ahead of average. MAybe two weeks sooner than other years. Typically they show up after Rufous Hummers. I recall Alan Contreras seeing them ahead of average in balmy South Eugene. We are finishing a second day of snowfall here, after no more than a week of snowfree ground since December 13. No hummingbirds yet which seem to be "early" almost everywhere this year. I was surprised when Tim Rodenkirk reported hearing his first singing Hutton's Vireo about Feb 3. I had the same experience here, over 200 miles to the north, the same week. So far HUVI has sung here only once this season. Some years they sing in December. Lars Norgren Manning OR From vernd at oregonfast.net Sun Mar 8 22:11:27 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 22:11:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Off topic: Beached Finback Whale Message-ID: <02AA7232-4D3C-4948-9669-7883A923C49C@oregonfast.net> Hello OBOL, I decided to do a photographic study of the beached Finback Whale that died and came ashore at Cape Creek, just below Heceta Head Lighthouse. FOR THOSE INTERESTED....... Here is the link to my index: http://www.vernondipietrophotographer.com/-/ vernondipietrophotographer/galleryindex.asp Click on Whale Study. **** Please note that some of the images are disturbing.****** It was an interesting and humbling experience. Vern Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090308/6daad386/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Mar 8 23:19:52 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 08 Mar 2009 22:19:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Purple Finch returns In-Reply-To: <4f9181a04f21bea910d186984ab4fa22@earthlink.net> Message-ID: The Purple Finches that were here two weeks ago are pretty much still around, at least the brown ones. The adult males disappeared a week back but one showed up today. Snowed a bit in balmy s Eugene today, too. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Norgren Family > Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 21:06:48 -0800 > To: > Subject: [obol] Purple Finch returns > > A male Purple Finch came to our > feeder yesterday morning and again > this morning. Based strictly on memory > I'd say this was way ahead of average. > MAybe two weeks sooner than other years. > Typically they show up after Rufous Hummers. > I recall Alan Contreras seeing them ahead > of average in balmy South Eugene. We are > finishing a second day of snowfall here, > after no more than a week of snowfree > ground since December 13. > No hummingbirds yet which seem to > be "early" almost everywhere this year. > I was surprised when Tim Rodenkirk reported > hearing his first singing Hutton's Vireo > about Feb 3. I had the same experience here, > over 200 miles to the north, the same week. > So far HUVI has sung here only once this > season. Some years they sing in December. > Lars Norgren Manning OR > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dinpdx at yahoo.com Sun Mar 8 23:44:52 2009 From: dinpdx at yahoo.com (Dwight) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 23:44:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Cooper's Photo- Oops it's a Sharpie Message-ID: <884677.59297.qm@web31604.mail.mud.yahoo.com> When I first looked at this bird with my binoculars the top of the head looked flat and so I thought "Cooper's Hawk". However upon further review I think it is a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Larry McQueen sent me a note questioning the Cooper's ID and I agree with him, so I am changing the ID. I added some more photos of the bird here: http://www.pbase.com/dwight_porter/sharp-shinned_or_coopers A question on accipiter ID-are the wide horizontal bands seen in the link below indicative of Sharp-shinned and not Cooper's? If so then I have learned a new field mark. I've been looking at other photos and while I see some variation in the streaking of immature Sharp-shinned Hawks the Cooper's seem to show darker, thinner streaks without the "fat" horizontal bands. http://www.pbase.com/dwight_porter/image/110003318 Dwight Porter Portland --- On Sun, 3/8/09, Larry McQueen wrote: > From: Larry McQueen > Subject: RE: [obol] Yard Bird Photo- Cooper's Hawk > To: dinpdx at yahoo.com > Date: Sunday, March 8, 2009, 7:57 PM > Dwight, > > The brownish breast streaks and pale cross-bars on the > belly and flanks make > this bird look like a Sharp-shinned to me. Also, the > rounded head points to > Sharpy. The tail tip cannot be seen well enough. At close > range, these can > appear to be larger, but size can overlap in the extremes > between the two > sp. > > Larry McQueen > > -----Original Message----- > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of > Dwight > Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 5:44 PM > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Yard Bird Photo- Cooper's Hawk > > > I noticed a crow doing crazy aerobatics above the parking > lot when I came > home this afternoon, he apparently had a problem with this > visitor, an > immature Cooper's Hawk: > > http://www.pbase.com/dwight_porter/image/109993626 > > Dwight Porter > Portland > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.9/1989 - Release > Date: 03/07/09 > 18:43:00 From iain.t.morris at gmail.com Mon Mar 9 08:59:41 2009 From: iain.t.morris at gmail.com (Iain Morris) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 08:59:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bend -> John Day 03/07/09 Message-ID: On a trip out to John Day Fossil Beds NM we stopped off for some birding in a few spots. At the Prineville Sewage Ponds, there were a bunch of Great Blue Heron in the trees across the water. There was plenty of activity in and around the water as well: Ring-Necked Duck, Northern Shoveler, American Widgeon, Ruddy Duck, Common Goldeneye, and Lesser Scaup represented the water fowl, accompanied by some Killdeer, and a few Townsend Solitaire in the trees. Along the road in the Nat'l Monument area, we saw Ferruginous Hawk, American Kestrel, Bald Eagle, Rough-legged Hawk, and a small group of Western Bluebird. -Iain and Desiree Bend From goosemiller at gmail.com Mon Mar 9 09:01:49 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 09:01:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] hooded mergansers, wind turbines In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <49b53d6a.22bd720a.56f9.4ecd@mx.google.com> The Oregon Chapter Sierra Club, Portland Audubon Society and the Oregon Natural Desert Association are all in the loop. This topic is coming up in almost all the environmental groups. There are lots of so called green energy projects and wind projects "on the table" now all over the state of Oregon and not just off the coast. I urge everyone to get involved. Marilyn Miller Conservation Chair Juniper Group Sierra Club Bend, Oregon _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Judy Meredith Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 8:54 PM To: obol Subject: Re: [obol] hooded mergansers, wind turbines I don't know enough to post but I will anyway! I hope someone more informed posts some details. IMHO, I think these are coming up in every community. There is supposed to be a process of environmental assessment so that issues of timing of migration and turning off or slowing the blades during heavy migration times for birds and insects will result in fewer kills assoc with wind power etc. It is very difficult to figure out all the engineering talk and my belief right now is that power companies, developers, are going to rush through proposals hoping to get on the bandwagon of stimulus for jobs and "green energy". I think all of us have to watch carefully and be informed about what is happening in our communities. Are the Audubons, Sierra Clubs, OFOs, ECBCs and ONDAs in the state getting involved? Years ago, Oregon Audubons did lots of work on wind power. I believe they were effective in some changes in location along the Columbia or stopping it and not losing so many birds. Raptors, butterflies, dragonflies, etc are some of the critters that stand to be killed if these things are put in pathways of migration and run at full speed during migration. Location and how they operate needs to be carefully examined - IMHO. Biologists here in Central Oregon are working hard regarding wind power. Some individuals in the "conservation community" are writing letters. Where will this go? How many projects are on the table right now in Oregon? What birds are most at risk? Judy Meredith----- Original Message ----- From: David Irons To: krallfamily at comcast.net ; post OBOL Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 8:29 PM Subject: Re: [obol] hooded mergansers, wind turbines >From what I've heard, wind turbines are pretty hard on migrant birds. It's hard to imagine how this proposed project wouldn't have some extremely negative side effects. Given that most tubenoses and alcids fly low to the water and that these things are going to be 400' tall, my guess is that they would be mostly unaffected, unless they crash into the support poles at night. However, gulls, pelicans, cormorants and many species of migrant shorebirds and waterfowl fly at altitudes that would make them susceptible to these giant fans. In particular, one species and two additional subspecies of geese immediately come to mind as a potential victims. Both Greater White-fronted and Aleutian Cackling geese are known to make long trans-Pacific flights from the Arctic typically returning to land along the central Oregon coast and farther south. On last fall's repositioning cruise we had a southbound flock of 36 Aleuts about 50 miles off Coos County and they were flying about 250-300 feet off the water. Lastly, the entire population of the extremely rare (150 or so birds) Semidi Island Cackling Goose winters in southern Tillamook Co. Surely USFWS biologists Roy Lowe and Dave Pitkin are aware of this proposal and hopefully their input and recommendations will be valued by whomever overseas the permitting of this type of project. I would like to know more of the particulars of this proposal, such as how far offshore these turbines will be placed, how will they be aligned (an east-west configuration makes the least amount of sense, kind of like a gill net for birds), the dimensions of the blades, and how far off the water the center of the turbine would be. Please reply off-list if you can provide such details. Better yet, is there a website where one can learn more about this proposal and who stands to make $$$$ from it? Dave Irons Eugene, OR _____ From: krallfamily at comcast.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 19:37:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] hooded mergansers, wind turbines -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090309/b030bc6b/attachment.html From tamickel at rio.com Mon Mar 9 09:18:30 2009 From: tamickel at rio.com (Tom & Allison Mickel) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 09:18:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: Cedar Waxwing, Pileated woodpecker RE: House finch? Message-ID: <001301c9a0d2$afef1f30$0fcd5d90$@com> OBOL, Cynthia is looking for some photos for the quarterly publication of the Oregon Dept. of Forestry. If you have any photos that you would be willing to let her use, please email her at the address below - do not reply to this message. Thanks, Tom Mickel -----Original Message----- From: ORLANDO Cynthia A [mailto:Cynthia.A.Orlando at state.or.us] Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 8:52 AM To: 'tamickel at rio.com' Subject: FW: Cedar Waxwing, Pileated woodpecker RE: House finch? Hi Tom and Alison, See below, I'm again in search of good bird photos, a house finch photo to help illustrate a story about London Plane trees and cedar waxwing or pileated woodpecker photos for Table of Contents page(s). Are you in town this week? I wondered if you might have time to post another request on the birders website. Cheers - Cynthia Cynthia Orlando ODF Agency Affairs & Urban Forestry 503.945.7421 fax: 503.945.7212 "Wherever I go in America, I like it when the land speaks its own language in its own regional accent." Mrs. Lyndon Johnson, Wildflowers Across America "Keep a green tree in your heart, and perhaps a singing bird will come." Chinese proverb * http://www.childrenandnature.org/ * http://www.na.fs.fed.us/urban/inforesources/ucftoolkit/pdf/StatisticsSheet.p df ---------- From: ORLANDO Cynthia A Sent: Monday, March 9, 2009 7:47 AM To: 'Tom Shreve' Subject: Cedar Waxwing, Pileated woodpecker RE: House finch? Hi Tom, I am also looking for good photos of Cedar Waxwings & Pileated Woodpecker, preferably taken somewhere in Oregon. Cheers - Cynthia Cynthia Orlando ODF Agency Affairs & Urban Forestry 503.945.7421 fax: 503.945.7212 ---------- From: Tom Shreve Sent: Sunday, March 8, 2009 12:39 PM To: 'ORLANDO Cynthia A' Subject: RE: House finch? Cynthia, Did you get a usable House Finch photo or do you still need one? Tom Shreve -----Original Message----- From: ORLANDO Cynthia A [mailto:Cynthia.A.Orlando at state.or.us] Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 10:59 AM Subject: House finch? Hello all you great photographers out there, I'm looking for a good clear photo of a male house finch to use in the next issue of "Forests for Oregon." There is a story about the London Plane tree (a type of sycamore) I would like to use a house finch photo to help illustrate it (these birds apparently like to eat the seed pods). If you have a good photograph you'd like to submit, please let me know. Thanks much - Cynthia Cynthia Orlando ODF Agency Affairs & Urban Forestry 503.945.7421 fax: 503.945.7212 "Wherever I go in America, I like it when the land speaks its own language in its own regional accent." Mrs. Lyndon Johnson, Wildflowers Across America "Keep a green tree in your heart, and perhaps a singing bird will come." Chinese proverb * http://www.childrenandnature.org/ * http://www.na.fs.fed.us/urban/inforesources/ucftoolkit/pdf/StatisticsSheet.p df From deweysage at verizon.net Mon Mar 9 10:02:51 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:02:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] hooded mergansers, wind turbines In-Reply-To: References: <78F68FC04CFB4A079D19651D1A2E11D3@D04KrallStudy> Message-ID: <49B54BBB.7040408@verizon.net> You know, before everyone gets in a tizzy about this proposal, it might be worth checking into it first. Most importantly, what kind of turbines are we talking about? There are more and more new models coming out and to make assumptions that this is bad for birds might be off base. Furthermore, while there is lots of talk of 'these things are bad for birds', let's keep things in perspective. First of all, I think we all use electricity, and the last time I checked we Americans use more than anyone on the planet. Second, most of our electricity is from either non renewable resources or hydropower. Non renewable resources are amazingly destructive to the environment, and kill probably millions of birds a year directly and indirectly. While hydropower can be considered renewable, it too causes mass loss of fish and they should be considered on the same scale as birds (just because we don't go fishing like we go birding doesn't mean those creatures aren't just as important), and the lose of fish certainly impacts birds too. So, before you go and scream about a proposed "green energy" project cause it is wind turbines and we don't like them killing birds, ask yourself, what's the alternative? If we don't find ways to generate electricity thru new, renewable resources, aren't we continuing to shoot ourselves in the foot? And kill birds? And furthermore, if the benefits of new, renewable energy, outweigh the negatives, and if the energy generated benefits the greater society more than not doing it, then who are we, a relatively small group of people, to stop it? With all that said, don't get me wrong, I think these projects should be scrutinized and questioned, and I do think protecting birds is extremely important. But if this company plans on using new model turbines, ones that don't kill birds, then is this project a bad idea? I'm not accusing anyone yet of automatically objecting to the project, and I think Dave states that more info in needed, but the 'tone' of some of these emails is that this is a bad idea. Maybe it is, but maybe it isn't and we should be supporting it. I've heard a lot of people whine about the wave energy projects, but the truth is that scientists estimate that if we could tap 2% - just 2% - of the oceans energy, we could pretty much power the entire US. So why shouldn't we be trying to tap that non polluting resource? Even if that resources kills a few birds a year, what is the ratio compared to say, trying to squeeze oil out of tar sands in Canada and the number of birds that is killing, or extracting oil from Alaska and how many birds that kills? If the new energy projects have a net loss in bird kills, then we should be supporting it. I have also heard the argument that wave energy projects might put out some crab fishermen. Well, if the wave energy projects results in a benefit to say millions of Americans, should we be protecting a few hundred fishermen at the cost of the benefit to millions of Americans? Maybe we should just buyout the fishermen cause the benefit is greater than not doing the project. I find it sometimes frustrating that there can be an automatic "no don't do it" response to some of these new ideas, when the old ideas are chugging along killing millions of birds but we aren't willing to change our habits and behaviors or give up our god given American rights to have and consume as much resources as we like. I agree, get more info, but try to keep things in perspective and don't be overly reactionary. Cheers Dave Lauten David Irons wrote: > >From what I've heard, wind turbines are pretty hard on migrant birds. > It's hard to imagine how this proposed project wouldn't have some > extremely negative side effects. Given that most tubenoses and alcids > fly low to the water and that these things are going to be 400' tall, > my guess is that they would be mostly unaffected, unless they crash > into the support poles at night. However, gulls, pelicans, cormorants > and many species of migrant shorebirds and waterfowl fly at altitudes > that would make them susceptible to these giant fans. In particular, > one species and two additional subspecies of geese immediately come > to mind as a potential victims. Both Greater White-fronted and > Aleutian Cackling geese are known to make long trans-Pacific flights > from the Arctic typically returning to land along the central Oregon > coast and farther south. On last fall's repositioning cruise we had a > southbound flock of 36 Aleuts about 50 miles off Coos County and they > were flying about 250-300 feet off the water. Lastly, the entire > population of the extremely rare (150 or so birds) Semidi Island > Cackling Goose winters in southern Tillamook Co. > > Surely USFWS biologists Roy Lowe and Dave Pitkin are aware of this > proposal and hopefully their input and recommendations will be valued > by whomever overseas the permitting of this type of project. > > I would like to know more of the particulars of this proposal, such as > how far offshore these turbines will be placed, how will they be > aligned (an east-west configuration makes the least amount of sense, > kind of like a gill net for birds), the dimensions of the blades, and > how far off the water the center of the turbine would be. Please reply > off-list if you can provide such details. Better yet, is there a > website where one can learn more about this proposal and who stands to > make $$$$ from it? > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > From: krallfamily at comcast.net > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 19:37:15 -0700 > Subject: [obol] hooded mergansers, wind turbines > > Hello OBOL > > We saw a beautiful pair of hooded mergansers at Killen Marsh this > afternoon. They were there 3 weeks ago as well. > Attended a presentation at the Oceanside Community Club Saturday by > Principle Power, Inc. regarding planned placement of up to 30 wind > turbines off the coast of Tillamook county...each 400 feet tall! > Impact on pelagic and migrating birds? > > Kathy and Mike Krall > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Windows Live? Groups: Create an online spot for your favorite groups > to meet. Check it out. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From vicki99835 at yahoo.com Mon Mar 9 12:54:28 2009 From: vicki99835 at yahoo.com (vicki madden) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 12:54:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Say's Phoebe Koll Center Wetlands Message-ID: <315356.28221.qm@web51010.mail.re2.yahoo.com> We saw a SAY'S PHOEBE on Saturday between 1-2pm at the Koll Center Wetlands. Location:? This is in a corporate area close to Washington Square Mall. Take Hall Rd., a few blocks west of Hwy 217, turn south on Nimbus Ave; take the second right onto Gemini Dr. and take a right turn into the parking lot just past the "Creekside Seven" sign; drive straight through parking lot towards water's edge; Say's Phoebe was flycatching from both a low twig and a 2-foot tree stump on the small dirt bars just off the shore straight ahead. It was flicking its tail and showing its apricot underparts. Nice bird. Drive to the left following the water's edge and marsh area, and come to a small pond that often has ducks, herons and geese. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090309/dbc8d1fa/attachment.html From shelmert at loswego.k12.or.us Mon Mar 9 13:06:41 2009 From: shelmert at loswego.k12.or.us (Shelmerdine, Timothy (Tim)) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 13:06:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sunday, 3/8, Portland area birds Message-ID: After a very busy Saturday, I spend most of Sunday wandering around the Portland area looking for some of the good birds that are lingering. The TUFTED DUCK was visible in the huge flocks of Greater and Lesser Scaup in the Columbia River off Marine Drive. Between 12:30 and 1:00 pm or so, the bird was directly off of 148th and Marine Drive. Fern Hill wetlands provided most of the good birds others have also been finding: GLAUCOUS GULL (in the field across the road), "COMMON" TEAL (thanks, Paul and Carol!) in the southernmost pond -- Cattail Pond, I think -- and the very cooperative SWAMP SPARROW were the highlights. A very "pure-looking" Western Gull and at least one Thayer's Gull were on the main lake, and an adult Bald Eagle carrying a fish back to the nest were among the other enjoyable sights. Cheers, Tim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090309/bb8c1767/attachment.html From keller521 at aol.com Mon Mar 9 13:09:36 2009 From: keller521 at aol.com (keller521 at aol.com) Date: Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:09:36 -0400 Subject: [obol] White Robin Hillsboro Message-ID: <8CB6F0A1AE31C75-150-465@webmail-md17.sysops.aol.com> Hello, I saw a white Robin near 185th Ave and Evergreen yesterday. I tried to take a photo with my camera phone but it was too far away. It did have some mottling gray on it. It was hopping in the grass and there were many other robins in the general area. Lynn Keller Hillsboro, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090309/919ac883/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: White robin.jpg Type: image/pjpeg Size: 314064 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090309/919ac883/attachment.bin From greenfant at hotmail.com Mon Mar 9 13:15:35 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 16:15:35 -0400 Subject: [obol] Common Teal in Hillsboro (Washington Co) Message-ID: Just 5min ago I briefly watched a Common Teal in the little pond at the NE corner of NE Prahl Pkwy & NE 15th Ave just west of the Hillsboro Airport. This pond is on the NW corner of the Intel Jones Farm campus, but can be viewed well from 15th Ave. Are there just more folks out there knowing what to look for or why are we seeing so many Common Teal this winter? Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Life without walls. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090309/40de45aa/attachment.html From woodenapple at juno.com Mon Mar 9 13:20:04 2009 From: woodenapple at juno.com (woodenapple at juno.com) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 20:20:04 GMT Subject: [obol] Obol: Eugene swarm of Y-r Warblers; unusual siskins Message-ID: <20090309.132004.16034.0@webmail19.vgs.untd.com> Greetings, Obolists! During a typical winter in our N. Eugene/Santa Clara-area backyard, we might get a total 4-6 Yellow-rumped Warblers of both types. Until about a week to 10 days ago, this winter had been as expected with the count at the high end of usual. All of a sudden, we've had a large influx. This morning, either in or on our suet feeder, (we have a large, cage-within-a-cage-type feeder to discourage starlings) I counted somewhere between 12 and 15 Yellow-rumps. With their constant coming and going, there were likely more in the immediate vicinity. There were so many that they looked like overgrown Bushtits on the feeder and there was very little of the usual squabbling over pecking order and landing rights. It reminds me of a couple of years ago when our crew of Townsend's Warblers went from the usual 3-5 to at least 24! And perhaps two weeks ago for just a few minutes we had a flock of 6-8 Pine Siskins with bright yellow undertail coverts, but their wing "chevrons" were the standard subdued yellow. The preponderance of our siskins have drab undertail coverts with understated yellow in the wings. We have on two or three occasions had singeltons that were very bright yellow in the wings and had an overall very yellow undertone to them. I don't recall the color of the undertail coverts on these birds. Also of interest was a male American Goldfinch a few days ago already changing into his summer finery. Rudi ____________________________________________________________ New to Digital Photography? Click Here. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTDvmPkbnJDMbDv0yuxZfv8MdXB79gsKikofPUWsEareDXOHOC3044/ From ninerharv2 at msn.com Mon Mar 9 13:28:40 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 20:28:40 +0000 Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island Golden Eagle right now Message-ID: Golden Eagle at end of Renteraar. To the west of disabled access, about at 2:00 looking west in Oak tree. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: David Mandell Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 22:31:43 To: Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island all white Cackling Goose There was an all white Cackling Goose in a large flock of minima?at the end of Retenaar Road. ?The bird gave a very good impression of a Ross's Goose (small white goose, with small head and stubby bill), but was pretty much exactly the same size and shape of the rest of cacklers, and had no black on the wings. ?When it flew in a bit closer it seemed to also have a black bill and a very faint ghosting of a back pattern. In flight, the wings and back were lightly frosted, almost like a second-cycle Glaucous-winged Gull. ?There was another individual in the same flock that was unusually pale winged, although not nearly as striking as this other bird. David Mandell Portland, OR From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Mon Mar 9 13:31:42 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 13:31:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] hooded mergansers, wind turbines In-Reply-To: <49B54BBB.7040408@verizon.net> References: <78F68FC04CFB4A079D19651D1A2E11D3@D04KrallStudy> <49B54BBB.7040408@verizon.net> Message-ID: <00db01c9a0f6$0f040350$2d0c09f0$@NET> The text of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Principle Power and Tillamook PUD can be found at: http://www.principlepowerinc.com/news/press_TPUD_MOA.html More specifics about the 'WindFloat' design are at: http://www.principlepowerinc.com/products/windfloat.html I know nothing more about this; I did searches to find this info and hope it may save others time if they want to pursue it. Tom Shreve -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of DJ Lauten and KACastelein Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 10:03 AM To: David Irons Cc: post OBOL; krallfamily at comcast.net Subject: Re: [obol] hooded mergansers, wind turbines You know, before everyone gets in a tizzy about this proposal, it might be worth checking into it first. Most importantly, what kind of turbines are we talking about? There are more and more new models coming out and to make assumptions that this is bad for birds might be off base. Furthermore, while there is lots of talk of 'these things are bad for birds', let's keep things in perspective. First of all, I think we all use electricity, and the last time I checked we Americans use more than anyone on the planet. Second, most of our electricity is from either non renewable resources or hydropower. Non renewable resources are amazingly destructive to the environment, and kill probably millions of birds a year directly and indirectly. While hydropower can be considered renewable, it too causes mass loss of fish and they should be considered on the same scale as birds (just because we don't go fishing like we go birding doesn't mean those creatures aren't just as important), and the lose of fish certainly impacts birds too. So, before you go and scream about a proposed "green energy" project cause it is wind turbines and we don't like them killing birds, ask yourself, what's the alternative? If we don't find ways to generate electricity thru new, renewable resources, aren't we continuing to shoot ourselves in the foot? And kill birds? And furthermore, if the benefits of new, renewable energy, outweigh the negatives, and if the energy generated benefits the greater society more than not doing it, then who are we, a relatively small group of people, to stop it? With all that said, don't get me wrong, I think these projects should be scrutinized and questioned, and I do think protecting birds is extremely important. But if this company plans on using new model turbines, ones that don't kill birds, then is this project a bad idea? I'm not accusing anyone yet of automatically objecting to the project, and I think Dave states that more info in needed, but the 'tone' of some of these emails is that this is a bad idea. Maybe it is, but maybe it isn't and we should be supporting it. I've heard a lot of people whine about the wave energy projects, but the truth is that scientists estimate that if we could tap 2% - just 2% - of the oceans energy, we could pretty much power the entire US. So why shouldn't we be trying to tap that non polluting resource? Even if that resources kills a few birds a year, what is the ratio compared to say, trying to squeeze oil out of tar sands in Canada and the number of birds that is killing, or extracting oil from Alaska and how many birds that kills? If the new energy projects have a net loss in bird kills, then we should be supporting it. I have also heard the argument that wave energy projects might put out some crab fishermen. Well, if the wave energy projects results in a benefit to say millions of Americans, should we be protecting a few hundred fishermen at the cost of the benefit to millions of Americans? Maybe we should just buyout the fishermen cause the benefit is greater than not doing the project. I find it sometimes frustrating that there can be an automatic "no don't do it" response to some of these new ideas, when the old ideas are chugging along killing millions of birds but we aren't willing to change our habits and behaviors or give up our god given American rights to have and consume as much resources as we like. I agree, get more info, but try to keep things in perspective and don't be overly reactionary. Cheers Dave Lauten David Irons wrote: > >From what I've heard, wind turbines are pretty hard on migrant birds. > It's hard to imagine how this proposed project wouldn't have some > extremely negative side effects. Given that most tubenoses and alcids > fly low to the water and that these things are going to be 400' tall, > my guess is that they would be mostly unaffected, unless they crash > into the support poles at night. However, gulls, pelicans, cormorants > and many species of migrant shorebirds and waterfowl fly at altitudes > that would make them susceptible to these giant fans. In particular, > one species and two additional subspecies of geese immediately come > to mind as a potential victims. Both Greater White-fronted and > Aleutian Cackling geese are known to make long trans-Pacific flights > from the Arctic typically returning to land along the central Oregon > coast and farther south. On last fall's repositioning cruise we had a > southbound flock of 36 Aleuts about 50 miles off Coos County and they > were flying about 250-300 feet off the water. Lastly, the entire > population of the extremely rare (150 or so birds) Semidi Island > Cackling Goose winters in southern Tillamook Co. > > Surely USFWS biologists Roy Lowe and Dave Pitkin are aware of this > proposal and hopefully their input and recommendations will be valued > by whomever overseas the permitting of this type of project. > > I would like to know more of the particulars of this proposal, such as > how far offshore these turbines will be placed, how will they be > aligned (an east-west configuration makes the least amount of sense, > kind of like a gill net for birds), the dimensions of the blades, and > how far off the water the center of the turbine would be. Please reply > off-list if you can provide such details. Better yet, is there a > website where one can learn more about this proposal and who stands to > make $$$$ from it? > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > From: krallfamily at comcast.net > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 19:37:15 -0700 > Subject: [obol] hooded mergansers, wind turbines > > Hello OBOL > > We saw a beautiful pair of hooded mergansers at Killen Marsh this > afternoon. They were there 3 weeks ago as well. > Attended a presentation at the Oceanside Community Club Saturday by > Principle Power, Inc. regarding planned placement of up to 30 wind > turbines off the coast of Tillamook county...each 400 feet tall! > Impact on pelagic and migrating birds? > > Kathy and Mike Krall > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Windows LiveT Groups: Create an online spot for your favorite groups > to meet. Check it out. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From ninerharv2 at msn.com Mon Mar 9 13:32:47 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 20:32:47 +0000 Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island Golden Eagle right now Message-ID: Golden Eagle at end of Renteraar. To the west of disabled access, about at 2:00 looking west in Oak tree. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: David Mandell Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 22:31:43 To: Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island all white Cackling Goose There was an all white Cackling Goose in a large flock of minima?at the end of Retenaar Road. ?The bird gave a very good impression of a Ross's Goose (small white goose, with small head and stubby bill), but was pretty much exactly the same size and shape of the rest of cacklers, and had no black on the wings. ?When it flew in a bit closer it seemed to also have a black bill and a very faint ghosting of a back pattern. In flight, the wings and back were lightly frosted, almost like a second-cycle Glaucous-winged Gull. ?There was another individual in the same flock that was unusually pale winged, although not nearly as striking as this other bird. David Mandell Portland, OR From dpvroman at budget.net Mon Mar 9 13:34:16 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 13:34:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Obol: Eugene swarm of Y-r Warblers; unusual siskins References: <20090309.132004.16034.0@webmail19.vgs.untd.com> Message-ID: <1AF2E665E69244B0A201FEA8F933D3D7@Warbler> Rudi and Others, There was an American Goldfinch male molting into breeding plumage in the Grants Pass area seen a few day ago also. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) > Also of interest was a male American Goldfinch a few days ago already > changing into his summer finery. > > Rudi From dpvroman at budget.net Mon Mar 9 13:40:18 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 13:40:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] History of bird nesting boxes Message-ID: Does anyone on OBOL know of a web page or other article that gives the history of humans and bird nesting boxes. In particular, I'm interested in finding when we humans first constructed, or other wise provided "artificial" nests (gourds, boxes) for cavity nesting birds. Have not came up with much surfing the net so far, Can reply to me, thanks, Dennis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090309/ed042a3a/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Mon Mar 9 16:01:09 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:01:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull (Monday) Portland. Message-ID: The third cycle Slaty-backed Gull was again on a light post on the Burnside Bridge in Portland. It was there at about 1:35 PM, but not there or nearby at 3:45 PM. Jeff Gilligan Portland From cncschneider at msn.com Mon Mar 9 16:59:29 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 16:59:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Signs of spring Message-ID: Hi Birders, For the past 5 days there has been a WESTERN SCRUB-JAY collecting sticks in my yard. Right on schedule according to BOGR. There also has been a NORTHERN FLICKER drumming on the metal roof of a nearby shed and LESSER GOLDFINCHES have been singing for the past couple of weeks Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090309/d995363e/attachment.html From dinpdx at yahoo.com Mon Mar 9 17:10:06 2009 From: dinpdx at yahoo.com (Dwight) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 17:10:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Say's Phoebe Koll Center Wetlands YES! Message-ID: <834743.64170.qm@web31602.mail.mud.yahoo.com> This afternoon (Monday) from 2:45-3:00 PM I saw the Say's Phoebe reported by Vicki Madden at Koll Center Wetlands/Creekside Marsh in Beaverton. It was visible from the covered viewing shelter down the street from the area described below. It was straight out from the shelter at the shoreline, perching and flycatching. There were also some Tree Swallows, three Red-tailed Hawks, and a Cinnamon Teal in the area. To find the shelter, follow the directions below but after turning onto Gemini Drive take the first right turn into the parking lot and drive around the left side of the building (8905) to the back and you will see the shelter. This was a neat bird to see in the city, I've only seen them at Malheur. Some poor but diagnostic photos are here: http://www.pbase.com/dwight_porter/says_phoebe Thanks to Vicki Madden for finding the bird and posting the sighting, nice bird indeed. Dwight Porter Portland Subject: Say's Phoebe Koll Center Wetlands From: vicki madden Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 12:54:28 -0700 (PDT) We saw a SAY'S PHOEBE on Saturday between 1-2pm at the Koll Center Wetlands. Location:? This is in a corporate area close to Washington Square Mall. Take Hall Rd., a few blocks west of Hwy 217, turn south on Nimbus Ave; take the second right onto Gemini Dr. and take a right turn into the parking lot just past the "Creekside Seven" sign; drive straight through parking lot towards water's edge; Say's Phoebe was flycatching from both a low twig and a 2-foot tree stump on the small dirt bars just off the shore straight ahead. It was flicking its tail and showing its apricot underparts. Nice bird. Drive to the left following the water's edge and marsh area, and come to a small pond that often has ducks, herons and geese. From timkadlecek at msn.com Mon Mar 9 18:19:17 2009 From: timkadlecek at msn.com (timkadlecek at msn.com) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 18:19:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] wind tubines Message-ID: I realize that most of the recent emails regarding wind turbines are regarding the off-shore wind turbines off the Oregon coast. However, along the same topic, I happened to be in Hermiston, OR recently (~3 hour drive east of Portland) and met one of the construction managers for the company that is currently putting up all the land based wind turbines on the wind farm in the area, and we had a fairly lengthy conversation about wind turbines. I specifically asked him about the threat to birds, especially during migration. He has worked for this company for several years, in numerous states across the country and during all times of the year, including during the peak times of spring and fall migration, and climbs these 300+ foot turbines everyday in the process of their production and maintenance. His comment to me was that during all of his years of working around these turbines, he has never once found a dead bird at the base of a turbine. He also noted that one time (I think in Ohio), a university professor and his students were doing research on how many dead birds they could find around the turbines during migration. He said the professor was purposefully placing already dead birds on the ground around some of the turbines so that he knew if his students were doing their job. The only birds they found during the several weeks of research were the birds that the professor placed there himself. Tim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090309/6fe6fd2c/attachment.html From glenn_rie at yahoo.com Mon Mar 9 18:20:19 2009 From: glenn_rie at yahoo.com (Rie Luft) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 18:20:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] "GRILLED" RED-TAILED HAWK Message-ID: <964798.48391.qm@web112211.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> The RED-TAILED HAWK continues to do well at the Audubon Wildlife Care Center. It was bright and alert and flying well within its fairly narrow confines this morning. Surprisingly, it had very few broken feathers and those minor ones. Its only real injury was a cut on one of its talons. Although it is continuing to be carefully monitored, its prognosis is good. It is certainly the "Bird of the Hour" among us volunteers! Rie Luft Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090309/d86955ee/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon Mar 9 18:26:00 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 01:26:00 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Sea Gulls and Hummingbirds In-Reply-To: <2142353429.5415461236647546165.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <316309050.5419581236648360144.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi all, Last week while I was bonding with the office parking lot gulls I realized why its so fun to watch the gulls and I'm sorry I put it off for so long. The endless variation in plumage will keep me busy for a long time. The fact that they will now let me take their pictures is even better. I saw three Glaucous-winged Gulls (hybrids I suppose) and a Ring-billed Gull. The Glaucous-winged gulls were really interesting, they have beautiful root beer-colored eyes and the orbital rings ranged from dark red to pale pink. All of them had pink legs and pale pink gapes. I am new enough to the gulls that each new thing I notice and then check against the guides is exciting. I am still waiting for my first Rufous Hummingbirds of the season. Ever since I was visited by that first Calliope, I've been checking each hummingbird in the garden very carefully. No more "ho hum, just another Anna's or Rufous" for me. I have my hopes up each spring that a Costa's or a Black-chinned will grace the garden. So happy migration, remember to check each and every little visitor! Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090310/eeb042af/attachment.html From srnord101 at verizon.net Mon Mar 9 18:49:24 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:49:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Common Teal in Hillsboro (Washington Co) Message-ID: <000301c9a122$71217d70$53647850$@net> OBOL; The COMMON TEAL found earlier today by Stefan was still present at the same location at 6:30 pm. Very easy to see in the small pond. The plumage of this bird looks different than the one I've seen recently at Fernhill Wetlands, suggesting it's a different bird. Today I also saw the COMMON TEAL at Ridgefield NWR. Check those teal flocks - seems like a good time for the Eurasian version. Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR >>>Subject: Common Teal in Hillsboro (Washington Co) From: Stefan Schlick Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 16:15:35 -0400 Just 5min ago I briefly watched a Common Teal in the little pond at the NE corner of NE Prahl Pkwy & NE 15th Ave just west of the Hillsboro Airport. This pond is on the NW corner of the Intel Jones Farm campus, but can be viewed well from 15th Ave. Are there just more folks out there knowing what to look for or why are we seeing so many Common Teal this winter? Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR From dennis at dennisgalloway.com Mon Mar 9 19:35:11 2009 From: dennis at dennisgalloway.com (Dennis Galloway) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 19:35:11 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] wind turbines Message-ID: <49531.24.20.202.78.1236652511.squirrel@webmail9.pair.com> An activist in CA where I used to live was activating about the raptors killed at the Altamont Pass 'wind farm'. The (then) smaller turbines accounted for about 1300 raptor kills out of a total of 4700 dead birds. The problem was aggravated by the large population of ground squirrels. I emailed and asked him what the percentage of dead birds was compared to the total population. His reply was extremely belligerent and said that if ANY birds were killed that was all that mattered so I dropped the subject. Evidence seems to support the improved safety to birds of the newer, taller, and slower machines...which are more cost effective. From celata at pacifier.com Mon Mar 9 19:35:55 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:35:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wind turbines Message-ID: <49B5D20B.6070704@pacifier.com> When one talks to wind power advocates, one soon discovers that they tend to downplay the environmental impacts. Many of them either don't know or choose not to advertise them. Part of what allows them to do do this is that, generally speaking, the alternatives (including current technology hydro-power)are worse. Estimates based on ground searches below turbines put the total annual loss of birds due to impacts at about 2 birds/turbine/year or 33,000 collision related bird deaths per year (Erickson et al. 2001). It should be noted that early wind power facilities were much worse than this and the industry, in cooperation with the American Bird Conservancy and others, has worked to reduce impacts. Placing sea-based wind turbines in the Pacific Ocean is largely uncharted territory. It seems unlikely that land-based mortality data would be particularly useful. I would also think that the high-velocity winter storm, typical of the North Pacific would prove hard on the equipment... As part of a data-search job I did for the City of Astoria on the potential of a wind turbine site in the Astoria Watershed, I amassed the following bibliography. Most is available on the internet. American Bird Conservancy (ABC). 2004. American Bird Conservancy Wind Energy Policy. Online at: http://www.abcbirds.org/policy/windpolicy.htm Anderson, R., M.Morrison, K.Sinclair and D. Strickland. 1999. Studying Wind Energy/Bird Interactions: Guidance Document. National Wind Energy Coordinating Committee, Washington, DC. Committee on Environmental Impacts of Wind Energy Projects (CEIWEP). 2007. Environmental Impacts of Wind-Energy Projects. National Research Council (Executive Summary). Online at: http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11935 Cryan, P. 2005. Bat Mortality and Wind Power: a problem of migration? Online at: http://www.fort.usgs.gov/BatsWindmills/ Erickson, W.P., G.D. Johnson, M.D. Strickland, D.P. Young, K.J. Sernka and R.E.Good. 2001. Avian Collisions with Wind Turbines: a Summary of Existing Studies and Comparisons to other Sources of Avian Collision Mortality in the United States. National Wind Energy Coordinating Committee, Washington, DC. Erickson, W.P., G.D. Johnson, D.P. Young, M.D. Strickland, R.E.Good, M. Bourassa, K. Bay and K.J. Sernka. 2002. Synthesis and Comparison of Baseline Avian and Bat Use, Raptor Nesting and Mortality Information from Proposed and Existing Wind Developments. Bonneville Power Administration, Portland OR. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center (ONHIC). 2004. Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species of Oregon. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Oregon State University, Portland , OR. USFW. 2003. Interim Guidelines to Avoid and Minimize Wildlife Impacts from Wind Turbines. USFW, U.S. Dept of Interior. Washington, DC. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Forward into the past http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/02/20090223.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Mon Mar 9 21:23:54 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 21:23:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] "GRILLED" RED-TAILED HAWK In-Reply-To: <964798.48391.qm@web112211.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> References: <964798.48391.qm@web112211.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Thanks for the update! On Mar 9, 2009, at 6:20 PM, Rie Luft wrote: > The RED-TAILED HAWK continues to do well at the Audubon Wildlife > Care Center. It was bright and alert and flying well within its > fairly narrow confines this morning. Surprisingly, it had very few > broken feathers and those minor ones. Its only real injury was a > cut on one of its talons. Although it is continuing to be > carefully monitored, its prognosis is good. It is certainly the > "Bird of the Hour" among us volunteers! > Rie Luft > Portland > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090309/bb0b175d/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Mon Mar 9 21:25:59 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:25:59 -0400 Subject: [obol] new to birdingg Message-ID: <8CB6F4F72BC0992-ABC-A77@webmail-mf06.sysops.aol.com> I'm new to birding and I'm trying to find groups of local birders to learn from. I live in Sandy, but I've been going to Ridgefield, Sauvie Island, and last week Vancouver. I was able to get in one organized walk thru Oak Bottoms, but other than that I've just been winging it on my own. I've tried to find local birding clubs on the web, but haven't had any luck there. If anyone can give me any info on how to get together with other birders, I would be very grateful. Thanks. Johnny Sasko -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090310/08f78cfa/attachment.html From tetraka at yahoo.com Mon Mar 9 21:54:19 2009 From: tetraka at yahoo.com (Robert Lockett) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 21:54:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] new to birdingg References: <8CB6F4F72BC0992-ABC-A77@webmail-mf06.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <985621.73265.qm@web38704.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Johnny, You're in luck. The Audubon Society of Portland is one of the largest Audubon chapters in the United States, and is very active. ASP runs field trips almost every weekend, most of them for free. They also do overnights (such as Paul Sullivan's deservedly popular Birding Weekends) and multiple-day trips to destinations as exotic as Antarctica, the Galapagos, and Churchill, Manitoba. Check out their website at http://www.audubonportland.org/ and visit their sanctuary and facilities on Cornell Road in NE Portland. Also check out Oregon Field Ornithologists at http://www.oregonbirds.org/. They're an active group that runs many field trips and keeps track of the "official" Oregon list of birds. There are many good Oregon birders who are members of one or both of these groups. As you've discovered, Oregon birders are also fortunate to have OBOL, a really active and informative on-line resource that is an excellent way to find out what's happening RIGHT NOW within the state, in addition to being a great resource for asking questions and getting thoughtful and authoritative answers. You'll find that most states don't have as active an online resource as Oregon. Welcome to our birding community! Bob Lockett ________________________________ From: "jonysky101 at aol.com" To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Monday, March 9, 2009 9:25:59 PM Subject: [obol] new to birdingg I'm new to birding and I'm trying to find groups of local birders to learn from. I live in Sandy, but I've been going to Ridgefield, Sauvie Island, and last week Vancouver. I was able to get in one organized walk thru Oak Bottoms, but other than that I've just been winging it on my own. I've tried to find local birding clubs on the web, but haven't had any luck there. If anyone can give me any info on how to get together with other birders, I would be very grateful. Thanks. Johnny Sasko ________________________________ A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090309/99275e98/attachment.html From phils at rio.com Mon Mar 9 22:04:02 2009 From: phils at rio.com (Phil and Christina) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 22:04:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wind turbines In-Reply-To: <49B5D20B.6070704@pacifier.com> Message-ID: Two birds per turbine per year? The windows of my little cottage easily take more than that per year. We need to be careful and weigh the total costs of the alternatives. There is no free lunch - Homo sapiens have a large footprint on the earth. Phil Shepard Elmira, OR -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org]On Behalf Of Mike Patterson Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 7:36 PM To: OBOL Subject: Re: [obol] Wind turbines When one talks to wind power advocates, one soon discovers that they tend to downplay the environmental impacts. Many of them either don't know or choose not to advertise them. Part of what allows them to do do this is that, generally speaking, the alternatives (including current technology hydro-power)are worse. Estimates based on ground searches below turbines put the total annual loss of birds due to impacts at about 2 birds/turbine/year or 33,000 collision related bird deaths per year (Erickson et al. 2001). It should be noted that early wind power facilities were much worse than this and the industry, in cooperation with the American Bird Conservancy and others, has worked to reduce impacts. Placing sea-based wind turbines in the Pacific Ocean is largely uncharted territory. It seems unlikely that land-based mortality data would be particularly useful. I would also think that the high-velocity winter storm, typical of the North Pacific would prove hard on the equipment... As part of a data-search job I did for the City of Astoria on the potential of a wind turbine site in the Astoria Watershed, I amassed the following bibliography. Most is available on the internet. American Bird Conservancy (ABC). 2004. American Bird Conservancy Wind Energy Policy. Online at: http://www.abcbirds.org/policy/windpolicy.htm Anderson, R., M.Morrison, K.Sinclair and D. Strickland. 1999. Studying Wind Energy/Bird Interactions: Guidance Document. National Wind Energy Coordinating Committee, Washington, DC. Committee on Environmental Impacts of Wind Energy Projects (CEIWEP). 2007. Environmental Impacts of Wind-Energy Projects. National Research Council (Executive Summary). Online at: http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11935 Cryan, P. 2005. Bat Mortality and Wind Power: a problem of migration? Online at: http://www.fort.usgs.gov/BatsWindmills/ Erickson, W.P., G.D. Johnson, M.D. Strickland, D.P. Young, K.J. Sernka and R.E.Good. 2001. Avian Collisions with Wind Turbines: a Summary of Existing Studies and Comparisons to other Sources of Avian Collision Mortality in the United States. National Wind Energy Coordinating Committee, Washington, DC. Erickson, W.P., G.D. Johnson, D.P. Young, M.D. Strickland, R.E.Good, M. Bourassa, K. Bay and K.J. Sernka. 2002. Synthesis and Comparison of Baseline Avian and Bat Use, Raptor Nesting and Mortality Information from Proposed and Existing Wind Developments. Bonneville Power Administration, Portland OR. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center (ONHIC). 2004. Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species of Oregon. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Oregon State University, Portland , OR. USFW. 2003. Interim Guidelines to Avoid and Minimize Wildlife Impacts from Wind Turbines. USFW, U.S. Dept of Interior. Washington, DC. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Forward into the past http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/02/20090223.html _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From woodenapple at juno.com Mon Mar 9 23:48:00 2009 From: woodenapple at juno.com (woodenapple at juno.com) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:48:00 GMT Subject: [obol] Obol: BPP data transcription Message-ID: <20090309.234800.26782.0@webmail11.vgs.untd.com> Greetings, Obolists! As mentioned in testimonials by other Obolists, transcribing data from old cards for the Bird Phenology Program is indeed fun and addictive. I've done about 2 hundred over the course of a week or so. In this timeframe, I've had cards from Oregon (Malheur, 1916) to Maine and dating back as far as 1880. Although most of the observers' names are completely unknown, I have had cards with the names of illustrious ornithologists from the past such as: R. Ridgway, P.A. Taverner, S.G. Jewett, and Bullock. It's an amazing connection to see the handwriting of such notables, especially in the context of citizen science. Here, again, is the URL if you'd like to give it a try: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bpp/ Sign up is easy and quick. It really helps to watch the 15-minute orientation video before getting started. (Sorry if this is a re-post; it appears my first attempt bounced for some reason.) Rudi ____________________________________________________________ Click here for fast, safe, easy money transfers. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTOTyc8MTYWinCsFoApQLebEFJJJwlJVQL9nPa5TpEUnCCEjoUkaHG/ From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Mar 10 07:33:18 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:33:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Quick guide to energy sources and impacts on birds Message-ID: <1236695598.4513.36.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, I appreciate the informative postings on wind turbines. Dave Lauten's point about every energy strategy having its consequences for birds is worth underscoring. I've made the following quick table to facilitate the comparison: Energy Sources/Birding-Related Tradeoffs: Petroleum: Atmospheric carbon emissions, oil spills, disturbance to nesting habitat around drilling areas & pipelines. Natural gas: Atmospheric carbon emissions, pipeline footprints, risk of accidents at LNG shipping/storage facilities. Coal: Atmospheric carbon emissions, large-scale landscape modifications, coal slurry ponds, particulates. In the past, has provided good urban camouflage opportunities for corvid species. Hydropower: Impacts on estuaries, fish, and sedimentation patterns along riverine systems. Good for inland scaup-watchers. Solar arrays: Construction impacts in desert areas, need for large new transmission lines which could be routed through unique habitats (see e.g. Big Morongo Preserve). May require power storage facilities with their own impacts (see e.g. Summer Lake pumped storage scheme). Wind turbines: Construction impacts in open areas, need for large new transmission lines which could be routed through unique habitats. Some degree of bird mortality due to turbine impacts. May require power storage facilities with their own impacts. Nuclear power: Contaminated landscapes from uranium mining. Thermal plumes around plants often good for birding. Risk of catastrophic nuclear accidents (see e.g. Chernobyl). Spent fuel will remain a hazard even for bird species that have not yet evolved. Hydrogen fuel: Few birding impacts, except that you need another power source to generate it. See "nuclear power" or "coal," above. Biofuels: Massive loss of wetland/grassland bird habitats. Energy conservation: May result in a bigger yard list. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From sbkornfeld at msn.com Tue Mar 10 06:53:18 2009 From: sbkornfeld at msn.com (STEVE KORNFELD) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:53:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] cmaera upgrade Message-ID: I recently upgraded my Cannon ultra zoom My Cannon S2IS is up for grabs. It is in great condition and works wonderfully. 12x optical zoom 5.0 megapixels. Software, cables, all users guides and strap included. 100 or Best offer. Let me know Steve Kornfeld Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090310/4bf7ff83/attachment.html From zedo at comcast.net Tue Mar 10 08:25:59 2009 From: zedo at comcast.net (Jim Maloney) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:25:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] More Detail on Wind Turbines and Birds Message-ID: <70CEA0A0-C9B6-4159-AE3F-5D88AD9215DA@comcast.net> On this issue of wind turbines - it reminds me of many things associated with birds - it can get complicated. Mike's mention of the "2 bird per turbine" number is an often repeated value but we have to keep in mind what it's based on. A report presented in November stated that fatality rates for nine Northwest wind project sites vary from 1.0 to 3.1 birds per MW per year. Most turbines installed over the last couple of years have been from 1.5 to 2+ MW per turbine so the range is more like 1.5 to 6 "birds" per year per turbine. (I'll give references at the end). Also, most of these projects were constructed on agricultural land (usually dry farmed wheat) and on shrub-steppe/rangeland. These are disturbed habitats to one degree or another which is a positive attribute when looking to site a wind project because there is usually lower numbers of birds and bats. As we see projects being proposed and built in more natural or less disturbed habitats we may see higher mortality numbers. It's also important to note that these numbers lump all bird species together - as if a European Starling and a Red-tailed Hawk were of equal "value". They also do not distinguish between seasons and we probably think that the mortality of one of a breeding pair of raptors might lead to the deaths of its associated young. ODFW held a workshop in The Dalles last November on wind and bird/bat interactions. Presentations from the workshop are available at: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/conservationstrategy/events.asp Scroll down to bottom of page to get to the wind energy presentations. In 2008 a task force of folks including Portland Audubon, Lane County Audubon, The Nature Conservancy, ODFW, USFWS, wind developers, The Renewable Northwest Project, and local government representatives hammered out a compromise agreement to guide the assessment and permitting processes for wind projects in the Columbia Plateau Ecoregion. They are also meant to serve a a template for other areas of the state with proper modification. They can be reviewed at: http://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/LandAndWater/WindEnergy/ In terms of Oregon coastal locations we will have other complicating factors as Mike Patterson alluded to - a gusty/stormy wind regime, the presence of listed species (MAMU), and less detailed information about how coastal migratory routes and avian foraging patterns might come to play in any proposed projects. As mentioned by others (I just saw Joel G.'s posting) all energy generation projects have environmental effects, some more than others, and usually of different kinds. Rapid development of more conservation and efficiency improvements and appropriate development of renewables may help us avoid or mitigate the worst climate change scenarios - but lets support the construction of good, properly sited projects not ill-considered and poorly placed ones. Jim Maloney Wind Energy Representative - Lane County Audubon jimgmal at comcast dot net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090310/eb5f1154/attachment.html From Tana.Ellis at oregonstate.edu Tue Mar 10 08:35:09 2009 From: Tana.Ellis at oregonstate.edu (Ellis, Tana) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:35:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Avian point counter needed (May-July) Message-ID: AVIAN POINT COUNTER needed (1 May - 15 July 2009) for a masters research project on the occurrence of songbirds in early-seral conifer forest. Fieldwork will be in the Coast Range of north-western Oregon. Responsibilities include multi-species point counts, identifying field sites using GIS and aerial imagery, independently navigating logging roads using maps, surveying vegetation, hiking in difficult terrain, navigating with GPS, and data entry. Workdays begin early (4-5 am) 5 to 6 days per week. Candidates with a strong background in bird identification by sight and sound and previous experience point counting are strongly preferred. Self-motivation, good physical condition, ability to work well in a group living situation, and willingness to spend long hours in the field are a must. Pay is $1550 per month. Housing and transportation to and from field sites is provided. Work and play in the Corvallis area, where there are nearby opportunities for exceptional mountain and coastal recreation. TO APPLY: Please email letter of interest, resume, and three professional references to Tana Ellis (EM: tana.ellis AT oregonstate.edu). Candidate will be hired as applications are received. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090310/98760b6f/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Tue Mar 10 09:05:05 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:05:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] new to birding In-Reply-To: <8CB6F4F72BC0992-ABC-A77@webmail-mf06.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <49b68fad.1437720a.05da.7eba@mx.google.com> Hi Johnny: Try going to www.ecbcbirds.org web site. This stands for the East Cascades Bird Conservancy. We lead lots of fun and free bird walks and day trips! Marilyn Miller _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of jonysky101 at aol.com Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 9:26 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] new to birdingg I'm new to birding and I'm trying to find groups of local birders to learn from. I live in Sandy, but I've been going to Ridgefield, Sauvie Island, and last week Vancouver. I was able to get in one organized walk thru Oak Bottoms, but other than that I've just been winging it on my own. I've tried to find local birding clubs on the web, but haven't had any luck there. If anyone can give me any info on how to get together with other birders, I would be very grateful. Thanks. Johnny Sasko _____ A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090310/7c3fbef7/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Mar 10 09:34:16 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:34:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Quick guide to energy sources and impacts on birds In-Reply-To: <1236695598.4513.36.camel@localhost.localdomain> References: <1236695598.4513.36.camel@localhost.localdomain> Message-ID: <49B69688.6050806@verizon.net> Folks, If you want to see what tar sand extraction does to the environment and birds, take a look at the latest National Geo magazine which has a big spread on it. It's hard to imagine that it is worth extracting 4 tons of sand to get one barrel of oil! Just think of the energy input into that to get that one barrel of oil! The picture of the wasted landscape with automatic viewer that has an attached fake Peregrine Falcon on it that triggers when it sees incoming birds so that it scares them off so they don't die in the sludge filled waters is, well, absolutely shocking. Those tar sand oils are being sold to.......the United States. Second, as Jim Maloney alludes to, the most cost effective energy resource, is conservation. Simple, if we would just do things like have cars that get real gas mileage, replaced our light bulbs, all had reversible meters and a solar panel, more efficient appliances, learn to unplug things, these types of things are way way better than building any new power source. Partly because they cost so much less to do. Cheers Dave Lauten From willclemons at yahoo.com Tue Mar 10 09:49:57 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:49:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] new to birdingg... Message-ID: <876477.2706.qm@web55104.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Johnny Sasko, Since most folks start local, I might recommend you look into the following: 1) Go up to The Nature Store at The Audubon Society of Portland (ASOP) (5151 NW Cornell Road, Portland, OR) (Nature Store: 503.292.9453 - Mon-Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5) Browse/walk around the place/visit the Care Center/ walk in the woodland. 2) If you have one or more field guides, fine. -Most folks have more than one or two before long. -Most any guide is in an edition that would allow you to find used ones at Powell's Books on NW Burnside & 10th in Portland, if that suits you better. -If you have none - get at least one - each has its own pluses and minuses. -Some are West only, others are entire USA (I vote all of the USA style) -If you will only get one - I recommend: "National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America" -Some guides are photos, most are hand drawn color illustrations 3) Places to go: Look at the books for Oregon spots (Nature Store Staff will assist you) Look at the book "Wild in The City" about greater metropolitan area sites 4) Get a free copy of "The Warbler". If you join ASOP they will mail you one monthly. 5) There is a state site guide: "The Birder's Guide to Oregon" by Joseph E. Evanich, this guide is old, but still as good as the day it was written. There are newer ones that also serve the same OR purpose. 6) Spring is "Morning Bird Song Walks" time: Check the Warbler for times/locations, or talk to Staff at The Nature Store That ought to do for starters Will Clemons SW of Portland Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores From jeffgill at teleport.com Tue Mar 10 10:01:24 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:01:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Energy and Birds. Message-ID: The priority should be: 1. Efficiency and conservation. 2. Nuclear Energy. The USSR didn't do much well - for example Chernobyl. France is largely powered by nuclear energy and is increasing its production. Newer technology and standardized design make it much much safer than in the past. We have nuclear-powered ships in our navy all over the oceans. France produces about as much nuclear waste per year to fill an average-sized living room. If Nevada doesn't want it, send it to a remote area of Oregon and have the rest of the country pay us to take it. Nuclear energy plants are typically accompanied by cooling ponds that can be used as wildlife habitat. The plants don't kill birds as do the ugly wind mills. They don't cover vast space as would solar power plants. The production of nuclear energy doesn't contribute to global warming. We can produce it here in the USA, creating jobs, and not sending money to areas of the world where people hate us. Jeff Gilligan Posting from my 65 F degree house in Portland and about to get into my four- cylinder car. From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Mar 10 10:46:52 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:46:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Energy and Birds. In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49B6A78C.7080900@verizon.net> Well, this is debatable (and we are getting away from birds)! So to keep the topic on birds, you can't say nuclear energy doesn't have an impact on birds because uranium is mined, and mines destroy land, and pollute the environment thru waste ponds and tailings, and all those things kill birds and/or their habitat. So I don't think it is quite as simple as Jeff states. And of course, holding nuclear waste is a serious issue. While Jeff states that we in Oregon can take it, I'd be willing to bet that the folks who live wherever this supposed safe place in Oregon is, would seriously disagree. I'm still not sure what's so bad about solar, wave and wind energy, all of which do not result in serious, nasty, long term, waste. Cheers Dave Lauten Jeff Gilligan wrote: > The priority should be: > > 1. Efficiency and conservation. > > 2. Nuclear Energy. The USSR didn't do much well - for example Chernobyl. > France is largely powered by nuclear energy and is increasing its > production. Newer technology and standardized design make it much much > safer than in the past. We have nuclear-powered ships in our navy all over > the oceans. > > France produces about as much nuclear waste per year to fill an > average-sized living room. If Nevada doesn't want it, send it to a remote > area of Oregon and have the rest of the country pay us to take it. > > Nuclear energy plants are typically accompanied by cooling ponds that can be > used as wildlife habitat. The plants don't kill birds as do the ugly wind > mills. They don't cover vast space as would solar power plants. The > production of nuclear energy doesn't contribute to global warming. We can > produce it here in the USA, creating jobs, and not sending money to areas of > the world where people hate us. > > Jeff Gilligan > Posting from my 65 F degree house in Portland and about to get into my four- > cylinder car. > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > From ravan at centurytel.net Tue Mar 10 11:05:05 2009 From: ravan at centurytel.net (Judy Roth) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:05:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] (no subject) Message-ID: <6790D4CB-507F-45AB-979F-71E775AC72BD@centurytel.net> ******************************"John Muir walked away into the mountains, in his old overcoat, a crust of bread in his pocket. We have no knowledge ? and so we have stuff, and stuff with no knowledge is never enough to get you there." - G. Brown ("two little feet") -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090310/21b280a1/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Untitled-2Copy.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 61740 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090310/21b280a1/attachment.jpg From celata at pacifier.com Tue Mar 10 11:10:22 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:10:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Energy and Birds. Message-ID: <49B6AD0E.2090704@pacifier.com> There are two kind of "waste" produced by the typical American nuclear plant: spent nuclear fuel, which as Jeff indicates is produced in small, arguably manageable amounts, and low level contaminated waste. Every drop of water, every piece of metal around the reactor absorbs radiation and holds on to it for centuries. This low level material is the real problem with nuclear disposal and it fills up much more space than Jeff suggests. France does indeed have an excellent record for producing relatively safe, clean nuclear power, but did it by nationalizing power production, and building small, uniformly outfitted plants. If Jeff is suggesting that we nationalize the energy production in the United States and produce a uniform system of production across the continent, then I'm with him and agree that nuclear power should be part of that plan. But I still have the bad taste of ENRON in my mouth from when my broker told me utility stocks were the safest investment I could make... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Forward into the past http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2009/02/20090223.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Mar 10 12:20:04 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:20:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Say's Phoebe Koll Center Wetlands YES! Message-ID: <20090310122004.7nyc7xylxuss80sw@webmail.thebirdguide.com> This is the 9th Washington County record of this species. Most records are for early spring. This one falls right in place. Now I'll have to update the annotated Washington County bird list... http://thebirdguide.com/washington/washington%20birdlist.doc And this year's County Highlights... http://thebirdguide.com/washington/WashCo_2009.htm Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com Subject: Re: Say's Phoebe Koll Center Wetlands YES! From: Dwight Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 17:10:06 -0700 (PDT) This afternoon (Monday) from 2:45-3:00 PM I saw the Say's Phoebe reported by Vicki Madden at Koll Center Wetlands/Creekside Marsh in Beaverton. It was visible from the covered viewing shelter down the street from the area described below. It was straight out from the shelter at the shoreline, perching and flycatching. There were also some Tree Swallows, three Red-tailed Hawks, and a Cinnamon Teal in the area. To find the shelter, follow the directions below but after turning onto Gemini Drive take the first right turn into the parking lot and drive around the left side of the building (8905) to the back and you will see the shelter. This was a neat bird to see in the city, I've only seen them at Malheur. Some poor but diagnostic photos are here: http://www.pbase.com/dwight_porter/says_phoebe Thanks to Vicki Madden for finding the bird and posting the sighting, nice bird indeed. Dwight Porter Portland Subject: Say's Phoebe Koll Center Wetlands From: vicki madden Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 12:54:28 -0700 (PDT) We saw a SAY'S PHOEBE on Saturday between 1-2pm at the Koll Center Wetlands. Location:? This is in a corporate area close to Washington Square Mall. Take Hall Rd., a few blocks west of Hwy 217, turn south on Nimbus Ave; take the second right onto Gemini Dr. and take a right turn into the parking lot just past the "Creekside Seven" sign; drive straight through parking lot towards water's edge; Say's Phoebe was flycatching from both a low twig and a 2-foot tree stump on the small dirt bars just off the shore straight ahead. It was flicking its tail and showing its apricot underparts. Nice bird. Drive to the left following the water's edge and marsh area, and come to a small pond that often has ducks, herons and geese. From range.bayer at gmail.com Tue Mar 10 12:51:16 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:51:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Newport Say's Phoebe Message-ID: Hi, This morning (March 10) at about 11:30 AM, Roy Lowe and Dawn Grafe saw a Say's Phoebe near the USFWS building at the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center in South Beach. ?Roy initially saw it fly away from near the USFWS building "to the marsh edge where it was perching on pickleweed and hawking insects. ?It was due south of where the USFWS trail meets the HMSC Nature Trail and was working it way towards the footbridge. ?We had nice views through a spotting scope." Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport From greenfant at hotmail.com Tue Mar 10 13:23:42 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:23:42 -0400 Subject: [obol] Say's Phoebe continues at Koll Center Wetlands (Washington Co) In-Reply-To: <20090310122004.7nyc7xylxuss80sw@webmail.thebirdguide.com> References: <20090310122004.7nyc7xylxuss80sw@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Message-ID: I just saw the Say's Pheobe at the Koll Center Wetlands. The bird was actively flycatching. See http://maps.live.com/?v=2&encType=1&cid=F88B71D5975B80C6!135 for the location of the bird today. A passable picture of the bird is available on request. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_70faster_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090310/a8ba0069/attachment.html From birdboy at bkpix.com Tue Mar 10 14:00:40 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:00:40 +1300 Subject: [obol] Creswell Say's Phoebe Message-ID: Hi birders, A SAY'S PHOEBE was along Ricketts Road just north of Creswell (Lane Co.) this morning, hunting along a fenceline next to the first house west of Hwy 99. I prowled in good phoebe habitat between Pleasant Hill and Creswell for an hour before turning one up, but I'm sure there were more around; they're annual this time of year in the Camas Swale area. Good birding! Noah Strycker From puma at smt-net.com Tue Mar 10 17:35:58 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:35:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] wind turbines In-Reply-To: <49531.24.20.202.78.1236652511.squirrel@webmail9.pair.com> References: <49531.24.20.202.78.1236652511.squirrel@webmail9.pair.com> Message-ID: <163BE6F9-84A1-444E-9B42-362617F4E455@smt-net.com> Hi Dennis, If I recall, the wind turbines in the Altamont Pass in CA had a lattice tower like base, i.e., a place for the birds to land on the structure. They would be killed taking off and landing. The new structures have solid conical bases so the birds can't land. It would be great if some mylar tape could be applied to scare the birds away from the wind turbines, and also on high rise buildings in the cities on the flight path of passerines. Pat Waldron East of Scio On Mar 9, 2009, at 7:35 PM, Dennis Galloway wrote: > An activist in CA where I used to live was activating > about the raptors killed at the Altamont Pass 'wind > farm'. > > The (then) smaller turbines accounted for about 1300 > raptor kills out of a total of 4700 dead birds. > > The problem was aggravated by the large population of > ground squirrels. > > I emailed and asked him what the percentage of dead > birds was compared to the total population. His reply > was extremely belligerent and said that if ANY birds > were killed that was all that mattered so I dropped the > subject. > > Evidence seems to support the improved safety to birds > of the newer, taller, and slower machines...which are > more cost effective. > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jonysky101 at aol.com Tue Mar 10 18:34:41 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:34:41 -0400 Subject: [obol] Scouting around Message-ID: <8CB7000AF064F30-158-151E@webmail-mf06.sysops.aol.com> First off, I want to thank everyone that responded to my message, and for all the great suggestions. I'm already looking into several of them. I went out today to do a bit of recon. I wanted to just get an ideal about some of the Refuges and other site mentioned in Audubons web site. I went to Fernhill Wetlands, from there I checked out Jackson Bottoms and my last stop was at Tualatin River. All are definately winners. The weather is supposed to be sunny tomorrow so I think I'll take my camera and binoculars to Tualitin River. I saw 3 otters there today, they were pretty far off, they were in a line going in and out of the water. It looked like a scaled down version of the Loch Ness Monster. I'll post afterward if I see any thing worth seeing. Johnny Sasko -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090310/52bca6b5/attachment.html From mariam at easystreet.net Tue Mar 10 20:13:45 2009 From: mariam at easystreet.net (Maria Michalczyk) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:13:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Owls again in South Salem Message-ID: The owls are real loud again tonight here in So Salem...it is a full moon again...spooky...but they are really hooting. Maria From whoffman at peak.org Tue Mar 10 20:37:27 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:37:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Glaucous Gulls Message-ID: Two immature Glaucous Gulls were at the Yaquina Bay South Jetty this afternoon (March 10) at 5PM. One is a bird that has been around quite a bit over the past several weeks, and may well be the same bird that Greg Gillson photographed as we came in from last month's Pelagic Trip. It is first-cycle, and moderately colored. The other is apparently first-cycle, but is the whitest I have seen all winter, and has a yellow iris. It may be second cycle, but does not seem to have any gray mantle feathers. I saw two others on March 7, making a total of at least 9 distinguishably different ones since the first of the year. Most have been present just once or twice. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090310/5b2abd8c/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Tue Mar 10 21:39:35 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:39:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gardiner Message-ID: <8F69A423-109B-4C83-91A6-1AA079C8B27F@oregonfast.net> Someone pointed out that my correction on the spelling of Gardner, is actually Gardiner. I sit corrected...LOL Vern Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090310/a4fb667f/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Tue Mar 10 21:56:06 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:56:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Slaty-Backed Gull ? Message-ID: Is the Slaty-backed Gull still being seen by Burnside Bridge on a light pole? We are coming in tomorrow (Wednesday) and will be looking for it. Thanks, John Thomas N Silverton From johnpam at mtangel.net Tue Mar 10 22:02:54 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:02:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck? Message-ID: Ditto the Tufted Duck tomorrow. Circa 138th on Marine Drive? (Sorry didn't put this on the first message!) John Thomas From krallfamily at comcast.net Wed Mar 11 12:03:47 2009 From: krallfamily at comcast.net (Kathy) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:03:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] windpower Message-ID: <212DA3382A0E460B98A356EB5EAFEBA9@D04KrallStudy> Whew! Thanks for all the information/discussion regarding windpower and birds. Succinctly, green power is good. It will be important that birders press for efforts to minimize any effect on birds as this offshore wind project moves forward. The CEO of Principle Power gave the very interesting presentation we attended in Oceanside. The company will be doing presentations in Garibaldi, Manzanita, Neskowin and Tillamook in the coming weeks. Here's the schedule (from the Tillamook Headlight Herald website). . Fisherman's Advisory Committee for Tillamook meeting, 6:30 p.m. March 19 at the Garibaldi Community Hall. . Tillamook County Economic Development Council meeting, noon March 17 at the Tillamook County Library. . Neskowin CPAC meeting, 1-3 p.m. April 4 at the Neskowin Fire Hall. . Manzanita town hall meeting, 10 a.m. April 11 at the Pine Grove Community Club. Kathy Krall -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090311/d1401950/attachment.html From tamickel at rio.com Wed Mar 11 12:34:51 2009 From: tamickel at rio.com (Tom & Allison Mickel) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:34:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wednesday morning birding Message-ID: <001801c9a280$74f3fb30$5edbf190$@com> OBOL, This morning we birded Delta Ponds and then a few of us make a "lap" around the top of Skinner Butte. The morning bird list follows. Canada Goose - 25 Wood Duck - 6 Gadwall - 8 American Wigeon - 6 Mallard - 15 Northern Shoveler - 10 Green-winged Teal - 20 Ring-necked Duck - 2 Greater Scaup - 8 Lesser Scaup - 20 Bufflehead - 2 Common Merganser - 5 Pied-billed Grebe - 5 Double-crested Cormorant - 20 Great Blue Heron - 12 most standing at or near nests. Bald Eagle - 1 on nest at Skinner Butte. American Kestrel/Merlin - 1 about half the group thought it was one and the other half thought it was the other. American Coot - 15 Killdeer - 1 Wilson's Snipe - 10 Mew Gull - 15 Ring-billed Gull - 2 Glaucous-winged Gull - 10 Rock Pigeon - 5 Belted Kingfisher - 2 Downy Woodpecker - 1 Northern Flicker - 3 Western Scrub-Jay - 8 American Crow - 10 Tree Swallow - 1 Violet-green Swallow - 40 Black-capped Chickadee - 6 Bushtit - 20 Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2 Bewick's Wren - 3 Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2 Ruby-Crowned Kinglet - 10 American Robin - 25 European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler - 15 Spotted Towhee - 1 Song Sparrow - 12 Golden-crowned Sparrow - 20 Dark-eyed Junco - 10 Red-winged Blackbird - 10 Brewer's Blackbird - 1 House Finch - 6 Pine Siskin - 4 Lesser Goldfinch - 10 House Sparrow Participants - Fred Chancy, Kimberly Cullen, Barry McKenzie, Craig Merkel, Tom Mickel, Don Schrouder, Paul Sherrell, and Sarah Vasconcellos. From e.restoration at comcast.net Wed Mar 11 13:07:51 2009 From: e.restoration at comcast.net (e.restoration at comcast.net) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:07:51 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Spring Message-ID: <1690740773.1580781236802071414.JavaMail.root@sz0092a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi All: Had our first Turkey Vulture yesterday in Milwaukie, however still no sign of the Rufous Hummingbird that usually arrive a week or so before the TV's. This is the first time in ten years that the Rufous have not arrived around the last week in February or first week in March and always before the TV's arrive. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090311/61faaf8d/attachment.html From sheilach at nwtec.com Wed Mar 11 13:26:01 2009 From: sheilach at nwtec.com (Sheila) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:26:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chattering migrants! Message-ID: <3490F4F18E0949DABA47E75B59017C35@userdb934c10ae> Sitting at my computer, I look out freqently and I saw a sight I hadn't seen since last year, swooping, chattering VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS! What a happy sight they are and they seem glad to be back to their nesting area. I've kept my nestboxes free of HOUSE SPARROWS so they are empty and awaiting their return. I hope the BARN SWALLOWS will return to the nest they built last year over the front door, it too is intact and waiting for their return. Most of the "usual suspects" are still here, GOLD-CROWN, WHITE-CROWN, FOX and SONG SPARROW, EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE, STARLINGS, HOUSE SPARROW,PINE SISKINS, CALIFORNIA QUAIL, CHESTNUT-BACKED, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, HOUSE FINCHES, PURPLE FINCH, ANNA'S and RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, BREWERS BLACKBIRDS, CROWS and RAVENS, AMERICAN ROBIN, NORTHERN FLICKER, "OREGON" JUNCO, STELLERS, SCRUB JAY. The WHITE-THROATED SPARROW seems to have gone north and "my" SONG-SPARROW continues to recover from his close call. I'm still getting visitors to my nest-box trap, a female house sparrow was the latest visitor. Looks more like spring every day! Sheila from Harbor Oregon "Marinoism -- The belief that everything from political to religious indoctrination is an abject fraud, used to control the minds of this planet's citizenry as a means of effective social control, and that the individual must seek their own higher truths in order to rise above these psychological bonds which society uses to enslave them." From kolwicz at minetfiber.com Wed Mar 11 13:36:18 2009 From: kolwicz at minetfiber.com (kolwicz at minetfiber.com) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:36:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird photographers and refuge blinds Message-ID: <49B820C2.7070709@minetfiber.com> I've just been to the new "photo blind" at Ankeny and am greatly disappointed. Any others have comments to send to me off-list? Frank From dpvroman at budget.net Wed Mar 11 13:40:20 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:40:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] 4th north GP raptor survey Message-ID: <028E9822E02D4FBA901755EAC89D57A2@Warbler> Today (03-11-09) the 4th North Grants Pass Raptor count was accomplished. Time: 2.75 hrs; miles driven: 38.2; weather: clear. Species observed: Red-tailed Hawk - 10 American Kestrel - 5 Bald Eagle - 2 (adult) Red-shouldered Hawk - 4 White-tailed Kite - 3 Cooper's Hawk - 1 Turkey Vulture - 13 Sky clear, but somewhat hazy over the valley, making distant objects less clear. Obviously, Turkey Vultures on the move. MARSH WREN heard singing from a narrow strip of reed-canary grass along an irrigation ditch. 15 GREAT EGRETS sporting spring-time plumes now. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090311/971d1fbd/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Mar 11 17:08:26 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:08:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Migrant clusters Message-ID: I had to make a run to Salem today to testify at a legislative hearing. On the way up and back I saw several more or less northbound flocks in alternating colors: Mew Gulls. Vultures. Mew Gulls. Vultures. Quite an interesting parade. And Bald Eagles everywhere. We were hardly out of sight of some from Coburg to the Santiam River. This seems to be a bit more than usual. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Wed Mar 11 18:45:58 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:45:58 -0600 Subject: [obol] Say'a Phoebe and Spotted Towhee Message-ID: <26BBA9F7A0154597971917631A513159@larryPC> After seeing all the spotting of Say's Phoebe's reminded me that our FOY was here on Sat. 7 Mar. It comes in checks out the food situation cruises the creek then we won't see it for a few days. It is the same one as it's favorite perch is the coat rack my husband made for our hot tub. Which is also right out the dining room window. Today while at Burns Jct waiting for the mail we had a Spotted Towhee come in and rummage in the grass around the gas tanks. We see one there on a regular basis during warm weather. The Redtails are looking for nest material at the neighbors. Spring is getting closer! Karen in true SE Or. south of Burns Jct. in Malheur Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090311/575ab680/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Mar 11 20:05:47 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:05:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] OT: Megascolides Message-ID: I recall someone at OSU trying to do research on the giant native earthworm. Perhaps he or she gave a presentation to ASC a year or two ago. This is a hard animal to investigate as it has been called extinct. Was the last specimen collected in the 30s? A resident of Polk County sold me 12 lbs of truffles today and said he dug up a 2 1/2ft worm in King's Valley(Benton County) yesterday. Not quite as charismatic as an Ivory-billed Woodpecker, but I must confess to being rather excited just now. Can anyone recall the researcher, or suggest contacts. Lars Norgren From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Mar 11 20:11:00 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:11:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bird photographers and refuge blinds In-Reply-To: <49B820C2.7070709@minetfiber.com> References: <49B820C2.7070709@minetfiber.com> Message-ID: Apparently the photo blind at Ridgefield was rebuilt a few years ago. I never saw the original, but everyone I've talked to considers it several steps backward. Lars Norgren On Mar 11, 2009, at 12:36 PM, kolwicz at minetfiber.com wrote: > I've just been to the new "photo blind" at Ankeny and am greatly > disappointed. Any others have comments to send to me off-list? > > Frank > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Mar 11 16:48:33 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:48:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 03/11/09 Message-ID: <20090312022019.4AAC4A8289@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 03/05 to 03/11/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 7 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 1 (1, 3/5) Band-tailed Pigeon 3 (4, 3/11) Mourning Dove 6 (5) Anna's Hummingbird 5 (3, 3/6) Red-breasted Sapsucker 4 (6[!], 3/11) Downy Woodpecker 2 (1, 3/5 & 11) HAIRY WOODPECKER 1 (1, 3/7) Northern Flicker 5 (7, 3/11) Pileated Woodpecker 2 (2, 3/6) Steller's Jay 7 (5) Western Scrub-Jay 6 (1) American Crow 6 (20, 3/11) Black-capped Chickadee 7 (18, 3/5) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 5 (8) Bushtit 1 (20, 3/11) Red-breasted Nuthatch 5 (5) Brown Creeper 2 (1, 3/5 & 6) Bewick's Wren 2 (2, 3/6) Winter Wren 6 (3) GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET 1 (3, 3/5) American Robin 7 (30) Varied Thrush 7 (8, 3/5) European Starling 5 (8, 3/8) Spotted Towhee 7 (8) Fox Sparrow 4 (2, 3/8) Song Sparrow 7 (12) Dark-eyed Junco 7 (30, 3/5) PURPLE FINCH 1 (1, 3/11) House Finch 7 (15) Pine Siskin 6 (50, 3/10) LESSER GOLDFINCH 2 (3, 3/8) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: Western Screech- Owl Misses (birds found at least 3 days in previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Red-tailed Hawk Wink Gross Portland From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Mar 11 19:48:54 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:48:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cent Or ECBC Wednesday birders - Hatfield ponds. - Deschutes county Message-ID: <86E20167C5844D62B4BC52818503FB34@MOM> Birders SAYS PHOEBES -We had small flocks throughout the whole area, at least 25 birds. They didn't act tired like we would after arriving from a long red-eye. They were busy feeding and chasing around. Rails are not in yet apparently. A small flock of TREE SWALLOWS was it for swallows. The swallows appeared to be slurping insects off the water. The Says were feeding close to the ground near the water also. Solitaires were cavorting in pairs. No TVs yet in Bend area for the Wednesday birders. No Zono sparrows anywhere. Ducks were getting bright and more colorful. Darwin spotted a mammal scurrying away, coudln't re-locate it. Was it a Badger? Keep an eye out, west of the walk in area to the first pond. Howard says he saw one there once in the past. Birders today Kim Kathol, Mike Golden, Howard Horvath, Darwin Wile and Judy Meredith. Thanks to Scott Thompson for the hospitality. Kim showed him beautiful Cedar Waxwings in his scope, a nice thanks for having drive-in access. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 6 Tundra Swan 3 Gadwall 3 American Wigeon 18 Mallard 50 Northern Shoveler 8 Northern Pintail 12 Green-Winged Teal 30 Ring-necked Duck 4 Lesser Scaup 50 Bufflehead 65 Hooded Merganser 2 Common Merganser 1 - flew over. Ruddy Duck 30 Bald Eagle 2 - one adult, one was juv, no white on tail or head. Red-tailed Hawk 3 American Coot 30 Killdeer 18 Rock Dove 6 Mourning Dove 6 Northern Flicker 4 Say's Phoebe 25 - could have been more certainly. Western Scrub-Jay 2 Black-billed Magpie 28 American Crow 1 Common Raven 3 Tree Swallow 14 Marsh Wren 3 Mountain Bluebird 30 Townsend's Solitaire 25 American Robin 25 European Starling 25 Cedar Waxwing 26 Spotted Towhee 2 Song Sparrow 7 Dark-eyed Junco 44 Red-winged Blackbird 30 Western Meadowlark 10 House Finch 4 House Sparrow 2 total species 40 Good birding, Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com From lammergeiereyes at aol.com Wed Mar 11 19:52:59 2009 From: lammergeiereyes at aol.com (lammergeiereyes at aol.com) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:52:59 -0400 Subject: [obol] Bird photographers and refuge blinds In-Reply-To: References: <49B820C2.7070709@minetfiber.com> Message-ID: <8CB70D4C970697D-1068-2A2E@webmail-db03.sysops.aol.com> The whole notion of a pre constructed photo blind has always seemed an odd thing to me. All over the world I have been to the same sort of windowless cabin perched over marshlands that one approaches in full sight of all the resident fowl, only to enter the dank and dreary little hut utterly encumbered and unable to photograph a damn thing. This phenomenon is especially pronounced in England where "ques" develop?at the great RSPB reserves. After minutes that seem like hours one enters a crowd of sweating strangers in the little shadowy cave, laden with optics, to fight over the view from a 10 inch wide slit, like desperate prisoners yurning for a far-off freedom. Blake T. Matheson Carmel, California & Portland, Oregon -- "Men still live who, in their youth, remember Passenger Pigeons. Trees still live who, in their youth, were shaken by a living wind. But a decade hence only the oldest oaks will remember, and at long last only the hills will know." Leopold -----Original Message----- From: Norgren Family To: kolwicz at minetfiber.com Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 8:11 pm Subject: Re: [obol] Bird photographers and refuge blinds Apparently the photo blind at Ridgefield was rebuilt a few years ago. I never saw the original, but everyone I've talked to considers it several steps backward. Lars Norgren On Mar 11, 2009, at 12:36 PM, kolwicz at minetfiber.com wrote: > I've just been to the new "photo blind" at Ankeny and am greatly > disappointed. Any others have comments to send to me off-list? > > Frank > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090311/599a2f92/attachment.html From gorgebirds at juno.com Wed Mar 11 21:04:45 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:04:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird photographers and refuge blinds Message-ID: <20090311.215631.4760.0.gorgebirds@juno.com> I birded south Texas in January and the best designed blind I have ever seen were the ones at the Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park. They were really innovative one that used wide siding boards hinged at the bottoms of each board. The hinges allowed the any of the boards to be dropped part way down and used as a rest. When in the upright position they where held in place by magnets, I talked with a photographer there that said they had many requests for their plans. Now, although it was a great design it still faced to the South instead of facing North for better lighting, this is the other flaw with the blind at the Ridgefield NWR, along with openings apparently designed to prevent the use of optics. Wilson Cady Skamania County, WA ____________________________________________________________ Digital Photography - Click Now. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTDvmRb9h5aeqqlwtZH4ge89xZJLYCHIpXFMyB8QOH9JL9lTOjBH6w/ From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Mar 11 23:36:41 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:36:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 3-12-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * March 2, 2009 * ORPO0903.12 - birds mentioned Eurasian Green-winged Teal TUFTED DUCK MANX SHEARWATER Brown Pelican Osprey Golden Eagle Semipalmated Sandpiper SLATY-BACKED GULL Black-legged Kittiwake Rufous Hummingbird Say?s Phoebe Swamp Sparrow - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 Compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday March 12. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On March 6 a MANX SHEARWATER was seen off the South Jetty of the Columbia River among a swarm of BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES. The downtown Portland SLATY-BACKED GULL and the TUFTED DUCK along Marine Drive near the Portland Airport continue to be seen. EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL were reported during the week from Hillsboro, the Fernhill Wetlands, and Ridgefield NWR and SAY?S PHOEBES were reported from many parts of western Oregon. Female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS arrived in the state as did many of the local nesting OSPREYS. On March 5 three OSPREYS were seen flying northward over Florence. On March 6 a BROWN PELICAN was at the South Jetty of the Umpqua River at Winchester Bay. On March 5 a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was reported at Baskett Slough NWR. During the week a GOLDEN EAGLE was seen on Sauvie Island, Ridgefield NWR, and near the Portland Airport. A cooperative SWAMP SPARROW was seen during the week on the east side of the Cattail Marsh at the Fernhill Wetlands. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090311/ad167f50/attachment.html From richarmstrong at comcast.net Thu Mar 12 07:28:04 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 07:28:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Glaucous Gull Message-ID: <7835ECA8D30442A589084D6387AA243F@armstrong> for those of you interested in glaucous gull records in oregon 1. glen lindeman, 2 from salem audubon, carolyn bales , and i found a 1st winter GLAUCOUS GULL at the corvallis landfill (benton county) yesterday 3/11. this is about 10 miles north of corvallis on 99 and left on coffin butte road. 2. there were probably 50 gulls there - mostly california & glaucous-winged as far as i could tell. there was 1 adult WESTERN GULL. 3. this next week or 2 will be excellent weeks to look for gulls at the dump because they are dumping right next to the road. (i asked in hq and they told me probably another 1-2 weeks of dumping there) so you can drive up coffin butte road and park at the hq or whatever the building is on the left. you can view the garbage very well from that point. the gulls were coming right to it at 1 point but spent most of the 2 hours just soaring around. 4. they also will roost in the puddles in the field - drive past the hq and go right down the dead end road - the field on the left has some nice puddles and nanette arrived while all the gulls including the glaucous were sitting in the puddles resting.unfortunately they were too far away for me to try to id all of them. 5. when we left there were 3 glaucous-winged gulls on the pond next to toketie marsh, certainly another place to check. 6. while you are there you can bird toketie marsh where we had 4 CINAMON TEAL, 1 GREATER SCAUP among the ring-necks, and probably close to 50 SNIPE. 7. possibly coincidentally glen said the salem glaucous gull was not seen so this could be the salem bird? Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090312/ab15de4f/attachment.html From tlove at linfield.edu Thu Mar 12 09:24:58 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:24:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mew Gulls? Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F1215B8FB48@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> There seem to have been many fewer MEW GULLS around this winter in their regular haunts - schoolyards, the local sewage treatment plant, etc. Has that been people's experience elsewhere in western Oregon? I'm thinking it must be due to the dry year, so they're sticking closer to bodies of water, but I have insufficient observations to back that up. Tom tlove at linfield.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090312/038aee04/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Thu Mar 12 11:27:24 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:27:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Warbler movement Message-ID: <81b2a9930903121127s776f53desd2e4ab022ae5370a@mail.gmail.com> There has been a recent uptick of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS in my yard. I'm hosting at least three or four Myrtles now (up from two) and a very colorful Audubon's. Brandon Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090312/df5dff4f/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Thu Mar 12 12:07:58 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:07:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] First Rufous-Robert Frost Elem in Silverton Message-ID: We saw our 1st Rufous Hummingbird this morning at the feeder outside Mrs. Rindy's room at Robert Frost. Also saw a TV overhead and 3 Violet-Green Swallows swooping by. Pam and I brought the scope and had crippling views of Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, American Robin, Or Juncos, Starlings, American Crow, Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, and a Spotted Towhee in spring song. Being able to see the birds up close and personal got the 4th grade kids excited about some species they have seen all winter long. No Rufous yet out here 5 miles north of town. Just an intermittent female Anna's. On a side note, we struck out on the Slaty and the Tufted in Portland yesterday; but, are considering another try. Failed to bring the scope and that was a BIG mistake out on the Columbia for the Tufted Duck. Powells made up for the lack of vagrants in the bins. I bought the memoir (sort of) by Alan Contreras to help sooth the birding soul for a couple days. John Thomas N Silverton From johnpam at mtangel.net Thu Mar 12 12:24:33 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:24:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird Now Here-N Silverton Message-ID: We now have a male Rufous Hummingbird 5 mi N of Silverton. Just 2 hours after spotting the male at Robert Frost Elem School. Spring !!! Pam has had 3 feeders out for weeks. John Thomas From tom-escue at comcast.net Thu Mar 12 14:21:19 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:21:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Say's Phoebe Message-ID: <59BD8D9FA77E4118923E96C4D37EFFB2@TomsPC> I checked the Ricketts Rd area south of Goshen today and did not locate the SAY's PHOEBE. I did see several VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, a RED-TAILED HAWK and a NORTHERN-HARRIER. There were a lot of ROBINS. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090312/d14aecd8/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Mar 12 14:35:30 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:35:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] 4th south Grants Pass raptor survey Message-ID: <86C1F4F23A1F48E1947289509E9260DA@Warbler> Today (03-12-09) the 4th South Grants Pass raptor survey was accomplished. Total of 2.75 hrs; 26.9 miles; weather: light hazy fog early on, then clear. Observed were: Red-tailed Hawk - 3 (count way down, 13 on last) American Kestrel - 2 Red-shouldered Hawk - 6 (2 pairs seen) White-tailed Kite - 2 (pair at distance in conifer/hardwoods; nesting?) Turkey Vulture - 5 Kites were located in what could be nesting habitat, almost missed them, not near a field. Found 1 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (possible 2 others in the distance, couldn't tell for sure). At least 8 WILSON'S SNIPE in wet pasture at edge of road. Heard, then saw a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET singing. Also, lots of other species singing today (Robins, Juncos, Towhees, so on). Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090312/f803fe78/attachment.html From srnord101 at verizon.net Thu Mar 12 15:07:28 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:07:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands Teals, Vultures and Sauvie Island Redheads Message-ID: <000601c9a35e$ef69ee40$ce3dcac0$@net> OBOL; This morning at Sauvie Island saw the following: REDHEAD 2 (male and female at the ODFW observation platform on Reeder Rd) SNOW GEESE & SANDHILL CRANES - hundreds - at observation platform and end of Rentelaar Rd. EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE 3 (at house just west of the Coon Point overlook) FERNHILL WETLANDS: COMMON TEAL 1 (male) (Eagle Perch Pond) COMMON X GREEN-WINGED TEAL hybrid 1 (male)- has both white horizontal and vertical stripe (Eagle Perch Pond) CINNAMON TEAL 2 (male and female) (Eagle Perch Pond) TURKEY VULTURE 2 Did not find the SWAMP SPARROW, although know it was seen yesterday. Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From sharonb at coinet.com Thu Mar 12 15:18:01 2009 From: sharonb at coinet.com (Sharon L. Burchett) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:18:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] White-throated and Swamp Sparrows Message-ID: <20090312221703.A9359A8274@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Hi, I'm coming to Portland for the weekend. Does anyone have any recent reports of White-throated or Swamp Sparrows? Thanks, Sharon Burchett Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090312/446295f2/attachment.html From steve at paradisebirding.com Thu Mar 12 15:27:45 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:27:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] 2nd Woodpecker Wonderland Festival In-Reply-To: <9a341ea30903121524t5609b5dld776b1228113dfec@mail.gmail.com> References: <9a341ea30903121524t5609b5dld776b1228113dfec@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <9a341ea30903121527y746fb1ebm12d3bed069bbf33a@mail.gmail.com> Greetings Tweeters, OBOLers, and COBOLers, I am excited to invite all of you to the 2nd annual Woodpecker Wonderland Festival, June 5-7, in Camp Sherman, Oregon. Registration details are now posted on the event web site: www.woodpeckerwonderland.com. In 2008, we filled all programs to capacity, and we anticipate the same for 2009. So, if you are interested in attending, please register as soon as possible. I will post regular event updates at the same web address, so please stay tuned for more details as they are finalized. For questions regarding the festival, please email my registrar Sue Tank at woodpeckerfest at paradisebirding.com. I hope to see some of you at the Othello Sandhill Crane Festival March 20-22 (http://www.othellosandhillcranefestival.org/), where I will be speaking on Saturday night. Whether or not you can make it to Othello, please join us in Camp Sherman this summer! Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090312/e8ae5407/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Thu Mar 12 15:49:50 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:49:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Turkey vulture Message-ID: <4957685660394642B9B55BFD18FE389A@TomsPC> Add a TURKEY-VULTURE to the list on Ricketts Rd area S of Goshen. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090312/5dad92c0/attachment.html From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Thu Mar 12 16:33:44 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:33:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Last Raptor Route of the season for Madras Message-ID: <49B99BD8.6000608@gmail.com> Today we did the last Raptor Route of the season for Madras. This time Glenn Herklerath rode 'shotgun'. We ended up with the following: 34 Red-tail Hawks -One female is on a nest (the ones who built their nest in JANUARY!) and one more pair who have just completed their nest. 11 American Kestrels-Two pairs paired up 2 Northern Harriers 1 Rough-legged Hawk 1 Prairie Falcon 1 Great Horned Owl And now the REST of the story-- Just south of Madras and a quarter mile north of Iris Ln we encountered 29 Red-tailed Hawks 1 Rough-legged Hawk 1 Cooper's Hawk in one field on each side of Hwy 97. Talk about a GREAT way to end the day!! Kevin Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090312/48f636da/attachment.vcf From Cathy.Nowak at state.or.us Thu Mar 12 16:34:10 2009 From: Cathy.Nowak at state.or.us (Cathy Nowak) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:34:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] ECBC La Grande Raptor Route Message-ID: Birders, I ran the final 2009 La Grande winter raptor route for the East Cascades Bird Conservancy Today. The weather was spectacular with blue skies and a start temperature of 18 degrees. The wind was calm (mostly) and it had warmed into the mid-30's by the end of the route. This route covers much of the floor of the Grande Ronde Valley from Ladd Marsh to Union to Cove and Imbler and skirting the south end of La Grande before returning to Ladd Marsh. The route was 82 miles and was covered in 5.25 hours. Red-tailed Hawk 43 American Kestrel 2 Northern Harrier 6 Bald Eagle 1 (Sub-adult) Rough-legged Hawk 15 Prairie Falcon 1 Great Horned Owl 3 Other species seen (in no particular order)... Long-billed curlew (heard only; first of season) Horned lark American crow Common raven Belted kingfisher American robin (they're everywhere!) White-crowned sparrow Red-winged blackbird Common merganser American wigeon Mallard Canada goose Dark-eyed junco Mountain bluebird (first of season) Black-billed magpie Northern flicker Starling Western meadowlark Rock pigeon Ring-necked pheasant Tundra swan Northern pintail Greater white-fronted goose Good Birding! M. Cathy Nowak Fish and Wildlife Biologist ODFW Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area 59116 Pierce Road La Grande, OR 97850 541-963-4954 Cathy.Nowak at state.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090312/8b722f2e/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Mar 12 19:44:06 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:44:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mew Gulls? In-Reply-To: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F1215B8FB48@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> References: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F1215B8FB48@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> Message-ID: <16ce46cae7495b192a7eedc9b10c31c9@earthlink.net> Gulls of all species foraging in fields have been nonexistent in my part of Washington County this winter. I attributed it to the almost constantly frozen ground. The extremely low rainfall in February would also be a factor, which I had completely ignored until now. Mew Gull numbers at Fernhill have struck me as quite normal. They feed there in sewage treatment tanks, barely visible from the parking lot. I believe Steve Nord, or another visitor there in the past week, posted 400 Mew Gulls. I counted 410 that day or the next. Migrating flocks of this species are now much in evidence. Russ Namitz commented on their shorebird like behavior-- tight flocks wheeling about. They have been doing a great deal of this at Fernhill this week, where they are now feeding in the field west of Fernhill Road. Lars Norgren On Mar 12, 2009, at 8:24 AM, Thomas Love wrote: > There seem to have been many fewer MEW GULLS around this winter in > their regular haunts ? schoolyards, the local sewage treatment plant, > etc.? Has that been people?s experience elsewhere in western Oregon?? > I?m thinking it must be due to the dry year, so they?re sticking > closer to bodies of water, but I have insufficient observations to > back that up. > ? > Tom > tlove at linfield.edu > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From mmarvin at spiritone.com Thu Mar 12 18:51:44 2009 From: mmarvin at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:51:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Violet-green Swallows in Lake Oswego Message-ID: <53133350-CBDC-4282-B064-272CE5B6DA9D@spiritone.com> OBOLi - While answering the phone at the Audubon Society of Portland today, I had a call from an excited Lake Oswego resident saying that the V-G Swallows had returned and were swooping over the lake. She also said this was the same date on which they had returned last year. I asked if I could let you know and she was delighted. There are probably more arrival date records out there than any of us can imagine. Good birding! Marcia -- "The past isn't over. It isn't even past." William Faulkner From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Mar 12 19:08:55 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:08:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] VGs Message-ID: The first "urban" VG swallow I have seen this year was eyeing my nest box this morning I don't have my tracking sheet handy, but this is about the same as last year, as I recall. They don't actually do much until the end of April, but they check out the scene a lot. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Mar 12 21:15:51 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:15:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] VGs In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: A whole flock was over my house this morning, where plenty of freshly fallen snow remains in the shade. This has got to be the earliest detection here by 10 days to 2 weeks. What was especially interesting was they were foraging on the fringe of the tall tree canopy. Two dozen Dougls-firs at least 30m high form an island next to the house surrounded by very young second growth. There evidently was some kind of insect hatch going on, as the flock flew within feet of the branches and nowhere else for close to ten minutes. These first VGs never linger. It will probably be another month before true residents appear at our house. Last year was so cold they never came. Lars Norgren Manning Oregon (300m el.) On Mar 12, 2009, at 6:08 PM, Alan Contreras wrote: > The first "urban" VG swallow I have seen this year was eyeing my nest > box > this morning I don't have my tracking sheet handy, but this is about > the > same as last year, as I recall. They don't actually do much until the > end > of April, but they check out the scene a lot. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From dinpdx at yahoo.com Thu Mar 12 20:45:23 2009 From: dinpdx at yahoo.com (Dwight) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:45:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] VG Swallows Message-ID: <140301.19694.qm@web31607.mail.mud.yahoo.com> There were numerous Violet-green Swallows at the Tualatin River NWR "Atfalati" unit on Tuesday 3/10/09. Dwight Porter Portland From bettyehunt at aol.com Thu Mar 12 20:46:20 2009 From: bettyehunt at aol.com (bettyehunt at aol.com) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:46:20 -0400 Subject: [obol] Violet-green Swallows in Lake Oswego In-Reply-To: <53133350-CBDC-4282-B064-272CE5B6DA9D@spiritone.com> References: <53133350-CBDC-4282-B064-272CE5B6DA9D@spiritone.com> Message-ID: <8CB71A567C40ED0-610-12AF@webmail-da19.sysops.aol.com> First for me here on Alsea Bay as well. -----Original Message----- From: Marcia Marvin To: OBOL Sent: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 6:51 pm Subject: [obol] Violet-green Swallows in Lake Oswego OBOLi - While answering the phone at the Audubon Society of Portland today, I had a call from an excited Lake Oswego resident saying that the V-G Swallows had returned and were swooping over the lake. She also said this was the same date on which they had returned last year. I asked if I could let you know and she was delighted. There are probably more arrival date records out there than any of us can imagine. Good birding! Marcia -- "The past isn't over. It isn't even past." William Faulkner _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090312/ff1d2afc/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Mar 12 22:35:41 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:35:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Belling crow Message-ID: <320f03e511c85897333fe393936ce6bb@earthlink.net> I suppose many people out there know that American Crows sing by "belling". I was working on Skyline Drive in Portland about noon. A completely unfamiliar sound caught my attention, which I first did not attribute to a bird. But it persisted, and I eventually focused on the top of an alder, where a crow or raven was clearly the source. I would describe it as "Two lips gone gone gone" or "Two shots strong strong strong". My daughter suggested I had just seen"a really small raven" but I watched it until another crow showed up and it began to caw. In any event I've never heard a raven do anything but a single bell note. So is this routine, or is it a unique crow? A chickadee was singing at the same time (Black-capped) and it occurred to me that this crow's belling was its best effort at imitating the chickadee. Lars Norgren From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Mar 13 01:10:43 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 08:10:43 +0000 Subject: [obol] Cormorant ID Challenge posted to the BirdFellow Journal Message-ID: Greetings All, I invite all of you to test you cormorant ID skills at BirdFellow.com. I just posted a photo quiz using an image that I took at Newport, OR in Dec. 2008. I hope that many of you chose to play along and submit your answers using our comments link (right below the title of the post). Have fun, Dave Irons BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Contacts: Organize your contact list. http://windowslive.com/connect/post/marcusatmicrosoft.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!503D1D86EBB2B53C!2285.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_UGC_Contacts_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090313/36066596/attachment.html From srnord101 at verizon.net Fri Mar 13 11:39:14 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:39:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands Common Teal photos Message-ID: <000001c9a40b$0290a840$07b1f8c0$@net> OBOL: I've placed some photos of the Common Teal and the Common X American Green-winged Teal hybrid being seen at Fernhill Wetlands. Photos are not great, as I was using a point and shoot through my spotting scope, and these birds hide in the grasses well, but the birds are recognizable. Yesterday both the Common and hybrid teal were feeding side by side at the SW corner of Eagle Perch Pond. There was a female teal sticking along with them, but I have no clue on her genetic makeup. I've also included a photo that I took of the Common Teal that Stefan Schlick found on March 9th, near the Hillsboro Airport, which to my eye had less of a face pattern than the male I've seen at Fernhill Wetlands. Photos can be found here: http://www.pbase.com/srn_naturalist/common_teal Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Mar 13 15:36:36 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:36:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Rufous returns to Manning Message-ID: Begin forwarded message: > From: Norgren Family > Date: March 13, 2009 1:35:40 PM PST > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Rufous returns to Manning > > A male Rufous Hummingbird was in our > yard at 10 this morning. This is six days > later than our earliest date and about three > days ahead of average. Several inches of > snow where there is no canopy but the ground > is shaded. I saw a Turkey Vulture at FErnhill > on Wednesday, pretty much average date of > return for western Washington County in my > fifteen years living here. Lars Norgren > From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri Mar 13 16:16:20 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:16:20 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Curry Bird Songs 3/13/2009 Message-ID: <962940.80723.qm@web45313.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Joining the HUTTON'S VIREOS and the WINTER WRENS in song today in the Coast Range up the Sixes River were NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL, SOOTY GROUSE and MOUNTAIN QUAIL- the first I've heard any of them 'singing' this spring.?Also, heard a noisy RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER on Thursday. It was nice today, about 60F, with coastal fog all day further west. A bit early for flowering vascular plants but I did see the little trillium (Pseudotrillium rivale), redwood violet (Viola sempervirens), and toothwort (Cardamine nuttallii nuttallii), with Howell's saxifrage (Saxifraga howellii) and an early Lomatium sp. in the rocks on my way up the river. More rain, wind, and cool weather the next few days, the psychotic springtime weather continues!@! Merry springtime, Tim R Coos Bay From jvanmoo at sisna.com Fri Mar 13 17:08:19 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:08:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Klamath Falls, 3-12-09 Message-ID: Marilyn Christian, BJ Matzen, Shelly Ware and I birded the south part of the Basin yesterday. We found the leucistic BALD EAGLE on Pickett Rd. in Malin, ~ 30-40 TRI-COLORED BLACKBIRDs near Lost River High School, several EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVEs on 2nd St. in Merrill, SAY' PHOEBE and CINNAMON TEAL on the Lower Klamath Refuge on the CA side, and 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS at White Lake on the CA side. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From pamao at q.com Fri Mar 13 17:21:43 2009 From: pamao at q.com (Pam Otley) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:21:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ona Beach Kittiwake Message-ID: Today, Friday, at Ona Beach at 2:00, we checked out the flock of gulls at the creek outlet. While not the most experienced at identifying gulls, we did id Mew, California, Bonaparte, Ring-billed Gulls and a very short-legged Black-Legged Kittiwake! As we approached the parking lot, there was a Hermit Thrush enjoying a puddle there. Pam Otley & Jay Avery -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090313/65474133/attachment.html From davehelzer at mac.com Fri Mar 13 17:27:51 2009 From: davehelzer at mac.com (David Helzer) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:27:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Portland Glaucous Gull and Tree Swallows Message-ID: Wednesday 3/11 there was a first or second winter GLAUCOUS GULL in downtown Portland in the small one-block park at SW 4th and Main, between the County and Federal Courthouses. The next morning there was a WESTERN GULL there. I have not been over to check on the Slaty-backed lately. Today 3/13 there was noticeable influx of TREE SWALLOWS in Northeast portland along the Columbia Slough. Dave Helzer Portland, Oregon From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Fri Mar 13 17:56:07 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:56:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Migrants Message-ID: Today there was a small movement of VG swallows into urban Eugene, and also some small flocks of yellow-rumps moving through. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From prigge1 at mindspring.com Fri Mar 13 18:54:21 2009 From: prigge1 at mindspring.com (Allen Prigge) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:54:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane County Finds Message-ID: <3607A5AD7219499883215D72F4A06780@alrup5ujaxzzmc> Seen/heard today by Bill Hunter and Al Prigge: VIRGINIA RAIL--Heard at the site where almost annual, the Spirea patch ~1/8 mile along the trail starting from the Mt. Pisgah east parking lot off Ridgeway Rd. Ridgeway Rd. is on the left as you enter Pleasant Hill. RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER--Apparent daggetti subspecies seen at Elijah Bristow State Park. It stayed at the same spot on a Bigleaf Maple tree for ~an hour. The sap must be flowing. Seen in good light, it best fit the illustration in the American Bird Conservancy Field Guide, All the Birds of North America. The malar stripe was buffy, not white as shown in other field guides I checked. We saw no yellow on the belly and no yellow spots on the back. AAP -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090313/db8c3842/attachment.html From ptweet2005 at msn.com Fri Mar 13 19:05:46 2009 From: ptweet2005 at msn.com (NANCY FRASER) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:05:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird Male Message-ID: Saw the first RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD male at my feeder this season about 15 minutes ago. SW Portland near Tryon Creek State Natural Area/Mountain Park. Nancy Fraser -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090313/48e0cf9c/attachment.html From mklittletree at comcast.net Fri Mar 13 19:23:51 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (michel Kleinbaum) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:23:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: Rufous Hummingbird Message-ID: <110D3B3794C94625AE60869886B0BD8A@michel1927> ----- Original Message ----- From: "michel Kleinbaum" To: "OBOL" Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 4:36 PM Subject: Rufous Hummingbird >A male Rufous Hummingbird showed up in our yard today. > Michel Kleinbaum S. Salem From 5hats at peak.org Fri Mar 13 20:02:11 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:02:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Belling crow References: <320f03e511c85897333fe393936ce6bb@earthlink.net> Message-ID: Lars, Birds of America, Section II, page 230: "Portia probably wasn't aware, whe she said to Nerissa, 'The Crow doth sing as sweetly as a lark When neither is attended' that she was stating -with some exaggeration, of course- a fact in American ornithology. Indeed, probably few Americans know that the crow can sing at all. Yet it is a fact that the bird has a musical little warble which he utters when he thinks he is not "attended" ". I can't say I have heard it often, but certain do not consider it unique. Actually, wild creatures of all kinds do many surprising things when they suppose themselves to be unattended. I have spend the majority of my lifetime out of doors, and have seen and heard some rather remarkable things. The trick is to move slowly enough ( or not at all) until becoming one with your surroundings. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Norgren Family" To: Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 10:35 PM Subject: [obol] Belling crow > I suppose many people out there know > that American Crows sing by "belling". I > was working on Skyline Drive in Portland > about noon. A completely unfamiliar sound > caught my attention, which I first did not > attribute to a bird. But it persisted, and > I eventually focused on the top of an alder, > where a crow or raven was clearly the source. > I would describe it as "Two lips gone gone gone" > or "Two shots strong strong strong". My daughter > suggested I had just seen"a really small raven" > but I watched it until another crow showed > up and it began to caw. In any event I've never > heard a raven do anything but a single bell > note. > So is this routine, or is it a unique crow? > A chickadee was singing at the same time (Black-capped) > and it occurred to me that this crow's belling > was its best effort at imitating the chickadee. > Lars Norgren > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From MMARVIN at spiritone.com Fri Mar 13 21:13:31 2009 From: MMARVIN at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:13:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Portland Slaty-backed Gull? Message-ID: <44B637C5-2416-436A-8451-B075CAC66102@spiritone.com> OBOL - A laridophile friend (and you may know who that is) is visiting and would like to see the Portland Slaty-backed Gull. Has anyone seen it lately? Marcia -- Marcia Marvin * mmarvin at spiritone.com * SW Portland, OR, USA From msgellerman at gmail.com Fri Mar 13 21:14:15 2009 From: msgellerman at gmail.com (Michael Gellerman) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:14:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Violet-green Swallows, Washington Co. Message-ID: <1d0c413a0903132114p6c3f2569q550884fe0ec9791d@mail.gmail.com> We had our first Violet-green Swallows at Bethany Pond (Washington County) on March 12 and they have been here since. We working in the yard today and they started swooping at the nest boxes and perching on the deck rails instead of just constant feeding over the pond. This is about 10 days early based on 15 years of watching swallows arrive here. I saw a Turkey Vulture along I-5 at Wilsonville on Wednesday driving down to Silverton, the first one I have seen this year. We also had Hooded Mergansers, Buffleheads, and Pied-billed Grebes around this week after a long absence. Still no Rufous Hummingbirds though. Mike Gellerman Bethany Pond, Washington Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090313/b07ecc34/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Fri Mar 13 21:50:24 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:50:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands: OSPREY & COMMON TEAL Message-ID: <744507.2059.qm@web55106.mail.re4.yahoo.com> This afternoon, I went to Fernhill Wetlands in Forest Grove. I did not see or hear the Swamp Sparrow. I did see the COMMON TEAL in Eagle Perch Pond (southernmost pond). It was in the open along with other Green-winged Teal, Gadwall, Pintail, etc. I did not see the hybrid GW Teal X Common Teal. Around 4:30p I heard a Bald Eagle high over Fernhill Lake (main pond). When I looked up, it was assuredly escorting a "very near" adult Bald eagle out of the area and shooed it to the NE. Above them watching the entire show was an OSPREY. The Eagles had close interaction three times, before the young one headed off, and the adult turned back toward the Wetlands. The Osprey continued riding a week thermal after the Bald Eagles were gone, but I stopped watching it. Between 5p and 6p Debby de Carlo and I returned and the COMMON TEAL was still in the open with the same accompaniment. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores From craig at greatskua.com Fri Mar 13 21:53:00 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:53:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Signs of spring Message-ID: <20090313215300.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.6480b36d6a.wbe@email.secureserver.net> This evening I saw a western scrub-jay carrying twigs in a neighbor's yard; singing by song sparrows, Bewick's wrens, lesser goldfinches and juncos has increased greatly within the last several weeks; and the number of bushtits visiting my feeder has decreased by more than half - presumably as pairs break away to set up territories. Craig Tumer Portland, OR From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Mar 14 11:10:09 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:10:09 +0000 Subject: [obol] Looking of for a photo Message-ID: Greetings All, I'm sure that many of you have seen the cormorant ID challenge that we posted to the BirdFellow.com website yesterday. This exercise has been quite popular, so we are looking for similar photos to do this with. Ideal photos should meet the following criteria: 1. Include at least 3-4 species of birds that share some similarities (i.e. a mixed group of finches, sparrows, blackbirds, shorebirds, or ducks). If you have images of several birds on a feeder, at a seed pile, or ringing a birdbath, that would be great. 2. The birds need to be identifiable, but may include a couple that might are potentially confusing. 3. The total number of birds should be 10 or fewer. 4. Let's avoid gulls. 5. The picture needs to be from North America, but not necessarily from the West Coast (actually we would prefer something from another region). 6. The file size of the image needs to be at least 0.5MB anything smaller is too small to offer good online viewing. As an example, I have an image that includes several finch species at the Cabin Lake guzzler. Unfortunately, most of the birds have their backs to the camera. We may use it anyway. If you have spent time taking photos at Cabin Lake, you may have better shots of similar mixed groups of species. Your help will be greatly appreciated and all photo use will be properly credited. Thanks, Dave Irons BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/personalize.aspx?ocid=TXT_MSGTX_WL_HM_express_032009#colortheme -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090314/9837128a/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sat Mar 14 11:17:27 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 11:17:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Purple Finches and others Message-ID: <81b2a9930903141117x52ea9c38ta1de2a145ffc6dc2@mail.gmail.com> Finch movement through my neck of the woods is on the rise.? Two PURPLE FINCHES visited my feeders this morning - mature male and a female/young male.? These are the first I've seen since last April. I'm also currently hosting about a dozen SISKINS and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES. MALLARDS have been visiting semi-regularly for the past year, and have now gotten into the habit of loitering in our driveway for a good 20-40 minutes at a time.? It's nice to have them here at all, but I'm not looking forward to hosing down all of the poop. Brandon Eugene From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Mar 14 12:37:18 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 11:37:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Looking of for a photo In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <5ac092fb6aa9421548d827f54d0393ae@earthlink.net> Aw come on! No gulls? When I lie on my death bed I may look back on a society that has overcome sexism, racism, and homophobia, but will have to resign myself to a civilization that is terminally larophobic. Lars Norgren On Mar 14, 2009, at 10:10 AM, David Irons wrote: > Greetings All, > > I'm sure that many of you have seen the cormorant ID challenge that we > posted to the BirdFellow.com website yesterday. This exercise has been > quite popular, so we are looking for similar photos to do this with. > Ideal photos should meet the following criteria: > > 1. Include at least 3-4 species of birds that share some similarities > (i.e. a mixed group of finches, sparrows, blackbirds, shorebirds, or > ducks). If you have images of several birds on a feeder, at a seed > pile, or ringing a birdbath, that would be great. > > 2. The birds need to be identifiable, but may include a couple that > might are potentially confusing. > > 3. The total number of birds should be 10 or fewer. > > 4. Let's avoid gulls. > > 5. The picture needs to be from North America, but not necessarily > from the West Coast (actually we would prefer something from another > region). > > 6. The file size of the image needs to be at least 0.5MB anything > smaller is too small to offer good online viewing. > > As an example, I have an image that includes several finch species at > the Cabin Lake guzzler. Unfortunately, most of the birds have their > backs to the camera. We may use it anyway. If you have spent time > taking photos at Cabin Lake, you may have better shots of similar > mixed groups of species. > > Your help will be greatly appreciated and all photo use will be > properly credited. > > Thanks, > > Dave Irons > BirdFellow.com > > Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for > Hotmail?. See how. _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From bigfishyman at gmail.com Sat Mar 14 11:49:54 2009 From: bigfishyman at gmail.com (Bob Fish) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 11:49:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Creswell birds Message-ID: Driving back to Creswell, from Cottage Grove, I saw a Merlin perched atop a telephone pole. I also ran across a Dark Phase Red-Tail Hawk on Butte Rd. Good Birding Bob Fish Creswell, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090314/e460685c/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Sat Mar 14 12:28:36 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 12:28:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] siskins Message-ID: <16D95204185540C2B7F95D5CDED57EAD@TomsPC> I had four SISKINS in my backyard this morning. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090314/41449e68/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sat Mar 14 14:14:16 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 14:14:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hermit Warbler, Eugene Message-ID: <81b2a9930903141414q1c90383fnd08ae61b5ffc0404@mail.gmail.com> A male HERMIT WARBLER visited our suet feeder earlier this afternoon. Thankfully, my camera was handy... http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/3353960969_3cd145d63f_b.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3592/3354780994_42a3477de1_b.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3427/3353960507_f282b24a69_b.jpg It's my understanding that this guy is a couple of weeks early. -Brandon From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Mar 14 14:40:32 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 21:40:32 +0000 Subject: [obol] Hermit Warbler, Eugene In-Reply-To: <81b2a9930903141414q1c90383fnd08ae61b5ffc0404@mail.gmail.com> References: <81b2a9930903141414q1c90383fnd08ae61b5ffc0404@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: > Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 14:14:16 -0700 > From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Hermit Warbler, Eugene > > A male HERMIT WARBLER visited our suet feeder earlier this afternoon. > Thankfully, my camera was handy... > > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/3353960969_3cd145d63f_b.jpg > > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3592/3354780994_42a3477de1_b.jpg > > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3427/3353960507_f282b24a69_b.jpg > > It's my understanding that this guy is a couple of weeks early. > > -Brandon > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Contacts: Organize your contact list. http://windowslive.com/connect/post/marcusatmicrosoft.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!503D1D86EBB2B53C!2285.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_UGC_Contacts_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090314/ab76213d/attachment.html From mmarvin at spiritone.com Sat Mar 14 15:17:28 2009 From: mmarvin at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 15:17:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Portland Tufted Duck, just east of I-205 bridge Message-ID: Hi Everyone-- Mark Miller and I drove along Marine Drive in NE Portland today 3/14. Around 2pm, we found the male Tufted Duck with a large group of scaup in the Columbia River about halfway between the I-205 bridge and NE 122nd Avenue. Marcia Marvin SW Portland From bwegener8 at comcast.net Sat Mar 14 15:42:56 2009 From: bwegener8 at comcast.net (Brian Wegener) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 15:42:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Comments on Tualatin Refuge Fees Due March 19 Message-ID: <49BC32F0.107@comcast.net> Comment on fees at Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge by March 19. http://www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2009-02-17-E9-3258 From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Sat Mar 14 15:56:31 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 15:56:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bend - Alfalfa Raptor Survey Message-ID: <437ECC5150DA4249A4AFB78CE1BE9D56@KimPC> Carolyn and I drove the Bend - Alfalfa today (Sat.) under P. cloudy to cloudy skies with temp between 37 and 50 degrees F. The winds were calm to 20 mph and we drove 73.5 miles in 4 hours. We saw above average no. of Red-tail hawks with the largest concentration in the vicinity of the Bend Airport. I think we hit a migration route. We also saw the 5 TVs in the same area ( my first this year for Central Or.). Mt. Bluebirds and Am. Robins were numerous throughout the route. We also saw 111 C. Ravens and one N. Shrike. Raptors Counted: Red-tailed Hawks 45 Bald Eagles 2A N. Harrier 1 Ferruginous Hawk 1 -----kim Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090314/c28856f1/attachment.html From bcombs232 at gmail.com Sat Mar 14 15:57:16 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 15:57:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Harrisburg Coburg Raptor Run final effort for the season March 13 Message-ID: <8ce3a6520903141557o4786a7d5p53c56d7e81c4426a@mail.gmail.com> Robin Gage and I did the final Harrisburg-Coburg Raptor Run of the season on Friday, March 13. Coincidentally with the auspicious day, TUKKEY VULTURES looking to clean up the debris from all the carnage were the most numerous species of soaring meat-eating birds at 19. Our previous high number for this species was 18. The day was bright and sunny but cold when we started at 10:18. It quickly warmed up, creating the thermals that allowed us to view the record number of Turkey Vultures. A very high haze started to move in by afternoon, which improved viewing conditions somewhat be reducing the glare from the sun. After Turkey Vulture, the next most numerous species were RED-TAILED HAWK and AMERICAN KESTREL at 17. This total is the same as last month?s for red-tails, but the kestrel total was 6 birds less. The BALD EAGLE mix changed substantially. We found 9 subadults and only one fully adult bird. Usually, the number of adults and subadults is closer to being equal. The total also declined from last month?s 15. Looking over the flocks of sheep in the area, we did not see any newborns. We looked hard for an Osprey, as there are some nesting platforms near the Willamette River, but we did not find any. Raptors seen: 17 Red-tailed Hawk 17 American Kestrel 3 Northern Harrier 10 Bald Eagle (1 adult, 9 subadults) 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk Other species: A HORNED LARK was on territory at the big left curve on Dale Road about 0.8 mi. east of Powerline Road. A sure sign of spring was a singing WESTERN MEADOWLARK proclaiming a territory at the edge of a field along Mt. Tom Drive, on the east side of the freeway about a half mile before the curve to the east where the road goes toward Mt. Tom. We checked for a Black Phoebe where we found one last month near Detering Orchards but did not find one. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Eugene OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090314/6ba4480c/attachment.html From FoxSparrows at aol.com Sat Mar 14 16:46:19 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 19:46:19 EDT Subject: [obol] Harney County update - past 2 weeks plus today Message-ID: I saw my first TREE SWALLOWS in Harney County for '09 today at Malheur NWR... three groups of 2-3 birds. SNOW and ROSS'S GEESE are now crowding Burns Sewage Ponds. Since fields are still fairly dry and brown, these birds are still mostly concentrated there or wherever they can find wet pastures. Yesterday (Friday), Kelley Hazen found five BLUE PHASE Snow geese and one BLUE PHASE Ross's Goose at the Burns sewer ponds. Laura and I went out later in the day, and saw the same birds, although I think there might have been a second blue Ross's Goose. GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE are also easy to find, often mixed with the white geese. These ponds have also had plenty of COMMON GOLDENEYES, as well as a few RUDDY DUCKS, BUFFLEHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCKS, CANVASBACKS, REDHEADS, and LESSER SCAUP. RING-BILLED GULLS began to arrive about 2 weeks ago, and the number is increasing almost daily. NORTHERN PINTAILS are concentrated at the flooded field at the elbow of Greenhouse Lane northeast of the BLM office. GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WIGEON and MALLARDS are mixed in with them. TUNDRA SWANS are most numerous where the Silvies River crosses State Route 205 just west of Wright's Point.... standing water is present here. a few CACKLING GEESE are around... The new Hines sewer ponds east of the old mill building (the longest mill building is almost gone), just off the bend of Hotchkiss Lane has hosted most of the Canvasbacks around Harney Basin, and has had all of the species listed for Burns Sewer Ponds. The first SAY's PHOEBE that I saw this year was in our BLM warehouse about 2 weeks ago. I managed to encourage it to leave after about 15 minutes of persuasion. Today, Laura and I saw 6 phoebes scattered around the county, mostly on Malheur NWR. WESTERN MEADOWLARKS have also been here for a couple of weeks, and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS are now numerous in town, and scattered in flocks throughout the refuge. At Page Springs today, we found two AMERICAN DIPPERS, a WINTER WREN, a CANYON WREN, a MARSH WREN and a PINE SISKIN. A dlock of about 20 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES was along CPT just north of P Ranch. Pine Siskins, LESSER GOLDFINCHES and American Goldfinches all wintered in Hines this year. CEDAR WAXWINGS were present in three small flocks between Frenchglen and Page Springs. Benson Pond was busy with TUNDRA SWANS and other waterfowl, including Common Goldeneyes, GADWALL, MALLARDS, Green-winged Teal, Bufflehead, and the year's (for me) first CINNAMON TEAL (just 1 pair). GREATER SANDHILL CRANE pairs are present on the refuge in places where I have seen birds in late winter in previous years. A pasture along Greenhouse Lane has hosted several hundred canes for more than a week now... Greater and LESSER SANDHILL CRANES can be seen together there. Two FERRUGINOUS HAWKS were along Highway 205... one at The Narrows, and one about 5 miles north. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK numbers appear to be thinning. Last, a GREAT HORNED OWL was easy to spot in the big trees at the Agricultural Experiment Station off Highway 205. Don't forget to use the observation platform at the Harney County Fairgrounds... it offers good morning views of Burns Sewer Ponds. Just drive straight from the entrance of the fairgrounds... you can see the wooden platform from Egan Road. In the afternoon, viewing is better from the Harney Wildlife Parkway (old railroad grade), accessed from Hines on Pettibone Street. That's about all I can think of... Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm_ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1220439616x1201372437/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID %3D62%26bcd%3DfebemailfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090314/6468d0b5/attachment.html From m.denny at charter.net Sat Mar 14 18:52:10 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:52:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birds Below McNary Dam, Umatilla Co. Message-ID: <7F8B969E01F4495A884250A1F584FC04@24FLIGHT> Hello All, This afternoon MerryLynn and I slipped into Umatilla Co. to see what was below McNary Dam. We drove stream below the dam to the gull rocks and started chumming. The following gulls came right in to the old bread. California Gull-12 Ring-billed Gull-23 Mew Gull-3 Western Gull-1 ad. Glaucous-winged Gull-3 Olympic Gull ( Western x Glaucous-winged Hybrid)-1ad. Herring Gull-2 Also saw 6 Wood Duck and 1 Golden-crowned Sparrow. Cool, windy and overcast. Later Mike ..................................................................................Mike and MerryLynn DennyBirding the beautiful Walla Walla ValleyIf you have not birded, you have not lived From mrchickadee at gmail.com Sat Mar 14 19:29:05 2009 From: mrchickadee at gmail.com (Miss Jacqui) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 19:29:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Baskett Slough Friday 3/13 Message-ID: <7e34f7b0903141929w70055e06tc998d0f4e48b45de@mail.gmail.com> Hi OBOLers Popped my Baskett Slough cherry today w/ a "non birding" companion. What a beautiful place. Walked up Baskett Butte and saw and heard Western Meadowlark, a first for me. Lots of flickers. Looked for Acorns... Thousands of Canada Geese, of course. Some duskies. I have OK bins & used the scope at the Hwy 22 Kiosk. 2 Harriers were in the area, both appeared to be females (brown not grey, and large). At the end of my stay at that spot, thought I saw one make a kill, or at least a catch of something. She took off, real fast and low along the shore and swooped down on something behind some vegetation, could see some movement and finally calm. She stayed there for longer than I watched for (about 10 min). Some peeps but unable to ID any of them but killdeer. On the water: 1 Grebe (species - Western???) Scaup Buffleheads N Shovelers Coot Galore Mallard Great Blue Heron More ducks (diving) - but w/ distance + lack of better equip. cannot positively ID - sorry. Red Tails 3 Kestrels (1-f, 2-m) At least one flock of 50 or so VG Swallows. my 1st this year. 3 Turkey Vultures, also 1sts for year. 1 large accipitor, seen while driving, flying overhead, flap flap glide.. flap flap glide. Question: kept hearing gun shots but saw no info about hunting there or anything. It started in the afternoon & was keeping the many many geese very uppity. Great for photography - not so great on the wildlife i'm afraid. Jacqui -- Jacqui Parker Portland, OREGON ........... I realized that If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes Charles Lindbergh (1902 - 1974), Interview 1974 ( '< / ) ) // " " Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency may read this email without warning, warrant, or notice. They may do this without any judicial or legislative oversight. You have no recourse or protection and everything you type may be used against you to detain you in a secret prison. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090314/94fb4a21/attachment.html From steve.altshuld at gmail.com Sat Mar 14 20:01:11 2009 From: steve.altshuld at gmail.com (Steve Altshuld) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:01:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Spotting Scope Recommendations Message-ID: <7fb4f5b0903142001r4b0a5c71p76a37553193bd77a@mail.gmail.com> I'm shopping around for an affordable spotting scope. Any recommendations in the <$500 range? Thanks. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090314/8c4c25bc/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Mar 14 21:15:07 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:15:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Baskett Slough Friday 3/13 In-Reply-To: <7e34f7b0903141929w70055e06tc998d0f4e48b45de@mail.gmail.com> References: <7e34f7b0903141929w70055e06tc998d0f4e48b45de@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <85b9373681be795f59e1bd88894fde02@earthlink.net> "Gunshots" heard this time of year are carbide "cannons" designed to scare geese off private cropland. For that reason one hears them at night as well. Lars Norgren On Mar 14, 2009, at 6:29 PM, Miss Jacqui wrote: > Hi OBOLers > > Popped my Baskett Slough cherry today w/ a "non birding" companion. > What a beautiful place. Walked up Baskett Butte and saw and heard > Western Meadowlark, a first for me. Lots of flickers. Looked for > Acorns... > > Thousands of Canada Geese, of course. Some duskies. I have OK bins & > used the scope at the Hwy 22 Kiosk. 2 Harriers were in the area, both > appeared to be females (brown not grey, and large). At the end of my > stay at that spot, thought I saw one make a kill, or at least a catch > of something. She took off, real fast and low along the shore and > swooped down on something behind some vegetation, could see some > movement and finally calm. She stayed there for longer than I watched > for (about 10 min). Some peeps but unable to ID any of them but > killdeer. > On the water: > 1 Grebe (species - Western???) > Scaup > Buffleheads > N Shovelers > Coot Galore > Mallard > Great Blue Heron > More ducks (diving) - but w/ distance + lack of better equip. cannot > positively ID - sorry. > > Red Tails > 3 Kestrels (1-f, 2-m) > At least one flock of 50 or so VG Swallows. my 1st this year. 3 Turkey > Vultures, also 1sts for year. > 1 large accipitor, seen while driving, flying overhead, flap flap > glide.. flap flap glide. > > Question: kept hearing gun shots but saw no info about hunting there > or anything. It started in the afternoon & was keeping the many many > geese very uppity. Great for photography - not so great on the > wildlife i'm afraid. > > Jacqui > > -- > Jacqui Parker > Portland, OREGON > ........... > > I realized that If I had to choose, > I would rather have birds than airplanes > Charles Lindbergh (1902 - 1974), Interview 1974 > > ( '< > / ) ?) > // " " > > Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency may > read this email without warning, warrant, or notice. They may do this > without any judicial or legislative oversight. You have no recourse or > protection and everything you type may be used against you to detain > you in a secret prison. > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Sat Mar 14 20:16:13 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:16:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Newport Meadowlarks and Brant Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F01F4C3D5@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> On Friday March 13th there were at least 10 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS in Newport at the Marine Center near the EPA Research facility. There were 60 BRANT in this same area. At Boiler Bay there were a few BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, one GLAUCOUS GULL, several MARBLED MURRELET, and rafts of COMMON MURRES. Migrating TURKEY VULTURES were moving through in numbers along the coast. John F. Gatchet Gresham, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090314/1fcff572/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Sat Mar 14 20:35:38 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:35:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Glaucous Gull, Ross' Goose, Eurasian Widgeon Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F01F4C3D6@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> I birded on the coast near Florence today and had a GLAUCOUS GULL near the north jetty. There were 100's of gulls in the area driven in by the stormy weather. North of Florence there were a number of COMMON MURRES on the rocks near Heceta Head. I believe I may have spotted a flying puffin, but with the driving rain it was difficult to identify. At Fern Ridge today there was a large flock of CACKLING GEESE with a small white goose that looked like a ROSS' GOOSE on the east side of Fisher Road. It may have been a SNOW GOOSE, but looked quite small. There were several hundred American Widgeon on the ponds below the dam at Fern Ridge. There was one EURASIAN WIDGEON and two birds that were hybrid male American and Eurasian. John F. Gatchet Gresham, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090314/6d8b2417/attachment.html From pat2ly at comcast.net Sat Mar 14 20:41:52 2009 From: pat2ly at comcast.net (Pat Tilley) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:41:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Polk County South Raptor Route Message-ID: <57E74B2C85DE449BA1F2493B384A8875@Desktop> As expected for March the overall numbers are down a little more than half. Still, Carol Karlen and I had a good run. We counted: Red-tailed Hawk: 23 American Kestrel: 18 Northern Harrier: 8 Rough Legged Hawk 3 White-tailed Kite: 2 The WIKI's are always a treat. These two were seen on Hwy 223 near mile post 13, and Elkins Rd. either just after Brateng, or before Zumwalt. Does anyone have a photo of a White-tailed Kite that they would be willing to donate to the Willamette Valley Birding Trail for the trail guide? We will give you photo credit. Please e-mail the photo to me at the address below. Thanks Pat Tilley pat2ly at comcast.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090314/98f9cfa8/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Sat Mar 14 20:42:44 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:42:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] CLatsop Co. Coast resport Message-ID: <49BC7934.8040202@pdx.edu> 14 March 2009 It is raining cats and dogs here today in Gearhart and Seaside. I continue to see more than one male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD a female, and ANNA'S males and female at my feeder. To the seeds 3 FOX SPARROWS and a dozen WHITE-CROWNED AND GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS are still attracted. Numerous RED CROSSBILLS, PINE SISKINS, and a half dozen CEDAR WAXWINGS have been about the neighborhood. too. Both at Circle Creek below the north side of Tillamook Head and at Staley Lake Preserve in Seaside nine and twelve WESTERN BLUEBIRDS turned up this week, along with a lone TREE SWALLOW. Five GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were with CANADA GEESE and 40 Wapiti at Circle Creek this week as well. Off Silver Point just south of Cannon Beach were a flock of a few dozen BLACK KITTIWAKES, a pair each of HARLEQUIN DUCKS AND BLACK SCOTERS, and a RED-NECKED GREBE. A photogenic RED-BREASTED MERGANSER has been fishing all over the NECANICUM ESTURARY, as have a few COMMON GOLDENEYE. Thats it for now. From raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Sat Mar 14 20:52:08 2009 From: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com (Jeff Fleischer) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:52:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fw: trip to Burns birds Message-ID: <944206.32309.qm@web50902.mail.re2.yahoo.com> --- On Fri, 3/13/09, Larry Cottrell wrote: > From: Larry Cottrell > Subject: Fw: trip to Burns birds > To: "Jeff Fleischer" > Date: Friday, March 13, 2009, 12:54 PM > Jeff could you forward this to OBOL. We are having problems > again. > Thanks, > Karen > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Larry Cottrell > To: obol > Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 10:50 AM > Subject: trip to Burns birds > > > On our trip to Burns yesterday we saw raptors. Previous > trips we would not have raptors to count on our route to > Princeton. The weather was cold- 17 degrees, but clear. > RTHA-4 > GOEA-1 > FALC-1 Prairie female > Unidentified raptor-1 > Shrike-2 > While visiting friends we saw at their feeders- > female Pine Siskin, House Finch,and "Oregon" > Juncos. In her pasture we could here Sandhill Cranes and > Canada Geese. > At another friends we saw a Spotted Towhee. She had seen > the day before a Swallow. Unfortunately she didn't get a > good look to identify it. This sitting was at Crane, SE of > Burns. > In a pasture north of Lawen there were two large flocks of > Snow Geese. Our friends said there were lots of Snows moving > in and out of the Harney basin. Remember their waterfowl > festival is in April. > Karen > in true SE Or. > south of Burns Jct. > in Malheur Co. From rkohls3206 at hotmail.com Sat Mar 14 21:58:29 2009 From: rkohls3206 at hotmail.com (kate K) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 04:58:29 +0000 Subject: [obol] bright male rufous today Message-ID: Hi Folks.. We also can report the arrival of our first rufous hummingbird today!! The 2 male Anna's that fight over the feeders now have a fiesty male rufous to challenge!!! Spring must be nearby!! Kate in NE Vancouver RKohls3206 AT Hotmail DOT com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Groups: Create an online spot for your favorite groups to meet. http://windowslive.com/online/groups?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_groups_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090315/5425b533/attachment.html From pamao at q.com Sat Mar 14 22:09:56 2009 From: pamao at q.com (Pam Otley) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 22:09:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Stilt Sandpipers?, Gadwall Message-ID: Today, 4:15, through the driving rain at Eckman Lake, near Waldport, we viewed sandpipers that first brought to mind Dunlin in their probing of the mudflat, though they appeared more slender and had longer looking legs. They then flew, showing off definite white rumps. Stilt Sandpipers? 7 at least. The only other sandpiper we see with the showy white rump in flight is Curlew. Also on the lake, at least 20 Gadwall. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090314/da72484b/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Sat Mar 14 23:24:53 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 02:24:53 -0400 Subject: [obol] Bird ID needed Message-ID: <8CB734DE2DEFC87-258-3C92@webmail-mf06.sysops.aol.com> These are a couple of shots I took at Fern Hill last week. The first is of a couple of swans. They look like Trumpeter Swans but they could be Tundra. I'm not sure. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/large/0712/62cfa96d025a40aebcdb88e78fd29b32.jpg This one doesn't look like any I found in the book. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0712/4b9f0824c4c242aeb69d0b8a40b401a7.jpg I'm really enjying this board. Johnny Sasko -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090315/09a71beb/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Mar 14 23:33:22 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 06:33:22 +0000 Subject: [obol] New Shorebird ID Challenge posted to BirdFellow.com journal Message-ID: Greetings All, I just posted a new piece entitled "Shorebird ID Challenge" to the BirdFellow.com journal. The photo quality leaves a bit to be desired since I was still using a modest quality camera when I took the picture. The cormorant ID piece seemed pretty popular and most respondents did very well in sorting them out to species, so I thought I would up the ante and offer a shorebird ID piece. I'm still looking for other photos like this one that show several birds of a variety of similar species. Enjoy Dave Irons BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Contacts: Organize your contact list. http://windowslive.com/connect/post/marcusatmicrosoft.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!503D1D86EBB2B53C!2285.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_UGC_Contacts_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090315/d94d621f/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Mar 14 23:42:11 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 06:42:11 +0000 Subject: [obol] Bird ID needed In-Reply-To: <8CB734DE2DEFC87-258-3C92@webmail-mf06.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CB734DE2DEFC87-258-3C92@webmail-mf06.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: Hi Johnny, I'll start with the easy one, the goose is some sort of exotic (non-native) goose that has escaped or been released from captivity. I'm sure someone on this list will know exactly what species it is. I have enough on my plate learning all the wild birds, that I don't put much effort into tracking down the identities of park geese. Your swan appears to be a Tundra. If you look very closely, right in front of the eye there is a little area of light-colored skin (when seen well it will be yellow) at the base of the bill. Also, the eye looks to be set away from the bill and mostly surrounded by white feathering. On a Trumpeter, the dark skin around the base of the bill reaches back in a wedge and sort of surrounds the eye. The overwhelming majority of swans in Oregon (particularly west of the Cascades) are Tundras. There are a few Trumpeters that winter in the Willamette Valley, including a traditional flock of about 40-60 birds that has been near the small community of Airlie (north of Corvallis, south of Monmouth) for several decades. Dave Irons Eugene, OR To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 02:24:53 -0400 From: jonysky101 at aol.com Subject: [obol] Bird ID needed These are a couple of shots I took at Fern Hill last week. The first is of a couple of swans. They look like Trumpeter Swans but they could be Tundra. I'm not sure. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/large/0712/62cfa96d025a40aebcdb88e78fd29b32.jpg This one doesn't look like any I found in the book. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0712/4b9f0824c4c242aeb69d0b8a40b401a7.jpg I'm really enjying this board. Johnny Sasko A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Life without walls. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090315/59f5d628/attachment.html From pamao at q.com Sun Mar 15 07:11:25 2009 From: pamao at q.com (Pam Otley) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 07:11:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Stilt Sandpiper...probably NOT Message-ID: Hi all, Thanks for helpful information as to the id of the shorebirds seen at Eckman Lake. Much more likely suggestions have been Yellowlegs or Dowitchers. I am familiar with these and, obviously, got a different hit from these birds but with the lighting, distance, and brief looks that I had, am not at all debating the likelihood of the suggestions. I have definitely learned that white rumps are not definitive. I will be "un-checking" the Stilt Sandpiper box on my list. Thanks again for helping me confirm (or not confirm?) the sighting. PO -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090315/c2dd4e8d/attachment.html From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Sun Mar 15 10:09:34 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (Denise Hughes) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 11:09:34 -0600 Subject: [obol] Bird ID needed In-Reply-To: <8CB734DE2DEFC87-258-3C92@webmail-mf06.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CB734DE2DEFC87-258-3C92@webmail-mf06.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <001601c9a590$d545e0d0$7fd1a270$@net> I think the goose in the photo with the Canada Goose is a Chinese Goose. Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of jonysky101 at aol.com Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2009 12:25 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Bird ID needed These are a couple of shots I took at Fern Hill last week. The first is of a couple of swans. They look like Trumpeter Swans but they could be Tundra. I'm not sure. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/large/0712/62cfa96d025a40aebcdb88e78fd29b32.jp g This one doesn't look like any I found in the book. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0712/4b9f0824c4c242aeb69d0b8a40b401a7 .jpg I'm really enjying this board. Johnny Sasko _____ A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090315/ead0615d/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Mar 15 11:19:25 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 10:19:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] OT Giant earthworms Message-ID: <8492b6181391746d72bfd86cd90bd026@earthlink.net> Within 24hrs of my non-ornithological inquiry I had numerous solid contacts for Oregon's most intriguing invertebrate. Obol subscribers constitute a host of intellectual champions. Megascolides was originally described from Australian worms (said to reach 11' in length). The Oregon worms have been redesignated Driloleirus, although they are still assigned to the family Megascolidae. Ours is the only area outside the Southern Hemisphere to have this family. The Oregon Giant Earthworm is Driloleirus macelfreshi, first described in the 1930s and known from a total of 12 specimens. D. cascadensis is only slightly smaller, and more easily found. As its name implies, the type specimen is from the Cascades (east of Salem) but most specimens have been collected in the Coast Range. MacDonald Forest has produced specimens of D. cascadensis. A 52" long worm found dead in Willamette Park last(2008) December is surely D. macelfreshi, but internal decomposition precluded positive ID, which is based on internal organs. 52" would be the largest specimen known, but with only a dozen on record, who knows what the actual range in size might be. Since my initial conversation on Wednesday, I have mentioned the topic to every truffle hunter I talk to and they all have seen giant worms. Not frequently, maybe not even yearly, but repeatedly none the less. Darrel Faxon tells me of seeing giant worms repeatedly at the youthful end of his observations of nature, but not recently. Perhaps these were D. cascadensis, or a yet undescribed species. The current theory attributes the Willamette silts as the home of D. macelfreshi, but 12 data points strike me as a rather flimsy basis for any theory. It is believed to go up to 15 feet deep, by way of permanent burrows. The idea of a worm one inch in diameter burrowing so deep seems improbable at first blush, but my father informs me that nowhere on earth are soils more porous at this depth than the Oregon Coast Range and the west slope of the Cascades. Lars Norgren From woodenapple at juno.com Sun Mar 15 10:44:48 2009 From: woodenapple at juno.com (woodenapple at juno.com) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:44:48 GMT Subject: [obol] Obol: FOY Rufous Hummer; even more Yellow-rumps Message-ID: <20090315.104448.14072.0@webmail01.vgs.untd.com> We saw our first-of-year RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD at our N. Eugene/Santa Clara feeder this morning, 3/15. He's a week or so later than average. Also, our YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER swarm increased to at least 24 and likely closer to 30 this morning. I think they are starting to take seat reservations at the suet! Rudi ____________________________________________________________ New to Digital Photography? Click Here. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTDvmQYuQJ9jbSpoiK2HUdmaeu3Tvfypmr4Inh6JzByV60NQzrqqsw/ From goosemiller at gmail.com Sun Mar 15 11:02:13 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 11:02:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird ID needed In-Reply-To: <8CB734DE2DEFC87-258-3C92@webmail-mf06.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <49bd429c.1fd6720a.37a5.7036@mx.google.com> The goose in the photo looks like a cross between a Brown Chinese Goose and an Embden/Toulouse hybrid. Marilyn Miller _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of jonysky101 at aol.com Sent: Saturday, March 14, 2009 11:25 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Bird ID needed These are a couple of shots I took at Fern Hill last week. The first is of a couple of swans. They look like Trumpeter Swans but they could be Tundra. I'm not sure. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/large/0712/62cfa96d025a40aebcdb88e78fd29b32.jp g This one doesn't look like any I found in the book. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0712/4b9f0824c4c242aeb69d0b8a40b401a7 .jpg I'm really enjying this board. Johnny Sasko _____ A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090315/849c7bce/attachment.html From ggrier at efn.org Sun Mar 15 12:36:06 2009 From: ggrier at efn.org (George Grier) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 12:36:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Portland Slaty-backed Gull Message-ID: <5.0.0.25.2.20090315123131.016f20a8@pop.efn.org> For those wondering if it is still around, we found the SLATY-BACKED GULL at its usual haunt in Portland yesterday, Saturday March 14 around 3:30 PM. It was on the river just south of the east piling of the Burnside Bridge. George Grier & Cynthia Pappas Springfield From jonysky101 at aol.com Sun Mar 15 13:39:05 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:39:05 -0400 Subject: [obol] Hawk outside Audubon building Message-ID: <8CB73C537544982-1780-1C1A@WEBMAIL-DC09.sysops.aol.com> This hawk was right out side the rear window of the Audubon building in Portland. He was very close to the feeders, waiting for dinner I suppose. I think it is a Sharp-shinned Hawk, but I am not certain. If it is not please correct me. Johnny Sasko http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0713/fbe9cd17194b4b628a6308e3da0637e9.jpg -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090315/5fb5bb0d/attachment.html From oschmidt at att.net Sun Mar 15 14:27:19 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:27:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hawk outside Audubon building In-Reply-To: <8CB73C537544982-1780-1C1A@WEBMAIL-DC09.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CB73C537544982-1780-1C1A@WEBMAIL-DC09.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: ...... head appears small compared to body -- Sharp-shinned Hawk -- a good explanation here: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/accipiterIDtable.htm oschmidt at att.net Sunday, March 15, 2009 On Mar 15, 2009, at 1:39 PM, jonysky101 at aol.com wrote: > This hawk was right out side the rear window of the Audubon building > in Portland. He was very close to the feeders, waiting for dinner I > suppose. I think it is a Sharp-shinned Hawk, but I am not certain. > If it is not please correct me. Johnny Sasko > > http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0713/fbe9cd17194b4b628a6308e3da0637e9.jpg > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090315/c1d2d88e/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Mar 15 15:21:25 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:21:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - the ides of March Message-ID: <49BD7F65.70604@pacifier.com> Columbia Estuary Report - 3/15/2009 A pretty significant later winter (6 more days) storm hit the North Coast beginning last night. It's still windy and rainy this morning. There were 500+ MEW GULLS in the fields along Wireless Rd. I know some have expressed some concern about Mew Gulls, I think they're all up here. Also at Wireless Rd were lots of WHITE- FACED GEESE of many varieties. Taverner's and Cackling Geese dominate, but there are also a larger than average number of Duskies, plus the usual Westerns. There were about 200 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS at Wireless and another 300 along Ridge Rd this morning. I have still not seen any other swallow species, but word from Gearhart is that there are also a few TREE SWALLOWS around. The ocean was much too angry this morning for any decent watching, but I'll bet that there will be stuff worth looking at over the next couple days... Side Note: North Coast Diaries has moved to the more reader friendly new software at surfbirds which involves changing the address: http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ All the old stuff will continue to be archived at the old address. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Are you BSC or PSC? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or+PSC%3F.html From rewaldrop at aol.com Sun Mar 15 15:38:17 2009 From: rewaldrop at aol.com (rewaldrop at aol.com) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 18:38:17 -0400 Subject: [obol] Sooty Grouse inquiry Message-ID: <8CB73D5DE451E13-131C-1B9@WEBMAIL-DY19.sysops.aol.com> Hello Oregon birders, I will be in Eugene and Portland in two weeks and will do some birding. Where is the best place to see Sooty Grouse in that region? Thanks, Rick Waldrop Cleveland, TN From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Mar 15 17:32:53 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:32:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Giant earthworms and other things that creep along (includes some birds) Message-ID: <1237163573.3627.50.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, Thanks Lars for mentioning this intriguing creature, which I was not aware of. I'm sure Mike Denny, if he's paying attention out in Walla Walla, will sooner or later speak up for the Palouse giant earthworm which has been in the news more recently: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Palouse_earthworm It looks like this and the Oregon giant earthworm are closely related (both in the genus Driloleirus). The Palouse species also burrows to 5 m depths, in those amazing loess deposits of southeastern Washington. Speaking of things that creep along, this afternoon I went out on a walk to the NW side of Coffin Butte, wondering if I could find motorless species #100 for the year. With the GLAUCOUS GULL still being reported around Coffin Butte Landfill in recent days, I figured that might be the one. I did see a buffy gull with light primaries hanging with the gull flock way up on the winds (which were gusting pretty well today), but I couldn't see it well enough to be sure. At least, there's still a gull around that looks like a possibility. Thinking about recent mid-valley reports of Loggerhead Shrike, Say's Phoebe etc. from habitat similar to the NW side of Coffin Butte, not to mention last year's report of a Mountain Bluebird from the same place, I figured one of those possibilities might pan out too. But they didn't, nor could I spot a Horned Lark along Wiles Rd. even though the habitat looked suitable. The Cold Creek hunting club wetlands just across the county line into Polk Co. had a few AMERICAN WIGEONS among the N. SHOVELERS and N. PINTAILS, but no Eurasians. There were plenty of cacklers and honkers but no white geese, or even blue geese. So I wound up settling for a flock of about 60 DUNLIN as my 100th motorless species of the year. Now I'm about where Randy Campbell was in late January -- just took me two and a half times longer. I should catch up with his 2009 motorless year list by 2012, at this rate. The most impressive sight was about 2000 AMERICAN ROBINS using the stump pasture where hybrid poplars were harvested last year. WESTERN BLUEBIRDS and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were here and there along the walk, and a couple of TURKEY VULTURES were eating something dead in a field. On the walk back, I saw some of the gull flock soaring off the north end of Coffin Butte, even ranging a bit over the Polk Co. line. So maybe there's still hope for Polk Co. birders who are hoping for a few gulls this winter. About 60 WILSON'S SNIPE are now camped out around Toketie Marsh (remedial wetland for the landfill), feeding in the wet area where the outflow from the upper pond flows into the lower pond right by the gate. An apparent intergrade EURASIAN x AMERICAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL (a drake with both horizontal and vertical white stripes on the sides) was hanging out among the regular American Green-winged Teal on the upper pond -- must be a new guy in the neighborhood, as I've been scanning these flocks pretty regularly. Happy birding/worming/whatever, Joel On Sun, 15 Mar 2009 Lars Norgren wrote: > Within 24hrs of my non-ornithological > inquiry I had numerous solid contacts for > Oregon's most intriguing invertebrate. Obol > subscribers constitute a host of intellectual > champions. > Megascolides was originally described from > Australian worms (said to reach 11' in length). > The Oregon worms have been redesignated Driloleirus, > although they are still assigned to the family > Megascolidae. Ours is the only area outside the > Southern Hemisphere to have this family. The Oregon > Giant Earthworm is Driloleirus macelfreshi, first > described in the 1930s and known from a total of > 12 specimens. D. cascadensis is only slightly > smaller, and more easily found. As its name implies, > the type specimen is from the Cascades (east of Salem) > but most specimens have been collected in the Coast Range. > MacDonald Forest has produced specimens of D. cascadensis. > A 52" long worm found dead in Willamette Park > last(2008) December is surely D. macelfreshi, but > internal decomposition precluded positive ID, which > is based on internal organs. 52" would be the largest > specimen known, but with only a dozen on record, who > knows what the actual range in size might be. Since my > initial conversation on Wednesday, I have mentioned > the topic to every truffle hunter I talk to and they > all have seen giant worms. Not frequently, maybe not > even yearly, but repeatedly none the less. > Darrel Faxon tells me of seeing giant worms > repeatedly at the youthful end of his observations > of nature, but not recently. Perhaps these were > D. cascadensis, or a yet undescribed species. The > current theory attributes the Willamette silts as > the home of D. macelfreshi, but 12 data points strike > me as a rather flimsy basis for any theory. It is > believed to go up to 15 feet deep, by way of permanent > burrows. The idea of a worm one inch in diameter > burrowing so deep seems improbable at first blush, > but my father informs me that nowhere on earth are > soils more porous at this depth than the Oregon > Coast Range and the west slope of the Cascades. > Lars Norgren > -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Mar 15 17:43:17 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:43:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coffin Butte location (was about worms etc.) In-Reply-To: <1237163323.3627.48.camel@localhost.localdomain> References: <1237163323.3627.48.camel@localhost.localdomain> Message-ID: <1237164197.3627.58.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, Apologies for not indicating the location for my preceding report. Coffin Butte and Coffin Butte Regional Landfill are in Benton County about 10 miles north of Corvallis, along Hwy 99W. The other places mentioned are all within a mile or so of the butte (though the Cold Creek hunting club ponds are slightly into Polk Co., as far as I can tell). Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From mmarvin at spiritone.com Sun Mar 15 16:47:54 2009 From: mmarvin at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:47:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Portland Slaty-backed Gull, peeps Message-ID: OBOL - On a tip from an OBOL member (thank you George!), Mark Miller and I checked for the Slaty-backed Gull and found it just south of the Burnside Bridge with, among others, a lot of dark Western Gulls. Our informant had observed that the gull did not approach when people threw out bread, and we noticed the bird would accompany the flock to the bread, but kept his distance from the fray. At Oaks Bottom we found a whole lot of swallows, virtually all of which were Violet-green. We also observed there a small flock (25-30) of peeps, probably Western Sandpipers, looking in vain for a shore to land on. The water was too high and we never observed them land. An Anna's Hummingbird on a nest, apparently feeding young (Mark saw her return to the nest and bury her bill into the center, presumably down a throat) was our last bird. Good birding! Marcia -- Marcia Marvin * mmarvin at spiritone.com * SW Portland, OR, USA From tayben at teleport.com Sun Mar 15 17:58:14 2009 From: tayben at teleport.com (Martha taylor & Chris Bennett) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:58:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Spotting Scope Recommendations In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Check out the Bushnell Elite 15-45/60mm. It's small; very light weight, waterproof, armored and a zoom lens. Chris From dennis at dennisgalloway.com Sun Mar 15 20:27:21 2009 From: dennis at dennisgalloway.com (Dennis Galloway) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 20:27:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] spotting scopes Message-ID: <49340.24.20.202.78.1237174041.squirrel@webmail8.pair.com> I am not enthused about 'zoom' eyepieces (I am, modestly speaking, an expert). The total information brought to the eye is a function of the diameter of the objective lens only. The complexity of zoom lenses tends to degrade the image. Best to find a convenient magnification around 10x/inch of aperture and keep it simple. Astronomical telescopes, with a much narrower angle of view, have a theoretical useful magnification of 30-50x/inch but spotting scopes can not come close to this. This post will probably prompt some spirited denials. From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Mar 15 20:49:10 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 20:49:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Scopes and zooms Message-ID: Zoom eyepieces are useful in some situations but fixed-power ones are almost always better. Also, there are really no decent zooms for low- to medium priced scopes. Even zooms for things like the Swarovski are not that great. The built-in zoom in the Leupold Variable 12-40x is the best I know of, but that's because the whole scope is built around it - there are no other eyepieces available. And it stops at 40x for a reason: above that power the amount of light coming into a 60mm scope is not sufficient. If I were buying a mid-price scope (that is, something in the $300-$600 range) I'd get a fixed-power eyepiece somewhere in the 30-40x range. A 32 or 35x would be fine. That, on a 60 or 65mm scope, produces pretty good results. If you are committed to a zoom, get one with an inexpensive LARGE aperture scope, like an 80 mm or so. Something like a Fujinon, if they still make an entry-level 80. Or an Eagle Optics. They are not as dark at higher powers. Don't get a 20-60 zoom and stick it on a 60mm scope. It is largely useless above 40x. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From slcarpenter at gmail.com Sun Mar 15 20:50:16 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 20:50:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR - Changes to Access (No Sightings) Message-ID: No bird sightings. Ridgefield NWR is currently seeking your input on plans that would potentially decrease non-hunting access to the refuge. Details can be found online at: http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ridgefield/pdf/rnwrplnupdate3.pdf As the pdf at that link shows, you can comment at a public meeting on March 26 and/or you can submit your comments via email to: FW1PlanningComments at fws.gov with "Ridgefield NWR CCP Alternatives" in the subject line. All comments are due by April 10, 2009. It is worth noting that if plans 2 or 3 were in place this winter, the Baikal Teal likely would never have been detected. Scott Carpenter SW Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090315/726e9281/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sun Mar 15 20:53:31 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 20:53:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge 3/15 Message-ID: <301559.5445.qm@web46004.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> It was a fine day of birding today out at TRNWR. Among the many species we were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of, we saw lots of Western Bluebirds and a Great-Horned Owl. The Bluebirds are hanging out just as you start the main trail from the Refuge Headquarters. The great-Horned Owl was halfway up the Ridgetop Overlook trail. 54 total species for the day. Seth and Michelle portlandbirds.blogspot.com From nettielh at yahoo.com Sun Mar 15 21:04:35 2009 From: nettielh at yahoo.com (Annette (Lange) Hildebrand) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:04:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Walla Walla Great Horned owl and Violet Greens swallows too (Goerge Big Horns) Message-ID: <688202.96162.qm@web50212.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Walla Walla Washington ... just a skip from Oregon .... had a beautiful Great Horned Owl at the Whitman Mission.? VG Swallows flying over head there also. Hundreds of robins .... and Magpies flying every time I looked. ? Columbia Gorge - between Blaylock and Philipi Canyon? Big Horn Sheep, ? Am. Coots floating like rafts .... groups of 200 .... Wow! ? Annette Lange Hildebrand -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090315/b667c65e/attachment.html From schimsch at hevanet.com Sun Mar 15 21:27:37 2009 From: schimsch at hevanet.com (Jan Cornelius) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:27:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck Message-ID: <5EBF32D93FAC48518FE2F28324AE60BA@jandesktop> Jerry Martin and I relocated the tufted duck at 6:00pm on 3/15/09 on Marine DR just east of 158th. Jan Cornelius -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090315/8aa36d6f/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Mar 15 21:32:38 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:32:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Houston Lake Ranch For Sale Message-ID: <199AB159F3A04EBBAD8BA42E03A6D4C0@cgatesPC> Dave Franke called me a couple of days ago and asked me to put the word out. He and his family own a ranch in Powell Butte Oregon (Crook County). On the western edge of the property sits Houston Lake. This lake sports the largest cattail marsh in the county and one of the largest in Central Oregon. American Bitterns, Rails, Marsh Wrens, and all the cattail birds are here in abundance. Dave is interested in selling his place and getting something easier to manage as he is getting up in age. He doesn't want to sell to a residential buyer because he is concerned that new owners would not manage the property for the birds. He wants to know if there are conservation organizations that might be interested in purchasing the property. I know this is not the ideal time to be peddling real estate but it is what it is. I'm going to contact the Nature Conservancy but if you know of other conservation-minded organizations that might like to buy up this jewel in Central Oregon, let me know. Here is a google map of the area. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=44.302169,-120.980501&spn=0.025983,0.054932&z=14&msid=108036481085398338899.000462ec6fdd4097c7263 Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090315/9f56f2ad/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Sun Mar 15 21:39:06 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:39:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Scopes and zooms In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: My understanding is that the Pentax 80mm scope was designed around the eyepiece, as well. I believe it retails for under $900, and in my opinion, holds its own against much more expensive scopes such as Swarovski, Leica, Kowa. To my eye, the 20-60x zoom on the Pentax was much better than the 20-60x zoom I have on my older model (~1996) 77mm Leica APO Televid. Of course the 32x fixed eyepiece on the Leica was better than either zoom, but I never looked through the fixed eyepieces for the Pentax. Scott Carpenter Portland, Oregon On Sun, Mar 15, 2009 at 8:49 PM, Alan Contreras wrote: > Zoom eyepieces are useful in some situations but fixed-power ones are > almost > always better. Also, there are really no decent zooms for low- to medium > priced scopes. Even zooms for things like the Swarovski are not that > great. > > The built-in zoom in the Leupold Variable 12-40x is the best I know of, but > that's because the whole scope is built around it - there are no other > eyepieces available. And it stops at 40x for a reason: above that power > the > amount of light coming into a 60mm scope is not sufficient. > > If I were buying a mid-price scope (that is, something in the $300-$600 > range) I'd get a fixed-power eyepiece somewhere in the 30-40x range. A 32 > or 35x would be fine. That, on a 60 or 65mm scope, produces pretty good > results. > > If you are committed to a zoom, get one with an inexpensive LARGE aperture > scope, like an 80 mm or so. Something like a Fujinon, if they still make > an > entry-level 80. Or an Eagle Optics. They are not as dark at higher powers. > Don't get a 20-60 zoom and stick it on a 60mm scope. It is largely useless > above 40x. > > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090315/d65211fd/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Mar 15 21:44:25 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:44:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Scopes and zooms In-Reply-To: Message-ID: The Pentax zoom is indeed much better, partly because it is a completely different animal from a normal scope eyepiece. It is a 1.25 inch drop-in astronomical-style eyepiece with a much larger field than a normal eyepiece. I should have mentioned it earlier but that scope is out of the mid-price range that the inquiry suggested. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Scott Carpenter > Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:39:06 -0700 > To: obol > Subject: Re: [obol] Scopes and zooms > > My understanding is that the Pentax 80mm scope was designed around the > eyepiece, as well. I believe it retails for under $900, and in my opinion, > holds its own against much more expensive scopes such as Swarovski, Leica, > Kowa. > > To my eye, the 20-60x zoom on the Pentax was much better than the 20-60x > zoom I have on my older model (~1996) 77mm Leica APO Televid. Of course the > 32x fixed eyepiece on the Leica was better than either zoom, but I never > looked through the fixed eyepieces for the Pentax. > > Scott Carpenter > Portland, Oregon > > > On Sun, Mar 15, 2009 at 8:49 PM, Alan Contreras > wrote: > >> Zoom eyepieces are useful in some situations but fixed-power ones are >> almost >> always better. Also, there are really no decent zooms for low- to medium >> priced scopes. Even zooms for things like the Swarovski are not that >> great. >> >> The built-in zoom in the Leupold Variable 12-40x is the best I know of, but >> that's because the whole scope is built around it - there are no other >> eyepieces available. And it stops at 40x for a reason: above that power >> the >> amount of light coming into a 60mm scope is not sufficient. >> >> If I were buying a mid-price scope (that is, something in the $300-$600 >> range) I'd get a fixed-power eyepiece somewhere in the 30-40x range. A 32 >> or 35x would be fine. That, on a 60 or 65mm scope, produces pretty good >> results. >> >> If you are committed to a zoom, get one with an inexpensive LARGE aperture >> scope, like an 80 mm or so. Something like a Fujinon, if they still make >> an >> entry-level 80. Or an Eagle Optics. They are not as dark at higher powers. >> Don't get a 20-60 zoom and stick it on a 60mm scope. It is largely useless >> above 40x. >> >> >> -- >> Alan Contreras >> EUGENE, OREGON >> acontrer at mindspring.com >> >> >> http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary >> http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From phils at rio.com Sun Mar 15 21:47:49 2009 From: phils at rio.com (Phil and Christina) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:47:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: Scopes and zooms Message-ID: I have a Fujinon 80, with both a 20x-60x zoom and a 25x wide angle eyepiece. The fixed 25x eyepiece is definitely better. The scope used to be very good for the money - I don't know if it is still sold or for how much. I am always pleasantly surprised in the field when I compare it to more expensive scopes. I also have a Celestron C5 with Celestron and Televue eyepieces that is really great, but it is a bit too much to carry very far. I won't even mention my C8 or C11 (wink). Phil Shepard Elmira, OR -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org]On Behalf Of Scott Carpenter Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2009 9:39 PM To: obol Subject: Re: [obol] Scopes and zooms My understanding is that the Pentax 80mm scope was designed around the eyepiece, as well. I believe it retails for under $900, and in my opinion, holds its own against much more expensive scopes such as Swarovski, Leica, Kowa. To my eye, the 20-60x zoom on the Pentax was much better than the 20-60x zoom I have on my older model (~1996) 77mm Leica APO Televid. Of course the 32x fixed eyepiece on the Leica was better than either zoom, but I never looked through the fixed eyepieces for the Pentax. Scott Carpenter Portland, Oregon On Sun, Mar 15, 2009 at 8:49 PM, Alan Contreras wrote: Zoom eyepieces are useful in some situations but fixed-power ones are almost always better. Also, there are really no decent zooms for low- to medium priced scopes. Even zooms for things like the Swarovski are not that great. The built-in zoom in the Leupold Variable 12-40x is the best I know of, but that's because the whole scope is built around it - there are no other eyepieces available. And it stops at 40x for a reason: above that power the amount of light coming into a 60mm scope is not sufficient. If I were buying a mid-price scope (that is, something in the $300-$600 range) I'd get a fixed-power eyepiece somewhere in the 30-40x range. A 32 or 35x would be fine. That, on a 60 or 65mm scope, produces pretty good results. If you are committed to a zoom, get one with an inexpensive LARGE aperture scope, like an 80 mm or so. Something like a Fujinon, if they still make an entry-level 80. Or an Eagle Optics. They are not as dark at higher powers. Don't get a 20-60 zoom and stick it on a 60mm scope. It is largely useless above 40x. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090315/2668e601/attachment.html From jdanzenbaker at gmail.com Sun Mar 15 21:50:16 2009 From: jdanzenbaker at gmail.com (Jim Danzenbaker) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:50:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Scopes and zooms In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Obolers, A pleasant reminder about spotting scopes and optics in general: be sure that when you are comparing them in a store or out in the field or wherever you choose to do your comparison, you should try to replicate the most challenging lighting conditions that you foresee using the optics in. Any scope or binocular for that matter will look great on a bright sunny day and you will not be able to see the quality difference between a $400.00 spotting scope and a high end scope. Low light situation and you will be able to see it with ease. Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA On 3/15/09, Scott Carpenter wrote: > My understanding is that the Pentax 80mm scope was designed around the > eyepiece, as well.? I believe it retails for under $900, and in my opinion, > holds its own against much more expensive scopes such as Swarovski, Leica, > Kowa. > > To my eye, the 20-60x zoom on the Pentax was much better than the 20-60x > zoom I have on my older model (~1996) 77mm Leica APO Televid.? Of course the > 32x fixed eyepiece on the Leica was better than either zoom, but I never > looked through the fixed eyepieces for the Pentax. > > Scott Carpenter > Portland, Oregon > > > On Sun, Mar 15, 2009 at 8:49 PM, Alan Contreras > wrote: > > > Zoom eyepieces are useful in some situations but fixed-power ones are > almost > > always better. ?Also, there are really no decent zooms for low- to medium > > priced scopes. ?Even zooms for things like the Swarovski are not that > great. > > > > The built-in zoom in the Leupold Variable 12-40x is the best I know of, > but > > that's because the whole scope is built around it - there are no other > > eyepieces available. ?And it stops at 40x for a reason: above that power > the > > amount of light coming into a 60mm scope is not sufficient. > > > > If I were buying a mid-price scope (that is, something in the $300-$600 > > range) I'd get a fixed-power eyepiece somewhere in the 30-40x range. ?A 32 > > or 35x would be fine. That, on a 60 or 65mm scope, produces pretty good > > results. > > > > If you are committed to a zoom, get one with an inexpensive LARGE aperture > > scope, like an 80 mm or so. ?Something like a Fujinon, if they still make > an > > entry-level 80. Or an Eagle Optics. They are not as dark at higher powers. > > Don't get a 20-60 zoom and stick it on a 60mm scope. ?It is largely > useless > > above 40x. > > > > > > -- > > Alan Contreras > > EUGENE, OREGON > > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > > > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary > > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon Mar 16 06:49:19 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:49:19 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbirds--Red Flowering Currant Message-ID: <258971938.7556581237211359810.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi All. The first Rufous Hummingbirds of the season dropped (blew) into my garden this weekend. An adult male on Saturday the 14th and an adult female on Sunday the 15rh. For those who track the correlation between the Red-flowering Currant and the arrival of the Rufous Hummingbird, my large Red-flowering Currant is not in bloom yet. What does seem to be in bloom are willows and two exotic plants that are grown throughout in the Northwest, Daphne odora and Pieris Japonica. I know from observation that the Anna's Hummingbirds are attracted to all of these plants. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090316/de8bbc23/attachment.html From msgellerman at gmail.com Mon Mar 16 08:06:34 2009 From: msgellerman at gmail.com (Michael Gellerman) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:06:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black-throated Gray Warblers, Washington, Co. Message-ID: <1d0c413a0903160806w226a6627idc49b2dec1e66843@mail.gmail.com> We saw our first Black-throated Gray Warblers of the year on a walk near Bethany Pond in Washinton County. They were hanging out with a flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows. Like the other migrants, they are a few weeks early based on 15 years of observations. Mike Gellerman Bethany Pond, Washington, Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090316/d6e19fb9/attachment.html From ed.mcvicker at comcast.net Mon Mar 16 09:36:35 2009 From: ed.mcvicker at comcast.net (Ed McVicker) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:36:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Off topic: 350 years of Royal Society Publishing Message-ID: <49BE8013.5040005@comcast.net> I thought a few of our more avid researchers might enjoy knowing that a message posted on the yahoo New Zealand birders list serve informed their group that access to the UK's Royal Society online journal content is free until March 31. http://royalsocietypublishing.org/site/authors/migration_to_highwire.xhtml The search is pretty straight forward and just a few minutes reveals some pretty fascinating stuff. Ed McVicker Portland From lamberson.janet at epa.gov Mon Mar 16 14:09:59 2009 From: lamberson.janet at epa.gov (lamberson.janet at epa.gov) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:09:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yaquina-Siletz Raptor Run In-Reply-To: <49BE8013.5040005@comcast.net> References: <49BE8013.5040005@comcast.net> Message-ID: The Yaquina-Siletz route starts at Highway 101 at Kernville, goes along Hwy 229 up the Siletz River to Siletz and on to Toledo, east on Hwy 20 to the East Toledo junction, back to Toledo via Sturdevant Road, then down the Yaquina River to Newport, with a few side trips. We did the run on Saturday, March 13, with sunny to partly cloudy skies, light south wind and temperatures ranging from 40 to 50 F. We logged 70.3 miles in 4 hr, 34 min. Kestrels and kites seem to be moving out, and we spotted fewer Red-tailed hawks than last month, but included one on a nest. The five adult bald eagles included one in Siletz and the rest in lower Yaquina estuary. Turkey vultures have arrived in swarms! Participants: Janet Lamberson, Chuck Philo Here are the counts: (Embedded image moved to file: pic16991.jpg) -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: pic16991.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 14016 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090316/dc6428d0/attachment.jpg From lbviman at blackfoot.net Mon Mar 16 14:10:11 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:10:11 -0600 Subject: [obol] scopes; also digiscoping In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090316210749.7E9119B00A0@mail.blackfoot.net> Also, for digiscoping it is recommended that one use fixed eyepiece of about 35x, since fixed is sharper than zoom; 35x is @ halfway between 20 and 60 [usual option with many scope brands], the lower end being not much better than camera plus good quality telephoto lens, and the upper end being worthless for recording decent images - Jim Greaves, Thompson Falls MT From lamberson.janet at epa.gov Mon Mar 16 14:16:00 2009 From: lamberson.janet at epa.gov (lamberson.janet at epa.gov) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:16:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yaquina-Siletz Raptor Run - resend Message-ID: Sorry - I guess the attachment didn't come through for some folks - here's a resend: Janet Lamberson Newport, OR __________________________________________________________________________ The Yaquina-Siletz route starts at Highway 101 at Kernville, goes along Hwy 229 up the Siletz River to Siletz and on to Toledo, east on Hwy 20 to the East Toledo junction, back to Toledo via Sturdevant Road, then down the Yaquina River to Newport, with a few side trips. We did the run on Saturday, March 13, with sunny to partly cloudy skies, light south wind and temperatures ranging from 40 to 50 F. We logged 70.3 miles in 4 hr, 34 min. Kestrels and kites seem to be moving out, and we spotted fewer Red-tailed hawks than last month, but included one on a nest. The five adult bald eagles included one in Siletz and the rest in lower Yaquina estuary. Turkey vultures have arrived in swarms! Participants: Janet Lamberson, Chuck Philo Here are the counts: Red-tailed Hawk 11: American Kestrel 1: Bald Eagle (all adult) 5 White-tailed Kite 1 Cooper's Hawk 1 Turkey Vulture 15 Total 34 From dns at efn.org Mon Mar 16 14:42:36 2009 From: dns at efn.org (David Stone) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:42:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yaquina-Siletz Raptor Run - resend In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1420585d3a6343bffae56a263d6c4d6e@efn.org> Thank you for describing your raptor route. Raptor routes have always been a mystery to me. Who created this program? How are the routes laid out and by whom? Where can I find out what routes exist and maps that show them? Thank you. Dave Stone On Mar 16, 2009, at 2:16 PM, lamberson.janet at epa.gov wrote: > > Sorry - I guess the attachment didn't come through for some folks - > here's a resend: > Janet Lamberson > Newport, OR > _______________________________________________________________________ > ___ > > > The Yaquina-Siletz route starts at Highway 101 at Kernville, goes along > Hwy 229 up the Siletz River to Siletz and on to Toledo, east on Hwy 20 > to the East Toledo junction, back to Toledo via Sturdevant Road, then > down the Yaquina River to Newport, with a few side trips. > > We did the run on Saturday, March 13, with sunny to partly cloudy > skies, > light south wind and temperatures ranging from 40 to 50 F. > We logged 70.3 miles in 4 hr, 34 min. > > Kestrels and kites seem to be moving out, and we spotted fewer > Red-tailed hawks than last month, but included one on a nest. > The five adult bald eagles included one in Siletz and the rest in lower > Yaquina estuary. > Turkey vultures have arrived in swarms! > > Participants: Janet Lamberson, Chuck Philo > > Here are the counts: > > Red-tailed Hawk 11: > American Kestrel 1: > Bald Eagle (all adult) 5 > White-tailed Kite 1 > Cooper's Hawk 1 > Turkey Vulture 15 > > Total 34 > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From h_owl at ykwc.net Mon Mar 16 14:56:08 2009 From: h_owl at ykwc.net (Steve Lay) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:56:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Klamath Lakes birds Message-ID: <85052B27EF144D3583ABE668E351D41F@DDKB3081> I went with friends to look around the Klamath Lakes area Friday and Saturday. Friday was a beautiful day and we watched for birds as we went up the west side of Upper Klamath Lake on the way to Crater Lake. Crater Lake was spectacular! Saturday we headed south. It was a gray day with a chilly breeze and a few sprinkles. We drove through Lower Klamath refuge on our way to Lava Beds Ntl. Mnt. On the way back north we went through Tule Lake refuge. Here are birds we sighted: Upper Klamath Lake 3-13-09 Greater White-fronted Goose Canada Goose Tundra Swan Mallard Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Canvasback Unknown Scaup Bufflehead Barrow's Goldeneye Common Merganser Ruddy Duck Pied-billed Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Prairie Falcon American Coot Sandhill Crane Killdeer Ring-billed Gull Unidentified gull Mourning Dove Northern Flicker Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Common Raven Violet-green Swallow Mountain Chickadee Mountain Bluebird American Robin European Starling Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brewer's Blackbird Lower Klamath and Tule Lake 3-14-09 Greater White-fronted Goose Snow Goose Ross' Goose Canada Goose Tundra Swan Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-Winged Teal Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Unknown Scaup Common Goldeneye Barrow's Goldeneye Common Merganser Ruddy Duck California Quail Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Western Grebe Clark's Grebe American White Pelican Double-crested Cormorant Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Golden Eagle American Kestrel Prairie Falcon American Coot Killdeer Ring-billed Gull Unidentified gull Rock Dove Mourning Dove Northern Flicker Northern Shrike Black-billed Magpie Common Raven Violet-green Swallow American Robin European Starling Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brewer's Blackbird House Sparrow Steve Lay, Redmond -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090316/2a151b96/attachment.html From clausing at uiuc.edu Mon Mar 16 15:53:48 2009 From: clausing at uiuc.edu (Arthur Clausing) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:53:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird Pictures Message-ID: <19F0D8BA-ED01-43B9-B790-588AE71A9F78@uiuc.edu> Bird Picture Gallery I recently uploaded over 90 pictures of birds that I took in the Northwest during the pass several years. The URL for my gallery is: gallery.me.com/amclausing This is an Apple web site, and its operation is similar to the Apple application, iPhoto. The site is designed for the Safari browser, but it also appears to operate properly on Firefox. (Note: the thumbnails load slowly; initially they will appear gray.) My true colors are showing When viewing the individual bird pictures on this site, the name is not given below the picture. Instead, the number I use to sort the images into taxonomic order is given. Hence, one can interpret my albums as exercises: Name this bird! (Warning: a person with a very limited understanding of the subject generated the key to these exercises!) Other characteristics of these albums that students, at least, might attribute to college problem sets and examinations are: Too long, too difficult, too easy ? typical feedback received from one?s students. Tricky: For example, pictures of relatively drab females or immature birds are included in the albums. Ambiguous or arbitrary: The captions imply one correct answer, whereas some of the pictures include two or more species. Unfair: The image is too small and blurry; the viewing angle is wrong; I need to hear the bird singing or observe it flying, ?. Educational (??): As a student and later as an engineering professor, I concluded that problem sets that do not include the answers are more educational. However, I did provide a key to these exercises (two jpeg files in Album ?Key? that can be dragged to the desktop or downloaded). The key relates the numerical caption to the English name of the bird, the ?location? where the picture was taken, etc. A distance in the ?Location? column, indicates the approximate radius of a circle (centered on Reed College) within which the picture was taken. The date the picture was taken, camera information, exposure information, etc. are available on the web site (click on the ?i? at the bottom of the screen when viewing an individual picture). Suggestions, corrections, etc. are welcome! Art Clausing, Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090316/63588ed6/attachment.html From ellencantor at gmail.com Mon Mar 16 16:22:15 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:22:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] spotting scopes and zooms Message-ID: <7058c4c60903161622j527e3180gf3db9df06a07770@mail.gmail.com> The Leupold 15x-30x is also excellent and has the added benefit of being very light and compact. I made the initial mistake of not getting a high quality tripod with it, but once I replaced my original tripod with a top notch Bogen Manfrotto, the quality of my scope vastly improved.... -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090316/bb98e170/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Mar 16 16:38:57 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:38:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Another goose challenge Message-ID: <49BEE311.3070803@pacifier.com> http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10343/Gooses.html -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Are you BSC or PSC? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or+PSC%3F.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Mon Mar 16 17:08:21 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:08:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Bluebirds, Glaucous Gull, Wild Turkeyl Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F01F4C83E@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> Yesterday I traveled 600 miles for work here in Oregon and despite the bad weather saw 48 bird species. Among the thousand plus gulls along Highway 101 as you enter Tillamook from the south there was one very bright GLACOUS GULL. I believe there were 1-2 more, but I had to keep moving and could not linger. Along Highway 22 between Salem and Willimina at the top of the pass there was a flock of at least 40 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS. It was quite an impressive group. Along Highway 227 between Canyonville and milepost 22 I counted 108 WILD TURKEY. There were 45 birds in Days Creek and I spotted birds in four other places while driving this section of the highway. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090316/71e332c8/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Mon Mar 16 21:23:01 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:23:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Suet for sale Message-ID: <868312.84301.qm@web46003.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Hey all, This is Seth. I know that we have not always been the best birders. Sometimes we get stuck on an idea and we just won't let it go. Our apologies. The reason for my writing is that I would love for all who are interested to visit our blog and take a look at our suet cakes that we have. We are selling them to help raise a little money for our community organization, wevegottimetohelp.blogspot.com I make suet everyday, and we use these suet cakes day in and day out in our yard, and they are a huge hit. We also have given them to our birding friends and they have always received rave reviews. Many species of Warblers, Woodpeckers, Sparrows, Juncos, Jays, and Kinglets, all use our suet. I have tweaked this recipe many, many times and we feel that this is about the best suet ever made. We will guarantee it. Also, it's all no melt. Anyway, please check us out, as we are trying to do the best we can during harsh times. Some photos of the suet are at portlandbirds.blogspot.com Seth and Michelle portlandbirds.blogspot.com From vernd at oregonfast.net Mon Mar 16 23:28:45 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:28:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Off Topic: Elk and Whale Message-ID: Hello OBOL, Today I watched the Fiddle Creek herd of Elk for almost 2 hours using my car as a blind. The herd has 90 individuals and 9 bulls. What a treat it was!!! There are Elk photos on my site: Images>"recent images" I also finished loading the series of the Finback Whale that came ashore recently. There are some rather graphic images, but it's part of the story. This is: Images>"Whale Study" It's best viewed as a slide show but be advised that there is music and is best viewed with a high speed connection. (The music available through my site provider is lame at best, so I chose the most fitting.) Best, Vern Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090316/a398a471/attachment.html From pygowl at gmail.com Tue Mar 17 00:42:10 2009 From: pygowl at gmail.com (Michael Marsh) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:42:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hawk at Audubon (Sharpie?) Message-ID: <90d831b70903170042m50b6cdd6yd2235174135f8c48@mail.gmail.com> Johnny and Owen (et. al.): Greetings from Alaska--uh, Tacoma. I'm very intruiged by the hawk photo. When I first saw the photo I said to myself, Cooper's. Then I read the two posts and said Darn, I blew another ID. But the more I look at the photo...............well, I kinda think it might be a Coop. With all due respect to you two, I'd like to present something of a case for Coop. Owen has only been birding twice as long as I have, what can he know.................... (A heckuva LOT). Why I think this might be a Coop: 1. Eyes appear to be set well foreward on the head; 2. Nape is gray (what can be seen of it), giving the bird a capped rather than hooded appearance; 3. Tip of tail appears rounded and white terminal band is wide; 4. Difficult to determine given the angle of view, but the bird does not appear to have a true forehead--the top of the head just slopes downward at an angle and becomes the upper mandible (Sharpie has a true, if small, vertical forehead). I think the head appears smallish because the bird is scrunching down and trying to make itself invisible to the feeder birds. So there. Very nice photo, Johnny. (Got any more?). How much would I bet this bird is a Coop? A nickel............... Good birding, Mike -- Mike Marsh Tacoma, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/d02e6098/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Tue Mar 17 08:06:39 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:06:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] zoom scopes - an alternative view Message-ID: <001101c9a712$14706550$55c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: It seems that all the recent discussion of scopes has emphasized that fixed-focus eyepieces are optically better than zoom eyepieces. That is true. I've seen that in birding magazines for years. The zoom eyepieces have more glass surfaces, more moving parts, and just can't match the optics of a single good lens. Optical experts will all tell you that, and they're right. They're speaking from the standpoint of clarity. However, if you're a birder in the field, you may not want optical superlatives, unparalleled excellence, and ultimate clarity. You may just want to find a bird, get an acceptable look before it flies away, and show it to others in your group. You're not going for the magazine cover shot. I have always had a zoom 20-60 scope (2 of them over 30 years, a Swift & a Kowa). 1. A zoom eyepiece allows you to scan at low power and find a bird quickly, whether it is distant hawk on a tree half mile away, or a half-hidden passerine in the foliage closer to you. 2. Once you have found it, you can zoom in for a better view and discern details. 3. You can get on the bird and identify it while the fixed-focus folks are still trying to find it, and before it flies away. 4. If it is moving about -- like a shorebird on the mudflats -- you can zoom back out to a wider view and refind it, if it walks out of the scope view. 5. You can zoom in to narrow the field before you show it to others, so they don't have to look at all the cackling geese to see the brant of interest. 6. You can do all this without fumbling in the rain to change your eyepiece from 20X to 45X, juggling precious lenses from hand to pocket and back, messing with the carrying cases, etc. For birding, I highly recommend zoom eyepieces over fixed focus lenses. They just get you there so much faster and easier. They come in one package and avoid lots of swapping. Yes, I know, they're not as optically pure.... As has been said, a sturdy tripod is also a great asset. It will keep your optics stable in blustery conditions (read: Oregon for half the year). As in everything optical, there are trade-offs. Big scopes with good lenses and a sturdy tripod a) cost money, and b) weigh pounds. I can live with that and I'm happy to carry my scope and share what I find. Good birding, everyone, HAPPY ST. PAT'S! Paul T. Sullivan (from the line of Sullivan, Daly, Dunn, Murphy, Driscoll, Murphy, etc, etc.) From celata at pacifier.com Tue Mar 17 08:10:22 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:10:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hummer magic Message-ID: <49BFBD5E.6000908@pacifier.com> I've been handling hummingbirds for 25 years now, so you'd think I'd be jaded.... While re-filling the feeder this morning, a female RUFOUS came up and started probing the feeder spouts while I was still pouring sugar-water. Completely, unconcerned about my presence. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Are you BSC or PSC? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or+PSC%3F.html From llsdirons at msn.com Tue Mar 17 08:40:51 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:40:51 +0000 Subject: [obol] Hummer magic In-Reply-To: <49BFBD5E.6000908@pacifier.com> References: <49BFBD5E.6000908@pacifier.com> Message-ID: I think that hummingbird and "jaded" are mutually exclusive concepts. I can't imagine there coming a time when I don't marvel at hummingbirds. Dave Irons Eugene > Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:10:22 -0700 > From: celata at pacifier.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Hummer magic > > I've been handling hummingbirds for 25 years now, so you'd > think I'd be jaded.... > > While re-filling the feeder this morning, a female RUFOUS > came up and started probing the feeder spouts while I was still > pouring sugar-water. Completely, unconcerned about my presence. > > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Are you BSC or PSC? > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or+PSC%3F.html > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/personalize.aspx?ocid=TXT_MSGTX_WL_HM_express_032009#colortheme -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/51d500c2/attachment.html From rlowe at casco.net Tue Mar 17 09:00:48 2009 From: rlowe at casco.net (Roy Lowe) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:00:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hummer magic In-Reply-To: References: <49BFBD5E.6000908@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <3DD9454F-BAEC-42D1-87DE-7A79D5D67859@casco.net> I have to agree with Dave, hummingbirds never cease to amaze. On occasion, I've held my feeder out the window before hanging it up and I have had up to five hummingbirds feeding at the same time while I'm holding the feeder! Very trusting birds. For a cool video of ruby-throat not only feeding from a hand held feeder, but also feeding out of the hand see http://lincsicsan.blogspot.com/2009/03/video-close-up-of-ruby-throated.html Roy On Mar 17, 2009, at 8:40 AM, David Irons wrote: > I think that hummingbird and "jaded" are mutually exclusive > concepts. I can't imagine there coming a time when I don't marvel at > hummingbirds. > > Dave Irons > Eugene > > > Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:10:22 -0700 > > From: celata at pacifier.com > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Subject: [obol] Hummer magic > > > > I've been handling hummingbirds for 25 years now, so you'd > > think I'd be jaded.... > > > > While re-filling the feeder this morning, a female RUFOUS > > came up and started probing the feeder spouts while I was still > > pouring sugar-water. Completely, unconcerned about my presence. > > > > > > -- > > Mike Patterson > > Astoria, OR > > Are you BSC or PSC? > > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or+PSC%3F.html > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for > Hotmail?. See how. _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/8bcf90ba/attachment.html From dan-gleason at comcast.net Tue Mar 17 09:29:58 2009 From: dan-gleason at comcast.net (Dan Gleason) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:29:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hummer magic In-Reply-To: <49BFBD5E.6000908@pacifier.com> References: <49BFBD5E.6000908@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <53F55BAD-B275-47DE-8A7E-0E6D33A9D9F4@comcast.net> Some are indeed fearless and great fun to watch. While camping in the mountains of Colorado several years ago, Barbara hung a hummingbird feeder. Within 20 minutes, we had 8 Broad-tailed Hummingbirds coming to the feeder, although there were only four feeding holes. They were fearless and completely unconcerned with our presence. Barbara took a photo of me standing next to the feeder. In the photo, three of the four places have hummers hovering while feeding. At the fourth place is another male feeding, but this bird is calmly sitting on my finger with its wings folded while it feeds. With all four places taken, two other hummers are hovering nearby awaiting their turn to feed. One of them is only ~4 inches from my ear. A fun and amazing experience, and not one that I could imagine happening with our more aggressive Rufous or Anna's. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Mar 17, 2009, at 8:10 AM, Mike Patterson wrote: > I've been handling hummingbirds for 25 years now, so you'd > think I'd be jaded.... > > While re-filling the feeder this morning, a female RUFOUS > came up and started probing the feeder spouts while I was still > pouring sugar-water. Completely, unconcerned about my presence. > > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Are you BSC or PSC? > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or > +PSC%3F.html > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/c19e754d/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Mar 17 10:56:59 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:56:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Scopes Message-ID: <9c880c56d2be6fbb279541912b4fb061@earthlink.net> For anyone who doesn't yet own a scope, Paul Sullivan's posting is invaluable advice. If I were to pick out a single defining moment in my four decades of birding, it would be acquiring a scope. A cheap scope is infinitely better than no scope at all. The zoom vs. eye-piece debate makes sense in the context of experienced birders who have been scoping for years, but for those attempting to bird w/o a scope, the debate strikes me as almost spurious. Don't forget the tripod. That's the serious weak point of my system. My tripods are so bad I'm embarrassed to share the scope, and both of them are at least 6" too short for my height. If you scrimp on the scope more money can be spent on a tripod. LARS NORGREN From dendroicaman at peak.org Tue Mar 17 10:40:42 2009 From: dendroicaman at peak.org (Karl Fairchild) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:40:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Scopes In-Reply-To: <9c880c56d2be6fbb279541912b4fb061@earthlink.net> References: <9c880c56d2be6fbb279541912b4fb061@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <49BFE09A.10702@peak.org> Hi all, I have to agree on tripods. This defines the quality of birding as much as the scope, at least to a point. I have had better viewing experiences on a well mounted Spacemaster on a good tripod than a Pentax on a lousy tripod or even a poorly mounted Leica. As for what tripod to buy, if it isn't a Bogen Manfrotto with a good fluid head, save your money until you can get one. My folks have been using the same Bogen tripod for 15+ years and it is still totally rock solid. My own tripod is a Manfrotto as well, and I couldn't be happier. Likewise, having a good fluid head mounting is critical as well, as is a rock solid quick release attachment plate. Lately, they have been making quick release plates with plastic front mounting studs. That has been the only complaint I've had on my Kowa--this plastic mounting stud broke within a year. Fortunately, thanks to a little customizing of the plate by my Dad, it now accommodates a very nice metal stud. It sounds as if the new Spacemasters are much improved and a good buy for an entry level scope. My folks have been using Spacemasters for 15 years, replaced only once after an unfortunate dunk in the Gulf of Mexico (the eyepiece actually survived this just fine!). Of course, if we are on the topic of scopes for a bargain, I can't help but mention the latest generation Kowas. While clearly a big step up from the venerable Spacemaster (both quality wise and budget wise), the Prominar-coated 77mm and 88mm versions are the best scopes on the market and I think they run only $1500, half the price of a Leica or Swarovski. Happy scope hunting! Karl Fairchild Corvallis, OR From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Tue Mar 17 10:55:31 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:55:31 -0400 Subject: [obol] yard changes Message-ID: Returned to Columbia County from a weeklong trip to Ventura County, CA., to discover that the rufous hummers (two for sure) are back in my yard, the Anna's is gone, and a band-tailed pigeon is dropping in at the feeders. Still have the evening grosbeaks coming, but they are more irregular now. Also spotted violet-green swallows over the Scappoose bottomlands. In California (Moorpark, Camarillo) common birds in relatives' yards are mockingbird, Anna's, scrub jay, black phoebe, Calif. towhee, lesser goldfinch. They were everywhere. Neatest sighting in one yard was a male phainopepla. Lona Pierce, Warren _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Contacts: Organize your contact list. http://windowslive.com/connect/post/marcusatmicrosoft.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!503D1D86EBB2B53C!2285.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_UGC_Contacts_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/fd3a4e6d/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Tue Mar 17 11:07:49 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:07:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Hummer magic, or why I don't like Germany In-Reply-To: <53F55BAD-B275-47DE-8A7E-0E6D33A9D9F4@comcast.net> Message-ID: <790003.7366.qm@web37001.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I had a similar experience when I lived in Flagstaff, Arizona, for a summer. I could stand by my feeder and carefully hold up my hand, and a Broad-tailed Hummer would actually land on my finger and sit there while greedily sucking down sugar water (the Anna's at my Corvallis feeder hasn't done that yet) .... awesome birds, and yet another reason why I can't spend the rest of my life in Germany ... :-) On that note, I got my new work visa approved today and will return to beautiful Oregon on April 2 for a birding job on the Oregon coast! Happy Spring Migration (and hold those vagrants until I'm back!) Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Tue, 3/17/09, Dan Gleason wrote: From: Dan Gleason Subject: Re: [obol] Hummer magic To: "Mike Patterson" Cc: "OBOL" Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 9:29 AM Some are indeed fearless and great fun to watch. While camping in the mountains of Colorado several years ago, Barbara hung a hummingbird feeder. Within 20 minutes, we had 8 Broad-tailed Hummingbirds coming to the feeder, although there were only four feeding holes. They were fearless and completely unconcerned with our presence. Barbara took a photo of me standing next to the feeder. In the photo, three of the four places have hummers hovering while feeding. At the fourth place is another male feeding, but this bird is calmly sitting on my finger with its wings folded while it feeds. With all four places taken, two other hummers are hovering nearby awaiting their turn to feed. One of them is only ~4 inches from my ear. A fun and amazing experience, and not one that I could imagine happening with our more aggressive Rufous or Anna's. Dan Gleason -------------Dan Gleasondan-gleason at comcast.net541 345-0450 On Mar 17, 2009, at 8:10 AM, Mike Patterson wrote: I've been handling hummingbirds for 25 years now, so you'dthink I'd be jaded.... While re-filling the feeder this morning, a female RUFOUScame up and started probing the feeder spouts while I was stillpouring sugar-water.? Completely, unconcerned about my presence. --?Mike PattersonAstoria, ORAre you BSC or PSC?http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or+PSC%3F.html _______________________________________________obol mailing listobol at oregonbirdwatch.orghttp://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/c59164b5/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Tue Mar 17 11:13:40 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:13:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Scopes References: <9c880c56d2be6fbb279541912b4fb061@earthlink.net> <49BFE09A.10702@peak.org> Message-ID: I agree with Karl about the importance of a tripod. My Bogen is even older than his parents' one, and has lost one of its wingnuts (it didn't break), but is still solid. Padding the top section of each leg with a length of pipe insulation is a cheap and accessible way of saving your shoulders when your carry it. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: "Karl Fairchild" To: Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 10:40 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Scopes Hi all, I have to agree on tripods. This defines the quality of birding as much as the scope, at least to a point. I have had better viewing experiences on a well mounted Spacemaster on a good tripod than a Pentax on a lousy tripod or even a poorly mounted Leica. As for what tripod to buy, if it isn't a Bogen Manfrotto with a good fluid head, save your money until you can get one. My folks have been using the same Bogen tripod for 15+ years and it is still totally rock solid. My own tripod is a Manfrotto as well, and I couldn't be happier. Likewise, having a good fluid head mounting is critical as well, as is a rock solid quick release attachment plate. Lately, they have been making quick release plates with plastic front mounting studs. That has been the only complaint I've had on my Kowa--this plastic mounting stud broke within a year. Fortunately, thanks to a little customizing of the plate by my Dad, it now accommodates a very nice metal stud. It sounds as if the new Spacemasters are much improved and a good buy for an entry level scope. My folks have been using Spacemasters for 15 years, replaced only once after an unfortunate dunk in the Gulf of Mexico (the eyepiece actually survived this just fine!). Of course, if we are on the topic of scopes for a bargain, I can't help but mention the latest generation Kowas. While clearly a big step up from the venerable Spacemaster (both quality wise and budget wise), the Prominar-coated 77mm and 88mm versions are the best scopes on the market and I think they run only $1500, half the price of a Leica or Swarovski. Happy scope hunting! Karl Fairchild Corvallis, OR _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From celata at pacifier.com Tue Mar 17 12:20:27 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:20:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: USFWS list of Birds of Conservation Concern 2008 Message-ID: <49BFF7FB.9010100@pacifier.com> The Division of Migratory Bird Management announces the availability of Birds of Conservation Concern 2008. This publication identifies species, subspecies, and populations of migratory and nonmigratory birds in need of additional conservation actions. We hope to stimulate coordinated and collaborative proactive conservation actions among Federal, State, tribal, and private partners. The species that appear in Birds of Conservation Concern 2008 are deemed to be the highest priority for conservation actions. We anticipate that the document will be consulted by Federal agencies and their partners prior to undertaking cooperative research, monitoring, and management actions that might directly or indirectly affect migratory birds. The Notice of Availability: http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/reports/BCC2008/BCC%202008%20NOA.pdf (it should show up in the Federal Register in a few days) [FYI: This list is created because Congress directed the USFWS to: "identify species, subspecies, and populations of all migratory nongame birds that, without additional conservation actions, are likely to become candidates for listing under the Endangered Species Act [ESA] of 1973" when Congress enacted the 1988 amendments to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. The first list was published in 1995 and the next in 2002. -- Ellen Paul Executive Director The Ornithological Council ellen.paul at verizon.net "Providing Scientific Information about Birds" www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNETThe Division of Migratory Bird Management announces the availability of Birds of Conservation Concern 2008. This publication identifies species, subspecies, and populations of migratory and nonmigratory birds in need of additional conservation actions. We hope to stimulate coordinated and collaborative proactive conservation actions among Federal, State, tribal, and private partners. The species that appear in Birds of Conservation Concern 2008 are deemed to be the highest priority for conservation actions. We anticipate that the document will be consulted by Federal agencies and their partners prior to undertaking cooperative research, monitoring, and management actions that might directly or indirectly affect migratory birds. The Notice of Availability: http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/reports/BCC2008/BCC%202008%20NOA.pdf (it should show up in the Federal Register in a few days) [FYI: This list is created because Congress directed the USFWS to: "identify species, subspecies, and populations of all migratory nongame birds that, without additional conservation actions, are likely to become candidates for listing under the Endangered Species Act [ESA] of 1973" when Congress enacted the 1988 amendments to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. The first list was published in 1995 and the next in 2002. -- Ellen Paul Executive Director The Ornithological Council ellen.paul at verizon.net "Providing Scientific Information about Birds" www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Dream Bird http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10354/Dream+Bird.html -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: Ellen Paul Subject: USFWS list of Birds of Conservation Concern 2008 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:02:37 -0400 Size: 7855 Url: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/37751dd5/attachment.eml From foglark at att.net Tue Mar 17 12:35:15 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:35:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] carrying scopes; Godwit Days Message-ID: <235290.67037.qm@web80001.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I have a tip to pass on. I've found carrying a scope a long distance from a parking spot in to a birding site to get really old, even with pipe insulation on the tripod legs, and even with a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper waiting. What I do is put the dismounted scope body and the collapsed tripod in a medium-sized frameless backpack for the walk in. Doesn't matter if the ends of the legs stick out. A lot of times there is no real reason to have a scope out if you're just walking ten or fifteen minutes to a particular spot that has all the birds. Why not leave your hands free for easier binocular use? When you get to the birds it takes thirty seconds to set up. When you're done for the day, put it back in the pack, and when you get home park the whole works as is, wherever the scope usually lives. This is a real boon for bicycling birders as well. A reminder, the annual Godwit Days festival in Arcata is April 17-20. It's a well-attended and exciting event with dozens of trips offered. If you've never yet birded Humboldt Bay, consider it. There can be several hundred thousand shorebirds on the bay in mid-April and plenty to see. It's only two hours south of Brookings, on a beautiful highway through ancient redwoods. It would be a privilege to host some Oregon-based birders. Hope to see some of you here. David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/26ef5dfc/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Mar 17 12:59:20 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:59:20 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Hummer magic Message-ID: <925744.78576.qm@web45313.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> The Rufous are everywhere in Coos Co. now, seems like I can't go anywhere in town and not see or hear them the past few days. The males are starting to displaying also. We have 12+ at our feeders now, about a 50-50 split between Anna's and Rufous- sure is wonderful to see the flowers up and the hummers in thick on the gorgeous South Coast! Merry springtime, Tim R Coos Bay --- On Tue, 3/17/09, Roy Lowe wrote: > From: Roy Lowe > Subject: Re: [obol] Hummer magic > To: "David Irons" > Cc: "Mike Patterson" , "post OBOL" > Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 9:00 AM > I have to agree with Dave, > hummingbirds never cease to amaze. > On occasion, I've held my feeder out the > window before hanging it up and I have had up to five > hummingbirds feeding at the same time while I'm holding > the feeder! ?Very trusting birds. > For a cool video of ruby-throat not only feeding > from a hand held feeder, but also feeding out of the hand > see?http://lincsicsan.blogspot.com/2009/03/video-close-up-of-ruby-throated.html > Roy > On Mar 17, 2009, at 8:40 AM, David Irons > wrote: > I think that > hummingbird and "jaded" are mutually exclusive > concepts. I can't imagine there coming a time when I > don't marvel at hummingbirds.? > > Dave Irons > Eugene > > > Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:10:22 -0700 > > From:?celata at pacifier.com > > To:?obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Subject: [obol] Hummer magic > >? > > I've been handling hummingbirds for 25 years now, > so you'd > > think I'd be jaded.... > >? > > While re-filling the feeder this morning, a female > RUFOUS > > came up and started probing the feeder spouts while I > was still > > pouring sugar-water. Completely, unconcerned about my > presence. > >? > >? > > --? > > Mike Patterson > > Astoria, OR > > Are you BSC or PSC? > >?http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or+PSC%3F.html > >? > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > >?obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > >?http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > Express your personality in color! Preview and select > themes for Hotmail?.?See > how.?_______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Tue Mar 17 13:00:35 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:00:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield, Northern Shrike and odd Shoveller Message-ID: <001101c9a73b$09f1cb40$1dd561c0$@NET> We stopped by Ridgefield Monday on the way back from Seattle. Birds of interest were a NORTHERN SHRIKE, a COMMON TEAL and an odd looking NORTHERN SHOVELER. The Shoveler is probably a male in transition but the timing seems wrong and the feather patterns don't appear to match the drawing of the non-breeding males in Sibley. I have photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_pix/ if anyone is interested and/or has an opinion. There were large numbers of TREE SWALLOWS, a group landed repeatedly on the road and some picked up pieces of grass. Tom Shreve Tigard -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/928bac9a/attachment.html From JLKolias at aol.com Tue Mar 17 13:01:17 2009 From: JLKolias at aol.com (JLKolias at aol.com) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:01:17 EDT Subject: [obol] Male Rufous Hummingbird arrival SE Portland Backyard Message-ID: Our first of the year male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD arrived last night March 16, 2009 at 6:41 PM. Judy Kolias Frank Eckert Clackamas County SE Portland **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1219850974x1201371016/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID %3D62%26bcd%3DMarchfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/699015ed/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Mar 17 13:13:25 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:13:25 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Tripods & Scopes Message-ID: <668399.33165.qm@web45305.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I totally agree with Karl. On the coast you need the HEAVIEST tripod money can buy. An expensive scope on a light weight tripod spells trouble on a windy coastal day (and really, is it ever not windy on the coast?). I have a heavy Bogen/Manfrotto with a fluid head and am completely happy with it. I've had it for 10+ years and it's covered with rust from years of use and abuse but still performs admirably and I've never had a problem with it blowing over although I have seen many out of town visitors with light weight tripods with scopes bite the dust (or should I say mud?)! I think you'd be better off with a so-so quality scope on a heavier tripod than an expensive scope on a light weight tripod at least on the coast, so don't chince on a decent tripod or you won't get the full benefit of your new scope. Have fun! Tim R Coos Bay --- On Tue, 3/17/09, Karl Fairchild wrote: > From: Karl Fairchild > Subject: Re: [obol] Scopes > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 10:40 AM > Hi all, > > I have to agree on tripods.? This defines the quality > of birding as much > as the scope, at least to a point.? I have had better > viewing > experiences on a well mounted Spacemaster on a good tripod > than a Pentax > on a lousy tripod or even a poorly mounted Leica.? As > for what tripod to > buy, if it isn't a Bogen Manfrotto with a good fluid head, > save your > money until you can get one.? My folks have been using > the same Bogen > tripod for 15+ years and it is still totally rock > solid.? My own tripod > is a Manfrotto as well, and I couldn't be happier.? > Likewise, having a > good fluid head mounting is critical as well, as is a rock > solid quick > release attachment plate.? Lately, they have been > making quick release > plates with plastic front mounting studs.? That has > been the only > complaint I've had on my Kowa--this plastic mounting stud > broke within a > year.? Fortunately, thanks to a little customizing of > the plate by my > Dad, it now accommodates a very nice metal stud.? It > sounds as if the > new Spacemasters are much improved and a good buy for an > entry level > scope.? My folks have been using Spacemasters for 15 > years, replaced > only once after an unfortunate dunk in the Gulf of Mexico > (the eyepiece > actually survived this just fine!).? Of course, if we > are on the topic > of scopes for a bargain, I can't help but mention the > latest generation > Kowas.? While clearly a big step up from the venerable > Spacemaster (both > quality wise and budget wise), the Prominar-coated 77mm and > 88mm > versions are the best scopes on the market and I think they > run only > $1500, half the price of a Leica or Swarovski. > > Happy scope hunting! > > Karl Fairchild > Corvallis, OR > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Mar 17 13:15:17 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:15:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Hummer magic, or why I don't like Germany Message-ID: <454252.18116.qm@web45302.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Welcome back almost again Hendrik, where will you be working this time? Hopefully you can find the rest of us a few vagrants!!! Merry springtime, Tim --- On Tue, 3/17/09, Hendrik Herlyn wrote: > From: Hendrik Herlyn > Subject: Re: [obol] Hummer magic, or why I don't like Germany > To: "Mike Patterson" , "Dan Gleason" > Cc: "OBOL" > Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 11:07 AM > I had > a similar experience when I lived in Flagstaff, Arizona, for > a summer. I could stand by my feeder and carefully hold up > my hand, and a Broad-tailed Hummer would actually land on my > finger and sit there while greedily sucking down sugar water > (the Anna's at my Corvallis feeder hasn't done that > yet) .... awesome birds, and yet another reason why I > can't spend the rest of my life in Germany ... :-) > > On that note, I got my new work visa approved today and > will return to beautiful Oregon on April 2 for a birding job > on the Oregon coast! > > Happy Spring Migration (and hold those vagrants until > I'm back!) > > Hendrik > _________________________________ > > Hendrik G. Herlyn > > 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 > > Corvallis, OR 97333 > > USA > > E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com > > --- On Tue, 3/17/09, Dan Gleason > wrote: > From: Dan Gleason > > Subject: Re: [obol] Hummer magic > To: "Mike Patterson" > Cc: "OBOL" > Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 9:29 AM > > > Some are indeed fearless and great fun to watch. While > camping in the mountains of Colorado several years ago, > Barbara hung a hummingbird feeder. Within 20 minutes, we had > 8 Broad-tailed Hummingbirds coming to the feeder, although > there were only four feeding holes. They were fearless and > completely unconcerned with our presence. Barbara took a > photo of me standing next to the feeder. In the photo, three > of the four places have hummers hovering while feeding. At > the fourth place is another male feeding, but this bird is > calmly sitting on my finger with its wings folded while it > feeds. With all four places taken, two other hummers are > hovering nearby awaiting their turn to feed. One of them is > only ~4 inches from my ear. A fun and amazing experience, > and not one that I could imagine happening with our more > aggressive Rufous or Anna's. > Dan Gleason > -------------Dan > Gleasondan-gleason at comcast.net541 > 345-0450 > > > On Mar 17, 2009, at 8:10 AM, Mike Patterson > wrote: > I've been handling > hummingbirds for 25 years now, so you'dthink I'd be jaded.... > While re-filling the feeder > this morning, a female RUFOUScame up and started probing the feeder > spouts while I was stillpouring sugar-water.? Completely, > unconcerned about my presence. > > --?Mike PattersonAstoria, ORAre you BSC or PSC?http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or+PSC%3F.html > _______________________________________________obol mailing listobol at oregonbirdwatch.orghttp://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From celata at pacifier.com Tue Mar 17 13:23:35 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:23:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] New Photo Quiz - something for every skill level Message-ID: <49C006C7.1050009@pacifier.com> I took this photo today on Clatsop Beach... http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Are you BSC or PSC? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or+PSC%3F.html From rawieland at comcast.net Tue Mar 17 13:40:07 2009 From: rawieland at comcast.net (Rainer Wieland) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:40:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] A scope related question Message-ID: <49C00AA7.1010101@comcast.net> Great discussion about scopes and tripods and carrying them. Does anyone have a good solution for replacing a lens cap on a scope? My Swarovski cap fell on its edge and the little snappy lever fell off. I've been using a trimmed yogurt container as the lens cap but would really like to have an "official" one again. I haven't been able to scrounge one from anywhere. Suggestions? Cheers, Rainer Wieland Portland, Oregon From yvanbruggen at charter.net Tue Mar 17 15:25:14 2009 From: yvanbruggen at charter.net (Philip Van Bruggen) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:25:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tripods Message-ID: <4ABE9A5C642F4193945A3049919C0D91@Home> Having recently (finally) got a good scope and clearly needing a much better tripod, I appreciate the recommendations today .... however, on searching, there appear to be many Bogen/Manfrotto scopes at a variety of prices. Can anyone be more specific, that is model number or price range. Thanks. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/559bfae2/attachment.html From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Tue Mar 17 15:41:51 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (Denise Hughes) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:41:51 -0600 Subject: [obol] carrying scopes; Godwit Days In-Reply-To: <235290.67037.qm@web80001.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <235290.67037.qm@web80001.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <00c801c9a751$92a29d50$b7e7d7f0$@net> I have a friend who made a rifle out of wood and attached a scope to the 'rifle'. He places the stock against his shoulder to steady the scope. He also has a better scope on a tripod but he is able to carry the rifle scope in his pack when he is walking a long distance. Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of David Fix & Jude Power Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 1:35 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] carrying scopes; Godwit Days I have a tip to pass on. I've found carrying a scope a long distance from a parking spot in to a birding site to get really old, even with pipe insulation on the tripod legs, and even with a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper waiting. What I do is put the dismounted scope body and the collapsed tripod in a medium-sized frameless backpack for the walk in. Doesn't matter if the ends of the legs stick out. A lot of times there is no real reason to have a scope out if you're just walking ten or fifteen minutes to a particular spot that has all the birds. Why not leave your hands free for easier binocular use? When you get to the birds it takes thirty seconds to set up. When you're done for the day, put it back in the pack, and when you get home park the whole works as is, wherever the scope usually lives. This is a real boon for bicycling birders as well. A reminder, the annual Godwit Days festival in Arcata is April 17-20. It's a well-attended and exciting event with dozens of trips offered. If you've never yet birded Humboldt Bay, consider it. There can be several hundred thousand shorebirds on the bay in mid-April and plenty to see. It's only two hours south of Brookings, on a beautiful highway through ancient redwoods. It would be a privilege to host some Oregon-based birders. Hope to see some of you here. David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/ad84b097/attachment.html From dennis at dennisgalloway.com Tue Mar 17 15:56:00 2009 From: dennis at dennisgalloway.com (Dennis Galloway) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:56:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] scopes Message-ID: <49464.24.20.202.78.1237330560.squirrel@webmail5.pair.com> I am glad to hear from Karl Fairchild that I can get a good bird scope for 'only $1500'. Why, that is less than the hood ornament on my Bentley! From jmoodie at cocc.edu Tue Mar 17 16:02:29 2009 From: jmoodie at cocc.edu (Jim Moodie) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:02:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] carrying scopes; Godwit Days In-Reply-To: <00c801c9a751$92a29d50$b7e7d7f0$@net> References: <235290.67037.qm@web80001.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <00c801c9a751$92a29d50$b7e7d7f0$@net> Message-ID: The rifle stock solution reminds me of a story about my major advisor at the University of Oklahoma. Doug was studying House Sparrow behavior at nest boxes in the early mornings and would use his car for a blind and poke the scope out the window. On his way home late one morning, driving on the main street in town (Norman, OK), he was surrounded by police cars, forced to stop and ordered, at gun point, to get out of his car and lay face down on the pavement. As the officers approached, one of them recognized him, cursed and told the other officers it was the OU bird guy! As the desk sergeant from "Hill Street Blues" would advise, "Let's be careful out there". Oh, and I carry my scope and tripod by hooking a strap to the scope case and slinging it over my shoulder. Cheers, Jim Dr. Jim Moodie Dept of Science COCC From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Denise Hughes Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 3:42 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] carrying scopes; Godwit Days I have a friend who made a rifle out of wood and attached a scope to the 'rifle'. He places the stock against his shoulder to steady the scope. He also has a better scope on a tripod but he is able to carry the rifle scope in his pack when he is walking a long distance. Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of David Fix & Jude Power Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 1:35 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] carrying scopes; Godwit Days I have a tip to pass on. I've found carrying a scope a long distance from a parking spot in to a birding site to get really old, even with pipe insulation on the tripod legs, and even with a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper waiting. What I do is put the dismounted scope body and the collapsed tripod in a medium-sized frameless backpack for the walk in. Doesn't matter if the ends of the legs stick out. A lot of times there is no real reason to have a scope out if you're just walking ten or fifteen minutes to a particular spot that has all the birds. Why not leave your hands free for easier binocular use? When you get to the birds it takes thirty seconds to set up. When you're done for the day, put it back in the pack, and when you get home park the whole works as is, wherever the scope usually lives. This is a real boon for bicycling birders as well. A reminder, the annual Godwit Days festival in Arcata is April 17-20. It's a well-attended and exciting event with dozens of trips offered. If you've never yet birded Humboldt Bay, consider it. There can be several hundred thousand shorebirds on the bay in mid-April and plenty to see. It's only two hours south of Brookings, on a beautiful highway through ancient redwoods. It would be a privilege to host some Oregon-based birders. Hope to see some of you here. David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/0db06443/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Tue Mar 17 17:35:07 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:35:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] A scope related question In-Reply-To: <49C00AA7.1010101@comcast.net> References: <49C00AA7.1010101@comcast.net> Message-ID: <7EC6B1AF897641919C0FEF817758CB90@cgatesPC> REI usually has extra lens caps for Swarovski and other scopes they stock. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rainer Wieland" To: Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 1:40 PM Subject: [obol] A scope related question > Great discussion about scopes and tripods and carrying them. > > Does anyone have a good solution for replacing a lens cap on > a scope? My Swarovski cap fell on its edge and the little > snappy lever fell off. I've been using a trimmed yogurt container > as the lens cap but would really like to have an "official" one > again. I haven't been able to scrounge one from anywhere. > Suggestions? > > Cheers, > Rainer Wieland > Portland, Oregon > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Tue Mar 17 17:56:21 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (Tom McNamara) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:56:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Scopes Message-ID: Paul, seconded by Lars, made great points about zooms for actual in the field birding. Way handier. Harking a little further back, I would also endorse Scott Carpenter's and Alan Contreras' thumbs up on the Pentax 80mm ED especially vis a vis the $ layout for the Euros. I am enduringly happy that I got the Pentax (and a Bogen-Manfrotto tripod w/ video head) about 4 years ago. Every time I look through a high quality Zeiss, Swarovski etc. I feel vindicated because of money saved when I got the whole assembly, new, for a tad over $1K. This scope is admittedly a little heavier than other 80s, like maybe a pound. Consider it a pint of water that you're doubtless carrying w/ you and that fact becomes nugatory. And, yes, Paul (and many others) Happy St. Pat's (from the line of McNamara, Finucane, Corrigan, McGowan). _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_70faster_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/35e048e4/attachment.html From kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us Tue Mar 17 18:43:37 2009 From: kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us (Kyle W Bratcher) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:43:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wallowa Valley Barrows Goldeneye? Message-ID: I saw a female Goldeneye today at the Wallowa fish hatchery today that I'm pretty sure was a Barrows. Problem is this would be my first so I have very little experience identifying anything but a Common. This particular bird came flying in and I immediately noticed the full orange bill. I didn't make much of it till I got back in my car and looked at my books. So the book says this is a trait of a Barrows but not always full proof. So I went back and looked at it again and it appeared to have a different head shape (to me)so I am fairly confident. So to my main question. How reliable is the yellow bill as an field mark? How often do you see Commons with all orange bills. Thank you. Kyle Bratcher Joseph Oregon. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/972642a9/attachment.html From beaniebear at peoplepc.com Tue Mar 17 20:58:28 2009 From: beaniebear at peoplepc.com (beaniebear at peoplepc.com) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:58:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge; Jean's Peninsula + End of Royal Message-ID: <002201c9a77d$cd40dae0$9803f304@hppav> Hello, Birds seen on a St Paddy's Day meander around the Fern Ridge Reservoir through the parks on Jean's Peninsula and out Royal to the observation platform, in no particular order. Mallard Duck Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Lesser Scaup Canada Goose Double-crested Cormorant Gull sp. American Coot Great Blue Heron American Bittern Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Red-breasted Nuthatch Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Black-capped Chickadee Yellow-rumped Warbler Dark-eyed Junco *Black Phoebe Spotted Towhee Mourning Dove *Western Kingbird Red-winged Blackbird Western Bluebird Winter Wren Bewick's Wren Marsh Wren American Kestrel American Robin Varied Thrush Northern Harrier Turkey Vulture Sean said he saw an Osprey, but I did not get a clear ID on the bird, and had seen a Bald Eagle in the same area last Monday Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker California Quail Violet-Green Swallow Tree Swallow Rufous Hummingbird European Starling Finch sp. (Purple or House) Scrub Jay American Crow -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/71faf9c0/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Tue Mar 17 20:51:23 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:51:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Scopes and Traveling Message-ID: On choosing scopes, I don't know if it has been mentioned about 45 degrees vs. straight-through type. I always used straight-type, but for that you need a taller tripod, and there is a hassle if you share the view in the field, if your friends are different heights. Paul is absolutely right about the usefulness of a zoom in the field, too, even though there may be some image falloff. I bought a little Leupold 60MM at Portland Audubon a year ago for less than $400, and have been very happy with it for traveling or longer walks. Especially traveling with others in little rented economy cars, getting in and out and grabbing the scope is a lot easier than is with the big 80MM and Manfrotto tripod. The lighter scope doesn't strictly speaking require much of a tripod at all, especially with the 45. Birding at Longluan Lake in Taiwan's Kenting National Park last Friday, the wind was quite extreme, and a heavy tripod would have been much better, but even then the wind would make it difficult. Instead, I sat down in the lee of the car, with the tripod at the lowest level, and had a fine time sorting through a raft of Tufted Ducks for other diving ducks, and scoping the shoreline for Spot-billed Ducks among Mallards and Eurasian Wigeons. While I was sitting there quietly, a little flock of Scaly-breasted Munias came to enjoy the shelter with me. Would that have happened had I been standing in the gusty wind, trying to keep a big scope and tripod steady? But then we went around to the visitor's center where they had a bank of 20-30 big Kowas mounted in front of a window looking over the lake. There it was very nice to sit and scan a jetty about 100 yards off in the comfort of the viewing room. Having picked out more Spot-billed Ducks, Common Teal, Pintail, Northern Shovelor and others, thinking myself done I went to chat with the naturalists on duty, meanwhile a bus load of 9 year-olds swarmed in and occupied all the scopes. That's when the naturalists mentioned that there had been one each of the Black-faced and Eurasian Spoonbills visible, off in a corner I missed. Since the scopes were occupied, and my own seemed insignificant in their company, and since there had been some 60 Black-faced Spoonbills the Monday before at Chigu, I elected to leave the kids to scopes (how great to have them available for the youngsters) and visit a marsh nearby, where the naturalists said there could be Gargany. It was different at the marsh, where it was impractical to get out of the car at all. With the little scope, I could perch the tripod in my lap and take my time looking over more Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal, and about a half dozen Gargany. There were also a lot of shorebirds, including Common Sandpipers and a couple dozen Greenshanks. In another section there were a couple dozen Little Ringed Plovers, and a smattering of Kentish Plovers (aka Snowy, but looking different). More tantalizing were a few peeps that were just too distant for the little scope. They had blackish legs, and so were most likely Red-necked Stint, not Temmicks or Long-toed because of the legs, but could also have been any of a half dozen rare species. The big scope would have been impractical inside the car; and even with it the peeps may not have been identifiable with certainty, so I was very happy to have the little one, but had to leave the peeps alone and move on, because we wanted to try again for the Taiwan Blue Magpie before heading for the airport. We never found the latter, but had a lovely walk in a light rain along a creek with a Grey Wagtails and Little Egrets, and Grey-capped Pygmy-Woodpeckers. In balance, the little scope was fine for the purpose, and the cost savings over a $1500 scope would fund all the expenses on the ground for my wife and I for a week in Taiwan - rental car, gas, lodging in nice hotels, and great meals (though we often had little idea of what we were eating) and more. In any case, the most important birding tool is preparation. That along with patience are far more important than the particular optics you carry. Good birding, Jeff Photos from Taiwan here: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/TaiwanMarch09# -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/f21f898c/attachment.html From youngwarriors at hotmail.com Tue Mar 17 22:18:08 2009 From: youngwarriors at hotmail.com (Keith Owen) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:18:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Trip to Romania Message-ID: I am leaving for a two week singing tour in Romania starting April 12. Does anyone have any information on birding there? Will probably have a few opportunities to do a little. Keith _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Life without walls. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/5f591cf4/attachment.html From beaniebear at peoplepc.com Tue Mar 17 23:14:54 2009 From: beaniebear at peoplepc.com (beaniebear at peoplepc.com) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:14:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Addendum [Isabella Barnes] Message-ID: <006901c9a790$dc5113c0$9803f304@hppav> Hi again, Please pardon my clumsiness as I learn the protocol of this list. I forgot to mention the Red-shouldered hawks. Thanks, Isabella -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/21571580/attachment.html From tanager at nu-world.com Tue Mar 17 22:21:28 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:21:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Johnny Sasko's Audubon Accipiter Message-ID: <003f01c9a789$641f49a0$2c5ddce0$@com> I think this bird is a Cooper's. Very rounded tail. Gray cheeks. Flattish shaped head. Robust/bulky body. My 2 cents. Dan Heyerly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/a4c56c18/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Mar 17 23:40:34 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:40:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Livermore Road,Polk County Horned Lark, Plovers Message-ID: <58b10b616049865cc3ca536888b39320@earthlink.net> In pursuit of truffles in Buena Vista, I took my usual detour while southbound on 99W. A Streaked Horned Lark was singing at the same spot described two weeks ago: About 1/2 mile south of the McCoy-Perrydale Rd (paved E-W road) is a wooden fence post on the west side of Livermore Rd marking a property line. The field to the nw is some kind of clover, to the sw perennial grass seed. The lark was no more than 15m from the road and 5m into the clover (north of the grass). There's a large bare spot left by a puddle, he likes to frequent its south side. He was singing from the ground, but until I scanned this absurdly short distance I couldn't see him. Horns raised in the air, a song like breaking glass or icicles shattering. The pond puddle at the low point in the road had seven gulls-2 im G-WING, 2 ad CALIFORNIA, 3 im HERRING. As a result of scoping the gulls I saw eight PLOVER. Presumably BLACK-BELLIED. One certainly was because I got a glimpse of its white rump. They must be in transitional plumage as they looked very spotted, with sharp facial markings. It was tempting to call them Goldens when looking through the heat distortion at 60X zoom. About 15 Dunlin in their midst. Lots of Turkey Vultures,the first group at Gaston, many more between Perrydale and Baskett Slough NWR n boundary. Lars Norgren From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Mar 17 23:50:31 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:50:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Trip to Romania In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Well for starters there's the Danube Delta. Europe's answer to Malheur, but I don't know if two weeks is enough time to do the place justice, even if you ditch the choir. By April many summer residents may have arrived. Despite the higher latitude than Oregon it's warmer. In 1992 I saw ripe cherries from neighboring Moldova on May 7. I don't know how many wintering birds will be around then. Most of the world's Red-breasted Geese overwinter there. Lars On Mar 17, 2009, at 9:18 PM, Keith Owen wrote: > I am leaving for a two week singing tour in Romania starting April > 12.? Does anyone have any information on birding there?? Will probably > have a few opportunities to do a little. > > Keith > > Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. Check it out. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Mar 18 00:54:08 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:54:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] more on optics Message-ID: The 45 degree vs horizontal eyepiece is an issue. My first scope was a cheap Leupold with the 45 degree feature. A real pain to aim it at objects, especially raptors aloft. I did get used to it. Useless mounted on the windows of most cars as the ceiling is too low. I've successfully used the lee of my car and an unextended tri=pod to handle high winds and a light tri-pod. My daughter and I both put Snowy Owl on our life lists this way when the wind at Columbia River South Jetty was gusting to 70mph. The 45 degree feature is handy when the observer is on the knees. When the Ruff, Reeve, and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper were at Ridgefield a few years ago everyone left their scopes set up and unattended. I looked through them all, about six mid-priced models. They were all about 10X more expensive than my bottom end Leupold, but I felt the images I got looking through them were only 10% better. The disclaimer is that lighting was nearly perfect. Bright sunlight, sun directly behind us, and cool enough temperatures to minimize heat distortion. I have since looked through top end scopes and they are certainly better, especially near sunset on the day after Thanksgiving. But are they worth the price? Once my kids finish college I'll try to pick up a used one of those. I'm just not sure if I'll do it before or after the divorce. A few years ago I asked advice on high-powered binoculars. Twelve people responded. All had some- thing different to add and all of it was useful. I long dreamed of responding personally to all of them, a harmless good intention. One result was that Bi-Mart came up as an option. The thought never would have crossed my mind, and it's by far the closest store to my house(for optics). Someone else liked a large, heavy binocular-- "But then I'm a big guy." It dawned on me that I'm 60 lbs heavier than when I rode my bicycle to Finley, and all my birding is car based. So I resolved to pick up a 10X Nikon on Friday night on my way south to a boat trip out of Newport. What I had neglected to consider was that it was the night before general bull elk season opened. Many of the binoculars mentioned over the phone on Wednesday had sold out. I ended up buying a 12X Nikon, could the model be called "Monarch"? They were $99 and I've never regretted it. I've never used my 8X binocular since. I was thinking of long vistas, open water and mud, when I bought them, but they're great at very close range as well. Warblers and sparrows at 10 feet are great, although the focus at such a distance is a bit slow. The large size (50mm I guess) means lots of light in gray weather. Dave Fix mentioned using the like for astronomical purposes. There was a full moon that night I bought them, and standing on top of Baskett Butte it hurt my eyes to look at it with that binocular. Sporting events are transformed. With this binocular I can see the expressions on athletes' and coaches' faces from across the stadium. Maybe the biggest problem is that I forget how differently I am seeing things sometimes. When standing in a group, trying to describe something, what's obvious at 12X might not be quite discernable at 7X. The feature "waterproof" is significant in Obol habitat. I bought my 8X binoculars at a community action. I don't know the make, but they bear the Audubon logo. The label said "waterproof". I know better than to take them swimming, but they certainly were resistant to fogging up. That's a recurrent problem with my cheap Chinese Nikon binocular. Lars Norgren From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Mar 18 06:45:20 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 06:45:20 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Birdies 3/17/2009 Message-ID: <348746.88204.qm@web45301.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> The EMPEROR GOOSE and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE are still with the domestic goose flock wandering around the south jetty area at Bandon. Also heard (and saw) a pair of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS calling in the fruiting willows along the south jetty road.? These could be overwintering birds or new migrants, I normally find singing migrants by the last week of this month, sometimes earlier. I heard my first singing MYRTLE WARBLER here also. On 3/16 at the north spit of Coos Bay I saw a breeding-plumaged AUDUBON'S WARBLER, likely an early migrant. On the north spit of Coos Bay in the PM on the 17th it was sunny, warm, and there was no wind- first time we've had the combination of the three in a while.? The two PALM WARBLERS were out enjoying the sun, I hadn't seen them in over three weeks.? Also out there were about 10 TREE SWALLOWS which always seem to show up a month later on the coast than in the Coquille Valley. Many RED CROSSBILLS around also. The OSPREY are in too, with several breeders back near their nests around town. Another day of spring in store then back to winter for the weekend, ENJOY! Tim R Coos Bay From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Wed Mar 18 10:44:52 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:44:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ferruginous & Golden Day in Christmas Valley Message-ID: <19AFE5D6CBFC40B9B2F6161F128870DE@KimPC> Yesterday, Tuesday the 17th, Mike Golden and I spent the day driving the ECBC Christmas Valley Raptor Survey Route. We started out early to check out the Ft. Rock sage Grouse Lek. We counted 26 grouse way out in the field with a lot of strutting going on with about 10 hens hanging around three of the males. We had p. cloudy skies, winds calm to 20mph and Temps. between 33 and 45 * Cent. What a day for Ferruginous Hawks and Golden Eagles Both on and outside the route we counted 20 Golden Eagles and 32 Ferruginous Hawks. We counted a total of 112 raptors in the basin. We watched several pairs of Ferruginous up performing mating flights, what a show. The basin was also full of Mtn. Bluebirds with large flocks scattered everywhere. We also saw about 80 Pronghorns, 31 Mule deer, 1 Barn Owl and 2 Northern Shrikes. One of the shrikes gave Mike quite a photo opportunity as it flew down the fence row in 30 ft. intervals for almost 1/4 mile beside us. Raptors counted on Route Red-tailed Hawk 21 American Kestrel 3 Northern Harrier 2 Bald Eagle 2A Golden Eagle 12 Rough-legged Hawk 6 Ferruginous Hawk 22 Unident. Buteo 3 Prairie Falcon 1 Kim Boddie Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090318/2dfb824a/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Wed Mar 18 11:00:00 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:00:00 +0000 Subject: [obol] Pseduo-Photo Quiz and advice for processing bird photos!! Message-ID: Hi all, No matter how skilled or quick you are, flying flocks of mixed birds can be tough to 'get on' and id everything. The advantages of photographing allows you many chances to have multiple looks. In this case, Steve Nord captured something we both missed while in the field but later saw and identified from his processed photos. Great action shot! Birds were seen in Mansfield, WA in the Waterville Plateau area from this weekend's trip. Study your photos carefully, and don't delete shots that are poor quality or grainy. See how many species you can id? It is the first photo titled Mixed flock in Flight. http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/okanogan_winter_&page=all Good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) and Steve Nord (Hillsboro, Oregon) From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Wed Mar 18 09:40:51 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:40:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pseduo-Photo Quiz and advice for processing bird photos!! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090318094051.b4b5mh5n4cwc8o40@webmail2.jimnorton.org> Surely some nice photos. The mixed birds photograph might have turned out nicer with a smaller aperture for more DOF. With that Canon you could have gone to ISO 800 ( noise is still acceptable ) set the aperture to 13 and probably gotten a high enough shutter speed to stop most of the motion. Might have produced an image with more of the birds in focus... Just some thoughts... I need to get out more often with my camera... Are some of those photos digi-scoped? Cheers, Jim Norton Quoting khanh tran : > > Hi all, > > No matter how skilled or quick you are, flying flocks of mixed birds > can be tough to 'get on' and id everything. The advantages of > photographing allows you many chances to have multiple looks. > > In this case, Steve Nord captured something we both missed while in > the field but later saw and identified from his processed photos. > > Great action shot! Birds were seen in Mansfield, WA in the > Waterville Plateau area from this weekend's trip. > > Study your photos carefully, and don't delete shots that are poor > quality or grainy. > > See how many species you can id? It is the first photo titled Mixed > flock in Flight. > > http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/okanogan_winter_&page=all > > Good birding, > > Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) and Steve Nord (Hillsboro, Oregon) > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From makay43 at comcast.net Wed Mar 18 11:34:41 2009 From: makay43 at comcast.net (Michael Kay) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:34:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Scopes for low budgets Message-ID: This is for those of us who are on smaller budgets, but want good quality viewing at beer budget prices. Be sure to look at the scopes available through Sportsman's Guide (although once you are on their mailing or e-mailing lists, you will get catalogues frequently--but sometimes they have great offers). I picked up a Meade 45-degree angled scope 20 to 60X zoom 50mm objective for under $100. Meade makes good (no claims to great) optics (they were the brand sold at the Discovery Channel stores in malls in Portland, OR, and I got my first one when they went out of business). Last month I was able to spot a surf scoter at a couple of hundred yards and zoom in to see all the colors and markings while in a strong wind on the swaying tower at the south jetty in Ft. Stevens State Park. I agree a solid tripod is a necessity, but there are also ways to do this cheaply. I had a Slik U-2 that was very solid, but the head was not great. I found a Bogen tripod head in the used equipment at a photo store and mounted that on the tripod base. This head was a great improvement. It had the quick-release mounting plates and good controls (no the fluid model). The assembled unit is very solid and total cost was less than 1/4 that of the Bogen Manfrotto. I got the 45-degree scope so that I could set it up for my wife's upper comfortable viewing height, and I can use it at that height easily. Binos are a different matter. I use the Cannon 10 x 30 image-stabilized binos because I need the image stabilization. But since Cannon is a lens manufacturer with a good reputation, the color correction, anti-reflection coatings, and flat field yield very good quality. My wife uses a pair of 12 x 40 Porro Prism Nikons that I purchased in 1980 as a discontinued model for $225 (in 2005 they went off Nikon's 25- year warranty). They have been serviced as needed (cleaned and collimated about every 7 years unless needed sooner), and are in excellent condition. The optics are suburb, and the colors are bright and vibrant. IMHO Porro Prisms are better for depth perception and field of view than roof prisms. Roof prisms win on ruggedness, but even they have to be collimated after rough usage. Michael Kay Portland, OR From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Wed Mar 18 11:41:49 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:41:49 +0000 Subject: [obol] Pseudo-Quiz and advice on processing photos!! Message-ID: Hi Jim and all, Yeah, the photo is not sharp as we liked since the birds were at a distance. Realistically, the Waterville Plateau's is often plagued with poor light along with misty and foggy conditions. Alas, the challenges of birding and facing old age with failing vision! Thanks for the tips, always learning something new! Khanh Tran From dns at efn.org Wed Mar 18 12:12:45 2009 From: dns at efn.org (David Stone) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:12:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Scopes In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I use a car window mount (designed for cameras, but works for scopes) when using my car for a blind. Bogen makes one that features a ball head, so the scope can be positioned at any angle necessary for comfort and aiming. I attach an accessory "quick release" mount for ease of attaching and detaching and to avoid the temptation to drive around with the scope attached. Mount with the window cranked down as far as possible to minimize strain on the window. I also use the quick release on my tripod so I'm not tempted to hike down the trail "macho" style with my scope attached. Expensive scopes aren't really made to brush tree branches aside. Dave Stone On Mar 17, 2009, at 5:56 PM, Tom McNamara wrote: > ? > Paul, seconded by Lars, made great points about zooms for actual?in > the field birding. Way handier.? Harking a little further back, I > would also endorse Scott Carpenter's? and Alan Contreras'?thumbs up on > the Pentax 80mm ED especially vis a vis the $ layout for the Euros. I > am enduringly happy? that I got?the Pentax (and?a?Bogen-Manfrotto > tripod w/ video head) about 4 years ago. Every time I?look through a > high quality Zeiss, Swarovski etc. I feel vindicated because of money > saved when?I got the whole assembly, new, for a tad over $1K.? This > scope is admittedly a little heavier than other 80s, like maybe a > pound. Consider it a pint of water that you're doubtless carrying w/ > you and?that fact?becomes nugatory. > ? > And, yes, Paul (and many others) Happy St. Pat's > ? > (from the line of McNamara, Finucane, Corrigan, McGowan). > ? > ? > > Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. Find > out more. _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 3129 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090318/ffe75f37/attachment.bin From foglark at att.net Wed Mar 18 12:39:36 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:39:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] yellow-billed goldeneye? Message-ID: <837014.39251.qm@web80015.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Kyle, I've heard it said that it can never happen, but I have seen one female Common Goldeneye with an entirely yellow bill. It was in winter here in Humboldt County, CA, two or three years ago, I think. The bird was first identified as a Barrow's by a person expert with waterfowl. Three other birders including myself relocated it, as Barrow's is quite rare here, and something was "off" about it for Barrow's from the get-go. We studied it closely for some time. Everything about the bird's head shape, and bill shape and size, pointed to a Common. Later, we spend a couple of hours at Dr. Stan Harris's (former Humboldt State U. wildlife prof) home looking over his waterfowl sources and his many slides of both species of goldeneyes. We came away convinced the bird was simply a female Common with an all-yellow bill. I believe Kortwright, Palmer, Belrose, or another one of those old references indicated that Common "may rarely" have an all-yellow bill. Certainly it is the only such bird I've seen, and I don't expect to ever see another. Guess you never know. It would seem the odds in your case would favor a Barrow's. David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090318/307a26b2/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Mar 18 13:23:18 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:23:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wed morning, Eugene Message-ID: The group went to So. Willamette Dump (57st St). The list is short, but we had warm sun! Cackling Goose - flock of 75 overhead Turkey Vulture - 3 Red-tailed Hawk - 5 California Quail - 1 heard N. Pygmy Owl - 1 heard in distance Anna's Hummer - 1 male Red-br. Sapsucker - 1 Downy Woodpecker - 1 drumming on a power pole N. Flicker - 6 Steller's Jay - 20+ Scrub Jay - 8 Am. Crow - 12 Black-capped Chickadee - 7 (spring song) Chestnut-backed Chickadee - 1 heard Bushtit - 10 Red-br. Nuthatch - 3 Ruby-cr. Kinglet - 2 Hermit Thrush - 1 Am. Robin - 60+ Varied Thrush - 10 (mostly heard) Wrentit - 1 heard Hutton's Vireo - 5 (all "singing") Spotted Towhee - 10 Fox Sparrow - 3 Song Sparrow - 10 Golden-crowned Sparrow - 12 D-e Junco - 8 Purple Finch - 2 House Finch - 3 Sylvia Maulding, Barry McKenzie, Don Shrouder, Craig Merhel, Sarah Vasconcellos, Paul Sherrell, Dennis Arendt, Randy Sinnott, Tom Mickel, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090318/99165b23/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Wed Mar 18 15:00:41 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:00:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] TURKEY VULTURES Message-ID: <682F9118A86E4A498E78E4BFCF03E2EA@TomsPC> Single TURKEY-VULTURES Tuesday at I-5/ I-105 interchange and today over downtown Springfield. Were they early or on time this year? Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090318/02e994f9/attachment.html From dlrobbo at comcast.net Wed Mar 18 15:26:44 2009 From: dlrobbo at comcast.net (Doug Robberson) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:26:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mallard Message-ID: Today saw a parking lot female Mallard with a white eyebrow in Tigard. First thought it might be a hybrid, but concluded it was a color variation. Doug Robberson Tigard, OR From steve at paradisebirding.com Wed Mar 18 15:38:17 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:38:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] [COBOL] INTEGRATED FLICKERS In-Reply-To: <1416F50B89DA42B1BA44E77A09E99873@kDDPZ3H11> References: <1416F50B89DA42B1BA44E77A09E99873@kDDPZ3H11> Message-ID: <9a341ea30903181538j9384a1aq50e098cf18d4035c@mail.gmail.com> Hello all, Kim Kathol's post below inspired me to upload some of my favorite "FLIX" photos, or those of intergrade "Yellow-shafted" and "Red-shafted" Northern Flickers. Take a look at Lester Short's 1965 map, and note that FLIX can occur as nesting individuals just about anywhere in Oregon (as you can also see from a couple of the breeding-season photos of birds from our property east of Sisters). This page will continually evolve, and I am happy to include photos from other birders. Just contact me first and I will get you the preferred specs: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2009407&id=1359924578&l=2f94cb1c0b Thanks for the distraction, Kim! Steve Shunk On Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 8:03 AM, Kim Kathol wrote: > I have what I think, are two integrated flickers at my feeders. One > has the > regular red mustachial markings and red wing lining, but the undertail is > yellow. > The other one has red under tail and wings with both the red mustachial > marks > and a red cresent on the nape. > Are both of these what would be considerd integrated birds? > > Does any one know of a good sight to view pictures of these birds? > > THANKS! > KIM KATHOL > REDMOND, OR. > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > COBOL mailing list > COBOL at lists.oregonstate.edu > http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol > > To unsubscribe, send a message to: > COBOL-request at lists.oregonstate.edu > with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. > > -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090318/5d8e1289/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Wed Mar 18 15:59:32 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:59:32 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Male Rufous Hummingbird Message-ID: <465297.95525.qm@web46013.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> We, in the last five minutes, have been visited by a gorgeous male Rufous Hummingbird. He's still hanging out for the moment. We got some great photos, which I will post early tonight, but I just wanted to make sure people are keeping their eyes peeled. Good birding! Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Wed Mar 18 15:52:19 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (tmacport99 at hotmail.com) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:52:19 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Mt. Tabor Park, Multnomah County, Oregon on March 18, 2009 Message-ID: <200903182252.n2IMqJAT018325@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Tom McNamara by http://birdnotes.net Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Mt. Tabor Park, Multnomah County, Oregon Low temperature: 50 degrees fahrenheit High temperature: 50 degrees fahrenheit Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h Precipitation: none First time birding Tabor in a few weeks. In honesty, I wish I could still be racking up beautiful and exotic lifers on a daily basis, hearing Spanish all day and night, eating great food, and "dealing with" 80 degrees and sun as my wife and I did the last couple weeks in Yucatan but, still, Tabor is the home patch for which I am very grateful and it is always fun to hang with the familiar birds. I wish, though, that the parks maintenance people would leave well enough alone and not devastate brushy undergrowth as they have done in several spots which are prime for a number of species. Overly tidy; totally unnecessary. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Mallard Mourning Dove Anna's Hummingbird Red-breasted Sapsucker [1] Northern Flicker Steller's Jay [2] Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin Varied Thrush Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Purple Finch [3] House Finch Pine Siskin Lesser Goldfinch Footnotes: [1] only occasional in Tabor [2] building a nest [3] also not too common; this one was singing from the top of a fir Total number of species seen: 24 From celata at pacifier.com Wed Mar 18 16:45:48 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:45:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] What's singing? Message-ID: <49C187AC.7040506@pacifier.com> While on my morning constitutional, I heard the following singers: Bald Eagle (also copulating) Northern Flicker Hutton's Vireo Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Purple Finch House Finch I heard the first RUBY-CROWNS singing yesterday. The BALD EAGLES were on the Warrenton linear park nest. The male was in good voice. Please beware of Purple Finches that sound like thrushes, Juncos that sound like warblers (and other stuff), crossbills making Olive-sided Flycatcher "chucks", Song Sparrows doing Swainson's Thrush "wooks" and, of course, starlings doing nighthawks, pewees and other things... And if you don't know Ruby-crowned Kinglet, learn it. Not only is it a way cool little song, but it's odds-on you'll try to make it into something else, if you don't know it. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Are you BSC or PSC? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or+PSC%3F.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Mar 18 17:47:44 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:47:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook County birding - Cent Or ECBC Wednesday birders Message-ID: <3D166279C78A4747A1E9DB8F1CA59BBD@MOM> Birders > We visited Alfalfa, Prineville Res, Meadow Lakes Golf Course, > Prineville Sewage Ponds and Houston Lake. What a difference > some sunshine makes! As Mike noted, we were shedding > jackets for the first time in months. Frustrated birders tooted > back and forth with a Northern Pygmy-Owl for over 45 minutes > with no glimpse of it. Euro Wigeon was a lifer for one. We liked > seeing the Great Blue Heron on a nest. Savannah Sparrows were > a welcome sight, up close, a nice little flock that was first of the year > for most of us. Where in the heck are the Turkey Vultures! Big zero. > > Birders today Darwin Wile, Mary Oppenheimer, Mike Golden, > Don Sutherland, Howard Horvath and Judy Meredith > > List on www.birdnotes.net for Crook County. > Greater White-fronted Goose 100 - All at Houston Lake > Canada Goose 250 > Eurasian Wigeon 1 - poss another. Golf club > American Wigeon 250 > Mallard 100 > Northern Shoveler 2 > Green-Winged Teal 16 > Ring-necked Duck 40 > Lesser Scaup 40 > Bufflehead 25 > Common Goldeneye 40 > Barrow's Goldeneye 1 - with commons, downstream > from Bowman Dam > Common Merganser 30 > California Quail 4 > Double-crested Cormorant 2 > Great Blue Heron 5 > Bald Eagle 2 > Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 > Red-tailed Hawk 29 > Ferruginous Hawk 3 > Golden Eagle 2 > American Kestrel 3 > Prairie Falcon 1 > American Coot 16 > Killdeer 24 > Ring-billed Gull 1 - what a stunner! :>) > Rock Dove 4 > Mourning Dove 1 > Northern Pygmy-Owl 1 - slope along river below Bowman > Dam. grrrrr. > Northern Flicker 3 > Say's Phoebe 6 > Steller's Jay 1 > Western Scrub-Jay 1 > Black-billed Magpie 20 > American Crow 4 > Common Raven 34 > Tree Swallow 8 - Houston Lake > Violet-green Swallow 3 - River below Bowman Dam. > Mountain Chickadee 3 > Rock Wren 1 > Canyon Wren 1 > Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 > Shrike sp 1 > Mountain Bluebird 2 > Townsend's Solitaire 25 > American Robin 100 > Varied Thrush 1 > Sage Thrasher 1 - heard only, but habitat perfect, tall sage and juniper. > European Starling 160 > Spotted Towhee 1 > Savannah Sparrow 7 - Houston Lake edges. > Song Sparrow 4 > White-crowned Sparrow 15 - small flock brush along Prineville SP. > Dark-eyed Junco 10 > Red-winged Blackbird 30 > Western Meadowlark 5 > House Finch 10 > House Sparrow 5 > > Total number of species seen: 58 > Good birding, > Judy Meredith > jmeredit at bendnet.com From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Mar 18 17:52:26 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:52:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wed morning addendum Message-ID: For the sake of completion, I forgot to include in the morning's list: Bewick's Wren - 3 Winter Wren - 1 Larry -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090318/29146406/attachment.html From FoxSparrows at aol.com Wed Mar 18 18:00:35 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:00:35 EDT Subject: [obol] Harney county's first 2009 Burrowing Owl Message-ID: I saw Harney County's first 2009 BURROWING OWL at Rose's Arena (an indoor rodeo arena) along Embree Bridge Road, between Burns and Crane. This location, a livestock paddock, hosts Burrowing Owls for the third consecutive year. Last year, the first bird there was not observed until the first week of April, but no one looked earlier. While wandering around the northern part of the Alvord Basin today, I heard many singing WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, and the first singing HORNED LARK for the year. Also saw a few WESTERN BLUBIRDS. Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm_ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) **************Great Deals on Dell 15" Laptops - Starting at $479 (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1220433363x1201394532/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fad.doub leclick.net%2Fclk%3B212935224%3B34245239%3Bb) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090318/e5422aac/attachment.html From beaniebear at peoplepc.com Wed Mar 18 19:23:04 2009 From: beaniebear at peoplepc.com (beaniebear at peoplepc.com) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:23:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] I was Wrong about that alleged WEKI at Fern Ridge[Isabella] Message-ID: <003401c9a839$a377a7e0$5905f304@hppav> Hi folks, I'm sorry! someone was very kind and polite in asking me if the bird I saw might have been a Say's Phoebe in unusual lighting conditions. Actually, the lighting was quite good but the equipment behind the binoculars needs some work. Sorry, it seemed best to mention it, back to your discourse on scopes, et cetera, Happy Birding! Isabella -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090318/3090fc03/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Wed Mar 18 18:45:17 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:45:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Nest building behavior Message-ID: One of my backyard SCRUB-JAYS seemed to be attempting to break some small limbs off of a backyard tree today. It had no luck. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090318/15516920/attachment.html From deannas34 at comcast.net Wed Mar 18 19:06:19 2009 From: deannas34 at comcast.net (Deanna Sawtelle) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:06:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Audubon Coopers' Hawk In-Reply-To: Message-ID: It's been fun to see the bantering about Coopers' vs. Sharp-shinned hawk regarding the hawk sited at Audubon. As the Volunteer Coordinator there, I feel pretty confident in saying the bird is the resident Coopers' hawk. There's one that frequents the feeders quite often. -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 12:00 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: obol Digest, Vol 12, Issue 18 Send obol mailing list submissions to obol at oregonbirdwatch.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org You can reach the person managing the list at obol-owner at oregonbirdwatch.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of obol digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Fwd: USFWS list of Birds of Conservation Concern 2008 (Mike Patterson) 2. carrying scopes; Godwit Days (David Fix & Jude Power) 3. Re: Hummer magic (Tim Rodenkirk) 4. Ridgefield, Northern Shrike and odd Shoveller (Tom Shreve) 5. Male Rufous Hummingbird arrival SE Portland Backyard (JLKolias at aol.com) 6. Re: Tripods & Scopes (Tim Rodenkirk) 7. Re: Hummer magic, or why I don't like Germany (Tim Rodenkirk) 8. New Photo Quiz - something for every skill level (Mike Patterson) 9. A scope related question (Rainer Wieland) 10. Tripods (Philip Van Bruggen) 11. Re: carrying scopes; Godwit Days (Denise Hughes) 12. scopes (Dennis Galloway) 13. Re: carrying scopes; Godwit Days (Jim Moodie) 14. Re: A scope related question (Charles Gates) 15. Scopes (Tom McNamara) 16. Wallowa Valley Barrows Goldeneye? (Kyle W Bratcher) 17. Fern Ridge; Jean's Peninsula + End of Royal (beaniebear at peoplepc.com) 18. Scopes and Traveling (Jeff Harding) 19. Trip to Romania (Keith Owen) 20. Fern Ridge Addendum [Isabella Barnes] (beaniebear at peoplepc.com) 21. Johnny Sasko's Audubon Accipiter (Anne & Dan Heyerly) 22. Livermore Road,Polk County Horned Lark, Plovers (Norgren Family) 23. Re: Trip to Romania (Norgren Family) 24. more on optics (Norgren Family) 25. Coos Birdies 3/17/2009 (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) 26. Ferruginous & Golden Day in Christmas Valley (Kim Boddie) 27. Pseduo-Photo Quiz and advice for processing bird photos!! (khanh tran) 28. Re: Pseduo-Photo Quiz and advice for processing bird photos!! (Jim Norton) 29. Re: Scopes for low budgets (Michael Kay) 30. Re: Pseudo-Quiz and advice on processing photos!! (khanh tran) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:20:27 -0700 From: Mike Patterson Subject: [obol] Fwd: USFWS list of Birds of Conservation Concern 2008 To: OBOL Message-ID: <49BFF7FB.9010100 at pacifier.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" The Division of Migratory Bird Management announces the availability of Birds of Conservation Concern 2008. This publication identifies species, subspecies, and populations of migratory and nonmigratory birds in need of additional conservation actions. We hope to stimulate coordinated and collaborative proactive conservation actions among Federal, State, tribal, and private partners. The species that appear in Birds of Conservation Concern 2008 are deemed to be the highest priority for conservation actions. We anticipate that the document will be consulted by Federal agencies and their partners prior to undertaking cooperative research, monitoring, and management actions that might directly or indirectly affect migratory birds. The Notice of Availability: http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/reports/BCC2008/BCC%202008%20NOA.pdf (it should show up in the Federal Register in a few days) [FYI: This list is created because Congress directed the USFWS to: "identify species, subspecies, and populations of all migratory nongame birds that, without additional conservation actions, are likely to become candidates for listing under the Endangered Species Act [ESA] of 1973" when Congress enacted the 1988 amendments to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. The first list was published in 1995 and the next in 2002. -- Ellen Paul Executive Director The Ornithological Council ellen.paul at verizon.net "Providing Scientific Information about Birds" www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNETThe Division of Migratory Bird Management announces the availability of Birds of Conservation Concern 2008. This publication identifies species, subspecies, and populations of migratory and nonmigratory birds in need of additional conservation actions. We hope to stimulate coordinated and collaborative proactive conservation actions among Federal, State, tribal, and private partners. The species that appear in Birds of Conservation Concern 2008 are deemed to be the highest priority for conservation actions. We anticipate that the document will be consulted by Federal agencies and their partners prior to undertaking cooperative research, monitoring, and management actions that might directly or indirectly affect migratory birds. The Notice of Availability: http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/reports/BCC2008/BCC%202008%20NOA.pdf (it should show up in the Federal Register in a few days) [FYI: This list is created because Congress directed the USFWS to: "identify species, subspecies, and populations of all migratory nongame birds that, without additional conservation actions, are likely to become candidates for listing under the Endangered Species Act [ESA] of 1973" when Congress enacted the 1988 amendments to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. The first list was published in 1995 and the next in 2002. -- Ellen Paul Executive Director The Ornithological Council ellen.paul at verizon.net "Providing Scientific Information about Birds" www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Dream Bird http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10354/Dream+Bird.html -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: Ellen Paul Subject: USFWS list of Birds of Conservation Concern 2008 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:02:37 -0400 Size: 7855 Url: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/37751dd5/atta chment-0001.eml ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:35:15 -0700 (PDT) From: David Fix & Jude Power Subject: [obol] carrying scopes; Godwit Days To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <235290.67037.qm at web80001.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I have a tip to pass on. I've found carrying a scope a long distance from a parking spot in to a birding site to get really old, even with pipe insulation on the tripod legs, and even with a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper waiting. What I do is put the dismounted scope body and the collapsed tripod in a medium-sized frameless backpack for the walk in. Doesn't matter if the ends of the legs stick out. A lot of times there is no real reason to have a scope out if you're just walking ten or fifteen minutes to a particular spot that has all the birds. Why not leave your hands free for easier binocular use? When you get to the birds it takes thirty seconds to set up. When you're done for the day, put it back in the pack, and when you get home park the whole works as is, wherever the scope usually lives. This is a real boon for bicycling birders as well. A reminder, the annual Godwit Days festival in Arcata is April 17-20. It's a well-attended and exciting event with dozens of trips offered. If you've never yet birded Humboldt Bay, consider it. There can be several hundred thousand shorebirds on the bay in mid-April and plenty to see. It's only two hours south of Brookings, on a beautiful highway through ancient redwoods. It would be a privilege to host some Oregon-based birders. Hope to see some of you here. David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/26ef5dfc/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:59:20 -0700 (PDT) From: Tim Rodenkirk Subject: Re: [obol] Hummer magic To: David Irons , Roy Lowe Cc: Mike Patterson , post OBOL Message-ID: <925744.78576.qm at web45313.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 The Rufous are everywhere in Coos Co. now, seems like I can't go anywhere in town and not see or hear them the past few days. The males are starting to displaying also. We have 12+ at our feeders now, about a 50-50 split between Anna's and Rufous- sure is wonderful to see the flowers up and the hummers in thick on the gorgeous South Coast! Merry springtime, Tim R Coos Bay --- On Tue, 3/17/09, Roy Lowe wrote: > From: Roy Lowe > Subject: Re: [obol] Hummer magic > To: "David Irons" > Cc: "Mike Patterson" , "post OBOL" > Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 9:00 AM > I have to agree with Dave, > hummingbirds never cease to amaze. > On occasion, I've held my feeder out the > window before hanging it up and I have had up to five > hummingbirds feeding at the same time while I'm holding > the feeder! ?Very trusting birds. > For a cool video of ruby-throat not only feeding > from a hand held feeder, but also feeding out of the hand > see?http://lincsicsan.blogspot.com/2009/03/video-close-up-of-ruby-throated.h tml > Roy > On Mar 17, 2009, at 8:40 AM, David Irons > wrote: > I think that > hummingbird and "jaded" are mutually exclusive > concepts. I can't imagine there coming a time when I > don't marvel at hummingbirds.? > > Dave Irons > Eugene > > > Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:10:22 -0700 > > From:?celata at pacifier.com > > To:?obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Subject: [obol] Hummer magic > >? > > I've been handling hummingbirds for 25 years now, > so you'd > > think I'd be jaded.... > >? > > While re-filling the feeder this morning, a female > RUFOUS > > came up and started probing the feeder spouts while I > was still > > pouring sugar-water. Completely, unconcerned about my > presence. > >? > >? > > --? > > Mike Patterson > > Astoria, OR > > Are you BSC or PSC? > >?http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or+PSC%3 F.html > >? > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > >?obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > >?http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > Express your personality in color! Preview and select > themes for Hotmail?.?See > how.?_______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:00:35 -0700 From: "Tom Shreve" Subject: [obol] Ridgefield, Northern Shrike and odd Shoveller To: "Posting OBOL" Message-ID: <001101c9a73b$09f1cb40$1dd561c0$@NET> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" We stopped by Ridgefield Monday on the way back from Seattle. Birds of interest were a NORTHERN SHRIKE, a COMMON TEAL and an odd looking NORTHERN SHOVELER. The Shoveler is probably a male in transition but the timing seems wrong and the feather patterns don't appear to match the drawing of the non-breeding males in Sibley. I have photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_pix/ if anyone is interested and/or has an opinion. There were large numbers of TREE SWALLOWS, a group landed repeatedly on the road and some picked up pieces of grass. Tom Shreve Tigard -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/928bac9a/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:01:17 EDT From: JLKolias at aol.com Subject: [obol] Male Rufous Hummingbird arrival SE Portland Backyard To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Our first of the year male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD arrived last night March 16, 2009 at 6:41 PM. Judy Kolias Frank Eckert Clackamas County SE Portland **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1219850974x1201371016/aol?redir=htt p:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID %3D62%26bcd%3DMarchfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/699015ed/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 6 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:13:25 -0700 (PDT) From: Tim Rodenkirk Subject: Re: [obol] Tripods & Scopes To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org, dendroicaman at peak.org Message-ID: <668399.33165.qm at web45305.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 I totally agree with Karl. On the coast you need the HEAVIEST tripod money can buy. An expensive scope on a light weight tripod spells trouble on a windy coastal day (and really, is it ever not windy on the coast?). I have a heavy Bogen/Manfrotto with a fluid head and am completely happy with it. I've had it for 10+ years and it's covered with rust from years of use and abuse but still performs admirably and I've never had a problem with it blowing over although I have seen many out of town visitors with light weight tripods with scopes bite the dust (or should I say mud?)! I think you'd be better off with a so-so quality scope on a heavier tripod than an expensive scope on a light weight tripod at least on the coast, so don't chince on a decent tripod or you won't get the full benefit of your new scope. Have fun! Tim R Coos Bay --- On Tue, 3/17/09, Karl Fairchild wrote: > From: Karl Fairchild > Subject: Re: [obol] Scopes > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 10:40 AM > Hi all, > > I have to agree on tripods.? This defines the quality > of birding as much > as the scope, at least to a point.? I have had better > viewing > experiences on a well mounted Spacemaster on a good tripod > than a Pentax > on a lousy tripod or even a poorly mounted Leica.? As > for what tripod to > buy, if it isn't a Bogen Manfrotto with a good fluid head, > save your > money until you can get one.? My folks have been using > the same Bogen > tripod for 15+ years and it is still totally rock > solid.? My own tripod > is a Manfrotto as well, and I couldn't be happier.? > Likewise, having a > good fluid head mounting is critical as well, as is a rock > solid quick > release attachment plate.? Lately, they have been > making quick release > plates with plastic front mounting studs.? That has > been the only > complaint I've had on my Kowa--this plastic mounting stud > broke within a > year.? Fortunately, thanks to a little customizing of > the plate by my > Dad, it now accommodates a very nice metal stud.? It > sounds as if the > new Spacemasters are much improved and a good buy for an > entry level > scope.? My folks have been using Spacemasters for 15 > years, replaced > only once after an unfortunate dunk in the Gulf of Mexico > (the eyepiece > actually survived this just fine!).? Of course, if we > are on the topic > of scopes for a bargain, I can't help but mention the > latest generation > Kowas.? While clearly a big step up from the venerable > Spacemaster (both > quality wise and budget wise), the Prominar-coated 77mm and > 88mm > versions are the best scopes on the market and I think they > run only > $1500, half the price of a Leica or Swarovski. > > Happy scope hunting! > > Karl Fairchild > Corvallis, OR > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > ------------------------------ Message: 7 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:15:17 -0700 (PDT) From: Tim Rodenkirk Subject: Re: [obol] Hummer magic, or why I don't like Germany To: Mike Patterson , Dan Gleason , hhactitis at yahoo.com Cc: OBOL Message-ID: <454252.18116.qm at web45302.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Welcome back almost again Hendrik, where will you be working this time? Hopefully you can find the rest of us a few vagrants!!! Merry springtime, Tim --- On Tue, 3/17/09, Hendrik Herlyn wrote: > From: Hendrik Herlyn > Subject: Re: [obol] Hummer magic, or why I don't like Germany > To: "Mike Patterson" , "Dan Gleason" > Cc: "OBOL" > Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 11:07 AM > I had > a similar experience when I lived in Flagstaff, Arizona, for > a summer. I could stand by my feeder and carefully hold up > my hand, and a Broad-tailed Hummer would actually land on my > finger and sit there while greedily sucking down sugar water > (the Anna's at my Corvallis feeder hasn't done that > yet) .... awesome birds, and yet another reason why I > can't spend the rest of my life in Germany ... :-) > > On that note, I got my new work visa approved today and > will return to beautiful Oregon on April 2 for a birding job > on the Oregon coast! > > Happy Spring Migration (and hold those vagrants until > I'm back!) > > Hendrik > _________________________________ > > Hendrik G. Herlyn > > 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 > > Corvallis, OR 97333 > > USA > > E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com > > --- On Tue, 3/17/09, Dan Gleason > wrote: > From: Dan Gleason > > Subject: Re: [obol] Hummer magic > To: "Mike Patterson" > Cc: "OBOL" > Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 9:29 AM > > > Some are indeed fearless and great fun to watch. While > camping in the mountains of Colorado several years ago, > Barbara hung a hummingbird feeder. Within 20 minutes, we had > 8 Broad-tailed Hummingbirds coming to the feeder, although > there were only four feeding holes. They were fearless and > completely unconcerned with our presence. Barbara took a > photo of me standing next to the feeder. In the photo, three > of the four places have hummers hovering while feeding. At > the fourth place is another male feeding, but this bird is > calmly sitting on my finger with its wings folded while it > feeds. With all four places taken, two other hummers are > hovering nearby awaiting their turn to feed. One of them is > only ~4 inches from my ear. A fun and amazing experience, > and not one that I could imagine happening with our more > aggressive Rufous or Anna's. > Dan Gleason > -------------Dan > Gleasondan-gleason at comcast.net541 > 345-0450 > > > On Mar 17, 2009, at 8:10 AM, Mike Patterson > wrote: > I've been handling > hummingbirds for 25 years now, so you'dthink I'd be jaded.... > While re-filling the feeder > this morning, a female RUFOUScame up and started probing the feeder > spouts while I was stillpouring sugar-water.? Completely, > unconcerned about my presence. > > --?Mike PattersonAstoria, ORAre you BSC or PSC?http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or+PSC %3F.html > _______________________________________________obol mailing listobol at oregonbirdwatch.orghttp://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------ Message: 8 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:23:35 -0700 From: Mike Patterson Subject: [obol] New Photo Quiz - something for every skill level To: OBOL Message-ID: <49C006C7.1050009 at pacifier.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed I took this photo today on Clatsop Beach... http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Are you BSC or PSC? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or+PSC%3F. html ------------------------------ Message: 9 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:40:07 -0700 From: Rainer Wieland Subject: [obol] A scope related question To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <49C00AA7.1010101 at comcast.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Great discussion about scopes and tripods and carrying them. Does anyone have a good solution for replacing a lens cap on a scope? My Swarovski cap fell on its edge and the little snappy lever fell off. I've been using a trimmed yogurt container as the lens cap but would really like to have an "official" one again. I haven't been able to scrounge one from anywhere. Suggestions? Cheers, Rainer Wieland Portland, Oregon ------------------------------ Message: 10 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:25:14 -0700 From: "Philip Van Bruggen" Subject: [obol] Tripods To: Message-ID: <4ABE9A5C642F4193945A3049919C0D91 at Home> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" Having recently (finally) got a good scope and clearly needing a much better tripod, I appreciate the recommendations today .... however, on searching, there appear to be many Bogen/Manfrotto scopes at a variety of prices. Can anyone be more specific, that is model number or price range. Thanks. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/559bfae2/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 11 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:41:51 -0600 From: "Denise Hughes" Subject: Re: [obol] carrying scopes; Godwit Days To: Message-ID: <00c801c9a751$92a29d50$b7e7d7f0$@net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I have a friend who made a rifle out of wood and attached a scope to the 'rifle'. He places the stock against his shoulder to steady the scope. He also has a better scope on a tripod but he is able to carry the rifle scope in his pack when he is walking a long distance. Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of David Fix & Jude Power Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 1:35 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] carrying scopes; Godwit Days I have a tip to pass on. I've found carrying a scope a long distance from a parking spot in to a birding site to get really old, even with pipe insulation on the tripod legs, and even with a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper waiting. What I do is put the dismounted scope body and the collapsed tripod in a medium-sized frameless backpack for the walk in. Doesn't matter if the ends of the legs stick out. A lot of times there is no real reason to have a scope out if you're just walking ten or fifteen minutes to a particular spot that has all the birds. Why not leave your hands free for easier binocular use? When you get to the birds it takes thirty seconds to set up. When you're done for the day, put it back in the pack, and when you get home park the whole works as is, wherever the scope usually lives. This is a real boon for bicycling birders as well. A reminder, the annual Godwit Days festival in Arcata is April 17-20. It's a well-attended and exciting event with dozens of trips offered. If you've never yet birded Humboldt Bay, consider it. There can be several hundred thousand shorebirds on the bay in mid-April and plenty to see. It's only two hours south of Brookings, on a beautiful highway through ancient redwoods. It would be a privilege to host some Oregon-based birders. Hope to see some of you here. David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/ad84b097/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 12 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:56:00 -0700 (PDT) From: "Dennis Galloway" Subject: [obol] scopes To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <49464.24.20.202.78.1237330560.squirrel at webmail5.pair.com> Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1 I am glad to hear from Karl Fairchild that I can get a good bird scope for 'only $1500'. Why, that is less than the hood ornament on my Bentley! ------------------------------ Message: 13 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:02:29 -0700 From: "Jim Moodie" Subject: Re: [obol] carrying scopes; Godwit Days To: Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" The rifle stock solution reminds me of a story about my major advisor at the University of Oklahoma. Doug was studying House Sparrow behavior at nest boxes in the early mornings and would use his car for a blind and poke the scope out the window. On his way home late one morning, driving on the main street in town (Norman, OK), he was surrounded by police cars, forced to stop and ordered, at gun point, to get out of his car and lay face down on the pavement. As the officers approached, one of them recognized him, cursed and told the other officers it was the OU bird guy! As the desk sergeant from "Hill Street Blues" would advise, "Let's be careful out there". Oh, and I carry my scope and tripod by hooking a strap to the scope case and slinging it over my shoulder. Cheers, Jim Dr. Jim Moodie Dept of Science COCC From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Denise Hughes Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 3:42 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] carrying scopes; Godwit Days I have a friend who made a rifle out of wood and attached a scope to the 'rifle'. He places the stock against his shoulder to steady the scope. He also has a better scope on a tripod but he is able to carry the rifle scope in his pack when he is walking a long distance. Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of David Fix & Jude Power Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 1:35 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] carrying scopes; Godwit Days I have a tip to pass on. I've found carrying a scope a long distance from a parking spot in to a birding site to get really old, even with pipe insulation on the tripod legs, and even with a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper waiting. What I do is put the dismounted scope body and the collapsed tripod in a medium-sized frameless backpack for the walk in. Doesn't matter if the ends of the legs stick out. A lot of times there is no real reason to have a scope out if you're just walking ten or fifteen minutes to a particular spot that has all the birds. Why not leave your hands free for easier binocular use? When you get to the birds it takes thirty seconds to set up. When you're done for the day, put it back in the pack, and when you get home park the whole works as is, wherever the scope usually lives. This is a real boon for bicycling birders as well. A reminder, the annual Godwit Days festival in Arcata is April 17-20. It's a well-attended and exciting event with dozens of trips offered. If you've never yet birded Humboldt Bay, consider it. There can be several hundred thousand shorebirds on the bay in mid-April and plenty to see. It's only two hours south of Brookings, on a beautiful highway through ancient redwoods. It would be a privilege to host some Oregon-based birders. Hope to see some of you here. David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/0db06443/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 14 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:35:07 -0700 From: "Charles Gates" Subject: Re: [obol] A scope related question To: "Rainer Wieland" , Message-ID: <7EC6B1AF897641919C0FEF817758CB90 at cgatesPC> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original REI usually has extra lens caps for Swarovski and other scopes they stock. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rainer Wieland" To: Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 1:40 PM Subject: [obol] A scope related question > Great discussion about scopes and tripods and carrying them. > > Does anyone have a good solution for replacing a lens cap on > a scope? My Swarovski cap fell on its edge and the little > snappy lever fell off. I've been using a trimmed yogurt container > as the lens cap but would really like to have an "official" one > again. I haven't been able to scrounge one from anywhere. > Suggestions? > > Cheers, > Rainer Wieland > Portland, Oregon > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > ------------------------------ Message: 15 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:56:21 -0700 From: Tom McNamara Subject: [obol] Scopes To: Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Paul, seconded by Lars, made great points about zooms for actual in the field birding. Way handier. Harking a little further back, I would also endorse Scott Carpenter's and Alan Contreras' thumbs up on the Pentax 80mm ED especially vis a vis the $ layout for the Euros. I am enduringly happy that I got the Pentax (and a Bogen-Manfrotto tripod w/ video head) about 4 years ago. Every time I look through a high quality Zeiss, Swarovski etc. I feel vindicated because of money saved when I got the whole assembly, new, for a tad over $1K. This scope is admittedly a little heavier than other 80s, like maybe a pound. Consider it a pint of water that you're doubtless carrying w/ you and that fact becomes nugatory. And, yes, Paul (and many others) Happy St. Pat's (from the line of McNamara, Finucane, Corrigan, McGowan). _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_70faster_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/35e048e4/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 16 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:43:37 -0700 From: "Kyle W Bratcher" Subject: [obol] Wallowa Valley Barrows Goldeneye? To: Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" I saw a female Goldeneye today at the Wallowa fish hatchery today that I'm pretty sure was a Barrows. Problem is this would be my first so I have very little experience identifying anything but a Common. This particular bird came flying in and I immediately noticed the full orange bill. I didn't make much of it till I got back in my car and looked at my books. So the book says this is a trait of a Barrows but not always full proof. So I went back and looked at it again and it appeared to have a different head shape (to me)so I am fairly confident. So to my main question. How reliable is the yellow bill as an field mark? How often do you see Commons with all orange bills. Thank you. Kyle Bratcher Joseph Oregon. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/972642a9/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 17 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:58:28 -0800 From: Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge; Jean's Peninsula + End of Royal To: Message-ID: <002201c9a77d$cd40dae0$9803f304 at hppav> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Hello, Birds seen on a St Paddy's Day meander around the Fern Ridge Reservoir through the parks on Jean's Peninsula and out Royal to the observation platform, in no particular order. Mallard Duck Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Lesser Scaup Canada Goose Double-crested Cormorant Gull sp. American Coot Great Blue Heron American Bittern Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Red-breasted Nuthatch Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Black-capped Chickadee Yellow-rumped Warbler Dark-eyed Junco *Black Phoebe Spotted Towhee Mourning Dove *Western Kingbird Red-winged Blackbird Western Bluebird Winter Wren Bewick's Wren Marsh Wren American Kestrel American Robin Varied Thrush Northern Harrier Turkey Vulture Sean said he saw an Osprey, but I did not get a clear ID on the bird, and had seen a Bald Eagle in the same area last Monday Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker California Quail Violet-Green Swallow Tree Swallow Rufous Hummingbird European Starling Finch sp. (Purple or House) Scrub Jay American Crow -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/71faf9c0/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 18 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:51:23 -0700 From: "Jeff Harding" Subject: [obol] Scopes and Traveling To: Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" On choosing scopes, I don't know if it has been mentioned about 45 degrees vs. straight-through type. I always used straight-type, but for that you need a taller tripod, and there is a hassle if you share the view in the field, if your friends are different heights. Paul is absolutely right about the usefulness of a zoom in the field, too, even though there may be some image falloff. I bought a little Leupold 60MM at Portland Audubon a year ago for less than $400, and have been very happy with it for traveling or longer walks. Especially traveling with others in little rented economy cars, getting in and out and grabbing the scope is a lot easier than is with the big 80MM and Manfrotto tripod. The lighter scope doesn't strictly speaking require much of a tripod at all, especially with the 45. Birding at Longluan Lake in Taiwan's Kenting National Park last Friday, the wind was quite extreme, and a heavy tripod would have been much better, but even then the wind would make it difficult. Instead, I sat down in the lee of the car, with the tripod at the lowest level, and had a fine time sorting through a raft of Tufted Ducks for other diving ducks, and scoping the shoreline for Spot-billed Ducks among Mallards and Eurasian Wigeons. While I was sitting there quietly, a little flock of Scaly-breasted Munias came to enjoy the shelter with me. Would that have happened had I been standing in the gusty wind, trying to keep a big scope and tripod steady? But then we went around to the visitor's center where they had a bank of 20-30 big Kowas mounted in front of a window looking over the lake. There it was very nice to sit and scan a jetty about 100 yards off in the comfort of the viewing room. Having picked out more Spot-billed Ducks, Common Teal, Pintail, Northern Shovelor and others, thinking myself done I went to chat with the naturalists on duty, meanwhile a bus load of 9 year-olds swarmed in and occupied all the scopes. That's when the naturalists mentioned that there had been one each of the Black-faced and Eurasian Spoonbills visible, off in a corner I missed. Since the scopes were occupied, and my own seemed insignificant in their company, and since there had been some 60 Black-faced Spoonbills the Monday before at Chigu, I elected to leave the kids to scopes (how great to have them available for the youngsters) and visit a marsh nearby, where the naturalists said there could be Gargany. It was different at the marsh, where it was impractical to get out of the car at all. With the little scope, I could perch the tripod in my lap and take my time looking over more Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal, and about a half dozen Gargany. There were also a lot of shorebirds, including Common Sandpipers and a couple dozen Greenshanks. In another section there were a couple dozen Little Ringed Plovers, and a smattering of Kentish Plovers (aka Snowy, but looking different). More tantalizing were a few peeps that were just too distant for the little scope. They had blackish legs, and so were most likely Red-necked Stint, not Temmicks or Long-toed because of the legs, but could also have been any of a half dozen rare species. The big scope would have been impractical inside the car; and even with it the peeps may not have been identifiable with certainty, so I was very happy to have the little one, but had to leave the peeps alone and move on, because we wanted to try again for the Taiwan Blue Magpie before heading for the airport. We never found the latter, but had a lovely walk in a light rain along a creek with a Grey Wagtails and Little Egrets, and Grey-capped Pygmy-Woodpeckers. In balance, the little scope was fine for the purpose, and the cost savings over a $1500 scope would fund all the expenses on the ground for my wife and I for a week in Taiwan - rental car, gas, lodging in nice hotels, and great meals (though we often had little idea of what we were eating) and more. In any case, the most important birding tool is preparation. That along with patience are far more important than the particular optics you carry. Good birding, Jeff Photos from Taiwan here: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/TaiwanMarch09# -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/f21f898c/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 19 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:18:08 -0700 From: Keith Owen Subject: [obol] Trip to Romania To: OBOL Oregon Birders Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" I am leaving for a two week singing tour in Romania starting April 12. Does anyone have any information on birding there? Will probably have a few opportunities to do a little. Keith _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Life without walls. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/5f591cf4/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 20 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:14:54 -0800 From: Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Addendum [Isabella Barnes] To: Message-ID: <006901c9a790$dc5113c0$9803f304 at hppav> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Hi again, Please pardon my clumsiness as I learn the protocol of this list. I forgot to mention the Red-shouldered hawks. Thanks, Isabella -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/21571580/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 21 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:21:28 -0700 From: "Anne & Dan Heyerly" Subject: [obol] Johnny Sasko's Audubon Accipiter To: "obol" Message-ID: <003f01c9a789$641f49a0$2c5ddce0$@com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I think this bird is a Cooper's. Very rounded tail. Gray cheeks. Flattish shaped head. Robust/bulky body. My 2 cents. Dan Heyerly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090317/a4c56c18/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 22 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:40:34 -0800 From: Norgren Family Subject: [obol] Livermore Road,Polk County Horned Lark, Plovers To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <58b10b616049865cc3ca536888b39320 at earthlink.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed In pursuit of truffles in Buena Vista, I took my usual detour while southbound on 99W. A Streaked Horned Lark was singing at the same spot described two weeks ago: About 1/2 mile south of the McCoy-Perrydale Rd (paved E-W road) is a wooden fence post on the west side of Livermore Rd marking a property line. The field to the nw is some kind of clover, to the sw perennial grass seed. The lark was no more than 15m from the road and 5m into the clover (north of the grass). There's a large bare spot left by a puddle, he likes to frequent its south side. He was singing from the ground, but until I scanned this absurdly short distance I couldn't see him. Horns raised in the air, a song like breaking glass or icicles shattering. The pond puddle at the low point in the road had seven gulls-2 im G-WING, 2 ad CALIFORNIA, 3 im HERRING. As a result of scoping the gulls I saw eight PLOVER. Presumably BLACK-BELLIED. One certainly was because I got a glimpse of its white rump. They must be in transitional plumage as they looked very spotted, with sharp facial markings. It was tempting to call them Goldens when looking through the heat distortion at 60X zoom. About 15 Dunlin in their midst. Lots of Turkey Vultures,the first group at Gaston, many more between Perrydale and Baskett Slough NWR n boundary. Lars Norgren ------------------------------ Message: 23 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:50:31 -0800 From: Norgren Family Subject: Re: [obol] Trip to Romania To: Keith Owen Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; format=flowed Well for starters there's the Danube Delta. Europe's answer to Malheur, but I don't know if two weeks is enough time to do the place justice, even if you ditch the choir. By April many summer residents may have arrived. Despite the higher latitude than Oregon it's warmer. In 1992 I saw ripe cherries from neighboring Moldova on May 7. I don't know how many wintering birds will be around then. Most of the world's Red-breasted Geese overwinter there. Lars On Mar 17, 2009, at 9:18 PM, Keith Owen wrote: > I am leaving for a two week singing tour in Romania starting April > 12.? Does anyone have any information on birding there?? Will probably > have a few opportunities to do a little. > > Keith > > Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. Check it out. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------ Message: 24 Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:54:08 -0800 From: Norgren Family Subject: [obol] more on optics To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed The 45 degree vs horizontal eyepiece is an issue. My first scope was a cheap Leupold with the 45 degree feature. A real pain to aim it at objects, especially raptors aloft. I did get used to it. Useless mounted on the windows of most cars as the ceiling is too low. I've successfully used the lee of my car and an unextended tri=pod to handle high winds and a light tri-pod. My daughter and I both put Snowy Owl on our life lists this way when the wind at Columbia River South Jetty was gusting to 70mph. The 45 degree feature is handy when the observer is on the knees. When the Ruff, Reeve, and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper were at Ridgefield a few years ago everyone left their scopes set up and unattended. I looked through them all, about six mid-priced models. They were all about 10X more expensive than my bottom end Leupold, but I felt the images I got looking through them were only 10% better. The disclaimer is that lighting was nearly perfect. Bright sunlight, sun directly behind us, and cool enough temperatures to minimize heat distortion. I have since looked through top end scopes and they are certainly better, especially near sunset on the day after Thanksgiving. But are they worth the price? Once my kids finish college I'll try to pick up a used one of those. I'm just not sure if I'll do it before or after the divorce. A few years ago I asked advice on high-powered binoculars. Twelve people responded. All had some- thing different to add and all of it was useful. I long dreamed of responding personally to all of them, a harmless good intention. One result was that Bi-Mart came up as an option. The thought never would have crossed my mind, and it's by far the closest store to my house(for optics). Someone else liked a large, heavy binocular-- "But then I'm a big guy." It dawned on me that I'm 60 lbs heavier than when I rode my bicycle to Finley, and all my birding is car based. So I resolved to pick up a 10X Nikon on Friday night on my way south to a boat trip out of Newport. What I had neglected to consider was that it was the night before general bull elk season opened. Many of the binoculars mentioned over the phone on Wednesday had sold out. I ended up buying a 12X Nikon, could the model be called "Monarch"? They were $99 and I've never regretted it. I've never used my 8X binocular since. I was thinking of long vistas, open water and mud, when I bought them, but they're great at very close range as well. Warblers and sparrows at 10 feet are great, although the focus at such a distance is a bit slow. The large size (50mm I guess) means lots of light in gray weather. Dave Fix mentioned using the like for astronomical purposes. There was a full moon that night I bought them, and standing on top of Baskett Butte it hurt my eyes to look at it with that binocular. Sporting events are transformed. With this binocular I can see the expressions on athletes' and coaches' faces from across the stadium. Maybe the biggest problem is that I forget how differently I am seeing things sometimes. When standing in a group, trying to describe something, what's obvious at 12X might not be quite discernable at 7X. The feature "waterproof" is significant in Obol habitat. I bought my 8X binoculars at a community action. I don't know the make, but they bear the Audubon logo. The label said "waterproof". I know better than to take them swimming, but they certainly were resistant to fogging up. That's a recurrent problem with my cheap Chinese Nikon binocular. Lars Norgren ------------------------------ Message: 25 Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 06:45:20 -0700 (PDT) From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Subject: [obol] Coos Birdies 3/17/2009 To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <348746.88204.qm at web45301.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 The EMPEROR GOOSE and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE are still with the domestic goose flock wandering around the south jetty area at Bandon. Also heard (and saw) a pair of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS calling in the fruiting willows along the south jetty road.? These could be overwintering birds or new migrants, I normally find singing migrants by the last week of this month, sometimes earlier. I heard my first singing MYRTLE WARBLER here also. On 3/16 at the north spit of Coos Bay I saw a breeding-plumaged AUDUBON'S WARBLER, likely an early migrant. On the north spit of Coos Bay in the PM on the 17th it was sunny, warm, and there was no wind- first time we've had the combination of the three in a while.? The two PALM WARBLERS were out enjoying the sun, I hadn't seen them in over three weeks.? Also out there were about 10 TREE SWALLOWS which always seem to show up a month later on the coast than in the Coquille Valley. Many RED CROSSBILLS around also. The OSPREY are in too, with several breeders back near their nests around town. Another day of spring in store then back to winter for the weekend, ENJOY! Tim R Coos Bay ------------------------------ Message: 26 Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:44:52 -0700 From: "Kim Boddie" Subject: [obol] Ferruginous & Golden Day in Christmas Valley To: "OBOL Sightings" , "COBOL sightings" Cc: Mike Golden Message-ID: <19AFE5D6CBFC40B9B2F6161F128870DE at KimPC> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Yesterday, Tuesday the 17th, Mike Golden and I spent the day driving the ECBC Christmas Valley Raptor Survey Route. We started out early to check out the Ft. Rock sage Grouse Lek. We counted 26 grouse way out in the field with a lot of strutting going on with about 10 hens hanging around three of the males. We had p. cloudy skies, winds calm to 20mph and Temps. between 33 and 45 * Cent. What a day for Ferruginous Hawks and Golden Eagles Both on and outside the route we counted 20 Golden Eagles and 32 Ferruginous Hawks. We counted a total of 112 raptors in the basin. We watched several pairs of Ferruginous up performing mating flights, what a show. The basin was also full of Mtn. Bluebirds with large flocks scattered everywhere. We also saw about 80 Pronghorns, 31 Mule deer, 1 Barn Owl and 2 Northern Shrikes. One of the shrikes gave Mike quite a photo opportunity as it flew down the fence row in 30 ft. intervals for almost 1/4 mile beside us. Raptors counted on Route Red-tailed Hawk 21 American Kestrel 3 Northern Harrier 2 Bald Eagle 2A Golden Eagle 12 Rough-legged Hawk 6 Ferruginous Hawk 22 Unident. Buteo 3 Prairie Falcon 1 Kim Boddie Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090318/2dfb824a/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 27 Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:00:00 +0000 From: khanh tran Subject: [obol] Pseduo-Photo Quiz and advice for processing bird photos!! To: Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Hi all, No matter how skilled or quick you are, flying flocks of mixed birds can be tough to 'get on' and id everything. The advantages of photographing allows you many chances to have multiple looks. In this case, Steve Nord captured something we both missed while in the field but later saw and identified from his processed photos. Great action shot! Birds were seen in Mansfield, WA in the Waterville Plateau area from this weekend's trip. Study your photos carefully, and don't delete shots that are poor quality or grainy. See how many species you can id? It is the first photo titled Mixed flock in Flight. http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/okanogan_winter_&page=all Good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) and Steve Nord (Hillsboro, Oregon) ------------------------------ Message: 28 Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:40:51 -0700 From: Jim Norton Subject: Re: [obol] Pseduo-Photo Quiz and advice for processing bird photos!! To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <20090318094051.b4b5mh5n4cwc8o40 at webmail2.jimnorton.org> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; DelSp="Yes"; format="flowed" Surely some nice photos. The mixed birds photograph might have turned out nicer with a smaller aperture for more DOF. With that Canon you could have gone to ISO 800 ( noise is still acceptable ) set the aperture to 13 and probably gotten a high enough shutter speed to stop most of the motion. Might have produced an image with more of the birds in focus... Just some thoughts... I need to get out more often with my camera... Are some of those photos digi-scoped? Cheers, Jim Norton Quoting khanh tran : > > Hi all, > > No matter how skilled or quick you are, flying flocks of mixed birds > can be tough to 'get on' and id everything. The advantages of > photographing allows you many chances to have multiple looks. > > In this case, Steve Nord captured something we both missed while in > the field but later saw and identified from his processed photos. > > Great action shot! Birds were seen in Mansfield, WA in the > Waterville Plateau area from this weekend's trip. > > Study your photos carefully, and don't delete shots that are poor > quality or grainy. > > See how many species you can id? It is the first photo titled Mixed > flock in Flight. > > http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/okanogan_winter_&page=all > > Good birding, > > Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) and Steve Nord (Hillsboro, Oregon) > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Message: 29 Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:34:41 -0700 From: "Michael Kay" Subject: Re: [obol] Scopes for low budgets To: Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" This is for those of us who are on smaller budgets, but want good quality viewing at beer budget prices. Be sure to look at the scopes available through Sportsman's Guide (although once you are on their mailing or e-mailing lists, you will get catalogues frequently--but sometimes they have great offers). I picked up a Meade 45-degree angled scope 20 to 60X zoom 50mm objective for under $100. Meade makes good (no claims to great) optics (they were the brand sold at the Discovery Channel stores in malls in Portland, OR, and I got my first one when they went out of business). Last month I was able to spot a surf scoter at a couple of hundred yards and zoom in to see all the colors and markings while in a strong wind on the swaying tower at the south jetty in Ft. Stevens State Park. I agree a solid tripod is a necessity, but there are also ways to do this cheaply. I had a Slik U-2 that was very solid, but the head was not great. I found a Bogen tripod head in the used equipment at a photo store and mounted that on the tripod base. This head was a great improvement. It had the quick-release mounting plates and good controls (no the fluid model). The assembled unit is very solid and total cost was less than 1/4 that of the Bogen Manfrotto. I got the 45-degree scope so that I could set it up for my wife's upper comfortable viewing height, and I can use it at that height easily. Binos are a different matter. I use the Cannon 10 x 30 image-stabilized binos because I need the image stabilization. But since Cannon is a lens manufacturer with a good reputation, the color correction, anti-reflection coatings, and flat field yield very good quality. My wife uses a pair of 12 x 40 Porro Prism Nikons that I purchased in 1980 as a discontinued model for $225 (in 2005 they went off Nikon's 25- year warranty). They have been serviced as needed (cleaned and collimated about every 7 years unless needed sooner), and are in excellent condition. The optics are suburb, and the colors are bright and vibrant. IMHO Porro Prisms are better for depth perception and field of view than roof prisms. Roof prisms win on ruggedness, but even they have to be collimated after rough usage. Michael Kay Portland, OR ------------------------------ Message: 30 Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:41:49 +0000 From: khanh tran Subject: Re: [obol] Pseudo-Quiz and advice on processing photos!! To: Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Hi Jim and all, Yeah, the photo is not sharp as we liked since the birds were at a distance. Realistically, the Waterville Plateau's is often plagued with poor light along with misty and foggy conditions. Alas, the challenges of birding and facing old age with failing vision! Thanks for the tips, always learning something new! Khanh Tran ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol End of obol Digest, Vol 12, Issue 18 ************************************ From david.koskamp at verizon.net Wed Mar 18 19:29:02 2009 From: david.koskamp at verizon.net (David Koskamp) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:29:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] First male rufous - Hillsboro Message-ID: <006301c9a83a$793ed420$0301a8c0@lostine> Heard, and then saw, my first male RUFOUS of the season in Hillsboro this evening (18th) at my neighbor's feeder. The resident male ANNA had a tussle with him and for this night at least sir ANNA is still the lord of the feeder-ring. -David -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090318/7acacfac/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Wed Mar 18 19:57:07 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:57:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbirds Message-ID: <565240.41331.qm@web46007.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> We just posted a few of the photos of the male Rufous for those who are interested. Take care and good birding to everyone! The photos are here: http://portlandbirds.blogspot.com Seth NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From louisfredd at msn.com Wed Mar 18 21:11:51 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:11:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon City, Mar 7-13 Message-ID: My motorless yard-birding has netted 49 species to date. With near-daily observation, patience and some good fortune, I too might be able to announce a motorless 100th sometime before year's end. So I hope. Made no progress to that end this past week. I hold the windier, colder, wetter weather responsible for that. I've tried bike-birding, but have found that to be one list too many given local traffic and road conditions. Mar07 AMERICAN KESTREL F Also 03/08. Transient evidently. AMERICAN ROBIN Seem to be about twice as numerous this past month compared with last year. This past week I noticed some loose flocks flying NW toward direction of town some mornings, presumably toward daytime foraging areas. I saw similar flocks flying in the opposite direction late in the day presumably toward roosting areas in more forested terrain. I've never noticed this diurnal behavior before. I've thought before of robins as simply going north or south, but it may be more complicated than that. Mar10 PURPLE FINCH M I've seen 1-2 Purple Finches per week since mid-January. Mostly M, mostly transient based on individual variation. These are not "early" with respect to scattered observations in prior years, but more numerous by far. HOUSE FINCHES These have been noticeably more numerous this winter than the past few following a severe decline earlier. Mostly small transient flocks up to a dozen, but a trio of 2M, F have remained all winter. This past week one M so red as to make any fire department envious. PINE SISKIN Up to a half dozen still coming to the thistle tube. HOUSE SPARROW Only one seen all week. House Sparrows have declined over the past few years almost to the vanishing point this winter. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Contacts: Organize your contact list. http://windowslive.com/connect/post/marcusatmicrosoft.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!503D1D86EBB2B53C!2285.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_UGC_Contacts_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090318/016108c8/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed Mar 18 21:49:30 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:49:30 -0400 Subject: [obol] Bird Id from Tualatin Message-ID: <8CB76653975FD8E-1640-1A19@mblk-d10.sysops.aol.com> I came across 3 birds to day that I'm not sure of their ID. Of course I'm new at this so that is not an unusal situation. The first I have 1 good image of them out of a dozen attempts, they were so flighty. Here is a shot of it. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/large/0720/fa3826df4b35406bb2e9d037dabfe4f4.jpg The second shot was a long way off. It looks like a GB heron scruntched down on a tree limb. But since I have never seen a GBH in a tree or scruntched down, I thought I'd ask about it. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/large/0720/d746f7f05d6045b185e99d21f44265fe.jpg The other was too fast to get a shot of. It was a chubby little bird like a Chickadee, but it had a reddish breast, and was feeding and scurrying around on the underside of the limbs. I haven't seen any of the Chickadees around my home doing that. I'm sorry I don't have better info, but I'm sure this is the place to check.? Thanks. Johnny Sasko Oh last note. I saw the first snakes I've ever seen in Western Oregon, and they were in love. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0720/2469a21138cf4bf7ae5100c0462e596f.jpg -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090319/8473a8a0/attachment.html From romain at frontiernet.net Wed Mar 18 21:59:36 2009 From: romain at frontiernet.net (Romain Cooper) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:59:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] yellow-billed goldeneye? In-Reply-To: <837014.39251.qm@web80015.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <837014.39251.qm@web80015.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20090318215223.0265f5e0@frontiernet.net> I have a copy of the Kortright waterfowl book so I looked it up: F.H. Kortright (Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America) states, for adult female, that the bill is "sometimes mostly yellow in this season" that being Spring and goes on to say "a female taken near Toronto in early November, 1941, had bill all-yellow". This is for what was then called American Goldeneye, and a genus of Glaucionetta is given along with Bucephala. At 12:39 PM 3/18/2009, David Fix & Jude Power wrote: >Kyle, > >I've heard it said that it can never happen, but I have seen one >female Common Goldeneye with an entirely yellow bill. It was in >winter here in Humboldt County, CA, two or three years ago, I think. >The bird was first identified as a Barrow's by a person expert with >waterfowl. Three other birders including myself relocated it, as >Barrow's is quite rare here, and something was "off" about it for >Barrow's from the get-go. We studied it closely for some time. >Everything about the bird's head shape, and bill shape and size, >pointed to a Common. Later, we spend a couple of hours at Dr. Stan >Harris's (former Humboldt State U. wildlife prof) home looking over >his waterfowl sources and his many slides of both species of >goldeneyes. We came away convinced the bird was simply a female >Common with an all-yellow bill. I believe Kortwright, Palmer, >Belrose, or another one of those old references indicated that >Common "may rarely" have an all-yellow bill. Certainly it is the >only such bird I've seen, and I don't expect to ever see another. >Guess you never know. It would seem the odds in your case would >favor a Barrow's. > >David Fix >Arcata, California >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Romain Cooper 10398 Takilma Road Cave Junction, OR 97523 541-592-2311 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090318/583554f1/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Wed Mar 18 22:15:32 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:15:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] yellow-billed goldeneye? In-Reply-To: <7.0.1.0.2.20090318215223.0265f5e0@frontiernet.net> References: <837014.39251.qm@web80015.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <7.0.1.0.2.20090318215223.0265f5e0@frontiernet.net> Message-ID: <61D7320F-61D5-4B83-A3B9-2F6FFF74C3F7@gmail.com> Now that I am almost done with finals I can breath long enough to join in on some of the discussions I have had to ignore up until now. Years ago back when I lived in the Bay Area (late 1980's) I photographed a female Common Goldeneye with an all yellow bill. It was a straw-type yellow without orange tones. By size and shape and head shape it was definitely a Common. Yellow-billed Commons have occasionally popped up here and there but they are far and few between. Shawneen Finnegan Portland, Oregon On Mar 18, 2009, at 9:59 PM, Romain Cooper wrote: > I have a copy of the Kortright waterfowl book so I looked it up: > > F.H. Kortright (Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America) states, for > adult female, that the bill is "sometimes mostly yellow in this > season" that being Spring and goes on to say "a female taken near > Toronto in early November, 1941, had bill all-yellow". > > This is for what was then called American Goldeneye, and a genus of > Glaucionetta is given along with Bucephala. > > At 12:39 PM 3/18/2009, David Fix & Jude Power wrote: >> Kyle, >> >> I've heard it said that it can never happen, but I have seen one >> female Common Goldeneye with an entirely yellow bill. It was in >> winter here in Humboldt County, CA, two or three years ago, I >> think. The bird was first identified as a Barrow's by a person >> expert with waterfowl. Three other birders including myself >> relocated it, as Barrow's is quite rare here, and something was >> "off" about it for Barrow's from the get-go. We studied it closely >> for some time. Everything about the bird's head shape, and bill >> shape and size, pointed to a Common. Later, we spend a couple of >> hours at Dr. Stan Harris's (former Humboldt State U. wildlife prof) >> home looking over his waterfowl sources and his many slides of both >> species of goldeneyes. We came away convinced the bird was simply a >> female Common with an all-yellow bill. I believe Kortwright, >> Palmer, Belrose, or another one of those old references indicated >> that Common "may rarely" have an all-yellow bill. Certainly it is >> the only such bird I've seen, and I don't expect to ever see >> another. Guess you never know. It would seem the odds in your case >> would favor a Barrow's. >> >> David Fix >> Arcata, California >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > Romain Cooper > 10398 Takilma Road > Cave Junction, OR 97523 > 541-592-2311 > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090318/87391829/attachment.html From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Wed Mar 18 23:05:25 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:05:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird Id from Tualatin In-Reply-To: <8CB76653975FD8E-1640-1A19@mblk-d10.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CB76653975FD8E-1640-1A19@mblk-d10.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <00fa01c9a858$b2fbe1d0$18f3a570$@NET> The first is a Yellow-rumped Warbler, Audubon's. The second is as you thought a Great Blue Heron. The one like a Chickadee is probably a Red-breasted Nuthatch. The photo of the Audubon's is nice, I haven't seen one yet this year in full breeding plumage. Tom Shreve From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of jonysky101 at aol.com Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 9:50 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Bird Id from Tualatin I came across 3 birds to day that I'm not sure of their ID. Of course I'm new at this so that is not an unusal situation. The first I have 1 good image of them out of a dozen attempts, they were so flighty. Here is a shot of it. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/large/0720/fa3826df4b35406bb2e9d037dabfe4f4.jp g The second shot was a long way off. It looks like a GB heron scruntched down on a tree limb. But since I have never seen a GBH in a tree or scruntched down, I thought I'd ask about it. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/large/0720/d746f7f05d6045b185e99d21f44265fe.jp g The other was too fast to get a shot of. It was a chubby little bird like a Chickadee, but it had a reddish breast, and was feeding and scurrying around on the underside of the limbs. I haven't seen any of the Chickadees around my home doing that. I'm sorry I don't have better info, but I'm sure this is the place to check. Thanks. Johnny Sasko Oh last note. I saw the first snakes I've ever seen in Western Oregon, and they were in love. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0720/2469a21138cf4bf7ae5100c0462e596f .jpg _____ Great Deals on Dell 15" Laptops - Starting at $479 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090318/167e8e5f/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Mar 18 23:28:45 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:28:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 3-19-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * March 19, 2009 * ORPO0903.19 - birds mentioned Eurasian Wigeon Eurasian Green-winged Teal TUFTED DUCK Long-billed Curlew SLATY-BACKED GULL Burrowing Owl Rufous Hummingbird Violet-green Swallow Black-throated Gray Warbler Hermit Warbler - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday March 19. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. The downtown Portland SLATY-BACKED GULL and the Marine drive TUFTED PUFFIN continue to be seen. RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS are now swarming along the southern Oregon coast. Local VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS arrived during the week. Large flocks are seen in many areas. On March 16 a flock of BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS were at Bethany Pond in Washington County north of Hillsboro. On March 18 five male and several female EURASIAN WIGEON along with a EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL were at the Tualatin NWR. A surprisingly early HERMIT WARBLER was in Eugene March 14. LONG-BILLED CURLEWS are now arriving east of the Cascades. On March 12 three were at Hatfield Lake near Bend. On March 18 a BURROWING OWL was seen along Embree Road southeast of Burns. That?s it for this week. - end traanscript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090318/3aad5c3e/attachment.html From jdanzenbaker at gmail.com Thu Mar 19 01:59:27 2009 From: jdanzenbaker at gmail.com (Jim Danzenbaker) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:59:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Scopes In-Reply-To: <49BFE09A.10702@peak.org> References: <9c880c56d2be6fbb279541912b4fb061@earthlink.net> <49BFE09A.10702@peak.org> Message-ID: Hi Karl and Obolers, Jim Danzenbaker from Kowa here. Just for quick point of clarification, you can get a discontinued Kowa TSN-881, 882, 771 or 772 (body only) for $865-$1290 (less at all of our dealers). These are not Prominar lens though - more a high grade normal lens but even these knock many other scopes off their tripods. Of course, you need to also purchase an eyepece. Sorry for the short note - leading a trip in Panama and time is short. Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com On Tue, Mar 17, 2009 at 10:40 AM, Karl Fairchild wrote: > Hi all, > > I have to agree on tripods. This defines the quality of birding as much > as the scope, at least to a point. I have had better viewing > experiences on a well mounted Spacemaster on a good tripod than a Pentax > on a lousy tripod or even a poorly mounted Leica. As for what tripod to > buy, if it isn't a Bogen Manfrotto with a good fluid head, save your > money until you can get one. My folks have been using the same Bogen > tripod for 15+ years and it is still totally rock solid. My own tripod > is a Manfrotto as well, and I couldn't be happier. Likewise, having a > good fluid head mounting is critical as well, as is a rock solid quick > release attachment plate. Lately, they have been making quick release > plates with plastic front mounting studs. That has been the only > complaint I've had on my Kowa--this plastic mounting stud broke within a > year. Fortunately, thanks to a little customizing of the plate by my > Dad, it now accommodates a very nice metal stud. It sounds as if the > new Spacemasters are much improved and a good buy for an entry level > scope. My folks have been using Spacemasters for 15 years, replaced > only once after an unfortunate dunk in the Gulf of Mexico (the eyepiece > actually survived this just fine!). Of course, if we are on the topic > of scopes for a bargain, I can't help but mention the latest generation > Kowas. While clearly a big step up from the venerable Spacemaster (both > quality wise and budget wise), the Prominar-coated 77mm and 88mm > versions are the best scopes on the market and I think they run only > $1500, half the price of a Leica or Swarovski. > > Happy scope hunting! > > Karl Fairchild > Corvallis, OR > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090319/3b59b782/attachment.html From d.rhein at comcast.net Tue Mar 3 01:33:16 2009 From: d.rhein at comcast.net (Darin) Date: Tue, 03 Mar 2009 09:33:16 -0000 Subject: [obol] Odd duck at Summer Lake Park Message-ID: <605BC0CB770D4C779E1797D7D189BFEF@daingtanfxkwk9> I went to Summer Lake Park in Tigard on Saturday with some friends for a little bird watching and photography. While there, I noticed this duck hanging out with a small group of Mallards. Anyone know what it is? I haven't had any luck looking it up in feild guides. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/cougar101/Bird/UnknownDuck21.jpg Darin in Newberg -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090303/73ab1f6d/attachment.html From kathyserv at fiberpipe.net Tue Mar 3 15:02:47 2009 From: kathyserv at fiberpipe.net (kathy mccoy) Date: Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:02:47 -0000 Subject: [obol] white throat sparrow, rufous and annas hummingbird in Manzanita OR Message-ID: <49ADB704.5070902@fiberpipe.net> Hi there, I'm not sure if these are remarkable at all, as I am from Boise, but there's a white throated sparrow at my feeder here in Manzanita, as well as a male rufous hummingbird and a male Anna's hummingbird at their feeder. I took photos of the sparrow; I'm pretty familiar with them, I used to see them all the time in Georgia. Call if you want pictures and/or details. Cheers, Kathy -- Kathy McCoy cell: (208) 921-1340 kathyserv at fiberpipe.net From paulvanels at yahoo.com Thu Mar 12 19:23:30 2009 From: paulvanels at yahoo.com (Paul van Els) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:23:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] visiting European birder Message-ID: <674748.9870.qm@web54102.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hello Oregon birdwatchers, I'm a Dutch birdwatcher going to visit Oregon for the next 10 days, and I hope to a bit of birdwatching. I've looked up information on where to find the majority of the species, but there are some that I don't have specific pointers for, including Red-breasted Sapsucker, Spotted Owl, Mountain Quail and Northern Pygmy-Owl. I'd appreciate if anyone could send me some information on where to find these, preferably in the Astoria area, where Ill be staying. Thank you very much, Paul van Els: paulvanels at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090312/fe3c7588/attachment.html From Ivey at savingcranes.org Sun Mar 15 13:16:33 2009 From: Ivey at savingcranes.org (Gary Ivey) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:16:33 -0500 Subject: [obol] sandhill crane fun Message-ID: Hello OBOlers, I now work part-time for the International Crane Foundation and I'm also working on my PhD on wintering crane ecology through Oregon State University in partnership with USGS. Last year, we color-marked and attached radios to 30 greater and 35 lesser sandhill cranes during winter in California, plus an additional 10 lessers from Homer, Alaska which have satellite radios. These cranes are now migrating and returning to their nesting areas and I would appreciate it if you would look for them. Each marked bird has a unique combo of color markers above the tarsal joint on their legs, so if you see a marked crane, please record the positions of the colors on each leg, date, time and location and report them to me. We have a web page you can check out for our satellite telemetry study: http://www.werc.usgs.gov/sattrack/cranes/maps.html TYou can download GoogleEarth (its free) and explore their movements over time. If you click on the globes (one is fall/winter migration and the other is winter/spring), the data will display in GoogleEarth and you can zoom in and out and select individual birds. If you click on the time bar at the top of the map, you can see the movements of each bird over time. It's a lot of fun...Enjoy! Gary Ivey Western Crane Conservation Manager International Crane Foundation 541-383-2033 Visit our website! www.savingcranes.org "Working worldwide to conserve cranes and the wetland, grassland, and other ecosystems upon which they depend" -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090315/f3320e8b/attachment.html From ron.katie.pdx at juno.com Mon Mar 16 11:10:11 2009 From: ron.katie.pdx at juno.com (Ronald G. Goodwin) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:10:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rufus in West Gresham Message-ID: <20090316.111011.2088.2.ron.katie.pdx@juno.com> A bright male came to our feeder this morning by Centennial High School. The Anna's are around all year but how does the Rufus find the feeder as it passes through? Ron Goodwin ron.katie.pdx at juno.com ____________________________________________________________ Click here to find the perfect banking opportunity! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTMLukDmLDEdhWwyuW1DclKABWRjosTpZtC9DAz1EnncNSmF6OFRIU/ From winkg at hevanet.com Thu Mar 19 09:13:49 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:13:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 03/18/09 Message-ID: <20090319161352.17F95A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 03/12 to 03/18/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk only 2 days this week, Mar 16 & 17. Species # days found (peak #, date) Mourning Dove 1 (5, 3/17) Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 (2) Downy Woodpecker 1 (1, 3/16) Northern Flicker 2 (3, 3/17) Steller's Jay 2 (1) Western Scrub-Jay 1 (1, 3/16) American Crow 2 (10, 3/17) Black-capped Chickadee 2 (5) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2 (5) Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 (2) Bewick's Wren 1 (1, 3/17) Winter Wren 1 (1, 3/17) American Robin 2 (25, 3/17) Varied Thrush 2 (10, 3/16) European Starling 2 (4, 3/17) Spotted Towhee 2 (5) Fox Sparrow 1 (1, 3/16) Song Sparrow 2 (10) Dark-eyed Junco 2 (20, 3/5) Purple Finch 1 (1, 3/17) House Finch 2 (3) Pine Siskin 2 (10) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: RED-TAILED HAWK, Western Screech-Owl, COMMON RAVEN (fide Andy Frank) Misses (birds found at least 3 days in previous 2 weeks but not found this week--of little significance this week): Band-tailed Pigeon, Anna's Hummingbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Brown Creeper Wink Gross Portland From lammergeiereyes at aol.com Thu Mar 19 11:24:42 2009 From: lammergeiereyes at aol.com (lammergeiereyes at aol.com) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:24:42 -0400 Subject: [obol] Urban Owl, Sage Grouse RFI & Herp-Mammal RFI Message-ID: <8CB76D71B6DAB70-E18-3950@webmail-de02.sysops.aol.com> Last night at 1:00 AM I fell asleep to the sonorous lullaby of a Great Horned Owl behind my flat. I am on NW Hoyt and 23rd. This is a first for me in three years at this fairly urban location, but the timing seems to make sense. Also: (1) has anyone had a go at the Sage Grouse leks either near Bend, Burns or near Baker thus far this year? I have had especially bad luck with them?the past few years?and am thinking of doing a brief trip for them in the coming week. Also If you have suggestions and directions based on observations from last year I would be grateful for advice; (2) Are there any NW herp or mammal listers on OBOL? If so I would like to mine your wisdom on a few points. Please respond off list. Best, -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090319/ce624d8d/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Thu Mar 19 11:46:05 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:46:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] FWD: 2009 State of Birds Report Message-ID: <49C292ED.40308@pacifier.com> Secretary Salazar Releases Study Showing Widespread Declines in Bird Populations, Highlights Role of Partnerships in Conservation Washington, D.C. ? Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today released the first ever comprehensive report on bird populations in the United States, showing that nearly a third of the nation?s 800 bird species are endangered, threatened or in significant decline due to habitat loss, invasive species, and other threats. The report is available at http://www.stateofthebirds.org (embargoed until 2:30 pm EDT) At the same time, the report highlights examples, including many species of waterfowl, where habitat restoration and conservation have reversed previous declines, offering hope that it is not too late to take action to save declining populations. ?Just as they were when Rachel Carson published Silent Spring nearly 50 years ago, birds today are a bellwether of the health of land, water and ecosystems,? Salazar said. ?From shorebirds in New England to warblers in Michigan to songbirds in Hawaii, we are seeing disturbing downward population trends that should set off environmental alarm bells. We must work together now to ensure we never hear the deafening silence in our forests, fields and backyards that Rachel Carson warned us about.? The report, The U.S. State of the Birds, synthesizes data from three long-running bird censuses conducted by thousands of citizen scientists and professional biologists. In particular, it calls attention to the crisis in Hawaii, where more birds are in danger of extinction than anywhere else in the United States. In addition, the report indicates a 40 percent decline in grassland birds over the past 40 years, a 30 percent decline in birds of aridlands, and high concern for many coastal shorebirds. Furthermore, 39 percent of species dependent on U.S. oceans have declined. ?Habitats such as those in Hawaii are on the verge of losing entire suites of unique bird species,? said Dr. David Pashley, American Bird Conservancy?s Vice President for Conservation Programs. ?In addition to habitat loss, birds also face many other man-made threats such as pesticides, predation by cats, and collisions with windows, towers and buildings. By solving these challenges we can preserve a growing economic engine ? the popular pastime of birdwatching that involves millions of Americans ? and improve our quality of life.? However, the report also reveals convincing evidence that birds can respond quickly and positively to conservation action. The data show dramatic increases in many wetland birds such as pelicans, herons, egrets, osprey, and ducks, a testament to numerous cooperative conservation partnerships that have resulted in protection, enhancement and management of more than 30 million wetland acres. ?These results emphasize that investment in wetlands conservation has paid huge dividends,? said Kenneth Rosenberg, director of Conservation Science at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. ?Now we need to invest similarly in other neglected habitats where birds are undergoing the steepest declines.? ?While some bird species are holding their own, many once common species are declining sharply in population. Habitat availability and quality is the key to healthy, thriving bird populations,? said Dave Mehlman of The Nature Conservancy. Surveys conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey, including the annual Breeding Bird Survey, combined with data gathered through volunteer citizen science program such as the National Audubon Society?s Christmas Bird Count, show once abundant birds such as the northern bobwhite and marbled murrelet are declining significantly. The possibility of extinction also remains a cold reality for many endangered birds. ?Citizen science plays a critical role in monitoring and understanding the threats to these birds and their habitats, and only citizen involvement can help address them,? said National Audubon Society?s Bird Conservation Director, Greg Butcher. ?Conservation action can only make a real difference when concerned people support the kind of vital habitat restoration and protection measures this report explores.? Birds are beautiful, as well as economically important and a priceless part of America's natural heritage. Birds are also highly sensitive to environmental pollution and climate change, making them critical indicators of the health of the environment on which we all depend. The United States is home to a tremendous diversity of native birds, with more than 800 species inhabiting terrestrial, coastal, and ocean habitats, including Hawaii. Among these species, 67 are Federally-listed as endangered or threatened. In addition, more than 184 species are designated as species of conservation concern due to a small distribution, high-level of threats, or declining populations. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service coordinated creation of the new report as part of the U.S. North American Bird Conservation Initiative, which includes partners from American Bird Conservancy, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Klamath Bird Observatory, National Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Geological Survey. The report is available at http://www.stateofthebirds.org (embargoed until 2:30 pm EDT). Contacts: Hugh Vickery (DOI), (202) 501-4633 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Alicia King, 703-358-2522/571-214-3117, Alicia_F_King at fws.gov U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Vanessa Kauffman, 703-358-2138, Vanessa_kauffman at fws.gov American Bird Conservancy: Steve Holmer, 202-234-7181, sholmer at abcbirds.org Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Pat Leonard, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 607-254-2137, pel27 at cornell.edu National Audubon Society: Nancy Severance, 212-979-3124, nseverance at audubon.org The Nature Conservancy: Blythe Thomas, 703-841-8782, bthomas at tnc.org Klamath Bird Observatory: Ashley Dayer, 541-324-0281, aad at klamathbird.org -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Are you BSC or PSC? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or+PSC%3F.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Thu Mar 19 12:22:53 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:22:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] PLEA FOR YOUR INPUT: Ridgefield is considering cutting the Auto Tour Route by 40% Message-ID: <679823.42650.qm@web55107.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Hi Folks, Ridgefield NWR (RNWR) is going to change, that much is certain. How it changes may be impacted by Your opinions. On March 14, 2009 I received some DISTURBING mail from Ridgefield NWR (titled: "Preliminary Management Alternatives for Ridgefield NWR, Planning Update #3, March 2009), which outlines four preliminary alternatives to future management of the Refuge, including two alternatives that would REDUCE the River ?S? Unit Auto Route by nearly 40% (from 4.3 to 2.6 miles), and EXPAND hunting season and hunting areas. In my opinion, the AUTO ROUTE needs to be ENLARGED not cut in half. Currently, RNWR Waterfowl hunting is allowed Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, running from before mid October into late January. I am not against waterfowl hunting. A PUBLIC MEETING will be held in the town of Ridgefield on March 26, 2009 to discuss the preliminary draft alternatives, and everyone who cares about OUR REFUGE should read this document and plan to attend the meeting. If you cannot be at the meeting, please mail, fax, or email your comments. We have until April 10 to submit comments on these alternatives to the Refuge Project Leader Bob Flores. DOCUMENT LOCATION (Posted online Mar 10, 2009): http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ridgefield/pdf/rnwrplnupdate3.pdf MEETING PLACE: March 26, 2009, 6:00-8:00 P.M. Ridgefield Community Center 210 North Main Avenue Ridgefield, WA 98642 COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS (Deadline April 10): Bob Flores, Project Leader Ridgefield NWR Complex PO Box 457 Ridgefield, Washington 98642 (360) 887-4106 Comments may be faxed to (360) 887-4109, Comments may be E-mailed to: FW1PlanningComments at fws.gov Please put ?Ridgefield NWR CCP Alternatives? on the subject line. Alternative 2, and Alternative 3 in this document regarding accessing and management of OUR REFUGE are especially ALARMING and would result in the LOSS of nearly half of the Auto Tour Route for Four months (Alternative 2) or Five and a half months (Alternative 3). Photographers, scenery lovers, and birders must not let this happen. A) I STRONGLY urge all of you to read this 12-page document (plus one map). B) I have no way of knowing to whom this was mailed, but this is VERY IMPORTANT business for OUR REFUGE, and I believe it should be widely read. C) In 2006, when the last meeting was held, there was good attendance from hunters, but very low attendance by birders and photographers. D) Attend the PUBLIC MEETING on MARCH 26 (short notice) if possible. E) Even if you attend the meeting, please submit your comments (DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS is April 10) by mail, fax, or email, even if you voice them by phone or at the meeting. If you prefer, I will submit comments collectively for all who email them to me in time for me to include them and email them by the April 10 Deadline. Let?s try and be at that meeting on the 26th and make our interests known! Thanks, Will Clemons SW of Portland From celata at pacifier.com Thu Mar 19 12:40:50 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:40:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] "prey item" in Tuesday's two-fer Message-ID: <49C29FC2.7010403@pacifier.com> I posted some additional clues regarding the bird being carried by the eagle in Tuesday quiz bird. http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Are you BSC or PSC? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or+PSC%3F.html From sheilach at nwtec.com Thu Mar 19 12:43:33 2009 From: sheilach at nwtec.com (Sheila) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:43:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Spring is on the wing! Message-ID: <862EEBB0E447438B8DD34B48CF71ED58@userdb934c10ae> The birds are on the move, new this year are the OSPREY, TREE-SWALLOWS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. As I perch on my chair by the computer, a TREE-SWALLOW is peering out of a nest box, a nest box that had also been examined by a VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW moments before. Still here but in smaller numbers are WHITE-CROWN, GOLD CROWN SPARROWS, more FOX SPARROWS, A SONG SPARROW, HOUSE FINCHES, A PURPLE FINCH, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, CHESTNUT-BACKED, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKDEES, EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES, BREWERS BLACKBIRDS,WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, ANNA'S and RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, NORTHERN FLICKER, ROBINS, and CEDAR WAXWINGS. Starlings and House sparrows paid many visits to my nest-box trap this year so there are fewer of them to compete with our native nestbox using birds. Sheila from sunny Harbor Oregon "Marinoism -- The belief that everything from political to religious indoctrination is an abject fraud, used to control the minds of this planet's citizenry as a means of effective social control, and that the individual must seek their own higher truths in order to rise above these psychological bonds which society uses to enslave them." From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Thu Mar 19 14:23:22 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (Jamie S.) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:23:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Death & Love among the birds Message-ID: <193163.40463.qm@web39506.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Let me preface this short story by saying that I'm not a?fan of exotic species, but?it's not their fault that they are here and they can have interesting characteristics, including behaviors. ? Today while walking between buildings at work, I noticed 2 house sparrows sitting closely side-by-side in some bark dust. It didn't take long to see that the female was dead and the male was huddling close to his mate. 15 minutes later when I passed by again, the scene was the same. I've never felt so much sympathy for a house sparrow. ? Jamie Simmons Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090319/94a1fc4e/attachment.html From bettymkn at netscape.com Thu Mar 19 14:39:41 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:39:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rufous at Foster Lake Message-ID: <20090319143941.1C325FA9@resin15.mta.everyone.net> First Rufous today at Foster Lake. Don't know yet if he is staying or just passing through. We haven't been here in the past until late April so don't know if this is usual arrival date. Several Varied Thrushes hanging out with the Robins at Sunnyside Park and the cemetery on the back side of Foster Lake. Red Shafter Flicker was also at the cemetery several days ago. We had one here in the RV Park a week or so ago, don't know if it was the same one. We have a beautiful Red-Winged Blackbird mixed with the others but haven't got a photo yet. Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Mar 19 14:49:27 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:49:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] 4th Williams/Applegate raptor survey (Jo Co) Message-ID: <2AB7B02D4FE9433BBA521082EAF4858F@Warbler> The 4th Williams-Applegate area raptor survey was completed today (03-19-09). Route is along the roads surrounding the towns of Murphy and Williams, Josephine Co. Total of 37.1 miles; 3.0 hours; weather: mostly cloudy to partly cloudy Found were: Red-tailed Hawk - 10 American Kestrel - 3 Red-shouldered Hawk - 2 White-tailed Kite - 2 Merlin - 1 Turkey Vulture - 19 Turkey Vultures are on the move. One Kite, when first seen, was a distant white dot at the top of a conifer tree when viewed with binos. Got out scope to be sure, it was a Kite, took off just as I got the scope on it. Last raptor survey for the season. Now, will be waiting for those migrants. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090319/d738c988/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Thu Mar 19 14:53:13 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:53:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] 2 Sea Otter Reports near Columbia & a Cautionary Article Message-ID: Hi, Two sea otters were recently reported in a March 14 article in the Daily Astorian: "Sea otter spotted at mouth of the Columbia River," by Julie Tennis, Washington State Parks. This is at http://www.dailyastorian.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=398&ArticleID=59218&TM=44007.98 A March 17 follow-up article in the Eugene Register-Guard about the reporting of the Depoe Bay sea otter in February: "Sea otter sighting raises stir, questions. Some biologists prefer the rare sightings be kept quiet," by Winston Ross. This is at http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/9565295-41/story.csp Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport From celata at pacifier.com Thu Mar 19 15:29:10 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:29:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sea Otter Reports near Columbia Message-ID: <49C2C736.8000408@pacifier.com> There are plenty of folk who routinely sit on the jetties and count stuff, who've seen Sea Otters. Jen Zamon and Beth Phillips are just obliged to tell folks, because it's part of their job when they count stuff. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR From sasdhill at comcast.net Thu Mar 19 15:40:28 2009 From: sasdhill at comcast.net (Sasdhill@comcast.net) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:40:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Osprey Message-ID: First Osprey siting of the year for me at Eastgate Park in Springfield swooping along the Willamette River this afternooon. Also saw American Goldfinch and great looks at a Great Blue Heron on a nest. Sally Hill Eugene, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090319/ac26da67/attachment.html From surfbird at q.com Thu Mar 19 16:17:57 2009 From: surfbird at q.com (Diane Pettey) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:17:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sea Otter Sightings... Message-ID: Greetings OBOLers, Just to make a point - we've observed River Otters in the ocean well outside the jetties of the Siuslaw River. Do read the Daily Astorian article to be certain of the identification before reporting. And yes, I know of "fishermen" who would do what was necessary to protect their catch from otters. regards, Diane Pettey Florence, OR surfbird at q.com From jvanmoo at sisna.com Thu Mar 19 16:39:15 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:39:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Klamath Falls, 3-18 and 19-09 Message-ID: Marilyn Christian and I did a raptor survey yesterday. Highlights: TRI-COLORED BLACKBIRDS (~8) at the 90 degree turn on Hill Road coming from Merrill. Two GOLDEN EAGLES at a nest site along Lower Klamath Lake Rd. A kettle of 18 BALD EAGLES (basically half-and-half adult/ sub-adult) along Hill Rd between Matney Way and the 90 degree turn on Hill Rd going tnto Merrill. Hawk numbers are way down--no falcons except Kestrel. We did find a FERRUGINOUS HAWK and there are still quite a few ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS along Township Rd. We also saw CINNAMON TEAL AND GREATER YELLOWLEGS on the OR side of White Lake and 2 BLACK-NECKED STILT on the Ca side. Today we birded in Moore Park and along the north end of Link River with Jean Van Hulzen and Jeri Sloss. Highlights: 2 HORNED GREBE and 2 WESTERN GREBE at Lake Ewauna. RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS seemed to be everywhere at Moore Park, chasing, drumming loudly--must have seen 6 or more. A lot of BUSTITs were around, WHITE-BREASTED and PYGMY NTHATCHEs, OAK TITMOUSE (several), a BROWN CREEPER, EVENIING GROSBEAK (audible), RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, BEWICK'S WREN. The Link River was not very active. Some COMMON MERGANSER, COMMON and BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, HOODED MERGANSER pair, BELTED KINGFISHER were about all. No sign of the mockingbird. Two good days in the field--does it get any better? And I get to do it again tomorrow on my last raptor survey of the season. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem From bettymkn at netscape.com Thu Mar 19 16:54:37 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:54:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Foster Lake Chestnut-Backed Chicadees Message-ID: <20090319165437.1C3279A3@resin15.mta.everyone.net> First for this feeder-two Chestnut-Backed Chicadees showed up today. Hoping they stay for awhile. Have had several Black-Capped for quite awhile. Very upsetting day for the birds. Husband having to do a lot of work around the feeder area today. Even with his hearing aids the birds are letting him know that they are "ticked". Thinking of some "diet" seed. Looking at some of the birds the amount of seed they are eating I think is showing. May need a "stimulus" package to carry them thru the summer when the finches and other summer birds show up. Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From windypointandy at dishmail.net Thu Mar 19 17:08:52 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:08:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Great Gray Owl and Williamson's Sapsucker-and more Message-ID: <000601c9a8f0$179b2230$3700a8c0@windypoint99> Hi Birders, Late afternoon on 16 March we had a magical wildlife experience near Milepost 15 on the Silver Lake Road in the Klamath Marsh NWR. Within a few minutes after arriving we spied a coyote hunting and pouncing on rodents in the meadow. We then watched both Rough-legged and Red-tailed Hawks hunting successfully farther out in the fields. There were evidently lots of rodents hereabouts. Sandhill Cranes called in the distance. A Northern Shrike perched sentinel-like atop a lodgepole pine snag and WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS called. We headed into the forest and watched two male Willy's duking it out, both drumming on the same snag and chasing one another. Evidently these birds had just arrived and were trying to settle territorial claims. Towards dusk, we positioned ourselves at opposite ends of the opening in order to canvas more meadow edge in our search for a Great Gray Owl. As a Great Horned Owl began calling I heard Ellen yell out "GREAT GRAY OWL." The owl was not visible to me so I hurried to her vantage. We then were treated to an incredible 15 minutes or so where we watched a very nervous-appearing Great Gray Owl forsake the cover of the forest edge and fly out three times into the middle of the meadow and pounce on prey. We watched in awe as it bolted down a vole-sized beast. After some moments out in the open (by several hundred yards), still nervous (rapidly swiveling its head as if to watch its backside in case the Great Horned Owl was coming closer), the Great Gray retreated to the forest edge. We wondered whether the prolonged storm the prior two days had caused the Great Gray poor hunting success rendering it hungry enough to venture out into the open, leaving it vulnerable to predation by the very nearby Great Horned Owl. For the rest of the story read on... We began our five-day Oregon spring trip 13 March at Fernhill Wetlands west of Portland. The weather was marvelous, indeed a beautiful early spring day. Both Tree and Violet-green Swallows flitted and called. We tallied 15 species of waterfowl here, including three Redheads and several Trumpeter Swans. We searched for the Swamp Sparrow with no luck but left this site really pleased at the birding opportunities. We wanted to target owls on this trip so arrived late in the afternoon at the trailhead for the Drift Creek Wilderness Area southeast of Newport. We took a hike into the stupendous old growth forest hoping a Spotted Owl might be about. Actually there were very few birds. We neither heard nor saw any chickadees, creepers, kinglets, or crossbills. A couple Winter Wrens and Varied Thrushes and one Pileated Woodpecker was our bird list after several hours of hiking. A major storm was forecast to arrive in the evening. The scientific discussion by the weather geeks called for several days of very wet and windy weather "with a juicy ingestion of tropical moisture" but the storm seemed slow in arriving. We camped a couple miles down from the wilderness area trailhead in an area of forest with near old-growth characteristics. We hoped owls would call during the night. However, the wind picked up and our luck was only mediocre with a single BARRED OWL briefly hooting, waking us briefly. Rain and more wind arrived in earnest Saturday morning. We headed downslope and managed to bird the coast from Yaquina Head (thousands of Common Murres and scattered Black Scoters) to Newport Bay (all six Oregon grebes and gobs of bay and sea ducks including Harlequin ducks at the mouth of the bay), and south to Alsea Bay (high tide and quiet so time out for a Subway sandwich).The afternoon weather was even more foul. We had to raise the hatch on our vehicle and position it just so to avoid the worst of the rain and wind. With effort we managed to add Glaucous Gull at Seal Rocks and Black-legged Kittiwake, and migrating Pacific Loons off Yaquina Head. Sunday morning dawned a wild tempest, forecast to continue another day and more. We bailed out and headed east of the Cascades to the dryside, where birding is possible and reasonable even in lousy weather. We found OR-58 a fast route to familiar eastside open forests, taking only 3 hours from I-5, even though there was heavy snow falling at higher elevations and we were delayed while jack-knifed trucks blocked the highway.The late winter storm was powerful enough to cross the Cascades so we birded again in rain and wind. Though conditions were mild as compared to the outer coast, we once again sought shelter to scope the fields and marshes. Late afternoon found us near the California line observing the spring waterfowl spectacle in the Klamath Basin. Thousands of Snow and Ross's Geese and lesser numbers of Greater White-fronted Geese grazed the open fields. One site was particularly memorable, a large agricultural field on the north side of Stateline Road chock full of waterfowl (Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Mallard were abundant, three EUROPEAN WIGEON and many Greater White-fronted Geese), gulls (Ring-billed, California, and Herring), bugling Sandhill Cranes, and blackbirds (several thousand Red-winged and a few Yellow-headed), and attendant Bald Eagles and nearby Rough-legged Hawks.. We tried for owls at Miller Island but the rain and winds continued so we called it a day. Monday morning we birded over-grazed pasture edge and junipers near the California line on Keno Warden Road and had good luck finding Oak Titmouse, both Western and Mountain Bluebirds, and Lesser Goldfinch. As we have a penchant for exploration we headed into the Klamath River canyon only a few miles from the California line, en route counting 300 Canvasbacks on John Boyle Reservoir. In the canyon we took a short walk on the oak-studded (both Oregon white and California black oaks) hillsides but birdlife was sparse. Golden-crowned Kinglets seemed the most numerous species. An American Dipper worked the Klamath River cataracts here. Regardless of the paucity of birdlife, the area was certainly scenic and the flora more reminiscent of California (duh...) than the Pacific Northwest. Heading north we stopped to walk the Link Trail in Klamath Falls, hoping for a California Towhee; we found a singing bird here last year. No luck with the towhee but we did find more Oak Titmice and Bushtits, including an old nest. A flock of over 40 Barrow's Goldeneyes, a most handsome fowl, swam in the channel here. Northwards, we stopped in at the Chiloquin Ranger District office for information on Great Gray Owls. It turned out the hinterland forest roads with recent sightings of this owl were still inaccessible due to snow. We decided to try finding suitable meadow edge habitat on the Silver Lake Road, paved and open year-round. Our lucky owl charm was finally on as you've read. Tuesday morning we targeted the open juniper and sage east of Bend finding a troop of PINYON JAYS roving through the junipers between Milepost 14.5 and 15. Townsend's Solitaires, gorgeous Mountain Bluebirds and Mountain Chickadees were about here too. Eastwards, we inspected the sage and bitterbrush terrain on the lower Pine Mountain Observatory Road and found several SAGE SPARROWS. As at Fort Rock where Sage Sparrows also occur, this type of shrub-steppe with abundant rabbitbrush is totally shunned by this species in Washington's Columbia Basin. A surprise CLARK'S NUTCRACKER out in the very sparse junipers, seemed really out of place. Perhaps the "near-complete" failure of subalpine whitebark pines to produce cones in the Cascades last fall (as I've heard) prompted birds to search for seeds and berries in habitats seemingly alien to a nutcracker. Heading east on ORR-20 we lingered about the high desert about four miles west of Brothers. A pair of Red-tailed Hawks appear to have usurped a juniper with a huge stick nest north of the highway, home last year to a pair of FERRUGINOUS HAWKS. The Ferrugy's seem to have moved south of the highway to a clump of scraggly trees (locusts?) next to an old homestead, and closer to Brothers. After a bit, these magnificent raptors soared right over US along the highway, a really cool treat! We always enjoy OR-27 ("Crooked River Highway")which heads northward and homeward for us through beautiful canyon country studded with junipers initially, then flanked by awesome cliffs. As we first began to descend into the gorge on this road, we stopped when several more PINYON JAYS crossed the road. Overhead a PRAIRIE FALCON shrieked at a passing GOLDEN EAGLE (an immature "ring-tail," always a thrilling bird to view), suggestive of a falcon eyrie hereabouts. We watched another pair of PRAIRIE FALCONS display on high cliffs by Prineville Reservoir. Homeward to Yakima with a trip list of 140 species...jeez, Oregon sure has lots of diversity and spring has just barely started! Greater White-fronted Goose Snow Goose Ross's Goose Canada Goose Cackling Goose Brant Trumpeter Swan Tundra Swan Wood Duck Gadwall EURASIAN WIGEON American Wigeon American Green-winged Teal Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Harlequin Duck Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Barrow's Goldeneye Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Wild Turkey Ring-necked Pheasant California Quail Red-throated Loon Pacific Loon Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Eared Grebe Western Grebe CLARK'S GREBE - Newport Bay Idaho Point Am. White Pelican Brandt's Cormorant Double-crested Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Great Blue Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night-Heron Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk FERRUGINOUS HAWK Rough-legged Hawk GOLDEN EAGLE American Kestrel PPRAIRIE FALCON American Coot Sandhill Crane Killdeer Black Oystercatcher Greater Yellowlegs Black Turnstone Sanderling Dunlin Long-billed Dowitcher Mew Gull Ring-billed Gull California Gull Herring Gull Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull GLAUCOUS GULL Black-legged Kittiwake Common Murre Pigeon Guillemot Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Great Horned Owl Barred Owl GREAT GRAY OWL Rufous Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Say's Phoebe Northern Shrike Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay PINYON JAY Clark's Nutcracker Black-billed Magpie American Crow Common Raven Horned Lark Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Mountain Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch Pygmy Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Marsh Wren American Dipper Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Townsend's Solitaire American Robin Varied Thrush European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler Spotted Towhee Sage Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird House Finch Red Crossbill Pine Siskin Lesser Goldfinch Evening Grosbeak House Sparrow Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090319/75bf5eaf/attachment.html From fschrock at gmail.com Thu Mar 19 17:51:31 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:51:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rufous in McMinnville Message-ID: <390ebd880903191751s115b2faer19f40b70f30be0d2@mail.gmail.com> My first-of-the-year Rufous Hummingbird (a male) is at my feeder here in McMinnville today. It will be interesting to see if the resident male Anna's is willing to share. I have not observed conflict so far. ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090319/7a07bdd0/attachment.html From phils at rio.com Thu Mar 19 18:12:33 2009 From: phils at rio.com (Phil and Christina) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:12:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Death & Love among the birds In-Reply-To: <193163.40463.qm@web39506.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: For another interesting take on the House Sparrow, read "Providence of a Sparrow" by Chris Chester. Phil Shepard Elmira -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org]On Behalf Of Jamie S. Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 2:23 PM To: obol; post to list midvalleybirding; Mid-valley-nature Subject: [obol] Death & Love among the birds Let me preface this short story by saying that I'm not a fan of exotic species, but it's not their fault that they are here and they can have interesting characteristics, including behaviors. Today while walking between buildings at work, I noticed 2 house sparrows sitting closely side-by-side in some bark dust. It didn't take long to see that the female was dead and the male was huddling close to his mate. 15 minutes later when I passed by again, the scene was the same. I've never felt so much sympathy for a house sparrow. Jamie Simmons Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090319/ea0222e0/attachment.html From WRBradford at aol.com Thu Mar 19 18:41:59 2009 From: WRBradford at aol.com (WRBradford at aol.com) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:41:59 EDT Subject: [obol] Mountain Bluebirds at Sandy River Delta Message-ID: In the field just East of the picnic table there were two MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS, a SAY'S PHOEBE, and 7 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS at the Sandy River Delta (Multnomah County) at 2 PM today. We also saw a kettle of 8 TURKEY VULTURES moving north in lazy circles, sharing the sky with 5 BALD EAGLES. There was also a pair of PILEATED WOODPECKERS working some alders closer to the highway not far from the parking lot. We didn't see the Bluebirds or the Phoebe when we came walking back from the blind, so I hope they weren't just passing through. Bill Bradford & Lora Minty **************Great Deals on Dell 15" Laptops - Starting at $479 (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1220029050x1201385914/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fad.doub leclick.net%2Fclk%3B212974460%3B34272906%3Bh) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090319/0a584369/attachment.html From yaakovm at comcast.net Thu Mar 19 19:00:31 2009 From: yaakovm at comcast.net (Jordan Epstein) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:00:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] New (?) Bald Eagle Nest and Question About SE Arizona Message-ID: <32E6E5DAAF8443FFB39F892DA58EFD33@jordanf59b0892> Hi, Went to the Tillamook area today and noticed a Bald Eagle nest, with eagle next to it, in a tree on S. side of Highway 6, about a ? mile west of Banks. Is this a new nest? I go this way several times a year and never noticed it before. On a different topic, I?m thinking about going to SE Arizona, Tucson/Bisbee area, in mid-May (around the 10th-14th). Is this a good time to see the many wonders of this area and are there particular places you would recommend? Replies off line would be great. Jordan Epstein SW Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090319/63115dff/attachment.html From pandioncp at hotmail.com Thu Mar 19 20:21:18 2009 From: pandioncp at hotmail.com (carolyn paynter) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:21:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] [birding] Giant earthworms and other things that creep along (includes some birds) In-Reply-To: <1237163323.3627.48.camel@localhost.localdomain> References: <1237163323.3627.48.camel@localhost.localdomain> Message-ID: Observations of the Pacific Giant Earthworm mention the lily smell and a sucking, wet sound if you are near a burrow with a worm active in the upper levels of the burrow. When I tell a non-nature person that, they accuse me of making it up. I would love to come upon such a thing. Carolyn Paynter > From: clearwater at peak.org > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:28:43 -0800 > CC: gnorgren at earthlink.net; list at midvalleybirding.org > Subject: [birding] Giant earthworms and other things that creep along (includes some birds) > > Hello folks, > > Thanks Lars for mentioning this intriguing creature, which I was not > aware of. I'm sure Mike Denny, if he's paying attention out in Walla > Walla, will sooner or later speak up for the Palouse giant earthworm > which has been in the news more recently: > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Palouse_earthworm > > It looks like this and the Oregon giant earthworm are closely related > (both in the genus Driloleirus). The Palouse species also burrows to 5 m > depths, in those amazing loess deposits of southeastern Washington. > > Speaking of things that creep along, this afternoon I went out on a walk > to the NW side of Coffin Butte, wondering if I could find motorless > species #100 for the year. > > With the GLAUCOUS GULL still being reported around Coffin Butte Landfill > in recent days, I figured that might be the one. I did see a buffy gull > with light primaries hanging with the gull flock way up on the winds > (which were gusting pretty well today), but I couldn't see it well > enough to be sure. At least, there's still a gull around that looks like > a possibility. > > Thinking about recent mid-valley reports of Loggerhead Shrike, Say's > Phoebe etc. from habitat similar to the NW side of Coffin Butte, not to > mention last year's report of a Mountain Bluebird from the same place, I > figured one of those possibilities might pan out too. But they didn't, > nor could I spot a Horned Lark along Wiles Rd. even though the habitat > looked suitable. > > The Cold Creek hunting club wetlands just across the county line into > Polk Co. had a few AMERICAN WIGEONS among the N. SHOVELERS and N. > PINTAILS, but no Eurasians. There were plenty of cacklers and honkers > but no white geese, or even blue geese. > > So I wound up settling for a flock of about 60 DUNLIN as my 100th > motorless species of the year. Now I'm about where Randy Campbell was in > late January -- just took me two and a half times longer. I should catch > up with his 2009 motorless year list by 2012, at this rate. > > The most impressive sight was about 2000 AMERICAN ROBINS using the stump > pasture where hybrid poplars were harvested last year. WESTERN BLUEBIRDS > and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were here and there along the walk, and a > couple of TURKEY VULTURES were eating something dead in a field. > > On the walk back, I saw some of the gull flock soaring off the north end > of Coffin Butte, even ranging a bit over the Polk Co. line. So maybe > there's still hope for Polk Co. birders who are hoping for a few gulls > this winter. > > About 60 WILSON'S SNIPE are now camped out around Toketie Marsh > (remedial wetland for the landfill), feeding in the wet area where the > outflow from the upper pond flows into the lower pond right by the > gate. > > An apparent intergrade EURASIAN x AMERICAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL (a drake > with both horizontal and vertical white stripes on the sides) was > hanging out among the regular American Green-winged Teal on the upper > pond -- must be a new guy in the neighborhood, as I've been scanning > these flocks pretty regularly. > > Happy birding/worming/whatever, > Joel > > On Sun, 15 Mar 2009 Lars Norgren wrote: > > > Within 24hrs of my non-ornithological > > inquiry I had numerous solid contacts for > > Oregon's most intriguing invertebrate. Obol > > subscribers constitute a host of intellectual > > champions. > > Megascolides was originally described from > > Australian worms (said to reach 11' in length). > > The Oregon worms have been redesignated Driloleirus, > > although they are still assigned to the family > > Megascolidae. Ours is the only area outside the > > Southern Hemisphere to have this family. The Oregon > > Giant Earthworm is Driloleirus macelfreshi, first > > described in the 1930s and known from a total of > > 12 specimens. D. cascadensis is only slightly > > smaller, and more easily found. As its name implies, > > the type specimen is from the Cascades (east of Salem) > > but most specimens have been collected in the Coast Range. > > MacDonald Forest has produced specimens of D. cascadensis. > > A 52" long worm found dead in Willamette Park > > last(2008) December is surely D. macelfreshi, but > > internal decomposition precluded positive ID, which > > is based on internal organs. 52" would be the largest > > specimen known, but with only a dozen on record, who > > knows what the actual range in size might be. Since my > > initial conversation on Wednesday, I have mentioned > > the topic to every truffle hunter I talk to and they > > all have seen giant worms. Not frequently, maybe not > > even yearly, but repeatedly none the less. > > Darrel Faxon tells me of seeing giant worms > > repeatedly at the youthful end of his observations > > of nature, but not recently. Perhaps these were > > D. cascadensis, or a yet undescribed species. The > > current theory attributes the Willamette silts as > > the home of D. macelfreshi, but 12 data points strike > > me as a rather flimsy basis for any theory. It is > > believed to go up to 15 feet deep, by way of permanent > > burrows. The idea of a worm one inch in diameter > > burrowing so deep seems improbable at first blush, > > but my father informs me that nowhere on earth are > > soils more porous at this depth than the Oregon > > Coast Range and the west slope of the Cascades. > > Lars Norgren > > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > _______________________________________________ > list mailing list > list at midvalleybirding.org > http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ _________________________________________________________________ Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/personalize.aspx?ocid=TXT_MSGTX_WL_HM_express_032009#colortheme -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090319/f00f1e5f/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Mar 19 22:35:44 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:35:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] New (?) Bald Eagle Nest and Question About SE Arizona In-Reply-To: <32E6E5DAAF8443FFB39F892DA58EFD33@jordanf59b0892> References: <32E6E5DAAF8443FFB39F892DA58EFD33@jordanf59b0892> Message-ID: <74de03c16ce513123630c7a06f80a949@earthlink.net> It's been there for several years, well monitored by Dennis Manzer. The Black Cottonwood it is built in has yet to leaf out, so it's much easier to see at the moment than April through November. Students in the second floor of Banks Elementary School can see it. Lars Norgren On Mar 19, 2009, at 6:00 PM, Jordan Epstein wrote: > > Hi, > ? > Went to the Tillamook area today and noticed a Bald Eagle nest, with > eagle next to it, in a tree on S. side of Highway 6, about a ? mile > west of Banks. ?Is this a new nest?? I go this way several times a > year and never noticed it before. > ? > On a different topic, I?m thinking about going to SE Arizona, > Tucson/Bisbee area, in mid-May (around the 10th-14th). ?Is this a good > time to see the many wonders of this area and are there particular > places you would recommend? ?Replies off line would be great. > ? > Jordan Epstein > SW Portland > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From loisbillranta at comcast.net Thu Mar 19 21:41:58 2009 From: loisbillranta at comcast.net (Bill Ranta) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:41:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck Message-ID: <5338E7D6AC1C48EFAAAEE737B14CA36A@BLAPTOP> Scoped the Tufted Duck at 158th and Marine Dr. at 3:30pm. Was present with about 200,000 or so Scaup. At least it seemed that way. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090319/9a83e3c3/attachment.html From jt_johnson at comcast.net Thu Mar 19 21:53:14 2009 From: jt_johnson at comcast.net (Jim Johnson) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:53:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Northwest Dragonfly Site In-Reply-To: <5338E7D6AC1C48EFAAAEE737B14CA36A@BLAPTOP> References: <5338E7D6AC1C48EFAAAEE737B14CA36A@BLAPTOP> Message-ID: <50E6FB32DBCA406F8D77A7EF021CC6D7@D81WS2C1> Excuse the non-bird post, but I know a number of birders are into dragonflies as well. I've gotten pretty far along on a site dedicated to the Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) of the Northwest--with photos of species from elsewhere too: http://odonata.bogfoot.net/. I'm still working on getting content loaded, so I only have photos for a small number of Northwest species right now, but I try to add more each day. Over time I'll have additional material besides photos. Actually, I did see a lone Violet-green Swallow in downtown Vancouver, Washington this morning. I got the sense that it was a locally breeding bird and not just moving through. Cheers, Jim Johnson Vancouver, Washington -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090319/883a7396/attachment.html From gismiller at gmail.com Thu Mar 19 21:53:46 2009 From: gismiller at gmail.com (Craig Miller) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:53:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fort Rock Harlan's Hawk Message-ID: <49C3215A.6070103@gmail.com> Hi all, On Sunday, March 14, Pete Low, Marilyn and I birded our way to Summer Lake and back. We found an adult Harlan's Hawk about a mile east of the town of Fort Rock. Craig Miller From sandyleapt at comcast.net Fri Mar 20 07:13:56 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:13:56 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Death & Love among the birds In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <401622568.9136721237558436113.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> I once saw a gull behave in this manner at a NE Portland transit station. It stayed with its deceased parent or parent for almost a week. It defended the body and only left when a person came to close. I was beginning to worry about the poor bird. Someone finally picked up the dead gull, the live bird searched the area for a day or two and then left. It broke my heart. (And no, the live bird was not feeding on the dead bird). Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland ----- Original Message ----- From: "Phil and Christina" To: "Jamie S." , "obol" , "post to list midvalleybirding" , "Mid-valley-nature" Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 6:12:33 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: Re: [obol] Death & Love among the birds For another interesting take on the House Sparrow, read "Providence of a Sparrow" by Chris Chester. Phil Shepard Elmira -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Jamie S. Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 2:23 PM To: obol; post to list midvalleybirding; Mid-valley-nature Subject: [obol] Death & Love among the birds Let me preface this short story by saying that I'm not a fan of exotic species, but it's not their fault that they are here and they can have interesting characteristics, including behaviors. Today while walking between buildings at work, I noticed 2 house sparrows sitting closely side-by-side in some bark dust. It didn't take long to see that the female was dead and the male was huddling close to his mate. 15 minutes later when I passed by again, the scene was the same. I've never felt so much sympathy for a house sparrow. Jamie Simmons Corvallis _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090320/718eb491/attachment.html From grantandstacy17 at gmail.com Fri Mar 20 08:59:56 2009 From: grantandstacy17 at gmail.com (Grant Canterbury) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:59:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Death & Love among the birds Message-ID: Last summer I was walking in our neighborhood and heard a crow giving a high-pitched, grating call that was quite unlike their usual repertoire and caught my attention immediately. Looking for the bird I saw it in the middle of an open gravelly space, flapping awkwardly on the ground. I thought it might have been tangled up in some wire or something, so I went closer to take a look, whereupon it noticed me and flew off without any difficulty to a nearby tree. Where it had been there was a recently dead crow on the ground. Normally it seems to me that the inner life of birds is rather opaque, unlike mammals where for example I usually have no difficulty reading the emotional state of my dog. For birds I can pick up on their level of general alertness and activity, alarm calls, etc., but beyond that the subtler cues to the nature of their experience don't seem as accessible to casual observation (is that sparrow singing territorially against a male in the next bush, or simply practicing his melody as a warm-up for the mating season, or, heck, just enjoying life and the return of the sun this beautiful spring day). But this incident was hard to interpret as anything other than a personal grief, and stood out for the clarity of the emotion being communicated across the barrier of species and several hundred million years worth of separate evolutionary paths. - Grant C. From bettymkn at netscape.com Fri Mar 20 09:42:55 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:42:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hummers Message-ID: <20090320094255.1C31D625@resin13.mta.everyone.net> Yesterday when the first Rufous arrived and I put the feeder out he sat his little bbttttt in the tree and never left the rest of the day. He may have stayed all nite as he was there at 7 this a.m. He was ready. The second arrived this morning and the war is on. Was just rereading an article from an Arizona newspaper of several years ago where there is a gentlemen south of Tuscon on the migratory path that runs 50-75 feeders during the season and goes thru 1100 # of sugar. I wonder if they are as territorial during migration as they are when they settle somewhere. If so, you must have to go out in his yard with a helmet. The article says he can have as many as 4000 birds a day. He does allow visitors so if anyone is interested I can give you a copy of the article with his location. It also gives a number of other locations for hummers in that area that allow visitors. Some are bed and breakfasts. Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From LeavensL at aol.com Fri Mar 20 09:43:34 2009 From: LeavensL at aol.com (LeavensL at aol.com) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:43:34 EDT Subject: [obol] OaksBottom Say's Phoebe Message-ID: Nice Say's Phoebe at 9:15 this AM, just south of mile post 3 on the Springwater Trail. This is just north of the entry across from Oaks Park. Enjoy, Linda **************Feeling the pinch at the grocery store? Make dinner for $10 or less. (http://food.aol.com/frugal-feasts?ncid=emlcntusfood00000001) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090320/51019397/attachment.html From msgellerman at gmail.com Fri Mar 20 09:57:29 2009 From: msgellerman at gmail.com (Michael Gellerman) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:57:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] First Rufous Hummingbird - Bethany Pond Message-ID: <1d0c413a0903200957w17c56c7brc644277615912adf@mail.gmail.com> Yesterday we had our first Rufous Hummingbird (male at our feeder). Unlike the VG and Tree Swallows, they are a little late for us. Mike Gellerman Bethany Pond, Washington Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090320/a221c8b2/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Fri Mar 20 10:01:13 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:01:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] birds in the news Message-ID: <49C3CBD9.6080900@verizon.net> About energy and its impact on birds: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090320/ap_on_go_ot/energy_birds About Hawaii birds: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090320/ap_on_re_us/birds_hawaii From glenn_rie at yahoo.com Fri Mar 20 13:14:23 2009 From: glenn_rie at yahoo.com (Rie Luft) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:14:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Peregrine Falcons on Sellwood Bridge Message-ID: <105504.78034.qm@web112205.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Glenn and I, while fishing for salmon during the past week, have seen two peregrine falcons fairly regularly on the south side of the concrete top of the middle bridge piling of Sellwood Bridge - possibly beginning to nest or looking to nest. They also visit the other pilings on each side of the middle one and can be seen and heard most reliably just after dawn. They should be able to be seen on land from the end of Spokane St. To reach Spokane, turn N on 6th street on the east side of the river just before the bridge; turn left on Spokane and drive down to the river. You can walk along the river from there. Rie, Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090320/1424cbea/attachment.html From kasey_church at yahoo.com Fri Mar 20 13:44:24 2009 From: kasey_church at yahoo.com (Kasey Church) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:44:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Great Horned Owl Message-ID: <15662.67610.qm@web111105.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Went over to Whitaker Pond off Columbia and saw a beautiful adult GH Owl and its one big fat crying baby. Owlet was doing an awesome owl version of head-banging though its plaintive demands had to compete with the passing semis. At a stop light on the way home watched a mature Baldie soar majestically over the Golden Arches and Econolodge. What a weird world. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090320/f0f7ed96/attachment.html From nnielsenpincus at yahoo.com Fri Mar 20 14:56:28 2009 From: nnielsenpincus at yahoo.com (Nicole Nielsen-Pincus) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:56:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] spring swift count Message-ID: <429894.25842.qm@web55306.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Spring migration is beginning and we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Vaux's swifts to roost sites around Oregon once again.? We are designating April 15 as the day for an official spring migration count.?Although counts are more typically done during the fall migration, we'd like to get some data from the spring as well.? If you are able to conduct a volunteer count or scout for roost locations, please contact me at nnielsenpincus at yahoo.com.? For more information about Vaux's Happening see: http://web.mac.com/l.schwitters/Vauxs_Happening/Vauxs_Happening_Home.html Thanks for your interest and participation. ? Nicole Nielsen-Pincus Vaux's Happening Oregon State Coordinator -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090320/62eafb93/attachment.html From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Fri Mar 20 14:59:37 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (Gerard Lillie) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:59:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hummers In-Reply-To: <20090320094255.1C31D625@resin13.mta.everyone.net> References: <20090320094255.1C31D625@resin13.mta.everyone.net> Message-ID: <00ae01c9a9a7$29bdffc0$7d39ff40$@lillie@comcast.net> I seem to recall hearing that the man you are referring to south of Tucson does not feed to the extent he used to and visitors are no longer allowed. I could be wrong- perhaps Rich Hoyer knows more about this. There are, however, several very good places to observe hummers in SE Arizona. Gerard Lillie Mt. Tabor Portland , OR -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Betty Mankin Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 9:43 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Hummers Yesterday when the first Rufous arrived and I put the feeder out he sat his little bbttttt in the tree and never left the rest of the day. He may have stayed all nite as he was there at 7 this a.m. He was ready. The second arrived this morning and the war is on. Was just rereading an article from an Arizona newspaper of several years ago where there is a gentlemen south of Tuscon on the migratory path that runs 50-75 feeders during the season and goes thru 1100 # of sugar. I wonder if they are as territorial during migration as they are when they settle somewhere. If so, you must have to go out in his yard with a helmet. The article says he can have as many as 4000 birds a day. He does allow visitors so if anyone is interested I can give you a copy of the article with his location. It also gives a number of other locations for hummers in that area that allow visitors. Some are bed and breakfasts. Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From katandbill at yahoo.com Fri Mar 20 15:10:17 2009 From: katandbill at yahoo.com (Kat & Bill) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:10:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Hummers Message-ID: <363664.77068.qm@web53903.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hi OBOL, No need to travel to see the magnificent hummers in action. Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9uxYy_Na3w Maybe it's even the guy that would go through all the sugar! Looks like southwest somewhere. It's 8 minutes and 50 seconds, but well worth it. I wish we lived on a migration route like that! Kat in Eugene - with Anna's and Rufous HB's in the yard. From jvanmoo at sisna.com Fri Mar 20 15:19:42 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:19:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] K-Falls, 3-20-09 Message-ID: <3915D17D-E417-4B8F-B9AF-DF5813E01781@sisna.com> The shorebirds are coming! On a raptor survey today we found AMERICAN AVOCETS (first I've seen this year) and both GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS on Midland Rd between Tingley Lane and Hwy 97--about 40 Avocets in one group and at another place 15-20. Also 14 SANDHILL CRANES along Midland Rd in the same area. Raptors were noticeably absent today--some BALD EAGLES and REDTAILED HAWKS, 2 or 3 NORTHERN HARRIER. No Ferruginous or Rough-legged Hawks. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem From drheath82 at verizon.net Fri Mar 20 16:41:06 2009 From: drheath82 at verizon.net (Mr David Heath) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:41:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] birds in the news In-Reply-To: <49C3CBD9.6080900@verizon.net> References: <49C3CBD9.6080900@verizon.net> Message-ID: <002a01c9a9b5$57bd2c80$07378580$@net> If you've read the Hawaii part, you'll be aware that birds on the Hakalau refuge are doing well, including the "Aki" -- one of the rarest of the rare. This makes me especially happy, since a couple of years ago, I was one of those volunteers planting koa trees. You can be one also. Wilderness Volunteers has an annual week-long trip to the refuge to do whatever is on the agenda. It's amazingly cheap compared to most such volunteer programs. Unfortunately, this year's trip started today, but put it down for next year's vacation. As a treat, you get a guided birding hike on the refuge; ours was led by ranger and photographer Jack Jeffrey -- if you see a great photo of an Aki or an Iiwi, it probably has his name on it. http://www.wildernessvolunteers.org/ David -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of DJ Lauten and KACastelein Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 10:01 AM To: Oregon Birders On Line Subject: [obol] birds in the news About energy and its impact on birds: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090320/ap_on_go_ot/energy_birds About Hawaii birds: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090320/ap_on_re_us/birds_hawaii _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From glenn_rie at yahoo.com Fri Mar 20 16:57:09 2009 From: glenn_rie at yahoo.com (Rie Luft) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:57:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Yes to Say's Phoebe Message-ID: <993710.97204.qm@web112202.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> The Say's Phoebe is still in the general location as reported. At 3:45 pm saw it about 35 feet south of the 3-mile marker on the Springwater Trail, making forays out from the Red-osier Dogwood shrubs near the water. Great views. And great directions, Linda. Thanks. Rie -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090320/09767edc/attachment.html From sasdhill at comcast.net Fri Mar 20 17:16:23 2009 From: sasdhill at comcast.net (Sasdhill@comcast.net) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:16:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Orange Crowned Warbler-Skinner's Butte- Eugene Message-ID: I took advantage of the sun this afternoon and went over to Skinner's Butte loop, saw an Orange Crowned Warbler in a mixed flock that included Townsend's Warbler, Lesser Goldfinch, Ruby Crowned Kinglet, Golden Crowned Kinglet and Black Capped Chickadee. Maybe spring has come! Sally Hill Eugene, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090320/4de336de/attachment.html From pbirder at comcast.net Fri Mar 20 18:01:34 2009 From: pbirder at comcast.net (Patty Newland) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:01:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Peregrine Falcons on Sellwood Bridge In-Reply-To: <105504.78034.qm@web112205.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> References: <105504.78034.qm@web112205.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <49C43C6E.3090701@comcast.net> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090320/21543501/attachment.html From pbirder at comcast.net Fri Mar 20 18:05:15 2009 From: pbirder at comcast.net (Patty Newland) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:05:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] oops: wrong header--Tufted Duck In-Reply-To: <49C43C6E.3090701@comcast.net> References: <105504.78034.qm@web112205.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> <49C43C6E.3090701@comcast.net> Message-ID: <49C43D4B.8080707@comcast.net> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090320/0be87a91/attachment.html From FoxSparrows at aol.com Fri Mar 20 18:59:05 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 21:59:05 EDT Subject: [obol] Has anyone used RECOIL or HELICOIL to fix a spotting scope thread mount? Message-ID: Has anyone personally used a RECOIL or any type of HELICOIL to fix a stripped spotting scope thread mount? If so, can you offer advice? If you had a shop fix this for you, could you please share the business name? Please respond directly to me... Thanks! Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm_ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1219619459x1201345309/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID %3D62%26bcd%3DMarchfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090320/333c2bea/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Fri Mar 20 19:56:33 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:56:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ankeny Eurasian Widgeon, White-throated Sparrow Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F01F80045@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> I birded Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge in the late afternoon and found two EURASIAN WIGEON in a field along Rall Road. This flock was moving around and so look for large widgeon flocks. Across from Pintail Marsh there was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. There were 14 GREAT EGRET in the fields just beyond the Kiosk along Buena Vista Road. VIRGINA RAIL were calling from the Marsh along Wintel Road in the marsh area just below the junction of Wintel Road and Ankeny Hill Road. There were 100's of TREE and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS over the water areas of the refuge. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090320/205ea32e/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Fri Mar 20 23:44:44 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:44:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sandy R. delta: Mt. Bluebirds, Say's Phoebe. Message-ID: Jay Withgott and I saw the two previously reported female MONTAIN BLUEBIRDS and the SAY's PHOEBE in the grassy area east of the parking lot today at mid-afternoon. (We had missed them early in the morning.) A PILEATED WOODPECKER was near the parking lot. Jeff Gilligan Portland From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sat Mar 21 07:44:13 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 07:44:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Migrants 3/20/09 Message-ID: <67617.13710.qm@web45305.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Along with 100+ TREE SWALLOWS out on the north spit of Coos Bay there were two BARN SWALLOWS.? This is about their normal arrival time.? First winter in several years that none were reported on the South Coast. ENJOY! Tim R Coos Bay From msgellerman at gmail.com Sat Mar 21 09:50:01 2009 From: msgellerman at gmail.com (Michael Gellerman) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 09:50:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] SE Arizona Message-ID: <1d0c413a0903210950u4f635cc0jebbe8d3f4d20811@mail.gmail.com> Jordan - We were just down in Tucson and SE Arizona three weeks ago. While that was considered early for most of the SE Arizona specialty birds, it seemed to be a very early year. There was a daily Elegant Trogon in Madera Canyon that was attracting crowds, Magnificent and Broad-billed Hummingbirds were around along with all the other usual suspects. Cactus Wrens were all ready on nests around Tucson. Mike Gellerman Washington County -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090321/21433950/attachment.html From di4tbirds at comcast.net Sat Mar 21 10:25:06 2009 From: di4tbirds at comcast.net (di4tbirds at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:25:06 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Orange crowned warbler and chipping sparrow/Delta Ponds/Eugene Message-ID: <1747606010.12539721237656306062.JavaMail.root@sz0050a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> OBOL: Just had a Orange-crowned warbler and a Chipping Sparrow at Delta Ponds in Eugene. Diane Horgan -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090321/7a407e19/attachment.html From mmarvin at spiritone.com Sat Mar 21 13:28:14 2009 From: mmarvin at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 13:28:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Multiple reports of Say's Phoebe Message-ID: <7477124A-5611-48F6-A6F2-AC486D2AF4D0@spiritone.com> Oboli - Am I the only one surprised by the number of reports this year of Say's Phoebe west of the Cascades? I took a look at BOGR (2003) which indicated only a few "possible" records. This March they have been reported from seven different locations (Newport, Creswell, Eugene, Beaverton/Tigard, Portland Airport, Sandy River Delta, Oaks Bottom). Although some of these locations are not so distant from one another that it might not be the same bird, they can't all be the same one. Or could they? Any thoughts? Many thanks. Marcia --- == "Somethin' is happenin' here and you don't know what it is, do you, Mr. Jones?" Bob Dylan, "Ballad of a Thin Man" From davidmandell at earthlink.net Sat Mar 21 13:38:52 2009 From: davidmandell at earthlink.net (David Mandell) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 13:38:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sandy River Delta: Bluebirds and Phoebe Message-ID: <429ACCD1-370B-4868-941B-4403A4892978@earthlink.net> The two Mountain Bluebirds were still at Sandy River Delta this morning. The Say's Phoebe has morphed into three. As to Marcia's question about Say's Phoebe west of the cascades, I do know that they are annual at Sandy River this time of year. David Mandell Portland, OR From mikedressel at comcast.net Sat Mar 21 14:39:31 2009 From: mikedressel at comcast.net (Mike Dressel) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:39:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] FINALLY! Message-ID: <002f01c9aa6d$85504fc0$8ff0ef40$@net> Rufous Hummingbirds at our feeders in NE McMinnville today. Beautiful creatures, and very welcome, indeed. As I was refreshing the feeders today, I got buzzed by something I did not see. Now I know who the culprit was.. Mike Dressel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090321/86f16780/attachment.html From FoxSparrows at aol.com Sat Mar 21 15:01:58 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 18:01:58 EDT Subject: [obol] First Harney Co. Long-billed Curlews, Turkey Vultures for 2009 Message-ID: I saw my first-for-2009 First LONG-BILLED CURLEWS at the SE corner of the Paiute Reservation north of Burns today - 8 birds. First TURKEY VULTURES for 2009 about 1 mile north of there. Mike and Joyce Green reported to me that they had seen Turkey Vultures north of Juntura in Malheur County a week ago today. The diversions on the Silvies River are now being closed, and hayfields are quickly flooding. Many RING-BILLED GULLS and PINTAILS have arrived over the last couple of days. I saw two BLUE-PHASE ROSS'S GEESE this morning along Highway 205 where the Silvies crosses, south of Burns. Rick Vetter saw four blue-phase Ross's Geese later in the afternoon in a single flock. White geese are very numerous, and now are dispersing to flooded fields. Other waterfowl concentrations - COMMON GOLDENEYE and LESSER SCAUP are thick at Burns Sewage Ponds. COMMON MERGANSERS were numerous at a privately-owned gravel pit pond along North Harney Road, east of Burns. Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm_ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1220863691x1201421954/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID %3D62%26bcd%3DMarchfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090321/f6161608/attachment.html From clausing at uiuc.edu Sat Mar 21 15:43:10 2009 From: clausing at uiuc.edu (Arthur Clausing) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 15:43:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck Message-ID: If you have not seen the Tufted Duck, it is still in the same area on the Columbia River. Specifically, today I saw it about 150 yards east of the last house, House No. 14005, at 1:30 this afternoon. This duck is relatively easy to pick out form a crowd even in a relatively dark, rainy afternoon. At the east end of that stretch of path was a large, dense congregation of cormorants. I counted 100 and stopped about a third of the distance across the group. Further down river was the fourth sea lion I have seen near Portland this year. This one was gigantic! Are Steller Sea Lions around this time of the year? Earlier this week, a Say's Phoebe put on quite a show for me at Chinook Landing ( by the small pond on the right about 50 yards before the pay booth as one is entering the area). I also saw a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers on this same bicycle ride. They were along the new path that lies on the west dike near the mouth of the Sandy river. Art Clausing Portland From markhamm at charterinternet.com Sat Mar 21 15:44:45 2009 From: markhamm at charterinternet.com (Mark Hamm) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 15:44:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] chipping sparrow Roseburg Message-ID: <0B8279E0-1501-4DEB-9EAC-E065D8B54F73@charterinternet.com> Sandy Mabel and I saw a CHIPPING SPARROW in Garden Valley today. Also saw BALD EAGLE sitting on nest at Melrose school west of Roseburg. From tom-escue at comcast.net Sat Mar 21 16:11:06 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:11:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] turkey vultures Message-ID: While at the Harvest Landing in Springfield today I saw two TURKEY VULTURES, several noisy STELLER'S JAYS and some TREE SWALLOWS. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090321/53f2ad98/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Sat Mar 21 16:11:32 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:11:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Multiple reports of Say's Phoebe In-Reply-To: <7477124A-5611-48F6-A6F2-AC486D2AF4D0@spiritone.com> Message-ID: I think the number being reported is normal. The species typically occurs in small numbers throughout western Oregon (particularly the interior valleys) in late winter and early spring. Jeff On 3/21/09 1:28 PM, "Marcia Marvin" wrote: > Oboli - > > Am I the only one surprised by the number of reports this year of > Say's Phoebe west of the Cascades? I took a look at BOGR (2003) > which indicated only a few "possible" records. This March they have > been reported from seven different locations (Newport, Creswell, > Eugene, Beaverton/Tigard, Portland Airport, Sandy River Delta, Oaks > Bottom). Although some of these locations are not so distant from > one another that it might not be the same bird, they can't all be the > same one. Or could they? Any thoughts? > > Many thanks. > > Marcia > > --- > == > "Somethin' is happenin' here and you don't know what it is, > do you, Mr. Jones?" > Bob Dylan, "Ballad of a Thin Man" > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Sat Mar 21 16:28:17 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:28:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Sea Otter Article Message-ID: <685829.87151.qm@web51808.mail.re2.yahoo.com> OBOL, I have a very special interest in the potential reintroduction of sea otters and/or natural recolonization (fully understanding an?occasional errant male otter?is a far cry from that). Although I certainly agree with the desire to protect the otter, it is my firm belief that the best way to do this is to tell EVERYONE...shout it from the highest mountain....make it?so?that EVERYBODY...every local...every tourist....knows (although I have?always kept my word when people have asked me to keep it under the hat).?It is often said that?secrecy breeds corruption and I believe this is no exception. I agree with where Dave's comments were going that otters would restore balance to the kelp forests and therefore would be good for commercial fisheries overall...we just need to provide some documentation for this (it does exist for other areas) and start an education program...many who are open-minded about this have said, "show me the data" and we'll talk. Since otters are endangered species, there are?many fishermen who are more concerned about potential closures of fishing areas if otters are reintroduced than about the otter's take/competition for fish.?I believe this?is a legitimate concern that would need to be fully ironed out before we could seriously undertake any reintroduction efforts. I would want to engage fishermen from the start for any such effort. Finally, the DNA work does show that the Oregon sea otter was much more closely related to the southern subspecies than the northern one (found in WA and Alaska) so any reintroduction effort would need to find a way to obtain otters from California...much more difficult than Washington or Alaska).....and those south of Point Conception (which I think would be the ones most easily gotten) are probably not the best choice for a variety of reasons. Cindy Ashy From drheath82 at verizon.net Sat Mar 21 16:56:41 2009 From: drheath82 at verizon.net (Mr David Heath) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:56:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] FINALLY! In-Reply-To: <002f01c9aa6d$85504fc0$8ff0ef40$@net> References: <002f01c9aa6d$85504fc0$8ff0ef40$@net> Message-ID: <000601c9aa80$af9fa1a0$0edee4e0$@net> I had one today too, in Cedar Mill, Washington Co. First time I've ever had one at my feeder, at least that I've been around to see. David From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Mike Dressel Sent: Saturday, March 21, 2009 2:40 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] FINALLY! Rufous Hummingbirds at our feeders in NE McMinnville today. Beautiful creatures, and very welcome, indeed. As I was refreshing the feeders today, I got buzzed by something I did not see. Now I know who the culprit was.. Mike Dressel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090321/022f7812/attachment.html From gneavoll at comcast.net Sat Mar 21 16:59:44 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 23:59:44 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Slaty-backed Gull still on Willamette In-Reply-To: <508628211.10972081237679710118.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <730155228.10972911237679984010.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Portland waterfront SLATY-BACKED GULL, now nearing breeding plumage, in familiar spot on eastside dock between Steel, Burnside bridges between 3 and 4 p.m. today (3/21/09). Speckling on breast almost gone; "mascara smudge" around whitish eye soon may be only noticeable marking on head. Usual coterie of Glaucous-winged, California, Western gulls lined up with it on dock; pair of Mew Gulls in sparkling breeding plumage offshore. STELLER SEA LION cruising Willamette just n. of docked sternwheel steamer "Portland" on w. bank, heading upstream. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090321/f5e955e5/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sat Mar 21 17:40:56 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:40:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Multiple reports of Say's Phoebe/Coos Migrants 3/21/2009 Message-ID: <13649.93607.qm@web45305.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I agree with Jeff.? It seems like there are more like 20+ sighting each year in W. Oregon.? Usually, on the south coast, we have 1 or 2 in Coos Co.. and 3 or 4 in Curry County (Don Munson has already had a couple, not sure if Terry Wahl has also- he usually has a few though) during spring migration.? Historically, W. Oregon numbers may have been lower, but I wasn't birding here in prehistoric times like some OBOLers. Saw three CINNAMON TEAL in Coos Co. today- migrants that may have been around for a few weeks since it was a spot I hadn't checked in a while. Also a couple of REDHEADS still around on the N. Spit of Coos Bay.? The GOLDEN and BALD EAGLES are still easily seen up Bethel Mtn. Road in SW Coos Co. too.. Merry migration! Tim R Coos Bay --- On Sat, 3/21/09, Jeff Gilligan wrote: > From: Jeff Gilligan > Subject: Re: [obol] Multiple reports of Say's Phoebe > To: "Marcia Marvin" , "OBOL" > Date: Saturday, March 21, 2009, 4:11 PM > I think the number being reported is > normal.? The species typically occurs > in small numbers throughout western Oregon (particularly > the interior > valleys) in late winter and early spring. > > Jeff > > > On 3/21/09 1:28 PM, "Marcia Marvin" > wrote: > > > Oboli - > > > > Am I the only one surprised by the number of reports > this year of > > Say's Phoebe west of the Cascades?? I took a look > at BOGR (2003) > > which indicated only a few "possible" records. > This March they have > > been reported from seven different locations (Newport, > Creswell, > > Eugene, Beaverton/Tigard, Portland Airport, Sandy > River Delta, Oaks > > Bottom).? Although some of these locations are > not so distant from > > one another that it might not be the same bird, they > can't all be the > > same one.? Or could they?? Any thoughts? > > > > Many thanks. > > > > Marcia > > > > --- > > == > > "Somethin' is happenin' here and you don't know what > it is, > > do you, Mr. Jones?" > > Bob Dylan, "Ballad of a Thin Man" > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Mar 21 18:02:30 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 01:02:30 +0000 Subject: [obol] Multiple reports of Say's Phoebe In-Reply-To: References: <7477124A-5611-48F6-A6F2-AC486D2AF4D0@spiritone.com> Message-ID: Greetings All, To answer Marcia's question further, Jeff is correct. I'm not sure where in the BOGR species account for Say's Phoebe that it reads a few "possible" records w. of the Cascades. My copy reads as follows with regard to westside birds: "Uncommon to very uncommon spring and fall migrant west of the Cascades summit to the coast. In most springs 3-4 individuals are reported west of the Cascades, but some years are exceptional, such as 1999, when as many as 31 were reported (Lillie 1999)." The spring average for western Oregon is now more like 8-12 (likely the result of ever-increasing observer effort). Last spring (2008) 11 Say's Phoebes were reported from western Oregon, while 24 were detected in w. Washington during the same season. The rate of this spring's reports is on pace to be a bit above the norm. Here in Lane County, we usually have at least 2-3 northbound Say's Phoebes, almost all of which are found in March. We've had three that I know of already this year. Say's Phoebes also winter with some regularity in the Willamette Valley and along the southern Oregon Coast. I think that Terry Wahl had up to three at his ranch near Cape Blanco this past winter and Lars Norgren, Karl Fairchild, Jesse Leach, and I found one on the Coquille Valley CBC. Dave Irons > Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:11:32 -0700 > From: jeffgill at teleport.com > To: mmarvin at spiritone.com; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Multiple reports of Say's Phoebe > > I think the number being reported is normal. The species typically occurs > in small numbers throughout western Oregon (particularly the interior > valleys) in late winter and early spring. > > Jeff > > > On 3/21/09 1:28 PM, "Marcia Marvin" wrote: > > > Oboli - > > > > Am I the only one surprised by the number of reports this year of > > Say's Phoebe west of the Cascades? I took a look at BOGR (2003) > > which indicated only a few "possible" records. This March they have > > been reported from seven different locations (Newport, Creswell, > > Eugene, Beaverton/Tigard, Portland Airport, Sandy River Delta, Oaks > > Bottom). Although some of these locations are not so distant from > > one another that it might not be the same bird, they can't all be the > > same one. Or could they? Any thoughts? > > > > Many thanks. > > > > Marcia > > > > --- > > == > > "Somethin' is happenin' here and you don't know what it is, > > do you, Mr. Jones?" > > Bob Dylan, "Ballad of a Thin Man" > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_skydrive_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090322/b084ab11/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Mar 21 18:07:16 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 01:07:16 +0000 Subject: [obol] Multiple reports of Say's Phoebe/Coos Migrants 3/21/2009 In-Reply-To: <13649.93607.qm@web45305.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <13649.93607.qm@web45305.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Hey Tim, Jeff and I and about three other birders were the only ones looking for westside Say's Phoebes back in the Stone Age, and we found a few. The petroglyphs with the reports are carved into the side of Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:40:56 -0700 > From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Multiple reports of Say's Phoebe/Coos Migrants 3/21/2009 > > > I agree with Jeff. It seems like there are more like 20+ sighting each year in W. Oregon. Usually, on the south coast, we have 1 or 2 in Coos Co.. and 3 or 4 in Curry County (Don Munson has already had a couple, not sure if Terry Wahl has also- he usually has a few though) during spring migration. Historically, W. Oregon numbers may have been lower, but I wasn't birding here in prehistoric times like some OBOLers. > > Saw three CINNAMON TEAL in Coos Co. today- migrants that may have been around for a few weeks since it was a spot I hadn't checked in a while. Also a couple of REDHEADS still around on the N. Spit of Coos Bay. The GOLDEN and BALD EAGLES are still easily seen up Bethel Mtn. Road in SW Coos Co. too.. > > Merry migration! > Tim R > Coos Bay > > --- On Sat, 3/21/09, Jeff Gilligan wrote: > > > From: Jeff Gilligan > > Subject: Re: [obol] Multiple reports of Say's Phoebe > > To: "Marcia Marvin" , "OBOL" > > Date: Saturday, March 21, 2009, 4:11 PM > > I think the number being reported is > > normal. The species typically occurs > > in small numbers throughout western Oregon (particularly > > the interior > > valleys) in late winter and early spring. > > > > Jeff > > > > > > On 3/21/09 1:28 PM, "Marcia Marvin" > > wrote: > > > > > Oboli - > > > > > > Am I the only one surprised by the number of reports > > this year of > > > Say's Phoebe west of the Cascades? I took a look > > at BOGR (2003) > > > which indicated only a few "possible" records. > > This March they have > > > been reported from seven different locations (Newport, > > Creswell, > > > Eugene, Beaverton/Tigard, Portland Airport, Sandy > > River Delta, Oaks > > > Bottom). Although some of these locations are > > not so distant from > > > one another that it might not be the same bird, they > > can't all be the > > > same one. Or could they? Any thoughts? > > > > > > Many thanks. > > > > > > Marcia > > > > > > --- > > > == > > > "Somethin' is happenin' here and you don't know what > > it is, > > > do you, Mr. Jones?" > > > Bob Dylan, "Ballad of a Thin Man" > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > obol mailing list > > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_skydrive_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090322/1208762d/attachment.html From heinjv at dcwisp.net Sat Mar 21 19:03:08 2009 From: heinjv at dcwisp.net (Jim & Vikki Hein) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 19:03:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chipping Sparrows Message-ID: <82A284D1C7E84FF3BDC6043F11CAAFF3@MAIN> Obol, I just got back from an afternoon birding and saw Mark Hamm's report of Chipping Sparrows in Roseburg. I too saw 2 Chipping Sparrows NW of Roseburg this afternoon. I suspect that they were at different locations than his. Jim Hein From SJJag at comcast.net Sat Mar 21 19:15:41 2009 From: SJJag at comcast.net (SJJag at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 02:15:41 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] FINALLY! In-Reply-To: <000601c9aa80$af9fa1a0$0edee4e0$@net> Message-ID: <1815032847.9131261237688141052.JavaMail.root@sz0081a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Into the data stream............. We had our first female Rufous yesterday and today and a male today. Also "fos" T. Vulture over the river yesterday. Steve Jaggers Milwaukie, Or. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mr David Heath" To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Saturday, March 21, 2009 4:56:41 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: Re: [obol] FINALLY! I had one today too, in Cedar Mill, Washington Co. First time I?ve ever had one at my feeder, at least that I?ve been around to see. David From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Mike Dressel Sent: Saturday, March 21, 2009 2:40 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] FINALLY! Rufous Hummingbirds at our feeders in NE McMinnville today. Beautiful creatures, and very welcome, indeed. As I was refreshing the feeders today, I got buzzed by something I did not see. Now I know who the culprit was?? Mike Dressel _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090322/15dced80/attachment.html From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Sat Mar 21 19:35:35 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (Barbara Millikan) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 19:35:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Joining the hummer flock Message-ID: <855070e90903211935k47188e9eoc652ffcaf7ad1d71@mail.gmail.com> We too had our first female rufous this morning; put the feeder out only yesterday. Barbara Millikan NW Polk County -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090321/bd658e46/attachment.html From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Sat Mar 21 19:40:11 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (Barbara Millikan) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 19:40:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Joining the hummer flock Message-ID: <855070e90903211940s79cbe254jd38781660e9f0bed@mail.gmail.com> We too had our first female rufous this morning; put the feeder out only yesterday. Barbara Millikan NW Polk County -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090321/70edd3cf/attachment.html From jbw at oregoncoast.com Sat Mar 21 21:10:56 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara & John Woodhouse) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 20:10:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Raptor Run, Tillamook East Message-ID: Greetings, The final Raptor Run for the season for Tillamook East region was made on 18 March, 2009. The run distance was 62 miles and the time for the run was 4 hours and 20 minutes. Species seen were: Red-tailed Hawk 19 American Kestrel 5 Northern Harrier 1 American Bald Eagle (Adults) 4 Total number of raptors 29 B & J Tillamook From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Mar 21 21:13:44 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 21:13:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird job Message-ID: Oregon fish and wildlife is hiring a Wildlife Diversity Program Manager, if anyone is interested. http://www.oregon.gov/ODFW/jobs/LEFW9024.shtml -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From range.bayer at gmail.com Sat Mar 21 21:25:57 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 21:25:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Feb. Lincoln Co. Bird Notes Received Through 2/28 Message-ID: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BIRD FIELD NOTES from the February 2009 Sandpiper 30(2) for Observations Received Through 2/28 by Range Bayer The Sandpiper is a publication of Yaquina Birders and Naturalists, a Lincoln County (Oregon) natural history group. Comments in this column about abundance or seasonality refer to LINCOLN COUNTY only. There is room only for some of the many Lincoln County sightings that have been sent to me and that I have compiled from Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL) to be included here. If you have any Lincoln County field notes, please share them with Range (range.bayer at gmail.com; P.O. Box 1467, Newport, OR 97365; 541-265- 2965) by the 20th of the month. Bird field notes columns in the Sandpiper since 1992 are at http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#recent (all lower case letters). Many Lincoln Co. sites are in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide (http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/). Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations: BEAVER CREEK: creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, BOILER BAY: State Wayside about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, HMSC: OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of the HMSC, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH: State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SALLY'S BEND: large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, YBSJ: Yaquina Bay South Jetty. WATERFOWL During November-January, BRANT overwinter at Yaquina Bay embayments where there is lots of eelgrass that they eat, but later some start appearing at a rock shelf on the northwest side of the Yaquina Bay Bridge. The rock shelf does not have any eelgrass. This year, they were first at the rock shelf on 1/31 (WH) and 2/3 (JL). Since then, they are often visited the shelf, especially at low tide, as well as at embayments. WH notes that they may be going to the rock shelf because of the growth of Ulva (sea lettuce) that they also eat. Some counts this February of about 170-180 Brant were very similar to numbers in January, while other counts were lower (JL; RB; SS; LO; PS&CK; GN; PL). However, it is not clear if the lower counts were because some Brant were at a different location in Yaquina Bay, so they were missed. Accordingly, there is no unequivocal evidence that migration was occurring. JL noted that several Brant had leg bands on 2/11; being able to identify individuals helps in determining residency and their movements. YB&N is a project partner of the International Brant Monitoring Project (IBMP) (http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/), and RB relays on sightings of significant numbers of Brant in Lincoln County to their Observation Log (see link on left side of their web page). Our only GR. WHITE-FRONTED GEESE report was of 2 at Drift Creek Meadows near Siletz Bay on 2/22 (RNa). During the 2/21 YBNFT, one of the GREEN-WINGED TEAL (Anas crecca carolinensis) near Seal Rock Stables along south Beaver Creek had a horizontal white bar along the body and no vertical bar, so it was a EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL (Anas crecca crecca), which is also called EURASIAN TEAL or COMMON TEAL. As reported last month, one was also noted near Toledo in January. Hybrids between these two subspecies also occur in Oregon, and GG's page to identify them is very helpful (http://thebirdguide.com/identification/Eurasian_Teal/teal_hybrid.htm). 1-3 EURASIAN WIGEON lingered at Idaho Flats on 2/7 & 15 (PS&CK; A&ES) and at Beaver Creek on 2/22 (RNa). The male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE reported last month at north Siletz Bay near the mouth of Schooner Creek continued until at least 2/16 (DSm). 7 male CANVASBACKS swam in front of the wildlife viewing platform at the Port of Toledo on 2/16 (PD). HARLEQUIN DUCKS were at Yaquina Head during 4 days in January (BLM). 4 were also at YBSJ on 2/7 (PS&CK), and several graced Seal Rocks on 2/15 (A&ES) and the 2/21 YBNFT (LO). TUBENOSES-HERONS 3 NORTHERN FULMARS and 1 BROWN PELICAN were found dead in January along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). In January, live pelicans were noted more frequently than normal as reported in last month's Sandpiper, and they were also at Yaquina Head until at least 1/13 (BLM). In February, pelican status was similar to that of February's in previous years. Pelicans were rare with only 2 reports: 2 flying north of Ona Beach on 2/1 (VO) and 1 at south Siletz Bay on 2/2 (MMe fide RL). 2008 was the first year that we had at least one live Brown Pelican report each month of the calendar year. However, our string of months with pelican sightings started in February 2007--we have 24 months of sightings in a row! Will our string be broken this March? 1 LAYSAN ALBATROSS, 10 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, 104 NORTHERN FULMARS, 6 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, and 13 SOOTY SHEARWATERS were among the many seabirds found during the 2/21 Bird Guide's pelagic trip (GG). The LITTLE BLUE HERON first recorded on 12/11 near Siletz Bay continued with reports on 1/31 (EH), 2/12 (DSt), 2/15 (DSm), 2/16 (A&ES), and 2/22 (DSt). The Little Blue has been well-publicized. On 2/6, while RB was doing a Yaquina Bay Brant count at Sally's Bend, two birders were driving by when they saw RB's scope and binoculars that identified him as a fellow birder, so they stopped and asked him if he had just seen the Little Blue Heron. They said they had been driving around Yaquina Bay but had not been able to find it. RB gave them directions to where they might see it at Siletz Bay. A GREAT EGRET was also occasionally noted with the Little Blue, and 3 were at Beaver Creek during the 2/21 YBNFT (LO). On 2/24, MaR spotted a Great Egret with 20+ GREAT BLUE HERONS across Lint Slough from the Waldport High School--perhaps they will nest in that area? On 2/10, JL heard "Squawker" flying over the HMSC. It is a GREAT BLUE HERON that nearly continuously calls while flying. It was last noted at the HMSC near dusk last Sept. (RB), so it has apparently been somewhere else for about 4.5 months. Perhaps it migrated? Census data at Yaquina Bay reveal that part of the Great Blue Heron population migrates. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS have not been reported recently, but DD found an immature perched near Oregon Coast Aquarium on 2/13. [Image Not Included: Janet Lamberson's Dec. 11 photo of an adult BROWN PELICAN perched on a rock at the Yaquina Bay South Jetty. Will any be found in March or will our string of 24 consecutive months of sightings be broken?] RAPTORS BALD EAGLES are very frequent at Yaquina Head, even in the nonbreeding season of seabirds, as they were noted during 16 days in January (BLM). We only had one report of a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK this month. For several weeks in early Feb., MiR & DC of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department observed one at South Beach State Park. It "seems to be digging up worms with its talons in our grass at the South Beach office south of our campground." RB does not think this behavior has been noted for them before in Lincoln County, but Googling the Internet for "Red-shouldered Hawk worms," reveals that this behavior has been seen elsewhere (e.g., go down page at http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.3356/0892- 1016(2007)41%5B254:EHBRHB%5D2.0.CO%3B2?cookieSet=1). So it may be a common behavior for Red-shoulders. The COOPER'S HAWK at Oregon Coast Aquarium was back on 2/26 (BBu fide BLl). PEREGRINE FALCONS were recorded during 8 days in January at Yaquina Head (BLM). On 2/2, BM saw a Peregrine land and feed on a dead bird on Nye Beach (Newport) until beach walkers spooked it away; it is not known if the Peregrine had earlier killed the bird and had flown away after being previously disturbed or if it was scavenging. On 2/9, KB saw an adult Peregrine (Tundra form) perched in a tree at Devils Punchbowl (Otter Rock). 1-2 were also viewed during the 12/14 Coast Raptor Route and at Seal Rocks on 2/15 (A&ES). Oregon Winter Raptor Surveys give a good relative index to the abundance of different wintering raptor species and are coordinated by the East Cascades Birds Observatory (ECBC) (http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=73). The Lincoln County Raptor Coast Route is about 61 miles and runs along Hwy 101 from the north side of Alsea Bay to Taft area of Lincoln City, with nearby inland valleys; it was conducted on 2/14 by WH & RC. The Inland or Yaquina River-Siletz Route is about 55-73 miles long and runs from the HWY 101 Kernville exit along HWY 229 south to HWY 20, then along Business HWY 20 through Toledo and down the Yaquina River along north Yaquina Bay Road, with some digressions and can include Hidden Valley; it was done on 2/7 by JL & CP; on 2/7, fog from Kernville to Siletz may have obscured some raptors, especially kites. For the 3 surveys of each Route this winter, Red-tailed Hawks were the most numerous raptor along both routes, except in January for the Coast Route when they were a close second to Bald Eagles. The biggest differences between routes for these surveys were that harriers, Bald Eagles, and peregrines were mostly or only found along the Coast Route and kestrels were mostly recorded along the Inland Route. This winter, no Red-shouldered Hawks or Merlins were recorded along either Route. Similarly, none were noted for the combined Coast & Inland Routes during the 2007/2008 winter. However, 1 of each was tallied during 1-2 surveys during the 2006/2007 winter. Lincoln County Raptor Routes Coast_________ Inland_______ 12/6 1/10 2/14 12/6 1/10 2/7 No. Harrier 3 1 2 1 0 0 White-t. Kite 0 3 1 8 2 0* Sharp-sh. Hawk 1 0 1 1 0 0 Cooper's Hawk 0 0 0 0 0 0 Accipiter sp. 0 0 0 0 0 0 Red-shld. Hawk 0 0 0 0 0 0 Red-tail. Hawk 10 9 11 9 10 17 Bald Eagle ad. 6 10 6 2 0 2 " subadults 0 1 0 0 0 0 " unknown 0 0 1 0 1 0 " total 6 11 7 2 0 0 Merlin 0 0 0 0 0 0 Am. Kestrel 0 0 1 1 4 3 Peregrine Fal. 2 4 2 0 0 0 RAPTOR SUM 22 28 25 22 17 22* * Fog from Kernville to Siletz may have obscured raptors. RAILS-ALCIDS On 2/15, PVB wrote that he had a "wonderful time watching a VIRGINIA RAIL feeding with and close to a WILSON'S SNIPE, caught in the sun with colors glowing, on a small mud bank in a Road's End pond" north of Lincoln City. We had several BLACK OYSTERCATCHER reports but only 1 this month with 10 or more. KB found 10 at Devil's Punchbowl (Otter Rock) at high tide on 2/9. If you see concentrations of 10 or more anywhere along the Oregon Coast, please email oystercatcher researcher Elise Elliott-Smith (eelliott- smith at usgs.gov). RB suspects that many oystercatchers may migrate to the Oregon Coast in winter and that accounts for the large flocks that are sometimes present. Unfortunately, they are not well monitored in winter-- it would be great if someone did regular counts at high tides (which seems to be when flocks are most apt to be visible) at favored locations such as Depoe Bay and Seal Rocks to see how regular these flocks are and their peak numbers. 1-2 ROCK SANDPIPERS were at Seal Rocks on 2/16 (A&ES) and the YBSJ during the 2/21 Bird Guide's pelagic trip (GG). Singleton GLAUCOUS GULLS were identified at Seal Rocks on 2/7 (PS&CK), at YBSJ on 2/15 and Boiler Bay on 2/16 (A&ES), and at Yaquina Bay for Bird Guide's 2/21 pelagic trip (GG). A rare HORNED PUFFIN was found dead on 1/7 along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). A live one flew by during the 2/21 Bird Guide's pelagic trip (GG). The pelagic trip also recorded 40 MARBLED MURRELETS, 26 ANCIENT MURRELETS, 114 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, and 2,000 CASSIN'S AUKLETS as well as other alcids (GG). [Image Not Included: Roger Robb's Jan. 9 photo of 5 of 27 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS roosting at Depoe Bay in a flock. Note that even with its bill tucked under its wing to conserve heat, an oystercatcher's eye is vigilant!] PIGEON-GOLDFINCH Single BAND-TAILED PIGEONS appeared at Olalla Lake north of Toledo on 2/19 (CP) and 3 days later at J&KC's home east of Waldport. Most will arrive later. Our first RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD arrived on 2/4 at J&KC's home about 4 miles east of Waldport. On 2/4, female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS began collecting seed fluff for their nests at L&JM's home near the east side of Sally's Bend, and they were also collecting nesting material at J&KC's home about 4 miles east of Waldport on 2/7. LM put out some dried cattails on 2/6, and Anna's have been collecting the seed down since then. On 2/27, BLl saw an Anna's going to its nest at Oregon Coast Aquarium--the nest "is on a pine branch and is made of lichen." Anna's and Rufous were both at BB's feeder in Yachats on 2/14. On 2/7, MA had a dead sapsucker at her Newport home (fide DD). CP visited and determined that it was an adult RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER X RED- BREASTED SAPSUCKER because it had characteristics of both. An uncommon BLACK PHOEBE was reported at the YBSJ area on 1/2 (fide RC). MH had our next sighting at Nye Beach (Newport) on 2/4 (MH); other birders also found them there on 2/14 (MMo), 2/15 (A&ES), 2/16 (DSm), 2/19 (DSt & KM), and 2/22 (RNa). This is only our 6th record since 1995, with 3 of 5 of the earlier reports during December or January (FN). Our first record was in January 1976, and there were only a total of 2 records prior to 1993 (SemiL). Signs of Spring! Beaver Creek hosted our first reports of VIOLET- GREEN SWALLOWS on 2/15 (A&ES) and TREE SWALLOWS on 2/22 (RNa). AMERICAN DIPPERS aren't often reported, but PS&CK found one at the west end of Van Duzer corridor on 2/7. The same day they also discovered a white AMERICAN ROBIN just west of Otis. In spring, white or light-colored robins are occasional. WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS continued until at least 2/19 at L&JM's home near the east side of Sally's Bend. 2-3 were also at EH's South Beach home through 2/17. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS are on the move with some arriving for the first time at RNe's Newport feeder on 2/11. They were singing at Beaver Creek during the 2/21 YBNFT (LO). 9-12 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS graced the HMSC on 2/11 & 24 (JL), and 6 were near the Newport LNG tank on 2/20 (RB). A male LESSER GOLDFINCH lingered at L&JM's home near the east side of Sally's Bend until 1/24. OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Melody Ashley, Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Kim Boddie, Philip Van Bruggen (PVB), Bureau of Land Management staff at Yaquina Head (BLM), Brent Butler (BBu), Rebecca Cheek , Jorrie & Ken Ciotti (http://www.birdsamore.com), CoastWatch (a volunteer project monitoring one-mile segments of the Oregon coast; http://oregoncoastwatch.org/), Dennis Comfort, Dick Demarest, Pat Dickey, Greg Gillson, Bird Guide Pelagic Trip out of Newport (BGPT; info about pelagic trips, http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/), Wayne Hoffman, Eric Horvath, Matt Hunter, Carol Karlen, Janet Lamberson, Pete Lawson, Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Linda & John MacKown, Kate Madison, Barry McPherson, Michael Mefford (MMe), Molly Monroe (MMo), Russ Namitz (RNa), George Neavoll, Robin Nelson (RNe), Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#recent [all lower case letters]), Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Chuck Philo, Maggie Rivers (MaR), Mike Rivers (MiR), SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive at OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), David Smith (DSm), Don Stein (DSt), Shawn Stephensen, Andy & Ellen Stepniewski, Paul Sullivan, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (YBNFT Field Trip led by LO). --------------- Range Bayer, Newport From oschmidt at att.net Sat Mar 21 21:30:53 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 21:30:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Available -- OT Message-ID: <38BC6176-00A8-458A-8FEB-0E861BD7831C@att.net> ..... I have what may be a complete set of "The Bird Guide" (Where to go, What to do, Where to sleep, What to eat), which later became "NW Bird Watcher" (When, where, and how to watch birds in the Pacific Northwest) ....... if anyone is interested. Roughly 1995 - 1998. Need the space. Aficionados of Oregon birding literature will want to keep these from the recycling bin ..... oschmidt at att.net Saturday, March 21, 2009 From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Sat Mar 21 21:48:56 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (Denise Hughes) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 22:48:56 -0600 Subject: [obol] Oregon field guide? Message-ID: <000001c9aaa9$85b5aa00$9120fe00$@net> Is there a book that lists places to go birding in Oregon? I have a chance to spend several days in Oregon during mid-May and would like to set up an itinerary. Thanks in advance. Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090321/4f50cfde/attachment.html From pointers at pacifier.com Sun Mar 22 08:13:00 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 08:13:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] THANKS -- Improved Blind at Ridgefield !!!! Message-ID: <20090322151302.E40D67EA0@smtp3.pacifier.net> my thanks to whoever improved the observation blind at Ridgefield NWR, whether it was the Refuge staff or an irate birder (grin) !!!!!!!!! ... the windows are GREAT !!!!!!! Lyn Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From katandbill at yahoo.com Sun Mar 22 09:50:46 2009 From: katandbill at yahoo.com (Kat & Bill) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 09:50:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Morning Song Suet Recall - Expanded from February Message-ID: <617272.19573.qm@web53904.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hi OBOL, We received a call yesterday from Fred Meyer, saying that we had purchased suet that had been recalled. Morning Star brand has added to the suet recalled in February. You can read about it here: http://www.petproductnews.com/headlines/2009/03/20/scotts-expands-wild-bird-suet-recall.aspx We had Nutty Safari out for the suet eaters. Just to be safe we threw it out and bought new suet from a different company that did not have any peanuts in it. I can't wait for summer when we have our own sunflower plants up for the birds to eat. I KNOW those are organic and safe... Kat in Eugene From Oropendolas at aol.com Sun Mar 22 10:27:18 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 13:27:18 EDT Subject: [obol] Lane Co. Raptor Route #2 Message-ID: Hello All, Visibility was good and the light rain during the first half of the route didn't seem to have much of an effect on the overall number of birds seen yesterday. The 80 mile route took 5-1/4 hours and covers the West Eugene Wetlands area and north between Greenhill Road and River Road to Hwy 36 near Junction City then between Hwy 99W and Washburn Road to the Lane County line. Numbers were down slightly, as to be expected for this time of year. Raptors on nests was the theme of the survey yesterday. Several RED-TAILS were seen on or near nests. A BALD EAGLE, OSPREY and GREAT HORNED OWL were all seen on nests along the route. Red-Tail - 19 Kestrel - 45 Harrier - 9 Bald Eagle - 3 Rough-leg - 1 Cooper's Hawk - 2 Osprey - 2 Great Horned Owl - 1 John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon **************Feeling the pinch at the grocery store? Make dinner for $10 or less. (http://food.aol.com/frugal-feasts?ncid=emlcntusfood00000001) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090322/4f5e2be9/attachment.html From markhamm at charterinternet.com Sun Mar 22 14:59:49 2009 From: markhamm at charterinternet.com (Mark Hamm) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:59:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chestnut backed chickadee Roseburg Message-ID: <7EF9EB08-742A-4FC4-ACF5-9E0F491E3256@charterinternet.com> I have had a Chestnut backed Chickadee or two at my feeders this past 5 days. From dlrobbo at comcast.net Sun Mar 22 15:00:58 2009 From: dlrobbo at comcast.net (Doug Robberson) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:00:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Collins Birds of the World Message-ID: I have a brand new copy of Collins Birds of the World by Les Beletsky. "The most complete guide to every bird family I the world Albatrosses to Wrens". ISBN 978-0-00-724236-8. Any interest? Doug Robberson Tigard, OR From tom-escue at comcast.net Sun Mar 22 15:54:53 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:54:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Autzen Stadium nest Message-ID: The two OSPREY were working on their Autzen Stadium nest on the light platform today at noon and 3 PM. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090322/4d1d5100/attachment.html From mrchickadee at gmail.com Sun Mar 22 17:09:51 2009 From: mrchickadee at gmail.com (Miss Jacqui) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:09:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] 1st of year Rufus Hummer - for me :-). Beaverton Message-ID: <7e34f7b0903221709n5b77d4f4peddcb2c2b94978c0@mail.gmail.com> OBOL Nice Rufus Hummingbirds appeared at my feeder today. Thought I may have seen one 2 days ago but light was real bad. Today my ID is positive. Great to see them and Anna's for comparing. I did not see them here at my feeder previous to this - 2 summers at this location - Raleigh Hills (but in the flats), Beaverton area... Also heard Swallows here (or Starlings mimicking them????) yesterday and today, but did not see the swallows themselves. Great chilly birding ! Jacqui -- Jacqui Parker Portland, OREGON ........... I realized that If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes Charles Lindbergh (1902 - 1974), Interview 1974 ( '< / ) ) // " " Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency may read this email without warning, warrant, or notice. They may do this without any judicial or legislative oversight. You have no recourse or protection and everything you type may be used against you to detain you in a secret prison. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090322/ceab8bf1/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sun Mar 22 17:12:36 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:12:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] ECBC Millican Winter Raptor Route plus other birds. Message-ID: Birders Liz O'Connell, Laura McCoy and I spent most of the day out east of town on the ECBC winter Raptor travels. Will mention a few of the birding highlights and the raptor numbers. This report was mailed for Judy Meredith by http://birdnotes.net High numbers of birds out near Hampton where Beldings Ground Squirrels were in evidence. Eagles and Ferruginous Hawks were out there in big numbers. Large flocks of Horned Larks and Mountain Bluebirds were prevalent today as well. Hundreds of each were spread throughout much of the survey area. Northern Shrike was our only Shrike, off Harman Rd. Poss. 6 Long-billed Curlews near Hampton. No Osprey, Turkey Vultures, or Sage Thrashers. Total raptors were 65 birds. We left two more eagles as unidentified. Bald Eagle 16 Northern Harrier 2 Red-tailed Hawk 12 Ferruginous Hawk 19 Golden Eagle 8 American Kestrel 2 Prairie Falcon 4 Say's Phoebe 2 Camp Creek Rd Northern Shrike 1 Horned Lark ?750 Mountain Bluebird ? 550 Sage Sparrow 6 Sage Grouse 10 Good birding to all, jmeredit at bendnet.com From ladwil at comcast.net Sun Mar 22 17:14:18 2009 From: ladwil at comcast.net (Lisa Ladd-Wilson) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:14:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bluebird at Sandy River Delta on Sunday Message-ID: <23C27F92-B926-489D-AB4B-6311365D7F15@comcast.net> It was a lovely, drizzly morning at the Sandy River Delta today. We didn't see any Say's phoebe action, but we did spot a Western BLUEBIRD (female). It was in the meadow area to the left of the Confluence Trail heading out TO the bird blind (to the right if you're coming back FROM the blind). It was flitting about the grasses off the trail/Forest Service road dubbed "Meadow Road," specifically in the meadow between the Confluence Trail and the small garbage can that is anchored at the head of the forest cut-off trail. Lisa & Stephen Ladd-Wilson NE Portland From ladwil at comcast.net Sun Mar 22 17:17:06 2009 From: ladwil at comcast.net (Lisa Ladd-Wilson) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:17:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] We have rufousity! Message-ID: <3B3A2622-92A4-4BA2-BF5B-A835B8C83F69@comcast.net> We saw our first backyard RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD today. Hooray! Also, many GOLDEN CROWNED SPARROWS seem to be eating everything in sight in the backyard right now. Are they gearing up to leave? Lisa Ladd-Wilson NE Portland From celata at pacifier.com Sun Mar 22 17:43:31 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:43:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] South Lane County Message-ID: <49C6DB33.5090108@pacifier.com> I spent some time this morning around Dorena Reservoir and Sear-Delight Valley in the rain... A BALD EAGLE carrying nesting material was being harassed by an OSPREY on upper Dorena Lake. Lots of TURKEY VULTURES (20+) at several locations. WESTERN BLUEBIRDS at Molitor Hill. On the way down from Astoria, yesterday, I saw an ACORN WOODPECKER in downtown Yamhill on a telephone across from a small grove of oaks. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Are you BSC or PSC? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or+PSC%3F.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Sun Mar 22 19:33:49 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:33:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck & Slaty-backed Gull Still Around For Those of Us Late Comers Message-ID: Tufted Duck at 1:55 right by last house along Marine Drive at 138th. Not so easy as the duck wanted to take a nap and put his head under his wing as we left. Without scope we would have gone right by him even before that evasive manuever. He was in a large group of scattered Scaup mostly downriver that had flown upriver when spooked by a boat. They then reformed into a tight flotilla off the last house that greatly helped the cause. He was in middle on far side. Around 2:30 we saw the Slaty down on the waterfront & thanks to Chris for pointing out the correct gull. I was zeroed in on a very dark Western. He was in a group of gulls floating in the river just north of the Burnside Bridge. Probably 75-100 gulls. Good Birding, John Thomas From sasdhill at comcast.net Sun Mar 22 19:53:43 2009 From: sasdhill at comcast.net (Sasdhill@comcast.net) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:53:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane County Birds Message-ID: <74D0CFE1175D424CB74F7711152255D9@OwnerPC> I birded between hail stoms today wearing three jackets, gloves and a muffler. Highlights at Fern Ridge: Royal: Tundra Swan (3), Ringed -Necked Duck (20) Green Winged Teal ( 100+) Pintail, (24) Shoveler, Am. Coot, (30) Turkey Vulture (6), Peregrin Falcon (1), Northern Harrier (4), Great Egret (1) , Great Blue Heron (1) Kildeer (2), Tree Sparrow, (abundant), Violet Green Sparrow (10), Yellow Rumped Warblers- Audubon's (10), Savannah Sparrow (4), Song Sparrow (1), and an unidentified flock of shorebirds 100+ that never did land that were lead by two much larger shorebirds also unidentified. I stopped at Stewart's Pond on the way home and saw (4) Greater Yellow Legs all hunckered down in the water, which was exactly how I felt. Sally Hill Eugene, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090322/6b0ea982/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sun Mar 22 20:03:05 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:03:05 -0400 Subject: [obol] Mountain Quail at Johnson Rd (Washington Co) Message-ID: On a late afternoon reconnaissance mission I flushed a Mountain Quail pretty much exactly 1mi up Johnson Rd. The bird then called about 20 times before falling silent. Directions to Johnson Rd: Take US26 west just past Buxton and then turn north onto Hwy 47. The Johnson Rd turnoff is about 7mi down 47. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_70faster_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090322/5a816f51/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Sun Mar 22 20:12:15 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 20:12:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, & Gilliam Cos - Glaucous Gull, RN Grebe, WT Swift, etc. Message-ID: Hi OBOL -- David Mandell and I headed up the Columbia Gorge today, birding in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam Counties. David took me on a tour of his favorite Sherman Co. birding haunts, and we had a nice mix of springy and wintery birds. It's not often you can get White-throated Swift and Glaucous Gull in the same day! Highlights among our 79 species included: Common Loon - 1 on Columbia River in Sherman Co RED-NECKED GREBE - 1 at Cascade Locks Marina, Hood River Co BARROW'S GOLDENEYE - 15 or so below John Day Dam, Sherman Co Osprey - our first of year on river in Hood River Co ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK - 2 on Monkland & Hay Canyon Roads, Sherman Co Peregrine Falcon - 1 off Rt 206 near Celilo, Wasco Co Bonaparte's Gull - 2 or 3 on Washington side across from Cascade Locks Thayer's Gull - 2 at Hood River Marina, Hood River Co GLAUCOUS GULL - 1 1st-year bird at Hood River Marina, Hood River Co. *** Eurasian Collared Dove - Scads over-running the town of Moro, Sherman Co WHITE-THROATED SWIFT - 2 at Philippi Cyn Rd, Gilliam Co -- Early. 1st date listed in BOGR is 17 March. Say's Phoebe - several in Wasco & Sherman Cos Tree and Violet-green Swallows - in at several locations Bushtit - 2+ at Deschutes River mouth, Wasco Co CANYON WREN - 1 off Rt 206 near Celilo, Wasco Co TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE - 1 on Monkland Rd., Sherman Co LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE - 1 on Rt 206, Sherman Co. *** Note/Query: GLAUCOUS GULL is not listed on the Miller/Summers county checklist for Hood River Co. I am guessing that this species has probably been found there since that time, however. Does anyone know whether Glaucous Gull is or is not a new species for Hood River County? This individual was pretty clearly the barrovianus subspecies; the bill was quite small. Jay Withgott, Portland From dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM Sun Mar 22 20:50:28 2009 From: dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM (Cheryl Whelchel) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 20:50:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Corvallis Audobon Bandon trip pictures Message-ID: I have posted many pictures from this weekends Corvallis Audobon trip to Bandon at the following link. http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/ It was a wonderful trip and the weather and birds cooperated nicely! Thanks Fred for the lifer!!! Cheryl Whelchel Tangent -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090322/bbc2c765/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Mar 22 21:41:32 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:41:32 +0000 Subject: [obol] Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, & Gilliam Cos - Glaucous Gull, RN Grebe, WT Swift, etc. In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Jay et al., It does seem on the early side for White-throated Swifts, but unlike all those other pansy swifts that can't hack the winter months in the U.S., White-throated Swifts winter north to about Sacramento and the Bay Area in California. At the rate they fly, they can probably cover the distance between there and Sherman County in 8-10 hours. Dave Irons > Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 20:12:15 -0700 > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > From: withgott at comcast.net > Subject: [obol] Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, & Gilliam Cos - Glaucous Gull, RN Grebe, WT Swift, etc. > > > Hi OBOL -- > > David Mandell and I headed up the Columbia Gorge today, birding in > Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam Counties. David took me on a > tour of his favorite Sherman Co. birding haunts, and we had a nice > mix of springy and wintery birds. It's not often you can get > White-throated Swift and Glaucous Gull in the same day! Highlights > among our 79 species included: > > Common Loon - 1 on Columbia River in Sherman Co > RED-NECKED GREBE - 1 at Cascade Locks Marina, Hood River Co > BARROW'S GOLDENEYE - 15 or so below John Day Dam, Sherman Co > Osprey - our first of year on river in Hood River Co > ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK - 2 on Monkland & Hay Canyon Roads, Sherman Co > Peregrine Falcon - 1 off Rt 206 near Celilo, Wasco Co > Bonaparte's Gull - 2 or 3 on Washington side across from Cascade Locks > Thayer's Gull - 2 at Hood River Marina, Hood River Co > GLAUCOUS GULL - 1 1st-year bird at Hood River Marina, Hood River Co. *** > Eurasian Collared Dove - Scads over-running the town of Moro, Sherman Co > WHITE-THROATED SWIFT - 2 at Philippi Cyn Rd, Gilliam Co -- Early. > 1st date listed in BOGR is 17 March. > Say's Phoebe - several in Wasco & Sherman Cos > Tree and Violet-green Swallows - in at several locations > Bushtit - 2+ at Deschutes River mouth, Wasco Co > CANYON WREN - 1 off Rt 206 near Celilo, Wasco Co > TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE - 1 on Monkland Rd., Sherman Co > LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE - 1 on Rt 206, Sherman Co. > > *** Note/Query: GLAUCOUS GULL is not listed on the Miller/Summers > county checklist for Hood River Co. I am guessing that this species > has probably been found there since that time, however. Does anyone > know whether Glaucous Gull is or is not a new species for Hood River > County? This individual was pretty clearly the barrovianus > subspecies; the bill was quite small. > > Jay Withgott, Portland > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Internet Explorer 8 ? Now Available. Faster, safer, easier. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/141323790/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090323/8f394511/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sun Mar 22 22:10:31 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 22:10:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Odd Bushtit Message-ID: <27347.17212.qm@web46012.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Can someone take a look at this Bushtit for us? Again, I apologize for Samuel B. speaking on my (Seth Reams') behalf. We did not give him permission to, nor do we condone his tone in the email sen to OBOL. He was over for a dinner party and stepped way out of line. The photo is here: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lN7HLlPAMn0/SccYC7DHJBI/AAAAAAAADrA/B4yeEMGkCsY/s1600-h/Odd+bushtit1.JPG There is a group photo of him on the last picture of the most recent post here: http://www.portlandbirds.blogspot.com/ Odd looking little guy. Anyway, this photo was taken today, on one of our suet feeders. The Bushtit seems to have a distinctive brown line through his neck, dividing his head and neck. None of the others seemed to have this. In fact, none of the others that we have seen ever, have resembled this little guy. I took a couple of photos of him, and all turned out the same. Why such a distinctive line? Anyone have a guess? Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From gorgebirds at juno.com Sun Mar 22 22:28:35 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 22:28:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: SPRING MEANS WENAS CAMPOUT TIME! Message-ID: <20090322.222835.4372.6.gorgebirds@juno.com> For your information. There is no other spot in Washington where you are guaranteed a free camping spot on the Memorial Day Weekend with like minded people. I haven't missed this campout in over thirty years. Check the web site, there are no similar Audubon campouts in the nation. Wilson Cady Skamania County, WA YOU ARE INVITED TO THE WENAS CAMPOUT, May 22-25, 2009 www.wenasaudubon.org For over three decades Audubon families have been camping over Memorial Day weekend at the Wenas Creek Campground. Officially named the Hazel Wolf Wenas Creek Bird Sanctuary, it?s located SW of Ellensburg, in an ?Important Bird Area? and has been assured of protective status. The free, ?primitive? campground along the north fork of Wenas Creek has exceptional opportunities for birding, botanizing and enjoying spring in the eastern foothills of the Cascades. There are wonderful field trips scheduled, and there will be an old-fashioned campfire in our new ?approved? firepit device each evening. We do singing, story telling and recapping the sightings of the day. Please visit Webmaster Michael Hobbs? beautiful Wenas Website to see Hazel Wolf?s familiar smiling face and get lots of downloadable information about our campout. www.wenasaudubon.org. There's a bird checklist, wildflower checklist, outline of field trips and program, directions to the campground, and lots of photos. For people who don?t ?do websites,? contact me and I?ll send you printed information. Bring friends, family, and join us at Wenas Memorial Day Weekend for as many days as you want to stay - May 23-26, 2009! See you there, Helen Engle, hengle at iinet.com, 253-564-3112. ____________________________________________________________ Digital Photography - Click Now. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTDvmS7rtP2xZdL0eAjwVgHwDpQcJKC2YC0L5SaK2LnfI5b9dDnVni/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090322/79c859fc/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Mon Mar 23 03:48:41 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:48:41 +0000 Subject: [obol] White throated Swifts Message-ID: Hi all, FYI: According to the bargraphs from A Birders Guide to Washington, it is a rare to uncommon occurrence for these birds to be seen from early to late March. Mike and Merrylynn saw a couple this weekend during the Othello Crane Festival. Subject: White-throated Swifts From: "Mike and MerryLynn" Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 20:04:40 -0700 Hello all, Just returned from another successfull Othello Sandhill Crane Festival where we enjoyed many views of cranes dancing, preening, feeding and of course flying over and calling. Down Crab Creek today near the west end we had many Violet-green and Tree Swallows and several White-throated Swifts - first of the season. Also enjoyed a couple Loggerhead Shrikes and Canyon Wren. The large blackbird flock just northwest of town had over 50 Tricolored's and 150+ Yellow-headed in with hundreds of Red-wings, Brewer's and cowbirds. Later, Mike From henry at formandstructure.net Mon Mar 23 06:23:18 2009 From: henry at formandstructure.net (Henry Horvat) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:23:18 -0400 Subject: [obol] Scappoose Owls and Ducks Message-ID: <07C53281B0F03B42A788AEB0D85CC1E90131F513@BE057.mail.lan> OBOL'ers: Saturday before dawn, 3/21/09, I did what has recently become a ritual for me and managed to get two Western Screetch Owls to call back and forth to each other in the hills west of town.I also had a N. Pygmy owl calling. When it became light enough to see, I had a total of 44 Canvasbacks in the pond on Columbia St., across from the waste water treatment fascility. I checked my past records on Avisis and Canvasbacks have only been seen as individuals only twice in the past 19 years at this location. At home, while making the Saturday morning pancakes, our first of the year Rufous hummer hovered at the window facing me at eye level. Henry Horvat Scappoose Bottoms -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090323/03b416aa/attachment.html From m.denny at charter.net Mon Mar 23 07:17:46 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 07:17:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] White-throated Swifts Message-ID: <3CE1B2657D65421BB4DB0B416CA116DF@24FLIGHT> Good Morning All, Just a quick note on the arrival date of White-throated Swifts in Wallula Gap, Umatilla Co., Oregon/Walla Walla Co.& Benton Co., WA.-This spectacular species arrives annually over the Columbia River on or about the 17th of MARCH. Glaucous Gulls often hang around in the Lower Columbia Basin to about the 12 th of April, with our late date being 3 May. The Wallula Gap area is 340' above sea level and already warm by mid march with many insects already up and flying. Hope this helps. Later Mike .................................................................................. Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived From sasdhill at comcast.net Mon Mar 23 09:25:14 2009 From: sasdhill at comcast.net (Sasdhill@comcast.net) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:25:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tree Swallow not Tree Sparrow Message-ID: <50BAF2AB872B4810A1A99247A48BF469@OwnerPC> Correction to yesterdays post on Fern Ridge sitings: I meant to type Tree Swallow but my fingers apparently have a mind of their own and entered Tree Sparrow. Sorry for the confusion. Sally Hill Eugene,OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090323/9df7beb4/attachment.html From ladwil at comcast.net Mon Mar 23 09:59:44 2009 From: ladwil at comcast.net (Lisa Ladd-Wilson) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:59:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] correction: MOUNTAIN bluebird Message-ID: <1CF9AD3D-15B8-470F-9751-86BEAA44CA08@comcast.net> Whoops. Apparently it was a female MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, not Western, at the Sandy River Delta. I can spot 'em, but I can't ID 'em, Lisa Ladd-Wilson NE Portland From mattwhitney at comcast.net Mon Mar 23 10:49:11 2009 From: mattwhitney at comcast.net (Matt Whitney) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:49:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ospreys return to N. Portland Message-ID: <002801c9abdf$ad16d060$6c01a8c0@computer> Sighted a pair of Ospreys this morning checking out their usual nest platform atop the #1 channel marker in the middle of North Portland Harbor. They seem to be a week earlier than past years. Two very large sea lions have also been hanging around the same area for the past few weeks. Matt Whitney North Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090323/45a22226/attachment.html From raphe29 at hotmail.com Mon Mar 23 11:07:15 2009 From: raphe29 at hotmail.com (mark lundgren) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:07:15 +0000 Subject: [obol] Hummer feeders wanted. Message-ID: Hello Good Peoples,I need about 10 good usable and used hummingbird feeders for a local project.I can pay a fair price.Mark Mark Lundgren -------7638 SW 36th Avenue,Portland,Oregon 97219-1631 ------USA-------- 503-293-9284 raphe29 at hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ Get quick access to your favorite MSN content with Internet Explorer 8. http://ie8.msn.com/microsoft/internet-explorer-8/en-us/ie8.aspx?ocid=B037MSN55C0701A -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090323/3fba0c98/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Mon Mar 23 11:41:11 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:41:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Breeding Bird Survey Routes Message-ID: Obolers, A number of BBS routes are open this year in many parts of the state. Here are what?s available by county. Washington 1 Yamhill 1 Coos 1 Douglas 1 Jefferson 1 Deschutes 1 Crook 3 Gilliam 1 Morrow 1 Lake 2 Grant 3 Baker 3 Harney 7 Malheur 6 If interested in running a route this June go to . There you will learn what is involved and how to sign up. Pick a favorite, you will be glad you did. Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090323/1f542c11/attachment.html From carolk at viclink.com Mon Mar 23 12:54:02 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:54:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yamhill Co. First Osprey for 2009 Message-ID: <000701c9abf1$1f9694c0$b9430a0a@home> Paul and I saw our first of the year Osprey along Webfoot Road (north of Hopewell) here in Yamhill County last evening. Good birding, Carol Karlen McMinnville From gneavoll at comcast.net Mon Mar 23 13:00:42 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:00:42 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield Golden Eagle In-Reply-To: <843456750.207301237836846190.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1523998884.219681237838442109.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> GOLDEN EAGLE (ad. or near-adult) soaring into tree by "Hunter's Gate" at Ridgefield NWR this a.m. (3/23/09). Bird moved around a lot; next spotted in tree along channel w. of Canvasback Lake, then in tree along road e. of Rest Lake. Fantastic views at close range allowed study of overall golden-brown plumage; legs feathered to toes; relatively long tail; less massive head and bill than Bald Eagle; slight dihedral to flight. George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090323/b6a873f0/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Mon Mar 23 13:14:23 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:14:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Shorebird experts needed Message-ID: <327019.85642.qm@web37005.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, an interesting sandpiper was seen in Germany today and pictures were posted on the country-wide rare bird network. The observers have tentatively identified it as a North American species (I won't say which one). I'd like to hear some input from our local shorebird experts (feel free to respond off-list). I'm curious what the consensus is going to be. According to the description, the bird did not have a white rump. Pictures can be found here: http://photo-natur.de/mrvw/ Hope to hear from a few of you. Good birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090323/f26f9c8b/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Mon Mar 23 14:01:23 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David Bailey) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:01:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] sandpiper in Germany Message-ID: <49C7F8A3.7000603@pdx.edu> Hendrick I went to the link before first reading the entire message and the note about the bird not having a white rump. My initial thought was White-rumped Sandpiper before reading the message again completely. Nothing comes to mind initially beyond that. What I notice is that the bird has long primary projection, seems to be in retained juvenile plumage, has dark legs, and lacks semipalmations. These observations eliminates Semipalmated, Least, and Western Sandpipers from contenders. We are left with Baird's Sandpiper, but the bird has too much rufous in the feathers for any normal plumage of Baird's Sandpiper. Upon reexamining the photographs I tried to make a guess at what the Germans are thinking this might be. The legs are dark, but not jet-black. The bird doesn't really look all that big or elongated like a typical White-rumped or Baird's. They must think this a dark-legged Least Sandpiper. This does seem a good choice for an identification if I only consider Nearctic nesting species. But, the bill seems to blunt for Least Sandpiper in the head-on pictures of the bird. Also, Least tend to have a more overall brown cast to the plumage in non-breeding then the light gray I see on this bird. Without limiting myself to North American breeding species, I would say this bird fits my recollection of Little Stint pretty well. The dark centers to the scapulars, the primary extension, the small, but not pointy bill, the dark legs. Why is this bird not one of the stints? I say all this without having cracked a reference book or field guide, so forgive me if I have overlooked something. I would love to hear more of what the discussion of this bird has been on the other side of the Atlantic. David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon U.S.A. > Subject: Shorebird experts needed > From: Hendrik Herlyn > Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:14:23 -0700 (PDT) > > Hello all, > > an interesting sandpiper was seen in Germany today and pictures were > posted on > the country-wide rare bird network. The observers have tentatively > identified > it as a North American species (I won't say which one). I'd like to > hear some > input from our local shorebird experts (feel free to respond > off-list). I'm > curious what the consensus is going to be. > > > According to the description, the bird did not have a white rump. > > Pictures can be found here: http://photo-natur.de/mrvw/ > > Hope to hear from a few of you. > > Good birding > > Hendrik > From deweysage at verizon.net Mon Mar 23 14:14:55 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:14:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Shorebird experts needed In-Reply-To: <327019.85642.qm@web37005.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <327019.85642.qm@web37005.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <49C7FBCF.8050609@verizon.net> Hendrik, Not sure what to think, but this bird has no palmations, and doesn't look right for Baird's for a variety of reasons. Wing length is very long which theoretically eliminates a number of stints. I think this bird might be a hybrid, although I hate to say that. Doesn't seem right for any stint at all............... Cheers Dave Lauten Hendrik Herlyn wrote: > Hello all, > > an interesting sandpiper was seen in Germany today and pictures were > posted on the country-wide rare bird network. The observers have > tentatively identified it as a North American species (I won't say > which one). I'd like to hear some input from our local shorebird > experts (feel free to respond off-list). I'm curious what the > consensus is going to be. > > According to the description, the bird did not have a white rump. > > Pictures can be found here: http://photo-natur.de/mrvw/ > > Hope to hear from a few of you. > > Good birding > > Hendrik > > _________________________________ > Hendrik G. Herlyn > 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 > Corvallis, OR 97333 > USA > E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From celata at pacifier.com Mon Mar 23 14:58:11 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:58:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Shorebird experts needed Message-ID: <49C805F3.8060402@pacifier.com> The lack of palmations eliminate Western and Semipalmated, the leg color and details of the plumage eliminate Least and Baird's. So, unless your friends are going for White-rumped (I'm out of town and reference free right now), I think it's not a North American species. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Are you BSC or PSC? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or+PSC%3F.html From kirkpat at charter.net Mon Mar 23 15:04:39 2009 From: kirkpat at charter.net (Douglas Kirkpatrick) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:04:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Bluebird In-Reply-To: <23C27F92-B926-489D-AB4B-6311365D7F15@comcast.net> Message-ID: <0315E920395B497FB1C9A3C3F6D350BD@D7CDFN81> Speaking of which, I just saw my first-0f-season male western BB in east Medford today. Intense blue. Smashingly handsome. Doug Kirkpatrick From birdboy at bkpix.com Mon Mar 23 15:38:54 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:38:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Shorebird experts needed In-Reply-To: <49C805F3.8060402@pacifier.com> References: <49C805F3.8060402@pacifier.com> Message-ID: Hi Hendrik, Off the cuff, my inclination is Little Stint. Could be wrong (I've never seen one). I'm guessing they want it to be a Baird's or White-rumped Sandpiper. But if that bird was in Oregon, I'd go for stint first, and, considering it's in Germany, a stint makes even more sense. Good birding, Noah On Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 2:58 PM, Mike Patterson wrote: > The lack of palmations eliminate Western and Semipalmated, the leg > color and details of the plumage eliminate Least and Baird's. > > So, unless your friends are going for White-rumped (I'm out of > town and reference free right now), I think it's not a North American > species. > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Are you BSC or PSC? > > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or+PSC%3F.html > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090323/3c4aa68e/attachment.html From birdboy at bkpix.com Mon Mar 23 15:44:23 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:44:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge 3/23 Message-ID: Hi Birders, This morning, visible from the platform at Royal Ave: 1 - EURASIAN WIGEON 1 - BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 4 - WESTERN GULLS 2 - BALD EAGLES 2 - TUNDRA SWANS Good birding, Noah Strycker -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090323/87cd3c0f/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Mar 23 16:04:53 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:04:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] My morning at Skinner's Butte and Alton Baker Park Message-ID: <49C81595.80703@pacifier.com> http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Are you BSC or PSC? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or+PSC%3F.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Mon Mar 23 16:05:17 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:05:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] German shorebird revisited Message-ID: <292177.22434.qm@web37008.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Thanks to all who piped in. The original observers indeed tried to make this bird into a Baird's Sandpiper (had to rule out White-rumped due to lack of a white rump, among other things). What irritated me was the fact that they described it as very small - Baird's and White-rump are bigger than the stints. Anyway, the general feeling here now tends towards an early, slightly odd-colored Little Stint - exactly what most of the OBOLites suggested. My initial reaction was, if it is a North American vagrant, it looks more like a White-rump, certainly not a Baird's - but the more I looked at it, the more I thought, why can't it just be a Little Stint. Sure, it's about a month too early, but that goes for North American vagrants, as well .... One thing that does seem odd and speaks againts a Little Stint is the long primaries, which exceed the tail by about half an inch or so ... not sure what to make of that (and from what I understand, one of the main arguments against Little Stint for the original observers). At any rate, it's good practise for the upcoming shorebird season .... Happy Spring Migration (I'll migrate back across the Atlantic to Oregon in a little over a week!!!) Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090323/53796ea7/attachment.html From ahartell at uoregon.edu Mon Mar 23 16:36:02 2009 From: ahartell at uoregon.edu (Amy M. Hartell) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:36:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Important Birding Survey Message-ID: <1237851362.743013.alphamail@mailapps1.uoregon.edu> Dear Birding Enthusiasts, I am a student in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Oregon. Following is a link to a survey that is part of my unfunded Master?s Project about how to better design birding trails and tour routes for everyone including people with disabilities. Data collected from this survey will be used to identify preferred birding experiences and how they may be provided for all kinds of birders and design for habitat conservation education. I am also seeking information on an important subgroup of birders, those with disabilities. The results of this survey will help me develop better design guidelines for locating and building birding trails and tours. Dan Gleason of the Oregon Field Ornithologists' suggested posting the survey may be be a good way to reach many birders in Oregon. Completing and returning the questionnaire constitutes your consent to participate. The survey does not ask for any personally identifying information such as names, addresses, and phone numbers. Responses will be completely anonymous; do not put your name anywhere on the survey. The survey is intended for anyone age 18 or older and considers themselves a birder. Completion of the survey will take 20-30 minutes. The survey may be taken through Survey Monkey (a secure online survey service) or by completing a writable pdf form and returning it as an attachment to ahartell at uoregon.edu. EMAIL LINK TO SURVEY: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=cxlublFiM6992fty1mYbKg_3d_3d LINK TO SURVEY FOR WEB: Click Here to take survey Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey to help with my studies. THE SURVEY CLOSES 15, 2009. Sincerely, Amy Hartell -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: survey_bird_final_sm.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 1444951 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090323/0e4326bc/attachment.pdf -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Survey_Background.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 14025 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090323/0e4326bc/attachment-0001.pdf From willclemons at yahoo.com Mon Mar 23 17:09:34 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:09:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: CLIFF & BARN SWALLOW ++ Message-ID: <833719.47115.qm@web55108.mail.re4.yahoo.com> I birded the River "S" Unit at Ridgefield NWR (~4mi W of I-5 at Exit 14 in SW Washington; http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ ). I was there for this season's final Goose Survey. I was there today from 7AM until 2:30PM. I walked the entrance canyon, and also made 2 loops of the Auto Tour Route. Highlights: CLIFF SWALLOW & BARN SWALLOW: One of each was seen working N & S over the water canal between the road and Rest Lake, from the Lake's SE corner Northerly. There are hundreds of Violet-green Swallows and Tree Swallows on the Refuge now. Wilson Cady was near Clay Davis and I while we were watching the CLIFF and BARN. Wilson told me that George Mayfield had seen the CLIFF SWALLOW a few days ago at RNWR. Seen by other birders, but not by me: EURASIAN WIGEON GOLDEN EAGLE HARLAN'S RED-TAILED HAWK GREATER YELLOWLEGS Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores Complete list of 56 species seen / heard: Pied-billed Grebe Great Blue Heron Cackling Goose Canada Goose Tundra Swan Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel American Coot Sandhill Crane Killdeer Least Sandpiper Dunlin Long-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Great Horned Owl Belted Kingfisher Red-breasted Sapsucker Northern Flicker Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow CLIFF SWALLOW BARN SWALLOW Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Marsh Wren American Robin European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird House Finch From ahartell at uoregon.edu Mon Mar 23 17:26:25 2009 From: ahartell at uoregon.edu (Amy M. Hartell) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:26:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Corrected Birding Survey Message-ID: <1237854385.954042.alphamail@mailapps1.uoregon.edu> Dear Birders, Here is the corrected survey and due date. Thank you for your patience. Dear Birding Enthusiasts, I am a student in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Oregon. Following is a link to a survey that is part of my unfunded Master?s Project about how to better design birding trails and tour routes for everyone including people with disabilities. Data collected from this survey will be used to identify preferred birding experiences and how they may be provided for all kinds of birders and design for habitat conservation education. I am also seeking information on an important subgroup of birders, those with disabilities. The results of this survey will help me develop better design guidelines for locating and building birding trails and tours. Dan Gleason of the Oregon Field Ornithologists' suggested posting the survey may be be a good way to reach many birders in Oregon. Completing and returning the questionnaire constitutes your consent to participate. The survey does not ask for any personally identifying information such as names, addresses, and phone numbers. Responses will be completely anonymous; do not put your name anywhere on the survey. The survey is intended for anyone age 18 or older and considers themselves a birder. Completion of the survey will take 20-30 minutes. The survey may be taken through Survey Monkey (a secure online survey service) or by completing a writable pdf form and returning it as an attachment to ahartell at uoregon.edu. EMAIL LINK TO SURVEY: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=cxlublFiM6992fty1mYbKg_3d_3d LINK TO SURVEY FOR WEB: Click Here to take survey Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey to help with my studies. THE SURVEY CLOSES 15 April 2009. Sincerely, Amy Hartell -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Survey_Background.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 14025 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090323/496e63b3/attachment.pdf -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: survey_bird_final_sm.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 1444951 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090323/496e63b3/attachment-0001.pdf From FoxSparrows at aol.com Mon Mar 23 17:54:08 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:54:08 EDT Subject: [obol] Harney County Sage Thrashers & Sage Sparrows singing today Message-ID: While working around The Narrows ACEC (just south of the narrows between Harney and Malheur Lakes), I heard SAGE SPARROWS and SAGE THRASHERS singing at many places. I had not even seen any Sage Thrashers elsewhere as of today. At my feeders, both AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES and LESSER GOLDFINCHES are quickly acquiring breeding plumage. I've never gotten to watch this happen before! ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK around the county numbers are thinning as FERUGINOUS HAWK numbers are increasing. Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm_ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1219858252x1201366219/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID %3D62%26bcd%3DMarchfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090323/a2becab1/attachment.html From msgellerman at gmail.com Mon Mar 23 19:40:23 2009 From: msgellerman at gmail.com (Michael Gellerman) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:40:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield Golden Eagle Message-ID: <1d0c413a0903231940g55827c6ev797c8557d9617976@mail.gmail.com> We went to Ridgefield NWR midday today. It was cold and rainy so we mostly saw ducks but there was a Golden Eagle feeding in the trees past the observation blind. It was being harassed by a Red-tail at its perch and dropped part of a bird so they were sitting a few apart enjoying lunch. The only other more unusual sighting was a flock of about 10 Dunlin. Mike Gellerman -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090323/fc3a129c/attachment.html From marypat at ashlandhome.net Mon Mar 23 19:44:38 2009 From: marypat at ashlandhome.net (Mary Pat) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:44:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] southern Oregon coast trip References: Message-ID: <2C960E9B5E2C4172A3BD8A1E6E636565@MaryPat> I'm planning a quick trip to the southern Oregon/northern CA coast this weekend (March 26-28). Suggestions re. best places to see birds, migration, etc. would be welcome. Please respond to marypat at ashlandhome.net Thanks! From iain.t.morris at gmail.com Mon Mar 23 21:04:27 2009 From: iain.t.morris at gmail.com (Iain Morris) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:04:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Deschutes/Crook Co: Sawyer -> Houston Lakes -> Cline Falls Message-ID: Sunday was a wintry, snowy day of birding mixed with spots of sunshine. We started at Sawyer Park in Bend, where we encountered all the usual suspects plus the first Yellow-Rumped Warbler we've seen this season. Also of interest was a Double-Crested Cormorant. Our next stop was Hatfield Lakes, where we were greeted with a full-on snow storm. We went out anyways, and fortunately it cleared up. There was a few Western Meadowlarks, a large group of Mountain Bluebirds, and a few Says Phoebes here and there. The first lake had the first Cinnamon Teal we've seen out there, plus all the usual waterfowl that like to dabble. The deeper lake further back had all the divers, with many Bufflehead and Lesser Scaup, plus a beautiful pair of Hooded Mergansers. The Buffleheads were making a good scene with a bunch of head pumping. On the way back, we saw a Golden Crowned Kinglet in the junipers between the lakes. Not much new was seen at Prineville Sewage Ponds, except for a lone female Barrow's Goldeneye. Our final stop was Cline Falls SP, where we saw some American Goldfinch and a few Mute Swans. Overall, a fun trip! Looking forward to some warmer weather. Iain and Desiree, Bend From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Mon Mar 23 23:04:37 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:04:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Audubon Birding Weekend - 1500 HORNED LARKS Message-ID: <007f01c9ac46$9439e480$98db63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> 1500 HORNED LARKS rising and falling on a stubble field with 1" of blowing snow, trying to pick enough food, were a highlight of the Audubon Birding Weekend. They were harassed by a PRAIRIE FALCON and 2 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, while a BALD EAGLE and a GOLDEN EAGLE flew about the area. This all took place ~1 mile NE of Ft. Rock State Park. In the same area we studied SAGE SPARROWS and saw many MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS. At Ft. Rock St. Pk. we also saw a VARIED THRUSH in the parking lot, along with the usual PRAIRIE FALCON on the cliff. This was on Sunday in the blowing snow squalls. We had better weather on Saturday, and toured Summer Lake Wildlife Area and the vicinity of Paisley. Notable birds included GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE SNOW GEESE WOOD DUCKS at the Paisley sewage ponds 1 EURASIAN WIGEON a pair of REDHEADS behind the Lodge at Summer Lake a few Turkey Vultures many Northern Harriers VIRGINIA RAILS calling several places SANDHILL CRANE pairs sprinkled about Eurasian Collared-doves at refuge headquarters and in Paisley and in Silver Lake a few SAGE THRASHERS - at Summer Lake Hot Springs & near Ana Reservoir a LESSER GOLDFINCH at refuge headquarters We did not find any Long-billed Curlews. On our trip down on Friday, Carol Karlen & I found 14 SAGE GROUSE near a ranch NE of Ft. Rock, but we couldn't find them for the group on Sunday. On our trip homeward from Summer Lake to McMinnville, we passed through 10 snow squalls. What crazy weather! Paul T. Sullivan Audubon Birding Weekends (503) 646-7889 http://www.audubonportland.org/trips-classes-camps/adult/weekends From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Mon Mar 23 23:09:54 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:09:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ankeny NWR - Eurasian Green-winged Teal Message-ID: <1592F8B8-7014-4B92-B541-D98F411C8E61@gmail.com> I spent the afternoon at Ankeny NWR, after spending the weekend birding with Anne Heyerly over at the coast in Lane County. Today was cold, very windy at times and on-and-off rain showers. Wading through the waterfowl I found a male EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL. First for the year were single male CINNAMON TEAL, CLIFF SWALLOW (looking miserable), and BARN SWALLOW. Also seen were: Greater White-fronted Goose 6 Wild Turkey 3 Peregrine Falcon 1 Dunlin 50 Long-billed Dowitcher 30 Ring-billed Gull 1 Glaucous-winged Gull 1 Tree Swallow 350 Violet-green Swallow 100 Shawneen Finnegan Portland, OR From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Mon Mar 23 23:40:41 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:40:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] 3 jays in Sisters Message-ID: <000701c9ac4b$934e0ba0$81c963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: On the way through Sisters last Friday, Mar. 20, Carol Karlen & I saw PINYON JAYS, STELLER'S JAYS, & a SCRUB JAY behind Ray's Food Market on the west side of Sisters, near the corner of McKinney and Hood. Also in the area were TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, EVENING GROSBEAKS, PYGMY NUTHATCHES, and RED CROSSBILLS. Earlier we saw a CASSIN'S FINCH in Detroit. I very rarely find that species west of the Cascades Crest. Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan From ptweet2005 at msn.com Tue Mar 24 07:44:19 2009 From: ptweet2005 at msn.com (NANCY FRASER) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 07:44:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Request-Turkey Message-ID: A friend plans a trip to Turkey and is looking for a good bird ID book. Does anyone have a suggestion? Please reply directly to my e mail rather than list. Appreciate any tips. Nancy Fraser SW Portland ptweet2005 at msn.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090324/51198865/attachment.html From jorrie at peak.org Tue Mar 24 08:35:00 2009 From: jorrie at peak.org (Jorrie & Ken) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:35:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hummingbird Charm Message-ID: <3686CB95-72EE-4868-90D9-1E67C85F4FBC@peak.org> We've had quite the "charm" of hummingbirds this year. We probably have between 80 and 100 on the property. They are heading northbound after a short visit at the Hummer's Inn at Waldport. The females have arrived and it's been an incredible show. Check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vElWFyKOU4 . If anyone else has or knows of Rufous hummer havens like ours, please email us directly. Because of the decline in Rufous Hummingbirds, we feel it would be beneficial to have these havens set up from the Baja to Alaska so these little jewels could depend on us to get them to their breeding and hunting grounds safely. Maybe a group could start the Spring Migration Trail like they did with building bluebird houses for miles across the country. This was a very successful venture in increasing the bluebird population. Setting up feeding stations that are monitored would also help identify which hummers are coming back year after year. How is it that we doubled our hummer activity since last year? I've read that they come back to the place they were raised but what about all the ones just traveling north? How do they find this small little hummer hub in the midst of so much land to cover? Jorrie & Ken Ciotti Waldport, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090324/d72e9718/attachment.html From mmarvin at spiritone.com Tue Mar 24 08:43:54 2009 From: mmarvin at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:43:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] song anomalies - Varied Thrush and Song Sparrow Message-ID: OBOLonians - This morning I heard, through the closed window, a bird song I didn't think I recognized. I opened the window a bit and soon realized I was hearing a (probably) young Varied Thrush. The song was very regular: a sustained but not-very-buzzy note, two-second pause, another note at a pitch about a third below the first. This pattern was repeated many times. I experienced none of the anticipation (is he going to sing again? was that the bird or buzzing in my ears?) that characterizes my usual Varied Thrush encounters. Yesterday a Song Sparrow sang near my bird feeder. He was at eye level on top of a shrub about ten feet away and I had him in the binoculars. When he sang the first long note, his throat bulged until the sound stopped and then it bounced as he completed his song. I hadn't thought of a syrinx (if that's what I saw) having that much mobility and have never seen a bird singing at such close range. Good birding (and listening)! Marcia -- Marcia Marvin * mmarvin at spiritone.com * SW Portland, OR, USA From cathy.nowak at state.or.us Tue Mar 24 10:00:34 2009 From: cathy.nowak at state.or.us (Cathy Nowak) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:00:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] ECBC Union Co. South Raptor Route Message-ID: Last Thursday, March 19, I ran the final 2009 Union County South Raptor Route for the East Cascades Bird Conservancy. With a start temperature of 33 degrees and ending in the mid-40s under mostly overcast sky, the wind was calm. The route was 82 miles and took 5 hours to complete. This route begins in the southern Grande Ronde Valley at the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area and, skirting the west edge of the valley, goes through Union then follows Pyle's Canyon into the Powder River Valley and covers that portion of the Powder Valley that is in Union County. It was interesting this month to note the differences in snow cover. Most of the snow was gone from the Grande Ronde side but areas on the Powder River side still had significant snow cover, especially near the Elkhorn Wildlife Area. Also, in the lower elevations, redtails tended to be sitting on nests while in the higher zones, they were near nests, apparently staking them out, but not yet sitting in them. Red-tailed hawk 51 American kestrel 1 Northern harrier 12 Bald Eagle 1 Adult, 1 Juvenile Golden Eagle 1 Rough-legged hawk 14 Great horned owl 6 (4 on nests) Other species observed (in no particular order): Red-winged blackbird Canada goose American robin Sandhill crane Mallard Tundra swan Starling Western meadowlark Northern pintail American wigeon Common goldeneye Vesper sparrow Black-billed magpie Greater white-fronted goose (hundreds) Say's phoebe (first of season) Northern flicker Spotted towhee American goldfinch House finch Pine siskin Common raven Eurasian collared-dove Dark-eyed junco Song sparrow Horned lark Mountain bluebird Good Birding! Cathy M. Cathy Nowak Fish and Wildlife Biologist ODFW Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area 59116 Pierce Road La Grande, OR 97850 541-963-4954 Cathy.Nowak at state.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090324/8351b952/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Mar 24 10:37:25 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:37:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Announcement: Pacific NW Backyard Birder Message-ID: <54432BB53DAD4ACEBE70159697342B55@GREG> This week I am taking advantage of a company shutdown at work to add a new feature to The Bird Guide web site. I've been setting it up for a couple of days and am now ready to have the "open house." The "Pacific NW Backyard Birder" section will concentrate on common birds in the Pacific NW, using primarily my better photographs gathered over the past few years. The simple format should appeal to beginning birders. Each entry/article will discuss only one bird. Headings include "In the backyard...," "At the pond...," and "At the coast...." To host this new feature I have selected a blog format. New entries will be at the top of the page and older discussions will be easily searchable with the labels feature. Questions and answers can be posted in the comments for each article. I am asking for help with the "Backyard birds of... (your town)." See the article on "Backyard birds of... Portland, Oregon" as a template. Organizers of Bird Festivals should consider annually submitting a high quality photo and a description of their event, which I will gladly post without cost. Please visit The Bird Guide's main page http://thebirdguide.com and follow the very obvious link for the Pacific NW Backyard Birder. Please come visit! Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com From nnielsenpincus at yahoo.com Tue Mar 24 11:41:57 2009 From: nnielsenpincus at yahoo.com (Nicole Nielsen-Pincus) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:41:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Vaux's swift counting NEW DATE Message-ID: <184109.22050.qm@web55305.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Hi again all, I apologize for this, but after consulting with other sources and looking at some records, it appears that April 15 was too early to census Vaux's swifts in Oregon.? So I've changed the date to Saturday May 2.? Being the first year we're doing this in the spring, I realize we might not hit it right this year, but with your help, this will improve in the years to come.? Please contact me if you're interested in helping: nnielsenpincus at yahoo.com ? Nicole Nielsen-Pincus Vaux's Happening Oregon State Coordinator -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090324/82bccdbf/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Tue Mar 24 11:58:06 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:58:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] JoCo finds Message-ID: Some feathered friends of interest today (03-24-09) in Josephine County: 6 RING-BILLED GULLS at Riverside Park in Grants Pass (spring migrants Gulls it appears). No Gulls on your Josephine County list, now's your chance. at least 2 CLIFF SWALLOWS at Riverside Park, in flight over the river at least 1 VARIED THRUSH at our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit). Could be the latest "spring" bird I have detected here. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090324/9a291a91/attachment.html From kirkpat at charter.net Tue Mar 24 12:00:02 2009 From: kirkpat at charter.net (Douglas Kirkpatrick) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:00:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] TV's In-Reply-To: <184109.22050.qm@web55305.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <5DFCB29204F14D358238B07C0201BA00@D7CDFN81> A kettle of ~10 TURKEY VULTURES was moving north over east Medford one hour ago. Doug Kirkpatrick -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090324/40b3fac9/attachment.html From puma at smt-net.com Tue Mar 24 14:17:57 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:17:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hummingbird Charm In-Reply-To: <3686CB95-72EE-4868-90D9-1E67C85F4FBC@peak.org> References: <3686CB95-72EE-4868-90D9-1E67C85F4FBC@peak.org> Message-ID: <26E54A88-B658-4EAB-87E9-36830A6736B8@smt-net.com> Hi Jorrie and Ken, Very impressive! In the 80's I had 8 quarts of sugar water hanging around my house, in the same feeders you are using. There were 12 to 14 RUFOUS at each feeder. I had to time leaving to go to town after all the feeders were filled. I could not let them run out, they can't live on empty. That fall there was an early hard freeze in the South US, and I have never had that quantity of RUFOUS since. I phone my neighbors to let them know when the RUFOUS come so they can get their feeders up. OBOL is great for communicating this info. I know when John Thomas of Silverton has RUFOUS, I go out and hang my feeders up, and within 5 minutes, they appear. Phoning your friends that are not on OBOL is a good way of getting more feeders up in your area. Pat Waldron East of Scio On Mar 24, 2009, at 8:35 AM, Jorrie & Ken wrote: > We've had quite the "charm" of hummingbirds this year. We probably > have between 80 and 100 on the property. They are heading > northbound after a short visit at the Hummer's Inn at Waldport. The > females have arrived and it's been an incredible show. Check out: > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vElWFyKOU4. If anyone else has or > knows of Rufous hummer havens like ours, please email us directly. > > Because of the decline in Rufous Hummingbirds, we feel it would be > beneficial to have these havens set up from the Baja to Alaska so > these little jewels could depend on us to get them to their > breeding and hunting grounds safely. Maybe a group could start the > Spring Migration Trail like they did with building bluebird houses > for miles across the country. This was a very successful venture in > increasing the bluebird population. Setting up feeding stations > that are monitored would also help identify which hummers are > coming back year after year. How is it that we doubled our hummer > activity since last year? I've read that they come back to the > place they were raised but what about all the ones just traveling > north? How do they find this small little hummer hub in the midst > of so much land to cover? > > Jorrie & Ken Ciotti > Waldport, OR > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090324/a6b3f291/attachment.html From msgellerman at gmail.com Tue Mar 24 16:19:35 2009 From: msgellerman at gmail.com (Michael Gellerman) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:19:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Golden Eagle at Ridgefield - Photo with lunch + bonus Message-ID: <1d0c413a0903241619kab31460o62ef1f89f6a073df@mail.gmail.com> Here are a couple of photos of the eagle at Ridgefield yesterday enjoying lunch. http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhmfspxg_230fxgk77g9 Mike Gellerman -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090324/f0b2ad4a/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Tue Mar 24 17:14:53 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:14:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] male Northern Cardinal in Aurora, Marion County. Message-ID: A male Northern Cardinal has been in the area of the park on Liberty Street in Aurora since at least since January 31. Aurora is a very small town. Drive past the Aurora Colony Museum. Owen Schmidt and I looked for it for about eight hours today without success. (The sometimes uttered comment, that seeing rare birds wouldn't be fun if you always found them, is completely incorrect. I have also looked for the Central Point and Dayton cardinals.) Liberty Street runs to the east off Hwy. 99 E. The park has a tennis court, some children's play ground equipment and a lot of fir trees. The woman who has seen and photographed the bird has seen the species in Florida and checked her bird book. She has not yet developed her film with the photos of the cardinal. She was completely convincing. She was aware that there are Purple Finches visiting her feeders, and said that they arrived about three weeks ago. She mentioned the Purple Finches before we saw them. At times the cardinal has been just outside her window. She authorized me to indicate the general location of the bird when I assured her that birders are considerate and not obtrusive. The woman we talked with said that there was a ten-day period when she didn't see it. She said it is furtive and easily frightened off. She saw it three times, at varying times, on Sunday, but not yesterday. It has been seen as early as 8:00 AM and as late as near darkness. She said it always arrived from a direction northeast of the park. It hasn't been seen in the park, but has been in the residential yards across the street from the park. (I will soon post a summary of the responses I got from other birders in the west regarding records of cardinals from their states.) I am not sure, but I think a male cardinal was seen in Canby earlier in the winter. Canby is only a few miles away. In the last 12 months there has been a male cardinal near Dayton, a female in Central Point, a female in west Salem, and the Canby/Aurora bird or birds. Am I missing any? Jeff Gilligan Portland From 5hats at peak.org Tue Mar 24 17:28:49 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:28:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] coming of age Message-ID: <7B1C8C1B82874CBFB24590B224151850@your5rlp3a9516> Obol, I can remember a time, in the not-too-distant past, when Oregon birders would have thought it necessary to send away photos of presumed stints for the purpose of obtaining the opinion of experts in Europe. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090324/1eaa1f91/attachment.html From judie310hansen at comcast.net Tue Mar 24 18:22:49 2009 From: judie310hansen at comcast.net (Hansen Judith) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:22:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] male Northern Cardinal in Aurora, Marion County. In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <8273EF6F-CBDC-44F6-A7E6-F51A88698845@comcast.net> Cardinal feeding patterns - During the 16 years I lived in Central Indiana, we fed many cardinals and noted during Project Feederwatch observations that cardinals prefer to come to feeding stations when there is barely enough light to see them and then for the most part are absent a half hour after sunrise and then come again late in the day when it is within a half hour of being too dark to see them. That might be the best time to check for the Aurora cardinal. Judie Hansen, Eugene From birdboy at bkpix.com Tue Mar 24 19:12:33 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:12:33 +1300 Subject: [obol] Golden Eagle at Ridgefield - Photo with lunch + bonus In-Reply-To: <1d0c413a0903241619kab31460o62ef1f89f6a073df@mail.gmail.com> References: <1d0c413a0903241619kab31460o62ef1f89f6a073df@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Hi Michael, Nice photos! It's a rare treat to be that close to an eagle with his lunch. I think your bird is a young Bald Eagle, judging by the massive bill, big head, and thick neck without "golden" colored feathers. First year Bald Eagles get confusing when they don't have many white feathers; this individual seems to have just a few scattered ones, which makes for a challenging ID. Nice "bonus bird" photo, too ;) Good birding, Noah Strycker 2009/3/25 Michael Gellerman > Here are a couple of photos of the eagle at Ridgefield yesterday enjoying > lunch. > > http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhmfspxg_230fxgk77g9 > > Mike Gellerman > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090325/3ef6ed25/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Tue Mar 24 19:23:35 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:23:35 +0000 Subject: [obol] Golden Eagle at Ridgefield - Photo with lunch + bonus Message-ID: I want to take another look at the photos we took of the Golden at Sauvies a couple weeks ago. Maybe its the light, but our bird, especuiall Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Noah Strycker Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:12:33 To: ; Subject: Re: [obol] Golden Eagle at Ridgefield - Photo with lunch + bonus Hi Michael, Nice photos! It's a rare treat to be that close to an eagle with his lunch. I think your bird is a young Bald Eagle, judging by the massive bill, big head, and thick neck without "golden" colored feathers. First year Bald Eagles get confusing when they don't have many white feathers; this individual seems to have just a few scattered ones, which makes for a challenging ID. Nice "bonus bird" photo, too ;) Good birding, Noah Strycker 2009/3/25 Michael Gellerman > Here are a couple of photos of the eagle at Ridgefield yesterday enjoying lunch. http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhmfspxg_230fxgk77g9 Mike Gellerman _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From ninerharv2 at msn.com Tue Mar 24 19:40:56 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:40:56 +0000 Subject: [obol] Golden Eagle at Ridgefield - Photo with lunch + bonus Message-ID: Let me try again. I would like to look again at our photos of the golden we took at Sauvies 2 weeks ago. Maybe its the lighting, but the one we saw, the head especially was a very rich golden brown, so rich that when you saw it through the scope there was no doubt what we had on our hands. And our was immature, it had a bit of white here and there in the wings. I just don't see that here. Again maybe its light. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Noah Strycker Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:12:33 To: ; Subject: Re: [obol] Golden Eagle at Ridgefield - Photo with lunch + bonus Hi Michael, Nice photos! It's a rare treat to be that close to an eagle with his lunch. I think your bird is a young Bald Eagle, judging by the massive bill, big head, and thick neck without "golden" colored feathers. First year Bald Eagles get confusing when they don't have many white feathers; this individual seems to have just a few scattered ones, which makes for a challenging ID. Nice "bonus bird" photo, too ;) Good birding, Noah Strycker 2009/3/25 Michael Gellerman > Here are a couple of photos of the eagle at Ridgefield yesterday enjoying lunch. http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhmfspxg_230fxgk77g9 Mike Gellerman _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From ninerharv2 at msn.com Tue Mar 24 19:43:35 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:43:35 +0000 Subject: [obol] Golden Eagle at Ridgefield - Photo with lunch + bonus Message-ID: Let me try again! I would like to take another look at the Golden we photoed at Sauvies 2 weeks ago. Maybe its the light, but the one we saw, especially the head is a very rich golden brown. There could never be any mistake once you see it. And ours was immature with still some white in the wings. I just don't see that in this eagle. I would say immature bald. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Noah Strycker Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:12:33 To: ; Subject: Re: [obol] Golden Eagle at Ridgefield - Photo with lunch + bonus Hi Michael, Nice photos! It's a rare treat to be that close to an eagle with his lunch. I think your bird is a young Bald Eagle, judging by the massive bill, big head, and thick neck without "golden" colored feathers. First year Bald Eagles get confusing when they don't have many white feathers; this individual seems to have just a few scattered ones, which makes for a challenging ID. Nice "bonus bird" photo, too ;) Good birding, Noah Strycker 2009/3/25 Michael Gellerman > Here are a couple of photos of the eagle at Ridgefield yesterday enjoying lunch. http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhmfspxg_230fxgk77g9 Mike Gellerman _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From WeberHome at att.net Tue Mar 24 21:14:14 2009 From: WeberHome at att.net (Cliff & Joanne Weber) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:14:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] TRNWR Message-ID: <20090325041448.13E4FA823B@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> OBOL, hello! Having never before visited the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge we decided it was high time we checked out the spiffy new visitor's center. The center is located on high ground overlooking the wetland and provides a really good view of practically the whole place through a large picture window; which is really snug on a cold day. Much of the wintering waterfowl are pretty much gone now, but some remain. A mommy Canada Goose is incubating her eggs on a teensy little island right out in front of the center and easy to see with binoculars. We were pleasantly surprised to see a good number of Swallows out over the water as we weren't aware they had already begun returning. A Red Tail Hawk was hunting to the northwest by hover-flapping in the air Kestrel style. No doubt the stiff breeze was assisting the Reddy to hang itself up there like a kite. Where? . . Just north of the community of Sherwood on the west side of 99W. Page 684 of Thomas Portland Street Guide, square H4 Google satellite image: http://tinyurl.com/dfaxlr Accommodations? . . Excellent restrooms on-site. Restaurants down the road a bit in Sherwood. ADA Friendly? . . Very! Off-Street parking? . . Yes, w/special parking for Hybrid vehicles Cliff & Joanne Weber Beaverton (Bethany area) From willclemons at yahoo.com Tue Mar 24 21:24:44 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:24:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] CHANGES COMING: Ridgefield NWR Public Meeting Thursday 6PM Message-ID: <312051.62144.qm@web55102.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Hi Folks, It is a near certainty that there will be CHANGES COMING at Ridgefield NWR, on the Auto Tour Route / River 'S' Unit. The document mentioned in point "D)" below has 4 Alternatives. Alternatives 2 and 3 would be DISASTEROUS for birders, photographers, and other non-hunters (in my opinion). A) March 26, 2009 (Thursday) 6:00 - 8:00P.M. Ridgefield Community Center 210 North Main Avenue Ridgefield, WA 98642 I believe this is in the Ridgefield Public Library building. B) I will attend and take notes. I will post a meeting summary afterwards, probably Friday or Saturday. C) RNWR will accept comments through April 10, 2009. Coments may be mailed, faxed or emailed. See instructions on page 12 of the below linked document. D) The entire document "Preliminary Management Alternatives for Ridgefield NWR" is on the web at: http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ridgefield/pdf/rnwrplnupdate3.pdf E) Soon after the meeting, I will post my suggestions for all to see. I'll add suggestions sent to me from folks who are not sending their own comments. I will add names of folks who authorize me to add their names to my comments. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores From jonysky101 at aol.com Tue Mar 24 21:48:05 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:48:05 -0400 Subject: [obol] Unusual markings on Canadian Goose Message-ID: <8CB7B1C058794AE-2C4-2BC4@WEBMAIL-DF14.sysops.aol.com> I came across this goose at Ridgefield today. I've never seen one like this. I guess mamma goose had some explaining to do. I have other shots if anyone is interested. Johnny ? http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0732/1fb0ac867d2f4a1dbfedec54de9fbcd3.jpg ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090325/fa0e7c25/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Tue Mar 24 22:44:11 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 05:44:11 +0000 Subject: [obol] Golden Eagle at Ridgefield - Photo with lunch + bonus In-Reply-To: References: <1d0c413a0903241619kab31460o62ef1f89f6a073df@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Michael et al., Noah is absolutely correct. This bird is indeed an immature Bald Eagle for the reasons stated. Dave Irons Eugene, OR Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:12:33 +1300 From: birdboy at bkpix.com To: msgellerman at gmail.com; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Golden Eagle at Ridgefield - Photo with lunch + bonus Hi Michael, Nice photos! It's a rare treat to be that close to an eagle with his lunch. I think your bird is a young Bald Eagle, judging by the massive bill, big head, and thick neck without "golden" colored feathers. First year Bald Eagles get confusing when they don't have many white feathers; this individual seems to have just a few scattered ones, which makes for a challenging ID. Nice "bonus bird" photo, too ;) Good birding, Noah Strycker 2009/3/25 Michael Gellerman Here are a couple of photos of the eagle at Ridgefield yesterday enjoying lunch. http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhmfspxg_230fxgk77g9 Mike Gellerman _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_skydrive_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090325/3cf9c464/attachment.html From geraldham at comcast.net Wed Mar 25 00:53:31 2009 From: geraldham at comcast.net (geraldham at comcast.net) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 07:53:31 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Fwd: ........Ridgefield NWR In-Reply-To: <513857455.992431237967490111.JavaMail.root@sz0058a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <550188973.992531237967611321.JavaMail.root@sz0058a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: geraldham at comcast.net To: tweeters at u.washington.edu Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 12:51:30 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: ........Ridgefield NWR ...............Visited RNWR---River S Unit.(..north of Vanc. Wash.)...this afternoon midst some afternoon showers. Water level on some lakes( including Rest Lake) is lower or much lower than is usual for this time of year---probably due to abnormally low rainfall this winter. ...............Saw the same eagle as described in pictures and very recent e-mails----Also thought it was Golden Eagle, but after much study through spotting scope and referencing bird guide, concluded at the time it was an immature BALD EAGLE---looked just as in the e-mail pictures---with a lack of much white. There may be a Golden Eagle around, but 2 trips around the refuge didn't reveal one to my eyes. Several mature Bald eagles were circling overhead, spooking several large flocks of CANADA GEESE (,, zillions of these). Lots of RED-TAILED and HARRIER HAWKS perched in trees and snags---looking for a meal. ..............1 TUNDRA SWAN ( near the equipment barn); several small flocks of SANDHILL CRANES flying overhead; lots of DUNLIN,some DOWITCHERS; and a GREATER YELLOWLEG sharing a small mudbar at the south end of Rest lake(..observable only with a spotting scope). WOOD DUCKS and a good number of HOODED MERGANSERS; a few CINNAMON TEALS; along with lots of RING-NECKS and other usual winter resident ducks others mentioned. Didn't see the Shrike mentioned on the blackboard, but other songbirds seen(....and previously reported), including plenty of TREE SWALLOWS and some VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. ..............Visited Nisqually NWR yesterday (...just eastof Olympia...on south end of Puget Sound) on the way back from a weekend Seattle trip to see daughter and grandkids.Cold 38 degrees and steady rain in the aft. kept me from walking very far but did see what appeared to be my 1st YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER of the season; a LINCOLNS SPARROW and a MARSH WREN and a nice pair---a mama HORNED OWL and her fledgling of several weeks with her on a tree branch. 1 COMMON MERGANSER swimming down the Nisqually River (...nothing else!!!). Observed the same 'pigeon-like' birds near the Twin Barns area someone else mentioned a day or so ago. Other than lots of geese, I'm sure there was much more there, but my jacket was getting soaked, and my binos and glasses kept getting wet and fogged up, so I, with haste, headed back to my car and a warmer, drier trip home. ...............Got to make my nightly visit with "the sandman" as the hr. is late. ...............Cheers......Gerald Hamilton Brush Prairie, Wash. geraldham at comcast.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090325/3a666296/attachment.html From foxsparrows at aol.com Wed Mar 25 07:39:49 2009 From: foxsparrows at aol.com (foxsparrows at aol.com) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:39:49 -0400 Subject: [obol] Kenn Kaufman will be at the Scharrf Festival in Burns Message-ID: <8CB7B6EAF35336B-894-B7F@WEBMAIL-MZ10.sysops.aol.com> I'm not sure that everyone knew this, but Kenn Kaufman will be the speaker at the Saturday night banquet for the the John Scharff Migratory bird Festival in Burns on April 4. He is planning to go birding with one of the field trips on the following Sunday morning. I'm not sure about space on any of the Sunday AM trips. Apparently, next year's speaker will be another big-time bird book author (I think it might be Pete Dunne). http://www.migratorybirdfestival.com/ Steve Dowlan OWLHOOTER at AOL.COM -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090325/d7dbd61b/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Wed Mar 25 08:15:17 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:15:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER after nectar on Flowering Red Currant Message-ID: We have 10 Flowering Red Currant bushes scattered around the house and grounds. One outside the SW kitchen window is an early variety that attracts the first Rufous Hummingbirds in the Spring without fail. This morning an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER is also on this early currant. There was one OC Warbler last year who was tasting the savory delights of this currant for about a month & it does make one wonder if we have the same bird again. On the hummers, we follow OBOL closely. Pam had 3 feeders around the house for weeks before they showed up here. Surprisingly, we first saw them at Robert Frost Elem in Silverton a couple hours earlier this year. John Thomas N of Silverton From WeberHome at att.net Wed Mar 25 10:21:55 2009 From: WeberHome at att.net (Cliff & Joanne Weber) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:21:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] 1-bird Charm Message-ID: <20090325172224.C56BFA8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> OBOL, hello! We have a cute little Calliope Hummer in our yard this morning. Needless to say, the resident Anna's is upset with the Calliope and shooed it off the feeders once already, but the teensy little Cally is persistent and keeps sneaking back for swigs in between attacks. Cliff & Joanne Weber Beaverton (Bethany area) From mrchickadee at gmail.com Wed Mar 25 11:24:17 2009 From: mrchickadee at gmail.com (Miss Jacqui) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:24:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Smith-Bybee 3/25 Message-ID: <7e34f7b0903251124t353a7407w7aed6e28b1066154@mail.gmail.com> Hi OBOLers Visited Smith-Bybee lakes this drizzly morning from 7:30a-10a or so. Highlights: Lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers (30???) in the trees on our way back close to trail end. Osprey sitting on post w/ some nest sticks on platform Unidentified (Probably Great Horned) Owl on T-pole near canoe launch parking as we arrived Coopers or Sharpie feeding on a bird high in a tree Ruby Crown Kinglet Chickadee Junco Towhee A. Robin Anna's H. (heard) RW Blackbird Downy Woodpecker Swarms of VG Swallows! Bewicks Wren Possible winter Wren Song Sparrow Golden Crown Sparrow (heard??? - is this likely???) Lesser Goldfinch Mourning Dove Pied-billed Grebe Bufflehead Coot Mallard Ring Neck Duck Great Blue Heron Starling Can't wait till the weather gets better! -- Jacqui Parker Portland, OREGON ........... I realized that If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes Charles Lindbergh (1902 - 1974), Interview 1974 ( '< / ) ) // " " Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency may read this email without warning, warrant, or notice. They may do this without any judicial or legislative oversight. You have no recourse or protection and everything you type may be used against you to detain you in a secret prison. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090325/0c899397/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Wed Mar 25 11:31:47 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:31:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] osprey on nest Message-ID: <1CFF75C1989241F08CECE0EE072D0C57@TomsPC> While driving Delta Hwy and I-105 interchange in Eugene this morning at 11 I saw an OSPREY back on the nest at the ODOT light poll. I also saw four TURKEY VULTURES (maybe looking at the dead nutria) circling above Delta Hwy and another OSPREY with a giant twig flying north along Beltline and Delta Hwy. Nesting time! Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090325/abb9ec66/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Wed Mar 25 12:11:23 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:11:23 +0000 Subject: [obol] osprey on nest Message-ID: Nesting time for the Osprey at bridge over the Coquille coming into Bandon as well. They seem to be a month or more behind the Bald Eagles. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Tom Escue Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:31:47 To: Subject: [obol] osprey on nest While driving Delta Hwy and I-105 interchange in Eugene this morning at 11 I saw an OSPREY back on the nest at the ODOT light poll. I also saw four TURKEY VULTURES (maybe looking at the dead nutria) circling above Delta Hwy and another OSPREY with a giant twig flying north along Beltline and Delta Hwy. ? Nesting time! ? Tom Escue Springfield From ninerharv2 at msn.com Wed Mar 25 12:18:08 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:18:08 +0000 Subject: [obol] Unusual markings on Canadian Goose Message-ID: Almost looks like Johnny's momma goose ran into an emporer. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: jonysky101 at aol.com Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:48:05 To: Subject: [obol] Unusual markings on Canadian Goose I came across this goose at Ridgefield today. I've never seen one like this. I guess mamma goose had some explaining to do. I have other shots if anyone is interested. Johnny ? http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0732/1fb0ac867d2f4a1dbfedec54de9fbcd3.jpg ? ---------------- Great Deals on Dell 15" Laptops - Starting at $479 From dpvroman at budget.net Wed Mar 25 13:46:20 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:46:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] JoCo Ruby-crowned Kinglets Message-ID: Today (03-25-09) there were at least 5 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS at our place, just east of the Merlin I-5 exit. One was singing. They were likely on the move. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090325/14c3b268/attachment.html From David.Helzer at BES.CI.PORTLAND.OR.US Wed Mar 25 13:58:04 2009 From: David.Helzer at BES.CI.PORTLAND.OR.US (Helzer, David) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:58:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Info Request - Horned Larks at Broughton Beach, Mult Co Message-ID: OBOL, I am looking for any records Horned Larks at Broughton Beach in Portland, off Marine Drive. This is the south shoreline of the Columbia River east of the Gleason Boat ramp, near NE 33rd and Marine Drive. I am specifically interested in observations of Streaked Horned Larks, but am also interested in Horned Larks not identified to sub-species. Any information is appreciated. Thanks. Dave Helzer Environmental Specialist Columbia Slough Watershed City of Portland - Bureau of Environmental Services 503.823.5760 david.helzer at bes.ci.portland.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090325/3737b3c1/attachment.html From tamickel at rio.com Wed Mar 25 14:39:14 2009 From: tamickel at rio.com (Tom & Allison Mickel) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:39:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wednesday morning birdwalk Message-ID: <000001c9ad92$246a0c50$6d3e24f0$@com> OBOL, The group went to Delta Ponds this morning and found evidence of spring even though the weather was a little wet! The bird list follows: Canada Goose - 30 Wood Duck - 8 Gadwall - 10 American Wigeon - 4 Mallard - 20 Northern Shoveler - 4 Green-winged Teal - 20 Lesser Scaup - 6 Pied-billed Grebe - 3 Double-crested Cormorant - 6 Great Blue Heron - 1 Osprey - 2 Bald Eagle - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Peregrine Falcon - 1 American Coot - 8 Killdeer - 2 Spotted Sandpiper - 2 Wilson's Snipe - 4 Glaucous-winged Gull - 10 Rock Pigeon Rufous Hummingbird - 1 Belted Kingfisher - 2 Downy Woodpecker - 2 Northern Flicker - 4 Western Scrub-Jay - 6 American Crow - 10 Tree Swallow - 15 Violet-green Swallow - 100+/- Black-capped Chickadee - 10 Bushtit - 10 Brown Creeper - 6 Bewick's Wren - 8 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 10 American Robin - 25 European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler - 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 50+ mostly myrtle Spotted Towhee - 8 Fox Sparrow - 1 Song Sparrow - 10 White-crowned Sparrow - 1 Golden-crowned Sparrow - 25 Red-winged Blackbird - 4 Brewer's Blackbird - 3 House Finch - 4 Lesser Goldfinch - 6 American Goldfinch - 1 House Sparrow Participants - Jim Carlson, Fred Chancey, Sylvia Maulding, Craig Merkel, Tom Mickel, Paul Sherrell, Don Shrouder, Randy Sinnott. From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Mar 25 14:56:26 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:56:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cent Oregon ECBC Wednesday birders - Hatfield ponds and 20min Drake Park Message-ID: <3C6188D73A524E81B524C5B374AA0C30@MOM> OBOL Hi birders, Six of us birded on a walking tour of Hatfield. Not much change from 2 weeks ago except fewer Says Phoebes, ONE Greater Yellowlegs ( good spotting Sarah) and ONE American Pipit, (good spotting Howard.) The Cinnamon Teal is a recent arrival. He was in the first pond. We went to Drake Park to look for the Cackling Goose which we found. It was again just east of the footbridge, grazing with the Canadas. Most curious sighting was a male Wood Duck up on a bird feeder across the river from Drake Park. This report was mailed for Judy Meredith by http://birdnotes.net Canada Goose 60 Cackling Goose 1 - Drake Park Wood Duck 3 - Drake Park Gadwall 1 American Wigeon 40 Mallard 75 Cinnamon Teal 1 Northern Shoveler 3 Northern Pintail 3 Green-Winged Teal 4 Ring-necked Duck 20 Lesser Scaup 20 Bufflehead 40 Common Merganser 2 - Drake Park Ruddy Duck 8 California Quail 2 Bald Eagle 2 - One 5th yr, one 1-2 year. Red-tailed Hawk 3 American Kestrel 2 Virginia Rail 1 - heard only, drat American Coot 40 Killdeer 14 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Rock Dove 2 Northern Flicker 7 Say's Phoebe 6 Western Scrub-Jay 4 - Drake Park Pinyon Jay 15 Black-billed Magpie 4 American Crow 6 Common Raven 2 Tree Swallow 250 Violet-green Swallow 2 Mountain Chickadee 2 Pygmy Nuthatch 2 - Drake Park Marsh Wren 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10 Mountain Bluebird 35 Townsend's Solitaire 7 American Robin 15 Varied Thrush 1 - Lawn at Hatfield office European Starling 30 American Pipit 1 - first pond Hatfield Savannah Sparrow 4 Song Sparrow 5 Dark-eyed Junco 20 Red-winged Blackbird 25 Western Meadowlark 20 House Finch 4 House Sparrow 2 Total number of species seen: 50 Birders today Mary Oppenheimer, Howard Horvath, Darwin Wile, Mike Golden, Sarah Schneider, Judy Meredith. Good birding, Judy. jmeredit at bendnet.com From goosemiller at gmail.com Wed Mar 25 15:31:14 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:31:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Unusual markings on Canadian Goose In-Reply-To: <8CB7B1C058794AE-2C4-2BC4@WEBMAIL-DF14.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <49cab0ae.1ed7720a.3fdd.ffffda10@mx.google.com> Hi Everyone: This is a Canada goose. I am not sure if I have the terminology right but it looks like it is Leucistic to me and not a hybrid of anything. It is a really beautiful goose! Marilyn Miller _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of jonysky101 at aol.com Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 9:48 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Unusual markings on Canadian Goose I came across this goose at Ridgefield today. I've never seen one like this. I guess mamma goose had some explaining to do. I have other shots if anyone is interested. Johnny http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0732/1fb0ac867d2f4a1dbfedec54de9fbcd3 .jpg _____ Great Deals on Dell 15" Laptops - Starting at $479 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.278 / Virus Database: 270.11.29/2023 - Release Date: 03/25/09 18:54:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090325/9f5031e1/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Wed Mar 25 19:40:53 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:40:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] osprey on nest In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: The mating pair (I call them Ralph and Alice) are re-building their nest near the Carter Lake boat ramp on hwy101 south of Florence. I've been watching and photographing them for many years. The storms over the winter blew down the large nest they had built and maintained for the several years. It's so good to see them back and re-building. Rich > From: ninerharv2 at msn.com > To: tom-escue at comcast.net; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:11:23 +0000 > Subject: Re: [obol] osprey on nest > > Nesting time for the Osprey at bridge over the Coquille coming into Bandon as well. > > They seem to be a month or more behind the Bald Eagles. > > Harv > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T > > -----Original Message----- > From: Tom Escue > > Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:31:47 > To: > Subject: [obol] osprey on nest > > > While driving Delta Hwy and I-105 interchange in Eugene this morning at 11 I saw an OSPREY back on the nest at the ODOT light poll. I also saw four TURKEY VULTURES (maybe looking at the dead nutria) circling above Delta Hwy and another OSPREY with a giant twig flying north along Beltline and Delta Hwy. > > Nesting time! > > Tom Escue > Springfield > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Internet Explorer 8 ? Now Available. Faster, safer, easier. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/141323790/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090325/2b5d672a/attachment.html From oschmidt at att.net Wed Mar 25 20:40:17 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:40:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Northern Cardinal in Aurora today Message-ID: <29FAB767-2136-4C16-83C4-1766ECB46114@att.net> ...... photos taken at 6:25 pm today (frame grabs from video) of the male Northern Cardinal coming (irregularly) to a feeder in Aurora, Marion County: http://web.me.com/olschmidt/NOCA/Index.html oschmidt at att.net Wednesday, March 25, 2009 From jeffgill at teleport.com Wed Mar 25 20:50:36 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:50:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] male Northern Cardinal in Aurora, Marion County. - yes. In-Reply-To: Message-ID: The male Northern Cardinal was seen five times today. As Judie Hansen's suggested, Owen Schmidt and I tried until almost dark before we saw and photographed it. On 3/24/09 5:14 PM, "Jeff Gilligan" wrote: > > > A male Northern Cardinal has been in the area of the park on Liberty Street > in Aurora since at least since January 31. Aurora is a very small town. > Drive past the Aurora Colony Museum. > > Owen Schmidt and I looked for it for about eight hours today without > success. (The sometimes uttered comment, that seeing rare birds wouldn't be > fun if you always found them, is completely incorrect. I have also looked > for the Central Point and Dayton cardinals.) > > Liberty Street runs to the east off Hwy. 99 E. The park has a tennis court, > some children's play ground equipment and a lot of fir trees. The woman who > has seen and photographed the bird has seen the species in Florida and > checked her bird book. She has not yet developed her film with the photos of > the cardinal. She was completely convincing. She was aware that there are > Purple Finches visiting her feeders, and said that they arrived about three > weeks ago. She mentioned the Purple Finches before we saw them. At times > the cardinal has been just outside her window. She authorized me to > indicate the general location of the bird when I assured her that birders > are considerate and not obtrusive. > > The woman we talked with said that there was a ten-day period when she > didn't see it. She said it is furtive and easily frightened off. She saw > it three times, at varying times, on Sunday, but not yesterday. It has been > seen as early as 8:00 AM and as late as near darkness. She said it always > arrived from a direction northeast of the park. It hasn't been seen in the > park, but has been in the residential yards across the street from the park. > > (I will soon post a summary of the responses I got from other birders in the > west regarding records of cardinals from their states.) > > I am not sure, but I think a male cardinal was seen in Canby earlier in the > winter. Canby is only a few miles away. > > In the last 12 months there has been a male cardinal near Dayton, a female > in Central Point, a female in west Salem, and the Canby/Aurora bird or > birds. Am I missing any? > > > Jeff Gilligan > Portland > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From calocitta8 at gmail.com Wed Mar 25 13:06:53 2009 From: calocitta8 at gmail.com (Jesse Ellis) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:06:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Unusual markings on Canadian Goose In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Obol- Given than in all other respects it has the plumage of a Canada, it's probably a mutation that occurred during development that messed up melanin deposition in that feather tract. So, I'd argue it's genetically a Canada, just partially (a teeny bit) albino. Jesse Ellis Seattle At 7:18 PM +0000 3/25/09, HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE wrote: >Almost looks like Johnny's momma goose ran into an emporer. >Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T > >-----Original Message----- >From: jonysky101 at aol.com > >Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:48:05 >To: >Subject: [obol] Unusual markings on Canadian Goose > > >I came across this goose at Ridgefield today. I've never seen one >like this. I guess mamma goose had some explaining to do. I have >other shots if anyone is interested. Johnny > >http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0732/1fb0ac867d2f4a1dbfedec54de9fbcd3.jpg > > > >---------------- >Great Deals on Dell 15" Laptops - Starting at $479 >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- Jesse Ellis, Ph. D. Seattle, WA From mcoolidge at audubonportland.org Wed Mar 25 17:31:09 2009 From: mcoolidge at audubonportland.org (Mary Coolidge) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:31:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird survey methodology post Message-ID: <200903260031.n2Q0VBOj006654@broadway.hevanet.com> Portland Audubon will offer a two-day Bird Monitoring Training May 16-17 to teach advanced beginner and intermediate-level birders the survey methodology skills they need to become Citizen Scientists. The Saturday classroom session will run from 9 am-4:30 pm, with a Sunday field trip to Oaks Bottom from 5 am to 11 am. Participants will be prepared for a variety of monitoring projects, ranging from Point Counts at local Important Bird Areas to Kestrel Nest Box monitoring to downtown Portland Avian Mortality surveys. We will ask that you commit yourself to 40 hours of volunteer service over the course of the year on one of the many Citizen Science projects underway in the Portland Metropolitan region. Bird monitoring is the key to identifying conservation priorities and measuring restoration effectiveness. If you love birds, and would be interested in conducting field surveys, join us! Cost: $25 To register or for more information, contact Mary Coolidge at mcoolidge at audubonportland.org or at 503.292.6855 x111. Mary Coolidge Assistant Conservation Director Audubon Society of Portland 5151 NW Cornell Road Portland, OR 97210 503.292.6855 ext. 111 503.292.1021 fax -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090325/536fe9f3/attachment.html From fitzbeew at gmail.com Wed Mar 25 22:08:45 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:08:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chasing Slaty-Backed tomorrow (Thursday) Message-ID: Obol, I am planning on driving up to Portland to chase the Slaty-backed Gull on Thursday afternoon around noon. Is anyone interested in accompanying me? E-mail me or call my cell if you are. Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com (541) 579-0594 (cell) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090325/ca640cfd/attachment.html From dennis at dennisgalloway.com Wed Mar 25 22:08:57 2009 From: dennis at dennisgalloway.com (Dennis Galloway) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:08:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] unusual markings on Canadian goose Message-ID: <49921.24.20.202.78.1238044137.squirrel@webmail2.pair.com> It's the Hanford site, I knew it. You can't fool me. From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Mar 25 23:35:16 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:35:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 3-26-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * March 26, 2009 * ORPO0903.26 - birds mentioned Eurasian Green-winged Teal TUFTED DUCK Great Egret Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle SLATY-BACKED GULL Glaucous Gull White-throated Swift Calliope Hummingbird Scrub Jay Steller?s Jay Pinyon Jay Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Mountain Bluebird Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler NORTHERN CARDINAL Cassin?s Finch - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 Compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: Entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird report. This report was made Thursday March 26. If you have anything to report call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. A male NOTHERN CARDINAL is now being seen in Aurora, but it is elusive. The downtown Portland SLATY-BACKED GULL and the Marine Drive TUFTED DUCK continue to be seen. Very heavy movements of TURKEY VUTURES were reported during the week. Increased sightings of BALD EAGLES, SHOREBIRDS, YELLOW-RUMPED and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS may indicate migrations also. Heavy movements of TREE and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS during the week brought a few BARN and CLIFF SWALLOWS. On March 25 a CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD visited a Beaverton feeder. Two MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS are now being seen at the Sandy River Delta near Troutdale. On March 20 a EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL and 14 GREAT EGRETS were at Ankeny NWR. That a CASSIN?S FINCH was in Detroit. A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen March 22 in Hood River. That day two WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS were along Philippi Canyon Road in Gilliam County. On March 20 a SCRUB JAY was among a flock of STELLER?S and PINYON JAYS behind Ray?s Food Market in Sisters. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090325/a310fec0/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Mar 26 01:27:13 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:27:13 +0000 Subject: [obol] Wigeon ID piece posted to BirdFellow.com journal Message-ID: Greetings All, Tonight we added a short piece to the BirdFellow.com journal that might help you the next time you think are seeing a female Eurasian Wigeon. Dave Irons BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_skydrive_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090326/779f5c1c/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Mar 26 08:00:39 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:00:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Unusual markings on Canadian Goose In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <2b8d6ec4b9a7bca7142ebc296412229b@earthlink.net> First a pet peeve of mine. Do we know where this bird was hatched? If not in the Dominion of Canada, then it's not a "Canadian" goose. Large races of white-cheeked geese are CANADA Geese. Any Ross', Greater White-fronted, or blue-moph Snow Goose hatched in same Dominion is quite correctly a "Canadian" goose. I'm too lazy to scroll back to the original posting and wait for my dial-up to reveal the photo, but I believe the individual under discussion is a CACKLING Goose of the taverni race. There must be a score of subscribers to this list far more adroit at White-cheek ID than I and I welcome their correction to my standard hip-shot call. This is a great picture because it shows the world that "White-cheeked" geese aren't. Note the cheek patches of the other individuals. They are actually pale buff. The cheeks and many neck feathers of the abherrent bird are by contrast at least as white as the snow. I've yet to get a firm handle on the distinction between "partial albino" and "leucistic". I believe this bird is an example of the former. The white feathers are truly white, devoid of any pigment, while the rest of the body feathers appear as pigmented as all the other geese in the flock. If it were "leucistic" I believe there would be diminished pigment in many places. Having made it a habit of scanning flocks of Cackling Geese when gulls are not available, I notice that the white pattern on the heads of this species is highly variable. In any 2000 Cacklers one should expect half a dozen birds or more with white neck rings (really FAT ones, not just a toe-nail clipping), white foreheads, or large "white" (pale buff in reality) rectangles on the ventral surface of the neck. Lars Norgren On Mar 25, 2009, at 12:06 PM, Jesse Ellis wrote: > Obol- > > Given than in all other respects it has the plumage of a Canada, it's > probably a mutation that occurred during development that messed up > melanin deposition in that feather tract. So, I'd argue it's > genetically a Canada, just partially (a teeny bit) albino. > > Jesse Ellis > Seattle > > At 7:18 PM +0000 3/25/09, HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE wrote: >> Almost looks like Johnny's momma goose ran into an emporer. >> Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: jonysky101 at aol.com >> >> Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:48:05 >> To: >> Subject: [obol] Unusual markings on Canadian Goose >> >> >> I came across this goose at Ridgefield today. I've never seen one >> like this. I guess mamma goose had some explaining to do. I have >> other shots if anyone is interested. Johnny >> >> http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0732/ >> 1fb0ac867d2f4a1dbfedec54de9fbcd3.jpg >> > 1fb0ac867d2f4a1dbfedec54de9fbcd3.jpg> >> >> >> ---------------- >> Great Deals on Dell 15" Laptops - Starting at $479 >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > -- > Jesse Ellis, Ph. D. > Seattle, WA > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Mar 26 08:15:11 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:15:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] crowing Mountain Quail Message-ID: <5d6b3bf2315a5e35bb8481660f6ef31d@earthlink.net> The sun just rose at my house (7:07 or thereabouts) and it was accompanied by the crowing of a Mountain Quail, the first I have heard this year. Lars Norgren Manning Oregon From mdwils at wm.edu Thu Mar 26 07:30:21 2009 From: mdwils at wm.edu (Mike Wilson) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:30:21 -0400 Subject: [obol] U.S. Nightjar Survey needs participants Message-ID: <067f01c9ae1f$7e07f640$b26def80@campus.wm.edu> The U.S. Nightjar Survey Network is continuing into its third year as a vital program to gather data on the population distribution and population trends on this group of declining species. We would like to invite all birders and conservationists to participate in the program by adopting Nightjar Survey Routes in 2009 and beyond. Nightjars are the group of nocturnal, insectivorous birds that includes species such as the whip-poor-will, common poorwill, chuck-will's-widow, and the nighthawks among others. The U.S. Nightjar Survey Network was introduced in the southeast in 2007 and then expanded in 2008 to gain full coverage across the conterminous United States. We are grateful to the number of participants already involved in the program. The beginning years of data collection has already helped in explaining how the composition of habitats in local landcapes influences nightjar abundance. In turn, these data will one day help to explain population declines. However, there is still need for more routes to be surveyed, greater geographic and species coverage, and longer-term count data. Nightjar Surveys are standardized counts conducted along census routes at night. Observers count all Nightjars seen or heard for a six-minute period at each of 10 stops along the route. The entire survey will not take much more than one hour to complete and only needs conducted one time per year. We have produced a series of routes in each state with many that are still in need of adoption by survey participants. Please consider adopting a Nightjar Survey Route in your area. The continuing success of Nightjar Survey Network relies entirely on volunteer participation. Visit http://www.ccb-wm.org/nightjars.org for more details on route locations, methods of survey, and more. Mike Wilson Center for Conservation Biology College of William & Mary / Virginia Commonwealth University PO Box 8795 Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795 phone: 757-221-1649 fax: 757-221-1650 email:mdwils at wm.edu www.ccb-wm.org From cncschneider at msn.com Thu Mar 26 07:47:23 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:47:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Northern Cardinal in Aurora today In-Reply-To: <29FAB767-2136-4C16-83C4-1766ECB46114@att.net> References: <29FAB767-2136-4C16-83C4-1766ECB46114@att.net> Message-ID: Hi Birders, After looking at the pictures I would hazard a guess and say that this is a Northern Cardinal of the eastern subspecies group. I think that the larger amount of black on the forehead, the relatively straight culmen, and the shorter not bushy crest all point to the eastern subspecies group. The eye also appears to be part of the mask (eastern) as opposed to being connected to mask by a stripe of black (southwestern). Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon -------------------------------------------------- From: "Owen Schmidt" Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 8:40 PM To: "OBOL" Subject: [obol] Northern Cardinal in Aurora today > > ...... photos taken at 6:25 pm today (frame grabs from video) of the > male Northern Cardinal coming (irregularly) to a feeder in Aurora, > Marion County: > http://web.me.com/olschmidt/NOCA/Index.html > > oschmidt at att.net > Wednesday, March 25, 2009 > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From celata at pacifier.com Thu Mar 26 07:49:52 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:49:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] U.S. Nightjar Survey needs participants Message-ID: <49CB9610.8080708@pacifier.com> The correct URL for this project is: http://www.ccb-wm.org/nightjars.htm -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Are you BSC or PSC? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10323/Are+you+BSC+or+PSC%3F.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Thu Mar 26 07:51:39 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:51:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Northern Cardinal in Aurora today (eastern type?) In-Reply-To: Message-ID: That was our preliminary thought on the subject as well. On 3/26/09 7:47 AM, "Carl & Christine Schneiders" wrote: > Hi Birders, > > After looking at the pictures I would hazard a guess and say that this is a > Northern Cardinal of the eastern subspecies group. I think that the larger > amount of black on the forehead, the relatively straight culmen, and the > shorter not bushy crest all point to the eastern subspecies group. The eye > also appears to be part of the mask (eastern) as opposed to being connected > to mask by a stripe of black (southwestern). > > Matthew Schneider > Silverton, Oregon > -------------------------------------------------- > From: "Owen Schmidt" > Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 8:40 PM > To: "OBOL" > Subject: [obol] Northern Cardinal in Aurora today > >> >> ...... photos taken at 6:25 pm today (frame grabs from video) of the >> male Northern Cardinal coming (irregularly) to a feeder in Aurora, >> Marion County: >> http://web.me.com/olschmidt/NOCA/Index.html >> >> oschmidt at att.net >> Wednesday, March 25, 2009 >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From mdwils at wm.edu Thu Mar 26 08:55:44 2009 From: mdwils at wm.edu (Mike Wilson) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:55:44 -0400 Subject: [obol] Fw: U.S. Nightjar Survey needs participants Message-ID: <004501c9ae2b$52b3ed80$b26def80@campus.wm.edu> I apologize. I added the wrong link. correct link: http://www.ccb-wm.org/nightjars.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Wilson" To: <> Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2009 10:30 AM Subject: U.S. Nightjar Survey needs participants > The U.S. Nightjar Survey Network is continuing into its third year as a > vital program to gather data on the population distribution and population > trends on this group of declining species. We would like to invite all > birders and conservationists to participate in the program by adopting > Nightjar Survey Routes in 2009 and beyond. > > Nightjars are the group of nocturnal, insectivorous birds that includes > species such as the whip-poor-will, common poorwill, chuck-will's-widow, > and the nighthawks among others. The U.S. Nightjar Survey Network was > introduced in the southeast in 2007 and then expanded in 2008 to gain full > coverage across the conterminous United States. We are grateful to the > number of participants already involved in the program. The beginning > years of data collection has already helped in explaining how the > composition of habitats in local landcapes influences nightjar abundance. > In turn, these data will one day help to explain population declines. > However, there is still need for more routes to be surveyed, greater > geographic and species coverage, and longer-term count data. > > Nightjar Surveys are standardized counts conducted along census routes at > night. Observers count all Nightjars seen or heard for a six-minute > period at each of 10 stops along the route. The entire survey will not > take much more than one hour to complete and only needs conducted one time > per year. We have produced a series of routes in each state with many that > are still in need of adoption by survey participants. > > Please consider adopting a Nightjar Survey Route in your area. The > continuing success of Nightjar Survey Network relies entirely on volunteer > participation. > > Visit http://www.ccb-wm.org/nightjars.htm for more details on route > locations, methods of survey, and more. > > Mike Wilson > Center for Conservation Biology > College of William & Mary / Virginia Commonwealth University > PO Box 8795 > Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795 > phone: 757-221-1649 > fax: 757-221-1650 > email:mdwils at wm.edu > www.ccb-wm.org > From dendroicaman at peak.org Thu Mar 26 09:12:04 2009 From: dendroicaman at peak.org (Karl Fairchild) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:12:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] crowing Mountain Quail In-Reply-To: <5d6b3bf2315a5e35bb8481660f6ef31d@earthlink.net> References: <5d6b3bf2315a5e35bb8481660f6ef31d@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <49CBA954.8060106@peak.org> Hi Birders, There was a MOUNTAIN QUAIL calling this morning at my folks' place west of Philomath as well. Spring is here! Good Birding All, Karl Karl Fairchild Philomath, OR From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Mar 26 09:13:45 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:13:45 +0000 Subject: [obol] Unusual markings on Canadian Goose In-Reply-To: <2b8d6ec4b9a7bca7142ebc296412229b@earthlink.net> References: <2b8d6ec4b9a7bca7142ebc296412229b@earthlink.net> Message-ID: Greetings All, I had not looked at the images of this goose for more than about four seconds previously, but, as Lars has noticed, it is a Taverner's Cackling Goose rather than a Canada Goose. It is melanin challenged on the head and neck, whether this should be described as partial albinism or partial leucism is one of those things I think I'll tackle when I'm retired. If one spends much time sorting through wintering flocks of white-cheeked geese (Canadas and Cacklers), they will find one or two birds (or more) per season with this sort of appearance. It is a pretty common plumage anomaly. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > From: gnorgren at earthlink.net > Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:00:39 -0800 > To: calocitta8 at gmail.com > CC: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Unusual markings on Canadian Goose > > First a pet peeve of mine. Do we know > where this bird was hatched? If not in the > Dominion of Canada, then it's not a "Canadian" > goose. Large races of white-cheeked geese are > CANADA Geese. Any Ross', Greater White-fronted, > or blue-moph Snow Goose hatched in same Dominion > is quite correctly a "Canadian" goose. > I'm too lazy to scroll back to the original > posting and wait for my dial-up to reveal the > photo, but I believe the individual under > discussion is a CACKLING Goose of the taverni > race. There must be a score of subscribers to > this list far more adroit at White-cheek ID than > I and I welcome their correction to my standard > hip-shot call. > This is a great picture because it shows > the world that "White-cheeked" geese aren't. > Note the cheek patches of the other individuals. > They are actually pale buff. The cheeks and many > neck feathers of the abherrent bird are by contrast > at least as white as the snow. I've yet to > get a firm handle on the distinction between > "partial albino" and "leucistic". I believe > this bird is an example of the former. The > white feathers are truly white, devoid of > any pigment, while the rest of the body > feathers appear as pigmented as all the other > geese in the flock. If it were "leucistic" I > believe there would be diminished pigment > in many places. > Having made it a habit of scanning flocks > of Cackling Geese when gulls are not available, > I notice that the white pattern on the heads > of this species is highly variable. In any 2000 > Cacklers one should expect half a dozen birds > or more with white neck rings (really FAT ones, > not just a toe-nail clipping), white foreheads, > or large "white" (pale buff in reality) rectangles > on the ventral surface of the neck. > Lars Norgren > On Mar 25, 2009, at 12:06 PM, Jesse Ellis wrote: > > > Obol- > > > > Given than in all other respects it has the plumage of a Canada, it's > > probably a mutation that occurred during development that messed up > > melanin deposition in that feather tract. So, I'd argue it's > > genetically a Canada, just partially (a teeny bit) albino. > > > > Jesse Ellis > > Seattle > > > > At 7:18 PM +0000 3/25/09, HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE wrote: > >> Almost looks like Johnny's momma goose ran into an emporer. > >> Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: jonysky101 at aol.com > >> > >> Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:48:05 > >> To: > >> Subject: [obol] Unusual markings on Canadian Goose > >> > >> > >> I came across this goose at Ridgefield today. I've never seen one > >> like this. I guess mamma goose had some explaining to do. I have > >> other shots if anyone is interested. Johnny > >> > >> http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0732/ > >> 1fb0ac867d2f4a1dbfedec54de9fbcd3.jpg > >> >> 1fb0ac867d2f4a1dbfedec54de9fbcd3.jpg> > >> > >> > >> ---------------- > >> Great Deals on Dell 15" Laptops - Starting at $479 > >> _______________________________________________ > >> obol mailing list > >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > -- > > Jesse Ellis, Ph. D. > > Seattle, WA > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_70faster_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090326/7d4eefaa/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Mar 26 11:02:54 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:02:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] JoCo Cowbirds Message-ID: Phil Hicks reported about 6 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS (1 female) at his place east of Grants Pass this morning (03-26-09). These would be earlier arrivers than my previous county records, which are in the first week of April. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090326/510370fe/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Thu Mar 26 11:54:52 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:54:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Colorado Birding Message-ID: <3FF618F966F54425A5DC7B4538D7476B@cgatesPC> I just got back from a whirlwind tour of Colorado and E. Kansas. We did a bunch of driving and relatively little birding but the highlights were: 8 Gunnison Sage Grouse - Gunnison, CO 100 Brown-capped Rosy-Finch - Crested Butte, CO 13 Lesser Prairie Chickens - East Blind Cimarron National Grasslands, Elkhart, KS ? Greater Prairie Chickens - CR 45 north of Wray, CO (birds were lekking behind a hill - could hear them but not see them Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090326/da9deb8f/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Thu Mar 26 12:03:33 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:03:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 03/25/09 Message-ID: <20090326190333.D0EBCA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 03/29 to 03/25/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous TWO weeks (because last week only had 2 walks). Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 7 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Red-tailed Hawk 1 (1, 3/21) Band-tailed Pigeon 1 (1, 3/20) Mourning Dove 7 (5) Anna's Hummingbird 2 (3, 3/22) Red-breasted Sapsucker 6 (2) Downy Woodpecker 3 (1) Northern Flicker 7 (3) Pileated Woodpecker 4 (1) Steller's Jay 7 (8, 3/23) Western Scrub-Jay 6 (2) American Crow 6 (15, 3/20) VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW 1 (6, 3/21) Black-capped Chickadee 7 (8) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 5 (5) Red-breasted Nuthatch 6 (7, 3/21) Brown Creeper 2 (2, 3/21) Bewick's Wren 3 (2) Winter Wren 6 (4, 3/21) RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET 3 (2) American Robin 7 (20, 3/22) Varied Thrush 7 (15, 3/19) European Starling 7 (7) Spotted Towhee 7 (6) Fox Sparrow 5 (2) Song Sparrow 7 (12) Dark-eyed Junco 7 (20) Purple Finch 5 (4, 3/21) House Finch 7 (10, 3/21) Pine Siskin 7 (15, 3/21) Lesser Goldfinch 2 (2, 3/19 & 23) AMERICAN GOLDFINCH 1 (2, 3/21) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: COOPER'S HAWK, Western Screech-Owl, GREAT HORNED OWL, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (fide a neighbor), SAY'S PHOEBE (fide another neighbor--would be a new bird for my dogwalk) Wink Gross Portland From tc at empnet.com Thu Mar 26 12:09:29 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:09:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] [COBOL] Osprey In-Reply-To: <3FF618F966F54425A5DC7B4538D7476B@cgatesPC> Message-ID: <009201c9ae46$640fca70$4e01a8c0@102889> I was out of town for the past 10 days and don't know if this was reported yet, but the pair of Osprey that nests next to the Parkway in Bend have returned and were sitting on the platform this morning. This seems early to me. Tom Crabtree, Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090326/fe9648a5/attachment.html From fschrock at gmail.com Thu Mar 26 12:49:35 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:49:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Late Violet-green Swallows Message-ID: <390ebd880903261249t1a14d79bw88c639143c110ec0@mail.gmail.com> Violet-green Swallows have just set a new record for their latest arrival in 17 years in my neighborhood. Early today (Mar. 26) a single bird was circling high above my street, but "my" birds are not here yet, unless that was one of them still not quite ready to come down. Is it time to start worrying? -- ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090326/d238e0fc/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Thu Mar 26 13:14:26 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:14:26 +0000 Subject: [obol] Colorado Birding Message-ID: Hi Chuck, You are missing the BEST chicken of all- SPRUCE GROUSE! It's fun to watch fancy, sex-crazed chickens in their natural arena! They are such an interesting group of birds!! Good grousin, Khanh Tran From sheffield.lisa at gmail.com Thu Mar 26 13:36:54 2009 From: sheffield.lisa at gmail.com (Lisa Sheffield) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:36:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] SOUTH COAST SEABIRDS: FREE TALK AND TRAINING Message-ID: *Can Soccer moms do science?* The coasst Story Dr. Julia K. Parrish will explore the factors affecting some of our most abundant Oregon seabird species based on interesting trends from data collected by citizen science volunteers. Friday, April 24th, 2009, 7-8pm OIMB, Charleston, Oregon Boat Auditorium *Beachwatchers and birders wanted for* *coastal observation and seabird survey team (coasst)* On Saturday, April 25th from 10:00am to 4:00pm., the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) will deliver a free training session at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in Charleston, OR. COASST volunteers help make a difference for the environment by collecting data on beach-cast carcasses of marine birds on a monthly basis to establish the baseline pattern of beached bird mortality on North Pacific beaches. Data collected helps address important marine conservation issues and protect marine resources. Through an interactive, hands-on workshop, trainees will become acquainted with the custom COASST field guide, *Beached Birds,* and have a chance to try out their newly acquired identification skills on seabird species common to the Oregon Coast. The COASST training provides volunteers with the tools to monitor for potential changes in the marine environment and promote stewardship of local marine resources. COASST is a citizen science project of the University of Washington in partnership with state, tribal, and federal agencies, environmental organizations, and community groups. COASST believes citizens of coastal communities are essential scientific partners in monitoring marine ecosystem health. By collaborating with citizens, natural resource management agencies and environmental organizations, COASST works to translate long-term monitoring into effective marine conservation solutions. Currently, more than 400 volunteers survey over 250 beaches in Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, and Hawaii. The free training session will be held in the Birds and Mammals Classroom at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology (63466 Boat Basin Road, Charleston, OR 97420). More information can be found on the OIMB website: http://www.uoregon.edu/~oimb/ . Please feel free to bring your own brown bag lunch. Reserve your training spot by calling COASST at 206-221-6893 or by emailing info at coasst.org. For more information on COASST please visit our website www.coasst.org Email: info at coasst.org, Phone: 206-221-6893, or mail us at: University of Washington, School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, Box 355020, Seattle, WA 98195-5020 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090326/1610afb2/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Mar 26 14:12:37 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:12:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Late Violet-green Swallows References: <390ebd880903261249t1a14d79bw88c639143c110ec0@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <96B7DCA854B943CA83E6054100CCB1ED@Warbler> Today (03-26-09) was the first day they were seen at our place also (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit) and we are way south of your location. They did check out some nesting boxes, however. Although birds were seen near Kerby on 02-26-09, 1st for us. They are later than several past years. Dennis Violet-green Swallows have just set a new record for their latest arrival in 17 years in my neighborhood. Early today (Mar. 26) a single bird was circling high above my street, but "my" birds are not here yet, unless that was one of them still not quite ready to come down. Is it time to start worrying? -- ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090326/3d3bb307/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Thu Mar 26 14:43:58 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:43:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI sooty grouse and mountain quail Message-ID: <20090326144358.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.cec09c9f0c.wbe@email.secureserver.net> OBOLers, Being relatively new to the Pacific Northwest, there are still a few relatively common birds that I have yet to find. Sooty grouse and mountain quail are two. From reading last year's posts to OBOL, species accounts in Birds of Oregon and various bird-finding guides, it looks like early spring, when they are most vocal, is the best time to find these species. Early last summer I followed up on reports of mountain quail near Larch Mountain, without success, and I looked for sooty grouse on Larch Mountain, also without request. Does anyone have any advice on finding these species? I live in SW Portland, so locations in western Washington or Yamhill Counties or eastern Multnomah or Clackamas Counties would be best, but I am willing to travel farther, if necessary. Thanks in advance for any and all help. Craig Tumer SW Portland From jeffgill at teleport.com Thu Mar 26 15:34:42 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:34:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] West Salem female N. Cardinal - no. / Prairie Falcon - Scappoose. Message-ID: The previously reported female Northern Cardinal from West Salem has no been seen a a few weeks. I understand the Owen Schmidt, Jack Kiley and John Alzalde saw a Prairie Falcon yesterday near Honeyman Rd. in the Scappoose Bottoms, Columbia Co. From drheath82 at verizon.net Thu Mar 26 18:40:57 2009 From: drheath82 at verizon.net (Mr David Heath) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:40:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI: Monks? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <000001c9ae7d$149c6a70$3dd53f50$@net> A friend of mine asked me today if the Monk Parakeets were still active at their housing development near the airport. I told her I thought I had heard they had moved on, but I had no real idea where, or whether the colony was even still active. Anybody out there know? Thanks, David From FoxSparrows at aol.com Thu Mar 26 19:07:55 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:07:55 EDT Subject: [obol] Goshawk at Hines, Harney County Message-ID: No one around town reported seeing any Goshawks this winter, so this spring sighting is probably the first for the year. Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm_ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) **************Great Deals on Dell 15" Laptops - Starting at $479 (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1219799606x1201361003/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fad.doub leclick.net%2Fclk%3B213153745%3B34689725%3Bo) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090326/42782598/attachment.html From kspinks at thprd.org Thu Mar 26 19:43:35 2009 From: kspinks at thprd.org (Kyle Spinks) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:43:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] W. Bluebird near Bald Peak Message-ID: <49CBD94B0200004500009668@mail.thprd.org> Hi, Last night, about 5:00, I saw a male western bluebird along Hwy. 219, about 1/4 mile south of the Farmington Rd. intersection. It was sitting on a fencepost along the edge of a recently felled filbert orchard on the north side of the highway. First one I've seen out here next to my farm! Kyle Spinks From heinjv at dcwisp.net Thu Mar 26 20:52:57 2009 From: heinjv at dcwisp.net (Jim & Vikki Hein) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:52:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Douglas Tricoloreds Message-ID: <42A95BAB2B294956AD1A8B962E3BF4B8@MAIN> Obol, This morning at Ford's pond, Sutherlin I saw 8 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS on the wires along the road. There has been a colony at Ford's pond in the last several years. There was also a CINNAMON TEAL on the lake. Jim Hein From ed.mcvicker at comcast.net Thu Mar 26 21:27:00 2009 From: ed.mcvicker at comcast.net (Ed McVicker) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:27:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Aurora Cardinal - no Message-ID: <49CC5594.80504@comcast.net> I spent much of the day hoping to see the Cardinal without seeing the bird. The bird is visiting a yard with several feeders across Liberty St. opposite the southeast corner of the park in Aurora. The feeders were busy most of the day but no Cardinal today. Ed McVicker Portland From louisfredd at msn.com Thu Mar 26 21:30:30 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:30:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon City, Mar 14-20 Message-ID: Today I saw a couple of swallows well distant, going directly N, all business, no loitering, looked like Violet-greens, but couldn't be certain. First swallows of any kind I've seen this year. Some of what I observed last week from/within the yard: Mar14 PURPLE FINCH M Continue in greater than expected nos for this time of yr: 1-2/da, 4/7das, about even M/F. Mar16 TURKEY VULTURE Propelled N on strong winds. COOPER'S HAWK Quick low pass thru yard late in day. RED-TAILED HAWK Low passes thru neighborhood am. Mar17 RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD M,F FOYR (No. 50) 1-2 daily since, M mostly. A few das later than last yr, a few das earlier than most. I have a couple of red currant bushes, native and varietal, neither one blooming. If the weather moderates "Edward VII" might blossom in a week, the native, sometime after that. The native twinberry, yellow flowers of which out-attract the red currants, is comatose, but once it gets going it will flower all summer long. Two nectar feeders. The third bottle never seems to get hung. Mar18 NORTHERN GOSHAWK FOYR Ad Rather hi, mid-afternoon, headed W on non-hurried flap/glide sequence, stalled overhead to soar in 2-3 small circles, gray adult plumage underneath in good light, extravagant white undertail coverts, continued W out of sight. PRAIRIE FALCON FOYR Rapid, undeviating flight E, noon, just above tallest firs. I see 1-2/yr spring or fall, hunting fairways and nearby ag grasslands during migration, tend to occur most frequently late winter months, scattered dates. Mar 19 RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER 2das _________________________________________________________________ Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/personalize.aspx?ocid=TXT_MSGTX_WL_HM_express_032009#colortheme -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090326/0989cad0/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Thu Mar 26 22:07:52 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:07:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: A pair of Mountain Bluebirds at Powell Butte In-Reply-To: Message-ID: ------ Forwarded Message From: John Richter Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:50:42 -0700 To: Subject: A pair of Mountain Bluebirds at Powell Butte Harry- A friend and I were birding at Powell Butte today and we were excited to see a pair of Mountain Bluebirds (male and female). They were located about 100 yards southeast of the summit in an open area with some shrubs about 3 foot high where the birds would perch. John Richter 4936 SE 76th Ave. Portland jrichter at hevanet.com 503-788-7970 ------ End of Forwarded Message From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri Mar 27 09:28:41 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:28:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Migrants of Late Message-ID: <869612.32666.qm@web45307.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> 3/25, N. Spit of Coos Bay: 1- CLIFF SWALLOW 3/27, Tenmile Lakes at Lakeside, NW Coos: 2- adult male scout PURPLE MARTINS 3/27, N. Spit of Coos Bay: 1- singing ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER also singing- both MYRTLE & AUDUBON WARBLERS SAVANNAH SPARROW PURPLE FINCHES The Rufous Hummers have really been kegged up down here due to the wet, cool weather the last week or so, they should be heading north in good numbers today. Merry migration!!!!!!!!! Tim R Coos Bay From lammergeiereyes at aol.com Fri Mar 27 10:53:36 2009 From: lammergeiereyes at aol.com (lammergeiereyes at aol.com) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:53:36 -0400 Subject: [obol] Fwd: eBird Report - Fernhill Wetlands , 3/27/09 In-Reply-To: <1909748180.1238142030956.JavaMail.root@ruff.ornith.cornell.edu> References: <1909748180.1238142030956.JavaMail.root@ruff.ornith.cornell.edu> Message-ID: <8CB7D1C16353589-176C-68E@WEBMAIL-DY38.sysops.aol.com> Glaucous Gull and Common Teal continue: Location:???? Fernhill Wetlands Observation date:???? 3/27/09 Notes:???? Common Teal and Glaucous Gull the only atypical things. Number of species:???? 38 Cackling Goose - Branta hutchinsii???? 1000 Canada Goose - Branta canadensis???? 150 Wood Duck - Aix sponsa???? 3 Gadwall - Anas strepera???? 8 Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos???? 28 Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata???? 300 Northern Pintail - Anas acuta???? 8 Green-winged Teal - Anas crecca???? 30 Green-winged Teal (Eurasian) - Anas crecca crecca/nimia???? 1 Ring-necked Duck - Aythya collaris???? 12 Bufflehead - Bucephala albeola???? 15 Ruddy Duck - Oxyura jamaicensis???? 40 Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps???? 2 Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus???? 18 Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias???? 4 Great Egret - Ardea alba???? 1 Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus???? 1 Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis???? 2 American Kestrel - Falco sparverius???? 1 American Coot - Fulica americana???? 30 Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca???? 4 Mew Gull - Larus canus???? 25 Glaucous-winged Gull - Larus glaucescens???? 15 Glaucous Gull - Larus hyperboreus???? 1 gull sp. - Larinae sp.???? 100 Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura???? 4 Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon???? 1 Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus???? 4 Say's Phoebe - Sayornis saya???? 1 Western Scrub-Jay - Aphelocoma californica???? 5 Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor???? 100 Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus???? 8 European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris???? 12 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) - Dendroica coronata auduboni???? 12 Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia???? 20 Lincoln's Sparrow - Melospiza lincolnii???? 1 Golden-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia atricapilla???? 2 Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus???? 25 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Blake T. Matheson "Men still live who, in their youth, remember Passenger Pigeons. Trees still live who, in their youth, were shaken by a living wind. But a decade hence only the oldest oaks will remember, and at long last only the hills will know." Leopold (1949). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090327/245402d3/attachment.html From WeberHome at att.net Fri Mar 27 11:25:31 2009 From: WeberHome at att.net (Cliff & Joanne Weber) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:25:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] TRNWR Message-ID: <20090327182601.66CEFA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> OBOL, hello! We saw, what strongly resembles, a first-year, juvenile Say's Phoebe at Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Thursday, March 26. It was on the grass when we first walked up near it but then it flew up and perched in a little sapling along with a Yellow-rump Warbler of the Audubon variety. The sapling was located down the path from the chemical toilet, in the pasture just past one of the experimental ponds on the right as you're going out. After we observed it for while in the little sapling, it flew over to the taller trees around the ponds and didn't seem a bit disturbed by visitors exploring around the pond's shoreline. Having never seen a Say's before, we didn't know what to make of it at first; and in point of fact, we stand ready to be corrected. Where? . . Just north of the community of Sherwood on the west side of 99W. Page 684 of Thomas Portland Street Guide, square H4 Google satellite image: http://tinyurl.com/dfaxlr Accommodations? . . Excellent restrooms on-site. Restaurants down the road a bit in Sherwood. ADA Friendly? . . Very! Off-Street parking? . . Yes, w/special parking for Hybrid vehicles From jonysky101 at aol.com Fri Mar 27 12:39:56 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:39:56 -0400 Subject: [obol] about keeping birding lists Message-ID: <8CB7D2AF1180E59-D2C-770@MBLK-M26.sysops.aol.com> I've only started birding a couple of months ago. It was my intention to take a photo of each of the birds I saw, and that would be my bird list. But due to the lack of cooperation of many of the subject birds, I have come to the conclusion that my birding list might remain very short if I continue this approach. I saw several birds yesterday that I had not seen before, a couple of which I am resonably certain of their IDs after looking in my bird books. So I will count them. But several I am just not positive, so I won't count them. I am definately not able to count birds by their songs, yet. I was wondering if the birds I saw before I started "officially" birding should go on my list. I grew up in south east Kentucky with the Cardinals, Eastern Bluebirds and mourning doves. I am wondering if I should count them now or wait until I see them again? Your input is appreciated. Johnny Sask, Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090327/5212eccc/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Mar 27 13:39:58 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:39:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fwd: eBird Report - Fernhill Wetlands , 3/27/09 In-Reply-To: <8CB7D1C16353589-176C-68E@WEBMAIL-DY38.sysops.aol.com> References: <1909748180.1238142030956.JavaMail.root@ruff.ornith.cornell.edu> <8CB7D1C16353589-176C-68E@WEBMAIL-DY38.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <3eef51c7512b347745171606b1067fc7@earthlink.net> Say's Phoebe is a VERY good bird for Washington County. Greg Gillson has about 9 records on file for all time. I've seen the species once in over 15 years of residence in the county and an additional decade of working there prior to residency. Lars Norgren On Mar 27, 2009, at 9:53 AM, lammergeiereyes at aol.com wrote: > Glaucous Gull and Common Teal continue: > > Location:???? Fernhill Wetlands > Observation date:???? 3/27/09 > Notes:???? Common Teal and Glaucous Gull the only atypical things. > Number of species:???? 38 > > Cackling Goose - Branta hutchinsii???? 1000 > Canada Goose - Branta canadensis???? 150 > Wood Duck - Aix sponsa???? 3 > Gadwall - Anas strepera???? 8 > Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos???? 28 > Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata???? 300 > Northern Pintail - Anas acuta???? 8 > Green-winged Teal - Anas crecca???? 30 > Green-winged Teal (Eurasian) - Anas crecca crecca/nimia???? 1 > Ring-necked Duck - Aythya collaris???? 12 > Bufflehead - Bucephala albeola???? 15 > Ruddy Duck - Oxyura jamaicensis???? 40 > Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps???? 2 > Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus???? 18 > Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias???? 4 > Great Egret - Ardea alba???? 1 > Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus???? 1 > Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis???? 2 > American Kestrel - Falco sparverius???? 1 > American Coot - Fulica americana???? 30 > Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca???? 4 > Mew Gull - Larus canus???? 25 > Glaucous-winged Gull - Larus glaucescens???? 15 > Glaucous Gull - Larus hyperboreus???? 1 > gull sp. - Larinae sp.???? 100 > Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura???? 4 > Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon???? 1 > Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus???? 4 > Say's Phoebe - Sayornis saya???? 1 > Western Scrub-Jay - Aphelocoma californica???? 5 > Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor???? 100 > Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus???? 8 > European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris???? 12 > Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) - Dendroica coronata auduboni???? 12 > Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia???? 20 > Lincoln's Sparrow - Melospiza lincolnii???? 1 > Golden-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia atricapilla???? 2 > Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus???? 25 > > This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) > > > Blake T. Matheson > > "Men still live who, in their youth, remember Passenger Pigeons. > Trees still live who, in their youth, were shaken by a living wind. > But a decade hence only the oldest oaks will remember, and at long > last only the hills will know." Leopold (1949). > > > Live traffic, local info, maps, directions and more with the NEW > MapQuest Toolbar. Get it now! > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Fri Mar 27 12:48:49 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:48:49 -0400 Subject: [obol] osprey near Scappoose Message-ID: Two OSPREY were calling while circling low overhead on north end of Honeyman Road loop yesterday on the Scappoose Bottoms. First osprey of the season. Lona Pierce, Warren, Columbia County _________________________________________________________________ Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/personalize.aspx?ocid=TXT_MSGTX_WL_HM_express_032009#colortheme -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090327/5bfe5bad/attachment.html From smithdwd at hotmail.com Fri Mar 27 12:56:25 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:56:25 +0000 Subject: [obol] No NO Cardinal Aurora Message-ID: 5 were at, and within blocks of City Park 7:30-11 am-No NOCardinal. David Smith _________________________________________________________________ Show them the way! Add maps and directions to your party invites. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/products/events.aspx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090327/c44b7946/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Fri Mar 27 13:14:00 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:14:00 -0400 Subject: [obol] Which Raptor Message-ID: <8CB7D2FB3A1B42F-15F8-97@MBLK-M26.sysops.aol.com> I photographed this raptor on the top of a nesting platform on Sauvie Island. I don't know which one it is. Here are 2 shots. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0738/9b2689324fbc48a3aaaf3ca2ebf92595.jpg http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0738/4ad2bbb1e04f47d2ab0dc83adc6ec1d4.jpg This is a Bald Eagle pair by their nest on Sauvie Island. I've seen a single Bald Eagle here before, but this is the first time I saw a pair. The shot is a long way off, but is usable. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0738/43a930fc53744a29871653a851026787.jpg Johnny Sasko -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090327/b71a0d39/attachment.html From lammergeiereyes at aol.com Fri Mar 27 13:19:40 2009 From: lammergeiereyes at aol.com (lammergeiereyes at aol.com) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:19:40 -0400 Subject: [obol] Fwd: eBird Report - Fernhill Wetlands , 3/27/09 (Say's Phoebes Etc) In-Reply-To: <3eef51c7512b347745171606b1067fc7@earthlink.net> References: <1909748180.1238142030956.JavaMail.root@ruff.ornith.cornell.edu><8CB7D1C16353589-176C-68E@WEBMAIL-DY38.sysops.aol.com> <3eef51c7512b347745171606b1067fc7@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <8CB7D307E43FA16-1334-1022@WEBMAIL-MZ18.sysops.aol.com> Lars Thanks. Sorry. My brain sometimes has trouble?transitioning between what's notable on the west coast in PNW v. my native Coastal California. Phoebes are standard down there, whereas Common Teal and Glaucous Gulls are much more mentionable there, than here. Thus I sometimes emphasize the wrong stuff. Incidentally I have seen and reported Say's Phoebe before in Washington County, at TRNWR. There was one there last Spring around this time, and I?gather based on a?contemporaneous OBOL post, one seems to be there now, again.?The Fernhill individual was flycatching in the big geese fields?behind the wetlands. Blake T. Matheson "Men still live who, in their youth, remember Passenger Pigeons. Trees still live who, in their youth, were shaken by a living wind. But a decade hence only the oldest oaks will remember, and at long last only the hills will know." Leopold (1949). -----Original Message----- From: Norgren Family To: lammergeiereyes at aol.com Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 1:39 pm Subject: Re: [obol] Fwd: eBird Report - Fernhill Wetlands , 3/27/09 Say's Phoebe is a VERY good bird for Washington County. Greg Gillson has about 9 records on file for all time. I've seen the species once in over 15 years of residence in the county and an additional decade of working there prior to residency. Lars Norgren On Mar 27, 2009, at 9:53 AM, lammergeiereyes at aol.com wrote: > Glaucous Gull and Common Teal continue: > > Location:???? Fernhill Wetlands > Observation date:???? 3/27/09 > Notes:???? Common Teal and Glaucous Gull the only atypical things. > Number of species:???? 38 > > Cackling Goose - Branta hutchinsii???? 1000 > Canada Goose - Branta canadensis???? 150 > Wood Duck - Aix sponsa???? 3 > Gadwall - Anas strepera???? 8 > Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos???? 28 > Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata???? 300 > Northern Pintail - Anas acuta???? 8 > Green-winged Teal - Anas crecca???? 30 > Green-winged Teal (Eurasian) - Anas crecca crecca/nimia???? 1 > Ring-necked Duck - Aythya collaris???? 12 > Bufflehead - Bucephala albeola???? 15 > Ruddy Duck - Oxyura jamaicensis???? 40 > Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps???? 2 > Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus???? 18 > Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias???? 4 > Great Egret - Ardea alba???? 1 > Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus???? 1 > Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis???? 2 > American Kestrel - Falco sparverius???? 1 > American Coot - Fulica americana???? 30 > Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca???? 4 > Mew Gull - Larus canus???? 25 > Glaucous-winged Gull - Larus glaucescens???? 15 > Glaucous Gull - Larus hyperboreus???? 1 > gull sp. - Larinae sp.???? 100 > Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura???? 4 > Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon???? 1 > Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus???? 4 > Say's Phoebe - Sayornis saya???? 1 > Western Scrub-Jay - Aphelocoma californica???? 5 > Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor???? 100 > Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus???? 8 > European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris???? 12 > Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) - Dendroica coronat a auduboni???? 12 > Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia???? 20 > Lincoln's Sparrow - Melospiza lincolnii???? 1 > Golden-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia atricapilla???? 2 > Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus???? 25 > > This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) > > > Blake T. Matheson > > "Men still live who, in their youth, remember Passenger Pigeons. > Trees still live who, in their youth, were shaken by a living wind. > But a decade hence only the oldest oaks will remember, and at long > last only the hills will know." Leopold (1949). > > > Live traffic, local info, maps, directions and more with the NEW > MapQuest Toolbar. Get it now! > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090327/a6c9e075/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Fri Mar 27 13:20:56 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:20:56 +0000 Subject: [obol] Which Raptor Message-ID: Johnny Got yourself an osprey. As for the bald eagles, you usually can get the pair if you are patient at the nest across from the six mile post on Reeder. Don't know if this is the same pair. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: jonysky101 at aol.com Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:14:00 To: Subject: [obol] Which Raptor I photographed this raptor on the top of a nesting platform on Sauvie Island. I don't know which one it is. Here are 2 shots. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0738/9b2689324fbc48a3aaaf3ca2ebf92595.jpg http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0738/4ad2bbb1e04f47d2ab0dc83adc6ec1d4.jpg This is a Bald Eagle pair by their nest on Sauvie Island. I've seen a single Bald Eagle here before, but this is the first time I saw a pair. The shot is a long way off, but is usable. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0738/43a930fc53744a29871653a851026787.jpg Johnny Sasko ---------------- Check all of your email inboxes from anywhere on the web. Try the new Email Toolbar now ! From hhactitis at yahoo.com Fri Mar 27 13:26:07 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:26:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Which Raptor Message-ID: <482243.76431.qm@web37007.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Johnny, your raptor on the nest is an Osprey. Welcome to the wonderful world of listing! As far? as your question is concerned, it is entirely up to you at which point you want to draw the line and start your "life list". If you feel comfortable with the ID of some of the birds you saw back east, by all means, count them! After all, listing isn't a science, it is primarily a fun pastime (although it can be very educational, and it can become very competitive ...). Happy birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Fri, 3/27/09, jonysky101 at aol.com wrote: From: jonysky101 at aol.com Subject: [obol] Which Raptor To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Friday, March 27, 2009, 1:14 PM I photographed this raptor on the top of a nesting platform on Sauvie Island. I don't know which one it is. Here are 2 shots. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0738/9b2689324fbc48a3aaaf3ca2ebf92595.jpg http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0738/4ad2bbb1e04f47d2ab0dc83adc6ec1d4.jpg This is a Bald Eagle pair by their nest on Sauvie Island. I've seen a single Bald Eagle here before, but this is the first time I saw a pair. The shot is a long way off, but is usable. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0738/43a930fc53744a29871653a851026787.jpg Johnny Sasko Check all of your email inboxes from anywhere on the web. Try the new Email Toolbar now! -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090327/cb0a6792/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Fri Mar 27 13:34:09 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:34:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] about keeping birding lists In-Reply-To: <8CB7D2AF1180E59-D2C-770@MBLK-M26.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CB7D2AF1180E59-D2C-770@MBLK-M26.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: Johnny I prefer your approach of photo identification although I expect most of our fellow birders will disagree strongly because of the bother and low count that results. It is easy for me to say as my wife is a wildlife photographer and alwasy has the camera at the ready. Still, it is amazing at how many false IDs you make in the field only to discover later when you look at the photos closely that you actually had another bird. It also takes care of all of those who claim to have seen this and that. The claim is easy to make but can be easily disregarded when you don't have the photo to back it. That happened to us on a bird count here in January when we encountered a bird that the experienced birders identified that would have been a record for the area. Alas, my wife and camera were not handy so it is difficult to document our find. So I'd stick with your original plan, keeping notes of other species you believe you have seen by noting characteristics, markings, dates and locations without officially counting it. And you are right...once you start recognizing by ear, life will get a whole bunch simpler. Harv To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:39:56 -0400 From: jonysky101 at aol.com Subject: [obol] about keeping birding lists I've only started birding a couple of months ago. It was my intention to take a photo of each of the birds I saw, and that would be my bird list. But due to the lack of cooperation of many of the subject birds, I have come to the conclusion that my birding list might remain very short if I continue this approach. I saw several birds yesterday that I had not seen before, a couple of which I am resonably certain of their IDs after looking in my bird books. So I will count them. But several I am just not positive, so I won't count them. I am definately not able to count birds by their songs, yet. I was wondering if the birds I saw before I started "officially" birding should go on my list. I grew up in south east Kentucky with the Cardinals, Eastern Bluebirds and mourning doves. I am wondering if I should count them now or wait until I see them again? Your input is appreciated. Johnny Sask, Sandy, Or Check all of your email inboxes from anywhere on the web. Try the new Email Toolbar now! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090327/6292fd57/attachment.html From notisj at gmail.com Fri Mar 27 13:57:06 2009 From: notisj at gmail.com (John Notis) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:57:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] about keeping birding lists In-Reply-To: <8CB7D2AF1180E59-D2C-770@MBLK-M26.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CB7D2AF1180E59-D2C-770@MBLK-M26.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: Johnny, Who says you can only keep one list? You can have a list of all the birds you've ever seen. You can have a photo based list. You can have a list of birds you've seen in a given county or state or 15- mile circle. You can have a photo journal of all your feeder birds. Etc. etc. From what I've seen of your photos, you've got the equipment to take on a bird photo list, and it's an excellent way to learn the species. Sit down with a bird guide when you get home and look over your shots and you'll have all the field marks down in no time. Then, when you're back out in the field trying to get good photos of certain birds, you'll get to know them very well. -John Notis Portland On Mar 27, 2009, at 12:39 PM, jonysky101 at aol.com wrote: > I've only started birding a couple of months ago. It was my > intention to take a photo of each of the birds I saw, and that > would be my bird list. But due to the lack of cooperation of many > of the subject birds, I have come to the conclusion that my birding > list might remain very short if I continue this approach. I saw > several birds yesterday that I had not seen before, a couple of > which I am resonably certain of their IDs after looking in my bird > books. So I will count them. But several I am just not positive, so > I won't count them. I am definately not able to count birds by > their songs, yet. I was wondering if the birds I saw before I > started "officially" birding should go on my list. I grew up in > south east Kentucky with the Cardinals, Eastern Bluebirds and > mourning doves. I am wondering if I should count them now or wait > until I see them again? Your input is appreciated. Johnny Sask, > Sandy, Or From g_g_allin at hotmail.com Fri Mar 27 14:14:04 2009 From: g_g_allin at hotmail.com (John Puschock) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:14:04 +0000 Subject: [obol] about keeping birding lists In-Reply-To: <8CB7D2AF1180E59-D2C-770@MBLK-M26.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CB7D2AF1180E59-D2C-770@MBLK-M26.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: There's a common saying: "It's your list. You can count whatever you want." The only exception to this is if you plan on submitting your list totals to the ABA or some other organization. Then you have to follow their rules, but even the ABA doesn't require a bird to be photographed to be counted (unless it's for your 'birds photographed' list obviously). I'd say count whatever you feel comfortable counting, whatever gives you the most enjoyment. When you add a bird to your list, also write down when and where you saw it (something that I didn't do at first and now regret). As you get better, you may end up going back through your list and realizing you made some mistakes along the way, but it's really no big deal. The truth of the matter is that there are very few people, perhaps only yourself, who will care what you've counted and what you didn't. Now, if you want you're reporting a rare bird and what to be believed, having a photograph will help a whole lot, but that's a completely different matter. John Puschock Seattle, WA g_g_allin at hotmail.com http://www.zbirdtours.com & http://www.birdtreks.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:39:56 -0400 From: jonysky101 at aol.com Subject: [obol] about keeping birding lists I've only started birding a couple of months ago. It was my intention to take a photo of each of the birds I saw, and that would be my bird list. But due to the lack of cooperation of many of the subject birds, I have come to the conclusion that my birding list might remain very short if I continue this approach. I saw several birds yesterday that I had not seen before, a couple of which I am resonably certain of their IDs after looking in my bird books. So I will count them. But several I am just not positive, so I won't count them. I am definately not able to count birds by their songs, yet. I was wondering if the birds I saw before I started "officially" birding should go on my list. I grew up in south east Kentucky with the Cardinals, Eastern Bluebirds and mourning doves. I am wondering if I should count them now or wait until I see them again? Your input is appreciated. Johnny Sask, Sandy, Or Check all of your email inboxes from anywhere on the web. Try the new Email Toolbar now! _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_70faster_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090327/ac8cb4ab/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Fri Mar 27 17:32:01 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:32:01 -0400 Subject: [obol] Common Teal continues in Hillsboro (Washington Co) Message-ID: At about 5pm today I refound the Common Teal in the little pond at the NE corner of NE Prahl Pkwy & NE 15th Ave just west of the Hillsboro Airport. This pond is on the NW corner of the Intel Jones Farm campus, but can be viewed well from 15th Ave. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Internet Explorer 8 ? Get your Hotmail Accelerated. Download free! http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/141323790/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090327/2fbb1e5b/attachment.html From FoxSparrows at aol.com Fri Mar 27 18:18:17 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:18:17 EDT Subject: [obol] First Harney County Lesser Yellowlegs Message-ID: Today at the Substation Pond at the intersection of Highway 205 and Island Ranch Road. Also, the previously seen BURROWING OWL at the east end of Embree Bridge Road was out this evening. Just the male so far... Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm_ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) **************Check all of your email inboxes from anywhere on the web. Try the new Email Toolbar now! (http://toolbar.aol.com/mail/download.html?ncid=txtlnkusdown00000027) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090327/96eabffd/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Fri Mar 27 18:20:24 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:20:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Osprey at Autzen Message-ID: I went to the Duck/Beaver baseball game this afternoon at PK Park. The two OSPREY were working on rebuilding their nest on the Autzen Stadium light pole. The Ducks didn't do as well. There seem to be a lot of TURKEY VULTURES around Eugene/Springfield this spring. More than usual? Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090327/4ab3afa6/attachment.html From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Fri Mar 27 18:44:47 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:44:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bald Eagle nest Message-ID: <49CD810F.2020602@gmail.com> What a beautiful nice warm morning! I've been waiting for a day like today to check in on my Bald Eagle nest near here (Crooked River Ranch). The female has been sitting on the nest since March 8th and I hope she can lay eggs this year. Last year was a failure, though she sat on the nest for some 70 long days. Today I sat under my 'cloak of invisibility' which is so good that a Red-tailed Hawk landed some 25 feet from me and never knew I was there! Around noon the male came home with a marmot at landing first in a snag on the opposite side of the river (Crooked River), then proceeding to a branch some 8 feet from the nest. A pair of Magpies was harassing the male and finally it DROPPED lunch into the river! It sat there for some time looking up, down, right then left as if to say "What? What did I do? Did I have something?" The female on the nest also looked around as if to say "KLUTZ!! You DID it AGAIN! DROPPED my LUNCH! Will you EVER learn?" The male flew back to its snag and sat for a while then returned to the nest tree, but landed IN the water on a nearby rock looking for the wet marmot. No luck. It finally took off upstream. I assume to look for another meal for Mom on the nest. Bette luck next time. Kevin Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090327/6ca1b896/attachment.vcf From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Mar 27 19:49:12 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:49:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] RFI SLATY BACKED GULL Message-ID: <5d51614cd368accbb95e67b4997d41ab@earthlink.net> I believe the SB GUll has been seen in the past week. Anyone see it in the last day or two? Please post specifics if you have, or happen to in the near future. A trans-Atlantic larophile is in town for an extended time and it would be way beyond groovy if he got to see it. Has anyone seen it away from downtown? Any dedicated searches at Westmoreland? Lars Norgren From bcombs232 at gmail.com Fri Mar 27 19:23:33 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:23:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Evening Grosbeak in Eugene Message-ID: <8ce3a6520903271923u560d4a5en2b70cc63b67eea94@mail.gmail.com> An EVENING GROSBEAK appeared at my feeder this morning. He sat on a branch in my feeder area for a while, then left. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Eugene OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090327/cb8e0483/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Fri Mar 27 20:39:31 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:39:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Wallowa trip report Message-ID: <315536.86950.qm@web55706.mail.re3.yahoo.com> For Spring Break, we went to the Wallowas in Northeastern Oregon. We saw the following highlights: 3/22: We skied from McCully Sno-park to Mt. Howard. 3-5 PINE GROSBEAKS were just past McCully View Tree Farm. Further up we found 5 more PINE GROSBEAKS in a larch tree. We also saw 3 SPRUCE GROUSE and heard a single NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL. 3/23: In the morning we encountered 7 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS at Wallowa Lake State Park, as well as 6 RED CROSSBILLS. While skiing at Salt Creek Summit we found a DUSKY GROUSE. 3/24: We skied into McCully Basin from McCully Sno-park. There were 8 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS and 2 RUFFED GROUSE; we heard some PINE GROSBEAKS too. 3/25: While driving through Enterprise we saw 9 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS. On Golf Course Road, northwest of Enterprise, we found large numbers of HORNED LARKS and 100+ SAVANNAH SPARROWS. We also saw 1 AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS, and a dozen VESPER SPARROWS. On School Flat Lane we found 2 NORTHERN SHRIKES and a VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (we saw more elsewhere, but this seemed particularly early for that location). 3/26: Skied into Spring Creek Road to search for Great Gray Owls but saw/heard none. The Forest Service wildlife biologist told us that last year there were only 3 breeding pairs, none of which were successful. We did hear a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL. Driving back to Portland we had a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, several LONG-BILLED CURLEWS, a few BARROW'S GOLDENEYES, REDHEADS, COMMON LOONS and EARED AND CLARK'S GREBES, all from the car. An OSPREY soaring below Crown Point (multnomah county) ended the trip with 115 species. Also, in the eastern gorge, we saw 13 Bighorn Sheep on the 21st, and about 15 on the 26th. Interestingly, we only saw ONE Great-horned Owl and heard single Northern Pygmy and Saw-whet owls. Though owl numbers seemed unusually low, we saw lots of hawks. A dozen Rough-leggeds were in a five-mile stretch east of Joseph. 3/27: Male and Female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS back in our yard. Good birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Mar 27 20:50:44 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:50:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tillamook Black Phoebe Message-ID: <7D15AECEAAF543FDB88373E53237C416@GREG> A quick trip today (Friday) to rainy, cold, drizzly Tillamook yielded only a few birds. Of note was a heard only BLACK PHOEBE at the dairy farm on Goodspeed Road. This is not the one that has been reported on the other side of town near the air museum, and may be a new location, based on my quick perusal of OBOL notes over the winter. My first county record. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was also on Goodspeed Road. A high flying falcon on Goodspeed Road appeared to be a PRAIRIE FALCON with dark axillaries but, to tell the truth, it was so backlit that I can't be positive. It was flying slowly with exaggeratedly deep wing strokes, which does not fit my mental picture of Prairie Falcon at all. A PEREGRINE FALCON was perched nearby. Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From willclemons at yahoo.com Fri Mar 27 20:56:00 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:56:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Update From Public Meeting - CHANGES COMING at Ridgefield NWR Message-ID: <6593.40616.qm@web55102.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Hi Folks, Thanks to all who attended the March 26 public meeting regarding change alternatives at RNWR. It was more a physical presence showing of 60 or so interested parties, as no comments/questions were taken from the floor. Hunters and non-hunters seemed about equal in attendance. Recent annual stats for Ridgefield River 'S' Unit are: -Hunt episodes are less than 3,000 (declining) -Auto Tour Route uses are about 60,000 (growing) Please be heard; send in your comments by April 10, 2009. 1) This summer, we should see "Update #4" published, mailed, and put on the RNWR web site. What will become of our submitted comments, suggestions, and frustrations is not clear, though it was implied that our input will be considered in arriving at "Update #4". 2) The presented Alternatives 1 - 4 will remain for "Update #4", though each may be added to or subtracted from on the basis of public commentary submitted by April 10. There will be no additional alternatives added. 3) RNWR will eventually select one of the first three alternatives (#4 is to do nothing). The final selected alternative will be implemented ONLY if funding can be secured. 4) They broke everyone into groups and had 4 tables set up to listen to comments and questions. This made it impossible to hear comments other than at the table you chose. 5) I should know more by the end of next week, and will post what I learn. 6) Anyone may request to be put on the mailing list for future Updates, etc.: - Phone requests: (360) 887-4106 - Email requests: FW1PlanningComments at fws.gov 7) All NWR's are mandated to complete a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP). The CCP document "Preliminary Management Alternatives for Ridgefield NWR" is on the web at: http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ridgefield/pdf/rnwrplnupdate3.pdf 8) COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS (Deadline April 10): Bob Flores, Project Leader Ridgefield NWR Complex PO Box 457 Ridgefield, Washington 98642 (360) 887-4106 Comments may be faxed to (360) 887-4109, Comments may be E-mailed to: FW1PlanningComments at fws.gov Please put ?Ridgefield NWR CCP Alternatives? on the subject line. 9) If you would like to know the current CCP status of any NWR in Oregon or Washington go to: http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/main/docs/general/CCP%20Schedule.pdf 10) If you would like any NWR web site for OR, WA, or the other 48, go to: http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/bystate.cfm More to come, Will Clemons SW of Portland From jmeredit at bendnet.com Fri Mar 27 21:19:22 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:19:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] YES - Re: RFI SLATY BACKED GULL References: <5d51614cd368accbb95e67b4997d41ab@earthlink.net> Message-ID: Lars and OBOL, Yes, Slaty-backed Gull seen today Fridaty 3-27 briefly at 2 pm. Howard Horvath, Mary Oppenheimer and Judy Meredith arrived NW of the Burnside Bridge in time to scan around a few minutes and then it came flying from downriver toward the Burnside Bridge. It perched on a lamp post on the bridge for a few minutes, long enough for all of us to get it in the scope and check out the important field marks etc and then it fell or slid off the post and flew out of sight. During the hour we continued to search, we did not see it again. It may have gone upriver. Seems like the gull magic happens between 1 pm and 3 pm and around the Burnside bridge. Tossing bread around brought in a lot of other gulls but the Slaty-backed didn't pay any attention. Good birding, Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Norgren Family" To: Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 7:49 PM Subject: [obol] RFI SLATY BACKED GULL > I believe the SB GUll has been > seen in the past week. Anyone see it > in the last day or two? Please post > specifics if you have, or happen to > in the near future. A trans-Atlantic > larophile is in town for an extended > time and it would be way beyond groovy > if he got to see it. Has anyone seen > it away from downtown? Any dedicated > searches at Westmoreland? > Lars Norgren > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From mikedressel at comcast.net Fri Mar 27 21:38:19 2009 From: mikedressel at comcast.net (Mike Dressel) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:38:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] NE McMinnville Friday Message-ID: <002701c9af5f$056ca550$1045eff0$@net> Scrub Jays, American Robins, Red Breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped Chickadees, Bushtits, a very yellow American Goldfinch, Oregon Juncos, Pine Siskins, oodles of Lesser Goldfinches, Rufous Hummer couple, and just at dark a Varied Thrush. All at our feeders today. mike -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090327/b19f38d6/attachment.html From dennis at dennisgalloway.com Fri Mar 27 22:08:27 2009 From: dennis at dennisgalloway.com (Dennis Galloway) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:08:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] against the current Message-ID: <49533.24.20.202.78.1238216907.squirrel@webmail7.pair.com> Male/female Common Mergansers working their way upstream, close to the opposite bank, against the strong current of the McKenzie River between Leaburg and Walterville. What only birds on the river. From rfadney at hotmail.com Sat Mar 28 09:03:29 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 09:03:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birds before breakfast Message-ID: This could only happen to a birder. So I'm sleeping this morning. Dreaming. really trying to get an extra hour of sleep after a very trying week of work. In my dream, I start to hear an intense, nails on metal scratching. As I wake, without hesitation, I reprimand the dog sternly, my wife comes into the room screaming "MOUSE" at the top of her lungs. Of course the scream wakes our daughter and scares the hell out of the dog with the broken heart (due to my reprimand)! All the while the loud scratching continues. I don't know why, something told me what it was making the noise. I instinctively cry out "BIRD!!" to my wife (who is now running down the hall and slamming doors, to keep the "mouse" from attacking her). I was right. An adult male European Starling (in lovely breeding colors) has found his way into my fireplace! He was to say the least excited! Not happy to be there! In a let me out now sort of mood. Thank goodness the fireplace screen was closed or there would have been a mess of trinkets, doodads and what-nots that adorn the area around the fireplace! With a gloved hand, a little patience and no help from the traumatized dog, or fraidy cat wife. Mr. Starling was captured and released to cause a raucous another day. All this before 8:00am and my first cup of coffee! Rich _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_skydrive_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090328/dff79e18/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sat Mar 28 10:21:17 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 10:21:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Hummingbirds and Goldfinches Message-ID: <273040.7687.qm@web46001.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Greetings OBOLers, Just wanted to say that the Rufous Hummingbird (both male and female) are in our yard all day, every day now. We actually think that there are 2 different males and 3 females (still combing over photos to see the differences in them). We are hoping for a little nest to pop up in the yard soon. Also, the American Goldfinches are coming in the yard in greater numbers and, boy, are they gorgeous. Most of them are so close to their full summer colors. So, if you don't have any thistle out, get some out there! Take care, Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Mar 28 10:21:44 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:21:44 +0000 Subject: [obol] Evening Grosbeaks in s. Eugene Message-ID: Stuck my head out the door this morning and heard several Evening Grosbeaks flying over. Seems like this is a few weeks earlier than normal arrival in Eugene. The neighborhood is alive with Purple Finches. I had about eight in the yard and they are singing everywhere around town. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/personalize.aspx?ocid=TXT_MSGTX_WL_HM_express_032009#colortheme -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090328/dcf75bce/attachment.html From coffehound at gmail.com Sat Mar 28 12:44:41 2009 From: coffehound at gmail.com (Demian Ebert) Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 12:44:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tagged TUVU # 92 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I thought that I would pass this along for those folks in Oregon who look at the occasional TUVU. Any observations of tagged vultures should be reported as Bob requests. Demian ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "Robert J. Keiffer" Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:35:50 -0800 Subject: [Mendobirds] TUVU # 92 To: Mendobirds at yahoogroups.com 22 March 2009 - Sunday - On Highway 175 within 1/4 mile off Hwy 101 near Hopland I observed Turkey Vulture # 92. About 30 TUVUs were tagged last August and September here at the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center as part of a state-wide research project. All of the captured birds were fitted with large, round white "patagial" tags with bold black numbers stencilled onto them. These numbers are fairly easy to read "top and bottom" so the tag numbers are visible when the bird is perched or in flight (dorsal or ventral view). Please keep an eye out for such tagged birds as many of these may be returning from the wintering grounds in Central and South America. Any sightings provide valuable data to the researchers ... especially helping them figure out if specific birds are resident or migratory. By posting the sightings on Mendobirds one will get the information to the researchers (via myself). Thanks & Good birding. Bob Keiffer Robert J. Keiffer Principal Supt. of Agriculture UC Hopland Research & Extension Center 4070 University Road Hopland, CA 95449 (707) 744-1424 FAX (707) 744-1040 HREC website: http://danrrec.ucdavis.edu/hopland/home_page.html "It is not the critic who counts... not the one who points out how the strong person stumbles... or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena." Theodore Roosevelt [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -- Sent from my mobile device -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090328/8d3e9a84/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Mar 28 14:12:06 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 13:12:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Evening Grosbeaks in s. Eugene In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <093b16270f055e307f77c84561b25f9a@earthlink.net> First Purple Finch singing here was Monday 3/22, same as Mountain Quail. A male Purple Finch at the feeder three mornings in a row in very early March was evidently a migrant. Lars Norgren Manning, Oregon On Mar 28, 2009, at 9:21 AM, David Irons wrote: > Stuck my head out the door this morning and heard several Evening > Grosbeaks flying over. Seems like this is a few weeks earlier than > normal arrival in Eugene. The neighborhood is alive with Purple > Finches. I had about eight in the yard and they are singing everywhere > around town. > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > > Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for > Hotmail?. See how. _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From vireogirl at yahoo.com Sat Mar 28 13:23:57 2009 From: vireogirl at yahoo.com (Vjera Thompson) Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 13:23:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Eugene birds Message-ID: <233755.85034.qm@web56307.mail.re3.yahoo.com> OBOLers, Eddie and I went for a birding bike ride along the Willamette River today (3/28). We covered both sides from Valley River Center (VRC) bridge to the DeFazio bridge, and Alton Baker down to the Knickerbocker bridge. Notables include a bunch of gulls across the river from VRC that included about 20 MEW GULLS. We had a male EURASION WIGEON with many other wigeon at the main duck pond at Alton Baker. We also had a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER in Alton Baker. There are a lot more PINE SISKINS and LESSER GOLDFINCHES out then the last time we were at Alton Baker. Complete list is at birdnotes.net. Good birding, Vjera & Eddie Thompson Eugene, OR vireogirl at yahoo.com From FoxSparrows at aol.com Sat Mar 28 16:44:48 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:44:48 EDT Subject: [obol] California Gulls arrive in Harney County - BIG TIME! Message-ID: Yesterday, there were no California Gulls around Burns and Hines... only Ring-bills, and plenty of 'em. apparently, the California gulls arrived last night, and there seem to be hundreds of them. They have even been swirling around my house in the gusty wind, about a mile or so from the Burns sewage ponds. After our fist sightings of Long-billed Curlews, none have been seen since. Musta been the vanguard. Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm_ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1220439616x1201372437/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID %3D62%26bcd%3DfebemailfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090328/ac2b3c36/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sat Mar 28 17:06:37 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:06:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] TRNWR Northern Rough-winged Swallow Message-ID: <969018.279.qm@web55707.mail.re3.yahoo.com> This morning at Tualatin River NWR (Washington County) we spotted our first-of-year NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW from the visitor center. The average arrival for N. Rough-winged Swallow in the Portland metro area is about a week from now. Swarms of VIOLET-GREEN and TREE SWALLOWS were also present, as well as a female EURASIAN WIGEON, a PEREGRINE FALCON, and a LINCOLN'S SPARROW. Good Birding, Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia From glenn_rie at yahoo.com Sat Mar 28 17:45:55 2009 From: glenn_rie at yahoo.com (Rie Luft) Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:45:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Osprey on nest near Sellwood Bridge electrical tower Message-ID: <930852.5809.qm@web112215.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> For the past several days an osprey has been in the area of the nest atop the east side electrical tower just north of the Sellwood Bridge, landing on the nest as well. I believe last year was the first year for a nest in that location. Also watched one hunt in Holgate Channel this afternoon - may be same bird. Rie Luft, Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090328/ba63a686/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Sat Mar 28 18:00:42 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:00:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fw: Re: [Tweeters] Update From Public Meeting - CHANGES COMING at Ridgefield NWR (Bob Flores) Message-ID: <801182.92188.qm@web55107.mail.re4.yahoo.com> --- On Sat, 3/28/09, Bob Flores wrote: From: Bob Flores Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Update From Public Meeting - CHANGES COMING at Ridgefield NWR To: "Will Clemons" , "Tweeters" Date: Saturday, March 28, 2009, 9:14 AM Thanks Will. One additional comment. All comments written down from the four tables and those provided in written form will hopefully be up on the website in about a week. This will allow all to see what was suggested during the Open House. Bob Flores ----- Original Message ----- From: "Will Clemons" To: "Tweeters" Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 8:56 PM Subject: [Tweeters] Update From Public Meeting - CHANGES COMING at Ridgefield NWR ************************************************* Will Clemons Wrote: Hi Folks, Thanks to all who attended the March 26 public meeting regarding change alternatives at RNWR. It was more a physical presence showing of 60 or so interested parties, as no comments/questions were taken from the floor. Hunters and non-hunters seemed about equal in attendance. Recent annual stats for Ridgefield River 'S' Unit are: -Hunt episodes are less than 3,000 (declining) -Auto Tour Route uses are about 60,000 (growing) Please be heard; send in your comments by April 10, 2009. 1) This summer, we should see "Update #4" published, mailed, and put on the RNWR web site. What will become of our submitted comments, suggestions, and frustrations is not clear, though it was implied that our input will be considered in arriving at "Update #4". 2) The presented Alternatives 1 - 4 will remain for "Update #4", though each may be added to or subtracted from on the basis of public commentary submitted by April 10. There will be no additional alternatives added. 3) RNWR will eventually select one of the first three alternatives (#4 is to do nothing). The final selected alternative will be implemented ONLY if funding can be secured. 4) They broke everyone into groups and had 4 tables set up to listen to comments and questions. This made it impossible to hear comments other than at the table you chose. 5) I should know more by the end of next week, and will post what I learn. 6) Anyone may request to be put on the mailing list for future Updates, etc.: - Phone requests: (360) 887-4106 - Email requests: FW1PlanningComments at fws.gov 7) All NWR's are mandated to complete a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP). The CCP document "Preliminary Management Alternatives for Ridgefield NWR" is on the web at: http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ridgefield/pdf/rnwrplnupdate3.pdf 8) COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS (Deadline April 10): Bob Flores, Project Leader Ridgefield NWR Complex PO Box 457 Ridgefield, Washington 98642 (360) 887-4106 Comments may be faxed to (360) 887-4109, Comments may be E-mailed to: FW1PlanningComments at fws.gov Please put ?Ridgefield NWR CCP Alternatives? on the subject line. 9) If you would like to know the current CCP status of any NWR in Oregon or Washington go to: http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/main/docs/general/CCP%20Schedule.pdf 10) If you would like any NWR web site for OR, WA, or the other 48, go to: http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/bystate.cfm More to come, Will Clemons SW of Portland From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Mar 28 18:14:18 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 01:14:18 +0000 Subject: [obol] Fun photo challenge posted to BirdFellow.com journal Message-ID: Greetings All, A couple weeks ago, Gary Palmer (from Medford) sent me a fun image of a shorebird flock that he photographed at Bodega Bay, California. There are several species embedded in the flock, so if you like playing "where's Waldo," this challenge might be right up your alley. Check it out at BirdFellow.com Dave Irons BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_skydrive_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090329/83d5472e/attachment.html From erikknight05 at comcast.net Sat Mar 28 18:43:04 2009 From: erikknight05 at comcast.net (Erik Knight) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 01:43:04 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Osprey on nest near Sellwood Bridge electrical tower In-Reply-To: <907993038.439161238290967904.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <111019216.439201238290984063.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Rie and OBOLers, It's actually the third year for that nest location, although the first year the nest-builder wasn't able to find a mate, and last year? no eggs hatched .? Thursday(3/26), they and?the pair that nest along the tracks on the north side of Oaks Park were in a vocal territorial dispute. ? Erik Knight Portland, OR ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rie Luft" To: "obol" Sent: Saturday, March 28, 2009 5:45:55 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [obol] Osprey on nest near Sellwood Bridge electrical tower For the past several days an osprey has been in the area of the nest atop the east side electrical tower just north of the Sellwood Bridge, landing on the nest as well.? I believe last year was the first year for a nest in that location.? Also watched one hunt in Holgate Channel this afternoon - may be same bird. Rie Luft, Portland _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090329/594c0efc/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Sat Mar 28 20:04:08 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 20:04:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: MERLIN , COMMON TEAL ++ Message-ID: <940903.74772.qm@web55107.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Today, my Mom (Olive) and I birded with Carol Ledford on the River "S" Unit at Ridgefield NWR (~4mi W of I-5 at Exit 14 in SW Washington; http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ ). I was there from about 8:15AM until 3:45PM, and it was pretty rainy most of the time. Highlights: COMMON TEAL: This Teal has been at RNWR for over a month, but it keeps moving around, so you need to look at all Green-winged Teal . MERLIN: Carol spotted this Little Beauty while we were scanning Long Lake. It flew from the snag it was perched on, and we lost it shortly after we both saw it. VIRGINIA RAIL: We heard one and saw two VIRGINIA RAIL at the road edge of South Quigley Lake about 40 feet beyond the S Quigley turnout. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores Complete list of 54 species seen / heard: Pied-billed Grebe Great Blue Heron Cackling Goose Canada Goose Tundra Swan Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal COMMON TEAL Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk Rufous Morph Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel MERLIN VIRGINIA RAIL American Coot Sandhill Crane Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Dunlin Long-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe Rock Pigeon Great Horned Owl Northern Flicker Western Scrub-Jay American Crow COMMON RAVEN Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Marsh Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler Savannah Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird House Finch From romain at frontiernet.net Sat Mar 28 20:15:22 2009 From: romain at frontiernet.net (Romain Cooper) Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 20:15:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ruffed Grouse drumming - Josephine Co Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20090328201021.02679d60@frontiernet.net> A Ruffed Grouse was drumming near my house this morning and is the FOY drumming for me. Upper edge of the Illinois Valley (~1800 ft el) in Josephine County. If a winter wren would begin singing I'd be even happier. happy spring, Romain Romain Cooper 10398 Takilma Road Cave Junction, OR 97523 541-592-2311 From gorgebirds at juno.com Sat Mar 28 21:03:20 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 21:03:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Columbia Gorge Birds Message-ID: <20090328.210325.1800.5.gorgebirds@juno.com> Today the Vancouver Audubon Spring Columbia Gorge field trip was a rolling traffic jam with eight vehicles that after braving the cold rain in Clark and Skamania Counties hurried up to Klickitat County in futile hope of drier conditions. We found a few nice birds including one OSPREY near Drano Lake in Skamania County for a first for the year county bird. two ACORN WOODPECKERS were on the granary tree visible from Old Highway 8 east of Balch Rd. There was a single CASPIAN TERN on the sandbar at the mouth of the Klickitat River. And on the way home, Barry Woodruff and I stopped at the mouth of the Wind River in Skamania County where the SAY'S PHOEBE was still feeding like a Black Phoebe by perching on sticks in the bay and hawking insects over the open water by the boat ramp . Wilson Cady Skamania County, WA ____________________________________________________________ Need cash? Apply now for a credit loan with fast approval. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTIrAri2xzybfO0NMknuqSvB3x0ctyNmWH3usot5NyQB2bNgBadbrS/ From woodenapple at juno.com Sat Mar 28 22:34:11 2009 From: woodenapple at juno.com (woodenapple at juno.com) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 05:34:11 GMT Subject: [obol] Obol: RFI on travel binoculars Message-ID: <20090328.223411.23577.0@webmail06.vgs.untd.com> Does anyone have a recommendation for a pair of travel binoculars? My wife wants to get a compact pair that can be easily packed, is reasonably rugged and has at least decent optics. Off-list replies accepted with thanks! Rudi ____________________________________________________________ Visa, MasterCard, AMEX & Discover. Compare Offers & Apply Online. Click here! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTIjpvhJVdVfnw3jCj2XpotqD7uAbLuVvDRJRqws2O4sFtNZscGUL2/ From vernd at oregonfast.net Sat Mar 28 22:57:04 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:57:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Screech Owl Message-ID: <5CF5698E-CC28-4D23-9192-B5F7517C5E15@oregonfast.net> Hello Obol, Tonight on the way home i saw a small owl fly across the road where i had seen one before. This time I stopped and shined the light to find a Wester Screech owl. I looked at it for awhile and then thought "hmmmm..... I wonder if I get the camera, will it still be there?" It was and I got some photos. Then I thought "hmmmm..... I wonder if it will still be there If i go back and put the big lens on?" It was and I got some more photos. The home page photo on my site is one that I got tonight. The Owl Gods were smiling. Oh... I believe it's rained enough for this weekend eh? Best, Vern Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090328/727c9b0c/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Sat Mar 28 23:16:17 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 23:16:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] OFF TOPIC: Redoubt Volcano Message-ID: Hello OBOL, For those interested in the dance of the ring of fire, here is a link to an excellent time lapse of the Redoubt Volcano in Alaska as it erupted on 27 Mar 09. http://vimeo.com/3892358 Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090328/72e94252/attachment.html From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Sat Mar 28 23:55:55 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 23:55:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rough-legged Hawk at Pacific City, Tillamook County Message-ID: <000001c9b03b$68aac1b0$3a004510$@NET> Yesterday, Friday, I saw a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK on the electrical wires along the Little Nestucca River road where it intersects with Meda Loop about a mile east of highway 101. This is just south of Pacific City in Tillamook County. It flew into a short tree along the pasture to the west. Tom Shreve Tigard -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090328/e6e95665/attachment.html From kasey_church at yahoo.com Sun Mar 29 08:21:55 2009 From: kasey_church at yahoo.com (Kasey Church) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 08:21:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] summer lake tour Message-ID: <331304.65878.qm@web111102.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Just returned from an amazing spring break trip. We covered a lot of ground, and so went through a variety of ecosystems. The birds listed are largely from Fort Rock, Summer Lake, and the Fremont wilderness areas. The list's order is out of whack, but here is what we saw: Western Meadowlark Magpie Flicker Kestrel Cormorant Raven Red-tailed Hawk Bald Eagle Mourning Dove Turkey Vulture Purple Finch House Finch Loggerhead Shrike Rough-legged Hawk Sandhill Crane Prairie Falcon (Fort Rock was teeming with them) Townsend's Solitaire Western Bluebird Clark's Nutcracker Cal. Quail Red-winged blackbird Avocet (Lake Abert) Gadwall Marsh Wren Common Goldeneye Western Kingbird Pheasant Shoveler Bufflehead Coot Pintail Tree Swallow Ring-necked duck Greater White-fronted geese Snow geese Cinnamon Teal Great Horned Owl N. Harrier Barn Swallow Green-winged teal Killdeer Widgeon Tundra Swan Common Merganser Eared Grebe Roufus-sided Towhee Golden Eagle Rock Wren Canyon Wren Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Red-breasted Sapsucker Black-backed Woodpecker (Fremont Wilderness- a particularly fetching creature) Golden-crowned Kinglet Wild Turkey Redhead duck Wood duck -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090329/4b3a1d5c/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Mar 29 08:29:14 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 08:29:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] JoCo Varied Thrush Message-ID: This morning (03-29-09) as a few snow flakes fell out of the sky, a VARIED THRUSH was calling near our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit). Pretty late for being in our area, but then with the snow falling the bird must feel it's still winter. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090329/a47f9345/attachment.html From ed.mcvicker at comcast.net Sun Mar 29 09:52:42 2009 From: ed.mcvicker at comcast.net (Ed McVicker) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 09:52:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fledgling Anna's Hummingbird Message-ID: <49CFA75A.9010508@comcast.net> On Friday (3-27) a female Anna's was feeding a begging chick in my garden in SW Portland. The fledgling was away from the nest and could fly well and long enough to avoid a good camera angle. Between feeding visits by the female, the youngster would float over to the Rhododendron lutescens flowers just opening, hover and poke around before settling on the nearest twig. Two of these early blooming rhodies are under the pine tree where the nest was located. It made me wonder if the female chose the pine tree near the rhodies knowing it would bloom just in time for her fledgling(s). Three years ago I photographed a mother feeding her fledgling in the same area of the garden on March 24. http://www.flickr.com/photos/10665268 at N04/sets/72157602147362804/detail/?page=2 Ed McVicker Portland From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Mar 29 11:40:02 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 11:40:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] JoCo White-crowned Sparrow migrant Message-ID: <8EE5AF4AD1D84DBD962F2F38187BE81D@Warbler> A bit ago today (03-29-09) a single PUGET SOUND WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW showed up at our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit). A migrant - they are not around during the winter here. About on schedule for our place. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090329/63291f35/attachment.html From mmarvin at spiritone.com Sun Mar 29 11:59:01 2009 From: mmarvin at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 11:59:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] OT: OCS weather website Message-ID: <83502798-6D0C-41AC-85C9-0DEADCCBC014@spiritone.com> OBOL weather watchers - I think some of you out there use the OCS site for weather forecasts. For some weeks now I have had trouble getting to the forecast page. Sometimes is works, but almost never on the first try, and sometimes not at all. This is a new development, I think, since in the past I have found it very reliable. Is anyone else noticing this? Does anyone know what the problem might be? Many thanks. Marcia -- Marcia Marvin * mmarvin at spiritone.com * SW Portland, OR, USA From drheath82 at verizon.net Sun Mar 29 13:38:02 2009 From: drheath82 at verizon.net (David Heath) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 13:38:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hummer activity Message-ID: <004701c9b0ae$421e9b70$c65bd250$@net> My hummer feeder has been a (comparatively) hoppin' place the last couple of days. A few pix of the ones that would hold still long enough to pick up the camera and get somewhere near focused are at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drheath/ David -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090329/23b7b8a2/attachment.html From woodenapple at juno.com Sun Mar 29 15:01:49 2009 From: woodenapple at juno.com (woodenapple at juno.com) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 22:01:49 GMT Subject: [obol] Obol: FOY Orange-crowned Warbler - Eugene Message-ID: <20090329.150149.21146.0@webmail15.vgs.untd.com> We had our first-of-the-year Orange-crowned Warbler show up in our N. Eugene/Santa Clara backyard at noon today (Sunday). In the past 13 years at this location, we've had two winter records for this species. This is the earliest "spring" record. Rudi ____________________________________________________________ Click to see huge collection of designer watches. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTGpW1Hn69lDLx5k7SJXk4JnJVYgNKFxEXiETqYw1Ayrb063NCAOCM/ From rawieland at comcast.net Sun Mar 29 15:38:41 2009 From: rawieland at comcast.net (Rainer Wieland) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:38:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tufted duck still on Columbia River Message-ID: <4F4D113C-0BB9-4745-91CB-4245EE22051C@comcast.net> Here's a link to a picture. This duck has quite a tuft! Seen in the previously reported place -- betwen 122nd and 138th Ave from Marine Drive. Album has map marker in it. Cheers, Rainer Wieland Portland, OR From rawieland at comcast.net Sun Mar 29 15:45:39 2009 From: rawieland at comcast.net (Rainer Wieland) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:45:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tufted duck still on Columbia River -- with photo link this time Message-ID: <6160A36C-33C7-467B-ADCA-44BBD77CC7AB@comcast.net> http://picasaweb.google.com/rawieland/Tufteduck#5318741305846231682 Sorry, forgot it in the last posting. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090329/8691793c/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Sun Mar 29 16:43:24 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:43:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Magnolia Warbler Message-ID: Obolers, Just received a call from Doug Pryer. He has a bright male Magnolia Warbler visiting his feeders in Gladstone. If interested in seeing it contact Doug at 503-260-5078. Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090329/48d6061b/attachment.html From erikknight05 at comcast.net Sun Mar 29 17:53:38 2009 From: erikknight05 at comcast.net (Erik Knight) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:53:38 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] FOY CLIFF SWALLOW - Fernhill Wetlands Message-ID: <1078021383.621551238374418808.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Had a FOY CLIFF SWALLOW on Cattail Marsh at Fernhill Wetlands early this afternoon.? Later on at Jackson Bottoms were?three?COMMON GOLDENEYES(female pair, male)?on the reclamation pond. Erik Knight Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090330/4ca8a521/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Sun Mar 29 18:13:46 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:13:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Magnolia Warbler - no In-Reply-To: Message-ID: > Obolers, > > False Alarm ? no Magnolia. > > Sorry > > > Harry > > > Obolers, > > Just received a call from Doug Pryer. He has a bright male Magnolia Warbler > visiting his feeders in Gladstone. If interested in seeing it contact Doug at > 503-260-5078. > > > Harry Nehls > Portland, Oregon > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090329/0dcd9a7d/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Mar 29 18:24:10 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:24:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Michelle Simper Message-ID: <536EA719C8BC4537B81C26A3AA3C4ED0@cgatesPC> Anyone know how to get in touch with Michelle Simper by email? The email address I have shelshimper at yahoo.com bounces. I'm trying to make contact about the Tillamook Checklist. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090329/57cfad69/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Sun Mar 29 19:30:15 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 19:30:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sandy River Delta to Vanport Wetlands, OR Message-ID: David Mandell, his son Oscar, and myself birded this morning into the early afternoon, beginning at the Sandy River Delta. SANDY RIVER DELTA: It was very quiet with not too much to report except about 4 SOOTY FOX SPARROWS and several PILEATED WOODPECKERS. MARINE DRIVE: We then stopped along Marine Drive and eventually found the male TUFTED DUCK, which was in with the scaup at around NE 138th and Marina. The numbers of scaup was impressive and we estimate there were at least 1500 mostly Lesser Scaup. In with a flock of about 30 COMMON MERGANSERS was a male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. Several OSPREYS patrolled the river, along with small numbers of TREE and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. VANPORT WETLANDS: Lots of the usual waterfowl with four CANVASBACKS. Shawneen Finnegan Portland, OR From loisbillranta at comcast.net Sun Mar 29 21:54:11 2009 From: loisbillranta at comcast.net (Bill Ranta) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:54:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: Tucson, Az. Message-ID: <131998FE061A47BF8D6A4E78A83971FF@BLAPTOP> ----- Original Message ----- From: Bill Ranta To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.com Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 9:50 PM Subject: Fw: Tucson, Az. ----- Original Message ----- From: Bill Ranta To: mailman-request at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 9:43 PM Subject: Tucson, Az. As a follow-up to Mike Kellerman's March 21st post of the Elegant Trogan in Madera Canyon, and in thanks to his post, my son Niko and I traveled to Madera Canyon on March 25th and observed the compliant bird about 100 yds below the parking lot just below the Santa Rita cabins about 6:00 pm. A gorgeous bird that displayed in a tree about 50 feet from us right along the creek bed. Also responding to an alert that a Rufous Capped Warbler pair were in the Florida Wash just off Box Canyon Rd, Niko and I followed the wash up a short distance to a small dam and then probably another quarter mile to a sharp turn in the wash amidst some oak and an occasional sycamore tree and parked our carcasses on a rock facing opposite directions and just allowed things to settle for a few minutes. Within a minute Niko observed some movement near some rocks and brush as he faced the northern side of the wash. He wasn't at all subdued when he said in a voice much above a whisper that the bird was indeed there. After repeated instructions from him as to where to exactly look, even I saw the bird in the clearing of a flat rock. In spite of not identifying any new species for Niko at the Salton Sea, this "find" truly made his week. Bill Ranta -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090329/107a7374/attachment.html From kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us Mon Mar 30 08:37:13 2009 From: kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us (Kyle W Bratcher) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:37:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] LB Curlews Message-ID: Thought I should mention that I saw two LB Curlews fly over me this week between Lostine and Wallowa while I was at work. First ones of the year, nice to see some shore birds since I don't see many in the Wallowa Valley. Kyle Bratcher Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 65495 Alderslope Road Enterprise, OR 97828 Phone: (541) 426-6057 Fax: (541) 426-3055 E-mail: Kyle.W.Bratcher at state.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090330/1af7539d/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Mon Mar 30 08:39:28 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:39:28 +0000 Subject: [obol] Burrowing owl PHOTOS and ANSWER to pseudo-photo Quiz Message-ID: Hi all, I got alittle bit lost this weekend from the storm and was blown further south--abit away from my usual haunt. I had the good fortune of joining keen birder, Tom Mansfield (Seattle, WA) and we birded mostly in Grant and Adams Co. I got my first WA state Burrowing Owls and Tricolored Blackbirds! We had one day of wet weather but still did well in finding our target species in these counties. Staying in COOL-lee City was tolerable with the sincere and colorful locals at Grandpa Joe's Tavern. My Cola san sucre kept me sober, thank goodness! We had a great time! Snapped a few scant photos and revealed the photo quiz ANSWER to the mixed flock of birds photo from last time. Just click on the image and see below the photo for comments. http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/okanogan_winter_&page=all ************Here are the highlights:**************** ROSS GOOSE: Only conspicuous white bird sticking out amongst a large flock of 1000 Canada geese at Royal Lake. Bird was seen at a distance in the third 'inlet' by the small viewpoint. SANDHILL CRANES; Up to 1500 birds in several locations. A sizeable flock on Lower Crab Creek, Hwy 26, and Royal City near Royal Lake. Another flock along Hwy 17 around Booker Rd. So impressive to see in large flocks! CHUKAR: One pair along Lower Crab Creek Rd about 3 miles from Smyrna,WA near the rocky slopes. GREATER SAGE GROUSE; The sex-crazed males were a bit subdued. Roughly 9 birds at the Leahy Junction lek. More birds were on the left side of the road where there are more open grassy areas. Go about 200 yards pass the 5 feet 'berm' that is near the right side of the road as mentioned in Opperman Guide. RUFFED GROUSE: One male near cabins at Brooks Memorial Park (Hwy 97). East side of Park near office. LONG BILLED CURLEW: Two fleeting pairs; one pair near Cemetery Rd in Othello and other pair along Hwy 26. AMERICAN AVOCET; A pair along County Ponds on Hwy 26 towards Othello. GOLDEN EAGLE: One cooperative bird along Lower Crab Creek and B SE. Another one at the Leahy Junction in Mansfield. PRAIRIE FALCON: One bird along Hwy 26 towards Othello. PEREGRINE FALCON: One fleeting bird along the rocky cliffs of Hwy 14 near Maryhill Museum. ROUGH LEGGED HAWK; Hovering bird near Leahy Junction in Mansfield. BURROWING OWL; 4 birds at two locations on Booker and Sutton Rd in Othello. LONG EARED OWL: One flighty bird at Steam Boat State Park along Hwy155 about 10 miles south from Electric City. BARN OWL: One bird at dusk on Moe Road in Ellensburg. NORTHERN PYGMY OWL: One visual bird near Satus Pass along Hwy 97 GREAT HORNED OWL; 4 birds total; on Berry Rd in Ellenburg, Lower Crab Creek, Steam Boat SP and Division Rd in Mansfield. Some on nests. LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE: A few birds along Lower Crab Creek and Hwy 97 near Toppenish. SAGE SPARROW; One bird singing along Old Vantage Hwy near Kittitas and at Leahy Junction VESPER SPAROW; One bird along Pinto Ridge Road. SAGE THRASHER; A pair along Old Vantage Hwy. TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS. A flock of roughly 50 birds near the Para Ponds in Othello. Lots of Yellow headed, Red winged and Brewers Blackbirds as well especially at Camino Feedlot along Hwy 26. PINE GROSBEAK; A noisy flock of a dozen birds at Brooks Memorial Park along Hwy 97 (12 miles north of Goldendale). Birds were on the westside instead and on the opposite of the Park Office entrance. Good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From katandbill at yahoo.com Mon Mar 30 10:55:24 2009 From: katandbill at yahoo.com (Kat & Bill) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 10:55:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Eugene - Delta Ponds Bird Monitors Needed! Training is April 1st Message-ID: <513335.7611.qm@web53910.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Volunteer Bird Monitors: It is time again to sharpen up your birding skills and prepare for our annual migratory bird monitoring at Delta Ponds. Once again we are seeking your assistance to help us collect data from mid-April through the end of May. If you are available to help out again this year, please plan to attend the following training on April 1st from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Training will take place here at Public Works (1820 Roosevelt Blvd. in Eugene) and dinner will be provided. During the training we will be reviewing protocols, scheduling, and how to submit your data. We are also very excited that long-time volunteer Paula Graff will be presenting some of the findings from the past several years of data collection. Bring a friend: We need both observers and recorders so if you have a friend, experienced or not, who might be interested, please encourage them to consider participating! Please contact Lauri if you plan to help out this year or if you have any questions. If you CAN'T make the April 1 training, and would like to help, please let Lauri know, we can schedule another training. Thank you, Kat in Eugene for Lauri Mullen Natural Resources Coordinator Parks & Open Space Division - City of Eugene (541) 682-4925 lauri.h.mullen at ci.eugene.or.us From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Mon Mar 30 11:02:19 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:02:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared Dove Message-ID: <2b1bbd260903301102n4fe1fae8q5f2afbb4fc3cefe3@mail.gmail.com> Saw one on Rhododendron Dr near 12th st yesterday around noon in Florence. -- Daniel Farrar Florence, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090330/7865d93a/attachment.html From srnord101 at verizon.net Mon Mar 30 14:49:29 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:49:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands, 2 Common Teals Message-ID: <000001c9b181$67cb15f0$376141d0$@net> OBOL; Today, between 11:35-1:15, I found 2 male COMMON TEAL in Eagle Perch Pond. I did not find the Green-winged X Common Teal hybrid I've seen here previously. On my way home, I stopped by the pond near the Jones Farm Intel campus on 15th Ave, Hillsboro, and found the previously report male COMMON TEAL there, making it a 3 COMMON TEAL afternoon! Also at Fernhill: 1 Tundra Swan 1 Great Egret 369 Northern Shoveler 175 Green-winged Teal 96 Ruddy Duck 3 Common Merganser 1 Cooper's Hawk 1 adult Bald Eagle on nest 1 Greater Yellowlegs 3 Dunlin 2 Least Sandpiper 1 Wilson's Snipe 10 Mew Gull (dramatic decrease - I had 623 birds at 1:30 on March 18) 1 Western Gull 1 Cliff Swallow 7 Barn Swallow 9 Yellow-rumped Warblers (1 "Audubon's" and 8 "Myrtle") Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From jonysky101 at aol.com Mon Mar 30 14:49:33 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:49:33 -0400 Subject: [obol] New and exotic bird.....? Message-ID: <8CB7F988C2AA8C0-1C14-D7E@WEBMAIL-DZ01.sysops.aol.com> Well, it is to me. I was so pleased to see it in my back yard. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0745/6664c3448e0a413f9192ff67232a7bab.jpg http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0745/b62c23a49b8449d4aa82ae5e33ab19bf.jpg How did such a beautiful bird stay hidden from me all the years I've been in Oregon. I'm pretty sure it is a Varied Thrush. But he is so much brighter than in my Sibley guide. Johnny -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090330/989eeb3f/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Mon Mar 30 15:59:56 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:59:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] New and exotic bird.....? In-Reply-To: <8CB7F988C2AA8C0-1C14-D7E@WEBMAIL-DZ01.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <006501c9b18b$3ec9c1b0$4e01a8c0@102889> Congrats on a beautiful shot of a male Varied Thrush. Tom _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of jonysky101 at aol.com Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 1:50 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] New and exotic bird.....? Well, it is to me. I was so pleased to see it in my back yard. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0745/6664c3448e0a413f9192ff67232a7bab .jpg http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0745/b62c23a49b8449d4aa82ae5e33ab19bf .jpg How did such a beautiful bird stay hidden from me all the years I've been in Oregon. I'm pretty sure it is a Varied Thrush. But he is so much brighter than in my Sibley guide. Johnny _____ A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090330/e3a8b2d4/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Mon Mar 30 15:15:27 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:15:27 -0400 Subject: [obol] How do you know where to look in the book? Message-ID: <8CB7F9C29F04F9D-1C14-EB0@WEBMAIL-DZ01.sysops.aol.com> I had a beautiful bird in my yard that I have never seen before. I took some photos, and then I started looking in the Sibley book. I could naturally eliminate several catagories, Ducks, water birds, raptors etc, but there was still a lot of book left to search. I started after the Auks, skipped the owls and Hummers and kept going till I found it. A Varied Thrush. The colors were right but not near as bright as the bird is. Is there a system that can get you closer to the bird you're looking for, in the book, other than just experience? If it is just plain old experience, I want it now. Does it come in pill form? Here is a shot of my newest visitor.? Johnny http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0745/b62c23a49b8449d4aa82ae5e33ab19bf.jpg -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090330/20afaf0f/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Mon Mar 30 15:27:19 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:27:19 -0400 Subject: [obol] sneaky woodpecker Message-ID: <8CB7F9DD2A65BC4-1C14-F4F@WEBMAIL-DZ01.sysops.aol.com> I looked out my back window and saw a woodpecker on my feeder, I think it was a Downy. I repositioned my camera, and I thought he was gone. But when I looked closer I saw that he had just positioned himself behind the feeder so I could not see him. Pretty sneaky, huh? Here's what he left me to photograph.???????? Johnny http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0746/81777daedc9d46f6b6d90cc648b133cb.jpg -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090330/dd0e9191/attachment.html From David.Mellinger at oregonstate.edu Mon Mar 30 15:38:15 2009 From: David.Mellinger at oregonstate.edu (Dave Mellinger) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:38:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] wind power and sage grouse Message-ID: <49D149D7.3070009@oregonstate.edu> This is extracted from The (Bend) Bulletin. It's important in light of USFWS's current review of whether to list the Greater Sage Grouse as endangered: A $220 million commercial wind farm ... has received the initial go-ahead from Crook County planning commissioners.... Officials from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife expressed concern at earlier public hearings that the project ... could damage a sage grouse population.... Commissioner Arleen Curths said the $1 million annually in property taxes the county could receive from the wind farm outweighed the argument about protecting the birds. "There is no data on how windmills will impact the sage grouse. There just is no data yet," Curths said. "We thought it was a good idea to use this small group of birds to collect that data.... We had to look at 27 birds or a ($220) million project. We elected to go with the project." ---------------------------------------- This is just an extract, slightly edited. You can see the whole story here: http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090327/NEWS0107/903270401/1001/NEWS01&nav_category=NEWS01 OBOL isn't the place for editorializing, so I won't, and please don't yourself. Dave Mellinger From FoxSparrows at aol.com Mon Mar 30 17:08:53 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:08:53 EDT Subject: [obol] First Harney County Yellow-headed Blackbirds Message-ID: Saw just a few Yellow-heads with a lot of Red-wings along South Harney Lake Lane, about 2 miles SW of the Narrows. none in towns yet. Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm_ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1220439616x1201372437/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID %3D62%26bcd%3DfebemailfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090330/d67643d6/attachment.html From andy.frank at kp.org Mon Mar 30 17:27:36 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:27:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mountain Bluebirds seen Sandy River Delta today Message-ID: Early this afternoon the male and female MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS were seen at Sandy River Delta. Initially just the female was perched on a stick, and when it flew to the ground, it was not visible from where I was. It then flew up to another perch, and then the male joined it. This was in the first open field on your left (to the north) when going on the path that runs east parallel to the highway. When I walked by the area again on my way back, I did not see them. They have now been there at least 1.5 weeks, but I suspect they are easy to miss as from what I have heard they have now been seen in at least 3 different fields there, and as I found today, if they are on the ground, it is very unlikely they will be seen. Andy Frank From ellencantor at gmail.com Mon Mar 30 17:56:27 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:56:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] spring city! Message-ID: <7058c4c60903301756u5342da06s440b6d885a5ae0cf@mail.gmail.com> A female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD busily feeding on the quince flowers in my backyard and chipping away, while in my front yard, a BUSHTIT pair are twittering to each other while busily building a nest amidst the pink flowers of the ornamental plum. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090330/d946c92d/attachment.html From sasdhill at comcast.net Mon Mar 30 18:23:27 2009 From: sasdhill at comcast.net (Sasdhill@comcast.net) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:23:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Grebe Delta Ponds Eugene Message-ID: <58430909114C4F82A6FA2D0D46076BF6@OwnerPC> This afternoon I sited what I think was a Western Grebe on Delta Ponds in Eugene. The bird was a fair distance away and even snapping a picture did not totally confirm the ID between that and a Clark's Grebe. I do not recall seeing either species at Delta Ponds before. Does anyone know if there are previous records of both species at Delta? I also saw a Red Breasted Sap Sucker and a Spotted Sandpiper. Sally Hill Eugene, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090330/00900113/attachment.html From birdboy at bkpix.com Mon Mar 30 18:37:30 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:37:30 +1300 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge 3/30 Message-ID: Hi birders, Visible this morning from the platform at Royal Ave: New migrants: 1 - COMMON YELLOWTHROAT 1 - CLIFF SWALLOW 10 - BARN SWALLOWS 4 - OSPREY And also: 1 - EURASIAN WIGEON 1 - AMERICAN BITTERN 1 - VIRGINIA RAIL 4 - LINCOLN'S SPARROWS 1 - BALD EAGLE A little bird said that 2 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS and a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD have been around, as well. Good birding, Noah Strycker From johnpam at mtangel.net Mon Mar 30 19:15:59 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:15:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Osprey Back!, Band-tails, OC Warbler, Etc Message-ID: Pair of Osprey on nest just north of Mt Angel today. FOY for us. Also Band-tail Pigeons now coming into our feeder area past week off/on. The Orange-crowned Warbler not seen for a few days but is now feeding consistently about every hour past two days on Flowering Red Currant. We have at least 5 Rufous Hummingbirds here now and they love to fight it out all day long. We are hearing/seeing both GH Owls and Barn Owls at dusk and dawn at our place. We saw Green Heron and Virginia Rail at Oregon Gardens on Thursday morning this past week. Over the weekend, we saw the typical Silver Falls St Park species of Raven, Winter Wren, GC Kinglet, and Brown Creeper after heading into the hills. No luck with grouse or quail yet. Good Birding, John Thomas 5 mi N Silverton From celata at pacifier.com Mon Mar 30 20:05:59 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:05:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Caspian Terns Message-ID: <49D18897.6090705@pacifier.com> Steve Warner reports 2 CASPIAN TERNS on the Necanicum Estuary on Sunday. I'm pretty sure I saw one from across the river at Ft. Columbia yesterday, as well. I also saw a BARN SWALLOW on the Washington side today just east of Naselle. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Henry David Thoreau: citizen scientist http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10505/ From rfadney at hotmail.com Mon Mar 30 20:20:16 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:20:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Delta Ponds Hybrid Wigeon Message-ID: I went out to the Delta ponds tonight to shoot some pics and when I got home and developed them, I found this handsome fellow! It looks to me to be an American/Eurasian Hybrid Wigeon. As described in Sibley, on page77 of the field guide. http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/fatrichie/Birds/P3306517-2.jpg http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/fatrichie/Birds/P3306518-2.jpg Rich _________________________________________________________________ Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/personalize.aspx?ocid=TXT_MSGTX_WL_HM_express_032009#colortheme -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090330/6f0a8bf8/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Mon Mar 30 20:32:43 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:32:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Delta Ponds Hybrid Wigeon In-Reply-To: <49D18D95.3040607@pacifier.com> References: <49D18D95.3040607@pacifier.com> Message-ID: Yes, I just figured it out and was writing to once again, acknowledge my lack of "knowledge". Rich > Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:27:17 -0700 > From: celata at pacifier.com > To: rfadney at hotmail.com > Subject: Re: Delta Ponds Hybrid Wigeon > > The URL you provided links to pictures of a GREEN-WINGED TEAL. > > > I went out to the Delta ponds tonight to shoot some pics and when I > > got home and developed them, I found this handsome fellow! It looks to > > me to be an American/Eurasian Hybrid Wigeon. As described in Sibley, > > on page77 of the field guide. > > > > http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/fatrichie/Birds/P3306517-2.jpg > > > > http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/fatrichie/Birds/P3306518-2.jpg > > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Henry David Thoreau: citizen scientist > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10505/ > _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_skydrive_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090330/ef3c7d4b/attachment.html From manzed_99 at yahoo.com Mon Mar 30 20:52:34 2009 From: manzed_99 at yahoo.com (Dennis Manzer) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:52:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Jackson Bottom barn swallows 03/29/09 Message-ID: <106541.90387.qm@web50405.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Greetings! ? ???? Thought I should mention 2 BARN SWALLOWS seen just before 1900 hrs on 03/29/09 from the parking area of the?N end view platform.? An adult PEREGRINE FALCON (no leg bands) was on hand as were 3 dozen or so DUNLIN. ? ???? Just before noon?on Steinborn Unit of Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge near Sherwood a too brief glimpse of a lone swan.? Four age-classes of BALD EAGLE for nice aging study. ? Best, Dennis Yours for better birding! Dennis E. Manzer Beaverton, OR 97006 manzed_99 at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090330/bbd4c57b/attachment.html From clausing at uiuc.edu Mon Mar 30 21:30:40 2009 From: clausing at uiuc.edu (Arthur Clausing) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:30:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes on the Columbia Message-ID: I made a quick double-pass along the Columbia River late today on my bicycle. My most exciting find was a beautiful pair of Barrow?s Goldeneyes. They were located approximately where NE 148th reaches Marine Dr. Although I have seen a relatively large number of Common Goldeneyes on the Columbia River this year (during the months of January and February, none in March), these were the first and only Barrow?s Goldeneyes I have ever seen. Art Clausing Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090330/14fbaaa9/attachment.html From david.koskamp at verizon.net Mon Mar 30 21:39:09 2009 From: david.koskamp at verizon.net (David Koskamp) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:39:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Raptor ID help - Hillsboro Message-ID: <004c01c9b1ba$a28f1810$0301a8c0@lostine> This afternoon I noticed a raptor perching up in a nearby tree. Typically I would've signed it off as one of the resident red tail hawks, but the narrowing of the tail feathers caught my eye and made me think otherwise. Looking through my binoculars it seemed like the bird had dark grey feathers. Maybe a goshawk? I gauged it to be too large to me to be a merlin or peregrine, but I'm no expert so can't claim that for sure. Here are a few pictures I snapped, though the lighting wasn't very good but you can get a sense of the shape of the body. http://fettster.smugmug.com/photos/502483708_DbGwU-O.jpg http://fettster.smugmug.com/photos/502483728_ZriAD-O.jpg Zoomed out picture for frame of reference: http://fettster.smugmug.com/photos/502483821_imULK-XL.jpg I tried walking around for a closer view and picture, but it swooped down into the foliage by the creek before I had a chance to do much beyond confirming the gray color and what I thought was a gray/white underbelly. Maybe a red tail pulled a fast one on me after all! -David -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090330/6783c556/attachment.html From kirkpat at charter.net Mon Mar 30 21:48:22 2009 From: kirkpat at charter.net (Douglas Kirkpatrick) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:48:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] BBMagpie west of Cascades In-Reply-To: <004c01c9b1ba$a28f1810$0301a8c0@lostine> Message-ID: <0822EF420BD0453AA29D8B168817500B@D7CDFN81> Saw a first-of- the-year Black-billed Magpie east of Ashland on Hwy 66 today. Gorgeous spring coloration. This is a good site for them in Jackson County but they're not common. (One other site is on Colestin Road on the south side of the Siskiyou's overlooking the state to the south of us.) Doug Kirkpatrick Medford -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090330/9ff77798/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Mon Mar 30 21:55:00 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:55:00 +0000 Subject: [obol] Raptor ID help - Hillsboro In-Reply-To: <004c01c9b1ba$a28f1810$0301a8c0@lostine> References: <004c01c9b1ba$a28f1810$0301a8c0@lostine> Message-ID: This bird appears to be an accipiter based on overall shape and posture. It is fairly long-tailed and is sitting in very upright position. Falcons generally do not sit bolt upright like this bird. We can also see that the head is proportionally large and the tail looks rounded at the corners. Despite the image being dark, this bird appears to have a pale nape that contrasts with much darker crown. This combination of features is a good match for a Cooper's Hawk. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: david.koskamp at verizon.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:39:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Raptor ID help - Hillsboro This afternoon I noticed a raptor perching up in a nearby tree. Typically I would've signed it off as one of the resident red tail hawks, but the narrowing of the tail feathers caught my eye and made me think otherwise. Looking through my binoculars it seemed like the bird had dark grey feathers. Maybe a goshawk? I gauged it to be too large to me to be a merlin or peregrine, but I'm no expert so can't claim that for sure. Here are a few pictures I snapped, though the lighting wasn't very good but you can get a sense of the shape of the body. http://fettster.smugmug.com/photos/502483708_DbGwU-O.jpg http://fettster.smugmug.com/photos/502483728_ZriAD-O.jpg Zoomed out picture for frame of reference: http://fettster.smugmug.com/photos/502483821_imULK-XL.jpg I tried walking around for a closer view and picture, but it swooped down into the foliage by the creek before I had a chance to do much beyond confirming the gray color and what I thought was a gray/white underbelly. Maybe a red tail pulled a fast one on me after all! -David _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_skydrive_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090331/1465c431/attachment.html From david.koskamp at verizon.net Mon Mar 30 21:58:00 2009 From: david.koskamp at verizon.net (David Koskamp) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:58:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hummingbird feeder success Message-ID: <007c01c9b1bd$4463b450$0301a8c0@lostine> I put out a hummingbird feeder about a month back by my deck, but for about three weeks saw no sign of any activity even though I saw them around visiting the neighbors' feeders. I figured the lack of trees or brush within a few yards of the feeder must have been a major detraction to the little guys. It was a bit of a bummer after the luck I used to have my old apartment. However, about a week ago a spigot turned on as the birds started coming in unabashed and eager for a sugary fix. It seems to have coincided with the first sighting I had of a Rufous hummingbird. Nothing like a little competition to alight the need to expand territory and find new food sources. Linked below are a few pictures I took this weekend of my now daily guests. The Rufous seem to dominate the time at my feeder and are usually the ones who return victorious after an air duel takes place, which isn't uncommon. I'm wondering when the Rufous leave the area if the Annas will claim the feeder for their own or abandon it for "safer" feeders with quicker access to refuge among trees/bushes. http://fettster.smugmug.com/gallery/7757699_m3YTN#501669357_VT2DU -David -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090330/89be252e/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Mon Mar 30 21:59:02 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:59:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] How do you know where to look in the book? Message-ID: <005401c9b1bd$f8983630$b2c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Johnny, I think you did the right thing by skipping the pages on ducks, etc. With a bit of experience you will learn which family a bird fits into: thrush, sparrow, finch, or icterid (blackbirds). Pay attention to bill shape and the overall size and silhouette. You can also rule out warbler if the bird has a seed-cracking bill. Pay attention to habitat and the range of the species. You can rule out prairie birds if you're looking in an urban backyard. Then remember, birds don't exactly match the picture. Although modern guides show several versions of each species, birds transition from winter to summer and back. Not every form is shown in the books. No pills. Sorry. There's a better answer. Get out birding. Over and over and over. What your learn by hard work is a great reward in itself. Time afield is joy in the bank. You can also go with others and learn from them. That can leapfrog you to a level that would take years on your own. Enjoy! Paul T. Sullivan ------------------------------- Subject: How do you know where to look in the book? From: jonysky101 AT aol.com Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:15:27 -0400 I had a beautiful bird in my yard that I have never seen before. I took some photos, and then I started looking in the Sibley book. I could naturally eliminate several catagories, Ducks, water birds, raptors etc, but there was still a lot of book left to search. I started after the Auks, skipped the owls and Hummers and kept going till I found it. A Varied Thrush. The colors were right but not near as bright as the bird is. Is there a system that can get you closer to the bird you're looking for, in the book, other than just experience? If it is just plain old experience, I want it now. Does it come in pill form? Here is a shot of my newest visitor.? Johnny From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Mon Mar 30 22:02:02 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 22:02:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Morning Birdsong Walks - April & May Message-ID: <005501c9b1bd$f9654a30$b2c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: Here's an opportunity for the new birders on OBOL, as well as those who've been at it awhile. Folks in the Portland area are invited to join in on Morning Birdsong Walks. -- FREE -- April 1 - June 5 -- 7-9 AM -- 5 locations, 5 days a week Monday at Tryon Creek St. Pk, Terwilliger Blvd., Portland Tuesday at Tualatin Hills Nature Park in Beaverton Wednesday at Mt. Tabor Park, Portland Thursday at Camassia Preserve of The Nature Conservancy, West Linn Friday at Pittock Mansion, Portland The idea is to begin to learn bird songs early in the spring, then add new songs, sightings, and knowledge as the migrants arrive. You don't have to learn anything to enjoy being out on a fine spring morning in these beautiful places. Just come to share the time with like-minded folks. You can leave when you have to cut away to go to work. More details and directions are on page 10 in the April issue of The Warbler newletter and at http://www.audubonportland.org/trips-classes-camps/adult/birdsong-walks The first walk is Wednesday! See you there? Paul T. Sullivan "...all the people who can identify a dusky flycatcher when they see one, ... won't add up to enough votes to elect a mayor.... You like those little red birds, whatever they're called? So do I.... You're a birder, and we're pals." Kenn Kaufman -- BirdWatcher's Digest, Nov-Dec 2001 From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Mar 30 23:54:02 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 22:54:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] raptor ID help-Hillsboro Message-ID: <4d08336c5b624354dc3e86031c048d9b@earthlink.net> I'm inclined to agree with Dave. The wings are very short, the tips of the primaries barely extending below the base of the tail. Only accipiters have such short wings. On my monitor I can't see any color contrast, the pictures are silhouettes. But the profile in the second picture appears to show the culmen and forehead making a common outline, rather than the distinct bump where the two meet in a Sharp-shin. The tree is a Douglas-fir, and its twigs give some perspective. Too big for a Sharp-shin, too small for a Goshawk, although in this case size is a dangerous field mark. There is some overlap between species plus the big size discrepancy between sexes of most raptors. Furthermore, Cooper's Hawks seem quite comfortable with exposed perches. Many times a year I see them out in the open like this, usually on a utility line beside riparian habitat, Red-shoulder style. Maybe they are just more abundant than Sharp-shins in Washington County, but I can't remember ever seeing the smaller species perched so conspicuously. The three occasions I can recall observing perched Goshawks all involve juvenile birds, and they were all on a branch close to the main trunk well down in the canopy. Lars Norgren From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Mon Mar 30 23:32:13 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:32:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Corvallis Orange-crowned warbler, etc. 3/30 Message-ID: <533603.47043.qm@web39505.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Mona St. Marie and I found an Orange-crowned Warbler at Stewart Lake (HP), Corvallis, feeding in?2 flowering cherries of some sort.? Today & Friday I saw?rufous hummingbirds feeding in the same trees at the southeast end of the lake, as well as OCWAs last year.?? ? We also found?a Pileated Woodpecker working on an oak tree on the?west side.?This is? first pileated that I have on record there since January, 2002. We watched it, then turned 180 degrees and watched a pair of bushtits building their nest within 10-15 feet of last year's location (and several previous years' nest locations as well). ? Jamie Simmons Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090330/a5621327/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Tue Mar 31 03:40:40 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:40:40 -0400 Subject: [obol] Can't find this guy in the book Message-ID: <8CB80044501AFD6-10FC-207@WEBMAIL-DZ01.sysops.aol.com> I thought he was a Fox Sparrow, but it does not look like the ones I can find. I went all the way thru the book and still did not find this bird. I'm sure it is common as dirt, but not to me. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0746/0d6a0ac2a6a645adb22e98accc66e965.jpg http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0746/1b76810522ac4e4e9d9c44764881a3de.jpg http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0746/0d771751f57b4da0ac5432d1b5672465.jpg Thanks for any help. Johnny -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090331/d47f3c50/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Mar 31 08:23:46 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 07:23:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Can't find this guy in the book In-Reply-To: <8CB80044501AFD6-10FC-207@WEBMAIL-DZ01.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CB80044501AFD6-10FC-207@WEBMAIL-DZ01.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: It's a Song Sparrow. Typical of the ones here in Oregon, but quite different from the bulk of North America, hence the challenge with the field guide. It took me years to resolve the Song/Fox thing around here. Lars Norgren On Mar 31, 2009, at 2:40 AM, jonysky101 at aol.com wrote: > I thought he was a Fox Sparrow, but it does not look like the ones I > can find. I went all the way thru the book and still did not find this > bird. I'm sure it is common as dirt, but not to me. > > http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0746/ > 0d6a0ac2a6a645adb22e98accc66e965.jpg > http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0746/ > 1b76810522ac4e4e9d9c44764881a3de.jpg > http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0746/ > 0d771751f57b4da0ac5432d1b5672465.jpg > > Thanks for any help. Johnny > > > A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From bigfishyman at gmail.com Tue Mar 31 07:54:44 2009 From: bigfishyman at gmail.com (Bob Fish) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 07:54:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Creswell / Pleasant Hill Message-ID: Drove toward P Hill from Creswell via Enterprise Rd. at about 8:00am. A bit foggy, but a pleasant drive nonetheless. First bird, a SAYS PHOEBE on Danstrom Rd, followed by several DE JUNCO's. On Enterprise Rd just of Danstrom were two W BLUEBIRDS, and more Junco's, as well as two SCRUB JAYS and a SONG SPARROW. About a mile N of Danstrom were a small flock of AUDUBONS WARBLERS and ROBINS. Finally off N Morningstar Rd I found several BC CHICKADEES, two RUBY CROWNED KINGLETs, many Robins, many Junco's and many AUDUBONS WARBLERS. 1 single NORTHERN HARRIER, and 1 TURKEY VULTURE. On the way back I could not relocate the SAYS PHOEBE. Have a Good Day, Bob Fish Creswell, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090331/c1b22e83/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Tue Mar 31 07:57:38 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 07:57:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Can't find this guy in the book In-Reply-To: <8CB80044501AFD6-10FC-207@WEBMAIL-DZ01.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: Cornell has a poster of Western North America Common Feeder birds that might help you ID the common birds that you see. It is double-sided and illustrates similar species next to each other (like Song Sparrow and Fox Sparrow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Black-capped Chickadee). It used to be available at Wild Bird Unlimited, but if it is not still available; Cornell sells one that is double sided Western birds on one side, Eastern on the other (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Shop/LabFriendly.html). We bought a couple of the posters to put up at school near the window for the 4th graders to use, and we also have one on our wall at home for showing visitors the difference in the similar feeder bird species. Pam Reid 4 miles north of Silverton -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org]On Behalf Of jonysky101 at aol.com Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 3:41 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Can't find this guy in the book I thought he was a Fox Sparrow, but it does not look like the ones I can find. I went all the way thru the book and still did not find this bird. I'm sure it is common as dirt, but not to me. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0746/0d6a0ac2a6a645adb22e98accc66e9 65.jpg http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0746/1b76810522ac4e4e9d9c44764881a3 de.jpg http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/original/0746/0d771751f57b4da0ac5432d1b56724 65.jpg Thanks for any help. Johnny ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090331/69ceffb8/attachment.html From davebrownbirder at yahoo.com Tue Mar 31 08:12:02 2009 From: davebrownbirder at yahoo.com (Dave Brown) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:12:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Song Sparrow Message-ID: <444955.52294.qm@web59905.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> The Aleutian form (maxima) also known as the UnAlaska Song Sparrow is larger and I have seen at least twice at the Fisher Butte Unit at Fern Ridge in Lane County in years past may be the one being talked about here. ? Dave Brown Alvadore -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090331/fe4d9540/attachment.html From Andy.Frank at kp.org Tue Mar 31 09:21:34 2009 From: Andy.Frank at kp.org (Andy.Frank at kp.org) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:21:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] about the Mountain Bluebirds Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090331/50d1c69e/attachment.html From raphe29 at hotmail.com Tue Mar 31 09:58:17 2009 From: raphe29 at hotmail.com (mark lundgren) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:58:17 +0000 Subject: [obol] Used Hummingbird Feeders Needed Message-ID: Hello Good Peoples.I need about 5 more good/usable hummingbird feeders to complete my yard project.I will pay up to 4 dollars each.They need to be more functional than ornate.Please call 503-293-9284 and leave a message. Mark Lundgren -------7638 SW 36th Avenue,Portland,Oregon 97219-1631 ------USA-------- 503-293-9284 raphe29 at hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/personalize.aspx?ocid=TXT_MSGTX_WL_HM_express_032009#colortheme -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090331/f8937661/attachment.html From andy.frank at kp.org Tue Mar 31 11:22:36 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:22:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] the Sandy River Mountain Bluebirds Message-ID: Sorry for the duplication but my original did not go through to Siler's. I think this should work. I was notified that the original two Mountain Bluebirds at Sandy River Delta were both females, so the pair I saw yesterday, with one male and one female, represent different birds. I had thought the same pair had been there for 1.5 weeks and were wandering to different areas there, but instead it looks like several are wandering through. Andy Frank From kaycarter at wbcable.net Tue Mar 31 11:24:19 2009 From: kaycarter at wbcable.net (Kay Carter) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:24:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Purple Finch Plumage Questions Message-ID: <002501c9b22d$e8385c50$b8a914f0$@net> Today I saw a singing "female" Purple Finch. This is the second time I've seen this; the first was about a year ago. I should note, however, that most of the Purple Finches I hear singing are in the tops of very tall Doug Firs and I seldom see them at all, so this could be much more common than I realize. I presume that my singer was, indeed, a male that had not (yet?) acquired breeding plumage. I know that the red in Purple Finches is acquired through feather wear, not a spring molt. This bird showed absolutely no hint of red anywhere. I was not close enough - nor am I skilled enough in such things in any case - to determine whether the feathers showed signs of wear. So, my questions are: . How likely is it that this was a singing female rather than at plumage-challenged male? . Does anyone know how common this is? My (admittedly brief) search of online info and of my limited bookshelf resources didn't mention the phenomenon at all. . Is it more likely that this bird has somehow lead a particularly "sheltered" life since its fall molt, thus not yet achieving enough feather wear to reveal the reddish colors, or that it has some other abnormality the prevented it from developing the characteristic adult male plumage? Any insights would be welcomed. Kay Carter Canby, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090331/da3c2e3d/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Mar 31 11:47:22 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:47:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Can't find this guy in the book Message-ID: <20090331114722.err6q7x7hs0o88gc@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Common as dirt, indeed, Johnny! Your photo is the Rusty Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia morphna). It is the common breeding form in western Oregon and Washington. (There are about 24 different races of Song Sparrows in North America). A photo appears on my new web page, Pacific NW Backyard Birder, on the page listing common backyard birds of Portland, Oregon: http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/2009/03/backyard-birds-of-portland-oregon.html I see I'll have to do a write-up on Song Sparrow soon! I have additional photos of both Song and Fox Sparrows on my pBase web site, on the section Photo Checklist of Oregon Birds: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/fox_sparrow http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/song_sparrow Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From tjanzen at comcast.net Tue Mar 31 12:05:04 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:05:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Purple Finch Plumage Questions In-Reply-To: <002501c9b22d$e8385c50$b8a914f0$@net> Message-ID: <20090331190406.5420FA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear Kay, These are my thoughts on the answers to your questions: 1. The bird was likely a first year male Purple Finch. I have been under the impression that female Purple Finches don't sing or if they do sing, they do so much less frequently than males do. 2. Common. First year male Purple Finches sing regularly. 3. It is improbable that the bird was in an unusual plumage. Sincerely, Tim Janzen Portland _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Kay Carter Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 11:24 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Purple Finch Plumage Questions Today I saw a singing "female" Purple Finch. This is the second time I've seen this; the first was about a year ago. I should note, however, that most of the Purple Finches I hear singing are in the tops of very tall Doug Firs and I seldom see them at all, so this could be much more common than I realize. I presume that my singer was, indeed, a male that had not (yet?) acquired breeding plumage. I know that the red in Purple Finches is acquired through feather wear, not a spring molt. This bird showed absolutely no hint of red anywhere. I was not close enough - nor am I skilled enough in such things in any case - to determine whether the feathers showed signs of wear. So, my questions are: * How likely is it that this was a singing female rather than at plumage-challenged male? * Does anyone know how common this is? My (admittedly brief) search of online info and of my limited bookshelf resources didn't mention the phenomenon at all. * Is it more likely that this bird has somehow lead a particularly "sheltered" life since its fall molt, thus not yet achieving enough feather wear to reveal the reddish colors, or that it has some other abnormality the prevented it from developing the characteristic adult male plumage? Any insights would be welcomed. Kay Carter Canby, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090331/5e3cf940/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Tue Mar 31 12:04:19 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:04:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Purple Finch Plumage Questions References: <002501c9b22d$e8385c50$b8a914f0$@net> Message-ID: <9C377EA6D4E640609EC19BDCAC6461A0@Warbler> Kay, It's pretty likely that your singing brown Purple Finch is what is known as a "Second Year" (SY) male. Males do not acquire their rosy-red plumage until the second year of their life. So, all Purple Finches hatched last summer will be brown at this time, be they males or females. Also, SY males would molt into the rosy-red plumage this late summer/fall when they molt into their non-breeding season feathers (winter plumage). SY males will sing and be in breeding condition this breeding season, however. Hope this helps. Dennis Subject: [obol] Purple Finch Plumage Questions Today I saw a singing "female" Purple Finch. This is the second time I've seen this; the first was about a year ago. I should note, however, that most of the Purple Finches I hear singing are in the tops of very tall Doug Firs and I seldom see them at all, so this could be much more common than I realize. I presume that my singer was, indeed, a male that had not (yet?) acquired breeding plumage. I know that the red in Purple Finches is acquired through feather wear, not a spring molt. This bird showed absolutely no hint of red anywhere. I was not close enough - nor am I skilled enough in such things in any case - to determine whether the feathers showed signs of wear. So, my questions are: ? How likely is it that this was a singing female rather than at plumage-challenged male? ? Does anyone know how common this is? My (admittedly brief) search of online info and of my limited bookshelf resources didn't mention the phenomenon at all. ? Is it more likely that this bird has somehow lead a particularly "sheltered" life since its fall molt, thus not yet achieving enough feather wear to reveal the reddish colors, or that it has some other abnormality the prevented it from developing the characteristic adult male plumage? Any insights would be welcomed. Kay Carter Canby, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090331/525f45c5/attachment.html From tjanzen at comcast.net Tue Mar 31 12:28:29 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:28:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Purple Finch Plumage Questions In-Reply-To: <20090331190406.5420FA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: <20090331192728.B5D4CA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear Kay, In my message below I should have probably referred to first spring male Purple Finches rather than to first year male Purple Finches. As Dennis mentioned in his response to your question these males are technically second year males even though they aren't yet one year old. Sincerely, Tim Janzen _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Tim Janzen Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 12:05 PM To: 'OBOL' Subject: Re: [obol] Purple Finch Plumage Questions Dear Kay, These are my thoughts on the answers to your questions: 1. The bird was likely a first year male Purple Finch. I have been under the impression that female Purple Finches don't sing or if they do sing, they do so much less frequently than males do. 2. Common. First year male Purple Finches sing regularly. 3. It is improbable that the bird was in an unusual plumage. Sincerely, Tim Janzen Portland _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Kay Carter Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 11:24 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Purple Finch Plumage Questions Today I saw a singing "female" Purple Finch. This is the second time I've seen this; the first was about a year ago. I should note, however, that most of the Purple Finches I hear singing are in the tops of very tall Doug Firs and I seldom see them at all, so this could be much more common than I realize. I presume that my singer was, indeed, a male that had not (yet?) acquired breeding plumage. I know that the red in Purple Finches is acquired through feather wear, not a spring molt. This bird showed absolutely no hint of red anywhere. I was not close enough - nor am I skilled enough in such things in any case - to determine whether the feathers showed signs of wear. So, my questions are: * How likely is it that this was a singing female rather than at plumage-challenged male? * Does anyone know how common this is? My (admittedly brief) search of online info and of my limited bookshelf resources didn't mention the phenomenon at all. * Is it more likely that this bird has somehow lead a particularly "sheltered" life since its fall molt, thus not yet achieving enough feather wear to reveal the reddish colors, or that it has some other abnormality the prevented it from developing the characteristic adult male plumage? Any insights would be welcomed. Kay Carter Canby, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090331/4cc7439a/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Mar 31 12:31:18 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:31:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wireless Road Bank Swallow Message-ID: <49D26F86.2060603@pacifier.com> I was sorting through the swallows at Wireless Rd this morning and saw a small brown swallow, which I assumed would be a rough-wing. By its third or forth pass, I was pretty sure it was not a rough- wing, but rather a BANK SWALLOW. It was very brown from above, had a brown breast band and a white throat and chin. It is a bit early for Bank Swallows in those places where they are regular. Here in Clatsop County, they are very rare and usually seen in swallow flocks in mid-April to May (or rarely in the fall). Andrew Emlen (very reliable) was nearly certain that he was seeing them in the breeding season several years ago while kayaking along the cut banks of the lower Youngs River. EURASIAN WIGEON in with the AMERICAN WIGEONS at Wireless today, as well. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Henry David Thoreau: citizen scientist http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10505/ From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Mar 31 12:48:48 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:48:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Purple Finch Plumage Questions Message-ID: <20090331124848.lighkbv5cs08sg4w@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Kay, Male Purple Finches have a plumage quite like females until their 2nd fall, when they molt into adult winter plumage (see reference below). They begin breeding in their female-like "first nuptial plumage" when one year old. See below). On the other hand, there seems to be some controversy as to whether female Purple Finches also sing (see some references at end of this post). A quick search online finds that perhaps females do sing, but not the typical song of the male, and usually only on the nest. (see video link below.) References: Life Histories of Familiar North American Birds (1919-1968) by A.C. Bent http://www.birdsbybent.com/ch41-50/purfinch.html --- Begin quoted material --- The first winter plumage is acquired by a partial postjuvenal molt involving the contour plumage and the wing coverts, but not the rest of the wings or the tail. This is not very different from the juvenal plumage, but "the streaks are bolder, the brown usually with a greenish yellow tinge merging into the buffy edgings" (Dwight, 1900). In eastern Massachusetts, according to Blake, the inception of postjuvenal molt is quite evenly distributed over the period from August 4 to September 8. The duration of this molt is probably about 8 weeks. In the Lexington, Mass., sample of 343 juvenile birds 26 percent (roughly half the males) showed some ruddy or pinkish tints in the first winter plumage. The available evidence from returns of banded birds is that all such birds are males. This ruddy coloring varies in intensity from a very faint tinting to color approaching that of the adult male. Its area may be very restricted or may extend to practically all the regions that are red or rosy in the fully colored male. The first nuptial plumage is acquired by wear, most of the buffy tints being lost and the edgings becoming whitish. The birds breed in this plumage and the males sing. The adult winter plumage is acquired by a complete postnuptial molt, beginning in July or early August, at which old and young birds become indistinguishable, the males assuming the pink plumage. Dwight (1900) describes the male as follows: "Above, pale geranium-red (often carmine or brick-red), hoary on the pileum and nape, the feathers of the back with dusky shaft lines and broad greenish buff edgings. Below, a hoary geranium-pink blending into white on abdomen and crissum, the flanks buffy with a few dusky streaks. Wings and tail clove-brown the edgings tinged with pale brick-red." The adult nuptial plumage is acquired by wear, the hoary effect disappearing and the reds and pinks becoming clearer and brighter. --- end quoted material --- For information on female Purple Finches singing, see: Wootton, J. T. 1996. Purple Finch. In The Birds of North America, No. 208 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [not available online without subscription, which I do not have] Video of Purple Finch singing (female or first-year male): http://www.gather.com/viewVideo.jsp?id=11821949021865059 This bird behaves in a begging manner suggesting it is a female, not a male proclaiming his territory. I can't hear it well on the computer I am using now, but it does not sound like the typical male song. Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From dpvroman at budget.net Tue Mar 31 13:21:24 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:21:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] JoCo Orange-crowned Warbler Message-ID: Today (03-31-09) at our place just east of the Merlin I-5 exit there was an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER traveling with a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (likely Puget Sound race) migrant showed up at Phil Hicks's place east of Grants Pass today. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090331/f9244319/attachment.html From msgellerman at gmail.com Tue Mar 31 13:27:27 2009 From: msgellerman at gmail.com (Michael Gellerman) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:27:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island and Bethany Pond Message-ID: <1d0c413a0903311327h2dd1b4ffu61ae3cb8c2a5132@mail.gmail.com> Yesterday we hiked from the end of Reeder Road to Warrior Point in the afternoon. There were at least 15 Great Blue Herons standing on nests visible from the parking lot at the rookery near Reeder Beach and of course loads more out and about in the lakes. We took a detour to Cunningham Lake and saw 5 Great Egrets there as well. Also noticeable was that Northern Flickers were the most common bird by far. We saw a few Brown Creepers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Black-capped Chickadees, Bushtits, etc. but it was pretty windy and cold. We had one very inactive Red-breasted Sapsucker as well, I thought it was a decoy (not really...) until it finally moved after about five minutes. It did feel like spring in one regard though as we counted nine largish garter snakes in about a one mile stretch of trail in the late afternoon, including perhaps the biggest garter snake I have ever seen on Sauvie Island. On the return drive we went out Rentennar Road where Northern Shovelers and Coots were the the most common ducks. There were a few Pied-billed Grebes, N. Pintails, Bufflehead and Ring-necked Ducks as well. Near the end of the road there were three Greater Yellowlegs, ten 10 Long-billed Dowitchers, and two Cliff Swallows (that I noticed) among the hundreds of Violet-greens swirling about. We also saw along the way three pair of osprey on nest platforms. One at the end of Reeder Road, one further along the trail to Warrior Point and another pair on Rentennar Road. We had our first Osprey sighting at Bethany Pond (Washington Co.) on the 29th. They are here every year. This morning we had an adult Bald Eagle hanging around for about 45 minutes, a nice breakfast view. It is only the second time we have seen a Bald Eagle here in seventeen years. We have yet to see Cliff Swallows or Barn Swallows here although they both nest every year in our eaves. A question - we ran into an OF&W guy out there who asked us if we had seen anything interesting - we compared notes and he started telling me about how there is a "Pied Cackler" around for a few weeks in there routine goose counts. I had never heard of such a beast and his description was less than clear and made we wonder just what it was. Any ideas? Mike Gellerman Bethany Pond, Washington Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090331/20ff6a85/attachment.html From lbviman at blackfoot.net Tue Mar 31 13:34:24 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:34:24 -0600 Subject: [obol] wind power and sage grouse In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090331203133.5B0BC9B005D@mail.blackfoot.net> Let me see... sage scrub habitat contains few (if any) tall plants on which predatory birds might perch for better views of ground-nesting birds and non-flying potential prey objects. Introduce perches (in this case wind turbine towers), and "VOILA!" as some French might say, instant hunting platforms from which to survey the landscape, build nests, eat... I won't editorialize either, and leave it to imaginations how many ravens, hawks, and owls might now be able to hunt an area previously unavailable to them - Jim Greaves, Montana ... let's see, should Congress-creatures invest in the Social Security "trust" (as they might do in land and wildlife trusts) or some better system that reaps more money and costs more to taxpayers..., or protect what we have that is irreplaceable...? hmmmmm... this is tough! >This is extracted from The (Bend) Bulletin. It's important in light >of USFWS's current review of whether to list the Greater Sage Grouse >as endangered: > >A $220 million commercial wind farm ... has received the initial >go-ahead from Crook County planning commissioners.... Officials from >the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife expressed concern at >earlier public hearings that the project ... could damage a sage >grouse population.... Commissioner Arleen Curths said the $1 million >annually in property taxes the county could receive from the wind >farm outweighed the argument about protecting the birds. "There is >no data on how windmills will impact the sage grouse. There just is >no data yet," Curths said. "We thought it was a good idea to use >this small group of birds to collect that data.... We had to look at >27 birds or a ($220) million project. We elected to go with the project." > >---------------------------------------- >This is just an extract, slightly edited. You can see the whole story here: >http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090327/NEWS0107/903270401/1001/NEWS01&nav_category=NEWS01 > >OBOL isn't the place for editorializing, so I won't, and please >don't yourself. > >Dave Mellinger From lbviman at blackfoot.net Tue Mar 31 13:40:29 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:40:29 -0600 Subject: [obol] How do you know where to look in the book? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090331203738.3D3359B0076@mail.blackfoot.net> Spend time looking through the field guide(s) during "down time" to better familiarize yourself with taxonomic order, so you can learn what various birds (and groups of birds) look like. Also, check measurement indicators, so you don't hunt vigorously through the book for something small in the huge bird sections [the latter third or so of most guides contain the little birds we have around us most of the time - the larger birds inhabit the first 2/3, though of course, humbirds and smaller petrels reside there as well... Learn the distinction between passerines and non-passerines... Leave a guide in the bathroom for recreational reading... - Jim Greaves, Montana From lbviman at blackfoot.net Tue Mar 31 13:47:11 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:47:11 -0600 Subject: [obol] Purple Finch Plumage Questions In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090331204420.600169B00C2@mail.blackfoot.net> At 01:00 PM 3/31/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >How likely is it that this was a singing female rather than at >plumage-challenged male? I don't think that it be female, or "plumage-challenged". In fact, MANY first spring males of many species do not acquire adult plumage until second (and rarely, third?) breeding year. When living in California, I saw more singing "brown purple finches" than red ones - Jim Greaves, Montana From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Mar 31 15:38:02 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:38:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Re Sauvie Is and Bethany Pond Message-ID: <49ee3f66e27adaee3ee649fac8b14547@earthlink.net> My guess is the fellow was talking about a partial albino Cackler, such as the one posted last week. Its neck was mottled with about equal parts pure white and black feathers. I think the bird last week was seen at TNWR. Cacklers with bonus patches on their necks also occur--a white throat square isolated from both the cheeks and neck ring by regular black feathers. I sometimes think these alternative patterns are more prevalent in Cacklers than Canadas, but I have scanned fewer Canadas by at least an order of magnitude. Lars Norgren From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Mar 31 16:39:04 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:39:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] How do you know where to look in the book? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1238542744.3619.48.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hi Johnny (& all of the other birders who probably had the same question), You already have some excellent suggestions from Paul Sullivan and others. I would like to add just one more suggestion in answer to your question in the subject heading: First look for another bird guide called: BIRDS OF THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY by Harry Nehls, Tom Aversa, and Hal Opperman published by R.W. Morse Co. (www.rwmorse.com) This book is the best one that I've seen for beginning birders in the Willamette Valley. It only shows the birds that are found regularly in this region, so you automatically start out that much closer to the bird that you're trying to look up, 99.98% of the time. In the front of the book are a few pages titled "Common Local Birds" which is a good place to start your search. If you don't see a picture exactly like the one you saw, at least you'll have a hunch where to start looking at related species. Comparing the shape of the bird -- and especially the shape of bill -- with these common birds is an excellent way to start your search. Each species account includes a short description of "Where to find" which will help you link birds to type of habitat, as Paul suggested. Each species account also includes notes on "Behavior," which can often be as useful as color and shape for knowing what bird you're looking at. For new birders who live east of the Cascades, I'd recommend the very similar book: BIRDS OF THE INLAND NORTHWEST AND NORTHERN ROCKIES by Harry Nehls, Mike Denny, and Dave Trochlell also published by R.W. Morse Co. (www.rwmorse.com) for all of the same reasons. Honest, I am not getting a commission from the publisher -- I just am very impressed with these books as guides for beginning birders! The Sibley book that you've already invested in is a beautiful reference that you'll get a lot of value out of in the long run. However, it shows way too many birds, and goes into a lot of detail on things that can make it hard to see the big picture. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From ninerharv2 at msn.com Tue Mar 31 15:46:03 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:46:03 +0000 Subject: [obol] How do you know where to look in the book? Message-ID: Although I have many other guides, I did invest in this one the last time I birded Portland. Not mentioned is its small compact size that easily fits any coat pocket. Unfortunately I need a bit more in Bandon. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Joel Geier Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:39:04 To: Cc: Subject: [obol] How do you know where to look in the book? Hi Johnny (& all of the other birders who probably had the same question), You already have some excellent suggestions from Paul Sullivan and others. I would like to add just one more suggestion in answer to your question in the subject heading: First look for another bird guide called: BIRDS OF THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY by Harry Nehls, Tom Aversa, and Hal Opperman published by R.W. Morse Co. (www.rwmorse.com ) This book is the best one that I've seen for beginning birders in the Willamette Valley. It only shows the birds that are found regularly in this region, so you automatically start out that much closer to the bird that you're trying to look up, 99.98% of the time. In the front of the book are a few pages titled "Common Local Birds" which is a good place to start your search. If you don't see a picture exactly like the one you saw, at least you'll have a hunch where to start looking at related species. Comparing the shape of the bird -- and especially the shape of bill -- with these common birds is an excellent way to start your search. Each species account includes a short description of "Where to find" which will help you link birds to type of habitat, as Paul suggested. Each species account also includes notes on "Behavior," which can often be as useful as color and shape for knowing what bird you're looking at. For new birders who live east of the Cascades, I'd recommend the very similar book: BIRDS OF THE INLAND NORTHWEST AND NORTHERN ROCKIES by Harry Nehls, Mike Denny, and Dave Trochlell also published by R.W. Morse Co. (www.rwmorse.com ) for all of the same reasons. Honest, I am not getting a commission from the publisher -- I just am very impressed with these books as guides for beginning birders! The Sibley book that you've already invested in is a beautiful reference that you'll get a lot of value out of in the long run. However, it shows way too many birds, and goes into a lot of detail on things that can make it hard to see the big picture. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From nepobirds at yahoo.com Tue Mar 31 15:51:59 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:51:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ring-Necked and Canvasbacks Message-ID: <89649.73964.qm@web46015.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> There was quite the large group of Canvasbacks (18) and Ring-Necked Ducks (12) at Salish Ponds in Gresham on the 29th. I haven't seen them this late out here before. Seth NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From tayben at teleport.com Tue Mar 31 17:31:16 2009 From: tayben at teleport.com (Martha taylor & Chris Bennett) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:31:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Orange Crowned in Westmorland Message-ID: <0F5942EA81A3465C8AEF0CF4133177E8@D4P8RDC1> This afternoon I sited a male Orange Crowned Warbler checking out our blooming Red Flowering Current looked like it was eating nectar like a hummingbird, along with a bright male Rufus Hummer at the same time. The Rufous has been here since the 21st. Last Sunday saw an adult Bald Eagle checking out the ponds at Westmorland also an Osprey checking them out on the day. Driving over the Sellwood bridge this afternoon an adult Bald Eagle was at bridge elevation circling over Sellwood Riverfront Park. Chris -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090331/e3c8171b/attachment.html From katandbill at yahoo.com Tue Mar 31 18:58:46 2009 From: katandbill at yahoo.com (Kat & Bill) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:58:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] New Yard Bird and Long Lost Yard Bird Returns! Message-ID: <721858.12373.qm@web53910.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hi OBOL, We had a PURPLE FINCH in the yard today. That's a first for us! Also, our neighbor came over to ask what the "Downy Woodpecker on steroids" was. It was our old pal HAIRY WOODPECKER! He hasn't been around for a year and a half, since the Ponderosa Pine snag next door was cut down. Kat in Eugene From jeffharding at centurytel.net Tue Mar 31 19:08:09 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:08:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] ECBC Raptor Survey - Linn County route 5 - Crabtree area Message-ID: Bill Thackaberry and I ran Linn County route 5 for the ECBC winter raptor survey over the weekend, getting much different birds than previously, doubtless due to the late date. We found an Osprey along Crabtree Creek near Larwood, and counted 44 Turkey Vultures. We only counted 13 Red-tailed Hawks, compared to 33 or 32 for the three earlier surveys this year. It may be that they have started to leave, but some may be on nests, and not easily counted. We did observe two Red-tails on nests. The only Bald Eagles were two adults sitting together. Have the wintering birds left, and resident pairs are all that remain? There was also a very dark buteo, which we counted as a Red-tail, probably of the Harlan?s variety. The dark plumage makes it difficult to identify, but the basal half of the tail was white, and the tone of the even, dark plumage makes me think it of Harlan?s. Here are photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/HarlanSHawk#5318822486244264226 Here are the numbers for the survey: Red-tailed Hawk: 13 American Kestrel: 23 Northern Harrier: 3 Bald Eagle: 2 adults Falcon sp 1 Osprey 1 Turkey Vulture 44 Miles 69 Hours 6 ? Good Birding, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090331/b9b0cf81/attachment.html From kaycarter at wbcable.net Tue Mar 31 19:17:26 2009 From: kaycarter at wbcable.net (Kay Carter) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:17:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Purple Finch Plumage Questions In-Reply-To: <20090331124848.lighkbv5cs08sg4w@webmail.thebirdguide.com> References: <20090331124848.lighkbv5cs08sg4w@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Message-ID: <001501c9b270$00353ca0$009fb5e0$@net> Thanks to all who responded. I had read the Bent Life Histories passages, but it turns out that I didn't read carefully enough. I got to the passage "The first nuptial plumage is acquired by wear, most of the buffy tints being lost and the edgings becoming whitish. The birds breed in this plumage and the males sing," and didn't absorb the clause about "and the edgings becoming whitish"). So, I thought it was saying that the wear revealed the reddish colors. Sloppy. The song in the link you posted, Greg, is very much NOT like the typical male song . . . Kay -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Greg Gillson Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 12:49 PM To: OBOL Subject: Re: [obol] Purple Finch Plumage Questions Kay, Male Purple Finches have a plumage quite like females until their 2nd fall, when they molt into adult winter plumage (see reference below). They begin breeding in their female-like "first nuptial plumage" when one year old. See below). On the other hand, there seems to be some controversy as to whether female Purple Finches also sing (see some references at end of this post). A quick search online finds that perhaps females do sing, but not the typical song of the male, and usually only on the nest. (see video link below.) References: Life Histories of Familiar North American Birds (1919-1968) by A.C. Bent http://www.birdsbybent.com/ch41-50/purfinch.html --- Begin quoted material --- The first winter plumage is acquired by a partial postjuvenal molt involving the contour plumage and the wing coverts, but not the rest of the wings or the tail. This is not very different from the juvenal plumage, but "the streaks are bolder, the brown usually with a greenish yellow tinge merging into the buffy edgings" (Dwight, 1900). In eastern Massachusetts, according to Blake, the inception of postjuvenal molt is quite evenly distributed over the period from August 4 to September 8. The duration of this molt is probably about 8 weeks. In the Lexington, Mass., sample of 343 juvenile birds 26 percent (roughly half the males) showed some ruddy or pinkish tints in the first winter plumage. The available evidence from returns of banded birds is that all such birds are males. This ruddy coloring varies in intensity from a very faint tinting to color approaching that of the adult male. Its area may be very restricted or may extend to practically all the regions that are red or rosy in the fully colored male. The first nuptial plumage is acquired by wear, most of the buffy tints being lost and the edgings becoming whitish. The birds breed in this plumage and the males sing. The adult winter plumage is acquired by a complete postnuptial molt, beginning in July or early August, at which old and young birds become indistinguishable, the males assuming the pink plumage. Dwight (1900) describes the male as follows: "Above, pale geranium-red (often carmine or brick-red), hoary on the pileum and nape, the feathers of the back with dusky shaft lines and broad greenish buff edgings. Below, a hoary geranium-pink blending into white on abdomen and crissum, the flanks buffy with a few dusky streaks. Wings and tail clove-brown the edgings tinged with pale brick-red." The adult nuptial plumage is acquired by wear, the hoary effect disappearing and the reds and pinks becoming clearer and brighter. --- end quoted material --- For information on female Purple Finches singing, see: Wootton, J. T. 1996. Purple Finch. In The Birds of North America, No. 208 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [not available online without subscription, which I do not have] Video of Purple Finch singing (female or first-year male): http://www.gather.com/viewVideo.jsp?id=11821949021865059 This bird behaves in a begging manner suggesting it is a female, not a male proclaiming his territory. I can't hear it well on the computer I am using now, but it does not sound like the typical male song. Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From louisfredd at msn.com Tue Mar 31 19:22:58 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:22:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] First Orange-crowned Warbler (Oregon City) Message-ID: Observed about 4pm gleaning forsythia blossoms. Lou _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_skydrive_032009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090331/60541264/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Tue Mar 31 20:28:10 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:28:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] ALASKA anyone? Message-ID: <82720D7440104D10B996951D5E5E900C@MOM> Birders I am forwarding this for Elise Wolf, a resident of Central Oregon in winter and Alaska the rest of the year. Sounds like a great shorebird festival with great speakers too. Judy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Elise Wolf" ewolf at alaska.net The schedule of events and registration for the Kachemak Bay Bird Festival is out. There are a lot more events this year, including numerous boat and kayak trips, fun evening events (Whitekeys is a longtime comedian who is a gas here in AK). Stars of the Bird Fest are: red-faced cormorants, cranes, eiders, shorebirds, and all the others which pass through this flyway zone. Anyway, its a blast and I am happy helping anyone find a great spot to stay.... http://www.homeralaska.org/events/kachemakBayShorebirdFestival/index.htm Thanks, Elise PS: I have about 200 pine siskins and redpolls at my house, also Pribiloff rosy finches, and a shrike. Elise Wolf From marciafcutler at comcast.net Tue Mar 31 21:10:11 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:10:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Purple Finch Plumage Questions In-Reply-To: <20090331124848.lighkbv5cs08sg4w@webmail.thebirdguide.com> References: <20090331124848.lighkbv5cs08sg4w@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Message-ID: <9C2951D66E6D4C9E9D7A032CAE7A0B43@melvintrex4uoq> I've been watching Purple Finches a lot this past month as they've been the most common bird at my feeders - I'm getting between 6-12 PUFIs at a time. One thing I have noticed is that when young males are side by side with the females, the greenish yellow tinge is fairly apparent. I was wondering about that and am glad the exerpt from Bent that Greg posted explains this. Marcia F. Cutler Corvallis -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Greg Gillson Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 12:49 PM To: OBOL Subject: Re: [obol] Purple Finch Plumage Questions Kay, Male Purple Finches have a plumage quite like females until their 2nd fall, when they molt into adult winter plumage (see reference below). They begin breeding in their female-like "first nuptial plumage" when one year old. See below). On the other hand, there seems to be some controversy as to whether female Purple Finches also sing (see some references at end of this post). A quick search online finds that perhaps females do sing, but not the typical song of the male, and usually only on the nest. (see video link below.) References: Life Histories of Familiar North American Birds (1919-1968) by A.C. Bent http://www.birdsbybent.com/ch41-50/purfinch.html --- Begin quoted material --- The first winter plumage is acquired by a partial postjuvenal molt involving the contour plumage and the wing coverts, but not the rest of the wings or the tail. This is not very different from the juvenal plumage, but "the streaks are bolder, the brown usually with a greenish yellow tinge merging into the buffy edgings" (Dwight, 1900). In eastern Massachusetts, according to Blake, the inception of postjuvenal molt is quite evenly distributed over the period from August 4 to September 8. The duration of this molt is probably about 8 weeks. In the Lexington, Mass., sample of 343 juvenile birds 26 percent (roughly half the males) showed some ruddy or pinkish tints in the first winter plumage. The available evidence from returns of banded birds is that all such birds are males. This ruddy coloring varies in intensity from a very faint tinting to color approaching that of the adult male. Its area may be very restricted or may extend to practically all the regions that are red or rosy in the fully colored male. The first nuptial plumage is acquired by wear, most of the buffy tints being lost and the edgings becoming whitish. The birds breed in this plumage and the males sing. The adult winter plumage is acquired by a complete postnuptial molt, beginning in July or early August, at which old and young birds become indistinguishable, the males assuming the pink plumage. Dwight (1900) describes the male as follows: "Above, pale geranium-red (often carmine or brick-red), hoary on the pileum and nape, the feathers of the back with dusky shaft lines and broad greenish buff edgings. Below, a hoary geranium-pink blending into white on abdomen and crissum, the flanks buffy with a few dusky streaks. Wings and tail clove-brown the edgings tinged with pale brick-red." The adult nuptial plumage is acquired by wear, the hoary effect disappearing and the reds and pinks becoming clearer and brighter. --- end quoted material --- For information on female Purple Finches singing, see: Wootton, J. T. 1996. Purple Finch. In The Birds of North America, No. 208 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [not available online without subscription, which I do not have] Video of Purple Finch singing (female or first-year male): http://www.gather.com/viewVideo.jsp?id=11821949021865059 This bird behaves in a begging manner suggesting it is a female, not a male proclaiming his territory. I can't hear it well on the computer I am using now, but it does not sound like the typical male song. Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jonysky101 at aol.com Tue Mar 31 22:25:40 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 01 Apr 2009 01:25:40 -0400 Subject: [obol] best place for Cedar Waxwing Message-ID: <8CB80A16E38EFC4-1DC-25E2@FWM-D33.sysops.aol.com> I have seen some great photos of the Waxwings, and I am wondering where is the best place around Portland to find them? Any help appreciated. Johnny Sandy, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090401/f94c6120/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Tue Mar 31 23:57:24 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 02:57:24 -0400 Subject: [obol] More Mountain Quail near Manning (Washington Co) Message-ID: Sam Walker and I flushed a pair of Mountain Quail late this afternoon at one of Lars Norgren's old quail spots. In Manning, turn south off 26 onto Hayward Rd. Go uphill for about 1mi, past Way Rd until you see a gated road branch off to your left. Park there and walk uphill along the road for about another 1mi until you reach a clearcut. At the beginning of the clearcut, another trail branches off to right - stay on the road, until you reach a fork about 120yds further. This is the top of the hill and the clearcut is to your right/south. We took a right at the fork and at about 250yds in, the birds flushed from our left hand side. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090401/63ad273c/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Wed Apr 1 04:53:48 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 04:53:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Directions to Mountain Quail Message-ID: <000201c9b2c0$87be9950$b2c963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: Folks have asked recently about where to find Mountain Quail. There is a forest road near where Pam Johnston lives, NW of McMinnville, called High Heaven Rd. (DeLorme, p59, B6) An early Yamhill county pioneer, Samuel Tink, lived back in a valley near there. The road to his homesite is private, and not on commercially available maps like DeLorme. However, one can access the S. Tink to High Heaven cutoff trail. Mountain Quail are plentiful there. You can pick up a hand-drawn map today, April 1, at the Forest Service office in Carlton. Good luck with your search. Paul Sullivan Publisher, Birding Oregon Online Newsletter (BOON) Published annually. From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Apr 1 07:40:01 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 06:40:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mountain Quail Message-ID: <9cf7eb1e785634012280617d241ab6a0@earthlink.net> New subscribers to Obol, be advised that Paul Sullivan is a faithful poster to this list serve on April 1. There is no US Forest Service office in Carlton, and as the Oregon Dept. of Forestry maintains an office in Forest Grove I suspect they do not have one in Carlton. On the other hand I did see Stefan Schlick embarking on a Mountain Quail sortie just before 1700 hrs yesterday at the described location in his posting. He is evidently in great physical shape as he doesn't mention the steep hike involved. One must gain 400 feet in no more than 1/2 a mile to achieve the summit in question. This is the main reason I haven't checked the spot since last summer. It's good to know the heavy snowfall didn't displace the quail. THis is a very big clearcut which can sustain multiple pairs of quail. Given its southern exposure it will regenerate slowly and should provide quality quail habitat for six to eight more years. Grass seed and ground based insects are usually abundant in clearcuts for the first three years after timber harvest. Once the planted seedlings begin to create a closed canopy Mountain Quail will move to a newer clearcut if one is available. In the coming month to six weeks Mountain Quail will be fairly easy to detect. The male's crowing is audible from a very great distance. They tend to frequent roads in wet weather. Even without rain this is the case in the early morning as heavy dewfall makes the brush unattractive. Once incubation begins Mountain Quail seem to dissappear. Late May and the month of June is not a good time to try to see them. I have encountered downy young the first week of July repeatedly in this neighborhood. Western Bluebirds nested in the clearcut described by Stefan last summer and two years ago I encountered a family of Nighthawks at the very spot he flushed the quail. THe walk up the north side of the hill is always boring and birdless, but the rewards at the top are fairly consistent. Lars Norgren From m.denny at charter.net Wed Apr 1 07:08:55 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 07:08:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Interesting note on bird behavior Message-ID: Hello All, The other day I came across an interesting paper co-authored by Dr.Peder Skeirs and Dr.Ludina Munchveldt of the Schmoyan School of Animal Behavior, Kiev. In this paper Doctors Skeirs and Munchveldt documented an interesting avian behavior that I have often suspected in some of my field observations over the years.They discovered that colonial bird species in a feeding frenzy typically will form what the authors call an "involuntary swirl" with all the committed feeding birds circling in one direction. What they have discovered through countless hours of field observations was that in the northern hemisphere these feeding birds, typically gulls all spun or swirled to the left or clockwise. In the southern hemisphere along the southern coast of Africa that all feeding masses of gulls spun to the right or counter clockwise. The notion that gulls in either hemisphere were influenced in the directions they flew to group feed by their geographic location was a whole new concept. So returning to the Black Sea these researchers then discovered that 99.95% of all native gulls do circle to the left or clockwise. In one flock of approximately 3000 gulls of all fledged age classes in November they discovered that two gulls flying counter clockwise were in fact rare southern hemisphere species that they would have had a difficult time picking out if these gulls had not joined the feeding flock of resident gulls and flown their "native" direction. I just found this very interesting and a great point to watch which direction those gulls are flying in the circling mass as you chum. Later Mike .................................................................................. Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Wed Apr 1 08:38:10 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 08:38:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Interesting note on bird behavior Message-ID: <001101c9b2df$f689ffe0$97c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Mike, I've noticed that behavior myself. I'm glad to see it confirmed by such distinguished researchers from such a prestigious school. Is the article available on-line? I'm sure OBOLers would like to read it in its entirety. Paul ----------------------------- Subject: Interesting note on bird behavior From: "Mike and MerryLynn" Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 07:08:55 -0700 Hello All, The other day I came across an interesting paper co-authored by Dr.Peder Skeirs and Dr.Ludina Munchveldt of the Schmoyan School of Animal Behavior, Kiev. In this paper Doctors Skeirs and Munchveldt documented an interesting avian behavior that I have often suspected in some of my field observations over the years.They discovered that colonial bird species in a feeding frenzy typically will form what the authors call an "involuntary swirl" with all the committed feeding birds circling in one direction. What they have discovered through countless hours of field observations was that in the northern hemisphere these feeding birds, typically gulls all spun or swirled to the left or clockwise. In the southern hemisphere along the southern coast of Africa that all feeding masses of gulls spun to the right or counter clockwise. The notion that gulls in either hemisphere were influenced in the directions they flew to group feed by their geographic location was a whole new concept. So returning to the Black Sea these researchers then discovered that 99.95% of all native gulls do circle to the left or clockwise. In one flock of approximately 3000 gulls of all fledged age classes in November they discovered that two gulls flying counter clockwise were in fact rare southern hemisphere species that they would have had a difficult time picking out if these gulls had not joined the feeding flock of resident gulls and flown their "native" direction. I just found this very interesting and a great point to watch which direction those gulls are flying in the circling mass as you chum. Later Mike From pamelaj at spiritone.com Wed Apr 1 08:53:07 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 08:53:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] best place for Cedar Waxwing References: <8CB80A16E38EFC4-1DC-25E2@FWM-D33.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <75973F0C7D0B428DA724A8B55F4E8994@yourw5st28y9a3> The best place to see them now, particularly without making a trip to a refuge, is in groups of ornamental flowering trees with old fruit on them, like crabapples. (Parking lot landscaping) As they become more numerous you'll see them in a wider variety of trees. They also like places near water, and favor ash trees there. Listen for a high-pitched slightly trilled sound and watch for flocks of slim birds with a pale band across the tail tip. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: jonysky101 at aol.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 10:25 PM Subject: [obol] best place for Cedar Waxwing I have seen some great photos of the Waxwings, and I am wondering where is the best place around Portland to find them? Any help appreciated. Johnny Sandy, Oregon ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ New Low Prices on Dell Laptops - Starting at $399 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From pamelaj at spiritone.com Wed Apr 1 08:56:30 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 08:56:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mtn Quail in High Heaven Message-ID: <5E21322051BA49E18C65ACDA4CEAF614@yourw5st28y9a3> As April begins, Mtn Quail begin to call. Seeking them in my neighborhood can lead one to High Heaven Rd, where the low-hanging clouds wrap one in a mist, and pretty soon you're either in Shangri La or Brigadoon, depending on your predispostions. Taking a wait and see approach on Willis Rd., Pamela Johnston From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Apr 1 08:59:50 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 08:59:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 4/1/2039 Message-ID: <966795.33833.qm@web45316.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Another hot, sunny morning in Coos Bay.? The smoke is still pretty thick in town due to all the forest fires ranging in the Coast Range started this past weekend when all the dry lightning came through.? I went out to the north spit of Coos Bay early and found a few MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRDS cruising the coast while a a flock of BLACK SKIMMERS was working the beach area out past the breakers.? I drove down the foredune highway to the Vista del Mar condos out on the end of the spit and found a YELLOW-FOOTED GULL in with the usuals there including the overwintering LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL.? Out between the jetties there were quite a few ELEGANT TERNS which have begun nesting and about 20 BROWN BOOBIES resting on the north jetty. Scoping from the jetty I saw a couple CRAVERI'S MURRELETS and one RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD heading south and as well as several early storm-petrels, possibly BLACKS? I then drove over to Empire where the REDDISH EGRET was still present along with a few LITTLE BLUE HERONS. I haven't seen the ROSEATE SPOONBILL in about a week, maybe it's back down in Arcata where this species is a bit more regular? While I was scoping the egret I saw a CALIFORNIA CONDOR circling above- this species has become common place in the past couple of years here on the south coast.? I saw lots of WHITE-WINGED DOVES on the powerlines along the Empire Hwy, looks like they are back in good numbers now also. Oh, and early this morning, I heard my first LESSER NIGHTHAWK of the season- spring is here! I also heard a few singing migrants including: CASSIN'S KINGBIRD, LAWRENCE GOLDFINCH (surprisingly hard to find this winter), LARK and RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS, and a SUMMER TANAGER- maybe they'll breed here again this year? Nothing exciting to report, but it's always good to get out. Happy birding all! Tim R on the broiling south coast From nelsoncheek at charter.net Wed Apr 1 11:21:10 2009 From: nelsoncheek at charter.net (WALTER NELSON) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 11:21:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mystery singer (South Beach) - American Redstart? Message-ID: OBOL, Help needed! For the past week I have been hearing an unfamiliar song coming from the woods behind our neighbor's house. I have run through all the likely possibilities for the time of year and came up blank. Today the singer moved into view and I had a look, sort of - I wasn't wearing my specs and had no helpful optics in hand, but it seems to be a male American Redstart. This species *should* be unmistakable but I am hesitant to call it given the combination of oddity and my uncorrected vision. What I saw: the bird was about the size of a YR Warbler and fairly active except it sat still to sing. It was moving around in dense twinberry/wax myrtle shrubbery (<6' high) and flew into plain view in a pine to sing 3 times before dropping back into the shrubbery. It had a fairly long tail and thin bill, black head, back and wings; belly appeared white. I could make out a rusty reddish patch at the shoulder and a paler (but not red) bar in the wing. Could not see any red in the tail, and the bird didn't fan the tail while I saw it. The song that I have been hearing (and that the bird sang while I observed it) does not exactly match any of the audio files I have turned up in a quick search, but the vocal quality is similar to some and Sibley mentions the species has many song variations. The song is a clear "seeta-seeta" or sometimes "seeta-seeta-seeta" with vocal quality reminiscent (to me) of Carolina Wren but not nearly so loud. I can eliminate Spotted Towhee (much too small, very different song) but that is the closest in general body proportion and coloration that I can come up with. Any other possibilities I should consider? Anyone want to come stalk the bird for a definitive look? ______________________ Rebecca Cheek South Beach, OR 97366 541-867-4699 nelsoncheek AT charter.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090401/077db985/attachment.html From nelsoncheek at charter.net Wed Apr 1 11:29:42 2009 From: nelsoncheek at charter.net (WALTER NELSON) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 11:29:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mystery singer (South Beach) - American Redstart? Message-ID: Given the tenor of today's postings, I should say that my report of a possible American Redstart is *not* an April Fool's joke. Any helpful comments appreciated. ______________________ Rebecca Cheek 14399 S. Coast Hwy South Beach, OR 97366 541-867-4699 nelsoncheek AT charter.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090401/1de23edf/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed Apr 1 12:03:10 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:03:10 -0400 Subject: [obol] Bird Battle at the feeder Message-ID: <8CB8113A230A2B4-9C4-D78@MBLK-M09.sysops.aol.com> I was treated to a fight between a Starling and a Northern Flicker at the suet feeder. There was serious pecking going on, until the Starling had enought and flew off. The shots are hand held thru a rainy window, and the quality is poor. But the subject is interesting. Now the Northern Flicker and his Mrs. are enjoying the victory. If you want to see all of them go to the bottom link. The program got them out of order during the upload, and I can't change them around now. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Oregon http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0748/ca433929b45141858f4699a79a2de7c6.jpg http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0748/97ab580fba7344ce8ae0b9c292e5d6aa.jpg http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0748/c3811c0b8e8343f3af20f1602571c5dd.jpg http://share.ovi.com/album/JonySky.BirdBattle -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090401/fb5d1764/attachment.html From kimdelo at yahoo.com Wed Apr 1 12:08:04 2009 From: kimdelo at yahoo.com (Kimdel Owen) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 12:08:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] New species discovered - Painted Warbler Message-ID: <958030.60291.qm@web50202.mail.re2.yahoo.com> I found and photographed a new species of warbler at Tetherow Crossing. I am calling it Painted Warbler. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimdelo/3404395065/ "Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high? On the rock he dwells and makes his home in the fastness of the rocky crag. There he spies out the prey; his eyes behold it afar off." Kimdel Owen Redmond, OR From ellencantor at gmail.com Wed Apr 1 12:56:14 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 12:56:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene's Mt Pisgah Kinglet numbersE Message-ID: <7058c4c60904011256o4de22d43j4fb24268309e0e22@mail.gmail.com> Yesterday afternoon I hiked the north end of Mt Pisgah. I saw unusually large numbers of RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS coming through in flocks and busily feeding. The other highlight was a HERMIT THRUSH and NO FOX SPARROWS, though I usually see large numbers of them during the winter in this area. A BEWICK'S WREN was acting more like a Brown Creeper-making its way up an oak between the trunk and a vine, investigating crevices--looking for a nesting site or just feeding?????? Ellen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090401/5444fd71/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Wed Apr 1 13:16:19 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 13:16:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] starlings at feeders Message-ID: <94DE6BE6C27C4DAD8EB96F416EBB96C3@TomsPC> I notice that STARLINGS are aggressive at the suet feeder as they fight among themselves. I wish they would go away. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090401/0a9a459f/attachment.html From carpediem at ccwebster.net Wed Apr 1 13:28:20 2009 From: carpediem at ccwebster.net (Abby Jaworski) Date: Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:28:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Evening Grosbeaks In-Reply-To: <7058c4c60904011256o4de22d43j4fb24268309e0e22@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Have had a flock of 8 Evening Grosbeaks (7 male, 1 female) visiting our feeders regularly today. Such beautiful birds! First time I?ve seen them this year. Abby Oregon City, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090401/1521f777/attachment.html From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Wed Apr 1 13:25:18 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (tmacport99 at hotmail.com) Date: Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:25:18 GMT Subject: [obol] Mt. Tabor (Mult) this a.m. Message-ID: <200904012025.n31KPIwe030866@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Tom McNamara by http://birdnotes.net Date: April 1, 2009 Location: Mt. Tabor Park, Multnomah County, Oregon Low temperature: 45 degrees fahrenheit High temperature: 45 degrees fahrenheit Wind direction: W Prevailing wind speed: 1-5 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 100% Precipitation: rain No foolin, 9 rained-upon types decided to roam through the park to see what was about. Considering conditions and time of year it wasn't too bad. Best bird was the westside Merlin (Pacific)perched on a cedar affording a good view to our by then attenuated group of 4. Continuing that trend of attrition, the "group" of Roger T. and I managed to eke out the lone warbler (Townsends)of the day. Rain or no rain, birding=fun Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Mallard Red-tailed Hawk Merlin Band-tailed Pigeon Anna's Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Northern Flicker Hutton's Vireo [1] Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush American Robin Varied Thrush Townsend's Warbler Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco House Finch Pine Siskin Lesser Goldfinch Footnotes: [1] a pair on territory Total number of species seen: 30 From kimdelo at yahoo.com Wed Apr 1 14:28:05 2009 From: kimdelo at yahoo.com (Kimdel Owen) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 14:28:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] [COBOL] New species discovered - Painted Warbler In-Reply-To: <72CC929212654870ADF0917BA42198BC@MOM> Message-ID: <60217.64787.qm@web50203.mail.re2.yahoo.com> So what species was the bird that I painted? > > > > > > I found and photographed a new species of warbler at > Tetherow Crossing. I > > am calling it Painted Warbler. > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimdelo/3404395065/ > > > > "Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up > and makes > > his nest on high? On the rock he dwells and makes his > home > > in the fastness of the rocky crag. There he spies out > the > > prey; his eyes behold it afar off." > > Kimdel Owen > > Redmond, OR > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > COBOL mailing list > > COBOL at lists.oregonstate.edu > > http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol > > > > To unsubscribe, send a message to: > > COBOL-request at lists.oregonstate.edu > > with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. > > From jplissner at yahoo.com Wed Apr 1 14:43:37 2009 From: jplissner at yahoo.com (Jonathan Plissner) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 14:43:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] More Evening Grosbeaks Message-ID: <881251.35176.qm@web45409.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> This morning, I saw my first flock of the year (9 birds) here in Forest Grove as well.? Must be April! Jon Plissner -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090401/a5e36424/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Apr 1 14:52:23 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 14:52:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cent Or ECBC Wednesday birders at Wickiup Message-ID: <3891A0F3D8D2480197036DED32858059@MOM> Cobol Five of us spent the morning at Wickiup. The first excitement of the day came however before we left Bend. The statue of the logger on Reed Market road roundabout near Farewell Bend park was dressed for the day as an April Fool. He was wearing a bright blue skimpy bikini, sporting a goofy child's sun hat and packing a hobby horse. He had the perfect grin to go with such an outfit. We had 20 Elk run across the road in front of the car while at Wickiup. Beautiful animals. Birds of the day were COMMON LOONs in a raft,one calling, the EARED GREBES starting into breeding plumage, and unusual here, GREATER SCAUP. Birders today Howard Horvath, Mary Oppenheimer, Darwin Wile, Kim Kathol and Judy Meredith. This report was mailed for Judy Meredith by http://birdnotes.net We visited Wickiup at Wickiup Butte Boat ramp, secondary dam, main dam and Gull point. Remainder not accessible due to snow on the road or ice on the water. List includes birds seen driving to/ from Bend-Wickiup. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): > Canada Goose 16 > Wood Duck 2 > Mallard 60 > Northern Shoveler 5 > Green-Winged Teal 1 > Ring-necked Duck 45 > Greater Scaup 30 > Lesser Scaup 100 > Unknown Scaup 100 > Bufflehead 50 > Common Goldeneye 40 > Barrow's Goldeneye 2 > Hooded Merganser 2 > Common Merganser 30 > Common Loon 15 > Eared Grebe 5 - partial breeding plumage. > Double-crested Cormorant 3 > Turkey Vulture 5 > Osprey 2 - Bend > Bald Eagle 9 > Red-tailed Hawk 3 > American Kestrel 2 > American Coot 75 > Ring-billed Gull 25 > Rock Dove 1 > Mourning Dove 5 > Northern Flicker 3 > Say's Phoebe 2 > Steller's Jay 1 > Western Scrub-Jay 1 - Bend > American Crow 4 - Bend > Common Raven 7 > Tree Swallow 40 - at the main dam > Northern Rough-winged Swallow 12 - feeding close to > the water south of Wickiup Butte Boat Ramp > Mountain Chickadee 3 > Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 > Golden-crowned Kinglet 3 > Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6 > American Robin 15 > Varied Thrush 3 > European Starling 10 > Song Sparrow 3 > Dark-eyed Junco 2 > Red-winged Blackbird 10 > House Finch 2 > Red Crossbill 20 > House Sparrow 1 - Bend > > Total number of species seen: 46 > Good birding, Judy jmeredit at bendnet.com From tamickel at rio.com Wed Apr 1 15:11:48 2009 From: tamickel at rio.com (Tom & Allison Mickel) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 15:11:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wednesday morning birding Message-ID: <005a01c9b316$da5a6760$8f0f3620$@com> OBOL, This morning we headed to Fern Ridge Reservoir (Perkins Peninsula, Fisher Butte, and Royal Ave) in search of early migrants, of which we found very few. We did watch a Peregrine Falcon take a Green-winged Teal only to be chased away from its kill by two female Northern Harriers. It did chase the harriers out of the area and flew a short distance with the teal only to be chased away by a Red-tailed Hawk. The Red-tailed Hawk flew from the teal when a group of Canada Geese moved into the area and when we left the geese were still "guarding" the teal while the falcon sat in a tree top nearby. Cackling Goose - 120 Canada Goose - 30 Wood Duck - 5 Gadwall - 6 American Wigeon - 2 Mallard - 20 Northern Shoveler - 40 Northern Pintail - 10 Green-winged Teal - 60 - one male "common" Ring-necked Duck - 20 Lesser Scaup - 4 Bufflehead - 25 Pied-billed Grebe - 10 Double-crested Cormorant - 6 Great Blue Heron - 2 Great Egret - 2 Osprey - 5 Bald Eagle - 1 Northern Harrier - 6 Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 Red-tailed hawk - 3 Peregrine Falcon - 1 Virginia Rail - 4 Killdeer - 1 Greater Yellowlegs - 3 Dunlin - 250 Wilson's Snipe - 3 California Gull - 1 Mourning Dove - 4 Rufous Hummingbird - 2 Downy Woodpecker - 1 Hairy Woodpecker - 1 Northern Flicker - 8 Western Scrub-Jay - 8 American Crow - 15 Common Raven - 5 Tree Swallow - 60+ Violet-green Swallow - 100+ Barn Swallow - 1 Black-capped Chickadee - 12 Bushtit - 2 Red-breasted nuthatch - 1 Bewick's Wren - 1 Marsh Wren - 15 Golden-crowned Kinglet - 6 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 4 American Robin - 10 Varied Thrush - 1 American Pipit - 5 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 5 Townsend's Warbler - 3 Spotted Towhee - 4 Savannah Sparrow - 8 Song Sparrow - 10 White-crowned Sparrow - 4 Golden-crowned Sparrow - 10 Dark-eyed Junco - 25 Red-winged Blackbird - 30 Western Meadowlark - 5 Participants - Dennis Arendt, Fred Chancey, Kit Larsen, Sylvia Maulding, Barry McKenzie, Craig Merkel, Tom Mickel, Paul Sherrell, Don Shrouder, Sarah Vasconcellos. From pukeko at mcsi.net Wed Apr 1 15:07:50 2009 From: pukeko at mcsi.net (Ron Maertz) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 15:07:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] teapot of TVs Message-ID: <5E67394C2B5749D19331AAB41A972A49@RonPC> Had a group of 30 TVs over Glide today Maertz Glide -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090401/874fe916/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Wed Apr 1 17:11:31 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 17:11:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 4/1/2039 References: <966795.33833.qm@web45316.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <8C7F385ABAC741ADA7E8E859CEEECFC8@your5rlp3a9516> Tim, I think this is a fine example of what is called Overkill. Are you quite certain you didn't see any Ivory-billed Woodpeckers? Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 8:59 AM Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 4/1/2039 Another hot, sunny morning in Coos Bay. The smoke is still pretty thick in town due to all the forest fires ranging in the Coast Range started this past weekend when all the dry lightning came through. I went out to the north spit of Coos Bay early and found a few MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRDS cruising the coast while a a flock of BLACK SKIMMERS was working the beach area out past the breakers. I drove down the foredune highway to the Vista del Mar condos out on the end of the spit and found a YELLOW-FOOTED GULL in with the usuals there including the overwintering LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. Out between the jetties there were quite a few ELEGANT TERNS which have begun nesting and about 20 BROWN BOOBIES resting on the north jetty. Scoping from the jetty I saw a couple CRAVERI'S MURRELETS and one RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD heading south and as well as several early storm-petrels, possibly BLACKS? I then drove over to Empire where the REDDISH EGRET was still present along with a few LITTLE BLUE HERONS. I haven't seen the ROSEATE SPOONBILL in about a week, maybe it's back down in Arcata where this species is a bit more regular? While I was scoping the egret I saw a CALIFORNIA CONDOR circling above- this species has become common place in the past couple of years here on the south coast. I saw lots of WHITE-WINGED DOVES on the powerlines along the Empire Hwy, looks like they are back in good numbers now also. Oh, and early this morning, I heard my first LESSER NIGHTHAWK of the season- spring is here! I also heard a few singing migrants including: CASSIN'S KINGBIRD, LAWRENCE GOLDFINCH (surprisingly hard to find this winter), LARK and RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS, and a SUMMER TANAGER- maybe they'll breed here again this year? Nothing exciting to report, but it's always good to get out. Happy birding all! Tim R on the broiling south coast _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From vernd at oregonfast.net Wed Apr 1 17:32:15 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 17:32:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 4/1/2039 In-Reply-To: <8C7F385ABAC741ADA7E8E859CEEECFC8@your5rlp3a9516> References: <966795.33833.qm@web45316.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <8C7F385ABAC741ADA7E8E859CEEECFC8@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: <1CCD9811-4FA2-4005-B970-CFE900303D45@oregonfast.net> I actually had the Ivory Billed out here near Ada Grange. Funny time of the year!! Vern On Apr 1, 2009, at 5:11 PM, Darrel Faxon wrote: > Tim, > I think this is a fine example of what is called Overkill. Are > you > quite certain you didn't see any Ivory-billed Woodpeckers? > > Darrel > ----- Original Message ----- > From: > To: > Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 8:59 AM > Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 4/1/2039 > > > > Another hot, sunny morning in Coos Bay. The smoke is still pretty > thick in > town due to all the forest fires ranging in the Coast Range started > this > past weekend when all the dry lightning came through. I went out to > the > north spit of Coos Bay early and found a few MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRDS > cruising the coast while a a flock of BLACK SKIMMERS was working > the beach > area out past the breakers. I drove down the foredune highway to > the Vista > del Mar condos out on the end of the spit and found a YELLOW-FOOTED > GULL in > with the usuals there including the overwintering LESSER BLACK- > BACKED GULL. > Out between the jetties there were quite a few ELEGANT TERNS which > have > begun nesting and about 20 BROWN BOOBIES resting on the north > jetty. Scoping > from the jetty I saw a couple CRAVERI'S MURRELETS and one RED-BILLED > TROPICBIRD heading south and as well as several early storm-petrels, > possibly BLACKS? I then drove over to Empire where the REDDISH > EGRET was > still > present along with a few LITTLE BLUE HERONS. I haven't seen the > ROSEATE > SPOONBILL in about a week, maybe it's back down in Arcata where > this species > is a bit more regular? While I was scoping the egret I saw a > CALIFORNIA > CONDOR circling above- this species has become common place in the > past > couple of years here on the south coast. I saw lots of WHITE-WINGED > DOVES on > the powerlines along the Empire Hwy, looks like they are back in good > numbers now also. > > Oh, and early this morning, I heard my first LESSER NIGHTHAWK of > the season- > spring is here! I also heard a few singing migrants including: > CASSIN'S > KINGBIRD, LAWRENCE GOLDFINCH (surprisingly hard to find this > winter), LARK > and RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS, and a SUMMER TANAGER- maybe they'll > breed here > again this year? > > Nothing exciting to report, but it's always good to get out. > > Happy birding all! > Tim R > on the broiling south coast > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090401/7da9ddc3/attachment.html From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Wed Apr 1 18:09:04 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (Barbara Millikan) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 18:09:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 4/1/2039 In-Reply-To: <1CCD9811-4FA2-4005-B970-CFE900303D45@oregonfast.net> References: <966795.33833.qm@web45316.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <8C7F385ABAC741ADA7E8E859CEEECFC8@your5rlp3a9516> <1CCD9811-4FA2-4005-B970-CFE900303D45@oregonfast.net> Message-ID: <855070e90904011809y113f4930pb5a0eb3ff61492a9@mail.gmail.com> Are you guys sure you didn't see a dodo, too? Or maybe some passenger pigeons? We had some of both around this morning while we were fertilizing the garden. B 2009/4/1 Vern DiPietro > I actually had the Ivory Billed out here near Ada Grange.Funny time of the > year!! > Vern > > On Apr 1, 2009, at 5:11 PM, Darrel Faxon wrote: > > Tim, > I think this is a fine example of what is called Overkill. Are you > quite certain you didn't see any Ivory-billed Woodpeckers? > > Darrel > ----- Original Message ----- > From: > To: > Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 8:59 AM > Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 4/1/2039 > > > > Another hot, sunny morning in Coos Bay. The smoke is still pretty thick in > > town due to all the forest fires ranging in the Coast Range started this > past weekend when all the dry lightning came through. I went out to the > north spit of Coos Bay early and found a few MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRDS > cruising the coast while a a flock of BLACK SKIMMERS was working the beach > > area out past the breakers. I drove down the foredune highway to the Vista > > del Mar condos out on the end of the spit and found a YELLOW-FOOTED GULL in > > with the usuals there including the overwintering LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. > > Out between the jetties there were quite a few ELEGANT TERNS which have > begun nesting and about 20 BROWN BOOBIES resting on the north jetty. > Scoping > from the jetty I saw a couple CRAVERI'S MURRELETS and one RED-BILLED > TROPICBIRD heading south and as well as several early storm-petrels, > possibly BLACKS? I then drove over to Empire where the REDDISH EGRET was > still > present along with a few LITTLE BLUE HERONS. I haven't seen the ROSEATE > SPOONBILL in about a week, maybe it's back down in Arcata where this > species > is a bit more regular? While I was scoping the egret I saw a CALIFORNIA > CONDOR circling above- this species has become common place in the past > couple of years here on the south coast. I saw lots of WHITE-WINGED DOVES > on > the powerlines along the Empire Hwy, looks like they are back in good > numbers now also. > > Oh, and early this morning, I heard my first LESSER NIGHTHAWK of the > season- > spring is here! I also heard a few singing migrants including: CASSIN'S > KINGBIRD, LAWRENCE GOLDFINCH (surprisingly hard to find this winter), LARK > > and RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS, and a SUMMER TANAGER- maybe they'll breed here > > again this year? > > Nothing exciting to report, but it's always good to get out. > > Happy birding all! > Tim R > on the broiling south coast > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > Vern DiPietro > Ada Oregon. > www.vernondipietrophotographer.com > > "Be who you are and say what you feel, > because those that mind, don't matter, > and those who matter, don't mind." > -- Dr Seuss > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090401/841e32e0/attachment.html From pygowl at gmail.com Wed Apr 1 21:44:37 2009 From: pygowl at gmail.com (Michael Marsh) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 21:44:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mtn Quail Map(s) Message-ID: <90d831b70904012144j3aa477c7qf79b652319aae2cf@mail.gmail.com> Paul: Do you have a lot of copies of the map--Khanh asked me to pick up a copy for him when I get mine. He also continues to insist that the Canadian Hawk Owl (found at the corner of Jasper and Calgary streets in Bend back in 2005) was a free flying and therefore countable bird. What a sore loser! He also went on to say of Sid Finch, "Let him eat feathers." Best, Mike -- Mike Marsh Tacoma, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090401/c1ed25bc/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Thu Apr 2 06:57:28 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 13:57:28 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] starlings at feeders In-Reply-To: <94DE6BE6C27C4DAD8EB96F416EBB96C3@TomsPC> Message-ID: <2018306196.2391271238680648921.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi Tom, I've been having similar issues out here in NE Portland. I got a really nice "caged" suet feeder from the Backyard Birdshop out in WoodVillage. The Flickers can reach through with their long beaks. The little birds slip through the mesh; little birds include Song Sparrows, Downy Woodpeckers, Red-breasted Nuthatches and anything smaller. Using this feeder has been quite effective. It takes a little time for the small birds to get comfortable passing through the mesh. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Escue" To: "obol at oregojnbirdwatch.org" Sent: Wednesday, April 1, 2009 1:16:19 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [obol] starlings at feeders I notice that STARLINGS are aggressive at the suet feeder as they fight among themselves. I wish they would go away. Tom Escue Springfield _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090402/1bef09cc/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Apr 1 23:32:49 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:32:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 4-2-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * April 2, 2009 * ORPO0904.02 - birds mentioned TUFTED DUCK Barrow?s Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser American White Pelican California Gull SLATY-BACKED GULL Caspian Tern White-throated Swift N. Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Ruby-crowned Kinglet Mountain Bluebird Bohemian Waxwing American Redstart Common Yellowthroat Tricolored Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird Pine Grosbeak White-winged Crossbill Evening Grosbeak * transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday April 2. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. A possible AMERICAN REDSTART is now being seen at South Beach, south of Newport. The Portland SLATY-BACKED GULL and TUFTED DUCK are still being seen. EVENING GROSBEAKS are now moving into the Willamette Valley. Migrant flocks of RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS are also being reported. All swallow species except Purple Martins have now arrived. On March 31 a BANK SWALLOW was along wireless Road near Astoria. On March 29 two CASPIAN TERNS were at the mouth of the Necanicum River at Seaside. Among the large scaup flocks on the Columbia River near the Portland Airport a pair of BARROW?S GOLDENEYES were seen March 30 and on March 29 a bright male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was seen there. A pair of MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS were seen March 26 at Powell Butte Park near Gresham. A ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW was seen March 28 at the Tualatin NWR. On March 30 a YELLOWTHROAT, two WHITE PELICANS, and a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD were at Fern Ridge Reservoir. A flock of TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS returned to their Fords Pond colony in Sutherlin by March 26. On March 24 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS were seen at Smith Rocks State Park. CALIFORNIA GULLS returned to Malheur NWR March 27; YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS were there March 30. PINE GROSBEAKS, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, and BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS are still being seen in the Wallowa Valley. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090401/f8f4638d/attachment.html From watice at msn.com Thu Apr 2 08:56:32 2009 From: watice at msn.com (BILL ROSIE TICE) Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 08:56:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Need the digest Message-ID: Dear OBOLites, I am planning on signing on to receiving the digest form of OBOL, and unsubscribing to the old form where I receive way to many emails. I know how to unsubscribe, but cannot figure out how to sign on to receive the digest. Can someone help me out? Bill Tice -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090402/a65c7d39/attachment.html From nelsoncheek at charter.net Thu Apr 2 09:26:49 2009 From: nelsoncheek at charter.net (WALTER NELSON) Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 09:26:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] South Beach - Not a Redstart Message-ID: So, the only April Fool yesterday was me. I learned (a) my eyes are even worse than I thought, (b) estimates of bird size are still tricky, and (c) Spotted Towhees sing all sorts of different songs. Chuck Philo came over this morning to help stalk the mystery singer, who was calling loudly and continually from a thicket behind the neighbor's house. We finally got on it, and it was a male Spotted Towhee, singing as we watched. "Seeta-seeta!" Short pause. "Seeta-seeta!" Chuck says every spring he chases Towhees who are singing untypical songs. He couldn't remember ever hearing this particular variation. As we were walking away, the bird produced the usual "zhreeee" call. Laughing? Thanks to those who answered my request and made helpful suggestions. It's been a good learning experience! Rebecca Cheek South Beach, OR 97366 nelsoncheek AT charter.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090402/a41fb419/attachment.html From djbailen at comcast.net Thu Apr 2 10:10:58 2009 From: djbailen at comcast.net (djbailen at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 17:10:58 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Digest request In-Reply-To: <510500654.2657621238692090327.JavaMail.root@sz0038a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <2143947687.2659121238692258565.JavaMail.root@sz0038a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Dear sirs , I? ?am hoping to receive the digest form of OBOL ? and unsubscribe ? to the old form where I receive? to many emails.? ? The "mailman" address bounces back. Thanks for you help Debby Bailen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090402/e0bfc218/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Thu Apr 2 10:35:03 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Thu, 02 Apr 2009 10:35:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 04/01/09 Message-ID: <20090402173657.816AAA823E@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 03/26 to 04/01/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 5 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) COMMON MERGANSER 1 (1, 3/27) Red-tailed Hawk 1 (1, 3/27) GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL 1 (1, 3/30) Band-tailed Pigeon 4 (5, 3/27) Mourning Dove 4 (4, 3/29) Anna's Hummingbird 3 (1) Rufous Hummingbird 5 (2) Red-breasted Sapsucker 3 (2, 3/30) Downy Woodpecker 2 (2, 3/29) HAIRY WOODPECKER 1 (1, 3/30) Northern Flicker 4 (4, 3/29) Pileated Woodpecker 2 (1, 3/27 & 30) Steller's Jay 5 (7, 3/30) Western Scrub-Jay 4 (1) American Crow 4 (12, 3/27) Violet-green Swallow 1 (2, 3/27) Black-capped Chickadee 5 (8) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 3 (5, 3/27) BUSHTIT 2 (5, 3/27) Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 (7) Brown Creeper 2 (2, 3/27) Bewick's Wren 2 (1, 3/29 & 31) Winter Wren 4 (2) GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET 3 (5, 3/29) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 (1, 3/30) HERMIT THRUSH 1 (1, 3/30) American Robin 5 (40, 3/30) Varied Thrush 5 (15, 3/27 & 30) European Starling 5 (8) Spotted Towhee 5 (7) Fox Sparrow 3 (1) Song Sparrow 5 (12) Dark-eyed Junco 5 (30) Purple Finch 1 (1, 3/30) House Finch 5 (10) Pine Siskin 5 (25, 3/27) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: Cooper's Hawk, Western Screech-Owl Wink Gross Portland From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Thu Apr 2 11:14:31 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 14:14:31 -0400 Subject: [obol] partly off topic: poor guy Message-ID: When driving south on Interstate 205 near the Mall 205 exit in Portland, I spotted a rather forlorn-looking coyote right on the edge of the pavement, looking at all the cars whizzing by. It gave the impression that it wanted to cross. I hope the poor guy changed its mind and waited until around 3 a.m. when things slow down a little. Yard: very busy with EVENING GROSBEAKS, SISKENS, JUNCOS, PURPLE FINCHES AND GOLDEN-CROWNS, and getting more BAND-TAILS every day. Had a single LESSER GOLDFINCH try to land at a feeder, but a sisken chased it off. Lessers are traditionally very uncommon here, but I've seen more in the last year than the previous 20 years put together. Low numbers of lots of other regulars in the yard. Lona Pierce, Warren in Columbia County _________________________________________________________________ Quick access to your favorite MSN content and Windows Live with Internet Explorer 8. http://ie8.msn.com/microsoft/internet-explorer-8/en-us/ie8.aspx?ocid=B037MSN55C0701A -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090402/be1c8cd5/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Apr 2 11:58:50 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 11:58:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 4-2-09 Message-ID: <768641.52457.qm@web45303.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> One correction, PURPLE MARTINS were back at Tenmile Lake near Lakeside in Coos Co. on 27 March. Also, GREATER YELLOWLEGS have been coming through since 28 March and Knute Andersson had a MARBLED GODWIT at Port Orford on 31 March. That's it fur now, Tim R Coos Bay --- On Wed, 4/1/09, Harry Nehls wrote: > From: Harry Nehls > Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 4-2-09 > To: "obol" > Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2009, 11:32 PM > > > RBA: Portland, OR 4-2-09 > > > - RBA > > * Oregon > > * Portland > > * April 2, 2009 > > * ORPO0904.02 > > > > - birds mentioned > > > > TUFTED DUCK > > Barrow?s Goldeneye > > Red-breasted Merganser > > American White Pelican > > California Gull > > SLATY-BACKED GULL > > Caspian Tern > > White-throated Swift > > N. Rough-winged Swallow > > Bank Swallow > > Ruby-crowned Kinglet > > Mountain Bluebird > > Bohemian Waxwing > > American Redstart > > Common Yellowthroat > > Tricolored Blackbird > > Yellow-headed Blackbird > > Pine Grosbeak > > White-winged Crossbill > > Evening Grosbeak > > > > * transcript > > > > hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) > > number: 503-292-6855 > > To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 > ? > > compiler: Harry Nehls > > coverage: entire state > > > > Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird > Report. This report was made Thursday April 2. If you have > anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. > > > > A possible AMERICAN REDSTART is now being seen at South > Beach, south of Newport. The Portland SLATY-BACKED GULL and > TUFTED DUCK are still being seen. > > > > EVENING GROSBEAKS are now moving into the Willamette > Valley. Migrant flocks of RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS are also > being reported. All swallow species except Purple Martins > have now arrived. > > > > On March 31 a BANK SWALLOW was along wireless Road near > Astoria. On March 29 two CASPIAN TERNS were at the mouth of > the Necanicum River at Seaside. > > > > Among the large scaup flocks on the Columbia River near the > Portland Airport a pair of BARROW?S GOLDENEYES were > seen March 30 and on March 29 a bright male RED-BREASTED > MERGANSER was seen there. A pair of MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS were > seen March 26 at Powell Butte Park near Gresham. A > ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW was seen March 28 at the Tualatin NWR. > On March 30 a YELLOWTHROAT, two WHITE PELICANS, and a > YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD were at Fern Ridge Reservoir. A > flock of TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS returned to their Fords Pond > colony in Sutherlin by March 26. > > > > On March 24 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS were seen at Smith Rocks > State Park. CALIFORNIA GULLS returned to Malheur NWR March > 27; YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS were there March 30. PINE > GROSBEAKS, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, and BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS > are still being seen in the Wallowa Valley. > > > > That?s it for this week. > > > > - end transcript > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From marknikas at comcast.net Thu Apr 2 12:27:36 2009 From: marknikas at comcast.net (Mark Nikas) Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 12:27:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Need the digest References: Message-ID: Bill, Debbie, and others who wish to just get the digest, Go to http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/options/obol and log in with your user name and password. Half way down the page is a gray section titled "Your obol Subscription Options". The second option is "Set Digest Mode" - select on. Scroll to the bottom of the page and hit "submit my changes". That's all there is to it. Mark Nikas From: BILL ROSIE TICE Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 8:56 AM To: OBOL OBOL Subject: [obol] Need the digest Dear OBOLites, I am planning on signing on to receiving the digest form of OBOL, and unsubscribing to the old form where I receive way to many emails. I know how to unsubscribe, but cannot figure out how to sign on to receive the digest. Can someone help me out? Bill Tice ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090402/5294bc3d/attachment.html From nettielh at yahoo.com Thu Apr 2 12:22:32 2009 From: nettielh at yahoo.com (nettielh at yahoo.com) Date: Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:22:32 GMT Subject: [obol] Geese on nests now - Koll - Beaverton Message-ID: <200904021922.n32JMWu2015937@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Annette Lange Hildebrand by http://birdnotes.net Date: March 31, 2009 Location: Koll Center Wetlands Park, Washington County, Oregon Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 90% Precipitation: drizzle Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose [1] Gadwall Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Green-Winged Teal Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Unknown Scaup Bufflehead Ruddy Duck [2] Pied-billed Grebe Great Blue Heron [3] Red-tailed Hawk Unidentified Dowitcher Unidentified gull Band-tailed Pigeon [4] Mourning Dove Downy Woodpecker [5] Northern Flicker Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Violet-green Swallow Black-capped Chickadee American Robin European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow Footnotes: [1] 6 geese now on nests, 1-"dead oak island", and 5-west and northern edges of larger water [2] Males turning the nice brick red with blue bills now [3] Nests galore in "loose tall Pine" above Creekside Five. Since pillared building above water has edged roof with strip of spikey "nails", herons are resting in trees, scrub between Creekside Six and Seven. (Red-tail Hawk still taking over nest off old rookery area, sturdy firs, near shelter of Creekside Six, forcing all the Herons to build in one tall, but rather wimpy pine tree on street side of Creekside Five. [4] 12 relocated to trees farther north of old "home tree" that fell down. West and South of old yellow, Fanno Creek House [5] In trees below Creekside Five Total number of species seen: 33 From gneavoll at comcast.net Thu Apr 2 12:53:22 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 19:53:22 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Portland Glaucous Gull still here Message-ID: <655713770.2462331238702002281.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> First winter GLAUCOUS GULL continues on Portland's Willamette riverfront. Bird by itself at water's edge below green space s. of Hawthorne Bridge between 7:30 and 8: 25 a.m. today (4/2/09). Group of 35-plus COMMON MERGANSERS meandering s. on river off RiverPlace Marina. No SLATY-BACKED GULL at Burnside Bridge end of Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park, or across river. George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090402/f374310b/attachment.html From jvanmoo at sisna.com Thu Apr 2 13:46:40 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 13:46:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Reedsport/Winchester Bay March 29-April 1, 2009 Message-ID: Hi Folks, My husband and I stayed at Tugman SP for a few days in a yurt--they sure are nice, especially in the rain! Managed to see a few birds while there. Nothing rare but added to my Douglas Co. list. HIGHLIGHTS BELOW. Tugman SP: VARIED THRUSH WINTER WREN Winchester Bay in Salmon Harbor (3-29 and 30-09) HOODED MERGANSER pair SURF SCOTER HORNED GREBE WESTERN GREBE COMMON LOON RED-BREASTED MERGANSER EARED GREBE RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (viewpoint between Tugman SP and Winchester Bay) CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE (Reedsport at Umpqua Discovery Center) Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area (Hwy 38) COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (male) WOOD DUCK pair RING-NECKED DUCK PIED-BILLED GREBE GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE GREEN-WINGED TEAL East of Scottsburg on Hwy 38 WILD TURKEY ~10 Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From lbviman at blackfoot.net Thu Apr 2 18:23:26 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:23:26 -0600 Subject: [obol] Purple finch song In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090403012031.4AE1A9B0081@mail.blackfoot.net> At 01:00 PM 4/1/2009, Kay Carter wrote: >The song in the link you posted, Greg, is very much NOT like the typical >male song . . . It's likely the song of Eastern race of the species, rather than the ones you might encounter along the west coast... I noticed in many years of listening to PUFI in southern CA that they have a "rolling warbler" - full-bodied, often slightly ascending. Nothing like the rambling warble of eastern race which I have on a Peterson CD! Hopefully, when posting songs online (or links to same) people will note where the songs were made - Peterson records and tapes, prior to the internet and the digital revolution, were good about noting location of songs in the PAPER documentation ;-) -- Jim Greaves From sandyleapt at comcast.net Thu Apr 2 18:26:25 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 01:26:25 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Hummingbird ID Help Needed Message-ID: <71633431.2663021238721985716.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi, I would appreciate some help Identifying a hummingbird. It is most likely an Anna's. I've been reviewing pictures I took last summer in my garden. I took some pictures of a hummingbird I assumed was a Female Anna's. I was playing with taking pictures with special lighting. Looking at the picture as I sort through things I noticed this bird has a white collar that wraps up and part way around its neck and it has a forked tail. I'm wondering If I had an accidental Black-chinned Hummingbird last July. Please let me know if I can send you a couple pictures. The lighting is mood lighting, but I played with them in Photoshop Elements . Thanks Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090403/d95df6e7/attachment.html From gismiller at gmail.com Thu Apr 2 20:36:42 2009 From: gismiller at gmail.com (Craig Miller) Date: Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:36:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Harney Co. Barrow's Goldeneye Message-ID: <49D5844A.9030103@gmail.com> Hi all, For anyone who plans to go to Burns this weekend (John Scharff Bird Festival), you might like to know about a male Barrow's Goldeneye, difficult to find in Harney County. Marilyn found it on a pond about 2 miles east of Burns along Hwy 78 (past the 205 turnoff) among a flock of Common Goldeneye. I'm planning to head out to Burns tomorrow afternoon. I'd love to catch a ride out (I have a ride back) if anyone is planning to be heading out from Bend around 3 PM, and has room for me, please e-mail me or give me a call (541-815-9924). Craig Miller Bend gismiller at gmail.com From jonysky101 at aol.com Thu Apr 2 20:45:00 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:45:00 -0400 Subject: [obol] Identifying Swallows Message-ID: <8CB8225B2E8976D-1330-1998@Webmail-mg08.sim.aol.com> I've been seeing groups of what I believe are Violet-Green Swallows, mainly because others have reported seeing them there and discriptions of their behavior. But they are always zipping around. I've never seen one land, nor have I got a good look to actually see colors in the feathers. Here are a couple of shots I took today at the Vancouver lake area that show images. To a knowledgeable observer, is there enough information in these pictures to be sure of their identification? Thanks. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Oregon http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0752/2392ae5fa6974f4392090872698d4615.jpg http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0752/1ffaf5e376794c388170bf41f2f0fa8b.jpg http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0752/e08e7d6271c74740911a50adadbcfe34.jpg -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090402/ee231455/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Thu Apr 2 20:58:03 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:58:03 -0400 Subject: [obol] Vancouver Lake area today Message-ID: <8CB8227859DACAD-1330-19E1@Webmail-mg08.sim.aol.com> I saw a flock of Sandhill cranes in a field that lies between the 2 parking areas along the paved bicycle path. I'd estimate about 100 birds. I also saw 6 different Great Blue Herons hunting in small ponds including this one. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0752/774f5543d81740ee9be7367d84fb1595.jpg I also got to watch a Great Egret for at least 20 minutes, until the policeman made me move my car. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0752/774f5543d81740ee9be7367d84fb1595.jpg. There wasn't much variety, but it was still a good day, in spite of the rain, for a drive. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090402/7eadf19e/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Thu Apr 2 21:12:00 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:12:00 -0400 Subject: [obol] My first Goldfinch, ever Message-ID: <8CB822978CC7772-1330-1A36@Webmail-mg08.sim.aol.com> After getting home from Vancouver, I spied a yellow bird at the Nyjer Tube feeder. I have had it up for 3 or 4 weeks, and nothing ever landed there before. I still had my camera close and I took several shots. I was able to identify it as Lesser Goldfinch. It is the first I have ever seen. Such a cool little bird. Here he is. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0752/51df0b540dd14f0f940d9712392b9b16.jpg He couldn't talk. He had his mouth full. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090403/2afd6dd6/attachment.html From louisfredd at msn.com Thu Apr 2 22:11:54 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 22:11:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon City, Mar 21-27 Message-ID: Paul, I'm so gull-ible (had to work in a bird name to keep this technically on-topic). You took me in hook, line and stinker. Lars, you didn't have to quickly explain what was up to head me off from driving right over to Carlton to get one of those maps, anxious as I am to see a Mountain Quail. Nosiree. I learned a long time ago that no matter how reputable the source, maps of the Coast Range mostly show non-existent roads, or roads to non-existent, or scarcely existing, places. Some do lead into Mist, which is Sitkum, but not so Remote as Timbuktu or Paris. One might find Shangrila or Brigadoon nearby, I wouldn't know. Anyway, the yard is awakening from what seems to have been a century's thralldom to winter. Some of what I saw last week follows. Mar21 RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD M,F 1-3/da, all das. Big season opener. Last year these sputtered more than hummed, mostly absent spring thru mid-summer, didn't become a near daily sight until late July. RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER 2da. Transients I think. BUSHTIT 1-2, 6 das. PURPLE FINCH 1-3/da, 6 das About the same for House Finches. Mar23 GREEN HERON FOYR Flew over house, continued low over open country SE. Second ever in "spring" (previous mid-Mar a few yrs ago), uncommon here late July thru Aug, missed altogether last year. ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD M,F 3das. Mar24 COOPER'S HAWK. CHIPPING SPARROW FOYR Second ever in spring (previous mid-Apr). "Pale 1st winter" per Sibley's illus. With Golden-crowned and other sparrows near the feeders in the rain late in day. Mar26 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK Chased a siskin thru yard near ground level, outcome unknown. Spotted it (presumably) later in afternoon, tiny form perched on the very last branchlet very tall fir, a fairway over. Confirmed ID with spotting scope to my satisfaction. This is the first SSHA I've seen take this high and exposed perch which the kestrels and merlins favor. Mar27 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Mobile1_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090402/9ababd1c/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Thu Apr 2 22:33:26 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 22:33:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Purple finch song In-Reply-To: <20090403012031.4AE1A9B0081@mail.blackfoot.net> References: <20090403012031.4AE1A9B0081@mail.blackfoot.net> Message-ID: Hi all -- Apologies if any of this is redundant with previous postings (which I had deleted), but to try to clarify what I fear is starting to become confusing.... (1) The bird in the video link people are talking about sounds and looks to me like a House Finch, not a Purple Finch. (2) I have heard all kinds of conflicting things about female song in the Purple Finch over the years, so I decided to have a look in the BNA account, and what it says is that the only known female song is one given from the nest. BNA author Wootton writes: "Female song reported as "finch-like but quite different from that of the male," lasting 1-2 min and given from the nest (Stratton 1967). ... Reports of female vocalizations only when on the nest, but function unknown." The Stratton paper is a note on breeding in a regional journal, and I have to wonder how frequent this song is, as I do not remember ever hearing a 1-2 min-long song from this species during all the years I lived in the East. (3) And yes, there is variation b/w Eastern & Western Purple Finches in song, in call notes, and in plumage; the populations have diverged a fair amount. Jay Withgott, Portland At 7:23 PM -0600 4/2/09, Jim Greaves wrote: >At 01:00 PM 4/1/2009, Kay Carter wrote: >>The song in the link you posted, Greg, is very much NOT like the typical >>male song . . . > >It's likely the song of Eastern race of the species, rather than the >ones you might encounter along the west coast... I noticed in many >years of listening to PUFI in southern CA that they have a "rolling >warbler" - full-bodied, often slightly ascending. Nothing like the >rambling warble of eastern race which I have on a Peterson CD! >Hopefully, when posting songs online (or links to same) people will >note where the songs were made - Peterson records and tapes, prior to >the internet and the digital revolution, were good about noting >location of songs in the PAPER documentation ;-) -- Jim Greaves > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From pygowl at gmail.com Fri Apr 3 03:09:43 2009 From: pygowl at gmail.com (Michael Marsh) Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 03:09:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Identifying Swallows Message-ID: <90d831b70904030309qee0ca3ckdec69e4b96d6614c@mail.gmail.com> Johnny: Your second photo is a TREE SWALLOW. Note the straight line dividing the blue-ish upper half of the face from the all-white bottom half. On Violet-Green Swallow, the white curves up behind the eye. Also, the photo clearly shows the broad wings of a Tree Sw. Your third photo (I think) is of a VIOLET-GREEN. The wings are not as broad as the previous bird. Also, I think I can barely make out a small portion of the white *saddle*, which Tree Sw's do not have. I am least confident about your first photo. But it seems to me the closest bird is a VG because again I think I'm seeing a portion of the white saddle. And the second bird, well, I believe it is a Tree Sw--straight line on face and broader wings. Nice diagnostic pics. Good birding, Mike *Subject: Identifying Swallows* From: jonysky101 AT aol.com Date: Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:45:00 -0400 I've been seeing groups of what I believe are Violet-Green Swallows, mainly because others have reported seeing them there and discriptions of their behavior. But they are always zipping around. I've never seen one land, nor have I got a good look to actually see colors in the feathers. Here are a couple of shots I took today at the Vancouver lake area that show images. To a knowledgeable observer, is there enough information in these pictures to be sure of their identification? Thanks. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Oregonhttp://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0752/2392ae5fa6974f4392090872698d4615.jpghttp://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0752/1ffaf5e376794c388170bf41f2f0fa8b.jpghttp://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0752/e08e7d6271c74740911a50adadbcfe34.jpg -- Mike Marsh Tacoma, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090403/3bbe8e3c/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Fri Apr 3 07:16:24 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Fri, 03 Apr 2009 07:16:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Another birder-kid story in the Oregonian Message-ID: A good story in today's Oregonian on a high school student in John Day who studies goshawks. http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/john_day_teen_conducts_bigt ime.html -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From alderspr at peak.org Fri Apr 3 07:55:17 2009 From: alderspr at peak.org (Karan & Jim Fairchild) Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 07:55:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Largish Pygmy Owl Prey, Benton County Message-ID: Our bird-feeding routine is currently interupted with the presence of a NORTHERN PYGMY OWL feeding on a just-killed MOURNING DOVE. The many DARK EYED JUNCOs are lined up along the fence, scolding the owl, but also perhaps for the delayed breakfast. The owl can't yet leave with dove in tow, but does now manage to roll the carcass slightly for another meal course. And a STELLERS JAY and a second mourning dove coldly feed on remant seed on a platform 30 feet away. Not to spoil your breakfast... the Fairchilds 6 mi SW of Philomath From pamelaj at spiritone.com Fri Apr 3 09:30:39 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 09:30:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Identifying Swallows References: <8CB8225B2E8976D-1330-1998@Webmail-mg08.sim.aol.com> Message-ID: Yes. There are two species of white-bellied swallows that look dark and bluish, as opposed to brown. The white is more extensive on a VIolet-green than a Tree Swallow, and wraps up from the lower belly to the lower back, leaving a dark strip in the middle. It also comes up higher on the face, so the eye is surrounded by white. This is an instance in which you could see better with binoculars than a camera, following the flock as they zip around and noticing individual birds. Your memory might be clearer than the photos you can get in this situation. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: jonysky101 at aol.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 8:45 PM Subject: [obol] Identifying Swallows I've been seeing groups of what I believe are Violet-Green Swallows, mainly because others have reported seeing them there and discriptions of their behavior. But they are always zipping around. I've never seen one land, nor have I got a good look to actually see colors in the feathers. Here are a couple of shots I took today at the Vancouver lake area that show images. To a knowledgeable observer, is there enough information in these pictures to be sure of their identification? Thanks. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Oregon http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0752/2392ae5fa6974f4392090872698d4615.jpg http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0752/1ffaf5e376794c388170bf41f2f0fa8b.jpg http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0752/e08e7d6271c74740911a50adadbcfe34.jpg ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ New Low Prices on Dell Laptops - Starting at $399 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Apr 3 10:03:59 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 10:03:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Backyard birds of... Burns, Oregon Message-ID: <20090403100359.05poc9hll44oos44@webmail.thebirdguide.com> I wish to thank Steve Dowlan for contributing a list of common backyard birds of Hines/Burns and Larry Hammond for a nice photo. With their help I have been able to create an article of the common backyard birds of Burns, Oregon. You can access this article from the link to Pacific NW Backyard Birder on my main page on The Bird Guide web site: http://thebirdguide.com/ or read this article directly at: http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/ This is part of a series of "Backyard birds of... (your town)" that I am adding to the Pacific NW Backyard Birder site that I created a couple of weeks ago while my paying job was on a 9-day shutdown. I have been adding a new article every other day or so on common birds of the Pacific NW. Thus, the site will keep growing and should add interest to those trying to learn the common birds of the region. It should also provide more seasoned birders with an idea of the common birds in unfamiliar locations. Since this is in a blog format, it allows comments from others to add to (or contradict?) what was written, ask questions, and allow responses. I think this can be a good way for newer birders to learn about birding in our region. The blog format also allows me to keep fairly current with the season (see April 1 article on hummingbird feeding), and keep growing without too much investment of my time all at once. Unlike most birding blogs, this is about bird watching and identification, not my personal ramblings, family vacation pictures, or social commentary. What are the common backyard birds in YOUR town? I am still looking for contributors of lists of common backyard birds for more towns (Portland and Burns now done), from Victoria to San Francisco to Tahoe to Boise, and places in between. I am especially looking for towns in eco-regions different from those already covered, with different birds. I'll even accept lists from other towns in the West: San Diego, Tuscon, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver, Calgary, etc. I will also be looking for high quality photos to be reproduced at 800x600 pixels for special birds in those towns outside of my normal photography wanderings. I'd appreciate your comments on how to improve the site. Thank you, Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From mrchickadee at gmail.com Fri Apr 3 10:08:14 2009 From: mrchickadee at gmail.com (Miss Jacqui) Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 10:08:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Beaverton-Flats of Raleigh Hills Feeder Birds Message-ID: <7e34f7b0904031008x69d12d64r42c1a858712fc7a4@mail.gmail.com> Hi OBOLers All this past winter, as well as the last, I had many Lesser Goldfinches. Last year, start of April, they pretty much disappear till October. It appears to be happening again. Although, I still have one pair - the female is doing the "feed me" thing w/ the male. The House Finches are back. They disappear in fall and come back in spring. Both of these species I see & hear close by, in the park behind us, pretty much year round. Why are they coming and going from my feeders seasonally? I had one lone Siskin coming through over the cold months (well one at a time - and not very frequently). Today I had 3 at once come in w/ some house finches. Great to see them together - to compare. House finches, larger, streaking is softer, duller, than the Siskins. Siskin beak, of course is smaller, pointier. Maybe it's the light but I don't seem to see yellow bars on the wings of the Siskins. They look white. I am getting Rufus Hummers more than Anna's now & they are gettin feisty! Saw what I think was courtship behaviors w/ w/ a pair of Northern Flickers. They do a little dance, looking like the boy & chasing the girl. Then when he hops away, she follows him, and on like that. Here is the feeder list - on my deck - no real greenery - most everything green is 100 ft+ away - My deck is like a fly way between the heavily tree'd street & the park behind my complex. BC Chickadee Bushtits Lesser Goldfinches House Finches Pine Siskin N Flicker Bewicks Wren Song Sparrow O Junco Anna's Hummer Rufus Hummer Scrub Jay Coopers' Hawk Crow Happy birding Jacqui -- Jacqui Parker Portland, OREGON ........... I realized that If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes Charles Lindbergh (1902 - 1974), Interview 1974 ( '< / ) ) // " " Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency may read this email without warning, warrant, or notice. They may do this without any judicial or legislative oversight. You have no recourse or protection and everything you type may be used against you to detain you in a secret prison. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090403/3286aa63/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Fri Apr 3 10:19:36 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 10:19:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] suet feeders Message-ID: Thanks for the input on keeping starlings out of suet. I cannot find the suggested feeders in the Eugene area. Are they available locally? Thanks. Tom Escue -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090403/819def32/attachment.html From jorrie at peak.org Fri Apr 3 10:20:56 2009 From: jorrie at peak.org (Jorrie & Ken) Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 10:20:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] California Quail at Waldport Message-ID: <1D5E2477-0016-4BFA-9BEF-CECE04E39495@peak.org> We've been at this location for 10 years. Today, we just saw our first male CALIFORNIA QUAIL walking around the property. He was pecking at the daisy-like ground cover plants that are presently blooming. WOW. Jorrie & Ken Waldport, OR From tsnetsinger at centurytel.net Fri Apr 3 10:49:13 2009 From: tsnetsinger at centurytel.net (tsnetsinger at centurytel.net) Date: Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:49:13 -0400 Subject: [obol] 4/2-Newport BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, GLAUCOUS GULL Message-ID: <20090403134913.i7hhs6jmy4e8woo0@webmail2.centurytel.net> OBOL, After a meeting in Toledo, I spent an hour birding around Hatfield Marine Science Center and Newport's south jetty on Thursday. There was a second winter GLACUOUS GULL loafing among the mixed flock on the road to the south jetty. At the small pond just off the HMSC nature trail, between the Oregon Coast Aquarium and HMSC I found two roosting BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS (one immature and one adult) on the south side of the pond. Years ago Jamie Simmons told me that was a good place to see them in Lincoln County. After half a dozen visits to the site with no sign of them, I had about given up. Several years ago some of the vegetation around the north and eastern sides of the pond was removed, and I imagined that that had only reduced the chances of the birds using this location as a roost site; I guess I was wrong. Cheers, Tom Snetsinger From dendroicaman at peak.org Fri Apr 3 11:36:05 2009 From: dendroicaman at peak.org (Karl Fairchild) Date: Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:36:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Photos of N. Pygmy-Owl and Mourning Dove Message-ID: <49D65715.5090606@peak.org> Hi all, Here's a link to photos of the NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL (or is that PIG-ME in this case, considering the size of the chosen prey?) with its MOURNING DOVE prey. http://picasaweb.google.com/kfairchild1985/20090403?feat=directlink Photos are digiscopes with a Canon PowerShot A95 camera and a Kowa TSN-774 scope. The owl eventually flushed from its prey despite our best efforts to avoid disturbing it with the normal morning activities. I moved the carcass to a more discrete corner of the yard, hoping it will come back. So far it has not, even though it watched me from a nearby tree. I'm impressed that it was able to fly at all, after devouring what appears to be a fairly sizable portion of the dove. Currently, the owl is nowhere in sight and the normal yard birds appear to have resumed normal activities. Perhaps the owl tired of harassment by the STELLER'S JAYS and RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, among others. Note that the last photo in the series was taken close-up (not a photo for the faint of heart, btw), right before I moved the carcass. Considering the amount of corn this dove appears to have consumed, it may have had difficulty making an expeditious escape anyway. Wish we had been able to witness the struggle. Good Birding all, Karl Karl Fairchild (and Karan and Jim too) 6 mi SW of Philomath From mazoerr at gmail.com Fri Apr 3 11:46:33 2009 From: mazoerr at gmail.com (Ann Chamberlain) Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 11:46:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] backyard birds Message-ID: <202f23ed0904031146r9784d7rc3c34380d3f5bcac@mail.gmail.com> Yesterday, April 2, we had two LESSER GOLDFINCHES at the feeder and this morning, in the snow, a BAND-TAILED PIGEON. Even though it is snowing, maybe spring is actually coming! Ann outside of Myrtle Creek -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090403/0d43a848/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Apr 3 12:34:50 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 12:34:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Identifying Swallows Message-ID: <20090403123450.c8o20pcyg4ww4gc4@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Johnny, The steely blue backed swallows with black mask in your photos are Tree Swallows. They are common over ponds. The bright lime green-backed Violet-green Swallows will soon be on every wire surrounding your local neighborhood, if they aren't already. Your group photos all show Tree Swallows. The single bird photo hides all the ID features, though I believe the wings look long like a Tree Swallow, rather than more short and triangular as Violet-green Swallow. Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Fri Apr 3 12:36:52 2009 From: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com (Marina Bouchot) Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 12:36:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] heading to malheur | any weather or spotting updates? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <017d01c9b493$8a2eb9c0$9e8c2d40$@bouchot@xpsoftware.com> A small group of my birding galpals will be heading to Malheur for the spring migration and to see if the GSGR are advertising hot sex on the lek yet. :) Last time we attempted this (07) it seemed we arrived a week or two too early and everything was still iced over and snowy and although we still got our fix of lek action, alas, there was hardly any arriving migrants to speak of. Can anyone let me know if any migrants have begun their arrival yet? We'll be stopping at the ranger station for updates on bird sightings but if anyone has any tips for us regarding recently spotted notables in specific locations in and around the area, I'd love to hear from you (owls are of particular interest but I'm still gunning for Mr. R2D2 himself - el bobolink). Please feel free to email me off list. Happy birding everyone and enjoy the spring! Marina From di4tbirds at comcast.net Fri Apr 3 12:47:22 2009 From: di4tbirds at comcast.net (di4tbirds at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 19:47:22 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Bonapartes Gull and Caspian Tern/Florence and Bob Creek Message-ID: <756746495.2854971238788042667.JavaMail.root@sz0050a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> OBOL: I returned last night from three rainy days on the coast traveling from Florence to Newport and back. I was looking for Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck and Rhinoceros Auklet, none of which I found. I did get the following: Dipper on Sweet Creek in Mapleton, Bonaparte's Gull from the north jetty on the Siuslaw, Caspian Tern at Bob Creek. Also interesting were lines of Common Murres, flying north past Heceta Head. Probably 1000's of birds! ?That was in the late afternoon on Tuesday. They were not there when I came back, on Thursday. Surf Scoters were numerous at almost all stops. I did see some lines of them flying north, too. Pigeon Guillemots were fairly common. A Peregrine Falcon was perched on the rocks opposite the Heceta Head Light House on Thursday afternnon. I saw several Red-necked Grebes in breeding plumage at varoius stops. Also in breeding plumage were Pelagic Cormorants showing a large white flank patch. A few Brant's Cormorants came in to the cliff near Seal Cave sporting white plumes and blue gular pouches. They gatherd grasses from the slope, probably nesting material, and disappeared below me. A Osprey was sitting on a nest at the WB Nelson State Recreation Site east of Waldport. The only shorebirds I saw were 5 Greater Yellowlegs on Alsea Bay and 1 Spotted Sandpiper at the boat basin in Florence. ? Despite the rain, I had a good birding trip. Diane Horgan? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090403/2cbdcf61/attachment.html From bettymkn at netscape.com Fri Apr 3 14:19:21 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 14:19:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Scope Question? Message-ID: <20090403141921.64640F13@resin17.mta.everyone.net> Audubon special this month is the Columbia Sportswear Malheur 80mm Angled Spotting Scope. 20-60 zoom. Has anyone had any experience with this scope??? Offline response is best. Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From srnord101 at verizon.net Fri Apr 3 14:25:46 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:25:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Portland Slaty-backed Gull Message-ID: <000301c9b4a2$c155ff30$4401fd90$@net> OBOL; Today at 10:30, I saw the SLATY-BACKED GULL along the Portland waterfront just south of the Burnside Bridge. It stayed about 10 minutes, then left flying southward. The overall gull numbers and variety are down greatly from last month. The other highlight this morning was watching 3 PEREGRINE FALCONS demonstrating their amazing flying abilities by having a dogfight over the Hawthorne Bridge. A CALIFORNIA SEALION under the Morrison Bridge attracted its own gull flock. Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From andy.frank at kp.org Fri Apr 3 14:26:10 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 14:26:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Broughton Beach Surf Scoter, Yellow-headed Blackbird at Vanport Message-ID: <3C008F1F946A4ED98EBD8CACDF9BF441@familyroom> Today at Broughton Beach (off E. Marine Drive in Portland by the airport) there was a male SURF SCOTER about 1 mile east of the parking lot, just before the dock with a lot of boats, and the building with a red roof. Closer to shore there were many GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, and 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS flew from the rocks in the same area. Closer to the parking area were 3 HORNED GREBES. At Force Lake in N. Portland were Violet-green, Tree, Barn and Cliff Swallows. There was one female CANVASBACK. At Vanport Wetlands in N. Portland I heard a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. I did not see but it started raining in earnest after I heard it and didn't look for long. Andy Frank From lbviman at blackfoot.net Fri Apr 3 14:35:28 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:35:28 -0600 Subject: [obol] Purple Finch song In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090403213231.0060E9B0059@mail.blackfoot.net> I run my PC in safe mode so get no benefit of sound, so never accessed the site until today, after others commented about the species ID being wrong as well. That said, I agree that the bird in the video is a male House finch. A bright orange-red rump is wrong for female HOFI, and PUFI. Orange-red is on HOFI males [and red crossbills]; pinkish-red on RECR, and Purple and Cassin's finches [in my experience] -- Jim Greaves At 01:00 PM 4/1/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >Video of Purple Finch singing (female or first-year male): >http://www.gather.com/viewVideo.jsp?id=11821949021865059 From vermillion233 at hotmail.com Fri Apr 3 15:58:37 2009 From: vermillion233 at hotmail.com (robert darby) Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 16:58:37 -0600 Subject: [obol] Birding Oregon? Message-ID: Hello Oregon Birders, I'm from Tucson, AZ and I'm going to be visiting the Williamette Valley During the Week of April 11th. I have never been to Oregon before, and I'm wondering what are some good spots around say Salem or Corvallis? I'm actually planning on staying at Silver Falls State Park, what could be expected there during that time period? If it helps I have never seen a single species of Grouse, and I've haven't had any luck with Evening Grosbeaks either. Any help would be much appreciated. Feel free to contact me off the listserve. Thank you very much, Robert Payne TAS Tour Leader IBA Surveyer Tucson, AZ _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get quick friend updates right in your inbox. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Updates1_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090403/2be93096/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Fri Apr 3 18:53:44 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:53:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Possible Black-headed Gull at Cliff Point (Knappton), Pacific Co. WA Message-ID: <49D6BDA8.6000109@pacifier.com> While doing eagle nest observations this afternoon across the river, I noticed a "hooded" gull land and start walking the mudflat nearby. My first impression (based mostly on size) was that it was a Franklin's, but a quick scoping eliminated that. It had dark legs and a weirdly long bill, but I let it go as just a Bonaparte's, but took some snaps through the scope anyway. http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ (Siler folks will have to replace AT with the "at" symbol) Unfortunately, I was obliged to take my eyes off the gull to do the eagle observations I was there to do and missing seeing it fly away so I have no information on what the open wings look like. Now that I'm home: The all dark legs, longish bill with vaguely lighter base, overall bulky look and white space up the back of the hood make me think this might be a BLACK-HEADED GULL and I should report the possibility. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Henry David Thoreau: citizen scientist http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10505/ From withgott at comcast.net Fri Apr 3 19:25:36 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 19:25:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mountain Quail, Bobcat, Wash Co. 3 Apr. Message-ID: Hi Obol -- This morning Shawneen Finnegan and I went a-mountain-quailin' in western Washington County. We heard two MOUNTAIN QUAIL calling along Johnson Road (off Rt 47 north of 26 and south of Vernonia). One was heard from about 0.2 miles in and one from about 1.0 miles in. A RUFFED GROUSE was drumming around mile 0.2 as well. It snowed on us. Quite pretty, but I'm ready for spring. So was a DIPPER, which we heard singing along the creek along Cochran Road (off Timber Rd.) during a brief interlude of sunshine. 1 or 2 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were here as well. Lastly, during a brief stop at Cedar Canyon Marsh (aka Killin Wetlands), we spotted a BOBCAT as it yowled and then dashed away through the open woods alongside the edge of the marsh. Jay Withgott, Portland From hhactitis at yahoo.com Fri Apr 3 22:03:47 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 22:03:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] RBA: Possible Black-headed Gull at Cliff Point (Knappton), Pacific Co. WA Message-ID: <45424.98548.qm@web37004.mail.mud.yahoo.com> This does not look like a Black-headed Gull to me. The hood goes down too far in the nape area, the color of the hood is dark ashy gray (not chocolate brown as in BHGU), the bill is too dark (BHGU usually has a red or red-and-black bill), and the whole jizz looks off (and I just returned from the land of Black-headed Gulls ...). I think it is simply a slightly long-billed Bonaparte's. Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Fri, 4/3/09, Mike Patterson wrote: From: Mike Patterson Subject: [obol] RBA: Possible Black-headed Gull at Cliff Point (Knappton), Pacific Co. WA To: "OBOL" Date: Friday, April 3, 2009, 6:53 PM While doing eagle nest observations this afternoon across the river, I noticed a "hooded" gull land and start walking the mudflat nearby. My first impression (based mostly on size) was that it was a Franklin's, but a quick scoping eliminated that.? It had dark legs and a weirdly long bill, but I let it go as just a Bonaparte's, but took some snaps through the scope anyway. http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ (Siler folks will have to replace AT with the "at" symbol) Unfortunately, I was obliged to take my eyes off the gull to do the eagle observations I was there to do and missing seeing it fly away so I have no information on what the open wings look like. Now that I'm home: The all dark legs, longish bill with vaguely lighter base, overall bulky look and white space up the back of the hood make me think this might be a BLACK-HEADED GULL and I should report the possibility. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Henry David Thoreau: citizen scientist http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10505/ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090403/d5017f80/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Apr 3 22:36:54 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 05:36:54 +0000 Subject: [obol] =?windows-1256?q?Streaked_Horned_Lark_piece_posted_to_Bird?= =?windows-1256?q?Fellow=2Ecom_journal=FE?= Message-ID: Greetings All, Today I posted a short piece about the endangered "Streaked" Horned Lark (A. a. strigata) to our BirdFellow.com journal. The focal point of current research on this rare subspecies is Oregon's Mid-Willamette Valley. Corvallis area residents Bob Altman, Randy Moore and Doug Robinson are monitoring and studying the remaining breeding populations, the bulk of which nest in the Willamette Valley. These are very striking birds when seen close-up. They are much more colorful than most other subspecies of Horned Lark. There are several excellent online publications including Pearson and Altman 2005 (see citation at the bottom of the BirdFellow piece) that discuss the plight of this fragile population. Bob Altman's excellent species account in Birds of Oregon: A General Reference (Marshall et al. Eds. 2003) is also recommended reading for those interested in these birds. Last summer I volunteered with the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife doing driving and walking transects originally set up by Bob Altman in the 1990's. Hopefully, this project will be funded again this summer. It is an important study that is monitoring the status of several bellweather grassland species (Horned Lark, Western Meadowlark, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Vesper Sparrow) in the Willamette Valley. According to the recently released U.S. State of the Birds report, short-grass prairie ecosystems and the birds that reside in them are in rapid decline. Dave Irons BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090404/6746b7a1/attachment.html From fitzbeew at gmail.com Sat Apr 4 11:15:58 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 11:15:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Thrush photos Message-ID: Obol, I am not trying to start the Cat/Bird debate, but my roommate's cats killed a thrush two days ago whose identity I am unsure of. I think it's probably a Hermit Thrush, but it didn't seem to have any red in the tail. I know it is way too early for Swainson's Thrush, but I took some pictures just in case. Photos can be seen here: http://picasaweb.google.com/fitzbeew/Birds# I'm sorry for the graphic nature of these photos (they're really not too bad or gross or anything , just the bird is obviously dead), and again, I am NOT trying to start the cat/bird debate, but just wanted some feedback on the species of this individual. Thanks, Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090404/fef18764/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Sat Apr 4 12:01:09 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 12:01:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Thrush photos In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Holly, This is a Hermit. You can tell by the heavy, dark spotting on the breast. Swainson's, has finer spots which are paler brown or grayish, not blackish as in your bird. The tail on your bird does show reddish which should contrast with the back, however subtly. This reddish-brown color runs through the upper tail coverts and into the rump. In the photo, you can see this color mostly in the upper tail coverts. The Swainson's tail (and upper coverts) can be quite reddish, but the color should never contrast in tone with the rest of the bird's upperparts. Larry _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Holly Reinhard Sent: Saturday, April 04, 2009 11:16 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Thrush photos Obol, I am not trying to start the Cat/Bird debate, but my roommate's cats killed a thrush two days ago whose identity I am unsure of. I think it's probably a Hermit Thrush, but it didn't seem to have any red in the tail. I know it is way too early for Swainson's Thrush, but I took some pictures just in case. Photos can be seen here: http://picasaweb.google.com/fitzbeew/Birds# I'm sorry for the graphic nature of these photos (they're really not too bad or gross or anything , just the bird is obviously dead), and again, I am NOT trying to start the cat/bird debate, but just wanted some feedback on the species of this individual. Thanks, Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.11.41/2040 - Release Date: 04/03/09 17:54:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090404/1b2e0172/attachment.html From rie at pcfubar.net Sat Apr 4 12:43:04 2009 From: rie at pcfubar.net (roger morris) Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 12:43:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eagle release Message-ID: A few weeks ago, someone shot a bald eagle. Someone else managed to get the bird out of the McKenzie and called Cascade Raptor Center. Anyway, Thursday April 2nd was the release date for it. The bird was fit to be released. I have a few photos of the release here: http://www.pcfubar.net/release for anybody that's interested. They estimated the eagle to be 2 years old. For those familiar with Armitage Park (the release point), after getting airborne, the bird flew a little bit west, then arced around east and headed out of the park towards I-5. Lost him in the trees, but he probably continued eastward. The last pic is a little crummy looking, the sky managed to alter the exposure enough to lose the detail of the bird. I couldn't adjust quick enough between release and the bird flying in the air, so I didn't even try. Roger From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Sat Apr 4 12:55:45 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 12:55:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Area 4/4 Message-ID: OBOL- Seems like Spring out there, but --despite several observers-- no migrant Orange-Crowned Warblers could be found this morning at Skinner Butte in Eugene. A pleasant morning anyway with Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks, nest-building Bushtits, and many common-but-vocal species. At the Lane Community College sewage ponds: N Rough-winged Swallow and Cliff Swallow have joined the Tree and V-G Swallows. Does warbler migration seem late to anyone else? Barry McKenzie Eugene From emmalisa at yahoo.com Sat Apr 4 12:56:01 2009 From: emmalisa at yahoo.com (Emmalisa Whalley) Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 12:56:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck - still there Message-ID: <215567.52605.qm@web32002.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Around round 11 this morning I found the Tufted duck on the Columbia River in amongst the Scaups right after the 135th turnoff on Marine Drive, near the old pilings in the river. When you find him he definitely stands out from the Scaups in the area with his intense black stripe down his back and of course his "hairdo". Happy birding. From greenfant at hotmail.com Sat Apr 4 13:07:20 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 16:07:20 -0400 Subject: [obol] Even more Mountain Quail off Hayward Rd (Washington Co) Message-ID: Rebecca Atherton and I found 3 MOUNTAIN QUAIL at the second of Lars Norgren's old quail spots yesterday evening. My last posting from a few days ago described the first spot. Turn west off Hwy 26/47 onto Hayward Rd. About 2.5 miles from Hwy 26 after a very steep grade there are steel gates on both sides of the road. It is possible for several cars to park here without blocking the gates. Go south (Hayward Rd is east-west here) past the blue gate (the new one on the north side of the road is black) - this would be on your left hand side. At the first fork stay on the main road and proceed about 0.5mi up a steep grade. There is a T-jct at the top. This is the area you want to look for quail. 2 birds were about 100yds north of the top feeding by the side of the road, one more again by the main road just south of the top as it gently slopes down toward the clearcut. I've not seen quail in the actual clearcut there, but yesterday we had a pair of WESTERN BLUEBIRDS there. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get e-mail storage that grows with you. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Storage1_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090404/02ca6e2d/attachment.html From bcombs232 at gmail.com Sat Apr 4 13:40:16 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 13:40:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eagle release In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <8ce3a6520904041340m2982bdebr7cc845f7cbeaf88b@mail.gmail.com> I watched the eagle release, too. The bird hesitated a bit in the trees above the park road to the east of the release site, then soared away to the east/southeast, barely visible behind the bare deciduous branches that laced the sky between the crowd of people and the bird. On Sat, Apr 4, 2009 at 12:43 PM, roger morris wrote: > A few weeks ago, someone shot a bald eagle. Someone else managed to > get the bird out of the McKenzie and called Cascade Raptor Center. > Anyway, Thursday April 2nd was the release date for it. The bird was > fit to be released. > I have a few photos of the release here: http://www.pcfubar.net/release > for anybody that's interested. > They estimated the eagle to be 2 years old. For those familiar with > Armitage Park (the release point), after getting airborne, the bird > flew a little bit west, then arced around east and headed out of the > park towards I-5. Lost him in the trees, but he probably continued > eastward. > > The last pic is a little crummy looking, the sky managed to alter the > exposure enough to lose the detail of the bird. I couldn't adjust > quick enough between release and the bird flying in the air, so I > didn't even try. > > Roger > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Eugene OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090404/270b76b4/attachment.html From lesliemeserve at comcast.net Sat Apr 4 14:51:39 2009 From: lesliemeserve at comcast.net (Meserve) Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 14:51:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands, Washington County Common Yellowthroat Message-ID: <2BE0937D8B374BA8842A6F941A1DAB3E@LMPC> Hello, FOY for me: Common Yellowthroat (male) was at Fernhill today on path between Eagle Perch Pond & Cattail Marsh. Also, saw one or 2 Audubon's Yellow-rumps - Fernhill gets both Myrtle & Audubon's, but usually more Myrtle type I think. A few weeks ago, I just saw Myrtles. I did see a female Myrtle today. Leslie Meserve Washington County, Oregon From celata at pacifier.com Sat Apr 4 15:06:54 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:06:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Norht Coast Birders Trip - 4/4/2009 Message-ID: <49D7D9FE.9060108@pacifier.com> North Coast Birders Trip Wireless, Warrenton Sewage Ponds and South Jetty Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose Cackling Goose Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-Winged Teal Canvasback Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Surf Scoter Bufflehead Ruddy Duck Pacific Loon Common Loon Red-necked Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Great Blue Heron Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk American Coot Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Sanderling Western Sandpiper Dunlin Common Snipe Mew Gull Ring-billed Gull Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Black-legged Kittiwake Caspian Tern Rufous Hummingbird Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Hutton's Vireo [1] Steller's Jay American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Marsh Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin [2] Varied Thrush European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler Townsend's Warbler Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird House Finch Red Crossbill Pine Siskin House Sparrow Footnotes: [1] building a nest along the Warrenton Linear Park [2] including one building a nest Total number of species seen: 69 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Henry David Thoreau: citizen scientist http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10505/ From dpvroman at budget.net Sat Apr 4 15:41:12 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 15:41:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Area 4/4 References: Message-ID: <4E331D0E137E4FE1A58A2534B43BAB6A@Warbler> Warbler migration in sw OR has found most 1st arrivals about on schedule, but the only species with more than a few birds has been Orange-crowned Warbler. There has been no reports of large numbers of Yellow-rumps or mixed species flocks as of yet. It's likely that the cool weather has stalled them for a while. It was well below freezing at our place this morning, but has gone above the 60s in Grants Pass this afternoon. ...they should be on there way soon I would think. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) > OBOL- > > Seems like Spring out there, but --despite several observers-- no > migrant Orange-Crowned Warblers could be found this morning at Skinner > Butte in Eugene. A pleasant morning anyway with Sharp-shinned and > Cooper's Hawks, nest-building Bushtits, and many common-but-vocal > species. > At the Lane Community College sewage ponds: N Rough-winged Swallow and > Cliff Swallow have joined the Tree and V-G Swallows. > > Does warbler migration seem late to anyone else? > > Barry McKenzie > Eugene From WeberHome at att.net Sat Apr 4 16:37:05 2009 From: WeberHome at att.net (Cliff & Joanne Weber) Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 16:37:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] TRNWR Message-ID: <20090404233745.9B107A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> OBOL, hello! Who could stay home today!? Right!? Man it was gorgeous at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Reserve. Along with the usual suspects like Northern Shovelers, Pied bill Grebe, Coots, Green wing Teals, Northern Pintails, Black cap Chickadees, Song Sparrows, Canada Geese, Bushtits, White or (possibly Golden) crown Sparrows, Yellow rump Warblers, and American Robins. Plus: One Adult Bald Eagle One Peregrine Falcon One Osprey One Turkey Vulture Two Red Tail Hawks Two basking Painted Turtles One American Kestrel Where? . . Roughly 15 miles south of the city of Portland; just north of the community of Sherwood on the west side of 99W. Page 684 of Thomas Portland Street Guide, square H4 Google satellite image: http://tinyurl.com/dfaxlr Accommodations? . . Excellent restrooms on-site. Restaurants and such down the road a bit in Sherwood. ADA Friendly? . . Very! For folks who find the trails a bit challenging, there's a good solid courtyard alongside the visitor's center affording an excellent panorama of the refuge; plus a huge picture window in the gift shop. Off-Street parking? . . Yes, w/special parking for Hybrid vehicles TRNWR visitor's information available online at http://tinyurl.com/cn9y2v Cliff & Joanne Weber Beaverton (Bethany area) From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Apr 4 18:04:34 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 01:04:34 +0000 Subject: [obol] Eugene Area 4/4 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Barry et al., After birding around Skinner Butte with Barry and Dave Jones, I went over to Delta Ponds to take some photos. I did find a couple Orange-crowned Warblers (male lutescens) along the bike path behind Valley River Center. There were dozens of Yellow-rumped Warblers (both Audubon's and Myrtle) along the bike path and around the ponds on the east side of Goodpasture Island Rd. Dave Irons Eugene > From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 12:55:45 -0700 > Subject: [obol] Eugene Area 4/4 > > OBOL- > > Seems like Spring out there, but --despite several observers-- no > migrant Orange-Crowned Warblers could be found this morning at Skinner > Butte in Eugene. A pleasant morning anyway with Sharp-shinned and > Cooper's Hawks, nest-building Bushtits, and many common-but-vocal > species. > At the Lane Community College sewage ponds: N Rough-winged Swallow and > Cliff Swallow have joined the Tree and V-G Swallows. > > Does warbler migration seem late to anyone else? > > Barry McKenzie > Eugene > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Quick access to your favorite MSN content and Windows Live with Internet Explorer 8. http://ie8.msn.com/microsoft/internet-explorer-8/en-us/ie8.aspx?ocid=B037MSN55C0701A -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090405/fd2349be/attachment.html From tcolbyster at gmail.com Sat Apr 4 20:21:39 2009 From: tcolbyster at gmail.com (Trask Colby) Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 20:21:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Area 4/4 (large warbler movement) Message-ID: <2dd4d7e20904042021y149ea917v1cdea02f9df02f2d@mail.gmail.com> I was at Oaks Bottom on tuesday and there were hundreds of Yellow-Rumps all over the park. From any given spot you could see at least 20 of them in the trees in all sorts of plumages. Still I was surprised that there were no other warblers mixed in with the hundreds of yellow-rumps. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090404/19c8bf0b/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sat Apr 4 20:32:55 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 20:32:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird Message-ID: <621192.49957.qm@web46003.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> This afternoon, Michelle and I were out in the yard and were treated to a great sight. A female Anna's and a male Rufous feeding on the same feeder and the same time. This has never happened in our yard, and rather curious, as the male Rufous has been chasing off all the other hummers in the yard (and just about every other bird, too). We started watching him closer and he seemed to have a green patch on top of his head, unlike the other males that we have seen in the yard. After snapping a few photos of the 2 hummer encounter, and then downloading them, we realized that the Rufous did indeed, have a bright green patch on his head. Then we noticed that in one of the photos, he had his tail completely fanned out. In the photo, the tail seems to have no markings or coloration whatsoever. I poured over photos in books and online, and the pics I saw, you could see markings/coloration in the tips of the tail. Is this normal, both the green patch and the all rufous colored tail? Thanks a bunch in advance. Take care and good birding to all. The photos are here: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lN7HLlPAMn0/SdgdIv-ZBII/AAAAAAAADtg/030dXWX9OF0/s1600-h/Odd+rufous+head.JPG http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lN7HLlPAMn0/SdgdIR_k-cI/AAAAAAAADtY/PpexwdhGi2w/s1600-h/odd+rufous+tail.JPG http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lN7HLlPAMn0/SdgdIKkWxfI/AAAAAAAADtQ/5Uwf1SYhBGg/s1600-h/odd+rufous+tail2.JPG The photos are also at the bottom of the newest post on our blog. Thanks a bunch in advance. Take care and good birding to all. Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From 4cains at charter.net Sat Apr 4 20:44:28 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 20:44:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Bluebirds, Astoria Message-ID: <9CB81E4B5B8C44BBAB2F82DCC9D27C1A@HAL> To add to the North Coast bird happenings today: this afternoon Evan spotted two female WESTERN BLUEBIRDS in the Apsmo clearcut, near Lyngstad Heights, just south of Astoria. Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090404/baa446a1/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sat Apr 4 20:56:00 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:56:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird Message-ID: <49D82BD0.5040704@pacifier.com> Everything about the Rufous looks 100% typical. A male Rufous should show only rufus and black from underneath. From above the central feathers will sometimes show some iridescent green. > The photos are here: > > http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lN7HLlPAMn0/SdgdIv-ZBII/AAAAAAAADtg/030dXWX9OF0/s1600-h/Odd+rufous+head.JPG > > http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lN7HLlPAMn0/SdgdIR_k-cI/AAAAAAAADtY/PpexwdhGi2w/s1600-h/odd+rufous+tail.JPG > > http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lN7HLlPAMn0/SdgdIKkWxfI/AAAAAAAADtQ/5Uwf1SYhBGg/s1600-h/odd+rufous+tail2.JPG -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Henry David Thoreau: citizen scientist http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10505/ From fschrock at gmail.com Sat Apr 4 21:47:06 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 21:47:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swallows... at last! Message-ID: <390ebd880904042147y873d571g224678ac7f682263@mail.gmail.com> Today (4-4-09) in McMinnville "my" Violet-green Swallows finally returned, about three weeks later than usual. The neighborhood had seemed so empty without them, even the Scrub Jays were perching on telephone wires scanning the sky. Well... I might have been imagining that, but anyway it was good to have them chattering and swooping around the house again. Spring did come after all. ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090404/2dd3e9dc/attachment.html From dhewitt37 at gmail.com Sat Apr 4 23:14:42 2009 From: dhewitt37 at gmail.com (David Hewitt) Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 23:14:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Klamath Basin, 4 April -- Sage Thrasher, Avocets, Stilts, Shrikes, Long-billed Curlews, Waterfowl galore Message-ID: <653eaf880904042314o54036a17sb5022100c1bf138c@mail.gmail.com> Members of the Klamath Basin Audubon Society enjoyed a nice, long tour of the Walking Wetlands area east of the Tule Lake NWR Visitor's Center this morning. The tour was generously and expertly led by USFWS refuge manager Ron Cole. It was a gorgeous day and we saw lots of good birds. Highlight birds, even if not rare, are given in ALL CAPS below. On the way from Klamath Falls to meet the group at the Visitor's Center, I found the following: - 10 Sandhill Cranes in a field west of Lower Klamath Lake Rd - a SAGE THRASHER sitting on a fence post on the north side of Stateline Rd At the Visitor's Center before departing for the tour, we tallied: California Quail 6 Greater Yellowlegs 1 heard only GREAT HORNED OWL 1 sitting on cliff nest Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 1 Bushtit 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 fresh plumage American Robin 2 European Starling 1 Spotted Towhee 2 Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 3 Red-winged Blackbird 1 House Finch 7 House Sparrow 2 We tallied 51 species on a leisurely 20-or-so mile tour through the walking wetlands area and around the sumps east of the Visitor's Center. I didn't keep track of numbers except where it was easy (one to a few of a given species). Comments on abundance are given, but very generally. Greater White-fronted Goose X many thousands Snow/Ross's Goose X many many thousands, including at least 3 BLUE PHASE SNOW GEESE Canada Goose X lots Gadwall X American Wigeon X Mallard X Cinnamon Teal X Northern Shoveler X lots Northern Pintail X lots Green-winged Teal (American) X Canvasback X just a few Ring-necked Duck X just a few Lesser Scaup X lots Bufflehead X lots Common Goldeneye 1 Ruddy Duck X lots Ring-necked Pheasant 2 California Quail 2 Western Grebe X many Clark's Grebe 2 American White Pelican X many Great Egret 1 Turkey Vulture 1 flying along Sheepy Ridge Bald Eagle X many, often eating geese Northern Harrier 3 Red-tailed Hawk X ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK 2 still around American Kestrel 1 American Coot X many many thousands Killdeer X AMERICAN AVOCET 1 Greater Yellowlegs 2 Dunlin X hundreds in one large group Wilson's Snipe 1 Ring-billed Gull X California Gull X Mourning Dove X LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE 2 on power lines along Hill Rd south of Visitor's Center Common Raven X Tree Swallow 1 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2 Barn Swallow 1 Marsh Wren X lots American Robin X European Starling X Song Sparrow X White-crowned Sparrow 7 Red-winged Blackbird X lots Western Meadowlark 1 Brewer's Blackbird X House Sparrow X After leaving the group and meandering towards home, I found: - 4 Wilson's Snipe along the ditch north of the Discovery Marsh Trail across from the Visitor's Center - 8 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS in a field west of the Dorris Brownell Rd about 1 mile south of Stateline Rd - American Avocets and BLACK-NECKED STILTS on White "Lake" Reports for the different areas have been submitted to eBird (http://ebird.org/Klamath-Siskiyou). Still lookin' for a Tricolored Blackbird, Dave Hewitt Klamath Falls From sengel at audubonportland.org Thu Apr 2 19:18:52 2009 From: sengel at audubonportland.org (Steve Engel) Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 19:18:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Singing Meadowlarks Message-ID: <200904030218.n332IqWb075688@broadway.hevanet.com> Hello OBOL'ers Does anyone have any reports of meadowlarks singing in the Portland area they could share? The Oregonian is working on a sound-based piece for their website and would like to record our state bird in all its melodious glory early next week. Any leads? Steve Engel Adult Education Coordinator Audubon Society of Portland 5151 NW Cornell Road, Portland, OR 97210 EMAIL: sengel at audubonportland.org web: www.audubonportland.org PHONE: 503-292-6855 x 119 (main) 971-222-6119 (direct) From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sun Apr 5 08:52:53 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 08:52:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] swallows, at last- Yamhill Co, 4/5 Message-ID: <8182A0B288BD456B84200795238CB3DF@yourw5st28y9a3> About 0830 my husband came in to tell me the swallows were back. I went out to take a look at a pair of Violet-green Swallows perched on the wire next to the nextbox, located where we first set one up in 2006. Until today we hadn't seen any close to home, and few elsewhere. Pamela Johnston From tayben at teleport.com Sun Apr 5 09:01:53 2009 From: tayben at teleport.com (Martha taylor & Chris Bennett) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 09:01:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Westmorland White Crowned sparrow Message-ID: Our first for the year, White Crowned sparrow was sited this morning in our yard in Westmorland. Chris -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090405/cc7fd979/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Apr 5 09:23:37 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 05 Apr 2009 09:23:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swallows and migrants Message-ID: Swallows arrived at my neighborhood wire April 4 and started swarming around the boxes April 5. They normally take til the end of April to actually move in. Migrants in the yard today included single Golden-crowned Sparrow (first in a week) and Spotted Towhee (a heavily-spotted nonlocal bird, first in three weeks). -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Apr 5 10:47:29 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 10:47:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Even more Mountain Quail off Hayward Rd (Washington Co) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4c6d8137f14e6c52c3ccb85245701297@earthlink.net> The steep grade described by Stefan on Hayward Road (after Gheen Rd, before the two gates) is the only reliable place I know of in Washington County. They have been here at least ten years. A bird has been audible about once a week, usually in the daytime, the past month or two. The drive-way with number 50505 on the mailbox is mine, an excellent place to park out of traffic and listen, or employ the standard tricks to elicit detection. Some county listers were successful at mid-morning one Saturday two Aprils ago. The T-jct described at the summit of the hill has kept Mountain Quail happy for a very long time. I saw a group of downy chicks here the first week of July about six years ago. There have been quail here for well over ten years. If you are not averse to driving on gravel it is possible to proceed west on Hayward Rd then follow it south on Cedar Canyon Rd., coming out at Killin Wetland. I see Mountain Quail on the road sometimes, mostly in August. Lars Norgren On Apr 4, 2009, at 12:07 PM, Stefan Schlick wrote: > Rebecca Atherton and I found 3 MOUNTAIN QUAIL at the second of Lars > Norgren's old quail spots yesterday evening. My last posting from a > few days ago described the first spot. > > Turn west off Hwy 26/47 onto Hayward Rd. About 2.5 miles from Hwy 26 > after a very steep grade there are steel gates on both sides of the > road. It is possible for several cars to park here without blocking > the gates. Go south (Hayward Rd is east-west here) past the blue gate > (the new one on the north side of the road is black) - this would be > on your left hand side. At the first fork stay on the main road and > proceed about 0.5mi up a steep grade. There is a T-jct at the top. > This is the area you want to look for quail. 2 birds were about 100yds > north of the top feeding by the side of the road, one more again by > the main road just south of the top as it gently slopes down toward > the clearcut. I've not seen quail in the actual clearcut there, but > yesterday we had a pair of WESTERN BLUEBIRDS there. > > Stefan Schlick > Hillsboro, OR > > Rediscover Hotmail?: Get e-mail storage that grows with you. Check it > out. _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dlrobbo at comcast.net Sun Apr 5 12:20:34 2009 From: dlrobbo at comcast.net (Doug Robberson) Date: Sun, 05 Apr 2009 12:20:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Jim Cruce Message-ID: Does anyone know how I may contact Jim Cruce? Doug Robberson Tigard, OR From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Sun Apr 5 13:03:44 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 13:03:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock Mansion Message-ID: <1477554B-23D1-446C-A34D-62665EB7921C@gmail.com> This morning I wandered out late with the dog in tow (or vice versa). It was too pretty to stay inside. While there were no big avian highlights it was nice to see a couple of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and spring activities such as a pair of HOUSE FINCH building a nest and a CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE excavating a cavity. One aggressive male RUFOUS was repeatedly dive bombing a ground-dwelling SONG SPARROW. Perhaps the highlight was that it was warm enough for multiple CALIFORNIA TORTOISESHELLS to be out and about in a sheltered spot near the mansion. Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Sun Apr 5 13:08:08 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (Tom McNamara) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 13:08:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Close encounters of the avian kind Message-ID: First the personal FOY report: saw a singleton Orange-crowned warbler on Tabor today. A little later I had the close encounter: a Sharp-shinned was in seriously hot pursuit of a small passerine (I think it was a lesser goldfinch or a siskin but was way more interested in th accip) when the finch used me as a screen and pulled a turn so sharp it must've been about 4 G's. Sharp-shinned couldn't quite negotiate it and quit the chase. Both birds were probably, at most, 5 feet from me during that turn. Cool! That unexpected event involving such closeness reminded me that when we were in Mexico a few weeks ago I got tagged on the top of the head by a White-eyed Vireo as he flew (barely) above me. Also saw a TV up on the eastside---can't recall ever seeing one from the park before. Tom _________________________________________________________________ Quick access to your favorite MSN content and Windows Live with Internet Explorer 8. http://ie8.msn.com/microsoft/internet-explorer-8/en-us/ie8.aspx?ocid=B037MSN55C0701A -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090405/4cccf251/attachment.html From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Sun Apr 5 13:43:57 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (Gerard Lillie) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 13:43:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: [BIRDWG01] Birdbooker Report Message-ID: <000601c9b62f$3ebbe830$bc33b890$@lillie@comcast.net> All, I am forwarding this to the list as a reply to Steve Engel's request for info on local signing meadowlarks. I don't have any current locations, but see Ian Paulsen's post to ID-Frontiers below. Follow the link and he describes a new CD just released of the Birds Songs of the Pacific Northwest by Geoffrey A Keller and Gerrit Vyn. 2008. Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. 5 CDs and booklet. I am sure all interested in Pacific NW bird song (the whole list, I presume) would be interested in this CD. Keller put out the excellent Bird Songs of California, which is my current favorite for Oregon. So, in a pinch, I would assume meadowlark is on this CD. Gerard Lillie Mt. Tabor Portland , OR -----Original Message----- From: NBHC ID-FRONTIERS Frontiers of Field Identification [mailto:BIRDWG01 at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of Ian Paulsen Sent: Sunday, April 05, 2009 10:26 AM To: BIRDWG01 at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: [BIRDWG01] Birdbooker Report HI ALL: In this week's Birdbooker Report: http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2009/04/birdbooker_report_60.php I write about the following titles: 1) Bird Songs of the Pacific Northwest 2) A Photographic Guide to Birds of Borneo 3) A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia ( 2nd edition). sincerely -- Ian Paulsen Bainbridge Island, WA, USA " Which just goes to show that a passion for books is extremely unhealthy." from Cornelia Funke's "Inkheart". Join or Leave BIRDWG01: http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html From bcombs232 at gmail.com Sun Apr 5 14:10:00 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 14:10:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: [BIRDWG01] Birdbooker Report In-Reply-To: <-3070537958697567985@unknownmsgid> References: <-3070537958697567985@unknownmsgid> Message-ID: <8ce3a6520904051410u5a1f46d3jea306983e4013722@mail.gmail.com> I have this set of CDs. For Western Meadowlark, these CDs have (text from booklet edited and abbreviated): 1. Short melodious song. Washington, June. 2. Flight song preceded by whistles. California, May. 3. Rattle call. California, May. 4. Atonal cluck. Oregon, June On Sun, Apr 5, 2009 at 1:43 PM, Gerard Lillie wrote: > All, > > I am forwarding this to the list as a reply to Steve Engel's request for > info on local signing meadowlarks. I don't have any current locations, but > see Ian Paulsen's post to ID-Frontiers below. Follow the link and he > describes a new CD just released of the Birds Songs of the Pacific > Northwest > by Geoffrey A Keller and Gerrit Vyn. 2008. Cornell Laboratory of > Ornithology. 5 CDs and booklet. I am sure all interested in Pacific NW bird > song (the whole list, I presume) would be interested in this CD. Keller put > out the excellent Bird Songs of California, which is my current favorite > for > Oregon. So, in a pinch, I would assume meadowlark is on this CD. > > > Gerard Lillie > Mt. Tabor > Portland , OR > > > -----Original Message----- > From: NBHC ID-FRONTIERS Frontiers of Field Identification > [mailto:BIRDWG01 at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of Ian Paulsen > Sent: Sunday, April 05, 2009 10:26 AM > To: BIRDWG01 at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU > Subject: [BIRDWG01] Birdbooker Report > > HI ALL: > In this week's Birdbooker Report: > > http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2009/04/birdbooker_report_60.php > > I write about the following titles: > > 1) Bird Songs of the Pacific Northwest > > 2) A Photographic Guide to Birds of Borneo > > 3) A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia ( 2nd edition). > > sincerely > -- > > Ian Paulsen > Bainbridge Island, WA, USA > " Which just goes to show that a > passion for books is extremely unhealthy." > from Cornelia Funke's "Inkheart". > > > Join or Leave BIRDWG01: > http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 > > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Eugene OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090405/f4ba5722/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Apr 5 15:20:28 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 15:20:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] O-C arrival Message-ID: <65baff9db02140583ce1cb9d08dc4cbf@earthlink.net> Two Orange-crowned Warblers audible here (Manning, 900 ft el. 2 miles west of Hwy 26) at 10am. It was snowing here on Friday. Lars Norgren From celata at pacifier.com Sun Apr 5 14:57:26 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:57:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - 4/5/2009 Message-ID: <49D92946.2090109@pacifier.com> Columbia Estuary Report - 4/5/2009 There were at least 38 GREATER YELLOWLEGS at Svensen Island this morning. Also about a dozen LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and a few DUNLIN. The first singing SAVANNAH SPARROWS of the season were seen at Brownsmead today, at least 20 individuals were seen. We saw 8-10 yesterday at Wireless and there were at least 3 last weekend, but I generally don't tick them off as "officially" migrating until I hear singing. A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was singing along the linear park at Warrenton yesterday. We also found a pair of HUTTON'S VIREOS building a nest and an AMERICAN ROBIN at a nest. In butterfly news: lots of CALIFORNIA TORTOISESHELLS taking advantage of the sunny weather. I saw two MARGINED WHITES today along Hwy 202. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Henry David Thoreau: citizen scientist http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10505/ From alderspr at peak.org Sun Apr 5 15:07:02 2009 From: alderspr at peak.org (Karan & Jim Fairchild) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 15:07:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Benton Co. Calliope Hummer Message-ID: <85A463F51BDF460D873DFC40C84A5998@HOMESTEAD> While watching numerous pollinators at our flowering plum tree, a hummer joined in with California tortiseshells, honey- and bumblebees, and other smaller insects, then moved to a nearby red flowering currant. Karan, Karl and I all saw the small size, bluish green back and streaked burgundy red and white gorget of a male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD. Definitely earliest FOY here, Karan has seen one here previously Apr 28, 2005 and May 2, 2000. A male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD that claims this currant has chased off the Calliope at least twice now, Karl is trying to get a photo. Jim Fairchild 6 mi SW Philomath From rflores_2 at msn.com Sun Apr 5 16:05:02 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 16:05:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Calliope Hummer, Ridgefield, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: I have a calliope hummingbird visiting my feeders today. First of the year. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090405/b6a2c366/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sun Apr 5 16:38:10 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 16:38:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Oaks Bottom N. GOSHAWK, SAY'S PHOEBE Message-ID: <590987.24223.qm@web55705.mail.re3.yahoo.com> We enjoyed lots of birds and sunshine at Oaks Bottom in Southeast Portland today. At the very southwest corner of the lake was a SAY'S PHOEBE. This was our 3rd sighting at Oaks Bottom this year, perhaps it is the same bird that has been hanging around. As we were walking along the crowded Springwater Corridor, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK flew overhead. Later, we observed it circling in the company of a COOPER'S HAWK. We heard two COMMON YELLOWTHROATS and a MARSH WREN. On the east side trail we had a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK flyover, a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, our FOY ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, and 100+ YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS (including about 25 "Myrtles"). Swallows were scarce, with only a dozen Violet-greens and a Tree Swallow. Happy Migration! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia From iain.t.morris at gmail.com Sun Apr 5 16:46:39 2009 From: iain.t.morris at gmail.com (Iain Morris) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 16:46:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bend - Sawyer Park/Hatfield Lakes 4/5 Message-ID: <715FD2B4-ED9F-44E3-98D0-73D3766511DD@gmail.com> A beautiful day in Central Oregon made for some unusualyl, comfortable warm birding. We ran into Steve and Tess at Sawyer Park, who provided some great company and helpful tips. We didn't get a chance to say goodbye. Thanks for the good time! Along the fisherman's/wildlife trail we saw our first Orange-crowned Warbler of the year. A Sharp- shinned Hawk showed up a short while later. Downstream from the bridge, we came across a Northern Rough-winged Swallow and a Yellow- rumped Warbler (Audubon's). Not the huge numbers showing up in the Portland area yet, but a few are here. There is a lot of activity at the second lake back at Hatfield. Buffleheads remain in large numbers, along with many Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Duck, Green-winged Teal, Coots etc. Some notable newcomers in the past few weeks have been Cinnamon Teal and Canvasbacks. An adult Bald Eagle was also seen stirring up trouble as it soared over the far lake. Not much activity at the first lake, though it appears to be filling up with water again via the stream at the NW corner. The divers are returning there, and mixing with the dabblers. Iain and Desiree, Bend From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sun Apr 5 17:44:04 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 17:44:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Linn County Greater Yellowlegs - west of Lebanon Message-ID: There were 27 Greater Yellowlegs in a muddy spot in a sheep pasture on Goltra Road north of Midway Road, at "Foot-Rot Flats". There was also a small group of black-bellied Dunlin, a few dowitchers and a group of Least Sandpipers. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090405/0cec3bc6/attachment.html From ellencantor at gmail.com Sun Apr 5 18:01:52 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 18:01:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Peregrine at Saddle MT Message-ID: <7058c4c60904051801r3d7b2a77l2cbfba197ad4f09b@mail.gmail.com> Beautiful day at Saddle Mt.and snow still on the upper trail in places. A PEREGRINE FALCON soared above the saddle. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090405/6e8ac4db/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Sun Apr 5 19:21:01 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 19:21:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] April 18 pelagic trip Message-ID: <8BBD3649ACE64923A13A7B64DF7C996E@GREG> Only 12 spaces remain for the April 18 Perpetua Bank pelagic trip from Newport, Oregon. This trip departs at 7 am and works slowly out the bay and along nearshore waters for the first half hour. Then, after participants have spotted most of the nearshore specialties like MARBLED MURRELETS, LOONS, CORMORANTS, MURRES, and SEA DUCKS, and gotten used to spotting birds from the boat, we head offshore. SOOTY and PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS are soon encountered as are numerous RHINOCEROS AUKLETS in full breeding plumage. We expect RED-NECKED and likely RED PHALAROPES, COMMON and possibly ARCTIC TERNS, FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS, and BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES. When we have reached 25-35 miles offshore we should have spotted several BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES and we have two stops set up to chum these magnificent creatures right up to the boat. After noon we start on our way back to port and visit nearshore waters again for anything we may have missed in the morning. We arrive back at the dock just before 6 pm. We still expect LAYSAN ALBATROSSES in April, and the TUFTED PUFFINS are back, though not common on this section of the coast. This is a good time for MANX SHEARWATER near shore. Lots of birds nearshore and offshore! And this is the peak of the shorebird migration. So, spend the whole weekend and see some great birds! Cost is $160 per person. See our web site for full preparation details, abundance checklist, and reservations: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/ Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com From celata at pacifier.com Sun Apr 5 19:41:53 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:41:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Some thoughts on traveling Savannah Sparrows Message-ID: <49D96BF1.9040505@pacifier.com> http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Henry David Thoreau: citizen scientist http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10505/ From davebrownbirder at yahoo.com Sun Apr 5 19:48:07 2009 From: davebrownbirder at yahoo.com (Dave Brown) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 19:48:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Brown-headed Cowbirds Message-ID: <841527.38078.qm@web59911.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> It is a little early but I had about five Brown-headed Cowbirds at my feeder four females and one male. I often have about 14 of them later in the Spring and they are usually half males and half females. These did leave after awhile of feeding leaving several Brewer's Blackbirds and several Red-wings along with a few White-crowned and a Golden-crowned Sparrows. Also Spotted Towhee's and a Eurasian Collared Dove and Dark-eyed Junco's all Oregon type. I don't know if they will be back or just a passing through. The Cowbirds that is. ? Dave Brown ? Alvadore -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090405/94e59ed9/attachment.html From carolk at viclink.com Sun Apr 5 21:03:19 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 21:03:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yamhill county FOS, April 5 Message-ID: <000901c9b66c$af4dbb40$a9430a0a@home> OBOL: We did a bit of Yamhill county birding today, Sun., Apr. 5, 2009. At Carol's feeders we saw 20 species, including the regular WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, and a first-of-the-season (FOS) LINCOLN'S SPARROW. We drove out to High Heaven Rd (skipping the Stinks to... cutoff) and found our FOS ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS (4), and a couple WESTERN BLUEBIRDS but we couldn't find the Mountain Quail or Sooty Grouse we hoped to find. At Pam Johnston's we found our FOS BAND-TAILED PIGEONS and had a nice chat with Pam. On Fir Crest Rd we found Hutton's Vireo and our FOS BARN SWALLOW and ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW. Up on Meadowlake Rd., west of Carlton, we found our FOS PYGMY OWLS (2). At McGuire Reservoir we found a rare Yamhill county COMMON LOON! in full breeding plumage. A Eurasian Wigeon was also present, with a few Am. Wigeon, Mallards, Hooded Mergansers, and Tree Swallows. We picked up a couple more Orange-crowned Warblers as the day went along. Back at the Carlton sewage pond we found a couple Wood Ducks. Good birding everyone, Carol Karlen & Paul Sullivan From gorgebirds at juno.com Sun Apr 5 21:22:21 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 04:22:21 GMT Subject: [obol] Mt Pleasant migrants Message-ID: <20090405.212221.8879.1@webmail14.vgs.untd.com> Our first of the season ORANE-CROWNED WARBLER and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (Audubon's)showed up today at our place in the west end of the Columbia River Gorge. Only one TREE SWALLOW returned to check out the nest boxes here and single TURKEY VULTURE and an OSPREY flew over. Wilson Cady Washougal,(Skamania County)WA ____________________________________________________________ Can't pay your bills? Click here to learn about filing for bankruptcy. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTLjhc1c9naHnOHf8KAR1C4vM7BDnOt9eJdg6K8lT0I9NZlC7f7Ily/ From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Apr 5 23:25:56 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 06:25:56 +0000 Subject: [obol] Part two of a three-part series on misnamed birds posted to BirdFellow.com Message-ID: Greetings All, Over the weekend I got some nice photos of birds whose names imply that we might see markings that are rarely seen by the average birder. Yesterday, I posted a photo essay piece about Double-crested Cormorants, which have crests for just a few months each spring. Tonight, I added a piece about where one might find the violet on a Violet-green Swallow. Monday or Tuesday I'll be posting another photo essay that will discuss the ring on a Ring-necked Duck. Let us know via your comments if you enjoy this type of piece. Dave Irons BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/b81d5b6c/attachment.html From darhawk500 at msn.com Sun Apr 5 23:49:04 2009 From: darhawk500 at msn.com (D Scott) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 23:49:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] (no subject) Message-ID: Hello, fellow birders It sure was a beautiful day Saturday April 4th. I was out in Yamhill county, just south of Newberg in the afternoon. This is my checklist for the day. I was mostly excited about the many Turkey Vultures that were flying along the river, yet hard to get good photography. The Osprey was a first for me and was very exciting to see. The Stellar's Jay were all grouped together and it looked as if they were having a lot of fun. 2- Osprey 17- Turkey Vultures 8- Steller's Jays 6- Black-Capped Chickadees 5- Song Sparrows 3- Red-tail Hawks 5- American Kestrels 2- Red-breasted Nuthatches 1- Northern Flicker 6- Western Scrub-Jays 5- Dark-eyed Junco 10- American Robins Happy Birding, Derek Scott Sherwood, Or http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottstudiophotography _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get quick friend updates right in your inbox. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Updates1_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090405/3e35e920/attachment.html From raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Mon Apr 6 07:25:22 2009 From: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com (Jeff Fleischer) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 07:25:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ring-necked Duck photos Message-ID: <924696.23179.qm@web50903.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Obolers, A good friend of mine who has been honing his photographic skills the last several years by spending lots of time in the EE Wilson wildlife area north of Corvallis, caught up with a few Ring-necked Ducks this past Saturday. Now a few of you folks out there no doubt have wondered why the Ringneck got its name in the first place because for the most part, the ring around the males neck is not very easy to see. I remember myself the first time I saw it and was glad to finally see the characteristic that gave this bird its name. So, when my friend sent me his pictures yesterday I just had to ask his permission to forward the two attached photos of this beauty that he photographed. The open wing picture pretty well tells it all but you can see the ring in the other photo too if you study it. Most of us are familiar with the closed wing aspect of this bird and if the lighting is not right, which is most of the time at least when I look at Ringnecks, you won't see the ring. Enjoy :) Jeff Fleischer Albany -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: IMG_9410-E.jpg Type: image/pjpeg Size: 129420 bytes Desc: IMG_9410-E.jpg Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/fbb36d92/attachment.bin -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: IMG_9451-E.jpg Type: image/pjpeg Size: 118950 bytes Desc: IMG_9451-E.jpg Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/fbb36d92/attachment-0001.bin From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon Apr 6 07:49:02 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 14:49:02 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Ring-necked Duck photos In-Reply-To: <1852619979.3568261239028637241.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <963012183.3572281239029342790.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi Jeff, Thank you asking your friend to share that beautiful photo. I've never seen that ring before. Please tell your friend thank you for me. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Fleischer" To: "OBOL" Sent: Monday, April 6, 2009 7:25:22 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [obol] Ring-necked Duck photos Obolers, A good friend of mine who has been honing his photographic skills the last several years by spending lots of time in the EE Wilson wildlife area north of Corvallis, caught up with a few Ring-necked Ducks this past Saturday. Now a few of you folks out there no doubt have wondered why the Ringneck got its name in the first place because for the most part, the ring around the males neck is not very easy to see. I remember myself the first time I saw it and was glad to finally see the characteristic that gave this bird its name. So, when my friend sent me his pictures yesterday I just had to ask his permission to forward the two attached photos of this beauty that he photographed. The open wing picture pretty well tells it all but you can see the ring in the other photo too if you study it. Most of us are familiar with the closed wing aspect of this bird and if the lighting is not right, which is most of the time at least when I look at Ringnecks, you won't see the ring. Enjoy :) Jeff Fleischer Albany _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/cba04ce5/attachment.html From davebrownbirder at yahoo.com Mon Apr 6 08:03:00 2009 From: davebrownbirder at yahoo.com (Dave Brown) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 08:03:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Canada Goose on Osprey nest Message-ID: <317688.99232.qm@web59911.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> Yes the Cowbirds are back again today with a extra male this time. I forgot to mention yesterday that the goose has been setting on eggs for sometime now in the Osprey nest on West 11 th. also known as Highway 126 west of Eugene where Coyote Creek enters Fern Ridge Reservoir. It or another Canada Goose nested there last year too. ? Dave Brown Alvadore Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/d554da3c/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon Apr 6 08:03:10 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 15:03:10 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbirds & Anna's Hummingbirds Message-ID: <1827989960.3578441239030190077.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi all, The Number of Rufous Hummingbirds in the garden has increased to seven. This is a lot for my garden. The Red-Flowering Currant started blooming last week and has about half of its buds open. I can hear Anna's Hummingbirds in my neighbor's gardens but they seem to have retreated from my garden now that there are so many Rufous Hummingbirds around. The Rufous Hummingbirds I am seeing: two adult males and mixture of female pulumage types. I have not heard or seen the adult males do any dive displays. The males are guarding territories. Maybe to day the little guys will start sounding off. I am torn between waiting for the right light to take pictures of the Rufous Hummingbirds or running off to Salish Ponds, what is a girl to do? Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland PS: Remember its time to really pay attention to keeping the bird feeders and baths clean. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/3f828429/attachment.html From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Mon Apr 6 08:42:16 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (barbara.millikan at gmail.com) Date: Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:42:16 +0000 Subject: [obol] West Salem osprey Message-ID: <00163646d64e2e87610466e4beff@google.com> When I drove past the west Salem nests (Polk County) Sunday morning about 8;30 there were birds on all four of the nests (that I am aware of). I only caught a glimpse of the platform by the West Salem exit from 22, so it is possible that bird was not an osprey, but earlier this week I saw an osprey on that spot. The four would be the cell tower, the top of the doug fir behind Green Thumb, the substation transformer platform and the one near the west Salem exit. There is another nest beside the river that I think belongs to a heron, and one in the trees between the Marion and Center St. bridges whose inhabitants I have never seen. Yrs, Barbara -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/4f8494d7/attachment.html From pjh at centurytel.net Sun Apr 5 19:48:22 2009 From: pjh at centurytel.net (pjh at centurytel.net) Date: Mon, 06 Apr 2009 02:48:22 GMT Subject: [obol] Morning Walk North of Lebanon, Linn County Message-ID: <200904060248.n362mMOj001864@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Jeff Harding by http://birdnotes.net Date: April 5, 2009 Location: 39127 Griggs Drive, Lebanon, Linn County, Oregon This morning I set out to add to my "on foot from the house" list, hoping to add the Greater White-fronted Goose that has been seen down the road a bit. It was there, hanging out with a pair of Canada Geese in a clover field. Also noteworthy were the Orange-crowned Warblers on Bond Road, Myrtle Warblers in the willows at the Griggs Mill Ponds, singing Audubon's Warblers in more upland situations, around our house, and two White-throated Sparrows, one at the feeder at our house, and one in the blackberries at the mill pond. I did not see a Black Phoebe there, but was pressed for time. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Greater White-fronted Goose Canada Goose Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Northern Shoveler Green-Winged Teal Ring-necked Duck Bufflehead Ring-necked Pheasant Wild Turkey California Quail Pied-billed Grebe Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Coot Killdeer Common Snipe Rock Dove Mourning Dove Rufous Hummingbird Red-breasted Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Hutton's Vireo Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch Bewick's Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin European Starling American Pipit Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow White-throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Purple Finch Pine Siskin Lesser Goldfinch House Sparrow Total number of species seen: 56 From tamickel at rio.com Mon Apr 6 09:06:29 2009 From: tamickel at rio.com (Tom & Allison Mickel) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 09:06:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] SE Eugene migrants Message-ID: <002001c9b6d1$a5632c90$f02985b0$@com> This morning on my walk on the Ridgeline Trail in SE Eugene I had a singing Cassin's Vireo along with numerous Orange-crowned Warblers and a couple Common Yellowthroats that weren't there last week. Tom Mickel From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon Apr 6 09:25:41 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 16:25:41 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Adult Male Calliope In-Reply-To: <1644811774.3617921239035022448.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <563172097.3618911239035141889.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi All, An adult Male Calliope Hummingbird just slipped into the garden. He's feeding on the Red-Flowering Currant bush.Fortunately he makes some very different sounds from the Rufous and Anna's so I started looking for the bird. Found him. Joy and Happiness!! Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/0c83ab53/attachment.html From oschmidt at att.net Mon Apr 6 09:36:08 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 09:36:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Portland Birders Night Message-ID: ....... first Tuesday, April 7th, 7:30 pm, Audubon House, 5151 NW Cornell Road, Portland. All are welcome. Bird quiz, photos from Costa Rica, South America seabirds, potpourri. Bring your photos and videos ........... oschmidt at att.net Monday, April 6, 2009 From dendroicaman at peak.org Mon Apr 6 09:44:23 2009 From: dendroicaman at peak.org (Karl Fairchild) Date: Mon, 06 Apr 2009 09:44:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] FOY Black-throated Gray Warbler, flight calls, no calliope today Message-ID: <49DA3167.1070003@peak.org> Hi Birders, I heard a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER singing its distinctive buzzy song this morning while walking the dog. Last night, while enjoying the stars, I heard a distant NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL and some interesting flight calls I think were ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS. There was one singleton and then it sounded like a group of three or so passing fairly low overhead. The calls sounded rather like one part of a Dark-eyed Junco twitter call. I guess they could have been this species as well, but I'm more used to hearing the whole twitter, not just snippets of it. Does anyone know of a good resource for western night migration calls? Good Birding and thanks in advance for any info! Karl Karl Fairchild 6 mi SW of Philomath PS--No sign of yesterday's Calliope Hummingbird this morning. From craig at greatskua.com Mon Apr 6 09:48:11 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Mon, 06 Apr 2009 09:48:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Spring arrivals and nesting activity Message-ID: <20090406094811.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.eb93fbc2f9.wbe@email.secureserver.net> New spring arrivals in my neighborhood in the past few days have been a pair of red-breasted sapsuckers (3/31 - they nested in the neighborhood last year, but have not been present all winter), male rufous hummingbird (3/31), female rufous hummingbird (4/3), and band-tailed pigeon (4/5). A Steller's jay spent much of yesterday gathering nesting material in my yard and carrying it to a Douglas fir across the street, and a black-capped chickadee was checking out a bird house in my yard. Last week, a robin built a nest in the English ivy on the fence at the edge of the yard (unfortunately, the ivy is rooted in the neighbor's yard so there are limits to how much I can do to remove it). Towhees and song sparrows nested in the ivy last year and a robin this year, so it's not entirely bad. A flicker has found that a metal vent pipe on the roof of my house is a wonderful drumming spot. Craig Tumer SW Portland From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Apr 6 10:40:52 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 10:40:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Curry Birds (and a few Coos) 4/4-4/6 Message-ID: <147962.74279.qm@web45303.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I spent Saturday through this morning (Monday) in beautiful Curry Co.? The weather was gorgeous and sunny, with static electricity in the early AM at my camp spot up in the mts. east of Gold Beach.? Here's my report: The ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER migration is in full steam, seems like I was never out of ear-shot wherever I stopped.? At Pistol River I had over 20 warblers singing on Sunday morning and many more calling.? The COMMON YELLOWTHROATS were also plentiful, but only a few were singing. CASPIAN TERNS were easy to see headed north off the coast and GREATER YELLOWLEGS could be heard calling in several locations. In Gold Beach on the 4th, the NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was near the blue house across from Jot's Resort, it's been around since at least November. On the 5th at Pistol River I saw 4 late LAPLAND LONGSPURS. Off the coast at Brookings the PACIFIC LOON migration was noticeable with probably 100 birds or so every 20 minutes. No TUFTED PUFFINS yet at Bird Island off Brookings. On Ocean View Drive in Harbor I saw a very early WESTERN KINGBIRD. There were 5 species of swallows up the Winchuck including NR-WINGED. On the 5th I saw a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON at the Port of Brookings. The night of the 5th, at a campspot east of Gold Beach that will remain anonymous, I had an unsolicited calling SPOTTED OWL as well as a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL and a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL. On the morning of the 6th I found a CHIPPING SPARROW near Pistol River at a beach pull-off. Also on the 6th, the GLAUCOUS GULL was still at the Port in Port Orford. There were BAND-TAILED PIGEONS and BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS at several locations also. In Coos Co. one of the overwintering PALM WARBLERS on the north spit of Coos Bay was still around on 4/3.? I heard my first COMMON YELLOWTHROAT there on the 4th. The Bandon EMPEROR GOOSE was still around on the 4th also. Merry migration!!!!! Tim R back in Coos co. From hannah.fritz at gmail.com Mon Apr 6 10:58:03 2009 From: hannah.fritz at gmail.com (Hannah Fritz) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 10:58:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Calliope Hummingbird, St. Helens Message-ID: <7c2847060904061058y719a1390meef7a49788c40add@mail.gmail.com> We have at least one male Calliope braving the wrath of the many Rufous to sample our feeders here in St. Helens. The Rufous' are making many diving displays over our lilac bush and a particular tree. (In fact I can hear them out there right now through an open window.) This is a new yard bird for us--it's probably been here before and we just didn't notice, but anyhow we're very excited. Pictures are here at my journal: http://hannah-or-hanna.livejournal.com/6115.html Also, the Osprey returned here last week at some point. Hannah St. Helens, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/b54b5e6c/attachment.html From mtweel at charter.net Mon Apr 6 11:19:43 2009 From: mtweel at charter.net (Margaret) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 11:19:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] E collard dove Cape Meares Message-ID: <6440F0C8E61A4B51B4786E6296F0D4A7@Margaret> This morning before most of the other birds came in the yard an eurasian collard-dove pecked on the ground and then preened in the tree in the front of my house. It is the first I have ever seen here. A few band-tailed pigeons come in to the feeder but usually later in the morning. I'll post some photos later of the eurasian collard-dove. Margaret Tweelinckx Cape Meares -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/b4832d15/attachment.html From mtweel at charter.net Mon Apr 6 11:54:05 2009 From: mtweel at charter.net (Margaret) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 11:54:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] E collard-dove Cape Meares Message-ID: <3A5C4FD3AE3143128FCD7887E177431C@Margaret> This is one photo of the eurasian collard-dove I saw in our tree at Cape Meares. Margaret Tweelinckx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/f1207115/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: P4050021.JPG Type: image/jpeg Size: 70950 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/f1207115/attachment.jpe From foglark at att.net Mon Apr 6 12:42:42 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 12:42:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Cowbird migration, sermon preached to choir dept Message-ID: <625995.42953.qm@web80001.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Judging from the reports on OBOL, the Brown-headed Cowbirds are heading north big time now. This is a bird that is often overlooked, or scorned, but their arrival is pretty impressive when you consider it--in the span of a few weeks, the countryside all around goes from essentially no cowbirds (unless you live near a dairy or feedlot) to countless cowbirds. This is the time of year I begin to see females suddenly zipping across the road at windshield height, and clusters of two or three males perched up on small treetops, displaying and giving their chemically-melodic "phenolphthalein!" song. As cowbirds become abundant in the lowlands, and we all see plenty of them, it is good to remember that cowbirds are not "bad," as in, they're not bad. They evolved across the ages to be able to move on with endlessly nomadic bison herds, leaving their eggs behind so that the adults could simply survive. White people (my hand's in the air)--through wiping out 99.8% of the original bison numbers and replacing them with cows, are--if blame is to be assigned--responsible for the perceived "evils" of cowbirds. The birds themselves have pea-sized brains, are captive to primitive drives and, it would seem, make no ethical or moral choices. I think cowbirds are neat. David Fix Arcata home of 14th annual Godwit Days, 17-20 April Saturday's keynote speaker: Pete Dunne, on "25 Things That Changed Birding" -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/2141a4be/attachment.html From birdboy at bkpix.com Mon Apr 6 12:51:44 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 12:51:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge 4/6 Message-ID: Hi birders, Visible this morning, through the heat waves, from the viewing platform at Royal Ave: 1 - CASPIAN TERN 3 - AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS 1 - YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD 1 - REDHEAD 6 - CINNAMON TEAL 1 - BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 1 - GREATER YELLOWLEGS 1 - ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER 1 - BALD EAGLE COMMON YELLOWTHROATS and VIRGINIA RAILS singing everywhere. Also, a SONG SPARROW busy constructing a nest. A fresh pile of BROKEN GLASS in the parking lot was new since last week, despite the warning signs about break-ins. Good birding, Noah Strycker -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/51720ad6/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Apr 6 13:08:28 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:08:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pufted Tuffins return Message-ID: <49DA613C.9000005@pacifier.com> Michelle and I spent the morning at Haystack Rock. While there I saw at least three TUFTED PUFFINS. A local observer said they were first noted yesterday. Right on time. Among the many interesting things on the rock was a CANADA GOOSE that was acting as if on a nest. I pity the future goslings if this be so. Very good numbers of BLACK SCOTERS working the waters around the rock this morning as well. Flyby flock of 6 BLACK BRANT. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Henry David Thoreau: citizen scientist http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10505/ From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Mon Apr 6 14:13:44 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 14:13:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Skinner Butte, Eugene 4/6 Message-ID: <45750A3E-F625-45B2-9828-B165A7E307C2@comcast.net> OBOL- My recent comment on delayed warbler migration got several comments both on- and off-line -- but the message was always the same: be patient. This morning, that advice was validated. Skinner Butte in Eugene was loaded with warblers and several local birders enjoyed a sunny morning. Approx numbers: Orange-crowned Warbler 20 Townsend's Warbler 25 Yellow-rumped Warber 25 Black-throated Gray Warbler 4 Vireos and empids soon? Barry McKenzie Eugene From ronaldgp at onlinemac.com Mon Apr 6 14:30:49 2009 From: ronaldgp at onlinemac.com (ronaldgp at onlinemac.com) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 14:30:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] (no subject) Message-ID: <007a032f4b2c3e04b159fc13ab57b394.squirrel@mail.onlinenw.com> I was able to make a trip to Burns this past weekend to participate in the John Scharff Migratory Bird Festival. Having birded in the area around Burns and the Malheur NWR for over 30 years, this was a first for me as all prior trips were family or friends centered. As usual for birders, everyone I met was friendly and I had a great time in the field. I chose to do my own tours with my wife and a friend, so missed out on the benefit of more eyes in the group but still saw a good number of species before we left the area. Spring was/is a little late in the basin. We had a little bit of everything weather wise on Friday: snow, rain, sleet, hail, sun and wind. Sometimes all within 10 minutes. Despite this, we saw 64 species that day. We birded the Silvies flood plain around Burns, the refuge headquarters, northern segment of the central patrol road to Buena Vista and Benson Pond. Just past the Narrows RV park (etc.) we had a splendid view of a PRAIRIE FALCON on a crossarm. When he flew, he nearly took a WILSON'S SNIPE at the side of the road. The afternoon highlight was on highway 205 just north of Diamond Rd. We stopped for a bird on the barbed-wire fence and saw an early WESTERN KINGBIRD. Saturday was much nicer birding without the wind and precipitation. We headed out Foley Rd. and then up to Idlewild CG in the national forest north of town. WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS were seen here by others, but not by us. We had one fleeting glimpse that may have been, but could not be relocated. The consolation prize was hitting the nuthatch trifecta. From one spot we saw WHITE-BREASTED, RED-BREASTED and PYGMY NUTHATCHES plus MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES and heard CASSIN'S FINCHES. The MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS were gorgeous, well, the males were. Total for the day was 62 species. Sunday was limited to the morning as we needed to get home for dinner. Since a number of species seen by others were in the national forest on roads 41 and 47, we planned a route through that area ending at Riley. Unfortunately, we encountered more snow on the roads than we were willing to attempt. This changed the route three times before we gave up and returned to Burns for lunch. At one point on road 47, our friend wanted to photograph a snag for artistic reasons. Having nothing else to do as driver, I brought up the bins to look at the snag. She hadn't seen the RED-TAILED HAWK against the only area with bark. Neither the little birds flitting about the trunk and branches in the same area. Switching from bins to scope showed these to be PYGMY NUTHATCHES. Perhaps I should stop more often to consider art when looking for birds. All tallied we had 3 days of great birding, 86 species located, 18 hours of sleep and almost 1000 miles traveled. Plus 5 more species without trying on the way home. Ron Peterson McMinnville, Oregon --- Species List (alphabetic) Blackbird, Red-winged Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Western Bufflehead Bushtit, Common Canvasback Chickadee, Mountain Collared-dove, Eurasian Coot, American Cormorant, Double-crested Crane, Sandhill Creeper, Brown Crow, American Curlew, Long-billed Dowitcher, Long-billed Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Eagle, Golden Falcon, Prairie Finch, Cassin's Finch, House Flicker, Northern Gadwall Goldeneye, Common Goldfinch, Lesser Goose, Canada Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Ross's Goose, Snow Grebe, Pied-billed Gull, California Gull, Ring-billed Harrier, Northern Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Heron, Great Blue Jay, Steller's Junco, Dark-eyed Kestrel, American Killdeer Kingbird, Western Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Lark, Horned Magpie, Black-billed Mallard Meadowlark, Western Merganser, Common Merganser, Hooded Nuthatch, Pygmy Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Pelican, American White Pheasant, Ring-necked Phoebe, Say's Pigeon, Rock Pintail, Northern Quail, California Raven, Common Redhead Robin, American Sandpiper, Least Scaup, Lesser Shoveler, Northern Shrike, Northern Snipe, Wilson's Solitaire, Townsend's Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, House Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, White-crowned Starling, European Swallow, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swan, Tundra Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Green-winged Thrasher, Sage Towhee, Spotted Vulture, Turkey Warbler, Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Waxwing, Cedar Widgeon, American Wren, Marsh Yellowlegs, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser From louisfredd at msn.com Mon Apr 6 15:13:59 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 15:13:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon City Mar28-Apr3 Message-ID: Yesterday morning 3 Orange-crowned Warblers foraged in shrubs edge of the lawn: yellow-flowering forsythia and Oregon grape, and dull yellow willow catkins. With daffodils below, a study in yellows in the weak morning sunlight. Later in the morning the first Yellow-rumped Warbler. I saw OCWA on and off all day long. Partial list from the yard for previous wk below: Mar28 COOPER'S HAWK 2das RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD M,F 2-4 (at least) Every day. PURPLE FINCH M,F 1-2, 4das, presence dropped off late in week. HOUSE FINCH M,F 2-4, 6das, F gathering nest material PINE SISKIN 2-6 Every day Mar29 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW FOYr WCSP spring migration here tightly scripted last wk Mar thru Apr, this one on the early edge. LESSER GOLDFINCH F These make brief appearances thruout yr seemingly at random. Mar30 RED-TAILED HAWK. BAND-TAILED PIGEON FOYr. ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD 3das ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER FOYr 3das Apr03 AMERICAN KESTREL. VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW FOYr est20 NO-SHOW The Varied Thrush M which wintered since first snowfall Dec has left apparently. _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get quick friend updates right in your inbox. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Updates1_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/88104508/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Mon Apr 6 15:26:55 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 15:26:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Jo Co migrants Message-ID: <19D14BFD50F348B09AD919A3F1F9EEE4@Warbler> Phil Hicks (east of Grants Pass) had the following new arrivals at his place: WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (04-05-09) LINCOLN'S SPARROW (04-06-09) Ruby-crowned Kinglets continue to be on the move. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/7c23a04f/attachment.html From ronaldgp at onlinemac.com Mon Apr 6 15:36:54 2009 From: ronaldgp at onlinemac.com (ronaldgp at onlinemac.com) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 15:36:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Subject line - Scharff Festival Message-ID: <5ce0b1c0522dc339770ca265aa3db505.squirrel@mail.onlinenw.com> Sorry for the poor net etiquette. Obviously, my prior post did have a subject. Rather than posting via email from work, maybe I should just work. Ron Peterson McMinnville, Oregon From pamelaj at spiritone.com Mon Apr 6 16:59:25 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 16:59:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cowbird migration, sermon preached to choir dept References: <625995.42953.qm@web80001.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <03D1CFB35C92427CAA23E05B8B3E556C@yourw5st28y9a3> Cowbirds and other nest parasites are not so intensely scorned in Europe. Sort of like public opinion of Bill Clinton while in office. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: David Fix & Jude Power To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 12:42 PM Subject: [obol] Cowbird migration, sermon preached to choir dept Judging from the reports on OBOL, the Brown-headed Cowbirds are heading north big time now. This is a bird that is often overlooked, or scorned, but their arrival is pretty impressive when you consider it--in the span of a few weeks, the countryside all around goes from essentially no cowbirds (unless you live near a dairy or feedlot) to countless cowbirds. This is the time of year I begin to see females suddenly zipping across the road at windshield height, and clusters of two or three males perched up on small treetops, displaying and giving their chemically-melodic "phenolphthalein!" song. As cowbirds become abundant in the lowlands, and we all see plenty of them, it is good to remember that cowbirds are not "bad," as in, they're not bad. They evolved across the ages to be able to move on with endlessly nomadic bison herds, leaving their eggs behind so that the adults could simply survive. White people (my hand's in the air)--through wiping out 99.8% of the original bison numbers and replacing them with cows, are--if blame is to be assigned--responsible for the perceived "evils" of cowbirds. The birds themselves have pea-sized brains, are captive to primitive drives and, it would seem, make no ethical or moral choices. I think cowbirds are neat. David Fix Arcata home of 14th annual Godwit Days, 17-20 April Saturday's keynote speaker: Pete Dunne, on "25 Things That Changed Birding" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From pamelaj at spiritone.com Mon Apr 6 17:04:28 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 17:04:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Skinner Butte, Eugene 4/6 References: <45750A3E-F625-45B2-9828-B165A7E307C2@comcast.net> Message-ID: Yesterday it was one Yellow-rumped Warbler, but today it was Orange-crowned Warblers calling all over the place. Tomorrow, who knows? Flickers are pairing up and drumming, White-crowned Sparrows are back, Band-tailed Pigeons are making display flights, and a Northern Pygmy Owl is tooting in the morning. Pamela Johnston outside McMinnville ----- Original Message ----- From: "Barry McKenzie" To: Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 2:13 PM Subject: [obol] Skinner Butte, Eugene 4/6 OBOL- My recent comment on delayed warbler migration got several comments both on- and off-line -- but the message was always the same: be patient. This morning, that advice was validated. Skinner Butte in Eugene was loaded with warblers and several local birders enjoyed a sunny morning. Approx numbers: Orange-crowned Warbler 20 Townsend's Warbler 25 Yellow-rumped Warber 25 Black-throated Gray Warbler 4 Vireos and empids soon? Barry McKenzie Eugene _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From whoffman at peak.org Mon Apr 6 17:47:03 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 17:47:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Some thoughts on traveling Savannah Sparrows References: <49D96BF1.9040505@pacifier.com> Message-ID: One thing I have noticed over the years is that the contrastiest of the spring migrants - with the boldest streaking and brightest yellow on faces - also have much brighter pink legs and feet. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Patterson" To: "OBOL" Sent: Sunday, April 05, 2009 7:41 PM Subject: [obol] Some thoughts on traveling Savannah Sparrows > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Henry David Thoreau: citizen scientist > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10505/ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From andy.frank at kp.org Mon Apr 6 17:56:03 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 17:56:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sandy River Yellowlegs, Forest Park Ravens Message-ID: <234FDA40AEAA4D55A3BD56EC78261E90@familyroom> At Sandy River Delta today there was a YELLOWLEGS that from a distance looked like a LESSER. This was at the first pond that is adjacent to the highway. That area bears watching in the weeks ahead. The growth has been cut back from last year allowing much better viewing for shorebirds, though I suspect American Bitterns won't be visiting due to the relative lack of cover. Also in the area was my FOY COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and a singing WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. Last Wednesday I heard a COMMON RAVEN about 1/4 mile up Leif Erikson trail in NW Portland, and then this afternoon I saw 2 COMMON RAVENS there. I usually find them somewhere in NW Portland once or twice each year sometime during the winter. It may not be very likely, but it would be nice if these 2 stuck around. Further up the trail were 6 TURKEY VULTURES soaring closely overhead. It was a beautiful site. Andy Frank From whoffman at peak.org Mon Apr 6 18:11:01 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 18:11:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mew Gulls Message-ID: <73AB0C8B1E90464DB318698C54C38329@D48XBZ51> Today (5 April 2009) between 12:30 and 1:00 PM I walked the nature trail at Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport. The highlight was a concentration of at least 300 Mew Gulls, about 80% adults. I spent a while with them and saw a lot of variation. Most had lost the winter head streaking. One had a distinct black tip to the bill, and a second had a more extensive black, but fading to near yellow at the very tip. This bird had several atypical features in addition to the bill color, including a yellowish iris, and much less white than typical in the wingtips. It also seemed a slightly larger than the others, with slightly longer legs. The bill was also longer than average. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/abc1592d/attachment.html From jorrie at peak.org Mon Apr 6 18:22:40 2009 From: jorrie at peak.org (Jorrie & Ken) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 18:22:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Help Bumblebee Removal Message-ID: <63900EB7-C374-49A6-A9EB-A68FD534A137@peak.org> A friend living in Olympia, WA, has bumblebees nesting in the spaces between her siding on the house. She is concerned about letting nest on or in the house or attic. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how she can get the bumblebees out of the house? Thanks for any help you can give. Jorrie & Ken Ciotti From LCain at astoria.k12.or.us Mon Apr 6 18:44:42 2009 From: LCain at astoria.k12.or.us (Lee Cain) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 18:44:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brant at mouth of Columbia Message-ID: <515DDA9BF1AC1E42829D6CD2AA9FC401352C9E4CFA@asdxcng.intra.astoria.k12.or.us> This afternoon at about 1630 hrs about 100 BRANT were winging it north along Clatsop Beach at Parking Lot A of Ft Stevens. Lee Cain >//////> >//////> >//////> >//////> Aquatic Biology/Integrated Science https://www.edline.net/pages/Astoria_SHS (go to Contents, then Classes, then by teacher) Astoria High School 1001 West Marine Drive Astoria OR 97103 503-325-3911 vm 301 Astoria OR 97103 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/9be9e850/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Mon Apr 6 18:45:38 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:45:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lark Bunting Message-ID: Obolers, Had a female or very young Lark Bunting in Jackson Bottoms this afternoon. It was picking about on the dike of the reservoir at the south end of the bottoms. It flew off erratically toward the east side of the reservoir. Harry Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/51037c40/attachment.html From FoxSparrows at aol.com Mon Apr 6 18:54:55 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 21:54:55 EDT Subject: [obol] Avocets and Stilts arrive at Harney County on Sunday Message-ID: I'll post Scharff Festival highlights later... AVOCETS and BLACK-NECKED STILTS arrived on Sunday to the county in numbers, appearing at Moon Hill Reservoir and Potter Swamp Road. Neither species was found earlier in the weekend (that I know about).Today, both species were well-scattered around the Burns-Hines area. Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm_ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221621488x1201450096/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID %3D62%26bcd%3DAprilfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/890a1f22/attachment.html From FoxSparrows at aol.com Mon Apr 6 19:02:15 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 22:02:15 EDT Subject: [obol] Some Malheur County notes Message-ID: Today, I needed to shuttle a vehicle from Burns BLM to Vale BLM. Since I was in no particular hurry to get back, I took the time to note bird species I saw on the drive. On the outbound trip, I saw WHITE PELICANS in three small bands of 5-10 birds each flying up the Malheur River around Harper. On the return, at least 10 were on the river just east of Harper. Other species noted, mostly along the Malheur River, which is VERY LOW right now: Canada Goose Cinnamon Teal Mallard (most frequent and numerous species) Northern Shoveler Common Merganser Common Goldeneye Green-winged Teal American Wigeon Northern Flicker American Coot Northern Harrier California Quail Townsend's Solitaire Red-winged Blackbird Starling White-crowned Sparrow Killdeer Great Blue Heron Black-billed Magpie American Kestrel Prairie Falcon Northern Raven We don't get many reports from Malheur County these days... Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm_ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221621488x1201450096/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID %3D62%26bcd%3DAprilfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/eadbae24/attachment.html From jt_johnson at comcast.net Mon Apr 6 19:24:20 2009 From: jt_johnson at comcast.net (Jim Johnson) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 19:24:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Caspian Tern at Vancouver Lake, WA In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <138BC57855504B9685138FB6156D8BF1@D81WS2C1> Greetings, I took a bike ride out to Vancouver Lake (Washington) this evening after work, and just as I reached the shore my first Caspian Tern of the year flew overhead. Cheers, Jim Johnson Dragonflies and Damselflies of the Northwest and Beyond http://odonata.bogfoot.net/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/8be6a3a9/attachment.html From mklittletree at comcast.net Mon Apr 6 19:49:17 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (michel Kleinbaum) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 19:49:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ankeny Ross's Goose & Caspian Tern Message-ID: On Buena Vista Rd a Ross's Goose was easy to pick out in a large flock of Cackling Geese. At Eagle Marsh, what looked like some gull turned out to be a Caspian tern in the binoculars. I saw this bird for only a couple of minutes; I went for my scope, turned around and the bird was gone. Never saw it fly. I saw one there only once before, on 25 April 1999. Michel Kleinbaum S. Salem From rfadney at hotmail.com Mon Apr 6 20:27:20 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 20:27:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Canada Goose on Osprey nest In-Reply-To: <317688.99232.qm@web59911.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> References: <317688.99232.qm@web59911.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> Message-ID: I went to my favorite Osprey nest, at River Forks Park in Roseburg Sunday and found a lousy (Sorry Marylin) Dusky in a nest I've been watching for a few years. It really disgusts me because I have now watched four Osprey pairs and their nests for the last ten or so years, be moved out by the ever increasing goose population. Of the four nesting Osprey pairs, none has ever returned to a nest taken over by honkers. The Roseburg pair irritates me more, because I've watched and photographed them for three years. I photographed each years young, captured photos of them mating, had the adult female land 5 feet from me and just sit there while I took pictures of her. She and her mate (I call them Peg and Al Bundy) have both sat in a tree not ten feet from me, whistling and grunting to each other and responding to my feeble attempts to mimic them. I have grown very close to them and now fear I'll never see them again. On the bright side, I am glad to see that Ralph and Alice Cramden have finished their nest rebuilding. They are in the nest on highway 101 just south of the Carter Lake boat landing. They lost their original nest during the storms this past winter. Last week Alice was proudly sitting in her new home when I drove by. I've been watching this pair (as I am sure many others have) for many years. They are responsible for my Osprey mania, and you could ask my wife if you don't believe me, I am "Crazy Osprey Man". Sorry for the rant! Rich Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 08:03:00 -0700 From: davebrownbirder at yahoo.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Canada Goose on Osprey nest Yes the Cowbirds are back again today with a extra male this time. I forgot to mention yesterday that the goose has been setting on eggs for sometime now in the Osprey nest on West 11 th. also known as Highway 126 west of Eugene where Coyote Creek enters Fern Ridge Reservoir. It or another Canada Goose nested there last year too. Dave Brown Alvadore Oregon _________________________________________________________________ Quick access to your favorite MSN content and Windows Live with Internet Explorer 8. http://ie8.msn.com/microsoft/internet-explorer-8/en-us/ie8.aspx?ocid=B037MSN55C0701A -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090406/d83f43f8/attachment.html From markhamm at charterinternet.com Mon Apr 6 20:29:21 2009 From: markhamm at charterinternet.com (Mark Hamm) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 20:29:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black throated gray warbler Message-ID: Saw fos black-throated gray warbler in our garden this afternoon, Roseburg near downtown Also heard but did not see a Swainson's Thrush last saturday in my yard. From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Apr 7 05:09:36 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 05:09:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] More Coos/Curry arrivals Message-ID: <767087.3232.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Joe Metzler had a singing BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER this past weekend at Bandon Marsh. Also, Terry Wahl saw his first WHIMBREL on 4/5 near cape Blanco in Curry Co. and saw his first big flock of ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE. ENJOY! Tim R Coos Bay From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Tue Apr 7 08:28:39 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 08:28:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chipping Sparrow, Eugene Message-ID: OBOL- FOY Chipping Sparrow on my feeder this morning. Cool. Barry McKenzie Eugene From rfilby at charter.net Tue Apr 7 10:32:24 2009 From: rfilby at charter.net (rfilby) Date: Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:32:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared Doves in Newport Message-ID: Yesterday we had 3 Eurasian Collared Doves in our yard in north Newport on the coast. They appeared with a small flock of Band Tailed Pigeons which regularly visit our feeders in Spring and early Summer. This is the first time we have seen them in the past 5 years. Roy Filby and Cathy Grimm Newport _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From greenfant at hotmail.com Tue Apr 7 10:34:57 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 13:34:57 -0400 Subject: [obol] Chipping Sparrow in Hillsboro (Washington Co) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I had a Chipping Sparrow as well this morning at my feeder in Hillsboro (Orenco area). Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Mobile1_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090407/44a4817c/attachment.html From dan at heyerly.com Tue Apr 7 11:24:01 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Dan Heyerly) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 11:24:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] FOY Chipping Sparrow - Eugene Message-ID: <26E3CE3C66DF41E78E89D5FEFF89F355@Dan> Oblinks, Anne and I saw our first-of-the-year CHIPPING SPARROW on our brush pile in our back yard this morning as we were sipping coffee and having breakfast! Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090407/b687793a/attachment.html From rhinochaser67 at yahoo.com Tue Apr 7 11:53:13 2009 From: rhinochaser67 at yahoo.com (Greg Gabel) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 11:53:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Black Swans? Message-ID: <45643.11214.qm@web31107.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I decided to take a break from building a fence and gate and head up to Smith and Bybee for some mid afternoon birding. I was feeling optimistic for the sun was shining and I was pretty sure this was going to be a Pileated day or perhaps a Northern Shrike. The yellow rumps as usual were littering the trees but all in all it was fairly quiet. I hiked out to the end of a spit and there were some good finds there. Ospreys, Ringnecks and a lone cinnamon teal... As I was walking back down the spit I ran into some folks that asked if I had see the two black swans as they pointed in the direction a pair of Canada geese. I said, why no I must have missed the black swans. Sibley describes the ever elusive black swan as something like ?It is likely they escaped from a zoo or a private exotic pet owner?. While there were 9 or so monkeys that escaped recently from the primate research center, I heard nothing about any black swans accompanying them. I noticed a large nest around the other side of the lake which I thought looked fairly owly. So I headed in that direction. Not much of a trail to speak of so I had to work for it. As I approached the nest I noticed two fledgling great horns peering down at me. I walked another 100 feet and found the adult pair keeping tabs on my every step. With a look in their eyes that suggested they were preparing to rip my heart out with their giant claws if need be. No Pileated or Shrike, but hey it's all good. Greg From mklittletree at comcast.net Tue Apr 7 12:14:48 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (michel Kleinbaum) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 12:14:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Swans? References: <45643.11214.qm@web31107.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Hello, There are several Black Swans on a property at River and Croisan Roads., here in Salem; not far from Minto Brown Park and close to our house. I see them every time I drive by. Michel Kleinbaum ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg Gabel" To: Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 11:53 AM Subject: [obol] Black Swans? > > I decided to take a break from > building a fence and gate and head up to Smith and Bybee for some mid > afternoon birding. I was feeling optimistic for the sun was shining and I > was pretty sure this was going to be a Pileated day or perhaps a Northern > Shrike. The yellow rumps as > usual were littering the trees but all in all it was fairly quiet. I > hiked out to the end of a spit and there were some good finds there. > Ospreys, Ringnecks and a lone cinnamon teal... As I was walking > back down the spit I ran into some folks that asked if I had see the two > black > swans as they pointed in the direction a pair of Canada geese. I said, > why no I must have missed the black swans. Sibley describes the ever > elusive black swan as something like ?It is likely they escaped > from a zoo or a private exotic pet owner?. While there were 9 or so > monkeys that escaped recently from the primate research center, I heard > nothing > about any black swans accompanying them. > I noticed a large nest around the other side of the lake > which I thought looked fairly owly. So I headed in that direction. Not > much of a trail to speak of so I had to work for it. As I approached the > nest I > noticed two fledgling great horns peering down at me. I walked another > 100 feet and found the adult pair keeping tabs on my every step. With a > look in their eyes that suggested they were preparing to > rip my heart out with their giant claws if need be. No Pileated or > Shrike, but hey it's all good. Greg > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From larmcqueen at msn.com Tue Apr 7 12:23:38 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 12:23:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: Fern Ridge in Eugene Message-ID: Dear OBOLers, Dael Parsons and I took a walk yesterday along the dykes in Fern Ridge's Fisher Butte Unit. There was lots of bird activity, including what appeared to be mating flights of Tree Swallows. We particularly enjoyed the presence of four swallow species (Barn, Cliff, Tree, and Violet-green), two Short-eared Owls (a lighter-colored one on the ground -- could she be nesting?), a White-tailed Kite, and a Horned Grebe in transitional plumage. Best, Margie Paris 2394 Charnelton Street Eugene, OR 97405 (541) 484-0763 margieparis1 at mac.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090407/698860e1/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Tue Apr 7 12:57:32 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 12:57:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] FOY Chipping Sparrow - Eugene In-Reply-To: <26E3CE3C66DF41E78E89D5FEFF89F355@Dan> Message-ID: <49dbb029.1437720a.53e8.ffffec10@mx.google.com> We had our first Chipping Sparrow today on our property twelve miles east of Bend and yesterday we had our first Violet green Swallows checking out their nest box. Marilyn Miller _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Dan Heyerly Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 11:24 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] FOY Chipping Sparrow - Eugene Oblinks, Anne and I saw our first-of-the-year CHIPPING SPARROW on our brush pile in our back yard this morning as we were sipping coffee and having breakfast! Dan Heyerly, Eugene No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.285 / Virus Database: 270.11.45/2045 - Release Date: 04/07/09 06:41:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090407/fc70b25d/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Apr 7 13:02:08 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:02:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] BANDING REPORT: Neawanna Wetland - 4/7/2009 Message-ID: <49DBB140.6070200@pacifier.com> BANDING REPORT- Neawanna Wetland Preserve 04-07-2009 Method: Up to eight 9m mist nets are placed in mixed Oregon Crabapple/Twinberry/Spruce along the the upper Neawanna River, Seaside, Clatsop Co. OR. Captured birds are measured, ringed with USBBL numbered metal bands and released. Data on time of capture and side of net captured are also recorded to gain an understanding of movements through the area. 2009 407 Neawanna 97 Hours 3.5 Nets 8 Net*hours 28 Rufous Hummingbird RUHU 14 Ruby-crowned Kinglet RCKI 1 Common Yellowthroat COYE 2 Fox Sparrow FOSP 1 Recaptures Common Yellowthroat COYE 1 new captures 18 total captures 19 diversity 4 birds/(net*hours) 0.7 diversity/(net*hour) 0.1 Notes: We started out new season today by catching many RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS. COMMON YELLOWTHROAT is a new arrival and one of the birds caught was a recapture from last season. New migrants we heard included BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD and a single ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER that did not sing. http://home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/observatory/observatory.html -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Henry David Thoreau: citizen scientist http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10505/ From puma at smt-net.com Tue Apr 7 13:26:30 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 13:26:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Tanager ? Message-ID: <61C86565-A653-42DD-B4BF-0D83B67C2E16@smt-net.com> OBOL, On Sunday, April 5, I heard three distinct loud calls of the WESTERN TANAGER. This seems way too early, although some years back, they stayed late before migrating south for winter. Is anyone else hearing them? PURPLE FINCH have arrived and I am wondering if they are practicing Western Tanager calls. I have not heard these calls since Sunday, so I am wondering if a Western Tanager or a Purple Finch are just migrating through. I have them both here during the summer. I also have STELLER'S JAY here 24/7/365. Pat Waldron East of Scio From dpvroman at budget.net Tue Apr 7 13:39:16 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 13:39:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Jo Co migrants today Message-ID: Today (04-07-09) the 1st YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS (Audubon's) show up at our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit). Likely fallout birds ahead of the front now about here. Traveling with them were RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090407/806a2182/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Apr 7 13:50:22 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 13:50:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Migrants 4/7/2009 Message-ID: <166430.61598.qm@web45316.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I drove up through Coquille, Myrtle Point, and Powers early this morning. It was actually fairly quiet compared to Curry Co. this past weekend. I did hear my first singing CASSIN'S VIREO along the SF of the Coquille River. A little past Powers I had a singing HOUSE WREN, the earliest Coos spring record by a couple days. No luck with BTG Warbler or PS Flycatcher- if they were around they weren't singing. I did have one singing TOWNSEND'S WARBLER. At Johnson Mill Pond in Coquille the PURPLE MARTINS were back. I think a pair or two could breed here as I hear them almost every year early on, but the Tree Swallows seem to grab most of the nest boxes. Merry migration! Tim R Coos Bay From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Apr 7 13:51:30 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:51:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Cty Lapland Longspur and Brown Pelican Message-ID: <49DBBCD2.6090600@verizon.net> 4/7 Coos Bay North Spit, Coos Cty One LAPLAND LONGSPUR was on the Snowy Plover nesting area at Coos Bay North Spit this morning, and one BROWN PELICAN was flying over the bay. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From hatlevis at comcast.net Tue Apr 7 13:40:19 2009 From: hatlevis at comcast.net (hatlevis at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 20:40:19 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Eurasian widgeon Message-ID: <6681628.3679951239136819822.JavaMail.root@sz0017a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> One male Eurasian widgeon among American widgeons at Starker Arts Park pond . Susie -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090407/3f7e6f76/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Tue Apr 7 13:55:40 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 13:55:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Male Calliope, North of Silverton Message-ID: Male Calliope Hummingbird on the flowering red currant bush outside our dining room. We saw it today at 1:45 p.m. Anna Thomas 5 miles north of Silverton From rozzienoodle at gmail.com Tue Apr 7 15:07:24 2009 From: rozzienoodle at gmail.com (Jean Thompson) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 15:07:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Tanager ? In-Reply-To: <61C86565-A653-42DD-B4BF-0D83B67C2E16@smt-net.com> References: <61C86565-A653-42DD-B4BF-0D83B67C2E16@smt-net.com> Message-ID: I saw a western tanager yesterday, atop a tall Doug-fir. Southwest of Dallas. Early. On Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 1:26 PM, Pat Waldron wrote: > OBOL, > > On Sunday, April 5, I heard three distinct loud calls of the WESTERN > TANAGER. This seems way too early, although some years back, they > stayed late before migrating south for winter. Is anyone else hearing > them? > > PURPLE FINCH have arrived and I am wondering if they are practicing > Western Tanager calls. I have not heard these calls since Sunday, so > I am wondering if a Western Tanager or a Purple Finch are just > migrating through. I have them both here during the summer. I also > have STELLER'S JAY here 24/7/365. > > Pat Waldron > East of Scio > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Jean Thompson rozzienoodle at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090407/f780f478/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Tue Apr 7 15:54:32 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 15:54:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] JoCo additional migrants Message-ID: Late today (04-07-09) several BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS and 1 NASHVILLE WARBLER in with some of the previously mentioned. At our place just east of the Merlin I-5 exit. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090407/5b3da7a1/attachment.html From mmarvin at spiritone.com Tue Apr 7 16:04:23 2009 From: mmarvin at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 16:04:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Singing Hutton's Vireo SW Portland Message-ID: <43D5DC6D-6AFA-4657-965F-0EA8F3125C57@spiritone.com> Oboli - I just got back from a walk in my SW Portland neighborhood. Just about the only singer I heard, and there were two of them about 1/4 of a mile apart, was Hutton's Vireo. I glimpsed the first bird on Miles Court west of 60th, hopping around high in a conifer and I saw something yellowish. The second bird, which I never saw, was in April Hill Park. Both of them sang a two-note song, the second note one step higher than the other, repeated after a silence about twice as long as the song had been. I came home and checked with Stokes and the song was most like the example from Washington (and not much at all like the example from Arizona). Come to think of it, it could have been the same bird twice, following me to see what I was up to. It was a nice surprise on an otherwise fairly quiet afternoon. Good birding! Marcia -- Marcia Marvin * mmarvin at spiritone.com * SW Portland, OR, USA From johnpam at mtangel.net Tue Apr 7 16:38:02 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 16:38:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Female Calliope Hummingbird 5 miles north of Silverton Message-ID: Hi- Just saw a female Calliope Hummingbird at our kitchen window feeder. Looked smaller than our usual females, so I looked for the length of wings to tail. Very unusual for us to see both the male and the female. Pam Reid 5 miles north of Silverton From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Apr 7 16:41:45 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 16:41:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] More Coos Birds 7/7/2009 Message-ID: <586734.12132.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> After getting an e-mail from Alan Contreras and talking to Terry Wahl, I am beginning to figure out the LAPLAND LONGSPUR wintering vs. migrant situation on the south coast, I think. Besides the 4 birds I had at Pistol River on Sunday, Knute Andersson and Lois Miller had 35-40 near Cape Blanco, Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein had one today and I did also during the PM several miles further north on the north spit from where they saw their bird. In Curry this species overwinters, but normally disappears by late February.? In Coos there are no wintering records later than December other than single sightings, one each, in January and February.? There are now 10 spring records from Coos, mostly singles from 7 April through early June with most records in May.? The 35-40 Knute and Lois found is pretty spectacular, of course that Cape Blanco area gets huge flocks in the fall also. Other birds seen this afternoon out on the north spit of Coos Bay: 8- BLUE-WINGED TEAL (FOY for me) 3- CINNAMON TEAL 2- REDHEAD (overwintering birds) 2- PALM WARBLERS, one a very bright bird seen aways from where the two birds overwintered, so I expect a migrant.? I've only seen a few spring migrants- all in April- there are no Coos records from May. The other overwintering bird was in its usual location. 2- AMERICAN PIPITS (these have been seen by various observers moving through the last week or so) and the PURPLE MARTINS are back on the north spit too. I guess that's it for today! Tim R Coos Bay From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Apr 7 16:43:18 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 16:43:18 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] 7/7/2009? Message-ID: <713443.15957.qm@web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> It's been warm but it doesn't quite feel like July yet... Fumble fingers in Coos Bay From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Apr 7 16:43:17 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 16:43:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] 7/7/2009? Message-ID: <891215.10942.qm@web45303.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> It's been warm but it doesn't quite feel like July yet... Fumble fingers in Coos Bay From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Tue Apr 7 16:52:50 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 16:52:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Possible Glaucous Gull at Westmoreland Park in Portland Message-ID: <023701c9b7db$f64d1f20$e2e75d60$@NET> There was what I think is a first cycle GLAUCOUS GULL at Westmoreland Park in Portland today. Pink legs, pink bill with black tip, a smudge of black ahead of a dark eye and light brown areas on the back. I'm trying to get better on the gulls and have a long way to go but this bird stood out. Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_pix/ click on the image and then on all sizes to get to a larger view. Tom Shreve Tigard -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090407/21179f27/attachment.html From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Tue Apr 7 11:06:03 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:06:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Test - Please ignore. Message-ID: <20090407110603.eojpifqeck44848s@webmail2.jimnorton.org> Just a test. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From carolk at viclink.com Tue Apr 7 17:36:28 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 17:36:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Evening Grosbeaks 4/7/09 Yamhill Co. Message-ID: <000701c9b7e2$138d77a0$8c76fea9@home> This morning at 8:30am the first of the year EVENING GROSBEAKS (7) arrived at my feeders here in southeast McMinnville. Good birding, Carol McMinnville From bettyehunt at aol.com Tue Apr 7 19:35:16 2009 From: bettyehunt at aol.com (bettyehunt at aol.com) Date: Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:35:16 -0400 Subject: [obol] Canada Goose on Osprey nest In-Reply-To: References: <317688.99232.qm@web59911.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <8CB8609C92D13FB-1778-23AF@webmail-md13.sysops.aol.com> The Waldport High School Osprey pair are on their nest today.? -----Original Message----- From: R. Adney Jr. To: OBOL Sent: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 8:27 pm Subject: Re: [obol] Canada Goose on Osprey nest I went to my favorite Osprey nest, at River Forks Park in Roseburg Sunday and found a lousy (Sorry Marylin) Dusky in a nest I've been watching for a few years.? It really disgusts me because I have now watched four Osprey pairs and their nests for the last ten or so years, be moved out by the ever increasing goose population.? Of the four nesting Osprey pairs, none has ever returned to a nest taken over by honkers. The Roseburg pair irritates me more, because I've watched and photographed them for three years.? I photographed each years young, captured photos of them mating, had the adult female land 5 feet from me and just sit there while I took pictures of her.? She and her mate (I call them Peg and Al Bundy) have both sat in a tree not ten feet from me, whistling and grunting to each other and responding to my feeble attempts to mimic them.? I have grown very close to them and now fear I'll never see them again. On the bright side, I am glad to see that Ralph and Alice Cramden have finished their nest rebuilding.? They are in the nest on highway 101 just south of the Carter Lake boat landing.? They lost their original nest during the storms this past winter.? Last week Alice was proudly sitting in her new home when I drove by.? I've been watching this pair (as I am sure many others have) for many years.? They are responsible for my Osprey mania, and you could ask my wife if you don't believe me, I am "Crazy Osprey Man".? Sorry for the rant! Rich? Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 08:03:00 -0700 From: davebrownbirder at yahoo.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Canada Goose on Osprey nest Yes the Cowbirds are back again today with a extra male this time. I forgot to mention yesterday that the goose has been setting on eggs for sometime now in the Osprey nest on West 11 th. also known as Highway 126 west of Eugene where Coyote Creek enters Fern Ridge Reservoir. It or another Canada Goose nested there last year too. ? Dave Brown Alvadore Oregon Quick access to your favorite MSN content and Windows Live with Internet Explorer 8. Download FREE now! = _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090407/40686ddb/attachment.html From drheath82 at verizon.net Tue Apr 7 19:45:20 2009 From: drheath82 at verizon.net (Mr David Heath) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 19:45:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Swans? In-Reply-To: References: <45643.11214.qm@web31107.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <004b01c9b7f4$0ff4bb50$2fde31f0$@net> A few years ago there were a few of them living wild (mostly at Hagg Lake, I think, but don't hold me to it). For a brief spell, they hung out Westmoreland Park, where I saw them. Haven't heard anything about them for a good while now. On another note (literally), I heard the FOS WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW at the parking lot in front of my gym near Cedar Mill in WashCo. David -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of michel Kleinbaum Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 12:15 PM To: Greg Gabel; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Black Swans? Hello, There are several Black Swans on a property at River and Croisan Roads., here in Salem; not far from Minto Brown Park and close to our house. I see them every time I drive by. Michel Kleinbaum ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg Gabel" To: Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 11:53 AM Subject: [obol] Black Swans? > > I decided to take a break from > building a fence and gate and head up to Smith and Bybee for some mid > afternoon birding. I was feeling optimistic for the sun was shining and I > was pretty sure this was going to be a Pileated day or perhaps a Northern > Shrike. The yellow rumps as > usual were littering the trees but all in all it was fairly quiet. I > hiked out to the end of a spit and there were some good finds there. > Ospreys, Ringnecks and a lone cinnamon teal... As I was walking > back down the spit I ran into some folks that asked if I had see the two > black > swans as they pointed in the direction a pair of Canada geese. I said, > why no I must have missed the black swans. Sibley describes the ever > elusive black swan as something like ?It is likely they escaped > from a zoo or a private exotic pet owner?. While there were 9 or so > monkeys that escaped recently from the primate research center, I heard > nothing > about any black swans accompanying them. > I noticed a large nest around the other side of the lake > which I thought looked fairly owly. So I headed in that direction. Not > much of a trail to speak of so I had to work for it. As I approached the > nest I > noticed two fledgling great horns peering down at me. I walked another > 100 feet and found the adult pair keeping tabs on my every step. With a > look in their eyes that suggested they were preparing to > rip my heart out with their giant claws if need be. No Pileated or > Shrike, but hey it's all good. Greg > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From hatlevis at comcast.net Tue Apr 7 19:46:50 2009 From: hatlevis at comcast.net (Susan Hatlevig) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 19:46:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eurasian widgeon in Corvallis OR Message-ID: <6CBC1AC0337B4AF5BD8C34A4A4DD2473@homeflydmyur2h> My apologies, this was my first time emailing to this list serve, but I should know better! It was right after my lunch hour walk and I was so excited, I just had to find a place to list birds. So, it's at Starker Arts Park in Corvallis OR. http://www.ci.corvallis.or.us/index.php?option=com_content &task=view&id=598&Itemid=540 The website above should be able to guide you. It's a very small pond that is chock full of American widgeons every year, and I was surprised to spot this bright reddish-brown head while on a walk from work at luch time. It was still there today, just like the Sibley Guide says-a single bird among American Widgeons. And it looks exactly as described in the guide. Susie in Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090407/c6e7d991/attachment.html From rlowe at casco.net Tue Apr 7 19:55:28 2009 From: rlowe at casco.net (Roy Lowe) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 19:55:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Little Blue Heron & Brown Pelicans Message-ID: <2A553BA9-5D02-4326-B9E9-1B10545F4561@casco.net> The Little Blue Heron is still be seen at Siletz Bay. Refuge volunteer Bill Medlen observed and photographed it this past Sunday where Drift Creek empties into Siletz Bay. The bird is beginning to show some blue/gray feathers that can be seen in photos Bill took at http://www.flickr.com/photos/24707703 at N06/ Flocks of Brown Pelicans were reported flying north past Bandon yesterday and I observed a flock of 5 there today. Roy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090407/980a2201/attachment.html From diana.byrne at comcast.net Tue Apr 7 21:03:45 2009 From: diana.byrne at comcast.net (Diana Byrne) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 21:03:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yellow-Rumped and Orange-Crowned Warblers Message-ID: <6FC12963-F146-4B0F-A625-AEA77A5A987B@comcast.net> I saw YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS at the pond at Tualatin Hills Nature Preserve April 2nd around 4pm, and saw ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS at Pittock Mansion April 6th around 9am. -Diana NW Portland From madsteins at hotmail.com Tue Apr 7 21:30:23 2009 From: madsteins at hotmail.com (Don Stein) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 00:30:23 -0400 Subject: [obol] Brown Pelicans Depoe Bay Message-ID: A flock of 4 Brown Pelicans were seen flying north at 9 AM this morning. And a formation of 8 flew by at 4 PM. A large northern movement of gulls occurred throughout the day, Western, Glaucous-winged and hybrids. Between 4-5 PM 1,500 were counted, in flocks of 20-50. Don Stein Depoe Bay _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Mobile1_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090408/f1b8b051/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Tue Apr 7 21:42:50 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:42:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Out of state birder needs Barred Owl info. Message-ID: An out of state birder asked me to forward a request regarding any good current locations to see BARRED OWLS in the Portland area. Please respond privately (or to OBOL if you prefer. Thanks. Jeff From greenfant at hotmail.com Tue Apr 7 22:04:32 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 01:04:32 -0400 Subject: [obol] Hillsboro and Johnson Rd (Washington Co) Message-ID: Sam Walker and I took a little trip out to Johnson Rd this evening after work. Right out of the Intel Jones Farm campus, we had the COMMON TEAL on the pond off 15th Ave. See my earlier postings for directions. We briefly checked the stick marsh just NW of 26 & Glencoe for Acorn Woodpecker, but came up empty. At Johnson Rd, we walked into the clearcut at about 1.2mi up. It was generally quiet, with only a pair of Orange-crowned Warblers and a single Red-breasted Sapsucker. Working our way down again, we had an actively calling NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL at about 0.9mi. The highlight of the day was the 3 minutes that we were able to look at a RUFFED GROUSE from our car. Sam spotted this bird in a wet, grassy area about 0.4mi in (near pole 80; yes, the poles up Johnson Rd are numbered). We dipped on Mountail Quail on this trip. Not too far north of the intersection of 47 & 26 we had a smallish-looking Great Horned Owl. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Mobile1_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090408/d8f6bb21/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Tue Apr 7 23:42:04 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:42:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 4-7-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * April 8, 2009 * ORPO0904.08 - birds mentioned Tundra Swan TUFTED DUCK Surf Scoter Pacific Loon Brown Pelican LITTLE BLUE HERON Northern Goshawk SLATY-BACKED GULL Glaucous Gull Tufted Puffin Band-tailed Pigeon Short-eared Owl Calliope Hummingbird Say?s Phoebe Western Kingbird Cassin?s Vireo Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Gray Warbler Common Yellowthroat LARK BUNTING - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Wednesday April 9. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On April 6 a first winter plumaged male LARK BUNTING was seen at the reservoir at the south end of the Jackson Bottom Wetlands in Hillsboro. The SLATY-BACKED GULL and the GLAUCOUS GULL are still being seen along the Portland waterfront. The Broughton Beach TUFTED DUCK is still being seen near the Portland Airport. The LITTLE BLUE HERON continues to be seen at Siletz Bay. A heavy YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER movement was reported during the week. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS, COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, and a few CASSIN?S VIREOS were also reported. CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRDS were seen during the week at Philomath, Silverton, northeast Portland, St. Helens, and Ridgefield Washington. A good PACIFIC LOON migration was seen along the coast during the week. BROWN PELICANS are also beginning to move into the state. TUFTED PUFFINS were back to Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach by April 5. That day a WESTERN KINGBIRD was in Brookings. On April 3 a male SURF SCOTER and two SHORT-EARED OWLS were at Broughton Beach near the Portland Airport. On April 5 a SAY?S PHOEBE and a GOSHAWK were in Oaks Bottom in southeast Portland. A BAND-TAILED PIGEON was in Bend April 3. A group of ten TUNDRA SWANS were seen April 2 near Bend. On April 3 a WESTERN KINGBIRD was at Malheur NWR. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090407/e32a3ff8/attachment.html From nettielh at yahoo.com Wed Apr 8 06:40:01 2009 From: nettielh at yahoo.com (Annette (Lange) Hildebrand) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 06:40:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Montana "Chinese Swan Geese" ? info ... near Missoula? Message-ID: <615137.5253.qm@web50207.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Dear OBOL ---people who travel.?My son lives outside of Missoula ... 15 miles west and is wondering about these birds.? Do you know anything about them.? He sent me several photos but I read I shouldn't clog up our site with them. He wrote the following: ? These are the weird things I was telling you about. This is the third flock I've seen come though so it's not just an isolated incident. I think they're called Chinese swan geese. It's strange that so many are wild! Also some other bird pics and Elk! .................? Any info would be welcomed.? Thanks Annette Lange Hildebrand Nature carer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090408/a0f044c3/attachment.html From mjm at centurytel.net Wed Apr 8 06:49:37 2009 From: mjm at centurytel.net (MjM Software Design) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2009 06:49:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Little Blue Heron & Brown Pelicans In-Reply-To: <2A553BA9-5D02-4326-B9E9-1B10545F4561@casco.net> References: <2A553BA9-5D02-4326-B9E9-1B10545F4561@casco.net> Message-ID: <49DCAB71.20907@centurytel.net> William is a great photographer! I'll give a look next time it turns nice. No pelicans observed so far. Michael Roy Lowe wrote: > The Little Blue Heron is still be seen at Siletz Bay. Refuge > volunteer Bill Medlen observed and photographed it this past Sunday > where Drift Creek empties into Siletz Bay. The bird is beginning to > show some blue/gray feathers that can be seen in photos Bill took at > http://www.flickr.com/photos/24707703 at N06/ > > Flocks of Brown Pelicans were reported flying north past Bandon > yesterday and I observed a flock of 5 there today. > > Roy From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Apr 8 08:02:02 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:02:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Washington/Columbia Co. notables Message-ID: <1239202922.3692.75.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, A few notables that I happened across yesterday while pinning down directions for a few sites on the northwestern reaches of the Willamette Valley Birding Trail: AMERICAN BITTERNS (one "singing," one seen flying and then standing in marsh) at Killin Wetlands(?) a.k.a. Cedar Canyon Marsh, Washington Co. The numbers of CINNAMON TEAL there were impressive. OSPREY (2) now at Vernonia Lake, formerly known as Vernonia log pond. A COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was also singing there, just to prove that they have infiltrated most of western Oregon now. A few pairs of BARN SWALLOWS and one colony of CLIFF SWALLOWS were along Erickson Dike Rd. NW of Clatskanie (Columbia Co.). MARSH WRENS were singing in the sloughs and RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS were everywhere. One migrant flock of 10 GREATER YELLOWLEGS flushed from the edge of the dike; who knows how many more I missed seeing. A CASPIAN TERN flew down the Columbia River at Prescott Beach County Park a bit west of the old Trojan nuclear plant site (which was the place I was actually looking for). Not sure if this is an early date for them or not. Sizable SCAUP flocks were on the big river here and at the previous location. A pair of PILEATED WOODPECKERS were foraging and interacting in the cottonwood/ash slough along the Scappoose Bay Nature Trail in Warren. That was nice, but there was also a gruesome sight: The dried corpse of a NORTHERN FLICKER that was dangling from a branch where it had become tangled in fishing line. Man I hate that stuff. Scapponia Park (between Vernonia and Scappoose) had a pair of COMMON MERGANSERS that looked like they were thinking about nesting, plus other typical Coast Range birds. Sauvie Island had ... well, mostly darkness by the time I got there. I watched one GREAT HORNED OWL glide down off a perch, presumably to nail an unfortunate rodent in a grassy field. Earlier in the day I found a CASSIN'S FINCH (male) singing at Bald Peak Scenic Viewpoint in northern Yamhill County; details and directions posted to MidValley birding list. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Wed Apr 8 01:53:53 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:53:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Posts by non-members to member only list Message-ID: <20090408015353.bnhrf0kwnsc84scw@webmail2.jimnorton.org> Hello everybody, Hope you are all doing well. As the administrator of OBOL I've been having to manually approve many posts to the list because some of you keep trying to post to the list from an email address that is not subscribed to OBOL. It is not a *great* bother to approve these messages, but it would be preferred if you would just use the email address subscribed to the list, or if you aren't subscribed - go ahead and subscribe... It will save me some time and your posts will hit the list sooner. Thank you, ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From celata at pacifier.com Wed Apr 8 08:09:10 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:09:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] The unbearable lateness of Orange-crowns Message-ID: <49DCBE16.1030809@pacifier.com> In most years, I hear singing Orange-crowned Warblers by the last week in March. Since quite a few Orange-crowns over-winter, just seeing one doesn't necessarily mean migration, so I go with singing. But here it is the second week in April, Orange-crowns should be dripping from the trees, and the best I can do is a couple of chip- notes yesterday at the banding station and a chips today from the bush across from my house. The FOX SPARROWS are singing today. The WHITE-CROWNS are singing today. No Orange-crowns.... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Henry David Thoreau: citizen scientist http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10505/ From celata at pacifier.com Wed Apr 8 08:17:10 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:17:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] PHOTOS: Wayne Hoffman's Sunday small gull Message-ID: <49DCBFF6.8030205@pacifier.com> I have posted photos of the small gull Wayne Hoffman saw on Sunday amid a plethora of MEW GULLS. http://home.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/uggu/ugly_gull.html I have already given Wayne my opinion, but he's been at this a bit longer than I have and I've learned over the years that if he sees something is amiss, it's probably worth having a discussion about it. Wayne Hoffman wrote: > Today (5 April 2009) between 12:30 and 1:00 PM I walked the nature > trail at Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport. > > The highlight was a concentration of at least 300 Mew Gulls, about 80% > adults. I spent a while with them and saw a lot of variation. Most had > lost the winter head streaking. One had a distinct black tip to the > bill, and a second had a more extensive black, but fading to near > yellow at the very tip. This bird had several atypical features in > addition to the bill color, including a yellowish iris, and much less > white than typical in the wingtips. It also seemed a slightly larger > than the others, with slightly longer legs. The bill was also > longer than average. > >Wayne -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Henry David Thoreau: citizen scientist http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10505/ From raphe29 at hotmail.com Wed Apr 8 09:47:50 2009 From: raphe29 at hotmail.com (mark lundgren) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 16:47:50 +0000 Subject: [obol] Calliope Message-ID: I had a bright male calliope hummingbird feeding at a red flowering current about 3 blocks east of GabrielPark insw Portland this AM. Mark Lundgren -------7638 SW 36th Avenue,Portland,Oregon 97219-1631 ------USA-------- 503-293-9284 raphe29 at hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get quick friend updates right in your inbox. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Updates1_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090408/d97f8601/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed Apr 8 11:03:01 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:03:01 -0400 Subject: [obol] Are Pine Siskins always so piggy? Message-ID: <8CB868B63F0E062-1074-A8B@webmail-dx12.sysops.aol.com> I had the arrival of a group of about 8 or 9 birds that I believe to be Pine Siskins, the day after the first Lesser Goldfinches came to my Njer seed feeder. The Goldfinches have not returned since the new guys took over. And they are constantly bickering and trying to keep everyone else from eating (see photos). Also these guys really put away the grocerys. They eat, go get a drink and eat some more. I don't know how they can fly the eat so much. Are they always like this, or is my flok simply a bunch of hooligans? http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0764/c65956810f164070925ef1a8d102b4ed.jpg http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0764/7322888778364131b4f0562a9ddce237.jpg Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090408/3ce82109/attachment.html From tjanzen at comcast.net Wed Apr 8 11:05:01 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 11:05:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] PHOTOS: Wayne Hoffman's Sunday small gull In-Reply-To: <49DCBFF6.8030205@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <20090408180414.072C2A8236@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear Mike and Wayne, This is an interesting gull. It would appear that this is a 2nd winter gull (or possibly a 3rd winter gull) given that there appears to be black on the tip of the tail and given that it has only a small mirror in P10 and seemingly no mirror in P9. The extensive amount of black on the bill would also be consistent with it being a 2nd winter gull. The rounded head shape seems more consistent with a Mew/Common/Kamchatka Gull than a Ring-billed Gull and the bird doesn't appear to be that much larger than the Mew Gulls it is with. Second winter Mew Gulls don't typically have as much black on the bill tip as this bird does. Second winter Common Gulls don't typically have very much black in the tip of the tail. I don't know of any records of Common Gull from the West Coast. The bill doesn't seem to be long enough for a Kamchatka Gull and also seems to be a little bit thick for a Mew Gull. Second winter Kamchatka Gulls typically have more brown in the coverts. The thickness of the bill seems to point toward the bird being a Ring-billed Gull. I am inclined to think that this is a smallish 3rd winter Ring-billed Gull. Sincerely, Tim Janzen Portland -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Mike Patterson Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 8:17 AM To: OBOL; Wayne Hoffman Subject: [obol] PHOTOS: Wayne Hoffman's Sunday small gull I have posted photos of the small gull Wayne Hoffman saw on Sunday amid a plethora of MEW GULLS. http://home.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/uggu/ugly_gull.html I have already given Wayne my opinion, but he's been at this a bit longer than I have and I've learned over the years that if he sees something is amiss, it's probably worth having a discussion about it. From johnpam at mtangel.net Wed Apr 8 11:06:25 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 11:06:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] OC Warblers, Common Yellowthroats-Oregon Garden Front Ponds Message-ID: Short walk around front ponds of Oregon Garden mid-morning. Two Orange Crowned Warblers (non-singing, 3-4 Common Yellowthroats (singing loudly). Nothing else unusual. Still lots of Ring-necked Ducks & Green-Winged Teal along with the more common Mallards, American Coot, Canada Geese, etc. Marsh Wren also singing loudly on territory. John Thomas From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed Apr 8 11:10:09 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:10:09 -0400 Subject: [obol] Can this really be a Blackbird? Message-ID: <8CB868C631EBB22-1074-AF6@webmail-dx12.sysops.aol.com> I had several new birds in my back yard yesterday. This one is a dead ringer for the female version of the Red Winged Blackbird, (even though it doesn't look at all like a black bird to me) that is on my backyard birds chart. Is It a Blackbird? http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0764/aa857a86e7f4494e8fde33473952e20b.jpg http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0764/1c741b378eb24281b773c6fd9cdafe7b.jpg Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090408/fb293511/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed Apr 8 11:16:33 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:16:33 -0400 Subject: [obol] A yellow House Finch with unidentified Finch Message-ID: <8CB868D4868A242-1074-B67@webmail-dx12.sysops.aol.com> I had both of these guys in my yard yesterday. I'm pretty sure the yellow one is just a House Finch, but the other bird doesn't look like any I've been able to find. Look closely at the color around the eye. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0764/ebabe65762d645f3a32908071139e3b2.jpg by itself. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0764/41d38a393bc2463bbe589a063a9bb4e0.jpg ?Can someone tell me who it is? Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090408/04cc4871/attachment.html From mmarvin at spiritone.com Wed Apr 8 11:48:22 2009 From: mmarvin at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 11:48:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rufous ablutions Message-ID: <8DFFEAF0-E410-431E-856B-4276DE863C41@spiritone.com> Oboli - Today I had my yard's first obvious Rufous Hummingbird - in good light at close range. Even better, he was preening. He had his back to me and was on a branch at eye level about twenty feet in front of my 10x binos. The best part was when he preened his rump and tail. He looked like a tiny black and white pom-pom - not the first colors I think of when I see a Rufous. Now if I can just lure the Calliope over here from Gabriel Park. Good birding! Marcia -- Marcia Marvin * mmarvin at spiritone.com * SW Portland, OR, USA From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed Apr 8 11:51:12 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:51:12 -0400 Subject: [obol] 1st Purple Finch Message-ID: <8CB86921F48E39A-1074-D8A@webmail-dx12.sysops.aol.com> It is probably tiresome when some new guy keeps posting his "first" birds, but I can't help it. I'm obsessed, jus ask my wife. Anyway this is my first Purple Finch, ever. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0764/23239dcca5b949489476bf037e0477e0.jpg Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090408/2f2fed91/attachment.html From msgellerman at gmail.com Wed Apr 8 12:28:51 2009 From: msgellerman at gmail.com (Michael Gellerman) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 12:28:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island - Wapato, etc. Message-ID: <1d0c413a0904081228s7496be6dqb1b78516e00cec48@mail.gmail.com> We had a walk this morning around the Wapato Loop on Sauvie Island. The most interesting thing was seeing our first Common Yellowthroat of the year, a handsome male. He was not singing but there were a few other Yellowthroat call notes around. A nice assortment of ducks on the lake: Mallard Wood Duck Northern Pintail Am. Wigeon Norhtern Shoveler Bufflehead Ring-necked Duck and ... Ruby-crowned Kinglet Bushtit Northern Flicker (abundant, active, drumming) Red-breasted Sapsucker Spotted Towhee (abundant, singing) Golden-crowned Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Song Sparrow Fox Sparrow Am. Robin Scrub Jay (no swallows) Red-tailed Hawk (carrying a stick) Turkey Vulture Osprey (nearly hit by a car both coming and going along Multnomah Channel, also seemed to be working on a nest). On Saturday we were out at Killian Wetlands along Hwy 6 at midday and saw: first Orange-crowned Warbler for us this year first Northern Rough-winged Swallow (just 1) Violet-green Swallow Tree Swallow one American Bittern Belted Kingfisher (2) Red-tailed Hawk Turkey Vulture Cinnamon Teal Green-winged Teal Hooded Merganser Am. Wigeon Northern Pintail Mallard Wood Duck And news from Bethany Pond, our Osprey arrived this week and has been around daily since the weekend. Rufous Hummingbirds are much thicker than ever before ... several pairs are active in our yard. We have had White-crowned Sparrows in larger numbers than normal. Mike Gellerman Bethany Pond -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090408/18d80ca3/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Apr 8 12:29:28 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 12:29:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cent Or ECBC Wednesday birders - Hatfield, Deschutes County. Message-ID: <348851B3B6724AE49DD83E095B825123@MOM> Birders Four of us went to Hatfield for the morning. LESSER YELLOWLEGS, REDHEAD, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS, BARN SWALLOWS and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS were notable or first of season. We had several bright breeding plumage Yellow-rumped Warblers. No Chippers. Water level is down at the back leaving cat-tail habitat high and dry. Thus few Marsh Wrens, Song Sparrows and no rails, no Pied-billed Grebes. Kestrels are paired. Golden Eagle was trying to avoid a diving Red-tail as they shared a thermal. Birds seen Canada Goose 30 Gadwall 20 American Wigeon 50 Mallard 120 Cinnamon Teal 8 Northern Shoveler 25 Northern Pintail 12 Green-Winged Teal 80 Redhead 4 Ring-necked Duck 30 Lesser Scaup 40 Bufflehead 60 Ruddy Duck 30 California Quail 3 Turkey Vulture 2 Osprey 2 (Division Street) Red-tailed Hawk 4 Golden Eagle 1 American Kestrel 7 American Coot 40 Killdeer 3 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Rock Dove 5 Mourning Dove 2 Northern Flicker 10 Western Scrub-Jay 8 Black-billed Magpie 5 Common Raven 10 Tree Swallow 40 Violet-green Swallow 1 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1 Barn Swallow 10 Mountain Chickadee 1 Marsh Wren 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Mountain Bluebird 6 Townsend's Solitaire 17 American Robin 25 European Starling 60 Cedar Waxwing 30 ( in town) Yellow-rumped Warbler 5 Spotted Towhee 1 Savannah Sparrow 10 Song Sparrow 1 White-crowned Sparrow 8 Dark-eyed Junco 8 Red-winged Blackbird 75 Western Meadowlark 5 Yellow-headed Blackbird 15 Brewer's Blackbird 12 House Finch 20 House Sparrow 20 Total number of species seen: 53 Birders Janice Rising, Howard Horvath, Darwin Wile and Judy Meredith. Good Birding, Judy jmeredit at bendnet.com From celata at pacifier.com Wed Apr 8 13:34:35 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:34:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ft Stevens stuff Message-ID: <49DD0A5B.8050107@pacifier.com> I spent the morning on the bike path at Ft. Stevens. I saw lots of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, but only one was singing. The rest were skulking about, making chip-notes. There were no Orange-crowned Warblers along the bike path when I did the same walk last week. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Henry David Thoreau: citizen scientist http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10505/ From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Apr 8 13:41:01 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 13:41:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wed morning, Skinner's Message-ID: We may have had a record turnout this soft, gray, spring morning. The flocks were evident on Skinner's Butte next to the Willemette River in downtown Eugene. There was not overall agreement on hard numbers of birds, however, so I will try to be conservative with my count. D-c Cormorant - 1 Turkey Vulture - 8 Bald Eagle - 2 adults with two downy young in the nest. Glaucous-wg. Gull - 1 Band-tailed Pigeon - 3 Mourning Dove - 2 Anna's Hummer - 12+ Rufous Hummer - 10+ Downy Woodpecker - 3 Northern Flicker - 2 Tree Swallow - 25+ Violet-green Swallow - 3 Steller's Jay - 4 Scrub Jay - 1 Am. Crow - 50 Black-capped Chickadee - 4 Bushtit - 15 Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2 Brown Creeper - 4 Bewick's Wren - 6 Golden-cr. Kinglet - 1 Ruby-cr. Kinglet - 2 Am. Robin - 45 Varied Thrush - 7 Cassin's Vireo - 2 Hutton's Vireo - 2 Orange-crowned Warbler - 3 maple trees full. 60? Nashville Warbler - 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 6 Black-throated Gray Warbler - 3 Townsend's Warbler - 30 Rufous-sided Towhee - 5 Chipping Sparrow - 1 Song Sparrow - 3 D-e Junco - 2 Purple Finch - 2 House Finch - 6 Red Crossbill - heard, and 2 birds in flight thought to be them. Pine Siskin - 1 maple tree full. 50? Lesser Goldfinch - 25+. One female building a nest. Dennis Arendt, Sylvia Maulding, Don Schrouder, Paul Sherrell, Randy Sinnott, Craig Merhel, Sarah Vasconcellos, Tom Mickel, Barry McKenzie, Fred Chancey, Roger Robb, Kit Larsen, George Grier, Maitreya, Dave Jones, and Larry McQueen (hope I got everyone). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090408/14e7c6e0/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Wed Apr 8 14:43:29 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 14:43:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Vanport Wetlands & Force Lake, PDX Message-ID: <3D4F0241-8852-4C65-B2A2-B5005734C7AA@gmail.com> I checked Vanport Wetlands and then walked over to Force Lake from about 11 AM to 12:30 PM today. Hearing anything for the first half of the walk was a bit difficult as there was a motorcycle race going on at the raceway which thankfully ended. The highlights at Vanport were my FOY CASPIAN TERNS (4) and one singing male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. Two CANVASBACK continue. One OSPREY left with nesting material in its talons. At Force Lake the highlights were a FOY COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, plus several singing ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, and a number of YELLOW-RUMPS, some of which were singing. One of the two SAVANNAH SPARROW I saw was singing on the edge of the golf course. Hundreds of swallows were about, mostly at Force Lake and over the golf course, both on the wing and in the trees and on phone lines. The TREE SWALLOWS were in heavy courtship mode on the golf course picking up bits of stuff of the fairway and a few up in the trees gathering nesting material. The majority of swallows were Trees, but there were also lots of VIOLET-GREENS and a few BARN SWALLOWS. Observation date: 4/8/09 Notes: Weather was mostly overcast, cool (low 50's) with ~ 5 mph breeze. Number of species: 45 Cackling Goose 50 Wood Duck 3 Gadwall 4 American Wigeon 6 Mallard 30 Northern Shoveler 225 Green-winged Teal 12 Canvasback 2 Lesser Scaup 40 Bufflehead 30 Ruddy Duck 15 Pied-billed Grebe 6 Double-crested Cormorant 2 Great Blue Heron 2 Osprey 1 Red-tailed Hawk 4 American Coot 30 Mew Gull 12 Herring Gull 1 Glaucous Gull 1 Caspian Tern 4 Rufous Hummingbird 3 Northern Flicker 1 Western Scrub-Jay 1 American Crow 1 Tree Swallow 200 Violet-green Swallow 75 Barn Swallow 4 Black-capped Chickadee 4 Bushtit 2 Bewick's Wren 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 American Robin 20 European Starling 50 Orange-crowned Warbler 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 15 Common Yellowthroat 1 Savannah Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow 8 Golden-crowned Sparrow 18 Red-winged Blackbird 12 Yellow-headed Blackbird 1 House Finch 2 American Goldfinch 15 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090408/c401a4b3/attachment.html From carolk at viclink.com Wed Apr 8 14:49:00 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 14:49:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yellow-heaed Blackbird in Yamhill Co. Message-ID: <001501c9b893$d86b8c40$8c76fea9@home> This morning at 9:00am I saw the first of the year YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD back at Sheldon's Pond along Briedwell Road west of Whiteson. Last year I observed only one male Yellow-headed Blackbird at that marsh and I thought maybe this year there would be none. So very good to see at least one bird again, and let's hope this year more will return in numbers as in previous years.. Yellow-headed Blackbird arrival times I have at Sheldon's Pond over the years: 1994 - April 17 2000 - April 02 2006 - April 14 1995 - April 06 2001 - April 04 2007 - April 07 1996 - April 08 2002 - April 13 2008 - April 12 1997 - April 06 2003 - April 12 2009 - April 08 1998 - April 12 2004 - April 03 1999 - April 16 2005 - April 06 Good birding, Carol Karlen McMinnville -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090408/860d09fa/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Wed Apr 8 15:02:50 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 15:02:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] March Lincoln Co. Bird Notes Received Through 3/31 Message-ID: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BIRD FIELD NOTES from the March 2009 Sandpiper 30(3) for Observations Received Through 3/31 by Range Bayer The Sandpiper is a publication of Yaquina Birders and Naturalists, a Lincoln County (Oregon) natural history group. Comments in this column about abundance or seasonality refer to LINCOLN CO. only. There is room only for some of the many Lincoln County sightings to be included here of those sent to me or posted to the Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) or Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL) email discussion lists. If you have any Lincoln County field notes, please share them with Range (range.bayer at gmail.com; P.O. Box 1467, Newport, OR 97365; 541-265-2965) by the 20th of the month. Bird field notes columns in the Sandpiper since 1992 are at http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#recent (all lower case letters). Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations (numbers refer to the site number in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide (http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/): BAYVIEW PASTURE: pasture/field near creek about 0.4 mile east of junction of North Alsea Bay Road with South Beaver Creek Road, BEAVER CREEK (#78, in part): creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, BOILER BAY (#59): State Wayside about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, ECKMAN LAKE (#84): lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, ECKMAN SLOUGH (#84): slough between Alsea Bay and Eckman Lake, HMSC (#75): OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of the HMSC, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH (#77): State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SALLY'S BEND (#66): large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty. WATERFOWL BRANT numbers at Yaquina Bay were variable in March, though not as variable as the weather! On 3/2, JL saw 175 at Idaho Flats. On 3/6, RB found only 6 Brant at Yaquina Bay embayments (all at Sally's Bend) and 163- 168 Brant at 3 PM on the rock shelf on the northwest side of the Yaquina Bay Bridge--there were two people with unleashed dogs that were walking on the shelf towards the Brant, so that area may not always be their "refuge" from disturbance. The morning of March 13 at low tide, RB found no Brant at the rock shelf to the northwest of the Bridge, but at embayments, he saw 6 Brant at Sally's Bend and 162 Brant at Idaho Flats. The afternoon of 3/20, JL estimated 195 Brant along the sand beach just east of the HMSC Nature Trail--they were flushed by a jogger along the trail. JL's 195 is also the largest count at Yaquina Bay so far this winter/spring. More recent counts at Idaho Flats have been lower, with 116 on 3/26 (JL) and 60 on 3/29 (RB). YB&N is a project partner of the International Brant Monitoring Project (http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/), and RB relays on sightings of significant numbers of Brant in Lincoln County to their Observation Log (see link on the left side of their web page). On 3/13, RB saw what appeared to have been birds feeding at a herring spawn near the Yaquina channel at the east side of Sally's Bend, since an estimated total of 1,930 SURF SCOTERS, SCAUP, BUFFLEHEADS, COMMON GOLDENEYES, AMERICAN WIGEON, MALLARDS, and at least 2 EURASIAN WIGEON drakes were aggregated and feeding like they do at a herring spawn at Yaquina Bay (see "Birds Feeding on Herring Eggs at the Yaquina Estuary, Oregon," http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Condor/files/issues/v082n02/p0193-p0198.pdf). A pair of WOOD DUCKS was in the "middle" pool of Newport (Big Creek) Reservoir on 3/18 (BLo). They have often nested nearby, with family broods in the middle pool. HARLEQUIN DUCKS were reported daily at Yaquina Head in Feb. (BLM), and RA also found them in Lincoln Co. during the 3/7 Corvallis Audubon field trip. On 3/29, LO viewed 6 at Seal Rocks. Bayview Pasture has been used as a high tide roost for shorebirds in winter, but the 3/20 YBNFT visited during low tide, so it was not surprising that no shorebirds were visible. However, Bayview Pasture is also important for waterfowl. In the lower marshy area, there were 6 obvious pairs of WESTERN CANADA GEESE and one singleton. None of the geese had neck collars that could be used to identify individuals. There were also 2 AMERICAN WIGEON. The rarest bird during the 3/20 YBNFT was a male EURASIAN WIGEON at Eckman Slough (RB). Eckman Lake had 8 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 25 GADWALL, 16 BUFFLEHEADS, 15-30 feral or wild MALLARDS, 2 AMERICAN WIGEON, and 1 AMERICAN COOT during the YBNFT (RB). LOON-GREAT EGRET While watching birds at the apparent herring spawn on 3/13, RB heard a COMMON LOON call, uncommon, but not rare, for here. During a 20-minute watch from 10:55-11:15 in SW Newport on 3/31, RB saw flocks of 8, 2, and 13 loons flying towards the west or northwest at about 100-300 ft above ground level--distance, viewing angle, and light conditions precluded identification, but at least one was clearly an adult COMMON LOON in breeding plumage. They apparently were flying out from Yaquina Bay. During a half-hour morning seawatch north of Ona Beach on 3/3, RC estimated 400+ NORTHERN FULMARS in a steady stream moving south. In Feb., 6 fulmars were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). Night-heron is an appropriate name! RB discovered an immature BLACK- CROWNED NIGHT-HERON feeding on a lawn and pavement of the HMSC at night, starting on 3/3. It was often out only on nights when the ground was wet, so whatever it was eating on the ground was common enough for it to keep coming back. RB saw earthworms out on the HMSC pavement on wet nights in March. Because it stealthily walked out under some light poles, it could be seen well enough to identify with binoculars. It startled very easily and was not in a place that was easy for birders to see without disturbing it. RB invited LCBNO and people attending the 3/19 Yaquina Birders & Naturalists meeting to see it after the meeting. J&PL took up the offer and were rewarded by being able to watch it as it moved between the light and shadows of a lawn and the pavement of a parking lot. JL brought her spotting scope and thought she saw it pick up and eat a worm. JR and TB also saw it, and RB last saw it on 3/23. On 3/25, JL spotted an adult Black-crowned Night-Heron roosting in the bushes at the edge of the west log pond south of the HMSC and near Oregon Coast Aquarium. MR appreciated 26-43 GREAT BLUE HERONS perched in trees at Lint Slough across from the Waldport High School during mid-March, but they were gone by the 3/20 YBNFT. On 3/13, there were 2 GREAT EGRETS with the Lint Slough herons (MR). Perhaps they were considering whether to nest there or not. In the past, the first hatched heron eggs at Yaquina Bay were found on about April 15 and incubation is about 25-29 days (http://www.birdweb.org/), so the first heron eggs would be laid about March 17. Other Great Egret reports include one at Idaho Flats on 3/25 (TW; JL). Squawker, the heron that nearly continuously calls while flying, flew over the HMSC on 3/24 & 25 (JL; TW). RAPTORS The Lincoln County Inland or Yaquina River-Siletz Raptor Route is about 55-73 miles long and runs from the HWY 101 Kernville exit along HWY 229 south to HWY 20, then along Business HWY 20 through Toledo and down the Yaquina River along north Yaquina Bay Road, with some digressions and can include Hidden Valley. It was done on 3/13 by JL & CP. The big difference from their previous routes this winter is the arrival of TURKEY VULTURES, which were the most abundant raptor they found. Other raptors included RED-TAILED HAWK (11), adult BALD EAGLE (5), and one each of WHITE-TAILED KITE, COOPER'S HAWK, and AMERICAN KESTREL. Oregon Winter Raptor Surveys give a good relative index to the abundance of different wintering raptor species and are coordinated by the East Cascades Birds Observatory (ECBC) (http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=73). CP had our first TURKEY VULTURE this season at his Toledo home on 3/9; RL first saw one at Nestucca Bay (Tillamook Co.) on 3/5. RL greeted the first OSPREY of spring, the pair returning to Eckman Lake on 3/12, and PW saw one there the next day, too. The 12th is 1 day earlier than they were first found there in 2006 and 2007 and 6 days earlier than in 2008 (FN). Single WHITE-TAILED KITES were discerned on 3/1 at Logsden (BLl) and on 3/24 & 25 at the HMSC (JL; TW). On 3/12 over the Newport Bayfront, PD witnessed a BALD EAGLE being chased by gulls and then within a couple of minutes a RED-TAILED HAWK being chased by crows! A few days earlier, JL watched a Red-tailed flying over Idaho Flats that was relentlessly harassed by a Common Raven and two crows. The afternoon of 3/5, BB closely studied the plumage of a SHARP- SHINNED HAWK in her Yachats yard as it tore off feathers from a VARIED THRUSH it had captured. On 3/16, a male NORTHERN HARRIER swooped down outside RL's office window at the HMSC and then flew up off the ground with a small snake in its talons. It was immediately chased by a female harrier until it was out over the bay and the female gave up her attempted theft. Perhaps their interaction was also related to courtship. In any case, the snake was ill- advised to be out--the high temp at the HMSC that day was 51 F, so perhaps it was a bit sluggish. A PEREGRINE FALCON was recorded at Yaquina Head during 16 days in Feb. (BLM). The afternoon of 3/27, TS saw a Peregrine hunting along South Beach State Park, and "it flew in right over a crowd of 30-40 people!" Evidently, this one is at least somewhat habituated to people! SHOREBIRDS-ALCIDS SD discovered 4 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS at the Yaquina Bay North Jetty on 3/17--singletons are uncommonly reported there, so 4 are rare for that site. 1 was also at the easternmost finger jetty along the YBSJ on 3/30 (JL). If you see concentrations of 10 or more anywhere along the Oregon Coast, please email researcher Elise Elliott-Smith (eelliott-smith at usgs.gov). We only had one report of a WHIMBREL, but it was probably the same one as noted earlier in winter, since it was along the YBSJ on 3/30 (JL). ROCK SANDPIPERS were at Yaquina Head on Feb. 1 & 3 (BLM), but we had no reports for March. In the past, they were most frequently found during November-February, though we 3 years with records in early May (SemiL). On 2/28, RC spotted 30+ BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES wheeling and diving in the surf, feeding just north of Ona Beach. About 10 were in same area on 3/3 (RC), and 1 was at the Beaver Creek outlet at Ona Beach on 3/13 (PO & JA). There were also a few at Boiler Bay on 3/13 (JG). 1 GLAUCOUS GULL was at Boiler Bay on 3/13 (JG), and 1-2 were at the YBSJ on 3/7 & 3/10 (RA; WH). WH notes that one of the 3/7 birds "has been around quite a bit over the past several weeks" and that he has studied "a total of at least 9 distinguishably different ones since the first of the year." The same number of birds can be coincidentally counted on several days, but that does mean they are the same birds--it is important to identify individuals by bands or individually identifiable plumage, if possible, to see how long each may remain. The mornings of 3/30 & 31, hundreds of gulls were gliding/flying north along the coastline in SW Newport--four 1-minute counts on 3/31 ranged from 5-19 gulls/minute (RB). Few birds washed ashore along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach in February, and there was only one alcid: 1 RHINOCEROS AUKLET (B&SLo, L&VO). A live Rhino was at Boiler Bay on 3/7 (RA). On 2/28 in nearshore water north of Ona Beach, RC "picked out at least 8 MARBLED MURRELETS who were interacting -- flying about in pairs, landing suddenly, then flying on." Our only report of them was of several at Boiler Bay on 3/13 (JG). HUMMINGBIRDS BLl first reported the female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD nesting at Oregon Coast Aquarium on 2/27. On 3/26, nestlings were spotted (BLl). On 3/8, over 50, mostly RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS and some Anna's were at J&KC's feeders about 4 miles east of Waldport; on 3/12, they had 44 at 6 feeders, and others were going to 8 other feeders; they were going through 6 cups of sugar water per day! On 3/24, they estimated 80-100 (e.g., http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vElWFyKOU4). Keeping feeders clean is critical for the well-being of the hummers, and guidelines for feeder care and identifying Pacific Northwest hummers are at MP's http://home.pacifier.com/~mpatters/archive/humm/humm.html [Image Not Included: Cindy Hanson's March 26 photo of a female Anna's Hummingbird at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. The female is snugly tucked down into her tightly woven nest cup with a feathered top on a shore pine branch. The nest exterior includes lichens and blends well with the branch. According to the Birds of North America Online, an adult female has an average bill length of 0.7 inch (17 mm) and weight of 0.14 oz (4.0 g). So one weighs less than an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper, and you could mail 7 and still be under the 1 oz limit for a first-class stamp! Note the white line over the eye--a female Rufous does not have this (p. 298 of Sibley Guide to Birds).] PIGEONS-DOVES Our only BAND-TAILED PIGEON reports were of singletons east of Sally's Bend on 3/2 (L&JM) and in the Yachats area on 3/14 (PE). Most arrive, and they become regular, in late March to early April (SemiL). TW discovered 1 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE in the pines along the HMSC Nature Trail on 3/13. CP also saw 2 in differing plumages along with some MOURNING DOVES in a backyard along San Bay-O Circle in north Newport on 3/31--the landowner said the Collared-Doves had been around for "a while." Our first records for Collared-Doves were in May/June 2006 (FN). In 2007, we had a smattering of sightings in May and one record in August, and in 2008, there were some records in April/May (FN). On 3/26, TS appreciated a MOURNING DOVE in South Beach on SE 35th in the wetlands and wondered if they nest here or if this was just a migrant passing through? During the 1995-1999 Oregon Breeding Bird Atlas project, Mourning Doves were confirmed as nesting in Lincoln County. In recent years, they were uncommonly found during the nesting season, and presumably were nesting. We also had occasional winter records this winter and in the past (SemiL). However, like for elsewhere in Oregon, it is not clear if the Mourning Doves present here in winter (or March) stick around to nest or if others migrate here to nest (e.g., see p. 304 of 2003 Birds of Oregon: A General Reference). There is a lot we don't know, especially for the movements of individuals! While a "species" may be present for a long period, this may be a consequence of a series of different individuals passing through in succession rather than the same individuals remaining the whole period. [Image Not Included: Gloria & Herb Baum's March 18 photo of a wisp of lichen, a smudge of moss, and a Winter Wren perched on a branch south of Depoe Bay. The wren's short tail is cocked up and barely visible. The Winter Wren's bubbly song (play audio at http://birdweb.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?value=search&id=341) brightens gloomy days. Per unit weight, the Winter Wren at about 0.3 oz delivers its song with 10 times more power than a crowing rooster (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Winter_Wren.html).] OWLS-LESSER GOLDFINCH On 3/23 & 24, BLl heard a BARN OWL and a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL at Logsden. The Barn Owl "flew over and as well as screeching, it did a series of clicking sounds, very easy to hear." An uncommon SAY'S PHOEBE visited the HMSC the morning of 3/10 (RL & DG). RL saw it fly "to the marsh edge where it was perching on pickleweed and hawking insects." Our only WESTERN BLUEBIRD report was for Yaquina Head on 2/10 (BLM), and our only HERMIT THRUSH was at Ona Beach on 3/13 (PO & JA). 4 VARIED THRUSHES lingered at LO's north Beaver Creek home until at least 3/26. CP had our first report of a singing YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER at his Toledo home on 3/30. JL reported our first singing WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW--it was at the HMSC on 3/25. This is about when spring migrants first show up. WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS lingered in Toledo in mid-March (DG) and east of Sally's Bend through at least 3/19 (L&JM). 5-12 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS graced the HMSC on 3/10, 13, 24, & 31 (DG; JG; JL), and a LESSER GOLDFINCH continued at L&JM's home east of Sally's Bend until 3/10. OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Rich Armstrong, Jay Avery, Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Tim Bellmore, Bureau of Land Management staff at Yaquina Head (BLM), Rebecca Cheek, Jorrie & Ken Ciotti (http://www.birdsamore.com), CoastWatch (a volunteer project monitoring one-mile segments of the Oregon coast; http://oregoncoastwatch.org/), Sam Davidson, Pat Dickey, Paul Engelmeyer, John Gatchet, Dawn Grafe, Wayne Hoffman, Janet & Phil Lamberson, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Linda & John MacKown, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#recent [all lower case letters]), Roy Lowe, Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Pam Otley, Mike Patterson, Chuck Philo, Maggie Rivers, Jim Ruzicka, Trent Seager, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive at OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Tom Wainwright, Pat Wood, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (YBNFT Field Trip led by RB). From davebrownbirder at yahoo.com Wed Apr 8 15:06:58 2009 From: davebrownbirder at yahoo.com (Dave Brown) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 15:06:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Osprey's on nest in Eugene area Message-ID: <335398.29807.qm@web59905.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> I saw for the fist time this Spring Osprey?standing on nest on Greenhill Road and also on Royal Ave. near the west end. Both west of Eugene. ? Dave Brown Alvadore?l ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090408/a4b6469d/attachment.html From pukeko at mcsi.net Wed Apr 8 16:12:13 2009 From: pukeko at mcsi.net (Ron Maertz) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 16:12:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bonaparte's Message-ID: I had 8 BONAPARTE'S GULLS at Ford's pond Douglas county. They are quite hard to find inland in our county. Maertz Glide -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090408/a6cbe7db/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Wed Apr 8 16:46:50 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 16:46:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: 7:15-8:15 AM (4/8): overcast light drizzle, wind SW 10-15, swells 4-6 everything headed north 2000+ Red-throated Loon (majority basic) 1000+ Pacific Loon (majority basic or molting, few in alternate) 2 Red-necked Grebe 53 Brown pelican 40 Brandt's Cormorant 15 Pelagic Cormorant 9 Brant 3 White-winged Scoter 500 Surf Scoter 1 Merlin 2 California Gull 200+ Western Gull (mixed ages) 400+ Glaucous-winged Gull (almost all immature) 1 Caspian Tern 1000+ Common Murre 5 Pigeon Guillemot 6 Marbled Murrelet (all in alternate) 15 Rhinoceros Auklet 2 American Pipit Phil philliplc at charter.net From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Wed Apr 8 21:19:43 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 21:19:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Spring movement Message-ID: <81b2a9930904082119y6269e246pb4a1c68f40ba781e@mail.gmail.com> Came home from work this afternoon to find my feeders half empty and about 20-30 SISKINS "Zzzzzzzz!"-ing all about. RC KINGLETS, TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, and RUFOUS HUMMERS have also been around in increased frequency and numbers over the past couple of weeks. A (likely) pair of PURPLE FINCHES have also been visiting semi-regularly since mid-March. The 7-8 MALLARDS that were flocking to my driveway earlier this year are now showing up in pairs. Brandon Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090408/c21c0e41/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Apr 8 21:54:05 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:54:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 04/08/09 Message-ID: <20090409045429.5ADC0A8236@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 04/02 to 04/08/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 5 days this week. Lillian and I will again be leading the Audubon Society of Portland's "Morning Bird Song Walk" this Friday, April 10, at the Pittock Mansion, starting at 7AM. Come join us! For more info see http://www.audubonportland.org/trips-classes-camps/adult/birdsong-walks/walks Species # days found (peak #, date) CANADA GOOSE 1 (4, 4/3) GREAT BLUE HERON 1 (1, 4/3) Cooper's Hawk 1 (2, 4/3) Accipiter sp. 1 (1, 4/3) Band-tailed Pigeon 4 (2) Mourning Dove 4 (3, 4/2) Anna's Hummingbird 3 (2) Rufous Hummingbird 4 (5, 4/6) Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 (2, 4/7) Downy Woodpecker 3 (2) Northern Flicker 4 (2) Pileated Woodpecker 2 (1, 4/2 & 8) Steller's Jay 5 (7) Western Scrub-Jay 4 (2, 4/8) American Crow 5 (6) Violet-green Swallow 2 (10, 4/6 & 7) Swallow sp. 2 (2, 4/3) Black-capped Chickadee 5 (12) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 5 (4) Bushtit 1 (2, 4/6) Red-breasted Nuthatch 5 (5) Brown Creeper 5 (3) Bewick's Wren 4 (3, 4/8) Winter Wren 5 (4, 4/3) Golden-crowned Kinglet 3 (10, 4/6) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4 (10, 4/6 & 7) American Robin 5 (25, 4/3) Varied Thrush 5 (9, 4/6) European Starling 4 (7, 4/6) ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER 3 (3, 4/8) TOWNSEND'S WARBLER 2 (2, 4/7) Spotted Towhee 5 (6) Fox Sparrow 1 (2, 4/2) Song Sparrow 5 (12) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW 1 (1, 4/8) Dark-eyed Junco 5 (20) "Slate-colored Junco" 1 (1, 4/8) Purple Finch 5 (6, 4/7) House Finch 5 (15) Pine Siskin 5 (25, 4/8) EVENING GROSBEAK 1 (2, 4/7) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: TURKEY VULTURE, GREAT HORNED OWL, Hermit Thrush Wink Gross Portland From rockawaybirder at yahoo.com Wed Apr 8 22:09:52 2009 From: rockawaybirder at yahoo.com (Ilene Samowitz) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 22:09:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Late Posting: Othello Sandhill Crane Festival Photos Message-ID: <905290.18068.qm@web31805.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I just finally got my images up from the Othello Sandhill Crane festival. Hightlights include Sandhill Cranes, Geese, Great Horned Owls on Nests, Burrowing Owls, Tundra Swans and Captive portraits of Barn and Western Screech Owls. Here is the link: http://blog.ilenesamowitzphoto.com/ Ilene Samowitz North Matthews Beach, Seattle, WA Rockaway Beach, OR www.ilenesamowitz.com www.ilenesamowitzphoto.com From willclemons at yahoo.com Wed Apr 8 22:28:12 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 22:28:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR Comment Deadline is April 10 Message-ID: <259473.69428.qm@web55102.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Just a final reminder, the Comment DEADLINE is this Friday, April 10 Regarding Ridgefield NWR comments on "Preliminary Management Alternatives" A) COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS: Bob Flores, Project Leader Ridgefield NWR Complex PO Box 457 Ridgefield, Washington 98642 (360) 887-4106 Comments may be faxed to (360) 887-4109, Comments may be E-mailed to: FW1PlanningComments at fws.gov Please put ?Ridgefield NWR CCP Alternatives? on the subject line. B) Anyone may request to be put on the mailing list for future Updates, etc.: - Phone requests: (360) 887-4106 - Email requests: FW1PlanningComments at fws.gov C) The entire document "Preliminary Management Alternatives for Ridgefield NWR" is on the web at: http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ridgefield/pdf/rnwrplnupdate3.pdf D) All NWR's are mandated to complete a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP). The CCP document "Preliminary Management Alternatives for Ridgefield NWR" is on the web at: http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ridgefield/pdf/rnwrplnupdate3.pdf E) If you would like to know the current CCP status of any NWR in Oregon or Washington go to: http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/main/docs/general/CCP%20Schedule.pdf Will Clemons SW of Portland From pointers at pacifier.com Wed Apr 8 22:59:06 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:59:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rufous and Annas pix ... Message-ID: <20090409055857.5E83F6A443@smtp4.pacifier.net> hi ... been having fun photographing the Rufous and the Anna's Hummingbirds !!!! ... our backyard has been inundated with Rufous --- and we have no feeders ... they are all in our flowering cherry ... and, going out hunting birds and wildflowers at lunch we found a hedge of flowering red currents which had both Rufous and Anna's each claiming territory ... the Rufous's won BTW ... here's a a few of my favorites: Anna's --- from the Vancouver Trout Hatchery http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Images09Apr/trout_hatchery_annas_hummingbird_male_04-08-09.jpg http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Images09Apr/trout_hatchery_annas_hummingbird_male_head_04-08-09.jpg http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Images09Apr/trout_hatchery_annas_hummingbird_female_blossoms_04-08-09.jpg Rufous --- from our backyard http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Images09Apr/vancouver_rufus_hummingbird_male_04-06-09.jpg http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Images09Apr/vancouver_rufus_hummingbird_male_04-06-09_C.jpg http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Images09Apr/vancouver_rufus_hummingbird_male_feeding_04-06-09.jpg http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Images09Apr/vancouver_rufus_hummingbird_female_feeding_04-05-09.jpg enjoy, Lyn Vancouver, Washington pointers at pacifier dot com Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From pointers at pacifier.com Wed Apr 8 23:03:23 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:03:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rufous tongue ... Message-ID: <20090409060315.0B9A578A4@smtp3.pacifier.net> for those who have never seen a Hummingbird tongue ... http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Images09Apr/vancouver_rufus_hummingbird_female_with_tongue_04-07-09.jpg enjoy, Lyn Vancouver, Washington pointers at pacifier dot com Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From uskestrel at yahoo.com Thu Apr 9 07:10:36 2009 From: uskestrel at yahoo.com (Carol Ledford) Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 07:10:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers Message-ID: <44900.14242.qm@web54204.mail.re2.yahoo.com> WHERE and WHEN could I see Snowy Plovers?? I'm hoping someone on OBOL can tell me about a good spot to find them without disturbing the birds, and when is the best time to look.? I know they nest somewhere along the Oregon Coast, but it's a long coast.? Thanks! Carol Ledford Gresham, OR ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090409/c39d5036/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Thu Apr 9 09:17:51 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 09:17:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers In-Reply-To: <44900.14242.qm@web54204.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <49de1faa.19bd720a.5551.ffffe49f@mx.google.com> Summer Lake Wildlife Refuge, 100 miles south of Bend, is a great place to look at Snowy Plovers. You don't have to get out of your car thereby not disturbing those beautiful little birds. Marilyn _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Carol Ledford Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2009 7:11 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers WHERE and WHEN could I see Snowy Plovers? I'm hoping someone on OBOL can tell me about a good spot to find them without disturbing the birds, and when is the best time to look. I know they nest somewhere along the Oregon Coast, but it's a long coast. Thanks! Carol Ledford Gresham, OR No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.285 / Virus Database: 270.11.47/2047 - Release Date: 04/08/09 05:53:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090409/d422e357/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Apr 9 09:34:45 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 09 Apr 2009 09:34:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers In-Reply-To: <44900.14242.qm@web54204.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <44900.14242.qm@web54204.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <49DE23A5.7010702@verizon.net> Carol Best and easiest place on the coast is Siltcoos south of Florence. Go to the end of the road for Siltcoos Recreation Area. Park in the lot, go up over the large dune, and walk south along the beach. Within a few hundred meters you will hit the Snowy Plover nesting area. Keep away from the roped nesting area, but you should be able to find some plovers hanging around the beach, wrackline, spit, and river mouth. Be patient, and look really hard in the wrackline, as the plovers tend to like to sit still and low, often behind debris or in footsteps or divots in the sand, and they will be really tolerant of fairly close approach before moving. That doesn't mean you should push them around, it just means that you can almost walk into them before they will decide to get out of your way. Any one going to look for plovers here or any other place they nest MUST follow all rules and signs!!!! Law enforcement of the nesting areas is taken very seriously. Violators will be ticketed. However, there is plenty of room for birders and recreationists to enjoy the plovers and the beach. Cheers Dave Lauten Bandon, OR deweysage at verizon.net Carol Ledford wrote: > WHERE and WHEN could I see Snowy Plovers? I'm hoping someone on OBOL > can tell me about a good spot to find them without disturbing the > birds, and when is the best time to look. I know they nest somewhere > along the Oregon Coast, but it's a long coast. > > Thanks! > > Carol Ledford > Gresham, OR > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From sasdhill at comcast.net Thu Apr 9 11:10:00 2009 From: sasdhill at comcast.net (Sasdhill@comcast.net) Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 11:10:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Calliope Hummingbird at Skinner's Butte Eugene Message-ID: <10C8457E37C649539F367C75D257886C@OwnerPC> Saw a male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD this morning. He was in the oak tree just west of the parking lot where the trail goes down the south side. Lots of RUFOUS, and ANNA'S , ORANGE CROWNED WARBLERS and one NASHVILLE WARBLER in same tree. Sally Hill Eugene, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090409/9aebe971/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Thu Apr 9 11:23:37 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 11:23:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Beginning birding Q & A Message-ID: <20090409112337.nmmpibj5wg4ocgko@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Earlier in the week Johnny Sasko posted links to several photos to OBOL and had several questions. With his permission I copied his photos and questions to a place where the answers could be available longer term and more in-depth than the listserv technology of OBOL allows. On the Pacific NW Backyard Birder site I have added a regular feature of Questions and Answers. This week I tackled Johnny's questions about Pine Siskin behavior, female Red-winged Blackbird ID, and conjunctivitis in House Finches. Since last week's announcement of the list of common backyard birds of Burns/Hines, Oregon, I have added articles on Golden-crowned Sparrows, House Finches, and American Coot. http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/ Greg Gillson From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Apr 9 14:31:03 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 14:31:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Curry Birds 4/9/2009 Message-ID: <46956.57908.qm@web45310.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I was down at Floras Lake in the AM, not birding, but did manage to see the following birds: 1- WESTERN KINGBIRD 1- CHIPPING SPARROW 2- LAPLAND LONGSPURS I heard both a FOX SPARROW and a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER singing. It was raining most of the time with a few sucker holes. Merry migration! Tim R Coos Bay From nelson_sm at centurytel.net Thu Apr 9 15:13:38 2009 From: nelson_sm at centurytel.net (Sally Nelson) Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 15:13:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird sound question and other Creswell trivia References: <000401c33ded$c2a2ab90$0200000a@newcomputer> Message-ID: <000501c9b960$724fc840$56b5ced1@oemcomputer> Dear OBOLinks, A new sound yesterday but couldn't spot the bird. My first thought was Acorn Woodpecker, but that is so unlikely I wonder if Steller's Jays do something like that. They were numerous and noisy as usual around my yard, but I have never heard anything remotely like that! It was a rough, loud, rising gr-r-r-r-r-r-ak-a, with the "ak" the highest pitch. It was repeated several times, from an area of mixed firs and oaks, and hasn't recurred. Have you heard jays do such a thing? Did some of these jays winter in the Rogue Valley? Did a woodpecker get lost on its way to Fern Ridge? Do either species migrate anyway? Always something new to learn. I first realized this year that all the migratory geese passing over here in the spring are not heading north but southeast. To Malheur, Tule Lake, Klamath, I suppose. How can I have watched them all these years and never realized they don't go north in the spring over Creswell?! Doh! I recently watched a Red-breasted Sapsucker dragging a Black-capped Chickadee by the wing out of a nest hole in an old power pole . The chickadee perched on the guy wire looking dazed and confused, its wing held out from the body a bit, but did fly off and leave the disputed home site to the sapsucker (which was the original owner and I think drilled the hole last year). Regards, Sally nelson_sm at centurytel.net Creswell (s. of Eugene), OR From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Thu Apr 9 15:23:37 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 16:23:37 -0600 Subject: [obol] white Yellow-headed Blackbird Message-ID: <7B7583E6CD3C4805A73F5EC80E857438@larryPC> Our white Yellow-headed Blackbird has returned for the second year. We have had a few YEBB in the yard and chicken pen and now the numbers are growing. This bird has a normal yellow head with a white body where it should be black. The white shoulder patch is black. It blends in with the flock until you see it against the hillside with the sun on it or sitting in the tree or on the wire of the chicken pen. Our spring visitors have been 1 American Robin and 1 Lesser Sandhill Crane. The Say's Phoebe count is at three,with lots of aerial flights and singing. At Burns Jct there is three more Phoebe's also doing territorial flights. The Redtail pair has only used our yard as a means to get to the thermals. There is a pair nesting at our neighbors. There has only been 1 Barn Swallow in looking things over, but the weather has not been nice. On our trips to Boise, Id. we have seen Ferruginous Hawks hunting the roadsides. Also saw a Turkey Vulture near Jordan Valley(town). Karen in true SE Or. south of Burns Jct in Malheur Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090409/9a891a14/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Apr 9 16:05:02 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 16:05:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird sound question and other Creswell trivia References: <000401c33ded$c2a2ab90$0200000a@newcomputer> <000501c9b960$724fc840$56b5ced1@oemcomputer> Message-ID: <1678A58FB03B46C6ABB53EA0803450E8@Warbler> Sally, Both Steller's and Western Scrub Jays uses calls similar to what you describe, in the Rogue Valley (sw OR) at least. Steller's are good at imitating some other bird calls as well (perhaps best known for their Hawk imitations). Dennis (north of Grants Pass) > Dear OBOLinks, > > A new sound yesterday but couldn't spot the bird. My first thought was > Acorn > Woodpecker, but that is so unlikely I wonder if Steller's Jays do > something > like that. They were numerous and noisy as usual around my yard, but I > have > never heard anything remotely like that! It was a rough, loud, rising > gr-r-r-r-r-r-ak-a, with the "ak" the highest pitch. It was repeated > several > times, from an area of mixed firs and oaks, and hasn't recurred. > > Have you heard jays do such a thing? Did some of these jays winter in the > Rogue Valley? Did a woodpecker get lost on its way to Fern Ridge? Do > either > species migrate anyway? Always something new to learn. > > Regards, Sally > nelson_sm at centurytel.net > Creswell (s. of Eugene), OR From SJJag at comcast.net Thu Apr 9 16:24:13 2009 From: SJJag at comcast.net (SJJag at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 23:24:13 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Another Calliope H-Bird Message-ID: <1102944061.5771331239319453332.JavaMail.root@sz0081a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> What a treat!? I just had a male Calliope Hummingbird visit the kitchen feeder for a long drink! Seems like an especially good year for them in the I-5 corridor.....still too cold to migrate higher up? Steve Jaggers Milwaukie, Or. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090409/9e1304b0/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Thu Apr 9 16:38:16 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 16:38:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Sapsuckers, White-breasted Nuthatches, Robert Frost School; Calliope Hummingbirds still at home Message-ID: John (Thomas) and I took two 4th grade student birding groups out this morning at Robert Frost School in Silverton. The first group observed (in addition to the regular feeder birds present) a pair of Red-breasted Sapsuckers. The second group observed fresh sapsucker holes on the school's apple trees, and observed a pair of White-breasted Nuthatches. Both species were new for this year's classroom list. We continue to see both the male and the female Calliope Hummingbirds at the red flowering currant bushes and at our feeders at home. Pam Reid 5 miles north of Silverton From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Apr 9 16:49:49 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:49:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Elver Voth and Mt Jefferson Message-ID: I'm pleased to report that Elver Voth's thesis on the vertebrate animals of the Mt. Jefferson area is now available in digital form as a pdf through ScholarsArchive at OSU at the following url: http://hdl.handle.net/1957/11268 This is almost fifty years old but is a wonderful survey. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From goosemiller at gmail.com Thu Apr 9 16:53:19 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 16:53:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Goose Information - Fuzzy's birthday In-Reply-To: <1678A58FB03B46C6ABB53EA0803450E8@Warbler> Message-ID: <49de8a6a.1437720a.7f89.ffffcbdb@mx.google.com> Hi Obol and Cobol: I strongly urge you to Delete now if you don't want my goose information. Fuzzy-Bird, my white Embden goose, turned 13 years old today and became a teenager! For his birthday he got some organic lettuce, tomatoes and other snacks. Fuzzy-Bird really enjoyed the snacks and his tail feathers were happily wagging. (He did share some of his present with Affie-Goose). It rarely rains in Bend, Oregon but it did this afternoon and my geese love the rain so that was a bonus for Fuzzy today. Thirteen years ago, I was driving through the town of Crow (near Eugene) and was upset because my dog had recently passed away due to old age. I knew at that time I didn't want to get another dog anytime soon. I stopped at the local farm store to pet the animals they had for sale. I promptly fell in love with two twenty four hour old goslings. They were five dollars a piece so I bought a male and a female. That was the best ten dollars I have ever spent. My geese have brought Craig and I a lot of great love and joy over the past 13 years and I hope for at least a few more years. So Happy Birthday Fuzzy-Bird - We Love You! Marilyn Miller (and Craig Miller) Bend, Oregon From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Thu Apr 9 17:19:57 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 20:19:57 -0400 Subject: [obol] misc. Message-ID: While sitting in our living room this morning, we heard a mourning dove land, common enough in our backyard -- but then had second thoughts. The windows were closed, so we wouldn't have been able to hear it. The distinctive whistling sound of a dove landing was a new addition to our budgie's song. During warm days he is outside, and added the dove sound after being out several times this past week. He already tosses in a Stellar's jay call frequently. The BAND-TAILED PIGEONS are now up to a daily dozen at the feeders and should keep increasing. Numerous Calif. tortoiseshell butterflies seen in the hills between Scappoose and Vernonia on Tuesday. Lona Pierce, Warren, in Columbia County _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get e-mail storage that grows with you. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Storage1_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090409/8dba35f6/attachment.html From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Thu Apr 9 18:00:07 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 21:00:07 -0400 Subject: [obol] o-crowns, r-f currants Message-ID: There just were three ORANGE-CROWN WARBLERS hopping from flower to flower on my red-flowering currant shrub, poking their bills into the blossoms. The hummers I expect; the warblers I didn't. Lona Pierce, Warren, in Columbia County _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get e-mail storage that grows with you. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Storage1_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090409/d73751fe/attachment.html From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Thu Apr 9 19:33:22 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (Barbara Millikan) Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 19:33:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] O.T. Fox Squirrels in NW Oregon? Message-ID: <855070e90904091933j4930811fo717d6db2cc7fe527@mail.gmail.com> My husband thinks he saw one in our woods today. Anyone know if this species has spread into parts of N.W. Oregon. He said it was too big to be a chickaree, and was a rusty red color, and looked like the ones we saw back in Michigan. Can any Obolites point me in the right direction for asking this question? TIA Barbara -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090409/b562908a/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Thu Apr 9 20:35:41 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:35:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] O.T. Fox Squirrels in NW Oregon? Message-ID: <49DEBE8D.8060706@pacifier.com> Eastern Fox Squirrels are common to abundant in the Willamette Valley, often displacing Western Gray Squirrels in urban parks and residential areas. Pretty good chance you're seeing them if you live in the Valley. There is, however, and outside chance that you mistook a California Ground Squirrel (gray-digger) for a Fox Squirrel, so check out pictures of that species. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Henry David Thoreau: citizen scientist http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10505/ From forcreeks at earthlink.net Thu Apr 9 23:30:02 2009 From: forcreeks at earthlink.net (Steve Berliner) Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 23:30:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Osprey nest decorations Message-ID: <380-2200945106302781@earthlink.net> It took me all these years to stumble into a view of Osprey nest freshly decorated with wild flowers, and I want to offer to share the picture with you all. I suppose flowers may only last a few days after "planted" onto the nest.. anyway they've never shown up in my previous digiscopes of active nests, so I was probably too late. I happened to go to Sauvie Island yesterday and admittedly didn't notice the live flowers until getting home and reviewing photos on PC screen. I was floored and ran to Sibley behavior book to see if I'd made a monumental discovery.. but alas, Hawks are known for using fresh vegetation in the new season's nest, perhaps he says to tell the neighbors or home shoppers "We're home." This is the Rentenaar Rd. nest platform. the other pair near the end of Reeder Rd. wasn't nearly so floral in their tastes, or maybe their decor had wilted already. I checked in with the Island ODF&W office to make sure this wasn't a little joke staff plays on us birders by "planting" floral stock by the nest site for the birds to pick up; and they were glad to see the photo. It's right here: http://www.pbase.com/sberliner/image/111133865 and notice the two kinds of wild flowers.. there are little white ones I'm told are Chick Weed, and big violet ones which are?? Steve Berliner forcreeks at earthlink.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090409/6c9995ff/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Apr 9 23:44:20 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 23:44:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] O.T. Fox Squirrels in NW Oregon? In-Reply-To: <855070e90904091933j4930811fo717d6db2cc7fe527@mail.gmail.com> References: <855070e90904091933j4930811fo717d6db2cc7fe527@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <3f822a5b1395eed9b929aab450d9dffa@earthlink.net> I am aware of at least three separate introduced populations. One in ne Oregon said to be introduced from Boise (also introduced) squirrels. Baker may have been the starting point, possibly a LaGrande introduction as well. I saw Fox squirrels in 1988 as far ne as midway between Elgin and Minam Summit (a farmstead surrounded by wheatfields) and as far se as Sumpter (a town surrounded by forest). A population based in Springfield and another in Portland. Fox Squirrels are very, very common in Portland where I have never seen a native gray squirrel from 1978 to present. In case you are reading this Alan, the road-kill Sciurus niger of Portland are PLUMP and TASTY. Fox Squirrels readily use utility lines to cross streets, while Silver Gray Squirrels cross on the ground. In western Washington County the two species appear to be in equilibrium. I saw a Fox Squirrel sitting in a hemlock 150m west of the double gates (black, blue) on Hayward Rd described by Stefan Schlick in a recent Mountain Quail posting. This was 14 or 15 years ago. The next nearest sighting was 3km east, at the jct with Way Road. This was also many years ago. I have seen the native gray squirrel far more often here, especially in recent years. I have occasionally seen Fox Squirrels in Banks or at farmsteads in the vicinity, but well under half a dozen times over 15 years. The anecdotal evidence from the Banks School District indicates no current advance by S. niger, and a modest but apparently stable population of S. griseus. The accepted wisdom is that the Fox Squirrels from Portland would eventually join with those of Eugene/Springfield. Barbara's sighting is the furthest south and west of Portland that I have heard of, but I have never personally seen any beyond Multnomah and Washington Counties. Lars Norgren On Apr 9, 2009, at 7:33 PM, Barbara Millikan wrote: > My husband thinks he saw one in our woods today. Anyone know if this > species has spread into parts of N.W.? Oregon. > He said it was too big to be a chickaree, and was a rusty red color, > and looked like the ones we saw back in Michigan. > Can any Obolites point me in the right direction for asking this > question? > TIA > Barbara > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Apr 10 01:43:07 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 08:43:07 +0000 Subject: [obol] Photo essay showing Magnificent Frigatebirds bathing now up on BirdFellow.com website Message-ID: Greetings All, Steve Mlodinow put together a nice photo essay for the BirdFellow.com journal that shows Magnificent Frigatebirds bathing at the La Paz, Baja California Sur sewage ponds. This bathing routine is both amazing and a bit comical to witness. We invite you to check it out. Dave Irons BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Quick access to your favorite MSN content and Windows Live with Internet Explorer 8. http://ie8.msn.com/microsoft/internet-explorer-8/en-us/ie8.aspx?ocid=B037MSN55C0701A -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090410/d640ae13/attachment.html From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Fri Apr 10 04:31:39 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (Barbara Millikan) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:31:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Osprey nest decorations In-Reply-To: <380-2200945106302781@earthlink.net> References: <380-2200945106302781@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <855070e90904100431w5f45b2q56089fc7b3852d4a@mail.gmail.com> It looks somewhat like self heal, but I wouldn't have thought that it would be blooming yet. yrs, Barbara > > I checked in with the Island ODF&W office to make sure this wasn't a little > joke staff plays on us birders by "planting" floral stock by the nest site > for the birds to pick up; and they were glad to see the photo. It's right > here: http://www.pbase.com/sberliner/image/111133865 > and notice the two kinds of wild flowers.. there are little white ones I'm > told are Chick Weed, and big violet ones which are?? > > > Steve Berliner > forcreeks at earthlink.net > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090410/2b5ed1e3/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Fri Apr 10 05:57:08 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 05:57:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] O.T. Fox Squirrels in NW Oregon? References: <855070e90904091933j4930811fo717d6db2cc7fe527@mail.gmail.com> <3f822a5b1395eed9b929aab450d9dffa@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <9819C056AF794A20933311431AA06BB1@Warbler> Couple of short notes on Squirrel species in Oregon. Eastern Fox Squirrels are now in Grants Pass (Rogue Valley). Saw the first one in town several years back now. Saw one ran over a few days ago; likely still live ones around. Have seen Western Gray Squirrels doing the high wire act near our place. Saw one traversing the length of a TV cable - was pretty good at it. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Subject: Re: [obol] O.T. Fox Squirrels in NW Oregon? I am aware of at least three separate introduced populations. One in ne Oregon said to be introduced from Boise (also introduced) squirrels. Baker may have been the starting point, possibly a LaGrande introduction as well. I saw Fox squirrels in 1988 as far ne as midway between Elgin and Minam Summit (a farmstead surrounded by wheatfields) and as far se as Sumpter (a town surrounded by forest). A population based in Springfield and another in Portland. Fox Squirrels are very, very common in Portland where I have never seen a native gray squirrel from 1978 to present. In case you are reading this Alan, the road-kill Sciurus niger of Portland are PLUMP and TASTY. Fox Squirrels readily use utility lines to cross streets, while Silver Gray Squirrels cross on the ground. In western Washington County the two species appear to be in equilibrium. I saw a Fox Squirrel sitting in a hemlock 150m west of the double gates (black, blue) on Hayward Rd described by Stefan Schlick in a recent Mountain Quail posting. This was 14 or 15 years ago. The next nearest sighting was 3km east, at the jct with Way Road. This was also many years ago. I have seen the native gray squirrel far more often here, especially in recent years. I have occasionally seen Fox Squirrels in Banks or at farmsteads in the vicinity, but well under half a dozen times over 15 years. The anecdotal evidence from the Banks School District indicates no current advance by S. niger, and a modest but apparently stable population of S. griseus. The accepted wisdom is that the Fox Squirrels from Portland would eventually join with those of Eugene/Springfield. Barbara's sighting is the furthest south and west of Portland that I have heard of, but I have never personally seen any beyond Multnomah and Washington Counties. Lars Norgren On Apr 9, 2009, at 7:33 PM, Barbara Millikan wrote: > My husband thinks he saw one in our woods today. Anyone know if this > species has spread into parts of N.W. Oregon. > He said it was too big to be a chickaree, and was a rusty red color, > and looked like the ones we saw back in Michigan. > Can any Obolites point me in the right direction for asking this > question? > TIA > Barbara > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From raphe29 at hotmail.com Fri Apr 10 09:12:05 2009 From: raphe29 at hotmail.com (mark lundgren) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:12:05 +0000 Subject: [obol] Calliope Hummer re-sighting Message-ID: The male Calliope hummer made another appearance at the red flowering currant at 0830 hrs.3 blocks east of gabriel park in SW Portland.Pretty bird! Mark Lundgren -------7638 SW 36th Avenue,Portland,Oregon 97219-1631 ------USA-------- 503-293-9284 raphe29 at hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get quick friend updates right in your inbox. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Updates1_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090410/e7fd86ad/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Fri Apr 10 10:15:37 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 10:15:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eagle at Odell nest Message-ID: <690C66C5E1954F58A13F683D36AF8172@TomsPC> I checked the forest service eagle nest web cam at Odell Lake today and there was an EAGLE on the nest in spite of the snow. The nest site has been covered with snow. The eggs failed to hatch last year. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090410/3d2517c4/attachment.html From markhamm at charterinternet.com Fri Apr 10 11:54:26 2009 From: markhamm at charterinternet.com (Mark Hamm) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:54:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] douglas co. Townsend's Solitaire Message-ID: Spotted a Townsend's Solitaire this morning at the 7 Feathers RV park. From grantandstacy17 at gmail.com Fri Apr 10 12:24:30 2009 From: grantandstacy17 at gmail.com (Grant Canterbury) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:24:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Willamette gulls Message-ID: I went down to the downtown Portland waterfront at lunch today, and saw both the Slaty-backed and the Glaucous Gull relaxing among a crowd of the usual larid suspects on the east bank esplanade dock. - Grant Canterbury From foglark at att.net Fri Apr 10 12:45:40 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:45:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Steller's Jay call Message-ID: <779631.86686.qm@web80009.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Sally, The call you describe is given by female Steller's Jays. David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090410/9e395a00/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Fri Apr 10 13:55:03 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:55:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] American Pipits & GB Heron Message-ID: Saw 150+ American Pipits in a field east of Baskett Butte near Baskett Slough NWR yesterday afternoon. I only saw two before they all went airborne. Amazing. Also, half a dozen GB Herons in nests on Torvend Rd Pond near Silverton this morning. Maybe this rookery will build back up. Been very small the past couple years due to possible Bald Eagle harassment. A GH Owl was in one of their nests a little over a month ago but has disappeared. Good Spring Birding, John Thomas From willclemons at yahoo.com Fri Apr 10 14:19:13 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:19:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Tualatin River NWR: BLACK-NECKED STILT Message-ID: <168161.11799.qm@web55102.mail.re4.yahoo.com> My friend Ken Hornung and I walked the only open trail at TRNWR this morning. Not much in the way of Warblers other than Butter Butts. >From the overlook window in the visitor center, using the spotting scope provided, I saw a lone BLACK-NECKED STILT. It was as far from the window as one can get. It was South of the main E/W road (currently closed) and on the W bank of the far SW pond. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Fri Apr 10 14:52:46 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:52:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Skinner's Butte: Calliope etc Message-ID: <514125.82651.qm@web30406.mail.mud.yahoo.com> The male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD on Skinner's Butte was very cooperative this morning, making many display flights and posing for photographers.? I made about a hundred pictures of him, the best of which is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30397515 at N07/ Otherwise noteworthy, the Butte was teaming with ~200 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS this morning.? Several RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, and a bright NASHVILLE WARBLER were observed in the same general area as the Calliope (west end of parking lot.)? Also, the BALD EAGLETS were observed in their nest again today. Maitreya ? ?Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.? Jonathan Livingston Seagull -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090410/17e8e7e1/attachment.html From zedo at comcast.net Fri Apr 10 14:57:49 2009 From: zedo at comcast.net (Jim Maloney) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:57:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] (no subject) Message-ID: <8EC2C7D6-81B1-40A9-9555-7A262D40CB21@comcast.net> I may have missed any earlier post(s) about this seasonal arrival. Just a quick note to say that I stopped briefly by the Fisher Butte Unit at Fern Ridge this morning and saw my first two Black-necked Stilts of the season. They were visible from the gravel trail that leads from Hwy 126 to the new viewing platform. They were foraging with about a half-dozen Greater Yellowlegs. JIm M From zedo at comcast.net Fri Apr 10 15:12:43 2009 From: zedo at comcast.net (Jim Maloney) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:12:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] "No Subject" should have been Stilts at Fern Ridge Message-ID: <2288E635-DA24-4D15-B349-80ED13E312ED@comcast.net> I'll get the hang of this email thing one of these days. Jim M From windypointandy at dishmail.net Fri Apr 10 15:38:33 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:38:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] EASTERN OREGON-4-6 APRIL Message-ID: <000c01c9ba2d$219afd70$3700a8c0@windypoint99> EASTERN OREGON 4-6 APRIL 2009 We headed to Malheur NWR to experience the great early spring birding spectacles for which this area is famous: sage grouse on their lek, the multitudes of migrating "white" geese, and raptors. PRINEVILLE TO MALHEUR NWR. 4 APRIL. We spent Friday night in Prineville and headed off along OR-27 before sunup on a very cold morning (17 0 F) to try for owls. We made several stops in the fields just south of town and heard dueting Great Horned Owls at every stop. We listened for Barn and Long-eared Owls but had to be content with Great Horned. Southwest on OR-20 (Bend-Burns Highway) we stopped several times at brown and close-cropped fields with circle irrigation systems. Squirrels were scurrying about everywhere in these fields, others were like "picket pins," perhaps acting as sentinels for danger. Raptors were here in numbers to prey on this bounty: Bald and Golden Eagles, and Red-tailed and Ferruginous Hawks. This was indeed a good start to our birding. Approaching Burns, we pulled into a gas station to fuel up. On stopping, Ellen noticed the wastewater ponds east of the highway were solid white with geese! We poked around to find a vantage to view this spectacle. At the west end of the fairgrounds, we found a raised wooden platform. Clambering up this four feet was high enough to put us above the pond berm and from here we scoped the closely packed geese. We noted the vast majority were Ross's Geese, thousands and thousands of these beautiful birds. Panning through this carpet of peppered white birds; we picked out three of the rare blue phase, striking birds indeed. At midday, we checked in at the high school and obtained tickets for the evening banquet at the John Scharff Migratory Bird Festival, featuring Kenn Kaufmann. We had a good half-day left to take in the birds. Long-billed Curlews and Sandhill Cranes dotted several flooded fields along Hotchkiss Lane. Raptors by these fields included Bald Eagles, Northern Harriers, Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks, and American Kestrels. Tree and Violet-green Swallows hawked low over the water, evidently that's where the bugs were on this very cool but sunny day (temps in the mid-50s). Shallows along Potter Swamp Road south from Greenhouse Lane held several dozen Greater Yellowlegs along with lots of dabbling ducks such as Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, and Cinnamon Teal. Northern Shovelers were numerous too. The power substation pond on east side of OR-205 proved good for our only Lesser Yellowlegs of the trip. A Wilson's Snipe lurked in the mud by the shore while out in the pond Ross's and Snow Geese swam side-by side making a great comparison. Greater White-fronted Geese and a variety of other ducks ( Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, and Lesser Scaup made this a yet another good stop. Site guides for the area describe a "Raptor Alley" east of Burns near New Princeton. We found the reason for the extraordinary array of raptors to be an abundance of squirrel in irrigated circle fields. These beasts were everywhere, scampering here and there, uttering their piercing calls. Here was a veritable buffet for birds of prey. Here we saw both Bald and Golden Eagles, and three Buteos: Swainson's, Red-tailed and Ferruginous Hawks. Ravens were everywhere. Calving could well have contributed to the spectacle, as afterbirth from calving attracts both species of eagles and ravens. The only disconcerting part of our raptor-viewing here was watching three "sportsman," comfortably positioned in leaning chairs in the shade of their camping shelter, popping off squirrels one-by-one. The banquet featured Kenn Kaufman whose program "Why we need birds" was memorable. We've seen Kenn give this program before in Penticton British Columbia and have to say he made great improvements, both technically and artistically. Our hat is off to Kenn for a truly inspirational program! Aside from the program it was great to hear Kenn mention his awe at the spectacle of thousands of geese flying right over the fairgrounds parking lot as we all arrived for the banquet. We certainly shared his sense of wonder too! Wanting to be near the Foster Flat Greater Sage-Grouse lek at dawn, we headed to Page Springs Campground after the banquet, a mere 60 miles to the south. In willows at the campground entrance we heard a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL (not on the john Scharff Migratory Bird Festival list) and tried for Barn and Long-eared Owls but once again heard only Great Horned. FRENCHGLEN TO JOHN DAY. 5 APRIL. We arrived at the Foster Flat lekking grounds at dawn (from the Buena Vista Overlook head north, then take the first unmarked left (west) ~ 2 miles to Foster Flat Road, then southwest ~ 6 miles to start of flat area (west of obvious high peaks). We were treated to a fine display by seven or so male Greater Sage-Grouse. Try as we might we could see no females. On our return to OR-205, we stopped several times to bird the shrub-steppe. We encountered a number of Sage Thrashers, Horned Larks, and Western Meadowlarks and a couple of Sage Sparrows. We specifically targeted Brewer's and Vesper Sparrows with no luck. Diamond Craters, showcasing very recent (17,000 years ago) lava flows, was a real treat. At the first pull in after the information boards, we walked a few yards to the edge of an impressive crater and peered at a Great Horned Owl on its nest on a small ledge. Its mate was ticked against the crater wall on the other side of the crater. Cool! Canyon Wrens sang their lovely chant that echoed across the crater walls. We explored other craters along the tour route, enjoying them all. Turkey Vultures appear to nest at one; there we found Rock Wren, while the last was good for displaying kestrels. Reluctantly, we turned our backs to the Harney Basin and the snow-mantled Steens Mountains and headed north on US-395. The northern reaches of the Basin and Range country quickly disappeared as we cruised alongside Poison Creek set in a colorful gorge of rim rock (yet another Prairie Falcon and Golden Eagle) ascending the southern flanks of the Ochoco Mountains. Our first stop in these mountains was at Idlewild Campground 17 miles north of Burns. There were loads of birds in the pines here. We easily found WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER, all three nuthatches, Brown Creeper, and Mountain Chickadee. Other birds of the pines included Red Crossbill and Cassin's Finch. On a lark we left US-395 on to Calamity Lookout Road which heads east out of southern Silvies Valley. Heading up the lower canyon we evidently flushed an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK from its perch by the roadside as it flapped quickly across the road and into the trees. Needing some exercise, we hiked up a steep south slope grown to ponderosa pine, western juniper, and mountain mahogany. Yellow violets dotted the still muddy ground along with a few early anemones and biscuitroots. Birds were not many but we again found all three nuthatches along with Bushtit. The habitat for the latter seemed not brushy enough in my experience but I guess the Bushtits know what suits them. We hit John Day for the night, having dinner at Outlook Pizzeria. Afterwards, at dusk, we drove east to Prairie and headed up the Strawberry Road. We had hoped for riparian habitat along the creek but all land up to the Forest Service boundary was heavily grazed. The riparian growth has been heavily impacted here so vegetation for owls like Western Screech or Long-eared Owls has surely diminished. We did hear a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL at start of firs and spruces. Here snow blocked us from going higher. JOHN DAY TO REDMOND. 6 April. Heading south on US-395 back towards Burns (!), we stopped at Milepost 12.5 on a steep side hill grown to ponderosa pine, bitterbrush, with Douglas-fir on the opposite hillside. Two DUSKY GROUSE hooted (widely spaced single booms and recognizably lower in pitch than Sooties which give a series). A NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL tooted from the Douglas-firs across the canyon and a Fox Sparrow sang from the ravine below. We were pleased with this stop. At Starr Campground, we heard another Northern Pygmy-Owl and noted both WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER AND WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS. We then headed west in Bear Valley on the Izee-Paulina Road. At an aspen-bordered opening towards the west end of the valley we heard and saw a couple WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS and heard three or four more sapsuckers. Wishing to determine the identity of the other sapsuckers, and knowing these woodpeckers often come in to owl hoots, I played the muffled calls of Great Gray Owl. We were both totally flabbergasted when the "real McCoy" answered, a GREAT GRAY OWL! Walking into the forest we had great looks at this lordly denizen of the north-country. Way cool! The road descends abruptly west down into cattle country past Izee (two houses) and Paulina (somewhat more substantial) through heavily grazed rangeland west to Prineville. Cattle are king throughout this long stretch and their mark on the land is obvious everywhere. I can't recall any other swath of the American West I've traversed where the mark of overgrazed landscape is so obvious over such a great area. Behind the roadside right-of-ways, native bunchgrasses are depleted almost everywhere. Bare ground and an increase in Western Junipers results. North from Prineville we headed west and explored the area about Gray Butte. Heading uphill towards the trailhead, we drove past a north-facing hillside dotted with western juniper with a grass cover of Idaho Fescue. We noted Bushtits and Mountain Chickadees in this habitat. >From near a saddle south of the peak we parked and hiked to the summit. The hike, in brilliant sunshine and warmth, took us through a controlled burn to reduce junipers. A vigorous cover of bluebunch Wheatgrass, Idhaho Fescue, and Frigid Sagebrush has returned. Our reward was a stunning view of Cascade volcanoes from Mt. Rainier (well, a tiny sliver) south to Mt. Shasta, a span of over five degrees of latitude. We looked and listened for migrating raptors and cranes, but saw none, surprisingly. Species list: Greater White-fronted Goose - 1020 Snow Goose - 15 ROSS'S Goose - 15000 Canada Goose - 120 Tundra Swan - 4 Gadwall - 65 American Wigeon - 30 Mallard - 150 Cinnamon Teal - 18 Northern Shoveler - 300 Northern Pintail - 1900 Am. Green-winged Teal - 30 Canvasback - 60 Redhead - 15 Ring-necked Duck - 20 Greater Scaup - 200-Biggs only Lesser Scaup - 50 Bufflehead - 30 Common Goldeneye - 30 Barrow's Goldeneye - 5-Smith Rock only Common Merganser - 25 Hooded Merganser - 3 Ruddy Duck - 35 DUSKY GROUSE - 2-near Starr Cpgr. GREATER SAGE-GROUSE - 7 Ring-necked Pheasant - 3 California Quail - 3 Horned Grebe - 2-Biggs American White Pelican - 10 Double-crested Cormorant - 1 Great Blue Heron - 1 Turkey Vulture - 25 Bald Eagle - 10 Northern Harrier - 6 Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2 Cooper's Hawk - 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK - 1-Calamity Butte Red-tailed Hawk - 35 Ferruginous Hawk - 6 Rough-legged Hawk - 1 Swainson's Hawk - 1 Golden Eagle - 5 American Kestrel - 2 Prairie Falcon - 6 American Coot - 330 Sandhill Crane - 50 Killdeer - 5 American Avocet - 40 Greater Yellowlegs - 40 Lesser Yellowlegs - 1 Long-billed Curlew - 65 Wilson's Snipe - 2 Ring-billed Gull - 30 California Gull - 5-Biggs Rock Pigeon - 10 Mourning Dove - 5 WESTERN SCREECH-OWL - 1-Page Spr. NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL - 3,Starr Cpgr. Great Horned Owl - 12 GREAT GRAY OWL - 1-Bear Mdw. area NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL - 1-Strawberry Rd. White-throated Swift - 2 Belted Kingfisher - 2 Williamson's Sapsucker - 5 Downy Woodpecker - 1 WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER - 2 Idlewild and Starr Cpgrs. Northern Flicker - 10 Say's Phoebe - 8 Loggerhead Shrike - 1 Steller's Jay - 2 Western Scrub-Jay - 1-Prineville Black-billed Magpie - 8 American Crow - 2 Common Raven - 50 Horned Lark - 15 Tree Swallow - 20 Violet-green Swallow - 10 Mountain Chickadee - 10 Bushtit - 5 Red-breasted Nuthatch - 10 White-breasted Nuthatch - 5 Pygmy Nuthatch - 10 Brown Creeper - 2 Rock Wren - 1 Canyon Wren - 2 Marsh Wren - 5 Golden-crowned Kinglet - 10 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 5 Western Bluebird - 2 Mountain Bluebird - 5 Townsend's Solitaire - 15 American Robin - 40 Varied Thrush - 1 Sage Thrasher - 20 European Starling - 200 Spotted Towhee - 3 Sage Sparrow - 5 Savannah Sparrow - 2 Fox Sparrow - Song Sparrow - 10 White-crowned Sparrow - 5 Dark-eyed Junco - 20 Red-winged Blackbird - 50 Western Meadowlark - 30 Brewer's Blackbird - 50 Cassin's Finch - 3 Red Crossbill - 10 House Finch - 15 House Sparrow - 20 Andy Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090410/0fa5cf48/attachment.html From tsnetsinger at centurytel.net Fri Apr 10 16:19:15 2009 From: tsnetsinger at centurytel.net (tsnetsinger at centurytel.net) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:19:15 -0400 Subject: [obol] Release of Life List by Olivia Gentile (new biography of Phoebe Snetsinger) Message-ID: <20090410191915.xo4elwod6rc0k0ko@webmail2.centurytel.net> OBOL, Many have heard that a new biography about my mother was in the works. Well, it has now been released! For those that may be interested in the work you can find out more at the author's website. http://www.oliviagentile.com/ You can purchase through Amazon or (I am sure) through your favorite local bookseller. My family has no financial stake in this book, but we have worked closely with Olivia to provide access to my mother's field notes and other writings for her research, and I can attest to Olivia's meticulous research and passion about telling my mother's life story well. Olivia did a superb job in weaving together the historical data, cultural context, and personal path my mother followed to help understand her. But the story also delves much deeper, exploring the cost of obsession and what it means to live life well. It is an honest and human telling, but in the end it is to me a powerful story of my mother's enduring spirit. While my mother's personal memoir, Birding on Borrowed Time, is likely of interest mostly to birders, I think this new biography will appeal to a much broader audience. This is a well-written and compelling story that happens to be about a fanatical birder. I hope you enjoy it. Cheers, Tom Snetsinger thomas.snetsinger at oregonstate.edu From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Fri Apr 10 16:53:14 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 23:53:14 +0000 Subject: [obol] Eastern Oregon April 4-6th Message-ID: Hi Andy and Ellen, A WARM welcome and what a wonderful report! I love your 'non-pedantic' style of writing exhibiting your vast knowledge of NW birds, plants, and geology. Thanks so much for sharing your findings and adventures. I look forward to more colorful,inspiring posts as well as great finds!! OBOL will benefit greatly. Hope you enjoy Oregon as I do Washington. It would be great for you to write a bird finding guide to Oregon. No pressure:) PS Two sightings of Great Gray Owls in less than two months, is AWESOME! All the BEST and good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From srnord101 at verizon.net Fri Apr 10 16:55:08 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:55:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands, Bonaparte's Gulls and Common Teal Message-ID: <000301c9ba37$c7d0fe60$5772fb20$@net> OBOL; This morning I birded Fernhill Wetlands from 9:45-12:00. Some of the highlights included: COMMON TEAL 1 (male) continues on Eagle Perch Pond Cinnamon Teal 1 (male) Northern Shoveler 619 - still in high concentrations Ruddy Duck 46 (numbers dropping, many males in alternate plumage) PEREGRINE FALCON 1 -perched in tall Cottonwoods behind Cattail Marsh pond CALIFORNIA QUAIL 1 (male) - while the habitat seems OK for them, this is only the second sighting I've had here - odd. Greater Yellowlegs 4 Dunlin 11 - molting into alternate plumage, very striking BONAPARTE'S GULLS 2 Rufous Hummingbird 2 (males) "Myrtle" Warbler 7 (all in alternate plumage, some singing) "Audubon's" Warbler 4 (all in alternate plumage) Common Yellowthroat 9 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD 1 (male) first of season for me On a non-bird note - 1 Painted Lady (butterfly) First of year in OR for me, although I saw thousands migrating in California a few weeks ago. Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From FoxSparrows at aol.com Fri Apr 10 18:44:46 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 21:44:46 EDT Subject: [obol] Some Harney County notes Message-ID: Working backwards.... This afternoon, I found a BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE at the intersection of Smyth Lane and Hotchkiss Lane east of Hines.... WHOOP-DE_DOO! But in Harney County, that's a pretty good bird. A PEREGRINE FALCON was perched on a fencepost along Egan Lane, also east of Hines. AVOCETS and BLACK-NECKED STILTS are now fairly easy to see in the flooded fields around Burns and Hines. FRANKLIN'S GULLS, absent close to the town's during last weekend's John Scharff Festival, were beginning to congregate in a flooded pasture behind the weigh station north of Burns. SWAINSON'S HAWKS are also easy to find around their regular haunts around both towns (it's a townie species here). I saw two BLUE PHASE ROSS'S GEESE this afternoon, both of which have been present for about a month now, I think. A lone LESSER YELLOWLEGS is still present at the Substation Pond along highway 205 south of Burns... been about three weeks now. CASSIN'S FINCHES appeared at my feeder three days ago... they are there every day now. LESSER GOLDFINCHES are almost in full alternate plumage. KESTREL numbers have increased in the past two weeks, and are now easy to find all over the county. Both LESSER and GREATER SANDHILL CRANE pairs can be seen dancing in the fields now. That's it for now... Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm_ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1220814837x1201410725/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26 hmpgID%3D62%26bcd%3DAprilfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090410/fad71161/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Fri Apr 10 19:01:53 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:01:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] O.T. Fox Squirrels in NW Oregon? References: <855070e90904091933j4930811fo717d6db2cc7fe527@mail.gmail.com> <3f822a5b1395eed9b929aab450d9dffa@earthlink.net> Message-ID: Hi - Eastern Fox Squirrels are present and common at Willamette Mission State Park, a few miles north of Salem, and I have seen one near Fern Ridge Reservoir. They also were present in Ontario, OR. when my folks lived there, back in the 1970s. The squirrels of downtown Salem are introduced Eastern Gray Squirrels, Sciurus carolinensis. They have not spread much but a common around the Capitol and state office buildings, Willamette University, and east at least to the state mental hospital complex area. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Norgren Family" To: "Barbara Millikan" Cc: Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2009 11:44 PM Subject: Re: [obol] O.T. Fox Squirrels in NW Oregon? I am aware of at least three separate introduced populations. One in ne Oregon said to be introduced from Boise (also introduced) squirrels. Baker may have been the starting point, possibly a LaGrande introduction as well. I saw Fox squirrels in 1988 as far ne as midway between Elgin and Minam Summit (a farmstead surrounded by wheatfields) and as far se as Sumpter (a town surrounded by forest). A population based in Springfield and another in Portland. Fox Squirrels are very, very common in Portland where I have never seen a native gray squirrel from 1978 to present. In case you are reading this Alan, the road-kill Sciurus niger of Portland are PLUMP and TASTY. Fox Squirrels readily use utility lines to cross streets, while Silver Gray Squirrels cross on the ground. In western Washington County the two species appear to be in equilibrium. I saw a Fox Squirrel sitting in a hemlock 150m west of the double gates (black, blue) on Hayward Rd described by Stefan Schlick in a recent Mountain Quail posting. This was 14 or 15 years ago. The next nearest sighting was 3km east, at the jct with Way Road. This was also many years ago. I have seen the native gray squirrel far more often here, especially in recent years. I have occasionally seen Fox Squirrels in Banks or at farmsteads in the vicinity, but well under half a dozen times over 15 years. The anecdotal evidence from the Banks School District indicates no current advance by S. niger, and a modest but apparently stable population of S. griseus. The accepted wisdom is that the Fox Squirrels from Portland would eventually join with those of Eugene/Springfield. Barbara's sighting is the furthest south and west of Portland that I have heard of, but I have never personally seen any beyond Multnomah and Washington Counties. Lars Norgren On Apr 9, 2009, at 7:33 PM, Barbara Millikan wrote: > My husband thinks he saw one in our woods today. Anyone know if this > species has spread into parts of N.W. Oregon. > He said it was too big to be a chickaree, and was a rusty red color, > and looked like the ones we saw back in Michigan. > Can any Obolites point me in the right direction for asking this > question? > TIA > Barbara > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From cncschneider at msn.com Fri Apr 10 19:35:05 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:35:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] O.T. Fox Squirrels in NW Oregon? In-Reply-To: <855070e90904091933j4930811fo717d6db2cc7fe527@mail.gmail.com><3f822a5b1395eed9b929aab450d9dffa@earthlink.net> References: <855070e90904091933j4930811fo717d6db2cc7fe527@mail.gmail.com><3f822a5b1395eed9b929aab450d9dffa@earthlink.net> Message-ID: Hi, Both Fox Squirrels and Eastern Gray Squirrels are common in Silverton although they have not seemed to have displaced Western Gray Squirrels. Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon -------------------------------------------------- From: "Wayne Hoffman" Sent: Friday, April 10, 2009 7:01 PM To: "Norgren Family" ; "Barbara Millikan" Cc: Subject: Re: [obol] O.T. Fox Squirrels in NW Oregon? > Hi - > > Eastern Fox Squirrels are present and common at Willamette Mission State > Park, a few miles north of Salem, and I have seen one near Fern Ridge > Reservoir. They also were present in Ontario, OR. when my folks lived > there, back in the 1970s. > > The squirrels of downtown Salem are introduced Eastern Gray Squirrels, > Sciurus carolinensis. They have not spread much but a common around the > Capitol and state office buildings, Willamette University, and east at > least > to the state mental hospital complex area. > > Wayne > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Norgren Family" > To: "Barbara Millikan" > Cc: > Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2009 11:44 PM > Subject: Re: [obol] O.T. Fox Squirrels in NW Oregon? > > > I am aware of at least three separate > introduced populations. One in ne Oregon > said to be introduced from Boise (also > introduced) squirrels. Baker may have been > the starting point, possibly a LaGrande > introduction as well. I saw Fox squirrels > in 1988 as far ne as midway between Elgin > and Minam Summit (a farmstead surrounded > by wheatfields) and as far se as Sumpter > (a town surrounded by forest). > A population based in Springfield and > another in Portland. Fox Squirrels are > very, very common in Portland where I > have never seen a native gray squirrel > from 1978 to present. In case you are > reading this Alan, the road-kill Sciurus > niger of Portland are PLUMP and TASTY. > Fox Squirrels readily use utility lines > to cross streets, while Silver Gray Squirrels > cross on the ground. > In western Washington County the two species > appear to be in equilibrium. I saw a Fox > Squirrel sitting in a hemlock 150m west of > the double gates (black, blue) on Hayward > Rd described by Stefan Schlick in a recent > Mountain Quail posting. This was 14 or 15 > years ago. The next nearest sighting was 3km > east, at the jct with Way Road. This was also > many years ago. I have seen the native gray > squirrel far more often here, especially in > recent years. I have occasionally seen Fox > Squirrels in Banks or at farmsteads in the > vicinity, but well under half a dozen times > over 15 years. > The anecdotal evidence from the Banks School > District indicates no current advance by > S. niger, and a modest but apparently stable > population of S. griseus. The accepted wisdom > is that the Fox Squirrels from Portland would > eventually join with those of Eugene/Springfield. > Barbara's sighting is the furthest south and > west of Portland that I have heard of, but I > have never personally seen any beyond Multnomah > and Washington Counties. Lars Norgren > On Apr 9, 2009, at 7:33 PM, Barbara Millikan wrote: > >> My husband thinks he saw one in our woods today. Anyone know if this >> species has spread into parts of N.W. Oregon. >> He said it was too big to be a chickaree, and was a rusty red color, >> and looked like the ones we saw back in Michigan. >> Can any Obolites point me in the right direction for asking this >> question? >> TIA >> Barbara >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Fri Apr 10 19:43:11 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:43:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] O.T. Fox Squirrels in NW Oregon? Message-ID: <81b2a9930904101943h463df9f4rf7eb2e22816e3c4b@mail.gmail.com> I have almost exclusively Eastern Fox Squirrels in my neighborhood in North Eugene. Surprisingly, I've only seen ONE Western Gray Squirrel in my yard in 3 years of living here. I don't mind the Eastern Fox Squirrels that much. They're significantly less aggressive than the Eastern Gray Squirrels that I constantly had to fend off of my feeders back in the Midwest. Brandon Eugene ----- Subject: Re: O.T. Fox Squirrels in NW Oregon? From: Mike Patterson Date: Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:35:41 -0700 Eastern Fox Squirrels are common to abundant in the Willamette Valley, often displacing Western Gray Squirrels in urban parks and residential areas. Pretty good chance you're seeing them if you live in the Valley. There is, however, and outside chance that you mistook a California Ground Squirrel (gray-digger) for a Fox Squirrel, so check out pictures of that species. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Henry David Thoreau: citizen scientist From vireogirl at yahoo.com Fri Apr 10 20:15:39 2009 From: vireogirl at yahoo.com (Vjera Thompson) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:15:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Eugene Wilson's Warbler Message-ID: <683124.1712.qm@web56308.mail.re3.yahoo.com> OBOLers, Eddie and I made a quick stop at Skinner's Butte after work (around 4:30-5) to check for the Calliope. We didn't see it, but did see a nice male FOY WILSON'S WARBLER mixed in with several ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS. Good spring birding, Vjera & Eddie Thompson Eugene, OR vireogirl at yahoo.com From m_scatt at yahoo.com Fri Apr 10 20:50:35 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:50:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Black-throated Gray Warbler, Mt Tabor Message-ID: <811688.76005.qm@web55701.mail.re3.yahoo.com> We had 2 FOY BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS on Mt Tabor (SE Portland) this afternoon. Also saw a few HERMIT THRUSHES, VARIED THRUSHES, TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, and a PURPLE FINCH. Good Birding! Em Scattaregia Adrian and Christopher Hinkle From craig at greatskua.com Fri Apr 10 22:28:35 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 22:28:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] =?utf-8?q?O=2ET=2E_Fox_Squirrels_in_NW_Oregon=3F?= Message-ID: <20090410222835.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.b8948090a4.wbe@email.secureserver.net> I've had as many as four eastern fox squirrels at the bird feeders in my yard at one time (who knows how many are really here!!!). They're much more common here than where I lived in Virginia. There, fox squirrels are greatly outnumbered by eastern gray squirrels. There, fox squirrels occur in more open forests with sparser undergrowth, while gray squirrels occur pretty much anywhere trees are present (except on the Eastern Shore where the endangered Delmarva fox squirrel, which is much larger and entirely gray, is limited to mature loblolly pine forests). Here fox squirrels seem to occupy habitats where, on the East Coast, you expect gray squirrels only. I've had at least one eastern fox squirrel in my yard here in SW Portland, and occasionally I see a Douglas squirrel at the bird feeder. Despite being almost a third the size, he's a fiesty little guy and stands his ground against the fox squirrels. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: Re: [obol] O.T. Fox Squirrels in NW Oregon? > From: Brandon Green > Date: Fri, April 10, 2009 7:43 pm > To: OBOL > > > I have almost exclusively Eastern Fox Squirrels in my neighborhood in > North Eugene. Surprisingly, I've only seen ONE Western Gray Squirrel > in my yard in 3 years of living here. > > I don't mind the Eastern Fox Squirrels that much. They're > significantly less aggressive than the Eastern Gray Squirrels that I > constantly had to fend off of my feeders back in the Midwest. > > Brandon > Eugene > > > ----- > Subject: Re: O.T. Fox Squirrels in NW Oregon? > From: Mike Patterson > Date: Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:35:41 -0700 > > Eastern Fox Squirrels are common to abundant in the Willamette > Valley, often displacing Western Gray Squirrels in urban parks > and residential areas. Pretty good chance you're seeing them if > you live in the Valley. > > There is, however, and outside chance that you mistook a > California Ground Squirrel (gray-digger) for a Fox Squirrel, > so check out pictures of that species. > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Henry David Thoreau: citizen scientist > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From judie310hansen at comcast.net Fri Apr 10 23:06:05 2009 From: judie310hansen at comcast.net (Judith Hansen) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 23:06:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fox Squirrel Rambles In-Reply-To: <20090410222835.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.b8948090a4.wbe@email.secureserver.net> References: <20090410222835.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.b8948090a4.wbe@email.secureserver.net> Message-ID: Can we please pull the discussion on this list back to birds or birding? I think the fox squirrel discussion has run its course. While interesting, it seems off subject to me. Thanks. Judie Hansen From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Apr 11 04:24:12 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 04:24:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fox Squirrel Rambles In-Reply-To: References: <20090410222835.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.b8948090a4.wbe@email.secureserver.net> Message-ID: <539249399f27fa71431eeb943523cb97@earthlink.net> One shouldn't underestimate the impact of squirrels on birds. A chickadee nest in my parents' backyard in Corvallis failed when a Chickaree (Tamiasciurus douglasi) ate either the eggs or nestlings. As some postings have indicated, the introduced species have the potential to occupy diverse habitats and niches. And while S. niger and S. carolinensis(which has largely displaced the native red squirrel in England) are here to stay in Oregon, your delete button requires next to no calories to operate. Lars Norgren On Apr 10, 2009, at 11:06 PM, Judith Hansen wrote: > Can we please pull the discussion on this list back to birds or > birding? I think the fox squirrel discussion has run its course. > While interesting, it seems off subject to me. Thanks. > > Judie Hansen > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Apr 11 04:43:53 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 04:43:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black-throated Gray Warbler, Mt Tabor In-Reply-To: <811688.76005.qm@web55701.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <811688.76005.qm@web55701.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <352bc38c78c8814398752d56c3d75308@earthlink.net> FOY BT Gray out here (45 km west of Mt Tabor) as well, 4-10. Lars Norgren On Apr 10, 2009, at 8:50 PM, m_scatt at yahoo.com wrote: > > We had 2 FOY BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS on Mt Tabor (SE Portland) > this afternoon. Also saw a few HERMIT THRUSHES, VARIED THRUSHES, > TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, and a PURPLE FINCH. > > Good Birding! > > Em Scattaregia > Adrian and Christopher Hinkle > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sat Apr 11 07:10:13 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 07:10:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Linn Calliope Hummingbird, Common Yellowthroat Singing Message-ID: <7944D4E10A8146EE8FDE8DEDC52B10D3@laptop> There was a nice male Calliope Hummingbird at one of the feeders this morning. A Common Yellowthroat greeted the dawn with singing down in the field along Beaver Creek. A Red-breasted Sapsucker was drumming on a metal plate at the top of a telephone pole up the road a little. Cheers, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/310ad510/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sat Apr 11 07:14:21 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 07:14:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] a terrible post in my name Message-ID: <818785.1228.qm@web37003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> To everybody, I am in Florence, working a new job, with very spotty access to my email. I just found out that a very disturbing message was sent to all of OBOL from my account, defaming me and Alan Contreras. I want to say very clearly that I did not write this message, and it is completely out there. I apologize deeply that such a thing could even happen. Someone out there wants to make me and Alan look very bad! I hope the message has been removed from the OBOL archives. I will try and change my password, so this can never happen again. Sincerely Hendrik Herlyn _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/c2363132/attachment.html From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Sat Apr 11 07:52:38 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 07:52:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Birder's Night: Monday, May 13 Message-ID: <324C1C8C-B5C5-4257-B538-B947F744BDD2@comcast.net> OBOL- Eugene Birder's Night will be May 13 (second Monday of each Month) at 7pm. LOCATION IS: Sacred Heart Hospital (downtown), 1255 Hilyard St; Conference Room A (across the hall from the Auditorium). Directions to Conference Room A: -enter main Lobby from Hilyard St -turn Left and walk down hall (past the cafeteria) to end of hall -turn Right and walk down hall (past Dining Room) to end of hall -turn Right and walk a few steps, then Left down the hall toward the Auditorium -Conference Room A (labelled simply Conference Room) is on the Right (across from a bank of telephones on the Left side of the hall) Parking: Parking lot structure (across Hilyard from the Lobby) charges $1/hour (But only if the attendants are still there when we finish). Street parking is not available on Hilyard per se, but is found on 13th, 12th (West of Patterson), and Patterson streets (street parking free after 6pm). Map is at this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=sacred+heart+hospital+eugene,+or&fb=1&split=1&cid=0,0,17378354515337851834&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image Agenda: 1) usual reporting forma 2) Birds of Guatemala photo show (Kit Larson, Dennis Arendt) Note: we will have reliable access to audio/video support from this point on, so those wishing to bring a disc or laptop to show interesting images, etc should feel free to do so. For a lengthly presentation, please give me a heads-up so we can avoid conflicts. Barry McKenzie Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/2c9a9e90/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Sat Apr 11 08:57:52 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 08:57:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birds and Squirrels In-Reply-To: <539249399f27fa71431eeb943523cb97@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <49e0bdfa.19f8720a.2ed6.163a@mx.google.com> Hi Obol: I have found the topic on Squirrels so interesting that yesterday I ordered the book "Squirrels: The Animal Answer Guide". We have had Cassin's Finches everyday at our feeder for a week now. We put up a bark butter feeder that we got at Wild Birds Unlimited and the following species are using it: Dark-eyed Juncos, House Finch, Mountain Chickadees, Scrub Jay, Steller's Jay, American Robin and Bushtits. The Robin takes huge bites! Happy Birding! Marilyn Miller Certified Naturalist Bend, Oregon -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Norgren Family Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2009 4:24 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Fox Squirrel Rambles One shouldn't underestimate the impact of squirrels on birds. A chickadee nest in my parents' backyard in Corvallis failed when a Chickaree (Tamiasciurus douglasi) ate either the eggs or nestlings. As some postings have indicated, the introduced species have the potential to occupy diverse habitats and niches. And while S. niger and S. carolinensis(which has largely displaced the native red squirrel in England) are here to stay in Oregon, your delete button requires next to no calories to operate. Lars Norgren On Apr 10, 2009, at 11:06 PM, Judith Hansen wrote: > Can we please pull the discussion on this list back to birds or > birding? I think the fox squirrel discussion has run its course. > While interesting, it seems off subject to me. Thanks. > > Judie Hansen > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.11.52/2053 - Release Date: 04/10/09 18:27:00 From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Apr 11 09:02:50 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 09:02:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ravens nesting, edge of Willamette Valley near Corvallis Message-ID: <1239465770.3623.66.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hi folks, Yesterday (10 Apr) an unusual visitor tipped us off to RAVEN nesting activity on Tampico Ridge, to the west of E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area in northern Benton County. Around mid-morning Becky saw a BALD EAGLE (adult) fly in to perch on one of the tall Douglas-firs on the ridge behind our house. That was a new experience for us. It stayed there for close to an hour. A flock of five WILD TURKEYS which have been very conspicuous lately suddenly decided to be very inconspicuous, and retreated into the forest. I guessed that the eagle might be keeping an eye on the angling pond at E.E. Wilson from this perch, perhaps waiting for an Osprey to snag a fish (the pond is only about half a mile away). But when I got out the binoculars, the eagle had its head cocked upward. There were two RAVENS flying over. Surprisingly they paid no attention to the eagle but just kept flying over the ridge. One of them was carrying a twig/branch that was just about as long as its wingspan. Eventually the eagle flew off and interacted with a second adult Bald Eagle, over the north end of E.E. Wilson. One of them gave our yard a second close flyby but did not return to perch. Too bad -- it would be nice to have a pair of eagles nesting on the ridge behind our house, especially if it helps to keep the turkeys out of our garden! Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Apr 11 09:25:08 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 09:25:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene migrants Message-ID: Orange-crowns are now moving through s Eugene in normal spring numbers. Most Purple Finches are gone from my feeders. Migrant Golden-crowned Sparrows joined White-crowned in my overgrown yard today. White-crowned are regular here for only short periods in migration. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com "There are moral limits to the responsibility that can be assigned to the mentally ill for their actions." - Alvaro de Campos From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sat Apr 11 09:35:52 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 09:35:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers - In-Reply-To: <44900.14242.qm@web54204.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <44900.14242.qm@web54204.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <7446AFC001F0492880AC870D6B8D63EE@laptop> I found Taiwan a lovely place to look at Snowy Plovers, and they seemed to be present at almost every river mouth and estuary we visited last month. We saw a few with red caps of their summer plumage there. and some books refer to them as Kentish Plovers. Also present were Little Ringed Plovers, lots of Common Greenshanks, and at Chigu, with the Black-faced Spoonbills (not sandpipers) there was a Greater Sand-plover. Spain's Atlantic coast was good for "Kentish" Plovers, too. Walking the Bayocean Spit at Tillamook in the winter is another good spot, though you have to look very carefully, which is true generally in Oregon. We found them there for the Tillamook CBC this year for the first time in a few years, where we used to rely on seeing them. Good Birding, Jeff _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Carol Ledford Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2009 7:11 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers WHERE and WHEN could I see Snowy Plovers? I'm hoping someone on OBOL can tell me about a good spot to find them without disturbing the birds, and when is the best time to look. I know they nest somewhere along the Oregon Coast, but it's a long coast. Thanks! Carol Ledford Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/56e198f8/attachment.html From ericsherman37 at gmail.com Sat Apr 11 09:29:46 2009 From: ericsherman37 at gmail.com (Eric Sherman) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 09:29:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Osprey at Siletz River/Kernville Message-ID: <2b7c9c60904110929y786ff8ecsa49ff867e707004b@mail.gmail.com> I was driving down Highway 101 yesterday past the Kernville Bridge and the Siletz Bay Nat'l Wildlife Refuge (just south of Lincoln City), where they have a tall nesting platform set up. As I drove by, I witnessed what appeared to be an Osprey stand up and take off from the platform. Unfortunately I did not have a camera or binoculars with me, but I pulled over and watched it fly around for a minute before it landed on a tree. It made a couple of Osprey calls which nailed the ID for me. I am getting ready to go back there today with my wife with a camera and optics, so hopefully I'll get some decent pictures. There were also a few hummingbirds that zipped by me as I was standing by the road. Hopefully we'll be able to observe and identify these birds. For the record, this is a great spot for birding. It's right next to the highway with a nice pull-out, and the nearby river makes for a very diverse wildlife area. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/2265ded2/attachment.html From pointers at pacifier.com Sat Apr 11 11:01:39 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 11:01:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI Best Way Carry Tripod On Aircraft? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090411180141.D367B6A514@smtp4.pacifier.net> hi ... I bought a well-made duffel bag to put the tripod in ... got mine at REI which right now might be easier to park at than GIJoes (grin) ... anyways, I then took an old thin blue 1/4 inch camping pad and made a "U" shape to fit inside the duffel ... this gave the duffel more shape ... put the tripod in, and then also put in all our shoes, and any other bulky sort-of stuff we'd normally carry in our suitcases, and put in stuff like our "unmentionables" and socks in stuff sacks and putting them in there ... anything you didn't have to iron afterwards ... sweatshirts work great too ... once zippered all together we put one of those huge 2-inch straps around the center and cinched everything tight ... if I remember correctly I had to cut the strap down to fit ... we took the shoulder strap off the duffel when we checked it ... not only did we create a nice reasonably-priced "suitcase", but we also freed up quite a bit of room in our normal suitcases ... perhaps you folks, in today's paying for extra checked luggage, can eliminate one suitcase by combining everyones shoes and small stuff ... that way there would be no extra checked bag ... have fun on your trip ... Lyn At 10:30 AM 4/11/2009, John Thomas wrote: >What works for carrying a tripod on an airplane trip? The tripod is 23" >without head and about 28" if you leave the head on. It is a bit too big for >our present luggage that we usually check in. We bought a medium small >duffel bag -maybe pack somebody's clothes around the tripod to protect it?- >but then the number of carry-ons could be one too many. (Each of us likes to >carry a small pack.) No problem with scope as we definitely will have it in >one of our small packs and keep close eye on it. Any ideas on the tripod? I >know some of you carry your scopes and tripods on long trips. > >Thanks, >John Thomas > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From g_g_allin at hotmail.com Sat Apr 11 11:10:23 2009 From: g_g_allin at hotmail.com (John Puschock) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:10:23 +0000 Subject: [obol] RFI Best Way Carry Tripod On Aircraft? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Howdy, I'm not sure if policies have changed, but I believe TSA requires tripods to be put into checked baggage, since it could possibly be used as a weapon. I always pack mine in checked luggage anyway because it's just too big to fit in a carry-on. I still need to take the head off (which I leave attached to the center post) to fit it into the luggage. Optics and camera equipment always go in the carry-on. John Puschock Seattle, WA g_g_allin at hotmail.com http://www.zbirdtours.com & http://www.birdtreks.com _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get e-mail storage that grows with you. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Storage1_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/77bf43ce/attachment.html From mtweel at charter.net Sat Apr 11 11:18:15 2009 From: mtweel at charter.net (Margaret) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 11:18:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eurasian collard doves Message-ID: <09F3B33609CF467B9ADDADB6E3F5A98D@Margaret> Two Eurasian collard doves were in Cape Meares Friday down 2nd St.on the wire and then pecking on the ground. Hope they stay around the feeders. Marg Tweelinckx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/63d7439d/attachment.html From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Sat Apr 11 05:32:07 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 05:32:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Inappropriate post removed Message-ID: <20090411053207.uhc2qbz64g4owosk@webmail2.jimnorton.org> I've done my best to remove the offending post from the archives. The "correct" way to do it wasn't yielding the results I was expecting. So I went in and modified the archive text and html files. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From dan at heyerly.com Sat Apr 11 12:22:28 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Dan Heyerly) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:22:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] TUFTED DUCK (Fern Ridge Res., Lane Co.) Sat. 4/11/2009 Message-ID: <8B42400F707C42D99415BB45DF33C52E@Dan> Obolinks, Anne just called me from Fern Ridge Res. Area and reports that she and Donna Nixon just found a nice male TUFTED DUCK in the area close to where it was seen a year or two ago. From the parking area at the end of Royal Ave. (west of Eugene) walk west to the viewing platform then walk south along the dike a little ways and look west into the empoundment. Fred Chancey and Becky Euler (I hope I spelled your name correctly!) are also enjoying the bird! Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/24375d4f/attachment.html From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Sat Apr 11 12:37:58 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 15:37:58 -0400 Subject: [obol] cranes overhead Message-ID: SANDHILL CRANES flying in Vs heading north this morning over Columbia County. The ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS still visiting the red-flowering currant in yard -- one or two nearly every time I take a minute to look. Lona Pierce, Warren _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get e-mail storage that grows with you. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Storage1_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/07928264/attachment.html From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Sat Apr 11 12:46:21 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (Gerard Lillie) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:46:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bald Eagle nest cam Message-ID: <009401c9bade$312368c0$936a3a40$@lillie@comcast.net> Hello All, Below is a link to a Bald Eagle nest in Oklahoma with a live video cam. Pretty neat. Gerard Lillie Mt. Tabor Portland , OR http://www.suttoncenter.org/eaglecam.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/1a1bf837/attachment.html From richarmstrong at comcast.net Sat Apr 11 12:50:37 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:50:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] red-breasted goose References: <20090410191915.xo4elwod6rc0k0ko@webmail2.centurytel.net> Message-ID: <81A5E184BA5646DA8FAE26EFE49E84AA@armstrong> this morning at finley wildlife refuge (bruce road) south of corvallis (benton county) among probably 2000 cackling and canada geese was a RED-BREASTED GOOSE (presumably the same bird that has been seen in the valley last few years and still beautiful). i realize it was probably an escapee (i don't know if anyone knows of duck collector that lost it) but it seems to have come back to the valley here at least 3 years in a row (others know the history better than i do). it flew very well with all the cacklers and certainly seems to be wild now. Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Apr 11 12:54:53 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 19:54:53 +0000 Subject: [obol] TUFTED DUCK (Fern Ridge Res., Lane Co.) Sat. 4/11/2009 In-Reply-To: <8B42400F707C42D99415BB45DF33C52E@Dan> References: <8B42400F707C42D99415BB45DF33C52E@Dan> Message-ID: Dan et al., I believe this is the 4th consecutive spring that this bird has now returned to Fern Ridge during its northbound migration. It has shown up in mid-April in three of the four years and was first detected during late March last year. The next question is where is this bird wintering? Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: dan at heyerly.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:22:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] TUFTED DUCK (Fern Ridge Res., Lane Co.) Sat. 4/11/2009 Obolinks, Anne just called me from Fern Ridge Res. Area and reports that she and Donna Nixon just found a nice male TUFTED DUCK in the area close to where it was seen a year or two ago. From the parking area at the end of Royal Ave. (west of Eugene) walk west to the viewing platform then walk south along the dike a little ways and look west into the empoundment. Fred Chancey and Becky Euler (I hope I spelled your name correctly!) are also enjoying the bird! Dan Heyerly, Eugene _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/5a9c4a51/attachment.html From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Sat Apr 11 13:05:34 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:05:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Birder's Night: Monday, APRIL 13 Message-ID: <528E2933-CB83-43DD-9A46-8C95FAAF17E2@comcast.net> OBOL- That's right: I misspelled April in my earlier post about Eugene Birder's Night. Next Meeting is this Monday at 7pm, April 13. We'll have a meeting in May also, about a month from now. See previous post for directions, details. Barry McKenzie Eugene From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sat Apr 11 13:20:56 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:20:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] new arrivals, Yamhill Co Message-ID: <6A68825BB1D24183981825BA9A01A38F@yourw5st28y9a3> This morning I saw my FOY Barn Swallow along Fir Crest Rd, followed by a few Brown-headed Cowbirds perched up in a tree where Pike Rd. crosses a little creek. Pamela Johnston From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sat Apr 11 13:24:31 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:24:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI Best Way Carry Tripod On Aircraft? References: Message-ID: I have always checked my tripod by putting it in a suitcase. Depending on the overall length, you may need to remove the head or at least the handle to make it fit, then pack your clothes around it. Over the years I've done this with several types of suitcases without a problem. The key to packing light is to avoid traveling with a lot of shoes. ;>} The scope alone is small enough to fit in a carry on bag with whatever you normally carry. Never assume that it's OK to carry on much stuff, in volume or in number of items. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Thomas" To: "OBOL" Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2009 10:30 AM Subject: [obol] RFI Best Way Carry Tripod On Aircraft? What works for carrying a tripod on an airplane trip? The tripod is 23" without head and about 28" if you leave the head on. It is a bit too big for our present luggage that we usually check in. We bought a medium small duffel bag -maybe pack somebody's clothes around the tripod to protect it?- but then the number of carry-ons could be one too many. (Each of us likes to carry a small pack.) No problem with scope as we definitely will have it in one of our small packs and keep close eye on it. Any ideas on the tripod? I know some of you carry your scopes and tripods on long trips. Thanks, John Thomas _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Apr 11 14:27:26 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:27:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] This morning's defamatory posting Message-ID: <1239485246.3625.31.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, I appreciate the efforts by the list administrator to remove the defamatory posting from 1:17 AM this morning, but it came through in the digest nonetheless. However, I seriously doubt that any OBOL subscribers were fooled by such a clumsy, illiterate and transparent attempt to tar these two fine individuals, who have done so much good for the Oregon birding community. I do look forward to hearing about the prosecution of the hateful cretin who committed this slander, and moreover violated the general sense of decency regarding the younger individuals named, and their family. While this person may have managed to hack or otherwise spoof an e-mail account, they don't seem to have realized that such acts are traceable (Jim, I trust you've saved the system log info). If anyone has additional information that could be helpful, I suggest getting in touch with law enforcement. There being a disproportionate number of birders who are lawyers, no doubt one of them can advise as to whether this comes under federal or state jurisdiction. Good birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From ericsherman37 at gmail.com Sat Apr 11 14:34:25 2009 From: ericsherman37 at gmail.com (Eric Sherman) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:34:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Siletz Bay Osprey update Message-ID: <2b7c9c60904111434m4ee7a7ees7ee7797a145b0e34@mail.gmail.com> We returned to the spot where I observed an osprey yesterday. Today we actually witnessed both birds of the nesting pair. They took turns flying around and we watched them dive bomb a passing Bald Eagle. Pretty cool. We observed both Anna's and Rufous Hummingbirds in the area, as well as Black-Capped Chickadees (feasting on cones in a tree), song sparrows, and some other more common birds. In the past we've observed a group of three Cedar Waxwings sitting on a power line at this area. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/863df4f0/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sat Apr 11 15:45:46 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 15:45:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI Best Way Carry Tripod On Aircraft? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <03EBFAC7D8C946009C25A743BCA81CA2@laptop> When I take the big Manfrotto tripod I pack it carefully in a suitcase or duffel large enough for its length. I also have a smaller fieldscope and a light tripod for travelling which can go in my carry-on backpack with the small scope and camera. I'm careful to measure the pack and make sure it is under the size limits. In Tokyo they had me take the tripod out so it could be measured, and apparently there is a size threshold they watch, which must have been close, since we measured it on the way to Taiwan and coming back. It is only 22 inches including the head, so you may want to put yours in checked luggage. Cheers, Jeff -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of John Thomas Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2009 10:30 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] RFI Best Way Carry Tripod On Aircraft? What works for carrying a tripod on an airplane trip? The tripod is 23" without head and about 28" if you leave the head on. It is a bit too big for our present luggage that we usually check in. We bought a medium small duffel bag -maybe pack somebody's clothes around the tripod to protect it?- but then the number of carry-ons could be one too many. (Each of us likes to carry a small pack.) No problem with scope as we definitely will have it in one of our small packs and keep close eye on it. Any ideas on the tripod? I know some of you carry your scopes and tripods on long trips. Thanks, John Thomas _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Apr 11 16:03:24 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:03:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] West Eugene birds - Tufted YES Message-ID: I spent an hour at Royal Avenue with Vjera and Eddie Thompson and other conspirators this afternoon. The TUFTED DUCK was cooperative in the open water south of the observation platform, but dove a lot so we had to keep on it. It is loosely associating with a mixed flock of Ring-necks and Lesser Scaup. Also present in the area were two pairs of Redhead, about forty Ruddy Ducks, common puddle ducks, Pied-billed Grebes, a large Peregrine, a Bald Eagle pursuing an enfished Osprey, calling Virginia Rails and Bittern. We heard second-hand that Black-necked Stilts had been seen in the Fisher Unit. At Stewart Pond in w Eugene, about 300 Dunlin in various plumages were joined by about 75 dowitchers, some of both species, three Greater Yellowlegs and puddle ducks. I thought I heard a Vaux's Swift over the gove of trees south of Stewart Rd but never saw it, and the presence of a singing Anna's hummer confused the soundscape somewhat. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com "There are moral limits to the responsibility that can be assigned to the mentally ill for their actions." - Alvaro de Campos http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From WeberHome at att.net Sat Apr 11 17:10:13 2009 From: WeberHome at att.net (Cliff & Joanne Weber) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:10:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eagle Creek Overlook Message-ID: <20090412001108.B9532A823B@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> OBOL, hello! The big lagoon behind the lock at Bonneville had only five birds of two species in it; but two of the five were special to us: Eared Grebes-- one in breeding plumage and one in winter plumage. Ospreys are staking out claims on the channel markers in the Columbia River like they always do every year. Where? . . Eagle Creek Overlook is accessed via the Eagle Creek Hatchery exit roughly 40 miles east of Portland on I-84, and on the right side roughly 1 and 3/10ths miles past Bonneville Dam exit. Google satellite image: http://tinyurl.com/cudztv ADA friendly? . . Yes, paved parking lot. Accommodations? . . No restrooms on site. Best to take a break at either Multnomah Falls, or Bonneville Dam. The next pit stop is not till Cascade Locks. Cliff & Joanne Weber Beaverton (Bethany Area) From WRBradford at aol.com Sat Apr 11 17:33:23 2009 From: WRBradford at aol.com (WRBradford at aol.com) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 20:33:23 EDT Subject: [obol] Ankeny - LB CURLEW Message-ID: George Neavoll, Tom Ficker and I saw a LONG-BILLED CURLEW near the SW corner of Ankeny NWR around noon today. Dan and Tom from Corvallis arrived just after us and saw the bird about the same time we did. Take Wintel Road east from Buena Vista Road and turn into the first parking area on the left (before you get to the railroad tracks). The Curlew was hanging out between the two ponds to the east of there. We also saw a GREAT HORNED OWL along Rail Trail and a EURASION WIGEON from the blind on the board walk. The most puzzling bird of the day came in the sound of some burbly triplets we couldn't identify. Oh well, if we knew everything this wouldn't be any fun, right? Bill Bradford **************Hurry! April 15th is almost here. File your Federal taxes FREE with TaxACT. (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221653545x1201423923/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.taxact.com%2F08tax.asp%3Fsc%3D084102950004%26p%3D8 2) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/fe2a96d5/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Sat Apr 11 17:35:50 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:35:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI Best Way Carry Tripod On Aircraft? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49E13766.8040704@verizon.net> Wrap it in bubble wrap, which you can get in roll out sheets at U-haul Center. Use clear packing tape to keep the bubble wrap tight. You can go to an REI or some place like that and look at all sorts of travel bags. Try to find a duffel bag type with hard plastic bottom and wheels. Then put your clothes around the tripod, or something like that. Wheel it thru the airport, simple and easy, and the tripod will be fine. Cheers Dave Lauten John Thomas wrote: > What works for carrying a tripod on an airplane trip? The tripod is 23" > without head and about 28" if you leave the head on. It is a bit too big for > our present luggage that we usually check in. We bought a medium small > duffel bag -maybe pack somebody's clothes around the tripod to protect it?- > but then the number of carry-ons could be one too many. (Each of us likes to > carry a small pack.) No problem with scope as we definitely will have it in > one of our small packs and keep close eye on it. Any ideas on the tripod? I > know some of you carry your scopes and tripods on long trips. > > Thanks, > John Thomas > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Sat Apr 11 17:41:20 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:41:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers - In-Reply-To: <7446AFC001F0492880AC870D6B8D63EE@laptop> References: <44900.14242.qm@web54204.mail.re2.yahoo.com> <7446AFC001F0492880AC870D6B8D63EE@laptop> Message-ID: <2b1bbd260904111741i7b253747r65ba608e147b7df3@mail.gmail.com> Jeff et al, The name Snowy Plover refers only to the two subspecies of Kentish Plover that occur in North and South America. The plovers that you saw in Taiwan were Kentish, but not Snowies. The plovers you see in Oregon are Kentish Plovers too, we just distinguish them as different subspecies and so call them Snowy Plovers. Good birding whatever continent you find yourself on! Daniel Farrar On Sat, Apr 11, 2009 at 9:35 AM, Jeff Harding wrote: > I found Taiwan a lovely place to look at Snowy Plovers, and they seemed > to be present at almost every river mouth and estuary we visited last month. > We saw a few with red caps of their summer plumage there. and some books > refer to them as Kentish Plovers. Also present were Little Ringed Plovers, > lots of Common Greenshanks, and at Chigu, with the Black-faced Spoonbills > (not sandpipers) there was a Greater Sand-plover. > > > > Spain?s Atlantic coast was good for ?Kentish? Plovers, too. > > > > Walking the Bayocean Spit at Tillamook in the winter is another good spot, > though you have to look very carefully, which is true generally in Oregon. > We found them there for the Tillamook CBC this year for the first time in a > few years, where we used to rely on seeing them. > > > > Good Birding, > > Jeff > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto: > obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] *On Behalf Of *Carol Ledford > *Sent:* Thursday, April 09, 2009 7:11 AM > *To:* OBOL > *Subject:* [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers > > > > WHERE and WHEN could I see Snowy Plovers? I'm hoping someone on OBOL can > tell me about a good spot to find them without disturbing the birds, and > when is the best time to look. I know they nest somewhere along the Oregon > Coast, but it's a long coast. > > Thanks! > > Carol Ledford > Gresham, OR > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Daniel Farrar Eugene, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/89282139/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Apr 11 17:54:42 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:54:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Spring North American Migration Count May 9 & 10 Message-ID: <4A6B7D209D6744DAAFAFD13B38063D29@cgatesPC> Every spring and fall, the East Cascades Bird Conservancy sponsors the Oregon version of the North American Migration Count. With this count, we collect population data on all species that are observed during the second weekend in May. We repeat this process in the third week of September for the fall count. The state is broken up into regions defined by county borders and county coordinators organize the count within their region. The count may occur on Saturday, May 9th or Sunday, May 10th depending on the preferences of the county coordinator. This is a standard 24 hour count much like the Christmas Bird Count only the areas covered are larger and the weather is a lot better (and you'll see a lot more birds than on a CBC). All skill levels can participate. If you lack experience, the county coordinator can hook you up with an experienced person to show you the ropes and help with your ID skills. Riding with an expert can be very rewarding, as can helping out a beginner. I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to participate in this year's spring NAMC. In the past few years, we have had limited participation around the state and our ability to gather data has been compromised. We need more people to get involved. We hope that people who have never participated will choose 2009 to try it out and to those who have participated and have not done it in a while, we invite you back. We would like to have a record number of people out on that weekend to help us gather migration data for the state. There are several counties that lack any organized migration count. These counties have lost their county coordinators and need someone else to step up and take on the task of organizing the count and collecting the data. This isn't as difficult as it sounds. Most counties start slowly with a couple of volunteers and can grow through the years into counties like Deschutes or Baker with over 20 participant. If you can spare a few hours each spring and fall to organize a vacant county, that too will help with the cause. Being a county coordinator for two counties (Crook and Harney), I know the rewards of successfully surveying a county year after year and getting a better understanding of the migration patterns that occur within those county borders. The counties that currently have no coordinator include: Gilliam, Grant, Morrow, Umatilla, and Union. With the help of 5 more people, we could have a count in every one of Oregon's 36 counties. I hope you get a chance to participate in the most enjoyable birding event of the year. To contact your county coordinator, please go to one of the following websites or respond to this email and I'll forward your requests to the proper person. To access the county coordinator list on the ECBC website go to http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=69 or you can also find the list on the OFO website http://www.oregonbirds.org/. Chuck Gates State Coordinator NAMC East Cascades Bird Conservancy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/56dc5f27/attachment.html From steve at paradisebirding.com Sat Apr 11 17:56:35 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:56:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Woodpecker festival gets national exposure Message-ID: <9a341ea30904111756m3e01ef1du536ca4bb252289e3@mail.gmail.com> Hello birders, Thanks to Oregonian nature-lover and journalist Terry Richard, Oregon birding just got national press on an Ohio web site. Terry's blog was picked up by D'Arcy Egan of cleveland.com, and features the second annual Woodpecker Wonderland Festival, scheduled for June 5-7 in Camp Sherman. Check out D'Arcy's site here: http://www.cleveland.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2009/04/woodpeckers_a_delight_at_camp.html and Terry's blog here: http://blog.oregonlive.com/terryrichard/2009/04/camp_sherman_site_of_woodpecke.html Then, if you have contemplated coming to the festival, get your registration in soon, as a few of the tour slots are already full. Visit www.woodpeckerwonderland.com for all the details. Regular updates are posted on the site, and include: - Live music both Friday and Saturday nights - Detailed tour descriptions, map, and space availability chart - Soon to be posted: major raffle donations will allow us to have multiple raffle packages with values exceeding $500 on Saturday night If you have any questions, email woopdeckerfest at paradisebirding.com. I hope to see you in Camp Sherman this summer! Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/ea52ff74/attachment.html From roygerig at hotmail.com Sat Apr 11 18:54:37 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:54:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Polk and Marion Co. LB CURLEWS Message-ID: Yesterday (4/10/09) I saw a LONG-BILLED CURLEW near the Narrows on the lower slopes of Baskett Butte in Baskett Slough NWR west of Salem, and today I saw another LBCU 200 m west of the railroad tracks along Wintel Rd. in Ankeny NWR south of Salem around noon. It was still in the same spot about 5:30 PM as I was coming back from a visit with my parents. Also of note yesterday, I saw a VESPER SPARROW along the walk into Morgan Lake at BSNWR. I don't recall seeing VESP in Polk County for at least a couple of years. I saw my first of the year BARN SWALLOWs yesterday at the Narrows in BSNWR, and there were many BARS over the water today at Ankeny. Yellowthroats were singing everywhere both days, but still no Orange-crowned Warblers - they seem SO late, or am I just wrong? Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get quick friend updates right in your inbox. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Updates1_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/6b74bec1/attachment.html From sbkornfeld at msn.com Sat Apr 11 19:08:56 2009 From: sbkornfeld at msn.com (STEVE KORNFELD) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 19:08:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI Best Way Carry Tripod On Aircraft? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I take my birding equipment by air at least 6 times a year. Checked bags can get lost for days. If your itinerary is complicated it may take time for your bag to catch up with you. I want all my birding equipment with me. My tripod also is about 24 inches with the head off. I use a travel bag with rollers I got at REI. It measures 23 by eights inches. It also has back straps which I have used on a few occasions. It is quite hardy and rolls? All your bags need to roll. My tripod fits in diagonally. I shove my tripod, tripod head, scope, bins, camera stuff, electrical plugs, hat, umbrella, plane stuff (sleeping pills, ear plugs, eye mask for those red eyes) a light jacket and some extra clothes. There is always some extra room if I need it. I have not been harassed at any airport anywhere in the world for over 3 years. I do not do any extra protecting or padding as the case is always with me. It even fits in the overhead compartment on those dinky Horizon and sky west planes. I usually do the plane side cart anyway and I have never had anything messed up. It is quick and simple. Keep it simple You are still allowed to carry on a briefcase. Perfect for your books, papers and a small computer to keep track of all those lifers. Have fun Steve Kornfeld Bend ----- Original Message ----- From: John Thomas To: OBOL Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2009 10:30 AM Subject: [obol] RFI Best Way Carry Tripod On Aircraft? What works for carrying a tripod on an airplane trip? The tripod is 23" without head and about 28" if you leave the head on. It is a bit too big for our present luggage that we usually check in. We bought a medium small duffel bag -maybe pack somebody's clothes around the tripod to protect it?- but then the number of carry-ons could be one too many. (Each of us likes to carry a small pack.) No problem with scope as we definitely will have it in one of our small packs and keep close eye on it. Any ideas on the tripod? I know some of you carry your scopes and tripods on long trips. Thanks, John Thomas _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/dce25c2d/attachment.html From marciafcutler at comcast.net Sat Apr 11 20:24:44 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 20:24:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bald Hill, Benton Co. Message-ID: <385BE64556CD4F61A006D35D215438E5@melvintrex4uoq> This morning I took a walk along the trails at Bald Hill Park. Highlights include: ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS - 12-16, singing all over the place BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS - 1 seen, several others heard singing AUDUBON'S WARBLERS - watched 1 beautiful male singing, others also seen and heard CASSIN'S VIREO - heard 1 singing and persuaded it to come into view CHIPPING SPARROW - 2 singing on nw side of hill SWAINSON'S THRUSH - 1 flew right over me and I was able to see the drab brown spotting on its breast after it landed. A hiker showed me a picture she took of an owl just off the side of the trail going up the nw side of the hill. The fuzzy brown owl had 2 rounded ear tufts. It looked like an immature GREAT HORNED OWL. Western Buttercups and Fawn Lilies (nw side of the hill) were in bloom. Marcia F. Cutler Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/1173aa8f/attachment.html From ronaldgp at onlinemac.com Sat Apr 11 20:41:43 2009 From: ronaldgp at onlinemac.com (Ronald G. Peterson) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 20:41:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI Best Way Carry Tripod On Aircraft? References: Message-ID: <49E162F7.7050107@onlinemac.com> Well, if that's still true, TSA Portland and Reno missed the memo. I was able to carry my tripod in my carry-on with my optics on a round trip last month. I didn't even think to inquire about it at the time. Hmm. Ron -- Ronald Peterson McMinnville, Oregon John Puschock wrote: > Howdy, > > I'm not sure if policies have changed, but I believe TSA requires > tripods to be put into checked baggage, since it could possibly be > used as a weapon. I always pack mine in checked luggage anyway > because it's just too big to fit in a carry-on. I still need to take > the head off (which I leave attached to the center post) to fit it > into the luggage. > > Optics and camera equipment always go in the carry-on. > > John Puschock > Seattle, WA > g_g_allin at hotmail.com > http://www.zbirdtours.com & http://www.birdtreks.com > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Rediscover Hotmail?: Get e-mail storage that grows with you. Check it > out. > > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/33a21b99/attachment.html From woodenapple at juno.com Sat Apr 11 20:45:54 2009 From: woodenapple at juno.com (woodenapple at juno.com) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 03:45:54 GMT Subject: [obol] Obol: N. Eugene/Santa Clara Eurasian Collared Dove Message-ID: <20090411.204554.17602.0@webmail22.vgs.untd.com> Well, it had to happen sometime in Eugene! This morning (Sat.) at about 8 o'clock, there was a EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE on the utility wire in our backyard. This makes, I believe, yard bird number 105 in our 13 years in this location. Rudi ____________________________________________________________ Study online and boost your career with a Bachelor's Degree. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTL9zbWBiUorHGk4NmobeJEWZTybGrcD93x5A5gzGgBciWPBXpo6xK/ From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Sat Apr 11 14:52:44 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:52:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Offensive Post is still on OBOL via web In-Reply-To: <1F5D1B3C32054C29B19BFBDF77034984@hd1204ex> References: <452ee7830904111228x6d3e9fadv7894780e63b53341@mail.gmail.com> <20090411061908.axc0qfv7wo8oggog@webmail2.jimnorton.org> <1F5D1B3C32054C29B19BFBDF77034984@hd1204ex> Message-ID: <20090411145244.o4hllyzrn404s404@webmail2.jimnorton.org> If you take the time to view the OBOL online archives you will see that in fact I did remove the content of the post. http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ I am NOT responsible for what appears on birdingonthe.net. Please take this up with the administrator of birdingonthe.net. I am only responsible for what appears from this link: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ I have no control over birdingonthe.net and how that site grabs the OBOL archived data. Quoting M Scattaregia and Steve Hinkle : > Hi Jim, > > Forgive me, I am not computer savvy. When I log on and go to OBOL from > the web, the post is still there. Here is the link: > http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html > > Maybe it isn't in the archives, but anyone googling Oregon Birders on > Line will end up on the page that still has it posted. That is how we > read OBOL. Is there a way to remove it? In a few days it will be moot > but I really do not want it to be there for a few days. > > Thanks in advance for your help. You should not have to deal with this > kind of thing. > > Sincerely, > > Em Scattaregia > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Norton" > To: "Mary Lynn Scattaregia" > Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2009 6:19 AM > Subject: Re: post is still on OBOL > > > The content of the post has been removed... > > Quoting Mary Lynn Scattaregia : > >> I just logged onto OBOL. The post is still there. I know you said that the >> way you were trying to remove it did not work, but if you can do anything to >> get my boys's names off of the original post, I would greatly appreciate it. >> Thanks. Em Scattaregia >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Sat Apr 11 15:03:01 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 15:03:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] This morning's defamatory posting In-Reply-To: <1239485246.3625.31.camel@localhost.localdomain> References: <1239485246.3625.31.camel@localhost.localdomain> Message-ID: <20090411150301.9r0i6byvmsso4kgs@webmail2.jimnorton.org> Yes, I have all the forensic data left on my server... I *never* remove log file data because of situations like this.... I will have a chance to sift through the data tomorrow.... Quoting Joel Geier : > Hello folks, > > I appreciate the efforts by the list administrator to remove the > defamatory posting from 1:17 AM this morning, but it came through in the > digest nonetheless. > > However, I seriously doubt that any OBOL subscribers were fooled by such > a clumsy, illiterate and transparent attempt to tar these two fine > individuals, who have done so much good for the Oregon birding > community. > > I do look forward to hearing about the prosecution of the hateful cretin > who committed this slander, and moreover violated the general sense of > decency regarding the younger individuals named, and their family. > > While this person may have managed to hack or otherwise spoof an e-mail > account, they don't seem to have realized that such acts are traceable > (Jim, I trust you've saved the system log info). > > If anyone has additional information that could be helpful, I suggest > getting in touch with law enforcement. There being a disproportionate > number of birders who are lawyers, no doubt one of them can advise as to > whether this comes under federal or state jurisdiction. > > Good birding, > Joel > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From fschrock at gmail.com Sat Apr 11 23:42:07 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 23:42:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Spring (and Orange-crowned's) coming slowly Message-ID: <390ebd880904112342i219f1ey88effef0b5915e3c@mail.gmail.com> I, like many others, have been noticing the scarcity of Orange-crowned Warblers, considering where we are on the calendar. But today, in McMinnville's Rotary Park, I finally found my FOY Orange-crowned, but only one. I also watched a noisy and active pair of Brown Creepers building a nest, but I couldn't tell if they both were carrying material, or only one of them. A photo is at http://empids.blogspot.com/. ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090411/e845eea6/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Sun Apr 12 05:28:27 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 08:28:27 -0400 Subject: [obol] Birding locations in Utah Message-ID: <8CB898150F1014C-994-1CBA@webmail-mf04.sysops.aol.com> My wife and I are planning a trip to southern Utah the last week of this month. We will be mainly checking out the Canyonlands, Bryce canyon and Arches area. I have wanted to visit this area since I have lived in the west. I would love to check out?some birds I haven't seen yet. Which covers a lot since I am very much a rookie at birding. I read some where that there?is an island in the Great Salt lake that has good birding and other wildlife too. We will only be down there a week, but I really want to see as much as I can. Any suggestions appreciated. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090412/3ec12d15/attachment.html From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Sun Apr 12 01:13:45 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 01:13:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] This morning's defamatory posting In-Reply-To: <867473.83476.qm@web54203.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <867473.83476.qm@web54203.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <20090412011345.toaw8e5m88c8o4o4@webmail2.jimnorton.org> I already went through this!! The post content *is* removed from the OBOL archives. I *do not* control what appears on birdingonthe.net. You need to take this up with the person that runs birdingonthe.net. What you read there is not always an accurate reflection of what is in the OBOL archives!!!! Please view the OBOL archives using this link: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ THAT IS THE ONLY *OFFICIAL* VIEW OF WHAT IS AND IS NOT IN THE OBOL ARCHIVES!!! I WILL NO LONGER BE RESPONDING TO THIS TOPIC. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE THIS ANY MORE CLEAR!!! Quoting Carol Ledford : > Jim, I appreciate your efforts to remove the offending OBOL post > from this morning, but it still appears on the web site, which is > where I always check messages:? > http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html.? Is there a way to > edit the html to remove that? > ? > Carol Ledford > > Subject: Re: This morning's defamatory posting > From: Jim Norton > Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 15:03:01 -0700 > Yes, I have all the forensic data left on my server... I *never* > remove log file data because of situations like this.... > > I will have a chance to sift through the data tomorrow.... > > > Quoting Joel Geier : > >> Hello folks, >> >> I appreciate the efforts by the list administrator to remove the >> defamatory posting from 1:17 AM this morning, but it came through in the >> digest nonetheless. >> >> However, I seriously doubt that any OBOL subscribers were fooled by such >> a clumsy, illiterate and transparent attempt to tar these two fine >> individuals, who have done so much good for the Oregon birding >> community. >> >> I do look forward to hearing about the prosecution of the hateful cretin >> who committed this slander, and moreover violated the general sense of >> decency regarding the younger individuals named, and their family. >> >> While this person may have managed to hack or otherwise spoof an e-mail >> account, they don't seem to have realized that such acts are traceable >> (Jim, I trust you've saved the system log info). >> >> If anyone has additional information that could be helpful, I suggest >> getting in touch with law enforcement. There being a disproportionate >> number of birders who are lawyers, no doubt one of them can advise as to >> whether this comes under federal or state jurisdiction. >> >> Good birding, >> Joel >> >> -- >> Joel Geier >> Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > ? > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sun Apr 12 08:52:33 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 08:52:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers - In-Reply-To: <2b1bbd260904111741i7b253747r65ba608e147b7df3@mail.gmail.com> References: <44900.14242.qm@web54204.mail.re2.yahoo.com> <7446AFC001F0492880AC870D6B8D63EE@laptop> <2b1bbd260904111741i7b253747r65ba608e147b7df3@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Daniel et al, The name Snowy Plover refers to members of the species Charadrius alexandrinus, wherever it is found for all subspecies. This is the official promulgation of the AOU, and it is followed by the ABA and the OFO. Unless you suggest I misidentified them, they most certainly were Snowy Plovers I saw in Taiwan, as well as in Spain. If I were writing to a British group, I may have considered referring to them as Kentish, but in fact I was addressing my comments to Oregonians. Since I was writing to Oregonians, it is correct to use the name adopted by the AOU, and confusing to call them something else. The plovers we see in Oregon are certainly not Kentish, whether our intent is to distinguish the subspecies or not. We have not been a British colony for some time, and we do not need to blindly If we were to try to standardize English names of species worldwide, it would be absurd to call C. alexandrinus "Kentish Plover", since it is vagrant in Kent, and common elsewhere. Snowy Plover is a better name, since it is quite pale in winter plumage even where it is dark in summer. If you object to using the name Snowy Plover for Paleartic subspecies, perhaps you would care to submit a proposal to the BOU and AOU to jointly change the name to something even better, such as Alexander's Plover? I know I replied privately, but I did not realize you published the note on OBOL. In order to reduce confusion, I thought it would be well to respond on OBOL. Good birding, Jeff _____ From: Daniel Farrar [mailto:jdanielfarrar at gmail.com] Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2009 5:41 PM To: Jeff Harding; OBOL Subject: Re: [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers - Jeff et al, The name Snowy Plover refers only to the two subspecies of Kentish Plover that occur in North and South America. The plovers that you saw in Taiwan were Kentish, but not Snowies. The plovers you see in Oregon are Kentish Plovers too, we just distinguish them as different subspecies and so call them Snowy Plovers. Good birding whatever continent you find yourself on! Daniel Farrar On Sat, Apr 11, 2009 at 9:35 AM, Jeff Harding wrote: I found Taiwan a lovely place to look at Snowy Plovers, and they seemed to be present at almost every river mouth and estuary we visited last month. We saw a few with red caps of their summer plumage there. and some books refer to them as Kentish Plovers. Also present were Little Ringed Plovers, lots of Common Greenshanks, and at Chigu, with the Black-faced Spoonbills (not sandpipers) there was a Greater Sand-plover. Spain's Atlantic coast was good for "Kentish" Plovers, too. Walking the Bayocean Spit at Tillamook in the winter is another good spot, though you have to look very carefully, which is true generally in Oregon. We found them there for the Tillamook CBC this year for the first time in a few years, where we used to rely on seeing them. Good Birding, Jeff _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Carol Ledford Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2009 7:11 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers WHERE and WHEN could I see Snowy Plovers? I'm hoping someone on OBOL can tell me about a good spot to find them without disturbing the birds, and when is the best time to look. I know they nest somewhere along the Oregon Coast, but it's a long coast. Thanks! Carol Ledford Gresham, OR _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- Daniel Farrar Eugene, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090412/ad6a6caa/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Apr 12 09:21:45 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:21:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] OBOL digest subscribers and web viewers PLEASE READ THIS FIRST! Message-ID: <1239553305.3625.62.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, This is an important message to avoid unending headaches for our list administrator and others: ********************************************************************** 1. IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE OBOL DIGEST: Please IMMEDIATELY delete the copy of the digest that you received yesterday, April 11th, to make sure that you do not accidentally reply to it. ABOVE ALL, do not copy the digest on any replies to the OBOL list. That will avoid re-propagation of the defamatory and offensive message that was sent early on Saturday morning. It is always good practice *not* to copy the entire digest when you reply to an OBOL message, but in this case more so than ever. Note that if you simply hit "reply" to the digest, you will copy the entire contents by default. It is better to compose an entirely new message if you wish to respond to something on OBOL. There is seldom a need to copy preceding messages, as they only bulk up the list and make it harder for everyone to scan the contents. Unfortunately most e-mail composers will do this by default, if you hit the reply button. The best solution, especially if you are not tech-savvy, is to copy the OBOL list address into your address book, and use it to compose new messages when you have something to report. ********************************************************************** 2. IF YOU READ OBOL VIA THE WEBSITE www.birdingonthe.net: The person to contact regarding any content on this website is Jack Siler, jsiler at birdingonthe.net. He is the only person who can modify content. If you forget this information, simply go to his home page via the link labelled "Home" that is always displayed above the most recent OBOL postings. It's right below the title of the page, and looks like this: Recent Postings from The Oregon Birding List > Home You will find his contact information there. There seems to be a lot of recurring confusion over how www.birdingonthe.net works, so here's a brief explanation: Siler sets up his own subcription to a birding list. Postings are then e-mailed to his computer (just like you receive postings by e-mail, if you are a regular OBOL subscriber). As each posting comes in, his computer splices it into the web page that you see. The contents of that web page reside on Siler's computer, so he is the only one who can make changes to what you can view there. Not Jim, not me, not anyone else in Oregon, not even Bill Gates. ********************************************************************** Thank you for taking the time to read the above. Good birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Apr 12 09:37:11 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:37:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crow thieves Message-ID: I put out fresh rough cedar mulch on the walking paths around my house and stirred up the compacted stuff under the trees. Comes now a pair of crows, carefully sorting out the nicer soft shredded bits of cedar, filling their bills and flying off with it ! Nest-liner, I assume. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com "There are moral limits to the responsibility that can be assigned to the mentally ill for their actions." - Alvaro de Campos http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From whoffman at peak.org Sun Apr 12 09:40:44 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:40:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Kudos to Jim Norton Message-ID: <6B768145A51C480D9554A23B19985E7C@D48XBZ51> A friendly reminder: Jim Norton is volunteering his services as OBOL Administrator. He does a very good job, and deserves your respect. He has responded quickly and effectively to this weekend's unfortunate situation, and deserves praise, not hassles. I want to thank him for all he has done, and remind him that some of us really appreciate his efforts. Wayne Hoffman -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090412/4091a159/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Apr 12 09:42:38 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:42:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] OBOL posting has been cleaned up on www.birdingonthe.net Message-ID: <1239554558.3625.68.camel@localhost.localdomain> P.S. To avoid unnecessary messages to Siler, please note that the offending post has been removed from the page on his website that displays recent postings from OBOL. So as long as no one hits "reply" to a copy of yesterday's OBOL digest, that particular piece of garbage has been cleared from the ditches of the information superhighway. -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From deweysage at verizon.net Sun Apr 12 09:49:24 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:49:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers - In-Reply-To: References: <44900.14242.qm@web54204.mail.re2.yahoo.com> <7446AFC001F0492880AC870D6B8D63EE@laptop> <2b1bbd260904111741i7b253747r65ba608e147b7df3@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <49E21B94.90000@verizon.net> Um, a couple of minor points. One, Jeff, actually, your post was to OBOL, it came thru to everyone before Daniel responded, so Daniel isn't responsible for the posting of your post. You may have responded privately, or intended to, but the truth is is that it went to OBOL. With that said, there is some truth to what Jeff says, but there is some truth to what Daniel says. While the AOU, and maybe even other ornithological sources, committees, books, etc etc, currently list Charadrius alexandrinus as one species, there is some debate as to whether that is truly the case or not. Some folks believe there are at least two species involved, maybe even more than that. It is true on this side of the planet we call them Snowy Plovers, and on that side they call them Kentish Plovers. Neither is wrong. I'm not sure the name Snowy Plover applies to all subspecies of C. alexandrinus. I can't say I am 100% up and up on the BOU names, but I thought that their official name was Kentish Plover. Maybe I am wrong. Certainly this was the case at one point in time. To suggest that the AOU is the 'official' source of the name, is, well, American-centric. The AOU is not God, and therefore just because they call it Snowy Plover doesn't mean that the rest of the world agrees. However, I get Jeff's point that we are talking in America and I understand his point in calling them Snowy Plovers. On the other side of the coin, the birds you saw in Taiwan and Spain ARE Kentish Plovers. Call them Snowy if you want, but Kentish they are. So I don't think Daniel was wrong to suggest that you saw Kentish Plovers. That's what they were. It's semantics folks, no need to get upset about it. As far as standardizing the name, well, Jeff has a right to think that Kentish Plover would be absurd, but that's a subjective opinion (an American one at that!). Jeff has a right to think Snowy Plover is a better name, but there may be a million Brits who disagree for the same reason. Last time I checked, I don't think the BOU and the AOU agree, or standardize, English names, so any proposal to change the name would have no bearing on both organizations, nor to my knowledge is there any formal way someone can petition for a name change of the common name. You can however publish a paper with data to suggest they are or are not more than one species, and you would have the right to suggest a new scientific name. You can suggest a common name too, but whether that is accepted by all is another story. And finally, if the name Snowy Plover applies to all subspecies of C. alexandrinus in the Paleartic, what do you call the birds that aren't in the Paleartic - like the population in Peru? One thing is for certain, at the moment "officially" they all are C. alexandrinus. There is a reason we use Latin names, so we don't get confused about what we are talking about. The common name, is, well, confusing. And subjective. And apt to change. Maybe. Or Maybe Not. Cheers Dave Lauten Jeff Harding wrote: > > Daniel et al, > > The name Snowy Plover refers to members of the species Charadrius > alexandrinus, wherever it is found for all subspecies. This is the > official promulgation of the AOU, and it is followed by the ABA and > the OFO. Unless you suggest I misidentified them, they most certainly > were Snowy Plovers I saw in Taiwan, as well as in Spain. If I were > writing to a British group, I may have considered referring to them as > Kentish, but in fact I was addressing my comments to Oregonians. Since > I was writing to Oregonians, it is correct to use the name adopted by > the AOU, and confusing to call them something else. The plovers we see > in Oregon are certainly not Kentish, whether our intent is to > distinguish the subspecies or not. We have not been a British colony > for some time, and we do not need to blindly > > If we were to try to standardize English names of species worldwide, > it would be absurd to call C. alexandrinus ?Kentish Plover?, since it > is vagrant in Kent, and common elsewhere. Snowy Plover is a better > name, since it is quite pale in winter plumage even where it is dark > in summer. If you object to using the name Snowy Plover for Paleartic > subspecies, perhaps you would care to submit a proposal to the BOU and > AOU to jointly change the name to something even better, such as > Alexander?s Plover? > > I know I replied privately, but I did not realize you published the > note on OBOL. In order to reduce confusion, I thought it would be well > to respond on OBOL. > > Good birding, > > Jeff > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > *From:* Daniel Farrar [mailto:jdanielfarrar at gmail.com] > *Sent:* Saturday, April 11, 2009 5:41 PM > *To:* Jeff Harding; OBOL > *Subject:* Re: [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers - > > Jeff et al, > The name Snowy Plover refers only to the two subspecies of Kentish > Plover that occur in North and South America. The plovers that you saw > in Taiwan were Kentish, but not Snowies. The plovers you see in Oregon > are Kentish Plovers too, we just distinguish them as different > subspecies and so call them Snowy Plovers. > Good birding whatever continent you find yourself on! > > Daniel Farrar > > On Sat, Apr 11, 2009 at 9:35 AM, Jeff Harding > > wrote: > > I found Taiwan a lovely place to look at Snowy Plovers, and they > seemed to be present at almost every river mouth and estuary we > visited last month. We saw a few with red caps of their summer plumage > there. and some books refer to them as Kentish Plovers. Also present > were Little Ringed Plovers, lots of Common Greenshanks, and at Chigu, > with the Black-faced Spoonbills (not sandpipers) there was a Greater > Sand-plover. > > Spain?s Atlantic coast was good for ?Kentish? Plovers, too. > > Walking the Bayocean Spit at Tillamook in the winter is another good > spot, though you have to look very carefully, which is true generally > in Oregon. We found them there for the Tillamook CBC this year for the > first time in a few years, where we used to rely on seeing them. > > Good Birding, > > Jeff > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > *From:* obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > ] *On Behalf Of *Carol Ledford > *Sent:* Thursday, April 09, 2009 7:11 AM > *To:* OBOL > *Subject:* [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers > > WHERE and WHEN could I see Snowy Plovers? I'm hoping someone on OBOL > can tell me about a good spot to find them without disturbing the > birds, and when is the best time to look. I know they nest somewhere > along the Oregon Coast, but it's a long coast. > > Thanks! > > Carol Ledford > Gresham, OR > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > -- > Daniel Farrar > Eugene, Oregon > jdanielfarrar at gmail.com > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From goosemiller at gmail.com Sun Apr 12 09:53:08 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:53:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bark Butter Feeder In-Reply-To: <49e0eeb5.150bca0a.5a25.55a5SMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> Message-ID: <49e21c6c.26bc720a.32b9.77e0@mx.google.com> Hi Obol: I have gotten lots of inquiries into what is a bark butter feeder. At Wild Birds Unlimited you can buy a tub of "Jim's Birdacious Bark Butter" for about $12.00. It looks like normal peanut butter; it is made out of Suet, roasted peanuts, peanut oil and corn. The feeder is a small block of wood, has small depressions drilled into each side of it in the shape of small circles. You then smear the bark butter into the small circles. The following species are using it: Northern Flicker, Dark-eyed Juncos, House Finch, Mountain Chickadees, Scrub Jay, Steller's Jay, American Robin and Bushtits. I have photos of all the species using it except the Scrub Jay which I will try to get. The birds love this stuff! I have had up to eight House Finches at a time on it and the Robin uses it off and on all day. The Juncos are shy and only use it when no other birds are around. Hope this helps -Happy Birding! Happy Birding! Marilyn Miller Certified Naturalist Bend, Oregon From 4cains at charter.net Sun Apr 12 10:13:06 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 10:13:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cape Disappointment Glaucous Gulls and beached Gray Whale Message-ID: <9AE076976AEC4B9C8358E8450B876519@HAL> Here is a link to Evan's pic of one of two juvenile GLAUCOUS GULLS that were at the Cape Disappointment Lifeboat Station at Ilwaco yesterday. We were there as part of an invited group to participate in the GRAY WHALE autopsy being carried out by Dr. Debbie Duffield and her students -- the carcass is behind a Coast Guard gate and is not open to the public. The whale was a 1 yr. old male juvenile. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090412/043fe8b2/attachment.html From 4cains at charter.net Sun Apr 12 10:14:37 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 10:14:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cape Disappointment Glaucous Gulls and beached Gray Whale Message-ID: <96484DB252554C369F838CDF354876D0@HAL> Whoops! -- http://surfbirds.com/blog/townsendi ----- Original Message ----- From: Lee and Lori Cain To: OBOL Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2009 10:13 AM Subject: Cape Disappointment Glaucous Gulls and beached Gray Whale Here is a link to Evan's pic of one of two juvenile GLAUCOUS GULLS that were at the Cape Disappointment Lifeboat Station at Ilwaco yesterday. We were there as part of an invited group to participate in the GRAY WHALE autopsy being carried out by Dr. Debbie Duffield and her students -- the carcass is behind a Coast Guard gate and is not open to the public. The whale was a 1 yr. old male juvenile. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090412/c0f26c42/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sun Apr 12 10:20:12 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 10:20:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crow thieves Message-ID: <81b2a9930904121020x30500f6cw35d5b0cb830441e7@mail.gmail.com> A crow was ripping branches off of a diseased tree in my front yard last weekend, most likely for nesting material. Brandon Eugene ----- Subject: Crow thieves From: Alan Contreras Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:37:11 -0700 I put out fresh rough cedar mulch on the walking paths around my house and stirred up the compacted stuff under the trees. Comes now a pair of crows, carefully sorting out the nicer soft shredded bits of cedar, filling their bills and flying off with it ! Nest-liner, I assume. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer AT mindspring.com From watice at msn.com Sun Apr 12 10:32:38 2009 From: watice at msn.com (BILL ROSIE TICE) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 10:32:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] One more question on squirrels Message-ID: With all the posts on squirrels recently, I found myself wondering, How does one tell the difference between Eastern and Western Grey Squirrels? Bill Tice -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090412/4e54dc2c/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sun Apr 12 10:32:38 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 10:32:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] OC Warbler and other yard sightings Message-ID: <81b2a9930904121032u529f8e07ue8efc609c4bc2f55@mail.gmail.com> Just saw my first-of-the-year ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER this morning. Unfortunately, it didn't hang around long enough for a photo op. I also hosted a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and three PURPLE FINCHES last week, but haven't seen either this weekend. My (Myrtle) YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS also appear to have moved on. Brandon Eugene From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Apr 12 10:35:22 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 10:35:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook Birds Message-ID: The dog and I did a little tour around western Crook County today. 300 White-fronted Geese - Houston Lk. 1 Eurasian Wigeon - Ochoco Res. 2 Wood Duck - Prineville Sewer Ponds 1 Ruddy Duck - Prineville Sewer Ponds FOY Lots of Cinnamon Teal around 5 Common Goldeneye - Prineville Sewer Ponds 11 DC Cormorants - Prineville Sewer Ponds 1 Cooper's Hawk - Powell Butte 4 Black-necked Stilt - Houston Lk. 12 Dunlin - Houston Lk. 3 Snipe - Houston Lk and 3 more at Barnes Butte Lk. Lots of winnowing 12 Eurasian Collared Rats - all over Tree and Violet-green Swallows everywhere 3 Orange-crowned Warblers - Prineville Cemetery 1 Pine Siskin - Prineville Cemetery 2 Lesser Goldfinch - Prineville Cemetery 2 Cassin's Finch - The Heights in Prineville 16 Evening Grosbeak - The Heights in Prineville Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090412/a77b4e05/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Apr 12 10:37:54 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 10:37:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Migrants Message-ID: I always wonder when the LAST of something disappears, which we record very poorly. Wintering yellow-rumps disappeared from my lowland Eugene yard shortly after the first of April. I am down to one junco, seen April 11 but not yet on April 12. Wintering bushtit flock was still loosely attached around April 1 but seems to have broken up and spread out. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com "There are moral limits to the responsibility that can be assigned to the mentally ill for their actions." - Alvaro de Campos http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From rie at pcfubar.net Sun Apr 12 10:52:19 2009 From: rie at pcfubar.net (roger morris) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 10:52:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] One more question on squirrels In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Found on the internet: Fox Squirrel ( Sciurus niger ) . Body: 13 in. Tail: 11 in. . Common in urban parks . Fur on tail and hind feet reddish-orange . Back is brown to grayish . Belly cream to orange Western Gray Squirrel ( Sciurus griseus ) . Body: 12 in. Tail: 12 in. . Large squirrel . Native to California . Found in woodlands . Back is silver gray . Belly white Eastern Gray Squirrel ( Sciurus griseus ) . Body: 10 in. Tail: 10 in . Found in urban parks . Similar to Western Gray Squirrel but yellow or rusty color on back . Belly white . Sometimes occurs as "melanistic" form (all black) Page talking about West Nile Virus has pics of all three. I think I saw an Eastern Gray some time in the last week. When I saw it, I thought it was a cross between the Western Gray and the Fox Squirrel. http://www.westnile.ca.gov/wnv_squirrels.htm On Sun, Apr 12, 2009 at 10:32 AM, BILL ROSIE TICE wrote: > With all the posts on squirrels recently, I found myself wondering,? How > does one tell the difference between Eastern and Western Grey Squirrels? > > Bill Tice > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From dlbird at earthlink.net Sun Apr 12 10:58:38 2009 From: dlbird at earthlink.net (Donna Lusthoff) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 10:58:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Kudos to Jim Norton In-Reply-To: <6B768145A51C480D9554A23B19985E7C@D48XBZ51> Message-ID: <5726B4B32BDE490390A3C894E4158C97@Donna> Me too! Hooray to Jim! Donna Lusthoff -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Wayne Hoffman Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2009 9:41 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Kudos to Jim Norton A friendly reminder: Jim Norton is volunteering his services as OBOL Administrator. He does a very good job, and deserves your respect. He has responded quickly and effectively to this weekend's unfortunate situation, and deserves praise, not hassles. I want to thank him for all he has done, and remind him that some of us really appreciate his efforts. Wayne Hoffman -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090412/0f087e6e/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Sun Apr 12 11:38:48 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 11:38:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] One more question on squirrels In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <9A9DE446-DD8D-4369-A0A8-697752C5454C@oregonfast.net> Their accent. On Apr 12, 2009, at 10:32 AM, BILL ROSIE TICE wrote: > With all the posts on squirrels recently, I found myself > wondering, How does one tell the difference between Eastern and > Western Grey Squirrels? > > Bill Tice > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090412/1fce5539/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Apr 12 11:46:04 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:46:04 +0000 Subject: [obol] Send $$$$ the Evening Grosbeaks found my feeders Message-ID: Greetings All, I'll be needing a second mortgage now that the Evening Grosbeaks have found my yard. Today a group of 25-30 has descended en masse several times. We also had our first migrant Chipping Sparrow in the yard (we usually get a few each spring). No sign of Gambel's White-crowned Sparrows yet, should be any day. Also had a flock of a dozen or so Red Crossbills noisily prying open pine cones in our pine tree yesterday. Both the Grosbeaks and the Crossbills are the first we've ever had "in the yard" though we've had flyovers many times. Red Crossbills have been quite conspicuous around Eugene this spring. I've been hearing flyovers nearly every day of late. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Quick access to your favorite MSN content and Windows Live with Internet Explorer 8. http://ie8.msn.com/microsoft/internet-explorer-8/en-us/ie8.aspx?ocid=B037MSN55C0701A -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090412/9f698b02/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Sun Apr 12 11:45:52 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 11:45:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mt Angel Abbey Hill Dog Walk-mid AM Message-ID: The Hill was windy and not so good for birding. "Jet," the black lab, sniffed every tree. After slowing down and going on a side road away from the SW wind (back road to kitchen area) , there were PURPLE FINCH (many singing), HUTTON'S VIREO (also singing), 3-4 ORANGE CROWNED WARBLER (1 singing), and 6 AUDUBON'S YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER. Of course many Robins, Juncos, etc. Got distant view of hawk I took to be a COOPER'S. John Thomas NE Marion Co From kkoivu at netscape.com Sun Apr 12 11:53:07 2009 From: kkoivu at netscape.com (kkoivu at netscape.com) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 11:53:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Amazon Creek Bike Path Message-ID: <20090412115307.8D6F0DE6@resin15.mta.everyone.net> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090412/82466950/attachment.html From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Sun Apr 12 12:02:22 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (barbara.millikan at gmail.com) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 19:02:22 +0000 Subject: [obol] Kudos to Jim Norton In-Reply-To: <5726B4B32BDE490390A3C894E4158C97@Donna> Message-ID: <00163645923cdd12410467603c6e@google.com> Me three. Thank you Jim for dealing with what, if we lived in a world where people accepted diversity and behaved like adults, wouldn't have happened at all. Blessings, Barbara On Apr 12, 2009 10:58am, Donna Lusthoff wrote: > Me too! > Hooray to Jim! > Donna Lusthoff > -----Original Message----- > From: > obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Wayne Hoffman > Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2009 9:41 AM > To: OBOL > Subject: [obol] Kudos to Jim > Norton > A friendly reminder: > Jim Norton is volunteering his > services as OBOL Administrator. > He does a very good job, and > deserves your respect. > He has responded quickly and > effectively to this weekend's unfortunate situation, and deserves praise, > not > hassles. > I want to thank him for all he has > done, and remind him that some of us really appreciate his efforts. > Wayne Hoffman -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090412/f491826b/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Sun Apr 12 13:14:49 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 13:14:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] red-breasted goose In-Reply-To: <81A5E184BA5646DA8FAE26EFE49E84AA@armstrong> Message-ID: Hi all: I think this is likely a vagrant bird. I recommend looking for it. I will eventually post my full reasoning in regard to the "true vagrancy theory". All the best. Jeff. On 4/11/09 12:50 PM, "rich armstrong" wrote: > this morning at finley wildlife refuge (bruce road) south of corvallis > (benton county) among probably 2000 cackling and canada geese was a > RED-BREASTED GOOSE (presumably the same bird that has been seen in the > valley last few years and still beautiful). i realize it was probably an > escapee (i don't know if anyone knows of duck collector that lost it) but it > seems to have come back to the valley here at least 3 years in a row (others > know the history better than i do). it flew very well with all the cacklers > and certainly seems to be wild now. > Rich Armstrong > 541-753-1978 > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Apr 12 13:29:53 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:29:53 +0000 Subject: [obol] New BirdFellow.com piece by Shawneen Finnegan Message-ID: Greetings, I just posted a new piece provided by Shawneen Finnegan. It is about the Chapman School (Portland) swift roost. Dave Irons BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Quick access to your favorite MSN content and Windows Live with Internet Explorer 8. http://ie8.msn.com/microsoft/internet-explorer-8/en-us/ie8.aspx?ocid=B037MSN55C0701A -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090412/153560a0/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sun Apr 12 13:39:42 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 13:39:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black-throated Gray Warbler, Eugene Message-ID: <81b2a9930904121339p4fe1169as77c7b0b6a76ee564@mail.gmail.com> First-of-the-year seen in my yard just a little while ago. Also a mature male PURPLE FINCH dining with a flock of SISKINS. This has turned out to be quite a day. -Brandon From bigfishyman at gmail.com Sun Apr 12 14:04:19 2009 From: bigfishyman at gmail.com (Bob Fish) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 14:04:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Backyard birdies Message-ID: Happy spring and Easter all, I had two flyovers which were unusual for our yard. An Osprey, and a Turkey Vulture. We also have had multiple small to med flocks of Lesser Goldfinches, mixed with Americans, OC Warblers, and a first for our backyard, a Black-Throated Gray Warbler. We also still have a couple Rufous Hummers hanging around. Black-Capped Chickadees, House Finch, Spotted Towhees, and a Song Sparrow, all of which seem to be summer residents. Bob Fish Creswell, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090412/9e7463f4/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Apr 12 14:21:23 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 14:21:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Almost an Ammodramus sparrow, but not quite Message-ID: <1239571283.3629.38.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, A half hour ago I was outside and saw a short-tailed, sparrow-sized bird with a strongly patterned, dark-brown back make a sort, fluttery flight to land in the grass. I had my binoculars handy, and quickly got on the bird as it hunkered down in the grass. Luckily I'd just mowed that patch so it couldn't hide very well. As soon as I saw the strongly patterned head, I know it was no sparrow. What I saw caused me to look instead at our aviary, to see that the wind had blown the door open after apparently it was not properly latched. The bird was a male CHINESE BUTTONQUAIL, and most certainly an escapee. We were able to recapture it and return it to the aviary in short order. The female quail was still in the aviary. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Apr 12 15:13:10 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:13:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eastern/Western Message-ID: <4fb82a6c5319f3bbb2cb6c7255bd6da8@earthlink.net> Native gray squirrels are all gray. The name I learned to call them is "Silvery Gray Squirrlel". Easterns have a brown face, readily visible at all times. The native gray squirrel is by far the largest native North American squirrel. Its tail is also unusually large, maybe 1 and 1/2 times its body length. Both Fox and Eastern Gray Squirrels look wimpy by comparison. The introduced Easterns in Stanley Park, Vancouver B.C. are all black. Very attractive "invasives". Lars Norgren From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Apr 12 15:23:27 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:23:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: red-breasted goose Message-ID: <68e9a8d3995404c234b688eb99d71a89@earthlink.net> Begin forwarded message: > From: Norgren Family > Date: April 12, 2009 3:19:43 PM PDT > To: Jeff Gilligan > Subject: Re: [obol] red-breasted goose > > I fully agree with Jeff. I have been perplexed > by the readiness to accept the Peoria Pyrrhuloxia > with the same alacrity that the Red-breast(s) have > been dismissed. Sightings in at least four counties > over three or more years. How do we know how many > are involved? Lars Norgren > On Apr 12, 2009, at 1:14 PM, Jeff Gilligan wrote: > >> Hi all: I think this is likely a vagrant bird. I recommend looking >> for it. >> I will eventually post my full reasoning in regard to the "true >> vagrancy >> theory". All the best. Jeff. >> >> >> On 4/11/09 12:50 PM, "rich armstrong" >> wrote: >> >>> this morning at finley wildlife refuge (bruce road) south of >>> corvallis >>> (benton county) among probably 2000 cackling and canada geese was a >>> RED-BREASTED GOOSE (presumably the same bird that has been seen in >>> the >>> valley last few years and still beautiful). i realize it was >>> probably an >>> escapee (i don't know if anyone knows of duck collector that lost >>> it) but it >>> seems to have come back to the valley here at least 3 years in a row >>> (others >>> know the history better than i do). it flew very well with all the >>> cacklers >>> and certainly seems to be wild now. >>> Rich Armstrong >>> 541-753-1978 >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> obol mailing list >>> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> > From jeffgill at teleport.com Sun Apr 12 15:31:25 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:31:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Shorebird migration heating up. Message-ID: I have been at a location on the southern shore of Willapa Bay, WA (about ten miles north of the Oregon border) for a few days. The location here had up to 40 Trumpeter Swans through the winter, with the last three last seen on April 4 according to the neighbors. There are still hundreds of Black Brant (and one "Gray-breasted" type). Today's shorebird numbers from the house where I am staying: Lesser Yellowlegs - 27 Greater yellowlegs - 18 Short-billed Dowitchers - 7 Dunlin - 7,500 Western Sandpipers - 170 Least Sandpipers - 7 Black-bellied Plovers - 9 I think that the peak numbers will be here in about two weeks. Jeff Gilligan From valleybirder at gmail.com Sun Apr 12 15:40:46 2009 From: valleybirder at gmail.com (Mike) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:40:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Kudos to Jim Norton In-Reply-To: <6B768145A51C480D9554A23B19985E7C@D48XBZ51> References: <6B768145A51C480D9554A23B19985E7C@D48XBZ51> Message-ID: I agree. Your job / task is a thankless one but I truly appreciate your efforts to keep this list going. Thank you very much, Jim..................... .........and everyone else who contributes positively. Sibley is good but OBOL rules. Oh yeah, the Black Phoebes (pair) are back on the nest in Springfield. Year two, as far as I can tell. Mike H. On Sun, Apr 12, 2009 at 9:40 AM, Wayne Hoffman wrote: > A friendly reminder: > > Jim Norton is volunteering his services as OBOL Administrator. > > He does a very good job, and deserves your respect. > > He has responded quickly and effectively to this weekend's unfortunate > situation, and deserves praise, not hassles. > > I want to thank him for all he has done, and remind him that some of us > really appreciate his efforts. > > Wayne Hoffman > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090412/c1421edc/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sun Apr 12 16:37:28 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 16:37:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] ECBC Field trip Millican Valley and Hatfield Ponds, Deschutes county Message-ID: OBOL > Dean Hale and Howard Horvath led the field trip today on a short > route in the Millican Valley and then on to Hatfield ponds. There were > a total of 14 participants. The beginning of the morning was cold and > the birds didn't cooperate at all. Some of the birds on the list were not > seen by all participants. I didn't include them on this list if only one > person saw/heard a bird. > Desiree had an idea to assign points to the birds based on Miller and > Summers county lists using code 1-5. Based on that method, we had > 75 or more points ( 64 birds ) So immediately you can see that we > didn't have a lot of rare birds! > Mammals were good today including an the Easter Bunny posing. > > Birds seen (in taxonomic order): > Canada Goose > Wood Duck > Gadwall > American Wigeon > Mallard > Cinnamon Teal > Northern Shoveler > Northern Pintail > Green-Winged Teal > Ring-necked Duck > Lesser Scaup > Bufflehead > Hooded Merganser - 3 - females only, Hatfield > Ruddy Duck > Pied-billed Grebe > Turkey Vulture > Osprey - 2- along Hwy 20 on the platform > Bald Eagle - 1 - adult Hatfield. > Northern Harrier - 1 - female, Hatfield. > Red-tailed Hawk > Ferruginous Hawk - 1 - Distant, Millican area. > American Kestrel - so many today, some paired. > American Coot > Killdeer > Greater Yellowlegs - 3 - back pond overflow, Hatfield. > Dunlin - 4 - Breeding plumage, back pond, rocky edge > Rock Dove > Mourning Dove > Northern Flicker > Clark's Nutcracker - several Millican Valley > Black-billed Magpie > American Crow - in town gathering at Dean and Patty's. > Common Raven > Horned Lark > Tree Swallow > Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 1 or 2 Hatfield > Barn Swallow - 3 or so, Hatfield. > Mountain Chickadee > Pygmy Nuthatch > Marsh Wren - Inlet back pond > Ruby-crowned Kinglet > Mountain Bluebird > Townsend's Solitaire > American Robin > Sage Thrasher - mult birds singing away Millican valley > European Starling > American Pipit - 10 - Hatfield, back pond, rocky edge. > Yellow-rumped Warbler - 6-8 -Junipers, back pond. > Spotted Towhee - Hatfield, back pond > Brewer's Sparrow - some birders > Vesper Sparrow - some birders > Sage Sparrow - mult close birds, Beautiful. > Savannah Sparrow - mult, Hatfield > Song Sparrow > White-crowned Sparrow - Hatfield > Dark-eyed Junco > Red-winged Blackbird > Western Meadowlark > Yellow-headed Blackbird - 26 - Hatfield, back pond. > Brewer's Blackbird > Cassin's Finch - Millican Valley > House Finch > Evening Grosbeak - 12 - Grange off Powell Butte Hwy, near airport. > House Sparrow > > Total number of species seen: 64 > Good birding, > Judy Meredith > jmeredit at bendnet.com From FoxSparrows at aol.com Sun Apr 12 16:52:45 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 19:52:45 EDT Subject: [obol] First Harney County White-faced Ibis Message-ID: ...well, it's my first for the year. The species was not found during last weekend's Scharff Festival. One... that's right... one ibis (that's even hard to write!) was in a flooded pasture west of the Weigh Station north of Burns this afternoon. I'm sure there are others around somewhere in the county. Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm_ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1220572838x1201387489/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26 hmpgID%3D62%26bcd%3DAprilfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090412/5ff8898e/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun Apr 12 16:54:57 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 16:54:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 4/12/2009 Message-ID: <74613.67793.qm@web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Not much new around-yet. With the nice weather forecasted later this coming week there should be some major movement including shorebirds. On the N. Spit of Coos Bay the overwintering PALM WARBLER is still around and has begun molting into breeding plumage this past week- it has a very rufous cap now and lots more yellow, a total different looking bird than the drab fall/winter birds we normally see. Heard a weird song this morning and it turned out to be a LINCOLN'S SPARROW, a species not heard singing much on the coast! Looking forward to the forecasted sunny weather. Merry migration, Tim R Coos Bay From bcombs232 at gmail.com Sun Apr 12 18:06:46 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:06:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Migrants and a Red-breasted Nuthatch Message-ID: <8ce3a6520904121806w2c5789aajbcdeeca0104bb6ed@mail.gmail.com> I spent a lot of time working in the yard yesterday, and saw some things I might not have seen otherwise. A *gambelli *White-crowned Sparrow was in my yard for the first time this season. It was easy to pick out because there was so much more white on the head. Today it was feeding on the ground alongside a *pugetensis, *making for a nice comparison study. Yesterday as I was pulling weeds, I kept hearing a Red-breasted Nuthatch. Then I heard a soft pecking sound in my weeping willow tree. I checked it out, and it was the Red-breasted Nuthatch excavating a cavity in the tree. Whether this was a bird hoping to nest or digging for insects, I do not know, but it is an easy spot to keep watch on, so I will. They have been known to nest in suburban areas, but I saw only one nuthatch so there is yet a barrier to overcome. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Eugene OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090412/14baa185/attachment.html From vireogirl at yahoo.com Sun Apr 12 18:07:46 2009 From: vireogirl at yahoo.com (Vjera Thompson) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:07:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Skinner birds Message-ID: <576793.48456.qm@web56307.mail.re3.yahoo.com> OBOLers, On Skinner Butte this morning, I found a NASHVILLE WARBLER and a male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD among the dozens of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS. Vjera Thompson Eugene, OR vireogirl at yahoo.com From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Apr 12 18:43:28 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:43:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers - Message-ID: <1239587008.3619.6.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hi Dave & All, As I read what Jeff wrote below, I don't think he was indulging in Americentrism by using AOU nomenclature. He said since he was addressing an American audience, he thought it was appropriate to use the AOU terminology, whereas he would use British terminology if addressing a British audience. Duly noting Jeff's efforts to introduce British birding terms such as "dipped out" into the Oregon birding lexicon, I think we should give him the benefit of the doubt on this one. Happy birding, Joel Subject: Re: RFI Snowy Plovers - From: DJ Lauten and KACastelein Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:49:24 -0700 Um, a couple of minor points. One, Jeff, actually, your post was to OBOL, it came thru to everyone before Daniel responded, so Daniel isn't responsible for the posting of your post. You may have responded privately, or intended to, but the truth is is that it went to OBOL. With that said, there is some truth to what Jeff says, but there is some truth to what Daniel says. While the AOU, and maybe even other ornithological sources, committees, books, etc etc, currently list Charadrius alexandrinus as one species, there is some debate as to whether that is truly the case or not. Some folks believe there are at least two species involved, maybe even more than that. It is true on this side of the planet we call them Snowy Plovers, and on that side they call them Kentish Plovers. Neither is wrong. I'm not sure the name Snowy Plover applies to all subspecies of C. alexandrinus. I can't say I am 100% up and up on the BOU names, but I thought that their official name was Kentish Plover. Maybe I am wrong. Certainly this was the case at one point in time. To suggest that the AOU is the 'official' source of the name, is, well, American-centric. The AOU is not God, and therefore just because they call it Snowy Plover doesn't mean that the rest of the world agrees. However, I get Jeff's point that we are talking in America and I understand his point in calling them Snowy Plovers. On the other side of the coin, the birds you saw in Taiwan and Spain ARE Kentish Plovers. Call them Snowy if you want, but Kentish they are. So I don't think Daniel was wrong to suggest that you saw Kentish Plovers. That's what they were. It's semantics folks, no need to get upset about it. As far as standardizing the name, well, Jeff has a right to think that Kentish Plover would be absurd, but that's a subjective opinion (an American one at that!). Jeff has a right to think Snowy Plover is a better name, but there may be a million Brits who disagree for the same reason. Last time I checked, I don't think the BOU and the AOU agree, or standardize, English names, so any proposal to change the name would have no bearing on both organizations, nor to my knowledge is there any formal way someone can petition for a name change of the common name. You can however publish a paper with data to suggest they are or are not more than one species, and you would have the right to suggest a new scientific name. You can suggest a common name too, but whether that is accepted by all is another story. And finally, if the name Snowy Plover applies to all subspecies of C. alexandrinus in the Paleartic, what do you call the birds that aren't in the Paleartic - like the population in Peru? One thing is for certain, at the moment "officially" they all are C. alexandrinus. There is a reason we use Latin names, so we don't get confused about what we are talking about. The common name, is, well, confusing. And subjective. And apt to change. Maybe. Or Maybe Not. Cheers Dave Lauten Jeff Harding wrote: > > Daniel et al, > > The name Snowy Plover refers to members of the species Charadrius > alexandrinus, wherever it is found for all subspecies. This is the > official promulgation of the AOU, and it is followed by the ABA and > the OFO. Unless you suggest I misidentified them, they most certainly > were Snowy Plovers I saw in Taiwan, as well as in Spain. If I were > writing to a British group, I may have considered referring to them as > Kentish, but in fact I was addressing my comments to Oregonians. Since > I was writing to Oregonians, it is correct to use the name adopted by > the AOU, and confusing to call them something else. The plovers we see > in Oregon are certainly not Kentish, whether our intent is to > distinguish the subspecies or not. We have not been a British colony > for some time, and we do not need to blindly > > If we were to try to standardize English names of species worldwide, > it would be absurd to call C. alexandrinus ?Kentish Plover?, since it > is vagrant in Kent, and common elsewhere. Snowy Plover is a better > name, since it is quite pale in winter plumage even where it is dark > in summer. If you object to using the name Snowy Plover for Paleartic > subspecies, perhaps you would care to submit a proposal to the BOU and > AOU to jointly change the name to something even better, such as > Alexander?s Plover? > > I know I replied privately, but I did not realize you published the > note on OBOL. In order to reduce confusion, I thought it would be well > to respond on OBOL. > > Good birding, > > Jeff > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > *From:* Daniel Farrar [mailto:jdanielfarrar AT gmail.com] > *Sent:* Saturday, April 11, 2009 5:41 PM > *To:* Jeff Harding; OBOL > *Subject:* Re: [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers - > > Jeff et al, > The name Snowy Plover refers only to the two subspecies of Kentish > Plover that occur in North and South America. The plovers that you saw > in Taiwan were Kentish, but not Snowies. The plovers you see in Oregon > are Kentish Plovers too, we just distinguish them as different > subspecies and so call them Snowy Plovers. > Good birding whatever continent you find yourself on! > > Daniel Farrar > > On Sat, Apr 11, 2009 at 9:35 AM, Jeff Harding > > wrote: > > I found Taiwan a lovely place to look at Snowy Plovers, and they > seemed to be present at almost every river mouth and estuary we > visited last month. We saw a few with red caps of their summer plumage > there. and some books refer to them as Kentish Plovers. Also present > were Little Ringed Plovers, lots of Common Greenshanks, and at Chigu, > with the Black-faced Spoonbills (not sandpipers) there was a Greater > Sand-plover. > > Spain?s Atlantic coast was good for ?Kentish? Plovers, too. > > Walking the Bayocean Spit at Tillamook in the winter is another good > spot, though you have to look very carefully, which is true generally > in Oregon. We found them there for the Tillamook CBC this year for the > first time in a few years, where we used to rely on seeing them. > > Good Birding, > > Jeff > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > *From:* obol-bounces AT oregonbirdwatch.org > > [mailto:obol-bounces AT oregonbirdwatch.org > ] *On Behalf Of *Carol Ledford > *Sent:* Thursday, April 09, 2009 7:11 AM > *To:* OBOL > *Subject:* [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers > > WHERE and WHEN could I see Snowy Plovers? I'm hoping someone on OBOL > can tell me about a good spot to find them without disturbing the > birds, and when is the best time to look. I know they nest somewhere > along the Oregon Coast, but it's a long coast. > > Thanks! > > Carol Ledford > Gresham, OR > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > -- > Daniel Farrar > Eugene, Oregon > jdanielfarrar AT gmail.com > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From rfadney at hotmail.com Sun Apr 12 20:55:06 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:55:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos County Harlequins Message-ID: After a not so spectacular birding weekend on the southern Oregon coast, I got an unexpected surprise while storm watching at Cape Arago. Four Harlequins, three males and a female landed in the cove below us. We watched them for a half an hour as the males put on quite a show for the female. She never did pick just one fellow while we watched. But it was sure fun watching them dance, strut and court her! Here is a link to a pic of the cast of jokers! http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/fatrichie/Birds/P4126957.jpg _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Mobile1_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090412/f3b64e84/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Apr 12 21:17:45 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:17:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Kentish Plover Message-ID: <41b3a7689e6dbfe5faa575eada6e882f@earthlink.net> At the dawn of modern ornithology Kent was the only part of the UK to have breeding Charadrius alexandrinus. The extreme se county of England and therefore the warmest, Kent last had breeding Kentish Plovers sometime in the 1820s. I have often mused over the absurdity of naming this circumpolar bird for the most marginal part of its range, from which it has now been extirpated for almost two centuries. Perhaps it's appropriate because it potentially draws attention to the species' fragile life strategy. But how many birders worldwide are aware of these details? In any case, there's no denying a painfully anglocentric aspect to this common name. The "Dartford" Warbler is perhaps redeemed by the fact that one can actually see it in Dartford. What about "Mongolian" Plover? Is that a name with North American origins? It seems to have been replaced by Lesser (or is it "Greater"?) Sand Plover. I find the former option highly romantic, while the latter has all the allure of"Pacific Slope Flycatcher". I have the impression that the second option comes from the BOU. The AOU seems to have a policy of adopting piece-meal names from across the Atlantic when the species occurs here as well. Is there any pretense of method to this madness? Lars Norgren From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sun Apr 12 22:31:52 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:31:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Metro point counts Message-ID: <782FEDB93CEA4167B0A6D745885CA93A@yourw5st28y9a3> Bill Evans asked me to post this for him. I'd like to add that I've joined him or filled in for him on these counts in the past and enjoyed the sites very much. The time commitment is not too heavy. Pamela Johnston Greetings OBOL, For the past 5 years I've volunteered to do Avian Point Counts at natural area restoration sites managed by Metro. It has been greatly rewarding on a personal level. This year, my usual co-volunteer is unable to participate. Being familiar with bird songs and sounds is a real plus, but not a requirement; a "birder" that would record data, on paper, in the field would be great. I'm wondering if someone is interested in: -Making a minimum of 3 site visitations between May 15 and June 30 at two sites in Clackamas County. -Meeting at the 1st site at sunrise. -Walk through chest-high wet grass at such an early hour. -Enjoying the birds and great outdoors. Please e-mail me off-list, or telephone me for more info. Regards, Bill Evans, Beavercreek, OR billandnicki at bctonline.com 503-784-6145 cell From deweysage at verizon.net Mon Apr 13 08:07:22 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 08:07:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers - In-Reply-To: <1239587008.3619.6.camel@localhost.localdomain> References: <1239587008.3619.6.camel@localhost.localdomain> Message-ID: <49E3552A.3080403@verizon.net> Yeah, I don't disagree, hence the reason I wrote: "However, I get Jeff's point that we are talking in America and I understand his point in calling them Snowy Plovers." After all, they are Snowy Plovers, even though they are Kentish Plovers......... Dang English names are so confusing........ :-) Cheers Dave Joel Geier wrote: > Hi Dave & All, > > As I read what Jeff wrote below, I don't think he was indulging in > Americentrism by using AOU nomenclature. He said since he was addressing > an American audience, he thought it was appropriate to use the AOU > terminology, whereas he would use British terminology if addressing a > British audience. > > Duly noting Jeff's efforts to introduce British birding terms such as > "dipped out" into the Oregon birding lexicon, I think we should give him > the benefit of the doubt on this one. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > Subject: Re: RFI Snowy Plovers - > From: DJ Lauten and KACastelein > Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:49:24 -0700 > Um, a couple of minor points. > > One, Jeff, actually, your post was to OBOL, it came thru to everyone > before Daniel responded, so Daniel isn't responsible for the posting of > your post. You may have responded privately, or intended to, but the > truth is is that it went to OBOL. > > With that said, there is some truth to what Jeff says, but there is some > truth to what Daniel says. While the AOU, and maybe even other > ornithological sources, committees, books, etc etc, currently list > Charadrius alexandrinus as one species, there is some debate as to > whether that is truly the case or not. Some folks believe there are at > least two species involved, maybe even more than that. It is true on > this side of the planet we call them Snowy Plovers, and on that side > they call them Kentish Plovers. Neither is wrong. I'm not sure the name > Snowy Plover applies to all subspecies of C. alexandrinus. I can't say I > am 100% up and up on the BOU names, but I thought that their official > name was Kentish Plover. Maybe I am wrong. Certainly this was the case > at one point in time. To suggest that the AOU is the 'official' source > of the name, is, well, American-centric. The AOU is not God, and > therefore just because they call it Snowy Plover doesn't mean that the > rest of the world agrees. However, I get Jeff's point that we are > talking in America and I understand his point in calling them Snowy > Plovers. On the other side of the coin, the birds you saw in Taiwan and > Spain ARE Kentish Plovers. Call them Snowy if you want, but Kentish they > are. So I don't think Daniel was wrong to suggest that you saw Kentish > Plovers. That's what they were. > > It's semantics folks, no need to get upset about it. > > As far as standardizing the name, well, Jeff has a right to think that > Kentish Plover would be absurd, but that's a subjective opinion (an > American one at that!). Jeff has a right to think Snowy Plover is a > better name, but there may be a million Brits who disagree for the same > reason. Last time I checked, I don't think the BOU and the AOU agree, or > standardize, English names, so any proposal to change the name would > have no bearing on both organizations, nor to my knowledge is there any > formal way someone can petition for a name change of the common name. > You can however publish a paper with data to suggest they are or are not > more than one species, and you would have the right to suggest a new > scientific name. You can suggest a common name too, but whether that is > accepted by all is another story. And finally, if the name Snowy Plover > applies to all subspecies of C. alexandrinus in the Paleartic, what do > you call the birds that aren't in the Paleartic - like the population in > Peru? > > One thing is for certain, at the moment "officially" they all are C. > alexandrinus. There is a reason we use Latin names, so we don't get > confused about what we are talking about. The common name, is, well, > confusing. And subjective. And apt to change. Maybe. Or Maybe Not. > > Cheers > Dave Lauten > > Jeff Harding wrote: > >> Daniel et al, >> >> The name Snowy Plover refers to members of the species Charadrius >> alexandrinus, wherever it is found for all subspecies. This is the >> official promulgation of the AOU, and it is followed by the ABA and >> the OFO. Unless you suggest I misidentified them, they most certainly >> were Snowy Plovers I saw in Taiwan, as well as in Spain. If I were >> writing to a British group, I may have considered referring to them as >> Kentish, but in fact I was addressing my comments to Oregonians. Since >> I was writing to Oregonians, it is correct to use the name adopted by >> the AOU, and confusing to call them something else. The plovers we see >> in Oregon are certainly not Kentish, whether our intent is to >> distinguish the subspecies or not. We have not been a British colony >> for some time, and we do not need to blindly >> >> If we were to try to standardize English names of species worldwide, >> it would be absurd to call C. alexandrinus ?Kentish Plover?, since it >> is vagrant in Kent, and common elsewhere. Snowy Plover is a better >> name, since it is quite pale in winter plumage even where it is dark >> in summer. If you object to using the name Snowy Plover for Paleartic >> subspecies, perhaps you would care to submit a proposal to the BOU and >> AOU to jointly change the name to something even better, such as >> Alexander?s Plover? >> >> I know I replied privately, but I did not realize you published the >> note on OBOL. In order to reduce confusion, I thought it would be well >> to respond on OBOL. >> >> Good birding, >> >> Jeff >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> *From:* Daniel Farrar [mailto:jdanielfarrar AT gmail.com] >> *Sent:* Saturday, April 11, 2009 5:41 PM >> *To:* Jeff Harding; OBOL >> *Subject:* Re: [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers - >> >> Jeff et al, >> The name Snowy Plover refers only to the two subspecies of Kentish >> Plover that occur in North and South America. The plovers that you saw >> in Taiwan were Kentish, but not Snowies. The plovers you see in Oregon >> are Kentish Plovers too, we just distinguish them as different >> subspecies and so call them Snowy Plovers. >> Good birding whatever continent you find yourself on! >> >> Daniel Farrar >> >> On Sat, Apr 11, 2009 at 9:35 AM, Jeff Harding >> >>> wrote: >>> >> I found Taiwan a lovely place to look at Snowy Plovers, and they >> seemed to be present at almost every river mouth and estuary we >> visited last month. We saw a few with red caps of their summer plumage >> there. and some books refer to them as Kentish Plovers. Also present >> were Little Ringed Plovers, lots of Common Greenshanks, and at Chigu, >> with the Black-faced Spoonbills (not sandpipers) there was a Greater >> Sand-plover. >> >> Spain?s Atlantic coast was good for ?Kentish? Plovers, too. >> >> Walking the Bayocean Spit at Tillamook in the winter is another good >> spot, though you have to look very carefully, which is true generally >> in Oregon. We found them there for the Tillamook CBC this year for the >> first time in a few years, where we used to rely on seeing them. >> >> Good Birding, >> >> Jeff >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> *From:* obol-bounces AT oregonbirdwatch.org >> >> [mailto:obol-bounces AT oregonbirdwatch.org >> ] *On Behalf Of *Carol Ledford >> *Sent:* Thursday, April 09, 2009 7:11 AM >> *To:* OBOL >> *Subject:* [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers >> >> WHERE and WHEN could I see Snowy Plovers? I'm hoping someone on OBOL >> can tell me about a good spot to find them without disturbing the >> birds, and when is the best time to look. I know they nest somewhere >> along the Oregon Coast, but it's a long coast. >> >> Thanks! >> >> Carol Ledford >> Gresham, OR >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Daniel Farrar >> Eugene, Oregon >> jdanielfarrar AT gmail.com >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dpvroman at budget.net Mon Apr 13 09:07:23 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:07:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Migrants References: Message-ID: The majority of Juncos left our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit) about a week and a half ago. Down to a pair or two, which will likely nest nearby for we generally have a nesting pair through the summer. Still have a few GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, but the majority have left also. Dennis (north of Grants Pass I always wonder when the LAST of something disappears, which we record very poorly. Wintering yellow-rumps disappeared from my lowland Eugene yard shortly after the first of April. I am down to one junco, seen April 11 but not yet on April 12. Wintering bushtit flock was still loosely attached around April 1 but seems to have broken up and spread out. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From dpvroman at budget.net Mon Apr 13 09:26:34 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:26:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Migrants piling up to south (Chico, CA) Message-ID: <91D873250BA24399A14586CCB4A11BFD@Warbler> Hi migrant bird watchers, Was down to Chico, CA this weekend; was sunny, warm, leaves out on the trees and lots of migrants! Were Western Kingbirds about everywhere (in the city and outside), Orioles, House Wrens. A Red-shouldered Hawk really close to our motel near the center of the city (had captured a small bird). Also, the ever-present these days, Eurasian Collared-Dove just outside the motel. Nuttall's Woodpecker along a dry already creek bed passing by our motel. ...now back home with cold winds and few migrants at our place so far today at least. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090413/50f8df8b/attachment.html From msgellerman at gmail.com Mon Apr 13 09:38:41 2009 From: msgellerman at gmail.com (Michael Gellerman) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:38:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bittern Courtship Display Message-ID: <1d0c413a0904130938v377b0327s7f5257f07cd2eecf@mail.gmail.com> We got up early this morning and drove out to Killin Wetland (Cedar Canyon Road) arriving a little after 6 am. It was raining off and on but we sat and listened to the dawn chorus that included one American Bittern calling. After about an hour we went back to the car for some more coffee and breakfast and decided to take one last look for the bittern we had been hearing. Leslie spotted him, it was certainly a him, about 150 meters off in the wetland between Cedar Canyon Rd and Hwy 6 near a blind). We put the scope on him and watched a courtship display (see the Short Communication in The Auk at http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Auk/v097n04/p0868-p0869.pdf - it is exactly what we saw). The bittern would hold himself horizontally and puff out his white throat and flare the nuptial plumes. We could not see a female, although I thought at one point I saw a second bird fly into the area just as we were trading off the view through the scope. It was quite a treat for about 15 minutes made extra nice because it was one of those situations where we decided to just "take one more look" before leaving. We also saw a couple of Cinammon Teal, Cackling Goose, Mallards, Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck pair and Great Blue Herons. Not much song bird activity as it was cold and rainy, but it was a good start to the day. On the way out in the pre-dawn we nearly hit what was probably a Great Horned Owl that flushed off the side of Hwy 6 right across the front of the car - no casualities, but it was a big bird and it probably would not have done either of any good at 60 mph. Regards, Mike Gellerman Bethany Pond -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090413/991ea8f4/attachment.html From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Mon Apr 13 10:23:54 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (barbara.millikan at gmail.com) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:23:54 +0000 Subject: [obol] Migrants In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <001636458c868d11c8046772fa90@google.com> This is interesting to me because we have juncos year round. More in the winter, but still a flock of 15 to 20 through the summer.We live in NW Polk county on the edge of the coast range, in open farm land, mixed in with small doug fir/oak/brush woodlands. Do junco just go up into the hills in the summer? Or do they actually move north? I haven't paid close enough attention to determine if we have the same junco in the winter as in the summer. What makes them shift location? Yrs, Barbara On Apr 13, 2009 9:07am, "Dennis P. Vroman" wrote: > The majority of Juncos left our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit) > about a week and a half ago. Down to a pair or two, which will likely nest > nearby for we generally have a nesting pair through the summer. Still have > a few GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, but the majority have left also. > Dennis (north of Grants Pass > I always wonder when the LAST of something disappears, which we record > very > poorly. Wintering yellow-rumps disappeared from my lowland Eugene yard > shortly after the first of April. I am down to one junco, seen April 11 > but > not yet on April 12. Wintering bushtit flock was still loosely attached > around April 1 but seems to have broken up and spread out. > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090413/2794eae8/attachment.html From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Mon Apr 13 11:47:41 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:47:41 -0400 Subject: [obol] busy crane day; yard Message-ID: I can hear SANDHILLS going over again and again this morning. When I venture out to look there are from 10-100 in each V. Some are very high up, and all are heading north. Yard migrant changes (feeder birds): the numerous JUNCOS suddenly are gone, with one or two left. GOLDEN-CROWNS down from a dozen to eight his morning. One LINCOLN SPARROW and two WHITE-CROWNS for the week, still there this morning. The fox sparrows (2) seem to be gone now. The BAND-TAILs are up to 20 at times, and the EVENING GROSBEAKS are usually around 15 -- both species daily visitors. (I buy way too much seed.) The pigeons are so wary you can't let them see movement in the house or they thunder off. A male PHEASANT visits daily (also wary); and am down to a pair of CALIFORNIA QUAIL instead of a covey. Other regulars include mourning doves, a bunch of chickadees (mostly black-capped), & other common species. At least four rufous hummers. Non-feeder yard birds include a pair of RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS, sometimes hammering bright and early on any handy metal for loudest effect, and still seeing an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER in the red-flowering currant every morning. Lona Pierce, Warren, in Columbia County _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get e-mail storage that grows with you. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Storage1_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090413/2ef08dd9/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Apr 13 12:47:49 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:47:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers - In-Reply-To: <49E3552A.3080403@verizon.net> References: <1239587008.3619.6.camel@localhost.localdomain> <49E3552A.3080403@verizon.net> Message-ID: <1239652069.3627.15.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello Dave & All, Well, come to think of it, you did say that so I stand corrected. Anyway, I vote for the name that Carl von Linn? might have called them before he got all hung up on Latin binomials and changed his name to Carolus Linnaeus: Svartbent Strandpipare (black-legged shore-plover) Even better is the Swedish name for Killdeer, which shows up as a vagrant in Europe: Skrikstrandpipare (shrieking shore-plover) And then Golden-plover is "Ljungpipare" or "heath plover." >From this you can guess that the English words for sandpiper and "peeps" probably came from the root word for word "pipare" (pronounced "peep-er- a") that was brought down by Anglo-Saxon and later Viking invaders from Denmark around 600 & 1000 AD. But anything that we'd call a "sandpiper" or calidrid, Swedes call "sn?ppa" (snipe) of one sort or another. Except for snipe, which they call "beckasin." Go figure. Cheers, Joel P.S. I'm relying on my Swedish references here. But there isn't that much daylight in terms of bird names, between the various languages that sprang from Old Norse -- Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic, etc. Just the Angles and Saxons seem to have wandered off on their own. On Mon, 2009-04-13 at 08:07 -0700, DJ Lauten and KACastelein wrote: > Yeah, I don't disagree, hence the reason I wrote: > > "However, I get Jeff's point that we are > talking in America and I understand his point in calling them Snowy > Plovers." > > After all, they are Snowy Plovers, even though they are Kentish Plovers......... > > Dang English names are so confusing........ :-) > > > Cheers > Dave > > > Joel Geier wrote: > > Hi Dave & All, > > > > As I read what Jeff wrote below, I don't think he was indulging in > > Americentrism by using AOU nomenclature. He said since he was addressing > > an American audience, he thought it was appropriate to use the AOU > > terminology, whereas he would use British terminology if addressing a > > British audience. > > > > Duly noting Jeff's efforts to introduce British birding terms such as > > "dipped out" into the Oregon birding lexicon, I think we should give him > > the benefit of the doubt on this one. > > > > Happy birding, > > Joel > > > > Subject: Re: RFI Snowy Plovers - > > From: DJ Lauten and KACastelein > > Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:49:24 -0700 > > Um, a couple of minor points. > > > > One, Jeff, actually, your post was to OBOL, it came thru to everyone > > before Daniel responded, so Daniel isn't responsible for the posting of > > your post. You may have responded privately, or intended to, but the > > truth is is that it went to OBOL. > > > > With that said, there is some truth to what Jeff says, but there is some > > truth to what Daniel says. While the AOU, and maybe even other > > ornithological sources, committees, books, etc etc, currently list > > Charadrius alexandrinus as one species, there is some debate as to > > whether that is truly the case or not. Some folks believe there are at > > least two species involved, maybe even more than that. It is true on > > this side of the planet we call them Snowy Plovers, and on that side > > they call them Kentish Plovers. Neither is wrong. I'm not sure the name > > Snowy Plover applies to all subspecies of C. alexandrinus. I can't say I > > am 100% up and up on the BOU names, but I thought that their official > > name was Kentish Plover. Maybe I am wrong. Certainly this was the case > > at one point in time. To suggest that the AOU is the 'official' source > > of the name, is, well, American-centric. The AOU is not God, and > > therefore just because they call it Snowy Plover doesn't mean that the > > rest of the world agrees. However, I get Jeff's point that we are > > talking in America and I understand his point in calling them Snowy > > Plovers. On the other side of the coin, the birds you saw in Taiwan and > > Spain ARE Kentish Plovers. Call them Snowy if you want, but Kentish they > > are. So I don't think Daniel was wrong to suggest that you saw Kentish > > Plovers. That's what they were. > > > > It's semantics folks, no need to get upset about it. > > > > As far as standardizing the name, well, Jeff has a right to think that > > Kentish Plover would be absurd, but that's a subjective opinion (an > > American one at that!). Jeff has a right to think Snowy Plover is a > > better name, but there may be a million Brits who disagree for the same > > reason. Last time I checked, I don't think the BOU and the AOU agree, or > > standardize, English names, so any proposal to change the name would > > have no bearing on both organizations, nor to my knowledge is there any > > formal way someone can petition for a name change of the common name. > > You can however publish a paper with data to suggest they are or are not > > more than one species, and you would have the right to suggest a new > > scientific name. You can suggest a common name too, but whether that is > > accepted by all is another story. And finally, if the name Snowy Plover > > applies to all subspecies of C. alexandrinus in the Paleartic, what do > > you call the birds that aren't in the Paleartic - like the population in > > Peru? > > > > One thing is for certain, at the moment "officially" they all are C. > > alexandrinus. There is a reason we use Latin names, so we don't get > > confused about what we are talking about. The common name, is, well, > > confusing. And subjective. And apt to change. Maybe. Or Maybe Not. > > > > Cheers > > Dave Lauten > > > > Jeff Harding wrote: > > > >> Daniel et al, > >> > >> The name Snowy Plover refers to members of the species Charadrius > >> alexandrinus, wherever it is found for all subspecies. This is the > >> official promulgation of the AOU, and it is followed by the ABA and > >> the OFO. Unless you suggest I misidentified them, they most certainly > >> were Snowy Plovers I saw in Taiwan, as well as in Spain. If I were > >> writing to a British group, I may have considered referring to them as > >> Kentish, but in fact I was addressing my comments to Oregonians. Since > >> I was writing to Oregonians, it is correct to use the name adopted by > >> the AOU, and confusing to call them something else. The plovers we see > >> in Oregon are certainly not Kentish, whether our intent is to > >> distinguish the subspecies or not. We have not been a British colony > >> for some time, and we do not need to blindly > >> > >> If we were to try to standardize English names of species worldwide, > >> it would be absurd to call C. alexandrinus ?Kentish Plover?, since it > >> is vagrant in Kent, and common elsewhere. Snowy Plover is a better > >> name, since it is quite pale in winter plumage even where it is dark > >> in summer. If you object to using the name Snowy Plover for Paleartic > >> subspecies, perhaps you would care to submit a proposal to the BOU and > >> AOU to jointly change the name to something even better, such as > >> Alexander?s Plover? > >> > >> I know I replied privately, but I did not realize you published the > >> note on OBOL. In order to reduce confusion, I thought it would be well > >> to respond on OBOL. > >> > >> Good birding, > >> > >> Jeff > >> > >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >> > >> *From:* Daniel Farrar [mailto:jdanielfarrar AT gmail.com] > >> *Sent:* Saturday, April 11, 2009 5:41 PM > >> *To:* Jeff Harding; OBOL > >> *Subject:* Re: [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers - > >> > >> Jeff et al, > >> The name Snowy Plover refers only to the two subspecies of Kentish > >> Plover that occur in North and South America. The plovers that you saw > >> in Taiwan were Kentish, but not Snowies. The plovers you see in Oregon > >> are Kentish Plovers too, we just distinguish them as different > >> subspecies and so call them Snowy Plovers. > >> Good birding whatever continent you find yourself on! > >> > >> Daniel Farrar > >> > >> On Sat, Apr 11, 2009 at 9:35 AM, Jeff Harding > >> > >>> wrote: > >>> > >> I found Taiwan a lovely place to look at Snowy Plovers, and they > >> seemed to be present at almost every river mouth and estuary we > >> visited last month. We saw a few with red caps of their summer plumage > >> there. and some books refer to them as Kentish Plovers. Also present > >> were Little Ringed Plovers, lots of Common Greenshanks, and at Chigu, > >> with the Black-faced Spoonbills (not sandpipers) there was a Greater > >> Sand-plover. > >> > >> Spain?s Atlantic coast was good for ?Kentish? Plovers, too. > >> > >> Walking the Bayocean Spit at Tillamook in the winter is another good > >> spot, though you have to look very carefully, which is true generally > >> in Oregon. We found them there for the Tillamook CBC this year for the > >> first time in a few years, where we used to rely on seeing them. > >> > >> Good Birding, > >> > >> Jeff > >> > >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >> > >> *From:* obol-bounces AT oregonbirdwatch.org > >> > >> [mailto:obol-bounces AT oregonbirdwatch.org > >> ] *On Behalf Of *Carol Ledford > >> *Sent:* Thursday, April 09, 2009 7:11 AM > >> *To:* OBOL > >> *Subject:* [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers > >> > >> WHERE and WHEN could I see Snowy Plovers? I'm hoping someone on OBOL > >> can tell me about a good spot to find them without disturbing the > >> birds, and when is the best time to look. I know they nest somewhere > >> along the Oregon Coast, but it's a long coast. > >> > >> Thanks! > >> > >> Carol Ledford > >> Gresham, OR > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> obol mailing list > >> obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> -- > >> Daniel Farrar > >> Eugene, Oregon > >> jdanielfarrar AT gmail.com > >> > >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> obol mailing list > >> obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > >> > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > From dpvroman at budget.net Mon Apr 13 12:53:10 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:53:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Migrants References: <001636458c868d11c8046772fa90@google.com> Message-ID: Perhaps someone has better information on Junco movement than I'm aware of, but it's likely that the majority of the birds wintering in the lowlands move up-slope to nest. Some birds hang around and nest at the lower edge of the foothills and even in the valley if the habitat conditions are right for them. They are ground nesters. It appears that Junco populations along the coast will move north/south with the seasons, perhaps more so than inland birds. Again, maybe someone has better info. Dennis This is interesting to me because we have juncos year round. More in the winter, but still a flock of 15 to 20 through the summer.We live in NW Polk county on the edge of the coast range, in open farm land, mixed in with small doug fir/oak/brush woodlands. Do junco just go up into the hills in the summer? Or do they actually move north? I haven't paid close enough attention to determine if we have the same junco in the winter as in the summer. What makes them shift location? Yrs, Barbara On Apr 13, 2009 9:07am, "Dennis P. Vroman" wrote: > The majority of Juncos left our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit) > > about a week and a half ago. Down to a pair or two, which will likely nest > > nearby for we generally have a nesting pair through the summer. Still have > > a few GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, but the majority have left also. > > > > Dennis (north of Grants Pass > > > > I always wonder when the LAST of something disappears, which we record very > > poorly. Wintering yellow-rumps disappeared from my lowland Eugene yard > > shortly after the first of April. I am down to one junco, seen April 11 but > > not yet on April 12. Wintering bushtit flock was still loosely attached > > around April 1 but seems to have broken up and spread out. > > > > -- > > Alan Contreras > > EUGENE, OREGON > > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090413/a1296f7e/attachment.html From birdmandon at clearwire.net Mon Apr 13 13:04:59 2009 From: birdmandon at clearwire.net (Don Schrouder) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:04:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] TUFTED DUCK/LANE COUNTY Message-ID: The TUFTED DUCK was relocated this morning at the platform out Royal Ave. west of Eugene. Also of interest was a flock of GREATER WHITE- FRONTED GEESE, 7 WHITE PELICANS, REDHEAD, and CINNAMON TEAL. A PURPLE MARTIN was also heard by Noah Strycker. Don Schrouder & Sylvia Maulding birdmandon at clearwire.net From larmcqueen at msn.com Mon Apr 13 13:23:30 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:23:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Almost an Ammodramus sparrow, but not quite In-Reply-To: <1239571283.3629.38.camel@localhost.localdomain> References: <1239571283.3629.38.camel@localhost.localdomain> Message-ID: Joel, Some 10 yrs ago I had a Chinese Button Quail in a field just south west of Eugene. It was calling off-and-on all day. I hope its call was never answered. Larry -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Joel Geier Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2009 2:21 PM To: Oregon Birders OnLine Subject: [obol] Almost an Ammodramus sparrow, but not quite Hello folks, A half hour ago I was outside and saw a short-tailed, sparrow-sized bird with a strongly patterned, dark-brown back make a sort, fluttery flight to land in the grass. I had my binoculars handy, and quickly got on the bird as it hunkered down in the grass. Luckily I'd just mowed that patch so it couldn't hide very well. As soon as I saw the strongly patterned head, I know it was no sparrow. What I saw caused me to look instead at our aviary, to see that the wind had blown the door open after apparently it was not properly latched. The bird was a male CHINESE BUTTONQUAIL, and most certainly an escapee. We were able to recapture it and return it to the aviary in short order. The female quail was still in the aviary. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.11.54/2056 - Release Date: 04/13/09 05:51:00 From tom-escue at comcast.net Mon Apr 13 13:36:04 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:36:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] white-crowned sparrow Message-ID: <7D1B5FBE27C644EFB05A4DEF6158EF31@TomsPC> I have a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and PURPLE-FINCH in the backyard today. There are also a couple of JUNCOS still around. Tom Escue Central Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090413/a03bc961/attachment.html From lbviman at blackfoot.net Mon Apr 13 13:49:28 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:49:28 -0600 Subject: [obol] "Kentish Plover"... in California In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090413204616.E1A049B0083@mail.blackfoot.net> Attached is photo of a "Western Snowy Plover" my daughter and I made, which was found by Mark Holmgren at Coal Oil Point Reserve [UC Santa Barbara] a decade ago. This is about as bright a crown as any "North American Kentish Plover" we're likely to see! - Jim Greaves -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: SnPl_AP1998a.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 41413 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090413/b728f7ae/attachment.jpg From deweysage at verizon.net Mon Apr 13 14:24:39 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:24:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] "Kentish Plover"... in California In-Reply-To: <20090413204616.E1A049B0083@mail.blackfoot.net> References: <20090413204616.E1A049B0083@mail.blackfoot.net> Message-ID: <49E3AD97.2010207@verizon.net> Jim, nice photo of an adult male Snowy. I'm not trying to be bossy, but please be careful sending photos over OBOL, some folks still have slow connections and, well, we all know that story! Concerning the crown of the plover, this is a pretty bright one, but we've seen some males even brighter than this! For about a month or two, some males actually have a beautiful rufous cap, and some males even have it completely outlined in black. It's lovely to see. Amazingly, Coal Oil Point actually has nesting plovers again, mostly due to the diligence of Cris Sandoval who is the caretaker down there. She's done a great job and there is a great story of the hard work those folks have put in to get the plovers nesting there again. Cheers Dave Lauten Jim Greaves wrote: > Attached is photo of a "Western Snowy Plover" my daughter and I made, > which was found by Mark Holmgren at Coal Oil Point Reserve [UC Santa > Barbara] a decade ago. This is about as bright a crown as any "North > American Kentish Plover" we're likely to see! - Jim Greaves > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From birdboy at bkpix.com Mon Apr 13 14:36:41 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:36:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge 4/13 Message-ID: Obol, Visible from the Royal Avenue platform this morning: 1 - TUFTED DUCK 1 - PURPLE MARTIN 70 - WHITE-FRONTED GEESE 7 - AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS 3 - YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS 1 - BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 3 - BALD EAGLES And, from the platform in the south Fisher Unit: 1 - EURASIAN WIGEON 4 - BLACK-NECKED STILTS 17 - GREATER YELLOWLEGS 1 - LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 3 - DUNLIN And, at the Cantrell Road bridge: 1 - BLACK PHOEBE Good birding, Noah Strycker -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090413/1e96ba8d/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Mon Apr 13 15:55:13 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:55:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] more PURPLE FINCH Message-ID: I now have a male and female PURPLE-FINCh in my backyard. A first. Tom Escue Central Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090413/946e4b67/attachment.html From lbviman at blackfoot.net Mon Apr 13 16:01:42 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:01:42 -0600 Subject: [obol] "Kentish Plover"... in California In-Reply-To: <49E3AD97.2010207@verizon.net> References: <20090413204616.E1A049B0083@mail.blackfoot.net> <49E3AD97.2010207@verizon.net> Message-ID: <20090413225829.CDF589B0057@mail.blackfoot.net> Hi Dave -- no problem; I wouldn't normally send ANY photos via OBOL except I thought this smaller file would be okay given that some might not know even what a bright SNPL resembles. I lived in Santa Barbara for 30 years and met Cristina long ago -- she helped us set up safety barrier for the nest my wife found on SB Sandspit in 2005, the first nest in the Harbor area in 70 or so years. We since that 1998 rufous-crowned SNPL seen a few as bright/brighter, all at COPR. Here's link to our "tale" of my wife's [Lark's] venture; she spent the evening or part of EVERY day for 70 straight days monitoring "her" nest - found while she was working for the City in Harbor Master's office - needless to say, she got some raised eye-brows, since the nest was placed there following huge floods and depositions of detritus the City wanted to remove along with their normal dredging which had to be put on hold! The most important thing we "found" was that, in undisturbed, or in this case isolated nesting, the male will actually shelter young for at least 37 days after leaving the nest, which prior to that was "unheard of" or at least the litany was that up to 2 weeks was all... Thanks for the caution -- Jim -- Enjoy: http://blackfoot.net/~larkwick/SantaBarbaraCityHarbor_3.html [what took us to the harbor initially was the "little" whimbrel we found a couple of weeks earlier http://blackfoot.net/~larkwick/SantaBarbaraCityHarbor_2.html while hoping to see Red Knot or some other rarity!] At 03:24 PM 4/13/2009, DJ Lauten and KACastelein wrote: >Jim, nice photo of an adult male Snowy. I'm not trying to be >bossy, but please be careful sending photos over OBOL, some folks >still have slow connections and, well, we all know that story! > >Concerning the crown of the plover, this is a pretty bright one, but >we've seen some males even brighter than this! For about a month or >two, some males actually have a beautiful rufous cap, and some males >even have it completely outlined in black. It's lovely to see. > >Amazingly, Coal Oil Point actually has nesting plovers again, mostly >due to the diligence of Cris Sandoval who is the caretaker down there. >She's done a great job and there is a great story of the hard work >those folks have put in to get the plovers nesting there again. > >Cheers >Dave Lauten From shroyers at att.net Mon Apr 13 16:13:10 2009 From: shroyers at att.net (Loris Joline Shroyer) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:13:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] South Jetty, Yaquina Bay, Newport OR In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20E59B4E-8977-4DD0-8F41-B74CFDAD2130@att.net> Just want to share my delight with you. Saturday, Apr 11, from the Yaquina Bay south jetty I scanned Common Loons, Red-Breasted Mergansers, Pelagic Cormorants, Surf Scoters, Buffleheads, Greater Scaup, etc. (usual denizens), as well as the recently arrived and lovely Western Grebes. A line of 4 W Grebes was swimming seaward followed at slight distance but in the same line by a 5th bird, smaller, shorter-necked, and slightly chunkier. The scope revealed a Red-Necked Grebe, a perfect match with Sibley. Nice. Proceeding inland up the bay, we spied a pair of Horned Grebes in full courting plumage. - Joline Shroyer, east of Canby (1st White-Crowned Sparrow at Canby feeder last week) * * * On Apr 13, 2009, at 12:00 PM, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: > From fitzbeew at gmail.com Mon Apr 13 16:46:29 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:46:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] University area migrants Message-ID: Obol, While walking home from the bus stop this afternoon, (near UO campus) just before the rain set in, I ran into a flock of migrants. I had Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Black-capped Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, at least one if not two male TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, and a beautiful male BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER as well. I didn't think "pishing" worked very well with warblers, but when I pished, the Townsend's flew near me and alighted on a tree branch not four feet from my face; of course, I didn't have my camera handy. But then the Black-throated Gray approached, and I was able to snap a few shots of him here: http://picasaweb.google.com/fitzbeew/Birds#5324325087563997634 (this one is not the best; very backlit) http://picasaweb.google.com/fitzbeew/Birds#5324325513961679826 (I like this shot) Also had a Red-breasted Nuthatch pecking out a cavity in a tree on my way home, and at Lane by the sewage treatment ponds I heard a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT singing, and was graced with the presence of TREE, VIOLET-GREEN, and BARN SWALLOWS as well. Good birding, Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090413/2543c2a0/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Apr 13 16:53:25 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:53:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] A rodent issue Message-ID: "SPOKANE, Wash. ? Spokane is having a problem with too many ground squirrels at the Finch Arboretum. So the Parks and Recreation department is going to use a special machine to detonate some of the 100 to 150 rodents that are tearing up the grounds. The machine is called the Rodenator Pro. It pumps propane and oxygen into the tunnels of squirrels, then sends an electric spark that causes an explosion. The shock waves kill the squirrels and collapse their tunnels. The parks department says the Rodenator is a humane way to kill the squirrels. But it warns area residents that the explosions sound like gun shots, and to not be alarmed by them all week." Seems to me that they could call Rent-a-Weasel and accomplish the same thing. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com "There are moral limits to the responsibility that can be assigned to the mentally ill for their actions." - Alvaro de Campos http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From drheath82 at verizon.net Mon Apr 13 17:10:48 2009 From: drheath82 at verizon.net (Mr David Heath) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:10:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] A rodent issue In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <004e01c9bc95$77e90a40$67bb1ec0$@net> Are you sure this wasn't posted about 12 days late? David -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Alan Contreras Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 4:53 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] A rodent issue "SPOKANE, Wash. < Spokane is having a problem with too many ground squirrels at the Finch Arboretum. So the Parks and Recreation department is going to use a special machine to detonate some of the 100 to 150 rodents that are tearing up the grounds. The machine is called the Rodenator Pro. It pumps propane and oxygen into the tunnels of squirrels, then sends an electric spark that causes an explosion. The shock waves kill the squirrels and collapse their tunnels. The parks department says the Rodenator is a humane way to kill the squirrels. But it warns area residents that the explosions sound like gun shots, and to not be alarmed by them all week." Seems to me that they could call Rent-a-Weasel and accomplish the same thing. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com "There are moral limits to the responsibility that can be assigned to the mentally ill for their actions." - Alvaro de Campos http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ - Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ - Bird Photos & News _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From tc at empnet.com Mon Apr 13 18:06:21 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:06:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] A rodent issue In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4E0B1BCF538740969772395B6D2CE9CA@102889> There was an article in today's Bend Bulletin about a woman (Tuck Contreras -- any relation?) in the Dalles who started a business making nest boxes for Barn Owls, and has orders for 150 of them in an attempt to eliminate the gopher problem in that area. Personally, I would have hired Carl Spackler (the Bill Murray character in Caddyshack) to deal with it. ~Tom -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Alan Contreras Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 3:53 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] A rodent issue "SPOKANE, Wash. < Spokane is having a problem with too many ground squirrels at the Finch Arboretum. So the Parks and Recreation department is going to use a special machine to detonate some of the 100 to 150 rodents that are tearing up the grounds. The machine is called the Rodenator Pro. It pumps propane and oxygen into the tunnels of squirrels, then sends an electric spark that causes an explosion. The shock waves kill the squirrels and collapse their tunnels. The parks department says the Rodenator is a humane way to kill the squirrels. But it warns area residents that the explosions sound like gun shots, and to not be alarmed by them all week." Seems to me that they could call Rent-a-Weasel and accomplish the same thing. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com "There are moral limits to the responsibility that can be assigned to the mentally ill for their actions." - Alvaro de Campos http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ - Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ - Bird Photos & News _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From phils at rio.com Mon Apr 13 17:18:48 2009 From: phils at rio.com (Phil and Christina) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:18:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] A rodent issue In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Maybe they need to get Wallace and Grommit to get rid of them. :) Phil Shepard Elmira, OR -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org]On Behalf Of Alan Contreras Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 4:53 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] A rodent issue "SPOKANE, Wash. ? Spokane is having a problem with too many ground squirrels at the Finch Arboretum. So the Parks and Recreation department is going to use a special machine to detonate some of the 100 to 150 rodents that are tearing up the grounds. The machine is called the Rodenator Pro. It pumps propane and oxygen into the tunnels of squirrels, then sends an electric spark that causes an explosion. The shock waves kill the squirrels and collapse their tunnels. The parks department says the Rodenator is a humane way to kill the squirrels. But it warns area residents that the explosions sound like gun shots, and to not be alarmed by them all week." Seems to me that they could call Rent-a-Weasel and accomplish the same thing. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com "There are moral limits to the responsibility that can be assigned to the mentally ill for their actions." - Alvaro de Campos http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From masohlstrom at msn.com Mon Apr 13 17:30:22 2009 From: masohlstrom at msn.com (M A SOHLSTROM) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:30:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cliff Swallows - Basket Slough Message-ID: Hello all - Suffering from shortened hours at work I decided to traipse off to Tillamook for the day. Not much was happening in the windy and showery conditions except a few Caspian Terns at Lake Meares. On the way home I detoured past Basket Slough and spent some time picking through the swallows flying just above the water in the stiff breeze. I had at least three Cliff Swallows as well as Barns, Tree and Violet Greens. I don't think I've seen Cliff Swallows mentioned yet this spring. And, for those who care....the "Lump Larids" bumper sticker seems to have given up. Guess I'll finally have to figure out how to get a few made for my faithful following! Cheers, Mary Anne Sohlstrom -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090413/6f4557f0/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Apr 13 18:28:04 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:28:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - 4/13/2009 Message-ID: <49E3E6A4.50803@pacifier.com> Columbia Estuary Report - 4/13/2009 There are now swarms of CASPIAN TERNS on Youngs Bay. BARN SWALLOWS have returned to Brownsmead in good numbers. A couple NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS were at Ziak's. No martins, yet. The neighborhood VIOLET-GREENS were checking out the nest box by Michelle's bedroom window on Friday. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER numbers are finally near expected for April, but they still don't seem to be singing as much as other years. COMMON YELLOWTHROATS in contrast are singing like crazy. Kathleen Sayce, who lives in Nahcotta on Willapa Bay reports an increase in shorebird numbers, including large numbers of DUNLIN and DOWITCHERS. I was obliged to make a run into Portland on family business Sunday. Nearly every piling along the river had an OSPREY on it... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From jvanmoo at sisna.com Mon Apr 13 18:32:40 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:32:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Klamtah Falls, 4-13-09 Message-ID: Hi Folks, I found the LONG-TAILED DUCK at Putnam Pt. about 3:10 PM--it was in front of the boat sheds across from the bench. There were 5 LONG- BILLED CURLEW and 1 IBIS about 2 miles from Hwy 97 on Township Rd, south side. White Lake, OR, side: lots (hundreds) of DUNLIN and 6 MARBLED GODWIT. Probably a thousand DUNLIN on the CA side. North of Merrill on Hill Rd (between Anderson and Taylor Rds) 120 LONG-BILLED CURLEW and 1 WHIMBREL in a field. Another 6-8 Curlew were spooked by a truck and flew off to the south before I started my count. Very windy and cold out there this afternoon. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From msgellerman at gmail.com Mon Apr 13 18:48:21 2009 From: msgellerman at gmail.com (Michael Gellerman) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:48:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island - Say's Phoebe Message-ID: <1d0c413a0904131848o38fbff23meaaccede86579e6a@mail.gmail.com> We took a walk around Wapato Loop late this afternoon and there was a Say's Phoebe. It was perched on top of a lone fir tree (about 20' tall) in the midst of the oak restoration (near all the bee hives). It is the first Say's Phoebe we have seen on Sauvie Island. We also had our first Barn Swallow of the year at Bethany Pond today but we are still waiting for our Cliff Swallows to arrive. Mike Gellerman Bethany Pond, Washington Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090413/4f0142d0/attachment.html From uskestrel at yahoo.com Mon Apr 13 19:16:07 2009 From: uskestrel at yahoo.com (Carol Ledford) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:16:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] [OBOL] "Kentish Plover"... in California Message-ID: <674032.32385.qm@web54203.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Jim, thanks for posting the on-line link to those photos of the plovers.? I read OBOL ONLY on birdingonthe.net, as I have way too many emails as it is.? So - if anyone sends photos to the general readership, I (and many others, I'm sure) miss out. BTW, what was that smaller "whimbrel" determined to be?? ? Carol Ledford Gresham, OR ? Subject: Re: "Kentish Plover"... in California From: Jim Greaves Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:01:42 -0600 *? *? * ? http://blackfoot.net/~larkwick/SantaBarbaraCityHarbor_3.html http://blackfoot.net/~larkwick/SantaBarbaraCityHarbor_2.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090413/4cc70386/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Mon Apr 13 19:18:01 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:18:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: RFI Snowy Plovers - In-Reply-To: <2b1bbd260904131021xe21962bod06a0b3cbdd5c577@mail.gmail.com> References: <1239587008.3619.6.camel@localhost.localdomain> <49E3552A.3080403@verizon.net> <2b1bbd260904131021xe21962bod06a0b3cbdd5c577@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <2b1bbd260904131918x4c373ed9t6ad8798433ec0c6@mail.gmail.com> All, According to *Shorebirds An Identification Guide* by Hayman, Marchant and Prater *nivosus* and *occidentalis* are the only two subspecies of *Charadrius alexandrinus *referred to as Snowy Plover (page 292 under the "races" section). They are paler, shorter legged, and mostly lack black in the lores that other *Charadrius alexandrinus* subspecies exhibit. The rest are referred to as Kentish Plovers. This information is based off of world taxonomy (specifically The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of Birds of the World), not AOU or ABA checklists. Since the AOU only covers birds found in the Americas (*nivosus* and * occidentalis*), it makes little sense to me to call birds which are not of these two subspecies Snowy. When outside the US it makes more sense to me to use world taxonomy. This is my opinion and certainly not the final word on nomenclature. The statement "some books refer to them as Kentish" is simply false. All books, aside from books covering only American birds, call them Kentish. I was simply pointing out the fact that our Snowy Plovers in North America are different than Asian Snowy Plovers. Not accusing anyone of misidentification, nor was I proposing the AOU/BOU should standardize names (though not a bad idea). I can certainly understand the use of the name Snowy Plover for the audience in Oregon, but I just felt it was a little misleading to mention Taiwan because birds in Asia look different than our birds here in Oregon that's all. Daniel On Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 8:07 AM, DJ Lauten and KACastelein < deweysage at verizon.net> wrote: > Yeah, I don't disagree, hence the reason I wrote: > > "However, I get Jeff's point that we are > talking in America and I understand his point in calling them Snowy > Plovers." > > After all, they are Snowy Plovers, even though they are Kentish > Plovers......... > > Dang English names are so confusing........ :-) > > > Cheers > Dave > > > Joel Geier wrote: > > Hi Dave & All, > > > > As I read what Jeff wrote below, I don't think he was indulging in > > Americentrism by using AOU nomenclature. He said since he was addressing > > an American audience, he thought it was appropriate to use the AOU > > terminology, whereas he would use British terminology if addressing a > > British audience. > > > > Duly noting Jeff's efforts to introduce British birding terms such as > > "dipped out" into the Oregon birding lexicon, I think we should give him > > the benefit of the doubt on this one. > > > > Happy birding, > > Joel > > > > Subject: Re: RFI Snowy Plovers - > > From: DJ Lauten and KACastelein > > Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:49:24 -0700 > > Um, a couple of minor points. > > > > One, Jeff, actually, your post was to OBOL, it came thru to everyone > > before Daniel responded, so Daniel isn't responsible for the posting of > > your post. You may have responded privately, or intended to, but the > > truth is is that it went to OBOL. > > > > With that said, there is some truth to what Jeff says, but there is some > > truth to what Daniel says. While the AOU, and maybe even other > > ornithological sources, committees, books, etc etc, currently list > > Charadrius alexandrinus as one species, there is some debate as to > > whether that is truly the case or not. Some folks believe there are at > > least two species involved, maybe even more than that. It is true on > > this side of the planet we call them Snowy Plovers, and on that side > > they call them Kentish Plovers. Neither is wrong. I'm not sure the name > > Snowy Plover applies to all subspecies of C. alexandrinus. I can't say I > > am 100% up and up on the BOU names, but I thought that their official > > name was Kentish Plover. Maybe I am wrong. Certainly this was the case > > at one point in time. To suggest that the AOU is the 'official' source > > of the name, is, well, American-centric. The AOU is not God, and > > therefore just because they call it Snowy Plover doesn't mean that the > > rest of the world agrees. However, I get Jeff's point that we are > > talking in America and I understand his point in calling them Snowy > > Plovers. On the other side of the coin, the birds you saw in Taiwan and > > Spain ARE Kentish Plovers. Call them Snowy if you want, but Kentish they > > are. So I don't think Daniel was wrong to suggest that you saw Kentish > > Plovers. That's what they were. > > > > It's semantics folks, no need to get upset about it. > > > > As far as standardizing the name, well, Jeff has a right to think that > > Kentish Plover would be absurd, but that's a subjective opinion (an > > American one at that!). Jeff has a right to think Snowy Plover is a > > better name, but there may be a million Brits who disagree for the same > > reason. Last time I checked, I don't think the BOU and the AOU agree, or > > standardize, English names, so any proposal to change the name would > > have no bearing on both organizations, nor to my knowledge is there any > > formal way someone can petition for a name change of the common name. > > You can however publish a paper with data to suggest they are or are not > > more than one species, and you would have the right to suggest a new > > scientific name. You can suggest a common name too, but whether that is > > accepted by all is another story. And finally, if the name Snowy Plover > > applies to all subspecies of C. alexandrinus in the Paleartic, what do > > you call the birds that aren't in the Paleartic - like the population in > > Peru? > > > > One thing is for certain, at the moment "officially" they all are C. > > alexandrinus. There is a reason we use Latin names, so we don't get > > confused about what we are talking about. The common name, is, well, > > confusing. And subjective. And apt to change. Maybe. Or Maybe Not. > > > > Cheers > > Dave Lauten > > > > Jeff Harding wrote: > > > >> Daniel et al, > >> > >> The name Snowy Plover refers to members of the species Charadrius > >> alexandrinus, wherever it is found for all subspecies. This is the > >> official promulgation of the AOU, and it is followed by the ABA and > >> the OFO. Unless you suggest I misidentified them, they most certainly > >> were Snowy Plovers I saw in Taiwan, as well as in Spain. If I were > >> writing to a British group, I may have considered referring to them as > >> Kentish, but in fact I was addressing my comments to Oregonians. Since > >> I was writing to Oregonians, it is correct to use the name adopted by > >> the AOU, and confusing to call them something else. The plovers we see > >> in Oregon are certainly not Kentish, whether our intent is to > >> distinguish the subspecies or not. We have not been a British colony > >> for some time, and we do not need to blindly > >> > >> If we were to try to standardize English names of species worldwide, > >> it would be absurd to call C. alexandrinus ?Kentish Plover?, since it > >> is vagrant in Kent, and common elsewhere. Snowy Plover is a better > >> name, since it is quite pale in winter plumage even where it is dark > >> in summer. If you object to using the name Snowy Plover for Paleartic > >> subspecies, perhaps you would care to submit a proposal to the BOU and > >> AOU to jointly change the name to something even better, such as > >> Alexander?s Plover? > >> > >> I know I replied privately, but I did not realize you published the > >> note on OBOL. In order to reduce confusion, I thought it would be well > >> to respond on OBOL. > >> > >> Good birding, > >> > >> Jeff > >> > >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >> > >> *From:* Daniel Farrar [mailto:jdanielfarrar AT gmail.com] > >> *Sent:* Saturday, April 11, 2009 5:41 PM > >> *To:* Jeff Harding; OBOL > >> *Subject:* Re: [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers - > >> > >> Jeff et al, > >> The name Snowy Plover refers only to the two subspecies of Kentish > >> Plover that occur in North and South America. The plovers that you saw > >> in Taiwan were Kentish, but not Snowies. The plovers you see in Oregon > >> are Kentish Plovers too, we just distinguish them as different > >> subspecies and so call them Snowy Plovers. > >> Good birding whatever continent you find yourself on! > >> > >> Daniel Farrar > >> > >> On Sat, Apr 11, 2009 at 9:35 AM, Jeff Harding > >> > >>> wrote: > >>> > >> I found Taiwan a lovely place to look at Snowy Plovers, and they > >> seemed to be present at almost every river mouth and estuary we > >> visited last month. We saw a few with red caps of their summer plumage > >> there. and some books refer to them as Kentish Plovers. Also present > >> were Little Ringed Plovers, lots of Common Greenshanks, and at Chigu, > >> with the Black-faced Spoonbills (not sandpipers) there was a Greater > >> Sand-plover. > >> > >> Spain?s Atlantic coast was good for ?Kentish? Plovers, too. > >> > >> Walking the Bayocean Spit at Tillamook in the winter is another good > >> spot, though you have to look very carefully, which is true generally > >> in Oregon. We found them there for the Tillamook CBC this year for the > >> first time in a few years, where we used to rely on seeing them. > >> > >> Good Birding, > >> > >> Jeff > >> > >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >> > >> *From:* obol-bounces AT oregonbirdwatch.org > >> > >> [mailto:obol-bounces AT oregonbirdwatch.org > >> ] *On Behalf Of *Carol Ledford > >> *Sent:* Thursday, April 09, 2009 7:11 AM > >> *To:* OBOL > >> *Subject:* [obol] RFI Snowy Plovers > >> > >> WHERE and WHEN could I see Snowy Plovers? I'm hoping someone on OBOL > >> can tell me about a good spot to find them without disturbing the > >> birds, and when is the best time to look. I know they nest somewhere > >> along the Oregon Coast, but it's a long coast. > >> > >> Thanks! > >> > >> Carol Ledford > >> Gresham, OR > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> obol mailing list > >> obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> -- > >> Daniel Farrar > >> Eugene, Oregon > >> jdanielfarrar AT gmail.com > >> > >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> obol mailing list > >> obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > >> > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Daniel Farrar Eugene, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -- Daniel Farrar Eugene, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090413/de27485d/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Mon Apr 13 19:21:52 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:21:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] BB Plover - Douglas Co Message-ID: <2b1bbd260904131921q64f8efedm586180c3fa1646f3@mail.gmail.com> Obol, I saw a nice breeding plumage BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER on the open beach in Douglas County today. We were south of the Dunes overlook by a few miles. Keep the shorebirds coming! -- Daniel Farrar Eugene, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090413/1c37d64a/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Apr 13 19:26:10 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:26:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose origins Message-ID: <1239675970.3627.193.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, First let me say that the Red-breasted Goose being seen is a stunning bird, acts wild, and is probably worth a look in any case. This may be the closest you will ever come to seeing an indisputably wild Red- breasted Goose, unless you are of sufficient means to travel on a birding expedition to central Siberia. However, having been Willamette basin field notes compiler for /Oregon Birds/ during the time when (presumably) this goose was first seen wandering our local grass fields, I feel that I should share what facts & hearsay I can remember. That year, a Red-breasted Goose was initially reported near McMinnville, then at several points successively farther south, over the period of a couple of weeks, until it wound up at Finley NWR and was associating with a flock of cacklers. Coincidentally, McMinnville is where an exotic-waterfowl breeder has had a flock of 20 or more unpinioned Red-breasted Geese. An acquaintance of that breeder (first name Chris, I forget his last name now) informed Portland birder Khanh Tran that the breeder had lost one of his Red- breasted Geese. Khanh reported this on the OBOL list-serv. One of the members of the Oregon Bird Records Committee took the step of contacting the breeder, and according to his report, the breeder denied having lost a goose. All vagrancy theories aside, we are basically left to choose between the report of the one person who said the breeder had lost a goose, and the reported denial by the breeder. As an aside, having raised exotic gamebirds in Minnesota in my youth, and having gotten to know a bit of that trade, I can think of several reasons why a breeder might deny having lost even a valuable bird. It doesn't look good, and it can bring unwanted attention from the people who regulate this trade. I cannot think of any obvious motive for someone falsely reporting that a breeder had lost a goose. Of course we have no way of knowing all of the personal circumstances, but at least outwardly this makes no sense to me. I have heard some dog-in-the-manger theories based on experiences elsewhere but can't see how those hold water in this case. It is far easier for me to imagine why a breeder might want to avoid scrutiny of his pens. Since that time, one Red-breasted Goose has been reported each year in the Willamette Valley. Not two, not three, not zero, but always one bird that keeps showing up at Finley. If there were a natural vagrancy pattern, why no variability in the number seen per season? Personally I cannot see any reason to assume that this is anything other than a captive Red-breasted Goose that escaped, gradually built up its wing muscles after captivity, joined up with a flock of cacklers, and began to migrate with them. I am curious how this bird spends its summers -- could it be paired with one of the cacklers? That might be something interesting to watch. If you are not too worried about whether or not the goose is "countable," this could be a fascinating study in how a (presumed) once-captive goose takes up association with a distantly related species. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From SJJag at comcast.net Mon Apr 13 20:42:50 2009 From: SJJag at comcast.net (SJJag at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:42:50 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Migrants/Junco In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <1665740817.1192201239680570054.JavaMail.root@sz0081a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> We had this thread a couple of years or so ago and the general feeling was as Dennis suggests, they move upslope or at least out of the urban areas. Nesting?birds are found on both Mt. Hood C.C. campus in Gresham and Ray Korpi reports them at the Clark C.C. campus. I have seen nests on Mt Tabor and near Corbet. The Corbet nest was on the ground but the Mt. Tabor nest was in a low bush, Rhodie I think. I saw my last one around my place about a week ago. Happy Spring, Steve Jaggers Milwaukie, Or. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dennis P. Vroman" To: "barbara millikan" , "Alan Contreras" , "obol" Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 12:53:10 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: Re: [obol] Migrants Perhaps someone has better information on Junco movement than I'm aware of, but it's likely that the majority of the birds wintering in the lowlands move up-slope to nest.? Some birds hang around and nest at the lower edge of the foothills and even in the valley if the habitat conditions are right for them.? They are ground nesters. It appears that Junco populations along the coast will move north/south with the seasons, perhaps more so than inland birds.? Again, maybe someone has better info. Dennis This is interesting to me because we have juncos year round. More in the winter, but still a flock of 15 to 20 through the summer.We live in NW Polk county on the edge of the coast range, in open farm land, mixed in with small doug fir/oak/brush woodlands. Do junco just go up into the hills in the summer? Or do they actually move north? I haven't paid close enough attention to determine if we have the same junco in the winter as in the summer. What makes them shift location? Yrs, Barbara On Apr 13, 2009 9:07am, "Dennis P. Vroman" wrote: > The majority of Juncos left our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit) > > about a week and a half ago. ?Down to a pair or two, which will likely nest > > nearby for we generally have a nesting pair through the summer. ?Still have > > a few GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, but the majority have left also. > > > > Dennis (north of Grants Pass > > > > I always wonder when the LAST of something disappears, which we record very > > poorly. ?Wintering yellow-rumps disappeared from my lowland Eugene yard > > shortly after the first of April. ?I am down to one junco, seen April 11 but > > not yet on April 12. ?Wintering bushtit flock was still loosely attached > > around April 1 but seems to have broken up and spread out. > > > > -- > > Alan Contreras > > EUGENE, OREGON > > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090414/b7c94077/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Apr 13 20:48:38 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:48:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Juncos nesting Message-ID: Several pairs of juncos nest on the University of Oregon campus on the valley floor in Eugene every year. They seem to use almost exclusively sites with large evergreens and low shrub cover. I never find breeding birds except where both are present, and not in all locations. I have not seen them at Washburn Wayside on the Lane-Benton line, which looks like a likely place. I suspect that the ground cover there is TOO heavy and overgrown. Juncos like to have some open spaces. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com "There are moral limits to the responsibility that can be assigned to the mentally ill for their actions." - Alvaro de Campos http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From jeffgill at teleport.com Mon Apr 13 20:51:43 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:51:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose origins In-Reply-To: <1239675970.3627.193.camel@localhost.localdomain> Message-ID: Hello all: The source who purportedly lost the Red-breasted Goose, but denied that he had lost one, is entirely credible. There is more to this than I care to post on OBOL or Mid Valley Birds, but that I will eventually discuss with the OBRC if that is a matter of significance to the committee in regard to considering this record. Jeff Gilligan On 4/13/09 7:26 PM, "Joel Geier" wrote: > Hello folks, > > First let me say that the Red-breasted Goose being seen is a stunning > bird, acts wild, and is probably worth a look in any case. This may be > the closest you will ever come to seeing an indisputably wild Red- > breasted Goose, unless you are of sufficient means to travel on a > birding expedition to central Siberia. > > However, having been Willamette basin field notes compiler for /Oregon > Birds/ during the time when (presumably) this goose was first seen > wandering our local grass fields, I feel that I should share what facts > & hearsay I can remember. > > That year, a Red-breasted Goose was initially reported near McMinnville, > then at several points successively farther south, over the period of a > couple of weeks, until it wound up at Finley NWR and was associating > with a flock of cacklers. > > Coincidentally, McMinnville is where an exotic-waterfowl breeder has had > a flock of 20 or more unpinioned Red-breasted Geese. An acquaintance of > that breeder (first name Chris, I forget his last name now) informed > Portland birder Khanh Tran that the breeder had lost one of his Red- > breasted Geese. Khanh reported this on the OBOL list-serv. > > One of the members of the Oregon Bird Records Committee took the step of > contacting the breeder, and according to his report, the breeder denied > having lost a goose. > > All vagrancy theories aside, we are basically left to choose between the > report of the one person who said the breeder had lost a goose, and the > reported denial by the breeder. > > As an aside, having raised exotic gamebirds in Minnesota in my youth, > and having gotten to know a bit of that trade, I can think of several > reasons why a breeder might deny having lost even a valuable bird. It > doesn't look good, and it can bring unwanted attention from the people > who regulate this trade. > > I cannot think of any obvious motive for someone falsely reporting that > a breeder had lost a goose. Of course we have no way of knowing all of > the personal circumstances, but at least outwardly this makes no sense > to me. I have heard some dog-in-the-manger theories based on experiences > elsewhere but can't see how those hold water in this case. It is far > easier for me to imagine why a breeder might want to avoid scrutiny of > his pens. > > Since that time, one Red-breasted Goose has been reported each year in > the Willamette Valley. Not two, not three, not zero, but always one bird > that keeps showing up at Finley. If there were a natural vagrancy > pattern, why no variability in the number seen per season? > > Personally I cannot see any reason to assume that this is anything other > than a captive Red-breasted Goose that escaped, gradually built up its > wing muscles after captivity, joined up with a flock of cacklers, and > began to migrate with them. > > I am curious how this bird spends its summers -- could it be paired with > one of the cacklers? That might be something interesting to watch. If > you are not too worried about whether or not the goose is "countable," > this could be a fascinating study in how a (presumed) once-captive goose > takes up association with a distantly related species. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dennis at dennisgalloway.com Mon Apr 13 21:52:59 2009 From: dennis at dennisgalloway.com (Dennis Galloway) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:52:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] rodent problem Message-ID: <50258.24.20.202.78.1239684779.squirrel@webmail3.pair.com> Alan Contreras' suggestion to call in "Rent-a-Weasel" is commendable but what do we do then with all the fat weasels? From craig at greatskua.com Mon Apr 13 22:32:18 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:32:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Migrants/Junco Message-ID: <20090413223218.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.46270f6528.wbe@email.secureserver.net> The flock of eight to ten juncos that visited my feeders throughout the winter left about two weeks ago. There is still a pair in the area, and they continue to visit the feeder daily. The male sings from the trees in my yard and neighboring yards. Last spring a pair of juncos built a nest on the ground among the dense drifts of Scilla growing in one of the flowerbeds. My house is at an elevation of about 290 feet in SW Portland. When that nest was destroyed the juncos moved to a different yard, and juncos didn't return to the feeders until the weather turned chilly in the fall. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: Re: [obol] Migrants/Junco > From: SJJag at comcast.net > Date: Mon, April 13, 2009 8:42 pm > To: "Dennis P. Vroman" > Cc: obol > > > We had this thread a couple of years or so ago and the general feeling was as Dennis suggests, they move upslope or at least out of the urban areas. > > > > Nesting birds are found on both Mt. Hood C.C. campus in Gresham and Ray Korpi reports them at the Clark C.C. campus. I have seen nests on Mt Tabor and near Corbet. > > > > The Corbet nest was on the ground but the Mt. Tabor nest was in a low bush, Rhodie I think. > > > I saw my last one around my place about a week ago. > > > > > > Happy Spring, > > > > Steve Jaggers > > Milwaukie, Or. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Dennis P. Vroman" > To: "barbara millikan" , "Alan Contreras" , "obol" > Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 12:53:10 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific > Subject: Re: [obol] Migrants > > > Perhaps someone has better information on Junco movement than I'm aware of, but it's likely that the majority of the birds wintering in the lowlands move up-slope to nest. Some birds hang around and nest at the lower edge of the foothills and even in the valley if the habitat conditions are right for them. They are ground nesters. > > It appears that Junco populations along the coast will move north/south with the seasons, perhaps more so than inland birds. Again, maybe someone has better info. > > Dennis > > > > This is interesting to me because we have juncos year round. More in the winter, but still a flock of 15 to 20 through the summer.We live in NW Polk county on the edge of the coast range, in open farm land, mixed in with small doug fir/oak/brush woodlands. Do junco just go up into the hills in the summer? Or do they actually move north? I haven't paid close enough attention to determine if we have the same junco in the winter as in the summer. What makes them shift location? > Yrs, > Barbara > > On Apr 13, 2009 9:07am, "Dennis P. Vroman" wrote: > > The majority of Juncos left our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit) > > > > about a week and a half ago. Down to a pair or two, which will likely nest > > > > nearby for we generally have a nesting pair through the summer. Still have > > > > a few GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, but the majority have left also. > > > > > > > > Dennis (north of Grants Pass > > > > > > > > I always wonder when the LAST of something disappears, which we record very > > > > poorly. Wintering yellow-rumps disappeared from my lowland Eugene yard > > > > shortly after the first of April. I am down to one junco, seen April 11 but > > > > not yet on April 12. Wintering bushtit flock was still loosely attached > > > > around April 1 but seems to have broken up and spread out. > > > > > > > > -- > > > > Alan Contreras > > > > EUGENE, OREGON > > > > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > obol mailing list > > > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol
_______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Apr 14 06:44:46 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:44:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose origins In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1239716686.3616.30.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, Sticking just to the facts that are generally known about this goose, and can be freely discussed on the birding lists, we are left with the following: In the first year in the string of recent years in which a single Red- breasted Goose has been seen, the goose was first seen (in late winter?) near McMinnville, then near Baskett Slough, then near Lewisburg (north of Corvallis), and ultimately at Finley NWR. The goose took about two weeks to travel this rather short distance (as memory serves me; the dates are in the OBOL and MidValley list archives if anyone cares to add some precision to this discussion; I have additional notes that I will hunt through after dealing with taxes etc.). After arriving at Finley, the Red-breasted Goose was seen there with some regularity for the rest of the winter, until around the time when cackler flocks began to depart. Reports were generally of the goose being seen on the ground, rather than flying with flocks. In subsequent years, so far as I'm aware the goose has been reported only around Finley. This year we hear that the goose flies well with the wild flock that it has taken up with. This pattern fits with the premise of an initially unattached, weakly flying goose goose finally hooking up with a flock that stayed in one wintering area, so that it could stick with the flock while it built up flight strength. If the goose migrated in as a wild bird, one expects that it would have arrived with and wintered with the same flock in that first year, rather than drifting around. If one hopes to resolve this question through scientific means rather than argumentation that relies on subjective impressions of personal character, then the best avenue might be to compare this bird's initial trajectory with late-winter goose flock movements in the Willamette Valley. Hard data from tracking of radio-collared geese around the valley would seem to be the place to start. "Soft" evidence based on observations of other distinctive geese that show up with valley flocks (Brants, Snow Geese, Ross's Geese etc.) could also be considered -- do these birds tend to move progressively south through the valley in late winter, or do they generally stay in the same areas? Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Apr 14 07:50:36 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 07:50:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose Message-ID: <3f574c53fedd46542eb88ff4205ffc9d@earthlink.net> The sightings are far more widespread through time and space than Joel's summary. I believe it was first spotted on a CBC- the Dallas one perhaps? I saw it three months later after reading a posting that it was with Cacklers on Coville Rd west of the water and parking spaces at BSNWR. This was the spring of the Corvallis Caracara and Monmouth Brambling. It was probably April by then. Someone subsequently saw it along Bruce Road WLFNWR the same April. The following winter it was seen near Dayton. Or A R-B goose was seen. It is pure assumption to say it was the same bird. I think one was seen near Dayton the next winter as well. One was reported at Fernhill Lake, Forest Grove (Washington Co) in October of 2008. This coincided with the arrival of 10,000 or more Cacklers. They typically spend a month or so in the neighborhood before continuing south. I don't know who reported the bird at Fernhill but at least two weeks later(post Sharp-tail Sandpiper) it was photographed there by a British birder who e-mailed me a photo after he returned to the UK. He was unaware of my own interest or the history of the bird(s). Later still, probably in November, I saw a Red-breasted Goose fly low over the Fernhill Parking lot one afternoon in a small flock of WESTERN Canada Geese. Its previous association with Cacklers and appearance with them in October had encouraged me to speculate that it was going north with them and returning each fall. Westerns are for the most part non-migratory in Washington County. Seeing a Red-breast with them raised at least the possibility that it spent the summer here. I was amazed how it blended in with the flock when seen flying away. Once it was west of Fernhill Rd and I saw only the back it was indistinguishable from the much bigger Westerns. I am willing to consider multiple birds, some escapees, some fully wild. Jeff has pointed out that a Red-breasted Goose was purchased at a market in San Francisco in the 1880s, long before many if any exotic waterfowl breeders were established on the Pacific Coast. Lars Norgren From dpvroman at budget.net Tue Apr 14 08:02:33 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:02:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] JoCo Varied Thrush Message-ID: <5F6AAE4AD8914D7D8FFD95BADCAF9491@Warbler> Two unusual events this morning (04-14-09) at our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit) - SNOW and a VARIED THRUSH! Is the latest ever Varied Thrush at our place...but, can't blame it for not heading into the mountains. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090414/68df18c2/attachment.html From jorrie at peak.org Tue Apr 14 08:04:57 2009 From: jorrie at peak.org (Jorrie & Ken) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:04:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] California Quail eating English Daisies Message-ID: <2AC947AD-637F-464C-BDD2-A18A68D76F8D@peak.org> On April 3, when the California Quail came into our BWH, I took this short video of him eating English Daisies: http://www.birdsamore.com/videos/quail-california-daisy.htm . Sure wish there had been a group of quails and not just one. Jorrie & Ken Waldport, OR From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Tue Apr 14 08:44:00 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:44:00 +0000 Subject: [obol] Red breasted Goose re-visited Message-ID: Hi Obolers: Thanks to Joel for his insightful post and accurate recollection of the information originally posted in July 2007. His extensive knowledge, posts, and nice writing style always contribute GREATLY to this cerebral forum. To clarify my statements and my OPINION regarding this matter, here are the series of emails that were posted on Obol in 2007 (SEE BELOW). First and foremost, I have no ill-will intentions of making this up. Heck, I wish I could count the darn thing, too. I have no scientific evidence to back up whether the bird is a escapee or not. To this date, Chris Chulos was never contacted by a OBRC member after I provided his phone number. Steve's number is unlisted unless you subscribe to whitepages.com. Based on a recent phone conversation with Chris, Steve was not contacted either about 'his' missing goose or geese. I have 20 years of experience keeping many species of exotic birds and waterfowl and agree with several points that Joel recently commented. I am quite knowledgable and versed with the exotic bird trade and to what is currently being imported in the US within the last 20 years. Over the years, I have learned quite a bit about the husbandry and 'secret' of the trade. I often find many breeders willing to share their knowledge and information depending on how you approach them. Perhaps, something can be postively gained here between records committee members and exotic waterfowl keepers/ breeders. This may help answer a few questions about vagrancy for Baikal teals, garganeys, and falcated ducks species that are kept in captivity. According to Chris, Baikal Teals are easy to keep in aviaries and are reasonably priced. There are several breeders/keepers of these birds in OR, ID, WA and BC. If one approaches these keepers with an interrogation, I would imagine some would not cooperate or reveal certain information. Red breasted geese command a high price so some keepers don't like to attract attention to their valuable collection. Each pair can cost up to 1500.00. You can seek information or a directory of various waterfowl, phesant, grouse and quail breeders by viewing or subscribing to such magazines as Gazette and APWS (American Pheasant Waterfowl Society.) This represents only a small portion of those who keep these birds within our area. Back to my taxes:(!!! Good luck, Khanh Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 23:27:56 -0700> Subject: Re: [obol] Red breasted goose> From: jeffgill at teleport.com> To: khanhbatran at hotmail.com; obol at lists.oregonstate.edu>> Hi Khanh:>> That someone says he knows for sure, but won't name the people who lost the geese, is not evidence. I am not saying it isn't true, but I don't know that. I would be pleased to talk with Mr. Chulos. There was a person who just hung out near the site of the Baikal Teal in Washington two years ago to greet people and tell them that the teal had escaped locally. There was no proof of that ever. I have no idea why someone would be so motivated. Jeff Gilligan. POSTED On 7/19/07 11:16 PM********************************* "khanh tran" wrote:>>> Hi Obolers I just wanted to add a few more points regarding the McMinnville red breasted goose that was seen around January of 2006. I am not confirming the status of the wild or captive bird. However, after re-telephoning my friend, Chris Chulos, who is an avid gamebird keeper, he helped confirm the following information tonight: First, there were several red breasted (birds, that is) escapees from December 2005- January 2006. Most keepers do not admit what they lose when confronted with this interrogation. He knows for sure, without naming any names, at least three, captive red breasted geese escaped from the following areas: a) Oregon City b) McMinnville c) Near the Salem area Secondly, the manner or technique in which one opins or clips the gamebird's wings maybe inadequate, thus allowing the birds to gain full flight or enough freedom to escape. The tendons can strengthen with time if the bird was not properly clipped. Also, I would logically think that these fanatic keepers who tend to have large captive collections, can easily miscount their eggs or in this case, number of geese. Thus, inventory control becomes much tougher to monitor. With what I have here, my OPINION is the bird is a captive raised one. I would have been more convincing if the bird was hanging around the coast with some wild brants. I am glad I am not on the OBRC to make these tough calls :) Thanks,>>>> Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon)>>>>>> _______________________________________________ POSTED: 1/12/2006************************************* obol] Red Breasted Goose-Possible escapeekhanh tran khanhbatran at hotmail.com Thu Jan 12 11:41:46 PST 2006 Ne -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi Obolers, I hate to cast a shadow of doubt on the recent excitement and sighting of the possible wild red breasted goose.Today, I spoke and questioned a close friend of mine in Oregon City (who keeps exotic waterfowl and etc.) about the authenticity of the wild bird. He informed me that there are several breeders who keep these geese near the McMinnville area. One breeder by the name of Steve Langer did lose one bird recently and currently has a flock of 30 or so birds.Chris also stated that it would be more plausible if the bird was sighted near the coast with some wild brants. I could be wrong considering that I was duped about the Northern Hawk Owl during the April Fool's stint last year.Nevertheless, what a beautiful bird!!! Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From pamelaj at spiritone.com Tue Apr 14 08:45:03 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:45:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] rodent problem References: <50258.24.20.202.78.1239684779.squirrel@webmail3.pair.com> Message-ID: <8D10E28FA5614CADA024342508BA0F06@yourw5st28y9a3> They don't stay fat for long. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dennis Galloway" To: Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 9:52 PM Subject: [obol] rodent problem Alan Contreras' suggestion to call in "Rent-a-Weasel" is commendable but what do we do then with all the fat weasels? _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Tue Apr 14 08:55:36 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:55:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose origins Message-ID: <105821.30719.qm@web30402.mail.mud.yahoo.com> ? On 4/13/09 7:26 PM, "Joel Geier" wrote: > All vagrancy theories aside, we are basically left to choose between the > report of the one person who said the breeder had lost a goose, and the > reported denial by the breeder. I respectfully dissent from this assertion.? The reported double-hearsay and subsequent denial have no bearing at all on the wildness of the Red-breasted Goose in question.? Absent any facts proving the contrary, the Finley Red-breasted Goose should be presumed to be wild. Given the overall ratio of captive to wild birds on the planet, the odds of any particular bird being an escapee from captivity are extremely minute. Any bird observed in the wild should be presumed to be wild, unless there are specific facts to indicate otherwise. All speculations aside, we are left to favor the near mathematical certainty that any bird observed in the wild is a wild bird. Maitreya ?Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.? Jonathan Livingston Seagull -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090414/f7338ada/attachment.html From schrouderknits at clearwire.net Mon Apr 13 11:18:23 2009 From: schrouderknits at clearwire.net (Joan Schrouder) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:18:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] TUFTED DUCK/Lane County Message-ID: <81F72B86-7190-47DA-BA3F-6F10F40EB6AF@CLEARWIRE.NET> The TUFTED DUCK was relocated this morning at the platform out Royal Ave. west of Eugene. Also of interest was a flock of GREATER WHITE- FRONTED GEESE, 7 WHITE PELICANS, REDHEAD, and CINNAMON TEAL. A PURPLE MARTIN was also heard by Noah Strycker. Don Schrouder & Sylvia Maulding birdmandon at clearwire.net From mmarvin at spiritone.com Tue Apr 14 09:24:12 2009 From: mmarvin at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:24:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] White-crowned Sparrow, SW Portland Message-ID: <35037161-A43C-4781-B290-4B903908AE69@spiritone.com> Under the bird feeder I just caught sight of my yard's first W-C Sparrow of the spring. The G-C Sparrow is so annoyed he can't eat and spends all his time chasing it off. Spring is here! Marcia -- Marcia Marvin * mmarvin at spiritone.com * SW Portland, OR, USA From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Apr 14 09:32:30 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:32:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sequence of Red-breasted Goose reports from 2006 Message-ID: <1239726750.3616.107.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, Well, I didn't really have time for this but here is the sequence of reports that show up in either the OBOL or MidValley list archives from 2006 when the goose in question (or a goose if one doubts that the one (s) seen in subsequent years is/are the same one): 2006 Jan 03: One reported on ground near McMinnville, Yamhill Co. (Molly Monroe) 2006 Jan 06: One reported on ground near Dayton, Yamhill Co. (Linda Fink et al.) 2006 Jan 12: Khanh Tran relays report from an acquaintance who raises exotic waterfowl that there are several breeders keeping this species near McMinnville, and one named Steve Langer has recently lost one of his ~30 R-b Geese. 2006 Apr 04: One reported on ground at Baskett Slough, Polk Co. (Jay Withgott) 2006 Apr 05: One reported on ground at Baskett Slough, Polk Co. (Lars Norgren) 2006 Apr 09: One reported on ground near Lewisburg, Benton Co. (Deb Davis) 2006 Apr 12-22: Various reports of single goose around McFadden Marsh area of Finley NWR, Benton Co. Lars is correct that this was the same year that the Brambling was found in Monmouth. It also appears that the bird moved much more slowly from the McMinnville/Dayton area to Baskett Slough than I recalled -- or at least it was not detected there for a while. Lars' mention of other sightings are news to me. A text search on "breasted goose" (independent of case) on OBOL & MidValley archives that I have on my home computer (through spring of 2007) turned up no other sightings except a discussion of the goose raised by Jeff Gilligan in March 2007 (where was it being seen?). There is one interesting note from Gerard Lillie on 14 Feb 2004, regarding the Falcated Duck. This mentions that a Mr. Jeffrey Brown in Applegate, Oregon had reported losing a Red-breasted Goose and thought it could explain some earlier sightings in the Willamette Valley. Thanks to Marilyn's post regarding Fuzzy-Bird's recent birthday, we are reminded that geese can live for over 13 years, though presumably a wild/feral goose faces more threats to its longevity than a pet goose. Regrettably there is a gap in Willamette Basin field notes for the subsequent winters, until Mark Nikas kindly bailed me out of that task as I was falling hopelessly behind. Erik Knight's compilations for the Portland Metro area: http://www.oregonbirds.org/FieldNotes/FieldNotesMetroArea.html do not seem to show this bird being reported from Fernhill or elsewhere. but perhaps a more thorough search is needed. I do not have the digests from 2008 or later at hand for an easy text search. The National Audubon CBC database does not show Red-breasted Goose as having been recorded on the Dallas CBC, in any winter from 2000-01 through 2007-08. Normally CBC compilers do not try to make judgements about origin for this type of bird, but perhaps the regional compiler will recall if a report was excised on grounds of questionable origin. I do recall that one Red-breasted Goose was seen in that area around 1999 or 2000; perhaps that is the one that Lars was thinking of. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From celata at pacifier.com Tue Apr 14 09:49:43 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:49:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] This morning on Coxcomb Hill - 4/14/2009 Message-ID: <49E4BEA7.6080000@pacifier.com> Date: April 14, 2009 Location: Coxcomb Hill, Clatsop County, Oregon I took a morning walk up Coxcomb Hill on a cool, but sunny morning. There are lots of RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, most of them taking advantage of the peak bloom of SALMONBERRY. I saw what was probably a female CALLIOPE Hummingbird near the pull out at the bottom of the meadow. A small, silent green thing with a square looking tail and no noticeable spotting on the throat. Also seen this morning was a single CHIPPING SPARROW feeding on the ground with OREGON JUNCOS in one of the yard leading up the road to Coxcomb. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Anna's Hummingbird 2 Calliope Hummingbird 1 [1] Rufous Hummingbird 22 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 2 Steller's Jay 3 Western Scrub-Jay 1 American Crow 4 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 8 Bewick's Wren 1 Winter Wren 6 Golden-crowned Kinglet 14 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Hermit Thrush 1 American Robin 18 Varied Thrush 2 European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler 5 Chipping Sparrow 1 [2] Fox Sparrow 5 Song Sparrow 4 White-crowned Sparrow 3 Golden-crowned Sparrow 4 Dark-eyed Junco 6 Purple Finch 1 Red Crossbill 10 Pine Siskin 2 House Sparrow 2 Footnotes: [1] probably this species; small green female with square tail and no discernible markings on throat. [2] with juncos feeding on the ground Total number of species seen: 32 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Apr 14 09:53:29 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:53:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] As to the survival ability of escaped birds Message-ID: <1239728009.3616.124.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, Anytime the words "mathematical certainty" are attached to a statistical proposition I have to cringe, but let me just mention one example: A certain Silver Seabright rooster (domesticated junglefowl) escaped into the wilds of Brownsville at the hands of two people I know very well, around 2004 or thereabouts. I helped hunt for the bird in briar patches for several hours, but eventually gave up due. A resident of the town kept me informed as to the bird's status, as it continued to be heard crowing around the town and was sighted for at least two or three years, despite the healthy raccoon population. It continued to roost in the wild but took advantage of anthropogenic food sources. I heard it myself on a subsequent visit to Brownsville, during which a fellow birder pointed out a free-flying canary. Then there are those Monk Parakeets, peafowl, etc. .... One is certainly free to presume that a bird is wild until proven otherwise, but some of us feel equally free to start from what we feel is an intellectually honest presumption. Happy birding, Joel From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Apr 14 09:58:28 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:58:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] The odds, ctd. Message-ID: <1239728308.3616.128.camel@localhost.localdomain> P.S. I fully agree with this statement by Maitreya: "Given the overall ratio of captive to wild birds on the planet, the odds of any particular bird being an escapee from captivity are extremely minute. " The odds of any particular goose in Oregon being a Red-breasted Goose are also extremely minute. I do suspect a positive statistical correlation among these two types of very-low-probability events. Cheers, Joel From nelsoncheek at charter.net Tue Apr 14 10:14:55 2009 From: nelsoncheek at charter.net (WALTER NELSON) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:14:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared-Dove - South Beach Message-ID: A single EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE visited our feeder this morning. There have been several recent reports from the Newport area. We had one visit for several days in early May 2006; haven't seen one here since then. ______________________ Rebecca Cheek South Beach, OR 97366 nelsoncheek AT charter.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090414/2a9fdf8f/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Apr 14 10:18:05 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:18:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose origins In-Reply-To: <105821.30719.qm@web30402.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <105821.30719.qm@web30402.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <49E4C54D.1070100@verizon.net> "Given the overall ratio of captive to wild birds on the planet, the odds of any particular bird being an escapee from captivity are extremely minute." Well, that's not exactly true. Take for instance the Greater Sulpher-crested Cockatoo we saw in Benson-Rio Grande State Park in Texas. The odds the bird was an escapee are far greater than the odds the bird was wild. Or the Northern Bobwhite we saw in Bandon. Or the Monk Parakeets in Portland. The facts are that the chances these birds are wild are basically nil, and the chance they are, or were, escapees is really high. We can throw statistics around all day and night long. Just because the ratio of captive birds to wild birds on the planet is small, that does not, in any manner, have any relationship to whether a bird has a higher chance of being an escapee or not. We can go on and on with examples. Take another extreme one. A Bar-necked Goose shows up in Oregon. The chances that that bird is wild are infinitely small compared to the chances that the bird is an escapee. Cheers Dave Lauten From tc at empnet.com Tue Apr 14 10:16:11 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:16:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose origins In-Reply-To: <105821.30719.qm@web30402.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <105821.30719.qm@web30402.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <6D132688D8A743A49246ACC073825919@102889> Maitreya wrote: "I respectfully dissent from this assertion. The reported double-hearsay and subsequent denial have no bearing at all on the wildness of the Red-breasted Goose in question. Absent any facts proving the contrary, the Finley Red-breasted Goose should be presumed to be wild. "Given the overall ratio of captive to wild birds on the planet, the odds of any particular bird being an escapee from captivity are extremely minute. "Any bird observed in the wild should be presumed to be wild, unless there are specific facts to indicate otherwise. "All speculations aside, we are left to favor the near mathematical certainty that any bird observed in the wild is a wild bird." Maitreya Presumption of wildness? Where does that come from? Should that apply to the Mandarin Ducks in Bend, too? Red-breasted Goose is an endangered species world-wide, with a maximum population of about 30,000 - a decline of more than 50% in the last 10 years. Their main wintering area is on the Black Sea - far from our coast. Does anyone have access to the Birds of North America series? What do they say about the status of Red-breasted Goose in North America? Has the ABA accepted any records south of Alaska? The following discussion of the Irish Rare Birds Committee relegating it to the "origin questionable" category may be of interest to Oregon birders: Tom Crabtree Bend An adult Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis was present on the North Slob, Wexford from 26th October 1997 to16th March 1998 representing, potentially, the first record of this species in the wild in Ireland. Assessment of the identification posed no difficulty with photographs and descriptions clearly showing that it was an adult Red-breasted Goose, but, from the outset, there was much speculation as to the likelihood of it being accepted into Category A of the Irish list. Claims of vagrant wildfowl, particularly geese, are notoriously difficult to assess given the difficulty in determining whether a bird is a genuine wild vagrant or of captive origin. This difficulty was well illustrated, for example, with the appearance of a Hooded Merganser Mergus cucullatus in Kerry in 1996/97. This bird occurred at the 'right' time of year in the 'right' part of the country but which ultimately proved to be colour-ringed in a manner untypical of North American ringing techniques, casting serious doubts on its origin. In the course of assessing the Red-breasted Goose record, various European Rarities Committees were contacted. Information was requested relating to: 1. Details of extralimital records in Europe during the winters of 1997/98, 1998/99 and 1999/2000. 2. The criteria used to determine the most likely origin of birds recorded outside their normal range. 3. The pattern of occurrence of those birds deemed to be vagrants. Helpful replies were obtained from the British (Colin Bradshaw), Belgian (Peter Adriaens, Gunter de Smet) and Danish Rarities Committees (Kasper Thorup). The general rule on the continent of Europe tends to be that a Red-breasted Goose occurring in a flock of wild geese (nearly all of which come from Russia) is assumed to be of wild origin, while those appearing out of this context (lone individuals, unseasonal birds or those at odd localities) are assumed to be of dubious origin. In Belgium, the arrival of Red-breasted Goose normally coincides with the first frost, typically at the end of December, but sometimes as early as the beginning of November. Genuine October records are very rare. Records outside the period 29th October to 7th March are treated with extreme caution. The longest stayers usually have left by the end of February. Unlike in the Netherlands, where they often turn up with Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis, in Belgium they are invariably found among Russian White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons albifrons (undoubtedly due to lack of Barnacle Geese). Birds arriving/staying on their own are almost invariably treated as escapes. In Denmark, the most typical pattern of occurrence is of birds (sometimes family groups) in flocks of Barnacle Geese. Migrating birds are seen in April and September/October in east Denmark and birds arrive in October to winter with Barnacle Geese in the Wadden Sea, (the coastal section between Den Helder, Netherlands and Esbjerg, Denmark) leaving this area from March to mid-May. From 1999 onwards, Red-breasted Goose is no longer considered by the Danish Rarities Committee. More often than not, vagrant geese seem to arrive as a result of having become attached to a flock of other geese (usually congeneric) with which they overlap in their breeding ranges or on their migration routes. In the case of Red-breasted Goose, likely carrier species are Dark-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla bernicla, Russian White-fronted Goose and the Novaya Zemyla population of Barnacle Goose. However, Pale bellied Brent Goose B. b. hrota, Greenland White-fronted Goose A. a. flavirostris and the Greenland population of Barnacle Goose, the main taxa of wild geese recorded in Ireland, are not likely to meet genuine Red-breasted Geese on migration. According to Scott and Rose (1996) there is normally no exchange between any geese wintering in Ireland and geese wintering on the continent. In this respect it would be surprising that a solitary Red-breasted Goose would cross the gap between the different wintering populations. Considering that very few nominate albifrons reach Ireland, in spite of the huge wintering population elsewhere in Europe, it would be much more unlikely for a Red-breasted Goose to do so. In addition, a limited amount of information on the captive status of Red-breasted Goose in Ireland was obtained. The species is relatively widespread and numerous in captivity in the UK and in mainland Europe. There are several collections of exotic wildfowl throughout Ireland and there is a considerable number and variety of species imported as well as bred in captivity (Neil Stronach, Director, Fota Wildlife Park, pers comm.). In Wexford alone, two birds were known to be present in a collection close to The Cull, some 25 kilometres from the North Slob. These birds were unringed and unpinioned and indeed one went missing from the collection in 1998. While this individual clearly was not the same as that on the North Slob, it is a dramatic illustration of the escape potential of this species in Ireland. Other Red-breasted Geese are known to be in private collections in Co. Kilkenny (along with many other species, including American Wigeon Anas americana, Baikal Teal Anas formosa, Garganey Anas querquedula and Ross's Goose Anser rossii ) and in Co. Cork. Even more damning is the fact that Red-breasted Goose has been offered for sale in Ireland through Buy and Sell Magazine. Interestingly, the BBRC has recently (Brit. Birds 95: 263) decided to examine the patterns of occurrence and provenance of wildfowl in Britain in detail, starting with the geese, in an effort to aid discrimination between escaped and vagrant individuals. The application of very rigorous criteria in assessments such as this is probably open to debate. Furthermore, against the evidence suggesting a captive origin, it is noted that 1997 was a record year in Sweden and Germany for Red-breasted Goose. The possibility of the North Slob individual crossing over from a flock of European/Russian Barnacles to a flock of Greenland White-fronted Geese in Scotland cannot be discounted, but, without any firm circumstantial evidence for this, it is very difficult to factor such an event into the equation. In conclusion, with very small numbers of potential carrier species of Russian/Baltic origin arriving in Ireland each year, combined with the early arrival and late departure dates, the likelihood of this individual being of wild origin is considered doubtful. On that basis, a decision has been taken to accept it into Category D of the Irish List. Decisions such as this are not easily taken by the IRBC. Research on this specific claim has been actively ongoing over the past four years and the correspondence on the file runs to many pages. While there is pressure from the birding community to accept this record as a Category A addition to the Irish List, it should be reiterated once again that the role of the IRBC is to maintain the Irish List and for a first Irish record, we believe that a bird should have stronger, water-tight credentials (empasis added). However, it is the sole prerogative of individual birdwatchers as to whether or not to include them on personal lists. _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Leith McKenzie Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 7:56 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Red-breasted Goose origins On 4/13/09 7:26 PM, "Joel Geier" wrote: > All vagrancy theories aside, we are basically left to choose between the > report of the one person who said the breeder had lost a goose, and the > reported denial by the breeder. I respectfully dissent from this assertion. The reported double-hearsay and subsequent denial have no bearing at all on the wildness of the Red-breasted Goose in question. Absent any facts proving the contrary, the Finley Red-breasted Goose should be presumed to be wild. Given the overall ratio of captive to wild birds on the planet, the odds of any particular bird being an escapee from captivity are extremely minute. Any bird observed in the wild should be presumed to be wild, unless there are specific facts to indicate otherwise. All speculations aside, we are left to favor the near mathematical certainty that any bird observed in the wild is a wild bird. Maitreya "Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom." Jonathan Livingston Seagull -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090414/56665c7c/attachment.html From dhogaza at pacifier.com Tue Apr 14 10:37:53 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:37:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose origins In-Reply-To: <49E4C54D.1070100@verizon.net> References: <105821.30719.qm@web30402.mail.mud.yahoo.com> <49E4C54D.1070100@verizon.net> Message-ID: <10C2C8C4-D4C9-4BC9-BD36-8CD9FC9904BC@pacifier.com> On Apr 14, 2009, at 10:18 AM, DJ Lauten and KACastelein wrote: > > "Given the overall ratio of captive to wild birds on the planet, the > odds of any particular bird being an escapee from captivity are > extremely minute." The proper probability calculation is the number of wild red-breasted geese typically seen in the area relative to the number of captive birds known to be in the area. The first term is "0", the second " > 0" ... ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From pamelaj at spiritone.com Tue Apr 14 11:00:35 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:00:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] As to the survival ability of escaped birds References: <1239728009.3616.124.camel@localhost.localdomain> Message-ID: <2287892FD7B04750BA677AF0BA13AD42@yourw5st28y9a3> I can't help wondering if anyone considered counting my Cockatiel during the 48 hours he was at large in Mt Tabor Pk. His Australian origins are undeniably remote. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joel Geier" To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 9:53 AM Subject: [obol] As to the survival ability of escaped birds Hello folks, Anytime the words "mathematical certainty" are attached to a statistical proposition I have to cringe, but let me just mention one example: A certain Silver Seabright rooster (domesticated junglefowl) escaped into the wilds of Brownsville at the hands of two people I know very well, around 2004 or thereabouts. I helped hunt for the bird in briar patches for several hours, but eventually gave up due. A resident of the town kept me informed as to the bird's status, as it continued to be heard crowing around the town and was sighted for at least two or three years, despite the healthy raccoon population. It continued to roost in the wild but took advantage of anthropogenic food sources. I heard it myself on a subsequent visit to Brownsville, during which a fellow birder pointed out a free-flying canary. Then there are those Monk Parakeets, peafowl, etc. .... One is certainly free to presume that a bird is wild until proven otherwise, but some of us feel equally free to start from what we feel is an intellectually honest presumption. Happy birding, Joel _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jeffgill at teleport.com Tue Apr 14 10:42:32 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:42:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red breasted Goose re-visited In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Hello all: The first explanation for the Red-breasted Goose was that it had been lost by the breeder near McMinnville. I am convinced that isn't the case. Why would he have confided that information to someone (Mr. Chulos) and deny it to Mike Rodegerdts, who he has known for a long time.? Why deny it at all? I also understand that the McMinnville collector bands his birds. That said, that the bird didn't come from the domestic group at McMinnville doesn't indicate that it didn't come from another captive group. Is Mr. Chulos now saying his collection is the source? If not, I don't know of any particular reason to talk with him. I also don't have time for a while to post a complete summary of the reasons I think that it could be from a wild source. I will in a few weeks though. I also want to make inquiry on a national site as to how many Red-breasted Geese are found elsewhere in the country where true vagrants are less likely to occur. In regard to the species occurring as vagrants with Brant: That is the species with which they are usually found in The Netherlands and Britain. Many of the Brant of western Europe originate in central Siberia near the nesting areas of Red-breasted Geese. Only occasionally do we get Brant from Siberia mixed in with our "Black" Brant. (I photographed one last week at Willapa Bay.) There is no particular reason why a Red-breasted Goose would arrive here with Brant. The two species don't have much in common in regard to normal wintering habitat - at least the habitat preferred by Brant in Oregon. I am not sure, but I think Brant in The Netherlands often feed in grassy areas near the ocean. (Almost unrelated to this subject, but fun, is that a new book regarding the birds of NE Asia lists records of Western Meadowlark and Purple martin from Wrangle Island, Siberia - wow, birds can go far off course.) All the best. Jeff Gilligan On 4/14/09 8:44 AM, "khanh tran" wrote: > > Hi Obolers: > > Thanks to Joel for his insightful post and accurate recollection of the > information originally posted in July 2007. His extensive knowledge, posts, > and nice writing style always contribute GREATLY to this cerebral forum. > > To clarify my statements and my OPINION regarding this matter, here are the > series of emails that were posted on Obol in 2007 (SEE BELOW). > > First and foremost, I have no ill-will intentions of making this up. Heck, I > wish I could count the darn thing, too. I have no scientific evidence to back > up whether the bird is a escapee or not. > > To this date, Chris Chulos was never contacted by a OBRC member after I > provided his phone number. Steve's number is unlisted unless you subscribe to > whitepages.com. Based on a recent phone conversation with Chris, Steve was not > contacted either about 'his' missing goose or geese. > > I have 20 years of experience keeping many species of exotic birds and > waterfowl and agree with several points that Joel recently commented. I am > quite knowledgable and versed with the exotic bird trade and to what is > currently being imported in the US within the last 20 years. > > Over the years, I have learned quite a bit about the husbandry and 'secret' of > the trade. I often find many breeders willing to share their knowledge and > information depending on how you approach them. Perhaps, something can be > postively gained here between records committee members and exotic waterfowl > keepers/ > breeders. This may help answer a few questions about vagrancy for Baikal > teals, garganeys, and falcated ducks species that are kept in captivity. > > According to Chris, Baikal Teals are easy to keep in aviaries and are > reasonably priced. There are several breeders/keepers of these birds in OR, > ID, WA and BC. If one approaches these keepers with an interrogation, I would > imagine some would not cooperate or reveal certain information. > > Red breasted geese command a high price so some keepers don't like to attract > attention to their valuable collection. Each pair can cost up to 1500.00. > > You can seek information or a directory of various waterfowl, phesant, grouse > and quail breeders by viewing or subscribing to such magazines as Gazette and > APWS (American Pheasant Waterfowl Society.) This represents only a small > portion of those who keep these birds within our area. > > Back to my taxes:(!!! > > Good luck, > > Khanh > > > > Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 23:27:56 -0700> > > Subject: Re: [obol] Red breasted goose> From: jeffgill at teleport.com> To: > khanhbatran at hotmail.com; obol at lists.oregonstate.edu>> > > Hi Khanh:>> > > That someone says he knows for sure, but won't name the people who lost the > geese, is not evidence. I am not saying it isn't true, but I don't know that. > I would be pleased to talk with Mr. Chulos. > > There was a person who just hung out near the site of the Baikal Teal in > Washington two years ago to greet people and tell them that the teal had > escaped locally. There was no proof of that ever. I have no idea why someone > would be so motivated. > > Jeff Gilligan. > > POSTED On 7/19/07 11:16 PM********************************* > > "khanh tran" wrote:>>> > > Hi Obolers > > I just wanted to add a few more points regarding the McMinnville red breasted > goose that was seen around January of 2006. I am not confirming the status of > the wild or captive bird. However, after re-telephoning my friend, Chris > Chulos, who is an avid gamebird keeper, he helped confirm the following > information tonight: > > First, there were several red breasted (birds, that is) escapees from December > 2005- January 2006. Most keepers do not admit what they lose when confronted > with this interrogation. He knows for sure, without naming any names, at least > three, captive red breasted geese escaped from the following areas: > > a) Oregon City > b) McMinnville > c) Near the Salem area > > Secondly, the manner or technique in which one opins or clips the gamebird's > wings maybe inadequate, thus allowing the birds to gain full flight or enough > freedom to escape. The tendons can strengthen with time if the bird was not > properly clipped. > > Also, I would logically think that these fanatic keepers who tend to have > large captive collections, can easily miscount their eggs or in this case, > number of geese. Thus, inventory control becomes much tougher to monitor. > > With what I have here, my OPINION is the bird is a captive raised one. I would > have been more convincing if the bird was hanging around the coast with some > wild brants. > > I am glad I am not on the OBRC to make these tough calls :) > > Thanks,>>>> Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon)>>>>>> > _______________________________________________ > > POSTED: 1/12/2006************************************* > > obol] Red Breasted Goose-Possible escapeekhanh tran khanhbatran at hotmail.com > Thu Jan 12 11:41:46 PST 2006 Ne > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > -- > > Hi Obolers, > > I hate to cast a shadow of doubt on the recent excitement and sighting of the > possible wild red breasted goose.Today, I spoke and questioned a close friend > of mine in Oregon City (who keeps exotic waterfowl and etc.) about the > authenticity of the wild bird. > > He informed me that there are several breeders who keep these geese near the > McMinnville area. One breeder by the name of Steve Langer did lose one bird > recently and currently has a flock of 30 or so birds.Chris also stated that it > would be more plausible if the bird was sighted near the coast with some wild > brants. > > I could be wrong considering that I was duped about the Northern Hawk Owl > during the April Fool's stint last year.Nevertheless, what a beautiful bird!!! > > Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From ahartell at uoregon.edu Tue Apr 14 12:00:01 2009 From: ahartell at uoregon.edu (Amy M. Hartell) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:00:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding Survey reminder & Thank You! Message-ID: <1239735601.794357.alphamail@mailapps1.uoregon.edu> Dear OBOL subscribers, Thank you for your response to the survey. It has been terrific! If you haven't completed the survey there are only two days left to complete the survey. Please consider taking the time if you have not already. It only takes 20-30 minutes and your responses are very important to my research. The survey will close at midnight on Wednesday APRIL 15, 2009. Following is the background information and links necessary to participate. Thank you all again for your time. Dear Birding Enthusiast, My name is Amy Hartell and I am a student in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Oregon. This survey is part of my unfunded Master?s Project about how to better design birding trails and tour routes for everyone including people with disabilities. My research needs your perceptions. I am interested in how people?s knowledge, skill, motivation and future expectations shape their birding experience. Data collected from this survey will be used to identify preferred birding experiences and how they may be provided for all kinds of birders and design for habitat conservation education. I am also seeking information on an important subgroup of birders, those with disabilities. The results of this survey will help me develop better design guidelines for locating and building birding trails and tours. Leaders of your birding organization(s) have agreed to give you the opportunity to participate in this survey either by emailing the survey for me to their membership or by providing access the survey through a birding listserve, electronic newsletter, or website. Completion and submission of the survey is voluntary. Completing and returning the questionnaire constitutes your consent to participate. The survey does not ask for any personally identifying information such as names, addresses, and phone numbers. If you do not wish to participate, simply discard the questionnaire. Responses will be completely anonymous; do not put your name anywhere on the survey. The survey is intended for anyone age 18 or older and considers themselves a birder. Completion of the survey will take 20-30 minutes. The survey may be taken through Survey Monkey (a secure online survey service) or by completing a writable pdf form and returning it as an attachment to ahartell at uoregon.edu. You can find the writable pdf on the Portland Audubon website: http://www.audubonportland.org/local-birding/survey You may keep this letter for your records. If you have any questions regarding the research, contact Robert Ribe (faculty advisor), department of Landscape Architecture, (541) 346-3648, 230 Lawrence Hall University of Oregon Eugene, OR 97403-5234. If you have any questions regarding your rights as a research subject, please contact the Office for Protection of Human Subjects at the University of Oregon, (541) 346-2510. This Office oversees the review of the research to protect your rights and is not involved with this study. LINK TO SURVEY THROUGH SURVEY MONKEY: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=cxlublFiM6992fty1mYbKg_3d_3d Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey to help with my studies. THE SURVEY CLOSES APRIL15, 2009. Sincerely, Amy Hartell ahartell at uoregon.edu 541-892-0680 From foglark at att.net Tue Apr 14 12:28:47 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:28:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] spring departure of wintering birds Message-ID: <314238.72781.qm@web80013.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> In recent OBOL posts, there has been discussion about where wintering Dark-eyed Juncos, Varied Thrushes, and similar species usually seen only in winter in the lowlands at many locations go when nesting season arrives. Some have suggested that juncos, to name one example, move upslope into the mountains to nest. While this is likely the case for many, it seems to me that it is a bit short-sighted. To inject a dissenting point of view, I suspect that a huge number of wintering juncos (I would imagine many tens of thousands) don't move upslope, but instead leave Oregon entirely, and may fly hundreds of miles, into Washington and way up into British Columbia. Conversely, it may be that many of the juncos that breed in the foothills and mountains of w. Oregon don't even winter in the state, but do so farther south. Perhaps Dennis Vroman or some other bander might chip in on this. The same could be true for Varied Thrush, whose breeding populations north of Oregon (based on range, and amount of habitat) are likely far greater than those within the state. Similarly, when we see birds such as Orange-crowned and Wilson's Warblers and Pacific-slope Flycatchers "arrive," it seems likely--if based merely on the immense populations of those species, and their vast ranges--that nearly ALL of the individuals we encounter are not going to breed locally, and perhaps most not even in Oregon; they could well be headed toward the more northerly part of their range. Many of the Orange-crowns seen in an April morning on Skinner Butte in Eugene could well be in Chehalis, Bremerton, or coastal B.C. a few days later. It's easy to think of these as "our" birds, about to settle in for the summer, but a look at the range maps for many will suggest that maybe that's not the case. The truth is not available, but I thought I'd suggest an alternate scenario. David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090414/d91b3dd8/attachment.html From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Tue Apr 14 13:01:27 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:01:27 -0400 Subject: [obol] migrant sparrow surge Message-ID: This morning in backyard, a surge in migrants: 18 GOLDEN-CROWNED and 4 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, the single LINCOLN'S, and heard one flock of SANDHILLS fly over. Still a VARIED THRUSH or two visiting ground feeding stations with all the sparrows (millet, chicken scratch). Lona Pierce, Warren, Columbia County _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Mobile1_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090414/89feac52/attachment.html From phainopepla at yahoo.com Tue Apr 14 13:43:59 2009 From: phainopepla at yahoo.com (Michael Dossett) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:43:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose origins Message-ID: <869652.3982.qm@web90503.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I don't have much of an opinion on the origins of this bird, but will add that it definately hasn't stayed near Finley since spring of 2006. Last winter I saw this bird at both Baskett Slough and Ankeny with flocks of Cackling Geese. I also seem to remember hearing or reading of reports from the Fernhill wetlands area. What I have seen and heard over the last few winters is several reports of this individual from around the valley with other geese, usually Cacklers. What I haven't seen or heard are ANY reports of this bird from a season when there are not Arctic Geese wintering in or moving around the Willamette Valley... I'll be curious to hear what Jeff's thoughts are on this bird when he gets the time to post about it to the list. I think the odds of it being an escapee are probably extraordinarily more likely and probably can never be fully ruled out. On the other hand what are the odds of a Demoiselle Crane from Asia migrating south, and then back north with Lesser Sandhills wintering in the western US? If one looks at a map of the breeding area of Red-breasted Goose in northern Siberia (http://www.unep-wcmc.org/climate/waterbirds/a13_red-breasted%20goose.jpg) it is very easy to imagine how an individual might get turned around 90 degrees and come down the west coast of North America. That such an individual might meet up with Snow Geese from Wrangell Island or Cackling Geese in the Arctic, or really ANY other Arctic Goose and then follow its new flock is not much of a stretch of the imagination. Proving it, however, is another matter entirely. Unfortunately I doubt the origins of this bird will ever be proven one way or another with anything stronger than speculation to back up the personal views of whichever party is making the argument. Michael Michael Dossett Corvallis, Oregon www.Mdossettphoto.com phainopepla at yahoo.com From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Tue Apr 14 13:51:18 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:51:18 +0000 Subject: [obol] Red breasted goose (re-visited) and dead. Message-ID: Jeff and Obolers! With all due respect, no crime has been committed here. I don't even know who Mike Rodegerdts is and don't even know how he got pulled into the original discussion. The original post only involved me initially talking to Chris, who is a good friend of mine and happens to be a waterfowl and pheasant breeder. Because I was excited about a possible 'wild' red breasted goose, I shared to him the news. Chris then mentions Steve Langer who lives in McMinville and may have possibility lost a goose or two. Whether it was a wild or domestic goose, related or unrelated to the one spotted in January, belonging to Steve or not, I don't know. It was coincidental that it happened before the original sighting. How can one prove with scientific evidence that it was indeed a wild one or domestic bird? Captive birds that are legband can be challenging to see if the bands are soiled and seen at a distance. I have raised many domestic birds and when I am pressed for time, do not closed or open band their legs. My friend Chris has never denied anything to you since he has never received a phone call from that day. I got Chris's permission to give you his phone number. He was cooperative and receptive in telling you what he knows about red breasted geese in captivity. Chris admits he did indeed lose one red breasted goose several months before the suspected wild bird was sighted. Personally, I want no more connection from this discussion and it seems like everytime I try to share my opinion or little knowledge, a few feathers are ruffed. I do my best to be civil as I am Buddahist. Honestly and personally, this is a waste of my time. I would rather exert my energy to finding and photography birds. Spring is in the air with so many birds and scenery to enjoy and look forward to. The NW is awesome!! All the BEST, Khanh Hello all: The first explanation for the Red-breasted Goose was that it had been lostby the breeder near McMinnville. I am convinced that isn't the case. Whywould he have confided that information to someone (Mr. Chulos) and deny itto Mike Rodegerdts, who he has known for a long time.? Why deny it at all?I also understand that the McMinnville collector bands his birds. Thatsaid, that the bird didn't come from the domestic group at McMinnvilledoesn't indicate that it didn't come from another captive group. Is Mr. Chulos now saying his collection is the source? If not, I don't knowof any particular reason to talk with him. I also don't have time for a while to post a complete summary of the reasonsI think that it could be from a wild source. I will in a few weeks though.I also want to make inquiry on a national site as to how many Red-breastedGeese are found elsewhere in the country where true vagrants are less likelyto occur. In regard to the species occurring as vagrants with Brant: That is thespecies with which they are usually found in The Netherlands and Britain.Many of the Brant of western Europe originate in central Siberia near thenesting areas of Red-breasted Geese. Only occasionally do we get Brant fromSiberia mixed in with our "Black" Brant. (I photographed one last week atWillapa Bay.) There is no particular reason why a Red-breasted Goose wouldarrive here with Brant. The two species don't have much in common in regardto normal wintering habitat - at least the habitat preferred by Brant inOregon. I am not sure, but I think Brant in The Netherlands often feed ingrassy areas near the ocean. (Almost unrelated to this subject, but fun, is that a new book regarding thebirds of NE Asia lists records of Western Meadowlark and Purple martin fromWrangle Island, Siberia - wow, birds can go far off course.) All the best. Jeff Gilligan From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Apr 14 14:11:13 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:11:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose ctd. Message-ID: <1239743473.3629.9.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, Thanks to Michael Dossett for providing more information about the Red- breasted Goose's whereabouts last year. I have to admit I stopped paying much attention once it was no longer my job to do so. Knowing that the goose was seen around other mid-valley refuges and Fernhill last year, rather than Finley, does muddy the picture, as there is less of a clear contrast with its movements in Spring 2006. However, if someone else can piece together a record of the goose's movements in 2007 and 2008, similar to what I provided for 2006, one could still make a comparison with what is expected for the Arctic goose flocks that it has been associating with. The 2006 record shows a clear progression southward in the valley from January through April, starting from McMinnville -- is that pattern seen in other years? How does the pattern seen compare with radio-tagged geese or collared geese from the types of geese that it has been associating with? If someone does the homework and answers these questions, maybe we can still get somewhere on the origins of this bird. Not me though ... I'm going back to taxes. Happy birding, Joel From e.restoration at comcast.net Tue Apr 14 14:12:32 2009 From: e.restoration at comcast.net (e.restoration at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:12:32 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Caspian Tern Message-ID: <805354154.1567631239743552858.JavaMail.root@sz0092a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Have my first ever (ten years) Caspian Tern here on the river in Milwaukie. I live on the river facing due south just off the Jefferson boatramp. Never know what you might see from my window on the river! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090414/3dab0323/attachment.html From mlvandyk at onlinemac.com Tue Apr 14 14:14:01 2009 From: mlvandyk at onlinemac.com (Marilyn van Dyk) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:14:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chipping Sparrows Message-ID: Late Saturday afternoon I discovered a small flock of Chipping Sparrows on Fox Ridge Rd. in northwest McMinnville. They've returned to this general area for at least the past 5 years during early to mid April. Marilyn van Dyk From dpvroman at budget.net Tue Apr 14 14:51:13 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:51:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] spring departure of wintering birds References: <314238.72781.qm@web80013.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1D4930DEC3924075BB419C8D0E034C07@Warbler> David makes some good points. Would like to discuss the Junco part of this a bit. More than a decade ago now, I requested a recovery report from the Bird Banding Lab for Dark-eyed Juncos either banded in Oregon and recaptured elsewhere or the other way around. There were a few such birds, but considering the number of Juncos banded in Oregon (likely right up there near the largest number banded for a passerine species) if there were a large number of birds moving north/south within or out of state there should have been more recoveries I would think. Large numbers of Juncos winter in the valleys, people feed them by the "tons" in the winter. One would think the recoveries for Juncos would be pretty darn high considering this. Such is the case for Purple Finches and other feed-visiting birds. I color banded a large number of wintering Juncos in and around the Grants Pass area for a few winter seasons and never had one reported being seen outside the city of Grants Pass. I know a bander living in Arcata (likely David know whom I'm referring to here) that has been color banding Sparrows (Juncos included) and know of one Junco color banded reported seen in Brookings, color banded near Arcata. Would bet I have banded 1000s of Juncos in Oregon and have only had one recovery (other than my own banded birds). A bird banded as a juvenile in the Coast Range Mtns west of Grants Pass that was recovered near Santa Cruz, CA. A pretty low recovery rate; have done much better with Purple Finches and some other north/south migratory species. Anyway, I wouldn't say Juncos don't migrant north/south with the seasons in and out of Oregon, but if so, there's not a lot of banding data to support it. My thoughts are that coastal populations (say those nesting within a few miles from the coast and east-side populations (east of Cascades) are more apt to be north/south migrants than the majority of west-side birds. Also, northern Oregon Juncos may migrant more that sw Oregon Juncos. They seem to be "slugs" in sw Oregon. Another example of a really abundant and commonly occurring species where we know little about it's seasonal movements. ...fingers tired, Dennis Subject: [obol] spring departure of wintering birds In recent OBOL posts, there has been discussion about where wintering Dark-eyed Juncos, Varied Thrushes, and similar species usually seen only in winter in the lowlands at many locations go when nesting season arrives. Some have suggested that juncos, to name one example, move upslope into the mountains to nest. While this is likely the case for many, it seems to me that it is a bit short-sighted. To inject a dissenting point of view, I suspect that a huge number of wintering juncos (I would imagine many tens of thousands) don't move upslope, but instead leave Oregon entirely, and may fly hundreds of miles, into Washington and way up into British Columbia. Conversely, it may be that many of the juncos that breed in the foothills and mountains of w. Oregon don't even winter in the state, but do so farther south. Perhaps Dennis Vroman or some other bander might chip in on this. The same could be true for Varied Thrush, whose breeding populations north of Oregon (based on range, and amount of habitat) are likely far greater than those within the state. Similarly, when we see birds such as Orange-crowned and Wilson's Warblers and Pacific-slope Flycatchers "arrive," it seems likely--if based merely on the immense populations of those species, and their vast ranges--that nearly ALL of the individuals we encounter are not going to breed locally, and perhaps most not even in Oregon; they could well be headed toward the more northerly part of their range. Many of the Orange-crowns seen in an April morning on Skinner Butte in Eugene could well be in Chehalis, Bremerton, or coastal B.C. a few days later. It's easy to think of these as "our" birds, about to settle in for the summer, but a look at the range maps for many will suggest that maybe that's not the case. The truth is not available, but I thought I'd suggest an alternate scenario. David Fix Arcata, California ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090414/fe492e2c/attachment.html From sylviam at clearwire.net Tue Apr 14 15:12:15 2009 From: sylviam at clearwire.net (Sylvia Maulding) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:12:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose Message-ID: <5f916ae60904141512s1902e54by4f1362b22734ae7e@mail.gmail.com> What about the Red-breasted Goose that was seen at both Finley NWR and Ankney NWR in Jan. 1998? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090414/e1066e64/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Tue Apr 14 16:50:56 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:50:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Florence area birds Message-ID: <515250.34558.qm@web37006.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, a 2nd winter GLAUCOUS GULL was along the Siuslaw River at the old docks along Rhododendron Drive in Florence today. 3 WHIMBRELS and one lone SANDERLING were the only shorebirds found during today's plover survey on Baker/Sutton beach north of Florence. Greetings from the sunny coast Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090414/142f0ded/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Tue Apr 14 16:51:59 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:51:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose -- from the vault Message-ID: At the risk of beating a dead goose, I took a look at my original posting from April 2006 (pasted in below), and I see that: (1) The Red-breasted Goose I reported was walking with a distinct limp, as if its leg or foot were injured. If no other RB Goose sightings involved an injured bird, that may suggest there have been multiple individuals involved in the Willamette Valley sightings. (2) My message also suggested that earlier reports had involved two individuals, not just one. I could have been in error in this recollection, but I thought I'd mention it. Finally, in the days after my sighting, I sought feedback from Rare Records Committee members from Washington, California, and British Columbia, as to how their committees and birding communities have handled sightings of this species, and I posted their responses on OBOL. I will reassemble these messages and re-post them to OBOL in a new message in just a moment.... Jay Withgott, Portland To: OBOL From: Jay Withgott Subject: Red-breasted Goose (!) at Baskett Slough Cc: Well, who would've thought that only an hour after seeing the Brambling, I would find a still RARER bird! Of course, I suppose it doesn't count if it is an escapee. And walks with a limp. At any rate, it was fun to find a single RED-BREASTED GOOSE (Branta ruficollis, from Eurasia, of 'Winged Migration' fame -- the gunky oil scene) at Baskett Slough NWR at 9:30 a.m. today. Weren't there reports of two of this species somewhere else in the Valley earlier this winter -- someplace in Yamhill Co., was it?? Well, now there is one, and it's at Baskett Slough, and it's limping along with the immense flocks of Cacklers and Canadas. When I saw it it was extremely far away with a flock on the far end of the fields north of Coville Road just to the west of where the slough crosses the road. Some plumage characters appeared to differ slightly from the illustrations in my European books, but it was far away and the field marks are unmistakable. If anyone (rare records committee, perhaps - ha ha) wants more details, I can provide. Also of note at Baskett Slough on my quick drive through: 1 drake EURASIAN WIGEON from the Rt 22 overlook 2 pairs of HORNED LARKS on Livermore Road, 1.3 miles south of Bethel Road 55 or so Am. PIPITS on Coville Road, & a few more on Livermore LESSER GOLDFINCHES at Smithfield & Livermore Jay W, Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090414/ddd57652/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Tue Apr 14 17:13:38 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:13:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose -- the view from other states Message-ID: Hi again OBOL -- As I mentioned in my other message just now, in April 2006 I sought feedback from members of the rare records committees of Washington, California, and British Columbia, as to how they and birders in their states have handled sightings of Red-breasted Goose. I posted these responses on OBOL at the time, but in the interest of helping to inform the present discussion, I am reposting these responses below. Following these three well-informed responses, if you're still reading, I've pasted in my own (less-well-informed) view on the situation that was sent to OBOL at the time, in reply to a post by Lars Norgren. My personal view continues to be that all RB Goose sightings should be publicly reported so that state records committees have data at their disposal with which to knowledgeably assess trends through the years. WASHINGTON (Steve Mlodinow, 6 April 2006) -- Reasons for dismissing RB Geese as possible wild provenance 1) they are not numerous (about 90,000 and dropping). Compare this with .5 million Barnacle Geese (and climbing), a million Bean Geese, etc. 2) they are abundant in wildfowl collections. admittedly, if a RBGoose took a 180 degree wrong turn in the fall, it would make landfall somewhere around s. British Columbia. Anything is possible. But if you look at how few there are in the wild and how many in captivity, then the odds stink. Plus, I haven't seen anything resembling a vagrancy pattern (like Pink-footed Geese -- world pop around 350,000 and climbing) in the east; or even Barnacle Geese. Even trying to account for dismissiveness of those seen inland, there is definitely a proponderance of Barnacle Geese on the eastern seaboard. In reverse, one sees the same with Emperor Geese. They are fairly common in collections, yet they are annual on the west coast but just a few have been seen east of BC/WA/OR/CA. CALIFORNIA (Kimball Garrett, 7 April 2006) -- No California Red-breasted Goose has been assessed by the California Bird Records Committee. We have a specimen here at LACM taken by a hunter near Lancaster, Los Angeles Co. in November 1963. There have been several other sight records, including a couple of well-watched birds at the south end of the Salton Sea during winter 1968-9. The "Introduced Birds Subcommittee" of the CBRC is not dealing with Red-breasted Goose, since (clearly) there are no known or suspected breeding populations in the state. The status of Red-breasted Goose in CA is best summarized by McCaskie et al. in California Birds 1:23 (1970) in the inaugural "official" California state bird list publication. Six records are listed, including the Salton Sea and Lancaster ones above. The authors dismiss any reasonable chance of natural vagrancy in this species. Nobody in CA since McCaskie et al. (1970) has ever considered Red-breasted Goose to be a remotely likely candidate for vagrancy to the state, and thus no records have been officially reviewed by the CBRC. I'm not sure I agree with this treatment, considering that Demoiselle Crane was accepted to the state's "Supplemental List", meaning that there was some feeling among CBRC members that natural vagrancy was possible or even likely. I would think on biogeographical grounds the two might be about equally likely. Balancing this is the known abundance of Red-breasted Geese in captivity. In summary, it looks like another case of "keep an open mind, but vote 'natural occurrence not established'". BRITISH COLUMBIA (Wayne Weber, 10 April 2006) -- >Jay, Lars and Oregon Birders, > >Assessing the likelihood that an exotic waterfowl species is >an escape from captivity, as opposed to a vagrant that arrived under >its own power, is difficult and uncertain. As you said, Jay, it's >"a matter of trying to judge statistical chance". > >Jay, I thought your response to Lars's perfectly reasonable question about >Red-breasted Geese was very thoughtful and well-worded. I've also read the >comments from Steve Mlodinow and Kimball Garrett that you just forwarded >to OBOL. > >Depending on the species-- its normal range, abundance in the wild, >frequency in captivity, and migratory tendencies-- the likelihood of >an exotic waterfowl in the Pacific NW being a wild vagrant may vary >from nearly zero (Chiloe Wigeon, Bar-headed Goose) to nearly 100% >(Eurasian Wigeon, Tufted Duck). However, it is hard to judge. About 30 >years ago, Wayne Campbell and I published an article summarizing Tufted >Duck records in BC, and tried to make a case that the vast majority of >these were wild vagrants. Soon after, we received a letter from Chandler >Robbins, saying that even if that were true on the West Coast, he >believed that more than half of Tufted Duck records in the East were >escapees. So it's difficult to generalize. > >In the case of Red-breasted Goose, I would put it in the "nearly zero" >chance of being a wild vagrant. As has been pointed out, it is relatively >rare >in the wild, and its normal range is far from either the west or east >coast of North America. However, it is an attractive and highly-valued >species which is relatively common in North American collections of >captive waterfowl, and is seen fairly often as an apparent escapee. > >I am not aware of ANY state/provincial records committee in North America >which has accepted a sighting of Red-breasted Goose. Furthermore, >it is not listed for North America by the ABA Checklist Committee. >That, to me, is a pretty powerful argument that most knowledgeable >ornithologists believe that this species has never occurred in North >America as a wild vagrant (a view with which I concur). > >To quote from the ABA Checklist, 6th Edition (2002): > >"Each year, dozens of species of foreign birds escape from captivity within >our borders, some through poor packaging and careless handling, others >through inadequate restrictions in private and public collections. >Often encountered in the wild are foreign waterfowl, cage birds, and >birds of prey that have escaped from their owners. Most escapes are >unrecorded and difficult, if not impossible, to trace. After a bird has gone >through a complete molt, there is seldom any way for a field observer >to detect a history of captivity. These exotics are not listed on the North >American list." It is pretty clear that the ABA Checklist Committee >includes the Red-breasted Goose in this group of species. > >This may be a good place to state that I have revised my opinion >somewhat on the origin of the Benton County Caracara (never mind the >Floras Lake Caracara, which was likely a different bird). I was not >aware that the Washington State records committee, within the last >couple of years, has reversed its previous position, and decided to >accept 2 of the 3 WA records of Crested Caracara. (The first one was >almost certainly an escapee.) The California Records Committee has >abandoned its previous stance that all California records of Caracara >are suspect, and accepted a number of records. However, in my opinion, >for any individual record, there is still a significant possibility of an >escapee. >If that possibility is more than about 5% (however one judges that), >for me, that is enough to not count such a sighting on my personal list. >I would hope that the Oregon Bird Records Committee and other >state records committees are similarly conservative in accepting records >of birds that could be escapees. Like Joel Geier, for me the Benton >Caracara remains somewhat of a "Fuzzy Caracara" (although it's not a >personal issue for me, because I didn't see it!) > >I hope my comments are helpful. The fact is, we simply don't know whether >some of these birds are wild or escaped, and the best we can do is >educated (hopefully well-educated) guesswork. > My own posting, 6 April 2006 -- >Lars and OBOL -- > >Thanks for your message, Lars. Perhaps I should not have been so >quick to dismiss the Red-breasted Goose as an escapee, but these >things are always matters of trying to judge statistical chance. In >the case of this species, it is utterly unlike a Brambling or >Falcated Duck in that it is extremely rare and occurs in a very >limited range with a migration route that brings it nowhere near the >Bering Sea. Red-breasted Goose is in fact classified as "Vulnerable" >on the IUCN Red List, is listed on Appendix II of CITES, and is >considered threatened by a host of other authorities. It breeds in a >small area of north-central Russia and migrates southwestward to a >limited region of eastern Europe and the Black Sea. I suppose a case >could be made that an aberrant individual could have flown thousands >of miles straight east and then down the North American coast, rather >than southwest, but one would have to weigh that against the chance >of one of these beautiful birds escaping from a local collection. I >should add that I have no idea if these are kept commonly in >collections (does anyone know?), but I'm pretty sure I've seen them >in zoos, at least. I would of course love to be proved wrong and get >to add this globally threatened species to my Polk County list, but I >don't see that there would be any way to prove wild occurrence. > >I believe it's certainly possible that the Falcated Duck and the >Caracara could also be escapes, but I would argue that it is >considerably less likely, because these sightings have been part of >an overall pattern of increasing occurrence along the West Coast in >recent years (with Falcated more numerous to the north and Caracara >more numerous to the south, as would be expected). Context is >all-important in making these tricky statistical judgements. Phil >Unitt is a terrific ornithologist and editor who I admire greatly, >and he's certainly not the only California expert to dispute the wild >origin hypothesis for the California Caracaras. But as more and more >of these sightings have piled up, the majority of the Calif. Bird >Records Committee have come to judge the majority of the sightings as >likely wild, and have added the species to the state list. > >I think we all wish there were a comprehensive and failsafe inventory >of every individual bird kept in captivity, and its current status, >so that we could knowledgably rule out the escapee hypothesis for any >given sighting. But that's never gonna happen. We have to get the >most info we can about captive birds, consider the regional context >and history of related sightings, and then make the best guesses we >can. I don't see how we -- at this point -- could assume that this >winter's Red-breasted Goose is wild, but I DO think that if in the >next decade or two a number of further RB Goose records start >occurring in the Pac NW, then that should change our thinking. If >sightings of this species were to begin piling up along the West >coast in the future, then the burden of proof could and should shift >to having to prove a bird an escapee rather than having to prove it >wild. > >Respectfully, > >Jay Withgott, Portland > > > >At 11:24 PM -0700 4/5/06, Lars and Gail Norgren wrote: >> Why is this bird being ignored? I saw it at noon today. >>I fail to see any logic in dismissing it as an escapee. If a wimpy >>little Brambling can make it >>from Siberia to Polk County, why can't a lean mean traveling machine > >such as Branta ruficollis do the same? What exculpates the Falcated >>Duck >> >>from being a fugitive from captivity? And then there's that >>caracara. Philip Unitt(San Diego County Bird Atlas,October >>2004)writes:"The Crested Caracara >>is resident as far northwest as central Baja California and southern >>Arizona,where its numbers are declining. But the status of at least >>ten reports of >>caracaras in California is clouded by the question of whether the >>birds were escapees from captivity." Unitt relegates it to the >>hypothetical section >>of his magnum opus . >> When I got to Baskett Slough there were two hundred >>Cackling Geese north of Coville Road and many thousand on the south >>side. The ones >>to the south were coplanar with my line of sight so one goose was >>concealing twenty more behind it, and I was looking into the sun. I >>settled for scanning >>the flock to the north, and as I did so more cacklers began to >>dribble over the road to the north. They began to move in ever > >larger increments until >>there were two thousand spread out before me with the sun at my > >back. I scanned the flock from west to east at about 30X > >magnification, and halfway >>through the flock I saw the Red-breasted Goose. It is significantly >>smaller than a cackler, and once it sat down it disappeared. I spent >>fifteen minutes >>trying to relocate it without luck. Then some farmers entered the >>field on foot and scared them away. It is remarkable how the >>cacklers have >>grazed this field bare,yet still prefer to feed in it. They were >>trying to return to the same spot almost instantly. I found it in >>exactly the same place it >>was seen before:North of Coville Road and immediately west of the >>Slough. A scope was probably essential to my success, and had all >>the Cackling >>Geese present been in one big lump I don't know if I would have >>found it. They were kind enough to arrange themselves in a very >>narrow band >>a quarter mile long and perpendicular to my line of sight. These >>geese will head north any hour now, so don't delay. > >Lars Norgren, Manning > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090414/8b443c81/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Tue Apr 14 17:53:52 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:53:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gr. White-fronted Geese -- early migration?, Portland Message-ID: Hi again OBOL -- On a wholly different goose topic, this past Sunday, April 12th, I heard and saw a flock of 40-45 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flying over my yard in SW Portland. This is distinctly earlier than the strikingly narrow time window in the 20s of April that I understand is typical for this species's migration over Portland and the Willamette Valley. ... Oddly enough, though, this flock was flying south, not north, and was fairly low, so perhaps it was just shuffling from one regional wetland to another -- if so, this is the first occasion of this I've observed from this location. Jay From tjanzen at comcast.net Tue Apr 14 18:57:16 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:57:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose -- from the vault In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20090415015637.CB36BA823B@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear All, I went back and reviewed my notes, as well as copies of Harry Nehls' weekly rare bird summaries that I have saved back to 1996. The first mention of a RED-BREASTED GOOSE I could find in Harry's summaries was one that was at Baskett Slough NWR in early Nov 1997. As Sylvia Maulding mentioned, there was a RED-BREASTED GOOSE that was at Finley NWR and Ankney NWR in January 1998. I saw it March 26, 1998 with Jim Wilson at Ankney NWR. There is also a mention in Harry Nehls' weekly rare bird summaries that there was a RED-BREASTED GOOSE that was at Ankeny NWR on February 20, 1999. Harry's summary also says that on April 17, 1999 that the RED-BREASTED GOOSE was at Ankeny NWR. Thus we have a number of sightings in Oregon spanning over 12 years. It is possible that the same bird is responsible for all of the sightings, but I am inclined to think that was not the case. At the very least we should compile a chronology of all of the sightings to keep on file for reference. Sincerely, Tim Janzen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090414/20b41d9f/attachment.html From mklittletree at comcast.net Tue Apr 14 19:33:15 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (michel Kleinbaum) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:33:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose -- from the vault References: <20090415015637.CB36BA823B@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: Red-breasted Goose -- from the vaultI first saw the Ankeny Goose on 7 April 1999 and several times after. Michel Kleinbaum S. Salem ----- Original Message ----- From: Tim Janzen To: 'OBOL' Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 6:57 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Red-breasted Goose -- from the vault Dear All, I went back and reviewed my notes, as well as copies of Harry Nehls' weekly rare bird summaries that I have saved back to 1996. The first mention of a RED-BREASTED GOOSE I could find in Harry's summaries was one that was at Baskett Slough NWR in early Nov 1997. As Sylvia Maulding mentioned, there was a RED-BREASTED GOOSE that was at Finley NWR and Ankney NWR in January 1998. I saw it March 26, 1998 with Jim Wilson at Ankney NWR. There is also a mention in Harry Nehls' weekly rare bird summaries that there was a RED-BREASTED GOOSE that was at Ankeny NWR on February 20, 1999. Harry's summary also says that on April 17, 1999 that the RED-BREASTED GOOSE was at Ankeny NWR. Thus we have a number of sightings in Oregon spanning over 12 years. It is possible that the same bird is responsible for all of the sightings, but I am inclined to think that was not the case. At the very least we should compile a chronology of all of the sightings to keep on file for reference. Sincerely, Tim Janzen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090414/d738e3a8/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Tue Apr 14 20:07:02 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:07:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chipping Sparrow, 3 Hummingbird Species, and More-N Silverton Message-ID: Male ANNA'S Hummingbird returned yesterday after months of "no see." Very bright. He was dominating the kitchen sink window feeder, running off female Rufous, and that could NOT have happened last week with 3 Rufous males. Then today, another RUFOUS male showed up and was active courting the "lonely" 3-4+ females after days with no kindred spirits to chase them. Then a CALLIOPE male came into currant flowering outside dining area around 5:30 this evening. (My daughter Anna spotted this one first, again!) We think this is a second male this spring. The other one has been gone for 5 days & highly doubtful it doubled back after that amount of time gone. CHIPPING SPARROW was under the screened sunflower feeder picking at remains at noon. Brilliant plumage. First of Year. Nice photo op. Still have RUBY CROWNED KINGLET on brushline, BANDTAIL Pigeons in/out again today, and (surprisingly) some ACORN WOODPECKERS finally decided to visit us the past two days and peck at the suet after a whole absent winter with no Cornell FeederWatch sighting. You never know....Why now? Of course there are many WC & GC Sparrows, Juncos, and now pushy Crows along with DOWNY Woodpeckers along with Lesser Goldfinch at feeder area. The GREAT HORNED OWLS hooted to each other last night and both seen briefly greeting at the top of a tree on the driveway at dusk. Barn Owls and warblers seem to be absent or at least unseen/unheard today. I did find Barn Owl feathers in woodlot. Molt? Seems like a lot of feathers for molt.... John Thomas N of Silverton From cockatoodowns at gmail.com Tue Apr 14 21:22:21 2009 From: cockatoodowns at gmail.com (chris shank) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:22:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Abundance of house sparrows Message-ID: <4e95acbb0904142122o638fa55bh5ce1a8e56d25a163@mail.gmail.com> Hello all, I'm in Dallas and have a zillion house sparrows taking up residence in the various nest boxes around the property. I went to the wild bird store and looked at the sparrow trap. When I asked what do I do with them after they are trapped, I was told, 'Kill 'em!' Aaack! Don't think I have it in me to do so. If I did, what's the best, most 'humane' way to do so, anyway? My idea right now is to let them lay and then shake the eggs. Maybe being unsuccessful in hatching will send them elsewhere. Suggestions? Chris Shank Dallas, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090414/d07d6f94/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Tue Apr 14 21:24:24 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:24:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gr. White-fronted Geese -- early migration?, Portland [& Newport] Message-ID: Hi, Today (April 14) at about 6:30 PM, I was amazed to see a flock of about 100-120 noisy Gr. White-fronted Geese flying SOUTH over the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center. They were only about 150-300 ft above ground level. I was amazed to see them flying south and watched them disappear to the south. They did not turn in at Yaquina Bay. Tonight, I read Jay's message and it is comforting that someone else saw some flying south! They are going the wrong way for spring migration! Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 5:53 PM, Jay Withgott wrote: > Hi again OBOL -- > > On a wholly different goose topic, this past Sunday, April 12th, I > heard and saw a flock of 40-45 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flying > over my yard in SW Portland. ?This is distinctly earlier than the > strikingly narrow time window in the 20s of April that I understand > is typical for this species's migration over Portland and the > Willamette Valley. ?... Oddly enough, though, this flock was flying > south, not north, and was fairly low, so perhaps it was just > shuffling from one regional wetland to another -- if so, this is the > first occasion of this I've observed from this location. > > Jay > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From pamelaj at spiritone.com Tue Apr 14 21:30:13 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:30:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Off topic: more squirrels Message-ID: <092F229C2EBA48598D5E3FFD1BA1CA3A@yourw5st28y9a3> As if summoned here by the recent discussion of squirrel species in western Oregon, this afternoon the first Fox Squirrel I have seen here showed up under my feeders. I was not amused. Until today I had been enjoying chipmunks, Douglas squirrels (tiny) and Oregon gray squirrels (huge), and the occasional gray digger (medium). [Regarding Oregon gray squirrels, I'd like to mention that they have white bellies, white eyerings, and white-tipped guard hairs.] Fox Squirrels are successful because they are insanely persistent though not especially wary. I watched this one mine for fallen seed in a crack in the walk that none of the others had investigated. Pamela Johnston outside McMinnville From jeffgill at teleport.com Tue Apr 14 21:45:41 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:45:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose matters. Message-ID: It may be some time before I have time and all of the information I want before posting my comprehensive thoughts on this subject. I will post to the international bird site "Frontiers" within a few days requesting records from elsewhere in the US and Canada. That said, does anyone know of a lost Red-breasted Goose without bands? The reasons that I think a Red-breasted Goose is a possible vagrant to Oregon are, in brief summary: 1. The species is a high arctic nester. 2. It is a highly migratory species. 3. It is a gregarious species. 4. While its population has decreased, there are still at least 30,000. 5. It has been documented to occur as a vagrant to Wrangle Island (north of eastern Siberia - the part of Siberia closer to Alaska). 6. The 1998 bird was without bands. 7. There is a record from the wild game market in San Francisco in the 1880s. That bird was considered by the author of a note in The Condor to have been of a vagrant bird. I doubt that there were waterfowl collections at that time on the west coast. 8. The Oregon birds have been with Cackling Geese that are highly migratory. 9. The Oregon birds have arrived in the fall and disappeared in spring. 10. The Oregon birds have behaved as a normally wary wild goose might. (Note that some wild geese become approachable very quickly at parks, farm ponds, etc.) 11. The species is listed as a vagrant to Japan. 12. Time and time again we are surprised by how far vagrants get off course. A Red-breasted Goose could arrive in Oregon by going east along the Arctic coast of Siberia, or by flying over the pole to North America. A question was posed about whether a Demoiselle Crane could have made it to California. I think that it could. I don't know whether the California bird was a vagrant. (Tom Crabtree posted a note from the Irish Records Committee. Some might remember Paul Milne from Dublin who lived in Portland for over a year in the early 1980s. He is now the secretary of the Irish committee. Gerard Lillie and I recently birded in South America with some of his friends who are on or have been on the Irish committee. On our trip we found about 50 mysterious storm-petrels near Puerto Montt, Chile in the Seno de Relocavi. Numerous photographs were taken. Various experts have agreed with us that they likely or may represent a previously undescribed taxon - a previously unknown species. The periodical "Dutch Birding" solicited an article. If anyone on OBOL would like to see our final draft I will forward it to them.) Enough for now, I need some sleep before an early departure tomorrow to look for geese. I know at least Marilyn would understand. Jeff Gilligan From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Apr 15 00:27:03 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:27:03 +0000 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose origins In-Reply-To: <6D132688D8A743A49246ACC073825919@102889> References: <105821.30719.qm@web30402.mail.mud.yahoo.com> <6D132688D8A743A49246ACC073825919@102889> Message-ID: Greetings All, I can answer a couple of the questions posed by Tom Crabtree. 1. Birds of North America Online offers no species account for Red-breasted Goose. 2. Red-breasted Goose does not appear on the ABA Checklist (Version 7.0), which appears to be the most recent update. Since the ABA area includes Alaska, we can presume that there are no accepted records for that state and I don't know if there are even reports. I would offer that neither side in this argument has anything approaching a defensible case and that strident claims from the active participants in this debate are being taken with several grains of salt by the rest of us. Currently, this is an unanswerable question and until further evidence presents itself that will remain the case. As noted above, one "fact" about Red-breasted Goose cannot be disputed. This species is not considered part of the naturally occurring avifauna of North America. If it is your mission to change this status, the burden of proof falls upon you. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: tc at empnet.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:16:11 -0800 Subject: Re: [obol] Red-breasted Goose origins Maitreya wrote: ?I respectfully dissent from this assertion. The reported double-hearsay and subsequent denial have no bearing at all on the wildness of the Red-breasted Goose in question. Absent any facts proving the contrary, the Finley Red-breasted Goose should be presumed to be wild. ?Given the overall ratio of captive to wild birds on the planet, the odds of any particular bird being an escapee from captivity are extremely minute. ?Any bird observed in the wild should be presumed to be wild, unless there are specific facts to indicate otherwise. ?All speculations aside, we are left to favor the near mathematical certainty that any bird observed in the wild is a wild bird.? Maitreya Presumption of wildness? Where does that come from? Should that apply to the Mandarin Ducks in Bend, too? Red-breasted Goose is an endangered species world-wide, with a maximum population of about 30,000 ? a decline of more than 50% in the last 10 years. Their main wintering area is on the Black Sea ? far from our coast. Does anyone have access to the Birds of North America series? What do they say about the status of Red-breasted Goose in North America? Has the ABA accepted any records south of Alaska? The following discussion of the Irish Rare Birds Committee relegating it to the ?origin questionable? category may be of interest to Oregon birders: Tom Crabtree Bend An adult Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis was present on the North Slob, Wexford from 26th October 1997 to16th March 1998 representing, potentially, the first record of this species in the wild in Ireland. Assessment of the identification posed no difficulty with photographs and descriptions clearly showing that it was an adult Red-breasted Goose, but, from the outset, there was much speculation as to the likelihood of it being accepted into Category A of the Irish list. Claims of vagrant wildfowl, particularly geese, are notoriously difficult to assess given the difficulty in determining whether a bird is a genuine wild vagrant or of captive origin. This difficulty was well illustrated, for example, with the appearance of a Hooded Merganser Mergus cucullatus in Kerry in 1996/97. This bird occurred at the 'right' time of year in the 'right' part of the country but which ultimately proved to be colour-ringed in a manner untypical of North American ringing techniques, casting serious doubts on its origin. In the course of assessing the Red-breasted Goose record, various European Rarities Committees were contacted. Information was requested relating to: 1. Details of extralimital records in Europe during the winters of 1997/98, 1998/99 and 1999/2000. 2. The criteria used to determine the most likely origin of birds recorded outside their normal range. 3. The pattern of occurrence of those birds deemed to be vagrants. Helpful replies were obtained from the British (Colin Bradshaw), Belgian (Peter Adriaens, Gunter de Smet) and Danish Rarities Committees (Kasper Thorup). The general rule on the continent of Europe tends to be that a Red-breasted Goose occurring in a flock of wild geese (nearly all of which come from Russia) is assumed to be of wild origin, while those appearing out of this context (lone individuals, unseasonal birds or those at odd localities) are assumed to be of dubious origin. In Belgium, the arrival of Red-breasted Goose normally coincides with the first frost, typically at the end of December, but sometimes as early as the beginning of November. Genuine October records are very rare. Records outside the period 29th October to 7th March are treated with extreme caution. The longest stayers usually have left by the end of February. Unlike in the Netherlands, where they often turn up with Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis, in Belgium they are invariably found among Russian White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons albifrons (undoubtedly due to lack of Barnacle Geese). Birds arriving/staying on their own are almost invariably treated as escapes. In Denmark, the most typical pattern of occurrence is of birds (sometimes family groups) in flocks of Barnacle Geese. Migrating birds are seen in April and September/October in east Denmark and birds arrive in October to winter with Barnacle Geese in the Wadden Sea, (the coastal section between Den Helder, Netherlands and Esbjerg, Denmark) leaving this area from March to mid-May. From 1999 onwards, Red-breasted Goose is no longer considered by the Danish Rarities Committee. More often than not, vagrant geese seem to arrive as a result of having become attached to a flock of other geese (usually congeneric) with which they overlap in their breeding ranges or on their migration routes. In the case of Red-breasted Goose, likely carrier species are Dark-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla bernicla, Russian White-fronted Goose and the Novaya Zemyla population of Barnacle Goose. However, Pale bellied Brent Goose B. b. hrota, Greenland White-fronted Goose A. a. flavirostris and the Greenland population of Barnacle Goose, the main taxa of wild geese recorded in Ireland, are not likely to meet genuine Red-breasted Geese on migration. According to Scott and Rose (1996) there is normally no exchange between any geese wintering in Ireland and geese wintering on the continent. In this respect it would be surprising that a solitary Red-breasted Goose would cross the gap between the different wintering populations. Considering that very few nominate albifrons reach Ireland, in spite of the huge wintering population elsewhere in Europe, it would be much more unlikely for a Red-breasted Goose to do so. In addition, a limited amount of information on the captive status of Red-breasted Goose in Ireland was obtained. The species is relatively widespread and numerous in captivity in the UK and in mainland Europe. There are several collections of exotic wildfowl throughout Ireland and there is a considerable number and variety of species imported as well as bred in captivity (Neil Stronach, Director, Fota Wildlife Park, pers comm.). In Wexford alone, two birds were known to be present in a collection close to The Cull, some 25 kilometres from the North Slob. These birds were unringed and unpinioned and indeed one went missing from the collection in 1998. While this individual clearly was not the same as that on the North Slob, it is a dramatic illustration of the escape potential of this species in Ireland. Other Red-breasted Geese are known to be in private collections in Co. Kilkenny (along with many other species, including American Wigeon Anas americana, Baikal Teal Anas formosa, Garganey Anas querquedula and Ross's Goose Anser rossii ) and in Co. Cork. Even more damning is the fact that Red-breasted Goose has been offered for sale in Ireland through Buy and Sell Magazine. Interestingly, the BBRC has recently (Brit. Birds 95: 263) decided to examine the patterns of occurrence and provenance of wildfowl in Britain in detail, starting with the geese, in an effort to aid discrimination between escaped and vagrant individuals. The application of very rigorous criteria in assessments such as this is probably open to debate. Furthermore, against the evidence suggesting a captive origin, it is noted that 1997 was a record year in Sweden and Germany for Red-breasted Goose. The possibility of the North Slob individual crossing over from a flock of European/Russian Barnacles to a flock of Greenland White-fronted Geese in Scotland cannot be discounted, but, without any firm circumstantial evidence for this, it is very difficult to factor such an event into the equation. In conclusion, with very small numbers of potential carrier species of Russian/Baltic origin arriving in Ireland each year, combined with the early arrival and late departure dates, the likelihood of this individual being of wild origin is considered doubtful. On that basis, a decision has been taken to accept it into Category D of the Irish List. Decisions such as this are not easily taken by the IRBC. Research on this specific claim has been actively ongoing over the past four years and the correspondence on the file runs to many pages. While there is pressure from the birding community to accept this record as a Category A addition to the Irish List, it should be reiterated once again that the role of the IRBC is to maintain the Irish List and for a first Irish record, we believe that a bird should have stronger, water-tight credentials (empasis added). However, it is the sole prerogative of individual birdwatchers as to whether or not to include them on personal lists. From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Leith McKenzie Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 7:56 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Red-breasted Goose origins On 4/13/09 7:26 PM, "Joel Geier" wrote: > All vagrancy theories aside, we are basically left to choose between the > report of the one person who said the breeder had lost a goose, and the > reported denial by the breeder. I respectfully dissent from this assertion. The reported double-hearsay and subsequent denial have no bearing at all on the wildness of the Red-breasted Goose in question. Absent any facts proving the contrary, the Finley Red-breasted Goose should be presumed to be wild. Given the overall ratio of captive to wild birds on the planet, the odds of any particular bird being an escapee from captivity are extremely minute. Any bird observed in the wild should be presumed to be wild, unless there are specific facts to indicate otherwise. All speculations aside, we are left to favor the near mathematical certainty that any bird observed in the wild is a wild bird. Maitreya ?Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.? Jonathan Livingston Seagull _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get quick friend updates right in your inbox. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Updates1_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090415/c3ea92c8/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Wed Apr 15 07:07:58 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:07:58 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Singing Orange-crowned Warbler & BY Birds Message-ID: <551717727.1556371239804478126.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Good Morning! First of the year Orange-crowned Warbler singing away in the garden at 6:45 a.m. this morning. It is working the Red-Flowering Currant and bathing in the bird bath. Make that two Orange-crowned Warblers. One singing, one ripping flowers off the Red-flowering Currant . Anna's Hummingbirds have returned to the garden after a two week absence. Three female Rufous Hummingbirds are hanging around the garden. Hope they are nesting somewhere nearby. I am seeing an occasional male Rufous but don't have any setting up a territory at the moment. Wonder if that has to do with the fact there are so many trees (mostly ornamental maples and cherries). In the words of Tim Rodenkirk "Merry Migration!" Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090415/093df91b/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Wed Apr 15 08:03:52 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:03:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose - very beautiful! In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <49e5f74e.1b068e0a.1b68.ffffaefe@mx.google.com> Hi Obol: I am jealous of everyone that is getting to see this wonderful beautiful bird! For those of you who haven't seen a Red-breasted Goose - they are spectacular! Maybe Craig and I need to make a trip over the snowy mountains. It has snowed off and on for the last three days in Bend. The Oregon Birds Record Committee is meeting this Saturday in Portland and Craig and I are attending. Where exactly is this goose? How far is it from Portland? Marilyn -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Gilligan Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 9:46 PM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose matters. Enough for now, I need some sleep before an early departure tomorrow to look for geese. I know at least Marilyn would understand. Jeff Gilligan _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.11.57/2059 - Release Date: 04/14/09 14:52:00 From bettymkn at netscape.com Wed Apr 15 08:13:21 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:13:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Osprey Return-Foster Lake Message-ID: <20090415081321.8D68D6F0@resin11.mta.everyone.net> If there is anyone that monitors the nest just west of Sweet Home it looks like the Ospreys returned this last weekend and are setting up housekeeping. The nest is beside the highway, just west of Sweet Home and just east of the Old Apple Orchard as you start into the curves before entering Sweet Home on the river side. For those that are looking for their White-Crowned Sparrows, we have had a number of them here for some time and they may be staying here, but a couple of days ago we were besieged by a large flock for a couple of days. They were here for a couple of days but seemed to have moved on so they should be arriving somewhere soon. Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Apr 15 08:21:19 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:21:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Great weather for Saturday's pelagic Message-ID: <20090415082119.ec1dw60q2o4sk004@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Friends, Because we have fewer participants and the weather forecast is for smooth sailing, I want to encourage you to join our Perpetua Bank pelagic trip this Saturday, April 18, 7 am to 6 pm. The forecast is for almost no wind or wind waves, with mild swell. Temperatures should be between 42 and 57. The current forecast calls for partly sunny skies. We have lots of guides to help you spot and identify the birds you'll see. Beginners welcome. We are entering the spring migration peak. Besides the nearshore loons, grebes, sea ducks, shorebirds, gulls, and cormorants, the expected seabird species are here: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/bar_chart.htm Full trip preparation materials are here: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/newport_preparation_tradewinds.htm Basically... * Simply show up at the dock at 6:30 am with a check of $160 in hand, payable to The Bird Guide, Inc. We have room for at least a dozen more participants. You will not be turned away. * Dress very warmly with outer wind/rain protection (cool damp air but no rain or wave splash is expected this trip). * Bring a sack lunch with food and drinks for this 11 hour trip. * Bring your binoculars and camera. * Arrive at 6:30 am for roll call and orientation outside Newport Tradewinds on the bayfront. * Bring a tip for the boat crew ($5-10 recommended); hand it to them as they help you off the boat at the end of the trip. * Park in the 12 hour spaces. Free parking on the street (limited) or in the lot across the street, or in another lot across the street and up the hill from the nearby corner. Make sure you are in the marked 12 hour spaces. That's it! See you Saturday! Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From willclemons at yahoo.com Wed Apr 15 09:20:15 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:20:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose - The Final Answer Message-ID: <543770.63252.qm@web55105.mail.re4.yahoo.com> It seems to me, that there is a simple solution to the wanderings, and perhaps the origin of the Red-breasted Goose: Those with the appropriate contacts, should persuade someone (USFW, etc) to trap it, and put a new, lightweight tracking device on its back to learn where it flies. If it made a wrong turn in the past, and is migrating SE rather than SW, it should still get back to its home ground by its normal springtime reversal of direction. Maybe on its next winter vacation to Oregon, it can bring its new wife & kids. :-) Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores (except Income Taxes) From jmoodie at cocc.edu Wed Apr 15 09:55:26 2009 From: jmoodie at cocc.edu (Jim Moodie) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:55:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] help for a color blind student? Message-ID: COBOLanders and OBOLanders, I have a color blind student taking my bird ecology class and I would like to help him identify bird species without relying on true colors. To see what he sees, I've downloaded a color blindness converter that will at least allow me to visualize the bird photos as a color blinded person would. I've checked the web a bit, but perhaps someone in the birding community knows of sources available to aid the color blind birder? Thanks in advance. Cheers, Jim Dr. James Moodie Science Department Central Oregon Community College Bend, OR 97701 541-383-7282 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090415/92fa3572/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Apr 15 10:16:08 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:16:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Southbound Geese and Longspurs, Coos County 4/14-4/15/09 Message-ID: <998137.24119.qm@web45307.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> On the 14th I observed a flock of around 120 ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE heading south at the north spit of Coos Bay.? A good day for geese flocks heading south! The wind was howling out of the north at the time. Saw my first large flock of GREATER YELLOWLEGS, about a dozen. Near Mytle Point I saw my first hen MALLARD with chicks. Up in the Coast Range there was snow sticking down to 800' in the AM, should keep those Calliopes over in the valley in the low country awhile longer like last spring. Early AM on the 15th out at the north spit of Coos Bay I saw perhaps the largest ever spring flock of LAPLAND LONGSPURS for Coos- there were 18. All other rcords I know of are ones or twos. Great spring for this species on the south coast. Merry migration! Tim R Coos Bay From mazoerr at gmail.com Wed Apr 15 13:01:42 2009 From: mazoerr at gmail.com (Ann Chamberlain) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:01:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] random notes from DougCo Message-ID: <202f23ed0904151301u462cec4gabc64018240322af@mail.gmail.com> The osprey nests at Round Prairie sawmill and at Boomer Hill have birds sitting. Saw a swift under the Myrtle Creek bridge on Saturday evening. Yesterday in the snow we had varied thrushes here again. Snow gone - so are the thrushes. Several female Rufous hummers showing up to go with the boys who arrived a month ago. Sparrow singing this morning that I did not know. Ann outside of Myrtle Creek -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090415/049bc249/attachment.html From msgellerman at gmail.com Wed Apr 15 13:49:27 2009 From: msgellerman at gmail.com (Michael Gellerman) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:49:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] spring departure of wintering birds Message-ID: <1d0c413a0904151349p5b1e8572i32bb14a763953281@mail.gmail.com> As a long time bander I will chip in on this. For North American birds, I am most familiar with neotropical migrants on the west coast having worked and worked the data at several MAPS (MONITORING AVIAN PRODUCTIVITY AND SURVIVORSHIP PROGRAM) stations in the Sierra Nevada in the 90's. The original intent of the program was to figure out individual survivorship of migratory birds because no really good data existed for individuals and there was (and there remains) great concern about declining populations of migratory bird habitat on the winter (non-breeding) range. Of course, that is the case (as we sip our Central American coffee), but other patterns emerged over time, some of it well documented by banding records and some speculative and intuitive after nearly 20 years of collecting data (the program began in 1989). In short, lots of different things happen. One relatively common thing that happens is that birds that winter in temperate places like the Willamette Valley, the Sierra foothills, or Baja California often breed very far north but are replaced by birds that winter further south but arrive as the northern breeders depart. I watched this with Pacific-slope Flycatchers working on the Channel Islands but only in retrospect - the wintering flycatchers would "disapper" for a few days and then suddenly you would start hearing them again, not the same birds but the cousins in from Costa Rica ... I suspect that breeding Varied Thrushes in Oregon are not the birds we see in the Coast Range in January, after all their old name was "Alaska Robin", but instead birds that spent December and January in Big Sur. You also see this statistically as recapture rates change - as the breeding season progresses recaptures of birds banded in prior seasons increases. Some birds are altitudinal migrants for breeding, often following the snow line upslope on exploratory forays but there is also the phenomenon of birds breeding very early and young dispersing upslope from their hatching area and breeding again (as young of the year) at a higher altitude. Orange-crowned Warblers do this in the central Sierra and suspect Juncos often do the same. Another interesting phenomenon that I have observed from banding on wintering ranges is altitudinal segregation of populations on the wintering range. You see birds like Hermit Thrushes with distinctive subspecies or populations that can be identified in the hand segregating by altitude - high latitude breeders at higher altitudes on the winter range and lower latitude breeders at lower altitudes. All this is made possible by the somewhat arcane (and often more art than science) of ageing birds by feather wear, subtle plummage variations, skull suture patterns, breeding condition (brood patch age, cloacal protuberance) and of course simple recapture data (see *Identification Guide to North American Birds Part I* by Peter Pyle). At one MAPS location near Yuba Pass in California there was a Yellow Warbler that was captured for 9 consecutive seasons in the same willow with the first recapture always within a few days of the prior years' capture. He was certainly not the champion. I moved to Southern Africa and did similar work there for many years (coming back to the States a few years ago and landing in Oregon) and the fascinating thing is that paleotropical migrants are much longer lived than our neotropical migrants - a nine year old passerine banded in temperate South Africa is relatively ordinary and there is no reasonable explanation as to why ... yet. Any prospective grad students out there looking for a project? Best regards, Mike Gellerman From: David Fix & Jude Power To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:28:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] spring departure of wintering birds In recent OBOL posts, there has been discussion about where wintering Dark-eyed Juncos, Varied Thrushes, and similar species usually seen only in winter in the lowlands at many locations go when nesting season arrives. Some have suggested that juncos, to name one example, move upslope into the mountains to nest. While this is likely the case for many, it seems to me that it is a bit short-sighted. To inject a dissenting point of view, I suspect that a huge number of wintering juncos (I would imagine many tens of thousands) don't move upslope, but instead leave Oregon entirely, and may fly hundreds of miles, into Washington and way up into British Columbia. Conversely, it may be that many of the juncos that breed in the foothills and mountains of w. Oregon don't even winter in the state, but do so farther south. Perhaps Dennis Vroman or some other bander might chip in on this. The same could be true for Varied Thrush, whose breeding populations north of Oregon (based on range, and amount of habitat) are likely far greater than those within the state. Similarly, when we see birds such as Orange-crowned and Wilson's Warblers and Pacific-slope Flycatchers "arrive," it seems likely--if based merely on the immense populations of those species, and their vast ranges--that nearly ALL of the individuals we encounter are not going to breed locally, and perhaps most not even in Oregon; they could well be headed toward the more northerly part of their range. Many of the Orange-crowns seen in an April morning on Skinner Butte in Eugene could well be in Chehalis, Bremerton, or coastal B.C. a few days later. It's easy to think of these as "our" birds, about to settle in for the summer, but a look at the range maps for many will suggest that maybe that's not the case. The truth is not available, but I thought I'd suggest an alternate scenario. David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090415/1e2f66b7/attachment.html From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Wed Apr 15 13:50:17 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (Jamie S.) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:50:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Corvallis Nashville Warbler (4/15), other migrants Message-ID: <864035.50129.qm@web39504.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Jim Anderson spotted, and Neil Lidstrom and I also had good looks at, a NASHVILLE WARBLER at about 1220 today (4/15) at Stewart Lake (HP) in Corvallis. It was last seen along the southeast side of the lake. ? Yesterday (4/14) we had our first migrant Golden-Crowned Sparrows at Stewart Lake, 2 in crisp alternate plumage hanging with 2 White-crowned Sparrows.?? The same 4 birds (presumably) were still here today. ? On April 9th we heard what we thought was a Black-throated Gray Warbler, only to locate the bird and see that it was a singing Townsend's Warbler.? (Until they leave the area in the next few weeks, both can be around.) ? No Red-breasted Geese of any indeterminate heritage were noted. ? Jamie Simmons Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090415/8aad3001/attachment.html From tsnetsinger at centurytel.net Wed Apr 15 14:07:37 2009 From: tsnetsinger at centurytel.net (tsnetsinger at centurytel.net) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:07:37 -0400 Subject: [obol] Late? ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK 4/14 Message-ID: <20090415170737.p8hdol8vg7xcgws4@webmail2.centurytel.net> OBOL, I am not at home, so don't have reference to BOGR, but I noted that the wintering ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK north of Brownsville (near Plainview Dr and Brownsville Road junction) was present yesterday 4/14 and MIA this morning 4/15. This strikes me as a later departure than year's past (considering it was snowing yesterday morning at our house, I guess that is not a surprise). Tom Snetsinger Brownsville, OR From alan2 at sasktel.net Wed Apr 15 14:38:49 2009 From: alan2 at sasktel.net (Brendan Graham) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:38:49 -0600 Subject: [obol] Mist-netting Research Message-ID: <49E653E9.5090006@sasktel.net> Dear Oregon bird watchers, My name is Brendan Graham and I am a new graduate student (starting this summer) at the University of Lethbridge studying under Dr. Theresa Burg. As part of my own research and other projects ongoing in the lab, we are going to be banding resident birds in Oregon. This summer we are studying black-capped chickadees, mountain chickadees, red-breasted sapsuckers, hairy woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, Clark?s nutcrackers, gray jays, and Stellar?s jays. I am emailing you today to ask if you know of areas where we might have easy access to birds of any of these species (such as nest sites), and more importantly do you or anyone you know have a feeder in their yard where any of these species visit, and where we might be able to band these birds? During the summer we will be banding along the coast (in counties Tilamook and Lincoln), in the south (counties Klamath and Jackson) and in cenetral/NE Oregon (Counties Wheeler, Union, Wallowa and Umatilla). If any of you are interested in helping us could you please e-mail me. Thanks Brendan Graham Regina, Saskatchewan e-mail: alan2 at sasktel.net From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Wed Apr 15 14:48:45 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:48:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose - The Final Answer Message-ID: <407211.77158.qm@web51806.mail.re2.yahoo.com> If you're going to trap/release the bird, why not take a small tissue sample for DNA analysis....compare that to the Siberian population and also to the domestic stock and you actually might get a "final answer"....yes, DNA analysis is expensive but might could be combined with an ongoing project somewhere....and the sample could be frozen until you could find a willing lab. Just a thought. Cindy Ashy From ellencantor at gmail.com Wed Apr 15 14:54:42 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:54:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Eurasian Widgeon Message-ID: <7058c4c60904151454x114d0c87t5ce7ee1abf37c677@mail.gmail.com> I birded from the observation platform midday today in the Fisher Butte Unit of Fern Ridge. Highlights included: 4 BLACK-NECKED STILTS 1 EURASIAN WIDGEON 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS 1 male NORTHERN HARRIER a pair of MYRTLE YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS Ellen Cantor Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090415/a1a25677/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Wed Apr 15 14:55:14 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:55:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] spring departure of wintering birds In-Reply-To: <1d0c413a0904151349p5b1e8572i32bb14a763953281@mail.gmail.com> References: <1d0c413a0904151349p5b1e8572i32bb14a763953281@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Hi, There is much we don't know about common birds! For example, as David Fix and Michael Gellerman point out in their emails below, individual birds of a species that winter here may not be the same individuals that nest here for the same species. Unfortunately, our tools to follow individuals and to determine if "leap-frog" migration or other sorts of migration occur are currently insufficient to answer all these questions. Banding is a useful tool, but there needs to be considerably more birds banded and considerably more resightings over broad geographic areas to determine the details of which birds from specific localities are at specific times of the year. Differentiating subspecies on the basis of plumage may be a tool, but that can be tough, too. Subspecies are thought to occur in specific localities during the nesting season, but it seems that little work is being done on subspecies these days, unless a subspecies is threatened or endangered. Another tool is to study song dialects. Of relevance is Dennis Heinemann's study of White-crowned Sparrow songs in the Willamette Valley. The link to the article, the Abstract, and a telling paragraph about their migration are given below. Note that his evidence does not support leap-frog migration. But in reading his article, I sense that more research is needed... I have been fascinated by White-crowned Sparrow movements in Lincoln County because White-crowned Sparrows could be classified here as a "permanent resident." They are regularly found throughout the year along the coast, but they are typically migrants a few miles inland in Lincoln County. Even on the coast where some regularly winter, an influx of White-crowns can be seen in late March. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport Dennis Heinemann. 1981. SONG DIALECTS, MIGRATION, AND POPULATION STRUCTURE OF PUGET SOUND WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS. Auk: Vol. 98, No. 3, July-September, 1981. This is at http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Auk/v098n03/p0512-p0521.pdf The Search Ornithological Research Archive [SORA] web site [http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/] is an excellent resource. P. 518: Migration pattern.--The most striking feature of the flocks of migrating pugetensis is the co-occurrence of birds of several dialects, from Finley to northern Washington. This lends support to the hypothesis of West et al. (1968) that flocks of migrating birds are not organized units, but rather collections of individuals, each with its own schedule and destination. This was also found to be the case in Z. 1. gambelii by DeWolfe et al. (1973, 1974). In a species that migrates in a "leapfrog" manner, populations breeding at different latitudes winter at different latitudes and migrate on different schedules. Baptista (1974) found pugetensis singing dialects of several areas in the Northwest wintering in the same area. In this study I found similar aggregations of migrating pugetensis. These data suggest that pugetensis does not migrate in a "leapfrog" fashion. Abstract: Baptista's (1977) survey of Pacific Northwest coastal populations of Puget Sound White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys pugetensis) revealed that Oregon birds sing one sequence of song components, while birds in Washington and British Columbia use another sequence or theme. The form of the terminal trill varies in a manner that defines geographically distinct song dialects. My studies of pugetensis breeding at Finley National Wildlife Refuge in the inland Willamette Valley of Oregon in 1977 and 1978 revealed a third southern-theme dialect. This dialect remained stable during my study and was indistinguishable from that of birds recorded in the same area in 1965. By matching songs of pugetensis recorded in flocks during spring migration with songs of breeding pugetensis, I determined that a single flock may contain birds from many areas of the Pacific Northwest, suggesting that flocks of migrating birds are aggregations of birds, each individual having its own schedule and destination. A review of the literature on White-crowned Sparrow song indicated that support is equivocal for the hypothesis that there is a particular functional relationship between population and dialect structure and that song dialects are indicators of discrete demes. I concluded that this hypothesis is inconsistent with the observed patterns of geographical variation in pugetensis song components. I suggest that these patterns may indicate the existence of some other functional relationship between demes and dialects, or that dialects may not indicate the presence of demes in pugetensis. I also note the possibility, suggested by these patterns, that juvenile pugetensis may learn songs in a manner different from those documented so far for White-crowned Sparrows. [Luis Baptista's 1977 article that Dennis cites also has some Oregon data is at http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Condor/files/issues/v079n03/p0356-p0370.pdf] On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 1:49 PM, Michael Gellerman wrote: > As a long time bander I will chip in on this. For North American birds, I am > most familiar with neotropical migrants on the west coast having worked and > worked the data at several MAPS (MONITORING AVIAN PRODUCTIVITY AND > SURVIVORSHIP PROGRAM) stations in the Sierra Nevada in the 90's. The > original intent of the program was to figure out individual survivorship of > migratory birds because no really good data existed for individuals and > there was (and there remains) great concern about declining populations of > migratory bird habitat on the winter (non-breeding) range. Of course, that > is the case (as we sip our Central American coffee), but other patterns > emerged over time, some of it well documented by banding records and some > speculative and intuitive after nearly 20 years of collecting data (the > program began in 1989). In short, lots of different things happen. > > One relatively common thing that happens is that birds that winter in > temperate places like the Willamette Valley, the Sierra foothills, or Baja > California often breed very far north but are replaced by birds that winter > further south but arrive as the northern breeders depart. I watched this > with Pacific-slope Flycatchers working on the Channel Islands but only in > retrospect - the wintering flycatchers would "disapper" for a few days and > then suddenly you would start hearing them again, not the same birds but the > cousins in from Costa Rica ...? I suspect that breeding Varied Thrushes in > Oregon are not the birds we see in the Coast Range in January, after all > their old name was "Alaska Robin", but instead birds that spent December and > January in Big Sur. You also see this statistically as recapture rates > change - as the breeding season progresses recaptures of birds banded in > prior seasons increases. Some birds are altitudinal migrants for breeding, > often following the snow line upslope on exploratory forays but there is > also the phenomenon of birds breeding very early and young dispersing > upslope from their hatching area and breeding again (as young of the year) > at a higher altitude. Orange-crowned Warblers do this in the central Sierra > and suspect Juncos often do the same. Another interesting phenomenon that I > have observed from banding on wintering ranges is altitudinal segregation of > populations on the wintering range. You see birds like Hermit Thrushes with > distinctive subspecies or populations that can be identified in the hand > segregating by altitude - high latitude breeders at higher altitudes on the > winter range and lower latitude breeders at lower altitudes. > > All this is made possible by the somewhat arcane (and often more art than > science) of ageing birds by feather wear, subtle plummage variations, skull > suture patterns, breeding condition (brood patch age, cloacal protuberance) > and of course simple recapture data (see Identification Guide to North > American Birds Part I by Peter Pyle). At one MAPS location near Yuba Pass in > California there was a Yellow Warbler that was captured for 9 consecutive > seasons in the same willow with the first recapture always within a few days > of the prior years' capture. He was certainly not the champion. I moved to > Southern Africa and did similar work there for many years (coming back to > the States a few years ago and landing in Oregon) and the fascinating thing > is that paleotropical migrants are much longer lived than our neotropical > migrants - a nine year old passerine banded in temperate South Africa is > relatively ordinary and there is no reasonable explanation as to why ... > yet. Any prospective grad students out there looking for a project? > > Best regards, > > Mike Gellerman > > From:?David Fix & Jude Power > To:?obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date:?Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:28:47 -0700 (PDT) > Subject:?[obol] spring departure of wintering birds > ?? In recent OBOL posts, there has been discussion about where wintering > Dark-eyed Juncos, Varied Thrushes, and similar species usually seen only in > winter in the lowlands at many locations go when nesting season arrives. > > ?? Some have suggested that juncos, to name one example, move upslope into > the mountains to nest. While this is likely the case for many, it seems to > me that it is a bit short-sighted. To inject a dissenting point of view, I > suspect that a huge number of wintering juncos (I would imagine many tens of > thousands) don't move upslope, but instead leave Oregon entirely, and may > fly hundreds of miles, into Washington and way up into British Columbia. > Conversely, it may be that many of the juncos that breed in the foothills > and mountains of w. Oregon don't even winter in the state, but do so farther > south. Perhaps Dennis Vroman or some other bander might chip in on this. > > ?? The same could be true for Varied Thrush, whose breeding populations > north of Oregon (based on range, and amount of habitat) are likely far > greater than those within the state. > > ?? Similarly, when we see birds such as Orange-crowned and Wilson's Warblers > and Pacific-slope Flycatchers "arrive," it seems likely--if based merely on > the immense populations of those species, and their vast ranges--that nearly > ALL of the individuals we encounter are not going to breed locally, and > perhaps most not even in Oregon; they could well be headed toward the more > northerly part of their range. Many of the Orange-crowns seen in an April > morning on Skinner Butte in Eugene could well be in Chehalis, Bremerton, or > coastal B.C. a few days later. > > ?? It's easy to think of these as "our" birds, about to settle in for the > summer, but a look at the range maps for many will suggest that maybe that's > not the case. The truth is not available, but I thought I'd suggest an > alternate scenario. > > David Fix > Arcata, California > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From deweysage at verizon.net Wed Apr 15 15:22:07 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:22:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] South Coos Cty Message-ID: <49E65E0F.7010303@verizon.net> 4/15 New River, Coos Cty Large flocks of ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE are flying all around the New River/Bandon area. Interestingly we watched several flocks come in from the open ocean this morning, flying towards the ranches. Makes one wonder whether they roost on the open ocean for the night. Also of interest, flocks of gulls moving north today were dominated by GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, especially subadults. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From msgellerman at gmail.com Wed Apr 15 15:24:25 2009 From: msgellerman at gmail.com (Michael Gellerman) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:24:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] spring departure of wintering birds In-Reply-To: References: <1d0c413a0904151349p5b1e8572i32bb14a763953281@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <1d0c413a0904151524k608f45a1g28e9a66f6e291778@mail.gmail.com> There is plenty we don't know. I was going to mention the White-crowned Sparrow dialect work as well, particularly that of Luis Baptista at the California Academy of Sciences - it is worth looking at as much of that work supports "leap-frog" migration and lots of other interesting data and thoughts about intact migrant populations, subspeciation, etc. As way of disclaimer Luis was a bit of a mentor to me way back when. As I see the White-crowned Sparrows moving through the yard now on there way to the Kenai Peninsula or Sitka or Prince Rupert, I think about him and wish I had the ear to tell the difference! Banding is a useful tool but it really only works at one end of the migratory path for migratory songbirds, usually the breeding end. The rest is inference because there is no way to sample enough birds over such a large geographic area as the Western Hemisphere. It works well with raptors for the return trip though as they are large and rare, but I can say from experience netting a Wilson's Warbler in El Salvador with a bird lab band just doesn't happen very often. As for subspecies work, it is all a world in transition. There are plenty of old hands stuffed away in the collections and museums around that know this all very well and the data is becoming more available as it is puched in to computers by younger people. Modern genetic techniques are faster and less expensive and give pretty amazing results. It is not the mainstream of "birding" per se, but the academic discipline of population ecology that is pretty much alive and well. On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 2:55 PM, Range Bayer wrote: > Hi, > > There is much we don't know about common birds! For example, as > David Fix and Michael Gellerman point out in their emails below, > individual birds of a species that winter here may not be the same > individuals that nest here for the same species. > > Unfortunately, our tools to follow individuals and to determine if > "leap-frog" migration or other sorts of migration occur are currently > insufficient to answer all these questions. Banding is a useful tool, > but there needs to be considerably more birds banded and considerably > more resightings over broad geographic areas to determine the details > of which birds from specific localities are at specific times of the > year. > > Differentiating subspecies on the basis of plumage may be a tool, > but that can be tough, too. Subspecies are thought to occur in > specific localities during the nesting season, but it seems that > little work is being done on subspecies these days, unless a > subspecies is threatened or endangered. > > Another tool is to study song dialects. Of relevance is Dennis > Heinemann's study of White-crowned Sparrow songs in the Willamette > Valley. The link to the article, the Abstract, and a telling > paragraph about their migration are given below. Note that his > evidence does not support leap-frog migration. But in reading his > article, I sense that more research is needed... > > I have been fascinated by White-crowned Sparrow movements in > Lincoln County because White-crowned Sparrows could be classified here > as a "permanent resident." They are regularly found throughout the > year along the coast, but they are typically migrants a few miles > inland in Lincoln County. Even on the coast where some regularly > winter, an influx of White-crowns can be seen in late March. > > Cheers, > > Range Bayer, Newport > > Dennis Heinemann. 1981. SONG DIALECTS, MIGRATION, AND POPULATION > STRUCTURE OF PUGET SOUND WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS. Auk: Vol. 98, No. 3, > July-September, 1981. This is at > http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Auk/v098n03/p0512-p0521.pdf > The Search Ornithological Research Archive [SORA] web site > [http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/] is an excellent resource. > > P. 518: > Migration pattern.--The most striking feature of the flocks of > migrating pugetensis is the co-occurrence of birds of several > dialects, from Finley to northern Washington. This lends support to > the hypothesis of West et al. (1968) that flocks of migrating birds > are not organized units, but rather collections of individuals, each > with its own schedule and destination. This was also found to be the > case in Z. 1. gambelii by DeWolfe et al. (1973, 1974). In a species > that migrates in a "leapfrog" manner, populations breeding at > different latitudes winter at different latitudes and migrate on > different schedules. Baptista (1974) found pugetensis singing > dialects of several areas in the Northwest wintering in the same area. > In this study I found similar aggregations of migrating pugetensis. > These data suggest that pugetensis does not migrate in a "leapfrog" > fashion. > > Abstract: Baptista's (1977) survey of Pacific Northwest coastal > populations of Puget Sound White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia > leucophrys pugetensis) revealed that Oregon birds sing one sequence of > song components, while birds in Washington and British Columbia use > another sequence or theme. The form of the terminal trill varies in a > manner that defines geographically distinct song dialects. My studies > of pugetensis breeding at Finley National Wildlife Refuge in the > inland Willamette Valley of Oregon in 1977 and 1978 revealed a third > southern-theme dialect. This dialect remained stable during my study > and was indistinguishable from that of birds recorded in the same area > in 1965. By matching songs of pugetensis recorded in flocks during > spring migration with songs of breeding pugetensis, I determined that > a single flock may contain birds from many areas of the Pacific > Northwest, suggesting that flocks of migrating birds are aggregations > of birds, each individual having its own schedule and destination. A > review of the literature on White-crowned Sparrow song indicated that > support is equivocal for the hypothesis that there is a particular > functional relationship between population and dialect structure and > that song dialects are indicators of discrete demes. I concluded that > this hypothesis is inconsistent with the observed patterns of > geographical variation in pugetensis song components. I suggest that > these patterns may indicate the existence of some other functional > relationship between demes and dialects, or that dialects may not > indicate the presence of demes in pugetensis. I also note the > possibility, suggested by these patterns, that juvenile pugetensis may > learn songs in a manner different from those documented so far for > White-crowned Sparrows. > > [Luis Baptista's 1977 article that Dennis cites also has some Oregon data > is at > http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Condor/files/issues/v079n03/p0356-p0370.pdf] > > On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 1:49 PM, Michael Gellerman > wrote: > > As a long time bander I will chip in on this. For North American birds, I > am > > most familiar with neotropical migrants on the west coast having worked > and > > worked the data at several MAPS (MONITORING AVIAN PRODUCTIVITY AND > > SURVIVORSHIP PROGRAM) stations in the Sierra Nevada in the 90's. The > > original intent of the program was to figure out individual survivorship > of > > migratory birds because no really good data existed for individuals and > > there was (and there remains) great concern about declining populations > of > > migratory bird habitat on the winter (non-breeding) range. Of course, > that > > is the case (as we sip our Central American coffee), but other patterns > > emerged over time, some of it well documented by banding records and some > > speculative and intuitive after nearly 20 years of collecting data (the > > program began in 1989). In short, lots of different things happen. > > > > One relatively common thing that happens is that birds that winter in > > temperate places like the Willamette Valley, the Sierra foothills, or > Baja > > California often breed very far north but are replaced by birds that > winter > > further south but arrive as the northern breeders depart. I watched this > > with Pacific-slope Flycatchers working on the Channel Islands but only in > > retrospect - the wintering flycatchers would "disapper" for a few days > and > > then suddenly you would start hearing them again, not the same birds but > the > > cousins in from Costa Rica ... I suspect that breeding Varied Thrushes > in > > Oregon are not the birds we see in the Coast Range in January, after all > > their old name was "Alaska Robin", but instead birds that spent December > and > > January in Big Sur. You also see this statistically as recapture rates > > change - as the breeding season progresses recaptures of birds banded in > > prior seasons increases. Some birds are altitudinal migrants for > breeding, > > often following the snow line upslope on exploratory forays but there is > > also the phenomenon of birds breeding very early and young dispersing > > upslope from their hatching area and breeding again (as young of the > year) > > at a higher altitude. Orange-crowned Warblers do this in the central > Sierra > > and suspect Juncos often do the same. Another interesting phenomenon that > I > > have observed from banding on wintering ranges is altitudinal segregation > of > > populations on the wintering range. You see birds like Hermit Thrushes > with > > distinctive subspecies or populations that can be identified in the hand > > segregating by altitude - high latitude breeders at higher altitudes on > the > > winter range and lower latitude breeders at lower altitudes. > > > > All this is made possible by the somewhat arcane (and often more art than > > science) of ageing birds by feather wear, subtle plummage variations, > skull > > suture patterns, breeding condition (brood patch age, cloacal > protuberance) > > and of course simple recapture data (see Identification Guide to North > > American Birds Part I by Peter Pyle). At one MAPS location near Yuba Pass > in > > California there was a Yellow Warbler that was captured for 9 consecutive > > seasons in the same willow with the first recapture always within a few > days > > of the prior years' capture. He was certainly not the champion. I moved > to > > Southern Africa and did similar work there for many years (coming back to > > the States a few years ago and landing in Oregon) and the fascinating > thing > > is that paleotropical migrants are much longer lived than our neotropical > > migrants - a nine year old passerine banded in temperate South Africa is > > relatively ordinary and there is no reasonable explanation as to why ... > > yet. Any prospective grad students out there looking for a project? > > > > Best regards, > > > > Mike Gellerman > > > > From: David Fix & Jude Power > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:28:47 -0700 (PDT) > > Subject: [obol] spring departure of wintering birds > > In recent OBOL posts, there has been discussion about where wintering > > Dark-eyed Juncos, Varied Thrushes, and similar species usually seen only > in > > winter in the lowlands at many locations go when nesting season arrives. > > > > Some have suggested that juncos, to name one example, move upslope > into > > the mountains to nest. While this is likely the case for many, it seems > to > > me that it is a bit short-sighted. To inject a dissenting point of view, > I > > suspect that a huge number of wintering juncos (I would imagine many tens > of > > thousands) don't move upslope, but instead leave Oregon entirely, and may > > fly hundreds of miles, into Washington and way up into British Columbia. > > Conversely, it may be that many of the juncos that breed in the foothills > > and mountains of w. Oregon don't even winter in the state, but do so > farther > > south. Perhaps Dennis Vroman or some other bander might chip in on this. > > > > The same could be true for Varied Thrush, whose breeding populations > > north of Oregon (based on range, and amount of habitat) are likely far > > greater than those within the state. > > > > Similarly, when we see birds such as Orange-crowned and Wilson's > Warblers > > and Pacific-slope Flycatchers "arrive," it seems likely--if based merely > on > > the immense populations of those species, and their vast ranges--that > nearly > > ALL of the individuals we encounter are not going to breed locally, and > > perhaps most not even in Oregon; they could well be headed toward the > more > > northerly part of their range. Many of the Orange-crowns seen in an April > > morning on Skinner Butte in Eugene could well be in Chehalis, Bremerton, > or > > coastal B.C. a few days later. > > > > It's easy to think of these as "our" birds, about to settle in for the > > summer, but a look at the range maps for many will suggest that maybe > that's > > not the case. The truth is not available, but I thought I'd suggest an > > alternate scenario. > > > > David Fix > > Arcata, California > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090415/4743d8e0/attachment.html From tayben at teleport.com Wed Apr 15 17:04:46 2009 From: tayben at teleport.com (Martha taylor & Chris Bennett) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:04:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red Crossbill's Message-ID: <86A436E8D1B6437ABB18F812E0065A81@D4P8RDC1> Today in the early afternoon I spotted 7 Red Crossbills (5m 2fm) I was in Lake Oswego on the lake edge near downtown they were working thru the cones on the trees. Chris -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090415/c1893e12/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Wed Apr 15 17:13:17 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:13:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hutton's Vireo nest and other interesting stuff Message-ID: <49E6781D.7030204@pacifier.com> I went out this morning to Ft Stevens and Warrenton looking for migrants. Along the Batter Russell trail I heard HERMIT WARBLER along with scads of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and great gangs of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. I flushed a BARRED OWL along the trail and managed to get it talking. At the Warrenton Linear Park I re-located the HUTTON'S VIREO nest we saw on April 5 and managed a photo series I call: FIND THE NEST. http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From Jfitchen at aol.com Wed Apr 15 17:33:07 2009 From: Jfitchen at aol.com (Jfitchen at aol.com) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:33:07 EDT Subject: [obol] Larch Townsend's Solitaires Message-ID: Hello Obol, This afternoon at 2:00 I saw two TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES at a nursery farm on the left about three miles up Larch Mountain. A few minutes later I saw two more solitaires about a mile up the highway at 45301 Larch Mountain Road. There were clearly four different birds since the interval between the sightings was too short for the first pair to have flown to the location of the second pair. Other good sightings on the day: YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Vanport); CASPIAN TERN (Bonneville Dam); HORNED GREBE in full molt (Dalton Point). Cheers, John Fitchen Portland **************Why pay full price? Check out this month's deals on the new AOL Shopping. (http://shopping.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntinstor00000001) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090415/47b61ef6/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Wed Apr 15 18:54:37 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:54:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] fashion Message-ID: <006b01c9be36$55449840$84c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> I get a newletter from Wings, which contained the following link, with the comment "And I thought this was safely in the past..." http://www.ellecanada.com/fashion/trends/bird-call-fashion-takes-inspiration-from-feathers/a/26366 Cheers, Paul T. Sullivan From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Wed Apr 15 18:43:09 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:43:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] [COBOL] help for a color blind student? References: Message-ID: <006a01c9be36$541ce120$84c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Jim, When you use the color blindness converter, does a Red-breasted Goose look like a Brant? ;-) Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: Jim Moodie To: cobol at lists.orst.edu ; OBOL Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 9:55 AM Subject: [COBOL] help for a color blind student? COBOLanders and OBOLanders, I have a color blind student taking my bird ecology class and I would like to help him identify bird species without relying on true colors. To see what he sees, I've downloaded a color blindness converter that will at least allow me to visualize the bird photos as a color blinded person would. I've checked the web a bit, but perhaps someone in the birding community knows of sources available to aid the color blind birder? Thanks in advance. Cheers, Jim Dr. James Moodie Science Department Central Oregon Community College Bend, OR 97701 541-383-7282 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ COBOL mailing list COBOL at lists.oregonstate.edu http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol To unsubscribe, send a message to: COBOL-request at lists.oregonstate.edu with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090415/20fd8fa8/attachment.html From glenpritchard at gmail.com Wed Apr 15 19:16:33 2009 From: glenpritchard at gmail.com (Glen Pritchard) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:16:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] unsuscribe - suggest online forum Message-ID: <1aca06e40904151916n46aadd76s23887e74edd54a64@mail.gmail.com> I have been a member for a month or so and subscribed as I thought it was a rare bird alert mailing. The posts are interesting, but too many for this type of chain email list. I strongly suggest that someone step up to make this an online forum where these topics and daily yard sightings, etc. can be discussed by topic upon login. The emails are far too many and mostly I'm constantly deleting them. I've tried unsuscribing a couple of times and not sure now that that even works as previous reminder email links from OBOL just don't even work. Glen Pritchard Columbia City, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090415/082fec6e/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Tue Apr 14 20:33:56 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:33:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] unsuscribe - suggest online forum References: <1aca06e40904151916n46aadd76s23887e74edd54a64@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <4E2D944C465243AFA88EDFB746DA8F7F@1120639> Glen, I'm sorry this list isn't to your liking. It has worked for over a decade for the many subscribers who like it for what it is. If you'd like to start your own list that has fewer postings and only details rare birds, more power to you. You could always just check Jim Siler's great site http://birdingonthe.net/hotmail.html. But the chances of a newcomer changing everyone's habits on OBOL that have been built up over many, many years and countless interesting discussions are about the same as me seeing an Ivory-billed Woodpecker in my backyard. If you wish to unsubscribe and haven't been able to follow the OBOL protocols, email Jim Norton, the list manager. He can be reached at jimnorton at jimnorton.org Tom Crabtree Bend ----- Original Message ----- From: Glen Pritchard To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 7:16 PM Subject: [obol] unsuscribe - suggest online forum I have been a member for a month or so and subscribed as I thought it was a rare bird alert mailing. The posts are interesting, but too many for this type of chain email list. I strongly suggest that someone step up to make this an online forum where these topics and daily yard sightings, etc. can be discussed by topic upon login. The emails are far too many and mostly I'm constantly deleting them. I've tried unsuscribing a couple of times and not sure now that that even works as previous reminder email links from OBOL just don't even work. Glen Pritchard Columbia City, OR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090414/6ee8d461/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Wed Apr 15 21:00:39 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:00:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Goose chase on Wednesday, more comments re RB Goose status. Message-ID: John Elizalde, Jack Kiley, Owen Schmidt and I birded Ankeny NWR, Finley NWR, Baskett Slough NWR and various other areas in the Willamette Valley today. Our goal was to relocate the Red-breasted Goose. We were unable to locate it. We saw jaw-dropping numbers of Cackling Geese - tens of thousands. The greatest numbers were at Baskett Slough. Canada Geese were scarce, There were the few Western Canadas at Baskett Slough that are likely nesting birds, a dark bird there that may have been a Vancouver or Dusky, and several Westerns near Milwaukie. Single ROSS' GEESE were with the Cackling Geese at Finley and Baskett Slough. GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were scattered at various locations. A total of about 135 were seen. The largest flock had 35. The migration of Greater Yellowlegs was evident in scattered small numbers. Regarding the possible wild status of the Red-breasted Goose: While it would doubtlessly add clarification were there records of the species from Alaska, the Wrangle Island, Siberia record is about as useful as one from Alaska. Note also that there have been only two Willamette Valley records of Red-breasted Goose with the Cackling or Canada Geese. The Willamette Valley is a very good place for wintering geese, and one of the prime areas where one might expect a true vagrant Red-breasted Goose to occur if it made it the US on its own. That two birds could pass through Alaska without being detected is small wonder. There aren't many birders in Alaska, especially in fall. Alaska is huge. The migration of a goose can be rapid and a bird can cover large distances without stopping. The species wouldn't winter in Alaska. Red-breasted Geese wouldn't occur as spring over-shoots such a the occasional Bean Goose. Even if the theory that the goose is an escapee is correct, why isn't it recorded in the summer? An escaped bird would be at least as likely to be seen in its northward migration, in summer, or in its southward migration north of Oregon as would a truly wild bird. That it apparently hasn't been noted north of us, isn't really very indicative of its provenance. Best birding to all. The Gillson, et al. pelagic trip this weekend looks really tempting...I can't go. Jeff Gilligan Portland From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Apr 15 21:30:36 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:30:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 04/15/09 Message-ID: <20090416043037.87B6AA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 04/09 to 04/15/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 6 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Turkey Vulture 1 (3, 4/13) Cooper's Hawk 2 (1, 4/13 & 14) Band-tailed Pigeon 5 (5) Mourning Dove 4 (3, 4/13) Anna's Hummingbird 4 (2) Rufous Hummingbird 5 (2) Red-breasted Sapsucker 3 (2) Downy Woodpecker 2 (2, 4/10) Northern Flicker 5 (3) Steller's Jay 6 (5, 4/11) Western Scrub-Jay 5 (2, 4/10 & 11) American Crow 6 (8, 4/9 & 10) Black-capped Chickadee 6 (10) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 6 (2+) Bushtit 5 (5) Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 (5) Brown Creeper 2 (1, 4/11 & 13) Bewick's Wren 5 (1) Winter Wren 6 (4) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 (2, 4/10) American Robin 6 (20) Varied Thrush 3 (3, 4/10) European Starling 5 (4) Orange-crowned Warbler 5 (2, 4/14) Townsend's Warbler 1 (1, 4/13) Spotted Towhee 6 (7) Fox Sparrow 1 (1, 4/9) Song Sparrow 6 (12) Golden-crowned Sparrow 2 (1, 4/12 & 13) Dark-eyed Junco 6 (18, 4/9) Purple Finch 5 (7, 4/13) House Finch 6 (10) Pine Siskin 6 (25, 4/11) Evening Grosbeak 1 (1, 4/14) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: RED-TAILED HAWK, WESTERN SCREECH-OWL, Great Horned Owl, Violet-green Swallow Misses (birds found at least 3 days during previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Pileated Woodpecker, Golden-crowned Kinglet Wink Gross Portland From johndeshler at yahoo.com Wed Apr 15 22:00:41 2009 From: johndeshler at yahoo.com (John Deshler) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:00:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Gray Jay in Forest Park, Portland Message-ID: <577391.92199.qm@web34207.mail.mud.yahoo.com> For the third year in a row I've found one or more Gray Jays in Forest Park in Portland (today only a single individual). I only mention this because some serious birders have eyed me askance when I've said this in the past. But Gray Jays are indeed in the park, albeit in low numbers and only in the section from Germantown Rd to Newberry Rd. Today's Gray Jay was at the Leif Erikson trailhead on Germantown Rd. At least four pair of the mighty Barred Owl are also haunting the park this year. John Deshler Portland From jeffgill at teleport.com Wed Apr 15 22:15:12 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:15:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gray Jay in Forest Park, Portland In-Reply-To: <577391.92199.qm@web34207.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Years ago an occasional Gray Jay would show up at the feeders at the Portland Audubon Society. The species also occurs at the state park on Hwy. 30, at not very high elevation between Clatskanie and Rainier. (I can't recall the name of the park. It has a view of the Columbia River from its cliff.) The elevation there probably is lower than where John Deshler has seen the birds in Portland's Forest Park. Jeff Gilligan On 4/15/09 10:00 PM, "John Deshler" wrote: > > > For the third year in a row I've found one or more Gray Jays in Forest Park in > Portland (today only a single individual). I only mention this because some > serious birders have eyed me askance when I've said this in the past. But > Gray Jays are indeed in the park, albeit in low numbers and only in the > section from Germantown Rd to Newberry Rd. Today's Gray Jay was at the Leif > Erikson trailhead on Germantown Rd. > > At least four pair of the mighty Barred Owl are also haunting the park this > year. > > John Deshler > Portland > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From louisfredd at msn.com Wed Apr 15 22:38:32 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:38:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Purple Martins, Willamette Falls (Oregon City) Message-ID: I did some birdwatching this afternoon from the overlook of Willamette Falls beside Hwy 99E, between Oregon City and Canemah (The latter a historic district just upstream from the falls). About 3:30pm 3 Purple Martins appeared and foraged for a minute or two rather high over mostly wooded terrain between the highway and nearby bluff. One was a female. It came from the direction of the river with a small flock of swallows I was watching. By chance it flew into my binoculars' field of view as it passed almost overhead. I followed her and then observed two others that had been behind me. Those were both males. There weren't a lot of swallows at the falls: mostly Violet-green and some Tree concentrated over the water on my side, away from the main flow. Across the river there appeared to be a few Cliff swallows flying back and forth next to the industrial buildings. Also spotted one Barn Swallow. There were about 25 gulls flying back and forth, fishing the swift and turbulent flow in the channel formed by the central "Horse Shoe" of the falls, others resting on rocks and structures to the side. I also saw an Osprey, 5 Turkey Vultures in a mini-kettle vicinity the Interstate Bridge, a Double-crested Cormorant, a pair of Canada Geese on the rocks at the base of the falls, etc. Lou _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090415/d48ecbab/attachment.html From 4cains at charter.net Wed Apr 15 22:43:19 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:43:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gr. White-fronted Geese -- early migration...etc Message-ID: Yesterday afternoon 5 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE shared Wireless Rd cow fields with about 1000+ Canada's and Cacklers. Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090415/db4d943e/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Apr 15 23:44:42 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:44:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 4-16-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * April 16, 2009 * ORPO0904.16 - birds mentioned Gr. White-fronted Goose Cackling Goose RED-BREASTED GOOSE TUFTED DUCK Long-tailed Duck Am. White Pelican American Bittern White-faced Ibis Black-necked Stilt Whimbrel Long-billed Curlew Marbled Godwit SLATY-BACKED GULL Glaucous Gull Calliope Hummingbird Dusky Flycatcher Swainson?s Thrush Nashville Warbler Hermit Warbler Wilson?s Warbler - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 Compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday April 16. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. A male TUFTED DUCK is now being seen at Fern Ridge Reservoir. A bright RED-BREASTED GOOSE is now at Finley NWR. The downtown Portland SLATY-BACKED GULL and GLAUCOUS GULLS were seen during the week. Heavy warbler movements occurred during the week bringing the first NASHVILLE, WILSON?S, and HERMIT WARBLERS. CACKLING and WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were conspicuous during the week. CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRDS were seen during the week at Silverton, Astoria, Eugene, Lebanon, Milwaukie, SW Portland, and Bend. On April 10 a WHITE PELICAN was in the surf at Neskowin, south of Tillamook. On April 10 a BLACK-NECKED STILT was at the Tualatin NWR. That day a LONG-BILLED CURLEW was at Baskett Slough NWR. The next day one was at Ankeny NWR. An early SWAINSON?S THRUSH was near Corvallis April 11. Four BLACK-NECKED STILTS were seen April 13 at Fern Ridge Reservoir. A DUSKY FLYCATCHER was in Bend April 13. Early WHITE-FACED IBIS were back at Malheur and Lower Klamath NWR?s during the week. A LONG-TAILED DUCK was at Putnam Point on Upper Klamath Lake during the week. On April 13 six MARBLED GODWITS, a WHIMBREL, and 128 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS were at Lower Klamath NWR. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090415/1ebb255d/attachment.html From bcombs232 at gmail.com Thu Apr 16 00:23:19 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:23:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sequence of Red-breasted Goose reports from 2006 In-Reply-To: <1239726750.3616.107.camel@localhost.localdomain> References: <1239726750.3616.107.camel@localhost.localdomain> Message-ID: <8ce3a6520904160023p64fc107aj4bc5f7f09723e4a6@mail.gmail.com> Robin Gage and I saw a Red-breasted Goose at Ankeny NWR, probably in 1999 but possibly 2000 or, less likely, in November or December 1998. It was DEFINITELY after October 1998, within a year or two. On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 9:32 AM, Joel Geier wrote: > Hello folks, > > Well, I didn't really have time for this but here is the sequence of > reports that show up in either the OBOL or MidValley list archives from > 2006 when the goose in question (or a goose if one doubts that the one > (s) seen in subsequent years is/are the same one): > > 2006 Jan 03: One reported on ground near McMinnville, Yamhill Co. (Molly > Monroe) > 2006 Jan 06: One reported on ground near Dayton, Yamhill Co. (Linda Fink > et al.) > 2006 Jan 12: Khanh Tran relays report from an acquaintance who raises > exotic waterfowl that there are several breeders keeping this species > near McMinnville, and one named Steve Langer has recently lost one of > his ~30 R-b Geese. > 2006 Apr 04: One reported on ground at Baskett Slough, Polk Co. (Jay > Withgott) > 2006 Apr 05: One reported on ground at Baskett Slough, Polk Co. (Lars > Norgren) > 2006 Apr 09: One reported on ground near Lewisburg, Benton Co. (Deb > Davis) > 2006 Apr 12-22: Various reports of single goose around McFadden Marsh > area of Finley NWR, Benton Co. > > Lars is correct that this was the same year that the Brambling was found > in Monmouth. It also appears that the bird moved much more slowly from > the McMinnville/Dayton area to Baskett Slough than I recalled -- or at > least it was not detected there for a while. > > Lars' mention of other sightings are news to me. A text search on > "breasted goose" (independent of case) on OBOL & MidValley archives that > I have on my home computer (through spring of 2007) turned up no other > sightings except a discussion of the goose raised by Jeff Gilligan in > March 2007 (where was it being seen?). > > There is one interesting note from Gerard Lillie on 14 Feb 2004, > regarding the Falcated Duck. This mentions that a Mr. Jeffrey Brown in > Applegate, Oregon had reported losing a Red-breasted Goose and thought > it could explain some earlier sightings in the Willamette Valley. Thanks > to Marilyn's post regarding Fuzzy-Bird's recent birthday, we are > reminded that geese can live for over 13 years, though presumably a > wild/feral goose faces more threats to its longevity than a pet goose. > > Regrettably there is a gap in Willamette Basin field notes for the > subsequent winters, until Mark Nikas kindly bailed me out of that task > as I was falling hopelessly behind. Erik Knight's compilations for the > Portland Metro area: > > http://www.oregonbirds.org/FieldNotes/FieldNotesMetroArea.html > > do not seem to show this bird being reported from Fernhill or elsewhere. > but perhaps a more thorough search is needed. I do not have the digests > from 2008 or later at hand for an easy text search. > > The National Audubon CBC database does not show Red-breasted Goose as > having been recorded on the Dallas CBC, in any winter from 2000-01 > through 2007-08. Normally CBC compilers do not try to make judgements > about origin for this type of bird, but perhaps the regional compiler > will recall if a report was excised on grounds of questionable origin. I > do recall that one Red-breasted Goose was seen in that area around 1999 > or 2000; perhaps that is the one that Lars was thinking of. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Eugene OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090416/dbea7077/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Thu Apr 16 05:25:53 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:25:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gray Jay in Forest Park, Portland Message-ID: <49E723D1.4040109@pacifier.com> Jeff is almost certainly talking about Bradley Wayside which is actually between Westport and Knappa and about 700ft. Gray Jays are actually very regular in the Northern Coast Range. I record them annually on the Breeding Bird Survey at Nicolai Mt, the whole of which never gets higher than about 1000ft. They are pretty easy to find around Crown Camp on the Lewis and Clark Mainline (~300ft). We have recorded them at Circle Creek, Neawanna Creek and Tillamook Head near sea level, though these were probably dispersing birds. And for context, Lewis and Clark recorded them at Ft Clatsop in 1906 which would also be near sea level. Re: Gray Jay in Forest Park, Portland From: Jeff Gilligan Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:15:12 -0700 Years ago an occasional Gray Jay would show up at the feeders at the Portland Audubon Society. The species also occurs at the state park on Hwy. 30, at not very high elevation between Clatskanie and Rainier. (I can't recall the name of the park. It has a view of the Columbia River from its cliff.) The elevation there probably is lower than where John Deshler has seen the birds in Portland's Forest Park. Jeff Gilligan -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Thu Apr 16 05:36:59 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:36:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black-necked Stilts Message-ID: <000301c9be90$2e2dc790$86c963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: This past Sunday, April 12, 2009, Carol Karlen & I were returning from a visit to friends in Clarkston, WA. We saw 2 White Pelicans flying and landing in the Walla Walla River near Touchet, WA. We stopped along I-84 by the marsh at milepost 183 (Buck's Corner, DeLorme p. 85, A7) to look for Tricolored Blackbirds. Instead we found lots of YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS, REDWINGS, and ~8 BLACK-NECKED STILTS, plus a Tunda Swan. A little further west I spotted another couple BLACK-NECKED STILTS on the west edge of Boardman. Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan ____________________________ Subject: RBA: Portland, OR 4-16-09 From: Harry Nehls Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:44:42 -0700 ... hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 Compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday April 16. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. ... On April 10 a BLACK-NECKED STILT was at the Tualatin NWR. That day a LONG-BILLED CURLEW was at Baskett Slough NWR. The next day one was at Ankeny NWR. .... Four BLACK-NECKED STILTS were seen April 13 at Fern Ridge Reservoir. ...That?s it for this week. - end transcript From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Apr 16 07:07:46 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:07:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] More Coos Birds 4/15/2009 Message-ID: <72354.7055.qm@web45315.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> As per Dave and Kathy's posting, it sounds like there are lots of ALEUTIAN CACKLERS around.? I talked to Dave Ledig (Bandon Marsh NWR Refuge Manager) who had heard from Rick McKenzie that on his ranch in the New River bottoms area of Coos Co. there is currently 15-20,000 geese.? This number is actually lower than in past years, but it's still a lot of geese!! Dave Ledig also mentioned that he thought the peak shorebird numbers hit Bandon Marsh from about 20-22 April.? In my experience it can be early as he mentioned but some recent years it's been a bit later.? With the nice weather forecasted for this weekend through early next week the shorebird migration should really crank up. The PALM WARBLER is still out on the north spit of Coos Bay, it should be headed north any day though.? The 6th species of swallow finally showed up yesterday when I saw my first NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW out there. Merry migration all! Tim R Coos Bay From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Apr 16 07:38:59 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:38:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gray Jays and elevation Message-ID: With this species and most others, including non-birds (I'm thinking of mushrooms) elevation is a meaningless parameter in nw Oregon. Plant communities are the basis of the supporting habitat and these are driven by climate. SLOPE ASPECT is very significant. Oaks and Madrones routinely grow at 1000m in the Cascades if there is a steep south facing slope with shallow, rocky soil. On the same mountain, but its NORTH side, one can expect things like blue huckleberry and Noble Fir at or below 300m. Gray Jays are very widespread in the Coast Range, of which Forest Park is a solid extension. They are quite hard to detect because they wander widely and their calls are soft. They are regular at our house, but seldom daily. Weeks and months go by without seeing them, but they always return, dozens of times a year. I saw one last week in the regenerating clearcut that Stefan Schlick has visited to park and hike in for Mountain Quail (less than 1 mile west of Hwy 26 on Hayward Road). These Douglas-firs are 16 years old, just beginning to close the canopy. On a point count conducted at Hyla Woods Manning plantation two years ago Lori Hennings and I detected Gray Jays. This is just off Way Road (before the parking place at the lower blue gate). At the end of the count we saw Gray Jays where our cars were parked. The immediate area was dominated by Scouler Willow, not conifers. I think they had come to drink at a spring. The elevation there is no more than 100m. On a point count with Char Corchran at Hyla Woods Mount Richmond plantation we recorded Gray Jays three years ago. Mount Richmond is sw of Gaston in part of the range of hills that imperfectly links the Chehalem Hills to the Coast Range. I imagine there is a permanent population of Gray Jays in the Chehalem Hills too. Lars Norgren From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Thu Apr 16 10:51:57 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:51:57 -0400 Subject: [obol] Gray jays in Col. Co. Message-ID: Gray jays can still be seen on occasion scattered in the hills of Columbia County, and our county has the lowest high point of all Oregon counties. The highest "peak" is only 2,265 ft. (Long Mountain at the southern border). The limiting factor for gray jays is probably the increasing lack of sizeable trees. We are covered with tree farms -- thousands of acres of small trees with no diversity. The park mentioned by Mike Pattersen where he saw gray jays must be Hudson-Parcher County Park, off of Larsen Road at the top of the hill just north of the town of Rainier. If you bird in the park, stop at the school close by -- they have a wetland with a trail. Yard: a couple of COWBIRDS have joined the ground crew the past two days. Lona Pierce, Warren, Columbia County _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090416/c969a992/attachment.html From jeff17_marks at msn.com Thu Apr 16 11:05:21 2009 From: jeff17_marks at msn.com (Jeff Marks) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:05:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Dusky Flycatcher SE PDX Message-ID: Just minutes ago I watched a singing Dusky Flycatcher at the corner of SE 45th and Reedway, just north of the Woodstock Safeway. Not earth-shattering by any means, but it's the first empid I've encountered this year. ***************** Jeff Marks 4241 SE Liebe Street Portland, OR 97206 503-774-4783 Birds of Montana Project http://mtaudubon.org/ ***************** -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090416/d1a527c5/attachment.html From jerryg at gaiser.org Thu Apr 16 11:15:50 2009 From: jerryg at gaiser.org (Jerry Gaiser) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:15:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gray Jay in Forest Park, Portland In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <200904161115.51063.jerryg@gaiser.org> On Wednesday 15 April 2009 22:15:12 Jeff Gilligan wrote: > Years ago an occasional Gray Jay would show up at the feeders at the > Portland Audubon Society. The species also occurs at the state park on > Hwy. 30, at not very high elevation between Clatskanie and Rainier. (I > can't recall the name of the park. It has a view of the Columbia River > from its cliff.) The elevation there probably is lower than where John > Deshler has seen the birds in Portland's Forest Park. Jeff Gilligan I've reported this before, but we've got *regular* Gray Jay visitors up here on Pumpkin Ridge north of North Plains at about 1200ft. 5 to 6 feed every morning from the cat food dish on the back deck. http://www.gaiser.org/GrayJay012308.jpg Jerry Gaiser North Plains, Oregon From jeff17_marks at msn.com Thu Apr 16 11:25:40 2009 From: jeff17_marks at msn.com (Jeff Marks) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:25:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] HAMMOND's Flycatcher SE PDX, probably Message-ID: I retract my earlier post. The bird was giving a two-part song, "se-put" followed by a single burry down-slurred note. I heard no higher third notes, although I only stuck around for a few song bouts. I now think it was a Hammond's. Sorry about that. I would not argue with anyone who might be thinking "he didn't know what the hell it was" given that this thought has crossed my mind too. But I will say that with a bit of practice I usually know these guys very well! Jeff ***************** Jeff Marks 4241 SE Liebe Street Portland, OR 97206 503-774-4783 Birds of Montana Project http://mtaudubon.org/ ***************** -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090416/bbdba5c4/attachment.html From diana.byrne at comcast.net Thu Apr 16 11:29:11 2009 From: diana.byrne at comcast.net (Diana Byrne) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:29:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Young Great Horned Owl at Dawson Creek, Hillsboro Library Message-ID: <82DDF6F0-D6E9-447E-B304-B2D551BC3D79@comcast.net> A young Great Horned Owl was sitting in the same tree yesterday morning at 9am and when I checked back around noon, at Dawson Creek behind the Hillsboro Main Library. The owl was only about 100 feet from carpenters working on an apartment building. The day before, I saw 2 young owls in a hole in the same tree. Here's a link to video I took of it (using a Canon ELPH camera attached to a spotting scope) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5oge6gZj8E -Diana Byrne Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090416/cb94a432/attachment.html From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Thu Apr 16 11:41:39 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (Tom McNamara) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:41:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] FOY--Hammond's et al on Mt Tabor (Mult) In-Reply-To: <200904161822.n3GIMLbT029624@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> References: <200904161822.n3GIMLbT029624@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> Message-ID: > > This report was mailed for Tom McNamara by http://birdnotes.net > > Date: April 16, 2009 > Location: Mt. Tabor Park, Multnomah County, Oregon > > Low temperature: 50 degrees fahrenheit High temperature: 50 degrees fahrenheit > Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h > Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 20% > > Pretty fun on Tabor this morning --things have shaken out a > bit from the past few weeks. > > > > Most notable: FOY Hammond's Flycatcher (1) and several singing > species of warbler of which we've been enjoying? quite the dearth > compared to,say, Skinner's Butte. Pretty high numbers of some species > would seem to indicate some movement action. > > > > > Birds seen (in taxonomic order): > > Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 1 > Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 2 [1] > Band-tailed Pigeon (Columba fasciata) 2 > Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) 11 > Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) 1 [2] > Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 2 > Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 20 [3] > Hammond's Flycatcher (Empidonax hammondii) 1 [4] > Hutton's Vireo (Vireo huttoni) 1 > Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) 14 [5] > Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) 2 > American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 12 > Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) 5 > Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 5 > Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens) 4 > Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) 28 [6] > Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 8 > Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 7 > Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) 5 > Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) 2 > Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 10 > Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 35 > American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 55 > Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) 3 > Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata) 6 [7] > Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) 6 [8] > Townsend's Warbler (Dendroica townsendi) 10 [9] > Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) 20 [10] > Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 25 > Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 15 > House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) 50 [11] > Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus) 100 [12] > Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria) 75 [13] > > Footnotes: > > [1] heard the "juvenile solicitation" calls coming from the eastside > nest > [2] mobbed by 2 Anna's > [3] seemingly everywhere > [4] FOY > [5] a lot of them around this year on Tabor > [6] all paired off now; found 2 more nests > [7] some were singing > [8] ditto > [9] ibid > [10] quite a few--some must be stopping over > [11] all over > [12] all over > [13] all over > > Total number of species seen: 33 > > _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get e-mail storage that grows with you. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Storage2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090416/abe96210/attachment.html From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Thu Apr 16 12:16:09 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (Tom McNamara) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:16:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] about that juvenile solicitation call... Message-ID: Just a bit ago I posted a census count for Mt Tabor and in the footnotes I wrote that I'd heard the "juvenile solicitation" call from the eastside Redtail nest. Hmmmm. I wrote that on the basis of a recorded vocalization (not the very familiar "scream call" but kind of a hyperventilating series of shrieks with, probably, a 1/2 second intervals between shrieks) for Redtails in the new "Bird Songs of the Pacific Northwest" by Geoffrey Keller and Gerrit Vyn. An aside: this looks like an excellent product! I have been hearing this vocalization or something quite similar for some years and every time it has been around a Redtail nest. (Actually, that's how I finally located this eastside nest ---by tracking down that sound). I had not been able to put together the vocalization with a behavior and not being attentive enough to when I would hear it. Originally, I had a vague notion it might be juvenile-ish, then, after finding the nest about 3 weeks ago, thought maybe it was one bird calling its mate from on or around the nest. Now, I get this darn recording by an authority and the sound is, as I say, quite similar....and it's called the juvenile solicitation call. Like from within the egg? or what; it's mid April! Any thoughts on this? Tom _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Life without walls. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1b_explore_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090416/95289d38/attachment.html From brrobb at comcast.net Thu Apr 16 12:34:52 2009 From: brrobb at comcast.net (Roger & Betty Robb) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:34:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tufted Duck, Fern Ridge, Lane Message-ID: This morning at 8:00 I found the reported TUFTED DUCK from the viewing platform west of the end of Royal Ave along with 11 WHITE PELICANS and good numbers of PURPLE MARTINS and calling VIRGINIA RAILS. I also found 7 BLACK-NECKED STILTS in the Fisher Butte Unit off Rt 126. Amongst the 100+ GREEN-WINGED TEAL here I found 1 COMMON TEAL. Roger Robb Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090416/eb3090b5/attachment.html From woodenapple at juno.com Thu Apr 16 12:59:54 2009 From: woodenapple at juno.com (woodenapple at juno.com) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:59:54 GMT Subject: [obol] Obol: Eugene/Santa Clara Pileated Woodpecker Message-ID: <20090416.125954.25633.0@webmail19.vgs.untd.com> I had a PILEATED WOODPECKER fly over my N. Eugene/Santa Clara area backyard today, Thursday, just after noon. We see one or more passing through most springs but hadn't seen one in a couple of years. Rudi ____________________________________________________________ Click to find information on your credit score and your credit report. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTIkRqnFttj6nXhtcnbSBg0qwVuhtxeNjEWq9F5PgQjr491WFCPq28/ From johnpam at mtangel.net Thu Apr 16 13:17:43 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:17:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ankeny Black-Bellied Plover-Yesterday Message-ID: A Salem Audubon group saw 3 BLACK BELLIED PLOVER & several breeding plumage DUNLIN at Pintail Marsh site. Also 12+ LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER at Eagle Marsh. Other highlights of approx 55 species included ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, WESTERN MEADOWLARK, CINNAMON TEAL, OSPREY, BALD EAGLE, PEREGRINE FALCON. John Thomas From margieparis1 at mac.com Thu Apr 16 14:45:32 2009 From: margieparis1 at mac.com (Margie Paris) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:45:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Vaux's Swifts in Eugene Message-ID: <7D741215-4210-46B6-988F-9E79F1FCE0A6@mac.com> Dear OBOL, Last night there were good numbers of Vaux's Swifts near the Agate Hall chimney in Eugene (18th & Agate). I didn't stay around for the fly-in, so I've no estimate. Margie Paris 2394 Charnelton Street Eugene, OR 97405 (541) 484-0763 margieparis1 at mac.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090416/c7373474/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Thu Apr 16 14:51:36 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:51:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] BANDING REPORT: Neawanna Wetland - 4/16/2009 Message-ID: <49E7A868.5020104@pacifier.com> BANDING REPORT- Neawanna Wetland Preserve 04-07-2009 Method: Up to eight 9m mist nets are placed in mixed Oregon Crabapple/Twinberry/Spruce along the the upper Neawanna River, Seaside, Clatsop Co. OR. Captured birds are measured, ringed with USBBL numbered metal bands and released. Data on time of capture and side of net captured are also recorded to gain an understanding of movements through the area. 2009 416 Neawanna 106 Hours 4 Nets 8 Net*hours 32 Rufous Hummingbird RUHU 9 Ruby-crowned Kinglet RCKI 3 Orange-crowned Warbler OCWA 1 Common Yellowthroat COYE 2 Hermit Thrush HETH 1 Golden-crowned Sparrow GCSP 1 new captures 17 total captures 17 diversity 4 birds/(net*hour) 0.5 diversity/(net*hour) 0.1 Notes: We're still not seeing the kind of migrant numbers we expect for the time of year. There were singing YELLOW- RUMPED and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER early, but the numbers sunk by 08:30. http://home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/observatory/observatory.html -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From range.bayer at gmail.com Thu Apr 16 15:38:07 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:38:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Vesper Sparrow at Toledo Message-ID: Hi, Chuck Philo saw a Vesper Sparrow at 3 PM today (Apr. 16) at Toledo Library. It was feeding in the bark dust near the drop-in box. They are uncommon in Lincoln County. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport From jeffgill at teleport.com Thu Apr 16 16:36:10 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:36:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: Greater Yellowlegs In-Reply-To: Message-ID: ------ Forwarded Message From: "TimBickler at aol.com" Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:28:20 EDT To: "jeffgill at teleport.com" Subject: Greater Yellowlegs Jeff, Floated the Willamette from below Eugene to Harrisburg yesterday. I saw more Greater Yellowlegs that I think I've ever seen in one day, including floating the gravel bar rivers in Bristol Bay area during nesting season. I would conservatively estimate I saw over 125 birds on the gravel and willow bars. We were in near constant sight or voice contact with groups of 4-10 birds in a 6 mile float. I don't know if that is an extraordinary number, but it certainly was for me. Lots of snipe moving too, no dows, though I did see a couple of small flocks below Hrrisburg a couple of weeks ago. Access 350+ FREE radio stations anytime from anywhere on the web. Get the Radio Toolbar ! ------ End of Forwarded Message -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090416/7b7c562f/attachment.html From tlove at linfield.edu Thu Apr 16 16:41:01 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:41:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tualatin NWR - Eur Wigeon continue Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F1216A4F85F@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> In the spirit of documenting departing wintering birds, EURASIAN WIGEON continue at Tualatin NWR. On 13 April I saw a pair, and this morning 16 April I saw two separate drakes. I've looked several times without success for the Black-necked Stilt reported last week. Water seems even a bit higher lately. Otherwise, FOY CLIFF SWALLOWs joined BARN, TREE and, on Monday, VIOLET-GREEN and ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS there. Tom Love tlove at linfield.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090416/caadac6a/attachment.html From marciafcutler at comcast.net Thu Apr 16 16:56:00 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:56:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bald Hill, Benton Co. In-Reply-To: <826807.17187.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <826807.17187.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1CE1AC0C18034783A7EBCC79EC6A5450@melvintrex4uoq> Hi Tim, I think it is best to revise my sighting to Catharus, sp. I obviously did not see enough of the bird to rule out Hermit Thrush. I agree with you that it is important that incorrect records do not get perpetuated. Thanks, Marcia F. Cutler Corvallis -----Original Message----- From: Tim Rodenkirk [mailto:garbledmodwit at yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 6:44 AM To: marciafcutler at comcast.net Subject: RE: [obol] Bald Hill, Benton Co. I think most early reports are very suspect, but that's my opinion. Now if someone sees and hears the bird's distictive call or song, that's a different story. Most of the early reports the past few years have been based on seen or heard only birds. Hermits can easily be mistaken for Swainson's, especially given they are migrating now and there are several subspecies of Hermits out there. Actually, based on your report, we have another very early Swainson's report that could be tacked onto someone elses phenology for your area thus creating more confusion for future new birders who may assume that Swainson's Thrushes show up in early April regularly! I guess what I'm getting at is a Swainson's found as early as your report is a very rare event, not sure if you realized that which is why I questioned you in the first place. An early Cassin's Vireo, Black-throated Gray Warbler or Pacific-slope Flycatcher, on the other hand, are not unusual for those species. Enough said, I didn't mean to piss you off, just wondered if you realized how rare an early April Swainson's is. Tim --- On Sun, 4/12/09, Marcia F. Cutler wrote: > From: Marcia F. Cutler > Subject: RE: [obol] Bald Hill, Benton Co. > To: "'Tim Rodenkirk'" > Date: Sunday, April 12, 2009, 8:29 PM > I have now checked out some > phenologies.? Al McGie's for Benton Co. gives > the earliest date as 4/5 and average as 5/3.? > Portland's gives earliest as > 4/15 (or 4/14)? I don't know the validity of these > early reports. > > Marcia > > -----Original Message----- > From: Tim Rodenkirk [mailto:garbledmodwit at yahoo.com] > > Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2009 4:11 PM > To: marciafcutler at comcast.net > Subject: RE: [obol] Bald Hill, Benton Co. > > > Marcia, > > Unlike other species, there just aren't any records of > outliers this early. > A really early bird would be perhaps 28 April. Without > definitely hearing > its distinctive call or its song, I would say that it had > to be a Hermit. > > Just my experience and we've had this discussion before on > OBOL. > > Tim > > --- On Sun, 4/12/09, Marcia F. Cutler > wrote: > > > From: Marcia F. Cutler > > Subject: RE: [obol] Bald Hill, Benton Co. > > To: "'Tim Rodenkirk'" > > Cc: "'Douglas Robinson'" > > Date: Sunday, April 12, 2009, 11:54 AM > > Hi Tim, > > > > Let's amend that to being about 75 percent sure it was > a > > Swainson's.? I am > > aware that it was a rather early sighting and I only > got a > > look at the front > > of the bird so couldn't check out whether there was a > > contrasting reddish > > tone to the wings or tail (which would indicate > > Hermit).? What I did notice > > was that the breast did not look as strongly speckled > as I > > would expect for > > a Hermit Thrush and the speckles were brownish not > > black.? I checked Sibley > > before posting and actually considered whether the > bird > > might have been an > > off-course migrating Veery.? In Sibley, the breasts > > that most closely > > matched what I saw were Adult Western/Newfoundland > Veery > > and 1st year > > Swainsons (Pacific) though the adult Pacific form was > also > > close.? In NG, > > 4th ed. The closest match is the ustulatus form of > the > > Swainson's Thrush. > > > > I did notice an eye ring but couldn't tell you if it > was > > white or buffy (my > > impression - dingy or off-white) > > > > Whether Swainson's or Hermit's, its behavior was > rather > > startling.? As I was > > walking up the path by the barn, it flushed out of a > tree > > about 50 -75 feet > > in front of me, flew right at me, passing just above > (like > > it was hazing > > me), then landed in a small tree about the same > distance > > behind me.? I had > > to move to the other side of this tree to get a decent > view > > of the bird > > without looking directly into the sun and by the time > I did > > that, the bird > > only stayed put a short time. > > > > It did call once while flying, otherwise it was > > silent.? I am not conversant > > with either species' flight call.? At the time, I > > tried to relate it to the > > "whit" sound of the Swainson's but it was a bit > fuller, > > lower sound. > > > > Marcia F. Cutler > > > >? > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Tim Rodenkirk [mailto:garbledmodwit at yahoo.com] > > > > Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2009 10:24 AM > > To: marciafcutler at comcast.net > > Subject: Re: [obol] Bald Hill, Benton Co. > > > > > > Marcia, > > > > It's way to early for a Swainson's to be in- you > probably > > saw a Hermit. > > Swainson's are one of the latest migrant arrivals > usually > > not seen until the > > first week of May. > > > > Merry nmigration! > > Tim R > > Coos Bay > > > > --- On Sat, 4/11/09, Marcia F. Cutler > > wrote: > > > > > From: Marcia F. Cutler > > > Subject: [obol] Bald Hill, Benton Co. > > > To: "'MidValley Birds'" , > > "'OBOL'" > > > > > Date: Saturday, April 11, 2009, 8:24 PM > > > > > > > > > > > >? > > >? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >? > > > > > > > > > > > > This morning I > > > took a walk along the trails at Bald Hill > Park.? > > > Highlights include: > > > > > > > > > ? > > > > > > ORANGE-CROWNED > > > WARBLERS ? 12-16, singing all over the > > > place > > > > > > BLACK-THROATED > > > GRAY WARBLERS ? 1 seen, several others > > > heard singing > > > > > > AUDUBON?S > > > WARBLERS ? watched 1 beautiful male > > > singing, others also seen and heard > > > > > > CASSIN?S > > > VIREO ? heard 1 singing and persuaded > > > it to come into view > > > > > > CHIPPING SPARROW > > > ? 2 singing on nw side of hill > > > > > > SWAINSON?S > > > THRUSH ? 1 flew right over me and I > > > was able to see the drab brown spotting on its > breast > > after > > > it landed. > > > > > > > > > ? > > > > > > A hiker showed > > > me a picture she took of an owl just off the > > > side of the trail going up the nw side of the > hill.? > > > The fuzzy brown owl > > > had 2 rounded ear tufts.? It looked like an > immature > > > GREAT HORNED OWL. > > > > > > > > > ? > > > > > > Western > > > Buttercups and Fawn Lilies (nw side of the hill) > > > were in bloom. > > > > > > > > > ? > > > > > > Marcia F. > > > Cutler > > > > > > Corvallis > > > > > > > > > > > > ? > > > > > > ? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >? > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > obol mailing list > > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > ? ? ? > > > > > > > ? ? ? > > From fschrock at gmail.com Thu Apr 16 20:14:38 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:14:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sharpie in Mac Message-ID: <390ebd880904162014p5762f410s49abd4ffdbf8d71b@mail.gmail.com> Birders who happen to swing through downtown McMinnville (maybe for dinner on the 'rooftop' at McMenamin's') should be on the lookout for a beautiful Sharp-shinned Hawk who is also finding 'good eating' along 3rd Street. Thanks to a tip from a friend today, I had one of my best looks ever at an adult Sharpie. A few photos are at http://empids.blogspot.com/. ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090416/906bb3f1/attachment.html From srnord101 at verizon.net Thu Apr 16 21:19:13 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:19:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Portland waterfront, Glaucous Gull - Yes, Slaty-backed - No Message-ID: <000001c9bf13$aa679a10$ff36ce30$@net> OBOL; Today I birded the waterfront (10:30-11:30), walking from the Burnside Bridge to the Hawthorne Bridge. Very few gulls remain. I had only about 30 GLUCOUS-WINGED type gulls, 2-3 WESTERN GULLS, and the previously reported GLAUCOUS GULL. Very striking bird, looks pure white, except when very close, and a nice pink bill with black tip. I searched for the SLATY-BACKED GULL, but did not see it today. Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From bwegener8 at comcast.net Fri Apr 17 00:40:05 2009 From: bwegener8 at comcast.net (Brian Wegener) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:40:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding & Paddling on Tualatin River May 16 Message-ID: <49E83255.6040705@comcast.net> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090417/17df3515/attachment.html From Daniel.Tyson at bcas.ca Thu Apr 16 23:59:25 2009 From: Daniel.Tyson at bcas.ca (Tyson, Daniel I EHSC:EX) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:59:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI Juniper Titmouse Message-ID: <025AE536A7F94A49BD617CFC5A0B742203D32239@TEAM.idir.bcgov> Hi all, I will be birding in the Klamath Falls area at the end of April, and would like to try and see Juniper Titmouse. Any tips, hints, recent sightings or locations to locate this species would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Dan Tyson Langley, BC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090416/a1832641/attachment.html From steve at paradisebirding.com Thu Apr 16 10:42:30 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:42:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Woodpecker film benefit in Sisters May 14 Message-ID: <9a341ea30904161042l4316e723ubb0bd8b62e17880f@mail.gmail.com> Greetings birders, I am excited to invite all of you to the premiere Oregon screening of a very unique film about the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. "Woodpecker" will show at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, at the Sisters Movie House, located at the far east end of downtown Sisters (in the Five Pine complex). Since its release last year, this film has received rave reviews at movie festivals across the continent (as well as in Italy and Greece). In documentary style, "Woodpecker" follows a fictitious character as he searches the Arkansas swamps for the elusive Ivory-bill. The Variety review below says it all: "A birdwatchers' "Best in Show,"Alex Karpovsky's mock-doc "Woodpecker" stretches its single joke -- an oddball poet-birder scours an Arkansas bayou for the ivory-billed variety of the titular feathered friend -- to feature length, earning a beakful of yuks. ... "Woodpecker" soars above the bulk of low-budget Amerindie farces, if not above the director's earlier "The Hole Story," now a minor cult fave on DVD. A rare bird himself, Karpovsky remains one to watch. ..." *--Rob Nelson* : http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117937694.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 Read more about the film here: http://www.woodpeckerfilm.com/ This May 14 screening of "Woodpecker" is the first in Oregon and will benefit the East Cascades Bird Conservancy and the Woodpecker Wonderland Festival, scheduled for June 5-7 in Camp Sherman. After the 1-hour film, I will lead a panel of biologists and philosphers in a brief discussion of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker phenomenon. Tickets ($15) can be purchased in advance by calling the Sisters Movie House at 541-549-8833. Map and directions to Sisters Movie House are here: http://www.sistersmoviehouse.com/. I hope to see you in Sisters on May 14! Steve Shunk P.S. Those of you who manage your own email lists, please distribute this message far and wide if you think your audience would be ineterested. Thanks! Tickets -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090416/e456bb30/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Fri Apr 17 09:28:56 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (tc at empnet.com) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:28:56 -0400 Subject: [obol] Migration Message-ID: <380-220094517162856312@M2W034.mail2web.com> Holy Cow, what a difference 200 miles makes in longitude! I'm in Newport at a Conference and it is actually Spring here! My room looks out on a wooded area near Agate Beach and the trees are full of warblers. So far this morning I've seen over a dozen Townsend's, at least as many Orange-crowneds (all extremely dull birds), probably 20 Yellow-rumpeds, with more "Myrtles" than "Audubon's" 1 Wilson's and 2 Black-throated Grays. This is a real contrast from the "migration" we have had lately in Central Oregon, consisting mainly of Ruby-crowned Kinglets. For those considering the pelagic trip tomorrow -- the seas are calm, the wind is light and the rain from last night has all but stopped. Yesterday at Seal Rock I ran into a flock of 200+ dark-backed Shearwaters. The light was wrong to conclusively identify them as Short-tails or Sooty's. There was a very strong movement of loons and scoters. Alcids are everywhere. The highlight was a pair of Sabine's Gulls. That's it for now -- I have to take advantage of birding weather! Tom Crabtree temporarily transplanted from Bend, OR -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web.com - Microsoft? Exchange solutions from a leading provider - http://link.mail2web.com/Business/Exchange From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Apr 17 10:22:55 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:22:55 +0000 Subject: [obol] New Duck ID challenge posted to BirdFellow.com Message-ID: Greetings All, This morning I've posted a new ID challenge involving an image of flying ducks. It can be viewed at Dave Irons BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get e-mail storage that grows with you. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Storage2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090417/861e0ce0/attachment.html From markhamm at charterinternet.com Fri Apr 17 11:27:28 2009 From: markhamm at charterinternet.com (Mark Hamm) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:27:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black-headed Grosbeak Message-ID: <3DBD540E-505E-4A0D-BFD2-EEEBC94ABD27@charterinternet.com> Saw a FOY black-headed grosbeak at my feeder Thursday afternoon. Went camping up at Silver Falls State Park over easter weekend. Many VARIED THRUSHES singing up there. From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Fri Apr 17 12:24:26 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:24:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Skinner's Butte Message-ID: <717706.58443.qm@web30402.mail.mud.yahoo.com> It was a good day for migrants on the Butte!? Highlights: White-crowned Sparrow (Gambel's) ~20 Fox Sparrow (Gray Headed) Savannah Sparrow Chipping Sparrow 5 Golden-crowned Sparrow Cassin's Vireo Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10 Hermit Thrush 2 Band-tailed Pigeon 5 Nashville Warbler 2 Black-throated Gray Warbler 50+ Yellow-rumped Warbler ( about half Myrtle) 100+ Orange-crowned Warbler 100+ Townsend's Warbler 10+ Greater White-fronted Geese (flyover) ~ 150 Maitreya ? ?Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.? Jonathan Livingston Seagull -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090417/5024b072/attachment.html From mmarvin at spiritone.com Fri Apr 17 12:43:48 2009 From: mmarvin at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:43:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chipping Sparrow, SW Portland Message-ID: <9458F4A0-09B8-413B-9E7B-254F175AF36B@spiritone.com> New yard bird! About 15 minutes ago, I looked out the window at a sparrow I couldn't immediately identify perched on the fence about 25 feet away. While I had my binos on him he hopped around to face me and I saw a gorgeous rufous cap. Then he headed west and I haven't seen him since. Neighbors, keep your eyes peeled. I'm in Maplewood at the NW corner of April Hill Park. Good (yard) birding! Marcia -- Marcia Marvin * mmarvin at spiritone.com * SW Portland, OR, USA From bcombs232 at gmail.com Fri Apr 17 12:51:43 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:51:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln's Sparrow outside of Eugene Message-ID: <8ce3a6520904171251h4e739020ud70d4f4ac6951f3b@mail.gmail.com> A LINCOLN'S SPARROW has been making a migration pit stop at my feeder area. It was here yesterday, and it is here again today. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 outside of Eugene OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090417/982c7441/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Fri Apr 17 12:54:09 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (tc at empnet.com) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:54:09 -0400 Subject: [obol] Migration deux Message-ID: <380-220094517195492@M2W021.mail2web.com> The offshore migration is impressive today. Huge flocks of Brant, Cacklers and some Canadas are going by every few minutes. I had one mixed flock that was over 1/2 mile long flying mainly single file to the north, with probably close to 1000 birds in it. Small flocks of Shearwaters -- mainly Sooty's are moving. There have been three or four large flocks of shorebirds, too small to ID for sure (phalaropes?) out in the water. There was one flock of what appeared to be White-fronted Geese that was only a foot or so above the water. They appeared to be struggling. I expected to see them put down in the water, but they kept going. They were mainly below the swell line. I hadn't seen that before. The weather conditions are good, it's not like they had a horrendous head wind or anything. There are still large numbers of Loons, scoters, cormorants and alcids going by. It's a great time to be at the coast. PelagaicTrip Watch weather -- it is partly cloudy, visibility 5 miles, no white caps on the water. A bit of fog out there, but it wouldn't impair bird visibility. Temp is about 54 degrees. Unfortunately it is time for the conference to begin.... No birding till 5. Tom Crabtree -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://link.mail2web.com/mail2web From tjanzen at comcast.net Fri Apr 17 13:00:09 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:00:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose - The Final Answer In-Reply-To: <407211.77158.qm@web51806.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <20090417195934.BC0FFA823E@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear Cindy, I think that the chances of DNA analysis being helpful in this situation are very low. In order for DNA analysis to be helpful in this situation you would need to have a database of complete DNA sequences of all of the Red-breasted Geese that have been in captivity in North America within the past 20 years or so that you could compare to the DNA sequence of the Red-breasted Goose recently seen at Finley NWR. Since there isn't a database of complete DNA sequences of all of the captive Red-breasted Geese in captivity in North America and since such a database would be very difficult and expensive to create (and impossible to create for geese that are already dead), it seems very improbable to me that DNA analysis of a feather or some other tissue sample from the Red-breasted Goose at Finley NWR would be helpful to the OBRC or anyone else attempting to determine the origin of this bird. There may well be (or have been) Red-breasted Geese in captivity in North America that are from eastern Siberia. So even if it could be established that the DNA of the Red-breasted Goose at Finley NWR was a close match to Red-breasted Geese that are native to eastern Siberia that wouldn't prove that the Red-breasted Goose at Finley NWR was of wild origin. It is also possible that the Red-breasted Geese at Finley could have been captured somewhere in Eurasia and then brought to the US as a captive bird before it escaped or was released. If this was the case, then the DNA from the bird would be a close match to native birds in Eurasia, but the bird would still not be of wild origin. Sincerely, Tim Janzen -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Cindy Ashy Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 2:49 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Red-breasted Goose - The Final Answer If you're going to trap/release the bird, why not take a small tissue sample for DNA analysis....compare that to the Siberian population and also to the domestic stock and you actually might get a "final answer"....yes, DNA analysis is expensive but might could be combined with an ongoing project somewhere....and the sample could be frozen until you could find a willing lab. Just a thought. Cindy Ashy From djaques.pel at charter.net Fri Apr 17 13:06:53 2009 From: djaques.pel at charter.net (Deborah Jaques) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:06:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Request for Brown Pelican sightings Message-ID: <200904171308316.SM04608@D88LG071> Greetings Oregon Birders. I am compiling records of Brown Pelican sightings to look at changes in seasonal presence and factors affecting migratory movements in the Pacific Northwest. I plan to give a paper incorporating this topic this Fall. Last year was the mother of all late stays for pelicans, as I am sure those of you on the coast noticed. I am interested in sightings that that will help document timing of spring arrival and fall/winter departure from various points along the Oregon coast. I have appreciated the sightings posted so far this spring and was hoping to be able to document the first birds at the mouth of the Columbia myself..I don't seem to get out enough though and I bet somebody has beat me to it! If anyone would like to contribute records to this prototype "citizen science" pelican database, it would be great to receive your sightings. I will maintain a field for "contributor" for each record in the database and acknowledge your efforts. Please contact me at djaques.pel at charter.net if you have any questions or would like to contribute. Discussions are underway to eventually move this type of pelican tracking to an official website, but I thought I'd give it a shot in this way until then. Thanks! Deborah Jaques Pacific Eco Logic 375 3rd Street Astoria, OR 97103 (503) 298-0599 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090417/7be52545/attachment.html From baybirders at embarqmail.com Fri Apr 17 13:14:38 2009 From: baybirders at embarqmail.com (Carol Cwiklinski & Steve Small) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:14:38 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [obol] Tillamook lesser goldfinch Message-ID: <1393866882.2766791239999278516.JavaMail.root@md09.embarq.synacor.com> Apparently an unusual bird for this area, we have a young male lesser at our thistle feeder, just south of town. Carol Cwiklinski & Steve Small -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090417/6820b125/attachment.html From markhamm at charterinternet.com Fri Apr 17 13:33:16 2009 From: markhamm at charterinternet.com (Mark Hamm) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:33:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black-headed Grosbeak In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <58F3B6DF-B67E-454C-A229-54D0F63B692E@charterinternet.com> Sorry, the location for the Black-headed Grosbeak is in Roseburg, on the hills above downtown. saw him (it was a male) again the morning. mark Roseburg On Apr 17, 2009, at 11:47 AM, JLKolias at aol.com wrote: > What area are you in? > > Thank you! > > Judy Kolias > Clackamas County/SE Portland > > > In a message dated 4/17/2009 11:28:14 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, > markhamm at charterinternet.com writes: > Saw a FOY black-headed grosbeak at my feeder Thursday afternoon. > > Went camping up at Silver Falls State Park over easter weekend. Many > > > Access 350+ FREE radio stations anytime from anywhere on the web. > Get the Radio Toolbar! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090417/c13dcf8e/attachment.html From rowbird2005 at yahoo.com Fri Apr 17 14:29:42 2009 From: rowbird2005 at yahoo.com (Forrest Rowland) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:29:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Portland Migration sites Message-ID: <675340.228.qm@web35301.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, Forrest Rowland speaking, currently in the Portland Metro area. I am new to the area and would?greatly appreciate?any suggestions on birding destinations in the general region. I'm mostly interested in migration areas, any good areas for Gulls, etc. Any bird clubs that meet on a regular basis or conduct field trips? ? Thanks! The New Guy Forrest Rowland ?Obt?n la mejor experiencia en la web!< Descarga gratis el nuevo Internet Explorer 8. http://downloads.yahoo.com/ieak8/?l=e1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090417/b89c9b67/attachment.html From kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us Fri Apr 17 14:42:15 2009 From: kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us (Kyle W Bratcher) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:42:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pine Grosbeak Message-ID: On a hike above Wallowa Lake in an effort to find some Chestnut-backed Chickadees I saw a single male Pine grosbeak along with a lot of the usual suspects. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090417/efe11d1e/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Fri Apr 17 14:47:10 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:47:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Portland Migration sites Message-ID: <20090417214712.882E7A822F@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Hi Forrest: Welcome to Portland! You're just in time for spring migration. I suggest you check out the "Morning Bird Song Walks" put on by the Audubon Society of Portland. Good way to gain familiarity with the prime migration spots around the city. See ASoP's webpage at http://www.audubonportland.org/trips-classes-camps/adult/birdsong-walks/walks Good birding! Wink Gross NW Portland From deweysage at verizon.net Fri Apr 17 15:00:03 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:00:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose - The Final Answer In-Reply-To: <20090417195934.BC0FFA823E@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> References: <20090417195934.BC0FFA823E@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: <49E8FBE3.9010702@verizon.net> Tim Janzen wrote: > If this was the case, then > the DNA from the bird would be a close match to native birds in Eurasia, but > the bird would still not be of wild origin. > Sincerely, > Tim Janzen > > The DNA of the bird better be a close match to native birds in Eurasian, or it ain't a Red-breasted Goose! Cheers Dave Lauten From kirkpat at charter.net Fri Apr 17 15:07:31 2009 From: kirkpat at charter.net (Douglas Kirkpatrick) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:07:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Migration sites In-Reply-To: <675340.228.qm@web35301.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <87A411FA96964F48B295F809CD5092E7@D7CDFN81> Speaking of migration, the Painted Ladies are starting to flutter their way north through Medford. (Although the numbers seem a bit down this year, perhaps due to the winter drought.) Is there any particular bird that favors them as food and, if so, is there any correlation of migration times? Doug Kirkpatrick Medford -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090417/ca5d1f7f/attachment.html From srnord101 at verizon.net Fri Apr 17 16:15:29 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:15:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands - shorebirds, Common Teal, WF Goose Message-ID: <000001c9bfb2$66ef4310$34cdc930$@net> OBOLers; A walk around the ponds at Fernhill Wetlands this afternoon revealed the following: Greater White-fronted Goose 30 (Mitigation ponds) COMMON TEAL 1 male continues on Eagle Perch Pond. Bald Eagle 1 adult standing near nest. On Tuesday saw at least 2 chicks sticking their heads up to be fed The following shorebirds were on Eagle perch Pond. Water levels are very low, lots of mud. Black-bellied Plover 2 Basic plumage Greater Yellowlegs 3 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Dunlin 13 Alternate plumage Least Sandpiper 1 Besides the new Bald Eagle chicks, also saw my first young of the year for Western Canada Geese, and heard begging European Starling chicks in a tree hollow. A non-bird highlight was a MINK behind Cattail Marsh Pond on Tuesday. Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From mtweel at charter.net Fri Apr 17 16:15:40 2009 From: mtweel at charter.net (Margaret) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:15:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Harris's sparrow Message-ID: At Cape Meares a HARRIS'S SPARROW was in my yard this morning. It had a black head above the eye and black feathers on his chin on down his chest in somewhat of a v shape. I hope to get a photo if it comes back later. Marg Tweelinckx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090417/9b78928b/attachment.html From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Fri Apr 17 17:42:59 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:42:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose - The Final Answer Message-ID: <290890.7328.qm@web51808.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Tim and others: I am not a DNA jock but know enough about this to be stubborn. I agree that if the captive geese were removed directly from the wild population DNA analysis would be useless. If, however, the geese are being bred in captivity (as I am guessing they are as a quick google search reveals this is usually the case and in fact the price has come way down because there are so many now), this should show up in genetic analysis over just a few generations....in fact, if you are dealing with a domestic escapee, I would think you could ID it to a specific stock if you had a sample to compare to, as probably could be done in this particular case. To answer the domestic vs. wild question in general, you would want to collect multiple samples from the wild population to compare. Most of this type of work will center around commercial species so if you really want to delve into it, take a look at the genetics of hatchery fish vs. wild fish and and possibly poultry science. If and when the cost for genetic analysis comes way down, it will be a very exciting time to answer many lingering questions which have little to no "commercial value." Cindy Ashy From galacres at comcast.net Fri Apr 17 18:50:41 2009 From: galacres at comcast.net (Patrick Gallagher) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:50:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Junco nesting Message-ID: <7E54021102394A5399C554914225FC3F@PatPC> After many years of watching the DE Juncos leave for higher ground this time of year, we finally have a nesting pair! The nest is a strange location, in a hanging roll of bird netting in our small barn. We'll have to watch for chicks getting caught in the mesh when they fledge. The nest is a neatly constructed grass structure, with a starkly white inner cup, made apparently of the under fur from our pygmy goat, the other barn resident. (Fox News may be concerned about inter-species co-habitation, but not us...) We have lived here for 36 years and have never before found a Junco nest or even seen newly fledged juveniles. We are located SE of Salem, at about 450' elevation. Pat Gallagher Salem -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090417/38d8eedf/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Fri Apr 17 19:07:21 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:07:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] FOY Brown Headed Cowbirds - Linn County Message-ID: My first of the year Brown-headed Cowbirds flew over the deck this evening. There were also several Black-throated Grey Warblers in the big-leaf maples that have been flowering for several days now. My first ones were last weekend, though. This morning, when I left for work, the Varied Thrushes were "singing". Wilson's Snipe have been winnowing in the evening and morning for several days. They stopped for a while the weather was drier, but seem to have started up with the rain, staring earlier this week. Good birding! Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090417/04c1d478/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Fri Apr 17 19:27:02 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:27:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] spring song Message-ID: <4042F757D4EB4CF5A82D75E076EB7E6C@your5rlp3a9516> OBOL, White-throated Sparrows only show up at my place on Thornton Creek ( Lincoln) about once every five years, so it was a treat to have one spend the winter, and, now that it is still around, to hear it singing. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090417/8ffbb83e/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Fri Apr 17 20:22:11 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (baileydc at pdx.edu) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 03:22:11 GMT Subject: [obol] This Afternoon at Coxcomb Hill Message-ID: <200904180322.n3I3MBb5016895@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for David C. Bailey by http://birdnotes.net Date: April 17, 2009 Location: Coxcomb Hill, Clatsop County, Oregon Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 0% Precipitation: none I had some time to kill in Astoria this afternoon and so walked up Coxcomb Hill from Tapiola park down by Astoria High School. Usually I don't expect to see much in the way of migration on buttes after the morning fall-out period, but it was nice to be surprised this afternoon. Butterfly news: Painted Lady: one faded individual on the top of the hill. It narrowly escaped being eaten just after it perched on a coltsfoot blossom when I White-Crowned Sparrow made an aerial lunge for it. I expected it to be a California Tortoiseshell, but I checked and it was definitely a PL. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Double-crested Cormorant 20 Western Gull 2 Rock Dove 2 Anna's Hummingbird 1 Rufous Hummingbird 20 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Steller's Jay 1 Western Scrub-Jay 1 Black-capped Chickadee 4 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 1 Winter Wren 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 American Robin 5 Wrentit 1 European Starling 2 Orange-crowned Warbler 9 Yellow-rumped Warbler 4 Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 Townsend's Warbler 1 Fox Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow 2 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 White-crowned Sparrow 2 Golden-crowned Sparrow 3 Dark-eyed Junco 5 Purple Finch 2 Pine Siskin 10 House Sparrow 2 Total number of species seen: 29 From m_scatt at yahoo.com Fri Apr 17 20:58:55 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:58:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] SE Portland Vaux Swifts, Hammond's Flycatcher Message-ID: <678216.99821.qm@web55702.mail.re3.yahoo.com> We saw a HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (saw one and heard one singing), and a few ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS at Mt. Tabor this afternoon with Trask Colby. At Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden this evening we saw 2 FOY VAUX'S SWIFTS, as well as a LINCOLN'S SPARROW and female EURASIAN WIGEON. In our yard there are still at least 10 Golden-crowned, 1 Fox and a White-throated Sparrow. Good birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia (SE Portland) From kasey_church at yahoo.com Fri Apr 17 21:13:02 2009 From: kasey_church at yahoo.com (Kasey Church) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:13:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Yellow-headed Blackbirds Message-ID: <452922.67458.qm@web111101.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Saw four male Yellow-headed Blackbirds at Vanport Wetlands this evening being raucous and flamboyant. If you go to see them, I suggest you take a camera as they are particularly fetching at dusk clinging to the foamy cattails. Side note: watch your step in the dog park. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090417/53efc2e0/attachment.html From tcolbyster at gmail.com Fri Apr 17 21:32:12 2009 From: tcolbyster at gmail.com (Trask Colby) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:32:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oaks Bottom 4/17 Message-ID: <2dd4d7e20904172132u63c3cca7n4d8365c664cfce3f@mail.gmail.com> Very birdy this morning, lots of Hutton's Vireo's, Yellow Rumps and Lesser Goldfinches. Also saw a FOS Black-Throated Gray Warbler and Hammond's Flycatcher Many displaying Anna's hummingbirds, "singing" Spotted Towhee's and kids looking for salamanders! Merry Migration -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090417/9e9110eb/attachment.html From tjanzen at comcast.net Fri Apr 17 21:33:08 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:33:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose - The Final Answer In-Reply-To: <290890.7328.qm@web51808.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <20090418043237.2E918A8271@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear Cindy, I do a fair bit of speaking on the topic of genetic genealogy, so I consider myself to be fairly well versed in this topic. I agree with you that one could potentially establish whether or not a specific goose is from a specific captive flock. However, the devil is in the details. Under the best of circumstances both parents of the bird in question would be available for genetic testing. If this was the case, then you would want to test a specific set of autosomal short tandem repeat markers much like the 13 CODIS markers are used for paternity and forensic testing in humans. If the bird in question and its parents were all tested for the equivalent of the CODIS markers then you could determine with a relatively high degree of certainty whether or not that bird was the product of the two parent birds. However, if both parents of the bird in question aren't available for testing then the situation becomes much more complicated. As you mention mutations would very likely occur within several generations. In humans one individual typically has about 60 autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms that his or her parents don't have since there are about 3 billion base pairs in humans and the typical SNP mutation rate is about 1 mutation per 50 million base pairs. Birds have smaller genomes than humans do, generally between 1 and 2 billion base pairs. Geese generally have between 1 and 1.5 billion base pairs in their genomes, so we would expect a single goose to have 20-30 autosomal SNPs that its parents didn't have. The problem lies in the fact that it would be extremely difficult to determine which autosomal SNPs were unique to the stock of captive birds. You would have to sequence the entire genomes of the captive birds as well as the entire genomes of the entire wild population so that you could determine which autosomal SNPs are found only in captive birds. All of this would be extremely expensive since at this point in time it costs around $100,000 or so to do a complete human genome sequence. Sincerely, Tim -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Cindy Ashy Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 5:43 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Red-breasted Goose - The Final Answer Tim and others: I am not a DNA jock but know enough about this to be stubborn. I agree that if the captive geese were removed directly from the wild population DNA analysis would be useless. If, however, the geese are being bred in captivity (as I am guessing they are as a quick google search reveals this is usually the case and in fact the price has come way down because there are so many now), this should show up in genetic analysis over just a few generations....in fact, if you are dealing with a domestic escapee, I would think you could ID it to a specific stock if you had a sample to compare to, as probably could be done in this particular case. To answer the domestic vs. wild question in general, you would want to collect multiple samples from the wild population to compare. Cindy Ashy From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Apr 17 21:41:01 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:41:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tillamook lesser goldfinch In-Reply-To: <1393866882.2766791239999278516.JavaMail.root@md09.embarq.synacor.com> References: <1393866882.2766791239999278516.JavaMail.root@md09.embarq.synacor.com> Message-ID: <2c7078870ed9a489dcae848a289fbf05@earthlink.net> A Lesser Goldfinch was audible over my house yesterday (4/16). This is the second record here in 15 years. The previous one was Oct 3 1996. Lars Norgren Manning, Oregon On Apr 17, 2009, at 1:14 PM, Carol Cwiklinski & Steve Small wrote: > Apparently an unusual bird for this area, we have a young male lesser > at our thistle feeder, just south of town. > ? > Carol Cwiklinski & Steve Small > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Apr 17 21:48:53 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:48:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI Warbler song Message-ID: <4a1caf9b803a9880f789584d7e55efdd@earthlink.net> What local warbler sounds like a Rough-winged Swallow? One has been singing across the road from my shop for three days now. The habitat is riparian, along a railroad and Hwy 47/26. The bird is singing 3-5m off the ground. I tried to find it two days in a row but it must move around. Today I didn't have a binocular with me. Lars Norgren Manning (nw Washington County) From baileydc at pdx.edu Fri Apr 17 22:10:13 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:10:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI warbler song Message-ID: <49E960B5.4090600@pdx.edu> The only thing I can think of that sounds like the calls given by Northern Rough-winged Swallows is the call notes of Common Yellowthroat. I image you know the call of these though--sounds somewhat like Marsh Wren and the call notes of Ruby-crowned Kinglet. David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From celata at pacifier.com Fri Apr 17 22:11:20 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:11:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wilson's Warbler at Neawanna Banding Station Message-ID: <49E960F8.1090806@pacifier.com> Among the many birds seen and heard today while showing off the Neawanna Mill pond site to a visiting videographer were at least two WILSON'S WARBLERS notable because we did not see or hear them yesterday in 4 hours of banding. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From alderspr at peak.org Fri Apr 17 22:21:29 2009 From: alderspr at peak.org (Karan & Jim Fairchild) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:21:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Benton County Hermit Warbler Message-ID: With neotropical migrants seeming a bit late, I was a bit surprised to hear a f.o.y. HERMIT WARBLER in north Benton County while working on a friend's place just north of the OSU Dunn Forest off Tampico Road. Pretty comfortable with this call, a typical primary song, as we always have to sort through breeding black-throated grays and hermits each year at our own place when they regularly swap each other's secondary songs. One black throated here has already started into secondary songs, whatever that might mean. Jim Fairchild From LCain at astoria.k12.or.us Fri Apr 17 22:28:06 2009 From: LCain at astoria.k12.or.us (Lee Cain) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:28:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Whimbrels, Godwit, Astoria Message-ID: <515DDA9BF1AC1E42829D6CD2AA9FC401352C9E4D3A@asdxcng.intra.astoria.k12.or.us> This evening while running the dog at the Astoria Airport Mitigation Bank, I saw and heard 32 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE fly over to the north. On the river mudflats I saw my first WHIMBRELS of the year, accompanied by a lone MARBLED GODWIT, 5 DUNLIN and 22 DOWITCHERS. Lee Cain Astoria -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090417/c71b5628/attachment.html From dendroicaman at peak.org Fri Apr 17 23:36:32 2009 From: dendroicaman at peak.org (Karl Fairchild) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 23:36:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Benton Co. House Wren Message-ID: <49E974F0.30801@peak.org> Hi all, Had my FOY HOUSE WREN sing briefly yesterday, before starting to sing in earnest today. Looks like the swallows and bluebirds will have some more nest box competition! I also heard a BEWICK'S WREN yesterday, unusual our location in the foothills of the Coast Range at 700ft. As I write this, there is a loud GREAT HORNED OWL calling close to the house. Good Birding! Karl Fairchild From kkoivu at netscape.com Sat Apr 18 00:05:59 2009 From: kkoivu at netscape.com (kkoivu at netscape.com) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:05:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Checker Mallow Eugene Message-ID: <20090418000559.B54B3937@resin13.mta.everyone.net> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090418/20656f45/attachment.html From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Sat Apr 18 07:07:20 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 07:07:20 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose - The Final Answer Message-ID: <516525.43762.qm@web51801.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Tim, I am familiar with many of the details of this type of work....ages ago I was extremely familiar. What you are suggesting is overkill. We don't need to do a paternity test here or to sequence an entire genome or every individual. The basic question is whether or not this goose(s) is a vagrant or an escapee -- is its origin wild or human-assisted. To answer this, we just need to do some population level genetics....probably a mitochondrial study. This could possibly be piggybacked off another project and I might know of some labs if I thought the samples could be obtained and there was real justification for doing so. There is a conservation angle that could be used to get funding and/or justify piggybacking the project. This species is evidently not currently protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. If it was proven to be a vagrant, it would be protected. Last night, I found the following abstract: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118574084/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 The citations might prove useful. Cindy Ashy From deweysage at verizon.net Sat Apr 18 07:28:19 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 07:28:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose - The Final Answer In-Reply-To: <516525.43762.qm@web51801.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <516525.43762.qm@web51801.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <49E9E383.1050009@verizon.net> With all the conservation issues out there, with the lack of funding for T and E species and all other species, especially non game, does anyone really think that there are funding sources to do genetic tests on Red-breasted Goose to find out if maybe you can figure out if they are from captive stock or not so that some birders can add the bird to their state list? Come on folks, this really isn't THAT important. As a conservation biologists, I seriously doubt that the biological community is really all that interested in a bird that is not, never has been, and probably never will be an established species in this hemisphere, nor are they particularly interested in adding another rare species to our avifauna and management activities. This whole topic is related to birders and what birders like to see and what birders like to do (list). The obvious beginning, and end, to this whole saga is that these geese are more than likely escaped birds, like it or not. To attempt to "prove" that they are wild through costly genetic testing that may not reveal anything but the fact that they are Red-breasted Geese is mildly absurd, to say the least. Sorry I'm so skeptical about the whole thing, but open your ears and minds to all the well documented arguments that have already been posted about why these geese are not likely to be from wild stock. As Dave Iron's said, the burden of proof is on those who want to change the status of a species that has never been accepted as a true vagrant to any part of this hemisphere, let alone parts of the hemisphere where it actually is wild. The lengths that this discussion have taken, are well, a bit long in the tooth at this point. Now I'm headed out into the field to survey a real rare species, a declining one, and a serious conservation issue, where our energy is badly needed.... Here's to Snowy Plovers..... Cheers Dave Lauten Cindy Ashy wrote: > Tim, > > I am familiar with many of the details of this type of work....ages ago I was extremely familiar. What you are suggesting is overkill. We don't need to do a paternity test here or to sequence an entire genome or every individual. The basic question is whether or not this goose(s) is a vagrant or an escapee -- is its origin wild or human-assisted. To answer this, we just need to do some population level genetics....probably a mitochondrial study. > > This could possibly be piggybacked off another project and I might know of some labs if I thought the samples could be obtained and there was real justification for doing so. > > There is a conservation angle that could be used to get funding and/or justify piggybacking the project. This species is evidently not currently protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. If it was proven to be a vagrant, it would be protected. > > Last night, I found the following abstract: > > http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118574084/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 > > The citations might prove useful. > > Cindy Ashy > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Apr 18 07:51:20 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 07:51:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Goose test Message-ID: Surely the wild, free-range Red-breasted Goose tastes different than the domesticated kind. That would not be too difficult to find out, I would think. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com "There are moral limits to the responsibility that can be assigned to the mentally ill for their actions." - Alvaro de Campos http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From LammergeierEyes at aol.com Sat Apr 18 09:39:23 2009 From: LammergeierEyes at aol.com (LammergeierEyes at aol.com) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 12:39:23 EDT Subject: [obol] Around Town Message-ID: Around town: Location: Between Terwilliger and SW 5 Observation date: 4/13/09 Notes: Perched and dove in a residential yard while stopped in traffic near Burlingame Starbucks. Number of species: 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk - Accipiter striatus 1 Location: Tryon Creek Observation date: 4/14/09 Notes: Seen on the walk from Wood Hall to the Huston Parking Lot. Number of species: 8 Cooper's Hawk - Accipiter cooperii 1 Red-breasted Sapsucker - Sphyrapicus ruber 1 Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus 2 Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 4 Bushtit - Psaltriparus minimus 10 American Robin - Turdus migratorius 20 House Finch - Carpodacus mexicanus 12 American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis 5 Location: Wildwood Trail Observation date: 4/17/09 Notes: App. 60 degrees. Brief Walk. Spring very much in evidence. Number of species: 19 Band-tailed Pigeon - Patagioenas fasciata 5 Barred Owl - Strix varia 1 Anna's Hummingbird - Calypte anna 1 Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 2 Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus 2 Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus 2 Pileated Woodpecker - Dryocopus pileatus 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadee - Poecile rufescens 5 Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis 1 Brown Creeper - Certhia americana 4 Winter Wren - Troglodytes troglodytes 10 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Regulus calendula 1 Swainson's Thrush - Catharus ustulatus 2 American Robin - Turdus migratorius 20 Varied Thrush - Ixoreus naevius 15 Black-throated Gray Warbler - Dendroica nigrescens 3 Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 1 Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) - Junco hyemalis [oreganus Group] 5 Pine Siskin - Carduelis pinus 12 No Geese with Romanian accents were seen or heard. Blake T. Matheson "Men still live who, in their youth, remember Passenger Pigeons. Trees still live who, in their youth, were shaken by a living wind. But a decade hence only the oldest oaks will remember, and at long last only the hills will know." Leopold (1949) **************Check all of your email inboxes from anywhere on the web. Try the new Email Toolbar now! (http://toolbar.aol.com/mail/download.html?ncid=txtlnkusdown00000027) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090418/8b1a5ce7/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sat Apr 18 10:32:16 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 10:32:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] FOY Chipping Sparrow Message-ID: <175892.78798.qm@web46015.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Not only did the sun bring some much needed warmth, but it just delivered us a FOY Chipping Sparrow to us. How fun! Snapped a couple of photos here: portlandbirds.blogspot.com Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Sat Apr 18 10:42:33 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (Tom McNamara) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 10:42:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tabor (Mult.) solitaire Message-ID: One. Seen with robins, varied thrushes and starlings breakfasting on ivy berries on the south end of the west side grassy slope. Tom _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get e-mail storage that grows with you. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Storage2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090418/56c7544d/attachment.html From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Sat Apr 18 11:05:05 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (Tom McNamara) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 11:05:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] message for email sender "emudd" (others delete now) Message-ID: Sorry for sending to list, couldn't reply directly........I got an email from an "emudd" with subject line: Ontario Birder Wants to Hire a Guide". There are a number of mysteries implied ---Ontario? Bird guide? for Hire? ---but it seemed to me maybe somehow connected to a distant reader of this listserv, maybe???? Mom warned about accepting candy from strangers, and 24 hours don't go by without warnings of not opening emails of unknown provenance; they can smell phishy. So, emudd, if you're genuine--state in the subject line some unmistakable clue to let me know things are legit, ok? Tom _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get e-mail storage that grows with you. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Storage2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090418/200cf301/attachment.html From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Sat Apr 18 11:53:34 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (Jamie S.) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 11:53:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] message for email sender "emudd" Message-ID: <799168.30800.qm@web39503.mail.mud.yahoo.com> What's the problem, Tom? The guy is from Toronto and wants to hire a guide to show him birds in Oregon in July. I got the same email and replied. You can't get a virus from opening an email. It's the attachments or URLs that can get you...? (If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will correct me.) Jamie Simmons Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090418/eb1161a8/attachment.html From dendroicaman at peak.org Sat Apr 18 13:22:21 2009 From: dendroicaman at peak.org (Karl Fairchild) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:22:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] dramatic Peregrine, etc. Message-ID: <49EA367D.2020004@peak.org> Hi OBOLers, While my folks and I were counting the myriad swallows in the yard this morning, I suddenly spotted a raptor cruising fast into the yard. Before I could get my binoculars on it, I heard a big "whoosh" and the next thing I saw, a PEREGRINE FALCON was flaring out and slamming into an unfortunate STELLER'S JAY, 25 ft. below the height I initially saw the falcon. Feathers flew and we all heard the "thud" of impact, before the falcon quickly flew of across the meadow and disappeared into the woods with its prize. A first-ever yard bird for us, and we were able to confirm the black mask, eliminating the possibility of Goshawk. A very interesting start to our morning walk! We followed the trail of blue feathers across the meadow for a bit, but were unable to locate the falcon again. Other interesting goodies from our extended hike around the property included: Pileated Woodpecker a notably large flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers Wild Turkey (gobbling) Mountain Quail (crowing) Good Birding! Karl Fairchild (and Karan and Jim too) 6 mi SW of Philomath From birdmandon at clearwire.net Sat Apr 18 13:46:31 2009 From: birdmandon at clearwire.net (Don Schrouder) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:46:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge today Message-ID: <63EEC0D8-FFC8-4504-B51C-59E794B62829@clearwire.net> Spent part of my morning out walking the dikes off Royal Ave (these are closed to entry except on Saturdays until after April 30). Nice weather and good birds. Some of the birds found were: Osprey Bald Eagles- two climbing up, locking talons, and then spiraling down in courtship ritual (immature birds) Peregrine Falcon Merlin Tufted Duck Redhead Cinnamon Teal FOY Purple Martins FOY Sora Virginia Rail Yellow-headed Blackbirds Don Schrouder/Lane Co birdmandon at clearwire.net From surfbird at q.com Sat Apr 18 14:11:23 2009 From: surfbird at q.com (Diane Pettey) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:11:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Co. Seawatch 4/18/09 Message-ID: Greetings OBOLers, I did a brief but enjoyable sea watch this am. Of note, one BROWN PELICAN, several CASPIAN TERNS fishing the Siuslaw River, two BLACK TURNSTONES, a flyby flock of 15 BRANT geese, dozens of RED-THROATED LOONS, several COMMON LOONS including a breeding plumaged one on the river, numerous shearwaters (with at least two SOOTYs) and a single SABINE'S GULL that flew in from the ocean then picked up a thermal and soared high and back out to sea. regards, Diane Pettey Heceta Beach, OR surfbird at q.com From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sat Apr 18 14:26:38 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:26:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 4/18/2009 Message-ID: <116746.61643.qm@web45316.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I was at New River this morning, the new arrivals were several singing WILSON'S WARBLERS. Many Aleutian Cacklers everywhere of course also. The shorebird migration spicket cracked open today and there was a trickle of birds headed north along New River- maybe several hundred/hr.? Species I noticed included: WESTERN & LEAST SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, WHIMBREL and GREATER YELLOWLEGS. I went up Bethel Mtn Road (a mile and a half south of New River) around 10AM and found my bird of the day- two singing VESPER SPARROWS.? Since I started frequenting this location last fall I figured it had perfect habitat for this species, which currently breeds nowhere else in the county.? They could be migrants this early, but the habitat is very similar to where they have bred a few miles south in Curry Co.? Also up there were 7 BALD EAGLES, something dead in the pasture there- perhaps it was a Red-breasted Goose? It didn't take long for the wind to start ripping on the coast, don't forget your parka if you come out ; ) Merry migration all! Tim R Coos Bay From willclemons at yahoo.com Sat Apr 18 15:21:47 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 15:21:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] message for email sender "emudd" (Concerns re Viruses/Phishing) Message-ID: <219153.48794.qm@web55105.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Sorry Jamie, but you are Not correct! Viruses, Macro viruses, phishing, etc can also enter through ordinary appearing emails. Research it deeper. I agree with Tom, If you do not know who the sender is, Don't open until you find out about the sender (google, etc). If you cannot find out, it may be best to pass, and delete without opening. Another helpful practice would be to buy a Mac instead of a PC. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores ************************************************** Subject: Re: message for email sender "emudd" From: "Jamie S." Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 11:53:34 -0700 (PDT) What's the problem, Tom? The guy is from Toronto and wants to hire a guide to show him birds in Oregon in July. I got the same email and replied. You can't get a virus from opening an email. It's the attachments or URLs that can get you...? (If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will correct me.) Jamie Simmons Corvallis ************************************************** Subject: message for email sender "emudd" (others delete now) From: Tom McNamara Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 11:05:05 -0700 Sorry for sending to list, couldn't reply directly........I got an email from an "emudd" with subject line: Ontario Birder Wants to Hire a Guide". There are a number of mysteries implied ---Ontario? Bird guide? for Hire? ---but it seemed to me maybe somehow connected to a distant reader of this listserv, maybe???? Mom warned about accepting candy from strangers, and 24 hours don't go by without warnings of not opening emails of unknown provenance; they can smell phishy. So, emudd, if you're genuine--state in the subject line some unmistakable clue to let me know things are legit, ok? Tom From william738 at centurytel.net Sat Apr 18 15:29:42 2009 From: william738 at centurytel.net (Sarah and Bill Thackaberry) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 15:29:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Kingbird Message-ID: <722B74A434D84793A7FD5B0C629AD453@sarah> Seen on farm on Sat. on farm at Lebanon. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090418/de001f69/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Sat Apr 18 15:54:03 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 15:54:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Springfield swallows Message-ID: <6AF38ED52D2B4813AB7DDA62507FECCF@TomsPC> I checked out the old Booth-Kelly industrial area today at noon. Nothing happening on the pond but there were a lot of SWALLOW species (mainly TREE-SWALLOWS) checking out the building entries and several WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS. I did not see the two BLACK-PHOEBES. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090418/bb1a8859/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Sat Apr 18 16:25:33 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 16:25:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <3175AEE8B5684345A5CE406A678C631A@Phil> 6:45-7:30 AM (4/18): clear, wind N 5, swells 3-5 100 Red-throated Loon 800 Pacific Loon 3 Common Loon 4 Red-necked Grebe 1 MANX SHEARWATER (N 1/4 mile out) 35 Double-crested Cormorant 250 Brandt's Cormorant (S) 15 Pelagic Cormorant 17 Brant 150 Cackling Goose 2 Green-winged Teal 200 Surf Scoter 15 White-winged Scoter 40 Western Gull 10 Glaucous-winged Gull 40 Caspian Tern 300 Common Murre 6 Marbled Murrelet 22 Rhinoceros Auklet 1 Tufted Puffin Phil philliplc at charter.net From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Apr 18 16:31:58 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 16:31:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook Birds Message-ID: <8C5955A766FE4BB9A0EF5BD18DD399ED@cgatesPC> Steve Shunk, Kris Falco, and Kathy Ayers joined me on a jaunt around Crook County today. The weather was great and the birding was fun. We saw 89 species. The highlights were: Greater White-fronted Goose Common Loon Great Egret Swainson's Hawk Ferruginous Hawk Sandhill Crane Black-necked Stilt American Avocet Greater Yellowlegs Willet Long-billed Curlew Least Sandpiper Dunlin Eurasian Collared Dove Loggerhead Shrike Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Vesper Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Lincoln Sparrow Sage Thrasher Brown-headed Cowbird Cassin's Finch Evening Grosbeak Here are the rest: Canada Goose Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Common Merganser Ruddy Duck California Quail Eared Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Great-blue Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk Golden Eagle American Kestrel Prairie Falcon Virginia Rail American Coot Killdeer Wilson's Snipe Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Belted Kingfisher Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Say's Phoebe Steller's Jay Black-billed magpie American Crow Common Raven Horned Lark Mountain Chickadee Bushtit Marsh Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Mountain Bluebird Townsend's Solitaire American Robin European Starling American Pipit Yellow-rumped Warbler Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird House Finch Pine Siskin American Goldfinch House Sparrow Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090418/6b5d00a8/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Sat Apr 18 17:48:21 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 17:48:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yaquina Bay Lapland Longspur Message-ID: Hi, On the evening of April 15, Mark Elliott saw and photographed a Lapland Longspur in breeding plumage at the Yaquina Bay South Jetty. Cheers, Range Bayer From fschrock at gmail.com Sat Apr 18 18:10:55 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 18:10:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red Crossbill in McMinnville Message-ID: <390ebd880904181810l704b38edm89ec706a7f2c5a3d@mail.gmail.com> A single calling Red Crossbill flew over the Linfield College campus yesterday, April 17. Must have been lost. I haven't seen or heard any others here for several months. But then, I haven't been out much. -- ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090418/8876009a/attachment.html From jrc7219 at gmail.com Sat Apr 18 18:58:22 2009 From: jrc7219 at gmail.com (Justin Cook) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 18:58:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] White Bunting Hillsboro Message-ID: Hello, Saw an all white Bunting in Hillsboro near NW Alocleck and NW Cornell, opposite from Rock Creek Greenway entrance just beyond some oak trees around some fencing. Saw twice, 3pm and 5:30 pm same spot, same bat channel. The bird was white everywhere, including the back, except for the wings which were black. The coverts closest to the scapulars were white. Seen from about 25 feet. The legs and beak were not black. Eye was dark. No binoculars or camera! I'll try tomorrow. Saw it fly but didnt get good look at wings. Any help w ID would be great, especially if you tell me it sounds like a McKay's Bunting! Thanks, Justin -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090418/1beab830/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sat Apr 18 20:49:49 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:49:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Brant Message-ID: <526075.31621.qm@web55704.mail.re3.yahoo.com> We were visiting a friend in Eugene who is recuperating from brain surgery, and managed to squeeze in a short trip to Fern Ridge. A single "black" BRANT was at the Fisher Butte Unit at Fern Ridge Reservoir. The bird was with a large flock of Cackling Geese just northwest of the observation deck. Other highlights nearby were: Greater White-fronted Goose- 5 American White Pelican- 4 Black-necked Stilt- 6 Greater Yellowlegs- 12 Least Sandpiper- 25 Long-billed Dowitcher- 6 Yellow-headed Blackbird- 8 We only had 20 minutes at Royal Ave, but found: Redhead- 1 pair Clark's Grebe-1 American White Pelican- 3 Purple Martin- 2 We didn't have time to search for the Tufted Duck. Good birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sat Apr 18 20:58:38 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:58:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Mt. Tabor Nashville Warblers Message-ID: <784003.5903.qm@web55701.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Early this morning we birded Mt. Tabor (Portland) with Dave Irons. There were 2 NASHVILLE WARBLERS and 10+ ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS. We still haven't had large numbers of migrants on Tabor yet this spring, but the fog and cold didn't help this morning. We also heard one or two flyover RED CROSSBILLS. While numerous in Eugene this afternoon, these were our first for Tabor this spring. Good Birding, Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia From steve at paradisebirding.com Sat Apr 18 21:08:59 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:08:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] [COBOL] Crook Birds In-Reply-To: <8C5955A766FE4BB9A0EF5BD18DD399ED@cgatesPC> References: <8C5955A766FE4BB9A0EF5BD18DD399ED@cgatesPC> Message-ID: <9a341ea30904182108o4f5273f5kd77caea541be2e7e@mail.gmail.com> All, Just to reinforce Chuck's sentiments on the excellent birding day, here are a few personal highlights: - More singing VESPER SPARROWS than I have ever heard in one location - An awesome raptor display, including multiple BALD and GOLDEN EAGLES, a juvenile intermediate-morph FERRUGINOUS HAWK (not like any ferrugie I have ever seen), and what was probably a subadult intermediate-to-dark-morph HARLAN'S RED-TAILED HAWK - A nice collection of black-bellied DUNLIN at Little Houston Lake - A very vocal LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (I just don't get to hear them calling very often) - My first singing SAGE THRASHERS of the year - An awesome collection of male CASSIN'S FINCHES at Rager Ranger Station - Impressive courtship displays among breeding-plumaged EARED GREBES - My first flocks of YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS of the season. - And the woodpecker highlight of the day is a toss up between a whinnying DOWNY WOODPECKER at Rager or one of the most impressive SAPSUCKER feeding trees I've seen at Prineville Res. Needless to say, it was a good day. Steve Shunk On Sat, Apr 18, 2009 at 4:31 PM, Charles Gates wrote: > Steve Shunk, Kris Falco, and Kathy Ayers joined me on a jaunt around > Crook County today. The weather was great and the birding was fun. We > saw 89 species. The highlights were: > > Greater White-fronted Goose > Common Loon > Great Egret > Swainson's Hawk > Ferruginous Hawk > Sandhill Crane > Black-necked Stilt > American Avocet > Greater Yellowlegs > Willet > Long-billed Curlew > Least Sandpiper > Dunlin > Eurasian Collared Dove > Loggerhead Shrike > Tree Swallow > Violet-green Swallow > Cliff Swallow > Barn Swallow > Vesper Sparrow > Savannah Sparrow > Lincoln Sparrow > Sage Thrasher > Brown-headed Cowbird > Cassin's Finch > Evening Grosbeak > Here are the rest: > Canada Goose > Gadwall > American Wigeon > Mallard > Cinnamon Teal > Northern Shoveler > Northern Pintail > Green-winged Teal > Canvasback > Ring-necked Duck > Lesser Scaup > Bufflehead > Common Merganser > Ruddy Duck > California Quail > Eared Grebe > Double-crested Cormorant > Great-blue Heron > Turkey Vulture > Osprey > Bald Eagle > Northern Harrier > Red-tailed Hawk > Golden Eagle > American Kestrel > Prairie Falcon > Virginia Rail > American Coot > Killdeer > Wilson's Snipe > Rock Pigeon > Mourning Dove > Belted Kingfisher > Downy Woodpecker > Northern Flicker > Say's Phoebe > Steller's Jay > Black-billed magpie > American Crow > Common Raven > Horned Lark > Mountain Chickadee > Bushtit > Marsh Wren > Ruby-crowned Kinglet > Mountain Bluebird > Townsend's Solitaire > American Robin > European Starling > American Pipit > Yellow-rumped Warbler > Spotted Towhee > Song Sparrow > White-crowned Sparrow > Red-winged Blackbird > Western Meadowlark > Yellow-headed Blackbird > Brewer's Blackbird > House Finch > Pine Siskin > American Goldfinch > House Sparrow > Chuck Gates > Powell Butte > > _______________________________________________ > COBOL mailing list > COBOL at lists.oregonstate.edu > http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol > > To unsubscribe, send a message to: > COBOL-request at lists.oregonstate.edu > with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. > > -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090418/cd447415/attachment.html From ericsherman37 at gmail.com Sat Apr 18 21:13:41 2009 From: ericsherman37 at gmail.com (Eric Sherman) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:13:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cascade Head hike Message-ID: <2b7c9c60904182113r7fb026a4kd5a9001604da411a@mail.gmail.com> We went on a hike up Cascade Head today (only made it about one and a half miles before the trail was covered with a bunch of fallen trees). Saw lots of trilliums (my favorite flower)! Heard and saw several wrentits, Stellers Jays, and some Kinglets, but nothing extraordinary. We continued on up the coast to the Nestucca Wildlife Refuge and the Nestucca River delta/estuary. Saw plenty of Buffleheads, a couple ducks that were too far away to identify, a few Bald Eagles, some Scoters, and what I believe was a Shearwater of some sort. If anyone has more info on Shearwaters I'd love to find out more. It had a black head, black beak, black wingtips, but the rest was mostly white. It was fairly small but had a loooooooong wingspan. Its tail was very tapered (as opposed to most of the gull's tails in the vicinity). On the way back we stopped at Siletz Bay, south of Lincoln City and watched a Great Blue Heron wading around in the estuary. My five year old stepson happened to notice a bird we hadn't observed before and it turned out to be a Green Heron! It was pretty cool. Also saw our favorite nesting pair of Osprey flying around, as well as a pair of Red-tailed Hawks a little ways down the road. Saw various small birds, too: Savannah Sparrow (out near Sand Lake), Spotted Towhee, Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows, White-crowned sparrows, golden-crowned sparrows. Pretty productive day! Our favorite was the Green Heron =) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090418/e1a4fd9d/attachment.html From rowbird2005 at yahoo.com Sat Apr 18 21:52:17 2009 From: rowbird2005 at yahoo.com (Forrest Rowland) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:52:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Migrants and others near Molalla Message-ID: <246154.12065.qm@web35305.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, This is my first post to this forum so I'll go against my nature and keep it brief. ? The past 3 days (first 3 of my new job)? have had us working near the Molalla River Recreation Corridor SE of Molalla proper.?A few?migrants have popped up, the most notable include: ? Townsend's Warbler Audubon's Warbler Hammond's Flycatcher ? Coming across a Varied Thrush, and several groups of Chestnut-backed Chickadees reminded me of where I was. Takes a while to sink in... ? Other birds of interest I've encountered include several (5) Ruffed Grouse seen very well along trails and at least 6 more heard displaying from nearby. These have been a real treat! 4 Northern Pygmy-Owls, 2 in full song, 3 Saw-Whet Owls, and 2 Spotted Owls have been heard/seen in the area over the past 3 days, as well. Sharp-shinned, Cooper's, and Red-tailed Hawks have all been very evident. ? ? I've heard Steller's Jay on two occasions (why so quiet?) and seen 3 Gray Jays. Flyby Finches have included American Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill and Evening Grosbeak. Only Catharus so far is Hermit Thrush, but at least he sang right in front of us! ? The most impressive displays to date have been the Hummingbirds. I've seen 2 Calliope, which are great, but the Rufous Hummingbirds are starting to show up on territory. Since I just arrived myself, I'm not sure when these great birds?normally return, but we have had a ball seeing the males display. There are only 3 territories where the males are actively in display, that we've seen, so far. One of these males we watched at length. What a sight!!! ? I've heard several species of Woodpeckers, seen only Flicker, but it's early yet and I'm hoping to come across a bird I've only seen twice previously - White-headed Woodpecker. Can't wait....but I guess I'll have to. ? Most common songs in the forest right now are pretty much limited to Winter Wren and American Robin. Looking forward to late May and early June song. It'll be a whole new experience. ? Good Birding, ? Forrest Rowland ?Obt?n la mejor experiencia en la web!< Descarga gratis el nuevo Internet Explorer 8. http://downloads.yahoo.com/ieak8/?l=e1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090418/61807d37/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Apr 18 22:06:35 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 22:06:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] FOY Green Heron Message-ID: <711b0e900742d161aea5db45fdc7063f@earthlink.net> I heard a Green Heron in Manning (valley floor, along W fork Dairy Creek) Friday(4/17) evening. Saw one Saturday morning. Lars Norgren From tjanzen at comcast.net Sat Apr 18 22:36:21 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 22:36:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose - The Final Answer In-Reply-To: <516525.43762.qm@web51801.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <20090419053550.B25D6A822F@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear Cindy, I thought about the feasibility of testing only mitochondrial DNA before writing my response to you yesterday. The primary problem with doing only mtDNA testing is that the results are likely to be much less definitive than autosomal DNA test results would be. In humans a new mtDNA mutation occurs only about every 7 generations or so. There thus a reasonable chance that a unique mtDNA SNP has not yet occurred in the U. S. captive breeding population, particularly if the captive breeding hasn't been going on for that long. Thus, if we were to do mtDNA testing on the goose at Finley the test results would not only need to match at least one Red-breasted Goose in the captive breeding stock, we would also need to establish that a new mutation has occurred in the mitochondria in that line of the captive stock since the first female goose in that line was brought to the U. S. If the goose at Finley doesn't have a unique mtDNA SNP that can be shown to have occurred in the captive breeding stock then you haven't really proven anything even if you get an exact match with a bird in the captive breeding stock since that same mtDNA sequence may well also occur in the wild population. Mitochondrial DNA testing currently costs about $500 for a full mtDNA genome sequence, so it is much less expensive than autosomal DNA whole genome sequencing, but you still have the problem that you have to test essentially the entire captive breeding stock as well as the entire wild population to establish that a mtDNA SNP has occurred in the captive stock since it was brought to the U. S. The bottom line is my original point: DNA testing is unlikely to give definitive proof as to whether or not the Red-breasted Goose at Finley is of wild origin without a lot of extensive, expensive testing that is both impractical and not feasible, particularly since we don't even have a DNA sample from the bird in question. Sincerely, Tim -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Cindy Ashy Sent: Saturday, April 18, 2009 7:07 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Red-breasted Goose - The Final Answer Tim, I am familiar with many of the details of this type of work....ages ago I was extremely familiar. What you are suggesting is overkill. We don't need to do a paternity test here or to sequence an entire genome or every individual. The basic question is whether or not this goose(s) is a vagrant or an escapee -- is its origin wild or human-assisted. To answer this, we just need to do some population level genetics....probably a mitochondrial study. Cindy Ashy From craig at greatskua.com Sat Apr 18 22:40:03 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 22:40:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Barn owl, Tualatin Message-ID: <20090418224003.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.bf1e84ab44.wbe@email.secureserver.net> This evening, just before sunset (about 7:50 PM), I saw a barn owl flying west across Rte. 99W just north of Loen Nursery. It was being chased by a crow. Craig Tumer SW Portland From Oropendolas at aol.com Sat Apr 18 22:41:10 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:41:10 EDT Subject: [obol] Eugene Bird Biking Message-ID: Hello All, I birded by bicycle today from home (Springfield) to Fern Ridge. The round trip was 33 miles and I ended up with 93 species. A few highlights were: Skinner's Butte --------------------- (probable) Hammond's Flycatcher - 1 seen briefly from the Eagle nest path, before it flew and could not be relocated. Cassin's Vireo -1 Nashville Warbler 2-3 Stewart Pond --------------------- Dunlin - 250 in variety of plumages from basic to full alternate. Fern Ridge - Royal Ave. observation platform pond --------------------- Horned Grebe - 1 breeding plumage Western Grebe - 1 Greater White-fronted Goose - 23 Tufted Duck - Seen with Vjera & Eddie Thompson (who also biked to FRR today to get the TUDU on their "green" list) was in the Southwest corner of the Royal Ave. observation platform pond. Hooded Merganser - 1 Black-bellied Plover - 1 Purple Martin - 2 Western Bluebird - Royal Ave. Bike Path ---------------- Green Heron - 1 flyover near Delta Ponds Spotted Sandpiper - 1 last bird of the day on the Willamette near the I-5 bridge. John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1220814852x1201410738/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26 hmpgID%3D62%26bcd%3DAprilfooter419NO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/717a3398/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Apr 18 22:56:23 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 05:56:23 +0000 Subject: [obol] St Paul, Marion Co. sewage ponds etc. Message-ID: On my way home from the OBRC meeting in Portland, I took backroads from Aurora exit of I-5 to Eugene. I went west from Aurora and then turned south on Hwy 219. At the small town of St. Paul, I turned west on Blanchet Rd. About a mile or so out of town there is a set of 3-4 sewage ponds on the north side of the road. I had to stand on the hood of my car to see over the embankment and into the first pond. There were few expected ducks, but most interesting were the shorebirds sitting on the levees. There were at least 33 Black-bellied Plovers, nearly all of which were in full alternate plumage. There were also about 75-80 Dunlin. At the very end of this road there is a public boat landing along the Willamette River. A Western Screech-Owl answered my imitations (I was trying to attract passerines) from a nest hole that I never located. I drove Livermore, Smithfield, and Colville roads at Baskett Slough NWR and found thousands of Cackling Geese, a few Greater White-fronted Geese and one Snow Goose. I had one Yellow-headed Blackbird along Livermore Rd. Dave Irons _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get quick friend updates right in your inbox. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Updates2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/1215f4cb/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Sat Apr 18 23:44:32 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (tc at empnet.com) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 02:44:32 -0400 Subject: [obol] Yaquina Bay Birds Message-ID: <380-22009401964432106@M2W030.mail2web.com> I had time for a little birding around the Yaquina Bay lighthouse and the flats behind the Marine Science Center this evening. Since the front passed through yesterday things have quieted down quite a bit. I only saw one flock of migrating Brant all day (in addition to the wintering birds feeding in the bay). Here is my tally for the day of semi-noteworthy species. Merlin 1 Osprey 1 Black Brant 100 winter birds, feeding in the bay; 80 birds migrating north Glaucous Gull 1 (first winter bird Black-bellied Plover - 8, most in breeding plumage Short-billed Dowitcher - 20 Dunlin - 5 Greater Yellowlegs -- 2 Those and 40 distant peep were the only shorebirds I could find on the Bay Migrant warblers consisted of 2 Yellow-rumps, 5 Orange-crowneds, 2 Wilson's and 3 Townsend's Tom Crabtree Bend -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web LIVE ? Free email based on Microsoft? Exchange technology - http://link.mail2web.com/LIVE From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Apr 19 07:26:50 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 07:26:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] North -Central Field Notes Message-ID: <55081815C9B8441AADEC31C314564634@cgatesPC> I'm working on the completion of the winter field notes (December through February) for the North-Central Region of the state. This includes Hood, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, Jefferson, Deschutes, and Crook Counties. If you have any bird sightings from these counties THAT HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN POSTED ON OBOL OR COBOL, would you send them to me? I religiously monitor OBOL and COBOL for sightings so I will have your data if you have gone that route. Sometimes, people don't report what they've seen on a trip to these locations because they think their sightings are mundane and uninteresting. I'm interested in all the sightings for this region. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/3725dc22/attachment.html From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Sun Apr 19 07:37:02 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 07:37:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Goose - The Final Answer Message-ID: <117845.16274.qm@web51810.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Tim, If the samples can be obtained, I disagree with your bottomline but I don't think we should continue this discussion on OBOL. Thanks, Cindy From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Apr 19 07:44:20 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 07:44:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] NAMC help needed in Grant, Umatilla, Union, and Morrow counties Message-ID: <1026E9FF59B24DA883C6EEFE5EEF2FA4@cgatesPC> The state-wide migration count (NAMC) is scheduled for the weekend of May 9 & 10. If you would like to get involved with this count, go to the ECBC website at ecbcbirds.org and check out the birding opportunities. We have exactly no one counting birds in Grant, Umatilla, Union, and Morrow counties. If a day of birding in one of these Eastern Oregon counties sounds like fun, please consider taking on the migration count for one or more of them. We could really use the data to help complete our migration picture for spring 09. Chuck Gates State NAMC Coordinator East Cascades Bird Conservancy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/a01a4610/attachment.html From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Sun Apr 19 08:46:08 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:46:08 -0400 Subject: [obol] Columbia County Message-ID: The EVENING GROSBEAKS in the yard are feeding on big-leaf maple flowers as well as sunflower seeds now. Maples also harboring both YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER species the past couple of days. At dawn this morning Canada geese passing by woke us up -- heard them until sun reddened the eastern sky and peeked over the hills. Yesterday at Dalton Lake just north of the town of St. Helens (from cliff overlook): not all that many ducks, but most numerous were RING-NECK, BUFFLEHEAD, and WOOD DUCK. Lesser numbers of mallards, and a calling ring-billed grebe. Great look at a GREAT-HORNED OWL. We were obviously near its young the way it was acting, so we left that spot. Had a couple of robins at same location fretting about us being there, too. Checker lilies are just opening in the woodlands, but many more blooming trilliums and big friendly bunches of yellow wood violets. Three days ago: heard a SOOTY GROUSE calling on trail off of Pisgah Home Road west of Scappoose. BAND-TAILED PIGEONS cooing all around us, too. I wonder if they could be the same ones visiting my feeder, five miles away. Little pond at this site still has a female HOODED MERGANSER. My son spotted an alligator lizard among dead leaves. He sees reptiles that I never do, even curled up small snakes that aren't moving. In Scappoose that same day, we watched a BALD EAGLE harassing an OSPREY. I didn't see that the osprey had a fish. Lona Pierce, Warren _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Mobile2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/08c85c24/attachment.html From uskestrel at yahoo.com Sun Apr 19 08:56:37 2009 From: uskestrel at yahoo.com (Carol Ledford) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 08:56:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] [OBOL] Re: Red-breasted Goose - The Final Answer (????) Message-ID: <428143.60486.qm@web54201.mail.re2.yahoo.com> I think this is a very interesting discussion, and find OBOL to be the appropriate place to share all these ideas and suggestions about the origins of the Red-breasted Goose.? I learn a lot by reading this list.? However, if people seriously want the discussion to discontinue, you should simply?stop posting more?messages and press the DELETE key on your computer if you're receiving them via email. Carol Ledford Gresham, OR ? ? Subject: Re: Red-breasted Goose - The Final Answer From: Cindy Ashy Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 07:37:02 -0700 (PDT) Tim, If the samples can be obtained, I disagree with your bottomline but I don't think we should continue this discussion on OBOL. Thanks, Cindy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/c601d4d3/attachment.html From tinamou at comcast.net Sun Apr 19 08:57:57 2009 From: tinamou at comcast.net (Bruce & Katie Dugger) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 08:57:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Testing hypotheses about vagrancy In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <9EA047F8A18249D5B884E08B2AF5AB50@Home> I've been following the red-breasted goose posts with interest. I can appreciate that some think the recent discussions about DNA testing as applied to the red-breasted goose issue is not needed. I fall in line with those who feel that, even if possible and we could raise the money, the answer would have little value beyond expanding Oregon's bird list and our individual life lists. We already know enough about extra-limital movements in birds that adding one more fact isn't going to advance our understanding to any great degree. However, keeping a detailed and accurate list of Oregon birds is a valid goal and I'm certainly not opposed to expanding my life list, particularly for waterfowl. As I work on waterfowl and they are always the taxa that give us the most grief when vagrants show up, maybe I find myself wondering about this more than most. I think it is worth asking "is there something we can do to advance our verfication process beyond simply telling stories or formulating untestable hypotheses about origin?" In that context, I think the discussion of DNA testing is interesting. For the reasons provided by others, I don't think DNA testing is feasible. I will throw out one additional idea, stable isotope analysis. Developed as a serious research tool during the last 15 or so years, it has greatly increased our ability to link breeding and wintering areas for many groups of birds. It requires only feathers from the bird in question and feathers from the putative points of origin. For those not familiar with this process here is a link http://www.springerlink.com/content/21bjuhaxtplmhga2/ . Keith Hobson is the father of this approach in North America, so if you find this interesting google-scholar his name and more articles will come up. In the RBG case, you could probably get by with feathers from the suspected vagrant and feathers from the birds in the WV captive flock. Compared to DNA testing stable isotope analysis is relatively cheap. I'm sure there are a variety of issues that would need to be resolved (e.g., for example how does the diet of captive birds influence the isotopic signatures in feathers), and there are considerable beaurocratic issues (permits to capture birds) and logistical considerations (how do you catch one bird occurring in a population of 180,000 cackling geese) to deal with, but as I haven't been tasked with solving this problem, I won't burden myself with those considerations. Just throwing out an idea. Regarding this specific Red-breasted Goose, I would note that patterns of occurrence are relatively unconvincing in such debates. For example, I lived on a wildlife area in Missouri a while back. One winter an Egyptian Goose showed up in association with migrant Canada geese. The bird returned each year for three winters. I have no idea where it came from or where it returned to every summer, but I feel fairly certain that it did not return to Africa. We do regularly see vagrant geese (of lesser magnitude) in the Willamette Valley (emperor geese and brant). How do they get here? For brant it's tempting to say they just got blown inland or got mixed in with cacklers during migration. That's certainly possible; however, in many cases those birds remain inland all winter so that explanation seems a bit off (at least to me). For emperor geese it makes no sense at all as they spend the winter in Alaska. The answer I find most likely is brood amalgamation. Brant and emporer geese breed sympatrically with cacklers. You can find all nesting within meters of each other on the YK Delta in western Alaska). Arctic geese also have very sychronous nesting because of the short summer season and many move considerable distances (miles) from their nesting grounds to brood rearing areas. Consequently you have a lot of family groups with same-age goslings moving around at the same. Adults will sometimes squabble with other parents and goslings from one brood end up with the other. Or, during movements a gosling might be separated from it's family but glom on to the next family that passes by. When this happens at an early age and when the goslings of the two broods are of similar age parents will usually just tend whomever follows them. This along with the fact that goslings imprint over the first couple days of life on whomever is providing care provides the opportunity for an emperor gosling to become attached to cackling geese and in essesence "think" it's a cackler. It's then natural that the bird will migrate with it's cackler family. Could this happen for our red-breasted goose? I haven't given it enough thought to know. Brant are the most likely candidate as they migrate east-west along the upper Asian continental coast line, but I think brant in that area move west to the Atlantic. Either way, if it associated with Brant, it seems unlikely it would end up in the Willamette Valley, so the answer is probably no. Sorry for the long post, but I assume folks abandon such long-winded posts when they realize the author's ramblings do not interest them. Good Birding, Bruce Dugger From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sun Apr 19 08:58:49 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 08:58:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] duelling Great Horned Owls Message-ID: <188ACB22E05C40C4827FCDFD664A2EBD@yourw5st28y9a3> There are two male Great Horned Owls that call around my house, sometimes overlapping each other. Both sing the same pattern of notes, but one is deep-voiced and the other fairly high and slightly faster, as if a recording was playing too fast. Pamela Johnston outside McMinnville From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Apr 19 09:50:06 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 09:50:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brood Amalgamation Message-ID: I'm glad Bruce introduced me to this term. I've been meaning to bring it up for the better part of a year, but am too lazy and too slow a typist to present all the musings in this forum. I suspect all the Emperor Geese get here that way. I also imagine it's more of the ugly duckling syndrome- an Emperor Goose egg is laid in a Greater White-fronted Goose's nest because the goose can't conveniently get back to her own nest. The Emperor gosling is imprinted on the White-fronts and attempts to migrate with them. The number of Emperor Geese, always solo, that have shown up in Oregon has climbed significantly in the past decade, as has the continental population of White-fronts. The number of wintering White-fronts has also climbed by orders of magnitude here in western Oregon. I suspect many such misplaced Emperors perish over the North Pacific as their White-front families make this 1200(?)mile trek non-stop. Those that make it to Oregon promptly drop out upon land fall while their defacto siblings continue to K-falls. The idea initially came to me in regards to the Eugene Falcated Duck. Could there be an unknown breeding population of American Wigeon in Asia? What if a FADU egg ended up in a Balpate nest? Much more of a long shot than the Emperor/White-front scenario I know. Brant were regular vagrants to the Willamette Valley in the seventies, when Cacklers were not regular migrants and certainly not a wintering species. In fact I believe at the species' hiatus there were as few as 20,000 minima Cacklers in the world. I welcome the experts to set the number straight. It's certainly absurd to imagine a/the Red-breasted Goose returning to the Taimyr Peninsula each spring, then flying alone to Alaska to join its Cackler flock. But I can easily imagine it going to the Yukon Delta on annual basis for the rest of its days. Lars Norgren From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Apr 19 10:18:32 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 10:18:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln Co. NAMC coordinator vacant Message-ID: <78F6FF828B7F4E7ABB30BB133B451D6E@cgatesPC> I just found out that Lincoln County will be without an NAMC coordinator for the spring NAMC. This is your opportunity to go to one of Oregon's most popular birding counties and spend a day counting birds and looking for rarities. If you would like to count birds in Lincoln County, let me know. If you would like to organize a count in that county or some other county, let me know as well. Chuck Gates State NAMC Coordinator East Cascades Bird Conservancy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/47814dd6/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Apr 19 10:56:07 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 10:56:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] 36 county checklists soon available from the ECBC Message-ID: The East Cascades Bird Conservancy has embarked on an effort to produce Oregon's first comprehensive online birding guide for the 36 counties of the state. When finished sometime next year, Oregon birders will be able to access web pages for each county that list the top birders, best birds, geographic information, directions to the best birding sites, general birding information, and much more. One of the best services we plan to provide is a complete, printable bird checklist for each county. I have been hard at work compiling these checklists and I now have drafts of checklists for all 36 counties. The checklists are in a convenient trifold format and can easily be printed on a home computer before any road trip. I developed these lists by cross-referencing Birdnotes.com, Miller/Summers, BOGR, OBRC, and Craig Miller's Rare birds by county. I have also taken advantage of several published county lists and have been graced with the helpful services of many generous people. Because of them, I now have finalized, accurate checklists from Clatsop, Crook, Deschutes, Douglas, Linn, Multnomah, Umatilla, and Washington Counties. Several other people are currently working on editing other checklists. The completed checklists, while not yet on any posted website, are available to you for the asking. Just send an email and I'll get them to you (as PDF files). For the checklists not finalized, they will be available as we finish the final web pages for each county.I know there are other checklists out there and I would appreciate a note if you know of others, especially if they are published online. For those that have produced checklists as a commercial venture, we will be glad to purchase your checklists as a resource and advertise them on our site free of charge. For those who have checklists contained within a published document, let us know and we will advertise that document on our site free of charge as well. I'm writing to request a little of your time. With the exceptions of the counties mentioned above, I need volunteers to peruse the draft county lists and make appropriate changes. I need people who have experience in the chosen county and who know of historic and current records. At this time, we have chosen not to include abundance information (other than an asterisk to show species that have been seen fewer than 10 times). This will speed up the process of producing the checklists and we can work on abundance and seasonal info later. If you would be willing to give a couple of hours of your time to help us finalize these checklists, please respond to this email. You will receive editor credit printed at the top of every checklist you edit. For the counties that get no volunteer editors, we will make personal contacts to the leading county listers in an effort to make the best, most accurate product we can. I hope to hear from you. Thanks for your time. Chuck Gates East Cascades Bird Conservancy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/617f021f/attachment.html From mazoerr at gmail.com Sun Apr 19 11:08:46 2009 From: mazoerr at gmail.com (Ann Chamberlain) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:08:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] FOY Black headed Grosbeak Message-ID: <202f23ed0904191108n6301404fx7b7464dd062ba9f8@mail.gmail.com> A nice shiny bright male just showed up at the feeders this morning (Sunday). Also had a white-crowned sparrow and an orange-crowned warbler on Thursday. Ann outside of Myrtle Creek -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/265ee917/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Sun Apr 19 11:08:39 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:08:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: 6:30-7:15 AM (4/19): clear, mostly calm, swells 2-4 1000 Pacific Loon (almost all alternate) 50 Red-throated Loon 10 Common Loon 1 Brown Pelican 6 Double-crested Cormorant 50 Pelagic Cormorant (N) 40 Brandt's Cormorant 1 Black Scoter 12 White-winged Scoter 150 Surf Scoter 2 Red-breasted Merganser 30 calidris sp. 3 California Gull 100 Western Gull 10 Glaucous-winged Gull 28 Caspian Tern 400 Common Murre 4 Pigeon Guillemot 4 Marbled Murrelet 16 Rhinoceros Auklet Phil philliplc at charter.net From alderspr at peak.org Sun Apr 19 11:16:45 2009 From: alderspr at peak.org (Karan & Jim Fairchild) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:16:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Willamette Park morning-Benton County Message-ID: <828ECC73636B4D0DA48693AD4E3A39DF@HOMESTEAD> 3 of us spent just a couple hours at Willamette Park, with a half-hour spent swimming the dog. 7 warbler species and other first of year birds for us of note: NASHVILLE WARBLER, 2, feeding amongst numerous orange-crowned, black throateds and Audubon's yellow-rumps HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, 1 WILSON'S WARBLER, 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 1, mid=stream gravel bar One American Robin nest-building gathered such a large mass of lichens, fine twigs and moss that we could not see its face or eyes when it looked straight at us. You'd think it was some tropical bird in a courtship display totally incapable of flight....but 'fly' it soon did! It struggled to stay airborne, and made so many course corrections we knew it could not see. Two bad landings later, it reverted to hopping into its barely hidden nest site in a trailside indian plum. So much for instruments-only flight for robins. Jim Karan and Karl Fairchild From deweysage at verizon.net Sun Apr 19 11:21:07 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:21:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Testing hypotheses about vagrancy In-Reply-To: <9EA047F8A18249D5B884E08B2AF5AB50@Home> References: <9EA047F8A18249D5B884E08B2AF5AB50@Home> Message-ID: <49EB6B93.5060203@verizon.net> Bruce & Katie Dugger wrote: > > > > Regarding this specific Red-breasted Goose, I would note that patterns of > occurrence are relatively unconvincing in such debates. For example, I > lived on a wildlife area in Missouri a while back. One winter an Egyptian > Goose showed up in association with migrant Canada geese. The bird returned > each year for three winters. I have no idea where it came from or where it > returned to every summer, but I feel fairly certain that it did not return > to Africa. > > I agree. Years ago a Graylag goose would arrive at New River with migrant flocks of Canada (ie, large) Geese, would be there while they were there, and then disappear when they disappeared. This happened like three years in a row. I doubt anyone thinks that Graylag was really wild. Cheers Dave Lauten From deweysage at verizon.net Sun Apr 19 11:24:10 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:24:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Cty Migration Message-ID: <49EB6C4A.4040608@verizon.net> Today at Bandon Beach SNA Coos Cty we had pretty massive migration happening. Most notable was CASPIAN TERNS by the hundreds. Flocks of shorebirds, mostly peeps, also passed by the hundreds and hundreds, and SHORT-BILLED DOWITHCERS were on the move too. Cormorants, loons, and gulls were also moving en masse. Awesome morning on the beach. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From deweysage at verizon.net Sun Apr 19 11:28:27 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:28:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] interesting little story about ship assisted bird movement Message-ID: <49EB6D4B.4060400@verizon.net> My cousin is a merchant marine on the docks in Tacoma. He and his wife called two days ago to report that Tom rescued a small, gray, web footed bird from one of the holds of one of their Alaska freighters. They got it home, boxed it, and the next morning brought it to the rehab center. It turned out to be a CASSIN'S AUKLET. Seemed to be ok. Apparently got on the ship somehow and couldn't fly out, and got a free ride to Tacoma. Nothing spectacularly rare, but a real case of real ship assistance, if one ever wonders whether this happens or not. They hope to bring it back to Alaska to be released. Cheers Dave Lauten From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sun Apr 19 11:56:03 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:56:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Mt. Tabor Solitaire, MacGillivray's Warblers Message-ID: <372214.20078.qm@web55701.mail.re3.yahoo.com> We birded Mt. Tabor from 7:40 to 10:40 this morning. Larger numbers of migrants are finally passing through. Highlights (with conservative estimates) included: Hammond's Flycatcher- 1 heard on east trail Pacific-slope Flycatcher- 2 or 3 Cassin's Vireo- 2 at the top Hermit Thrush- 10+ Townsend's Solitaire- 1 (spotted by Tom McNamara) on the east trail Orange-crowned Warbler- 30+, lots singing Nashville Warbler- 1 on east trail Yellow-rumped Warbler- 15+ with lots more in the neighborhoods Black-throated Gray Warbler- 15+, mostly near the top Townsend's Warbler- 20+ around the top MacGillivray's Warbler- 2, in blackberry brambles on southwest slope just below the top Good birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia From tanager at nu-world.com Sun Apr 19 11:57:44 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:57:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Saturday - 4/18/2009 Skinner Butte, Eugene, Lane Co. Message-ID: <000e01c9c120$b9190a30$2b4b1e90$@com> OBOL, Lane County Audubon's 3rd Saturday Bird walk started a little earlier than their traditional hour, but we had good weather, good birds, and a good time. Anne and I were designated as the leaders, but we had a good group and many helped in finding the warblers and neotropical migrants, which was the focus of the walk. Here is a list of the warblers/migrants that I can remember plus a couple of other notable "sightings": Bald Eagle (2 adults plus chicks) Violet-green Swallow Lesser Goldfinch (display flight - "skylarking") Townsend's Warbler Black-throated Gray Warbler (10+ birds?) Orange-crowned Warbler (50+?) Nashville Warbler (several - 10?) Yellow-rumped Warbler (mostly Audubon's race, but there was one well-marked Myrtle male) Cassin's Vireo (heard only - ?? - with a Lesser Goldfinch accent) The question mark after the Cassin's Vireo is because of the presence of many Lesser Goldfinches, known mimics. A brief glimpse was also had of a warbler that got away. We had been hearing a weak song of a "hermit-type" warbler, and a couple of us got a brief glimpse of a grayish bird with a pale yellow cheek. We never re-found the bird. A Lesser Goldfinch was seen making this same call a bit later, so the sighting is filed as "possible". The same goes for the Cassin's Vireo heard only notation. Anne and I later in the day went for a bike ride along the river through Alton Baker park to Springfield and back again. In the woods just south of Autzen Stadium we ran into a flock of migrants, predominantly Nashville Warblers (also present in our yard most of the afternoon), but also including Orange-crowned, three more Myrtle-type Yellow-rumped, and one or two Hutton's Vireos. A Cassin's Vireo was also heard in that area. There must have been a major flight of Nashville Warblers in the last few days. I have never seen so many during migration as yesterday. Good birding, Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/ba1dc809/attachment.html From markhamm at charterinternet.com Sun Apr 19 13:01:49 2009 From: markhamm at charterinternet.com (Mark Hamm) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:01:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cassin's Vireo Message-ID: <04C01C1B-4F6A-4886-945B-4F8AC311FF4E@charterinternet.com> Heard then saw a CASSIN'S VIREO today in my yard, Roseburg Downtown/ mixed forest interface today. mark hamm Roseburg From markhamm at charterinternet.com Sun Apr 19 13:03:46 2009 From: markhamm at charterinternet.com (Mark Hamm) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:03:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Nashville Warbler Message-ID: Heard but did not see a NASHVILLE WARBLER today, not getting much done in the yard as the birds keep luring me away from work. Mark Hamm Roseburg downtown From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sun Apr 19 13:06:33 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 20:06:33 +0000 Subject: [obol] Coos Cty Migration Message-ID: Adding on to Dave's report, we had similar sightings at Coquille Point with Caspian Terns flying by the bluff. Also three tufted puffins in the morning. One bobbing in the water just south of Elephant Rock and two flying about Face Rock. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: DJ Lauten and KACastelein Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 18:24:10 To: Subject: [obol] Coos Cty Migration Today at Bandon Beach SNA Coos Cty we had pretty massive migration happening.? Most notable was CASPIAN TERNS by the hundreds.? Flocks of shorebirds, mostly peeps, also passed by the hundreds and hundreds, and SHORT-BILLED DOWITHCERS were on the move too.? Cormorants, loons, and gulls were also moving en masse.? Awesome morning on the beach. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Sun Apr 19 13:23:27 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:23:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cliff Swallow Merlin Rest Area Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F020672A5@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> On Friday I observed approximately 50 Cliff Swallow at the South Bound Merlin Rest area. They were going to old nests under the eaves of a metal building below the area where trucks park. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/135087be/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Apr 19 13:24:09 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:24:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Jo Co migrants arrivals Message-ID: <4C6BB509324349A4B659CA8E1B85A4DB@Warbler> Yesterday (04-18-09) southwest of Grants Pass (near Wilderville) a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK was seen. Today (04-19-09) east of Grants Pass (Phil Hick's place) a BULLOCK'S ORIOLE and a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (so far) were seen. still listening and looking, Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/18144a7f/attachment.html From tinamou at comcast.net Sun Apr 19 13:28:20 2009 From: tinamou at comcast.net (Bruce & Katie Dugger) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:28:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Testing hypotheses about vagrancy In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <284A8C6F98004A68AAF428C9BE50F2C0@Home> Lars of course is correct; I neglected to mention the other mechanism that results in cross-species broods. Interspecific nest parasitism (females of one species laying eggs in the nest of another species) is also common among the geese that nest on the YK Delta and waterfowl in general. Lars also brought up the other interesting issue with this phenomenon in the specific context of Cackling Geese and Emperors. Cacklers are a long distance migrants, as such their morphology, physiology and behavior is adapted for such journeys. Emperors are not. Does this life-history difference pre-dispose Emperors to failure on the journey from Alaska to Oregon? As for the question of Brant before the arrival of Cacklers to the Willamette Valley. I don't discount that there are other ways brant could show up in the valley (including simple weather related mis-directions). Aleutians show up occasionally, and nest parasitism or brood amalgamation are not a likely explanations for those occurrences. I would only note that brant breed in several locations in Alaska (north slope) and may come in contact with other smallish geese (taverners) that have been wintering in the Valley since the 1970s, so brood amalgamation and nest parasitism have been viable mechanisms for quite some time. In addition to white-fronts as mentioned in Lars' post, the primary migration route for cacklers before they wintered in the WV took them over the WV on route to the Klamath Basin, so brant could have come from that source as well. Does anyone know, has the occurrence of vagrant emperor geese increased as the cackler population increased in the WV starting around 1994? I realize that one successful bird came accumulate a lot of detections over multiple years, and we are doing a much better job of looking for and reporting such occurrences (so the question can be hard to realistically answer), but we're not trying to publish, I'm just curious. Folks can respond to me personally if they don't want to clutter OBOL. Bruce From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun Apr 19 13:51:06 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:51:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] More Coos News 4/19/2009 Message-ID: <627640.32615.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> SHOREBIRD MIGRATION is on.? Down at New River there were flocks of shorebirds moving north all morning. Species encountered included: WESTERN & LEAST SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, DUNLIN, WHIMBREL, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, a single small flock of LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and one BLACK TURNSTONE. I did a 15 min. count around 9:30 AM and figured about 3,700/hr.? If past year's patterns continue this year, the next two nice clear, windy days could have much bigger numbers. The CASPIAN TERN migration was particularly impressive, with hundreds per hour.? Also moving in good numbers were AMERICAN PIPITS. The new passerine migrant for the day were several singing PAC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS. At Bandon Marsh around 11AM there were the folowing approximate numbers of shorebirds: 3,000+ peeps (Western & Least Sandpipers, SP Plovers, Dunlins) 250- SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS (I couldn't see or hear any obvious LBed) 30- GREATER YELLOWLEGS 1- LESSER YELLOWLEGS 6- BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 5- MARBLED GODWITS Lots of CASPIAN TERNS at the marsh and along the Coquille River also. The wind was ripping by 8:30AM at New River but that doesn't seem to bother the shorebirds, the afternoon high tides the next couple of days could really load up Bandon Marsh NWR. Merry migration! Tim R Coos Bay From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Apr 19 14:44:33 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 14:44:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red Fox Sparrow Message-ID: <3DEE06006FFD4360BBCA3524BE080306@cgatesPC> I'm pretty sure I just had a RED FOX SPARROW double scratching in my front yard. Red tail, reddish streaking on the chest and sides, gray nape, gray in the crown, red in the ear, red wings rump and back, yellow lower bill. I instantly recognized the bird by it's feeding behavior but was surprised to see the bright red markings when it jumped into the light. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/49e8ae0c/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Apr 19 14:59:50 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 14:59:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Powell Butte Solitary Sandpiper Message-ID: <22C1C7618F4148378C68378945D88F1F@cgatesPC> I went birding in Powell Butte and Prineville this morning. 3 BLACK-NECKED STILTS and an early SOLITARY SANDPIPER were at Houston Lake. No migrants at the Prineville Cemetery. There have been 65 Solitary Sandpiper reports in the last 5 years from Central Oregon. Only 5 of those were in the month of April. This sighting is the earliest by about a week (in the last 5 years). Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/fc639118/attachment.html From foglark at att.net Sun Apr 19 16:10:56 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 16:10:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Humboldt Co., CA, Whip-poor-will returns Message-ID: <438126.20857.qm@web80009.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> The fabulous WHIP-POOR-WILL is back for its THIRD! year, east of Willow Creek, Humboldt County, first heard the morning of 19 April. A Godwit Days pelagic trip out of Eureka this morning that Sean McAllister and I co-led found a Laysan Albatross and 80 Black-footed Albatrosses over the Eel River Canyon, as well as cruise-past views of the much-enjoyed Yellow-billed Loon in the little Elk R. estuary in s. Eureka on the way back in. We also saw Jupiter after sunrise (and actually for the first two hours of daylight, with binoculars, and from the boat!). It was just below the moon. We also saw Venus by day, a nifty "two-world" view while the sun was shining. The wintering Brown Thrasher continues at Stan Harris's yard in Sunny Brae. Thanks to the Oregon birders who came down for Godwit Days. It was great to meet you and share the birds of Humboldt. Spread the word. David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/743e4f0f/attachment.html From gneavoll at comcast.net Sun Apr 19 16:26:51 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:26:51 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Sparrows of Fernhill Wetlands In-Reply-To: <1960610270.3180891240183417345.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <970997253.3181561240183611536.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> LINCOLN'S SPARROW in lower branches of tree near n.e. corner of Cattail(less) Marsh at midafternoon Saturday (4/18/09). CHIPPING SPARROW in bushes along dike road between Fernhill Lake, Cattail Marsh. Bright (very yellow around head) SAVANNAH SPARROWS there and in road between marsh, Eagle Perch Pond. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS now include individuals resplendent in bold yellow, white, black head markings. George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/b2d68f1b/attachment.html From vireogirl at yahoo.com Sun Apr 19 16:53:40 2009 From: vireogirl at yahoo.com (Vjera Thompson) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 16:53:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Eugene birds Message-ID: <423361.23834.qm@web56301.mail.re3.yahoo.com> OBOLers, Eddie and I had at least 89 species by bicycle yesterday (4/18). One noteworthy bird that wasn't on John's list was a HOUSE WREN. We stopped to eat lunch with some friends in a neighborhood near Churchill HS and had one appear briefly in a yard. Today (4/19) on Skinner Butte I finally saw a CASSIN'S VIREO (heard one yesterday) with a small flock of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS with a few YELLOW-RUMPS, 2 TOWNSEND'S, a BLACK-THROATED GRAY, and a NASHVILLE. Good birding, Vjera & Eddie Thompson Eugene, OR vireogirl at yahoo.com From FoxSparrows at aol.com Sun Apr 19 18:09:01 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:09:01 EDT Subject: [obol] Marbled Godwits return to Harney County, + other county notes Message-ID: Today, I saw five MARBLED GODWITS at in two groups in the flooded hayfields around Burns and Hines. Today is also the first day on which I have seen flocks of WHITE-FACED IBIS at various locations as well. LONG-BILLED CURLEWS are very numerous and well-scattered now, with a large concentration (150+ birds) between Eban Ray Lane and Highway 20 near the Weigh Station. WILLETS, AVOCETS and STILTS are also common now, and well-scattered. All three species are engaged in mating displays, and avocets are copulating. I saw several small (5-10 birds) flocks of GREATER YELLOWLEGS around Burns and along Double 0 Road today... There are two BURROWING OWL burrows within sight of one another along Highway 205, just south of Weaver Lane (west side of the highway). One is within the pivot-irrigated field, and one is just outside the edge. VESPER SPARROWS are singing in the sagebrush now. Hayfields are flooding more rapidly now around Burns, and also in the Silver Creek drainage along Double 0 Road. Please see my site guide to the Burns CBC Circle in the recently-published issue of Oregon Birds... Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! _ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm_ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) **************Access 350+ FREE radio stations anytime from anywhere on the web. Get the Radio Toolbar! (http://toolbar.aol.com/aolradio/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000003) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/6182f32d/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sun Apr 19 19:22:42 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:22:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Testing hypotheses about vagrancy References: <284A8C6F98004A68AAF428C9BE50F2C0@Home> Message-ID: <662135AF00BB4EF6A3A800E8D41FD439@D48XBZ51> I first saw Emperor geese on the Oregon Coast in the late 1960s, and was aware a few occurrences in the Willamette Valley in the same period. My sense is that numbers over here are not a whole lot higher now than then. In addition, my experience is that the coastal Emperor Geese tend to show up between mid-December and early January. This is certainly well after the main push of Cackling Geese going south. Recent examples include the current Bandon bird, and two that spent a few days at Yaquina Head in late December several years ago. A few years ago there were multiple reports from the Oregon and northern California coasts, and my recollection is they appeared well after the main push of Cacklers. The pattern in the Willamette Valley seems different, with birds of the year showing up in fall with the Cacklers. There is no reason all vagrancy in this species has to have the same cause, and I suspect two different phenomena may be involved. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce & Katie Dugger" To: Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2009 1:28 PM Subject: [obol] Testing hypotheses about vagrancy > > Lars of course is correct; I neglected to mention the other mechanism that > results in cross-species broods. Interspecific nest parasitism (females > of > one species laying eggs in the nest of another species) is also common > among > the geese that nest on the YK Delta and waterfowl in general. Lars also > brought up the other interesting issue with this phenomenon in the > specific > context of Cackling Geese and Emperors. Cacklers are a long distance > migrants, as such their morphology, physiology and behavior is adapted for > such journeys. Emperors are not. Does this life-history difference > pre-dispose Emperors to failure on the journey from Alaska to Oregon? > > As for the question of Brant before the arrival of Cacklers to the > Willamette Valley. I don't discount that there are other ways brant could > show up in the valley (including simple weather related mis-directions). > Aleutians show up occasionally, and nest parasitism or brood amalgamation > are not a likely explanations for those occurrences. I would only note > that > brant breed in several locations in Alaska (north slope) and may come in > contact with other smallish geese (taverners) that have been wintering in > the Valley since the 1970s, so brood amalgamation and nest parasitism have > been viable mechanisms for quite some time. In addition to white-fronts > as > mentioned in Lars' post, the primary migration route for cacklers before > they wintered in the WV took them over the WV on route to the Klamath > Basin, > so brant could have come from that source as well. > > Does anyone know, has the occurrence of vagrant emperor geese increased as > the cackler population increased in the WV starting around 1994? I > realize > that one successful bird came accumulate a lot of detections over multiple > years, and we are doing a much better job of looking for and reporting > such > occurrences (so the question can be hard to realistically answer), but > we're > not trying to publish, I'm just curious. Folks can respond to me > personally > if they don't want to clutter OBOL. > > Bruce > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From bettymkn at netscape.com Sun Apr 19 19:24:02 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:24:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eagle/Osprey Battle Message-ID: <20090419192402.8D6B5E7A@resin11.mta.everyone.net> Here at Foster Lake on Saturday--- Talking to a neighbor who is familiar with both birds and was sitting on the bank of Foster Lake yesterday, fishing. He said he watched a Bald Eagle chasing an Osprey all over the lake and every time the Osprey tried to head for the shore the Eagle would circle and cut if off, keeping it flying over the lake. He then noticed a second Eagle flying high overhead and when the Osprey showed signs of tiring the second Eagle swooped down, struck the Osprey and took it down to the lake, killing it. Both Eagles then flew to a nearby tree and sat, visibly "panting" or whatever tired birds do. He said the whole incident took 10-15 minutes. Has anyone every seen anything like this before? Both Eagles and Osprey have nests on the lake and seem to coexist pretty well. Our Osprey that does numerous flyovers here at the RV Park is still here so it is either a mate or one of another pair. Also, he said a pair of Loons are crusing the shoreline fishing. Will try to get out early tomorrow for photographs. He stated they were quite large birds. Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From greg at thebirdguide.com Sun Apr 19 21:12:50 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:12:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] April 18 pelagic highlights Message-ID: Highlights from the Saturday, April 18 pelagic trip from Newport, Oregon to Perpetua Bank includes these birds (my estimates only, without consulting other guides for their impressions or birds I may have missed): LAYSAN ALBATROSS: 2 (1 first year bird and an older bird). Each one spent 20-40 minutes around the boat at separate chum stops. BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS: 250 (around 6 or 7 groundfish draggers about 30-35 miles offshore) MANX SHEARWATER: 1 (briefly seen by about 3-5 people 1/2 mile off Newport at the same time Phil was seeing another one 10 miles to the north at Boiler Bay!). We spend only about an hour each trip in nearshore water and are seeing these birds on about 50% of our trips since 2003, March-May, September-October. GLAUCOUS GULL: 1, same 2nd year bird in harbor since January ANCIENT MURRELET: 35+ birds in 5 flocks of 2-10 birds (others may have seen some I missed) TUFTED PUFFIN: 3 (one seen well by everyone, 2 other brief fly-bys) Other birds I saw or heard about: ROCK SANDPIPER: Seal Rock on 4/17 by one of our passengers seems late by about 2 weeks. Black MERLIN I saw 4/19 over Beaver Creek Marsh Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM Sun Apr 19 21:16:28 2009 From: dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM (Cheryl Whelchel) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:16:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Corvallis Audobon K Falls trip pictures Message-ID: I have posted a bunch of pictures from this weekend's trip to the Klamath Falls area. I have not labeled anything yet as I am too tired, but wanted to get the pictures up quickly anyway. good birding Cheryl Whelchel Tangent http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/136f940e/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Sun Apr 19 21:18:12 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:18:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tillamook birds + Lincoln teal 4/19 Message-ID: I camped north of Sand Lake last night and a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL woke me up at 5:45am. I did some Tillamook County birding and ran into a few other people doing the same. I heard many of the FOY birds that other people have been reporting lately. Highlights are as follows... Cape Meares Lighthouse 6 BROWN PELICANS (adult breeding) 2 SOOTY SHEARWATER 2 TUFTED PUFFIN Bayocean Spit (Lake Meares) 1 MARBLED GODWIT 2 CINNAMON TEAL 2 CANVASBACK 1 BROWN PELICAN (immature) Fenk Rd (off Netarts Hwy) 4 CINNAMON TEAL Sand Lake (north side) 1 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK Netarts Bay 2 BARROW'S GOLDENEYE General notes: There seemed to be a Bald Eagle (or more) in sight at every stop in Tillamook County. I saw about 1200+ GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flying this evening north over Hwy 101 on my way back to Coos. There were 4 large flocks, mostly while in Lincoln County. Tom S. & Tim S., if you're still reading, I found my Lincoln Cinnamon Teal below the "2 mile house" on N Beaver Creek Rd. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/274fafa6/attachment.html From mavethegreat at hotmail.com Sun Apr 19 21:22:51 2009 From: mavethegreat at hotmail.com (David G Crisman) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:22:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: Jackson Bottom, Washington County, Oregon on April 19, 2009 In-Reply-To: <200904200409.n3K49pkl002596@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> References: <200904200409.n3K49pkl002596@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> Message-ID: > To: MavetheGreat at hotmail.com > From: MavetheGreat at hotmail.com > Subject: Jackson Bottom, Washington County, Oregon on April 19, 2009 > Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:09:51 +0000 > > This report was mailed for David Crisman by http://birdnotes.net > > Date: April 19, 2009 > Location: Jackson Bottom, Washington County, Oregon > > > Birded Jackson Bottom Wetlands with my brother Andy from 1745-2000. > > > > The field east of the "gene pool" was teeming with shorebirds. Many > of several species. > > > Birds seen (in taxonomic order): > > Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) > Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) > Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) > Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) > Gadwall (Anas strepera) > American Wigeon (Anas americana) > Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) > Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera) > Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) > Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) > Green-Winged Teal (Anas crecca) > Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) > Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) > Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) > Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) > Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) > Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) > Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) > Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) > Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) > Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) > Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) > Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) > American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) > American Coot (Fulica americana) > Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) > Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) > Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) > Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) > Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) > Dunlin (Calidris alpina) > Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) > Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) > Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) > Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) > Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) > Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) > Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) > Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) > Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) > Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) > Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) > Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) > American Robin (Turdus migratorius) > European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) > Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) > Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) > Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) > Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) > Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) > Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) > Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla) > Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) > Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) > House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) > > Total number of species seen: 55 > > _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Life without walls. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1b_explore_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/63a17be5/attachment.html From jmoodie at cocc.edu Sun Apr 19 21:38:12 2009 From: jmoodie at cocc.edu (Jim Moodie) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:38:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wickiup Resevoir, Deschutes County Message-ID: This morning, Summitt, Kim and I drove up to Wickiup Res. for our annual communing with the spring loons. Here are some of the highlights at Wickiup Res. Greater White-fronted Geese (heard several) Greater Scaup ~150 some Lessers and Ringnecked Ducks mixed in Canvasback 4 Common Loon ~90 some calling Horned Grebe 26 Eared Grebe 6 Western Grebe a couple dozen probables off in the distance, 2 off of Gull Point Boat Ramp Sandhill Crane (heard calling) California Gull ~12 Ring-billed Gull 1 Lots of Butterbutts Cheers, JIm Moodie From 4cains at charter.net Sun Apr 19 21:53:32 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:53:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] American Bittern Airport Rd Message-ID: <80D53B76660042B6AD41A734DC9EB5CD@HAL> At 1500 hrs today an AMERICAN BITTERN flushed up then landed again at Hansen Creek culvert on Airport Road, across from JM Browning Logging. Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/60844e40/attachment.html From carolk at viclink.com Sun Apr 19 21:59:10 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:59:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Benton county Sunday Message-ID: <003b01c9c175$9ea7c7e0$8c76fea9@home> Today we headed up Mary's Peak in the early morning and found several SOOTY GROUSE booming a short distance beyond the locked gate ~ 7 miles up the road. Back down on Decker Rd., (upper part) a pair of MOUNTAIN QUAIL crossed the road in front of us about noon. At the Woodpecker Trail parking lot at Finley NWR we ate lunch and were entertained by a pair of WRENTITS. As we started to walk in to Cabell Marsh 3 flocks of ~300 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew over, we had displaying RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD and a female carrying nesting material. AT McFadden Marsh we saw ~8 each of Gt. Blue Heron & Gt. Egret, plus an AMERICAN BITTERN. At an unnamed wetland about a mile south of the Philomath sewage pond on Bellefountain Rd. we saw a good mix of ducks until an adult Bald Eagle flew over. At the Philomath sewage pond we saw a CLARK'S GREBE. Carol Karlen & Paul Sullivan From carolk at viclink.com Sun Apr 19 21:58:56 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:58:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yamhill county Saturday Message-ID: <003a01c9c175$9df6c760$8c76fea9@home> On Saturday, Apr. 18, we covered a lot of the wetlands of Yamhill county, in search of shorebirds. We visited Cottonwood St. in W McMinnville, Briedwell Rd., the bottoms near the Brigittine Monastery, Salt Creek Rd., Patty Lane S of Amity, the Janzen farm ponds, Grand Island sloughs, Mallard Lane, Dayton Sewage Ponds, North Valley Rd., Sunset Ln. E of Cove Orchard, and the Carlton sewage ponds. We found ~15 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 1 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, and a few KILLDEER. We found many Green-winged Teal & other ducks along the way. OSPREY were on nests across the county. We found a GREEN HERON on Meadow St. in McMinnville, plus both VIRGINIA RAIL & SORA on Briedwell Rd. We also found the first-of-season COMMON YELLOWTHROAT there. We found a couple EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES on Grand Island. Youngsters included: -- Canada Geese goslings -- Killdeer chicks -- Bald Eaglet in nest -- Osprey on nests Carol Karlen & Paul Sullivan From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Apr 20 09:28:47 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:28:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Spring 2009 Vaux's Swift Migration Roost Survey and Migration Count Message-ID: <1240244927.3636.46.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, Please visit www.oregonbirds.org for updates on two upcoming events: May 2: Vaux's Swift Migration Roost Count (coordinated by Nicole Nielsen Pincus) May 9-10: North American Migration Count (coordinated by Chuck Gates) A number of county coordinators have not yet chosen dates for the latter event. More specifics will be added to this web page as the schedule shapes up. Happy spring migration, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From tom-escue at comcast.net Mon Apr 20 09:40:28 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:40:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Goldfinches Message-ID: <268945363E7A4F64A07F11124DCBEA2F@TomsPC> This morning I have my first AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES at my patio thistle feeder. I counted five. Tom Escue Central Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090420/90fee343/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Apr 20 10:00:25 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:00:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] This Morning on Coxcomb Hill - 4/20/2009 Townsend's Solitaire Message-ID: <49ECAA29.5060800@pacifier.com> Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Coxcomb Hill, Clatsop County, Oregon There were plenty of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS this morning. They pretty much popped out of the bushes any place I pished. Most notable were two TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES that were fly-catching from the shrubbery the lines the parking lot at the top. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Anna's Hummingbird 2 Rufous Hummingbird 3 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 3 Steller's Jay 3 Western Scrub-Jay 2 American Crow 2 Violet-green Swallow 4 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 12 Golden-crowned Kinglet 10 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Townsend's Solitaire 2 [1] American Robin 8 European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler 26 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 [2] Black-throated Gray Warbler 2 Townsend's Warbler 7 Fox Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 2 White-crowned Sparrow 3 Golden-crowned Sparrow 4 Dark-eyed Junco 2 Pine Siskin 2 House Sparrow Footnotes: [1] both flycatching together at the top of the hill. [2] Audubon's Total number of species seen: 28 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Mon Apr 20 10:02:36 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:02:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock Mansion: Cassin's Finch Message-ID: <7F5BA9B8-1E2E-4998-8F12-07E1791BFC68@gmail.com> I spent about 1.25 hours up at Pittock this morning. There were not that many birds to look at and few migrants. But it was still very fun. Best was a singing and calling female-plumaged CASSIN'S FINCH which I recorded with my little Nikon P5100 camera, which turned out pretty well, given it was way up in a tree on the edge of the parking lot. It left after a car arrived. The other nice birds were 4 EVENING GROSBEAKS which also did not stick around and one song of a PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER was heard downhill from the mansion on the north side. RUFOUS HUMMER and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER courtship was in high gear on the mansion grounds. It was very fun watching two male Orange- crowneds in hot pursuit of a female that went on and on and on. Location: Pittock Mansion Observation date: 4/20/09 Number of species: 29 Anna's Hummingbird 3 Rufous Hummingbird 2 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Pacific-slope Flycatcher 1 Steller's Jay 6 American Crow 3 Violet-green Swallow 3 Black-capped Chickadee 6 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2 Bushtit 4 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Winter Wren 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Hermit Thrush 2 American Robin 12 Varied Thrush 3 Orange-crowned Warbler 4 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 1 Spotted Towhee 4 Song Sparrow 3 Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 3 Purple Finch 2 Cassin's Finch 1 House Finch 6 Red Crossbill 2 Pine Siskin 20 American Goldfinch 1 Evening Grosbeak 4 From windypointandy at dishmail.net Mon Apr 20 11:27:12 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:27:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER IN THE BADGER CREEK WILDERNESS AREA Message-ID: <001501c9c1e5$a9579290$3700a8c0@windypoint99> BADGER CREEK WILDERNESS HIKE 16 APRIL 2009 We took a day trip down to the area east of Mt. Hood to hike the "School Canyon Trail" in the Badger Creek Wilderness Area south of The Dalles. This is featured in 101 Classic Hikes in Oregon (Mountaineer Books). It talks of it being a "unique hike in the pine-oak belt." We enjoyed brilliant sunny weather. This brought out insects in numbers and lizards, sure signs of spring. The start (GPS 45 17.912 N 121 21.904 W) is amid Oregon white oak and ponderosa pine habitat. Within a few hundred yards and for the next mile and a half, we hiked through a recent burn, widespread but not catastrophic. So, we encountered a mosaic of burnt and unburnt terrain. Woodpeckers were a special feature. We had great looks at a pair of BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS, about 1/3 mile up the trail. These seemed to be territorial here. We also encountered at least three pairs of Hairy and one of Downy Woodpeckers, and three or more of Northern Flickers. On the way up to the trailhead, in bigger oaks, we spotted a couple LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS. Otherwise, birds were not overly abundant or diverse. Western Bluebirds were constant companions in the south-facing oaks, calling their gentle "phew" notes. We heard a few Chipping Sparrows sing briefly. A male American Kestrel performed its elegant flutter flight, calling shrilly, then landing beside the female atop a snag where he presented her with a small rodent. Wildflowers were a special treat. We noted two species of yellow-flowered lilies: beautiful fawn lily, like a small-leaved avalanche lily, and yellow bells. We also noted gold star and clumps of Gormann's biscuitroot, a dwarfish Lomatium characteristic of thin soils. The ridge crest offered a nice panorama of the Cascade volcanoes, to the south: Broken Top, Three Sisters, and Mt. Jefferson; Mt. Hood was hidden by near mountains. Eastwards, we peered out to wheatfields and juniper-studded plains. Beyond a ridgecrest, we swung onto a north-facing slope in partially burnt Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine forest, beneath Ball Point (there's imaginative naming of peaks hereabouts; also Pen and Hootnanny Points nearby!). SOOTY GROUSE hooted, though it was mid-day. Species noted: Turkey Vulture - 10 Red-tailed Hawk - 2 American Kestrel - 3 SOOTY GROUSE - 2 Downy Woodpecker - 2 Hairy Woodpecker - 5+ BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER - 2 Northern Flicker - 7+ Steller's Jay - 2 Common Raven - 3 Mountain Chickadee - 2 White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 Western Bluebird - 5 Townsend's Solitaire - 1 American Robin - 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2 Chipping Sparrow - 3 White-crowned Sparrow - 1 Dark-eyed Junco - 2 Pine Siskin - 1 On our approach along the Columbia, we stopped at Biggs and the Deschutes River mouth, adding lots of waterbirds. The Deschutes River mouth in late afternoon light, was very pretty with bright greens of spring mantling all the hillsides setting off the dramatic rimrock. Atop the rocks we watched Turkey Vultures mating, a sedate and protracted (for a bird anyway) affair. It appeared the male just sort of perched atop the upright female, with none of the frantic wing-flapping that seems the norm with birds. Species list: Canada Goose - 20 Am. Green-winged Teal - 5 Mallard - 20 Gadwall - 20 Ring-necked Duck - 20 Greater Scaup - 200 Lesser Scaup - 10 Bufflehead - 10 Common Merganser - 5 Common Loon - 1 Horned Grebe - 3 Eared Grebe - 1 Western Grebe - 15 Double-crested Cormorant - 5 Great Blue heron - 1 Turkey Vulture - 5 Osprey - 2 Red-tailed Hawk - 3 American Kestrel - 1 American Coot - 30 Killdeer - 1 Ing-billed Gull - 30 California Gull - 30 Glaucous-winged Gull - 1 Rock Pigeon - 2 Northern Flicker - 2 Western Scrub-Jay - 2 Black-billed Magpie - 5 American Crow - 5 Common Raven - 3 Violet-green Swallow - 3 Cliff Swallow - 20 Bewick's Wren - 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 5 Spotted Towhee - 1 Song Sparrow - 2 White-crowned Sparrow - 3 Red-winged Blackbird - 20 Western Meadowlark - 5 Brewer's Blackbird - 50, roadside brush now House Finch - 5 American Goldfinch - 3 House Sparrow - 20 Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090420/7b51d3be/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Mon Apr 20 11:32:04 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:32:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Goose test In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <49ecbfa3.1aba720a.7790.784b@mx.google.com> Alan, Alan, Alan.... Must you? Marilyn Miller -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Alan Contreras Sent: Saturday, April 18, 2009 7:51 AM To: obol Subject: [obol] Goose test Surely the wild, free-range Red-breasted Goose tastes different than the domesticated kind. That would not be too difficult to find out, I would think. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com "There are moral limits to the responsibility that can be assigned to the mentally ill for their actions." - Alvaro de Campos http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ - Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ - Bird Photos & News _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.12.0/2068 - Release Date: 04/19/09 20:04:00 From tc at empnet.com Mon Apr 20 12:35:33 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:35:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Goose test In-Reply-To: <49ecbfa3.1aba720a.7790.784b@mx.google.com> References: <49ecbfa3.1aba720a.7790.784b@mx.google.com> Message-ID: <9C537ED2516741488C8526E67C9E858F@102889> Of course. No one would have even raised an eyebrow if he were talking about Steelhead or Wigeon.... -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Marilyn Miller Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 10:32 AM To: 'Alan Contreras'; 'obol' Subject: Re: [obol] Goose test Alan, Alan, Alan.... Must you? Marilyn Miller -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Alan Contreras Sent: Saturday, April 18, 2009 7:51 AM To: obol Subject: [obol] Goose test Surely the wild, free-range Red-breasted Goose tastes different than the domesticated kind. That would not be too difficult to find out, I would think. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com "There are moral limits to the responsibility that can be assigned to the mentally ill for their actions." - Alvaro de Campos http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ - Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ - Bird Photos & News _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.12.0/2068 - Release Date: 04/19/09 20:04:00 _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From celata at pacifier.com Mon Apr 20 11:58:29 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:58:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] change in the weather Message-ID: <49ECC5D5.6080402@pacifier.com> I predict an exodus of lingering species (especially Rufous Hummingbirds) to coincide with the extra-warm temperatures and high pressure. Folks east(ish) of the Cascades watch those feeders. We should also expect sparrows out and bigger warbler numbers in. Broken bottle-necks can be quite exciting... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From louisfredd at msn.com Mon Apr 20 13:12:02 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:12:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Change in Weather Message-ID: Events anticipated your prediction here, Mike. FOYr Vaux's Swift (pr) briefly and rather hi this am as compensation. Lou _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090420/7451d587/attachment.html From rowbird2005 at yahoo.com Mon Apr 20 13:49:33 2009 From: rowbird2005 at yahoo.com (Forrest Rowland) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:49:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Morning migrant show at Mt. Tabor Message-ID: <798159.78893.qm@web35308.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, I finally had a morning to get out and do my first birding outside of work. I drove into Portland to Mt. Tabor at the urging of many of you (thanks, btw). I was rewarded handsomely. Amongst the Bushtit, Chestnut-backed and Black-capped Chickadees, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Fox and Song Sparrows,?Brown Creepers, singing Purple Finches, nest-building House Finches, Siskins, Flickers and American Robins, were the following species of possible interest: ? 4?Anna's Hummingbirds 2 Rufous Hummingbirds 1 Calliope Hummingbird 1 UnID'd Archilocus sp. 3?Varied Thrush (1 gorgeous, lazy male) 6 Hermit Thrush 1 Townsend's Solitaire 2 Hutton's Vireo 3 Cassin's Vireo 3 Hammond's Flycatchers 1 Pacific-slope Flycatcher 8 Orange-crowned Warblers 3 Nashville Warblers 7 Yellow-rumped Warblers (inc. at least 2 "Myrtle" types, though I didn't look at all of them) ~12 Black-throated Gray Warblers ~15 Townsend's Warblers 1 MacGillivray's Warbler 4 Golden-crowned Sparrows (ALL showing great plumage) ?and.....maybe someone could confirm this last one during the next day or two: ? I heard a Vermivora-type trill that was very buzzy, upslurred, and entirely reminiscent of Northern Parula. I realize this would be quite a rarity here...or at least assume so... I saw a small bird in the vicinity of where the song was being repeated. It?was a poor glimpse, but did manage to see a vent//tail pattern and tail length that could be compatible with this species. Entirely unconfirmed, of course,? and I am being purposefully ambiguous.?It was a poor look. I would be interested in what other birders might come up with the next day or two. ? It was a fantastic morning at a scenic and lovely park. Two other interesting "incidents" at the park included a Sharp-shinned Hawk being give what-for by 4 Steller's Jay and a Red-tailed Hawk swooping down to perch nearby. The Red-tailed appeared a few minutes later, flying away, with a snake in its talons! Very nice. I wonder if this front with rain coming the next few days could cause a migration event? ? Good Birding, ? Forrest Rowland ____________________________________________________________________________________ ?Obt?n la mejor experiencia en la web! Descarga gratis el nuevo Internet Explorer 8. http://downloads.yahoo.com/ieak8/?l=e1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090420/d32a7e1f/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Mon Apr 20 13:53:00 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:53:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] change in the weather Message-ID: <81b2a9930904201353h24e7cbf3y63e14a1d378b93c@mail.gmail.com> There was a significant movement of STELLER'S JAYS through my neighborhood yesterday. Those were the first I've seen in a while. Lots of RC KINGLETS on the move as well. What a crappy time to be really busy at work. :( Brandon Eugene ----- Subject: change in the weather From: Mike Patterson Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:58:29 -0700 I predict an exodus of lingering species (especially Rufous Hummingbirds) to coincide with the extra-warm temperatures and high pressure. Folks east(ish) of the Cascades watch those feeders. We should also expect sparrows out and bigger warbler numbers in. Broken bottle-necks can be quite exciting... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From paul at furzwo.com Mon Apr 20 13:56:21 2009 From: paul at furzwo.com (Paul Buescher) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:56:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Goose test In-Reply-To: <9C537ED2516741488C8526E67C9E858F@102889> References: <49ecbfa3.1aba720a.7790.784b@mx.google.com> <9C537ED2516741488C8526E67C9E858F@102889> Message-ID: <591E9FB158D147F39FF9ABF8F61B6BB6@paul> The obvious response to this is "What time is dinner?" The Osprey occupy their traditional nests, 2 on the BNSF RR bridge and one at Jantzen Beach shopping center parking lot. Paul Buescher West Hayden Island Moorage -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Tom Crabtree Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 12:36 PM To: 'Marilyn Miller'; 'Alan Contreras'; 'obol' Subject: Re: [obol] Goose test Of course. No one would have even raised an eyebrow if he were talking about Steelhead or Wigeon.... -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Marilyn Miller Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 10:32 AM To: 'Alan Contreras'; 'obol' Subject: Re: [obol] Goose test Alan, Alan, Alan.... Must you? Marilyn Miller -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Alan Contreras Sent: Saturday, April 18, 2009 7:51 AM To: obol Subject: [obol] Goose test Surely the wild, free-range Red-breasted Goose tastes different than the domesticated kind. That would not be too difficult to find out, I would think. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com "There are moral limits to the responsibility that can be assigned to the mentally ill for their actions." - Alvaro de Campos http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ - Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ - Bird Photos & News _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.12.0/2068 - Release Date: 04/19/09 20:04:00 _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From deweysage at verizon.net Mon Apr 20 14:55:31 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:55:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Cty migration Message-ID: <49ECEF53.1020002@verizon.net> 4/20 New River (mostly) Coos Cty (and a little bit of Curry Cty) Migration was in full swing today. Spectacular!!!! Lots of terns, gulls, shorebirds, waterfowl, and cormorants on the move. Notable was 1 BONAPARTE'S GULL, hundreds and hundreds of CASPIAN TERNS, thousands of DUNLIN and peeps, hundreds of DOWITHCERS (SBs), WHIMBRELS, 4 MARBLED GODWITS, a BLACK TURNSTONE, but I think my favorite for the day were the flocks of BRANT - we must of saw well over a thousand BRANT move by low over the water. It was site Marilyn would have absolutely loved, and we didn't even taste a single one! Odd ball of the day: a flock of Brant with one female WOOD DUCK smack in the middle of the flock. Go figure. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From gneavoll at comcast.net Mon Apr 20 15:15:18 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:15:18 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Red-shouldered Hawk at Ridgefield (Carty Unit) In-Reply-To: <1076064758.3591591240265325259.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <540270678.3594191240265718937.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (imm.) circling over Ridgefield NWR (Carty Unit) this a.m. Woods rang with sound of RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER pounding on metal sign. WILSON'S SNIPE winnowing on far shore of Duck Lake. George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090420/952ed985/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Mon Apr 20 15:37:15 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:37:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Cty migration In-Reply-To: <49ECEF53.1020002@verizon.net> Message-ID: <49ecf91b.28d7720a.721b.ffffe0bd@mx.google.com> Wow, you guys are lucky! The sight of the BRANT must have been beautiful and fantastic. Thank you for not eating any of them (smile) :) Marilyn Miller -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of DJ Lauten and KACastelein Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 2:56 PM To: Oregon Birders On Line Subject: [obol] Coos Cty migration 4/20 New River (mostly) Coos Cty (and a little bit of Curry Cty) Migration was in full swing today. Spectacular!!!! Lots of terns, gulls, shorebirds, waterfowl, and cormorants on the move. Notable was 1 BONAPARTE'S GULL, hundreds and hundreds of CASPIAN TERNS, thousands of DUNLIN and peeps, hundreds of DOWITHCERS (SBs), WHIMBRELS, 4 MARBLED GODWITS, a BLACK TURNSTONE, but I think my favorite for the day were the flocks of BRANT - we must of saw well over a thousand BRANT move by low over the water. It was site Marilyn would have absolutely loved, and we didn't even taste a single one! Odd ball of the day: a flock of Brant with one female WOOD DUCK smack in the middle of the flock. Go figure. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.12.1/2069 - Release Date: 04/20/09 10:36:00 From dinpdx at yahoo.com Mon Apr 20 16:03:38 2009 From: dinpdx at yahoo.com (Dwight) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:03:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Mt Tabor call Message-ID: <837941.39838.qm@web31602.mail.mud.yahoo.com> "I heard a Vermivora-type trill that was very buzzy, upslurred, and entirely reminiscent of Northern Parula" How about Pine Siskin? I think this bird and Northern Parula both sound like fishing line being pulled off a reel. I was at Mt Tabor last month and first noticed the Siskin making this sound. I've heard Parula's making a similar call in Texas. Good Birding, Dwight Porter Portland, OR Subject: Morning migrant show at Mt. Tabor From: Forrest Rowland Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:49:33 -0700 (PDT) Hello all, I finally had a morning to get out and do my first birding outside of work. I drove into Portland to Mt. Tabor at the urging of many of you (thanks, btw). I was rewarded handsomely. Amongst the Bushtit, Chestnut-backed and Black-capped Chickadees, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Fox and Song Sparrows,?Brown Creepers, singing Purple Finches, nest-building House Finches, Siskins, Flickers and American Robins, were the following species of possible interest: ? 4?Anna's Hummingbirds 2 Rufous Hummingbirds 1 Calliope Hummingbird 1 UnID'd Archilocus sp. 3?Varied Thrush (1 gorgeous, lazy male) 6 Hermit Thrush 1 Townsend's Solitaire 2 Hutton's Vireo 3 Cassin's Vireo 3 Hammond's Flycatchers 1 Pacific-slope Flycatcher 8 Orange-crowned Warblers 3 Nashville Warblers 7 Yellow-rumped Warblers (inc. at least 2 "Myrtle" types, though I didn't look at all of them) ~12 Black-throated Gray Warblers ~15 Townsend's Warblers 1 MacGillivray's Warbler 4 Golden-crowned Sparrows (ALL showing great plumage) ?and.....maybe someone could confirm this last one during the next day or two: ? I heard a Vermivora-type trill that was very buzzy, upslurred, and entirely reminiscent of Northern Parula. I realize this would be quite a rarity here...or at least assume so... I saw a small bird in the vicinity of where the song was being repeated. It?was a poor glimpse, but did manage to see a vent//tail pattern and tail length that could be compatible with this species. Entirely unconfirmed, of course,? and I am being purposefully ambiguous.?It was a poor look. I would be interested in what other birders might come up with the next day or two. ? It was a fantastic morning at a scenic and lovely park. Two other interesting "incidents" at the park included a Sharp-shinned Hawk being give what-for by 4 Steller's Jay and a Red-tailed Hawk swooping down to perch nearby. The Red-tailed appeared a few minutes later, flying away, with a snake in its talons! Very nice. I wonder if this front with rain coming the next few days could cause a migration event? ? Good Birding, ? Forrest Rowland From philliplc at charter.net Mon Apr 20 16:10:59 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:10:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Cty migration References: <49ECEF53.1020002@verizon.net> Message-ID: <6219652E724647499477D58560308599@Phil> Mostly fogged today in Lincoln County with relatively minor movement even where the ocean was visible. Could be a big pileup somewhere on the migration interstate south of here. Phil > 4/20 New River (mostly) Coos Cty (and a little bit of Curry Cty) > > Migration was in full swing today. Spectacular!!!! Lots of terns, > gulls, shorebirds, waterfowl, and cormorants on the move. Notable was 1 > BONAPARTE'S GULL, hundreds and hundreds of CASPIAN TERNS, thousands of > DUNLIN and peeps, hundreds of DOWITHCERS (SBs), WHIMBRELS, 4 MARBLED > GODWITS, a BLACK TURNSTONE, but I think my favorite for the day were the > flocks of BRANT - we must of saw well over a thousand BRANT move by low > over the water. It was site Marilyn would have absolutely loved, and we > didn't even taste a single one! Odd ball of the day: a flock of Brant > with one female WOOD DUCK smack in the middle of the flock. Go figure. > > Cheers > Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein > Bandon OR From celata at pacifier.com Mon Apr 20 17:09:10 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:09:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mystery from Nahcotta Message-ID: <49ED0EA6.5090500@pacifier.com> http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From tc at empnet.com Mon Apr 20 18:15:13 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:15:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mystery from Nahcotta In-Reply-To: <49ED0EA6.5090500@pacifier.com> References: <49ED0EA6.5090500@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <988DDF69042F4B71B08A291480CB215F@102889> Ahh, Good ol' Sam Peabody sighted near Oysterville.... -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Mike Patterson Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 4:09 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] Mystery from Nahcotta http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Apr 20 17:47:06 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:47:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mt Tabor call In-Reply-To: <837941.39838.qm@web31602.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <837941.39838.qm@web31602.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <2d17e304b8ee91b38ad2f38571672b33@earthlink.net> Two or three springs ago a Northern Parula was well documented on Mt Tabor at this time of year. Another was seen singing on the north spit of Coos Bay by Tim Rodenkirk last spring. LArs Norgren On Apr 20, 2009, at 4:03 PM, Dwight wrote: > > "I heard a Vermivora-type trill that was very buzzy, upslurred, and > entirely > reminiscent of Northern Parula" > > How about Pine Siskin? I think this bird and Northern Parula both > sound like fishing line being pulled off a reel. I was at Mt Tabor > last month and first noticed the Siskin making this sound. I've heard > Parula's making a similar call in Texas. > > Good Birding, > Dwight Porter > Portland, OR > > Subject: Morning migrant show at Mt. Tabor > From: Forrest Rowland > Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:49:33 -0700 (PDT) > > Hello all, > I finally had a morning to get out and do my first birding outside of > work. I > drove into Portland to Mt. Tabor at the urging of many of you (thanks, > btw). I > was rewarded handsomely. Amongst the Bushtit, Chestnut-backed and > Black-capped > Chickadees, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Fox and Song > Sparrows,?Brown Creepers, singing Purple Finches, nest-building House > Finches, > Siskins, Flickers and American Robins, were the following species of > possible > interest: > > ? > 4?Anna's Hummingbirds > 2 Rufous Hummingbirds > 1 Calliope Hummingbird > 1 UnID'd Archilocus sp. > 3?Varied Thrush (1 gorgeous, lazy male) > 6 Hermit Thrush > 1 Townsend's Solitaire > 2 Hutton's Vireo > 3 Cassin's Vireo > 3 Hammond's Flycatchers > 1 Pacific-slope Flycatcher > 8 Orange-crowned Warblers > 3 Nashville Warblers > 7 Yellow-rumped Warblers (inc. at least 2 "Myrtle" types, though I > didn't look > at all of them) > > ~12 Black-throated Gray Warblers > ~15 Townsend's Warblers > 1 MacGillivray's Warbler > 4 Golden-crowned Sparrows (ALL showing great plumage) > ?and.....maybe someone could confirm this last one during the next day > or two: > ? > I heard a Vermivora-type trill that was very buzzy, upslurred, and > entirely > reminiscent of Northern Parula. I realize this would be quite a rarity > here...or at least assume so... I saw a small bird in the vicinity of > where the > song was being repeated. It?was a poor glimpse, but did manage to see a > vent//tail pattern and tail length that could be compatible with this > species. > Entirely unconfirmed, of course,? and I am being purposefully > ambiguous.?It was > a poor look. I would be interested in what other birders might come up > with the > next day or two. > > ? > It was a fantastic morning at a scenic and lovely park. Two other > interesting > "incidents" at the park included a Sharp-shinned Hawk being give > what-for by 4 > Steller's Jay and a Red-tailed Hawk swooping down to perch nearby. The > Red-tailed appeared a few minutes later, flying away, with a snake in > its > talons! Very nice. I wonder if this front with rain coming the next > few days > could cause a migration event? > > ? > Good Birding, > ? > Forrest Rowland > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From rfadney at hotmail.com Mon Apr 20 18:00:51 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:00:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Goldfinches In-Reply-To: <268945363E7A4F64A07F11124DCBEA2F@TomsPC> References: <268945363E7A4F64A07F11124DCBEA2F@TomsPC> Message-ID: I took some really nice pictures last night of Goldfinches along the east-west bike path near Fred Meyer. They were really fun to watch, there must have been close to thirty of them, mixed in gender, going from tree to tree. From: tom-escue at comcast.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:40:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Goldfinches This morning I have my first AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES at my patio thistle feeder. I counted five. Tom Escue Central Springfield _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get quick friend updates right in your inbox. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Updates2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090420/6b3c2366/attachment.html From bettymkn at netscape.com Mon Apr 20 18:28:12 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:28:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Goldfinches Message-ID: <20090420182812.A5C31E07@resin18.mta.everyone.net> Such a beautiful day and the Goldfinches arrived. Had to be at least a dozen but when they arrive here they arrive in "bunches". I use the long socks for feeding them and at times it is so full they look like "fleas" on the sock. Foster Lake Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From hatlevis at comcast.net Mon Apr 20 18:30:09 2009 From: hatlevis at comcast.net (Susan Hatlevig) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:30:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Findley Wildlife Refuge 19Apr2009 Message-ID: <8DAB08C4E70E4E52B88FF4B63E77A7F2@homeflydmyur2h> It was beautiful on Sunday. Nothing unsual, but fun just the same. Cowbird at the parking lot, 2 immature bald eagles as well as an adult around the big pond. Ospreys flying and then hovering over the water. Orange-crowned warbler, yellow-rumped, both Audubon & Myrtle, golden-crowned and white-crowned sparrows, robins, tree swallows swooping right around us and also a pair checking out a hole in a tree along the pathway. Cormorants & song-sparrows. Black-capped Chickadee. Marsh wrens and yellow-throats everywhere! Bewicks wren, snipe flying, greater yellowlegs (2 solitary), killdeer, a flock of white-fronted geese flew over. A few Canada geese, one with quite a bit of white on its head and down the back of its neck. Two walked along the path in front of us with one bleeting at EACH step. It was rather comical. Heard a bittern. Red-winged blackbirds. Waterfowl, especially at McFadden marsh-loads of pintails, green-winged teal, shovelers, mallards, coots, a wigeon or two, cinnamon teal (a first for my husband), wood ducks. Along Bruce Road-a few thousand cacklers walking along and eating the tips of the grass. Pretty amazing to see all of them together. Spotted a quail at the side of the road. A great day to be outside! Susie in Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090420/1b2ebafb/attachment.html From necurran at earthlink.net Mon Apr 20 18:36:17 2009 From: necurran at earthlink.net (Nancy Curran) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:36:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Welcome to the returnees...and farewell to winter friends Message-ID: <380-22009422113617234@earthlink.net> I've been gone a week and realized upon my return that all my juncos are gone. I only have them in the winter at my feeders, but I didn't recall that they left quite this early. But...I also had my first Black-Headed Grosbeak (male only) today. Nice to see him back. This should be a fun month seeing the spring/summer species arrive. My location is near Fern Ridge and we often get migrating species to stop by for a drink or seed snack. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090420/3e5fc9b1/attachment.html From krallfamily at comcast.net Mon Apr 20 19:09:21 2009 From: krallfamily at comcast.net (Kathy) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:09:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red Knot at Netarts Message-ID: <3BAA829265904E849F9020EC6BEB3A1B@D04KrallStudy> Mike and I saw a red knot on Saturday April 18 at the entrance to Netarts Bay at low tide. It was with a group of dunlins and a few black bellied plovers. The size was similar to the plovers, the bill was much shorter than a dowitcher, and the coloring matched that in books/photos. I went back on Sunday, but didn't see any shorebirds at all.but lots of dogs. (sigh) Kathy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090420/9574a0b0/attachment.html From andy.frank at kp.org Mon Apr 20 19:12:22 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:12:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Forest Park Common Ravens, and Sandy River Delta Message-ID: I think the COMMON RAVENS may be sticking around Forest Park. On 4/1, 4/6 and 4/19 I found them within the first quarter mile of the start of Leif Erikson Trail at the end of NW Thurman in Portland, and today there was one flying over the intersection of Wildwood and Aspen Trails which is 1/4-1/2 mile away. Earlier today at Sandy River Delta there was 1 male CINNAMON TEAL in the first pond just off the highway, and at the overlook of the Columbia River there were 3 CASPIAN TERNS. Andy Frank From llsdirons at msn.com Mon Apr 20 19:12:24 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 02:12:24 +0000 Subject: [obol] Mt Tabor call In-Reply-To: <837941.39838.qm@web31602.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <837941.39838.qm@web31602.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Forrest et al., Dwight is likely correct in determining that the bird you heard was a Pine Siskin, unless of course it was a Northern Parula. No western warbler offers up a song that might suggest Northern Parula. I like Dwight's description of line being yarded off of a fishing reel. I usually think of NOPA as sounding like a zipper being pulled up. Another species to consider is Dark-eyed Junco. On occasion, they do some very strange alternate songs that sound like desert sparrows and the like. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:03:38 -0700 > From: dinpdx at yahoo.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Mt Tabor call > > > "I heard a Vermivora-type trill that was very buzzy, upslurred, and entirely > reminiscent of Northern Parula" > > How about Pine Siskin? I think this bird and Northern Parula both sound like fishing line being pulled off a reel. I was at Mt Tabor last month and first noticed the Siskin making this sound. I've heard Parula's making a similar call in Texas. > > Good Birding, > Dwight Porter > Portland, OR > > Subject: Morning migrant show at Mt. Tabor > From: Forrest Rowland > Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:49:33 -0700 (PDT) > > Hello all, > I finally had a morning to get out and do my first birding outside of work. I > drove into Portland to Mt. Tabor at the urging of many of you (thanks, btw). I > was rewarded handsomely. Amongst the Bushtit, Chestnut-backed and Black-capped > Chickadees, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Fox and Song > Sparrows,?Brown Creepers, singing Purple Finches, nest-building House Finches, > Siskins, Flickers and American Robins, were the following species of possible > interest: > > ? > 4?Anna's Hummingbirds > 2 Rufous Hummingbirds > 1 Calliope Hummingbird > 1 UnID'd Archilocus sp. > 3?Varied Thrush (1 gorgeous, lazy male) > 6 Hermit Thrush > 1 Townsend's Solitaire > 2 Hutton's Vireo > 3 Cassin's Vireo > 3 Hammond's Flycatchers > 1 Pacific-slope Flycatcher > 8 Orange-crowned Warblers > 3 Nashville Warblers > 7 Yellow-rumped Warblers (inc. at least 2 "Myrtle" types, though I didn't look > at all of them) > > ~12 Black-throated Gray Warblers > ~15 Townsend's Warblers > 1 MacGillivray's Warbler > 4 Golden-crowned Sparrows (ALL showing great plumage) > ?and.....maybe someone could confirm this last one during the next day or two: > ? > I heard a Vermivora-type trill that was very buzzy, upslurred, and entirely > reminiscent of Northern Parula. I realize this would be quite a rarity > here...or at least assume so... I saw a small bird in the vicinity of where the > song was being repeated. It?was a poor glimpse, but did manage to see a > vent//tail pattern and tail length that could be compatible with this species. > Entirely unconfirmed, of course,? and I am being purposefully ambiguous.?It was > a poor look. I would be interested in what other birders might come up with the > next day or two. > > ? > It was a fantastic morning at a scenic and lovely park. Two other interesting > "incidents" at the park included a Sharp-shinned Hawk being give what-for by 4 > Steller's Jay and a Red-tailed Hawk swooping down to perch nearby. The > Red-tailed appeared a few minutes later, flying away, with a snake in its > talons! Very nice. I wonder if this front with rain coming the next few days > could cause a migration event? > > ? > Good Birding, > ? > Forrest Rowland > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090421/4659abd6/attachment.html From marciafcutler at comcast.net Mon Apr 20 21:08:53 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:08:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Klamath Basin Apr.17-19 Message-ID: <2E5E81DE5A4B4F50818E69162A0B081E@melvintrex4uoq> Here are some highlights from the Audubon Society of Corvallis' birding trip to the Klamath Basin, April 17-19, 2009. April 17 Sandhill Crane - Military Crossing Virginia Rail - Military Crossing Loggerhead Shrike - Silver Lake Rd. nr. Refuge HQ Apr. 18 - Stateline Rd. White-faced Ibis COMMON TEAL Swainson's Hawk Black-bellied Plover - several in alternate plumage Marbled Godwit Say's Phoebe Sage Thrasher - Tule Lake Unit Snowy Egret Swan sp. - seen flying in distance Western Sandpiper Bonaparte's Gull Caspian Tern Western Kingbird Also we saw the carcasses of two dead Barn Owls at the feed mill near Petroglyph Rocks in Northern California. We did not find any nesting Barn Owls at Petroglyph Rocks. We could only speculate as to the cause of the deaths of these two Barn Owls, but their presence at the spilled grain raises the possibility that rodenticide was present in the grain. The owls, by eating poisoned rodents, also die, thus eliminating rodent control that can eat up to 1000 rodents in a year. Apr. 19 - Lake Ewauna Green Heron THAYER'S GULL - Second winter bird. Smallish, pink-legged gull with pink and black bill, dark gray primaries and dark eyes. Forster's Tern - Moore Park Acorn Woodpecker - seen flying Juniper Titmouse - grayish overall, responded to recording of Juniper Titmouse Townsend's Solitaire - Rocky Point Cassin's Vireo Marcia F. Cutler Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090420/5bdc4d45/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Mon Apr 20 21:12:27 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (hhactitis at yahoo.com) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:12:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Douglas Co. longspurs Message-ID: <703747.84882.qm@web37005.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, Late post: During our Snowy Plover survey, Daniel Farrar and I found a flock of 6 LAPLAND LONGSPURS at Tahkenitch Beach, Douglas Co., on April 19. Happy spring migration Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090420/36b06a8e/attachment.html From nnielsenpincus at yahoo.com Mon Apr 20 21:49:44 2009 From: nnielsenpincus at yahoo.com (Nicole Nielsen-Pincus) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:49:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Vaux's Swift Roost Sites and Volunteers for Swift Counting Message-ID: <881451.62287.qm@web55302.mail.re4.yahoo.com> As I'm preparing for the spring swift count, I'd like to make sure we have a comprehensive record of known roost sites throughout the state.? Please send a brief description of any sites you know of ?(business name, address...) to me at:? nnielsenpincus at yahoo.com ? Also, I am still looking for volunteers to count swifts on the evening of May 2 at?many roost sites.? Please send me an email if you are interested in volunteering. ? Thanks, Nicole Nielsen-Pincus Vaux's Happening Oregon State Coordinator -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090420/64376974/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Apr 20 22:02:49 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:02:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Vaux's Swifts Message-ID: <49ED5379.6070109@pacifier.com> Vaux's Swift returned to the neighborhood this evening. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From madsteins at hotmail.com Mon Apr 20 22:54:05 2009 From: madsteins at hotmail.com (Don Stein) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:54:05 -0400 Subject: [obol] BRANT, Depoe Bay Message-ID: At 7 PM, 200 ft off the basalt cliff, 158 BRANT were on the water, south Depoe Bay. Don Stein _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_skydrive_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090421/35d36cc4/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Mon Apr 20 23:28:00 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:28:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] BRANT, Depoe Bay Message-ID: <480517.66409.qm@web37008.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Brant were also moving along the Lane Co. coast today. Daniel Farrar and I saw at least three flocks of Brant (ca. 20, 180, and 220 birds, respectively) fly north off Siltcoos Beach today. Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 2445 SW Leonard Street, Apt. 5 Corvallis, OR 97333 USA E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Mon, 4/20/09, Don Stein wrote: From: Don Stein Subject: [obol] BRANT, Depoe Bay To: "obol obol" Date: Monday, April 20, 2009, 10:54 PM #yiv2091203980 .hmmessage P { margin:0px;padding:0px;} #yiv2091203980 { font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} At 7 PM, 200 ft off the basalt cliff, 158 BRANT were on the water, south Depoe Bay. ? Don Stein Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. Check it out. -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090420/a6e0c9a9/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Mon Apr 20 23:37:25 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 06:37:25 +0000 Subject: [obol] Duck ID Challenge answers posted to BirdFellow.com Message-ID: Greetings All, Tonight I posted the answers to the most recent ID Challenge (ducks in flight) on the www.BirdFellow.com journal page. Dave Irons www.BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?:?more than just e-mail. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_more_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090421/23910c1d/attachment.html From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Tue Apr 21 11:30:12 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:30:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Test - please ignore Message-ID: <20090421113012.ab2xnsy0sgswwswc@webmail2.jimnorton.org> Apparently the mailman list serve software needed a kick in the butt today... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From mmarvin at spiritone.com Tue Apr 21 13:03:26 2009 From: mmarvin at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:03:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sign of summer; Cinnamon Teal bonanza References: <20090421154819.08632A823B@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: <4325472F-96F1-4D7D-BB0F-CE2A1AA51DF0@spiritone.com> Hello OBOL - In the hot afternoon yesterday, it felt even more like summer to me when, driving through Multnomah Village, I saw an urban Tree Swallow perched on a wire along Multnomah Blvd. Mark (Miller) and I had seen lots of them flying and checking out nest boxes at Cedar Canyon/ Killin on Saturday morning (4/18), but what surprised us the most there was the number of Cinnamon Teal. Virtually every duck we put our bins on turned out to be one of these. I am not remembering any other duck species from that visit. Good birding! Marcia -- Marcia Marvin * mmarvin at spiritone.com * SW Portland, OR, USA From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Tue Apr 21 13:05:12 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (Jamie S.) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:05:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Warbling Vireo, Corvallis 4/21 Message-ID: <226442.22083.qm@web39503.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Neil Lidstrom and I had excellent eye-level views of?a silent WARBLING VIREO today (4/21) during our lunch hour at Stewart Lake (HP), in Corvallis.? Lots of yellow-rumps of both forms and many Painted Lady butterflies fluttering by. Otherwise it was a quiet day with no orange-crowned warblers or other migrants noted. ? Yesterday, 4/20, Jim Anderson and I noted 3 Pacific forktails (damselflies) at the same location. ? Jamie Simmons Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090421/e7a63771/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Tue Apr 21 13:26:16 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:26:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] JoCo Ash-throated Flycatcher Message-ID: <2C6AE4A1293340788209B0C1D4F43E9E@Warbler> Early this morning (04-21-09) an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was heard from our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit). Those familiar "tick-ear" and "ca-brick" calls. My earliest documented date was 17 April. Later on birds: LINCOLN'S SPARROW (migrants at our place) LAZULI BUNTING (male) OSPREY (flyover, not often seen over oak woodlands) CASSIN'S VIREO Was a record 90 degrees in Medford yesterday. Calling for 88 degrees today in the GP area (likely going to be in the 90s in GP). Dennis (trying to stay cool today, north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090421/33a69454/attachment.html From surfbird at q.com Tue Apr 21 13:31:33 2009 From: surfbird at q.com (Diane Pettey) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:31:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Coast Pine Siskin (Southwest form) 4/21/09 Message-ID: Earlier this afternoon, a Southwest form of PINE SISKIN has been feeding with the "ordinary" siskins. This bird is every bit as bright yellow as pictured in Sibley's guide. Diane Pettey Heceta Beach, OR (n. of Florence) surfbird at q.com From alfanana at q.com Tue Apr 21 13:36:34 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:36:34 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time) Subject: [obol] Deschutes County Message-ID: Red winged Blackbirds arrived this afternoon! Karen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090421/beac0dd8/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 31851 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090421/beac0dd8/attachment.gif From surfbird at q.com Tue Apr 21 13:41:14 2009 From: surfbird at q.com (Diane Pettey) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:41:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Co. Coast Sightings 4/21/09 Message-ID: This morning from 730-750, I observed nearly 100 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, a single RED KNOT, numerous WESTERN SANDPIPERS, and several breeding plumaged DUNLIN feeding on the mudflats next to N. Jetty Road, Florence. Also present were CASPIAN TERNS, and a pair of BUFFLEHEAD chasing each other around. Fog reduced visibility of river. > Diane Pettey > Heceta Beach, OR (n. of Florence) > surfbird at q.com > From alfanana at q.com Tue Apr 21 13:54:15 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:54:15 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time) Subject: [obol] Deschutes County Message-ID: Earlier, I sent an e-mail that didn't go through. Here's the jist of it: I am new to birding, but loving it. I have had so far this spring at my feeders: Stellar's Jays, Varied Thrush, Robins, Chickadees (Mountain and Black capped), Nuthatches (white and red breasted), Red Shafted Flickers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Oregon Juncos, Mourning Doves, Evening Grosbeaks, Audubon s Warbler and Cassin's Warblers. Last spring, I was blessed to be able to watch a Great Grey Owl land on a stump. I pulled over to the side of the road and we just sat there staring at each other until I had to leave to go to work. Yesterday I was at my daughter's in Alfalfa, and we watched a pair of Mountain Bluebirds check out a nesting box. On another note; the other day a friend of mine was walking along the Deschutes River in Bend, and saw two small birds flying around near her. She swears that they were the size of Hummingbirds, but colored EXACTLY like an adult Canada Goose. We both looked on the net and I checked the book that I have (Birds of North America) and neither of us could find anything. The closest I could come up with was a Chickadee, but she said no way. Any ideas? Anyone? Ya'll have a great day! Karen Stewart -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090421/ba1914d6/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- Earlier, I sent an e-mail that didn't go through. Here's the jist of it: I am new to birding, but loving it. I have had so far this spring at my feeders: Stellar's Jays, Varied Thrush, Robins, Chickadees (Mountain and Black capped), Nuthatches (white and red breasted), Red Shafted Flickers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Oregon Juncos, Mourning Doves, Evening Grosbeaks, Audubon s Warbler and Cassin's Warblers. Last spring, I was blessed to be able to watch a Great Grey Owl land on a stump. I pulled over to the side of the road and we just sat there staring at each other until I had to leave to go to work. Yesterday I was at my daughter's in Alfalfa, and we watched a pair of Mountain Bluebirds check out a nesting box. On another note; the other day a friend of mine was walking along the Deschutes River in Bend, and saw two small birds flying around near her. She swears that they were the size of Hummingbirds, but colored EXACTLY like an adult Canada Goose. We both looked on the net and I checked the book that I have (Birds of North America) and neither of us could find anything. The closest I could come up with was a Chickadee, but she said no way. Any ideas? Anyone? Ya'll have a great day! Karen Stewart -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090421/ba1914d6/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 31851 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090421/ba1914d6/attachment.gif From ron_enck at yahoo.com Tue Apr 21 13:58:33 2009 From: ron_enck at yahoo.com (Ron Enck) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:58:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] [birding] Warbling Vireo, Corvallis 4/21 In-Reply-To: <226442.22083.qm@web39503.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <135918.36948.qm@web110201.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Jamie, Is it the Painted Ladies that are migrating north today? Taking a break from yard work, I sat on the grass and noticed an amazing number of northbound,(fast moving) butterflies, low to stay out of the north wind. They are fun to sit and watch. Ron Enck Corvallis --- On Tue, 4/21/09, Jamie S. wrote: > From: Jamie S. > Subject: [birding] Warbling Vireo, Corvallis 4/21 > To: "obol" , "post to list midvalleybirding" > Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 1:05 PM > Neil Lidstrom and I had excellent eye-level views of?a > silent WARBLING VIREO today (4/21) during our lunch hour at > Stewart Lake (HP), in Corvallis.? Lots of yellow-rumps of > both forms and many Painted Lady butterflies fluttering by. > Otherwise it was a quiet day with no orange-crowned warblers > or other migrants noted. > ? > Yesterday, 4/20, Jim Anderson and I noted 3 Pacific > forktails (damselflies) at the same location. > ? > Jamie Simmons > Corvallis > > > _______________________________________________ > list mailing list > list at midvalleybirding.org > http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Apr 21 14:25:30 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:25:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Curry/Coos migration Message-ID: <49EE39CA.4090405@verizon.net> Migration continued in full force in the stiff NW winds along New River, Curry and Coos Cty this morning. BRANT were again going by in good numbers, and we had at least 20 BROWN PELICANS (they seem numerous and early this year). Shorebirds were moving, gulls, and terns. I think the best sight of the day was the over 1000 BONAPARTE'S GULLS we saw. Huge flocks of them off the coast of Floras Lake, really impressive. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Apr 21 14:29:11 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:29:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Trip Report: Perpetua Bank: 18 April 2009 Message-ID: <20090421142911.5o82ugtpckw0gwsk@webmail.thebirdguide.com> 18 April 2009 0700-1800 hours From Newport, Oregon Boat: Misty Captain: Robert Waddell Guides: Tim Shelmerdine, Tom Snetsinger, Russ Namitz, David Mandell, Amy Kocourek, Greg Gillson This is the official estimated tally of species seen on The Bird Guide's pelagic trip from Newport, Oregon to Perpetua Bank, about 35 miles offshore. The seas were calm and the weather was sunny and in the low 50's with a slight breeze--perfect for seabirding. As usual for spring there were lots of atypical birds offshore, including geese, puddle ducks, shorebirds, and migrants such as Rufous Hummingbird and Yellow-rumped Warbler. Early in the trip a MANX SHEARWATER was flushed from in front of the boat with a flock of COMMON MURRES and was briefly glimpsed flying away by a very few persons on the bow. This was 1/2 mile off South Beach. Two LAYSAN ALBATROSSES joined us, one at each of the chum stops, the first off Newport 35 miles, the next 10 miles to the south an hour later. The first bird showed newer but worn outer primaries and older worn inner and mid primaries. It was oiled on one side of the belly. The second bird was a first-year bird with all-new primaries and clean, fresh plumage. Several flocks of 2-8 ANCIENT MURRELETS were rather a surprise, so late in the season. They were seen from near shore to out 20 miles. Everyone got great looks. We encountered about 7 small groundfish draggers offshore, accompanied by albatrosses. Surprisingly, except for the one Manx Shearwater, only SOOTY SHEARWATERS were seen. Few NORTHERN FULMARS were around, as expected for spring. A single TUFTED PUFFIN was spotted on the water and circled by the boat for good views. Two others were glimpsed briefly by a few individuals on the return trip. We spent a few minutes with a couple of GRAY WHALES near shore on the return trip. Otherwise, marine mammals were not seen closely, except for a STELLER'S SEA LION on the channel buoy. Brant 135 Cackling Goose 150 Mallard 1 Northern Pintail 75 Northern Shoveler 20 Green-winged Teal 3 Greater Scaup 3 Harlequin Duck 2 Surf Scoter 350 Black Scoter 1 (bay) Bufflehead 6 (bay) Red-breasted Merganser 2 (bay) LAYSAN ALBATROSS 2 Black-footed Albatross 200 Northern Fulmar 15 Sooty Shearwater 250 MANX SHEARWATER 1 (Seen by few, Greg Gillson) Red-throated Loon 5 Pacific Loon 35 Common Loon 20 Horned Grebe 2 (bay) Red-necked Grebe 3 (bay) Western Grebe 5 (bay) Brown Pelican 1 Brandt's Cormorant 140 Double-crested Cormorant 10 (bay) Pelagic Cormorant 35 Black-bellied Plover 4 Black Turnstone 25 (jetty) Surfbird 40 (jetty) Greater Yellowlegs 7 (bay) Dunlin 45 Bonaparte's Gull 7 Mew Gull 8 (bay) California Gull 40 Thayer's Gull 1 (bay) Herring Gull 15 Western Gull 100 Glaucous-winged Gull 40 Gl-w x West gull 30 GLAUCOUS GULL 1 (bay, present since January) Black-legged Kittiwake 30 Caspian Tern 1 (bay) Common Murre 1200 Pigeon Guillemot 45 Marbled Murrelet 14 ANCIENT MURRELET 35 Cassin's Auklet 25 Rhinoceros Auklet 45 Tufted Puffin 3 Rufous Hummingbird 1 (at sea) Belted Kingfisher 1 (bay) Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 (at sea) Savannah Sparrow 1 (jetty) Northern Fur Seal 1 California Sea Lion 10 (bay) Steller's Sea Lion 5 Harbor Seal 5 (bay) Gray Whale 5 Harbor Porpoise 5 Dall's Porpoise 5 Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Apr 21 14:29:30 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:29:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] resource for newer birders Message-ID: <20090421142930.de3m99bwisw808wg@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Why is it Steller's Jay and not Stellar Jay? What is different about Chestnut-backed Chickadees in San Francisco? Pretty Starlings? Check out the latest articles of the Pacific NW Backyard Birder: http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/ Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From romain at frontiernet.net Tue Apr 21 14:39:03 2009 From: romain at frontiernet.net (Romain Cooper) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:39:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Illinois Valley Josephine Co. migrants Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20090421143055.048ddec0@frontiernet.net> First of Year today, April 23, 09: Cassin's Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Nashville Warbler, Pacific-Slope Flycatcher. Flocks of Audbubon's Warblers w/ some Myrtle's mixed in and several Orange-Crowned Warblers. Saw our first Chipping Sparrow on April 5th & FOY Wilson's Warbler on the 14th. Our home is a bit above the valley floor on an outer finger of the Illinois Valley so first arrival dates don't mean much and are later than the valley bottom. Yesterday was 89 degress (21% rel. humidity) here. Today is 87 deg at 2:30pm. best, Romain Romain Cooper 10398 Takilma Road Cave Junction, OR 97523 541-592-2311 From heinjv at charter.net Tue Apr 21 15:02:18 2009 From: heinjv at charter.net (Jim & Vikki Hein) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:02:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Douglas County Message-ID: <235CB5D82B9940FDB99DF8EB10278043@MAIN> This morning I took a hike in the North Bank Wildlife Management Area between Glide and Wilbur in Douglas County. WESTERN KINGBIRDS were everywhere. I estimate at least 20 were seen. I also saw a breeding plumage LARK SPARROW and a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE both of which seem unusual for central Douglas County. Jim Hein From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Apr 21 15:26:14 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:26:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Mt Tabor call Message-ID: <122754.16730.qm@web45314.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> It's WAY to early for a parula. Try early June. I think there was one in early May near Florence last year at that was one of the earliest spring records ever. Tim R Coos Bay --- On Mon, 4/20/09, Norgren Family wrote: > From: Norgren Family > Subject: Re: [obol] Mt Tabor call > To: "Dwight" > Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Monday, April 20, 2009, 5:47 PM > Two or three springs ago a Northern > Parula > was well documented on Mt Tabor at this time > of year. Another was seen singing on the north > spit of Coos Bay by Tim Rodenkirk last spring. > LArs Norgren > On Apr 20, 2009, at 4:03 PM, Dwight wrote: > > > > > "I heard a Vermivora-type trill that was very buzzy, > upslurred, and > > entirely > > reminiscent of Northern Parula" > > > > How about Pine Siskin? I think this bird and Northern > Parula both > > sound like fishing line being pulled off a reel. I was > at Mt Tabor > > last month and first noticed the Siskin making this > sound. I've heard > > Parula's making a similar call in Texas. > > > > Good Birding, > > Dwight Porter > > Portland, OR > > > > Subject: Morning migrant show at Mt. Tabor > > From: Forrest Rowland yahoo.com> > > Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:49:33 -0700 (PDT) > > > > Hello all, > > I finally had a morning to get out and do my first > birding outside of > > work. I > > drove into Portland to Mt. Tabor at the urging of many > of you (thanks, > > btw). I > > was rewarded handsomely. Amongst the Bushtit, > Chestnut-backed and > > Black-capped > > Chickadees, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, > Fox and Song > > Sparrows,?Brown Creepers, singing Purple Finches, > nest-building House > > Finches, > > Siskins, Flickers and American Robins, were the > following species of > > possible > > interest: > > > > ? > > 4?Anna's Hummingbirds > > 2 Rufous Hummingbirds > > 1 Calliope Hummingbird > > 1 UnID'd Archilocus sp. > > 3?Varied Thrush (1 gorgeous, lazy male) > > 6 Hermit Thrush > > 1 Townsend's Solitaire > > 2 Hutton's Vireo > > 3 Cassin's Vireo > > 3 Hammond's Flycatchers > > 1 Pacific-slope Flycatcher > > 8 Orange-crowned Warblers > > 3 Nashville Warblers > > 7 Yellow-rumped Warblers (inc. at least 2 "Myrtle" > types, though I > > didn't look > > at all of them) > > > > ~12 Black-throated Gray Warblers > > ~15 Townsend's Warblers > > 1 MacGillivray's Warbler > > 4 Golden-crowned Sparrows (ALL showing great plumage) > > ?and.....maybe someone could confirm this last one > during the next day > > or two: > > ? > > I heard a Vermivora-type trill that was very buzzy, > upslurred, and > > entirely > > reminiscent of Northern Parula. I realize this would > be quite a rarity > > here...or at least assume so... I saw a small bird in > the vicinity of > > where the > > song was being repeated. It?was a poor glimpse, but > did manage to see a > > vent//tail pattern and tail length that could be > compatible with this > > species. > > Entirely unconfirmed, of course,? and I am being > purposefully > > ambiguous.?It was > > a poor look. I would be interested in what other > birders might come up > > with the > > next day or two. > > > > ? > > It was a fantastic morning at a scenic and lovely > park. Two other > > interesting > > "incidents" at the park included a Sharp-shinned Hawk > being give > > what-for by 4 > > Steller's Jay and a Red-tailed Hawk swooping down to > perch nearby. The > > Red-tailed appeared a few minutes later, flying away, > with a snake in > > its > > talons! Very nice. I wonder if this front with rain > coming the next > > few days > > could cause a migration event? > > > > ? > > Good Birding, > > ? > > Forrest Rowland > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From celata at pacifier.com Tue Apr 21 15:58:15 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:58:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Neawanna Dowitchers and other Shorebirds Message-ID: <49EE4F87.1@pacifier.com> Today we were visited by dowitchers at the Neawanna Mill Ponds while banding and were able to get some good photos. http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ On the way home, I drove on a very foggy Clatsop Beach with the following results: Semipalmated Plover 1 Sanderling 300 Western Sandpiper 120 Dunlin 200 Long-billed Dowitcher 3 Short-billed Dowitcher 12 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Apr 21 16:10:26 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:10:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 4/19-21/09 Message-ID: <107331.19984.qm@web45313.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Where to go during the peak of the shorebird migration in Coos County- well inland, I wanted to enjoy some heat and put on my shorts so I headed down to the SE portion of the county after a quick start along the coast. I made it all the way to the top of Mt. Bolivar, I thought the trail and/or road to the trailhead would be snowed out, but there is hardly any snow left even on the 4300' summit. Here are my highlights starting with a left over sighting from the 19th: N. Spit- Coos Bay, PM, 19th: 1- CHIPPING SPARROW N. Spit- Coos Bay, PM, 20th: 1- PALM WARBLER (surprisingly late overwinterer) hundreds of AUDUBON'S WARBLERS, many singing 50- GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE (not on my dinner menu either) Bandon Marsh, AM, 20th: just a quick stop with only about 1500 shorebirds there, same species as I reported the day before, also a nice flock of 125 CASPIAN TERNS resting on the mudflats. Bethel Mtn. Road, late AM on the 20th: 1- singing VESPER SPARROW 1- CHIPPING SPARROW Along the Powers Hwy there were singing BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS at every stop on the 20th. In Powers there were VAUX'S SWIFTS. On the 21st I birded both Eden Valley (2200' and around Mt. Bolivar 3000-4300'). The totally amazing find was two different male displaying ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS in Eden Valley. I have never seen this species out of the lowlands of Coos Co. I had great looks at one of the birds and it had an entirely green back, go figure? Other birds heard singing included: MOUNTAIN QUAIL (many) SOOTY GROUSE (many) TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE (several) RUFFED GROUSE (a couple) PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER (several) NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL (one at my camp spot) MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER (one, earliest Coos record by a couple of days) HERMIT THRUSH (many) WILSON'S WARBLERS (several) Still many species not in yet or not singing yet (lie Hammond's, Dusky, and Olive-sided Flycatcher and Hermit and Nashville Warbler). The other best find was a female CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD at the base of the trail up Mt. Bolivar. This species has a two week window in Coos Co. but is worth the drive! You know it's the migration when you find COMMON YELLOWTHROAT on the hot, rocky dry chapparal-type brush on the south side of Mt. Bolivar- a bizarre location for this species!! Merry migration, Tim Rodenkirk back in cool, windy Coos Bay (I can put the shorts away for a while) From kasey_church at yahoo.com Tue Apr 21 16:11:45 2009 From: kasey_church at yahoo.com (Kasey Church) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:11:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Suburban surprise Message-ID: <388855.58373.qm@web111105.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> My Creative Writing class decided to go outside in the crisp morning sun to write their Post-apocalypse short stories. Once nestled into the bleachers behind Centennial High School (182nd and Division) we all began to write. I distracted the class with, what else, the birds. "Look guys ! Its a female Kestrel, our smallest falcon." etc. The students were nonplussed by my observations. Still scanning the sky while my students actually worked, my brain did a double take at an approaching bird. Woodpecker...but huge...what the? Jumping to my feet, I started making what I am sure were incomprehensible exclamations. "Oh my god...no way!" and so on. A beautiful Pileated Woodpecker flew right over us! It was agonizing to be the only one excited (or even interested) in this rarity, but I took it as a good sign, even while surrounded by the furious scribblings describing the apocalypse. "Well," I mused, "I bet Orwell would have been excited." -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090421/05ffe04b/attachment.html From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Tue Apr 21 16:29:16 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:29:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] New Trail at Crooked River Ranch Message-ID: <49EE56CC.90808@gmail.com> John Pizzamenti and I took the new trail from Boy Scout Camp Rd. here at Crooked River Ranch today. It winds down to the Deschutes River and back up in a large loop. The final trail going back up is not well marked and we connected with a trail which is blocked as it joins the down trail. Other than that it was a great hike and a beautiful day on which to take it. If you plan to go I would recommend stout hiking boots as some of the trail is quite rocky (and a good bottle of water). I commend the workers for making the area at the top MUCH nicer. The debris has been removed and the road in from the parking area has been obliterated and replaced by a nice path. We saw or heard the following birds on our hike. Turkey Vulture Mallard (real WILD ones) Common Mergansers Chuckar (heard only) Northern Flicker (found one excavating a nest cavity) Western Kingbird Common Raven Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Mountain Chickadee Rock Wren Canyon Wren Mountain Bluebird American Robin Yellow-rumped Warbler Chipping Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Oregon Junco Western Meadowlark House Finch Lesser Goldfinch American Goldfinch Kevin Smith PS: Now is the time to contribute to KWAX Classical Radio. -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090421/f07e3b03/attachment.vcf From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Apr 21 16:31:28 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:31:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] 5 Solitary Sandpipers at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, Benton Co. Message-ID: <1240356688.3909.34.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, This morning I found five SOLITARY SANDPIPERS on a single pond at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, in Benton Co. north of Corvallis. Other migrants and recent arrivals included 2 SORAS, a PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, a couple of CASSIN'S VIREOS, a WESTERN TANAGER, and oodles of warblers. WESTERN FENCE-LIZARDS were very active and a big GOPHER SNAKE was basking on the path up Coffin Butte. More info including directions on the Mid-Valley list; full list on www.birdnotes.net. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Apr 21 16:33:39 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:33:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] [Fwd: Spring birding calendar] Message-ID: <1240356819.3909.37.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hello folks, I tried to send this to OBOL earlier but it didn't work, here's another try. A calendar showing typical spring arrival dates for migrants in the Willamette Valley (based on Corvallis, Eugene, and Portland phenologies) is now viewable at: www.oregonbirds.org/calendar.html A similar calendar for Central Oregon will be available soon. The calendar includes links to information for two upcoming events: - Vaux's Swift Migration Roost Survey on 2 May - North American Migration Count on 9-10 May If you know of other birding events that you'd like to see listed on this calendar, please send me the url of a web page giving information about the event, and/or a brief description and e-mail contact for the organizer. Happy spring birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From rflores_2 at msn.com Tue Apr 21 17:01:21 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:01:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Broad-winged Hawk, Ridgfield, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: Fifteen mins ago I had an adult broad-winged hawk circling over Hillhurst Road about 1/4 mile north of the Ridgefield NWR entrance. it was not very high and may be using the thermals to get higher. Keep your eyes peeled! Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090421/b381de9a/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Apr 21 17:13:41 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:13:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] BANDING REPORT: Neawanna Wetland - 4/21/2009 Message-ID: <49EE6135.1060803@pacifier.com> BANDING REPORT- Neawanna Wetland Preserve 04-21-2009 Method: Up to eight 9m mist nets are placed in mixed Oregon Crabapple/Twinberry/Spruce along the the upper Neawanna River, Seaside, Clatsop Co. OR. Captured birds are measured, ringed with USBBL numbered metal bands and released. Data on time of capture and side of net captured are also recorded to gain an understanding of movements through the area. 2009 421 Neawanna 111 Hours 4 Nets 8 Net*hours 32 Rufous Hummingbird RUHU 3 Black-capped Chickadee BCCH 1 Orange-crowned Warbler OCWA 6 Lincoln's Sparrow LISP 1 Recaptures Black-capped Chickadee BCCH 2 new captures 11 total captures 13 diversity 4 birds/(net*hour) 0.4 diversity/(net*hour) 0.1 Notes: It was a very foggy day at the banding station which may have affected early morning movement through the area. We did see some ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER action (including one male _orestera_). RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD numbers are way down from last week. Also at the ponds this morning was a herd of SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER that stayed the whole morning and a single GREATER YELLOWLEGS. http://home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/observatory/observatory.html -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Tue Apr 21 17:36:31 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (Tom McNamara) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:36:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] parula arrival dates--they CAN be early Message-ID: Tim and OBOL, Talk of a possible N. Parula vocalization on Mt. Tabor shouldn't Emphatically Not be dismissed because of the date. If this were 3 years ago this month, April, we would be reading about the parula that was both seen and heard 12 days ago! by, variously, Gerard Lillie, Khanh Tran, and Brad Simpston on April 9 and 10th. Snippets of their OBOL posts and email are: "Alan's comments on quickie rarities was quite timely as I had such an experience today. While birding on Mt. Tabor in Portland this morning I heard one song only of what I am quite sure was a NORTHERN PARULA. They have a very distinctive rising song which has always reminded me of someone running their fingernail along the tangs of a small comb. ..." from Gerard's post. and Harry and Gerard, > > I do not have access to post on Oregon Birders Online. > > I saw the bird this morning shortly before work at about 9:00 AM. It was a > beautiful male feeding in an flowering tree with pink/white blossoms between > the two reservoirs. There is a distinctive, long stair well between the two > areas. It disappeared eastward shortly after. > > Great bird! > > Brad S. (Oregon City, Oregon) > couldn't find a post from Khanh from back then. He had called me when he was looking at the bird and I arrived.......minutes too late. Rats. good birding, Tom _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_skydrive_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090421/d9816d61/attachment.html From fitzbeew at gmail.com Tue Apr 21 18:09:34 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:09:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Vaux's Swifts, Eugene Message-ID: Obol, Speaking of Vaux's Swifts, I heard and saw one each on Sunday and Monday flying over my neighborhood (I live only a few blocks away from the Agate Hall roost). Happy spring weather and happy spring birding! -Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090421/f3535c0a/attachment.html From tsnetsinger at centurytel.net Tue Apr 21 18:57:44 2009 From: tsnetsinger at centurytel.net (Thomas Snetsinger) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:57:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] More Linn County-EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES Message-ID: <4C67F63B3EEB434EB6D8CDFC477C0875@ivorybilled> OBOL, A pair of EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES along Seven Mile Lane as it exits Brownsville to the NW seen today 4/21. Tom Snetsinger Brownsville, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090421/285da6c7/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Apr 21 20:10:11 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:10:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] White-fronts Message-ID: <49EE8A93.80008@pacifier.com> Driving home this evening from a parent-teachers meeting, I stopped at Wireless Rd and counted 263 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE in the field closest to the Hwy. Also GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and LEAST SANDPIPER. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From m_scatt at yahoo.com Tue Apr 21 21:23:03 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:23:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Tabor Warbling Vireo, Wilson's Warbler Message-ID: <207370.16842.qm@web55704.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Today on Mt. Tabor (Portland) we saw the following highlights: Cassin's Vireo- 3-4 Warbling Vireo- 1 (heard one singing; I think Tom McNamara mentioned seeing one) Pacific-slope Flycatcher- 1 (heard) Hermit Thrush- 3 Varied Thrush- 8 Townsend's Solitaire- 1 (Top) Orange-crowned Warbler- 10 Nashville Warbler- 4-5 Townsend's Warbler- 10 Black-throated Gray Warbler- 5 Yellow-rumped Warbler- 50 Wilson's Warbler- 2 Purple Finch- 1 (heard) Red Crossbill- 2 White-crowned Sparrow-1 We didn't hear anything resembling a parula, but we agree with Tom that a parula right now would not be out of the question. Something was giving a perfect Yellow Warbler song, but we only glimpsed a yellowish warbler. Enjoy the weather, and happy birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090421/50695b03/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Tue Apr 21 21:34:36 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:34:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Possibility of Northern Parula on Tabor; Fields Oasis Message-ID: I saw and heard at least two singing Northern Parulas about 45 miles north of Houston, Texas just over three weeks ago, during the last week of March. During my 9 years of birding in Chicago, Illinois, I saw Northern Parula as early as April 8. Although Chicago is not quite as far north as Portland, it is pretty close in latitude. While I am not claiming any expertise on Oregon dates, it seems possible that a Northern Parula could make it to the Portland latitude in mid to late April. On a completely unrelated note, I saw a NASHVILLE WARBLER and 2 WESTERN KINGBIRDS at the Fields Oasis today. The oasis itself was pretty dry; the man at the Fields gas station said it hasn't been that dry in April in years. Scott Carpenter Portland On Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 3:26 PM, Tim Rodenkirk wrote: > > It's WAY to early for a parula. Try early June. I think there was one in > early May near Florence last year at that was one of the earliest spring > records ever. > > Tim R > Coos Bay > > --- On Mon, 4/20/09, Norgren Family wrote: > > > From: Norgren Family > > Subject: Re: [obol] Mt Tabor call > > To: "Dwight" > > Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Date: Monday, April 20, 2009, 5:47 PM > > Two or three springs ago a Northern > > Parula > > was well documented on Mt Tabor at this time > > of year. Another was seen singing on the north > > spit of Coos Bay by Tim Rodenkirk last spring. > > LArs Norgren > > On Apr 20, 2009, at 4:03 PM, Dwight wrote: > > > > > > > > "I heard a Vermivora-type trill that was very buzzy, > > upslurred, and > > > entirely > > > reminiscent of Northern Parula" > > > > > > How about Pine Siskin? I think this bird and Northern > > Parula both > > > sound like fishing line being pulled off a reel. I was > > at Mt Tabor > > > last month and first noticed the Siskin making this > > sound. I've heard > > > Parula's making a similar call in Texas. > > > > > > Good Birding, > > > Dwight Porter > > > Portland, OR > > > > > > Subject: Morning migrant show at Mt. Tabor > > > From: Forrest Rowland > yahoo.com> > > > Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:49:33 -0700 (PDT) > > > > > > Hello all, > > > I finally had a morning to get out and do my first > > birding outside of > > > work. I > > > drove into Portland to Mt. Tabor at the urging of many > > of you (thanks, > > > btw). I > > > was rewarded handsomely. Amongst the Bushtit, > > Chestnut-backed and > > > Black-capped > > > Chickadees, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, > > Fox and Song > > > Sparrows,?Brown Creepers, singing Purple Finches, > > nest-building House > > > Finches, > > > Siskins, Flickers and American Robins, were the > > following species of > > > possible > > > interest: > > > > > > ? > > > 4?Anna's Hummingbirds > > > 2 Rufous Hummingbirds > > > 1 Calliope Hummingbird > > > 1 UnID'd Archilocus sp. > > > 3?Varied Thrush (1 gorgeous, lazy male) > > > 6 Hermit Thrush > > > 1 Townsend's Solitaire > > > 2 Hutton's Vireo > > > 3 Cassin's Vireo > > > 3 Hammond's Flycatchers > > > 1 Pacific-slope Flycatcher > > > 8 Orange-crowned Warblers > > > 3 Nashville Warblers > > > 7 Yellow-rumped Warblers (inc. at least 2 "Myrtle" > > types, though I > > > didn't look > > > at all of them) > > > > > > ~12 Black-throated Gray Warblers > > > ~15 Townsend's Warblers > > > 1 MacGillivray's Warbler > > > 4 Golden-crowned Sparrows (ALL showing great plumage) > > > ?and.....maybe someone could confirm this last one > > during the next day > > > or two: > > > ? > > > I heard a Vermivora-type trill that was very buzzy, > > upslurred, and > > > entirely > > > reminiscent of Northern Parula. I realize this would > > be quite a rarity > > > here...or at least assume so... I saw a small bird in > > the vicinity of > > > where the > > > song was being repeated. It?was a poor glimpse, but > > did manage to see a > > > vent//tail pattern and tail length that could be > > compatible with this > > > species. > > > Entirely unconfirmed, of course,? and I am being > > purposefully > > > ambiguous.?It was > > > a poor look. I would be interested in what other > > birders might come up > > > with the > > > next day or two. > > > > > > ? > > > It was a fantastic morning at a scenic and lovely > > park. Two other > > > interesting > > > "incidents" at the park included a Sharp-shinned Hawk > > being give > > > what-for by 4 > > > Steller's Jay and a Red-tailed Hawk swooping down to > > perch nearby. The > > > Red-tailed appeared a few minutes later, flying away, > > with a snake in > > > its > > > talons! Very nice. I wonder if this front with rain > > coming the next > > > few days > > > could cause a migration event? > > > > > > ? > > > Good Birding, > > > ? > > > Forrest Rowland > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > obol mailing list > > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090421/821cc93f/attachment.html From bcombs232 at gmail.com Tue Apr 21 21:38:03 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:38:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Vaux's Swifts return Message-ID: <8ce3a6520904212138k250f9aa4t496cf037859ea774@mail.gmail.com> I heard my first-of-the-year neighborhood Vaux's Swifts this evening overhead while I was working in my yard. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090421/ab1d6d5c/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Tue Apr 21 21:40:19 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:40:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mt. Tabor Tuesday Message-ID: I spent about an hour and a half at Tabor today (birding a bit with John Thomas and Pat Gallagher - I hope I got Pat's name correctly) from about 9 AM to 10:30 AM. 7 Purple Finches - one a singing male 3 Nashville Warblers 4 Hammond;s Flycatchers 1 Western Flycatcher 1 Black-throated ray Warbler Several Townsend's and Yellow-rumped Warblers Jeff Gilligan From gneavoll at comcast.net Tue Apr 21 21:51:51 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:51:51 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Fwd: Red-shouldered Hawk at Ridgefield (Carty Unit) In-Reply-To: <2110441397.4191231240375379266.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1088236107.4193521240375911056.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Now I'm wondering if the Red-shouldered (imm.) I thought I saw on Monday was in fact the Broad-winged Hawk (ad.) Bob Flores of the refuge staff reports seeing on Tuesday. (I think it was.) The thought crossed my mind, but it seemed so far out of range . . . George Neavoll ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: gneavoll at comcast.net To: "George Neavoll" Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 3:15:18 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [obol] Red-shouldered Hawk at Ridgefield (Carty Unit) RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (imm.) circling over Ridgefield NWR (Carty Unit) this a.m. Woods rang with sound of RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER pounding on metal sign. WILSON'S SNIPE winnowing on far shore of Duck Lake. George Neavoll S.W. Portland _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/8c733d5d/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Tue Apr 21 23:45:01 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 06:45:01 +0000 Subject: [obol] Possibility of Northern Parula on Tabor; Fields Oasis In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Greetings All, As for the "way too early" comment by Tim R., I'm in Scott Carpenter's camp. Northern Parulas are early migrants, which is the case with most "southern" warblers (i.e. Louisiana Waterthrush, Yellow-throated Warbler, and others). As Scott points out, these birds return to central Indiana and Illinois during the first 10 days of April and often earlier. They equate to Orange-crowned Warbler, Cassin's Vireo and Black-throated Gray Warblers here in terms of being the first returning neotrops each spring. If you look at the vagrant window for most of the eastern warblers occurring in the west, they tend to show up here about 3-4 weeks after the arrival dates in their home range. By my calculations, it is possible that an early vagrant of one of these species could show up here by late April. Additionally, we have to remember that thousands of eastern warblers (mostly immatures) end up on the West Coast each fall. Some remain on this side of the continent through the winter. Those that survive, presumably commence their northbound migrations at the same time as those that went the right way during Fall. Since they are much closer and have a shorter distance to travel to get here, it makes sense (at least to me) that they would arrive in Oregon about the same time as eastern birds reach the Upper Midwest, which is now. In the last two years N. Parulas have shown up on 4 May (at Florence last year) and 13 May (Malheur in 2007) and of course there is the existing April record from Mt. Tabor. It is easy to use the Malheur vagrant yardstick to analyze what happens elsewhere in the state, but this approach is hopelessly flawed in two ways. First, Malheur has historically been poorly covered by experienced birders (the types that go there looking for vagrants) before Memorial Day weekend, thus it is conceivable that vagrant "southern" are being missed. Secondly, we cannot assume that Spring vagrants arriving at Malheur and Fields are sourcing from the same areas as those that occur in the Willamette Valley and along the outer Coast. I think it is likely that most of the vagrants in Harney Co. are arriving from the east or in some cases from the northeast (bizarre, but true). Conversely, I think many of the spring vagrants to western Oregon (particularly those that seem "way too early") may have traveled a much shorter distance to get here since they likely spent the winter season on this side of the continent. I spent eight days in Baja California Sur this January. During that trip, Steve Mlodinow and I encountered 6-7 Black-and-White, two Tennessee, a Chestnut-sided, and a Blackpoll. In addition to these warblers, we saw two Baltimore Orioles and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak (on the same day). Though we didn't have any on this trip, Northern Parula is a fairly common vagrant to B.C.S. The question is, do these birds head east and find their way back to the eastern U.S. to nest or do they head mostly north along the Pacific Coast. Of course we can't be sure, but my money is on the latter scenario. Migrant birds, particularly vagrants, do not move through rigid pipelines or in ways that are always predictable in terms of timing. The postage stamp sized oases at Malheur HQ and Fields are uniquely isolated and get more coverage 25 May-10 June than perhaps any other similar sized geographic areas in the state. The pattern of records for this narrow three-week window is well established. This set of variables is not duplicated anywhere else in Oregon and surely doesn't apply to w. Oregon, where a comparatively minuscule percentage of the passing vagrants get detected. During this time window we are likely finding more than we are missing at these prime Harney Co. oases, while missing all but a tiny fraction of those vagrants passing through the entirety of w. Oregon. There is much to discover. Finally, I did a quick check of the "Rare Birds of California" (2007). They have over 900 records of Northern Parula, two-thirds of which are from spring. While the peak is in May and early June, they have records from as early as 6 April. If this has been coma-inducing for any of you, I apologize. Dave Irons Eugene, OR Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:34:36 -0700 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Possibility of Northern Parula on Tabor; Fields Oasis I saw and heard at least two singing Northern Parulas about 45 miles north of Houston, Texas just over three weeks ago, during the last week of March. During my 9 years of birding in Chicago, Illinois, I saw Northern Parula as early as April 8. Although Chicago is not quite as far north as Portland, it is pretty close in latitude. While I am not claiming any expertise on Oregon dates, it seems possible that a Northern Parula could make it to the Portland latitude in mid to late April. On a completely unrelated note, I saw a NASHVILLE WARBLER and 2 WESTERN KINGBIRDS at the Fields Oasis today. The oasis itself was pretty dry; the man at the Fields gas station said it hasn't been that dry in April in years. Scott Carpenter Portland On Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 3:26 PM, Tim Rodenkirk wrote: It's WAY to early for a parula. Try early June. I think there was one in early May near Florence last year at that was one of the earliest spring records ever. Tim R Coos Bay --- On Mon, 4/20/09, Norgren Family wrote: > From: Norgren Family > Subject: Re: [obol] Mt Tabor call > To: "Dwight" > Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Monday, April 20, 2009, 5:47 PM > Two or three springs ago a Northern > Parula > was well documented on Mt Tabor at this time > of year. Another was seen singing on the north > spit of Coos Bay by Tim Rodenkirk last spring. > LArs Norgren > On Apr 20, 2009, at 4:03 PM, Dwight wrote: > > > > > "I heard a Vermivora-type trill that was very buzzy, > upslurred, and > > entirely > > reminiscent of Northern Parula" > > > > How about Pine Siskin? I think this bird and Northern > Parula both > > sound like fishing line being pulled off a reel. I was > at Mt Tabor > > last month and first noticed the Siskin making this > sound. I've heard > > Parula's making a similar call in Texas. > > > > Good Birding, > > Dwight Porter > > Portland, OR > > > > Subject: Morning migrant show at Mt. Tabor > > From: Forrest Rowland yahoo.com> > > Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:49:33 -0700 (PDT) > > > > Hello all, > > I finally had a morning to get out and do my first > birding outside of > > work. I > > drove into Portland to Mt. Tabor at the urging of many > of you (thanks, > > btw). I > > was rewarded handsomely. Amongst the Bushtit, > Chestnut-backed and > > Black-capped > > Chickadees, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, > Fox and Song > > Sparrows,?Brown Creepers, singing Purple Finches, > nest-building House > > Finches, > > Siskins, Flickers and American Robins, were the > following species of > > possible > > interest: > > > > ? > > 4?Anna's Hummingbirds > > 2 Rufous Hummingbirds > > 1 Calliope Hummingbird > > 1 UnID'd Archilocus sp. > > 3?Varied Thrush (1 gorgeous, lazy male) > > 6 Hermit Thrush > > 1 Townsend's Solitaire > > 2 Hutton's Vireo > > 3 Cassin's Vireo > > 3 Hammond's Flycatchers > > 1 Pacific-slope Flycatcher > > 8 Orange-crowned Warblers > > 3 Nashville Warblers > > 7 Yellow-rumped Warblers (inc. at least 2 "Myrtle" > types, though I > > didn't look > > at all of them) > > > > ~12 Black-throated Gray Warblers > > ~15 Townsend's Warblers > > 1 MacGillivray's Warbler > > 4 Golden-crowned Sparrows (ALL showing great plumage) > > ?and.....maybe someone could confirm this last one > during the next day > > or two: > > ? > > I heard a Vermivora-type trill that was very buzzy, > upslurred, and > > entirely > > reminiscent of Northern Parula. I realize this would > be quite a rarity > > here...or at least assume so... I saw a small bird in > the vicinity of > > where the > > song was being repeated. It?was a poor glimpse, but > did manage to see a > > vent//tail pattern and tail length that could be > compatible with this > > species. > > Entirely unconfirmed, of course,? and I am being > purposefully > > ambiguous.?It was > > a poor look. I would be interested in what other > birders might come up > > with the > > next day or two. > > > > ? > > It was a fantastic morning at a scenic and lovely > park. Two other > > interesting > > "incidents" at the park included a Sharp-shinned Hawk > being give > > what-for by 4 > > Steller's Jay and a Red-tailed Hawk swooping down to > perch nearby. The > > Red-tailed appeared a few minutes later, flying away, > with a snake in > > its > > talons! Very nice. I wonder if this front with rain > coming the next > > few days > > could cause a migration event? > > > > ? > > Good Birding, > > ? > > Forrest Rowland > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_skydrive_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/434bbf63/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Apr 22 05:18:57 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 05:18:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] parula arrival dates--they CAN be early Message-ID: <428208.71473.qm@web45303.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Tom, Let's just say that it is highly likely it was something else. I'd sure want to see what I was hearing, especially this early in April. Vagrant eastern warblers just don't show up much in April, but lots of "regular" migrants are on the move, many singing and calling. Tim --- On Tue, 4/21/09, Tom McNamara wrote: > From: Tom McNamara > Subject: [obol] parula arrival dates--they CAN be early > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 5:36 PM > > > > #yiv1955308295 .hmmessage P > { > margin:0px;padding:0px;} > #yiv1955308295 { > font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} > > > > > ? > > Tim and OBOL, > > ? > > Talk of a possible N. Parula vocalization on Mt. Tabor > shouldn't Emphatically Not be dismissed because of the > date. > > ? > > If this were 3 years ago this month, April, we would? > be reading about the parula that was both seen and heard 12 > days ago!? by, variously, ?Gerard Lillie, Khanh > Tran, and Brad?Simpston ?on April?9 and 10th. > > > ? > > Snippets of their OBOL posts and email are: > > ? > > ? > > ? > > "Alan's comments on quickie rarities was quite > timely as I had such an > experience today. While birding on Mt. Tabor in Portland > this morning I > heard one song only of what I am quite sure was a NORTHERN > PARULA. They have > a very distinctive rising song which has always reminded me > of someone > running their fingernail along the tangs of a small comb. > ..." from Gerard's post. > > ? > > and Harry and Gerard, > > > > I do not have access to post on Oregon Birders > Online. > > > > I saw the bird this morning shortly before work > at about 9:00 AM.? It was > a > > beautiful male feeding in an flowering tree with > pink/white blossoms > between > > the two reservoirs.? There is a distinctive, > long stair well between the > two > > areas.? It disappeared eastward shortly > after. > > > > Great bird! > > > > Brad S. (Oregon City, Oregon) > > > > ? > > couldn't find? a post from Khanh from back then. > He? had called me when he was?looking at the bird > and I arrived.......minutes too late.? Rats. > > ? > > ? > > good birding, > > Tom > > > Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free > online storage. Check > it out. > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From margieparis1 at mac.com Wed Apr 22 05:19:50 2009 From: margieparis1 at mac.com (Margie Paris) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 05:19:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge erroneous Horned Grebe post; D-C Cormorant platform Message-ID: Dear OBOL, A few weeks ago I posted a Horned Grebe in the Fisher Butte Unit at Fern Ridge. Last Saturday I located what was probably the same bird, got a better look, and of course it was an Eared, not Horned, Grebe. If you've got a free Saturday, walk the westernmost dykes in the Fisher Butte Unit for a great view of the Double-crested Cormorant colony on its floating platform. It's both a visual and aural wonder -- brilliant orange throats, noises reverberating off of the platform, etc. Enjoy, Margie Paris 2394 Charnelton Street Eugene, OR 97405 (541) 484-0763 margieparis1 at mac.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/76d18e2c/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Apr 22 07:16:52 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 07:16:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge erroneous Horned Grebe post; D-C Cormorant platform In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <848ddd0aaef9823b13ee79ac81373286@earthlink.net> Horned Grebes are by far the commoner of the two mid-sized grebes in western Oregon. While all coastal CBCs and many inland CBCs record Horned Grebes, compilers know that the Eared is all too easy to miss. Eared Grebes winter well to the south of here and while there become flightless! Their breast muscles atrophy and they are obliged to spend months at places like the Salton Sea, feasting on brine shrimp. A few weeks ago many wintering birds were still on location=e.g. the Slaty-backed Gull in downtown Portland. Today the likelihood of a bird being a migrant is approaching 100%. I would expect the bird Margie saw earlier to be a Horned, and the likelihood of yesterday's bird being a different individual is strong. Lars Norgren On Apr 22, 2009, at 5:19 AM, Margie Paris wrote: > Dear OBOL, > > A few weeks ago I posted a Horned Grebe in the Fisher Butte Unit at > Fern Ridge. Last Saturday I located what was probably the same bird, > got a better look, and of course it was an Eared, not Horned, Grebe. > > If you've got a free Saturday, walk the westernmost dykes in the > Fisher Butte Unit for a great view of the Double-crested Cormorant > colony on its floating platform. It's both a visual and aural wonder > -- brilliant orange throats, noises reverberating off of the platform, > etc. > > Enjoy, > > Margie Paris > > 2394 Charnelton Street > Eugene, OR 97405 > (541) 484-0763 > margieparis1 at mac.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From rimrocktim at gmail.com Sun Apr 19 13:21:35 2009 From: rimrocktim at gmail.com (Tim Hollembaek) Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:21:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lesser Bittern Message-ID: <6e54d2ee0904191321q3d202aa5pf67da0664ee67600@mail.gmail.com> I spotted a beautiful pair of lesser bittern this morning about 1100. They were in plain sight on limbs over a small pond. The pond is to the North of the Murray hill pond on the West side of Murray Blvd. where it meets Sholes Ferry. This is my first sighting of any kind of bittern! -- Tim E.Hollembaek 14615 SW Osprey Dr. #322 Beaverton OR 97007-7955 541.788.4213 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090419/b7de8c4a/attachment.html From rimrocktim at gmail.com Tue Apr 21 19:48:45 2009 From: rimrocktim at gmail.com (Tim Hollembaek) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:48:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lesser Bittern Message-ID: <6e54d2ee0904211948i1b26e7c0ycbd392022b1f92e@mail.gmail.com> I spotted a beautiful pair of lesser bittern this morning about 1100. They were in plain sight on limbs over a small pond. The pond is to the West of the Murray hill pond on the West side of Murray Blvd. where it meets Scholls Ferry. This is my first sighting of any kind of bittern! -- Tim E.Hollembaek 14615 SW Osprey Dr. #322 Beaverton OR 97007-7955 541.788.4213 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090421/19d6f5b5/attachment.html From tc at my180.net Fri Apr 17 12:50:14 2009 From: tc at my180.net (tc at my180.net) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:50:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Migration deux In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <3597.97.90.97.115.1239997814.squirrel@webmail.my180.net> The offshore migration is impressive today. Huge flocks of Brant, Cacklers and some Canadas are going by every few minutes. I had one mixed flock that was over 1/2 mile long flying mainly single file to the north, with probably close to 1000 birds in it. Small flocks of Shearwaters -- mainly Sooty's are moving. There have been three or four large flocks of shorebirds, too small to ID for sure (phalaropes?) out in the water. There was one flock of what appeared to be White-fronted Geese that was only a foot or so above the water. They appeared to be struggling. I expected to see them put down in the water, but they kept going. They were mainly below the swell line. I hadn't seen that before. The weather conditions are good, it's not like they had a horrendous head wind or anything. There are still large numbers of Loons, scoters, cormorants and alcids going by. It's a great time to be at the coast. PelagaicTrip Watch weather -- it is partly cloudy, visibility 5 miles, no white caps on the water. A bit of fog out there, but it wouldn't impair bird visibility. Temp is about 54 degrees. Unfortunately it is time for the conference to begin.... No birding till 5. Tom Crabtree From celata at pacifier.com Wed Apr 22 08:16:45 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:16:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] arrival, vagrancy and extrapoation Message-ID: <49EF34DD.7030309@pacifier.com> I think, when we talk about arrival times in general, but more specifically about eastern vagrants, we need to be careful about what we think they mean. Most folks have a vision of the United States that is not to scale. Cape May, NJ is at 39? which lines up on the west coast to Pt Arena, CA about 100m N of San Franscico. Aransas NWR on Texas Gulf Coast is at 28? and lines up with Ilsa Natividad in Baja. Chicago, IL at about 41, lines up with Patrick's Pt StPK just north of Eureka, CA. Portland OR is at 45.5? which is the latitudinal equivalent of Moosehorn NWR, ME on the border with New Brunswick. We're farther north than we think we are. Historically, most eastern vagrants are detected in Oregon later than the equivalent arrival time where they typically occur. This may, in part, be due to the Memorial Day Weekend Effect (we should get used to making the distinction between first detections and real arrivals when talking about low probability events). This means we should be careful about discounting "early" vagrants, the data-set may be biased. BUT, based on the phenology of Orange-crowned Warbler subspecies, it appears that MOST eastern-type Orange-crowns arrive much later than either of the regularly occurring subspecies (by two to three weeks). So, my points: 1. we're farther north than we think, compare your arrival equivalents to MAINE. 2. our vagrant phenology data is probably biased, don't assume. 3. but there may be something to the eastern vagrants run later model. 4. we don't know everything... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From tc at empnet.com Wed Apr 22 09:37:27 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:37:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Migration deux - NOT! In-Reply-To: <3597.97.90.97.115.1239997814.squirrel@webmail.my180.net> References: <3597.97.90.97.115.1239997814.squirrel@webmail.my180.net> Message-ID: <9EBFE71A75A147C6846066DB62AB890E@102889> Due to the miracles of modern technology where one's internet mail provider's web address uses a different mail server than the one registered on OBOL, the message below, sent on Friday morning arrives in OBOL mail boxes four days later. I have no idea what the coastal migration is like today. After two record temperature setting days in Bend, there wasn't much moving in the backyard this morning. We'll see what happens later this week as they are talking about snow in tomorrow night's forecast. Welcome to spring in Central Oregon -- 85* one day, snow the next. Tom Crabtree Bend, OR -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of tc at my180.net Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 11:50 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Migration deux The offshore migration is impressive today. Huge flocks of Brant, Cacklers and some Canadas are going by every few minutes. I had one mixed flock that was over 1/2 mile long flying mainly single file to the north, with probably close to 1000 birds in it. Small flocks of Shearwaters -- mainly Sooty's are moving. There have been three or four large flocks of shorebirds, too small to ID for sure (phalaropes?) out in the water. There was one flock of what appeared to be White-fronted Geese that was only a foot or so above the water. They appeared to be struggling. I expected to see them put down in the water, but they kept going. They were mainly below the swell line. I hadn't seen that before. The weather conditions are good, it's not like they had a horrendous head wind or anything. There are still large numbers of Loons, scoters, cormorants and alcids going by. It's a great time to be at the coast. PelagaicTrip Watch weather -- it is partly cloudy, visibility 5 miles, no white caps on the water. A bit of fog out there, but it wouldn't impair bird visibility. Temp is about 54 degrees. Unfortunately it is time for the conference to begin.... No birding till 5. Tom Crabtree _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From rowbird2005 at yahoo.com Wed Apr 22 09:34:18 2009 From: rowbird2005 at yahoo.com (Forrest Rowland) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:34:18 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Northern Parula on Mt Tabor Message-ID: <382697.66624.qm@web35308.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, ? Forrest Rowland here, chiming in seeing as it was my note on Northern Parula that started this fuss. ? Regarding early dates - Several local birders?have sent me notes offline listing sightings of N Parula on MT Tabor in years past (2003,2005,2008 I believe) all from mid-April. Their arrival to the Mid-Atlantic state of Delaware might be irrelevant, but Matt Sarver and I recorded the 3rd earliest nest-building behavior for this species in the state on MARCH 27, 2008. Earlier dates were 23rd and 24th of the same month, back in the 90's. ? Regarding my past experience with the bird...well I'm not going to write it up anyways due to lack of additional observers, photos, audio recordings, etc. but I've seen probably somewhere around 200 in the past and heard maybe 3 times that many. ? Good Birding, ? Forrest Rowland ____________________________________________________________________________________ ?Obt?n la mejor experiencia en la web! Descarga gratis el nuevo Internet Explorer 8. http://downloads.yahoo.com/ieak8/?l=e1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/b7df35fc/attachment.html From rowbird2005 at yahoo.com Wed Apr 22 09:37:56 2009 From: rowbird2005 at yahoo.com (Forrest Rowland) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:37:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Birds from yesterday - Molalla River area Message-ID: <61723.94978.qm@web35301.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi all! Also wanted to mention that finally got good looks at my life Sooty Grouse yesterday afternoon after having heard what seems like 40 or more over the past week. ? Three-toed Woodpecker put in an appearance at one of my work sites, and I had 3 Wilson's Warblers, 6 Orange-crowned Warblers, 1 Townsend's and 2 Black-throated Gray Warblers in with Chickadees along a riparian region I was hiking through. When do Yellow Warblers arrive? ? Good Birding, ? Forrest Rowland ____________________________________________________________________________________ ?Obt?n la mejor experiencia en la web! Descarga gratis el nuevo Internet Explorer 8. http://downloads.yahoo.com/ieak8/?l=e1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/7e3bd4aa/attachment.html From archmcc at qwest.net Wed Apr 22 10:28:23 2009 From: archmcc at qwest.net (Arch McCallum) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:28:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird sound question and other Creswell trivia (chickadee) In-Reply-To: <000501c9b960$724fc840$56b5ced1@oemcomputer> References: <000401c33ded$c2a2ab90$0200000a@newcomputer> <000501c9b960$724fc840$56b5ced1@oemcomputer> Message-ID: <20090422172831.265A4627A6D@mpls-qmqp-05.inet.qwest.net> Very interesting observation. And a case in point that "Oregon Chickadees," the local subspecies, are different in more ways than one from the continental populations of black-caps. "Real" black-caps don't use old holes. People trying to do nest-box studies with them in the East have been largely unsucessful. Oregon Chickadees are happy to use boxes. Thanks for reporting this. Arch McCallum Eugene >I recently watched a Red-breasted Sapsucker dragging a Black-capped >Chickadee by the wing out of a nest hole in an old power pole . The >chickadee perched on the guy wire looking dazed and confused, its wing held >out from the body a bit, but did fly off and leave the disputed home site to >the sapsucker (which was the original owner and I think drilled the hole >last year). > >Regards, Sally >nelson_sm at centurytel.net >Creswell (s. of Eugene), OR > > > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From philliplc at charter.net Wed Apr 22 10:39:01 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:39:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <400B22ED15C44AA6A91A7F3A6466BB2D@Phil> 6:45-9:45 AM (4/22): overcast wind N 15-30, swells 5-7 300+ Red-throated Loon 9000+ Pacific Loon (intermittent movement with as many as 5000 in view at once in groups on the water swimming slowly N) 60+ Common Loon 8 Red-necked Grebe (N) 6 Western Grebe (2 flying N) 1 Northern Fulmar 7000+ Sooty Shearwater (steady N 1-1.5 miles out) 1 Brown Pelican 20 Double-crested Cormorant 60 Pelagic Cormorant 300 Brandt's Cormorant (most S) 1300 Brant (many flocks to 160) 600 White-fronted Goose (several flocks to 220) 4 Mallard 50 Northern Pintail 20 American Wigeon 35 Northern Shoveler 4000+ Green-winged Teal (continuous small flocks) 6 Greater Scaup 70 scaup sp. 2 Harlequin Duck (pair S) 4 Black Scoter 200 White-winged Scoter (N) 3000+ Surf Scoter 36 Red-breasted Merganser 40 Black-bellied Plover 1 golden plover sp. 10+ Semipalmated Plover 4 Whimbrel 1000+ Dunlin 5000+ Western Sandpiper 3+ Least Sandpiper (low) 600+ dowitcher sp. 400 Bonaparte's Gull 400+ California Gull 600+ Glaucous-winged Gull (most immature) 600+ Western Gull 2 Black-legged Kittiwake (immature N) 200 Caspian Tern 2000+ Common Murre 60 Pigeon Guillemot (N) 6 Marbled Murrelet 4 Ancient Murrelet 2 Cassin's Auklet 28 Rhinoceros Auklet http://philliplc.com/images/bb0901.jpg http://philliplc.com/images/bb0902.jpg Phil philliplc at charter.net From jeffgill at teleport.com Wed Apr 22 10:48:29 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:48:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Regarding April reports of No. Parula. Message-ID: I have seen about 15 Northern Parulas in Oregon - once four in a day in Harney County. They have all been in late May or early June. That said, occasionally vagrant warblers occur earlier than the general pattern would imply. In regard to the Mt. Tabor reports: Various warblers and birds in general can give songs that are much different than their typical songs, and might lead to misidentification. Once on Mt. Tabor I heard a song given repeatedly that sounded very much like that of a Blue-winged Warbler. The next day I was joined by Ted Kenefick (who lived I Eugene at the time) and we played recordings of Blue-winged Warbler where I heard the song. A bird sang back with a song that was extremely similar to the Blue-winged Warbler song that we were playing. After playing the song back and getting responses, the bird came into view. It was a Dark-eyed Junco singing in a way that was far different from what I had heard from that species. I have heard one sing in that manner once since. There is really no "well-documented" record of Northern Parula from Mt. Tabor. (I am not saying that there have been none there.) There was a recent post of various occurrences in recent years by anonymous observers (hearers?). I don't think that an anonymous reporter should be offended by me saying that I doubt these multiple reports are correct. Latitude isn't the only consideration in when we might typically expect eastern vagrants. There is also the matter of longitude. It takes time to cross the continent from east to west. Good birding. Jeff Gilligan Portland From mmarvin at spiritone.com Wed Apr 22 10:56:30 2009 From: mmarvin at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:56:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Koll Center Wetlands April 23 a.m. - dowitchers and yellowlegs Message-ID: <2D4AC3D9-3743-45AA-938B-0EE74C8155A2@spiritone.com> Hello OBOL - I took a look at Koll Center this morning (4/22) and among the usual suspects, including Canada goslings huddling under their mother and Mallard ducklings swimming, I saw a pair of dowitchers sp. (sorry Greg) and a pair of Greater Yellowlegs. I don't expect to see these there in April. When I first arrived I also saw at some distance three peeps flying away from me. The dowitchers were at the main viewing area (the one with the table) and the yellowlegs were in the pond south of there, the one with the island. Good birding! -- Marcia Marvin * mmarvin at spiritone.com * SW Portland, OR, USA From lammergeiereyes at aol.com Wed Apr 22 11:21:21 2009 From: lammergeiereyes at aol.com (lammergeiereyes at aol.com) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:21:21 -0400 Subject: [obol] Lesser Bittern In-Reply-To: <6e54d2ee0904211948i1b26e7c0ycbd392022b1f92e@mail.gmail.com> References: <6e54d2ee0904211948i1b26e7c0ycbd392022b1f92e@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <8CB918E45A4C29A-AEC-129A@webmail-dh01.sysops.aol.com> Hi Tim When you say "lesser bittern," do you mean Green Heron? Good birding, Blake T. Matheson "Men still live who, in their youth, remember Passenger Pigeons. Trees still live who, in their youth, were shaken by a living wind. But a decade hence only the oldest oaks will remember, and at long last only the hills will know." Leopold (1949). -----Original Message----- From: Tim Hollembaek To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 7:48 pm Subject: [obol] Lesser Bittern I spotted a beautiful pair of lesser bittern this morning about 1100. They were in plain sight on limbs over a small pond. The pond is to the West of the Murray hill pond on the West side of Murray Blvd. where it meets Scholls Ferry. This is my first sighting of any kind of bittern! -- Tim E.Hollembaek 14615 SW Osprey Dr. #322 Beaverton OR 97007-7955 541.788.4213 _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/1a11377d/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Wed Apr 22 11:52:39 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:52:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Mt Tabor - Spring Delights Message-ID: <947481.16528.qm@web55102.mail.re4.yahoo.com> >From 6:30A.M. until around 10A.M. I birded Mt Tabor Wednesday morning, joining the Morning Bird Song Walk for about half my time there. The first half of the time I was alone or with Jay Withgott. Highlights: Merely being on Mt Tabor in Spring! Good FOY birds. Good FOY birding folks. It is Spring - Go birding. If you have not birded Mt Tabor in Spring, I highly recommend it if you are anywhere near it. It is between Division and Stark and roughly between 60th and 69th. http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?PropertyID=275&action=ViewPark Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores Complete list of 37 species seen / heard: Red-tailed Hawk Merlin Band-tailed Pigeon Anna's Hummingbird Northern Flicker Hammond's Flycatcher (Withgott's sharp ears heard , then we saw) Pacific-slope Flycatcher Cassin's Vireo (brief glimpses as it darted near SW edge of the top road) Steller's Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Winter Wren (heard only) Ruby-crowned Kinglet Townsend's Solitaire (from the top road) Hermit Thrush American Robin Varied Thrush (heard only) Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler (good light, and as cooperative as a Warbler can be) Yellow-rumped Warbler (stunning breeding plumage) Black-throated Gray Warbler (great views - many seen) Townsend's Warbler (several - beautiful as usual) Hermit Warbler (heard only) Wilson's Warbler (heard only) Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco House Finch Red Crossbill (2 seen perched atop a fir - SW slope) Pine Siskin Lesser Goldfinch Seen/heard by others, but not by me: Violet-green Swallow MacGillivray's Warbler From alfanana at q.com Wed Apr 22 12:23:43 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:23:43 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time) Subject: [obol] Bird song Message-ID: As it is now spring, I am again hearing a song that drives me crazy. Because the pines are so dense here, it is sometimes hard to know just where the song is coming from and even when you figure that out, it is hard to see the bird. The song sounds like "hi, sweetie!". Sorry, that's the only way I know how to describe it. Does any one know which bird sings this little song? Thanks, Karen Stewart -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/41dfc566/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Apr 22 13:28:32 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:28:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wed morning, Eugene Message-ID: Our group of 8 decided to take the powerline right-of-way in the hills behind Lane Community College campus. We expected new migrants and found a couple, but our list is almost as noteworthy for its gaps (no Hutton's Vireos, sapsuckers, or Pileated Woodpecker). The LCC ponds had a nice group of shorebirds and few waterfowl. Canada Goose - 4 Mallard - 2 N. Shoveler - 4 Ring-necked Duck - 2 Bufflehead - 2 California Quail - 1 Turkey Vulture - 20 Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Killdeer - 1 Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Solitary Sandpiper - 1 Gr. Yellowlegs - 1 Western Sandpiper - 6 Least Sandpiper - 19 Wilson's Snipe - 1 Band-tailed Pigeon - 1 Rufous Hummingbird - 10+ N. Flicker - 6 Pacific-slope Flycatcher - 1 Warbling Vireo - 2 Steller's Jay - 25 Scrub Jay - 10 Tree Swallow - 4 V-g Swallow - 4 Black-capped Chickadee - 4 Bushtit - 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch - 8+ Bewick's Wren - 12 Winter Wren - 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 3 Am. Robin - 6 Wrentit - 8 Starling - 1 Orange-crowned Warbler - 30+ Audubon's Warbler - 6 Black-throated Gray Warbler - 8 Macgillivray's Warbler - 4 Wilson's Warbler - 1 Spotted Towhee - 10 Song Sparrow - 8 White-cr. Sparrow - 6 Golden-cr. Sparrow - 8 Brown-headed Cowbird - 2 Purple Finch - 40 Lesser Goldfinch - 4 Am. Goldfinch - 2 Paul Sherrell, Don Schrouder, Criag Merhel, Sylvia Maulding, Fred Chancey, Barry McKenzie, Dennis Arendt, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/618372c1/attachment.html From alfanana at q.com Wed Apr 22 13:37:44 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:37:44 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time) Subject: [obol] Bird Song Message-ID: Thank you to all of you for your quick response! I live in Central Oregon and have approximately 300 Ponderosas on one acre. We do have a lot of Black Capped Chickadees here. Saw the first Brown Headed Cowbird of spring this afternoon! Karen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/34f077bb/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 41807 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/34f077bb/attachment.gif From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Wed Apr 22 13:41:45 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:41:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock Mansion, PDX Message-ID: <500E9CC7-5F4E-4BDA-9B65-2337BA64F3E4@gmail.com> I would have loved to have been over at Mt Tabor this morning but an early appt on the west side of town prevented that. So I stopped at Pittock on the way home and was happy to see a number of migrants, though not the number of species reported from Tabor this AM. Lots of both kinglets. I didn't get there until 10:45 or so and left an hour later. HERMIT THRUSH - 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS - 12 TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS - 15 (mostly males) BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER - 1 MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER - 1 Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Wed Apr 22 13:42:11 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (Gerard Lillie) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:42:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Regarding April reports of No. Parula. In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <001201c9c38a$d0c25670$72470350$@lillie@comcast.net> Hello All, I am speed-reading through a zillion OBOL posts while getting ready to go to Arizona. While I agree with Jeff's discussion, in my case regarding the N. Parula, I am quite confident that is what it was. I did not get a photo or sound recording but I listened to it sing many times. Each vocalization was identical- no alteration at all. N. Parula has a very distinctive song and I have heard them not only in OR (also seeing them) but have heard some 100's "back east". I feel confident the bird I heard was this species. If I'm not mistaken, Kahn saw the bird the same day in a different location on Tabor. Gerard -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Gilligan Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 10:48 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Regarding April reports of No. Parula. I have seen about 15 Northern Parulas in Oregon - once four in a day in Harney County. They have all been in late May or early June. That said, occasionally vagrant warblers occur earlier than the general pattern would imply. In regard to the Mt. Tabor reports: Various warblers and birds in general can give songs that are much different than their typical songs, and might lead to misidentification. Once on Mt. Tabor I heard a song given repeatedly that sounded very much like that of a Blue-winged Warbler. The next day I was joined by Ted Kenefick (who lived I Eugene at the time) and we played recordings of Blue-winged Warbler where I heard the song. A bird sang back with a song that was extremely similar to the Blue-winged Warbler song that we were playing. After playing the song back and getting responses, the bird came into view. It was a Dark-eyed Junco singing in a way that was far different from what I had heard from that species. I have heard one sing in that manner once since. There is really no "well-documented" record of Northern Parula from Mt. Tabor. (I am not saying that there have been none there.) There was a recent post of various occurrences in recent years by anonymous observers (hearers?). I don't think that an anonymous reporter should be offended by me saying that I doubt these multiple reports are correct. Latitude isn't the only consideration in when we might typically expect eastern vagrants. There is also the matter of longitude. It takes time to cross the continent from east to west. Good birding. Jeff Gilligan Portland _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Apr 22 13:54:59 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:54:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Song imitations Message-ID: On two occasions I have heard a Yellow Warbler imitate another warbler species perfectly. Once it was a Prairie Warbler, sung by a Yellow that appeared to be a female. It did not seem to have any other song. Once it was a Parula-like song, sung by a male Yellow that would switch back to regular yellow songs, too. Oddly enough, both were at Benson Pond, Malheur. Several other observers were there the first time, maybe 25 years ago. Tom Crabtree may have been one of them, I can't recall for sure. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Wed Apr 22 14:02:39 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:02:39 +0000 Subject: [obol] Northern Parula at Mt. Tabor Message-ID: Hi Obolers! Yes, I did see the bird that was originally reported by Gerard. What I remembered three years ago, I did call Gerard L. at work, phoned Tom M. at home, and notifed Harry Nehls as well. I couldn't get any photos since the bird was quite active and lacked the right camera equipment --such as having a 400-600 mm zoom. Also, at the time, I was inexperienced at digiscoping. Photographing moving warblers is not an easy task--let alone digiscoping one! I tried but failed. So in this case, there is no 'well-documented' proof for this non-review species:( Good birding, Khanh khanh tran khanhbatran at hotmail.com Mon Apr 10 13:56:33 PDT 2006 Previous message: [obol] birders in general are not thieves Next message: [obol] Falcated Duck photo needed Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi Obolers! I was the lucky birder who rediscovered the male singing NORTHERN PARULA that was earlier reported and heard by Gerald Lillie's bionic ears. The bird was seen at 8:00-8:15 AM this morning under misty, wet but birdy conditions. The beautiful bird was seen twice within a 10-15 minute period, gleaning in the yellow flowering tree of a big leaf maple. It's behavior was almost kinglet and chickadee-like. The small warbler was in a mixed flock consisting of many ruby crowned kinglets, black capped chickadees, bushtits, and two black throated gray warblers. I never heard it call or sing but was drawn to it by the birdy activity of the above species. It's blue gray plumage was a striking contrast against the hanging yellow flowers. The bird was at the southwest end of the park near the large middle reservoir where there is a paved road opened only for security guards and park staff. Best entrance would be from Salmon Street. If you take a sharp, pinhole turn up hill, you went too far. To the south, there is a large, metal fence prohibiting any vehicle entrance. Walk pass the reservoir on the east side and you will see a dirt trail that splits up in a Y formation. The bird was about 15-20 feet east from the paved road in the large yellow flowering, big leaf maple. You should see an old, castle like top building structure to the east side. Despite calling and rounding up a group of "hot shot" Portland birders, we could not relocate the bird after an extensive search. Maybe, someone has and has n't reported it when we all split up. I suggest checking all flowering, decidious trees. Maybe it will sing since the sun finally came out. Thanks to Gerald Lillie for reporting it!!! Good luck and good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From tc at empnet.com Wed Apr 22 15:01:50 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:01:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Song imitations In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <327A632D6CD8441E8EA510CC66D0F23D@102889> I was there with you Alan. I've never seen anything like that. We kept looking for the "other" bird in the tree that HAD to be singing the Prairie song, but it was the only one, and when it flew to another tree, the Prairie song followed it. Tom Crabtree -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Alan Contreras Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 12:55 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] Song imitations On two occasions I have heard a Yellow Warbler imitate another warbler species perfectly. Once it was a Prairie Warbler, sung by a Yellow that appeared to be a female. It did not seem to have any other song. Once it was a Parula-like song, sung by a male Yellow that would switch back to regular yellow songs, too. Oddly enough, both were at Benson Pond, Malheur. Several other observers were there the first time, maybe 25 years ago. Tom Crabtree may have been one of them, I can't recall for sure. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ - Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ - Bird Photos & News _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Apr 22 14:22:15 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:22:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird Song: "Hi, Sweetie!" Message-ID: <20090422142215.xccjzlyu9cskc84o@webmail.thebirdguide.com> My best guess is Brown Creeper. "see-see-titi-see!" Listen to the high-pitched song here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Creeper/id Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From withgott at comcast.net Wed Apr 22 14:26:50 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:26:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Tanager - early date for Portland Message-ID: After enjoying the birds and the company at the morning birdsong walk at Mt Tabor this morning, I spent some time perusing the migration phenologies for a number of species that Joel posted on the other day (www.oregonbirds.org/calendar.html). I noted that in the Portland-area phenology compiled by Christopher and Adrian, the earliest date for Western Tanager was April 20th. ... So I realize now that I should have reported that I heard a WESTERN TANAGER from my yard in SW Portland two days ago on the 20th to tie the record. Thanks to Christopher, Adrian, Alan, and Tom for taking the time to compiling these useful phenologies. JW From alfanana at q.com Wed Apr 22 14:27:42 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:27:42 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time) Subject: [obol] Bird song Message-ID: I went to the Birdsong website and sure enough ya'll were right! It is the Black Capped Chickadee that sings that little ditty! When I first moved here 3 years ago, a neighbor pointed out the song and said that it sounded like the bird was singing "Hi, Sweetie" and it just stuck in my head. Thanks again for all the reply's!!!!!!! Karen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/3e9d0f30/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 41807 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/3e9d0f30/attachment.gif From deweysage at verizon.net Wed Apr 22 14:36:42 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:36:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Bay North Spit 4/22 Message-ID: <49EF8DEA.1010609@verizon.net> 4/22 Coos Bay North Spit, Coos Cty Today on the Snowy Plover nesting area were an amazing 3 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS - a species that is quite rare in spring. There was also one LAPLAND LONGSPUR. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Apr 22 14:39:59 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:39:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Song imitations/ N. Parula? Message-ID: <509678.42867.qm@web45307.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Hi All, Sorry for stirring up the pot, but sometimes it needs stirring. I remember hearing what I thought was maybe a Cape May Warbler or some other similar eastern species several years back at Malheur. I spread the word there was something special above but no one, and there were lots of people looking, could find anything. Most birders gave up and moved on and I was left alone to find a Wilson's Warbler doing a song not on any recording I've ever heard! One of the things that happens after birding in the same place for many years is that you become familiar with the local phenology and know when to expect the rarities and the best place to find them. When an observation pops up that does not meet these long established phenological realities, red flags immediately go up. That all said, the parula on Mt. Tabor is out of the normal expectations for this species. Although it does sound like there is a record this early from the same dang location, any experienced Oregon birder would quickly wonder about the details of a sighting of almost any eastern warbler species so early. If the observer is a seasoned vet, with years of Oregon birding under his/her belt, then it's easy to accept the bird as possible because one understands that the seasoned birder knows this sighting is way unusual, will be questioned, and should be questioned! When something out of whack with the normal timing shows up observed by a newer kid on the block or a less experienced observer, it's going to be a lot more difficult to convince all them old-timers you just found a bird that was totally off their radar for that time of year, especially if the observer actually thinks it's not way out of normal! I'm not saying it wasn't a parula, just that the red flags are up. Too bad you didn't see it better... Oh, and Yellow Warblers arrive fairly late, not until the first week in May down here in Coos Co. but probably(?) a week earlier in the valley (like many warbler species). There should be some reported in another week or less I imagine. Merry migration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tim R in chilly, wind-swept Coos Bay --- On Wed, 4/22/09, Tom Crabtree wrote: > From: Tom Crabtree > Subject: Re: [obol] Song imitations > To: "'Alan Contreras'" , "'obol'" > Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 3:01 PM > I was there with you Alan.? I've > never seen anything like that.? We kept > looking for the "other" bird in the tree that HAD to be > singing the Prairie > song, but it was the only one, and when it flew to another > tree, the Prairie > song followed it. > > Tom Crabtree > > -----Original Message----- > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] > On Behalf Of Alan Contreras > Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 12:55 PM > To: obol > Subject: [obol] Song imitations > > On two occasions I have heard a Yellow Warbler imitate > another warbler > species perfectly.? Once it was a Prairie Warbler, > sung by a Yellow that > appeared to be a female. It did not seem to have any other > song. > > Once it was a Parula-like song, sung by a male Yellow that > would switch back > to regular yellow songs, too. > > Oddly enough, both were at Benson Pond, Malheur.? > Several other observers > were there the first time, maybe 25 years ago.? Tom > Crabtree may have been > one of them, I can't recall for sure. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ - Commentary > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ - Bird Photos & > News > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Apr 22 14:40:59 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:40:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Bird Song: "Hi, Sweetie!" Message-ID: <23814.5410.qm@web45308.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Or- trees-trees-beautiful-trees! Tim R Coos Bay --- On Wed, 4/22/09, Greg Gillson wrote: > From: Greg Gillson > Subject: Re: [obol] Bird Song: "Hi, Sweetie!" > To: "OBOL" > Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 2:22 PM > > My best guess is Brown Creeper. "see-see-titi-see!" > > Listen to the high-pitched song here: > http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Creeper/id > > Greg Gillson > Hillsboro, Oregon > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From celata at pacifier.com Wed Apr 22 15:59:53 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:59:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] longspur at wireless Message-ID: <49EFA169.2080100@pacifier.com> More impressive shorebird numbers at Wireless Rd this morning plus a LAPLAND LONGSPUR feeding among the LEAST SANDPIPERS and at least 75 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. The shorebird list: Black-bellied Plover 12 Semipalmated Plover 4 Killdeer 2 Greater Yellowlegs 2 Western Sandpiper 400 Least Sandpiper 100 Dunlin 20 Short-billed Dowitcher 10 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From dpvroman at budget.net Wed Apr 22 16:44:21 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:44:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] JoCo Gambel White-crown Message-ID: <0CCEFC5F912940F8AE8203DB09A28B63@Warbler> This afternoon (04-22-09) a GAMBEL'S WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was at our place just east of the Merlin I-5 exit. We just get migrant White-crowns; this is the time they normally show up. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/4b1ee6ec/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Wed Apr 22 16:40:39 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:40:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hummers and ashes Message-ID: <2BCA4B9F35684824B94FBA67652B04F0@Warbler> A fellow I know in the Grants Pass area sent me a message that Hummingbirds (Anna's and Rufous) are visiting his bar-b-cue and taking ashes from it. Has anyone ever seen this behavior before? Dennis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/e625020b/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Apr 22 16:55:10 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:55:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hummers and ashes In-Reply-To: <2BCA4B9F35684824B94FBA67652B04F0@Warbler> Message-ID: Crossbills do it all the time. I have seen Cassin's Finches do it. I have never seen a hummer do it. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: "Dennis P. Vroman" > Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:40:39 -0700 > To: > Subject: [obol] Hummers and ashes > > A fellow I know in the Grants Pass area sent me a message that Hummingbirds > (Anna's and Rufous) are visiting his bar-b-cue and taking ashes from it. > > Has anyone ever seen this behavior before? > > Dennis > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From baileydc at pdx.edu Wed Apr 22 17:21:38 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:21:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hummers and ashes Message-ID: <49EFB492.4070602@pdx.edu> I have seen this behavior of hummingbirds gleaning ashes from campfire rings in the Ellsworth Preserve east of Willapa Bay in SW Washington. Rufous hummingbirds continuously frequented a campfire ring collecting ashes in June two years ago when I was stationed there doing point counts. There are notes on this type of behavior in the primary literature. For example, see below. The thought is that necessary by uncommon nutrients are obtained by the hummingbirds in this, similar to a salt lick that band-tailed pigeons use I suppose. David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon > The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 120(3):651-653. 2008 > doi: 10.1676/07-054.1 > > Giant Hummingbirds (Patagona gigas) Ingest Calcium-rich Minerals > > Cristi?n F. Estades1,2, M. Ang?lica Vukasovic1, Jorge A. Tomasevic1 > > 1Laboratorio de Ecolog?a de Vida Silvestre, Departamento de Manejo de > Recursos Forestales, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 9206, Santiago, Chile > > 2Corresponding author; cestades at uchile.cl > Abstract > > We report Giant Hummingbirds (Patagona gigas), regularly and > deliberately, ingesting wood ashes and slaked lime in central Chile. > These two minerals have high concentrations of calcium, which may be a > scarce element in the nectar-based diet of the species. Both > observations occurred during the post-breeding period suggesting the > birds were females ingesting calcium-rich compounds to replace > minerals lost during eggshell production. references from the above article: > > Adam, M. A. and J. R. des Lauriers. 1998. Observations of hummingbirds > ingesting mineral-rich compounds. Journal of Field Ornithology > 69:257?261. CSA > > Araya, B., G. Millie, and M. Bernal. 1986. Gu?a de Campo de las Aves > de Chile. Editorial Universitaria, Santiago, Chile. > > des Lauriers, J. R. 1994. Hummingbirds eating ashes. Auk 111:755?756. CSA > > Dhondt, A. A. and W. M. Hochachka. 2001. Variations in calcium use by > birds during the breeding season. Condor 103:592?598. Abstract, CSA > > Remsen Jr, J. V., F. G. Stiles, and P. E. Scott. 1986. Frequency of > arthropods in stomachs of tropical hummingbirds. Auk 103:436?441. CSA > > Richmond, S. M. 1953. The attraction of Purple Martins to an urban > location in western Oregon. Condor 55:225?249. CrossRef > > Verbeek, N. A M. 1971. Hummingbirds feeding on sand. Condor > 73:112?113. CrossRef From rflores_2 at msn.com Wed Apr 22 17:40:59 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:40:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] sparrows at the feeder! Migration is on at my place Ridgefield NWR Message-ID: I do get excited about sparrows because i do not get many but today when I got home from work I found 4 white-crowns, a fox and a chipping sparrow under the feeder. Not bad for my yard. Another note I have not seen an American goldfinch lately and have two as well. Siskins have been here for a while. Bob Flores Ridgefield WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/929665e3/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Wed Apr 22 17:47:12 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:47:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Hummers and ashes... The Final Answer... Message-ID: <560595.75659.qm@web55108.mail.re4.yahoo.com> I thought everyone had seen this display. It is a well known courtship activity. Usually it is a male that collects ashes and "gift gives" them to the female, but it has occasionally been seen to go the other way with the female collecting ashes and giving them to the male. You can read more about on Cornell's web site. I think those science folks refer to it as Carbon Dating. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores From pamelaj at spiritone.com Wed Apr 22 19:12:56 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:12:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] White-fronts over Yamhill Co Message-ID: During the afternoon between 1300 and 1500 while I was outdoors 5 flocks of Greater White-fronted Goose numbering between 75 and 150 birds each passed over my house 5 mi. NW of McMinnville. This follows the pattern I have seen since 2005 of geese migrating along the eastern edge of the Coast Range. Pamela Johnston From mklittletree at comcast.net Wed Apr 22 19:16:04 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (michel Kleinbaum) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:16:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: Ankeny Message-ID: <818952B9A1D045A9B40876F80FB8795B@michel1927> ----- Original Message ----- From: "michel Kleinbaum" To: "OBOL" Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 5:17 PM Subject: Ankeny > There were 300+/- White -fronted Geese at Mohoff Pond this afternoon. > 1 Ross's Goose was among 1000's of cacklers on Buenavista Rd and 2 more > were with 1000's Cackling Geese on Wintel Rd. > Michel Kleinbaum S.Salem From namitzr at hotmail.com Wed Apr 22 20:19:23 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:19:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brant in Coos Bay Message-ID: Took my Oceanography class to observe the pinnipeds at Cape Arago this morning. Pretty cold and windy out, especially for the girl in shorts and thongs (ah-hem, flip-flops). On the way out, I noticed 2 huge flocks of BRANT in the bay (one at Fossil Pt. & one at Pigeon Pt) that were probably in the neigborhood of 300 & 500 birds, respectively. Out at the Cape (Simpson Reef) there was a flock of about 200 on the rocks below and while we were there 2 more flocks of 100 came up the coast. There were also 9 BROWN PELICANS flying around, 7 adults & 2 immatures. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/81eb1b43/attachment.html From necurran at earthlink.net Wed Apr 22 20:20:37 2009 From: necurran at earthlink.net (Nancy Curran) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:20:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lazuli bunting Message-ID: <380-22009442332037234@earthlink.net> I looked out at the feeders today and spotted a male Lazuli Bunting. He didn't stay long, but what a treat! I've had one stop by spring before last. Wish they'd let me know they're coming so I could have the camera ready. What a thrill to look out at the feeder area....do I see BLUE? yes...get the binocs fast! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/c49ded11/attachment.html From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Wed Apr 22 20:15:12 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (gerard.lillie at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:15:12 GMT Subject: [obol] Mt Tabor, Portland, OR Message-ID: <200904230315.n3N3FCPZ025729@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Gerard Lillie by http://birdnotes.net Date: April 22, 2009 Location: Mt. Tabor Park, Multnomah County, Oregon Low temperature: 50 degrees fahrenheit High temperature: 52 degrees fahrenheit Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 80% Precipitation: none Hello All, Today was a fabulous day on Mt. Tabor. The Portland Audubon Bird Song Walk was well attended, to say the least. We set a record at over 50 participants- I lost count once I got to 50! It is tough to estimate the number of Dendroica warblers as they were basically anywhere we went. We had lots of great looks at many species, Nashville W. comes to mind right away. A highlight was great looks at a nearby Merlin Falcon as it sat in the tops of a couple of firs and then dove down at lighening speed after some poor bird. Also, we found an American Goldfinch building a nest- the second I know of on Tabor and the first in several years. We also had two Red Crossbills and a couple of fly-overs of small numbers of Evening Grosbeaks. Lots of fun with a lot of birds and nice folks. Good birding- Gerard. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Mallard 2 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Merlin 1 Rock Dove 1 Band-tailed Pigeon 8 Anna's Hummingbird 5 Northern Flicker 6 Hammond's Flycatcher 3 Pacific-slope Flycatcher 3 Cassin's Vireo 3 Steller's Jay 12 Western Scrub-Jay 6 American Crow Violet-green Swallow 20 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 15 Red-breasted Nuthatch 15 Brown Creeper 5 Bewick's Wren 2 Winter Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 6 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 8 Townsend's Solitaire 3 Hermit Thrush 10 American Robin Varied Thrush 2 European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler 30 Nashville Warbler 4 Yellow-rumped Warbler 10 Black-throated Gray Warbler 40 Townsend's Warbler 50 Hermit Warbler 1 Wilson's Warbler 4 Western Tanager 2 Spotted Towhee Chipping Sparrow 1 Fox Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow 1 Golden-crowned Sparrow 6 Dark-eyed Junco Purple Finch 3 House Finch Red Crossbill 2 Pine Siskin 100 Lesser Goldfinch 20 American Goldfinch 4 Evening Grosbeak 4 House Sparrow Total number of species seen: 49 From 5hats at peak.org Wed Apr 22 20:12:21 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:12:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Song imitations/ N. Parula? References: <509678.42867.qm@web45307.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <01D85852557A4677A32A200C066BD857@your5rlp3a9516> Tim, Good points. I remember once when Jerry and Barb Bellin were birding with me here at Thornton Creek. We heard a very vagrant sounding warbler song coming from a creekside willow. After several minutes we finally were able to determine that the singer was a Black-throated Gray. We even saw it singing, and the song was nothing like I have ever heard coming from that species any other time. As for early vagrants, here is a thought. What about the possibility (not at all beyond reason) that a Parula wintered not so far away, and is moving north on normal schedule for the latitude? After all, Oregon has had wintering Black and whites, Hermit, Lucy's, and even Blackburnian, for crying out loud. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim Rodenkirk" To: "'Alan Contreras'" ; "'obol'" ; Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 2:39 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Song imitations/ N. Parula? Hi All, Sorry for stirring up the pot, but sometimes it needs stirring. I remember hearing what I thought was maybe a Cape May Warbler or some other similar eastern species several years back at Malheur. I spread the word there was something special above but no one, and there were lots of people looking, could find anything. Most birders gave up and moved on and I was left alone to find a Wilson's Warbler doing a song not on any recording I've ever heard! One of the things that happens after birding in the same place for many years is that you become familiar with the local phenology and know when to expect the rarities and the best place to find them. When an observation pops up that does not meet these long established phenological realities, red flags immediately go up. That all said, the parula on Mt. Tabor is out of the normal expectations for this species. Although it does sound like there is a record this early from the same dang location, any experienced Oregon birder would quickly wonder about the details of a sighting of almost any eastern warbler species so early. If the observer is a seasoned vet, with years of Oregon birding under his/her belt, then it's easy to accept the bird as possible because one understands that the seasoned birder knows this sighting is way unusual, will be questioned, and should be questioned! When something out of whack with the normal timing shows up observed by a newer kid on the block or a less experienced observer, it's going to be a lot more difficult to convince all them old-timers you just found a bird that was totally off their radar for that time of year, especially if the observer actually thinks it's not way out of normal! I'm not saying it wasn't a parula, just that the red flags are up. Too bad you didn't see it better... Oh, and Yellow Warblers arrive fairly late, not until the first week in May down here in Coos Co. but probably(?) a week earlier in the valley (like many warbler species). There should be some reported in another week or less I imagine. Merry migration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tim R in chilly, wind-swept Coos Bay --- On Wed, 4/22/09, Tom Crabtree wrote: > From: Tom Crabtree > Subject: Re: [obol] Song imitations > To: "'Alan Contreras'" , "'obol'" > > Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 3:01 PM > I was there with you Alan. I've > never seen anything like that. We kept > looking for the "other" bird in the tree that HAD to be > singing the Prairie > song, but it was the only one, and when it flew to another > tree, the Prairie > song followed it. > > Tom Crabtree > > -----Original Message----- > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] > On Behalf Of Alan Contreras > Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 12:55 PM > To: obol > Subject: [obol] Song imitations > > On two occasions I have heard a Yellow Warbler imitate > another warbler > species perfectly. Once it was a Prairie Warbler, > sung by a Yellow that > appeared to be a female. It did not seem to have any other > song. > > Once it was a Parula-like song, sung by a male Yellow that > would switch back > to regular yellow songs, too. > > Oddly enough, both were at Benson Pond, Malheur. > Several other observers > were there the first time, maybe 25 years ago. Tom > Crabtree may have been > one of them, I can't recall for sure. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ - Commentary > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ - Bird Photos & > News > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From rflores_2 at msn.com Wed Apr 22 20:38:36 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:38:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] [Tweeters] sparrows at the feeder! Migration is on at my placeRidgefield NWR References: Message-ID: The number of chipping sparrows rose to 5. I looked at past records here at the house and last year at this same time I had two. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA ----- Original Message ----- From: Bob Flores To: Inland Birds ; Tweeters ; OBOL Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 5:40 PM Subject: [Tweeters] sparrows at the feeder! Migration is on at my placeRidgefield NWR I do get excited about sparrows because i do not get many but today when I got home from work I found 4 white-crowns, a fox and a chipping sparrow under the feeder. Not bad for my yard. Another note I have not seen an American goldfinch lately and have two as well. Siskins have been here for a while. Bob Flores Ridgefield WA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters at u.washington.edu http://mailman2.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/52d080c0/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Wed Apr 22 20:43:20 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:43:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Song imitations/ N. Parula? In-Reply-To: <01D85852557A4677A32A200C066BD857@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: An "early" Northern Parula might have wintered in west Mexico, where as I recall a few can sometimes be seen in winter. That, as you suggested, might account for the timing of one in Oregon being similar to the arrival of birds in the species' normal breeding and migratory range. Jeff Gilligan On 4/22/09 8:12 PM, "Darrel Faxon" <5hats at peak.org> wrote: > Tim, > Good points. I remember once when Jerry and Barb Bellin were birding > with me here at Thornton Creek. We heard a very vagrant sounding warbler > song coming from a creekside willow. After several minutes we finally were > able to determine that the singer was a Black-throated Gray. We even saw it > singing, and the song was nothing like I have ever heard coming from that > species any other time. > As for early vagrants, here is a thought. What about the possibility > (not at all beyond reason) that a Parula wintered not so far away, and is > moving north on normal schedule for the latitude? After all, Oregon has had > wintering Black and whites, Hermit, Lucy's, and even Blackburnian, for > crying out loud. > > Darrel > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Tim Rodenkirk" > To: "'Alan Contreras'" ; "'obol'" > ; > Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 2:39 PM > Subject: Re: [obol] Song imitations/ N. Parula? > > > > Hi All, > > Sorry for stirring up the pot, but sometimes it needs stirring. > > I remember hearing what I thought was maybe a Cape May Warbler or some other > similar eastern species several years back at Malheur. I spread the word > there was something special above but no one, and there were lots of people > looking, could find anything. Most birders gave up and moved on and I was > left alone to find a Wilson's Warbler doing a song not on any recording I've > ever heard! > > One of the things that happens after birding in the same place for many > years is that you become familiar with the local phenology and know when to > expect the rarities and the best place to find them. When an observation > pops up that does not meet these long established phenological realities, > red flags immediately go up. That all said, the parula on Mt. Tabor is out > of the normal expectations for this species. Although it does sound like > there is a record this early from the same dang location, any experienced > Oregon birder would quickly wonder about the details of a sighting of almost > any eastern warbler species so early. If the observer is a seasoned vet, > with years of Oregon birding under his/her belt, then it's easy to accept > the bird as possible because one understands that the seasoned birder knows > this sighting is way unusual, will be questioned, and should be questioned! > When something out of whack with the normal timing shows up observed by > a newer kid on the block or a less experienced observer, it's going to be a > lot more difficult to convince all them old-timers you just found a bird > that was totally off their radar for that time of year, especially if the > observer actually thinks it's not way out of normal! > > I'm not saying it wasn't a parula, just that the red flags are up. Too bad > you didn't see it better... > > Oh, and Yellow Warblers arrive fairly late, not until the first week in May > down here in Coos Co. but probably(?) a week earlier in the valley (like > many warbler species). There should be some reported in another week or > less I imagine. > > Merry migration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > Tim R > in chilly, wind-swept Coos Bay > > > --- On Wed, 4/22/09, Tom Crabtree wrote: > >> From: Tom Crabtree >> Subject: Re: [obol] Song imitations >> To: "'Alan Contreras'" , "'obol'" >> >> Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 3:01 PM >> I was there with you Alan. I've >> never seen anything like that. We kept >> looking for the "other" bird in the tree that HAD to be >> singing the Prairie >> song, but it was the only one, and when it flew to another >> tree, the Prairie >> song followed it. >> >> Tom Crabtree >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org >> [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] >> On Behalf Of Alan Contreras >> Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 12:55 PM >> To: obol >> Subject: [obol] Song imitations >> >> On two occasions I have heard a Yellow Warbler imitate >> another warbler >> species perfectly. Once it was a Prairie Warbler, >> sung by a Yellow that >> appeared to be a female. It did not seem to have any other >> song. >> >> Once it was a Parula-like song, sung by a male Yellow that >> would switch back >> to regular yellow songs, too. >> >> Oddly enough, both were at Benson Pond, Malheur. >> Several other observers >> were there the first time, maybe 25 years ago. Tom >> Crabtree may have been >> one of them, I can't recall for sure. >> >> -- >> Alan Contreras >> EUGENE, OREGON >> acontrer at mindspring.com >> >> >> http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ - Commentary >> http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ - Bird Photos & >> News >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From bcombs232 at gmail.com Wed Apr 22 20:55:33 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:55:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Warbler Fallout Lane County Message-ID: <8ce3a6520904222055m1f65f747n5a21601c0c3264ce@mail.gmail.com> The sky became cloudy for a brief period late this afternoon, and all of a sudden warblers were everywhere in my neighborhood. Most of the birds were YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, but there were also some ORANGE-CROWNED and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS in the group. They were all foraging in earnest in the deciduous trees that are in the process of leafing out. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/18127a15/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Wed Apr 22 21:15:30 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:15:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Kingbird, Caspian Tern in Yamhill county Message-ID: <003001c9c3ca$275f0ac0$50c963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: About 9 o'clock this morning I found a WESTERN KINGBIRD on Mountain Top Rd., on Chehalem Mountain in NE Yamhill county. It was on the utility wire on the north side of the road, above a Christmas tree plantation. It was west of 24942 NE Mountain Top Rd, and east of a tall, slim house with a blue roof and a communication tower with microwave dishes. The area can be reached by taking Hwy 219 north from Newberg, or south from Scholls, to the summit of Chehalem Mt. and turning west. Then I got a call from my Yamhill county birding guide extraordinaire, Carol Karlen. I took a long lunch hour, and we drove to Willamina, where we found the two CASPIAN TERNS she reported earlier today. With this sighting I finally reached 200 species sighted in Yamhill county! Yipee! and Phew! We have been looking for the last couple species for about a year. Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan "...my list, as embellished as it is, reveals nothing about the enjoyment that I have had being outdoors. And how could it? A mere bird checklist can no more reflect my outdoor experiences than a menu can capture the many subtle flavors, aromas, and other sensory experiences of a delicious and satisfying meal." James B. Ferrari, BirdWatcher's Digest, Jan/Feb '05, p. 45 From gorgebirds at juno.com Wed Apr 22 21:24:53 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 04:24:53 GMT Subject: [obol] Hummers and ashes Message-ID: <20090422.212453.13061.2@webmail06.vgs.untd.com> I once watched a female Black-chinned Hummingbrd repeatedly probe the ashes in a old campfire ring along Wenas Creek in Yakima County, WA. Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Can't pay your bills? Click here to learn about filing for bankruptcy. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTLjhZKwX7hN5i7tOlPIkF7BHaJs9LYP6t6zHI82Z6EXXcxh5IrW9a/ From romain at frontiernet.net Wed Apr 22 21:35:06 2009 From: romain at frontiernet.net (Romain Cooper) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:35:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] BH Cowbirds, Illinois Valley Josephine Co Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20090422212954.0500b420@frontiernet.net> April 22, 09 Hello all, This morning on the very top of a ~100 ft. tall doug fir near our home, I observed 4 Brown-Headed Cowbirds - 3 males with a female. The males were displaying (lifting wings, pointing heads up and tails up) and "singing". Romain Cooper 10398 Takilma Road Cave Junction, OR 97523 541-592-2311 From range.bayer at gmail.com Wed Apr 22 21:35:26 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:35:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] =?windows-1252?q?Lincoln_City_=93Wings_and_Waves=94_Birdin?= =?windows-1252?q?g_Festival_May_1-3?= Message-ID: Audubon Society of Lincoln City, in conjunction with the Lincoln City Visitor & Convention Bureau, will host Lincoln City's inaugural ?Wings and Waves? Birding Festival May 1-3. The ?Wings and Waves? Birding Festival will feature many events for avid birders and even those who are novice to the world of bird watching. Kayak trips, birding lectures, art exhibits, and live music by Ty Curtis and Salmon River Band are among the festival's events. Saturday. 8:00am - 5:00pm $500 Contest for most bird species counted in Lincoln County. 3-person teams minimum. Rules and Checklist provided at Registration desk. Included in the line up is a presentation on ?Conservation Monitoring of Migratory Birds in a Changing World: the Case of the Swainson's Hawk,? by California Wildlife Biologist, Brian Woodbridge. Woodbridge and his team have been monitoring the population dynamics of Swainson's Hawks for more than 25 years. Their research and work in Argentina led to a successful international campaign to change pesticide use practices there. In the eight years following this campaign, continued monitoring in Butte Valley, Calif. shows improved survival rates of the migratory hawk and highlights the importance of long-term monitoring in conserving migratory birds. As one of the highlighted activities, Eco-artist Karen White will assist participants in creating a large-scale natural sculpture in the style of a large bird's nest. The nest structure will be built using thousands of fallen branches/twigs from the community and virtually weaving the pieces together (without strings or glue). White is an avid sculptor, environmental installation artist, photographer and writer who utilizes and emulates nature as the source of her creativity. She incorporates her philosophies of sharing art experiences with the public in her on-site installations such as the Audubon nest that will be built on the Lincoln City Cultural Center lawn. Casual onlookers at the weekend event and those who want to get involved can take part in the creation of the work through hands-on interactions. Tickets are $25 per person per day, or $30 for a weekend pass. To additional information, or to purchase tickets, contact the Audubon Society of Lincoln City at 992-0440 or visit http://www.lincolncityaudubon.com to see the schedule of events. Youth under the age of 16 are admitted to the festival for free. This event will help raise funds for the the Audubon Society of Lincoln City's Nature Center. From necurran at earthlink.net Wed Apr 22 21:56:15 2009 From: necurran at earthlink.net (Nancy Curran) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:56:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lazuli bunting Message-ID: <380-22009442345615921@earthlink.net> Several folks have asked where I'm located...I'm 1/2 mile from Fern Ridge Reservoir. I think I had an Indigo bunting last year, but he only appeared once so I never got the chance for a second verification sighting. I've always thought that this slightly rural location near Fern Ridge brought some migrants my way...even though only for short visits. ----- Original Message ----- From: To: necurran at earthlink.net Sent: 4/22/2009 8:26:18 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Lazuli bunting hi nancy - where in the great pacific northwest did you see this bird? thanks, scott From: Nancy Curran To: obol Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 8:20:37 PM Subject: [obol] Lazuli bunting I looked out at the feeders today and spotted a male Lazuli Bunting. He didn't stay long, but what a treat! I've had one stop by spring before last. Wish they'd let me know they're coming so I could have the camera ready. What a thrill to look out at the feeder area....do I see BLUE? yes...get the binocs fast! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/f306a860/attachment.html From rowbird2005 at yahoo.com Wed Apr 22 22:02:55 2009 From: rowbird2005 at yahoo.com (Forrest Rowland) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:02:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Mt. Tabor discussion (long) Message-ID: <633435.1720.qm@web35307.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, Forrest Rowland here, chiming in, yet again, on this fascinating topic. Brace yourselves...I'm getting into my normal wordy mood. Beware this e-mail is a bit longish. ? I would like to mention, before I forget this line of thinking, that I did not post the Northern Parula as a whim, and not for an instant did I think that the bird was at all common, expected,?to be passed over, or any other such thing here. I nearly didn't include it at all, for fear that I would run out of town after just having arrived. I recognize that reporting a rarity (especially a heard-only) and being a newcomer can end in metaphorical online bloodshed. I am so glad I did mention it, though, because I am learning very much about the state and it's phenology regarding Eastern warblers. I was unaware of the rarity patterns in the state, but feel much more informed after all the input. I have also learned that Oregon birders are generally?open-minded and as helpful as possible. All good stuff... ? I agree with Tim R that if a record pops up out of date, by an out of stater, it should be harshly questioned. Any report of an extralimital, be it casual or a true vagrant, should be heavily scrutinized by BRCS no matter who reports it, and especially so if it does not fit the pattern if one exists for the species in question. I suppose that's partly why I was so ambiguous and unemphatic in the first place. ? I am the "new guy" as so listed at my own admission. I have only been to the state on 3 occasions, ever, and to Washington state but once, unfortunately. However, my experience with Northern Parula goes well into the hundreds of birds seen and 3-4 times that number heard. Siskins, well I suppose last Summer, alone, I registered?at least a few?hundred doing point counts for RMBO in Wyoming and Colorado. Ditto for Juncos, perhaps even more. Do I feel "comfy" with Northern Parulas? Sure, very much so. Do I feel comfy calling one on my first day's birding in Portland, OR, where I just moved to and am relatively unfamiliar with? Nope. I, too, really wished I had seen the bird better. ? With regards to some references to Warblers imitating others...I, and several bigger names than I, on the East Coast witnessed a male?American Redstart sing as though it were a Cerulean Warbler, identically so, for nearly?3 weeks before it stopped.?A?Cerulean Warbler was?looked?for by dozens of birders hoping to get a glimpse of this rare bird (for the state) that kept?singing?but was never seen. The bird was sarcastically referenced as the only "true" Cerulean song in the state that year. We held our tongues on it for a while just to see if anyone would report actually seeing a Cerulean (fibbingly of course), which we later felt a little shameful about. ? To segue into a fine comment I received offline (I think...I can't really tell what is public or private on this particular listserv just yet) it was suggested that perhaps there is one regularly occuring bird, or a few birds, who elicit this Parulesque vocalization during the April/May period nearly every year, and it is?overlooked on years that a "Parula" is not reported, but reported as the mysterious disappearing Parula on years that it is reported. I'm interested to hear that a Parula was indeed seen a couple years back on a similar date by Khan.?This adds some intrigue to the whole thing and leads to only a few more questions I have - Does Mt Tabor receive an undue?number of Northern Parula reports in the Spring on, or off, possible dates? Undue meaning, much more frequently than other migrant traps in the region?? ? My final words on this bird are that it sounded exactly like 90% of the Northern Parulas I've heard sing, given that Parulas do have song variations and alterations. This song was like the?ones encountered on any commonplace Stokes or Peterson Audio Field Guide example and like the ones you'll find free to listen to on the internet at the various bird audio libraries. Well, maybe not ALL the online libraries are free. I digress. Does the above statement?mean?that what I heard?was a Northern Parula??Not at all. Speculation is simply that. Without a concrete visual,?the mere mention of such a thing is?nearly all for naught. But the discussion, in this case, as in others I can remember, has been fabulous! ? Good Birding all, ? Forrest Rowland ____________________________________________________________________________________ ?Obt?n la mejor experiencia en la web! Descarga gratis el nuevo Internet Explorer 8. http://downloads.yahoo.com/ieak8/?l=e1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/81c809d1/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Apr 22 23:00:33 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:00:33 +0000 Subject: [obol] Mt. Tabor discussion (long) In-Reply-To: <633435.1720.qm@web35307.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <633435.1720.qm@web35307.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Greetings All, No marathon post here, took care of that yesterday. First, I want to make it clear that my post about the timing of vagrancy was not presented in an effort to make a case for Forrest's bird being a N. Parula. I simply wanted to point out that many vagrant warblers fall outside the established patterns. Without seeing the individual bird vocalizing, we can't be sure of its identity on the basis of song alone. Some might ask why? It is important to remember that oscines ("songbirds") learn their songs, whereas the vocalizations of birds like Empidonax flycatchers (suboscines) are essentially inherited genetically. Once the programming is in place it will not be altered. Hence, we can be comfortable in the knowledge that it wasn't a Pacific-slope Flycatcher that Forrest heard singing a Northern Parula-like song on Mt. Tabor. However, we can't rule out the possibility that some other songbird was producing the song that inspired this discussion. Dave Irons Eugene, OR Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:02:55 -0700 From: rowbird2005 at yahoo.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Mt. Tabor discussion (long) Hello all, Forrest Rowland here, chiming in, yet again, on this fascinating topic. Brace yourselves...I'm getting into my normal wordy mood. Beware this e-mail is a bit longish. I would like to mention, before I forget this line of thinking, that I did not post the Northern Parula as a whim, and not for an instant did I think that the bird was at all common, expected, to be passed over, or any other such thing here. I nearly didn't include it at all, for fear that I would run out of town after just having arrived. I recognize that reporting a rarity (especially a heard-only) and being a newcomer can end in metaphorical online bloodshed. I am so glad I did mention it, though, because I am learning very much about the state and it's phenology regarding Eastern warblers. I was unaware of the rarity patterns in the state, but feel much more informed after all the input. I have also learned that Oregon birders are generally open-minded and as helpful as possible. All good stuff... I agree with Tim R that if a record pops up out of date, by an out of stater, it should be harshly questioned. Any report of an extralimital, be it casual or a true vagrant, should be heavily scrutinized by BRCS no matter who reports it, and especially so if it does not fit the pattern if one exists for the species in question. I suppose that's partly why I was so ambiguous and unemphatic in the first place. I am the "new guy" as so listed at my own admission. I have only been to the state on 3 occasions, ever, and to Washington state but once, unfortunately. However, my experience with Northern Parula goes well into the hundreds of birds seen and 3-4 times that number heard. Siskins, well I suppose last Summer, alone, I registered at least a few hundred doing point counts for RMBO in Wyoming and Colorado. Ditto for Juncos, perhaps even more. Do I feel "comfy" with Northern Parulas? Sure, very much so. Do I feel comfy calling one on my first day's birding in Portland, OR, where I just moved to and am relatively unfamiliar with? Nope. I, too, really wished I had seen the bird better. With regards to some references to Warblers imitating others...I, and several bigger names than I, on the East Coast witnessed a male American Redstart sing as though it were a Cerulean Warbler, identically so, for nearly 3 weeks before it stopped. A Cerulean Warbler was looked for by dozens of birders hoping to get a glimpse of this rare bird (for the state) that kept singing but was never seen. The bird was sarcastically referenced as the only "true" Cerulean song in the state that year. We held our tongues on it for a while just to see if anyone would report actually seeing a Cerulean (fibbingly of course), which we later felt a little shameful about. To segue into a fine comment I received offline (I think...I can't really tell what is public or private on this particular listserv just yet) it was suggested that perhaps there is one regularly occuring bird, or a few birds, who elicit this Parulesque vocalization during the April/May period nearly every year, and it is overlooked on years that a "Parula" is not reported, but reported as the mysterious disappearing Parula on years that it is reported. I'm interested to hear that a Parula was indeed seen a couple years back on a similar date by Khan. This adds some intrigue to the whole thing and leads to only a few more questions I have - Does Mt Tabor receive an undue number of Northern Parula reports in the Spring on, or off, possible dates? Undue meaning, much more frequently than other migrant traps in the region? My final words on this bird are that it sounded exactly like 90% of the Northern Parulas I've heard sing, given that Parulas do have song variations and alterations. This song was like the ones encountered on any commonplace Stokes or Peterson Audio Field Guide example and like the ones you'll find free to listen to on the internet at the various bird audio libraries. Well, maybe not ALL the online libraries are free. I digress. Does the above statement mean that what I heard was a Northern Parula? Not at all. Speculation is simply that. Without a concrete visual, the mere mention of such a thing is nearly all for naught. But the discussion, in this case, as in others I can remember, has been fabulous! Good Birding all, Forrest Rowland ?Obt?n la mejor experiencia en la web! Descarga gratis el nuevo Internet Explorer 8 http://downloads.yahoo.com/ieak8/?l=e1 _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get quick friend updates right in your inbox. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Updates2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090423/0b3e538c/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Apr 22 23:05:32 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:05:32 +0000 Subject: [obol] JoCo Gambel White-crown In-Reply-To: <0CCEFC5F912940F8AE8203DB09A28B63@Warbler> References: <0CCEFC5F912940F8AE8203DB09A28B63@Warbler> Message-ID: Dennis' post reminds me that I intended to post that our first Gambel's White-crowneds showed up at the feeder (in Eugene) on Sunday the 19th of April. As Dennis points out, this is right on schedule. We usually have them around the yard for a week or so each spring. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: dpvroman at budget.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:44:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] JoCo Gambel White-crown This afternoon (04-22-09) a GAMBEL'S WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was at our place just east of the Merlin I-5 exit. We just get migrant White-crowns; this is the time they normally show up. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Mobile2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090423/68a65d2f/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Apr 22 23:36:45 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:36:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 4-23-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * April 23, 2009 * ORPO0904.23 - birds mentioned Brant TUFTED DUCK Laysan Albatross MANX SHEARWATER Red-shouldered Hawk Black-bellied Plover Solitary Sandpiper Baird?s Sandpiper Dunlin Ancient Murrelet Western Tanager Harris?s Sparrow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock?s Oriole Lesser Goldfinch - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday April 23. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. The Fern Ridge Reservoir TUFTED DUCK was seen again during the week. On April 18 a MANX SHEARWATER was off Boiler Bay. It or another was seen the next day on the offshore boat trip out of Newport. Also on the boat trip were two LAYSAN ALBATROSS and 35 ANCIENT MURRELETS. The main migratory period in spring is from mid-April to mid-May. Heavy movements were reported from most areas during the week and were said to be spectacular along the south coast. Movements included the first Black-headed Grosbeaks, Bullock?s Orioles, Lazuli Buntings, and Western Tanagers. On April 22 three BAIRD?S SANDPIPERS were on the North Spit of Coos Bay. A male Lesser Goldfinch was seen April 17 near Tillamook. A bright HARRIS?S SPARROW was at Cape Meares Village April 17. On April 20 a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was over Ridgefield NWR. A flock of 33 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and 80 DUNLIN were at the St. Paul Sewage Ponds April 18. On April 21 a group of five SOLITARY SANDPIPERS were at one pond in the EE Wilson WMA. A BRANT was seen April 18 at Fern Ridge Reservoir. A SOLITARY SANDPIPER was at Houston Lake near Powell Butte April 19. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090422/e2280af0/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Apr 23 06:29:44 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:29:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mt. Tabor discussion (long) In-Reply-To: <633435.1720.qm@web35307.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <633435.1720.qm@web35307.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <49F06D48.60303@verizon.net> Forrest Better to report your birds than not report them and then no one has a chance to follow up. What if someone did find a Parula after you reported it? Then a bunch of us skeptics would eat our words. Besides, I think I can speak for all the so called 'elite' birders and say that I guarantee everyone of us has called out a bird that wasn't what it was, and undoubtedly, we did it in front of a large group of other birders. Like that possible Red-necked Stint I called that was nothing more than a common peep. And I recall someone calling a Bud Can some good grebe or something. The examples are too numerous to count, and I bet there are a few birders reading this right now chuckling to themselves over the gaff they once made - speak up folks, you know there are some good stories to laugh along with! Cheers Dave Lauten \Forrest Rowland wrote: > Hello all, > Forrest Rowland here, chiming in, yet again, on this fascinating > topic. Brace yourselves...I'm getting into my normal wordy mood. > Beware this e-mail is a bit longish. > > I would like to mention, before I forget this line of thinking, that I > did not post the Northern Parula as a whim, and not for an instant did > I think that the bird was at all common, expected, to be passed over, > or any other such thing here. I nearly didn't include it at all, for > fear that I would run out of town after just having arrived. I > recognize that reporting a rarity (especially a heard-only) and being > a newcomer can end in metaphorical online bloodshed. I am so glad I > did mention it, though, because I am learning very much about the > state and it's phenology regarding Eastern warblers. I was unaware of > the rarity patterns in the state, but feel much more informed after > all the input. I have also learned that Oregon birders are > generally open-minded and as helpful as possible. All good stuff... > > I agree with Tim R that if a record pops up out of date, by an out of > stater, it should be harshly questioned. Any report of an > extralimital, be it casual or a true vagrant, should be heavily > scrutinized by BRCS no matter who reports it, and especially so if it > does not fit the pattern if one exists for the species in question. I > suppose that's partly why I was so ambiguous and unemphatic in the > first place. > > I am the "new guy" as so listed at my own admission. I have only been > to the state on 3 occasions, ever, and to Washington state but once, > unfortunately. However, my experience with Northern Parula goes well > into the hundreds of birds seen and 3-4 times that number heard. > Siskins, well I suppose last Summer, alone, I registered at least a > few hundred doing point counts for RMBO in Wyoming and Colorado. Ditto > for Juncos, perhaps even more. Do I feel "comfy" with Northern > Parulas? Sure, very much so. Do I feel comfy calling one on my first > day's birding in Portland, OR, where I just moved to and am relatively > unfamiliar with? Nope. I, too, really wished I had seen the bird better. > > With regards to some references to Warblers imitating others...I, and > several bigger names than I, on the East Coast witnessed a > male American Redstart sing as though it were a Cerulean Warbler, > identically so, for nearly 3 weeks before it stopped. A Cerulean > Warbler was looked for by dozens of birders hoping to get a glimpse of > this rare bird (for the state) that kept singing but was never seen. > The bird was sarcastically referenced as the only "true" Cerulean song > in the state that year. We held our tongues on it for a while just to > see if anyone would report actually seeing a Cerulean (fibbingly of > course), which we later felt a little shameful about. > > To segue into a fine comment I received offline (I think...I can't > really tell what is public or private on this particular listserv just > yet) it was suggested that perhaps there is one regularly occuring > bird, or a few birds, who elicit this Parulesque vocalization during > the April/May period nearly every year, and it is overlooked on years > that a "Parula" is not reported, but reported as the mysterious > disappearing Parula on years that it is reported. I'm interested to > hear that a Parula was indeed seen a couple years back on a similar > date by Khan. This adds some intrigue to the whole thing and leads to > only a few more questions I have - Does Mt Tabor receive an > undue number of Northern Parula reports in the Spring on, or off, > possible dates? Undue meaning, much more frequently than other migrant > traps in the region? > > My final words on this bird are that it sounded exactly like 90% of > the Northern Parulas I've heard sing, given that Parulas do have song > variations and alterations. This song was like the ones encountered on > any commonplace Stokes or Peterson Audio Field Guide example and like > the ones you'll find free to listen to on the internet at the various > bird audio libraries. Well, maybe not ALL the online libraries are > free. I digress. Does the above statement mean that what I heard was a > Northern Parula? Not at all. Speculation is simply that. Without a > concrete visual, the mere mention of such a thing is nearly all for > naught. But the discussion, in this case, as in others I can remember, > has been fabulous! > > Good Birding all, > > Forrest Rowland > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > ?Obt?n la mejor experiencia en la web! > Descarga gratis el nuevo Internet Explorer 8 > http://downloads.yahoo.com/ieak8/?l=e1 > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Apr 23 06:37:38 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:37:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] reporting rarities Message-ID: <3499865cca611e21930c2fa6eeb01cba@earthlink.net> I second the motion, Dave! But what comes to my mind more than "birds I have blown" is birds I should have been shown. The first state record that gets a picture posted a month after the sighting, or the rare bird, seen daily, that is reported two or three weeks after its arrival, and hours after someone from Boise returned home, having dipped on the same species at a different location. The risk of being wrong is so far outweighed by the potential benefits to the rest of us. Lars Norgren From celata at pacifier.com Thu Apr 23 07:41:11 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:41:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] On things not being what they seem... Message-ID: <49F07E07.4070809@pacifier.com> Some of you may recall that I went out last spring and recorded Orange-crowned Warblers. http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/04/ocwa20080410.html Warblers seem especially prone to improvisation during migrations. This is why I don't count my first Black-throated Gray or Hermit Warbler of the season until I see it, and why when traveling in a new and unfamiliar place, I use songs and calls only as tool for locating. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From pamelaj at spiritone.com Thu Apr 23 08:05:53 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:05:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black-headed Grosbeak, Yamhill Co Message-ID: <0EA4283CCB294044BB5332CA193D21D7@yourw5st28y9a3> A male Black-headed Grosbeak visited our feeder this morning. Let the songfest begin! Pamela Johnston outside McMinnville From gneavoll at comcast.net Thu Apr 23 08:17:22 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:17:22 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Fwd: RBA: Portland, OR 4-23-09 In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <302126943.4736841240499842053.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> I'm thinking now the Red-shouldered Hawk I reported from Ridgefield NWR on 4/20 was instead the BROAD-WINGED HAWK reported from just n. of there the following day. George Neavoll S.W. Portland ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: "Harry Nehls" To: "obol" Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 11:36:45 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 4-23-09 RBA: Portland, OR 4-23-09 - RBA * Oregon * Portland * April 23, 2009 * ORPO0904.23 - birds mentioned Brant TUFTED DUCK Laysan Albatross MANX SHEARWATER Red-shouldered Hawk Black-bellied Plover Solitary Sandpiper Baird?s Sandpiper Dunlin Ancient Murrelet Western Tanager Harris?s Sparrow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock?s Oriole Lesser Goldfinch - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday April 23. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. The Fern Ridge Reservoir TUFTED DUCK was seen again during the week. On April 18 a MANX SHEARWATER was off Boiler Bay. It or another was seen the next day on the offshore boat trip out of Newport. Also on the boat trip were two LAYSAN ALBATROSS and 35 ANCIENT MURRELETS. The main migratory period in spring is from mid-April to mid-May. Heavy movements were reported from most areas during the week and were said to be spectacular along the south coast. Movements included the first Black-headed Grosbeaks, Bullock?s Orioles, Lazuli Buntings, and Western Tanagers. On April 22 three BAIRD?S SANDPIPERS were on the North Spit of Coos Bay. A male Lesser Goldfinch was seen April 17 near Tillamook. A bright HARRIS?S SPARROW was at Cape Meares Village April 17. On April 20 a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was over Ridgefield NWR. A flock of 33 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and 80 DUNLIN were at the St. Paul Sewage Ponds April 18. On April 21 a group of five SOLITARY SANDPIPERS were at one pond in the EE Wilson WMA. A BRANT was seen April 18 at Fern Ridge Reservoir. A SOLITARY SANDPIPER was at Houston Lake near Powell Butte April 19. That?s it for this week. - end transcript _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090423/9075a959/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Thu Apr 23 08:24:37 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:24:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] OBRC report Message-ID: Obolers, At the April 18 meeting the Oregon Bird Records Committee removed the Indigo Bunting from the review list. They also voted on five new species to the Official Oregon Checklist. The Checklist is now up to 517 species. The new species: Pyrrhuloxia, Wandering Albatross, Greater Shearwater, Red-billed Tropicbird, and Wood Sandpiper. Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090423/02797ea3/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Apr 23 08:53:04 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:53:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hummer replies Message-ID: Thanks to everyone sending out the info on Hummers and ashes...carbon dating and all. Pretty interesting behavior, which I have never managed to see. Dennis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090423/4dd3dfed/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Apr 23 08:57:06 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:57:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] JoCo Kingbirds Message-ID: Late yesterday (04-22-09) spotted several WESTERN KINGBIRDS around the Merlin I-5 exit area. All of a sudden, they are here - before the change in the weather. Really cold front hit overnight. Have not noticed any "fall out" as of yet this morning; perhaps this afternoon. Pretty windy out this am also. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090423/53f29720/attachment.html From alfanana at q.com Thu Apr 23 09:18:19 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:18:19 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time) Subject: [obol] Juncos Message-ID: Haven' seen any Oregon Juncos for a few days. It's been pretty warm, but back to cooler temps today. Put out my Hummingbird feeder as I saw a Hummer at my neighbor's house the other day. Had a Stellar's Jay, an Audubon's Warbler, a Red Breasted Nuthatch, several Chickadees, and a Robin. Also, a Grey Squirrel is now having breakfast on the peanuts. Karen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090423/20e9686e/attachment.html From romain at frontiernet.net Thu Apr 23 09:59:58 2009 From: romain at frontiernet.net (Romain Cooper) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:59:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hairy WP mating - Illinois Valley, Jos Co Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20090423095714.05345e18@frontiernet.net> I Observed a pair of Hairy Woodpecker copulating this morning (4/23/09) near our home, Illinois Valley, Josephine County. best, RC Romain Cooper 10398 Takilma Road Cave Junction, OR 97523 541-592-2311 From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Thu Apr 23 10:40:03 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:40:03 -0400 Subject: [obol] FOY Message-ID: A BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK has made it to the northernmost Willamette Valley. Had a FOY male just now at a feeder in Columbia County, a few miles from Scappoose. Oodles of EVENING GROSBEAKS all morning so far. Lona Pierce, Warren _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?:?more than just e-mail. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_more_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090423/ac07fed6/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Apr 23 12:18:19 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:18:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird Banding Intern Position Available in OR/WA Message-ID: Just in case some one on OBOL is interested or know someone who might be; somewhat local, depending. New MAPS interns have generally trained in the Rogue Valley and stayed at Whitehorse Co Park. Dennis Subject: [BIRDBAND] Bird Banding Intern Position Available in OR/WA One bird banding intern position is available in the Pacific Northwest (OR/WA) through the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) program. We seek motivated, enthusiastic volunteers in good physical condition with a strong desire to learn more about birds and natural history. All successful applicants are expected to face the rigors and unpredictability of field conditions with good humor and flexibility. Prior banding experience or a background in wildlife biology or a closely related field is a plus, but not necessary because all internships include an intensive, two week training course in mist-netting, and the identification, handling, banding, and ageing and sexing of landbirds. In addition, interns receive individual training in these techniques throughout the field season. Join this continent-wide, long-term effort to track demographic variation in North American landbird populations ( www.birdpop.org ). MAPS data from this network of stations are analyzed to quantify the impacts of land management practices on bird populations, and to identify relationships between annual demographics and variation in climate and seasonal weather. The ultimate goal of these investigations is to provide landbird conservation recommendations with considerations of habitat management, migratory behavior, weather patterns, and climate change. One position is available in the Northwest region (Oregon/Washington). After training, the intern will be assigned to a specific location within that region. The internship begins 1 May and run through 8 August (some flexibility is possible with start dates). This position REQUIRES A VEHICLE. Mileage will be reimbursed at the rate of $0.35/mile for project-related use. Shared housing and a per diem of $25 for food and incidental expenses, amounting to $2,100 for the season, are provided. Interns are expected to spend a minimum of 6 of every 10 days in the field, contingent upon daily weather conditions and logistical considerations. Interested applicants should send via email (preferred) or U.S. mail a resume, cover letter, contact information for at least 2 references (including email addresses), and must complete and submit the MAPS Internship Application Form. This form and further information can be found on our website, www.birdpop.org, or contact MARY CHAMBERS, The Institute for Bird Populations, PO Box 1346, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956. FAX 415-663-9482, PH 415-663-1436, EMAIL: mchambers at birdpop.org. Position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is found. From philliplc at charter.net Thu Apr 23 13:02:06 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:02:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <1082E3539B48467B9C9DA03FFA16307C@Phil> 6:15-7:45 (4/23): mostly overcast, wind N 4, swells 5-7 Heard a big group of Pacific Loons on the water "talking" this morning, which is a first I think. They were continually giving a soft nasal duck-like call, perhaps a contact note. 300+ Red-throated Loon 12000+ Pacific Loon (dense N flight for the first 45 min before dropping off rapidly, with 3000+ parked in a long flock just off the point) 25 Common Loon 500+ Sooty Shearwater (N) 5 Brown Pelican 15 Double-crested Cormorant 60 Pelagic Cormorant 350 Brandt's Cormorant (most S) 400 Brant 75 White-fronted Goose zero dabbling ducks 3 scaup sp. 2 Black Scoter 100 White-winged Scoter 2000+ Surf Scoter 25 Red-breasted Merganser zero peeps 500 dowitcher sp. 20 California Gull 50 Glaucous-winged Gull 300 Western Gull 20 Caspian Tern 5000+ Common Murre (most N in first 45 min) 100 Pigeon Guillemot (locals + some N movement) 5 Marbled Murrelet 60 Rhinoceros Auklet (N) 1 Tufted Puffin Phil philliplc at charter.net From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Apr 23 13:55:00 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:55:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry Update Message-ID: <919375.16727.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Some recent observations from Knute Andersson: 21 April- Port Orford: 81- GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE 1- LONG-TAILED DUCK 2500- BONAPARTE'S GULLS Langlois: 3- CHIPPING SPARROWS Joe Metzler found a SNOW GOOSE out on the north spit of Coos Bay on 4/22, not seen every spring in Coos.? I checked today (4/23) and the SNGO was still there as were 50+ GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and some non-Aleutian CACKLING GEESE. Also saw a male EURASIAN WIGEON and a real good variety of ducks plus calling SORAS and VIRGINIA RAILS. That's it for now, Tim R Coos Bay From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Thu Apr 23 14:24:04 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (Tom McNamara) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:24:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mt.Tabor Calliope and FOY W. Tanager Message-ID: Hola, A group of us got killer looks (and photos) of a male Calliope hummer on Tabor this morning. The bird broke records for cooperative posing. Tomas Larsen had a scope but no camera and I had a camera (the same he uses) and no scope. Tomas shot tons of pics. We all got eyefuls. I tried to upload some to my Flickr site from this computer but it is way feeble right now so that'll happen in a few days when I'm in front of a non-dial up beast. Location for those (semi)familiar with the park: if one were using the top oval road as a starting point, it was downhill to the SE, right at the trail intersection/hairpin turn that one would take to go on the eastside trail. It was sitting mostly in a blackberry kack north of the rhody on the slope on the west side of the trail (i.e. between the trail and the parallel road just a few yards upslope). I'm assuming that this is the same bird that Forrest found a couple days ago. And, Forrest, if you saw this bird and also a black-chinned and if possibly you were right on with hearing the legendary N. P------ well, crikey, you've got the Midas touch! And welcome to Ptown! While we were looking at the hummer feeding a FOY Western Tanager flew into our field of view. There were decent numbers of other warblers around too. Another fun day. good birding, Tom _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?:?more than just e-mail. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_more_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090423/ef4c96c8/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Thu Apr 23 14:41:01 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:41:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 04/22/09 Message-ID: <20090423214116.88850A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 4/16 to 4/22. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 4 days this week with 2 walks on 4/16. Species # days found (peak #, date) GREAT BLUE HERON 1 (2, 4/19) BALD EAGLE 1 (1, 4/18) RED-TAILED HAWK 1 (1, 4/19) Band-tailed Pigeon 4 (4, 4/18) Mourning Dove 3 (4, 4/17) Anna's Hummingbird 3 (3)Rufous Hummingbird 4 (2) Red-breasted Sapsucker 3 (1) Downy Woodpecker 4 (1) HAIRY WOODPECKER 2 (1, 4/16 & 18) Northern Flicker 2 (2, 4/16) PILEATED WOODPECKER 4 (1) HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER 1 (1, 4/19) CASSIN'S VIREO 1 (1, 4/16) Steller's Jay 4 (5) Western Scrub-Jay 4 (1) American Crow 4 (10, 4/18) Violet-green Swallow 4 (12) Black-capped Chickadee 4 (12) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4 (8, 4/19) Bushtit 4 (4, 4/16) Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 (7) Brown Creeper 4 (4) Bewick's Wren 3 (1) Winter Wren 4 (4) GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET 1 (1) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 (1) HERMIT THRUSH 2 (1) American Robin 4 (15) Varied Thrush 4 (4, 4/16) European Starling 4 (2) Orange-crowned Warbler 4 (4) BL'K-THR'TED GRAY WARBLER 2 (1, 4/17 PM & 4/18) Spotted Towhee 4 (8) Fox Sparrow 1 (5, 4/17) Song Sparrow 4 (15) Golden-crowned Sparrow 1 (1, 4/17) Dark-eyed Junco 4 (20, 4/17 PM) "SLATE-COLORED" 1 (1, 4/17 PM) Purple Finch 4 (5) House Finch 4 (12) Pine Siskin 4 (20) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: Cooper's Hawk, CASSIN'S FINCH (fide Shawneen F.) Misses (birds found at least 3 days during previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Townsend's Warbler Wink Gross Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090423/b5fc8e11/attachment.html From nelsoncheek at charter.net Thu Apr 23 14:55:34 2009 From: nelsoncheek at charter.net (WALTER NELSON) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:55:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] 1000's of Loons - South Beach Message-ID: >From 2:30-2:45 PM I have been watching PACIFIC LOONS streaming by just offshore. Flight rate has varied from 200 to 700 per minute. Thousands more are scattered across the water swimming north. Also notes a flock of about 10 BRANT and a RHINOCEROS AUKLET. We are located about 6 miles south of Newport. A heavy flight of loons was visible at 8:30 this morning but was more than a mile out, too distant for species ID or estimate of numbers. ______________________ Rebecca Cheek South Beach, OR 97366 nelsoncheek AT charter.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090423/6c934511/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Apr 23 15:22:44 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:22:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos migration Message-ID: <49F0EA34.2090002@verizon.net> 4/22 Bandon Coos Cty We were in our hot tub last night around 9:30 ish and a flock of unknown size, but sounded big, of calling SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS flew over in the dark. 4/23 Coos Bay North Spit Coos Cty This morning on the beach at Coos Bay North Spit we saw an awesome gathering of gulls, pelicans, and loons feeding on some feeder fish inside the breakers and within a few feet of shore. There were over 65 BROWN PELICANS, but the coolest thing was seeing well over a hundred PACIFIC LOONS in the shallow water with the breakers, and a few RED-THROATED LOONS, all within a few feet of the beach. Also of interest, over the past few days BRANT have been flying low along the coast headed north. Today, I watched at least five flocks of BRANT, all about 10 birds or so, fly out of Coos Bay, over the foredune, and directly West North West straight out over the ocean and out of site. There is no doubt these birds were taking off for much further north lands. We had 2 MERLINS today, and probably 3 MERLINS yesterday (which I forgot to mention). Finally, we saw a SNOW GOOSE on the way out of the spit in the wetlands along the dike. Apparently this is the same bird as Tim/Joe reported. The bird was with 6 CACKLING GEESE. Tim says they weren't ALEUTIANS....I'm no goose expert but the geese it was with I am pretty sure were ALEUTIANS - they all had white neck rings and blocky heads. Can someone set me straight on this? Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From philliplc at charter.net Thu Apr 23 16:04:19 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:04:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] 1000's of Loons - South Beach Message-ID: <98ECB89669B644A5B94986011E11FC97@Phil> It has been comparatively quiet off Lincoln City this afternoon. Loons 2-10/minute with a few groups of 10-30 swimming. Minor Surf Scoter and peep/dowitcher movement. Phil From rflores_2 at msn.com Thu Apr 23 16:48:23 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:48:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ridgfield NWR River S Unit to open Friday at 0700 hrs Message-ID: Good news the gate will open at 7:00 am tomorrow the 24th. The Contractor 5 Rivers completed their work ahead of schedule. Have fun. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090423/61378ae2/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Thu Apr 23 17:04:16 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:04:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] FWD: Ridgfield NWR River S Unit to open Friday at 0700 hrs Message-ID: <306983.62402.qm@web55104.mail.re4.yahoo.com> FWD: (originally a double post on Tweeters) From: "Bob Flores" Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:48:23 -0700 Good news the gate will open at 7:00 am tomorrow the 24th. The Contractor 5 Rivers completed their work ahead of schedule. Have fun. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA_______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ********************************** FWD by Will Clemons From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Thu Apr 23 17:44:15 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:44:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Co Coast Long-billed Curlew, others Message-ID: <2b1bbd260904231744m47a39728jba12b9884ae35af2@mail.gmail.com> Obol, This afternoon I went out to the North Jetty of the Siuslaw River. After seeing exactly zero shorebirds at the mudflats I braved the wind and walked out the jetty. PACIFIC LOONS were still passing by in good numbers. There were a couple SOOTY SHEARWATERS a few miles out. Lighting was poor so I headed back in. To my surprise a single LONG-BILLED CURLEW flew north past me over the jetty and up the beach. It landed maybe a quarter mile north of the jetty, high in the rack line. I followed it about a half mile north (not an easy task in the strong N wind) as it worked the wrack. I left it there at 4:45PM while it continued to forage. This AM there were 3 WHIMBREL on the beach just north of Sutton Creek. -- Daniel Farrar Florence, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090423/30e37872/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Thu Apr 23 19:12:37 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:12:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] PHOTOS: Longspurs, geese and falcons Message-ID: <49F12015.3020302@pacifier.com> There were 800+ GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at Wireless Rd. this afternoon. That and other photos at: http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From andy.frank at kp.org Thu Apr 23 19:19:52 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:19:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chapman chimney Vaux Swifts Message-ID: <4A493AC51816405392CEE2D17A486BB2@familyroom> At 6:40PM tonight there were about 50 VAUX'S SWIFTS flying around the Chapman School chimney in NW Portland. Let the spring counts begin! At 6:30PM there was a CASPIAN TERN flying north under the Freemont Bridge. Andy Frank From 5hats at peak.org Thu Apr 23 20:27:19 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:27:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] wintering warblers Message-ID: Obolites, After posting last night about the possibility of a Parula having wintered not so far away (and I wasn't thinking Mexico), I began wondering just how many species of warblers, particularly eastern warblers, have been recorded during winter in Oregon. I know of Lucy's, Blackburnian, Prairie, Tennessee, Black and white, Black-throated Green,and Pine. There must be others as well. Can anyone supply more species? If such birds have been found here in January, it certainly doesn't seem a stretch to think they survived into spring, and could be found here in April. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090423/d920dafe/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Thu Apr 23 20:53:25 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:53:25 EDT Subject: [obol] Eugene Arrivals Message-ID: Hello All, Perkin's Peninsula at Fern Ridge was loaded with Warblers this afternoon. I couldn't pick any unusual warbles out of the 100's of Yellow-rumps, bunch of Orange-crowns and few Townsend's, but a male WESTERN TANAGER and one WARBLING VIREO were there along with many CHIPPING SPARROWS and one BAND-TAILED PIGEON. One WESTERN KINGBIRD was in the back parking lot at work yesterday (Hwy. 99 directly east of the Eugene airport) two KINGBIRDS were there today. Also a HORNED LARK in the parking lot yesterday and one or two could be heard singing in the field South of Awbrey Ln. on the east side of Greenhill Road. John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon **************Big savings on Dell XPS Laptops and Desktops! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1219799634x1201361008/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fad.doubl eclick.net%2Fclk%3B214133440%3B36002254%3Bj) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090423/c67584fa/attachment.html From brrobb at comcast.net Thu Apr 23 21:04:08 2009 From: brrobb at comcast.net (Roger & Betty Robb) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:04:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Upper Table Rock, Jackson County Message-ID: This morning I birded Upper Table Rock and in addition to the expected southern Oregon specialties of BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, OAK TITMOUSE and CALIFORNIA TOWHEE, I found my first of the year LAZULI BUNTINGS, WARBLING VIREOS and LARK SPARROWS. Roger Robb Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090423/784070a5/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Thu Apr 23 21:07:49 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:07:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] White-throated sparrow, Washington Co. Message-ID: <20090423210749.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.79c52b616f.wbe@email.secureserver.net> While working in the garden this evening, I saw a white-throated sparrow at my feeder and heard him sing twice. This is the first white-throat I've seen at my house. Back East, it was easy to take white-throats for granted because they're so common there. They really are handsome birds! Craig Tumer SW Portland (actually Washington County - five houses from the county line) From range.bayer at gmail.com Thu Apr 23 21:22:49 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:22:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brown Pelican Mortality This Winter--Algal Neurotoxins a Factor? Message-ID: Hi, The following article is of interest about the Brown Pelican mortality event this winter. http://www.metrosantacruz.com/metro-santa-cruz/04.22.09/news-0916.html Flight Risk: A potent algal neurotoxin could threaten California's brown pelicans just as officials move to de-list them. By Aleta George. 22 April 2009. In metrosantacruz.com (Santa Cruz, California). Two excerpts (the whole article is more informative): During the pelican mortality event this winter at least 500 pelicans were reported dead or debilitated along the West Coast from Astoria, Ore., to Baja California. Some showed signs of disorientation and were found in odd places, such as a mountain in New Mexico. Many had severe frostbite on their pouches and feet, leading scientists to believe that the cause of the event was likely related to climate change. With unseasonably warm fall weather in the Pacific Northwest, some 5,000 pelicans had lingered at their summer and fall roosting sites in northern Oregon. When a freezing winter storm hit in mid-December, they were forced to migrate in harsh conditions that included 60 mph winds. ... David Jessup, senior wildlife veterinarian for the California Department of Fish and Game, compiled information from pathology reports, transect counts and observations from field biologists and clinicians. What he found was a variety of signs and symptoms that weren't consistent. The findings led him to state in an interim report that the December storm seems to have been the primary cause of the event--but it doesn't account for all observations or findings. "Some other causes of illness and death remain unexplained," he wrote. One thing researchers didn't test for was saxitoxin, one of the most potent natural toxins known. Saxitoxins are a family of single-celled naturally occurring dinoflagellates that cause paralytic seafood poisoning (PSP) in humans. Maybe they should have run those tests. While the pelicans dive-bombed for fish in Oregon's late Indian summer weather, the entire coast of Oregon was closed to mussel harvesting due to elevated levels of PSP toxins. Is it possible that PSP toxins were a factor in the pelican mortality event? "It's highly possible," said Matt Hunter, shellfish project leader of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, "but without testing it's hard to say." ----------------- Range Bayer, Newport, OR From slcarpenter at gmail.com Thu Apr 23 21:35:31 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:35:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] More Northern Parula Info Message-ID: Below is what is written in the Birds of North America account about the timing of spring migration for Northern Parula: "Early spring migrant (Stevenson and Anderson 1994). Southern breeders appear to arrive first, followed by more northern breeders. Southern birds will have fledglings in early May while northern migrants are still passing through (RRM). Arrival may be correlated with rising temperature; mean minimum temperature at arrival in Wisconsin and Michigan is 5?C (Burtt 1986). Begins leaving Caribbean in Feb, arrives Florida as early as 11 Feb, peak 11 Mar?10 Apr (Leon Co.; Stevenson and Anderson 1994), reaching Kentucky as early as 28 Mar (Monroe 1994), progressing to New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts by the first 3 wk of May (Bull 1974, Sibley 1993, Veit and Petersen 1993), reaching northern limits of range along Lake Chabogama, Labrador Peninsula, by 29 May (Todd 1963). "Migrates in Mexico and Central America along Atlantic slope from s. Veracruz to n. Honduras; s. Tamaulipas and along Pacific slope from Oaxaca to El Salvador until Apr; and on Atlantic slope west to Coahila and Distrito Federal, from 0 to 2,500 m, Mar?early May (Howell and Webb 1995). Arrives Louisiana as early as 15 Feb (Bent 1953), Texas 21 Feb (Oberholser 1974). Most birds arrive Louisiana late Feb?early Mar (Lowery 1974); se. Texas by mid-Mar to mid-May (Oberholser 1974); moving through Oklahoma in mid-Apr (Baumgartner and Baumgartner 1992), s. Missouri in late Apr, and n. Missouri in early May (Robbins and Easterla 1992). In Illinois, arrives 17 Apr?12 May, departs 22 May (Bohlen 1989); present in Iowa early to mid-May (Dinsmore et al. 1984), reaching Wisconsin and Michigan by first 3 wk in May (Speirs 1985, Robbins 1990, Brewer et al. 1991). Reaches California late Apr to mid-Jun; peak mid-May to first week Jun (Small 1994)." Scott Carpenter Portland (currently enjoying spring migration in Kern County, CA) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090423/5358917f/attachment.html From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Thu Apr 23 22:24:41 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (Jamie S.) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:24:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Yellow-rumped warbler fallout 4/23 Corvallis Message-ID: <841061.27127.qm@web39501.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Today at lunch Jim Anderson and I experienced a fallout of Yellow-rumped warblers at Stewart Lake (HP) in Corvallis. Jim and I independently estimated 75-100 and 90 YRWAs, respectively, seen during the approximately .4 mi walk around the lake. (The distance is according to a site map; it seems shorter to me.)? The terms "dripping from the trees" seem appropriate, especially given their flycatching habits.? Yesterday I estimated about 25 YRWAs; their numbers had been slowly increasing during the week. I don't recall ever seeing nearly this number of YRWAs during the past 16 years of birding at this location. We also found a singing House Wren, the first noted since the summer of 2006, after which they inexplicably failed to return to nest in 2007 & 2008. Jamie Simmons Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090423/dd777970/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Apr 23 22:44:41 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 05:44:41 +0000 Subject: [obol] Eugene WHIMBREL 7:40PM Thursday Message-ID: Greetings All, While working in northeast Eugene tonight (just off Crescent Dr. and Coburg Rd.) I heard a familiar large shorebird call that took me a second to recognize (due to being out of context). I spotted the bird circling high overhead and calling continuously. It was a Whimbrel, always a nice surprise in the Willamette Valley. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?:?more than just e-mail. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_more_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/482fd802/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Apr 23 23:01:43 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:01:43 +0000 Subject: [obol] On things not being what they seem... In-Reply-To: <49F07E07.4070809@pacifier.com> References: <49F07E07.4070809@pacifier.com> Message-ID: These are some crazy sounding Orange-crowneds. Dave Irons > Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:41:11 -0700 > From: celata at pacifier.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] On things not being what they seem... > > Some of you may recall that I went out last spring and recorded > Orange-crowned Warblers. > > http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/04/ocwa20080410.html > > Warblers seem especially prone to improvisation during migrations. > This is why I don't count my first Black-throated Gray or Hermit Warbler > of the season until I see it, and why when traveling in a new and > unfamiliar place, I use songs and calls only as tool for locating. > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Natives, natives and natives > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Mobile2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/68396db0/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Apr 23 23:24:59 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:24:59 +0000 Subject: [obol] wintering warblers In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Darrel, I can add Black-throated Blue. Cape May, and Yellow-throated warblers, plus Ovenbird to this list. I saw the Black-throated Blue at Medford, and the Seaside Yellow-throated, but still need to cross paths with a Cape May in Oregon. Cape May Warbler -- 650-01-11 Gold Beach, Curry Co., 1 fall male 4 February to 4 March 2001 (DWe,photos by CD,GL); Black-throated Blue Warbler -- 654-86-08 Medford, Jackson Co., 1 male from 9 - 30 January 1986 (AMi, TMi, photos by SS, P&PN). Yellow-throated Warbler -- 663-05-05 Seaside, Clatsop Co., 1 bird 29 January to 5 February 2005 (DBa,GG,photos by MP). Ovenbird -- I can't find the date offhand, but one was photographed coming to a feeder a couple years ago. The deck it was on was covered with snow. The details of the first three were gleaned from the OBRC website. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: 5hats at peak.org To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:27:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] wintering warblers Obolites, After posting last night about the possibility of a Parula having wintered not so far away (and I wasn't thinking Mexico), I began wondering just how many species of warblers, particularly eastern warblers, have been recorded during winter in Oregon. I know of Lucy's, Blackburnian, Prairie, Tennessee, Black and white, Black-throated Green,and Pine. There must be others as well. Can anyone supply more species? If such birds have been found here in January, it certainly doesn't seem a stretch to think they survived into spring, and could be found here in April. Darrel _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_skydrive_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/66cc4158/attachment.html From beaniebear at peoplepc.com Fri Apr 24 00:35:03 2009 From: beaniebear at peoplepc.com (Isabella) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:35:03 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [obol] Red-Shouldered Hawks in Lane County Message-ID: <5141721.1240558503849.JavaMail.root@mswamui-backed.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Hello birders, I noticed amid all the discourse on the parula (or not) that there was a call to share information as well as a mention by someone of seeing a red-shouldered hawk. I live in rural Lane County SW of Eugene, and I have a friend who hunts my garden regularly. I saw the bird just before the first snow (here) on December 16th and then I didn't see the RSHA again until April 1. I don't know if that was because the bird went south or because I had not happened to be out when the bird came around. Here is a link to a low quality photo of the Red-shouldered Hawk taken through my livingroom window: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifein2-d/3405829910/ Thank you, Isabella Barnes ________________________________________ PeoplePC Online A better way to Internet http://www.peoplepc.com From dpvroman at budget.net Fri Apr 24 06:17:55 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:17:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] wintering warblers References: Message-ID: Dave, if I remember correctly, there was an winter-time Ovenbird in the Medford area a few winters back now. Dennis Darrel, I can add Black-throated Blue. Cape May, and Yellow-throated warblers, plus Ovenbird to this list. I saw the Black-throated Blue at Medford, and the Seaside Yellow-throated, but still need to cross paths with a Cape May in Oregon. Cape May Warbler -- 650-01-11 Gold Beach, Curry Co., 1 fall male 4 February to 4 March 2001 (DWe,photos by CD,GL); Black-throated Blue Warbler -- 654-86-08 Medford, Jackson Co., 1 male from 9 - 30 January 1986 (AMi, TMi, photos by SS, P&PN). Yellow-throated Warbler -- 663-05-05 Seaside, Clatsop Co., 1 bird 29 January to 5 February 2005 (DBa,GG,photos by MP). Ovenbird -- I can't find the date offhand, but one was photographed coming to a feeder a couple years ago. The deck it was on was covered with snow. The details of the first three were gleaned from the OBRC website. Dave Irons Eugene, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/9d8496bc/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Fri Apr 24 07:54:18 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:54:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird sculpture in news Message-ID: Bird Sculptures Anger UConn Students University of Connecticut students are angry about an art exhibit in the main library and are pushing to have it moved. The Hartford Courant reported that students object to works created by Randall Nelson, a sculptor known for his work with dead birds. In one piece of art on display, a dead brown sparrow is shown on a noose with the phrase "The bird got what it deserved." Nelson told the Courant that the piece is about the preferences of birders for "good birds" -- cardinals and bluebirds -- over species like sparrows or starlings. But some students view the piece as racist. (Inside Higher Ed) -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From foxsparrows at aol.com Fri Apr 24 08:01:24 2009 From: foxsparrows at aol.com (foxsparrows at aol.com) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:01:24 -0400 Subject: [obol] Early Black-throated Sparrows in Harney County... Message-ID: <8CB9304ABF15718-11F8-4320@webmail-de02.sysops.aol.com> REALLY EARLY! I saw three BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS in a remote canyon a few miles east of Mickey Hot Springs ((north of Alvord Playa) yesterday. There might have been more than three, but that's all I saw. They were moving with a mixed flock of sparrows that included WHITE-CROWNS (which are abundant now) and BREWER'S. Based on Miller's?species account?in Birds of Oregon, this is about three weeks early, and five days?earlier than his citation for the earliest record for east-of-the-Cascades. Other Harney County notes: Pastures around Hines and Burns are mostly fully-flooded now... AVOCETS, STILTS, WILLETs, LONG-BILLED CURLEWS are now abundant and pretty much anywhere there is water. WHITE-FACED IBIS are arriving in greater numbers by the day. FRANKLIN'S GULLS are fairly easy to find. VESPER SPARROWS seem to be everywhere in the sagebrush now, and BREWER'S SPARROWS have arrived and are are singing. There are a few GREAT EGRETS around, but not big numbers yet. I saw my first-of-the-season WILSON'S PHALAROPE two days ago (just one!). Steve Dowlan OWLHOOTER at AOL.COM -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/321b92a6/attachment.html From fitzbeew at gmail.com Fri Apr 24 09:43:14 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 09:43:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] LCC Birds Message-ID: Obol, My friend Tommy Selling and I conducted my weekly point-count bird survey this morning at LCC ponds and nearby wetlands. Notable species included: 3 RUDDY DUCKS (2 females, one male) -- this is very exciting. About ten years ago an LCC student documented summer breeding of Ruddy Ducks on LCC ponds. Last year the ponds were dredged up because they were out of compliance, so there were no Ruddy Ducks. This past winter I saw one RD one week, then 2 the next; I didn't see any more until last week, when I saw one female again. Today there were 2 females and a bright male!! I really hope they will breed. Wood Duck female with 7 (!) ducklings Canada Geese with 4 goslings NO Common Goldeneye today SOLITARY SANDPIPER Spotted Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Wilson's Warbler (FOY for me; singing) Yellow-rumped Warbler (15-ish total) Common Yellowthroat Orange-crowned Warbler Warbling Vireo (FOY for me! singing) 4 Swallow species (Barn, Violet-green, Cliff [my FOY], and Tree) Great morning! Good birding, Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/d215d8cd/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Fri Apr 24 10:29:54 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:29:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <61BD77B9732C482FADE2DD7F3CA9C859@Phil> 6:00-9:30 AM (4/24): sunny, wind N 5-10, swells 4-6 4000+ Red-throated Loon 65000+ Pacific Loon (sustained 300-800/min for most of the first 90 minutes with a few brief pulses as high as 2000/min, dropping to 40-200/min with pulses to 500/min after 7:30, still some moving when I left) 400+ Common Loon 4 Red-necked Grebe 4 Western Grebe 1 MANX SHEARWEATER (N <1/2 mile out) 500+ Sooty Shearwater (N) 60 Brown Pelican (most adult only noticed 3 immature) 20 Double-crested Cormorant 100 Brandt's Cormorant 250 Pelagic Cormorant (most N) 1 Great Blue Heron (N) 800 Brant 20 White-fronted Goose 15 Black Scoter 100 White-winged Scoter 2000 Surf Scoter 100 Red-breasted Merganser 8 Semipalmated Plover 1 Marbled Godwit 120 Whimbrel 20 Dunlin 8000+ Western Sandpiper 30 dowitcher sp. 10 Bonaparte's Gull 30 California Gull 2 Herring Gull 500 Glaucous-winged Gull (most immature N) 800 Western Gull (most N) 300 Caspian Tern 20000+ Common Murre (N) 120 Pigeon Guillemot (most N) 15 Marbled Murrelet 2 Ancient Murrelet 1 Cassin's Auklet 600+ Rhinoceros Auklet (N) 1 Tufted Puffin several American Pipit http://philliplc.com/images/bb0903.jpg Phil philliplc at charter.net From bigfishyman at gmail.com Fri Apr 24 10:56:12 2009 From: bigfishyman at gmail.com (Bob Fish) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:56:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Backyard birdies Message-ID: We just had an influx of birds: FOY MACGILLIVRAYS WARBLER; FOY NASHVILLE WARBLER; BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER; ORANGE CROWNED WARBLER; a probable RC KINGLET- though it appeared larger (I'm sure it was rarer!!). Also got two or three EVENING GROSBEAKS.. fun fun fun! Good Birding Bob Fish Creswell -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/b369e167/attachment.html From smithdwd at hotmail.com Fri Apr 24 11:06:52 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:06:52 +0000 Subject: [obol] Mt Tabor Female Calliope Message-ID: This morning many birders saw the male Calliope Hum displaying in the previous spot mentioned. About 9 am Greg Baker and I had very close looks at the female perched within the bush the male was earlier above. Of course she vaporized when I tried to bring another group to her! PS Flycatcher and several "regular" warblers also. No 50+ herd of birders however. David Smith _________________________________________________________________ Invite your mail contacts to join your friends list with Windows Live Spaces. It's easy! http://spaces.live.com/spacesapi.aspx?wx_action=create&wx_url=/friends.aspx&mkt=en-us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/9960d4da/attachment.html From louisfredd at msn.com Fri Apr 24 11:59:54 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:59:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon City Apr 11-17 Message-ID: Coyote on the lawn last Fri, early am, soaking wet. First I've seen inside the perimeter, so to speak. I hear them at times singing at night in some brushland 1/4 mile or so away, so not unexpected. I think I prefer fox squirrels, which have become daily or close to it over the past few years. Also seen this past week out of 26 species: Apr11 RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD All das 2-6 Activity diminished thru the wk. The red currant currently in full bloom and well used. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW All das 3-7 About the same number as all winter long. DARK-EYED JUNCO All das 2-3 I usually see them all months and in some years they nest in the neighborhood. Winter flock numbers disappeared quickly previous week PURPLE FINCH 3 das 1-10 The latter mostly "F"s. PINE SISKIN All das 4-15. Apr12 MOURNING DOVE. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH 3das RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET 2das. AMERICAN ROBIN Most das 2-3 I saw a few small migrating flocks thru the end of the previous week. HOUSE FINCH 4das 1-2 Same pair. Apr13 FOX SPARROW 4das Apr14 PILEATED WOODPECKER FOYr Fly by. Heard previous morning also. Apr15 ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD 2das 1-2 M, F Reappeared end of week. VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW 5 Fly over N. Apr16 CANADA GOOSE 2 Fly by low S. I haven't seen usual numbers of these this spring. GREAT BLUE HERON Fly over. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW Gambel's _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Mobile2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/0e56dcec/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Fri Apr 24 12:15:23 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:15:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] ORANGE-CROWNED Message-ID: <63A54FEF919C4A65AFCDC57934F5C475@TomsPC> FOY ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER today in my backyard birdbath. It's the only warbler I have seen so far except for an early female yellow-rumped a month ago.. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/1a632c4b/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Fri Apr 24 12:26:51 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:26:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bend Backyard Birds In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <49f2127c.1fba720a.7cf8.07f8@mx.google.com> On Wednesday, April 22, 2009 we had the following birds in or over our yard east of Bend: Turkey Vulture - 3 Red-Tailed Hawk - 1 Mourning Dove -4 N. Flicker - 1 Rufous Hummingbird - 1 Steller's Jay - 1 Scrub Jay - 2 Pinyon Jay -4 Clark's Nutcracker -1 Raven - 1 pair Tree Swallow -1 Violet-green Swallow - 3 Mountain Chickadee-4 Bushtit-3 Mountain Bluebird - 4 Robin -3 Yellow-rumped Warbler -4 Chipping Sparrow -2 Brown-headed Cowbird - 3 Cassin's Finch -2 House Finch -6 Red Crossbill -2 Lesser Goldfinch -2 Thursday: Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 under feeder White-crowned Sparrow Other goodies: Chipmunk -1 Desert Cottontail Bunny -1 (hangs out in backyard with Fuzzy-bird and Affie-Goose. They seem to enjoy each other's company) Painted Lady Butterflies Tortoiseshell Butterflies West Coast Lady Butterflies - big movement Sage Lizard Western Fence Lizard Pacific Chorus Tree Frogs - calling loudly all night It was fifteen degrees this morning at 6:30 a.m. and now it is 44 degrees. I am ready for summer warmth! Marilyn Miller No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.12.4/2078 - Release Date: 04/24/09 07:54:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/61fa5109/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Fri Apr 24 13:07:54 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:07:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock Mansion midday Message-ID: <7B4E6671-CE68-41E1-B734-EF443CFDE2F1@gmail.com> I stopped at Pittock Mansion for about 30 minutes around noon today. It was a bit breezy and cool but gorgeous otherwise with mostly blue skies. Not too many migrants were active by the time I got there but I did have a male RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER that was drumming on some metal attached to a concrete post that was fun to video. I had a HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, a few ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, heard a singing TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, and several YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS sailed over head. Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland, OR From alanyehudah at gmail.com Fri Apr 24 13:37:35 2009 From: alanyehudah at gmail.com (Alan Winter) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:37:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] forgot to put in a password Message-ID: <4F8179A3-7022-48A4-8CCC-F9C8E5F63EA2@gmail.com> Just subscribed and wanted to put out the following message. I'm a member of both Audubon and Sierra Club and request your assistance.Do you know of someone who would like to share a mobile home out there Saturday night or already has paid for one and has space to share, please put them in touch with me. If you can email the request below to your network that would be awesome. Sorry to be last minute. Thanks for your assistance. We're going to spend Saturday night, 4/25, in a mobile home on the Refuge. Weather is dicey, but the current forecast is sun and 50's for the weekend. It's a 3 bedroom and rents for $80. We're only using one bedroom and willing to pay more to save some. It's a long drive, but we hear the migrating water fowl are all in and, if it's sunny, the songbirds will come out. Email ASAP with a phone number. We plan on leaving Saturday morning. Can't car pool as we're planning on continuing on eastward. Blessings, Yehudah (Alan) Winter 5707 NE 15th Ave Portland, Oregon 97211 (503) 287-8737 503-819-9368 (cell) www.yourpersonalceremony.com A little while and I will be gone from among you, whither I cannot tell. From nowhere we come, into nowhere we go. What is life? It is a flash, a firefly in the night. It is a breath of a buffalo in winter time. It is as the little shadow that runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset. Crowfoot (a Blackfoot Chief) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/1838300d/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Fri Apr 24 14:00:04 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:00:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Mt Tabor Friday: CALLIOPE HB, MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER Message-ID: <631185.26188.qm@web55101.mail.re4.yahoo.com> I birded Mt Tabor Friday morning. I was there from about 6:30AM until Noon. From 6:30 until around 8:15 or so, I birded with Adrian and Christopher Hinkle and their Mom, Em Scattaregia. After that I birded a bit with David Smith and Greg Baker, before linking up with Bob Wilson from 9:45 on. Special thanks go to Adrian and Christopher whose sharp eyes and keen ears make it so much easier for this ol' geeser. Highlights: CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD: I only saw the male today, but others saw the female that the male was displaying for. Pretty little Hummer in any light! NASHVILLE WARBLER: Several of these Spring treats were seen through the morning, and they are nice to see among the numerous Orange-crowned Warblers. MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER: I was able to see two of these beautiful little skulkers working through low brush this morning, and both were on the S side of the park. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores Complete list of 39 species seen / heard: Mallard Red-tailed Hawk Band-tailed Pigeon Anna's Hummingbird CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (I only saw the male - female there also) Northern Flicker Hammond's Flycatcher Pacific-slope Flycatcher Hutton's Vireo Steller's Jay American Crow Violet-green Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush American Robin Varied Thrush European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler NASHVILLE WARBLER (at least 4 seen) Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Gray Warbler Townsend's Warbler MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER (2 seen) Spotted Towhee Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Brown-headed Cowbird House Finch Pine Siskin Lesser Goldfinch Species seen / heard by others, but not by me: Lincoln's Sparrow Purple Finch From tjanzen at comcast.net Fri Apr 24 13:50:52 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (tjanzen at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:50:52 GMT Subject: [obol] Mt. Talbert, Clackamas Co. report Message-ID: <200904242050.n3OKoqLu028431@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Timothy Janzen by http://birdnotes.net Date: April 24, 2009 Location: Mt. Talbert, Clackamas County, Oregon Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 10% Precipitation: none Migration is really picking up on Mt. Talbert. Warblers seemed to be everywhere, particular on the SW and SE faces of Mt. Talbert Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Turkey Vulture 1 Mourning Dove 1 Anna's Hummingbird 3 Downy Woodpecker 1 Pacific-slope Flycatcher 2 Cassin's Vireo 2 Hutton's Vireo 4 Steller's Jay 2 Western Scrub-Jay 1 Black-capped Chickadee 8 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 1 Bushtit 5 Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 Bewick's Wren 5 Winter Wren 6 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 American Robin 6 Orange-crowned Warbler 12 Yellow-rumped Warbler 90 Black-throated Gray Warbler 15 Townsend's Warbler 1 Song Sparrow 5 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Red-winged Blackbird 1 Purple Finch 10 Pine Siskin 80 Lesser Goldfinch 2 Total number of species seen: 27 From craig at greatskua.com Fri Apr 24 14:34:43 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:34:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] FOS black-headed grosbeak and yellow warbler Message-ID: <20090424143443.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.82476e4bd8.wbe@email.secureserver.net> While doing field work in Albany this morning, I saw a male black-headed grosbeak and a singing yellow warbler at Teloh Calapooia Park. Craig Tumer SW Portland From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri Apr 24 14:52:50 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:52:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] More Laplands Coos Co. 4/23/2009 Message-ID: <345081.74329.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I had a flock of 5 fly overhead in North Bend at the old Menasha spoil NW of Simpson Park during the afternoon. Definitely the best spring ever for LAPLAND LONGSPURS in Coos County.? Most years we are lucky to have even one report in Coos Co., this year we have had five reports from Coos Co. Also, there have been at least three reports from Curry Co. (there could be a few more at the Wahl ranch?) and one report from Douglas Co.- wow!!! The shorebird migration has slowed considerably, only 1600/hr. at New River this morning (4/24) and I saw no Caspain Terns moving. Bandon Marsh only had a few hundred shorebirds when I passed by. Merry migration! Tim R Coos Bay From birdmandon at clearwire.net Fri Apr 24 14:43:41 2009 From: birdmandon at clearwire.net (Don Schrouder) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:43:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birds in Eugene Message-ID: <238CDA19-365F-477D-8729-FBC7ED0C8A55@clearwire.net> After a cold morning up on Skinner's Butte (Six species of warblers, Yellow-rump,Orange Crown, Wilson's, Nashville,Black-throated Grey & Townsend's as well as Warbling Vireo, Cassin's Vireo & Pacific Slope Flyc) I decided to check out Mt. Pisgah around 11am when it was a little nicer. The water gardens produced my FOY BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and a zillion school kids. Must have been a field trip day. Moved over to the north along the river by the native plant nursery. Good flocks of birds there and more quiet. Partial list of birds seen: BALD EAGLE OSPREY REDTAIL AMERICAN GOLDFINCH-lots singing ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER-both Audubon and Myrtle NASHVILLE TOWNSEND'S WARBLING VIREO NORTHERN FLICKER-working on nest hole DOWNY WDPKR BROWN CREEPER GOLD-CROWNED SPARROWS The Osprey appeared to be attempting to start a new nest on the power pole at the end of the road by the gate. Their old nest site was occupied by Canada Geese. The Osprey was sitting beside a plastic Great Horned Owl that is probably supposed to keep such things from happening! Don Schrouder birdmandon at clearwire.net From birdmandon at clearwire.net Fri Apr 24 14:50:58 2009 From: birdmandon at clearwire.net (Don Schrouder) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:50:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swifts/Eugene/Lane Co. Message-ID: Forgot to include a group of 8 Vaux's Swifts seen over the native plant nursery at Mt. Pisgah today. Don Schrouder From withgott at comcast.net Fri Apr 24 15:26:00 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:26:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Washington Co shorebirds Message-ID: I headed to Washington County for a morning's birding and upon my first stop discovered that I'd forgotten my binoculars. Fortunately I had my scope and I'd been thinking of focusing on shorebirds anyway. Below are my shorebird totals, site by site. 2 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 1-2 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and a partial albino Least Sandpiper were the shorebird highlights, and I found no Solitary Sandpipers. Jackson Bottoms is excellent for shorebirds right now. Other notable birds included AMERICAN BITTERN (1 each at Cedar Canyon Marsh and Jackson Bottoms), 100 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE (Fernhill Wetlands and Jackson Bottoms), 1 CANVASBACK and 1 MERLIN at Fernhill, 1 SORA and 2 CHIPPING SPARROWS at Cedar Cyn, and EVENING GROSBEAKS in Forest Grove. Everywhere I went there were large numbers of warblers, and I felt certain that Mt. Tabor must be having its best day ever. But apparently warbler activity was greater in Washington County than in Portland today. Just wish I'd had my binoculars. I tallied 89 species and began wondering what the big day record is for a day without binoculars. Probably no one would be so silly. Jackson Bottoms (new pool, Gene Pool, & esp. flooded field beyond Gene Pool; however, access to the extensive wetlands alongside the landfill is now blocked by a No Trespassing sign.): Killdeer - 5 Greater Yellowlegs - 10 Lesser Yellowlegs - 1 or 2 Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Western Sandpiper - 3 Least Sandpiper - 212 Dunlin - 11 LB Dowitcher - 12 Wilson's Snipe - 2 Fernhill Wetlands: Semipalmated Plover - 1 Killdeer - 3 Greater Yellowlegs - 2 Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Western Sandpiper - 2 Least Sandpiper - 48 Dunlin - 1 (One of the Leasts was a partial albino! Its upperparts were liberally dusted with random patches of white.) Beal Pond, Forest Grove: Killdeer - 2 Flooded field b/w Forest Grove & Banks: Semipalmated Plover - 1 Killdeer - 1 Greater Yellowlegs - 1 Killin Road flooded field (n. of Cedar Canyon): Killdeer - 3 Greater Yellowlegs - 2 Least Sandpiper - 12 Flooded field just E. of Rt 6 on Hwy 26: Greater Yellowlegs - 1 Least Sandpiper - 33 Wilson's Snipe - 2 Jay Withgott, Portland From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Fri Apr 24 15:54:13 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:54:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Co Lapland Message-ID: <2b1bbd260904241554i52f6bf19sd04be5344783af49@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Today Hendrik Herlyn and I had a single migrant LAPLAND LONGSPUR fly overhead near the Siltcoos River mouth, Lane Co. One more for the list Tim. Daniel Farrar Florence, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/8f6c061d/attachment.html From alfanana at q.com Fri Apr 24 18:13:59 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:13:59 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time) Subject: [obol] Hummingbird Message-ID: I had a Hummingbird at my feeder today. He was a beautiful, light, bright red! I looked in my book and on the Cornell site; the closest I came to is the Rufous, but the back on it is not as bright a red and the book said they are common in WESTERN Oregon. Could it be a Rufous? Do they come this far east? Other birds today: Mourning Doves Robin Audubon's Warbler Mountain Chickadee Red Winged Blackbird Brown Headed Cowbird Red Breasted Nuthatch Happy Birding! Karen, La Pine -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/1f68e401/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 36718 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/1f68e401/attachment.gif From pamelaj at spiritone.com Fri Apr 24 19:47:14 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:47:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] McMinnville Cliff Swallows Message-ID: Around noon I visited the Cottonwood St wetland off Hill Rd S. Cliff Swallows were there taking mud for nest building. The sight of the swallows with their wings upraised like butterflies while delicately walking in the mud was as enchanting as it was when I first saw them do this in a mud puddle near Underwood, WA in 1972. Also present were some Green-winged Teal and Killdeer. Pamela Johnston From whoffman at peak.org Fri Apr 24 20:21:55 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:21:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Baskett Slough Geese Message-ID: <33C6A6BF760F45F8808B5FB51B776B85@D48XBZ51> I have just gotten back from two days of meetings in Salem and Corvallis. On my way to Salem yesterday (April 23, 11:30-12:00) I stopped along Colville Road in Baskett Slough NWR and saw 5 species of geese, plus a hybrid. Just west of the narrows, and south of Colville Road was a flock of several thousand CACKLING GEESE. The majority were "real" Cacklers, ssp minima, but some larger birds were also present (Taverner's?). Several pairs of Western CANADA GEESE were around the periphery. In the Flock were at least 20 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, and a single adult SNOW GOOSE. The prize was a (the?) RED-BREASTED GOOSE. The hybrid appeared to be CACKLING X WHITE-FRONTED - slightly larger than Cackling, orange feet and legs, orangish bill, brown body, dark brown neck and crown, white face much more extensive than Cackling cheek. I watched the Red-breasted Goose for about half an hour. It was near the back edge of the flock but surprisingly easy to spot and keep track of. It was among Cacklers, and not near any of the other species. It seemed to be unattached to any of the Cacklers around it, so I suspect unmated. I have to say, though, that pairs were a lot less obvious among the Cacklers than is typical in a flock of Canadas, White-fronts, or Brant. A few minutes before noon, groups of Cacklers began taking off and flying to the northeast, angling across the road and slough. I spent a little while studying the hybrid, and then could not relocate the Red-breasted Goose, so I suspect it flew with one of the groups. Down in the slough were a scattering of ducks, including paiors of Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shovelers, Gadwalls, and Mallards. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/dab70220/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Fri Apr 24 20:31:04 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:31:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] wintering warblers References: Message-ID: <74728FC94814436A9D8D73E45E953370@D48XBZ51> Wasn't the one Louisiana Waterthrush almost a winter bird? Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: David Irons To: Darrel Faxon ; post OBOL Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 11:24 PM Subject: Re: [obol] wintering warblers Darrel, I can add Black-throated Blue. Cape May, and Yellow-throated warblers, plus Ovenbird to this list. I saw the Black-throated Blue at Medford, and the Seaside Yellow-throated, but still need to cross paths with a Cape May in Oregon. Cape May Warbler -- 650-01-11 Gold Beach, Curry Co., 1 fall male 4 February to 4 March 2001 (DWe,photos by CD,GL); Black-throated Blue Warbler -- 654-86-08 Medford, Jackson Co., 1 male from 9 - 30 January 1986 (AMi, TMi, photos by SS, P&PN). Yellow-throated Warbler -- 663-05-05 Seaside, Clatsop Co., 1 bird 29 January to 5 February 2005 (DBa,GG,photos by MP). Ovenbird -- I can't find the date offhand, but one was photographed coming to a feeder a couple years ago. The deck it was on was covered with snow. The details of the first three were gleaned from the OBRC website. Dave Irons Eugene, OR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: 5hats at peak.org To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:27:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] wintering warblers Obolites, After posting last night about the possibility of a Parula having wintered not so far away (and I wasn't thinking Mexico), I began wondering just how many species of warblers, particularly eastern warblers, have been recorded during winter in Oregon. I know of Lucy's, Blackburnian, Prairie, Tennessee, Black and white, Black-throated Green,and Pine. There must be others as well. Can anyone supply more species? If such birds have been found here in January, it certainly doesn't seem a stretch to think they survived into spring, and could be found here in April. Darrel ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. Check it out. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/2ed6128a/attachment.html From andy.frank at kp.org Fri Apr 24 20:48:34 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:48:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] ~400 Vaux Swift, Chapman School chimney Message-ID: <9E6FC1B33091402AAF413E8AC0F7A315@homefih7ejbwju> Tonight at 7:40 I passed by the Chapman School chimney in NW Portland and saw a cloud of what I would estimate to be 400 VAUX SWIFTS circling overhead. They had not yet started to enter the chimney. Andy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/eabb4291/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Fri Apr 24 20:57:17 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 23:57:17 EDT Subject: [obol] Mt. Pisgah Message-ID: Hello All, Laura and I hiked around Mt. Pisgah this evening. Highlights were mostly found near the water gardern. MacGillivray's Warbler - 2, water garden and south east corner of the arboretum. Wilson's Warbler - 1, water garden Nashville Warbler - 1, water garden Hermit Thrush - 1, water garden John Sullivan & Laura Jonhson Springfield, Oregon **************The Average US Credit Score is 692. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps!(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221421330x1201417418/aol?redi r=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd=Ap rilAvgfooter424NO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/713a1b1d/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Fri Apr 24 21:43:23 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:43:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] New Birds To Crook County Message-ID: <69940A031ED74FBD904F73E94E98AFDF@cgatesPC> We've had some new arrivals in Crook County over the last couple of days: Thursday, Apr 23 Long-billed Dowitcher- Houston Lake Vaux's Swift - Prineville Rough-winged Swallow - Ochoco Res. Western Kingbird - Crooked River House Wren - Orchard Lane Prineville Nashville Warbler - Orchard Lane Prineville Friday, Apr 24 Western Grebe - Ochoco Res. Forster's Tern - Ochoco Res. Bank Swallow - Houston Lake Brewer's Sparrow - Powell Butte Hwy County Line Deschutes/Crook Sage Sparrow - Powell Butte Hwy County Line Deschutes/Crook Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/ad3f6f3f/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Apr 24 22:14:29 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 05:14:29 +0000 Subject: [obol] Lazuli Bunting in w. Eugene Message-ID: Today while working in the Alvadore area w. of Eugene I had male LAZULI BUNTING, my first of the year. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get quick friend updates right in your inbox. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Updates2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/8776fb01/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Apr 24 22:15:37 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 05:15:37 +0000 Subject: [obol] wintering warblers In-Reply-To: <74728FC94814436A9D8D73E45E953370@D48XBZ51> References: <74728FC94814436A9D8D73E45E953370@D48XBZ51> Message-ID: Wayne, It was a near miss, but it was still November when it was last seen. Dave Irons From: whoffman at peak.org To: llsdirons at msn.com; 5hats at peak.org; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] wintering warblers Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:31:04 -0700 Wasn't the one Louisiana Waterthrush almost a winter bird? Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: David Irons To: Darrel Faxon ; post OBOL Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 11:24 PM Subject: Re: [obol] wintering warblers Darrel, I can add Black-throated Blue. Cape May, and Yellow-throated warblers, plus Ovenbird to this list. I saw the Black-throated Blue at Medford, and the Seaside Yellow-throated, but still need to cross paths with a Cape May in Oregon. Cape May Warbler -- 650-01-11 Gold Beach, Curry Co., 1 fall male 4 February to 4 March 2001 (DWe,photos by CD,GL); Black-throated Blue Warbler -- 654-86-08 Medford, Jackson Co., 1 male from 9 - 30 January 1986 (AMi, TMi, photos by SS, P&PN). Yellow-throated Warbler -- 663-05-05 Seaside, Clatsop Co., 1 bird 29 January to 5 February 2005 (DBa,GG,photos by MP). Ovenbird -- I can't find the date offhand, but one was photographed coming to a feeder a couple years ago. The deck it was on was covered with snow. The details of the first three were gleaned from the OBRC website. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: 5hats at peak.org To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:27:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] wintering warblers Obolites, After posting last night about the possibility of a Parula having wintered not so far away (and I wasn't thinking Mexico), I began wondering just how many species of warblers, particularly eastern warblers, have been recorded during winter in Oregon. I know of Lucy's, Blackburnian, Prairie, Tennessee, Black and white, Black-throated Green,and Pine. There must be others as well. Can anyone supply more species? If such birds have been found here in January, it certainly doesn't seem a stretch to think they survived into spring, and could be found here in April. Darrel Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. Check it out. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get e-mail storage that grows with you. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Storage2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/e14cbd2b/attachment.html From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Fri Apr 24 22:53:13 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:53:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Kingbird at Tualatin River NWR Message-ID: <007201c9c56a$1f5e9fb0$5e1bdf10$@NET> I visited the Tualatin River NWR near Sherwood today, Friday, and saw a WESTERN KINGBIRD south of the trail between the river overlook and the point where the trail enters the woods. A Kestrel that frequents that area came in and the Kingbird chased it off. The numbers are much lower but there is still a large variety of waterfowl and the Yellow-rumped Warblers are all over, now on lower branches; they were in the tree tops for a couple of months (all winter?). There were many Common Yellowthroat, the males outnumbered the females and some did the witchety-witchety call. There was a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER in the woods. Kingbird photo at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_pix/ Tom Shreve Tigard -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/cedb8bbc/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Sat Apr 25 08:19:23 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:19:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] backyard surprise Message-ID: <0865958D8E83418DA8E78C01505C21D4@your5rlp3a9516> Obolites, Well, no quite backyard, but at the farm pond this morning (Thornton Creek, Lincoln) I several times heard the distinctive kidick-kidick-kidick of a Virginia Rail. I've lived here sixty years, and this makes only the third time I have ever known the species to show up here. I actually saw one along the creek way back in the sixties, and about fifteen years ago I found a dead one near the same pond (it had apparently flown into a fence). So this one was quite a surprise. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/493a2dbd/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Apr 25 08:40:43 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:40:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] North American Migration Count Message-ID: The spring North American Migration Count is just two weeks away. Every spring and fall, birders spread out over the state and count migrating and resident birds. If you are not involved in this count, you still have a chance to get involved by contacting the county coordinator in a county in which you would like to bird. County coordinators organize each county so no two groups of surveyors count the same birds. Most counties need volunteers so I encourage you to participate. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/83666f71/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Apr 25 09:03:18 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 09:03:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] North American Migration Count Message-ID: <1240675398.3628.5.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hi folks, To follow Chuck Gates' announcement about the migration count, you can look up county coordinators on the OFO website at: www.oregonbirds.org/2009_migration_count.html or (a more fun route) click the link in the spring migration calendar at: www.oregonbirds.org/calendar.html I think Steve Dougill has the schedule up on the ECBC website too, but I don't have that link handy so will hopefully Steve can post that. Happy migration, Joel P.S. Any Polk County birders out there -- I picked Sunday for Polk Co.'s migration count but can go with Saturday if there is any preference at all for doing it on that date, by anyone who has some time to spend in the field that weekend. -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From tanager at nu-world.com Sat Apr 25 09:20:23 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 09:20:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Warbling Vireo Message-ID: <000b01c9c5c1$bc6c3d60$3544b820$@com> Hi All, A Warbling Vireo was seen and heard this AM in our back yard in Eugene, just north of Skinner's Butte. Good Birding, Anne Heyerly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/06b7390f/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Sat Apr 25 09:21:58 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 09:21:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: 6:15-8:30 (4/25): with Wayne Hoffman overcast, wind NNW 10-20, swells 5-7 500+ Red-throated Loon 20000+ Pacific Loon (steady 80-250/min early tapering off after 7:15, punctuated by group of 8000+ in <15 minutes just after 8:00, 2000+ on the water) 30 Common Loon 3 Red-necked Grebe 5 Western Grebe 100+ Sooty Shearwater 75 Brown Pelican (most adult) 7 Double-crested Cormorant 200 Pelagic Cormorant (most N) 80 Brandt's Cormorant 70 Cackling Goose 53 White-fronted Goose 230 Brant 80 Northern Pintail 25 Green-winged Teal 4 scaup sp. 60 White-winged Scoter 1200 Surf Scoter 6 Red-breasted Merganser 1 Peregrine Falcon 3 Black-bellied Plover 500 Whimbrel (most N in first 15 minutes) 80+ Dunlin 5000+ Western Sandpiper 150 dowitcher sp. 10 California Gull 150 Glaucous-winged Gull 300 Western Gull 80 Caspian Tern 18000+ Common Murre (most N in first hour) 70 Pigeon Guillemot 6 Marbled Murrelet 150 Rhinoceros Auklet (N) 1 Tufted Puffin Phil philliplc at charter.net From rflores_2 at msn.com Sat Apr 25 09:57:46 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 09:57:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] white-winged scoters, Columbia River, Clark Co., WA Message-ID: This morning I watched 3 ww scoters flying with 4 greater scaup fly upstream along L. River Rd, near the end of the road. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/b0d740b2/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Sat Apr 25 10:01:01 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 10:01:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Columbia River Riparian Birding, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: Was a little slow this morning, cold as well! Here are highlights. orange-crowned warbler 5 Pacific sloped flycatcher 1 black-throated gray warbler 1 Swainson's thrush 1 hermit thrush 1 Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/f5826cef/attachment.html From alfanana at q.com Sat Apr 25 10:12:37 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 10:12:37 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time) Subject: [obol] Grosbeaks Message-ID: Hi, all; The Evening grosbeaks are here in force today. Haven't seen very many lately Audubon's Warbler is here several times a day. Only the male. Hope they are nesting. They are the first ones I have seen in the three years I've been here. Have heard the Red Winged Blackbirds, but have not seen them yet, today. Karen. La Pine -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/cd68fcd5/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 36718 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/cd68fcd5/attachment.gif From coffehound at gmail.com Sat Apr 25 10:30:02 2009 From: coffehound at gmail.com (Demian Ebert) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 10:30:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oaks Bottom Leucanistic Song Sparrow? Message-ID: This morning (about 0930) on the trail along the bottom of the bluff at Oaks Bottom I saw what appeared to be a very odd song sparrow. At first glance, I wasn't sure what it was. The size of a song sparrow, with all the field characteristics and marks of a song sparrow (streaking, breast spot, face pattern, etc), and it was behaving like one. However, it was entirely pale tan and white. There was no differentiation in color between wings, flanks, breast, back or head that you would normally look for to split sub-species of song sparrows. It's like someone bleached out a normal song sparrow. It never made a sound for the entire time I watched it. It was near the second bench from the north entry along the trail. Enjoy. Demian Ebert -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/e22934c9/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Sat Apr 25 10:35:26 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David Bailey) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 10:35:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] NAMC: Sherman County 9 May Message-ID: <49F349DE.5010601@pdx.edu> Greetings Obolonians, The Spring North American Migration Count (NAMC) for Sherman County will take place Saturday 9 May 2009. Sherman County is one of the few counties in Oregon that is nearly completely defined by geographic features. Bound to the West by the Descutes River, to the north buy the Columbia River, to the East by the John Day River, its southern boundary is defined for the most part by Buck Hollow Creek. Homesteads with patches of trees perforate the the open wheat fields and grasslands of the uplands, while narrow riparian tracts follow the canyons and streams of the lowlands. The isolated patches of trees at parks, cities, and homesteads often prove to be migrant oases, providing rewards for the diligent birder. Let me know if you would like to join me counting in Sherman County this Spring, or if you will be birding in the county on count day, 9 May. David C. Bailey 503/ 739-3083 From srnord101 at verizon.net Sat Apr 25 11:42:30 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:42:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands Shorebirds and others Message-ID: <000001c9c5d5$971ce910$c556bb30$@net> OBOLers; This morning I walked around the ponds (7:30-9:30) finding the following: CANADA GOOSE - many families. I saw a total of 6 families, totaling 31 goslings CACKLING GEESE (minima), strong movement (3000+) overhead heading north, most not stopping at Fernhill. GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 1 mixed in a flock of Cackling Geese MALLARD - my first ducklings of the year. Saw a female with 6 ducklings. CANVASBACK 1 female on Cattail Marsh pond SORA - 1 bird calling north side of mitigation ponds Eagle Perch pond is almost dry. Small amount of water in north east corner attracting shorebirds: GREATER YELLOWLEGS 2 SOLITARY SANDPIPER 1 DUNLIN 21 WESTERN SANDPIPER 1 LEAST SANDPIPER 92 (including partial albino bird reported by Jay Withgott yesterday) - see below for link to photos LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 3 VAUX's SWIFT 3 (FOY for me) SWALLOWS - hundreds, mostly TREE, also many CLIFF and BARNS. A few VIOLET-GREEN, and 3 ROUGH-WINGS ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS 2 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS 15 (8 Myrtle, 3 Audubon's, and 4 undetermined) EVENING GROSBEAK 6 (FOY for me) Non-bird sighting included a MINK swimming across the mitigation pond by the gazebo. It was carrying prey, possibly gosling. Photos of the partial albino LEAST SANDPIPER can be seen on my website: http://www.pbase.com/srn_naturalist/leastsandpiper Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From whoffman at peak.org Sat Apr 25 11:45:14 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:45:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cowbirds and Geese Message-ID: <7044AFFD91204333B02DACF14AB22A11@D48XBZ51> After leaving Boiler Bay this morning, I stopped at Otter Crest lookout, and saw a group of about 8 Brown-headed Cowbirds, mostly male. A floc of 135 (Aleutian) Cackling Geese flew by at eye level, headed north. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/39620605/attachment.html From whittle at scottwhittle.com Sat Apr 25 08:45:08 2009 From: whittle at scottwhittle.com (Scott Whittle) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:45:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Visiting Birder Message-ID: <240EA843-7B57-4004-A203-9AFD26C4CCAA@scottwhittle.com> Hi All- I'm a New York birder (my blog is www.yearofthebird.com if anyone's interested), and I've been following the OBOL list for several weeks in anticipation of visiting Oregon on business. I'm in Portland now and am gojng to be ready to do some birding on Monday...I plan to rent a car, and travel around the state for several days (and possibly do a bit in Washington as well). I have the Birder's Guide to Oregon, but could use some specifics on what's going on right now, and any practical suggestions on where to find birds. Despite the fact that I've birded the West Coast a few times, I still have a very long list of birds I haven't seen here, so I hope I don't try anyone's patience with this, but here it goes (I'm leaving off the rarities like Gyrfalcon, Yellow Billed Loon, etc): Raptors: White Tailed Kite, Ferruginous Hawk, Prarie Falcon Grouses (Grice?)/Game Birds: Gray Partridge, Chukar, Sage Grouse, Blue Grouse, Mountain Quail Shorebirds: Pacific Golden Plover, Mountain Plover, Surfbird, Rock Sandpiper Pelagics: ANY Murrelet, Cassins Auklet, Tufted Puffin Owls (I'd love to hear/see some of these!): Flammulated Owls, Western Screech Owl, Great Gray Owl, Spotted Owl, Northern Pygmy Owl, Boreal Owl Swifts: Vauxs, Black and White Throated Hummingbirds: Black Chinned, Caliope, Allens, Rufous Woodpeckers: Lewis', White Headed, Three Toed, Red Bellied and Red Naped Sapsuckers Flycatchers: Dusky, Gray, Pacific Slope, Hammonds, Cordilleran, Western Wood Peewee Jays: Pinion Jay, Clarks Nuthatch Others: Black Billed Magpie, Violet Swallow, Juniper Titmouse, Mountain Chickadee, Rock and Canyon Wrens, American Dipper, Werntit, Mountain and Western Bluebird, Varied Thrush, MacGillivrays Warbler, Lazuli Bunting, Sage and Brewers Sparrows, Yellow Headed Blackbird, Rosy Finches (either kind), Cassins Finch, Lawrences Goldfinch, Common Poorwill Yikes! That's a lot of birds...in any case, any and all info or help is VERY much appreciated. I'm planning on trying Mount Tabor tomorrow morning (Sunday), and I hope to run into some other birders there...I promise not to ask too many questions! I'm very excitied to be in this amazing part of the country and can't wait to see at least a couple of "new" birds... Scott Whittle www.yearofthebird.com scottwhittle at scottwhittle.com From whittle at scottwhittle.com Sat Apr 25 09:11:07 2009 From: whittle at scottwhittle.com (Scott Whittle) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 09:11:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Visiting Birder Message-ID: <2F1EB2AD-B942-426C-857A-F73BA77294CF@scottwhittle.com> Hi All- I'm a New York birder (my blog is www.yearofthebird.com if anyone's interested), and I've been following the OBOL list for several weeks in anticipation of visiting Oregon on business. I'm in Portland now and am gojng to be ready to do some birding on Monday...I plan to rent a car, and travel around the state for several days (and possibly do a bit in Washington as well). I have the Birder's Guide to Oregon, but could use some specifics on what's going on right now, and any practical suggestions on where to find birds. Despite the fact that I've birded the West Coast a few times, I still have a very long list of birds I haven't seen here, so I hope I don't try anyone's patience with this, but here it goes (I'm leaving off the rarities like Gyrfalcon, Yellow Billed Loon, etc): Raptors: White Tailed Kite, Ferruginous Hawk, Prarie Falcon Grouses (Grice?)/Game Birds: Gray Partridge, Chukar, Sage Grouse, Blue Grouse, Mountain Quail Shorebirds: Pacific Golden Plover, Mountain Plover, Surfbird, Rock Sandpiper Pelagics: ANY Murrelet, Cassins Auklet, Tufted Puffin Owls (I'd love to hear/see some of these!): Flammulated Owls, Western Screech Owl, Great Gray Owl, Spotted Owl, Northern Pygmy Owl, Boreal Owl Swifts: Vauxs, Black and White Throated Hummingbirds: Black Chinned, Caliope, Allens, Rufous Woodpeckers: Lewis', White Headed, Three Toed, Red Bellied and Red Naped Sapsuckers Flycatchers: Dusky, Gray, Pacific Slope, Hammonds, Cordilleran, Western Wood Peewee Jays: Pinion Jay, Clarks Nuthatch Others: Black Billed Magpie, Violet Swallow, Juniper Titmouse, Mountain Chickadee, Rock and Canyon Wrens, American Dipper, Werntit, Mountain and Western Bluebird, Varied Thrush, MacGillivrays Warbler, Lazuli Bunting, Sage and Brewers Sparrows, Yellow Headed Blackbird, Rosy Finches (either kind), Cassins Finch, Lawrences Goldfinch, Common Poorwill Yikes! That's a lot of birds...in any case, any and all info or help is VERY much appreciated. I'm planning on trying Mount Tabor tomorrow morning (Sunday), and I hope to run into some other birders there...I promise not to ask too many questions! I'm very excitied to be in this amazing part of the country and can't wait to see at least a couple of "new" birds... Scott Whittle www.yearofthebird.com scottwhittle at scottwhittle.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/1b37b9c0/attachment.html From alanyehudah at gmail.com Fri Apr 24 13:30:33 2009 From: alanyehudah at gmail.com (Alan Winter) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:30:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] birding at Malheur Message-ID: I'm a member of both Audubon and Sierra Club and request your assistance.Do you know of someone who would like to share a mobile home out there Saturday night or already has paid for one and has space to share, please put them in touch with me. If you can email the request below to your network that would be awesome. Sorry to be last minute. Thanks for your assistance. We're going to spend Saturday night, 4/25, in a mobile home on the Refuge. Weather is dicey, but the current forecast is sun and 50's for the weekend. It's a 3 bedroom and rents for $80. We're only using one bedroom and willing to pay more to save some. It's a long drive, but we hear the migrating water fowl are all in and, if it's sunny, the songbirds will come out. Email ASAP with a phone number. We plan on leaving Saturday morning. Can't car pool as we're planning on continuing on eastward. Blessings, Yehudah (Alan) Winter 5707 NE 15th Ave Portland, Oregon 97211 (503) 287-8737 503-819-9368 (cell) www.yourpersonalceremony.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090424/fa320d4b/attachment.html From alfanana at q.com Sat Apr 25 13:03:18 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:03:18 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time) Subject: [obol] Hummer Message-ID: Help, again. I had a Hummingbird at my feeder at 12:35 today. I was very small, green back, dark brown or black wings, white throat and belly, tiny black patch at base of throat. Could Demian's song sparrow be an Albino? Karen, La Pine -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/ea7a947c/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 31851 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/ea7a947c/attachment.gif From birdmandon at clearwire.net Sat Apr 25 13:09:01 2009 From: birdmandon at clearwire.net (Don Schrouder) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:09:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pectoral Sandpiper Message-ID: <603D1C5D-DA75-49F6-8346-53F59949EE71@clearwire.net> Hey obol, I spent 4 hours birding around Fisher Butte and Royal Ave. dikes this morning and found some interesting new for the year birds. The most unusual was a PECTORAL SANDPIPER along the dike going west from the platform off W11th, just north of the Fisher Butte parking lot. I took several good pictures as this is not a normal bird for this time of year. I believe they are much more common in summer to fall. Also found today were GOLDEN EAGLE ( diving on the ducks and teal), BLUE-WINGED TEAL (3 birds),LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and many calling SORA, VIRGINIA RAILS, and BITTERN. As another note, I photographed a strange small sparrow along the dike going south from the Royal platform that had me stumped until I got home and checked the books and pictures. I now believe it is an odd plumage Lincoln's Sparrow. No Tufted Duck was seen. Good Birding, Don Schrouder birdmandon at clearwire.net From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sat Apr 25 13:41:54 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:41:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Mt. Tabor Short-eared Owl, etc. Message-ID: <94535.6662.qm@web55706.mail.re3.yahoo.com> We birded Mt. Tabor, Portland, from about 7-11:00 this morning. We started on the south side. Just after joining Tom McNamara near the top, a SHORT EARED OWL flew low over the firs! The four of us enjoyed that first-ever Tabor bird. Jay Withgott and several others reported seeing it as well. We then birded around the top and back to the southwest side of the park with Stefan Schlick and Tom. After we left them, we found a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE west of the upper reservoir. Five calling LEAST SANDPIPERS dropped down to the lower reservoir, and circled around for a few minutes. Highlights: Peregrine Falcon- 1 (when we got home, we scoped one as it circled over Tabor) Least Sandpiper- 5 Short-eared Owl- 1 Vaux's Swift- 4 Cassin's Vireo- 4 Hammond's Flycatcher- 4 Pacific-slope Flycatcher- 6 Ruby-crowned Kinglet- 20 Hermit Thrush- 18 Varied Thrush- 10 Townsend's Solitaire- 1 Orange-crowned Warbler- 60 Nashville Warbler- 5 Yellow-rumped Warbler- 5 Black-throated Gray Warbler- 20 Townsend's Warbler- 10 MacGillivray's Warbler- 3-6 Wilson's Warbler- 2 Western Tanager- 5 Fox Sparrow- 4 Golden-crowned Sparrow- 17 White-crowned Sparrow- 3 Lincoln's Sparrow- 4 Purple Finch- heard Red Crossbill - heard We had 58 species, the most we've ever had in one trip up Mt. Tabor. Good Birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/1debdf56/attachment.html From birdmandon at clearwire.net Sat Apr 25 13:49:34 2009 From: birdmandon at clearwire.net (Don Schrouder) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:49:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pectoral Correction Message-ID: OK folks, If you don't go birding you can't make mistakes. After further review I now believe the Pectoral I reported is probably just a single Least Sandpiper. Being all by itself and I didn't have much to compare size with and its bill is all black with a fine point, yellow legs, and heavy breast streaks really says Least. Sorry, but I tried. Don Schrouder Birdmandon at clearwire.net From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Apr 25 14:55:14 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 21:55:14 +0000 Subject: [obol] Eugene DUSKY FLYCATCHER Message-ID: Greetings All, As I was dutifully grinding away on the winter North American Birds column, my partner (Jennifer Brown) said "flycatcher." A small Empid that was flycatching from our garden trellis turned out to be a DUSKY FLYCATCHER. This is the 2nd consecutive spring that this species has appeared in our yard. Dave Irons south Eugene _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get quick friend updates right in your inbox. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Updates2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/0780f81a/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sat Apr 25 15:22:45 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:22:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Evening Grosbeaks Message-ID: <512898.225.qm@web46012.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> We just had 2 Evening Grosbeaks, 1 male 1 female, come into the yard for an afternoon snack! Today's visit is the FOY and much earlier than years past.. We snapped a bunch of photos and posted a couple here: portlandbirds.blogspot.com ? Seth?and Michelle? NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/3a5d9e19/attachment.html From tshelmerdine at yahoo.com Sat Apr 25 15:40:53 2009 From: tshelmerdine at yahoo.com (Tim Shelmerdine) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:40:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Mt Tabor Calliope Hummingbird -- Saturday, yes Message-ID: <56535.31898.qm@web62107.mail.re1.yahoo.com> After getting a late start at Mt Tabor and mssing a lot of the best action, a tip from Stefan Schlick (thanks, Stefan!) encouraged me to spend some time lower down on the south and southwest sides of the park thus salvaging the day.? There I found several small flocks of warblers, a couple mixed, and one each dominated by NASHVILLE, BLACK-THROATED GRAY and TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS respectively.? A walk past the reservoirs back up to the Callliope spot produced a single WILSON'S WARBLER and MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER, a Cassin's VIREO, a?HUTTON'S VIREO, a PEREGRINE FALCON, a HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER?and even the male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD.? He was seen briefly but well about 12:15 feeding and perched among some branches of a deciduous tree about 120 yards down the trail from the hairpin turn others have mentioned. Cheers, -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/b2e534bd/attachment.html From expert-41486 at mypacks.net Sat Apr 25 15:47:17 2009 From: expert-41486 at mypacks.net (expert-41486 at mypacks.net) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:47:17 -0700 (GMT-07:00) Subject: [obol] Warblers on Mt Talbert, Clackamas Message-ID: <23696897.1240699637047.JavaMail.root@elwamui-cypress.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Saturday morning, I saw six warbler species on Mt Talbert in Clackamas County: Nashville 1 Townsend 3 B.T. Gray several Yellow-rumped few Orange-crowned many, many MacGillivray's, I think 1 female From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Apr 25 16:06:11 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:06:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook & Harney County NAMC Message-ID: <253E8392DF214B678A2A4DB242DAC9F9@cgatesPC> The Crook County NAMC will occur on Saturday, May 9. If you would like to spend a day birding in the paradise that is Crook County, let me know and I'll get you into a group. After the Crook count, I'll be heading east and doing the NAMC in Harney County on Sunday, May 10. If you are going to be in Harney County on Sunday and would like to participate in the count, please let me know. It's impossible for one team to come close to covering that county so we need lots of help. Chuck Gates NAMC County Coordinator Crook and Harney Counties -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/0b53e61b/attachment.html From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Sat Apr 25 16:09:25 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (Denise Hughes) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:09:25 -0600 Subject: [obol] Spring Migration Count In-Reply-To: <1240675398.3628.5.camel@localhost.localdomain> References: <1240675398.3628.5.camel@localhost.localdomain> Message-ID: <00f401c9c5fa$e21c6f60$a6554e20$@net> If anyone is going to be in Malheur County on May 9th, I would love your help with the bird count. Please send me an email to deniseh55 at clearwire.net Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho "One winter morning the President electrified his nervous Cabinet by bursting into a meeting with, 'Gentlemen, do you know what has happened this morning?' They waited with bated breath as he announced, 'Just now I saw a Chestnut-sided Warbler and this is only February.' " -- Corine Roosevelt Robinson (on her brother Theodore Roosevelt) (1861-1933) poet, lecturer, orator From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Apr 25 16:12:44 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:12:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gilliam, Grant, Morrow, Umatilla, and Lincoln NAMCs Message-ID: I am the compiler for the counties mentioned above. We currently have no one counting in Gilliam, Grant, or Lincoln counties. If you would like to count birds in one of those counties, please let me know. Umatilla and Morrow counties have volunteers and I am coordinating them so, if you want to count birds in those counties, let me know and I'll coordinate. The Umatilla Count is on Saturday, May 9 and the Morrow count is on Sunday, May 10. Gilliam, Grant, and Lincoln can be on either day depending on the preferences of the volunteers that contact me. Hope to hear from you. GET INVOLVED WITH THE NAMC!! It's the most fun you can have with binoculars!! ;-) Chuck Gates NAMC Coordinator -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/f6409556/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Apr 25 16:14:47 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:14:47 +0000 Subject: [obol] FW: [IN-BIRD-L] Spectacular day on Lakefront In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Greetings All, I don't often miss living in the Midwest, but reports like this one can make a guy pine for a real fallout. Ken Brock lives in Chesterton, Indiana near the southern terminus of Lake Michigan. He has been birding this area intensively for at least four decades, so when he calls a day "spectacular" you definitely open the e-mail. I still subscribe to IN-Bird, which is the Indiana equivalent of OBOL. Not sure what my best day is for sparrow species, but even our record-setting Oregon Big Days have only turned up 12-13 and that requires driving most of the way across the state in a day. Enjoy, Dave Irons Eugene, OR > Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:32:22 -0500 > From: kj.brock at COMCAST.NET > Subject: [IN-BIRD-L] Spectacular day on Lakefront > To: IN-BIRD-L at LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU > > Today (25 April 2009) Susan Bagby, John Cassady, Jeff McCoy, and I spent the > day birding the lakefront. > > We began at Dunes S.P. green tower site where we conducted a longshore > flight watch (6:10AM ? 9:30AM CDST); we were joined by Randy Pals and Kevin > Lee. The morning flight was phenomenal. To counter the roaring wind most of > the migrating birds flew low where the dunes sheltered them. Thus on many > occasions the birds passed below eye level. The best bird was a SMITH?S > LONGSPUR, but record lakefront totals were logged for three species and one > early arrival date was tied. > > After lunch we visited the Lake County traps with great success. The traps > were choked with Swamp Sparrows plus many other species. The best finds > included multiple Henslow?s and Lark Sparrows, Hooded Warblers, SUMMER > TANAGER, and Le Conte?s Sparrow. We finished the day with 13 Warblers and > 15 sparrows. It was a marvelous day. > > Weather: clear overcast and threatening, temp 65-73 degrees F, wind SW > 20-25. > The entire longshore flight list > Red-breasted Merganser (1400) > Com. Loon (5) > Great Blue Heron (3) > Double-crested Cormorant (219) > Osprey (2) > N. Harrier (1) > Cooper?s Hawk (2) > Solitary Sandpiper (8) > Greater Yellowlegs (1) > Lesser Yellowlegs (4) > Caspian Tern (3) > Mourning Dove (22) > Chimney Swift (16) > Red-headed Woodpecker (1) > Red-bellied Woodpecker (10) > Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1) > Downy Woodpecker (1) > N. Flicker (16) > E. Phoebe (1) > LEAST FLYCATCHER (1- ties lakefront?s earliest record) > GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (1- ties lakefront?s 2nd earliest record) > E. Kingbird (8) > BLUE-HEADED VIREO (1- 6th earliest lakefront record) > Purple Martin (12) > Tree Swallow (312) > N. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (90- 3rd highest lakefront count) > Bank Swallow (26) > Cliff Swallow (5) > Barn Swallow (26) > Blue Jay (31) > House Wren (2) > Golden-crowned Kinglet (5) > Ruby-crowned Kinglet (7) > BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (85- record count for the lakefront) > Eastern Bluebird (2) > American Robin (7) > Brown Thrasher (1- local bird) > American Pipit (3) > Orange-crowned Warbler (1) > NASHVILLE WARBLER (2- 4th earliest lakefront record) > Yellow Warbler (3) > Yellow-rumped Warbler (333) > YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (1- a first for the green tower site) > Palm Warbler (77) > Pine Warbler (26- record count for Indiana) > PRAIRIE WARBLER (1 singing- 5th earliest lakefront record) > Indigo Bunting (2) > CHIPPING SPARROW (119- breaks yesterday?s record high count for the > lakefront) > Dark-eyed Junco (1) > SMITH?S LONGSPUR (1 alternate male flyby- 9th record for the lakefront) > Great numbers of blackbirds were not counted > Eastern Meadowlark (1) > Orchard Oriole (1 male) > Baltimore Oriole (1 male) > Purple Finch (16) > Pine Siskin (31) > Am. Goldfinch (302) > > MILLER BEACH Nothing of note > > TRAPS- Highlights only > > HAMMOND LAKEFRONT SANCTUARY (with Michael Topp The site was teeming with) > Green Heron (1) > Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1 female) > Least Flycatcher (1) > E. Phoebe (2) > Great-crested Flycatcher (1) > House Wren (3) > Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (12) > Swainson?s Thrush (4) > Hermit Thrush (5) > WOOD THRUSH (1- ties 7th earliest lakefront record) > Orange-crowned Warbler (1) > Nashville Warbler (1) > N. Parula (1-singing) > Yellow Warbler (2) > Palm Warbler (15) > Black and white Warbler (1 male) > Ovenbird (1) > Northern Waterthrush (1) > Hooded Warbler (1) > E. Towhee (6) > Chipping Sparrow (20) > Field Sparrow (13) > Vesper Sparrow (1) > LARK SPARROW (3- record count for lakefront) > Savannah Sparrow (3) > HENSLOW?S SPARROW (3- all in same area) > Song Sparrow (13) > Lincoln?s Sparrow (2) > Swamp Sparrow (60) > White-throated Sparrow (75) > White-crowned Sparrow (2) > E. Meadowlark (1) > Orchard Oriole (1 1st-cycle male) > > STATE LINE WOODS (very few birds) > Swainson?s Thrush (2) > Hermit Thrush (2) > Orange-crowned Warbler (1) > Hooded Warbler (1 singing) > Northern Waterthrush (3) > > WHIHALA BEACH PARK > Green Heron (1) > Spotted Sandpiper (2) > Brown Thrasher (2) > Nashville Warbler (1) > SUMMER TANAGER (1 female- second earliest record for lakefront) > Savannah Sparrow (3) > LE CONTE?S SPARROW (1) > Swamp Sparrow (70) > > WHITING PARK > Winter Wren (1) > Marsh Wren (1) > Brown Creeper (1) > Hermit Thrush (8) > Am. Tree Sparrow (1) > Dark-eyed Junco (1) > > Ken Brock > Chesterton, IN > > ********************************************************** > Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives > search interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html > To post to this mailing list, you must be subscribed. > To subscribe, send a PLAIN TEXT (not HTML) email to: listserv at listserv.indiana.edu > With a message body (not subject line!) of: subscribe IN-BIRD-L FIRSTNAME LASTNAME > where FIRSTNAME and LASTNAME are your real first and last names. > To contact the listowner, send an email to in-bird-l-request at listserv.indiana.edu > ********************************************************** _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get e-mail storage that grows with you. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Storage2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/9b03f686/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Sat Apr 25 16:26:46 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:26:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lake County and Jefferson County Lincoln NAMCs In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <49f39c37.0e538c0a.4724.ffffd82e@mx.google.com> Craig and I will be leaving Friday afternoon 5-8-09 to camp at Cabin Lake in Lake County. We will start the Lake County NAMC on Saturday May 9th, 2009. We will start with the bird blind at Cabin Lake and then head to Fort Rock and surrounding area while making our way south to Summer Lake. We will be birding Lake County all day and then heading up to Jefferson County around 7:30 p.m. and then camping near Fly Creek (kind of near Lake Billy Chinook but south) Saturday night and then doing the Jefferson County NAMC on Sunday. We would love to either have people join us and camp or do the counts on their own. We can help you set up a route to cover and give suggestions. Lake County includes Summer Lake Wildlife Management Area where there will be lots of fun species diversity. You can either mail us at goosemiller at gmail.com or gismiller at gmail.com or call 541-389-9115 if you would like to participate. Birding in Central Oregon is fun! Hope to hear from you. GET INVOLVED WITH THE NAMC!! It's the most fun you can have with binoculars!! ;-) Craig and Marilyn Miller Lake County NAMC Coordinator And helping with Jefferson County No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.12.4/2080 - Release Date: 04/25/09 08:29:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/b8f9e547/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Sat Apr 25 17:08:59 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 20:08:59 EDT Subject: [obol] Eugene Birds Message-ID: Hello All, Laura and I biked to the Eugene Farmers Market this morning and on the way home as we turned onto the EWEB plaza on the Willamette, there was a huge column of VAUX'S SWIFTS 1000+ skimming the surface of the river in front of the plaza, then spiraling up in a reverse funnel into the sky above the river. There didn't appear to be any insects on the river; we think they were drinking. We hadn't seen that before! After we got our produce put away, we biked back out to Skinner's Butte. Just as we arrived on top there was a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK chasing one of the adult BALD EAGLES around. It was pretty quiet up there this afternoon but we did get good looks at a relatively low foraging HERMIT WARBLER and a couple more NASHVILLES, also CASSIN'S and WARBLING VIREO'S. John Sullivan & Laura Jonhson Springfield, Oregon **************Check all of your email inboxes from anywhere on the web. Try the new Email Toolbar now! (http://toolbar.aol.com/mail/download.html?ncid=txtlnkusdown00000027) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/dcca5cb6/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Sat Apr 25 17:12:38 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:12:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Booth-Kelly pond, Springfield Message-ID: <81320D71D3EF44DCA420F22AAF1F7E59@TomsPC> Saturday at 4 PM I had the following usual suspects: TURKEY VULTURE, KINGFISHER, MOURNING DOVE, KILLDEER, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, several nicely marked AUDUBON WARBLERS, two BLACK PHOEBES and two CANADA GEESE families. Each CANADA couple had only TWO very young chicks on the water. Isn't that very low? Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/c2c8f398/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Sat Apr 25 17:20:58 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:20:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: [IN-BIRD-L] Spectacular day on Lakefront References: Message-ID: A couple of years ago in May, in northern NY (eastern end of Lake Ontario). There was one location along the lake shore where I could see 7 Warbler species at the same time in my binos without moving my head. So, know what you mean Dave, Dennis Greetings All, I don't often miss living in the Midwest, but reports like this one can make a guy pine for a real fallout. Ken Brock lives in Chesterton, Indiana near the southern terminus of Lake Michigan. He has been birding this area intensively for at least four decades, so when he calls a day "spectacular" you definitely open the e-mail. I still subscribe to IN-Bird, which is the Indiana equivalent of OBOL. Not sure what my best day is for sparrow species, but even our record-setting Oregon Big Days have only turned up 12-13 and that requires driving most of the way across the state in a day. Enjoy, Dave Irons Eugene, OR > Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:32:22 -0500 > From: kj.brock at COMCAST.NET > Subject: [IN-BIRD-L] Spectacular day on Lakefront > To: IN-BIRD-L at LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU > > Today (25 April 2009) Susan Bagby, John Cassady, Jeff McCoy, and I spent the > day birding the lakefront. > > We began at Dunes S.P. green tower site where we conducted a longshore > flight watch (6:10AM ? 9:30AM CDST); we were joined by Randy Pals and Kevin > Lee. The morning flight was phenomenal. To counter the roaring wind most of > the migrating birds flew low where the dunes sheltered them. Thus on many > occasions the birds passed below eye level. The best bird was a SMITH?S > LONGSPUR, but record lakefront totals were logged for three species and one > early arrival date was tied. > > After lunch we visited the Lake County traps with great success. The traps > were choked with Swamp Sparrows plus many other species. The best finds > included multiple Henslow?s and Lark Sparrows, Hooded Warblers, SUMMER > TANAGER, and Le Conte?s Sparrow. We finished the day with 13 Warblers and > 15 sparrows. It was a marvelous day. > > Weather: clear overcast and threatening, temp 65-73 degrees F, wind SW > 20-25. > The entire longshore flight list > Red-breasted Merganser (1400) > Com. Loon (5) > Great Blue Heron (3) > Double-crested Cormorant (219) > Osprey (2) > N. Harrier (1) > Cooper?s Hawk (2) > Solitary Sandpiper (8) > Greater Yellowlegs (1) > Lesser Yellowlegs (4) > Caspian Tern (3) > Mourning Dove (22) > Chimney Swift (16) > Red-headed Woodpecker (1) > Red-bellied Woodpecker (10) > Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1) > Downy Woodpecker (1) > N. Flicker (16) > E. Phoebe (1) > LEAST FLYCATCHER (1- ties lakefront?s earliest record) > GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (1- ties lakefront?s 2nd earliest record) > E. Kingbird (8) > BLUE-HEADED VIREO (1- 6th earliest lakefront record) > Purple Martin (12) > Tree Swallow (312) > N. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (90- 3rd highest lakefront count) > Bank Swallow (26) > Cliff Swallow (5) > Barn Swallow (26) > Blue Jay (31) > House Wren (2) > Golden-crowned Kinglet (5) > Ruby-crowned Kinglet (7) > BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (85- record count for the lakefront) > Eastern Bluebird (2) > American Robin (7) > Brown Thrasher (1- local bird) > American Pipit (3) > Orange-crowned Warbler (1) > NASHVILLE WARBLER (2- 4th earliest lakefront record) > Yellow Warbler (3) > Yellow-rumped Warbler (333) > YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (1- a first for the green tower site) > Palm Warbler (77) > Pine Warbler (26- record count for Indiana) > PRAIRIE WARBLER (1 singing- 5th earliest lakefront record) > Indigo Bunting (2) > CHIPPING SPARROW (119- breaks yesterday?s record high count for the > lakefront) > Dark-eyed Junco (1) > SMITH?S LONGSPUR (1 alternate male flyby- 9th record for the lakefront) > Great numbers of blackbirds were not counted > Eastern Meadowlark (1) > Orchard Oriole (1 male) > Baltimore Oriole (1 male) > Purple Finch (16) > Pine Siskin (31) > Am. Goldfinch (302) > > MILLER BEACH Nothing of note > > TRAPS- Highlights only > > HAMMOND LAKEFRONT SANCTUARY (with Michael Topp The site was teeming with) > Green Heron (1) > Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1 female) > Least Flycatcher (1) > E. Phoebe (2) > Great-crested Flycatcher (1) > House Wren (3) > Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (12) > Swainson?s Thrush (4) > Hermit Thrush (5) > WOOD THRUSH (1- ties 7th earliest lakefront record) > Orange-crowned Warbler (1) > Nashville Warbler (1) > N. Parula (1-singing) > Yellow Warbler (2) > Palm Warbler (15) > Black and white Warbler (1 male) > Ovenbird (1) > Northern Waterthrush (1) > Hooded Warbler (1) > E. Towhee (6) > Chipping Sparrow (20) > Field Sparrow (13) > Vesper Sparrow (1) > LARK SPARROW (3- record count for lakefront) > Savannah Sparrow (3) > HENSLOW?S SPARROW (3- all in same area) > Song Sparrow (13) > Lincoln?s Sparrow (2) > Swamp Sparrow (60) > White-throated Sparrow (75) > White-crowned Sparrow (2) > E. Meadowlark (1) > Orchard Oriole (1 1st-cycle male) > > STATE LINE WOODS (very few birds) > Swainson?s Thrush (2) > Hermit Thrush (2) > Orange-crowned Warbler (1) > Hooded Warbler (1 singing) > Northern Waterthrush (3) > > WHIHALA BEACH PARK > Green Heron (1) > Spotted Sandpiper (2) > Brown Thrasher (2) > Nashville Warbler (1) > SUMMER TANAGER (1 female- second earliest record for lakefront) > Savannah Sparrow (3) > LE CONTE?S SPARROW (1) > Swamp Sparrow (70) > > WHITING PARK > Winter Wren (1) > Marsh Wren (1) > Brown Creeper (1) > Hermit Thrush (8) > Am. Tree Sparrow (1) > Dark-eyed Junco (1) > > Ken Brock > Chesterton, IN > > ********************************************************** > Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives > search interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html > To post to this mailing list, you must be subscribed. > To subscribe, send a PLAIN TEXT (not HTML) email to: listserv at listserv.indiana.edu > With a message body (not subject line!) of: subscribe IN-BIRD-L FIRSTNAME LASTNAME > where FIRSTNAME and LASTNAME are your real first and last names. > To contact the listowner, send an email to in-bird-l-request at listserv.indiana.edu > ********************************************************** ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get e-mail storage that grows with you. Check it out. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/45a27e96/attachment.html From erikknight05 at comcast.net Sat Apr 25 17:31:12 2009 From: erikknight05 at comcast.net (Erik Knight) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:31:12 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Oaks Bottom Leucanistic Song Sparrow? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <2120225523.841471240705872054.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> That?particular Song Sparrow has been hanging out in the bottoms for at least 2 years now. Erik Knight Portland, OR ----- Original Message ----- From: "Demian Ebert" To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2009 10:30:02 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [obol] Oaks Bottom Leucanistic Song Sparrow? This morning (about 0930) on the trail along the bottom of the bluff at Oaks Bottom I saw what appeared to be a very odd song sparrow. At first glance, I wasn't sure what it was. The size of a song sparrow, with all the field characteristics and marks of a song sparrow (streaking, breast spot, face pattern, etc), and it was behaving like one. However, it was entirely pale tan and white. There was no differentiation in color?between wings, flanks, breast, back or head that you would normally look for to split sub-species of song sparrows.?It's like someone bleached out a normal song sparrow. It never made a sound for the entire time I watched it. It was near the second bench from the north entry along the trail. Enjoy. Demian Ebert _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/f3ba99fb/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Sat Apr 25 17:52:31 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:52:31 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Western Bluebirds In-Reply-To: <1123876997.1231891240706775359.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <228282508.1232901240707151744.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> I helped mom in her Sherwood garden today. It was quite lovely weather, no showers, not much of a breeze and the sun came out around noon. While having lunch three Western Bluebirds landed on the deck rail. It was wonderful, two females and an adult male perched just 10 feet from my chair. Mom and Dad have around 5 acres, I would guess there's about an acre in short grass which the deck overlooks. Last week the short grass area erupted with small bees that have individual burrows about the size of a mason bee hole, but in the ground. The bees look like little bumble bees. The Bluebirds appeared to be catching and eating these little bees making short forays from the deck rail and then hoping around in the grass making wild jumps and short flights over the grass. They then checked out the Bluebird boxes. I've got my fingers crossed that they will settle in at Mom and Dad's this year. Also saw 6 Orange-crowned Warblers working in the Acer macrophylum (Oregon Big Leaf Maple) 2 Brown-headed Cowbirds, several Black-capped Chickadees, Oregon Juncos, 2 Spotted Towhees, Steller's Jays, 2 Northern Flickers, 2 Mourning Doves and some sort of interesting airplane with four propellers looks like it might of flown in World War II. Then there were butterflies, saw a pretty white one with a little black and orange wing-tips. There were what appeared to be Painted Lady butterflies landing on Dad's freshly tilled vegetable garden. Are their Painted Lady butterflies around this time of year? The Long-toed and Northwestern Salamander eggs in the fishpond are developing; I can see little larve that are begining to look like a tadpole inside the eggs. That's it. I'm very excited about the Western Bluebirds. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/6bf08299/attachment.html From carpediem at ccwebster.net Sat Apr 25 18:24:13 2009 From: carpediem at ccwebster.net (Abby Jaworski) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:24:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black headed Grosbeaks - Oregon City In-Reply-To: <228282508.1232901240707151744.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: Had our first Black Headed Grosbeaks at the feeder yesterday ? 2 males. Also had American Goldfinches at the feeder yesterday ? haven?t seen them since fall. Abby Oregon City -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/57cff550/attachment.html From davebrownbirder at yahoo.com Sat Apr 25 19:18:28 2009 From: davebrownbirder at yahoo.com (Dave Brown) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:18:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Visit to Central Oregon Message-ID: <214234.30517.qm@web59916.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> Since my wife died last month I have had time to get out so I went to Crooked River Ranch and stayed a few days with my brother there. On wednesday I? went to Smith Rock State Park. There was alot of Violet-green Swallows and some Rock Pigeons flying around the cliff in the main area and a few Black-billed Magpie's so I headed up river until I started seeing sighns not to climb in that area because raptors are nesting. I saw one large nest in the rocks but could not see any thing on it. There was a adult Golden Eagle flying back and fouth often out of sight only to appear again. A 1 st. year immuture?Bald Eagle came by giving the Golden Eagle a break from the Raven's for awhile. There was a group of White-throated Swift's? in this area too.??I also went to Lake Billy Chinook where a nice male Mountain Bluebird gave me a good look. I saw some Western Bluebirds too on the ranch. Coming home I took the lower bridge rout where I saw my first Western Kingbird for this spring. I went in to the head waters of the Metolius river and watched a White-headed Woodpecker work over a tree trunk inches from the ground for a long time untel I left. ? Dave Brown Alvadore -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/f604083c/attachment.html From rlowe at casco.net Sat Apr 25 20:07:01 2009 From: rlowe at casco.net (Roy Lowe) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 20:07:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oaks Bottom Leucanistic Song Sparrow? In-Reply-To: <2120225523.841471240705872054.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> References: <2120225523.841471240705872054.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <0B8FEA79-9594-4BF9-BBD2-1AA3A0CD9914@casco.net> And while we're talking about leucanistic / albanistic birds check out the beautiful house finch that has been visiting our office at the Hatfield Marine Science Center for the past three winters at http://www.flickr.com/photos/24707703 at N06 Roy On Apr 25, 2009, at 5:31 PM, Erik Knight wrote: > That particular Song Sparrow has been hanging out in the bottoms for > at least 2 years now. > > > Erik Knight > Portland, OR > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Demian Ebert" > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2009 10:30:02 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada > Pacific > Subject: [obol] Oaks Bottom Leucanistic Song Sparrow? > > This morning (about 0930) on the trail along the bottom of the bluff > at Oaks Bottom I saw what appeared to be a very odd song sparrow. At > first glance, I wasn't sure what it was. The size of a song sparrow, > with all the field characteristics and marks of a song sparrow > (streaking, breast spot, face pattern, etc), and it was behaving > like one. However, it was entirely pale tan and white. There was no > differentiation in color between wings, flanks, breast, back or head > that you would normally look for to split sub-species of song > sparrows. It's like someone bleached out a normal song sparrow. It > never made a sound for the entire time I watched it. It was near the > second bench from the north entry along the trail. > > Enjoy. > > Demian Ebert > > _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/5abf6247/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Sat Apr 25 20:26:11 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David Bailey) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 20:26:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Clatsop County migrants Message-ID: <49F3D453.5010100@pdx.edu> Birding in Clatsop county the last two days (24 & 25 April 2009) produced the following highlights: Silver Point south of Cannon Beach: Sooty Shearwater Rinoceros Auklet Red-necked Grebe Harlequin Duck Pigeon Gillamot Greater White-fronted Goose Cackling Goose Anna's Hummingbird Pacific Loon--at 1130 today they were flying north at about 500-1000 individuals/minute Necanicum Estuary: Brant--31 birds I counted today. They have been staging at the mouth of the estuary the last few days. The species does not winter here. Gearhart in my yard: Today at 1600 I looked out the window and saw 20 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS moving bushtit like north through the trees. I have never witnessed such an obvious migration of warblers. See birdnotes.net for more details. David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From hnehls6 at comcast.net Sat Apr 25 20:53:07 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 20:53:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Garganey Message-ID: Obolers, Just received a call from Sheila Ralston of Kirkland Washington. She was passing through Malheur yesterday (April 24) and spotted a bright male Gargqney sputh of Burns along Hotchkiss Lane. It was in a flock of Cinnamon Teal. Harry -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/39d2f6d8/attachment.html From woodenapple at juno.com Sat Apr 25 21:24:09 2009 From: woodenapple at juno.com (woodenapple at juno.com) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 04:24:09 GMT Subject: [obol] Obol: N. Eugene/Santa Clara Calliope Hummingbird Message-ID: <20090425.212409.29356.0@webmail06.vgs.untd.com> I had a new yard bird this morning (Saturday), a male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD. How many Calliopes is that now in the Willamette Valley this spring? It seems more than usual. Rudi ____________________________________________________________ Click here to find the right business program for you and take your career to the next level. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTESUTNagJCfJbAX6pjq1Fs6oncUruQpcLO7ugnf0T2dAMKH7YvYmE/ From Oropendolas at aol.com Sat Apr 25 22:06:05 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:06:05 EDT Subject: [obol] Alton Baker - White-throated Sparrow Message-ID: Hello All, There was a White-throated Sparrow with a flock of Golden and White-crowned Sparrows late this afternoon on the South side of the millrace behind Cuthbert Amphitheater. John Sullivan Springfield, OR **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps!(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1220814855x1201410739/aol?red ir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd=A prilfooter426NO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/cbe6b465/attachment.html From bigfishyman at gmail.com Sat Apr 25 22:20:28 2009 From: bigfishyman at gmail.com (Bob Fish) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:20:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Backyard birdies Message-ID: Today I had the First WHITE CROWNED SPARROW, as well as many PINE SISKINS. Happy Spring Bob Fish Creswell, ORE -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/778a0b0f/attachment.html From roygerig at hotmail.com Sat Apr 25 23:17:29 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:17:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ankeny NWR White Fronts Message-ID: On the way to visit my Mom and Dad near Crabtree in Linn County this morning, I stopped and walked out into the middle of the marsh complex at Ankeny NWR. There were virtually no geese in the area early, and I saw a sky FULL of geese going north early this morning. Around noon I saw a sky full of geese coming from the south. I estimate that about 6000 Cackling Geese landed about 1/2 mile away, and another 1000 GREATER WHITE FRONTED GEESE landed around the edges of Mallard Marsh, almost completely segregated from the Cacklers. The White-Fronts were in four flocks around me and didn't seem aware of my presence. It was a beautiful sight to see them, and I just stood and admired them for quite awhile. I have never seen so many White-Fronts in the Willamette Valley. Just about then my brother Lonnie called me on my cell phone. It was a call I've expected for about 2 years. My Dad was gone. He passed away at about the time the White-fronts were coming in. I walked back to my car a mile away and drove to Mom and Dad's place where my four brothers and sisters were gathering. It was the best possible way to receive that call. Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get e-mail storage that grows with you. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Storage2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090425/df987a12/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Apr 26 00:32:30 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:32:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: Please send a shout out to obol about your namc Message-ID: <5E0120EDDCB84500B97516D67E6EE716@cgatesPC> Here's a message from Stuart Johnston about the Hood River County NAMC ----- Original Message ----- From: Stuart Johnston To: Chuck Gates Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2009 6:38 PM Subject: RE: Please send a shout out to obol about your namc Hi Chuck I monitor OBOL but do not know how to post so wonder if you could forward this request for participants that might want to help out on the Hood River Co. NAMC? The Hood River County Spring NAMC will be held on Sunday 10 May. It would be great to have some other participants to help cover the wealth of superb habitats in this county, ranging from the migration corridor that is the Columbia River to the high country around Mt. Hood. Drop me an email or ring me at (509) 493-3363 and please leave a message on the hostel's machine if I'm not in. Hope to hear from some of you............Stuart Johnston -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: cgates326 at gmail.com To: dhughes55 at clearwire.net; Tonkng at aol.com; tjanzen at comcast.net; wolfies.hound at gmail.com; johnstonstuartf at hotmail.com; namitzr at hotmail.com; pukeko at mcsi.net; celata at pacifier.com; marciafcutler at comcast.net; gnorgren at earthlink.net; Kyle.W.Bratcher at state.or.us; rriparia at charter.net; jobr at oregontrail.net; jmoodie at cocc.edu; raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com; henry at formandstructure.net; gdalindy at msn.com; fschrock at linfield.edu; dlbird at earthlink.net; scrapbird at charter.net; dpvroman at budget.net; baileydc at pdx.edu; gismiller at gmail.com; tunicate89 at yahoo.com; charles.gates at crookcounty.k12.or.us; Cathy.Nowak at state.or.us; bcombs232 at gmail.com; jbw at oregoncoast.com; apteryx1 at gmail.com CC: cgates at webformixair.com Subject: Please send a shout out to obol about your namc Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:15:27 -0700 Just two weeks to go before the NAMC. I'm asking that each county coordinator send a message to obol announcing their count. It is our goal to continually build a cadre of volunteers so that we can begin to make this a more comprehensive migration count. Hope you are as excited as I am!! Chuck Gates NAMC State Coordinator -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Windows Live? Hotmail?:?more than just e-mail. Check it out. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/30a439c7/attachment.html From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Sun Apr 26 08:08:13 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 08:08:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] New Species of bird for Crooked River Ranch Message-ID: <49F478DD.3040809@gmail.com> Well Oregon Birders, I've been waiting for the day. We've finally added a new species of bird to our Crooked River Ranch Bird List. It has taken thirty-one years for them to get here, from Florida. The information I've read and heard is that a pair of them were released way back in 1978 somewhere in Florida, but it has only taken those 31 years for them to multiply and spread from there clear into all parts of California and then north into Oregon. It was only a few years ago that someone encountered them in Prineville. Then in Bend. Then Redmond. Then Madras. So we knew they were coming. It was just a matter of time. Someone first found them three years or so ago near the Madras airport. FIFTEEN of them! Last year I counted TWENTY-EIGHT of them on the Utopia Christmas Bird Count. They were mixed in with the Mourning Doves in Madras at Round Butte Feed. Well, folks TODAY is the DAY! While enjoying my usual cup-o-Joe this morning I saw a flutter of wings across the valley north of our house near the water tower. It didn't flutter like our local Mourning Doves. At first I thought- Rock Pigeon?? No. Too small. Light color. Rounded tail, not pointed. What's THAT? A COLLAR on the back of its neck!! Yep. You guessed it. A Eurasian Collared Dove! Thirty-one years in the making. Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/5e316319/attachment.vcf From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Sun Apr 26 08:37:19 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 11:37:19 -0400 Subject: [obol] fallout definition Message-ID: Today's Sunday Oregonian has a great description of a bird migration fallout. See the Travel section for story set in Texas. Lona Pierce, Warren _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Mobile2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/c09d40f5/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Sun Apr 26 08:59:42 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 08:59:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: 6:15-8:15 AM (4/26): with Wayne Hoffman mostly overcast/showers, wind N 5-10, swells 6-8 400+ Red-throated Loon 4000+ Pacific Loon (steady 20-90/min until 7:45, a few swimming) 6 Common Loon 1 Red-necked Grebe 8 Western Grebe 1 MANX SHEARWATER (S ~1/2 mile out) 40 Sooty Shearwater 28 Brown Pelican 4 Double-crested Cormorant 350 Pelagic Cormorant (N) 120 Brandt's Cormorant (most N) 48 Brant 40 White-winged Scoter 600 Surf Scoter 5 Red-breasted Merganser 3 Black-bellied Plover 70 Whimbrel 30+ Dunlin 2000+ Western Sandpiper 15 dowitcher sp. 5 California Gull 150 Western Gull 60 Glaucous-winged Gull (most immature) 60 Caspian Tern 7000+ Common Murre (N) 40 Pigeon Guillemot (most N) 12 Marbled Murrelet 12 Ancient Murrelet 80 Rhinoceros Auklet (most N) Phil philliplc at charter.net From kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us Sun Apr 26 10:31:20 2009 From: kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us (Kyle W Bratcher) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 10:31:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wallowa County NAMC Message-ID: Well, by now I think everyone knows that the NAMC is coming up and volunteers are needed. This year I will be coordinating one for Wallowa County and will be holding the count on May 10th so people can also participate in the birdathon at Ladd Marsh on Saturday (also going to be a good event and I recommend showing up). This is the first time I have organized this and would greatly appreciate the help. There should be some good birds showing up by this time. I have seen a recent movement of warblers into the area. Also if anyone is feeling ambitious to try some of the trails into the mountains some Pine Grosbeaks, Spruce grouse, Dusky Grouse, and Ruffed grouse, are possible. I also saw a Chukar and a Grey partridge toward Imnaha yesterday. If nothing else it's a beautiful time in the valley right now and it may just be a good time to get out in NE Oregon. You can participate in any capacity you like a full day is not required. I have not arranged a meeting time or place as of yet. I will send that and more information out when I have a better idea of what volunteers I have. Thank you Kyle Bratcher Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Phone: (541) 740-1093 E-mail: Kyle.W.Bratcher at state.or.us Alternate E-mail: bratchek at msn.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/e1ebabef/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Sun Apr 26 11:16:09 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 11:16:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lapland Longspur Bandon 4/25/09 Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F0209FB48@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> I made a brief stop at Bandon yesterday afternoon and saw a LAPLAND LONGSPUR in partial breeding plumage at the overlook at Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. I laid on the ground and got some good pictures of the bird as it fed and moved through the short grass. There were a dozen CASPIAN TERNS on the mudflats in Bandon at the marsh overlook. In Gold Beach there were BROWN PELICANS moving north over the ocean and a group at the south jetty of the Rogue River sitting on the docks at the marina. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/50e94a66/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Apr 26 12:21:16 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:21:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birder needs assistance in Lincoln County Message-ID: Forrest Rowland has graciously agreed to count birds on Lincoln County for the Spring NAMC. However, he is not too familiar with that county. Are there any locals who would like to go out birding with Forrest on Sunday, May 10 and show him the best locations? Let me know and I'll get you in touch with him. Chuck Gates State Coordinator ECBC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/9cc8891a/attachment.html From marciafcutler at comcast.net Sun Apr 26 12:26:42 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:26:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Benton Co. NAMC Message-ID: <7D1FE80DB0B145439D2F65E03031C5F7@melvintrex4uoq> The Migratory Bird Count in Benton Co. will be on Saturday May 9, 2009. This is a relatively unorganized bird count. You can do it for any length of time during the day (or night) in your backyard (feeder count), during a walk around your neighborhood or favorite local park, or spend a more intensive time counting birds at county hotspots. There is no sign-up necessary and you can bird by yourself, with friends, family and/or your pet dog. Just report your results to me by e-mail: marciafcutler at comcast.net. In addition to the number of species and birds seen at each location, I need to know the total amount of time spent and mileage (by car and/or other locomotion). I'd appreciate being informed ahead of time if you plan to do the count, but last minute participation is fine too! Thanks and good birding! Marcia F. Cutler Corvallis, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/60ae4049/attachment.html From hatlevis at comcast.net Sun Apr 26 12:48:55 2009 From: hatlevis at comcast.net (Susan Hatlevig) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:48:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] evening grosbeaks, corvallis in my backyard Message-ID: Sent this as html instead of plain text, so I'm sending it agai. I'm learning every time I send something. Thanks! In the early morning, starting at about 6 a.m. we?ve had 20-30 (or more?) evening grosbeaks at our feeders.? They are all over the tall trees around our house-what a cacophony! ?Also seeing white and golden-crowned sparrows and goldfinches feeding on the ground. We?ve had goldfinches around for some time, actually. Still a junco or two.? Large flocks of pine siskins. ? I?ve noticed that some white-crowned have a wide white patch and others a more, narrow neatly trimmed white.? Is there a difference between birds, one male or female? Is this what people mean when they say ?variant??? I guess everyone but me knows what ?variant? means(?) By the way, the bills are pinkish (not yellow). I?m not up on all this so maybe someone can tell me. I saw both types together at Finley (thanks for the spelling correction) and the broad-white patched ones appeared larger.? Although it is way late in mentioning this, (I didn?t know about this site until recently), there was a white-throated sparrow hanging around in our backyard this winter.? Haven?t seen one since living in Wisconsin, and I was surprised to see it. ??We?ve also had up to 8 yellow-rumps (mostly Audubons) on our big platform feeder at a time.? Everyone seems to love hulled sunflower chips. ? This site has inspired me to get out birding again versus taking the lazy way with my backyard.? Took my binoculars along this morning when my husband had to check in with several farmers (he?s an agronomist) starting at 6 a.m.? Headed down around the McKenzie River area in the backroads along Walterville.? Quiet, nippy and gray today, but had a few Canada geese fly only a few feet over our heads by one of the sloughs while talking with a farmer. ?The sound of the vortex from their wings is way cool.? Walked in a big field of blue camas that had recently been underwater-lots of bird tracks and goose droppings.? Saw a field of solid buttercups. ? Thanks, Susie in Corvallis From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Sun Apr 26 12:51:31 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (Tom McNamara) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:51:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] few Calliope pics of Mt. Tabor bird Message-ID: Few pics of the bird the other day here: http://tinyurl.com/d9khks Turns out that, per Tomas Larsen, there were actually two male calliopes there that day. Not just the 2 bird theory; he and another birder saw them simultaneously. Greg Baker saw the female again this morning. chow, Tom _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get e-mail storage that grows with you. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Storage2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/8014965f/attachment.html From bcombs232 at gmail.com Sun Apr 26 13:23:47 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:23:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane County NAMC Saturday May 9 Message-ID: <8ce3a6520904261323i2e693686ud92887dfe926f64c@mail.gmail.com> We'll count birds in Lane County for the NAMC on Saturday, May 9, Even if you tally birds for an hour or so in your yard or neighborhood, I would be happy to hear from you. List essentials: Species list, with number of each species of bird seen or heard. Time spent birding, including how much time driving, walking, bicycling, canoeing, or just sitting around. Miles traveled, by type of conveyance. I especially would like a volunteer with a firm commitment to count the Vaux's Swift roost on the UO campus. Also, if you are able to plan in advance, please let me know where you will be birding. Lane County is huge and we can count its birds most effectively if we minimize overlap of counting areas. If you let me know in advance that you plan to participate, I will e-mail you a field checklist to use for your tallies. It is too early to tell what the weather will be like, but there will be birds around, no matter what. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/3955c31c/attachment.html From tangara45 at hotmail.com Sun Apr 26 13:32:30 2009 From: tangara45 at hotmail.com (Graham Floyd) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:32:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bushtit nest disturbance Message-ID: This year the Bushtits are building their nest six feet in front of our bay kitchen window. So far we have kept the blinds down to watch them during construction. Any thoughts on how sensitive they will be to kitchen racket (e.g. washing dishes with the window open)? Thanks, Graham in Beaverton _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get e-mail storage that grows with you. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Storage2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/518d9c29/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Apr 26 13:37:48 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:37:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - 4/26/2009 Message-ID: <49F4C61C.1060204@pacifier.com> Columbia Estuary Report - 4/26/2009 600 WHIMBREL were reported at Seppa's field along Lewis and Clark Road yesterday. Between 400 and 800 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE have been parking at Wireless Rd for several days now. About 30 ALEUTIAN GEESE are hanging out with them. A flock of 130 Aleutians flew over Circle Creek Saturday during a field trip there. 600 White-fronts were with 200 MINIMA CACKLING GEESE on Jackson. The shorebird action has been spotty around the region, but fair numbers of expected northbound species have been reported from the Necannicum and Youngs Bay. There were 2 PURPLE MARTINS at Ziaks in Brownsmead this morning and plenty of CLIFF SWALLOWS at Svensen Island, -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Apr 26 14:04:46 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:04:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] JoCo Western Tanager Message-ID: Just had (04-26-09) a WESTERN TANAGER at our (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit). Could have been either a younger male or an older female (some faint reddish color in the face area close to the bill; brownish wings). My earliest documented Tanager in the county is April 20th. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/345fbb82/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Sun Apr 26 14:42:43 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:42:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] 8 warbler day, Ridgefield NWR, Carty Unit, WA Message-ID: I along with others birded long pasture adjacent to Lake River at Ridgefield NWR, Carty Unit today. Any day is a good day when I see more than 5 warblers! 8 is great. Here are the highlights. Many are first spring sightings. orange-crowned warbler 61 yellow-rumped warbler 78 common yellowthroat 8 McGillivray's warbler 1 Townsend's warbler 1 Wilson's warbler 1 black-throated gray warbler 1 Nashville warbler 1 western tanager 1 sandhill crane 3 turkey vulture 5 Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/d266961f/attachment.html From brrobb at comcast.net Sun Apr 26 15:49:12 2009 From: brrobb at comcast.net (Roger & Betty Robb) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 15:49:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge, Lane County Message-ID: <234C10C1FCFB4FFC9387EF333074EAC1@RROffice> I spent the morning birding Fern Ridge including Royal Ave to the tower, the tower off Rt 126, the Long Tom canoe path (just north of Veneta) and Jean's Point. I found most of the previously reported birds from the two towers, though 2 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS from the Rt 126 tower were new for the year. The best birding was along the Long Tom canoe path trail where I found good numbers of migrants including DUSKY FLYCATCHER, 3 Vireos - Cassin's, Warbling & Hutton's; 6 Warblers - Orange-crowned, Black-throated Gray, Yellow-rumped, Wilson's, MacGillvray's & Yellowthroat; and several Evening Grosbeaks. On the walk in I heard a RUFFED GROUSE drumming several times. I found the bird on its log about 1/3 mile from the parking lot. I found a total of 96 species this morning. Roger Robb Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/c71a035c/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun Apr 26 16:11:44 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 16:11:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry Birds of Late 4/26/2009 update Message-ID: <34441.75560.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I received several more reports of LAPLAND LONGSPURS lately.? Jim Hein had one in Bandon on 4/16.? Joe Metzler found one recently in a spot and date I don't recollect. There has been yet another one on the north spit of Coos Bay yesterday and today (4/25-4/26) plus the one John Gatchet reported from Bandon on 4/25.? The total so far in Coos Co. alone is 9 reports(!) which is more than all other previous spring records combined, the first spring record being in 1982.? Terry Wahl reports seeing a flock of 6 and a separate single last week on and near his family ranch near Cape Blanco down in Curry Co. WOW! Also out on the north spit of Coos Bay on 4/25 were three RED KNOTS, a migrant, singing PALM WARBLER (the second migrant I've found this spring and only the third one I've ever heard singing in the spring; this date is one date short of tying the latest Coos spring record), and the SNOW GOOSE was still around in the AM when Joe Metzler was out there (gone in the PM when I was there). Interestingly, Terry Wahl saw a SNOW GOOSE at his ranch earlier in the week with a flock of Aleutians, possibly the same bird? This afternoon (the 26th) the GREATER WHITE-FRONT GOOSE flock was at least 250 at this same location. Cape Arago Audubon had a good turn out for our field trip on 4/26 to Bandon Marsh, about 25, but the shorebirds weren't there- we only saw maybe 500 total, mostly peeps (Western & Least Sandpipers, SP Plovers, and Dunlin), 4 BB Plovers, 2 Whimbrel, 8 Greater Yellowlegs, and a flock of 20 or so dowitchers.? We did have 4 species of geese though- ALEUTIAN CACKLERS, BRANT, GWF GEESE, and of course CANADAS, many of which had goslings. The TUFTED PUFFINS were out on Face Rock, we saw at least three. Lots of Caspian Terns around too, particularly around the jetty area where they were fishing. A few pelis also. There was also one BLUE-WINGED TEAL with the duck flock at the marsh. In addition to the Lapland Longspurs at Terry Wahl's ranch in the past week he's also seen 6 CHIPPING SPARROWS but has yet to see even a single WESTERN KINGBIRD which is way late for him.? He has had over 20 by early May which is normally the time we start seeing migrants in Coos Co.? That's it for now, ENJOY! Tim R Coos Bay From masohlstrom at msn.com Sun Apr 26 17:08:52 2009 From: masohlstrom at msn.com (M A SOHLSTROM) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:08:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Long-Billed Curlew - Baskett Slough Message-ID: All - Patty Bernardi and I made a rambling trip to Eugene (Skinners Butte was quiet when we arrived after 9 am) and home via Hwy 99. We decided to check Baskett Slough for the Red Breasted Goose on the way home. We sat and watched hundreds of Canada geese come up off the marsh and land in a field just south of Colville Road. There was a smattering of White Fronts mixed in with them, but nothing exotic. We went on west to the Narrows, turned around and headed back to Hwy 99. Just east of the Narrows, south of Colville Rd I spotted a LONG-BILLED CURLEW, which flushed when we stopped the car. We both had a quick look - enough to see cinnamon wing linings - as it flew off to the south-west. Nice day to be out. Mary Anne Sohlstrom -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/c91abfa2/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Apr 26 17:21:19 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:21:19 +0000 Subject: [obol] Lane Co. MANX SHEARWATER Message-ID: Greetings All, Diane Pettey, Maitreya, and I spent the morning on the south jetty at the Siuslaw R. mouth (Florence). Our 3-hr. seawatch (8-11AM) resulted in a nice variety of northbound migrants, highlighted by a single MANX SHEARWATER that passed north about 250-300 yards beyond the end of the jetties. There was nice flight of Pacific Loons, a steady flow of small flocks of shorebirds, mostly Western Sandpipers with a few Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitchers, and Black-bellied Plovers mixed in. We also had a nice variety of alcids with many Common Murres, about 50 Rhinoceros Auklets, 8-10 Cassin's Auklets, 16+ Marbled Murrelets, and one Pigeon Guillemot. We had a few scattered ducks fly past (mostly Green-winged Teal), but very few scoters. We also had one flock of about 90 Aleutian Cackling Geese go over. It was sunny, not windy, and the viewing conditions were ideal. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Mobile2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090427/4008d8c3/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Sun Apr 26 17:24:26 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:24:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene area birds Message-ID: <2b1bbd260904261724n2b8cdd5aj4832dbcaef40c80d@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Lydia Cruz and I made a visit to Eugene today (4-26) and saw a few birds along the way. Fern Ridge - Fisher Unit >From small viewing platform near hwy 126 lot: BLACK-NECKED STILT 10+ WILSON'S PHALAROPE 1+ ALEUTIAN CANADA GEESE 12+ >From large platform at Royal Ave. TUFTED DUCK (far to west end of cell with Ring-necks and Scaup sp.) GR WHITE FRONTED GEESE 6 Skinner Butte: Got there in the afternoon, so it was pretty slow CASSIN'S VIREO 3 WARBLING VIREO 8 BALD EAGLE 3 (1 adult and 2 fuzz balls) Bushtits working on their nest -- Daniel Farrar Florence, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/10697d94/attachment.html From erikknight05 at comcast.net Sun Apr 26 18:02:27 2009 From: erikknight05 at comcast.net (Erik Knight) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:02:27 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Purple Martins & House Wrens have arrived In-Reply-To: <1845456732.1034191240794124639.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <246858691.1034331240794147581.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> OBOLers, FOY PURPLE MARTINS(single males over Oak Island & Gilbert River boat launch) and many HOUSE WRENS on Sauvie Island today.? Full list on birdnotes. Erik Knight Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090427/cb0c0a89/attachment.html From jvanmoo at sisna.com Sun Apr 26 18:04:49 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:04:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Klamath Falls Area 4-26-09 Message-ID: <9FFC78C1-BAA2-42C2-8076-C5EA070C5B6E@sisna.com> Marilyn Christian and I birded a big loop east of Klamath Falls and then south and west to Stateline Rd. Highlights: ~500 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER in a field at the junction of Hwy 70 and Casebeer Rd in Bonanza. LEAST SANDPIPER at multiple sites--Bliss Rd Ponds, Merrill Rd, White Lake (OR side). Most of the other sightings were common ducks for this time and the usual shorebirds--avocets, stilts, dowitchers, and godwits. We didn't find any ibis, Westerns Kingbirds or Swainson's Hawks. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From krallfamily at comcast.net Sun Apr 26 19:01:43 2009 From: krallfamily at comcast.net (Kathy) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:01:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brown Pelicans at Cape Lookout Message-ID: Saw 3 brown pelicans heading north off the Cape Lookout park beach on Saturday. Kathy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/d265268c/attachment.html From rriparia at charter.net Sun Apr 26 19:22:41 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:22:41 -0400 Subject: [obol] Klamath Co NAMC Message-ID: <20090426222241.R7RUI.1586682.root@mp15> Two weeks away. Klamath Co.'s NAMC date is Sunday, May 10. From Midnight to Midnight, or whatever part of the day you wish to observe and report birds. Since Klamath Co. is so large, and even doing a "Big Day" can be burdensome, the county is covered in sections. Large areas include Westside Upper Klamath (including Malone Spring, Short Ck., Seven-mile GS, Annie Ck., Wood R. Picnic area, Fort Klamath, on up to Crater Lk.) Southern Section (Spring Lake, Tingley Lake, Midland Rd., Cross Rd., Lower Klamath NWR, Straits Drain, Oregon Drain, White Lk., Miller Lake, Township Rd., Lower Klamath Lake Rd., Beusing and Chin Rds., Merrill, Malin, Harpold Rd.), Southeast section (Bly, Beatty, Bonanza, Langell Valley, maybe Gerber Resvr., or Stukel Mtn.) Klamath River Canyon and Hamaker Mtn., Klamath Falls (including Moore Park, Link River, Lake Ewauna... possibly Miller Island). Northeast (inlcuding Chiloquin, Wood River Wetlands, Sprague River, Hagelstein Park, and on up to Klamath Marsh and Spring Ck.) So far 4 people have expressed interest. Let me know if you wish to participate, who you'd like to be teamed up with, an area you are interested in, and the amount of time you'll likely be involved. I'll be in touch with all who are interested shortly. It's a fun day, and Klamath County Rocks! .... with Rock Wrens. Kevin Spencer rriparia at charter.net From whoffman at peak.org Sun Apr 26 19:38:12 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:38:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Peregrine Falcon at Yaquina Head Message-ID: This afternoon (April 26) a subadult Peregrine Falcon hung out and hunted at Yaquina Head. I first was it in flight, at the end of the point. Incredibly, it was trying to capture Common Murres, which have to be considerably heavier than it is. It flew up over the colony rock and nabbed a Murre in the air just above the rock, with one foot on the base of the Murre's left wing and the other in the middle of the back. It then flew with the struggling Murre, toward shore, losing altitude. As it disappeared around the corner of the point I could see that only one foot was still engaged. It reappeared a few seconds later, sans Murre. I tried again, and got a hold on another one, but held it for only a couple of seconds. It then flew over and perched in the gnarled spruce trees north of the lighthouse, where it remained until I left, shortly after 4 PM. The bird was a subadult and showed some of the characteristics of the tundrius subspecies, which nests where the name implies, but is highly migratory, with much of the population wintering in South America. The head plumage appeared adult-like, and fresh blue-gray feathers were present on the back and scapulars, but the wing and tail feathers were worn and faded, reddish brown. The bird was not particularly big for a Peregrine. The malar bar ("sideburns") were fairly narrow. The new back feathers were not as dark as is typical in our local birds. All these caharacters suggest tundrius. On the other hand, the bird did not have the white forehead zone typical of tundrius on the east coast. The first feathers just above the cere were paler than the black crown, but not white. I seem to recall that the white forehead is less consistent in birds from the western end of the breeding range (in Alaska) but do not remember where I read that. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/1b2c34a0/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sun Apr 26 19:32:57 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (jeffharding at centurytel.net) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 02:32:57 GMT Subject: [obol] Linn County Solitary Sandpiper Message-ID: <200904270232.n3R2Wvnv008708@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Jeff Harding by http://birdnotes.net Date: April 26, 2009 Location: Linn County, Oregon I spent the morning on a motorless birding expedition, walking from home to the old mill ponds at Griggs by way of the back part of the Thackaberry Sheep Farm. The five miles or so, plus a few birds seen from home added some fourteen birds to my motorless list for the year, bringing me to 102, still behind most of the others, probably all of the others when they update. Noteworthy were the shorebirds on a clover field near Brewster Road, including a Solitary Sandpiper, some 30 Greater Yellowlegs and a number of Least Sandpipers. There was also a Spotted Sandpiper at the Griggs millponds, something I have expected. I did not find any Black Phoebes there. There were a lot of Yellow-rumped Warblers, mostly Audubon's, but there were several very nicely marked adult male Myrtles. Several Nashville Warblers were the first of the year for me. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Greater White-fronted Goose Canada Goose Wood Duck Gadwall [1] Mallard Ring-necked Duck Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Ring-necked Pheasant Wild Turkey Pied-billed Grebe Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Northern Harrier [2] Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel American Coot Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs [3] Solitary Sandpiper [4] Spotted Sandpiper [5] Least Sandpiper Rock Dove Mourning Dove Great Horned Owl Vaux's Swift [6] Anna's Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Acorn Woodpecker Red-breasted Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Cassin's Vireo Hutton's Vireo Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow [7] Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Western Bluebird Hermit Thrush American Robin European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Common Yellowthroat Spotted Towhee Chipping Sparrow Vesper Sparrow [8] Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Purple Finch Pine Siskin Lesser Goldfinch American Goldfinch House Sparrow Footnotes: [1] A pair on the Griggs mill ponds [2] Carrying Food [3] at least 30 individuals [4] One in a muddy patch in a clover field, near the oaks on the west edge of the farm, seen from Brewster Road. [5] In breeding plumage on the mill pond [6] Seen from the deck at home in the evening [7] Several at the Griggs mill pond [8] One singing along the hedge row on the north-west end of the farm Total number of species seen: 79 From rriparia at charter.net Sun Apr 26 19:47:56 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:47:56 -0400 Subject: [obol] KlamCo Bike Birds Message-ID: <20090426224756.02OJ7.1587951.root@mp15> Biking from Klamath Falls to Tulelake: Saturday, Ap. 25, AM cool, PM wind 35+ mph CALIFORNIA TOWHEE, Reeder and Hill Rds. at house south of T intersection, singing, numerous roosting Black-Crowned Night Herons on Lost R. A loud group of Yellow-headed Blackbirds south of Dellinger Rd. along Lost R., Several pairs of Western Kingbirds, moving north, Titmouse (sounded more like Juniper) at the base of Stukel Mtn., Tricolored Blackbird (about 6 on a low-flying mission) seen west of Westside Mkt. on Stateline Rd.) Others observed: Greater White-fronted Goose Canada Goose Gadwall Mallard Cinnamon Teal Lesser Scaup Ring-necked Duck Northern Shoveler Common Merganser Ruddy Duck California Quail Eared Grebe American White Pelican Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret White-faced Ibis Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Swainson's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel American Coot Black-bellied Plover (1) near Merrill Killdeer Willet Ring-billed Gull Caspian Tern Rock Dove Eurasian Collared-dove Mourning Dove Red-shafted Flicker Downy Woodpecker American Robin Yellow Warbler (heard south of Hill Rd. Rock quarry... seems early) Northern Yellow-rumped Warbler House Wren European Starling Spotted Towhee Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Oregon Junco Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brown-headed Cowbird House Finch Lesser Goldfinch House Sparrow Kevin Spencer Klamath Falls, Oregon rriparia at charter From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sun Apr 26 19:42:20 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:42:20 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Audubon Birding Trip at Oaks Bottom Message-ID: <125032.64575.qm@web46001.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Michelle and I just wanted to give a big "Thank You!" to Mike Houck for donating his time, energy and knowledge today for the Oaks Bottom Bird Song Walk and for getting us dinner at Serratto's afterwards. This trip happened because of a limited number of spots that was offered, in a silent auction, at the Wild Arts Festival. Mike has done so much for, not only the Audubon Society, but Portland as a whole, that we just wanted to say thank you to him and his efforts. Thanks Mike! Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From ericsherman37 at gmail.com Sun Apr 26 19:52:10 2009 From: ericsherman37 at gmail.com (Eric Sherman) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:52:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cascade Raptor Center open house Message-ID: <2b7c9c60904261952g4ef2074dk230675c8afc93ab3@mail.gmail.com> Hey there, Our family went to the Cascade Raptor Center open house today (April 26th). It was very cool. We saw tons of birds, including a few that staff and volunteers were walking around with on their hands. Our five year old asked some very good questions of the lady that was exhibiting some of their resident Peregrine Falcons and Swainson's Hawks. We also got to watch them eat a dead rat (the birds, not the information lady). It was pretty gross, but interesting nonetheless. The highlight was a very very brave little squirrel that ran out of the woods right up to the Swainson's Hawk perch and stood right in front of it not once, but twice. The hawk was VERY interested in it. All in all, it was a neat little day trip; very informative and fun! - Eric -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/971b155b/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sun Apr 26 19:55:52 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:55:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Deschutes River (Sherman County) migrants Message-ID: <835889.46542.qm@web55702.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Today we hiked along the lower Deschutes River. We parked at the mouth of the river (Sherman County). The trees and shrubs along the river hosted hundreds of Yellow-rumped Warblers, as well as over 100 White-crowned and 20 Golden-crowned Sparrows. We also found at least five Dusky Flycatchers, a Hammond's Flycatcher, a Gray Flycatcher (calling from the sagebrush), two Western Kingbirds, a few Orange-crowned and Nashville Warblers, and a Lazuli Bunting. As we were leaving, we noticed an American White Pelican at the mouth of the river. Good Birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/b88f6349/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Sun Apr 26 20:06:49 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:06:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos NAMC 5/9/09 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: The projected date for the Coos NAMC is May 9th. This may switch to the 10th if it rains. As is typical for the spring NAMC, T-Rod and myself will be doing a Big Day in Coos. Please let me know if you'll be birding in the county on this day. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/875b8deb/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Sun Apr 26 20:26:08 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:26:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Portland's Chapman Vaux's count Message-ID: <6DBA8857-4D4F-4DED-9AB7-BA4A645BFAEC@gmail.com> While working on the sightings for today's birding I noted a number of Vaux's Swifts flying around the house. As I only live three blocks away from Chapman I could see the swifts flying around the chimney from my north-facing window. I was about to count a minimum of 2000 swifts going to roost just now. What a great way to end the day! Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Sun Apr 26 20:37:58 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:37:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Vaux's Swifts in Bend Message-ID: <666D34EE1D9F4DDBBE953E7FA41C26E4@KimPC> This evening, Sun., I went down to 644 SW Harriman St. to see if the 2 Swifts I saw last week were still roosting in the chimney and had any friends. At 7:45 a single bird flew low over the house and then disappeared. At 7:50 about thirty started flying around pretty high up. They would fly over the house and then go off. Each time they returned their number increased. At 8:07 they started to enter the chimney and I estimated their number to be between 200 and 250 birds. It took less than a minute for 90% of them to enter the chimney. What a show they put on. It looked like an upside down tornado when they entered. For those interested in watching, Harriman St. is the first road east of the Phoenix Inn on Franklin. 644 is one block north of Franklin and is an old house turned into a business called "Christmas Presence". If you go please remember to respect the private property. You get the best view from the sidewalk or road and the the birds enter the front chimney. I recommend you arrive by 7:45 so you can observe the whole show. ---kim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/7638c101/attachment.html From 1smooth_move at earthlink.net Sun Apr 26 20:39:20 2009 From: 1smooth_move at earthlink.net (Josh Saranpaa) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:39:20 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [obol] Wildlife Rehab Center of the North Coast Open House Message-ID: <2107969.1240803560869.JavaMail.root@elwamui-polski.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Sunday, May 3rd, the Wildlife Center of the North Coast is having its annual open house from 1 to 4pm! We will be having a raffle and silent auction for some great prizes including parasailing lessons, kayaking trips and dinner for two. If you like, you can have your picture taken with some of our education birds! We will also be having our "Birding Walk" at 2:00 pm. We hope to see you all there! Josh Saranpaa From puma at smt-net.com Sun Apr 26 20:41:18 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:41:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] PURPLE MARTINS Message-ID: <02279213-9C68-4560-847D-08C47EC886B6@smt-net.com> Folks, At 8 p.m. this April 26, while out picking collards for dinner, 2 singing PURPLE MARTINS flew over their nesting area here, east of Scio. They are late this year. Starling traps down, Martin houses up. I called some logger friends six miles away, and they said PURPLE MARTINS arrived at their ranch around April 12, 2009. Pat Waldron East of Scio From hfcaddis at yahoo.com Sun Apr 26 20:41:25 2009 From: hfcaddis at yahoo.com (tom watkins) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:41:25 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Garibaldi Purple Martins Message-ID: <419851.25990.qm@web32102.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Part of my annual trip to Garibaldi from Idaho to visit a friend and fish,?included a trip to the marina to see the Purple Martins using the nesting boxes in the marina. The port of Garibaldi replaced all of the wooden piling with metal and the nesting boxes disappeared. I would hope that interested birding groups might work to replace the lost nesting boxes. It may be difficult to somehow attach to the metal pilings, and the port authorities may not approve. They are some older pilings straight south of the launch ramp that would easily handle the nesting boxes. With Matin numbers declining, they may need all the help?we as birders can give them. Tom Watkins Twin Falls, Idaho -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/5db2281f/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Apr 26 21:10:07 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:10:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] NAMC Schedule statewide Message-ID: <3477ABAD372348F683F82192E9BFC8BE@cgatesPC> First, sorry about the incomplete email yesterday. I intended to send that message to the draft folder but I sent it instead. Sorry!! (Thanks for the save Joel.) Anyway, I'm including the table of county coordinators for each county. Some have yet to decide which day their count will be on but we will keep you updated. You can contact any of these people and get involved with the NAMC. We still need people to count in Jackson, Washington, Wheeler, Gilliam, Morrow, and Lincoln counties. Here's your chance to contribute to our understanding of migration in the state. Hope you will join us. Date COUNTY FIRST NAME LAST NAME ADDRESS PHONE Saturday, May 9 Baker Joanne Britton P.O. Box 801, Baker City, OR 97814 (541) 523-5666 Saturday, May 9 Benton Marcia Cutler 835 NW Merrie Drive, Corvallis, OR 97330 (541) 752-4313 Saturday, May 9 Clackamas Tim Janzen 12367 Ridgecrest Road, Portland, OR 97236 (503) 761-8781 Saturday, May 9 Clatsop Mike Patterson 1338 Kensington Avenue, Astoria, OR 97103 (503) 325-1365 Saturday, May 9 Columbia Henry Horvat P.O. Box 506, Scappoose, OR 97056 (503) 543-3690 Saturday, May 9 Coos Russ Namitz 97248 Anderson Ln., Coos Bay, OR 97420 (541) 266-8714 Saturday, May 9 Crook Chuck Gates 14265 S. Antelope Drive, Powell Butte, OR 97753 (541) 923-1320 Saturday, May 9 Curry Diane Cavaness 865 Crestwood Place, Brookings, OR 97415 541-469-1809 Saturday, May 9 Deschutes Jim Moodie 60250 Tumalo Circle, Bend, OR 97702 (541) 550-8487 Saturday, May 9 Douglas Ron Maertz 467 Gudrun Drive, Glide, OR 97443-9748 (541) 496-3847 Saturday, May 9 Gilliam Chuck Gates 14265 S. Antelope Drive, Powell Butte, OR 97753 (541) 923-1320 Saturday, May 9 Grant Chuck Gates 14265 S. Antelope Drive, Powell Butte, OR 97753 (541) 923-1320 Sunday, May 10 Harney Chuck Gates 14265 S. Antelope Drive, Powell Butte, OR 97753 (541) 923-1320 Sunday, May 10 Hood River Stuart Johnston (509)493-3363 TBA Jackson Tonya King 20 Brophy Way #10, Shady Cove, OR, 97539 (541)-821-2648 Sunday, May 10 Jefferson Susan Tank P.O. Box 2005, Sisters, OR 97759 (541) 549-4315 Saturday, May 9 Josephine Dennis Vroman 269 Shetland Drive, Grants Pass, OR 97526 (541) 479-4619 Saturday, May 9 Klamath Kevin Spencer P.O. Box 353, Tulelake, CA 96134 (541) 884-5739 Saturday, May 9 Lake Craig Miller P.O. Box 6376, Bend, OR 97708 (541) 389-9115 Saturday, May 9 Lane Barbara Combs 1466 Elkay Drive, Eugene, OR 97404 (541) 689-6660 Saturday, May 9 Lincoln Chuck Gates 14265 S. Antelope Drive, Powell Butte, OR 97753 (541) 923-1320 Saturday, May 9 Linn Jeff Fleischer 523 Calapooia Street SW, Albany, OR 97321 (541) 928-7288 Saturday, May 9 Malheur Denise Hughes 1802 E Maple Street, Caldwell, ID 83605 (208)-850-5885 Saturday, May 9 Marion Glen Lindeman 6420 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem 97317 (503) 364-6968 Sunday, May 10 Morrow Chuck Gates 14265 S. Antelope Drive, Powell Butte, OR 97753 (541) 923-1320 Saturday, May 9 Multnomah Ariana Longanecker 5330 NE 25th St, Portland, OR 97210 (503)-484-5119 Sunday, May 10 Polk Joel Geier 38566 Hwy 99N, Corvallis, OR 97730 (541) 745-5821 Saturday, May 9 Sherman David Bailey 448 Ridge Dr., Gearhart, OR 97138 (503)-738-5447 Saturday, May 9 Tillamook Barbara & John Woodhouse 8770 Mill Creek Rd, Tillamook OR 97141 (503) 842-9958 Saturday, May 9 Umatilla Chuck Gates 14265 S. Antelope Drive, Powell Butte, OR 97753 (541) 923-1320 Saturday, May 9 Union Cathy Nowak 59116 Pierce Road, LaGrande, OR 97850 (541)-963-4954 Sunday, May 10 Wallowa Kyle Bratcher P.O. Box 795 Joseph, OR 97846 (541) 740-1093 TBA Wasco Donna Lusthoff 13720 SW Harness Lane, Beaverton, OR 97008 (503) 524-9652 TBA Washington Lars Norgren PO Box 100, Banks, OR 97106 TBA Wheeler Paul Sullivan 4470 SW Murray Blvd #26, Beaverton OR 97005 (503) 646-7889 TBA Yamhill Quinton Nice 414 NW 5th St, Willamina, OR 97396 (971)-241-2233 Chuck Gates NAMC State Coordinator -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/29b0dfe5/attachment.html From gismiller at gmail.com Sun Apr 26 21:36:17 2009 From: gismiller at gmail.com (Craig Miller) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:36:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Garganey Kinda (Not) Message-ID: <49F53641.1000500@gmail.com> Hi Obolites, Marilyn and I made a dash to Burns in the hopes finding the Garganey reported to Harry Nehls yesterday. We scoured Hotchkiss Lane and found one concentration of Cinnamon Teal on the north side of the road across from an old house and dirt drive. Among the Cinnamon Teal was one bird that had a white stripe that extended from the front of the face over the eye to its nape. The stripe on each side of the head met on the back of the nape. Except for that remarkable feature, it appeared to have all the marks of a Blue-wing X Cinnamon Teal hybrid. The head was blue-grayish with a white crescent mark on the front of the face. The remainder of the body had a cinnamon coloration, although not nearly as bright as a true Cinnamon Teal. It also appeared to have a slightly light patch on the rear flank. I'm wondering just how many different species genes this bird possesses! Although the bird may not have been the same one observed yesterday (perhaps there is a full-blooded Garganey out there), it is quite understandable how this bird might have been mistaken for that species because of the white stripe over the eye. In any case, it was a very interesting sight. I tried to get photographs, but the bird was just too far away to show the details. There were also many other birds around including scads of Black-necked Stilts, Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed Curlews, Franklin's Gulls, American Avocets, etc. We saw our first of the year Yellow Warbler at Benson Pond. Craig & Marilyn Miller From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Sun Apr 26 22:03:03 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:03:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wasco County Message-ID: <8688BDD8-1165-4683-9DA2-3BE519589569@gmail.com> David Mandell, his son Oscar, and I spent the day birding Wasco County. It was a gorgeous day, though we did run into light snow while crossing over 26 east of Government Camp. It warmed up to about 64 at the highest, but nevertheless also had some butterflies, none that were seen well except several Painted Ladies, one Mylitta Crescent, and one Sara Orangetip. Others looked like two Spring Azures and a distant "yellow" sulphur, plus some identified. Location: Wasco County, OR, US Observation date: 4/26/09 Notes: This route began west of Wapinitia, OR, up to Wamic, Pine Hollow and Rock Creek Reservoirs, then north on 197 north to the Dalles. The Dalles list was done separately below, which included just below the dam to the county line. Number of species: 77 Canada Goose 125 Wood Duck 1 Gadwall 6 American Wigeon 10 Mallard 8 Cinnamon Teal 3 Northern Shoveler 4 Green-winged Teal 20 Ring-necked Duck 2 Bufflehead 12 Common Merganser 4 Ruddy Duck 1 California Quail 1 Common Loon 5 Double-crested Cormorant 4 Great Egret 1 Turkey Vulture 15 Osprey 2 Bald Eagle 1 Northern Harrier 4 Swainson's Hawk 1 (1st year bird) Red-tailed Hawk 12 Golden Eagle 1 American Kestrel 5 American Coot 75 Killdeer 1 Rock Pigeon 2 Band-tailed Pigeon 1 Anna's Hummingbird 2 Lewis's Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 1 Dusky Flycatcher 1 Say's Phoebe 3 Western Kingbird 8 Gray Jay 1 Steller's Jay 6 Western Scrub-Jay 6 Black-billed Magpie 3 American Crow 1 Common Raven 10 Horned Lark 2 Tree Swallow 200 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2 Barn Swallow 3 Mountain Chickadee 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 8 Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 3 House Wren 2 Winter Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Western Bluebird 6 Mountain Bluebird 3 Townsend's Solitaire 1 (David only) American Robin 20 Varied Thrush 1 European Starling 30 Nashville Warbler 8 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 20 MacGillivray's Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 1 Spotted Towhee 6 Chipping Sparrow 3 Fox Sparrow 1 Lincoln's Sparrow 2 Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 5 Red-winged Blackbird 25 Western Meadowlark 15 Yellow-headed Blackbird 40 Brewer's Blackbird 100 Brown-headed Cowbird 10 Purple Finch 2 Cassin's Finch 12 House Finch 8 American Goldfinch 8 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Location: The Dalles Observation date: 4/26/09 Notes: David Mandell and I stopped at the Dalles Dam for about 15 minutes, then drove west along I-84 back to Portland. Canada Goose 25 Mallard 2 Ring-necked Duck 2 Western Grebe 2 Turkey Vulture 15 Osprey 2 Bald Eagle 1 Red-tailed Hawk 2 American Kestrel 2 Ring-billed Gull 2 California Gull 25 Caspian Tern 5 Rock Pigeon 5 Vaux's Swift 3 Downy Woodpecker 1 Black-billed Magpie 1 American Crow 2 Tree Swallow 100 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1 Cliff Swallow 1 American Robin 5 European Starling 20 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 1 White-crowned Sparrow 1 Brewer's Blackbird 10 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/f69bf46c/attachment.html From tanager at nu-world.com Sun Apr 26 22:07:18 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:07:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Doug Cty Bullock's O. Message-ID: <000601c9c6f6$0a0d7b80$1e287280$@com> Hi All Dan & I just got back from a day trip to Roseburg/Glide Wildflower Show/Steamboat Inn and stopped at Sutherlin to check the reservoirs. At Plat I, we found N. Rough-winged Swallows and Western Kingbirds (although also present between Glide & Rsbg) and at Ford's Pond (just west of Sutherlin - formerly a mill pond) a pair of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES were working the trees. NRW Swallows were also seen along the N. Umpqua in the vicinity of Rock Creek. Anne Heyerly Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/828208a7/attachment.html From tlove at linfield.edu Sun Apr 26 22:12:20 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:12:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tualatin NWR shorebirds of late, plus misc Yamhill and Marion notes Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F1216D1822E@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> Shorebirds were building nicely 24 and 25 April at Tualatin NWR: SOLITARY SANDPIPER (1) on 25th, DUNLIN (hundreds), LEAST S. (100?), LESSER YELLOWLEGS (1), GREATER YELLOWLEGS (5+), KILLDEER, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. PACIFIC SLOPE FLYCATCHER on territory 23 April midway on NE Haugen Rd. (= north slope of Parrett Mtn.) (seems rather early). Otherwise pretty quiet, unlike activity on Tabor and various buttes elsewhere in the valley according to reports. Finally, at Mission Bottom SP on Saturday were actively moving small flocks of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS (80ish Audubon's, 2 Myrtles), ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS (several) and my FOY WILSON'S WARBLERS (2). Loads of CACKLING GEESE moving, especially early and late, but no White-fronts like Roy had at Ankeny (thanks for that nice memory, Roy). Tom Love tlove at linfield.edu PS: Can anyone explain why my Mozilla browser keeps crashing when I get onto OBOL the last few days? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/61ba3e83/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sun Apr 26 22:16:10 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:16:10 -0400 Subject: [obol] A day in Wasco county - nothing rare Message-ID: Got up early today and birded Wasco county. I-84 to The Dalles, then 197 to Tygh Valley. Like last year, I took Wamic-Market Rd east out of Tygh Valley, then Dodson Rd, turning back south to Rock Creek Dam Rd via Threemile Rd. Rock Creek reservoir was uneventful. From there, Campbell and Driver Rds back to Wamic. This loop is a lot of fun. I wish I hadn't done the detour down to the Deschutes River since I really didn't add much there. A large cluster of warblers with lots of Nashvilles about 1mi east of Sherar's bridge was a small bonus. I did a double take on a singing Bewick's Wren in this area as well. On the other hand, I would recommend doing Old Wapinitia Rd & Victor Rd which funnels back into 216 just west of Pine Grove (catch Old Wapinitia at the intersection 197 & 216). The first few miles uphill from Pine Grove were pretty active in the afternoon even though it was difficult to find good access roads away from the traffic on 216. Towards the end of the day the last 5mi up to the intersection 216 & 26 were pretty dead. It was a good day. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR PS: Since there was another team out there in Wasco county today, I'm including the full species list. Please contact me if you need more info for your upcoming Big Day. Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Greater White-fronted Goose (20 near 90% turn on Victor Rd; 5 near Driver & Smock Rd) Canada Goose Wood Duck (pair off Campbell Rd) Mallard Northern Shoveler Green-winged Teal Ring-necked Duck Bufflehead Common Merganser Osprey Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Golden Eagle (1 adult along Old Wapinitia Rd) American Kestrel Ring-necked Pheasant California Quail Caspian Tern (2 off I-84 near MP 71) Killdeer California Gull Rock Dove Mourning Dove Lewis's Woodpecker (many Tygh Valley and White River SGMA) Williamson's Sapsucker (2 about 0.5mi in on FR220 [sign down] off 216 - this is near MP9.2; 1 at Clear Creek Ditch off FR2110) Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Gray Flycatcher (several off Dodson Rd; 1 off Old Wapinitia Rd) Say's Phoebe Western Kingbird Cassin's Vireo Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay Black-billed Magpie American Crow Common Raven Horned Lark (1 off Old Wapinitia Rd; 1 off Victor Rd) Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Cliff Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Mountain Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Rock Wren Bewick's Wren House Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Hermit Thrush American Robin Varied Thrush European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler (many at several locations) Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Gray Warbler (1 about 1mi west of Pine Grove off 216) Townsend's Warbler MacGillivray's Warbler (1 about 0.4mi in on FR220 off 216 - this is near MP9.2) Spotted Towhee Chipping Sparrow Vesper Sparrow (1 along Victor Rd) Savannah Sparrow Fox Sparrow (slate-colored) Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brewer's Blackbird Cassin's Finch (common along lower areas off 216 and along Dodson Rd) House Finch American Goldfinch Pine Siskin House Sparrow _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_skydrive_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090427/4c12fc12/attachment.html From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Sun Apr 26 23:23:52 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:23:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] addendum - Lane Co. Coast Message-ID: <183632.94474.qm@web30401.mail.mud.yahoo.com> ? After lunch, I spent the afternoon also at the Siuslaw jetties. There was a spike in shorebird movement from 1:00 pm until 2:30 pm.? Many of the Western Sandpiper/Dunlin flocks during this period numbered 300 to 500 birds.? During the afternoon, I started to see increasing numbers of LEAST SANDPIPERS and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS in the flocks.? Other migrants included, a single WHIMBREL, which flew over me at about 30 feet, and three flocks of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE.? Shorebird flocks were still moving when I left at 8:00pm.? Toward the end of the day, some peeps came close enough for a picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30397515 at N07/ Maitreya --- On Sun, 4/26/09, David Irons wrote: From: David Irons Subject: [obol] Lane Co. MANX SHEARWATER To: "post OBOL" Date: Sunday, April 26, 2009, 5:21 PM #yiv1255582316 .hmmessage P { margin:0px;padding:0px;} #yiv1255582316 { font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} Greetings All, Diane Pettey, Maitreya, and I spent the morning on the south jetty at the Siuslaw R. mouth (Florence). Our 3-hr. seawatch (8-11AM) resulted in a nice variety of northbound migrants, highlighted by a single MANX SHEARWATER that passed north about 250-300 yards beyond the end of the jetties. There was nice flight of Pacific Loons, a steady flow of small flocks of shorebirds, mostly Western Sandpipers with a few Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitchers, and Black-bellied Plovers mixed in. We also had a nice variety of alcids with many Common Murres, about 50 Rhinoceros Auklets, 8-10 Cassin's Auklets, 16+ Marbled Murrelets, and one Pigeon Guillemot. We had a few scattered ducks fly past (mostly Green-winged Teal), but very few scoters. We also had one flock of about 90 Aleutian Cackling Geese go over. It was sunny, not windy, and the viewing conditions were ideal. Dave Irons Eugene, OR Rediscover Hotmail?: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry Check it out. -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090426/2decc36a/attachment.html From bcombs232 at gmail.com Mon Apr 27 00:15:08 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:15:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Greater White-fronted Gees Message-ID: <8ce3a6520904270015sc641cb1m1db22b4390ab8847@mail.gmail.com> At about 10:00 p.m. this evening, April 27, a flock of Greater White-fronted Geese flew over my house in the southern Willamette Valley, headed north. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090427/ed83bdde/attachment.html From tlove at linfield.edu Mon Apr 27 06:17:14 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 06:17:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Siler's website? Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F1216D1823A@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> I've been having trouble accessing Siler's website via Firefox. Anyone having the same problem? Tom Love tlove at linfield dot edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090427/ab6bfe73/attachment.html From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Mon Apr 27 06:47:13 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 06:47:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Peregrines Hunting At Yaquina Head Message-ID: <857307.5503.qm@web51806.mail.re2.yahoo.com> OBOL: Regardless of the "impossible" physics, I have personally observed peregrines nabbing murres at Yaquina Head many times for the last few years (I've been out of town this season) and there are several other witnesses to this as well. In fact, early in the season there were two of them seemingly working in concert and then later in the season they'd show up one at a time. They usually carry them eastward along the headland and they seem to nab them more from the south side than from Colony Rock, although this may be an artifact of where I'm looking more often. They also very aggressively and successfully chase the eagles away. I have talked to a few people who know far more about raptors than I do and they believe the behavior I have observed indicates there is probably a new (a few years ago) nesting pair in the area. Cindy Ashy From celata at pacifier.com Mon Apr 27 06:46:56 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 06:46:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Today's Nature Fun Fact Message-ID: <49F5B750.3040705@pacifier.com> My rule is to always try and learn at least one new thing each day. Today's new thing.... BABY TURTLES HAVE BELLY BUTTONS That's right. Baby Turtles have a scar on their abdomenal shell which is the point where the yolk-sac attached. They lose the scar as they get older. Read about Painted Turtles and their belly buttons at: http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek090415.html -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From dhaupt at tulelake.k12.ca.us Mon Apr 27 08:43:25 2009 From: dhaupt at tulelake.k12.ca.us (Dave Haupt) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:43:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Franklin's Gulls, Klamath Message-ID: <49F5702D02000067000098A1@mail.tulelake.k12.ca.us> En route to work in Tulelake, had 2 FRANKLIN'S GULLS flying just north ofStateline Rd. Some IBIS and BB PLOVERS in the surrounding fields. Dave Haupt Klamath Falls From jmoodie at cocc.edu Mon Apr 27 09:18:14 2009 From: jmoodie at cocc.edu (Jim Moodie) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:18:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Deschutes County NAMC Saturday, May 9 Message-ID: The Deschutes County version of the Spring NAMC will be on Saturday, May 9. Dean Hale and I will be organizing teams to cover the county as thoroughly as we can for this year's count. I will have a new checklist for the count available soon and will post a message of where you can download the checklist. Dean will again host the tally party at his house (details later). Let me know if you are interested in helping out. Cheers, Jim Dr. James Moodie Science Department Central Oregon Community College Bend, OR 97701 541-383-7282 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090427/12168ecb/attachment.html From rowbird2005 at yahoo.com Mon Apr 27 09:20:11 2009 From: rowbird2005 at yahoo.com (Forrest Rowland) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:20:11 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Polk Co. Highlights Message-ID: <450373.94349.qm@web35307.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, Bill Tice graciously invited me out yesterday to hit some of the favorite spots in the county including Baskett Slough, Ankeny, and at least two other sites whose naes escape me at the moment. I was so busy trying to record names and numbers of birds that I forgot to write down the exact name of the places we went! For specifics on any of the following birds feel free to contact me. ? We birded from about 0915 until 1520. Weather and lighting was gorgeous, and we had some nice very nice birds, to boot. All in all we saw?over 60 species in valley habitats. Great day! ? Highlights were: 1 2nd-cycle Glaucous-winged Gull at BSNWR 1 Snow Goose - BSNWR 1 Ross' Goose - BSNWR 1 Horned Grebe in perfect breeding plumage (my 4th in this plumage ever) 1 FOY Yellow Warbler (singing) near BSNWR 2 Yellow-headed Blackbirds near BSNWR 2 Short-billed Dowitchers at main pond of Ankeny NWR 2 FOY Warbling Vireo near train tracks Ankeny NWR ? These are just the highlights. I very much enjoyed seeing my 3rd ever Red-breasted Sapsucker at two new holes, one of which will be chosen for a nest, I presume. We had individual Black-throated Gray Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, but the other migrant Warbler numbers were huge. I wrote down over 170 Yellow-rumped Warblers, which may have been conservative. There were dozens at nearly every site. Orange-crowned Warblers numbered over 60 for the day. The Goose spectacle at BSNWR I was not expecting, have not been forewarned that we be looking at tens of thousands of Geese, mostly Cacklers. It was?quite impressive.?The only real lack I noted in the day was of Flycatchers. No Empids, Kingbirds, etc., which I would've thought to encounter. In retrospect, we did mostly bird water holes and marshes, so not too unexpected, I suppose. Thanks to Bill for a great day in the field! ? For a complete list or questions feel free to e-mail me. ? Good Birding, ? Forrest Rowland ? ? ? ? ____________________________________________________________________________________ ?Obt?n la mejor experiencia en la web! Descarga gratis el nuevo Internet Explorer 8. http://downloads.yahoo.com/ieak8/?l=e1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090427/0c6485b1/attachment.html From brrobb at comcast.net Mon Apr 27 09:38:56 2009 From: brrobb at comcast.net (Roger & Betty Robb) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:38:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Skinner's Butte Fallout, Eugene Message-ID: I spent from 7:00-9:00 on Skinner's Butte this morning and witnessed an amazing fallout. Warblers and vireos filled the trees and it was difficult to estimate numbers. Other migrants included OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and WESTERN TANAGER. About 7:30 an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK flew overhead. Estimated warbler & vireo numbers: Orange-crowned - 200 Yellow-rumped - 100 Black-throated Gray - 40 Wilson's - 20 Nashville - 10 Townsend's - 5 Yellowthroat - 1 Cassin's Vireo - 40 Warbling Vireo - 20 The birds were still very active when I left. Roger Robb Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090427/4fdb5b67/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Mon Apr 27 10:12:31 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:12:31 +0000 Subject: [obol] Updated Bird PHOTOS for April Message-ID: Hi Obolers, This past weekend, Bill Bradford (Portland, Oregon) and I had a great birding trip visiting Douglas, Adams, Grant, and Okanogan Counties in Washington (aka DAGO). Weather was great with the exception of snow flurries in the Okanogan Highland. We found close to 140 species and did well seeing 19 species of ducks and tallying 12 raptor species. Nothing rare, but several FOS and county birds for both of us. We have never seen so many Vesper Sparrows (100 plus), White crowned Sparrows (200 plus), Yellow headed Blackbirds, Barrow's Goldeneye (20 pairs) Black necked Stilts and American Advocets!! Always a treat see the latter three species in high numbers. Most loons and grebes were in splendid breeding plumage. We had a GREAT time and I snapped a few scant photos. http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/recent_photos ********************************TRIP REPORT******************************************************** Here are some of the HIGHLIGHTS and species of interest: FERRUGINOUS HAWK: One handsome bird perched on a telephone along the entrance to Wilson Creek Rd. MERLIN: One bird perched on a telephone pole along Havillah Rd ROUGH LEGGED HAWK; One lingering late bird in the Okanogan Highlands DUSKY GROUSE; One displaying bird in Twisp. Very tame and cooperative. Hooting is quite muffled compared to Sooty. Barely audible from 50 yards. SOLITARY SANDPIPER; An active bird feeding along the muddy edges of Lake Beth along Torada Creek Rd. Feed next to a Killdeer for size comparsion. DUNLINS; Up to a dozen or so birds on County Line Ponds. Love their breeding plumage. BONAPARTE'S GULL; Feeding bird on Para Ponds in Othello. So tern-like and lovely in breeding plumage. LONG BILLED CURLEW; A bird along Six Prong Rd near Alderdale and Reynolds Rd in Othello. Cripping looks at one near the road. LONG EARED OWL; One bird in undisclosed location. BURROWING OWL: A romantic pair in Othello. WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER: Several birds in near Lake Beth near Chesaw, WA. PILEATED WOODPECKER: A very tame bird in Winthrop, feeding on a wooden window pane. It was about 7 feet from us. Impressive size. LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE; A obliging pair in Dry Falls Park. CANYON and ROCK WREN; Along with House Wren at Bridgeport State Park. Lots of migrants here. Got to see and hear all three species within a 20 yard stretch. SAGE THRASHER; Great looks at one on entrance post to Dry Falls State Park. TRICOLOR BLACKBIRDS; Several birds at Para Ponds. GRAY CROWNED ROSYFINCHES: A surprising late flock of 200+ spring plumaged birds on Havillah Rd feeding in the fields. SPECIES LIST: LOONS: Common, Pacific GREBE: Pied billed, Horned, Eared, Red necked grebe DC Cormorant GB Heron Turkey Vulture Canada Goose Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard TEAL: Green winged, Blue winged, Cinnamon Canvasback Redhead Ring necked Duck Great Scaup Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Barrow's Goldeneye MERGANSER: Hooded, Common Ruddy Duck Osprey Northern Harrier EAGLE: Bald and Golden ACCIPITER: Coopers and Sharp shinned BUTEOS: Swainson's, Red tailed, Rough legged, FERRUGINOUS American Kestrel MERLIN Ring necked pheasant Ruffed Grouse Dusky Grouse California Quail Virginia Rail American Coot Killdeer Black necked Stilt American Avocet Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs SOLITARY SANDPIPER LONG BILLED CURLEW DUNLIN Wilson's Snipe BONAPARTE'S GULL Ring billed and California Gull Caspian Terns Rock Dove Mourning Dove Eurasian collared Dove OWLS: Great Horned, BURROWING, LONG EARED Vaux Swift White throated Swift Calliope Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Lewis Woodpecker WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER Red naped Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Gray Flycatcher Dusky Flycatcher Say's Phoebe Western Kingbird LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE Cassin's Vireo Gray Jay Steller's Jay Black billed Magpie American Crow Common Raven Horned Lark SWALLOWS: Violent Green, NR Winged, Barn, Cliff, Barn, Bank, Tree CHICKADEES: Chestnut, Mountain, Black capped NUTHATCH; Pymgy and Red breasted Brown Creeper Rock Wren CANYON WREN House Wren Marsh Wren Golden crowned Kinglet Ruby crowned Kinglet Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Hermit Thrush Varied Thrush American Robin Sage Thrasher Cedar Waxwing European Starling WARBLERS: Orange crowned, Nashville,Black throated Gray and Yellow rumped Spotted Towhee SPARROWS: Brewer's, Vesper, Savannah, Song, Lincoln's, White crowned Dark eyed Junco BLACKBIRDS: Red winged, TRICOLORED, Yellow headed, Brewers' (all at Para ponds) Cassin's Finch House Finch GRAY CROWNED ROSYFINCHES Pine Siskin American Goldfinch House Sparrows Good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From philliplc at charter.net Mon Apr 27 10:37:34 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:37:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <7DA755F35E09453997AF7A91FFF3CB35@Phil> 6:00-9:00 AM (4/27): mostly overcast, wind N 10-20, swells 5-7 300 Red-throated Loon 2500 Pacific Loon 10 Common Loon 6 Red-necked Grebe (N) 44 Western Grebe (32 flying N mostly in pairs) 30 Sooty Shearwater 9 Brown Pelican 15 Double-crested Cormorant 120 Pelagic Cormorant (most N) 500 Brandt's Cormorant (about 2/3 S) 80 Brant 1300 White-fronted Goose (inc. flock of 170 that landed for 5 minutes over a mile out, most flocks angling in from SW) 25 Northern Pintail 40 Northern Shoveler 400 Green-winged Teal 1 Black Scoter 40 White-winged Scoter 300 Surf Scoter 6 Red-breasted Merganser 29 Black-bellied Plover 80+ Semipalmated Plover 280 Whimbrel (all N in first 20 min) 3 Red Knot 500+ Dunlin 1 probable Baird's Sandpiper (close look at relatively pale unpatterned calidris flying with and intermediate in size between Western/Dunlin) 35000+ Western Sandpiper (numerous flocks to 800) 8+ Least Sandpiper (low) 600 dowitcher sp. 1 Bonaparte's Gull 7 California Gull 150 Western Gull 60 Glaucous-winged Gull 80 Caspian Tern 15000+ Common Murre (steady N) 150 Pigeon Guillemot (most N) 9 Marbled Murrelet 13 Ancient Murrelet (N) 1 Cassin's Auklet 75 Rhinoceros Auklet (N) 2 Tufted Puffin 2 American Pipit Phil (philliplc at charter.net From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Apr 27 13:04:14 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:04:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] White fronts over Eugene Message-ID: About 900 White-fronted Geese passed over south Eugene at 1:00 p.m. today. They came in from the south just east of Spencer Butte and then angled northwest towards Fern Ridge Reservoir. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From dpvroman at budget.net Mon Apr 27 13:38:01 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:38:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] JoCo fall out Message-ID: <9E4ED386CEA94A15876B91987FE55F50@Warbler> With the change in the weather today (04-27-09), we have some migrants dropping in for visits. Mostly previous reported birds (Warblers, Vireos, Grosbeaks, Kinglets, Orioles), but one new first arrival east of Grants Pass. Phil Hicks reports a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT at his place. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090427/d8ba7290/attachment.html From birdboy at bkpix.com Mon Apr 27 14:22:51 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:22:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge and Eugene 4/27 Message-ID: Hi birders, Visible this morning from the platform at Royal Avenue: 2 - CANVASBACK 10 - AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN 24 - WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 2 - SORA And, from the platform in the south Fisher Unit: 2 - SOLITARY SANDPIPER 7 - BLACK-NECKED STILT 2 - BLUE-WINGED TEAL 130 - WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE And, at Stewart Pond: 1 - PEREGRINE FALCON 5 - SEMIPALMATED PLOVER 25 - WESTERN SANDPIPER 70 - LEAST SANDPIPER 40 - DUNLIN 20 - LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 2 - GREATER YELLOWLEGS And, late in the morning on Skinner Butte: 1 - WHITE-THROATED SPARROW 1 - HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER with 700 - WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Good birding, Noah Strycker -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090427/b990591f/attachment.html From foglark at att.net Mon Apr 27 14:45:05 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:45:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Humboldt County, CA, shorebirds Message-ID: <763223.20837.qm@web80002.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> This afternoon at the foot of I Street at the Arcata Marsh on Humboldt Bay I caught the rising tide pushing migrant shorebirds. As the mudflats became covered, flocks of tens of thousands coalesced into larger and larger flocks. Finally at about 1:45 to 2:00 they all left the area, heading inches off the water toward the Mad River Slough area (though, I would imagine, to the upper ocean beaches to roost?). The main group, between the foot of I and the old wharf footings, had perhaps 80,000 birds, almost all Western Sandpipers and Dunlin. I estimated at least 200,000 in sight altogether and possibly a quarter-million. This takes in everything you can see before you. If you look into the distance toward the Eureka Slough area there are still more dense swarms of peeps moving westward a few miles away in the heat haze as this happens. The best way to see this fly-off is to get there just as the flats begin to get covered. Scope from near the old Red House site (looking toward Jacoby Creek) through the visible North Bay, past the wharf footings, and you will see clouds of shorebirds. If they're not in the air, they're hard to see unless you're looking for them. The flocks are VERY densely packed, and are extensive, and it is tempting to underestimate them. But if you take pie slices and start counting them, or estimate a thousand as they fly past a known point (which sometimes takes only a second or two when they're streaming), you will quickly come to perceive the magnitude of the numbers out there. This phenomenon likely will not last long, as it is late in the season. No guarantees in "out days." I won't be able to get down there the rest of the week, but I hope someone who can spare an hour can go watch it. It would be nice to get an independent estimate generated. Tomorrow this ought to take place between about 2:15-3:00 or so. Again, this whole thing takes place over a short span of time, so if you get there with all the flats available, the birds are dispersed, and if you get there ten minutes too late, you see almost nothing. When I left this afternoon there were essentially no shorebirds on the Klopp Lake islets. Although one has to be watching for it to see it, I would have to describe this ephemeral event as a more amazing spectacle than the peak fly-off of Aleutian Cackling Geese. It is truly phenomenal. It was exasperating to see people strolling on the Klopp Lake dike with no idea whatever of what was taking place a kilometer off to the south. I pointed out the swarms to one couple, who paused and gasped, "Goodness! There must be hundreds of them!" David Fix -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090427/cb131760/attachment.html From srnord101 at verizon.net Mon Apr 27 15:49:41 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:49:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tualatin River NWR - Stilts Message-ID: <000c01c9c78a$744764e0$5cd62ea0$@net> OBOL; This afternoon there were 2 BLACK-NECKED STILTS at Tualatin River NWR in Sherwood. Otherwise very few shorebirds seen. Maybe a dozen LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1 DUNLIN, and a couple of KILLDEER. Also seen were 2 male EURASIAN WIGEONS, a very vocal immature PEREGRINE FALCON, hundreds of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERs, 6 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and 1 NASHVILLE WARBLER. Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From rowbird2005 at yahoo.com Mon Apr 27 16:13:04 2009 From: rowbird2005 at yahoo.com (Forrest Rowland) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:13:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] A few more mentionables from Polk Co. yesterday Message-ID: <776515.33504.qm@web35304.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Now that my internet is working again... ? Forrest here. I forgot to post that we had 7 Black-necked Stilt, one Sora, one Lincoln's Sparrow, and one Barn Owl yesterday, as well. Now that I tallied it up it came to 84 species. Nice day! ? Good Birding, ? Forrest Rowland ? ____________________________________________________________________________________ ?Obt?n la mejor experiencia en la web! Descarga gratis el nuevo Internet Explorer 8. http://downloads.yahoo.com/ieak8/?l=e1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090427/29ae1138/attachment.html From mlvandyk at onlinemac.com Mon Apr 27 16:47:18 2009 From: mlvandyk at onlinemac.com (Marilyn van Dyk) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:47:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Great Horned Owl at Baskett Butte Message-ID: <61986FBEFD0F4DDC80B938C0C7514124@Amadeus> On Saturday, April 25, 11 adults from the McMinnville area got good looks at a Great Horned Owl which was perched on a nearby tree branch on the north side of Baskett Butte. This was a first bird walk for some members of the group. The group's favorite sighting was of a singing Western Meadowlark perched on a branch of a lone tree near the fork in the trail around the butte. Marilyn van Dyk From celata at pacifier.com Mon Apr 27 17:17:34 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:17:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ft Stevens including seawatch Message-ID: <49F64B1E.8080904@pacifier.com> I went out this morning to Ft Stevens and did a half-hour seawatch from the jetty. The numbers are attached below. Also seen were 600 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and about 20 BLACK BRANT on the ground at Trestle Bay. Date: April 27, 2009 Location: South Jetty, Columbia River, Clatsop County, Oregon Half-hour sea watch from the three rock on the jetty at the river beach 10:45 to 11:15 Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Greater White-fronted Goose 250 [1] Canada Goose 20 Brant 33 Northern Shoveler 21 Northern Pintail 3 Green-Winged Teal 44 Surf Scoter 100 White-winged Scoter 25 Long-tailed Duck 1 [2] Red-throated Loon 1 Pacific Loon 1100 Common Loon 6 Red-necked Grebe 1 Western Grebe 2 Brown Pelican 75 Brandt's Cormorant 1 Double-crested Cormorant 800 Bald Eagle 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 [3] Black-bellied Plover 6 Semipalmated Plover 2 Red Knot 1 [4] Short-billed Dowitcher 3 Herring Gull 2 Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Caspian Tern 60 Pigeon Guillemot 1 Footnotes: [1] single flock [2] with WWSC's [3] flying out along the jetty [4] with BBPL Total number of species seen: 28 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From philliplc at charter.net Mon Apr 27 17:40:50 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:40:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Spanish Head Message-ID: <6706A42885254766BBE0AA43EA2CF999@Phil> Checked offshore from Spanish Head in Lincoln City ~3:30-4:00 this afternoon. Flocks of Western Sandpipers were still streaming by averaging 250-300/minute, with small numbers of Dunlin mixed. Also saw another 350 White-fronts and 120 Brant + some minor Pac Loon, Murre, Sooty Shearwater movement. Phil philliplc at charter.net From SJJag at comcast.net Mon Apr 27 19:45:55 2009 From: SJJag at comcast.net (SJJag at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:45:55 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] migrants at home Message-ID: <1578300063.1668021240886755418.JavaMail.root@sz0081a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Greetings, Had a nice bright Nashville Warbler through here yesterday and a Western Wood Pee-Wee today. No Tanagers or Grosbeaks, did have Orange Crowned and Black Throated Grey?Warblers over the past few days.?One look at a probable?Pacific Slope Flycatcher recently as well. Happy migration, Steve Jaggers Milwaukie, Or. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/086c2f5d/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Mon Apr 27 19:52:55 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:52:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD Message-ID: <9F1E70E8C4AA4D3F8171322921E2A9DF@TomsPC> I had a male RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD in my backyard on Sunday. It's the first one in two years. There was also a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. These are not common birds for my backyard. Tom Escue Central Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090427/6001b116/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Mon Apr 27 19:56:25 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:56:25 EDT Subject: [obol] Stewart Pond - Eugene Message-ID: Hello All, I made a quick stop at Stewart Pond in west Eugene after work tonight. Solitary Sandpiper - 1 Semipalmated Plover - 8 Western Sandpiper - 15 Least Sandpiper - 60 Long-billed Dowitcher - 30 Dunlin - 250 Greater Yellowlegs - 6 Blue-winged Teal - 1 Good Birding, John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1220572846x1201387511/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd= Aprilfooter427NO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090427/8b7e9a1f/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Apr 27 20:46:48 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:46:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area today Message-ID: <1240890408.3626.180.camel@localhost.localdomain> Hi folks, Interesting birds at E.E. Wilson Wildlife area today included: - NW-bound flocks of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE (1900 in two hours); - 8 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS on the same pond that had 5 last week; - a DUSKY FLYCATCHER in a willow thicket; - 2 NASHVILLE WARBLERS in a mixed warbler flock; - a CHIPPING SPARROW singing in a young oak woodland that was cleared of non-native hawthorns etc. last fall. WARBLING VIREOS, WILSON'S WARBLERS, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS are now around, and LEAST SANDPIPERS are coming through. The full list is on www.birdnotes.net with additional details posted to the MidValley birding list. Also of note, yesterday a GRAY JAY showed up at the north end of Tampico Ridge, which is about as far north as one can go out of the Coast Range salient in McDonald State Forest, without running out of conifers. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From gdalindy at msn.com Mon Apr 27 20:56:11 2009 From: gdalindy at msn.com (GLEN LINDEMAN) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:56:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] NAMC - Marion County - Sat, May 9th Message-ID: As you're probably aware, the North American Migration Count is coming up in a couple weeks. The Marion County count will be on Saturday, May 9th. If you plan to do any birding in Marion County on that date, please contact me so we can do a better job of coordinating coverage of the county. And if you decide to go out birding on the spur of the moment, or just happen to be passing through the county, I'd appreciate a list of what you see on that day too. Thanks, and good birding! Glen Lindeman ^'^ NAMC coordinator, Marion County (503) 364-6968 gdalindy at msn.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090427/2dc0a236/attachment.html From krallfamily at comcast.net Mon Apr 27 21:04:04 2009 From: krallfamily at comcast.net (Kathy) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:04:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Which yellowlegs? Message-ID: Mike and I saw a group of 7 yellowlegs in Tillamook bay by the entrace to BayOcean spit on Friday. I think it was a greater Yellowlegs. If anyone has time, would they look at this photo and see if they agree? http://picasaweb.google.com/michael.a.krall/BayOceanSpitWader#5329233341019166306 Kathy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090427/2f1ece07/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Mon Apr 27 21:15:12 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:15:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Which yellowlegs? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <66A681F5-FB6E-4404-809C-B2677B341E49@oregonfast.net> The second photo looks like a yellow LEG. hmmmmm. On Apr 27, 2009, at 9:04 PM, Kathy wrote: > Mike and I saw a group of 7 yellowlegs in Tillamook bay by the > entrace to BayOcean spit on Friday. > I think it was a greater Yellowlegs. If anyone has time, would they > look at this photo and see if they agree? > > http://picasaweb.google.com/michael.a.krall/ > BayOceanSpitWader#5329233341019166306 > > Kathy > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090427/b0a55ba6/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Mon Apr 27 21:24:44 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:24:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sandpipers Message-ID: Hello OBOL< Today there was a big movement of Sandpipers.... with my feeble ability with Peeps, I'm going to say WESTERN SANDPIPERS. At 26 grams as listed in Sibleys, they were ruining at 2.6 KG per hour. Birding AND math... how fun! 7 MARBLED GODWITS also flew over. ( I'd just about bet my dog on that ID) Florence, North Jetty beach. Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090427/697f52e2/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Mon Apr 27 22:15:09 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:15:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] shorebirds after dark Message-ID: <3031FBEF15E24AF78C98F5F9A1ACD8BC@Phil> It's just after 10 PM with a light fog forming over the beach, and it sounds like the entire shorebird migration is going directly over my house 1/4 mile inland in Lincoln City. Since dark I've been hearing a literally non-stop cacophany of various peep and S-b Dowitcher calls, presumably still hundreds of birds per minute moving. Fun. Phil philliplc at charter.net From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Mon Apr 27 22:57:10 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:57:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Audubon Birding Weekend report Message-ID: <00b301c9c7c6$5d02b3c0$eedb63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: Carol Karlen & I were joined by 21 good folks for an Audubon Birding Weekend (sponsored by Audubon Society of Portland) trip to Jackson County. The weather, company, and birding were fine. We even enjoyed some theater. Notable birds: Green Heron - 2 at Denman wildlife area near White City, 2 at Tou Velle St. Pk Osprey - nesting at Hyatt Lk, Kirtland Rd. sewage ponds, and Tou Velle St. Pk. Bald Eagle - over east arm to Emigrant Lk. Cooper's Hawk - Tou Velle St. Pk. Wild Turkey - Lower Table Rock BLACK-NECKED STILT - Kirtland Rd.sewage ponds (first I've seen in Jackson county) Lewis's Woodpecker - east of Emigrant Lk. Pacific-slope Flycatcher - Ashland Pond & Lower Table Rock Black Phoebe - east arm of Emigrant Lk. Western Kingbird - Mt. View nature park, Denman wildlife area Warbling Vireo - Tou Velle St. Pk. OAK TITMOUSE - Emigrant Lk, Lower Table Rock American Dipper - east arm of Emigrant Lk. BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER - Merlin rest area, east arm of Emigrant Lk., & Lower Table Rock Wrentit - Mt. View nature park, Tou Velle St. Pk. NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD - Downing Rd., near Whetstone Savannah American Pipit - Denman wildlife area CALLIFORNIA TOWHEE- east arm of Emigrant Lk. Chipping Sparrow - Emigrant Lk., Lower Table Rock Bullock's Oriole - Mt. View nature park American Goldfinch - 50+ on the trail to Ashland pond Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan Audubon Birding Weekends (503) 646-7889 http://www.audubonportland.org/trips-classes-camps/adult/weekends From 4cains at charter.net Tue Apr 28 00:01:14 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:01:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Youngs Bay highlights Message-ID: <57A79E7B4FB64CEF8E0CEA2B8A28644B@HAL> A EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE flew over Astoria High School this am. This is presumably the same bird reported this weekend as coming regularly to a feeder near Nehalem and 5th St. Hundreds of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE continue to feed with AMERICAN WIGEON, MALLARDS, and CACKLING GEESE in the puddled pastures on Wireless Rd., south of Astoria. This afternoon they were accompanied by numerous GREATER YELLOWLEGS, one LESSER YELLOWLEGS, one flock of about 25 DUNLIN, 30-40 LEAST SANDPIPERS and one SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. And to cap off a very birdy non-birding day (no official efforts on our part - just good luck), Evan got some nice flash shots of a GREAT-HORNED OWL in our yard at dusk, which we hope to post soon. Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/9dd9b435/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Apr 28 07:07:18 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 07:07:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cranes over Youngs Bay Message-ID: <49F70D96.8030506@pacifier.com> Lee Cain reports SANDHILL CRANES over his house west of Youngs Bay this morning. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Tue Apr 28 07:19:26 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (barbara.millikan at gmail.com) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:19:26 +0000 Subject: [obol] eurasian collared hoo hoos Message-ID: <0016e64ca7d67a364204689e2641@google.com> I've recently learned -- by frequenting a pet store -- that eurasian collared doves, in addition to the basic dove coo, have a quiet but maniacal hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo laugh, that sounds like a cartoon lunatic. I assume they make this call in the wild as well. Barbara -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/5e9cf25b/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Apr 28 07:19:55 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 07:19:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Banding Birds in Your Backyard Message-ID: <618845.64064.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I am forwarding this request, please do not respond to me. Thanks, Tim Rodenkirk Coos Bay ----- Original Message ----- From: "Project FeederWatch" To: Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 11:39 AM Subject: Research request for volunteers > We have received a request from a researcher at the University of > Lethbridge in Lethbridge, Alberta, for volunteers in portions of > Washington and Oregon who would let them come and band birds in their > yard. If you think you might be interested or know someone within the > research area who might be interested, please read the description of > the research and the volunteer request below and respond directly to the > researchers. > > Thanks, > Anne Marie Johnson > Project FeederWatch Assistant > > > Deer Feederwatch participants, > > My name is Brendan Graham,? and I am a new graduate student at the > University of Lethbridge starting in May under Dr. Theresa Burg > (http://people.uleth.ca/~theresa.burg/research.htm). For the field > portion of my project we will be banding resident birds and taking blood > samples from them. In the course of this research, we will catch birds > using mistnets, band them, take very small blood samples (a few drops), > and then release them on-site. The birds are not adversely affected by > this procedure, and in fact many of the banded birds return to the same > feeders shortly after being released. > > For this summer we will be banding birds in Washington and Oregon. In > Washington we will be in the area around Mt. Rainier, while in Oregon we > will be banding along the coast (counties Tilamook and Lincoln), in the > NE (Counties Umatilla, Wallowa and Union) and in the south (in Counties > Klamath and Jackson). I am emailing to ask if you know of areas where we > might have easy access to birds (such as nest sites or feeders). If you > have feeders or know of suitable areas, please send me an email and > include your phone number so that I can contact you once we're in the > field. > > Several Feederwatch participants contacted us last year from Alaska and > Montana, and we had the opportunity to band birds at their houses which > was extremely helpful and educational (as well as a lot of fun) for both > ourselves and the participants. > > If you are interested in helping, please contact me at . > > Brendan Graham > 20 Massey RD > Regina, SK, S4S 4M7) > > -- > Project FeederWatch > Cornell Lab of Ornithology > 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY? 14850 > (607) 254-2416? ???http://birds.cornell.edu/pfw From foxsparrows at aol.com Tue Apr 28 07:25:45 2009 From: foxsparrows at aol.com (foxsparrows at aol.com) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:25:45 -0400 Subject: [obol] Harney County shorebirds near Hines Message-ID: <8CB96245A22D320-1080-118@FWM-D38.sysops.aol.com> Yesterday, Potter Swamp Road (off Green House Lane) hosted numerous DUNLIN, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, BLACK-NECKED STILTS and AVOCETS. GREATER YELLOWLEGS were scatterd around the wetlands, as well as LONG-BILLED CURLEWS and WILLETS. White geese are getting scarce. Steve Dowlan OWLHOOTER at AOL.COM -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/26e9a62a/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Apr 28 07:56:06 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 07:56:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Which yellowlegs? Message-ID: <20090428075606.7zzn2086sckkwgww@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Kathy, The bill of your bird is 1.5 times the length of the head and slightly upturned. That is sufficient to identify this bird as Greater Yellowlegs. http://picasaweb.google.com/michael.a.krall/BayOceanSpitWader#5329233341019166306 Greg Gillson White-crowned Sparrows in the Pacific NW: http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/ From youngwarriors at hotmail.com Tue Apr 28 08:24:51 2009 From: youngwarriors at hotmail.com (Keith Owen) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:24:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Romanian Trip Birds Message-ID: Here is a list of the birds from Romania that were new lifers. The number in front of each bird refers to the number on my life list. The list includes places and dates. I listed the Barn Swallow since its appearance is markedly different from the one found in North America although I didn't number it. The sparrow or finch listed is one which I have a photograph of but don't yet know the species. I am planning on posting it on Flickr for identification. 479 Common Magpie Bucharest, Romania 04-13-09 480 Hooded Crow Bucharest, Romania 04-13-09 481 Jackdaw Bucharest, Romania 04-13-09 Barn Swallow (European) Bucharest, Romania 04-13-09 482 Black-headed Gull Bucharest, Romania 04-13-09 483 Great Tit Cernica, Romania 04-15-09 484 Eurasian Wryneck Bucharest, Romania 04-16-09 485 Rook Bucu, Romania 04-16-09 486 Common Kestrel Galati, Romania 04-16-09 487 Common Swift Galati, Romania 04-17-09 488 Black-winged Stilt Galati, Romania 04-17-09 489 White Stork Picsu, Romania 04-17-09 490 White Wagtail Valec Mica, Romania 04-17-09 491 European Greenfinch Iasi, Romania 04-18-09 492 Eurasian Tree Sparrow Iasi, Romania 04-19-09 493 Common Greenshank Iasi, Romania 04-19-09 494 Pallid Harrier Iasi, Romania 04-19-09 495 Common House Martin Baisi, Romania 04-20-09 496 Chaffinch Painted Monastery, Romania 04-20-09 497 Sparrow or Finch Painted Monastery, Romania 04-20-09 498 White-tailed Eagle Carpathian Mountains, Romania 04-20-09 499 Eurasian Blackbird Sighisoara, Romania 04-22-09 500 Eurasian Jay Sighisoara, Romania 04-22-09 501 Eurasian Nuthatch Sighisoara, Romania 04-22-09 502 Common Crane Brashov, Romania 04-22-09 503 Fieldfare Bran Castle, Romania 04-23-09 504 Grey Heron Cernica, Romania 04-25-09 505 Yellow-legged Gull Amsterdam, Netherlands 04-26-09 506 Great Crested Grebe Amsterdam, Netherlands 04-26-09 It was a great trip. Didn't have a lot of time for birding but did the best I could. _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Mobile2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/32251df8/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Tue Apr 28 08:48:38 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:48:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Cowbirds Message-ID: <420275.9532.qm@web46012.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Well, the Cowbirds have arrived. 4 of them in the yard this morning (3 males, 1 female). We are wondering who will raise their young this year. Last year, it was the House Finch that drew the short straw. Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From surfbird at q.com Tue Apr 28 09:25:38 2009 From: surfbird at q.com (Diane Pettey) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:25:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Shorebird Night Migration 4/28/09 Message-ID: At 450 (aka: 0-Dark-Hundred) this morning, I walked from my car to Fred Meyer's back door listening to scattered Western Sandpiper calls and at least one Dunlin. It was magical and a wonderful way to start the work day. regards, Diane Pettey Heceta Beach, OR surfbird at q.com From philliplc at charter.net Tue Apr 28 09:31:51 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:31:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <5492CAAF232D4EF2BD660EAF70EDDFB3@Phil> 6:00-7:30 (4/28): overcast, wind W 5-15, swells 5-7 700+ Red-throated Loon (quite a few moving in pure flocks high up off the water) 2700+ Pacific Loon 10 Common Loon 6 Red-necked Grebe 4 Western Grebe 26 Brown Pelican 25 Double-crested Cormorant 120 Pelagic Cormorant (most N) 150 Brandt's Cormorant 60 Cackling Geese 15 White-fronted Geese 110 Brant 400 small goose sp. 150 Green-winged Teal 40 White-winged Scoter 400 Surf Scoter 10 Red-breasted Merganser 12 Semipalmated Plover 135 Whimbrel (all N in first 10 min) 100+ Dunlin 9000+ Western Sandpiper (flocks moving mostly at distance today many 1+ mile out, most too distant to pick out other sp.) 15 dowitcher sp. 2 California Gull 100 Western Gull 30 Glaucous-winged Gull 40 Caspian Tern 6000+ Common Murre (N) 40 Pigeon Guillemot (most N) 4 Marbled Murrelet 60 Rhinoceros Auklet (N) Phil philliplc at charter.net From cathy.nowak at state.or.us Tue Apr 28 09:32:04 2009 From: cathy.nowak at state.or.us (Cathy Nowak) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:32:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Union County NAMC & Ladd Marsh Birdathon Message-ID: M. Cathy Nowak Fish and Wildlife Biologist ODFW Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area 59116 Pierce Road La Grande, OR 97850 541-963-4954 Cathy.Nowak at state.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/fff7fa75/attachment.html From sasdhill at comcast.net Tue Apr 28 09:41:36 2009 From: sasdhill at comcast.net (Sasdhill@comcast.net) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:41:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hermit Warblers- Skinner's Butte-Eugene Message-ID: <46F071486B1C4BECB27A6D77AE37A88C@OwnerPC> This morning I saw three male HERMIT WARBLERS all on the north side of Skinner's Butte: one in the fir trees nearest the parking lot and two others further west in the next group of fir trees. FOY for me! Sally Hill Eugene, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/cc839c4b/attachment.html From dan-gleason at comcast.net Tue Apr 28 09:44:45 2009 From: dan-gleason at comcast.net (Dan Gleason) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:44:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cowbirds In-Reply-To: <420275.9532.qm@web46012.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <420275.9532.qm@web46012.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <26CEEF3B-022C-4B62-B6F5-E5B32E480541@comcast.net> Are you saying that you had cowbirds successfully raised by House Finches? That would quite extraordinary and should be well documented. Cowbirds very rarely attempt to parasitize House Finch nests and when they do, they are never successful. Cowbirds chicks require a diet of insects and House Finches are among the few seed- eating birds that never supply insects to their young. House Finches feed a partially digested mass of seeds to their young but no insects, even during the first few days. Similarly, goldfinches feed whole seeds to their young and are also unfit hosts for cowbirds. In the few cases known where cowbirds parasitized House Finches, the cowbirds chicks were either ejected or died before fledging. If the House Finch chicks did not survive in your nest location last year, I suspect that there were other reasons for nest failure but the cowbirds are likely not guilty. We tend to assume that cowbirds will parasitize any other species, but while they are generalists among the brood parasites, they still show some selectivity. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Apr 28, 2009, at 8:48 AM, Seth Reams wrote: > > Well, the Cowbirds have arrived. 4 of them in the yard this morning > (3 males, 1 female). We are wondering who will raise their young > this year. Last year, it was the House Finch that drew the short > straw. > > Seth and Michelle > NE Portland, OR - Gateway area > portlandbirds.blogspot.com > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/75d986d1/attachment.html From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Tue Apr 28 09:47:18 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:47:18 -0400 Subject: [obol] too many birds Message-ID: At this time of year I have too many birds wanting seed at my feeding stations. I could easily feed 3 gallons of sunflower seeds per day if I were so inclined (and rich). This morning: 35-40 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS and nearly as many EVENING GROSBEAKS were filling my yard and trees. The avalanche of pigeons is impressive. Then there's a dozen AM. GOLDFINCHES, a dozen or two sparrows of various sorts (including a WHITE-THROATED this morning), a troupe of BLACK-CAPPPED, and other misc. species that come thru right now or are permanent (jays, 1 faithful pheasant, towhees, etc.). Throw in a fox squirrel or two and even a few dusky-footed woodrats at times. It should calm down pretty soon as the birds disperse north and into the hills. I expect to see a dozen or more black-headed grosbeaks soon at the feeders. So far only one. Non-feeder bird: the RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER has added an antenna on our roof to its drumming sites. Warbler numbers still strong -- nothing unusual. Lona Pierce in Columbia County _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Mobile2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/e42b1d70/attachment.html From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Tue Apr 28 10:10:03 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (gerard.lillie at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:10:03 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 13, Issue 25 In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <1632682075.2355401240938603260.JavaMail.root@sz0066a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Em & OBOL, Actually, the Short-eared Owl is the second record. I am in Arizona so don't have the date, but several years ago on a Bird Song Walk one flew over our group. It is definitely a rarity on Tabor. Gerard Message: 6 Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:41:54 -0700 (PDT) From: "m_scatt at yahoo.com" Subject: [obol] Mt. Tabor Short-eared Owl, etc. To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <94535.6662.qm at web55706.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" We birded Mt. Tabor, Portland, from about 7-11:00 this morning. We started on the south side. Just after joining Tom McNamara near the top, a SHORT EARED OWL flew low over the firs! The four of us enjoyed that first-ever Tabor bird. Jay Withgott and several others reported seeing it as well. ?We then birded around the top and back to the southwest side of the park with Stefan Schlick and Tom. After we left them, we found a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE west of the upper reservoir. Five calling LEAST SANDPIPERS dropped down to the lower reservoir, and circled around for a few minutes. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/08fe25cc/attachment.html From cathy.nowak at state.or.us Tue Apr 28 10:12:42 2009 From: cathy.nowak at state.or.us (Cathy Nowak) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:12:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Union County NAMC and Ladd Marsh Birdathon...take 2 Message-ID: I apologize for the blank email. It was case of the "save reflex" gone rogue... The Union County NAMC is set for Saturday, May 9 and will coincide with the 4th Annual Ladd Marsh Birdathon. If you plan to attend the Birdathon and want to do a count for the spring migration count, please coordinate with me so we can avoid multiple counts in the same area. If you don't plan to attend the Birdathon (I can't imagine why), but are interested in a migration count, also please contact me to coordinate effort. The Birdathon is just over a week away and promises to be a fun weekend. The Birdathon offers experienced birders a chance to check out areas of Ladd Marsh normally closed to public access but it also includes activities and opportunities for novice birders and children. See the link below for a list of activities. http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/viewing/events/index.asp Good Spring Birding! M. Cathy Nowak Fish and Wildlife Biologist ODFW Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area 59116 Pierce Road La Grande, OR 97850 541-963-4954 Cathy.Nowak at state.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/fcfc2d72/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Tue Apr 28 10:20:35 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:20:35 -0400 Subject: [obol] Goldfinches and Grosbeaks in Sandy Message-ID: <8CB963CC69C74E5-E24-47F@WEBMAIL-DY10.sysops.aol.com> I had about 8 or 9 American Goldfinches and at least 6 Evening Grosbeaks in my yard yesterday. This is the first time I have ever seen these birds. They are so beautiful. I also have several Gold and White crowned sparrows. There seems to be a pair of Black capped Chickadees hanging arround, possibly a mating pair. However, I have not seen any Hummingbirds since I got home from Utah Sunday. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Oregon American Goldfinch? http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0810/2b69a2800d63492b9617f8253e052c76.jpg Evening Grosbeak? http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0810/5a8da6294b164ff28faf5cd110168d36.jpg -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/fb604ca6/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Tue Apr 28 10:28:50 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:28:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Cowbirds Message-ID: <518303.11445.qm@web46007.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Dan, ? Thank you for your email and the information. We didn't understand that it was an unusual thing for House Finches to raise the Cowbird young. We can not say for certain that the Cowbird was born in a House Finch nest as we did not see it with our own eyes. ? What we did see last year, was a juvenile Cowbird, following a House Finch pair around our yard. The 3 of them (2 House Finches and the Cowbird) would eat at the same feeders all day, and we even have photos of the Cowbird on?a couple of our?Thistle feeders. We just assumed that he was watching what the House Finch pair was doing and mimicking them assuming, again, that they must be raising him. This went on for a couple/few weeks. The feeders that the Cowbird spent the most time in or at, were the black-oil sunflower trays, with the Finches leading the way. ? We had heard how the Cowbirds laid their eggs in other's nests and just made an assumption. ? Any thoughts? ? Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com --- On Tue, 4/28/09, Dan Gleason wrote: From: Dan Gleason Subject: Re: [obol] Cowbirds To: nepobirds at yahoo.com Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 4:44 PM Are you saying that you had cowbirds successfully raised by House Finches? That would quite?extraordinary and should be well documented. Cowbirds very rarely attempt to parasitize House Finch nests and when they do, they are never successful. Cowbirds chicks require a diet of insects and House Finches are among the few seed-eating birds that never supply insects to their young. House Finches feed a partially digested mass of seeds to their young but no insects, even during the first few days. Similarly, goldfinches feed whole seeds to their young and are also unfit hosts for cowbirds. In the few cases known where cowbirds parasitized House Finches, the cowbirds chicks were either ejected or died before fledging. If the House Finch chicks did not survive in your nest location last year, I suspect that there were other reasons for nest failure but the cowbirds are likely not guilty. We tend to assume that cowbirds will parasitize any other species, but while they are generalists among the brood parasites, they still show some selectivity. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Apr 28, 2009, at 8:48 AM, Seth Reams wrote: Well, the Cowbirds have arrived. 4 of them in the yard this morning (3 males, 1 female). We are wondering who will raise their young this year. Last year, it was the House Finch that drew the short straw. Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/cae35380/attachment.html From necurran at earthlink.net Tue Apr 28 10:43:27 2009 From: necurran at earthlink.net (Nancy Curran) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:43:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] New arrivals and a question on storage of Niger seed Message-ID: <380-220094228174327906@earthlink.net> I was deligted to see a Western Tanager at the bird bath last evening and had 8 male Goldfinch at the feeders yesterday afternoon. Then this am, Two male and one female Evening Grosbeaks were at the feeders. Spring arrivals are always so exciting for me to watch. I live west of Eugene, just off Royal about a mile fromt the Royal St. access to Fern Ridge . The Goldfinches lead me to a question on the storage of Niger seed. I have lots of takers for the seed in the Spring (goldfinches and Pine Siskin), but none of my winter visitors show much intertest in it, so I hang out an extra suet for the winter months. Can I freeze the seed to keep it fresh over the winter? How long can I store it non-frozen? Thanks in advance for help on these questions. I'd have expected the House and Purple Finches to like Niger, but they seem glued to the sunflower seed feeder...and I do mean glued. They come to stay for the day, don't they? Nancy Curran -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/ebf63632/attachment.html From archmcc at qwest.net Tue Apr 28 11:50:10 2009 From: archmcc at qwest.net (Arch McCallum) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:50:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird Song: "Hi, Sweetie!"; i.e., chickadee distribution In-Reply-To: <20090422142215.xccjzlyu9cskc84o@webmail.thebirdguide.com> References: <20090422142215.xccjzlyu9cskc84o@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Message-ID: <20090428185024.0F7B2627C94@mpls-qmqp-05.inet.qwest.net> The recent mention of a "Hi, Sweetie!" singer in a pine forest in central Oregon gives me pause. "Hey-sweetie" is a name that has been applied by Donald Kroodsma, and perhaps others before him, to the common song-type of the Black-capped Chickadee. Back in the day we used to refer to that song as the "fee-bee" song, but I do prefer "hey-sweetie," as it captures the cadence better. In his entertaining and info-rich book, The Singing Life of Birds (2005 Houghton Mifflin), Kroodsma details his amazement to find the chickadees on Martha's Vineyard, MASS, not singing hey-sweetie. He made a big deal of it, even giving a paper on it at the AOU meeting of 1994. Somewhere along the way he remembered that black-caps also don't sing hey-sweetie in western Oregon, where he went to graduate school (OSU). He published a paper in 1999 (with many co-authors) documenting the areas where "hey-sweetie" is not used: Alaska, w. Oregon and w. Washington, Martha's Vineyard. So, "hey-sweetie" is expected in central Oregon, but there are two caveats. One, the Mountain Chickadees over there sing something very similar to "hey-sweetie," say "hey-swee-tee," or perhaps, "hey, sweet tea," a line one might use in a seafood restaurant in the South. You can compare "sweetie" to "sweet tea" at http://www.appliedbioacoustics.com/features/sounds/chickadee The second caveat has to do with how common black-caps are in central Oregon. When I gave the evening talk at the OFO meeting in Bend a couple of years ago I was talking about this subject, and asked what the black-caps sing in Bend. Someone answered from the audience that there are no black-caps in Bend. So, if you hear hey-sweetie or something like it in the Bend area, get a look at those birds. This seems to be the moment for my annual, or is it just occasional, query. What do the black-caps, and mountains, say in your area? I'd love the hear from you. Thanks, Arch McCallum Eugene From dan-gleason at comcast.net Tue Apr 28 12:38:19 2009 From: dan-gleason at comcast.net (Dan Gleason) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:38:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cowbirds In-Reply-To: <518303.11445.qm@web46007.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <518303.11445.qm@web46007.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <6879536B-A299-4CD0-A4C2-5FA125FEC9FB@comcast.net> Your assumption is a logical one for most species but House Finches and goldfinches are exceptions. American Goldfinches nest so late that most cowbird females have already laid most or all of their eggs for the season. Even when a cowbird succeeds in laying in a goldfinch nest, the cowbird chick never survives and for the same reason as with House Finches - no insects are fed to the young. Most birds have difficulty digesting plant material when just a few days old. The digestive system is still poorly developed. So adults bring their young insects which provides a good source of protein and material that can more easily be digested. The poor digestion means that adults can get some nutrition by eating the fecal sacs of the young, at least for a few days. Females especially can gain back some of the calcium they lost in producing a clutch of eggs. By the time of fledging the digestive system is mostly fully functional. Thus, cowbirds, once fledged can eat seeds, but prior to fledging they need insects to survive and develop properly. As adults, a Brown-headed Cowbird's diet is 70-80% seed and plant material with insects and spiders making up the rest. Young cowbirds, just out of the nest, wing-flutter and beg from their "parents" and sometimes from anyone else who happens to be nearby. I suspect that this is what you saw. The cowbirds were raised by a species other than House Finch but if an adult House Finch happens by (or any other species), it may try begging. If the House Finch is still feeding its fledglings, the begging behavior of the cowbird chick could have triggered a feeding response from the finch. I watched something similar many years ago when I watched a cowbird chick being fed by a Song Sparrow. After watching it be fed 3 or 4 times by the sparrow, a pair of Bushtits wandering into the same bush. The cowbird begged and was rewarded with a treat from the Bushtit. But in this case, the sparrow soon returned and the Bushtits continued on, ignoring more pleas from the cowbird. A fascinating encounter that I have not seen repeated. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Apr 28, 2009, at 10:28 AM, Seth Reams wrote: > Dan, > > Thank you for your email and the information. We didn't understand > that it was an unusual thing for House Finches to raise the Cowbird > young. We can not say for certain that the Cowbird was born in a > House Finch nest as we did not see it with our own eyes. > > What we did see last year, was a juvenile Cowbird, following a > House Finch pair around our yard. The 3 of them (2 House Finches > and the Cowbird) would eat at the same feeders all day, and we even > have photos of the Cowbird on a couple of our Thistle feeders. We > just assumed that he was watching what the House Finch pair was > doing and mimicking them assuming, again, that they must be raising > him. This went on for a couple/few weeks. The feeders that the > Cowbird spent the most time in or at, were the black-oil sunflower > trays, with the Finches leading the way. > > We had heard how the Cowbirds laid their eggs in other's nests and > just made an assumption. > > Any thoughts? > > Seth and Michelle > NE Portland, OR - Gateway area > portlandbirds.blogspot.com > --- On Tue, 4/28/09, Dan Gleason wrote: > > From: Dan Gleason > Subject: Re: [obol] Cowbirds > To: nepobirds at yahoo.com > Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 4:44 PM > > Are you saying that you had cowbirds successfully raised by House > Finches? That would quite extraordinary and should be well > documented. Cowbirds very rarely attempt to parasitize House Finch > nests and when they do, they are never successful. Cowbirds chicks > require a diet of insects and House Finches are among the few seed- > eating birds that never supply insects to their young. House > Finches feed a partially digested mass of seeds to their young but > no insects, even during the first few days. Similarly, goldfinches > feed whole seeds to their young and are also unfit hosts for > cowbirds. In the few cases known where cowbirds parasitized House > Finches, the cowbirds chicks were either ejected or died before > fledging. If the House Finch chicks did not survive in your nest > location last year, I suspect that there were other reasons for > nest failure but the cowbirds are likely not guilty. > > We tend to assume that cowbirds will parasitize any other species, > but while they are generalists among the brood parasites, they > still show some selectivity. > > Dan Gleason > ------------- > Dan Gleason > dan-gleason at comcast.net > 541 345-0450 > > > On Apr 28, 2009, at 8:48 AM, Seth Reams wrote: > >> >> Well, the Cowbirds have arrived. 4 of them in the yard this >> morning (3 males, 1 female). We are wondering who will raise their >> young this year. Last year, it was the House Finch that drew the >> short straw. >> >> Seth and Michelle >> NE Portland, OR - Gateway area >> portlandbirds.blogspot.com >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/fae06a46/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Tue Apr 28 12:46:36 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:46:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Cowbirds Message-ID: <539064.38996.qm@web46016.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Dan, ? Thank you, again, for the information. We will take note of anything unusual that we see this year and report it if necessary.?The info you provided was very interesting and we will be studying it more thoroughly. ? Take care, Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com --- On Tue, 4/28/09, Dan Gleason wrote: From: Dan Gleason Subject: Re: [obol] Cowbirds To: nepobirds at yahoo.com Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 7:38 PM Your assumption is a logical one for most species but House Finches and goldfinches are exceptions. American Goldfinches nest so late that most cowbird females have already laid most or all of their eggs for the season. Even when a cowbird succeeds in laying in a goldfinch nest, the cowbird chick never survives and for the same reason as with House Finches - no insects are fed to the young. Most birds have difficulty digesting plant material when just a few days old. The digestive system is still poorly developed. So adults bring their young insects which provides a good source of protein and material that can more easily be digested. The poor digestion means that adults can get some nutrition by eating the fecal sacs of the young, at least for a few days. Females especially can gain back some of the calcium they lost in producing a clutch of eggs. By the time of fledging the digestive system is mostly fully functional. Thus, cowbirds, once fledged can eat seeds, but prior to fledging they need insects to survive and develop properly. As adults, a Brown-headed Cowbird's diet is 70-80% seed and plant material with insects and spiders making up the rest. Young cowbirds, just out of the nest, wing-flutter and beg from their "parents" and sometimes from anyone else who happens to be nearby. I suspect that this is what you saw. The cowbirds were raised by a species other than House Finch but if an adult House Finch happens by (or any other species), it may try begging. If the House Finch is still feeding its fledglings, the begging behavior of the cowbird chick could have triggered a feeding response from the finch. I watched something similar many years ago when I watched a cowbird chick being fed by a Song Sparrow. After watching it be fed 3 or 4 times by the sparrow, a pair of Bushtits wandering into the same bush. The cowbird begged and was rewarded with a treat from the Bushtit. But in this case, the sparrow soon returned and the Bushtits continued on,?ignoring?more pleas from the cowbird. A fascinating encounter that I have not seen repeated. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Apr 28, 2009, at 10:28 AM, Seth Reams wrote: Dan, ? Thank you for your email and the information. We didn't understand that it was an unusual thing for House Finches to raise the Cowbird young. We can not say for certain that the Cowbird was born in a House Finch nest as we did not see it with our own eyes. ? What we did see last year, was a juvenile Cowbird, following a House Finch pair around our yard. The 3 of them (2 House Finches and the Cowbird) would eat at the same feeders all day, and we even have photos of the Cowbird on?a couple of our?Thistle feeders. We just assumed that he was watching what the House Finch pair was doing and mimicking them assuming, again, that they must be raising him. This went on for a couple/few weeks. The feeders that the Cowbird spent the most time in or at, were the black-oil sunflower trays, with the Finches leading the way. ? We had heard how the Cowbirds laid their eggs in other's nests and just made an assumption. ? Any thoughts? ? Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com --- On Tue, 4/28/09, Dan Gleason wrote: From: Dan Gleason Subject: Re: [obol] Cowbirds To: nepobirds at yahoo.com Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 4:44 PM Are you saying that you had cowbirds successfully raised by House Finches? That would quite?extraordinary and should be well documented. Cowbirds very rarely attempt to parasitize House Finch nests and when they do, they are never successful. Cowbirds chicks require a diet of insects and House Finches are among the few seed-eating birds that never supply insects to their young. House Finches feed a partially digested mass of seeds to their young but no insects, even during the first few days. Similarly, goldfinches feed whole seeds to their young and are also unfit hosts for cowbirds. In the few cases known where cowbirds parasitized House Finches, the cowbirds chicks were either ejected or died before fledging. If the House Finch chicks did not survive in your nest location last year, I suspect that there were other reasons for nest failure but the cowbirds are likely not guilty. We tend to assume that cowbirds will parasitize any other species, but while they are generalists among the brood parasites, they still show some selectivity. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Apr 28, 2009, at 8:48 AM, Seth Reams wrote: Well, the Cowbirds have arrived. 4 of them in the yard this morning (3 males, 1 female). We are wondering who will raise their young this year. Last year, it was the House Finch that drew the short straw. Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/4d5e5193/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Tue Apr 28 13:20:18 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:20:18 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Unidentified song Message-ID: <17516.63365.qm@web46002.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Michelle and I heard, this morning, a song that we are unfamiliar with. It, as far as we could tell, was 10-12 quick notes in descending order and, when answered, gave back a 3 note, same pitch call. I wish I could describe it better than that. Seth Reams and Michelle King NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From winkg at hevanet.com Tue Apr 28 15:12:58 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:12:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] chickadee distribution Message-ID: <20090428221256.25E16A823B@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Hi Arch: There is a population of Black-capped Chickadees on the N end of Sauvie Island that sing "fee-bee"--just like their East Coast cousins. Wink Gross Portland From kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us Tue Apr 28 16:23:16 2009 From: kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us (Kyle W Bratcher) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:23:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Joseph Cassins finches Message-ID: I just had a flock of 30+ Cassins finches at my feeders. There were also a few Goldfinches and Siskins mixed in. I was wondering how often they flock in large numbers like this? I always seem to see them in groups of two or three, but not 30! Good Birding Kyle Bratcher Joseph, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/82fbd142/attachment.html From monroemolly at hotmail.com Tue Apr 28 17:19:16 2009 From: monroemolly at hotmail.com (Molly Monroe) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:19:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Whimbrels and BB Plovers at Baskett Slough Message-ID: While counting geese at Baskett today (down to 12,000 from 17,000 last week), I had the pleasure of watching a group of 8 Black-bellied Plovers and 3 Whimbrels in the next field over. The plovers were in a variety of breeding plumages ranging from two bright white/dark black to the rest being somewhat mottled. The whimbrels were hard to find and more difficult to relocate as they blended so well with the dirt and moved around more than the plovers, but stayed within the vicinity of the group. They were feeding in the east end of the recently disced field between Cackler Marsh and Hwy 22 (field runs parallel to the hwy). It was disced "heavy" yesterday so I'm guessing there were lots of goodies unearthed for them. I did see the disc move back over there after finishing a different field off of Coville Rd, so I'm guessing they're going to run the disc back over it to break it down better. A good spot to look at this end of the field is a little unofficial pullout off of Hwy 22 next to the large douglas fir patch. There's only room for 2 cars there and be careful pulling on and off the highway as this isn't an expected spot to know to turn. Hopefully, they'll stick around to be seen by others and it might be worth looking closer at the other worked up fields around the refuge to see if they attract any more. The best part of finding these lovely birds today was being able to share them with (and get confirmation from) a group of ladies participating in the Salem Audubon Birdathon. Hope that's not cheating!!! There was at least one Black-necked stilt on Dusky Marsh but this was seen from afar and I didn't get a chance to look any closer for more. Happy migration, Molly~ _ ( '< / ) ) //"Endangered species are sensitive indicators of how we are treating the planet and we should be listening carefully to their message _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Mobile2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/5a1724bc/attachment.html From Andy.Frank at kp.org Tue Apr 28 19:06:57 2009 From: Andy.Frank at kp.org (Andy.Frank at kp.org) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:06:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Smith-Bybee warblers today Message-ID: When the rain slowed I went to Smith-Bybee in Portland early this afternoon and counted the following number of warblers: 1 Yellow Warbler (my first of year) 1 Wilson's Warbler 4 Orange-crowned Warblers 7 Common Yellowthroat 267, 477 Yellow-rumped Warblers The last may be a slight exaggeration, but it accurately expresses the nature of the experience. Andy Frank -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/ed59a796/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Apr 28 19:43:39 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:43:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Cty birds Message-ID: <49F7BEDB.3030405@verizon.net> I forgot to mention that yesterday 4/27 at Coos Bay North Spit Coos Cty we saw one RED KNOT on the beach. Just a little while ago we added a new yard bird to our list: WILD TURKEY. Not sure how I quite feel about that, but it sure is a beautiful bird....... Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon, OR deweysage at verizon.net From raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Tue Apr 28 20:08:15 2009 From: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com (Jeff Fleischer) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:08:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Linn County NAMC - Saturday May 9 Message-ID: <131508.99378.qm@web50912.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Obolers, As Linn County coordinator for the upcoming North American Migration Count, I would like to invite anyone interested in birding Linn County on Saturday May 9 to get ahold of me to see where I can put you to work for the cause :) If you happen to be visiting in the county that day and manage to make some bird sightings during your visit, I would be happy to accept those from you to add to the coordinated coverage that I am putting together for those who have already expressed interest in participating. Thanks in advance for any and all help that you would like to provide to our counting effort here in Linn County! Jeff Fleischer Albany From ninerharv2 at msn.com Tue Apr 28 20:44:04 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:44:04 +0000 Subject: [obol] Coos Cty birds Message-ID: Dave The wild turkey pair I sent you a photo of last week remain in our neighborhood on Bradley Lake a week later. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: DJ Lauten and KACastelein Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:43:39 To: Subject: [obol] Coos Cty birds I forgot to mention that yesterday 4/27 at Coos Bay North Spit Coos Cty we saw one RED KNOT on the beach. Just a little while ago we added a new yard bird to our list:? WILD TURKEY.? Not sure how I quite feel about that, but it sure is a beautiful bird....... Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon, OR deweysage at verizon.net _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From cgates326 at gmail.com Tue Apr 28 21:21:57 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:21:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wasco NAMC Message-ID: Donna Lusthoff wanted me to announce that the Wasco County NAMC will be on Sunday, May 10. If you would like to count birds in Wasco County on that day, please contact Donna and she can steer you into territory not already covered by someone else. Donna Lusthoff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/48e65b89/attachment.html From fschrock at gmail.com Tue Apr 28 21:34:08 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:34:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yamhill NAMC Message-ID: <390ebd880904282134r32bbf96fm356db5c50102e93a@mail.gmail.com> Chuck, I'll combine this note to you with notice to everyone: Quinton Nice will be the compiler for the Yamhill Co. NAMC, which will happen on Saturday, May 9. Anyone recording bird sightings in this county on that day, should send a report to Quinton at qtnice at juno.com. ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090428/44f518e7/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Tue Apr 28 21:46:09 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:46:09 -0400 Subject: [obol] Black-bellied Plovers/Black-necked Stilts near Forest Grove (Washington Co) Message-ID: In field on the east side of Hwy 49 north of Forest Grove, I found a bonanza of shorebirds late afternoon including 100+ Least Sandpipers, a few Westerns, both Yellowlegs and 2 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS. This spot is just south of Spreadborough Rd. After checking the main pond at Fernhill Wetlands (1 Canvasback and 1 Horned Grebe in full breeding plumage), I walked in from the southeast to check the NE corner of the southernmost pond: Not a single shorebird was present. Further south on Fernhill Rd I hit another great shorebird field. This spot is 0.5mi south of Blue Heron Dr. Highlights here were 2 BLACK-NECKED STILTS and a few breeding-plumage Dunlins. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get quick friend updates right in your inbox. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Updates2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090429/a2cddcaf/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Apr 29 01:06:00 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:06:00 +0000 Subject: [obol] New BirdFellow.com post about fundraising effort aimed at helping Red Knots Message-ID: Greetings All, Elizabeth J. Rosenthal, author of Birdwatcher: The Life of Roger Tory Peterson (2008), has written a fine piece about the plight of the Atlantic population of Red Knots and the corresponding issues related to the over-harvest of horseshoe crabs in Delaware Bay. Though the issues surrounding the declining knot population and the crab harvest have been well-covered in various news media and birding publications, we hope that the publication of this article in the BirdFellow.com online journal will further raise awareness and inspire even more birders to contribute to this vital conservation effort. Our focal point in publishing this piece (find it at www.BirdFellow.com) is to help promote the upcoming Delmarva Ornithological Society Bird-a-thon, which is endeavoring to raise funds that can be used to purchase prime horseshoe crab spawning beaches on Delaware Bay. The purchased habitats will offer full protection from harvest for the spawning crabs, effectively enhancing the food supply for knots and other shorebirds that are so utterly dependent on this unique food source. We invite you to check out Elizabeth's article and other pieces that have been published since we launched our online journal in late Dec. 2008. Most importantly, we invite you to make a contribution to this important effort. We'd like to publicly thank Chris Bennett from the Delaware Div. of Parks and Recreation, and Dr. Jean Woods, Curator of Birds, Delaware Museum of Natural History, for providing the wonderful photos that illustrate this piece. We also thank Bill Stewart, Conservation Chair of the Delmarva Ornithological Society, for sending us the news release about the DOS Bird-a-thon, which got the ball rolling as far as our interest in helping to promote this fundraising effort. Thanks, Dave Irons Content Editor BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get quick friend updates right in your inbox. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Updates2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090429/6bf39116/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Wed Apr 29 06:23:47 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:23:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Romanian Trip Birds Message-ID: <034083F0B5D949E5A3B8169D0D61839E@laptop> I was glad to see the post on Romanian birds. International travel can be a big help for conservation efforts around the world, and is relevant on our Oregon list. The birder who showed us around on part of our trip to Taiwan just sent me this news about a farmer setting up a reserve for the Fairy Pitta: http://antihushandam.blogspot.com/2009/04/local-farmer-sets-up-fairy-pitta.h tml Patricia and I found Taiwan very easy to visit on our own, and a lovely introduction to Chinese birds. Our costs on the ground were very inexpensive - I think the two of us spent about $900 for the week-long tour, not including the airfare. For that we had lovely accommodations, good food, and the freedom of being on our own with a rental car. Good birding, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090429/09d6b4f4/attachment.html From rkorpi at hotmail.com Wed Apr 29 08:23:22 2009 From: rkorpi at hotmail.com (Ray Korpi) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:23:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chippy Message-ID: All, Was pleasantly surprised by a CHIPPING SPARROW at my home in Vancouver this morning. A new yard and county bird always makes the day better! Ray Korpi rkorpi at hotmail.com Vancouver WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090429/a563781a/attachment.html From birder at iinet.com Wed Apr 29 09:04:20 2009 From: birder at iinet.com (Sherry Hagen) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:04:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Northern Cardinal - Clark Co. Record Message-ID: <41BE2EF60B0F44409D34CE3C0661849A@112e829d8e93406> Yesterday late afternoon, I got a call from Donna Goddu at the Tidewater office near Vancouver Lake lowlands. She had discovered what she thought to be a female Northern Cardinal coming to the office bird feeders. We drove down to verify the sighting and photograph it. This is a first Clark County record. The area that this bird is in is a "secure area" and protocol MUST BE FOLLOWED. TIDEWATER is located at 6305 NW Old Lower River Rd in Vancouver, WA. Take Fourth Plain west (It turns into Lower River Rd.) Turn left at Old Lower River Rd.(this is before you come to the flushing channel at Vancouver Lake. Proceed to the next stop sign where you will see the sign to Tidewater. Park in the parking lot in front of the office. You must check in at the office before birding. The Northern Cardinal female is coming to the feeders in back of the building. There is a picnic table on the SE corner of the building where you will be able to see the feeders. You must stay at the picnic tables and not wander around this area. Also present was a White-throated Sparrow among other local species. Sherry Hagen Vancouver, WA birder at iinet.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090429/7e2f6910/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Wed Apr 29 10:16:36 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:16:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tillamook Co. "big day" w/ Harris's Sparrow, Glaucous Gull, Red Knot, Barrow's Goldeneye, etc. Message-ID: Yesterday, 28 April, Tim Janzen, Owen Schmidt, and I birded a full day in Tillamook County. Our top highlight was the HARRIS'S SPARROW at the feeder of Margaret Tweelinckx in Cape Meares Village. We had 133 species on the day, and other highlights included RED-NECKED GREBE, SNOW GOOSE, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, EURASIAN WIGEON, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, RED KNOT, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, GLAUCOUS GULL, BONAPARTE'S GULL, TUFTED PUFFIN, BLACK PHOEBE, and an immense flock of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE estimated at roughly 10,000 birds. We were nominally doing a "big day" effort for the county, but we knew going in that we would not approach a maximal species total, because (1) we had done no scouting, (2) we were doing no owling, and (3) it is about a week too early for optimal species diversity. In addition, the weather (cold & cloudy with intermittent rain) severely suppressed passerine activity, and the migration appeared to be more delayed than we'd expected. As a result, we missed many "easy" species. Considering all this, we were well satisfied with our 133 species. The adult HARRIS'S SPARROW was in Margaret Tweelinckx's front yard on 4th St. in the town of Cape Meares. All three of us had somehow missed Margaret's OBOL posting back on 17 April, so when we found the bird, we thought we'd discovered something new. From out in the street we excitedly called Margaret to alert her of the special visitor that was bathing in her birdbath at that very moment, only to learn that the "discovery" was not truly ours! Owen then got video of the bird as it sat and sang in a roadside hedge. The rest of our highlights were as follows: RED-NECKED GREBE - 1 at Oceanside. GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - A flock of roughly 10,000 was on islands in the middle of Tillamook Bay at mid-tide at dawn. Because of the great distance and the low light levels, we could not get a very accurate estimate. But there were roughly 10,000 birds, all or nearly all of which appeared to be White-fronted Geese. The flock was gone at different tide conditions later in the day. SNOW GOOSE - 1 seen with the big White-fronted flock. BRANT - dozens in Tillamook Bay. BLUE-WINGED TEAL - 1 male w/ 2 Cinnamon Teal at Bay City Sewage Ponds. EURASIAN WIGEON - 2 males in wigeon flock at S. end of Tillamook Bay at mid-tide. CANVASBACK - 1 female at Lake Meares; 1 male at Bay City Sewage Ponds. BLACK SCOTER - flyby flock of 9, and then possibly 3 more, at Oceanside. BARROW'S GOLDENEYE - 2 molting imm. males at dock area at north end of Netarts Bay. HOODED MERGANSER - 2 females at Bay City Sewage Ponds. PEREGRINE FALCON - Not seen at Cape Meares, but 1 flyover on road s. of Cape Lookout. VIRGINIA RAIL - Cape Meares Village marsh. 16 species of shorebirds, w/ largest flock being several hundred peeps & Dunlin at Bayocean Spit. RED KNOT - 1 picked out by Tim among peep & Dunlin flock at Bayocean Spit. SURFBIRDS & TURNSTONES still at Barview Jetty, but no Rock Sandpipers were found. RED-NECKED PHALAROPE - 1 at Nehalem Sewage Ponds. BONAPARTE'S GULL - 1 at Bayocean Spit. THAYER'S GULL - 2 imm. in gull flocks on Long Prairie Rd. GLAUCOUS GULL - 1 imm. in gull flocks on Long Prairie Rd. COMMON MURRES - are always a highlight, in their amazing numbers at Cape Meares. TUFTED PUFFIN - A dozen or so fishing and flying around Three Arch Rocks. BLACK PHOEBE - 1 at house at 8315 Long Prairie Rd. We watched 2 AMERICAN DIPPERS swimming and diving (rather than walking) for food in the Kilchis River. HERMIT WARBLER at Buzzard Butte was one of the few recently arrived passerine migrants in a day largely lacking them. LINCOLN'S SPARROW - 1 at Long Prairie Rd. RED CROSSBILL - flock at Cape Meares. Jay Withgott Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090429/bc54032f/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Wed Apr 29 10:33:10 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:33:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] JoCo Manzanita I-5 rest stop Message-ID: <85C9A55DEFE84FBEB8E8032C2C84BE73@Warbler> This morning (04-29-09) about an hour's visit along the frontage road east of the north bound Manzanita (Merlin) rest stop found the following of interest for Josephine Co: Frontage Rd: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, HOUSE WREN, LARK SPARROW, DUSKY FLYCATCHER, LAZULI BUNTING (singing), OAK TITMOUSE at the old rock pit up from the road: CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (displaying male) and 1 ROCK WREN (singing). Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090429/4e7cd0b4/attachment.html From oschmidt at att.net Wed Apr 29 13:26:49 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:26:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Harris's Sparrow video Message-ID: <62E08E73-42E0-4145-8004-F816D4D195DD@att.net> .......... to see a Web-friendly Quicktime version of yesterday's video of the Harris's Sparrow at Tillamook, click on this link: http://web.me.com/olschmidt/HASP/HASP.html The original HD video file is one minute 17 seconds, and takes about 389 megabytes. This has been edited down for just the 3 clips -- about 15 seconds -- where the bird is singing. Unfortunately the bird stayed in the middle of the hedge the entire time the video was running ....... so the best part is the song ........... oschmidt at att.net Wednesday, April 29, 2009 From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Apr 29 13:48:03 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:48:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wed morning, Eugene Message-ID: We went to Armitage Park (I-5 and Coburg Road at McKenzie River) where we found the woods fairly active with arriving passerines. We also found a Cooper's Hawk nest with the two adults, active and vocalizing. We had no other surprises. Mallard - 5 Turkey Vulture - 6 Osprey - 2+ Sharp-shinned Hawk - Some thought Cooper's (for good reasons), but I thought the underparts matched those of im. Sharpy. Cooper's Hawk - 2 adults with nest. Am. Kestrel - 1 (from car) Mourning Dove - 1 Anna's Hummer - 1 fem Rufous Hummer - 2 Downy Woodpecker - 3 Hammond's Flycatcher - 5 Dusky Flycatcher - 1 possible Pac - slope Flycatcher - 9 V-g Swallow - few Scrub Jay - 1 Am. Crow - 6 Raven - 3 Black-capped Chickadee - 3 Bushtit - 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch - 4 Brown Creeper - 3 Bewick-s Wren - 2 Winter Wren - 1 Ruby-cr. Kinglet - 4 Hermit Thrush - 1 Am. Robin - 10 Starling - 1 Cassin's Vireo - 4 Warbling Vireo - 5 Orange-cr. Warbler - 7 Yellow-rumped Warbler (both types) - 30 Black-throated Gray Warbler - 6+ Townsend's Warbler - 2 MacGillivray's Warbler - 1 Wilson's Warbler - 2 Western Tanager - 20+ Spotted Towhee - 2 Chipping Sparrow - 10 Song Sparrow - 6 Golden-cr. Sparrow - 3 Purple Finch - 2 Pine Siskin - 10 Les. Goldfinch - 15 Am. Goldfinch - 12 Larry McQueen, along with Dennis Arendt, Sarah Vasconcellos, Sylvia Maulding, Kimberly Cullen, Fred Chancey, Don Schrouder, and Craig Merhel. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090429/695808e1/attachment.html From madsteins at hotmail.com Wed Apr 29 14:35:52 2009 From: madsteins at hotmail.com (Don Stein) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:35:52 -0400 Subject: [obol] Magpies Trip, Klamath Basin Message-ID: The Magpies' (Audubon Society of Portland) trip to the Klamath Basin was April 15-16th. Members on trip: Co-leaders Dick Demarest and Don Stein; Dudley & Barbara Thomas, and Shannon & and Alberto Diez. Count Total: 102 Sightings of Note: TRI-COLORED BLACKBIRD 350+ 1/4 mile east of Lost River High School in Malin. LONG-TAILED DUCK, female, winter Putnam's Point Park NORTHERN PYGMY OWL Odessa Creek RUFFED GROUSE Odessa Creek BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON K-Falls, Riverside Dr., east of RR tracks. Rookery 20+ adult/imm. JUNIPER TITMOUSE 2 Moore Park, a pair, one in clear view singing. Other sightings: Greater White-fronted Goose Snow Goose Ross's Goose Gadwall Mallard American Wigeon Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Canvasback Redhead Ringed-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Common Golden-eye Barrow's Golden-eye Common Merganser Rudy Duck Ringed-necked Pheasant California Quail Pied-billed Grebe Eared Grebe Western Grebe Clark's Grebe Am. White Pelican Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Great Heron Cattle Egret 3 Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Golden Eagle Am. Kestrel Merlin Peregrine Falcon Prairie Falcon Am. Coot Sandhill Crane Killdeer Black-necked Stilt Am. Avocet Greater Yellow-legs Willet Marbled Godwit Dunlin Bonaparte's Gull Ringed-bill Gull California Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Great-horned Owl White-throated Swift Belted Kingfisher Red-breasted Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated WP (heard) Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay Black-billed Magpie Am. Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Bushtit Marsh Wren (heard) Ruby-crowned Kinglet Swainson's Thrush (Odessa Creek) Am. Robin Varied Thrush European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Common Yellow-throat Spotted Towhee Savannah Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadow Lark Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird House Finch House Sparrow Don Stein Depoe Bay _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?:?more than just e-mail. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_more_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090429/4c17883e/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Wed Apr 29 16:23:53 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:23:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Golden Purple Finch, Yamhill Co Message-ID: <5A95BC2C01C24E65832D878C113C9D73@yourw5st28y9a3> Last year there was a photo taken of a bird which appeared to be a male Purple Finch except that it was a rich golden yellow where it should have been red. I have forgotten who took the picture. Later, Carol Karlen and I each saw a bird like this at our feeders, about 6 miles apart. Apparently PUFI are not known to have the kind of pigment deficiencies due to a lack of dietary carotene that House Finches show, but this one was decidedly not red. About 4PM today I saw what may be the same bird at my feeder and took several pictures. Very healthy looking, and not accompanied by other PUFI. Pamela Johnston outside McMinnville From kolwicz at minetfiber.com Wed Apr 29 17:12:27 2009 From: kolwicz at minetfiber.com (kolwicz at minetfiber.com) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:12:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] "Hollywood" house finches Message-ID: <49F8ECEB.4090902@minetfiber.com> What's with these house finches that have gone Hollywood on me? I thought I'd left those bleach-blonde, hot tangerine and otherwise luridly colored guys behind. I've seen them with eye stripes of near lemon yellow, breasts and heads in bright orange and various shades of red. I thought it was just from living too close to L.A., but theeeeyyy'rrrre heeeeere! -- Frank "Logic: The art of thinking and reasoning in strict accordance with the limitations and incapacities of the human misunderstanding." --Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary"" From celata at pacifier.com Wed Apr 29 17:31:31 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:31:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eohaustorius Message-ID: <49F8F163.8000703@pacifier.com> What those shorebirds are eating... http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From rowbird2005 at yahoo.com Wed Apr 29 17:55:22 2009 From: rowbird2005 at yahoo.com (Forrest Rowland) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:55:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Quail, Molalla State Park and my "backyard" Message-ID: <307740.4757.qm@web35304.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, On my way back from Portland this afternoon I stopped in for a brief visit at Molalla State Park. I just did a brief exploration along the small watercourse at the Fir Grove parking area. Came up with a few species of interest: ? 40+ YRWA (mostly Audubon's) 1 Nashville Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 2 Black-headed Grosbeak 1 singing male Cassin's Finch (in the fir stand opposite) 2 Dusky Flycatchers 1 Pac-slope Flycatcher 2 Pileated Woodpeckers 1 Northern Flicker attending a hole ? In the lone tree that stands off our balcony (overlooking the neighbor's overgrown lawn which both species of Goldfinch seem to adore) A male Calliope Hummingbird as perched for the third day in a row. My girlfriend spotted him the first day and we've seen him there on 4 separate occasions over the past 2 days. I have no doubt that he'll be leaving us soon, but we've enjoyed seeing him. ? Lastly, two evenings ago I was up on a ridge above the Molalla Recreation?Corridor and flushed some Quail. I didn't get a defining look and am wondering if they would be?Mountain Quail, given that they were indeed in the mountains. The true spectacle was having over 50 Varied Thrush littering the overgrown path I was driving and flushing off the road as I approached them. THAT was quite something!!! ? Good?Birding, ? Forrest Rowland? ? ____________________________________________________________________________________ ?Obt?n la mejor experiencia en la web! Descarga gratis el nuevo Internet Explorer 8. http://downloads.yahoo.com/ieak8/?l=e1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090429/b122343f/attachment.html From FoxSparrows at aol.com Wed Apr 29 18:19:20 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:19:20 EDT Subject: [obol] More Black-throated Sparrows in Harney County Message-ID: I saw two BLACK-THRIOATED SPARROWS today on what would be described as "breeding habitat" several miles west of Mickey Hot Springs. I think this species definitely arrived early this year and some pairs are on territory already. Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm_ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) **************Access 350+ FREE radio stations anytime from anywhere on the web. Get the Radio Toolbar! (http://toolbar.aol.com/aolradio/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000003) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090429/39817085/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Apr 29 20:01:35 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:01:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Flycatchers Message-ID: It is flycatcher day in my south Eugene yard. Around 6:30 a Pac-slope went through the back yard. A Hammond's has now arrived in the apple tree around 7:45. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From manzed_99 at yahoo.com Wed Apr 29 20:23:54 2009 From: manzed_99 at yahoo.com (manzed_99 at yahoo.com) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:23:54 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Jackson Bottom, Washington County, Oregon on April 25, 2009 Message-ID: <200904300323.n3U3Ns70001383@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Dennis Manzer by http://birdnotes.net Date: April 25, 2009 Location: Jackson Bottom, Washington County, Oregon Noted my initial sighting of 3 Eurasian collared dove courting from the parking lot @ the N end and again the folowing day at the education center. More than 55 greater white-fronted geese from the Clean Water Services parking lot. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Greater White-fronted Goose 55 Canada Goose 38 Cackling Goose 114 Wood Duck 2 Gadwall 4 American Wigeon 6 Mallard 6 Cinnamon Teal 2 Northern Shoveler 6 Green-Winged Teal 30 Common Merganser 8 Ring-necked Pheasant 7 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Double-crested Cormorant 3 Osprey 1 Bald Eagle 3 Northern Harrier 3 Red-tailed Hawk 5 American Kestrel 1 American Coot 2 Killdeer 3 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Western Sandpiper 1 Dunlin 30 Rock Dove 4 Eurasian Collared-Dove 3 Mourning Dove 6 Vaux's Swift 12 Anna's Hummingbird 1 Rufous Hummingbird 1 Northern Flicker 2 Western Scrub-Jay 6 American Crow 4 Tree Swallow 20 Violet-green Swallow 12 Barn Swallow 10 Bushtit 4 American Robin 8 European Starling 20 Orange-crowned Warbler 3 Common Yellowthroat 2 Spotted Towhee 1 Song Sparrow 1 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Red-winged Blackbird 16 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 House Finch 6 House Sparrow 4 Total number of species seen: 49 From FoxSparrows at aol.com Wed Apr 29 20:52:58 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:52:58 EDT Subject: [obol] Salt Desert shrub photo-guide for birders visiting Harney County Message-ID: If you are interested in differentiating salt desert shrubs during your birding visit to Harney County, please go to: _http://picasaweb.google.com/Sagesprrow/GreatBasinSaltDesertPlants_ (http://picasaweb.google.com/Sagesprrow/GreatBasinSaltDesertPlants) # I have posted some photos, as well as links to the USDA Plants database sites for more botanical information. You would most likely see these plants around Harney and Malheur Lakes, as well as Alvord Basin, Mickey Basin, and Catlow Basin. I update this catalogue periodically... Remember... it ain't all sagebrush! Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm_ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) **************Access 350+ FREE radio stations anytime from anywhere on the web. Get the Radio Toolbar! (http://toolbar.aol.com/aolradio/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000003) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090429/f9bcc540/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Wed Apr 29 21:00:44 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:00:44 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Salish Pond Birds 4/26/09 In-Reply-To: <114919266.1959551240927159854.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <385062374.2706111241064044158.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi All, I haven't been to Salish Ponds for quite a while and found myself with a spare 90 minutes to wander Sunday April 26th. So off to the ponds I went. Canada Geese 3 Mallard Ducks: not many in sight. Mostly around the edge of the pond. I wonder if they are nesting. American Coots. Its rare to see fewer than 20. I suspect they are tucked away in the cattails nesting. Great Blue Heron 1 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Northern Flicker 2 Song Sparrow 4. One had a really unusual song so I kept looking until I found it to be sure it was a Song Sparrow. Golden-crowned Sparrow 2. I thought it was interesting that the birds were feeding on green seed pods of Bitter-cress (Cardamine sp). Brilliant when you think about it, they get the seeds without having to pick them up one by one. Savannah Sparrow 2 American Crow 1 Red-winged Blackbirds. Lots and a possible fledgling. Singing and crying from deep inside a willow. I saw aonther blackbird fly to where the first was calling from. Brown-headed Blackbirds 2 Black-capped Chickadees House Finches American Goldfinch 1 Rufous Hummingbird 2. Heard the wing trill, did not see the bird(s). May have been one bird twice. Tree Swallows 8 Orange-crowned Warbler 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers 12. Most with yellow throat. One really pale...female? Common Yellow Throat 1 seen twice or two birds? My favorite. First time I've seen one of these. Low in the willows and cattails at the southeastern corner of the pond (by the apartments) Red-tailed Hawk 1 Osprey 1. For such a fierce looking bird I love that "peeping" call they give during flight. Unidentified Raptors 2. Saw two flying low over the meadow to the north of the pond. I don't think they were Accipiters, tail was too short and wide (did not have that sharp taper where tail feathers and body come together) when spread. Bellies were light colored backs were dark. That's it . Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090430/ae30d3e8/attachment.html From kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us Wed Apr 29 21:13:33 2009 From: kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us (Kyle W Bratcher) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:13:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Song sparrow and a mirror Message-ID: Today in Enterprise I saw a song sparrow that hung out most of the day on my co-workers truck jumping down and looking at itself in the passenger side mirror. Also saw a Great egret that has been hanging out picking off recently released Steelhead smolts for the last week. That is the first Egret I have seen in the county. I also had a bright orange, Red crossbill on my feeders amongst lots of Cassins finches. Good Birding All. Kyle Bratcher Joseph, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090429/7e275240/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Apr 29 21:50:16 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:50:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 04/29/09 Message-ID: <20090430045043.09A2EA823B@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 04/23 to 04/29/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 5 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) CANADA GOOSE 1 (6, 4/27) TURKEY VULTURE 1 (2, 4/27) Band-tailed Pigeon 5 (6) Mourning Dove 4 (3) Anna's Hummingbird 4 (2) Rufous Hummingbird 5 (3) Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 (2, 4/29) Downy Woodpecker 1 (1, 4/27) Northern Flicker 3 (1) Pileated Woodpecker 2 (1, 4/26 & 29) Hammond's Flycatcher 3 (4, 4/29) PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER 1 (1, 4/29) Empidonax sp. 2 (2) HUTTON'S VIREO 1 (1, 4/26) Steller's Jay 5 (6) Western Scrub-Jay 5 (2) American Crow 5 (5) COMMON RAVEN 1 (1, 4/29) Violet-green Swallow 4 (5) Black-capped Chickadee 5 (9) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 5 (6) Bushtit 5 (4, 4/26) Red-breasted Nuthatch 5 (7) Brown Creeper 4 (2) Bewick's Wren 3 (1) Winter Wren 4 (3) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4 (3) Hermit Thrush 3 (3, 4/27) American Robin 5 (15, 4/26) Varied Thrush 2 (1, 4/25 & 27) European Starling 3 (2) Orange-crowned Warbler 4 (12, 4/27) NASHVILLE WARBLER 2 (2, 4/29) Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 (1, 4/25 & 27) Black-throated Gray Warbler 5 (5, 4/27) TOWNSEND'S WARBLER 4 (18, 4/28) HERMIT WARBLER 1 (1, 4/29) WILSON'S WARBLER 2 (2, 4/29) Spotted Towhee 5 (9) Fox Sparrow 1 (1, 4/26) Song Sparrow 5 (10) LINCOLN'S SPARROW 2 (1, 4/27 & 28) WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW 2 (3, 4/27) Golden-crowned Sparrow 5 (15, 4/27) Dark-eyed Junco 5 (12) BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD 5 (3) Purple Finch 5 (6) House Finch 5 (5) Pine Siskin 5 (20) LESSER GOLDFINCH 2 (1, 4/27 & 29) AMERICAN GOLDFINCH 4 (5, 4/26) EVENING GROSBEAK 3 (2) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: RED-TAILED HAWK Wink Gross Portland From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Apr 29 21:59:26 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:59:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Baird's Sandpiper, Sauvie Island Message-ID: <20090430045917.EE004A823B@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> I birded Sauvie Island today for a few hours, spending most of my time on Rentenaar Rd. There were several hundred LEAST SANDPIPERS, among which I picked out one WESTERN SANDPIPER, a dozen or so DUNLIN, two GREATER YELLOWLEGS and at least one BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. Wink Gross Portland From birder at iinet.com Wed Apr 29 23:26:21 2009 From: birder at iinet.com (Sherry Hagen) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:26:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Northern Cardinal Message-ID: The Northern Cardinal at Tidewater in Vancouver was not seen today. If anyone wants to try for this bird you need to go during business hours which is 8-5 Monday thru Fridays. >>> Yesterday late afternoon, I got a call from Donna Goddu at the Tidewater office near Vancouver Lake lowlands. She had discovered what she thought to be a female Northern Cardinal coming to the office bird feeders. We drove down to verify the sighting and photograph it. This is a first Clark County record. The area that this bird is in is a "secure area" and protocol MUST BE FOLLOWED. TIDEWATER is located at 6305 NW Old Lower River Rd in Vancouver, WA. Take Fourth Plain west (It turns into Lower River Rd.) Turn left at Old Lower River Rd.(this is before you come to the flushing channel at Vancouver Lake. Proceed to the next stop sign where you will see the sign to Tidewater. Park in the parking lot in front of the office. You must check in at the office before birding. The Northern Cardinal female is coming to the feeders in back of the building. There is a picnic table on the SE corner of the building where you will be able to see the feeders. You must stay at the picnic tables and not wander around this area. Also present was a White-throated Sparrow among other local species. Sherry Hagen Vancouver, WA birder at iinet.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090429/469c8938/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Apr 29 23:39:12 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:39:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 4-30-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * April 30, 2009 * ORPO0904.30 - birds mentioned Ross?s Goose Eurasian Green-winged Teal Pacific Loon MANX SHEARWATER White-faced Ibis YELLOW RAIL Black-bellied Plover Black-necked Stilt Whimbrel Long-billed Curlew Short-billed Dowitcher Franklin?s Gull Vaux?s Swift Calliope Hummingbird Swainson?s Thrush NORTHERN CARDINAL - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 Compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday April 30. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On April 28 a female NORTHERN CARDINAL was photographed in the Vancouver Lake Lowlands north of Vancouver. That day a YELLOW RAIL was reported from nearby Ridgefield NWR. It was at the second pond on the left along the loop road. On April 24 and 26 a MANX SHEARWATER was off Boiler Bay. On April 26 a MANX SHEARWATER was off the South Jetty of the Siuslaw River. The main northward flight of shorebirds passed Oregon During the week. Large flocks of warblers were reported and good numbers of flycatchers and vireos were reported. PACIFIC LOONS made impressive flights along the coast. BLACK-NECKED STILTS were reported during the week at White City, Fern Ridge Reservoir, Baskett Slough NWR, Tualatin NWR, and south of Forest Grove. CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRDS continue to be reported in the Willamette Valley, including a female and two males on Mt. Tabor in Portland. On April 23 a LONG-BILLED CURLEW was at the South Jetty of the Siuslaw River. Three WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were seen April 25 flying up the Columbia River north of Vancouver. That day a SWAINSON?S THRUSH was in the Vancouver lowlands. Over 2000 VAUX?S SWIFTS going to roost April 26 in the Chapman School chimney in Portland. On April 26 a LONG-BILLED CURLEW and a ROSS?S GOOSE were at Baskett Slough NWR. Two SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were at Ankeny NWR that day. On April 28 eight BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and three WHIMBRELS were at Baskett Slough NWR. A WHIMBREL was in Eugene April 23. A EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL was at Lower Klamath NWR April 24. Two FRANKLIN?S GULLS and some IBIS were there April 27. About 500 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were seen April 26 in Bonanza, east of Klamath Falls. That?s it for this week - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090429/ab0986e9/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Apr 29 23:59:52 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 06:59:52 +0000 Subject: [obol] Salt Desert shrub photo-guide for birders visiting Harney County In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Steve, This is wonderful resource. Thanks for sharing it. Dave Irons From: FoxSparrows at aol.com Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:52:58 -0400 To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Salt Desert shrub photo-guide for birders visiting Harney County If you are interested in differentiating salt desert shrubs during your birding visit to Harney County, please go to: http://picasaweb.google.com/Sagesprrow/GreatBasinSaltDesertPlants# I have posted some photos, as well as links to the USDA Plants database sites for more botanical information. You would most likely see these plants around Harney and Malheur Lakes, as well as Alvord Basin, Mickey Basin, and Catlow Basin. I update this catalogue periodically... Remember... it ain't all sagebrush! Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm Access 350+ FREE radio stations anytime from anywhere on the web. Get the Radio Toolbar! _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?:?more than just e-mail. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_more_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090430/88e78b63/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Apr 30 00:03:09 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 07:03:09 +0000 Subject: [obol] Golden Purple Finch, Yamhill Co In-Reply-To: <5A95BC2C01C24E65832D878C113C9D73@yourw5st28y9a3> References: <5A95BC2C01C24E65832D878C113C9D73@yourw5st28y9a3> Message-ID: Pam, Though not as prevalent as in House Finches, some male Purple Finches do show a golden yellow plumage. I took a bad picture of such a bird (I'll send it in a private e-mail) last year below Fall Creek Dam se. of Eugene. Dave Irons > From: pamelaj at spiritone.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:23:53 -0700 > CC: YamhillBirders at yahoogroups.com > Subject: [obol] Golden Purple Finch, Yamhill Co > > Last year there was a photo taken of a bird which appeared to be a male > Purple Finch except that it was a rich golden yellow where it should have > been red. I have forgotten who took the picture. Later, Carol Karlen and I > each saw a bird like this at our feeders, about 6 miles apart. Apparently > PUFI are not known to have the kind of pigment deficiencies due to a lack of > dietary carotene that House Finches show, but this one was decidedly not > red. > > About 4PM today I saw what may be the same bird at my feeder and took > several pictures. Very healthy looking, and not accompanied by other PUFI. > > Pamela Johnston > outside McMinnville > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Mobile2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090430/1df0185b/attachment.html From nelson_sm at centurytel.net Thu Apr 30 04:32:53 2009 From: nelson_sm at centurytel.net (Sally Nelson) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:32:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cross-species feeding Message-ID: <010b01c9c987$88fe39a0$4fb5ced1@oemcomputer> Dear OBOLinks, Last July I watched a young Cedar Waxwing perched in an Oregon Grape at the woods' edge near my house. I stopped about 10 feet from him and waited for a parent to show up. The first parents to arrive were a pair of Western Tanagers, which I had suspected of nesting in that woods area, though I'd not located the nest. The male tanager had food in his beak. The young waxwing started shrilling in a way hard to ignore. The tanager moved closer to him (and to me) seemingly mesmerized by the feed-me message, and finally shoved the food into the demanding baby. The female tanager, perched in a low limb above the waxwing had a few remarks to make about that interaction, but not wanting to anthropomorphize, I continued my walk and let them sort it out. Regards, Sally Sally Nelson nelson_sm at centurytel.net Creswell (s. of Eugene), OR From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Apr 30 06:02:04 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 06:02:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Juniper/Oak Titmouse? Message-ID: <147186.74438.qm@web45309.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I have seen two different reports of Juniper Titmice from K-Falls this spring on OBOL.? I always assumed that was the hybrid zone and it was difficult to try and ID titmice there to species which is why many folks have gone over to Adel and vicinity to find Junipers.? Is that right, or is it possible to ID those K-Falls birds to species? Thanks! Tim R Coos Bay From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Apr 30 06:21:30 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 06:21:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Salt Desert Shrubs Message-ID: <2420ba44b0eea96d196f66e1560cdd18@earthlink.net> I second the motion, Dave! The canopy of woody ecosystems in southeast Oregon is often only knee high to an adult human and as a result receives scant respect from nature lovers who oughta know better. In fact, it is considerably more diverse than the majority of Oregon's forests. Many of the genera involved are worldwide. Learn to identify Atriplex in Harney County and you are set for Australia and the shores of the Aral Sea. These salt desert shrubs all have the characteristic of tolerance to extremely high alkalinity, hence their dominance on the edges of salt flats where sagebrush is absent. The prevailing sw wind in Oregon means that alkaline dust is deposited in large amounts to the east and northeast of all the salt flats. Probably the largest salt desert shrub community in Oregon is on the east and northeast sides of Summer Lake. The topography is rolling, the soils well drained, so one doesn't necessarily expect to find the same plants that decorate the shores of playas. Lars Norgren From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Apr 30 07:18:52 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 07:18:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA Tabor Tennessee Message-ID: Jeff Hayes saw a male TENNESSEE WARBLER on Mt. Tabor Sunday 26th. Also an early Swainson's Thrush. Notes below. "I saw a male Tennessee Warbler near the top of a bigleaf maple on the east side of the butte. The bird was busily working a twig covered with flowers and half-sized leaves, and I got decent views for a few seconds before the bird moved on. Plain greenish back, no wingbars or tail spots, gray crown and eye-stripe, bold white eyebrow, white belly. I got a good side-view of the face: dark eye, warbler bill, which eliminates REVI, which is the only other thing to consider. There was a pretty good pod of warblers there in that group: several Nashvilles and BT Grays, one Wilson's, one Townsend's, and a bunch of LEGOs mixing in. Saw one silent SWTH, two silent empids (and heard one Pac-slope). Had 3 Hermits on the north side of the butte. No tanagers or grosbeaks yet." jeff hayes " -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From dan-gleason at comcast.net Thu Apr 30 08:13:41 2009 From: dan-gleason at comcast.net (Dan Gleason) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:13:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cross-species feeding In-Reply-To: <010b01c9c987$88fe39a0$4fb5ced1@oemcomputer> References: <010b01c9c987$88fe39a0$4fb5ced1@oemcomputer> Message-ID: Perhaps the strangest example of this is the case of a Northern Cardinal feeding a goldfish. (A photo of this is in "The Life of Birds" 4th ed. by Welty and Baptista). The goldfish came to the surface near the pond's edge and did what goldfish often do - gape at the surface. The gaping action and color inside the mouth was just right to trigger a feeding response from the cardinal. This interaction apparently continued for several days. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Apr 30, 2009, at 4:32 AM, Sally Nelson wrote: > Dear OBOLinks, > > Last July I watched a young Cedar Waxwing perched in an Oregon > Grape at the > woods' edge near my house. I stopped about 10 feet from him and > waited for a > parent to show up. The first parents to arrive were a pair of Western > Tanagers, which I had suspected of nesting in that woods area, > though I'd > not located the nest. The male tanager had food in his beak. The young > waxwing started shrilling in a way hard to ignore. The tanager > moved closer > to him (and to me) seemingly mesmerized by the feed-me message, and > finally > shoved the food into the demanding baby. The female tanager, > perched in a > low limb above the waxwing had a few remarks to make about that > interaction, > but not wanting to anthropomorphize, I continued my walk and let > them sort > it out. > > Regards, > Sally > > Sally Nelson > nelson_sm at centurytel.net > Creswell (s. of Eugene), OR > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090430/14cea530/attachment.html From oropendolas at aol.com Thu Apr 30 08:48:45 2009 From: oropendolas at aol.com (oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:48:45 -0400 Subject: [obol] More White-fronted Geese Message-ID: <8CB97C2473D6CA9-974-EE3@WEBMAIL-MZ38.sysops.aol.com> Hello All, Yesterday 4/29, there were 430 White-fronted Geese on the ground in the south side of the Fisher Unit,?seen from the Hwy 126 viewing platform?and 3 flyover?flocks of?60, 80 & 120?from 4:45 - 5:15PM. John Sullivan Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090430/6d30b138/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Thu Apr 30 10:05:05 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:05:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Juniper/Oak Titmouse? In-Reply-To: <147186.74438.qm@web45309.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <147186.74438.qm@web45309.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <17528CE0FCB94DDFAEBC5B6A95C5B975@102889> Tim, Klamath is actually in the Oak Titmouse zone. Kevin Spencer is probably the most knowledgeable about the status in Klamath County. I bird ID'd as Juniper from there should be critically evaluated and not casually ID'd as such, which I believe has been the case. Tom -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 5:02 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Juniper/Oak Titmouse? I have seen two different reports of Juniper Titmice from K-Falls this spring on OBOL.? I always assumed that was the hybrid zone and it was difficult to try and ID titmice there to species which is why many folks have gone over to Adel and vicinity to find Junipers.? Is that right, or is it possible to ID those K-Falls birds to species? Thanks! Tim R Coos Bay _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Thu Apr 30 10:16:36 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:16:36 +0000 Subject: [obol] FWD: Possible YELLOW RAIL at Ridgefield NWR Message-ID: Subject: Yellow Rail at Ridgefield NWR From: Ian Paulsen Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:11:51 -0700 (PDT) HI ALL: I saw this on the Portland RBA: ON April 28, a YELLOW RAIL was reported from nearby Ridgefield NWR. It was at the second pond on the left along the loop road. Does anyone have anymore details about this sighting? There are only 2 records of this species for the state! -- Ian Paulsen Bainbridge Island, WA, USA " Which just goes to show that a passion for books is extremely unhealthy." from Cornelia Funke's "Inkheart". _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman2.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters From heinjv at charter.net Thu Apr 30 12:17:13 2009 From: heinjv at charter.net (Jim & Vikki Hein) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:17:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yellow Warbler Message-ID: Obol, I saw my FOS YELLOW WARBLER today at about noon in Douglas County. It was is the willows north of Stewart Park duck ponds in Roseburg. A bright male. It was with several Wilson Warblers, Warbling Vireos, and Western Tanager. Good Birding, Jim Hein From lbviman at blackfoot.net Thu Apr 30 12:38:38 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:38:38 -0600 Subject: [obol] Juniper/Oak Titmouse? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090430193452.6CC079B00CB@mail.blackfoot.net> Probably as likely as getting Cordilleran and Pacific-slope flycatchers right in any part of their "respective" ranges OR overlap zones! At 01:00 PM 4/30/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >Message: 21 >Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 06:02:04 -0700 (PDT) >From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com >Subject: [obol] Juniper/Oak Titmouse? >To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >Message-ID: <147186.74438.qm at web45309.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > >I have seen two different reports of Juniper Titmice from K-Falls >this spring on OBOL.? I always assumed that was the hybrid zone and >it was difficult to try and ID titmice there to species which is why >many folks have gone over to Adel and vicinity to find Junipers.? Is >that right, or is it possible to ID those K-Falls birds to species? > >Thanks! >Tim R >Coos Bay From mtweel at charter.net Thu Apr 30 13:03:21 2009 From: mtweel at charter.net (Margaret) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:03:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Harris' Sparrow thanks Message-ID: Thanks to Owen for phoning me that I had the Harris' sparrow in my yard. And then to video it so that the sparrow was singing. I'll listen for that sound and maybe get another sight. Beautiful bird all spifty this week. Last week the sparrow looked quite bedraggled. Marg Tweelinckx Cape Meares -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090430/5496dcf7/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Apr 30 14:32:15 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:32:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Juniper/Oak Titmouse? Message-ID: <521849.74642.qm@web45314.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Tom and Others, I was under the impression that in the overlap zone there are hybrids and that they could look and/or potentially sound like either species? I think I remember that on the K-Falls CBC they call them all titmice sp. Maybe Kevin Spencer can set me straight? Tim R In titmiceless Coos Bay --- On Thu, 4/30/09, Tom Crabtree wrote: > From: Tom Crabtree > Subject: RE: [obol] Juniper/Oak Titmouse? > To: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com, obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Thursday, April 30, 2009, 10:05 AM > Tim, > > Klamath is actually in the Oak Titmouse zone.? Kevin > Spencer is probably the > most knowledgeable about the status in Klamath > County.? I bird ID'd as > Juniper from there should be critically evaluated and not > casually ID'd as > such, which I believe has been the case. > > Tom > > -----Original Message----- > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] > On Behalf Of > garbledmodwit at yahoo.com > Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 5:02 AM > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Juniper/Oak Titmouse? > > > I have seen two different reports of Juniper Titmice from > K-Falls this > spring on OBOL.? I always assumed that was the hybrid zone > and it was > difficult to try and ID titmice there to species which is > why many folks > have gone over to Adel and vicinity to find Junipers.? Is > that right, or is > it possible to ID those K-Falls birds to species? > > Thanks! > Tim R > Coos Bay > > > > ? ? ? > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > From David.Mellinger at oregonstate.edu Thu Apr 30 15:00:18 2009 From: David.Mellinger at oregonstate.edu (Dave Mellinger) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:00:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Townsend's Solitaire between Corvallis and Albany Message-ID: <49FA1F72.6040408@oregonstate.edu> Don Boucher found a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE near the Willamette River between Corvallis and Albany. Here's his email to the local list, MidValley Birds: Don Boucher (bouchdon at peak.org) wrote: > 4-30-09 > > [Linn County] Riverside Dr., between Stellmacher and Ebenger St. > I rode my bike to Albany today [from Corvallis] and was surprised to see a > Townsend's Solitaire fly across the road and got a good look at it perched > low in a tree. > > Don Boucher > Corvallis From madsteins at hotmail.com Thu Apr 30 17:00:08 2009 From: madsteins at hotmail.com (Don Stein) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:00:08 -0400 Subject: [obol] J/O Titmouse, MAGPIES Message-ID: Tim and others: On the recent Magpie trip, we made the Juniper Titmouse call based on the the bird's song being identical to the iBird recording we had with us. Our decision didn't take into account the very interesting hybridization discussion now underway. I remember that there were two OBOL reports of Oak Titmouse in Moore Park in the Spring/Summer of last year. Looking forward to more discussion. Don Stein Depoe Bay _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail?: Get quick friend updates right in your inbox. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Updates2_042009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090430/aeb9dbaa/attachment.html From surfbird at q.com Thu Apr 30 17:15:45 2009 From: surfbird at q.com (Diane Pettey) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:15:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Coast Juvenile Band-tailed Pigeon, 4/30/09 Message-ID: At 500pm, we observed a juvenile BAND-TAILED PIGEON feeding with adults in our backyard. A yard first. regards, Diane Pettey Heceta Beach, OR (north of Florence) surfbird at q.com From pamelaj at spiritone.com Thu Apr 30 13:25:21 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:25:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Tanager and Wilson's, Yamhill Co arrive Message-ID: <5D4EF92BB7CA4004A0DA0112EA8B5D6F@yourw5st28y9a3> A male Western Tanager was picking the last crumbs of suet block out of the holder today at noon. While out earlier I neither heard nor saw any sign of it. This is apparently a bird that learned about suet feeders elsewhere, as I have never seen one take suet here. After plenty of searching, I saw my first Wilson's Warbler of spring this morning. He was in an Indian plum. Orange-crowned have been here for a while and Townsend's and Black-throated Gray were singing around the place, too. Pamela Johnston From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Thu Apr 30 18:36:45 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:36:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Olive-sided Flycatcher, Tillamook County Message-ID: <000001c9c9fd$49e764a0$ddb62de0$@NET> There was an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER at the Clay Meyers Natural Area on Whalen Island in Tillamook County today. Whalen Island is just north of Pacific City about halfway between Lincoln City and Tillamook. The dates in Birds of Oregon seem to indicate that this is an early arrival. I will post photos and detailed directions if there is interest. Also seen: Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Canada Goose Mallard Bufflehead Bald Eagle Belted Kingfisher Anna's Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Downy Woodpecker Crow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-Backed Chickadee American Robin Swainson's Thrush European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Wilson's Warbler Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Brewer's Blackbird Purple Finch Tom Shreve Tigard -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090430/6744d54f/attachment.html From cockatoodowns at gmail.com Thu Apr 30 20:05:18 2009 From: cockatoodowns at gmail.com (chris shank) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:05:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Song sparrow and a mirror Message-ID: <4e95acbb0904302005h95397b5mb501aa83e32828e4@mail.gmail.com> >Today in Enterprise I saw a song sparrow that hung out most of >the day on my co-workers truck jumping down and looking at >itself in the passenger side mirror. That's pretty funny. Song sparrows seem to be pretty bold around people from my experience. I have one now that comes into my house when the door is open. He hops around the rooms and eventually ends up in the bathroom where he jabs with his reflection in the mirror. He's done this 3x now. Silly sparrow! -- Chris Shank Dallas, OR http://cockatoodowns.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090430/3df52d2f/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Thu Apr 30 20:59:20 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:59:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Song sparrow and a mirror References: <4e95acbb0904302005h95397b5mb501aa83e32828e4@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <360B3F64F3AD49C4BB85D608A38D8C36@yourw5st28y9a3> This spring a Song Sparrow was attaaing his reflection in one window, so I hung a piece of fabric over that pane. Naturally he went to another window, and now has accepted that he is the victor, but it took several days of diligent peeking around the sides of the cloth to be sure. In the past I have had juncos, a pheasant, and towhees do this, and today a Black-capped Chickadee gave it a try. It would get awfully dark indoors if it more birds tried it. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: chris shank To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 8:05 PM Subject: [obol] Song sparrow and a mirror >Today in Enterprise I saw a song sparrow that hung out most of >the day on my co-workers truck jumping down and looking at >itself in the passenger side mirror. That's pretty funny. Song sparrows seem to be pretty bold around people from my experience. I have one now that comes into my house when the door is open. He hops around the rooms and eventually ends up in the bathroom where he jabs with his reflection in the mirror. He's done this 3x now. Silly sparrow! -- Chris Shank Dallas, OR http://cockatoodowns.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From rriparia at charter.net Thu Apr 30 21:07:12 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:07:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] titmouse in Klamath County Message-ID: <20090501000712.CWONK.1883578.root@mp12> Titmouse in Klamath County Get the DNA kit out. There are many locations latitudinally across Klamath County where titmouse has been recorded: furthest west- down in the Klamath River Canyon, that eventually empties into the ocean and is a connection to western populatons of plants and animals, and includes populations to the northwest in the Rogue Valley. The basalt walls of the canyon harbor both coniferous (some mixed with juniper to some small areas of exclusively juniper), and oak woodlands. The titmouse is found in oak woodlands down there, but it is not absent from the drier juniper adapted areas. Further west, around Keno, along the timber edged floodplain between Klamath Falls and Keno. Moore Park and adjacent hillsides to Klamath Falls, Running Y Ranch, which has both an oak mixed with juniper complex north of Klamath Falls, across the Upper Klamath Lake to the east, then continuing east, where they are primarily found in strickly junipter habitat, Stukel Mountain to the southeast, between Malin and Bonanza, and then out at Gerber Reservoir, (near the 6 mi. east of Lorella mentioned as a collection location by Cicero (1998)), Malone Dam at the south end of Langell Valley, then north east along Hwy 140 east of Dairy where Mike Denny has a pre-split record, Frank Lospalluto reported one near Sprague River last summer. I recorded pre-split titmouse near Beatty, and near Bly. Titmouse is present latitudinally all across Klamath County. Cicero (1998) is an interesting read with elaboration about the lumping of P. inornatus sequestratus into P. inornatus (Oak Titmouse), but that the part of that subspecies in Rogue Valley (sequestratus), which inhabits oaks and has no genetic flow from interior populations is different from the part of the sequestratus subspecies futher west and south, that inhabits mixed juniper oak to pure juniper habitats, and does have gene flow from interior populations. The populations in western Klamath County appears to fit the description of sequestratus habitat preferences (although habitat is not a reason for species ID). The area of Klamath Falls is latitudinally west of Mount Dome, which Cicero concluded that the sequestratus subspecies of Oak Titmouse ranged. The hybridization zone, discussed was found to be down near the Lava Beds National Monument, or could be somewhat latitudinally north of the Lava Beds towards Klamath Falls, and was suggested not to be greater than 25-30 miles in width (but I can't find that comment at the moment). Based on the suggestions discussed by Cicero, it is likely that titmouse found near Klamath Falls is Oak Titmouse sequestratus. The collected Titmouse from "6 mi. east of Lorella" which would be near Gerber Resv. southeast of Bonanza, was included in the Tule Lake sample and was included in the P. r. zaleptus population of Juniper Titmouse (which also includes the Warner population (Adel)). From there, near Lorella, the range heads north and east to include the familiar Lake Co. population near Adel. The area of Gerber and east does not seem, to me, to be the part of Klamath County in question. It appears to be pretty clear that eastern portions of Klamath County have Juniper Titmouse. The portion of Klamath County that appears in question in in the area from Keno to Stukel Mountain. If the Klamath River Canyon is the sequestratus subspecies of Oak Titmouse, is Klamath Falls also sequestratus? It seems so. But how much further east does sequestratus go before the species has enough distinction to be zaleptus? That's the question. It could be near Stukel Mtn. It is interesting that songagrams from the Lava Beds NM. and Moore Park, and Malone Dam, "near Lorella" have similarities and appear like Juniper Titmouse, but songagrams from Malone Dam appear to be significantly not different than Juniper Titmouse. This topic of comparing songs of titmouse in this area of Klamath, Lake, and Siskiyou, CA counties is interesting to me and I plan to gather more recordings for comparisons. When reporting Christmas Bird Count data I refer to any titmouse as titmouse sp. If greater knowledge of species ID becomes available I believe it could be that both species are present within the count circle, but that is purely speculation. Kevin Spencer rripiraria at charter.net From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Apr 30 21:16:06 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:16:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] titmouse in Klamath County In-Reply-To: <20090501000712.CWONK.1883578.root@mp12> Message-ID: Or to put it another way, southern Klamath County is a great place to add Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher to your list. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Kevin Spencer > Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:07:12 -0700 > To: "obol: oregonbirdwatch.org" > Subject: [obol] titmouse in Klamath County > > Titmouse in Klamath County > > Get the DNA kit out. > > There are many locations latitudinally across Klamath County where titmouse > has been recorded: furthest west- down in the Klamath River Canyon, that > eventually empties into the ocean and is a connection to western populatons of > plants and animals, and includes populations to the northwest in the Rogue > Valley. The basalt walls of the canyon harbor both coniferous (some mixed with > juniper to some small areas of exclusively juniper), and oak woodlands. The > titmouse is found in oak woodlands down there, but it is not absent from the > drier juniper adapted areas. Further west, around Keno, along the timber edged > floodplain between Klamath Falls and Keno. Moore Park and adjacent hillsides > to Klamath Falls, Running Y Ranch, which has both an oak mixed with juniper > complex north of Klamath Falls, across the Upper Klamath Lake to the east, > then continuing east, where they are primarily found in strickly junipter > habitat, Stukel Mountain to the southeast, between Malin and Bonanza, and > then out at Gerber Reservoir, (near the 6 mi. east of Lorella mentioned as a > collection location by Cicero (1998)), Malone Dam at the south end of Langell > Valley, then north east along Hwy 140 east of Dairy where Mike Denny has a > pre-split record, Frank Lospalluto reported one near Sprague River last > summer. I recorded pre-split titmouse near Beatty, and near Bly. Titmouse is > present latitudinally all across Klamath County. > > Cicero (1998) is an interesting read with elaboration about the lumping of P. > inornatus sequestratus into P. inornatus (Oak Titmouse), but that the part of > that subspecies in Rogue Valley (sequestratus), which inhabits oaks and has no > genetic flow from interior populations is different from the part of the > sequestratus subspecies futher west and south, that inhabits mixed juniper oak > to pure juniper habitats, and does have gene flow from interior populations. > The populations in western Klamath County appears to fit the description of > sequestratus habitat preferences (although habitat is not a reason for species > ID). The area of Klamath Falls is latitudinally west of Mount Dome, which > Cicero concluded that the sequestratus subspecies of Oak Titmouse ranged. The > hybridization zone, discussed was found to be down near the Lava Beds National > Monument, or could be somewhat latitudinally north of the Lava Beds towards > Klamath Falls, and was suggested not to be greater than 25-30 > miles in width (but I can't find that comment at the moment). Based on the > suggestions discussed by Cicero, it is likely that titmouse found near Klamath > Falls is Oak Titmouse sequestratus. The collected Titmouse from "6 mi. east of > Lorella" which would be near Gerber Resv. southeast of Bonanza, was included > in the Tule Lake sample and was included in the P. r. zaleptus population of > Juniper Titmouse (which also includes the Warner population (Adel)). From > there, near Lorella, the range heads north and east to include the familiar > Lake Co. population near Adel. The area of Gerber and east does not seem, to > me, to be the part of Klamath County in question. It appears to be pretty > clear that eastern portions of Klamath County have Juniper Titmouse. The > portion of Klamath County that appears in question in in the area from Keno to > Stukel Mountain. If the Klamath River Canyon is the sequestratus subspecies of > Oak Titmouse, is Klamath Falls also sequestratus? It seems so. But > how much further east does sequestratus go before the species has enough > distinction to be zaleptus? That's the question. It could be near Stukel Mtn. > > It is interesting that songagrams from the Lava Beds NM. and Moore Park, and > Malone Dam, "near Lorella" have similarities and appear like Juniper Titmouse, > but songagrams from Malone Dam appear to be significantly not different than > Juniper Titmouse. This topic of comparing songs of titmouse in this area of > Klamath, Lake, and Siskiyou, CA counties is interesting to me and I plan to > gather more recordings for comparisons. > > When reporting Christmas Bird Count data I refer to any titmouse as titmouse > sp. If greater knowledge of species ID becomes available I believe it could be > that both species are present within the count circle, but that is purely > speculation. > > Kevin Spencer > rripiraria at charter.net > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From Oropendolas at aol.com Thu Apr 30 21:16:09 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 00:16:09 EDT Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Orioles Message-ID: Hello All, Two bright male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE'S were singing, chattering and fighting right in the middle of Royal Ave. near the gate this afternoon ~ 4:30. John Sullivan & Laura Jonhson Springfield, Oregon **************Join ChristianMingle.com? FREE! Meet Christian Singles in your area. Start now! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221673648x1201419171/aol?redir=http://www.christianmingle.com/campaign.html%3Fcat%3Dadbuy%26 src%3Dplatforma%26adid%3Dfooter:050109%26newurl%3Dreg_path.html) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090501/be58f310/attachment.html From rriparia at charter.net Thu Apr 30 21:18:29 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:18:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] reference for titmouse info Message-ID: <20090501001829.LFQA5.1883891.root@mp12> For comments I recently sent about titmouse range in northern CA, and southern Oregon, I mainly used : Cicero, Carla. 1998. Sibling Species of Titmice in the Parus inornatus Complex. Zoology Vol. 128 University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA. Kevin Spencer rriparia at charter.net From gorgebirds at juno.com Thu Apr 30 22:12:06 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 05:12:06 GMT Subject: [obol] Skamania County Migrants and Bobcat Message-ID: <20090430.221206.14557.1@webmail24.vgs.untd.com> I thought that today would be a good day for migrants here in western Skamania County with the return of sunshine and warmer weather. But although we had our first of the year CASSIN'S VIREO and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK it was a rather slow day except for the large male BOBCAT that made an attempt at the rabbits under our feeders just five minutes after I put out feed this morning. Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Click to learn about options trading and get the latest information. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTIzQbKLN3TMlLvvsJG9o2bBRXuyMGe4uTgT0IhVINCoxwD2Y7gtry/ From shelmert at loswego.k12.or.us Fri May 1 09:55:22 2009 From: shelmert at loswego.k12.or.us (Shelmerdine, Timothy (Tim)) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 09:55:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mt Tabor -- late, Tue., April 28 -- OSFL Message-ID: Sorry for spacing this report on birding Mt Tabor Tuesday afternoon, April 28. Despite the rain, many of the usual warblers, including good numbers of NASHVILLES, were feeding in trees near the top of the park, on the east side. There were more ( six or so) CASSIN'S VIREOS present than I saw the previous weekend, and my best sighting was an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER sallying from the top of a tree below the road where the Calliope Hummingbird had previously been reported. Tim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090501/be178017/attachment.html From davect at bendnet.com Fri May 1 09:58:24 2009 From: davect at bendnet.com (david tracy) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 09:58:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Wednesday morning ECBC birding by ear 29 April References: <200905011638.n41Gc5Jf013152@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> Message-ID: We've been having some good bird activity the past few days here in Bend. I am forwarding a count from Wednesday's ECBC birding by ear group. Additional birds not listed below but seen in Sawyer Park the past few days are Warbling Vireo, Vaux's Swift, Canyon Wren (singing), MacGillivray's, Yellow and Black-throated Gray warblers and Savannah Sparrow. Begin forwarded message: > From: davect at bendnet.com > Date: May 1, 2009 4:38:05 PM PDT > To: davect at bendnet.com > Subject: Wednesday morning ECBC birding by ear 29 April > > This report was mailed for David Tracy by http://birdnotes.net > Date: April 29, 2009 > Location: Robert W. Sawyer State Park, Deschutes County, Oregon > Low temperature: 29 degrees fahrenheit High temperature: 40 degrees > fahrenheit > Precipitation: snow > Wednesday morning was cold, with intermittent light snow and > clouds. The cold weather passing through pushed the birds down, > producing a nice fallout of Empid flycatchers, assorted sparrows > and a bunch of > Yellow-rumped Warblers. The birds were numerous and quite active > given the cold conditions. Three hummingbird species is an all > time high for our group. One Anna's sitting on a nest and one > displaying Calliope were real > highlights. > > Missed a flyby small falcon right when we were getting started, > most likely a Merlin. Mary also spotted a Wren that based on her > description and habitat was most likely a Winter Wren. I went back > and found a WIWR in the same > location on Thursday. > > No butterflies were out this week, but there were enough flies, > beetles and other invertebrates to sustain a good variety of > insectivorous birds. > > Next week is supposed to be warmer, but for now we're going to keep > with the 7:30 start time. > > Birds seen (in taxonomic order): > > Canada Goose > > Trumpeter Swan [1] > > Mallard > > California Quail > > Osprey [2] > > Rock Dove > > Mourning Dove > > Great Horned Owl [3] > > Anna's Hummingbird [4] > > Calliope Hummingbird [5] > > Rufous Hummingbird [6] > > Belted Kingfisher > > Hairy Woodpecker > > Northern Flicker > > Hammond's Flycatcher [7] > > Gray Flycatcher [8] > > Unidentified Empidonax [9] > > Cassin's Vireo [10] > > Steller's Jay > > Western Scrub-Jay > > American Crow > > Common Raven > > Tree Swallow > > Violet-green Swallow > > Northern Rough-winged Swallow > > Mountain Chickadee > > Bushtit > > Pygmy Nuthatch > > House Wren > > Winter Wren [11] > > American Dipper > > Ruby-crowned Kinglet [12] > > Townsend's Solitaire > > Hermit Thrush > > American Robin > > Cedar Waxwing > > Orange-crowned Warbler > > Nashville Warbler [13] > > Yellow-rumped Warbler > > Wilson's Warbler [14] > > Song Sparrow > > Lincoln's Sparrow > > White-crowned Sparrow > > Golden-crowned Sparrow > > Lazuli Bunting [15] > > Red-winged Blackbird > > Brown-headed Cowbird > > House Finch > > Evening Grosbeak [16] > > House Sparrow > > > > Footnotes: > > > > [1] TRUS: Flightless resident > > [2] OSPR: Brief flyover, seen by one of our group > > [3] GHOW: Adult with two mostly-grown young > > [4] ANHU: Female on nest > > [5] CAHU: Male seen doing display dive, faint "zzzeeeeeeeee" > > sound audible several times > > [6] RUHU: Female > > [7] HAFL: 2nd most numerous Empid, estimate 10-20 > > [8] GRFL: First of season for BBE group. At least 3 or 4 dozen, > > many vocalizing and chasing each other > > [9] EMPID: Saw at least one or two that were most likely Dusky > > [10] CAVI: First of season for BBE group > > [11] WIWR: First of season for BBE group. Seen briefly by > > Mary, who was "90%" sure of the ID. I confirmed one at > > the same location the next day. > > [12] RCKI: Numerous, heard several singing. Noticeable increase > > after numbers dropped off the past few weeks > > [13] NAWA: First of season for BBE group > > [14] WIWA: First of season for BBE group > > [15] LABU: Singing male. A first for BBE group at Sawyer Park in > > several years. > > [16] EVGR: Numerous, seems they can be heard from just about > > anywhere in town with tall ponderosa pine trees. > > > > Total number of species seen: 50 > From celata at pacifier.com Fri May 1 12:27:41 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 01 May 2009 12:27:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] BANDING REPORT: Neawanna Wetland - 5/1/2009 Message-ID: <49FB4D2D.8030200@pacifier.com> BANDING REPORT- Neawanna Wetland Preserve 05-01-2009 Method: Up to eight 9m mist nets are placed in mixed Oregon Crabapple/Twinberry/Spruce along the the upper Neawanna River, Seaside, Clatsop Co. OR. Captured birds are measured, ringed with USBBL numbered metal bands and released. Data on time of capture and side of net captured are also recorded to gain an understanding of movements through the area. 2009 501 Neawanna 121 Hours 4.5 Nets 8 Net*hours 36 Warbling Vireo WAVI 1 Orange-crowned Warbler OCWA 16 Yellow Warbler YWAR 1 Myrtle Warbler MYWA 1 Wilson's Warbler WIWA 1 Common Yellowthroat COYE 10 Hermit Thrush HETH 1 Lincoln's Sparrow LISP 5 Song Sparrow SOSP 1 Recaptures Rufous Hummingbird RUHU 1 Black-capped Chickadee BCCH 1 Common Bushtit BUSH 2 Common Yellowthroat COYE 1 Song Sparrow SOSP 1 new captures 37 total captures 43 diversity 12 birds/(net*hour) 1.2 diversity/(net*hour) 0.3 Notes: We hit a migrant window today, mostly ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, but definitely a serious movement. First of the season birds were WARBLING VIREO and a surprise YELLOW WARBLER (I don't expect to start catching these for at least a couple weeks). http://home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/observatory/observatory.html -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri May 1 12:50:55 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 12:50:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Vigor's Wren and Bay-winged Bunting Message-ID: <20090501125055.158zpiul0k4o0ssc@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Full texts of Gabrielson and Jewett's 1940 "Birds of Oregon" and the 1902 writing of Lord "A first book upon the birds of Oregon and Washington" can be found online in several formats. I like the pdf copies of the original books. http://www.archive.org/details/birdsoforegon00gabrrich http://www.archive.org/details/firstbookuponbir00lord As can be seen from the title of this post, some bird names have changed a bit! For instance, since Lord wrote his book in 1902 the two forms of White-crowned Sparrows considered (Nuttall's and Gambel's) had their names switched. Since then Nuttall's White-crowned Sparrow (page 74) has been split. The subspecies called Nuttall's today is non-migratory and restricted to coastal California. The breeding form west of the Cascades in Oregon and Washington is the Puget Sound White-crowned Sparrow. The form called Gambel's today is more common as a migrant and winter visitor east of the Cascades (though some are migrating through western Oregon right now, too), nesting in Alaska and northern Rockies. Gabrielson and Jewett sorted them out in 1940 (page 576). These older books are a delight to read and explore the changes in bird distribution since then (see House Finch, Western Scrub-Jay, Brown-headed Cowbird, Lewis's Woodpecker, Western Bluebird). Greg Gillson Pacific NW Backyard Birder: In the backyard... White-crowned Sparrow http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/ From TECBray at aol.com Fri May 1 13:16:31 2009 From: TECBray at aol.com (TECBray at aol.com) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 16:16:31 EDT Subject: [obol] RFI: GG Owl, 3Toed and Lewis Woodpecker Message-ID: Dear Obol: In a few weeks, I am having a birding friend visit from Iowa with a list of birds she'd like to see. We are going to start at Salt Creek Falls for Black Swift, then continue down Highway 58 to Highway 97 to Klamath basin for Tricolored Blackbird. Does anyone have suggestions for spots along this route where we might see: Great Gray Owl Flamulated Owl Three-toed Woodpecker Lewis' Woodpecker I have Evanich's Birders guide to Oregon, and I have printed off recent postings on OBOL from Silver Lake Highway and Klamath basin. Any suggestions would be much appreciate. Thanks in advance! Tanya Bray _tecbray at aol.com_ (mailto:tecbray at aol.com) **************Access 350+ FREE radio stations anytime from anywhere on the web. Get the Radio Toolbar! (http://toolbar.aol.com/aolradio/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000003) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090501/c1d36d63/attachment.html From forobol at msn.com Fri May 1 14:43:24 2009 From: forobol at msn.com (Al Ahlgrim) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 14:43:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Loon, Clackamas County Message-ID: A solo COMMON LOON in plain attire was fishing at the Molalla River State Park this morning. It was seen mid Willamette straight out from the boat landing. The loon was only on the surface 5 or 10 seconds between lengthy dives. Hopefully this fine county sighting will linger for a while! Al Ahlgrim, Oregon City -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090501/6c92ec5a/attachment.html From stormyoregonskies at hotmail.com Fri May 1 15:28:19 2009 From: stormyoregonskies at hotmail.com (Stephanie H) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 14:28:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] California quail at the Rhododendron garden Message-ID: I saw a California quail at the Rhododendron garden. I've seen them in Malheur but never at the garden! Has anyone else ever seen California quail there? _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_BR_life_in_synch_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090501/d0647da7/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Fri May 1 15:43:58 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 01 May 2009 15:43:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Head Shots Message-ID: <49FB7B2E.7030903@pacifier.com> Some in hand photos from today's banding... http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri May 1 16:10:39 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 16:10:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Curry/Coos Birds of Late Message-ID: <728641.32972.qm@web45304.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Knute Andersson and Lois Miller report 7 WESTERN KINGBIRDS on 4/29 from various locations between Cape Blanco and Langlois. They also saw 240 WHIMBRELS at the Wahl ranch and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR west of Langlois. On 4/29 Knute found 2 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS near Langlois. Oh, and Knute had his first BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK on the 28th (one of several species that shows up way earlier in the valley than on the coast). Dave Lauten mentioned to me that the north spit of Coos Bay SNOW GOOSE was still around on the 29th. It was not seen on the 30th or today. He also mentioned that Hendrik Herlyn and Daniel Farrar found another LAPLAND LONGSPUR on 4/30- maybe on the north spit of Coos Bay? I was out at the north spit today (1 May) and the LAPLAND LONGSPUR I first saw several days ago is still around. I also saw a PALM WARBLER in the same location as where the singing bird was on 4/25, likely the same bird (now the latest Coos spring record)? It was supper bright, they look so different in breeding-plumage!! Also on the north spit I saw my first OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER of the year. That's it for now, Tim R Coos Bay From fitzbeew at gmail.com Fri May 1 16:17:20 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 16:17:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane CC Birds Message-ID: Obol, My dad and I conducted my weekly bird survey today at Lane Community College. Of note at the sewage treatment ponds were: Suspected BONAPARTE'S GULL (I didn't get the best looks, but it was a gull with a black head; delicate and tern-like). That is definitely a new bird for me for LCC! Wood Duck male and female with 9 ducklings Mallard with 12 ducklings Canada Goose with 7 goslings Cliff Swallows (gathering mud on middle pond) 2 Black Phoebes 3 Ruddy Ducks 3 Ring-necked Ducks 48-ish Least Sandpipers; there may have been Westerns mixed in, but the ones that I IDd for sure were Leasts. NO Solitary Sandpiper, that I saw. NO Spotted Sandpiper today. NO Common Goldeneye female (haven't seen her for a few weeks now; I suspect she's gone away to breed. I wonder if she will be back next winter!). I drove to Corvallis today, and heard and saw a bunch of Evening Grosbeaks on OSU campus--beautiful birds! Good birding, Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090501/c5ad68e8/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Fri May 1 16:17:05 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 01 May 2009 16:17:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Snowy vs. Kentish Plover Message-ID: <49FB82F1.5090506@verizon.net> Since the discussion of whether Snowy and Kentish Plover are the same species or not came up recently, I thought that I'd let everyone know that the following article is to be published in the October edition of The Auk, the Journal of the American Ornithology Union. Assuming the article is universally accepted, it appears that Daniel was correct, those birds in Asia ARE Kentish plovers, and the ones here are Snowy Plovers....the article basically says that they are different species, which is what I had said some experts believed. KENTISH VERSUS 1 SNOWY PLOVER: 2 PHENOTYPIC AND GENETIC ANALYSES 3 OF CHARADRIUS ALEXANDRINUS REVEAL 4 DIVERGENCE OF EURASIAN AND 5 AMERICAN SUBSPECIES 6 7 CLEMENS K?PPER,1,2 JAKOB AUGUSTIN,1,2,4 ANDR?S KOSZTOL?NYI,1,5 8 TERRY BURKE,2 JORDI FIGUEROLA3 AND TAM?S SZ?KELY1 Cheers Dave Lauten From deweysage at verizon.net Fri May 1 16:20:24 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 01 May 2009 16:20:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Birds Message-ID: <49FB83B8.6010709@verizon.net> Today 5/1 we saw the SNOW GOOSE at Coos Bay North Spit, Coos Cty. I forgot to mention that on 4/27 we had a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE fly over our heads when we were on the Snowy Plover nesting area, Coos Bay North Spit. Cheers Dave From rowbird2005 at yahoo.com Fri May 1 16:22:37 2009 From: rowbird2005 at yahoo.com (Forrest Rowland) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 16:22:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Clackamas and Lincoln Co. Request Message-ID: <225294.46140.qm@web35302.mail.mud.yahoo.com> ?Hi all, I would greatly appreciate and all information on birding destinations that might prove of interest for next weekend's Migratory Bird Counts. I am participating by helping to survey both Clackamas and Lincoln Co's. Any and all hints, clues, suggestions, and outright explatives regarding where I should go to do these counties justice are welcome. Thanks again obol! ? Forrest Rowland ____________________________________________________________________________________ ?Obt?n la mejor experiencia en la web! Descarga gratis el nuevo Internet Explorer 8. http://downloads.yahoo.com/ieak8/?l=e1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090501/2572ac93/attachment.html From fitzbeew at gmail.com Fri May 1 16:38:12 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 16:38:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI: Ride from Malheur to Eugene wanted Message-ID: Obol, I am going over to Malheur with Alan Contreras and Graham Floyd on Friday, May 22nd. I have a place to stay with them, but need a ride back on Monday the 25th. Are any fellow Eugenians going to be in Malheur and coming back on Monday? I will definitely chip in for gas and can even share driving, if the car's automatic. Please let me know off-line if I can ride with you. Thanks, Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090501/569d53bf/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Fri May 1 16:43:05 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 01 May 2009 16:43:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - 5/1/2009 Message-ID: <49FB8909.7090500@pacifier.com> Columbia Estuary Report - 5/1/2009 A male MANDARIN DUCK was reported from the second "Long" Lake off DeLaura Beach Rd. Word is it's been there most of the winter and has taken up with one of the female WOOD DUCK and may produce some interesting progeny. Steve Warner reports a LONG-TAILED DUCK and two ANCIENT MURRELETS at Seaside Cove. Shorebird numbers have been building over the course of the week. About 20,000 WESTERN SANDPIPERS in a single flock on Youngs Bay at the 101 Causeway. About 2000 Westerns were with LEAST SANDPIPERS, DUNLIN and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS at the Necanicum Estuary. Up to 24 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER are also at the Necanicum. Other large shorebirds have been rather scarce. About 300 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE continue to be seen at Wireless Rd. Recent first detections for the season: Emipidonax sp(s): Coxcomb Hill and Little Beach at Gearhart. Warbling Vireo: Coxcomb Hill (4/30); Neawanna (5/1) Yellow Warbler: Neawanna (5/1) -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From cgates326 at gmail.com Fri May 1 18:12:18 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 18:12:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook County Tricolored Blackbirds Message-ID: Despite local farmers burning both of the most popular nesting sites in the county, I was able to find 3 nesting locations for Tricolored Blackbirds near Prineville. I discovered a new location on the NW outskirts of Prineville that has about 150 nesting birds. There was another location (and another 150 birds) in Lone Pine which is 10 miles NW of Prineville and the third and smallest group of about 20 birds were hanging out at the historic nesting spot in the O'Neil Valley. The new location near Prineville is bordered by a storage business so I will contact them and as permission to view the birds from their facility. Chuck Gates Prineville -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090501/e77efedd/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Fri May 1 18:28:14 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 18:28:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Other birds around Prineville Message-ID: <0BE2B6E4D5B5470E971E7A8FF6A2A14A@cgatesPC> Here are some of the other goodies I found today. 2 Black-necked Stilt at Houston Lake 7 Least Sandpipers at Prineville Sewer Ponds 5 Wilson's Phalaropes at Prineville Sewer Ponds 1 Ruffed Grouse in the Ochocos. 1 White Pelican at Houston Lake First of the season Wilson's Warbler and Hermit Thrush Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090501/885cf286/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Fri May 1 18:29:26 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 18:29:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Curry/Coos Birds of Late In-Reply-To: <2b1bbd260905011828i2d32468bu243d16f620e3f617@mail.gmail.com> References: <728641.32972.qm@web45304.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <2b1bbd260905011828i2d32468bu243d16f620e3f617@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <2b1bbd260905011829o290423d4mcb9d7c010794febc@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Our Lapland was at Siltcoos River mouth, Lane Co. It was accompanied by an Am Pipit and landed for about 5 to 10 minutes before flying way to the north, turning around and then flying south out of sight. I never once heard it rattle or call. Daniel On Fri, May 1, 2009 at 4:10 PM, wrote: > > Knute Andersson and Lois Miller report 7 WESTERN KINGBIRDS on 4/29 from > various locations between Cape Blanco and Langlois. They also saw 240 > WHIMBRELS at the Wahl ranch and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR west of Langlois. On 4/29 > Knute found 2 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS near Langlois. Oh, and Knute had his first > BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK on the 28th (one of several species that shows up way > earlier in the valley than on the coast). > > Dave Lauten mentioned to me that the north spit of Coos Bay SNOW GOOSE was > still around on the 29th. It was not seen on the 30th or today. He also > mentioned that Hendrik Herlyn and Daniel Farrar found another LAPLAND > LONGSPUR on 4/30- maybe on the north spit of Coos Bay? > > I was out at the north spit today (1 May) and the LAPLAND LONGSPUR I first > saw several days ago is still around. I also saw a PALM WARBLER in the same > location as where the singing bird was on 4/25, likely the same bird (now > the latest Coos spring record)? It was supper bright, they look so different > in breeding-plumage!! Also on the north spit I saw my first OLIVE-SIDED > FLYCATCHER of the year. > > That's it for now, > Tim R > Coos Bay > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Daniel Farrar Eugene, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -- Daniel Farrar Eugene, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090501/113277cf/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Fri May 1 18:40:31 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 18:40:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Co Coast Birds Message-ID: <2b1bbd260905011840ka29ed02n8cdaa15b5106a263@mail.gmail.com> Obol, I took a quick jaunt out to the Siuslaw north jetty this evening. While at the mudflats 10 WHIMBREL flew by heading north. After that a jetty walk seemed like a good idea. Highlights from between the jetties: 2 - RED-NECKED GREBE 20+ PACIFIC LOONS 1 - RED-THROATED LOON (in very nice breeding plumage) 4 - RHINO AUKLETS many BROWN PELICANS (they seemed to be on the move all morning in Coos Co today. Many singletons and small flocks were headed north) On the south jetty I saw: 6 BLACK TURNSTONE 5 SURFBIRDS -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090501/3c353cb1/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Fri May 1 19:32:51 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 19:32:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Savannah Sparrows Message-ID: <902026A99BE546E1BD6113C98A1B5190@D48XBZ51> Over the past week I have observed at least 30 migrant Savannah Sparrows around Newport - at the Marine Science Center, South Jetty, and Yaquina Head. Most are of the "Alaskan" forms I see each spring - more crisply marked with dark streaking on the breast and flanks, on a white background, and very contrasty face with lots of yellow in the supercilium. In addition, these birds ahve a pair of very prominant white stripes down the back remniscent of Wilson's Snipe. This is a character I have not seen in the small sample of field guides I have checked since noticing it. A few are much less contrasty, with medium brown streaking on offwhite background, and low-contrast faces. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090501/ab350c17/attachment.html From mtweel at charter.net Fri May 1 20:25:53 2009 From: mtweel at charter.net (Margaret) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 20:25:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Friday Harris's Message-ID: Today the Harris's sparrow was in my yard pecking on the ground and then going to the birdbath. This was about 5 PM. My photos are too poor to show so far. I'll put more seed down on the ground tomorrow and see if it will stay longer. Marg Tweelinckx Cape Meares -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090501/b00991d2/attachment.html From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Fri May 1 20:30:41 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 20:30:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Vaux's Swifts in Bend Message-ID: <3D0B9EC2FC7C425F9F652F6E684A533E@KimPC> I found out tonight that the Swifts are not consistent. Last Sunday they did not show up above Harriman St. until about 7:45. Tonight I got there at 7:05 and they were flying all over the place at entry level. The first bunch I saw go in was at 7:15 when 2 large groups entered within a few minutes (about 250). After that groups of about 10 - 40 kept flying over and going down the chimney. This lasted until 8:00 when the last 3 went to roost. I estimated that I saw approx. 380 swifts do the plunge. The main difference between tonight and last Sunday was, Sunday was clear and warm and tonight was cloudy and cooler. Tomorrow night is the official count and it would be nice to have a little company helping me tally the birds. I will be there around 7:00 and the location is 644 NW Harriman Street which is the 2nd st. west of the Franklin St. underpass. Turn north on Harriman, go 1 block and it is on the right in a house/business called Christmas Presence. -----kim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090501/a66b0a0c/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Fri May 1 20:57:54 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 20:57:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] SW Portland migrants Message-ID: Decent numbers of migrants were passing through SW Portland this morning (Fri. 1 May). I finally had NASHVILLE WARBLER -- 3 of them, in fact -- at Gabriel Park, for my 99th species for this landlocked city park. On 30 April, OSPREY had become the 98th species for the park. 2 WARBLING VIREOS were also in at the park, and 1 at my yard. 2 WESTERN TANAGERS yesterday and today. 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW yesterday. 1st WILSON'S WARBLER of the season at the park today. A couple of HERMIT THRUSHES lingering. 2 HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS and 2 PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS have been at Gabriel Park since 26 April. YELLOW-RUMPS (mostly all Audubon's now) have been numerous streaming through the neighborhood for several days now. Jay Withgott, SW Portland From withgott at comcast.net Fri May 1 21:06:28 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 21:06:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird Song: "Hi, Sweetie!"; i.e., chickadee distribution In-Reply-To: <20090428185024.0F7B2627C94@mpls-qmqp-05.inet.qwest.net> References: <20090422142215.xccjzlyu9cskc84o@webmail.thebirdguide.com> <20090428185024.0F7B2627C94@mpls-qmqp-05.inet.qwest.net> Message-ID: Hi Arch and all -- We've discussed these chickadee songs on OBOL a few times before, but thanks for this nice overview. Ever since I moved here and was astonished to find the BC Chickadees singing a totally different song than they sing everywhere else, I have kept loose track of where I hear which songs. I don't have my data handy right here, but basically the eastern "fee-bee" song comes down the Columbia River Valley and mixes with the western Oregon song, such that in places like Sandy River Delta, Vancouver Lake, and (as Wink noted) Sauvie Island, you can hear some eastern songs along with the western songs. In addition, note that the "western Oregon" song actually extends all the way north through the Puget Trough to Seattle and environs, and folks up there think of it as the "Puget Sound dialect". I'll send the data I have to you, Arch, and I hope others will,too -- this is an interesting and surprisingly unappreciated and understudied issue. Jay Withgott, Portland At 11:50 AM -0700 4/28/09, Arch McCallum wrote: >The recent mention of a "Hi, Sweetie!" singer in a pine forest in >central Oregon gives me pause. >"Hey-sweetie" is a name that has been applied by Donald Kroodsma, and >perhaps others before him, >to the common song-type of the Black-capped Chickadee. Back in the >day we used to refer to that >song as the "fee-bee" song, but I do prefer "hey-sweetie," as it >captures the cadence better. > >In his entertaining and info-rich book, The Singing Life of Birds >(2005 Houghton Mifflin), Kroodsma details his amazement to >find the chickadees on Martha's Vineyard, MASS, not singing >hey-sweetie. He made a big deal of it, >even giving a paper on it at the AOU meeting of 1994. Somewhere along >the way he remembered that >black-caps also don't sing hey-sweetie in western Oregon, where he >went to graduate school (OSU). >He published a paper in 1999 (with many co-authors) documenting the >areas where "hey-sweetie" is not used: >Alaska, w. Oregon and w. Washington, Martha's Vineyard. > >So, "hey-sweetie" is expected in central Oregon, but there are two >caveats. One, the Mountain Chickadees over there >sing something very similar to "hey-sweetie," say "hey-swee-tee," or perhaps, >"hey, sweet tea," a line one might use in a seafood restaurant in the South. > >You can compare "sweetie" to "sweet tea" at > >http://www.appliedbioacoustics.com/features/sounds/chickadee > >The second caveat has to do with how common black-caps are in central >Oregon. When I gave the evening talk at the OFO >meeting in Bend a couple of years ago I was talking about this >subject, and asked what the black-caps sing in Bend. Someone >answered from the audience that there are no black-caps in Bend. So, >if you hear hey-sweetie or something like it in the Bend area, get a >look at those birds. > >This seems to be the moment for my annual, or is it just occasional, query. >What do the black-caps, and mountains, say in your area? I'd love the >hear from you. > >Thanks, >Arch McCallum >Eugene > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From vagabondbirder at yahoo.com Sat May 2 06:26:48 2009 From: vagabondbirder at yahoo.com (Richard Messenger) Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 06:26:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] New oregon birder [no sightings] Message-ID: <869469.62860.qm@web59007.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Oregon Birders ? I am an avid birder and will be spending the summer??in the?Coos Bay/Florence?area.? Am looking forward to meeting the Oregon birding community and birding in your state..???Having spent the winter in the Tucson area this will be quite a change of birds and geography. ? Looking forward to a fun summer meeting many interesting people and ?interesting and some lifer birds. ? Good Birding ? Richard Messenger? The Vagabond Birder Wherever the RV is parked -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090502/82aaad05/attachment.html From steve_dougill at hotmail.com Sat May 2 06:28:37 2009 From: steve_dougill at hotmail.com (Steve Dougill) Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 06:28:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Two Projects in Lake County Message-ID: I am helping to coordinate two bird surveys and am looking for volunteers. Both are in very cool areas of the State and offer great birding opportunities: 1) Working with ODFW to count breeding shorebirds at Summer lake WMA, Lake County (about 2hrs SE of Bend) on the weekend of May 30-31 2) Working with USFWS to carry out point counts and check raptor nest locations at Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge, Lake County - close to the CA border on June 12 ? 15 Quick details below. Contact me for more information: 541 548 4430 or steve_Dougill at hotmail.com ______________________________________________________________ Summer Lake Wildlife Management Area - May 30 and 31. The objective is to get a count of the number and distribution of breeding shorebirds at Summer Lake Wildlife Area. We will try to systematically cover all of the wetland units and determine the magnitude by species and location. We are looking for birders who can count and identify the breeding species found on the Wildlife Area (killdeer, snowy plover, long-billed curlew, willet, Am. avocet, black-necked stilt, spotted sandpiper, Wilson?s phalarope and Wilson?s snipe). The numerical count by location or area is most important. The small bunkhouse would be available, and in the past surveyors have set tents up on the Headquarters Lawn. The bunkhouse has cooking facilities, bathrooms and shower. We have a couple of camp trailers if inclement weather sets-in. Dogs are not allowed. This is the peak of nesting season and the presence of dogs would be very disturbing to breeding birds. Even the most well behaved and best of controlled dogs could cause problems with eggs and/or chicks. High clearance vehicles are not necessary; access via dike roads is good in nearly all areas. Hart Mountain ? June 12 ? 15 Two projects: Both will involve some hiking. Point counts will require experienced birders. We will be working in teams for the raptor nests and less birding experience is needed. 1) Points counts along transects in Mountain mahogany / Juniper area 2) locate raptor nests and check for activity. Right now we are planning on camping at the Hot Springs camp Ground although we may have use of the very well equipped bunkhouse, depending on use by fire crews. If you have never been, this is a fantastic area with the possibilities of Sage Grouse, Juniper Titmouse, Gnatcatcher and ?? Steve Dougill, Redmond, Deschutes Co., OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has a new way to see what's up with your friends. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/WhatsNew?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_WhatsNew1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090502/b45926d2/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Sat May 2 07:05:23 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 07:05:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Big Day at the farm Message-ID: <291BBA189F7E49C793796253C4806D93@your5rlp3a9516> Obol Thornton Creek, Lincoln: Laura and I did our big day on the farm May 1. With a total of 53 species, we did about as well as expected, considering there is almost no shorebird habitat, and the date is a bit early for some passerines. It is a tradeoff, as most big days are. By doing it very early in May we gain a few lingering species which we would lose by waiting just a few days. But as Tim Rodenkirk pointed out in another post, many of the migrant passerines come to the coast later than they do in the Willamette Valley. So we missed some of them, and had to really work to find others. The list (in sequential, not taxonomical order) Virginia Rail-the one which has apparently taken up residence at the farm pond/marsh Western Screech Owl Tree Swallow American Robin Song Sparrow Mallard White-crowned Sparrow Steller's Jay Northern Flicker Winter Wren Mountain Quail Red-breasted Nuthatch Wrentit Purple Finch American Crow Ruffed Grouse Dark-eyed Junco Spotted Towhee Wilson'sWarbler (the only warbler in abundance) House Wren (they seemed to be everywhere) Brown-headed Cowbird Wood Duck European Starling Red-winged Blackbird Violet-green Swallow American Goldfinch Rufous Hummingbird Black-capped Chickadee White-throated Sparrow (late) Golden-crowned Sparrow Common Raven Chestnut-backed Chickadee Band-tailed Pigeon Pileated Woodpecker (3 different ones) Red-breasted Sapsucker (always present, but hard to find) Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Yellow-rumped Warbler Canada Goose (two flying over) Orange-crowned Warbler (only one seen, none heard) Turkey Vulture Red-tailed Hawk (1) Pacific-slope Flycatcher (1) Rough-winged Swallow ( 1 FOY) Hutton's Vireo Hammond's Flycatcher (1) Hermit Warbler Black-throated Gray Warbler (1) Brown Creeper (present, usually difficult to find; foy) Golden-crowned Kinglet Black-headed Grosbeak (1, FOY) Bewick's Wren Barn Swallow (1; species becoming later and scarcer each year) notable misses: three birds seen previous day: Killdeer (on newly plowed ground; a once in a decade species on farm); Hermit Thrush, Evening Grosbeak. Also Warbling Vireo, Northern Pygmy Owl, Great Horned Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl. (why is is owls are never vocal on big days?) Other than these notable misses, there wasn't much more we could expect at this location. I was hoping for a late flock of Greater-white fronted Geese, perhaps a Solitary Sandpiper, but these were long shots. Great Blue Heron and Belted Kingfisher are common here, but not during nesting season. Pine Siskin is irregular, as is Red Crossbill. Darrel & Laura -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090502/c0000ed5/attachment.html From dhewitt37 at gmail.com Sat May 2 07:37:06 2009 From: dhewitt37 at gmail.com (David Hewitt) Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 07:37:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Klamath Basin sightings of late Message-ID: <653eaf880905020737hb334d99uaa18ff8f1ffc3822@mail.gmail.com> OBOL, Full details on my postings below and other sightings from Klamath Basin birders can be viewed on Klamath Basin Bird News, a recently established regional mailing list: http://groups.google.com/group/klamathbasinbirdnews On Thursday, 30 April, at the north end of the Link River Trail in Klamath Falls, I found my FOS Wilson's Warblers, a couple of lingering Common Goldeneye, and a lone male Calliope Hummingbird. In addition, the Western and Clark's Grebes are putting on quite a show in preparation for the breeding season. A full checklist was submitted to eBird (http://ebird.org/Klamath-Siskiyou). On Wednesday morning, 29 April, Terra Kemper and I made a run to White Lake (CA/OR) and then did the Auto Tour Route at Lower Klamath NWR. Lots and lots of shorebirds in now and still plenty of waterfowl. Highlights on the tour route included a FOS pair of Wilson's Phalaropes, some Franklin's Gulls, a few lingering Ross's Geese, one pair of lingering American Wigeon, and scads of Ring-necked Pheasants. Details and full list below from eBird. Location: Lower Klamath NWR, Auto Tour (CA) Observation date: 4/29/09 Number of species: 58 Greater White-fronted Goose 5000 Ross's Goose 40 All in one group with Greater White-fronted Geese near terminus of route along Stateline Road (no Snow Geese) Canada Goose 75 Many pairs with goslings Gadwall 150 American Wigeon 2 Could only find one pair remaining Mallard 50 Cinnamon Teal 25 Northern Shoveler 1500 Northern Pintail 200 Green-winged Teal (American) 100 Couldn't find a single Eurasian (Common) Teal Ring-necked Duck 20 Lesser Scaup 30 Bufflehead 250 Ruddy Duck 75 Ring-necked Pheasant 25 Must have been a recent release or something; they were everywhere Pied-billed Grebe 4 Eared Grebe 40 American White Pelican 25 Most in one group "fishing" Double-crested Cormorant 6 Great Egret 10 Black-crowned Night-Heron 2 White-faced Ibis 75 One large group near Stateline Rd Bald Eagle 1 Northern Harrier 3 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Buteo sp. 1 American Coot 5000 Killdeer 15 Black-necked Stilt 25 American Avocet 40 Willet 10 Marbled Godwit 10 Western Sandpiper 2500 Least Sandpiper 1000 Dunlin 500 Short-billed/Long-billed Dowitcher 750 Presumably Long-billed mostly Wilson's Phalarope 2 In a shallow wet area off the south side of the middle connector road (separates top and bottom sections of route); accessed by metal footbridge Franklin's Gull 10 Two near middle of route, others along Stateline Rd Ring-billed Gull 4 Mourning Dove 2 Western Kingbird 1 Along Stateline Rd Black-billed Magpie 2 Common Raven 5 Tree Swallow X Northern Rough-winged Swallow X Just a couple mixed in with other flocks Bank Swallow X Just a couple mixed in with other flocks Cliff Swallow X Barn Swallow X Marsh Wren 50 Nest-building and noisy all over the place European Starling 2 Savannah Sparrow X Many singing Song Sparrow X White-crowned Sparrow 1 Golden-crowned Sparrow 2 Red-winged Blackbird 2000 Western Meadowlark 2 Yellow-headed Blackbird 15 Brewer's Blackbird 50 --- Dave Hewitt Klamath Falls From whoffman at peak.org Sat May 2 08:53:00 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 08:53:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <9FDF23E677174D70870F5083AD42A6A5@D48XBZ51> May 2, 2009 About 80 minutes of coverage between 5:50 AM and 8:00 AM, between showers. Highlights Brown Pelican 150 - N, included flock of 120 at 6:00 AM Whimbrel 200 - N, between 5:50 and 6:10 Pacific Loon 60 - N Common Murre 400 - Mainly S Bald Eagle 1 Adult White-crowned Sparrow 2 Aggressively territorial male Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090502/427f9ff3/attachment.html From 4cains at charter.net Sat May 2 09:21:28 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 09:21:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yellow Warbler on Wireless Rd Message-ID: My first YELLOW WARBLER of the season was on Wireless Road yesterday at about 0740. It was singing and seen. Also of note was a mixed flock of about 125 WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS, and 4 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS in the NE pasture. Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090502/2ce5d3a4/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Sat May 2 09:30:23 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Sat, 02 May 2009 09:30:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chickadee songs in Western Oregon Message-ID: <49FC751F.9020108@pdx.edu> Arch, The BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES in Clatsop County sing DEEE--dee-Doo and DEE-DEE--doo-doo. On the Douglas County Coast at the Dunes NRA Overlook I have heard them sing Beethoven's 5th: DEE DEE DEE dooo. In Portland they sing four notes all on the same pitch DEE DEE DEE DEE. David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Sat May 2 09:39:31 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 09:39:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Migrants in NW Portland Message-ID: Since I am confined to the house due to a not-so-lovely virus I birded from my flat. If I see migrants in my fairly urban neighborhood with only a few good trees in view then must a great day elsewhere. I did note hundreds Vaux's Swifts around 7:30 AM which must have just left the nearby Chapman Chimney. Location: NW Portland home patch Observation date: 5/2/09 Notes: Overcast and calm. Low 50's. Number of species: 25 Rock Pigeon 5 Band-tailed Pigeon 2 Mourning Dove 3 Vaux's Swift 300 Anna's Hummingbird 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Western Scrub-Jay 3 American Crow 7 Violet-green Swallow 8 Black-capped Chickadee 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 American Robin 5 European Starling 12 Orange-crowned Warbler 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 14 Wilson's Warbler 1 (my FOY) Western Tanager 4 Chipping Sparrow 1 (New for yard #74) Song Sparrow 2 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 House Finch 1 Pine Siskin 7 American Goldfinch 3 House Sparrow 6 Happy Spring! Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland From louisfredd at msn.com Sat May 2 10:29:54 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 10:29:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon City, Apr 18-24 Message-ID: Here is some of what I saw in/from yard during this week: Apr18 ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD 1-3 All das. Diminished thru the week, only a single male left at end of week. RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD 1-2, 4das Numerous the previous week, mostly gone with the warm weather early this week. Occasional since. Seems like a repeat of last year, in which largely absent until return migration began in mid-summer. We'll see. VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW 1-4, 6das Numbers low compared with previous Aprils (except last year a little worse). WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW 1-2, 5das The few I checked were Gambel's. PURPLE FINCH 1-2, 5das Usually the same pair, movement through seems ended. Apr19 GREAT BLUE HERON 2das Fly-bys (bies?). BAND-TAILED PIGEON 2das Headed north. STELLER'S JAY 1-11, 3das Probably have seen the last of these until the filberts ripen in late summer. Last winter unusual, a few Steller's in the yard daily, from snow cover on. Counted the 11 in a single file one morning, all headed north. Individuals "hopped" from tree top to tree top, at intervals up to a few hundred yards apart. No back and forth, no foraging. Also happened to notice such movements on several mornings during previous week or so. Apparently a sustained movement back to nesting areas, in direction other migrating birds take at this season. I cannot recall seeing such movements in previous years. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER 1-5, 3das CHIPPING SPARROW Second this year, very unusual. Apr20 VAUX'S SWIFT 2das ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER 1-2, 3das Apr21 BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER FOYr Apr24 HOUSE WREN FOYd New yard bird! Sibley notes "Common in ...overgrown gardens...". Can't vouch for "Common" here, but "overgrown" garden fits! NO-SHOW: FOX SPARROW Disappeared subsequent 15 April. Present in yard from heavy snowfall on, usually seen only a few times each winter. Lou _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has a new way to see what's up with your friends. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/WhatsNew?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_WhatsNew1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090502/c3b7cefb/attachment.html From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Sat May 2 10:36:49 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Sat, 02 May 2009 10:36:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Nesting Report-Madras area Message-ID: <49FC84B1.6000102@gmail.com> I've been rather busy this spring trying to photo the going's on with a Bald Eagle nest, four Red-tailed Hawk nests, one Kestrel nest and now a Northern Flicker nest. No reports from the later two, but the Bald Eagle nestling is growing like a weed. In less than one month it has gone from a hand full to half the size of the adult and no more white fluff. The fluff is all gray now and the nestling is stretching its wings (showing primary feathers) and standing up (well, ALMOST). Mom still doesn't let Dad (Klutz) on the nest w/o her presents, but she is also spending more time roosting away from the nest tree. She even let a Red-tail fly right over the nest w/o screaming at it. As for the Red-tail nests I THINK there are now nestlings in one nest. I can't see into this nest, but Mom is standing up looking into the nest ("WHAT the HECK is THIS thing??") The rest should be coming along any day. Going to have LOTS of chick to photo! Kevin Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090502/b718a8aa/attachment.vcf From rflores_2 at msn.com Sat May 2 11:48:24 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 11:48:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] red crossbill at the feeder, Ridgefield, WA Message-ID: Sparrows and finches appear the be still on the move. I have had both white-crowned and golden-crowned sparrow at the feeder but the big surprise is a red crossbill that is visiting the feeders today. New yard bird for me! Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090502/a3023e33/attachment.html From jorrie at peak.org Sat May 2 12:09:35 2009 From: jorrie at peak.org (Jorrie & Ken) Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 12:09:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chickadee songs in Western Oregon Message-ID: Watch and listen to the BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE sing it's song. This was recorded 4 miles east of Waldport, Oregon: http://www.birdsamore.com/videos/bcch-singing.htm Jorrie & Ken Waldport, OR From celata at pacifier.com Sat May 2 13:30:48 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 02 May 2009 13:30:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] BREAKING NEWS: nesting ECDOves in Astoria Message-ID: <49FCAD78.3030408@pacifier.com> We have word of possible nesting EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES on the Astoria South Slope. I received two independent reports of a pair of ECDOves, somewhere above Coast Guard Housing. We have a reporter on the scene and will keep all apprised as the story develops. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Sat May 2 13:39:26 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Sat, 02 May 2009 13:39:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Nest Report addendum Message-ID: <49FCAF7E.6070205@gmail.com> I'm a papa! Well, maybe an uncle. Would you believe a second cousin twice removed?? At any rate the Red-tail Hawks on Hawk Pl here at Crooked River Ranch have hatched THREE chicks! After seeing the proud parents standing on the nest edge looking into the nest from below I checked them out from above and sure enough all three eggs have hatched. Now the REAL work begins. While checking on them from below a Robin flew in to the tree next to me. Until then I hadn't noticed the nest right at eye level some ten feet from my car. I covered my window and got my camera ready. I was able to photograph the female bringing in nest-lining material (strips from a local juniper tree) and performing a rather intricate process. First-Place the material in the nest. Second-skoosh it down. Third-scratch at it and skoosh it again. Fourth-turn 30 degrees clock-wise and repeat steps one through four. Again. Again. Again. Again. Repeat. In all my years of seeing and photographing Robins ON the nest and feeding young I've never had the opportunity to watch one actually BUILDING the nest. VELLY intellesting! Kevin Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090502/3b5beb47/attachment.vcf From celata at pacifier.com Sat May 2 13:52:54 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 02 May 2009 13:52:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lower Columbia Birders - 5/2/2009 Message-ID: <49FCB2A6.9020103@pacifier.com> We met for our monthly trip this morning under cloudy and occasionally showery skies. The weather appears to have dampened the vigor of migration noted yesterday. A SOLITARY SANDPIPER was seen in the puddle near the horse barns on Wireless Rd. The same pond also had 2 GREATER and 2 LESSER YELLOWLEGS. DUNLIN and WESTERNS and LEAST SANDPIPERS also around in good numbers. Singing YELLOW WARBLERS were in the willows along Airport Rd and at least 2 singing PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS were at Battery Russell, Ft. Stevens. PURPLE MARTINS at Hammond Boat Basin. Too much weather at the South Jetty for ocean watching... Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) 60 [1] Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) Green-Winged Teal (Anas crecca) Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) 1 Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) 1 Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) 2 Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) 2 Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) 1 [2] Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) 12 Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) Dunlin (Calidris alpina) California Gull (Larus californicus) 200 [3] Western Gull (Larus occidentalis) Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia) Band-tailed Pigeon (Columba fasciata) Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) 1 Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) 1 Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis) 2 [4] Hutton's Vireo (Vireo huttoni) 2 Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) Common Raven (Corvus corax) Purple Martin (Progne subis) 2 [5] Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens) Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) American Robin (Turdus migratorius) European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata) Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) 2 [6] Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) Black-throated Gray Warbler (Dendroica nigrescens) Hermit Warbler (Dendroica occidentalis) 1 [7] Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) Wilson's Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla) Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla) Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus) Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus) American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Footnotes: [1] Wireless Rd [2] Wireless Rd near horse barns [3] Large numbers in fields along Lewis and Clark Rd. [4] Battery Russell [5] Hammond Boat Basin [6] Astoria Airport [7] Coxcomb Hill Total number of species seen: 68 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From larmcqueen at msn.com Sat May 2 14:21:30 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 14:21:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird Song: "Hi, Sweetie!"; i.e., chickadee distribution In-Reply-To: References: <20090422142215.xccjzlyu9cskc84o@webmail.thebirdguide.com><20090428185024.0F7B2627C94@mpls-qmqp-05.inet.qwest.net> Message-ID: Jay, Arch and all -- As I lived a few yrs in Idaho, and later reached the Pacific NW, I was struck by the similarity of the Black-cap's spring song in the NW, with that of the Mountain Chickadees of the Rockies in Idaho, and noted that the Mountain Chickadees of the Cascades had the Hey-sweetie song of the Black-caps of the east. So there seemed to be a flip-flop in the song of the two species. To be more explicit, the Idaho Mountain Chickadees have a flat song, similar to the usual song of the Black-caps of the Pacific NW. And the Cascade Mountain Chickadees sing like the Eastern Black-caps. Since the two species are fairly well separated by habitat selection, I have wondered what gives with the geographic switching of songs. Of chickadees, our Black-caps of the Pacific region have the most variable spring songs; even so with an individual. I have often heard the "Hey-sweetie" among our Pacific Black-caps, which is the most consistent song of Eastern Black-caps, and an imitation of this song will attract or elicit a vocal response from a local chickadee. "Our Black-caps have no peers among chickadees in their range of songs, showing variations in pitch, tempo, and rhythm. This would indicate that a chickadee population is capable of adapting its song to differentiate from congeners with identical or similar songs. Songs were early on, presumably more alike during the speciation of N.A. chickadees. Sometime in the process of separation, the two species (Mountain and Black-caps) selected alternate songs, perhaps during times of overlap. Larry McQueen -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Jay Withgott Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 9:06 PM To: Arch McCallum; OBOL Subject: Re: [obol] Bird Song: "Hi, Sweetie!"; i.e., chickadee distribution Hi Arch and all -- We've discussed these chickadee songs on OBOL a few times before, but thanks for this nice overview. Ever since I moved here and was astonished to find the BC Chickadees singing a totally different song than they sing everywhere else, I have kept loose track of where I hear which songs. I don't have my data handy right here, but basically the eastern "fee-bee" song comes down the Columbia River Valley and mixes with the western Oregon song, such that in places like Sandy River Delta, Vancouver Lake, and (as Wink noted) Sauvie Island, you can hear some eastern songs along with the western songs. In addition, note that the "western Oregon" song actually extends all the way north through the Puget Trough to Seattle and environs, and folks up there think of it as the "Puget Sound dialect". I'll send the data I have to you, Arch, and I hope others will,too -- this is an interesting and surprisingly unappreciated and understudied issue. Jay Withgott, Portland At 11:50 AM -0700 4/28/09, Arch McCallum wrote: >The recent mention of a "Hi, Sweetie!" singer in a pine forest in >central Oregon gives me pause. >"Hey-sweetie" is a name that has been applied by Donald Kroodsma, and >perhaps others before him, >to the common song-type of the Black-capped Chickadee. Back in the >day we used to refer to that >song as the "fee-bee" song, but I do prefer "hey-sweetie," as it >captures the cadence better. > >In his entertaining and info-rich book, The Singing Life of Birds >(2005 Houghton Mifflin), Kroodsma details his amazement to >find the chickadees on Martha's Vineyard, MASS, not singing >hey-sweetie. He made a big deal of it, >even giving a paper on it at the AOU meeting of 1994. Somewhere along >the way he remembered that >black-caps also don't sing hey-sweetie in western Oregon, where he >went to graduate school (OSU). >He published a paper in 1999 (with many co-authors) documenting the >areas where "hey-sweetie" is not used: >Alaska, w. Oregon and w. Washington, Martha's Vineyard. > >So, "hey-sweetie" is expected in central Oregon, but there are two >caveats. One, the Mountain Chickadees over there >sing something very similar to "hey-sweetie," say "hey-swee-tee," or perhaps, >"hey, sweet tea," a line one might use in a seafood restaurant in the South. > >You can compare "sweetie" to "sweet tea" at > >http://www.appliedbioacoustics.com/features/sounds/chickadee > >The second caveat has to do with how common black-caps are in central >Oregon. When I gave the evening talk at the OFO >meeting in Bend a couple of years ago I was talking about this >subject, and asked what the black-caps sing in Bend. Someone >answered from the audience that there are no black-caps in Bend. So, >if you hear hey-sweetie or something like it in the Bend area, get a >look at those birds. > >This seems to be the moment for my annual, or is it just occasional, query. >What do the black-caps, and mountains, say in your area? I'd love the >hear from you. > >Thanks, >Arch McCallum >Eugene > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.12.13/2091 - Release Date: 05/01/09 17:52:00 From timkadlecek at msn.com Sat May 2 14:31:41 2009 From: timkadlecek at msn.com (timkadlecek at msn.com) Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 14:31:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] oak island birds Message-ID: I had my first of the year Bullock's Oriole and Western Tanagers at Oak Island Trail on Sauvie Island today. I may have seen a White-throated Sparrow, just shortly beyond the parking lot on the left side of the trail. I first thought it was a White-crowned, but its most striking feature was its white throat, much brighter white than any White-crowned I've ever seen. Unfortunately, I did not see it long enough to look for the yellow lore. Tim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090502/97456a30/attachment.html From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Sat May 2 15:51:35 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (Tom McNamara) Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 15:51:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] A few Sandy River Delta birds (Mult.) Message-ID: Had a single blue-winged teal, a single cinnamon teal and a Hooded Merganser (drakes all) in one field of view earlier this afternoon, very nice! Also, my FOYs Sora, Yellow Warbler, and Yellowthroat. In the shallow pond next to I-84. Earlier this a.m. on Tabor there was a good fallout of warblers, empids (Hammond'a and Pac slopes) and vireos. Tom _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? goes with you. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Mobile1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090502/a3c4a8e4/attachment.html From Jfitchen at aol.com Sat May 2 16:59:41 2009 From: Jfitchen at aol.com (Jfitchen at aol.com) Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 19:59:41 EDT Subject: [obol] Pectoral Snadpipers, Sauvie (Mult) Message-ID: Hello Obol, This afternoon at about 2:30 I saw two PECTORAL SANDPIPERS in a flooded field along Reeder Road. They were accompanied by two LEAST SANDPIPERS, useful for size comparison, and a couple of AMERICAN PIPITS. The flooded field is visible from the pullout on the right about 50 yards before the intersection of Reeder and Gallahan Roads as you drive northeast on Reeder. The pectorals were more than twice the size of the leasts, had prominent streaking on the breast, dull yellow medium-length legs, a slightly droopy mostly dark bill and prominent whitish supercilium. I was pleased to find a less common shorebird species given the dearth of shorebird habitat in the county right now. Cheers, John Fitchen Portland **************Check all of your email inboxes from anywhere on the web. Try the new Email Toolbar now! (http://toolbar.aol.com/mail/download.html?ncid=txtlnkusdown00000027) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090502/478a7c74/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Sat May 2 17:26:24 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 17:26:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chapman's swiftw Message-ID: <17E3D463-EF16-410A-94DF-BE404A95399C@gmail.com> Now that the t-storm as past through and the sun is shining (at least at the moment), all I can say is WOW to how hard the hail came down here in NW Portland. I can see lots and lots of swifts flying around the Chapman chimney. Looks like they might be going to roost early. Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland From gorgebirds at juno.com Sat May 2 18:49:22 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 01:49:22 GMT Subject: [obol] Steigerwald Lake NWR Message-ID: <20090502.184922.4744.2@webmail09.vgs.untd.com> Randy Fortish, Steve Cantor and I volunteered today on the Steigerwald Lake NWR, near Washougal in Clark County. Our task for the day was to put up the Purple Martin nest gourds along the Washougal Dike Trail. While we were raising the first set of nests we had PURPLE MARTINS flying up and checking the openings. From the Dike Trail (the only trail on the refuge open to the public) we could see a pair of REDHEADS in Redtail Lake where they have been present for at least two weeks. Near the Gibbons Creek fish ladder we heard three and saw one YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS, one HOUSE WREN and a CHIPPING SPARROW. One WESTERN KINGBIRD was using the last field before the gate across the trail marking where the private property begins. A GREAT EGRET was flying over the MUTE SWAN in the main lake which is visible from milepost 18 on Highway 14. Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Click now for prescreened plumbing contractors. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTRHJBRUG02nNuqIDAhFwnIUD26ubk0Uy4hxMkJlGose8RCdIYWH5G/ From davidmandell at earthlink.net Sat May 2 20:17:55 2009 From: davidmandell at earthlink.net (David Mandell) Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 20:17:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Deschutes River Mouth Message-ID: <0C0971CA-70D5-42C2-A24A-F0749E668111@earthlink.net> I took a quick walk along the river trail at Deschutes River Mouth this afternoon. Other than lots of Y-R Warblers and a single WARBLING VIREO, not too much in the way of migrants. A LARK SPARROW was the biggest surprise. A few LESSER GOLDFINCHES were mixed in with the AMERICANS. PEREGRINE FALCON, WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS and CANYON WREN were are there usual spot about a mile before the park in Wasco County. On the way back, we stopped at East Mayer Park, where there was a female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER on the river. There were also a couple of LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS in the park. David Mandell Portland, OR From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat May 2 20:58:47 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 20:58:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Question for those that have birded Sherman County Message-ID: Thanks to good work by Craig Miller, the official online checklist for Sherman County is very close to being finished. I do have some questions that, perhaps, some of you can answer. Does anyone have records of any of the following species occurring in Sherman County? American Bittern White-faced Ibis Willet Stilt Sandpiper Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090502/68aecd9d/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sat May 2 21:04:54 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 21:04:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Linn County - Stilts, Larks and Rough-legged Hawk Message-ID: Bill Thackaberry and I birded the Linn County valley floor from Highway 20 near Albany to Diamond Hill Drive south of Brownsville today. We found few shorebirds at all, but at the mitigation wetland on Diamond Hill Road there were two Black-necked Stilts. There were about six Greater White-fronted Geese there, and several pairs of Horned Larks. We also found a Horned Lark singing at a dairy near highway 20, on Engle Road. There was a pair of Western Kingbirds at Belts Road and a single on Ward Butte. South of Ward Butte, on Harrison Road, there was a Rough-Legged Hawk. It was a fine day to be out, before it started raining at 2:30 or so. Good Birding, Jeff harding -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090502/4f78d070/attachment.html From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Sat May 2 21:24:04 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 21:24:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fields Note Message-ID: <482276.13471.qm@web30404.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I am at my place in Fields for a 4 days. Birds present in town on the afternoon of May 2 included: GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE LEWIS WOODPECKER PRAIRIE FALCON YELLOW WARBLER WESTERN KINGBIRD Maitreya From shelmert at loswego.k12.or.us Sat May 2 22:34:53 2009 From: shelmert at loswego.k12.or.us (Shelmerdine, Timothy (Tim)) Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 22:34:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tillamook area birds (Birdathon), Sat, May 2 Message-ID: Hello, everyone. David Smith and I had a very successful Birdathon trip in from western Washington County to Tillamook today (Saturday, May 2). Despite the wind and rain on the coast and the lack of some usual passerines (we detected no vireos, no Western Tanager and no Black-headed Grosbeak), we tallied 90 species by my count. The best birds were a rare in spring SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (yes, sandpiper, not plover) in a flock of peeps at Bay City, the gorgeous HARRIS'S SPARROW (appeared around 2:00 pm) at Margaret' T's house in Cape Meares, a beautiful SLATE-COLORED JUNCO also at Margaret's house, an early BROWN PELICAN over the surf at Cape Meares and three BARROW'S GOLDENEYE at the boast ramp at Netarts. A (slightly early?) WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE at Cedar Canyon in the late afternoon made up for the lack of flycatchers the rest of the day. All in all we had great company, great birds and a great trip. Tim From greenfant at hotmail.com Sat May 2 23:07:46 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 02:07:46 -0400 Subject: [obol] Another day in Wasco Co Message-ID: I birded the lowlands of Wasco County today. My route took me from The Dalles to Endersby along 197 (I failed to find Bank Swallows at the Celilo Power Station just south of The Dalles; probably just a little early), then up Eightmile Rd, coming back via Endersby Cutoff into Tygh Valley. I briefly ventured up Fairgrounds/Badger Ck Rd to the entrance of White River WA which was the birdiest spot of the day. Then back to Tygh Valley and down 216 to the Deschutes River (no Chats, but Lazuli Buntings have arrived). >From Maupin, I took Bakeoven Rd all the way to US97 (sparrows were singing near Hinton Rd - it was around 1pm by then). From there I did a 3hr detour to Crook County to get me my state Tricolored Blackbird about 0.4mi east of Lone Pine Rd & Smith Rock Way NW of Prineville. Returning to Wasco Co along 97 and then 26, I turned east off 26 on Simnasho Rd where I encountered a fairly active area in a burn about 2 miles in. From Simnasho, I took Wapinitia Rd to Back Walters Rd when the bad weather hit. A brief stop near Bear Springs CG yielded a Hermit Warbler. Thanks to Donna Lusthoff for some really good tips on some of the species. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR Here the complete species list for the Wasco portion: Turkey Vulture Canada Goose American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal (pair along Bakeoven Rd) Northern Shoveler Ring-necked Duck Common Merganser Osprey Sharp-shinned Hawk Swainson's Hawk (1 along 216 east of Tygh Valley) Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Prairie Falcon (1 along Bakeoven Rd barely up the plateau from Maupin) Wild Turkey (1 in burn along S-400/Simnasho Rd about 2mi east of US26) California Quail American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper (pair along the Deschutes River Access Rd) California Gull Rock Dove Eurasian Collared-Dove (1 at house at NE corner of Eight Mile and Endersby Cutoff) Mourning Dove Great Horned Owl (1 along Badger Ck Rd at first cliff wall close to the right side of the road coming from Tygh Valley) Vaux's Swift Belted Kingfisher Lewis's Woodpecker (several along Eightmile Rd) Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Dusky Flycatcher (1 along 216 about 1mi west of Sherar's Bridge) Gray Flycatcher (1-2 pairs at first cluster of junipers coming from Maupin on Bakeoven Rd; several near entrance to White River WA off Badger Ck Rd; 1 heard near Bakeoven & Hinton Rds) Say's Phoebe Western Kingbird Cassin's Vireo Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay Black-bellied Magpie American Crow Common Raven Horned Lark Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Barn Swallow Cliff Swallow Mountain Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Rock Wren (near Sherar's Bridge) Canyon Wren (1 along Badger Ck Rd at first cliff wall close to the right side of the road coming from Tygh Valley) Bewick's Wren House Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Western Bluebird American Robin European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Hermit Warbler (1 along Beaver Butte Rd near Bear Springs campground) Spotted Towhee Chipping Sparrow Brewer's Sparrow (a few about 0.5mi south of Bakeoven & Hinton Rds) Vesper Sparrow (several about 0.8mi north of Bakeoven & Hinton Rds; 2 more about 0.5mi south of Bakeoven & Hinton Rds) Lincoln's Sparrow (1 near Sherar's Bridge) White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Lazuli Bunting (2 singing males near Sherar's Bridge) Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brewer's Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Cassin's Finch House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? goes with you. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Mobile1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090503/08ceb621/attachment.html From steve at paradisebirding.com Sun May 3 03:10:57 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 03:10:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Woodpecker film tix now on sale! Message-ID: <9a341ea30905030310v1afc4238p5c59ab77645a0d8c@mail.gmail.com> Greetings all, Tickets for the premiere Oregon screening of the film "Woodpecker" are now on sale at the Sisters Movie House. This unique film about the Ivory-billed Woodpecker will show at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, at the Sisters Movie House, located at the far east end of downtown Sisters (in the Five Pine complex). A few details on the film, with links to more details, are below. This May 14 screening of "Woodpecker" is the first in Oregon and will benefit the East Cascades Bird Conservancy and the Woodpecker Wonderland Festival, scheduled for June 5-7 in Camp Sherman. After the 1-hour film, I will lead a panel of biologists and philosphers in a brief discussion of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker phenomenon. For advance tickets ($15) call the Sisters Movie House at 541-549-8833. Map and directions to Sisters Movie House are here: http://www.sistersmoviehouse.com/. NOTE that seatng is limited and the event may sell out in advance, so don't wait until film day to by your tickets. I hope to see you in Sisters on May 14! Steve Shunk Since its release last year, this film has received rave reviews at movie festivals across the continent (as well as in Italy and Greece). In documentary style, "Woodpecker" follows a fictitious character as he searches the Arkansas swamps for the elusive Ivory-bill. The Variety review below says it all: "A birdwatchers' "Best in Show," Alex Karpovsky's mock-doc "Woodpecker" stretches its single joke -- an oddball poet-birder scours an Arkansas bayou for the ivory-billed variety of the titular feathered friend -- to feature length, earning a beakful of yuks. ... "Woodpecker" soars above the bulk of low-budget Amerindie farces, if not above the director's earlier "The Hole Story," now a minor cult fave on DVD. A rare bird himself, Karpovsky remains one to watch. ..." --Rob Nelson : http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117937694.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 Read more about the film here: http://www.woodpeckerfilm.com/ P.S. Those of you who manage your own email lists, please distribute this message far and wide if you think your audience would be ineterested. Thanks! -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090503/4c26b011/attachment.html From rriparia at charter.net Sun May 3 06:05:11 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 6:05:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Klamath Basin Shorebirds Message-ID: <20090503090511.VNM28.2000604.root@mp16> Klamath Basin Bird News and OBOL, I traveled around the southern areas of Klamath County, Sat. May 2. White Lake, OR side: American Avocet- 55, Black-necked Stilt- 11, Dowitcher sp.- 80 (mostly Long-billed), Short-billed Dowitcher- 1 heard, Least Sandpiper- 116, Willet-6, Killdeer- 4, Western Sandpiper- 16, Dunlin- 3, Wison's Phalarope- 7, about 300 Green-winged Teal of which one was "leucistic" (photo) Fugate Rd. and Lower Klamath Lake Rd.- Black-bellied Plover-30 Killdeer-20, Willet- 4 Lower Klamath Lake Road, west of Fugate- 900 White-faced Ibis Township Rd. Franklin's Gull-4, CA Gull-4, RB Gull-11 Oregon Drain Long-billed Curlew- 5 Willet- 11 (almost all paired up) White-fronted Goose- about 2-300 at south end near Stateline Rd. Ross's Goose-5 Old Midland Rd. American Avocet- 6 Killdeer- 6 Least Sandpiper- 7 Short-billed Dowitcher-2 (called) Miller Island WMA American Avocet- 41 Dunlin- 12 Killdeer- 5 Wilson's Phalarope- 2 Franklin's Gull- 27 among about 100 mostly RB Gulls and a few CA Gulls Snow Goose- 1 , Ross's Goose- 4 among about 400 White-fronted Goose First of Year Wilson's Warbler (for me) House Finch on nest Kevin Spencer rriparia at charter.net From 5hats at peak.org Sun May 3 07:37:37 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 07:37:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Another day in Wasco Co References: Message-ID: <1B4B220EAF4847DE9A53C722BCF419B5@your5rlp3a9516> Stephan, others, Isn't Hermit Warbler unusual in eastern Oregon? Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: Stefan Schlick To: OBOL OBOL Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2009 11:07 PM Subject: [obol] Another day in Wasco Co I birded the lowlands of Wasco County today. My route took me from The Dalles to Endersby along 197 (I failed to find Bank Swallows at the Celilo Power Station just south of The Dalles; probably just a little early), then up Eightmile Rd, coming back via Endersby Cutoff into Tygh Valley. I briefly ventured up Fairgrounds/Badger Ck Rd to the entrance of White River WA which was the birdiest spot of the day. Then back to Tygh Valley and down 216 to the Deschutes River (no Chats, but Lazuli Buntings have arrived). >From Maupin, I took Bakeoven Rd all the way to US97 (sparrows were singing near Hinton Rd - it was around 1pm by then). >From there I did a 3hr detour to Crook County to get me my state Tricolored Blackbird about 0.4mi east of Lone Pine Rd & Smith Rock Way NW of Prineville. Returning to Wasco Co along 97 and then 26, I turned east off 26 on Simnasho Rd where I encountered a fairly active area in a burn about 2 miles in. From Simnasho, I took Wapinitia Rd to Back Walters Rd when the bad weather hit. A brief stop near Bear Springs CG yielded a Hermit Warbler. Thanks to Donna Lusthoff for some really good tips on some of the species. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR Here the complete species list for the Wasco portion: Turkey Vulture Canada Goose American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal (pair along Bakeoven Rd) Northern Shoveler Ring-necked Duck Common Merganser Osprey Sharp-shinned Hawk Swainson's Hawk (1 along 216 east of Tygh Valley) Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Prairie Falcon (1 along Bakeoven Rd barely up the plateau from Maupin) Wild Turkey (1 in burn along S-400/Simnasho Rd about 2mi east of US26) California Quail American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper (pair along the Deschutes River Access Rd) California Gull Rock Dove Eurasian Collared-Dove (1 at house at NE corner of Eight Mile and Endersby Cutoff) Mourning Dove Great Horned Owl (1 along Badger Ck Rd at first cliff wall close to the right side of the road coming from Tygh Valley) Vaux's Swift Belted Kingfisher Lewis's Woodpecker (several along Eightmile Rd) Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Dusky Flycatcher (1 along 216 about 1mi west of Sherar's Bridge) Gray Flycatcher (1-2 pairs at first cluster of junipers coming from Maupin on Bakeoven Rd; several near entrance to White River WA off Badger Ck Rd; 1 heard near Bakeoven & Hinton Rds) Say's Phoebe Western Kingbird Cassin's Vireo Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay Black-bellied Magpie American Crow Common Raven Horned Lark Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Barn Swallow Cliff Swallow Mountain Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Rock Wren (near Sherar's Bridge) Canyon Wren (1 along Badger Ck Rd at first cliff wall close to the right side of the road coming from Tygh Valley) Bewick's Wren House Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Western Bluebird American Robin European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Hermit Warbler (1 along Beaver Butte Rd near Bear Springs campground) Spotted Towhee Chipping Sparrow Brewer's Sparrow (a few about 0.5mi south of Bakeoven & Hinton Rds) Vesper Sparrow (several about 0.8mi north of Bakeoven & Hinton Rds; 2 more about 0.5mi south of Bakeoven & Hinton Rds) Lincoln's Sparrow (1 near Sherar's Bridge) White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Lazuli Bunting (2 singing males near Sherar's Bridge) Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brewer's Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Cassin's Finch House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hotmail? goes with you. Get it on your BlackBerry or iPhone. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090503/7f723f2c/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun May 3 08:44:13 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 08:44:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Another day in Wasco Co In-Reply-To: <1B4B220EAF4847DE9A53C722BCF419B5@your5rlp3a9516> References: <1B4B220EAF4847DE9A53C722BCF419B5@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: <192A38DCA3E845B19D2EF90B6FFACD2A@cgatesPC> Hermit Warblers are not really uncommon at higher elevations in the eastern Cascades of Central Oregon. They are routinely found near Suttle Lake and the higher elevations around Sisters. They are probably common in summer between Stefan's location and Sisters but much of that is Warm Springs Indian Reservation land so little birding is done there. There seems to be quite a bit of hybridization between the Hermits and the Townsend's in this region as well. Below are some of the records of Hermit Warbler sightings in Central Oregon. Hermit Warbler 4/10/2003 Suttle Lk. Jefferson Co. OR EAST Jeff Harding Hermit Warbler 4/18/2003 Crane Prairie Res. Wasco Co. OR EAST Pamela Johnston Hermit Warbler 4/19/2003 Camas Prairie Wasco Co. OR EAST Donna Lusthoff Hermit Warbler 5/4/2003 Camas Prairie Wasco Co. OR EAST Jeff Harding Hermit Warbler 5/6/2003 Suttle Lk. Jefferson Co. OR EAST Steve Shunk Hermit Warbler 6/12/2003 NFS 1014 Deschutes Co. OR EAST Jim Moodie Hermit Warbler 6/12/2003 Sugar Pine Ridge Trail Deschutes Co. OR EAST Steve Shunk Hermit Warbler 6/13/2003 Jefferson Lk Trail Jefferson Co. OR EAST Steve Shunk Hermit Warbler 6/15/2003 Trout Cr. Swamp Deschutes Co. OR EAST Steve Kornfeld Jim Moodie Howard Horvath Hermit Warbler 7/20/2003 Hosmer Lk. Deschutes Co. OR EAST Dean Hale Hermit Warbler 8/1/2003 Mt Hood Meadows Hood River Co. OR EAST Chuck Gates Lance Thurman Hermit Warbler 8/15/2003 Cold Springs C.G. Deschutes Co. OR EAST Steve Shunk Hermit Warbler 8/20/2003 Little Three Cr. Lk. Deschutes Co. OR EAST Steve Shunk Hermit Warbler 9/1/2003 Virginia Meissners Trail Deschutes Co. OR EAST Dean Hale Steve Kornfeld Hermit Warbler 9/8/2003 Deschutes R. Woods Deschutes Co. OR EAST Jim Moodie Hermit Warbler 5/8/2004 Jefferson NAMC Jefferson Co. OR EAST Sue Tank fide Hermit Warbler 5/8/2004 Wasco Co. NAMC Wasco Co. OR EAST Donna Lusthoff & Char Corkran Hermit Warbler 5/13/2004 Scout Lk. Deschutes Co. OR EAST Steve Shunk Hermit Warbler 5/13/2004 Deschutes N.F. Jefferson Co. OR EAST Joel Geier Hermit Warbler 5/15/2004 Camas Priairie Wasco Co. OR EAST Stuart & Karen Sparkman Hermit Warbler 5/16/2004 Metolius Preserve Jefferson Co. OR EAST Dean Hale Peter Low Hermit Warbler 5/24/2004 Welk Rd. ? Fulton Cyn. Sherman Co. OR EAST David Mandell Hermit Warbler 6/3/2004 Wizard Falls BBS Jefferson Co. OR EAST Paul Sullivan Hermit Warbler 6/19/2004 Sisters BBS Route Deschutes Co. OR EAST Jon Plisner Stephanie Newinski Hermit Warbler 7/11/2004 Metolius Preserve Jefferson Co. OR EAST Kim Owen Steve Dougill Hermit Warbler 7/16/2004 Metolius Preserve Jefferson Co. OR EAST Kim Owen Hermit Warbler 7/28/2004 Green Ridge Jefferson Co. OR EAST Chuck Gates Matt Hunter Kim Boddie Steve Shunk Hermit Warbler 8/12/2004 Deschutes R. Woods Deschutes Co. OR EAST Jim Moodie Hermit Warbler 8/21/2004 Wickiup Res. Deschutes Co. OR EAST Dean Hale Peter Low Judy Meredith Sheran Wright Hermit Warbler 8/22/2004 Tumalo Falls Deschutes Co. OR EAST Dave Tracy Hermit Warbler 8/29/2004 Independent Mine Crook Co. OR EAST Chuck Gates Hermit Warbler 9/18/2004 Jefferson NAMC Jefferson Co. OR EAST Sue Tank fide Hermit Warbler 4/30/2005 Metolius Preserve Deschutes Co. OR EAST Norma Funai Hermit Warbler 5/14/2005 Deschutes NAMC Deschutes Co. OR EAST Steve Dougill fide Hermit Warbler 7/10/2005 Skyliner Rd. Deschutes Co. OR EAST Dean Hale Hermit Warbler 8/26/2005 Devil's Half Acre Meadow Hood River Co. OR EAST Bob Altman Steve Dowlan Hermit Warbler 5/13/2006 Deschutes NAMC Deschutes Co. OR EAST Steve Dougill fide Hermit Warbler 5/14/2006 Hood NAMC Hood River Co. OR EAST Paul Sullivan Hermit Warbler 5/14/2006 Wasco Co. NAMC Wasco Co. OR EAST Donna Lusthoff Hermit Warbler 5/30/2006 Jack Cr. Jefferson Co. OR EAST Steve Dougill Hermit Warbler 6/10/2006 High Lk.s Field Trip Deschutes Co. OR EAST Marilyn Bertran fide Hermit Warbler 7/15/2006 Ochoco R.S. Crook Co. OR EAST Jeff Hayes Hermit Warbler 7/15/2006 Ochoco R.S. Crook Co. OR EAST Jeff Hayes Hermit Warbler 5/25/2007 Suttle Lk. Jefferson Co. OR EAST David Schas Hermit Warbler 6/2/2007 Sisters Area Deschutes Co. OR EAST Steve Dougill Hermit Warbler 6/11/2007 Whispering Pines Deschutes Co. OR EAST Craig Miller Marilyn Miller Hermit Warbler 6/23/2007 OFO Annual Meeting Field Trip Crook Co./Wheeler Co./Deschutes Co. OR EAST Judy Meredith fide Hermit Warbler 7/18/2007 Trout Cr. Swamp Deschutes Co. OR EAST Chuck Gates David Smith Hermit Warbler 8/7/2007 Deschutes R. Woods Deschutes Co. OR EAST Jim Moodie Hermit Warbler 9/15/2007 Deschutes Co. NAMC Deschutes Co. OR EAST Jim Moodie fide Hermit Warbler 9/17/2007 Suttle Lk. Jefferson Co. OR EAST Bill Tice Hermit Warbler 9/24/2007 Calliope Crossing Jefferson Co. OR EAST Steve Dougill Hermit Warbler 4/29/2008 Bend Deschutes Co. OR EAST Dave Tracy Hermit Warbler 5/5/2008 Cold Springs C.G. Deschutes Co. OR EAST John & Anne Gerke Hermit Warbler 5/10/2008 Hood R. Co. NAMC Hood River Co. OR EAST Stuart Johnston Hermit Warbler 5/10/2008 Wasco Co. NAMC Wasco Co. OR EAST Donna Lusthoff Hermit Warbler 5/13/2008 Deschutes R. Woods Deschutes Co. OR EAST Jim Moodie Hermit Warbler 6/7/2008 Woodpecker Wonderland Festival Deschutes/Jefferson Co. OR EAST Steve Shunk fide ----- Original Message ----- From: Darrel Faxon To: Stefan Schlick ; OBOL OBOL Sent: Sunday, May 03, 2009 7:37 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Another day in Wasco Co Stephan, others, Isn't Hermit Warbler unusual in eastern Oregon? Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: Stefan Schlick To: OBOL OBOL Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2009 11:07 PM Subject: [obol] Another day in Wasco Co I birded the lowlands of Wasco County today. My route took me from The Dalles to Endersby along 197 (I failed to find Bank Swallows at the Celilo Power Station just south of The Dalles; probably just a little early), then up Eightmile Rd, coming back via Endersby Cutoff into Tygh Valley. I briefly ventured up Fairgrounds/Badger Ck Rd to the entrance of White River WA which was the birdiest spot of the day. Then back to Tygh Valley and down 216 to the Deschutes River (no Chats, but Lazuli Buntings have arrived). >From Maupin, I took Bakeoven Rd all the way to US97 (sparrows were singing near Hinton Rd - it was around 1pm by then). >From there I did a 3hr detour to Crook County to get me my state Tricolored Blackbird about 0.4mi east of Lone Pine Rd & Smith Rock Way NW of Prineville. Returning to Wasco Co along 97 and then 26, I turned east off 26 on Simnasho Rd where I encountered a fairly active area in a burn about 2 miles in. From Simnasho, I took Wapinitia Rd to Back Walters Rd when the bad weather hit. A brief stop near Bear Springs CG yielded a Hermit Warbler. Thanks to Donna Lusthoff for some really good tips on some of the species. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR Here the complete species list for the Wasco portion: Turkey Vulture Canada Goose American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal (pair along Bakeoven Rd) Northern Shoveler Ring-necked Duck Common Merganser Osprey Sharp-shinned Hawk Swainson's Hawk (1 along 216 east of Tygh Valley) Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Prairie Falcon (1 along Bakeoven Rd barely up the plateau from Maupin) Wild Turkey (1 in burn along S-400/Simnasho Rd about 2mi east of US26) California Quail American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper (pair along the Deschutes River Access Rd) California Gull Rock Dove Eurasian Collared-Dove (1 at house at NE corner of Eight Mile and Endersby Cutoff) Mourning Dove Great Horned Owl (1 along Badger Ck Rd at first cliff wall close to the right side of the road coming from Tygh Valley) Vaux's Swift Belted Kingfisher Lewis's Woodpecker (several along Eightmile Rd) Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Dusky Flycatcher (1 along 216 about 1mi west of Sherar's Bridge) Gray Flycatcher (1-2 pairs at first cluster of junipers coming from Maupin on Bakeoven Rd; several near entrance to White River WA off Badger Ck Rd; 1 heard near Bakeoven & Hinton Rds) Say's Phoebe Western Kingbird Cassin's Vireo Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay Black-bellied Magpie American Crow Common Raven Horned Lark Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Barn Swallow Cliff Swallow Mountain Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Rock Wren (near Sherar's Bridge) Canyon Wren (1 along Badger Ck Rd at first cliff wall close to the right side of the road coming from Tygh Valley) Bewick's Wren House Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Western Bluebird American Robin European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Hermit Warbler (1 along Beaver Butte Rd near Bear Springs campground) Spotted Towhee Chipping Sparrow Brewer's Sparrow (a few about 0.5mi south of Bakeoven & Hinton Rds) Vesper Sparrow (several about 0.8mi north of Bakeoven & Hinton Rds; 2 more about 0.5mi south of Bakeoven & Hinton Rds) Lincoln's Sparrow (1 near Sherar's Bridge) White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Lazuli Bunting (2 singing males near Sherar's Bridge) Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brewer's Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Cassin's Finch House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hotmail? goes with you. Get it on your BlackBerry or iPhone. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090503/666cfe35/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sun May 3 09:38:15 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 12:38:15 -0400 Subject: [obol] Another day in Wasco Co In-Reply-To: <192A38DCA3E845B19D2EF90B6FFACD2A@cgatesPC> References: <1B4B220EAF4847DE9A53C722BCF419B5@your5rlp3a9516> <192A38DCA3E845B19D2EF90B6FFACD2A@cgatesPC> Message-ID: I neglected to say that Bear Creek CG is 4mi west of 26 & 126 which definitely is not lowland Wasco Co. This was en route from the lowlands back to the Portland area. My Hermit Warbler was not a hybrid. Nice clean white belly, no streaking. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR From: cgates326 at gmail.com To: 5hats at peak.org; greenfant at hotmail.com; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Another day in Wasco Co Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 08:44:13 -0700 Hermit Warblers are not really uncommon at higher elevations in the eastern Cascades of Central Oregon. They are routinely found near Suttle Lake and the higher elevations around Sisters. They are probably common in summer between Stefan's location and Sisters but much of that is Warm Springs Indian Reservation land so little birding is done there. There seems to be quite a bit of hybridization between the Hermits and the Townsend's in this region as well. Below are some of the records of Hermit Warbler sightings in Central Oregon. Hermit Warbler 4/10/2003 Suttle Lk. Jefferson Co. OR EAST Jeff Harding Hermit Warbler 4/18/2003 Crane Prairie Res. Wasco Co. OR EAST Pamela Johnston Hermit Warbler 4/19/2003 Camas Prairie Wasco Co. OR EAST Donna Lusthoff Hermit Warbler 5/4/2003 Camas Prairie Wasco Co. OR EAST Jeff Harding Hermit Warbler 5/6/2003 Suttle Lk. Jefferson Co. OR EAST Steve Shunk Hermit Warbler 6/12/2003 NFS 1014 Deschutes Co. OR EAST Jim Moodie Hermit Warbler 6/12/2003 Sugar Pine Ridge Trail Deschutes Co. OR EAST Steve Shunk Hermit Warbler 6/13/2003 Jefferson Lk Trail Jefferson Co. OR EAST Steve Shunk Hermit Warbler 6/15/2003 Trout Cr. Swamp Deschutes Co. OR EAST Steve Kornfeld Jim Moodie Howard Horvath Hermit Warbler 7/20/2003 Hosmer Lk. Deschutes Co. OR EAST Dean Hale Hermit Warbler 8/1/2003 Mt Hood Meadows Hood River Co. OR EAST Chuck Gates Lance Thurman Hermit Warbler 8/15/2003 Cold Springs C.G. Deschutes Co. OR EAST Steve Shunk Hermit Warbler 8/20/2003 Little Three Cr. Lk. Deschutes Co. OR EAST Steve Shunk Hermit Warbler 9/1/2003 Virginia Meissners Trail Deschutes Co. OR EAST Dean Hale Steve Kornfeld Hermit Warbler 9/8/2003 Deschutes R. Woods Deschutes Co. OR EAST Jim Moodie Hermit Warbler 5/8/2004 Jefferson NAMC Jefferson Co. OR EAST Sue Tank fide Hermit Warbler 5/8/2004 Wasco Co. NAMC Wasco Co. OR EAST Donna Lusthoff & Char Corkran Hermit Warbler 5/13/2004 Scout Lk. Deschutes Co. OR EAST Steve Shunk Hermit Warbler 5/13/2004 Deschutes N.F. Jefferson Co. OR EAST Joel Geier Hermit Warbler 5/15/2004 Camas Priairie Wasco Co. OR EAST Stuart & Karen Sparkman Hermit Warbler 5/16/2004 Metolius Preserve Jefferson Co. OR EAST Dean Hale Peter Low Hermit Warbler 5/24/2004 Welk Rd. ? Fulton Cyn. Sherman Co. OR EAST David Mandell Hermit Warbler 6/3/2004 Wizard Falls BBS Jefferson Co. OR EAST Paul Sullivan Hermit Warbler 6/19/2004 Sisters BBS Route Deschutes Co. OR EAST Jon Plisner Stephanie Newinski Hermit Warbler 7/11/2004 Metolius Preserve Jefferson Co. OR EAST Kim Owen Steve Dougill Hermit Warbler 7/16/2004 Metolius Preserve Jefferson Co. OR EAST Kim Owen Hermit Warbler 7/28/2004 Green Ridge Jefferson Co. OR EAST Chuck Gates Matt Hunter Kim Boddie Steve Shunk Hermit Warbler 8/12/2004 Deschutes R. Woods Deschutes Co. OR EAST Jim Moodie Hermit Warbler 8/21/2004 Wickiup Res. Deschutes Co. OR EAST Dean Hale Peter Low Judy Meredith Sheran Wright Hermit Warbler 8/22/2004 Tumalo Falls Deschutes Co. OR EAST Dave Tracy Hermit Warbler 8/29/2004 Independent Mine Crook Co. OR EAST Chuck Gates Hermit Warbler 9/18/2004 Jefferson NAMC Jefferson Co. OR EAST Sue Tank fide Hermit Warbler 4/30/2005 Metolius Preserve Deschutes Co. OR EAST Norma Funai Hermit Warbler 5/14/2005 Deschutes NAMC Deschutes Co. OR EAST Steve Dougill fide Hermit Warbler 7/10/2005 Skyliner Rd. Deschutes Co. OR EAST Dean Hale Hermit Warbler 8/26/2005 Devil's Half Acre Meadow Hood River Co. OR EAST Bob Altman Steve Dowlan Hermit Warbler 5/13/2006 Deschutes NAMC Deschutes Co. OR EAST Steve Dougill fide Hermit Warbler 5/14/2006 Hood NAMC Hood River Co. OR EAST Paul Sullivan Hermit Warbler 5/14/2006 Wasco Co. NAMC Wasco Co. OR EAST Donna Lusthoff Hermit Warbler 5/30/2006 Jack Cr. Jefferson Co. OR EAST Steve Dougill Hermit Warbler 6/10/2006 High Lk.s Field Trip Deschutes Co. OR EAST Marilyn Bertran fide Hermit Warbler 7/15/2006 Ochoco R.S. Crook Co. OR EAST Jeff Hayes Hermit Warbler 7/15/2006 Ochoco R.S. Crook Co. OR EAST Jeff Hayes Hermit Warbler 5/25/2007 Suttle Lk. Jefferson Co. OR EAST David Schas Hermit Warbler 6/2/2007 Sisters Area Deschutes Co. OR EAST Steve Dougill Hermit Warbler 6/11/2007 Whispering Pines Deschutes Co. OR EAST Craig Miller Marilyn Miller Hermit Warbler 6/23/2007 OFO Annual Meeting Field Trip Crook Co./Wheeler Co./Deschutes Co. OR EAST Judy Meredith fide Hermit Warbler 7/18/2007 Trout Cr. Swamp Deschutes Co. OR EAST Chuck Gates David Smith Hermit Warbler 8/7/2007 Deschutes R. Woods Deschutes Co. OR EAST Jim Moodie Hermit Warbler 9/15/2007 Deschutes Co. NAMC Deschutes Co. OR EAST Jim Moodie fide Hermit Warbler 9/17/2007 Suttle Lk. Jefferson Co. OR EAST Bill Tice Hermit Warbler 9/24/2007 Calliope Crossing Jefferson Co. OR EAST Steve Dougill Hermit Warbler 4/29/2008 Bend Deschutes Co. OR EAST Dave Tracy Hermit Warbler 5/5/2008 Cold Springs C.G. Deschutes Co. OR EAST John & Anne Gerke Hermit Warbler 5/10/2008 Hood R. Co. NAMC Hood River Co. OR EAST Stuart Johnston Hermit Warbler 5/10/2008 Wasco Co. NAMC Wasco Co. OR EAST Donna Lusthoff Hermit Warbler 5/13/2008 Deschutes R. Woods Deschutes Co. OR EAST Jim Moodie Hermit Warbler 6/7/2008 Woodpecker Wonderland Festival Deschutes/Jefferson Co. OR EAST Steve Shunk fide ----- Original Message ----- From: Darrel Faxon To: Stefan Schlick ; OBOL OBOL Sent: Sunday, May 03, 2009 7:37 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Another day in Wasco Co Stephan, others, Isn't Hermit Warbler unusual in eastern Oregon? Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: Stefan Schlick To: OBOL OBOL Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2009 11:07 PM Subject: [obol] Another day in Wasco Co I birded the lowlands of Wasco County today. My route took me from The Dalles to Endersby along 197 (I failed to find Bank Swallows at the Celilo Power Station just south of The Dalles; probably just a little early), then up Eightmile Rd, coming back via Endersby Cutoff into Tygh Valley. I briefly ventured up Fairgrounds/Badger Ck Rd to the entrance of White River WA which was the birdiest spot of the day. Then back to Tygh Valley and down 216 to the Deschutes River (no Chats, but Lazuli Buntings have arrived). >From Maupin, I took Bakeoven Rd all the way to US97 (sparrows were singing near Hinton Rd - it was around 1pm by then). From there I did a 3hr detour to Crook County to get me my state Tricolored Blackbird about 0.4mi east of Lone Pine Rd & Smith Rock Way NW of Prineville. Returning to Wasco Co along 97 and then 26, I turned east off 26 on Simnasho Rd where I encountered a fairly active area in a burn about 2 miles in. From Simnasho, I took Wapinitia Rd to Back Walters Rd when the bad weather hit. A brief stop near Bear Springs CG yielded a Hermit Warbler. Thanks to Donna Lusthoff for some really good tips on some of the species. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR Here the complete species list for the Wasco portion: Turkey Vulture Canada Goose American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal (pair along Bakeoven Rd) Northern Shoveler Ring-necked Duck Common Merganser Osprey Sharp-shinned Hawk Swainson's Hawk (1 along 216 east of Tygh Valley) Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Prairie Falcon (1 along Bakeoven Rd barely up the plateau from Maupin) Wild Turkey (1 in burn along S-400/Simnasho Rd about 2mi east of US26) California Quail American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper (pair along the Deschutes River Access Rd) California Gull Rock Dove Eurasian Collared-Dove (1 at house at NE corner of Eight Mile and Endersby Cutoff) Mourning Dove Great Horned Owl (1 along Badger Ck Rd at first cliff wall close to the right side of the road coming from Tygh Valley) Vaux's Swift Belted Kingfisher Lewis's Woodpecker (several along Eightmile Rd) Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Dusky Flycatcher (1 along 216 about 1mi west of Sherar's Bridge) Gray Flycatcher (1-2 pairs at first cluster of junipers coming from Maupin on Bakeoven Rd; several near entrance to White River WA off Badger Ck Rd; 1 heard near Bakeoven & Hinton Rds) Say's Phoebe Western Kingbird Cassin's Vireo Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay Black-bellied Magpie American Crow Common Raven Horned Lark Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Barn Swallow Cliff Swallow Mountain Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Rock Wren (near Sherar's Bridge) Canyon Wren (1 along Badger Ck Rd at first cliff wall close to the right side of the road coming from Tygh Valley) Bewick's Wren House Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Western Bluebird American Robin European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Hermit Warbler (1 along Beaver Butte Rd near Bear Springs campground) Spotted Towhee Chipping Sparrow Brewer's Sparrow (a few about 0.5mi south of Bakeoven & Hinton Rds) Vesper Sparrow (several about 0.8mi north of Bakeoven & Hinton Rds; 2 more about 0.5mi south of Bakeoven & Hinton Rds) Lincoln's Sparrow (1 near Sherar's Bridge) White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Lazuli Bunting (2 singing males near Sherar's Bridge) Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brewer's Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Cassin's Finch House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow Hotmail? goes with you. Get it on your BlackBerry or iPhone. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090503/761cd171/attachment.html From dkmunson at wildblue.net Sun May 3 09:59:59 2009 From: dkmunson at wildblue.net (Don & Karen Munson) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 09:59:59 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time) Subject: [obol] Backyard Birds-eye candy Message-ID: <49FDCD8E.000018.01864@OFFICE> Some of the birds visible this morning were Purple Finch, Orange-crowned and Wilson's Warblers, Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Tanager, Allen's Hummingbird and Bullock's Oriole all in one patch of huckleberries. Nearby were Olive-sided Flycatcher, Tree and Violet-green Swallows, Red-shouldered Hawk, American and Lesser Goldfinches. Don Munson Brookings -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090503/c08ed60d/attachment.html From mrchickadee at gmail.com Sun May 3 10:05:17 2009 From: mrchickadee at gmail.com (Miss Jacqui) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 10:05:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] 1st of year Swifts in Beaverton Message-ID: <7e34f7b0905031005t2697a42bgf2ee63ea8c49604e@mail.gmail.com> 3 days ago, I saw a few Swifts flying around above my neighborhood. They usually stay throughout the summer. May be a few nesting in the area. Nice to see them again - Jacqui -- Jacqui Parker Portland, OREGON ........... I realized that If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes Charles Lindbergh (1902 - 1974), Interview 1974 ( '< < ? ) / ) ) ( (\) // " " ? ? \\ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090503/5b0f3ed8/attachment.html From sheran at bendbroadband.com Sun May 3 10:12:37 2009 From: sheran at bendbroadband.com (Sheran Wright) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 10:12:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] May 7 Cruise Message-ID: If you will be on the 5/7 Star Princess cruise from San Francisco to Vancouver, BC, please let me know what your stateroom number is. I will make a list to share with the participants so that we can all find each other when we are on board. Please reply privately. Thanks. Sheran Wright Bend, OR From whoffman at peak.org Sun May 3 10:13:45 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 10:13:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: I watched from 6 to 7:30 AM. A pretty quiet morning, except for the loons and the crows dive-bombing the ravens. Wayne Pacific Loon 8,000 continuous stream N from 6:30-7:30, mostly about 1 mile out, mostly breeding plumage Red-throated Loon 300 N Common Loon 50 N Shearwaters 0 Brown Pelican 220 mostly adults, all but 1 N Brandt's Cormorant 800 N Pelagic Cormorant 100 mostly local movements Double-crested Corm. 10 Surf scoter 60 White-winged Scoter 1 California Gull 1 first-cycle Western Gull 150 one copulation observed Glaucous-inged Gull 5 Common Murre 800 predominantly S Pigeon Guillemot 30 Rhinoceros Auklet 1 Common Raven 2 Savannah Sparrow 8 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090503/a55e5d0c/attachment.html From phils at rio.com Sun May 3 10:15:39 2009 From: phils at rio.com (Phil and Christina) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 10:15:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wings and Wine Festival Message-ID: Fourth Annual Wings & Wine Festival Celebrates International Migratory Bird Day Eugene, Ore. ? Bird watchers, wine lovers and nature enthusiasts are invited to the Fourth Annual Fern Ridge Wings & Wine Festival Saturday, May 9, 2009, to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day. A wide array of activities will be held throughout the day at Secret House Winery west of Eugene and nearby Fern Ridge Reservoir, one of Oregon?s best birding areas. The day?s schedule starts at 7 a.m. and includes bird and nature walks, hands-on workshops, canoe trips, educational talks, children?s activities, and a guided wine-tasting and bird-watching tour to four local wineries. Many activities are free, while some require pre-registration and a fee. For details, visit www.wingsandwinefestival.com/schedule.htm. The education-focused event offers visitors a diverse offering of bird watching and learning experiences, and the opportunity to connect with birding and wildlife experts, including biologists, authors, lecturers and photographers. ?Whether you?re a beginning backyard birder or a long-time avid wildlife watcher, there?s going to be opportunities for all ages to learn and discover more about how we can enjoy, protect and access our area?s vast natural environment,? said Patti Chappel, owner of Secret House Winery and festival co-organizer. Chappel?s 60-acre estate, the site for many of the festival?s activities, features an ample display garden designed specifically to attract birds. Fern Ridge Reservoir was designated an Important Bird Area in 2003 by the American Bird Conservancy and is home to more than 250 species of birds, including tundra swans, northern harriers, peregrine falcons, egrets and eagles. International Migratory Bird Day is celebrated throughout Canada, the U.S., Mexico and Central America to support migratory bird conservation and focus attention on one of the most important and spectacular events in the life of a migratory bird: the journey between summer and winter homes. In 2008, over 330 events were registered at www.birdday.org. The 2009 theme is ?Celebrating Birds in Culture,? which ties in well with statewide Oregon 150 celebrations. For more information about the festival, visit www.wingsandwinefestival.com or contact Secret House Winery at (541) 935-3774, located at 88324 Vineyard Lane, Veneta, OR 97487. For more information about the region?s abundant birding opportunities, go to www.TravelLaneCounty.org/birding. This should be a great day of birding and other outdoor activities. We even got picked up by the Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124052581253250097.html Hope to see you there. Phil Shepard Elmira, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090503/02df047b/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun May 3 10:47:32 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 10:47:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] "Eastern " Oregon Hermits Message-ID: It depends on how one defines Eastern Oregon. Many think anywhere east of the Cascade Summit is "East". My mother, a native of western Connecticut, always insisted Eastern Oregon started at Burns. When I was working in La Grande and spent social time with the region's natives I was amused to learn that Portland and Tacoma are "on the Coast". Sayre Greenfield, Alan Contreras, and I observed singing Hermit Warblers (that's multiple males) at East Bay Campground on Thompson Reservoir in June of 1976. I believe we also recorded Chestnut-backed Chickadees, and I think these two are to be found in the Warner Mountains. Thompson Reservoir is due south of Silver Lake in Fremont National Forest. This just underscores the incredible avian diversity of the Summer Lake region. Lars Norgren From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Sun May 3 12:07:51 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 12:07:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Joy of Birding birdathon trip Message-ID: <004d01c9cc22$8f321bf0$59db63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: The "Joy of Birding" Birdathon group of the Audubon Society of Portland had 6 participants on Sat. May, 2, 2009. We followed our traditional route: Mt. Tabor in Portland, Wapato Greenway on Sauvie Is., Rogers Pk. in Forest Grove, Fernhill Wetlands, Killin Marsh, and on to Tillamook, Cape Meares, Bayocean Spit, and Goodspeed Road. Best Birds: Mt. Tabor: - warblers, including Nashville, Wilson's, many Townsend's, etc - Cassin's, Warbling, & Huttons Vireos - BROWN CREEPERS BUILDING A NEST in a snag at the bottom of the south hill - P-s. Flycatcher, Chipping Sparrow, B-h Grosbeak - Lesser and Am Goldfinches Sauvie Is. - nesting Purple Martins, Osprey - vocal SORAS at Virginia Lk (aka Wapato Greenway), Wood Duck, C. Teal Kaiser Rd. off Cornelius Pass - 12+ Band Tailed Pigeons near a feeder - Red-breasted Sapsucker Rogers Park, Hillsboro - Acorn Woodpecker - W. W Pewee - E. Grosbeaks (40+ in neighborhood) Fernhill Wetland - 2 adult Bald Eagles - our only Killdeer of the day, Shovelers, D-c cormorant - RED-NECKED PHALAROPE in middle of big lake Killin Wetland - 2 Am. Bittern, Marsh Wren Tillmook State Forest Center, off Hwy 6 (~m.p. 22) - Dipper, G-c & W-c Sparrow Meares Village [a Big, big "Thank You" to Margaret Tweelinckx for hosting this bird!] - breeding plumaged HARRIS' SPARROW!!!!!!!!!! Yipee! - many Purple and Gold Finches, etc Cape Meares - Pacific Loons, BROWN PELICAN - Surf, White-winged, Black Scoters - Rhinoceros Auklet, 7500+ C. murres - B. Oystercatchers Bayocean spit - Brant - Bonaparte's Gull, California Gull - 2 male BLUE-WINGED TEAL, Pintails, Am. Wigeon - Dunlin - N. Harriers courting -> 2 RIVER OTTERS in Meares Lake - Kingfisher (nesting near start of one-way road) Tillamook Bay - 25 Common Loons, 2 more Kingfishers Goodspeed Rd., at bridge - BLACK PHOEBE to end the day Total species for the group: ~114 Good birding, everyone, Paul Sullivan (with Carol Karlen, Jim & Rita Coleman, Peggy Hackenbruck, Jenny Kincaid) From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Sun May 3 13:09:40 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Sun, 03 May 2009 13:09:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ring-necked Doves? Message-ID: <49FDFA04.9040809@gmail.com> In today's Parade Magazine Marilyn vos Savant said that "Ring-necked Doves should not be released at weddings" or other times for various reasons. That only Homing Pigeons should be used because they will go home after the release. I'm curious-what is the REAL story on when, where, and why the Eurasian Collared Doves were released? I've heard Florida in 1978. True? Accidental? At a wedding? With a candle stick in the library by Col. Mustard? What's the REAL scoop? Kevin Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090503/d5134dae/attachment.vcf From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun May 3 13:15:24 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 13:15:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] [COBOL] Ring-necked Doves? In-Reply-To: <49FDFA04.9040809@gmail.com> References: <49FDFA04.9040809@gmail.com> Message-ID: <3DF387565C3D40609899434BCC518C55@cgatesPC> A good article about Eurasian Collared-Doves can be found at http://www.birdsource.org/Features/EUCDOV/ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kevin Smith" To: "COBOL" ; "OBOL" Sent: Sunday, May 03, 2009 1:09 PM Subject: [COBOL] Ring-necked Doves? > In today's Parade Magazine Marilyn vos Savant said that "Ring-necked > Doves should not be released at weddings" or other times for various > reasons. That only Homing Pigeons should be used because they will go > home after the release. I'm curious-what is the REAL story on when, > where, and why the Eurasian Collared Doves were released? I've heard > Florida in 1978. > True? Accidental? At a wedding? With a candle stick in the library by > Col. Mustard? > > What's the REAL scoop? > > Kevin Smith > > -- > Kevin Smith > Crooked River Ranch, Oregon > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > COBOL mailing list > COBOL at lists.oregonstate.edu > http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol > > To unsubscribe, send a message to: > COBOL-request at lists.oregonstate.edu > with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. > From nnielsenpincus at yahoo.com Sun May 3 13:18:03 2009 From: nnielsenpincus at yahoo.com (Nicole Nielsen-Pincus) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 13:18:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Vaux's swifts at Agate Hall (Eugene): 1165-1 Message-ID: <827560.51882.qm@web55306.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Thanks to all that counted swifts across Oregon on Saturday.? The reports are still coming in.? Luckily the weather held enough in Eugene for a good show (1165 birds).? A Cooper's hawk flew in and landed on the chimney for a while.? After many attempts at missing some brave swifts, he finally got?one for?dinner!? ? Nicole Nielsen-Pincus Vaux Happening Oregon Coordinator http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Projects/OregonVauxsSwiftSurvey/tabid/108/Default.aspx http://vauxhappening.org/Vauxs_Happening/Vauxs_Happening_Home.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090503/9558d90b/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun May 3 15:26:13 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 03 May 2009 15:26:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] I feel a quiz photo coming on... Message-ID: <49FE1A05.1000106@pacifier.com> http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10886/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From namitzr at hotmail.com Sun May 3 16:27:45 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 16:27:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] NAMC scouting Message-ID: I went out today seeing what I could find along a portion of my NAMC Big Day route. Nothing special was seen or heard. Coquile Valley Along N. Bank Rd, there was a male CINNAMON TEAL & 2 WILSON'S SNIPE. Along 42S, there was a PEREGRINE FALCON carrying prey, a WHITE-TAILED KITE & a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. Bandon At the south jetty, there was GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, 3 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS and a heard-only BLACK TURNSTONE. There was a TUFTED PUFFIN on Face Rock and at China Flat there were SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, SANDERLINGS & WESTERN SANDPIPERS. Catching Slough There was 1 CACKLING GOOSE in with Canadas and another WHITE-TAILED KITE plus one cryptic WHIMBREL. Good birding, Russ Namitz -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090503/cd52cc62/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Sun May 3 16:45:25 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 23:45:25 +0000 Subject: [obol] Wet Wallowas and unique Union Co (Bird Report) Message-ID: Hi Obolers! This weekend, I combined some birding with abit of business as I spent almost 2 days in Union and Wallowa Counties. Despite intermittently bad weather, the Wallowas never fails to deliver. It is always a TREAT to bird in one of my favorite Oregon birding haunts. Spring is late to arrive here and I didn't see very many passerines. Most trees were still devoid of buds or full foliage. I had to snowshoe about 3/4 of a mile in 4 feet of snow at McCully Creek near Joseph, Oregon. For the most part, birding was somewhat slow and did not produce high diversity of species but the quality was excellent!! Highlights included seeing several GREAT GRAY OWLS in multiple locations, a displaying male SPRUCE GROUSE, and seeing a good variety of woodpeckers and fancy chickens. I got to watch Mr. Bowtie hack a pellet from way up high in a tree. It was quite loud when it hit the ground! I placed a quarter next to the pellets to give you a size ratio in one of my photos. It is amazing how these forest phantoms are so secretive for being such large bags of gray feathers! Also, a quick and productive stop at MP 182 (Stanfield Meadows Rd) along Hwy I-84 resulted with some good waterbirds. See PHOTOS at: http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/recent_photos&page=all Here are the SPECIES of interest and LOCATIONS: ********Spring Creek and Deadman Pass:********* NORTHERN PYGMY OWL (heard only) Long eared owl (heard only) GREAT GRAY OwL(several birds along FR742 and FR2155) Williamson's Sapsucker (several birds) Red Naped Sapsucker Black backed Woodpecker(several birds) Pileated Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker White headed Woodpecker (near Bird Track Springs) Western Wood Pewee (near Bird Track Springs) Cassin's Finches (several birds) Red Crossbills (two dozen or so birds) **********Enterprise/Joseph/Imnaha areas******* NORTHERN GOSHAWK (adult McCully Crk) Swainson's Hawk (A pair School Flat Rd) Golden Eagle (near Imnaha Hwy) Ferruginous Hawk (near Imnaha Hwy) Prairie Falcon (near Imnaha Hwy) Long billed Curlew (Golf Course Rd) GREAT GRAY OWL (Cascade Auto Loop Flora Hwy) Short eared Owl (one hunting bird along Golf Course Rd) Great Horned Owl (Turner Rd) Dusky Grouse (Hurricane Crk Rd) SPRUCE GROUSE (displaying male at McCully Crk) Ruffed Grouse (McCully Crk-red phase bird) MOUNTAIN QUAIL (one pair along Imnaha Hwy) Lewis Woodpecker (Imnaha Hwy) AMERICAN THREE TOE WOODPECKER (McCully Creek) White throated Swifts (Imnaha Hwy) Canyon Wren (Imnaha Hwy) Western Kingbirds Vesper Sparrow Brewer's Sparrow Lark Sparrow GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (along Golf Course Rd-one bird after combing through many Savannah sparrows) Lazuli Buntings (along Imnaha Hwy) PINE GROSBEAK (heard only in McCully Creek) *******Along Hwy 84 and Rieft Rd near Echo, Oregon***** White Pelican (Exit 182) American Advocet (Exit 182) Black necked Stilt (Exit 182) Greater Yellowlegs (Exit 182) Wilson's Pharalope (Exit 182) SOLITARY SANDPIPER (two birds at Exit 182) Dunlin (Exit 182) LONG BILLED CURLEW (MP 145 on Hwy I-84) cHUKAR (Mp 118 on Hwy I-84) GRAY PATRIDGE (one pair around MP 215 before ascending to Deadman's Pass) YELLOW BREASTED CHAT (near Rieft Rd) Bullock's Oriole (near Rieft Rd) Rock Wren (along Rieft Rd) Good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From jplissner at yahoo.com Sun May 3 17:38:49 2009 From: jplissner at yahoo.com (Jonathan Plissner) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 17:38:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Lewis' Woodpecker - Helmick Sate Park, Polk County Message-ID: <563925.254.qm@web45416.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Around noon today (Sunday) a LEWIS' WOODPECKER was perched atop a large Doug-fir in Helmick State Park, off Hwy 99W, south of Monmouth. The bird flew off as I circled around another tree to get another view, and I was unable to re-locate it. Note that the park is closed for construction on weekdays, but many of the larger conifers (including the one on which the bird was seen) are visible from the park entrance. Jon Plissner Cornelius, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090503/16062081/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sun May 3 17:57:01 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 17:57:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Possible Hammond's Flycatcher Message-ID: <231845.96624.qm@web46011.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Michelle and I saw a flycatcher in out pear tree last night but are having a hard time positively identifying it. We believe that it is a Hammond's but if anyone can offer their input, that would be really helpful. A photo of it is here: http://www.portlandbirds.blogspot.com (it's the very top post). Thanks to all! Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM Sun May 3 18:06:11 2009 From: dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM (Cheryl Whelchel) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 18:06:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Corvallis Audobon Ashland trip pictures Message-ID: I have posted a bunch of pictures from the Corvallis Audobon's trip to the Ashland/Medford area at the following link. http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/ Lots of wildflowers were in bloom, so I have pictures of them too. Good birds were Ash-throated Flycatcher Pacific Slope Flycatcher California Towhee Blue Gray Gnatcatcher Cheryl Whelchel Tangent -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090503/32c4a1bd/attachment.html From ErikKnight05 at comcast.net Sun May 3 18:40:35 2009 From: ErikKnight05 at comcast.net (ErikKnight05 at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 04 May 2009 01:40:35 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, Marion County, Oregon on May 03, 2009 Message-ID: <200905040140.n441eZWd032554@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Erik Knight by http://birdnotes.net Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, Marion County, Oregon Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 50% Precipitation: none from 11:49AM to 3:23PM. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 450 Cackling Goose 12 Wood Duck 5 Gadwall 39 American Wigeon 18 Mallard Cinnamon Teal 48 [1] Northern Shoveler 79 Northern Pintail 2 Green-Winged Teal 39 Ring-necked Duck 7 Lesser Scaup 1 Bufflehead 11 Hooded Merganser 2 [2] Ruddy Duck 15 Pied-billed Grebe 12 Great Blue Heron 2 Great Egret 2 Turkey Vulture 14 Osprey 3 Bald Eagle 1 [3] Red-tailed Hawk 3 American Kestrel 1 Virginia Rail 1 Sora 3 American Coot 148 Killdeer 4 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Least Sandpiper 34 Mourning Dove 2 Belted Kingfisher 1 Downy Woodpecker 3 Northern Flicker 3 Western Scrub-Jay 7 American Crow 19 Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit 2 Brown Creeper 1 Bewick's Wren 7 Marsh Wren 3 American Robin European Starling American Pipit 1 Yellow Warbler 8 Yellow-rumped Warbler Common Yellowthroat 7 Spotted Towhee 2 Savannah Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 15 White-crowned Sparrow 1 Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird 3 Brewer's Blackbird American Goldfinch Footnotes: [1] most seen on Pintail Marsh [2] female pair, Frog Pond [3] 2nd-year bird, Pintail Marsh Total number of species seen: 59 From FoxSparrows at aol.com Sun May 3 19:07:35 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 22:07:35 EDT Subject: [obol] Rose-breasted grosbeak reported in Hines, Harney County on April 30 Message-ID: I received a report today from a neighbor and retire coworker who lives a block away from me... on April 30, he saw a male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK in his yard around his feeder. It was a brief sighting (a minute or so), and the bird has not reappeared. Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm_ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) **************Access 350+ FREE radio stations anytime from anywhere on the web. Get the Radio Toolbar! (http://toolbar.aol.com/aolradio/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000003) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090503/3fd8e743/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun May 3 19:26:49 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 19:26:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Attention Wheeler County Birders Message-ID: <72CBA4BF65D94D82BC1AAA295E80AB8D@cgatesPC> I'm interested in finding out if any Wheeler County records exist for the following species: Eurasian Wigeon American Bittern Arctic Tern Snowy Owl Burrowing Owl Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Tennessee Warbler Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090503/64f27b50/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sun May 3 20:30:54 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 23:30:54 -0400 Subject: [obol] Redhead at Jackson Bottom (Washington Co) Message-ID: There was a drake REDHEAD at the big pond at Jackson Bottom in Hillsboro at around noon today. Again seen was a flighty American Bittern. Shorebird numbers were very low today. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090503/3c315c1d/attachment.html From tjanzen at comcast.net Sun May 3 21:05:23 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 21:05:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Multnomah Co. Bullock's Oriole Message-ID: <20090504040520.1EF18A8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear All, My son's Boy Scout troop camped at Rooster Rock State Park in eastern Multnomah Co. over the weekend. Yesterday, May 2, I heard a BULLOCK'S ORIOLE in the Black Cottonwood trees there where we were camping. It was also there this morning. It was the first of the year for this species for me. I also heard a WESTERN TANAGER there this morning, also the first of the year for me. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS have been making a major push through my neighborhood on Mt. Scott in SE Portland the past 5 days. Sincerely, Tim Janzen Portland From jmoodie at cocc.edu Sun May 3 21:44:15 2009 From: jmoodie at cocc.edu (Jim Moodie) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 21:44:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Deschutes County, Deschutes River Woods late Varied Thrush Message-ID: This evening, we had a late VARIED THRUSH in the yard (5 miles SW of Bend). We've never had this species past April until this year. Cheers, Jim Moodie From greenfant at hotmail.com Sun May 3 22:10:55 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 01:10:55 -0400 Subject: [obol] Status of Gray Flycatcher in north central OR Message-ID: During two recent trips this year and one last year to Wasco Co around May 1, I came across several Gray Flycatchers in the area around Wamic. The habitat where I found these birds can be best described as oak/pine savanna (this is Oregon White Oak and Ponderosa Pine). The Ponderosa Pines are smallish, not even close to near the size found upslope. The birds were obviously on territory, singing on top of trees. They were singing "Chlup, chup" with an occasional "Chlup seep". I detected minimal "down-up" movement of their tails while they were singing on top of the trees. When the birds were not singing however, they were actively doing the "down-up" while giving off their soft "whit" calls. These birds were locally abundant or at least common in this habitat at several locations including off Dodson Rd and near the White River WMA sign off Rock Creek Dam Rd. It is well-known that Gray Flycatchers can be found in juniper sagelands from CA to OR. I myself found several birds in this habitat near Maupin and Wapinitia in Wasco Co and have seen many in CA. In WA state, the junipers are fizzling out fast as you go north across the Columbia River and breeding Gray Flycatcher can only be found in open Ponderosa Pine woods with little or no ground cover. I've seen these birds myself near Wenas, WA. Similar habitat can also be found in Wasco Co going up Badger Ck Rd west of Tygh Valley (White River WMA) and Gray Flycatcher can as well be found in there. Looking at BOGR (Birds of Oregon - A General Reference), I see no reference of Gray Flycatcher occuring in the habitat described above. Nor do I see any mention of this in any other literature or field guides like Evanich or Rakestraw. The AOU does mention in a pine-oak association in http://www.aou.org/checklist/pdf/AOUchecklistTrog-Pass.pdf. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090504/546fe581/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Sun May 3 22:33:44 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 05:33:44 +0000 Subject: [obol] Wallowas, Union, and Umatilia Co. (Minor Corrections) Message-ID: Hi Obolers! Just a few minor corrections to my previous post. Reift Rd is NOT the correct spelling or name. It is actually Rieth Rd along the town of Rieth, Oregon. I don't know how I pulled that out of my ass! The pond I was referring to near Exit 182 (along 1-84 on Stanfield Meadows Rd) is known as Mann's Pond. Thanks to Aaron Skirvin for correcting me! Getting lost along with having failing eyesight and memory is a terrible thing:(!! All the BEST, Khanh Tran From nettielh at yahoo.com Sun May 3 23:34:34 2009 From: nettielh at yahoo.com (Annette (Lange) Hildebrand) Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 23:34:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Tundra Swan, Cackler, Pheasant (Beaver) Green Heron at Koll Wetlands - Beaverton Message-ID: <348521.26043.qm@web50206.mail.re2.yahoo.com> For a week now, a single Tundra Swan has been enjoying the wetlands near 217, between Hall and Scholl's Ferry , along Nimbus, in Beaverton. Common Yellow Throats singing away, actually they?must be?lullabies for the new baby geese and ducks close by. Sadly, a Cackling Goose, also alone, seems to have something wrong with his/her wing. .... Lastly ........ love hearing the Pheasants again. Annette Lange Hildebrand?? oops ... I may not have mentioned the beaver at Easter big brown FLAT tail.? Now if the landscapers would quit cutting down all of the protective growth at water's edge.? There a definitely fewer birds this spring.? Sad. ? Happily though, my friend Marlene saw and took wonderful photos of a Green Heron. ###Cliff Swallow Violet Green and Barn Green Heron Great Blue Heron ... some young in nests Am. Wigeons Gadwall Ring-necked Green Wing Teal Mallards Canada Geese and one Cackling Dowitchers Killdeer Yellow-Rumped Warblers Common Yellow Throat Junco, chickadee, Bush Tit Red-Tail and Ring-Necked Pheasant Crow, Scrub, Robin, Starling, Flickers Mourning Doves Red Winged Blackbirds House Finches ? ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090503/73091fab/attachment.html From ronaldgp at onlinemac.com Mon May 4 07:09:04 2009 From: ronaldgp at onlinemac.com (Ronald G. Peterson) Date: Mon, 04 May 2009 07:09:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands 5/3 Message-ID: <49FEF700.20002@onlinemac.com> I spent about 2 hours at Fernhill with a church group on Sunday afternoon, but didn't get very far. We birded along the western dike, then along the dike between the first two ponds before our allotted time ran out. We observed 19 species in total. There were lots of SAVANNAH SPARROWS along the dike. Best for the day include one CANADA GOOSE family with 11 goslings (better them than me!). Also, a single RED-NECKED PHALAROPE in breeding plumage on the eastern end of the southern pond. Ron Peterson McMinnville, Oregon From goosemiller at gmail.com Mon May 4 07:58:22 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 07:58:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: Lake County and Jefferson County Lincoln NAMCs Message-ID: <49ff0288.1420720a.6dc7.fffff9ea@mx.google.com> Craig and I will be leaving Friday afternoon 5-8-09 to camp at Cabin Lake in Lake County. We will start the Lake County NAMC on Saturday May 9th, 2009. We will start with the bird blind at Cabin Lake and then head to Fort Rock and surrounding area while making our way south to Summer Lake. We will be birding Lake County all day and then heading up to Jefferson County around 7:30 p.m. and then camping near Fly Creek (kind of near Lake Billy Chinook but south) Saturday night and then doing the Jefferson County NAMC on Sunday. We would love to either have people join us and camp or do the counts on their own. We can help you set up a route to cover and give suggestions. Lake County includes Summer Lake Wildlife Management Area where there will be lots of fun species diversity. You can either mail us at goosemiller at gmail.com or gismiller at gmail.com or call 541-389-9115 if you would like to participate. Birding in Central Oregon is fun! Hope to hear from you. GET INVOLVED WITH THE NAMC!! It's the most fun you can have with binoculars!! ;-) Craig and Marilyn Miller Lake County NAMC Coordinator And helping with Jefferson County No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.12.4/2080 - Release Date: 04/25/09 08:29:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090504/57ad3939/attachment.html From WeberHome at att.net Mon May 4 08:09:39 2009 From: WeberHome at att.net (Cliff & Joanne Weber) Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 08:09:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Koll Business Park Message-ID: <20090504151054.F344BA8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> OBOL, hello! The Great Blue Heron rookery is located cosa entera in one single tree containing about eight nests. Some already have noisy chicks thriving in them. The tree is a tall conifer beside an office building on SW Nimbus, catty-corner across the street from Noah's Bagels and Starbucks coffee. We encountered some goslings and ducklings along the shore of the lake that apparently have already learned that people are a soft touch for hand-outs. Page 625, square D7 of the Thomas Bros Portland Street guide. Google satellite image: http://tinyurl.com/662zdn Off-Street Parking? . . Yes; abundant, and nicely paved. ADA accessible? . .Yes, and easy-as-pie views of the both the rookery and the lake. Restrooms? . .Starbucks across the street. Cliff & Joanne Weber Beaverton (Bethany area) From bettymkn at netscape.com Mon May 4 10:03:26 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 10:03:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] ID Help Message-ID: <20090504100326.FC602884@resin14.mta.everyone.net> I cannot find these birds in my books (still looking). Would someone help me out to identify them? This is my first try at flickr so if you can't get to the photo e-mail me and I can send it to you direct. These birds showed up for the first time Saturday, back again yesterday. If anyone is mising their Goldfinches I'll try to send a few to you. We must have at least 30-/+ males with their matching girls in the trees, on the feeders and on the ground. Thanks so much. http://www.flickr.com/photos/betamk/3501611734/ Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From bettymkn at netscape.com Mon May 4 10:14:53 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 10:14:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] ID Help-Change Message-ID: <20090504101453.31EDA03@resin11.mta.everyone.net> I think I have it changed to "public". Hope it works. Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From bettymkn at netscape.com Mon May 4 10:21:45 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 10:21:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] ID Help-Correction (I Hope) Message-ID: <20090504102145.31EE43F@resin11.mta.everyone.net> I show now the photo is available to the public. Sorry to get everything screwed up. Thanks to you that are trying to get there. http://www.flickr.com/photos/betamk/3501611734/ Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From dpvroman at budget.net Mon May 4 10:49:01 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 10:49:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] ID Help-Correction (I Hope) References: <20090504102145.31EE43F@resin11.mta.everyone.net> Message-ID: <6378C01E4E6742E9ACBB26E29320227B@Warbler> Hi Betty, The two birds appear to be female Red-winged Blackbirds to me. The bird on the right with the paler face color (not orangish like the other) is likely a younger bird, hatched last year. They look so much different to many people that they don't think of them being Red-winged Blackbirds. >I show now the photo is available to the public. Sorry to get > everything screwed up. Thanks to you that are trying to get there. > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/betamk/3501611734/ > > > Betty Mankin > bettymkn at netscape.com From birdboy at bkpix.com Mon May 4 12:10:57 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 12:10:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge 5/4 Message-ID: Hi birders, Visible this morning from the platform in the south Fisher Unit: 1 - SOLITARY SANDPIPER 6 - BLACK-NECKED STILTS (two sitting on nests) 2 - BLUE-WINGED TEAL 1 - WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 2 - CACKLING GEESE And, from the platform at the end of Royal Avenue: 28 - AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS 15 - REDHEAD 1 - CLARK'S GREBE Good birding, Noah Strycker -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090504/e6ea8c80/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Mon May 4 13:33:40 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Mon, 04 May 2009 16:33:40 -0400 Subject: [obol] Finding Puffins Message-ID: <8CB9B0EBE6E4D24-904-A8D@WEBMAIL-MY02.sysops.aol.com> I'm hoping to get over to the coast this weekend to find and photograph some Puffins. I'd appreciate any advice about where and when I'd have the best chance of seeing them. Thanks. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090504/3d13357b/attachment.html From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Mon May 4 13:36:10 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 13:36:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fields / Migration Merriment Message-ID: <826933.56924.qm@web30408.mail.mud.yahoo.com> FIELDS, May 4, 2009 Highlights: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD WHITE-THROATED SPARROW GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW VESPER SPARROW LARK SPARROW BREWER?S SPARROW LINCOLN?S SPARROW CHIPPING SPARROW GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE SPOTTED TOWHEE ? MACGILLIVRAY?S WARBLER NASHVILLE WARBLER ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER WILSON?S WARBLER YELLOW WARBLER COMMON YELLOWTHROAT TOWNSEND?S WARBLER YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER ? WARBLING VIREO LAZULI BUNTING EVENING GROSBEAK BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK DUSKY FLYCATCHER WESTERN KINGBIRD LEWIS WOODPECKER BULLOCK?S ORIOLE ? Maitreya ? ?Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.? Jonathan Livingston Seagull -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090504/c0d3c45b/attachment.html From kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us Mon May 4 14:03:13 2009 From: kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us (Kyle W Bratcher) Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 14:03:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] NAMC Wallowa County Message-ID: Hi all, I am still looking for volunteers for the Wallowa County NAMC. Even partial day participants would be appreciated. I will be holding the count on Sunday May 10th. I have not scheduled a meeting time because I still don't have enough participants to warrant meeting first. If things change I will send out another e-mail. Thanks Kyle Bratcher Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 65495 Alderslope Road Enterprise, OR 97828 Phone: (541) 426-6057 Fax: (541) 426-3055 E-mail: Kyle.W.Bratcher at state.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090504/abc5817f/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon May 4 15:08:27 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 15:08:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry Birds of Late Message-ID: <702883.57543.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Don Munson's Brooking report: BULLOCK'S ORIOLE on 4/28, and SWAINSON'S THRUSH and YB CHAT on 5/1. Birds I've seen the past few days: N. Spit of Coos Bay, 5/2: 21- RED-NECKED PHALAROPES N. Spit of Coos Bay, 5/3: 1- PALM WARBLER (doesn't want to leave) 1- LAPLAND LONGSPUR (it own't leave either) 1- WARBLING VIREO (singing) 1- BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (singing) loads of OC and WILSON'S WARBLERS plus the usual assortment of ducks- all three teal species, shoveler, gadwall, ring-neck, pintail, wigeon, Greater Scaup+ 6 species of swallow (still looking for a Bank) but only a few shorebirds. Bandon Marsh 5/4, early AM only 30 shorebirds or so- mostly DUNLIN and: 1- RED KNOT 2- SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER 6- WESTERN SANDPIPERS Up the Sixes River in Curry Co., 5/4, early AM (briefly heard in a nearby clearcut while opening up a gate): 1- YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT 1- WESTERN TANAGER 1- MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER 1- WARBLING VIREO Then the rain and the wind began, sounds like we may get a bit of flooding out of this storm- pretty wild out there now- bet a few phalaropes are blowing in as I type. Merry migration! Tim R Coos Bay From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Mon May 4 15:15:42 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 18:15:42 -0400 Subject: [obol] St. Helens/Warren Message-ID: On the St. Helens waterfront this morning, at the end of River Street past the marinas: someone has put up two martin boxes on a couple of pilings in the river. I was surprised to hear the PURPLE MARTINS' loud twanging call when I first arrived. At least three pairs are there. Crowning one of the martin pilings is an active osprey nest. The nests are very close to the cul-de-sac turnaround by the tiny park there. Will count these in the upcoming NAMC. On a kayak trip puttering around Scappoose Bay on Sunday: 31 active CLIFF SWALLOW nests on a small floating building upriver from SB Marina, numerous pairs of TREE SWALLOWS as well as many V-G and a couple of barn. Also: bald eagles, osprey, goldfinches; and yellow rumps all over the Oregon ash trees (easy to spot because this species is slow to leaf out). Family of 3 young bald eagles are hanging out together. Is this a little early? They are on west side of bay, visible from Old Portland Road in Warren. Yard: Wilson's and yellowthroat have arrived, and so far today I haven't seen a single golden-crowned or white-crowned sparrow. It's hard to say if they officially are gone as of now, because tomorrow a few might be scratching around out there. It's easier to report firsts than lasts of the season. Amorous pair of sapsuckers in yard. We lost a tree from the wind on Sunday. It was never right after a severe ice storm several years ago. Lona Pierce Warren, Columbia County _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? goes with you. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Mobile1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090504/07c78d05/attachment.html From diana.byrne at comcast.net Mon May 4 17:28:43 2009 From: diana.byrne at comcast.net (Diana Byrne) Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 17:28:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Finding Puffins Message-ID: Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach is a great place to see Tufted Puffins from early April through July. They like to nest in the grassy area on the upper NW side of the rock, so it's best to stand on the beach to the north of Haystack rock, and look for the rapid wingbeats of the Puffins as they fly out to sea and back. When they land on the rock, they often disappear very quickly into the grass. Lighting can be difficult - mornings or evenings are best, when the sun is lower in the sky. Here's a link to the Haystack Rock Awareness Program: http://friendsofhaystackrock.org/ -Diana ------------ Original Message ----------------------------------------- > Subject: Finding Puffins > From: jonysky101 AT aol.com > Date: Mon, 04 May 2009 16:33:40 -0400 > > I'm hoping to get over to the coast this weekend to find and photograph some > Puffins. I'd appreciate any advice about where and when I'd have the best > chance of seeing them. Thanks. > > Johnny Sasko > Sandy, Oregon_______________________________________________ From celata at pacifier.com Mon May 4 17:55:16 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 04 May 2009 17:55:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Weather and the curlew Message-ID: <49FF8E74.1030807@pacifier.com> It's the first week in May and there's a Pineapple Express sort of system that will be buffeting the Coast. If one were looking for a particular, kind of rare, curlew this would be the time to look for it... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From m_scatt at yahoo.com Mon May 4 18:44:30 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 18:44:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Birdathon Portland to Tillamook May 2-3 Message-ID: <853187.70536.qm@web55704.mail.re3.yahoo.com> On Saturday May 2nd and Sunday May 3rd, our team, the "Surf Scopers", did Birdathon from Portland to Tillamook and back. Here are the highlights: Mt. Tabor: (Friday afternoon, while scouting: Bullock's oriole (good Tabor bird) and Dusky Flycatcher (seen and heard)) Saturday: -Hammond's Flycatcher -Dusky Flycatcher (1 at the Top) -all 3 vireo species -Varied and Hermit Thrush -Townsend's Solitaire -6 warbler species including Nashville -Western Tanager Smith and Bybee Lakes: -Canvasback -Solitary Sandpiper -Pileated Woodpecker (heard) -House Wren (heard) -Cassin's Vireo -Varied Thrush -Yellow Warbler Force Lake: -Canvasback -Yellow Warbler -Black-headed Grosbeak -Bullock's Oriole Vanport Wetlands: -Yellow-headed Blackbird Fernhill Wetlands: -nothing unusual Roger's Park: -Sharp-shinned Hawk -Acorn Woodpecker -Western Wood-Pewee (heard) -Evening Grosbeak (50+) Killin Wetlands: -American Bittern Bay City (very windy): -Purple Martin Bayocean Spit: -Brant -Blue-winged Teal (2 males) -Black-bellied Plover -Red Knot (2) -Short-billed Dowitcher Cape Meares Village: -Harris's Sparrow (great views; thanks a lot to Margaret for letting us and other teams look for the bird!) Cape Meares State Park (still windy): -Red-necked Grebe -Peregrine Falcon The next day we had: Oceanside: -Clark's Grebe -Black Oystercatcher Cape Meares: -all 3 loon species -Wrentit (heard) Bayocean Spit: -Greater White-fronted Goose -Cooper's Hawk -Sanderling Killin Wetlands: -Hooded Merganser -Sora (heard at last minute) Forest Grove: -Green Heron (flew over) Mt. Tabor: -MacGillivray's Warbler -Olive sided Flycatcher We ended our 48-hour count with 156. The wind and rain on the first day was a bit of a hassle, but fortunately we missed the big storm in Portland Saturday afternoon. Happy birdathon! Adrian, Christopher and Steve Hinkle Em Scattaregia (Will Clemons and two non-subscribers joined us until Killin on the first day) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090504/62488416/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Mon May 4 18:52:20 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 18:52:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Phalaropes Message-ID: <6F696167B10F48A8B165A1CAD34D6D25@D48XBZ51> This afternoon, with heavy rain and wind from the southwest, at least 100 phalaropes were flying around lower Yaquina Bay. The ones I got looks at were Red-necked, in breeding plumage, and predominantly female. Several perched briefly on the road, but were disturbed by a passing car. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090504/7ebcae7f/attachment.html From louisfredd at msn.com Mon May 4 22:26:24 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 22:26:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Broad-winged Hawk, Oregon City, 04/29 Message-ID: I was working outside just before noon last Wed, noticed commotion a few hundred yards away. Swifts and swallows aloft, neighbor's domestic pigeons fleeing, and crows harassing a hawk, more on the way to help. I went for binoculars! On return, hawk free of tormentors, ascending rapidly, circling upward in tight spiral without much effort. The following indicated to me it was an immature Broad-winged Hawk. At distance w/o binoculars, apparent size of Cooper's Hawk, accipiter-like (1). It came my way, almost overhead. Occasional active flight in series of short glides separated by a few rapid wingbeats (2). Backlighting obscured body and wings underneath, but I could see tail banding typical for immature Broad-winged Hawk per Sibley's illustration, an obvious but narrow dark subterminal band, some lesser dark bands near body (3). (I saw top of tail on one of its turns around. Top of tail tan, banding not apparent in brief view I had). I lost it at great height, but it soon re-appeared from behind me, gliding, much lower, perhaps 250 feet, maintained undeviating glide north for half mile or more until lost from sight. On glide wings held very flat (4). End of tail very straight edged (5). Liguouri ("Hawks from Every Angle") advises latter trait good for distinguishing Broad-winged from other buteos overrhead. I observed another immature Broad-winged (but with adult tail banding) at this location in October 2007, reported to OBOL. _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has a new way to see what's up with your friends. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/WhatsNew?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_WhatsNew1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090504/3b475c8a/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Tue May 5 01:47:52 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 08:47:52 +0000 Subject: [obol] Possible hybrid Northern Cardinal discussed on BirdFellow.com Message-ID: Greetings All, The latest post to the BirdFellow.com journal is a photo essay/discussion that examines photos of a possible hybrid Northern Cardinal X Pyrrhuloxia that Steve Mlodinow found in Baja California Sur in March 2009. We're inviting folks to check out these images (at www.BirdFellow.com) and offer your opinions about this bird. Dave Irons Content Editor www.BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_BR_life_in_synch_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090505/4fe4c7c2/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue May 5 07:22:20 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 07:22:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Status of Gray Flycatcher.... Message-ID: <0cda83f31ea8d392148d09d42fed6b4e@earthlink.net> Stefan Schlick comments on the occurrence of Gray Flycatchers on territory and out of junipers. I was very preoccupied with tree species in my younger days as a foundation for habitat description. I'm coming around to the conclusion that structure of the plant community is often the most important factor. The pine-oak scrub community described by Stefan seems to be a lot like other communities of stunted trees in the arid west. In June of 1984 I observed a Gray Flycatcher on the edge of aspens near Whitney (townsite west of Sumpter, Baker? County). I was surprised given the moist enviroment, but the structure of the plant community in the landscape was quite similar to the area around Wamic described by Stefan. THe primary difference is the Whitney site is an island of meadow, albeit many square km, surrounded by league upon league of forest. The area around Wamic is unbroken scrub forest remarkable for its extensiveness. I highly recommend this charming landscape, which probably has no equivalent elsewhere in Oregon. Right now morel season is beginning in the area. Lars Norgren From lamberson.janet at epa.gov Tue May 5 08:55:10 2009 From: lamberson.janet at epa.gov (lamberson.janet at epa.gov) Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 08:55:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Possible hybrid Robin X Varied Thrush in Alsea In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: A few weeks ago, someone posted a photo of an apparent hybrid Robin X Varied Thrush. My daughter Karin mentioned a similar bird that she spotted recently near her home in Alsea,, Oregon and described it to me. I'd like to show her the photo, but didn't save it - could someone point me to it if it is still available? Janet Lamberson Newport, OR From jonysky101 at aol.com Tue May 5 10:54:58 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Tue, 05 May 2009 13:54:58 -0400 Subject: [obol] Flock of Wet Rumped Magpies at Mt Tabor Message-ID: <8CB9BC1BD986875-15D8-23F@WEBMAIL-MY02.sysops.aol.com> A bakers dozen to be precise. It was great to meet all of you even if the weather wasn't very kind to us.??????????????Happy Birding. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090505/d3978b33/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Tue May 5 11:40:31 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 11:40:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Possible hybrid Northern Cardinal discussed on BirdFellow.com In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: This is an adult bird. It appears to have the plumage coloration of a female Pyr. The black "mask" is not as dark as that of most fem Cardinals. Bill appears intermediate, but more like Card. Steve presents good arguments for the case, and my opinion (for what it's worth) is that this is a hybrid. I'm not familiar with limits of variation in the female of the Southwest race, but I'm reasonably certain that this bird exceeds those limits. Larry _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of David Irons Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 1:48 AM To: post OBOL Subject: [obol] Possible hybrid Northern Cardinal discussed on BirdFellow.com Greetings All, The latest post to the BirdFellow.com journal is a photo essay/discussion that examines photos of a possible hybrid Northern Cardinal X Pyrrhuloxia that Steve Mlodinow found in Baja California Sur in March 2009. We're inviting folks to check out these images (at www.BirdFellow.com) and offer your opinions about this bird. Dave Irons Content Editor www.BirdFellow.com _____ Windows LiveT: Keep your life in sync. Check it out. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090505/c34df2e8/attachment.html From jplissner at yahoo.com Tue May 5 11:59:42 2009 From: jplissner at yahoo.com (Jonathan Plissner) Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 11:59:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] NAMC Morrow County - Sunday, May 10 Message-ID: <23575.21071.qm@web45414.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> If anyone is interested in spending some or all of this coming Sunday birding in Morrow County, please let me know.? There are only 3-4 observers planning on covering the county, so any additional help will be most welcome.? Treat Mom to a morning counting birds at Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge! Good birding, Jon Plissner Cornelius, OR jplissner at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090505/c963cba6/attachment.html From marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Tue May 5 12:00:38 2009 From: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com (marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com) Date: 5 May 2009 12:00:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 14, Issue 5 Out of Office Message-ID: <20090505190038.18174.qmail@mail01.lax1.becotech.net> Thank you for contacting XP Software! I will be out of the office Tuesday, May 5th and returning Friday, May 8th. If you require immediate assistance, please call 1-888-554-5022 and ask for anyone in the sales department. Our account managers will be happy to assist you with anything you require. Alternatively, you may forward your email inquiry to nicole.highhouse at xpsoftware.com for assistance by email. Thank you! Respectfully, Marina Bouchot Senior Account Executive Phone: 888-554-5022 x8973 Fax: 888-554-5122 Email: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Web: http://www.xpsoftware.com MODEL WITH CONFIDENCE From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Tue May 5 17:10:16 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Tue, 05 May 2009 17:10:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fundraising for OBOL Message-ID: <20090505171016.1x0obey6ecow4w08@webmail2.jimnorton.org> Hello everybody, I hope the birding is going well for you all. As you may or may not know, I am hosting this list serve as a free service to the Oregon birding community, and I plan to continue this free service. However, I've recently been laid off from work and money is becoming tight while I conduct a job search. For this reason I would like to ask those of you who benefit from this service to donate money, if possible, to help offset the costs of running this service. Donations of any amount would be greatly appreciated. I don't want anybody to feel obligated to make a donation. I *will* continue to host OBOL even if no donations are made. If you wish to donate, you may do so by browsing to: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Then click on the orange "Donate" button on the top-left of the page. If you wish to donate but don't wish to use PayPal please send me a private email to make arrangements. Thank you, ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue May 5 17:22:27 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 05 May 2009 17:22:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] OBOL funding Message-ID: I'm definitely up for sending Jim support money for OBOL, but I wonder if the better mechanism (in terms of generating more swag) would be for donations to flow through OFO, thereby becoming tax-deductible. I'm not sure; I'd like to encourage discussion of the best method. It is really not normal for something like OBOL to be free (that is, uncomplicated without annoying ads, junk mail etc.) while offering a variety of services including the kind of sanitation that occasionally proves necessary. We are very lucky to have what we have. After all, Jim puts up with US, and we have a pretty good understanding of what that means. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From dead-fishs at hotmail.com Tue May 5 17:24:50 2009 From: dead-fishs at hotmail.com (dead-fishs at hotmail.com) Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 17:24:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] sora,virginia rail,snipe, rentenaar sauvies last weekend Message-ID: 2 sora seen,got pics heard virginia rail several snipes seen several least sandpiper got pics 2 yellow legs 2 long billed dowitcher 1 perigrin falcon lots of song birds -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090505/62f7016f/attachment.html From puma at smt-net.com Tue May 5 17:49:21 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 17:49:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ring-necked Doves? In-Reply-To: <49FDFA04.9040809@gmail.com> References: <49FDFA04.9040809@gmail.com> Message-ID: <4F58FC60-1095-4A92-AAD2-51683C8A4AC6@smt-net.com> Hi Kevin, and OBOL, I first discovered Eurasian Collared Doves at a pet store in Corvallis, in an outdoor cage about 16 years ago. They were for sale. My husband and I had spent time in Africa, west, south, and east parts for 9 months. There was an "African Dove" that had the most beautiful, haunting call, heard more than seen. When I inquired about the Eurasians, the store owner didn't know much about them. Later in an aerobic class in Salem, a lady offered me all the Eurasian Doves I wanted as they were breeding in her now (open) barn... because they "out-grew/out-bred" their cages. I declined. Oregon T.V. has done stories on Mexicans that are successful here in this state, and in scanning their digs, I could see "dove" cages, along with other large walk-in cages in the background. Some of the first sightings of Eurasian doves were in Eastern Oregon, the Mexican dove cages were in Nyssa if I remember. The point I am trying to make is that there have been Eurasians in Oregon ever since pet shops have been selling them. Enough open cages through the years, and enough escapees make for a wild breeding group. I bought a nice homemade dovecote in the 90's as the owners lost their doves when the folks taking care of them left the door open when they were on vacation. It happens, even Homing Pigeons get lost, as one showed up here, exhausted, and by the time the owner got here, from 90 miles away, we could not catch the bird. Other neighbors disposed of the Homing Pigeons because they did not want them on their property. Pat Waldron East of Scio On May 3, 2009, at 1:09 PM, Kevin Smith wrote: > In today's Parade Magazine Marilyn vos Savant said that "Ring- > necked Doves should not be released at weddings" or other times for > various reasons. That only Homing Pigeons should be used because > they will go home after the release. I'm curious-what is the REAL > story on when, where, and why the Eurasian Collared Doves were > released? I've heard Florida in 1978. > True? Accidental? At a wedding? With a candle stick in the > library by Col. Mustard? > > What's the REAL scoop? > > Kevin Smith > > -- > Kevin Smith > Crooked River Ranch, Oregon > > __________________________________________ > _____ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From philliplc at charter.net Tue May 5 17:54:49 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 17:54:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: 6:15-7:15 AM (5/5): showers, wind S 20-30, swells 10+ 50+ Red-throated Loon 2000+ Pacific Loon (N most 50-200 feet off the water) 15 Common Loon 2 Red-necked Grebe 2 Western Grebe 4 Sooty Shearwater 350 Brown Pelican (N) 900+ Brandt's Cormorant (most N) 40 Pelagic Cormorant 20 small goose sp. 8 White-winged Scoter 150 Surf Scoter 2 California Gull 200 Western Gull (most S) 3 Glaucous-winged Gull 1 Caspian Tern 12000+ Common Murre (S, most during first 1/2 hour) 250 Pigeon Guillemot (steady S, some groups to 8) 2 Marbled Murrelet 8 Rhinoceros Auklet (S) Phil philliplc at charter.net From whoffman at peak.org Tue May 5 19:35:01 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 19:35:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-necked Phalaropes Message-ID: <9B174B390C9049C79A0683980FEEA288@D48XBZ51> This afternoon about 5 PM three RED-NECKED PHALAROPES remained at the Yaquina Bay South Jetty, feeding in small rainwater pools south of the road. All three females, one in very good plumage; the other two a bit scruffy, and both with tar stains on their undersides. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090505/b079a602/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Tue May 5 19:40:02 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 19:40:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fundraising for OBOL References: <20090505171016.1x0obey6ecow4w08@webmail2.jimnorton.org> Message-ID: <6C8D8CB18A3141C68EEF0F476A3A64BD@1120639> Jim -- Thanks for all you do. Here's $12, a dollar a month. OBOL is worth a lot more than that, I realize. I will donate more in July if your situation does not improve. Tom Crabtree, Bend ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Norton" To: Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 5:10 PM Subject: [obol] Fundraising for OBOL > Hello everybody, > > I hope the birding is going well for you all. > > As you may or may not know, I am hosting this list serve as a free > service to the Oregon birding community, and I plan to continue this > free service. > > However, I've recently been laid off from work and money is becoming > tight while I conduct a job search. For this reason I would like to > ask those of you who benefit from this service to donate money, if > possible, to help offset the costs of running this service. Donations > of any amount would be greatly appreciated. > > I don't want anybody to feel obligated to make a donation. I *will* > continue to host OBOL even if no donations are made. > > If you wish to donate, you may do so by browsing to: > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > Then click on the orange "Donate" button on the top-left of the page. > If you wish to donate but don't wish to use PayPal please send me a > private email to make arrangements. > > > Thank you, > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Jim Norton > > "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no > one is doing it." -St. Augustine. > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From ggrier at efn.org Tue May 5 20:37:40 2009 From: ggrier at efn.org (George Grier) Date: Tue, 05 May 2009 20:37:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Kingbird Message-ID: <5.0.0.25.2.20090505203336.00b73540@pop.efn.org> We had our first WESTERN KINGBIRD of the year this evening. FOY Bullock's Oriole yesterday. EVENING GROSBEAKS still abound (down to about 30/day) and it is great to see them mixed in with BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS at the feeders. George Grier and Cynthia Pappas Springfield, OR From range.bayer at gmail.com Tue May 5 21:30:31 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 21:30:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Online: Gabrielson and Jewett's 1940 "Birds of Oregon" & Lord's 1902 "A first book upon the birds of Oregon and Washington" Message-ID: Hi, Maura Naughton of the USFWS forwarded this May 1 message from Susan M Haig , USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331: Full texts of Gabrielson and Jewett's 1940 "Birds of Oregon" and the 1902 writing of Lord "A first book upon the birds of Oregon and Washington" can now be found online in several formats. http://www.archive.org/details/birdsoforegon00gabrrich http://www.archive.org/details/firstbookuponbir00lord ------------------------ As Maura commented, these are great online resources to have. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: pic03035.gif Type: image/gif Size: 1255 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090505/b9efebb0/attachment.gif From vernd at oregonfast.net Tue May 5 21:32:31 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 21:32:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Florence Whimbrel Message-ID: <9C05C13C-7337-4F2F-9FC8-AC7EA8222C53@oregonfast.net> Hello OBOL, This afternoon there was a single WHIMBREL at the mud flat North Jetty, Siuslaw River Florence . Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090505/387325a0/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Tue May 5 22:39:29 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 22:39:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] There's something in the air!!! Message-ID: <07BD7B367E1041A9BA2AEF5BD3ED9311@cgatesPC> Can you feel it? There's a sense of excitement in the air. Is the economic downturn about to become an upturn? ........no, that's not it. Is the weather about to turn spring-like.........yes, but that's not what I'm feeling. Is Paul Sullivan gearing up to travel to some far off corner of Oregon to find amazing and hard to find birds? ........ well, yes but he does that every weekend. No. Something is different. I know. The sense of excitement is because this weekend, dozens of people will be spreading out across the state to count migrating birds in the annual NAMC. You don't want to be left out of this excitement. There is still time to contact a county leader and get involved. Already, more people are scheduled to be involved and more counties are being covered than in any time in the last several years. With a little help in Jackson and Washington counties, we can have someone counting birds in every county. You know you're going to be out there anyway. The weather will be great and you'll be birding. Why not take part in the NAMC and share your findings with your county coordinator. It's great fun and you will be adding to our knowledge of migrating birds in the state. I'll include a copy of all the county coordinators below. Contact one and help us make this the best spring NAMC ever. I'll be doing Crook County on Saturday and Harney County on Sunday. If anyone plans on birding either one of those counties this weekend, I invite you to coordinate with me and help cover those counties. Chuck Gates State NAMC Coordinator Date COUNTY FIRST NAME LAST NAME ADDRESS PHONE E-MAIL Saturday, May 9 Baker Joanne Britton P.O. Box 801, Baker City, OR 97814 (541) 523-5666 jobr at oregontrail.net Saturday, May 9 Benton Marcia Cutler 835 NW Merrie Drive, Corvallis, OR 97330 (541) 752-4313 marciafcutler at comcast.net Saturday, May 9 Clackamas Tim Janzen 12367 Ridgecrest Road, Portland, OR 97236 (503) 761-8781 tjanzen at comcast.net Saturday, May 9 Clatsop Mike Patterson 1338 Kensington Avenue, Astoria, OR 97103 (503) 325-1365 celata at pacifier.com Saturday, May 9 Columbia Henry Horvat P.O. Box 506, Scappoose, OR 97056 (503) 543-3690 henry at formandstructure.net Saturday, May 9 Coos Russ Namitz 97248 Anderson Ln., Coos Bay, OR 97420 (541) 266-8714 namitzr at hotmail.com Saturday, May 9 Crook Chuck Gates 14265 S. Antelope Drive, Powell Butte, OR 97753 (541) 923-1320 cgates at webformixair.com Saturday, May 9 Curry Diane Cavaness 865 Crestwood Place, Brookings, OR 97415 541-469-1809 scrapbird at charter.net Saturday, May 9 Deschutes Jim Moodie 60250 Tumalo Circle, Bend, OR 97702 (541) 550-8487 jmoodie at cocc.edu Saturday, May 9 Douglas Ron Maertz 467 Gudrun Drive, Glide, OR 97443-9748 (541) 496-3847 pukeko at mcsi.net Saturday, May 9 Gilliam Chuck Gates 14265 S. Antelope Drive, Powell Butte, OR 97753 (541) 923-1320 cgates at webformixair.com Saturday, May 9 Grant Chuck Gates 14265 S. Antelope Drive, Powell Butte, OR 97753 (541) 923-1320 cgates at webformixair.com Sunday, May 10 Harney Chuck Gates 14265 S. Antelope Drive, Powell Butte, OR 97753 (541) 923-1320 cgates at webformixair.com Sunday, May 10 Hood River Stuart Johnston (509)493-3363 johnstonstuartf at hotmail.com Saturday, May 9 Jackson Tonya King 20 Brophy Way #10, Shady Cove, OR, 97539 (541)-821-2648 Tonkng at aol.com Sunday, May 10 Jefferson Susan Tank P.O. Box 2005, Sisters, OR 97759 (541) 549-4315 wolfies.hound at gmail.com Saturday, May 9 Josephine Dennis Vroman 269 Shetland Drive, Grants Pass, OR 97526 (541) 479-4619 dpvroman at budget.net Saturday, May 9 Klamath Kevin Spencer 858 Rosemont Court, Klamath Falls, OR 97603 (541) 884-5739 rriparia at charter.net Saturday, May 9 Lake Craig Miller P.O. Box 6376, Bend, OR 97708 (541) 389-9115 gismiller at gmail.com Saturday, May 9 Lane Barbara Combs 1466 Elkay Drive, Eugene, OR 97404 (541) 689-6660 bcombs232 at gmail.com Sunday, May 10 Lincoln Chuck Gates 14265 S. Antelope Drive, Powell Butte, OR 97753 (541) 923-1320 cgates at webformixair.com Saturday, May 9 Linn Jeff Fleischer 523 Calapooia Street SW, Albany, OR 97321 (541) 928-7288 raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Saturday, May 9 Malheur Denise Hughes 1802 E Maple Street, Caldwell, ID 83605 (208)-850-5885 dhughes55 at clearwire.net Saturday, May 9 Marion Glen Lindeman 6420 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem 97317 (503) 364-6968 gdalindy at msn.com Sunday, May 10 Morrow Chuck Gates 14265 S. Antelope Drive, Powell Butte, OR 97753 (541) 923-1320 cgates at webformixair.com Saturday, May 9 Multnomah Ariana Longanecker 5330 NE 25th St, Portland, OR 97210 (503)-484-5119 apteryx1 at gmail.com Sunday, May 10 Polk Joel Geier 38566 Hwy 99N, Corvallis, OR 97730 (541) 745-5821 joel.geier at peak.org Saturday, May 9 Sherman David Bailey 448 Ridge Dr., Gearhart, OR 97138 (503)-738-5447 baileydc at pdx.edu Saturday, May 9 Tillamook Barbara & John Woodhouse 8770 Mill Creek Rd, Tillamook OR 97141 (503) 842-9958 jbw at oregoncoast.com Saturday, May 9 Umatilla Chuck Gates 14265 S. Antelope Drive, Powell Butte, OR 97753 (541) 923-1320 cgates at webformixair.com Saturday, May 9 Union Cathy Nowak 59116 Pierce Road, LaGrande, OR 97850 (541)-963-4954 Cathy.Nowak at state.or.us Sunday, May 10 Wallowa Kyle Bratcher P.O. Box 795 Joseph, OR 97846 (541) 740-1093 Kyle.W.Bratcher at state.or.us Sunday, May 10 Wasco Donna Lusthoff 13720 SW Harness Lane, Beaverton, OR 97008 (503) 524-9652 dlbird at earthlink.net Saturday, May 9 Washington Lars Norgren PO Box 100, Banks, OR 97106 gnorgren at earthlink.net Sunday, May 10 Wheeler Paul Sullivan 4470 SW Murray Blvd #26, Beaverton OR 97005 (503) 646-7889 ptsulliv at spiritone.com Saturday, May 9 Yamhill Quinton Nice 414 NW 5th St, Willamina, OR 97396 (971)-241-2233 qtnice at juno.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090505/9534367d/attachment.html From cathy.nowak at state.or.us Wed May 6 07:14:56 2009 From: cathy.nowak at state.or.us (Cathy Nowak) Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 07:14:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Funding for OBOL Message-ID: I think Alan is on to something...Funding for the service should be made available by those who use it and not just during difficult economic times for the person who keeps it going. It might be worth exploring a mechanism for funding it through OFO with a "surcharge" on OFO dues or a donation card in Oregon Birds or some other, more creative option. Maybe we can help Jim cover the cost in the short-term with donations through OFO and ask the leadership to explore ways to fund it for the long-term. Just a few thoughts... Cathy Nowak Union, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090506/d41db88a/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Wed May 6 08:55:26 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Wed, 06 May 2009 08:55:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Cty Snow Goose..... Message-ID: <4A01B2EE.4090004@verizon.net> .......was still present at Coos Bay North Spit on Sunday 5/3. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From watice at msn.com Wed May 6 10:49:35 2009 From: watice at msn.com (BILL ROSIE TICE) Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 17:49:35 +0000 Subject: [obol] Feeder Bird Message-ID: Hi Folks, Probably not important info to most of us, but since I just had a BAND-TAILED PIGEON at my feeder, I though I'd make a list of the birds that have come to my feeding station since moving back to Falls City. I think we put up the feeders last October, and since then these birds have shown up: 1) JUNCO (includes Slate-colored Junco) 2) SONG SPARROW 3) SPOTTED TOWHEE 4) MOURNING DOVE 5) BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE 6) RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH 7) SCRUB JAY 8) STELLAR?S JAY 9) STARLING 10) PINE SISKIN 11) HOUSE FINCH 12) PURPLE FINCH 13) FOX SPARROW 14) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW 15) AMERICAN CROW 16) RING-NECKED PHEASANT 17) WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH 18) WHITE-THROATED SPARROW 19) RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD 20) EVENING GROSBEAK 21) BLACK-HEADED GRSOBEAK 22) AMERICAN GOLDFINCH 23) WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW 24) CHESTNUT-SIDED CHICKADEE 25) BROWN HEADED COWBIRD 26) CALIFORNIA QUAIL 27) BAND-TAILED PIGEON (5/6/09) William Tice Dallas, Or _ ( ')> /) ) // " " -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090506/e7bdcb09/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Wed May 6 11:39:24 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 18:39:24 +0000 Subject: [obol] A TRUE County lister at his best. Message-ID: Hi Obolers! Check this out!!!! A few new species found in LA county. http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0505092birds1.html?link=eaf Good county listing, Khanh Tran From marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Wed May 6 12:00:36 2009 From: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com (marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com) Date: 6 May 2009 12:00:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 14, Issue 6 Out of Office Message-ID: <20090506190036.27389.qmail@mail01.lax1.becotech.net> Thank you for contacting XP Software! I will be out of the office Tuesday, May 5th and returning Friday, May 8th. If you require immediate assistance, please call 1-888-554-5022 and ask for anyone in the sales department. Our account managers will be happy to assist you with anything you require. Alternatively, you may forward your email inquiry to nicole.highhouse at xpsoftware.com for assistance by email. Thank you! Respectfully, Marina Bouchot Senior Account Executive Phone: 888-554-5022 x8973 Fax: 888-554-5122 Email: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Web: http://www.xpsoftware.com MODEL WITH CONFIDENCE From kirkpat at charter.net Wed May 6 12:23:55 2009 From: kirkpat at charter.net (Douglas Kirkpatrick) Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 12:23:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] A TRUE County lister at his best. In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Now, if he'd tried to smuggle in a flamingo, I'd be impressed.... Doug K --------------------- -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of khanh tran Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 11:39 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] A TRUE County lister at his best. Hi Obolers! Check this out!!!! A few new species found in LA county. http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0505092birds1.html?link=eaf Good county listing, Khanh Tran _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed May 6 12:54:55 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 12:54:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wed morning, Veneta Message-ID: The Eugene group birded at Secret House Winery, which is about a mile just west of Veneta, next to the Country Fair Grounds. We did not see some species we saw a year ago in the same area, but our visit was a week later in the season last year, picking up more breeding species, and the weather was better then. Great Blue Heron - 1 Canada Goose - 2 Mallard - 2 Wood Duck - 2 Ring-necked Duck - 1 Turkey Vulture - 6 White-tailed Kite - 1 repeatedly swooping at a perched Raven. We believe kites are breeding here. Wild Turkey - 5 Band-tailed Pigeon - 40 Mourning Dove - 1 Rufous Hummingbird - 12+ N. Flicker - 3 Western Kingbird - 1 on Willow Creek Road Violet-gr. Swallow - 20 Tree Swallow - 30 Barn Swallow - 1 Steller's Jay - 3 Scrub Jay - 3 N. Raven - 2 Com. Crow - 4 Black-capped Chickadee - 8 White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 Red-br. Nuthatch - 4 House Wren - 2 Bewick-s Wren - 1 Am. Robin - 3 Western Bluebird - 4 Starling - 1 Hutton's Vireo - 1 Cassin's Vireo - 1 Warbling Vireo - 1 Orange-crowned Warbler - 12+ Yellow-rumped Warbler - 35+ Yellow Warbler - 1 Wilson's Warbler - 3 Black-throated Gray Warbler - 1 Townsend's Warbler - 1 House Sparrow - 4 Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 Western Tanager - 1 Black-headed Grosbeak - 10 Evening Grosbeak - 15 Purple Finch - 40 House Finch - 4 Pine Siskin - 8+ Am. Goldfinch - 45 Lesser Goldfinch - 2 Spotted Towhee - 6 D-e Junco - 4 White-cr. Sparrow - 6 Golden-cr. Sparrow - 1 Fox Sparrow - 1 Song Sparrow - 1 Ellen Cantor, Fred Chancey, Craig Merkel, Dan Gusset, Dennis Arendt, Kit Larsen, George Grier, Paul Sherrell, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090506/ca14bd80/attachment.html From davect at bendnet.com Wed May 6 14:09:46 2009 From: davect at bendnet.com (david tracy) Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 14:09:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Birding By Ear at Sawyer Park, Wednesday 6 May in Bend References: <200905062046.n46KkwjU017027@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> Message-ID: <417DAAFC-5ABF-4AAE-A042-DC7BB6C0252D@bendnet.com> The birding was good this morning in Bend, here's our list for the ECBC birding by ear Wed. morning walk. Begin forwarded message: > From: davect at bendnet.com > Date: May 6, 2009 8:46:58 PM PDT > To: davect at bendnet.com > Subject: Birding By Ear at Sawyer Park, Wednesday 6 May > > This report was mailed for David Tracy by http://birdnotes.net > Date: May 6, 2009 > Location: Robert W. Sawyer State Park, Deschutes County, Oregon > > The birding was excellent again for the ECBC Wednesday morning > birdwalk at Sawyer Park in Bend today. All the inclement weather > has helped make > this one of the best springs in recent memory for observing > neotropical migrants in the park. Plus the foliage is yet to leaf > out, so the birds are easy to spot. > > For more info: > http://ecbcbirds.org/FieldTrips/Birdingbyear/tabid/104/Default.aspx > > Please note, we've moved our start time up to 7:30 > > Empidonax Flycatchers were again in abundance, we saw 30+ during > our 2+ hour walk. I'm not going to attempt to break down the > ratio, but we saw > several "good" of each species, including call notes from all 3 > types. The Gray Flycatchers are probably the most common, then > Hammond's and Dusky in > descending order. > > Birds seen (in taxonomic order): > > > > Canada Goose > Trumpeter Swan [1] > Mallard > Common Merganser [2] > California Quail > Turkey Vulture > Osprey > Red-tailed Hawk > Spotted Sandpiper [3] > Mourning Dove > Vaux's Swift [4] > Anna's Hummingbird > Belted Kingfisher > Northern Flicker > Western Wood-Pewee [5] > Hammond's Flycatcher > Gray Flycatcher > Dusky Flycatcher > Warbling Vireo [6] > Western Scrub-Jay > American Crow > Common Raven > Tree Swallow > Violet-green Swallow > Northern Rough-winged Swallow > Barn Swallow > Mountain Chickadee > Bushtit > Pygmy Nuthatch > Canyon Wren [7] > House Wren > American Dipper > Ruby-crowned Kinglet > American Robin > European Starling > Orange-crowned Warbler > Nashville Warbler > Yellow-rumped Warbler > MacGillivray's Warbler [8] > Wilson's Warbler > Western Tanager [9] > Song Sparrow > Lincoln's Sparrow > White-crowned Sparrow > Golden-crowned Sparrow > Black-headed Grosbeak [10] > Red-winged Blackbird > Brown-headed Cowbird > Bullock's Oriole [11] > House Finch > Pine Siskin [12] > Lesser Goldfinch [13] > American Goldfinch > Evening Grosbeak > House Sparrow > > Footnotes: > > > > [1] TRUS: Flightless resident > > [2] COME: First spotted by Steen Braun, several females and one > > male > > [3] SPSA: First of season for BBE > > [4] VASW: First of season for BBE > > [5] WWPE: First of season for BBE, well seen and heard "greep" > > note > > [6] WAVI: First of season for BBE > > [7] CAWR: Singing for several minutes during our visit > > [8] MACW: First of season for BBE, seen & heard singing > > [9] WETA: First of season for BBE, seen & heard singing > > [10] BHGR: First of season for BBE, not seen, but heard well, > > singing persistently > > [11] BUOR: First of season for BBE, not seen, but heard well, > > giving repeated churr call with intermittent singing notes > > [12] PISI: I found a small flock in the parking area as the > > everyone was leaving > > [13] LEGO: Female sitting on nest, calling with very soft, rapid > > vocalizations to nearby male who was apparently helping > > tend the female and/or nest. > > > > Total number of species seen: 55 > From kiss at cot.net Wed May 6 16:52:32 2009 From: kiss at cot.net (Charlotte Ann Kisling) Date: Wed, 06 May 2009 16:52:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lower Klamath today Message-ID: <4A0222C0.1070009@cot.net> Two days ago, I visited the quarry on Lower Klamath and checked for Bank Swallow holes at the new excavation near the older holes alongside the road. Today, there were at least 50 holes in that area where only 9 were two days ago. The road between Intersections A and F had Least and Western Sandpipers, Dunlin, Willet, Long-billed Dowitchers, 2 Ruddy Turnstones and 5 Red Knots, one of which had a yellow band on its left leg above the tibia. If anyone has any information as to who may be flagging Red Knots, please share that information. Across State Line Road from the main refuge, the fields were filled with White-faced Ibis. I figured maybe a couple thousand. There were far fewer when I revisited the area later this afternoon. Some very good birders reported seeing a lingering Rough-legged Hawk along Township Road today. When I went there to check, the weather would not cooperate enough to let me scope the area. Charlotte Ann From vernd at oregonfast.net Wed May 6 17:11:17 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 17:11:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Florence Highlights Message-ID: Hello OBOL, This afternoon there were 109 BROWN PELICAN hunkered down on the Jetty at the mud flat, Siuslaw river North Jetty. On the way home, out Canary road just past South Slough road by 1/3 miles or so were 18 GREATER YELLOWLEGS. Also a single SPOTTED SANDPIPER on Fiddle creek arm of Siltcoos lake. Lot's of new Canada babies around. Also, on a mammal note. I've been seeing more Coyotes out here this year. Today one in the same field as the Yellowlegs. The Elk were present up Fiddle Creek today, but up in the reprod not in the fields with the cattle. Vern Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090506/ec36fd5f/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Wed May 6 17:15:28 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 17:15:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] correction Message-ID: 1/3 MILE.... I have well grammar. Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090506/a9b190c2/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed May 6 16:20:03 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 16:20:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] [COBOL] Wednesday ECBC birders Central Oregon - Sisters area Message-ID: <97D6E7435EFB4DC9B9B2EB65158396B0@MOM> Birders Nothing rare. It is still winter in the Trout Creek area and spring is starting at Calliope, list shows the difference! > Five of us went to Trout Creek Swamp area, Black Crater Burn, > GW Burn, Calliope Crossing, and returned via Forest Service office > in Sisters - Thanks to Sandy for stocking those feeders. > > Possible Northern Goshawk is not on the list but we had a very quick > glimpse of bird leaving a tree and flying into forest that was likely one. > Steady rain made it difficult to hear tapping sounds so we didn't find as > many woodpeckers as we had anticipated. > > Calliope was very nice with spring migrants, see notes on list. > > Canada Goose > Tundra Swan - 2 - flying over Trout Creek. > Mallard > Bufflehead > California Quail > Turkey Vulture > Red-tailed Hawk > American Kestrel > Belted Kingfisher > Red-naped Sapsucker - 1 - Calliope > Red-breasted Sapsucker - 1 - GW Burn > Hairy Woodpecker > Northern Flicker > Hammond's Flycatcher - Calliope > Dusky Flycatcher - Calliope > Unidentified Empidonax - Versions of empids, not identified. > Cassin's Vireo - 2 or 3 - Singing birds at Calliope > Steller's Jay > Western Scrub-Jay > Clark's Nutcracker > Black-billed Magpie > Common Raven > Tree Swallow > Violet-green Swallow > Northern Rough-winged Swallow > Barn Swallow - Tumalo Res, quick stop on way home to Bend > Mountain Chickadee > Red-breasted Nuthatch > White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 - Black Crater burn > Pygmy Nuthatch > Ruby-crowned Kinglet > Western Bluebird > Mountain Bluebird > Hermit Thrush - 2 - Calliope > American Robin > Varied Thrush - 3 - GW Burn > European Starling > Orange-crowned Warbler - Calliope > Yellow Warbler - Calliope > Yellow-rumped Warbler - mult locations > Townsend's Warbler - Calliope > Chipping Sparrow - Mult locations > Fox Sparrow - Mult locations > Song Sparrow - Calliope > Dark-eyed Junco > Red-winged Blackbird - Calliope > Brewer's Blackbird > Brown-headed Cowbird - Trout Creek > Purple Finch - 2 or more - singing birds at Calliope > House Finch - Sisters Forest Service office > Red Crossbill - Sisters Forest Service office > Pine Siskin - ditto, feeders > Evening Grosbeak - about a block away from Forest Service office. > House Sparrow > Total number of species seen: 54 > Fun today with Liz O'Connell, Howard Horvath, Mary Oppenheimer, > Mike Golden and self. > Good birding, and get out there and do a NAMC in your neighborhood or > explore a new county. Contact Chuck Gates about participating if you don't > have a plan yet cgates at webformixair.com as he knows which counties need > more help. > > Judy Meredith > jmeredit at bendnet.com From birdboy at bkpix.com Wed May 6 17:55:21 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 17:55:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yard Peregrine Attacks Message-ID: Hi birders, Funny thing. I ran into Karl Fairchild this afternoon as we were studying the RED KNOT and WHIMBRELS at Finley NWR, and, between scope views, he mentioned that a Peregrine Falcon had recently hit a Steller's Jay in his backyard (see his original note below). Kinda weird, since Karl's yard is up off the valley floor in the coniferous woods of the Coast Range toward Mary's Peak. Not where you'd expect a Peregrine. An hour later, this afternoon, I arrived back at my house outside Creswell, and, between getting out of my car and reaching the front door, I heard a WHOOSH! WHACK! Up in the sky - it's a bird, it's a falcon, it's, yes, a PEREGRINE FALCON decimating a hapless Mourning Dove, right over my roof. First one I've ever seen here. The falcon continued on its way northward rather quickly. I live at about 1200' elevation among dense woods and clearcuts in the foothills east of Creswell. Again, not where you'd expect a Peregrine. I suppose they follow mountainous routes on their northward migration. Watch out, feeder birds. Move over, accipiters. The Peregrines are comin' through. Good birding, Noah Strycker --------------- Hi OBOLers, While my folks and I were counting the myriad swallows in the yard this morning, I suddenly spotted a raptor cruising fast into the yard. Before I could get my binoculars on it, I heard a big "whoosh" and the next thing I saw, a PEREGRINE FALCON was flaring out and slamming into an unfortunate STELLER'S JAY, 25 ft. below the height I initially saw the falcon. Feathers flew and we all heard the "thud" of impact, before the falcon quickly flew of across the meadow and disappeared into the woods with its prize. A first-ever yard bird for us, and we were able to confirm the black mask, eliminating the possibility of Goshawk. A very interesting start to our morning walk! We followed the trail of blue feathers across the meadow for a bit, but were unable to locate the falcon again. Other interesting goodies from our extended hike around the property included: Pileated Woodpecker a notably large flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers Wild Turkey (gobbling) Mountain Quail (crowing) Good Birding! Karl Fairchild (and Karan and Jim too) 6 mi SW of Philomath -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090506/954f7092/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed May 6 18:10:06 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 06 May 2009 18:10:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Peregrines Message-ID: Hearing Karl and Noah talk about off-brand Peregrines reminds me of the time that I was standing in the parking area at the creek outfall at the southernmost Bandon State park access. I was perhaps five feet from a van. Suddenly there was an incredible whooshing sound, a blast of air and a Peregrine with wings half folded went between my left shoulder and the van, a straight line over the bluff and smack into a flock of Sanderlings who could not see it coming. Normal habitat, to be sure, but it was a bit sobering to have been declared Dive Cover, Use Once by such a wondrous creature. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Wed May 6 18:31:55 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (tmacport99 at hotmail.com) Date: Thu, 07 May 2009 01:31:55 GMT Subject: [obol] Wed. Birdsong walk on Tabor (Mult) Message-ID: <200905070131.n471Vt12020898@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Tom McNamara by http://birdnotes.net Date: May 6, 2009 Location: Mt. Tabor Park, Multnomah County, Oregon Temperature: 50 degrees fahrenheit Prevailing wind speed: 1-5 km/h gusting to: 1-5 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 100% Precipitation: drizzle It was quite quiet on Tabor this morning. Regardless, a number of stalwarts turned out and we went to see what we could see and hear what we could hear......like I say, not too much as it happens. Even discounting today, my subjective impression is, in the micro habitat of Tabor, migration is a bit late this year. There was the oft-commented dilatory Orange-crowns but they have had a lot of company: my FOY Black-throated Gray was 4/20; but even when species showed up "on time" or even "early" they have tended to be scouts (you need more than one to call it a vanguard). So, I had a Warbling Vireo on 4/21 ....and have seen or heard 3 since; Olive-sided flycatcher --1,...eight days ago;none since. Empids? Few! Black-headed Grosbeak=1 so far Etcetera. I hold Mt.Tabor has a special place, but I can't believe we bird in that much of a bubble. But,of course, the consolations: the Calliope posing as if for sculpture, the short-eared owl....getting out nearly every morning and grokking the house finches!!! Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Mallard Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Band-tailed Pigeon Anna's Hummingbird Northern Flicker Hammond's Flycatcher [1] Steller's Jay American Crow Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Swainson's Thrush [2] Hermit Thrush Varied Thrush Orange-crowned Warbler Townsend's Warbler [3] Wilson's Warbler [4] Spotted Towhee Chipping Sparrow [5] Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow [6] Dark-eyed Junco House Finch Pine Siskin Lesser Goldfinch Footnotes: [1] calling nicely for the group [2] FOY [3] 10-15 [4] 10-15 [5] personal FOY in Tabor [6] movement---20+ Total number of species seen: 30 From drheath82 at verizon.net Wed May 6 18:49:47 2009 From: drheath82 at verizon.net (Mr David Heath) Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 18:49:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Funding for OBOL In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <002201c9ceb6$1bf6f930$53e4eb90$@net> I would certainly be willing to chip in, as I at least glance at most postings pretty much every day. But I have (1) no idea what the expense budget is for maintaining this service, (2) only a vague idea how many people might be up for participating, and thus (3) no idea what my "share" might be. Also, I have no idea of joining OFO, since I am in no way an ornithologist, field or otherwise - just a rank amateur who's made birding a basis for a bunch of really interesting vacations. That said, I would think OFO, as an organization with statewide reach, would be a logical host for an OBOL fund. I realize it would mean a fair amount of organizational work for someone who probably doesn't have the time, but I don't see how the one-man operation is really viable in the long run. Or the short run either if our current owner ends up having to drop out for employment reasons. Whether a surcharge on OFO dues would be appropriate is not for me to say, but perhaps a sort of junior membership or suggested contribution level for a dedicated fund would be something that non-OFO-member users of OBOL could get behind. David From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Cathy Nowak Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 7:15 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Funding for OBOL I think Alan is on to something.Funding for the service should be made available by those who use it and not just during difficult economic times for the person who keeps it going. It might be worth exploring a mechanism for funding it through OFO with a "surcharge" on OFO dues or a donation card in Oregon Birds or some other, more creative option. Maybe we can help Jim cover the cost in the short-term with donations through OFO and ask the leadership to explore ways to fund it for the long-term. Just a few thoughts. Cathy Nowak Union, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090506/8fc7d18b/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Wed May 6 18:59:12 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 18:59:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lazuli Bunting Message-ID: We spotted a male Lazuli Bunting in our backyard (5 miles N of Silverton) at about 6:45 today. The last time we've seen one here was in 1997 (weirdly enough, on the 7th of May, which is tomorrow). Anna Thomas From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed May 6 19:14:36 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 06 May 2009 19:14:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Local talent Message-ID: I heard an odd sound this evening and looked out my window in urban south Eugene. Two pairs of California Quail were standing on my sidewalk. This is a bird that I have not seen in the eight years I have lived in this house; indeed, I can't recall EVER seeing them in the flatlands of central south Eugene. They were certainly not on my list of most-likelys. As they wandered down the street, the local Wicked Catte stood straight up, ran partway toward them and then stopped, not quite sure what was supposed to happen next. A bicycle flushed them into the alley at that point. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From dkmunson at wildblue.net Wed May 6 20:57:50 2009 From: dkmunson at wildblue.net (Don & Karen Munson) Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 20:57:50 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time) Subject: [obol] Brookings area bird watching Message-ID: <4A025C3E.000007.01608@OFFICE> Locally it was a dreary day weather wise but not bird wise. Around my habitat the most noticeable birds were at least 30 BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, some WESTERN TANAGERS (20 were reported from one residence in town) and a few LAZULI BUNTING. For a change VAUX'S SWIFT outnumbered the combined swallow flocks. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER and WESTERN WOOD PEWEE were busy chasing each other around the yard between bugs. Warblers included ORANGE-CROWNED, WILSON, BLACK-THROATED GRAY, TOWNSENDS and NASHVILLE. This evening there were many SWAINSON'S THRUSHES calling. Don Munson 4 miles east of Brookings, Curry County -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090506/16b1799b/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Wed May 6 21:14:46 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 21:14:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] on being a "field ornithologist" [from: Funding for OBOL] In-Reply-To: <002201c9ceb6$1bf6f930$53e4eb90$@net> References: <002201c9ceb6$1bf6f930$53e4eb90$@net> Message-ID: >Also, I have no idea of joining OFO, since I am >in no way an ornithologist, field or otherwise - >just a rank amateur who's made birding a basis >for a bunch of really interesting vacations. David and OBOL -- ... Then you are the perfect person to join Oregon Field Ornithologists! ... Seriously, I want to take a moment to disabuse folks of the notion that a "field ornithologist" is necessarily someone who does hardcore science that can't be appreciated by nonscientists. This is a misconception that unfortunately has been depriving many birders of the opportunity to join organizations that they would love to participate in and that are well-suited to them. In fact, the term "field ornithologist" is used very loosely and very INCLUSIVELY, by OFO, by similar organizations in other states, and by Western Field Ornithologists. These organizations are chock FULL of birders who are modest enough to call themselves "rank amateurs". Yes, these groups have plenty of scientists, too, and the scientific sessions at WFO's annual meetings are superb. But these organizations all welcome and embrace any birder who loves birds. Often members of these groups may participate in "citizen science" projects such as the BBS, the NAMC, and the CBCs. Sometimes they commit themselves to banding programs such as MAPS. Occasionally they conduct publishable scientific research. But for lots of members, being in OFO or any other "field ornithology" organization can simply reflect their love of getting to know and understand birds and their habits through birding, in the company of other people who share this passion. Bottom line: Don't be put off by the terminology. If you love birding, you will love Oregon Field Ornithologists. Come to this year's annual meeting, soak up all the great field trips and the social interaction, and see for yourself! Jay Withgott, OFO member since the moment I moved here At 6:49 PM -0700 5/6/09, Mr David Heath wrote: >Content-Type: multipart/alternative; > boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0023_01C9CE7B.6F982130" >Content-Language: en-us > >I would certainly be willing to chip in, as I at >least glance at most postings pretty much every >day. But I have (1) no idea what the expense >budget is for maintaining this service, (2) only >a vague idea how many people might be up for >participating, and thus (3) no idea what my >"share" might be. > >Also, I have no idea of joining OFO, since I am >in no way an ornithologist, field or otherwise - >just a rank amateur who's made birding a basis >for a bunch of really interesting vacations. > >That said, I would think OFO, as an organization >with statewide reach, would be a logical host >for an OBOL fund. I realize it would mean a fair >amount of organizational work for someone who >probably doesn't have the time, but I don't see >how the one-man operation is really viable in >the long run. Or the short run either if our >current owner ends up having to drop out for >employment reasons. Whether a surcharge on OFO >dues would be appropriate is not for me to say, >but perhaps a sort of junior membership or >suggested contribution level for a dedicated >fund would be something that non-OFO-member >users of OBOL could get behind. > >David > >From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org >[mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On >Behalf Of Cathy Nowak >Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 7:15 AM >To: OBOL >Subject: [obol] Funding for OBOL > >I think Alan is on to something?Funding for the >service should be made available by those who >use it and not just during difficult economic >times for the person who keeps it going. It >might be worth exploring a mechanism for funding >it through OFO with a "surcharge" on OFO dues or >a donation card in Oregon Birds or some other, >more creative option. Maybe we can help Jim >cover the cost in the short-term with donations >through OFO and ask the leadership to explore >ways to fund it for the long-term. Just a few >thoughts? > > >Cathy Nowak >Union, OR > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090506/d8500244/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Wed May 6 21:23:20 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 21:23:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] new dragonfly field guide Message-ID: Hi OBOL -- For those of you interested in creatures that are not birds but are every bit as fascinating and attractive, here's notice of the publication of Dennis Paulson's new field guide, "Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West" (Princeton Univ. Press). This is the long-awaited first comprehensive field guide to all odonate species in western N. America. I've just received my copy, and I love it and highly recommend it. The text, drawings, and maps are clear and informative, the hundreds of photos are excellent, and the whole package is very appealing and very functional. This book will be followed by a matching eastern N. Am. volume in a few years, but don't wait for that. BTW, if you are looking at odonates in w. Oregon, you should also have the excellent locally produced book by Steve Gordon & Cary Ernst, "Dragonflies and Damselflies of the Willamette Valley, Oregon: A Beginner's Guide". But be sure to get the new Paulson guide as well! Jay Withgott, Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090506/dfd3acb0/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Wed May 6 21:10:18 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 21:10:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Funding for communication among Oregon birders Message-ID: <003c01c9cecd$27dd6c90$0100007f@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: Getting birders to pay for communication among themselves seems to be a challenge. Birders want their info on the cheap. Getting the word around always seems to fall to dedicated volunteers. A number of years ago we had a couple mechanisms in Oregon: a) We had a phone tree, where folks would agree to call 3 other people on a list. Someone had to put together the list and had to ask people to pony up a few bucks for postage. Folks had to be "dinged" to keep up their dues. b) We had a magazine which was well run by a dedicated volunteer for many years. Some folks balked at the cost of that and wanted to do it cheaper. In the meantime, the internet has come upon us. We've had OBOL for over a decade, with a succession of dedicated volunteers running it. It has its advantages and disadvantages. Again, there have been critics who pick at the volunteer. Through all this, there has been a statewide organization which claims the mission of helping birders enjoy their avocation, promoting science, and educating a wider public. Back when I was more involved in Oregon Field Ornithologists we had a bank account of $13,000 that never got spent. According to the latest report, that account is now $25,000. Since it is the mission of OFO to promote birding, conservation, science, and education, I suggest that OFO should simply take on the mantle of funding OBOL. There should be no need for any separate fund, separate account parameters, separate volunteer coordinator, long discussion of what individual dues should be, etc, etc, etc. My suggestion to the OFO board is: "Just do it!" Respectfully submitted, Paul T. Sullivan From vernd at oregonfast.net Wed May 6 21:43:00 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 21:43:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Funding for communication among Oregon birders In-Reply-To: <003c01c9cecd$27dd6c90$0100007f@dell307ac3e2b6> References: <003c01c9cecd$27dd6c90$0100007f@dell307ac3e2b6> Message-ID: Wouldn't that be "on the CHEEP"? On May 6, 2009, at 9:10 PM, Paul T. Sullivan wrote: > OBOL: > > Getting birders to pay for communication among themselves seems to > be a > challenge. Birders want their info on the cheap. Getting the word > around > always seems to fall to dedicated volunteers. > > A number of years ago we had a couple mechanisms in Oregon: > a) We had a phone tree, where folks would agree to call 3 other > people on a > list. Someone had to put together the list and had to ask people > to pony up > a few bucks for postage. Folks had to be "dinged" to keep up their > dues. > b) We had a magazine which was well run by a dedicated volunteer > for many > years. Some folks balked at the cost of that and wanted to do it > cheaper. > > In the meantime, the internet has come upon us. We've had OBOL for > over a > decade, with a succession of dedicated volunteers running it. It > has its > advantages and disadvantages. Again, there have been critics who > pick at > the volunteer. > > Through all this, there has been a statewide organization which > claims the > mission of helping birders enjoy their avocation, promoting > science, and > educating a wider public. Back when I was more involved in Oregon > Field > Ornithologists we had a bank account of $13,000 that never got spent. > According to the latest report, that account is now $25,000. > > Since it is the mission of OFO to promote birding, conservation, > science, > and education, I suggest that OFO should simply take on the mantle of > funding OBOL. There should be no need for any separate fund, separate > account parameters, separate volunteer coordinator, long discussion > of what > individual dues should be, etc, etc, etc. > > My suggestion to the OFO board is: "Just do it!" > > Respectfully submitted, > > Paul T. Sullivan > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090506/f4ed3502/attachment.html From louisfredd at msn.com Wed May 6 21:44:44 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 21:44:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainson's Hawk, Oregon City, 05/02 Message-ID: Saturday afternoon after the big squall, I took the dog on a walk. On return, virtue rewarded, some crows were herding a hawk my way from across the field. Wings outstretched against sky unusually long, held up at one point in harrier-like dihedral, wing beats deep and limber. Tall shrubs intervened to block much view of chase but through some gaps could see wings flash white (sunlight at last!) contrasting with brownish body. Ran (after a fashion) to backyard to catch departing view, instead met hawk coming head-on! Caught some details as it and crows maneuvered by. Underside of wing full view, pale buff, plain except black "comma" at base of primaries, wing tips prominently black. Tail spread, tan, ordinary length, no obvious barring. Body from low frontal oblique, tan, slender, open streaking across breast. I identified this as a "light juvenile" Swainson's per Siblley illustrations and excellent photos in Wheeler's "Raptors of Western North America". The squall was severest in the metro area to north. I think the hawk may have dropped down on this edge of the bad weather to forage before nightfall in some large agricultural grasslands just east of here. I saw a southbound Swainson's fly over this location in October 2007, reported to OBOL. Lou _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090506/c232cf00/attachment.html From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Wed May 6 22:28:55 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com) Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 22:28:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Red knot, whimbrel (2) at Finley, May 6 Message-ID: <947284.5263.qm@web39506.mail.mud.yahoo.com> One RED KNOT and 2 WHIMBREL were still hanging out south of Bruce Rd., across from the wet scrape that is just west of the overlook mound, all of which are west of Muddy Creek. Mary Garrard, Pam Otley, Mark Nikas, and myself were there (between us) from about 6:30 until 7:45 p.m.--with nary a drop of rain and some pleasant evening sun. ? Also noted in the area (as reported previously) were: -Black-bellied Plover - 2 -Dunlin in breeding plumage - 20+ -Black-necked Stilt - 2 -Yellow-head Blackbird - at least one singing -Greater Yellowlegs & Least Sandpiper Thanks to Doug Robinson?and Rich Armstrong for finding & getting the word out on these birds! ? Jamie Simmons Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090506/06abfaa9/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed May 6 22:34:03 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 06 May 2009 22:34:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 05/06/09 Message-ID: <20090507053413.0D6C2A8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 04/30 to 05/06/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 4 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) GREAT BLUE HERON 1 (2, 5/5) Turkey Vulture 1 (1, 5/1) Band-tailed Pigeon 4 (8, 4/30) Mourning Dove 4 (3) VAUX'S SWIFT 2 (1, 5/1 & 4) Anna's Hummingbird 3 (2) Rufous Hummingbird 1 (3, 5/4) Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 (2, 4/30) Northern Flicker 2 (2, 4/30 & 5/4) Pileated Woodpecker 1 (1, 4/30) Hammond's Flycatcher 1 (1, 4/30) Pacific-slope Flycatcher 4 (2, 5/4) CASSIN'S VIREO 1 (1, 4/30) Hutton's Vireo 1 (1, 4/30) WARBLING VIREO 1 (2, 5/5) Steller's Jay 4 (5) Western Scrub-Jay 4 (2) American Crow 3 (6) Violet-green Swallow 3 (5, 5/4) Black-capped Chickadee 4 (11) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4 (4) Bushtit 1 (1, 5/1) Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 (7) Brown Creeper 2 (3, 4/30) Bewick's Wren 3 (1) Winter Wren 4 (4) GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET 1 (1, 5/1) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 (5, 4/30) TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE 1 (1, 4/4) Hermit Thrush 4 (2) American Robin 4 (12) European Starling 4 (2) Orange-crowned Warbler 4 (10, 4/30) Nashville Warbler 1 (2, 5/4) Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 (5) Black-throated Gray Warbler 4 (3, 4/30) Townsend's Warbler 4 (14, 5/5) Hermit Warbler 2 (1, 5/1 & 4) MacGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER 1 (1, 4/30) Wilson's Warbler 3 (5, 5/4 & 5) Spotted Towhee 4 (8) Song Sparrow 4 (12) Lincoln's Sparrow 1 (1, 4/30) WHITE-THROATED SPARROW 1 (1, 4/30) Golden-crowned Sparrow 3 (4, 4/30) Dark-eyed Junco 4 (13, 5/5) BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK 1 (1, 5/5) Brown-headed Cowbird 3 (3) Purple Finch 4 (5, 4/30) House Finch 4 (10, 4/30) Pine Siskin 4 (20, 4/30) American Goldfinch 1 (2, 4/30) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: Red-tailed Hawk, Varied Thrush Wink Gross Portland From joel.geier at peak.org Wed May 6 23:27:27 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (joel) Date: Wed, 06 May 2009 23:27:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] OFO support for OBOL? Message-ID: <1241677647.4010.21.camel@joel-laptop> Hello folks, Conversations on OBOL (Oregon Birders OnLine) about what OFO (Oregon Field Ornithologists) should or shouldn't do seem to come up every so often. It seems a bit like a bunch of agnostics discussing what Lutherans should serve at the Sunday after-church potluck. Or in this case, it's sort of like someone who lives in Eugene but uses the Corvallis public library, writing a letter to the Eugene Register-Guard to recommend books that Corvallis should have on the shelves. Sure, a few people in Corvallis read the Eugene paper, but it's not the best way to get your point across. There's an easier way. Go to www.oregonbirds.org and look for the link that lists the OFO Board members. Talk to one of them -- chances are you know one or two of them already. Ask when their next Board meeting is, if you have an idea that you'd like to present. If you're not a member, you can find out how to join on the same website. I expect that the Board will be glad to listen to you even if you aren't an OFO member, but hopefully once you learn more about OFO you'll want to join. Personally, if OFO is going to take on responsibility for hosting on-line discussions about Oregon birds, I'd like to see movement toward something a little more modern that offers better ways for organizing the information than a list-serv. And no, I'm not just talking about databases, but something that directly answers questions that come up on an annual basis, and helps move the general understanding farther along. I've already communicated my views on this to the OFO board, and have been helping to work toward that end. I'd encourage the rest of you who have opinions to do the same. If you have something to say about the Corvallis library, at least send your letter to the Corvallis paper. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis, where the Register-Guard unfortunately doesn't deliver From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed May 6 23:44:26 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 06 May 2009 23:44:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 5-7-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * May 7, 2009 * ORPO0905.07 - birds mentioned Blue-winged Teal Long-tailed Duck Great Egret Red Knot Semipalmated Sandpiper Baird?s Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Red-necked Phalarope Ancient Murrelet Lewis?s Woodpecker Olive-sided Flycatcher Western Wood-Pewee Western Kingbird Purple Martin TENNESSEE WARBLER Yellow Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat Harris?s Sparrow ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK Tricolored Blackbird Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday May 7. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On April 26 a male TENNESSEE WARBLER was seen among a warbler swarm at Mt. Tabor Park in southeast Portland. A male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was seen April 30 at a feeder in Hines. Heavy migrations were reported early in the week but the recent stormy period may have stalled the movement. New species included RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, WESTERN WOOD-PEEWEE, YELLOW WARBLER, and BLUE-WINGED TEAL. On May 6 a RED KNOT was at Finley NWR and five were at Lower Klamath NWR. On May 2 a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was seen at Bay City on Tillamook Bay. The Cape Meares Village HARRIS?S SPARROW continues to be seen. On May 1 a LONG-TAILED DUCK and two ANCIENT MURRELETS were at the mouth of the Necanicum river in Seaside. On May 2 three CHATS were at the Steigerwald NWR near Washougal Washington. A GREAT EGRET, WESTERN KINGBIRD, and some PURPLE MARTINS were also on the refuge. On April 29 a BAIRD?S SANDPIPER was on Sauvie Island. Two PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were on the island May 2. On May 3 a LEWIS?S WOODPECKER was at helmick State Park south of Monmouth. Three nesting colonies of TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS were located during the week north of Prineville. On May 4 a lone GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH was on Pilot Butte in Bend. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090506/bb14ae28/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Thu May 7 05:00:57 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 05:00:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] county big day reports wanted! Message-ID: Hi OBOL -- As part of Oregon Field Ornithologists' soon-to-be-updated webpage, we will be adding a compilation of big day records -- both statewide Oregon big days and big days for individual counties. I will be compiling this information and putting the page together. I am starting from data that Russ Namitz has provided me, but Russ and I both know that there is much more information out there that we do not have. Thus, I am asking for your help in compiling big day information for this page. If you have run any big days (for most birds seen in 24 hours) in any individual county or for Oregon as a whole, please send me the date, location, number of species, party members' names, and any other information you would like to provide. If full trip accounts or lists or photos are provided, we will try to include these as links. Also please indicate whether ABA rules were followed for your day(s). These can be found at: http://www.aba.org/bigday/2008bigdayform.pdf (and general ABA rules for listing are at: http://www.aba.org/bigday/rules.pdf). If your day(s) deviated from ABA rules, please indicate to me in what way(s) they did. We plan to include records that did not follow ABA rules, but want to do our best to assure that figures are comparable Once I have a respectable number of reports in, I will create a draft page and will post again on OBOL, asking you to take a look and provide any records that are not there. Eventually we would like to have data for the top 5 big days for each county, or top 10, or as many as our birding community would like to see. And ... with the NAMC coming up this weekend, this is a perfect time to think about adding a few brand new records from 2009! Thanks very much, good birding, and I look forward to hearing from you! Jay Withgott, Portland OFO From philliplc at charter.net Thu May 7 08:37:40 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 08:37:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: 6:15-7:45 AM (5/7): partly clear, wind W 10-20, swells 6-8 200+ Red-throated Loon 1500+ Pacific Loon 30 Common Loon 4 Western Grebe 1 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS (S ~1.5 mile out) 4 Pink-footed Shearwater 2000+ Sooty Shearwater (S) 1 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel (S) 40 Brown Pelican 80 Pelagic Cormorant 120 Brandt's Cormorant (most S) 1 White-winged Scoter 60 Surf Scoter 1 Peregrine (S) 16+ Semipalmated Plover 1 Whimbrel 10+ Sanderling 4+ Dunlin 500+ Western Sandpiper 500+ Red-necked Phalarope 1 California Gull 200 Western Gull (most S) 4000+ Common Murre (S) 60 Pigeon Guillemot (most S) 1 Cassin's Auklet 60 Rhinoceros Auklet 1 Tufted Puffin Phil philliplc at charter.net From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu May 7 10:37:56 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 10:37:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 5/7/2009 Message-ID: <155429.27024.qm@web45316.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Down at New River early AM there were quite a few SWAINSON'S THRUSHES calling plus several WESTERN TANAGERS, new birds since my last visit on 4/25. Bandon Marsh was shorebirdless when I stopped for a quick look. Back at the BLM office in North Bend, Jim Heaney showed me a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD when I got in.? I last saw it in the top of a shore pine in front of the office, it had been feeding in the grassy lot just south of the office. Sunny weather for a few days- yeah! Tim R Coos Bay From marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Thu May 7 12:00:27 2009 From: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com (marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com) Date: 7 May 2009 12:00:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 14, Issue 7 Out of Office Message-ID: <20090507190027.27198.qmail@mail01.lax1.becotech.net> Thank you for contacting XP Software! I will be out of the office Tuesday, May 5th and returning Friday, May 8th. If you require immediate assistance, please call 1-888-554-5022 and ask for anyone in the sales department. Our account managers will be happy to assist you with anything you require. Alternatively, you may forward your email inquiry to nicole.highhouse at xpsoftware.com for assistance by email. Thank you! Respectfully, Marina Bouchot Senior Account Executive Phone: 888-554-5022 x8973 Fax: 888-554-5122 Email: marina.bouchot at xpsoftware.com Web: http://www.xpsoftware.com MODEL WITH CONFIDENCE From bettyehunt at aol.com Thu May 7 15:16:05 2009 From: bettyehunt at aol.com (bettyehunt at aol.com) Date: Thu, 07 May 2009 18:16:05 -0400 Subject: [obol] Funding for OBOL In-Reply-To: <002201c9ceb6$1bf6f930$53e4eb90$@net> References: <002201c9ceb6$1bf6f930$53e4eb90$@net> Message-ID: <8CB9D788CACD9DB-BAC-1BA@FWM-M16.sysops.aol.com> Is there anyone on the list who can respond to David's questions? "I would certainly be willing to chip in, as I at least glance at most postings pretty much every day. But I have (1) no idea what the expense budget is for maintaining this service, (2) only a vague idea how many people might be up for participating, and thus (3) no idea what my ?share? might be." ? I am in the same position as he and really expected someone would have addressed this by now. Bettye -----Original Message----- From: Mr David Heath To: 'OBOL' Sent: Wed, 6 May 2009 6:49 pm Subject: Re: [obol] Funding for OBOL I would certainly be willing to chip in, as I at least glance at most postings pretty much every day. But I have (1) no idea what the expense budget is for maintaining this service, (2) only a vague idea how many people might be up for participating, and thus (3) no idea what my ?share? might be. ? Also, I have no idea of joining OFO, since I am in no way an ornithologist, field or otherwise ? just a rank amateur who?s made birding a basis for a bunch of really interesting vacations. ? That said, I would think OFO, as an organization with statewide reach, would be a logical host for an OBOL fund. I realize it would mean a fair amount of organizational work for someone who probably doesn?t have the time, but I don?t see how the one-man operation is rea lly viable in the long run. Or the short run either if our current owner ends up having to drop out for employment reasons. Whether a surcharge on OFO dues would be appropriate is not for me to say, but perhaps a sort of junior membership or suggested contribution level for a dedicated fund would be something that non-OFO-member users of OBOL could get behind. ? David ? From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Cathy Nowak Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 7:15 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Funding for OBOL ? I think Alan is on to something?Funding for the service should be made available by those who use it and not just during difficult economic times for the person who keeps it going.? It might be worth exploring a mechanism for funding it through OFO with a ?surcharge? on OFO dues or a donation card in Oregon Birds or some other, more creative option.? Maybe we can help Jim cover the cost in the short-term with donations through OFO and ask the leadership to explore ways to fund it for the long-term.? Just a few thoughts? ? ? Cathy Nowak Union, OR ? _______________________________________________ bol mailing list bol at oregonbirdwatch.org ttp://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090507/721b16e4/attachment.html From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Thu May 7 16:11:11 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Thu, 07 May 2009 16:11:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Funding for OBOL ( what does it cost to host OBOL? ) In-Reply-To: <002201c9ceb6$1bf6f930$53e4eb90$@net> References: <002201c9ceb6$1bf6f930$53e4eb90$@net> Message-ID: <20090507161111.r73db9q2gws8ww4o@webmail2.jimnorton.org> Quoting Mr David Heath : > I would certainly be willing to chip in, as I at least glance at most > postings pretty much every day. But I have (1) no idea what the expense > budget is for maintaining this service, (2) only a vague idea how many > people might be up for participating, and thus (3) no idea what my "share" > might be. > Hi David and others, Here is a quick break-down of my approximate costs to host this list per year. I have two servers that I use to host various internet content. The costs below are for the server that OBOL is hosted on. 1- $75/month for co-location of server at bandwidth provider. 2- $5/month approx, over a few years for maintenance of hardware ( server ) which includes transportation costs to co-location provider. 3- My time - free of charge. 4- $8/year for domain name used for list. 5- $10/year for secondary DNS support for domain name. Sub-Total: $978.00/year I have a few paying customers that are hosted on the same server used by OBOL. I receive $200.00 from those customers. Subtracting the $200.00 from the Sub-Total brings the approximate cost to host OBOL for a year to $778.00 At this time I have no reason to believe I'll need to drop out from hosting OBOL. The funds that may be received will help ensure that I can continue to provide this service while I am unemployed. > > > Also, I have no idea of joining OFO, since I am in no way an ornithologist, > field or otherwise - just a rank amateur who's made birding a basis for a > bunch of really interesting vacations. > > That said, I would think OFO, as an organization with statewide reach, would > be a logical host for an OBOL fund. I realize it would mean a fair amount of > organizational work for someone who probably doesn't have the time, but I > don't see how the one-man operation is really viable in the long run. Or the > short run either if our current owner ends up having to drop out for > employment reasons. Whether a surcharge on OFO dues would be appropriate is > not for me to say, but perhaps a sort of junior membership or suggested > contribution level for a dedicated fund would be something that > non-OFO-member users of OBOL could get behind. > > > > David > > > > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Cathy Nowak > Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 7:15 AM > To: OBOL > Subject: [obol] Funding for OBOL > > > > I think Alan is on to something.Funding for the service should be made > available by those who use it and not just during difficult economic times > for the person who keeps it going. It might be worth exploring a mechanism > for funding it through OFO with a "surcharge" on OFO dues or a donation card > in Oregon Birds or some other, more creative option. Maybe we can help Jim > cover the cost in the short-term with donations through OFO and ask the > leadership to explore ways to fund it for the long-term. Just a few > thoughts. > > > > > > Cathy Nowak > > Union, OR > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From dpvroman at budget.net Thu May 7 16:34:00 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 16:34:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] PNW bird song CD Message-ID: Did someone mention that a recent CD of bird songs was available with Pacific Northwest bird species? Was it available from Cornell Labs (Geoffrey Keller recordings?). Correct title was.... If on OBOL in the past, you can just reply to myself rather than repeating to list. Thanks, Dennis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090507/231f42e1/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Thu May 7 17:18:06 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 17:18:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird Song ID request filled Message-ID: <1731208822D74E57B7CDEA6FB9514160@Warbler> Found out what I needed to know on the name of the bird song CD I was looking for. Thanks to all that sent the requested information. Dennis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090507/50d2bcbe/attachment.html From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Thu May 7 17:50:08 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 18:50:08 -0600 Subject: [obol] spring visitors Message-ID: <4F5F185F76374F7E8925EDC5BB590CD5@larryPC> So far we have had a few visitors, new ones too. In April we had, besides the WHITE YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD and SANDHILL CRANE, CHIPPING SPARROWS(stripping bark off the dead Juniper tree for their nest), 6 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES- all male, 1 female AMERICAN GOLDFINCH two days later. While I was in Klamath visiting my husband saw briefly a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER as we only have two "big trees" and 4 very young fruit trees he didn't stay long, WESTERN KINGBIRD- they will nest in the one "big tree" in front, and on a visit to the ranch near-by he saw a LEWIS' WOODPECKER and a large flock of WHITE FACED IBIS. After returning home he saw a dark phase MERLIN chasing BLACKBIRDS along the creek. Today he was returning the lawn mowers to their parking spot and got hummed by a HUMMINGBIRD. Unfortunately he did not get to see it face to face. In the past we have had BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS here. If the wind ever ends or slows down we should have more visitors. The MEADOW LARKS are busy along the creek and the KILLDEER are staying close to their spots in the pasture. Along our driveway the HORNED LARKS are picking spots also. Karen in true SE Or. south of Burns Jct. in Malheur Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090507/2559b772/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Thu May 7 18:18:50 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Thu, 07 May 2009 18:18:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Multnomah County Medium Day/quasi-Birdathon Message-ID: <20090508011838.9F309A8217@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> John Fitchen (leader), Andy Frank (scout), and I (driver) birded Multnomah County yesterday (May 6). We found 101 species, which was much better than we thought we were going to do during the first 2 hours. The cold, rainy, windy weather was certainly an inhibiting factor. Started at 6AM by driving up to NE Saltzman Road (off Larch Mtn Road) to look for bluebirds. No luck. The gate was open for the logging road at Larch Mtn Road MP4 so we drove down. Heard a HERMIT WARBLER, then drove back to find the gate closed! Fortunately, it wasn't locked--this time. (Probably won't try that again.) Drove down Brower Rd, stopping at the first clearcut, where we heard a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER, and on to Eagle Creek for Dipper. We dipped on Dipper, but found a nice breeding plumage HORNED GREBE, COMMON RAVEN, three SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, and several COMMON MERGANSERS. On to Mt Tabor, arriving about 9AM. It was quiet, but we did find HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, WESTERN TANAGER, some late FOX and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS and VARIED THRUSHES, as well as the usual suspects (but no other flycatchers). Then to Sandy River Delta for SORA and CINNAMON TEAL. Vanport Wetlands got us YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD and VIRGINIA RAIL. A TUNDRA SWAN flew over NE 33rd in Portland. Force Lake had both CANVASBACK and REDHEAD. We ended up with all the usual winter ducks except the goldeneyes and Hooded Merganser; several species represented by only one or two birds. We finished at Sauvie Island, where all the Purple Martins I had seen the day before weren't. Oak Island got us BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, WHITE- BREASTED NUTHATCH, and HOUSE WREN. A small flock of shorebirds on Oak Island Rd had LEAST and WESTERN SANDPIPERS and about a dozen SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS. We finished around 6PM at Wapato Access with a PURPLE FINCH. Notable misses: Black-throated Gray Warbler, all woodpeckers except Northern Flicker, Dipper, all flycatchers except Hammond's, vireos other than Warbling. We had a great time! Wink Gross Portland From bwegener8 at comcast.net Thu May 7 18:49:10 2009 From: bwegener8 at comcast.net (Brian Wegener) Date: Thu, 07 May 2009 18:49:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding from a Canoe on the Tualatin River - May 16 Message-ID: <4A038F96.3010902@comcast.net> Sign up for a birding canoe trip with the Tualatin Riverkeepers May 16 at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/63999 From scrapbird at charter.net Thu May 7 21:24:04 2009 From: scrapbird at charter.net (Diane Cavaness) Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 21:24:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Nesting Tree Swallows Message-ID: After three years of watching them check it out, we have Tree Swallows nesting in the box in our middle school bird garden!! Diane Cavaness Brookings -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090507/b31af0db/attachment.html From bcombs232 at gmail.com Thu May 7 23:02:15 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 23:02:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] North American Migration Count - Lane County Message-ID: <8ce3a6520905072302h11bf36abu1c9bf77848f3d668@mail.gmail.com> If anyone who would like to count birds in Lane County on Saturday, May 9, for the North American Migration Count did not receive a data sheet from me as an e-mail attachment, please reply to this e-mail so I can send you one. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090507/7790e2c3/attachment.html From fschrock at gmail.com Thu May 7 23:11:37 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 23:11:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Dark-eyed Junco nesting Message-ID: <390ebd880905072311j13d26c3cud5deaff5cf604fef@mail.gmail.com> Today on the Linfield College campus in McMinnville I found a Dark-eyed Junco nest bulging with babies fully feathered and almost ready to fly. The parent birds were busily bringing food, which appeared to be mostly insects. Anyone curious to see the site they selected for the nest (I didn't want to disturb the nestlings by getting too close with the camera) can find a photo at http://empids.blogspot.com/. ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090507/510f4bb9/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Fri May 8 07:29:44 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 07:29:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Summary: Camassia Morning Birdsong Walks - April 2009 Message-ID: <000a01c9cfe9$ef0ac5c0$fedb63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: I've been leading Morning Birdsong Walks at Camassia Preserve (The Nature Conservancy's preserve in West Linn above Willamette Falls) since 2000. Here is a summary of our findings this April 2009. Average number of participants: 10.8 Double-crestred Cormorant -- flyover Great Blue Heron -- flyover Canada Goose -- flyover Mallard Turkey Vulture -- flyover Osprey -- nesting Cooper's Hawk -- abandoned a nest start Red-tailed Hawk Band-tailed Pigeon Anna's Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Red-breasted Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker -- nesting Pileated Woodpecker Violet-green Swallow -- flyover Hutton's Vireo -- nesting Steller's Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin Varied Thrush European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Gray Townsend's Warbler Western Tanager -- only singles Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Brown-headed Cowbird Purple Finch House Finch Pine Siskin Lesser Goldfinch -- fewer than previous years American Goldfinch -- still going strong Yesterday we saw 12 RED CROSSBILLS. Our only previous sightings were 25 on 5/19/2005 and 15 on 5/24/2007. Yesterday the camas was at it's peak. The meadows were carpets of purple. Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Fri May 8 07:31:48 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 07:31:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Summary: Morning Birdsong Walks at Tualatin Hills nature park, Beaverton, April 2009 Message-ID: <000b01c9cfe9$efd2f7c0$fedb63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: I've been leading Morning Birdsong Walks at Tualatin Hills Nature Park in Beaverton since 2000. Here is a summary of our findings this April 2009. Average number of participants: 24 Cackling Goose -- a count first: 300 flying over on Apr 28 Mallard Cooper's Hawk -- nesting Red-tailed Hawk Band-tailed Pigeon Anna's Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird -- faithful on his territory every spring Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Steller's Jay Scrub Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit -- nesting Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush -- 1 so far American Robin Varied Thrush Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Gray Townsend's Warbler Common Yellowthroat Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Purple Finch -- plentiful & vocal this spring Pine Siskin Lesser Goldfinch American Goldfinch Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan From whoffman at peak.org Fri May 8 07:46:17 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 07:46:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pacific Loon Message-ID: A Pacific Loon was resting on the water along the South Jetty, Yaquina Bay May 7 after 4 PM. It was in beautiful but unusual breeding plumage: The gray cap was paler and more extensive than usual, and covered most of the head. Black was pretty much confined to the area around the eyes, forward to the bill. I also got better looks than ever before at the purple gloss on the throat. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090508/8f1346a4/attachment.html From bettymkn at netscape.com Fri May 8 08:35:38 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 08:35:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird Eye Infection Message-ID: <20090508083538.17D7A9B6@resin18.mta.everyone.net> I remember some discussion on eye infections somewhere. Is there a site to report this? Possibly Cornell. I noticed a bad eye on a House Finch in one of my photos. Just saw a House Finch at my feeder with a bad looking eye--hoping this is same one and not another. Betty Mankin Foster Lake--bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From alanyehudah at gmail.com Fri May 8 09:45:58 2009 From: alanyehudah at gmail.com (Alan Winter) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 09:45:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] North American Migration Count - Lane County In-Reply-To: <8ce3a6520905072302h11bf36abu1c9bf77848f3d668@mail.gmail.com> References: <8ce3a6520905072302h11bf36abu1c9bf77848f3d668@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: I am having trouble with the list and need to be removed. Since I did not put in a password, I cannot do this myself. Could the administrator please do this or contact me? Thanks! Blessings, Yehudah (Alan) Winter 5707 NE 15th Ave Portland, Oregon 97211 (503) 287-8737 503-819-9368 (cell) www.yourpersonalceremony.com From brrobb at comcast.net Fri May 8 10:19:25 2009 From: brrobb at comcast.net (Roger & Betty Robb) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 10:19:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Skinner's Butte, Eugene Message-ID: I spent a couple hours on Skinner's Butte this morning finding a good variety of birds in the sunshine. I found seven species of warblers with Wilson's being the most common. Other birds included SWAINSON'S THRUSH, EVENING GROSBEAK, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, WESTERN TANAGER and LAZULI BUNTING. Roger Robb Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090508/033dc8b6/attachment.html From drheath82 at verizon.net Fri May 8 10:54:38 2009 From: drheath82 at verizon.net (Mr David Heath) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 10:54:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Funding for OBOL ( what does it cost to host OBOL? ) In-Reply-To: <20090507161111.r73db9q2gws8ww4o@webmail2.jimnorton.org> References: <002201c9ceb6$1bf6f930$53e4eb90$@net> <20090507161111.r73db9q2gws8ww4o@webmail2.jimnorton.org> Message-ID: <000001c9d006$0f6ea360$2e4bea20$@net> So if I have this right, if 100 people sent about $7.75 (or 150 people sent 5 bucks and change), that would about cover it for a year. Sounds like a bargain to me. Personally, I see no reason why Jim (or any other one individual) should have to bear the entire cost of something from which so many of us benefit. Given the public radio model (only about 10% of its listeners actually contribute a dime), and the profound silence on the subject on the part of OFO leadership, I am under no illusion that there will be a flood of cash forthcoming. So if Jim will provide his address, I will send out a check for $10 as a down payment until a more permanent funding arrangement can be set up, or until it becomes clear just how many people are going to be willing to pungle up. David -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Jim Norton Sent: Thursday, May 07, 2009 4:11 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Funding for OBOL ( what does it cost to host OBOL? ) Quoting Mr David Heath : > I would certainly be willing to chip in, as I at least glance at most > postings pretty much every day. But I have (1) no idea what the expense > budget is for maintaining this service, (2) only a vague idea how many > people might be up for participating, and thus (3) no idea what my "share" > might be. > Hi David and others, Here is a quick break-down of my approximate costs to host this list per year. I have two servers that I use to host various internet content. The costs below are for the server that OBOL is hosted on. 1- $75/month for co-location of server at bandwidth provider. 2- $5/month approx, over a few years for maintenance of hardware ( server ) which includes transportation costs to co-location provider. 3- My time - free of charge. 4- $8/year for domain name used for list. 5- $10/year for secondary DNS support for domain name. Sub-Total: $978.00/year I have a few paying customers that are hosted on the same server used by OBOL. I receive $200.00 from those customers. Subtracting the $200.00 from the Sub-Total brings the approximate cost to host OBOL for a year to $778.00 At this time I have no reason to believe I'll need to drop out from hosting OBOL. The funds that may be received will help ensure that I can continue to provide this service while I am unemployed. > > > Also, I have no idea of joining OFO, since I am in no way an ornithologist, > field or otherwise - just a rank amateur who's made birding a basis for a > bunch of really interesting vacations. > > That said, I would think OFO, as an organization with statewide reach, would > be a logical host for an OBOL fund. I realize it would mean a fair amount of > organizational work for someone who probably doesn't have the time, but I > don't see how the one-man operation is really viable in the long run. Or the > short run either if our current owner ends up having to drop out for > employment reasons. Whether a surcharge on OFO dues would be appropriate is > not for me to say, but perhaps a sort of junior membership or suggested > contribution level for a dedicated fund would be something that > non-OFO-member users of OBOL could get behind. > > > > David > > > > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Cathy Nowak > Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 7:15 AM > To: OBOL > Subject: [obol] Funding for OBOL > > > > I think Alan is on to something.Funding for the service should be made > available by those who use it and not just during difficult economic times > for the person who keeps it going. It might be worth exploring a mechanism > for funding it through OFO with a "surcharge" on OFO dues or a donation card > in Oregon Birds or some other, more creative option. Maybe we can help Jim > cover the cost in the short-term with donations through OFO and ask the > leadership to explore ways to fund it for the long-term. Just a few > thoughts. > > > > > > Cathy Nowak > > Union, OR > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From ladwil at comcast.net Fri May 8 12:34:19 2009 From: ladwil at comcast.net (Lisa Ladd-Wilson) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 12:34:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] bird eye infection Message-ID: <83ACCF68-027E-4A5D-95B2-88D774C2CD8B@comcast.net> I've noticed house finches seem particularly prone to these eye problems. You probably already have done this, but it's good to clean/disinfect your feeders after seeing it. I think it's infectious. I don't know where to report it, though. I had a house finch last year with both eyes closed up by these growths. He was essentially flying blind. I was preparing a little hospice for him in a pigeon cage, periodically checking on him as he hopped blindly about my yard. Fix up the hospice nest, check on the blind finch, fix the nest, check the blind bird ... when a Cooper's hawk suddenly swooped down and took the finch right there in front of me. A little squeak and Ol' No Eyes was gone. It was sad, and yet a relief at the same time, 'cuz now I wouldn't have to watch him linger. All part of nature's pageant, Lisa Ladd-Wilson NE Portland From eelliott-smith at usgs.gov Fri May 8 12:39:53 2009 From: eelliott-smith at usgs.gov (Elise Elliott-Smith) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 12:39:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] FREE Ornithological Congress proceedings Message-ID: We are giving away volumes from late 1980's early 1990's International Ornithological Congresses (in Austria, New Zealand, and Canada). Please contact me directly if you are interested. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Elise Elliott-Smith USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center 3200 SW Jefferson Way Corvallis, OR, 97331 (541)750-7390 eelliott-smith at usgs.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090508/7a6a4294/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Fri May 8 12:46:38 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 12:46:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gilliam: May 4-6 Message-ID: <558DF818DC504AA69B352E29791112C8@your5rlp3a9516> Obolites, It is still cold in Eastern Oregon! Nevertheless, Laura and I did a bit of birding in Gilliam and (less) adjacent counties earlier this week. In spite of the cold we found a reasonably good variety of birds, including some which are difficult to find in Gilliam County. My hopes of finding some lingering shorebirds was met with minor success.List with comments below May 4: Condon s.p. American Coot Say's Phoebe Redhead (2 pair) Blue-winged Teal (1 pair) Cinnamon Teal Ring-necked Duck Bufflehead Wood Duck (pair) Mallard Savannah Sparrow Spotted Sandpiper (1) Least Sandpiper (2) Ferruginous Hawk Cliff Swallow (1000, cruising low) Barn Swallow (2) American Kestrel May 5: a juniper canyon on Quinn Road, west of Mayville Red-winged Blackbird Rock Pigeon Red-tailed hawk Western Meadowlark Gray Flycatcher Lark Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Northern Flicker American Magpie Spotted Towhee American Kestrel Condon s.p. same birds as day before, and: Gadwall (1 pair) Northern Shoveler ( 1 pair) Least Sandpiper (60) Western Sandpiper (1; well seen; new to my county list) fewer swallows Arlington cemetery Western Kingbird California Quail House Sparrow House Finch Yellow-rumped Warbler Eurasian Collared Dove Western Tanager Western Scrub Jay American Robin May 6:Columbia River at overlook north of I-84 exit to Heppner Western Grebe California Gull (numbers moving west) Western Gull (one moving west: not so surprising for location, as I have seen them as far east as McNary Dam, but date is surprising; new to my county list) Barn Swallow Rhea Lane east of Arlington Horned Lark Say's Phoebe Mourning Dove Long-billed Curlew Sage Thrasher American Kestrel Cedar Springs Road Loggerhead Shrike Western Kingbird (20 birds feeding on ground-actually running across surface at times-in short growth in recently dried shallow surface pond area. Never seen anything quite like it before) Hwy 207 about fifteen miles south of Condon Swainson's Hawk (near nest holding young) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090508/10a3061e/attachment.html From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Fri May 8 12:48:14 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 12:48:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] bird eye infection In-Reply-To: <83ACCF68-027E-4A5D-95B2-88D774C2CD8B@comcast.net> References: <83ACCF68-027E-4A5D-95B2-88D774C2CD8B@comcast.net> Message-ID: <004001c9d015$ed62de20$c8289a60$@NET> Cornell has information and a way to report incidence of 'House Finch Disease' on their website: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/hofi/ They are looking for reports from people who will put them in context by reporting regularly so they can estimate the percentage of the population that is infected. Tom Shreve Tigard -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Lisa Ladd-Wilson Sent: Friday, May 08, 2009 12:34 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] bird eye infection I've noticed house finches seem particularly prone to these eye problems. You probably already have done this, but it's good to clean/disinfect your feeders after seeing it. I think it's infectious. I don't know where to report it, though. I had a house finch last year with both eyes closed up by these growths. He was essentially flying blind. I was preparing a little hospice for him in a pigeon cage, periodically checking on him as he hopped blindly about my yard. Fix up the hospice nest, check on the blind finch, fix the nest, check the blind bird ... when a Cooper's hawk suddenly swooped down and took the finch right there in front of me. A little squeak and Ol' No Eyes was gone. It was sad, and yet a relief at the same time, 'cuz now I wouldn't have to watch him linger. All part of nature's pageant, Lisa Ladd-Wilson NE Portland _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Fri May 8 14:19:07 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 17:19:07 -0400 Subject: [obol] firsts for yard Message-ID: I hope tomorrow the birds cooperate like today for the Columbia County count. FOY Western tanager in yard, and first-ever seen in yard Cassin's vireo. Three golden-crowns have shown up after none for several days. A young buck has suddenly appeared during the day and is sharing the grain I put out for a pheasant. I removed four of five English sparrow eggs from a nestbox this morning, thinking they may settle to raise just one. Don't know if my scheme will work. Lona Pierce, Warren _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090508/6a917a8a/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Fri May 8 16:24:08 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 16:24:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Am. White Pelican(s) at Yaquina Bay Message-ID: Hi, Today (May 8) at about 2:30 PM, Howard Shippey saw about a half dozen very light-colored pelicans flying over Yaquina Bay near the Newport Bayfront. When one flew close, Howard was able to study it through binoculars and see that it was an Am. White Pelican because it had a yellowish bill and black on its wings as well as being very light-colored. The others may have been, too. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport From bwegener8 at comcast.net Fri May 8 17:34:43 2009 From: bwegener8 at comcast.net (Brian Wegener) Date: Fri, 08 May 2009 17:34:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pileated Woodpecker Movie Fw: Dead or Alive? (OLCV Film Screening)] Message-ID: <4A04CFA3.2070600@comcast.net> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090508/d3b79236/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: John Gruher Subject: [washcty_olcv] Fw: Dead or Alive? (OLCV Film Screening) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 17:26:52 -0700 (PDT) Size: 352242 Url: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090508/d3b79236/attachment.eml From whoffman at peak.org Fri May 8 17:38:19 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 17:38:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Am. White Pelican(s) at Yaquina Bay References: Message-ID: <8D2DA7988C8D407680A968AA37C6B343@D48XBZ51> At 4:25 PM I found a single American White Pelican on the water west of the first finger off the Yaquina South Jetty, in a group of about 70 Brown Pelicans. At about 4:40 they flew over to the First finger and lit on it. More Brown Pelicans flew in, until there were over 100. At about 4:55 the White Pelican flew up and circled around a few times, then lit again on the finger. At 5:10 a small boat approached the finger and flushed all the pelicans. They flew west along the jetty, and disappeared beyond the dunes. Possibly they roosted on the end of the jetty, or possibly headed south. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Range Bayer" To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" ; "Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing" Sent: Friday, May 08, 2009 4:24 PM Subject: [obol] Am. White Pelican(s) at Yaquina Bay > Hi, > > Today (May 8) at about 2:30 PM, Howard Shippey saw about a half > dozen very light-colored pelicans flying over Yaquina Bay near the > Newport Bayfront. When one flew close, Howard was able to study it > through binoculars and see that it was an Am. White Pelican because it > had a yellowish bill and black on its wings as well as being very > light-colored. The others may have been, too. > > Cheers, > > Range Bayer, Newport > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From bettyehunt at aol.com Fri May 8 18:20:20 2009 From: bettyehunt at aol.com (bettyehunt at aol.com) Date: Fri, 08 May 2009 21:20:20 -0400 Subject: [obol] Pileated Woodpecker Movie Fw: Dead or Alive? (OLCV Film Screening) In-Reply-To: <4A04CFA3.2070600@comcast.net> References: <4A04CFA3.2070600@comcast.net> Message-ID: <8CB9E5B746E24FE-11A0-1636@FWM-M16.sysops.aol.com> ?Pileated/Ivory Billed?? I don't quite get it. -----Original Message----- From: Brian Wegener To: Doug Robberson ; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Fri, 8 May 2009 5:34 pm Subject: [obol] Pileated Woodpecker Movie Fw: Dead or Alive? (OLCV Film Screening)] From: Katherine Schatz Subject: Dead or Alive? (OLCV Film Screening) To: Date: Friday, May 8, 2009, 2:54 PM Hi friends, ? Check out?the attached file and please (!)?forward to anyone you think may be interested. ? Cheers! ? Katie Schatz schatz.katherine at gmail.com 971-322-5261 Attached Message From: John Gruher To: washcty_olcv at lists.onenw.org Subject: [washcty_olcv] Fw: Dead or Alive? (OLCV Film Screening) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 17:26:52 -0700 (PDT) This is from a friend of ours who is on the Multnomah County Steering Committee. John Gruher ? jrgruher at yahoo.com 503-641-3504 --- On Fri, 5/8/09, Katherine Schatz wrote: From: Katherine Schatz Subject: Dead or Alive? (OLCV Film Screening) To: Date: Friday, May 8, 2009, 2:54 PM Hi friends, ? Check out?the attached file and please (!)?forward to anyone you think may be interested. ? Cheers! ? Katie Schatz schatz.katherine at gmail.com 971-322-5261 = _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090508/ffc1c5d4/attachment.html From margieparis1 at mac.com Fri May 8 18:33:13 2009 From: margieparis1 at mac.com (Margie Paris) Date: Fri, 08 May 2009 18:33:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Looking for into about Zumwalt Prairie Message-ID: <92ADC6A6-4211-4D5C-8AB0-70071D147D6A@mac.com> Dear OBOL, I'm thinking of taking a camping trip to northeastern Oregon in early June, primarily to visit the Zumwalt Prairie. If you've been there and can share any tips about birding, camping, and/or hiking, I'd be very grateful. Any thoughts about other birding areas in that neck of the woods also would be happily received. Many thanks, Margie 2394 Charnelton Street Eugene, OR 97405 (541) 484-0763 margieparis1 at mac.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090508/474267ab/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Fri May 8 18:52:25 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 18:52:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook County Message-ID: <03C9AAB9A87E47E29DC24C2442F16DE0@cgatesPC> Scouting for the NAMC today, I found the following: White Pelican - Houston Lake American Bittern - Houston Lake Peregrine Falcon - Johnson Cr. Road Spotted Sandpiper - Prineville Sewer Ponds FOY 50 Wilson's Phalaropes - Prineville Sewer Ponds Chuck Gates Powell Butte Crook County -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090508/70bb9863/attachment.html From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Fri May 8 19:58:11 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 22:58:11 -0400 Subject: [obol] minor correction Message-ID: In the spirit of keeping my posts accurate, I saw a warbling vireo in my yard today, not a Cassin's as reported. I got on obol too hastily, before checking the field guides for a species I don't see that often. It wasn't singing. Lona Pierce, Warren _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? goes with you. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Mobile1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090508/c47a5b02/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Fri May 8 20:27:22 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 20:27:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: HARRIER versus COOT but BALD EAGLE gets the prize Message-ID: <992460.86349.qm@web55104.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Today, Carol Ledford and I birded the River "S" Unit at Ridgefield NWR (~4mi W of I-5 at Exit 14 in SW Washington; http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ ). I was there from about 7:15AM until about 5PM. Highlights: HARRIER versus COOT but BALD EAGLE gets the prize: As we rounded the corner where Canvasback Lake abuts Rest Lake (near post #11), we spotted some large wing flapping in South Big Lake. When we got to the area near the turnout between Rest Lake and South Big Lake, we could see a female NORTHERN HARRIER flapping her wings, caping her prey, and standing in water. About twenty feet from her we saw a very agitated AMERICAN COOT. Since we did not see the spectacle from the beginning, it appeared that the HARRIER was attempting to drown something. We assumed it might be the COOT's mate. The COOT kept calling & fluttering its wings at the HARRIER, and it began 4-6 charges at the HARRIER but stopped each time it got within ten feet. The HARRIER could not fly off with her prize, as it was too heavy. A BALD EAGLE flew over at about 75 feet or so, but made no attempt to steal from the HARRIER. It looked to us like the EAGLE continued on its way, but in hindsight it must have circled and waited for its chance. Finally, the COOT made one last charge, and since the HARRIER refused to drop its catch, the COOT climbed right up on the HARRIER's breast (when she flopped onto her back) and the COOT began pecking at her in earnest. The HARRIER finally capitulated, dropped her noticeably partially eaten prey, defended herself against the COOT, and ultimately shook off the water and flew off to the W. Within a minute or two, the BALD EAGLE returned, snatched the now identified remains of a COOT, and flew off to its nest, with a juvenile Eagle following. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores Complete list of 77 species seen / heard: Pied-billed Grebe AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (6 seen on Rest Lake 4:30PM) American Bittern Great Blue Heron Great Egret Turkey Vulture (5 seen) GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (1 seen on Kiwa Trail) Canada Goose (some with goslings) Wood Duck Gadwall Mallard BLUE-WINGED TEAL (2 pair seen) Cinnamon Teal ( ~ 30 on the day) Northern Shoveler (~ 8 seen) NORTHERN PINTAIL (3 piar) Green-winged Teal REDHEAD (4 pair) Ring-necked Duck Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Osprey Bald Eagle Northern Harrier (2f, 1m seen) Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Virginia Rail (seen and heard) Sora (lots heard) American Coot Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Long-billed Dowitcher (~ 6 seen) Wilson's Snipe (seen and heard) Mourning Dove Vaux's Swift Belted Kingfisher Red-breasted Sapsucker (near R/R tracks) Northern Flicker Pacific-slope Flycatcher (entrance canyon) Steller's Jay (entrance canyon) Western Scrub-Jay American Crow COMMON RAVEN (4 seen over R/R tracks & Lake River) Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee (entrance canyon) Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch (entrance canyon) White-breasted Nuthatch (Oregon Ash woodland) Brown Creeper (entrance canyon) Bewick's Wren House Wren Winter Wren (entrance canyon) Marsh Wren Hermit Thrush (entrance canyon) American Robin European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler (entrance canyon) Nashville Warbler (entrance canyon) Yellow-rumped Warbler (ubiquitous ~ Avogadro's number) Audubon's Warbler Myrtle Warbler Townsend's Warbler (entrance canyon) Common Yellowthroat Wilson's Warbler (entrance canyon) Spotted Towhee Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow LINCOLN'S SPARROW Black-headed Grosbeak (R/R and on Kiwa Trail) Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird (6 males, 1 female seen) Brown-headed Cowbird House Finch Pine Siskin American Goldfinch From m_scatt at yahoo.com Fri May 8 21:18:22 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 21:18:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Tabor Hermit Warbler, Lazuli Bunting Message-ID: <673544.34360.qm@web55703.mail.re3.yahoo.com> It was quite birdy on Mt. Tabor (Portland) today. We had a beautiful male LAZULI BUNTING and a striking HERMIT WARBLER within minutes of each other, seen at the top at about 8 a.m. Lazuli Bunting is a very good Tabor bird and the Hermit Warbler was FOY for us. We had 8 warbler species; Townsend's was by far the most numerous. We also had 3 vireo species, Western Tanagers, etc. Flycatcher numbers are up (finally), with 3 Olive-sided, 3 Pacific-slope, and 8 to 10 Hammond's. Good birding! Em Scattaregia, Adrian and Christopher Hinkle -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090508/9957c83e/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Fri May 8 22:59:18 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 22:59:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Florence Highlights Message-ID: <84BBEB97-9F9A-4E60-BFB1-8AF44A425773@oregonfast.net> Hello OBOL, Today at the mud flat, Siuslaw River North Jetty, there was a single BLACK BELLIED PLOVER with 6 RED KNOTS. Also a mixed flock of DUNLIN and WESTERN SANDPIPERS. Now mind you that my Peep ID skill are being honed and I have photos if someone wants to help an old dog learn new tricks. The coolest part was after I returned to the car to get my camera and I was walking out the mud flat to get closer to the BB Plover, the HUGE flock of peeps flew around me, away, then came back, split around me and flew on. Very fun!! Vern Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090508/b1d88c2d/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri May 8 23:15:46 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 23:15:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Broad-winged Hawk 5/8/09 Message-ID: <154754.22969.qm@web45308.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Terry Wahl found a new species for the county.? He was at some sort of meeting at the Bandon Dunes Golf Course around 11AM when he noticed an unusual hawk.? He didn't have his binos but someone there lent him her pair and he got diagnostic looks at the bird. It was headed north of course!? I asked him to write it up for OBRC and he said he would. He also had a breeding-plumaged male LAPLAND LONGSPUR at his family ranch near Cape Blanco (Curry Co.) on 5/7 and 20-30 WESTERN KINGBIRDS are there now.? Knute Andersson also found another LALAND LONGSPUR on the Star Ranch west of Langlois on 5/8 (also Curry Co.).? I had 2 more RED KNOTS yesterday afternoon on the north spit of Coos Bay and the NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was still hanging out next to the BLM office in North Bend. Time for a Big Day! Merry birding all, Tim R Coos Bay From bwegener8 at comcast.net Sat May 9 06:25:26 2009 From: bwegener8 at comcast.net (Brian Wegener) Date: Sat, 09 May 2009 06:25:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pileated Woodpecker Movie Fw: Dead or Alive? (OLCV Film Screening) In-Reply-To: <8CB9E5B746E24FE-11A0-1636@FWM-M16.sysops.aol.com> References: <4A04CFA3.2070600@comcast.net> <8CB9E5B746E24FE-11A0-1636@FWM-M16.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <4A058446.2090801@comcast.net> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090509/52a4e460/attachment.html From fitzbeew at gmail.com Sat May 9 08:09:31 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 08:09:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane CC Birds, also Juvenile Junco in Corvallis Message-ID: Obol, I forgot to mention last Friday, May 1st, when I went to Corvallis that I saw an adult Dark-eyed Junco feeding a begging young Dark-eyed Junco, who was making the cricket-like chirping sounds I have heard juvenile Juncos make in the past. It seemed very early to me; thoughts on this, anyone? Also, yesterday morning I did my usual bird surveying at Lane Community College with a friend. Best bird of the day by far was a pair of CINNAMON TEAL on the East LCC sewage treatment pond! We were very surprised and pleased to see this; the grounds-keeper had told me he'd seen Cinnamon Teal before, but I had never seen them at Lane. Other birds of note include a pair of SCAUP, a pair of RUDDY DUCKS, and a pair (assumed; there were two birds so we assumed a male and female) of BLACK PHOEBES. We also had singing BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, and many, many WILSON'S WARBLERS. However, we found NO Bufflehead of any size, shape, or flavor; I think they may have made their departure for the season, as I have seen them every week before now since fall term! We also watched a BALD EAGLE get dive-bombed by a RED-TAILED HAWK, which was really neat to watch. The hawk kept diving at the eagle, even forcing the eagle to flip in midair! Also of note, we saw a female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD with nesting material fly into the grass, which had a bundle of sticks poking out of it; we suspected this was her nest. A male RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD was singing loudly nearby. Beautiful morning and beautiful birds! Happy NAMC! Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090509/b0ae25a9/attachment.html From davebrownbirder at yahoo.com Sat May 9 09:15:15 2009 From: davebrownbirder at yahoo.com (Dave Brown) Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 09:15:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Yellow-breasted Chat and White-tailed Kite in Alvadore Message-ID: <542337.92706.qm@web59906.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> After listening to it for some time I finally located a Yellow-breasted Chat my F.O.Y. on Eighth Sreet next to the south end of Starlite Lane in Alvadore in Lane County northwest of Eugene. Also near to there was a White-tailed Kite on top a small tree in a Chistmas Tree?farm owned by Deckers. I think its mate has a nest near by. There also nesting Red-shouldered Hawks off Starlite further to the north. ? Dave Brown Alvadore,Ore. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090509/4d8ebe88/attachment.html From tetraka at yahoo.com Sat May 9 11:18:27 2009 From: tetraka at yahoo.com (Robert Lockett) Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 11:18:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Greetings from the Island! Message-ID: <74549.65811.qm@web38707.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Obolists, Just thought I'd send a note to the Oregon birding community, letting you know that Adrienne and I are safely ensconced in Jamaica. We're here for two years as Peace Corps volunteers working in the Environment sector. Home is the small village of Robins Bay, St. Mary Parish. Robins Bay is one of the last "under-developed" coastal communities on Jamaica's north shore, at least from a resort hotel viewpoint. While laboring to save the Jamaican environment (or, more accurately, making a very small dent in some parts of the myriad environmental issues here) we're also doing as much birding as we can. Our Jamaica list stands at 90 so far, and includes 14 of the 27 endemics--and we really haven't seen much of the island as of yet. Many of these are ridiculously easy--we see Jamaican Mangos, Vervain Hummingbirds, Jamaican Spindalis, Jamaican Woodpeckers, Jamaican Euphonias, White-chinned Thrushes and Jamaican Orioles in our yard every day--and most of the rest have been seen multiple times (Jamaican Tody, Streamertail, Orangequit, Sad Flycatcher). If any of you find this tempting, be assured that there are a range of housing opportunities here from an elegant birding villa on 1600 acres to beachfront cottages, great food, and friendly people. We'll be happy to answer any birding or tourism questions you might have. Meanwhile, enjoy spring migration and keep up the great bird reports on OBOL--we enjoy reading them whenever we can access email. >From the land where Mangoes are the Jamaican Zucchini! Bob Lockett Adrienne Wolf-Lockett -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090509/9c082e44/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Sat May 9 11:49:51 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 11:49:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <73D3187738BA4C72AE1F57128797AE66@Phil> 6:00-10:30 AM (5/9): Wayne Hoffman there from ~5:45-9:00 + hour visit from Dave Tracy mostly clear, wind NNE 15-25, swells 6-8 400+ Red-throated Loon 2000+ Pacific Loon 40 Common loon 10 Western Grebe 3 Sooty Shearwater 900 Brown Pelican (N) 36 Double-crested Cormorant 500+ Brandt's Cormorant (trending N) 250+ Pelagic Cormorant (trending N) 2 Great Blue Heron (singles N) 2 Cackling Goose 38 Brant 550 White-fronted Goose 1 Northern Pintail 2 American Wigeon 60 Green-winged Teal 1 Harlequin Duck 80 White-winged Scoter 150 Surf Scoter 6 Red-breasted Merganser 4 Common Merganser (flock N) 22 Black-bellied Plover 1 golden-plover sp. 150+ Semipalmated Plover 2 Long-billed Curlew 600 Whimbrel (mostly general movement of small flocks) 1 Marbled Godwit 26 Ruddy Turnstone 82+ Red Knot (inc. flocks 17 & 25) 3 Sanderling 800+ Dunlin 7000+ Western Sandpiper 6+ Least Sandpiper 50+ dowitcher sp. 8 Red Phalarope 2000+ Red-necked Phalarope (probably low, densest in first hour before most apparently shifted out further) 5 Bonaparte's Gull 4+ Ring-billed Gull 250+ California Gull (mixed ages N) 1000+ Western Gull (most N) 60+ Glaucous-winged Gull (most N) 350 Caspian Tern 1200 Common Murre (most N) 60 Pigeon Guillemot 3 Marbled Murrelet 40 Rhinoceros Auklet (most N) 1 Tufted Puffin + multiple migrant Barn/Rough-winged/Tree Swallow & American Goldfinch, 1 Rufous Hummer. Phil philliplc at charter.net From jonysky101 at aol.com Sat May 9 12:57:02 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Sat, 09 May 2009 15:57:02 -0400 Subject: [obol] new mystery bird for me Message-ID: <8CB9EF7744FEFC6-EC-2CD1@webmail-de21.sysops.aol.com> I spotted this bird on the trail to Cape meares light house. I've gone thru my Oregon books and most of Sibleys looking for it. Without success. I hope some one here will tell me what it is. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0834/a1868d587f9e4ca59cfcaffa7980951b.jpg Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or I've got a great story and some photos from the beach yesterday, but I have to go to work now. I'll post them Monday. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090509/e9dd791d/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat May 9 13:35:36 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 09 May 2009 13:35:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] GT GRACKLE at Fern Ridge Message-ID: Male Great-tailed Grackle was along the dike just south of the viewing platform off Royal Avenue at Fern Ridge Res around 10 the morning of May 9. Also found between Hwy 126 and the platform were a Bank Swallow, flock of 13 WF Ibis, pelicans, stilts etc. Details later. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From birdboy at bkpix.com Sat May 9 14:05:27 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 14:05:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Whimbrel etc. 5/9 Message-ID: Hi birders, The canoe trip for Fern Ridge's Wings and Wine Festival this morning went smoothly under sunny skies. 14 canoes (!) paddled as a flotilla down Coyote Creek to the marshes off Royal Ave. Bird Highlights: 3 - WHIMBREL (flyovers) 15 - BLACK TERNS 5 - YELLOW WARBLERS 10 - AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS Good birding, Noah Strycker -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090509/0048151d/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat May 9 15:06:44 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 15:06:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] new mystery bird for me In-Reply-To: <8CB9EF7744FEFC6-EC-2CD1@webmail-de21.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CB9EF7744FEFC6-EC-2CD1@webmail-de21.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <9674aba8acdf48f5c17ba23265a56eb5@earthlink.net> House Finch (carpodacus mexicanus) On May 9, 2009, at 12:57 PM, jonysky101 at aol.com wrote: > I spotted this bird on the trail to Cape meares light house. I've gone > thru my Oregon books and most of Sibleys looking for it. Without > success. I hope some one here will tell me what it is. > > http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0834/ > a1868d587f9e4ca59cfcaffa7980951b.jpg > > > Johnny Sasko > Sandy, Or > > I've got a great story and some photos from the beach yesterday, but > I have to go to work now. I'll post them Monday. > > > > Shopping for Mom? Save yourself a little time and money on AOL > Shopping. _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat May 9 16:51:51 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 16:51:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Purple Martin, Washington County Message-ID: A PURPLE MARTIN just flew over my house( 4:45pm Saturday). After hearing it for awhile I saw it briefly between the branches of our tallest trees. It seemed to be headed north. I hear PUMA like this a few times a year, but have been too lazy to record them. This seems like the earliest date ever. I had attributed the previous detections to foraging birds, but they may have been all in the month of May, and possibly all migrants. This really is an uncommon bird in Washington County, verging on rare. Lars Norgren From cathy.nowak at state.or.us Sat May 9 16:46:33 2009 From: cathy.nowak at state.or.us (Cathy Nowak) Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 16:46:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] 05/09/09 - Union County RBA : GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE Message-ID: See Trent's post below. The species counts from the Ladd Marsh Birdathon will take a while to tally but Trent has noted some of the fun... M. Cathy Nowak Fish and Wildlife Biologist ODFW Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area 59116 Pierce Road La Grande, OR 97850 541-963-4954 Cathy.Nowak at state.or.us ________________________________ From: owner-birding-l at eou.edu [mailto:owner-birding-l at eou.edu] On Behalf Of AVITOURS at aol.com Sent: Saturday, May 09, 2009 1:31 PM To: birding-l at eou.edu Subject: 05/09/09 - Union County RBA : GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE Birders - Mike Mahoney and I staffed the #6 station this morning (05/09/09) for the 4th annual Birdathon at Ladd Marsh WMA, from 5 am to noon. We saw 68 species of birds. The highlights included: 1 - DUNLIN (thanks for the heads up Dave) 1 - PRAIRIE FALCON 1 - BREWER'S SPARROW 1 - GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (2nd documented Union County record, my 265 species in UC/photos) 1 - male TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD Good birding, - Trent The Bobolink - Linking Birders & Birds 1102 Washington Ave. La Grande, OR 97850 (541) 963 - 2888 avitours at aol.com ________________________________ Remember Mom this Mother's Day! Find a florist near you now . -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090509/3db46d00/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat May 9 17:38:48 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 09 May 2009 17:38:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge birds Message-ID: I spent the morning at Fern Ridge Reservoir walking the dikes between Hwy. 126 and the Royal Ave viewing platform with Rich Hoyer and Graham Floyd. Highlights: 1 male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE about 75 yards south of the platform late morning. It was working along the dike, being harassed by redwings. In one of those pleasant birding moments, Graham had just mentioned seeing a GT Grackle at essentially the same spot a couple of years ago, whereupon Rich pointed at the squabbling icterids nearby and said "you mean like THAT Great-tailed Grackle?" or words to that effect. 1 BANK SWALLOW seen from the new southern platform north of 126 around 9:00 a.m. Northbound in a hurry and we did not see it again. I sometimes see them at FRR in late summer; this may be the first spring bird I have seen. 1 ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER seen foraging in the open trees south of the second east-west dike as you work your way northwest from Fisher parking, maybe 50 yards east of the signed gate at which foot traffic turns north to the platform. Flock of 13 WHITE-FACED IBIS flying all around the complex mid-morning. They did not land while we watched them. Dave Bontrager's group saw them as well. Dave's group reported 2 AMERICAN AVOCET south of 126. Flock of 14 WHITE PELICANS. Nine BN STILT, 2 WILSON'S PHAL. Duck highlights included 15 Redhead, 35 Ruddys and five female Bufflehead. The latter seem a bit late to me. VIRGINIA RAIL and SORA were easy to hear. Oddity of the day: flock of 11 Western Tanagers flying merrily northward far out over the open marsh. Honorable mention: a male MacGillivray's Warbler in the dense brush along the easternmost principal walking dike just north of the turnoff to the scrape. NOTE: the far eastern path that runs right below the butte has water in patches, up to 3 inches deep here and there, but is passable. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From celata at pacifier.com Sat May 9 18:35:26 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 09 May 2009 18:35:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] BIRDLIST: Central Oregon - May 6-8, 2009 Message-ID: <4A062F5E.8060903@pacifier.com> Date: May 8, 2009 Location: Central Oregon Trip to Central Oregon with Astoria 4th grades May 6-8: includes Columbia River Gorge to the Dalles, Redmond, Bend and Warm Springs/Kah-nee-ta. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose Mallard Common Merganser California Quail Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Swainson's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Ferruginous Hawk American Kestrel Prairie Falcon (Richardson Ranch) Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Ring-billed Gull Mourning Dove Vaux's Swift White-throated Swift (Ogden Wayside) Black-chinned Hummingbird (probably this species, Kah-nee-ta) Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Western Wood-Pewee Say's Phoebe Western Kingbird Loggerhead Shrike Warbling Vireo (morning fallout Kah-nee-ta) Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay Black-billed Magpie American Crow Common Raven Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Mountain Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Pygmy Nuthatch Rock Wren House Wren Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird American Robin Sage Thrasher European Starling Cedar Waxwing Orange-crowned Warbler (morning fallout Kah-nee-ta) Nashville Warbler (morning fallout Kah-nee-ta) Yellow Warbler (morning fallout Kah-nee-ta) Yellow-rumped Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat Western Tanager Brewer's Sparrow Lark Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow (one-legged bird, Kah-nee-ta) Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Black-headed Grosbeak Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brewer's Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Bullock's Oriole Cassin's Finch House Finch Pine Siskin Lesser Goldfinch American Goldfinch Evening Grosbeak House Sparrow Total number of species seen: 73 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From WeberHome at att.net Sat May 9 18:35:58 2009 From: WeberHome at att.net (Cliff & Joanne Weber) Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 18:35:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] TRNWR Message-ID: <20090510013719.7CA80A8217@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> OBOL, hello! All the trails are open now at Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, and large quantities of winter waters have been drained off in order to begin the seasonal growth of pasture grasses that will be flooded again in the Fall for migrating waterfowl. The hydraulic system of flood gates and water passages of the refuge are pretty ingenious. We went down the south side of the refuge, checking mud flats for shore birds and such. Saw lots of bullfrogs, several Canada Goose families, and numbers of Savannah Sparrows. One lone Spotted Sandpiper, an Osprey that swooped after a fish but missed, a juvenile Bald Eagle that chased a duck but couldn't catch it, a Turkey Vulture, Red wing Blackbirds, a Great White Egret, a Red Tail Hawk, a White crown Sparrow, and beau coup Great Blue Herons. One of the Herons caught a catfish out of the Chicken Creek water delivery channel that borders the south trail. Discovered the western entrance to the refuge via Roy Rogers Road. The entrance is easy to miss as it looks to be somebody's private driveway at first glance but in reality, is a section of what appears to be a previous Roy Rogers Road. There's no visitors center at the western entrance, but there's some off-street parking, trash cans, and an outhouse. The refuge is a really big place. It's a 3-mile walk around the perimeter, plus a north/south short-cut path that adds another 3/10ths miles. So, for those of us with bad joints, it's advantageous to do the eastern half the refuge from the visitors center, and the western half from the alternate entrance via Roy Rogers Road. Free refuge maps available from the visitors center kiosks shows all the trails plus the refuge's west entrance. Annual Migratory Songbird Festival on May 16. Visit the refuge's web site for details. http://tinyurl.com/cn9y2v Where? . . Roughly 15 miles south of the city of Portland; just north of the community of Sherwood on the west side of 99W. Page 684 of Thomas Portland Street Guide, square H4 Google satellite image: http://tinyurl.com/dfaxlr Accommodations? . . Excellent restrooms on-site. Restaurants and such down the road a bit in Sherwood. ADA Friendly? . . Very! For folks who find the trails a bit challenging, there's a good solid patio alongside the visitor's center affording an excellent panorama of the refuge; plus a huge picture window inside the gift shop. Off-Street parking? . . Yes, w/special parking for Hybrid vehicles Cliff & Joanne Weber Beaverton (Bethany area) From 48jayme at gmail.com Sat May 9 19:34:34 2009 From: 48jayme at gmail.com (Sarah Smith de Vasconcellos) Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 19:34:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene calliope? Message-ID: On Skinner's Butte around noon, I caught a glimpse of a tiny hummingbird with a distinctively streaked gorget. Sarah Vasconcellos From ErikKnight05 at comcast.net Sat May 9 19:25:19 2009 From: ErikKnight05 at comcast.net (ErikKnight05 at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 02:25:19 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Clark County, Washington on May 09, 2009 Message-ID: <200905100225.n4A2PJdg019671@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Erik Knight by http://birdnotes.net Date: May 9, 2009 Location: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Clark County, Washington Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h gusting to: 6-11 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 0% Precipitation: none from 11:35AM to 4:48PM. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 20 Gadwall 93 Mallard Blue-winged Teal 1 [1] Cinnamon Teal 53 [2] Northern Shoveler 45 Northern Pintail 17 Green-Winged Teal 43 Ring-necked Duck 27 Bufflehead 5 Hooded Merganser 2 Ruddy Duck 1 Pied-billed Grebe 6 American Bittern 1 Great Blue Heron 9 Great Egret 3 Turkey Vulture 5 Osprey 3 Bald Eagle 6 [3] Northern Harrier 2 Red-tailed Hawk 4 American Kestrel 1 Virginia Rail 5 Sora 10 American Coot 31 Killdeer 1 Least Sandpiper 23 Common Snipe 1 Vaux's Swift Rufous Hummingbird 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 4 Hutton's Vireo 1 Warbling Vireo 1 Steller's Jay 3 Western Scrub-Jay 4 American Crow 8 Purple Martin 1 Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee 10 Bushtit 4 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 2 Bewick's Wren 11 House Wren 14 Marsh Wren 2 American Robin 8 European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler 8 Yellow Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 100 Black-throated Gray Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 27 Wilson's Warbler 2 Spotted Towhee 7 Savannah Sparrow 6 Song Sparrow 31 Black-headed Grosbeak 4 Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird 5 Purple Finch 2 House Finch American Goldfinch 7 Footnotes: [1] male, Kiwa Trail [2] Rest Lake & Kiwa Trail [3] adults & juvenile Total number of species seen: 69 From dan-gleason at comcast.net Sat May 9 20:16:24 2009 From: dan-gleason at comcast.net (Dan Gleason) Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 20:16:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] grackle Message-ID: <678C7A0C-5BE4-40EE-9758-1708BE8333ED@comcast.net> I just returned from helping all day at the Wings & Wine Festival in Veneta, so I've not had a chance to post earlier. I see that Alan Contreras has already posted about seeing a Great-tailed Grackle. On my way to the festival this morning (~10:45) I also saw a Great- tailed Grackle along Hwy. 126. I presume that this was the same bird Alan and others saw, although in a different location. We were driving along the highway when I saw the bird fly into a small tree on the south side of the highway along the railroad tracks. We were just west of Perkins Peninsula Park where open water is on the north side of the highway and marsh/open water on the south. When the bird flew into the tree, I didn't have time for details, but it was clearly a grackle - large black bird with a very large tail. It only stopped briefly on the tree before it flew to the south, toward the Coyote Cr. A pleasant surprise and a nice way to start the day for a birding festival. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090509/1287de03/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sat May 9 20:21:56 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 20:21:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Suggestions? Message-ID: <241745.19639.qm@web46016.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Michelle and I are headed out for a day of (much needed) birding tomorrow and we were thinking of heading down to the Eugene area. Any suggestions on where the best places to go are? Obviously, Fern Ridge is great, but is there a place in Fern Ridge that is better than others right now? Or is there a place, other than Eugene area, that we should be headed? If anyone could give us a couple of ideas on where to go, that would be great. Thank you to all! Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From WeberHome at att.net Sat May 9 20:59:41 2009 From: WeberHome at att.net (Cliff & Joanne Weber) Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 20:59:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] BackYard Message-ID: <20090510040104.1CA28A8217@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> OBOL, hello! Nice to see a pair of Western Tanagers in our yard today. They skipped us last year. Dunno why. But always glad to have them whenever they come around to pork up on our suets. Cliff & Joanne Weber Beaverton (Bethany area) From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sat May 9 11:41:05 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 11:41:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Douglas County shorebirds, longspur Message-ID: <815145.79032.qm@web37005.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, today at Tahkenitch Beach: along Tahkenitch Creek: 2 RED KNOTS 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS 2 KILLDEER on the beach: 3 small groups of WHIMBRELS (5,6, and 7 birds, respectively) several 100 SANDERLINGS, with smaller numbers of DUNLIN and WESTERN SANDPIPERS mixed in 1 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER Also, I flushed one breeding-plumaged LAPLAND LONGSPUR from the dunes near the creek. Happy spring migration Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090509/0a407f9c/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sat May 9 21:23:12 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 21:23:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Lane Co. Olive-sided Flycatcher Message-ID: <195697.95971.qm@web37007.mail.mud.yahoo.com> My first OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER of the season was perched atop a tall snag at Buck Lake, Lane County (7 miles north of Florence) today, watching my (not entirely unsuccessful) attempts to catch some dinner from the lake. ________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090509/29bf8aec/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Sat May 9 21:49:04 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 21:49:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon Pelagic Cruise: MURPHY'S PETRELS, etc. Message-ID: OBOL -- Nineteen intrepid birders from Oregon, Washington, and Alberta commandeered an extremely large and decadent cruise ship, 7-9 May, for pelagic birding between San Francisco, CA and Vancouver, BC. This put us in Oregon waters for 12 full hours (7:40 am to 7:40 pm) on 8 May, as we did a S-to-N transect at 30-60 miles offshore. Highlights included at least 38 MURPHY'S PETRELS (Pterodroma ultima), 30 of them in Oregon waters, which I believe may exceed the cumulative all-time total number of sightings of this species in Oregon up to this point. We observed Murphy's Petrels in ALL SEVEN coastal Oregon counties. Other highlights from Oregon waters were 5 LAYSAN ALBATROSS, 1 MANX SHEARWATER, and large numbers (nearly 200) of BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS. A probable BLACK STORM-PETREL and possible ASHY STORM-PETREL and PARAKEET AUKLET were also noted in Oregon, as well as two other Pterodroma spp. in California. The seas were rough and the weather was cold and windy. Strong gusts kept us off the bow the entire trip, so that viewing conditions were not optimal and group cohesion and communication were somewhat hindered. For these reasons conditions were not quite as pleasant as on our similar September trips. Yet the species mix and relative abundances of birds is very different between these two times of year, and a May trip provides better opportunities for certain species (such as Murphy's Petrel). Species list and preliminary totals are below. The first number is the number of each species seen in Oregon; the second number in parentheses is the total number seen on the trip (OR plus several hours in CA and WA). Anyone desiring a detailed list with county-by-county breakdown may contact me directly, and I will send you a full list along in a week or two after I have received clarifications & corrections on a draft list from the rest of our group. Black-footed Albatross - 190 (257) Laysan Albatross - 5 (7) (1 in Curry, 2 in Coos, 1 in Lincoln, 1 in Tillamook Cos.) Murphy's Petrel - 30 to 33 (38 to 46) (in all 7 Oregon counties) Cook's Petrel - 0 (1) (2-person sighting in CA) Mottled Petrel - 0 (2) (2-person sightings in CA) Northern Fulmar - 38 (58) Sooty Shearwater - 64 (89) Pink-footed Shearwater - 2 (8) Manx Shearwater - 1 (3) (1 in Curry Co.; others in CA) White-bellied Shearwater SP. - 1 (3) Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel - 88 (92) Leach's Storm-Petrel - 19 (118) Very probable Black Storm-Petrel - 1 (6+) (southern Clatsop Co.) Possible Ashy Storm-Petrel - 1 (5?) (southern Clatsop Co.) Storm-Petrel SP. - 0 (30) Greater Scaup - 10 (10) Semipalmated Plover - 0 (70+) Marbled Godwit - 0 (30) Red Knot - 6 (6) Red-necked Phalarope - 131 (140) Red Phalarope - 4 (4) Phalarope SP. - 20+ (20+) Shorebird SP. - 0 (160+) Sabine's Gull - 92 (335+) Bonaparte's Gull - 2 (2) Herring Gulls, Western Gulls, California Gulls Arctic Tern - 163 (167) Common Tern - 0 (4) Parasitic Jaeger - 4 (4) Pomarine Jaeger - 1 (2) Long-tailed Jaeger - 2 (2) Jaeger SP. - 2 (2) Common Murre - 142 (662) Rhinoceros Auklet - 79 (85) Cassin's Auklet - 6 (9) Possible Parakeet Auklet - 1 (1) (Coos Co.) Tufted Puffin - 1 (1) Alcid SP - 1 (7) Loons, Scoters, Cormorants, Grebes, Guillemots, etc., nearshore 1 late Glaucous Gull in San Francisco Humpback Whale - 1-2 (2-3) Whale Sp. - 0 (3) Orca - 2 (2) (Curry Co.) Common Dolphin - 6 (6) Dall's Porpoise - 6 (6) Harbor Porpoise - 0 (8) California Sea Lion - 0 (1) Harbor Seal - 0 (3) Northern Fur Seal - 6 (6) Observers included: From Oregon: Jeff Gilligan, Owen Schmidt, Rich Armstrong, Nanette Armstrong, Bjorn Hinrichs, Dave Irons, Tim Janzen, Rachel Janzen, Judy Meredith, David Smith, Bob Stites, Jay Withgott, Sheran Wright From Washington: Steve Mlodinow, Ryan Shaw From Alberta: Phil Cram, Mike Mulligan, Hank Vanderpol, Milt [last name?] A grand time was had by all, Jay Withgott Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090509/d0f845fc/attachment.html From alanyehudah at gmail.com Sat May 9 21:49:51 2009 From: alanyehudah at gmail.com (Alan Winter) Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 21:49:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] what gives! Message-ID: I've been trying to get in touch with the administrator of this list without any response. Can anyone suggest a better way than email? Blessings, Yehudah (Alan) Winter From andy.frank at kp.org Sat May 9 21:53:41 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 21:53:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] 3000(?) Vaux Swift, Chapman School, Portland Message-ID: Tonight there were approximately 3000 VAUX SWIFT at the Chapman School chimney in NW Portland. They started entering at 8:34PM and the last one went in at 8:44PM. About 100 of them continued to circle for a minute or two before flying off to parts unknown. Andy Frank -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090509/851fef1b/attachment.html From vireogirl at yahoo.com Sat May 9 22:05:58 2009 From: vireogirl at yahoo.com (Vjera Thompson) Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 22:05:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Eugene birds Message-ID: <606106.27920.qm@web56306.mail.re3.yahoo.com> OBOLers, A few migration notes from the last couple days: Wednesday (5/6) around 8:30 in the evening, we were leaving a friend's house in a neighborhood near Churchill HS and had a WESTERN WOOD PEWEE calling softly--we tracked it down and watched it flycatching before we were sure. Friday (5/8) while bicycling to work, I heard and then saw an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER near the cottage below Skinner's Butte. A quarter mile later I heard a YELLOW WARBLER singing loudly. Today (5/9), Eddie and I bicycled from our house, along the river path, up to the top of Skinner's, and then out the W 11th path to the Checkermallow end of Meadowlark Prairie. We heard a scattering of YELLOW WARBLERS (4-5?) along the river path and canal path. We also had 2 presumed PEWEES calling on the butte, which we weren't able to see. Complete list is on birdnotes.net. Good birding, Vjera & Eddie Thompson vireogirl at yahoo.com From llsdirons at msn.com Sat May 9 22:28:39 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 05:28:39 +0000 Subject: [obol] Cruise results Message-ID: Greetings All, Jay Withgott was the official record keeper for this weekend's cruise from San Francisco to Vancouver B.C. (7-9 May) and I'm sure he will post a comprehensive report once he crunches all the numbers. I just now arrived home (I had the latest flight out of Vancouver) and noticed that none of the others posted any results, so I thought I would give a brief summary of our 1.5 days of birding. There are several highlights, including sightings that will likely add a species to the Oregon list. Jay will come forth with the official numbers, but I can offer the following sightings of interest. Laysan Albatross -- at least 6 seen that I know of, two in CA the first evening and the rest in Oregon. Black-footed Albatross -- I suspect that the final count will be near 100, perhaps higher. Murphy's Petrel -- I personally saw 37 and I know that there were about 3-5 that I did not see. This makes two successive spring cruises (6 last year) where this bird has been seen in Oregon waters. Incredibly, we had this species in all 9 counties (Del Norte, CA, Curry, Coos, Douglas, Lane, Lincoln, Tillamook, Clatsop, and Pacific, WA) that we passed through during Friday's daylight hours. Mottled Petrel -- I missed these birds. I was on one of the upper decks at the back of the boat staying out of the gale force winds, while Jay Withgott, Steve Mlodinow, Ryan Shaw and others found these birds from "promenade" deck on the side of the boat. Cook's Petrel -- After joining the others on the lower promenade deck, we briefly moved to the rear of the boat to get out of the wind. I spotted one Cook's off the rear of the boat that was seen by Steve Mlodinow and perhaps a couple others. Manx Shearwater -- I think there were three. We found one just out of San Francisco on Thursday evening. It was wnw of Pt. Reyes, Marin Co. I spotted another one in I believe Curry Co. and late in the day another was seen by others in Pacific Co. WA if I remember correctly. Leach's Storm-petrel -- Overall, we saw surprisingly few storm-petrels compared to the past two spring trips. I moved to the sunny side of the boat (by myself) for the last 40 minutes of daylight on Friday and I had about 80 Leach's. Other than this cluster of birds, we only had about 6-8 for the trip. Fork-tailed Storm-petrel -- For most of the trip this was the storm-petrel that was being seen. During the latter half of the day on Friday, we had a steady stream of single birds that seemed to appear every few minutes. Sabine's Gull -- For the trip I think we had between 400-500 birds Arctic Tern -- Scattered small flocks totally perhaps 100. I think others had several flocks that I missed. We had a variety of migrant shorebirds including several small flocks of Semipalmated Sandpipers off the cen. CA coast, a flock of about 60-70 Marbled Godwits off CA (Thursday night), 9 Red Knots that were flying along at the exact same speed of the boat for at least 20 minutes, hundreds of Red-necked Phalaropes and a few Red Phalaropes. A quick survey of the accessible decks (most closed due to gale force winds) produced no wrecked seabirds or passerines. The seas became quite rough after dark on Thursday and then we awoke to 40 knot crosswinds on Friday morning. Over the course of the day the winds and seas became much tamer and by the end of Friday, the ocean was rather placid. We were heading into a modest wind 5-10 knots, but that combined with the boat speed (25+/- knots) made for a steady wind of about 30 knots if you tried to remain on the bow. I did for about 45 minutes late in the afternoon trying (and mostly failing) to get good pictures of Fork-tailed Storm-petrels. I was pretty cold and beat up when I finally rejoined the wiser members of the group who had stationed themselves on the lee side of the boat. Oops, I almost forgot mention that we had two additional mostly dark Pteradromas (large "gadfly" petrels) that were not Murphy's. Based on our preliminary research and viewing of online images, they appear to have been Solander's/Providence Petrels (Pteradroma solandri). This species has never been recorded in Oregon, but I believe there are records from California. I spotted the first of these two birds and got several others onto it before it flew across the bow of the boat and disappeared. A few minutes later, someone called out that they had an odd looking shearwater. This bird came even closer to the boat and many on the trip got onto the bird as it paced the boat for about a minute. The striking dark underwing linings (underwing coverts) contrasting with a bright white "flash" at the base of the primaries (reminiscent of a Pomarine Jaeger or a Skua) was quite unlike the underwing pattern that was well seen on the dozens of Murphy's Petrels we saw. These birds also showed a somewhat hooded look to the head, which was noticeably darker than the back and underparts (not the case with Murphy's). They also had very pale secondaries that contrasted with dark upper wing coverts and much dark primaries. This upper wing pattern was much different than the typical pattern seen on all the Murphy's we were seeing. After a full day with repeated studies of Murphy's from all sorts of light angles, nearly everyone on the boat had reached a point where they could readily call out a Murphy's within a few seconds of spotting one. It was great to get all this valuable experience with a species that so few West Coast birders have seen in life. If I've counted heads correctly, there were 19 birders on this adventure. Everyone got to see many Murphy's, which I think was a lifer for everyone on the trip but the four of us who went last year (Jeff Gilligan, Sheran Wright, Owen Schmidt, and I). More to come, Dave Irons _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has a new way to see what's up with your friends. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/WhatsNew?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_WhatsNew1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090510/fea84826/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat May 9 22:43:58 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 05:43:58 +0000 Subject: [obol] Sorry for the crossed up cruise messages Message-ID: Greetings again, I did not realize that Jay was posting as I crafted my message. For totals on most of these birds, refer to his numbers. Apparently, he did not see the two potential Solander's Petrels and did not hear about them from us. One of the disadvantages of having large group that is a bit spread out is that it is hard to make sure everyone is hearing the birds getting called out. At this point, I'm not sure who else saw these two birds. Dave Irons _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? goes with you. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Mobile1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090510/5c46da9a/attachment.html From fschrock at gmail.com Sat May 9 23:38:32 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 23:38:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sandhill Crane, anyone? Message-ID: <390ebd880905092338j4a6f5eeaj5a23a5e6f0882c0f@mail.gmail.com> Today while I was trying in vain to find an early Red-eyed Vireo in the cottonwood forest on Grand Island here in Yamhill Co., I heard the unmistakable "gargling" call of a Sandhill Crane somewhere above the canopy. Fortunately, I got to see it briefly through an opening between the treetops, or I would still be second-guessing myself. It was about 1,000 ft. high and was gliding northeastward, so maybe some other NAMC counters in Marion or Clackamas Counties also saw the same bird. This is a bird that is very rarely seen in Yamhill Co. Other highlights of the day included a Rufous Hummingbird nest in McMinnville's Airport Park, and a chance to photograph (from 20 ft.) a Horned Lark out in some open fields near Amity. The breast pattern on this bird was smudgy - not streaked, so I'm not sure if it was of the "Streaked" subspecies. Maybe there is not another subspecies that is likely to be here now. (?) Guess I'll have to study-up on that. ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA < http://empids.blogspot.com > ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090509/8446f334/attachment.html From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Sun May 10 00:36:32 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 00:36:32 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Red Knots- Florence Message-ID: <945834.49476.qm@web30403.mail.mud.yahoo.com> On Saturday, May 9, I observed a flock of 44 RED KNOTS on the beach approximately one mile south of the south jetty of the Siuslaw River. I will post a photo of this flock on my flickr page tomorrow. Has such a flock been seen in Oregon before? Maitreya From louisfredd at msn.com Sun May 10 06:24:44 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 06:24:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-eyed Vireo, Oregon City, 05/09 Message-ID: Yesterday about 7:00pm in upper branches of a 30-40 ft high "European Hornbeam" I planted lo many years ago. Foliage very thick, but got the key long bill, striking long white eyebrow, as well as general appearance characters, despite a steep viewing angle, while it appeared and disappeared mostly along outer branches, feeding in the characteristic way of this species. In the annals of this seems early, this seems late, this one was quite early according to the sources I consulted (BO:GR, BNA, Burrows/Gilligan's "Birds of Oregon"). I had never expected to see one here! A Warbling Vireo, at least a couple of Wilson's Warblers and an Orange-crowned Warbler nearby in other shrubs, trees at the time on this pleasant evening. _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090510/58c656eb/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Sun May 10 07:16:55 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 07:16:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yb Chat Clark Co, WA Message-ID: Since Wilson had reported a chat on Steigerwald NWR last week I have been looking for them around Ridgefield. I did find one on Saturday displaying and singing along the Columbia River. I had gone by this spot the day before and had not detected a chat then. So start looking for those chats! Bob Flores Ridgefield NWR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090510/7c955423/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Sun May 10 07:20:51 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 07:20:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainson's Hawk, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: I think this is a bit early the bird was flying over Hwy 502 about 1/2 mile east of NE 10th Ave. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090510/1ba8a377/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Sun May 10 07:31:38 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 07:31:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Cty RED KNOTS Message-ID: <4A06E54A.1080401@verizon.net> Tim and Russ must still be sleeping after yesterday's Coos Cty Big Day, cause they haven't posted their results yet, but Kathy saw them at Bandon Marsh late in the afternoon and they all saw 13 RED KNOTS at the marsh. Good movement of shorebirds yesterday in general. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From carolk at viclink.com Sun May 10 07:40:21 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 07:40:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] additional Yamhill County NAMC highlights Message-ID: <004201c9d17d$7cce93c0$8c76fea9@home> On Sat., May 9, we covered the Coast Range portion of Yamhill County for the NAMC. Highlights of our birding were: - 1 breeding plumage Common Loon at the south end of McGuire reservoir ( This could well be the same bird we saw on April 5.) - 1 Solitary Sandpiper on private property - 19 Eurasian Collared-Doves flying over Carol's house - 2 Western Kingbirds on Moore's Valley Rd. at the jct. with Puddy Gulch Rd. (The lady there said they've nested for the last 3 years.) - 1 singing Yellow-headed Blackbird at Sheldon's pond on Briedwell Rd We found 8 kinds of warblers. American Goldfinches and Evening Grosbeaks were everywhere. It was good to be out counting birds on a warm sunny day in Yamhill County. Carol Karlen & Paul Sullivan From puma at smt-net.com Sun May 10 08:05:53 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 08:05:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Calliope Hummer Message-ID: <714962F5-7DDB-4165-B454-A4BD151CF935@smt-net.com> Folks, While changing hummer feeders May 9, a CALLIOPE HUMMER joined me as I was changing my shoes with the the old feeder next to me on a table. It was a good look as hummer was 6 inches from my face and was fanning me with his wing vortices. This is the second time I have had a CALLIOPE here. Pat Waldron East of Scio From philliplc at charter.net Sun May 10 09:02:38 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 09:02:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: 6:00-8:00 AM (5/10): with Wayne Hoffman very low overcast, wind NNE 5, swells 3-5 150 Red-throated Loon 800 Pacific Loon 25 Common Loon 8 Western Grebe 170 Brown Pelican (N) 6 Double-crested Cormorant 250 Brandt's Cormorant (a few groups S) 100 Pelagic Cormorant 35 Cackling Goose 2 scaup sp. 30 White-winged Scoter 400 Surf Scoter 3 Black-bellied Plover 1 golden-plover sp. 1 Long-billed Curlew 38 Whimbrel 60 Western Sandpiper 1 Least Sandpiper 150 calidris sp. 1 Peregrine Falcon (N) 15 California Gull 200 Western Gull 25 Glaucous-winged Gull 90 Caspian Tern 2500+ Common Murre (most N) 80 Pigeon Guillemot (most N) 13 Marbled Murrelet 2 Ancient Murrelet 600+ Rhinoceros Auklet (many small groups N) 1 Tufted Puffin Phil philliplc at charter.net From namitzr at hotmail.com Sun May 10 10:06:13 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 10:06:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos NAMC results + Coos BIG DAY record 5/9 Message-ID: Joe Metzler, Tim Rodenkirk and myself ran a Big Day yesterday for the NAMC. We ended up with 173 species! The Oregon record for a single county is 177. There were a few other species recorded from different observers so the official NAMC is higher than 173. A few highlights are as follows: Powers area SPOTTED OWL (marginal habitat) Mt Bolivar CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (pair) Coquille REDHEAD (male) North Spit RED KNOT WILSON'S PHALAROPE RED-NECKED PHALAROPE Catching Slough CACKLING GOOSE BLUE-WINGED TEAL Bandon RED KNOT MARBLED GODWIT SNOWY PLOVER RUDDY TURNSTONE BLACK TURNSTONE WANDERING TATTLER We ended up with 22 RED KNOTS for the day. Here are a few "Big Misses," birds that we should have seen, but didn't. Hooded Merganser Sharp-shinned or Cooper's Hawk American Kestrel Tufted Puffin Great Horned Owl Northern Pygmy Owl Barred Owl Western Kingbird Bushtit Bewick's Wren Swainson's Thrush There were a few rare birds around that we didn't try for due to lack of time. Apparently, Jim Heaney reported an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN off Millicoma Marsh while we were out. We covered the area, but didn't discover the bird. Good birding, Russ Namitz PS: I was still sleeping Dave. :-) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090510/e4104d5f/attachment.html From ellencantor at gmail.com Sun May 10 10:20:40 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 10:20:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chats and more at EE Wilson Message-ID: <7058c4c60905101020i30e5a616vb1b6b70ebef00b48@mail.gmail.com> Corvallis birder Ray Drapek and I biked and birded EE Wilson yesterday. Highlights included: Seldom glimpsed but very vocal CHATS in dense vegetation by the marshes at the north end of the refuge. Close, very vocal, but unseen SORAS and VIRGINIA RAILS (also north marshes) Many WILSONS WARBLERS and WARBLING VIREOS 3 hissing BARN OWL cotton ball nestlings in a nest box on an old chicken wired walled outbuilding 3 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS 1 CINNAMON TEAL Happy birding, Ellen Cantor -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090510/6c04e964/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun May 10 10:29:11 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 10:29:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Grackle(s) Message-ID: <671482195f20b61365ce6a79386073e4@earthlink.net> The distance between the bird reported by Dan and yesterday's bird inclines me to think there could be two or more. The habitat seems good and the species has been present in the area for several successive seasons now. I recall David Irons reporting one from Baskett Slough two summers ago, which sort of constitutes the fringe of its occurrence. Will they make it to Tualatin NWR or Fernhill this year? I rather hope so as grackles are among my favorite birds and I've yet to see either species in my home state. Lars Norgren From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sun May 10 11:09:58 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 11:09:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] NAMC misses, Yamhill Co Message-ID: <37A25C8168B34318933EFAAA62EF2FF6@yourw5st28y9a3> In comedy, timing is essential. A bird census would be a joke if it didn't take timing into account. In that spirit, this morning I heard my FOY Pacific Slope Flycatcher and on Friday saw what may be the last Golden-crowned Sparrow of spring. Saturday didn't produce any firsts, lasts, or surprises, but plenty of enjoyment, including watching Savannah Sparrows dive into the grass as I rode my horse toward them. Pamela Johnston outside McMinnville From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Sun May 10 11:43:41 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 11:43:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Photo: Red Knot Flock at Florence Message-ID: <366506.87126.qm@web30406.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Thanks for the information Alan. My photo of the Red Knot flock is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30397515 at N07/ Maitreya --- On Sun, 5/10/09, Alan McGie wrote: From: Alan McGie Subject: Re: [obol] Red Knots- Florence To: "Leith McKenzie" Date: Sunday, May 10, 2009, 10:41 AM Maitreya, Yes, and you got a ways to go to beat the Oregon record - 143 RED KNOTS at Tillamook Bay on 10 May 1976.? I wrote the RED KNOT account in Birds of Oregon.? Nice to hear that such a flock you saw is still landing in Oregon. Alan McGie North Albany, OR (Benton Co.) E-mail:? alanmcgie at comcast.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Leith McKenzie" To: Sent: Saturday, May 09, 2009 11:36 PM Subject: [obol] Red Knots- Florence > > On Saturday, May 9, I observed a flock of 44 RED KNOTS on the beach approximately one mile south of the south jetty of the Siuslaw River. I will post a photo of this flock on my flickr page tomorrow. Has such a flock been seen in Oregon before? > Maitreya > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090510/08515f7c/attachment.html From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Sun May 10 11:57:54 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 14:57:54 -0400 Subject: [obol] personal NAMC bests Message-ID: Best sightings for me as I participated in the Columbia County NAMC include mostly great looks at fairly common birds: closeup of a bright black-throated gray warbler among oaks and flowering camas -- beautiful spot now very rare locally; orioles and tanagers; a male hooded merganser in Dalton Lake; and, altho not my sighting, my husband Al was out kayaking yesterday and reported 11 bald eagles all at once that were apparently feasting on carp in a flooded lowland field. They appeared to be landing on and consuming the fish right in the shallow water. This was off of Scappoose Creek. At least something is making use of all those carp. Virtually all of the birds were non-adults, he said. Best non-bird sighting I had was of a large racer (snake) in rocks and oak scrub. All I ever usually see are garter snakes. Lona Pierce, Warren _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has a new way to see what's up with your friends. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/WhatsNew?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_WhatsNew1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090510/221f4e0d/attachment.html From marknikas at comcast.net Sun May 10 12:19:37 2009 From: marknikas at comcast.net (Mark Nikas) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 12:19:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Linn County Ash-throated Flycatcher Message-ID: An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was along Tub Run Rd. south of Brownsville on May 9th. An ATFL summered at this site last year. To reach this site from Brownsville head south from town on Gap Rd. for several miles to Belts Rd. Turn right on Belts for about 2 miles to where Tub Run Rd. begins. Continue straight on Tub Run about a mile to where the road makes a 90 degree turn to the west. The bird was seen 100 feet south of this corner in the oaks uphill and on wires along the road. This site can also be reached from I5 via the Harrisburg exit and Belts Rd. 3 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were in traditional fields off Belts Rd. The birds can be found along the first 3/4 miles of Belts Rd. west of Gap Rd. LAZULI BUNTINGS, VESPER SPARROWS and WESTERN KINGBIRDS are also being seen from this road. Mark Nikas From justin.bosler at gmail.com Sun May 10 12:44:35 2009 From: justin.bosler at gmail.com (Justin Bosler) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 12:44:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] NAMC: Coos Bay--North Spit (Coos Co.) - 9 May 2009 Message-ID: <97d12a010905101244q3ca6e837l25259bedd994f155@mail.gmail.com> OBOL, I spent nearly 5 hours birding the North Spit at Coos Bay for the first time yesterday (9 May). Thanks to some helpful advice from Russ Namitz, I found my way to the "Weyco" Pond and deflation plain. There were a few migrant songbirds around with most concentrated in the willows near the south gate of the pond. Below is my complete checklist for the morning. Please let me know if something doesn't appear correct. One of the most difficult things about being new to the West Coast is that I have to learn the local status and distribution of a whole new avifauna. Location: Coos Bay--North Spit Observation date: 5/9/09 Notes: A 4.5-hr traveling count on North Spit at Coos Bay (Coos Co.) for NAMC. Began 0700 at "Weyco" Pond and deflation plain (excluding south dike). Followed by brief stop on bayside, ca. 1 mi. hike on Wetland/East Dunes Trail, and late AM stop at Jordan Cove Rd. No beach- or seawatching. Partly cloudy w/ wind N to NNW at 5-20 mph, temp. 40-55F. Number of species: 80 Canada Goose 34 Wood Duck 4 Gadwall 35 American Wigeon 2 Mallard 57 Northern Shoveler 20 Northern Pintail 14 Green-winged Teal (American) 28 Ring-necked Duck 15 Bufflehead 32 Pied-billed Grebe 2 Western Grebe 3 Brown Pelican 2 Double-crested Cormorant 21 Great Blue Heron 9 Great Egret 15 Turkey Vulture 4 Osprey 2 Bald Eagle 1 ad. Northern Harrier 1 ad. m Red-tailed Hawk (Western) 1 juv. (light morph) Black-bellied Plover 3 Killdeer 5 Spotted Sandpiper 3 Solitary Sandpiper 1 (flyover, "Weyco" Pond; likely T. s. cinnamomea) Greater Yellowlegs 3 Sanderling 25 Western Sandpiper 192 Least Sandpiper 40 Dunlin 10 Long-billed Dowitcher 36 Western Gull 25 Glaucous-winged Gull 8 Caspian Tern 8 Pigeon Guillemot 2 Mourning Dove 3 Rufous Hummingbird 4 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 3 Olive-sided Flycatcher 4 Western Wood-Pewee 1 (FOS) Black Phoebe 1 Hutton's Vireo 1 Steller's Jay (Coastal) 2 American Crow 10 Purple Martin 14 Tree Swallow 38 Violet-green Swallow 5 Cliff Swallow 85 Barn Swallow 20 Black-capped Chickadee 16 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 Marsh Wren (Coastal Pacific) 26 Golden-crowned Kinglet 5 American Robin 20 Wrentit 9 European Starling 2 Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens) 34 Yellow Warbler 1 (f-type) Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 8 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 5 Townsend's Warbler 2 (flyovers) MacGillivray's Warbler 1 (Jordan Cove) Common Yellowthroat 7 Wilson's Warbler (Pacific Coast) 13 Western Tanager 1 Spotted Towhee 3 Savannah Sparrow 20 Song Sparrow 68 White-crowned Sparrow (Puget Sound) 65 Golden-crowned Sparrow 4 Black-headed Grosbeak 3 Red-winged Blackbird 75 Brown-headed Cowbird 19 Purple Finch (Western) 12 House Finch 4 Red Crossbill 1 (perched briefly; "Weyco" Pond) Pine Siskin 3 American Goldfinch 73 Evening Grosbeak 2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Good Birding, Justin -- Justin Bosler Reedsport, OR justin.bosler at gmail.com 717-475-9998 http://www.flickr.com/photos/29219448 at N08/ From dlrobbo at comcast.net Sun May 10 14:00:13 2009 From: dlrobbo at comcast.net (Doug Robberson) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 14:00:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] BLACK SWIFT QUESTION Message-ID: Are Black Swifts and were would be the best place to see them on the coast Doug Robberson Tigard, OR From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sun May 10 15:47:43 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (jeffharding at centurytel.net) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 22:47:43 GMT Subject: [obol] Linn County -Lebanon to Santiam Pass Message-ID: <200905102247.n4AMlhjl006496@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Jeff Harding by http://birdnotes.net Date: May 9, 2009 Location: Linn County, Oregon Low temperature: 42 degrees fahrenheit High temperature: 71 degrees fahrenheit Wind direction: Variable Precipitation: none Bill Thackaberry and I birded our way from the Griggs area to Santiam Pass and back, for the Linn County NAMC yesterday, May 9th, 2009. There was a Common Loon on Foster, in full alternate plumage, otherwise there was very little on the lake. A single Cackling Goose was with the Canada Geese at the park on the east end of the lake. There was very little activity in the Santiam Pass Area, but while I was away from the car chasing the Three-toed Woodpecker, Bill saw a Calliope Hummingbird, Mountain Bluebird, and a Mountain Chickadee. After we returned home a Lazuli Bunting visited our feeder, the first for the year. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 120 Cackling Goose 1 [1] Wood Duck 3 Mallard 21 Bufflehead 9 Barrow's Goldeneye 67 Common Merganser 14 Ring-necked Pheasant 6 Wild Turkey 4 California Quail 6 Common Loon 1 [2] Double-crested Cormorant 1 Turkey Vulture 23 Osprey 9 Bald Eagle 3 Red-tailed Hawk 4 American Kestrel 3 Killdeer 3 Common Snipe 2 Mourning Dove 16 Barn Owl 2 Vaux's Swift 2 Calliope Hummingbird 1 [3] Rufous Hummingbird 8 Belted Kingfisher 3 Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 Three-toed Woodpecker 1 [4] Northern Flicker 4 Hammond's Flycatcher 1 [5] Dusky Flycatcher 1 [6] Cassin's Vireo 5 Hutton's Vireo 1 Steller's Jay 11 Western Scrub-Jay 3 American Crow 27 Common Raven 19 Tree Swallow 30 Violet-green Swallow 75 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 32 Cliff Swallow 25 Barn Swallow 15 Black-capped Chickadee 14 Mountain Chickadee 1 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 6 Red-breasted Nuthatch 8 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 1 Winter Wren 12 American Dipper 6 Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6 Western Bluebird 1 [7] Mountain Bluebird 1 [8] Hermit Thrush 1 American Robin 53 European Starling 45 Orange-crowned Warbler 8 Yellow-rumped Warbler 21 Black-throated Gray Warbler 4 Hermit Warbler 4 [9] MacGillivray's Warbler 3 Common Yellowthroat 6 Wilson's Warbler 5 Western Tanager 1 Spotted Towhee 1 Chipping Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 16 Dark-eyed Junco 8 Black-headed Grosbeak 2 Lazuli Bunting 1 Red-winged Blackbird 23 Brewer's Blackbird 15 Brown-headed Cowbird 8 Purple Finch 11 Pine Siskin 14 Lesser Goldfinch 3 American Goldfinch 27 House Sparrow 4 Footnotes: [1] One with Canada Geese at Foster Lake [2] In full breeding plumage [3] Santiam Pass [4] Vocalising on the road into Hoodoo Butte [5] Singing at Foster Lake [6] Fish Lake [7] Thackaberry Sheep Farm [8] Santiam Pass [9] Singing in the Tombstone Pass area Total number of species seen: 78 From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun May 10 16:55:44 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 16:55:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] BLACK SWIFT QUESTION Message-ID: <460362.76195.qm@web45304.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> An excellent spot for Black Swift viewing is at New River in the SW corner of Coos Co. I see them there regularly from about mid-May to early June with the peak normally the 3rd week of May or so. You need to be down along the river there from sunrise to the the first couple hours after sunrise on a clear or overcast morning without rain or wind. The birds usually abruptly stop coming through after about two hours so get there early! New River is south of Bandon about 8 miles (just south of milepost 283) and there is a sign for the turnoff. You have to park and walk about 1/3 mile down the closed road to the boat ramp where there is open viewing along the river. I also have good luck from the ridge trail (there is a sign in the parking area that shows the trail system) in areas with open sky- you can often see them right above the treetops on the trail. All this said they are not totally predictable, and some (most?) clear mid- to late May mornings there are no Black Swifts at all, you just have to hit it right. In addition, Vaux's Swift routinely migrate through this area also. I have even seen White-throated Swift, but only once. Good luck! Tim Rodenkirk Coos Bay --- On Sun, 5/10/09, Doug Robberson wrote: > From: Doug Robberson > Subject: [obol] BLACK SWIFT QUESTION > To: "Oregon Birders On Line" > Date: Sunday, May 10, 2009, 2:00 PM > Are Black Swifts and were would be > the best place to see them on the coast > > Doug Robberson > Tigard, OR > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun May 10 17:16:33 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 17:16:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 5/10/2009 + Big Day Notes Message-ID: <378141.68061.qm@web45301.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> One bird that was still around today and Russ neglected to mention on our Big Day effort on 5/9 was the N MOCKINGBIRD which is still feeding in the grassy lot just south of the entrance to the BLM office in N. Bend.? It was a nice addition to our list. Out on the north spit of Coos Bay today there were several birds we missed yesterday (of course): 1- female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (rare but almost regular) 1- WESTERN KINGBIRD several singing YELLOW WARBLERS BUSHTIT Also there were singing OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS, fortunately Joe's sharp eye found a non-singing bird near Millicoma Marsh yesterday. There was also a male LAZULI BUNTING out there, a rare to uncommon migrant along the coast that I don't see every year (we had lots of them inland on our Big Day where they breed). We did not tally up our bird total until the end of the Big Day.? Before I did so I asked Russ how he thought we did, he figured we would have equal to or less birds than last years record 162, since we missed SO MANY easy birds.? I agreed.? Much to our surprise we had 171 when I added them up.? When Russ got home he went over the list and realized I had missed two birds we has seen.? Had we realized this earlier we may have continued our owling (we missed three species) and looked for something else (I have been known to tape for unusual species like CA Quail after dark before in order to break records) to try and tie the "unassailable" record of 177 in Klamath Co. by Steve Summers and Co. which hasn't been touched in many years.? However, I'm glad we didn't break the record as we will be psyched for another try at it next year knowing that 170 and above is actually possible in Coos Co. I would think a Lane Co. team could do some serious damage, there's a lot of country and birds between the coast and the top of the Cascades. Time for Dave Irons and fellow Lane Co. die-hard birders to try for a really big Lane Big Day! Merry migration all, Tim R Coos Bay From roygerig at hotmail.com Sun May 10 17:54:47 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 17:54:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Marion County Avocet Message-ID: I stopped at Ankeny NWR south of Salem today on the way to see my mom, and took a long walk around the dikes at Pintail and Egret and Mallard Marshes. Saw one AMERICAN AVOCET, I think only my second ever for the county, a beautiful lone BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER in flawless breeding plumage, and 5 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 2 of which were adults. Also heard but did not see a WILSON'S PHALAROPE. Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? goes with you. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Mobile1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090510/1e8d11d2/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun May 10 18:01:22 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 18:01:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Preliminary Clatsop NAMC Message-ID: <4A0778E2.1030101@pacifier.com> With four groups checking in the species total stands at 136. Notable species include first of the year OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, WESTERN TANAGER and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. A BANK SWALLOW was at the Warrenton sewage ponds sitting on a wire with CLIFF, ROUGH-WINGED and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. BARN and TREE SWALLOWS were also at the ponds and PURPLE MARTINS were at Hammond Boat Basin for a Oregon Coast swallow grand slam. 8 RED KNOTS were among the shorebirds seen at Trestle Bay. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From davect at bendnet.com Sun May 10 19:37:10 2009 From: davect at bendnet.com (david tracy) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 19:37:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln County Red Knot flocks, Sat. 9 May Message-ID: Saturday was the day for Red Knots along the coast. After seeing a distant flock flying past Government Point with Phil at Boiler bay, we took the kids down to one of our favorite beaches, as it usually is good for shorebird migration this time of year. Shortly after arriving at Beachside State Recreation Site, about 4 miles south of Waldport, a nice flock of 20 Red Knots landed on the beach right down in front of us. I got some digiscoped images and video as the birds worked their way up the beach before the flock split up and flew off over the breakers heading North. My pics aren't as nice as Mitreya's but I'll try and post them later this evening if I get some time. Dave david tracy davect at bendnet.com From bevbird at hevanet.com Sun May 10 21:11:30 2009 From: bevbird at hevanet.com (Bev) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 21:11:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Calliope Hummingbirds Message-ID: <79B9DECDF7724163A87253A5136A41DB@BERTHA> I visited friends over the weekend who live in Brownsville, OR. They actually live on Gap Road about 3 miles south of Brownsville. I saw, which I thought was unsual, a male and female Calliope in their yard and at their feeder. The Calliope Hummingbirds seemed to be just as aggressive as the Rufus.This is the first time that I have seen the Callilope Hummingbirds in Brownsville. Does anyone have any comment, or knowledge of Calliope Hummingbirds in this area? Are they just migrating through? I just saw 1 male and 1 female. Bev bevbird at hevanet.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090510/8fffdcc4/attachment.html From jmoodie at cocc.edu Sun May 10 22:03:43 2009 From: jmoodie at cocc.edu (Jim Moodie) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 22:03:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Deschutes County NAMC highlights Message-ID: The 2009 edition of the Deschutes NAMC preliminary results total 164 species including: Red-breasted Merganser (very tough to find in in the spring) Three-toed Woodpecker Bewick's Wren (two birds at Lower Bridge) Lark's Sparrow We cleaned up on woodpeckers, 11 species, corvids, eight species, and sparrows, 13 species. Misses included: Blue-winged teal Western Grebe Prairie Falcon Sandhill Crane (we had one fly over the lava flow near our house this morning! New yard bird #129) White-throated Swift Brown Creeper White-throated Sparrow Purple Finch (we had two in the yard today). Big thanks to all that participated and contributed to this year's count. Cheers, Jim Moodie From FoxSparrows at aol.com Sun May 10 22:09:57 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 01:09:57 EDT Subject: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper in Klamath County on Thursday evening Message-ID: While looking for Great Gray Owls near Klamath Marsh NWR on Thursday evening, I saw and photographed a SOLITARY SANDPIPER along Skellock Draw Road... didn't see any owls.This bird was in an extensive wetland meadow system that could certainly pass for breeding habitat later on in the spring. Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... Where life is good! _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm_ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) **************Recession-proof vacation ideas. Find free things to do in the U.S. (http://travel.aol.com/travel-ideas/domestic/national-tourism-week?ncid=emlcntustrav00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/36fb222d/attachment.html From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Sun May 10 22:44:17 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 22:44:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Florence - South Jetty Birds May 9, 2009 Message-ID: <884878.20767.qm@web30401.mail.mud.yahoo.com> In addition to the 44 Red Knots on the beach, I had 15 more in a flyby group, and 2 more near the crab dock for a total of 61.? The last 2 posed for closeup pictures, which can be seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30397515 at N07/ Although it was indeed the day of the RED KNOT, I had gone to Florence with the idea of perusing the WHIMBREL flocks. I saw ~400 WHIMBREL, perusing each bird from underneath as they slowly made headway against the stiff northwest wind. Other shorebirds included: 6 RUDDY TURNSTONES 540 DUNLIN (including several pure Dunlin flocks) 1,400 WESTERN SANDPIPER 35 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 1 GOLDEN PLOVER SPECIES 8 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER 15 LEAST SANDPIPER The Siuslaw River was not very birdy: 7 PELAGIC CORMORANTS 3 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS 2 COMMON LOON 1 PIGEON GILLEMOT also saw: 5 CASPIAN TERNS 1 TERN SPECIES (brief, distant view of bird flying with 2 Caspians, obviously smaller, but not well seen) 14 BRANT (flyby group) ?27 BROWN PELICANS (flying and on the jetty) ~200 GULL SPECIES (flying and on the jetty, no species noted accept big, pink-footed gulls of various ages and appearances) 1 GREAT BLUE HERON 3 OSPREY 1 RED-TAILED HAWK 1 NORTHERN HARRIER 2 TURKEY VULTURE 7 SAVANNAH SPARROW 3 AMERICAN ROBIN 10 CROW also photographed an odd peep, probably a molting western, but I put a photo of it on my flickr page. Maitreya ?Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.? Jonathan Livingston Seagull --- On Sun, 5/10/09, Mark Nikas wrote: From: Mark Nikas Subject: [obol] Linn County Ash-throated Flycatcher To: "OBOL" Date: Sunday, May 10, 2009, 12:19 PM An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was along Tub Run Rd. south of Brownsville on May 9th. An ATFL summered at this site last year. To reach this site from Brownsville head south from town on Gap Rd. for several miles to Belts Rd. Turn right on Belts for about 2 miles to where Tub Run Rd. begins. Continue straight on Tub Run about a mile to where the road makes a 90 degree turn to the west. The bird was seen 100 feet south of this corner in the oaks uphill and on wires along the road. This site can also be reached from I5 via the Harrisburg exit and Belts Rd. 3 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were in traditional fields off Belts Rd. The birds can be found along the first 3/4 miles of Belts Rd. west of Gap Rd. LAZULI BUNTINGS, VESPER SPARROWS and WESTERN KINGBIRDS are also being seen from this road. Mark Nikas _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090510/b287f112/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun May 10 23:54:31 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 06:54:31 +0000 Subject: [obol] Florence - South Jetty Birds May 9, 2009 In-Reply-To: <884878.20767.qm@web30401.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <884878.20767.qm@web30401.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Hi Maitreya, I took a look at the images on your Flickr page. Firstly, the Red Knot images are magnificent. Knots are one of my favorite birds. The threesome of peeps you photographed are all Westerns. The front bird is in full alternate plumage. Note the uniformity of the pattern and how all the back, scapular, and wing covert feathers have fresh white or rufous margins. The middle bird is still molting. While it shows a scattering of alternate (breeding) plumage feathers in the back and scaps, the wing coverts and wing feathers are still grayish brown with no real pattern overall and no evidence of fresh white or rufous margins. Additionally, the breast streaking and dark chevrons down the flanks are much more sparse that the fully alternate bird in the front of the group. The bird in the back looks to still have some of its basic (winter) plumage, but it is hard to tell. It looks to be farther along in its molt that the middle bird. Dave Irons Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 22:44:17 -0700 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Florence - South Jetty Birds May 9, 2009 In addition to the 44 Red Knots on the beach, I had 15 more in a flyby group, and 2 more near the crab dock for a total of 61. The last 2 posed for closeup pictures, which can be seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30397515 at N07/ Although it was indeed the day of the RED KNOT, I had gone to Florence with the idea of perusing the WHIMBREL flocks. I saw ~400 WHIMBREL, perusing each bird from underneath as they slowly made headway against the stiff northwest wind. Other shorebirds included: 6 RUDDY TURNSTONES 540 DUNLIN (including several pure Dunlin flocks) 1,400 WESTERN SANDPIPER 35 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 1 GOLDEN PLOVER SPECIES 8 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER 15 LEAST SANDPIPER The Siuslaw River was not very birdy: 7 PELAGIC CORMORANTS 3 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS 2 COMMON LOON 1 PIGEON GILLEMOT also saw: 5 CASPIAN TERNS 1 TERN SPECIES (brief, distant view of bird flying with 2 Caspians, obviously smaller, but not well seen) 14 BRANT (flyby group) 27 BROWN PELICANS (flying and on the jetty) ~200 GULL SPECIES (flying and on the jetty, no species noted accept big, pink-footed gulls of various ages and appearances) 1 GREAT BLUE HERON 3 OSPREY 1 RED-TAILED HAWK 1 NORTHERN HARRIER 2 TURKEY VULTURE 7 SAVANNAH SPARROW 3 AMERICAN ROBIN 10 CROW also photographed an odd peep, probably a molting western, but I put a photo of it on my flickr page. Maitreya ?Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.? Jonathan Livingston Seagull --- On Sun, 5/10/09, Mark Nikas wrote: From: Mark Nikas Subject: [obol] Linn County Ash-throated Flycatcher To: "OBOL" Date: Sunday, May 10, 2009, 12:19 PM An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was along Tub Run Rd. south of Brownsville on May 9th. An ATFL summered at this site last year. To reach this site from Brownsville head south from town on Gap Rd. for several miles to Belts Rd. Turn right on Belts for about 2 miles to where Tub Run Rd. begins. Continue straight on Tub Run about a mile to where the road makes a 90 degree turn to the west. The bird was seen 100 feet south of this corner in the oaks uphill and on wires along the road. This site can also be reached from I5 via the Harrisburg exit and Belts Rd. 3 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were in traditional fields off Belts Rd. The birds can be found along the first 3/4 miles of Belts Rd. west of Gap Rd. LAZULI BUNTINGS, VESPER SPARROWS and WESTERN KINGBIRDS are also being seen from this road. Mark Nikas _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? goes with you. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Mobile1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/24f0887f/attachment.html From henry at formandstructure.net Mon May 11 05:31:27 2009 From: henry at formandstructure.net (Henry Horvat) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 08:31:27 -0400 Subject: [obol] Columbia County Spring NAMC Message-ID: <07C53281B0F03B42A788AEB0D85CC1E9014B6DE3@BE057.mail.lan> OBOL'ers: On Saturday, May 9, John Gatchet, Darrel Whipple, Lona Pierce and Henry Horvat managed to find a total of 124 species of birds. Most of our group birded from 2:30 AM until 7:30 PM. We missed the previous new record for the county set in 2007 of 126 species and the latest record of 131 species set last year. Highlights were seeing a total of 10 Red Breasted Sapsuckers, 3 Bairds Sandpipers at Sauvie Island, and a new backyard bird for me, a Western Kingbird. But the real surprise came on Sunday. Lona Pierce had a Calliope Hummingbird at her feeders. She will do a separate post, with photos. Henry Horvat Scappoose Bottoms -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/5ea95cce/attachment.html From cncschneider at msn.com Mon May 11 07:50:38 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 07:50:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln NAMC; Roads End State Recreation Site 5/10/09 Glaucous Gull Message-ID: Hi Birders, I birded Roads End State Recreation Site yesterday (5/10/09). The best bird was GLAUCOUS GULL. List in taxonomic order: 15 Canada Geese 2 Mallard 1 Common Loon 1 Western Grebe 15 Brown Pelican 30 Pelagic Cormorant 10 Brandt's Cormorant 100 Sanderling 1 Dunlin 1 California Gull 30 Western Gull 2 Glaucous-winged Gull 1 Herring Gull 1 Glaucous Gull 2 Black Guillemot 5 American Crow 2 Barn Swallow 1 Violet-green Swallow 1 American Pipit 2 Song Sparrows 1 Savannah Sparrow 2 European Starling 2 Red-winged Blackbird 2 House Sparrows Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon cncschneider at msn.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/9a7b1a09/attachment.html From cncschneider at msn.com Mon May 11 08:07:33 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 08:07:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Correction for Lincoln NAMC; Roads End State Recreation Site 5/10/09 Glaucous Gull In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Birders, I made a mistake on my lists; it should be Pigeon Guillemot not Black Guillemot. I wrote the list last night and must have written the wrong species. Matthew Schneider From: Carl & Christine Schneiders Sent: Monday, May 11, 2009 7:50 AM To: cgates at webformixair.com ; obol Subject: [obol] Lincoln NAMC;Roads End State Recreation Site 5/10/09 Glaucous Gull Hi Birders, I birded Roads End State Recreation Site yesterday (5/10/09). The best bird was GLAUCOUS GULL. List in taxonomic order: 15 Canada Geese 2 Mallard 1 Common Loon 1 Western Grebe 15 Brown Pelican 30 Pelagic Cormorant 10 Brandt's Cormorant 100 Sanderling 1 Dunlin 1 California Gull 30 Western Gull 2 Glaucous-winged Gull 1 Herring Gull 1 Glaucous Gull 2 Black Guillemot 5 American Crow 2 Barn Swallow 1 Violet-green Swallow 1 American Pipit 2 Song Sparrows 1 Savannah Sparrow 2 European Starling 2 Red-winged Blackbird 2 House Sparrows Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon cncschneider at msn.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/6ded6b9f/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon May 11 08:10:09 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 08:10:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Harney County NAMC Highlights Message-ID: <2DB5450EA3D5424C88F064D9BBF5D2AF@cgatesPC> Kim Owen, David Shas, and myself did the Harney County NAMC. The weather was terrific and the birds were spectacular as usual. We did not come up with any crazy rarities but we had a great total of 138 species. Here are the highlights: Snow Goose Ross's Goose Trumpeter Swan SNOWY EGRET Semipalmated Plover Burrowing Owl Black-chinned Hummer Williamson's Sapsucker White-headed Woodpecker Yellow-breasted Chat Green-tailed Towhee Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/f58bc4c0/attachment.html From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Mon May 11 08:34:03 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 11:34:03 -0400 Subject: [obol] county first? Message-ID: Sunday afternoon a male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD was visiting my feeder all afternoon. I got a couple of photos that are good enough to ID it. It's definitely a first sighting in my yard, and perhaps for Columbia County. A male lazuli bunting is also making an appearance -- always brief but welcome. Still swamped with evening grosbeaks and band-tailed pigeons. Lona Pierce, Warren _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has a new way to see what's up with your friends. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/WhatsNew?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_WhatsNew1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/2a490625/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Mon May 11 08:47:41 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 15:47:41 +0000 Subject: [obol] Mystery Sparrow PHOTO Message-ID: Hi all, Let's see what you come up with on this one. Photo actually turned out decent. Please DO NOT post answer online. HINT: This is NOT a yard bird for me:) You can venture guesses on my pbase or private email. http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/recent_photos&page=all Good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Mon May 11 08:58:00 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 08:58:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Evening Grosbeaks in NW PDX Message-ID: <169C1E9F-99C1-4838-94DA-1E48A540B987@gmail.com> Between 8:30-8:45 AM I heard a bunch of EVENING GROSBEAKS calling outside. By walking down the street I found the tree two houses down and was delighted to see at least 30 EVENING GROSBEAKS, 3 WESTERN TANAGERS, and 2 WARBLING VIREOS all in the same big tree. Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland From watice at msn.com Mon May 11 10:29:52 2009 From: watice at msn.com (BILL ROSIE TICE) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 17:29:52 +0000 Subject: [obol] Polk NAMC Message-ID: Hi Folks, I ended up doing a big day in Polk County yesterday. At 3:30 AM nature was calling, so I fugured I might as well stay up and go owling. With the full moon out, owls were very quiet. I heard none. I did see 2 GREAT-HORNED OWLS as it was getting light. I quit about 7 pm tallying 126 species, which is 2 more than the record big day set by Roy Gerig and I 6 or 7 years ago. Best birds were one HORNED GREBE, a pair of REDHEADS, and one DUSKY FLYCATCHER, all at BSNWR. With a little luck at finding some harder species, and finding quite a few of the common ones, and good weather, I was able to reach that total. Easy misses.................yes there were a few: WESTERN WOOD PEWEE, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, BROWN CREEPER, BUSHTIT, BLUE-WINGED TEAL. Not sure if anyone else birded in the county or not, so Joel will have to figure that out. Bill Tice Falls City Birding: the best excuse for getting outdoors, and avoiding chores. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/6329854f/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon May 11 11:15:15 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 11:15:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Umatilla NAMC Highlights Message-ID: This just in from Aaron Skirvin and Jack Simmons who did the Umatilla NAMC. They gathered 112 species. [From Aaron Skirvin's email] "Unusual birds: Rough-legged Hawk, usually not seen after mid-April. One bird very well seen along Mud Springs Canyon Road. Glaucous-winged Gull, 2 adults perched on a small island on Columbia River; annual and uncommon on Columbia from Oct. - Mar. This is a little late for them. This is a good list of birds, considering I didn't do any birding in the Blue Mountains. Thus, I missed at least 20 species that occur there. " Chuck Gates NAMC State Coordinator -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/8254a00c/attachment.html From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Mon May 11 12:26:36 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 15:26:36 -0400 Subject: [obol] third in county Message-ID: My Columbia County sighting of a calliope hummer is the third recorded sighting during the past twelve months. Oh well. Still a good bird. Lona Pierce, Warren _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_BR_life_in_synch_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/67fbc6ec/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Mon May 11 12:31:44 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 12:31:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wasco County Big Day - 141 spp Message-ID: Yesterday, 10 May, David Mandell, Tim Janzen, John Gatchet, and I ran a big day in Wasco County, and ended up with 141 species (plus 2 additional spp on the Washington side of the Columbia River). This was our first attempt at a big day in this county, but we were blessed with superb weather and excellent scouting information, which (along with Wasco County's wide diversity of habitats) made possible a high species total on a first attempt. We benefited not only from David Mandell's scouting, but also from scouting help from Stefan Schlick and Shawneen Finnegan. And our special thanks go to Donna Lusthoff, who generously provided us with a wealth of information and advice from her deep and extensive knowledge of birding areas in this diverse county. We began with an hour of owling along Rt 26 south of Mt Hood, where we heard, once, a possible Boreal Owl (not counted) near the county line, but nothing else. At dawn we hiked in to Camas Prairie, where a pair of SANDHILL CRANES awaited us, along with 2 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS and a NORTHERN PYGMY OWL. We heard a distant SOOTY GROUSE booming on the way out, along with a growing complement of passerines. The Bear Springs Ranger Station and Campground area produced a singing LINCOLN'S SPARROW, as well as CASSIN'S FINCHES together with PURPLE FINCHES. Further stops along Rt 216 produced WILD TURKEY, WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, but we could not find Green-tailed Towhee. At Pine Grove, we had CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD, ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, and RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD at a single feeder. Out of the Cascades and into the high desert, we drove Victor Road, finding a pair of GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, a pair of LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES (thanks to David's scouting for both of these), and the day's first BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES, and LARK SPARROWS. We dipped on some shorebirds and waterfowl that had been at roadside ponds the week before, but while looking for them stumbled upon an AMERICAN PIPIT. On to the town of Maupin, where we had an AMERICAN DIPPER in Bakeoven Creek, and several new passerines including YELLOW WARBLER, our 9th warbler species of the day, and the first of many LESSER GOLDFINCHES. After hearing a scouted-out GRAY FLYCATCHER for species #100 at 11:00, we drove Bakeoven Road into the edge of the county's sagebrush country, adding SWAINSON'S HAWK, BREWER'S SPARROW, VESPER SPARROW, RING-NECKED PHEASANT, and SORA (but no Sage Thrasher). A PRAIRIE FALCON came north of Maupin. Then on to Tygh Valley (LEWIS'S WOODPECKER capital of the world, wow!) and the various wetlands of the Wamic region. Pine Hollow Reservoir surprised us with a CASPIAN TERN, WESTERN GREBE, RING-NECKED DUCKS, and LESSER SCAUP. Then we hit the goldmine of the day, the Price Road wetlands. We worked this productive spot for 12 new species, highlighted by 2 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS (rare for the county), 3 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, VIRGINIA RAIL, and loads of YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS. A second CASPIAN TERN was also here. Then came a two-hour-long drought of no new species, stuck at 128, until we came to the BANK SWALLOW colony at the Celilo Generating Station south of The Dalles (thanks, Donna). We then proceeded along I-84 east toward the Deschutes River mouth. We were excited to find an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN on Browns Island in the Columbia River, only to discover from our maps that the entire island is on the Washington side! At cliff faces west of the river mouth, we found nesting PEREGRINE FALCON and WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS. We missed CANYON WREN here, but a COOPER'S HAWK passed through to compensate for that miss. Most of the vegetation along the Deschutes is on the Sherman-County side, but we managed to pull out a couple of clutch BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES and BUSHTITS from the few trees on the Wasco side, as well as COMMON MERGANSER and two new gull species. Our final 2 1/2 hours of daylight, proceeding west along the Columbia River waterfront, were cloudy and rain-spattered, and we did not know our way around too well, so we managed only 3 more species: BEWICK'S WREN, COMMON GOLDENEYE, and GREATER SCAUP. We looked in vain for Belted Kingfisher, and a small flock of AMERICAN WIGEON was unfortunately on the Washington side. Of interest, though, was a flock of roughly 100 migrating Long-billed Dowitchers flying over both WA & OR waters near Celilo Park, looking for a place to land. We ourselves landed, tired but happy, at 141 species in Wasco Co., and 143 for the day, along with 7 mammals and 2 amphibians. A fun day for all. Jay Withgott, Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/2a405fec/attachment.html From birdboy at bkpix.com Mon May 11 12:46:43 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 12:46:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge 5/11 Message-ID: Hi birders, Highlights this morning from the Fisher and Coyote Units: 9 - WILSON'S PHALAROPE 1 - EURASIAN WIGEON 10 - BLACK TERN 2 - BLACK-NECKED STILT 38 - AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS 1 - LINCOLN'S SPARROW 2 - WHITE-FRONTED GEESE 2 - BUFFLEHEAD 1 - BLUE-WINGED TEAL 2 - SPOTTED SANDPIPERS 1 - YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT 1 - BULLOCK'S ORIOLE 1 - HOUSE WREN Good birding, Noah Strycker -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/74cf08ac/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Mon May 11 13:53:12 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 13:53:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <57405E910412438F933616E41A2E32F2@Phil> 6:00-7:15 AM (5/11): light drizzle, wind SW 5-15, swells 4-6 300+ Red-throated Loon 3000+ Pacific Loon (clumpy 30-80/minute) 20 Common Loon 15 Western Grebe 500+ Sooty Shearwater (N) 115 Brown pelican (N) 80 Brandt's Cormorant 40 Pelagic Cormorant 11 Brant 60 Cackling Goose 3 Greater Scaup 12 White-winged Scoter 200 Surf Scoter 3 Red-breasted Merganser 3 Whimbrel 200 calidris sp 2 California Gull 200 Western Gull (most N) 25 Glaucous-winged Gull 1 Heermann's Gull (subadult N) 6 Caspian Tern 600+ Common Murre (most N) 15 Pigeon Guillemot 4 Marbled Murrelet 1100+ Rhinoceros Auklet (continuous groups to 18 N) 2 Tufted Puffin (N) Phil philliplc at charter.net From bcombs232 at gmail.com Mon May 11 14:13:08 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 14:13:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Neck collared Tundra Swan Message-ID: <8ce3a6520905111413k7dc5b7e1waa5b49c6da52ccf5@mail.gmail.com> I just received from USGS a certificate for a Tundra Swan (the certificate says Whistling Swan) whose neck collar I read at the swan hangout near the small substation SW of Junction City on 10 Jan 2009. The swan was banded about 400 miles west of Anchorage in the Yukon Delta NWR, just north of the Pikmiktalik River. The bird hatched in 2006 or earlier. I looked at the banding location on Google Earth. The area is dotted with small ponds. It was hard to read the collar because the bird was so far away. It took me quite a while to get a letter/number combination I had some confidence in. I am really glad I made the effort. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/65a18018/attachment.html From gneavoll at comcast.net Mon May 11 14:31:39 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 21:31:39 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Grosbeaks, Solitaire at Portland's Taboir Message-ID: <466777944.6278191242077499485.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> EVENING GROSBEAKS (6) along Taylor Drive on Mount Tabor's n. side (near n. entrance) shortly before 12:30 p.m. today (5/11/09). TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE feeding on ground, flying into low branches of firs, maples below n. summit earlier. WARBLING VIREOS (at least two, one singing) in Bigleaf Maples at summit's n.e. corner. HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS (2-3) active all morning in low shrubs below n.e. corner. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER holding down s.e. corner of summit, in tall Douglas-fir there. George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/c3078ece/attachment.html From mazoerr at gmail.com Mon May 11 15:46:48 2009 From: mazoerr at gmail.com (Ann Chamberlain) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 15:46:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] notes from Lower Klamath WR Message-ID: <202f23ed0905111546n368e8be8x7a3b121a9d37bd18@mail.gmail.com> Friday I spent several hours at the Lower Klamath Wildlife Refuge. Wonderful, wonderful stuff! EARED GREBE - hundreds, all talking and just incredible - new life bird for me! WESTERN GREBE - hundreds DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT SNOWY EGRET - two COMMON EGRET WHITE-FACED IBIS - about a hundred SNOW GOOSE - one, with a family of Canada geese, babies included WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - two CANADA GOOSE GREEN-WINGED TEAL CINNAMON TEAL MALLARD NORTHERN PINTAIL GADWALL - with babies CANVASBACK REDHEAD RING-NECKED DUCK BUFFLEHEAD RUDDY DUCK TURKEY VULTURE OSPREY BALD EAGLE NORTHERN HARRIER RING-NECKED PHEASANT\ SANDHILL CRANE KILLDEER BALCK-NECKED STILT AVOCET WILLET LONG-BILLED DOWTICHER WILSON'S PHALAROPE CALIFORNIA GULL CASPIAN TERN FORSTER'S TERN VAUX'S SWIFT TREE SWALLOW - many nesting in the boxes provided CLIFF SWALLOW - nesting on side of old barn BARN SWALLOW YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE COMMON RAVEN BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER - huge flight - they were everywhere COMMON YELLOWTHROAT GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW SONG SPARROW TRI-COLORED BLACKBIRD YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD a big bunch of small shorebirds all on a sandbar and lumped together so closely I couldn't see a thing! Brown lumps. Not too bad for a short visit. Ann outside of Myrtle Creek -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/547e1fe2/attachment.html From mazoerr at gmail.com Mon May 11 15:48:28 2009 From: mazoerr at gmail.com (Ann Chamberlain) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 15:48:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] rufous hummers Message-ID: <202f23ed0905111548g4408226ey9daa92c00b0c4100@mail.gmail.com> Forgot to add when I got home the first hatch of hummers had fledged. I can count up to twelve immatures in one field of my glasses at one time. Probably closer to twenty babies! And the mason bees have filled all the blocks already. Ann outside Myrtle Creek -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/16b4bea0/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Mon May 11 16:38:17 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 16:38:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black-Headed Grosbeak Message-ID: My backyard birding has been mostly uneventful of late but I had a rather dull male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK this afternoon. Tom Escue Central Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/ec51b6c1/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon May 11 16:53:22 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 16:53:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Grackle photo Message-ID: I have put a photo of the Fern Ridge GT Grackle on my bird photo blog site. http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Mon May 11 17:03:06 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (Denise Hughes) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 18:03:06 -0600 Subject: [obol] Baker County Compiler Message-ID: <464db1a10905111703j7be4374eq9ba094de1fdd7847@mail.gmail.com> Hello The Malheur County bird count took us briefly into Baker County at Farewell Bend State Park and Huntington. Please send me the email address of the compiler for Baker County. Thanks. -- Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho dhughes55 at clearwire.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/9b1cd20a/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon May 11 18:07:05 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 18:07:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook NAMC Highlights Message-ID: The Crook County NAMC was on Saturday and we had a great time. 5 groups and 3 feeder watchers surveyed the county. So far, we have tallied 144 Species. The best bird was a PURPLE MARTIN found at Houston Lake. This is only the 3rd or 4th record for this species in Central Oregon. Other good finds included: Wood Duck (not easy to find in spring) Chukar Ruffed Grouse White Pelican Great Egret Peregrine Falcon Sandhill Crane Dunlin Bonaparte's Gull Black Tern Short-eared Owl Common Poorwill Tricolored Blackbird Misses included: Western Tanager Dusky Flycatcher (there the day before) Hairy Woodpecker (everywhere but where we were) Black-chinned Hummingbird (there the day before) Sage Sparrow (there the day before) American Bittern (there the day before) Pygmy Owl (ran out of time in the right habitat) Barn Owl (checked all historic locations and all were empty) Black-necked Stilt (everywhere a week ago) Cooper's Hawk (one is resident in my neighborhood) Canvasback (Almost always some at Gutierrez Ranch) Redhead (Almost always some at Gutierrez Ranch) N. Pintail (Almost always some at Gutierrez Ranch) Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/ba6ae250/attachment.html From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Mon May 11 18:38:16 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (Denise Hughes) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 19:38:16 -0600 Subject: [obol] Malheur County NAMC Message-ID: <464db1a10905111838p7fba8c9ct703e63749040fb34@mail.gmail.com> There were enough people to send one group to the southern part of the county and a second group covered the northern part of the county. Listed below are the highlights of both groups. Black Terns Great Horned Owls (1 nestling) Two nests with 6 nestling Red Tailed Hawks Bullocks Orioles Western Tanagers 2 large rafts of Ruddy ducks (1 group of 120 ducks in south, 1 group 0f 73 in north) White Pelicans (the birds were herding fish and feeding) Golden Eagles (seen by both groups) White faced Ibis Willets Black headed Grosbeaks Western Kingbirds in the north far outnumbered the Starlings. Junco Lewis's Woodpecker (2 seen at Baker/Malheur County line so one counted in each county) Misses Only 6 warblers were seen (yellow, yellow rumped and nashville) -- Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho dhughes55 at clearwire.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/861e820b/attachment.html From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Mon May 11 18:21:26 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (Denise Hughes) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 19:21:26 -0600 Subject: [obol] Farewell Bend area count Message-ID: <464db1a10905111821r56ac0d8dqd6f7502220106d5f@mail.gmail.com> Below is a list and count of the birds seen in southern Baker County. The Lewis's Woodpecker and Junco were a surpise. Canada Geese - 12 California Quail - 7 Pied billed Grebe - 1 Swainson's Hawk - 1 Red tailed Hawk - 3 Mourning Dove - 12 Great Horned Owl - 1 Lewis Woodpecker - 1 Western Kingbird - 20 Magpie - 3 Raven - 5 Cliff Swallow - 11 Denise Hughes Caldwell, ID Barn Swallow - 13 Robin - 9 Dark eyed Junco - 2 Red winged Blackbird - 31 Western Meadowlark - 19 Brewers Blackbird - 11 House Finch - 7 House Sparrow - 5 -- Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho dhughes55 at clearwire.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/4c7cb29f/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Mon May 11 19:20:53 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 19:20:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Calliope Hummingbird & Western Tanager Message-ID: Another male Calliope Hummingbird spotted here today. He was very nice to hover and stare into the kitchen for a prolonged period of time so we could be sure it was him. Dad (John) also saw a Western Tanager. Anna Thomas 5 miles N of Silverton From namitzr at hotmail.com Mon May 11 21:17:42 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 21:17:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon County Big Day record! Message-ID: I went back and checked records and it appears that the Oregon County Big Day record is 171 species (not 177 like I said) set by Steve Summers, Jim Carlson and Steve Gordon in Klamath County back on May 12th, 1984. I recounted our species list for Coos and came up with 172 (took off the Dowitcher sp.) which means that we edged ahead by a nose. With numbers from non-participants of the Coos Big Day, the NAMC species count stands at 178. Not bad. Good birding, Russ Namitz -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/333a4a62/attachment.html From sbkornfeld at msn.com Mon May 11 21:50:23 2009 From: sbkornfeld at msn.com (STEVE KORNFELD) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 21:50:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper - Calliope Crossing Message-ID: Birders, Nice morning at Calliope Crossing. Both vireos on territory. Nice movement of Townsend's Warblers among the Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Nashville, Wilson's, Orange-crowned, Yellowthroats and MacGillivray's. Migrating Hammond's and Dusky Flycatchers with Gray Flycatchers on territory in the surrounding woods. The highlight was a Solitary Sandpiper working the flooded depression near the road. He seemed quite at home. Steve Kornfeld Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090511/43672d4c/attachment.html From justin.bosler at gmail.com Mon May 11 22:18:42 2009 From: justin.bosler at gmail.com (Justin Bosler) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 22:18:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge 5/11 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <97d12a010905112218j300a888dyb064a5839beb72db@mail.gmail.com> OBOL, The drake EURASIAN WIGEON, all 38 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, and about 8 distant BLACK TERNS were still around the Fisher Unit off of Royal Avenue this windy evening of 11 May as I was leaving Eugene for Reedsport. Good Birding, Justin Bosler On Mon, May 11, 2009 at 12:46 PM, Noah Strycker wrote: > Hi birders, > > Highlights this morning from the Fisher and Coyote Units: > > 9 - WILSON'S PHALAROPE > 1 - EURASIAN WIGEON > 10 - BLACK TERN > 2 - BLACK-NECKED STILT > 38 - AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS > 1 - LINCOLN'S SPARROW > 2 - WHITE-FRONTED GEESE > 2 - BUFFLEHEAD > 1 - BLUE-WINGED TEAL > 2 - SPOTTED SANDPIPERS > 1 - YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT > 1 - BULLOCK'S ORIOLE > 1 - HOUSE WREN > > Good birding, > > Noah Strycker > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Justin Bosler Reedsport, OR justin.bosler at gmail.com 717-475-9998 http://www.flickr.com/photos/29219448 at N08/ From LCain at astoria.k12.or.us Tue May 12 06:16:46 2009 From: LCain at astoria.k12.or.us (Lee Cain) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 06:16:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Green Heron, FOY Message-ID: <515DDA9BF1AC1E42829D6CD2AA9FC401352C9E4DB6@asdxcng.intra.astoria.k12.or.us> My first of year (yay!) GREEN HERON flushed out of the FISH TANKS area (booo!) at the AHS Applied Science Center yesterday when I got to school. Sort of a bittersweet feeling -- now I have to make sure all systems are constantly covered... Lee Cain >//////> >//////> >//////> >//////> Aquatic Biology/Integrated Science https://www.edline.net/pages/Astoria_SHS (go to Contents, then Classes, then by teacher) Astoria High School 1001 West Marine Drive Astoria OR 97103 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090512/6bcd875f/attachment.html From rockawaybirder at yahoo.com Tue May 12 06:39:45 2009 From: rockawaybirder at yahoo.com (Ilene Samowitz) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 06:39:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Shorebird Photos from Bottle Beach, WA on May 10 Message-ID: <824092.68273.qm@web31802.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I uploaded the first batch of shorebird photos that I processed Photos include dunlin, western sandpipers and whimbrel. Enjoy. http://ilenesamowitz.smugmug.com/gallery/6747805_PNjrR/1/#534708140_ByCKQ-A-LB Ilene Samowitz Seattle, WA Rockaway Beach, OR www.ilenesamowitz.com www.ilenesamowitzphoto.com http://blog.ilenesamowitzphoto.com/ From kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us Tue May 12 06:40:31 2009 From: kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us (Kyle W Bratcher) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 06:40:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] White-winged Crossbill Message-ID: This morning I had a group of Red Crossbills on my feeder with one male White-winged Crossbill mixed in. I've been seeing a few Red Crossbills along with some siskins and Evening Grosbeaks. Hopefully it hangs around. Good Birding. Kyle Bratcher -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090512/6d6f4b91/attachment.html From kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us Tue May 12 07:42:38 2009 From: kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us (Kyle W Bratcher) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 07:42:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] White-wing Crossbill location Message-ID: Sorry,I should have pointed that the WW crossbill was seen in my back yard in Joseph, OR. Kyle Bratcher Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 65495 Alderslope Road Enterprise, OR 97828 Phone: (541) 426-6057 Fax: (541) 426-3055 E-mail: Kyle.W.Bratcher at state.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090512/364d8088/attachment.html From ronaldgp at onlinemac.com Tue May 12 08:26:08 2009 From: ronaldgp at onlinemac.com (ronaldgp at onlinemac.com) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 08:26:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Baskett Slough 5/10 Message-ID: Three of us from the church group continued on our trip to Baskett Slough NWR even though it was Mother's Day. We had a really good day, especially for mid-afternoon (started at 1:45). We got to try out my new 30x eye piece for my scope. Very useful addition! We didn't need it, though, as we left the refuge at 5:00 pm. While waiting on Colville Rd for traffic on 99W to clear, we saw ~50 goldfinches in a flock feasting on weed seeds in the vineyard. Most were American, but there were some Lesser as well. They really blended in with the new leaf growth on the vines! A number of expected species were not seen, but 42 species were observed (best with * and notes, in order seen): Red-tailed Hawk Barn Swallow American Widgeon Mallard American Coot Ruddy Duck Green-winged Teal Red-winged Blackbird Cinnamon Teal Ring-necked Duck Dowitcher spp. Bonaparte's Gull* - pair on island from viewing platform Bufflehead Canada Goose Northern Pintail Northern Shoveler Gadwall Dunlin Baird's Sandpiper* - same island as gulls White-crowned Sparrow Violet-green Swallow Western Tanager American Robin American Goldfinch Pied-billed Grebe Western Meadowlark Northern Flicker Bewick's Wren Scrub Jay Killdeer Blue-winged Teal* - pair, adjacent to Colville Rd., E. end of water, S. side Black-necked Stilt* - pair, adjacent to Colville Rd., W. end of water, S. side Cackling Goose European Starling Brewer's Blackbird American Crow Turkey Vulture Great Blue Heron Tree Swallow White-breasted Nuthatch American Kestrel Lesser Goldfinch Ron --- Ronald G. Peterson McMinnville, Oregon From mazoerr at gmail.com Tue May 12 08:46:39 2009 From: mazoerr at gmail.com (Ann Chamberlain) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 08:46:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lower Klamath trip report In-Reply-To: <653eaf880905112201y5c84b697m595acf738236d008@mail.gmail.com> References: <653eaf880905112201y5c84b697m595acf738236d008@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <202f23ed0905120846pd03cbaeh98e7dff89820f337@mail.gmail.com> I realized after I typed that in I was wrong. Black-billed of course, but I was just going down the list and failed to proof-read! and hit send too fast. My apologies to all. On Mon, May 11, 2009 at 10:01 PM, David Hewitt wrote: > Hi Ann, > > I enjoyed reading your post from Lower Klamath -- it sure is a magical > time to be down there. Are you sure the Yellow-billed Magpie was not a > Black-billed? To my knowledge, yellow-billed has never been recorded > in this area. > > - Dave Hewitt > Klamath Falls > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090512/e084fe66/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue May 12 08:56:46 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 08:56:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] LaGrande Grackle photo Message-ID: I have posted Cathy Nowak's photo of the Union County GT Grackle on my bird photo blog site. http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary From rhinochaser67 at yahoo.com Tue May 12 09:01:21 2009 From: rhinochaser67 at yahoo.com (Greg Gabel) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 09:01:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Men and Birding Message-ID: <833033.53227.qm@web31103.mail.mud.yahoo.com> While to those initiated, birding is an obvious obsession. It is noble, invigorating, and righteous; you know, like a Prius owner. To those uninitiated it is baffling and may even induce a feeling of pity. I have found this to be particularly troublesome when the topic of birds comes up around other men. Typically men have no problem understanding the romance of the WWF, or the allure of hockey, but bring up the beauty of a Chestnut- backed Chickadee and you?re in no man?s land. I had an opportunity to take a friend out for his first time birding on furlough Friday. We went to Sauvie and hiked the Wapato. I was complaining about not being able to get too many of my guy friends to go birding to which he responded, "Being a gay man, I will go birding anytime. I love it!" He then danced down the trail and loudly tried to mimic the red-wing blackbirds...I don't' know what sexual orientation has to do with birding, and I didn't question it ,but knew one thing for sure today was going to be a low scoring game. Just then some eagles flew by quite low and there was much celebration. Further down the trail I was doing what I like to call, "cold calling" which is when you scan trees in an area where there is no song or movement, no indication of any bird at all except that there are sticks and leaves. Cold calling is an optimist's birding method. Just then I came across a great horned. It was hard to see so we walked through the field of stinging nettles (with shorts on) to get a better view. Besides the rash on my legs it was a good day... Later that afternoon I headed down to Nehalem valley where I have a cabin near the Northfork. When I arrived there was a dead Swainson's Thrush on the porch. Note to self- get swallow stickers for the windows. I cracked a cold one(btw someone needs to invent a beer holder for birders) and walked down to the river and in the clearing saw dozens of tanagers, many wilson's warblers, one black throated gray warbler and the band-tails with their thunderous clapping was reminiscent of Old Town Portland. I had some folks coming down to go surfing in the morning so I wandered back to get dinner started. The next morning we all headed out to Short Sands beach. The weather was beautiful but the surf was small so it provided some extra moments to study the Murres, Guillemots,etc. I had one halfway decent ride and when I paddled back out one of guys said, "Hey nice one" and I replied, "Thanks, did you see how close those Oystercatchers came to me?". He stared blankly and just said, "Dude, please tell me an Oystercatcher is not some kind of shark". I decided to keep quite about birds for awhile but I thought if a Black-footed Albatross or the like flies over I might not be able to restrain myself. Later as we started to walk up the trail I spotted a baldy on top of one of the snags. I immediately shouted, "Oooh! guys check that out". To which they replied "That is #%&*@#$ cool!" Birds of prey are fair game for any audience of men. They represent violence,carnage,intimidation and freedom. One could conceivably make an effortless transition from discussing NASCAR to talking about the time you saw a Osprey attack a Bufflehead. Further up the trail as they guys started to settle into a mild argument about the Blazers I paused a bit to listen to a call. It was a willow flycatcher's -"PICKmeee" but it was difficult to hear over the chatter of the Winter wrens,Wilson's and something about Brandon Roy. Then the guy right behind me in inquired "Hey do you know what kind of bird that is?" And the next thing you know it's 5 minutes later and we are still talking songbirds. Birds of prey are one thing but one has to be cautious when entering into the realm of songbirds in the company of men. The rest of the group fell silent long ago. They were either interested or just plain shell shocked. We said our goodbyes and they headed home. The next morning I did not wake to the sound of Varied Thrushes which was unusual, but there were some other songs that I was clueless about. After some coffee I pulled on my "Birding is Punk Rock" T-shirt and headed for the Nehalem Sewage ponds or as I like to call it-?the poop factory.? The ponds are closed on Sunday's but as my father used to say "Don't let a measly fence get between you and the potential of a new species". Actually I think it was something like "between you and some good huntin'", but I have adapted it for my own needs. There wasn't really much going on there anyway so I head on down the road. When I arrived at work on Monday someone had written "I heart birds" on my coffee mug. Fair enough, give me a month or two and I will have them all converted. From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Tue May 12 09:08:47 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 09:08:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper at Tualatin River NWR Message-ID: <020001c9d31b$ef4bcdb0$cde36910$@NET> Apologies for the late post. There was a SOLITARY SANDPIPER at the Tualatin River NWR on Saturday May 9. It was in the recently drained area to right (north) of the dike road from the entrance or bus stop area. Pictures at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_pix/ Tom Shreve Tigard -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090512/e600e75b/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue May 12 09:13:29 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 09:13:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Men and Birding In-Reply-To: <833033.53227.qm@web31103.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Greg, good job corrupting the macho hetero youth of America, keep it up. They will be hearing Wedge-tailed Shearwaters in their sleep and pretty soon they'll whisper something about Bay-breasted Warblers into their girlfriends' ears, which should be quite the conversation-starter. A quick tour through the picidae and before they know it, it will be dawn. And there is a national online chat group for gay birders, in case your friend isn't a member. This year we are having a sort of convention in that mecca for gay life, Spearfish, South Dakota. I'm not going but I understand that they have a big turnout. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Greg Gabel > Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 09:01:21 -0700 (PDT) > To: > Subject: [obol] Men and Birding > > While to those initiated, birding is an obvious obsession. It is noble, > invigorating, and righteous; you know, like a Prius owner. To those > uninitiated it is baffling and may even induce a feeling of pity. I have found > this to be particularly troublesome when the topic of birds comes up around > other men. Typically men have no problem understanding the romance of the > WWF, or the allure of hockey, but bring up the beauty of a Chestnut- backed > Chickadee and you?re in no man?s land. I had an opportunity to take a friend > out for his first time birding on furlough Friday. We went to Sauvie and > hiked the Wapato. I was complaining about not being able to get too many of my > guy friends to go birding to which he responded, "Being a gay man, I will go > birding anytime. I love it!" He then danced down the trail and loudly tried to > mimic the red-wing blackbirds...I don't' know what sexual orientation has to > do with birding, and I didn't question it ,but knew one thing for sure today > was going to be a low scoring game. Just then some eagles flew by quite low > and there was much celebration. Further down the trail I was doing what I > like to call, "cold calling" which is when you scan trees in an area where > there is no song or movement, no indication of any bird at all except that > there are sticks and leaves. Cold calling is an optimist's birding method. > Just then I came across a great horned. It was hard to see so we walked > through the field of stinging nettles (with shorts on) to get a better view. > Besides the rash on my legs it was a good day... Later that afternoon I > headed down to Nehalem valley where I have a cabin near the Northfork. When I > arrived there was a dead Swainson's Thrush on the porch. Note to self- get > swallow stickers for the windows. I cracked a cold one(btw someone needs to > invent a beer holder for birders) and walked down to the river and in the > clearing saw dozens of tanagers, many wilson's warblers, one black throated > gray warbler and the band-tails with their thunderous clapping was reminiscent > of Old Town Portland. I had some folks coming down to go surfing in the > morning so I wandered back to get dinner started. The next morning we all > headed out to Short Sands beach. The weather was beautiful but the surf was > small so it provided some extra moments to study the Murres, Guillemots,etc. I > had one halfway decent ride and when I paddled back out one of guys said, "Hey > nice one" and I replied, "Thanks, did you see how close those Oystercatchers > came to me?". He stared blankly and just said, "Dude, please tell me an > Oystercatcher is not some kind of shark". I decided to keep quite about birds > for awhile but I thought if a Black-footed Albatross or the like flies over I > might not be able to restrain myself. Later as we started to walk up the > trail I spotted a baldy on top of one of the snags. I immediately shouted, > "Oooh! guys check that out". To which they replied "That is #%&*@#$ cool!" > Birds of prey are fair game for any audience of men. They represent > violence,carnage,intimidation and freedom. One could conceivably make an > effortless transition from discussing NASCAR to talking about the time you saw > a Osprey attack a Bufflehead. Further up the trail as they guys started to > settle into a mild argument about the Blazers I paused a bit to listen to a > call. It was a willow flycatcher's -"PICKmeee" but it was difficult to hear > over the chatter of the Winter wrens,Wilson's and something about Brandon Roy. > Then the guy right behind me in inquired "Hey do you know what kind of bird > that is?" And the next thing you know it's 5 minutes later and we are still > talking songbirds. Birds of prey are one thing but one has to be cautious when > entering into the realm of songbirds in the company of men. The rest of the > group fell silent long ago. They were either interested or just plain shell > shocked. We said our goodbyes and they headed home. The next morning I did > not wake to the sound of Varied Thrushes which was unusual, but there were > some other songs that I was clueless about. After some coffee I pulled on my > "Birding is Punk Rock" T-shirt and headed for the Nehalem Sewage ponds or as I > like to call it-?the poop factory.? The ponds are closed on Sunday's but as > my father used to say "Don't let a measly fence get between you and the > potential of a new species". Actually I think it was something like "between > you and some good huntin'", but I have adapted it for my own needs. There > wasn't really much going on there anyway so I head on down the road. When I > arrived at work on Monday someone had written "I heart birds" on my coffee > mug. Fair enough, give me a month or two and I will have them all > converted. _______________________________________________ obol > mailing > list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From mazoerr at gmail.com Tue May 12 09:46:44 2009 From: mazoerr at gmail.com (Ann Chamberlain) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 09:46:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Green Heron, FOY In-Reply-To: <515DDA9BF1AC1E42829D6CD2AA9FC401352C9E4DB6@asdxcng.intra.astoria.k12.or.us> References: <515DDA9BF1AC1E42829D6CD2AA9FC401352C9E4DB6@asdxcng.intra.astoria.k12.or.us> Message-ID: <202f23ed0905120946j2078512coa0ca871f59861d1b@mail.gmail.com> Forgot to add to my Klamath adventure that turning onto 62 by Eagle Point, a GREEN HERON flew over on Sunday afternoon. Ann outside myrtle Creek On Tue, May 12, 2009 at 6:16 AM, Lee Cain wrote: > My first of year (yay!) GREEN HERON flushed out of the FISH TANKS area > (booo!) at the AHS Applied Science Center yesterday when I got to school. > Sort of a bittersweet feeling -- now I have to make sure all systems are > constantly covered... > ** > *Lee Cain > >//////> >//////> >//////> >//////> > Aquatic Biology/Integrated Science > https://www.edline.net/pages/Astoria_SHS > (go to Contents, then Classes, then by teacher)* > *Astoria High School > 1001 West Marine Drive > Astoria OR 97103* > ** > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090512/f8c6bcdc/attachment.html From steve_dougill at hotmail.com Tue May 12 09:49:40 2009 From: steve_dougill at hotmail.com (Steve Dougill) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 09:49:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lake County Birds Message-ID: This last weekend 10 of us helped with breeding raptor surveys on Hart Mountain, in Southern Central Oregon. What a fantastic time. Friday, I met up with Peter Lowe at Summer Lake after visiting the forest above Silver Lake first. We birded the rest of the day on the way down to Hart Mountain and then again yesterday on the way back ?.We found a total of 174 species! We will be doing more surveys in mid June, so contact me for more information if you want to help. Highlights: Thompson Reservoir area ? WH WOODPECKER BLACK BACK WOODPECKER LEWIS?S WOODPECKER ? lots WILLIMASON?S and RB SAPSUCKER ROUGH GROUSE - 1 SOOTY GROUSE ? 3 Summer lake area ? 1 RED KNOT Lots of DUNLIN, PHARALOPES and LEAST SANDPIPERS Abert lake 1 MARBLED GODWIT 3000 WILSON PHARALOPE 2000 DUNLIN 2 BC HUMMERS 1 CALIOPE HUMMER 2 LAZULI BUNTING Hart Mountain 3 LONG EARED OWLS 7 SHORT EARED OWLS SAGE GROUSE 7 FRANKLIN GULLS Summer lake (5/11) 3 SANDERLING 3 BB PLOVER 1 SB DOWITCHER 2000 LB DOWITCHER 1500 DUNLIN, WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS 1 SNOWY EGRET Other Locations ? 3 Yellow RailGoshawks Steve Dougill, Redmond, Deschutes Co., OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? goes with you. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Mobile1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090512/25bdc157/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Tue May 12 10:56:05 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 10:56:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Dunlin? Message-ID: <81b2a9930905121056y6a209abx956822d5a3581c88@mail.gmail.com> While at Heceta Head State Park on Sunday, I saw a small flock of what appeared to be Dunlin probing the shoreline (apologies, had the wide-angle lens attached at the time)... http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3395/3520271255_e9b854e43a_b.jpg Are they typically still found on the coast in mid-May? My understanding is that they breed way up in Northern Alaska, and I would think that the majority of them would've left by now. Then again, I'm not a shorebird expert. Brandon Eugene From philliplc at charter.net Tue May 12 10:56:21 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 10:56:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <7BC383778F264EDD9A7E943EF9C99DE2@Phil> 5:45-9:30 AM (5/12): showers w/partial clearing, wind W 15-30, swells 8-10 300+ Red-throated Loon 4000+ Pacific Loon (pulsing to 100/min between showers) 50 Common Loon 20 Western Grebe 2 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS (apparent pair S @ ~2 miles) 300+ Northern Fulmar (S, mixed light/dark) 1 probable PTERODROMA SP (dark, consistent with Murphy's*) 15 Pink-footed Shearwater 2+ Short-tailed Shearwater (singles within 1/2 mile) 10000+ Sooty Shearwater (continuous widely scattered S) 1 Leach's Storm-Petrel 3 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel 16 Brown Pelican 1 Double-crested Cormorant 200 Brandt's Cormorant 100 Pelagic Cormorant 2 Cackling Goose 19 Brant 10 White-winged Scoter 500 Surf Scoter 1 Peregrine Falcon 11 Whimbrel 50 calidris sp. 5 Red Phalarope 40000+ Red-necked Phalaraope (continuous widely scattered small flocks N, still many moving when I left) 1 Bonaparte's Gull 6 California Gull 600+ Western Gull (most N) 60 Glaucous-winged Gull 1 Heermann's Gull (subadult) 5 Caspian Tern 1 Common Tern (N) 1000+ Common Murre (trending S) 80 Pigeon Guillemot 2 Marbled Murrelet 50 Rhinoceros Auklet (S) 3 Tufted Puffin *Distant brief observation of dark, fast, high-wheeling tubenose flying with thick pulse of Sootys and Fulmars between 1 and 1.5 miles out in direct sunlight. Obviously smaller/more compact than Fulmar. Slightly smaller-bodied than Sooty. In direct comparison detectably grayer on the upperparts than Sooty. Plumage mostly uniformly dark except for apparent hint of faint M patterning to upperwings and pale flash from under-primaries. Under-secondary coverts appeared all-dark. Phil philliplc at charter.net From pamelaj at spiritone.com Tue May 12 11:05:16 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 11:05:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Men and Birding References: <833033.53227.qm@web31103.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Please try to write about the bird sightings. Personal relations, gender roles, and sexual orientation are not on a par with birds: what you see, where you see it, and what it's doing. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg Gabel" To: Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:01 AM Subject: [obol] Men and Birding While to those initiated, birding is an obvious obsession. It is noble, invigorating, and righteous; you know, like a Prius owner. To those uninitiated it is baffling and may even induce a feeling of pity. I have found this to be particularly troublesome when the topic of birds comes up around other men. Typically men have no problem understanding the romance of the WWF, or the allure of hockey, but bring up the beauty of a Chestnut- backed Chickadee and you?re in no man?s land. I had an opportunity to take a friend out for his first time birding on furlough Friday. We went to Sauvie and hiked the Wapato. I was complaining about not being able to get too many of my guy friends to go birding to which he responded, "Being a gay man, I will go birding anytime. I love it!" He then danced down the trail and loudly tried to mimic the red-wing blackbirds...I don't' know what sexual orientation has to do with birding, and I didn't question it ,but knew one thing for sure today was going to be a low scoring game. Just then some eagles flew by quite low and there was much celebration. Further down the trail I was doing what I like to call, "cold calling" which is when you scan trees in an area where there is no song or movement, no indication of any bird at all except that there are sticks and leaves. Cold calling is an optimist's birding method. Just then I came across a great horned. It was hard to see so we walked through the field of stinging nettles (with shorts on) to get a better view. Besides the rash on my legs it was a good day... Later that afternoon I headed down to Nehalem valley where I have a cabin near the Northfork. When I arrived there was a dead Swainson's Thrush on the porch. Note to self- get swallow stickers for the windows. I cracked a cold one(btw someone needs to invent a beer holder for birders) and walked down to the river and in the clearing saw dozens of tanagers, many wilson's warblers, one black throated gray warbler and the band-tails with their thunderous clapping was reminiscent of Old Town Portland. I had some folks coming down to go surfing in the morning so I wandered back to get dinner started. The next morning we all headed out to Short Sands beach. The weather was beautiful but the surf was small so it provided some extra moments to study the Murres, Guillemots,etc. I had one halfway decent ride and when I paddled back out one of guys said, "Hey nice one" and I replied, "Thanks, did you see how close those Oystercatchers came to me?". He stared blankly and just said, "Dude, please tell me an Oystercatcher is not some kind of shark". I decided to keep quite about birds for awhile but I thought if a Black-footed Albatross or the like flies over I might not be able to restrain myself. Later as we started to walk up the trail I spotted a baldy on top of one of the snags. I immediately shouted, "Oooh! guys check that out". To which they replied "That is #%&*@#$ cool!" Birds of prey are fair game for any audience of men. They represent violence,carnage,intimidation and freedom. One could conceivably make an effortless transition from discussing NASCAR to talking about the time you saw a Osprey attack a Bufflehead. Further up the trail as they guys started to settle into a mild argument about the Blazers I paused a bit to listen to a call. It was a willow flycatcher's -"PICKmeee" but it was difficult to hear over the chatter of the Winter wrens,Wilson's and something about Brandon Roy. Then the guy right behind me in inquired "Hey do you know what kind of bird that is?" And the next thing you know it's 5 minutes later and we are still talking songbirds. Birds of prey are one thing but one has to be cautious when entering into the realm of songbirds in the company of men. The rest of the group fell silent long ago. They were either interested or just plain shell shocked. We said our goodbyes and they headed home. The next morning I did not wake to the sound of Varied Thrushes which was unusual, but there were some other songs that I was clueless about. After some coffee I pulled on my "Birding is Punk Rock" T-shirt and headed for the Nehalem Sewage ponds or as I like to call it-?the poop factory.? The ponds are closed on Sunday's but as my father used to say "Don't let a measly fence get between you and the potential of a new species". Actually I think it was something like "between you and some good huntin'", but I have adapted it for my own needs. There wasn't really much going on there anyway so I head on down the road. When I arrived at work on Monday someone had written "I heart birds" on my coffee mug. Fair enough, give me a month or two and I will have them all converted. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From goosemiller at gmail.com Tue May 12 11:10:55 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 11:10:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Men and Birding In-Reply-To: <833033.53227.qm@web31103.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4a09bbb0.1d078e0a.673b.ffff811d@mx.google.com> Hi Greg: I really enjoyed your post, thought it was fun to read. Happy Birding! The topic of geese is always a wonderful way to start a conversation. Marilyn Miller -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Greg Gabel Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:01 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Men and Birding While to those initiated, birding is an obvious obsession. It is noble, invigorating, and righteous; you know, like a Prius owner. To those uninitiated it is baffling and may even induce a feeling of pity. I have found this to be particularly troublesome when the topic of birds comes up around other men. Typically men have no problem understanding the romance of the WWF, or the allure of hockey, but bring up the beauty of a Chestnut- backed Chickadee and you're in no man's land. I had an opportunity to take a friend out for his first time birding on furlough Friday. We went to Sauvie and hiked the Wapato. I was complaining about not being able to get too many of my guy friends to go birding to which he responded, "Being a gay man, I will go birding anytime. I love it!" He then danced down the trail and loudly tried to mimic the red-wing blackbirds...I don't' know what sexual orientation has to do with birding, and I didn't question it ,but knew one thing for sure today was going to be a low scoring game. Just then some eagles flew by quite low and there was much celebration. Further down the trail I was doing what I like to call, "cold calling" which is when you scan trees in an area where there is no song or movement, no indication of any bird at all except that there are sticks and leaves. Cold calling is an optimist's birding method. Just then I came across a great horned. It was hard to see so we walked through the field of stinging nettles (with shorts on) to get a better view. Besides the rash on my legs it was a good day... Later that afternoon I headed down to Nehalem valley where I have a cabin near the Northfork. When I arrived there was a dead Swainson's Thrush on the porch. Note to self- get swallow stickers for the windows. I cracked a cold one(btw someone needs to invent a beer holder for birders) and walked down to the river and in the clearing saw dozens of tanagers, many wilson's warblers, one black throated gray warbler and the band-tails with their thunderous clapping was reminiscent of Old Town Portland. I had some folks coming down to go surfing in the morning so I wandered back to get dinner started. The next morning we all headed out to Short Sands beach. The weather was beautiful but the surf was small so it provided some extra moments to study the Murres, Guillemots,etc. I had one halfway decent ride and when I paddled back out one of guys said, "Hey nice one" and I replied, "Thanks, did you see how close those Oystercatchers came to me?". He stared blankly and just said, "Dude, please tell me an Oystercatcher is not some kind of shark". I decided to keep quite about birds for awhile but I thought if a Black-footed Albatross or the like flies over I might not be able to restrain myself. Later as we started to walk up the trail I spotted a baldy on top of one of the snags. I immediately shouted, "Oooh! guys check that out". To which they replied "That is #%&*@#$ cool!" Birds of prey are fair game for any audience of men. They represent violence,carnage,intimidation and freedom. One could conceivably make an effortless transition from discussing NASCAR to talking about the time you saw a Osprey attack a Bufflehead. Further up the trail as they guys started to settle into a mild argument about the Blazers I paused a bit to listen to a call. It was a willow flycatcher's -"PICKmeee" but it was difficult to hear over the chatter of the Winter wrens,Wilson's and something about Brandon Roy. Then the guy right behind me in inquired "Hey do you know what kind of bird that is?" And the next thing you know it's 5 minutes later and we are still talking songbirds. Birds of prey are one thing but one has to be cautious when entering into the realm of songbirds in the company of men. The rest of the group fell silent long ago. They were either interested or just plain shell shocked. We said our goodbyes and they headed home. The next morning I did not wake to the sound of Varied Thrushes which was unusual, but there were some other songs that I was clueless about. After some coffee I pulled on my "Birding is Punk Rock" T-shirt and headed for the Nehalem Sewage ponds or as I like to call it-"the poop factory." The ponds are closed on Sunday's but as my father used to say "Don't let a measly fence get between you and the potential of a new species". Actually I think it was something like "between you and some good huntin'", but I have adapted it for my own needs. There wasn't really much going on there anyway so I head on down the road. When I arrived at work on Monday someone had written "I heart birds" on my coffee mug. Fair enough, give me a month or two and I will have them all converted. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.329 / Virus Database: 270.12.26/2110 - Release Date: 05/12/09 06:22:00 From 5hats at peak.org Tue May 12 11:14:20 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 11:14:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Men and Birding References: <833033.53227.qm@web31103.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <8C77396BFED24B98A576B6EFE63246E3@your5rlp3a9516> Pam, Thank you for saying what needed to be said. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "pamela johnston" To: "obol" Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 11:05 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Men and Birding > Please try to write about the bird sightings. Personal relations, gender > roles, and sexual orientation are not on a par with birds: what you see, > where you see it, and what it's doing. > > Pamela Johnston > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Greg Gabel" > To: > Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:01 AM > Subject: [obol] Men and Birding > > > > While to those initiated, birding is an obvious obsession. It is noble, > invigorating, and righteous; you know, like a Prius owner. To those > uninitiated it is baffling and may even induce a feeling of pity. I have > found this to be particularly troublesome when the topic of birds comes up > around other men. Typically men have no problem understanding the romance > of the WWF, or the allure of hockey, but bring up the beauty of a > Chestnut- > backed Chickadee and you?re in no man?s land. > > I had an opportunity to take a friend out for his first time birding on > furlough Friday. We went to Sauvie and hiked the Wapato. I was > complaining > about not being able to get too many of my guy friends to go birding to > which he responded, "Being a gay man, I will go birding anytime. I love > it!" > He then danced down the trail and loudly tried to mimic the red-wing > blackbirds...I don't' know what sexual orientation has to do with birding, > and I didn't question it ,but knew one thing for sure today was going to > be > a low scoring game. > Just then some eagles flew by quite low and there was much celebration. > Further down the trail I was doing what I like to call, "cold calling" > which > is when you scan trees in an area where there is no song or movement, no > indication of any bird at all except that there are sticks and leaves. > Cold > calling is an optimist's birding method. Just then I came across a great > horned. It was hard to see so we walked through the field of stinging > nettles (with shorts on) to get a better view. Besides the rash on my > legs > it was a good day... > > > Later that afternoon I headed down to Nehalem valley where I have a cabin > near the Northfork. When I arrived there was a dead Swainson's Thrush on > the porch. Note to self- get swallow stickers for the windows. > I cracked a cold one(btw someone needs to invent a beer holder for > birders) > and walked down to the river and in the clearing saw dozens of tanagers, > many wilson's warblers, one black throated gray warbler and the band-tails > with their thunderous clapping was reminiscent of Old Town Portland. I > had > some folks coming down to go surfing in the morning so I wandered back to > get dinner started. > The next morning we all headed out to Short Sands beach. The weather was > beautiful but the surf was small so it provided some extra moments to > study > the Murres, Guillemots,etc. I had one halfway decent ride and when I > paddled > back out one of guys said, "Hey nice one" and I replied, "Thanks, did you > see how close those Oystercatchers came to me?". He stared blankly and > just > said, "Dude, please tell me an Oystercatcher is not some kind of shark". > I > decided to keep quite about birds for awhile but I thought if a > Black-footed > Albatross or the like flies over I might not be able to restrain myself. > Later as we started to walk up the trail I spotted a baldy on top of one > of > the snags. I immediately shouted, "Oooh! guys check that out". To which > they replied "That is #%&*@#$ cool!" Birds of prey are fair game for any > audience of men. They represent violence,carnage,intimidation and > freedom. > One could conceivably make an effortless transition from discussing NASCAR > to talking about the time you saw a Osprey attack a Bufflehead. > Further up the trail as they guys started to settle into a mild argument > about the Blazers I paused a bit to listen to a call. It was a willow > flycatcher's -"PICKmeee" but it was difficult to hear over the chatter of > the Winter wrens,Wilson's and something about Brandon Roy. Then the guy > right behind me in inquired "Hey do you know what kind of bird that is?" > And the next thing you know it's 5 minutes later and we are still talking > songbirds. Birds of prey are one thing but one has to be cautious when > entering into the realm of songbirds in the company of men. The rest of > the > group fell silent long ago. They were either interested or just plain > shell > shocked. We said our goodbyes and they headed home. > > The next morning I did not wake to the sound of Varied Thrushes which was > unusual, but there were some other songs that I was clueless about. After > some coffee I pulled on my "Birding is Punk Rock" T-shirt and headed for > the > Nehalem Sewage ponds or as I like to call it-?the poop factory.? The > ponds > are closed on Sunday's but as my father used to say "Don't let a measly > fence get between you and the potential of a new species". Actually I > think > it was something like "between you and some good huntin'", but I have > adapted it for my own needs. There wasn't really much going on there > anyway > so I head on down the road. > > When I arrived at work on Monday someone had written "I heart birds" on my > coffee mug. Fair enough, give me a month or two and I will have them all > converted. > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From phils at rio.com Tue May 12 12:03:54 2009 From: phils at rio.com (Phil and Christina) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 12:03:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Men and Birding In-Reply-To: <8C77396BFED24B98A576B6EFE63246E3@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: Sounds like it struck a nerve. I thought Greg's post was fun, interesting and no more off topic than a lot of other things we see on OBOL. Lighten up, folks. Phil Shepard Elmira, OR -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org]On Behalf Of Darrel Faxon Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 11:14 AM To: pamela johnston; obol Subject: Re: [obol] Men and Birding Pam, Thank you for saying what needed to be said. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "pamela johnston" To: "obol" Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 11:05 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Men and Birding > Please try to write about the bird sightings. Personal relations, gender > roles, and sexual orientation are not on a par with birds: what you see, > where you see it, and what it's doing. > > Pamela Johnston > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Greg Gabel" > To: > Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:01 AM > Subject: [obol] Men and Birding > > > > While to those initiated, birding is an obvious obsession. It is noble, > invigorating, and righteous; you know, like a Prius owner. To those > uninitiated it is baffling and may even induce a feeling of pity. I have > found this to be particularly troublesome when the topic of birds comes up > around other men. Typically men have no problem understanding the romance > of the WWF, or the allure of hockey, but bring up the beauty of a > Chestnut- > backed Chickadee and you?re in no man?s land. > > I had an opportunity to take a friend out for his first time birding on > furlough Friday. We went to Sauvie and hiked the Wapato. I was > complaining > about not being able to get too many of my guy friends to go birding to > which he responded, "Being a gay man, I will go birding anytime. I love > it!" > He then danced down the trail and loudly tried to mimic the red-wing > blackbirds...I don't' know what sexual orientation has to do with birding, > and I didn't question it ,but knew one thing for sure today was going to > be > a low scoring game. > Just then some eagles flew by quite low and there was much celebration. > Further down the trail I was doing what I like to call, "cold calling" > which > is when you scan trees in an area where there is no song or movement, no > indication of any bird at all except that there are sticks and leaves. > Cold > calling is an optimist's birding method. Just then I came across a great > horned. It was hard to see so we walked through the field of stinging > nettles (with shorts on) to get a better view. Besides the rash on my > legs > it was a good day... > > > Later that afternoon I headed down to Nehalem valley where I have a cabin > near the Northfork. When I arrived there was a dead Swainson's Thrush on > the porch. Note to self- get swallow stickers for the windows. > I cracked a cold one(btw someone needs to invent a beer holder for > birders) > and walked down to the river and in the clearing saw dozens of tanagers, > many wilson's warblers, one black throated gray warbler and the band-tails > with their thunderous clapping was reminiscent of Old Town Portland. I > had > some folks coming down to go surfing in the morning so I wandered back to > get dinner started. > The next morning we all headed out to Short Sands beach. The weather was > beautiful but the surf was small so it provided some extra moments to > study > the Murres, Guillemots,etc. I had one halfway decent ride and when I > paddled > back out one of guys said, "Hey nice one" and I replied, "Thanks, did you > see how close those Oystercatchers came to me?". He stared blankly and > just > said, "Dude, please tell me an Oystercatcher is not some kind of shark". > I > decided to keep quite about birds for awhile but I thought if a > Black-footed > Albatross or the like flies over I might not be able to restrain myself. > Later as we started to walk up the trail I spotted a baldy on top of one > of > the snags. I immediately shouted, "Oooh! guys check that out". To which > they replied "That is #%&*@#$ cool!" Birds of prey are fair game for any > audience of men. They represent violence,carnage,intimidation and > freedom. > One could conceivably make an effortless transition from discussing NASCAR > to talking about the time you saw a Osprey attack a Bufflehead. > Further up the trail as they guys started to settle into a mild argument > about the Blazers I paused a bit to listen to a call. It was a willow > flycatcher's -"PICKmeee" but it was difficult to hear over the chatter of > the Winter wrens,Wilson's and something about Brandon Roy. Then the guy > right behind me in inquired "Hey do you know what kind of bird that is?" > And the next thing you know it's 5 minutes later and we are still talking > songbirds. Birds of prey are one thing but one has to be cautious when > entering into the realm of songbirds in the company of men. The rest of > the > group fell silent long ago. They were either interested or just plain > shell > shocked. We said our goodbyes and they headed home. > > The next morning I did not wake to the sound of Varied Thrushes which was > unusual, but there were some other songs that I was clueless about. After > some coffee I pulled on my "Birding is Punk Rock" T-shirt and headed for > the > Nehalem Sewage ponds or as I like to call it-?the poop factory.? The > ponds > are closed on Sunday's but as my father used to say "Don't let a measly > fence get between you and the potential of a new species". Actually I > think > it was something like "between you and some good huntin'", but I have > adapted it for my own needs. There wasn't really much going on there > anyway > so I head on down the road. > > When I arrived at work on Monday someone had written "I heart birds" on my > coffee mug. Fair enough, give me a month or two and I will have them all > converted. > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Tue May 12 13:00:12 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 20:00:12 +0000 Subject: [obol] Men and Birding Message-ID: Greg, Your colorful post tickled me pink and put me in gay spirits! Thanks for posting and relating your birding experience. Happy Spring and Good birding, Khanh Tran From moorebuesing at verizon.net Tue May 12 13:31:14 2009 From: moorebuesing at verizon.net (Don Moore & Pam Buesing) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 13:31:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] men and birding Message-ID: <022F2A07-B73D-44DB-9710-32931409647D@verizon.net> I too enjoyed the post, but I have to say, that has not been my experience. And talk about stereotypes! Maybe I don't hang out with macho-enough men. From range.bayer at gmail.com Tue May 12 14:22:42 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 14:22:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] April Lincoln Co. Bird Notes Received Through 4/30 Message-ID: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BIRD FIELD NOTES from the April 2009 Sandpiper 30(4) for Observations Received Through 4/30 by Range Bayer The Sandpiper is a publication of Yaquina Birders and Naturalists, a Lincoln County (Oregon) natural history group. Comments in this column about abundance or seasonality refer to LINCOLN COUNTY only. There is room only for some of the many Lincoln County sightings to be included here of those sent to me or posted to the Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) or Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL) email discussion lists. If you have any Lincoln County field notes, please share them with Range (range.bayer at gmail.com; P.O. Box 1467, Newport, OR 97365; 541-265- 2965) by the 20th of the month. Bird field notes columns in the Sandpiper since 1992 are at http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#recent (all lower case letters). Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations (numbers refer to the site number in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide (http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/): BEAVER CREEK (#78, in part): creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, BOILER BAY (#59): State Wayside about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, COQUILLE POINT: southeast corner of Sally's Bend at about mile 3.5 along north Yaquina Bay Road, ECKMAN LAKE (#84): lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, HMSC (#75): OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of the HMSC, ONA BEACH (#77): State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty. CACKLING AND WHITE-FRONTED GEESE On 4/15, one CACKLING GOOSE hung out with 6 Brant at Idaho Flats (TW). They were first noted migrating north on 4/18 (PP; Bird Guide Pelagic Trip out of Newport), and were occasionally noted through 4/28 at Boiler Bay (PP). A flock of migrating Aleutian Cackling Geese was spotted at Alsea Bay on 4/19 (RL) and Otter Crest on 4/25 (WH). On 4/14, RB was amazed to see a flock of about 100-120 noisy GR. WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flying SOUTH over the HMSC; they did not turn in at Yaquina Bay. Our next report was of flocks flying north (as they are supposed to do in spring!) on 4/19 (TC; RN; RL; CP). Many observers saw and/or heard them migrating north until our last report on 4/28 at Boiler Bay (PP). Our only report of white-fronts on the ground was on 4/20, when RL counted 65 white-fronts fly in and then land at Idaho Flats. It was a very impressive migration, and USFWS biologist RL writes: "Perhaps this is a sign of things to come in the future. I was at a goose management meeting in mid-April and learned that the white-fronted goose population has increased tremendously due to 20 years of conservation efforts. The Pacific Flyway population target is a 3-year average of 300,000 birds, but currently the population is at 450,000 and growing. ... As you know the Aleutian cackling goose has followed the same recovery path and is now at twice the number of birds for the population objective." So the migration of Cackling and White-fronted Geese overlapped. Before the 4/21 Shorebird Sister Schools Program field trip began, some of us saw several goose flocks flying north, including one flock with about 300 White-fronted Geese with 4 Cackling Geese lagging slightly behind (RB), so there could also be mixed flocks. BRANT BRANT do not overwinter at Boiler Bay or at Depoe Bay, just to the south of Boiler Bay, but they migrate by during migration. On 4/20, DS detected 158 Brant on the ocean south of Depoe Bay. Brant were seen migrating north along the coastline. Most reports were during morning seawatches by PP or PP & WH at Boiler Bay, where there was an average of 23/hr on 4/18, 433/hr on 4/22, 267/hr on 4/23, 229/hr on 4/24, 102/hr on 4/25, 24/hr on 4/26, 27/hr on 4/27, and 73/hr on 4/28. So peak migration along the coastline may have been around 4/22. At Yaquina Bay, where some Brant winter, the peak counts of the 2008/2009 season were on 4/3 (216), 4/6 (242), and 4/17 (195-205) (JL; RB), and numbers declined thereafter. However, Alsea Bay (where Brant sometimes appear only during spring migration) had the most Brant on the water of any location, since MR estimated about 500 west of the Alsea Bay Bridge on 4/22, and RL found about 600 in the same area and photographed some of them on 4/25. When RL closely examined his photos, he discovered that two of the Brant had been banded at Wrangle Island (a Russian island in the Arctic Ocean that is on the 180 degree meridian)! YB&N is a project partner of the International Brant Monitoring Project (IBMP) (http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/), and RB relays on sightings of significant numbers of Brant in Lincoln County to their Observation Log (see link on the left side of their web page). [Image Not Included: Phil Pickering's April 22 photo of somewhat synchronized Brant and Green-winged Teal (see pair above the lead Brant and pair above left) migrating north low over the ocean at Boiler Bay. These were part of the 600 Brant and 4,000+ Green-winged Teal that Phil saw during his 6:45-9:45 AM seawatch. This is partially cropped from http://philliplc.com/images/bb0902.jpg] OTHER WATERFOWL 2 pairs of WOOD DUCKS were at the new Oregon State Parks property in Beaver Creek on 4/11 (CP, RC & WN). Another pair was in alders near BR's Newport home on 4/25--a first for that location. Our latest EURASIAN WIGEON was a drake at Seal Rock Stables in South Beaver Creek on 4/9 (LO). On 4/6, BMe appreciated a pair of CINNAMON TEAL at Siletz Bay (fide DG). On 4/19, RN discovered another in north Beaver Creek. Cinnamon Teal are not found every year. Starting in 2000, we did not have any records in 2000, 2001, and 2007 (FN). During the 10 Boiler Bay seawatches, the peak northerly migration passage of GREEN-WINGED TEAL was on 4/22, with an average of 22/min (PP; PP & WH). About 2/min passed on 4/27 & 28 and 0-0.02/min passed during the other seawatches. HARLEQUIN DUCKS were recorded during 13 days in March at Yaquina Head (BLM). The biggest count was of 6 at the YBSJ on 4/13 (JL). Two were also noted during the 4/18 Bird Guide Pelagic Trip and at Boiler Bay on 4/22 (PP). 10 morning seawatches that were 45-210 min long were conducted at Boiler Bay during 4/8-28; 8 by PP and 2 by PP & WH. Their records indicate that peak SURF SCOTER migration was on 4/22 & 23 (average of 17 and 22/min, respectively); rates averaged 2-8/min during other seawatches. WHITE- WINGED SCOTERS were much less common and averaged 0.1-1.1/min during each seawatch. QUAIL-PELICAN The first-ever CALIFORNIA QUAIL at J& KC's home about 4 miles east of Waldport appeared on 4/3 and was photographed eating English Daisies (http://www.birdsamore.com/videos/quail-california-daisy.htm)! On 4/11, MOUNTAIN QUAIL and RUFFED GROUSE were heard at the new Oregon State Parks property in Beaver Creek (CP, WN & RC). For the 10 seawatches during 4/8-28, peak RED-THROATED LOON migration was on 4/8 (average of 33/min) and 4/24 (19/min); rates averaged 1-8/min for other seawatches (PP; PP & WH). Peak PACIFIC LOON migration was during 4/23, 24, & 25, with an average of 133-310/min; the average rate was 14- 50/min for other seawatches. COMMON LOONS were the least common loon and averaged 0.1-1.9/min for the 10 seawatches. During the morning of 4/22, LT saw 300-400 Pacific Loons diving and feeding on a bait ball for several hours at Depoe Bay. A rare MANX SHEARWATER as well as 200 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, 2 LAYSAN ALBATROSSES, 250 SOOTY SHEARWATERS, and 15 NORTHERN FULMARS were surveyed during the 4/18 Bird Guide Pelagic Trip. From shore, singleton Manx Shearwaters were observed about a half-mile or less from shore during Boiler Bay seawatches on 4/18 & 24 (PP) and 4/26 (PP & WH). Beached NORTHERN FULMARS increased in March with a total of 13 along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). This is the fourth highest March since BLo began surveys in 1978, but is much less than the 103 maximum in March 2008. It's official! The 2-year streak of BROWN PELICAN sightings each month in Lincoln Co. ended in Feb., as we had no March reports. Therefore, we will also not have records each month this year, like we did in 2008. But pelicans arrived in April as DS spotted 8 on 4/7 at Depoe Bay. The next day, PP counted 53 during a 60-minute seawatch at Boiler Bay, and we had 11 other sightings since then. LITTLE BLUE HERON-MERLIN After a hiatus since 2/22, BMe saw the LITTLE BLUE HERON on 4/5 where Drift Creek empties into Siletz Bay (fide RL). It is beginning to show some blue/gray feathers. Our only GREAT EGRETS were 3-4 at Idaho Flats on 4/7 & 17 (RB; JL). During a very distant, insufficient view of the Yaquina Bay Great Blue Heron colony where they were discovered perched last summer on 4/30, RB saw nesting herons, but no egrets. But egrets could have been obscured. Egrets have not been documented as nesting in Lincoln Co. On 4/2, TS found two roosting BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS (one immature and one adult) near the HMSC, and JL also saw both of them there on 4/29. On 4/30 at Alsea Bay, MR noted that "all of a sudden all the gulls flushed, and here's a hungry young BALD EAGLE in hot pursuit of an OSPREY. They got very close until the Osprey dropped its fish. Then the eagle dropped down to the sand bar, retrieved the fish and flew off." A couple of weeks earlier at Alsea Bay, MR had seen an immature eagle approach a harbor seal from behind until the seal lunged at it. There were 6 days of PEREGRINE FALCON records in March at Yaquina Head (BLM). Singletons were also noted at Idaho Flats during the 4/21 Shorebird Sister Schools Program field trip (DG), Boiler Bay on 4/25 (PP & WH), Yaquina Head on 4/26 (WH), and Newport on 4/28 (BMc). We had a single MERLIN record in Jan., and none since then until April. However, April is the month in which they are most common (SemiL), and this year does not appear to be an exception as we had 4 reports of singletons at Boiler Bay on 4/8 (PP), Yaquina Bay on 4/18 (TC), Beaver Creek on 4/19 (GG), and Idaho Flats on 4/22 (PP). We had no kestrel reports. SHOREBIRDS On 4/27, PP writes: "It's just after 10 PM with a light fog forming over the beach, and it sounds like the entire shorebird migration is going directly over my house 1/4 mile inland in Lincoln City. Since dark I've been hearing a literally non-stop cacophony of various peep [small shorebirds] and SHORT- BILLED DOWITCHER calls, presumably still hundreds of birds per minute moving. Fun!" RB estimated several thousand peeps during the 4/21 Shorebird Sister Schools Program field trip at Idaho Flats. During the 10 Boiler Bay seawatches from 4/8-28, the peak rates of peeps were on 4/27 (average of 198/min) and 4/28 (101/min) (PP; PP & WH). 90% or more of these peeps were WESTERN SANDPIPERS. Based on PP's Boiler Bay seawatches in recent years, their peak migration was on 4/21 in 2005, but during the first week in May in 2006-2008 (FN). For the Boiler Bay seawatches, an average of 6 dowitchers/min were noted on 4/23 and 3/min on 4/22 & 27; otherwise, 0-1/min were recorded (PP; PP & WH). The only ROCK SANDPIPER was detected on 4/17 at Seal Rocks (fide GG). For records through 1992, they are uncommon after March, but we have had at least three records in early May (latest 5/10 in 1980) (SemiL). Other noteworthy shorebirds observed during Boiler Bay seawatches included: 1 GOLDEN-PLOVER sp. on 4/22 (PP), 1 MARBLED GODWIT on 4/24 (PP), and 3 RED KNOTS on 4/27 (PP). PP & WH saw 500 WHIMBRELS (4/min) pass on 4/25. No Willets were reported, but it is not known if this is because they were truly absent or rare or because observation effort to detect and report them was inadequate. [Image Not Included: Roy Lowe's April 25 photo of a Western Sandpiper in breeding plumage at Alsea Bay. At a distance, especially in winter, they look pretty nondescript, "just a peep." But take another look!] GULLS-ALCIDS Singleton GLAUCOUS GULLS were reported at the YBSJ on 4/2 (TS), Idaho Flats on 4/12 (RB), and Yaquina Bay on 4/18 (TC; Bird Guide Pelagic Trip). BONAPARTE'S GULLS in partial breeding plumage were at Idaho Flats on 4/7 (JL). TC viewed a pair of SABINE'S GULLS at Seal Rocks on 4/16, which are uncommon in spring (SemiL; FN). Our first of year CASPIAN TERN arrived at Idaho Flats on 4/7 (TW; JL). The 4/18 Bird Guide Pelagic Trip located 3 TUFTED PUFFINS. Onshore, 1-2 puffins were noted in 5 of 10 Boiler Bay seawatches (PP; PP & WH). 14 MARBLED MURRELETS were tallied during the 4/18 Bird Guide Pelagic Trip, and 4-15 were found during 10 seawatches at Boiler Bay (PP; PP & WH). The 4/18 pelagic trip found 35 ANCIENT MURRELETS, and 2-13 were recorded onshore during 4 of the of 10 Boiler Bay seawatches (PP; PP & WH). 2 COMMON MURRES and 2 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). These are within the usual range for March. 15 or more live Rhinos were observed at Boiler Bay during 10 Boiler Bay seawatches, with an apparent peak on 4/24 & 25 when 600+ and 150 were recorded (PP; PP & WH). 1 live Rhino was also noted north of Ona Beach on 4/23 (RC). 25 CASSIN'S AUKLETS were noted during the 4/18 Bird Guide Pelagic Trip, and 1-2 were surveyed during only 3 of 10 seawatches at Boiler Bay during 4/8-28 (PP; PP & WH). PIGEONS-SWALLOWS Single, sporadic BAND-TAILED PIGEONS had arrived in March, but small flocks were coming daily to J&KC's feeders by 4/3. 30+ were at L&JM's feeders at Coquille Point in late April, and a MOURNING DOVE also visited there every few days. EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were first found in May 2006 (FN), but 2009 appears to be the spring when they are most frequent. As noted last month, we had sightings for the first time in March. This month, our reports include 5 courting on 4/2-16 in Yachats (PF), 3 on 4/6 in Newport (RF & CG), 1 on 4/14 at Wandemere (RC & WN), and 3 on 4/17 near NW Brook Street in Newport (PR). VAUX'S SWIFTS arrived at Big Elk between Elk City and Harlan on 4/23 (fide CP). HS has been visiting a RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD nest in South Beach. On 4/26, the chicks had grown appreciably since his previous visit, but their eyes did not appear to have opened. HS noted just 4 feedings in approximately 2 hours. Our first PURPLE MARTINS were espied at the HMSC on 4/16 (RB). Our first (and so far only) BARN SWALLOWS were at the new State Park in Beaver Creek on 4/11 (CP, RC & WN). Barn Swallows used to be ubiquitous (SemiL) and taken-for-granted. Who would have guessed such a change in status? That is a good reason to record "common" birds now because they may not be so common in the future, and we may not accurately predict the status of species in the future. [Image Not Included: Bob Loeffel's photo of a line of burrows (darkened circles) below the vegetation in an ocean side bank north of Ona Beach. On 4/30, Bob saw Northern Rough-winged Swallows flying into at least two of the burrows to nest. In another photo, a pair of Rough-wings was perched on the branch above the "X" near a burrow. The swallows did not have the dark breast band that distinguishes Bank Swallows. Pigeon Guillemots also nest in burrows in ocean side banks near Seal Rocks.] BUSHTIT-EVENING GROSBEAK On 4/20, RBe was hiking and found a pair of BUSHTITS working on a nearly finished nest in South Beach. The nest was well camouflaged, but RBe was drawn to it because one of the birds was noisily calling. DG discerned a BROWN CREEPER in the Siletz area on 4/18-19 and heard one singing near her Toledo home on 4/26. The 4/18 YBNFT on the Cape Perpetua Giant Spruce Trail was serenaded continually by WINTER WRENS (Sal & BB). That is good habitat for them! PP found our only AMERICAN PIPITS at Boiler Bay, on 4/8, 24, & 27. First of season warbler reports included COMMON YELLOWTHROAT at south Beaver Creek on 4/9 (LO) and WILSON'S WARBLER in Newport on 4/13 (BR). Our latest TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was at Yaquina Bay on 4/18 (TC). On 4/11, CP and WN & RC walked around the new Oregon State Parks property in Beaver Creek and found a CHIPPING SPARROW and a LINCOLN'S SPARROW. RC remarks that it is "A really nice spot for a spring birding walk!" CP appreciated a VESPER SPARROW at the Toledo Post Office on 4/16. This is only our 4th record since 1992, and our first spring record since 1988 (FN, SemiL)! So it was a very good find! Last reported dates for sparrows includes a LAPLAND LONGSPUR in full breeding plumage at the YBSJ on 4/15 (photographed by ME) and FOX SPARROW in Newport on 4/21 (CP). A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was in Toledo on 4/12 (CP) and in Newport on 4/13 (BR); one that wintered at Thornton Creek between Toledo and Eddyville lingered until at least 4/17, when it was singing (DF); another lingered at L&JM's Coquille Point home until 4/28. Other spring arrivals include: EVENING GROSBEAK at J&KC's home east of Waldport on 4/6; but they did not become widespread until 4/24-29 (BR; DG; CP); AMERICAN GOLDFINCH at Coquille Point on 4/17 (L&JM), BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD at HMSC on 4/22 (RL), BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK at Coquille Point on 4/30 (L&JM). A partially albinistic HOUSE FINCH appeared at feeders at the USFWS Building at the HMSC on 4/20 for the 3rd spring in a row (RL)-- RL's photos of it are at http://www.flickr.com/photos/24707703 at N06 OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Renee Bellinger (RBe), Bureau of Land Management staff at Yaquina Head (BLM), Rebecca Cheek, Jorrie & Ken Ciotti (http://www.birdsamore.com), CoastWatch (a volunteer project monitoring one-mile segments of the Oregon coast; http://oregoncoastwatch.org/), Tom Crabtree, Mark Elliott, Darrel Faxon (some of DF's bird records are at http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#thornton_creek), Roy Filby, Peggy Fulkerson, Greg Gillson, Dawn Grafe, Cathy Grimm, Bird Guide Pelagic Trip out of Newport (BGPT, fide GG; info about pelagic trips, http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/), Wayne Hoffman, Janet Lamberson, Sally Lockyear (SaL), Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Linda & John MacKown, Barry McPherson (BMc), Bill Medlen (BMe), Russ Namitz, Walt Nelson, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#recent [all lower case letters]), Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, Paul Reed, Maggie Rivers, Bill Rogers, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive at OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Howard Shippey, Tom Snetsinger, Don Stein, Linda Taylor, Tom Wainwright, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (YBNFT Field Trip led by SaL & BB). From dan at heyerly.com Tue May 12 16:07:52 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Dan Heyerly) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 16:07:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] men and birding Message-ID: Sounds like someone needs to start their own blog spot rather than write page after page of stream of consciousness on obol. This list is for bird sightings. Dan Heyerly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090512/89eb131a/attachment.html From jeffandlaurettayoung at comcast.net Tue May 12 16:17:24 2009 From: jeffandlaurettayoung at comcast.net (Young) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 16:17:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] men and birding In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Since I am new to this list And perhaps didn't pay attention Are there some listed rules that state overtly to new members what the list is for and isn't for? And how was that list determined, by the original " owners" of the site or by consensus? I loved the humor and lightness of the posting on men and birding but don't know the actual rules for the use of this site so would appreciate as a " newbie" If I got some education when I joined and just spaced it-I don't recall agreeing to abide by certain rules, I think I just submitted my name But all groups have norms, some written , some not, just an enquiring new mind to this list.. thank you and peace to all who enjoy birding in it's many forms from lists to literary. Lauretta _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Dan Heyerly Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 4:08 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] men and birding Sounds like someone needs to start their own blog spot rather than write page after page of stream of consciousness on obol. This list is for bird sightings. Dan Heyerly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090512/d50bd364/attachment.html From adamkuby at gmail.com Tue May 12 16:47:56 2009 From: adamkuby at gmail.com (adamkuby at gmail.com) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 16:47:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Need Advice - Creating Bird Nesting Habitat in Sculpture Message-ID: <89FC2865-872F-4273-A125-7C5968194154@gmail.com> Dear OBOL BIrd Experts - I'm a Portland artist and I'm building a sculpture for Seattle Parks and Recreation that will create bird nesting opportunities in a new park on the site of an old gravel quarry near Lake Union and the Aurora Bridge. The center of the site is a small Class 3 wetland currently full of young willows. There sculptures (5 of them) will float 12 to 15 feet above the ground amongst the willows, newly planted vine maples & other native trees and shrubs to provide additional bird cover. I'm looking for some advice on my preliminary nest designs and also how many cavities I should create in each sculpture. I'm also wanting to create swallow nest openings on the undersides of the sculptures. I've studied cavity nest opening charts, but am looking for additional feedback. If anyone is interested in helping me, let me know and I'll send you images directly since I can't include them in this post. Thanks, Adam From deweysage at verizon.net Tue May 12 16:56:03 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 16:56:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] men and birding In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4A0A0C93.8000900@verizon.net> Folks, Everyone breath in and breath out. Good start. Yes, it's true, OBOL is mostly about bird sitings. But yes it is true other topics arise sometimes (er, guilty....). And yes it's true that this topic is a lot less offensive than some that have arisen. And yes, it's true, in general we shouldn't be headed off in random topic direction. But with all that said, may I remind everyone, you have a delete button. If you got thru the entire post and didn't like it, well, you forgot to hit delete after the second sentence or the first paragraph. Few of us are completely innocent, and (s)he who is may cast the first stone. Any takers? PS - now about geese........nevermind......... ;-) Cheers Dave Lauten From calliope at theriver.com Tue May 12 17:21:02 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 17:21:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Benton County Purple Martins, Bank Swallow, Dusky Flycatcher Message-ID: Tuesday, May 12 Dear Birders, Steve Nord and I had a fun time dodging showers around Benton County today, after being snowed off of Mary's Peak. On our way up the peak we did have 2 MOUNTAIN QUAIL and 2 SOOTY GROUSE on the road, and near the top a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL calling. At the Philomath Sewage Ponds we saw a BANK SWALLOW among many other swallows. On the first pond were two RUDDY DUCKS and a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. At Finley NWR, we saw and heard a group of eight PURPLE MARTINS flying north along Muddy Creek on Bruce Road. Later, a pair were flying around the pond and fields at the Mill Hill Loop parking area. Finally, at Irish Bend we had a lot of migrants in general including a DUSKY FLYCATCHER. I noted the grayish head, white throat, even eyering, short primary projection, narrow bill with orange base, and whit call note. Nearby was a group (flock?) of eight immature Bald Eagles near a sheep field. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue May 12 17:08:47 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 17:08:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Obol norms In-Reply-To: Message-ID: I'm not the listowner, but as an old-timer I can say that the expectation is that posts will relate to actual living birds or birding activities or useful information related specifically to Oregon. Such posts should not be overly long, and discussions of a small number of historically controversial topics (hunting, cats, falconry and cagebirds are the ones that come to mind) that generate excessive and entirely predictable noise are not appropriate. There are also expectations of basic courtesy, no foul language and the like. I think there is an "official" statement of expectations that used to be sent to new members. Not sure if it still is. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Young > Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 16:17:24 -0700 > To: 'Dan Heyerly' , > Subject: Re: [obol] men and birding > > Since I am new to this list > > > > And perhaps didn't pay attention > > > > Are there some listed rules that state overtly to new members what the list > is for and isn't for? > > > > And how was that list determined, by the original " owners" of the site or > by consensus? > > > > I loved the humor and lightness of the posting on men and birding but don't > know the actual rules for the use of this site so would appreciate as a " > newbie" > > If I got some education when I joined and just spaced it-I don't recall > agreeing to abide by certain rules, I think I just submitted my name > > > > But all groups have norms, some written , some not, just an enquiring new > mind to this list.. thank you and peace to all who enjoy birding in it's > many forms from lists to literary. > > > > Lauretta > > > > _____ > > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Dan Heyerly > Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 4:08 PM > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] men and birding > > > > Sounds like someone needs to start their own blog spot rather than write > page after page of stream of consciousness on obol. This list is for bird > sightings. > > Dan Heyerly > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From whoffman at peak.org Tue May 12 17:53:43 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 17:53:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Phalaropes Message-ID: <06E97555A30B4EAE807CF8C93FA8D6BD@D48XBZ51> This afternoon (May 12), 4:30-5:00 PM several hundred RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were feeding on lower Yaquina Bay, between the jetties. It appeared that 60-70% were males in contrast to the predominantly female concentration on May 4. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090512/bd5c6db1/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue May 12 18:04:18 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 18:04:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - 5/12/2009 Message-ID: <4A0A1C92.4060001@pacifier.com> Columbia Estuary Report - 5/12/2009 Steve Warner reports a SOLITARY SANDPIPER at Stanley Lake in Seaside. He also tells me that RED-NECKED PHALAROPES are begin to turn up in numbers on Necanicul Estuary. In butterfly news: At least 8 PINE ELFINS were seen along the Burma Rd (the road from DeLaura Beach access to Ft Stevens). This is the first "officially documented" record of this species in Clatsop County (though it is listed as "expected" in Warren's _Butterflies of Oregon_). It's one of those species that lacked somebody lucking upon them at the right time of year until now... I also found AMERICAN EMERALD (new for me in the county), CALIFORNIA DARNERS and FOUR-SPOTTED SKIMMERS. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From jt_johnson at comcast.net Tue May 12 18:05:18 2009 From: jt_johnson at comcast.net (Jim Johnson) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 18:05:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] New Dragonfly Book Message-ID: <10BF7E34BF4A45AD9FD9B3DA45C6D8B4@D81WS2C1> Excuse the bird-free post, but I think many would be interested to know that a new book by Dennis Paulson (eminent zoologist and birder) is available: Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West, published by Princeton University Press. Covering western US and Canada, it's full of color photos (a couple which are mine) and information on identification and natural history--the latter of which can be especially hard to come by for the uninitiated. It's an impressive volume, and he is currently working on the eastern North America volume. Also, I have produced some regional dragonfly and damselfly field checklists available as PDFs at http://odonata.bogfoot.net/fieldlists.htm . One covers Oregon, Washington, and Idaho and indicates the occurrence of each species in each state. One side is organized by family and scientific name, the other by common name, so you can print the page that suits you best. Cheers, Jim Johnson Vancouver, Washington jt_johnson at comcast.net http://odonata.bogfoot.net/ From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Tue May 12 18:21:37 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 18:21:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Men and Birding Message-ID: <789547.93318.qm@web51801.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Seems to me that birding is as much about how people interact with birds and with other birders as about the birds themselves. Since I've been reading OBOL, it has always had a community feel about it which I've enjoyed. There are other resources like http://birdnotes.net that are more narrowly focused on listing species and where you saw them.....which may also be the bread and butter of OBOL and can be very interesting but I personally like more variety in my diet. I would like to point out that reading OBOL on the website (http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html) rather than individual email messages takes far less time and it is much easier to skim/skip/scroll over messages that don't interest you. Cindy Ashy From rowbird2005 at yahoo.com Tue May 12 18:46:51 2009 From: rowbird2005 at yahoo.com (Forrest Rowland) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 18:46:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] NAMBC Highlights from Clackamas (5/9) and Lincoln(5/10) Co.s Message-ID: <462375.34584.qm@web35302.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, I had a wonderful weekend, but came back to continued problems with internet access. To those who were awaiting a post in response addressing our time in the field...I apologize fully for the delay. ? I combined a little work and play for the Clackamas Co. count, conducting a survey in the morning above 3000ft. elevation and working my way down the Molalla River Corridor until Lunch. I birded a few hours in the afternoon along the Wilhoit Springs rd and environs. ? Highlights from Clackamas Co. (in my opinion) were: 47 Black-throated Gray Warblers 9 Townsend's Warblers 3 Nashville Warblers 6 Hermit Warblers (appeared true, not Hybrids) 2 Cassin's Vireo 11 Warbling Vireo 18 Wilson's Warbler 8 MacGillivray's Warblers 3 Yellow Warblers 22 Orange-crowned Warblers 15 Hammond's Flycatchers 2 Dusky Flycatchers 1 Calliope Hummingbird 2 American Three-toed Woodpeckers 1 White-breasted Nuthatch (my first in Oregon) 2 Acorn Woodpeckers 1 Bank Swallow This All among many, many other species totaling to 78 species in relatively little time birding and NO exposure to aquatic habitats. All dry land birds. Fun Day! ? On Sunday, Rich Hoyer, Graham Floyd, Daniel Ferrar, and his girlfriend Lydia accompanied me on my first trip to Oregon Coast in about 13 years. Obviously, when I agreed ot do Lincoln Co. I was hoping for this kind of help and support. THANKS!!! ? It was a fabulous day. Weather was good most of the day and I think we some noteworthy birds, along with one of the biggest highlights of the day...NOT avian....a Coast Mole foraging in the trail beneath our feet. It was amazing! My third mole ever. ? Highlights from Lincoln Co. ? 54 Marbled Murrelet 312 (at least) Sooty Shearwater 2 Northern Shoveler (over the ocean...odd) 12 Black Scoter 38 Wilson's Warblers 15 Hermit Warblers 3 Townsend's Warblers 14 Olive-sided Flycatchers (an amazing amount and all within a few hundred?yards of eachother!!) 1 Western Bluebird (same place as the OSFLs) 1 Townsend's Solitaire (same place...singing in flight when first noted) 5 Red-becked Grebe 1 Eurasian Collared Dove (Booooo) 2 Golden-crowned Sparrow 7 Harlequin Ducks (my first in breeding plumage...amazing) 1 Green Heron (my FOY) Total species count: 102 ? Being new to the area I may very well have overlooked other species that should've made this post or placed some on here that are not as noteworthy as I deemed them. My apologies. It as a very fun day and I learned very much about the Phenology and ranges of birds as we went. Everyone was very patient answering my endless questions. I need to just buy some more references on the area. Any suggestions? ? Thanks to the compilers for their time and effort. I'll get the totals to you soon guys! Good Birding, ? Forrest Rowland ? ____________________________________________________________________________________ ?Obt?n la mejor experiencia en la web! Descarga gratis el nuevo Internet Explorer 8. http://downloads.yahoo.com/ieak8/?l=e1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090512/aa300274/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Tue May 12 19:38:27 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 19:38:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mt Tabor, Portland Message-ID: Jeff Marks and I took about an hour stroll up at Mount Tabor late this afternoon. There was a good west wind blowing, but the east side was protected. Being late afternoon bird activity was low with the exception of the finches and displaying BAND-TAILED PIGEONS. The highlights were 2 (maybe 3) OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS and a big flock of EVENING GROSBEAKS of at least 40 birds. 3:30-4:30 PM Osprey 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Band-tailed Pigeon 3 Vaux's Swift 1 Anna's Hummingbird 3 Olive-sided Flycatcher 2 Steller's Jay 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 6 Bushtit 4 Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 Brown Creeper 4 American Robin 10 Townsend's Warbler 3 Wilson's Warbler 1 Song Sparrow 4 Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 6 Purple Finch 2 House Finch 10 Pine Siskin 12 Lesser Goldfinch 20 Evening Grosbeak 40 From ericsherman37 at gmail.com Tue May 12 19:47:14 2009 From: ericsherman37 at gmail.com (Eric Sherman) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 19:47:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eurasian collared dove or Ringed Turtle dove Message-ID: <2b7c9c60905121947s44d6937fwadf3cf56de919147@mail.gmail.com> We saw these guys at our backyard feeder munching on seeds. My wife thought they were mourning doves at first but I took one look and said "No way." The bird book led us to believe they are either Eurasian-collared Doves or Ringed Turtle Doves. I've never seen either one so I am unable to compare/contrast. Any help or ideas? Thank you! If the photos don't work, let me know and I will provide a link. - Eric -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090512/db748028/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: doves1.JPG Type: image/jpeg Size: 66530 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090512/db748028/attachment.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: doves2.JPG Type: image/jpeg Size: 65759 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090512/db748028/attachment-0001.jpe From KSKIIVV at COMCAST.NET Tue May 12 20:12:47 2009 From: KSKIIVV at COMCAST.NET (KEVIN KOMPOLT) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 20:12:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Men and Birding In-Reply-To: <833033.53227.qm@web31103.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <833033.53227.qm@web31103.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <80331DC1-E3C4-40FD-ABB5-4B98204C4E4D@COMCAST.NET> I, too, enjoyed the post. I second the motion to "lighten up." It is refreshing to read such a well-written and entertaining dialog on birding, and we all need to remember...this thing we call birding is, after all, a pastime...dare I say entertainment? Hobby? While science and intellectualism certainly enter into the fray, it is nice to have a lighter reflection on our shared passion. Leave the Latin at home, have a glass of wine, and enjoy the moment. Yours, Partially initiated, latin-challenged, bird-watching fool in Salem... Kevin PS...Where can I score the T-Shirt referenced??? On May 12, 2009, at 9:01 AM, Greg Gabel wrote: > > While to those initiated, birding is an obvious obsession. It is > noble, invigorating, and righteous; you know, like a Prius owner. > To those uninitiated it is baffling and may even induce a feeling of > pity. I have found this to be particularly troublesome when the > topic of birds comes up around other men. Typically men have no > problem understanding the romance of the WWF, or the allure of > hockey, but bring up the beauty of a Chestnut- backed Chickadee and > you?re in no man?s land. > > I had an opportunity to take a friend out for his first time birding > on furlough Friday. We went to Sauvie and hiked the Wapato. I was > complaining about not being able to get too many of my guy friends > to go birding to which he responded, "Being a gay man, I will go > birding anytime. I love it!" He then danced down the trail and > loudly tried to mimic the red-wing blackbirds...I don't' know what > sexual orientation has to do with birding, and I didn't question > it ,but knew one thing for sure today was going to be a low scoring > game. > Just then some eagles flew by quite low and there was much > celebration. Further down the trail I was doing what I like to > call, "cold calling" which is when you scan trees in an area where > there is no song or movement, no indication of any bird at all > except that there are sticks and leaves. Cold calling is an > optimist's birding method. Just then I came across a great horned. > It was hard to see so we walked through the field of stinging > nettles (with shorts on) to get a better view. Besides the rash on > my legs it was a good day... > > > Later that afternoon I headed down to Nehalem valley where I have a > cabin near the Northfork. When I arrived there was a dead > Swainson's Thrush on the porch. Note to self- get swallow stickers > for the windows. > I cracked a cold one(btw someone needs to invent a beer holder for > birders) and walked down to the river and in the clearing saw dozens > of tanagers, many wilson's warblers, one black throated gray warbler > and the band-tails with their thunderous clapping was reminiscent of > Old Town Portland. I had some folks coming down to go surfing in > the morning so I wandered back to get dinner started. > The next morning we all headed out to Short Sands beach. The > weather was beautiful but the surf was small so it provided some > extra moments to study the Murres, Guillemots,etc. I had one halfway > decent ride and when I paddled back out one of guys said, "Hey nice > one" and I replied, "Thanks, did you see how close those > Oystercatchers came to me?". He stared blankly and just said, > "Dude, please tell me an Oystercatcher is not some kind of shark". > I decided to keep quite about birds for awhile but I thought if a > Black-footed Albatross or the like flies over I might not be able to > restrain myself. > Later as we started to walk up the trail I spotted a baldy on top of > one of the snags. I immediately shouted, "Oooh! guys check that > out". To which they replied "That is #%&*@#$ cool!" Birds of prey > are fair game for any audience of men. They represent > violence,carnage,intimidation and freedom. One could conceivably > make an effortless transition from discussing NASCAR to talking > about the time you saw a Osprey attack a Bufflehead. > Further up the trail as they guys started to settle into a mild > argument about the Blazers I paused a bit to listen to a call. It > was a willow flycatcher's -"PICKmeee" but it was difficult to hear > over the chatter of the Winter wrens,Wilson's and something about > Brandon Roy. Then the guy right behind me in inquired "Hey do you > know what kind of bird that is?" And the next thing you know it's 5 > minutes later and we are still talking songbirds. Birds of prey are > one thing but one has to be cautious when entering into the realm of > songbirds in the company of men. The rest of the group fell silent > long ago. They were either interested or just plain shell shocked. > We said our goodbyes and they headed home. > > The next morning I did not wake to the sound of Varied Thrushes > which was unusual, but there were some other songs that I was > clueless about. After some coffee I pulled on my "Birding is Punk > Rock" T-shirt and headed for the Nehalem Sewage ponds or as I like > to call it-?the poop factory.? The ponds are closed on Sunday's but > as my father used to say "Don't let a measly fence get between you > and the potential of a new species". Actually I think it was > something like "between you and some good huntin'", but I have > adapted it for my own needs. There wasn't really much going on > there anyway so I head on down the road. > > When I arrived at work on Monday someone had written "I heart birds" > on my coffee mug. Fair enough, give me a month or two and I will > have them all converted. > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Tue May 12 21:01:03 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 21:01:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hart Mountain - Malhuer Message-ID: <66AC6D73E27A4D04B60A14423D035EAA@KimPC> I also had a great time this weekend searching for raptor nest on the Hart Mtn. Antelope Refuge. The highlight for me was seeing three Long-eared Owls with one of them sitting on a nest. This was my first trip to the Refuge and the Warner Valley and I am sure it won't be the last. Sunday afternoon I drove over to the Malheur Refuge and finally after several trips, I got to see the Yellow-breasted Chats. I was on the Page Springs road a 6:00 AM Monday,and there were at least 5 Chats sitting on top of the willows singing their hearts out. The next highlight was finding a Hermit Warbler just outside the town of Diamond. That was followed by one of the best burgers I have ever had at the Diamond Hotel. I also found 5 species of Herons & Egrets within sight of each other just south of Benson Pond. ---kim Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090512/f023449b/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Tue May 12 21:27:59 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 21:27:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Kingbird, Tattlers and Turnstones, Tillamook Message-ID: <20090513042800.49DB7A8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Jack Hurt and I birded Tillamook County today. It was like a Big Day but with bankers' hours: 9AM to 5PM. Best bird (in terms of scarcity in the county) was early in the day: a WESTERN KINGBIRD on Goodspeed Road, which location was also swarming with SAVANNAH SPARROWS. Our first stop at the Salmon St. mudflats in Bay City revealed a vast expanse of mud (tide was -.5), but we did have a MARBLED GODWIT fly over. We spotted the first of the day's many RED-NECKED PHALAROPES along Suppress Rd, where we also found YELLOW WARBLERS and a cooperative PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER. Then on to Nehalem STP, where the highlight was three BLUE-WINGED TEAL (2 males) and many more phalaropes and Savannah Sparrows. Barview Jetty had 4 gorgeous male HARLEQUIN DUCKS, three of them close in to the rocks with great light. On the south jetty across the channel we could see about 50 BROWN PELICANS and almost as many PIGEON GUILLEMOTS. We got a great look at two WANDERING TATTLERS at the Bay City oyster plant. Our second visit to the Salmon St mudflats (1:30PM, tide = +1.5', much better) yielded a mixed flock of SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and a family of KILLDEERS including 4 juveniles. The juveniles were almost as big as the Semi Plovers. Fenk Road had one or two pairs of CINNAMON TEAL and more phalaropes. We hit Bayocean at 3PM in time to see a flock of about 40 RED KNOTS fly by. On the mudflats were two BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, in almost full alternate plumage, and a good-sized flock of WESTERN SANDPIPERS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, and alt-plumage DUNLIN. As we were watching, two stunning RUDDY TURNSTONES landed and proceeded to turn shells. About 25 BRANT were still hanging out on the bay, down considerably from 10 days ago. On the way back into town, we found a flock of 120 GREATER WHITE- FRONTED GEESE in a field just east of Fenk Rd. The last bird of the day was an EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE that flew over the Fred Meyer parking lot as we were sorting out our gear. It was a blast. Wink Gross Portland From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Tue May 12 21:45:57 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 21:45:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] The OBOL Rules Message-ID: <002701c9d385$d9268060$4bc963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Here's a reposting of OBOL Rules that I compiled from earlier postings and posted just about a year ago. Mechanics of posting: 1. Set your email to plain text, not HTML, MIME, etc 2. Never include any attachment in your posting. Put photos up on a website and post the link. 3. Indicate the content in the subject line. 4. Do not use the 4 letter codes for bird names, spell them out. 5. If you write prose text, highlight the BIRD NAMES in capital letters. 6. Give directions to notable birds. Check them for accuracy before you send. 7. Sign your posting and include your location. Two cautionary notes: [If you send one posting to both OBOL and COBOL, it will appear twice on Siler's site. Please send separate post to these two lists.] [Do not hit the "Reply" button if you are looking at the daily Digest. That sends the whole long digest back to OBOL, along with your message.] Style guide for postings (optional, but highly recommended): 1. Be nice. No personal attacks, snide asides, dismissive comments, curt retorts. 2. Refrain from political postings. 3. Keep discussions of religion, starlings, house sparrows, cats, guns, etc off the list. 4. If you misspell a bird's name, some people will be annoyed. Try to spell it right. 5. An occasional posting about commercial offerings, like tours, books, or binoculars for sale is OK. 6. Taglines or a quote after your signature are OK, but optional. Finally, my personal thought: 7. OBOL is a community space, not anyone's personal blog. Post your sightings more often than you post your opinion about other member's sightings. Birding is a shared enthusiasm. Let's talk about BIRDS! Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan NOT the listowner, just a participant. The listowner is Jim Norton jimnorton at jimnorton.org From marciafcutler at comcast.net Tue May 12 22:17:21 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 22:17:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Benton Co. NAMC Message-ID: The preliminary species total for the Benton Co. NAMC is 116 birds. In contrast to the Wednesday before (Red Knot, Black-bellied Plovers, Whimbrels, Black-necked Stilts) and the Tuesday afterwards (Purple Martins, Bank Swallow -count week anyone?), there were no particularly unusual species reported. The count day seemed to hit the midst of migration for Warbling Vireos, Wilson's Warblers and Western Tanagers. Highlights include: Snow Geese - 4 seen in a migrating flock of Greater White-fronted Geese Sooty Grouse Green Heron Spotted Sandpiper Long-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Phalarope Olive-sided Flycatcher American Pipit Hermit Warbler MacGillivray's Warbler Vesper Sparrow Bullock's Oriole Red Crossbill Notable misses include Band-tailed Pigeon, Yellow-headed Blackbird, any peeps, Great Horned Owl, Black Phoebe (seen Monday), Hutton's Vireo and Townsend's Warbler. Marcia F. Cutler -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090512/5c6a8eee/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Wed May 13 01:03:08 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 01:03:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Avocets Reported at Yachats Community Park Message-ID: Hi, Betty Bahn received a report on May 12 of 2 American Avocets at the Yachats Community Park on May 10. Details about how the Avocets were identified were not sent. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport From jeffharding at centurytel.net Wed May 13 06:17:07 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 06:17:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Calliope Hummingbirds In-Reply-To: <79B9DECDF7724163A87253A5136A41DB@BERTHA> References: <79B9DECDF7724163A87253A5136A41DB@BERTHA> Message-ID: <65A0E9C0390D43658C444109C95F181B@laptop> This seems to be a very good year for Calliope Hummingbirds in the Willamette Valley. In his article in Birds of Oregon, A General Reference, (Marshall, Hunter, and Contreras, eds, 2003) Mike Patterson says "Spring migrants are rare in the Willamette Valley and along the coast, though reports appear to be increasing". This year everyone seems to have them at their feeders. Most of my records are in early May, but we noted one April 11 this year, and have had a female at the feeder for at least a week this year. Good birding, Jeff _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Bev Sent: Sunday, May 10, 2009 9:12 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Calliope Hummingbirds I visited friends over the weekend who live in Brownsville, OR. They actually live on Gap Road about 3 miles south of Brownsville. I saw, which I thought was unsual, a male and female Calliope in their yard and at their feeder. The Calliope Hummingbirds seemed to be just as aggressive as the Rufus.This is the first time that I have seen the Callilope Hummingbirds in Brownsville. Does anyone have any comment, or knowledge of Calliope Hummingbirds in this area? Are they just migrating through? I just saw 1 male and 1 female. Bev bevbird at hevanet.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/1fc33777/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed May 13 07:04:11 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 07:04:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Beaverton Dark-eyed Junco fledgling Message-ID: <20090513070411.vr6cdv6fi8g0kgco@webmail.thebirdguide.com> This morning a parent was feeding a recently fledged Dark-eyed Junco in the landscaping at work today. There are at least 5 pairs of juncos on the Beaverton campus of Tektronix. There are a similar number of territorial singing White-crowned Sparrows. They nest in the same habitat--decorative hedges of rhododendrons and similar broad leaf evergreen shrubs against the brick buildings, edged in extensive lawns and scattered large white oaks. Greg Gillson greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com The Bird Guide: Birding in the Pacific NW http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/ Pacific NW Backyard Birder From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Wed May 13 07:15:55 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 14:15:55 +0000 Subject: [obol] Mystery Sparrow IMAGE Message-ID: Hi all, Okay, this must have been a challenging image as I only received a handful of guesses. I had about 1200 hits but less than 20 people venture a guess. Where are all the experienced, veteran birders who are usually quick to ID mystery photos?? Come on, there are no real 'eagles' involved with birding :) http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/image/112406737 Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Wed May 13 07:39:21 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (Barbara Millikan) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 07:39:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mystery Sparrow IMAGE In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <855070e90905130739o4d9d09dcxe63440d98b085e84@mail.gmail.com> Okay, I can think of a couple reasons why you received so few answers. 1. I couldn't load the picture 2. When I tried to tell you this, your email bounced me as spam. Yrs. Barbara -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/372bb92b/attachment.html From uuspirit at yahoo.com Wed May 13 08:18:12 2009 From: uuspirit at yahoo.com (Mary Reese) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 08:18:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Men and Birding Message-ID: <437570.56291.qm@web54106.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Greg, your story was hilarious and outstanding writing!? I haven't had so much fun reading an OBOL post in a long time.? You got the bird sightings in there for sure, but it was so much more entertaining than just scanning a list.? I do hope you are a published author.? If not, you really should write a book - you have a special gift! ? Mary Reese Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/057c4273/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Wed May 13 08:25:08 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 08:25:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Barn Swallow question Message-ID: <034F8FF2F3F44A108E063D1E1E47C954@your5rlp3a9516> OBOLites, One thing I have always tried to be careful to avoid is taking a small amount of biological data and extrapolating it to come to a conclusion covering a wider base. But something, apparently negative, is happening to the Barn Swallow population at our farm in Lincoln County. I thought it was simply a local problem until reading Range Bayer's comments in the most recent issue of the Sandpiper, in which he indicates that the species seems to be scarce all across the county this spring. That report prompted me to write this post. For most of my life we have had six to eight pairs of Barn Swallows nest on the farm. I could count on them to show up around April 10 and begin nesting almost immediately. Almost all of them annually brought off two broods per season. Occasionally some of them would successfully nest three times. By late August there would be dozens of them swarming over the fields here. About five years ago I began to notice two things. One, there were not as many pairs showing up to nest. Two, the ones that did come were arriving later, sometimes not until nearly the first of May. Last year there was only one pair which nested here. This year I have seen two different birds only sporadically. It may be a nesting pair, but I am not certain of that. So obviously, something is happening which is affecting the population of this species on our farm. One of the reasons I thought this was a local problem is that I know for a fact that at least in this location, Steller's Jays figured out that Barn Swallow nests were easy pickings. There was one year I saw at least one of them repeatedly going after swallow eggs and/or nestlings in the barn. I did not closely monitor the effects of this predation, but it isn't much of a stretch of the imagination to suppose that even one jay could have inflicted a major blow to the swallow population in this location. However, Bayer's recent notes suggest the problem is more widespread, at least in Lincoln County. So I am left to ponder possible reasons for a seeming decline. I propose here two hypothesis; one based on another observation from the farm, the other from reading field notes. The one from the farm. In the past decade we replaced a wooden, shake-roof barn and a wooden garage with two pole barn structures with metal roofs. Barn Swallows tried several times to nest in the one we use as a garage. I noted that on warmer days it would get so hot under the metal roof that swallow nestlings not yet ready to fly would bail out of the nest to escape the heat. I do not know if this happened in other locations or not, but I suspect it did. Over the past couple of decades a great number of these metal roofed pole buildings have been built all across the country. If they prove as detrimental to nestling swallows as our garage did, this situation could be one of the factors in a declining swallow population. Swallows typically nest pretty close to the roof of the inside of buildings, and these metal roof buildings do not offer the same protection from the heat that the older woodern roofed buildings did. I don't know if this problem is widespread or not, but am wondering if others have noted similar things. The one from field notes: In recent years there have been increasing reports of Barn Swallows in mid-winter, especially late December and early January. I don't recall reading reports of them from either September through November, or January through March, which suggests that these December-January birds are neither lingerers from fall migration or early spring migrants which continue on into breeding season, but mid-winter visitors which quite possibly do not survive the remaining portion of the winter. Again, I do not know whether or not this hypothesis is valid. It may be that neither of these suggestions is valid, or gives a satisfactory explanation for a seeming decline in Barn Swallow populations. It may be that what appears to be a local decline is not being mirrored in other parts of the country or state. So my question is simply to ask what other people are observing in terms of Barn Swallow populations and nesting success in their own localities. Is this decline merely a local phenomena, or is it more widespread? Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/6c907352/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Wed May 13 08:33:50 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 08:33:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Lazuli Bunting Message-ID: <256125.525.qm@web46004.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Wow! We just had a Lazuli Bunting come into the yard a few minutes ago! What a beautiful bird! I had to fumble for the camera and memory card for so long that I was sure that I wouldn't get a photo of him. But luckily, I was able to get about 100 photos of this little guy before he flew off. What a treat this was!! Pics are here: http://www.portlandbirds.blogspot.com Seth Reams and Michelle King NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com 1/4 acre, suburban, 61 feeders From llsdirons at msn.com Wed May 13 08:51:56 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 15:51:56 +0000 Subject: [obol] Mystery Sparrow IMAGE In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Greetings All, I you take a quick trip to www.birdfellow.com, you can see two images of this species from better angles. This bird is the same species as the one in the top two images in the most recent journal posting. Note the crown pattern, the yellow spot above and in front of the eye, the weak eyering, and then general sandy coloration of the upperparts with dark streaking on the back. It should be noted that this species is highly variable, with several subspecies. Sometimes it seems like no two look alike. Dave Irons > From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 14:15:55 +0000 > Subject: Re: [obol] Mystery Sparrow IMAGE > > > Hi all, > > Okay, this must have been a challenging image as I only received a handful of guesses. > > I had about 1200 hits but less than 20 people venture a guess. > > Where are all the experienced, veteran birders who are usually quick to ID mystery photos?? Come on, there are no real 'eagles' involved with birding :) > > http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/image/112406737 > > Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? goes with you. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Mobile1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/663ccb0d/attachment.html From ed.mcvicker at comcast.net Wed May 13 09:33:29 2009 From: ed.mcvicker at comcast.net (Ed McVicker) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 09:33:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Song Sparrow fledgling, Mult. Co. Message-ID: <4A0AF659.2040608@comcast.net> An adult Song Sparrow was busy feeding a mostly sedentary, tailless fledgling this morning in my SW Portland garden. Ed McVicker From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Wed May 13 09:40:28 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 09:40:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Off topic: Western moth book Message-ID: <158B64D6-AD15-4BD9-8FEF-C455207DCE95@gmail.com> This is off topic, but thought I would pass it along since birders are often interested in bugs. I just got this notice from someone I know in Arizona. It is the first I have heard of it and know nothing else about it. Shawneen Finnegan The new Moths of Western North America by Powell and Opler has been published and orders will be mailed out shortly. BioQuip is offering it as their May Book Special for 10% discount. A discounted price is also offered for it by Amazon.com. See attached. Paul Opler No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.329 / Virus Database: 270.12.27/2112 - Release Date: 05/13/09 07:04:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/3cc857d3/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Powell&Opler_FORTH-newest-[2].pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 487008 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/3cc857d3/attachment.pdf -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/3cc857d3/attachment-0001.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Wed May 13 10:05:52 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 10:05:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] EASTERN KINGBIRD -Mount Angel Abbey Message-ID: Hola OBOLers, While "dipping" big time on warblers this AM on "The Hill," an EASTERN KINGBIRD appeared just below the first parking lot. Good looks but all my photos of the bird with point-and-shoot Canon SX-10 IS were pretty lousy. After walking around the top of the hill, the bird showed up again perched in the cemetery area. Time frame: 8-9 AM. VAUX'S SWIFTS (2-3) flew overhead with VIOLET GREEN SWALLOWS. RB NUTHATCH, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, WESTERN WOOD PEEWEE, WESTERN TANAGERS (5), RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, AM ROBINS, BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS. I had seen YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS yesterday and heard both HERMIT and BLACK-THROATED GRAY a few days ago on dog walk but no luck today. Maybe catch another wave with the warm weekend? Brrr, 49F seems cold these days.... John Thomas Silverton From peterpatricelli at comcast.net Wed May 13 10:23:47 2009 From: peterpatricelli at comcast.net (peterpatricelli) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 10:23:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Norther Harrier pics Message-ID: Here is a llink to my website with 38 new pictures of a pair of Northern Harriers. Once I realized I had gotten near a nest in easter Oregon I backed off until the female settled down, then hung around briefly as the male strafed me a few times with my camera running. http://www.flyfishingfotography.com/harrier_2_001.htm Peter Patricelli -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/0bb731db/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Wed May 13 10:36:23 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 10:36:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <54D4009120DC43E3A1F61741E5555524@Phil> 6:00-7:00 AM (5/13): overcast, wind SE 5-10, swells 3-5 100 Red-throated Loon 800 Pacific Loon 20 Common Loon 6 Western Grebe 20 Sooty Shearwater 15 Brown Pelican 8 Double-crested Cormorant 150 Brandt's Cormorant 40 Pelagic Cormorant 2 White-winged Scoter 200 Surf Scoter 26 Red-necked Phalarope 1 California Gull 200 Western Gull (N) 40 Glaucous-winged Gull (N) 2 Caspian Tern 300 Common Murre 40 Pigeon Guillemot 2 Marbled Murrelet 200+ Rhinoceros Auklet (70% N) 1 Tufted Puffin Phil philliplc at charter.net From tayben at teleport.com Wed May 13 10:59:38 2009 From: tayben at teleport.com (Martha taylor & Chris Bennett) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 10:59:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wilson's in Westmorland Message-ID: <1DCEB960C2BE4706B3DBB200E3354AC7@D4P8RDC1> This morning I had a pair of Wilson's at my water feature FOY. Chris -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/a59230f7/attachment.html From tasgenl at comcast.net Wed May 13 11:08:44 2009 From: tasgenl at comcast.net (Tom Shreve (tasgenl)) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 11:08:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lazuli Bunting in Pacific City References: <022F2A07-B73D-44DB-9710-32931409647D@verizon.net> Message-ID: <96786D7DF4B740B1A9074BACE6D9B08C@yourrvlnhr6v8d> I was surprised to see a bright male LAZULI BUNTING in Pacific City (Tillamook County) this morning. It didn't stay long enough for a picture. It may have been drawn by all the American Goldfinch activity at the feeder but found nothing to its liking and moved on. Tom Shreve From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Wed May 13 11:52:03 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 14:52:03 -0400 Subject: [obol] eagle flock Message-ID: Nine immature BALD EAGLES were on ground in a group, all just standing facing west, on Monday evening at the owl corner of the Honeyman loop on the Scappoose lowlands. I gather from other postings this isn't unusual. Handful of SNIPE winnowing a quarter mile down the same road by the big light-yellow pole barn. Heard the BITTERN at the Crown Zellerbach trail marshes. This was around 8 p.m. Yard: two LAZULIS yesterday on and off all day at ground feeding stations. Unusual to have two at the same time. Around 70 evening grosbeaks most of day too -- two flocks at once, I assume. Lona Pierce, Columbia County _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? goes with you. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Mobile1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/a2dff993/attachment.html From fschrock at gmail.com Wed May 13 13:25:05 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 13:25:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Barn Swallow question In-Reply-To: <034F8FF2F3F44A108E063D1E1E47C954@your5rlp3a9516> References: <034F8FF2F3F44A108E063D1E1E47C954@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: <390ebd880905131325x11573216s964fdd4489d19e3d@mail.gmail.com> For several years I've been noticing a similar trend among VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS in my neighborhood here in McMinnville, and this year it's even more pronounced. There is only one pair that I've noticed so far (and that pair is not looking at my camera-equipped nestbox, so there probably will be no chance of observing of the "beetle importing" phenomenon I've watched for the past four seasons.) There have been a few individual wanderers in the area, but there used to be 5 or 6 pairs nesting nearby. I keep hoping it's just the fault of the cool, rainy weather, and that the birds will suddenly appear when the weather turns warm. My doubt is growing daily. Also, I've noticed that the flock of Vaux's Swifts that have been roosting nightly in a chimney near my house, have been re-entering the chimney in mid-day on these cool, rainy days. Probably not much food flying for them right now. ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== On Wed, May 13, 2009 at 8:25 AM, Darrel Faxon <5hats at peak.org> wrote: > OBOLites, > One thing I have always tried to be careful to avoid is taking a small > amount of biological data and extrapolating it to come to a conclusion > covering a wider base. But something, apparently negative, is happening to > the Barn Swallow population at our farm in Lincoln County. I thought it was > simply a local problem until reading Range Bayer's comments in the most > recent issue of the Sandpiper, in which he indicates that the species seems > to be scarce all across the county this spring. That report prompted me to > write this post. > For most of my life we have had six to eight pairs of Barn Swallows > nest on the farm. I could count on them to show up around April 10 and > begin nesting almost immediately. Almost all of them annually brought off > two broods per season. Occasionally some of them would successfully nest > three times. By late August there would be dozens of them swarming over the > fields here. > About five years ago I began to notice two things. One, there were not > as many pairs showing up to nest. Two, the ones that did come were arriving > later, sometimes not until nearly the first of May. Last year there was > only one pair which nested here. This year I have seen two different birds > only sporadically. It may be a nesting pair, but I am not certain of that. > So obviously, something is happening which is affecting the population of > this species on our farm. > One of the reasons I thought this was a local problem is that I know > for a fact that at least in this location, Steller's Jays figured out that > Barn Swallow nests were easy pickings. There was one year I saw at least > one of them repeatedly going after swallow eggs and/or nestlings in the > barn. I did not closely monitor the effects of this predation, but it isn't > much of a stretch of the imagination to suppose that even one jay could have > inflicted a major blow to the swallow population in this location. > However, Bayer's recent notes suggest the problem is more widespread, > at least in Lincoln County. So I am left to ponder possible reasons for a > seeming decline. I propose here two hypothesis; one based on another > observation from the farm, the other from reading field notes. > The one from the farm. In the past decade we replaced a wooden, > shake-roof barn and a wooden garage with two pole barn structures with metal > roofs. Barn Swallows tried several times to nest in the one we use as a > garage. I noted that on warmer days it would get so hot under the metal > roof that swallow nestlings not yet ready to fly would bail out of the nest > to escape the heat. I do not know if this happened in other locations or > not, but I suspect it did. Over the past couple of decades a great number > of these metal roofed pole buildings have been built all across the > country. If they prove as detrimental to nestling swallows as our garage > did, this situation could be one of the factors in a declining swallow > population. Swallows typically nest pretty close to the roof of the inside > of buildings, and these metal roof buildings do not offer the same > protection from the heat that the older woodern roofed buildings did. I > don't know if this problem is widespread or not, but am wondering if others > have noted similar things. > The one from field notes: In recent years there have been increasing > reports of Barn Swallows in mid-winter, especially late December and early > January. I don't recall reading reports of them from either September > through November, or January through March, which suggests that these > December-January birds are neither lingerers from fall migration or early > spring migrants which continue on into breeding season, but mid-winter > visitors which quite possibly do not survive the remaining portion of the > winter. Again, I do not know whether or not this hypothesis is valid. It > may be that neither of these suggestions is valid, or gives a satisfactory > explanation for a seeming decline in Barn Swallow populations. It may be > that what appears to be a local decline is not being mirrored in other parts > of the country or state. So my question is simply to ask what other people > are observing in terms of Barn Swallow populations and nesting success in > their own localities. Is this decline merely a local phenomena, or is it > more widespread? > > Darrel > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/7bd85aaa/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed May 13 13:26:13 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 13:26:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wed morning, Eugene Message-ID: Walked the powerline trails behind Lane Community College campus. I lost track of some numbers, but the count below is a close estimate for the morning. It was a flycatcher day. Mallard - 7 Wood Duck - 2 Ruddy Duck - 4 Turkey Vulture - 12 Cooper's Hawk - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 2 California Quail - 2 heard Killdeer - 2 Spotted Sandpiper - 6 Least Sandpiper - 6 Band-tailed Pigeon - 2 Rufous Hummingbird - 6+ Flicker - 2 Red-breasted Sapsucker - 1 Black Phoebe - 1 Hammond's Flycatcher - 6+ Dusky Flycatcher - 10+ Pacific-slope Flycatcher - 2+ Western Wood Pewee - 2 Olive-sided Flycatcher - 2 Violet-green Swallow - 8+ Rough-winged Swallow - 1 Barn Swallow - 2 Cliff Swallow - 60+ Steller's Jay - 2 Scrub Jay - 1 Am. Crow - 1 N. Raven - 2 Black-capped Chickadee - 10 Chestnut-backed Chickadee - 3 Bushtit - 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch - 3 Wrentit - 4 Bewick's Wren - 4 Am. Robin - 5 Hutton's Vireo - 3 Cassin's Vireo - 1 Warbling Vireo - 20 Orange-crowned Warbler - 10+ Black-throated Gray Warbler - 15 MacGillivray's Warbler - 6 Yellow-breasted Chat - 4 Wilson's Warbler - 12 Brown-headed Cowbird - 4 Western Tanager - 4 Black-headed Grosbeak - 46+ Lazuli Bunting - 3 Purple Finch - 4 Pine Siskin - 2 American Goldfinch - 16 Spotted Towhee - 7 D-e Junco - 2 Song Sparrow - 8 Don Schrouder, Paul Sherrell, Tom Mickel, Sylvia Maulding, Sarah Vasconcellos, Sally Hill, Dennis Arendt, Fred Chancey, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/9e61d333/attachment.html From swfawnridgeor at yahoo.com Wed May 13 14:06:13 2009 From: swfawnridgeor at yahoo.com (Sandra Weingarten) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 14:06:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Barn Swallow question Message-ID: <403992.28366.qm@web30602.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I too have noticed a decline in barn swallow numbers in the past two years.? At the same time there has been an increase in the number of Steller's jays staying all year rather than only in winter.?Coincidence or not?? I have noticed that the swallows sometimes stay till late into the fall. ?My barn has a metal roof, but the swallows nest on the beams and rafters of the lower portion which is separated from the metal roof by a large loft. ? Sandra Weingarten Brownsville, Linn County ? Sandra Weingarten 541-466-3247 541-517-0519 swfawnridgeor at yahoo.com --- On Wed, 5/13/09, Darrel Faxon <5hats at peak.org> wrote: From: Darrel Faxon <5hats at peak.org> Subject: [obol] Barn Swallow question To: "Obol" Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2009, 8:25 AM OBOLites, ?? One thing I have always tried to be careful to avoid is taking a small amount of biological data and extrapolating it to come to a conclusion covering a wider base.? But something, apparently negative, is happening to the Barn Swallow population at our farm in Lincoln County.? I thought it was simply a local problem until reading Range Bayer's comments in the most recent issue of the Sandpiper, in which he indicates that the species seems to be scarce all across the county this spring.? That report prompted me to write this post. ??? For most of my life we have had six to eight pairs of Barn Swallows nest on the farm.? I could count on them to show up around April 10 and begin nesting almost immediately.?Almost all of them annually brought off two broods per season.? Occasionally some of them would successfully nest three times.? By late August there would be dozens of them swarming over the fields here. ??? About five years ago I began to notice two things.? One, there were not as many pairs showing up to nest.? Two, the ones that did come were arriving later, sometimes not until nearly the first of May.? Last year there was only one pair which nested here.? This year I have seen two different birds only sporadically.? It may be a nesting pair, but I am not certain of that.? So obviously, something is happening which is affecting the population of this species on our farm. ??? One of the reasons I thought this was a local problem is that I know for a fact that at least in this location, Steller's Jays figured out that Barn Swallow nests were easy pickings.? There was one year I saw at least one of them repeatedly going after swallow eggs and/or nestlings in the barn.? I did not closely monitor the effects of this predation, but it isn't much of a stretch of the imagination to suppose that even one jay could have inflicted a major blow to the swallow population in this location. ??? However, Bayer's recent notes suggest the problem is more widespread, at least in Lincoln County.? So I am left to ponder possible reasons for a seeming decline.? I propose here two hypothesis; one based on another observation from the farm, the other from reading field notes. ??? The one from the farm.? In the past decade we replaced a wooden, shake-roof barn and a wooden garage with two pole barn structures with metal roofs.? Barn Swallows tried several times to nest in the one we use as a garage.? I noted that on warmer days it would get so hot?under the metal roof that swallow nestlings not yet ready to fly would bail out of the nest to escape the heat.? I do not know if this happened in other locations or not, but I suspect it did.? Over the past couple of decades a great number of these metal roofed pole buildings have been built all across the country.? If they prove as detrimental to nestling swallows as our garage did, this situation could be one of the factors in a declining swallow population.? Swallows typically nest pretty close to the roof of the inside of buildings, and these metal roof buildings do not offer the same protection from the heat that the older woodern roofed buildings did.? I don't know if this problem is widespread or not, but am wondering if others have noted similar things. ??? The one from field notes: In recent years there have been increasing reports of Barn Swallows in mid-winter, especially late December and early January.? I don't recall reading reports of them from either September through November, or January through March, which suggests that these December-January birds are?neither lingerers from fall migration or early spring migrants which continue on into breeding season, but mid-winter visitors which quite possibly do not survive the remaining portion of the winter.? Again, I do not know whether or not this hypothesis is valid.? It may be that neither of these suggestions is valid, or gives a satisfactory explanation for a seeming decline in Barn Swallow populations.? It may be that what appears to be a local decline is not being mirrored in other parts of the country or state.? So my question is simply to ask what other people are observing in terms of Barn Swallow populations and nesting success in their own localities.? Is this decline merely a local phenomena, or is it more widespread? ? Darrel ??? -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/0965a691/attachment.html From bettyehunt at aol.com Wed May 13 14:28:28 2009 From: bettyehunt at aol.com (bettyehunt at aol.com) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 17:28:28 -0400 Subject: [obol] Men and Birding In-Reply-To: <833033.53227.qm@web31103.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <833033.53227.qm@web31103.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <8CBA228E3BF32F3-CB4-4BA@WEBMAIL-MY04.sysops.aol.com> Even if I weren't a birder, I would subscribe to this list.? No better opportunity to observe human behaviour (I was a people watcher before I was a bird watcher).??This thread alone would make a marvelous?start for a psychology paper. Keep it up, but don't forgt to stop and smell the roses (or, in my case, the honeysuckle). -----Original Message----- From: Greg Gabel To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Tue, 12 May 2009 9:01 am Subject: [obol] Men and Birding hile to those initiated, birding is an obvious obsession. It is noble, nvigorating, and righteous; you know, like a Prius owner. To those uninitiated t is baffling and may even induce a feeling of pity. I have found this to be articularly troublesome when the topic of birds comes up around other men. ypically men have no problem understanding the romance of the WWF, or the llure of hockey, but bring up the beauty of a Chestnut- backed Chickadee and ou?re in no man?s land. I had an opportunity to take a friend out for his first time birding on furlough riday. We went to Sauvie and hiked the Wapato. I was complaining about not eing able to get too many of my guy friends to go birding to which he esponded, "Being a gay man, I will go birding anytime. I love it!" He then anced down the trail and loudly tried to mimic the red-wing blackbirds...I on't' know what sexual orientation has to do with birding, and I didn't uestion it ,but knew one20thing for sure today was going to be a low scoring ame. ust then some eagles flew by quite low and there was much celebration. Further own the trail I was doing what I like to call, "cold calling" which is when you can trees in an area where there is no song or movement, no indication of any ird at all except that there are sticks and leaves. Cold calling is an ptimist's birding method. Just then I came across a great horned. It was hard o see so we walked through the field of stinging nettles (with shorts on) to et a better view. Besides the rash on my legs it was a good day... ater that afternoon I headed down to Nehalem valley where I have a cabin near he Northfork. When I arrived there was a dead Swainson's Thrush on the porch. ote to self- get swallow stickers for the windows. cracked a cold one(btw someone needs to invent a beer holder for birders) and alked down to the river and in the clearing saw dozens of tanagers, many ilson's warblers, one black throated gray warbler and the band-tails with their hunderous clapping was reminiscent of Old Town Portland. I had some folks oming down to go surfing in the morning so I wandered back to get dinner tarted. he next morning we all headed out to Short Sands beach. The weather was eautiful but the surf was small so it provided some extra moments to study the urres, Guillemots,etc. I had one halfway decent ride and when I paddled back ut one of guys said,=2 0"Hey nice one" and I replied, "Thanks, did you see how lose those Oystercatchers came to me?". He stared blankly and just said, Dude, please tell me an Oystercatcher is not some kind of shark". I decided to eep quite about birds for awhile but I thought if a Black-footed Albatross or he like flies over I might not be able to restrain myself. ater as we started to walk up the trail I spotted a baldy on top of one of the nags. I immediately shouted, "Oooh! guys check that out". To which they eplied "That is #%&*@#$ cool!" Birds of prey are fair game for any audience f men. They represent violence,carnage,intimidation and freedom. One could onceivably make an effortless transition from discussing NASCAR to talking bout the time you saw a Osprey attack a Bufflehead. urther up the trail as they guys started to settle into a mild argument about he Blazers I paused a bit to listen to a call. It was a willow flycatcher's "PICKmeee" but it was difficult to hear over the chatter of the Winter rens,Wilson's and something about Brandon Roy. Then the guy right behind me in nquired "Hey do you know what kind of bird that is?" And the next thing you now it's 5 minutes later and we are still talking songbirds. Birds of prey are ne thing but one has to be cautious when entering into the realm of songbirds n the company of men. The rest of the group fell silent long ago. They were ither interested or just plain shell shocked. We said our goodbyes and they eaded home. The next morning I did not wake to the sound of Varied Thrushes which was nusual, but there were some other songs that I was clueless about. After some offee I pulled on my "Birding is Punk Rock" T-shirt and headed for the Nehalem ewage ponds or as I like to call it-?the poop factory.? The ponds are closed n Sunday's but as my father used to say "Don't let a measly fence get between ou and the potential of a new species". Actually I think it was something like between you and some good huntin'", but I have adapted it for my own needs. here wasn't really much going on there anyway so I head on down the road. When I arrived at work on Monday someone had written "I heart birds" on my offee mug. Fair enough, give me a month or two and I will have them all onverted. ______________________________________________ bol mailing list bol at oregonbirdwatch.org ttp://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/5532309b/attachment.html From averill at easystreet.net Wed May 13 14:41:22 2009 From: averill at easystreet.net (Katy Averill) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 14:41:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Headed Grosbeak Message-ID: <8227F178B1F442AB897B2787A28D2602@eMachine> At 6A this morning I had a first-or-the-year Black Headed Grosbeak and a bright male House Finch on a seed feeder. A cheerful way to start a gray day. SW Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/7649cbe8/attachment.html From baltman at peak.org Wed May 13 14:48:30 2009 From: baltman at peak.org (baltman at peak.org) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 14:48:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Barn Swallow question In-Reply-To: <390ebd880905131325x11573216s964fdd4489d19e3d@mail.gmail.com> References: <034F8FF2F3F44A108E063D1E1E47C954@your5rlp3a9516> <390ebd880905131325x11573216s964fdd4489d19e3d@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <000601c9d414$9396d560$bac48020$@org> If one wants to look at trends for songbirds beyond your own backyard, it is best to go to the Breeding Bird Survey analyses for the last approx 40 years. Throughout the west and in particular the Pacific Northwest, in general, aerial insectivores (i.e., swallows, swifts, flycatchers, nighthawks, etc.) are probably the grouping that most jumps out at you in terms of the number of species with significantly declining trends (not all, but most aerial insectivores). Of course, there are numerous potential reasons for this that I won't speculate on here and each species can be highly variable in terms of other parts of its life cycle/ecology that could be affecting its populations, but the pattern is very recognizable and wildlife biologists/ornithologists in the west have recognized this. As for barn swallows, they are definetly one of the declining ones. In fact within the Willamette Lowlands Ecoregion, they have a fairly significant (p <0.08) long term (approx 40 year) declining trend of 1.8%/year. The more recent trend (last 20 years) is even more significant (p,0.05) and at a greater rate (2.2%/year). So it doesn't necessarily equate to what is going on in an individual barn/property, but if you broader observations have noticed this then the numbers agree with your observations. Bob Altman American Bird Conservancy 311 NE Mistletoe Corvallis, OR 97330 baltman at abcbirds.org phone/fax - 541-745-5339 From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Floyd Schrock Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 1:25 PM To: Darrel Faxon Cc: Obol; YamhillBirders at yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [obol] Barn Swallow question For several years I've been noticing a similar trend among VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS in my neighborhood here in McMinnville, and this year it's even more pronounced. There is only one pair that I've noticed so far (and that pair is not looking at my camera-equipped nestbox, so there probably will be no chance of observing of the "beetle importing" phenomenon I've watched for the past four seasons.) There have been a few individual wanderers in the area, but there used to be 5 or 6 pairs nesting nearby. I keep hoping it's just the fault of the cool, rainy weather, and that the birds will suddenly appear when the weather turns warm. My doubt is growing daily. Also, I've noticed that the flock of Vaux's Swifts that have been roosting nightly in a chimney near my house, have been re-entering the chimney in mid-day on these cool, rainy days. Probably not much food flying for them right now. ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== On Wed, May 13, 2009 at 8:25 AM, Darrel Faxon <5hats at peak.org> wrote: OBOLites, One thing I have always tried to be careful to avoid is taking a small amount of biological data and extrapolating it to come to a conclusion covering a wider base. But something, apparently negative, is happening to the Barn Swallow population at our farm in Lincoln County. I thought it was simply a local problem until reading Range Bayer's comments in the most recent issue of the Sandpiper, in which he indicates that the species seems to be scarce all across the county this spring. That report prompted me to write this post. For most of my life we have had six to eight pairs of Barn Swallows nest on the farm. I could count on them to show up around April 10 and begin nesting almost immediately. Almost all of them annually brought off two broods per season. Occasionally some of them would successfully nest three times. By late August there would be dozens of them swarming over the fields here. About five years ago I began to notice two things. One, there were not as many pairs showing up to nest. Two, the ones that did come were arriving later, sometimes not until nearly the first of May. Last year there was only one pair which nested here. This year I have seen two different birds only sporadically. It may be a nesting pair, but I am not certain of that. So obviously, something is happening which is affecting the population of this species on our farm. One of the reasons I thought this was a local problem is that I know for a fact that at least in this location, Steller's Jays figured out that Barn Swallow nests were easy pickings. There was one year I saw at least one of them repeatedly going after swallow eggs and/or nestlings in the barn. I did not closely monitor the effects of this predation, but it isn't much of a stretch of the imagination to suppose that even one jay could have inflicted a major blow to the swallow population in this location. However, Bayer's recent notes suggest the problem is more widespread, at least in Lincoln County. So I am left to ponder possible reasons for a seeming decline. I propose here two hypothesis; one based on another observation from the farm, the other from reading field notes. The one from the farm. In the past decade we replaced a wooden, shake-roof barn and a wooden garage with two pole barn structures with metal roofs. Barn Swallows tried several times to nest in the one we use as a garage. I noted that on warmer days it would get so hot under the metal roof that swallow nestlings not yet ready to fly would bail out of the nest to escape the heat. I do not know if this happened in other locations or not, but I suspect it did. Over the past couple of decades a great number of these metal roofed pole buildings have been built all across the country. If they prove as detrimental to nestling swallows as our garage did, this situation could be one of the factors in a declining swallow population. Swallows typically nest pretty close to the roof of the inside of buildings, and these metal roof buildings do not offer the same protection from the heat that the older woodern roofed buildings did. I don't know if this problem is widespread or not, but am wondering if others have noted similar things. The one from field notes: In recent years there have been increasing reports of Barn Swallows in mid-winter, especially late December and early January. I don't recall reading reports of them from either September through November, or January through March, which suggests that these December-January birds are neither lingerers from fall migration or early spring migrants which continue on into breeding season, but mid-winter visitors which quite possibly do not survive the remaining portion of the winter. Again, I do not know whether or not this hypothesis is valid. It may be that neither of these suggestions is valid, or gives a satisfactory explanation for a seeming decline in Barn Swallow populations. It may be that what appears to be a local decline is not being mirrored in other parts of the country or state. So my question is simply to ask what other people are observing in terms of Barn Swallow populations and nesting success in their own localities. Is this decline merely a local phenomena, or is it more widespread? Darrel _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/56cad819/attachment.html From bigfishyman at gmail.com Wed May 13 14:55:18 2009 From: bigfishyman at gmail.com (Bob Fish) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 14:55:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birds and Birding for kids Message-ID: I have had both BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, and EVENING GROSBEAK for the past 4 days in the yard and neighborhood. Also have had many more PINE-SISKINS than in past years. One probable WARBLING VIREO today, as well as HOUSE FINCH, LESSER GOLDFINCH, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, AUDUBON WARBLER. I would like to get some information (websites, links etc...) on birding for the young folks (10-11 year old). I went on a walk with my step-son's class, and his teacher was interested in making this information available to his students. Any information would be greatly appreciated, Bob Fish Creswell, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/00c31c98/attachment.html From ellencantor at gmail.com Wed May 13 14:55:20 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 14:55:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Skinner Butte Message-ID: <7058c4c60905131455j10801b5bl349621c2f9927b03@mail.gmail.com> I walked to and then birded Skinner Butte this morning. One my way, in my neighborhood just west of downtown, a flock of at least 50 EVENING GROSBEAKS took over a whole block, flying between the trees and having a lot to talk about--the block resounded with their chatter. Shortly after I got to the top of the Butte, I ran into Eugene birder, Craig Merkel, so we birded together much of the morning. Our highlights included: a flock of about 20 WESTERN TANAGERS (male and female) which were busy colonizing one tree after another, lots of singing.... a total of 6 ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS, all males perched on the topmost bare twigs of small saplings or tall brush (some post-Craig) 2 WESTERN WOOD PEEWEES (one seen after I left Craig) flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS HUTTON'S VIREO small flock PURPLE FINCHES VAUX SWIFTS An adult EAGLE was on a limb by the nest and both nestlings were holding themselves very erect, looking feathered Later, I continued birding on my own, walking down the Butte. I saw: 1 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER 1 HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER 2 DUSKY FLYCATCHERS pr. WILSON'S WARBLERS small flock (male and female) BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, eating maple flowers -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/ef4a4033/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Wed May 13 15:29:47 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 15:29:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yamhill Whimbrel, Wilson's Phalaropes Message-ID: Today at the Yamhill Sewage Treatment Ponds in Yamhill County I found a WHIMBREL, as well as 4 WILSON'S PHALAROPES (3 females & 1 male). Park at the parking lot at the south end of town, and walk the nature trail almost to its end (about 300m?), then walk up toward the ponds. All the birds were in the 3rd (final) pond on your right as you walk the trail. The Whimbrel was standing on the dike at the back of this pond. I am guessing that the rain brought these birds down during the day. The birds were present b/w 11:30 & 12:00. I called Carol Karlen, and she may post an update.... The trees along the trail were also chock full of migrant passerines -- a mixed flock of WARBLING VIREOS and WILSON'S, YELLOW, and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS numbering several dozen, and including 1 MYRTLE and 1 BT GRAY. Jay Withgott, Portland From margieparis1 at mac.com Wed May 13 15:59:53 2009 From: margieparis1 at mac.com (Margie Paris) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 15:59:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Evening Grosbeaks by the thousands in Eugene Message-ID: Dear Folks, There have been Evening Grosbeaks dripping from the trees around the University of Oregon campus for the past few days. I've never seen -- or perhaps I should say heard -- so many. Best, Margie Paris 2394 Charnelton Street Eugene, OR 97405 (541) 484-0763 margieparis1 at mac.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/2018c501/attachment.html From sasdhill at comcast.net Wed May 13 16:51:34 2009 From: sasdhill at comcast.net (Sasdhill@comcast.net) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 16:51:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yellow Warblers and Bullock's Oriole's Message-ID: <79F99E8BCA004BF9BB7D31D1DB381B75@OwnerPC> At Delta Ponds East Bank path from north of VRC to the small dam saw: 4 YELLOW WARBLERS, a pair of BULLOCK's ORIOLES, 3 OLIVE SIDED FLYCATCHERS, 2 WESTERN WOOD PEWEE's, 12 WARBLING VIREOS, 2 BLACK HEADED GROSBEAKS, and assorted WILSON's and ORANGE CROWNED WARBLERS. Good birding for a drizzly afternoon. Sally Hill Eugene, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/2753c4b3/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed May 13 17:13:53 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 20:13:53 -0400 Subject: [obol] Bullocks Oriole at my Humming bird feeder? Message-ID: <8CBA23FFF98697D-13B0-F40@webmail-mf07.sysops.aol.com> I have 2 new birds in my yard. I have never seen either until today. A large yellow bird is snacking at my humming bird feeder. It looks most like the Bullock's Oriole in my book. Here are 2 shots to look at. They are poor quality because the window is streaked with rain. The other bird is a Black-headed Grosbeak. Added to 5 new birds I saw on the Wednesday Song Bird walk today, it makes a great birding day for me.? Here are the links for the bird I am not certain. http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0844/842a60521d544872a0cd1efb10d73776.jpg http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0844/9491266c7cee40eea97efe7e0f3e4564.jpg It is about as tall as a Robin. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/986c0d95/attachment.html From rkorpi at hotmail.com Wed May 13 17:34:54 2009 From: rkorpi at hotmail.com (Ray Korpi) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 17:34:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-shouldered Hawk in Vancouver Message-ID: All, On my way home this evening, I observed a hawk being chased by a crow and a blackbird. To my surprise, rather than the normal Red-tails, it was an adult RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. The bird was near where the Burnt Bridge Creek crosses E. 18th St, an area where there is some riparian habitat. Ray Korpi rkorpi at hotmail.com Vancouver WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/271bbae9/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Wed May 13 17:58:37 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 17:58:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bullock's Oriole-north of Silverton Message-ID: We have had orange slices and the oriole feeder out for a week. A BULLOCK'S ORIOLE just came in during the half-day driving rainstorm. Anna spotted it. "What is that bird?" Holy cow! Everytime she looks up, a new species appears. When she walks by or sits down to eat, they fly by or land. "No pressure" but I think I need 24 year old eyes again. We also have at least 6 male Black-headed Grosbeaks and 1 Yellow Warbler hanging around today. Yes, I did see these on my own. Time to go out and put out new orange slices.... John Thomas -reporting mainly for ANNA THOMAS- 5 mi N of Silverton From nepobirds at yahoo.com Wed May 13 18:07:41 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 18:07:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Lazuli Bunting Message-ID: <225047.84940.qm@web46013.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> How often do the Lazuli Bunting make it to Multnomah County? Is it every year? Seth and Michelle http://www.portlandbirds.blogspot.com From davect at bendnet.com Wed May 13 18:09:40 2009 From: davect at bendnet.com (david tracy) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 18:09:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: [COBOL] ECBC Birding By Ear, Wednesday 13 May References: <200905132110.n4DLAudM020851@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> Message-ID: <7ED9F0A4-B8E8-434F-A6BF-9F471013B310@bendnet.com> > From: davect at bendnet.com > Date: May 13, 2009 9:10:56 PM PDT > To: cobol at lists.oregonstate.edu > Subject: [COBOL] ECBC Birding By Ear, Wednesday 13 May > > This report was mailed for David Tracy by http://birdnotes.net > > Date: May 13, 2009 > Location: Robert W. Sawyer State Park, Deschutes County, Oregon > > > ECBC's birding by ear group enjoyed excellent birding again this > morning. > The other Wednesday birder's group joined us, and we had several > folks join > us for the first time. I was pleased to meet two more young birders, > > TahKu/age 6 and Sequana/age 9, along with their little sister and > Wednesday > morning BBE regular Kaya, who is no longer only 2, having recently > celebrated her 3rd > birthday this past weekend. > > Peter Low and Howard Horveth also joined us to help sort out the > Empid > flycatchers, which were again numerous with the 3 expected species > present, > Gray, Hammond's and Dusky. Peter found a MacGillivray's Warbler > along the > trail before joining up with the group. > > Birds seen (in taxonomic order): > > Canada Goose > Trumpeter Swan [1] > Mallard > California Quail > Turkey Vulture > Osprey > Spotted Sandpiper > Mourning Dove > Vaux's Swift > Anna's Hummingbird [2] > Rufous Hummingbird [3] > Belted Kingfisher > Hairy Woodpecker > Northern Flicker > Western Wood-Pewee > Hammond's Flycatcher > Gray Flycatcher > Dusky Flycatcher > Cassin's Vireo > Warbling Vireo > Western Scrub-Jay > American Crow > Tree Swallow > Violet-green Swallow > Northern Rough-winged Swallow > Barn Swallow > Mountain Chickadee > Bushtit > Pygmy Nuthatch > House Wren [4] > Swainson's Thrush [5] > American Robin > European Starling > Orange-crowned Warbler [6] > Yellow Warbler [7] > Yellow-rumped Warbler [8] > Black-throated Gray Warbler [9] > Wilson's Warbler [10] > Song Sparrow > Lincoln's Sparrow [11] > Golden-crowned Sparrow > Black-headed Grosbeak [12] > Red-winged Blackbird > Brown-headed Cowbird > House Finch > Lesser Goldfinch [13] > American Goldfinch > Evening Grosbeak [14] > House Sparrow > > Footnotes: > > [1] TRUS: Flightless resident > [2] ANHU: Female on nest, plus 2-3 others > [3] RUHU: Male, heard buzzy wing trill and seen perched, also > one likely female > [4] HOWR: Singing & tending nest box > [5] SWTH: First of season for BBE group, well seen by only a > few > [6] OCWA: Heard only > [7] YEWA: Singing male > [8] YRWA: Multiple females and singing males > [9] BTGW: Singing male, female > [10] WIWA: Multiple females and singing males > [11] LISP: Seen only by few > [12] BHGR: Multiple singing male > [13] LEGO: Female on nest > [14] EVGR: Numerous, heard from all around park > > Total number of species seen: 49 > > _______________________________________________ > COBOL mailing list > COBOL at lists.oregonstate.edu > http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol > > To unsubscribe, send a message to: > COBOL-request at lists.oregonstate.edu > with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. From bcombs232 at gmail.com Wed May 13 18:37:36 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 18:37:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Evening Grosbeaks by the thousands in Eugene In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <8ce3a6520905131837r65bce909p54f12060d1807240@mail.gmail.com> There were a dozen or so Evening Grosbeaks at my River Road area feeder today. It has been probably 20 or more years since I have had this many here. I used to have them coming through every year, but that stopped. This year, they have been in the neighborhood on at least two other occasions ( maybe three), but there were just one or two. Today's event included a a foraging group of mixed males and females, just like the good old days. On Wed, May 13, 2009 at 3:59 PM, Margie Paris wrote: > Dear Folks, > There have been Evening Grosbeaks dripping from the trees around the > University of Oregon campus for the past few days. I've never seen -- or > perhaps I should say heard -- so many. > > Best, > > Margie Paris > > > 2394 Charnelton Street > Eugene, OR 97405 > (541) 484-0763 > margieparis1 at mac.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/19c9903a/attachment.html From drheath82 at verizon.net Wed May 13 18:38:26 2009 From: drheath82 at verizon.net (Mr David Heath) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 18:38:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lazuli Bunting In-Reply-To: <225047.84940.qm@web46013.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <225047.84940.qm@web46013.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <007501c9d434$adb814c0$09283e40$@net> I believe they're reported pretty much every year from Powell Butte in SE Portland. I'm sure someone will correct me if it isn't quite every year, but I know I've seen them there. David -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Seth Reams Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 6:08 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Lazuli Bunting How often do the Lazuli Bunting make it to Multnomah County? Is it every year? Seth and Michelle http://www.portlandbirds.blogspot.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From bcombs232 at gmail.com Wed May 13 18:51:36 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 18:51:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Barn Swallow question In-Reply-To: <403992.28366.qm@web30602.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <403992.28366.qm@web30602.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <8ce3a6520905131851m47f6530ft9dcb28e636152087@mail.gmail.com> In my particular Breeding Bird Survey area near Fall Creek Reservoir, the intersection of the roads at the upper end of the reservoir area is called "Swallow Heaven" in the site description. When I started doing the route more than 10 years ago, I always found a good variety of swallows in good numbers there. They would be perching on wires, making a lot of noise, and swooping around the area when I arrived. Now when I arrive at that spot I hope that at least a few will show up some time during my three-minute counting period. Often there are none in view when I arrive. On Wed, May 13, 2009 at 2:06 PM, Sandra Weingarten wrote: > I too have noticed a decline in barn swallow numbers in the past two > years. At the same time there has been an increase in the number of > Steller's jays staying all year rather than only in winter. Coincidence or > not? I have noticed that the swallows sometimes stay till late into the > fall. > My barn has a metal roof, but the swallows nest on the beams and rafters > of the lower portion which is separated from the metal roof by a large loft. > > Sandra Weingarten > Brownsville, Linn County > > Sandra Weingarten > 541-466-3247 > 541-517-0519 > swfawnridgeor at yahoo.com > > > --- On *Wed, 5/13/09, Darrel Faxon <5hats at peak.org>* wrote: > > > From: Darrel Faxon <5hats at peak.org> > Subject: [obol] Barn Swallow question > To: "Obol" > Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2009, 8:25 AM > > OBOLites, > One thing I have always tried to be careful to avoid is taking a small > amount of biological data and extrapolating it to come to a conclusion > covering a wider base. But something, apparently negative, is happening to > the Barn Swallow population at our farm in Lincoln County. I thought it was > simply a local problem until reading Range Bayer's comments in the most > recent issue of the Sandpiper, in which he indicates that the species seems > to be scarce all across the county this spring. That report prompted me to > write this post. > For most of my life we have had six to eight pairs of Barn Swallows > nest on the farm. I could count on them to show up around April 10 and > begin nesting almost immediately. Almost all of them annually brought off > two broods per season. Occasionally some of them would successfully nest > three times. By late August there would be dozens of them swarming over the > fields here. > About five years ago I began to notice two things. One, there were not > as many pairs showing up to nest. Two, the ones that did come were arriving > later, sometimes not until nearly the first of May. Last year there was > only one pair which nested here. This year I have seen two different birds > only sporadically. It may be a nesting pair, but I am not certain of that. > So obviously, something is happening which is affecting the population of > this species on our farm. > One of the reasons I thought this was a local problem is that I know > for a fact that at least in this location, Steller's Jays figured out that > Barn Swallow nests were easy pickings. There was one year I saw at least > one of them repeatedly going after swallow eggs and/or nestlings in the > barn. I did not closely monitor the effects of this predation, but it isn't > much of a stretch of the imagination to suppose that even one jay could have > inflicted a major blow to the swallow population in this location. > However, Bayer's recent notes suggest the problem is more widespread, > at least in Lincoln County. So I am left to ponder possible reasons for a > seeming decline. I propose here two hypothesis; one based on another > observation from the farm, the other from reading field notes. > The one from the farm. In the past decade we replaced a wooden, > shake-roof barn and a wooden garage with two pole barn structures with metal > roofs. Barn Swallows tried several times to nest in the one we use as a > garage. I noted that on warmer days it would get so hot under the metal > roof that swallow nestlings not yet ready to fly would bail out of the nest > to escape the heat. I do not know if this happened in other locations or > not, but I suspect it did. Over the past couple of decades a great number > of these metal roofed pole buildings have been built all across the > country. If they prove as detrimental to nestling swallows as our garage > did, this situation could be one of the factors in a declining swallow > population. Swallows typically nest pretty close to the roof of the inside > of buildings, and these metal roof buildings do not offer the same > protection from the heat that the older woodern roofed buildings did. I > don't know if this problem is widespread or not, but am wondering if others > have noted similar things. > The one from field notes: In recent years there have been increasing > reports of Barn Swallows in mid-winter, especially late December and early > January. I don't recall reading reports of them from either September > through November, or January through March, which suggests that these > December-January birds are neither lingerers from fall migration or early > spring migrants which continue on into breeding season, but mid-winter > visitors which quite possibly do not survive the remaining portion of the > winter. Again, I do not know whether or not this hypothesis is valid. It > may be that neither of these suggestions is valid, or gives a satisfactory > explanation for a seeming decline in Barn Swallow populations. It may be > that what appears to be a local decline is not being mirrored in other parts > of the country or state. So my question is simply to ask what other people > are observing in terms of Barn Swallow populations and nesting success in > their own localities. Is this decline merely a local phenomena, or is it > more widespread? > > Darrel > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/1d79cf85/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Wed May 13 19:12:02 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 02:12:02 +0000 Subject: [obol] Mystery Sparrow REVEALED!!! Message-ID: Hi all, Thanks to all who participated in hopes of correctly identifying this sparrow. It was a bit tougher than most birders thought. Only a handful got the correct ID! I got 73 guesses and tallied results at 5:45 PM Wednesday. Here is the breakdown of guesses: 72% for Savannah Sparrow 21% for Grasshopper Sparrow 1.4% White crowned Sparrow 1.4% Lincoln Sparrow 1.4% Bunting species of some type This bird is NOT a Savannah Sparrow as Dave Irons suggested on the Birdfellow.com website. He nicely photographed different postures and state of alertness of a Savannah sparrow. It was a good attempt to illustrate and support his ID but the bird is a different species. I noticed once Dave posted this, only two more guesses came and no one refuted the ID. Dave is such an experienced and seasoned birder and we all appreciate his vast knowledge and skills. I commend him for having such a wonderful new website and resource! I only hope to complement his insight so we can learn. Rather than me pointing out the key features of the bird, I have submitted several photos to reveal the birds'identity. It should be clear once you observe several views of the other photos. Overall, the richly colored back patterns and wings are not consistent with Savannah. The mystery sparrow is also very buffy almost yellowish in overall coloration. What a colorful and beautiful bird indeed and I almost stepped on it!! This species has quiet variability in color since there are 12 subspecies of Grasshopper Sparrow are recognized.. Four breed in North America, four are resident in Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and Ecuador, and four are resident in the Caribbean. The mystery photo I have submitted is a specimen photographed on 5/9 near Nolin, Oregon in Umatilia Co. I also submitted another specimen found and photographed near Monse, WA in Okanogan county for variability comparison. On a DIFFERENT note and subject, and solely based on my OPINION, I am not convinced that the previously reported and photographed Henslow's found last January at EE Wilson was a Lincoln. Similar poses were captured on camera that made ID a bit challenging,too. Yes, there was a definite Lincoln in the first photo but the other photos were not clear. It was suggested by most that it was a Lincoln in all of the photos submitted. Some thought there were two species so it was a bit confusing. I tried to dig up those images for more thorough re-examination after looking as these recent Ammodramus images. Honestly I think the color and structure was wrong for a Lincoln in the latter photos. It's skulking behavior on the ground was more consistent with an Ammodramus species. Lincolns can be secretive too, but often pop up when pished at. If a birder had field experience with both species and observed the bird moving and flying, one could have possibility or easily id the bird as a Lincoln OR possible Ammodramus species. An interesting bird to say the least and WORTH a second look. But hey, I don't know shit alot of the times as there is so much to learn even after birding for so long:) More field time will tell, not books and what the majority says:) In the end, It was fun to comprehensively study and capture these secretive but beautiful sparrows on camera. I HOPE you all got something out of this. There are several skilled and talented birders out there who don't regularly post and I appreciate seeing them off line. Their compliments and support always fuels me to go further and I often get rewarded! What a fun and humbling hobby! Anyhow, Congrats to these keen birders or lucky guessers who correctly guessed GRASSHOPPER SPARROW!! Steve Nord Forrest Rowland Ron Louderbeck Pam Otley Keith Brady Bill Bradford Tom Castello Fran Haywood Hugh Ranson Jonathan Isacoff Trent Bray Margaret LaFaivre Henry Herlyn Dave Parent Mike Donahue Ruth Mano From Andy.Frank at kp.org Wed May 13 20:07:19 2009 From: Andy.Frank at kp.org (Andy.Frank at kp.org) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 20:07:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mult Cty Lazuli Buntings, and Evening Grosbeaks Message-ID: I'll add to David Heath's comments that LAZULI BUNTINGS are seen yearly in Multnomah County on Powell Butte where they nest and at Sandy River Delta. A few show up in other places, and there is often a sighting at Mount Tabor. Last year several were seen on Oak Island on Sauvie Island. And it looks like it's a very good year for EVENING GROSBEAKS. This morning there were 15 in a tree at NW Lovejoy and NW 24th Ave in Portland. Andy Frank Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/2dcb7fad/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Wed May 13 20:09:19 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 03:09:19 +0000 Subject: [obol] More PHOTOS to Mystery Sparrow REVEALED!!! Message-ID: Hi all, Here is the link to the Mystery Photo Sparrow: Image 1-7 is a bird photographed in Nolin, Oregon. Image 8-9 is a different bird photographed in Monse, WA. (This one has a more characteristic short tail, overall appearance of a grasshopper sparrow) Also included my photos of the LeContes and Nelson's Sharp-tailed in British Columbia from for study and enjoyment. My favorite group of sparrows!!! http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/ammodramus_sparrows&page=all All the Best, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From steve at paradisebirding.com Wed May 13 20:13:27 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 20:13:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Woodpecker film premiere tomorrow Message-ID: <9a341ea30905132013w2f0c3cecoc3d3380dcc5ed740@mail.gmail.com> Greetings all, Tomorrow night (Thursday) at 8:00 p.m., the Sisters Movie House will present the premiere Oregon screening of the film "Woodpecker," a unique film about the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Since its release last year, this film has received rave reviews at dozens of movie festivals across the continent (as well as in Italy and Greece). In documentary style, "Woodpecker" follows a fictitious character as he searches the Arkansas swamps for the elusive Ivory-bill. More details on the film are below. This screening will benefit the Woodpecker Wonderland Festival, scheduled for June 5-7 in Camp Sherman. For advance tickets ($15) call the Sisters Movie House at 541-549-8833. The Sisters Movie House is located at the far east end of downtown Sisters (in the Five Pine complex); map and directions are here: http://www.sistersmoviehouse.com/. I hope to see you tomorrow night! Steve Shunk ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "A birdwatchers' "Best in Show," Alex Karpovsky's mock-doc "Woodpecker" stretches its single joke -- an oddball poet-birder scours an Arkansas bayou for the ivory-billed variety of the titular feathered friend -- to feature length, earning a beakful of yuks. ... "Woodpecker" soars above the bulk of low-budget Amerindie farces, if not above the director's earlier "The Hole Story," now a minor cult fave on DVD. A rare bird himself, Karpovsky remains one to watch. ..." --Rob Nelson, Variety : http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117937694.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 Read more about the film here: http://www.woodpeckerfilm.com/ P.S. Please distribute this message far and wide. Thanks! -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/2968c048/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Wed May 13 20:44:02 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 20:44:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Calliope Hummingbirds In-Reply-To: References: <79B9DECDF7724163A87253A5136A41DB@BERTHA> <65A0E9C0390D43658C444109C95F181B@laptop> Message-ID: <7A77D2F3B19749AB99320296A4A1A01E@laptop> Dave, It may be that we have short memories. In North American Birds, in your Oregon and Washington notes for The Changing Seasons for Spring 2004 (58:3, page 425) you note 15 western Oregon Calliopes, and say they seem to be increasing. Compare that with the notes in the mid 90's: 1993 (Bill Tweit and Jeff Gilligan - Field Notes 47:3 page 448) "A male Calliope Hummingbird in Seattle.comprised the only west side record of this interior species, as compared with last year's 9 reports". (Oregon & Washington combined) 1994 (Bill Tweit and Steve Summers - Field Notes 48:3 page 336) "A total of 3 Calliope Hummingbird reports from the Willamette Valley.is unusual". 1995 (Bill Tweit and Gerard Lillie - Field Notes 49:3 page 303) "Similar to last year, there were 3 westside records of Calliope Hummingbirds" In that note, two in Oregon and one in Washington are mentioned. 1997: (Bill Tweit and Gerard Lillie - Field Notes 51:4 page 920) "Even though transient Calliope Hummingbirds are found almost annually in the Lower Willamette Valley, they are still considered quite rare in the n. valley and along the coast. This spring, however, there were several records from the s. Willamette Valley and an unusually large number from the n. end." (some 15 records are listed) "A normal spring total has less than 5 westside reports". 1998: (Bill Tweit and Gerard Lillie - Field Notes 52:3 page 382) "Calliope Hummingbird numbers on the westside did not match last spring's records, but were still above average". A glance at a few issues of Oregon Birds from the 80's, and without making a project out of it, shows that something like 5 or 6 reports were normal for the Willamette Valley, all exciting for the observers. I stand by my statement that this has been a very good year for Calliope Hummingbirds. Mike's assessment in 2003 that Calliopes were rare but reports seem to be increasing agrees with your own assessment in 2004. It still seems that reports are increasing. We have ten times the number of reports in the last two years than we did in the early 90s. Can that be ascribed to observer effort and reporting? Many of the contributors to OBOL were reporting in the 80s and 90s, and while we don't have confirming data, there may actually be more Calliopes coming through the valley these days. Good birding, Jeff _____ From: David Irons [mailto:llsdirons at msn.com] Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 9:10 AM To: Jeff Harding Subject: RE: [obol] Calliope Hummingbirds Greetings All, We birders have short memories. While it seems like we are hearing about a lot of westside Calliopes this spring, I'm reluctant to conclude that this spring is any different than most in terms of the number are passing through. It is certainly no better than the spring of 2008 when about 35 were reported from the westside lowlands. Calliopes are among a group of species that nest at higher elevations along the crest of the Cascades. Some of these birds seem to arrive via a lowland route and then move upslope to breed as snow melts and vegetation leafs out. Last spring we had heavy and late snows, which seemed to stall upslope movements of several species, including Calliopes. Snow conditions do not match those of last year, but it has been rather cold and wet of late and there still seems to quite a bit of snow at higher elevations. Calliopes have a long history of showing up in the Willamette Valley during April and May. I think that the recent upticks in the number of lowland sightings are likely the result of increased observer awareness, increasing numbers of observers, and reporting mechanisms (namely OBOL and the Mid-Valley Birding listserv) that provide a way for folks to more easily share what they see. In compiling North American Birds and Oregon Birds field notes, I've noticed that there has been a steady ramp-up in the number of spring reports in recent years, which would seem to indicate that observer effort and better reporting explain these numbers. There has been no evidence to suggest that Calliopes are expanding their breeding range or nesting in any areas where they were previously unknown. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _____ From: jeffharding at centurytel.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 06:17:07 -0700 Subject: Re: [obol] Calliope Hummingbirds This seems to be a very good year for Calliope Hummingbirds in the Willamette Valley. In his article in Birds of Oregon, A General Reference, (Marshall, Hunter, and Contreras, eds, 2003) Mike Patterson says "Spring migrants are rare in the Willamette Valley and along the coast, though reports appear to be increasing". This year everyone seems to have them at their feeders. Most of my records are in early May, but we noted one April 11 this year, and have had a female at the feeder for at least a week this year. Good birding, Jeff _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Bev Sent: Sunday, May 10, 2009 9:12 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Calliope Hummingbirds I visited friends over the weekend who live in Brownsville, OR. They actually live on Gap Road about 3 miles south of Brownsville. I saw, which I thought was unsual, a male and female Calliope in their yard and at their feeder. The Calliope Hummingbirds seemed to be just as aggressive as the Rufus.This is the first time that I have seen the Callilope Hummingbirds in Brownsville. Does anyone have any comment, or knowledge of Calliope Hummingbirds in this area? Are they just migrating through? I just saw 1 male and 1 female. Bev bevbird at hevanet.com _____ Windows LiveT: Keep your life in sync. Check it out. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/34e6ec1a/attachment.html From notisj at gmail.com Wed May 13 21:36:10 2009 From: notisj at gmail.com (notisj at gmail.com) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 04:36:10 +0000 Subject: [obol] Lazuli Bunting In-Reply-To: <225047.84940.qm@web46013.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <225047.84940.qm@web46013.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <20284919-1242275732-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-1863453474-@bxe1144.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> Lazuli Bunting are local breeders, but they seem to prefer the edges of tall grasslands and aren't much of a backyard feeder bird. They were one of the first "exotic" looking birds I found when I got into birds. I stumbled across one in a field in back of the Troutdale airport. Despite tromping around in the grass for half an hour, the bird was skittish and I couldn't get close enough to visually ID it, but I could hear it singing. I played some songs from a bird CD on my car stereo and matched it up that way. It also helped that the bird landed on my car to try to chase off the intruder! Anyway, Powell Butte, Sandy R. Delta and the fields over by the old aluminum plant and Troutdale airport along Sundial Rd. are pretty sure-fire in the summer. I've also found them defending territory up above Crown Point. -John .. -----Original Message----- From: Seth Reams Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 18:07:41 To: Subject: Re: [obol] Lazuli Bunting How often do the Lazuli Bunting make it to Multnomah County? Is it every year? Seth and Michelle http://www.portlandbirds.blogspot.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Wed May 13 22:00:35 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 22:00:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] OK, lets get down to the serious stuff Message-ID: <006d01c9d451$07487b80$aec963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: Since we've recently assessed the probability that a given red goose is wild, the chances for a vagrant N. Parula in Oregon on a given date, the probability that a photographed bird is a certain sparrow... Since we're found all the first-of-the-season sightings on the NAMC... Let's get down to the serious stuff. What are the chances................. Suppose an anonymous person were to set out to see 200 species in every Oregon county. Some counties offer up over 300 species, some only a little more than 225. Some counties have an army of birders to help one look, others have almost none. Any observer has a slower time as a beginner than as an experienced birder. In any case, new birds get harder to find as one adds more sightings. The last few sightings will likely be rare birds that one has to search to find. Someone who lives in the county every day has a better chance of finding rare birds than an occasional visitor. So our anonymous person gets to #199 in a county where 300 species have been seen by the collective community. What is the probability that the next bird will be #200? Is it 100/300 = .333? Probably less, but the chance are still pretty good. What if our anonymous person gets to #199 in a county where only 225 species have been seen by the collective community. What is the probability that the next bird will be #200? Is it 25/225 = .231? Probably less, much less. Indeed, finding #200 is tougher in Sherman county than in Lane county. Your thoughts welcome. Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan My old professor used to talk about an improbable event as being equal to the probability of "wheeling a xylophone out into a hailstorm and having it play 'Stormy Weather'. " From winkg at hevanet.com Wed May 13 22:45:29 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 22:45:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 05/13/09 Message-ID: <20090514054608.E313DA8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 05/7 to 05/13/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 6 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Turkey Vulture 1 (1, 5/7) SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 1 (1, 5/11) Red-tailed Hawk 2 (1, 5/7 & 11) Band-tailed Pigeon 5 (7, 5/10) Mourning Dove 5 (1) GREAT HORNED OWL* 1 (1, 5/11) Vaux's Swift 4 (8, 5/11) Anna's Hummingbird 4 (2) Rufous Hummingbird 6 (4, 5/8) Red-breasted Sapsucker 3 (1) DOWNY WOODPECKER 1 (1, 5/8) HAIRY WOODPECKER 3 (1) Northern Flicker 4 (3) Pileated Woodpecker 3 (1) OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER 1 (1, 5/8) WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE 1 (1, 5/7) Hammond's Flycatcher 3 (3, 5/8) Pacific-slope Flycatcher 6 (3, 5/13) Cassin's Vireo 4 (3, 5/8) Hutton's Vireo 1 (1, 5/11) Warbling Vireo 6 (16, 5/13) Steller's Jay 6 (5) Western Scrub-Jay 5 (2) American Crow 6 (15, 5/9) Violet-green Swallow 6 (12) BARN SWALLOW 1 (1, 5/13) CLIFF SWALLOW 1 (4, 5/13) Black-capped Chickadee 6 (10) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 6 (8) Bushtit 6 (6, 5/10) Red-breasted Nuthatch 6 (8) Brown Creeper 5 (3) Bewick's Wren 4 (1) Winter Wren 5 (4) Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 (1, 5/11) Townsend's Solitaire 1 (1, 5/8) Hermit Thrush 2 (1, 5/7 & 10) American Robin 6 (9) European Starling 4 (2) Orange-crowned Warbler 5 (7, 5/8) Nashville Warbler 2 (2, 5/9) Yellow-rumped Warbler 4 (8, 5/8) Black-throated Gray Warbler 6 (3) Townsend's Warbler 6 (30, 5/7) Hermit Warbler 1 (1, 5/9) Wilson's Warbler 6 (12, 5/10) WESTERN TANAGER 5 (12, 5/8) Spotted Towhee 6 (8) Song Sparrow 6 (13, 5/13) Golden-crowned Sparrow 4 (10, 5/7) Dark-eyed Junco 6 (10) Black-headed Grosbeak 5 (4, 5/13) Brown-headed Cowbird 5 (4) Purple Finch 6 (6, 5/8) House Finch 6 (8, 5/8) Pine Siskin 6 (15, 5/8) LESSER GOLDFINCH 1 (1, 5/8) American Goldfinch 5 (7) EVENING GROSBEAK 4 (45, 5/10) *GREAT HORNED OWL is a new bird for my dogwalk. Although we often hear them in the neighborhood, incredibly, this is the first one I've ever seen on the walk. Hey, I always said I was owl-impaired. In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: COOPER'S HAWK Misses (birds found at least 3 days during previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Varied Thrush, Lincoln's Sparrow Wink Gross Portland From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed May 13 23:32:40 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 23:32:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 5-14-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * May 14,2009 * ORPO0905.14 - Birds mentioned MURPHY?S PETREL MANX SHEARWATER American White Pelican BROAD-WINGED HAWK Swainson?s Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk American Avocet Whimbrel Red Knot Baird?s Sandpiper Wilson?s Phalarope Red-necked Phalarope Calliope Hummingbird Ash-throated Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Purple Martin Hermit Warbler Western Tanager Lazuli Bunting Tricolored Blackbird GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE Evening Grosbeak - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: Harry Nehls Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday May 14. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On May 8 a BROAD-WINGED HAWK was seen at Bandon. On May 8 a cruise ship traveling 30-60 miles offshore along the entire coast of Oregon found about 30 MURPHY?S PETREL and a MANX SHEARWATER among the swarm of other species, including several possible other rarities. Heavy migrations continue with LAZULI BUNTINGS and WESTERN TANAGERS the most conspicuous. CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRDS continue to be reported from the Willamette Valley. Large numbers of EVENING GROSBEAKS are now moving into the Willamette Valley with the OSU Campus in Corvallis hosting impressive numbers. Heavy movements along the coast included many RED KNOTS, WHIMBREL, and RED-NECKED PHALAROPES. A MOCKINGBIRD is now being seen in North Bend. On May 12 two AVOCENTS were reported at Yachats. At least one WHITE PELICAN was at Yaquina Bay May 8. On May 10 a SWAINSON?S HAWK was near Ridgefield. On May 13 a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was in Vancouver. Three BAIRD?S SANDPIPERS were on Sauvie Island May 9. One was seen the next day at Baskett Slough NWR. On May 13 a WHIMBREL and four WILSON?S PHALAROPES were at the Yamhill Sewage Ponds. That day an EASTERN KINGBIRD was at Mount Angel. On May 10 an AVOCET was at Ankeny NWR. An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was seen May 9 near Brownsville. An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE, and three WHIMBREL were at Fern Ridge Reservoir that day. On May 10 a HERMIT WARBLER was near Bend and another was near Diamond in Harney County. A PURPLE MARTIN was seen May 9 at Houston Lake near Powell Butte. A GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE and a TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD were at Ladd Marsh WMA at LaGrande May 9. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090513/0ad916f1/attachment.html From tjanzen at comcast.net Thu May 14 00:35:34 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 00:35:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] late RBA: Eastern Phoebe near Millican, Deschutes Co. Message-ID: <20090514073541.B8F31A8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear All, I received an e-mail from Johnny Powell today saying that he photographed an EASTERN PHOEBE "just below the Millican lek last Saturday." I presume that he means the Sage Grouse lek that is located SW of Millican. I haven't seen his photos and have no other information about the sighting than this. Sincerely, Tim Janzen Portland From m.denny at charter.net Thu May 14 02:57:46 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 02:57:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lazuli Bunting References: <225047.84940.qm@web46013.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <20284919-1242275732-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-1863453474-@bxe1144.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> Message-ID: <8517371518E44452A20B26F695B7CB54@24FLIGHT> "Lazuli Bunting is not much of a backyard feeder bird????" Here in NE OR and SE WA Lazuli Buntings are abundant at ground feeding stations - especially in May last year and now - we have over 50 at a time in our yard which is smaller than a lot in a very urban setting - and they are being seen all over Walla Walla clear down to Pendleton OR. It may be because our mountain/foothills still have some snow - or these birds just really like millet! Later, MerryLynn Denny College Place, WA From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Thu May 14 08:37:40 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 08:37:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yard Birds/ID help Message-ID: <81b2a9930905140837r3501d63cj10f6d04ff32f5362@mail.gmail.com> There was quite a bit of activity in my neighbor's tree this morning. This included three WILSON'S WARBLERS and a possible CASSIN'S VIREO (only saw the latter for a split second).? There were also two individuals that I've never seen before.? My best guess is that they're NASHVILLE WARBLERS, but I thought I'd check here to see what you folks think (apologies for the poor photo quality in some cases... low lighting and they didn't sit still for long)... http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2463/3530576365_4954e5b6d6_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2300/3530576279_43ee8914aa_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2230/3531391456_329464f00f_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2136/3531391380_59c14a71c1_b.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/3531391304_efabc760be_b.jpg There are also at least five PINE SISKINS still hanging around here, and I've seen a recent uptick in AMERICAN GOLDFINCH numbers. Brandon Eugene From llsdirons at msn.com Thu May 14 08:40:09 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 15:40:09 +0000 Subject: [obol] Yard Birds/ID help In-Reply-To: <81b2a9930905140837r3501d63cj10f6d04ff32f5362@mail.gmail.com> References: <81b2a9930905140837r3501d63cj10f6d04ff32f5362@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Hi Brandon, These are indeed photos of a Nashville Warbler. Dave Irons > Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 08:37:40 -0700 > From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Yard Birds/ID help > > There was quite a bit of activity in my neighbor's tree this morning. > This included three WILSON'S WARBLERS and a possible CASSIN'S VIREO > (only saw the latter for a split second). There were also two > individuals that I've never seen before. My best guess is that > they're NASHVILLE WARBLERS, but I thought I'd check here to see what > you folks think (apologies for the poor photo quality in some cases... > low lighting and they didn't sit still for long)... > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2463/3530576365_4954e5b6d6_b.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2300/3530576279_43ee8914aa_b.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2230/3531391456_329464f00f_b.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2136/3531391380_59c14a71c1_b.jpg > > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/3531391304_efabc760be_b.jpg > > There are also at least five PINE SISKINS still hanging around here, > and I've seen a recent uptick in AMERICAN GOLDFINCH numbers. > > Brandon > Eugene > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? goes with you. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Mobile1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090514/a6c2f955/attachment.html From william738 at centurytel.net Thu May 14 08:44:59 2009 From: william738 at centurytel.net (Sarah and Bill Thackaberry) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 08:44:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Barn Swallows Message-ID: Observations seem very logical. Our Barn Swallows nest on beams well inside the building and numbers are still constant. We did have about 70-80 pairs of Cliff swallows every year, but for some reason this year we have zero(0). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090514/5b544e66/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Thu May 14 08:57:33 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (nepobirds at yahoo.com) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 08:57:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] ID help Message-ID: <391581.91695.qm@web46012.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> We were just going through our photos from out trip to Fern Ridge last weekend and we want to make certain that we ID these birds correctly. The photos are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nepobirds It's the first 6 photos that have us a little confused. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all! Seth and Michelle From Kevin.Duff at ci.portland.or.us Thu May 14 09:42:15 2009 From: Kevin.Duff at ci.portland.or.us (Duff, Kevin) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 09:42:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Powell Butte Nature Park sightings Message-ID: Has anyone seen anything interesting at Powell Butte Nature Park in Portland recently? Please let me know! Thanks! Kevin Duff Powell Butte Caretaker 503-823-8215 16160 SE Powell Blvd Portland OR 97236 Kevin.duff at ci.portland.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090514/f3d174b7/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Thu May 14 09:50:35 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 09:50:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] FOY Wilson's warbler Message-ID: <4E2744EC7B9B454BBFF4C7A697D1AD5F@TomsPC> On Wednesday I had a FOY WILSON'S WARBLER in my lilac trees. I also had three BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS at the feeders at the same time. The WILSON'S was back again today. Tom Escue Central Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090514/3818075b/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Thu May 14 11:28:40 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 11:28:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: 5:45-6:45 AM (5/14): light drizzle visibility avg 1/2 mile, wind W 10-15, swells 8-10 50 Red-throated Loon 300 Pacific Loon 15 Common Loon 1 Red-necked Grebe 2 Sooty Shearwater 2 Brown Pelican 30 Brandt's Cormorant 40 Pelagic Cormorant 12 White-winged Scoter 100 Surf Scoter 100 Western Gull 10 Glaucous-winged Gull 7 Common Tern 1 Caspain Tern 3000 Common Murre (S, most in first 25 min) 850 Pigeon Guillemot (dense S flight during first 25 min with murres) 2 Marbled Murrelet 40 Rhinoceros Auklet (S) Phil philliplc at charter.net From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Thu May 14 12:57:44 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 12:57:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sisters area birding Message-ID: <81b2a9930905141257jb24fa76uf250fd0a180ca11c@mail.gmail.com> So, my wife is hosting a baby shower on Sunday, which means that I need to get the heck out of the house.? I've been wanting to hit the east side of the Cascades for some time.? I'm primarily interested in looking for woodpeckers (White-headed, Black-backed, sapsuckers), owls, and the higher-elevation finches (Cassin's, crossbills, etc.). I'm not very familiar with Deschutes County birding sites and was wondering if anybody had any suggestions in the Sisters area. Cold Springs Campground looks promising, but I'm not even sure if it's accessible at this time of the year. Thanks in advance... Brandon Eugene From tayben at teleport.com Thu May 14 13:15:53 2009 From: tayben at teleport.com (Martha taylor & Chris Bennett) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 13:15:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Evening Grosbeaks in Westmorland Message-ID: <9AD4CE5A7657433C944E484C5EB95080@D4P8RDC1> I had a flock of about 50 Evening Grosbeaks fly thru late morning, stopped to feed at the top of an Elm tree. Chris -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090514/b680d7dd/attachment.html From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Thu May 14 13:07:02 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (tmacport99 at hotmail.com) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 20:07:02 GMT Subject: [obol] Tabor--the Magic Flute with accompaniment Message-ID: <200905142007.n4EK72Cp006063@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Tom McNamara by http://birdnotes.net Date: May 14, 2009 Location: Mt. Tabor Park, Multnomah County, Oregon Temperature: 53 degrees fahrenheit Wind direction: SW Prevailing wind speed: 1-5 km/h gusting to: 6-11 km/h Precipitation: none OBOL, It was an excellent day to be up on Mt. Tabor. And to borrow Wink's method, during banker's hours. Highlights for me were my first-ever-in-Tabor park Yellow Warbler, private audience to 3 Swainson's Thrushes singing and calling, and big numbers of some warbler species. The Yellow warbler was singing beautifully too and, as I say, my first in 7 years here. Just add excellent weather and it amounts to birding bliss. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Red-tailed Hawk Band-tailed Pigeon Vaux's Swift Anna's Hummingbird [1] Northern Flicker Olive-sided Flycatcher [2] Hammond's Flycatcher [3] Pacific-slope Flycatcher [4] Warbling Vireo Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Violet-green Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Swainson's Thrush [5] American Robin European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler [6] Townsend's Warbler [7] Wilson's Warbler [8] Western Tanager [9] Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Black-headed Grosbeak [10] Brown-headed Cowbird House Finch Pine Siskin [11] Lesser Goldfinch Evening Grosbeak [12] Footnotes: [1] one pulled up on his J-stroke "chirp dive" about 2 feet over my head [2] 2 [3] 2 [4] 5 [5] 4 total, 3 in one place singing.Following a kind of pattern for me this year where I have seen a single individual of a species(e.g.one Swainson's 8 days ago) and then no more until today. [6] BIG influx over night--dozens. Saw 7 Myrtles, doubtless there were more. [7] The other big numbers bird. [8] 15-20 [9] 4 [10] 5 [11] 30+ [12] 10ish. Kinda difficult to estimate. Total number of species seen: 38 From mikedressel at comcast.net Thu May 14 13:42:55 2009 From: mikedressel at comcast.net (Mike Dressel) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 13:42:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seeking opinions. Really. Message-ID: <006d01c9d4d4$8f3b6740$adb235c0$@net> This is probably an old question on this list, and certainly one that may come under the heading of 'did he really ask that?' Well, yes he did, and he is interested in the combined birding knowledge and experience collected herein. In an article in this morning's Oregonian newspaper re: hummingbirds, it states that one should NOT add red coloring to home-mixed nectar. I would agree, but I am curious as to why, when the stuff on the shelf at my local (kinda-sorta) birding supplier is all colored red? Also, is this taboo specific to RED or are other colors of food coloring heretical as well? Inquiring minds want to know..... Mike Dressel McMinnville -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090514/4ae370c3/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Thu May 14 14:07:03 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 14:07:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seeking opinions. Really. Message-ID: <4A0C87F7.9060702@pacifier.com> The main reason is that coloring the sugar water is completely unnecessary. Ask a nectar producing plant. That's right perfectly clear, not colored. Many of you are too young to remember red dye #2, the banned food color that made red M&M's rare for a while and nearly tanked the maraschino cherry market. That's where the "don't use red" ethos originated. But I can't state this enough: coloring the sugar water is a waste of time and food coloring. NOT NECESSARY. And buying commercial nectar mix is an even sillier thing to do. The science guys have extracted real nectar from all kinds of plant species favored by hummers, it's colorless and about 15-20% sucrose by weight. Nothing much else. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From ron.katie.pdx at juno.com Thu May 14 10:56:45 2009 From: ron.katie.pdx at juno.com (Ronald G. Goodwin) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 10:56:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Osprey and Western Tanagers at Wahkeena Falls Message-ID: <20090514.105646.1684.5.ron.katie.pdx@juno.com> May 13 in the morning two Osprey were at a new nest at the top of the Douglas Fir at the entrance road to the lower picnic area for Wahkeena Falls. As usual they were making a lot of noise and two other Osprey were flying around plus a red-tailed hawk. I do Osprey talks at Multnomah Falls on Monday afternoons on the Plaza for the Friends of Multnomah Falls and the U.S. Forest Service. This bird is becoming more important and studied as the years pass. Coming back down after the loop hike came across just below Wahkeena Falls a flock of about 15 Western Tanagers and 2 Black-headed Grosbeak. Usually only see one or two and this time many. Other visitors to the area were taking pictures of the Tanagers. Even in the rain they are bright. Ron Goodwin Ron Goodwin ron.katie.pdx at juno.com 503-761-4751 ____________________________________________________________ Digital Photography - Click Now. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTDvmQWPcUOSMGZS0O1LySKh ZmcjpG8Ad0WEfrCSBJmMD7CdZZ4nrK/ From tc at crlaw.org Thu May 14 12:37:31 2009 From: tc at crlaw.org (Tom Crabtree) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 11:37:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Grosbeaks galore Message-ID: <5513D24544684D59A0309BE01525B0EB@102889> This morning "my" Black-headed Grosbeak returned to my yard and woke me with its most welcome song. Then when I walked outside I was surprised by a flock of 150+ Evening Grosbeaks, by far the most I have seen in Bend in one flock in many years. I'm in the old section of the West Hills in Bend. Is anyone else seeing large flocks around town? Tom Crabtree, Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090514/10bc3b12/attachment.html From ericarothman at gmail.com Thu May 14 11:47:25 2009 From: ericarothman at gmail.com (Erica Rothman) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 11:47:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Virus attack - don't click on links from me Message-ID: <136a65800905141147j788d35d7gcb63a9f61abc071@mail.gmail.com> Hi folks, I got virused. Please don't click on any links from me for the time being. Best, Erica -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090514/3a82b258/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Thu May 14 14:22:18 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 14:22:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] More NW Portland Evening Grosbeaks Message-ID: I was at Couch Park today (NW Hoyt & NW 19th) and had 40-50 EVENING GROSBEAKS feeding in the trees. Nearer to home, along NW Marshall Street between NW 24th and NW 25th there was still a small group there both this morning and afternoon. Quite the banner spring for them. Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland From willclemons at yahoo.com Thu May 14 14:25:38 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 14:25:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Seeking opinions. Really (Hummer Nectar dyes) Message-ID: <855030.67206.qm@web55108.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Mike D, Do a google search on: hummingbird food dye and you will get more info then you need (thousands of hits) example: http://www.hummingbirds.net/dye.html My understanding is that "for the most part" dye is merely Unnecessary. I have read that some liquid red dyes may be harmful, but not all, not even most, just a small amount. Dye is added because companies like it to add it as an Attractant, Not because nectar Needs color. Dye is commercially added because nectar producing Blossoms have evolved color to attract pollinators, and company marketers believe it increases sales. All Plant Nectar is Colorless. Pure Marketing Hype!! Unnecessary!! Superfluous!! Not Needed!! Do Not Use it!! Will *********************************** Subject: Seeking opinions. Really. From: "Mike Dressel" Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 13:42:55 -0700 This is probably an old question on this list, and certainly one that may come under the heading of 'did he really ask that?' Well, yes he did, and he is interested in the combined birding knowledge and experience collected herein. In an article in this morning's Oregonian newspaper re: hummingbirds, it states that one should NOT add red coloring to home-mixed nectar. I would agree, but I am curious as to why, when the stuff on the shelf at my local (kinda-sorta) birding supplier is all colored red? Also, is this taboo specific to RED or are other colors of food coloring heretical as well? Inquiring minds want to know..... Mike Dressel McMinnville From craig at greatskua.com Thu May 14 14:34:29 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 14:34:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] More NW Portland Evening Grosbeaks Message-ID: <20090514143429.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.b5caa64ab3.wbe@email.secureserver.net> As I was leaving for work this morning, I had a small group of evening grosbeaks fly over my house near the Portland city limits in eastern Washington County. They were headed toward the southwest. I've seen and/or heard evening grosbeaks flying over my house on numerous occasions this spring and last, but I've never seen them at my feeders. Given the quantity of sunflower seeds a small flock can consume, that may be a blessing. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] More NW Portland Evening Grosbeaks > From: Shawneen Finnegan > Date: Thu, May 14, 2009 2:22 pm > To: OBOL OBOL > > > I was at Couch Park today (NW Hoyt & NW 19th) and had 40-50 EVENING > GROSBEAKS feeding in the trees. Nearer to home, along NW Marshall > Street between NW 24th and NW 25th there was still a small group there > both this morning and afternoon. > > Quite the banner spring for them. > > Shawneen Finnegan > NW Portland > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From notisj at gmail.com Thu May 14 14:39:55 2009 From: notisj at gmail.com (John Notis) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 14:39:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seeking opinions. Really. In-Reply-To: <006d01c9d4d4$8f3b6740$adb235c0$@net> References: <006d01c9d4d4$8f3b6740$adb235c0$@net> Message-ID: <33EDD7F3-5384-4F1C-BC7E-C53093B3DEE1@gmail.com> Mike, I think the companies add red coloring to maintain the impression that there's something more than sugar and water necessary to make good hummingbird nectar. If they just sold little pre-weighed bags of cane sugar, people might stop buying it for $3 an ounce. As far as I'm concerned, the best thing to attract hummingbirds and give them a little sugar boost is whatever is close to naturally produced flower nectar. Conveniently, a 15-25% solution of white cane sugar (sucrose) is a very good match. Adding other junk, like colors, or even vitamins and minerals may have unintended consequences. I don't know how hummingbird livers treat FD&C #3 (or whatever) but it might be very different from how ours handles it. I'll tell you one thing I hate about the red stuff - it makes a mess on the side of my house. I can always tell when "my" hummingbirds have been cheating on me with another place, because there are little red dots on my siding where they've expelled little hummingbird wastes by the feeder. -John SE Portland From dpvroman at budget.net Thu May 14 14:49:44 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 14:49:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Grosbeaks galore References: <5513D24544684D59A0309BE01525B0EB@102889> Message-ID: <72649E0A9C5E4AEAB93F3E2E5591B2BA@Warbler> Regarding Evening Grosbeaks. SW Oregon seems to be invaded by them as well. Although we have none visiting our feeders (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit), I have hear fly-over birds every morning since about May 8th. Some others around Grants Pass have them at feeders. It has been several years since I have even heard them at our place. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) This morning "my" Black-headed Grosbeak returned to my yard and woke me with its most welcome song. Then when I walked outside I was surprised by a flock of 150+ Evening Grosbeaks, by far the most I have seen in Bend in one flock in many years. I'm in the old section of the West Hills in Bend. Is anyone else seeing large flocks around town? Tom Crabtree, Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090514/c220ca88/attachment.html From lamberson.janet at epa.gov Thu May 14 15:25:58 2009 From: lamberson.janet at epa.gov (lamberson.janet at epa.gov) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 15:25:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] More Evening Grosbeaks In-Reply-To: <20090514143429.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.b5caa64ab3.wbe@email.secureserver.net> References: <20090514143429.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.b5caa64ab3.wbe@email.secureserver.net> Message-ID: My daughter says that there are lots of Evening Grosbeaks in northwest Corvallis as well, and a few have also been seen in Toledo. Janet Lamberson Newport OR |------------> | From: | |------------> >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |"Craig Tumer" | >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |------------> | To: | |------------> >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |"Shawneen Finnegan" | >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |------------> | Cc: | |------------> >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |OBOL OBOL | >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |------------> | Date: | |------------> >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |05/14/2009 02:38 PM | >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |------------> | Subject: | |------------> >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |Re: [obol] More NW Portland Evening Grosbeaks | >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| As I was leaving for work this morning, I had a small group of evening grosbeaks fly over my house near the Portland city limits in eastern Washington County. They were headed toward the southwest. I've seen and/or heard evening grosbeaks flying over my house on numerous occasions this spring and last, but I've never seen them at my feeders. Given the quantity of sunflower seeds a small flock can consume, that may be a blessing. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] More NW Portland Evening Grosbeaks > From: Shawneen Finnegan > Date: Thu, May 14, 2009 2:22 pm > To: OBOL OBOL > > > I was at Couch Park today (NW Hoyt & NW 19th) and had 40-50 EVENING > GROSBEAKS feeding in the trees. Nearer to home, along NW Marshall > Street between NW 24th and NW 25th there was still a small group there > both this morning and afternoon. > > Quite the banner spring for them. > > Shawneen Finnegan > NW Portland > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From JLKolias at aol.com Thu May 14 15:48:03 2009 From: JLKolias at aol.com (JLKolias at aol.com) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 18:48:03 EDT Subject: [obol] Lazuli Bunting SE Portland Clack Co. Backyard Message-ID: I caught a glimpse of a male Lazuli Bunting sitting in our fig tree waiting for a turn in the water bath at about 2:30 PM . We have been here since 1991 and have not seen one before today. Judy Kolias Frank Eckert SE Portland/Clackamas County **************Recession-proof vacation ideas. Find free things to do in the U.S. (http://travel.aol.com/travel-ideas/domestic/national-tourism-week?ncid=emlcntustrav00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090514/e84334de/attachment.html From tayben at teleport.com Thu May 14 16:22:41 2009 From: tayben at teleport.com (Martha taylor & Chris Bennett) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 16:22:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Warbling Vireo Westmorland Message-ID: <9C3091590D614468AFF65893B1782AD4@D4P8RDC1> This afternoon I had a Warbling Vireo come our stream didn't stay long. Chris -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090514/7226c0ac/attachment.html From jmoodie at cocc.edu Thu May 14 16:31:37 2009 From: jmoodie at cocc.edu (Jim Moodie) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 16:31:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] White-throated Sparrow in Deschutes River Woods, Deschutes County Message-ID: This morning, we had our first May record of a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW; we now have observed 95 species during the month of May for the past seven springs. Also our first of the year TOWNSEND'S WARBLER. We live 5 miles SW of Bend. Yesterday, I counted 30+ EVENING GROSBEAKS, but Kim, my spouse, said there might have been 3X that many in the yard yesterday. I know the feeders are drained when I come home in the evening. Cheers, Jim Dr. James Moodie Science Department Central Oregon Community College Bend, OR 97701 541-383-7282 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090514/e623448e/attachment.html From 1smooth_move at earthlink.net Thu May 14 18:05:56 2009 From: 1smooth_move at earthlink.net (Josh Saranpaa) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 21:05:56 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [obol] Birds in my Backyard today. Message-ID: <20474666.1242349556824.JavaMail.root@elwamui-cypress.atl.sa.earthlink.net> This evening, I went for a walk in the wodds behind my house. I sat and counted 7 BAND-TAILED PIDGEONS, 1 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, 1 HAIRY WOODPECKER and 1 possible BULLOCKS ORIOLE. There were of course the Jays and Robins. Josh From louisfredd at msn.com Thu May 14 22:23:37 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 22:23:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Broad-winged Hawk No. 2, Oregon City, 05/08 Message-ID: Observed last Thursday about 2:00p, from residence, somewhat north, a little high, viewed 10X. Advanced overhead, vanished into sun's glare. ID by small size, form and flight. Similarity to No. 1 (04/29) immediately apparent, but seemed to have shorter tail, more the perfect little buteo with wings outstretched and tail fanned. Some soaring, mostly gliding, wings held flat and motionless throughout (a single flick of one wingtip while I watched). Possibly dark morph. Top of wings, head, very dark, practically black in good light, head-on. Backlighting in passage overhead obscured detail underneath, black tips of primaries discernable. Narrow gap between primaries/secondaries each wing. Wheeler ("Raptors of North America") notes this species drops innermost primaries at onset first prebasic molt to produce such visible gaps in early May. A Red-tailed Hawk glided by below in same direction while I watched. _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090514/40bd3bd1/attachment.html From raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Thu May 14 22:29:59 2009 From: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com (raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 22:29:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Spring 09 NAMC results - Linn County Message-ID: <459536.23346.qm@web50901.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Obolers, The final tally has been made for this past weekends NAMC effort in Linn County and I am happy to report that a new record was set!? We had the perfect conditions of great weather and great coverage throughout the county.? Our final total was 148 species and following are some of the highlights of our efforts: Greater White-fronted Goose Cackling Goose Tundra Swan Redhead Ruddy Duck Ruffed Grouse Common Loon American Bittern Eurasian Collared-Dove Calliope Hummingbird Ash-thoated Flycatcher Vesper Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow If anyone is interested in the complete list of species found, please email me and I will be glad to supply that list. It is significant to note that we had 6 participants that covered most of the Valley floor portions of the county as well as the high elevations of the mountain portion of the county. A total of 39 species were found by only one participant which means we did a good job of covering our bases throughout the county :)? All of us managed to find at least one of these 39.? Thanks to Jeff Harding, Mark Nikas, Tom Snetsinger, Pat Waldron, and Randy Campbell for making this springs NAMC here in Linn County a great success! Jeff Fleischer ECBC NAMC Linn County Coordinator Albany From cgates326 at gmail.com Thu May 14 22:48:58 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 22:48:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Grosbeaks galore In-Reply-To: <72649E0A9C5E4AEAB93F3E2E5591B2BA@Warbler> References: <5513D24544684D59A0309BE01525B0EB@102889> <72649E0A9C5E4AEAB93F3E2E5591B2BA@Warbler> Message-ID: <7481C59913024D3F860269E52AEF6CA0@cgatesPC> The numbers of Evening Grosbeaks in Prineville are very impressive as well. During the NAMC, we found them throughout Prineville. ----- Original Message ----- From: Dennis P. Vroman To: Tom Crabtree ; 'COBOL' ; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2009 2:49 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Grosbeaks galore Regarding Evening Grosbeaks. SW Oregon seems to be invaded by them as well. Although we have none visiting our feeders (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit), I have hear fly-over birds every morning since about May 8th. Some others around Grants Pass have them at feeders. It has been several years since I have even heard them at our place. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) This morning "my" Black-headed Grosbeak returned to my yard and woke me with its most welcome song. Then when I walked outside I was surprised by a flock of 150+ Evening Grosbeaks, by far the most I have seen in Bend in one flock in many years. I'm in the old section of the West Hills in Bend. Is anyone else seeing large flocks around town? Tom Crabtree, Bend ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090514/4c8dd4dc/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Thu May 14 22:53:45 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 22:53:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sisters area birding In-Reply-To: <81b2a9930905141257jb24fa76uf250fd0a180ca11c@mail.gmail.com> References: <81b2a9930905141257jb24fa76uf250fd0a180ca11c@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <947AD5FA396B47E5A6459B4C8C6FD47F@cgatesPC> The East Cascades Bird Conservancy is hard at work producing a website that will have detailed directions to the best birding places in each of Oregon's 36 counties. Until that web page is produced, birders that want information about birding in Central Oregon can always go to the ECBC website (ecbcbirds.org) and find all you need to know about birding in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brandon Green" To: "OBOL" Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2009 12:57 PM Subject: [obol] Sisters area birding So, my wife is hosting a baby shower on Sunday, which means that I need to get the heck out of the house. I've been wanting to hit the east side of the Cascades for some time. I'm primarily interested in looking for woodpeckers (White-headed, Black-backed, sapsuckers), owls, and the higher-elevation finches (Cassin's, crossbills, etc.). I'm not very familiar with Deschutes County birding sites and was wondering if anybody had any suggestions in the Sisters area. Cold Springs Campground looks promising, but I'm not even sure if it's accessible at this time of the year. Thanks in advance... Brandon Eugene _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From louisfredd at msn.com Thu May 14 22:55:05 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 22:55:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon City, May 02-08 Message-ID: Compared with last year, same dates, total species down (39 v 34). Swifts and swallows so far somewhat fewer than last year. Haven't seen a Killdeer yet this year!, ordinarily seen at this time. No kestrels this spring either (A friend a few miles away has a pair using a nest box he put up on a utility pole in his back yard). Rarity last year this time was Tennessee Warbler, well seen at short distance, this year Broad-winged and Swainson's hawks. May02 SWAINSON'S HAWK, Immature FOYr. Previously reported. RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER 1-2 almost every day. Pair, nesting off property as in most previous years, usually come alone to feed on trunks of big birches. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE All das Nesting in knothole old cherry tree as in previous years. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET Two, either end of week. Last one seen 05/08, latest date ever by a few days (Last year latest on 05/05). May03 BALD EAGLE, Immature FOYr Very unusual here. About 1/4 mi distant, low soar over patchy woodland, at distance all black, positive ID by head shape (10X). RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD. NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW FOYr. WESTERN TANAGER FOYr 1-2, 2das. May05 BARN SWALLOW FOYr 2das HOUSE FINCH M,F Male very beautiful golden-orange. May07 GREEN HERON No. 2 for year, fly-over. BROAD-WINGED HAWK No. 2 for year, previously reported. RED-TAILED HAWK. WARBLING VIREO FOYr BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER Pair. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK FOYr 1-2, 2 das. _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090514/92034885/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Thu May 14 22:38:34 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 22:38:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Second thoughts Message-ID: <009e01c9d522$0dd8b4c0$e4c963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: Thanks to those who offered thoughts on the probability of finding a 200th species in different counties. The idea that a county with 300 species offers 100/300 chances for someone to see species #200, while a county with 225 species only offers 25/225 chances, makes the assumption that all species are equally likely. Of course, this isn't true. Here's another way to look at the issue: Birders regularly rate species on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 for species that are plentiful and you're bound to see without trying, e.g. Mallards 2 for species that you have to look for in season, but are still regular, e.g. Western Wood-pewee 3 for species that are localized and take a some modest effort to find, e.g. Virginia Rail 4 for species that aren't found every year, but show up fairly regularly, e.g. Black and White Warbler 5 for species that have been seen less than five times in a given location, e.g. Wood Sandpiper So let's say that the distribution of these classes across a county is Class 1: 30% of the species Class 2: 30% of the species Class 3: 25% of the species Class 4: 8% of the species Class 5: 7% of the species Let's say a birder finds his/her species generally from easiest to hardest, with just a bit of luck at finding or chasing rare birds. That means that if you see all of the 1's, 2's, most 3's, and a few 4's you'll have found 85% of the species. Well, 85% of 300 is 255, so it is easy to find 200 species in a county with 300 to choose from. You can reach 200 by simply seeing the 1's, 2's, and a couple 3's. But in a county with only 225 species, 85% only puts you at 191. To reach 200 in such a county, you need to find 88% of the available species. That's all the 1's, 2's, 3's, and a half of the 4's. I know you all wanted to know this... ;-) Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Thu May 14 22:56:46 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 22:56:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] a good morning at Camassia Message-ID: <009f01c9d522$0ea5c8c0$e4c963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: Our Morning Birdsong Walk at Camassia Preserve in West Linn began under gray and misty skies at 7 AM, but turned sunny before 9 AM. The 4 of us had a fine time. We saw quite a number first-of-the-season (FOS) sightings. 2 Great Blue Heron 2 Turkey Vulture 1 Osprey -- nesting 1 Cooper's Hawk 2 Anna's Hummingbird 1 Downy Woodpecker 3 Northern Flicker -- nesting 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher (FOS) 2 Western Wood-Pewee (FOS) 1 Pacific-slope Flycatcher (FOS) 4 swallow 1 Steller's Jay 2 American Crow 8 Black-capped Chickadee 3 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 Brown Creeper (FOS) 1 Bewick's Wren 1 Winter Wren 1 Swainson's Thrush (FOS) 10 American Robin 1 Cassin's Vireo (FOS) 8 Warbling Vireo -- everywhere 4 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler (FOS) 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 Black-throated Gray 4 Townsend's Warbler 1 Wilson's Warbler (FOS) 1 Western Tanager 1 Black-headed Grosbeak 5 Spotted Towhee 8 Song Sparrow 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 House Finch 4 Lesser Goldfinch 5 American Goldfinch Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan From woodenapple at juno.com Thu May 14 22:59:53 2009 From: woodenapple at juno.com (woodenapple at juno.com) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 05:59:53 GMT Subject: [obol] Obol: Eugene 5-finch moment Message-ID: <20090514.225953.26919.0@webmail05.vgs.untd.com> Greetings, Obolists! This morning (Thursday) for a brief moment we had the five following finch species simultaneously at our Eugene/Santa Clara feeder: Evening Grosbeak, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Lesser Goldfinch, Pine Siskin. The Purple Finches left about a week or 10 days ago, or it could have been six! Rudi ____________________________________________________________ Hotel pics, info and virtual tours. Click here to book a hotel online. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTKDE2ZJ2Lmzv9KMil3lDx25p7hNJJTLTqBiJRilWfcOOayDpxmCnG/ From clausing at uiuc.edu Fri May 15 06:58:41 2009 From: clausing at uiuc.edu (Arthur Clausing) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 06:58:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wilson Phalarope Message-ID: <6ADBE7EB-8891-4CFA-83A9-A8A23AC1D6E7@uiuc.edu> Early yesterday afternoon I saw a Wilson Phalarope at the sewage ponds southeast of the southeast end of Smith Lake, in the SW pond, the one closest to the Columbia Slough and the railroad tracks. There was a single Redhead, one Gadwall, and lots of Mallards swimming near it of the far side of the pond. Art Clausing Portland From m.denny at charter.net Fri May 15 07:14:26 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 07:14:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Common Loon Society? Message-ID: <7486E082260943B7B3D495120AFBFF37@24FLIGHT> Awhile back I received an email about a group studying Common Loons - and that they do programs for folks - I can't remember who. Please respond to me if any info. Thanks, MerryLynn .................................................................................. Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived From goosemiller at gmail.com Fri May 15 07:30:31 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 07:30:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Second thoughts In-Reply-To: <009e01c9d522$0dd8b4c0$e4c963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Message-ID: <4a0d7c85.0ebb720a.640e.6902@mx.google.com> Hi Paul: So my question is "Have you seen 200 birds in all the Oregon Counties yet?" Marilyn Miller -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Paul T. Sullivan Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2009 10:39 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] Second thoughts OBOL: Thanks to those who offered thoughts on the probability of finding a 200th species in different counties. The idea that a county with 300 species offers 100/300 chances for someone to see species #200, while a county with 225 species only offers 25/225 chances, makes the assumption that all species are equally likely. Of course, this isn't true. Here's another way to look at the issue: Birders regularly rate species on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 for species that are plentiful and you're bound to see without trying, e.g. Mallards 2 for species that you have to look for in season, but are still regular, e.g. Western Wood-pewee 3 for species that are localized and take a some modest effort to find, e.g. Virginia Rail 4 for species that aren't found every year, but show up fairly regularly, e.g. Black and White Warbler 5 for species that have been seen less than five times in a given location, e.g. Wood Sandpiper So let's say that the distribution of these classes across a county is Class 1: 30% of the species Class 2: 30% of the species Class 3: 25% of the species Class 4: 8% of the species Class 5: 7% of the species Let's say a birder finds his/her species generally from easiest to hardest, with just a bit of luck at finding or chasing rare birds. That means that if you see all of the 1's, 2's, most 3's, and a few 4's you'll have found 85% of the species. Well, 85% of 300 is 255, so it is easy to find 200 species in a county with 300 to choose from. You can reach 200 by simply seeing the 1's, 2's, and a couple 3's. But in a county with only 225 species, 85% only puts you at 191. To reach 200 in such a county, you need to find 88% of the available species. That's all the 1's, 2's, 3's, and a half of the 4's. I know you all wanted to know this... ;-) Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.329 / Virus Database: 270.12.30/2115 - Release Date: 05/14/09 17:54:00 From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri May 15 07:40:05 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 07:40:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seeking opinions. Really. Message-ID: <20090515074005.3j7mynypcs8osccs@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Mike, No scientific evidence exists one way or the other that food coloring harms hummingbirds. Since hummingbirds find the feeders fine without food coloring, most hummingbird feeding enthusiasts argue against using it. See my April 1, 2009 article on feeding hummingbirds in the Pacific Northwest, where I also do some additional "myth busting" on other things you hear about feeding hummingbirds: http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/2009/04/bird-feeding-hummingbirds.html Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From bigfishyman at gmail.com Fri May 15 08:04:57 2009 From: bigfishyman at gmail.com (Bob Fish) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 08:04:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding the Creswell sewage ponds Message-ID: I went along with my step son and his classmates on a walk through Creswell Sewage ponds. On our walk we saw many CANADA GEESE with various age goslings. 4-5 RUDDY DUCKS scooting around, two CINNAMON TEAL and a couple MALLARD pairs. One RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was feeding on the third pond. An OSPREY graced us with his presence overhead. Flying about and in the fields surrounding the ponds were many BARN SWALLOWS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, heard many AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, several probable WESTERN SANDPIPER ( did not have my scope), KILDEER, and one SPOTTED SANDPIPER. And of course the ever present AMERICAN CROW (the teenager of the sky) Thanks to all for web site suggestions for the classroom/ teacher. Bob Fish Creswell, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090515/03c1955a/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Fri May 15 08:17:26 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 08:17:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] SW OREGON-9-11 MAY Message-ID: <002101c9d570$4d51cdf0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> SOUTHWESTERN OREGON 9-11 MAY 2009 We spent three days in Oregon's southwest focusing on three areas: Bandon and Brookings on the coast, and Medford inland. Spring colors were exuberant with a kaleidoscope of greens mantling the mountainsides, and a variety of colorful wildflowers gracing the meadows. Birds were everywhere. Ah, spring is indeed a beautiful time of year! At dawn en route, we stopped briefly at Ankeny NWR hoping to spot or hear an owl or two. No luck on these but we did hear several American Bitterns and Soras. Five Cackling Geese remained from the many wintering birds. Approaching Reedsport and the Dean Creek Elk Wildlife Viewing Area from the east, on a lark we took a detour up Charlotte Ridge Road. This gravel forest road winds up a steep mountainside through mixed wood second growth forest habitat. We found this route a great diversion, not only to admire the fresh greenery of spring foliage, but also for a ton of birds. Wilson's Warblers sang from every thicket. Orange-crowned Warblers seemed only slightly less numerous. We found our first HERMIT WARBLERS, and both Pacific-slope and Hammond's Flycatchers of the year. We chanced upon several MOUNTAIN QUAIL by the roadside. Surprisingly, we encountered a GRAY JAY in this forest dominated by deciduous trees (red alder and garry oaks with only a few conifers). We hit Bandon on an incoming tide and found lots of shorebirds including: 15 Black-bellied and 25 Semipalmated Plovers, 5 Killdeers, 8 Black Oystercatchers, 7 Whimbrels, 30 Marbled Godwits, 6 Ruddy and 3 Black Turnstones, 15 RED KNOTS, ~ 1000+ Western and ~ 250 Least Sandpipers, 10 Dunlins, and 10 Short-billed Dowitchers. We moved back and forth between the estuary viewing platform and the jetty base a number of times, each time adding a species or two. We also poked about the ocean side of the estuary hoping to study birds at high tide roost but found an island in the embayment much bigger than we had appreciated. The shorebirds were out of view so this place has a large area that is not readily scoped. Sunday morning we awoke well before dawn to try our luck at owling east of Gold Beach. In the meadows by the Rogue River we listened and watched intently under a full moon for a Barn Owl. No luck on this but we were pleased to hear several YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS singing away well before dawn. Heading up the steep road to the Schrader Old Growth Trail, we stopped several times to again listen for owls. Only a distant BARRED OWL called briefly. Allen's Hummingbird was our main goal in Brookings Sunday morning. We started early on a cool and overcast morning of the 10th at Azalea Park, a "sure bet" for this species according to the bird-finding guides we read. Well, after an hour there finding only Anna's Hummingbird or two, we felt pretty deficient at losing this bet so we moved outside the park to explore the Gardiner Ridge Road area up the adjacent Coast Range, another area mentioned for Allen' Hummingbird. The habitat up that road was regenerating forests, alternating with grassy meadows and ranchettes, really quite good for birds. Band-tailed Pigeons were performing their flutter courtship flight high over the mountainside forests. Hermit Warblers were singing at every stop. As near Reedsport, Wilson's Warblers were ubiquitous. Wrentits sang from the shrubbery too. Several Olive-sided Flycatchers sang and we spied a bird atop a distant snag. But no Allen's Hummers, indeed no real habitat to my eye for this species. Perhaps that was in the past and now the clear cuts have grown back into forests unattractive to this brush-loving species. Back in Brookings, the sky was much brighter so it felt warmer. We decided to check residential feeders. Feeders were easy to come by but hummers were not. Again we found Anna's easily and a female Selasphorus but no male Allen's. We returned to Azalea Park in the afternoon in warmer and still brighter (though still overcast) weather to try again. This time we heard a zinging hummer in the bushes below the highest gazebo. We soon found this bird had a routine revisiting favored twig perches so positioned ourselves above the shrubs and with backlighting. This proved a sound strategy for eventually we were rewarded with stunning views of a perched male ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS, new for Ellen. I had not appreciated just how green the back of this bird is. A short drive up the Winchuck River yielded Black Phoebe and a soaring RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. An equally short diversion to the jetty in Brookings was great for a breeding plumaged WANDERING TATTLER and Red-throated Loons diving just a couple yards from the beach. Tufted Puffin was another target bird for us. We tried once at Harris Beach State Park without success, scoping every bit of the grassy north island offshore. We tried again later and found one TUFTED PUFFIN swimming off the north side of the island. A distant view but still satisfying. For a leg stretcher we headed to the Oregon Redwood Trail, to sample birds and natural history of this forest. The trees, both coast redwoods and Douglas-firs, were sublime, with under story rhododendrons and tan oaks adding beauty and structure. Wow, the immensity of these trees warmed our hearts and spirits. Birds were not diverse or numerous but we added Hairy Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, and Varied Thrush to our trip list. Hermit Warblers sang from the edges of the tallest groves. Of course, Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Winter Wrens were conspicuous, as expected. Returning to the trailhead, a small troop of Steller's Jays were making a commotion off in the forest. I hooted once and a BARRED OWL came in straight away and peered at us intently. Way cool! Of course we'd much rather it had been a Spotted Owl. Surely there isn't room for both Barred and Spotted Owls in this forest? Lower Table Rock just outside Medford proved to another treat, actually nothing short of fantastic. We were intrigued to try it as not only do the birding site guides rate it highly but it is also listed in 100 Classic Hikes in Oregon (Mountaineers). We arrived at first light and began the hike up the graded trail to the plateau. Our progress was slow as there were birds everywhere. Proving just how important familiarity is when in a new spot, we initially were confounded when a "familiar" passerine sang. This loud jangle turned out to be coming from a LARK SPARROW, a species I know well in my local eastern Washington shrub-steppe patches but had not imagined it to occur west of the Cascades. Lo and behold, it turns out this species is fairly common in open habitats in the Rogue Valley (Marshall et al. in Birds of Oregon). Of the 52 species we tallied on this hike, many were Neotropical migrants, colorful and in full song. Wow! On this list were three species wedded to the chaparral and oak habitats, the "southwest Oregon specialties:" four BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, several OAK TITMICE, and several CALIFORNIA TOWHEES. There was so many other birds here, I confess the risk of boring folks with along list but how about just a few, grouped by habitat, that stood out? Along the initial stretch of the trail, in weedy fields, were the Lark Sparrows, Western Bluebirds were in parkland oaks, then the chaparral contingent listed above in buckbrushes mixed with scrubby oaks. Ash-throated Flycatchers sang pretty much from bottom to top of the trail. Lesser Goldfinches were widespread too. Higher, taller oaks and Douglas-firs were chock full of great birds including Cassin's Vireos, PILEATED WOODPECKERS, and migrants such as Orange-crowned, Nashville, Townsend's, and Wilson's Warblers and Western Tanagers. The magic flutings of Black-headed Grosbeaks and the strident song of Lazuli Buntings seemed everywhere. Overhead, Violet-green Swallows twittered and Turkey Vultures sailed. Back at the parking lot, we noted three ACORN WOODPECKERS atop nearby power poles and noted two of these were riddled with holes, thus granary "trees." Up to now I've mentioned only birds on Lower Table Rock. The botanical show was equally impressive. Most folks would appreciate the riot of greens mantling the hillsides here and as we are biscuit root aficionados, we also admired Lomatium utriculatum and L. triternatum growing quite close to each other, seemingly an odd juxtaposition. We applaud The Nature Conservancy for taking the first steps to preserve this wonderful chunk of habitat, indeed, reason enough for a naturalist to relocate in Medford. The homeward drive from Medford proved to be another visual treat. You might ask how driving along I-5 could be so rewarding? I had not driven this route for at least 35 years and can clearly recall the seemingly interminable oak-mantled mountainsides between the California line and Eugene. I would have bet "McMansions" scarring hillsides to have since sprouted everywhere along this long route. To my surprise, along long stretches (Grants Pass to just south of Roseburg and elsewhere), oak and pines still dominate. Surely this bodes well for both the Oregon environment and tourism. Natural communities and beauty on an expansive scale still exists so close to this busy interstate. Species list (those in upper case were especially memorable): Greater White-fronted Goose - 2 Canada Goose - 80 Cackling Goose - 5 Gadwall - 10 American Wigeon - 4 Mallard - 20 Cinnamon Teal - Northern Pintail - 8 American Green-winged Teal - 2 Lesser Scaup - 5 Surf Scoter - 50 Bufflehead - 1 Red-breasted Merganser - 5 Ring-necked Pheasant - 2 Wild Turkey -3 Mountain Quail -2 California Quail - 2 Red-throated Loon - 2 Pacific Loon -8 Common Loon -3 Pied-billed Grebe -2 Western Grebe -1 Brown Pelican - 40 Brandt's Cormorant - 150 Double-crested Cormorant - 50 Pelagic Cormorant - 200 American Bittern - 3 Great Blue Heron - 6 Great Egret - 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron - 1 Turkey Vulture - 80 Osprey - 5 Bald Eagle - 2 Northern Harrier - 3 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 5 American Kestrel -2 Virginia Rail - 2 Sora - 3 American Coot - 15 Black-bellied Plover - 15 Semipalmated Plover - 25 Killdeer - 6 Black Oystercatcher - 8 WANDERING TATTLER -1 Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Whimbrel - 7 Marbled Godwit - 30 Ruddy Turnstone - 6 Black Turnstone - 3 RED KNOT - 15 Western Sandpiper - 1000+ Least Sandpiper - 250+ Dunlin - 10 Short-billed Dowitcher - 10 Bonaparte's Gull - 1 Ring-billed Gull - 2 California Gull - 10 Western Gull - 300 Glaucous-winged Gull - 10 Caspian Tern - 2 Common Murre -500 + Pigeon Guillemot - 100+ TUFTED PUFFIN - 1 Rock Pigeon - 30 Band-tailed Pigeon - 5 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE - 10+ Brookings Mourning Dove - 10 BARRED OWL - 2 Vaux's Swift - 10 Anna's Hummingbird - 5 Rufous Hummingbird - 2 ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD - 1 Belted Kingfisher - 2 Acorn Woodpecker - 3 Downy Woodpecker - 1 Hairy Woodpecker - 3 Northern Flicker - 5 Pileated Woodpecker - 3 Olive-sided Flycatcher - 2 Western Wood-Pewee - 2 Hammond's Flycatcher - 1 Pacific-slope Flycatcher - 15 Black Phoebe - 2 Ash-throated Flycatcher - 8 Western Kingbird - 4 Cassin's Vireo - 3 Hutton's Vireo - 1 Warbling Vireo - 3 GRAY JAY - 1 Steller's Jay -15 Western Scrub-Jay - 20 American Crow -150 Common Raven -20 Tree Swallow - 100+ Violet-green Swallow - 80+ N. Rough-winged Swallow - 5 Cliff Swallow - 30 Barn Swallow - 40 Black-capped Chickadee - 3 Chestnut-backed Chickadee - 30 OAK TITMOUSE - 4 Bushtit -3 Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2 White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 Brown Creeper - 2 House Wren - 5 Winter Wren - 10 Marsh Wren - 6 Golden-crowned Kinglet - 10 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER - 4 Western Bluebird - 1 Swainson's Thrush - 2 Hermit Thrush - 2 American Robin - 50+ Varied Thrush - 3 European Starling - 100+ Cedar Waxwing - 15 Orange-crowned Warbler - 30 Nashville Warbler - 2 Yellow Warbler - 4 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1 Black-throated Gray Warbler - 3 Townsend's Warbler - 5 HERMIT WARBLER - 20 Common Yellowthroat - 5 WILSON'S WARBLER - 80+ Yellow-breasted Chat - 2 Western Tanager - 2 Spotted Towhee - 10 CALIFORNIA TOWHEE - 3 Chipping Sparrow - 15 LARK SPARROW - 3 Savannah Sparrow - 10 Song Sparrow - 25 White-crowned Sparrow - 15 Golden-crowned Sparrow - 1 Black-headed Grosbeak - 15 Lazuli Bunting - 5 Red-winged Blackbird - 30 Western Meadowlark - 10 Yellow-headed Blackbird - 5 Brewer's Blackbird - 200, especially along I-5 Brown-headed Cowbird - 10 Bullock's Oriole - 2 Purple Finch - 10 House Finch - 25+ Pine Siskin - 2 Lesser Goldfinch - 10 American Goldfinch - 15 Evening Grosbeak - 20 House Sparrow - 30 Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090515/6259ef96/attachment.html From jvanmoo at sisna.com Fri May 15 09:02:49 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 09:02:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] K-Falls, New Yard Bird, 5-15-09 Message-ID: <8945A9F4-B3D7-4560-9220-6BC30D4E60EF@sisna.com> Hi Folks, A new yard bird appeared this morning: TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, an absolutely stunning bird! A YELLOW WARBLER also showed up today. EVENING GROSBEAK, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, RED CROSSBILL, BULLOCKS'S ORIOLE, CALLIOPE , BLACK-CHINNED AND RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS are also at the feeders daily along with PINE SISKINS, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, LESSER GOLDFIINCH, and DOWNY WOODPECKER--about 20-23 species show up daily. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Pine Grove Klamath Falls From smithdwd at hotmail.com Fri May 15 10:20:10 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 17:20:10 +0000 Subject: [obol] OFO-OFO post cruise trip Vanc BC Message-ID: Bob, Judy, and I stayed on in Vancouver BC after the previously reported(mega rarities) Love Boat cruise from SF to Vancouver. This was an ad hoc OFO-OFO(Oregon Field Ornythologists-Out From Oregon) 3 day extension. We had wonderful weather, saw 116 or 117 species at sites ranging from a snow covered ski area to the sewage ponds. No rarities; just variety, good food, and a large metro area with many possibilities. David Smith _________________________________________________________________ Show them the way! Add maps and directions to your party invites. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/products/events.aspx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090515/866d8de1/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Fri May 15 12:00:18 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 11:00:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Save Boreal Birds Message-ID: <375C1E2B9C9242A39B872F8F1E347C7F@102889> Several environmental groups are collecting signatures on a petition called "Save Our Boreal Birds" which they will send to Canada's Prime Minister and to many provincial leaders. They need about 500 more signatures to reach their goal. The petition asks that vital bird habitat be kept intact. They have petitions for those of us "south of the border" to sign as well. In recent years, we have seen long-term declines in many Boreal bird species. Rusty Blackbirds have declined by 95%, Olive-sided Flycatchers, Boreal Chickadees, Bay-breasted and Canada Warblers, and Evening Grosbeaks by more than 70%, and scaup and scoters by over 50%. Let our northern neighbors know how we feel about this, eh? http://saveourborealbirds.org/sign.html Tom Crabtree, dreaming of Canada Warblers in Bend, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090515/17dec4ba/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Fri May 15 11:01:30 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 14:01:30 -0400 Subject: [obol] Newport area birding Message-ID: <8CBA39E4F4AACAB-550-83@webmail-mf07.sysops.aol.com> The weather looks like it might good next week, so I think I will go to the Newport area to do some birding. I would appreciate any input on the best areas to check out.? I definately have Boiler Bay on the list of places to go. If there is a best spot there, I would be grateful for that info as well. Thanks in advance. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090515/ecab035b/attachment.html From jvanmoo at sisna.com Fri May 15 13:10:46 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 13:10:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Klamath falls, 5-15-09 Message-ID: <5078A253-761C-49C9-AF79-E17B76F754A3@sisna.com> I found two FOS (for me) birds in my neighborhood today: GRAY FLYCATCHER and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. Also, 2 male WESTERN TANAGERS showed up in my yard a little while ago. Don't you just love May?! Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Pine Grove From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri May 15 13:18:50 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 13:18:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Newport area birding Message-ID: <20090515131850.4vk0jmtye8c00kg0@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Johnny, First, print out the Central Oregon Coast Birding Trail map: http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/PDFs/3%20Central%20Coast%20Listings.pdf When visiting the Newport area one should always cover the following places (north to south): 59) Boiler Bay, at dawn for sea watch including Marbled Murrelet and Rhinoceros Auklets 60) Depoe Bay seawall, for Black Oystercatcher and other seasonal rocky shorebirds 71) Yaquina Bay south jetty 75) Marine Science Center trail, best on incoming tide as rising water forces shorebirds closer. GO IN THE MSC! It's free and has aquariums and bird displays. Grasslands have vagrants from palm warblers to snow buntings to short-tared owls to tropical kingbirds (November) 78) Beaver Creek Marsh, bird for a mile up the road then another 1/2 mile on the right hand fork, marsh and forest birds, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Virginia Rail, Purple Finch, Osprey, Hutton's Vireo. Other places along the route are good at various times of year. Shorebird migration is mostly over, so I'd skip most of the places on Siletz Bay, which is only good for shorebirds during medium height incoming tides. With migration in full swing, you'll want to visit... 44) Knight Park, the 2.4 mile drive from Hwy 101 to the park is good for spring migrants, Evening Grosbeak, Western Tanager 48) Devils Lake State Park, walk through the campground to a boardwalk out on the lake, chickadees, nuthatches, hummingbirds 49) D River State Park, across the street from the more familiar ocean wayside is a parking area on 1st Street to view the river mouth and small marsh, vagrants 54) Drift Creek Falls, only go a couple of miles to where the clearcut enters the woods and lots of accessible logging roads, Hermit Warbler, Gray Jay, Varied Thrush, Olive-sided Flycatcher, etc. 65) Yaquina Head, BLM $8, nesting murres, Brandt's Cormorants. Park outside for free and walk in to the first set of tidepools for rocky shorebirds, including Wandering Tattler in migration, perhaps view Marbled Murrelet, but always looking into sun. 66) Sally's Bend for high tide ducks, loons, and grebes 70) Yaquina Bay state park, young and energetic birders can walk out the north jetty for rocky shorebirds, but instead walk the trails uphill by the lighthouse for Wrentit, hummingbirds, warblers, crossbills. Look below the bridge for Brant. 80) Seal Rocks, drive 0.2 miles S of entrance and park above rocks for Rock Sandpiper (November-February, more rare September to early April), Harlequin Duck, oystercatchers and rocky shorebirds. 89) Cape Perpetua Visitors center. Near here you can drive to the top of the hill trails for Varied Thrush, Gray Jay, perhaps grouse, crossbills. Greg Gillson http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com ...Online field guides greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From rflores_2 at msn.com Fri May 15 14:22:44 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 14:22:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] First olive-sided flycatcher of the spring, Ridgefeild, WA Message-ID: I had my first singing olive-sided flycatcher call along Gee Creek next to my house. Spring really is on the way. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090515/076774f4/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri May 15 15:08:54 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 15:08:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 5/15/2009 Message-ID: <897053.57363.qm@web45303.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I was working SW of Myrtle Point today and saw a WESTERN KINGBIRD on a fencepost in a large grassy field up Catching Creek (they do not breed every year in the county and are usually only seen as uncommon migrants this time of year).? Further west, in a clearcut I hiked by at 1200', I saw a displaying male ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD.? This is the third one I've seen in the Coast Range this year and keeps me scratching my head on this species.? Old wisdom was that Allen's were restricted to the lowlands in Coos (and Curry too?).? Anyhow, I think it's never safe to assume you have an Allen's or a Rufous anywhere in Coos County unless you see a displaying male and better, get a good look at the back too. Not sure what is going on in Curry in the Coast Range- I bet it's mixed there too, although it's pretty much completely Allen's in the lowlands from what I've heard. Also heard some PURPLE MARTINS which could likely be nesting in snag habitat in some private clearcut nearby to where I was. I only know of two colonies of PUMA nesting in snags in Coos although there are quite a few in Curry and some in Douglas also.? Eric Horvath's Oregon-wide nest box project has no doubt helped this species expand in recent years, for sure in this area- thanks Eric!!!! Happy birding all, Tim Rodenkirk Coos Bay From kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us Fri May 15 15:57:00 2009 From: kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us (Kyle W Bratcher) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 15:57:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wallowa County 5/15/09 ID help. Message-ID: I went out for a few hours and took some pics. I posted them here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/32547498 at N02/ Don't forget to replace the AT with @. I had two birds that I was having problems with. One is a sparrow and one is what I think is a young Clark's Nutcracker. It was still very fluffy. Both of the species I'm having trouble with are marked with ?. Any ID help would be great. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090515/dd21e288/attachment.html From youngwarriors at hotmail.com Fri May 15 16:31:34 2009 From: youngwarriors at hotmail.com (Keith Owen) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 16:31:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wallowa County 5/15/09 ID help. In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: You are correct on the Clark's Nutcracker. Didn't have enough time to research the sparrow. Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 15:57:00 -0700 From: kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Wallowa County 5/15/09 ID help. I went out for a few hours and took some pics. I posted them here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/32547498 at N02/ Don't forget to replace the AT with @. I had two birds that I was having problems with. One is a sparrow and one is what I think is a young Clark's Nutcracker. It was still very fluffy. Both of the species I'm having trouble with are marked with ?. Any ID help would be great. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_BR_life_in_synch_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090515/8594ab99/attachment.html From calliope at theriver.com Fri May 15 17:25:20 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 17:25:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Corvallis Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Message-ID: <95B8474B-470E-4301-9363-5F8CEDB13C47@theriver.com> Friday, May 15 I just returned from a jog up the Dixon Creek trail in northern Corvallis where I found a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER. It was calling on its own, but I pished and whistled to get a visual on it in case my ears were fooling me. Incidentally, a Western Screech-Owl started calling back almost instantaneously. The gnatcatcher popped into sight within a few seconds, so I was able to continue on my jog. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was unrecorded in Benton County as of 1999 (that's the latest edition of Birds of Benton County I have). Does anyone know of records since then? The trail begins as a very wide sidewalk on the east side of the Timberhill Athletic Center, and where the pavement ends, the trail crosses Dixon Creek over a nice bridge. The bird was about 750 yards up the trail beyond the end of the paved portion. The first part of the trail is rather wet and muddy in a couple of spots but soon turns to very nice gravel and then is tarp-lined. Beyond that it becomes dirt. The trail crosses the the first side creek, then a smaller wet ditch, and then the gnatcatcher was calling about 20 yards above this second ditch and about 30 yards off to the east. I created a Google map with a blue marker where the bird was. http://tinyurl.com/pvl5zc Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- From andy.frank at kp.org Fri May 15 17:57:51 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 17:57:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] SAndy River Delta today, and Portland Semipalmated Plovers Message-ID: I walked around Sandy River Delta today and had a grand time. Even though I didn't arrive until after noon, it was quite birdy. There were many WESTERN TANAGERS, and BULLOCK'S ORIOLES, and several singing male LAZULI BUNTINGS in the blackberry brambles in the field north of the first pond. At least 2 SORA were having a conversation at the first pond. Though I've been going regularly this spring, I still have not found MARSH WREN there this year though last year they were easy to find, and they seem to me to be scarcer than usual elsewhere as well and was wondering if anyone else has noticed this. Odd to only find only one species of swallow (TREE), but found a total of 4 flycatchers, each a different species: OLIVE-SIDED, PACIFIC-SLOPE, HAMMOND'S, and WILLOW. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES were seemingly everywhere. Full list is at birdnotes.net. I frequently go running along the Willammette River in Portland and bird as I run. At the eastern most part of NW Raleigh is a dirt and gravel lot which has had a few small ponds in it the past few springs. I keep running by hoping for something besides Killdeer but was always unrewarded until this afternoon when there were 2 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS. Andy Frank From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Fri May 15 18:01:22 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 18:01:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tanagers Message-ID: Tanagers are obviously moving in numbers now, as I had two different males using my bird bath in lowland s Eugene today. I get them rarely here. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From calliope at theriver.com Fri May 15 18:48:47 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 18:48:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Benton County Gnatcatcher record Message-ID: <72D8BCC5-AB28-447A-AC02-D0CAE1FBA7E1@theriver.com> Hi All, Just as a followup, Joel Geier reminded me of one previous record of Blue-gray Gnatcatcher for Benton County, found by Lauren Franko and also seen by Michael Dosset at Coffin Butte on August 10, 2005. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- From steve at paradisebirding.com Fri May 15 19:04:36 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 19:04:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Calliope Crossing and Indian Ford Creek Message-ID: <9a341ea30905151904mbe2e3dcx269a94d7a985903f@mail.gmail.com> Hello all, I just wanted to add a couple quick notes to Mike's report below, with birds found yesterday along Indian Ford Creek. - Despite the strong winds, we saw at least 3 male CALLIOPE HUMMERS diving and chasing around the willows, mostly downstream of the crossing. - TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS were singing all over the place along the creek, especially between Indian Ford Campground and Gobbler's Knob. - FOX SPARROWS and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were singing on the slope below Gobbler's Knob. - Between Calliope Crossing and Gobbler's Knob, we saw at least six DOWNY WOODPECKERS. - We missed the RN SAPSUCKERS at Calliope in the morning, but some friends showed me the courting pair later in the afternoon, very close to the crossing. - In addition to the Grays and Duskies Mike mentions, HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS were singing prominently on the upper portions of the creek. We missed Pewee, Warbling Vireo, and the Goshawk (dang-it!) at Calliope. Steve Shunk ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Mike Date: Fri, May 15, 2009 at 5:46 PM Subject: [COBOL] Calliope Crossing To: COBOL Date: May 15, 2009 Location: Calliope Crossing, Deschutes County, Oregon Susie and I spent about a couple of hours at Calliope Crossing from 11-1 today. Wilson's Warblers and Yellow Warblers were predominant. A great Goshawk flyby and posing Red-naped Sapsucker were stars of the day. Shallow water across the road S. of the dam. Found DE Junco and Mt.Chickadee nests. No Calliope hummers. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Northern Goshawk Red-tailed Hawk Red-naped Sapsucker Western Wood-Pewee Gray Flycatcher Dusky Flycatcher Warbling Vireo Common Raven Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Mountain Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch House Wren American Robin European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow Warbler Wilson's Warbler Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird American Goldfinch Total number of species seen: 23 Mike Golden Eagle Crest _______________________________________________ COBOL mailing list COBOL at lists.oregonstate.edu http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol To unsubscribe, send a message to: COBOL-request at lists.oregonstate.edu with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090515/1501871c/attachment.html From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Fri May 15 21:02:19 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 21:02:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Vaux's Swifts in Bend Message-ID: I went down to 644 Harriman tonight. I got there at 7:15 and saw my first Swift at 8:00. The first bird entered the chimney at 8:30 and most of them entered in one bunch. I estimate there were about 200 in the chimney when we left at 8:45. 7 of us showed up to watch the show. ----kim Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090515/1ec3f096/attachment.html From fitzbeew at gmail.com Sat May 16 07:48:09 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 07:48:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane CC Birds, plus mystery sparrow. Message-ID: Obol, My friend Tracy and I completed my weekly bird survey at Lane Community College Friday morning. We had some nice species variety, including: - Great Blue Heron (new LCC bird for me) - singing Black-headed Grosbeaks - Three species of warbler (Orange-crowned, Townsend's, and C. Yellowthroat) - 2 male, one female Ruddy Duck on sewage ponds - Wood Ducks -again, no Bufflehead this week. I think they are gone for the season! I also photographed what I believe to be a juvenile sparrow of some sort. Photos can be seen at the link below: http://picasaweb.google.com/fitzbeew/Birds# (near the end of the photos) >From the picture, it looks like it's just a Song Sparrow, but it looked different....ideas would be great. Good birding, and enjoy the sunshine!!! -Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090516/1967ceae/attachment.html From davect at bendnet.com Sat May 16 08:11:35 2009 From: davect at bendnet.com (david tracy) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 08:11:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane CC Birds, plus mystery sparrow. Message-ID: <17E00351-D7DF-4DD1-B765-E59111744122@bendnet.com> Hi Holly, Your mystery sparrow is actually a finch. The bill is too big for a sparrow, plus the streaking and coloration don't fit for most sparrows. Your description of the little "horns" is a clincher for House Finch, their young have these for the first month or so after leaving the nest. Best, Dave david tracy davect at bendnet.com -----Original Message---- Subject: Lane CC Birds, plus mystery sparrow. From: Holly Reinhard Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 07:48:09 -0700 Obol, My friend Tracy and I completed my weekly bird survey at Lane Community College Friday morning. We had some nice species variety, including: - Great Blue Heron (new LCC bird for me) - singing Black-headed Grosbeaks - Three species of warbler (Orange-crowned, Townsend's, and C. Yellowthroat) - 2 male, one female Ruddy Duck on sewage ponds - Wood Ducks -again, no Bufflehead this week. I think they are gone for the season! I also photographed what I believe to be a juvenile sparrow of some sort. Photos can be seen at the link below: http://picasaweb.google.com/fitzbeew/Birds# (near the end of the photos) >From the picture, it looks like it's just a Song Sparrow, but it looked different....ideas would be great. Good birding, and enjoy the sunshine!!! -Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew AT gmail.com_______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Sat May 16 09:49:06 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 09:49:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Co Yellow-headed BB, Clark's Grebe Message-ID: <2b1bbd260905160949m1c0873feg4ca0b4814242e902@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Today I saw a female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD at Siltcoos estuary. I saw the bird flying south near the parking lot at the west end (past all the campgrounds). It apparently came out of the flooded field (deflation plane) east of the lot. I was attracted to it by it's calls and observed it flying south down towards the river mouth. I lost track of it and did not see it land. Hendrik Herlyn saw a CLARK'S GREBE out on the ocean SW of the parking lot. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090516/b1ff2add/attachment.html From willwright26 at q.com Sat May 16 08:25:54 2009 From: willwright26 at q.com (willwright26 at q.com) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 08:25:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] [birding] Corvallis Blue-gray Gnatcatcher In-Reply-To: <95B8474B-470E-4301-9363-5F8CEDB13C47@theriver.com> References: <95B8474B-470E-4301-9363-5F8CEDB13C47@theriver.com> Message-ID: Doug Robinson and myself relocated Rich's gnatcatcher this morning around 7:30. Very near Rich's balloon, except on the west side of the trail. It was chasing a jay in the crown of an oak. Not singing, but mewing. ---Will Wright -------------------------------------------------- From: "Rich Hoyer" Sent: Friday, May 15, 2009 5:25 PM To: "OBOL" ; "Mid-Valley Birding List birding" Subject: [birding] Corvallis Blue-gray Gnatcatcher > Friday, May 15 > > I just returned from a jog up the Dixon Creek trail in northern Corvallis > where I found a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER. It was calling on its own, but I > pished and whistled to get a visual on it in case my ears were fooling > me. Incidentally, a Western Screech-Owl started calling back almost > instantaneously. The gnatcatcher popped into sight within a few seconds, > so I was able to continue on my jog. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was unrecorded > in Benton County as of 1999 (that's the latest edition of Birds of Benton > County I have). Does anyone know of records since then? > > The trail begins as a very wide sidewalk on the east side of the > Timberhill Athletic Center, and where the pavement ends, the trail > crosses Dixon Creek over a nice bridge. The bird was about 750 yards up > the trail beyond the end of the paved portion. The first part of the > trail is rather wet and muddy in a couple of spots but soon turns to very > nice gravel and then is tarp-lined. Beyond that it becomes dirt. The > trail crosses the the first side creek, then a smaller wet ditch, and > then the gnatcatcher was calling about 20 yards above this second ditch > and about 30 yards off to the east. > > I created a Google map with a blue marker where the bird was. > > http://tinyurl.com/pvl5zc > > > Good Birding, > > Rich > --- > Rich Hoyer > Tucson, Arizona > > Senior Leader for WINGS > http://wingsbirds.com > --- > > _______________________________________________ > list mailing list > list at midvalleybirding.org > http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ > From whoffman at peak.org Sat May 16 10:03:55 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 10:03:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <04ABF6B5469A432B89C624E95FE4DC24@D48XBZ51> I watched at Boiler Bay this morning (May 16) from 5:50 AM to 6:50 AM. Conditions were calm, cloudless, with little swell - too nice for a good flight! Unless otherwise noted, everything was northbound. Pacific Loon 500 Red-throated Loon 60 Common Loon 50 Western Grebe 10 on the water Brown Pelican 80 Brandt's Cormorant 100 Pelagic Cormorant 80 DC Cormorant 6 Canada Goose 1 on lawn Greater Scaup 2 drakes Surf Scoter 280 Bald Eagle 2 Adults, local pair Caspian Tern 1 Western Gull 70 northbound movement of immatures early California Gull 1 Glaucous-winged Gull 8 subadults Common Murre 400 Pigeon Guillemot 60 local movements and on water Rhinoceros Auklet 80 Marbled Murrelet 2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090516/4493d51a/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sat May 16 11:24:54 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 11:24:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] FOY BH Grosbeak, Eugene Message-ID: <81b2a9930905161124w3a92aaa9hcec16f213da6b315@mail.gmail.com> My first-of-the-year BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (a female or second-year male) appeared at one of my sunflower feeders this morning. They are ridiculously skittish. While standing a good 10 feet from my living room window, I bent my knees slightly to get a better shot and that was enough to spook it. Brandon Eugene From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sat May 16 11:57:02 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 11:57:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pale Tiger Swallowtail and Yellow-breasted Chat - Linn County Message-ID: <3B7B0D27A42545C390CCD0B5AB7C7E15@laptop> I'm just back from a nice long ramble from home, around the Thackaberry Sheep Farm, down to Griggs, and beyond, along Cold Springs Road for a bit. New for the motorless birding list was a Yellow-breasted Chat along Beaver Creek, two pairs of Western Kingbirds, and lots of Warbling Vireos. There is still a singing Vesper Sparrow in a hedge row on the other side of the farm. The only ducks on the mill ponds were Mallards, Hooded Mergansers, and Wood Ducks. The wintering ducks seem to have left. My FOY Pale Tiger Swallowtail (butterfly) was on the lilac bush in the garden at home. Good Birding, Jeff Harding Between Lebanon and Crabtree, Linn County -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090516/5d266dd7/attachment.html From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Sat May 16 12:04:35 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (barbara.millikan at gmail.com) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 19:04:35 +0000 Subject: [obol] FOY BH Grosbeak, Eugene In-Reply-To: <81b2a9930905161124w3a92aaa9hcec16f213da6b315@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <00163645923c600b2d046a0c3b1e@google.com> Early on, maybe, but we have a whole flock of BLACK HEADED GROSBEAKS here, and they take suet 4 ft from the bay window while we are eating next to it. Three of them line up at a time, one in the tree and two in the suet. One is apparently considering nesting in the vine maple next to the window. BTW that vine maple was a fortuitous planting on our part. It has allowed me to get good looks at a number of warblers so that I can identify them, hanging the suet feeder in it lets me look at the undersides of birds as they hang upside down on it, and also get close views of the chestnut backed and black capped chickadees in winter. Perhaps when they have been around for a little longer you will see more. Barbara rural NW Polk, near Sheridan On May 16, 2009 11:24am, Brandon Green wrote: > My first-of-the-year BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (a female or second-year > male) appeared at one of my sunflower feeders this morning. They are > ridiculously skittish. While standing a good 10 feet from my living > room window, I bent my knees slightly to get a better shot and that > was enough to spook it. > Brandon > Eugene > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090516/60a09f62/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sat May 16 12:13:24 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 12:13:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge May 15th Message-ID: I enjoyed a great walk last evening on the Royal Avenue trails, Saw an Osprey hunting, lots of Marsh Wrens who were singing wildly and several of the ever present Red Wing Blackbirds. Also were thirty plus Tree swallows and one little Cliff Swallow picking at grit in the parking lot. There were 20 plus Mallards and two large gray ducks that I am guessing were Gadwall due to the large head and mostly gray body (have pictures if anyone cares to see them). I also have some pics of a very loud little bird that I'd like help with. It was very active and it was making large brassy squawks, similar to sounds I have head angry Starlings make. Here is a link to the pictures of the noisy little booger. "http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/fatrichie/Fern%20Ridge%20May%2015/" Happy Birding! Rich Adney _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has a new way to see what's up with your friends. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/WhatsNew?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_WhatsNew1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090516/234547b8/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Sat May 16 12:17:29 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 12:17:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mt Angel Abbey Migrants & Residents Message-ID: At "the hill" this morning at 8 AM. The following were present: COMMON YELLOWTHROAT-2 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER-1 + ? BLACK THROATED GRAY WARBLER-2 WARBLING VIREO Spotted Towhee (bright, bright!) Pine Siskin (brilliant colors) American Robin COWBIRD Rufous Hummingbird- male on "territory" American Goldfinch-huge numbers Lesser Goldfinch-many CEDAR WAXWING-4+ WESTERN TANAGER-2 BULLOCK'S ORIOLE-2 very vocal Turkey Vulture BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK-all over PILEATED WOODPECKER-drumming Violet Green Swallows Song Sparrow House Finch Red Breasted Nuthatch SWAINSON'S THRUSH- chit call & nice view on fir branch Had to drag myself away after 9 AM. Try again tomorrow. On the home front: WILSON'S WARBLERS -3 GH OWLS - pair calling to each other this AM BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS - many BAND-TAILED PIGEONS - 20+ HOUSE WREN -pair in nestbox BARN OWLS - in outbuilding nest box House Finch John Thomas 5 mi N of Silverton From rfadney at hotmail.com Sat May 16 12:23:30 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 12:23:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: Fern Ridge May 15th In-Reply-To: <297813.76666.qm@web37003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <297813.76666.qm@web37003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: From: rfadney at hotmail.com To: hhactitis at yahoo.com Subject: RE: [obol] Fern Ridge May 15th Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 12:21:15 -0700 Thanks Hendrik! I wasn't even close to looking in that direction! Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 12:19:45 -0700 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com Subject: Re: [obol] Fern Ridge May 15th To: rfadney at hotmail.com Hi Rich, your noisy little booger is a female Red-winged Blackbird. Quite different from the males, and often confusing! Have fun out there Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Sat, 5/16/09, R. Adney Jr. wrote: From: R. Adney Jr. Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge May 15th To: "OBOL" Date: Saturday, May 16, 2009, 12:13 PM I enjoyed a great walk last evening on the Royal Avenue trails, Saw an Osprey hunting, lots of Marsh Wrens who were singing wildly and several of the ever present Red Wing Blackbirds. Also were thirty plus Tree swallows and one little Cliff Swallow picking at grit in the parking lot. There were 20 plus Mallards and two large gray ducks that I am guessing were Gadwall due to the large head and mostly gray body (have pictures if anyone cares to see them). I also have some pics of a very loud little bird that I'd like help with. It was very active and it was making large brassy squawks, similar to sounds I have head angry Starlings make. Here is a link to the pictures of the noisy little booger. "http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/fatrichie/Fern%20Ridge%20May%2015/" Happy Birding! Rich Adney Hotmail? has a new way to see what's up with your friends. Check it out. -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. Check it out. _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has a new way to see what's up with your friends. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/WhatsNew?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_WhatsNew1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090516/fa3ced82/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat May 16 12:27:02 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 12:27:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] late RBA: Eastern Phoebe near Millican, Deschutes Co. In-Reply-To: <20090514073541.B8F31A8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> References: <20090514073541.B8F31A8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: <00BD0498591B4D92B960F2DBDFC32888@cgatesPC> Does anyone know if this photo has surfaced yet? I would appreciate a shout out to either confirm or dispute this sighting. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim Janzen" To: "'OBOL'" Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2009 12:35 AM Subject: [obol] late RBA: Eastern Phoebe near Millican, Deschutes Co. > Dear All, > I received an e-mail from Johnny Powell today saying that he > photographed an EASTERN PHOEBE "just below the Millican lek last > Saturday." I presume that he means the Sage Grouse lek that is located SW > of Millican. I haven't seen his photos and have no other information > about > the sighting than this. > > Sincerely, > Tim Janzen > Portland > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From lee at leerentz.com Sat May 16 12:23:58 2009 From: lee at leerentz.com (Lee Rentz) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 12:23:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Recent Malheur Visit Message-ID: My wife and I did a late April trip to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, one of my favorite places in the world. I wrote four blog entries describing parts of our visit, including lots of photos. Go to http://leerentz.wordpress.com Lee Rentz Shelton, WA lee at leerentz.com From andy.frank at kp.org Sat May 16 12:42:27 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 12:42:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] WHITE-FACED IBISES, Portland Message-ID: <6304F1DF0137444EBCCECDA775C271BD@familyroom> This morning at 11AM I was on the paved bike trail that goes near the Wapato Jail and Bybee Lake in North Portland and saw 11 WHITE-FACED IBISES flying overhead. I got excellent binocular looks at their long legs extended behind them, and their long heavily-curved bills in front. They appeared all dark, and were flying in a V-formation heading towards Bybee Lake and Smith Lake (I believe southeast). Also along the trail were GREEN HERON and HOUSE WREN. Andy Frank From celata at pacifier.com Sat May 16 12:48:47 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 12:48:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] BANDING REPORT: Neawanna Wetland - 5/16/2009 Message-ID: <4A0F189F.4060002@pacifier.com> BANDING REPORT- Neawanna Wetland Preserve 05-16-2009 Method: Up to eight 9m mist nets are placed in mixed Oregon Crabapple/Twinberry/Spruce along the upper Neawanna River, Seaside, Clatsop Co. OR. Captured birds are measured, ringed with USBBL numbered metal bands and released. Data on time of capture and side of net captured are also recorded to gain an understanding of movements through the area. 2009 516 Neawanna 136 Hours 5 Nets 8 Net*hours 40 Orange-crowned Warbler OCWA 4 Yellow Warbler YWAR 4 Wilson's Warbler WIWA 11 Recaptures Common Yellowthroat COYE 1 new captures 19 total captures 20 diversity 4 birds/(net*hour) 0.5 diversity/(net*hour) 0.1 Notes: It was a very strange day at the banding station. Ordinarily we catch most of our birds in the first two hours, today most of the birds were caught after 8:30. And we only caught warblers? But we saw plenty of other migrants including over a dozen WESTERN TANAGERS, at least 4 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS, a flock of EVENING GROSBEAKS, and several BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS. We also had a flyby EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE. http://home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/observatory/observatory.html -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From bcombs232 at gmail.com Sat May 16 13:29:56 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 13:29:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird food plant Message-ID: <8ce3a6520905161329ne22fd51i1edf7028bf8612e4@mail.gmail.com> Just for the record - A couple of days ago I watched a Rufous Hummingbird feeding on the flowers of the chive plants I have in my garden. The main attraction, though, is the twinberry. It is wonderful and has a long blooming season. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090516/43a5d162/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Sat May 16 16:21:28 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 16:21:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry Cty migrants Message-ID: <4A0F4A78.5010008@verizon.net> 5/16 New River, Coos/Curry Cty The most conspicuous migrant today at New River was flocks of WHIMBRELS, didn't count them all but we easily saw a couple hundred. One flock included one RED KNOT. Forgot to mention that on Wed, 13 May, we saw a new species for Coos Bay North Spit. I watched two birds fly south into a tree line east of the Snowy Plover nesting area, and confirmed as they landed in the trees what I suspected as soon as I saw them flying: that they were EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES. This same species has been very conspicuous in and around Bandon - we've seen them flying all over different parts of town recently. cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From namitzr at hotmail.com Sat May 16 17:08:49 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 17:08:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Reporting Rare Birds (aka Broad-winged Hawk) Message-ID: First, let me say "Thank You" to those people who report rare bird species. I realize that you are under no obligation to do so and I appreciate your sightings. Old timers know what constitutes a rare bird based on their experience with the state's birds, the migration timing and breeding occurence, etc. Newer birders might check out the OFO webpage for review species (rare to Oregon/US).http://www.oregonbirds.org/obrc_accepted_2008.html I mentioned Broad-winged Hawk as it was a recently reported species that is rare in the state. I know it would be appreciated if observers submit their sightings to the OFO. http://www.oregonbirds.org/obrc_form.html. It helps to know what to look for when identifying a rare bird. For Broad-winged Hawk, most of the accepted records are of immature birds during the spring passage period. http://www.oregonbirds.org/obrc_accepted_2008.html Unfortunately, there are NO Bonney Butte submittals (accepted or unaccepted) and I know that they see 1 to 2 birds most years at their fall hawk migration site. The real reason that I'm writing this message is that in the past few years there have been a smattering of reports of Broad-winged Hawk. I can't recall a message that gave the salient identification features of distinguishing a Broad-winged Hawk from other buteos or other raptors. Perhaps these details are reserved for the OBRC form, but I think folks would appreciate it. Newer birders may learn the identification features of said rare bird from reading the OBOL posting. For those still reading and concerned about Broad-winged Hawk identification, here are a few tips. 1) small, compact buteo the size of a Red-shouldered Hawk (i.e larger than Cooper's Hawk, smaller than Red-tailed Hawk). 2) lack of translucent crescents in outer wings, important as it eliminates similar and more likely Red-shouldered Hawk (*best field mark for distant immatures) 3) adults have 2-3 white and black bands in tail of even width. 4) immatures (usually) have lighter streaking underneath mostly on the flanks compared to Red-shouldered Hawks and the underwing coverts are lighter and less-heavily marked. I have seen over 1,000,000 of these birds, but only 2 dark morphs (for sure). I am still hoping to see one in Oregon some day. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090516/19fa6fbc/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sat May 16 17:38:13 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 17:38:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry Cty migrants Message-ID: <162007.60959.qm@web45307.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I also saw several flocks of migrant WHIMBREL overhead today while driving around town. I also have heard singing EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES in numerous locations around Coos Bay/North Bend the last few weeks, they have become a somewhat common "breeder" by now I presume. It is interesting to notice that this species seems to have a migrant period like many other species in the spring, with a few hanging around to breed, numbers diminishing in the fall and winter, and a noticeable increase of migrants from mid-April through May. Eight+ WILSON'S PHALAROPES out on the north spit of Coos Bay this morning along with several other species of shorebirds and lots of singing YELLOW and WILSON'S WARBLERS (amongst all the other usual singing species+ WW Pewee and OS Flycatcher). Terry Wahl reports a PECTORAL SANDPIPER at his ranch today in Curry Co., perhaps a first spring record for Curry Co? That's all for now, Tim R Coos Bay --- On Sat, 5/16/09, DJ Lauten and KACastelein wrote: > From: DJ Lauten and KACastelein > Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry Cty migrants > To: "Oregon Birders On Line" > Date: Saturday, May 16, 2009, 4:21 PM > 5/16 New River, Coos/Curry Cty > > The most conspicuous migrant today at New River was flocks > of WHIMBRELS, > didn't count them all but we easily saw a couple > hundred.? One flock > included one RED KNOT. > > Forgot to mention that on Wed, 13 May, we saw a new species > for Coos Bay > North Spit.? I watched two birds fly south into a tree > line east of the > Snowy Plover nesting area, and confirmed as they landed in > the trees > what I suspected as soon as I saw them flying: that they > were EURASIAN > COLLARED DOVES.? This same species has been very > conspicuous in and > around Bandon - we've seen them flying all over different > parts of town > recently. > > cheers > Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein > Bandon OR > deweysage at verizon.net > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sat May 16 18:06:43 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 18:06:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Grosbeaks a plenty Message-ID: <455587.45274.qm@web46013.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> We have had more Evening and Black-Headed Grosbeaks in the last 2 days than ever before. It's been great. 7 or 8 Evening Grosbeaks to a feeder. Black-Headed feeding in the yard, flying catching from our trees and flying all around. Lot's o' fun! Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From oregonjunco at msn.com Sat May 16 18:17:19 2009 From: oregonjunco at msn.com (Linda Gilbert) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 18:17:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Owyhee River Birds Message-ID: I just returned from a 5 day raft trip on the Owyhee River from Rome to Birch Creek ( May 11 to 15).The most unusual bird was probably a Merlin, which I saw on the second day of the trip. The guide told me that a "bird ecologist" was on the same trip a few weeks ago and also saw a Merlin. I'm including on my list some birds that were seen by a California birder ( CB since I did not get his name ) who was with a group that followed ours. Canada Goose Mallard Cinammon Teal Common Merganser Chukar Ring-necked Pheasant California Quail Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Black-crowned Night-Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk Golden Eagle American Kestrel Merlin Peregrine falcon, CB Prairie Falcon American Coot Kildeer Spotted Sandpiper Long-billed Curlew California Gull Caspian Tern Rock Dove Mourning Dove Northern Flicker Western Wood-Pewee, CB Gray Flycatcher, CB Dusky Flycatcher Say's Phoebe Western Kingbird Black-billed Magpie Common Raven Violet-green Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Rock Wren Canyon Wren American Robin Sage Thrasher, CB Nashville Warbler Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Gray Warbler MacGillivray's Warbler Common Yellowthroat Wilson's Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat Western Tanager Lark Sparrow Sage Sparrow Song Sparrow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brewer's Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Bullock's Oriole House Finch House Sparrow Mammals: Bighorn Sheep, River Otter, Mink Plants in bloom: Balsamroot, Phlox, Indian Paintbrush, Purple Sage Linda Gilbert Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090516/4f51c205/attachment.html From tayben at teleport.com Sat May 16 19:42:51 2009 From: tayben at teleport.com (Martha taylor & Chris Bennett) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 19:42:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainson's in Westmorland Message-ID: This evening we had a Swainson's Thrush visit yard and the neighbors for about 30 minutes. Lots of Raptor sightings today; 1 juvenile Bald Eagle flying low overhead 20 minutes later a pair of Adult Bald Eagles circling low over the houses at the same time another adult Bald eagle very high up being harassed by an Red Tail hawk. Later in the day a pair of Red Tails checkout the neighbor and park. Chris -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090516/cfde033b/attachment.html From scre at aol.com Sat May 16 19:59:26 2009 From: scre at aol.com (scre at aol.com) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 22:59:26 -0400 Subject: [obol] Glaucous Gull and other Tillamook Co birds from past week Message-ID: <8CBA4B29FE3EF3C-16F8-3C13@WEBMAIL-DY32.sysops.aol.com> Greetings all, Lauren Harter and I just moved to Oregon for the summer and have just subscribed to OBOL.? The highlite of today's birding was a 1st cycle GLAUCOUS GULL in the gull roost on top of the Shilo Inn in Tillamook (on highway 101).? The bird was pretty bleached and worn (along with most of the 1st cycle gulls around.? Also present was a lingering 1st cycle American Herring Gull.? On May 10 there was a lingering Thayer's Gull here.? In the past two days we have checked Sand Lake, Netarts Bay, Tillamook Bay, and Nehalem River Mouth and have seen only 1 Black-bellied Plover, couple Killdeer, <10 peeps, and a couple of Spotted Sandpipers.? Last weekend on Bayocean Spit on Tillamook Bay we had 2 Black-bellied Plovers, 13 Red Knots, 50 Dunlin, 100 Western Sandpipers, and 5 Short-billed Dowitchers, along with about 35 Brant and 150 Greater Scaup (with the Brant continuing today and the scaup numbers are now down to under 50).? Also today on Bayocean spit we had a couple of Yellow Warblers (our only passerine migrants today).? Other birds of interest in the past week include on May 12 a flock of 75+Cackling Geese which landed in a pasture near Fenk Rd and a Western Kingbird has been hanging out on Bayocean Rd.? In the area we have been working off Highway 6 (el 2500-3500 ft) Sooty Grouse have been booming with 1-10 being heard everyday depending on the site visited.? We have also had good numbers of Evening Grosbeaks and a migrant flock of Townsend's and Black-throated Gray Warblers.? Hammond's Flycatchers seem to be moving as well.? I think that is it, Good birding David Vander Pluym Netarts, Ore -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090516/492a9760/attachment.html From rriparia at charter.net Sat May 16 21:36:05 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 21:36:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Klamath County NAMC Message-ID: <20090517003605.V9OQ0.2830426.root@mp20> OBOL, and Klamath Basin Bird News, With one more group still left to report, the total species observed on NAMC Sunday last weekend stands at 170. Among the unusual species seen included: GREEN HERON, HORNED GREBE, WILLIAMSON's SAPSUCKER, ROSS'S GOOSE, COMMON GOLDENEYE, MOUNTAIN QUAIL, FRANKLIN'S GULL, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, and CALIFORNIA TOWHEE. Only one owl species detected. No Yellow Rail (likely too early), and No Red-necked Grebe (I haven't detected this species at Rocky Point for the last 3 NAMCs) Kevin Spencer rriparia at charter.net From WRBradford at aol.com Sat May 16 21:40:45 2009 From: WRBradford at aol.com (WRBradford at aol.com) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 00:40:45 EDT Subject: [obol] YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT - Sandy River Delta Message-ID: Following Andy Frank's post the other day about the birds at Sandy River Delta (Multnomah County), Tom Ficker and I ran into John Fitchen about the same time we ran into two or three YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS, which was a first sighting for Tom and me. We had several wonderful looks at the Chats, which were in the trees and bushes around the tower closest to the pond on the north end of the path. We also saw the LAZULI BUNTINGS, BULLUCK'S ORIOLES, and heard the SORA Andy wrote about. What a beautiful day out there! Bill Bradford Portland **************Recession-proof vacation ideas. Find free things to do in the U.S. (http://travel.aol.com/travel-ideas/domestic/national-tourism-week?ncid=emlcntustrav00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090517/09a26d90/attachment.html From justin.bosler at gmail.com Sat May 16 22:10:13 2009 From: justin.bosler at gmail.com (Justin Bosler) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 22:10:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Golden Eagle, Long-billed Curlew (coastal Douglas Co.) Message-ID: <97d12a010905162210t42a288d6n143603eb907af06b@mail.gmail.com> OBOL, I had two sightings yesterday afternoon, 15 May, that seemed somewhat noteworthy for the date and location (sans reference material). Around 2 PM I had a juvenile GOLDEN EAGLE gliding west-northwest over the Umpqua River as viewed from the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area off of Hwy. 38. Also, a quick check of First Beach, just S of the Umpqua River mouth and South Jetty (W of Winchester Bay), yielded a LONG-BILLED CURLEW in the company of 2 WHIMBREL between 4 and 4:30 PM. Isn't it getting a bit late for these two species on the coast? Good Birding, Justin -- Justin Bosler Reedsport, OR justin.bosler at gmail.com 717-475-9998 http://www.flickr.com/photos/29219448 at N08/ From llsdirons at msn.com Sat May 16 22:18:30 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 05:18:30 +0000 Subject: [obol] Golden Eagle, Long-billed Curlew (coastal Douglas Co.) In-Reply-To: <97d12a010905162210t42a288d6n143603eb907af06b@mail.gmail.com> References: <97d12a010905162210t42a288d6n143603eb907af06b@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Hi Justin, Long-billed Curlews are always a good find along the coast, while northbound Whimbrel will continue moving through in numbers into early June. Dave Irons > Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 22:10:13 -0700 > From: justin.bosler at gmail.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Golden Eagle, Long-billed Curlew (coastal Douglas Co.) > > OBOL, > > I had two sightings yesterday afternoon, 15 May, that seemed > somewhat noteworthy for the date and location (sans reference > material). Around 2 PM I had a juvenile GOLDEN EAGLE gliding > west-northwest over the Umpqua River as viewed from the Dean Creek Elk > Viewing Area off of Hwy. 38. Also, a quick check of First Beach, just > S of the Umpqua River mouth and South Jetty (W of Winchester Bay), > yielded a LONG-BILLED CURLEW in the company of 2 WHIMBREL between 4 > and 4:30 PM. Isn't it getting a bit late for these two species on the > coast? > > Good Birding, > Justin > > -- > Justin Bosler > Reedsport, OR > justin.bosler at gmail.com > 717-475-9998 > http://www.flickr.com/photos/29219448 at N08/ > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? goes with you. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Mobile1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090517/68d6cca0/attachment.html From clausing at uiuc.edu Sat May 16 22:57:36 2009 From: clausing at uiuc.edu (Arthur Clausing) Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 22:57:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Barrow's Goldeneye Message-ID: <42CD2EC6-2089-442F-8E27-B2440F5BE7A3@uiuc.edu> Late yesterday afternoon, while bicycling along the Columbia River, I saw a Barrow's Goldeneye drake ? a truly beautiful bird! It was relatively close to the shore at a location just east of NE 148th street. If it sticks around, it will be relatively easy to find because there now are very few ducks on the river. Art Clausing Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090516/b25b2f65/attachment.html From mklittletree at comcast.net Sun May 17 09:21:39 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (michel Kleinbaum) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 09:21:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: video Message-ID: Some OBOLer's might be interested in this video about birding in Central Park, NYC and old time birder Irving Cantor; if not, please delete. Michel Kleinbaum S. Salem ----- Original Message ----- From: Georges Kleinbaum To: Michel Sent: Friday, May 15, 2009 3:43 PM Subject: video You might like seeing this: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=7473136 Story come on after a 30 second commercial. Georges -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090517/3ad34376/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Sun May 17 09:54:28 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 09:54:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cascade Head Message-ID: <0C658DBB8F134529B116E3FAD2B0204B@Phil> meadow migrants ~6:00-8:00 AM 5/17 250 Western Canada Goose (about 15 flocks N) 32 Whimbrel (2 flocks) 1 Black Swift 1 Lesser Goldfinch (female) +small numbers Wilsons, Orange-crowned, Yellow Warblers, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Swainson's Thrush, Virying Warblio Phil philliplc at charter.net From djaques.pel at charter.net Sun May 17 10:39:51 2009 From: djaques.pel at charter.net (Deborah Jaques) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 10:39:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Banded Pelican Release Message-ID: <8B0F277B42C342F78CB76BA640FC3BD8@FamilyPC> Hello Coastal Birders, Today the Wildlife Center of the North Coast will be releasing 14 banded pelicans into the Columbia River estuary. The banding is a joint effort between the wildlife center, myself (biologist Deborah Jaques), and bander Tracy Fleming to track their survival and movements. The birds are marked with a USFWS metal band on one leg and a plastic color band on the other. The color bands are white with black letters. Sequence is number 101-114. These birds were caught up in last winter's storms and many came in with frostbite, hypothermia, and wing fractures. They have spent 5-6 months in captivity but are being released in good condition. Please report any sightings to director at coastwildlife.org and djaques.pel at charter.net, as well as the bird banding lab for official return records. I will be happy to provide you with the individual history of the bird you find in return for your sightings! Also, in the event you encounter one of these birds in distress, please call Sharnelle Fee at the wildlife center for emergency response (503)338-0331. Thanks for your help tracking these birds. Deborah Jaques Pacific Eco Logic 375 3rd Street Astoria, Oregon 97103 (503) 298-0599 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090517/4ce2797e/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Sun May 17 11:43:58 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 11:43:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bewick's Wren first clutch begins hatching Message-ID: <4A105AEE.8020607@pdx.edu> The clutch of five eggs in the BEWICK'S WREN nest in the bluebird box in our yard has begun hatching today with the first chick out of the egg. The VIOLET GREEN SWALLOWS are using one of the swallow boxes and a pair of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEEs are adding fluff to another box. The two three other boxes are vacant still. David David C. Bailey Geahart, Oregon From sylviam at clearwire.net Sun May 17 11:49:19 2009 From: sylviam at clearwire.net (Sylvia Maulding) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 11:49:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Forester's Tern, Fern Ridge Message-ID: <5f916ae60905171149v170145c5u2c163f1e7fc8f10c@mail.gmail.com> This morning there was one FORESTER'S TERN at Fern Ridge. It was seen from the large platform out from Royal. The tern spent some time resting on a log in the large pond then flying around and diving into the pond. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090517/55c374b5/attachment.html From drheath82 at verizon.net Sun May 17 13:33:13 2009 From: drheath82 at verizon.net (Mr David Heath) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 13:33:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bewick's Wren first clutch begins hatching In-Reply-To: <4A105AEE.8020607@pdx.edu> References: <4A105AEE.8020607@pdx.edu> Message-ID: <004c01c9d72e$b44c8170$1ce58450$@net> On the subject of this year's brood, there was a "horned" House Finch at my feeder just now (about 1:15pm) accompanied by its parents, the first I've noticed this year. Though it picked through seeds on its own, it proceeded to chase the father around the neighboring tree, begging pitifully. Could be a banner year for the finches, with plenty of time left for second and third nestings. Yesterday I noticed Barn Swallows taking nesting material under the bridge over the condo duck pond. First time I've seen that here. VG Swallows were also gathering materials. And a single Mallard hatchling was on the pond. David -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of David C. Bailey Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 11:44 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Bewick's Wren first clutch begins hatching The clutch of five eggs in the BEWICK'S WREN nest in the bluebird box in our yard has begun hatching today with the first chick out of the egg. The VIOLET GREEN SWALLOWS are using one of the swallow boxes and a pair of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEEs are adding fluff to another box. The two three other boxes are vacant still. David David C. Bailey Geahart, Oregon _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From llsdirons at msn.com Sun May 17 13:46:27 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 20:46:27 +0000 Subject: [obol] Fw: video In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Michel, Thanks for sharing this link. Above an beyond being interesting, it is nice to see a news story about birds and birders that avoids tired cliches, bad puns, and using idiotic stereotypes in its portrayal of the ever-growing birding community. Even here in Oregon, which I like to think of as a fairly enlightened community, major news organizations, particularly the newspapers, go out of their way to revisit this nonsense. I was most impressed by how they used satellite imagery to show and Bill Blakemore properly explained how Central Park acts as an "oasis" amid the vast expanse of concrete that is New York City. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: mklittletree at comcast.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 09:21:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: video Some OBOLer's might be interested in this video about birding in Central Park, NYC and old time birder Irving Cantor; if not, please delete. Michel Kleinbaum S. Salem ----- Original Message ----- From: Georges Kleinbaum To: Michel Sent: Friday, May 15, 2009 3:43 PM Subject: video You might like seeing this: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=7473136 Story come on after a 30 second commercial. Georges _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_BR_life_in_synch_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090517/ce8a44c1/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun May 17 13:52:27 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 20:52:27 +0000 Subject: [obol] New piece about going to Malheur over Memorial Day Weekend now up on Birdfellow.com Message-ID: Greetings All, Just posted a piece to get your birding juices flowing for the the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend. I hope to see many of you at Malheur. In the interim, check out our latest post at www.birdfellow.com. Cheers, Dave Irons _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_BR_life_in_synch_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090517/7c2bb25c/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun May 17 16:07:07 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 16:07:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bewick's Wren first clutch begins hatching Message-ID: <4A10989B.4010703@pacifier.com> The Bewick's Wrens nesting in one of the boxes at the Astoria Mitigation Bank had youngsters in it as of 5/15/2009. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun May 17 16:32:08 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 16:32:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] ECBC Crook County Field Trip Message-ID: <04B1319FB95142F0A3F8DBA9D4F492B0@cgatesPC> The East Cascades Bird Conservancy sponsored a free field trip to Crook County today. We started at Houston Lake where we had 80 WHITE PELICANS, 1 WILLET, 1 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 2 BLACK TERNS, 2 FORSTER'S TERNS, and 1 AMERICAN BITTERN. We then proceeded to Prineville Sewer Ponds where we found nesting great-blue herons, 2 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES in breeding plumage, 2 AVOCETS, and 1 REDHEAD. From there, we proceeded to the Prineville Cemetery where we found nesting collared doves and some warbling vireos but struck out on warblers. We then found the TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD FLOCK off LaMonta Road. Then we went up to Grizzly Butte where the birding was slow but the view was spectacular. We did find an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER up there. On the way down from Grizzly we found SWAINSON'S HAWK, 2 WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, and nesting Bald Eagles and Great Blue Herons. We then went up Mill Creek and found NORTHERN PYGMY OWL, WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, and CASSIN'S FINCH. In all, we found 100 species from 7:00 to 3:00. Good day with a very good group of people. Chuck Gates ECBC Canada Goose Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Blue-winged Teal Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Green-winged Teal Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Ruddy Duck Ring-necked Pheasant California Quail Pied-billed Grebe Western Grebe White Pelican Double-crested Cormorant American Bittern Great-blue Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Swainson's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Golden Eagle American Kestrel Prairie Falcon Virginia Rail Sora American Coot Killdeer American Avocet Willet Spotted Sandpiper Long-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe Wilson's Phalarope Red-necked Phalarope Ring-billed Gull Forster' Tern Black Tern Rock Pigeon Eurasian Collared Dove Mourning Dove Great Horned Owl Northern Pygmy Owl White-throated Swift Northern Flicker Olive-sided Flycatcher Western Wood Peewee Western Kingbird Warbling Vireo Steller's Jay Scrub Jay Pinyon Jay Black-billed magpie American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Mountain Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Marsh Wren Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird American Robin European Starling Cedar Waxwing Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Wilson's Warbler Western Tanager Spotted Towhee Chipping Sparrow Brewer's Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Lark Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Tri-colored Blackbird Western Meadowlark Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Bullock's Oriole Cassin's Finch House Finch Pine Siskin Lesser Goldfinch American Goldfinch Evening Grosbeak House Sparrow -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090517/6f376308/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sun May 17 16:41:52 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 16:41:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay - CATTLE EGRET Message-ID: <41EFCF4FA2A54B0596F05A6AB12CD682@D48XBZ51> I conducted a seawatch from 6:15 to 7:45 AM this morning. Weather was clear, with NNW light breeze. Bird numbers were not great, but diversity was interesting. Everything was northbound, except where otherwise noted. Pacific Loon 450 Red-throated Loon 60 Common Loon 10 Western Grebe 12 on water Sooty Shearwater 1 1 mile out, N Brown Pelican 35 mostly adults Pelagic Cormorant 60 about 10 south Brandt's Cormorant 90 mostly N DC Cormorant 15 5 S CATTLE EGRET 1 see note below Brant 6 N, but lit on ocean 400 yards out, for 20 minutes Canada Goose 23 see note below Surf Scoter 1200 mostly N Black Scoter 1 drake White-winged Scoter 20 a few S Common Merganser 6 Bald Eagle 1? much calling, but only could see one Red-tailed Hawk 1 circles over forest to NE Black Oystercatcher 8 local Whimbrel 6 Red Knot 15 Red-necked Phalarope 180 numerous small groups MEW GULL 1 BP adult, with fully white head, bill yellower than in winter (very late) California Gull 40 mostly in two loose groups Western Gull 30 local movements Glaucous-winged Gull 9 all imm. Caspian Tern 52 Common Murre 3500 5% S Pigeon Guillemot 40 local movements Marbled Murrelet 3 2 breeding plumage, 1 winter/imm. Rhinoceros Auklet 20 Vaux's Swift 1 BLACK SWIFT 1 Barn Swallow 5 Savannah Sparrow 3 Brown-headed Cowbird 4 American Goldfinch 3+ Pine Siskin 1 Goldfinch and sikin were by voice, and flew over together "Red" Crossbill 10+ over/in trees across hwy, by voice I then stopped at the Otter Crest viewpoint and saw goldfinches and crossbills. Wayne Hoffman Cattle Egret. I first saw it about 1.5 mi to the SW coming directly towards me about 50' off the water. The wingbeat was clearly wrong for a gull, but otherwise could not ID it. When it got to 500 yards, it turned east, and in profile was easy to ID - all-white wings, relatively small size, yellow bill - and then disappeared behind the rocks in front of the condos. I suspect it lit on the rocks or possibly on the lawn behind the buildings. Canada Goose beginning in mid-May each year lately has been a northward movement of "Western" Canada Geese. Roy Lowe of USFWS believes this is a molt migration of nonbreedng subadults - behavior well-known in other populations. Interesting, however, in that our "resident" population has established itself in the past 30 years. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090517/948afdd5/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Sun May 17 17:01:52 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 00:01:52 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Song Sparrow Hatchlings Message-ID: <313350407.8489171242604912063.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> OBOL FYI: Song Sparrows nested in my Alpine Clematis vine again this year. Today I hear the nestlings (hatchlings?) crying their heads off. Male has been extremely territorial, singing all day and chasing all other birds out of the garden, except the humming birds. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090518/0d82072a/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun May 17 17:19:44 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 00:19:44 +0000 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay - CATTLE EGRET In-Reply-To: <41EFCF4FA2A54B0596F05A6AB12CD682@D48XBZ51> References: <41EFCF4FA2A54B0596F05A6AB12CD682@D48XBZ51> Message-ID: Hi Wayne, I am curious how well you saw the Cattle Egret, not that I doubt that you saw one, but because I am interested to hear what the head pattern looked like. Last June, Diane Pettey photographed a Cattle Egret at Florence. When she sent me the image I was astounded. The bird had an entirely orange head (rather than just the crown) and the orange feathering was much more extensive on the breast than what one normally sees on Cattle Egrets in N. America. Steve Mlodinow and I did some research and learned that the orange coloration results from these birds spreading skin oils on their feathers (per Peter Pyle) and that the pattern of orange shown by Diane's bird was consistent with Cattle Egrets seen in East Asia. We sent images around to several veteran birders and others who have made many trips to the Orient. None had ever seen this pattern on a North American bird, while all reports indicated that this look is nearly universal among Asian birds. I'll look forward to your feedback. I posted this response to the list in the event that others are interested in this topic. Thanks, Dave Irons From: whoffman at peak.org To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 16:41:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay - CATTLE EGRET I conducted a seawatch from 6:15 to 7:45 AM this morning. Weather was clear, with NNW light breeze. Bird numbers were not great, but diversity was interesting. Everything was northbound, except where otherwise noted. Pacific Loon 450 Red-throated Loon 60 Common Loon 10 Western Grebe 12 on water Sooty Shearwater 1 1 mile out, N Brown Pelican 35 mostly adults Pelagic Cormorant 60 about 10 south Brandt's Cormorant 90 mostly N DC Cormorant 15 5 S CATTLE EGRET 1 see note below Brant 6 N, but lit on ocean 400 yards out, for 20 minutes Canada Goose 23 see note below Surf Scoter 1200 mostly N Black Scoter 1 drake White-winged Scoter 20 a few S Common Merganser 6 Bald Eagle 1? much calling, but only could see one Red-tailed Hawk 1 circles over forest to NE Black Oystercatcher 8 local Whimbrel 6 Red Knot 15 Red-necked Phalarope 180 numerous small groups MEW GULL 1 BP adult, with fully white head, bill yellower than in winter (very late) California Gull 40 mostly in two loose groups Western Gull 30 local movements Glaucous-winged Gull 9 all imm. Caspian Tern 52 Common Murre 3500 5% S Pigeon Guillemot 40 local movements Marbled Murrelet 3 2 breeding plumage, 1 winter/imm. Rhinoceros Auklet 20 Vaux's Swift 1 BLACK SWIFT 1 Barn Swallow 5 Savannah Sparrow 3 Brown-headed Cowbird 4 American Goldfinch 3+ Pine Siskin 1 Goldfinch and sikin were by voice, and flew over together "Red" Crossbill 10+ over/in trees across hwy, by voice I then stopped at the Otter Crest viewpoint and saw goldfinches and crossbills. Wayne Hoffman Cattle Egret. I first saw it about 1.5 mi to the SW coming directly towards me about 50' off the water. The wingbeat was clearly wrong for a gull, but otherwise could not ID it. When it got to 500 yards, it turned east, and in profile was easy to ID - all-white wings, relatively small size, yellow bill - and then disappeared behind the rocks in front of the condos. I suspect it lit on the rocks or possibly on the lawn behind the buildings. Canada Goose beginning in mid-May each year lately has been a northward movement of "Western" Canada Geese. Roy Lowe of USFWS believes this is a molt migration of nonbreedng subadults - behavior well-known in other populations. Interesting, however, in that our "resident" population has established itself in the past 30 years. _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has a new way to see what's up with your friends. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/WhatsNew?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_WhatsNew1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090518/14b2ac06/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Sun May 17 17:34:59 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 00:34:59 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Male ANHU & Female RUHU (hummingbird behavior) Message-ID: <1452398646.8496221242606899741.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi, Last weekend (May 9 and 10 2009) I saw a male Anna's Hummingbird do flight displays for a female Rufous Hummingbird. At one point he knocked her to the ground and performed a shuttle display, then both birds flew to where I think the Rufous has a nest in a boxwood hedge. They appeared to be joined and moving as a single bird when they flew from the ground. It was very startling to have all this take place pretty much at my feet. The male's shuttle display took place three to six inches off the ground. The movement the male was making reminded me of a fish holding its place against a strong current. Today, Sunday, May 17, 2009, the male Anna's and female Rufous were sharing a spout-type perky pet feeder without fighting. My question is, if I go poking around in the boxwood hedge to see if I can find the nest will I disturb the female Rufous to the point of leaving the nest (if there is one)? So far this year I have one hatch-year Anna's with the adults. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090518/07aaafc8/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun May 17 17:48:36 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 17:48:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Kingbird just misses the yard list Message-ID: <4A10B064.80800@pacifier.com> I went to pick up my daughter from a play date with a friend who lives near the Middle School. On the way I saw a WESTERN KINGBIRD sitting on a powerline just off Niagara St. I don't think I've ever seen a kingbird in residential Astoria before.... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sun May 17 18:08:22 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (nepobirds at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 18:08:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] More ID help Message-ID: <478955.11904.qm@web46005.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> We noticed a bird sitting very quietly in a pear tree near our yard. After climbing a tree to get a photo of it, we noticed that it didn't look like any bird we have seen before. It seemed to be around 8-9" (but it was difficult to tell, made no noise and we didn't see it fly off. It seemed to have no colors except brown and a light tan. Our initial thought was juvenile Robin, but we poured through hundreds of photos and couldn't find one similar. It had no ruf The photos are posted here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nepobirds (it's the first 2 photos) Thanks for your help! Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From hatlevis at comcast.net Sun May 17 18:11:33 2009 From: hatlevis at comcast.net (Susan Hatlevig) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 18:11:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] evening grosbeak invasions Message-ID: <6F6B67A0AF3347E784C10C5EBE9FA19C@homeflydmyur2h> I was picking up seed at the Wildbird Store in Corvallis since we've been wiped out by hordes of evening grosbeaks this year. The fellow told me that many folks have experienced the same thing. It must be their year. We also have a flock of crows that comes in periodically to chow down and this has occurred for a few years now. We can get up to 20 crows (or more) at a time. I suppose some don't like crows, but I enjoy them. They're so smart! We continue to have groups of goldfinches as well as a few purple finches. 2 male and one female black headed grosbeak are in the yard too. And the usual chickadees, jays, robins, hummers, etc. Susie in Corvallis From celata at pacifier.com Sun May 17 18:13:13 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 18:13:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Haystack Rock - 5/17/2009 Message-ID: <4A10B629.5080502@pacifier.com> I spent 4 hours watching Haystack Rock for raptor activity (none observed). I did see plenty of TUFTED PUFFIN action, however. This is probably the best time to watch puffins, because they're still forming up pair bonds and spend a good bit of time in nuptial flying and hanging out in front of their burrows. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Greater White-fronted Goose 3 [1] Canada Goose 57 American Wigeon 2 [2] Harlequin Duck 8 Surf Scoter 75 Pacific Loon 4 [3] Brandt's Cormorant 6 Double-crested Cormorant 18 Pelagic Cormorant 30 Whimbrel 4 Red-necked Phalarope 6 California Gull 6 Western Gull 200 Glaucous-winged Gull Common Murre 1000 [4] Pigeon Guillemot 40 Tufted Puffin 30 [5] American Crow Violet-green Swallow 6 Song Sparrow Footnotes: [1] Flying with CAGO's [2] flying north [3] undercount, was not really watching the ocean [4] undercount [5] many paired flights and groups sitting at burrow entrances. Total number of species seen: 20 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sun May 17 18:43:19 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 18:43:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Sadde Mountain Rosy Finches Message-ID: <611219.50122.qm@web55702.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Today while we were at the top of Saddle Mountain (Clatsop County), Em spotted a pair of "coastal" GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCHES on the rocks below. They kept coming closer, and eventually came within five feet of us. We got several photos, if anybody is interested. How often are Rosy-Finches seen there in mid-May? It seems possible that they were migrants or were lingering wintering birds, considering that much of the higher elevations are still snowed in, but they could also be nesting. Are there previous nesting records from the county? Other birds on the hike included a few Western Wood-Pewees, Warbling Vireos and Varied Thrushes, a Swainson's Thrush, one Hermit Thrush, many singing Hermit and Townsend's Warblers, Western Tanagers, and Evening Grosbeaks. Good birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090517/804584bf/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun May 17 18:51:23 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 18:51:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] PHOTOS: Tuffies and Harlies Message-ID: <4A10BF1B.4010602@pacifier.com> http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11040 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From celata at pacifier.com Sun May 17 19:17:40 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 19:17:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sadde Mountain Rosy Finches Message-ID: <4A10C544.1090500@pacifier.com> They are probably annual. I have seen them as late as May 26 on Saddle Mt. The trick is to get to the top early, before too many other folk. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From surfbird at q.com Sun May 17 19:31:19 2009 From: surfbird at q.com (Diane Pettey) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 19:31:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Southern Oregon to Northwestern California birding... Message-ID: Greetings OBOLers, I just returned from birding Northwest California as well as seawatches on the southern Oregon Coast. Of note in OREGON: south of Port Orford, I observed a mixed flock of birds close to shore that consisted of at least 200 PACIFIC LOONS, 150 WESTERN GULLS, 25 COMMON MURRES, and six BROWN PELICANS. I birded alone, and with David Fix in and around Arcata, Humboldt Bay & Refuge, and to Alterpoint, in extreme southeast Humboldt County. Humboldt County has a wide variety of habitats, so there's never a dull moment. Birds of note in Humboldt County, CALIFORNIA, a breeding plumage Harris' Sparrow is still present in the pasture/marsh area just north of the Auto Center (northish of Eureka). The two AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS are still hanging around Humboldt Bay Refuge. We found a single WHITE-FACED IBIS and at least three BLACK-NECKED STILTS, 18 AMERICAN AVOCET and a BALD EAGLE. There were still a number of (non-breeding?) MARBLED GODWITs on the Humboldt Bay mudflats. Alderpoint produced singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, as well as LARK SPARROWS, WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, WESTERN KINGBIRDS, ACORN WOODPECKERS, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS and a number of PURPLE MARTINS staking out an old tree snag. SAVANNAH SPARROWS were in impressive numbers in most locations. Great weather, fine ale and fish tacos at Humboldt Brewery, Arcata Saturday Market, and visiting with friends, old and new. Vacations in Humboldt County...ahhh! Diane Pettey Heceta Beach, OR (north of Florence) surfbird at q.com From surfbird at q.com Sun May 17 19:35:21 2009 From: surfbird at q.com (Diane Pettey) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 19:35:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Out-of-Oregon birding experience Message-ID: Prairie Creek State Park, Humboldt County, CALIFORNIA... This past Friday morning, from 530-6, I stood along Drury Parkway and listened to MARBLED MURRELET pairs, call and fly across the sky as they headed out to sea to feed. This is an incredible experience that few Oregon birders have observed. regards, Diane Pettey Heceta Beach, OR surfbird at q.com From kandj at web4mix.com Sun May 17 19:43:41 2009 From: kandj at web4mix.com (Kay & JoAnne) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 19:43:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] yard birds in Powell Butte Message-ID: <6DAE177AB2DB4D08B09991FF52B1968C@joannePC> We keep track of yard birds by the week, as I have short times here and there. We live on 16 acres, surrounded by high desert with agriculture close by. This last week: (in no particular order) Canada Geese Red Tail Hawk Coopers Hawk Kestrel Pinyon Jay Scrub Jay Black Headed Grossbeak Evening Grossbeak Bullocks Oriole Yellow Warbler Nashville Warbler Wilson's Warbler Yellow Rumped Warbler Orange Crowned Warbler Warbling Vireo Lazuli Bunting Mountain Bluebird Mountain Chickadee Ruby Crowned Kinglet Golden Crowned Kinglet Red Wing Blackbird Brownheaded Cowbird Brewers Blackbird Raven House Finch American Goldfinch Lesser Goldfinch Pine Siskin Chipping Sparrow Golden Crowned Sparrow Brewers Sparrow Lark Sparrow White Crowned Sparrow Western Kingbird California Quail Mourning Dove Rufous Hummingbird Tree Swallow Western Meadowlark Sage Thrasher (House sparrow) Spring, Bring it on! JoAnne Bernt/Kay Hartmann -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090517/f6e51c2f/attachment.html From rockawaybirder at yahoo.com Sun May 17 19:46:44 2009 From: rockawaybirder at yahoo.com (Ilene Samowitz) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 19:46:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Out-of-Oregon birding experience In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <810545.82515.qm@web31813.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Is there anywhere in Oregon where they can be heard and/or seen? Ilene Samowitz Rockaway Beach, OR Seattle, WA www.ilenesamowitz.com www.ilenesamowitzphoto.com ----- Original Message ---- From: Diane Pettey To: obol Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 7:35:21 PM Subject: [obol] Out-of-Oregon birding experience Prairie Creek State Park, Humboldt County, CALIFORNIA... This past Friday morning, from 530-6, I stood along Drury Parkway and listened to MARBLED MURRELET pairs, call and fly across the sky as they headed out to sea to feed. This is an incredible experience that few Oregon birders have observed. regards, Diane Pettey Heceta Beach, OR surfbird at q.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sun May 17 19:48:19 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 19:48:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Need ID help Message-ID: <81b2a9930905171948u67c65117o5146c07df73ba842@mail.gmail.com> I birded Cold Springs Campground outside of Sisters today (and Calliope Crossing... will post results later) and two individuals have me puzzled... The first is some species of flycatcher. This one seems like it should be really easy, but the excessive olive coloring around the belly is throwing me off. It seems to be lacking the white around the throat, indicative of an Olive-sided Flycatcher or Western-Wood Pewee. It lacks the Olive-sided Flycatcher's white patch above the rump and lightly-streaked breast. It appeared to be a good 6.5" or so (possibly larger). I heard Western-Wood Pewee calls around the time of seeing this one. Maybe I'm just fixating on the wrong field marks. It also doesn't help that every field guide artist seems to draw flycatchers differently... http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/3540456931_4c1b09c729_b.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/3540456755_a5e4a7ecdc_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2380/3541265270_1070eba6fe_b.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3568/3540456427_13636b5224_b.jpg I'm completely stumped on this second one. Its almost uniformly brown/tan, appears to have a finch-like bill, and was hawking insects from high up. My best guess is some sort of juvenile bunting. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3395/3541264810_91608605aa_o.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2382/3540456261_fc5f09d157_o.jpg Thanks in advance... Brandon Eugene From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Sun May 17 19:58:38 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 19:58:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Need ID help In-Reply-To: <81b2a9930905171948u67c65117o5146c07df73ba842@mail.gmail.com> References: <81b2a9930905171948u67c65117o5146c07df73ba842@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <1BBF2715-61E7-46B1-82A5-F3ECBC24B2E7@gmail.com> Brandon: The flycatcher is a Western Wood-Pewee. The rather dark and dusky overall tone of the bird, no eye-ring, but in particular the elongated structure and long primary extension is typical of WWPE. The second photo shows the typical vested appearance of a pewee and the suggestion of a pale throat. Put them all together, backed up with the vocalization and you do get a pewee. The second one looks like a Brown-headed Cowbird. Shawneen Finnegan On May 17, 2009, at 7:48 PM, Brandon Green wrote: > I birded Cold Springs Campground outside of Sisters today (and > Calliope Crossing... will post results later) and two individuals have > me puzzled... > > The first is some species of flycatcher. This one seems like it > should be really easy, but the excessive olive coloring around the > belly is throwing me off. It seems to be lacking the white around the > throat, indicative of an Olive-sided Flycatcher or Western-Wood Pewee. > It lacks the Olive-sided Flycatcher's white patch above the rump and > lightly-streaked breast. It appeared to be a good 6.5" or so > (possibly larger). I heard Western-Wood Pewee calls around the time > of seeing this one. Maybe I'm just fixating on the wrong field marks. > It also doesn't help that every field guide artist seems to draw > flycatchers differently... > > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/3540456931_4c1b09c729_b.jpg > > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/3540456755_a5e4a7ecdc_b.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2380/3541265270_1070eba6fe_b.jpg > > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3568/3540456427_13636b5224_b.jpg > > I'm completely stumped on this second one. Its almost uniformly > brown/tan, appears to have a finch-like bill, and was hawking insects > from high up. My best guess is some sort of juvenile bunting. > > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3395/3541264810_91608605aa_o.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2382/3540456261_fc5f09d157_o.jpg > > Thanks in advance... > > Brandon > Eugene > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From kskiivv at COMCAST.NET Sun May 17 20:02:13 2009 From: kskiivv at COMCAST.NET (KEVIN KOMPOLT) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 20:02:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cedar Waxwings in Salem Message-ID: <64AC355F-6684-4B17-8343-75B57E230801@COMCAST.NET> On my morning walk today at Minto Brown Island Park, I came upon a flock of Cedar Waxwings actively feeding in a large tree, at the western edge of the park known as the "orange loop." Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, were also in abundance. Kevin South Salem From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Sun May 17 20:21:13 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 20:21:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Out-of-Oregon birding experience: Marbled Murrelets Message-ID: <95648.63127.qm@web51810.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Ilene, Re: Marbled Murrelets They nest at Ten Mile Creek Sanctuary just south of the Lincoln County accessed from a road off 101 (however, the property is privately owned by Audubon)....and you can hear them from the beaches just north and south in the early morning hours. Paul Engelmeyer who manages the property for Audubon was organizing annual surveys and recruiting volunteers but not sure if that is still going on. I know they do tours there sometimes. Cindy Ashy From tjanzen at comcast.net Sun May 17 20:28:51 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 20:28:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Out-of-Oregon birding experience In-Reply-To: <810545.82515.qm@web31813.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <20090518032906.257B8A8236@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear Ilene, The ocean off Yachats always seems to have good numbers of Marbled Murrelets in May and in June in my experience. Hearing and/or seeing a Marbled Murrelet fly out to sea is a wonderful experience. They can often be heard flying out to sea this time of year just before dawn or at dawn at Cape Perpetua, which is just south of Yachats. Sincerely, Tim Janzen Portland -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Ilene Samowitz Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 7:47 PM To: Diane Pettey; obol Subject: Re: [obol] Out-of-Oregon birding experience Is there anywhere in Oregon where they can be heard and/or seen? Ilene Samowitz Rockaway Beach, OR Seattle, WA www.ilenesamowitz.com www.ilenesamowitzphoto.com From 5hats at peak.org Sun May 17 20:43:45 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 20:43:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] unidentified alcid Message-ID: <82C456F7A2754596B13621973F9A54A5@your5rlp3a9516> OBOL, .........and destined to remain so. This afternoon at 4:30 I saw a small alcid flying west down the channel at Yaquina Bay. I did not get a very good view of it, as it was a little past me when I first noticed it, and flying very fast. By the time I got my binoculars on it, it was well beyond me, and I only got very general impressions. It was clearly smaller than a Pigeon Guillemot, and appeared to be dark gray to blackish on the upperparts and lighter on the underparts, but I am not absolutely certain of the plumage as described. Certainly it was not brown, nor did it appear to have any white markings on the upperparts. In size, shape, apparent general color, and manner and speed of flight, it matched Xantus' Murrelet. If it continued west at the speed it was flying, it would by now be about three hundred miles at sea. Yaquina Bay is funny like that. Most of the time birding in the channel is pretty slow, but every now and then something really strange shows up. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090517/16c7428b/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun May 17 20:43:29 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 20:43:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sadde Mountain Rosy Finches In-Reply-To: <4A10C544.1090500@pacifier.com> References: <4A10C544.1090500@pacifier.com> Message-ID: I saw Rosy Finches on the top of Mary's Peak about May 26 of 1982. This seems late to we lowlanders, but think of conditions above timberline at that date in Oregon, let alone the Yukon or Alaska. Lars Norgren On May 17, 2009, at 7:17 PM, Mike Patterson wrote: > They are probably annual. I have seen them as late as May 26 > on Saddle Mt. The trick is to get to the top early, before too > many other folk. > > > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Natives, natives and natives > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From craig at greatskua.com Sun May 17 21:10:07 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 21:10:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] More ID help Message-ID: <20090517211007.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.e2624a2439.wbe@email.secureserver.net> Your bird is a juvenile starling. The long-pointed bill and overall, dusky, grayish brown plumage is typical for juvenile starling. A juvenile robin would have a shorter bill and a light-colored breast with hints of rufous coloration and many dark brown spots. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] More ID help > From: nepobirds at yahoo.com > Date: Sun, May 17, 2009 6:08 pm > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > We noticed a bird sitting very quietly in a pear tree near our yard. After climbing a tree to get a photo of it, we noticed that it didn't look like any bird we have seen before. It seemed to be around 8-9" (but it was difficult to tell, made no noise and we didn't see it fly off. > > It seemed to have no colors except brown and a light tan. Our initial thought was juvenile Robin, but we poured through hundreds of photos and couldn't find one similar. It had no ruf > > The photos are posted here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nepobirds (it's the first 2 photos) > > Thanks for your help! > > Seth and Michelle > NE Portland, OR - Gateway area > portlandbirds.blogspot.com > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From birdboy at bkpix.com Sun May 17 21:16:26 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 21:16:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur: May 14-17 Message-ID: Hi birders, I spent the weekend at Malheur with my dad. Without particularly trying to run up a list, we came across 145 species in Harney County through our wanderings. Temperatures varied from 26F early Friday morning to 90F Sunday afternoon. No vagrants were reported this weekend at Malheur, but it was a nice weekend to be out. Some highlights: *5/14* Riley Pond 2 - EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE 2 - LEAST SANDPIPER 1 - VESPER SPARROW *5/15* Malheur Headquarters 1 - NASHVILLE WARBLER 2 - EVENING GROSBEAK The Narrows (completely dry) 1 - SHORT-EARED OWL North of P Ranch 3 - BOBOLINK 4 - SHORT-EARED OWL Roaring Springs Ranch 3 - WHITE-THROATED SWIFT 1 - PRAIRIE FALCON Six-mile Pond 1 - COMMON GOLDENEYE Fields 1 - EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE 1 - YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT 1 - GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE 1 - NASHVILLE WARBLER Borax Lake 5 - RED-NECKED PHALAROPE 8 - BUFFLEHEAD Unmarked road south of Domingo Pass 1 - BLACK-THROATED SPARROW 15 - SAGE SPARROW *5/16 *Embree Bridge Lane 1 - BURROWING OWL Hwy 205 South of Wright's Point 1 - BURROWING OWL Malheur Headquarters 1 - VAUX'S SWIFT 2 - EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE Krumbo Reservoir 15 - BUFFLEHEAD including one male stained orange Page Springs 1 - WESTERN SCREECH-OWL - calling spontaneously at 1:00pm (sunny and 85 degrees) in the juniper canyon; I tracked it down and found the screech-owl sitting on a juniper branch about 5' off the ground; it then flew to a nearby tree, entered a cavity, and continued calling from inside its hole. P Ranch 2 - EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE 1 - EASTERN KINGBIRD color-banded individual along CPR *5/17* Idlewild Campground 2 - WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER 3 - WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER (one nesting in birdhouse) Burns Sewage Ponds 10 - RED-NECKED PHALAROPE Burns EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES anywhere and everywhere in town. Others reported a GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE at headquarters on Thursday which was not relocated, and a SAW-WHET OWL which collided with the visitor center's front window and died on Saturday morning. Good birding, Noah Strycker and Bob Keefer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090517/7aa5a8fb/attachment.html From David.Mellinger at oregonstate.edu Sun May 17 21:39:58 2009 From: David.Mellinger at oregonstate.edu (Dave Mellinger) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 21:39:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Barrow's Goldeneye at Smith Rock Message-ID: <4A10E69E.6060308@oregonstate.edu> Last weekend (5/10) an immature male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was on the Crooked River at Smith Rock State Park. The crescent was not fully white but it did extend above the eye, which is I think what's needed to positively identify this one. Sorry for the late report! Dave From vireogirl at yahoo.com Sun May 17 21:45:58 2009 From: vireogirl at yahoo.com (Vjera Thompson) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 21:45:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge birds Message-ID: <502449.8348.qm@web56307.mail.re3.yahoo.com> OBOLers, Rode my bicycle out to the Royal platform late this afternoon (5/17) and refound the FORSTER'S TERN. This breaks a major jinx for me in Lane County! I also think it's the first time I've ever found a Lane County bird by bicycle (don't remember doing much bicycling when I first started birding). I had a BLACK TERN land briefly beside it on the log, which made a great size comparison. On the way, I rode through Meadowlark Prairie and saw three WILSON'S PHALAROPES. These weren't around last week when we rode through. I also had one GREAT EGRET, which has been around every weekend the last several weekends. Last weekend there were two, and one was up in a tree (didn't see it today though). In other news, the first of the resident LAZULI BUNTINGS showed up in the old dump at Alton Baker this week on Tuesday (5/12), right on schedule! Our neighborhood has been swarmed by EVENING GROSBEAKS. The neighbors report ~100 birds coming to their feeders. On the bike ride to work on Friday, nine miles across Eugene and Springfield, I counted at least 9 flocks of grosbeaks heard. Good birding! Vjera Thompson Eugene, OR vireogirl at yahoo.com From oschmidt at att.net Sun May 17 22:11:12 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 22:11:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Harney County 14-17 May 2009 Message-ID: ....... can't add much to today's post by Noah Strycker. Jack Kiley, John Elizalde and I spent Thursday evening through Sunday morning around Malheur NWR. On Friday we drove out onto the Alvord Playa, found the water at the Alvord Hot Springs outflow, and there we saw about a dozen SNOWY PLOVERS in breeding plumage, about a dozen SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS also in breeding plumage, about a dozen LONG- BILLED DOWITCHERS, and a single SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. BURROWING OWL at the sharp curve at the south end of Catlow Valley as the road turns up over the hill to Fields Station. A single WHITE-THROATED SWIFT at Roaring Springs Ranch. This morning at Refuge HQ we puzzled over a somewhat confusing Catharus thrush that had some markings for a Gray-cheeked Thrush and some markings for a HERMIT THRUSH ...... which is where we will leave it. At the same time a fairly typical SWAINSON'S THRUSH. A fun weekend as the leaves started coming out, before the mosquitos do. Good birding ........ oschmidt at att.net Sunday, May 17, 2009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090517/f727b6c3/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Sun May 17 22:11:55 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 01:11:55 EDT Subject: [obol] Motorless Birding Message-ID: Hello All, I biked a big loop from home to Fern Ridge yesterday May 16. Not many migrants were found and had lots of big misses but still tallied 107 species. Highlights were: Lane Community College Ruddy Duck - 3 Yellow-breasted Chat - 1 Cooper's Hawk - 1 took out a Spotted Sandpiper at the pond Least Sandpiper - 0 (there were 2 there on Friday) OU Campus Evening Grosbeak - 100's Alton Baker Park Glaucous-winged Gull - 2 Skinner's Butte Townsend's Warbler - 1 Stewart Pond Long-billed Dowitcher - 2 Meadowlark Prairie Great Egret - 2 Greater Yellowlegs - 1 Fern Ridge Fisher Unit Cackling Goose - 1 with Western's from the hwy 126 viewing platform Blue-winged Teal - 1 pair Green-winged Teal - 1 pair Northern Pintail - 1 pair Hooded Merganser - 1 Forster's Tern - 3 Also had a close encounter a very large swam of honey bees while biking south from the Royal viewing platform. All of a sudden, I found myself in the middle of a swirling mass of bees bouncing off of me and getting stuck in my helmet. I walked my bike through about 50 yards of bees before I was abruptly out of them. Pretty cool. Missed yesterday, seen this morning while walking the dog Red-breasted Sapsucker Chipping Sparrow Junco John Sullivan & Laura Jonhson Springfield, Oregon **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221322941x1201367178/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=115&bcd =Mayfooter51809NO115) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090518/bc1d08b0/attachment.html From gismiller at gmail.com Sun May 17 22:25:03 2009 From: gismiller at gmail.com (Craig Miller) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 22:25:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Glaze Meadow Birding Message-ID: <4A10F12F.4050803@gmail.com> Hi all, This morning Marilyn and I hiked about a quarter mile along the trail next to Indian Ford Creek at the south base of Gobler's Knob in the Glaze Meadow area. Birds were active and we saw or heard a total of 41 species. Highlights include a pair of Wood Ducks; Downy, Hairy, and White-headed Woodpeckers; Warbling and Cassin's Vireos; and Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Townsend's, MacGillivrays, and Wilson's Warblers. The Glaze Meadow Area is immediately east of Black Butte Ranch and southwest of Indian Ford Campground. A full list follows: Wood Duck - 1 pair Mallard - 2 pair Turkey Vulture - 4 Downy Woodpecker - 3 Hairy Woodpecker - 1 White-headed Woodpecker - 1 Northern Flicker - 1 Western Wood-Pewee - 2 Hammond's Flycatcher - 1 Dusky Flycatcher - 8 Cassin's Vireo - 1 Warbling Vireo - 2 Steller's Jay - 3 Common Raven - 2 Tree Swallow - 2 Mountain Chickadee - many Bushtit - 4 Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2 White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 Pygmy Nuthatch - 4 Brown Creeper - 1 House Wren - 6 Mountain Bluebird - 2 American Robin - many Yellow Warbler - 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 8 Townsend's Warbler - 2 MacGillivray's Warbler - 1 Common Yellowthroat - 2 Wilson's Warbler - 6 Western Tanager - 3 Spotted Towhee - 1 Chipping Sparrow - 2 Fox Sparrow - 3 Song Sparrow - 3 Dark-eyed Junco - 6 Brown-headed Cowbird - 8 Cassin's Finch - 4 Red Crossbill - 6 Pine Siskin - 4 Evening Grosbeak - 8 Good birding, Craig Miller Bend, OR From namitzr at hotmail.com Sun May 17 22:59:44 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 22:59:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos white pelicans + Curry raptors Message-ID: I thought they would have reported but they didn't. Dave Lauten & Kathy Castelein found AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS today at the North Spit of Coos Bay. Tim Rodenkirk refound them along the east shore of the bay, seen from the North Bend shoreline. Tim counted 6 of them. There were only 4 when I got there. Knute Anderrson photographed 2 rare coastal raptors in Curry County, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK up Grassy Knob out of Port Orford and a SWAINSON'S HAWK at his farm in Langlois. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090517/6e04504f/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun May 17 23:15:25 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 06:15:25 +0000 Subject: [obol] Picture needed of the Siletz Bay L-B Heron Message-ID: Greetings All, I would like to include a picture of the Siletz Bay Little Blue Heron in the Winter 2008-09 North American Birds report. I recall seeing an image taken after the bird started getting some slaty blue feathering, ideally one of those would be great. In order to be publishable in print form, we need large file images (0.5MB or greater). The higher the resolution the better. If you have high quality images of this bird, I would really appreciate being able to use your photo. Please send what you have in a jpg attachment. You will properly credited if your photo appears in the journal. Thanks, Dave Irons NAB Regional Editor (Oregon and Washington Region) _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_BR_life_in_synch_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090518/3ead4b6d/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Mon May 18 06:14:55 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 06:14:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Cty WHITE PELICANS Message-ID: <4A115F4F.90900@verizon.net> 5/17 Coos Bay North Spit Coos Cty Kathy and I saw 6 flying WHITE PELICANS over the Coos River east of the south end of Coos Bay North Spit on Sunday morning. They were circling towards Charleston. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From deweysage at verizon.net Mon May 18 06:19:02 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 06:19:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Selasphorus hummers Message-ID: <4A116046.8080808@verizon.net> Around this time every year our hummingbird feeders near Bandon Coos Cty pick up again with activity due to hatchings and fledglings. But this year it is really quiet here for the past couple of weeks. We are seeing few female Selasphorus, despite having a male very active around the yard. Wondering what's up...... Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From dpvroman at budget.net Mon May 18 06:35:48 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 06:35:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Selasphorus hummers References: <4A116046.8080808@verizon.net> Message-ID: <4EFFA4BD3B4E4E99AF2C09507A7B0F12@Warbler> Interesting, for starting about a day or so ago the number of birds at our feeders noticeably dropped off also. Perhaps the fledglings will be late this year. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) > Around this time every year our hummingbird feeders near Bandon Coos Cty > pick up again with activity due to hatchings and fledglings. But this > year it is really quiet here for the past couple of weeks. We are > seeing few female Selasphorus, despite having a male very active around > the yard. > > Wondering what's up...... > > Cheers > Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein > Bandon OR > deweysage at verizon.net From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Mon May 18 08:02:39 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 08:02:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sisters are birding, 5/17 Message-ID: <81b2a9930905180802t12f88e69v3c8508495d21ea47@mail.gmail.com> I birded Cold Springs Campground and Calliope Crossing yesterday. (Thanks again to the posters who recommended these sites, among others.) Cold Springs (10:30-11:30, and 1:45-2:45) Williamson's Sapsucker (1) Red-naped Sapsucker (1) Western Wood-Pewee* (4) Cassin's Vireo (1) Mountain Chickadee (5+) RB Nuthatch (5+) Robin (3) Y-R "Audubon's" Warbler (4+) Townsend's Warbler (2) Wilson's Warbler (4+) Western Tanager (4+) Spotted Towhee (2) DE Junco (5) Possible Brown-headed Cowbird* (1) A couple from Virginia mentioned that they briefly saw a White-headed Woodpecker shortly before I arrived. *Thanks to Shawneen Finnegan for the ID help Calliope Crossing (12:00-1:00) Calliope Hummer (1) Robin (2) Nashville Warbler (1) Wilson's Warbler (2) Black-headed Grosbeak (2) Red-winged Blackbird (4+) American Goldfinch (4+) There was also a female hummer that I only saw briefly and couldn't identify (wasn't a Calliope). Brandon Eugene From alfanana at q.com Mon May 18 08:13:32 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 15:13:32 +0000 Subject: [obol] backyard birds Message-ID: It's very quiet this morning. For the past week, by this time (8 AM), my feeders have been full of Evening and Black Headed Grosbeaks with Brown Headed Cowbirds coming in later in the day through evening. So far today, only one White Breasted Nuthatch! Not even a squirrel! Karen, La Pine -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090518/e14f6029/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Mon May 18 08:17:54 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 08:17:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] PHOTOS: Tuffies and Harlies Message-ID: <20090518081754.hpwzl83fkkwkskoo@webmail.thebirdguide.com> For those wanting views of Tufted Puffins a bit later in the year, check out the Great Canon Beach Puffin Watch on July 3-6 that I detail at: http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/ Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com Subject: PHOTOS: Tuffies and Harlies From: Mike Patterson Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 18:51:23 -0700 http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11040 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From steve at paradisebirding.com Mon May 18 09:14:56 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 09:14:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wood Ducks on Indian Ford Message-ID: <9a341ea30905180914o7724b91ew29812e12d3de9c61@mail.gmail.com> All, I also saw WOOD DUCKS on Indian Ford Creek last week. In my 12 years birding here, this is the first time I have seen this species in this area, and only the 3rd or 4th location in the whole Sisters/Camp Sherman areas (also Squaw Creek flood plain, head of Metolius River, Meadow Lakes basin, Black Butte Ranch). The Oregon Breeding Bird Atlas only lists 3 confirmed breeding records for Deschutes County. It would be exciting if they were to nest in this area, so keep your radars on if you go birding on upper Indian Ford Creek (including Black Butte Swamp, Black Butte Ranch, etc., wherever water and secluded trees with big cavities occur together). Steve Shunk On Sun, May 17, 2009 at 10:25 PM, Craig Miller wrote: > Hi all, > > This morning Marilyn and I hiked about a quarter mile along the trail > next to Indian Ford Creek at the south base of Gobler's Knob in the > Glaze Meadow area. Birds were active and we saw or heard a total of 41 > species. Highlights include a pair of Wood Ducks; Downy, Hairy, and > White-headed Woodpeckers; Warbling and Cassin's Vireos; and Yellow, > Yellow-rumped, Townsend's, MacGillivrays, and Wilson's Warblers. The > Glaze Meadow Area is immediately east of Black Butte Ranch and southwest > of Indian Ford Campground. > A full list follows: > > Wood Duck - 1 pair > Mallard - 2 pair > Turkey Vulture - 4 > Downy Woodpecker - 3 > Hairy Woodpecker - 1 > White-headed Woodpecker - 1 > Northern Flicker - 1 > Western Wood-Pewee - 2 > Hammond's Flycatcher - 1 > Dusky Flycatcher - 8 > Cassin's Vireo - 1 > Warbling Vireo - 2 > Steller's Jay - 3 > Common Raven - 2 > Tree Swallow - 2 > Mountain Chickadee - many > Bushtit - 4 > Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2 > White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 > Pygmy Nuthatch - 4 > Brown Creeper - 1 > House Wren - 6 > Mountain Bluebird - 2 > American Robin - many > Yellow Warbler - 1 > Yellow-rumped Warbler - 8 > Townsend's Warbler - 2 > MacGillivray's Warbler - 1 > Common Yellowthroat - 2 > Wilson's Warbler - 6 > Western Tanager - 3 > Spotted Towhee - 1 > Chipping Sparrow - 2 > Fox Sparrow - 3 > Song Sparrow - 3 > Dark-eyed Junco - 6 > Brown-headed Cowbird - 8 > Cassin's Finch - 4 > Red Crossbill - 6 > Pine Siskin - 4 > Evening Grosbeak - 8 > > Good birding, > > Craig Miller > Bend, OR > _______________________________________________ > COBOL mailing list > COBOL at lists.oregonstate.edu > http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol > > To unsubscribe, send a message to: > COBOL-request at lists.oregonstate.edu > with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. > -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090518/452e305f/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon May 18 10:51:37 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 10:51:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Update 5/17-5/18/2009 Message-ID: <130763.4371.qm@web45304.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Here are some bird sightings from the past few days: N. Spit of Coos Bay, 5/17: 350+ RED-NECKED PHALAROPE 8- WILSON'S PHALAROPE 1- DUNLIN 30- WESTERN SANDPIPERS 10- LEAST SANDPIPERS 2- LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS 1- GREATER YELLOWLEGS New River, 5/17: The pair of MUTE SWANS continues, been there about a week and seem to be able to fly just fine. Bethel Mtn. Road, SW Coos, 5/17: 1- singing VESPER SPARROW, same place seen singing in late April, looks like a pretty good bet they are breeding here. New River, 5/18: Lots of CEAR WAXWINGS 1- flyby RED KNOT Bandon Marsh, 5/18: 1- LONG-BILLED CURLEW (also there on 5/17) 2- SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS 3- LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS 6- RED KNOTS (only one there on 5/17) 6- GREATER YELLOWLEGS 1- RUDDY TURNSTONE 60- SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS 30- WESTERN SANDPIPERS (may have been some Leasties mixed in, I didn't check to close) 10- RED-NECKED PHALAROPE 1- BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 10- DUNLIN The 6 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were still in the bay on the mudflats across from the casino in North Bend in the AM on the 18th too. Nice find Dave and Kathy! Merry migration, Tim R Coos Bay From beaniebear at peoplepc.com Mon May 18 10:57:13 2009 From: beaniebear at peoplepc.com (beaniebear at peoplepc.com) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 10:57:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Grosbeaks and tangers, oh My! Message-ID: <64D5D61A55ED41828171C293686A5ECD@usere04cf44522> Hey there OBOLers! This isn't a report of an unusual sighting or the list of a wonderful day in the field, but merely an observation of peculiarities on my observation deck. I live out Lorane Highway, and this year the Black-headed Grosbeaks and Lazuli Buntings have come to my feeding station more than once. It's quite strange because I am a very low-brow feeder and just toss a seed mix out on the bare ground in front of my window and usually am only rewarded with sparrows, juncos and towhees. The truly strange event for the year, however, was that this feeding station has piqued the curiosity of Western Tanagers. This week I have enjoyed visits from an immature male, an adult male and a female Western Tanager. They didn't eat, but examined the fare and moved on. Glorious sun day! Isabella -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090518/de6edb97/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Mon May 18 15:07:59 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 18:07:59 -0400 Subject: [obol] birds at work Message-ID: <8CBA61C3D963B90-1524-F93@FWM-D21.sysops.aol.com> I work at PCC (Precision Cast Parts) in Clackamas. It is a large noisy campus, although it does have some greenspace around the perimeter. I found a pair of Barn Swallows in one of the sheds outside the main building sitting on a water pipe, just a few feet from a nest they had attached to the rafters next to the roof. I'm not sure if they have eggs in it, I don't want to disturb them. But I have started taking my early breaks out side the building to keep a eye on them. Since then I have seen a male and female House Finch apparently house keeping in one of the air intakes. I'm interested in finding out how many other birds are hanging around this large noisy industrial complex. I didn't expect so much bird activity in this kind of environment. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090518/4b6dbd08/attachment.html From bettymkn at netscape.com Mon May 18 15:14:59 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 15:14:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] California Quail Message-ID: <20090518151459.4D49DA58@resin15.mta.everyone.net> Just saw a pair of CALIFORNIA QUAIL. Heard them last nite but it was so loud that I thought maybe a recording. Hoping they will stay and raise a family. We had 50-60 in the yard in Carson City, NV. and those little legs on the babies can sure move when mom or dad says scat. Has anyone else seen them somewhere around here -- Foster Lake. I have seen them reported further south in Oregon. Betty Mankin Sweet Home/Foster Lake, Oregon bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From birdboy at bkpix.com Mon May 18 15:33:59 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 15:33:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge 5/18 Message-ID: Hi birders, This morning in the Fisher and East Coyote Units: 2 - FORSTER'S TERN 1 - COMMON GOLDENEYE 2 - HORNED LARK 7 - WILSON'S PHALAROPE 2 - BLACK-NECKED STILT 1 - GREATER YELLOWLEGS 1 - WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 8 - CLARK'S GREBE 39 - AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN Good birding, Noah Strycker -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090518/76bef19e/attachment.html From lguy_mcw at yahoo.com Mon May 18 15:52:01 2009 From: lguy_mcw at yahoo.com (Guy McWethy) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 15:52:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Elegant tern, Devil's Punch Bowl Message-ID: <483296.37224.qm@web52006.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Oregon Birders, I was asked to post this for Bob Stallcop: Bob had great close-in views of an ELEGANT TERN on Sunday May 17, at the Devil's Punch Bowl Natural Area. Site 63 on the Oregon Coastal Birding Trail. Guy McWethy Renton, WA mailto: lguy_mcw at yahoo.com From jbw at oregoncoast.com Mon May 18 17:52:41 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara & John Woodhouse) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 16:52:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Peregrine at Cape Mears Message-ID: This morning John got Video of a feeding at the Pergrine site we saw three heads so far. They are in the most used site but at the extreme left so are behind a rock and not easy to see. Also on the North toe we have a Black Oystercathers nest with 3 eggs. Barbara & John Woodhouse Tillamook From scre at aol.com Mon May 18 17:11:11 2009 From: scre at aol.com (scre at aol.com) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 20:11:11 -0400 Subject: [obol] Odds and ends from Tillamook area Message-ID: <8CBA62D735998F1-F94-D78@webmail-mf10.sysops.aol.com> Today driving on the Tillamook-Netarts Rd I had a Red-shouldered Hawk on a telephone pole past Frazer Rd (and the houses on the right coming from Tillamook) by some standing water on the left site of the road.? Later this evening it wasn't present. Also forgot to mention that Lauren Harter and I had a Red-necked Grebe off Oceanside on 5/10 and an Anna's Hummingbird at Cape Mears on 5/10 and Rich Hoyer had today.? Good birding David Vander Pluym Netarts, Ore -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090518/0c0398be/attachment.html From calliope at theriver.com Mon May 18 17:22:46 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 17:22:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tillamook Co. Black Phoebe Message-ID: <62823B1B-133A-4E1F-BA5F-BCF0B53E5B48@theriver.com> Hi All, With my group I found the continuing pair of BLACK PHOEBES just south of Tillamook. Barbara and John Woodhouse first reported these birds 2 years ago. The location is the small bridge over the slough on Tillamook River Road just south of Hallstrom Rd. (and just north of Elkhoff Rd.). We found them hawking insects over the grassy fields from the fence on the W side of the road and about 75 yard south of the bridge. Also, Lauren Harter and David Vander Pluym reported a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK along Netarts Highway by a wet area just west of Fraser Road. We're headed out to look for it in a few minutes. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- From withgott at comcast.net Mon May 18 18:12:29 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 18:12:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] WFO (Western Field Ornithologists) Annual Conference -- Boise, Idaho, Sept. 2009 Message-ID: WFO (Western Field Ornithologists) and the Idaho Bird Observatory invite you to the 34th Annual WFO Conference, to be held this year in Boise, Idaho, from September 10-13, 2009. This year WFO will be celebrating its 40th anniversary. In addition to the usual great field trips, skills workshops, scientific paper presentations, and social events, this year we feature a keynote talk and special field trip focused on what may well become the next new North American species, the South Hills Crossbill. Dr. Craig Benkman will discuss his fascinating research on this distinct crossbill and its co-evolution with lodgepole pine cones. A daylong field trip will visit the South Hills to look for this bird. This is an outstanding example of what WFO is all about: fostering the fruitful links between ornithology and birding. For details and to register, go to the WFO web site (http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org) and click on the "2009 Annual Conference" button. You can download a full conference schedule, along with other information, from here. Early hotel reservations are advised. For more information on what WFO Conferences are like, click on the "Archives" button at the bottom of the page for links to information on previous conferences. We hope you can join us in Boise! Jay Withgott WFO Board Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090518/d3535e15/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Mon May 18 18:15:49 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 18:15:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Presenting research at the 2009 WFO Conference Message-ID: Hi again OBOL -- Western Field Ornithologists (WFO) conferences are the perfect venue for presenting results from field-based ornithological research, ranging from professional academic research to data from citizen-science projects and other amateur research efforts of direct relevance to birding and birders. If you wish to present research results at this year's WFO Conference, to be held in Boise, Idaho, from September 10-13, 2009, please download the Call for Papers from the WFO web site. Just go to: (http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org), click on the "2009 Annual Conference" button, and then download the Call for Papers. For examples of abstracts of papers given at previous conferences, please see the archived documents by clicking on the "Archives" button at the bottom of the page. We look forward to seeing you in Boise! Jay Withgott WFO Board Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090518/264970d1/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Mon May 18 19:32:39 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 19:32:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] California Quail Message-ID: Betty, Below is the California Quail species account for Linn County from "Birds of Linn County, Oregon (1825-2000)" by Greg Gillson, June 9, 2002: http://thebirdguide.com/blc/blc.doc California Quail (Callipepla californica) Thackaberry (1991): "Common." Common resident in brushy lowland areas and lower clear cuts in the foothills. Introduced in 1916 in Linn County (Oregon Sportsman 4:133-134 (1916) fide Jobanek (1997)). Common resident in brushy woodlots and farm edges in the Willamette Valley region. High numbers: 132 on December 20, 1977 on Corvallis CBC (Chat 7(5)); 102 on December 31, 1994 on Brownsville CBC. Breeding: 15 immature birds September 11, 1978 at Millersburg (Greg Gillson, pers. notes). Breeding status "confirmed" in Brownsville BBA hexagon; "probable" in Albany BBA hexagon; "confirmed" in Green's Bridge, Corvallis, and Shedd BBA squares; "possible" in Sodaville BBA square. Uncommon resident in clear cuts in the foothills of the Western Cascades region. One known record: July 5, 1975 on upper Calapooia River (Greg Gillson, pers. notes). Breeding status "confirmed" in Foster Res. and Upper Calapooia BBA hexagons; "possible" in Middle Santiam, Clear Lake, Quartzville, Upper Soda, and Lyons BBA hexagons; "possible" in Snow Peak BBA square. Corvallis SBC (1972): 24 Scio BBS (1971-1992): Frequency: 100%, Average: 4.8, Maximum: 14 Brownsville CBC (1994-1999): Frequency: 100%, Average: 55, Maximum: 102 Corvallis CBC (1976-1980): Frequency: 100%, Average: 75, Maximum: 132 Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com Birding in the Pacific NW http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/ Pacific NW Backyard Birder From srnord101 at verizon.net Mon May 18 20:28:55 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 20:28:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Haystack Rock and Ecola State Park today Message-ID: <000001c9d831$f0eb2830$d2c17890$@net> OBOL; Inspired by Mike Patterson's post from yesterday, I birded the Haystack Rock area on Cannon Beach this morning. I saw many of the same species Mike reported yesterday, including great views of TUFTED PUFFINS through my scope. Many of the WESTERN GULLS today were gathering nest material on the beach and flying back to the rocks with bills full of stuff. There was a nice movement of PACIFIC LOON migrating northward. BRANT were also migrating just offshore. Two breeding plumaged RED-NECKED GREBE swam just south of Haystack Rock. Most surprising to me was the large number of BROWN PELICAN so early in the season(?), including one "flock" of 50 birds. After Haystack Rock, I went to the overlook at Ecola State Park. Many of the same birds were seen from there, along with some nice additions. Most interesting at Ecola was seeing a large number of sea lions hauled out on the tiny island with the lighthouse. Here's the list of what I saw between 6:45am -11:00am. Brant 297 (several flocks) Canada Goose 35 ("Westerns") Harlequin Duck 18 (base of Haystack and at Ecola) Surf Scoter 104 White-winged Scoter 12 Red-throated Loon 1 (Ecola) Pacific Loon 387 Common Loon 6 (Ecola) Red-necked Grebe 2 Western Grebe 33 (Ecola) Brown Pelican 88 Brandt's Cormorant 104 Double-crested Cormorant 6 Pelagic Cormorant 71 Bald Eagle 2 (Ecola) Black Oystercatcher 6 Whimbrel 16 (single flock, Ecola) Red-necked Phalarope 27 (Ecola) Western Gull 249 Glaucous-winged Gull 1 Caspian Tern 10 Common Murre 2500 Pigeon Guillemot 84 Rhinoceros Auklet 4 Tufted Puffin 33 Band-tailed Pigeon 6 Rufous Hummingbird 1 Northern Flicker 1 American Crow 35 Common Raven 1 Violet-green Swallow 5 Barn Swallow 4 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4 Winter Wren 2 American Robin 2 European Starling 2 Cedar Waxwing 2 Orange-crowned Warbler 3 Wilson's Warbler 4 Song Sparrow 10 White-crowned Sparrow 9 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 House Finch 2 Red Crossbill 10 American Goldfinch 2 House Sparrow 4 California Ground Squirrel 2 Steller's Sea Lion 203 Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From whoffman at peak.org Mon May 18 20:30:33 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 20:30:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay - CATTLE EGRET References: <41EFCF4FA2A54B0596F05A6AB12CD682@D48XBZ51> Message-ID: <496E076A102948CD813A340376B2CB85@D48XBZ51> The head appeared all white, as in young, or non-breeding birds, but the distance was such that I might have missed some orange on the crown. I did not miss an all-orange head. However, In the time i lived in Florida I did see a number of Cattle Egrets with more than the normal amount of orange. A few were mostly orange, although the intensity varied across the plumage. I have photos or one such from the Florida Keys in the late '80s that I could probably locate. What is the source of the information that the color comes from applied oils? I would like to see the reference. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: David Irons To: Wayne Hoffman ; post OBOL Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 5:19 PM Subject: RE: [obol] Boiler Bay - CATTLE EGRET Hi Wayne, I am curious how well you saw the Cattle Egret, not that I doubt that you saw one, but because I am interested to hear what the head pattern looked like. Last June, Diane Pettey photographed a Cattle Egret at Florence. When she sent me the image I was astounded. The bird had an entirely orange head (rather than just the crown) and the orange feathering was much more extensive on the breast than what one normally sees on Cattle Egrets in N. America. Steve Mlodinow and I did some research and learned that the orange coloration results from these birds spreading skin oils on their feathers (per Peter Pyle) and that the pattern of orange shown by Diane's bird was consistent with Cattle Egrets seen in East Asia. We sent images around to several veteran birders and others who have made many trips to the Orient. None had ever seen this pattern on a North American bird, while all reports indicated that this look is nearly universal among Asian birds. I'll look forward to your feedback. I posted this response to the list in the event that others are interested in this topic. Thanks, Dave Irons ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: whoffman at peak.org To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 16:41:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay - CATTLE EGRET I conducted a seawatch from 6:15 to 7:45 AM this morning. Weather was clear, with NNW light breeze. Bird numbers were not great, but diversity was interesting. Everything was northbound, except where otherwise noted. Pacific Loon 450 Red-throated Loon 60 Common Loon 10 Western Grebe 12 on water Sooty Shearwater 1 1 mile out, N Brown Pelican 35 mostly adults Pelagic Cormorant 60 about 10 south Brandt's Cormorant 90 mostly N DC Cormorant 15 5 S CATTLE EGRET 1 see note below Brant 6 N, but lit on ocean 400 yards out, for 20 minutes Canada Goose 23 see note below Surf Scoter 1200 mostly N Black Scoter 1 drake White-winged Scoter 20 a few S Common Merganser 6 Bald Eagle 1? much calling, but only could see one Red-tailed Hawk 1 circles over forest to NE Black Oystercatcher 8 local Whimbrel 6 Red Knot 15 Red-necked Phalarope 180 numerous small groups MEW GULL 1 BP adult, with fully white head, bill yellower than in winter (very late) California Gull 40 mostly in two loose groups Western Gull 30 local movements Glaucous-winged Gull 9 all imm. Caspian Tern 52 Common Murre 3500 5% S Pigeon Guillemot 40 local movements Marbled Murrelet 3 2 breeding plumage, 1 winter/imm. Rhinoceros Auklet 20 Vaux's Swift 1 BLACK SWIFT 1 Barn Swallow 5 Savannah Sparrow 3 Brown-headed Cowbird 4 American Goldfinch 3+ Pine Siskin 1 Goldfinch and sikin were by voice, and flew over together "Red" Crossbill 10+ over/in trees across hwy, by voice I then stopped at the Otter Crest viewpoint and saw goldfinches and crossbills. Wayne Hoffman Cattle Egret. I first saw it about 1.5 mi to the SW coming directly towards me about 50' off the water. The wingbeat was clearly wrong for a gull, but otherwise could not ID it. When it got to 500 yards, it turned east, and in profile was easy to ID - all-white wings, relatively small size, yellow bill - and then disappeared behind the rocks in front of the condos. I suspect it lit on the rocks or possibly on the lawn behind the buildings. Canada Goose beginning in mid-May each year lately has been a northward movement of "Western" Canada Geese. Roy Lowe of USFWS believes this is a molt migration of nonbreedng subadults - behavior well-known in other populations. Interesting, however, in that our "resident" population has established itself in the past 30 years. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hotmail? has a new way to see what's up with your friends. Check it out. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090518/ad6ad698/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Mon May 18 20:38:42 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 20:38:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Second thoughts References: <4a0d7c85.0ebb720a.640e.6902@mx.google.com> Message-ID: <006301c9d833$7e1077f0$ddc963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Marilyn, No, I haven't seen 200 species in every Oregon county. I have 6 counties to go; 3 on each side of the Cascades. On the east side I'm still working on Gilliam & Sherman counties (wheat fields with almost no trees) and Hood River county (woods & orchards with amost not fields or marshes). On the west side I'm still working on Josephine (again woods with amost no open fields & 1 lake), Columbia (just haven't quite finished, and Benton (almost there). Folks who live in counties blessed with a variety of habitat, refuges, and a band of fellow birders should thank their lucky stars. I received a note from one keen observer, who said that my estimate of the percent of category 5 species on a county's all-time list can be considerably more than the 7% I posted. He tallied the percent of 5's at 27% in Yamhill county. Every rarity pushes up the all-time list, but that doesn't mean you see the species any time soon. Good birding, Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marilyn Miller" To: "'Paul T. Sullivan'" ; "'obol'" Cc: "'Marilyn Miller II'" Sent: Friday, May 15, 2009 7:30 AM Subject: RE: [obol] Second thoughts > Hi Paul: So my question is "Have you seen 200 birds in all the Oregon > Counties yet?" > Marilyn Miller > > > -----Original Message----- > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Paul T. Sullivan > Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2009 10:39 PM > To: obol > Subject: [obol] Second thoughts > > OBOL: > > Thanks to those who offered thoughts on the probability of finding a 200th > species in different counties. > > The idea that a county with 300 species offers 100/300 chances for someone > to see species #200, while a county with 225 species only offers 25/225 > chances, makes the assumption that all species are equally likely. Of > course, this isn't true. > > Here's another way to look at the issue: Birders regularly rate species > on > a 1 to 5 scale. > 1 for species that are plentiful and you're bound to see without trying, > e.g. Mallards > 2 for species that you have to look for in season, but are still regular, > e.g. Western Wood-pewee > 3 for species that are localized and take a some modest effort to find, > e.g. > > Virginia Rail > 4 for species that aren't found every year, but show up fairly regularly, > e.g. Black and White Warbler > 5 for species that have been seen less than five times in a given > location, > e.g. Wood Sandpiper > > So let's say that the distribution of these classes across a county is > Class 1: 30% of the species > Class 2: 30% of the species > Class 3: 25% of the species > Class 4: 8% of the species > Class 5: 7% of the species > > Let's say a birder finds his/her species generally from easiest to > hardest, > with just a bit of luck at finding or chasing rare birds. That means that > if you see all of the 1's, 2's, most 3's, and a few 4's you'll have found > 85% of the species. > > Well, 85% of 300 is 255, so it is easy to find 200 species in a county > with > 300 to choose from. You can reach 200 by simply seeing the 1's, 2's, and > a > couple 3's. > > But in a county with only 225 species, 85% only puts you at 191. To > reach > 200 in such a county, you need to find 88% of the available species. > That's > > all the 1's, 2's, 3's, and a half of the 4's. > > I know you all wanted to know this... ;-) > > Good birding, everyone, > > Paul T. Sullivan > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.329 / Virus Database: 270.12.30/2115 - Release Date: 05/14/09 > 17:54:00 From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Mon May 18 20:45:12 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (barbara.millikan at gmail.com) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 03:45:12 +0000 Subject: [obol] Grosbeaks and tangers, oh My! In-Reply-To: <64D5D61A55ED41828171C293686A5ECD@usere04cf44522> Message-ID: <00163646d5f0f91ff5046a3bbc0f@google.com> On May 18, 2009 10:57am, beaniebear at peoplepc.com wrote: To go with our noisy flock of evening and black headed grosbeaks, today we had a western tanager or two, but they seem to only be passing through, in spite of our putting out a half orange in hope. Barbara in NW Polk County, near Sheridan. > Hey there OBOLers! > This isn'ta report of an unusual sighting or the > list of a wonderful day in the field, but merely an observation of > peculiarities > on my observation deck. > I live out Lorane Highway, and this year the > Black-headed Grosbeaks and Lazuli Buntings have come to my feeding > station more > than once. It's quite strange because I am a very low-brow feeder and > just toss > a seed mix out on the bare ground in front of my window and usually am > only > rewarded with sparrows, juncos and towhees. > The truly strange event for the year, however, was > that this feeding station has piqued the curiosity of Western Tanagers. > This week I have enjoyed visits from an immature male, an adult male and a > female Western Tanager. They didn't eat, but examined the fare and moved > on. > Glorious sun day! > Isabella -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/c27cf641/attachment.html From calliope at theriver.com Mon May 18 20:49:47 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 20:49:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tillamook Scrub-Jay and White-tailed Kite Message-ID: Hi All, While looking for the Red-shouldered Hawk this evening I found a WHITE- TAILED KITE, a difficult bird during the breeding season. It was at milepost 6 on the Netarts Highway, but it was soaring rather high and took off rather rapidly to the south, disappearing from sight before any of the participants of my tour could even get out of the van. I forgot to mention a WESTERN SCRUB-JAY that I found earlier today on Tillamook River Road just south of the Trask River bridge. I'm aware that this species has increased here the past two years. It was formerly very rare. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- From withgott at comcast.net Mon May 18 20:58:30 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 20:58:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yamhill County big day Message-ID: Hi OBOL -- Yesterday (17 May) Paul Sullivan, Carol Karlen, and I birded Yamhill County and came up with 107 species. Some highlights were an American Bittern observed while calling at the marsh on Briedwell Road; Green Heron at Willamina Fishing Pond; YB Chats at North Valley Rd. marshes; an active Cooper's Hawk nest at Airport Park; and 8 owls of 5 species (Saw-whet, Barn, Screech, 3 Great Horned, and great walk-away looks at a Northern Pygmy Owl atop Sheridan Peak). Shorebirds and most waterfowl had completely split from the county as far as we could tell, so we were left without many of the lingering waterbird species that usually spice up a mid-May big day. The Whimbrel, Wilson's Phalarope, and Blue-winged Teal of previous days had all left the Yamhill Sewage Ponds, for instance, and we could not find the Common Loon that had frequented McGuire Reservoir for a month. Olive-sided Flys and Pewees were in, but no Willow Fly. A fun day, and I'm grateful to Carol and Paul for showing me around and sharing their extensive knowledge of Yamhill County and its abundant birding opportunities. If anyone has seen more than 107 species in a day in Yamhill County, please let us know, because we're not aware of any other such efforts. Good birding, all, Jay Withgott Portland From willclemons at yahoo.com Mon May 18 21:14:23 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 21:14:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] FWD: [TWEETERS] Queen Ann Mystery Warbler (photo link) Message-ID: <138447.42896.qm@web55106.mail.re4.yahoo.com> OK OBOL folks, Here are several photos of some Mystery Warbler (hybrid??) for those who are way more knowledgeable than I will ever be. or those who merely wish to look and/or guess. Nice looking bird whatever it may be! The photos are good: Original Tweeters post is below. The photo link is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/9654794 AT N06/ Remember to replace the AT with the symbol for "At" Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores ************************************************ Subject: Queen Anne birding and a myster warbler! From: Collin Vassallo Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 14:52:49 -0700 (PDT) ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Collin Vassallo To: Tweeters Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 2:45:39 PM Subject: Queen Anne birding and a myster warbler! Today my friend Sam Riley and I went birding around my house on?Queen Anne.? We spoted 2 WARBLING VIREOS, 10 EVENING GROSBEAKS, WILSON'S , YELLOW , TOWNSEND'S,?and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER.? Plus an extremely weird looking warbler, probably a hybrid of some sort.? I don't even know where to begin describing it, so please check out my photos.? We observed it for 20 minutes right by Parson's Garden. http://www.flickr.com/photos/9654794 AT N06/ Collin Vassallo Queen Anne norrisbigelow AT yahoo.com From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon May 18 21:32:52 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 21:32:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hybrid warbler Message-ID: That's an impressive hybrid. I'll start the bidding with Yellow-rump x Nashville. I think one of the birds was probably a yellow-rump and the other was NOT another arboreal thing. The tail shows no spots at all and it has a significant eyering. There is a whitish Nashvilly area on the underside. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon May 18 21:47:34 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 21:47:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hybrid Message-ID: Changed my mind - it can't be Yellow-rump x Nashville because there would be no source for the black throat. I don't think a YR x Mac is very likely, but that seems a better choice, though the face pattern seems extreme - where would it come from? -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon May 18 21:52:01 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 21:52:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Warbler hybrid, note 3 Message-ID: I wonder if one of the parents is a Canada Warbler. That would explain the face pattern, funky grayish colors and bits of yellow. Canada x Redstart? -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From llsdirons at msn.com Mon May 18 21:53:17 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 04:53:17 +0000 Subject: [obol] Hybrid warbler In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Alan et al., This is one very interesting warbler. I notice a couple things on this bird that intrigue me. First the bill looks fairly large and dull at the tip (points away from it being part Vermivora). Also, it seems to have very long under tail coverts, which points to Yellow Warbler being part of the equation. One respondent on the Flickr page suggested that Yellow was involved and I'm inclined to agree. The other aspect of this bird that seems Yellow Warblerish is the eye. It is very large and stands out on the face. Additionally, Yellow Warblers tend to have a broad light area (an eyering of sorts) that surrounds the eye. Since the head is already all yellow, this slightly lighter area does not stand out when you see a pure Yellow Warbler. As for the black on the breast, that is really odd. It does not seem to match up well with any typical western Warbler as it seems way too extensive. Some suggest the involvement of Townsend's. I have a tough time with that theory because the black on the breast seems too solid and not streaky enough on the lower part of the bib. Like everyone else, I'm shooting a bit from the hip as I do not have a strong feeling about the parentage of this bird. The extensive black down the breast and the white belly make me wonder about something like a Black-throated Blue X Yellow cross. Dave Irons > Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 21:32:52 -0700 > From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Hybrid warbler > > That's an impressive hybrid. I'll start the bidding with Yellow-rump x > Nashville. I think one of the birds was probably a yellow-rump and the > other was NOT another arboreal thing. The tail shows no spots at all and it > has a significant eyering. There is a whitish Nashvilly area on the > underside. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_BR_life_in_synch_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/33cc705d/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Tue May 19 00:02:50 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 07:02:50 +0000 Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrushes moving tonight Message-ID: It's midnight. Low, dense overcast over Eugene. Heavy movement of Swainson's Thrushes, with 5-20 calls per minute. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_BR_life_in_synch_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/60f97bfc/attachment.html From birdboy at bkpix.com Tue May 19 00:50:51 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 00:50:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Queen Anne Mystery Warbler Message-ID: Hi birders, I'm not convinced this is a hybrid. Granted it's a very weird-looking bird. But I think the plumage and structural features suggest a second year male American Redstart. Male redstarts are gray and yellow, instead of black and red, during their first year. In the transition to adulthood, they can get patchy-looking, like other songbirds that take more than one year to reach adult plumage (Summer Tanager is a good example). This may be an extreme case. In the posted photos, the bird shows a gray head, brown wings with a small yellow patch at the base of the flight feathers, a yellow-based tail, and yellow sides -- all characteristics of a young male redstart. It also has a black breast, white belly, black tail tip, and scattered darker areas of black on the head -- characteristics of an adult male redstart. The pale "eye-ring" is gray (not white) and diffuse, odd-looking, but could be a product of gray feathers being surrounded by fresher black plumage. Structurally, I think this bird is generally consistent with a redstart, though some of the poses and angles as it actively flits through the foliage accentuate different body parts. If it is a hybrid between species, and not just age classes, then I give up trying to guess the other parent (at least one of them was definitely a redstart). Virtually all of the field marks on this individual, though (the biggest exception being the diffuse eye-ring), can be found on male American Redstarts of different ages. Good birding, Noah Strycker -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/9196a335/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue May 19 06:45:47 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 06:45:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Queen Anne Mystery Warbler In-Reply-To: Message-ID: I agree with Noah that one parent at least is a redstart. I don't see how a "pure" redstart would get so much yellow underneath. Also, I am starting to wonder about the thin dark side streaks, which look like a feature rather than an accident of molt timing. Redstart x Canada still seems possible, though I am not sure Canada has enough yellow under the tail to generate that pattern. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Noah Strycker > Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 00:50:51 -0700 > To: > Subject: Re: [obol] Queen Anne Mystery Warbler > > Hi birders, > > I'm not convinced this is a hybrid. Granted it's a very weird-looking bird. > But I think the plumage and structural features suggest a second year male > American Redstart. > > Male redstarts are gray and yellow, instead of black and red, during their > first year. In the transition to adulthood, they can get patchy-looking, > like other songbirds that take more than one year to reach adult plumage > (Summer Tanager is a good example). This may be an extreme case. > > In the posted photos, the bird shows a gray head, brown wings with a small > yellow patch at the base of the flight feathers, a yellow-based tail, and > yellow sides -- all characteristics of a young male redstart. It also has a > black breast, white belly, black tail tip, and scattered darker areas of > black on the head -- characteristics of an adult male redstart. The pale > "eye-ring" is gray (not white) and diffuse, odd-looking, but could be a > product of gray feathers being surrounded by fresher black plumage. > Structurally, I think this bird is generally consistent with a redstart, > though some of the poses and angles as it actively flits through the foliage > accentuate different body parts. > > If it is a hybrid between species, and not just age classes, then I give up > trying to guess the other parent (at least one of them was definitely a > redstart). Virtually all of the field marks on this individual, though (the > biggest exception being the diffuse eye-ring), can be found on male American > Redstarts of different ages. > > Good birding, > > Noah Strycker > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue May 19 06:58:36 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 06:58:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] migration overnight - Willow Flycatchers Beaverton Message-ID: <20090519065836.e1zgm60ggc4kcs8c@webmail.thebirdguide.com> This unsettled weather brought in quite a few migrants overnight. The 5 minute walk in to work this morning from the MAX station across the Tektronix campus in Beaverton I heard a Swainson's Thrush, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler, and about 5 Willow Flycatchers chasing each other around in the extensive oak and lawns! For a view of this habitat: http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=14150+SW+Karl+Braun+Drive,+Beaverton,+Oregon&sll=45.523085,-122.992848&sspn=0.009727,0.017488&ie=UTF8&ll=45.498805,-122.820314&spn=0.004866,0.008744&t=h&z=17 Greg Gillson greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/2009/05/backyard-birds-of-seattle-washington.html From phainopepla at yahoo.com Tue May 19 07:36:52 2009 From: phainopepla at yahoo.com (Michael Dossett) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 07:36:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] FWD Queen Anne Mystery Warbler Message-ID: <946548.42264.qm@web112504.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> I'm glad to see this bird getting some discussion on OBOL. So far in less than 12 hours I think it has generated more comments here than it has in a few days on Tweeters. This bird is also being discussed on ID Frontiers although few have been brave enough to venture a public guess on this bird. This bird Screams American Redstart to me, however I don't believe it is a pure Redstart. I've attached a message below that I sent to ID Frontiers regarding why I believe that it is not a pure Redstart after someone on that list posted that theory. At present I still haven't come to any firm conclusions although since yesterday evening I'm leaning towards American Redstart x Yellow Warbler. Its a documented combination (I still haven't found any photos however) and explains a lot of things. As Dave Irons pointed out, the tail and undertail covert pattern and structure would fit this parent well and might explain the eyering and head. The streaks on the sides still bother me a little bit for calling it this, however I'm starting to wonder if Redstart genes would be enough to turn a Yellow Warbler's red chest and side streaks black in a hybrid progeny. Michael Michael Dossett Corvallis, Oregon www.Mdossettphoto.com phainopepla at yahoo.com *******Begin Forwarded Message Subject: Re: mystery warbler from Seattle From: Michael Dossett Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 13:45:07 -0700 With all do respect, try as I might, I have a very difficult time making this bird into a pure American Redstart. I certainly think that it probably has Redstart in it, but it simply does not add up to a pure bird. Forgetting for a moment, the undertail pattern and undertail coverts which aren't a good fit for AMRE, there are many other things about this bird that are too far "off." For starters, I would expect any American Redstart with this much black on the chest and elsewhere to have black lores as well. I don't see that here, there is some dark extending downward from the base of the bill to below the eye, but not where the lores are. The white eye-ring is also much larger and stronger than I've seen on any AMRE before. The wing on this bird also is not that of an American Redstart. There is a faint upper wingbar visible in many of the pictures, for example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/9654794 AT N06/3539609195/in/photostream/ In addition, this bird lacks any markings at the base of the primaries and/or secondaries which I would expect to see in a redstart of any age. The faint yellow on the undertail coverts and particlarly the brighter yellow in the area where the legs attach to the body contrast sharply with the white on the belly and I do not believe this is an artifact of the photos (see: http://www.flickr.com/photos/9654794 AT N06/3540422440/in/photostream/). In addition, the pattern of light and dark on the UTCs and tail just is not even a close match at all to what I would expect with AMRE (see plates 31 and 32 in Dunn and Garrett), light color goes all the way to the tip of the tail in the center and the corners are dark. As for the streaking on the sides, I'm not quite sure what to attribute those to. It's possible that those are black filling in on the plumage of this bird, but I think much more likely that this is a result of a parent of this bird having streaked sides instead. While this bird screams Redstart to me, upon closer examination the pieces of the puzzle don't fit. For now I'm in the camp that this is some hybrid with American Redstart likely being one of the parents. The other I'm not sure of, and we'll probably never know for sure exactly what this bird is. One thing is for sure though, I'll be studying these photos a lot more trying to dissect what this might be. Michael Michael Dossett Corvallis, Oregon www.Mdossettphoto.com phainopepla AT yahoo.com From chacha6120 at yahoo.com Tue May 19 08:16:39 2009 From: chacha6120 at yahoo.com (John Plank) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 08:16:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Lazuli Bunting Mt. Talbert Message-ID: <206184.99831.qm@web30602.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Went hiking to the top and around the western ridge of Mt. Talbert.? As I was on my way out, just happened to spot the Lazuli Bunting.? This was the first one I have spotted in my three years of birding - very exciting.? Great variety of other birds as well.? American Robins, Song Sparrows, Juncos, Hairy Woodpecker, Steller's Jay, Red Tailed Hawk, American Goldfinch, Black-Capped Chickadee, Black-Headed Grosbeaks,?various Wrens?etc.?? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/b411e55a/attachment.html From rcbrumitt at gmail.com Tue May 19 09:09:10 2009 From: rcbrumitt at gmail.com (Clint Brumitt) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 09:09:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] test Message-ID: This is a test. The next message will be about birds. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/d784832c/attachment.html From averill at easystreet.net Tue May 19 09:24:53 2009 From: averill at easystreet.net (Katy Averill) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 09:24:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black headed Grosbeaks Message-ID: <54A6C3C4D10F4B3AA634A3D5738F9389@eMachine> This morning about 6A we had 3 Black headed Grosbeaks on 2 of our feeders. One was a male. I thought the others were both female. Then one began feeding the other who behaved like an immature. Isn't it early for them to have young flying about? The female is back again now without company. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/bafdef0d/attachment.html From gneavoll at comcast.net Tue May 19 09:27:43 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 16:27:43 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Washington Park Grosbeaks - Portland Message-ID: <735340223.9071571242750463026.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> S.E. corner of Portland's Washington Park rang this morning (5/19/09) with calls of hundreds of EVENING GROSBEAKS feeding in large oaks, maples, beeches. Flock also contained numerous WESTERN TANAGERS (mostly females), lesser numbers of BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS (again, mostly or all females). George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/7f261d30/attachment.html From jorrie at peak.org Tue May 19 09:35:01 2009 From: jorrie at peak.org (Jorrie & Ken) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 09:35:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Allen's Nesting Message-ID: <4081B6DB-55A0-401C-BD12-5C95D53044E1@peak.org> I have a friend who lives just outside of Arcata, CA. She can see an Allen's hummingbird nest from her kitchen window. Yesterday she noticed two beaks sticking straight up in the air. She is not a photographer and was wondering if a photographer/videographer would like to come to document this. She would like to get a copy of the photos and video. If anyone can give any suggestions as to whom might be interested in doing this, please let me know. Thank you. Jorrie Ciotti From gismiller at gmail.com Tue May 19 10:53:47 2009 From: gismiller at gmail.com (Craig Miller) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 10:53:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hybrid warbler In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4A12F22B.2070607@gmail.com> I agree there is little question that at least one parent is an American Redstart. The eye pattern reminds me most of a Canada Warbler, which could fit in with the other features on the bird (yellowish underparts, etc). Craig Miller David Irons wrote: > Alan et al., > > This is one very interesting warbler. I notice a couple things on this > bird that intrigue me. First the bill looks fairly large and dull at > the tip (points away from it being part Vermivora). Also, it seems to > have very long under tail coverts, which points to Yellow Warbler > being part of the equation. One respondent on the Flickr page > suggested that Yellow was involved and I'm inclined to agree. The > other aspect of this bird that seems Yellow Warblerish is the eye. It > is very large and stands out on the face. Additionally, Yellow > Warblers tend to have a broad light area (an eyering of sorts) that > surrounds the eye. Since the head is already all yellow, this slightly > lighter area does not stand out when you see a pure Yellow Warbler. > As for the black on the breast, that is really odd. It does not seem > to match up well with any typical western Warbler as it seems way too > extensive. Some suggest the involvement of Townsend's. I have a tough > time with that theory because the black on the breast seems too solid > and not streaky enough on the lower part of the bib. > > Like everyone else, I'm shooting a bit from the hip as I do not have a > strong feeling about the parentage of this bird. The extensive black > down the breast and the white belly make me wonder about something > like a Black-throated Blue X Yellow cross. > > Dave Irons > > > Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 21:32:52 -0700 > > From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Subject: [obol] Hybrid warbler > > > > That's an impressive hybrid. I'll start the bidding with Yellow-rump x > > Nashville. I think one of the birds was probably a yellow-rump and the > > other was NOT another arboreal thing. The tail shows no spots at all > and it > > has a significant eyering. There is a whitish Nashvilly area on the > > underside. > > > > -- > > Alan Contreras > > EUGENE, OREGON > > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > > > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary > > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. Check it out. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From johndeshler at yahoo.com Tue May 19 12:42:13 2009 From: johndeshler at yahoo.com (John Deshler) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 12:42:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrush arrival in Portland and Gray Jays again Message-ID: <319766.55298.qm@web34204.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Swainson's Thrush descended upon Forest Park in Portland on Sunday morning (5/17) in large numbers, about a week late relative to the last two years (5/10 last year). I'd been eagerly awaiting them and was excited to finally hear their calls, then their songs in multiple locations in the park. More timely pygmy-owl food as the owlets are just about to hatch out... I also detected a pair of Gray Jays at 550 feet elevation along Firelane 12 in Forest Park last week, in one of the same locations as I saw a pair last year. The pair interacted with a pair of Stellar's Jays, loosely following one another, and perching near one another in several small trees, but without any noticable phyiscal or vocal aggression. Also, it appears the May die-off of Townsend's Moles is a bit late and light. Haven't seen nearly as many of these critters dead on the trailside as in previous years...their snouts typically bloody. Dunno why they die this time of year. Microbe? Starvation? Dog attack? If anybody knows the right answer, email me - I'd be curious to hear about it. Cheers, John Deshler Portland From alfanana at q.com Tue May 19 12:46:52 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 19:46:52 +0000 Subject: [obol] Baby Warblers? Message-ID: I hope that I just saw two immature Audubon's Warblers!!!! One has yellow bars on the wings and yellow under the tail, the other's wing bars are white. They are smaller that a House Finch, brown backed, speckled on the belly, and a shallow forked tail. I do have pictures if anyone wants to have a look. They are not very good. Karen S. La Pine -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/51cceef3/attachment.html From msgellerman at gmail.com Tue May 19 12:48:32 2009 From: msgellerman at gmail.com (Michael Gellerman) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 12:48:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cattle Egrets Message-ID: <1d0c413a0905191248j34f3ca8co6d7913860af80996@mail.gmail.com> I have lived all over the world and seen plenty of cattle egrets - some populations become very orange in places like Okinawa and Taiwan and other populations have very little orange - the birds in Patagonia are just white. I may be wrong but the orange color has nothing to do with applied color. Cattle Egrets pretty much only get competition from House Sparrows and European Starlings when it comes to dispersal and variation. "... these plumes emerge during the later stages of the definitive prebasic molt in August?November, grow slowly through January? February, and are retained until replacement during the following prebasic molt. The preformative (traditionally termed ?first-prebasic?) molt shows substantial variation in extent..." - The Wilson Bulletin 116(4):287-292. 2004 Mike Gellerman -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/bdc783d1/attachment.html From fschrock at gmail.com Tue May 19 12:51:48 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 12:51:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrushes moving tonight In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <390ebd880905191251v199d9b49p62b5b49b0873a2f@mail.gmail.com> When I went to bed at 10:30 last night (5-18) I also heard (through my open window) many, many Swainson's Thrushes moving over McMinnville, but I didn't get up to count them. Should be lots of them in the woods today. Floyd Schrock McMinnville, OR On Tue, May 19, 2009 at 12:02 AM, David Irons wrote: > It's midnight. Low, dense overcast over Eugene. Heavy movement of > Swainson's Thrushes, with 5-20 calls per minute. > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > > ------------------------------ > Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. Check it out. > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/0672e9a9/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Tue May 19 13:01:01 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 16:01:01 -0400 Subject: [obol] Red Crossbills in Hillsboro Message-ID: When I got back yesterday from a 10-day trip to Greece, I was surprised to hear Red Crossbills through the open window of my house on the south side of Orenco Elementary in Hillsboro. They were still around this morning. So were several swirling flocks of Evening Grosbeaks. They were already there when I left on 5/7, and still are. Black-headed Grosbeaks are at the feeder now, must have arrived while I was gone. A singing Swainson's Thrush was at Shadywood Park in Hillsboro at around noon today. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has a new way to see what's up with your friends. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/WhatsNew?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_WhatsNew1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/52fc068f/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue May 19 13:06:06 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 13:06:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Elegant Tern- May 17? Message-ID: <581861.69972.qm@web45308.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Hi OBOLers, I have been trying to track down details of the Elegant Tern report from Devil's Punchbowl on 17 May.? This records seems way to early for this species in Oregon.? The earliest date in Coos Co. is 25 July.? Does anyone know what the earliest spring date (besides this one) is for Oregon?? I remember another way early report from a couple years back too, I tend to think they are probably mis-IDed terns, but would love to hear what other early dates there are and what others think about the possibility this species could make it to Oregon in mid-May?? Early N. CA records would be of interest too? I usually start looking for this species in late July, maybe I need to look earlier? Merry migration! Tim Rodenkirk Coos Bay From tom-escue at comcast.net Tue May 19 14:29:29 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 14:29:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Springfield backyard Message-ID: Birds continue slow in my backyard. However, I had what I thought to be a WESTERN-WOOD-PEWEE or PACIFIC SLOPE this morning. It was small, grayish with an indistinct eye-ring and gray chest. It did not call. I am not good at these flycatchers. Also, today: female BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, several AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES. Tom Escue Central Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/28c84602/attachment.html From dan at heyerly.com Tue May 19 15:59:31 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Dan Heyerly) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 15:59:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrushes, and other species @ Malheur 5/7-5/11 Message-ID: <6CF549282839400DA4F0F0AFEEFDC8F7@Dan> Sorry for this very old report, but I thought I'd better put this out there for the permanent record. Anne and I spent a few days at Malheur earlier this month (specifically from late 5/6 through 5/11). We for sure had one, and possibly two, Swainson's Thrushes at Fields (Oasis) on Friday May 8, 2009. The next morning May 9, 2009 at HQ we saw one individual and later that afternoon another near Benson Pond. The trees leading east from the CPR along the north end of Benson Pond on 5/9 were absolutely swarming with warblers, nearly all were Yellow-rumps (99 Audubons to 1 Myrtle approximate ratio) but we did find one Black-throated Gray in that section. I saw at least one Bank Swallow on May 7, 2009 and by May 9 they were abundant (Benson Pond and other locations). Western Wood Pewee was at Fields (Oasis) also on 5/8), and there was another flycatcher that got away at Fields (seemed larger and dark like an Olive-sided). Many Lark Sparrows were along the highway just south of Wright's Point. Lark and Brewer's Sparrows were also at Riley Pond on 5/11. We saw no rarities. We saw some of the same species that were later reported by Noah Strycker (Common Goldeneye on 6-mile pond) and others (Burrowing Owl just north of the road where the highway bends east to go to fields from the Catlow Valley). We also had Sage Sparrow and Brewer's Sparrow in this location. We were too early for White-throated Swifts, Bobolinks, or Eastern Kingbirds, but we did have Yellow-breasted Chat, Prairie Falcon, and Golden Eagle at Roaring Springs on 5/8. Two Canyon Wrens were attending to a nest in the cliff face at Page Springs CG just east across the creek from Campsite 30. It was nice to see Lewis's Woodpeckers at almost every location where trees were present. We even saw some in the junipers (some of the live ones remaining) along the highway north of Frenchglen. And, it was cool to see so many Lazuli Buntings. They were the most abundant bird at HQ (except for Yellow-rumps). Yellow Warblers had territories set up approximately every 100' along the CPR where there were willows. Also at HQ (dates): Rufous Hummingbird (5/7) Calliope Hummingbird (5/7) Black-Chinned Hummingbird (5/7-5/11) Evening Grosbeak (5/10 or 5/11) (sorry, notes are at home) Hammond's Flycatcher 5/7 Dusky Flycatcher 5/8 Townsend's Warbler 5/7 Nashville Warbler 5/7 Wilson's Warbler 5/7 - 5/11 Yellow Warbler (5/7-5/11) Bushtit (1 individual) 5/7-5/11 Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (5/7) Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) (1 individual) 5/11 White-Crowned Sparrow (1 individual) 5/7 Golden-Crowned Sparrow (1 individ.) 5/7-5/8 White-Throated Sparrow (1 individ.) 5/7-5/8 Spotted Towhee (1 individ.) 5/11 The Golden-crowned and White-throated were associating closely together in all their activities: foraging in the shrubby areas along the south lawn of HQ and then flying together to the sage hillside for a time before returning to the HQ area again. Good birding, Dan Heyerly Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/a5ffcfb2/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Tue May 19 16:08:23 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 16:08:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Lane Co. coastal Rock Wren Message-ID: <543312.43311.qm@web37004.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, this afternoon around 2 pm, Daniel Farrar and I found a ROCK WREN at the Forest Service Maintenance Yard off the Siltcoos Beach access road in southern Lane Co. The bird was very tame as it hopped around a pile of wood and discarded signs and looked utterly at home in this unusual setting. Unfortunately, the area is closed to public access. Pictures can be found here: http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023828&id=1383356632&l=51ba579d44 Happy Spring Migration Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/fc9a37f1/attachment.html From heathwin at yahoo.com Tue May 19 16:16:35 2009 From: heathwin at yahoo.com (Heather) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 16:16:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Harney County 14-17 May 2009 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <580001.2262.qm@web110407.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Hi OBOL birders: Thanks to the recent posts on sightings at?Malheur this past weekend. Todd Thorn and I were also over there over the weekend.? We were also puzzling over the THRUSH at HQ...although we ended up with the same conclusion. Enjoyed the GREAT HORNED OWLat HQ, baby RED-TAILED HAWKS in nest, and (GREAT HORNED?) OWL chicks near the P Ranch. Thinking we were visiting a historical building rather than a "birdy" part of our day, we also noted the RAVEN chicks in their nest in the Round Barn rafters.? They were really cheeping and had open beaks - not sure if it was just in anticipation of the parents' next feeding visit, but it was definitely 90 degrees plus outside - must have been even hotter up in the rafters.? Hopefully they'll make it okay. I'm new to this list, and relatively new to bird list serves in general.? So I wasn't sure whether to even post the above nest locations - but hopefully the OBOL list consists of responsible birders following ABA Ethics...So at the risk of embarrasing myself with a dumb question, or unwittingly raising a controversial issue...my naive question is, with a nesting site such as the Round Barn (or any other local historical site attracting many visitors)...would they not close the site until the nesting period is complete and the chicks have fledged...? I hesitate to post the above question, hopefully it doesn't create any issues...but as a birder I have often wondered about nesting sites, public knowledge, when sites would be closed, etc. Thanks for any insight you can provide! Heather Findlay Okanogan WA ________________________________ From: Owen Schmidt To: OBOL Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 10:11:12 PM Subject: [obol] Harney County 14-17 May 2009 ....... can't add much to today's post by Noah Strycker. ?Jack Kiley, John Elizalde and ?I spent Thursday evening through Sunday morning around Malheur NWR. ?On Friday we drove out onto the Alvord Playa, found the water at the Alvord Hot Springs outflow, and there we saw about a dozen SNOWY PLOVERS in breeding plumage, about a dozen SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS also in breeding plumage, about a dozen LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and a single SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. ?BURROWING OWL at the sharp curve at the south end of Catlow Valley as the road turns up over the hill to Fields Station. ?A single WHITE-THROATED SWIFT at Roaring Springs Ranch. ? ? This morning at Refuge HQ we puzzled over a somewhat confusing?Catharus?thrush that had some markings for a Gray-cheeked Thrush and some markings for a HERMIT THRUSH ...... which is where we will leave it. ?At the same time a fairly typical SWAINSON'S THRUSH. ? A fun weekend as the leaves started coming out, before the mosquitos do. ?Good birding ........ oschmidt at att.net Sunday, May 17, 2009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/50b1a04c/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Tue May 19 16:17:47 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 16:17:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Lane Co. coastal Rock Wren Message-ID: <859777.81907.qm@web37001.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Forgot to mention (for those who care): the Rock Wren was my long overdue 300th county bird for Lane County (299 was Eurasian Collared-Dove, yuck yuck). Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Tue, 5/19/09, Hendrik Herlyn wrote: From: Hendrik Herlyn Subject: [obol] Lane Co. coastal Rock Wren To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 4:08 PM Hello all, this afternoon around 2 pm, Daniel Farrar and I found a ROCK WREN at the Forest Service Maintenance Yard off the Siltcoos Beach access road in southern Lane Co. The bird was very tame as it hopped around a pile of wood and discarded signs and looked utterly at home in this unusual setting. Unfortunately, the area is closed to public access. Pictures can be found here: http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023828&id=1383356632&l=51ba579d44 Happy Spring Migration Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/9b42d804/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Tue May 19 16:29:39 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 16:29:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos County Glaucous Gull, possible Pale-bellied Brant Message-ID: <245403.32796.qm@web37002.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Daniel Farrar and I found a well-marked second-winter GLAUCOUS GULL in the surf north of Tenmile Creek, Coos Co., today. We also observed a lone BRANT flying south, which appeared to be distinctly lighter-bellied than the usual "Black" Brant. Unfortunately, we didn't get on the bird fast enough and mainly caught a back view as it flew away from us, so we couldn't fully confirm its identity. But it looked very intriguing. There were still good numbers of PACIFIC LOONS moving north, and a noticeable movement of COMMON MURRES with a few RHINO AUKLETS mixed in. Brief views of a small, chunky, all dark alcid that was rapidly flying south and appeared to have an orange bill left us puzzled and somewhat frustrated ... ah, the joys of ocean watching! Happy Migration Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/6e64f02b/attachment.html From bettyehunt at aol.com Tue May 19 17:00:05 2009 From: bettyehunt at aol.com (bettyehunt at aol.com) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 20:00:05 -0400 Subject: [obol] EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES Message-ID: <8CBA6F510CFDD88-260-11D9@WEBMAIL-MB04.sysops.aol.com> Just had my first EC Doves in Oregon.? Two picking through the seed with the BT Pigs.? I first passed them off as MODOs and thought how sweet and pink they looked in that particular light.? Then I saw four MODOs at another feeder.? Oh, look, those first two have cute little?crescent marks on their napes.? I think I'm not supposed to enjoy them, but I confess that I did.??When I checked my field guide, I?discovered my first sighting (then Ringed Turtle Dove) was in August 1983 in Orange County, CA.? The (then) new NG guide what we had so eagerly awaited describes the bird as "Small populations established, but not expanding...."? Oh, well, can't get them all right.? The doves left with the ever-so-skittish Bandies, but then came back.? They really are quite lovely; but they that's probably why they are so popular as cage birds. Bettye Hunt Waldport -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/38b795d1/attachment.html From tcolbyster at gmail.com Tue May 19 17:12:53 2009 From: tcolbyster at gmail.com (Trask Colby) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 17:12:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur 15-18 Message-ID: <2dd4d7e20905191712q22104764q17f8979c7af1e8f4@mail.gmail.com> Malheur 15-18 I'll keep my list brief... with one story. Birds of interest: I saw a Snow Goose and Eastern Kingbird on 205 about 5 miles south of burns. Nesting Burrowing Owl and Ferruginous Hawk just north of the Narrows. Headquarters had a Northern-Saw Whet Owl, and White-Throated Sparrow. Page Springs had Western Screech Owl and Band-Tailed Pigeon. Ended the trip with ~115 birds and 5 owl species. Arrived early at HQ on Saturday ~5:15 and found a Magpie being very angry, I looked around for a GH owl but didn't see anything. Shortly after another angry Magpie also showed up, and right between them I saw a pine cone. The pine cone morphed into a Saw-Whet owl. Just as I saw it, it flew, being chased by the Magpie's around a corner. When I found it again it lay on the ground being pecked at by the Magpie. I yelled and screamed, as my heart started to beat really fast, and chased the Magpie off. I picked up the owl as softly as I could, hoping he was simply stunned and that I could protect him long enough to wake up. Those talons looked scary, but I was willing to take the risk. After holding him for about 30 minutes I realized that he certainly wasn't going to come around. I showed a few people his beautiful body and was nearly in tears when I thought about what to do with it. How could I throw away such a beautiful bird. I gave the bird to the HQ staff hoping some good would come of it. Such was not the case, I later heard it had been put in the dumpster. A sad ending for a bird that was simply trying to rest a day before he found a real home. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/cc52d4ff/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Tue May 19 17:18:18 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 17:18:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] solitary sandpiper, Ridgefield NWR Message-ID: Although this bird is in the closed area it is close to the Auto Tour Route and I wanted to alert the folks who go to the refuge to keep a sharp eye out for sandpipers just in case! Bob Flores Ridgefield NWR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/24f8b969/attachment.html From jvanmoo at sisna.com Tue May 19 17:44:50 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 17:44:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-necked Grebe, K-Falls, 5-19-09 Message-ID: Hi Folks, After reading Harry Fuller's post today about 2 RED-NECKED GREBE seen yesterday along the waterfront of Moore Park, I went over at about 3 PM and found one (didn't stay long enough to see if there were 2). It was at the mouth of the small Moore Park marina just opposite the entrance gate to Moore Park. Beautiful bird in breeding plumage. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From bettyehunt at aol.com Tue May 19 17:55:22 2009 From: bettyehunt at aol.com (bettyehunt at aol.com) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 20:55:22 -0400 Subject: [obol] Oops on EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE Message-ID: <8CBA6FCCA2BB688-260-13B5@WEBMAIL-MB04.sysops.aol.com> They are, indeed, EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES.? The "oops" is on my earliest sighting of RINGED TURTLE DOVES which were, apparently AFRICAN COLLARED DOVES. Bettye Hunt Waldport -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/1c84c081/attachment.html From erikknight05 at comcast.net Tue May 19 20:56:36 2009 From: erikknight05 at comcast.net (Erik Knight) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 03:56:36 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] American White Pelican, Oaks Bottom Message-ID: <186774028.6693031242791796411.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> OBOLers, Observed an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN on the main pond at Oaks Bottom in SE Portland early this afternoon between gully-washers.? Lots of Pacific-slope flycatchers and Warbling vireos around as well.? full sightings on birdnotes.? Will provide a link to the photos I took when I can. Erik Knight Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090520/e42b90f0/attachment.html From rccarl at pacbell.net Tue May 19 21:02:15 2009 From: rccarl at pacbell.net (Richard Carlson) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 21:02:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] (no subject) Message-ID: <548353.36512.qm@web81003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> We had male & female Indigo Buntings at the feeders at Malheur HQ today. Richard Carlson Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian Part-time Economist Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA rccarl at pacbell.net Tucson 520-760-4935 Tahoe 530-581-0624 Kirkland 425-828-3819 Cell 650-280-2965 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/f88dd9ea/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue May 19 21:01:52 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 21:01:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] hybrid warblers Message-ID: <13efad338507753da04b473d62552a76@earthlink.net> All attempts to view pictures on my computer through flickr have resulted in complete failure, so I have only had text-based material to consider. Captive waterfowl frequently hybridize and the parents are more often known than in the case of wild birds. Such hybrids (waterfowl) often show plumage patterns not found in either parent. I wonder if this might occur in warblers or other groups. Lars Norgren From willclemons at yahoo.com Tue May 19 21:03:27 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 21:03:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] FWD: [Tweeters] Queen Anne Warbler (added notes by original viewer) Message-ID: <13616.17487.qm@web55107.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Subject: Queen anne warbler From: "Zack & Sam Riley" Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 19:39:18 -0700 hi everyone, sorry i did not post about this earlier. i was the person that was with collin when we found the weird warbler on queen anne. i just wanted to share some of the things that i observed about the warbler. first of all, it did call two times. the song was not anything that i recognized though. i am not familiar with the songs of any eastern warblers, but it certainly didnt sound like any of the warblers that live in washington state. i wish i could have been able to place the call on something, or at least describe it. i agree that this would be a great way to figure out at least one of the parents that raised the individual and narrow it down to a much more limited outcome. there were a couple behavioral things and field marks that arent noticable from the photos. for behavior, it seemed very unactive compared to the other warblers in the area and most warblers in general(could just be the individual). in the half hour that we observed it only switched the branch that it was feeding on once or twice, and remained fairly low in the tree foraging within a very small area. it also did not pump or fan its tail. i did not see any real characteristic behaviors in this bird. as for field marks, there were a couple of things. it is only seeable on one photo, but the bird had a clear black cap that was at least as dark as its throat. also it did not show any yellow or orange on the base of the upper side of the tail that should be seen in an american redstart. instead it was completely dark. also the photos can be kind of misleading. some people have stated that it appears short- tailed(i can see why in the photos) but looking at it in person it appeared to have a long tail. I went back with peter klein on sunday evening to try to hear it again with no luck. peter also tried for it on monday morning with no luck. Although the area does have a lot of birds(warblers, vireos, flycatchers, etc.) and seems to be a great migrant trap. Sam Riley______ From dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM Tue May 19 21:08:20 2009 From: dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM (Cheryl Whelchel) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 21:08:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] hybrid warblers In-Reply-To: <13efad338507753da04b473d62552a76@earthlink.net> References: <13efad338507753da04b473d62552a76@earthlink.net> Message-ID: I had the same problem with the link, but found the pictures by searching Flickr Try this link, I think it will work http://www.flickr.com/photos/9654794 at N06/ ----- Original Message ----- From: Norgren Family To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 9:01 PM Subject: [obol] hybrid warblers All attempts to view pictures on my computer through flickr have resulted in complete failure, so I have only had text-based material to consider. Captive waterfowl frequently hybridize and the parents are more often known than in the case of wild birds. Such hybrids (waterfowl) often show plumage patterns not found in either parent. I wonder if this might occur in warblers or other groups. Lars Norgren _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/ff068ad3/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Tue May 19 21:16:35 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 04:16:35 +0000 Subject: [obol] Baby Warblers? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Karen, Your description sounds pretty close to dead-on for Pine Siskins, which have wingbars that vary from yellow to white, have shallow forked or notched tail, are smaller than house finches, and are generally brown and gray with heavy to fine streaking on the underparts. It would be extremely early for young Yellow-rumped Warblers, especially on your side of the hill. I will send you a follow-up private post with some attached images of Pine Siskins for you to check out. It is always helpful when someone offers a good description of a confusing bird. Your description is more than sufficient to help more experienced folks solve this puzzle. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: alfanana at q.com To: cobol at lists.oregonstate.edu; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 19:46:52 +0000 Subject: [obol] Baby Warblers? I hope that I just saw two immature Audubon's Warblers!!!! One has yellow bars on the wings and yellow under the tail, the other's wing bars are white. They are smaller that a House Finch, brown backed, speckled on the belly, and a shallow forked tail. I do have pictures if anyone wants to have a look. They are not very good. Karen S. La Pine _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_BR_life_in_synch_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090520/e19b3898/attachment.html From calliope at theriver.com Tue May 19 21:36:06 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 21:36:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln County Clark's Grebe, Black Scoter Message-ID: <5D13F5DC-44B7-4989-AA13-5CB14323456B@theriver.com> Tuesday, May 19 Dear Birders, Today we worked our way down the Lincoln County coast from Netarts to Newport and then inland to Corvallis. At Yaquina Head we had two CLARK'S GREBES with two WESTERN GREBES just north of the main murre rock off the lighthouse. At one point, a Western was courting with one of the Clark's. From the parking lot, looking north to the surf on Moolack Beach I spotted a female BLACK SCOTER with several SURF SCOTERS, though it tended to stay separate from the main flock. There were seven HARLEQUIN DUCKS off the north side of Devils Punchbowl. Yesterday evening we had a first cycle GLAUCOUS GULL roosting on the sand spit at the mouth of Netarts Bay with a few GLAUCOUS-WINGED and many WESTERN. I forgot to mention my best sighting yesterday ? a pod of 2+ Killer Whales off the surf at the town of Cape Meares. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Tue May 19 21:55:53 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 21:55:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tualatin Hills Nature Park - Tuesday walk Message-ID: <000701c9d907$6799f030$16db63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: Our group of 20 enjoyed a SUNNY Morning Birdsong Walk at Tualatin Hills Nature Park this morning. We saw lots of BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS and compared their song to Robins. We had a look at a PILEATED WOODPECKER. We found a BUSHTIT NEST. We saw two MINK run down a log. We found the first-of-the-season CASSIN'S VIREO, and SWAINSON'S THRUSH. I heard one "sweep" from a PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER. Back at the parking lot, while I was writing notes after everyone had left, I heard a first-of-season WILLOW FLYCATCHER doing it's "fitz-bew" by the parking lot. Ahh, Spring!! Paul T. Sullivan From llsdirons at msn.com Tue May 19 22:02:44 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 05:02:44 +0000 Subject: [obol] Elegant Tern- May 17? In-Reply-To: <581861.69972.qm@web45308.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <581861.69972.qm@web45308.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Greetings All, I have to echo Tim's sentiments on this report. The traditional range of Elegant Tern is closely tied to areas with persistent warm water. When they do disperse to the north, it is usually after the breeding season and to some degree connected to ENSO ("El Nino") events. During El Nino years (and this is not showing signs of being one) the waters of the eastern Pacific gradually warm during the spring and summer months and Elegant Terns as well as other warm-water obligates (Boobies, Frigatebirds, Black Storm-Petrels) tend to stray well to the north of their normal range. I just pulled up some online sea surface temp maps and over the last three months the water temps off the Pacific states have actually been colder than normal, which is essentially the exact opposite of the type of conditions that might result in the appearance of Elegant Terns along the Oregon coast. Like Tim, I have not seen a description of the bird(s) nor am I aware of the conditions of the observation. While it is always possible that the reporting observer did see an Elegant Tern, I would say that given current set of oceanic conditions it would be an extraordinary record. It is important to remember, that at this date an Elegant Tern at Devil's Punchbowl would be well over 1000 miles out of range and even in strong El Nino years Elegant Terns do not generally reach Oregon until mid-August. The weekend before last I joined several other Oregon, Washington, and Canadian birders on a cruise ship that sailed from San Francisco to Vancouver B.C. We spent several hours birding along the San Francisco Bay front and birded the bay and near shore waters outside the bay as we made our way west and then north the first afternoon and evening. We saw no Elegant Terns, nor did we expect to. Ocean temps were cool throughout the trip, rarely getting much warmer than about 50F. We saw no warm water species during this voyage. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 13:06:06 -0700 > From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Elegant Tern- May 17? > > > Hi OBOLers, > > I have been trying to track down details of the Elegant Tern report from Devil's Punchbowl on 17 May. This records seems way to early for this species in Oregon. The earliest date in Coos Co. is 25 July. Does anyone know what the earliest spring date (besides this one) is for Oregon? I remember another way early report from a couple years back too, I tend to think they are probably mis-IDed terns, but would love to hear what other early dates there are and what others think about the possibility this species could make it to Oregon in mid-May? Early N. CA records would be of interest too? > > I usually start looking for this species in late July, maybe I need to look earlier? > > Merry migration! > Tim Rodenkirk > Coos Bay > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090520/436bbd49/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Tue May 19 22:14:43 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 22:14:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red Necked Phalarope Florence Message-ID: <6DF2B21B-2E7E-4EA5-9321-343A05F7A0B1@oregonfast.net> Hello OBOL, For the second day a single RED NECKED PHALAROPE was at the mud flat, Siuslaw River North jetty, Florence. There is a marked increase in SWAINSON'S THRUSH calls the past 2 days and today at the North Jetty Mud Flats, I heard the FOY song!! It's hard to choose a "Best Song" but the SWTH is definitely right up at the tippie top!! Best, Vern Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/c92317b1/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Tue May 19 23:56:32 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 06:56:32 +0000 Subject: [obol] Additional discussion of Steve Mlodinow's "Carduloxia" and new photos of known hybrids are now up at www.birdfellow.com Message-ID: Greetings, Since publishing Steve Mlodinow's original discussion about the "Carduloxia" he photographed in Baja California Sur in March 2009, Dave Herr sent me photos of three known Northern Cardinal X Pyrrhuloxia hybrids that reside in captivity at the Sonoran Desert Museum in Tucson. These birds all have bills that are similar in color and shape to the bill on Steve's bird. We've published some follow-up discussion along with images of these three birds at www.birdfellow.com. We invite those interested in this topic to check out the new post and let us know what you think by posting a comment to our site. Dave Irons Content Editor BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090520/78c6fc8f/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Wed May 20 06:42:33 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 06:42:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding Pt. Pelee, Ontario Canada Message-ID: My school has closed it's doors three weeks early so I'm off to Pt. Pelee for some R&R&B. I would love to hear from those of you who have been. I would like to know your favorite locations and hotspots. I have done a fair amount of research so I know about the park itself. However, I would like to hear your thoughts about where to go first in the morning, where to look for shorebirds (I would like to see White-rumped Sandpiper), and where to spend the evenings. I'm also interested in the surrounding area. I arrive in the thick of Memorial Day Weekend and I may want to escape the crowds to some less crowded areas for a couple of days. I'll be there for a week. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090520/7b589160/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Wed May 20 07:03:00 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 07:03:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] North American Migration Count Thank You!!!!! Message-ID: The spring 09 North American Migration Count has concluded and we had a very encouraging turnout throughout the state. Almost all of the counties in the state had at least a few people counting birds. By next fall, we hope to have all counties covered. I want to personally thank all those that participated in the count. This count is done entirely by volunteers and the number of hours and miles put in by you people is very impressive and a tremendous contribution to Oregon birding and bird knowledge. I plan to have all the results in by mid June and will give a brief summary to obol then. There will be a complete report in an upcoming Oregon Birds article. Thanks again and I hope all of you will consider volunteering for the fall NAMC which will be the 3rd weekend in September. Chuck Gates NAMC State Coordinator ECBC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090520/80ed22ee/attachment.html From richarmstrong at comcast.net Wed May 20 07:47:18 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 07:47:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Newport area birding References: <20090515131850.4vk0jmtye8c00kg0@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Message-ID: <4614D269CA044F1AB639CEF91112343A@armstrong> we took son and niece and relatives to coast sunday, but did a little birding 1. for those keeping track of GLAUCOUS GULL there was 1 next to north jetty. 2. at least 3 common loons in full alternate plumage 3. a group of about 15 WHIMBRELS and 15 BONAPARTE'S GULLS was on river not far inland. 4. 4 separate flocks of BRANT flying north, probably 250 birds Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed May 20 07:47:19 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 10:47:19 -0400 Subject: [obol] Brown Headed Cow Bird? Message-ID: <8CBA77102B9823F-F0C-3253@webmail-dh26.sysops.aol.com> I'm trying to identify this bird. He doesn't match the Cow Bird pictures in my books. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3555/3549032050_58b3dee78a.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3634/3548221749_b8edbeda63.jpg?v=0 ?I appreciate the help. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090520/f28eceec/attachment.html From plbirder at bendbroadband.com Wed May 20 09:08:33 2009 From: plbirder at bendbroadband.com (plbirder at bendbroadband.com) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 09:08:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Migrants SE Bend, Peregrine Sawyer Park Message-ID: Hi to all, this is a failed message from yesterday. Overnight arrivalls in our yard yesterday were, Swainson's Thrush, Cassin's Vireo, Townsend's Warbler, 2 Yellow Warblers, 2 Orange-crowned and 2 Wilson's Warblers. Wester Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Sawyer Park in Bend late afternoon, an Adult Peregrine passed low over my head as I stood on the footbridge. Wilson's Warblers were abundent with approx 50 birds, with 10 Yellow Warblers, 2 Orange-crownd, 2 MacGillivray's and 0 Yellow-rumped Warblers. Also 6 Western Wood-Pewee, 1 Dusky Flycatcher and 6 Warbling Vireos. Peter Low From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Wed May 20 09:18:16 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 09:18:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birds on the move - Eugene Message-ID: <81b2a9930905200918n12d55ae2te9433b5305c83a91@mail.gmail.com> While checking my mailbox early yesterday evening, I noticed a male WESTERN TANAGER and at least five CEDAR WAXWINGS foraging through the trees near the end of my driveway. That was the first time I've seen either species in my yard. I also spotted small flocks of EVENING GROSBEAKS around the law building on the U of O campus both earlier this morning and late Monday afternoon. Brandon Eugene From llsdirons at msn.com Wed May 20 09:27:02 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 16:27:02 +0000 Subject: [obol] Brown Headed Cow Bird? In-Reply-To: <8CBA77102B9823F-F0C-3253@webmail-dh26.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBA77102B9823F-F0C-3253@webmail-dh26.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: Hi Johnny, The reason it doesn't match the Brown-headed Cowbird images, is because it is not one. This is a female Brewer's Blackbird. A couple things to look at: 1. The bill is fairly long and narrow and looks slightly down-curved near the tip. A cowbird has a shorter, stouter bill, with a fairly straight culmen, so the bill looks straight and somewhat conical (cone-shaped) like a finch bill. 2. The wings rump and tail of this bird are blackish with hint of iridescent green and they contrast with the duller brown head, back and underparts. Female Brown-headed Cowbirds are uniform medium brown (about the color of dried dirt). They show no black in their plumage, nor any iridescence. Just for reference, a male Brown-headed Cowbird would be entirely black with some greenish iridescence and a glossy brown head. 3. This is subtle, but cowbirds have very dark eyes that usually look entirely black. The field guides tell us that female Brewer's Blackbirds (unlike light-eyed adult males) have dark eyes, and they do. However, if you look closely your bird shows a slightly paler iris, which gives the eye some pattern and character rather than looking entirely dark as it does on a cowbird. Hope this helps, Dave Irons Eugene, OR To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 10:47:19 -0400 From: jonysky101 at aol.com Subject: [obol] Brown Headed Cow Bird? I'm trying to identify this bird. He doesn't match the Cow Bird pictures in my books. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3555/3549032050_58b3dee78a.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3634/3548221749_b8edbeda63.jpg?v=0 I appreciate the help. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or We found the real 'Hotel California' and the 'Seinfeld' diner. What will you find? Explore WhereItsAt.com. _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090520/845cddde/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Wed May 20 09:36:15 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 12:36:15 -0400 Subject: [obol] Shadywood Park, Hillsboro (Washington Co) Message-ID: Spent some 50min at Shadywood Park (http://www.ci.hillsboro.or.us/ParksRec/ParksFacilities/ShadywoodPark.aspx) in fallout conditions this morning. This little park might just be the best place in the Hillsboro area for migration. The oaks have just fully leaved out, so now is the time to visit this local gem. Its most vociferous summer resident, the Western Wood-Pewee, has not arrived yet. Western Tanager - 10 Pacific-slope Flycatcher - 5 Wilson's Warbler - 30 Towsend's Warbler - 10 Yellow Warbler - 2 Warbling Vireo - 4 Swainson's Thrush - 5 Evening Grosbeak - several heard Band-tailed Pigeon - 4 Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has a new way to see what's up with your friends. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/WhatsNew?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_WhatsNew1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090520/5a22de47/attachment.html From leilas at ori.org Wed May 20 10:07:07 2009 From: leilas at ori.org (Leila Snow) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 10:07:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seeking suggestions for birding near Lincoln City via kayak Message-ID: <21DD4913A2E515418D46343D022DF23A0182E964@wodan.ori-eug.ori.org> I'm headed over this weekend. If you have suggestions, please contact me off list at leilas at ori.org Thanks! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090520/e633e622/attachment.html From sgmlod at aol.com Tue May 19 10:59:25 2009 From: sgmlod at aol.com (sgmlod at aol.com) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 13:59:25 -0400 Subject: [obol] Hybrid warbler In-Reply-To: <4A12F22B.2070607@gmail.com> References: <4A12F22B.2070607@gmail.com> Message-ID: <8CBA6C2AE8D25B6-E54-B41@mblk-d33.sysops.aol.com> I like Yellow Warbler over Canada for a couple reasons: First of all, habitat choice and song similarity Secondly, upperparts seem bright greenish to me, which would not seem to be c/w an AMRExYEWA. Steven Mlodinow -----Original Message----- From: Craig Miller To: David Irons Cc: Alan Contreras ; post OBOL ; Steve Mlodinow Sent: Tue, 19 May 2009 10:53 am Subject: Re: [obol] Hybrid warbler I agree there is little question that at least one parent is an American Redstart. The eye pattern reminds me most of a Canada Warbler, which could fit in with the other features on the bird (yellowish underparts, etc).? ? Craig Miller? ? David Irons wrote:? > Alan et al.,? >? > This is one very interesting warbler. I notice a couple things on this > bird that intrigue me. First the bill looks fairly large and dull at > the tip (points away from it being part Vermivora). Also, it seems to > have very long under tail coverts, which points to Yellow Warbler > being part of the equation. One respondent on the Flickr page > suggested that Yellow was involved and I'm inclined to agree. The > other aspect of this bird that seems Yellow Warblerish is the eye. It > is very large and stands out on the face. Additionally, Yellow > Warblers tend to have a broad light area (an eyering of sorts) that > surrounds the eye. Since the head is already all yellow, this slightly > lighter area does not stand out when you see a pure Yellow Warbler. > As for the black on the breast, that is really odd. It does not seem > to match up well with any typical western Warbler as it seems way too > extensive. Some suggest the involvement of Townsend's. I have a tough > time with that theory because the black on the breast seems too solid > and not streaky enough on the lower part of the bib.? >? > Like everyone else, I'm shooting a bit from the hip as I do not have a > strong feeling about the parentage of this bird. The extensive black > down the breast and the white belly make me wonder about something > like a Black-throated Blue X Yellow cross.? >? > Dave Irons? >? > > Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 21:32:52 -0700? > > From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM? > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org? > > Subject: [obol] Hybrid warbler? > >? > > That's an impressive hybrid. I'll start the bidding with Yellow-rump x? > > Nashville. I think one of the birds was probably a yellow-rump and the? > > other was NOT another arboreal thing. The tail shows no spots at all > and it? > > has a significant eyering. There is a whitish Nashvilly area on the? > > underside.? > >? > > --? > > Alan Contreras? > > EUGENE, OREGON? > > acontrer at mindspring.com? > >? > >? > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary? > > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News? > >? > >? > >? > >? > >? > >? > > _______________________________________________? > > obol mailing list? > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org? > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol? >? > ------------------------------------------------------------------------? > Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. Check it out. > ? > ------------------------------------------------------------------------? >? > _______________________________________________? > obol mailing list? > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org? > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol? ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090519/48bb2093/attachment.html From anzatowhee at yahoo.com Tue May 19 18:25:04 2009 From: anzatowhee at yahoo.com (Harry Fuller) Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 18:25:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Pics of Red-necked Grebe, Redhead pics Message-ID: <362609.5919.qm@web34701.mail.mud.yahoo.com> My amateurish pics are at: http://atowhee.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/beauty-and-many-beasties/ Pic of Redhead at: http://atowhee.wordpress.com/2009/05/19/klamath-and-the-cascades-wrap-up/ Harry Fuller www.towhee.net for birding Oregon & Northern California bird updates at : http://atowhee.wordpress.com/ green tech blog: http://blogs.zdnet.com/green/ --- On Tue, 5/19/09, Julie Van Moorhem wrote: > From: Julie Van Moorhem > Subject: [KlamathBasinBirdNews] Red-necked Grebe, K-Falls, 5-19-09 > To: "Klamth Basin Bird News Bird News" > Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 5:44 PM > > Hi Folks, > After reading Harry Fuller's post today about 2 RED-NECKED > GREBE seen? > yesterday along the waterfront of Moore Park, I went over > at about 3? > PM and found one (didn't stay long enough to see if there > were 2).? It? > was at the mouth of the small Moore Park marina just > opposite the? > entrance gate to Moore Park.? Beautiful bird in > breeding plumage. > > Good birding y'all, > Julie Van Moorhem > Klamath Falls > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ > You received this message because you are subscribed to the > Google Groups "Klamath Basin Bird News" group. > To post to this group, send email to klamathbasinbirdnews at googlegroups.com > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > klamathbasinbirdnews+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com > For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/klamathbasinbirdnews?hl=en > -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- > > From namitzr at hotmail.com Wed May 20 10:44:28 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 10:44:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cape Arago seawatch 5/20/09 In-Reply-To: <2018932822.1242841311885.JavaMail.root@ruff.ornith.cornell.edu> References: <2018932822.1242841311885.JavaMail.root@ruff.ornith.cornell.edu> Message-ID: > Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 13:41:51 -0400 > Subject: eBird Report - Cape Arago , 5/20/09 > > Location: Cape Arago > Observation date: 5/20/09 > Notes: Cape Arago Seawatch > Number of species: 19 > > Canada Goose 10 > Surf Scoter 3 > Red-throated Loon 5 > Pacific Loon 1000 > Common Loon 15 > Western Grebe 1 > Sooty Shearwater 15 > Brown Pelican 40 > Brandt's Cormorant 5 > Pelagic Cormorant 2 > Black Oystercatcher 2 > Red-necked Phalarope 15 > Western Gull 40 > Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 5 > Glaucous-winged Gull 5 > Common Murre 6000 > Pigeon Guillemot 15 > Marbled Murrelet 2 > Rhinoceros Auklet 35 > > This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Russ Namitz Coos Bay, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090520/89ecc6ab/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Wed May 20 11:28:21 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 11:28:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] FWD: Study: Mockingbirds can tell people apart, react Message-ID: <779519.14104.qm@web55105.mail.re4.yahoo.com> By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, AP Science Writer Mon May 18, 9:16 pm ET WASHINGTON ? Mockingbirds may look pretty much alike to people, but they can tell us apart and are quick to react to folks they don't like. Birds rapidly learn to identify people who have previously threatened their nests and sounded alarms and even attacked those folks, while ignoring others nearby, researchers report in Tuesday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "This shows a bird is much more perceptive of its environment than people had previously suspected," said Douglas J. Levey, a professor in the zoology department of the University of Florida. "We are a part of their environment and we are a concern to them," Levey said in a telephone interview. The researchers are studying mockingbirds as part of an effort to better understand how species adapt to urbanization. With more and more areas being converted into towns and cities, animals that adapt well seem to be those that are especially perceptive about their environment, he said. "We do not think mockingbirds evolved a specific ability to respond to humans, rather we think that mockingbirds are naturally perceptive about their environment, especially threats to their nests." A graduate student involved in research on bird nesting noticed that when she would make repeat visits to peoples' yards the birds would alarm and attack her, while they would ignore people gardening or doing other things nearby, Levey said. Indeed, it seemed they could even recognize her car, and she had to start parking around the corner. So research team members decided to run their own tests in which people would approach mockingbird nests around the university campus, touch the nest, and then move on. The study involved 10 people who varied in age, sex and amount of hair and facial hair, and dressed differently on different days, Levey said. The individuals approached a total of 24 mockingbird nests. They would approach the nests from different directions and at various times of day. For four days the same student would approach and touch a nest, and then leave. The birds began reacting to them in advance starting on day three ? fleeing the nest, sounding alarms and dive bombing the researchers. "You may be walking by a bird and think it's just minding its own business. But if there is a nest nearby, you are its business," Levey said. The researchers were surprised that the response was as rapid and dramatic as it was, Levey said. It might have been expected from crows, ravens and parrots ? birds known to be highly intelligent ? but not from songbirds living in a natural setting, he said. When, on the fifth day, a different student would approach the mockingbird nest, the birds didn't respond in advance. And even on the days when they were attacking a person they perceived as a threat, the birds ignored dozens of other passers-by. Past studies have sought to determine if birds could choose between two individuals, or pictures of individuals, to get a food reward, Levey said. This research was different in that the bird needed to pick out one person they had seen before, not always dressed the same or coming from the same direction, while streams of other people were walking by. And the birds succeeded after having seen the person just twice. ___ On the Net: PNAS: http://www.pnas.org Copyright ? 2009 The Associated Press. From baltman at peak.org Wed May 20 11:51:09 2009 From: baltman at peak.org (Bob Altman) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 11:51:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] FWD: Study: Mockingbirds can tell people apart, react In-Reply-To: <779519.14104.qm@web55105.mail.re4.yahoo.com> References: <779519.14104.qm@web55105.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <000001c9d97b$f0ee3e80$d2cabb80$@org> This has been experienced by numerous field researchers studying various birds, especially as the article suggests when it comes to nesting studies. Personally, I have experienced this with several species, the most pronounced being Brewer's Blackbirds that started mobbing my car as soon as I pulled into the parking lot, and then me when I got out to check their nests, despite ignoring all the other people driving and walking right near their nests. Bob Altman American Bird Conservancy 311 NE Mistletoe Corvallis, OR 97330 baltman at abcbirds.org phone/fax - 541-745-5339 -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Will Clemons Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 11:28 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] FWD: Study: Mockingbirds can tell people apart, react By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, AP Science Writer Mon May 18, 9:16 pm ET WASHINGTON Mockingbirds may look pretty much alike to people, but they can tell us apart and are quick to react to folks they don't like. Birds rapidly learn to identify people who have previously threatened their nests and sounded alarms and even attacked those folks, while ignoring others nearby, researchers report in Tuesday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "This shows a bird is much more perceptive of its environment than people had previously suspected," said Douglas J. Levey, a professor in the zoology department of the University of Florida. "We are a part of their environment and we are a concern to them," Levey said in a telephone interview. The researchers are studying mockingbirds as part of an effort to better understand how species adapt to urbanization. With more and more areas being converted into towns and cities, animals that adapt well seem to be those that are especially perceptive about their environment, he said. "We do not think mockingbirds evolved a specific ability to respond to humans, rather we think that mockingbirds are naturally perceptive about their environment, especially threats to their nests." A graduate student involved in research on bird nesting noticed that when she would make repeat visits to peoples' yards the birds would alarm and attack her, while they would ignore people gardening or doing other things nearby, Levey said. Indeed, it seemed they could even recognize her car, and she had to start parking around the corner. So research team members decided to run their own tests in which people would approach mockingbird nests around the university campus, touch the nest, and then move on. The study involved 10 people who varied in age, sex and amount of hair and facial hair, and dressed differently on different days, Levey said. The individuals approached a total of 24 mockingbird nests. They would approach the nests from different directions and at various times of day. For four days the same student would approach and touch a nest, and then leave. The birds began reacting to them in advance starting on day three fleeing the nest, sounding alarms and dive bombing the researchers. "You may be walking by a bird and think it's just minding its own business. But if there is a nest nearby, you are its business," Levey said. The researchers were surprised that the response was as rapid and dramatic as it was, Levey said. It might have been expected from crows, ravens and parrots birds known to be highly intelligent but not from songbirds living in a natural setting, he said. When, on the fifth day, a different student would approach the mockingbird nest, the birds didn't respond in advance. And even on the days when they were attacking a person they perceived as a threat, the birds ignored dozens of other passers-by. Past studies have sought to determine if birds could choose between two individuals, or pictures of individuals, to get a food reward, Levey said. This research was different in that the bird needed to pick out one person they had seen before, not always dressed the same or coming from the same direction, while streams of other people were walking by. And the birds succeeded after having seen the person just twice. ___ On the Net: PNAS: http://www.pnas.org Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Wed May 20 13:01:08 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 13:01:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Black throated Blue Warbler at Fields Message-ID: <665294.21429.qm@web30403.mail.mud.yahoo.com> wed May 20 Black throated Blue Warbler in the oasis at Fields. Adult male last seen at 1 pm. Maitreya From tamickel at rio.com Wed May 20 13:11:18 2009 From: tamickel at rio.com (Tom & Allison Mickel) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 13:11:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wednesday morning bird walk Message-ID: <005701c9d987$23241770$696c4650$@com> OBOL, This morning the group went to East Regional Park near Cottage Grove and walked some of the trails. First thing this morning there was a little high fog/low clouds that burned off to sunny skies. We saw good numbers of Green Herons, including one on a nest and a number of calling & singing Willow Flycatchers. The full list follows. Canada Goose - 6 w/young Wood Duck - 1 Mallard - 6 w/young Green Heron - 5 Turkey Vulture - 10 Osprey - 2 American Coot - 1 Spotted Sandpiper - 2 Mourning Dove - 1 Vaux's Swift - 5 Rufous Hummingbird - 2 Downy Woodpecker - 1 Northern Flicker - 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher - 1 Western Wood-Pewee - 8 Willow Flycatcher - 5 Cassin's Vireo - 2 Warbling Vireo - 12 Western Scrub-Jay - 3 American Crow - 10 Common Raven - 1 Tree Swallow - 6 Violet-green Swallow - 10 Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 6 Barn Swallow - 4 Black-capped Chickadee - 6 Bushtit - 2 Brown Creeper - 1 Bewick's Wren - 1 Swainson's Thrush - 3 American Robin - 15 European Starling - many Cedar Waxwing - 5 Orange-crowned Warbler - 1 Yellow Warbler - 15 Townsend's Warbler - 1 Common Yellowthroat - 3 Wilson's Warbler - 20 Western Tanager - 8 Spotted Towhee - 3 Song Sparrow - 5 Black-headed Grosbeak - 20 Red-winged Blackbird - 5 Brown-headed Cowbird - 10 Bullock's Oriole - 1 Purple Finch - 1 Pine Siskin - 2 American Goldfinch - 10 Evening Grosbeak - 5 Observers - Dennis Arendt, Fred Chancey, Kit Larsen, Sylvia Maulding, Barry McKenzie, Tom Mickel, Don Schrouder, and Paul Sherrell. From andy.frank at kp.org Wed May 20 13:39:56 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 13:39:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island Yellow-headed Blackbird Message-ID: I went to Sauvie Island today with highlight a male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD at the Reeder Rd viewing platform, in Columbia County. The water level there is very low and there were very few ducks. I saw 2 COMMON RAVENS, one soaring over Rentenaar Rd and the other over the large field by Reeder Rd in Multnomah County. Rentenaar Rd was surprisingly empty of shorebirds. There was 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER, 1 KILLDEER, and 3 distant peeps that I think were LEAST SANDPIPERS. Nothing very exciting at Oak Island, but it's always nice to see some birds there that are infrequently found elsewhere around, such as BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (saw one working on its nest), HOUSE WREN, and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. Some of the other birds seen there include WESTERN TANAGER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE. Also saw one Steve Nord while there. Andy Frank From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Wed May 20 14:47:49 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (Tom McNamara) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 14:47:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Thwarting nesting?...... Message-ID: OBOL, .... it's the old "I have a friend who...." thing. But the deal is, it's for real---it's not me but someone I know who would like to know if there is a reliable method for keeping some swallows from nesting in their rafters. Owl decoy has been tried--unsuccessfully. Wire mesh or some other barrier method would problably do it but does anyone have any other methods they've successfully employed? Also, I'm not prepared to respond to questions along the lines of "why does person x want to discourage nesting in....?" I'm merely the messenger here, nada mas. good birding, Tom _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090520/1b85b68c/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Wed May 20 14:55:42 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 14:55:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] FWD: Study: Mockingbirds can tell people apart, react In-Reply-To: <000001c9d97b$f0ee3e80$d2cabb80$@org> References: <779519.14104.qm@web55105.mail.re4.yahoo.com> <000001c9d97b$f0ee3e80$d2cabb80$@org> Message-ID: <4A147C5E.4080804@verizon.net> Indeed, this is our experience with the Snowy Plovers. Simply put, they know us, and they behave very differently towards us compared to others. I also know of another biologists who had very clear evidence that the Aleutian Geese he worked with knew him, specifically by face. They did some tests to prove it. We've never tested our plovers, but I am sure they know who we are. Cheers Dave Lauten Bob Altman wrote: > This has been experienced by numerous field researchers studying various birds, especially as the article suggests when it comes to nesting studies. Personally, I have experienced this with several species, the most pronounced being Brewer's Blackbirds that started mobbing my car as soon as I pulled into the parking lot, and then me when I got out to check their nests, despite ignoring all the other people driving and walking right near their nests. > > Bob Altman > American Bird Conservancy > 311 NE Mistletoe > Corvallis, OR 97330 > baltman at abcbirds.org > phone/fax - 541-745-5339 > > -----Original Message----- > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Will Clemons > Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 11:28 AM > To: OBOL > Subject: [obol] FWD: Study: Mockingbirds can tell people apart, react > > > By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, AP Science Writer > Mon May 18, 9:16 pm ET > > WASHINGTON Mockingbirds may look pretty much alike to people, but they can tell us apart and are quick to react to folks they don't like. Birds rapidly learn to identify people who have previously threatened their nests and sounded alarms and even attacked those folks, while ignoring others nearby, researchers report in Tuesday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. > > "This shows a bird is much more perceptive of its environment than people had previously suspected," said Douglas J. Levey, a professor in the zoology department of the University of Florida. > > "We are a part of their environment and we are a concern to them," Levey said in a telephone interview. > > The researchers are studying mockingbirds as part of an effort to better understand how species adapt to urbanization. > > With more and more areas being converted into towns and cities, animals that adapt well seem to be those that are especially perceptive about their environment, he said. > > "We do not think mockingbirds evolved a specific ability to respond to humans, rather we think that mockingbirds are naturally perceptive about their environment, especially threats to their nests." > > A graduate student involved in research on bird nesting noticed that when she would make repeat visits to peoples' yards the birds would alarm and attack her, while they would ignore people gardening or doing other things nearby, Levey said. > > Indeed, it seemed they could even recognize her car, and she had to start parking around the corner. > > So research team members decided to run their own tests in which people would approach mockingbird nests around the university campus, touch the nest, and then move on. > > The study involved 10 people who varied in age, sex and amount of hair and facial hair, and dressed differently on different days, Levey said. The individuals approached a total of 24 mockingbird nests. They would approach the nests from different directions and at various times of day. > > For four days the same student would approach and touch a nest, and then leave. The birds began reacting to them in advance starting on day three fleeing the nest, sounding alarms and dive bombing the researchers. > > "You may be walking by a bird and think it's just minding its own business. But if there is a nest nearby, you are its business," Levey said. > > The researchers were surprised that the response was as rapid and dramatic as it was, Levey said. > > It might have been expected from crows, ravens and parrots birds known to be highly intelligent but not from songbirds living in a natural setting, he said. > > When, on the fifth day, a different student would approach the mockingbird nest, the birds didn't respond in advance. > > And even on the days when they were attacking a person they perceived as a threat, the birds ignored dozens of other passers-by. > > Past studies have sought to determine if birds could choose between two individuals, or pictures of individuals, to get a food reward, Levey said. > > This research was different in that the bird needed to pick out one person they had seen before, not always dressed the same or coming from the same direction, while streams of other people were walking by. > > And the birds succeeded after having seen the person just twice. > ___ > On the Net: > PNAS: http://www.pnas.org > Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > From dpvroman at budget.net Wed May 20 15:18:54 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 15:18:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] FWD: Study: Mockingbirds can tell people apart, react References: <779519.14104.qm@web55105.mail.re4.yahoo.com><000001c9d97b$f0ee3e80$d2cabb80$@org> <4A147C5E.4080804@verizon.net> Message-ID: <2BDBF7AF191247499C05C2B930D67047@Warbler> Once I banded a male Downy Woodpecker at the Applegate River banding station that every time he spotted me at the station he would follow me around while I was doing net checks and chatter at me continually. This particular bird was banded (could see the band on it's leg) and I'm fairly sure it was the same bird each time. At the time, I got the feeling this Woodpecker knew who I was. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) > Indeed, this is our experience with the Snowy Plovers. Simply put, they > know us, and they behave very differently towards us compared to > others. I also know of another biologists who had very clear evidence > that the Aleutian Geese he worked with knew him, specifically by face. > They did some tests to prove it. We've never tested our plovers, but I > am sure they know who we are. > > Cheers > Dave Lauten > > Bob Altman wrote: >> This has been experienced by numerous field researchers studying various >> birds, especially as the article suggests when it comes to nesting >> studies. Personally, I have experienced this with several species, the >> most pronounced being Brewer's Blackbirds that started mobbing my car as >> soon as I pulled into the parking lot, and then me when I got out to >> check their nests, despite ignoring all the other people driving and >> walking right near their nests. >> >> Bob Altman >> American Bird Conservancy >> 311 NE Mistletoe >> Corvallis, OR 97330 >> baltman at abcbirds.org >> phone/fax - 541-745-5339 From philliplc at charter.net Wed May 20 15:32:06 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 15:32:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cascade Head 5/20 Message-ID: 2 very gray/dull Orange-crowneds with minor movement of Yellow/Wilson's 1 Bullock's Oriole 2 Black Swift pair north ~20 Western Tanager Phil philliplc at charter.net From celata at pacifier.com Wed May 20 16:20:00 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 16:20:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] A portrait of three gulls Message-ID: <4A149020.9070305@pacifier.com> Before we turn to all things Malheur.... http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11076/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From celata at pacifier.com Wed May 20 16:31:11 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 16:31:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Dusky Flycatcher at Coxcomb Hill - 5/20/2009 Message-ID: <4A1492BF.1030603@pacifier.com> It was a flycatcher morning up on Coxcomb Hill with multiple PACIFIC- SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, a WESTERN WOOD PEWEE, at least 2 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS and a possible HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER. WILSON'S and YELLOW WARBLERS are still on the move as well. There were 2 WESTERN KINGBIRDS at Wireless Rd and a dozen or so RED-NECKED PHALAROPES on the main puddle on Airport Rd. 1000's of SANDERLING and a single WHIMBREL were on Clatsop Beach. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From lmagnusonl at gmail.com Wed May 20 16:47:44 2009 From: lmagnusonl at gmail.com (Linda Magnuson) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 16:47:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] The CHATS are back at Sandy River Delta. Message-ID: Today there were two males "singing" exuberantly on the connecting trail between the main trail and the road by the power poles. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090520/acfcd49b/attachment.html From rccarl at pacbell.net Wed May 20 17:45:48 2009 From: rccarl at pacbell.net (Richard Carlson) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 17:45:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Malheur Ross's Goose Message-ID: <863899.57297.qm@web81008.mail.mud.yahoo.com> The Ross's Goose is now sevaral miles south of he HQ on the Central Patrol road RCC Richard Carlson Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian Part-time Economist Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA rccarl at pacbell.net Tucson 520-760-4935 Tahoe 530-581-0624 Kirkland 425-828-3819 Cell 650-280-2965 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090520/fcd3a012/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Wed May 20 18:06:48 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 18:06:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Linn County big day - 19 May Message-ID: Hi OBOL -- Yesterday, 19 May, Mark Nikas, Tim Janzen, Jim Danzenbaker, and I ran a big day in Linn County. We found 125 species, which surpasses the previous Linn Co. record of 115 set by Jeff Harding and Mark Nikas in 2001. We spent the morning touring the Brownsville area for waterbirds and lowland passerines, and spent the afternoon climbing into the Cascades all the way to Santiam Pass. We somehow managed to select the one day in all of mid-May this year that was cold and rainy, and this weather severely suppressed passerine activity, particularly as we climbed in elevation. We spent the last few hours of the day shivering in the rain, sleet, and snow at the Hoodoo ski area, Lost Lake, and other high-elevation locales, for the most part surrounded by a deafening silence of birds. We speculate that a higher species total would have been likely with weather like the previous days' or like today's. Nonetheless, we had a blast. Highlights included: At Gap Road rice ponds: AMERICAN BITTERN - 1 GREAT EGRET - 1 GREEN HERON - 1 AMERICAN WIGEON - 2 SORA - 1 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE - several WILLOW FLYCATCHER - 1 WESTERN KINGBIRD - 1 MARSH WREN - 1 YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT - 1 WRENTIT - 1 At Diamond Hill wetlands: GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE - 2 SHOVELER, GADWALL, CINNAMON TEAL RED-NECKED PHALAROPE - 15 At Villa wetlands: GADWALL, CINNAMON TEAL WILSON'S PHALAROPE - 1 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE - 3 At Brownsville: EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE - 1 At & near Belts Road: WILD TURKEY - several SAW-WHET OWL, SCREECH OWL, & GREAT HORNED OWL while owling ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER - 1 LAZULI BUNTING - many GRASSHOPPER SPARROW - 1 VESPER SPARROW - 1 At Crawfordsville: WESTERN BLUEBIRD At Foster Lake: BARRED OWL - 1 PILEATED WOODPECKER - 3 WILLOW FLYCATCHER - 1 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE - 1 At various stops along Hwy 20 in the Cascades: SOOTY GROUSE - 3 RUFFED GROUSE - 2 HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER -1 AM. DIPPER - 3 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE - 2 TOWNSEND'S WARBLER - 1 At Lost Lake: HOODED MERGANSER - 2 BARROW'S GOLDENEYE - many DUSKY FLYCATCHER - 2 At Hoodoo: BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER - 1 Snow, cold, wet clammy socks, frostbite setting in? Jay Withgott Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090520/f026b30e/attachment.html From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Wed May 20 21:04:53 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 21:04:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bend Vaux's Swifts Message-ID: <4D25919DD2024FC89A584E187543430B@KimPC> I visited 644 NW Harriman St. again tonight and the Swift numbers seem to be down. I arrived at 8:00 and saw the first swift at 8:20 and the first bird I saw enter was at 8:25 and the last one I saw enter was at 8:40. I counted 57 birds go down the chimney. It looks like most of them have headed for the breeding grounds wherever that may be. I am looking forward to their return neat fall. ----kim Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090520/50ea1f4d/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed May 20 22:06:25 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 22:06:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 05/20/09 Message-ID: <20090521050648.A5BDBA822F@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 05/14 to 05/20/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 4 days this week. Lillian and I will be leading the Audubon Society of Portland's "Morning Birdsong Walk" this Friday at 7AM. Hope to see you there! Species # days found (peak #, date) CANADA GOOSE 1 (12, 5/19) Turkey Vulture 1 (2, 5/18) Band-tailed Pigeon 4 (7, 5/20) Mourning Dove 3 (2) Vaux's Swift 1 (1, 5/20) Anna's Hummingbird 4 (3) Rufous Hummingbird 2 (2, 5/20) Red-breasted Sapsucker 3 (2) Northern Flicker 2 (4, 5/20) Pileated Woodpecker 1 (1, 5/18) Olive-sided Flycatcher 3 (2, 5/19) Western Wood-Pewee 1 (1, 5/18) DUSKY FLYCATCHER 1 (1, 5/14) Pacific-slope Flycatcher 4 (5, 5/20) Hutton's Vireo 1 (1, 5/18) Warbling Vireo 3 (9, 5/14) Steller's Jay 4 (10) Western Scrub-Jay 2 (4, 5/20) American Crow 4 (6) Violet-green Swallow 4 (7) Black-capped Chickadee 4 (6) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4 (5) Bushtit 3 (4, 5/20) Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 (9) Brown Creeper 2 (2, 5/18 & 20) Bewick's Wren 2 (1, 5/14 & 19) Winter Wren 4 (5, 5/19) SWAINSON'S THRUSH 2 (6, 5/20) American Robin 4 (10) European Starling 4 (2) CEDAR WAXWING 2 (10, 5/20) Orange-crowned Warbler 2 (3, 5/14) Black-throated Gray Warbler 4 (2) Townsend's Warbler 2 (5, 5/14) Wilson's Warbler 4 (8, 5/20) Western Tanager 3 (4, 5/18) Spotted Towhee 4 (10) Song Sparrow 4 (10) Dark-eyed Junco 4 (10) Black-headed Grosbeak 4 (5, 5/20) Brown-headed Cowbird 4 (6, 5/14) Purple Finch 4 (3) House Finch 4 (11, 5/18) RED CROSSBILL 1 (1, 5/18) Pine Siskin 4 (11, 5/14) American Goldfinch 4 (5) Evening Grosbeak 4 (19, 5/19) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: Lesser Goldfinch Misses (birds found at least 3 days during previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Hairy Woodpecker, Hammond's Flycatcher, Cassin's Vireo, Hermit Thrush, Nashville Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Hermit Warbler, Golden-crowned Sparrow Wink Gross Portland From willclemons at yahoo.com Wed May 20 22:18:58 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 22:18:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] FWD: [Tweeters] Seattle Mystery Warbler (more notes and photos...) Message-ID: <154156.19362.qm@web55105.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Below are added notes from one of the original bird viewers. Again the photo link is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/9654794 AT N06/ Remember to replace "AT" with the symbol for "at" Will ********************************** Subject: mystery warbler From: "Zack & Sam Riley" Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 19:32:55 -0700 i was over at collins today looking for the warbler again. we did not find it, but we did review the origional photos and were able to find two more photos that garantee redstart as at least one parent. the bird has clear yellow bases of the tail. this is something that i somehow completely missed when observing the bird in person. but in one photo you can see the back, tail, and the black cap that i talked about in my last post. we have added the photos to collins flicker and they are definately worth checking out. sam___ From calliope at theriver.com Wed May 20 23:00:44 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 23:00:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mary's Peak Rock Wren, Townsend's Solitaire, Band-tailed Pigeons Message-ID: <68428C03-28B5-4744-954F-1EF2F2364A1B@theriver.com> Wednesday, May 19 Dear Birders, This morning I found a ROCK WREN near the top of Mary's Peak. It was in the rocks just below the road where you are south of the antennae and just before the lone small fir that is growing just below the road. It flushed and then flew underneath the fir. Later, Rich Armstrong was able to refind the bird. Also, Molly Monroe found another Rock Wren at Pigeon Butte, Finley NWR. Along with Hendrik's report from Lane County, this makes for a veritable invasion. We also had a pair of TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES at Mary's Peak, about halfway between the lower gate and Parker Creek Falls. BAND-TAILED PIGEONS were amazingly abundant near the top parking lot and the campground area. We had about 375 birds in many flocks over the course of about an hour. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- From fitzbeew at gmail.com Wed May 20 23:09:43 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 23:09:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI: Ride from Malheur to Eugene wanted Message-ID: Hello birders, My Memorial Day plans have shifted, and I now find myself in need of a ride from Malheur to Eugene on SUNDAY, 24 May. Any takers? I will help pay gas, and also can help with driving if the car is an automatic. Please let me know via e-mail offline, or phone (text or call) if you can help me. Thanks! -Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com (541) 579-0594 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090520/417b3867/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed May 20 23:37:18 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 23:37:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 5-21-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Portland * Oregon * May 21, 2009 * ORPO0905.21 - birds mentioned Barrow?s Goldeneye American White Pelican Cattle Egret White-faced Ibis Whimbrel Pectoral Sandpiper Forster?s Tern Black Swift Rock Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Swainson?s Thrush BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER Yellow-breasted Chat White-throated Sparrow INDIGO BUNTING Yellow-headed Blackbird Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Evening Grosbeak - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday May 21. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On May 19 a male and female INDIGO BUNTING were reported from Malheur Headquarters. A BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER was seen May 20 in Fields. Heavy movements of SWAINSON?S THRUSHES were reported during the week. Large flocks of EVENING GROSBEAKS are now reported from many parts of Oregon. Flocks of WHIMBREL were reported along the coast during the week. On May 16 a PECTORAL SANDPIPER was at Cape Blanco. Six WHITE PELICANS are now at Coos Bay. A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD and a ROCK WREN were seen during the week along Siltcoos Creek south of Florence. On May 17 a CATTLE EGRET and a BLACK SWIFT passed Boiler Bay. Two BLACK SWIFTS were at Cascade Head May 20. On May 17 two GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES were on Saddle Mountain east of Seaside. On May 16 eleven WHITE-FACED IBIS were near Smith-Bybee Lakes in North Portland. A WHITE PELICAN was at Oaks Bottom in Portland May 19. A bright male BARROW?S GOLDENEYE was on the Columbia River near the Portland Airport May 15. On May 16 three YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were at the Sandy River Delta. On May 15 a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was in north Corvallis. Single ROCK WRENS were reported during the week from the top of Marys Peak and on Pigeon Butte at Finley NWR. Two FORSTER?S TERNS are now being seen at Fern Ridge Reservoir. A late WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was near Bend May 14. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090520/e9400a5c/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu May 21 07:23:37 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 07:23:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 5/21/2009 Message-ID: <135906.22228.qm@web45305.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> N. Spit of Coos Bay, early AM: 6- BLACK SWIFTS, seen low overhead at 6:10AM, no more the next 45 minutes. A few hundred RED-NECKED PHALAROPES still around, the very windy (up to 40mph winds) the past few afternoons seem to really blow in this species. That's it for now, Tim R Coos Bay From william738 at centurytel.net Thu May 21 08:15:33 2009 From: william738 at centurytel.net (Sarah and Bill Thackaberry) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 08:15:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rock Wren Message-ID: Had one on deck Wed. evening on Griggs at Lebanon. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090521/eb167ba5/attachment.html From davect at bendnet.com Thu May 21 08:54:45 2009 From: davect at bendnet.com (david tracy) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 08:54:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: ECBC Birding By Ear, Wednesday 20 May References: <200905211532.n4LFWJMM022855@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> Message-ID: <1FBDDA8C-F1E2-498C-A469-7A5E1BA03BDF@bendnet.com> Begin forwarded message: > From: davect at bendnet.com > Date: May 21, 2009 3:32:19 PM PDT > To: davect at bendnet.com > Subject: ECBC Birding By Ear, Wednesday 20 May > > This report was mailed for David Tracy by http://birdnotes.net > > > > Date: May 20, 2009 > > Location: Robert W. Sawyer State Park, Deschutes County, Oregon > > > > > > Wilson's Warbler was the bird of the day, they were singing from all > > over, we > > saw or heard at least 20. Most of the migrant Empid flycatchers and > > all of the > > Yellow-rumps it seems have moved on. Diversity has started to > > decline now > > that we are approaching breeding season, but now is the time for > > interesting > > stuff to show up and the local birds can be quite conspicuous as they > > are in > > full song and actively building nests. > > > > Our walk was brightened by 5 young birders today, which I think is a > > new > > record. This year has been great for kids and birding, remember to > > keep > > those youngsters involved! > > > > Birds seen (in taxonomic order): > > > > Canada Goose > Trumpeter Swan [1] > Wood Duck [2] > Mallard > California Quail > Turkey Vulture > Red-tailed Hawk > Mourning Dove > Anna's Hummingbird > Belted Kingfisher > Northern Flicker > Olive-sided Flycatcher [3] > Western Wood-Pewee > Hammond's Flycatcher > Gray Flycatcher > Western Scrub-Jay > American Crow > Common Raven > Tree Swallow > Violet-green Swallow > Northern Rough-winged Swallow > Mountain Chickadee > Bushtit > Pygmy Nuthatch > House Wren > American Robin > European Starling > Nashville Warbler > Yellow Warbler > Wilson's Warbler [4] > Song Sparrow > Black-headed Grosbeak > Red-winged Blackbird > Brown-headed Cowbird > Bullock's Oriole [5] > House Finch > Lesser Goldfinch > Evening Grosbeak [6] > House Sparrow > > > Footnotes: > > > > [1] TRUS: Flightless resident > [2] WODU: Female flyby, the only one seen for the past 3 weeks > [3] OSFL: First of year, singing: "quick, THREE beers" > [4] WIWA: At least 20, mostly singing males > [5] BUOR: sub-adult male, singing but plumage was more > yellow and gray than the orange of the adult male > [6] EVGR: The invasion continues, we heard many calling from > all around the park during our 2 hour visit > > > Total number of species seen: 39 > From philliplc at charter.net Thu May 21 09:10:35 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 09:10:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: 5:45-8:00 AM (5/21): mostly clear, wind N 20-30, swells 6-8 50 Red-throated Loon 3000 Pacific Loon 80 Common Loon 8 Western Grebe 1 MANX SHEARWATER (N 1/4 mile) 3 Sooty Shearwater 75 Brown Pelican 1 Double-crested Cormorant 400 Pelagic Cormorant (most N) 150 Brandt's Cormorant (most N) 26 Brant 2 American Wigeon 5 Green-winged Teal 20 White-winged Scoter 300 Surf Scoter 9 Common Merganser (N) 60 Whimbrel 2 Red Knot 30 Sanderling 1 Dunlin 6 Western Sandpiper 100 calidris sp. 2 Red Phalarope (N) 8000+ Red-necked Phalarope (steady N with many on the water) 45 Bonaparte's Gull (immature N) 100 California Gull (immature N) 2000+ Western Gull (streaming N early with big feeding group forming) 50 Glaucous-winged Gull 2 Heermann's Gull (immature N) 1 Caspian Tern 5 Common Tern 8000+ Common Murre (steady N) 40 Pigeon Guillemot 14 Marbled Murrelet 60 Rhinoceros Auklet (N) 1 Tufted Puffin Phil philliplc at charter.net From davect at bendnet.com Thu May 21 09:16:57 2009 From: davect at bendnet.com (david tracy) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 09:16:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: [COBOL] Birding by ear article in today's Bulletin References: <22285751-040D-454F-AA70-05E2E31C805C@bendnet.com> Message-ID: <320F0182-874C-4AF7-B5A7-45C9D29E93DF@bendnet.com> Begin forwarded message: > From: david tracy > Date: May 21, 2009 9:03:39 AM PDT > To: COBOL > Subject: [COBOL] Birding by ear article in today's Bulletin > > The reporter who joined us last week wrote a good piece about our > birding by ear group in The Bulletin today. You'll find it on the > front page of the "Outings" section, along with a couple of nice > photos. The link to an online version of the article is at: > > http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090521/ > SPORTS0411/905210318/1041&nav_category= > > > > david tracy > davect at bendnet.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > COBOL mailing list > COBOL at lists.oregonstate.edu > http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol > > To unsubscribe, send a message to: > COBOL-request at lists.oregonstate.edu > with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. From dns at efn.org Thu May 21 10:53:09 2009 From: dns at efn.org (David Stone) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 10:53:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] test - ignore Message-ID: From dbarendt at comcast.net Thu May 21 12:04:49 2009 From: dbarendt at comcast.net (Dennis Arendt) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 12:04:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: Burns Blue Jay Message-ID: <629268C076BA4B1286CFF62E439AB19A@DennisArendt> The following email from Larry McQueen describes the location. - Dennis From: Larry McQueen Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:49 AM To: Dennis Arendt ; Paul Sherrell Subject: Burns Blue Jay Dennis and Paul, I don't even know if you are in town, but would you please post the following message for me on OBOL, since I signed off obol and I can't get back on. I am using a computer in Burns. I found a Blue Jay in Burns this morning (May 21) by 988 Riverside Drive. The simplest way to describe directions is to find Koa Lane, the extreme west end of Burns. Follow the main drag all the way thru Burns (Monroe St) Turn north on Koa, which goes through the residential area with tall populars. Koa will eventually begin turning eastward and I'm not sure where it changes into Riverside Drive. The first house on the left as you turn eastard will be 988. It has a small cedar in front with some feeders. The jay first appeared in the low branches of the stately populars just across the street, then went to the feeders. -- Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090521/03af66c0/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Thu May 21 12:12:52 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 12:12:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Coast Long-billed Curlew Message-ID: <2b1bbd260905211212v4e57ffd9mf855c4e75807efeb@mail.gmail.com> Obol, This AM around 7 Hendrik Herlyn and I observed a LONG-BILLED CURLEW at Siltcoos Estuaary, Lane Co. The bird was on the beach mainly on the north side of the river, but did visit the south side. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090521/ceea1c1d/attachment.html From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Thu May 21 13:14:58 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (gerard.lillie at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 20:14:58 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Mt. Tabor, Portland In-Reply-To: <1666275644.11420721242936467782.JavaMail.root@sz0066a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <325814749.11423541242936898118.JavaMail.root@sz0066a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hello All, There were lots of migrants for Wedensday's Mt. Tabor Bird Song Walk. The best birds of the morning were birds that are common in the metro area but uncommon on Mt. Tabor: One each of YELLOW WARBLER and WILLOW FLYCATCHER. It was a good day in general for flycatchers with HAMMONDS, PACIFIC-SLOPE, W. WOOD-PEWEE and OLIVE SIDED.? We had great views of side-by-side Olive-sided and Wood-Pewee. SWAINSON'S THRUSHES have arrived on Tabor. Warblers were in good numbers, also, with many WILSON'S, TOWNSENDS and smaller numbers of BLACK-THROATED GRAYS and ORANGE CROWNED. There were two late GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS and a CHIPPING SPARROW was a nice find. LESSER GOLDFINCH numbers seem to have exploded. In a matter of a handfull of years they have gone from just a few on the south side of Tabor to being everywhere. There were "tons" of them yesterday. We also had two AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, which have been uncommon on Tabor in recent years. There is evidence of a breeding pair this year. Flyovers of EVENING GROSBEAKS continue. The female BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS have clearly arrived- we had very good numbers of them, as well. TANAGER numbers were surprisingly low. Good birding, Gerard Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Red-tailed Hawk Band-tailed Pigeon Mourning Dove Vaux's Swift Anna's Hummingbird Downy Woodpecker Olive-sided Flycatcher- 3 Western Wood-Pewee-4 Willow Flycatcher-1 Hammond's Flycatcher-4 Pacific-slope Flycatcher-3 Cassin's Vireo-2 Hutton's Vireo-1 Warbling Vireo-5 Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Violet-green Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Swainson's Thrush-3 Hermit Thrush-1 American Robin European Starling Cedar Waxwing Orange-crowned Warbler-6 Yellow Warbler-1 Yellow-rumped Warbler-3 Black-throated Gray Warbler-2 Townsend's Warbler-25 Wilson's Warbler-20 Western Tanager-1 Spotted Towhee Chipping Sparrow-1 Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow-2 Dark-eyed Junco Black-headed Grosbeak-25 Brown-headed Cowbird House Finch Pine Siskin Lesser Goldfinch-50+ American Goldfinch-2 Evening Grosbeak-50 House Sparrow Total number of species seen: 51 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090521/59da8ee0/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Thu May 21 13:26:41 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 13:26:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] BANDING REPORT: Neawanna Wetland - 5/21/2009 Message-ID: <4A15B901.9080102@pacifier.com> BANDING REPORT- Neawanna Wetland Preserve 05-21-2009 Method: Up to eight 9m mist nets are placed in mixed Oregon Crabapple/Twinberry/Spruce along the upper Neawanna River, Seaside, Clatsop Co. OR. Captured birds are measured, ringed with USBBL numbered metal bands and released. Data on time of capture and side of net captured are also recorded to gain an understanding of movements through the area. 2009 521 Neawanna 141 Hours 4.5 Nets 8 Net*hours 36 Anna's Hummingbird ANHU 1 Rufous Hummingbird RUHU 1 Orange-crowned Warbler OCWA 4 Yellow Warbler YWAR 5 Wilson's Warbler WIWA 4 Common Yellowthroat COYE 1 Song Sparrow SOSP 1 Brown-headed Cowbird BHCO 1 Recaptures Chestnut-backed Chickadee CBCH 1 Swainson's Thrush SWTH 1 new captures 18 total captures 20 diversity 10 birds/(net*hour) 0.6 diversity/(net*hour) 0.3 Notes: It was bright a cloudless today, which may have affected the capture rate. Warbler migrants continue to dominate the numbers, but a SWAINSON'S THRUSH recapture first banded to two years ago was nice as was a surprise female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD. http://home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/observatory/observatory.html -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From flashdog at att.net Thu May 21 14:37:17 2009 From: flashdog at att.net (Lisa Kaye) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 21:37:17 +0000 Subject: [obol] Recommendations for Birding Tours in Oregon Message-ID: <052120092137.13096.4A15C98C000B5C5E0000332822218683269B0A02D29B9B0EBF09010B089C0E0400@att.net> Can folks give me recommendations for some good birding tour options in Oregon for beginning birders? I'd appreciate it! Lisa Kaye -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090521/fb1efe15/attachment.html From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Thu May 21 15:54:49 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 22:54:49 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Black-headed Grosbeaks in Eugene Message-ID: <1946430960.132661242946489175.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Wednesday evening, along the Willamette River, downstream from the Greenway Bikebridge, there were countless numbers of Black-headed Grosbeaks chasing around in the ash trees and many of them were singing. By late tonight, I will have a short video with one of them singing, posted on my Vimeo and Flickr albums. I also saw an adult Bald Eagle being chased by crows. There were few other birds and I saw no Canada goslings at all at Delta Ponds, where previously there have been many broods of them. There were 3 goslings inside the fenced apartment complex, just north of the ponds. Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090521/dc30f3f8/attachment.html From lammergeiereyes at aol.com Thu May 21 17:01:15 2009 From: lammergeiereyes at aol.com (lammergeiereyes at aol.com) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 20:01:15 -0400 Subject: [obol] Around Central and Eastern Oregon Message-ID: <8CBA8878F2A1D22-11C-25FF@WEBMAIL-DG13.sim.aol.com> Dear All, ???????? I recently spent a few days traveling around Oregon to?places I?have long wished but never had the chance to explore. I recorded 176 species if one includes introduced birds. A few photos from the trip are available here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/34328261 at N02/sets/72157618563885182/ ???????? I began with a short afternoon hike around the Silver Falls where AMERICAN DIPPER parents?attended their?fledge?beneath?the North?Falls. I then proceeded to the East Cascadian Pine Forests in Deschutes National Forest. Cold Springs Campground had DUSKY, HAMMONDS and GRAY FLYCATCHERS. RED-BREASTED x RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER HYBRIDS outnumbered pure Red-napes (photos at link above). GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE were abundant, as were WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER, MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD and CHIPPING SPARROW. From the Cascades I moved south to the Upper Klamath Basin and its surrounding forest lands. Shorebird diversity was fairly low in Klamath Country,?but perhaps 50 - 70 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were on the upper Klamath Marsh along with strong numbers of SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and copulating WILSON'S PHALAROPE. Several Hundred BLACK TERN were at the Marsh and at the Upper Klamath Refuge. Both around Klamath and at Malheur, I encountered many hundreds of Black Terns but only a dozen or two FORESTER'S, and no CASPIAN at all. The woods on the Fremont-Winema around the Marsh had a GREAT GRAY OWL off Military Crossing Road. Wocus Bay had my sole HORNED GREBE of the trip, along wi th abundant WESTERN and EARED GREBE. The Upper Klamath Marsh added RED-NECKED and CLARK'S GREBE. AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were scattered around the Upper Basin, with the largest concentration in the Northeast Corner of the Upper Refuge, where as many as 80 birds rode thermals at a single time. SANDHILL CRANES were in singles, pairs, or small family groups throughout the Upper Basin. A favorite memory will be the galloping herd of Wapiti that raced across the Klamath Grasslands at sunset on the 16th through families of foraging Cranes. All the regular waterfowl were in the Basin, with the exception of Green-winged Teal which I missed altogether on the trip. ???????? From Klamath I moved on to the great shrublands of the Oregonian Great Basin, Hart Mountain and the Warner Valley. SAGE, BLACK-THROATED, VESPER and?BREWER'S were scattered throughout the great plateau east of Hart's summit. GREATER-SAGE GROUSE parties were present but furtive around the Mountain, and I had a sole PRAIRIE FALCON at sunset near the Heights. SHORT-EARED OWLS were abundant here, and? evocative in the pink light of dusk.?Male CASSIN'S FINCH?were on territory in the isolated Ponderosas at Blue Sky. Mammalian diversity was also especially rich at hart Mountain, and beyond the expected Pronghorn I had great views of YELLOW-BELLIED MARMOT, MOUNTAIN COTTONTAIL and many Ground Squirrel species. Lower in the Warner Valley, there were 125 more AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN at aptly named Pelican Lake. More scattered parties=2 0of shorebirds (WILLET, AMERICAN AVOCET), waterfowl and cranes were around the Valley including large numbers of CANVASBACK and REDHEAD.? ??? ???????? Malheur and the surrounding sage and wetlands,?were, of?course, as grand as advertised. I didn't have the time or?interest to look for vagrants and focused on the specialty endemic diversity of the area. BOBOLINK, TRUMPETER SWAN and FRANKLIN'S GULL were all at their expected locations. Single BURROWING OWLS and a lone FERRUGINOUS HAWK were north of Harney Lake and an adult GOLDEN EAGLE hunted the Craters outside Diamond. A handful of BANK SWALLOW foraged on the Blitzen River. Breeding CURLEW, WILLET, STILT, PHALAROPE and AVOCET were ?much in evidence. I flushed two different AMERICAN BITTERN around the northerly reaches of Malheur Lake.? ???????? From Malheur I turned north to the Grand Ronde Valley and Blue Mountains. The snow was well settled on the higher elevations of the Elkhorns and Wallowas in spite of warm temperatures, and I decided to put off looking for alpine grouse until later in the summer. YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and VEERY were both near Rhinehardt Canyon. A?lone SWAINSON'S HAWK, soared over irrigated farmlands in the Grande Ronde Valley. In the Blue Mountains near Spring Creek a party of LEWIS'S WOODPECKER worked the burn, as did a solitary, female, BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER. A single NORTHERN GOSHAWK here was the only I saw during the excursion, and?a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL perched in?live stands downslope of the burn.? ???????? Mammls, as alluded to,? were a real highlight of my?journey. They?included:?Mountain Cottontail; Red Squirrel; Eastern Fox Squirrel; Douglas Squirrel; Least Chipmunk; Yellow Pine Chipmunk; Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel; Cascade Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel; California Ground Squirrel; Merriam?s Ground Squirrel; Yellow-bellied Marmot; Badger; Coyote; Mule Deer; Wapiti; Pronghorn Antelope; REPTILES: Gopher Snake. Best wishes, Blake T. Matheson "Men still live who, in their youth, remember Passenger Pigeons. Trees still live who, in their youth, were shaken by a living wind. But a decade hence only the oldest oaks will remember, and at long last only the hills will know." Leopold (1949). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090521/fc00b33d/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Thu May 21 17:05:42 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 17:05:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] [FWD: RE: Thinking of you] Message-ID: <20090521170542.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.d2200506e3.wbe@email.secureserver.net> A friend forwarded this article to me, and I thought fellow OBOLers might find it interesting. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090520114710.htm Craig Tumer SW Portland From scre at aol.com Thu May 21 17:27:32 2009 From: scre at aol.com (scre at aol.com) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 20:27:32 -0400 Subject: [obol] N Mockingbird and Red-shouldered Hawk Netarts/Tillamook Message-ID: <8CBA88B3B066CA9-17E4-12AA@Webmail-mg11.sim.aol.com> Greetings all, Today driving the Netarts-Tillamook Rd Lauren Harter and I had the Red-shouldered Hawk again sitting on a telephone line, this time just outside of the town of Netarts.? Later in the day I was surpraised to see a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD fly by some farm buildings just west and north of the Trask River on the Netarts-Tillamook Rd.? Good birding David Vander Pluym Netarts, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090521/085bb403/attachment.html From monroemolly at hotmail.com Thu May 21 17:53:25 2009 From: monroemolly at hotmail.com (Molly Monroe) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 17:53:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: Baskett Slough Birds In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Had a great day out at Baskett today, lots of things to look at besides birds (butterflies, wildflowers, weeds, etc.) but of course couldn't help birding along the way and made some mental notes of birds observed. ~We are always amazed and so pleased to see MEADOWLARKS on the top of the butte. Our hard work and continued maintenance on the upland prairie has really paid off to have nesting pairs up there. Lazuli buntings singing all around as well. ~We heard and saw over 50 CACKLING GEESE flying around Cackler Marsh near the narrows on Coville Rd. One was collared so will be interesting to see if that's a late migrant from the south or one that's been in the valley all winter and is lingering longer than usual. ~Three unid. SWANS loafing on an island in Cackler Marsh, heads tucked, too far to see. ~Several STREAKED HORNED LARKS in various fields around the refuge. They are liking the recently worked up fields. ~Below is a list Nate Richardson sent of birds observed in Dusky Marsh. Parking available either at Baskett Butte trailhead or the pullout on Coville Rd west of the gate, walk in on the dikes and check out the east/northeast end of the marsh closest to the office. Great to see so many phalaropes out there and we looked a little later and found three stilts and only one avocet. Two of the bonapart's gulls were in adult breeding plumage. Have a great weekend, Molly~ Molly- Here is a highlights list of what I saw today out at Baskett. May 21, 2009 -12 Red-necked Phalaropes -18 Wilson's Phalaropes -7 Bonapart's Gulls -2 Black-necked Stilts -2 American Avocets -2 Dunlin -3 Greater Yellowlegs -Nate Richardson _ ( '< / ) ) //"Endangered species are sensitive indicators of how we are treating the planet and we should be listening carefully to their message _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090521/9fbd82e6/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ecblank.gif Type: image/gif Size: 45 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090521/9fbd82e6/attachment.gif From withgott at comcast.net Thu May 21 18:35:32 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 18:35:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] [FWD: RE: Thinking of you] In-Reply-To: <20090521170542.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.d2200506e3.wbe@email.secu reserver.net> References: <20090521170542.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.d2200506e3.wbe@email.secu reserver.net> Message-ID: Thanks for the article on this interesting research, Craig. After reading it I followed a link on this webpage to another interesting aspect of this researcher's work (click on "Songbirds Prefer The Latest Music: Golden Oldies Just Don't Cut It With The Chicks"). This second paper also has implications for birding in terms of the recordings we sometimes play to elicit responses from birds in the field. At 5:05 PM -0700 5/21/09, Craig Tumer wrote: >A friend forwarded this article to me, and I thought fellow OBOLers >might find it interesting. > >http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090520114710.htm > >Craig Tumer >SW Portland > > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090521/46f11ac0/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Thu May 21 18:33:39 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (baileydc at pdx.edu) Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 01:33:39 GMT Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay from 0800 to 0900 Message-ID: <200905220133.n4M1Xdxa031329@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for David C. Bailey by http://birdnotes.net Date: May 21, 2009 Location: Boiler Bay State Wayside, Lincoln County, Oregon Wind direction: N Prevailing wind speed: 12-19 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 10% Precipitation: none I have been conducting morning surveys in the upland forest of the Coast Range since 1 May and visiting Boiler Bay most days around 0800. Comparing my numbers and species richness to Phil Pickering's and Wayne Hoffman's counts during the same period has shown ample evidence that counting within two hours of sunrise rather than in the third hour produces much higher numbers of individuals and species. Today was no exception, though the northward flights of birds were still occurring while nearly completely tapering off by 0900. RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were streaming by at 50 or so a minute. a mixed flotilla of Gulls, PACIFIC LOONS, C. MURRES, CORMORANTS, and RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were actively foraging just south of the point within 1/4 mile of shore. A young GRAY WHALE was continually surfacing just beyond the closest submerged rocks on the south side of the point. It was not attracting gulls. It had a large (more than a meter long) laceration on the right side of its dorsum near the midpoint where a large patch of skin and blubber appeared to be missing. I can only guess that it suffered an attack from a predator or a collision with a ship. I thought it was interesting to note three separate small flocks of mixed-sex COMMON MERGANSERS migrating northward past the point. I note that Phil also observed some earlier today. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Brant 20 Mallard 1 Surf Scoter 6 White-winged Scoter 1 Common Merganser 20 Red-throated Loon 1 Pacific Loon 300 Common Loon 1 Brown Pelican 10 Brandt's Cormorant 10 Double-crested Cormorant 2 Pelagic Cormorant 200 Black Oystercatcher 2 Whimbrel 20 Red-necked Phalarope 2000 Bonaparte's Gull 15 California Gull 20 Western Gull 150 Glaucous-winged Gull 10 Common Murre Pigeon Guillemot 2 Rhinoceros Auklet 3 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1 Total number of species seen: 23 From mlstep at msn.com Thu May 21 19:30:44 2009 From: mlstep at msn.com (Margaret Stephens) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 19:30:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ankeny NWR Message-ID: Yesterday AM, a Yellow Breasted Chat was seen near South Pond. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090521/ce25a058/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu May 21 19:33:46 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 19:33:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay from 0800 to 0900 Message-ID: <260659.58719.qm@web45311.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> David and OBOL, It is certainly the same for passerine species and birds like Black Swift which are regular coastal migrants this time of year. I have posted bird lists at the learning center at New River Area of Critical Environmental Concern (SW Coos Co- BLM land) after point counts only to hear, I didn't see any of those species- well of course, they were looking later AM and even worse, in the PM when the winds typically howl on the Oregon Coast (if you don't want to see birds, always arrive a few hours after sunrise) However, if you are out at sunrise and the first couple hours after sunrise you'll hear and see all sorts of birds, but by even 8 or 9AM on the coast, the show is over and the winds begin howling. Good birding all, Tim R Coos Bay --- On Thu, 5/21/09, baileydc at pdx.edu wrote: > From: baileydc at pdx.edu > Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay from 0800 to 0900 > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Thursday, May 21, 2009, 6:33 PM > This report was mailed for David C. > Bailey by http://birdnotes.net > > Date: May 21, 2009 > Location: Boiler Bay State Wayside, Lincoln County, Oregon > > Wind direction: N > Prevailing wind speed: 12-19 km/h > Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 10% > Precipitation: none > > I have been conducting morning surveys in the upland forest > of the > Coast Range since 1 May and visiting Boiler Bay most days > around > 0800. Comparing my numbers and species richness to Phil > Pickering's > and Wayne Hoffman's counts during the same period has shown > ample > evidence that counting within two hours of sunrise rather > than in the > third hour produces much higher numbers of individuals and > species. > Today was no exception, though the northward flights of > birds were > still occurring while nearly completely tapering off by > 0900. > RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were streaming by at 50 or so a > minute. a mixed > flotilla of Gulls, PACIFIC LOONS, C. MURRES, CORMORANTS, > and > RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were actively foraging just south of > the point > within 1/4 mile of shore. A young GRAY WHALE was > continually > surfacing just beyond the closest submerged rocks on the > south side > of the point. It was not attracting gulls. It had a large > (more than > a meter long) laceration on the right side of its dorsum > near the > midpoint where a large patch of skin and blubber appeared > to be > missing. I can only guess that it suffered an attack from a > predator > or a collision with a ship. > > I thought it was interesting to note three separate small > flocks of > mixed-sex COMMON MERGANSERS migrating northward past the > point. I > note that Phil also observed some earlier today. > > Birds seen (in taxonomic order): > > Brant? ? ? ? ? ? ? > ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 20 > Mallard? ? ? ? ? ? ? > ? ? ? ? ? ? > ???1 > Surf Scoter? ? ? ? ? ? ? > ? ? ? ? ???6 > White-winged Scoter? ? ? ? ? > ? ? ???1 > Common Merganser? ? ? ? ? ? > ? ? ???20 > Red-throated Loon? ? ? ? ? ? > ? ? ???1 > Pacific Loon? ? ? ? ? ? > ? ? ? ? ? 300 > Common Loon? ? ? ? ? ? ? > ? ? ? ? ???1 > Brown Pelican? ? ? ? ? ? > ? ? ? ? ? 10 > Brandt's Cormorant? ? ? ? ? ? > ? ???10 > Double-crested Cormorant? ? ? ? ? > ? 2 > Pelagic Cormorant? ? ? ? ? ? > ? ???200 > Black Oystercatcher? ? ? ? ? > ? ? ???2 > Whimbrel? ? ? ? ? ? ? > ? ? ? ? ? ???20 > Red-necked Phalarope? ? ? ? ? > ???2000 > Bonaparte's Gull? ? ? ? ? ? > ? ? ???15 > California Gull? ? ? ? ? ? > ? ? ? ? 20 > Western Gull? ? ? ? ? ? > ? ? ? ? ? 150 > Glaucous-winged Gull? ? ? ? ? > ? ???10 > Common Murre > Pigeon Guillemot? ? ? ? ? ? > ? ? ? ? 2 > Rhinoceros Auklet? ? ? ? ? ? > ? ? ???3 > Northern Rough-winged Swallow? ? > ???1 > > Total number of species seen: 23 > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu May 21 19:39:38 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 19:39:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Bank Swallow 5/21/2009 Message-ID: <784622.62488.qm@web45311.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> This rare but regular coastal migrant (one or two per year in Coos the last few years) was seen with hundreds of other swallows and Red-necked Phalaropes in the balmy 50 degree weather out on the north spit of Coos Bay with winds blowing at 30mph around 6PM this evening, no need for air-conditioning here on the coast! Happy birding, Tim R Coos Bay From dhogaza at pacifier.com Fri May 22 05:32:41 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 05:32:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: Burns Blue Jay In-Reply-To: <629268C076BA4B1286CFF62E439AB19A@DennisArendt> References: <629268C076BA4B1286CFF62E439AB19A@DennisArendt> Message-ID: On May 21, 2009, at 12:04 PM, Dennis Arendt wrote: > > I found a Blue Jay in Burns this morning (May 21) by 988 Riverside > Drive. Type this at http://maps.google.com: 988 Riverside Drive burns oregon And you'll get a map with a marker that says "A" rather than "Blue Jay" but does mark the spot! :) ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From dhogaza at pacifier.com Fri May 22 05:37:53 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (dhogaza at pacifier.com) Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 12:37:53 GMT Subject: [obol] Birds at Riley Pond Message-ID: <200905221237.n4MCbr8M016163@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Don Baccus by http://birdnotes.net Date: May 21, 2009 Location: Riley Pond, Harney County, Oregon Wind direction: Variable Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 0% Precipitation: none Stopped at Riley Pond on the way to Malheur. The weather's fantastic. As is often the case, this tiny pond had a nice variety of birds. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Gadwall Mallard Green-Winged Teal [1] Redhead Great Egret American Coot [2] Killdeer Willet Forster's Tern American Crow [3] Yellow-headed Blackbird Footnotes: [1] Seen in the roadside ditch to the south of 20 just west of the pond. [2] Lots of chicks. [3] Flying in the irrigated hay field south across 20 from the pond. Total number of species seen: 11 From mklittletree at comcast.net Fri May 22 09:06:31 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (michel Kleinbaum) Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 09:06:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ankeny Message-ID: <0F09D0B4B1F64618846FA188E481E3EA@michel1927> 2 male Yellow-headed Blackbirds were seen at Killdeer Marshlast last Monday (sorry, could'nt report due to PC problems). 3 were seen there yesterday afternoon. From the parking area, walking past the boardwalk to the end of the path one gets to an open area, Killdeer Marsh is to the left but hard to approach unless one wears waterproof boots. When I got there a male Blackbird flew toward me and landed nearby, while 2 males were on top of the reeds on the other side of Killdeer Marsh. A pair of Blue-winged Teals were at Wood Duck Pond. My first Spotted Sandpiper this year at Pintail Marsh. Michel Kleinbaum S. Salem From mklittletree at comcast.net Fri May 22 09:07:50 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (michel Kleinbaum) Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 09:07:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: Ankeny Message-ID: <9A97F02A574348F2A4943C55D93662FE@michel1927> ----- Original Message ----- From: "michel Kleinbaum" To: "OBOL" Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 9:06 AM Subject: Ankeny > 2 male Yellow-headed Blackbirds were seen at Killdeer Marshlast last > Monday (sorry, could'nt report due to PC problems). > 3 were seen there yesterday afternoon. From the parking area, walking past > the boardwalk to the end of the path one gets to an open area, Killdeer > Marsh is to the left but hard to approach unless one wears waterproof > boots. > When I got there a male Blackbird flew toward me and landed nearby, while > 2 males were on top of the reeds on the other side of Killdeer Marsh. > A pair of Blue-winged Teals were at Wood Duck Pond. > My first Spotted Sandpiper this year at Pintail Marsh. > Michel Kleinbaum S. Salem > > From baileydc at pdx.edu Fri May 22 11:14:52 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 11:14:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay seawatch late morning. Message-ID: <4A16EB9C.4090106@pdx.edu> Brant still moving north. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Boiler Bay State Wayside, Lincoln County, Oregon on May 22, 2009 Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 18:00:54 GMT From: baileydc at pdx.edu To: baileydc at pdx.edu This report was mailed for David C. Bailey by http://birdnotes.net Date: May 22, 2009 Location: Boiler Bay State Wayside, Lincoln County, Oregon Seawatch from 0815-0900. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Brant (Branta bernicla) 175 [1] Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) 1 [2] Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) 10 [3] Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) 1 White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca) 3 Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) 20 Common Loon (Gavia immer) 3 Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) 10 Brandt's Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) 3 Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) 50 Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) 2 Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) 100 [4] California Gull (Larus californicus) 2 Western Gull (Larus occidentalis) 100 Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) 5 Common Murre (Uria aalge) Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba) 20 Rhinoceros Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata) 10 Footnotes: [1] Brant: 5 separate flocks flying north [2] N. Pintail: northbound drake [3] Lesser Scaup: northbound [4] Red-necked Phalarope: northbound Total number of species seen: 18 From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Fri May 22 13:58:19 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 13:58:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] birding TV show proposal/request Message-ID: <0D5555BF-2A23-47F2-BF68-D4BB9C30DDC8@gmail.com> This is a one-time post and am doing so as a favor. Please delete now if you are not interested. Richard Crossley (one of the three authors of The Shorebird Guide) has been working on a proposal for quirky and hopefully fun birdwatching television series called Wild in the City for Animal Planet. Richard asked me to post this to OBOL in an effort to get this project launched. The execs of Animal Planet love the concept but they need to be convinced that there is a market for birdwatching-related programs and are looking for a big and quick response. The big favor he asks is if you would check out the link below and answer a 6-question survey at the end of it. It takes about 5 minutes to watch the clip and answer the questions. It would really help their cause. Here is the link. it will direct you to another link to view the demo and then you need to return to the main page to answer the 6 questions. http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/136290/wild If you have non-OBOL friends you think might like to participate, please forward it to them. Richard et al would greatly appreciate it. Best to you all this Memorial Day weekend! Shawneen Finnegan -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090522/7282fab4/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Fri May 22 14:46:21 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 14:46:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] North Lane Coast birds Message-ID: <2b1bbd260905221446l298d20ebofd85baa9cabe7f04@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Took a quick drive north up the Lane Co. coast around noon today. There were 6 HARLEQUIN DUCKS at the mouth of Bob Cr. A flock of a dozen or so BRANT were on the beach near Rock Cr. 2 more Brant were with 4 CANADA GEESE at the North Jetty of the Siulsaw mudflats earlier in the day. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090522/1fda145c/attachment.html From rccarl at pacbell.net Fri May 22 17:51:45 2009 From: rccarl at pacbell.net (Richard Carlson) Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 17:51:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Malheur Message-ID: <922694.85822.qm@web81006.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Thursday we found two Short-eared owls at the now dry narrows, Bobolinks just north of P ranch and Evening Grosbeaks at Frenchglen. Today, we found 4 Snowy Plovers including 3 chicks at about mile 12 on Double OO road. A Golden Eagle was in the same area. Burrowing Owls were at the SW corner of 205 & Weaver Springs and also just north7 west of where Double OO takes off. At the HQ, a very light-colored Barn Owl flew over our heads repeatedly until departing north. A Ross's Goose was north of Double OO ranch. Richard Carlson Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian Part-time Economist Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA rccarl at pacbell.net Tucson 520-760-4935 Tahoe 530-581-0624 Kirkland 425-828-3819 Cell 650-280-2965 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090522/e2dfc5b3/attachment.html From calliope at theriver.com Fri May 22 18:05:30 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 18:05:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Calliope Crossing Northern Waterthrush Message-ID: <521BF4DC-839B-4D31-9702-652B48A9F764@theriver.com> Friday, May 22 Dear Birders, This morning there was a singing NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH at Calliope Crossing in Deschutes County. We walked about 125 yards up the side road to the right after the crossing and heard it from the stream willows. It was hidden at first but then jumped out to chase a Cassin's Finch wildly around for a few seconds, then landed fortuitously on a branch low over the water where I could put the scope on it. We saw about 6 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS at the marsh east of O'Neil, but mid-day wasn't the best time for seeing them up and active. We are now in Hines for the next four nights to bird the Malheur area. By the way, the check-in process for our group at the Best Western took a grueling 20 minutes (this, after birding and driving all day since 6:00 a.m.) and made me so mad I could spit. I recommend the Comfort Inn if you're staying in the area. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- From FoxSparrows at aol.com Fri May 22 18:56:57 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 21:56:57 EDT Subject: [obol] Fw: Burns Blue Jay Message-ID: This bird has apparently been there through the winter and into spring. It's been coming to a local feeder there... Steve Dowlan Hines, Oregon At the edge of Great Basin... _http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm_ (http://home.centurytel.net/BasinandRange/Dowlans_Photography_Log.htm) **************Recession-proof vacation ideas. Find free things to do in the U.S. (http://travel.aol.com/travel-ideas/domestic/national-tourism-week?ncid=emlcntustrav00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090522/3d2a1394/attachment.html From mklittletree at comcast.net Fri May 22 19:27:37 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (michel Kleinbaum) Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 19:27:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: Baskett Slough Bar-headed Goose Message-ID: ----- Original Message ----- From: "michel Kleinbaum" To: "OBOL" Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 5:07 PM Subject: Baskett Slough Bar-headed Goose >A Bar-headed Goose was among Canada Geese in a field just West and North of >the Narrows. > A White-fronted Goose was there as well. > Most likely an escape but a pretty bird to look at, just the same. > Michel Kleinbaum S. Salem > > From willclemons at yahoo.com Fri May 22 20:05:47 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (willclemons at yahoo.com) Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 20:05:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Let's CHAT about Sandy River Delta Message-ID: <184511.55601.qm@web55104.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Let's CHAT about Sandy River Delta Carol Ledford and I birded Sandy River Delta (Exit 18 off I-84) from about 9AM until about Noon. Our primary reason for going there was to look for YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, which we found. We saw two and heard at least another two. One YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was absolutely fabulously cooperative! Carol and I watched it for at least 20 minutes. It was performing in and out of brambles and in at least four trees, one of which appears to be dead (leafless), and another thin leafed tree that made viewing quite easy. We had life looks with both binoculars and through my old scope. We saw fluttery flight display at least three times, as well as its movements to and from bramble to tree and between. We watched and heard its calling (at least 4 different calls). I was particularly surprised to hear one of its calls sound very closely like a Scrub Jay so much so that two Scrub Jays came into a neighboring tree while it was putting on its show. This YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT show was just westerly of the twin power towers. In particular there is one power tower that has red paint on it, especially at its top. Also atop this tower is an aircraft warning blinker. Standing atop the knoll that these two towers are on, you can look westerly and see a trail going W through a blackberry field. We were barely 30-40 yards W of these towers. A truly magnificent Warbler! The first and last time I saw a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was in the Spring of 1992 courtesy of Donna Lusthoff, up at Henry Hagg Lake. That sighting, while unobstructed and nice, lasted only about twenty seconds as I recall. CAUTIONARY WORDS: Sandy River Delta has recently been "remodeled" and before the change, officials promised to separate the dog area from other areas. This has clearly not happened. While the place is noticeably cleaner, it is still VERY MUCH A TOTALLY OFF LEASH DOG PARK on ALL TRAILS! We were there on a workday, and passed at least 30 dogs, all of which were off leash (at least two dogs were nowhere near their owners, and obviously bewildered as to which way to go to find their owner). We walked on five different trails, and from a distance saw more off leash dogs on other trails. Only once did an owner "manage" a dog. I have nothing against dogs that are managed, and have owned four in my life. At Sandy River Delta, the dogs are not managed. Factor this in if you choose to go there. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores From pamelaj at spiritone.com Fri May 22 20:50:15 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 20:50:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Swift, Yamhill Co Message-ID: Shortly before 8 this evening I saw a Black Swift fly over the ridge of Cougar Mtn, above Willis Rd outside McMinnville. Suffice it that this was terrific surprise and that the Swift was heading in a northeasterly direction. Pamela Johnston From uskestrel at yahoo.com Fri May 22 21:48:30 2009 From: uskestrel at yahoo.com (Carol Ledford) Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 21:48:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Test - Please ignore! Message-ID: <953581.17425.qm@web54204.mail.re2.yahoo.com> This is just a test. ? ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090522/1b063723/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Fri May 22 21:52:53 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 00:52:53 -0400 Subject: [obol] Unusal figure in Pelican photo Message-ID: <8CBA979777B07CE-13C4-18AC@webmail-mf05.sysops.aol.com> I've been going through some of my old photo albums looking for birds I may have captured, but didn't pay any attention to at the time they were taken. I found some Brown Pelicans at Ecola Park overlook, but one of them looks like it has something on it's head. I cropped the shot and added the arrow pointing to the bird, but I have not played with the image at all. Does anyone have any ideas? http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0862/5556270c7f1e4f6cb7b1c859d2f74aa1.jpg Johnny Sasko Sandy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090523/24ff008e/attachment.html From fschrock at gmail.com Fri May 22 22:03:16 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 22:03:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Unusal figure in Pelican photo In-Reply-To: <8CBA979777B07CE-13C4-18AC@webmail-mf05.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBA979777B07CE-13C4-18AC@webmail-mf05.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <390ebd880905222203y1ebedae0v3a74f4b811816181@mail.gmail.com> It appears to me that the Pelican has lifted its huge bill, pointing it straight up, either to swallow something, or just stretching. ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== On Fri, May 22, 2009 at 9:52 PM, wrote: > I've been going through some of my old photo albums looking for birds I may > have captured, but didn't pay any attention to at the time they were taken. > I found some Brown Pelicans at Ecola Park overlook, but one of them looks > like it has something on it's head. I cropped the shot and added the arrow > pointing to the bird, but I have not played with the image at all. Does > anyone have any ideas? > > > http://media.share.ovi.com/m1/s/0862/5556270c7f1e4f6cb7b1c859d2f74aa1.jpg > > Johnny Sasko > Sandy > ------------------------------ > We found the real 'Hotel California' and the 'Seinfeld' diner. What will > you find? Explore *WhereItsAt.com* > . > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090522/7691c68e/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Sat May 23 04:10:48 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 04:10:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Test only - Please ignore Message-ID: <838606.24266.qm@web55106.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Test only - Please ignore Will From celata at pacifier.com Sat May 23 06:38:02 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 06:38:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur in the morning Message-ID: <4A17FC3A.8040400@pacifier.com> Get in tough with your sense memory, the smell of sage, the sounds... www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11108/ POORWILL last night behind E-dorm. BLACK-THROATED SPARROW this morning behind S. Coyote Butte -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From calliope at theriver.com Sat May 23 06:59:37 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 06:59:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hines Great-tailed Grackle Message-ID: Dear Birders, I was just now at breakfast with my group at the Apple Peddler restaurant in Hines when Shirley Berns spotted a male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE foraging on the grass in front of the restaurant. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sat May 23 09:43:43 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 16:43:43 +0000 Subject: [obol] Band tailed pigeons take over backyard Message-ID: A dozen bandtailed pigeons have taken over one of our backyard conifers on Bradley Lake here in Bandon for the second time this morning. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Sat May 23 10:21:28 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 10:21:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Coast 5-23-09 Message-ID: <2b1bbd260905231021h70d7ef4btaa89546e713a54ec@mail.gmail.com> Obol, I drove up the north coast again today with Lydia Cruz. It got windy fast, but we saw a few migrants early on. Notables: Bob Creek 2 YELLOW WARBLERS Brays Point 1 RED-NECKED GREBE 2 MARBLED MURRELETS 1 RHINO AUKLET -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090523/7d5f4f0b/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sat May 23 10:49:34 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 10:49:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Pectoral Sandpipers 5/23/2009 Message-ID: <969576.91843.qm@web45310.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> N. Spit of Coos Bay, 8-9:30AM, wind gusting to 20+ mph at sunrise, increasing to around 25-30 mph by 9:30, partly sunny: The highlight was 10 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, a rare spring migrant in Coos Co. with only 5 other records, mostly of single birds.? This species is sexual dimorphic, so you could see the male/female pairs quite easily.? I jumped a medium-sized shorebird with a call I didn't recognize that had a white rump, never could refind it before the wind became quite overpowering. Also saw the following: 1- GREATER YELLOWLEGS 1- DUNLIN 1- LEAST SANDPIPER 150+ RED-NECKED PHALAROPE 3+ WILSON'S PHALAROPES 10+ SPOTTED SANDPIPERS Also there were 8+ singing YELLOW WARBLERS. Happy birding! Tim R Coos Bay From withgott at comcast.net Sat May 23 12:54:06 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 12:54:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] 35+ White-faced Ibis at Sauvie; Mult. RN Grebe & Wilson's Phalaropes Message-ID: Hi OBOL -- Yesterday evening, 22 May, a flock of 35-40 WHITE-FACED IBIS flew over me as I stood at the wetlands at Rentenaar Road, Sauvie Island, Columbia County. The distinctive ibis/cormorant flight style caught my eye, and the setting sun illuminated their rich cinnamon-russet underparts and iridescent purple-green upperwings. The flock flew north past the Rentenaar Rd. slough, and then bent westward and disappeared over the dike heading toward the northern portion of Sturgeon Lake. There are plenty of ponds, lakes, and flooded fields in this region right now for them to choose from. White-faced Ibis does not appear on the Miller-Summers checklist for Columbia County, so I am wondering if this is a new species for the county, or whether it has been seen in recent years since that checklist was created? I also was struck by the high number of birds, which seems exceptional for west of the Cascades. Note that Andy Frank had this species at Smith-Bybee Lakes the other day, so perhaps it will be a good year for them on the west side. This was one of the final species of the day for me in a full day of birding in which I had 117 species, 111 of them in Multnomah County. Top highlights besides the ibises were a late RED-NECKED GREBE above Bonneville Dam and 2 WILSON'S PHALAROPES with a few RED-NECKED PHALAROPES on Sauvie Island, Mult. Co. Details and further highlights below: Horned Grebe - mouth of Eagle Creek above Bonneville Dam. breeding plumage Red-necked Grebe - E. of island just above Bonneville Dam. seen from cliff lookout, barely in Mult Co. most of way into breeding plumage Western Grebe - 3 on Washington side above Dam Am. Bittern - Sandy River Delta Cackling Goose - 1 at Vanport Wetlands Blue-winged Teal - 3 at Rentenaar Road Peregrine Falcon - St. John's Bridge, Portland (are they nesting here?) Virginia Rail - Sandy River Delta; Vanport Wetalnds Sora - Sandy River Delta Long-billed Dowitcher - 3 at Rentenaar Road Wilson's Phalarope - 1 or 2 at great distance in poor light in flooded field on private land south of Sturgeon Lake (visible in scope zoomed to high power from dike from near dog kennel) Red-necked Phalarope - 2 or 3 with Wilson's Phalarope SP. - 2 in this same group; hard to see given distance, backlighting in evening, and weeds in way Eur. Collared Dove - Reeder Road, Sauvie Island Willow Flycatcher - 13 at Sandy River Delta, so they appear to be mostly in (see note below) Townsend's Solitaire - 4 at Mile-8 Clearcut on Larch Mountain Yellow-breasted Chat - 2 at Sandy River Delta Yellow-headed Blackbird - In addition to the Vanport colony, at least one singing male (as earlier reported by Andy Frank) at Reeder Road wetlands, Sauvie Island, Columbia Co. I found no Red-eyed Vireos or Eastern or Western Kingbirds at Sandy River Delta, so they may not be in yet. However, high water blocks access to the NW-most portion of this area, so we will not be able to get there for days or perhaps weeks. The Larch Mountain Road is still closed at Mile 10, but I'm guessing it should be open soon, as there is no sign of snow. Jay Withgott, Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090523/78d56557/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Sat May 23 13:30:07 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 13:30:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] 5/22 Curry Cty FRANKLIN'S GULL Message-ID: <4A185CCF.8090402@verizon.net> Forgot to post yesterday that as we drove south along the beach at New River we saw a northbound FRANKLIN'S GULL. This was just north of Floras Lake, so it was in Curry Cty, but within about a minute or two it would have been in Coos Cty, so does that count for both counties even though we only saw it in Curry? Anyhow there were a lot of northbound gulls, loons and murrres yesterday. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From rriparia at charter.net Sat May 23 15:57:33 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 15:57:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wood River Wetland Klamath Co Message-ID: <20090523185733.RFWFR.3186419.root@mp19> A trip this morning, to Wood River Wetlands at the north end of Agency Lake, saw a total of roughly 70 species. California Towhee, (2) and Green Heron, at the USF&WS office on California St. , and along the way, a Golden Eagle along Hwy 97 near Algoma Rd. At Wood River Wetlands highlights included: Franklin's Gull, at least 7-8, Black-capped Chickadee, 3, Willow Flycatcher, 4-5, Western Wood Peewee, Warbling Vireo, Virginia Rail, Wood Duck, Canvasback, Blue-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Osprey, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Sandhill Crane (heard), Wilson's Phalarope, and Red-breasted Sapsucker. At Henzel Park, at the south end of Agency Lake: Eared and Horned Grebe At Hagelstein Park, along Hwy 97: Lazuli Bunting, Purple Finch, Black-crowned Night Heron A possible to probable MAGNOLIA WARBLER was seen very briefly, by only me, near the spring at Hagelstein. In the brief moment I viewed this bird I saw an all yellow breast of a warbler. It had black streaks up the breast to its upper breast, including the central area of the breast, and its streaks were largest in the central and upper part of the breast. The streaks came together and terminated at the upper part of the breast where there was an all black area of the upper breast in the center part of the breast. The throat was yellow and not black nor streaked black. I did not see the head, which may have been due to foliage blocking the head, or that it was preening as it may have come up from below after water bathing, or that the view was so brief. I have ruled out Townsend's Warbler as the streaks were not just on the flanks, and the lower breast was not white. Its throat was not black. I have ruled out Cape May Warbler as the streaks were broader and the streaks did not continue into throat area. However, the view was so brief I can't be positive about what it was. Approximately 16 people attended the fieldtrip. Kevin Spencer rriparia at charter.net From vireogirl at yahoo.com Sat May 23 16:33:34 2009 From: vireogirl at yahoo.com (Vjera Thompson) Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 16:33:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Bicycling birding: Fern Ridge Avocet Message-ID: <996445.51445.qm@web56304.mail.re3.yahoo.com> OBOLers, Eddie & I toured "Little Malheur" (Fern Ridge) today (5/23) by bicycle. We went to Meadowlark Prairie, down Greenhill Road over to Cantrell Road, through East Coyote Unit, across 126 to the Fisher Butte Unit, all the way through Fisher to Royal, and back home by way of Meadowlark Prairie. Notables: Meadowlark Prairie 2 Wilson's Phalaropes E Coyote 1 Wilson's Phalarope 10 American White Pelicans overhead Fisher Butte 2 Blue-winged Teal 1 Yellow-breasted Chat (calling near the little platform) 1 AMERICAN AVOCET (on the "Pelican Island", south of the main platform) 3 Forster's Terns Royal Ave 4 Bullock's Orioles Complete lists are on birdnotes.net. Good birding! Vjera & Eddie Thompson Eugene, OR vireogirl at yahoo.com From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Sat May 23 17:10:56 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 17:10:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] American Redstart, Northern Mockingbird Message-ID: <435734.8292.qm@web30408.mail.mud.yahoo.com> South Harney County, May 23 AMERICAN REDSTART - beautiful female at Cottonwood Creek NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD - at Defenbaugh Ranch on Trout Creek Maitreya, with the Bend birders: Craig, Marilyn, Dean, Patty, Peter, Judy, Howard, and Mary From calliope at theriver.com Sat May 23 18:35:35 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 18:35:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Burns Western Scrub-Jay, Diamond Cattle Egret Message-ID: <86EF9258-8288-4E80-B0D8-B048E7D05E94@theriver.com> Dear Birders, This morning, just after leaving Hines hotel I spotted a WESTERN SCRUB- JAY on the chain link fence on the south side of the USFS Emigrant Creek Ranger Station. When I turned around to get a good look at it, it was gone. Given the habitat, I'd rather think this was a California Scrub-Jay rather than a Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay. Also, since the former has been spreading in eastern Oregon in recent years, and the latter has not, so that would also fit a known pattern. I had California Western Scrub-Jay in Sunriver the day before yesterday. There was a CATTLE EGRET this afternoon with horses in a field on the west side of the road that goes north towards Diamond Craters from the Diamond Highway, about 1/2 mile north of that junction. On the opposite side of the road was a BONAPARTE'S GULL with two Franklin's Gulls and White-faced Ibis. The breeding colony at Diamond Marsh (visible only from a distance) is quite nice now, given that the vegetation is still low. I managed to spot two SNOWY EGRETS in the middle of it all. There weren't a whole lot of highlights from the refuge today, but others may post on some of the better birds that we didn't see. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- From FoxSparrows at aol.com Sat May 23 18:46:09 2009 From: FoxSparrows at aol.com (FoxSparrows at aol.com) Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 21:46:09 EDT Subject: [obol] Malheur in the morning Message-ID: In a message dated 5/23/2009 6:39:02 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, celata at pacifier.com writes: Get in tough with your sense memory, the smell of sage, the sounds... www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11108/ POORWILL last night behind E-dorm. BLACK-THROATED SPARROW this morning behind S. Coyote Butte If you REALLY want experience with Black-throated Sparrows, you would need to forgo rarity-chasing and go down around the Alvord Basin or Long Draw, on the west slope of the Pueblo Mountains... I was down there today (Long Draw), and heard plenty of BTSP... You go south into Nevada, turn west toward Sheldon NWR, turn north past Bog Hot Springs, and turn west into.... well... virtually nowhere. Long Draw is a beautiful long stretch of desert the heads northwest toward Hart Mountain NWR... high clearance vehicles only, 2WD pickups OK with great caution. Also, any of the rocky slopes along the road to Mickey Hot Springs (northern Alvord Basin) should yield results... It's been good for me there for about a month now. Plant species of dune habitats are blooming now... evening primroses. buckwheats, blazing stars, phacelias... check out any sand dunes you happen to see! Steve Dowlan In a message dated 5/23/2009 6:39:02 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, celata at pacifier.com writes: Get in tough with your sense memory, the smell of sage, the sounds... www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11108/ POORWILL last night behind E-dorm. BLACK-THROATED SPARROW this morning behind S. Coyote Butte **************Recession-proof vacation ideas. Find free things to do in the U.S. (http://travel.aol.com/travel-ideas/domestic/national-tourism-week?ncid=emlcntustrav00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090523/86f667cc/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sat May 23 19:43:31 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 19:43:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur in the afternoon Message-ID: <4A18B453.9070709@pacifier.com> The BOBOLINKS put on quite a show this afternoon along the Center Patrol Road just north of P-ranch. http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11116/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From tom-escue at comcast.net Sat May 23 19:24:44 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 19:24:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eagle Cam Message-ID: <2FF08B40D81D453BB50EB59B9EB86274@TomsPC> There appears to be at least one chick that just hatched out in the eagle nest at Odell Lake. Last year the nest failed. Here's the cam link. https://wwwnotes.fs.fed.us/wo/wfrp/find_a_photo.nsf/eaglecam Tom Escue -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090523/63fac792/attachment.html From scre at aol.com Sat May 23 22:23:41 2009 From: scre at aol.com (scre at aol.com) Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 01:23:41 -0400 Subject: [obol] Harney County migrant traps Message-ID: <8CBAA46EF0F993A-1234-2FCE@MBLK-M24.sysops.aol.com> Lauren Harter and I ventured out to Malheur NWR birding from the headquarters to Fields (and well oninto Nevada).? Lots of western migrants especilly Western Tanagers, but also Yellow and Wilson's Warblers and Willow Flycatchers.? Only birds of slight note was a Myrtle Warbler at Benton Pond and another on private property north of Fields.? We will be back sunday to give it another shot.? Good birding all David Vander Pluym Netarts -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090524/981a93a8/attachment.html From rakestraw.john at yahoo.com Sat May 23 22:34:42 2009 From: rakestraw.john at yahoo.com (John Rakestraw) Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 22:34:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island Ravens Message-ID: <8590.5398.qm@web59415.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> There were two Common Ravens at the Oak Island unit of Sauvie Island on Friday, May 22. This seems late for the valley. John Rakestraw Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090523/35893927/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Sat May 23 22:38:21 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 22:38:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island Ravens In-Reply-To: <8590.5398.qm@web59415.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> References: <8590.5398.qm@web59415.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> Message-ID: And there were 2 Common Ravens at the River S Unit of Ridgefield NWR today, which is not far from Oak Island. Possibly the same two birds, perhaps not. Scott Carpenter Portland On Sat, May 23, 2009 at 10:34 PM, John Rakestraw wrote: > There were two Common Ravens at the Oak Island unit of Sauvie Island on > Friday, May 22. This seems late for the valley. > > John Rakestraw > Portland > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090523/f977e9cf/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Sat May 23 22:42:06 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 22:42:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Common Nighthawk, Florence Message-ID: <2D397921-B282-445A-9D11-613BDDF3493C@oregonfast.net> Hello OBOL, When i got home tonight at about 21:00, there was a COMMON NIGHTHAWK calling over my house, Beautiful downtown Ada Oregon. WINDY again today....ugh. Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090523/0fc8c391/attachment.html From jbw at oregoncoast.com Sun May 24 09:30:29 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara & John Woodhouse) Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 08:30:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Cape Mears Peregine Message-ID: Yesterday a 4th Peregrine chick was spotted during a feeding. Looks as if it will be a good year. Barbara Woodhouse Tillamook From philliplc at charter.net Sun May 24 09:03:47 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 09:03:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cascade Head 5/24 Message-ID: <0BDCE027506B48899A187F09E110C447@Phil> 26 Black Swift - all north over the top within a few minutes during a brief windless period about 6:20 AM 41 Western Canada Goose - 1 flock with a single Cackling Goose 350+ Brown Pelican 9 Heermann's Gull - adults in northbound Pelican groups, first time seen flying together this year http://philliplc.com/images/xch09005.jpg Phil philliplc at charter.net From llsdirons at msn.com Sun May 24 10:41:08 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 17:41:08 +0000 Subject: [obol] Forster's Terns at Fern Ridge, Malheur update In-Reply-To: <996445.51445.qm@web56304.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <996445.51445.qm@web56304.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Greetings All, Forster's Terns have now been about Fern Ridge for over a week, with multiple birds. Some have suspected that this species would be the next "Malheur" bird to colonize Fern Ridge as they visit annually in late-May and June. Usually these birds are one-two wonders. I am currently at Malheur, where water levels at the northern end of the refuge are the lowest they've been in years. We might expect to see some "prospecters" in places where they normally don't summer. It will be interesting to see if these Forster's Terns remain through the breeding season. While there has been some turnover of birds at headquarters, still no vagrants. There seems to have been a small influx of Empidonax flycatchers, including one bird (seen by Mike Patterson) that may have been a Least Flycatcher. Lots of Western Tanagers and Lazuli Buntings, a few Wilson's Warblers and Warbling Vireos and one Yellow-rumped Warbler. Multiple parties saw the Great-tailed Grackles this morning. Diane Pettey and I saw a bird flying from the Apple Peddler restaurant towards the sewage ponds in Burns and Jim Carlson told me he had one at the very east end of town where the Blue Jay was reported earlier in the week. These are sure different birds as they were found about 2-3 miles apart. Dave Irons Eugene, OR (currently in Harney Co.) > Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 16:33:34 -0700 > From: vireogirl at yahoo.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Bicycling birding: Fern Ridge Avocet > > > OBOLers, > > Eddie & I toured "Little Malheur" (Fern Ridge) today (5/23) by bicycle. We went to Meadowlark Prairie, down Greenhill Road over to Cantrell Road, through East Coyote Unit, across 126 to the Fisher Butte Unit, all the way through Fisher to Royal, and back home by way of Meadowlark Prairie. > > Notables: > > Meadowlark Prairie > 2 Wilson's Phalaropes > > E Coyote > 1 Wilson's Phalarope > 10 American White Pelicans overhead > > Fisher Butte > 2 Blue-winged Teal > 1 Yellow-breasted Chat (calling near the little platform) > 1 AMERICAN AVOCET (on the "Pelican Island", south of the main platform) > 3 Forster's Terns > > Royal Ave > 4 Bullock's Orioles > > Complete lists are on birdnotes.net. > > Good birding! > Vjera & Eddie Thompson > Eugene, OR > vireogirl at yahoo.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090524/eb5e40dd/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Sun May 24 11:24:41 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 11:24:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Douglas Co. Red Knot 5-24-09 Message-ID: <2b1bbd260905241124v1fc2e2b5xd295da066dd4129f@mail.gmail.com> Obol, This AM around 7 there was a RED KNOT in full breeding plumage at the mouth of Tahkenitch Cr, Douglas Co. It was hanging out with the local KILLDEER, who clearly did not appreciate my presence. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090524/929d8bb3/attachment.html From roygerig at hotmail.com Sun May 24 15:50:39 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 15:50:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] BSNWR Whimbrel, Black Tern, Avocet, others 5/24/09 Message-ID: I spent from 11 AM to 2 PM in the Baskett Slough NWR area west of Salem and saw the following fun stuff: BLACK-NECKED STILT - at least 5, Farmer Road WILSON'S PHALAROPE - 6 or more, Farmer Rd. and below Coville Rd. YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD - 15-20 males, several areas YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT - one at the entrance to Morgan Lake BLACK TERN - 2 flying over the long pond below Morgan Lake, seen from the dam at Morgan Lk. BONAPAPATE'S GULL - one on the water below Coville Rd. WHIMBREL - one below Coville Rd, seen from the dike that crosses over to HQ AMERICAN AVOCET - one, seen from the same dike and one Greater White-fronted Goose and one Bar-headed Goose with some Canadas Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has a new way to see what's up with your friends. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/WhatsNew?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_WhatsNew1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090524/67622286/attachment.html From sylviam at clearwire.net Sun May 24 16:28:54 2009 From: sylviam at clearwire.net (Sylvia Maulding) Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 16:28:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge, White-faced Ibis Message-ID: <5f916ae60905241628k3e9709e5r32c7e4f8f1d83949@mail.gmail.com> This morning about 11:00 there were 28 WHITE-FACED IBIS in the Fisher Unit of Fern Ridge. The AVOCET was still south of the large platform out from Royal. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090524/0f12c79f/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun May 24 17:24:38 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 17:24:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fierce creatures Message-ID: <4A19E546.7040708@pacifier.com> One needn't spend the entire day "chasing rarities" at Malheur... http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11128 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From md at teleport.com Sun May 24 18:52:38 2009 From: md at teleport.com (md at teleport.com) Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 18:52:38 -0700 (GMT-07:00) Subject: [obol] Red-Necked Phalaropes Message-ID: <13370424.1243216359115.JavaMail.root@elwamui-huard.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Five seen on 5/22 at the Nehalem ponds. Sumner Sharpe >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From celata at pacifier.com Sun May 24 19:02:22 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 19:02:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] More Malheur photos Message-ID: <4A19FC2E.9030306@pacifier.com> For those interested, I have posted the "best" of my Malheur photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ Remember: if you're reading from Siler, cut and paste the URL and replace AT with the "at" symbol (SHIFT-2). -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun May 24 19:06:19 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 19:06:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur RBAs Message-ID: HQ today has reports of Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. I didn't see them (yet). Many observers saw a Chestnut-sided Warbler at Barnes Spring near Frenchglan today. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From davebrownbirder at yahoo.com Sun May 24 19:16:37 2009 From: davebrownbirder at yahoo.com (Dave Brown) Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 19:16:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] White-faced Ibis Message-ID: <424529.42761.qm@web59912.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> I was walking the first dike going from the West 11 th. parking lot to the pump house to its west when 40 Ibis landed right beside me. Later I took a couple birders back later to show them and a few of them flew off to the north but others stayed and were still there when I left them. ? Dave Brown Alvadore -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090524/8f435f9f/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Sun May 24 19:36:49 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 19:36:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] White-faced Ibis In-Reply-To: <424529.42761.qm@web59912.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> References: <424529.42761.qm@web59912.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> Message-ID: I wonder if the four reports of ibis in recent days in the Willamette Valley (and largish numbers of them) may reflect Dave Irons's observation that water levels at Malheur are low and his prediction that some east-side species may begin wandering widely in search of wetter regions? Something to keep an eye on in coming weeks... At 7:16 PM -0700 5/24/09, Dave Brown wrote: >I was walking the first dike going from the West 11 th. parking lot >to the pump house to its west when 40 Ibis landed right beside me. >Later I took a couple birders back later to show them and a few of >them flew off to the north but others stayed and were still there >when I left them. > >Dave Brown >Alvadore > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From 4cains at charter.net Sun May 24 19:47:03 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 19:47:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] North Coast incidentals Message-ID: Yesterday Evan and I were trying our luck (with hook and line) at the South Jetty of the Columbia River. We weren't very lucky, fish-wise. A lone BRANT was first on the river beach north of the jetty, then later flew over to join us on our side (or more likely it felt the SURF SCOTERS were better company). About this time a HERD of about 30+ California sea lion bulls began working a patch of sardine or herring RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. They would swim in tight formation, chasing the school, then go under all at once, then come up suddenly from underneath, trapping the fish against the air and gulls and pelicans. Might just have been a factor in our empty creel. Today, at about 0700 I was pre-scouting for a field trip at Hug Point State Park . Another lone BRANT was in a tidepool there, eating Enteromorpha algae, and quite tame. Of course I hadn't brought a camera. Then, worse yet to not have a camera for, a single ROCK SANDPIPER in breeding plumage was resting and feeding on kelp-covered rock at the waters edge. I am curious if anyone can look up for me the latest date for Rock Sandpiper in Oregon? This seems to me to be a little late? Lee Cain Astoria -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090524/e16d0a5b/attachment.html From bettyehunt at aol.com Sun May 24 21:38:31 2009 From: bettyehunt at aol.com (bettyehunt at aol.com) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 00:38:31 -0400 Subject: [obol] Band tailed pigeons take over backyard In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <8CBAB09CA1E3C1C-10D4-459C@WEBMAIL-MY36.sysops.aol.com> We've had the good fortune to host 50-60 of these wonderful guys for the past couple of months.? Love their "owl sounds" and that they are, for all their size, so sociable with other birds - no bullies, these.? Had about the same number last year, and hope to have more next. Bettye Hunt Waldport -----Original Message----- From: HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE To: michel Kleinbaum ; OBOL Sent: Sat, 23 May 2009 9:43 am Subject: [obol] Band tailed pigeons take over backyard A dozen bandtailed pigeons have taken over one of our backyard conifers on Bradley Lake here in Bandon for the second time this morning. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090525/7aaffb8a/attachment.html From louisfredd at msn.com Sun May 24 22:52:49 2009 From: louisfredd at msn.com (LOUIS C FREDD) Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 22:52:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Prairie Falcon, Oregon City Message-ID: A Prairie Falcon hunted the neighboring golf course this afternoon. I first saw it about 2:15 pm on a low level pass (75 ft or less) going from E to W on the long axis of the adjacent fairway, 150 ft or so distant. It reappeared about 10 minutes or so later on another flight down the fairway, from the same direction and height. The first pass was in flap-glide sequences, the second by steady flapping flight, tempo similar to Cooper's, it was in no hurry. Two hours later, about 4:30 pm, I was returning home on the main road. Almost to our lane I saw a couple of starlings fly across the road and down toward the end of the fairway, which is well below the road. Out the corner of my eye I saw the falcon break out of concealment in a medium sized cedar to chase after the starlings! I wanted in the worse way to watch what happened, but I needed to get off the road in one piece. By the time I could safely stop in our lane, the falcon was a couple of fairways over, going away. It missed evidently. Last year I saw a Prairie Falcon here on May 10. _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090524/b98bfa8c/attachment.html From calliope at theriver.com Mon May 25 06:18:10 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 06:18:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hines Great-tailed Grackle Message-ID: <722AC5B4-DE0F-4BEC-A73B-6B8582D4961B@theriver.com> Hi All, The male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE continues in front of the Apple Peddler restaurant in Hines this morning at 5:25. Greg Gillson mentioned that he had two males here the day before yesterday. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- From clausing at uiuc.edu Mon May 25 06:32:19 2009 From: clausing at uiuc.edu (Arthur Clausing) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 06:32:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western King birds Message-ID: <70CF5015-1B8A-431B-B003-EE242796F79D@uiuc.edu> Thanks to Will Clemons excellent description of where to find the Yellow-breasted Chats at the Sandy River Delta, I found them there yesterday morning. The dogs on the east bank of the Delta were really obnoxious! Twice I found myself surrounded by aggressive, loudly barking dogs. One owner suggested the aggressive behavior of her dogs was due to the bicycle helmet I was wearing. What does this imply? I had the west bank of the Delta virtually to myself. I saw two LEASHED dogs and an equal number of beautiful Western Kingbirds. I saw the Kingbirds at the south side of Company Lake near the west end of the new, paved path. Art Clausing Portland From kcoe at orednet.org Mon May 25 09:39:43 2009 From: kcoe at orednet.org (kcoe at orednet.org) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 09:39:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Northern Mockingbird, Union County Message-ID: <50403.71.111.88.73.1243269583.squirrel@shemp.dialoregon.net> Saw a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD at 8:00 am on 25 May 2009 just north of the Ladd Marsh WMA. >From Peach Road go about 1 mile east on Wilkinson Road. It was perching on a fence post, flying to the ground, and returning to the fence post around a large stack of hay. With the sun behind us we got good views. There was no black face mask, and the bill was long and pointed like a robin. Excellent birding! Kent Coe 541 962-7049 From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Mon May 25 09:57:01 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (tmacport99 at hotmail.com) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 16:57:01 GMT Subject: [obol] Mt Tabor this a.m.(Mult) Message-ID: <200905251657.n4PGv1k6017556@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Tom McNamara by http://birdnotes.net Date: May 25, 2009 Location: Mt. Tabor Park, Multnomah County, Oregon Low temperature: 54 degrees fahrenheit High temperature: 54 degrees fahrenheit Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h Precipitation: none Beautiful Memorial Day morning to be in the park. Saw 2 ospreys again this morning (saw 3 other flyovers a few weeks ago) and the first red crossbills in a bit of a while. Warbler numbers were pretty low and only a single vireo. good birding, Tom Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Mallard Osprey [1] Red-tailed Hawk Rock Dove Band-tailed Pigeon Vaux's Swift Anna's Hummingbird Olive-sided Flycatcher Western Wood-Pewee Pacific-slope Flycatcher Hutton's Vireo Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Chestnut-backed Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Swainson's Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing Yellow-rumped Warbler Townsend's Warbler Wilson's Warbler Western Tanager Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Black-headed Grosbeak Brown-headed Cowbird House Finch Red Crossbill Pine Siskin Lesser Goldfinch Evening Grosbeak Footnotes: [1] 2 flying leisurely overhead Total number of species seen: 36 From birdboy at bkpix.com Mon May 25 10:17:40 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 10:17:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge 5/25 Message-ID: Hi birders, This morning in the Fisher Unit: 1 - AMERICAN AVOCET 26 - WHITE-FACED IBIS 3 - BLACK-NECKED STILT 7 - WILSON'S PHALAROPE 21 - AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN 5 - BLUE-WINGED TEAL Good birding, Noah Strycker -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090525/dc9d4023/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Mon May 25 10:32:36 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 10:32:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island Ravens In-Reply-To: <8590.5398.qm@web59415.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> References: <8590.5398.qm@web59415.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F021DC39E@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> I observed COMMON RAVENS during all the summer months either at the end of Rentennar Road or in St. Helens last year. My thought was that the highlands are easy flying distance to these lowland areas. Food sources may be more abundant in the valley areas. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR ________________________________ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of John Rakestraw Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 10:35 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island Ravens There were two Common Ravens at the Oak Island unit of Sauvie Island on Friday, May 22. This seems late for the valley. John Rakestraw Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090525/e7924e5a/attachment.html From refugee2000 at gmail.com Mon May 25 10:39:35 2009 From: refugee2000 at gmail.com (Christopher Christie) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 10:39:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Northern Mockingbird, Union County In-Reply-To: <50403.71.111.88.73.1243269583.squirrel@shemp.dialoregon.net> References: <50403.71.111.88.73.1243269583.squirrel@shemp.dialoregon.net> Message-ID: <9945c6340905251039v351fdba7yf00700f97e125084@mail.gmail.com> Was it singing Kent? That early in the morning they are normally going through their long and delightful repertoire. Finally had a Black-headed grosbeak at my window feeder in town yesterday. Chris in Baker City On Mon, May 25, 2009 at 9:39 AM, wrote: > Saw a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD at 8:00 am on 25 May 2009 just north of the > Ladd Marsh WMA. > > From Peach Road go about 1 mile east on Wilkinson Road. It was perching > on a fence post, flying to the ground, and returning to the fence post > around a large stack of hay. With the sun behind us we got good views. > There was no black face mask, and the bill was long and pointed like a > robin. > > Excellent birding! > > Kent Coe > 541 962-7049 > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090525/58f786ab/attachment.html From puma at smt-net.com Mon May 25 10:53:51 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 10:53:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Band tailed pigeons take over backyard In-Reply-To: <8CBAB09CA1E3C1C-10D4-459C@WEBMAIL-MY36.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBAB09CA1E3C1C-10D4-459C@WEBMAIL-MY36.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <1B7FF629-89A0-4D33-8CF9-D0D4619A87A5@smt-net.com> Hi Bettye and OBOL, The BAND-TAILS that nest in our neck of the woods, in excess of 200 -300 birds, leave suddenly every year in July. And maybe I see one or two during the late summer. I am curious as to why??? Young have fledged, ... going for more food down in the valley, ... Cherries? They are the most "peaceful birds", no bullies like you say. They love crushed oyster shell and cracked corn. Pat Waldron East of Scio On May 24, 2009, at 9:38 PM, bettyehunt at aol.com wrote: > We've had the good fortune to host 50-60 of these wonderful guys > for the past couple of months. Love their "owl sounds" and that > they are, for all their size, so sociable with other birds - no > bullies, these. Had about the same number last year, and hope to > have more next. > > Bettye Hunt > Waldport > > -----Original Message----- > From: HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE > To: michel Kleinbaum ; OBOL > > Sent: Sat, 23 May 2009 9:43 am > Subject: [obol] Band tailed pigeons take over backyard > > A dozen bandtailed pigeons have taken over one of our backyard > conifers on > Bradley Lake here in Bandon for the second time this morning. > > Harv Schubothe > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090525/c4914b5e/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Mon May 25 11:03:09 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 11:03:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Swifts, Clark's Grebe, Tierra del Mar Message-ID: <20090525180312.872BFA8236@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> I usually spend my mornings at Tierra del Mar (Tillamook Co.) scoping the ocean, but, inspired by Phil's report of Black Swifts yesterday, I scanned the skies instead. After about 30 minutes, it paid off: at 6:40AM 5 BLACK SWIFTS flew over--first I've ever seen away from Salt Creek Falls. Back to the ocean. Minutes later, a flock of 50 BONAPARTE'S GULLS overtook 30 BRANT, all flying north. Most, perhaps all, of the gulls were in non-breeding plumage, which is a bit puzzling. A CLARK'S GREBE was with a half dozen WESTERN GREBES. Later this morning, a beautiful RED-NECKED GREBE was close in. So fine looking, I had to wonder why it wasn't out making more grebelets. Still good size flocks of PACIFIC and RED-THROATED LOONS flying north (about 20:1 PALO:RTLO), and small groups of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES. Several pairs of MARBLED MURRELETS in breeding plumage are out there plus one bird still in basic. Yesterday morning, a TUFTED PUFFIN flew by with 2 CASSIN'S AUKLETS. Wink Gross Tierra del Mar From baileydc at pdx.edu Mon May 25 11:04:41 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 11:04:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] [Fwd: Seawatch: Lost Creek State Park] Message-ID: <4A1ADDB9.8050902@pdx.edu> -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Seawatch: Lost Creek State Park Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 17:51:18 GMT From: baileydc at pdx.edu To: baileydc at pdx.edu This report was mailed for David C. Bailey by http://birdnotes.net Date: May 25, 2009 Location: Lost Creek State Park, Lincoln County, Oregon Seawatch from the parking lot from 0730 to 0830. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 100 [1] Surf Scoter 10 Pacific Loon 500 [2] Common Loon 1 Western Grebe 15 Clark's Grebe 1 [3] Sooty Shearwater 20 [4] Brown Pelican 10 Double-crested Cormorant 2 Pelagic Cormorant 20 Whimbrel 4 Red-necked Phalarope 20 Bonaparte's Gull 10 California Gull 1 Western Gull 20 Caspian Tern 2 Common Murre 100 Pigeon Guillemot 20 Marbled Murrelet 36 [5] Rhinoceros Auklet 5 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2 Footnotes: [1] Canada Goose: three flocks; all flying north [2] Pacific Loon: most flying north; several on the water [3] Clark's Grebe: a county first for me! [4] Sooty Shearwater: flying and on the water within a quarter mile [5] Marbled Murrelet: actual count; I was somewhat surprised by the number. Nearly all were on the water just past the breakers. Two were still in black and white plumage. Total number of species seen: 21 From philliplc at charter.net Mon May 25 11:25:36 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 11:25:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Swifts, Clark's Grebe, Tierra del Mar References: <20090525180312.872BFA8236@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: > Back to the ocean. Minutes later, a flock of 50 BONAPARTE'S GULLS > overtook 30 BRANT, all flying north. Most, perhaps all, of the > gulls were in non-breeding plumage, which is a bit puzzling. As with many other migratory species non-breeding Bonys tend to segregate and migrate later and/or with less urgency than mature breeding birds in spring. This group was presumably all immature birds. Phil From steve at paradisebirding.com Mon May 25 11:32:01 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 11:32:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Woodpecker Scouting Report Message-ID: <9a341ea30905251132s1e026906s3dec48a7b057b3e2@mail.gmail.com> Hello all, I spent both mornings this weekend scouting the Metolius Preserve for the upcoming Woodpecker Wonderland Festival (June 5-7). The weather and the birding were superb. I found 6 woodpecker species over the two mornings, including a female WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER, multiple RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS, multiple HAIRIES and FLICKERS, at least two pairs of WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS, and a PILEATED WOODPECKER calling repeatedly, but eluding observation. I only found 2 nests thus far, one Hairy and one White-headed. Other highlights included: - Many HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS, including 2 females in different locations gathering nesting material from the ground. - A very attentive NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL, possibly near a nest site - Excellent warbler diversity, including multiple singing WILSON'S WARBLERS (not detected during June point counts in the last 4 years), many HETO (Hermit-Townsend's type) WARBLERS, numerous MACGILLIVRAY'S and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, a couple NASHVILLES, an ORANGE-CROWNED, and a YELLOWTHROAT. - A brand new bird for the preserve checklist, a ROCK WREN, chirping (but not singing) from the middle of one of the clearcuts. Pictorial highlights can be found on my Facebook site at this link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2013286&id=1359924578&l=2396c5c240 PLEASE HELP: If you come birding in the Sisters or Camp Sherman areas, please report any notable woodpecker activity, especially if you find active nests, so that we can have the area well-scouted for the festival. Thanks! Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090525/70cc0249/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Mon May 25 11:40:20 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 11:40:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird Encounter Black-headed Grosbeak Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F021DC3A3@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> This morning I was filling my bird feeders holding my container of seed in my right hand and my smallest feeder in my left. A male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK that had been singing in our willow tree flew down and landed on top of the feeder hanging pole right in front of me. It then flew to the feeder I was holding, landing on the tray. It began to eat the few remaining Black Oil Sunflower seeds in the feeder moving around on the seed tray to get to both feeding ports. The feeder was tilted slightly and it swayed just a little, but the grosbeak did not seem to mind. The feeder tray was several inches above my knee as I bent over and tilted my head downward to watch. It was busy eating and did not seem to notice me as it fed for at least a minute. When the grosbeak finished eating it tilted its head and looked up at me as I looked down at it observing the shiny eye and the beautiful feathers. THEN THE BIRD SETTLED DOWN ON THE FEEDER TRAY AND BROKE INTO SONG. I will likely never be so close to take in that beautiful song from a live Black-headed Grosbeak. It felt like this was my personal bird. It sang for about 45 seconds and then flew away. I looked up from my bent over position and a female was sitting on top of the feeder pole two feet in front of me and at eye level. I never heard her fly in and watched as she flew off after the male. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090525/ad6fb63f/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon May 25 12:11:39 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 12:11:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry Birds of Late- swifts, etc. Message-ID: <587389.55671.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I talked to Terry Wahl this morning, here are some of his updates: mid-May (about two weeks ago), at New Lake (far SW Coos Co.), seen by Dave Pitkin and Rick McKenzie: 1- LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (this is the 5th Coos record and the first spring record) 2- female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS at the Wahl ranch near Cape Blanco, Curry Co., seen about a week ago and were there three days. 1- CACKLING GOOSE at the Wahl ranch on 5/24. My report: N. Spit of Coos Bay, 5/24: 12- PECTORAL SANDPIPER (may have been that many on 5/23, I got a better count on 5/24; only one there today) 1- SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (non-breeding plumage, heard it call) 1- LONG-BILLED CURLEW (seen flying over Hwy 101 on my way back into town) New River, 5/25, beautiful morning with no wind, perfect swift conditions: 103- BLACK SWIFTS, all between 0545 and 0745.? By 0745 the wind had started to pick up and no more swifts. Bethel Mtn. Road, SW Coos: 2- singing VESPER SPARROWS, I'd say they are definitely breeding there. Bandon Marsh, AM: 8- BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS 2- Dowitcher sp. 1- RED KNOT (getting late for this species, the latest Coos spring date is 5/29) 1- WESTERN SANDPIPER Merry migration all! Tim R Coos Bay From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Mon May 25 12:58:01 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (Gerard Lillie) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 12:58:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird Encounter Black-headed Grosbeak In-Reply-To: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F021DC3A3@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> References: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F021DC3A3@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> Message-ID: <003901c9dd73$1c916d00$55b44700$@lillie@comcast.net> Wow, that is a very cool story. And one that is so different from the Black-headed Grosbeaks coming to my feeders. For the most part they are very spooky and fly off if they see us in our house, let alone outdoors. Yesterday and today there are around 8-10 in the immediate neighborhood. There also are 20+ EVENING GROSBEAKS. It has been really nice to see both species at the feeders at the same time. Also in the yard and neighborhood: 2 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS, 3 W. WOOD-PEWEES, 1 HAMMOND'S and 1 PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, 2 WARBLING VIREOS, 3 WESTERN TANAGERS, 2 WILSON'S and 3 TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS. Spring migration- nothing like it. Good birding, Gerard. From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of John Gatchet Sent: Monday, May 25, 2009 11:40 AM To: obol Subject: [obol] Bird Encounter Black-headed Grosbeak This morning I was filling my bird feeders holding my container of seed in my right hand and my smallest feeder in my left. A male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK that had been singing in our willow tree flew down and landed on top of the feeder hanging pole right in front of me. It then flew to the feeder I was holding, landing on the tray. It began to eat the few remaining Black Oil Sunflower seeds in the feeder moving around on the seed tray to get to both feeding ports. The feeder was tilted slightly and it swayed just a little, but the grosbeak did not seem to mind. The feeder tray was several inches above my knee as I bent over and tilted my head downward to watch. It was busy eating and did not seem to notice me as it fed for at least a minute. When the grosbeak finished eating it tilted its head and looked up at me as I looked down at it observing the shiny eye and the beautiful feathers. THEN THE BIRD SETTLED DOWN ON THE FEEDER TRAY AND BROKE INTO SONG. I will likely never be so close to take in that beautiful song from a live Black-headed Grosbeak. It felt like this was my personal bird. It sang for about 45 seconds and then flew away. I looked up from my bent over position and a female was sitting on top of the feeder pole two feet in front of me and at eye level. I never heard her fly in and watched as she flew off after the male. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090525/e62d1a6b/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Mon May 25 13:06:58 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 20:06:58 +0000 Subject: [obol] Tufted Puffin cooperates for Bandon tourists Message-ID: With an extreme low tide this morning, the elusive tufted puffin at Elephant rock off Coquille point made an appearance at about 8:30 to the delight of many tourists with cameras. At least 3 have been sighted previously at Face Rock. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From hhactitis at yahoo.com Mon May 25 13:21:43 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 13:21:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Lane Coast Kingbird etc. Message-ID: <550740.392.qm@web37008.mail.mud.yahoo.com> This morning, I found a WESTERN KINGBIRD along the river at South Siltcoos, gathering insects in the wrack line. Later, presumably the same bird was seen flycatching from small shore pines at North Siltcoos. Also at South Siltcoos (pond) 5 GREATER and one LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and 5 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES. Good birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090525/3eb21696/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon May 25 13:26:06 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 13:26:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur RBAs Message-ID: Monday May 25 Benson Pond: Tim Shelmerdine found a female TENNESSEE Warbler and a PALM Warbler. I saw both later; Graham Floyd also saw the Palm. Frenchglen: Male ROSE-breasted Grosbeak found by George Grier, Cynthia Pappas et al. late morning. Page Springs: A GRAY Catbird was seen in the morning near the stepping stones across the muddy stretch of the river trail. I think Mike Denny found it (?). I have no other details. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From sheilach at nwtec.com Mon May 25 14:55:30 2009 From: sheilach at nwtec.com (sheila) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 14:55:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Where are the Barn-swallows? Message-ID: The nest they built last year over my front door remains empty and I haven't seen any BARN-SWALLOWS around here. The TREE-SWALLOW, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, BLACK-CAPPED, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES are all nesting and the CHICKADESS have 7 eggs each and the TREE-SWALLOW has only 3 eggs. The VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW has 2 nests but no eggs yet. I've seen the WHITE-CROWN SPARROWS mate and so I'm sure they have a nest stashed away in the neighbors wild, untrimmed hedge. ORANGE-CROWN warblers sneak swiftly through the trees and bushes looking for "bugs". Too many BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS are sqealing about looking for a nest to drop a egg into. The BAND-TAILED PIGEONS continue to empty the feeder trays and the rather tame RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH enjoys the suet in spite of me watching from only a meter away, BREWERS BLACKBIRDS are also frequent visitors and those pesky STARLINGS continue to try and eat that same suet. A BB rifle discourages that! A few AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, HOUSE FINCHES, PINE SISKINS, MORNING DOVES,ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS, and PURPLE FINCHES show up at the feeders. The HOUSE SPARROWS stay away as they know they are not wellcome. The EURASIAN-COLLARED DOVES are busy tending their young and the STARLINGS already have young following them. Last week some COMMON GEESE were honking as they flew north above my home in Harbor and the BLACK-OYSTERCATCHERS are making much noise at the offshore rocks. I miss those BARN SWALLOWS! Sheila from Harbor Oregon. From jmeredit at bendnet.com Mon May 25 16:39:41 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 16:39:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur RBAs Message-ID: <6518D17B22824490B5AB83B2A98A779D@MOM> Explanation - The CATBIRD upstream from Page Springs was first reported by a person named Tom.... from Walla Walla, not Mike Denny. Tom said it sang non-stop for 15 minutes the a.m. of Sunday 5-24. We could not find it that pm. The next morning, our BBC group saw it, once it was re-located by Peter Low. It flew into an alder in the open area where Alan mentioned. We were there with it over 15 minutes, but did not hear a bit from the bird. Oh, BBC refers to the Bend Bird Club, loosely defined as any birders joining anyone who is from the Bend area and is out birding. And a female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was found by Peter Low yesterday at the pond right before Krumbo. We all had great scope views. I guess this is a very good county bird for Harney. We also had a great TERRY STEELE sighting and enjoyed visiting with him around our campfire. Good birding Judy Meredith jmeredit at bnendnet.com From jmeredit at bendnet.com Mon May 25 16:49:04 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 16:49:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] oops, another Malheur RBA update Message-ID: <1DB04D00A206429DAD2F46C4C389CA20@MOM> The CATTLE EGRET was hiding Sunday afternoon between 2 - 4 pm when a lot of birders were searching. We did however re-locate the SNOWY EGRETs in those fields near Diamond. At the time we did not know they had been seen by Rich Hoyer and his group. Today we returned there on our way home and did find the CATTLE EGRET at about 0930 where it was reported earlier, in the field with the horses. Judy jmeredit at bendnet.com From celata at pacifier.com Mon May 25 17:30:25 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 17:30:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lower Columbia White Pelicans Message-ID: <4A1B3821.8010102@pacifier.com> On our way back to Astoria this afternoon, we saw three AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS sharing a thermal with TURKEY VULTURES near Kalama (exit 27) on the Washington portion of I-5. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From bcombs232 at gmail.com Mon May 25 17:49:12 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 17:49:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Nuthatch Fledgling Message-ID: <8ce3a6520905251749p43d6570fu727c99ea048a4822@mail.gmail.com> On Saturday, May 23, a recently-fledged Red-breasted Nuthatch appeared at one of my sunflower heart feeders. I did not see the undertail coverts, but a substantial portion of the breast, which I did see, lacked any rusty coloring. It was a pale gray color. The eyeline seemed less well-defined than it would be in an adult. The back color seemed to be duller. My impression of the bird was that it seemed to be an air-brushed version of an adult, with colors artistically muted. I had been hearing Red-breasted Nuthatches in the neighborhood much later than usual this year, including last week. (Some come for the winter season, and leave in spring.) I have heard none since I saw the young bird. I assume that they nested in this built-up suburban neighborhood, and have now moved on because the young are out of the nest. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090525/2877d96a/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Mon May 25 18:01:18 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 18:01:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ona Beach State Park, Lincoln County, Oregon on May 25, 2009] Message-ID: <4A1B3F5E.6030204@pdx.edu> Ona Beach State Park late this morning. Swainson's Thrushes are still moving last night. Several were in the birches foraging in the upper canopy around the parking lot this morning. Single YELLOW and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERs (Audubon's) were singing in the trees in the park. N. ROUGH-WINGED were perched on a branch near a hole in the sandstone sea-cliff. The BONAPART'S GULLS I saw earlier in the day from Lost Creek SP were all pale-headed and likely immatures as were those I saw from Boiler Bay last week. I agree with Phil Pickering's comment. The same is true with late shorebirds on the coast now--most are likely immatures or birds that were compromised in some way and haven't been able to make the migration in a timely fashion. Incidentally, two of the WHIMBREL I have seen in the last ten days on the beach have had foot problems--one had the foot missing and was walking on its stub at Seal Rocks SP, the other, today at Ona Beach looked like it had fishing line wrapped arouund the tarsus of its left leg above and its toes were swollen. David Bailey in Newport again for the week. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Census Count: Ona Beach State Park, Lincoln County, Oregon on May 25, 2009 Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 00:38:14 GMT From: baileydc at pdx.edu To: baileydc at pdx.edu This report was mailed for David C. Bailey by http://birdnotes.net Date: May 25, 2009 Location: Ona Beach State Park, Lincoln County, Oregon 0830-0930 Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Pigeon Guillemot 20 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2 Swainson's Thrush 10 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Wilson's Warbler 2 Brown-headed Cowbird 5 Total number of species seen: 8 From lee at leerentz.com Mon May 25 18:09:22 2009 From: lee at leerentz.com (Lee Rentz) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 18:09:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wood Duck Nest Box Videos Message-ID: <5F2DCBA8-DE65-4F3C-850F-7EAA7AFD4E87@leerentz.com> My wife and I have an ongoing project involving a Wood Duck nest box. We live on Fawn Lake near Shelton, WA, in the Puget Sound region. During the past ten years, we have maintained three Wood Duck nest boxes along the lakefront, and have generally had all three occupied by Wood Ducks or Hooded Mergansers. This year, a Hooded Merganser successfully fledged ten ducklings from one box about a week ago (I watched the last one drop onto the lake surface to join its mother below). A second box was occupied by a Wood Duck, and presumably that box has already had a successful fledging. For the third box, I installed an infrared video camera that gives us a live feed to a TV, so we have been able to see the process of egg- laying and incubation. We estimate that 25-30 eggs were laid in the box by at least two Wood Ducks and one Hooded Merganser, in a complex example of coevolutionary behavior that seems to favor both species. I have been recording snippets of video using a VCR. Then I feed this analog video into a MacIntosh computer, using a digital converter box to change the video to digital format. Then we edit video using iMovie to produce short behavioral segments. The eggs began hatching this morning, and there are at least ten ducklings, including one Hooded Merganser. You can see some short narrated videos of this experience at: http://www.youtube.com/user/duckwatch I will be adding more videos in the next week as I have the time, including the final fledging, which should take place on the morning of Tuesday, May 25. Lee Rentz lee at leerentz.com http://pa.photoshelter.com/c/leerentz -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090525/ed869d59/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Mon May 25 18:10:53 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 18:10:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Evening Grosbeaks Message-ID: <897250.95106.qm@web46016.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> What a great year for Evening Grosbeaks. We have had up to 60+ in the yard at a time. The most we have ever had in years past is 2, and we are hearing reports from people getting a lot more than normal. Since they are a normal visitors to Portland in the summer months, would this still be considered an irruptive year for them (if in fact they were more plentiful)? Just wondering. Seth Reams and Michelle King NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon May 25 18:45:18 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 01:45:18 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Hummingbird Activity in the Garden Message-ID: <1012130167.10833651243302318592.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi OBOLees There seem to be extra hummingbirds in the garden today. It must be a combination of the weather and the Japanese Snowbell tree in full bloom. I also have a lovely native honeysuckle vine (lonicera ciliosa) and a large patch of columbine in bloom right now. The hummingbirds are also coming to the feeder. There are at least two adult female Anna's and two adult male Anna's. There are several "Silver Bullets". Grey hummingbirds are not particularly attractive. I suspect they are immature Anna's. Then there are at least two adult female Rufous (I tell them apart by their chin patches). I do not find a nest in the boxwood hedge, its maddening. The nest has to be somewhere in that area. I heard an adult male Rufous doing a dive display and a shuttle display in the same area I saw the Anna's male and the Rufous female fly into a couple weeks ago now. Later I saw the male Rufous. I am wondering if the adult male Rufous is a stragler or on his way back south. Thanks Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090526/4895f734/attachment.html From whittle at scottwhittle.com Fri May 22 16:03:27 2009 From: whittle at scottwhittle.com (Scott Whittle) Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 19:03:27 -0400 Subject: [obol] Birding Trip Follow Up Message-ID: Hi All- A few weeks ago I came to Oregon on business and was able to do a few days of birding in the state. In five days I saw over 150 species, and travelled from Portland to the coast, then to Sisters and Burns, and then Hines and the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. I've posted a bunch of photos from my trip here: http://larzalere.smugmug.com/gallery/8296089_kNKy2/1/543250830_FXRgp I hope you all enjoy them. Also, I wanted to say a heartfelt thanks to all the people who gave me so many great tips on where to find birds, and in some cases those who actually showed them to me personally! I had a fantastic time and it wouldn't have been half as successful without all your help. Thanks again and good birding! Scott Whittle www.yearofthebird.com scottwhittle at scottwhittle.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090522/55527122/attachment.html From mgauss at cot.net Mon May 25 08:15:53 2009 From: mgauss at cot.net (Marjorie Hazelwood) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 08:15:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] [KlamathBasinBirdNews] Pics of Red-necked Grebe, Redhead pics References: <362609.5919.qm@web34701.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <116BE15F0BC648618800996FA7057B31@MH64XP1> Although I am not really a "birder" I sure have been enjoying seeing the wonderful photos, including these! Marjorie Hazelwood Dorris, CA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harry Fuller" To: "Klamth Basin Bird News Bird News" ; "Julie Van Moorhem" Cc: Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 6:25 PM Subject: [KlamathBasinBirdNews] Pics of Red-necked Grebe, Redhead pics My amateurish pics are at: http://atowhee.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/beauty-and-many-beasties/ Pic of Redhead at: http://atowhee.wordpress.com/2009/05/19/klamath-and-the-cascades-wrap-up/ Harry Fuller www.towhee.net for birding Oregon & Northern California bird updates at : http://atowhee.wordpress.com/ green tech blog: http://blogs.zdnet.com/green/ --- On Tue, 5/19/09, Julie Van Moorhem wrote: > From: Julie Van Moorhem > Subject: [KlamathBasinBirdNews] Red-necked Grebe, K-Falls, 5-19-09 > To: "Klamth Basin Bird News Bird News" > > Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 5:44 PM > > Hi Folks, > After reading Harry Fuller's post today about 2 RED-NECKED > GREBE seen > yesterday along the waterfront of Moore Park, I went over > at about 3 > PM and found one (didn't stay long enough to see if there > were 2). It > was at the mouth of the small Moore Park marina just > opposite the > entrance gate to Moore Park. Beautiful bird in > breeding plumage. > > Good birding y'all, > Julie Van Moorhem > Klamath Falls > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Klamath Basin Bird News" group. To post to this group, send email to klamathbasinbirdnews at googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to klamathbasinbirdnews+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/klamathbasinbirdnews?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- From pointers at pacifier.com Mon May 25 20:46:18 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 20:46:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sandy River Delta (was "Western Kingbirds") In-Reply-To: <70CF5015-1B8A-431B-B003-EE242796F79D@uiuc.edu> References: <70CF5015-1B8A-431B-B003-EE242796F79D@uiuc.edu> Message-ID: <20090526034614.DB3656A54F@smtp2.pacifier.net> hi ... we went to the Delta today (monday) to look for Chats and found none ... found Will's description easy to use and found the right place ... the Chats might have been there but I'm tone-deaf on bird calls, and unless I see one sitting still on a branch I wouldn't know it was a Chat ... our highlights were a pair of Eastern Kingbirds, a couple of Yellow Warblers, and an Oriole nest ... we did go out to the "bird blind" and came away assuming the designers must be from downtown New York City and hadn't a clue what a bird was or the fact you need to SEE out of a blind ... the dogs we ran into today ware rather well behaved ... and there were LOTS there ... it was actually a rather pleasant place for a dog park ... folks and their dogs all over, but nobody bothering anyone, and the majority of the dogs staying in sight of their owners and at least going the same direction ... only once in the 3 hours we were there did an owner have to chase his dog down ... and Art, the owner blaming the helmet is full of bunk and looking for an excuse for his ill-mannered dog ... Lyn Vancouver, Washington pointers at pacifier dot com At 06:32 AM 5/25/2009, Arthur Clausing wrote: >Thanks to Will Clemons excellent description of where to find the >Yellow-breasted Chats at the Sandy River Delta, I found them there >yesterday morning. > >The dogs on the east bank of the Delta were really obnoxious! Twice I >found myself surrounded by aggressive, loudly barking dogs. One owner >suggested the aggressive behavior of her dogs was due to the bicycle >helmet I was wearing. What does this imply? > >I had the west bank of the Delta virtually to myself. I saw two >LEASHED dogs and an equal number of beautiful Western Kingbirds. I >saw the Kingbirds at the south side of Company Lake near the west end >of the new, paved path. > >Art Clausing >Portland >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From tanager at nu-world.com Mon May 25 20:57:49 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 20:57:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE still at Fern Ridge, Lane County 5/25/2009 Message-ID: <005201c9ddb6$237a6520$6a6f2f60$@com> Anne, myself, Fred Chancey, and Gerd Esche were scanning the fields to the NW of the parking lot at the entrance to the Fisher Unit of Fern Ridge Wildlife Management Area along W. 11th, AKA Malheur West, when we spotted the Great-Tailed Grackle feeding in the short-grass field with Meadowfoam (white flowers). We saw numerous White-Faced Ibis, Black-necked Stilts, and Wilson's Phalaropes as we walked along the dike paralleling W. 11th. There were two Blue-winged Teal at the west end of the flooded field next to the road. We tried hard for bobolinks and rose-breasted grosbeaks, but alas . . . we were too far west. Good Birding, Dan & Anne Heyerly Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090525/86fd897b/attachment.html From youngwarriors at hotmail.com Mon May 25 21:54:19 2009 From: youngwarriors at hotmail.com (Keith Owen) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 21:54:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Basket Slough Message-ID: Spent a few minutes at Basket Slough Refuge this evening. Not much of note except a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE with a mixed Canada/Cackling flock (mostly Canada with a few Cackling). Also flushed a couple of HORNED LARKS near 99W. A lone BALD EAGLE in his favorite tree near the narrows. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_BR_life_in_synch_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090525/7207fb62/attachment.html From tshelmerdine at yahoo.com Mon May 25 22:52:19 2009 From: tshelmerdine at yahoo.com (Tim Shelmerdine) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 22:52:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Malheur Memorial Day weekend Message-ID: <150218.30772.qm@web62108.mail.re1.yahoo.com> I normally would expect a great Memorial Day Weekend at ?Malheur to include a state or life bird, but this was one of the most enjoyable weekends I have ever spent at Malheur.? The overall numbers seemed a little low, but there was a great variety, and I was surprised that at one point or another, most of the hoped for species seemd to show up.? I did look in vain for Snowy Egret, Blue Jay and Common Poorwill, so some birds were playing hard to get.? Thanks to a tip from Maitreya, I headed up to Cottonwood Canyon on Sunday the 24th.? One of the special birds included a singing sub-adult male AMERICAN REDSTART, which ironically was at the same spot where a female redstart had been found?the previous day?up Cottonwood Creek.? (Is there any possiblity both of those are still in the same area and may find each other?? Perhaps someone will check this area later.)? The next morning (Monday, May 25) I had a very strong hunch I should start at Benson Pond.? After beginning the?morning eating breakfast?while?listening to the trumpeting TRUMPETER SWANS, and later observing a very odd YELLOW WARBLER with a white belly and no yellow on the underparts below the throat, I?was very fortunate to find and photograph a PALM WARBLER (western subspecies, I believe) and also find?a (female?)?TENNESSEE WARBLER.? Oddly enough, during the weekend, I had been thinking about the last time I had seen a Tennessee Warbler, which I have not seen well in years.? (Maybe chance does favor the prepared mind.?-- thanks, Mike P.)? The previously reported ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS were also in the area, perhaps seeking new breeding habitat after the removeal of many of the junipers in the area.? Much of the weekend was spent playing with the camera just wandering around and sometimes indulging my hobby of taking pictures, few of which will? be worthy of viewing by anyone besides myself.? For those interested in general nature studies, mammals were well represented with one badger and several Ord's Kangaroo Rats seen.? Among the herps I saw were Gopher Snake, Western Fence Lizard, Great Basin Whiptail, Desert Horned Toad and Long-nosed Leopard Lizard.? I did not see a hoped-for rattlesnake this weekend.? In terms of amphibeans, Western Spade-footed Toads were present at the oasis at Fields.? It was fun seeing old friends (human and avian),?and making some new ones (human only).? As usual, Malheur was a fantastic place to be over Memorial Day Weekend.? Tim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090525/8c732434/attachment.html From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Mon May 25 23:27:39 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com) Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 23:27:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Burns W. Scrub-Jays (3) Message-ID: <377105.29114.qm@web39501.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Using my patented jay caller (OK, I actually learned it from the late Luis Baptista), Mark Aron and I found 3 WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS at the USFS Emigrant Creek Ranger Station today, Monday May 25th. This was our consolation prize for spending the weekend at Malheur and dipping on all rarities in the area.? (We looked for the Chestnut-sided Warbler for a good hour by ourselves soon after Judy Meredith and the Bend birders found it; I've heard that Harry Nehls refound it after we left. We also failed to relocate 2 of the mockingbirds seen. We had a great weekend nonetheless!) I took photos of 1 or 2 of the WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS. Once I've downloaded them, I'll post a link. Jamie Simmons Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090525/a6ebf234/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Tue May 26 06:44:20 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 06:44:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur County Expedition Message-ID: <22C26F47D0A040139D367E09AE136C9C@laptop> Dan Thackaberry and I toured Malheur County over the weekend, looking for butterflies as well as birds from Jordan Valley to Whitehorse Creek, up to Ironside Mountain and back to Juntura. No time now for a full report, but I should mention the two BONAPARTE'S GULLS at Antelope Reservoir near Jordan Valley and the GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE on the way to Crowley from Highway 78. So we did not find great vagrants, but saw lots of swell residents, and great country, quite diverse. We found our way up pretty high on Ironside Mountain, where there was a colony of green hairstreaks, species to be determined, and good birds for Malheur County. We camped outside Malheur County two of the nights, a tactical error, because we found birds in other counties, including COMMON POORWILL calling at Cottonwood Creek in Harney County, and FLAMMULATED OWL in Baker County, where I heard them in two locations, once from the Baker/Malheur County line, but clearly calling from the Baker side. More later, Jeff Harding -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090526/31e97bb3/attachment.html From steve_dougill at hotmail.com Tue May 26 07:51:53 2009 From: steve_dougill at hotmail.com (Steve Dougill) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 07:51:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Summer Lake, Lake County Message-ID: Anyone interested in spending this next weekend at Summer Lake (May 30-31)? ECBC is helping ODFW carry out some breeding shorebird surveys. It?s great if you can identify the birds, if not, you can come out with us and learn them. Here is more info ? http://ecbcbirds.org/Projects/SummerLake/tabid/117/Default.aspx Steve Dougill, Redmond, Deschutes Co., OR EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD Join me -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090526/4aba5d16/attachment.html From tayben at teleport.com Tue May 26 08:32:22 2009 From: tayben at teleport.com (Martha taylor & Chris Bennett) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 08:32:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mac Gillivray's in Westmoreland Message-ID: This morning I had a male Mac Gillivray's warbler in my yard in Westmorland. The last couple of days I've had Evening and Black Headed Grosbeaks at my water feature and feeder. Chris -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090526/5693ba84/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue May 26 08:40:29 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 08:40:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur new RBAS Message-ID: HQ on Tuesday morning offered heavy movement. COMMON GRACKLE (photos available later today) and two GRAY Catbirds were highlight. Most movement is W Tanager, Wilson's Warb, buntings. Returning to valley today. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Tue May 26 08:49:31 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 08:49:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Mann Lake Message-ID: <968567.19249.qm@web30401.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Mann Lake, Harney County, May 25 The water level in the lake is very low for the season. Perhaps because of that, many interesting birds were present: SNOWY EGRET 1 BONAPARTE'S GULL 3 AVOCET 30 CASPIAN TERN 3 WHITE PELICAN 20 including a communal fishing party that was attended by a GREAT EGRET. The EGRET positioned itself about 5 meters from the PELICANS and nabbed fish that were attempting to flee the PELICAN onslaught. RUDDY DUCK 50 WESTERN GREBE 8 one pair doing courtship displays. Maitreya From philliplc at charter.net Tue May 26 09:06:33 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 09:06:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cascade Head 5/26 Message-ID: <5F54CEC840AB472D84501A9AE54792CB@Phil> summit migrants ~5:50-7 AM 1 Common Loon 1 White-tailed Kite 8 Barn Swallow 1 Western Kingbird 300 Cedar Waxwing a few Western Tanager 1 Lazuli Bunting - transient singing male 4 Red-winged Blackbird - single flock N all males no swifts http://philliplc.com/images/xch09006.jpg Phil philliplc at charter.net From ninerharv2 at msn.com Tue May 26 09:26:05 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 16:26:05 +0000 Subject: [obol] Tufted Puffin cooperates for Bandon tourists Message-ID: The puffins are back at Elephant rock. A pair was seen again this morning on the South ear at 8:00 AM. With the -2 tide, neither binoculars nor scopes were necessary for a visual of these birds. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 20:06:58 To: ; Subject: [obol] Tufted Puffin cooperates for Bandon tourists With an extreme low tide this morning, the elusive tufted puffin at Elephant rock off Coquille point made an appearance at about 8:30 to the delight of many tourists with cameras. At least 3 have been sighted previously at Face Rock. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From lou2bal at yahoo.com Tue May 26 10:56:10 2009 From: lou2bal at yahoo.com (Lou Balaban) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 10:56:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Any info on birding southern Scotland? Message-ID: <215293.80939.qm@web54105.mail.re2.yahoo.com> A couple friends will be in Melrose, Scotland for a wedding and would like to spend a few days after?hiking and doing some birding -- they are casual birders.?I'd appreciate any suggestions. ? Thanks, ? Lou -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090526/69bd847a/attachment.html From kirkpat at charter.net Tue May 26 11:42:37 2009 From: kirkpat at charter.net (Douglas Kirkpatrick) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 11:42:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Any info on birding southern Scotland? In-Reply-To: <215293.80939.qm@web54105.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <0EC5691147EE4C8A9E7631B41C85D421@D7CDFN81> Scotland is a wonderful place to hike and bird. Go to the website of the Scottish Ornithology Club (http://www.the-soc.org.uk/) and you'll get some good ideas for starters. The SOC just published a nice birding guide but it's large-format, expensive and not something you can put in your back pocket. The Collins guide, Scottish Birds, is fairly good and usable. It also has a nice section on "Places to Visit" at the back which is worthwhile. Contact me off list for any questions or further details. Doug Kirkpatrick Medford =================== A couple friends will be in Melrose, Scotland for a wedding and would like to spend a few days after hiking and doing some birding -- they are casual birders. I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks, Lou -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090526/b4346953/attachment.html From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Tue May 26 13:40:44 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 14:40:44 -0600 Subject: [obol] more visitors Message-ID: <62F623C801414EE2A15A2C0C6EB5CBC3@larryPC> On our return from Monument Valley, Ut/Az we were greeted by a WESTERN TANAGER. Last year we a brief visit by one. This year he was here for several days. Our CALIFORNIA QUAIL are visible on their trips to the creek and heading back home. So far we have 28. We have seen several flights of WHITE-FACED IBIS as they are changing feeding fields. The HORNED LARKS are feeding in the pasture with the KILLDEER and MEADOWLARKS. The SAY'S PHOEBE is sitting on eggs in the BARN SWALLOW nest they appropriated. The BARN SWALLOWS are busy building their nests and harvesting bugs. The WESTERN KINGBIRD has started refurbishing their nest in the front tree. While in Monument Valley Larry saw a pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS. The female came down to get a dust bath in the driveway of the airport. While she was bathing a RAVEN came in to harass her. The male then showed up and put the RAVEN in the dirt with three stoops. She came back the next day to bathe again. If you have not been there trust me when I say there is not a lot of prey species there. We had a few more SPARROWS, looked like BREWERS, than last year. They were in the RV park and around the lodge and restaurant. There is some greenery,all of it native species. Karen Cottrell in true SE OR. south of Burns Jct. in Malheur Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090526/59b01291/attachment.html From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Tue May 26 14:17:24 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 14:17:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] leucistic Collared Dove Message-ID: <720123.41482.qm@web30406.mail.mud.yahoo.com> At least that is what it appears to be. Rather the stunning sight as the big white dove moves around Fields today. I will post a picture when I return to urbanity next Saturday. Maitreya From ronaldgp at onlinemac.com Tue May 26 14:46:16 2009 From: ronaldgp at onlinemac.com (ronaldgp at onlinemac.com) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 14:46:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Memorial weekend at Malheur NWR (long) Message-ID: I facilitated a group of 8 people from McMinnville over the weekend. We bumped into the usual suspects, both human and avian, while we were there. Others have posted about the rarities that we missed by being in the wrong place, but we had a great trip regardless. Tallies for the weekend were 84 species on both Saturday and Sunday, and 51 as we traveled home on Monday. Total species count was 118. Saturday morning began as the first people to arrive at Headquarters at dawn. We were rewarded for the lack of sleep with a BARN OWL as we entered the trees. From the observation deck, abundant WESTERN TANAGERS were observed in the tree tops. While looking for something other than a tanager, a single BAND-TAILED PIGEON flew in from the north. While looking at the many WARBLING VIREOs, WILSON'S WARBLERs and a single MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER near the museum, we were treated to a fly-over by a single SHORT-EARED OWL heading north. The Hotchkiss Lane area was filled with birds, the best being a pair of breeding EARED GREBES. The GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was seen in the parking lot at McDonald's. Idlewild campground was an absolute bust in the early afternoon until we looked at the are by the highway with the felled pines. This spot gave 11 species with many CHIPPING SPARROWs and a single PYGMY NUTHATCH. There is also a tall pine that is a roost for TURKEY VULTUREs based on the amount of guano and feathers. We saw a single BURROWING OWL at the 'yellow barn' on Embrie Bridge Road before the tunderdstorm ended birding for the day. Sunday was our southern day, with a trip to Fields for the oasis and lunch. While the oasis (nearly dry) was very light on birds, the town was the busiest I've ever seen. Our best birds were on the summit between Fields and the Catlow valley. Two soaring raptors turned out to be a NORTHERN HARRIER and a PRAIRIE FALCON. The harrier would repeatedly gain altitude to dive at the falcon with talons extended. Eventually it gave up, leaving the falcon to hunt alone. An OSPREY was hunting at Roaring Springs Ranch on our way back to the Blitzen valley. After a brief stop at Page Springs, we birded the CPR north to Benson pond. Best bird was a CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER in the willows near Knox pond. Near Dredger pond, a pair of SHORT-EARED OWLS flew in from the west and landed in one of the drier fields. They stayed long enough for great views before resuming their hunting. Monday was travel home day, so we went out OO road to get to Hwy 20. Both SORA and VIRGINIA RAIL were heard in the marshes. An OSPREY was building a nest along the access road to OO station. After lunching at Sage Hen Hill rest area, we walked the nature trail and saw our best bird of the day, a HUTTON'S VIREO. Ron Peterson McMinnville, Oregon From bcombs232 at gmail.com Tue May 26 15:10:05 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 15:10:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Nuthatches Message-ID: <8ce3a6520905261510m32846580pec5e82dadc4b0124@mail.gmail.com> After saying in my e-mail earlier that Red-breasted Nuthatches are no longer around, I heard one this afternoon in my yard, in the willow tree. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090526/4971f8a1/attachment.html From mmarvin at spiritone.com Tue May 26 15:21:31 2009 From: mmarvin at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 15:21:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Memorial Day weekend (posted by Mark Miller) Message-ID: <3A35BD57-8110-4275-BB16-0C10E87A051E@spiritone.com> Hi Everyone-- Marcia Marvin and I drove to Malheur NWR and the Fields Oasis this weekend, stopping at Calliope Crossing on the way out, and Summer Lake and the Little Deschutes River on the way back. Best birds were a Gray Flycatcher along Pine Street a mile or so south of Calliope Crossing, a pair of Black-throated Sparrows at MP 11 on OR 205 (some people call this place Wright's Point), all the Bobolinks along the Blitzen River, an Eastern Kingbird at HQ (others along the Blitzen River), another Black-throated Sparrow heard at Cottonwood Canyon (7 miles south of Fields), an American Dipper nest along Deep Creek west of Adel; 2 Snowy Plovers, 9 Red-necked Phalaropes, 6 Bonaparte's Gulls, and multiple Caspian Terns at Summer Lake (not to mention some very tasty, locally-grown food at the Summer Lake Inn); a Bank Swallow behind the West View Motel in LaPine; and a territorial Northern Waterthrush singing atop a dead pine a bit NE of where OR 58 crosses the Little Deschutes River. The access road to the waterthrush site (from OR 58, it's the first road south of the bridge) has a downed tree across it, but one can park next to OR 58 and walk in. Most of the time, the waterthrush was singing from dense willows and was not visible. Beware--there are masses of young, inexperienced, and suicidal chipmunks running across OR 58 and US 97! Mark Miller Longmont, CO From whoffman at peak.org Tue May 26 16:46:28 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 16:46:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] leucistic Collared Dove References: <720123.41482.qm@web30406.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <194BA0C0889E41AEAA1CB20307DC04A8@D48XBZ51> In the years I was in Florida, I regularly saw pale Eurasian Collared-Doves, perhaps one in every several hundred birds, perhaps a few more. I think this is either a naturally-occurring form, possibly more common in North America than elsewhere through "founder effect", or possibly the result of artificial selection in the apparently brief period that the ancestors of the American population were in captivity. These birds are often mistaken for Ringed Turtle-Doves, but are larger, the size and shape of Collared-Doves, and with the same voice. Collared-doves are a bit larger than Mourning Doves, real Ringed Turtle-Doves a hair smaller. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Leith McKenzie" To: Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 2:17 PM Subject: [obol] leucistic Collared Dove > > At least that is what it appears to be. Rather the stunning sight as the > big white dove moves around Fields today. I will post a picture when I > return to urbanity next Saturday. > Maitreya > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From whoffman at peak.org Tue May 26 17:13:59 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 17:13:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Northeast Oregon Message-ID: <2553C67C6E9D4CB498583312837708B7@D48XBZ51> I spent the long weekend in northeastern Oregon, birding and taking pictures. Some highlghts GREAT GRAY OWL. I have Finally broken my biggest birding jinx. I got over to La Grande in time Friday to get directions to active nest platforms. that evening i visited the "Sparrow" site and saw the top 2 inches of an adult facial disk protruding over the edge of the platform box. What a disappointing look for a life bird! Clearly identifiable with out question, but totally unsatisfactory. I returned in the morning, and found 2 other photographers there. Fortunately the mate appeared, perched in a nearby tree, and I actually got to see, study, and photograph it. Wilson's Phalarope: quite a few in Ladd Marsh and flooded fields around La Grande area. I was struck by the difference in feeding behavior compared to the Red-necked Phalaropes I have been watching here on the coast. These were swimming in flooded pastures and picking tiny stuff off the meregent grass blades. Swainson's Hawks: fairly numerous, and found 2 nests on Ladd Marsh, others various places around the area. Red-breasted Nuthatches: ubiquitous in forest habitat throughout the area. Yellow-headed Blackbird: I photographed one male preening on a roadside willow shrub, and noticed that he had a small tuft of yellow feathers on his vent. Is this normal? Cliff Swallows: I watched a bunch gathering mud for nests from the banks of a small drainage ditch at Thief Valley Reservoir. I was impressed by the sizes of the excavations they had made - numerous cavities 2-3 inches across and and inch or more deep at the water line. White Pelicans: small numbers at ladd Marsh and along the Columbia. 2 were on the water just below McNary Dam where a bunch of gulls were flying about scavenging the salmon smolts stunned, killed, or chopped up coming thorugh the turbines. I hope the Pelicans don't also get blamed for salmon declines. Western Scrub Jay: One at the wildlife/fishing area just below Mcnary Dam. A couple maybes: Tricolored Blackbird?: Brief look Friday at one bird on Peach Road, Ladd Marsh, that might have been one. The color of red patch seemed right, and the bill seemed thin, but it flew before I got a good study. They continue to expand in E. Oregon and SE Washington, but I have not heard of any there. American Redstart?: Up a forest Service road in the headwaters of Catherine Creek, on the south side of the Wallowas, I heard a bird singing that sounded very much like a Redstart, but could not see it. Habitat was fairly open forest of Lodgepole Pine and firs, with a few Larch. Surprising Absences. Several things that I thought should be obvious around the area were surprisingly rare or absent: habitat looked good for Willet, but saw none. Also no grebes except 1 western on Thief Valley Res. Ladd marsh looked like a lot of Eared, Pied-billed habitat. Hummingbirds. I was in the presence of blooming currant bushes of 3-4 species much of the time, but neither heard nor saw hummingbirds. Biggest disappointment: seeing the slice of Pigeon Forge at the south end of Wallowa Lake. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090526/4c76472b/attachment.html From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Tue May 26 18:20:55 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 18:20:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Indigo Bunting at Fields Message-ID: <539371.41514.qm@web30408.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Fields, May 26 INDIGO BUNTING - adult male, in my yard at 6 pm. Maitreya From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Tue May 26 19:10:35 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 02:10:35 +0000 Subject: [obol] Photos: Great Gray, Bobolinks, Lark sparrow and others from Memorial Day Weekend Message-ID: Hi Obolers: I know I am a traitor for not birding in Oregon as much and I seem to be everywhere these days. I am okay with being labeled as a NW bird slut:) I get around but it tons of fun.. Photos from Memorial Day Weekend: Great Gray Owl Swainson's Hawk Dusky Grouse Whimbrel (Rare for North Central WA) Bobolink Lark Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow Clay colored sparrows Red naped Sapsucker Black Backed Woodpecker American Redstarts All birds photographed in Northcental WA in Okanogan Co. http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/okanogan_june_2009&page=all *********************** TRIP REPORT **************************** Hi all, This Memorial Day Weekend, I had a wonderful trip spending time in the Okanogan Co with some top notch souls and birders. I joined forces with Mark Houston, Lee Johnson, and Ron McCluskey for the first part of my trip and then met with Tom Mansfield for the latter. We birded a bit in Ferry County but didn't see anything out-of-the ordinary except for the gorgeous breeding plumaged female on a nest. We couldn't ask for better weather, chemistry and karma. As a result, the birding was FANTASTIC and we had a GREAT time! I finally got a good photo of a GREAT GRAY at night and decent photos of BOBOLINKS. Forgotten how cool the males are when they sing!! Sorry if there are grammatical errors in my writing. I am a bit tuckered from all the driving:) TRIP HIGHLIGHTS: There were many but collectively and individually I saw almost 180 species including 6 species of Owls, 10 species of Woodpeckers, raked in 11 species of Tyrant Flycatchers, and a COUNTY FIRST RECORD for a WHIMBREL in Okanogan. One of the real treat was hearing a wingclap sound from a displaying male SPRUCE GROUSE and one bubbling hen in response. The male was strutting and displaying on a spruce tree and later, the female was seen in superb light as she fed on some spruce needles. Of course, watching several GREAT GRAYS hunt in the open fields was awesome!! Others good finds included a late BAIRD's SANDPIPER, a cooperative CLAY COLORED SPARROW, and seeing six magnificent GREAT GRAY OWLS in the Okanogan Highlands. A record for me and the young haven't fledged yet! My curse of seeing these spectacular owls in the Sno-Park was finally broken when a hunting bird landed 5 feet from me! Another bird was seen nearby and vocalized. It was a great night for Mr. Bowties!! I got to watch one bird hunting for 40 minutes before it was successful!. Looks like a good year for these birds in the Highlands. Other general notes included abundant numbers of EVENING GROSBEAKSin almost every location. It sounds like a good year for these beautiful birds. Several first of the year birds such as Eastern Kingbirds, Gray Catbirds, and Empids were also conspicuous. However, we dipped Veery and Red eyed Vireos (a bit early perhaps). COMMON LOON: One gorgeous female on a nest near Swan Lake RED NECKED GREBE: One bird on Molson Lake BLUE WINGED TEAL: Several birds on Okanogan Highlands and Cameron Lake Rd. GOLDEN EAGLE: Good looks of one adult on Toroda Creek Rd. SWAINSON'S HAWK: Several different morphs birds on Havillah Rd, Ninemile and Chesaw Rd. One of the most cooperative hawks to photograph. DUSKY GROUSE: Two hooting males on Mary Ann Creek Rd and Nealy Rd. SPRUCE GROUSE: One breeding pair near Salmon Meadows Campground. Wingclapping and displaying male in spruce tree. RUFFED GROUSE: A few birds on Davies Rd and Sno-Park. WHIMBREL: One bird near Sidney Lake along muddy edge. County first, well seen and heard. Grainy but identifiable photograph on my site. Not fun to sink in the stinky mud with swarms of bugs. LONG BILLED CURLEW: Several on Soap Lake Rd near Monse, WA. One bird on Fancher Rd near Tonasket. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: One bird on first lake on Soap Lake Rd near Monse, WA. BLACK NECKED STILT: One pair on Cameron Lake Rd (south end). Must be nesting very territory constantly calling and I saw the pair two weeks ago. A rare bird for Okanogan Co. RED NECKED PHALAROPE: Several birds on Cameron Lake Rd and Soap Lake Rd. One responded strongly to ipod on while attempting to get photos. The bird buzzed by Tom and I within ten feet!! AMERICAN AVOCETS: Several birds on Cameron Lake Rd Loop and Cameron Lake Rd. BONAPARTE'S GULL: 3 adult birds on Molson Lake BLACK TERN: On Molson Lake and Beaver Lake. Nice to see five resting birds on a dead branch. FLAMMULATED OWL: One calling bird at Rock Creek Campground near Loup Loup Pass GREAT HORNED OWL: One at entrance to Rock Creek Campground; NORTHERN PYGMY OWL: One calling bird near upper elevations of Salmon Meadow. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL: Heard only on Bunch Rd in Wauconda. GREAT GRAY OWL: Six birds total along Havillah Rd near Sno-Park, Nealy Rd, and Hungry Hollow Rd. Surprising how these birds blend in with the boles of the trees during the day when they are not hunting and perched higher up. LONG EARED OWL: One hunting bird near Muskrat Lake on Havillah Rd. COMMON POORWILL: Flushed one bird near Fish Lake and heard another in the hillside. AMERICAN THREE TOE WOODPECKER: One pair near a burn along Hwy 20 en route to Republic. BLACK BACKED WOODPECKER: Several birds near burn along Hwy 20 WHITE HEADED WOODPECKER: A pair near burn area along Hwy 20 en route to Republic WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER: Several birds in Okanogan Highlands SAGE THRASHER: Several birds near Cameron Lake Rd: LEAST FLYCATCHER: One calling bird along cottonwoods or aspen grove near Swainson Mill Rd not far from Sno-Park GRAY FLYCATCHER: Several birds along Cameron Lake Rd and loop road. CANYON WREN: One singing bird along Riverside Cutoff Rd near Conconully, WA. BOREAL CHICKADEE: Three birds along upper elevations of Salmon Meadows AMERICAN REDSTARTS: Several birds on Bridge Creek Rd near Hwy 20 (Ferry Co.)and one adult male on Bolster Rd near Chesaw, WA) NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH: One bird on Bolster Rd near Chesaw, WA. YELLOW BREASTED CHAT: One bird bursting into song while flying. GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: Several birds on Cameron Lake Rd and one near Dry Gulch Rd extension near Havillah. LARK SPARROW: Several birds along Soap Lake Rd and Cameron Lake Rd. One of my favorite sparrows and I got a good photo! CLAY COLORED SPARROW: One bird along Nine Mile Rd. There are other intermediate birds along with many Brewser but lower very buzzy song is distinctive. Photographed and seen well by all others. BOBOLINK: Several males on Havillah Rd along the grassy, lush fields. Forgotten how gorgeous they are! You got to love this time of year and good birding to you, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From davebrownbirder at yahoo.com Tue May 26 19:45:12 2009 From: davebrownbirder at yahoo.com (Dave Brown) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 19:45:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Blue-winged Teal almost goofed. Fern Ridge Fisher butte unit Message-ID: <416615.63955.qm@web59902.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> I walked along the first dyke again where I had 40 White-faced Ibis land about fifteen yards from me the other day. I saw 19 of them about fifty yards out here again. This is next to west 11 th. ,but the funny thing I saw today was a male Blue-winged Teal spooked up with a male Cinnamon Teal and they flew accross the pond when all the sudden the Blue-wing did a sudden U-turn and came landing right where it had taken off from where the female came out and joined with him. I all so saw Wilson's Phalarope , Killdeer , Black-necked Stilt's , Mallards , Great Blue Heron's hanging out with the Ibis. Dave Brown Alvadore From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Tue May 26 19:50:04 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 19:50:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: Birding Guide sought - mid-July Message-ID: <007301c9de7d$f9d194f0$a0c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: I've received this request for a Birding Guide in mid-July. If anyone is willing to help, please reply to Ms. Zagona and copy me. Thanks, Paul T. Sullivan (503) 646-7889 ptsulliv at spiritone.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Helen Zagona To: ptsulliv at spiritone.com Sent: Monday, May 25, 2009 11:41 AM Subject: Birding Field Trip Dear Paul: My name is Helen Zagona and I live in southern New Mexico. My husband and I are active members of our local Audubon club and we are very enthusiastic birders. We will be in the Portland area in the middle of July and we would really, really like to do some birding there but we wouldn't have the first clue where to start. I have done a real exhaustive internet search and have not found any guides who could help us. I found your Audubon newsletter and I decided to contact you for suggestions. We would love to join one of your outings, but none of them fits when we will be in Oregon. We are doing a bike ride of the Oregon Coast from July 12 to 17. That would give us time either before or after that trip for birding around Portland. We have not made our airplane reservations yet so we could plan for some birding before or after our bike trip. We are not beginners, and are particularly interested in your local species that we do not have here, especially the songbirds. If you could suggest a guide for a half day or a full day, we are ready to pay the going rate, or to make a generous contribution to your Audubon Club. Can you help us? Sincerely, Helen Zagona -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090526/6ff7f92d/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Tue May 26 20:47:24 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 20:47:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Whimbrels in Hood River Message-ID: <007b01c9de7e$0315dda0$a0c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: On our way to Malheur county for a Birding Weekend, we stopped in Hood River for a short break on Friday morning, May 22, ~11 AM. We were surprised to find 2 WHIMBREL on the east side of the mouth of Hood River. They were on the lawn between the parking lot and the sandy delta when we arrived, then flew out to feed on the sand right below us. I think this may be a first or at least a rare sighting for Hood River County We could not get through with cell phone coverage in spite of several tries that morning. When we returned on Monday, the delta was overrun with windsurfers. Paul Sullivan with Carol Karlen & Ruby Apsler From alfanana at q.com Tue May 26 20:49:22 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 03:49:22 +0000 Subject: [obol] (no subject) Message-ID: Had two pairs of California Quail sharling the ground feed with a squirrel, a Mourning Dove, and several Brown Headed Cowbirds this evening. First time I have seen Quail in my back yard:) Karen, La Pine -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090527/52ad87c1/attachment.html From sheran at bendbroadband.com Tue May 26 20:53:17 2009 From: sheran at bendbroadband.com (Sheran Wright) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 20:53:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur Message-ID: <19F9F2B2272A49CEB9CD25269C90EEDA@notebook> I spent today birding around Harney Co. with some birder friends from California. We saw our first COMMON NIGHTHAWKS for the trip at the Buena Vista marsh area. Sheran Wright Bend From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Tue May 26 22:03:23 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 22:03:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Other Burns notes (incl wintering Blue Jay) Message-ID: <492476.42765.qm@web39507.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Mark Aron and I noted the male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE in front of the Apple Peddler restaurant while were getting gas across the street on Monday 5/26. ? We looked for the BLUE JAY found by Larry McQueen 5/21 with no luck. We did, however, talk with a resident?of the neighborhood who said she had been feeding it peanuts "all winter" but she hadn't seen it in 2 weeks. She is at 831 Riverside Drive; there's a large sign in front of the house with the address preceded by "Ashton Rollins". ? Jamie Simmons Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090526/53457e59/attachment.html From Jfitchen at aol.com Tue May 26 22:07:57 2009 From: Jfitchen at aol.com (Jfitchen at aol.com) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 01:07:57 EDT Subject: [obol] Vanport Wilson's Phalarope, Blue-winged teal Message-ID: Hello Obol, This afternoon at about 1:00 p.m. I saw two WILSON'S PHALAROPES and a BLUE-WINGED TEAL at Vanport Wetlands. Both species were at the edge of the cattails along the east side of the reserve, and readily observable from the south side. Also in the area, at least five YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS in flagrant breeding plumage. Cheers, John Fitchen Portland **************Dinner Made Easy Newsletter - Simple Meal Ideas for Your Family. Sign Up Now! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221991367x1201443283/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fad.doubleclick.net%2Fclk%3B215225819%3B37274678%3Bs% 3Fhttp:%2F%2Frecipes.dinnermadeeasy.com%2F%3FESRC%3D622) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090527/809fba17/attachment.html From ellencantor at gmail.com Tue May 26 22:05:43 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 22:05:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Avocet Message-ID: <7058c4c60905262205r7c26be12g54bd2f379fca4c13@mail.gmail.com> I ran into Dave Brown as he was leaving Fern Ridge today. He helpfully pointed me in the direction of the WHITE-FACED IBISES. Besides seeing the birds Dave reported, I also saw a brightly plumaged AMERICAN AVOCET in the same general area. Other birds of note: about 10 BLACK TERNS. Possibly the same BLUE-WINGED TEAL--the one I watched was also obsessed with a CINNAMON TEAL, but in this case, the Blue-Winged male took off from swimming with his paired female and aggressively chased away the Cinnamon Teal. I also saw 2 pairs of YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS a little east of the grassy islet where the Ibises were feeding. I did not see the Great-tailed Grackle. Ellen Cantor Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090526/ba407966/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Tue May 26 22:39:00 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 22:39:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red Necked Phalarope, Florence Message-ID: <835F5BE0-38BD-4D08-84A6-5D8A349CCC05@oregonfast.net> Hello OBOL, Getting to be slim pickins on shorebirds at the North Jetty Siuslaw River, Florence. This afternoon: 1 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Semipalmated Plover 1 Red Necked Phalarope In Mapleton tonight the SWAINSON'S Thrushes were singing. Ahhhh. what a great song! Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090526/054511c5/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue May 26 22:45:08 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 22:45:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Another Burns Great-tailed Grackle Message-ID: <20090526224508.brmkebps740kkcgc@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Today, Tuesday May 26, I headed up to Idlewild Campground and King Mountain Lookout, north of Burns. About a mile north of town I spotted my third GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE in Burns this week, flying over pasture land quite high. This is about 4 miles from the Apple Peddler Restaurant in Hines, where two GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES were present Saturday (actually at Best Western Motel next door). One grackle flew past the window at Apple Peddler restaurant at noon Sunday as I was having lunch. Today, May 26, there were at least 2 bright California (not Woodhouse's) type WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS at the Forest Service building in Hines mentioned previously by Rich Hoyer. Monday, May 25, I was unsuccessful finding Tim Shelmerdine's Tennessee Warbler at Benson Pond (drat, would have been a state bird), though I did find the PALM WARBLER, a first county bird. That same day I tried late afternoon for Page Springs Catbird and Diamond Cattle and Snowy Egrets without success. Too hot and lazy to try the 2 mile round trip hike for Chestnut-sided at Barnes Butte Springs, at Frenchglen. My other county bird was EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE. Two years ago I searched unsuccessfully for them in Hines and Burns. Now you can't find a single block without one--I've seen at least 70 birds without trying. They outnumber ROCK PIGEON and MOURNING DOVE by about 3 to 1. A woman I spoke with described a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER at Frenchglen (May 25?), which I hadn't heard about from others. She knew it was rare and kept trying to make it a Black-throated Gray Warbler, but she described striped black and white back, and nuthatch-like behavior. One more stop at HQ Wednesday morning before heading home... Greg Gillson Pacific NW Backyard Birder http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/ From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue May 26 22:52:41 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 22:52:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge after the fact, Northern Pintail Message-ID: I visited the Fisher Unit at sunrise on Saturday(May 23), seeing a plethora of species that I grew up thinking of as "Eastern Oregon" birds. Vjera Thompson's moniker of Little Malheur seemed doubly appropriate in light of the temperature. Was it really 39 degrees? I was dressed inappropriately and left all too soon. I had quite forgotten about the Great- tailed Grackle and didn't spend a second looking for it. I saw the drake Blue-winged Teal seemingly peeved with a drake Cinnamon Teal. He was making a steady "peep-peep-peep" noise in addition to what appeared to be aggressive head movements. What I wonder is, why is the drake Cinnamon Teal still hanging around four days later? Does he enjoy the negative attention? Are there avian masochists? Or could there be some explanation devoid of anthropomorphism? Best bird was a drake NORTHERN PINTAIL flying very low over the marsh, headed towards Royal Avenue. Surely the first Pintail I have seen in western Oregon in the month of May. But a quick check of BOGR reveals multiple breeding records from the nw part of our state. Lars Norgren From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Tue May 26 22:54:09 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 22:54:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Memorial Day weekend at the other Malheur Message-ID: <009501c9de8f$b90aeb80$a0c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: 20 folks joined Carol Karlen & me for an Audubon Birding Weekend trip to the other Malheur, Malheur County, OR, in the Mountain Time Zone. We visited Adrian, Succor Creek, Leslie Gulch, Jordan Valley, Cow Lakes, Ontario, Vale, Bully Creek Reservoir, and Rt. 201 north of Ontario. We saw/heard 99 species. Highlights: GREAT EGRET - Ontario GREEN HERON - S of Adrian BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON - Jordan Valley WHITE-FACED IBIS - Jordan Valley WOOD DUCK - Ontario COMMON GOLDENEYE - Hwy 201 on Snake R. BALD EAGLE - Bully Cr. Res SANDHILL CRANE - Jordan Valley EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE - everywhere! WHITE-THROATED SWIFT - Succor Cr. St. Pk. WESTERN KINGBIRD - more than everywhere! EASTERN KINGBIRD - S of Adrian HOUSE WREN - one singing from atop a 70' tree by the Snake River, Ontario YELLOW WARBLER - everywhere YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT - Adrian, Bully Cr., Ontario GRASSHOPPER SPARROW - Cow Hollow, S of Vale LAZULI BUNTING - widespread Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan Audubon Birding Weekends (503) 646-7889 http://www.audubonportland.org/trips-classes-camps/adult/weekends From tanager at nu-world.com Tue May 26 23:52:57 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 23:52:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Greater Yellowlegs at Fern Ridge Res./Lane Co. 5/25/09 Message-ID: <000001c9de97$c4a7d090$4df771b0$@com> I forgot to mention in my Monday 5/25/09 posting that also at the Fisher Unit were at least three GREATER YELLOWLEGS. I know this probably isn't big news, but I mention it because it seems like this is later than their typical departure for their nesting grounds further north. They were very brightly patterned and very much unlike their typical plain gray winter (basic) plumage in which we are accustomed to seeing them. I did not check the species account in BOGR, so please know that I acknowledge that I am shooting from the hip. Sorry if I made myself look stupid, but rather than pointing it out, could you kindly just hit the delete key and forget it? Thanks. I knew you would. Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090526/e3846806/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed May 27 04:45:42 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 04:45:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Greater Yellowlegs at Fern Ridge Res./Lane Co. 5/25/09 Message-ID: <649741.64432.qm@web45302.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Hi Dan and others, I typically see shorebirds through the end of May on the coast which I believe are moving north, in fact there has been G Yellowlegs, BB Plovers, Western and Least Sandpipers, Red Knots, Whimbrel, and even Pecs lately. It's the first week of June when things really slow down except for a few non-breeding stragglers. I've had dowitchers, G. Yellowlegs and Least Sandpipers on the north spit through mid-June several years, but as David Bailey mentioned, those birds were probably non-breeders. Yep the migration is still on, but only at a trickle. Happy Birding! Tim R Coos Bay --- On Tue, 5/26/09, Anne & Dan Heyerly wrote: > From: Anne & Dan Heyerly > Subject: [obol] Greater Yellowlegs at Fern Ridge Res./Lane Co. 5/25/09 > To: "obol" > Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2009, 11:52 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I forgot to mention in my Monday > 5/25/09 posting that also > at the Fisher Unit were at least three GREATER > YELLOWLEGS.? I know this probably > isn?t big news, but I mention it because it seems > like this is later than > their typical departure for their nesting grounds further > north.? They > were very brightly patterned and very much unlike their > typical plain gray > winter (basic) plumage in which we are accustomed to seeing > them.? I did > not check the species account in BOGR, so please know that > I acknowledge that I > am shooting from the hip.? Sorry if I made myself look > stupid, but rather > than pointing it out, could you kindly just hit the delete > key and forget > it?? Thanks. ?I knew you would. > > ? > > Dan Heyerly, Eugene > > > > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Wed May 27 04:52:40 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 05:52:40 -0600 Subject: [obol] Jordan Valley birds Message-ID: I forgot one more bird seen over the weekend. On our trip home from Leslie Gulch there was a COMMON NIGHTHAWK at the Hwy 95 and Cow Lakes Rd intersection. It's a good spot as there are flooded fields on both sides of the road. We also had a HUMMINGBIRD zip through the yard.No ID on it as it didn't stop or come back. Don't have the feeder up as the wind has been fierce and not sure the feeder would survive. Karen in true SE Or. south of Burns Jct. in Malheur Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090527/2259256d/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed May 27 07:25:24 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 07:25:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur plans Message-ID: Graham Floyd and I expect to be at Malheur May 30-June 13 if all goes well. We'll be in Stilt (except night of 30th) at MFS, so feel free to stop by if you are there. My cell is 541-510-6161 and I'll be reachable mornings before 8 and afternoons after 3, most days. I'll post highlights. The next three weeks is peak vagrant season. I just stuck a Common Grackle photo on my birding blog. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From richarmstrong at comcast.net Wed May 27 09:04:28 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 09:04:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] sea watches References: Message-ID: 1. i hope everyone will forgive the following dumb question. where do all the birds that get seen flying by boiler bay, cape arago, other sea watch places from dawn to maybe 8 am go for the rest of the day? 2. we were at boiler bay twice last week because we took relatives to look for whales and other touristy things. at noon there are essentially zero birds there except the resident cormorants and gulls. with a kid in school it is hard to get there at dawn. 3. so do they all stop flying north (or south in fall) and begin feeding? or do they go further out to sea? why no birds from 8 am for rest of the day? Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Phil Pickering" To: Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 9:10 AM Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay > 5:45-8:00 AM (5/21): > mostly clear, wind N 20-30, swells 6-8 > > 50 Red-throated Loon > 3000 Pacific Loon > 80 Common Loon > 8 Western Grebe > 1 MANX SHEARWATER (N 1/4 mile) > 3 Sooty Shearwater > 75 Brown Pelican > 1 Double-crested Cormorant > 400 Pelagic Cormorant (most N) > 150 Brandt's Cormorant (most N) > 26 Brant > 2 American Wigeon > 5 Green-winged Teal > 20 White-winged Scoter > 300 Surf Scoter > 9 Common Merganser (N) > 60 Whimbrel > 2 Red Knot > 30 Sanderling > 1 Dunlin > 6 Western Sandpiper > 100 calidris sp. > 2 Red Phalarope (N) > 8000+ Red-necked Phalarope (steady N with many on the water) > 45 Bonaparte's Gull (immature N) > 100 California Gull (immature N) > 2000+ Western Gull (streaming N early with big feeding group forming) > 50 Glaucous-winged Gull > 2 Heermann's Gull (immature N) > 1 Caspian Tern > 5 Common Tern > 8000+ Common Murre (steady N) > 40 Pigeon Guillemot > 14 Marbled Murrelet > 60 Rhinoceros Auklet (N) > 1 Tufted Puffin > > Phil > philliplc at charter.net > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Wed May 27 09:23:07 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (Denise Hughes) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 10:23:07 -0600 Subject: [obol] Fw: Birding Guide sought - mid-July In-Reply-To: <007301c9de7d$f9d194f0$a0c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> References: <007301c9de7d$f9d194f0$a0c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Message-ID: <464db1a10905270923t543c3c53l23c94dfeae5d789d@mail.gmail.com> She should check Birdingpal. I believe there are several people listed who live in Portland. http://www.birdingpal.org/ Denise Hughes Caldwell,ID On Tue, May 26, 2009 at 8:50 PM, Paul T. Sullivan wrote: > OBOL: > > I've received this request for a Birding Guide in mid-July. If anyone is > willing to help, please reply to Ms. Zagona and copy me. > > Thanks, > > Paul T. Sullivan > (503) 646-7889 > ptsulliv at spiritone.com > > ----- Original Message ----- *From:* Helen Zagona > *To:* ptsulliv at spiritone.com > *Sent:* Monday, May 25, 2009 11:41 AM > *Subject:* Birding Field Trip > > Dear Paul: > My name is Helen Zagona and I live in southern New Mexico. My husband and > I are active members of our local Audubon club and we are very enthusiastic > birders. We will be in the Portland area in the middle of July and we would > really, really like to do some birding there but we wouldn't have the first > clue where to start. I have done a real exhaustive internet search and have > not found any guides who could help us. I found your Audubon newsletter and > I decided to contact you for suggestions. We would love to join one of your > outings, but none of them fits when we will be in Oregon. We are doing a > bike ride of the Oregon Coast from July 12 to 17. That would give us time > either before or after that trip for birding around Portland. We have not > made our airplane reservations yet so we could plan for some birding before > or after our bike trip. We are not beginners, and are particularly > interested in your local species that we do not have here, especially the > songbirds. If you could suggest a guide for a half day or a full day, we > are ready to pay the going rate, or to make a generous contribution to your > Audubon Club. Can you help us? Sincerely, Helen Zagona > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho dhughes55 at clearwire.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090527/27513cf0/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed May 27 10:58:57 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 10:58:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Curry/Coos Birds 5/26-27/2009 Message-ID: <538909.56430.qm@web45311.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Knute Andersson found and photographed an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER at Sea Wind farm near Langlois on 5/26. Him and Lois Miller found another one on the 20th which they also photographed. Always a good find anywhere along the coast. On 5/27 out on the north spit of Coos Bay I found: Another BANK SWALLOW 2- PECTORAL SANDPIPERS 1- GREATER YELLOWLEGS That's it for today, off to the eastside manana. Happy birding all! Tim R Coos Bay From diana.byrne at comcast.net Wed May 27 11:11:39 2009 From: diana.byrne at comcast.net (diana.byrne at comcast.net) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 18:11:39 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Tufted Puffins on Haystack Rock - video and photos In-Reply-To: <1031107645.9420601243447728668.JavaMail.root@sz0169a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1225708537.9422081243447899405.JavaMail.root@sz0169a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Tufted Puffins are nesting on Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, as usual, on the upper NW side of the rock in the grassy area.? Monday was a great day to see them with a sunny morning and one of the lowest tides of the year - you could walk right up to the north side of the rock. Video of a couple of Tufted Puffins (40 seconds): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtlxuQsga3A&feature=channel_page A couple of photos of Tufted Puffins on Haystack Rock: http://picasaweb.google.com/gnomeandpig/Puffins -Diana ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090527/12190353/attachment.html From sheilach at nwtec.com Wed May 27 11:51:45 2009 From: sheilach at nwtec.com (sheila) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 11:51:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] COWBIRDS! Message-ID: <8C42894712354D488426A90EA28DBCFC@sheila> SunflowerThe TREE-SWALLOW alertly sits on top of her nestbox, nearby a BROWN HEADED COWBIRD awaits her chance. Earlier a COWBIRD tried to enter the nestbox of a BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE but the tiny defender fiercely drove off the invader. Cowbirds are an invasive alien to the west coast, aided by human destruction of the forests making an open pathway for the BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD to spread westward. Now with the forests fragmented, birds that were once safe from invasion from COWBIRDS are vunerable to paracitizm by COWBIRDS. In the east, some rare birds are threatened with extinction because of not only humans but also paracitizm by COWBIRDS. Traps were set and many COWBIRDS were removed raising the successfull raising of warbler young instead of COWBIRDS. It would seem that here in the west some form of cowbird reduction should be considered for some of our native birds to increase their success in fledging their own young instead of paracitic cowbirds. Too often in early summer, many of our native west coast birds have wasted a season raising COWBIRDS instead of their own young. Would it be acceptable to remove COWBIRD eggs from monitored nest boxes? Sheila from Cowbird infested Harbor Oregon. From andy.frank at kp.org Wed May 27 12:07:44 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 12:07:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Larch Mountain Rock Wren, Western Bluebird Message-ID: At the clearcut by the 8 mile mark on Larch Mountain (Multnomah County) there was a singing ROCK WREN and a WESTERN BLUEBIRD. Also surprising was seeing a soaring OSPREY there. At other places on Larch I heard HERMIT WARBLER and MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER. The gate at the 10 mile mark is still closed due to snow. I made a quick stop at Sandy River Delta on the way back and found 2 EASTERN KINGBIRDS just past the red and white tower. A photo is at http://andyfrank.blogspot.com/. Andy Frank From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed May 27 13:55:34 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 13:55:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] western vagrant movements Message-ID: In recent days the following delights have been seen, all of which are no doubt converging on SE Oregon: Nevada: Scarlet Tanager (male), N Parula (2), Black and White, N Waterthrush, Hooded Warbler (2), Rose-breasted Grosbeak (3), Glossy Ibis, orchard Oriole (2), brown Thrasher, Magnolia Warbler, Lark Bunting Idaho: Parula, Black and White, RB Grosbeak, Utah: Chestnut-sided, Parula, Painted Bunting, orchard Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Magnolia W, B Grosbeaks, yellow-billed Loon (!) California: Scissortail, prothonotary, Parula, Least Tern, Mississippi Kite, Indigo Bunts, redstarts, black and White, GC Flycatcher. Seems like essentially no vagrant vireos this year. Anyone who has a few days in SE Oregon should consider birding the three little park sites along the ne side of Lake Owyhee s of the dam. These are genuine vagrant traps that get little coverage. Graham and I plan to go there at east once. Also consider covering Farewell Bend park, which is larger but also surrounded by sage desert. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From scre at aol.com Wed May 27 15:10:48 2009 From: scre at aol.com (scre at aol.com) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 18:10:48 -0400 Subject: [obol] western vagrant movements Message-ID: <8CBAD2F1FDA04E0-750-1628@webmail-mh10.sysops.aol.com> Southern California had a lot more than this over Memorial Day weekend including at least 3 Yellow-throated Vireos and a White-eyed Vireo (maybe a little higher than average). For those interested all of Californias various listserves can be found at www.sialia.com in particular for spring vagrants check out http://www.sialia.com/s/calists.pl?rm=one_list;id=71? Unfortunetly NE Cali had very few migrants and one unfortunately placed snowbank. For those interested the SY Red-shouldered Hawk continues in Netarts and on Monday there were a couple Scrub Jays (California?) in Lakeview, Lake County.? Good birding David Vander Pluym Netarts, OR (but not for as long as previously thought it seems) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090527/3469c470/attachment.html From dhogaza at pacifier.com Wed May 27 15:40:19 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 15:40:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur Memorial Day Weekend photos ... Message-ID: Put up a few including (gasp! oh dear!) a few non-bird ones (including oh dear! a deer!). Mostly bird photos, though, this is OBOL after all. I was basically putting my new Canon 50D body through its paces, getting to know it - this was my first shooting trip with it - but a few of the snaps are OK. Some of you may recognize the yellow warbler mom sitting on the nest she was building at refuge HQ ... Enjoy! Oh - this will help! http://donb.photo.net/memorial_day_weekend_2009/ ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From dhogaza at pacifier.com Wed May 27 16:46:39 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 16:46:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur Memorial Day Weekend photos ... In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <07F7D5FD-60D7-4BBA-92F7-EC4232EBA51E@pacifier.com> On May 27, 2009, at 3:40 PM, Don Baccus wrote: > > I was basically putting my new Canon 50D body through its paces, And not noticing the possible glossy ibis in one of the photos (thank you owen schmidt!) Rather than hang my head in shame and ruddy-faced embarrassment, I'll encourage y'all to take a look and weigh in with your opinion. The bird was on the southern portion of the CPR, near Knox Pond, probably a bit towards the north but definitely to the south of Benson, not that anyone would possibly see it there given the way ibis flocks move around the entire valley, Diamond, etc :) Boy, do I feel silly :) ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed May 27 17:17:13 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 17:17:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] sea watches Message-ID: <20090527171713.les9feni0wcws4gg@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Rich, Some of the answers to your questions about seabirds at Boiler Bay and other seawatch sites and where they go after dawn are answered here: http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/2009/05/birding-technique-early-bird-gets-worm.html Greg Gillson Currently on vacation in Sisters, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com > Subject: sea watches > From: "rich armstrong" > Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 09:04:28 -0700 > > 1. i hope everyone will forgive the following dumb question. > where do all the birds that get seen flying by boiler bay, cape > arago, other sea watch places from dawn to maybe 8 am go for the > rest of the day? > 2. we were at boiler bay twice last week because we took relatives > to look for whales and other touristy things. at noon there are > essentially zero birds there except the resident cormorants and > gulls. with a kid in school it is hard to get there at dawn. > 3. so do they all stop flying north (or south in fall) and begin > feeding? or do they go further out to sea? why no birds from 8 am > for rest of the day? > Rich Armstrong From scre at aol.com Wed May 27 17:20:11 2009 From: scre at aol.com (scre at aol.com) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 20:20:11 -0400 Subject: [obol] Glossy Ibis Message-ID: <8CBAD4133303197-750-1B9E@webmail-mh10.sysops.aol.com> Congrats on the great photo of a typical Glossy Ibis, I see no red in the gray facial skin or eye and a bit of blue cast to the white border, all typical of a pure bird.? I know I am kicking myself for being lazy and not picking through the ibis out there.? Glad that you were testing out your camera! David Vander Pluym Netarts, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090527/a66f3d1a/attachment.html From scre at aol.com Wed May 27 17:27:06 2009 From: scre at aol.com (scre at aol.com) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 20:27:06 -0400 Subject: [obol] sea watches Message-ID: <8CBAD422A4B63F4-750-1BDB@webmail-mh10.sysops.aol.com> The flip side of this is that tubenoses tend to come closer to shore in the late afternoon, so your odds for a rare deep sea tubenose might be slightly better in the late afternoon.? This is regardless to wind condition (I forget who first pointed this out to me, though it may have been Chris Corben), which is why a lot of rare seabird records are from the afternoon.? I have no idea why this is.? Of course it might not hold true right now as Murphy's Petrels are being seen by the reaserch crusies within a few miles of land in Monterey Bay right now (one as close as 6 miles).Good seabirding David Vander Pluym Netarts,Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090527/cfe5140c/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed May 27 17:27:54 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 17:27:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur Memorial Day Weekend photos ... Message-ID: <20090527172754.4z2bc1au74co8k4o@webmail.thebirdguide.com> I carefully looked through all my poor and out-of-focus shots of ibis before deleting. I've been keeping over 100 photos per day for the past week and deleting about 3 times that many. It still takes an hour to download from my computer to Marlene's laptop. I'll be looking through these all winter, I'm afraid, uploading 20 photos a week for months. Oh, the reason for the post. Don, there it is, blue facial skin rather than red (compare bird behind) and thin pale lines on the border that don't wrap around, and gray legs with red "knees" rather than all red. Seems a very straight-forward GLOSSY IBIS. I'd say you camera is a keeper! http://donb.photo.net/memorial_day_weekend_2009/ Greg From dhogaza at pacifier.com Wed May 27 17:49:00 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 17:49:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur Memorial Day Weekend photos ... In-Reply-To: <20090527172754.4z2bc1au74co8k4o@webmail.thebirdguide.com> References: <20090527172754.4z2bc1au74co8k4o@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Message-ID: <67297F11-88AE-4E2A-BA23-C999C599CF2F@pacifier.com> On May 27, 2009, at 5:27 PM, Greg Gillson wrote: > > I carefully looked through all my poor and out-of-focus shots of ibis > before deleting. That's my problem, I'm an editing machine, first with the light table, now with my digital tools. Shooting film I'd work through 50 or more rolls from a trip in a half-day ... > > Oh, the reason for the post. Don, there it is, blue facial skin rather > than red (compare bird behind) and thin pale lines on the border that > don't wrap around, and gray legs with red "knees" rather than all red. > Seems a very straight-forward GLOSSY IBIS. Yep, looks like the glossies I've seen in their normal range, and I've seen plenty. Just didn't register :) > I'd say you camera is a > keeper! Thanks! ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From dhogaza at pacifier.com Wed May 27 17:54:06 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 17:54:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Glossy Ibis In-Reply-To: <8CBAD4133303197-750-1B9E@webmail-mh10.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBAD4133303197-750-1B9E@webmail-mh10.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <46E2193B-7DD7-498A-8BA4-301B6525F7BD@pacifier.com> On May 27, 2009, at 5:20 PM, scre at aol.com wrote: > Congrats on the great photo of a typical Glossy Ibis, Thanks! > I see no red in the gray facial skin or eye and a bit of blue cast > to the white border, all typical of a pure bird. I know I am > kicking myself for being lazy and not picking through the ibis out > there. Glad that you were testing out your camera! I've not been down there in May in several years, but I'll have to say ... There are more ibis on the refuge, near the CPR where they're easily visible and scanned (or photographed!), than in almost any year in the 1990s (when I typically spent the last couple of weeks of May or early June out there). Also, given the cool spring, the vegetation's low enough for good looks at stuff (the willows were just starting to leaf out, for instance, making photographing yellow warblers much easier than is typical by now). And the lack of mosquitos makes for even more enjoyable birding (though the pesky skeets were awakening by Sunday afternoon). So, might be a good time to keep eyes out for this or other glossies. Hundreds of them flying around in the sky to look at, too! ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed May 27 17:55:31 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 17:55:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur NWR Wednesday May 27 Message-ID: <20090527175531.odfewn5ggkoc4g04@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Refuge HQ at dawn this morning had lots of birds, but no vagrants (at least, none that I found). Lots of WILSON'S WARBLERS, and 4 female or first year) BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, and a HERMIT THRUSH. Otherwise looked like the same birds there all weekend, WAXWINGS, SISKINS, TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, a single CASSIN'S VIREO, several WARBLING VIREOS, among the normal residents. Seems Tuesday's Catbirds and grackle were one-day wonders. Of course I likely missed something; birding HQ's all alone is harder than you think. You rely on others. When several birds move at once I tend to purposely follow a different one than the person next to me to maximize the chances of seeing everything. There were a couple of other birders there, but just beginners, which is fine and good, but doesn't help find vagrants... "it looks like a Yellow Warbler, but look! it has a back cap!" or "it kind of looks like a black oystercatcher; it is all black with orange on the lower bill and throat." The BURROWING OWLS were present just below Wright's Point, and again at the Weaver Springs Road. I never found the ones reported at the OO Road intersection. I spotted one WESTERN SCRUB-JAY at the Ranger Station in Hines as previously reported. I didn't bother stopping today. I haven't seen the GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES at the Apple Peddler Restaurant since Sunday. After stops at Les Schwab in Burns and Bend (to exchange a loaner tire to buy one of the proper size) Marlene and I are now relaxing in Sisters. I just got some great photos of PINYON JAY, PYGMY NUTHATCH, and WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS at the feeders at the Best Western. Now off for Mexican food! You know, taking the whole week off to visit Malheur is very different than the grinding 3-day thousand mile Memorial Day mad dash I've been used to. Relaxed birding. Who'd have thought such a thing existed? Motels rather than sleeping on a cot beside the car in the sage? Cooked meals rather than chocolate and Coke? Well, I still had chocolate and Coke, but restaurant food too! Back to Hillsboro tomorrow. Greg From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed May 27 18:10:13 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 18:10:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Malheur NWR Wednesday May 27 Message-ID: <346831.1682.qm@web45315.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> There is NOTHING like camping in the sage and sleeping on a thermarest pad while listening to the sounds of the desert overnight, I for one could never stay in a motel on my eastern Oregon forays. Of course, my wife is may think different (but she won't be with me) but I sure love hearing poorwills and owls from the comfort of my tent! And the dawn chorus- unbelievable!! Can't wait to head out to the desert tomorrow. Wet, rusty and a little moldy in Coos Bay... Tim R --- On Wed, 5/27/09, Greg Gillson wrote: > From: Greg Gillson > Subject: [obol] Malheur NWR Wednesday May 27 > To: "OBOL" > Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2009, 5:55 PM > > Refuge HQ at dawn this morning had lots of birds, but no > vagrants (at? > least, none that I found). Lots of WILSON'S WARBLERS, and 4 > female or? > first year) BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, and a HERMIT THRUSH. > Otherwise? > looked like the same birds there all weekend, WAXWINGS, > SISKINS,? > TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, a single CASSIN'S VIREO, several > WARBLING VIREOS,? > among the normal residents. Seems Tuesday's Catbirds and > grackle were? > one-day wonders. > > Of course I likely missed something; birding HQ's all alone > is harder? > than you think. You rely on others. When several birds move > at once I? > tend to purposely follow a different one than the person > next to me to? > maximize the chances of seeing everything. There were a > couple of? > other birders there, but just beginners, which is fine and > good, but? > doesn't help find vagrants... "it looks like a Yellow > Warbler, but? > look! it has a back cap!" or "it kind of looks like a > black? > oystercatcher; it is all black with orange on the lower > bill and? > throat." > > The BURROWING OWLS were present just below Wright's Point, > and again? > at the Weaver Springs Road. I never found the ones reported > at the OO? > Road intersection. > > I spotted one WESTERN SCRUB-JAY at the Ranger Station in > Hines as? > previously reported. I didn't bother stopping today. I > haven't seen? > the GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES at the Apple Peddler Restaurant > since Sunday. > > After stops at Les Schwab in Burns and Bend (to exchange a > loaner tire? > to buy one of the proper size) Marlene and I are now > relaxing in? > Sisters. I just got some great photos of PINYON JAY, PYGMY > NUTHATCH,? > and WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS at the feeders at the Best > Western. Now? > off for Mexican food! > > You know, taking the whole week off to visit Malheur is > very different? > than the grinding 3-day thousand mile Memorial Day mad dash > I've been? > used to. Relaxed birding. Who'd have thought such a thing > existed?? > Motels rather than sleeping on a cot beside the car in the > sage?? > Cooked meals rather than chocolate and Coke? Well, I still > had? > chocolate and Coke, but restaurant food too! > > Back to Hillsboro tomorrow. > > Greg > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From dhogaza at pacifier.com Wed May 27 18:35:09 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 18:35:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur NWR Wednesday May 27 In-Reply-To: <346831.1682.qm@web45315.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <346831.1682.qm@web45315.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: On May 27, 2009, at 6:10 PM, Tim Rodenkirk wrote: > > There is NOTHING like camping in the sage and sleeping on a > thermarest pad while listening to the sounds of the desert > overnight, I for one could never stay in a motel on my eastern > Oregon forays. Of course, my wife is may think different (but she > won't be with me) but I sure love hearing poorwills and owls from > the comfort of my tent! There was a nice screech owl hooting in the middle of the night (sat and sun) at Page Springs CG ... ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From winkg at hevanet.com Wed May 27 04:54:01 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 04:54:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 05/27/09 Message-ID: <20090528033309.A0B4EA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 05/21 to 05/27/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 4 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Canada Goose 2 (15, 5/22) GREAT BLUE HERON 1 (1, 5/22) Turkey Vulture 1 (1, 5/22) Band-tailed Pigeon 4 (8, 5/23) Mourning Dove 2 (2, 5/22) Vaux's Swift 3 (4, 5/23) Anna's Hummingbird 4 (2) Rufous Hummingbird 3 (3) Red-breasted Sapsucker 3 (1) Northern Flicker 3 (2) Pileated Woodpecker 3 (1) Olive-sided Flycatcher 4 (2, 5/21) WILLOW FLYCATCHER 1 (2, 5/26) HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER 1 (1, 5/22) Pacific-slope Flycatcher 4 (4, 5/26) CASSIN'S VIREO 2 (2, 5/21) Warbling Vireo 4 (4, 5/23) Steller's Jay 4 (5) Western Scrub-Jay 4 (2) American Crow 4 (4) Violet-green Swallow 4 (10) Black-capped Chickadee 4 (5) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4 (4) Bushtit 3 (3) Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 (7) Brown Creeper 3 (5, 5/21) Bewick's Wren 1 (1, 5/21) Winter Wren 4 (3) Swainson's Thrush 4 (5, 5/21) American Robin 4 (17, 5/21) European Starling 4 (2) Cedar Waxwing 4 (15) Orange-crowned Warbler 4 (4, 5/23) YELLOW WARBLER 2 (2, 5/23) YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER 1 (2, 5/22) Black-throated Gray Warbler 3 (2) Townsend's Warbler 3 (6, 5/21) HERMIT WARBLER 1 (1, 5/21) MacGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER 1 (2, 5/23) Wilson's Warbler 4 (12, 5/21) Western Tanager 3 (5, 5/22) Spotted Towhee 4 (11, 5/21) Song Sparrow 4 (11) Dark-eyed Junco 4 (12, 5/22) Black-headed Grosbeak 4 (5) Brown-headed Cowbird 2 (1, 5/21 & 26) Purple Finch 4 (3, 5/22) House Finch 4 (9) Pine Siskin 4 (10, 5/22) Lesser Goldfinch 1 (2, 5/21) American Goldfinch 4 (7, 5/21) Evening Grosbeak 4 (20, 5/22) Misses (birds found at least 3 days during previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Hairy Woodpecker, Golden-crowned Sparrow Wink Gross Portland From jeffharding at centurytel.net Wed May 27 20:43:08 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 20:43:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur County Expedition list Message-ID: Here is a little more detail from the Malheur County trip last weekend with Dan Thackaberry. We left home Friday evening and camped at the Owyhee Overlook on the way to Three Forks at about 2:30am. In the morning it was all Western Meadowlarks, Rock Wrens, Brewer's Sparrows, with Chuckars calling, a distant Canyon Wren, and a Short-Eared Owl cruising by. We visited Three Forks, and worked our way back to Jordan Valley for lunch. We took the time to visit Silver City to see the sights, then birded the Jordan Valley marshes and Antelope Reservoir, where the Bonaparte's Gulls were. The weather looked threatening, so we fled to the west, intending to camp in the Trout Creek Mountains. We drove up Trout Creek a bit, but the weather looked threatening again, so we fled to Harney County, and camped at Cottonwood Creek. It was a lovely spot, with lighting playing to the east, and a Common Poorwill called a few times. Sunday morning a Black-throated Sparrow was singing in camp. We visited Fields, hoping for fuel, but the store didn't open until 9:00, so after a nice chat in the oasis with Maitreya, we headed north through the Alvord Basin, back to Malheur County. The drive to Crowley was interesting and birdy, with lots of Swainson's Hawks, a Great-tailed Grackle, and Lark Sparrows. Dan noted a Zerene Fritillary at Duck Pond. The Crowley-Riverside Road was gated, so we headed north to Skull Springs, finding a Burrowing Owl en route. After Dinner in Juntura, we headed to Harper for fuel, and went north to Ironside from there, through some fascinating chalky cliffs. We camped after dark north of the Malheur County line on a windy ridge, but several Flammulated Owls started calling right away. I drove down to Squaw Creek to listen for them in Grant and Malheur Counties, but failed to detect them there. Standing by the sign indicating the Malheur/Baker line, they were calling very nearby, but clearly in Baker County. In the morning we visited Malheur County in the little bit along Squaw Creek on FS 16, finding several piney birds, including Pygmy Nuthatches. We drove back to Ironside and headed south on the Ironside-Juntura road, and found our way up Ironside Mountain from the south. In a lovely aspen grove surrounded by pines there were White-breasted Nuthatches, Williamson's Sapsuckers and Hairy Woodpeckers, along with Pine Elfins and Brown Elfins. On a ridge higher up, a beautiful adult Northern Goshawk flew by, and Dan found green hairstreaks, probably Sheridan's. From there we headed for Beulah Reservoir by way of Castle Rock. There had been a large fire, and the hills had a lush carpet of grass and wildflowers for gorgeous landscape. In the woods on Castle Rock we found a blooming cherry covered with Cedar Hairstreaks and Boisduvall's Blues were thick along a boggy creek. Dan found a Zephyr Anglewing, too. Beulah Reservoir had gobs of birds, but we were running out of time. We still managed to tick Eastern Kingbird, Sandhill Cranes, and a couple of lingering Snow Geese. After dinner at the Juntura Oasis, we pretty much blasted home, arriving before 10:00 PM. We listed some 118 bird species, 111 in Malheur County. I haven't named all the butterflies, but have to get a list from Dan for that. Here's the bird list: Pied-billed Grebe Antlope Resrvoir - Jordan Valley Eared Grebe Antelope Reservoir, Beulah Reservoir Western Grebe Beulah Reservoir Clark's Grebe Antelope Reservoir American White Pelican Mann Lake Great Blue Heron Juntura, Beaulah Reservoir Great Egret Burns White-faced Ibis Jordan Valley Snow Goose Beaulah Reservoir - 2 hanging with Canada Geese Canada Goose American Wigeon Jordan Valley Gadwall Green-winged Teal Mallard Northern Pintail Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Redhead Lesser Scaup Common Merganser Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Below Silver City Cooper's Hawk Ironside Mtn Northern Goshawk Ironside Mtn Swainson's Hawk Crowley, Ironside area Red-tailed Hawk Ferruginous Hawk Crowley Golden Eagle Riley American Kestrel Prairie Falcon California Quail Chukar Three Forks Ring-necked Pheasant Jordan Valley Sandhill Crane Beulah Reservoir Sora Jordan Valley American Coot Black-necked Stilt Jordan Valley, various waterholes, Beulah Reservoir American Avocet Jordan Valley, various waterholes, Beulah Reservoir Killdeer Wilson's Snipe Jordan Valley, various waterholes, Beulah Reservoir Long-billed Curlew Crowley area, Three Forks, various grasslands Spotted Sandpiper Juntura Willet Jordan Valley, various waterholes, Beulah Reservoir Wilson's Phalarope Jordan Valley, various waterholes, Beulah Reservoir California Gull Antelope Reservoir, Beulah Reservoir Bonaparte's Gull Antelope Reservoir - 2 non-breeding plumage adults Forster's Tern Jordan Valley, Beulah Reservoir Rock Pigeon Westfall Eurasian Collared-Dove Every farm on the way to Crowley from Hwy 78 had them. Mourning Dove everywhere Flammulated Owl Baker County - several calling at 9:00 PM Burrowing Owl Between Crowley and Skull Spring Short-eared Owl Above Three Forks Common Poorwill Cottonwood Creek Calliope Hummingbird Ironside Mountain Lewis' Woodpecker Ironside Mtn to Castle Rock Red-naped Sapsucker Squaw Creek Williamson's Sapsucker Ironside Mtn Hairy Woodpecker Ironside Mountain Northern Flicker Baker County - FS16 above Squaw Creek Hammond's Flycatcher Squaw Creek Gray Flycatcher Jordan Valley - Three Forks area Dusky Flycatcher Castle Rock Western Wood-Pewee Ironside Mtn - Castle Rock Say's Phoebe Many ranches Western Kingbird everywhere Eastern Kingbird Beulah Reservoir Horned Lark all open sage areas Tree Swallow Ironside Mtn Violet-green Swallow Jordan Valley, most areas Northern Rough-winged Swallow Riparian areas Barn Swallow Cliff Swallow Rock Wren everywhere Canyon Wren Three Forks, Owyhee Overlook House Wren many locations Sage Thrasher Mountain Bluebird Owyhee County - en route to Silver City Hermit Thrush Squaw Creek American Robin Mountain Chickadee Squaw Creek, Ironside Mtn Pygmy Nuthatch Squaw Creek Red-breasted Nuthatch Squaw Creek, Ironside Mountain, Castle Rock White-breasted Nuthatch Ironside Mountain Loggerhead Shrike all open areas Steller's Jay Squaw Creek Black-billed Magpie Clark's Nutcracker Castle Rock American Crow Jordan Valley, Harper, Ironside Common Raven House Sparrow Cassin's Vireo Squaw Creek Warbling Vireo Jordan Valley, Three forks, Juntura, Ironside Mtn Cassin's Finch Squaw Creek, Ironside Mountain House Finch Jordan Valley, Crowley area Pine Siskin Squaw Creek Yellow Warbler everywhere Yellow-rumped Warbler Squaw Creek, Ironside Mountain Common Yellowthroat Jordan Valley, Juntura Yellow-breasted Chat Three Forks Western Tanager Squaw Creek, Ironside Mountain Green-tailed Towhee Owyhee County - en route to Silver City Chipping Sparrow Brewer's Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Lark Sparrow Many in open areas Black-throated Sparrow Cottonwood Creek Savannah Sparrow above Three Forks, Crowley - Juntura Song Sparrow Ironside Mountain Black-headed Grosbeak Ironside Mountain Lazuli Bunting Three Forks Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark everywhere Yellow-headed Blackbird Jordan Valley, Beulah Reservoir Brewer's Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle one en route to Crowley from Hwy 78 Brown-headed Cowbird Bullock's Oriole Let me know if there are questions or comments. Good birding! Jeff Harding -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090527/d2c984b2/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Wed May 27 23:26:47 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 06:26:47 +0000 Subject: [obol] Glossy Ibis In-Reply-To: <8CBAD4133303197-750-1B9E@webmail-mh10.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBAD4133303197-750-1B9E@webmail-mh10.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: Greetings All, Unlike David, I picked through many hundreds of ibis last weekend and obviously found no Glossies. Given the numbers of White-faced Ibis on the refuge and in the surrounding wet fields and the presumed low density of Glossies, actively attempting to find one still borders on looking for the needle in the haystack. It is tedious business to be sure. The birds I was sorting through spent about 60-70% (sometimes more) of their time with their heads (and tell-tale facial skin) down in the grass. Don's image is excellent and may well represent the best image of this species yet taken in Oregon. Dave Irons Eugene, OR To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 20:20:11 -0400 From: scre at aol.com Subject: [obol] Glossy Ibis Congrats on the great photo of a typical Glossy Ibis, I see no red in the gray facial skin or eye and a bit of blue cast to the white border, all typical of a pure bird. I know I am kicking myself for being lazy and not picking through the ibis out there. Glad that you were testing out your camera! David Vander Pluym Netarts, Or Wanna slim down for summer? Go to America Takes it Off to learn how. _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? goes with you. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Mobile1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090528/ff0ca81f/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed May 27 23:37:41 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 23:37:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 5-28-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * May 28, 2009 * ORPO0905.28 - birds mentioned Red-breasted Merganser MANX SHEARWATER GLOSSY IBIS White-faced Ibis Red-shouldered Hawk American Avocet Whimbrel Pectoral Sandpiper Rock Sandpiper Franklin?s Gull Black Tern Common Nighthawk Black Swift Acorn Woodpecker BLUE JAY Western Scrub-Jay Rock Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird TENNESSEE WARBLER CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER MAGNOLIA WARBLER Palm Warbler Northern Waterthrush ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK Black-headed Grosbeak INDIGO BUNTING GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE COMMON GRACKLE - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday May 28. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On May 23 a probable MAGNOLIA WARBLER was reported from Hagelstein Park on Upper Klamath Lake. Week-end reports from southeast Oregon included a BLUE JAY, three GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES, and three SCRUB-JAYS in Burns. A COMMON GRACKLE, two CATBIRDS, a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK and a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER at Malheur Headquarters. A TENNESSEE WARBLER and Palm Warbler at Benson Pond. A GLOSSY IBIS near Knox Pond. A male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK at Frenchglen and a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER at near Barnes Springs. A female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER near Krumbo Reservoir, a CATBIRD at page Springs, and an INDIGO BUNTING in Fields. Heavy movements of BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS were reported during the week. Migrant BLACK SWIFTS were reported from New River, the North Spit of Coos Bay, and on Cascade Head. One BLACK SWIFT was near McMinnville May 22. COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were seen in Lake, Harney, and Malheur Counties. On May 22 a FRANKLIN?S GULL was at New River. Ten PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were on the North Spit of Coos Bay May 23. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK and a MOCKINGBIRD was near Netarts May 21. A MANX SHEARWATER was off Boiler Bay May 21. A colorful late ROCK SANDPIPER was at Hug Point SP May 24. On May 25 three WHITE PELICANS were near Kalama. At least 35 WHITE-FACED IBIS were on Sauvie Island May 22. On May 24 two BLACK TERNS, a WHIMBREL, and an AVOCET were at Baskett Slough NWR. A ROCK WREN was near Lebanon May 21. Up to 40 WHITE-FACED IBIS are now at Fern Ridge Reservoir. On May 22 two WHIMBREL were at the mouth of Hood River. A singing NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was at Calliope crossing near Sisters May 22. One was along Hwy 58 at the Little Deschutes River May 25. On May 21 an ACORN WOODPECKER was in Bend. A MOCKINGBIRD was seen may 25 at Ladd Marsh WMA near LaGrande. That?s it for this week. - end transcirpt -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090527/3c3125f3/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Thu May 28 07:21:36 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 07:21:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] JoCo species 1st! Message-ID: <8317D4B1C66A41BF98EBA032ECC52E89@Warbler> Yesterday (05-27-09) afternoon, Phil Hicks had a new yard bird at their place east of Grants Pass...a DICKCISSEL. This is not only a 1st for Phil's place, but for Josephine County also! Phil got several photos of the bird, which appears to be of a last-year's fledgling male. A quick look at Jackson County records (2009 update) shows only 2 records. None for this time of the year. BIG pat on the back for Phil on this one. If still around this morning (but doubtful), hope to get a look at it. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090528/b7613b77/attachment.html From calliope at theriver.com Thu May 28 07:39:05 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 07:39:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Harris's Hawks on the Loose in Gresham Message-ID: Hi All, I learned from my dad that a captive breeder of Harris's Hawks in Gresham had a break-in at his facility about a week ago, and a pair of his breeding hawks were released. I'm sure he would be grateful if anyone spotting them would try to let him know as soon as possible. If you happen to see one of them, you can e-mail me and I will forward the information. Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- From davect at bendnet.com Thu May 28 09:27:59 2009 From: davect at bendnet.com (david tracy) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 09:27:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: ECBC Birding By Ear, Wednesday 27 May References: <200905281606.n4SG6dIr004413@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> Message-ID: Begin forwarded message: > From: davect at bendnet.com > Date: May 28, 2009 4:06:39 PM PDT > To: davect at bendnet.com > Subject: ECBC Birding By Ear, Wednesday 27 May > > This report was mailed for David Tracy by http://birdnotes.net > Date: May 27, 2009 > Location: Robert W. Sawyer State Park, Deschutes County, Oregon > > Our group enjoyed another nice, sunny morning for Wednesday's birding > by ear walk at Sawyer Park yesterday. The flycatchers have finally > moved on, no > Empids seen or heard this week. Warbler numbers are also down, but > now is > the time of year for the chance to find interesting vagrants. > > We'll continue through the 17th of June, focusing on local breeding > birds, > some of whom have already completed nesting and fledged young. This > can be an active time as the adults are busy gathering food and > tending > the fledglings. > > We had several folks join us for the first time and they seemed to be > having fun. All are ages and skill levels are welcome so come on > out if you > have the chance. > > > Birds seen (in taxonomic order): > Canada Goose [1] > Trumpeter Swan [2] > Mallard > Common Merganser [3] > Osprey > Cooper's Hawk [4] > Red-tailed Hawk > Rock Dove > Mourning Dove > Anna's Hummingbird [5] > Northern Flicker > Western Wood-Pewee > Warbling Vireo [6] > Western Scrub-Jay > American Crow > Common Raven > Tree Swallow > Violet-green Swallow > Northern Rough-winged Swallow > Bushtit > Pygmy Nuthatch > House Wren > American Robin > European Starling > Cedar Waxwing > Orange-crowned Warbler > Yellow Warbler > Wilson's Warbler [7] > Song Sparrow > Red-winged Blackbird > Brown-headed Cowbird > Bullock's Oriole [8] > House Finch > Lesser Goldfinch [9] > American Goldfinch > House Sparrow > > > Footnotes: > > > > [1] CAGO: Nice flock of ~140 birds flying high overhead tothe > northeast > [2] TRUS: A real live free-flying bird (must be from one of the > previous years broods that nested upstream), chased off by the > Fightless Resident > [3] COME: Flock of 12 males flying north, high overhead > [4] COHA: Quick flyby spooking the swallows and finches, juvenile > [5] AHHU: Nest now empty, presume young have already fledged. > Female seen gathering nest material nearby, perhaps a second brood > coming? > [6] WAVI: Several singing birds > [7] WIWA: Several singing males > [8] BUOR: Singing 2nd year male, acting territorial. Have seen > this or similar young male in the park for 2 weeks, may stick > around for summer? > [9] LEGO: Nest empty, apparently young have fledged > > > > Total number of species seen: 36 > From surfbird at q.com Thu May 28 09:50:07 2009 From: surfbird at q.com (Diane Pettey) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 09:50:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Coast FOX SPARROW, 5/28/09 Message-ID: A FOX SPARROW was present in our backyard this morning. Very late for this species here. regards, Diane Pettey Heceta Beach, OR (n. of Florence) surfbird at q.com From baileydc at pdx.edu Thu May 28 10:24:18 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 10:24:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln County birding Message-ID: <4A1EC8C2.3080100@pdx.edu> 26 May I observed an ""OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH" in a very recent clear cut near Euchre Mountain. It was foraging around the stumps and slash. There was really no vegetation where I observed it. It was noticeable different from the SWAINSON'S THRUSHES I have been observing in the regrow timber stands I have been surveying in the morning--larger, greener backed, much more obvious eye-ring and spectacle. This form of SWAINSON'S THRUSH breeds north and east of Oregon I believe. Also 26 May I saw a TUFTED PUFFIN off of Boiler Bay, as well as a few RINOCEROS AUKLETS. late in the day I counted 51 Whimbrel in Yaquina Bay off of the Hatfield Marine Science Center. Today, 28 May I observed three HERMAN'S GULLS off of Boiler bay in a floatilla of WESTERN GULLS, MURRES, and PELAGIC CORMARANTS. Thirty BROWN PELICANS flew north in the 15 minutes I was there between 0745 and 0800. A few PACIFIC LOONS and a RED-THROATED LOON flew by headed north. I saw a female YELLOW WARBLER down in the willows near the LNG tank on Yaquina Bay. David Ps. GLOSSY IBIS--WOW what a find Owen....I mean Don! David C. Bailey Newport. From tamickel at rio.com Thu May 28 10:33:51 2009 From: tamickel at rio.com (Tom & Allison Mickel) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 10:33:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wednesday morning bird walk Message-ID: <000b01c9dfba$775cc790$661656b0$@com> OBOL, Yesterday, we birded the Fern Ridge Reservoir area from Fisher Butte parking lot to the Royal Ave platform and back. It was overcast with a north wind that made for a rather cool morning of birding. The best bird was the GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE in the field/pond next to highway 126/W11th Ave, just north and west of the Fisher Butte parking lot. We found the bird as we were getting back to the parking lot in the drier portion of the field among the white Popcorn Flower blooms mid-way along the southern dike, west of the parking lot. Birds seen: Canada Goose - numerous broods Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon - one pair Mallard Blue-winged Teal Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail - one male Green-winged Teal - one male Redhead Ring-necked Duck - one pair Lesser Scaup - one male Ruddy Duck Pied-billed Grebe Western Grebe American White Pelican - 30 to 40 American Bittern Great Blue Heron White-faced Ibis - about 10 Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Virginia Rail Sora - calling the whole time American Coot Killdeer - nest w/4 eggs American Avocet - 3 to 4 Greater Yellowlegs - 3 Spotted Sandpiper Wilson's Phalarope Mourning Dove American Crow Common Raven Purple Martin Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Bewick's Wren Marsh Wren Cedar Waxwing Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat Yellow-breasted Chat Song Sparrow Lazuli Bunting Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird American Goldfinch Participants - Dennis Arendt, Dave Brown, Ellen Cantor, Fred Chancey, Kimberly Cullen, Graham Floyd, Kit Larsen, Sylvia Maulding, Tom Mickel, Don Schrouder, Paul Sherrell, Sarah Vasconcellos, Dick Weeks. From tayben at teleport.com Thu May 28 12:01:29 2009 From: tayben at teleport.com (Martha taylor & Chris Bennett) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 12:01:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird I.D Message-ID: I was at Westmorland park yesterday eve. In the casting pond were 2 teenager ducks. They about a scaup in size and thinner. Black bill, body was Brown but chest was white like a pintail pattern but the white went higher up. No parents around. Chris -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090528/45d92b7d/attachment.html From jcholleyjr at yahoo.com Thu May 28 13:19:40 2009 From: jcholleyjr at yahoo.com (Jack Holley) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 13:19:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Savannah Sparrow Message-ID: <714767.20965.qm@web31304.mail.mud.yahoo.com> While birding on Powell Butte, in Multnomah County, today around 9am, I spotted a Savannah Sparrow with almost a pure white head, just a few dark stripes though the cheek area, and no yellow before the eyes. I believe it to be a leucistic bird. It looked somewhat like the Ipswitch bird in NG,? but it didn't have the stipes though the head. I saw it along the meadow trail. Jack Holley -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090528/a2ec8f37/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Thu May 28 13:56:46 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 13:56:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Costa's at Bend Message-ID: Yesterday morning (May 27) I located a male Costa's Hummingbird at the Entrada Motel (or Inn) on Century Drive, on the "Riverside Trail". This trail is accessible from the Entrada and as it begins from the top end of the parking lot and turns in a direction away from Century Drive, it eventually curves again toward the mountains and follows the base of a band of rim-rock. This rim-rock peters out at some point, where the trail curves around the end to proceed to the river. About half-way before reaching the end of the cliff, the Costa's was perched on one of the thin snags projected against the sky, seen from the trail looking toward the cliff. The hummer began displaying, climbing straight up until out of sight, then diving. It made a sound I realized I had never heard before. I was unable to follow the bird on its course, visually, but as I heard this sound repeatedly and at regular intervals, I was convinced of its origin. The sound is indescribable. The written descriptions vary inordinately and none of them capture the essence of the sound quality (if that is even possible). It was a penetrating and prolonged "Peeeep", lasting at least a full second, and it was non-directional. The quality was certainly strange, and almost irritating. From Sheri Williamson's description of the display in "Hummingbirds of North America", I realize that I was not hearing all of the sounds produced during the dive, but evidently only the final burst of sound at the very end, and certainly none of the fluttering sounds also in descriptions. Other birds in the area include, nesting: Lewis's Woodpeckers, Flickers, Great Horned Owl (adult passing a vole to a young and leaving it to figure out what to do with it), Pygmy Nuthatch (2 nest holes), House Wrens, Green-tailed Towhees, and Spotted Towhees. Also seen (and singing) were a Vesper Sparrow, a Brewer's Sparrow, Red Crossbills, Olive-sided Flycatchers, and W.W. Pewees. FISH LAKE was populated by Barrow's Goldeneyes. I counted over 20, and could not see many parts of the lake. Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090528/02d5fed3/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Thu May 28 14:06:40 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 14:06:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] That Flam at Malheur HDQ. Message-ID: I may have been the only person on the list to see this bird, and there is evidently some confusion about earlier reports. Initially it was reported as a W. Screech-Owl at the nature-center and entered that way on the chalk board. The bird was in the thick hawthorn near the rest-rooms, nestled tightly in a "Y" between two branches. It blended in so well, it was always difficult to locate. It was a Flammulated, complete with dark eyes. I was impressed by how tiny it looked, and it had the perfect plumage of the species. Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090528/83390750/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Thu May 28 14:50:27 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 14:50:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane/Douglas Coast Message-ID: <2b1bbd260905281450q43e063edx400ec7c0ba5cecf7@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Yesterday (5-27) from 5-7PM I observed 45 BRANT at the Siuslaw north jetty, Lane Co. They flew by in 5 separate flocks, the largest contained 24 birds. There were also 5 BONAPARTE'S GULLS when I first arrived that flew up river and out of sight. Today there was a single BONAPARTE'S GULL on the beach near the Carter Lake trail head, Douglas Co. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090528/424ffc59/attachment.html From chet_ogan at yahoo.com Thu May 28 16:24:24 2009 From: chet_ogan at yahoo.com (Chet ogan) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 16:24:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Malhuer & Steens access Message-ID: <761504.32003.qm@web80606.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Lake County birders, I will be leading a field trip from Eureka, CA to Malhuer and Steens in early July. I have been here twice previously. Any suggestions for finding Black Rosy-finches?? Any reports on the Steen's Mtn road? still snowed in?? Yellow rail locations, tips? Chet Ogan Imagine there's no countries . . .It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for . . . . And no religion too Imagine all the people . . . .. .Living life in peace... - J Lennon- Chet Ogan chet_ogan at yahoo.com 707-442-9353 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090528/3219aafb/attachment.html From prigge1 at mindspring.com Thu May 28 16:45:05 2009 From: prigge1 at mindspring.com (Allen Prigge) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 16:45:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Grasshopper Sparrow, Fern Ridge WMA, Lane County Message-ID: To the best of my knowledge, Grasshopper Sparrows have not yet been reported this year in their usual location on the Royal-Amazon Unit. Today, Bill Hunter and I found one. We walked north along the fence line adjacent to the Royal Avenue parking lot.The GRSP was singing from dead twigs atop a rose bush perhaps250'-300' northeasterly from where the fence turns eastward. AAP __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4109 (20090527) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090528/ff3d3cd3/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Thu May 28 18:25:15 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 18:25:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Marion County big day, 27 May Message-ID: Yesterday, 27 May, Floyd Schrock, Noah Strycker, and I did a big day in Marion County. We had done no scouting, and for Noah and me this was an exploratory experience, as we had never even visited many of the locations we ventured to on this day. Floyd helped guide us to many new and interesting spots, and it was wonderful to learn more about this county and its birding opportunities. Our thanks also to Steve Dowlan for advice beforehand. We spent the morning birding Ankeny Refuge and other lowland sites south & southeast of Salem, then headed up Hwy 22 into the Cascades and back. We had good fortune in the Valley, picking up some bonus species (shorebirds in particular) and missing very few expected ones. However, as we gained elevation we had a harder and harder time coming up with new species, and ended up with some notable misses. We had 102 species as we left Detroit but then only 9 more in the high Cascades above Detroit. We finished with 111. We believe this falls short of at least one day in the past in which Floyd, Barb Bellin, and Darrel Faxon had considerably more (125??). Highlights included: American Bittern - 1 at Ankeny (Cottonwood Pond); 1 at Hunsaker Rd. ponds Cackling Goose - 6 at Ankeny (flooded field on Buena Vista Rd) American Wigeon - 1 at Ankeny (flooded field on Buena Vista Rd) Blue-winged Teal - 1 at Ankeny (Pintail-Egret Marsh); 1 at Hunsaker Rd. ponds Ring-necked Duck - 1 at Hunsaker Rd. ponds Hooded Merganser - 1 at Aumsville Sewage Ponds Peregrine Falcon - 1 at Ankeny (Pintail Marsh) Virginia Rail - 1 at Ankeny; 1 at Hunsaker Rd. ponds Sora - 3 at Ankeny; 1 at Hunsaker Rd. ponds Semipalmated Plover - 1 at Ankeny (flooded field on Buena Vista Rd) Least Sandpiper - 1 at Ankeny (flooded field on Buena Vista Rd) Wilson's Phalarope - 2 (a pair, apparently) at Hunsaker Rd. ponds Red-necked Phalarope - 2 at Ankeny (Pintail Marsh) Eurasian Collared Dove - 1 at Ankeny Hill overlook Great Horned Owl - Fledglings at Minto-Brown Isl. Park; adult at Ankeny (Rail Trail) Willow Flycatcher - 1 at Ankeny (Pintail-Egret Marsh boardwalk) Western Kingbird - pair with NEST discovered on Hunsaker Rd. Nest on 12th power pole east of RR tracks on N side of road. Horned Lark - 1 on Old Mehama Rd. Yellow-headed Blackbird - territorial males at Ankeny (South Pond and Peregrine Marsh) Misses included Winter Wren, Cassin's Vireo, Yellow-breasted Chat, Evening Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, & all owls except Great Horned. Among several probable species not counted was a likely Calliope Hummingbird far up Rt 46 near the Clackamas Co. line. Also, be aware that there are 6 MUTE SWANS on a lake in an old quarry on McGilchrist Rd. near the Salem airport. The property managers told us they introduced these birds here themselves and are taking steps to prevent them from spreading. Good birding, Jay Withgott, Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090528/efddfbbc/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Thu May 28 19:07:41 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 02:07:41 +0000 Subject: [obol] Lots of action at Bandon's Coquille Point and Elephant Rock Message-ID: Early Thursday morning was glorius at Elephant Rock. Tufted puffins are back at Elephant rock for the first time in 10 years. One pair has a burrow on the south ear of the elephant on the land side. They are plainly visible without the need for binocs or scope. For those who haven't seen these guys up close, you are in for a treat. This morning the pair was joined by a third puffin. Also on Elephant Rock we have found three black oystercatchers nesting. That makes a total of 9 in Bandon so far. Also seen from Coquille point this morning: a string of 75 brown pelicans, a flyby by a dozen Brants, and 4 caspian terns. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From hhactitis at yahoo.com Thu May 28 20:35:56 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 20:35:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] shorebird trickle Message-ID: <3655.64008.qm@web37004.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Yes, shorebird migration has slowed to a trickle, but it ain't over yet. The big Sanderling flocks have mostly disappeared from the Douglas and Lane Co. beaches, but 12 SANDERLINGS (mostly in full breeding plumage), 14 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and one SPOTTED SANDPIPER were at the mouth of the Siltcoos River in southern Lane Co. this morning. Over the ocean, there was still a sustained northward movement of PACIFIC LOONS, and at least one northbound SOOTY SHEARWATER. Now for those coastal vagrant warblers .... Good birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090528/d4f41f50/attachment.html From mavethegreat at hotmail.com Thu May 28 22:05:21 2009 From: mavethegreat at hotmail.com (David G Crisman) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 22:05:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birds and Herps Message-ID: I have a request for some tips to finding a few species around Malheur NWR. Here are a few questions: Are the SHORT-EARED OWLS still nesting at the north end of the Central Patrol Road? Are the WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS reliable still around Roaring Springs Ranch? Since the Narrows is dried out at this point, where else would be a reliable place to see BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS? As for the non-birds I would really like to run into some herps, but I'll be travelling with family members that aren't incredibly mobile outside an automobile. I know I've seen DESERT-HORNED LIZARDS around before, but I can't recall where we saw them. Also I'd like to encounter, but not embrace a WESTERN RATTLESNAKE. Since I look for them, of course I can't find any. Are there any places that are easy to get to where you fine people have seen one or two? Thanks in advance for any help! David Crisman Tigard, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? goes with you. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Mobile1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090528/4c34d75a/attachment.html From mavethegreat at hotmail.com Thu May 28 22:16:02 2009 From: mavethegreat at hotmail.com (David G Crisman) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 22:16:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Two More! Message-ID: Also, both GRASSHOPPER SPARROW and the GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE have eluded me in these parts. Did someone bump Sibley's arm when he was drawing these range maps? David _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090528/faebe61f/attachment.html From fschrock at gmail.com Thu May 28 22:38:53 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 22:38:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Kingbird nest site photo Message-ID: <390ebd880905282238t2b172bc5t98694e5e6e82e2d5@mail.gmail.com> Jay Withgott mentioned the Western Kingbird nest we found during our Marion Co. "big day" run yesterday. I'm hoping that an OBOLink might pass through the Turner area and check on it occasionally. I thought the actual nest site was quite "nifty" (whatever that means) and took a photo of it that is at http://empids.blogspot.com/. As Jay said, it's on the 12th power pole east of the RR crossing on the north side of Hunsaker Rd., i.d.'d by a number 2 above a number 15. I'll be curious to know if any young Kingbirds actually fledge from that nest. A nest that Carol Karlen found near Carlton here in Yamhill Co. a few years ago failed when one of the adults apparently died on the nest. ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090528/62ae31b7/attachment.html From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Thu May 28 23:25:35 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (Jamie S.) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 23:25:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Photos of Burns W. Scrub-Jays Message-ID: <749055.30601.qm@web39506.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I have posted 3 photos of some of the 3 WSJAs I?located in Burns on May 25th (after RIch Hoyer?found one on May 23rd).?The only photo manipulation I?performed was to crop them. They are at: ? http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=21242&id=1533961816&l=a3c64b22f9 ? Jamie Simmons Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090528/78415093/attachment.html From bcombs232 at gmail.com Fri May 29 00:06:37 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 00:06:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird ID Training at Cape Perpetua June 5 - sign up if you want to participate Message-ID: <8ce3a6520905290006p1ab6159et69d1e2d22dbc8716@mail.gmail.com> Clay Courtright suggested that I pass the word around about this opportunity. Below is the excerpt from his e-mail describing the training opportunity. Please be sure to contact Clay in advance if you plan to attend. [snip] I also wanted to let you know that we're providing a free bird ID training in coordination with USFS and USFWS on June 5th. The training will begin with a presentation in the theater at Cape Perpetua at 10:30am followed by a Q&A session. Then we're going into the field at Heceta Head to apply the training. The only fee is $5 for parking if folks don't have a FS permit. In part it's to recruit volunteers, so if you know anyone, please pass the training along. Seating is limited so please have them contact me via phone or email. Thanks, Clay Courtright Park Ranger Oregon Parks & Recreation Department Washburne Management Unit 93111 Highway 101 Florence, Oregon 97439 Phone: 541.547.3416 ext. 226 Fax: 541.547.3426 -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090529/259ad6e2/attachment.html From bcombs232 at gmail.com Fri May 29 00:11:12 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 00:11:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane County Nesting News Message-ID: <8ce3a6520905290011t55b824fdk9bd8ec9e1cce8961@mail.gmail.com> HOUSE FINCHES were feeding fledged young on May 28. I found a discarded eggshell from a newly-hatched AMERICAN ROBIN in my yard on May 28. It was probably dropped there early in the morning. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090529/42c83afa/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Fri May 29 06:22:30 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 06:22:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Getting Late Coos Cty Pipit Message-ID: <4A1FE196.50805@verizon.net> 5/28 Coos Bay North Spit Coos Cty Heard an AMERICAN PIPIT fly over us yesterday while surveying....getting late for pipits...... Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From davect at bendnet.com Fri May 29 07:53:02 2009 From: davect at bendnet.com (david tracy) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 07:53:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Photos of Burns W. Scrub-Jays Message-ID: <4B9EE288-EBC4-4557-9A0B-5AA9D19B09FC@bendnet.com> I also agree Jamie's photos of the Burns Scrub-Jays show they are from the _californica_ group of subspecies. I don't see anything to suggest they are the interior "Woodhouse's" form, _woodhouseii_ It appears one is a recently fledged juvenile so these birds nested locally. Woodhouse's would be more gray on the underparts, have less of a blue breastband and smaller, more slender bill. If you happen to hear the "shreeenk" call note, Woodhouse's sound completely different than our Srub Jays, lower, less harsh. They are also very skittish and less likely to be seen strutting around on lawns and scolding from exposed perches. Dave david tracy davect at bendnet.com ----Original Message---- Subject: Photos of Burns W. Scrub-Jays From: "Jamie S." Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 23:25:35 -0700 (PDT) I have posted 3 photos of some of the 3 WSJAs Ilocated in Burns on May 25th (after RIch Hoyerfound one on May 23rd).The only photo manipulation Iperformed was to crop them. They are at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=21242&id=1533961816&l=a3c64b22f9 Jamie Simmons Corvallis _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From ronaldgp at onlinemac.com Fri May 29 08:27:37 2009 From: ronaldgp at onlinemac.com (ronaldgp at onlinemac.com) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 08:27:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Birds and Herps In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Last weekend we saw half a dozen BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONs at the south dike of Benson pond. One was an immature. They were disturbed as we drove up the CPR from the south and were reluctant to leave the area. When we stopped they moved a little to the north and east, but stayed on the south of Benson. When we drove on, they re-settled in the marsh south of the southern dike, immediately adjacent to the CPR. We didn't see the SHORT-EARED OWLS nesting, but saw them as the sun dropped over the rimrock at Dredger pond area. There were two working the fields in that area. They had flown in from the rimrock to the west, over the CPR and into the fields. I've seen the HORNED LIZARDs at Diamond Craters, around the Lava Pit Crater on most occasions I'm there. Most RATTLESNAKEs I've seen have been sunning themselves on HWY 205, Wright's point is common. While not good for the snake, it's good for the human as the smake is usually deceased and allows for a more personal inspection. The real upside is that the scavengers get them before a day is up. Hope this helps. Ron --- Ronald G. Peterson McMinnville, Oregon From tita.lucia at juno.com Fri May 29 09:21:10 2009 From: tita.lucia at juno.com (denise) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 16:21:10 GMT Subject: [obol] Acorn Woodpecker, Yamhill County Message-ID: <20090529.092110.11598.1@webmail15.vgs.untd.com> Acorn Woodpecker spotted several times on snag in Cozine Creek in McMinnville on Elmwood S. across from the Library Park. Denise Schmit -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090529/72d407e8/attachment.html From tita.lucia at juno.com Fri May 29 09:22:48 2009 From: tita.lucia at juno.com (denise) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 16:22:48 GMT Subject: [obol] Fw: Acorn Woodpecker, Yamhill County Message-ID: <20090529.092248.11598.2@webmail15.vgs.untd.com> FYI, Acorn Woodpecker in Yamhill County spotted on May 25th, 2009 in the morning. "You must be the change you want to see in the world" -Gandhi ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- From: "denise" To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Acorn Woodpecker, Yamhill County Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 16:21:10 GMT Acorn Woodpecker spotted several times on snag in Cozine Creek in McMinnville on Elmwood S. across from the Library Park. Denise Schmit -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090529/0abaf3e6/attachment.html From coffehound at gmail.com Fri May 29 09:54:08 2009 From: coffehound at gmail.com (Demian Ebert) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 09:54:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Common Nighthawk in Sellwood Message-ID: So my silly hound dog got his head and shoulders stuck under our bed last night at about 2:00 AM. After I pulled him out and we were trying to go back to sleep we heard three distinct calls of a common nighthawk. That's a new yard bird and not one I would have ever expected to add. Guess I should thank the dog for wakiing me up. We're just off SE 17th on Marion St in Sellwood. Demian -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090529/d401ede2/attachment.html From calliope at theriver.com Fri May 29 13:38:45 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 13:38:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] =?windows-1252?q?Seawatch_from_Cape_Lookout_=96_Pacific_Lo?= =?windows-1252?q?ons=2C_Cackling_Goose=2C_other_stragglers?= Message-ID: <918CC2C5-D7A5-4B5E-8804-EBA0DD9FEC7D@theriver.com> May 29, 2009 Dear Birders, I did something a bit crazy today. I left Corvallis at about 2:40 a.m., made a beeline for Cape Lookout, and hiked out to the tip in the predawn darkness. At the tip I stood for 3 1/2 hours and counted all the birds I saw. The whole morning tallied 53 species. I entered my lists onto eBird. There was an obvious movement of PACIFIC LOONS, starting shortly after sunrise, and I tallied 607. It appeared they were moving north closer to the mainland and were just barely going around the cape. The rarest stragger was probably the CACKLING GOOSE mixed in with northbound Canada Geese. There were also a few groups of BRANT, five WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, one RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. On the earlyish side was a single HEERMAN'S GULL. Only at a great distance could I pick out a few SOOTY SHEARWATERS. There were also lots of RHINOCEROS AUKLETS and three TUFTED PUFFINS. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- From celata at pacifier.com Fri May 29 14:03:14 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 14:03:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] BANDING REPORT: Neawanna Wetland - 5/29/2009 Message-ID: <4A204D92.4080301@pacifier.com> BANDING REPORT- Neawanna Wetland Preserve 05-01-2009 Method: Up to eight 9m mist nets are placed in mixed Oregon Crabapple/Twinberry/Spruce along the upper Neawanna River, Seaside, Clatsop Co. OR. Captured birds are measured, ringed with USBBL numbered metal bands and released. Data on time of capture and side of net captured are also recorded to gain an understanding of movements through the area. 2009 529 Neawanna 149 Hours 4.25 Nets 8 Net*hours 34 Black-capped Chickadee BCCH 1 Yellow Warbler YWAR 1 Common Yellowthroat COYE 1 American Robin AMRO 1 Swainson's Thrush SWTH 1 Cedar Waxwing CEDW 1 Recaptures Common Yellowthroat COYE 1 new captures 6 total captures 7 diversity 6 birds/(net*hour) 0.2 diversity/(net*hour) 0.2 Notes: It was a slow day at the bird mines. We had go diversity but there just wasn't much moving around and what there was could probably see the nets in the way too nice weather... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From withgott at comcast.net Fri May 29 14:17:05 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 14:17:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay seawatch, 25 May In-Reply-To: <918CC2C5-D7A5-4B5E-8804-EBA0DD9FEC7D@theriver.com> References: <918CC2C5-D7A5-4B5E-8804-EBA0DD9FEC7D@theriver.com> Message-ID: Hi OBOL -- Rich's posting, and others as I catch up with my email, reminded me that I'd neglected to post results from a brief (7:00-7:30 am) seawatch from Boiler Bay the other day on May 25th. We were tidepooling there with the superlow tides, so the seawatch was a sidelight -- but in this brief window of observation there was a lot of activity, and excellent viewing conditions. 1 Cackling Goose N-bound w/ Canadas 1 Greater White-fronted Goose N-bound w/ Canadas 5 Brant 25 Sooty Shearwaters 3 Red-necked Phalaropes 6 Bonaparte's Gulls 2 Caspian Terns 28 Common Terns (or possibly Arctic; too far out to see field marks well, and I could not quite decide on body shape. N-bound in three separate loose flocks) 1 Marbled Murrelet 20 Rhinoceros Auklets Uncountable hundreds of Common Murres and Pacific Loons; how does Phil count all those guys streaming by so fast? In addition, for the time I was there there was a flotilla of Pacific Loons and Murres and others on the water south of the point that must have numbered over 1,000 loons and close to 2,000 birds in total. And the tidepooling was great -- we had 10 nudibranch species, 4 of which were lifers. Jay Withgott, Portland At 1:38 PM -0700 5/29/09, Rich Hoyer wrote: >May 29, 2009 > >Dear Birders, > >I did something a bit crazy today. I left Corvallis at about 2:40 >a.m., made a beeline for Cape Lookout, and hiked out to the tip in the >predawn darkness. At the tip I stood for 3 1/2 hours and counted all >the birds I saw. The whole morning tallied 53 species. I entered my >lists onto eBird. > >There was an obvious movement of PACIFIC LOONS, starting shortly after >sunrise, and I tallied 607. It appeared they were moving north closer >to the mainland and were just barely going around the cape. The rarest >stragger was probably the CACKLING GOOSE mixed in with northbound >Canada Geese. There were also a few groups of BRANT, five WHITE-WINGED >SCOTERS, one RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. On the earlyish side was a single >HEERMAN'S GULL. Only at a great distance could I pick out a few SOOTY >SHEARWATERS. There were also lots of RHINOCEROS AUKLETS and three >TUFTED PUFFINS. > >Good Birding, > >Rich >--- >Rich Hoyer >Tucson, Arizona > >Senior Leader for WINGS >http://wingsbirds.com >--- > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From justin.bosler at gmail.com Fri May 29 15:03:13 2009 From: justin.bosler at gmail.com (Justin Bosler) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 15:03:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] HOODED WARBLER -- Elliott SF (extreme ne. Coos Co.) Message-ID: <97d12a010905291503u5c62815fx774f5ad64d5b9df@mail.gmail.com> Hello OBOL, This morning, 29 May, I lucked into a vigorously singing adult male HOODED WARBLER off of old FR-7108 while wrapping up a morning's worth of work in Elliott State Forest. It was 10:30 AM and I was heading back to my truck parked at FR-7100 (Knife Ridge Rd.) when I heard the all too familiar "twee twee tweeteo" from the drainage on the S side of 7108 about a tenth of a mile from 7100. He was frequenting a patch of early successional mixed forest (dominated by birch and douglas-fir) with a thick understory of salmonberry and vine maple in a wet drainage. This area is pretty much surrounded by clearcuts or young fir forest. More or less the most appropriate Hooded Warbler habitat you'd find in the area. I was as unprepared to document a rarity today as I'll ever be, but I managed to get some good audio recordings of the song (on microcassette). Since my mini-speaker for my iPod had expired, I tried my best to use the playback of the bird to draw him in close for photos, but this wasn't as successful as I had hoped, and my own whistled imitation happened to be good enough to coax him upslope for sufficient views. He sang until about 10:45 AM at which point he flew across the road and continued upslope into the smaller birches. After 25 minutes of silence, I decided to head out (hungry and out of water). If anyone would like detailed directions to the site to try for this bird, please contact me off-list and I will gladly provide you with the most convenient and time efficient way in. You DO NOT need a 4x4 or high-clearance vehicle to access this area, but keep an eye out for potholes and rock slides. I have flagged the site with polkadot white/blue flagging (w/ written details) and have GPS coordinates. Other nice birds in the area included 3 very cooperative NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS, a couple of MOUNTAIN QUAILS, at least 1 "fitz-bewing" WILLOW FLYCATCHER, a few MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS, etc. On my way out on FR-6000 (Charlotte Ridge Rd.) I watched as a RED-TAILED HAWK snatched a Douglas's Squirrel off the road, and shortly after that, near MP 5.5, I crossed paths with a family of RUFFED GROUSE with 10 chicks in tow. It's not too often when one gets a really good bird while on the job. What a treat! Good Birding, Justin -- Justin Bosler Reedsport, OR justin.bosler at gmail.com 717-475-9998 http://www.flickr.com/photos/29219448 at N08/ From nettielh at yahoo.com Fri May 29 15:03:27 2009 From: nettielh at yahoo.com (Annette (Lange) Hildebrand) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 15:03:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Tufted Puffins - Cannon Beach, Whimbrel - Warrenton Linear Park Message-ID: <544753.64301.qm@web50208.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Marlene Hubble drove me to the beach Wednesday and while she snapped glorious photos, I gawked and breathed in the fresh air and found myself thrilled over and over again! Highlights: ? Ecola State Park - Brown Pelicans, Crossbills, Common Murres, white-cr. sparrows, ? Haystack Rock - Nesting Tufted Puffin, sitting right next to the burrow - lovely ??? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090529/7d352473/attachment.html From sheran at bendbroadband.com Fri May 29 15:06:42 2009 From: sheran at bendbroadband.com (Sheran Wright) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 15:06:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birds and Herps References: Message-ID: <36ACB8C59A39430F9F11F46153CA9C43@notebook> I saw one White-Throated Swift at Roaring Springs this morning. There were two Black-crowned Night Herons in the trees at Benson Pond near the canal across from the stone house. I have been looking for Short-eared Owls on the CPR without success. Sheran Wright ----- Original Message ----- From: David G Crisman To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2009 10:05 PM Subject: [obol] Birds and Herps I have a request for some tips to finding a few species around Malheur NWR. Here are a few questions: Are the SHORT-EARED OWLS still nesting at the north end of the Central Patrol Road? Are the WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS reliable still around Roaring Springs Ranch? Since the Narrows is dried out at this point, where else would be a reliable place to see BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS? As for the non-birds I would really like to run into some herps, but I'll be travelling with family members that aren't incredibly mobile outside an automobile. I know I've seen DESERT-HORNED LIZARDS around before, but I can't recall where we saw them. Also I'd like to encounter, but not embrace a WESTERN RATTLESNAKE. Since I look for them, of course I can't find any. Are there any places that are easy to get to where you fine people have seen one or two? Thanks in advance for any help! David Crisman Tigard, OR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hotmail? goes with you. Get it on your BlackBerry or iPhone. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.43/2138 - Release Date: 05/27/09 18:21:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090529/e83e99ba/attachment.html From sheran at bendbroadband.com Fri May 29 15:19:23 2009 From: sheran at bendbroadband.com (Sheran Wright) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 15:19:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fields, OR Message-ID: <1A98652879DE41F4B63E57047D19C7F9@notebook> Dave Herr and I arrived in Fields this morning before 8 am, and it was already above 70 degrees. we found a RED-EYED VIREO, possible more than one. Also, a hen Mallard with 6 ducklings, and at least 2 gopher snakes were in the oasis. I'm currently at MFS waiting out an intense thunderstorm before birding HQ. Thank goodness for WiFi. Sheran Wright From rccarl at pacbell.net Fri May 29 15:34:09 2009 From: rccarl at pacbell.net (Richard Carlson) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 15:34:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Flam Message-ID: <462164.89388.qm@web81002.mail.mud.yahoo.com> When did you first see the Flam?? We left Malheur Saturday. RCC Richard Carlson Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian Part-time Economist Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA rccarl at pacbell.net Tucson 520-760-4935 Tahoe 530-581-0624 Kirkland 425-828-3819 Cell 650-280-2965 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090529/a7e1f27d/attachment.html From nettielh at yahoo.com Fri May 29 15:37:34 2009 From: nettielh at yahoo.com (Annette (Lange) Hildebrand) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 15:37:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Whimbrel - Warrenton etc. continued Message-ID: <384434.60610.qm@web50204.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Oops.? sent previous message before finished. ? Haystack Rock - Nesting Tufted Puffin! Pigeon Guillemots, Pelagic Commorants, Common Murres, and on May 25, Park staff had seen Harlequin Ducks which surprised them for this time of year.? Oystercatchers also had been seen. ? Warrenton Linear Park -? 3 Whimbrels ... until two nearby nesting Bald Eagles caused everything to flee!? This park is well forth the find.? Benches every now and then, 2.5 mi. one way, passes estuary, mudflats and mixed forests creek side. The nesting bald eagle right next to the trail, a mile or so down, was wonderful.? Hairy Woodpecker, Yellow Warbler etc.? We definitely want to go back again in the fall. ? (Location: From Hwy 101 in Warrenton,? heading towards Hammond, turn West on Harbor St, which becomes Fort Stevens Hwy (N), then R on 13th st. to park along the street at the end.? Paved Trail heads S along dike.} ? - This could have been a newer paved bike trail? with a gravel mowed road type trail closer to the estuary? I'm not certain.? We walked the paved trail.? It was beautiful. ? Lovely Day ! 50 different birds ... not counting gulls - Thanks Marlene! Annette Lange Hildebrand? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090529/adddb9d0/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Fri May 29 16:18:01 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 16:18:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Warrenton etc. Message-ID: <4A206D29.3090604@pacifier.com> The Warrenton Linear Park is a rehabilitated Railroad bed. It was paved last year. Prior to that is was a gravel and grass path. It is part of the [still in development] Warrenton trail system, which, when completed, will make a 25 mile loop that will include Ft Stevens, Sunset Beach, Ft Clatsop, Astoria Mitigation Bank and the Linear Park. You can also get to Warrenton Sewage Ponds by taking the unpaved dike trail just east of Alder Creek... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From range.bayer at gmail.com Fri May 29 16:31:48 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 16:31:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] More about June 5 Seabird Training at Cape Perpetua & Heceta Head Lighthouse Message-ID: Press Release by Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department via Dawn Grafe : Join the US Forest Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service and Oregon State Parks to Learn About Bird Identification Techniques and Volunteer Opportunities at Cape Perpetua and Heceta Head Lighthouse on Friday June 5th, 2009. Come join us for a fun day of learning about identifying birds, as well as volunteer opportunities at Cape Perpetua and Heceta Head Lighthouse. The bird identification training is being provided as a collaborative effort between US Forest Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service and Oregon State Parks. The training will include a presentation by Dawn Grafe (USFWS) in the Forest Service?s theatre at Cape Perpetua beginning at 10:30 a.m. on June 5th. After the presentation there will be time for questions about bird identification and to learn about volunteer opportunities. Directly following the question session folks are invited on a field visit to practice identifying birds using the learned techniques. Below is a schedule of the event?Please come join us! ? 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Bird Identification Presentation at Cape Perpetua. ? 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Question Session and Learn About Volunteer Opportunities. ? 12:00 p.m. Drive to Oregon State Park?s Heceta Head Lighthouse to Identify Birds. ? 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Identify Birds in the Field at Heceta Head. ? Please Bring a Sack Lunch The training is free; however there is a $5.00 parking fee and seating is limited to approximately 30. Please contact Clay Courtright by phone at (541) 547-3416 ext. 226 or email at Heceta.h.lighthouse at state.or.us if you?d like to attend. In the email please provide your name(s) and a contact phone number. A follow up phone call or email will confirm your seat at the training. We look forward to seeing you there!! From rflores_2 at msn.com Fri May 29 16:55:56 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 16:55:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bonaparte's gulls, Ridgefield NWR, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: There were 9 Bonaparte's gulls on Rest Lake, River S Unit today. I was told there have been a few since last Friday. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090529/1d002de6/attachment.html From birdboy at bkpix.com Fri May 29 19:39:58 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 19:39:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge 5/29 Message-ID: Hi birders, Early afternoon in the Fisher Unit: 1 - GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE 3 - FORSTER'S TERN Good birding, Noah Strycker -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090529/4258f3d2/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Fri May 29 20:50:54 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 23:50:54 -0400 Subject: [obol] Tualitin River NWR 5/29 (Washington Co) Message-ID: Stopped by Tualitin River NWR after work today. Due to the heat the ponds are drying up fast and birds were scarce. Highlights were 2 singing first-year male BULLOCK'S ORIOLES in the oaks just south of the visitor center. Also present were 2 Lazuli Bunting's near the entrance off 99W. Why they are so close to one of the busiest roads beats me. Yesterday another first-year male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE was on the east side of the pond with an island behind the Hillsboro library off Brookwood (Dawson Creek Corporate Park). Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has a new way to see what's up with your friends. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/WhatsNew?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_WhatsNew1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090529/909efdc6/attachment.html From fitzbeew at gmail.com Fri May 29 21:42:32 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 21:42:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane CC Birds Message-ID: Obol, I went on my usual bird surveying route this morning with a friend and a teacher of mine. Nothing too out-of-the-ordinary. Highlights included: Singing WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (several) pair of SCAUP SPECIES on Western sewage treatment pond singing BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK in what has seemed to be its usual spot the past few weeks and, new for me for Lane, an AMERICAN PIPIT in the baseball diamond. pair (assumed; there were two birds) of BLACK PHOEBES at Western sewage treatment pond as well. Lovely day! Good birding, Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090529/861833eb/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Sat May 30 07:22:01 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 14:22:01 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Salish Pond last Sunday In-Reply-To: <1017274422.12456931243693100617.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1856207878.12457601243693321657.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi, I visited Salish Pond last Sunday. The area seems overwhelmed with Red-winged Blackbirds. The Cedar Waxwings are back. Found the pair of Common Yellow-throats I've been watching in the wet meadow north or the east pond, almost too easy, the male sat in the top of a rose bush and sang his little heart out against a deep blue sky, one has to wonder how much better it can get. Pair of Song Sparrows in the meadow. Tree Swallows Barn Swallows Violet Green Swallows Male Mallard Ducks 12 Canada Geese, more than I've ever seen there any time of year Downy Woodpecker...Haven't seen one up there for almost a year. Western Scrub Jay American Gold Finches, lots and lots....everywhere. Lesser Gold Finches, a few...hanging around with the American Gold Finches that seems odd. They do seem to prefer hanging out in the grassy area dotted with young native Ash trees. House Finches, lots... chewing on the Red Alder trees. Bewick's Wren singing loudly from a Cottonwood tree, had fun tracking it down by following the song. No American Coots in sight or hearing, no Blue Heron. No raptors, there should be at least an Osprey and Red-tailed Hawk. Something feels out of balance at the pond, can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe its just the lack of American Coots. Also found a garden snake, a brown (wild) rabbit and a small red weasel. The weasel and I had a good time watching each other. I got some nice pictures of it. Happy to share if anyone wants to see the pics. Also had a little gray brown rodent run across my shoes. Moved too fast to get much of a look. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090530/1960550f/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Sat May 30 10:00:01 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 10:00:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur Headquarters Sat AM Message-ID: This morning a number of us enjoyed a GRAY CATBIRD which is moving all over and is mostly in the hedges or higher up in the cottonwoods where apparently there must be more food. A GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE flew in from the west, briefly perched in a tree for a bit, then moved on east. Lastly Forrest Rowland and I both heard a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO call several times from the SW corner. Otherwise it was a bit quiet with lots of Yellow Warblers, a few Wilson's, numbers of Warbling Vireos and lots of Western Tanagers and Cedar Waxwings. A pewee here and there, a MacGillivrays, a pair of EASTERN KINGBIRDS, and Westerns, Bullock's Orioles, etc. Off to Benson Pond. Shawneen Finnegan and Forrest Rowland Currently at the Field Station From whoffman at peak.org Sat May 30 10:10:11 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 10:10:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA - "pale-bellied" BRANT at Yaquina Bay South Jetty Message-ID: >From 9:20 to 9:35 I watched and photographed a pale-bellied Brant on the first finger off the South Jetty. The bird is accompanied by a single Black Brant. Both are in scruffy, worn and molting plumage. The bird has very pale, nearly white belly, sharply contrasting with black breast. The breast is the darkest part of the bird. The back and upper wing coverts are abnormally pale, and heavily worn. It appears to me that this is a result of sun bleaching (see comments below). It also has a couple of irregular pale areas on the crown that appear to be a result of molt. The neck ring is narrow, suggesting a yearling bird. I did not check for gaps in front or bacl, but may be able to on my photos. The Black Brant has relatively dark flanks bordering a large, irregularly shaped paler breast/belly area that is clearly the result of molt. It also is worn, faded and bleached in appearance, although not nearly to the extent of the pale bird. Its neck ring is broad, with the characteristic "slash-mark" appearance. In addition, about 10 "Black" Brant were on the expost bank across the channel, below the Yaquina Bay State Park. COMMENT: In my years in Florida, I regularly saw immature Herring Gulls in late spring that were severely sun-bleached, with very ratty, nearly white wing coverts - similar apearance to this bird's upperparts. The normal wintering Range for "Pale-bellied" Brant on the Atlantic coast is far north of the normal wintering range of "Black" Brant. The former winter mainly from southern New England south to about Chesapeake Bay, while many of the latter winter in Baja. I suspect that a "Pale-bellied" Brant accompanying Black Brant to Baja would be subject to much more severe condiitons for feather wear and bleaching than it is adapted to. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090530/d63de3c9/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sat May 30 10:24:29 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 10:24:29 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] RBA - "pale-bellied" BRANT at Yaquina Bay South Jetty Message-ID: <179976.64837.qm@web37008.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Wayne, this is an interesting find. I'd love to see the photos. On May 19, I observed a lone pale-bellied Brant flying south at Tenmile Creek, Coos Co. Unfortunately I didn't get a very good look at the bird, but I have since seen several more flocks of "Black" Brant, and my bird was distinctly pale-bellied in comparison (plus I have lots of experience with European pale-bellied Brant and some with Atlantic Brant in North America). Good birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Sat, 5/30/09, Wayne Hoffman wrote: From: Wayne Hoffman Subject: [obol] RBA - "pale-bellied" BRANT at Yaquina Bay South Jetty To: "OBOL" Date: Saturday, May 30, 2009, 10:10 AM From 9:20 to 9:35 I watched and photographed a pale-bellied Brant on the first finger off the South Jetty. ? The bird is accompanied by a single Black Brant.? Both are in scruffy, worn and molting plumage.? ? The bird has very pale, nearly white belly, sharply contrasting with black breast.? The breast is the darkest part of the bird.? The back and upper wing coverts are abnormally pale, and heavily worn.? It appears to me that this is a result of sun bleaching (see comments below).? It also has a couple of irregular pale areas on the crown that appear to be a result of molt.? The neck ring is narrow, suggesting a yearling bird.? I did not check for gaps in front or bacl, but may be able to on my photos. ? The Black Brant has relatively dark flanks bordering a large, irregularly shaped paler breast/belly area that is clearly the result of molt.? It also is worn,?faded and bleached in appearance, although not nearly to the extent of the pale bird.? Its neck ring is broad, with the characteristic "slash-mark" appearance. ? In addition, about 10 "Black" Brant were on the expost bank across the channel, below the Yaquina Bay State Park. ? COMMENT:? In my years in Florida, I regularly saw?immature Herring Gulls in late spring that were severely sun-bleached, with very ratty, nearly white wing coverts - similar apearance to this bird's upperparts.? The normal wintering Range for "Pale-bellied" Brant on the Atlantic coast is far north of the normal wintering range of "Black" Brant.? The former winter mainly from southern New England south to about Chesapeake Bay,?while many of the latter winter in Baja.? I suspect that a "Pale-bellied" Brant accompanying Black Brant to Baja would be subject to much more severe condiitons for feather wear and bleaching than it is adapted to. ? ? ? ? -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090530/25f4cc56/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat May 30 11:13:33 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 11:13:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ontario and N. Michigan Trip Report Message-ID: I just got back from a birding trip in Michigan and SW Ontario. I visited Point Pelee, Rondeau Provisional Park, Milo Michigan, and Barry County Michigan. This was a fun trip although I did not catch the meat of the migration in Ontario. Highlights included one good fallout day (actually, I heard people complaining how slow it was but it was pretty impressive to me), seeing 20 species of warblers, holding a Canada Warbler that hit a window, hundreds of Baltimore Orioles swarming at Pelee, finding 8 life birds including several Kirtland's Warblers, and being alone most of the time (solitude is bliss). Thanks to all those that gave me good suggestions about where to go. Here are some of the birds I saw that you won't likely find in your back yard: Great Black-backed Gull Least Bittern Large flock of Semipalmated Sandpipers Broad-winged Hawk Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Red-headed Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Great-crested Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher Acadian Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Eastern Wood Pewee Black-billed & Yellow-billed Cuckoos Brown Thrasher Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Eastern Meadowlark Philadelphia Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Chestnut-sided Warbler Blue-winged Warbler Pine Warbler Magnolia Warbler Kirtland's Warbler Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat Canada Warbler Kentucky Warbler Wilson's Warbler Nashville Warbler Mourning Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler American Redstart Tennessee Warbler Northern Waterthrush Ovenbird Tufted Titmouse Northern Cardinal Eastern Towhee Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Field Sparrow Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090530/df4a69b3/attachment.html From calliope at theriver.com Sat May 30 13:00:54 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 13:00:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Finley NWR Grasshopper Sparrows Message-ID: <38EB9EAA-C081-421D-8007-FAC5ECEA5905@theriver.com> Saturday, May 30 Hi All, The day before yesterday I was beckoned out by the gorgeous weather and stole away to Finley National Wildlife Refuge in the breezy afternoon. At the restored prairie on Finley Road I found two singing male GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS. One was 170 yards due SE of the parking area and observation platform, while the other was another 630 yards farther SE. At the latter, a bird flushed from the ground close to the male, and I presume it was a female on the nest. Other birds were a singing YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, many LAZULI BUNTINGS, WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, and a WESTERN KINGBIRD (probably one of a pair that was here a week ago). The wildflower display there is amazing right now, and there was also a herd of 85 Elk. I felt utterly transported back in time while I was out there. Good Birding, Rich, on his way back to Tucson --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Sat May 30 13:19:25 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 13:19:25 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] White Dove Message-ID: <998145.58099.qm@web30404.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Here is a picture of the White Dove at Fields last week: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30397515 at N07/3578805429/ As I said originally, I believe that it is a Eurasian Collared Dove.? See what you think. Maitreya ? ?Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.? Jonathan Livingston Seagull -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090530/9dfacd62/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Sat May 30 16:09:32 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 16:09:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Strawberry Hill, Lane Co Seawatch Message-ID: <2b1bbd260905301609l37b3562ek58b3511737b4ba5c@mail.gmail.com> Obol, I did a brief sea watch from 1:00-2:00PM at Strawberry Hill, Lane county today (5-30). The highlight was a very unexpected southbound TUFTED PUFFIN accompanied by a RHINOCEROS AUKLET. In all I saw half a dozen Rhinos. I also saw at least 20 MARBLED MURRELETS, many of which were close in to shore. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090530/f996c98f/attachment.html From WeberHome at att.net Sat May 30 16:32:50 2009 From: WeberHome at att.net (Cliff & Joanne Weber) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 16:32:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] TRNWR Message-ID: <20090530233435.83D4CA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> OBOL, hello! Today we visited the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge from it's extreme western entrance off of Roy Rogers Road so we could access the seasonal trail paralleling Chicken Creek without having to walk a literal mile from the visitors' center to do so. We arrived around 11:30am which was a bit late in the day. The sun was up pretty high and it was getting warm. We didn't see many birds, but the ones we did see were okay. 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 Golden Crown Sparrow, 3 Song Sparrows, 2 Common Yellow Throats, 2 Western Blue Birds, 1 Turkey Vulture, 2 California Quail, and 1 squawk from a Ring Neck Pheasant Where? . . TRNWR's main entrance, and visitors' center, is roughly 15 miles south of the city of Portland; just north of the community of Sherwood on the west side of 99W. Page 684 of Thomas Portland Street Guide, square H4 Google satellite image: http://tinyurl.com/dfaxlr West entrance is located on page 684 of Thomas Portland Street Guide, square F3 Google satellite image of the west entrance: http://tinyurl.com/nas28d The west entrance is easy to miss as it looks to be somebody's private driveway at first glance but in reality, is a section of what appears to be an earlier Roy Rogers Road. Start watching for it on the right soon after you pass the Tee intersection of Roy Rogers and Scholls-Sherwood Road. If you cross over the Tualatin River; you've gone too far. There's no visitors center at the western entrance, but there's some off-street parking, trash cans, kiosk and maps, and an outhouse. The trail that runs north as it parallels Chicken Creek is easy to miss because it's so overgrown with canary grass this time of year. As soon as you cross over the creek on foot from the parking lot, look for the trail to your left. It will resemble an old wagon road rather than an improved hiking path. ADA Friendly? . . I'd have to say NO for the Chicken Creek trail. However, for folks who find the trails a bit challenging, there's a good solid patio alongside the visitor's center back at the main entrance affording an excellent panorama of the refuge; plus a huge picture window inside the gift shop. Cliff & Joanne Weber Beaverton (Bethany area) From llsdirons at msn.com Sat May 30 16:59:19 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 23:59:19 +0000 Subject: [obol] White Dove In-Reply-To: <998145.58099.qm@web30404.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <998145.58099.qm@web30404.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Maitreya et al., I'm of the opinion that this is a Ringed Turtle Dove instead of a EUCD. They are much paler than Collared-Doves and they have whitish undertail coverts, which appears to be the case with this bird. For reasons unknown, a few Ringed Turtle Doves are showing up in areas where Eurasian Collared-Doves are becoming established. Perhaps these congeners are inclined to flock with another. Ringed Turtle Doves are fairly common cage birds and regular escapees. The wing coverts of this bird look particularly hammered suggesting that may have been in recent captivity. I did a bit of research on molt sequences for Streptopelia and it suggests that they would just now be commencing their annual molt sequence, so this bird may just look beat up from normal feather wear. However, the normal-looking neck band and the dusky subterminal markings (which look right for Ringed Turtle Dove) in the primaries would suggest that this is not a leucistic bird. Dave Irons Eugene, OR P.S. Thanks for temporarily distracting me from the process of editing species accounts for the BirdFellow project. Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 13:19:25 -0700 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] White Dove Here is a picture of the White Dove at Fields last week: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30397515 at N07/3578805429/ As I said originally, I believe that it is a Eurasian Collared Dove. See what you think. Maitreya ?Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.? Jonathan Livingston Seagull _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? goes with you. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Mobile1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090530/6be9d47f/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat May 30 18:18:48 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 18:18:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA White-winged Dove Frenchglen Message-ID: Second-hand report of photographed WHITE-WINGED DOVE in Frenchglen today 30th. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From davebrownbirder at yahoo.com Sat May 30 18:27:33 2009 From: davebrownbirder at yahoo.com (Dave Brown) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 18:27:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Fisher Butte Unit next to west 11 th. late afternoon today. Message-ID: <638936.61408.qm@web59913.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> I did a quick check of the southern most dyke this afternoon about 3:10 p.m. and found no White-faced Ibis at all in this location any more. Still here was several types of ducks and several types of blackbirds including one male Great-tailed Grackle one Black-necked Stilt and one American Avocet and one Greater Yellowlegs all feeding close to one another. Dave Brown Alvadore From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat May 30 18:34:02 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 18:34:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA WW DOVE confirmed Message-ID: WHITE-winged dove at Frenchglen was relocated this evening by Shawneen Finnegan and Forrest Rowland. Malheur HQ this evening had a bunch of tanagers and a Pacific-slope Flycatcher, assuming that there is such a thing and it calls properly. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From joel.geier at peak.org Sat May 30 18:56:55 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (joel) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 18:56:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Toughest motorless birds in Oregon? Message-ID: <1243735015.3421.28.camel@joel-laptop> Hi folks, With May results trickling in, it looks like the 10 Oregon birders who have taken up the "motorless birding" idea have now found a combined 218 species, using nothing but bicycles, kayaks, and their own two feet to go out and look for birds. Well, that's two feet for most of us. I'm starting to suspect that Randy Campbell has three or four feet, since he's already found an amazing 160 species all on his own, from his base of operations in the fabled riverside hamlet of Peoria. You can follow Randy's progress (along with the rest of us who are plodding, running & bicycling after him) at: http://www.oregonbirds.org/Listing/motorless.html Join in if you like -- this is all for fun and promoting the idea that it's possible to find good birds without burning fossil fuels. In particular we'd love to get a coastal birder (or two, or twenty!) involved to help swell the combined list. As the year lists shape up, the question is, "What's the toughest bird to find in Oregon, without a gasoline/diesel engine?" I thought that American Dipper would be tough, given the kinds of places where dippers live vs. where most birders live. But Dave Tracy and Art Clausing have both found that species, already this year. Boreal Owl is my pick for the toughest motorless bird in Oregon -- any other contenders? A related question is, what birds on the recognized Oregon state list have *not* yet been found by someone birding in "motorless" mode? Note that yard birds and birds found on neighborhood strolls all count as "motorless" birds. Thus Lucy's Warbler (in Sheila Chambers' yard) and Black-throated Green Warbler (in Dave Irons' neighborhood) have made it onto the state "motorless" list, along with a whole bunch of shearwaters off of South Beach .... and probably lots of others. What birds have you seen in "motorless" mode, beyond the 218 species that are already on the list for this year? I'll be happy to take your input and compile a combined "motorless" list for all Oregon birders. Happy birding however you do it ... Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From llsdirons at msn.com Sat May 30 19:23:35 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 02:23:35 +0000 Subject: [obol] Toughest motorless birds in Oregon? In-Reply-To: <1243735015.3421.28.camel@joel-laptop> References: <1243735015.3421.28.camel@joel-laptop> Message-ID: Hi Joel, I'll nominate Black Rosy-Finch. It would be a long hot July-Sept walk or mountain bike trip up either side of the Steens and that would be after someone first made their way to the base of the mountain using non-motorized transportation. Even for someone living in Burns/Hines (or the Field Station) which would be the nearest home base with a resident birding maniac, this would be a 2-3 trip at the very least. This species will forever be a "motored" tick on my list. Had we done this compilation a few years ago, I could have added Black-throated Green and Tennessee warblers to the list, both of which I found within five blocks of my home. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > From: joel.geier at peak.org > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 18:56:55 -0700 > Subject: [obol] Toughest motorless birds in Oregon? > > Hi folks, > > With May results trickling in, it looks like the 10 Oregon birders who > have taken up the "motorless birding" idea have now found a combined 218 > species, using nothing but bicycles, kayaks, and their own two feet to > go out and look for birds. > > Well, that's two feet for most of us. I'm starting to suspect that Randy > Campbell has three or four feet, since he's already found an amazing 160 > species all on his own, from his base of operations in the fabled > riverside hamlet of Peoria. You can follow Randy's progress (along with > the rest of us who are plodding, running & bicycling after him) at: > > http://www.oregonbirds.org/Listing/motorless.html > > Join in if you like -- this is all for fun and promoting the idea that > it's possible to find good birds without burning fossil fuels. In > particular we'd love to get a coastal birder (or two, or twenty!) > involved to help swell the combined list. > > As the year lists shape up, the question is, "What's the toughest bird > to find in Oregon, without a gasoline/diesel engine?" > > I thought that American Dipper would be tough, given the kinds of places > where dippers live vs. where most birders live. But Dave Tracy and Art > Clausing have both found that species, already this year. > > Boreal Owl is my pick for the toughest motorless bird in Oregon -- any > other contenders? > > A related question is, what birds on the recognized Oregon state list > have *not* yet been found by someone birding in "motorless" mode? Note > that yard birds and birds found on neighborhood strolls all count as > "motorless" birds. Thus Lucy's Warbler (in Sheila Chambers' yard) and > Black-throated Green Warbler (in Dave Irons' neighborhood) have made it > onto the state "motorless" list, along with a whole bunch of shearwaters > off of South Beach .... and probably lots of others. > > What birds have you seen in "motorless" mode, beyond the 218 species > that are already on the list for this year? I'll be happy to take your > input and compile a combined "motorless" list for all Oregon birders. > > Happy birding however you do it ... > > Joel > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090531/ad5e4248/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sat May 30 19:36:24 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (joel) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 19:36:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Toughest motorless birds in Oregon? In-Reply-To: References: <1243735015.3421.28.camel@joel-laptop> Message-ID: <1243737384.3421.50.camel@joel-laptop> Hi Dave & All, Black-crowned Rosy-Finch is definitely a good one! I guess we should all pitch in to furnish about 10 spare inner tubes for Steve Dowlan (the closest resident birding maniac?), and see how far he gets up Steens Mountain this summer. Are you game for this, Steve???? Cheers, Joel P.S. We can count your Tennessee & B-t Green Warbler on the all-time motorless Oregon bird list. On Sun, 2009-05-31 at 02:23 +0000, David Irons wrote: > Hi Joel, > > I'll nominate Black Rosy-Finch. It would be a long hot July-Sept walk > or mountain bike trip up either side of the Steens and that would be > after someone first made their way to the base of the mountain using > non-motorized transportation. Even for someone living in Burns/Hines > (or the Field Station) which would be the nearest home base with a > resident birding maniac, this would be a 2-3 trip at the very least. > This species will forever be a "motored" tick on my list. > > Had we done this compilation a few years ago, I could have added > Black-throated Green and Tennessee warblers to the list, both of which > I found within five blocks of my home. > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > ... > > > > As the year lists shape up, the question is, "What's the toughest > bird > > to find in Oregon, without a gasoline/diesel engine?" > > > > I thought that American Dipper would be tough, given the kinds of > places > > where dippers live vs. where most birders live. But Dave Tracy and > Art > > Clausing have both found that species, already this year. > > > > Boreal Owl is my pick for the toughest motorless bird in Oregon -- > any > > other contenders? > > From whoffman at peak.org Sat May 30 19:50:00 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 19:50:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] White Dove References: <998145.58099.qm@web30404.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1565FB2C262B48A18FBEC0953C07620F@D48XBZ51> Dave, Maitreya, et al.: Now that I have seen the photo, nothing in it causes me to change the opinion I expressed on May 26, and have copied below, with bold added to some parts. Ringed Turtle-Doves differ from E. Collared Doves in size and size-related jizz, and to me this photo looks like a Collared Dove. Personally I doubt that most of the reported Ringed Turtle-Doves reported in Oregon with Collared Doves really are that form. I would really like to see an Oregon photo of the two sitting together on a wire or on the ground. Wayne "In the years I was in Florida, I regularly saw pale Eurasian Collared-Doves, perhaps one in every several hundred birds, perhaps a few more. I think this is either a naturally-occurring form, possibly more common in North America than elsewhere through "founder effect", or possibly the result of artificial selection in the apparently brief period that the ancestors of the American population were in captivity. These birds are often mistaken for Ringed Turtle-Doves, but are larger, the size and shape of Collared-Doves, and with the same voice. Collared-doves are a bit larger than Mourning Doves, real Ringed Turtle-Doves a hair smaller." Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: David Irons To: Leith McKenzie ; post OBOL Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2009 4:59 PM Subject: Re: [obol] White Dove Maitreya et al., I'm of the opinion that this is a Ringed Turtle Dove instead of a EUCD. They are much paler than Collared-Doves and they have whitish undertail coverts, which appears to be the case with this bird. For reasons unknown, a few Ringed Turtle Doves are showing up in areas where Eurasian Collared-Doves are becoming established. Perhaps these congeners are inclined to flock with another. Ringed Turtle Doves are fairly common cage birds and regular escapees. The wing coverts of this bird look particularly hammered suggesting that may have been in recent captivity. I did a bit of research on molt sequences for Streptopelia and it suggests that they would just now be commencing their annual molt sequence, so this bird may just look beat up from normal feather wear. However, the normal-looking neck band and the dusky subterminal markings (which look right for Ringed Turtle Dove) in the primaries would suggest that this is not a leucistic bird. Dave Irons Eugene, OR P.S. Thanks for temporarily distracting me from the process of editing species accounts for the BirdFellow project. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 13:19:25 -0700 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] White Dove Here is a picture of the White Dove at Fields last week: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30397515 at N07/3578805429/ As I said originally, I believe that it is a Eurasian Collared Dove. See what you think. Maitreya ?Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.? Jonathan Livingston Seagull ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hotmail? goes with you. Get it on your BlackBerry or iPhone. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090530/e9c2fa65/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sat May 30 20:32:15 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 20:32:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] More on White-bellied Brant Message-ID: <64CB1C3289A94545818D47D5E082CB9C@D48XBZ51> I have now had time to examine my photos, and I can see that the bird's neck ring is interrupted both in front and in back. So it really is a pair of crescents, one on each side of the neck. I have sent a photo to a couple of people who requested them, and plan to have a means of posting more shortly. I suspect people will question why this is a White-bellied Brant, Branta bernicla hrota, instead of an aberrant (leucistic) Black Brant. My first thought was that it was a leucistic bird, but careful examination showed that the upperparts, while severely worn and faded, are darker than the underparts, with a fairly distinct margin in front of the folded wing. In addition, I believe the interrupted neck ring points to hrota. Finally, the sharp boundary between white belly and blackish chest seems to fall in the appropriate place for hrota. I do have a question? Since BOGR treats Black Brant as a separate species, would this bird be a review species for the Records Committee? Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090530/c1288c52/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sat May 30 20:33:49 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 20:33:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coopers Hawk Nesting Message-ID: <5B64D1BDA38845EAB27ACE85690760DC@laptop> We have a Cooper's Hawk nesting in our back yard again. It is closer to the house this time, about 80 feet high in an Oregon White Oak, just below the canopy, where the nest is shaded in the heat of the day. In other years we have seen the nest in a fir tree or a big leaf maple. Good birding, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090530/a9cd30b1/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sat May 30 21:32:11 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 21:32:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Beulah Reservoir Ross' Goose Message-ID: <1AFE295592784E82893F2A2741B2B070@laptop> In my report of the birds we saw in Malheur County over the Memorial Day weekend, I mentioned two Snow Geese at Beulah Reservoir. I just received a message from Washington birder Ron Friesz, who grew up in the area, and visited Beulah Reservoir the same weekend. He, his brother and sister also saw white geese, and in the scope could see the proportions of the head and bill. They identified them as Ross? Geese, and I can?t argue. Dan and I had a distant view in the scope, and most of the time their heads were tucked. >From the size relative to the nearby Canada Geese, I called them Snow Geese, and we headed off to Junture for hamburgers and milkshakes at the Oasis Caf?. I?m changing my records to ?Snow or Ross? Goose?, or ?white goose sp.? because I can?t really claim to have identified them. Perhaps the Canada Geese were smaller than I thought ? they are variable, after all. Good Birding, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090530/e94351d5/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat May 30 21:56:45 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 04:56:45 +0000 Subject: [obol] White Dove In-Reply-To: <1565FB2C262B48A18FBEC0953C07620F@D48XBZ51> References: <998145.58099.qm@web30404.mail.mud.yahoo.com> <1565FB2C262B48A18FBEC0953C07620F@D48XBZ51> Message-ID: Wayne et al., Interesting thoughts. Eventually (like right now) this falls into the "what difference does it make?" department. I'm hardly a Streptopeliac, but I've now seen several hundred Eurasian Collared-Doves in the PNW and who knows how many in Illinois and Florida. To my eye, all of these birds have pretty much looked the same aside from slight variations. Perhaps Ringed Turtle-Dove is the wrong thing to call the Harney Co. bird. Isn't there something called an African Turtle-Dove as well? Ultimately, they are all introduced doves of unknown provenance. During my brief curiosity stage, I did a quick web search and in short order found a plethora of web sites run by "dove fanciers." The assortment caged Columbiformes was astounding, with no two looking quite the same. Surely these folks are creating all sorts of mysterious hybrids and backcrosses which at times join the genetic fray in the wild. I think at this point I will abandon further discussion of this topic as I am now beginning to hear sounds the foreheads bouncing off computer desks as we bore other OBOL subscribers into comatose states. Dave Irons From: whoffman at peak.org To: llsdirons at msn.com; loinneilceol at yahoo.com; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] White Dove Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 19:50:00 -0700 Dave, Maitreya, et al.: Now that I have seen the photo, nothing in it causes me to change the opinion I expressed on May 26, and have copied below, with bold added to some parts. Ringed Turtle-Doves differ from E. Collared Doves in size and size-related jizz, and to me this photo looks like a Collared Dove. Personally I doubt that most of the reported Ringed Turtle-Doves reported in Oregon with Collared Doves really are that form. I would really like to see an Oregon photo of the two sitting together on a wire or on the ground. Wayne "In the years I was in Florida, I regularly saw pale Eurasian Collared-Doves, perhaps one in every several hundred birds, perhaps a few more. I think this is either a naturally-occurring form, possibly more common in North America than elsewhere through "founder effect", or possibly the result of artificial selection in the apparently brief period that the ancestors of the American population were in captivity. These birds are often mistaken for Ringed Turtle-Doves, but are larger, the size and shape of Collared-Doves, and with the same voice. Collared-doves are a bit larger than Mourning Doves, real Ringed Turtle-Doves a hair smaller." Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: David Irons To: Leith McKenzie ; post OBOL Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2009 4:59 PM Subject: Re: [obol] White Dove Maitreya et al., I'm of the opinion that this is a Ringed Turtle Dove instead of a EUCD. They are much paler than Collared-Doves and they have whitish undertail coverts, which appears to be the case with this bird. For reasons unknown, a few Ringed Turtle Doves are showing up in areas where Eurasian Collared-Doves are becoming established. Perhaps these congeners are inclined to flock with another. Ringed Turtle Doves are fairly common cage birds and regular escapees. The wing coverts of this bird look particularly hammered suggesting that may have been in recent captivity. I did a bit of research on molt sequences for Streptopelia and it suggests that they would just now be commencing their annual molt sequence, so this bird may just look beat up from normal feather wear. However, the normal-looking neck band and the dusky subterminal markings (which look right for Ringed Turtle Dove) in the primaries would suggest that this is not a leucistic bird. Dave Irons Eugene, OR P.S. Thanks for temporarily distracting me from the process of editing species accounts for the BirdFellow project. Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 13:19:25 -0700 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] White Dove Here is a picture of the White Dove at Fields last week: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30397515 at N07/3578805429/ As I said originally, I believe that it is a Eurasian Collared Dove. See what you think. Maitreya ?Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.? Jonathan Livingston Seagull Hotmail? goes with you. Get it on your BlackBerry or iPhone. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090531/ba3a8281/attachment.html From dschone8 at donobi.net Sat May 30 22:01:46 2009 From: dschone8 at donobi.net (Doug Schonewald) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 22:01:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Washington NAB Spring Reports Due Message-ID: OBOL, A reminder that the spring reports for North American Birds and WOS News are due. The spring period runs from March 1 to May 31 (inclusive). Please send your locally uncommon, rare, or unusual numbers for east side birds to: dschone8 at donobi.net Send your west side reports to: wagtail at sounddsl.com WOS Reports should go to: FieldNotes at wos.org Please include the location, date, and number of species with your reports. We are always looking for full sized (300-dpi minimum) photos of rare birds for the publications. You can send those to the same addresses listed above. thanks in advance for all of the help and reports that you continue to provide. Cheers Doug Schonewald Eastern Washington Editor North American Birds From vireogirl at yahoo.com Sat May 30 22:36:45 2009 From: vireogirl at yahoo.com (Vjera Thompson) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 22:36:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge motorless birds Message-ID: <792582.58651.qm@web56304.mail.re3.yahoo.com> OBOLers, Headed out to Fern Ridge by bicycle this morning. My target birds were Ibis, the Grackle, and Grasshopper Sparrow. I succeeded with the GRASSHOPPER SPARROW and failed on the other two (even though the Grackle is still around!). I got a unexpected bird with a WHITE-TAILED KITE perched in a tree north of the Grasshopper Sparrow area. There is also still at least one GREAT EGRET hanging around, today seen in the pond south of the Royal parking lot. Other birds are on birdnotes.net. Side note: heard a bird singing in Alton Baker in the old dump this week that sounded more like a Grasshopper Sparrow than a Savannah, but only heard it sing twice. Was on my way to work so couldn't stop. Even hearing Savannah there is unusual this time of year, in my experience. Vjera Thompson Eugene, OR vireogirl at yahoo.com From rottyler at peak.org Sat May 30 23:47:23 2009 From: rottyler at peak.org (Randy and Pam Comeleo) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 23:47:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Black Phoebe and Grasshopper Sparrows In-Reply-To: <792582.58651.qm@web56304.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <792582.58651.qm@web56304.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <008f01c9e1bb$a748a660$f5d9f320$@org> OBOLers - Vjera, you may be able to add a BLACK PHOEBE to your motorless list. We saw one at 4 pm today at the Cantrell Road bridge over Coyote Creek. At least one (probably two) GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were still singing strong from 1-2 pm where Allen Prigge and Bill Hunter found one on Thursday. The GRSPs were singing from the wire fence leading north from the Royal Ave parking lot into the Fern Ridge Royal-Amazon Unit, from the an 'island' of blackberry in the fenced field to the east, from the grass around a small patch of popcorn flower just east of the fence, and from the top of a rose bush 250' northeast from where the fence turns eastward. Several SAVANNAH SPARROWS were singing simultaneously from nearby perches for a nice song comparison with the GRSPs. Randy and Pam Comeleo Corvallis -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Vjera Thompson Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2009 10:37 PM To: OBOL List Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge motorless birds OBOLers, Headed out to Fern Ridge by bicycle this morning. My target birds were Ibis, the Grackle, and Grasshopper Sparrow. I succeeded with the GRASSHOPPER SPARROW and failed on the other two (even though the Grackle is still around!). I got a unexpected bird with a WHITE-TAILED KITE perched in a tree north of the Grasshopper Sparrow area. There is also still at least one GREAT EGRET hanging around, today seen in the pond south of the Royal parking lot. Other birds are on birdnotes.net. Side note: heard a bird singing in Alton Baker in the old dump this week that sounded more like a Grasshopper Sparrow than a Savannah, but only heard it sing twice. Was on my way to work so couldn't stop. Even hearing Savannah there is unusual this time of year, in my experience. Vjera Thompson Eugene, OR vireogirl at yahoo.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From madsteins at hotmail.com Sat May 30 23:55:20 2009 From: madsteins at hotmail.com (Don Stein) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 02:55:20 -0400 Subject: [obol] Pileated Woodpecker, Depoe Bay Message-ID: Early this afternoon at Little Whale Cove, a friend and I briefly glimpsed a Pileated Woodpecker disappear into the Spruce trees. This is my first sighting of a Pilieated since moving here in 2004. In 2006, I heard a single call from the Depoe Bay Park. Earlier today there was a single adult Heermann's Gull standing at the edge of the Cove. Don Stein Depoe Bay _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090531/4eec8172/attachment.html From nelson_sm at centurytel.net Sun May 31 06:19:44 2009 From: nelson_sm at centurytel.net (Sally Nelson) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 06:19:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Home "Big Day" - Creswell Message-ID: <001301c9e1f2$9d25b880$69b5ced1@oemcomputer> Dear OBOLinks, I list all the birds I see or hear on my place, and when it seemed there was a good variety of species yesterday, I did a little extra walking during the day (3-1/2 mi. total) to pick up the ones I knew should be here, as well as the unforeseen bonuses. The total was 67 species, up from previous count of 63. There were a few surprises such as a singing Bullock's Oriole, which hadn't been here recently, but didn't include a reprise of the Western Kingbirds and the Ash-throated Flycatcher which had been here the previous afternoon. To put the count in context, my rules are I have to be on my property (almost 16 acres, about 2 miles west of Creswell, not far fromCamas Swale) but the birds can be anywhere that I can see or hear well enough to identify honestly. The total species list for the place (since 1991) is 137 and the month list for May is 105. Many birds are identified by ear, since I see and hear most of them consistently, and have worked at learning birds and sounds for many years, using the track-them-down-and-watch-for-their-throats-to-vibrate method. We all have our little games ;-] Happy Spring, Sally Sally Nelson nelson_sm at centurytel.net Creswell (s. of Eugene), OR From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sun May 31 09:07:34 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 09:07:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Evening Grosbeak displays Message-ID: During the past week I have noticed male Evening Grosbeaks frequently raising their crown feathers, which gives them a sort of crew cut appearance, and wondered why they are doing this now since they hadn't been doing this earlier in spring. The color of their beaks has become more noticeably green. This morning one of them answered my question by hopping down to the ground near a female, raising his crown feathers and simultaneously opening his bill and fluttering his wings like a begging fledgling, while arching his back. The body position was like that of a House Finch in the same mating display, but the rapid motion of his wings was striking as the white patches quivered. Pamela Johnston outside McMinnville From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Sun May 31 09:18:45 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 09:18:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Nest Report Message-ID: <4A22ADE5.2000708@gmail.com> Yesterday I made the rounds of 'my' nests with the following results: The Red-tails are in the process of fledging young. One youngster of five is on his own. Four to go. The Bald Eagle nestling is now larger than Mom & Dad and hunting any shade it can find on the nest probably because all of its feathers are nice an black now. The Robin across from the 'office' pond is feeding three chicks. The Flicker on the Scout Camp Trail has chicks (I need to find my 'extend-a-mirror' to find out how many) AND as I was returning from the above I found FOUR new nests!! One Western Bluebird w/three chicks at the start of the Scout Camp Trail (next to the sign) One MORE Flicker nest just NW of the Bluebird nest. AND TWO Western Kingbird nests on Peninsula. One on the pole at Corral Pl. and one at sisters View Pl. They seem to enjoy the gray boxes from the telephone company. I've talked to a rep from the company and he says they do not produce any heat, but obviously they are attractive ONLY to the Western Kingbirds as we have had four nests on them. Good birding. Kevin Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090531/d25b3468/attachment.vcf From mazoerr at gmail.com Sun May 31 09:25:56 2009 From: mazoerr at gmail.com (Ann Chamberlain) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 09:25:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] musings on the Bomber Squadron (BAND-TAILED PIGEONS) Message-ID: <202f23ed0905310925k5103ff8cq96866eb248fb8be2@mail.gmail.com> I spent a lot of yesterday afternoon sitting in the shade on the deck because it was too hot to work in the garden. The first scout arrived, circling over the bird feeder and landed in the very top of a tall cedar. A few more birds circled in and landed in the tree tops. After five minutes or so of craning his neck, searching in every direction, the scout flew down to the feeder. He finally decided I wasn't a threat. About two minutes later, the first arrivals came in to the feeder, joining the scout. Within the next minute, I had 30 or so BAND-TAILED PIGEONS fighting for space on the feeder, falling off, scrabbling for a perch, sliding down the roof, a few "confrontations" and some feathers fell. Suddenly a jay gave the alarm call and whoosh, the Bomber Squadron was gone. I could feel the wind as they flew off. What a wonderful way to spend a hot afternoon! I love these birds. Ann outside Myrtle Creek -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090531/a90e54b9/attachment.html From DHOGAZA at pacifier.com Sun May 31 10:00:57 2009 From: DHOGAZA at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 10:00:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] If you're in Portland today and out and about ... Message-ID: and want to see some of my framed photographs (NO glossy ibis, though, I'm afraid!), today's the last day my photographs will be shown up at Portland Audubon. Probably half of the bird photographs I've hung there were shot at Malheur so if you're here rather than there, why, enjoy it vicariously! Jim Cruce will have photos hung there starting Tuesday. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sun May 31 11:08:02 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 11:08:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Toughest motorless birds in Oregon? Message-ID: <111767.61486.qm@web37003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Joel et al., you can add NORTHERN WHEATEAR to the state's overall motorless list. I found my Finley Wheatear back in 1988 while bicycling ... definitely my best motorless Oregon bird. I also have a Tennessee Warbler from Corvallis (of course, there was one in a Eugene neighborhood as well). Happy birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Sat, 5/30/09, joel wrote: From: joel Subject: [obol] Toughest motorless birds in Oregon? To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" Date: Saturday, May 30, 2009, 6:56 PM Hi folks, With May results trickling in, it looks like the 10 Oregon birders who have taken up the "motorless birding" idea have now found a combined 218 species, using nothing but bicycles, kayaks, and their own two feet to go out and look for birds. Well, that's two feet for most of us. I'm starting to suspect that Randy Campbell has three or four feet, since he's already found an amazing 160 species all on his own, from his base of operations in the fabled riverside hamlet of Peoria. You can follow Randy's progress (along with the rest of us who are plodding, running & bicycling after him) at: http://www.oregonbirds.org/Listing/motorless.html Join in if you like -- this is all for fun and promoting the idea that it's possible to find good birds without burning fossil fuels. In particular we'd love to get a coastal birder (or two, or twenty!) involved to help swell the combined list. As the year lists shape up, the question is, "What's the toughest bird to find in Oregon, without a gasoline/diesel engine?" I thought that American Dipper would be tough, given the kinds of places where dippers live vs. where most birders live. But Dave Tracy and Art Clausing have both found that species, already this year. Boreal Owl is my pick for the toughest motorless bird in Oregon -- any other contenders? A related question is, what birds on the recognized Oregon state list have *not* yet been found by someone birding in "motorless" mode? Note that yard birds and birds found on neighborhood strolls all count as "motorless" birds. Thus Lucy's Warbler (in Sheila Chambers' yard) and Black-throated Green Warbler (in Dave Irons' neighborhood) have made it onto the state "motorless" list, along with a whole bunch of shearwaters off of South Beach .... and probably lots of others. What birds have you seen in "motorless" mode, beyond the 218 species that are already on the list for this year? I'll be happy to take your input and compile a combined "motorless" list for all Oregon birders. Happy birding however you do it ... Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090531/5e615b54/attachment.html From calliope at theriver.com Sun May 31 11:10:53 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 11:10:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Photos of Burns W. Scrub-Jays In-Reply-To: <749055.30601.qm@web39506.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <749055.30601.qm@web39506.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <9858E785-CD9C-4D2D-A480-6B3D35C2569B@theriver.com> Hi Jamie and All, Nice photos, and thanks for posting them. Steve Dowlan tells me that local birders have known of Western Scrub-Jays in Hines since he moved there a few years ago. Looking at the online CBC data, there have indeed been birds found on the Burns CBC most years since 2000, with a maximum of 7 a couple years ago. I don't remember if these were mentioned on OBOL, but that would take a bit of combing through the archives, since they aren't easily searchable. I also looked through the last four years of field notes in North American Birds. There's nearly a continual mentioning of range expansion of "California" Scrub-Jays into eastern Washington (mostly in Yakima, with a long-staying pair in Richland), and two records for eastern Oregon (one in La Grande and one in Grant county, no specific location). But there is no mention of any birds in Harney county, so this is still news to most of us. It would be great if birders could continue to report on these and try to document nesting, if it hasn't been already. Does anyone know if Idaho has records of California Scrub-Jay? They should be looking for them soon, if not. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- On May 28, 2009, at 11:25 PM, Jamie S. wrote: > I have posted 3 photos of some of the 3 WSJAs I located in Burns on > May 25th (after RIch Hoyer found one on May 23rd). The only photo > manipulation I performed was to crop them. They are at: > > http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=21242&id=1533961816&l=a3c64b22f9 > > Jamie Simmons > Corvallis > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090531/9950ee07/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Sun May 31 11:23:39 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 11:23:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rose-breasted Grosbeak in Newport Message-ID: Hi, Bill Rogers saw a Rose-breasted Grosbeak this morning (May 31) at their feeder in Newport. Cheers, Range Bayer From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun May 31 11:41:38 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 11:41:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] WHITE-winged Dove continues at Fglen Message-ID: The White winged Dove could not be found early this morning May 31 at Frenchglen, but it appeared behind the old B&B around 9:30 and was easily seen. I posted a photo to my bird photo blogsite (link below) -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun May 31 11:59:21 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 11:59:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] GREAT GRAY near Klamath Marsh Message-ID: On the way to Malheur on May 30, Graham Floyd saw a Great Gray Owl at a meadow on the Silver Lake Rd east of Klamath Marsh NWR. Unfortunately I was scanning the wrong way and was blocked by the car as it flew around a spur of trees. Location is the isolated meadow along the Silver Lake Rd. between the Military Crossing turnoff and the refuge HQ. It is maybe 2 miles northeast of the Military Crossing junction. Bird was on east side of road. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Sun May 31 12:54:58 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 12:54:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] A Wood Pewee from Oregon Message-ID: <710903.82284.qm@web30401.mail.mud.yahoo.com> On May 24, 2009, I photographed a silent Wood Pewee at Fields in southeast Oregon.? I am interested in any and all comments about this bird in particular, and the problem of separating Eastern and Western Wood Pewees.? As I read the archives and more recent publications on this issue, it seems that our body of knowledge is moving towards the position that yes there are differences between the two species that can be seen in the field.? The images of the bird can be seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30397515 at N07/3581970405/ In addition to what is seen in the photos, I was able to clearly observe the tail formula. On this bird the R1 feathers were the longest, and the R5 feathers were the shortest, with even graduation in between. Leith McKenzie ? ?Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.? Jonathan Livingston Seagull -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090531/cbefdae8/attachment.html From mimz607 at gmail.com Sun May 31 14:57:19 2009 From: mimz607 at gmail.com (Marcia Maffei) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 14:57:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cabin Lake Update? Message-ID: <3a9150c50905311457v20804150ne2d73f3b73aaa9c8@mail.gmail.com> Has anyone visited cabin lake this year ? Is the guzzler on? Marcia Maffei N. Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090531/1d2ce3d1/attachment.html From m.denny at charter.net Sun May 31 15:42:22 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 15:42:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] A Wood Pewee from Oregon References: <710903.82284.qm@web30401.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Hello Leith, We also saw this bird and photographed it. I agree that it was very pale across the breast and belly. I strongly considered that this bird was an Eastern Wood-Pewee though it never called. I strongly suspect that it was an Eastern Wood-Pewee and am doing some additional reading. Later Mike Denny -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090531/d7d8b14a/attachment.html From alderspr at peak.org Sun May 31 16:51:40 2009 From: alderspr at peak.org (Karan & Jim Fairchild) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 16:51:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gray-Crowned Rosy Finch on Marys Peak (Benton Co.) Message-ID: <495D883B5A654C258FB66CE80DFBEAD3@HOMESTEAD> While trying to learn butterfly I.D. today (31 May '09) on a break from weekend gardening, Karan and I were rewarded by an excellent view of a breeding plumaged male GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH. We had just heard an unfamiliar bird call, and another hiker was looking into the top of a girdled noble fir with his digital camera. He suspected a rosy finch, and shortly thereafter, two other hikers who had seen rosy finches in winter here also got good looks at the single bird. All dark bill, black forecrown disappearing into an all gray head except black chin. Gray of head ends distinctly at a line drawn from base of black chin to mid-nape, dark cinnamon brown below on both ventral and dorsal sides. Rosy tones were not distinct on either wings or flanks. We don't have the latest on subspecies, maybe someone can weigh in on that, or better yet, see this handsome bird. The bird loitered for some time in the tree before leaving towards the south. The southern flanks of the summit are far steeper, with many exposed rocks and crevices. We didn't pursue the bird, but would have loved to see any evidence of breeding! Other birds on Marys Peak today: Turkey Vulture Mountain Quail Western Wood Pewee Hermit Thrush Varied Thrush American Robin Western Bluebird Common Raven Stellar's Jay Red-Breasted Nuthatch Golden-crowned Kinglet Yellow-rumped Warbler Hermit Warbler Pine Siskin White-Crowned Sparrow Jim Fairchild I'd hoped to find Greenish Blue butterflies, but found numerous Silvery Blues, and thousands of Lesser Fritillaries, (Western Meadow/Pacific?) and a few others, including Clodius Parnassian. From celata at pacifier.com Sun May 31 17:25:31 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 17:25:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hammond's Flycatchers and butterflies Message-ID: <4A231FFB.8050208@pacifier.com> While making my bi-monthly butterfly run up hwy 202 and Clatsop County points east, I found 2 HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS. One was at Lee Wooden Meadow near Fishhawk Falls and the other was at 3-mile on Beneke Creek. Those interested in the butterfly daylist and photos are invited to: http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sun May 31 19:17:53 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 19:17:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brewer's Sparrow, Yamhill Co, or what? Message-ID: Today I saw a sparrow which might be Brewer's Sparrow on Grand Island, Yamhill Co. I would be certain if I had more recently birded the sagebrush in the spring, but that's the way it is. Here's what I saw- it was about noon, and a bird was perched up the wheel of an irrigation pipe on an old cornfield. I watched it from the shade and heard an unfamiliar song starting with 3 low notes, then 3 higher ones, a free-form warbling, then a return to the original pitch. It was NOT Savannah or Grasshopper. Although the opening notes were similar, it was not as elaborate overall as the Peterson recordings of Brewer's. The bird was facing out into the field, so it wasn't as loud or detailed as might be hoped. After listening a while I stepped forward for a better look and got a view of a plain belly and some light streaking at the sides of the upper breast. The back is not strongly patterned, the head was rounded, the beak short. I didn't find any crown stripes. It had a moustachial stripe pattern on its face, but the sunlight was strong and the bird looked rather washed out and pale. Location: From Hwy 221, take Grand Island Rd, and turn right onto Upper Island Rd. Between the gate and sign about seasonal closure, there is a wooded stretch on the right side where cable is strung through low wooden posts. Opposite this, there is a field of old cornstalks on the left, with a turnout by a few trees. Lengths of irrigation pipe on wheels are lying in the cornfield. To the right of the old corn, the field is planted in grass seed. Farther down the road on the right is the entrance to the Grand Island section of Willamette Greenway. Pamela Johnston From nnielsenpincus at yahoo.com Sun May 31 19:27:26 2009 From: nnielsenpincus at yahoo.com (Nicole Nielsen-Pincus) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 19:27:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Good day on Mt. Pisgah (Eugene) Message-ID: <63959.52335.qm@web55307.mail.re4.yahoo.com> My family and I hiked on the east side of Mt. Pisgah/ Howard Buford Recreation Area this morning and had many wildlife highlights: ? lazuli bunting black-headed grosbeak western tanager pileated woodpecker western kingbird chipping sparrow song sparrow spotted towhee red-tailed hawk turkey vulture yellow-rumped warbler american robin american crow ? In addition to the birds we saw: bobcat western fence lizard gopher snake ? Nicole Nielsen-Pincus ? ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090531/f59ff2d1/attachment.html From ErikKnight05 at comcast.net Sun May 31 19:15:30 2009 From: ErikKnight05 at comcast.net (ErikKnight05 at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:15:30 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Benton County, Oregon on May 31, 2009 Message-ID: <200906010215.n512FUtj016621@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Erik Knight by http://birdnotes.net Date: May 31, 2009 Location: William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Benton County, Oregon Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h gusting to: 6-11 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 0% Precipitation: none from 12:12PM to 3:41PM. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 19 Wood Duck 4 Gadwall 2 Mallard 13 California Quail 2 Pied-billed Grebe 3 American Bittern 2 [1] Great Blue Heron 8 Turkey Vulture 11 Osprey 2 Northern Harrier 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Kestrel 2 Sora 1 [2] American Coot 1 Killdeer 2 Mourning Dove 4 Vaux's Swift Rufous Hummingbird 3 Acorn Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 3 Western Wood-Pewee 8 Willow Flycatcher 3 Pacific-slope Flycatcher 7 Western Kingbird 1 [3] Cassin's Vireo 2 Warbling Vireo 5 Steller's Jay 1 Western Scrub-Jay 2 American Crow 3 Common Raven 2 Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit 6 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 1 Bewick's Wren 8 House Wren 1 Marsh Wren 6 Swainson's Thrush 6 American Robin 6 European Starling Cedar Waxwing 6 Orange-crowned Warbler 3 Yellow Warbler 5 Common Yellowthroat 20 Wilson's Warbler 2 Western Tanager 3 Spotted Towhee 11 Savannah Sparrow 4 Song Sparrow 16 White-crowned Sparrow 2 Dark-eyed Junco 3 Black-headed Grosbeak 8 Lazuli Bunting 6 Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark 2 Brewer's Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Purple Finch 3 House Finch American Goldfinch Footnotes: [1] South end of McFadden Marsh [2] Beaver Marsh [3] NE Prairie Total number of species seen: 66 From carolk at viclink.com Sun May 31 21:02:50 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 21:02:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Finley weekend Message-ID: <000701c9e26e$e1e30000$a2430a0a@home> OBOL: This weekend we visited Finley NWR on both Sat. & Sun. Saturday we visited Bruce Rd. and found AMERICAN BITTERN in the marsh west of Muddy Creek. We hiked in along the shaded trail to the low quarry on the SW end of Pigeon Butte and found YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, CASSIN'S VIREO, etc. As the morning got hotter, we hiked in the open up to the upper quarry on Pigeon Butte, but found no Rock Wren. We did find LAZULI BUNTINGS and WRENTIT. We quit at noon because of the heat. Sunday we visited the prairie on Finley Rd. early, before the day got hot. Carol detected a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW to the SE of the observation platform. We hiked out 40 yds to the shade of the first tree and watched it from there. We also heard another Grasshopper Sparrow east of the platform. One or more WESTERN KINGBIRDS, as well as LAZULI BUNTINGS, were also in the area. At Cable Marsh we heard a WILLOW FLYCATCHER. Along Soap Creek Rd. at the end of the afternoon, we heard and found a singing VESPER SPARROW. Carol Karlen & Paul Sullivan From greg at thebirdguide.com Sun May 31 21:16:41 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 21:16:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] DICKCISSEL photo from Grants Pass Message-ID: <1E2B4BE707934DAB99AB0710B5D461F9@GREG> http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/bird_photos Please see photo of May 28 Grants Pass DICKCISSEL by Phil Hicks in the "Photos By Others" section: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/_from_others I am starting to upload photos from my Malheur trip, though not nearly done yet: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/20090523_harney Also some photos from Central Oregon on the same trip: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/20090528_central_oregon Greg Gillson Pacific NW Backyard Birder blog: http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/ From tanager at nu-world.com Sun May 31 21:36:35 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 21:36:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hooded Warbler- Coos Cty Message-ID: <000601c9e272$8bc14ca0$a343e5e0$@com> Hi All, Dan & I headed to the coast this AM for an early sea watch. >From Heceta Head Lighthouse - Sooty Shearwaters, Tufted Puffin and Brant. We had all the usual coastal birds too. Always nice to have a good look at shearwaters with feet planted firmly on the ground. We were there from a bit before 6 to 8:45AM After a food break we headed to the previously posted HOODED WARBLER site. We were able to find the spot perfectly from Justin's fantastic directions (thank you again Justin). The bird sang intermittently but regularly from about 150 feet down the road on the upslope side from the polka-dot tape for about 2+ hours. We did not see the bird or even a hint of movement from the thick Doug Fir/Alder/thimbleberry/ferns. It is a tough site- thick bushes and undergrowth- but he is there singing and chipping. We got there a bit late in the morning- perhaps he would be sitting up and singing earlier in the morning. He did move around the hillside and up to the area between the 2 big snags (rather obvious) and then down to about 25 feet from the road. The big highlight of the afternoon came as we headed out on Charlotte Ridge Rd. About 3 miles from the highway, a large Black Bear was ambling down the road - it sped up to the mid-20mph range! We followed it for about 100 feet before it took off in the bushes. A nice lifer for Dan! Good birding, Anne & Dan Heyerly Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090531/63300989/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sun May 31 21:57:57 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 21:57:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cabin Lake Update? References: <3a9150c50905311457v20804150ne2d73f3b73aaa9c8@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Marcia and OBOL A few of us visited Cabin Lake this Friday on our way to Summer Lake WMA for the ECBC shorebird survey there. We found both water features clean and with water and birds at both of them. It looks like there is a new system with guzzlers and the snags etc around the water basins are good. I am posting a list soon and will include those from Cabin Lake. Judy jmeredit at bendnet.com -- Original Message ----- From: Marcia Maffei To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2009 2:57 PM Subject: [obol] Cabin Lake Update? Has anyone visited cabin lake this year ? Is the guzzler on? Marcia Maffei N. Eugene ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090531/8bbd8aa5/attachment.html From campbell at peak.org Sun May 31 22:25:54 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 22:25:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Linn Golden Eagle, other good birds Message-ID: Since I have hardly been out of valley bottom this year, I rode across the to the foothills just northeast of Brownsville and hiked up through the mixed woodlands of Cochcran Creek watershed. The most significant bird of the trip was a GOLDEN EAGLE. Even from quite a distance and silhouetted against the sky, it was small-headed enough that I first tried to make it into a Vulture. As it continued down the valley and flew some two-hundred feet directly over me, it was clearly an eagle, and it demonstrated the "broad-handed" quality that Sibley mentions. As far as field marks go, from underneath and against a bright sky, I couldn't see much more than that, but it definitely lacked the big schnoz of a Bald Eagle. Of the 65 other species of birds that I counted (and the several whose voices I couldn't place and have already forgotten), the most significant might be YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, which I had always thought were scarce in Linn County. It turns out that they are easy to find near Cochran Creek, scattered around clearcuts that were replanted some five to ten years ago. My favorite bird was the PYGMY OWL that finally responded to my thirtieth or fiftieth attempt to hoot one up. I could hear its own hoots coming nearer, tree by tree, until it reached the high deck where I was standing, saw me, and lost some of its enthusiasm. It stopped hooting, but then swooped in about eight feet above my head and parked on a stump eight yards away. Sitting in full sun, glaring at me, it was perfectly photogenic. Too bad I didn't have a camera. It was less impressed with me, so it flew back up into the same tree, this time missing my head by less than an outstretched arm, and re-commenced its hooting. It ignored the gathering mob of songbirds and was still hooting when I hiked out of ear-shot, far down the valley. Other birds, significant to me mostly because I hadn't found any yet this year, were: SOOTY GROUSE (easy to scare up if you spend a lot of time wandering aimlessly through mixed woodlands) RUFFED GROUSE (ditto) MOUNTAIN QUAIL (heard, only) BAND-TAILED PIGEON PILEATED WOODPECKER (several) CASSIN'S VIREO PURPLE MARTIN (just look for giant, old snags) Inexplicably, I have yet to see or hear a Varied Thrush this year. Randy Campbell Peoria All the birds mentioned in this post were found, or not, using only human power. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090531/7d4dcc20/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sun May 31 22:26:19 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 22:26:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sparrow, now Vesper, Yamhill Co Message-ID: Thanks to Bob Altman for his guidance on the identification of the sparrow I reported earlier this evening. The Peterson recording of Vesper Sparrow, made in Arizona, didn't sound right. Bob recognized the pattern I noted in the field as Vesper Sparrow song. So if you follow the breadcrumbs to Upper Island Rd, you may get a chance to see and hear Vesper Sparrow. Pamela Johnston From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sun May 31 23:26:44 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 23:26:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding Trip Report: Lake County, Oregon on May 31, 2009 Message-ID: <84E1D0DEEBA648C8B2D56E405AEE1100@MOM> Birders Steve Dougill arranged for ECBC to do a shorebird survey at Summer Lake Wildlife Mgt Area ( SLWMA) This note is a list of what some of us saw driving to and from as well as on the refuge and surrounding area. Report was mailed for Judy Meredith by http://birdnotes.net for "Lake County", a 48 hour trip to and from Cabin Lake - Fort Rick - Summer Lake - Silver Lake areas. Birds on list are noted with initials CL, FR. SL, SL. Nine of us were counting shorebirds. Other birders likely saw other birds in addition to these. > Birds seen (in taxonomic order): > Canada Goose > Gadwall > American Wigeon > Mallard > Blue-winged Teal > Cinnamon Teal > Northern Shoveler > Northern Pintail > Green-Winged Teal > Canvasback > Redhead > Ring-necked Duck > Lesser Scaup > Bufflehead > Ruddy Duck > California Quail > Eared Grebe > American White Pelican > Double-crested Cormorant > American Bittern > Great Blue Heron > Great Egret > Black-crowned Night-Heron > White-faced Ibis > Turkey Vulture > Bald Eagle > Northern Harrier > Swainson's Hawk > Red-tailed Hawk > Ferruginous Hawk > Golden Eagle > American Kestrel > Prairie Falcon > Yellow Rail - SLWMA, inaccessible area. > Virginia Rail > Sora > American Coot > Sandhill Crane > Snowy Plover - SLWMA, some w chicks already > Killdeer > Black-necked Stilt > American Avocet > Willet > Spotted Sandpiper > Long-billed Curlew > Dunlin > Long-billed Dowitcher > Common Snipe > Wilson's Phalarope > Red-necked Phalarope > Franklin's Gull > Bonaparte's Gull > Ring-billed Gull > Caspian Tern > Forster's Tern > Black Tern > Rock Dove > Eurasian Collared-Dove - SLWMA at HQ and SL cafe. > Mourning Dove > Great Horned Owl > Vaux's Swift > White-throated Swift - Fort Rock Sp > Calliope Hummingbird - Silver Lake Ranger Station. > Belted Kingfisher > Lewis' Woodpecker - Cabin Lake > Red-breasted Sapsucker - Silver Lake Ranger Station > Downy Woodpecker > Hairy Woodpecker > Northern Flicker > Olive-sided Flycatcher - Winter Ridge > Western Wood-Pewee - SLWMA > Hammond's Flycatcher - Winter Ridge > Western Kingbird > Loggerhead Shrike > Warbling Vireo > Steller's Jay > Western Scrub-Jay > Pinyon Jay - Cabin Lake > Clark's Nutcracker - Cabin Lake > Black-billed Magpie > American Crow > Common Raven > Horned Lark > Tree Swallow > Violet-green Swallow > Northern Rough-winged Swallow > Bank Swallow > Cliff Swallow > Barn Swallow > Mountain Chickadee > Red-breasted Nuthatch > Pygmy Nuthatch > Rock Wren > House Wren > Marsh Wren > Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Winter Ridge, road 2901 > Western Bluebird > Mountain Bluebird > American Robin > Sage Thrasher > European Starling > Cedar Waxwing > Yellow Warbler > Yellow-rumped Warbler > Common Yellowthroat > Wilson's Warbler > Western Tanager > Green-tailed Towhee > Chipping Sparrow > Brewer's Sparrow > Vesper Sparrow > Lark Sparrow > Sage Sparrow > Savannah Sparrow > Fox Sparrow > Song Sparrow > Dark-eyed Junco > Black-headed Grosbeak > Red-winged Blackbird > Western Meadowlark > Yellow-headed Blackbird > Brewer's Blackbird > Brown-headed Cowbird > Bullock's Oriole > Cassin's Finch > House Finch > Red Crossbill - Cabin Lake > Pine Siskin > American Goldfinch > Evening Grosbeak - Silver Lake > House Sparrow > Total number of species seen: 131 Good birding, Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com From oschmidt at att.net Mon Jun 1 09:05:27 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 09:05:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Portland Birders Night Message-ID: ...... is Tuesday, June 2, 2009, 7:30 pm, Audubon House, 5151 NW Cornell Road, Portland. Bird quiz, video from Argentina by Diantha Knott, potpourri. Bring your bird slides, videos, photos. All are welcome. oschmidt at att.net Monday, June 1, 2009 From roygerig at hotmail.com Mon Jun 1 09:26:43 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 09:26:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] 7 Polk County Whimbrels 5/31 Message-ID: Yesterday evening from Coville Road I saw an adult BALD EAGLE flying up a lot of birds way down at the east end of Baskett Slough NWR, a closed area. As I watched the birds, mostly ducks, fly up in the distance, I could see that seven were large shorebirds, not ducks. The seven flew around in a big circle and then west. They finally settled down not far from the dike that crosses from Coville Rd. to headquarters. I walked down the dike and got close enough for positive ID of 3 of the WHIMBRELS, the others were still too far away to eliminate something really rare but I assume they were also Whimbrels. Also from the dike I could see several WILSON'S PHALAROPES, one BLACK-NECKED STILT and one GREATER YELLOWLEGS. There was a male CINNAMON TEAL with a female BLUE-WINGED TEAL between the dike and the Narrows NE of there. Over at the Farmer Road wetlands I counted at least 8 BLACK-NECKED STILTS and an equal number of WILSON'S PHALAROPES, both on or near the first pond. Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090601/6a8c7fd5/attachment.html From roygerig at hotmail.com Mon Jun 1 09:28:59 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 09:28:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] I forgot to add Message-ID: in that post a few minutes ago that there was a WILSON'S SNIPE winnowing over the Farmer Rd. wetlands most of the time I was there, around 6:30-7 PM 5/31/09. Roy Gerig _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090601/c69d8a83/attachment.html From jvanmoo at sisna.com Mon Jun 1 10:17:16 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 10:17:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Langell Valley, 5-31-09 Message-ID: <3C447F7C-AE32-4F84-81B8-D20EB4C57A9D@sisna.com> Marilyn Christian and I birded in the Langell Valley eat of Klamath Falls and out to Willow Reservoir, east of Langell Valley) yesterday. We wanted to find a Juniper Titmouse, but no luck. We did hear a SORA calling on Johnson Rd. and saw 2 BLACK-NECKED STILTs, 2 WILLETs, and 8 WILSON'S PHALAROPEs on the same road. On Willow Rd to the reservoir we found VESPER SPARROW (since I got my state/county bird on NAMC, they will probably be everywhere now!) and BREWER'S SPARROW. At the reservoir there were only WESTERN GREBE, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN. Just beyond the reservoir to the east there is an outflow from the reservoir that makes a pretty wide stream through a somewhat rocky "canyon" (more like a dip) We found 4 WOOD DUCK (2 pairs) and a ROCK WREN there. Malone Dam area only yielded a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, robins and WESTERN WOOD PEWEE. No titmouse there either. On West Langell Valley Rd we saw a WILSON'S SNIPE and a WILLET posing on fence posts near each other and saw some BULLOCK'S ORIOLEs and WESTERN KINGBIRDs. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamth Falls From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Mon Jun 1 10:36:11 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 17:36:11 +0000 Subject: [obol] A horny Sooty Grouse and an inquisitive Blue Fox Message-ID: Hi all, On Sunday, I did an invigorating but challenging hike to Panorama Point (Elevation 7200 ft) at Mt. Rainier. The hike was not for the faint-hearted but the chance to see white tailed ptarmigans display was the driving force. It was the first time I did this modified hike this early in the year; it was a quick 1800 ft gain in less than 1.8 miles! At one point, there is a 400 ft gain with no switchbacks. A good conditioning hike despite my winter blubbler slowing me down a bit. But the laws of gravity states: what slowly goes up, must come down fast with the extra weight. The afternoon heat made the snow slippery and slushy, so you had one out-of-shape, Asian dumpling swiftly sliding down the slopes. Oh, what fun except for the cold derriere! After a couple hours exploring along the ridges, I got to see two transitional plumaged male WHITE TAILED PTARMIGANS at a distance. At one point they did some territorial chasing and calling. They were about 75-85% white with a few flecks of color. Other cool birds at the point, included 4 pairs of GRAY CROWNED ROSYFINCHES. One pair was copulating on the rocks. A few males did sing a simple, monotone song that I never heard of. Their breeding plumage is quite conspicuous with darker hues and a jet black beak with less pink in their overall plumage. Like I mentioned before, the spumoni snowbirds are much prettier in the winter. Coming down from the 6 mile round trip, I decided to sit in the back of my jeep and have a quick 'bite'. Within 5 minutes, a bold and inquisitive BLUE PHASE FOX approached me within 3 feet from my car and ham sandwich. What a gorgeous critter!! My second time I have seen them here--first sighting was near Reflection Lakes. On my way out, I had no problems finding several booming SOOTY GROUSE. Some aggressive males displayed right on the ground near the road while a couple of others were on trees. I have seen both 'BLUE GROUSE' species display on both types of arenas so what is expected or conventional is not genetically engrained. When you are horny, anything will do! I was thrilled to get some decent shots of some of the subjects. http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/updated_june_photos&page=all It was a quality day over quantity and Mt. Rainier never disappoints on a glorious day of beautiful weather. Good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Jun 1 10:50:14 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:50:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBAs from SE Oregon Message-ID: Tim Rodenkirk reports Common Grackle from Borax Lake on 30 May and a Northern Waterthrush at Fields the 31st This morning June 1 was slow at HQ, Benson and Frenchglen. At least one Gray Catbird continues at HQ. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From justin.bosler at gmail.com Mon Jun 1 11:17:26 2009 From: justin.bosler at gmail.com (Justin Bosler) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 11:17:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hooded Warbler -- NO -- Elliott SF (extreme ne. Coos Co.) Message-ID: <97d12a010906011117r4d1994b7ue419f3815fa7d82@mail.gmail.com> Hello OBOL, I searched for the Hooded Warbler for a little over an hour this morning starting around 7:30 AM to no avail. However, birdsong was slightly reduced this morning with the lingering fog. I tried using playback intermittently over that hour with no response. Although only speculative, it appears as though the bird is more active later in the morning. I'm glad Dan and Anne Heyerly were able to at least hear the Hooded Warbler yesterday. Also, to correct some mis-information in my original post, those birches I mentioned are actually red alders (*Alnus rubra*). Good Birding, Justin -- Justin Bosler Reedsport, OR justin.bosler at gmail.com 717-475-9998 http://www.flickr.com/photos/29219448 at N08/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090601/18c59b99/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Mon Jun 1 13:27:00 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 13:27:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Douglas Co. Coast AM AVOCET, others 6-1-09 Message-ID: <2b1bbd260906011327h8f9fa53k69b78b3d5f7304ce@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Shorebirds continue to trickle through, but just barely. Today Hendrik Herlyn and I found an AMERICAN AVOCET on the beach 1/2 mile south of the Dunes Overlook trailhead. Later it was observed in the vicinity of Tahkenitch Cr. Based on the curvature of the bill the bird was likely a female. I observed a single SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER near the Dunes Overlook trailhead. It was in the vicinity of a SNOWY PLOVER in the wrack line. There was a flock of 10 SANDERLINGS working the waves in the same general area. They moved north as the day went on. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090601/a9139c35/attachment.html From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Mon Jun 1 14:03:42 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 14:03:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] A Wood Pewee from Oregon Message-ID: <698956.3272.qm@web30408.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I have received requests for additional images of the Pewee, but I have no other images made from different viewing angles.? Perhaps Mr. Denny will post some of his images for us.? I have received questions about the wing bars.? As I viewed the bird through the bins, my perception was that both wingbars were very bold and the same color (I would call the color off white.)? Indeed, the wingbars were the first thing that I noticed about the bird. So far, I have received no feedback suggesting that this bird is a Western Wood Pewee.? Is any one going to make that case, or do we all think that it is an Eastern Wood Pewee? ? On May 24, 2009, I photographed a silent Wood Pewee at Fields in southeast Oregon.?? I am interested in any and all comments about this bird in particular, and the problem of separating Eastern and Western Wood Pewees.?? As I read the archives and more recent publications on this issue, it seems that our body of knowledge is moving towards the position that yes there are differences between the two species that can be seen in the field.?? The images of the bird can be seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30397515 at N07/3581970405/ In addition to what is seen in the photos, I was able to clearly observe the tail formula. On this bird the R1 feathers were the longest, and the R5 feathers were the shortest, with even graduation in between. Leith McKenzie ?Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.? Jonathan Livingston Seagull -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090601/e4db4e6e/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Mon Jun 1 14:21:24 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 14:21:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge birds on Sunday Message-ID: <70202D856D104656BCB56F81CE16253D@TomsPC> Some of the more interesting birds to ME Sunday around Fern Ridge. The two BLACK PHOEBES were at the Coyote Creek bridge on Cantrell Rd., also WOOD PEE-WEES. I also saw a RED EYED bird there that never presented its front to me which I believe was a RED-EYED VIREO. It had a dark backside. Comments? LAZULI BUNTING on Neilson Rd just west of the Bonneville sub-station. WESTERN BLUEBIRD at the Royal Ave parking lot. Tom Escue -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090601/59461c04/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Mon Jun 1 14:34:38 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 14:34:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gray Jays-Silver Falls St Park Message-ID: Ran across 3 GRAY JAYS yesterday on the "Perimeter Trail" above North Falls. Other birds of note were 1 WILLOW FLYCATCHER and many SWAINSON THRUSH. It was in mid afternoon and not the best birding time. A couple warblers faintly heard & of course a few Winter Wrens scolding from the ferns. The Jays were shy and not like the "camp robbers" I hear about. I never seem to see them in the main park areas and even only once in a great while in this remote area. Maybe just my experience.... The park is absolutely stunning now with the fiddle head ferns about totally out, intense green foliage, and many blooming wildflowers. John Thomas Silverton area From llsdirons at msn.com Mon Jun 1 15:03:47 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 22:03:47 +0000 Subject: [obol] Photos of Burns W. Scrub-Jays In-Reply-To: <9858E785-CD9C-4D2D-A480-6B3D35C2569B@theriver.com> References: <749055.30601.qm@web39506.mail.mud.yahoo.com> <9858E785-CD9C-4D2D-A480-6B3D35C2569B@theriver.com> Message-ID: Rich et al., I know that we've reported on the Burns/Hines W. Scrub-Jay population a couple times in NAB, including the most recent winter report (not out yet). Traditionally, Harney Co. scrub-jays have been presumed woodhouseii and to my knowledge there are no previous reports specifically assigning Harney birds to the "coastal" (subspecies californica) form. However, the e. WA birds and those expanding eastward along the Columbia R. have all been californica (per Steve Mlodinow). Last winter Steve Dowlan suggested to me that the harsh winter weather may have wiped out the small Harney population, but then in early spring Jim and Becky Carlson found one in Hines (reported on OBOL). If the current Harney birds are californica, which makes sense since that seems to be the rapidly expanding subspecies, we might presume that the local population will continue to persist and perhaps grow as has been the case in Bend over the past two decades. The Bend birds are californica and presumed to have arrived from the north, which makes sense since there is no reason to think that these birds are somehow making their way across the various mountain ranges to the west and southwest of Bend. These same mountains would also impede the flow of birds into the Harney Basin, so it is a reasonably safe bet that the Harney Co. birds are also arriving from the north. The Columbia Gorge is surely the conduit that allows californica to make their way east of the Cascades and they appear to be fanning out across the landscape (both north and south) once they do so. It will be interesting to see what happens with this population over the next decade. Scrub-jays are now commonplace in Bend, where they were a mega-rarity three decades ago. Amazingly, this range expansion has been going on for at least 80 years according to Birds of Oregon:A General Reference. At this point the northward and now eastward advance shows no signs of ending. Dave Irons Eugene, Oregon From: calliope at theriver.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 11:10:53 -0700 CC: dustdevil at centurytel.net Subject: Re: [obol] Photos of Burns W. Scrub-Jays Hi Jamie and All, Nice photos, and thanks for posting them. Steve Dowlan tells me that local birders have known of Western Scrub-Jays in Hines since he moved there a few years ago. Looking at the online CBC data, there have indeed been birds found on the Burns CBC most years since 2000, with a maximum of 7 a couple years ago. I don't remember if these were mentioned on OBOL, but that would take a bit of combing through the archives, since they aren't easily searchable. I also looked through the last four years of field notes in North American Birds. There's nearly a continual mentioning of range expansion of "California" Scrub-Jays into eastern Washington (mostly in Yakima, with a long-staying pair in Richland), and two records for eastern Oregon (one in La Grande and one in Grant county, no specific location). But there is no mention of any birds in Harney county, so this is still news to most of us. It would be great if birders could continue to report on these and try to document nesting, if it hasn't been already. Does anyone know if Idaho has records of California Scrub-Jay? They should be looking for them soon, if not. Good Birding, Rich ---Rich HoyerTucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGShttp://wingsbirds.com--- On May 28, 2009, at 11:25 PM, Jamie S. wrote:I have posted 3 photos of some of the 3 WSJAs I located in Burns on May 25th (after RIch Hoyer found one on May 23rd). The only photo manipulation I performed was to crop them. They are at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=21242&id=1533961816&l=a3c64b22f9 Jamie Simmons Corvallis _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has a new way to see what's up with your friends. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/WhatsNew?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_WhatsNew1_052009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090601/f3f15888/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Mon Jun 1 15:22:36 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 15:22:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge birds on Sunday In-Reply-To: <70202D856D104656BCB56F81CE16253D@TomsPC> References: <70202D856D104656BCB56F81CE16253D@TomsPC> Message-ID: <2b1bbd260906011522r4b279a12pfb7c354c957f65e5@mail.gmail.com> Tom and Obol, RED-EYED VIREOS breed sparsely, but regularly in Lane Co. I have heard them singing at the Oregon Country Fairgrounds along the Long Tom River, west of Veneta. In the 80's they bred at Fern Ridge on the north-east side of the reservoir in the tall cottonwoods. It seems very possible to me that your bird was a REVI given the location. They sing very loud, simple songs well into the afternoon. You might try for it again, maybe you found a new breeding location at FRR. Daniel Farrar On Mon, Jun 1, 2009 at 2:21 PM, Tom Escue wrote: > Some of the more interesting birds to *ME* Sunday around Fern Ridge. > > The two BLACK PHOEBES were at the Coyote Creek bridge on Cantrell Rd., also > WOOD PEE-WEES. I also saw a RED EYED bird there that never presented its > front to me which I believe was a RED-EYED VIREO. It had a dark backside. > Comments? > > LAZULI BUNTING on Neilson Rd just west of the Bonneville sub-station. > > WESTERN BLUEBIRD at the Royal Ave parking lot. > > Tom Escue > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090601/f7b5f1df/attachment.html From gdalindy at msn.com Mon Jun 1 15:44:56 2009 From: gdalindy at msn.com (GLEN LINDEMAN) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 15:44:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black-necked Stilts at Ankeny NWR Message-ID: This morning I found two Black-necked Stilts on one of the small islands in Egret Marsh at Ankeny NWR... - Glen ^'^ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090601/b80a3f2e/attachment.html From md at teleport.com Mon Jun 1 17:38:49 2009 From: md at teleport.com (Sumner Sharpe) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 17:38:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mockingbirds Message-ID: <00ce01c9e31a$7fb6efc0$7f24cf40$@com> Three or -four seen near Salmon River on Road to Camp Westwind at base of Cascade Head this weekend. See picture -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090601/1640c2e1/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: sitka 011.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 4924807 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090601/1640c2e1/attachment.jpg From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Mon Jun 1 20:04:52 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 03:04:52 +0000 Subject: [obol] Gray crowned Rosyfinches at Mary's Peak Message-ID: Hi Jim and Karan, Because you are one of my favorite birders, I created a rosy-finch photo gallery for you to illustrate the different seasonal plumages and color variation from birds seen and photographed from December to June. I just photographed a pair of the coastal form or Hepburn's at Mt. Rainier this weekend at 7200 ft. The pair possess very dark black beaks and lack a lot of pink tones. I nicknamed these wonderful birds 'spumoni snowbirds' as they are one of my favorite finches. They colors remind me of a Baskin Robbins favored ice-cream. Photos of both subspecies of Gray-crowned rosyfinches are included and I threw in the Black Rosies just for fun! Note the breeding plumages of the photographed birds are much duller than what Sibley illustrates. Even in good light they are not as vibrant. I don't know if they get a bit more colorful between July and September. I remember seen large flocks in October and they are a tad bit brighter with yellow beaks. I do recall seeing them in late July at higher elevations but they are still ratty and dull compared to the brightly plumaged winter birds. http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/rosy_finches_for_fairchild&page=all Enjoy and hope you get something out of it. Good birding, Khanh Tran From uuspirit at yahoo.com Mon Jun 1 20:07:46 2009 From: uuspirit at yahoo.com (Mary Reese) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 20:07:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] HELP - INJURED WHITE PELICAN at Toppenish NWR (near Yakima) Message-ID: <58376.85600.qm@web54104.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hello Tweeters & OBOL, ? We are from Portland, and were just finishing up a birding tour of Eastern Washington yesterday (Sunday around 4:00 pm) when we encountered a pair of WHITE PELICANS just outside the boundary of Toppenish NWR (Hwy 97 south of Yakima/Toppenish, WA).? The healthy one was swimming around, keeping near to the other, who was in bad shape with an apparent broken wing.??It was barely swimming and looked like?it wouldn?t make it much longer without some intervention. ? This morning we called Kathy Seibert 509-966-5270, a Yakima area bird rehabilitator listed on the Washington Fish & Wildlife website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildlife/rehabilitation/rehabbers.php?searchby=County&search=Yakima).? She was not familiar with the Toppenish area, but said she would pass on the info.? Later we thought maybe if we posted this on Tweeters and OBOL, there might be someone out there who can assist her. ? Location of the injured bird: Take Hwy 97 south out?the?city of Toppenish.? Take the last possible turn on the right,?just before you go up the long steep hill.? The Toppenish refuge headquarters entrance is padlocked shut and presumably nobody there.? So take the left branch of the road, which is Pumphouse Road, and go to the approximate vicinity of Milepost 2.? You will see two farms, across the street from each other, very worn and crowded, lots of goats, llamas, horses.? Then there is a road going off to the right.? Just after that are some cow pastures on the right which are partially under water.? This is where the White Pelicans are swimming.? Private property, I presume, just on the edge of the refuge boundary. ? There are no other pelicans around, just these two, so we were thinking that if they could both be captured, the injured one may heal better if?its?buddy?accompanied it to?a rehab facility. ? We are now back in Portland and our vacations are over, so we cannot go back to help.? This has been bothering us a lot.? We would appreciate knowing if anything can be done for this poor bird.? Thanks in advance for any help.? ? Mary Reese / Jim Allen Portland / Fairview, Oregon uuspirit at yahoo.com 503-929-7788 ? ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090601/7117243e/attachment.html From fschrock at gmail.com Mon Jun 1 20:33:34 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 20:33:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-eyed Vireos back in Yamhill Co. Message-ID: <390ebd880906012033p6430723apc0b83557742f39c9@mail.gmail.com> Today (June 1, '09) I battled the stinging nettles to get into Red-eyed Vireo territory on Grand Island in Yamhill County, and recorded a short video of one singing high up under the cottonwood canopy. The long-range visual image shows nothing except the bird's behavior while singing, but the audio is reasonably good, until a Robin chimes in. The clip is at http://empids.blogspot.com/. If anyone wants precise directions for finding this spot, let me know. The bird is easily heard from the trail without wading through the nettles. I also found Pamela Johnston's Vesper Sparrow about 1/4 mile beyond the vireo grove in the location she described, but it refused to sing for me. ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090601/8a499153/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Jun 1 21:25:01 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 21:25:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eastern Oregon Scrub Jays Message-ID: <0eb993f5852152b11123c66e1c17e852@earthlink.net> I'm not convinced that Scrub Jays had to arrive in Bend or Burns from the north as David Irons suggests. They have long been abundant around Lakeview and south of Adel. About 1971 or 1972 Wayne Hoffman and I saw one at Picture Rock Pass between Summer LAke and Silver Lake. There is pretty much continuous juniper forest from there to Bend. We saw that bird in July. Birders from Corvallis saw one in Prineville during the winter about then as well. As Dave says, such sighting was highly noteworthy in those days. I had at least one lifer (White-throated Swift) on that trip with Wayne, but the Scrub Jay has always stood out in my mind as the highlight. Birder effort in that part of the state was orders of magnitude below what it is today. We saw the Scrub Jay in question because it flew across the road as we travelled at highway speed. How many more could have been lurking in the Klamath Plum (Prunus subcordata) thickets that stretch from Summer Lake to New Pine Creek? Lars Norgren From chaetura at gmail.com Mon Jun 1 21:33:57 2009 From: chaetura at gmail.com (Charles Swift) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 21:33:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Photos of Burns W. Scrub-Jays In-Reply-To: <9858E785-CD9C-4D2D-A480-6B3D35C2569B@theriver.com> References: <749055.30601.qm@web39506.mail.mud.yahoo.com> <9858E785-CD9C-4D2D-A480-6B3D35C2569B@theriver.com> Message-ID: Hi All - To answer one of Rich's questions, yes, Idaho has a record of California Scrub-Jay. It was in December of 2005 at Lapwai, in north-central Idaho. This is a few miles south of Lewiston, ID/Clarkston, WA so close to the ID/WA border. It's nicely documented on Terry Gray's flickr feed here: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=scrub-jay&w=57325528 at N00 thanks, Charles. -- Charles Swift Moscow, ID chaetura at gmail.com On Sun, May 31, 2009 at 11:10 AM, Rich Hoyer wrote: > Hi Jamie and All, > Nice photos, and thanks for posting them. Steve Dowlan tells me that local > birders have known of Western Scrub-Jays in Hines since he moved there a few > years ago. Looking at the online CBC data, there have indeed been birds > found on the Burns CBC most years since 2000, with a maximum of 7 a couple > years ago. I don't remember if these were mentioned on OBOL, but that would > take a bit of combing through the archives, since they aren't easily > searchable. > > I also looked through the last four years of field notes in North American > Birds. There's nearly a continual mentioning of range expansion of > "California" Scrub-Jays into eastern Washington (mostly in Yakima, with a > long-staying pair in Richland), and two records for eastern Oregon (one in > La Grande and one in Grant county, no specific location). But there is no > mention of any birds in Harney county, so this is still news to most of us. > It would be great if birders could continue to report on these and try to > document nesting, if it hasn't been already. Does anyone know if Idaho has > records of California Scrub-Jay? They should be looking for them soon, if > not. > > Good Birding, > > Rich > --- > Rich Hoyer > Tucson, Arizona > > Senior Leader for WINGS > http://wingsbirds.com > --- > > On May 28, 2009, at 11:25 PM, Jamie S. wrote: > > I have posted 3 photos of some of the 3 WSJAs I located in Burns on May > 25th (after RIch Hoyer found one on May 23rd). The only photo manipulation > I performed was to crop them. They are at: > > http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=21242&id=1533961816&l=a3c64b22f9 > > Jamie Simmons > Corvallis > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090601/81c5e8b6/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Mon Jun 1 22:23:26 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 22:23:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Douglas Co. Coast AM AVOCET, others 6-1-09 Message-ID: <413160.43807.qm@web37008.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, a few distant photos of the Douglas Co. AVOCET can be viewed at the following address: http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2024942&id=1383356632&l=8135fc1b16 A nice surprise on the beach! Does anyone know how many Douglas Co. records there are? Good birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Mon, 6/1/09, Daniel Farrar wrote: From: Daniel Farrar Subject: [obol] Douglas Co. Coast AM AVOCET, others 6-1-09 To: "OBOL" Date: Monday, June 1, 2009, 1:27 PM Obol, ?? Shorebirds continue to trickle through, but just barely.? Today Hendrik Herlyn and I found an AMERICAN AVOCET on the beach 1/2 mile south of the Dunes Overlook trailhead.? Later it was observed in the vicinity of Tahkenitch Cr.? Based on the curvature of the bill the bird was likely a female. ??? I observed a single SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER near the Dunes Overlook trailhead.? It was in the vicinity of a SNOWY PLOVER in the wrack line.? There was a flock of 10 SANDERLINGS working the waves in the same general area.? They moved north as the day went on. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090601/c221a277/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Jun 1 22:51:54 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 22:51:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Linn County Golden Eagle Message-ID: Randy's sighting today reminds me of my own experiences with Golden Eagles in the Willamette Basin. For years I dismissed all large raptors in the distance during warmer months as Turkey Vultures. Statistically, this is of course correct. Better than 99% probably are. But it began to dawn on me that Golden Eagles might be more likely confused with vultures than with Bald Eagles. I've spent a lot of time looking at vultures since, and once in a great while they turn out to be Eagles. The ever growing number of Bald Eagles adds to the challenge. They were once a winter novelty, but now are a fixture of summer in some parts of the Willamette Basin. Yesterday I saw one (an adult) while looking for Mountain Quail. This was at the head of Sadd Creek, one of the tributaries of Killin Wetland. The first summmer sighting I have made in these hills. One sees so many Bald Eagles some winter days now that it is tempting to ignore them in favor of "better" birds. Lars Norgren From Oropendolas at aol.com Mon Jun 1 22:59:16 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 01:59:16 EDT Subject: [obol] Trout Creek Mountains Message-ID: Hello All, Laura and I returned home last night from a wonderful week in Eastern Oregon of which the highlight was a backpack in the Trout Creek Mountains in Southeast Oregon. Our time there (May 24-28) was spent mostly along Little Trout Creek and Center Ridge. Here is our complete annotated checklist from the Trout Creek portion of the trip. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON - one was chased over our camp along Little Trout Creek and out of the area by the resident pair of Red-tailed Hawks. Mallard - a pair flew over camp up the Creek. Turkey Vulture - several daily. Northern Harrier - several daily. Males only were seen; are the females sitting tight on their nests? Red-tailed Hawk - a pair with two white fuzzy chicks in the nest near our campsite on Little Trout Creek were being well fed on a diet of Belding's ground squirrels. A fresh meal was waiting for them on the edge of the nest. FERRUGINOUS HAWK - one along Whitehorse Ranch road on drive in. GOLDEN EAGLE - one immature bird along Trout Creek Loop Road. SAGE GROUSE - one flushed and flew away while hiking across Center Ridge; then, a hen flushed and preformed a broken wing act, flopping on teh ground around us while 10-12 tiny chicks (1/2 the size of a Quail) flew in every direction. We were bummed that we disturbed the family and also amazed that such young birds were already flighted. California Quail - several along the creek. Killdeer - flyover at creek campsite. LONG-EARD OWL - heard calling from the creek below our camp on the rim overlooking Little Trout Creek. SHORT-EARED OWL - one made a couple passes through our campsite in the Mahogany grove on the east rim of Center Ridge at sunset. Possibly the same bird seen during the early morning hunting over the sage on the top of the ridge. Another seen along the Trout Creek Mountain Loop Road. Common Poorwill - several heard nightly from both campsites. Hummingbird sp. - one flyby through Mahogany campsite. BELTED KINGFISHER - flyover at creek side camp. RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER -A pair frequented the sap wells in the Mahoganies around our camp on the ridge. Downy Woodpecker - heard calling from an aspen grove. Northern Flicker - several seen at all elevations. HAMMONDS FLYCATCHER - one possible, a silent bird in aspens near the rim. Gray Flycatcher - abundant at all elevations. DUSKY FLYCATCHER - two ID'd by voice on the ridge. Horned Lark - abundant in the short vegetation on the top of the ridge. Watched a male perform a prairie chicken-like dance with horns erect, tail cocked and fluttering drooped wings while circling and attempting to mount a female. Violet-green Swallow - several pair on the rim. Rock Wren - many at all elevations. BEWICKS WREN - one seen near camp in the willows along the creek. House Wren - common in aspens around the ridge. Sage Thrasher - common throughout sagebrush surrounding the ridge, but none heard at the top. Mountain Bluebird - several in the Mahogany groves. American Robin - many at all elevations. BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS - were encountered literally within the first minute of stepping into the first Mahogany grove on the ridge and many more were seen in all Mahogany groves across the ridge. There could easily be 6-8 pair nesting on Center Ridge. Bushtit - a few seen in Mahogany groves on top. Mountain Chickadee - one pair regularly visited our campsite in the Mahoganies on top of the ridge were seen performing courtship wing fluttering. Loggerhead Shrike - near camp along Little Trout Creek. Black-billed Magpie - seen along the creek only. American Crow - several Common Raven - several Cassin's Vireo - one in a Mahogany grove on top. Warbling Vireo - several seen in both Aspen and Mahogany groves. Cassin's Finch - several at all elevations. We stalked one singing male in a Mahogany grove that was singing an incredible, elaborate thrasher-like song. We couldn't believe that song came from a finch. Pine Siskin - many flyovers. One calling bird flew over our creek side camp, circled back around and landed just feet away from us while we sat still in our camp chairs, then fluttered around our heads seeming to wonder if we would make a good perch or not. American Goldfinch - a few flyovers Orange-crowned Warbler - common in the Aspen groves. Yellow Warbler - ubiquitous along creek and in aspen groves. Yellow-rumped Warbler - a few singers in both Aspen and Mahogany groves. BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER - common in Mahogany groves, singers heard constantly throughout the day. MacGillivray's Warbler - several in Aspen groves and along the creek. Western Tanager - many everywhere Green-tailed Towhee - abundant at all elevations. Spotted Towhee - a couple seen along the creek. Chipping Sparrow - abundant in Mahogany groves. Brewer's Sparrow - probably the most abundant bird at all elevations. One nest with 3 eggs was found a foot off the ground in a sage bush. Vesper Sparrow - also very common throughout the sagebrush. One nest found on the ground with 4 eggs. Lark Sparrow - several seen at lower elevations only. FOX SPARROW - one skulking bird in Ceanothus along the rim. A flash of rufous wings and tail was seen as it flew into bushes and a quick look at the grayish head, smallish bill with yellow lower mandible were the only details noted before it disappeared for good. Song Sparrow - common along creek. Black-headed Grosbeak - everywhere, in appropriate habitat. Lazuli Bunting - a few along the creek. Western Meadowlark - common throughout sage. Brewer's Blackbird - abundant Brown-headed Cowbird - abundant Bullock's Oriole - abundant along creek and in Aspens; also seen in Mahogany groves. Herps: Pacific chorus frog (heard only) Gopher Snake - 2 Garter Snake sp. - 1 Racer - 2 Striped Whipsnake - 1 Northern Fence Lizard - 5 Sagebrush Lizard - many Desert Horned Lizard - 4 Side-blotched Lizard - many Long-nosed Leopard Lizard - 2 Mammals: Bat sp. Pronghorn - 8 Mule Deer - 6 Marmot - 12; one family of 2 adults and 5 half-grown youngsters in the rocks near camp. Belding's Ground squirrel - abundant Golden-mantled Ground squirrel - 5 Least Chipmunk - many Vole sp. (Sagebrush?) Woodrat sp. (Desert?) nest only seen in rim rock, neatly decorated with Balsamroot flowers and leaves. Other: Ceanothus Silk Moth - 1 Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth - 1 Unidentified bug - 1-1/4" long, jet black, ant-like with giant bloated abdomen (ant-queen-like), segmented antennae. Mating pairs, both sexes look the same. Pics available if anyone can help with ID. John Sullivan & Laura Jonhson Springfield, Oregon **************An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222585042x1201462767/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd=Jun eExcfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/1248a31f/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Mon Jun 1 23:27:40 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 23:27:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Frenchglen White-winged Dove, ETC. Message-ID: Pam and Peter Newman found a WHITE-WINGED DOVE at Frenchglen on Saturday, May 30, which Alan Contreras reported. Forrest Rowland and I and more were fortunate to see it on both Saturday and Sunday. Johnny Powell took a very good photo of it and asked me to post it for him. It can be found on: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22812788 at N08/sets/72157619126855834/ Forrest and I left Malheur Headquarters this morning to get back today. It was very quiet there when we left. We saw some nice birds on Saturday and Sunday, like the WHITE-WINGED DOVE and CATBIRD. Forrest and I both heard a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO call several times at Malheur Headquarters on Saturday. I really enjoyed the breeding birds, with some of my favorites being pink- tinged Franklin's Gulls and Black Terns, not to mention seeing some nice people out there. By the way the mosquitos are coming out in force. Shawneen Finnegan Portland, Oregon From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Tue Jun 2 00:41:40 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (Jamie S.) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 00:41:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Photos of Burns W. Scrub-Jays Message-ID: <668175.34962.qm@web39505.mail.mud.yahoo.com> David Irons wrote: "If the current Harney birds are californica, which makes sense..." Dave, do you have some reason to doubt the Harney birds as californica?? The photos appear diagnostic to myself, Rich Hoyer, and David Tracy?(as noted on obol). ? They remain at: ? Jamie From: David Irons Date: Jun 1, 2009 3:03 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Photos of Burns W. Scrub-Jays To: Rich Hoyer , post OBOL Cc: wayne and patty bowers Rich et al., I know that we've reported on the Burns/Hines W. Scrub-Jay population a couple times in NAB, including the most recent winter report (not out yet). Traditionally, Harney Co. scrub-jays have been presumed woodhouseii and to my knowledge there are no previous reports specifically assigning Harney birds to the "coastal" (subspecies californica) form. However, the e. WA birds and those expanding eastward along the Columbia R. have all been californica (per Steve Mlodinow). Last winter Steve Dowlan suggested to me that the harsh winter weather may have wiped out the small Harney population, but then in early spring Jim and Becky Carlson found one in Hines (reported on OBOL). If the current Harney birds are californica, which makes sense since that seems to be the rapidly expanding subspecies, we might presume that the local population will continue to persist and perhaps grow as has been the case in Bend over the past two decades. The Bend birds are californica and presumed to have arrived from the north, which makes sense since there is no reason to think that these birds are somehow making their way across the various mountain ranges to the west and southwest of Bend. These same mountains would also impede the flow of birds into the Harney Basin, so it is a reasonably safe bet that the Harney Co. birds are also arriving from the north. The Columbia Gorge is surely the conduit that allows californica to make their way east of the Cascades and they appear to be fanning out across the landscape (both north and south) once they do so. It will be interesting to see what happens with this population over the next decade. Scrub-jays are now commonplace in Bend, where they were a mega-rarity three decades ago. Amazingly, this range expansion has been going on for at least 80 years according to Birds of Oregon:A General Reference. At this point the northward and now eastward advance shows no signs of ending. Dave Irons Eugene, Oregon From: calliope at theriver.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 11:10:53 -0700 CC: dustdevil at centurytel.net Subject: Re: [obol] Photos of Burns W. Scrub-Jays Hi Jamie and All, ? Nice photos, and thanks for posting them. Steve Dowlan tells me that local birders have known of Western Scrub-Jays in Hines since he moved there a few years ago. Looking at the online CBC data, there have indeed been birds found on the Burns CBC most years since 2000, with a maximum of 7 a couple years ago. I don't remember if these were mentioned on OBOL, but that would take a bit of combing through the archives, since they aren't easily searchable. ? I also looked through the last four years of field notes in North American Birds. There's nearly a continual mentioning of range expansion of "California" Scrub-Jays into eastern Washington (mostly in Yakima, with a long-staying pair in Richland), and two records for eastern Oregon (one in La Grande and one in Grant county, no specific location). But there is no mention of any birds in Harney county, so this is still news to most of us. It would be great if birders could continue to report on these and try to document nesting, if it hasn't been already. Does anyone know if Idaho has records of California Scrub-Jay? They should be looking for them soon, if not. ? Good Birding, ? Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona ? Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- On May 28, 2009, at 11:25 PM, Jamie S. wrote: I have posted 3 photos of some of the 3 WSJAs I?located in Burns on May 25th (after RIch Hoyer?found one on May 23rd).?The only photo manipulation I?performed was to crop them. They are at: ? http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=21242&id=1533961816&l=a3c64b22f9 ? Jamie Simmons Corvallis ? Hotmail? has a new way to see what's up with your friends. Check it out. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/7a96d17b/attachment.html From hkrueger at cableone.net Tue Jun 2 06:10:58 2009 From: hkrueger at cableone.net (J. Harry Krueger) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 07:10:58 -0600 Subject: [obol] Photos of Burns W. Scrub-Jays In-Reply-To: <9858E785-CD9C-4D2D-A480-6B3D35C2569B@theriver.com> References: <749055.30601.qm@web39506.mail.mud.yahoo.com> <9858E785-CD9C-4D2D-A480-6B3D35C2569B@theriver.com> Message-ID: <62692df00906020610w5521a315q926b3c0760a4f808@mail.gmail.com> Southwestern Idaho has isolated records of Western Scrub-Jay (the latest was one I found in Owyhee County in mid-May), but these birds are not "California" Scrub-Jay, but rather the quite different interior race (sometimes called Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, in this case *Aphelocoma **californica nevadea, *the subspecies common to the Great Basin). To my knowledge, no race of "California" Scrub-Jay has ever been seen in Idaho. I do have a question re: the "purity" of the jays reported from central and more eastern Oregon. *A.c.oocleptica* (California Scrub-Jay) integrates with *A.c.nevadea* in extreme western Nevada, and quite possibly also contacts *nevadea *in Malheur and Harney County, producing what might be a clinal population of "California" and "Woodhouse's" types. More extensive observation and/or photos could prove to be enlightening. ** J. Harry Krueger Boise, ID On Sun, May 31, 2009 at 12:10 PM, Rich Hoyer wrote: > Hi Jamie and All, > Nice photos, and thanks for posting them. Steve Dowlan tells me that local > birders have known of Western Scrub-Jays in Hines since he moved there a few > years ago. Looking at the online CBC data, there have indeed been birds > found on the Burns CBC most years since 2000, with a maximum of 7 a couple > years ago. I don't remember if these were mentioned on OBOL, but that would > take a bit of combing through the archives, since they aren't easily > searchable. > > I also looked through the last four years of field notes in North American > Birds. There's nearly a continual mentioning of range expansion of > "California" Scrub-Jays into eastern Washington (mostly in Yakima, with a > long-staying pair in Richland), and two records for eastern Oregon (one in > La Grande and one in Grant county, no specific location). But there is no > mention of any birds in Harney county, so this is still news to most of us. > It would be great if birders could continue to report on these and try to > document nesting, if it hasn't been already. Does anyone know if Idaho has > records of California Scrub-Jay? They should be looking for them soon, if > not. > > Good Birding, > > Rich > --- > Rich Hoyer > Tucson, Arizona > > Senior Leader for WINGS > http://wingsbirds.com > --- > > On May 28, 2009, at 11:25 PM, Jamie S. wrote: > > I have posted 3 photos of some of the 3 WSJAs I located in Burns on May > 25th (after RIch Hoyer found one on May 23rd). The only photo manipulation > I performed was to crop them. They are at: > > http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=21242&id=1533961816&l=a3c64b22f9 > > Jamie Simmons > Corvallis > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/ffb3acd6/attachment.html From calliope at theriver.com Tue Jun 2 06:45:29 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 06:45:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Photos of Burns W. Scrub-Jays In-Reply-To: <62692df00906020610w5521a315q926b3c0760a4f808@mail.gmail.com> References: <749055.30601.qm@web39506.mail.mud.yahoo.com> <9858E785-CD9C-4D2D-A480-6B3D35C2569B@theriver.com> <62692df00906020610w5521a315q926b3c0760a4f808@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <8A42584B-B29D-4D2B-B747-C5432B20A6DE@theriver.com> Hi All, It might help to understand the Hines situation if you realize that there are no Western Scrub-Jays anywhere else in Harney and Malheur counties, despite seemingly perfect Western Juniper habiata. See the Oregon Breeding Bird Atlas. Yes, there is a population that extends from the CA-NV line up into Lake County and southeastern Klamath County, but even if of the interior subspecies group (not all authors accept that A.C. nevadea is valid), it does not appear to be expanding; apparently the Western Juniper woodlands aren't so "perfect" after all. These "new" birds in eastern Oregon and Washington, however, are colonizing relatively new habitats, just as they did when they spread northward into the Willamette Valley from SW Oregon and California. As Dave Irons, suggests, read the account in Birds of Oregon: A General Reference for an even clearer picture. Good Birding Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- On Jun 2, 2009, at 6:10 AM, J. Harry Krueger wrote: > Southwestern Idaho has isolated records of Western Scrub-Jay (the > latest was one I found in Owyhee County in mid-May), but these birds > are not "California" Scrub-Jay, but rather the quite different > interior race (sometimes called Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, in this case > Aphelocoma californica nevadea, the subspecies common to the Great > Basin). To my knowledge, no race of "California" Scrub-Jay has ever > been seen in Idaho. > I do have a question re: the "purity" of the jays reported from > central and more eastern Oregon. A.c.oocleptica (California Scrub- > Jay) integrates with A.c.nevadea in extreme western Nevada, and > quite possibly also contacts nevadea in Malheur and Harney County, > producing what might be a clinal population of "California" and > "Woodhouse's" types. More extensive observation and/or photos could > prove to be enlightening. > > J. Harry Krueger > Boise, ID > > On Sun, May 31, 2009 at 12:10 PM, Rich Hoyer > wrote: > Hi Jamie and All, > > Nice photos, and thanks for posting them. Steve Dowlan tells me that > local birders have known of Western Scrub-Jays in Hines since he > moved there a few years ago. Looking at the online CBC data, there > have indeed been birds found on the Burns CBC most years since 2000, > with a maximum of 7 a couple years ago. I don't remember if these > were mentioned on OBOL, but that would take a bit of combing through > the archives, since they aren't easily searchable. > > I also looked through the last four years of field notes in North > American Birds. There's nearly a continual mentioning of range > expansion of "California" Scrub-Jays into eastern Washington (mostly > in Yakima, with a long-staying pair in Richland), and two records > for eastern Oregon (one in La Grande and one in Grant county, no > specific location). But there is no mention of any birds in Harney > county, so this is still news to most of us. It would be great if > birders could continue to report on these and try to document > nesting, if it hasn't been already. Does anyone know if Idaho has > records of California Scrub-Jay? They should be looking for them > soon, if not. > > Good Birding, > > Rich > --- > Rich Hoyer > Tucson, Arizona > > Senior Leader for WINGS > http://wingsbirds.com > --- > > On May 28, 2009, at 11:25 PM, Jamie S. wrote: > >> I have posted 3 photos of some of the 3 WSJAs I located in Burns on >> May 25th (after RIch Hoyer found one on May 23rd). The only photo >> manipulation I performed was to crop them. They are at: >> >> http://www.facebook.com/album.php? >> aid=21242&id=1533961816&l=a3c64b22f9 >> >> Jamie Simmons >> Corvallis >> > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/197d09e0/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Tue Jun 2 09:24:35 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 16:24:35 +0000 Subject: [obol] Eastern Oregon Scrub Jays In-Reply-To: <0eb993f5852152b11123c66e1c17e852@earthlink.net> References: <0eb993f5852152b11123c66e1c17e852@earthlink.net> Message-ID: Hi Lars, The birds you describe have been present (in numbers) for as long as anyone can remember. However, there is and has been no evidence to suggest that this population is expanding its range. Conversely, the range expansion of what Sibley describes as "Pacific" (subspecies californica) is well-documented and ongoing. The Bend birds are californica, which also seems to be the case with the recently arrived Burns/Hines birds. There is no source population of californica in the Great Basin that could be supplying the newly established "colonies" described above and it is a certainty that these birds are not arriving as one species and then taking on the appearance of another once they get here. As Rich Hoyer reinforces, despite seemingly ideal western juniper habitat, there are no known populations of Western Scrub-Jays in Malheur and Harney counties. In the area you describe (Adel, Lakeview, Summer Lake) the localized population seems quite stable and not advancing. I visit this area multiple times each year and I am not encountering scrub-jays in any new locales. It is a common misconception that out-of-range birds have originated from the nearest known population, regardless of geography. In this case, the documented subspecies of the birds in Bend and Burns/Hines suggests (I would say proves) otherwise. There are multiple mountain ranges and a broad high-elevation (mostly treeless and humanless) plateau (I just drove across it last week) between the Summer Lake to Goose Lake basin that would be a tough barrier for scrub-jays to cross even if the "Interior" form was to start expanding its range. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > From: gnorgren at earthlink.net > Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 21:25:01 -0700 > Subject: [obol] Eastern Oregon Scrub Jays > > I'm not convinced that Scrub Jays > had to arrive in Bend or Burns from the north > as David Irons suggests. They have long been > abundant around Lakeview and south of Adel. > About 1971 or 1972 Wayne Hoffman and I saw one > at Picture Rock Pass between Summer LAke > and Silver Lake. There is pretty much > continuous juniper forest from there to > Bend. We saw that bird in July. Birders from > Corvallis saw one in Prineville during the > winter about then as well. > As Dave says, such sighting was highly > noteworthy in those days. I had at least one > lifer (White-throated Swift) on that trip > with Wayne, but the Scrub Jay has always > stood out in my mind as the highlight. Birder > effort in that part of the state was orders > of magnitude below what it is today. We saw > the Scrub Jay in question because it flew across > the road as we travelled at highway speed. > How many more could have been lurking in the > Klamath Plum (Prunus subcordata) thickets that > stretch from Summer Lake to New Pine Creek? > Lars Norgren > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_SD_25GB_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/a8965ca3/attachment.html From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Tue Jun 2 09:56:34 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 09:56:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] A Wood Pewee from Oregon (long and boring) Message-ID: <367973.69470.qm@web30408.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Two people have suggested that the bill coloration indicates Western Wood Pewee.? I refer them to: Field Identification of Western & Eastern Wood-Pewees by Cin-Ty Lee, Andrew Birch, and Ted Lee Eubanks Quote: "One field mark that is often depicted in field guides is bill color (Fig. 6). There is a general tendency for Eastern to have a largely or completely pale-orange or pale-yellow lower mandible. In contrast, the lower mandible on Western is generally duskier, ranging from pale at the base to completely dark underneath. We emphasize that considerable care must be taken with this field mark. Some Easterns occasionally have dusky lower mandibles extending from the tip and halfway to the base of the bill, overlapping with Western?s lower mandible. In addition, some Westerns can have almost entirely pale lower mandibles. We thus caution that this field mark alone is not reliable." So the bill color of the Fields bird can be indicative of either species. I have uploaded a highly enhanced view of the Fields Pewee, showing that the tail extension is much longer than the primary extension and that the tail is held cocked below a line running along the back and primaries.? Items number 3 and 4 in summary of the above referenced article. http://www.flickr.com/photos/30397515 at N07/3589670576/ As I said yesterday, the wing bars of the subject bird were both very bold and the same off-white color.? Item number 2 in the article. In addition, the underparts Fields Pewee did not have the strongly vested appearance that is characteristic of Western Wood Pewee.? Instead the dark areas were sharply attenuated in the middle of the chest, giving way to a very pale belly.? In the bins, this effect was quite pronounced, giving the bird a horizontally banded appearance, instead of a vertically vested appearance. Item number 6 in article. Finally, there is a the fact that I took note of the bird as something unusual on May 23, and that when I first saw Mike Denny early on May 24, he was studying reference materials on Wood Pewees because he had taken note of the same bird. We both have spent several thousands of hours in the field observing birds, including hundreds of Western Wood Pewees. The gestalt of this bird caused us, indepently, to take a closer look. Leith ?Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.? Jonathan Livingston Seagull -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/bd614d16/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Jun 2 10:14:18 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (joel) Date: Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:14:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eastern Oregon Scrub Jays Message-ID: <1243962858.3425.169.camel@joel-laptop> Hello Lars & All, The idea that "California" Western Scrub-Jays reached Bend from the southeast rather than the north seems plausible enough to me. One point to consider: Just south of Adel in Nevada, the Scrub-Jays in Sheldon NWR are supposed to be Woodhouse's. I've also seen what appeared to be Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays near Cow Head Lake which is in the extreme NE corner of California -- plus a few possible Woodhouse's in the more unpopulated areas SW of Adel (away from ranchsteads, where I agree that one generally sees californica WESJs). So, while "California" birds could conceivably have made it to Bend from the Lakeview -- Summer Lake area, it's doubtful that they came from farther S/SE than that -- otherwise you run into Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays. It's not hard to imagine that "California" Scrub-Jays could have crossed into the Klamath Basin from the Weed/Shasta area by way of the Klamath Plateau, and then radiated into south-central Oregon from there. One could perhaps go back to the genetic work that the Scrub-Jay species split was based on, to see if there are additional clues in there. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis (famous type locality for Western Scrub-Jay road-kill specimens) From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Jun 2 10:38:56 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:38:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA Summer Tanager MHQ Message-ID: Graham Floyd found a subadult male SUMMER TANAGER at Malheur HQ morning trees (SE corner) this morning. Tim Rodenkirk and I also saw it. It was there for about one minute, then flew east toward the staff housing. No photos. It is half red with yellow green rear half. WW DOVE continues at Frenchglen, seen today at the corral on the extreme north end of town. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From ammodramus at comcast.net Tue Jun 2 10:53:24 2009 From: ammodramus at comcast.net (ammodramus at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 17:53:24 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] RFI - Clark's Grebe, Clark's Nutcracker, Tricolored Blackbird Message-ID: <1630878812.3966021243965204402.JavaMail.root@sz0113a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> OBOL's, I will be visiting Oregon with a group from NJ & Pennsylvania June 3-14. Can anyone help with current info on the below 3 species: Clark's Grebe - We understand the water levels are very low at Malheur. Are there any Clark's there currently? Any other locations for them in the Bend area, on the way from Bend to Burns, or near the LaGrande area? Clark's Nutcracker - With road closures because of snow, are there any locations reachable in the Cascades near Sisters or further south near Salt Creek Falls where we'll be trying for Black Swift? Tricolored Blackbird - Any current locations near Sisters, Bend, Forest Grove, or Corvallis? Our last trip to Oregon in 2006, we got directions to a colony at Prineville (I think it was Barnes Butte Lake?). many thanks, Tom Tom Bailey Tabernacle, NJ ammodramus AT comcast.net (609)410-0082 (cell) From lammergeiereyes at aol.com Tue Jun 2 11:04:35 2009 From: lammergeiereyes at aol.com (lammergeiereyes at aol.com) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 11:04:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI - Clark's Grebe, Clark's Nutcracker, Tricolored Blackbird In-Reply-To: <1630878812.3966021243965204402.JavaMail.root@sz0113a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> References: <1630878812.3966021243965204402.JavaMail.root@sz0113a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <89D1E4E1-C39E-41AE-9FB7-5841A77D2EE7@aol.com> Two weeks ago there were 50 nutrackers in the burn at spring creek. They shouldn't be hard anywhere in the blues-wallowas-elkhorns. Good luck, Blake Sent from my iPhone On Jun 2, 2009, at 10:53 AM, ammodramus at comcast.net wrote: > OBOL's, > > I will be visiting Oregon with a group from NJ & Pennsylvania > June 3-14. Can anyone help with current info on the below 3 species: > > Clark's Grebe - We understand the water levels are very low at > Malheur. > Are there any Clark's there currently? Any other locations for them > in the > Bend area, on the way from Bend to Burns, or near the LaGrande area? > > Clark's Nutcracker - With road closures because of snow, are there > any locations reachable in the Cascades near Sisters or further > south near Salt Creek Falls where we'll be trying for Black Swift? > > Tricolored Blackbird - Any current locations near Sisters, Bend, > Forest Grove, > or Corvallis? Our last trip to Oregon in 2006, we got directions to > a colony > at Prineville (I think it was Barnes Butte Lake?). > > many thanks, > > Tom > > Tom Bailey > Tabernacle, NJ > ammodramus AT comcast.net > (609)410-0082 (cell) > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Jun 2 11:14:15 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:14:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI - Clark's Grebe, Clark's Nutcracker, Tricolored Blackbird In-Reply-To: <1630878812.3966021243965204402.JavaMail.root@sz0113a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: I am at Malheur right now. Clark's is tough. We have seen none owing to low lake levels (lake is too far away to be scoped). Try Benson Pond on the refuge, but have low expectations. Benson is otherwise excellent birding. Clark's is normally easy along sw part of Upper Klamath Lake, but that may be out of your reach. Watch OBOL for local RBAs. Mosquitos are a significant factor at all Malheur sites now. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: > Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 17:53:24 +0000 (UTC) > To: > Subject: [obol] RFI - Clark's Grebe, Clark's Nutcracker, Tricolored Blackbird > > OBOL's, > > I will be visiting Oregon with a group from NJ & Pennsylvania > June 3-14. Can anyone help with current info on the below 3 species: > > Clark's Grebe - We understand the water levels are very low at Malheur. > Are there any Clark's there currently? Any other locations for them in the > Bend area, on the way from Bend to Burns, or near the LaGrande area? > > Clark's Nutcracker - With road closures because of snow, are there any > locations reachable in the Cascades near Sisters or further south near Salt > Creek Falls where we'll be trying for Black Swift? > > Tricolored Blackbird - Any current locations near Sisters, Bend, Forest Grove, > or Corvallis? Our last trip to Oregon in 2006, we got directions to a colony > at Prineville (I think it was Barnes Butte Lake?). > > many thanks, > > Tom > > Tom Bailey > Tabernacle, NJ > ammodramus AT comcast.net > (609)410-0082 (cell) > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Jun 2 11:24:44 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 11:24:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wanted: Barn Owl flight & feather photos Message-ID: <20090602112444.977alkhd0k8wg8c4@webmail.thebirdguide.com> I have been contacted by the art department of a journal to see if I could locate among my contacts (you) a flight photo of a Barn Owl, plus a close-up of a flight feather showing its unique structure for silent flight. If a you have a flight photo and feather of another NOCTURNAL owl species, they may consider that instead. Please contact me directly if you think you might have something that will work. Thank you, Greg Gillson greg at thebirdguide.com From winkg at hevanet.com Tue Jun 2 12:40:33 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 19:40:33 +0000 Subject: [obol] Fw: RBA: Gray Catbird, Wasco Co. Message-ID: <2041779471-1243971608-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-1123851855-@bxe1077.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -----Original Message----- From: "Wink Gross" Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 19:22:16 To: OBOL Subject: RBA: Gray Catbird, Wasco Co. Andy Frank, John Fitchen and I are listening to and occasionally glimpsing a GRAY CATBIRD on Kelly Springs Rd in Pine Grove. GPS: 45 05.908N, 121 22.440W Wink Gross Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry From mazoerr at gmail.com Tue Jun 2 12:48:43 2009 From: mazoerr at gmail.com (Ann Chamberlain) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 12:48:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Linn County Golden Eagle In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <202f23ed0906021248k647b9b3au32c4356fd3cb902d@mail.gmail.com> We have an adult Golden Eagle (or a pair but we never see more than one at a time) that we see with some regularity. Two years ago, we flushed in an immature Golden up along Myrtle Creek. Sometimes, it is hard to tell the golden from the turkey vultures in the area, but generally, the golden soars higher and follows the ridge line east into the Umpqua Nat'l Forest. The vultures nest around us and generally circle. So when we see a big bird gliding down the ridge line, we grab the binocs and almost always, it is the golden. We are always glad to see the bird (s). Ann outside Myrtle Creek On Mon, Jun 1, 2009 at 10:51 PM, Norgren Family wrote: > Randy's sighting today reminds me > of my own experiences with Golden Eagles in the > Willamette Basin. For years I dismissed all large > raptors in the distance during warmer months > as Turkey Vultures. Statistically, this is of > course correct. Better than 99% probably are. > But it began to dawn on me that Golden Eagles > might be more likely confused with vultures > than with Bald Eagles. I've spent a lot > of time looking at vultures since, and once in > a great while they turn out to be Eagles. > The ever growing number of Bald Eagles adds > to the challenge. They were once a winter > novelty, but now are a fixture of summer in > some parts of the Willamette Basin. > Yesterday I saw one (an adult) while looking > for Mountain Quail. This was at the head of > Sadd Creek, one of the tributaries of Killin > Wetland. The first summmer sighting I have > made in these hills. One sees so many Bald > Eagles some winter days now that it is tempting > to ignore them in favor of "better" birds. > Lars Norgren > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/2d41c08c/attachment.html From bcombs232 at gmail.com Tue Jun 2 13:24:02 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 13:24:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eastern Oregon Scrub Jays In-Reply-To: References: <0eb993f5852152b11123c66e1c17e852@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <8ce3a6520906021324r33d174f2h1be65f8836df6841@mail.gmail.com> During Breeding Bird Atlas work, I found a scrub jay in the junipers along the road that goes up to Table Rock, between Silver Lake and Christmas Valley. It flew away before I got a really good look at it. When I went back to to relocate it and other potential breeders, I could not find it again. This bird could have been a wanderer. There are many relatively untraveled roads in the area between Christmas Valley and Burns. It might be a simple matter for birds to slip through the area undetected. On Tue, Jun 2, 2009 at 9:24 AM, David Irons wrote: > Hi Lars, > > The birds you describe have been present (in numbers) for as long as anyone > can remember. However, > there is and has been no evidence to suggest that this population is > expanding its range. Conversely, the range expansion of what Sibley > describes as "Pacific" (subspecies *californica)* is well-documented and > ongoing. The Bend birds are *californica, *which also seems to be the case > with the recently arrived Burns/Hines birds. There is no source population > of *californica *in the Great Basin that could be supplying the newly > established "colonies" described above and it is a certainty that these > birds are not arriving as one species and then taking on the appearance of > another once they get here. > > As Rich Hoyer reinforces, despite seemingly ideal western juniper habitat, > there are no known populations of Western Scrub-Jays in Malheur and Harney > counties. In the area you describe (Adel, Lakeview, Summer Lake) the > localized population seems quite stable and not advancing. I visit this area > multiple times each year and I am not encountering scrub-jays in any new > locales. > > It is a common misconception that out-of-range birds have originated from > the nearest known population, regardless of geography. In this case, the > documented subspecies of the birds in Bend and Burns/Hines suggests (I would > say proves) otherwise. There are multiple mountain ranges and a broad > high-elevation (mostly treeless and humanless) plateau (I just drove across > it last week) between the Summer Lake to Goose Lake basin that would be a > tough barrier for scrub-jays to cross even if the "Interior" form was to > start expanding its range. > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > From: gnorgren at earthlink.net > > Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 21:25:01 -0700 > > Subject: [obol] Eastern Oregon Scrub Jays > > > > I'm not convinced that Scrub Jays > > had to arrive in Bend or Burns from the north > > as David Irons suggests. They have long been > > abundant around Lakeview and south of Adel. > > About 1971 or 1972 Wayne Hoffman and I saw one > > at Picture Rock Pass between Summer LAke > > and Silver Lake. There is pretty much > > continuous juniper forest from there to > > Bend. We saw that bird in July. Birders from > > Corvallis saw one in Prineville during the > > winter about then as well. > > As Dave says, such sighting was highly > > noteworthy in those days. I had at least one > > lifer (White-throated Swift) on that trip > > with Wayne, but the Scrub Jay has always > > stood out in my mind as the highlight. Birder > > effort in that part of the state was orders > > of magnitude below what it is today. We saw > > the Scrub Jay in question because it flew across > > the road as we travelled at highway speed. > > How many more could have been lurking in the > > Klamath Plum (Prunus subcordata) thickets that > > stretch from Summer Lake to New Pine Creek? > > Lars Norgren > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > ------------------------------ > Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. Get it on your > BlackBerry or iPhone. > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/ae35d79d/attachment.html From judie310hansen at comcast.net Tue Jun 2 13:27:58 2009 From: judie310hansen at comcast.net (Hansen Judith) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 13:27:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA- Yellow-throated Warbler Message-ID: > My son, David Irons just called and asked me to post this - he had a > call from David Vander Pluym > > Yellow-throated warbler at Netarts (Tillamook County) > > David Vander Pluym and Lauren Harter found a singing male, yellow- > throated warbler, from several yard near the post office along the > main road in town just north of Crab Avenue. If interested in > chasing or more details, call David at 831-247-6176. > > From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Tue Jun 2 13:56:06 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 14:56:06 -0600 Subject: [obol] White-throated Swift Message-ID: <4DD3DD6B8FCB49B3B7A5D12072076DA8@larryPC> Yesterday while returning home from a fishing trip on the Owyhee River I saw one White-throated Swift. There is part of the track that goes sideways on the canyon that I walk rather than ride, also with all the rain we have had the wild flowers were blooming. While bent over getting a close up the sound of wings rushed by me. The Swift made another pass and then worked it's way down the canyon. After we got home our resident Say's Phoebe started its alarm cheep. At first we thought the cat was out, but there was nothing visible. When Larry checked our automatic mouse trap he found the source of alarm. The Phoebe's are tolerant of us going in and out but the "Bull" snake was not a welcome or nice visitor. He was on the opposite wall and trying to find away over to the nest.Larry took him to the edge of the pool and dropped him. He then tried to climb up the rocks there on his way back. So Larry took him to the creek where there are other things to eat. He can come back after the babies are on the wing. Karen In true SE Or. south of Burns Jct. in Malheur Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/bd3e89c9/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Jun 2 16:58:11 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 16:58:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] more on eastside Aphelacoma Message-ID: <151e09fd22431bf145d1e97e29ecc9e0@earthlink.net> I recall someone posting two summers ago that they scared a Scrub Jay off a nest on Hart Mtn.. It was in a Big Sage (Artemesia tridentata) bush. Someone else posted a sighting of a Scrub Jay on the road between Adel and Denio, probably that same summer. What is the latinate trinomial of Woodhouse's Jay these days? My first edition of Gabrielson and Jewett has it as "woodhousi". Has it been replaced by "nevadae"? I spent a full day on foot where the road from Adel to Ft Bidwell crosses the California line in June of 1984. I saw many Scrub Jays and they struck me as the one I am used to here in NW Oregon. This was nowhere near human habitation. I spent a day on foot at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon southeast of Salt Lake City in February of 1976. THe Scrub Jays there were clearly a different animal from my prior experience, above all their calls. LArs Norgren From TECBray at aol.com Tue Jun 2 17:08:19 2009 From: TECBray at aol.com (TECBray at aol.com) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 20:08:19 EDT Subject: [obol] A Compliment for OBOL Message-ID: Apparently there is a thread on the South Dakota list serve at present regarding new birders asking questions on the bird line. This reply was sent to me by a friend in the midwest and I thought I'd share it with other OBOLites. I've always felt it a privilege to be a part of OBOL. I have received help many times over the years. So thanks to OBOL and keep up the good work. Tanya Bray Corvallis As we roam the country, full-timers in a motorhome with our home base in Rapid City, I have the opportunity to participate in many birds-on-line groups. One of the most interesting, and educational, is the Oregon BOL. Not only are sightings posted, but when someone asks for help in an ID, the replies are posted on OBOL with an explanation of why the particular ID is made. Others may chime in with a different ID because they look at other characterisitcs of the bird. As the discussion evolves, all are helped to become better birders and build confidence in one's own abilities. I hope that SD BOL does not become a sightings only, my FOY bird type of group. I find it helpful if birders list all the species thye see in an area. Why? Because some of us have not seen particular species common to an area or habitat. Al Brockway Rapid City currently in Livingston, MT **************We found the real ?Hotel California? and the ?Seinfeld? diner. What will you find? Explore WhereItsAt.com. (http://www.whereitsat.com/#/music/all-spots/355/47.796964/-66.374711/2/Youve-Found-Where-Its-At?ncid=eml cntnew00000007) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/a80d74d6/attachment.html From lamberson.janet at epa.gov Tue Jun 2 17:53:01 2009 From: lamberson.janet at epa.gov (lamberson.janet at epa.gov) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 17:53:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] White pelicans and Brant in Tillamook Bay In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: This afternoon there were about 20 white pelicans fishing in Tillamook Bay. At one point they took off but settled again in the south portion of the bay - don't know how long they may stay. There were also 16 Brant geese along the southern portion of the outer spit of the bay. Janet Lamberson Newport OR From lamberson.janet at epa.gov Tue Jun 2 18:00:15 2009 From: lamberson.janet at epa.gov (lamberson.janet at epa.gov) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 18:00:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI - Clark's Grebe, Clark's Nutcracker, Tricolored Blackbird In-Reply-To: References: <1630878812.3966021243965204402.JavaMail.root@sz0113a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: Clark's Nutcrackers were at the Cabin Lake guzzlers near Fort Rock last week (May 25). This is sort of between Bend and Burns. Pinyon jays and Pygmy Nuthatches were also there, along with Cassin's Finches, Western Bluebirds, Robins and Red Crossbills. Janet Lamberson Newport OR |------------> | From: | |------------> >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |Alan Contreras | >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |------------> | To: | |------------> >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |------------> | Cc: | |------------> >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |obol | >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |------------> | Date: | |------------> >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |06/02/2009 11:24 AM | >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |------------> | Subject: | |------------> >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |Re: [obol] RFI - Clark's Grebe, Clark's Nutcracker, Tricolored Blackbird | >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| I am at Malheur right now. Clark's is tough. We have seen none owing to low lake levels (lake is too far away to be scoped). Try Benson Pond on the refuge, but have low expectations. Benson is otherwise excellent birding. Clark's is normally easy along sw part of Upper Klamath Lake, but that may be out of your reach. Watch OBOL for local RBAs. Mosquitos are a significant factor at all Malheur sites now. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: > Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 17:53:24 +0000 (UTC) > To: > Subject: [obol] RFI - Clark's Grebe, Clark's Nutcracker, Tricolored Blackbird > > OBOL's, > > I will be visiting Oregon with a group from NJ & Pennsylvania > June 3-14. Can anyone help with current info on the below 3 species: > > Clark's Grebe - We understand the water levels are very low at Malheur. > Are there any Clark's there currently? Any other locations for them in the > Bend area, on the way from Bend to Burns, or near the LaGrande area? > > Clark's Nutcracker - With road closures because of snow, are there any > locations reachable in the Cascades near Sisters or further south near Salt > Creek Falls where we'll be trying for Black Swift? > > Tricolored Blackbird - Any current locations near Sisters, Bend, Forest Grove, > or Corvallis? Our last trip to Oregon in 2006, we got directions to a colony > at Prineville (I think it was Barnes Butte Lake?). > > many thanks, > > Tom > > Tom Bailey > Tabernacle, NJ > ammodramus AT comcast.net > (609)410-0082 (cell) > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From scre at aol.com Tue Jun 2 18:57:55 2009 From: scre at aol.com (scre at aol.com) Date: Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:57:55 -0400 Subject: [obol] RBA- Yellow-throated Warbler Message-ID: <8CBB205D8D2EDA2-DDC-24AB@MBLK-M17.sysops.aol.com> Thank you for getting the word out.? Unfortunately the bird was a typical spring migrant in that it didn't stick around long enough for me to run back to the house and grab my camera.? I arrived home from work a little after one to be greeted by an interesting Dendroica song.? The bird was singing from trees right next to the Post Office in Netarts.? Unfortunetly it didn't stick in these trees but moved north fairly rapidly singing.? Lauren finally got on it, in some trees in someones yard about a block north of Crab Av.? This was also where we last had it, though we searched the surrounding neighborhood and north along the highway (course by then it could have been halfway to Cape Mears).? It had been singing frequently up until then so I think it did take off quite a distance.? Glad I got home when I did!? Good birding all David Vander Pluym Netarts, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/ce4f5ff9/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Jun 2 19:49:19 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:49:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Saddle Mt - 6/2/2009 Message-ID: <4A25E4AF.7060606@pacifier.com> Steve Warner, Kathleen Sayce and I hiked up Saddle Mt today through intermittent showers and 15 to 20mph winds (NOAA lied). Our main mission was accomplished, however, as we did find MOSS'S ELFINS and plenty of early spring wildflowers. Photos at: http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Blue Grouse Rufous Hummingbird Northern Flicker Pacific-slope Flycatcher Warbling Vireo Steller's Jay Common Raven Violet-green Swallow Chestnut-backed Chickadee Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Swainson's Thrush American Robin Varied Thrush Hermit Warbler Wilson's Warbler Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red Crossbill Total number of species seen: 20 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From windypointandy at dishmail.net Tue Jun 2 20:10:11 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 20:10:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eastern Oregon 1:Upland Sandpiper search in Bear Valley. 21-22 May Message-ID: <00b001c9e3f8$dbc2efb0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> EASTERN OREGON 21-27 MAY 2009 UPLAND SANDPIPER SEARCH IN BEAR AND LOGAN VALLEYS. (21-22 MAY). Leaving Yakima at 7:30 pm, we headed southeast through Pendleton, then wound our way south along US-395 over at least four passes to camp at Starr Campground south of John Day. The campground was cast in a pall of dense smoke from controlled burns. I felt like pressing on but decided the worst that might occur was all our clothes and vehicle smelling smoky. Right away we heard several FLAMMULATED OWLS "booting." Before dawn we drove east a couple miles to a steep sidehill by the highway edge to hear DUSKY GROUSE give its mild-mannered single hoot and a lone WILD TURKEY gobble. Northern Pygmy-Owls, easy to hear a month ago, were not talking. Heading south on US-395 the next morning we soon entered Bear Valley, an expansive area of montane meadow with sedge meadows and shallow wetlands in low areas and grazed shrub-steppe on minor uplands, surrounded by dry forest (ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir). In wet areas we soon encountered bugling SANDHILL CRANES and displaying WILLETS and LONG-BILLED CURLEWS. Wilson's Snipes called everywhere. We headed to the oft-mentioned Upland Sandpiper junction 5.8 miles west on US-395 on Scotty Lane (2 miles north of Seneca), arriving right at dawn. Outside, amid a cacophony of calling birds (Willets, Long-billed Curlews, snipes, cranes, swallows, and blackbirds) we strained to pick up the "wolf whistle" call of the Upland Sandpiper. After an hour, both thoroughly chilled (23 degrees F!), we admitted defeat and drove west along Scotty Lane to upland habitats: meadows and forests. We spent a couple very birdy hours finding lots to see. A stretch of forest opening 3.5 miles to the west of this junction was great for woodpeckers (WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER, Downy, Hairy, and WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS, and flickers), CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS, Red-breasted and PYGMY NUTHATCHES, Mountain Bluebirds, Townsend's Solitaires, and Cassin's Finches. At noon we ventured east to Logan Valley, reputed to be "one of the most beautiful valleys in all of Oregon." It certainly was a beautiful vale, bathing in glorious sunshine and verdant with fresh greens of spring. It certainly appeared less grazed than Bear Valley; this pleased us. Exhaustion overtook us and we napped at the campground. After awakening, along the east edge of the main campground we noted Hammond's Flycatcher, Cassin's and Warbling Vireos, and Yellow, Yellow-rumped, and macGillivray's Warblers. Another jaunt took us up to the old lookout atop Flagtail Peak. Birds were not much in evidence (save a late migrant SHARP-SHINNED hawk) but billowing smoke from a "controlled burn" (really?) filled the sky. Along Scotty Lane at dusk, we briefly saw a GREAT GRAY OWL perch atop a split rail fence as it hunted a meadow near a large clump of aspen and willows surrounded by this stout old fence. We camped here hoping a Long-eared Owl might hoot away during the night but did not have such good fortune. Before dawn the 22 May we again set up vigil at the Scotty Lane junction for Upland Sandpiper and again had no luck hearing or seeing this bird. Has overgrazing by cattle, of which there are bazillions here, contributed to the decline of this species as a breeder in eastern Oregon? Were we here too early in the season? Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/bdd728b6/attachment.html From scre at aol.com Tue Jun 2 20:13:41 2009 From: scre at aol.com (scre at aol.com) Date: Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:13:41 -0400 Subject: [obol] Eastern Oregon Scrub Jays Message-ID: <8CBB2106E1B8AA5-10F4-20F9@webmail-dx17.sysops.aol.com> I thought that I would chime in on the interesting discussion of Scrub Jays in Oregon.? The AOU is considering a proposal to split Woodhouse (Aphelocoma woodhouseii), California (Aphelocoma californica), and Sumichrast Jays (Aphelocoma (w.?) sumichrasti southern Mexican taxa unlikely to be split at this time) from what is now Western Scrub Jay (Jon Dunn pers com), mostly based off a paper in the Oct 2008 Auk, but also based off unpublished data as well.? The paper states that the only contact zone between Woodhouse (A. w.? nevadae) and California (A. c. oocleptica) is in mountains of Douglas County in western Nevada, though hybrid specimens are also from the south-eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains (Grinnell and Miller 1944) and possible also in southern California.? The paper found that the taxa are paraphyletic with California Scrub Jay being more closely related to Island Scrub Jay (which the paper supported the split of) than with Woodhouse.? Now onto birds in this region.? In California there are no confirmed records that I am aware of, of Woodhouse Scrub Jay north of Alpine County (which is south of Lake Tahoe).? The birds in Modoc County (extreme NE California) are California (John Sterling pers com, Delaney, et al 2008), though in the Surprise Valley there could be an occasional wandering Woodhouse (which is actually pretty much true anyware).? This population of California Scrub Jays extend north to the Lakeview area of Oregon and further north (I believe gathering from Oregon Birds and postings here) to the Silver Lake, Christmas Valley area.? To me, not knowing that area (Christmas Valley), it seems as likely a source for the Burns/Hines birds as Bend, course the point is sort of moot we will not know where they came from, just that there are California Scrub Jays there now.? Woodhouse Scrub Jay in Oregon status in Oregon seems more complicated, I gather there are specimens from Steens Mountain area from birds believed to have wandered there.? To me these seem to be the best evidence of Woodhouse Scrub Jay in Oregon (they also occur due south in Nevada).? Birds from Hart Mountain and Adel area seem possiblly Woodhouse (coming in from the south east), but as California is the only one really known (proven? at least in California) from the other side of the Warner Mountains it would seem to need more work done to fully understand the status of the two in this area.? Unless there is a population of Woodhouse Scrub Jays in this area, it would seem that in Oregon Woodhouse is only an occasional visitor, with all other populations being California Scrub Jay.? Woodhouse Scrub Jays in Idaho are coming in from NE Nevada and northern Utah, a different area from the potential birds in Oregon (which would be coming in from NW or central Nevada).? ? For a good paper on there id see the featured photo in Western Birds Vol 32, #3, 2001 (Garrett and Dunn 2001) http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/wb/v32n03/index.php Good Birding David Vander Pluym Netarts, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/1868228e/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Tue Jun 2 20:12:44 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 20:12:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eastern Oregon 2. Malheur Headquarters Area. 22 May Message-ID: <00b701c9e3f9$36d37780$3700a8c0@windypoint99> MALHEUR HEADQUARTERS AREA (22 MAY). Heading south once again at mid-morning on the 22nd the obligatory stop at Idlewild Campground produced our first Of many GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES, a handsome bird indeed. Brown Creeper, Pygmy and White-breasted Nuthatch, and RED CROSSBILL were other birds of the dry forest we noted. Descending down to Burns, we noticed right away the basin had gone a transformation since our visit 6 weeks ago: water! The agricultural fields, mostly bone dry and brown earlier in spring, were now bright green and flooded. Where marsh and water birds were scarce earlier, now every field held wading birds and waterfowl. We headed straight to the sewage lagoons. Our favorite vantage is the platform at the west end of the fairgrounds. In morning light, viewing was excellent. Our best birds here were a pair of COMMON GOLDENEYES along with a lingering (injured?) ROSS'S GOOSE. A loose flock of 45 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, busy twirling like tops, was a highlight also. Our first of many FRANKLIN'S GULLS, with one BONAPARTE'S were here also along with Eared Grebes and a sprinkling of other diving ducks including Lesser Scaup Redhead, and Canvasbacks. The news of vagrants at Malheur NWR headquarters was that it was "slow." For us, the place is always a huge draw, simply because of the wildlife spectacle the region hosts. Birders are drawn to this site like nowhere else in the Pacific Northwest. Slowly working the ornamental plantings we did see a wide selection of the expected Neotropical migrants (Black-chinned Hummingbird, Western Wood-Pewee, Western Kingbird, Cassin's and Warbling Vireos, Orange-crowned, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Townsend's, and Wilson's Warblers, Western Tanager, Lazuli Bunting, and Black-headed Grosbeak. Short distance migrants included Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin, Yellow-headed Blackbird, and Brown-headed Cowbird. In the nearby sag elands, we noted SAGE THRASHER, BREWER'S SPARROW, and a couple LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES. Raptor Alley," north and south from New Princeton, was almost as good for diurnal birds of prey on this trip as it was in April. In 30 minutes we noted several Northern Harriers, five SWAINSON'S, 10 Red-tailed and three FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, and two GOLDEN EAGLES. West along OR- 78 west of Crane near the hot springs turn off we noted a pair of BURROWING OWLS at their nesting burrow by the side of the highway. >From here we headed southeast towards McDermitt for the night. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/4af1d1f0/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Tue Jun 2 20:16:00 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 20:16:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eastern Oregon 3. Virginia Warbler's Search. 23-24 May Message-ID: <00be01c9e3f9$a75e0b50$3700a8c0@windypoint99> VIRGINIA'S WARBLER SEARCH # 1 IN THE OWYHEE UPLANDS (23 MAY). Birds of Oregon (Marshall et al.) mention a spot "10 miles northeast of McDermitt" in southeastern Malheur County as a site for Virginia's Warbler. Pouring over our Oregon DeLorme and TOPO Oregon, I noted several patches of green below rim rock at the head of Wood Creek and along upper Tenmile Creek. It was dusk when we reached McDermitt. We struck off on a dirt track northeast and ascended the dusty slope (eight LONG-BILLED CURLEWS and a just fledged Red-tailed Hawk) to the base of the "Owyhee Uplands." Navigating by our noses, we climbed and descended several minor ridges through grazed sage lands (native bunchgrasses appeared largely gone) flushing a hen GREATER SAGE-GROUSE. This bird was very reluctant to move more than a few yards so we pressed on not wishing to disturb it in case it had a nest here. Climbing into a ravine drained by Shearing Cross Creek (dry), the road degenerated into a very rough 2-track. We camped hereI was awakened at 2:20 am, first by a BLACK-THROATED SPARROW, then a Lark Sparrow! Though these birds went quiet I could not go back to sleep. At 5 am, a COMMON POORWILL began calling, then Rock Wrens and Western Meadowlarks. We got up, made some coffee and had cereal then set off to find the Black-throated Sparrow, always a treat. This proved easy though lighting was too dim for a good photo. As the 2-track was too rough for our vehicle and the way up on foot to the "green patch on the map" seemed uncertain we retreated down hill and headed north on US-95. This decision nagged at me and at the Antelope Valley turnoff not far to the north, we decided to try again for the fabled Virginia's Warbler from the north as a "unmaintained road" was depicted on the maps. The initial stretch was on a well- graded gravel road. At a road cut, we flushed a BURROWING OWL. As we climbed habitat quality improved dramatically as the cover of weedy invasives diminished. At the ridge crest we left the "good road" and embarked on what proved to be the roughest, most difficult 30-mile drive we have ever endured. To be sure there were stretches that were okay but for many miles we literally crawled along the track. At one point I think Ellen was close to tears. The birding was super though! Along a stretch of ridge where soils were thin and cover of leafy forbs great, we encountered 15 male GREATER SAGE-GROUSE. Where the soils were slightly deeper, a "dwarf sagebrush" community hosted many Horned Larks, SAGE THRASHERS and BREWER'S and VESPER SPARROWS, and Western Meadowlarks. At one stop in yet deeper soils with tall sagebrush and many tall fence posts, we had a singing GRAY FLYCATCHER. As we crawled along this track eventually a few mountain mahogany trees dotted the ridgecrest off to the west. We trekked off to this grove to see what we could find. A pleasant 20-minute amble through the sagelands brought us to the rimrock and mountain mahogany grove. As we peered over the rimrock, to our surprise, was a basin mantled in mountain mahogany trees, possible habitat for our target bird! Down in the slope we noted a small basin with a stock pond above Wild Rose Spring. Excited we set to work looking for our target. Birds that appeared to be breeding here included: Violet-green Swallow, House and Rock Wrens, two BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, singing BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, Lazuli Bunting, GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, and Chipping Sparrow. Migrants were about too: Orange-crowned and Townsend's Warblers, CASSIN'S FINCH, and Pine Siskins. Though we spent an hour at this airy perch with expansive views all-round, no Virginia's Warblers showed. We were reluctant to leave this beautiful spot, truly one of the high points, both literally and figuratively, of our Oregon adventure. Southward on the 2-track we endured yet another hour crawling along the very rocky track. After what seemed an eternity, we descended into a bowl with a wet sedge meadow (Savannah Sparrow) and a stock pond bordered by willows (oriantha White-crowned Sparrows) and met two pickups with ORVs. This was the first time I can ever recall rejoicing at the sight of quads out in the "wilderness!" Two couples from Nevada had made their way from McDermitt on the track ahead so we knew we could make it out too. We talked in the mosquito-filled hole and when sufficiently reassured the way ahead ("two hours to make 10 miles") was doable we set off. It was as bad as the 22 miles we had just negotiated but no worse. Actually the worst part of this journey was finding McDermitt. Once out of the rugged canyon and onto the broad bajada, we evidently took a wrong fork and found ourselves veering away from McDermitt and entering Nevada. After opening and closing a number of gates we finally blundered onto US-95 south of town Whew! VIRGINIA'S WARBLER SEARCH # 2 IN THE OREGON CANYON AREA (23-24 MAY). Heading west toward Fields on the Whitehorse Ranch Road, on a lark we turned left (south) into the Trout Creek Mountains (~3.5 miles east of the Whitehorse Ranch entrance cattle guard) for another try at Virginia's Warbler. Are we gluttons for punishment? The 15-mile gravel track to Twin Buttes, another area with brush fields and mountain mahogany was via a veritable superhighway compared to that on the Owyhee Uplands we had just survived. The only area of rough track was near Mud Springs and that was not really a challenge. The route ia on a dry to wetter gradient. Shrub-steppe habitats at lower elevations (4500-5500 feet elevation) near Whitehorse Road appeared dry and overgrazed (native grasses scarce or absent). Passerines seen in this zone included: Lark and SAGE SPARROW, Western Meadowlark, and Brewer's Blackbird. Once upslope of the "Wilderness Study Area" boundary range conditions dramatically improved with an abrupt increase in native bunchgrasses, a truly a beautiful landscape. Birds noted here included Northern Harrier, many Horned Larks (especially dwarf shrub-steppe), SAGE THRASHERS, BREWER'S and VESPER SPARROWS. No doubt Greater Sage-Grouse frequent this zone though we did not blunder upon any. Western Meadowlarks, surprisingly, were scarce or absent in this verdant shrub-steppe. We camped on the north flank of Twin Buttes (7600 feet elevation) by a grove of bushy mountain mahoganies, adjacent to a big patch of buck brush with grassy slopes nearby. Lovely habitat indeed. And the views! COMMON POORWILLS awakened me with their mellow calls. A short time later Chukars called from the slopes. Rock Wrens were also common on the steep, rocky slopes. At dawn, drummings from a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER echoed from far below in the depths of the adjacent canyon, grown to a lush aspen stringer. We spent the early morning of the 24th thoroughly canvassing the mountain mahogany thickets around Twin Buttes. We observed one VIRGINIA'S WARBLER but heard none singing. Perhaps the birds were just arriving? There were birds everywhere in these thickets. We noted the following species singing and apparently on territory in this habitat: Dusky Flycatcher (likely the most common bird), CASSIN'S VIREO, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (at least four pairs), BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, and Chipping Sparrow. A small patch of buck brush (Ceanothus sp.) held singing FOX SPARROWS. We traipsed the broad area of aspens on the southeast side of Twin Buttes which was very birdy too, with the following species noted singing: RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, Northern Flicker, Dusky Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Violet-green Swallow, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, House Wren, HERMIT THRUSH, American Robin, White-crowned Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Brown-headed Cowbird. Species presumed to be migrants included: Warbling Vireo, Orange-crowned, MacGillivray's, and Wilson's Warblers, Western Tanager, Cassin's Finch, Pine Siskin, and Evening Grosbeak. Aerialists we spotted included Red-tailed Hawk, White-throated Swift and Common Raven. On our descent we lingered about the aspen grove 1 mile east of Mud Springs. Migrants such as Dusky Flycatcher, House Wren, Orange-crowned, Yellow, MacGillivray's, and Wilson's Warblers, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, White-crowned Sparrow. The sage lands 100 yards to the north with scattered mountain mahoganies were alive with birds: GRAY FLYCATCHER, BUSHTIT, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (one pair here), BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, and Chipping Sparrow. We left the Oregon Canyon quite awestruck. This is one truly fabulous area! We hope politics allow further cessation in grazing by cattle. This place deserves formal and total protection. Heading towards Fields, we were treated to a violent thunderstorm with howling north winds, and hail, Dust from vehicles along the gravel road were blowing sideways forming a banner a quarter-mile wide, Beaufort 7 or higher! Fortunately, the storm was brief and the moments later calm returned. In Fields we asked about access to the famous vagrant trap and were directed across the roadway and through the opening in the fence. Who should be bump into but Mike Denny! happened to be there as was Leitreaya (?) A couple big "fuzz-ball" Great Horned Owl chicks clung to big willow branches right over us. The vagrant news was meager, an American Redstart in Cottonwood Canyon. Mike and MerryLynn took us there to find that "state bird" for us. Well, we had no luck on the redstart but we did see and hear at least three BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS in the open sage lands just across the track from the primitive campground. As we were walking the bank top by the creek, MerryLynn walked within one foot of a coiled Western Rattler in runners (no socks). The serpent didn't flinch, let alone rattle. Sharp-eyed Mike was following her right behind and noted the beast saying his growing up in East Africa taught him to keep ever alert for "out of place shapes and patterns." We headed off to Frenchglen to camp and check out the scene there. En route, not far north of Roaring Springs Ranch (mouth of either Black or Kueny Canyons) where western junipers come close to the Catlow Valley Road, we stopped to listen for BLUE-GRAY GNATCHERS which the Denny's had had on occasion there. My iPod brought them right in. For Ellen and I, these were our sixth pair of these mites this trip. Arriving in Frenchglen in early evening, we headed first towards the P Ranch to hopefully spot a SHORT-EARED OWL. Well, we hadn't gone a quarter mile when Ellen said "there's one." Boy, wouldn't it be swell if this bird was so easy elsewhere? We camped in the junipers a couple miles up from Frenchglen. Our first of season COMMON NIGHTHAWKS bleated overhead and as dusk settled in, COMMON POORWILLS and CHUKARS began calling. During the night I awakened to a "booting" owl. I nudged Ellen and called it a Long-eared, based on habitat. As we listened I quickly corrected myself as this was a FLAMMULATED OWL! On mentioning this to Mike the next morning, apparently others have noted calling Flams in the juniper groves here or nearby hinting a few might breed in this habitat, unusual indeed. The dawn chorus in this lovely grove included COMMON POORWILLS, GRAY AND ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS, and Chipping Sparrows. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/908e34ce/attachment.html From heinjv at charter.net Tue Jun 2 20:20:26 2009 From: heinjv at charter.net (Jim & Vikki Hein) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 20:20:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Douglas County Tricolors Message-ID: <50C4648651344AA49BF4C928B1891E2D@MAIN> Obol, I took a walk this morning along Ford's Pond in Sutherlin and found a small flock (8 birds) of TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS. I had seen 8 birds on March 26 but had not seen them since. It has been several weeks since I walked the pond so they may have been around but they seen to be back now. I also saw a breeding plumage DUNLIN along the shore line of the pond. I have not seen them in June in Douglas County before. Good birding Jim Hein From windypointandy at dishmail.net Tue Jun 2 20:20:01 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 20:20:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eastern Oregon 4. Malheur South and Juniper Titmouse Search. 25-26 May Message-ID: <00d001c9e3fa$368a1d00$3700a8c0@windypoint99> MALHEUR SOUTH (25 MAY). We all checked out a report of a Chestnut-sided Warbler noted at Barnes Springs a mile south of Frenchglen with no luck. We did find lots of Yellow Warblers, pewees, Warbling Vireos, and a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER. A very nice spot! We and the The Denny's parted as they needed to be home in Walla Walla that evening. Ellen and I spent a glorious three hours along the Malheur Center P Auto Tour Route north from the P Ranch. By 10 am our list for the day passed 100. The south end of Malheur NWR is indeed birdy! Actually, we thought this to be the best marsh birding we had in Malheur NWR that we've found. We found hundreds of WHITE-FACED IBIS, had close views of GREAT EGRETS, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, a lone SNOWY EGRET and four FORSTER'S TERNS. We had our first of season EASTERN KINGBIRDS and WILLOW FLYCATCHERS here too. JUNIPER TITMOUSE SEARCH NEAR ADEL (25 MAY). Reluctantly, we climbed up and out of the Blitzen Valley above Frenchglen and headed southwest (cruising right by Hart Mountain NWR (heresy you say?) towards Adel, reputed "Kingdom of the Juniper Titmouse," a local and uncommon species in Oregon. Our progress was slowed only a couple of times. One was to spy a PRAIRIE FALCON, the only one of our trip, on a power pole in barren-appearing farm field en route to Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge. West of Adel we traipsed up and across a rocky slope along the highway where Deep Creek veers away from OR -140. Quite soon Ellen had a fleeting view of a Juniper Titmouse in a big western juniper. This bird soon quit the scene flying west along the slope. We could not relocate it so we hiked up into the gully (at almost Milepost 22) where the junipers grow closer together. Still no luck. A BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER was our reward for this trek across and up this hot slope. We retreated to our vehicle and went back to Adel. Another site mentioned recently on OBOL was a creek side grove of junipers 9.1 miles south of Adel so we headed there and poked about this pretty grove along meandering Twentymile Creek. The grove by the creek was totally "dead" save for a chattering Bullock's Oriole. Scanning the area, I suggested a hike up a nearby mountain that appeared densely mantled with junipers. This seemed a totally rationale plan given the heat, our luck so far, and that it was obviously siesta time for all living creatures, right? Ellen sort of went along with this crazy idea. We drove 0.2 mile farther south along the road and parked by a cattle guard, downed lots of liquid and set off up a side hill at first in sagebrush (evidence of heavy grazing with abundant weedy annuals forming the groundcover), then into junipers, roughly paralleling a ravine on the north flank of "Peak 5390' southwest of Twentymile Creek. ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, Rock Wren, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, Chipping Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco (breeders here?) were the only birds we noted at a point where we stopped (42.03.836 N 119.58.525 W) at about 5100 feet elevation to discuss the possibility this was a totally stupid venture. Just at that moment, we noted our quarry, two JUNIPER TITMICE, one carrying food (or so it appeared) in its bill! We watched the bird enter a rotten heart in a sawed-off juniper stump. Our initial assumption of this behavior was an adult bringing food to the nest. The bird promptly flew off up the ravine with the other. We quickly retreated 30 yards and sat in the shade on the steep side hill and waited for the birds to return. After 30 minutes, the birds had not returned though from time to time we heard them calling softly not far off, though not in an agitated manner that might indicate we were disturbing them. We then examined the cavity in the juniper and saw no evidence it was a nest so now assumed the titmouse was foraging or seeking nesting material. This seems plausible as Birds of Oregon (Marshall et al.) states, based on a few observations, that breeding occurs later, in June. Discussion of habitat preferences for Juniper Titmouse in Birds of Oregon for Juniper Titmouse states mature juniper woodland without any mention of habitat quality or other structural characteristics. This particular north-facing site, exhibited a good cover of native bunchgrasses (Poa, Psuedogenaria, and Festuca) that hints other features may be important, especially for breeding territories of this species. Such may be the case if insects for young birds is important during nesting for this titmouse. North-facing areas throughout the American West, to my thinking, have proven more resilient to the onslaught of grazing pressure that leads to widespread cover of weedy invasives. We headed to Klamath Falls for the night feeling the need to be in the neighborhood for a Yellow Rail search the next morning. Pizza and a motel broke our six-nights of camping; this was good! Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/1960d7c6/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Tue Jun 2 20:23:48 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 20:23:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eastern Oregon 5. Yellow Rail and Cascade Lakes. (26 May). Message-ID: <00d901c9e3fa$bfbb92c0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> YELLOW RAIL AND CASCADE LAKES (26 MAY). We awoke at 2:45 am and headed north to Klamath Marsh NWR and enjoyed a near-mystical half hour at the crack of dawn listening to all the fabulous marsh sounds. Our fist YELLOW RAIL ticked away at Milepost 4.7 on the Silver Lake Highway. We had two more along the next 1.5 miles, though several stops revealed none. AMERICAN BITTERNS "pumper-lunked," SORAS called from every stop, Tree Swallows performed their lovely flight songs and blackbirds called. At most stops, GREAT HORNED OWLS hooted away from the distant forest edge.The night sky was black save for a sliver of dawn in the northeast, so the star show was fantastic too. We had a rendezvous with the Salt Creek Falls Black Swifts so blasted north to OR-58, listening for Northern Waterthrush without success (a drumming RUFFED GROUSE was good though) at the Little Deschutes River crossing reaching the falls by 7 am. The gate was shut to the falls so we trudged the half-mile to the overlook, missing the swifts. HERMIT WARBLERS and GRAY JAYS were trip birds and consolation. I was surprised at how dry the forest under story here was, lacking the roots and brushy component of most Cascade passes in Washington, where Winter Wrens are a sure bet there. Despite effort here and at Santiam Pass the next day, Winter Wrens eluded us on this trip. We decided to explore the Cascade Lakes and return to Salt Creek Falls that evening. The south end of Davis Lake, rated by Evanich (Birder's Guide to Oregon, truly an elegant work) a "four Star" at this season is now largely a burn (2003). We found five species of woodpeckers: RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, and HAIRY, WHITE-HEADED, BLACK-BACKED and PILEATED WOODPECKERS. A number of the lakes were good for RING-NECKED DUCKS and BUFFLEHEADS. We spent a very pleasing couple hours along the Osprey Point Interpretive Trail on Crane Prairie Reservoir, sharing with a couple of beginning birders from Maryland: nesting BALD EAGLES, OSPREY piping overhead, a female HOODED MERGANSER slowly floating by, and agitated SPOTTED SANDPIPERS in the sedges. In the lodgepole pine forest along the way, we shared tiny GOLDEN-CROWNED and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, BROWN CREEPERS, and a HAIRY WOODPECKER. This was a great trail for sharing both big showy birds and wee little ones! We truly felt privileged to be with interested folks immersed in this beautiful spot. Northward along the Cascade Lakes Loop, we stopped at the Deschutes River Bridge and heard an AMERICAN DIPPER singing under the bridge, evidently its nest site. Cool! We toured the area north to Hosmer Lake, finding more of the same diving ducks noted at Davis and Crane Prairie and adding SORA. All in all, this was a very pleasing birding trail. But the Black Swifts called us back so we reversed our tracks and headed back to Salt Creek Falls. We found a trail down to the falls overlook from the west end of the guardrail above this site and took our stove and dinner down the slope to have supper while we waited for the swifts. We saw our first BLACK SWIFTS at 7:40 pm. Our maximum count at one time was eight. We noted several coming close to the falls but, try as we could, did not actually see any go behind the falls. At 8:30 pm, we could find none in the sky so wonder if these birds do not roost behind the falls when they first return in spring but rather in a tree or? We camped in mature second growth forest on the north flank of Odell Butte hoping for a Spotted Owl. As has been our experience a number of times this spring, we have found only BARRED OWL, as one hooted away in the distance. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/d0503eae/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Tue Jun 2 20:26:31 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 20:26:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eastern Oregon. Sisters Area. 27 May. Message-ID: <00e001c9e3fb$1f4baf40$3700a8c0@windypoint99> SISTERS AREA (27 MAY). Calliope Crossing outside Sisters was our venue on our last morning. The hummer was easy but we decided to get greedy and try for an American Redstart, reputed to occur here at least occasionally. Well, we had no luck on that warbler but on returning to our vehicle, we met an East Cascades Bird Conservancy (ecbcbirds.org) "Wednesday Morning Birdwalk." Rich Hoyer, on his WINGS tour, had found a Northern Waterthrush in the riparian growth here so we joined the group to try for this rarity. No luck, Ellen and I were now "zero for three" in our quest for Eastern warblers having tried for redstart, waterthrush, and Chestnut-sided. We were now feeling decidedly deficient in vagrant birding. Oh well. The group invited us to join them and we spent a delightful morning birding an aspen glade near Prairie Farm Spring east of Green Ridge. A singing PURPLE FINCH was notable here. NORTHERN GOSHAWK was another notable find on this trek. We checked out a recent burn for woodies for the upcoming Sisters Woodpecker Festival without a whole lot of luck but did find WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER. Judy Meredith shared some burn sites off the McKenzie Pass Highway to hopefully find the American Three-toed Woodpecker reported there. We gave it a good go, though it was slow in the mid-day heat. We found several HAIRY, at least three BLACK-BACKED (including a nest hole with a textbook beveled lower lip), and one WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER, several WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS, but no American Three Toe. This species is the only woody we lack for Oregon. It's becoming clear the abundance of both "3-toes" is reversed here from that in Washington. Up north, American Three-toes are usually easier to find than Black backs. A short jaunt over Santiam Pass to Lost Lake for Barrow's Goldeneye and a cursory stop by the willows just in case a waterthrush was singing. Barrow's yes, waterthrush no, so.finis! Off to Washington and work the following morning with 193 species on our week-long eastern (well a couple just west of the Cascade crest) Oregon trip. Once again (now a broken record), we have to say Oregon has a huge number of fantastic birding and natural venues! Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/ad5de198/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Tue Jun 2 20:40:12 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 20:40:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Douglas County Tricolors In-Reply-To: <50C4648651344AA49BF4C928B1891E2D@MAIN> References: <50C4648651344AA49BF4C928B1891E2D@MAIN> Message-ID: I had just the opposite experience with Tricolored Blackbirds today. I checked for them at the Prineville location and they were absent. They have been at this spot for over a month. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim & Vikki Hein" To: "'obol '" Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 8:20 PM Subject: [obol] Douglas County Tricolors > Obol, > I took a walk this morning along Ford's Pond in Sutherlin and found a > small > flock (8 birds) of TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS. I had seen 8 birds on March 26 > but had not seen them since. It has been several weeks since I walked the > pond so they may have been around but they seen to be back now. > > I also saw a breeding plumage DUNLIN along the shore line of the pond. I > have not seen them in June in Douglas County before. > > Good birding > Jim Hein > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From andy.frank at kp.org Tue Jun 2 20:39:24 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 20:39:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gray Catbird photo, and Wasco Cty Common Tern Message-ID: As previously reported, Wink Gross, John Fitchen and I found a GRAY CATBIRD on Kelly Spring Rd, near Pine Grove in Wasco County today. Wink already posted the coordinates. If heading west on Kelly Springs Rd, one comes to a small lake on the right hand side of the road. Not visible from that spot is a small lake on the left hand side. The bird was hanging out in some bushes and small trees near the lake. It was very vocal, but rather secretive allowing only brief looks. Photos are at http://andyfrank.blogspot.com/. Also of note were some findings at wetlands off Price Road, which in turn is off Wamic Market Road. There were 2 small terns on the lake that appear to have been COMMON TERNS. The view was distant, but we watched them with our spotting scopes and the light was pretty good. When they flew the wings appeared all gray on top, and the belly also appeared gray. There was a fair amount of black on the tips of the wings. It was too far to see the bill. The overall impression was of a bird more gray than white. There were lots of YELLOW-HEADED and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS there. Wink got a brief look at one bird that was possibly a TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD, but the bird dove into some tall grasses and was not refound for confirmation. Andy Frank From jonysky101 at aol.com Tue Jun 2 21:03:01 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:03:01 -0400 Subject: [obol] What Hawk Message-ID: <8CBB21752D9093B-344-2D52@webmail-mh12.sysops.aol.com> I was at Salish pond today and yesterday, and saw my first Cedar Waxwings, but that is not what this post is about. I got some shots of a Raptor, I thought it was an Osprey at first, but it's behavior was more like a Red Tailed hawk. Diving toward trees and getting the other birds up and trying to mob it. Then another joined it and the worked like a pair, but then another 2 showed up, and there a 4 of these guys over and around the same pond. I haven't found a hawk in my books that looks like it. The wings seem to narrow for the ones in the book. I have 6 photos at this link, they aren't great but give a pretty good reference. I appreciate any input from the group. Isn't it rare for for than 2 raptors to be hunting the same area? http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/sets/72157619087182611/ Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090603/2b9695e5/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Tue Jun 2 21:19:26 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 21:19:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] What Hawk In-Reply-To: <8CBB21752D9093B-344-2D52@webmail-mh12.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBB21752D9093B-344-2D52@webmail-mh12.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F022180A8@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> Johnny: You have some good shots of Osprey John Gatchet Gresham ________________________________ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of jonysky101 at aol.com Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 9:03 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] What Hawk I was at Salish pond today and yesterday, and saw my first Cedar Waxwings, but that is not what this post is about. I got some shots of a Raptor, I thought it was an Osprey at first, but it's behavior was more like a Red Tailed hawk. Diving toward trees and getting the other birds up and trying to mob it. Then another joined it and the worked like a pair, but then another 2 showed up, and there a 4 of these guys over and around the same pond. I haven't found a hawk in my books that looks like it. The wings seem to narrow for the ones in the book. I have 6 photos at this link, they aren't great but give a pretty good reference. I appreciate any input from the group. Isn't it rare for for than 2 raptors to be hunting the same area? http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/sets/72157619087182611/ Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or ________________________________ Wanna slim down for summer? Go to America Takes it Off to learn how. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/edc2e1b1/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Tue Jun 2 21:48:30 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 21:48:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seneca Upland Sandpiper - negative report #2 Message-ID: Like Andy & Ellen Stepniewski, I tried to see UPLAND SANDPIPER at Bear & Logan Valleys. Third year is a charm, right? On May 30th, I waited at the Scotty Creek junction from 5-7am and then drove over to Logan Valley until 9am. On June 1st, I did reverse with the same results. It is a beautiful place with lots of other good birds and mammals. In the same binocular field, I had Pronghorn, Mule Deer and Elk at the Logan Valley overlook. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/054ba150/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Tue Jun 2 22:14:25 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 22:14:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: eBird Report - beulah reservoir , 5/31/09 In-Reply-To: <303567384.1244005871298.JavaMail.root@ruff.ornith.cornell.edu> References: <303567384.1244005871298.JavaMail.root@ruff.ornith.cornell.edu> Message-ID: Came close to breaking that 100 mark in an afternoon. Great place and nice looking county. Too bad its so far. Russ > Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 01:11:11 -0400 > From: do-not-reply at ebird.org > To: namitzr at hotmail.com > Subject: eBird Report - beulah reservoir , 5/31/09 > > > > Location: beulah reservoir > Observation date: 5/31/09 > Notes: I birded the gravel road from Juntura to Beulah Reservoir. The Ross's Geese were in the pastures north of the reservoir with Canada Geese. > Number of species: 81 > > Ross's Goose 2 > Canada Goose 30 > Gadwall 40 > American Wigeon 2 > Mallard 75 > Cinnamon Teal 30 > Northern Shoveler 15 > Northern Pintail 8 > Green-winged Teal 2 > Canvasback 1 > Redhead 10 > Ring-necked Duck 5 > Lesser Scaup 10 > Ruddy Duck 5 > California Quail 6 > Pied-billed Grebe 1 > Horned Grebe 2 > Eared Grebe 30 > Western Grebe 50 > Clark's Grebe 2 > American White Pelican 40 > Great Blue Heron 1 > White-faced Ibis 1 > Turkey Vulture 3 > Red-tailed Hawk 3 > American Kestrel 4 > American Coot 25 > Sandhill Crane 4 > Killdeer 15 > American Avocet 20 > Spotted Sandpiper 5 > Willet 15 > Long-billed Curlew 5 > Wilson's Snipe 25 > Wilson's Phalarope 35 > Franklin's Gull 30 > Ring-billed Gull 10 > Rock Pigeon 15 > Eurasian Collared-Dove 2 > Mourning Dove 30 > Common Nighthawk 5 > Belted Kingfisher 1 > Northern Flicker 3 > Western Wood-Pewee 5 > Willow Flycatcher 2 > Say's Phoebe 3 > Western Kingbird 10 > Eastern Kingbird 5 > Loggerhead Shrike 2 > Black-billed Magpie 15 > Horned Lark 2 > Violet-green Swallow 5 > Northern Rough-winged Swallow 10 > Cliff Swallow 50 > Barn Swallow 20 > Rock Wren 3 > House Wren 3 > Marsh Wren 5 > Mountain Bluebird 2 > American Robin 30 > Sage Thrasher 2 > European Starling 10 > Cedar Waxwing 5 > Yellow Warbler 20 > Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 > Common Yellowthroat 2 > Yellow-breasted Chat 4 > Chipping Sparrow 5 > Lark Sparrow 6 > Savannah Sparrow 10 > Song Sparrow 4 > Lazuli Bunting 5 > Red-winged Blackbird 20 > Western Meadowlark 30 > Brewer's Blackbird 50 > Brown-headed Cowbird 50 > Bullock's Oriole 20 > House Finch 5 > Lesser Goldfinch 5 > American Goldfinch 2 > House Sparrow 5 > > This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/604cd327/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Tue Jun 2 22:30:12 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 22:30:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yellow Rail Summer Lake In-Reply-To: <00d901c9e3fa$bfbb92c0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> Message-ID: <4a260a58.1c078e0a.7af8.07e7@mx.google.com> Hi Obol: While Craig and I were standing on our property at Summer Lake we heard three YELLOW RAILS. What a nice yard bird. Does anyone else in Oregon have Yellow Rail on their yard list? Marilyn Miller No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.50/2150 - Release Date: 06/02/09 06:47:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/d579e911/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Tue Jun 2 22:58:50 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:58:50 -0400 Subject: [obol] looking for Lazuli Bunting or Western Tanager near Portland. Message-ID: <8CBB2278064E745-344-2F45@webmail-mh12.sysops.aol.com> I have been trying to run across the Lazuli Bunting or Western Tanager somewhere in the Portland area, with out much luck. I would be grateful if someone could point me in the right direction. I can go out Wed and Thurs this week if I get some good leads. Thanks. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090603/c81867b6/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Tue Jun 2 23:23:10 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 02:23:10 -0400 Subject: [obol] Buxton Cassin's Vireo (Washington Co) Message-ID: There was a singing Cassin's Vireo at 7:30pm today right where the Banks-Vernonia State Trail runs into Bacona Rd. This is right by the Buxton parking area for the state trail; the address "24600 NW Bacona Rd, Buxton, OR" will get you the approximate location. Cassin's Vireo is a rare breeder in the county. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_SD_25GB_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090603/720a5c27/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Wed Jun 3 06:17:19 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:17:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry birds Message-ID: <4A2677DF.9060509@verizon.net> 6/1 Coos Bay North Spit Coos Cty One WESTERN KINGBIRD was on South Beach near the North Jetty Coos Bay North Spit on Monday. 6/2 We had 3 HEERMAN'S GULLS yesterday along New River, all in Curry Cty but no doubt soon in Coos Cty from their location. First of year, there have been many many BROWN PELICANS passing over the past few days (actually most of the spring!). Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Jun 3 06:49:27 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 06:49:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Buxton Vireo Message-ID: I'm glad one is still at the Linear park trailhead. I saw one very well in early May. It was the peak of migration and I didn't know if it would stick around. The habitat preference of this species in this part of Oregon is for a grove of tall Douglas-firs surrounded by trees half their height. This means the singing male is audible from a considerable distance, but usually hard to see well due to their great height above the ground. This was solved for me by the TRAIN TRESTLE. A long abandoned narrow-gauge railroad was the foundation of this linear park, and the Buxton trestle was not only kept, but made accessible to wheelchairs, bicycles, you name it. This railroad bridge is 100s of meters long, and higher than the tallest trees where it crosses Mendenhall Creek. Look down on the tops of fully grown alders, deep into the canopy of Big-leaf Maples as high as a four story house! There is a line of tall firs at the east end of the parking lot. The CASSIN'S VIREO I saw was moving back and forth on this line at mid-height. It was singing and feeding and eventually would land on the tree closest to the trestle. I was able to observe it with the sun at my back, at my eye level, only 15m away. Lars Norgren This might be a good stop when going to or coming from the coast, even with non-birders. The parking lot is no more than a mile off Hwy 26 (Sunset Hwy) and at 30-40 minutes from Downtown Portland and 50=60 minutes from Hwy 101 is a good place for a break. Buxton is a cute town, much like Peoria. The trip to the trailhead takes you right through the center of the village. Alas, Buxton's citizens are far less tolerant of natural plant succession than Peoriagonians and its many vacant lots are host to rough lawns only. From jeffandlaurettayoung at comcast.net Wed Jun 3 06:52:54 2009 From: jeffandlaurettayoung at comcast.net (Young) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 06:52:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] looking for Lazuli Bunting or Western Tanager near Portland. In-Reply-To: <8CBB2278064E745-344-2F45@webmail-mh12.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBB2278064E745-344-2F45@webmail-mh12.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: We saw lazuli buntings at Powell Butte Nature Park last Saturday They tend to hang out near summit is scrubby bushes We also saw there black headed grosbeaks, bewick's wrens, kestrels , lots of towhees and quail Have fun Lauretta and Jeff Young http://portlandbirdwatching.com there is a free guided bird walk there this Sat sponsored by Audubon- June 6 8-11 _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of jonysky101 at aol.com Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:59 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] looking for Lazuli Bunting or Western Tanager near Portland. I have been trying to run across the Lazuli Bunting or Western Tanager somewhere in the Portland area, with out much luck. I would be grateful if someone could point me in the right direction. I can go out Wed and Thurs this week if I get some good leads. Thanks. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or _____ Wanna slim down for summer? Go to America Takes it Off to learn how. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090603/3221c6f5/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Jun 3 06:59:00 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 06:59:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] looking for Lazuli Bunting or Western Tanager near Portland. In-Reply-To: References: <8CBB2278064E745-344-2F45@webmail-mh12.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: The SAndy Delta has been a good spot for Lazuli Bunting in past years. Sometimes they seem to be one of the commonest birds, out towards the east where it is mostly grass, with occasional thickets. For Western Tanager, Learn the vocalizations! It is a far more common bird than many people realize in nw Oregon. They spend their time high in the trees, and the song and call are both unobtrusive, but totally diagnostic. Once you know these sounds, you may be surprised to find how widespread they are. Lars Norgren On Jun 3, 2009, at 6:52 AM, Young wrote: > > We saw lazuli buntings at Powell Butte Nature Park last Saturday > ? > They tend to hang out near summit is scrubby bushes > ? > We also saw there black headed grosbeaks, bewick?s wrens, kestrels , > lots of towhees and quail > ? > Have fun > ? > Lauretta and Jeff Young > http://portlandbirdwatching.com > ? > there is a free guided bird walk there this Sat sponsored by Audubon? > June 6 8-11 > ? > ? > ? > > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of > jonysky101 at aol.com > Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:59 PM > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] looking for Lazuli Bunting or Western Tanager near > Portland. > ? > I have been trying to run across the Lazuli Bunting or Western Tanager > somewhere in the Portland area, with out much luck. I would be > grateful if someone could point me in the right direction. I can go > out Wed and Thurs this week if I get some good leads. Thanks. > Johnny Sasko > Sandy, Or > ? > > Wanna slim down for summer? Go to America Takes it Off to learn how. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From pointers at pacifier.com Wed Jun 3 07:50:21 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 07:50:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lost 8-inch tripod at Ridgefield Message-ID: <20090603145021.C0DE96B9A0@smtp2.pacifier.net> hi ... if anyone finds/found an 8-inch black small "table top" tripod made by "Manfrotto" --- it's mine ... lost it somewheres at Ridgefield River "S" sunday evening ... possible "lost" locations could be the Kiwa Trail parking lot, the Kiwa Trail, that east side of Rest Lake where we were out of the car looking for Bonapartes (5 were there BTW) or the area around the kiosk ... please keep your eyes open ... thanks, Lyn Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Wed Jun 3 07:51:49 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 07:51:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] a clearer picture, please Message-ID: <001601c9e45a$f0b84ed0$12db63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: With all the talk about Woodhouse's and California and Nevada scrub jays by very learned voices, I'm sitting here nearly clueless about what y'all are talking about. Yesterday I tried to search the web for the difference between these forms. It was hard to find a picture of a "Woodhouse's" scrub jay. I did find a website with a Texas bird compared to a California bird... I found a website with a Kenn Kaufman article, but I wasn't a member of whatever it took to see the thing. I found some verbal discriptions. Gray vs white. Bluer. Incomplete necklace.... Can someone put up good pictures of the two morphs so those of us who don't know can see what you folks are talking about? Thanks, Paul T. Sullivan P.S. Oh, and while you're at it, could you post some good pictures of the difference between the titmice (Oak vs. Juniper), the wrentits, and the bushtits? Oh, and the fox sparrows too. Thanks. From peterpatricelli at comcast.net Wed Jun 3 08:00:26 2009 From: peterpatricelli at comcast.net (peterpatricelli) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 08:00:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eye candy - a pair of Bullock's Orioles on a nest. Message-ID: <958F11E311E242009722038129E7AB05@PeterGateway> Hardly rare, but otherwise the darn things don't hold still very long. Photo's near Wamic. http://www.flyfishingfotography.com/bullockso_001.htm Peter Patricelli -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090603/1ebb8181/attachment.html From jorrie at peak.org Wed Jun 3 08:31:21 2009 From: jorrie at peak.org (Jorrie & Ken) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 08:31:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Towhee & Window Message-ID: <6BDBC15D-4B25-4859-B850-DB3D2001E539@peak.org> We have a SPOTTED TOWHEE that has, for the past THREE days, flies into the windows continuously from sunrise to sunset. Apparently, he is quite frustrated. I've tried turning on the inside house lights, but he continues to throw himself at the window. If anyone has any suggestions as to how to get him to stop, please let us know. This cannot be good for him. Maybe someone could encourage a female to stop by to distract him from the windows and set him on a new direction? Thank you for any suggestions. Jorrie & Ken Ciotti Waldport, OR From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Jun 3 08:43:31 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (joel) Date: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:43:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Scrub-Jays in tri-state area of CA-NV-OR Message-ID: <1244043811.3428.87.camel@joel-laptop> Hello folks, This has been an interesting discussion. I'd just like to clarify my comments about the possible occurrence of Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays in the tri-state region where California, Nevada and Oregon come together. In the various times I've visited this area (starting around 1987, and particularly around the time when I surveyed several Nevada Breeding Bird Atlas blocks in 2000), upward of 95% of the Western Scrub-Jays that I've seen were clearly "California" type. That includes the all of the scrub-jays that I've seen in the Surprise Valley (Cedarville, California area), and in the Warner Valley (Adel-Plush area) with its side drainages leading up Hart Rim, and also south along Twentymile Creek to within 2 or 3 miles of the California border. Most Scrub-jays in the Deep Creek drainage and up Greaser Canyon on the Coleman Rim to the east along Hwy 140 also seem to be relatively bright birds with distinct "necklaces." The places where I've seen more grayish scrub-jays, with less apparent "necklaces," that I thought seemed like good candidates for Woodhouse's, were: - Little Sheldon area of Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada (this is the west end of the refuge, and has some of the most interesting habitat if you like old-growth junipers); - In the jumbled dry terrain north of Fort Bidwell in California, not far from of Cow Head Lake; These birds struck me as much more wary than the "California" scrub-jays and were encountered well away from ranches & riparian growth. I've seen a couple of similarly very wary jays in Oregon that did not offer good looks, but which struck me as being less well marked than typical "California" scrub-jays. The locations that I recall are: (1) in steppe with widely spaced junipers a couple of miles east of the Big Valley/Long Canyon/Fifteenmile Creek spot that I've been recommending for Juniper Titmouse and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher for some years now, south of Adel and about 4-5 miles west of the Ft. Bidwell that runs up Twentymile Creek. (2) (less convincing) in a ravine on the north side of Deep Creek. In addition, a couple of years ago I asked a couple of OSU ornithologists who were banding in Sheldon NWR in Nevada, as to what subspecies of scrub-jays they were finding in the Little Sheldon area, and they stated that these were Woodhouse's. I've forgotten their names, and as I recall they weren't focusing on scrub-jays, so I don't know if any systematic work has been done on the Sheldon scrub-jays. My hypothesis/hunch is that the ranges of California and Woodhouse's scrub-jays may be intercalated in this area, with Californias occupying the more heavily wooded & more riparian areas, on relatively small territories, and Woodhouse's occupying the drier and more sparsely wooded areas, with accordingly much larger territories, so they are much less frequently encountered. I suspect that the most definitive answers will come from field work in NW Nevada, rather than in Oregon or California (which seems to be on the very fringe of the situation). Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Wed Jun 3 08:46:57 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (barbara.millikan at gmail.com) Date: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:46:57 +0000 Subject: [obol] Daylight great horned owl sounds Message-ID: <0016364c5983c32411046b739127@google.com> Yesterday morning and afternoon, several great horned owls were calling continuously on our property. It sounded like two males and one or two females. I did not walk out into the woods to see what the noise was about, but there was not a chorus of corvids mixed in, so I was wondering if the daylight sounds had something to do with fledging. Can anyone enlighten me? Barbara -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090603/4c9a85df/attachment.html From ed.mcvicker at comcast.net Wed Jun 3 09:04:24 2009 From: ed.mcvicker at comcast.net (Ed McVicker) Date: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:04:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Towhee & Window In-Reply-To: <6BDBC15D-4B25-4859-B850-DB3D2001E539@peak.org> References: <6BDBC15D-4B25-4859-B850-DB3D2001E539@peak.org> Message-ID: <4A269F08.7050000@comcast.net> No solution to offer, but I do have a variation of this reflected rival phenomenon that links to the earlier "birds can recognize individuals" thread discussed on obol. Our SW Portland resident Spotted Towhee daily can be seen driving away his competitor in car mirrors in at least four neighboring driveways. That includes at least 7 cars with 14 mirrors that are splattered with his mark. Busy guy. Last week, when we returned home in our silver Honda, the Towhee flew out of a rhodie along the driveway and into an overhanging maple above the car. He was obviously agitated by the arrival of the car. He waited until I unloaded the car and entered the house before heading straight for the mirror. The Towhee reminded me of our old dog who knew the sight/sound of our car and would be standing in the driveway to greet us when we turned in. What I don't know is if the Towhee recognized our specific silver Honda that always "housed" his rival or if he's learned that his rival could enter via any car that turned into the driveway. Ed McVicker Portland Jorrie & Ken wrote: > We have a SPOTTED TOWHEE that has, for the past THREE days, flies into > the windows continuously from sunrise to sunset. From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Jun 3 09:12:26 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 09:12:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tri-state Scrub Jays Message-ID: I'd like to preface this post with a general endorsement of the whole Warner Mtn area in eastern Lake County. Scrub Jay ambiguity is just one example of the interesting and partly explored biological diversity of the area. Biota typical of the Cascades, Great Basin, Sierra Nevada, and Blue Mtns(Northern Rockies by extension) are intercalated everywhere. Many people visit Hart Mtn.. They might want to consider budgeting more time to spend in the area to its west as well. Several of the 8000ft summits of the Warner peaks can be reached by car. I specifically recommend Drake's Peak. I first visited the localities mentioned by Joel when I was seven. Fifteen years later, while living in voluntary exile in darkest, dampest Norway I felt a poignant longing for Twenty-mile Creek. When I did return there, it was after spending the night at Mud Springs Campground, north of Hwy 140 (Winnemucca to the Sea Highway)at the base of Drake's Peak. There I got my first lifer while still in bed- Black-backed Woodpecker. I never planned to start my Great Basin adventure with a boreal bird. The point I wanted to make is that juvenile scrub jays are rather dull colored birds. I'm not implying that others' postings regarding the Woodhouse's Jay might be bad IDs. Just a cautionary note. An inordinate amount of birding takes place in summer months when grungy young scrub jays are most numerous. Given their intelligence, Corvids are very rarely road kills. Every Scrub Jay I've examined on the tarmac is invariably a juvenile, sometime between July and September. Lars Norgren From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Jun 3 09:14:08 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (joel) Date: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:14:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Woodhouse's & California Scrub-jays Message-ID: <1244045648.3428.103.camel@joel-laptop> Hello Paul & All, Sorry I can't offer photos, but if you have the Sibley guide, you can look at his illustrations of the "Interior" vs. "Pacific" to see the distinction that some of us have tried to describe in words. The "Interior" form shown by Sibley, at least the way I've interpreted this, is the type that is variously called Woodhouse's, subspecies nevadae, woodhouseii etc. The "Pacific" form is the "California" type (ssp. californica, with a host of synonyms). An additional tidbit: From the Birds of Oregon: A General Reference, I see that some scrub-jay specimens from southern Lake Co. (collected around 1986?) were classified as woodhouseii by Browning (2002), so this gives a little more weight to the idea that a few tendrils of Woodhouse's scrub-jay range poke into Oregon in this area. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From SJJag at comcast.net Wed Jun 3 09:16:05 2009 From: SJJag at comcast.net (SJJag at comcast.net) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 16:16:05 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Towhee & Window In-Reply-To: <6BDBC15D-4B25-4859-B850-DB3D2001E539@peak.org> Message-ID: <1829435618.120461244045765228.JavaMail.root@sz0081a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Ed's? post captured the essence of the problem, that male Towhee is trying to drive away his "rival" his reflection. Common enough breeding season behavior and annoying in some cases.? Lots of stories about Robins, Towhees, Song Sparrows and others doing this Removing the reflection is the most effective solution I know of. Covering the OUTSIDE of the windows with something so he can not see himself seems to be the best. There are reflective mylar tape/ribbon products that discourage birds from some things, it is light, reflective and drifts in the breeze.? But, him seeing his rival is the big deal.? With luck the behavior is only several days long.? Good luck. Steve Jaggers Milwaukie, Or. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jorrie & Ken" To: "OBOL" Sent: Wednesday, June 3, 2009 8:31:21 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [obol] Towhee & Window We have a SPOTTED TOWHEE that has, for the past THREE days, flies into ? the windows continuously from sunrise to sunset. Apparently, he is ? quite frustrated. I've tried turning on the inside house lights, but ? he continues to throw himself at the window. If anyone has any ? suggestions as to how to get him to stop, please let us know. This ? cannot be good for him. Maybe someone could encourage a female to stop by to distract him from ? the windows and set him on a new direction? Thank you for any ? suggestions. Jorrie & Ken Ciotti Waldport, OR _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090603/1b566e45/attachment.html From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Wed Jun 3 10:25:39 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 11:25:39 -0600 Subject: [obol] Complaint! Message-ID: <5B3FB2D9CBCA4734BF5ECA37D644895B@larryPC> I just received a call from the manager of Crystal Crane Hot Springs, (24 miles south of Burns,Or on hwy 78) who was quite distressed by the actions of some passing "Birders" who were crowding and thus distressing a nesting Burrowing Owl, who is nesting near their property. It seems that each year, over zealous bird watchers cause the general public heartburn over their efforts to obtain an even better photo of birds. Keep in mind that the nesting birds are not able to flee when their personal space is invaded, and your actions may well be the cause of the "violated" bird to move to a quieter area next year. Bird watching is generally thought to be a "non consumptive" sport, but that does not apply in all cases. With all the optical equipment that most birders carry there is no need at all to crowd a nesting bird. For those who might be interested, Crystal Crane Hot Springs is a nice place to stay, close to Malheur Refuge and other bird rich environments. They have camping and tent spaces as well as rooms to rent. The hot springs pool is very nice in the evenings for relaxation. Larry Cottrell Burns Jct,Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090603/c8449ac7/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Jun 3 10:41:52 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 10:41:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] a clearer picture, please [Western Scrub-Jay] Message-ID: <20090603104152.ig5b2pdpcg480408@webmail.thebirdguide.com> A post on Western Scrub-Jay that I wrote several days ago was published this morning. (I often write several posts on the same day and then delay the publishing to space them out for the periods when I don't have time to write anything immediately.) As this is a piece written with a more beginning birder audience in mind, it doesn't specifically address all the differences between the interior (Woodhouse's or Nevada race) and the West Coast (California) race. It does have a fairly decent photo of the California race and a discussion of the range expansion that has been taking place in the Pacific NW for the last century, at least, and the more recent (1990's) explosion. http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/ Recent posts: In the backyard... Western Scrub-Jay (June 3) Barrow's Goldeneye at Lost Lake, Oregon (June 2) In the woods... Black-throated Gray Warbler (June 1) What bird is that?... Questions and answers (May 30) At the pond... Common Yellowthroat (May 28) Bird Festival... Mono Basin Chautauqua (May 26) Next scheduled posts: Backyard Birds of... Midway, Utah (June 6) What bird is that?... Questions and answers (June 9) At the pond... Red-winged Blackbird (June 12) In the backyard... House Sparrow (June 15) Backyard birds of... Campbell, British Columbia (June 18) And don't forget Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Scrub-Jay Photos of Woodhouse's Jay from Utah http://www.flickr.com/photos/mgsbird/2916943507/sizes/o/in/set-72157602569072082/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/lsmartin53/3451384390/in/set-72157616956483254/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/lasting_light/2973049202/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/mgsbird/2534959769/sizes/o/in/set-72157602569975763/ Greg Gillson greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Wed Jun 3 10:43:59 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (Barbara Millikan) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 10:43:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Complaint! In-Reply-To: <5B3FB2D9CBCA4734BF5ECA37D644895B@larryPC> References: <5B3FB2D9CBCA4734BF5ECA37D644895B@larryPC> Message-ID: <855070e90906031043i50951d84xf88741807aadbab@mail.gmail.com> There was a story some time in the last week or so on OPB radio about someone doing burrowing owl research, and it began by describing how the birder would go into the burrow, pull out the chicks and then dig out the mother. I was appalled. Later in the bit they explained he was doing pesticide research, but still..! I think it was in Idaho --east of the Cascades at any rate. just tried searching their website to no avail. Yrs for better birding. Barbara On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 10:25 AM, Larry Cottrell wrote: > I just received a call from the manager of Crystal Crane Hot Springs, (24 > miles south of Burns,Or on hwy 78) who was quite distressed by the actions > of some passing "Birders" who were crowding and thus distressing a nesting > Burrowing Owl, who is nesting near their property. It seems that each year, > over zealous bird watchers cause the general public heartburn over their > efforts to obtain an even better photo of birds. Keep in mind that the > nesting birds are not able to flee when their personal space is invaded, and > your actions may well be the cause of the "violated" bird to move to a > quieter area next year. > > Bird watching is generally thought to be a "non consumptive" sport, but > that does not apply in all cases. With all the optical equipment that most > birders carry there is no need at all to crowd a nesting bird. > > For those who might be interested, Crystal Crane Hot Springs is a nice > place to stay, close to Malheur Refuge and other bird rich environments. > They have camping and tent spaces as well as rooms to rent. The hot springs > pool is very nice in the evenings for relaxation. > Larry Cottrell > Burns Jct,Or > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090603/052fc0df/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Jun 3 11:53:40 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:53:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur update Message-ID: WW DOVE continues at Frenchglen; today it was hiding in the small evergreens by the school. Janzen et al found 2 Cattle Egrets near Burns yesterday, as well as the Acorn Woodpecker found on the refuge a couple of days back, which has moved into the solitary cottonwood a few miles north of P-Ranch (per Janzen et al). Back roads may be goopy owing to frequent heavy rains. Weather slowly improving. Graham and I are going to Ontario this afternoon to bird the Owyhee Thur a.m. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Jun 3 11:54:32 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 18:54:32 +0000 Subject: [obol] Complaint! In-Reply-To: <5B3FB2D9CBCA4734BF5ECA37D644895B@larryPC> References: <5B3FB2D9CBCA4734BF5ECA37D644895B@larryPC> Message-ID: Greetings All, I'm glad you posted this. Over Memorial Day Weekend I was driving south along Hwy 205 near The Narrows and noticed a guy way out beyond the roadside fence photographing a Burrowing Owl. This site has been occupied by presumed breeding Burrowing Owls for the past two years. This person was about 20 meters from the burrow and his approach had pushed the bird off of its normal perch (next to the burrow) to another perch 50 meters farther away from the road. I stopped, backed up, and yelled at him suggesting that he was stressing the owls and setting too close to the burrow. His response suggested that he believed his actions were reasonable. Someday maybe he'll get a clue and realize that they were moronic. Breeding Burrowing Owls are in decline in many areas across the West. I like taking pictures as much as the next guy, but with a species that is threatened, a different set of standards is in order. If one happens upon any bird nest it is best move on and allow the birds to conduct their reproductive activities in peace. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 11:25:39 -0600 Subject: [obol] Complaint! I just received a call from the manager of Crystal Crane Hot Springs, (24 miles south of Burns,Or on hwy 78) who was quite distressed by the actions of some passing "Birders" who were crowding and thus distressing a nesting Burrowing Owl, who is nesting near their property. It seems that each year, over zealous bird watchers cause the general public heartburn over their efforts to obtain an even better photo of birds. Keep in mind that the nesting birds are not able to flee when their personal space is invaded, and your actions may well be the cause of the "violated" bird to move to a quieter area next year. Bird watching is generally thought to be a "non consumptive" sport, but that does not apply in all cases. With all the optical equipment that most birders carry there is no need at all to crowd a nesting bird. For those who might be interested, Crystal Crane Hot Springs is a nice place to stay, close to Malheur Refuge and other bird rich environments. They have camping and tent spaces as well as rooms to rent. The hot springs pool is very nice in the evenings for relaxation. Larry Cottrell Burns Jct,Or _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_SD_25GB_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090603/11e62531/attachment.html From rriparia at charter.net Wed Jun 3 12:14:10 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 12:14:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Northern Mockingbird KLAM Co Message-ID: <20090603151410.VB2ET.3747533.root@mp08> Hi, Stepping outside last night at 2:30 am, I heard a Northern Mockingbird singing. It would be in the vicinity of Springcrest and Rosemont Court in Klamath Falls. I'll have to pinpoint it better during the day if it is still around. Kevin Spencer rriparia at charter.net Klamath Falls, OR From celata at pacifier.com Wed Jun 3 12:39:55 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:39:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Complaint! Message-ID: <4A26D18B.8060003@pacifier.com> The HWY205 owls were Michelle's first and we were happy just to see them from the hwy (and take a few "for the record" snaps) through the spotting scope. Sadly, the 99.9% of us who keep our distance and respect the local wildlife are not the one's who will be remembered. The stories that will get told 'round the campfire are all about that one guy. It only takes one feco-cephalic to tarnish everybody's reputation. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Jun 3 12:45:58 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 19:45:58 +0000 Subject: [obol] RFI - Clark's Grebe, Clark's Nutcracker, Tricolored Blackbird In-Reply-To: References: <1630878812.3966021243965204402.JavaMail.root@sz0113a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: It may be out of you way, but Clark's Grebes are usually pretty easy to find at the south end of Fern Ridge Res. just w. of Eugene. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 11:14:15 -0700 > From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM > To: ammodramus at comcast.net > CC: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] RFI - Clark's Grebe, Clark's Nutcracker, Tricolored Blackbird > > I am at Malheur right now. Clark's is tough. We have seen none owing to low > lake levels (lake is too far away to be scoped). Try Benson Pond on the > refuge, but have low expectations. Benson is otherwise excellent birding. > Clark's is normally easy along sw part of Upper Klamath Lake, but that may > be out of your reach. > > Watch OBOL for local RBAs. > > Mosquitos are a significant factor at all Malheur sites now. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > > > > From: > > Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 17:53:24 +0000 (UTC) > > To: > > Subject: [obol] RFI - Clark's Grebe, Clark's Nutcracker, Tricolored Blackbird > > > > OBOL's, > > > > I will be visiting Oregon with a group from NJ & Pennsylvania > > June 3-14. Can anyone help with current info on the below 3 species: > > > > Clark's Grebe - We understand the water levels are very low at Malheur. > > Are there any Clark's there currently? Any other locations for them in the > > Bend area, on the way from Bend to Burns, or near the LaGrande area? > > > > Clark's Nutcracker - With road closures because of snow, are there any > > locations reachable in the Cascades near Sisters or further south near Salt > > Creek Falls where we'll be trying for Black Swift? > > > > Tricolored Blackbird - Any current locations near Sisters, Bend, Forest Grove, > > or Corvallis? Our last trip to Oregon in 2006, we got directions to a colony > > at Prineville (I think it was Barnes Butte Lake?). > > > > many thanks, > > > > Tom > > > > Tom Bailey > > Tabernacle, NJ > > ammodramus AT comcast.net > > (609)410-0082 (cell) > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090603/219e1231/attachment.html From bdgleason at comcast.net Wed Jun 3 13:50:38 2009 From: bdgleason at comcast.net (Barbara Gleason) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 13:50:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] New "yard" bid -- high overhead, that is... Message-ID: Last evening as the approaching thunder storm gathered momentum, we spotted two large white birds high over the house, headed north- northwest, roughly toward Fern Ridge reservoir. A quick grab for the bins and sure enough: despite being here in Eugene's south hills, woods and all, two White Pelicans were directly overhead, headed directly away from the storm, at about 8:50 pm. I guess we now have a new yard bird category: "high overhead"! Barbara and Dan Gleason -- CraneDance Publications www.cranedance.com a wing of: BGleason Design & Illustration, LLC _ Book Publishing, Graphic Design ( '< Scientific & Commercial Illustration / ) ) bdgleason at comcast.net //" " (541) 345-3974 P.O. Box 50535, Eugene OR 97405 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090603/2d33b26b/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Wed Jun 3 14:46:32 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:46:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln Co. Red-necked Phalarope etc. Message-ID: <4A26EF38.1040202@pdx.edu> 3 June 2009 Beverly Beach N. of Newport and Moolack Beach, Lincoln Co.: RED-NECKED PHALAROPE: 1 male walking along the wet sand seemed very late. WHIMBREL: 10 individuals, including one with a right foot injury Also, I found fossils of welks, macoma clams, cockles, scallops and one large bone or tooth along the sea cliffs. In other news: This morning a Northern Pygmy-Owl was hooting when I got to my survey station 6 miles upriver from Toledo. It was mobbed by HERMIT WARBLERS and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES. At the Harbor Village RV park where I stay during the week there is an active COMMON RAVEN nest in a Sitka Spruce. WESTERN TANAGERS continue to be singing in the spruces here too, I think they could be nesting. David C. Bailey Currently in Newport, Oregon From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Jun 3 16:17:54 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:17:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 06/03/09 Message-ID: <20090603231812.9762BA8217@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 05/28 to 06/03/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk only 2 days this week: 6/1 and 6/3 Species # days found (peak #, date) Turkey Vulture 1 (1, 6/3) Band-tailed Pigeon 2 (9, 6/3) Mourning Dove 1 (1, 6/3) Vaux's Swift 1 (3, 6/1) Anna's Hummingbird 2 (2) Rufous Hummingbird 2 (2) DOWNY WOODPECKER 1 (1, 6/1) Northern Flicker 2 (1) Pileated Woodpecker 2 (1) Olive-sided Flycatcher 2 (1) Willow Flycatcher 1 (1, 6/3) Pacific-slope Flycatcher 2 (4) HUTTON'S VIREO 1 (1, 6/3) Steller's Jay 2 (3) Western Scrub-Jay 1 (2, 6/3) American Crow 2 (5, 6/1) Violet-green Swallow 2 (5) Black-capped Chickadee 2 (5) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2 (5) Bushtit 1 (2, 6/3) Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 (3) Brown Creeper 2 (1) Winter Wren 2 (2) Swainson's Thrush 1 (1, 6/1) American Robin 2 (8) European Starling 2 (1) Cedar Waxwing 2 (1) Orange-crowned Warbler 1 (2, 6/1) Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 (1) Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 (1, 6/1) Wilson's Warbler 2 (3) Western Tanager 2 (1) Spotted Towhee 2 (1) Song Sparrow 2 (10) Dark-eyed Junco 2 (2) Black-headed Grosbeak 2 (6) Brown-headed Cowbird 1 (1, 6/3) Purple Finch 2 (4) House Finch 2 (8) RED CROSSBILL 1 (7, 6/3) Pine Siskin 2 (12, 6/1) Lesser Goldfinch 2 (1) American Goldfinch 2 (4) Evening Grosbeak 2 (1) Misses (birds found at least 3 days during previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Canada Goose, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Warbling Vireo, Bewick's Wren, Townsend's Warbler Wink Gross Portland From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Wed Jun 3 16:46:41 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 16:46:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Complaint! In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <32940.94818.qm@web30403.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I would add that this problen is actually worse than stated by Larry. BURROWING OWLS can be driven off active nest sites by overzealous birders, causing brood failure. The location of BURROWING OWl nests should not be publicized. If I had found myself in Dave's position, I may have opted for taking a picture of the rogue birder instead of the bird. Maitreya David Irons wrote: > Greetings All, I'm glad you posted this. Over Memorial Day Weekend I was driving south along Hwy 205 near The Narrows and noticed a guy way out beyond the roadside fence photographing a Burrowing Owl. This site has been occupied by presumed breeding Burrowing Owls for the past two years. This person was about 20 meters from the burrow and his approach had pushed the bird off of its normal perch (next to the burrow) to another perch 50 meters farther away from the road. I stopped, backed up, and yelled at him suggesting that he was stressing the owls and setting too close to the burrow. His response suggested that he believed his actions were reasonable. Someday maybe he'll get a clue and realize that they were moronic. Breeding Burrowing Owls are in decline in many areas across the West. I like taking pictures as much as the next guy, but with a species that is threatened, a different set of standards is in order. If one happens upon any bird nest it is best move on and allow the birds to conduct their reproductive activities in peace. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 11:25:39 -0600 Subject: [obol] Complaint! > I just received a call from the manager of Crystal Crane > Hot Springs, (24 miles south of Burns,Or on hwy 78) who was quite distressed by > the actions of some passing "Birders" who were crowding and thus distressing a > nesting Burrowing Owl, who is nesting?near their property. It seems that > each year, over zealous bird watchers cause the general public heartburn over > their efforts to obtain an even better photo of birds. Keep in mind that the > nesting birds are not able to flee when their personal space is invaded, and > your actions may well be the cause of the "violated" bird to move to a quieter > area next year. > ? > Bird watching is generally thought to be a "non > consumptive" sport, but that does not apply in all cases. With all the optical > equipment that most birders carry there is no need at all to crowd a nesting > bird. > ? > For those who might be interested, Crystal Crane Hot > Springs is a nice place to stay, close to Malheur Refuge and other bird rich > environments. They have camping and tent spaces as well as rooms to rent. The > hot springs pool is very nice in the evenings for relaxation. > Larry Cottrell > Burns Jct,Or > ? > ? Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. Get it on your BlackBerry or iPhone. From roger at windemuths.com Wed Jun 3 17:07:13 2009 From: roger at windemuths.com (Roger Windemuth) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 17:07:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wilson's Phalaropes seen at Ridgefield NWR Message-ID: <000001c9e4a8$6a478340$3ed689c0$@com> I saw a pair of Wilson's Phalaropes this morning on Rest Lake just a little North of Marker #12 along the Auto Tour Route at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. They were towards the center of the lake going in and out of the grasses growing there. They were in their breeding plumage and were a delight to see. Roger Windemuth roger at windemuths.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090603/bdd26c42/attachment.html From smithdwd at hotmail.com Wed Jun 3 17:26:58 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 00:26:58 +0000 Subject: [obol] Malheur County(and MNWR) Trip birds and info Message-ID: Don Coggswell and I spent a 6 days between MNWR, Juntura, and Jordan Valley. Many businesses and homes(trailers) in J Valley are vacant. The Sahara Motel closed in Jan, leaving only the (better) Basque Station Motel open. Best we could tell Burns Jct is vacant. Malheur county had lots of water(as opposed to dry Harney County) via thunder storms. Juntura has a new modular motel that is "awaiting" power. The cafe is still "for sale". Birds, not yet reported and of interest, seen: Ckickahominy Res: Clark's Grebe. Antelope Res: Franklin's and Bonapart's Gulls, White Faced Ibis(couple hundred colony). Dimwitty Rd: Am Bittern and Bobolinks. J Valley(town): both Goldfinch and "lots" of Your Doves(about a dozen roosting in the cemetary, often sitting on headstones-visions of Poe's "The Raven"). Tanner Loop Rd: a pair(family?) of Burrowing Owls. Sisters: 1 Pinyon Jay, 1 White-headed Woodpecker, and assorted others at BestWestern. Calliope Xing(rain): RNSapsuckers (nest), No Goshawk visibly and verbally watching probable nest site, and a flooded culvert from Beavers cutting aspen. Beulah Res: 3 Le and 1 Gr Scaup(males). Vir Rails response along road to Res in a "lush" marsh well out of Juntura. Bank Swallows at 1st bridge out of Juntura. WWDove at Frenchglen(thanks to Graham/Alan). Fun trip, nice friends..... David Smith _________________________________________________________________ Invite your mail contacts to join your friends list with Windows Live Spaces. It's easy! http://spaces.live.com/spacesapi.aspx?wx_action=create&wx_url=/friends.aspx&mkt=en-us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090604/e0cf891d/attachment.html From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Wed Jun 3 17:47:03 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 17:47:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Complaint! Message-ID: <162443.3728.qm@web51804.mail.re2.yahoo.com> You know I really like Maitreya's idea of photographing harassers of wildlife. I have absolutely no faith in the legal system actually fining/prosecuting these types of offenders (see P.S.). However, in the case of professional photographers, it seems publicizing the fact that they harass wildlife might affect their ability to sell photos/video footage. I wouldn't knowingly buy any product that used such an image...in fact, I would actively encourage others to boycott it as well. "Professional photographers," not so much birders who were secondarily good photographers, seemed to be the worst about harassing the Snowy Owl in Newport. When I tried to have a constructive conversation with one of them, he flat out told me "I know what I'm doing...I'm a professional photographer and I know how to hide from the owl." Well, not from my observations as he almost immediately flushed the owl before it finished its meal. Cindy Ashy P.S. My personal opinion is that the legal system is much too bogged down with non-cases/frivolous cases to effectively pursue many things that actually matter, including these types of cases...and including things like car break-ins at parks. There are of course exceptions and at least some of the deadbeats can be thrown out of office in the next election. From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Jun 3 17:56:53 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 17:56:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Glaze Meadow, Deschutes county, ECBC Cent Or Birders Message-ID: <2D5918D9919C4426A637892604DF5097@MOM> Birders Ten of us visited Glaze Meadow today, near Black Butte Ranch. We had lingering looks at many of our favorite resident birds but nothing rare. A few wildflowers were blooming, the ceanothus scent was in the air and almost NO mosquitos were out, so it was a very nice morning. This report was mailed for Judy Meredith by http://birdnotes.net Mallard Turkey Vulture Red-tailed Hawk Mourning Dove Williamson's Sapsucker - near parking lot, female Downy Woodpecker -near new bridge, drumming Hairy Woodpecker - several White-headed Woodpecker - brief glimpse, a few birders Northern Flicker Olive-sided Flycatcher - singing everywhere. Western Wood-Pewee - " " Hammond's Flycatcher Dusky Flycatcher Unidentified Empidonax Warbling Vireo Steller's Jay American Crow Common Raven Mountain Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Pygmy Nuthatch House Wren American Robin Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler MacGillivray's Warbler Common Yellowthroat Western Tanager Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Black-headed Grosbeak Brewer's Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Pine Siskin House Sparrow Total number of species seen: 36 Birders today Howard Horvath, Mary Oppenheimer, John McClain, Don Sutherland, Rachel Cornforth, John Gerke, Loren Smith and two nice first time birders, Veronica and Alberto. Good birding, Judy jmeredit at bendnet.com From jeffandlaurettayoung at comcast.net Wed Jun 3 18:42:43 2009 From: jeffandlaurettayoung at comcast.net (Young) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 18:42:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird identification assistance please Message-ID: Hello birders, I took this picture on the John Day River, here in Oregon, of what seemed to be a committee meeting of some Canada Geese (these were large geese so I don't think these are Cackling geese), a Black-billed Magpie and an Eagle. The discussion may have been about the dead fish floating belly up at the edge of the river. Any opinions on whether this is a Golden Eagle or Juvenile Bald Eagle? Thanks in anticipation of the helpful responses and happy birding to all, Jeff Young -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090603/f9d3b7c7/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: DSC02114crop.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1482593 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090603/f9d3b7c7/attachment.jpg From pamelaj at spiritone.com Wed Jun 3 20:43:44 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 20:43:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Towhee & Window References: <6BDBC15D-4B25-4859-B850-DB3D2001E539@peak.org> Message-ID: <7CD834927C0241A3945E8413F15F4473@yourw5st28y9a3> You need to cover the outside of the window so he can't see his reflection. Anything opaque will do. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jorrie & Ken" To: "OBOL" Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 8:31 AM Subject: [obol] Towhee & Window We have a SPOTTED TOWHEE that has, for the past THREE days, flies into the windows continuously from sunrise to sunset. Apparently, he is quite frustrated. I've tried turning on the inside house lights, but he continues to throw himself at the window. If anyone has any suggestions as to how to get him to stop, please let us know. This cannot be good for him. Maybe someone could encourage a female to stop by to distract him from the windows and set him on a new direction? Thank you for any suggestions. Jorrie & Ken Ciotti Waldport, OR _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Jun 3 21:26:21 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 21:26:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Jackson Co. Grasshopper Sparrow 6/3/2009 Message-ID: <17630.66494.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I accidentally heard a singing Grasshopper Sparrow east of Medford along Hwy 140 this morning.? Birds of Oregon mentions a breeding colony in Jackson Co., perhaps I stumbled across them? I can send interested parties info, but I suspect that there are better areas to hear/see this species on the westside like in Lane Co. at Fern Ridge. Lots of BG Gnatcatchers at the Merlin exit/rest stop in Josephine Co. today- at least 6 pairs. Very wet over in SE Oregon with flash-flooding, etc.? Bring your bug spray (industrial strength) for Malheur and vicinity, over on the Fields side life was good without the need of such stuff. Rain, thunder, and lightning forecasted for a while longer there.? Been raining for a week there so far, and my are the mosquitoes happy : ) No new birds at Fields this morning Alan. Tim R back in Coos Bay From phils at rio.com Wed Jun 3 21:42:50 2009 From: phils at rio.com (Phil and Christina) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 21:42:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird identification assistance please In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Please do not attach large (MByte) files to emails. It is a pain in the rear to those of us in the country who are limited to dial-up access. Put them somewhere on the web and attach a link to them. Thank you. Phil Shepard Elmira, OR -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org]On Behalf Of Young Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 6:43 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Bird identification assistance please Hello birders, I took this picture on the John Day River, here in Oregon, of what seemed to be a committee meeting of some Canada Geese (these were large geese so I don't think these are Cackling geese), a Black-billed Magpie and an Eagle. The discussion may have been about the dead fish floating belly up at the edge of the river. Any opinions on whether this is a Golden Eagle or Juvenile Bald Eagle? Thanks in anticipation of the helpful responses and happy birding to all, Jeff Young -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090603/b05be6b3/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Wed Jun 3 21:55:36 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 21:55:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Summer Lake Yellow Rails; Sisters Area Owls Message-ID: My father and I just finished a 5 day tour of Eastern and Central Oregon. Highlights include Yellow Rail at Summer Lake, Barred Owl and Long-eared Owl near Sisters, and many nests in the Sisters area. Details below. Monday evening around 7:30 p.m., we heard at least 5 YELLOW RAILS at Summer Lake; at the same spot on Tuesday morning around 5:30 a.m., we heard 7+ YELLOW RAILS. Both times, the rails announced their presence to us, so there was no need to elicit their response by tapping pebbles together. As expected, we never saw the rails, and most seemed to be in areas that would prevent one from seeing them (i.e., in the marsh well away from the dike). We heard the rails from the dike that is accessible via the O'Leary Access location, a few miles south of the HQ building. We also saw a BONAPARTE'S GULL and two male BLUE-WINGED TEAL at Summer Lake on Tuesday. On Tuesday night at Cold Springs Campground west of Sisters, I head a BARRED OWL's "who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-all" call coming from north of the campground. It seemed to be quite a distance away, and I heard it only once. On Wednesday morning, we heard what I believe to be a LONG-EARED OWL calling at Cold Spring Campground west of Sisters. It called briefly around 4:00 a.m. and then stopped. We never did locate it, but it appeared to be coming from either in or very near the campground. I am not entirely positive on the identification since I have never heard this species before, despite seeing it many times. However, I did listen to all of the owl vocalizations on the new Bird Songs of the Pacific NW about 10 minutes after hearing it, and Long-eared Owl was a good match. We managed to come up empty on Northern Pygmy-Owl. Are they hard to detect this time of year? Or perhaps my bad pygmy-owl karma has returned. Scott Carpenter Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090603/9648e8fa/attachment.html From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Wed Jun 3 22:29:38 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 23:29:38 -0600 Subject: [obol] cattle and birds Message-ID: <77CF70574C694F88B1A8F1F03802E603@larryPC> "We left the Oregon Canyon quite awestruck. This is one truly fabulous area! We hope politics allow further cessation in grazing by cattle. This place deserves formal and total protection." Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA I had first thought that it might have been Andy who was the Owl culprit, but I am happy to report that it was not. The guy who was there, visited today. Andy was long gone. Normally I let my wife follow this list, and normally I let a lot of the more political thoughts go unchallenged, as most peoples minds are already made up. However since moving here three years ago and being a pilot who flies the area described by Andy's post quite a lot and generally at low level, I am very familiar with the wildlife, both birds and animals. I have also learned a great deal about the people who ranch here and their land use practices. I am sure that all of you have heard the term "Stewards of the land", well That term could have been coined here. First, Most of the BLM lands are covered by leases to the ranches and there is a BLM person whose job it is to monitor the lands and the ranchers have strict guidelines regulating how long they can leave the cows on the lands and they can be required to remove them if the impact on the land is too great. It is not in the ranchers interest to overgraze the land, too much weight loss for the cows cost them money. Secondly, While there are springs here and there that occur naturally, guess who takes care of them? Clue, it isn't the BLM. In the vast desert acreage that does not have those springs about all the wildlife that you are going to find will be lizards, and a few Horned Larks that can fly to the water that they need. The ranch bordering my place has 11 miles of pipeline that they take care of to get the water to other parts of the range. The water holes, stock tanks and pipelines are all supplied and maintained by the ranchers. One rancher by Danner patrols 200 miles of pipeline by aircraft, keeping the desert watered and supporting the wildlife that we all enjoy. It is not my intention to rain on anyone's parade and I am glad that Andy had a good time, but the problems and solutions are not so easily found with just a surface look. Every one wants to blame the shortage of Sage Grouse on the Cows, when it is my contention that we would have far fewer Sage Grouse if there were not cows on the land that the rancher had to furnish water for. Some of you might have heard of the big Sage Grouse die off that occurred in this area two years ago when the West Nile Virus blew through. The die off occurred on the ranch next to me. The Sage Grouse were living in the grass fields among the cows in their pastures. Andy mentions the Oregon Canyon Area and while I do not know for sure where he was, Oregon Canyon is owned by the Tree Top Ranch. Below I have included a part of a study about the "Stockade Block" of land that supplies money to the state of Oregon for schools and such. It is a large block of land that is above the Mann Lake road and covers quite a large area. http://www.oregonstatelands.us/DSL/LW/stockade_block.shtml They have concluded a study about how the land is going to be used to best make money for the funds that it is charged with supporting. I took one excerpt out of it to give you a bit of a better idea of some of the things that impact this desert that many of us enjoy. As Tree Top points out one of the biggest problems with this range is the Wild (feral) horse. The environmental factions have blocked all control over them and they are fast becoming so numerous that their impact on the desert is going to be one of the more pressing concerns in the future. For your information Tree Top Ranches have paid $397,898.75 for the privilege of using range land in the Stockade Block. The ranch leases on this land brought in over 8 million dollars to the state of Oregon. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- One lessee (Tree Top Ranches) commented: "1. Wild Horse Control. Wild horses straying into the Block from adjacent BLM lands are a serious problem. They consistently damage significant stretches of fence, tear up stock water structures and consume significant amounts of forage. It would be in the Block's best interest to develop a procedure with the BLM to facilitate reporting and quick removal. 2. Gates. Gates left open, even briefly or unintentionally can allow cattle to become lost or wander into areas they do not belong. Perhaps DSL could work with Lessees to identify problem areas and install cattle guards to minimize this problem. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- To keep this email on the subject of birds, I found a Cow bird in my chicken pen today that had all the symptoms of WN, and the lady from the ranch next door says that they are seeing a lot of sick Yellow heads and Black Birds. Larry Cottrell Burns Jct. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090603/206786f3/attachment.html From rowbird2005 at yahoo.com Wed Jun 3 22:38:53 2009 From: rowbird2005 at yahoo.com (Forrest Rowland) Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 22:38:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Complaint....and a Waterthrush! Message-ID: <256219.51762.qm@web35308.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, I've been following this thread as it reminded me of a similar incident with a young birder on the East Coast last Winter taking some fantastic pictures of his life Snowy Owl using a flash.....and subsequently being bashed for it online and being extremely cautious about posting and feeling outcast for quite sometime after. ? I agree with all comments wholeheartedly. In the case of this poor young fellow I mention above, he was ignorant to the thought that Flash Photography may scare the bird enough to cause it to leave/move or simply be even further inconvenienced than a Snowy Owl 400 miles South of where it should be already is. No one had warned him in advance. ? If you see someone carrying out bad/ignorant behavior I think it should be conveyed in a civil manner, citing references (so arm yourselves with appropriate information!), that this behavior infringes on the bird's right to survival and?can cause direct harm. Many people simply do not know. ? As for those who do know...I'm with Cindy. They should be fined severely and boycotted. ? My two cents, ? Forrest Rowland ? PS - A Northern Waterthrush was singing at the junction of South Molalla Forest Road and Diskey Prairie Rd just past the S Fork bridge today, in Clackamas Co. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ?Obt?n la mejor experiencia en la web! Descarga gratis el nuevo Internet Explorer 8. http://downloads.yahoo.com/ieak8/?l=e1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090603/39e0b684/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Wed Jun 3 23:12:55 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 02:12:55 -0400 Subject: [obol] 2 Blue-winged Teal south of Fernhill Wetlands (Washington Co) Message-ID: After work today, I hit a few places in the county. Fernhill Wetlands was very quiet save for 2 Lesser Scaup and a few singing Yellow Warblers. The wetland along Fernhill Rd 0.5mi south of Blue Heron Dr that held 2 Black-necked Stilts a few weeks ago still has water. A scope is needed for this location. 2 drake Blue-winged Teal were the highlight there. A single Eurasian Collared-Dove flew across the road near 2275 Lafollet Rd east of Fernhill Wetlands. I then drove up Iowa Hill Rd south of Cornelius. Lazuli Buntings were 0.3mi into Gnos Rd and several birds were along Dober Rd. The Lazuli Bunting red clover field SE of the intersection of Dober & Riedwig Rds is not active this year. This is now a wheat field. A female Western Bluebird was at 33495 Riedwig Rd. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090604/e65b3f7a/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Jun 3 23:34:33 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:34:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 6-4-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * June 4, 2009 * ORPO0906.04 - birds mentioned American White Pelican Cattle Egret Yellow Rail Black-necked Stilt American Avocet Common tern WHITE-WINGED DOVE YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO Acorn Woodpecker Red-eyed Vireo Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER SUMMER TANAGER - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday June 4. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On June 2 a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was in Netarts. It soon moved off and disappeared. A subadult male SUMMER TANAGER was at Malheur Headquarters May 30. The WHITE-WINGED DOVE continues to be seen at Frenchglen. On June 1 an AVOCET was on the beach near the Dunes Overlook south of Florence. That day 3-4 MOCKINGBIRDS were seen and photographed along the Salmon River near Cascade Head. On June 2 about 20 WHITE PELICANS were on Tillamook Bay. On June 1 two BLACK-NECKED STILTS were at Ankeny NWR. That day a RED-EYED VIREO was on Grand Island north of Salem. On June 2 a CATBIRD was near Pine Grove in Wasco County. Two COMMON TERNS were seen that day north of Wamic. On June 2 three YELLOW RAILS were calling at Summer Lake. The next day seven were calling there. On June 2 a MOCKINGBIRD was in Klamath Falls. Also on June 2 two CATTLE EGRETS were near Burns. The ACORN WOODPECKER continues to be seen at Malheur NWR. Recently it is being seen at the lone cottonwood north of the P Ranch. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090603/dfd2bb8f/attachment.html From tamickel at rio.com Thu Jun 4 05:54:36 2009 From: tamickel at rio.com (Tom & Allison Mickel) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 05:54:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wednesday morning birders Message-ID: <000001c9e513$9df15cf0$d9d416d0$@com> OBOL, Yesterday morning we headed up to Elijah Bristow State Park to look for Red-eyed Vireo without success. Birds seen included - Wood Duck - 1 Hooded Merganser - 1 Common Merganser - 1 Great Blue Heron - 1 Turkey Vulture - 2 Red-shouldered Hawk - 2 Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Band-tailed Pigeon - 5 Mourning Dove - 1 Rufous Hummingbird - 1 Belted Kingfisher - 2 Red-breasted Sapsucker - 1 Downy Woodpecker - 1 Northern Flicker - 1 Pileated Woodpecker - 1 Western Wood-Pewee - 5 Willow Flycatcher - 4 Hammond's Flycatcher - 1 Pacific-sloped Flycatcher - 1 Warbling Vireo - 6 Steller's Jay - 4 American Crow - 2 Black-capped Chickadee - 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadee - 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1 Brown Creeper - 2 Bewick's Wren - 2 Swainson's Thrush - 10 American Robin - 10 Wrentit - 1 Cedar Waxwing - 8 Orange-crowned Warbler - 2 Yellow Warbler - 1 Black-throated Gray Warbler - 5 Common Yellowthroat - 4 Yellow-breasted Chat - 3 Western Tanager - 3 Spotted Towhee - 6 Song Sparrow - 10 Black-headed Grosbeak - 10 Lazuli Bunting - 5 Brown-headed Cowbird - 5 American Goldfinch - 6 Birders - Ellen Cantor, Fred Chancey, Dan Gusset, Dave & Sally Hill, Kit Larsen, Sylvia Maulding, Barry McKenzie, Tom Mickel, Don Schrouder, Paul Sherrell, Sarah Vasconcellos. From 5hats at peak.org Thu Jun 4 06:20:33 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 06:20:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] rail nest question Message-ID: <10BD9BAC73294733AFF94C73F5EB85E8@your5rlp3a9516> OBOLites, In early May a Virgina Rail vocalized for about a week at our farm pond, then went completely quiet. I thought it had moved on. Then around the tenth, my grand nephews found a nest with ten eggs hidden in some marsh grass. As of yesterday the rail was still setting. I'm pretty certain there is only one rail present, and as a consequence wonder if the eggs are fertile. How long is the incubation period for Virginia Rail eggs, anyway? Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090604/77abc1c1/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Jun 4 06:48:03 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 04 Jun 2009 06:48:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] juvenile hummers Message-ID: <4A27D093.7060402@verizon.net> It appears we finally have juvenile hummingbirds at our feeders, which have been very quiet for most of May. A juvenile ANNA's is here, and juvenile Selasphorus seem to be showing up suddenly. That would be in our yard just north of Bandon, Coos Cty. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From dhogaza at pacifier.com Thu Jun 4 07:45:05 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 07:45:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] cattle and birds In-Reply-To: <77CF70574C694F88B1A8F1F03802E603@larryPC> References: <77CF70574C694F88B1A8F1F03802E603@larryPC> Message-ID: <0FEF8603-7771-44E8-80AD-06EBBEB957BF@pacifier.com> On Jun 3, 2009, at 10:29 PM, Larry Cottrell wrote: > > It is not my intention to rain on anyone's parade and I am glad that > Andy had a good time, but the problems and solutions are not so > easily found with just a surface look. Every one wants to blame the > shortage of Sage Grouse on the Cows, when it is my contention that > we would have far fewer Sage Grouse if there were not cows on the > land that the rancher had to furnish water for. There's been a huge amount of research done on sage grouse and sorry, it doesn't back up your contention. But, let's leave it at that, this list is not meant for political discussion, and when science is disregarded when discussing natural resource management strategy, the discussion is then 100% defined by political/economic beliefs/ideology. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Thu Jun 4 08:16:03 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 08:16:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] White Morph Eurasian Collared Doves Message-ID: <79052.44480.qm@web30403.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I found a frame with the white morph Collared Dove and the standard version: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30397515 at N07/3594761587/ I am in agreement with Wayne Hoffman that these birds, when seen, should be reported as Eurasian Collared Doves. Maitreya ? ?Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.? Jonathan Livingston Seagull -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090604/7c0ce965/attachment.html From judie310hansen at comcast.net Thu Jun 4 08:21:42 2009 From: judie310hansen at comcast.net (Hansen Judith) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 08:21:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] rail nest question In-Reply-To: <10BD9BAC73294733AFF94C73F5EB85E8@your5rlp3a9516> References: <10BD9BAC73294733AFF94C73F5EB85E8@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: <5CC647AB-25F7-4CBD-B4A7-1C6953AA303B@comcast.net> Virginia Rails incubation is 19 days from when last or next to last egg is laid. Good luck! Judie From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Jun 4 08:38:19 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 15:38:19 +0000 Subject: [obol] cattle and birds In-Reply-To: <0FEF8603-7771-44E8-80AD-06EBBEB957BF@pacifier.com> References: <77CF70574C694F88B1A8F1F03802E603@larryPC> <0FEF8603-7771-44E8-80AD-06EBBEB957BF@pacifier.com> Message-ID: Greetings All, I have to agree with Don in this case. While I enjoy a good back and forth discussion on such topics, when conducted in a semi-anonymous online forum they quickly devolve into verbal donnybrooks and nothing is accomplished, aside from further polarization of those parties who already have divergent viewpoints. Unlike most of us, the Cottrells live in a place where neighbors are few and on occasion pretty damn important. Finding common ground and points of agreement with the local ranchers is important for them and on some level needs to be important to the rest of us as well. Standing on opposite sides of an ideological fence screaming at one another is unlikely to sway anyone's views, or provide any benefit to Greater Sage Grouse. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > From: dhogaza at pacifier.com > To: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com > Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 07:45:05 -0700 > CC: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] cattle and birds > > > On Jun 3, 2009, at 10:29 PM, Larry Cottrell wrote: > > > > It is not my intention to rain on anyone's parade and I am glad that > > Andy had a good time, but the problems and solutions are not so > > easily found with just a surface look. Every one wants to blame the > > shortage of Sage Grouse on the Cows, when it is my contention that > > we would have far fewer Sage Grouse if there were not cows on the > > land that the rancher had to furnish water for. > > There's been a huge amount of research done on sage grouse and sorry, > it doesn't back up your contention. > > But, let's leave it at that, this list is not meant for political > discussion, and when science is disregarded when discussing natural > resource management strategy, the discussion is then 100% defined by > political/economic beliefs/ideology. > > ---- > Don Baccus > http://donb.photo.net > http://birdnotes.net > http://openacs.org > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090604/ad53ff20/attachment.html From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Thu Jun 4 08:51:31 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (barbara.millikan at gmail.com) Date: Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:51:31 +0000 Subject: [obol] owl sounds, Message-ID: <00163646d11af1d7b9046b87bfac@google.com> Second try. This didn't seem to post last time I do have my switches set to "receive own posts", so not sure what's going on. Yesterday, and the day before, all day long there was a chorus of great horned owls sounds here. Two males and at least one female hooting continuously morning and afternoon (I wasn't here in the evening, so I don't know about that). It was NOT accompanied by any sounds of heckling corvids, and I didn't walk out into the woods to see what was going on. I was guessing it might be fledging time., Any thoughts? Barbara -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090604/8ffbfd83/attachment.html From rarebirdart at verizon.net Tue Jun 2 21:51:43 2009 From: rarebirdart at verizon.net ( Lois Miller) Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 21:51:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Peregrine Falcons in Port Orford Message-ID: This happened saturday here in Port Orford. I sent the following letter out saturday evening to quite a few people and I am having good response from ODFW and USFW plus many others. I wanted to share my letter with OBOL and would love to hear from any of you who might give me ideas on how to keep this from happening again ! thanks Lois Miller Port Orford saturday's letter sorry about the ##### where location was but I'm sure you understand I have been watching an active Peregrine nest here in town on a ######. I have been VERY careful not to mention it to anyone or show anyone photos I have taken because I didn't want to chance the birds being disturbed. I only knew of a few people that knew it was there. One being a friend, Kerry Ross who first pointed it out to me. He and Rachel Smith are biologists here doing murrelet surveys. There WERE three nestling (eyas) ...until today I can understand natural predation. I have seen it many times. Today was a different story FALCONERS !!!!! they ropelled down the cliff and TOOK TWO OF THE YOUNG !!! I got ahold of Kerry Ross and he went right up to the scene. He checked the nest yesterday afternoon and there were 3 ...now only one. The state police were called and the car searched and no eyas a second car was stopped south of town and the county officer called for Kerry to come identify the birds as there were many in the car. Kerry and Rachel went to see and to their surprise the car was full of quail and pigeons...but no falcons These people had a Falcon permit so could not be held. Worst thing ? They were now on their way to a nest at Pistol River and not one thing we could do about it ! My question to you all is this I know Oregon Islands NWR covers offshore rocks and I know that in Bandon it also applies to Coquille Point which is connected to land. Is there ANY way the ####### could be protected from this type of thing happening again ? Thanks for listening I feel like someone literally took my own kids right out of my yard Lois -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090602/6b30020e/attachment.html From bettymkn at netscape.com Thu Jun 4 09:47:51 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 09:47:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Foster Lake Eagle/Osprey Message-ID: <20090604094751.98FA6B54@resin13.mta.everyone.net> I don't know if anyone on the list checks on the EAGLE and OSPREY nests around Foster Lake but we had a horrendous thunder/wind/rain storm yesterday evening here at the RV park on the lake. One of our guests said the last one this bad was maybe 10 years ago. Would like to know if the nests made it thru the storm-- particularly since this is the nesting season. Will check with the Forestry to see if they have any info. Just before the storm hit I saw several OSPREY flying over the park on their early evening patrol. One of them all of a sudden shook all over like a wet dog trying to shake off water--very strange. Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Thu Jun 4 09:55:39 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (barbara.millikan at gmail.com) Date: Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:55:39 +0000 Subject: [obol] owl sounds, In-Reply-To: <0016364c59831bd604046b889dcf@google.com> Message-ID: <001636417a5b4429f4046b88a5b0@google.com> On Jun 4, 2009 9:53am, barbara.millikan at gmail.com wrote: > Well, it was multiple hooting, two lower, and at least one higher, a > minor third apart, and I was mostly hearing 3 consecutive hoots rather > than the 5 note hoot I know for GH owls, but I have noticed that the > intro notes tend to vanish in the distance, so I assumed GH owl. Is there > another owl that hoots in the same range female one third higher? > Around here the other owls I have heard are barn, screech and saw whet. > Barbara > On Jun 4, 2009 9:36am, Forrest Rowland rowbird2005 at yahoo.com> wrote: > > Barbara, > > > > It seems a bit late for fledgling time, so your post is quite > interesting. At this latitude I would think birds would fledge in April > or early May, unless the first attempt failed. If this is the case, then > right about now would probably coincide with attempt #2 for your birds. > Or, it might be something else? I say with some trepidation because you > seem pretty confident that's what they are. > > > > > > > > Best, > > > > > > > > Forrest > > > > --- El jue 4-jun-09, barbara.millikan at gmail.com > barbara.millikan at gmail.com> escribi?: > > > > > > > > De: barbara.millikan at gmail.com barbara.millikan at gmail.com> > > Asunto: [obol] owl sounds, > > A: "OBOL" obol at oregonbirdwatch.org> > > Fecha: jueves, 4 junio, 2009, 10:51 am > > > > > > Second try. This didn't seem to post last time I do have my switches > set to "receive own posts", so not sure what's going on. > > > > Yesterday, and the day before, all day long there was a chorus of great > horned owls sounds here. Two males and at least one female hooting > continuously morning and afternoon (I wasn't here in the evening, so I > don't know about that). It was NOT accompanied by any sounds of heckling > corvids, and I didn't walk out into the woods to see what was going on. I > was guessing it might be fledging time., Any thoughts? > > Barbara > > > > -----Adjunto en l?nea a continuaci?n----- > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ?Obt?n la mejor experiencia en la web! > > Descarga gratis el nuevo Internet Explorer 8 > > > > http://downloads.yahoo.com/ieak8/?l=e1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090604/275d9b3e/attachment.html From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Thu Jun 4 09:58:31 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (gerard.lillie at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 16:58:31 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] a clearer picture, please In-Reply-To: <001601c9e45a$f0b84ed0$12db63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Message-ID: <755827717.601061244134710998.JavaMail.root@sz0066a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> All the Red Crossbill forms, too, please :) Gerard Subject: [obol] a clearer picture, please OBOL: With all the talk about Woodhouse's and California and Nevada scrub jays by very learned voices, I'm sitting here nearly clueless about what y'all are talking about. ?Yesterday I tried to search the web for the difference between these forms. ?It was hard to find a picture of a "Woodhouse's" scrub jay. ?I did find a website with a Texas bird compared to a California bird... ?I found a website with a Kenn Kaufman article, but I wasn't a member of whatever it took to see the thing. I found some verbal discriptions. ?Gray vs white. ?Bluer. ?Incomplete necklace.... Can someone put up good pictures of the two morphs so those of us who don't know can see what you folks are talking about? Thanks, Paul T. Sullivan P.S. ?Oh, and while you're at it, could you post some good pictures of the difference between the titmice (Oak vs. Juniper), the wrentits, and the bushtits? ?Oh, and the fox sparrows too. ?Thanks. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090604/9a40fc1f/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Thu Jun 4 10:12:57 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:12:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur in the morning. No big rarities. Message-ID: Owen Schmidt and I are at Malheur NWR. This morning at HQ: 1 1yr male Am. Redstart Other migrants: 2 Wilson's Warblers 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 6 Warbling Vireos 5 Western Tanagers 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher 3 Western Woodpewees 2 Swainson's Thrushes 1 Cedar Waxwing 1 Black-headed Grosbeak Jeff Gilligan From davect at bendnet.com Thu Jun 4 10:31:47 2009 From: davect at bendnet.com (david tracy) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 10:31:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] a clearer picture, please In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Gerard, With Red Crossbills, it's all about the sounds. There is a very good resource for sorting out the different types at the following link: http://research.amnh.org/ornithology/crossbills/diagnosis.html Note, this page is multimedia and takes a while to download, especially if you're on a dial-up connection Here in Bend, we have two kinds that I've confirmed. Type 2 is the most common, heard widely throughout the Central Oregon area and up in the high Cascades. However, Just two days ago I heard the distinctly different call of a type 3 Red Crossbill fly over the house. I've been able to record and view the spectrograph/sonogram for both these types several times over the past few years. If you're is interested more in learning about how to record and analyze bird songs and calls, there is a great book available at most libraries: The Singing Life of Birds: The Art and Science of Listening to Birdsong by Donald Kroodsma. Dave david tracy davect at bendnet.com On Jun 4, 2009, at 9:58 AM, gerard.lillie AT comcast.net wrote: > > Subject: Re: a clearer picture, please > From: gerard.lillie AT comcast.net > Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 16:58:31 +0000 (UTC) > > > All the Red Crossbill forms, too, please :) > > > > Gerard > > Subject: [obol] a clearer picture, please > > OBOL: > > With all the talk about Woodhouse's and California and Nevada scrub > jays by > very learned voices, I'm sitting here nearly clueless about what > y'all are > talking about. Yesterday I tried to search the web for the difference > between these forms. It was hard to find a picture of a > "Woodhouse's" scrub > jay. I did find a website with a Texas bird compared to a California > bird... I found a website with a Kenn Kaufman article, but I wasn't a > member of whatever it took to see the thing. > > I found some verbal discriptions. Gray vs white. Bluer. Incomplete > necklace.... > > Can someone put up good pictures of the two morphs so those of us > who don't > know can see what you folks are talking about? > > Thanks, > > Paul T. Sullivan > > P.S. Oh, and while you're at it, could you post some good pictures > of the > difference between the titmice (Oak vs. Juniper), the wrentits, and > the > bushtits? Oh, and the fox sparrows too. Thanks. > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > From davect at bendnet.com Thu Jun 4 11:26:40 2009 From: davect at bendnet.com (david tracy) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 11:26:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] cattle and birds- The Movie In-Reply-To: <2E2DE8D0-3D28-4D24-B6D6-FDC3F6C90E12@bendnet.com> References: <2E2DE8D0-3D28-4D24-B6D6-FDC3F6C90E12@bendnet.com> Message-ID: I disagree strongly with the suggestion that spring development is beneficial to native wildlife. This practice causes the natural springs to be dewatered in order to provide drinking water for cows. I used to work for the BLM and performed spring maintenance for ranchers in Lake County. The results frequently cause the the natural spring oasis to dry up and the lush vegetation to die back. In exchange they create miles of pipelines and cattle troughs, which allow cattle to graze further into arid lands that they would otherwise avoid due to lack of water. Cattle have evolved over the millennia to stay within a mile or two of a water source, since they drink up to 50 gallons a day. So these water projects and guzzlers serve the cattle well, but increase the impact of grazing, creating local "sacrafice zones" around the water holes and troughs and degrading the overall habitat quality for native wildlife throughout the larger area encompassing the spring development. I also disagree that the local "BLM person" acts on strict guidelines to limit the negative impacts of grazing. The BLM has long been an agency captured by the mining and livestock industries that it has been designated to regulate. Humor often cuts to the heart of an issue, well you've probably heard the joke, what does the BLM stand for? Answer: The Bureau of Livestock and Mining. One could also claim the Securities and Exchange commission has strict guidelines to regulate Wall Street, but how well does that work? The question is whether the regulators actually accede to implement these regulations and exert control and oversight over the interests they are supposed to regulate or just keep doing business as usual. In the case of the BLM regulating cattle production, it is most often business as usual. Any BLM Range Conservationist worth his pointy boots knows exactly how politically and economically powerful the big ranchers and the Oregon Cattleman's Beef Association are in rural SE Oregon. To even suggest a modest reduction stocking levels is bucking the system. Instead they will bend over backwards to keep stocking levels up. Thats why they always first try building more water holes and fences, to "fix" the negative impacts of grazing instead of reducing the number of cows. Bottom line, livestock production in SE Oregon has negative impacts on the quality of the fragile, high-desert ecosystem. But you don't have to take my word for it. A picture paints a thousand words, so I've included two links that show the direct impact of cattle grazing in SE Oregon. One is a youtube video and one is a still photo taken of the same fenceline contast last November. This fence marks the northern boundary of Craig & Marilyn Miller's property in the Summer Lake valley, a few miles south of refuge HQ on Highway 31. Craig Miller retired his property from grazing well over 10 years ago, maybe more like 20 years. In that time the land has recovered beautifully, with native bunchgrasses and forbs carpeting the range. It is a stark contrast with the property on the other side of the fence, where grazing takes place annually. The contrast is even more evident during the spring and summer, when the green, verdant bunchgrass really stands out compared to the gray sage and purple cheatgrass. If anyone is traveling through the Summer Lake valley, I encourage them to slow down and take a look at the Miller's property for themselves, you might even get to hear a Yellow Rail (obligatory bird-related content, check). Here's the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QfXx04GC8U And here's a link to a photo taken at the same time: http://www.flickr.com/photos/72482309 at N00/3595869506/ I ask the question, which side of the fence most resembles the vast expanse of rangelands of SE Oregon? There is absolutely no question that removing cattle improves the ecological health and habitat quality of the high-desert shrub-steppe ecosystems we have here in the great basin. Sincerely, Dave Tracy Bend, OR david tracy davect at bendnet.com On Jun 3, 2009, at 11:29 PM, Larry Cottrell wrote: > Subject: cattle and birds > From: "Larry Cottrell" > Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 23:29:38 -0600 > "We left the Oregon Canyon quite awestruck. This is one truly > fabulous area! We > hope politics allow further cessation in grazing by cattle. This > place deserves > formal and total protection." > > Andy and Ellen Stepniewski > Wapato WA > > I had first thought that it might have been Andy who was the Owl > culprit, but I > am happy to report that it was not. The guy who was there, visited > today. Andy > was long gone. > > > Normally I let my wife follow this list, and normally I let a lot > of the more > political thoughts go unchallenged, as most peoples minds are > already made up. > However since moving here three years ago and being a pilot who > flies the area > described by Andy's post quite a lot and generally at low level, I > am very > familiar with the wildlife, both birds and animals. I have also > learned a great > deal about the people who ranch here and their land use practices. > I am sure > that all of you have heard the term "Stewards of the land", well > That term > could have been coined here. > > > First, Most of the BLM lands are covered by leases to the ranches > and there is > a BLM person whose job it is to monitor the lands and the ranchers > have strict > guidelines regulating how long they can leave the cows on the lands > and they > can be required to remove them if the impact on the land is too > great. It is > not in the ranchers interest to overgraze the land, too much weight > loss for > the cows cost them money. > > > Secondly, While there are springs here and there that occur > naturally, guess > who takes care of them? Clue, it isn't the BLM. In the vast desert > acreage that > does not have those springs about all the wildlife that you are > going to find > will be lizards, and a few Horned Larks that can fly to the water > that they > need. The ranch bordering my place has 11 miles of pipeline that > they take care > of to get the water to other parts of the range. The water holes, > stock tanks > and pipelines are all supplied and maintained by the ranchers. One > rancher by > Danner patrols 200 miles of pipeline by aircraft, keeping the > desert watered > and supporting the wildlife that we all enjoy. > > > It is not my intention to rain on anyone's parade and I am glad > that Andy had a > good time, but the problems and solutions are not so easily found > with just a > surface look. Every one wants to blame the shortage of Sage Grouse > on the Cows, > when it is my contention that we would have far fewer Sage Grouse > if there were > not cows on the land that the rancher had to furnish water for. > Some of you > might have heard of the big Sage Grouse die off that occurred in > this area two > years ago when the West Nile Virus blew through. The die off > occurred on the > ranch next to me. The Sage Grouse were living in the grass fields > among the > cows in their pastures. > > > Andy mentions the Oregon Canyon Area and while I do not know for > sure where he > was, Oregon Canyon is owned by the Tree Top Ranch. Below I have > included a part > of a study about the "Stockade Block" of land that supplies money > to the state > of Oregon for schools and such. It is a large block of land that is > above the > Mann Lake road and covers quite a large area. > http://www.oregonstatelands.us/DSL/LW/stockade_block.shtml They > have concluded > a study about how the land is going to be used to best make money > for the funds > that it is charged with supporting. I took one excerpt out of it to > give you a > bit of a better idea of some of the things that impact this desert > that many of > us enjoy. > > > As Tree Top points out one of the biggest problems with this range > is the Wild > (feral) horse. The environmental factions have blocked all control > over them > and they are fast becoming so numerous that their impact on the > desert is going > to be one of the more pressing concerns in the future. For your > information > Tree Top Ranches have paid $397,898.75 for the privilege of using > range land in > the Stockade Block. The ranch leases on this land brought in over 8 > million > dollars to the state of Oregon. > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > --- > One lessee (Tree Top Ranches) commented: > "1. Wild Horse Control. Wild horses straying into the Block from > adjacent BLM > lands are a serious problem. They consistently damage significant > stretches of > fence, tear up stock water structures and consume significant > amounts of > forage. It would be in the Block's best interest to develop a > procedure with > the BLM to facilitate reporting and quick removal. > > 2. Gates. Gates left open, even briefly or unintentionally can > allow cattle to > become lost or wander into areas they do not belong. Perhaps DSL > could work > with Lessees to identify problem areas and install cattle guards to > minimize > this problem. > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > To keep this email on the subject of birds, I found a Cow bird in > my chicken > pen today that had all the symptoms of WN, and the lady from the > ranch next > door says that they are seeing a lot of sick Yellow heads and Black > Birds. > > > Larry Cottrell > Burns Jct._______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From alfanana at q.com Thu Jun 4 12:07:06 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 19:07:06 +0000 Subject: [obol] Finch Message-ID: Hello All, A short time ago, I mistakenly identified a HOUSE FINCH as a CASSIN'S FINCH. Thankfully, I was gently corrected and the difference explained. Today, I can really appreciate the education, as my feeders have been visited by "my" first CASSIN'S FINCH! He gave me ample opportunity to observe the topknot, as the antics of of the four juvenile GREY SQUIRRELS appeared to make him nervous. His first visit was short, but his second was of a much longer duration. Thanks to all who advised I add Thistle Seed! I have, and am anxious to see what else comes to visit! Karen, La Pine -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090604/f04ceb61/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Thu Jun 4 12:21:57 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:21:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] A late spring ID quiz bird Message-ID: <4A281ED5.5000507@pacifier.com> Taken this morning at Camp Kiwanilong (just down the road from Ft Stevens). http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11251/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From slcarpenter at gmail.com Thu Jun 4 12:31:41 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 12:31:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tualatin River NWR: Wilson's Phalaropes, etc. Message-ID: My father and I birded Tualatin River NWR this morning. We came across four WILSON'S PHALAROPES. They were on the south side of the road that runs east-west from the back entrance to south of the headquarters building. Also at the refuge were all three teal species, at least 3 male LAZULI BUNTINGS singing away, and a PILEATED WOODPECKER near the river overlook. Scott Carpenter SW Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090604/8b22dcb0/attachment.html From jorrie at peak.org Thu Jun 4 14:11:38 2009 From: jorrie at peak.org (Jorrie & Ken) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 14:11:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hummer Activity Waldport Message-ID: <65808F1F-2B43-46B5-923D-8A9F364F296D@peak.org> The RUFOUS and ANNA's HUMMINGBIRD activity has picked up these past couple of days. It's about 10 days later than normal for our place. The juveniles are also starting to show up at the feeders. Jorrie & Ken Waldport, OR From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Jun 4 14:52:53 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:52:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Owyhee notes Message-ID: Graham Floyd and I spent a few hours this morning at the Lake Owyhee State Parks. No vagrants, but the whole area, as usual, has an incredible density of orioles, chats and buntings and is fun to bird. Also as usual, we spent parts of two days in good riparian and tree-filled ag land without seeing a single Eastern Kingbird. I always have trouble finding them in the Treasure Valley area. Why? Now back at Malheur. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From paul at furzwo.com Thu Jun 4 16:53:34 2009 From: paul at furzwo.com (Paul Buescher) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 16:53:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Complaint...! In-Reply-To: <256219.51762.qm@web35308.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <256219.51762.qm@web35308.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Obolers, If you encounter a photographer acting inappropriately towards wildlife, other photographers or birders ask if they belong to NANPA (North American Nature Photographers Association) and abide by the ethical rules of that organization. Visit http://www.nanpa.org/committees/ethics and scroll down to ?Principles of Ethical Field Practices?. If you can get their name forward it to this group as they want photographers to get the best wildlife photos possible without stressing the wildlife and they do not want a few bad apples to ruin it for all photographers. Warm Regards Paul Buescher West Hayden Island Moorage _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Forrest Rowland Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:39 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Complaint....and a Waterthrush! Hello all, I've been following this thread as it reminded me of a similar incident with a young birder on the East Coast last Winter taking some fantastic pictures of his life Snowy Owl using a flash.....and subsequently being bashed for it online and being extremely cautious about posting and feeling outcast for quite sometime after. I agree with all comments wholeheartedly. In the case of this poor young fellow I mention above, he was ignorant to the thought that Flash Photography may scare the bird enough to cause it to leave/move or simply be even further inconvenienced than a Snowy Owl 400 miles South of where it should be already is. No one had warned him in advance. If you see someone carrying out bad/ignorant behavior I think it should be conveyed in a civil manner, citing references (so arm yourselves with appropriate information!), that this behavior infringes on the bird's right to survival and can cause direct harm. Many people simply do not know. As for those who do know...I'm with Cindy. They should be fined severely and boycotted. My two cents, Forrest Rowland PS - A Northern Waterthrush was singing at the junction of South Molalla Forest Road and Diskey Prairie Rd just past the S Fork bridge today, in Clackamas Co. _____ ?Obt?n la mejor experiencia en la web! Descarga gratis el nuevo Internet Explorer 8 http://downloads.yahoo.com/ieak8/?l=e1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090604/7da2aa9c/attachment.html From dendroicaman at peak.org Thu Jun 4 19:10:43 2009 From: dendroicaman at peak.org (dendroicaman at peak.org) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 19:10:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Northern Mockingbird KLAM Co In-Reply-To: <20090603151410.VB2ET.3747533.root@mp08> References: <20090603151410.VB2ET.3747533.root@mp08> Message-ID: <1183.67.150.18.221.1244167843.squirrel@webmail.peak.org> Hi all, I observed a Northern Mockingbird at close range at Odessa Creek Campground on the west side of Upper Klamath Lake yesterday at around 7:50 AM. If one follows the campground loop left from the boat launch, a trail takes off to the right as the road curves around and climbs back up the hill. Follow this trail across a stone walkway through a spring, there is a picnic table in a clearing on the other side. Looking back from the table toward the trail you entered on, the bird flushed from the ground at the edge of the clearing and flew into a nearby bush and looked at me for ~10 seconds before heading to a different bush and soon after disappearing. I can provide more notes for anyone who is interested. Wonder if this is the same bird that Kevin saw? Sorry this post is late--I have been away from the computer lately. Good Birding, Karl Karl Fairchild currently Ft. Klamath, OR > Hi, > > Stepping outside last night at 2:30 am, I heard a Northern Mockingbird > singing. It would be in the vicinity of Springcrest and Rosemont Court in > Klamath Falls. I'll have to pinpoint it better during the day if it is > still around. > > Kevin Spencer > rriparia at charter.net > Klamath Falls, OR > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Jun 4 19:42:40 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (joel) Date: Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:42:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] cattle and birds Message-ID: <1244169760.3418.160.camel@joel-laptop> Hello folks, First off, when this subject comes up with regard to SE/SC Oregon, I respect David Tracy's point of view immensely. Many of you may not realize that Dave is a 4th (or is it 5th?) generation scion of a cattle-ranching family from Lake County. He's a strong conservationist but he still goes to Tracy family reunions with people who are actively ranching, so I know that he doesn't speak lightly on this issue. Second, my own first steps started off with cow manure squishing between the toes, as a 4th generation dairy & beef farmer. So my natural sympathies run with farmers, and cattle farmers in particular. That said, I think we need to be realistic about the effects of cattle on the desert landscape. I can appreciate that Larry, having moved to Harney Co. three years ago, wants to get along with his new-found ranching neighbors. I probably know more than most of the rest of you (except for Dave) what that means in terms of everyday life, to depend on your nearest neighbor since help from town won't get there for at least half an hour. I still live in a rural area and know the local farmers & what they have going on in their lives. But as a farm kid who started to develop conservation sensibilities even while I was responsible for feeding 50 calves & 100 steers every day, getting up at 5 AM to milk 120 cows before I got on the school bus, fixing fences in the middle of Minnesota blizzards, etc. etc. etc., I really have no use for bull manure from ranchers. I've had the opportunity to talk to many Oregon ranchers over the past decade. I find that many are conscientious and have insightful things to say, and have really thought about conservation issue in relation to their operations. Most ranchers like wildlife and will do what they can to support it. But I've also run into some who are, well ... just full of beans. Let's start with the Oregon Canyon Mountains: For starters, this is nowhere near Mann Lake, and it is certainly not owned by Tree Top Ranch. Like most of Harney & Malheur Co. at large, the vast majority of the land in the Oregon Canyon Mountains is publicly owned. That's right -- YOU AND I OWN IT! Granted, I know that ranchers who take out grazing leases (usually at a cost of pennies per dollar of public expenditure to maintain them) often develop the idea that they "own" those lands. But it just ain't so. The Stockade Block mentioned by Larry is 30 or 40 miles due north of the Oregon Canyon Mountains, with about a 2000 ft difference in average elevation. I've explored parts of the Stockade Block, and frankly that landscape is a mess. Blame it on wild horses if you want. To me the culprits are, sad to say, the cloven-hoofed critters that I know & love from my youth. I've never been in the Oregon Canyon Mountains proper, but I surveyed part of the Montana Mountains just south of there as part of the Nevada Breeding Bird Atlas. There I found incredible bird diversity, and in particular, good numbers of Greater Sage-Grouse to the point that they were a nuisance since they tended to explode out of the bunchgrass just as I was trying to identify a flycatcher or sparrow. I saw more sage-grouse there, than in my entire time birding in Oregon. But guess what -- the places where I found all those sage-grouse were either in, or right around the boundaries of, an area that had been fenced off to cattle to protect a spring. The whole look of the habitat was different. Second thing: It's just ridiculous to talk about ranchers "taking care of" springs. The springs that are there are a function of the geology and hydrogeology. If they weren't piped into stock tanks and troughs surrounded by trampled mud, they would support localized ponds, wetlands and groves of aspens & shrubs, like you can see on Sheldon NWR, Hart Mtn NAR, and other places where cattle are excluded. Go look at those springs, then come back and talk to us about the springs that ranchers are "taking care of." Third thing: This is the time of year when school districts are publishing their annual budgets in the back pages of your local newspaper. Take a look at the budget for the typical local school district, and see how far $8 million gets you. Is this the most effective use of 250,000 acres? By my calculation that's $32 per acre. As a born & raised farmer, let me just say, that's ridiculous to even bring up $32/acre in adult discussion. No one I grew up around would waste their time on less than $200 per acre net. Frankly I'd rather see my property taxes raised by the 25 cents per year that it would take to cover this revenue gap, if you consider how what that 250,000 acres could look like without cattle. Fourth thing: (and this brings it back to birding, check!) if you've only found Horned Larks in a patch of sagebrush, either (1) you haven't really gotten out into it, or (2) it's severely overgrazed. Good birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From jeffgill at teleport.com Thu Jun 4 19:48:51 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:48:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sanderlings - Harney Co. Message-ID: Owen Schmidt and I saw two SANDERLINGS and two Snowy Plovers at Alvord Playa today. Jeff Gilligan From rfadney at hotmail.com Thu Jun 4 20:50:03 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 20:50:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird Sounds Weblink Message-ID: I found this site while looking for a source of of bird songs downloads. It's pretty good so I thought I'd share it. http://azfo.org/SoundLibrary/sounds_intro.html Good Birding! Rich _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_BR_life_in_synch_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090604/afd564e1/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Jun 4 21:00:38 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (joel) Date: Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:00:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] cattle and birds In-Reply-To: <1244169760.3418.160.camel@joel-laptop> References: <1244169760.3418.160.camel@joel-laptop> Message-ID: <1244174438.4031.17.camel@joel-laptop> Correction: > I can appreciate that Larry, having moved to [Malheur] Co. three years ago.... -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From dhogaza at pacifier.com Thu Jun 4 21:03:13 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 21:03:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] cattle and birds In-Reply-To: <1244169760.3418.160.camel@joel-laptop> References: <1244169760.3418.160.camel@joel-laptop> Message-ID: On Jun 4, 2009, at 7:42 PM, joel wrote: > > Granted, I know that ranchers who take out grazing leases (usually > at a > cost of pennies per dollar of public expenditure to maintain them) > often > develop the idea that they "own" those lands. But it just ain't so. I swore we should drop this and pleaded that we should but ... the Reagan administration managed to cut grazing lease rates by nearly 1/2, at a time when federal land grazing rates were already about 1/4 of state rates (which themselves were less than private grazing rates). And we're pretty much at the same place, despite 20+ years of inflation. Each of you had better hope that Larry's right, that grazing improves God's original work in ways He could not imagine, because you, not the ranchers, are paying for it. It would be a pity if you were to find out that you're paying for habitat destruction instead, wouldn't it? And Joel's right, many ranchers believe they "own" these lands. Irony lesson (and insight into Reagan's naivite regarding many of those who voted him into office). He came into office at the height of the "sagebrush rebellion", which was fighting to privatize these (mostly) BLM lands. He supported them. They were in love. Then he announced his logic: if we sold them, we wouldn't have to spend taxpayer money supporting the ranchers who use them. Oops. The ranchers wanted title *and* taxpayer subsidy of ranching. Sagebrush Rebellion largely imploded as a result (though remnants still remain as the County Movement, but their motives aren't the same, though I won't go into it here). ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From windypointandy at dishmail.net Thu Jun 4 21:05:30 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 21:05:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Northeastern Oregon=30 May-2 June Message-ID: <000c01c9e592$e626d3e0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> NORTHEAST OREGON 30 MAY-2 JUNE 2009 We journeyed to northeast Oregon to seek out "eastern specialties" of riparian areas and generally explore this beautiful corner of the state. We were not disappointed! PENDLETON AREA (30-31 MAY). Leaving Yakima about 6 pm we first hit the nice marshes by the side of I-84 just west of Stanfield. GREAT EGRET, AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, BLACK-NECKED STILT, AMERICAN AVOCET, and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD were some of the showy birds we saw right away. While peering through the scope, an Oregon State Police car drove by without stopping to hassle or ticket us. Hopefully, our strategy to pull well off onto the shoulder gravel (steep but not overly so) showed we were safety conscious. Where were the Tricolored Blackbirds for which the site is known? Right then Mike Denny phoned and so we queried him on this. "Check the willows at the extreme southeast corner." We focused on this corner of the marsh and within 15 minutes had a beautiful male TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD in our scope. Do the Red-wings dominate at this site and force the Tri-coloreds off to this forgotten corner? I thought it too bad this great birding spot (we had 35 species here in 30 minutes) is de facto off limits save for those willing to risk the wrath of police or a fine. As darkness settled, we next hit Umatilla NWR seeking owls. The slough was great for a calling AMERICAN BITTERN but no night birds called. Finally we drove the Stanfield Loop Road that winds its way past the Cold Springs NWR through irrigated field habitat. We stopped a few times netting one shrieking BARN OWL but no others owls before we called it a night. Before dawn on 31 May we followed advice from Aaron Skirvin, Umatilla County expert, for Grasshopper Sparrow. About five miles southeast of Milton Freewater and one mile up Kinnear Road from Couse Creek Road in remnant bunchgrass habitat (amid a sea of monoculture cropland) we watched a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW carrying food in its bill, good evidence of breeding here. Of interest, a COOPER'S HAWK called from a meager patch of small trees 0.2 miles west down Kinnear Road. We spent a nice three hours along the beautiful riparian corridor along the Umatilla River in the Indian reservation of the same name. From the three-way junction of Cayuse, Thornhollow, and Bingham Roads in Thornhollow, we first explored Wenix Springs 0.7 mile west on Cayuse Road (obscure gravel lane to the north). Here, with boat loads of pesky mosquitoes, we picked up GRAY CATBIRD, many Yellow Warblers, and BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD. Another 2.2 miles west on Cayuse Road (at a gravel pullout opposite a tiny pond) amid tall cottonwoods, we heard three or so VEERIES and a couple RED-EYED VIREOS. So, finding three "northeastern Oregon specialties" appears a reasonable bet along the Umatilla River here. Thank you Aaron, mike and MerryLynn for all your help! Poking farther east up the Umatilla River in new country for both of us, we were tempted by the write-up in Classic Hikes of Oregon for Ninemile Ridge in the North Fork Umatilla Wilderness Area, so set off steeply uphill to check it out and get a good bit of exercise. The trail beginning is in lush riparian woodland lining Buck Creek with singing SWAINSON'S THRUSH and drumming RUFFED GROUSE. Shortly we climbed up and out of this habitat to large expanses of steep south-facing slopes grown to "meadows" (as described in the hiking book but in reality a forb-rich steppe) mantled in native bunchgrasses and masses of beautiful flowering forbs (biscuitroots, yellow and blue lupine, larkspur, and buckwheats to name a few). The trail never stays in the same habitat for long and soon we entered a brushy draw (chokecherry, snowberry, ocean spray). Here we heard DUSKY FLYCATCHERS, LAZULI BUNTINGS, and Spotted Towhees. Soon we were traversing onto a shaded slope with an impressive dry forest of Douglas-fir, grand fir, and ponderosa pine. HAIRY WOODPECKER, CASSIN'S VIREO, Steller's Jay, WESTERN TANAGER, Chipping Sparrow, and DARK-EYED JUNCO were conspicuous in this zone. Higher, we reached an area of denser forest (same tree species as lower elevations plus western larch) on the north-facing ridge at 3600 feet elevation. Our prize there was a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER quietly working seemingly healthy Douglas-firs. TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS singing indicated we had left the lower dry forests. Of great interest, the crest of the ridge (and many others hereabouts) shows a fantastic gradient from south-facing bunchgrass and flowering forbs to dense shrub thickets to north-facing forest over a very compressed distance, say 50 yards. This type of habitat contrast is quite common over much of the mountainous American West so I'm trying to understand why it is so picturesque in the Blue Mountains. After some thought I conclude "it's the geology." Why? Well, throughout much of the Blue Mountains, flat-lying or gently dipping basalt flows have been deeply incised by creeks or rivers to form stupendous canyons. The combination of this dramatic canyon country along with its complex mosaic of slopes and aspects makes for an equally varied pattern of vegetation ecotones, recipe for countless spectacular vistas in the Blue Mountains. These shrubby thickets (currants, ocean spray, chokecherry, Douglas maple, and birch) in the steppe/forest ecotone had RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, DUSKY FLYCATCHER, WARBLING VIREO, ORANGE-CROWNED and WILSON'S WARBLERS. We poked about high shrub thickets on a ravine southwest of the summit (4200 feet elevation) in hopes of a Green-tailed Towhee with no luck. Perhaps the time of day or heat kept these and other birds hidden. Ellen did flush a Chukar though. ENTERPRISE PRAIRIE (1 JUNE). We set the alarm at 3 am to be in nice grassland and hawthorn thicket habitat before much light. Going six miles north of Enterprise on OR-3 then left (west) on Leap Lane, then right at the next junction to (45.33.924 N 117.20.470 W) we heard at least three Gray Partridges give their "scratchy gate" call from the vast grasslands. Long-eared Owls moaned from the extensive hawthorn thickets across the vale. We listened intently for other sounds in this valley, such as a bubbly chortle from a rare Sharp-tailed Grouse. Nothing like that called except crowings from Ring-necked Pheasants. Heading back towards Enterprise we chose a different grassland road: Golf Course Lane. Just south of the lone ranch house on this route (with the split rail fence exclosure around a tiny marsh and treed spot-winter habitat for American Tree Sparrows) we stopped to listen again for any Sharp-tails (45.30.311 N 117.19.040 W). No grouse but we did hear several GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS alongside Savannah Sparrows. According to Birds of Oregon (Marshall et al.) this species presence here is not documented with high confidence. A SHORT-EARED OWL called and Ellen spotted this fine bird on a fence post in the ravine just to the east. Cool! We had another SHORT-EAR farther south on Golf Course Road. Northern Harriers were about too. Next we chose to head north across the vast grasslands towards the long-abandoned town of Zumwalt, smack in the middle of one of the Pacific Northwest's finest tracts of prairie. Along the way, squirrels chattered everywhere, fodder for lots of raptors. We spotted one pair of FERRUGINOUS, several of SWAINSON'S, and multiple Red-tailed Hawks, along with a pair of GOLDEN EAGLES. Passing Findley Buttes, we found an Oregon Department of Wildlife sign on a gate thus inferring we could invite ourselves to hike across the prairie to "West Findley Butte." With binos I noted primo habitat for Clay-colored Sparrows in the broad swaths of deciduous shrubbery mantling the buttes north flanks. This is a rare species in Oregon but this chunk of habitat is only two degrees in latitude south of outposts on Washington (northeastern WA knolls). I say nothing ventured, nothing gained so we set off to climb West Findley. No Clay-colored (might be 10 days early to expect a spring overshoot here) but we did note singing and nest building Brewer's Sparrows in brushy habitat (snowberry, currants, chokecherry and one other currant-like shrub we do not know) totally without sagebrush, very unusual in my experience. Anybody else have time to try these thickets say mid-June for Clay-colored Sparrow? Other birds conspicuous on Findley Butte in the grasslands were Horned Lark, Vesper Sparrow, and Western Meadowlark. Several aspen stringers had singing DUSKY FLYCATCHER, Warbling Vireo, and Chipping Sparrow. ENTERPRISE TO JOHN DAY (1-2 JUNE). From Enterprise, we decided to take the long way around the Wallowa Mountains in case we might blunder into Spruce Grouse or American Three-toed Woodpecker in high elevation forests along the way. We did pass through some areas of subalpine forests we thought suitable and poked about a bit in these areas. Our only grouse was RUFFED, drumming at 1 pm. We did encounter lots of burned forests, mostly looking at least 10+ years old. We enjoyed the stupendous views at the Hells Canyon Overlook, then descended through mixed conifer forests into rangeland at Halfway, then through increasingly arid landscape grown to shrub-steppe to night in Baker City. Dawn on 2 June we took OR-7 south of Baker City soon encountering expanses of wet agricultural fields. Birds of note included CINNAMON TEAL, LONG-BILLED CURLEW, and small numbers of BOBOLINKS. The Deer Creek inlet into the east end of Philips Lake immediately caught our eye as worthy of a look. Extensive willow thickets, mostly of small tree size but some larger, were full of birds. OSPREY, SANDHILL CRANE (adjacent fields), RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, GRAY CATBIRD, CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (three or four displaying males), Yellow and MACGILLIVRAY'S Warblers, and Black-headed Grosbeak were some of the riparian birds we noted here. We especially targeted redstart with no luck. East from Dixie Summit, we explored south up Forest Road 026 to a summit ridge at 6200 feet elevation where we encountered a large old burn (inquiring at the District Ranger office in Prairie City, we were told 2003) where we found WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER (2), HAIRY (1), BLACK-BACKED (one male), and PILEATED WOODPECKERS (2 calling). Inquiring about recent fires, we were told a large burn in 2006 "involved much of the Murderers Creek basin" and contained low to high elevation forests but we did not have time to check this area. Though the recent Oregon birding guide (Falcon) state Clyde Holliday State Park no longer hosts Least Flycatchers regularly, we decided to check the place out just in case these birds had not read the guidebook. We walked the "Riverview Trail" and could see stretches where Least Flys would feel quite at home (overstory cottonwoods and a well-developed tall shrub layer). Some stretches of riparian woodland across the John Day River looked good also so I strained my ears to catch a "che-bek" over the river noise. Well, we had no luck on Least Flycatcher but did note both HAIRY and Downy WOODPECKERS, and plenty of Yellow Warblers (we kept an ear and eye out for redstarts too but again no luck). Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090604/139073d5/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Jun 4 21:52:52 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 04:52:52 +0000 Subject: [obol] owl sounds, In-Reply-To: <00163646d11af1d7b9046b87bfac@google.com> References: <00163646d11af1d7b9046b87bfac@google.com> Message-ID: Hi Barbara, In all likelihood, your local Great Horned Owlets have been out of the nest awhile. In w. OR they are usually on eggs by February. In eastern Oregon the youngsters are still fuzzy, but essentially full-grown and flying about. Dave Irons Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 15:51:31 +0000 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] owl sounds, Second try. This didn't seem to post last time I do have my switches set to "receive own posts", so not sure what's going on. Yesterday, and the day before, all day long there was a chorus of great horned owls sounds here. Two males and at least one female hooting continuously morning and afternoon (I wasn't here in the evening, so I don't know about that). It was NOT accompanied by any sounds of heckling corvids, and I didn't walk out into the woods to see what was going on. I was guessing it might be fledging time., Any thoughts? Barbara _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_SD_25GB_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090605/718a9459/attachment.html From dgranstrand at charter.net Thu Jun 4 22:25:44 2009 From: dgranstrand at charter.net (Denny Granstrand) Date: Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:25:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Photos of my first trip to Malheur Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.1.20090604221725.01c51e08@charter.net> I made my first trip to Malheur NWR last weekend and had a fantastic time. What an incredible place! The highlight of my trip occurred west of Seneca when I found a Great Gray Owl in an aspen grove. I watched it, and took photos, for half an hour, until it caught a rodent and took it to what I think was its nest. The photo highlights of my trip are in the new photos folder on my website. The link is in the signature line. Denny Granstrand Yakima, WA * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Denny Granstrand * * Yakima, WA * * dgranstrand at charter.net * * Denny's bird photos can be seen online at: * http://granstrand.net/gallery/ From range.bayer at gmail.com Thu Jun 4 23:12:49 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 23:12:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] owl sounds, [GMail Does Not Allow One to Receive One's Own Posts to an Email List] Message-ID: Hi Barbara, I, like you, have GMail and discovered that it is set up so that one does not receive one's own posts to email lists (e.g., see http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=82454 where it states "Finally, if you're sending mail to a mailing list that you subscribe to, those messages will only appear in 'Sent Mail.' This behavior also occurs when sending to an email address that automatically forwards mail back to your Gmail address. To test forwarding addresses or mailing lists, use a different email address to send your message."). I have not found a way in GMail to change this setting. So the problem is not with OBOL, it is with GMail. Options: cc yourself when you send an email or check with Siler's to see if your post to OBOL shows up there (http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html --it usually shows up quickly). Thanks to Jim Norton for being the OBOL Administrator! But this is not OBOL's or his problem. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport ______________________ > Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 15:51:31 +0000 > From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] owl sounds, > > Second try. This didn't seem to post last time I do have my switches set to > "receive own posts", so not sure what's going on. > > Yesterday, and the day before, all day long there was a chorus of great > horned owls sounds here. Two males and at least one female hooting > continuously morning and afternoon (I wasn't here in the evening, so I don't > know about that). It was NOT accompanied by any sounds of heckling corvids, > and I didn't walk out into the woods to see what was going on. I was > guessing it might be fledging time., Any thoughts? > Barbara > ________________________________ > Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. Get it on your > BlackBerry or iPhone. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Thu Jun 4 23:21:50 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (Jamie S.) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 23:21:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Banded E. Kingbird at Malheur Message-ID: <33441.13763.qm@web39504.mail.mud.yahoo.com> While looking at photos I took at Malheur, I noticed one of an Eastern Kingbird shows colored bands on each leg. ? To whom should I send the photo? ? Jamie Simmons Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090604/ad21397c/attachment.html From dhogaza at pacifier.com Fri Jun 5 05:24:58 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 05:24:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Banded E. Kingbird at Malheur In-Reply-To: <33441.13763.qm@web39504.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <33441.13763.qm@web39504.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: On Jun 4, 2009, at 11:21 PM, Jamie S. wrote: > While looking at photos I took at Malheur, I noticed one of an > Eastern Kingbird shows colored bands on each leg. > > To whom should I send the photo? I had one with a colored red band on one leg, so I guess I'm interested, too. No USF&W band. I thought they were supposed to always put on a USF&W band? In that case the banding lab database should include what sets of color bands are being used by various researching even when you can't read the USF&W number. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From deweysage at verizon.net Fri Jun 5 06:20:14 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 05 Jun 2009 06:20:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Banded E. Kingbird at Malheur In-Reply-To: References: <33441.13763.qm@web39504.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4A291B8E.2030203@verizon.net> Don Baccus wrote: > I had one with a colored red band on one leg, so I guess I'm > interested, too. No USF&W band. I thought they were supposed to > always put on a USF&W band? In that case the banding lab database > should include what sets of color bands are being used by various > researching even when you can't read the USF&W number. > > Not necessarily. There are some projects that do not use federal bands, only color bands. Also, these days some birds get federal bands above the leg joint, and thus the fed band can be hidden from view by the birds belly feathers. So not seeing a federal band could mean you just missed it, or they aren't using it. The Banding Lab doesn't necessarily have the time nor the data to publish a list of what, who, where, and how different birds are banded. We aren't required to send certain info to them, and we don't really expect the public to need to know the exact sequence of bands we use, so there is little point for the Banding Lab to publish such data. The best you could do is either record what you see and send it in, or send in the picture. The Banding Lab will do their best to let you know about the bird. Cheers Dave Lauten > ---- > Don Baccus > http://donb.photo.net > http://birdnotes.net > http://openacs.org > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri Jun 5 07:50:10 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 07:50:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Banded E. Kingbird at Malheur Message-ID: <308745.25460.qm@web45313.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> As I remember, Luke Redmond was doing some work with E. Kingbirds on the refuge the last couple of years, not sure if he is the person to contact though and no I don't have his e-mail? Tim R Coos Bay --- On Fri, 6/5/09, DJ Lauten and KACastelein wrote: > From: DJ Lauten and KACastelein > Subject: Re: [obol] Banded E. Kingbird at Malheur > To: "Don Baccus" > Cc: "Jamie S." , "obol" > Date: Friday, June 5, 2009, 6:20 AM > Don Baccus wrote: > > I had one with a colored red band on one leg, so I > guess I'm? > > interested, too.? No USF&W band.? I > thought they were supposed to? > > always put on a USF&W band?? In that case the > banding lab database? > > should include what sets of color bands are being used > by various? > > researching even when you can't read the USF&W > number. > > > >??? > Not necessarily.? There are some projects that do not > use federal bands, > only color bands.? Also, these days some birds get > federal bands above > the leg joint, and thus the fed band can be hidden from > view by the > birds belly feathers.? So not seeing a federal band > could mean you just > missed it, or they aren't using it.? The Banding Lab > doesn't necessarily > have the time nor the data to publish a list of what, who, > where, and > how different birds are banded.? We aren't required to > send certain info > to them, and we don't really expect the public to need to > know the exact > sequence of bands we use, so there is little point for the > Banding Lab > to publish such data.? The best you could do is either > record what you > see and send it in, or send in the picture.? The > Banding Lab will do > their best to let you know about the bird. > > Cheers > Dave Lauten > > > > > > ---- > > Don Baccus > > http://donb.photo.net > > http://birdnotes.net > > http://openacs.org > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > >??? > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From dhogaza at pacifier.com Fri Jun 5 07:51:03 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 07:51:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Banded E. Kingbird at Malheur In-Reply-To: <4A291B8E.2030203@verizon.net> References: <33441.13763.qm@web39504.mail.mud.yahoo.com> <4A291B8E.2030203@verizon.net> Message-ID: <7D0D45FC-448F-4860-85B3-208E9F4F3719@pacifier.com> On Jun 5, 2009, at 6:20 AM, DJ Lauten and KACastelein wrote: >> Also, these days some birds get federal bands above the leg joint, >> and thus the fed band can be hidden from view by the birds belly >> feathers. Wasn't aware of that, my only experience is banding raptors (in industrial quantities) and they're always banded below the leg joint. My photo's sharp enough so that it's not likely that a band's hiding up there in the belly feathers. >> So not seeing a federal band could mean you just missed it, or >> they aren't using it. The Banding Lab doesn't necessarily have the >> time nor the data to publish a list of what, who, where, and how >> different birds are banded. We aren't required to send certain >> info to them, and we don't really expect the public to need to know >> the exact sequence of bands we use, so there is little point for >> the Banding Lab to publish such data. The best you could do is >> either record what you see and send it in, or send in the picture. >> The Banding Lab will do their best to let you know about the bird. I may head back down to Malheur next week, if so I'll check to see if there's been any eastern kingbird banding going on at the refuge the past few years, and if I get no info, I'll send along what I can to the BBL. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From celata at pacifier.com Fri Jun 5 07:55:49 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 05 Jun 2009 07:55:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Banded E. Kingbird at Malheur Message-ID: <4A2931F5.1090308@pacifier.com> Luke Redmond is the contact guy around here for banded E.Kingbirds. He was able to get the color sequence off the photo I took over Memorial Day. And there is a numbered metal band visible on my photo. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From luk916 at hotmail.com Fri Jun 5 08:09:02 2009 From: luk916 at hotmail.com (Luke Redmond) Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 11:09:02 -0400 Subject: [obol] color-banded Eastern Kingbirds at Malheur Message-ID: The color-banded Eastern Kingbirds that are being seen at Malheur are part of a long-term population study of this species that some colleagues and myself have been conducting since 2002. All banded individuals are given one US Fish and Wildlife Service aluminum band and a unique combination of three colored plastic bands (on their tarsi, only). So in answer to your question, Don, the bird you saw with only a red band on one leg did have an aluminum and another color band on the other. Every year I have to put a few color bands back on or try to read the band number off of the aluminum band through my scope (the latter is actually easier to do, kingbirds can be such a pain to catch) because color bands tend to get removed by birds. Hope this answers some questions. Good birding. Luke Redmond _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090605/57298594/attachment.html From dhogaza at pacifier.com Fri Jun 5 08:21:05 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 08:21:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] color-banded Eastern Kingbirds at Malheur In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On Jun 5, 2009, at 8:09 AM, Luke Redmond wrote: > The color-banded Eastern Kingbirds that are being seen at Malheur > are part of a long-term population study of this species that some > colleagues and myself have been conducting since 2002. All banded > individuals are given one US Fish and Wildlife Service aluminum band > and a unique combination of three colored plastic bands (on their > tarsi, only). So in answer to your question, Don, the bird you saw > with only a red band on one leg did have an aluminum and another > color band on the other. OK looking at my 15 MP rawfile at full size - think looking at 35mm under a microscope - the *other* leg, which is largely hidden by breast feathers, indeed has a USF&W aluminum band on it. I can only see a bit of the seam where the butt ends meet, which is why I missed it at normal resolution. And riding high on the leg with the red band, a lavenderish band above, on the tarsus, as you say. The bird's crouched slightly, if it weren't for the breast feathers that caused me to miss the USF&W band on the opposite leg I could probably give you a couple of numbers ... This was photographed probably about 1/2 way between P Ranch and Benson Pond on the CPR. South of where I photographed the glossy ibis. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Fri Jun 5 08:33:14 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 08:33:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Nesting Siskins and Juncos again? Message-ID: <81b2a9930906050833y7917f9b9qb196ece481089758@mail.gmail.com> It's June and there are still four healthy and active PINE SISKINS in my yard (plus one unhealthy individual who may become hawk food soon). At least one pair that nested in my neighborhood last summer. I have not noticed any fledglings yet, but that may be a factor of me being constantly busy these days. A pair of DE JUNCOS have also been visiting daily for the past few weeks. I don't foresee them leaving any time soon, either. In the meantime, fledgling LESSER GOLDFINCHES have been putting on quite a show on our back deck. Brandon Eugene From fitzbeew at gmail.com Fri Jun 5 08:54:05 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 08:54:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] LCC Birds Message-ID: Obol, Today, my last EVER LCC bird survey (I am graduating in a week), Joe Russin, my teacher, and I went out and saw a good number of species. Highlights included: Wrentit * Black-headed Grosbeak* Western Wood-Pewee* Olive-sided Flycatcher* Lazuli Bunting* Hooded Merganser female 2 male Ruddy Ducks pair Scaup spp. pair (assumed) Black Phoebe and my F.O.Y. singing Willow Flycatcher, whose song I named my e-mail address after! * = singing birds Great birds today, despite the overcast weather! Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090605/dab3d6d4/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Fri Jun 5 08:11:24 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 05 Jun 2009 08:11:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Banded E. Kingbird at Malheur In-Reply-To: <7D0D45FC-448F-4860-85B3-208E9F4F3719@pacifier.com> References: <33441.13763.qm@web39504.mail.mud.yahoo.com> <4A291B8E.2030203@verizon.net> <7D0D45FC-448F-4860-85B3-208E9F4F3719@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <4A29359C.6080305@verizon.net> Also, I might add that some federal bands are covered with colored tape. That's what we do with Snowy Plovers, and unless you know this, you might not realize you are looking at a federal band. Cheers Dave Lauten Don Baccus wrote: > > On Jun 5, 2009, at 6:20 AM, DJ Lauten and KACastelein wrote: > >>> Also, these days some birds get federal bands above the leg joint, >>> and thus the fed band can be hidden from view by the birds belly >>> feathers. > > Wasn't aware of that, my only experience is banding raptors (in > industrial quantities) and they're always banded below the leg joint. > My photo's sharp enough so that it's not likely that a band's hiding > up there in the belly feathers. > >>> So not seeing a federal band could mean you just missed it, or they >>> aren't using it. The Banding Lab doesn't necessarily have the time >>> nor the data to publish a list of what, who, where, and how >>> different birds are banded. We aren't required to send certain info >>> to them, and we don't really expect the public to need to know the >>> exact sequence of bands we use, so there is little point for the >>> Banding Lab to publish such data. The best you could do is either >>> record what you see and send it in, or send in the picture. The >>> Banding Lab will do their best to let you know about the bird. > > I may head back down to Malheur next week, if so I'll check to see if > there's been any eastern kingbird banding going on at the refuge the > past few years, and if I get no info, I'll send along what I can to > the BBL. > > ---- > Don Baccus > http://donb.photo.net > http://birdnotes.net > http://openacs.org > > > > > > > > From dhogaza at pacifier.com Fri Jun 5 10:07:28 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 10:07:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Banded E. Kingbird at Malheur In-Reply-To: <4A29359C.6080305@verizon.net> References: <33441.13763.qm@web39504.mail.mud.yahoo.com> <4A291B8E.2030203@verizon.net> <7D0D45FC-448F-4860-85B3-208E9F4F3719@pacifier.com> <4A29359C.6080305@verizon.net> Message-ID: On Jun 5, 2009, at 8:11 AM, DJ Lauten and KACastelein wrote: > Also, I might add that some federal bands are covered with colored > tape. That's what we do with Snowy Plovers, and unless you know > this, you might not realize you are looking at a federal band. That's news to me. Then again there are probably banders that don't know that we pop-rivet eagle bands in place :) Nice thread, I'm learning stuff. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From jorrie at peak.org Fri Jun 5 10:20:17 2009 From: jorrie at peak.org (Jorrie & Ken) Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 10:20:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Update Towhee & Window Message-ID: <69FF46AA-5427-479A-A00B-4978B0DFF5F4@peak.org> We have 8 picture windows that the towhee was hitting himself against. He went from one window to next around the house from sun up to sun down. This has been going on for nearly a week. The solution ... we securely fastened a large mirror outside. He has decided to attack the mirror over the windows which makes it better for us ... that's a lot of windows to have to clean over and over and over. Hopefully, some female will catch his eye and take him away to get him involved in nesting and raising a family - a much more productive use of time. We think he may have lost his mate as we noticed a sick towhee in the yard a week or so ago. I feel bad for him. But at least he has a better reflection of himself to look at. Jorrie & Ken Waldport, OR From chrischutter at shaw.ca Thu Jun 4 13:08:42 2009 From: chrischutter at shaw.ca (Chris Chutter) Date: Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:08:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rare bird sighting Message-ID: Hi I witnessed a rare bird sighting and would like to submit it though I am not sure if this is how or where I am supposed to do it.? I have 4 photos to validate the sighting, but getting them off my camera may take a while.? I have been a professional ornithologist since 2001 and am presently doing my MSc at Portland State University researching Eastern Kingbirds, as support of my birding abilities.? On the job June 1 at 2pm in Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Eastern Oregon 7.1km north of P Ranch I spotted a solitary Acorn Woodpecker in a riparian willow strip along a canal.? As far as I can gather an Acorn Woodpecker has never been seen in the refuge. Cheers, Chris Chutter Let me know if you want the pics once I get them off my camera. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090604/aeafda99/attachment.html From sparsons at canby.com Fri Jun 5 12:16:23 2009 From: sparsons at canby.com (Steve and Diana Parsons) Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 12:16:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Banded Eastern Kingbird Message-ID: Hi Everyone, Diana and I also photographed a banded eastern kingbird while at Malheur ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen_parsons/3576656063/ ), and later ran into one of the people doing the study. He was interested in receiving a copy of the photo, so I sent him a low quality .jpg of the bird. He also needed date, time and approximate location where the photo was taken. You might contact him to see if he needs more info. The persons name is Chris Chutter, and can be reached at ChrisChutter at shaw.ca. Steve From dhogaza at pacifier.com Fri Jun 5 12:29:56 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 12:29:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Owyhee notes In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On Jun 4, 2009, at 2:52 PM, Alan Contreras wrote: > > Also as usual, we spent parts of two days in good riparian and tree- > filled > ag land without seeing a single Eastern Kingbird. I always have > trouble > finding them in the Treasure Valley area. Why? It's too far east? :) > > Now back at Malheur. Back to the west, where'd you expect to see eastern kingbird! :) (hope people don't mind a little frivolity) ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From namitzr at hotmail.com Fri Jun 5 16:23:11 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 16:23:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rare bird sighting Message-ID: Chris and others~ Although your excellent sighting of an Acorn Woodpecker was rare locally (Harney County), it is not a rare bird in the state. I think therefore, the sighting should go to the appropriate Regional Editor, Noah Styker in this case birdboy at bkpix.com. See the OFO webpage for other regional editors http://www.oregonbirds.org/fieldnotes.html. Regional Editors (in Oregon anyway) usually monitor OBOL and glean reports for their area as the posts come in. Reports for rare birds in the state usually go to Harry Nehls hnehls6 at comcast.net according to helpful instructions found on the OFO webpage http://www.oregonbirds.org/obrc.html. Thanks for the inquiry and for reporting the sighting. Sincerely, Russ Namitz Coos Bay, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090605/7acaa13d/attachment.html From ggrier at efn.org Fri Jun 5 17:53:34 2009 From: ggrier at efn.org (George Grier) Date: Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:53:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rare Bird Sighting Message-ID: <5.0.0.25.2.20090605174814.01738480@pop.efn.org> I found an Acorn Woodpecker at the Barnes Springs corral last September (9/23/2008) which is part of the Malheur NWR and just south of Frenchglen. This is very close to the P Ranch sightings reported recently. George Grier Springfield From willclemons at yahoo.com Fri Jun 5 17:54:00 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 17:54:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] gefield NWR: AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS - all day Message-ID: <196790.66521.qm@web55101.mail.re4.yahoo.com> The American White Pelicans reported this morning by Jim Danzenbaker were there all day on Rest Lake. I left the Refuge at 3:45PM, and they were still there, tightly huddled on Rest Lake. Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores From hnehls6 at comcast.net Fri Jun 5 19:28:27 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:28:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: RFI from a visiting birder In-Reply-To: <20090604123753.s1eurogc8g808kss@www.email.arizona.edu> Message-ID: Obolers, Can anyone help this visiting birder? Harry Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon ------ Forwarded Message From: Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 12:37:53 -0700 To: "hnehls6 at comcast.net" Subject: RFI from a visiting birder Hi My wife and I will be spending a number of weeks in the Portland area, arriving there in the latter half of June. I will be doing some general birding up there, and chase anything vagrant that shows up. All of that sort of information I can get from the Audubon society website. I do though have a question about one specific species. The one resident bird in Oregon that would be a life bird for me is the Blue Grouse. I never bothered to look for it in the old days because I had seen it in several other places, Arizona, Colorado, etc. and making a special search couldn't be fit into the family plans during trips through Oregon. But, post split, I do certainly want to give it a try. So, my question is, is there a listserv to which I could submit a FYI request, and gather the wisdom of the group of Oregon birders? I realize that the timing of my visit may not be the best, but we will be there for the birth of my wife's first grandchild, so the baby sets the schedule. I'll be grateful for any advice you can give me on this. Brian McKnight Tucson Audubon ------ End of Forwarded Message From lbviman at blackfoot.net Fri Jun 5 19:44:52 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:44:52 -0600 Subject: [obol] complaint In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090606024057.B1F9A9B0244@mail.blackfoot.net> Of course. One person's ability to provide excellent photos for all to enjoy is now turned into "bad/ignorant behavior". Unless it is done "wisely" by some "super-birder" whose "intentions" are honorable? Who says? Respectfully asked, Jim Greaves, Montana At 01:00 PM 6/5/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >If you see someone carrying out bad/ignorant behavior I think it should be >conveyed in a civil manner, citing references (so arm yourselves with >appropriate information!), that this behavior infringes on the bird's right >to survival and can cause direct harm. Many people simply do not know. From lbviman at blackfoot.net Fri Jun 5 19:52:24 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:52:24 -0600 Subject: [obol] complaint, 2nd thought In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090606024829.9786A9B01FD@mail.blackfoot.net> With regards to "bad/ignorant behavior", and not denigrating the poster of the below quote, how is the construction of homes in the midst of former bird habitat, with such dangerous things as EIGHT picture windows, any LESS destructive to birds than someone attempting to photograph a bird on a one-time visit? And, knowing what they can do, could not one consider it "bad/ignorant" to continue possessing picture windows in bird habitat areas? Should such persons also be "fined", flogged, or reviled? Also, wouldn't it help to let such windows get really dirty so birds would be less likely to see ANY reflections in them? Just asking. Respectfully, Jim Greaves, Montana At 01:00 PM 6/5/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >We have 8 picture windows that the towhee was hitting himself against. >He went from one window to next around the house from sun up to sun >down. This has been going on for nearly a week. The solution ... we >securely fastened a large mirror outside. He has decided to attack the >mirror over the windows which makes it better for us ... that's a lot >of windows to have to clean over and over and over. Hopefully, some >female will catch his eye and take him away to get him involved in >nesting and raising a family - a much more productive use of time. We >think he may have lost his mate as we noticed a sick towhee in the >yard a week or so ago. I feel bad for him. But at least he has a >better reflection of himself to look at. From baileydc at pdx.edu Fri Jun 5 20:55:23 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David Bailey) Date: Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:55:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] local RBA: A. White Pelicans continue in Tillamook Message-ID: <4A29E8AB.6080602@pdx.edu> 5 June 2009 Tillamook Bay, Tillamook Co. On the way back to Gearhart I stopped briefly at the Port of Bay City and walked out to the end of the jetty past the Pacific Seafood cannery. There I saw three AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS in the bay to the southwest. This was a new species for my Tillamook County list, the first in a long time and one I never really expected to see on the coast. Thanks to the original observers for sharing their sighting. David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From jeffgill at teleport.com Fri Jun 5 21:20:08 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:20:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Harney Co. report Message-ID: Owen Schmidt and I and others re-found the Acorn Woodpecker on the CPR today. It was just over a mile north of the large cottonwood tree that stands alone, north of the P Ranch. Strangely, it was hanging out in willows along the road. Others saw it on "posts". The White-winged Dove is very likely gone. We visited the Alvord Playa. The area with shorebirds is near the Alvord Hot Springs shack. If one drives onto the playa, be ware that vehicles have been stuck out there in the mud in the past. 2 Semipalmated Plovers (breeding pair?) 36 Snowy Plovers Killdeer 1 Sanderling A distant flock of whirling calidrids defied identification. Many Avocetts, Willets, and Wilson's Phalaropes 2 Black-necked Stilts Franklin's, Ring-billed and California Gulls Jeff Gilligan From donalbri at teleport.com Fri Jun 5 21:50:02 2009 From: donalbri at teleport.com (Don Albright) Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 21:50:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Band-tailed Pigeons en masse--Yamhill County Message-ID: <332C2505FC8949D18D354C833DCFD7D4@ownerPC> Today at my mom's place, about one mile east of Dayton, Yamhill County, there was an enormous flock of Band-tailed Pigeons. I estimated about 150 of them flying overhead at times. They were spending most of their time in a filbert orchard right across the road from her house. The orchard had just been bladed the last two days, so that it was bare soil below the trees. The pigeons spent a good deal of time "grazing" in large groups on the floor of the orchard. Perhaps they were finding some of last fall's leftover filberts that had been cracked open by the blade of the tractor? There are good riparian forests all around the property, near the banks of the Willamette and Yamhill Rivers, and there are often Band-tailed Pigeons around, but I'd never seen them in near these numbers. Don Albright Newberg, Oregon donalbri at teleport.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090605/714a14b0/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Fri Jun 5 21:54:51 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 21:54:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Siuslaw River "Mud Flat" Message-ID: <8DCDC082-EDEF-426B-A451-3A63E4EB7375@oregonfast.net> Hello OBOL, Today there were 3 GREATER WHITE FRONTED GEESE at the triangular mud flat, North Jetty, Siuslaw River, Florence OR. The interesting thing is that they were exhibiting a behavior that I took to be territorial. All three were approaching a big flock of GULLS ( Those would be Sea-Gulls) with heads down, necks parallel to the ground, in a threatening posture. I was too far away to hear any sound they may have been making. Also 8 non-breeding BONAPARTE'S GULLS. ( Non-SEA-GULLS) Yesterday I went up the Northfork Siuslaw road and onto the North Fork-Brickerville road to photograph Rhodies. It was surprising that it was so quiet considering the gnarly weather in the valley, but i digress. In amongst the calls of SWAINSONS THRUSHES was the gentle "wheet" call of VARIED THRUSHES. I don't know why I thought that they migrated to parts far away but I did. It was also interesting that they were in a fairly specific zone, midway up to the crest of the road before it drops off into the Siuslaw valley. Not lower and not at the ridge. Oh... the Rhodies are very nice in that area right now, but today I tried the dunes and they are past the peak bloom. Click on my weblink for a Rhodie photo. Best, Vern Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090605/7b75b206/attachment.html From dhogaza at pacifier.com Fri Jun 5 23:07:45 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 23:07:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] complaint, 2nd thought In-Reply-To: <20090606024829.9786A9B01FD@mail.blackfoot.net> References: <20090606024829.9786A9B01FD@mail.blackfoot.net> Message-ID: <464B59D0-6343-4481-BE3A-E238F456E85B@pacifier.com> On Jun 5, 2009, at 7:52 PM, Jim Greaves wrote: > With regards to "bad/ignorant behavior", and not denigrating the > poster of the below quote, how is the construction of homes in the > midst of former bird habitat, with such dangerous things as EIGHT > picture windows, any LESS destructive to birds than someone > attempting to photograph a bird on a one-time visit? As a photographer who has photographed burrowing owls (like this one: http://donb.photo.net/photo_cd/a/b78.html) the problem is that burrowing owls are known to be a sensitive (some would claim threatened if not endangered, at least here in the West) species, so special care should be taken. They're flightly and sensitive while on the nest. I admit to pushing birds at times - pushing to the point of knowing a bird's boundaries (yes, individuals do vary) - but when a bird's not going to cooperate, and flies off and stays off, and you're not making any effort to make yourself subtle (shoot from the car ... blind ... hunch down and watch and see what the critter does while you're still at a distance, etc), well, you're just not behavin'. And if you take the effort and the bird still doesn't cooperate ... there's another one down the road or wherever that will. Making bird-friendly houses is a great idea ... but doesn't exonerate bad behavior by photographers. On the other hand ... as a shooter, birder, and at times practicing field biologist, I'm not particularly interested in listing and would note that driving long distances to tick a state rarity just dumps unneeded CO2 in the air. See, we all have complaints about other people that we're sure don't apply to us, right? :) (saying this as the guy who drove to malheur and accidently photographed a glossy ibis so accidently fits the "drove long distance, ticked state rarity" profile himself!) ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From beaniebear at peoplepc.com Sat Jun 6 00:14:35 2009 From: beaniebear at peoplepc.com (beaniebear at peoplepc.com) Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 00:14:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-Breasted Sapsuckers in Eugene ~ behavioral observation Message-ID: Hi all, driving out Bailey Hill Rd, I stopped to photograph some sculptures in a sheep pasture and happened to park under a telephone pole which has several cavities suitable for nesting on the south side. There were three red-breasted sapsuckers involved in some kind of,,, well, I don't really know what was going on. Two seemed to be at odds with each other while the third was either the witness or the prized object they fought over. A starling on the top horizontal board of the telephone pole fluttered its wings like a juvenile asking to be fed. I don't know what that bird may or may not have had to do with the sapsucker activity. The two flew back and forth between the telephone pole and an oak on the other side of Bailey Hill, back to the pole, out across the small adjoining road to a conifer of some sort and back. At least a dozen times they flew back and forth, with the third following along or maintaining a position lower on the poles or trunks... The reason I am bothering to share this observation is that, at one point, the two birds linked and fell toward the ground in a spiral of combat. Amazing to see! This spring, decades after first hearing about it, I finally saw a pair of hawks link and fall together. I had been told that they copulate on the air, and I have come to the conclusion that this is not what we're seeing. It does (usually) coincide with the hormonal rush of spring. But I saw two males link talons and fall together with a female witnessing from above. (Those were Red-shouldered hawks.) Later this spring, I saw a Red-tailed hawk spin over and fly upside down to present his talons to a stooping Red-shouldered hawk who did not link with him but rose to land atop a nearby Douglas-fir. The Red-tailed hawk righted himself and flew off. Then the Red-shouldered hawk proceeded to call from the top of nearly every tree in this patch of the forest. (I exaggerate, but he called for a good measurable fifteen minutes from four different positions.) It bothered me to have birders tell me something I now believe is untrue. From what I have seen, hawks do not mate on the fly. Males occasionally link talons in combat during breeding season. It was interesting to see a similar behavior in Sapsuckers! Happy birding, Isabella -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090606/3d6216a2/attachment.html From davebrownbirder at yahoo.com Sat Jun 6 09:56:02 2009 From: davebrownbirder at yahoo.com (Dave Brown) Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 09:56:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Malheur Message-ID: <438385.38848.qm@web59911.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> I spent Thursday and Friday there just to pick up a few birds I failed to see at Summer Lake the Friday before. My targets was the Franlin's Gull the Trumpeter Swan and the Bobolink. I did all that although it took a second effort to find the swans. I failed to find the White-winged Dove at French Glenn but I did see the Great-tailed Grackle in front of Applebees in Hines on Thursday but didn't see it there Friday. As I was leaving on 205 just south of Burns I saw a car stoped looking at a group of cattle and I got a glimps of one of the Cattle Egrets as I sailed by. I didn't see the Acorn Woodpecker and I didn't see any bands on any of the Eatern Kingbirds I saw. Dave Brown Alvadore From richarmstrong at comcast.net Sat Jun 6 09:59:50 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 09:59:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] corvallis to malheur References: <000601c9e272$8bc14ca0$a343e5e0$@com> Message-ID: <291EE42B4BD24B848F4E9F40160BC9CF@armstrong> cheryl whelchel, nanette, and i did 4.5 days going from corvallis on 1st to malheur and back on 5th. here are the highlights. 1. 6/1 a NORTHERN 3-TOED WOODPECKER near the cabins on the road into hoodoo ski place (linn county). this is same place we found one 2 years ago. 2. 6/1 2 NORTHERN GOSHAWK on nest with 2 fuzzy white chicks at calliope crossing. 3. 6/1 FLAMMULATED OWL (heard only of course) on 1st road north of idlewild campground 17 miles north of burns 4. 6/2-4 GREAT HORNED OWLS at benson pond and fields roosting in trees every day with what we would call teenagers. 5. 6/4 2 SNOWY EGRETS about 2 miles west of diamond 6. 6/4 1 CATTLE EGRET about 2-3 miles northwest of burns near piute reservation (near stanclift road). this is probably very near where jansen/withgott/stryker had 2 on their big day on 6/2. there was also a BOBOLINK on stanclift road 7. 6/3 WHITE-WINGED DOVE in frenchglen at the corral at north end of town. it had been seen by others at south end and in middle nead school. 8. 6/3 CHUKAR calling. a local guy in frenchglen says he sees them all the time near the frenchglen dump. go 3.0 miles south of frenchglen. just before where the road makes a hard left there is a dirt road to the west. it goes down the hill a little ways (don't look for a dump as it is the cleanest dump in the country?). chukar were calling from the rocky hillside as you look west. there was also a calling CANYON WREN and 2 GOLDEN EAGLES looking like there was a nest. 9. 6/3 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS at dusk just north of frenchglen on road toward page springs. 10. AMERICAN REDSTART at malheur hq 11. 6/1 GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE at mcdonalds in hines 12. other birds of less interest a. 4 different LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES b. 6/3 NASHVILLE WARBLER, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER at hq c. 6/2 many LARK SPARROWS on road from fields to andrews d. BLACK THROATED & SAGE SPARROWS on harny lake road near the golden eagle nest. e. at least 4 EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES in burns f. COMMON NIGHTHAWKS roosting everywhere and flying everywhere g. LINCOLN'S SPARROW at benson pond h. the song sparrows at malheur a much paler and less streaked than those over here in corvallis (different subspecies?) i. COMMON POORWILL calling near field station after not seeing 1 driving all the roads for hours where the excellent birders had seen them on the night before 13. the lowlight was that there was NOT even 1 eastern vagrant (unless you count redstart which does nest in oregon) in the 5 days. 14. interesting things that are not birds a. 2 different bull snakes b. 1 rattlesnake (thankfully just curled up on a culvert on harney lake road) c. i horned toad (cottonwood creek south of fields) Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090606/0d0c45ea/attachment.html From bettymkn at netscape.com Sat Jun 6 10:02:20 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 10:02:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Foster Lake Sapsucker/Blackbird Message-ID: <20090606100220.ADBAC61D@resin15.mta.everyone.net> I just uploaded a couple of photos--first a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER that I just saw a couple of minutes before he flew. First one I've seen live and first time I've seen one here at the park. He doesn't show any yellow on the belly--does this come with age? Also, what I think?? is a female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. First and only spotting of this bird. Haven't seen any sign of a male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD around. If someone wants to take a look at the photo and let me know if I have it ID'd correctly. Thanks so much. Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/upload/done/?b=1244306949-1244306952-35792688 at N07 _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From alfanana at q.com Sat Jun 6 10:25:14 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 17:25:14 +0000 Subject: [obol] Steller's Jay Message-ID: Hi, All; Is it too early for juveniles? I think I had one at my feeder this morning. It was hunkered down in the big feeder in a pile of peanuts, soaking up the sun (we haven't had much of that lately), looking around. When it flew down to get a drink, I noticed that it had a game leg (injured or deformed?). Anyway, it looked to be a bit smaller and not as sleek as the adults I've seen. Karen S. La Pine -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090606/7be460a1/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Sat Jun 6 12:44:15 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 12:44:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Takenitch Creek SNOW BUNTING Message-ID: In coastal Douglas County this morning, I found a female SNOW BUNTING on the beach foraging in the wrack line about 50 yards north of where the Takenitch Creek/Dune trail ends at the beach. http://maps.google.com/maps?q=43.792151,-124.169809 I left my camera in the car, of course, but the bird looks similar to the photo link below. http://www.photobirder.com/Bird_Photos/snow_bunting_r53.jpg ACCESS: Both Takenitch Creek Trail and Takenitch Dunes (Overlook) Trail take you to the same spot as they converge 1/2 mile before the beach. Takenitch Dunes Trail is only about a 2 mile hike (one way) to the beach instead of a solid 2.5 mile (one way) from the T.Creek Trail. I would recommend taking the dune trail as it is shorter and Hermit Warblers are singing in the first 1/2 mile. The dunes trailhead is located on the west side of Hwy 101 at the Takenitch Dunes Campground. Pull in bear right (away from campground) and park. A $5 recreation fee applies to both trails, although I was cheap and parked across the highway and walked in. Birds of Oregon states that the latest spring date on the coast is April 15th. I also observed 1 SNOWY PLOVER by scoping across Takenitch creek into the roped off Snowy Plover nesting area. County bird. Tick. Which brings me to the silliness of this whole birding game, but I digress. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090606/867d7f5b/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Sat Jun 6 13:06:09 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 13:06:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Takenitch Creek SNOW BUNTING In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <2b1bbd260906061306t3972b4ach1c751590aa164e5a@mail.gmail.com> Hi Russ/Obol, There was a female SNOW BUNTING in San Diego early this May (around Cinco de Mayo). There was then one in Monterey up until 25 May. Speculation was that the Cal birds were the same individual. Coincidence? Very nice June bird. Daniel On Sat, Jun 6, 2009 at 12:44 PM, Russ Namitz wrote: > In coastal Douglas County this morning, I found a female SNOW BUNTING on > the beach foraging in the wrack line about 50 yards north of where the > Takenitch Creek/Dune trail ends at the beach. > http://maps.google.com/maps?q=43.792151,-124.169809 > I left my camera in the car, of course, but the bird looks similar to the > photo link below. > http://www.photobirder.com/Bird_Photos/snow_bunting_r53.jpg > ACCESS: Both Takenitch Creek Trail and Takenitch Dunes (Overlook) Trail > take you to the same spot as they converge 1/2 mile before the beach. > Takenitch Dunes Trail is only about a 2 mile hike (one way) to the beach > instead of a solid 2.5 mile (one way) from the T.Creek Trail. > I would recommend taking the dune trail as it is shorter and Hermit > Warblers are singing in the first 1/2 mile. > The dunes trailhead is located on the west side of Hwy 101 at the Takenitch > Dunes Campground. Pull in bear right (away from campground) and park. A $5 > recreation fee applies to both trails, although I was cheap and parked > across the highway and walked in. > Birds of Oregon states that the latest spring date on the coast is April > 15th. > I also observed 1 SNOWY PLOVER by scoping across Takenitch creek into the > roped off Snowy Plover nesting area. County bird. Tick. Which brings me to > the silliness of this whole birding game, but I digress. > Good birding, > Russ Namitz > Coos Bay > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090606/1bb23fd7/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Sat Jun 6 13:12:49 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:12:49 -0400 Subject: [obol] Mystery Bird (to me anyway) Message-ID: <8CBB4FA4C5DF420-4F4-5E7F@webmail-me12.sysops.aol.com> I am editing my birding photos, trying to create an uploadable set, I came across this little guy while editing another bird in the shot. This photo was taken on March 24, 09 at Ridgefield.?I'm sure the experienced eyes here at OBOL will know immediately what bird is this. Thanks. Johnny Sasko Sandy http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3644/3600822841_297e1cece0.jpg?v=0 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090606/18d21c69/attachment.html From dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM Sat Jun 6 13:15:45 2009 From: dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM (Cheryl Whelchel) Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 13:15:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Corvallis to Malheur trip Message-ID: I have posted photo highlights from the trip at the followin link http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/ I havn't gotten around to labeling the flycatchers ( don't wan to mess them up) but all other birds are labled. Cheryl Whelchel Tangent Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 09:59:50 -0700 From: "rich armstrong" > Subject: [obol] corvallis to malheur To: "obol" > Message-ID: <291EE42B4BD24B848F4E9F40160BC9CF at armstrong> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" cheryl whelchel, nanette, and i did 4.5 days going from corvallis on 1st to malheur and back on 5th. here are the highlights. 1. 6/1 a NORTHERN 3-TOED WOODPECKER near the cabins on the road into hoodoo ski place (linn county). this is same place we found one 2 years ago. 2. 6/1 2 NORTHERN GOSHAWK on nest with 2 fuzzy white chicks at calliope crossing. 3. 6/1 FLAMMULATED OWL (heard only of course) on 1st road north of idlewild campground 17 miles north of burns 4. 6/2-4 GREAT HORNED OWLS at benson pond and fields roosting in trees every day with what we would call teenagers. 5. 6/4 2 SNOWY EGRETS about 2 miles west of diamond 6. 6/4 1 CATTLE EGRET about 2-3 miles northwest of burns near piute reservation (near stanclift road). this is probably very near where jansen/withgott/stryker had 2 on their big day on 6/2. there was also a BOBOLINK on stanclift road 7. 6/3 WHITE-WINGED DOVE in frenchglen at the corral at north end of town. it had been seen by others at south end and in middle nead school. 8. 6/3 CHUKAR calling. a local guy in frenchglen says he sees them all the time near the frenchglen dump. go 3.0 miles south of frenchglen. just before where the road makes a hard left there is a dirt road to the west. it goes down the hill a little ways (don't look for a dump as it is the cleanest dump in the country?). chukar were calling from the rocky hillside as you look west. there was also a calling CANYON WREN and 2 GOLDEN EAGLES looking like there was a nest. 9. 6/3 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS at dusk just north of frenchglen on road toward page springs. 10. AMERICAN REDSTART at malheur hq 11. 6/1 GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE at mcdonalds in hines 12. other birds of less interest a. 4 different LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES b. 6/3 NASHVILLE WARBLER, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER at hq c. 6/2 many LARK SPARROWS on road from fields to andrews d. BLACK THROATED & SAGE SPARROWS on harny lake road near the golden eagle nest. e. at least 4 EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES in burns f. COMMON NIGHTHAWKS roosting everywhere and flying everywhere g. LINCOLN'S SPARROW at benson pond h. the song sparrows at malheur a much paler and less streaked than those over here in corvallis (different subspecies?) i. COMMON POORWILL calling near field station after not seeing 1 driving all the roads for hours where the excellent birders had seen them on the night before 13. the lowlight was that there was NOT even 1 eastern vagrant (unless you count redstart which does nest in oregon) in the 5 days. 14. interesting things that are not birds a. 2 different bull snakes b. 1 rattlesnake (thankfully just curled up on a culvert on harney lake road) c. i horned toad (cottonwood creek south of fields) Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090606/9b27d514/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Jun 6 13:22:22 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:22:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA Summer Tanager Page Springs Message-ID: We ran into a birder named John Spencer, visiting from Baja, who saw a female Summer Tanager at the southern end of Page Springs campground, Harney Co. on June 5. It was where the river trail starts. Anyone visiting Malheur in the next few days should be aware that parts of the Center Patrol Road, especially the northern parts, are muddy and the refuge advises agaist their use until they dry out. The vile weather system that has pounded Malheur with heavy rain, wind and general unpleasantness for a few days and nights is breaking up at last; we hope that all of the vagrants that have been waiting patiently in Nevada are ready to come visit us. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From bettymkn at netscape.com Sat Jun 6 13:23:08 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 13:23:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yellow-Headed Blackbird Photo?? Message-ID: <20090606132308.ADB8A353@resin13.mta.everyone.net> Hope this will get you there--still trying to figure flckr I think this is a female??? Best I can match in my books. http://www.flickr.com/photos/betamk/3601137932/ Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From youngwarriors at hotmail.com Sat Jun 6 13:26:24 2009 From: youngwarriors at hotmail.com (Keith Owen) Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 13:26:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mystery Bird (to me anyway) In-Reply-To: <8CBB4FA4C5DF420-4F4-5E7F@webmail-me12.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBB4FA4C5DF420-4F4-5E7F@webmail-me12.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: Your bird is a Pied-billed Grebe. Nice capture. To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 16:12:49 -0400 From: jonysky101 at aol.com Subject: [obol] Mystery Bird (to me anyway) I am editing my birding photos, trying to create an uploadable set, I came across this little guy while editing another bird in the shot. This photo was taken on March 24, 09 at Ridgefield. I'm sure the experienced eyes here at OBOL will know immediately what bird is this. Thanks. Johnny Sasko Sandy http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3644/3600822841_297e1cece0.jpg?v=0 Wanna slim down for summer? Go to America Takes it Off to learn how. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_BR_life_in_synch_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090606/bd403904/attachment.html From jeffandlaurettayoung at comcast.net Sat Jun 6 14:00:17 2009 From: jeffandlaurettayoung at comcast.net (Young) Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 14:00:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mystery Bird (to me anyway) In-Reply-To: <8CBB4FA4C5DF420-4F4-5E7F@webmail-me12.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBB4FA4C5DF420-4F4-5E7F@webmail-me12.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <94ADA76160E84EB0ADEFF7A3F87970A6@youngd82870d81> Hello Sandy, Nice picture. We would suggest that this is a Pied-billed Grebe. Jeff and Lauretta Young Portland Oregon _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of jonysky101 at aol.com Sent: Saturday, June 06, 2009 1:13 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Mystery Bird (to me anyway) I am editing my birding photos, trying to create an uploadable set, I came across this little guy while editing another bird in the shot. This photo was taken on March 24, 09 at Ridgefield. I'm sure the experienced eyes here at OBOL will know immediately what bird is this. Thanks. Johnny Sasko Sandy http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3644/3600822841_297e1cece0.jpg?v=0 _____ Wanna slim down for summer? Go to America Takes it Off to learn how. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090606/678c279c/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Sat Jun 6 14:38:02 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 14:38:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tahkenitch spelling error Message-ID: -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090606/b468c1f3/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sat Jun 6 14:59:54 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 14:59:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Curry/Coos Birds of Late Message-ID: <589442.73305.qm@web45315.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> The 29th of May was a good day for rarities on the south coast, in addition to the Hooded Warbler in NE Coos Co. the following birds were seen in Curry County: 1- UPLAND SANDPIPER, seen by Rick McKenzie on his Star ranch west of Langlois, the 3rd Curry record, and the 3rd one he has found over the past several years (he found one in Coos Co. also). 1- GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE, only the 3rd Curry record, one was seen by Terry Wahl at his family's ranch near Cape Blanco- it was flying south and may have been the same one seen by Lois Miller and Knute Andersson in Port Orford that same day. Terry also had his 3rd YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD of the spring, an immature male. On the 28th of May, Lois and Knute found a N. MOCKINGBIRD a few miles up Elk River (a little north of Port Orford). Back in Coos Co. on 6/5 on the north spit of Coos Bay I saw the following: another BANK SWALLOW (3rd one there this spring; not know to breed north of the Rogue River in Curry Co. the past few years?) 1- SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER 2- SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS 1- WESTERN SANDPIPER 12+ WILSON PHALAROPES Lots of ducks there include 34+ GADWALL (whick may breed in record numbers), Ring-necked Ducks, Cinnamon Teal, Greater Scaup (2), Bufflehead (2), N. Shoveler, and N. Pintail (one on 6/4). Out on Pony Slough in North Bend were 2 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS and 3 WHIMBREL. That's it for now! Tim R Coos Bay From greenfant at hotmail.com Sat Jun 6 15:58:57 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 18:58:57 -0400 Subject: [obol] South Saddle Mountain and more (Washington Co) Message-ID: Late this morning I ran a short reconnaissance mission up South Saddle Mtn, at 3465ft the tallest peak in Washington Co. The top has a small open area with a couple of radio towers, probably worth checking in fall. To get there, take Beaver Dam Rd at MP33 off OR6 west of Banks to 8.5mi marker. Then turn left onto Saddle Mt Rd and in 0.9mi left again. Don't do straight here since this would be 7 Cedars Rd. In 0.5mi you will be on top of a little rise with 3 roads branching off of it. Park here and walk up another 0.5mi on the road to the right (with the gate) to get to the top. If you go straight here, you will end up at another gate and the beginning of an enormous clearcut (I had a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE here and in the distance a SOOTY GROUSE was hooting). Above about 2600ft, Noble Fir can be found. Singers en route include Black-headed and Evening Grosbeak, Warbling Vireo, Winter Wren, Varied Thrush, Wilson's, Black-throated Gray, Hermit (abundant above 2000ft) and Yellow-rumped (1 near top) Warbler, Pacific-slope Flycatcher and Pine Siskin. Red Crossbill was missing from this collection. Maybe because they are still in the lowlands. I still have noisy flocks of up to 100 birds fly over my house of the south side of Orenco Elementary. Yesterday over lunch, 2 male Lazuli Buntings were singing their hearts out in the drizzle at the Croeni & Jacobson ponds in West Union. 1 bird was at Croeni & Westmark and 1 along Mauzey. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090606/537ddf71/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Jun 6 17:35:51 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (joel) Date: Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:35:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Snow Bunting & county birds Message-ID: <1244334951.3476.38.camel@joel-laptop> Hi Russ & All, Amazing to hear about a Snow Bunting in June, especially a few days after a Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch was found on Marys Peak! As for this: > I also observed 1 SNOWY PLOVER by scoping across Takenitch creek into > the roped off Snowy Plover nesting area. County bird. Tick. Which > brings me to the silliness of this whole birding game, but I digress. I'm curious to know which county or counties you're counting this bird for. That sounds like it could be a Yamhill County record(!) if we go by the 1844 map of Oregon. Or a Polk County record according to the 1845 map. Or a Benton County record according to the 1847 map. Or an Umpqua(!!) County record according to the 1851 map. By 1860 things settled down a bit so far as Tahkenitch Creek is concerned, so sorry to say, you can only count this bird for five county lists. Incidentally, 1860 was when the whole state east of the Cascade Crest became Wasco County. That have been a good way to leave it. All of those Malheur reports from over the weekend (whether from Malheur NWR or Malheur Co.) would be Wasco County birds, and we wouldn't have to worry about Wheeler County disappearing from the map in a few years. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis, where Benton County giveth and Linn County taketh away (as recently as 5 years ago). From larmcqueen at msn.com Sat Jun 6 17:43:47 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 17:43:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Jay attack Message-ID: While quietly reading on my deck this afternoon, a Scrub Jay landed close by, on an overhead branch. It seemed not to mind sharing space with my cat, perched on the next branch. Before landing, this jay gave a mild, musical note, and I was peripherally aware of another Scrub Jay, nearby. I was prepared to give these jays little attention, but for the sudden bursts of wings flapping against leaves and branches and the utterances of annoyed starlings. For some weeks, starlings have been feeding on berries of the English Ivy that had grown into the holly tree. Generally, these starlings are active and noisy as they feed, but this time I was not aware of their presence until this incident. As I watched, the starlings were leaving the holly tree by twos and threes, and I could see that the two jays were acting as a team and driving them out. At least 15 starlings were evicted from this holly tree by the two jays. I heard no vocal sounds from the jays, except for the single short, musical (somewhat complex) note from one earlier, and only "pissed-off" utterances from the starlings. I had never before witnessed anything quite like this. The jays had "cooked this up". I can only conclude that this attack was coordinated and I have to wonder how it was communicated between the two jays. Then I have to wonder why. What were the starlings really doing, as I think I would have been aware of them feeding. The starlings were within the darkness of the inside space of the holly-plus-ivy tree. The fruit, as I see it, is exposed on outer branches. The density of foliage makes it impossible to see any nest the jays might have in this tree, but that could have been their motive. Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090606/f246252e/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Sat Jun 6 18:33:13 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 18:33:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hummingbird Photo Quiz Message-ID: My father and I observed a female hummingbird at Calliope Crossing last Wednesday. We are in disagreement about its identification, so I'm hoping some of you can help us out by providing insight on which species you think it is and why. Photos online at: http://www.westerngrebe.com/hummingbird/ Thank you in advance for your time and assistance. Scott Carpenter Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090606/5be9a42c/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Sat Jun 6 18:37:06 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 18:37:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS - all day Saturday Message-ID: <411261.46155.qm@web55108.mail.re4.yahoo.com> The American White Pelicans reported Friday morning by Jim Danzenbaker were there all day again Saturday on Rest Lake. I left the Refuge at 3:45PM, and they were still there, tightly huddled on Rest Lake. They left the Lake for a bit, but soon returned. I saw them returning to Rest Lake at 11:45 when my Mom (Olive) and I were leaving the Kiwa Trail. There are 23 American White Pelicans by visual count while in flight, and subsequent photo count by Lyn Topinka. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores From jeffgill at teleport.com Sat Jun 6 18:39:13 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Sat, 06 Jun 2009 18:39:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Whimbrel - Harney Co. Message-ID: Owen Schmidt and I birded Fields and the Alvord Playa today. Fields had a variety of western migrants, nothing unusual. Malheur HQ had few migrants. The playa near the Alvord Hot Springs had a WHIMBREL (photographed) and 1 SANDERLING. The water level had changed from yesterday due to heavy rain. None of the 36 Snowy Plovers or the two Semiplamated Plovers were there today. We accessed the shorebird area by opening a gate north of the hot springs. A ranch hand later made contact with us to indicate that we were on private property. There had been no indication at the gate that we were trespassing. He said that someone had removed the sign. He indicated that the Alvord Ranch owns the land along the road between the two cattle guards. Access maybe possible from the road that goes to the hot springs shack. We don't know. Jeff Gilligan From willclemons at yahoo.com Sat Jun 6 20:30:04 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 20:30:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: W PELICANS, Y-B CHAT, W PHALAROPE Message-ID: <145184.60226.qm@web55104.mail.re4.yahoo.com> My Mom (Olive) and I birded the River "S" Unit at Ridgefield NWR (~4mi W of I-5 at Exit 14 in SW Washington; http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ ). We were there from about 9:15AM until 3:45PM. Highlights: AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: Twenty-three were seen flying and huddled on Rest Lake. They were there all day. WILSON'S PHALAROPE: Scoped from the Kiwa Trail, looking N to the pond near the Hunters road. I saw her flying, or would have missed her. YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT: I only heard the YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, even though I tried to locate it for about 15 minutes while it continued to sing. It was still singing when I gave up and moved on. It was in the trees/shrubs on the dike that separates the Auto Tour Route from The Roth Unit, and about 50 yards S of the Roth Gate. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores Complete list of 69 species seen / heard: Pied-billed Grebe AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (23 seen on Rest Lake & flying over) American Bittern Great Blue Heron Great Egret Turkey Vulture Canada Goose Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard BLUE-WINGED TEAL (at least 6 drakes seen) Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Redhead Ruddy Duck (2 pair seen on S Quigley) Osprey Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Virginia Rail (seen on Kiwa Trail) Sora (seen on Kiwa Trail) American Coot Killdeer Wilson's Snipe WILSON'S PHALAROPE (scoped N from Kiwa Trail) BONAPARTE'S GULL (3 seen on Rest Lake - basic plumage) Mourning Dove Vaux's Swift Red-breasted Sapsucker (near R/R tracks) HAIRY WOODPECKER (fem, seen in entrance canyon) Northern Flicker Western Wood-Pewee Willow Flycatcher Pacific-slope Flycatcher (entrance canyon) Steller's Jay (entrance canyon) Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee (entrance canyon) Red-breasted Nuthatch (heard - entrance canyon) White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren House Wren Winter Wren Marsh Wren Swainson's Thrush American Robin European Starling Cedar Waxwing Yellow Warbler (several seen/heard on Kiwa Trail) Common Yellowthroat Wilson's Warbler (entrance canyon) YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (heard only - see highlights) Spotted Towhee (entrance canyon) Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Black-headed Grosbeak Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (near R/R tracks & on Kiwa Trail) House Finch American Goldfinch Seen by others but not by me: Great Horned Owl From Oropendolas at aol.com Sat Jun 6 21:54:51 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 00:54:51 EDT Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Message-ID: Hello All, Laura and I biked to Fern Ridge today and walked from the Royal Ave. viewing platform to the Hwy 126 viewing platform. There was a GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE strutting around on the Pelican roost south of the Royal platform. Also at least 3 singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS in the prairie Northeast of the Royal Ave. parking area. Other birds added to the motorless birding list today were: California Gull - 3, FRR Royal Ave. Pelican roost Olive-sided Flyctcher - 2, Willow Creek Road House Wren - 1, Willow Creek Road We biked 36 miles and had 80 species along the route today. John Sullivan & Laura Jonhson Springfield, Oregon **************An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222377042x1201454362/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd=Jun eExcfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090607/39cd8161/attachment.html From sheran at bendbroadband.com Sun Jun 7 08:18:11 2009 From: sheran at bendbroadband.com (Sheran Wright) Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 08:18:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: ALDER FLYCATCHER - Malheur HQ Message-ID: <3BF531AC7CBE41B1A51C1C6FE75B9F48@notebook> I got a phone call from Alan Contreras a few minutes ago. He, Schmidt, Gilligan, et al, found what they believe is an ALDER FLYCATCHER at Malheur HQ this morning. Both the song an call note, recorded by Schmidt, are right for that species. Alan said that, among other things characteristic for alder, it has a more prominent eye ring than would be generally seen on a Willow Flycatcher. A Willow was singing nearby for comparison. The bird seemed to disappear, but other birders are still there looking/listening for it. There is also a female CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER at HQ this morning. Alan said he and others are heading south to Benson Pond, etc. He said this is the first day it has been clear and not raining there, so he is hopeful new birds are coming through. Sheran Wright From jeffgill at teleport.com Sun Jun 7 08:44:17 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2009 08:44:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: ALDER FLYCATCHER - Malheur HQ (for clarification) In-Reply-To: <3BF531AC7CBE41B1A51C1C6FE75B9F48@notebook> Message-ID: We have interest in the flycatcher, and Owen made recordings of its voice. Graham Floyd also saw and heard it. We are not convinced that it is an Alder Flycatcher. I don't suggest that anyone make a long drive to chase this bird. It may be a bird that was calling like some on the CPR have in the past, and giving a call that was something other than the diagnostic "whits" of a Willow or the "pip" of an Alder. Jeff Gilligan On 6/7/09 8:18 AM, "Sheran Wright" wrote: > I got a phone call from Alan Contreras a few minutes ago. He, Schmidt, > Gilligan, et al, found what they believe is an ALDER FLYCATCHER at Malheur > HQ this morning. Both the song an call note, recorded by Schmidt, are right > for that species. Alan said that, among other things characteristic for > alder, it has a more prominent eye ring than would be generally seen on a > Willow Flycatcher. A Willow was singing nearby for comparison. The bird > seemed to disappear, but other birders are still there looking/listening for > it. > > There is also a female CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER at HQ this morning. > > Alan said he and others are heading south to Benson Pond, etc. He said this > is the first day it has been clear and not raining there, so he is hopeful > new birds are coming through. > > Sheran Wright > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From pointers at pacifier.com Sun Jun 7 10:37:08 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2009 10:37:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR Am. White Pelican - PIX Message-ID: <20090607173706.B34406A651@smtp4.pacifier.net> hi group ... I've worked up a few pix of the American White Pelicans which were resting at the Ridgefield Refuge ... images taken saturday, June 6, morning, under overcast and heavy cloud ... images presented here are cropped to fit my templates ... click on each to enlarge ... http://ridgefieldbirds.com/TheRefuge/Birds/ridgefield_NWR_american_white_pelican.html enjoy, Lyn Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From lbviman at blackfoot.net Sun Jun 7 12:08:40 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:08:40 -0600 Subject: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 15, Issue 7 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090607190447.C86D29B01C8@mail.blackfoot.net> [obol] Mystery Bird (to me anyway) - Johnny Sasko PIED-BILLED GREBE From willclemons at yahoo.com Sun Jun 7 15:38:12 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 15:38:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: 23 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS - continuing Sunday Message-ID: <839195.32789.qm@web55105.mail.re4.yahoo.com> I just talked with Al Larrabee who was at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge today. The AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS first reported Friday morning by Jim Danzenbaker were there all day again Sunday on Rest Lake. Al said they have been flying around a bit, but they continue to settle back on Rest Lake. There are 23 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS per in-flight photo count by Lyn Topinka. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores From whoffman at peak.org Sun Jun 7 17:39:04 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 17:39:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Florence birds - WHITE-WINGED DOVE, PEWEE Message-ID: <1E586C0377404E299198FE3CEEBA5CA6@D48XBZ51> I visited the Florence Area today. Birding was generally slow, but I did see two interesting things. Around 12:30 I saw a WHITE-WINGED DOVE, accompanied by an Eurasian Collared-Dove fly across Rhododendron Drive a block or so east of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. They were headed north, and I was not able to relocate them. Around 1:30 PM at the Dog Pond I saw a Pewee with unusually pale breast, lacking the "vested" appearance typical of Western Wood-Pewees. I was not able to see the other features recently discussed for distinguishing E. from W., and did not hear any vocalizations. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090607/eaf84b80/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Jun 7 18:52:58 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2009 18:52:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Haystack Rock - 6/7/2009 Message-ID: <4A2C6EFA.60302@pacifier.com> There are still plenty of TUFTED PUFFINS to watch at Haystack Rock my high count at the burrows was 21 with many more in the air and on the near-ocean. At least 6 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS were also on the near ocean and while I didn't get to see it, other observers recounted their observation and a puffin and an auklet squabbling at the entrance to a burrow that ended with both tumbling off the cliff.. There were plenty of HARLEQUIN DUCKS as well Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 4 Harlequin Duck 18 Surf Scoter 1 Pacific Loon 3 Brown Pelican 75+ Brandt's Cormorant 25 Double-crested Cormorant 4 Pelagic Cormorant 60+ Bald Eagle 1 Black Oystercatcher 3 California Gull Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Caspian Tern 8 Common Murre 500+ Pigeon Guillemot 40+ Rhinoceros Auklet 6 Tufted Puffin 40+ Rufous Hummingbird 1 Northern Flicker 1 American Crow 6 Violet-green Swallow 6 Barn Swallow 2 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Song Sparrow 1 White-crowned Sparrow 1 House Finch 1 Total number of species seen: 26 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From baileydc at pdx.edu Sun Jun 7 19:24:26 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. B ailey) Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:24:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brown Pelicans at Ecola Point Message-ID: <4A2C765A.7000005@pdx.edu> 6 June 2009 Ecola Point: Cannon Beach: Clatsop Co. My four-year-old daughter, my brother, and I hiked down to Crescent Beach from the Parking Lot at Ecola State Park on Saturday. Lots of singing HERMIT and WILSON'S WARBLERS were in the coniferous canopy on the way down. An adult Bald Eagle with prey (probable COMMON MURRE) flew fro Ecola point SE towards us and then I sight of the Eagle as it went over the ridge top. I was initially drawn to the eagle when just over 200 BROWN PELICANS flushed off the sea stacks of Ecola Point. While I realize that many more BROWN PELICANS have collectively been seen migrating north offshore this spring, I thought it interesting that so many were staging at this site so early in their summer season. The Chickadees have hatched from their eggs in the nest in the box at my home in Gearhart. Bird on! David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sun Jun 7 20:23:51 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 20:23:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Florence - possible Blue Jay Message-ID: <909734.26059.qm@web37007.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, while walking MY VERY OWN Florence neighborhood this evening in a fruitless search of the WHITE-WINGED DOVE that Wayne Hoffman had the audacity :-) to find earlier today, I twice heard a double call from some tall conifers north of Ninth Street (about 2-3 blocks west of the library) that sounded exactly like the call of a BLUE JAY. Unfortunately I was unable to locate the source of these calls. Strange time of year for one, but it may be worth keeping your eyes open if you happen to be birding lovely Florence. Happy June birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090607/541b03d5/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sun Jun 7 20:38:22 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 20:38:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Douglas County seawatch etc. Message-ID: <498818.54307.qm@web37005.mail.mud.yahoo.com> While taking a brief break from our Snowy Plover surveys, Daniel Farrar and I did a brief seawatch between the Oregon Dunes Overlook and Tahkenitch beach today. There were still many LOONS (both PACIFIC and COMMON) and large numbers of SOOTY SHEARWATERS close to shore. Numerous COMMON MURRES; several pairs of MARBLED MURRELETS and one TUFTED PUFFIN (seen by Daniel). I observed my FOS HEERMAN'S GULLS (obne adult and one dark immature) flying north. Straggling shorebirds included 2 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 2 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and one lone SANDERLING at South Siltcoos (actually Lane Co.) and 4 WHIMBRELS at Tahkenitch Creek. Alas, we were unable to relocate Russ Namitz's Snow Bunting at Tahkenitch Creek. ? Good birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090607/b4793554/attachment.html From watice at msn.com Sun Jun 7 21:37:06 2009 From: watice at msn.com (BILL ROSIE TICE) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 04:37:06 +0000 Subject: [obol] New Yard Bird Message-ID: After living in one location for 24 years (except for 5) it is really hard to add a new bird to my yard list, but this happened this morning when a pair of TURKEYS were in the back of my house, along with a number of youngens. (Not sure what juvenile turkeys are called) I think this was number 133, but I am not sure where my yard list is these days.......... Bill Tice Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors, and avoiding chores. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090608/5f650200/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sun Jun 7 22:06:04 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 01:06:04 -0400 Subject: [obol] Eastern Kingbird near Pine Grove (Wasco Co) and Common Poorwill (Gilliam Co) Message-ID: Thanks to a tip by Roy Gerig, I ventured to Gilliam Co last night for COMMON POORWILL which I found shortly after sunset. This spot is about 10mi east of Condon on 206, where it crosses Rock Creek. Other birds calling in the area were Common Nighthawk, Great Horned Owl, Lark Sparrow, Lazuli Bunting, Yellow Warbler and Ash-throated Flycatcher, just to name a few. Only 2 cars came by the whole 9 hours I spent in the area, so the serene setting makes for a great place to camp. On the way to Condon, I had had 2 single Chukar near MP24 and MP32 of 206 by the side of the road between Wasco and Condon in somewhat uncharacteristic habitat, lacking any rocks. I also almost hit a deer on this section. Early this morning I headed back to Wasco Co to catch up on some of the birds that arrived since I visited last. Again thanks to Donna Lusthoff for her priceless notes. Both Fossil (216 & 19) and Antelope (Main & Union) had Eurasian Collared Doves early in the morning. By the way, 216 going west out of Fossil is one of the most scenic drives in OR - no wonder that it is labeled a Scenic Byway. A Loggerhead Shrike was near MP18 of 216 east of Antelope. I caught up with Lark, Vesper and Brewer's Sparrow 0.5mi south of Bakeoven & Hinton Rds en route to Maupin. A Gray Flycatcher was calling there as well. The last cluster of junipers on the way down into Maupin held the ongoing Gray Flycatchers, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Lazuli Bunting and a singing WILLOW FLYCATCHER. There were 3 Yellow-breasted Chats on the way up to Tygh Valley from Sherar's Bridge. Gray Flycatchers were still calling from the first gate entering White River WA off Badger Creek Rd, so were the ones in almost pure oak savannah habitat off Dodson Rd. It was too late in the day for a quick picture. Another Vesper Sparrow was singing in the Smock Prairie. After crossing the White River on - drumroll - White River Rd, I pulled west onto Victor Rd, took the 90 degree turn going south when I encountered an EASTERN KINGBIRD at the house at the west end of the short east-west section about 1mi north of 216. I briefly went down Kelly Springs Rd, picking up Caliope and Anna's Hummingbird, Warbling and Cassin's Vireo, Nashville Warbler, Olive-sided Flycatcher and Purple Finch. Alas, no catbird. The next stop was the large open area on the south side of 216 near MP9 where Townsend's Warbler, Pewee, Fox Sparrow, Dusky Flycatcher and again Nashville Warbler. A Mountain Quail was calling repeatedly. 2 more quick stops at Clear and Frog Lake were unproductive except for singing Hermit Warblers and a Varied Thrush. At about 3pm I had to call it a day to head back to the Portland area. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090608/7deb5166/attachment.html From gorgebirds at juno.com Sun Jun 7 22:29:55 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 05:29:55 GMT Subject: [obol] Klickitat RB Grosbeak -NO Message-ID: <20090607.222955.1948.2@webmail15.vgs.untd.com> Susan and I spent six hours searching the Brooks Memorial State Park in Klickitat County for the Rose-breasted Grosbeak seen and photographed there yesterday with no luck. We did see CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD, RED-NAPPED SAPSUCKER, GRAY FLYCATCHER, GRAY CATBIRD and CASSIN'S FINCH among many other species at this great site. Adam, one of the Park Rangers, directed me to a patch of Mountain Lady Slippers that consisted of over a hundred individual plants in full bloom, easily the largest group of these spectacular flowers I have ever seen. Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Click here for free info on Graduate Degrees. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTKKssbBfZRGtEp6axoT59248Z2JZHkQcclQarZO1z5BdHtTOLOhDC/ From withgott at comcast.net Sun Jun 7 22:50:33 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 22:50:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] SE Oregon trip highlights -- a week in Harney & Malheur Cos. Message-ID: Hi OBOL -- Tim Janzen, Noah Strycker, Tim's son Paul, and I have just returned from a wonderful week of birding in southeastern Oregon. On June 2nd we ran a Big Day in Harney County and found 160 species. On June 5th, John Gatchet joined us for a Malheur County Big Day, and we found 158 species. Each of these totals surpassed our own expectations and set, as far as we are aware, new Big Day records for Harney and Malheur Counties. Our scouting days and travel days were also productive, and we actually surpassed 100 species on all 7 days of our trip! Along the way we enjoyed spectacular scenery at locations such as Ironside Mountain, Castle Rock, and Succor Creek Canyon. We are grateful for helpful advice for birding Malheur County from Alan Contreras, Jeff Harding, and Paul Sullivan. In total on our trip we saw nearly 200 species of birds. Top rare bird highlights are listed below. Momentarily I will post separate messages describing each of our two Big Day efforts, along with more detail on the species seen on those days. RED-NECKED GREBE -- 1 at pond SE of Harney Co. Fairgrounds & Burns Sewage Ponds, 2 June SNOWY EGRET -- 1 at or near Malheur NWR at a location I cannot now remember, 1 June SNOWY EGRET -- 1 at Cow Creek along Hwy 95, 10 miles N of Jordan Valley, Malheur Co. CATTLE EGRET -- 2 at #30583 Stanclift Lane (0.6 mi. E of its jct. w/ Foley Dr, N of Burns), 2 June ROSS'S GOOSE -- 3 at Beulah Reservoir, Malheur Co., on 3 June, but we could find only 1 there on 5 June. Previously reported by Jeff Harding and Ron Friesz. GREATER SCAUP -- 1 at Burns Sewage Ponds, 2 June COMMON GOLDENEYE -- 1 at pond on Hwy 205 b/w Burns & Malheur NWR, 1 June; 2 at Burns Sewage Ponds, 2 June; 1 on Snake River at main pulloff S. of Adrian, Malheur Co. (first reported by Paul Sullivan), 4 & 5 June; 1 at pond on Hwy 26 E of Unity, Baker Co., 6 June HOODED MERGANSER -- 2 at Beulah Reservoir, 3 June RED-BREASTED MERGANSER -- 1 on Snake River at main pulloff S. of Adrian, Malheur Co., 5 June NORTHERN GOSHAWK -- 2 N of Idlewild C.G., Harney Co., 1 June; 1 from Idlewild, 2 June; 1 near Castle Rock, Malheur Co., 5 June RED-NECKED PHALAROPE -- 1 at Burns Sewage Ponds, 2 June BONAPARTE'S GULL -- At least 2 at Antelope Reservoir, 4 & 5 June (previously reported by Jeff Harding) BLACK TERN -- High count of about 175 birds, at pond across from mill and Lottery Lane, Burns/Hines, 2 June WHITE-WINGED DOVE -- 1 at Frenchglen (reported by numerous others), 1 June About 38 OWLS of 7 species, various locations BLACK SWIFT -- Several at Salt Creek Falls, Lane Co., 6 June CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD -- Eldorado C.G., Baker Co., 6 June ACORN WOODPECKER -- One very lost individual in the single cottonwood tree at Cottonwood Pond on the CPR, Malheur NWR (first reported by another birder). We understand this is only the second record for Harney County. PILEATED WOODPECKER -- 2 at Ironside Mountain (good bird for Malheur Co.), 3 & 5 June EASTERN KINGBIRD -- Unusually numerous and widespread in many locations, including nontraditional(?) ones such as the Paiute Reservation N of Burns. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE -- Pair on Loop Road, Paiute Reservation N of Burns AMERICAN REDSTART -- Fields Oasis (first found by Tim Rodenkirk), 1 June NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH -- 1 at Little Deschutes R. xing at Gilchrist, 6 June BOBOLINK -- In addition to traditional areas, several (6+) found at Stanclift Lane (0.4 mi. E of its jct. w/ Foley Lane, N of Burns), 2 June GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE -- 1 at Thriftway at Burns (reported by numerous others), 2 June 15 species of mammals including BADGER and STRIPED SKUNK; 4 species of amphibian, 3 snakes (RUBBER BOA, WESTERN RATTLESNAKE, and GOPHER SNAKE); and many butterflies and odonates. Details of the Harney County and Malheur County Big Days will follow in separate messages . . . . Jay Withgott Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090607/74a0ddf7/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Sun Jun 7 22:53:09 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 22:53:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Harney County Big Day -- 160 species Message-ID: Hi OBOL -- On 2 June, Tim Janzen, Noah Strycker, and I ran a Big Day in Harney County and found 160 species in 24 hours. This is, as far as we are aware, a new big day record for Harney County. Tim's son Paul accompanied us for the day and helped provide logistical support and camaraderie. We scouted locations on 1 June, and had additional information from Tim's birding in the region the previous week, as well as sighting reports from OBOL and other birders. We also benefited from quite favorable weather (a mix of sun and clouds, with occasional rain). This was part of a weeklong trip to southeastern Oregon whose bird highlights are summarized in the message previously posted. Following is a summary of our Harney County Big Day. Camping near Idlewild C.G., we woke from our tents at midnight, listened to 3 FLAMMULATED OWLS calling from the pines around us, and promptly went back to sleep for four more hours. Getting a good night's sleep before a big day was an unusual experience for us, and it helped keep us energetic and in good spirits throughout the day. We broke camp with the dawn chorus, then explored several locations in the Idlewild area, picking up coniferous-forest and high-elevation birds such as CLARK'S NUTCRACKER, LEWIS'S WOODPECKER, WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER, WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER, and WESTERN BLUEBIRD. The campground was quiet, however, so we decided to head downslope and bird the canyon and riparian area south of there and work our way back up to the campground. Downslope we picked up birds such as RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, BUSHTIT, and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, and then returned to Idlewild once the sun was higher. Working the campground intensively, we eventually found most of the remaining birds we needed from this habitat, including WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, PYGMY NUTHATCH, BROWN CREEPER, CASSIN'S VIREO, and RED CROSSBILL. We were also fortunate to hear the cries of a NORTHERN GOSHAWK from the direction in which we'd had two birds while scouting the previous day. We took back roads north of Burns toward the Paiute Reservation in mid-morning, and were lucky to stumble upon two CATTLE EGRETS as they grazed with gulls and sheep in the yard at #30583 Stanclift Lane (0.6 mi E of the jct w/ Foley Dr., just past the bridge). Both birds were seen clearly, but as we readied our cameras for documentation they flew off to the north and out of sight. We continued over the bridge and stopped at a field across from #30409 Stanclift, and heard and saw BOBOLINKS in the field -- at least 4 males and 2 females. We were not aware of their presence here, and wonder if it is a new spot for this species. We then took Loop Road through the Reservation, where Noah had found a BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE the previous day. A pair of chickadees promptly appeared, showing very bedraggled plumage, as if worn from effort feeding nestlings or fledglings. We also had our first EASTERN KINGBIRDS here, a species that seemed strikingly numerous and widespread during our week in Harney and Malheur Counties. In Burns we looked briefly for the Blue Jay and did not find it, but did turn up WESTERN SCRUB JAY at the USFS office. We searched fruitlessly for the GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE at the Thriftway parking lot, but then Noah played the species' call on his iPod, and the grackle came bursting out of a small shrub just 20 feet away, where it had been hidden the whole time! We then hit a waterbird bonanza at the Burns Sewage Ponds. Scoping from the platform behind the fairgrounds, we counted 15 species of waterfowl, 4 species of grebes, and a late RED-NECKED PHALAROPE among the many Wilsons. Highlights included CLARK'S GREBE, 2 WOOD DUCKS, CANVASBACKS, 2 COMMON GOLDENEYE, and a male GREATER SCAUP among the Lessers. This tremendous boost meant we could spend less time sorting through waterfowl the remainder of the day and focus only on finding the few species we still needed. Our good fortune only increased when we stopped at a sewage pond just SE of the Burns Sewage Ponds and spotted a RED-NECKED GREBE on the water -- a great Harney Co. bird at any season. A few stops later we enjoyed the spectacle of over 175 BLACK TERNS flying over the pond near the mill and Lottery Lane. We then headed toward the Refuge, getting rails on Greenhouse Lane, BLACK-THROATED SPARROW at Wright's Point, and BURROWING OWL just south of there (thanks to Dave Irons for directions to the latter two species), and BLUE-WINGED TEAL on the CPR. At noon our total stood at 128 species. As we arrived at Headquarters, a cold rain blew in. Birds turned quiet and migrants were few, but we learned that Alan Contreras's group had found a Summer Tanager that morning. We stayed 80 minutes here, working every tree and hoping for the tanager, but to no avail. We did, however, spot a SHORT-EARED OWL hunting over the fields to the north. Our tour through Malheur NWR was highlighted by the presence of an ACORN WOODPECKER spotted that morning by another birder, apparently only the second record for the county. This lost and lonely bird was perched in a large cottonwood tree at Cottonwood Pond -- the only such tree for miles around. After picking up a SNOWY EGRET, AMERICAN BITTERN, TRUMPETER SWANS, BANK SWALLOWS, FERRUGINOUS HAWK and other raptors, and a few other species, we arrived at Frenchglen, where the previous day we had enjoyed a lengthy photography session with the WHITE-WINGED DOVE found by others a few days earlier. This afternoon, however, the bird was nowhere to be found, and we left after some time with only LESSER GOLDFINCH and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER as consolation. By now it was nearly 7:30 pm, and we raced south for WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (#156) at Roaring Springs and GREEN-WINGED TEAL (#157) at Six-Mile Pond. Rather than continuing to Fields, we returned to Frenchglen and spent our remaining light waiting for a Black-chinned Hummingbird that never showed up at the feeder. As darkness fell, we were fortunate to find (and see, not just hear) COMMON POORWILL, WESTERN SCREECH-OWL, and BARN OWL fairly quickly, because soon a steady rain put an end to our owling attempts. A BADGER on the CPR was a nice mammalian sighting to round out the day. Our 160 species is, as far as we know, the most species ever found in a midnight-to-midnight period within the confines of Harney County. We feel it will not be easy to top this total, given that we benefited from mostly favorable weather and several "bonus birds," as well as finding nearly all of the expected species on our route. Doing a big day earlier in the season might potentially offer better possibilities for higher totals if a team was to hit a day with a diverse array of migrants and vagrants present at the vagrant traps (which we, with the exception of HQs, did not cover). In addition, if a team was able to cover montane areas of the far NW portion of the county, it could add a number of species we did not have, but this would increase driving times considerably and cut into valuable time on the Refuge. All in all we were pleasantly surprised at how well we did, and had a thoroughly wonderful time. Jay Withgott, Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090607/13bcbc1e/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Sun Jun 7 22:56:19 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 22:56:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur County Big Day -- 158 species Message-ID: Hi OBOL -- On 5 June, Tim Janzen, Noah Strycker, John Gatchet, and I ran a Big Day in Malheur County and found 158 species in 24 hours. This is, as far as we are aware, a new big day record for Malheur County. It trails our big day total for Harney County three days earlier (see previous OBOL message) by only 2 species, and makes Malheur County 4th-best among Oregon counties for big day records. John has birded Malheur County perhaps more than anyone else, so his experience was extremely helpful. Tim, Noah, and I (with Tim's son Paul providing camaraderie and logistical support) had scouted the county for the previous day and a half, but we were unfamiliar with most areas and were starting from a largely blank slate. For me, in fact, this was the first time I had ever set foot inside Malheur County! With the help of information kindly offered by Alan Contreras, Jeff Harding, and Paul Sullivan, we were able to figure out a viable route and locate most species. Then with John's arrival for the big day, he was able to help provide locations and strategies for key species we had missed, as well as a valuable 4th pair of eyes and ears. We also benefited from favorable weather throughout the day. Those of us new to this remote and little-birded county were surprised by its birding potential and were awed by its geology and landscapes of jaw-dropping beauty. We all look forward to future visits to this alluring and under-birded region. This was part of a weeklong trip to southeastern Oregon whose bird highlights are summarized in a message previously posted. Following is a summary of our Malheur County Big Day. Any serious attempt at a Big Day in Malheur County will likely need to begin in the far northwestern corner of the county, where Ironside Mountain offers the county's only extensive habitat for montane passerines. We headed up the mountain pre-dawn and starting our day with FLAMMULATED OWL and COMMON POORWILL. We then called in a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL that we had heard calling in the daytime while scouting. Dawn chorus then brought a fast succession of high-elevation species, including WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER, BROWN CREEPER, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, HERMIT THRUSH, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, CASSIN'S FINCH, and many RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS. We continued birding the mountain's habitats for the remainder of the early morning, finding COOPER'S HAWK, LEWIS'S WOODPECKER, WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER, HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, CLARK'S NUTCRACKER, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, PYGMY NUTHATCH, CASSIN'S VIREO, VESPER SPARROW, and LINCOLN'S SPARROW. The best bird was a PILEATED WOODPECKER that Noah called our attention to flying overhead -- a species rare enough here to be John's first for the county. We were unsuccessful in locating a seemingly territorial Townsend's Warbler that we'd had the day before, but once we had found nearly all of the other feasible species, we headed down the mountain. We then made our way down Rose Creek Road, picking up both rails and riparian species such as RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, EASTERN KINGBIRD, and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, as well as a BLUE-WINGED TEAL. We then made the long winding drive toward Castle Rock through hilly terrain that had burned recently and was covered in a lush regrowth of wildflowers. Tim, Noah, Paul, and I had thought the landscape along this road to be gorgeous as we were scouting, but when John saw the place for the first time since he'd last been here 9 years ago, he was devastated by what had been lost in the fire. Apparently the area had been still more beautiful back before the aspens, pines, and junipers had burned. As we stopped near Castle Rock we heard the stomach-dropping sound of air leaking from a tire. The right rear tire of Tim's jeep was punctured, and our day was suddenly in jeopardy. Tim is no stranger to flat tires on big days, however, and he set about installing his full-size spare. As it happened, the incident worked in our favor; as we changed the tire, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK called and then flew toward us and circled directly overhead. We arrived at Beulah Reservoir shortly before 1:00, and it did not disappoint. One of the three ROSS'S GEESE present two days earlier (and first reported by Jeff Harding and Ron Friesz) was still here. By working the reservoir carefully, we added a slew of waterbirds, including PIED-BILLED GREBE, CLARK'S GREBE, WHITE-FACED IBIS, FRANKLIN'S GULL, CASPIAN TERN, and 13 new waterfowl species. We could not find the Hooded Mergansers or Bald Eagle that we'd seen here two days before, but we left buoyed by success in finding as many species as we'd reasonably hoped for. At Chukar Park we added LESSER GOLDFINCH, then passed through Juntura, Vale, and Cow Hollow. At Adrian we tallied our scouted-out OSPREY nest and found a BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD in this little town full of hummer feeders. We then drove south, stopping to look at the Snake River at a pulloff where we had seen COMMON GOLDENEYE the previous day. Amazingly, the Goldeneye was again in the exact same spot (and perhaps the same spot where Paul Sullivan's group had seen it a week earlier!). Tim spotted a GREAT EGRET, and then shouted for us to leave. Fortunately I dallied for one last look as the others raced to the car, because that's when a gorgeous male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (one of very few county records?) popped up from a dive and showed itself, becoming our best bird of the day. At 4:30 we started down the long road to Succor Creek canyon, an area of breathtaking beauty. We heard CHUKAR from the slopes and saw WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS over the towering rimrock. Tim found a gorgeous WESTERN RATTLESNAKE that we hiked upslope to admire. We could not get a Canyon Wren to sing, but did find a PRAIRIE FALCON. Heading south we relocated a BURROWING OWL that we'd found the previous day, and then sped toward Jordan Valley. Ten miles north of Jordan Valley on Hwy 95 we could not find the Snowy Egret we'd had the day before, but a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was standing in Cow Creek, and John heard BOBOLINK in the fields -- a species the rest of us later cleaned up in Jordan Valley. The wet fields west of Jordan Valley held many marsh, field, and water birds (our thanks to Paul Sullivan's posting notifying us of this hotspot), but by this time we needed very few of them, so we made our way through quickly, picking up SANDHILL CRANE and then SHORT-EARED OWL west of town. We arrived at Antelope Reservoir with an hour and a half of light left, but it was darkly overcast and getting cold, and viewing conditions were not as good as they'd been during scouting. Nonetheless we could pick out AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS and a BONAPARTE'S GULL (one of the ones first reported by Jeff Harding last week), bringing us to 156 species. After dark we owled along the Snake River, seeing 2 BARN OWLS and hearing 2 WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS, along with several Great Horneds, a species we'd already had. Our schemes for trying to come up with 2 further species to reach 160, though, were dashed as the skies opened up and dumped torrents of rain upon us during the long white-knuckle drive back to our campsite in the mountains. After some repositioning of tents and vehicles to make sure we didn't get washed down-canyon by a flash flood, we settled in for a deep and satisfying sleep. Our 158 species is, as far as we know, the most species ever found in a midnight-to-midnight period within Malheur County. We feel it will not be easy to top this total, given that we benefited from mostly favorable weather and did surprisingly well at finding most of the species to be expected along our route, along with a few bonus birds. For John, this was a terrific way to revisit a county he had birded intensively during his years living in Idaho. For the rest of us, it was a wonderful introduction to the varied avifauna and fascinating birding areas of Malheur County. Jay Withgott, Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090607/eb0960d7/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Jun 7 22:57:25 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 05:57:25 +0000 Subject: [obol] Red Crossbill mimicry? Message-ID: Greetings All, Has anyone out there ever heard a Red Crossbill mimic another species. Today, while leading one of the tours for the Woodpecker Wonderland Fest. at Camp Sherman, Jeff Harding and I heard a Red Crossbill do a very convincing Rock Wren imitation near the Sisters City Park. I initially found the crossbill and pointed it out to some the folks in our group. As I was showing them the bird, I started hearing Rock Wren calls and suggested that there must be one over near some small boulders in a front yard in the same direction as the crossbill. After a few moments, I realized that the crossbill was making the sound. About that time, I overheard Jeff tell another small group of trip participants that there was a Rock Wren calling. Jeff had not heard me call out the bird initially and obviously had no idea that I had already determined the source. I watched the bird do the call at least 15 times, interspersed with the normal "kip kip" call notes. I know other finches are very good mimics, but I've never heard of a Red Crossbill imitiating the vocalizations of other species. Dave Irons Eugene, OR P.S. The Woodpecker Wonderland Festival is a well-run fun event that really showcases the summer birdlife of central Oregon. Many of the visiting birders completed what we dubbed the "Wonderland Slam" (getting all 11 local woodpeckers) this weekend. We even saw a pair of Am. Three-toed Woodpeckers copulating today. Excellent scouting by the local (Bend area) birders located active nests of all the species and we were able to show folks pretty much whatever they wanted to see. I had wonderful time leading trips with Chuck Gates (Saturday) and Jeff Harding (Sunday) and then I joined a bunch of the other leaders and we took two van loads of folks out this afternoon to clean up the target birds (particularly the woodpeckers) that they still wanted to see. Everyone went home happy. I look forward to helping lead trips again next year. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_BR_life_in_synch_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090608/31b7f55a/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sun Jun 7 23:25:05 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 02:25:05 -0400 Subject: [obol] Eastern Kingbird near Pine Grove (Wasco Co) and Common Poorwill (Gilliam Co) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Apart from misspelling Calliope Hummingbird, there are 2 more sightings that I left out: 1. Bank Swallows were just ~2mi uphill on the 197 exit off I-84, Wasco Co. 2. 2 Bonaparte's Gulls were at the Price Rd wetlands north of Wamic, Wasco Co. I finished with 103 species for the trip. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR From: greenfant at hotmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 01:06:04 -0400 Subject: [obol] Eastern Kingbird near Pine Grove (Wasco Co) and Common Poorwill (Gilliam Co) Thanks to a tip by Roy Gerig, I ventured to Gilliam Co last night for COMMON POORWILL which I found shortly after sunset. This spot is about 10mi east of Condon on 206, where it crosses Rock Creek. Other birds calling in the area were Common Nighthawk, Great Horned Owl, Lark Sparrow, Lazuli Bunting, Yellow Warbler and Ash-throated Flycatcher, just to name a few. Only 2 cars came by the whole 9 hours I spent in the area, so the serene setting makes for a great place to camp. On the way to Condon, I had had 2 single Chukar near MP24 and MP32 of 206 by the side of the road between Wasco and Condon in somewhat uncharacteristic habitat, lacking any rocks. I also almost hit a deer on this section. Early this morning I headed back to Wasco Co to catch up on some of the birds that arrived since I visited last. Again thanks to Donna Lusthoff for her priceless notes. Both Fossil (216 & 19) and Antelope (Main & Union) had Eurasian Collared Doves early in the morning. By the way, 216 going west out of Fossil is one of the most scenic drives in OR - no wonder that it is labeled a Scenic Byway. A Loggerhead Shrike was near MP18 of 216 east of Antelope. I caught up with Lark, Vesper and Brewer's Sparrow 0.5mi south of Bakeoven & Hinton Rds en route to Maupin. A Gray Flycatcher was calling there as well. The last cluster of junipers on the way down into Maupin held the ongoing Gray Flycatchers, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Lazuli Bunting and a singing WILLOW FLYCATCHER. There were 3 Yellow-breasted Chats on the way up to Tygh Valley from Sherar's Bridge. Gray Flycatchers were still calling from the first gate entering White River WA off Badger Creek Rd, so were the ones in almost pure oak savannah habitat off Dodson Rd. It was too late in the day for a quick picture. Another Vesper Sparrow was singing in the Smock Prairie. After crossing the White River on - drumroll - White River Rd, I pulled west onto Victor Rd, took the 90 degree turn going south when I encountered an EASTERN KINGBIRD at the house at the west end of the short east-west section about 1mi north of 216. I briefly went down Kelly Springs Rd, picking up Caliope and Anna's Hummingbird, Warbling and Cassin's Vireo, Nashville Warbler, Olive-sided Flycatcher and Purple Finch. Alas, no catbird. The next stop was the large open area on the south side of 216 near MP9 where Townsend's Warbler, Pewee, Fox Sparrow, Dusky Flycatcher and again Nashville Warbler. A Mountain Quail was calling repeatedly. 2 more quick stops at Clear and Frog Lake were unproductive except for singing Hermit Warblers and a Varied Thrush. At about 3pm I had to call it a day to head back to the Portland area. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. See how. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_SD_25GB_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090608/ce8a95f8/attachment.html From tjanzen at comcast.net Sun Jun 7 23:30:55 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 23:30:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] SE Oregon trip highlights -- a week in Harney & Malheur Cos. In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20090608063122.498A1A8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear All, I thought I would add to Jay?s excellent summaries that the SNOWY EGRET we saw on June 1 was about ? mile north of the intersection of Lava Beds Rd. and Diamond Grain Camp Rd. on the east side of the Lava Beds Rd. This is about 6 miles west of Diamond. This is the same general location where there had been a Cattle Egret that had been present up through at least May 26. I looked for the Cattle Egret on the evening of May 26 and later in the week, but wasn?t able to relocate it. The previously reported RED-BREASTED MERGANSER that had been found by others on the pond just north of the road about 1 mile west of Krumbo Reservoir was still present on May 26 when my family and I birded that area, but was not there in subsequent days. My family and I also saw a late TUNDRA SWAN at Chickahominy Reservoir on May 26. I am sorry for these late updates, but I haven?t had internet access since leaving home on May 25. Sincerely, Tim Janzen Portland _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Jay Withgott Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2009 10:51 PM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] SE Oregon trip highlights -- a week in Harney & Malheur Cos. Hi OBOL -- Tim Janzen, Noah Strycker, Tim's son Paul, and I have just returned from a wonderful week of birding in southeastern Oregon. On June 2nd we ran a Big Day in Harney County and found 160 species. On June 5th, John Gatchet joined us for a Malheur County Big Day, and we found 158 species. Each of these totals surpassed our own expectations and set, as far as we are aware, new Big Day records for Harney and Malheur Counties. Our scouting days and travel days were also productive, and we actually surpassed 100 species on all 7 days of our trip! Along the way we enjoyed spectacular scenery at locations such as Ironside Mountain, Castle Rock, and Succor Creek Canyon. We are grateful for helpful advice for birding Malheur County from Alan Contreras, Jeff Harding, and Paul Sullivan. In total on our trip we saw nearly 200 species of birds. Top rare bird highlights are listed below. Momentarily I will post separate messages describing each of our two Big Day efforts, along with more detail on the species seen on those days. SNOWY EGRET -- 1 at or near Malheur NWR at a location I cannot now remember, 1 June Jay Withgott Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090607/dc0ae410/attachment.html From calliope at theriver.com Mon Jun 8 06:27:44 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 06:27:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red Crossbill mimicry? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <08450F98-6C00-4E40-9B8F-5EBFA03222CB@theriver.com> Hi Dave, I have heard Red Crossbill mimic at some time in the distant past. I don't know if I ever took notes, but I don't remember when, where, or which species were mimicked. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- On Jun 7, 2009, at 10:57 PM, David Irons wrote: > Greetings All, > > Has anyone out there ever heard a Red Crossbill mimic another > species. Today, while leading one of the tours for the Woodpecker > Wonderland Fest. at Camp Sherman, Jeff Harding and I heard a Red > Crossbill do a very convincing Rock Wren imitation near the Sisters > City Park. I initially found the crossbill and pointed it out to > some the folks in our group. As I was showing them the bird, I > started hearing Rock Wren calls and suggested that there must be one > over near some small boulders in a front yard in the same direction > as the crossbill. After a few moments, I realized that the crossbill > was making the sound. About that time, I overheard Jeff tell another > small group of trip participants that there was a Rock Wren calling. > Jeff had not heard me call out the bird initially and obviously had > no idea that I had already determined the source. I watched the bird > do the call at least 15 times, interspersed with the normal "kip > kip" call notes. > > I know other finches are very good mimics, but I've never heard of a > Red Crossbill imitiating the vocalizations of other species. > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > > P.S. The Woodpecker Wonderland Festival is a well-run fun event that > really showcases the summer birdlife of central Oregon. Many of the > visiting birders completed what we dubbed the "Wonderland > Slam" (getting all 11 local woodpeckers) this weekend. We even saw a > pair of Am. Three-toed Woodpeckers copulating today. Excellent > scouting by the local (Bend area) birders located active nests of > all the species and we were able to show folks pretty much whatever > they wanted to see. I had wonderful time leading trips with Chuck > Gates (Saturday) and Jeff Harding (Sunday) and then I joined a bunch > of the other leaders and we took two van loads of folks out this > afternoon to clean up the target birds (particularly the > woodpeckers) that they still wanted to see. Everyone went home > happy. I look forward to helping lead trips again next year. > > Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. Check it out. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090608/b61f871b/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Mon Jun 8 10:07:31 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 09:07:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Red Crossbill mimicry? In-Reply-To: <08450F98-6C00-4E40-9B8F-5EBFA03222CB@theriver.com> References: <08450F98-6C00-4E40-9B8F-5EBFA03222CB@theriver.com> Message-ID: <9984E9D851C240098CFAE28E25B50ECD@102889> Dave, Funny you should mention that. Yesterday morning when I went out to get the paper I heard what sounded like a Rock Wren in my neighborhood, where they never occur. I looked for the bird, but didn't find it. A half hour later I heard it again, calling from the top of one of my pine trees. It then gave a typical Red Crossbill song and calls and then part of the Rock Wren repertoire. Tom Crabtree Bend _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Rich Hoyer Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 5:28 AM To: David Irons Cc: post OBOL; David and Jude Fix and Power Subject: Re: [obol] Red Crossbill mimicry? Hi Dave, I have heard Red Crossbill mimic at some time in the distant past. I don't know if I ever took notes, but I don't remember when, where, or which species were mimicked. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- On Jun 7, 2009, at 10:57 PM, David Irons wrote: Greetings All, Has anyone out there ever heard a Red Crossbill mimic another species. Today, while leading one of the tours for the Woodpecker Wonderland Fest. at Camp Sherman, Jeff Harding and I heard a Red Crossbill do a very convincing Rock Wren imitation near the Sisters City Park. I initially found the crossbill and pointed it out to some the folks in our group. As I was showing them the bird, I started hearing Rock Wren calls and suggested that there must be one over near some small boulders in a front yard in the same direction as the crossbill. After a few moments, I realized that the crossbill was making the sound. About that time, I overheard Jeff tell another small group of trip participants that there was a Rock Wren calling. Jeff had not heard me call out the bird initially and obviously had no idea that I had already determined the source. I watched the bird do the call at least 15 times, interspersed with the normal "kip kip" call notes. I know other finches are very good mimics, but I've never heard of a Red Crossbill imitiating the vocalizations of other species. Dave Irons Eugene, OR P.S. The Woodpecker Wonderland Festival is a well-run fun event that really showcases the summer birdlife of central Oregon. Many of the visiting birders completed what we dubbed the "Wonderland Slam" (getting all 11 local woodpeckers) this weekend. We even saw a pair of Am. Three-toed Woodpeckers copulating today. Excellent scouting by the local (Bend area) birders located active nests of all the species and we were able to show folks pretty much whatever they wanted to see. I had wonderful time leading trips with Chuck Gates (Saturday) and Jeff Harding (Sunday) and then I joined a bunch of the other leaders and we took two van loads of folks out this afternoon to clean up the target birds (particularly the woodpeckers) that they still wanted to see. Everyone went home happy. I look forward to helping lead trips again next year. _____ Windows LiveT: Keep your life in sync. Check it out. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090608/744daeef/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Mon Jun 8 09:26:27 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 09:26:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Woodpecker estival in Sisters Message-ID: <001001c9e855$e9352c10$3700a8c0@windypoint99> WOODPECKER FESTIVAL IN SISTERS OR 6-7 JUNE 2009 We went to the "Woodpecker Wonderland" Bird Festival based at Camp Sherman on the east slopes of the central Cascades (northwest of Sisters, which is northwest of Bend). The festival advertised 11 species of woodpeckers, a very high diversity for this clan anywhere on the planet. After birding several of the many burns in the region, what impressed us was how easy it was to see so many species in a small area. Looking at the festival bird sightings board, we could see a variety of the fieldtrips were finding seven to nine species of woodpeckers. We chose Dry Creek as this trip seemed to offer a good chance at American Three-toed Woodpecker, the last remaining regular species for our 2009 Oregon list. An energetic band of birders had canvassed many burns in advance of the festival to assure birders the best chance of seeing a good variety of these birds. On arriving at the site" along Dry Creek in early afternoon, we walked a few hundred yards through the burnt forest. At first things seemed pretty quiet. We stopped not far from the bottom of a swale and patiently waited. One by one woodpeckers appeared: RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, Northern Flicker, AMERICAN THREE-TOED (at its nest hole in an aspen), BLACK-BACKED, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, , and WILLIAMSON'S and RED BREASTED SAPSUCKERS. WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER called off in the distance. We saw all these woodpeckers without moving 75 yards! I asked what might make this so attractive to woodpeckers and our leaders suggested it was the diversity of tree species around the swampy swale here. I took inventory of the species in this burned forest: grand fir, Douglas-fir, Engelmann spruce, lodgepole and ponderosa pines on drier ground;. the wetter swale bottom contained black cottonwood and trembling aspen. Several fieldtrips had LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS at a unique nestbox project. PILEATED WOODPECKER was noted by several groups too. We saw PILEATED on our own by walking up the McKenzie Pass Highway one mile west of the locked gate (9.5 miles up this highway west of Sisters). Our weekend total was 10 species of woodpeckers! The Saturday keynote speaker Dr. Eric Walters (UC Berkeley) at the evening banquet gave an excellent program "Acorn Clowns and Red Cocades," summarizing his research on these two woodpeckers. He finished on a conservation note. We are all aware of the endangered status of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker of the American southeast longleaf pine forests. I was not aware, however, the Acorn Woodpecker may be in jeopardy too. Apparently two important acorn sources in California, the blue and valley oaks, are not reproducing, an ominous sign for long term health of Acorn Woodpecker populations. Research is underway to identify the reasons these oaks are not regenerating. One plausible theory is widespread cover of weedy invasives in the California savannah ecosystem may be inhibiting regeneration of these oaks. The Woodpecker Wonderland Festival was a great event. If you want to observe some of these charismatic birds in a scenic and birdy part of the state (we saw 78 bird species (mostly forest birds at the festival), consider contacting Paradise Birding. Stephen Shunk, proprietor, has the whereabouts all 11 Cascade eastslope woodpecker species pegged. He offers personalized guiding services (steve at paradisebirding.com). Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090608/a58d6c38/attachment.html From rawieland at comcast.net Mon Jun 8 09:51:41 2009 From: rawieland at comcast.net (Rainer Wieland) Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:51:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bayocean Whimbrels and Terns Message-ID: <4A2D419D.5000508@comcast.net> I rode my bike out to the tip of Bayocean Spit yesterday waiting for the tide to come in before I did my COASST survey in Netarts. There were about 25 Whimbrels there from at least 0930 to 1300. A flock of 13 Caspian Terns was intermixed with about 30-40 gulls. 5 of the terns had bands of various colors on their left legs. Cheers, Rainer Wieland Portland From alfanana at q.com Mon Jun 8 09:52:07 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 16:52:07 +0000 Subject: [obol] bird ID Message-ID: Hi, All; My daughter sent me a picture that she snapped recently at Aspyn Hall. Since the bird was above her, all that can be seen is the bottom of the head and bill, breast and some of the belly, and some of the tail. The head, breast and what can be seen of the wings are all dark (black or dark grey). The belly is brick red. The under side of the rather deeply forked tail is dark and the wings do not look like they come very far down on the tail. HELP! I looked in my book and online and cannot find it. will send the pic to anyone who wants to see it. Thanks, Karen S. La Pine -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090608/f588deef/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Mon Jun 8 10:01:20 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:01:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chestnut-sided Warbler, Gray Catbird: Malheur HQ Message-ID: The 1yr female Chestnut-sided Warbler is still at Malheur NWR HQ. From tc at empnet.com Mon Jun 8 11:10:20 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 10:10:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] [COBOL] bird ID In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Karen - It is a Lewis' Woodpecker. The tail shape gives it away that it is a woodpecker. The only one with extensive red on the belly is the Lewis'. BTW, Aspen Hall is in Shevlin Park. Tom Crabtree _____ From: cobol-bounces at lists.oregonstate.edu [mailto:cobol-bounces at lists.oregonstate.edu] On Behalf Of Karen Stewart Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 8:52 AM To: birders; birds2 Subject: [COBOL] bird ID Hi, All; My daughter sent me a picture that she snapped recently at Aspyn Hall. Since the bird was above her, all that can be seen is the bottom of the head and bill, breast and some of the belly, and some of the tail. The head, breast and what can be seen of the wings are all dark (black or dark grey). The belly is brick red. The under side of the rather deeply forked tail is dark and the wings do not look like they come very far down on the tail. HELP! I looked in my book and online and cannot find it. will send the pic to anyone who wants to see it. Thanks, Karen S. La Pine -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090608/b60e9b88/attachment.html From lee at leerentz.com Mon Jun 8 10:25:45 2009 From: lee at leerentz.com (Lee Rentz) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 10:25:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wood Ducks Hatching and Leaping Message-ID: <9F596E97-8C32-4403-8F53-85E81B7842C8@leerentz.com> We completed our series of short movies showing the interior of our Wood Duck nest box as incubation led to hatching and fledging of 21 young. The last time I posted here, we had completed movies one through six. Now we have finished movies seven through fourteen, and the project is complete. To see these short videos, go to: http://www.youtube.com/duckwatch We found this project profoundly gratifying, and hope you enjoy the movies and the insights into bird behavior. Lee & Karen Rentz Shelton, WA, USA lee at leerentz.com From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Mon Jun 8 11:00:18 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 11:00:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Birder's Night: TONIGHT, June 8, 7pm Message-ID: <5824336E-C578-4D0A-914F-EC3E033D0FC1@comcast.net> OBOL- Eugene Birder's Night will be June 8 (second Monday of each Month) at 7pm. LOCATION : Sacred Heart Hospital (downtown), 1255 Hilyard St; Conference Room A (across the hall from the Auditorium). Directions to Conference Room A: -enter main Lobby from Hilyard St -turn Left and walk down hall (past the cafeteria) to end of hall -turn Right and walk down hall (past Dining Room) to end of hall -turn Right and walk a few steps, then Left down the hall toward the Auditorium -Conference Room A (labelled simply Conference Room) is on the Right (across from a bank of telephones on the Left side of the hall) Parking: Parking lot structure (across Hilyard from the Lobby) charges $1/hour (I think). Street parking is not available on Hilyard per se, but is found on 13th, 12th (West of Patterson), and Patterson streets (street parking free after 6pm). Map is at this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=sacred+heart+hospital+eugene,+or&fb=1&split=1&cid=0,0,17378354515337851834&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image Agenda: usual reporting format and bird discussion Note: we will have reliable access to audio/video support from this point on, so those wishing to bring a disc or laptop to show interesting images, etc should feel free to do so. For a lengthly presentation, please give me a heads-up so we can avoid conflicts. Barry McKenzie Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090608/15755ac4/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Jun 8 11:03:28 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:03:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur update Message-ID: In addition to the female Chestnut-sided that is still at HQ today, a GRAY Catbird was there. I saw a flycatcher that may have been a LEAST; it did not make any sounds. Of note was a singing ORANGE-crowned Warb at the HQ parking area. It was a bright green-headed form. Two weeks late, or more. Benson Pond and Frenchglen were quiet, except for the extraordinary sight of one mink chasing another at a modest pace for a hundred yards right down the middle of the CPR at the Benson turnoff. We naturally stood there wihout taking the camera out of its bag. I have seen mink in that area before but they didn't run past 15 feet away. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From range.bayer at gmail.com Mon Jun 8 11:41:29 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 11:41:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] No. Mockingbird at Newport Message-ID: Hi, This morning (June 8), Doug Cottam saw a Northern Mockingbird near the construction site on the west side of the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center Visitor Center. On May 30, Jorrie & Ken Ciotti also had one at their home 4 miles east of Waldport, and on June 1 Laimons Osis saw one at Ona Beach State Park. These are in addition to Sumner Sharpe's report of 3-4 at Salmon River the weekend of May 30-31, so there has been a widespread invasion of mockingbirds into Lincoln County! In the past, they were also most frequent in May-June. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport From GOBLED at uidaho.edu Mon Jun 8 12:07:06 2009 From: GOBLED at uidaho.edu (Goble, Dale) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 12:07:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] a binocular question In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4B96D4D1066F3B418ACE31907E64EDBBDE46E1@EXVS2.its.uidaho.edu> I am currently in Portland on sabbatical and in need of a new pair of binoculars. I would appreciate comments on both what to buy and where to buy them. Thanx, Dale Goble From dummy1 at hughes.net Mon Jun 8 13:28:09 2009 From: dummy1 at hughes.net (Bill Zachman) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 13:28:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon "hotspots" along I5 Message-ID: <070B385AABB94A0AAB48FEA9601185F0@NewDell> Im planning a trip June 18 thru 22nd up I5 from California to Salem, OR. I am totally unfamiliar with birding "hotspots" in Oregon along this route. Can anyone help out on places - reasonably close to I5 - from the California line to Salem? I probabably will overnight in Medford. Bill Zachman Groveland, CA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090608/562103c7/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Mon Jun 8 14:42:42 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 14:42:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] bird nests Message-ID: <0174EA86EA354DC7BD91E22585E2968F@MOM> Birders One of the most enjoyable things this weekend at the WP Festival HQd at Camp Sherman was to see birds building or sitting on nests. The Pacific-slope Flycatcher building a nest ( discovered by Greg Gillson) was using an opening in a cliff face and building an exquisite little home of fine mosses and lichens. The Dipper nest nearby made of moss and ferns and located on a mossy log above a spring was so beautiful. Cavity nesters doing exhanges at lightening speed was very cool to observe although frustrating for some birders! I worry though about posting locations, especially for raptors or owls, and don't want to mention their nests or locations. OBOL can be read by anyone in the public who may have less than honorable intentions, legal or illegal. Good birding, judy jmeredit at bendnet.com From greenfant at hotmail.com Mon Jun 8 14:45:12 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 17:45:12 -0400 Subject: [obol] RFI: Grasshopper Sparrow off I-84? Message-ID: I've often wondered if there is a good exit off I-84 where one can reliably pick up Grasshopper Sparrow within say 5-10mi of the exit between Portland and Pendleton. Ash-throated Flycatcher, Bank Swallow, Chukar can easily be found at the right exit in the right season. Are there any other good exits for uncommon species that I have not mentioned? There is nothing like a quick productive stop to lessen the boredom of a long drive towards the Blues and Wallowas. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_SD_25GB_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090608/b0e93e7b/attachment.html From youngwarriors at hotmail.com Mon Jun 8 15:00:16 2009 From: youngwarriors at hotmail.com (Keith Owen) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 15:00:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI: Grasshopper Sparrow off I-84? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Take the first exit past I-82. Cross over the freeway and take the first right. This road goes into Stanfield. You can get back on the freeway there. There are usually Black-necked Stilts, Long-billed Dowitchers, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Cinnamon Teal in a wet area along this road. Also Long-billed Curlew are possible in the hay fields and catlle pastures. From: greenfant at hotmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 17:45:12 -0400 Subject: [obol] RFI: Grasshopper Sparrow off I-84? I've often wondered if there is a good exit off I-84 where one can reliably pick up Grasshopper Sparrow within say 5-10mi of the exit between Portland and Pendleton. Ash-throated Flycatcher, Bank Swallow, Chukar can easily be found at the right exit in the right season. Are there any other good exits for uncommon species that I have not mentioned? There is nothing like a quick productive stop to lessen the boredom of a long drive towards the Blues and Wallowas. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. Get it on your BlackBerry or iPhone. _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090608/352051ec/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Jun 8 15:30:45 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 15:30:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Looking for used tripods Message-ID: <8e39bb4b392bae86c8201772729e76d0@earthlink.net> I have two scopes and neither has an adequate tripod. If anyone is eager to convert one they no longer use to cash, let me know. Lars Norgren From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon Jun 8 15:44:20 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 15:44:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon "hotspots" along I5 In-Reply-To: <070B385AABB94A0AAB48FEA9601185F0@NewDell> References: <070B385AABB94A0AAB48FEA9601185F0@NewDell> Message-ID: <80C1EA95224D47CDBA9E9943390D4A8B@cgatesPC> Try the Oregon Birding Trails website. While there are relatively few sites listed for the willamette Valley, there are multiple side trips that you could take either in the Coast Mountains or in the Cascades. http://www.oregonbirdingtrails.org/ ----- Original Message ----- From: Bill Zachman To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 1:28 PM Subject: [obol] Oregon "hotspots" along I5 Im planning a trip June 18 thru 22nd up I5 from California to Salem, OR. I am totally unfamiliar with birding "hotspots" in Oregon along this route. Can anyone help out on places - reasonably close to I5 - from the California line to Salem? I probabably will overnight in Medford. Bill Zachman Groveland, CA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090608/0cdffbac/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Mon Jun 8 16:13:32 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 16:13:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Possible Ash-throated Flycatcher at Newport Message-ID: Hi, At about 2:30 PM today (June 8), Janet Lamberson saw a possible Ash-throated Flycatcher along the Hatfield Marine Science Center Nature Trail in South Beach in the alder and willow groves near the windows of the USFWS Building. Janet noted that it had a rufous tail with no white edges that flared when it flew. ?It had a soft gray face and breast, very pale yellow lower belly, and was slightly smaller and more "petite" than a kingbird, with a suggestion of a crest. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport From jvanmoo at sisna.com Mon Jun 8 18:28:14 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 18:28:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gerber Reservoir, 6-8-09 Message-ID: I birded the Gerber Reservoir area east of Klamath Falls for a little while this morning. At Bliss Rd ponds near Bonanza I found 6 WILSON'S PHALAROPE, 9 AMERICAN AVOCET, 8 BLACK-NECKED STILT, 2 male BLUE-WINGED TEAL, as well as CINNAMON TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, GADWALL and MALLARD. In the East Langell Valley I saw about 15 COMMON NIGHTHAWK (hard to count) flying over a small marsh and 2 SANDHILL CRANE in a field on the road to Gerber. WESTERN KINGBIRD and WESTERN BLUEBIRD were also along the same road. Near Gerber Reservoir I found a LARK SPARROW and BREWER'S SPARROW, lots of MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDs, an OSPREY with a fish in its talons, OLIVE- SIDED FLYCATCHER calling, FORSTER'S TERN, WESTERN GREBE, and AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, and 2 SANDHILL CRANE in one of the "prairie potholes" and also a BLACK TERN. A quick trip but fun. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From scre at aol.com Mon Jun 8 20:12:17 2009 From: scre at aol.com (scre at aol.com) Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:12:17 -0400 Subject: [obol] Tillamook County Message-ID: <8CBB6C73A75D471-B00-2559@webmail-dh35.sysops.aol.com> Lauren Harter and I poked around Tillamook while doing errands and just enjoying the day. The American White Pelican continues out in the middle of the bay.? On Bayocean spit we had 4 (3 male 1 female) lingering Greater Scaup, and also had 50+ Brown Pelicans at the entrance to the bay which seemed like a lot for this part of the coast in early June.? At Nehalem Bay Sewage Ponds we had 3 lingering Greater Scaup (1 male and 2 females) and 4 Ring-necked Ducks (it didn't seem like breeding habitat for them there so I imagine lingering wintering birds or migrants).? Good birding David Vander Pluym Netarts, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090608/b995a752/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Mon Jun 8 23:12:55 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 23:12:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Audubon Birding Weekend at Malheur NWR Message-ID: <007001c9e8ca$3e4bc280$f4c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: 20 participants joined Carol Karlen & me for an Audubon Birding Weekend at Malheur NWR. The potluck was great! Collectively, we saw 101 species. Highlights: - no Acorn Woodpecker - no Cattle Egret or Snowy Egret - no White-winged Dove - no Black-throated Sparrow RED-HEADED WOODPECKER seen by one participant at the south end of Benson Pond on Saturday afternoon. It was across the river from the Central Patrol Rd. & went down behind the willows. We looked but did not find it. CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER briefly glimpses at Headquarters on Sunday morning by a few people. PIED-BILLED, EARED, WESTERN & CLARK'S GREBES on Benson Pond. TRUMPETER SWAN pair with 4 cygnets on Benson Pond. OSPREY on pole across the road from the entrance to headquarters. Sandhill Crane - scarce, we only found 5 all weekend COMMON NIGHTHAWKS - many. BURROWING OWL - 6 plus an adult north of The Narrows. ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER at m.p. 11 on Rt. 205, on the south slope of Wright's Point YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT - 3 at entrance to Page Springs, 3 more between P Ranch and Benson Pond BOBOLINKS, FRANKLIN'S GULLS, WHITE-FACED IBIS, BLACK & FORSTER'S TERNS SWAINSON'S, RED-TAILED, and FERRUGINOUS HAWK Neat observation I've never seen before: A WHITE PELICAN in hot aerial pursuit of a GREAT BLUE HERON over the marsh east of Benson Pond. The heron was feeding at the edge of the cattails. The pelican made a deliberate run at it, starting from the water and taking off. The heron fled and dodged, and dodged, and the pelican stayed right with it. We think the heron dropped a fish, and the pelican finally gave up the chase. What would it have done if it had caught the heron? Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan Audubon Birding Weekends (503) 646-7889 http://www.audubonportland.org/trips-classes-camps/adult/weekends From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Mon Jun 8 23:29:49 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 23:29:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rock Wren in Polk County Message-ID: <00bd01c9e8cb$b0ea73d0$12bf5b70$@NET> While running her BBS route on Sunday Linda Fink heard what she thought might be a ROCK WREN at a gravel pit near Valsetz. She didn't have time to confirm the species due to the time constraints of the BBS. On Monday we went bouncing back on the gravel roads to the site and saw and heard the bird which was indeed a ROCK WREN. Apparently not unheard of in Polk County but it seems worthy of a post. I have posted photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_pix/ The photos were taken from a distance away and are not the best but do serve for ID purposes. Tom Shreve Tigard -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090608/dc185462/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Mon Jun 8 23:30:13 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 23:30:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI: Grasshopper Sparrow off I-84? Message-ID: <007601c9e8cc$20da0020$f4c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Stefan, If you take Blalock Canyon Rd. (exit 137) off of I-84 and climb up out of the Columbia Gorge to the flats for ~5 miles, past Philippi Rd., you will be heading south. You will come to a spot where the asphalt takes a 45 degree turn SE, and a gravel road continues straight south about a mile. On the west side of this road is a fence. Check this mile for Grasshopper Sparrows. The open grassland east of the road may have Long-billed Curlews. You may find Ferruginous Hawk and Mt. Bluebirds near the high tension lines if you continue south on Blalock Canyon Rd. You can intersect Cedar Springs Rd. and follow it east to Hwy 19 to get back to Arlington. On the way you can get a whiff of your garbage at the Arlington landfill. (Nice to visit old friends ;-) Good birding, Paul Sullivan ----------------------------- Subject: RFI: Grasshopper Sparrow off I-84? From: Stefan Schlick Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 17:45:12 -0400 I've often wondered if there is a good exit off I-84 where one can reliably pick up Grasshopper Sparrow within say 5-10mi of the exit between Portland and Pendleton. Ash-throated Flycatcher, Bank Swallow, Chukar can easily be found at the right exit in the right season. Are there any other good exits for uncommon species that I have not mentioned? There is nothing like a quick productive stop to lessen the boredom of a long drive towards the Blues and Wallowas. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Tue Jun 9 07:41:14 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 07:41:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Summary: Morning Birdsong Walks at Tualatin Hills Nature Park Message-ID: <002201c9e910$c4cdcce0$a0c963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> obol: The Morning Birdsong Walk season has ended. Here is a summary of the walks at Tualatin Hills Nature Park in Beaverton, done on 9 Tuesdays, April 2 - June 2, 2009, from 7-9 AM. Total participants: 200 Legend: n = nests y = young Total Species # seen 2 Canada Goose 300 Cackling Goose - flyover, new this year 15+3y Mallard 2 Osprey 5,n Cooper's Hawk 9 Red-tailed Hawk 3 Band-tailed Pigeon 6 Mourning Dove 2y Great Horned Owl 13, n Anna's Hummingbird 4 Rufous Hummingbird 1 Red-breasted Sapsucker 9 Downy Woodpecker 5 Northern Flicker 4 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Western Wood-Pewee 1 Willow Flycatcher 2 Pacific-slope Flycatcher 8 Violet-green Swallow 20 Steller's Jay 1 Scrub Jay 17 American Crow 47, 2n Black-capped Chickadee 4 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 11, 3n Bushtit 13 Red-breasted Nuthatch 7 Brown Creeper 42 Bewick's Wren 40 Winter Wren 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10 Swainson's Thrush 1 Hermit Thrush 101 American Robin 1 Varied Thrush 9 Cedar Waxwing 2 European Starling 1 Cassin's Vireo 1 Hutton's Vireo 4 Warbling Vireo 7 Orange-crowned Warbler 4 Yellow-rumped Warbler 14 Black-throated Gray 3 Townsend's Warbler 9 Common Yellowthroat 8 Wilson's Warbler 21 Western Tanager 29 Black-headed Grosbeak 51 Spotted Towhee 54 Song Sparrow 1 Golden-crowned Sparrow 4 White-crowned Sparrow 14 Dark-eyed Junco 36 Red-winged Blackbird 12 Brown-headed Cowbird 45 Purple Finch 10 Red Crossbill 21 Pine Siskin 18 Lesser Goldfinch 16 American Goldfinch Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan "...all the people who can identify a dusky flycatcher when they see one, ... won't add up to enough votes to elect a mayor.... You like those little red birds, whatever they're called? So do I.... You're a birder, and we're pals." Kenn Kaufman -- BirdWatcher's Digest, Nov-Dec 2001 From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Tue Jun 9 07:40:35 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 07:40:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Summary: Morning Birdsong Walks at Camassia Preserve Message-ID: <002101c9e910$c3d84950$a0c963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> The Morning Birdsong Walk season has ended. Here is a summary of the walks at Camassia Preserve in West Linn, done on 10 Thursdays, April 2 - June 4, 2009, from 7-9 AM. Total participants: 104 Legend: n = nests nb = nest building y = young Total Species # seen 2 Double-crestred Cormorant 11 Great Blue Heron 9 Canada Goose 10 Mallard 27 Turkey Vulture 16, n Osprey 2 Cooper's Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawk 10 Band-tailed Pigeon 11 Vaux's Swift 24 Anna's Hummingbird 4 Rufous Hummingbird 2 Red-breasted Sapsucker 11 Downy Woodpecker 28, n Northern Flicker 3 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher 3 Western Wood-Pewee 2 Pacific-slope Flycatcher 37 Violet-green Swallow 3 Cliff Swallow - new this year 20 Steller's Jay 41 American Crow 57 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 12, y Bushtit 13,n Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 Brown Creeper 40 Bewick's Wren 7 Winter Wren 4 Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 15 Swainson's Thrush 82 American Robin 2 Varied Thrush 15 Cedar Waxwing 31 European Starling 1 Cassin's Vireo 9, nb, n Hutton's Vireo 13 Warbling Vireo 28 Orange-crowned Warbler 2 Nashville Warbler 45 Yellow-rumped Warbler 9 Black-throated Gray 9 Townsend's Warbler 7 Wilson's Warbler 10 Western Tanager 12 Black-headed Grosbeak 59 Spotted Towhee 61 Song Sparrow 22 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 Purple Finch 13 House Finch 24 Pine Siskin 22 Lesser Goldfinch 25 American Goldfinch 20 Evening Grosbeak Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan From suzanna at iinet.com Fri Jun 5 18:10:56 2009 From: suzanna at iinet.com (Suzanna M. Kruger) Date: Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:10:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] local RBA: A. White Pelicans continue in Tillamook Bay Message-ID: <4A29C220.9030003@iinet.com> 5 May 2009 Tillamook Bay, Tillamook Co. Viewed from Port of Bay City on jetty west of Pacific Seafood oyster cannery: The AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS continue in Tillamook. I saw three at 1425 today west and south of the Bay City jetties during a quick stop on my way back to Gearhart today. Thanks to those who reported them previously. The species was a new one for my Tillamook County list--the first in years. David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From rarebirdart at verizon.net Mon Jun 8 21:16:30 2009 From: rarebirdart at verizon.net ( Lois Miller) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 21:16:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black footed Albatross Message-ID: A friend of mine is a commercial fisherman here and he had an albatross come so close to his boat today he could read the band. It was on it's right leg and red with white numbers 1141 and the other leg had a plain silver band. They were about 12 miles offshore and there was about 15 Albatross in the flock. Anyone know how we could check out this bird ? thanks ! Lois Miller Port Orford -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090608/a53669eb/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Tue Jun 9 07:39:34 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 07:39:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crooked River National Grassland-7 June Message-ID: <000101c9e921$efa1a2f0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> CROOKED RIVER NATIONAL GRASSLAND 7 JUNE 2009 Returning to home in Yakima after the Woodpecker Festival in Sisters we took a byway through the Crooked River National Grassland to Madras. This was along Forest Road 900 or the Fremont Canyon Road. For a long way we made our way on a slight downhill country through increasingly arid terrain, first in open ponderosa pine woodland, then into western juniper forest, and finally "grassland (actually juniper-dotted shrub-steppe). It was the middle of the day so we saw little activity for most of the journey. By and by we descended to flat country known as Squaw Flat. Cruising slowly along with our windows open, an electronic sound "quark" blared from the rimrock 100 feet above us (44.25.188 N 121.25.619 W). It took me a moment, as this was an almost unfamiliar sound to me, to recall MOUNTAIN QUAIL! Because of the rimrock, the call seemed to echo. We never saw the quail but calling ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER amid the junipers (with an understory wax currant and chokecherry and a lovely sward of bluebunch wheatgrass), SAY'S PHOEBE, LESSER GOLDFINCH ROCK WREN, WESTERN MEADOWLARK Aand VESPER SPARROW were all species that told us we were in a quite different vegetation zone from that of nearby Sisters. Farther along, we descended into a dramatic and very beautiful gorge to cross Lake Billy Chinook. Overhead, WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS sliced by at cliff top level and a GOLDEN EAGLE soared. A very beautiful spot indeed, no doubt a geologists paradise. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA steppie at nwinfo.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090609/7836c004/attachment.html From sheran at bendbroadband.com Tue Jun 9 10:49:43 2009 From: sheran at bendbroadband.com (Sheran Wright) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 10:49:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: WHITE-EYED VIREO IN Fields, or Message-ID: <21F0ECFCC0E348079CC697613A610460@notebook> I just got a phone call from Jeff Gilligan who said Alan Contreras just called him to say he just found a female WHITE-EYED VIREO in Fields along the willows by the creek. I think that means the willow row on the town side as opposed to the oasis side, but I'm just guessing about that. I'm sure Alan will give more detail when he gets back to his computer. Sheran Wright Bend (but heading toward Fields) From craig at greatskua.com Tue Jun 9 11:11:53 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:11:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: WHITE-EYED VIREO IN Fields, or Message-ID: <20090609111153.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.e091c244ce.wbe@email.secureserver.net> How was the bird determined to be a female? Male and female white-eyed vireos are monomorphic. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] RBA: WHITE-EYED VIREO IN Fields, or > From: "Sheran Wright" > Date: Tue, June 09, 2009 10:49 am > To: "COBOL" , "OBOL" > > > > I just got a phone call from Jeff Gilligan who said Alan Contreras just > called him to say he just found a female WHITE-EYED VIREO in Fields along > the willows by the creek. I think that means the willow row on the town > side as opposed to the oasis side, but I'm just guessing about that. I'm > sure Alan will give more detail when he gets back to his computer. > > Sheran Wright > Bend (but heading toward Fields) > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From sheran at bendbroadband.com Tue Jun 9 11:42:51 2009 From: sheran at bendbroadband.com (Sheran Wright) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 11:42:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: WHITE-EYED VIREO IN Fields, or References: <20090609111153.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.e091c244ce.wbe@email.secureserver.net> Message-ID: <01C14C78717B4EC6A76557ED77B26189@notebook> I'm not at all sure, Craig. It is certainly possible that I got that part of Jeff's brief phone message wrong. However, the species ID is apparently certain. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Craig Tumer" To: "Sheran Wright" Cc: "COBOL" ; "OBOL" Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 11:11 AM Subject: RE: [obol] RBA: WHITE-EYED VIREO IN Fields, or > How was the bird determined to be a female? Male and female white-eyed > vireos are monomorphic. > > Craig Tumer > SW Portland > >> -------- Original Message -------- >> Subject: [obol] RBA: WHITE-EYED VIREO IN Fields, or >> From: "Sheran Wright" >> Date: Tue, June 09, 2009 10:49 am >> To: "COBOL" , "OBOL" >> >> >> >> I just got a phone call from Jeff Gilligan who said Alan Contreras just >> called him to say he just found a female WHITE-EYED VIREO in Fields along >> the willows by the creek. I think that means the willow row on the town >> side as opposed to the oasis side, but I'm just guessing about that. I'm >> sure Alan will give more detail when he gets back to his computer. >> >> Sheran Wright >> Bend (but heading toward Fields) >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.59/2165 - Release Date: 06/09/09 05:53:00 From magicallaughter04 at yahoo.com Tue Jun 9 13:43:08 2009 From: magicallaughter04 at yahoo.com (Brandon Heston) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 13:43:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Re Binocular Queston Message-ID: <948104.64984.qm@web51907.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Dale, You asked the question of what to buy ? this is a very open question. Binoculars cost anywhere from $10.00 to $2000+. The big question is what is your price range? The best thing to do is look at the following: optical clarity, magnification, comfort, weight, interpupillary distance, and eye relief. So let?s break this down. 8 x 42 is the industry standard for bird watching. 8 being the magnification and 42mm being the size of the objective (front) lens. Some birders prefer 10 x 50 or 12 x 50. The higher the magnification the steadier the hand needs to be. Some people complain of motion sickness on higher magnification. It is a personal preference. Interpupillary distance is the distance between your eye pupils. Not all binoculars fit everyone, so you must try them out and make sure that the binoculars fit your face. Eye Relief ? Do you wear glasses. If so then you will want a binocular with an extended eye relief or adjustable eye cups so you can set the binoculars eye relief as required with where your glasses sit, and how you like to hold them. Again try them out. Comfort and weight. This again is a personal preference, how your hands fit the binoculars, how they feel on your neck, etc? it will take you to new levels if you have an old Porro prism or a Roof prism design. Porro prisms verses Roof Prisms here is an answer to the differences in this: Roof prism binoculars are lighter and have a closer focus distance. Roof prism binoculars also have a more stream-lined design. Porro prism binoculars often cost less than roof prism binoculars and can provide better depth perception. Finally, OPTICAL CLARITY FOR YOUR PRICE?. This has to be the biggest concern. Optical clarity changes significantly from a pair of $100 binoculars to a $1500 pair. So what do you look for. Go to your local binocular dealer and start looking at binoculars in your price range. ?I often suggest picking up a pair of the most inexpensive ones a mid-range priced pair and then a top end pair. Then pick a banner on the wall. Black and white letters or a something with definite color lines. Large letters with long lines of white to blue (yellow to purple) trim but something with hard and fast lines. Look through the inexpensive pair first. Look at how the color lines blend, how clear the image is, followed by any distortion around the edges, once done make a note of the image. Now look at the exact same spot with the mid ranged binoculars ? you should see a huge difference? repeat again with your high end pair?. This test will quickly bring you to an expert on what your eyes see. Now pick your price range.. you know what you can spend? Grab all the binoculars in that range and test them by looking at your mark. A good store might even let you go outside with an employee and test them out. Spend a lot of time deciding but test all brands. I am partial to Leupold. Price ranges from $100 to $1500 great clarity, and options for everyone?s price. They are also waterproof and fog proof and Leupold stands behind their warranty. I personally use the 10 x 50 Olympic series binoculars or the 10 x 50 Mojave. Both are great binoculars and in a mid price range. If you have more questions feel free to contact me I would love to help. Brandon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090609/93c96836/attachment.html From smithdwd at hotmail.com Tue Jun 9 13:59:39 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 20:59:39 +0000 Subject: [obol] OFO Annual Meeting/Oregon Shorebird Festival Plus Message-ID: This year's Annual Meeting is Aug 28-30 at The Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in Charleston Oregon. Geoff Keller and Jim Danzenbaker will be the presenters. We will have dual venues, presentations, 2 pelagic days, multiple land and shorebird field trips, and an OFO annual meeting. Geoff has a new Cornell 5CD collection of Pacific NW Bird Sounds. Jim will present on Shorebird identification. For further info or to register you can go directly to www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/shorebirdfestival.htm. David Smith _________________________________________________________________ Invite your mail contacts to join your friends list with Windows Live Spaces. It's easy! http://spaces.live.com/spacesapi.aspx?wx_action=create&wx_url=/friends.aspx&mkt=en-us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090609/afa4d56b/attachment.html From bethphilli at gmail.com Tue Jun 9 13:59:52 2009 From: bethphilli at gmail.com (Elizabeth Phillips) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 13:59:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black footed Albatross Message-ID: <2571b7c00906091359s65800874md5e6253573f91fe2@mail.gmail.com> Lois - Cool about the banded albatross! You can report the band information to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory ( http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/) - click on "Report a Bird Band" and follow instructions. If the bander has submitted their info to USGS, you will be able to find out where, when, and who banded the bird, plus some life history information. You also get a cool certificate in the mail. ;) Beth Phillips ------------------------------ Message: 17 Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 21:16:30 -0700 From: " Lois Miller" Subject: [obol] Black footed Albatross To: Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" A friend of mine is a commercial fisherman here and he had an albatross come so close to his boat today he could read the band. It was on it's right leg and red with white numbers 1141 and the other leg had a plain silver band. They were about 12 miles offshore and there was about 15 Albatross in the flock. Anyone know how we could check out this bird ? thanks ! Lois Miller Port Orford -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090609/7a7a4dce/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Tue Jun 9 16:03:11 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 15:03:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Re Binocular Question In-Reply-To: <948104.64984.qm@web51907.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <948104.64984.qm@web51907.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <3F69B01660D84A359B05C5120AFDB311@102889> Dale, Here's a few good places to start in your quest: http://featheredgeoptics.com/petespick-binoculars.htm Good info for all price ranges from a top notch birder & reviewer http://www.birdwatching.com/optics.html Excellent info - covers all the bases http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Publications/LivingBird/Winter2005/Age_Binos.ht ml Dated, but still helpful http://www.worldtwitch.com/optics.htm dated, but still helpful http://www.betterviewdesired.com/ Dated, but still helpful Again, like Brandon, I'd be happy to answer any specific questions you have. Tom Crabtree Bend, OR _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Brandon Heston Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 12:43 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Re Binocular Queston Dale, You asked the question of what to buy - this is a very open question. Binoculars cost anywhere from $10.00 to $2000+. The big question is what is your price range? The best thing to do is look at the following: optical clarity, magnification, comfort, weight, interpupillary distance, and eye relief. So let's break this down. 8 x 42 is the industry standard for bird watching. 8 being the magnification and 42mm being the size of the objective (front) lens. Some birders prefer 10 x 50 or 12 x 50. The higher the magnification the steadier the hand needs to be. Some people complain of motion sickness on higher magnification. It is a personal preference. Interpupillary distance is the distance between your eye pupils. Not all binoculars fit everyone, so you must try them out and make sure that the binoculars fit your face. Eye Relief - Do you wear glasses. If so then you will want a binocular with an extended eye relief or adjustable eye cups so you can set the binoculars eye relief as required with where your glasses sit, and how you like to hold them. Again try them out. Comfort and weight. This again is a personal preference, how your hands fit the binoculars, how they feel on your neck, etc. it will take you to new levels if you have an old Porro prism or a Roof prism design. Porro prisms verses Roof Prisms here is an answer to the differences in this: Roof prism binoculars are lighter and have a closer focus distance. Roof prism binoculars also have a more stream-lined design. Porro prism binoculars often cost less than roof prism binoculars and can provide better depth perception. Finally, OPTICAL CLARITY FOR YOUR PRICE.. This has to be the biggest concern. Optical clarity changes significantly from a pair of $100 binoculars to a $1500 pair. So what do you look for. Go to your local binocular dealer and start looking at binoculars in your price range. I often suggest picking up a pair of the most inexpensive ones a mid-range priced pair and then a top end pair. Then pick a banner on the wall. Black and white letters or a something with definite color lines. Large letters with long lines of white to blue (yellow to purple) trim but something with hard and fast lines. Look through the inexpensive pair first. Look at how the color lines blend, how clear the image is, followed by any distortion around the edges, once done make a note of the image. Now look at the exact same spot with the mid ranged binoculars - you should see a huge difference. repeat again with your high end pair.. This test will quickly bring you to an expert on what your eyes see. Now pick your price range.. you know what you can spend. Grab all the binoculars in that range and test them by looking at your mark. A good store might even let you go outside with an employee and test them out. Spend a lot of time deciding but test all brands. I am partial to Leupold. Price ranges from $100 to $1500 great clarity, and options for everyone's price. They are also waterproof and fog proof and Leupold stands behind their warranty. I personally use the 10 x 50 Olympic series binoculars or the 10 x 50 Mojave. Both are great binoculars and in a mid price range. If you have more questions feel free to contact me I would love to help. Brandon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090609/7f238bdb/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Jun 9 15:46:13 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 15:46:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Curry grackle/Coos shorebirds of late Message-ID: <162601.18442.qm@web45307.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> This morning, 6/9/09, at Floras Lake in Curry Co. there was a male GT GRACKLE calling/singing form the east side of the lake.? He was in the top of a tree at the windsurfer rental spot where the shoreline goes out to a point.? This is easily accessible from the parking area there- a trail goes south to the windsurfing rental spot.? This could possibly be the same bird that was seen on the 29th of May between Port Orford and Cape Blanco? Late shorebirds seen lately in Coos Co.: N. Spit of Coos Bay, 6/7: 1- GREATER YELLOWLEGS (one there on the 8th and 9th also) 1- RED-NECKED PHALAROPE 1- LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 6/8, New River: 1- BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER heard calling 6/8: N. Spit of Coos Bay: 1- LEAST SANDPIPER 2- SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS also at the spit were 50 GADWALL (in pairs, should be a bumper crop of young'uns this year), 23 GREATER SCAUP & 3 NORTHERN PINTAIL, these latter two have never bred at the site but often linger into late June and even mid-July. ENJOY! Tim R Coos Bay From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Jun 9 16:05:12 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:05:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] WHITE-EYED VIREO update and PLUMB VIREO Message-ID: Graham Floyd and I found a singing male WHITE-EYED VIREO in the Fields Oasis about 10:30 a.m. on June 9. We had been in the oasis for maybe 30 minutes and were just walking out for a break, considering it birdless, when I heard an odd scold note and turned back to look. Timing is everything. I first mistakenly reported it as a female because it did not sing for the first 30 minutes we observed it before we made our initial phone call. We later observed it singing. As far as I know this is a first Oregon record. I have posted one of Graham's photos to my bird blog: http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News When we went back in for more photos after lunch, I heard a vireo song that I thought was a PLUMBEOUS VIREO because of its buzzy, slow, broken quality. It came out for brief but sufficient views and that's what it proved to be. It was not very cooperative and no photos were obtained. The WHITE-EYED VIREO was using the heavy growth and dead sticks in the creek ditch along the south side of the oasis (mainly the southeast corner, not the entryway willows), occasionally going up into the trees. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary From withgott at comcast.net Tue Jun 9 17:35:05 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 17:35:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] California birder Luke Cole is dead Message-ID: I received the devastating news today that a dear friend, San Francisco-based birder Luke Cole, has died. I don't know if many birders in Oregon know Luke, but I thought I should help get the word out. He was killed Friday in a car accident in Uganda, toward the end of an extended birding trip, at the age of 46. Luke is ... was ... one of the most remarkable people I have ever had the privilege to know and to bird with. A brilliant man of unsurpassed vitality and good humor, Luke was an influential environmental justice lawyer and advocate for the poor and disadvantaged. Although he was committed to his important career, he also made the most of his passion for birding, and contributed to the California Bird Records Committee, North American Birds, Shearwater Journeys, Western Field Ornithologists, and other birding institutions and communities. We have lost an exceptional birder and a still more exceptional human being. I find it hard to accept that I will never be able to bird with him again. I am pasting in Don Roberson's posting to Calbirds below, which includes links to the lengthy SF Chronicle obituary and to Luke's amazing webpage. Jay Withgott Portland, OR Don Roberson Sent by: CalBirds at yahoogroups.com Subject [CALBIRDS] Sad news: Luke Cole dead 06/09/2009 10:18 AM The indescribably sad news came yesterday that Luke Cole, a friend to many of us and internationally known birder and environmental lawyer, was killed in a car crash in Uganda on 5 June. Today's S.F. Chronicle has a lengthy obituary http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/09/BAC0183545.DTL Many S.F. birders knew him better than I did, but he was about a fine a person as there is in our little birding world, and he far transcended it with his legal work for environmental justice. I did do two Big Days in Kings County with him -- he was a careful and fine birder, a wonderful storyteller, and an all around good guy. Incredibly bright and funny, his "Rue the Smew" poem was about the cleverest thing I've ever seen posted to CalBirds. http://www.lukecole.com/Birds/Smew.htm In many ways his death at age 46 -- at the prime of his career and the middle of a wonderful life -- is as sad as a single death can be. He joins David Gaines and Ted Parker as birding greats and environmental heroes cut down much too early. Rita & I got a postcard from Luke a couple of week ago, describing in broad strokes his 3rd visit to Madagascar, and mentioning flea-bitten hovels for lodging and minor bumps and bruises from taxi accidents on rural roads. He said he'd been in search of his most wanted bird -- the Madagascar Red Owl -- once again. He did not say whether he'd seen it -- indeed, for him, the quest was as important as the result, if not more so. He was living life large. We will all miss him very much. Luke's lovely wife Nancy Shelby was also injured in the car crash; the paper says she was flown to Holland for treatment. Our best hopes for recovery and our deepest sympathies are with her. This is a sad day for all of us. Don Roberson Pacific Grove From rriparia at charter.net Tue Jun 9 18:23:54 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 18:23:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] N Waterthrush and Gray Catbird KLAMCO Message-ID: <20090609212354.8VVPH.4104297.root@mp07> OBOL and Klamath Basin Birds, I received a report of at least 3 Northern Waterthrush, and 1, Gray Catbird, on the Little Deschutes River. This location is NORTH of Gilchrist, (not at the Hwy 58 crossing). It is on the G2 Road where it crosses the Little Deschutes, north of Gilchrist, and west of Hwy 97. It looks like it's about a mile north of town. Kevin Spencer rriparia at charter.net From jmeredit at bendnet.com Tue Jun 9 19:41:31 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 19:41:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Reporting RBA - White-eyed Vireo re-located this evening Message-ID: Birders I just had a phone call from Sheran Wright to post this. White-eyed Vireo re-located this pm along the same south edge of the pond at the oasis at Fields. Sheran reports that she, Jeff Gilligan and Owen Schmidt saw the bird. I believe she said that Owen had photos. As to any lodging in Fields - no vacancy. Good birding, Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com From scrapbird at charter.net Tue Jun 9 20:01:56 2009 From: scrapbird at charter.net (Diane Cavaness) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 20:01:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rose-breasted Grosbeak in Brookings Message-ID: <604739D89B5A4844AA2E6B67F03B49C6@DianeThinkpad> A bright male Rose-breasted Grosbeak is visiting the feeder outside my window! Just spectacular . . .a very fine yard bird. Diane Cavaness Brookings -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090609/94b4462d/attachment.html From hatlevis at comcast.net Tue Jun 9 21:18:10 2009 From: hatlevis at comcast.net (Susan Hatlevig) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 21:18:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] binoculars, Swarovski Message-ID: <745E1B8D2AA64E23BE3598F72AE6328F@homeflydmyur2h> My wonderful husband gave me a pair of Swarovski binoculars several years back that are impeccable. They are, however; extremely expensive. Something like $1300 a pair these days (although I haven't checked the prices with the exchange rate) since they are made in Austria. He picked them up when they were $650 which was a lot then. But, I have NEVER been unhappy with them and they are really tough. They have "SLC, 8x3WB" on the focus knob. They bring in great light, are not heavy and you can throw them against a wall with no internal problems with lenses. They are also waterproof (I fell into a creek with them and they were fine.) They will last me my lifetime I think. If you're an avid birder and want to make an investment (like a good camera) you can't go wrong with them in my opinion. The Wildbird Store in Corvallis carries Swarovski binoculars and scopes (now we're really talking $$) and of course, great birdseed etc. Susie in Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090609/9ad0f7cc/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Tue Jun 9 21:40:01 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:40:01 +0000 Subject: [obol] binoculars, Swarovski Message-ID: I have got to go with Susie on Swarovski. My wife gave me the EL 10 x 42 and will simply ditto what Susie says here. I would never trade. Upgrading scope tomorrow to Swarovski ATS 65 HD only because I could not affor ATS 80 HD. In short, I am hooked on Swarovski. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Susan Hatlevig Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:18:10 To: Cc: Subject: [obol] binoculars, Swarovski My wonderful husband gave me a pair of Swarovski binoculars several years back that are impeccable.? They are, however; extremely expensive.? Something like $1300 a pair these days (although I haven't checked the prices with the exchange rate) since they are made in Austria.? He picked them up when they were $650 which was a lot then. ?But, I have NEVER been unhappy with them and they are really tough.? They have "SLC, 8x3WB" on the focus knob. They bring in great light, are not heavy and you can throw them against a wall with no internal problems with lenses. ?They are also waterproof (I fell into a creek with them and they were fine.)? They will last me my lifetime I think.? If you're an avid birder and want to make an investment (like a good camera) you can't go wrong with them in my opinion.? The Wildbird Store in Corvallis carries Swarovski binoculars and scopes (now we're really talking $$) and of course, great birdseed etc. ? Susie in Corvallis From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Jun 10 09:45:48 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:45:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur NWR 2009 in the blogosphere Message-ID: <20090610094548.kmhd1m5woog8ok4c@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Several birders and photographers have written blogs and posted some great scenic and wildlife photos about their visit to Malheur NWR this spring. Lee Rentz started in April with four posts featuring wonderful scenic ("Old West") photos and extensive narration from a photographer's and traveler's point of view. Dave Irons captured this magical place from the birder's social-interaction point of view with two posts on the BirdFellow blog. And Mike Patterson actually posted his Malheur bird report from the field, morning and afternoon! I, too, posted some bird photos and compiled links to the above blogs, so that you could see all these varied points of view. If you've never been to Malheur in spring, these posts should give you a good idea of what it is all about. If you have been there, these posts may give you a new appreciation and cause you to explore a bit more of the back country. http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/2009/06/trip-to-malheur-national-wildlife.html Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From surfbird at q.com Wed Jun 10 09:48:21 2009 From: surfbird at q.com (Diane Pettey) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:48:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane County Coast LARK SPARROW Message-ID: Daniel Farrar just called and reported seeing a LARK SPARROW. Directions: About ten miles south of Florence, turn right on Siltcoos (beach) road. This road goes past three campgrounds and eventually ends at a large ATV parking lot next to the foredune. Before the parking lot, there's a curve where the river is visible (on the left). On the right is a two or three car pullout. The bird was seen in that area. That's all the information he gave me and I'm on my way back to work. Daniel is banding plovers today so direct further enquiries to him. Daniel's cell is 541.870.1878 regards, Diane Pettey Heceta Beach, OR (n. of Florence) surfbird at q.com From henry at formandstructure.net Wed Jun 10 11:39:50 2009 From: henry at formandstructure.net (Henry Horvat) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:39:50 -0400 Subject: [obol] Delintment Lake and Malheurn Trip Message-ID: <07C53281B0F03B42A788AEB0D85CC1E9015BCB0C@BE057.mail.lan> Obolers: I birded Delintment Lake and Malheur from Saturday thru Monday, June 6-8, and tallied 132 species. The weather turned out to be better than what was forecast but because of recent wet weather the mosquitoes were fierce. I visited and camped at Delintment Lake, which is about 45 miles N.W. of Burns, on F.R. 41. My goal was to see what woodpeckers I could find, as a few years ago this area was involved in a massive forest fire. I saw a few pairs of Hairy Woodpeckers and two male Williamsons Sapsuckers. Also of note was the presence of a few Hermit Warblers singing in the campground and a few locations south of the campground. At Malheur I got to see the Chestnut Sided Warbler and Gray Catbird at H.Q., thanks to Alan Contreras, Graham Chisolm, Jeff Gillighan, and Owen Schmidt. (My apologies for any misspelled names). Henry Horvat Scappoose Bottoms -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090610/b97bb475/attachment.html From birdboy at bkpix.com Wed Jun 10 12:08:50 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:08:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Creswell Collared-Doves Message-ID: Hi birders, About five minutes ago, 2 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were perched in a tree between the I-5 southbound offramp and the old KOA campground at Creswell (Lane Co.). Haven't seen any reports from Creswell before, but they're everywhere, these days... Good birding, Noah Strycker -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090610/013e8a6a/attachment.html From foglark at att.net Wed Jun 10 12:46:30 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:46:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] binoculars, etc. Message-ID: <226991.99031.qm@web80005.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> My two cents on binoculars: I would caution against mail ordering without having first held the model in your hands. If you're looking at binoculars in a store in a mall, ask to step out to the back dock parking lot and look at birds with a rep or salesperson. If they balk at the idea, go somewhere else. Consider whether your interest in birds is a casual thing, or whether you are hooked and will be looking at birds the rest of your life. If you are just beginning to bird, consider that your first set of bins may not last long. Beginning birders drop, ding up, scratch, and lose binoculars. It takes a little time to remember not to take them into a cafe and leave them in the booth. You have to learn not to leave them laying around in plain sight where they can be ripped off. Sand can take a toll. Another classic gaffe is to set them on top of the car, hit the highway, hear a sickening scraping sound, and then look in the rear-view mirror and see them bing-clanging madly off the center line. If you are just starting out, you would be wise to not put out big bucks for an elephant gun when you're mostly looking at Yellow-rumps. If it doesn't feel good in your hands or around your neck, consider something else. Pete Dunne spoke at the local Godwit Days festival here in Arcata a couple months back and mentioned that the Chinese have begun producing what he called great binoculars for a comparative pittance--roof prism, atmosphere-purged, phase-corrected, the whole works. This came as complete news to me, and I don't know any more than that to pass along. Could be something to explore. Hopefully they are not constructed of a spent fuel rod/melamine alloy or something bizarre. If you train yourself to never, ever touch the lenses, you will feel less compelled to clean or polish them. Every time you do that, you slightly scratch and dim them and force a thin gummy biofilm toward the edges of the lenses, which becomes difficult to remove. If you get lens cleaning paper with your bins, throw it out, because it tends to sit around in your glove box and collect fine dust. About once a year I use one teensy drop of rubbing alcohol and the tail of a clean cotton tee shirt fresh out of the wash to gently lift gunk. Here on the coast I have found a hard plastic top-lens protector that slides easily up and down on the neck strap to be invaluable. I often bird with the thing over the lenses even if it's not raining and flip it up if I need to look at a bird. A drawback to the big herking Swarovski ELs is that at least the older models have a...a what. Huh. What do you call it?...anyway, it takes quite a few turns of the focus wheel to go from looking at a Lincoln's Sparrow to picking up some distant raptor. Most newer binoculars are easier to do this with. I use EL 10x, however, and although it is a little tough to bird thick close-in veg with them, it actually encourages me to simply use my eyes--the yellow-bellied warbler flicking its tail and plucking from the undersides of leaves is a Wilson's every time-- and I no longer have to carry a spotting scope to bird Humboldt Bay effectively. Luke Cole: Jude and I birded with him once and enjoyed his intellect and his manner. He devoted his life to empowering the disenfranchised. Truly a loss. White-eyed Vireo at Fields: Great find, Alan! They are very rare north of southern California--there's only been one, ever, in Humboldt County (at Elk Head, north of Trinidad, 10-30 June 2001), and only one in Del Norte (at Point St. George, 27 June 1998). David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090610/9611baa2/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Wed Jun 10 12:58:52 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:58:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eurasian collared-dove Message-ID: <7A7BF19974CD4AD3840F1DCB67379BC8@TomsPC> I had a single EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE hanging out with the neighborhood PIGEONS in my central Springfield back yard Tuesday afternoon. It has not returned. It seemed more cautious than the pigeons. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090610/3d7b4ac4/attachment.html From lbviman at blackfoot.net Wed Jun 10 13:09:51 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:09:51 -0600 Subject: [obol] binoculars, Swarovski, Swift In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090610200600.7B3049B020D@mail.blackfoot.net> I got a pair of Swarovski 8x30SLC when Ron's (I think it was) camera store in Santa Barbara CA was going out of business 25 or so years ago, paid $440.00 for them new. They lasted @20 years until I needed to have "fog" removed [supposedly sealed and nitrogen filled]. I had thought they were completely waterproof, and had intentionally submerged them several times to swim across a reservoir to monitor some birds I was studying at time. But, apparently not waterproof, to my chagrin. However, it cost me "only" $270.00 to have them "repaired" [in order to purge the fog and "fix" that issue, they would have merely replaced the badly scratched and now not-so-well coated lenses], which they called it "repair" by using two rusty C-ring washers from the older pair in a brand new upgraded version - which is finer, has a protective glass over the objective lenses (which the older ones did not), and guaranteed "100% waterproof"! So, basically, I got nearly 20 years use of my property and brand new replacement for half of what one would pay today (for version 3 or 4), and I have a new pair (version 2, I think) that I can use for less damaging observations, as I am saving these until my "better-for-birding" Swift Audubon 85x44 (4th pair) finally gives way to scrap -- I swear by the Audubon BECAUSE they gather MORE light than just about any in similar power class, are REALLY wide angle, having 430-ft field of view at 1,000 feet, close focus to 13 or so feet [advertised now at 17 feet], cost 1/5 any of the "high end" jobs, AND are rubber armored for protection [used to be two versions, now only the ED, which is probably better than mine, but twice the cost, mine still costing new around $300.00]. With the wide field, Swifts are IDEAL for small fast moving birds in the bush, and the extra power and light-gathering is great for distant, darker objects... The Swifts come with a long warranty, while the Swarovskis are "lifetime" (or at least were at the time of my first, now replaced, pair) I have no financial interest in these products other than money "out", but recommend them over the heavier Zeiss or Leitz, which used to be the standard to judge by. For tight budgets, there is no reason to go into debt, just shop around, or take the advice of satisfied strangers on worked or still works for them - Jim Greaves, MT From greenfant at hotmail.com Wed Jun 10 13:52:57 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:52:57 -0400 Subject: [obol] Common Nighthawks near Timber and on Larch Mtn (Washington Co) Message-ID: On the inaugural run of the Timber nightjar survey route on 6/8 we had 3 single appearances of COMMON NIGHTHAWS (1 downtown Timber, another about 1mi south of Timber - a third bird was at the large clearcut at the end of Storey Burn Rd near the top of Larch Mountain). A Barn Owl was calling when we got back to the Fred Meyer parking lot just south of Cornelius Pass Rd and 26. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090610/9c917e62/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Wed Jun 10 14:12:49 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:12:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] May Lincoln Co. Bird Notes Received Through 5/31 (LONG) Message-ID: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BIRD FIELD NOTES from the May 2009 Sandpiper 30(5) for Observations Received Through 5/31 by Range Bayer The Sandpiper is a publication of Yaquina Birders and Naturalists, a Lincoln County (Oregon) natural history group. Comments in this column about abundance or seasonality refer to LINCOLN COUNTY only. There is room only for some of the many Lincoln County sightings to be included here of those sent to me or posted to the Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) or Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL) email discussion lists. If you have any Lincoln County field notes, please share them with Range (range.bayer at gmail.com; P.O. Box 1467, Newport, OR 97365; 541-265- 2965) by the 20th of the month. Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations (numbers refer to the site number in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide (http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/): BEAVER CREEK (#78, in part): creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, BOILER BAY STATE WAYSIDE (#59): about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, DEVIL'S PUNCHBOWL STATE NATURAL AREA (#63): south of Cape Foulweather, HMSC (#75): OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of the HMSC, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, MIKE MILLER PARK (#76): county park 1.2 miles south of the Yaquina Bay Bridge on the east side of Hwy 101, ONA BEACH (#77): State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, ROAD'S END STATE RECREATION SITE (#46): north of Lincoln City, SALLY'S BEND (#66): large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, THORNTON CREEK: about midway between Toledo and Eddyville along HWY 20, YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty, YAQUINA HEAD OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA (#65): headland north of Newport (vehicle entrance fee, http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/yaquina/files/yh_passes.pdf). WATERFOWL PP & WH recorded the last flock of GR. WHITE-FRONTED GEESE (550) during their 5/9 seawatch at Boiler Bay. The only report thereafter was on 5/25, when JW saw one amongst a flock of north-bound Canada Geese at Boiler Bay. BRANT migration continued. High totals include 250 in the "Newport area" on 5/20 (RA) and 175 past Boiler Bay on 5/22 (DB). 10 remained at the rock shelf north of the channel, west of the Yaquina Bay Bridge on 5/30 along with 1 pale-bellied BRANT at YBSJ that may have been an "American" or Atlantic Brant (Branta bernicla hrota) rather than the Black Brant (B. b. nigricans) that we usually have (WH). Drop-outs regularly occur during migration where they do not over-winter as were 18 Brant resting on the sand in Yachats Bay on 5/30 (BBa). YB&N is a project partner of the International Brant Monitoring Project (http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/), and RB relays on sightings of significant numbers of Brant in Lincoln County to their Observation Log (see link on the left side of their web page). The ODFW introduced WESTERN CANADA GEESE into the Florence area-- previously they did not nest along the coast. A late May northerly migration of them started. It may be a molt migration of nonbreeders and is monitored by RL of the USFWS. This year northerly flights were reported from 5/17 through the end of the month (WH; LH; CW; GC; BOl, YBNFT; BM; DB; TW; CL; RL; JW; PI). On 5/25 over Newport, they were flying low (between 50 and 100 ft), and TW noticed that many were missing a few primaries, so their molting had already started. HARLEQUIN DUCKS were noted during a 5/9 Boiler Bay seawatch (PP & WH), 5/10 Lincoln Co. Big Day (RP, DG, KS, EA, & CH), and 5/19, the high count of 7, at Devil's Punchbowl (RH). GROUSE-WHITE PELICAN Our only RUFFED GROUSE and MOUNTAIN QUAIL were noted during D&LF's 5/1 Big Day at their Thornton Creek farm. Albatrosses are rarely seen from shore, but PP detected 1 BLACK- FOOTED ALBATROSS about 1.5 mile off Boiler Bay on 5/7 and 2 about 2 miles out on 5/12. In April, 12 dead NORTHERN FULMARS were found along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). BLo started that beached bird route in 1978, and this is the third highest total of fulmars in April, but far below the 49 in April 2008 (BLo). They also found 6 beached SOOTY SHEARWATERS. PP detected a rare MANX SHEARWATER about 1/4 mile off Boiler Bay during his 5/21 seawatch. Storm-Petrels are uncommonly observed from shore; however, PP espied 1 LEACH'S STORM-PETREL during his 5/12 Boiler Bay seawatch and 1-3 FORK- TAILED STORM-PETRELS on his 5/7 & 12 seawatches. BBe discovered a freshly dead Fork-tailed on the beach north of Yaquina Head on 5/19. BROWN PELICANS were commonly reported and numerous along the coastline. The first report this month was of 150 during WH's 5/2 Boiler Bay seawatch. They seemed extraordinarily numerous in early May with 100 or more often reported during 5/2-11, with a peak count of 900 during PP's 6:00-10:30 AM seawatch at Boiler Bay. Fewer than a hundred were regularly noted later (many observers). In the past 10 Mays, we have had records of a single AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN in 2003 and 2008 (FN). This year on 5/8, one was also noted with Brown Pelicans at the Yaquina Bay Bayfront and jetties (HS; WH; BOb). BITTERN-RAPTORS RP, DG, KS, EA, & CH did a Lincoln Co. Big Day on 5/10. A great find was an AMERICAN BITTERN at Beaver Creek, which has good habitat for them. This is only our 5th total record since 1999 (FN). Freshwater marsh birds such as bitterns, Virginia Rails (only reported during the 5/1 & 5/10 Big Days), and Soras (no reports this month) are very under-reported in Lincoln County. A GREEN HERON flew over North Yaquina Bay Road in front of PR's car south of Toledo on 5/3. Another was located during the 5/10 Lincoln Co. Big Day (RP, DG, KS, EA, & CH). Squawker, the heron that continuously calls while flying was heard and seen on 5/21 & 27 at the HMSC (RB) --the first reports since March. We had no reports of GREAT EGRETS this month, which is surprising, since in recent years they have been frequent enough that we have wondered if they might have nested. On 5/17, WH spotted a CATTLE EGRET flying north along the coast at Boiler Bay before heading inland. RL had our last report of a Cattle Egret at the Lincoln Co. Fairgrounds in Nov. 1999. Who would have ever guessed that we would have more Cattle than Great Egrets this month? After all the interest in the Cattle Egret invasion in the 1970's (they first arrived here in 1975 [SemiL]), who would have predicted that they would have become so rare? Many OSPREY nests were noted, one of the more unique new locations is on a navigation marker at ... Yaquina Bay (CR). An adult male (i.e., gray) NORTHERN HARRIER foraged over the HMSC Nature Trail on 5/20 (RB) and was our only report for May. They may be nesting in South Beach. Our latest MERLIN was being chased by an American Crow over the HMSC Nature Trail on 5/1 (JL). 1 PEREGRINE FALCON was spotted from Boiler Bay during 3 seawatches during 5/7-12 (PP; PP & WH). SPOTTED SANDPIPER We have records throughout the year for Spotted Sandpipers (SemiL), but they are most apt to be found as summer residents, winter residents, or migrants in May at specific sites. Generally, they are found in freshwater or in upper portions of estuaries. In May, they often even show up along the open coast. Usually, only singletons or pairs are noted, but this year, RB discovered a flock of 10 along the western shore of Sally's Bend on 5/14, and JL found 2 along the surf at Yachats on 5/16 and 3 at the north Yaquina Bay Jetty on 5/17. [Image Not Included: Gloria and Herb Baum's May 17 photo of 2 Spotted Sandpipers along the Yaquina River near Elk City. Gloria observes: "This particular couple was obviously courting. Well, the male was doing his best anyway, with all his dancing and jerking around. He looked like Tom Jones singing a song!"] Most of us would also assume that the dancing bird is a male. But we probably would be wrong. Seattle Audubon's Birdweb.org notes about Spotted Sandpipers (SS): "Spotted Sandpipers are polyandrous--the female breeds with more than one male. Females are fully dominant; they are larger than males and arrive first on the breeding territory. The female stakes out a territory and displays to attract a male. ... The female lays 4 eggs, and then leaves the male to incubate them while she finds another mate. In this way, she may breed with up to four males, each of which will raise a clutch. The female will often raise a final clutch herself. ... The young leave the nest soon after they hatch. The male tends the young for at least four weeks, although they find their own food. Some populations are monogamous, and in those instances, the female will help tend the young." However, the gender of the displayer is not as certain as Seattle Audubon suggests because Oring et al. in SS states: "Female performs most courtship on her territory. Males also court females to which they are attracted. Courtship involves Aerial Flight Display, singing on the ground, ritualized nest-building, and ground Courtship Display." Identifying the gender of Spotted Sandpipers based on external appearance appears to have some uncertainty as Oring et al. in SS write: "Females up to 20-25% larger in mass than males. ... Sexes similar in plumage, but females usually have larger spots extending farther down the lower belly than those of males." The variety in the breeding of Spotted Sandpipers has only been studied well at two sites in Minnesota by Oring and others. Even in such a small locality, there is plasticity in whether their nesting system is polyandrous or monogamous as noted by Oring et al. in SS: "Females attempt to acquire multiple mates, and males perform majority of incubation and brooding duties. Initially females pair monogamously, and many, but not all, share parental duties. As additional males arrive on breeding grounds, females compete for them." The degree of polyandry also depends upon the age and experience of females, with yearling females averaging 1.4 mates and 3-year old females averaging 2.2 mates (Oring et al. in SS). The eggs a female lays for one male may be fathered by a different male in a previous mating (All About Birds in SS). Only about 1% of bird species are polyandrous (Sibley in SS). In polyandrous species, females are usually larger and more brightly colored, and this reversal from assumption led to John James Audubon mistakenly identifying the gender of phalaropes in his plates (Ehrlich et al. in SS). The Spotted Sandpiper appears to be the only species nesting in Lincoln County that is likely to be polyandrous, though Killdeer can also sometimes be (Brunton in SS). Red and Red-necked Phalaropes are polyandrous and regularly migrate through without nesting. Wilson's Phalaropes are polyandrous and nest in the Willamette Valley and eastern Oregon (Birds of Oregon: A General Reference), but they are rare here. The plasticity that we know about in their breeding is important to note. Things are not as certain in nature as we often assume! OTHER SHOREBIRDS 1 GOLDEN-PLOVER sp. and 1-2 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS migrated by Boiler Bay during 5/9 & 10 morning seawatches at Boiler Bay (PP & WH). Our only MARBLED GODWIT was also there on 5/9 (PP & WH). 2-82 RED KNOTS passed during 3 Boiler Bay seawatches on 5/9-21 (PP, WH). On 5/9, a flock of 20 landed on the beach in front of DT's family at Beachside State Recreation Site, about 4 miles south of Waldport. A well-described AMERICAN AVOCET visited Yachats State Park on 5/11 (SE fide BBa). This is only our 7th record for Lincoln Co. (SemiL; FN). Our only WANDERING TATTLER was discerned during the 5/10 Lincoln Co. Big Day (RP, DG, KS, EA, & CH). WHIMBRELS had a good showing. High counts late in May were at Idaho Flats near the HMC Nature Trail and included 51 on 5/26 (DB) and 105 on 5/28 (TW). Nonbreeders typically oversummer, but migrants being appearing the first week of July, so keep any eye open for Whimbrels in June to see if they will oversummer this year! RED-NECKED PHALAROPES are sometimes numerous in estuaries in May, but this year only about 3-100 were noted in lower Yaquina Bay on 5/4-5 (WH). Their migration was heavy along the coastline on 5/9, 12, & 21 when 2,000+; 40,000+; and 10,000, respectively were estimated during morning Boiler Bay seawatches along with 5-8 RED PHALAROPES during the 5/9 & 12 seawatches (PP & WH; PP; DB). Our latest reports were of 3-20 Red-necks during Lost Creek State Park (south of Newport) and Boiler Bay seawatches on 5/25 (DB; JW). KITTIWAKE-ALCIDS 1 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was beached in April along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). Our latest GLAUCOUS GULLS were singletons at Road's End State Recreation Site on 5/10 (MS), and Yaquina Bay North Jetty on 5/17 (RA). WH found a breeding-plumaged MEW GULL at Boiler Bay on 5/17, and this was our only report of them this month. In the past, we did not have any HEERMANN'S GULL records prior to June, but May records (and even April in 1991) started in 1989 (SemiL). In the past 10 years, we had first sightings of Heermann's in May of 2003 (5/2), 2004 (5/18), and 2007 (5/9) (FN). This year, 1-3 were detected at Boiler Bay during four 5/11-28 seawatches (PP; DB) and at Little Whale Cove, south of Depoe Bay, on 5/30 (DS). ELEGANT TERNS first appeared here in 1983 and are not recorded every year. Most records in Lincoln Co. have been in August-Sept., but we had earlier records in 1990 (7/22), 1992 (6/28 and early and late July), 1994 (7/24), 1997 (6/10 and 4 records in July), and 1998 (6/22, 6/28, and mid- July) (SemiL; FN). This year, an Elegant Tern was reported near Devil's Punchbowl on 5/17 (BSt fide GM). However, this seems early for Elegant Terns and details sent to me by GM that it was a tern smaller than a Caspian Tern with a light-colored bill did not rule out the more probable Common or Arctic Terns. PP saw 1-7 COMMON TERNS during morning Boiler Bay seawatches on 5/12, 12, & 21; JW saw 28 Common or Arctic Terns passing Boiler Bay on 5/25. On the other hand, Brown Pelicans and Heermann's Gulls are arriving earlier now than they used to, so an early Elegant Tern is possible, but we need details. Many COMMON MURRES, PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, and RHINOCEROS AUKLET were noted during seawatches. Beached birds in April included 2 murres and 1 Rhino in April along north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). Other alcids included 1-14 MARBLED MURRELETS during 12 morning seawatches at Boiler Bay in May (PP, WH; RH; JW). Additionally, they were noted during the 5/10 Lincoln Co. Big Day (RP, DG, KS, EA, & CH). DB also censused 36 during a 7:30-8:30 AM seawatch at Lost Creek State Park (south of Newport) on 5/25: "Nearly all were on the water just past the breakers. Two were still in black and white plumage." On 5/17, WH also saw one in nonbreeding plumage at Boiler Bay. 1-3 TUFTED PUFFINS were viewed at Boiler Bay during 8 Boiler Bay seawatches during 5/7-26 (PP; PP & WH; DB). 2 late ANCIENT MURRELETS lingered at Boiler Bay on 5/10 (PP & WH). PP garnered our only CASSIN'S AUKLET (1) during his 5/7 Boiler Bay seawatch. DOVES-FLYCATCHERS EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE reports continued with 2 in Toledo on 5/3 (CP), 1 at widely separated locations in Newport on 5/8 (PR; BM), 4 at Alsea Bay on 5/11 (MR), and 2 at north Alsea Bay on 5/19 (BH). 1 MOURNING DOVE was near Yaquina Head on 5/14 (DB), and 4 were north of Alsea Bay on 5/19 (BH). On 5/17, G&HB found a BARN OWL parent snoozing near its alert chick under a concrete bridge over a stream in eastern Lincoln County. We had four VAUX'S SWIFT reports: 5/10 Lincoln Co. Big Day (RP, DG, KS, EA, & CH), 5/15 in CP's Toledo chimney, 5/16 in Newport (BOl), and 5/17 at Boiler Bay (WH). A BLACK SWIFT was detected at Boiler Bay on 5/17 (WH)- -starting in 2002, we have had scattered records of them each year except in 2006 (FN). D&LF appreciated a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER on their 5/1 Big Day at their Thornton Creek farm. Sapsuckers are usually found in Lincoln Co. in fall-winter. Some spring arrivals: HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER and PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER on D&LF's 5/1 Big Day at their Thornton Creek farm and OLIVE- SIDED FLYCATCHER at Mike Miller Park during the 5/23 YBNFT (BOl). CORVIDS & WEST NILE VIRUS AMERICAN CROWS, jays, and COMMON RAVENS are particularly vulnerable to West Nile Virus. In Oregon, the peak of bird infections has been in August and early September (USGS). In humans, the peak infection is during May-October, when mosquitoes are most abundant (LCCHS); no human cases of West Nile Virus have been reported yet in Lincoln County (KR, LCHHS). About 80% of infected people show no symptoms--the best defense against West Nile is to prevent mosquito bites (TD, LCHHS, KR), see LCCHS for doing so. In Lincoln County, this virus was first discovered on 26 Sept. and 4 Oct. 2006, when 2 crows in the Depoe Bay and Newport area tested positive (TD; LCCHS). One dead crow found in Beverly Beach State Park on 6 Sept. 2007 also tested positive (LCCHS). Anyone finding a freshly dead corvid with no visible physical injury in Lincoln County should call 541-265-4127 to ask about testing (LCHHS). It is best to avoid direct contact with any dead birds, so use disposable gloves or invert a plastic bag over your hand. At Yaquina Head during the 5/23 YBNFT, 2 COMMON RAVENS flew in, selected a Common Murre to harass and finally made off with the murre egg (BOl). SWALLOWS-GROSBEAKS 13 pairs of TREE SWALLOWS nesting in boxes at BLl's home near Logsden in May. This month we had 6 widespread reports of BARN SWALLOWS, which is a more positive sign of their status than last month. Our only BUSHTITS were noted during the 5/23 YBNFT at Mike Miller Park (BOl). BROWN CREEPERS are also often missed, and our only reports this month were during D&LF's 5/1 Big Day at their Thornton Creek farm and the 5/10 Lincoln Co. Big Day (RP, DG, KS, EA, & CH). A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was in J&KC's backyard about 4 miles east of Waldport on 5/30. They are most frequent during May-June, though they have occurred throughout the year (SemiL). In the past 10 years, we have had a few records each year except in 2003 & 2005 (FN). Our only AMERICAN PIPIT was at Road's End State Recreation Site on 5/10 (MS). More spring arrivals: HOUSE WREN, and HERMIT WARBLER on D&LF's 5/1 Big Day at their Thornton Creek farm, WARBLING VIREO at Toledo on 5/3 (CP), CEDAR WAXWING at east Sally's Bend on 5/19 (J&LM), 1 VESPER SPARROW near the Newport Reservoir on 5/29 (EH), and 1 male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK at B&PR's feeder in Newport on 5/31. Rose-breasted's have been reported in May during 4 of the past 6 years (2003-2008), after being rare previously (FN). There were many reports of Black-headed and Evening Grosbeaks. D&LF viewed our latest WHITE-THROATED SPARROW during their 5/1 Big Day on their Thornton Creek farm. OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Eli Adam, Rich Armstrong, Betty Bahn (BBa), David Bailey, Gloria & Herb Baum, Range Bayer, Bob Berman (BBe), Jorrie & Ken Ciotti (http://www.birdsamore.com), Gert Carey, CoastWatch (a volunteer project monitoring one-mile segments of the Oregon coast; http://oregonshores.org/coastwatch.php5), Terry Dillman (14 Sept. 2007, West Nile Virus Shows Up Again, Newport News-Times), Sheila Evans, Darrel & Laura Faxon (see his articles at http://www.oregoncoasttoday.com/fieldguide.html), Dawn Grafe, Chris Harver, Louise Hemphill, Wayne Hoffman, Eric Horvath, Rich Hoyer, Bettye Hunt, Penny Ittner, Janet Lamberson, Cindy Lippincott, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Lincoln Co. Health & Human Services (LCHHS at http://www.lincolncountyhealth.com/EH/WNVEnglish.htm), Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, John & Linda MacKown, Barry McPherson, Guy McWethy, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln Co. records from the Sandpiper since 1992 until June 30 at http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#recent [all lower case letters]--see http://yaquina.info after June 30), Bob O'Brien (BOb), Bob Olson (BOl), Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Ram Papish, Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, Paul Reed, Maggie Rivers, Bill & Pam Rogers, Candace Rogers, Kate Rowland (6 August 2008, West Nile Virus Still Active in County, Newport News-Times), Matthew Schneider, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive at OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Howard Shippey, Khem So, Spotted Sandpiper (SS) refs. (http://birdweb.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?value=search&id=155; Oring et al. 1997. Spotted Sandpiper, The Birds of North America Online. Cornell Lab of Ornithology at http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/; Brunton, D. H. 1988. Sequential polyandry by a female Killdeer. Wilson Bull., 100: 670- 672 at http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Wilson/v100n04/p0670-p0672.pdf; Ehrlich et al. 1988 at http://www.stanford.edu/group/stanfordbirds/text/essays/Polyandry.html; http://sibley.enature.com/reference/reference_topic.asp?SectionID=31&TopicID=1; http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Spotted_Sandpiper/lifehistory), Bob Stallcop (BSt), Don Stein, Dave Tracy, U.S. Geological Survey: West Nile Virus Maps--Bird--Oregon (USGS at http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov/2006/wnv_or_bird.html), Tom Wainwright, Conrad Willet, Jay Withgott, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (YBNFT Field Trip led by BOl). From nettielh at yahoo.com Wed Jun 10 15:26:01 2009 From: nettielh at yahoo.com (Annette (Lange) Hildebrand) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:26:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Quail, Osprey .... more ... Beaverton Wetlands Message-ID: <418768.57900.qm@web50206.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Dear OBOL Friends, ? Quail !?Amazed still.? After 20 years of birding near the Koll Wetlands in Beaverton, just West of Washington Square, I just saw my first two California Quail looking for seed, I guess, along the ground.?Beautiful.? So is the male Pheasant. ? Osprey - pair overhead, and getting fish for one young.? Wish I new where the nest is located.? Daily visitors. ? Bald Eagle - yep !? Checks in regularly.? Even sat a moment on the big pine tree that has 11 active Great Blue Heron nests.? ? 11 Active Great Blue Heron nests in one tall, now two-toned "white-washed", pine tree. What a loud racket they can make! ? Skunk - black and white skunk chasing a black feral cat.? ? Cliff Swallows - now joining the V.G, Tree and Barn.? A few swifts.? (Also bats at night) ? Am. Coot - still sitting on nest ? Wood Ducks, Mallard and Canada babies everywhere ? Loud Booming - Bull Frogs trying to tell the snapping turtles to go elsewhere as they want the right to be the single invasive species in the wetland. ? Spotted Sandpiper pair, Black Headed Grosbeaks, noisy killdeer ... otherwise pretty quiet, but oh so beautiful.? Forgot to mention the Crows and Blackbirds are constantly at the young red-tail ... don't know how it is even going to get any food to survive on. ? Loving it all, Annette Lange Hildebrand -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090610/02a7bc0e/attachment.html From nettielh at yahoo.com Wed Jun 10 15:55:31 2009 From: nettielh at yahoo.com (Annette (Lange) Hildebrand) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:55:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 15, Issue 10 Message-ID: <128555.78368.qm@web50206.mail.re2.yahoo.com> --- On Wed, 6/10/09, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: From: obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: obol Digest, Vol 15, Issue 10 To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 11:00 AM Send obol mailing list submissions to ??? obol at oregonbirdwatch.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit ??? http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to ??? obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org You can reach the person managing the list at ??? obol-owner at oregonbirdwatch.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of obol digest..." Today's Topics: ???1. Re Binocular Queston (Brandon Heston) ???2. OFO Annual Meeting/Oregon Shorebird Festival Plus (david smith) ???3. Re: Black footed Albatross (Elizabeth Phillips) ???4. Re: Re Binocular Question (Tom Crabtree) ???5. Curry grackle/Coos shorebirds of late (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) ???6. WHITE-EYED VIREO update and PLUMB VIREO (Alan Contreras) ???7. California birder Luke Cole is dead (Jay Withgott) ???8. N Waterthrush and Gray Catbird KLAMCO (Kevin Spencer) ???9. Reporting? RBA - White-eyed Vireo re-located this evening ? ? ? (Judy Meredith) ? 10. Rose-breasted Grosbeak in Brookings (Diane Cavaness) ? 11. binoculars, Swarovski (Susan Hatlevig) ? 12. Re: binoculars, Swarovski (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) ? 13. Malheur NWR 2009 in the blogosphere (Greg Gillson) ? 14. Lane County Coast LARK SPARROW (Diane Pettey) ? 15. Delintment Lake and Malheurn Trip (Henry Horvat) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 13:43:08 -0700 (PDT) From: Brandon Heston Subject: [obol] Re Binocular Queston To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <948104.64984.qm at web51907.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Dale, You asked the question of what to buy ? this is a very open question. Binoculars cost anywhere from $10.00 to $2000+. The big question is what is your price range? The best thing to do is look at the following: optical clarity, magnification, comfort, weight, interpupillary distance, and eye relief. So let?s break this down. 8 x 42 is the industry standard for bird watching. 8 being the magnification and 42mm being the size of the objective (front) lens. Some birders prefer 10 x 50 or 12 x 50. The higher the magnification the steadier the hand needs to be. Some people complain of motion sickness on higher magnification. It is a personal preference. Interpupillary distance is the distance between your eye pupils. Not all binoculars fit everyone, so you must try them out and make sure that the binoculars fit your face. Eye Relief ? Do you wear glasses. If so then you will want a binocular with an extended eye relief or adjustable eye cups so you can set the binoculars eye relief as required with where your glasses sit, and how you like to hold them. Again try them out. Comfort and weight. This again is a personal preference, how your hands fit the binoculars, how they feel on your neck, etc? it will take you to new levels if you have an old Porro prism or a Roof prism design. Porro prisms verses Roof Prisms here is an answer to the differences in this: Roof prism binoculars are lighter and have a closer focus distance. Roof prism binoculars also have a more stream-lined design. Porro prism binoculars often cost less than roof prism binoculars and can provide better depth perception. Finally, OPTICAL CLARITY FOR YOUR PRICE?. This has to be the biggest concern. Optical clarity changes significantly from a pair of $100 binoculars to a $1500 pair. So what do you look for. Go to your local binocular dealer and start looking at binoculars in your price range. ?I often suggest picking up a pair of the most inexpensive ones a mid-range priced pair and then a top end pair. Then pick a banner on the wall. Black and white letters or a something with definite color lines. Large letters with long lines of white to blue (yellow to purple) trim but something with hard and fast lines. Look through the inexpensive pair first. Look at how the color lines blend, how clear the image is, followed by any distortion around the edges, once done make a note of the image. Now look at the exact same spot with the mid ranged binoculars ? you should see a huge difference? repeat again with your high end pair?. This test will quickly bring you to an expert on what your eyes see. Now pick your price range.. you know what you can spend? Grab all the binoculars in that range and test them by looking at your mark. A good store might even let you go outside with an employee and test them out. Spend a lot of time deciding but test all brands. I am partial to Leupold. Price ranges from $100 to $1500 great clarity, and options for everyone?s price. They are also waterproof and fog proof and Leupold stands behind their warranty. I personally use the 10 x 50 Olympic series binoculars or the 10 x 50 Mojave. Both are great binoculars and in a mid price range. If you have more questions feel free to contact me I would love to help. Brandon ? ? ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090609/93c96836/attachment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 20:59:39 +0000 From: david smith Subject: [obol] OFO Annual Meeting/Oregon Shorebird Festival Plus To: Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ? This year's Annual Meeting is Aug 28-30 at The Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in Charleston Oregon. Geoff Keller and Jim Danzenbaker will be the presenters. We will have dual venues, presentations, 2 pelagic days, multiple land and shorebird field trips, and an OFO annual meeting. Geoff has a new Cornell 5CD collection of Pacific NW Bird Sounds. Jim will present on Shorebird identification. For further info or to register you can go directly to www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/shorebirdfestival.htm.? David Smith _________________________________________________________________ Invite your mail contacts to join your friends list with Windows Live Spaces. It's easy! http://spaces.live.com/spacesapi.aspx?wx_action=create&wx_url=/friends.aspx&mkt=en-us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090609/afa4d56b/attachment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 13:59:52 -0700 From: Elizabeth Phillips Subject: Re: [obol] Black footed Albatross To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: ??? <2571b7c00906091359s65800874md5e6253573f91fe2 at mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Lois - Cool about the banded albatross! You can report the band information to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory ( http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/) - click on "Report a Bird Band" and follow instructions.? If the bander has submitted their info to USGS, you will be able to find out where, when, and who banded the bird, plus some life history information.? You also get a cool certificate in the mail. ;) Beth Phillips ------------------------------ Message: 17 Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 21:16:30 -0700 From: " Lois Miller" Subject: [obol] Black footed Albatross To: Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" A friend of mine is a commercial fisherman here and he had an albatross come so close to his boat today he could read the band. It was on it's right leg and red with white numbers? 1141? and the other leg had a plain silver band. They were about 12 miles offshore and there was about 15 Albatross in the flock.? Anyone know how we could check out this bird ? thanks ! Lois Miller Port Orford -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090609/7a7a4dce/attachment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 15:03:11 -0800 From: "Tom Crabtree" Subject: Re: [obol] Re Binocular Question To: "'Brandon Heston'" , ??? Message-ID: <3F69B01660D84A359B05C5120AFDB311 at 102889> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Dale, Here's a few good places to start in your quest: http://featheredgeoptics.com/petespick-binoculars.htm Good info for all price ranges from a top notch birder & reviewer http://www.birdwatching.com/optics.html? Excellent info - covers all the bases http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Publications/LivingBird/Winter2005/Age_Binos.ht ml Dated, but still helpful http://www.worldtwitch.com/optics.htm dated, but still helpful http://www.betterviewdesired.com/? Dated, but still helpful Again, like Brandon, I'd be happy to answer any specific questions you have. Tom Crabtree Bend, OR ? _____? From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Brandon Heston Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 12:43 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Re Binocular Queston Dale, You asked the question of what to buy - this is a very open question. Binoculars cost anywhere from $10.00 to $2000+. The big question is what is your price range? The best thing to do is look at the following: optical clarity, magnification, comfort, weight, interpupillary distance, and eye relief. So let's break this down. 8 x 42 is the industry standard for bird watching. 8 being the magnification and 42mm being the size of the objective (front) lens. Some birders prefer 10 x 50 or 12 x 50. The higher the magnification the steadier the hand needs to be. Some people complain of motion sickness on higher magnification. It is a personal preference. Interpupillary distance is the distance between your eye pupils. Not all binoculars fit everyone, so you must try them out and make sure that the binoculars fit your face. Eye Relief - Do you wear glasses. If so then you will want a binocular with an extended eye relief or adjustable eye cups so you can set the binoculars eye relief as required with where your glasses sit, and how you like to hold them. Again try them out. Comfort and weight. This again is a personal preference, how your hands fit the binoculars, how they feel on your neck, etc. it will take you to new levels if you have an old Porro prism or a Roof prism design. Porro prisms verses Roof Prisms here is an answer to the differences in this: Roof prism binoculars are lighter and have a closer focus distance. Roof prism binoculars also have a more stream-lined design. Porro prism binoculars often cost less than roof prism binoculars and can provide better depth perception. Finally, OPTICAL CLARITY FOR YOUR PRICE.. This has to be the biggest concern. Optical clarity changes significantly from a pair of $100 binoculars to a $1500 pair. So what do you look for. Go to your local binocular dealer and start looking at binoculars in your price range. I often suggest picking up a pair of the most inexpensive ones a mid-range priced pair and then a top end pair. Then pick a banner on the wall. Black and white letters or a something with definite color lines. Large letters with long lines of white to blue (yellow to purple) trim but something with hard and fast lines. Look through the inexpensive pair first. Look at how the color lines blend, how clear the image is, followed by any distortion around the edges, once done make a note of the image. Now look at the exact same spot with the mid ranged binoculars - you should see a huge difference. repeat again with your high end pair.. This test will quickly bring you to an expert on what your eyes see. Now pick your price range.. you know what you can spend. Grab all the binoculars in that range and test them by looking at your mark. A good store might even let you go outside with an employee and test them out. Spend a lot of time deciding but test all brands. I am partial to Leupold. Price ranges from $100 to $1500 great clarity, and options for everyone's price. They are also waterproof and fog proof and Leupold stands behind their warranty. I personally use the 10 x 50 Olympic series binoculars or the 10 x 50 Mojave. Both are great binoculars and in a mid price range. If you have more questions feel free to contact me I would love to help. Brandon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090609/7f238bdb/attachment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 15:46:13 -0700 (PDT) From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Subject: [obol] Curry grackle/Coos shorebirds of late To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <162601.18442.qm at web45307.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 This morning, 6/9/09, at Floras Lake in Curry Co. there was a male GT GRACKLE calling/singing form the east side of the lake.? He was in the top of a tree at the windsurfer rental spot where the shoreline goes out to a point.? This is easily accessible from the parking area there- a trail goes south to the windsurfing rental spot.? This could possibly be the same bird that was seen on the 29th of May between Port Orford and Cape Blanco? Late shorebirds seen lately in Coos Co.: N. Spit of Coos Bay, 6/7: 1- GREATER YELLOWLEGS (one there on the 8th and 9th also) 1- RED-NECKED PHALAROPE 1- LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 6/8, New River: 1- BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER heard calling 6/8: N. Spit of Coos Bay: 1- LEAST SANDPIPER 2- SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS also at the spit were 50 GADWALL (in pairs, should be a bumper crop of young'uns this year), 23 GREATER SCAUP & 3 NORTHERN PINTAIL, these latter two have never bred at the site but often linger into late June and even mid-July. ENJOY! Tim R Coos Bay ? ? ? ------------------------------ Message: 6 Date: Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:05:12 -0700 From: Alan Contreras Subject: [obol] WHITE-EYED VIREO update and PLUMB VIREO To: obol Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain;??? charset="ISO-8859-1" Graham Floyd and I found a singing male WHITE-EYED VIREO in the Fields Oasis about 10:30 a.m. on June 9.? We had been in the oasis for maybe 30 minutes and were just walking out for a break, considering it birdless, when I heard an odd scold note and turned back to look.? Timing is everything. I first mistakenly reported it as a female because it did not sing for the first 30 minutes we observed it before we made our initial phone call.? We later observed it singing.? As far as I know this is a first Oregon record. I have posted one of Graham's photos to my bird blog: http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News When we went back in for more photos after lunch, I heard a vireo song that I thought was a PLUMBEOUS VIREO because of its buzzy, slow, broken quality. It came out for brief but sufficient views and that's what it proved to be. It was not very cooperative and no photos were obtained. The WHITE-EYED VIREO was using the heavy growth and dead sticks in the creek ditch along the south side of the oasis (mainly the southeast corner, not the entryway willows), occasionally going up into the trees. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary ------------------------------ Message: 7 Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 17:35:05 -0700 From: Jay Withgott Subject: [obol] California birder Luke Cole is dead To: OBOL Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" I received the devastating news today that a dear friend, San Francisco-based birder Luke Cole, has died.? I don't know if many birders in Oregon know Luke, but I thought I should help get the word out.? He was killed Friday in a car accident in Uganda, toward the end of an extended birding trip, at the age of 46.? Luke is ... was ... one of the most remarkable people I have ever had the privilege to know and to bird with.? A brilliant man of unsurpassed vitality and good humor, Luke was an influential environmental justice lawyer and advocate for the poor and disadvantaged.? Although he was committed to his important career, he also made the most of his passion for birding, and contributed to the California Bird Records Committee, North American Birds, Shearwater Journeys, Western Field Ornithologists, and other birding institutions and communities.? We have lost an exceptional birder and a still more exceptional human being.? I find it hard to accept that I will never be able to bird with him again. I am pasting in Don Roberson's posting to Calbirds below, which includes links to the lengthy SF Chronicle obituary and to Luke's amazing webpage. Jay Withgott Portland, OR Don Roberson? Sent by:???CalBirds at yahoogroups.com Subject [CALBIRDS] Sad news: Luke Cole dead 06/09/2009 10:18 AM The indescribably sad news came yesterday that Luke Cole, a friend to many of us and internationally known birder and environmental lawyer, was killed in a car crash in Uganda on 5 June. Today's S.F. Chronicle has a lengthy obituary http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/09/BAC0183545.DTL Many S.F. birders knew him better than I did, but he was about a fine a person as there is in our little birding world, and he far transcended it with his legal work for environmental justice. I did do two Big Days in Kings County with him -- he was a careful and fine birder, a wonderful storyteller, and an all around good guy. Incredibly bright and funny, his "Rue the Smew" poem was about the cleverest thing I've ever seen posted to CalBirds. http://www.lukecole.com/Birds/Smew.htm In many ways his death at age 46 -- at the prime of his career and the middle of a wonderful life -- is as sad as a single death can be. He joins David Gaines and Ted Parker as birding greats and environmental heroes cut down much too early. Rita & I got a postcard from Luke a couple of week ago, describing in broad strokes his 3rd visit to Madagascar, and mentioning flea-bitten hovels for lodging and minor bumps and bruises from taxi accidents on rural roads. He said he'd been in search of his most wanted bird -- the Madagascar Red Owl -- once again. He did not say whether he'd seen it -- indeed, for him, the quest was as important as the result, if not more so.? He was living life large. We will all miss him very much. Luke's lovely wife Nancy Shelby was also injured in the car crash; the paper says she was flown to Holland for treatment. Our best hopes for recovery and our deepest sympathies are with her. This is a sad day for all of us. Don Roberson Pacific Grove ------------------------------ Message: 8 Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 18:23:54 -0700 From: Kevin Spencer Subject: [obol] N Waterthrush and Gray Catbird KLAMCO To: "obol: oregonbirdwatch.org" , ??? "klamathbasinbirdnews: googlegroups.com" ??? Message-ID: <20090609212354.8VVPH.4104297.root at mp07> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 OBOL and Klamath Basin Birds, I received a report of at least 3 Northern Waterthrush, and 1, Gray Catbird, on the Little Deschutes River. This location is NORTH of Gilchrist, (not at the Hwy 58 crossing). It is on the G2 Road where it crosses the Little Deschutes, north of Gilchrist, and west of Hwy 97. It looks like it's about a mile north of town. Kevin Spencer rriparia at charter.net ------------------------------ Message: 9 Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 19:41:31 -0700 From: "Judy Meredith" Subject: [obol] Reporting? RBA - White-eyed Vireo re-located this ??? evening To: "obol" Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; ??? reply-type=original Birders I just had a phone call from Sheran Wright to post this. White-eyed Vireo re-located this pm along the same south edge of the pond at the oasis at Fields. Sheran reports that she, Jeff Gilligan and Owen Schmidt saw the bird. I believe she said that Owen had photos. As to any lodging in Fields - no vacancy. Good birding, Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com ------------------------------ Message: 10 Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 20:01:56 -0700 From: "Diane Cavaness" Subject: [obol] Rose-breasted Grosbeak in Brookings To: "obol" Message-ID: <604739D89B5A4844AA2E6B67F03B49C6 at DianeThinkpad> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" A bright male Rose-breasted Grosbeak is visiting the feeder outside my window! Just spectacular . . .a very fine yard bird. Diane Cavaness Brookings -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090609/94b4462d/attachment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 11 Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 21:18:10 -0700 From: "Susan Hatlevig" Subject: [obol] binoculars, Swarovski To: Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <745E1B8D2AA64E23BE3598F72AE6328F at homeflydmyur2h> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" My wonderful husband gave me a pair of Swarovski binoculars several years back that are impeccable.? They are, however; extremely expensive. Something like $1300 a pair these days (although I haven't checked the prices with the exchange rate) since they are made in Austria.? He picked them up when they were $650 which was a lot then.? But, I have NEVER been unhappy with them and they are really tough.? They have "SLC, 8x3WB" on the focus knob. They bring in great light, are not heavy and you can throw them against a wall with no internal problems with lenses.? They are also waterproof (I fell into a creek with them and they were fine.)? They will last me my lifetime I think.? If you're an avid birder and want to make an investment (like a good camera) you can't go wrong with them in my opinion. The Wildbird Store in Corvallis carries Swarovski binoculars and scopes (now we're really talking $$) and of course, great birdseed etc. Susie in Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090609/9ad0f7cc/attachment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 12 Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:40:01 +0000 From: "HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE " Subject: Re: [obol] binoculars, Swarovski To: "Susan Hatlevig " , "GOBLED at uidaho.edu " ??? Cc: OBOL? Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-15" I have got to go with Susie on Swarovski. My wife gave me the EL 10 x 42 and will simply ditto what Susie says here. I would never trade. Upgrading scope tomorrow to Swarovski ATS 65 HD only because I could not affor ATS 80 HD. In short, I am hooked on Swarovski. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Susan Hatlevig Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:18:10 To: Cc: Subject: [obol] binoculars, Swarovski My wonderful husband gave me a pair of Swarovski binoculars several years back that are impeccable.? They are, however; extremely expensive.? Something like $1300 a pair these days (although I haven't checked the prices with the exchange rate) since they are made in Austria.? He picked them up when they were $650 which was a lot then. ?But, I have NEVER been unhappy with them and they are really tough.? They have "SLC, 8x3WB" on the focus knob. They bring in great light, are not heavy and you can throw them against a wall with no internal problems with lenses. ?They are also waterproof (I fell into a creek with them and they were fine.)? They will last me my lifetime I think.? If you're an avid birder and want to make an investment (like a good camera) you can't go wrong with them in my opinion.? The Wildbird Store in Corvallis carries Swarovski binoculars and scopes (now we're really talking $$) and of course, great birdseed etc. ? Susie in Corvallis ------------------------------ Message: 13 Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:45:48 -0700 From: Greg Gillson Subject: [obol] Malheur NWR 2009 in the blogosphere To: OBOL Message-ID: <20090610094548.kmhd1m5woog8ok4c at webmail.thebirdguide.com> Content-Type: text/plain;??? charset=ISO-8859-1;??? DelSp="Yes"; ??? format="flowed" Several birders and photographers have written blogs and posted some? great scenic and wildlife photos about their visit to Malheur NWR this? spring. Lee Rentz started in April with four posts featuring wonderful scenic? ("Old West") photos and extensive narration from a photographer's and? traveler's point of view. Dave Irons captured this magical place from? the birder's social-interaction point of view with two posts on the? BirdFellow blog. And Mike Patterson actually posted his Malheur bird? report from the field, morning and afternoon! I, too, posted some bird photos and compiled links to the above blogs,? so that you could see all these varied points of view. If you've never? been to Malheur in spring, these posts should give you a good idea of? what it is all about. If you have been there, these posts may give you? a new appreciation and cause you to explore a bit more of the back? country. http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/2009/06/trip-to-malheur-national-wildlife.html Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com ------------------------------ Message: 14 Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:48:21 -0700 From: "Diane Pettey" Subject: [obol] Lane County Coast LARK SPARROW To: "obol" Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; ??? reply-type=original Daniel Farrar just called and reported seeing a LARK SPARROW. Directions: About ten miles south of Florence, turn right on Siltcoos (beach) road. This road goes past three campgrounds and eventually ends at a large ATV parking lot next to the foredune. Before the parking lot, there's a curve where the river is visible (on the left). On the right is a two or three car pullout. The bird was seen in that area. That's all the information he gave me and I'm on my way back to work. Daniel is banding plovers today so direct further enquiries to him. Daniel's cell is 541.870.1878 regards, Diane Pettey Heceta Beach, OR (n. of Florence) surfbird at q.com ------------------------------ Message: 15 Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:39:50 -0400 From: "Henry Horvat" Subject: [obol] Delintment Lake and Malheurn Trip To: Message-ID: <07C53281B0F03B42A788AEB0D85CC1E9015BCB0C at BE057.mail.lan> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Obolers: I birded Delintment Lake and Malheur from Saturday thru Monday, June 6-8, and tallied 132 species. The weather turned out to be better than what was forecast but because of recent wet weather the mosquitoes were fierce. I visited and camped at Delintment Lake, which is about 45 miles N.W. of Burns, on F.R. 41. My goal was to see what woodpeckers I could find, as a few years ago this area was involved in a massive forest fire. I saw a few pairs of Hairy Woodpeckers and two male Williamsons Sapsuckers. Also of note was the presence of a few Hermit Warblers singing in the campground and a few locations south of the campground. At Malheur I got to see the Chestnut Sided Warbler and Gray Catbird at H.Q., thanks to Alan Contreras, Graham Chisolm, Jeff Gillighan, and Owen Schmidt. (My apologies for any misspelled names). Henry Horvat Scappoose Bottoms -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090610/b97bb475/attachment-0001.html ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol End of obol Digest, Vol 15, Issue 10 ************************************ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090610/883f8d39/attachment.html From nettielh at yahoo.com Wed Jun 10 15:59:58 2009 From: nettielh at yahoo.com (Annette (Lange) Hildebrand) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:59:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Lake Delintment Message-ID: <583168.14699.qm@web50211.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Re?Henry's Lake Delintment post, I was thrilled when I saw the post mentioning Delintment Lake.? That has been one of my favorite camping?spots in years past.? My father, Oscar Lange, from Madras and Oscar's Sporting Goods and Guide Service, used to take us there. ? Such fond memories.??A lovely and quiet part of the world.? It is where I saw my very fist white-headed woodpecker ... hundreds of baby frogs, I guess they were frogs,?gargantuan ?blue dragon flies and my first ever big old toad ... in a hole ... on the bank.? Just like children's books wrote about! ? Take care, Annette Lange Hildebrand -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090610/ea9a3d4a/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed Jun 10 17:47:49 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:47:49 -0400 Subject: [obol] Unknown birds, again Message-ID: <8CBB84561182F09-1630-1305@WEBMAIL-DY32.sysops.aol.com> I went to Ridgefield Monday, and again Tuesday because the photos I took Monday disappeared into CyberSpace after uploading to my computer. I have several birds I can't identify in my books. Although I added Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Common Yellow-throat, White Pelicans and Virginia Rail?to my list. However I would advise caution to any one venturing onto Kiwa trail in search of the Virgina Rail I saw there. I was set upon by more blood sucking parasites than any time since my divorce many years ago. Seriously though, the mesquitos are terrible. They literally swarmed me. I didn't have any repellant on, and they were such a distraction I got few photos and finished the loop at a run trying to get back to the car. It is a wonderful walk otherwise. So many exotic sounding bird calls. It sounded a lot like the sound tracks in those old jungle movies. As soon as I get full body armor and a gallon of OFF, I'll go back. But here are links to the birds I can't indentify. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3561/3614028507_ea41b003dc.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3411/3614847352_82cba0238c.jpg?v=0 These Ducks http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3590/3614018951_0099dbe5fb.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3394/3615571164_82322906e4.jpg?v=0 this flyer http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3370/3615570188_5b1c3b230d.jpg?v=0 This singer http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3404/3615571468_7b1d64493f.jpg?v=0 Thanks for your time. Johnny Sasko Sandy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090610/066ba353/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Wed Jun 10 18:21:53 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:21:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] White-eyed Vireo (gone), Am. Redstart today at Fields. Message-ID: The White-eyed Vireo was vocal and viewable until almost dark yesterday, but was not present today. A 1yr Am. Redstart was seen at the oasis and near the store. Jeff Gilligan From cockatoodowns at gmail.com Wed Jun 10 20:25:08 2009 From: cockatoodowns at gmail.com (chris shank) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:25:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Invasive species Message-ID: <4e95acbb0906102025w42f20fe9sc2bea28ab7492a7f@mail.gmail.com> Is it just me or are there more house sparrows than ever? Maybe I'm just more aware of them now that I'm trapping them. I finally got the courage to trap and kill them. Yep, not by favorite activity, but I got SO frustrated and angry watching them chase the natives away. Anyway, I've got more on my property this year than last. I spent some time yesterday at Baskett Slough loving every minute of it (no house sparrows!), but disheartened to hear two bullfrogs. Is there any bullfrog control being done at Baskett? Thanks, -- Chris Shank Dallas, OR http://cockatoodowns.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090610/b0b7b01e/attachment.html From fschrock at gmail.com Wed Jun 10 21:02:16 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:02:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Unknown birds, again In-Reply-To: <8CBB84561182F09-1630-1305@WEBMAIL-DY32.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBB84561182F09-1630-1305@WEBMAIL-DY32.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <390ebd880906102102j640dd662h5842af3fdfadccac@mail.gmail.com> At a glance these birds appear to me to be as follows: The first two photos are of a juvenile European Starling. The duck on the right is a female Mallard. The duck on the left... well, rather an odd duck. Seems too early to be in eclipse plumage. Not sure. The next bird, on the water, is a juvenile American Coot. The flyer is a female Redwing Blackbird. The singer is a Savannah Sparrow. Good birding! ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== On Wed, Jun 10, 2009 at 5:47 PM, wrote: > I went to Ridgefield Monday, and again Tuesday because the photos I took > Monday disappeared into CyberSpace after uploading to my computer. I have > several birds I can't identify in my books. Although I added Yellow-headed > Blackbirds, Common Yellow-throat, White Pelicans and Virginia Rail to my > list. However I would advise caution to any one venturing onto Kiwa trail in > search of the Virgina Rail I saw there. I was set upon by more blood sucking > parasites than any time since my divorce many years ago. Seriously though, > the mesquitos are terrible. They literally swarmed me. I didn't have any > repellant on, and they were such a distraction I got few photos and finished > the loop at a run trying to get back to the car. It is a wonderful walk > otherwise. So many exotic sounding bird calls. It sounded a lot like the > sound tracks in those old jungle movies. As soon as I get full body armor > and a gallon of OFF, I'll go back. > But here are links to the birds I can't indentify. > > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3561/3614028507_ea41b003dc.jpg?v=0 > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3411/3614847352_82cba0238c.jpg?v=0 > > These Ducks > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3590/3614018951_0099dbe5fb.jpg?v=0 > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3394/3615571164_82322906e4.jpg?v=0 > > this flyer > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3370/3615570188_5b1c3b230d.jpg?v=0 > > This singer > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3404/3615571468_7b1d64493f.jpg?v=0 > > Thanks for your time. > Johnny Sasko > Sandy > > > ------------------------------ > Wanna slim down for summer? Go to America Takes it Offto learn how. > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090610/8f77909b/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Wed Jun 10 21:28:28 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:28:28 +0000 Subject: [obol] Unknown birds, again Message-ID: With regard to the duck on the left that Floyd could not identify, I will go with a Gadwall. The male in bright sunlight from the right angle will show the white, black, dark brown, bar under the wing. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Floyd Schrock Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:02:16 To: Cc: Subject: Re: [obol] Unknown birds, again At a glance these birds appear to me to be as follows: The first two photos are of a juvenile European Starling. The duck on the right is a female Mallard. The duck on the left...? well, rather an odd duck.? Seems too early to be in eclipse plumage.? Not sure. The next bird, on the water, is a juvenile American Coot. The flyer is a female Redwing Blackbird. The singer is a Savannah Sparrow. Good birding! ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon ? USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== On Wed, Jun 10, 2009 at 5:47 PM, > wrote: I went to Ridgefield Monday, and again Tuesday because the photos I took Monday disappeared into CyberSpace after uploading to my computer. I have several birds I can't identify in my books. Although I added Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Common Yellow-throat, White Pelicans and Virginia Rail?to my list. However I would advise caution to any one venturing onto Kiwa trail in search of the Virgina Rail I saw there. I was set upon by more blood sucking parasites than any time since my divorce many years ago. Seriously though, the mesquitos are terrible. They literally swarmed me. I didn't have any repellant on, and they were such a distraction I got few photos and finished the loop at a run trying to get back to the car. It is a wonderful walk otherwise. So many exotic sounding bird calls. It sounded a lot like the sound tracks in those old jungle movies. As soon as I get full body armor and a gallon of OFF, I'll go back. But here are links to the birds I can't indentify. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3561/3614028507_ea41b003dc.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3411/3614847352_82cba0238c.jpg?v=0 These Ducks http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3590/3614018951_0099dbe5fb.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3394/3615571164_82322906e4.jpg?v=0 this flyer http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3370/3615570188_5b1c3b230d.jpg?v=0 This singer http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3404/3615571468_7b1d64493f.jpg?v=0 Thanks for your time. Johnny Sasko Sandy ---------------- Wanna slim down for summer? Go to America Takes it Off to learn how. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Jun 10 21:44:38 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:44:38 +0000 Subject: [obol] Unknown birds, again In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Greetings All, The pair of ducks are both Gadwall. The male is pretty straight-forward, mostly gray, large white and black patches in the wing, plus the rusty coverts are unlike any other species. The female might be confused for a female Mallard, however the bill is mostly dark with orange only along the sides--essentially diagnostic for Gadwall. The fact that you have a female in close proximity to a male Gadwall (during the breeding season) also points to the female being a Gadwall. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > From: ninerharv2 at msn.com > To: fschrock at gmail.com; jonysky101 at aol.com > Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:28:28 +0000 > CC: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Unknown birds, again > > With regard to the duck on the left that Floyd could not identify, I will go with a Gadwall. The male in bright sunlight from the right angle will show the white, black, > dark brown, bar under the wing. > > Harv Schubothe > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T > > -----Original Message----- > From: Floyd Schrock > > Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:02:16 > To: > Cc: > Subject: Re: [obol] Unknown birds, again > > > At a glance these birds appear to me to be as follows: > > The first two photos are of a juvenile European Starling. > The duck on the right is a female Mallard. > The duck on the left... well, rather an odd duck. Seems too early to be in eclipse plumage. Not sure. > The next bird, on the water, is a juvenile American Coot. > The flyer is a female Redwing Blackbird. > The singer is a Savannah Sparrow. > > > Good birding! > > ==================== > Floyd Schrock > McMinnville, Oregon USA > http://empids.blogspot.com > ==================== > > > On Wed, Jun 10, 2009 at 5:47 PM, > wrote: > I went to Ridgefield Monday, and again Tuesday because the photos I took Monday disappeared into CyberSpace after uploading to my computer. I have several birds I can't identify in my books. Although I added Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Common Yellow-throat, White Pelicans and Virginia Rail to my list. However I would advise caution to any one venturing onto Kiwa trail in search of the Virgina Rail I saw there. I was set upon by more blood sucking parasites than any time since my divorce many years ago. Seriously though, the mesquitos are terrible. They literally swarmed me. I didn't have any repellant on, and they were such a distraction I got few photos and finished the loop at a run trying to get back to the car. It is a wonderful walk otherwise. So many exotic sounding bird calls. It sounded a lot like the sound tracks in those old jungle movies. As soon as I get full body armor and a gallon of OFF, I'll go back. > But here are links to the birds I can't indentify. > > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3561/3614028507_ea41b003dc.jpg?v=0 > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3411/3614847352_82cba0238c.jpg?v=0 > > These Ducks > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3590/3614018951_0099dbe5fb.jpg?v=0 > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3394/3615571164_82322906e4.jpg?v=0 > > this flyer > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3370/3615570188_5b1c3b230d.jpg?v=0 > > This singer > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3404/3615571468_7b1d64493f.jpg?v=0 > > Thanks for your time. > Johnny Sasko > Sandy > > > > > ---------------- > Wanna slim down for summer? Go to America Takes it Off to learn how. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090611/6fbaa95d/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Jun 10 22:41:20 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:41:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wed morning, Eugene Message-ID: The Willow Creek Nature Conservancy land was our target this morning, in West Eugene. We walked the open meadow along the edge of the ash forest on the east side of Willow Creek. We expected some grassland sparrow such as Savannah or Grasshopper, but Song Sparrows were it. I also expected Red-shouldered Hawk, as they have undoubtedly nested in this area in recent yrs, but there was not a "peep" from them. Birds of any kind were few and far between, but the meadow was lovely, with diversity of wildflowers and grasses. Here is the birdlist: Mallard - 4 (one female flushed from a nest full of eggs) Turkey Vulture - 10 Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 2 Am. Kestrel - 3 Ring-necked Pheasant - 2 Band-tailed Pigeon - 3 Mourning Dove - 2 Vaux's Swift - 2 Anna's Hummingbird - 3 Rufous Hummingbird - 1 N. Flicker - 6 W. W. Pewee - 5 Willow Flycatcher - 3 Western Kingbird - 1 Tree Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Scrub Jay - 8+ Am. Crow - 8 Black-capped Chickadee - 4 Red-breasted Nuthatch - 4 Bushtit - (number?) Bewick's Wren - 3 Swainson's Thrush - 6 Am. Robin - 10 Starling - 12 Hutton's Vireo - 1 Orange-crowned Warbler - 1 Com. Yellowthroat - 3 Yellow-breasted Chat - 1 Western Tanager - 2 Black-headed Grosbeak - 8 Lazuli Bunting - 4 Spotted Towhee - 6 Song Sparrow - 6+ Western Meadowlark - 4 Brown-headed Cowbird - 5 Northern Oriole - 1 male House Finch - 4 Lesser Goldfinch - 7 Am. Goldfinch - 12 Sylvia Maulding, Ellen Cantor, Randy Sinnott, Dennis Arendt, Dan Gusset, Dave Brown, Roger Robb, Barry McKenzie, Tom Mickel, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090610/d6791054/attachment.html From fschrock at gmail.com Wed Jun 10 23:07:01 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:07:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Unknown birds Message-ID: <390ebd880906102307u7d2f4aedw9f30866b20c19ac4@mail.gmail.com> Dave, thanks for the correction on the ducks. A reminder that 'haste makes waste' in birding, too. I haven't spent much time looking at Gadwalls, so the patches of color on the side were unfamiliar to me, and not being able to see the black undertail coverts, I made the quick jump to thinking that it was something with mixed parentage. And that led me to make a quick assumption about the female without closely looking at the bill. A good lesson, and another useful bit of bird knowledge added to my mental library of "jizz." ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090610/ac765488/attachment.html From oschmidt at att.net Wed Jun 10 23:24:57 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:24:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] White-eyed Vireo VIDEO Message-ID: ...... I think I've successfully posted a 1-minute Quicktime version of the High Definition video of yesterday's White-eyed Vireo from Fields: http://web.me.com/olschmidt/WEVI/Index.html oschmidt at att.net Wednesday, June 10, 2009 From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Jun 10 23:34:45 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:34:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 6-11-09 Message-ID: * RBA * Oregon * Portland * June 11, 2009 * ORPO0906.11 * birds mentioned Gr. White-fronted Goose A. White Pelican Semipalmated Plover Upland Sandpiper Whimbrel Sanderling Bonaparte?s Gull WHITE-WINGED DOVE Common Nighthawk Ash-throated Flycatcher WHITE-EYED VIREO Plumbeous Vireo Gray Catbird CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER Northern Waterthrush SUMMER TANAGER Lark Sparrow Snow Bunting ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK Great-tailed Grackle - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday June 11. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On June 9 a WHITE-EYED VIREO was photographed at Fields. A PLUMBEOUS VIREO was also in the area. A CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER and a CATBIRD were seen June 8 at Malheur Headquarters. On June 6 a female SUMMER TANAGER was at Page Springs Campground. A WHITE-WINGED DOVE was seen June 7 at Florence. On June 9 a male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was in Brookings. On June 6 an UPLAND SANDPIPER was near Langlois and a GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was at Cape Blanco. On June 10 a LARK SPARROW was along Siltcoos River. A late SNOW BUNTING was seen June 6 on the beach at Dunes Overlook south of Florence. On June 5 three WHTE-FRONTED GEESE and a group of BONAPARTE?S GULLS were at the mouth of the Siuslaw River. An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was at Yaquina Bay June 8. The 23 WHITE PELICANS continue to be see at Ridgefield NWR. On June 7 two NIGHTHAWKS were over southeast Portland. The next day three were seen near Timber. On June 9 a CATBIRD and several NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES were along the Little Deschutes River north of Gilchrist. On June 4 two SANDERLINGS and two SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS were at the Alvord Hot Springs. A WHIMBREL was there June 6. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090610/016b4c7e/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Jun 11 00:22:14 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:22:14 +0000 Subject: [obol] Interesting sapsucker challenge now posted to BirdFellow.com Message-ID: Greetings all, I just posted a short ID challenge involving three photos of an interesting sapsucker. It is potentially confusing if one does not examine the images closely. We invite your comments. Check it out at www.birdfellow.com Dave Irons _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090611/e5d680af/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Thu Jun 11 01:52:50 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:52:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Nighthawks & Pewee in Lincoln & Tillamook Co 10 June Message-ID: <4A30C5E2.9020602@pdx.edu> 10 June 2009 Lincoln County near Euchre Mountain: I observed three COMMON NIGHTHAWKS flying and calling this morning at my murrelet survey station. These are the first I have observed this year. The NIGHTHAWKS were calling when I got out of the truck at 0420 almost 70 minutes before sunrise. At least one was performing display dives. I also found my a territorial MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER. Both species were new county birds for me. Tillamook County: Cascade Head: WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, a late migrant. David C. Bailey In Newport for the week. From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Jun 11 08:55:03 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:55:03 +0000 Subject: [obol] Wed morning, Eugene In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Larry mentions hearing no Red-shouldered Hawks. This is the time of year when this highly-vocal species typically goes silent. I spent the day on Wednesday in Veneta, where it is not unusual to hear 4-8 calling Red-shouldered Hawks in a day (particularly March-mid-May). Surprisingly, I saw two birds perched on wires yesterday. It has been my experience that they become really secretive this time of year. From late May to early July I've often found it very difficult to see or hear this species, particularly when running big days. Breeding pairs should have young in the nest right now. About mid-July Red-shouldered Hawks will become conspicuous again. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: larmcqueen at msn.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:41:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wed morning, Eugene The Willow Creek Nature Conservancy land was our target this morning, in West Eugene. We walked the open meadow along the edge of the ash forest on the east side of Willow Creek. We expected some grassland sparrow such as Savannah or Grasshopper, but Song Sparrows were it. I also expected Red-shouldered Hawk, as they have undoubtedly nested in this area in recent yrs, but there was not a ?peep? from them. Birds of any kind were few and far between, but the meadow was lovely, with diversity of wildflowers and grasses. Here is the birdlist: Mallard ? 4 (one female flushed from a nest full of eggs) Turkey Vulture ? 10 Sharp-shinned Hawk ? 1 Red-tailed Hawk ? 2 Am. Kestrel ? 3 Ring-necked Pheasant ? 2 Band-tailed Pigeon ? 3 Mourning Dove ? 2 Vaux?s Swift ? 2 Anna?s Hummingbird ? 3 Rufous Hummingbird ? 1 N. Flicker ? 6 W. W. Pewee ? 5 Willow Flycatcher ? 3 Western Kingbird ? 1 Tree Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Scrub Jay ? 8+ Am. Crow ? 8 Black-capped Chickadee ? 4 Red-breasted Nuthatch ? 4 Bushtit ? (number?) Bewick?s Wren ? 3 Swainson?s Thrush ? 6 Am. Robin ? 10 Starling ? 12 Hutton?s Vireo ? 1 Orange-crowned Warbler ? 1 Com. Yellowthroat ? 3 Yellow-breasted Chat ? 1 Western Tanager ? 2 Black-headed Grosbeak ? 8 Lazuli Bunting ? 4 Spotted Towhee ? 6 Song Sparrow ? 6+ Western Meadowlark ? 4 Brown-headed Cowbird ? 5 Northern Oriole ? 1 male House Finch ? 4 Lesser Goldfinch ? 7 Am. Goldfinch ? 12 Sylvia Maulding, Ellen Cantor, Randy Sinnott, Dennis Arendt, Dan Gusset, Dave Brown, Roger Robb, Barry McKenzie, Tom Mickel, and Larry McQueen _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090611/b8568dec/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Thu Jun 11 11:15:20 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (baileydc at pdx.edu) Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:15:20 GMT Subject: [obol] Seawatch: Lost Creek St. Park: Lincoln County Message-ID: <200906111815.n5BIFK0x008381@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for David C. Bailey by http://birdnotes.net Date: June 11, 2009 Location: Lost Creek State Park, Lincoln County, Oregon Wind direction: NW Precipitation: none I spent from 0730 to 0830 this morning scoping the ocean from the parking lot. Notable migrants include BRANT, PACIFIC and RED-THROATED LOONS, and HEERMAN'S GULLS. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Brant 10 [1] Red-throated Loon 3 [2] Pacific Loon 30 [3] Sooty Shearwater 4 Brown Pelican 24 [4] Brandt's Cormorant 5 Pelagic Cormorant 5 Whimbrel 3 [5] Heermann's Gull 50 [6] California Gull 50 Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Caspian Tern 2 [7] Common Murre 1000 [8] Pigeon Guillemot 20 Marbled Murrelet 33 [9] Rhinoceros Auklet 5 [10] Tufted Puffin 1 [11] Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1 Footnotes: [1] BRANT: two separate flocks of five flew determinedly north. While I have noted BRANT summering on the Oregon Coast, these seemed to be late migrants. None were in molt. [2] Red-throated Loon: northbound [3] Pacific Loon: northbound [4] Brown Pelican: northbound [5] Whimbrel: on the beach [6] Heermann's Gull: 5:1 adults in alternate plumage heading north in several flocks. [7] Caspian Tern [8] Common Murre: poorly estimated numbers. Numerous flocks headed SOUTHBOUND. Only a few birds heading north. [9] MARBLED MURRELET: all flew in from the south heading north and most were in pairs; otherwise there were a few singletons. Three different pairs landed on the ocean off of the state park; the rest continued north. These were all in brown plumage and flying just west of the breakers. [10] Rhinoceros Auklet: all northbound [11] Tufted Puffin: Adult flying north Total number of species seen: 19 From baileydc at pdx.edu Thu Jun 11 11:22:32 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (baileydc at pdx.edu) Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:22:32 GMT Subject: [obol] Seawatch: Yaquina Bay Lighthouse State Park Message-ID: <200906111822.n5BIMWtK008473@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for David C. Bailey by http://birdnotes.net Date: June 11, 2009 Location: Newport, Lincoln County, Oregon I watched from the parking lot above the beach and N. Jetty of Yaquina Bay from 0930-1030. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Pacific Loon 30 [1] Sooty Shearwater 1 Brandt's Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Turkey Vulture 1 Black Oystercatcher 3 [2] Whimbrel 28 [3] Heermann's Gull 50 [4] California Gull Western Gull Caspian Tern 1 Common Murre 1000 Pigeon Guillemot 10 Footnotes: [1] Pacific loon: northbound flocks [2] Black Oystercatcher: flock of 3 flying north [3] WHIMBREL: single flock; hunting mole crabs on the beach [4] HEERMAN'S GULL: many small flocks; heading north. Total number of species seen: 13 From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Thu Jun 11 12:19:35 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:19:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fields All Time Bird List Message-ID: <91230.42526.qm@web30403.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I am working on updating the Fields All Time Bird List.? If you have any birds to add to the list, please email me directly.? Long time obolists may recall that I first compiled in 2000 the list of all the birds ever seen at Fields.? If you sent me information at that time, it should remain incorporated in the list below. So, species seen during the last nine years are of particular interest.? Thanks to all who have contributed to the list.? Maitreya 1.???????? Snow Goose? (Chen caerulescens)???????? 2.???????? Canada Goose? (Branta canadensis) 3.???????? Tundra Swan? (Cygnus columbianus) 4.???????? Wood Duck? (Aix sponsa) 5.???????? Gadwall? (Anas strepera) 6.???????? Mallard? (Anas platyrhynchos) 7.???????? Blue-winged Teal? (Anas discors) 8.???????? Cinnamon Teal? (Anas cyanoptera) 9.???????? Green-winged Teal? (Anas crecca) 10.?????? American Wigeon (Anas Americana) 11.?????? Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) 12.?????? Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) 13.?????? Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 14.?????? Hooded Merganser? (Lophodytes cucullatus) 15.????? Gray Partridge (Perdix Perdix) 16.?????? Chukar? (Alectoris chukar) 17.?????? Ring-necked Pheasant? (Phasianus colchicus) 18.?????? Great Blue Heron? (Ardea herodias) 19.?????? Great Egret? (Ardea alba) 20.?????? Snowy Egret? (Egretta thula) 21.?????? Black-crowned Night-Heron? (Nycticorax nycticorax) 22.????? Green Heron (Butorides virescens) 23.?????? White-faced Ibis? (Plegadis chihi) 24.?????? Turkey Vulture? (Cathartes aura) 25.?????? Osprey? (Pandion haliaetus) 26.?????? Northern Harrier? (Circus cyaneus) 27.?????? Sharp-shinned Hawk? (Accipiter striatus) 28.?????? Cooper's Hawk? (Accipiter cooperii) 29.?????? Northern Goshawk? (Accipiter gentilis) 30.?????? Broad-winged Hawk? (Buteo platypterus) 31.?????? Swainson's Hawk? (Buteo swainsoni) 32.?????? Red-tailed Hawk? (Buteo jamaicensis) 33.?????? Ferruginous Hawk? (Buteo regalis) 34.?????? Rough-legged Hawk? (Buteo lagopus) 35.?????? Golden Eagle? (Aquila chrysaetos) 36.?????? American Kestrel? (Falco sparverius) 37.?????? Merlin? (Falco columbarius) 38.?????? Prairie Falcon? (Falco mexicanus) 39.?????? Virginia Rail? (Rallus limicola) 40.?????? Sora? (Porzana carolina) 41.?????? American Coot? (Fulica americana) 42.?????? Sandhill Crane? (Grus canadensis) 43.?????? Killdeer? (Charadrius vociferus) 44.?????? Solitary Sandpiper? (Tringa solitaria) 45.?????? Willet? (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus) 46.?????? Spotted Sandpiper? (Actitis macularius) 47.?????? Wilson's Snipe? (Gallinago delicata) 48.?????? Wilson?s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) 49.?????? Ring-billed Gull? (Larus delawarensis) 50.?????? Rock Pigeon? (Columba livia) 51.?????? Band-tailed Pigeon? (Patagioenas fasciata) 52.?????? Eurasian Collared-Dove? (Streptopelia decaocto) 53.?????? Mourning Dove? (Zenaida macroura) 54.?????? Yellow-billed Cuckoo? (Coccyzus americanus) 55.?????? Barn Owl? (Tyto alba) 56.?????? Western Screech-Owl? (Megascops kennicottii) 57.?????? Great Horned Owl? (Bubo virginianus) 58.?????? Burrowing Owl? (Athene cunicularia) 59.?????? Long-eared Owl? (Asio otus) 60.?????? Short-eared Owl? (Asio flammeus) 61.?????? Northern Saw-whet Owl? (Aegolius acadicus) 62.?????? Common Nighthawk? (Chordeiles minor) 63.?????? Common Poorwill? (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) 64.?????? Vaux's Swift? (Chaetura vauxi) 65.?????? Ruby-throated Hummingbird? (Archilochus colubris) 66.?????? Black-chinned Hummingbird? (Archilochus alexandri) 67.?????? Calliope Hummingbird? (Stellula calliope) 68.?????? Broad-tailed Hummingbird? (Selasphorus platycercus) 69.?????? Rufous Hummingbird? (Selasphorus rufus) 70.?????? Belted Kingfisher? (Ceryle alcyon) 71.?????? Lewis's Woodpecker? (Melanerpes lewis) 72.????? Williamson?s Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus) 73.?????? Yellow-bellied Sapsucker? (Sphyrapicus varius) 74.?????? Red-naped Sapsucker? (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) 75.?????? Red-breasted Sapsucker? (Sphyrapicus ruber) 76.?????? Downy Woodpecker? (Picoides pubescens) 77.?????? Hairy Woodpecker? (Picoides villosus) 78.?????? Northern Flicker? (Colaptes auratus) 79.?????? Olive-sided Flycatcher? (Contopus cooperi) 80.?????? Western Wood-Pewee? (Contopus sordidulus) 81.?????? Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus Virens) 82.?????? Willow Flycatcher? (Empidonax traillii) 83.?????? Least Flycatcher? (Empidonax minimus) 84.?????? Hammond's Flycatcher? (Empidonax hammondii) 85.?????? Gray Flycatcher? (Empidonax wrightii) 86.?????? Dusky Flycatcher? (Empidonax oberholseri) 87.?????? Pacific-slope Flycatcher? (Empidonax difficilis) 88.?????? Cordilleran Flycatcher? (Empidonax occidentalis) 89.?????? Eastern Phoebe? (Sayornis phoebe) 90.?????? Say's Phoebe? (Sayornis saya) 91.?????? Ash-throated Flycatcher? (Myiarchus cinerascens) 92.?????? Western Kingbird? (Tyrannus verticalis) 93.?????? Eastern Kingbird? (Tyrannus tyrannus) 94.?????? Loggerhead Shrike? (Lanius ludovicianus) 95.?????? Northern Shrike? (Lanius excubitor) 96.?????? White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) 97.?????? Bell's Vireo? (Vireo bellii) 98.?????? Plumbeous Vireo? (Vireo plumbeus) 99.?????? Cassin's Vireo? (Vireo cassinii) 100.??? Warbling Vireo? (Vireo gilvus) 101.??? Philadelphia Vireo? (Vireo philadelphicus) 102.??? Red-eyed Vireo? (Vireo olivaceus) 103.??? Steller's Jay? (Cyanocitta stelleri) 104.??? Western Scrub-Jay? (Aphelocoma californica) 105.??? Black-billed Magpie? (Pica hudsonia) 106.??? American Crow? (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 107.??? Common Raven? (Corvus corax) 108.??? Horned Lark? (Eremophila alpestris) 109.??? Tree Swallow? (Tachycineta bicolor) 110.??? Violet-green Swallow? (Tachycineta thalassina) 111.??? Northern Rough-winged Swallow? (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) 112.??? Bank Swallow? (Riparia riparia) 113.??? Cliff Swallow? (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) 114.??? Barn Swallow? (Hirundo rustica) 115.??? Mountain Chickadee? (Poecile gambeli) 116.??? Bushtit? (Psaltriparus minimus) 117.??? Red-breasted Nuthatch? (Sitta canadensis) 118.??? Brown Creeper? (Certhia americana) 119.??? Rock Wren? (Salpinctes obsoletus) 120.??? Canyon Wren? (Catherpes mexicanus) 121.??? House Wren? (Troglodytes aedon) 122.??? Winter Wren? (Troglodytes troglodytes) 123.??? Marsh Wren? (Cistothorus palustris) 124.??? Golden-crowned Kinglet? (Regulus satrapa) 125.??? Ruby-crowned Kinglet? (Regulus calendula) 126.??? Blue-gray Gnatcatcher? (Polioptila caerulea) 127.??? Western Bluebird? (Sialia mexicana) 128.??? Mountain Bluebird? (Sialia currucoides) 129.??? Townsend's Solitaire? (Myadestes townsendi) 130.???? Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) 131.???? Veery (Catharus fuscescens) 132.??? Swainson's Thrush? (Catharus ustulatus) 133.???? Gray-cheeked Thrush (catharus minimus) 134.??? Hermit Thrush? (Catharus guttatus) 135.??? American Robin? (Turdus migratorius) 136.??? Varied Thrush? (Ixoreus naevius) 137.??? Gray Catbird? (Dumetella carolinensis) 138.??? Northern Mockingbird? (Mimus polyglottos) 139.??? Sage Thrasher? (Oreoscoptes montanus) 140.???? Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) 141.??? European Starling? (Sturnus vulgaris) 142.??? American Pipit? (Anthus rubescens) 143.??? Bohemian Waxwing? (Bombycilla garrulus) 144.??? Cedar Waxwing? (Bombycilla cedrorum) 145.??? Tennessee Warbler? (Vermivora peregrina) 146.??? Orange-crowned Warbler? (Vermivora celata) 147.??? Nashville Warbler? (Vermivora ruficapilla) 148.???? Virginia?s Warbler (Vermivora verginiae) 149.??? Northern Parula? (Parula americana) 150.??? Yellow Warbler? (Dendroica petechia) 151.??? Chestnut-sided Warbler? (Dendroica pensylvanica) 152.??? Magnolia Warbler? (Dendroica magnolia) 153.??? Black-throated Blue Warbler? (Dendroica caerulescens) 154.??? Yellow-rumped Warbler? (Dendroica coronata) 155.??? Black-throated Gray Warbler? (Dendroica nigrescens) 156.??? Townsend's Warbler? (Dendroica townsendi) 157.????? Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens) 158.??? Hermit Warbler? (Dendroica occidentalis) 159.??? Blackburnian Warbler? (Dendroica fusca) 160.??? Yellow-throated Warbler? (Dendroica dominica) 161.??? Palm Warbler? (Dendroica palmarum) 162.??? Bay-breasted Warbler? (Dendroica castanea) 163.??? Blackpoll Warbler? (Dendroica striata) 164.??? Black-and-white Warbler? (Mniotilta varia) 165.??? American Redstart? (Setophaga ruticilla) 166.??? Ovenbird? (Seiurus aurocapilla) 167.??? Northern Waterthrush? (Seiurus noveboracensis) 168.??? Kentucky Warbler? (Oporornis formosus) 169.??? MacGillivray's Warbler? (Oporornis tolmiei) 170.???? Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) 171.??? Common Yellowthroat? (Geothlypis trichas) 172.??? Wilson's Warbler? (Wilsonia pusilla) 173.??? Yellow-breasted Chat? (Icteria virens) 174.??? Summer Tanager? (Piranga rubra) 175.??? Western Tanager? (Piranga ludoviciana) 176.??? Green-tailed Towhee? (Pipilo chlorurus) 177.??? Spotted Towhee? (Pipilo maculatus) 178.???? Le Conte?s Sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii) 179.??? American Tree Sparrow? (Spizella arborea) 180.???? Brewer?s Sparrow (Spizella breweri) 181.??? Chipping Sparrow? (Spizella passerina) 182.??? Clay-colored Sparrow? (Spizella pallida) 183.??? Vesper Sparrow? (Pooecetes gramineus) 184.??? Lark Sparrow? (Chondestes grammacus) 185.??? Black-throated Sparrow? (Amphispiza bilineata) 186.??? Sage Sparrow? (Amphispiza belli) 187.??? Savannah Sparrow? (Passerculus sandwichensis) 188.??? Fox Sparrow? (Passerella iliaca) 189.??? Song Sparrow? (Melospiza melodia) 190.???? Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) 191.??? Lincoln's Sparrow? (Melospiza lincolnii) 192.??? White-throated Sparrow? (Zonotrichia albicollis) 193.??? Harris's Sparrow? (Zonotrichia querula) 194.??? White-crowned Sparrow? (Zonotrichia leucophrys) 195.??? Golden-crowned Sparrow? (Zonotrichia atricapilla) 196.??? Dark-eyed Junco? (Junco hyemalis) 197.??? Rose-breasted Grosbeak? (Pheucticus ludovicianus) 198.??? Black-headed Grosbeak? (Pheucticus melanocephalus) 199.??? Lazuli Bunting? (Passerina amoena) 200.??? Indigo Bunting? (Passerina cyanea) 201.??? Bobolink? (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) 202.??? Red-winged Blackbird? (Agelaius phoeniceus) 203.??? Western Meadowlark? (Sturnella neglecta) 204.??? Yellow-headed Blackbird? (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) 205.??? Brewer's Blackbird? (Euphagus cyanocephalus) 206.??? Common Grackle? (Quiscalus quiscula) 207.??? Great-tailed Grackle? (Quiscalus mexicanus) 208.??? Brown-headed Cowbird? (Molothrus ater) 209.??? Scott?s Oriole (Icterus parisorum) 210.??? Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurious) 211.???? Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 212.??? Bullock's Oriole? (Icterus bullockii) 213.??? Pine Grosbeak? (Pinicola enucleator) 214.??? Purple Finch? (Carpodacus purpureus) 215.??? Cassin's Finch? (Carpodacus cassinii) 216.??? House Finch? (Carpodacus mexicanus) 217.??? Red Crossbill? (Loxia curvirostra) 218.??? Pine Siskin? (Carduelis pinus) 219.??? Lesser Goldfinch? (Carduelis psaltria) 220.??? American Goldfinch? (Carduelis tristis) 221.??? Evening Grosbeak? (Coccothraustes vespertinus) 222.??? House Sparrow? (Passer domesticus) ?Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.? Jonathan Livingston Seagull -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090611/4cb2bb96/attachment.html From birdboy at bkpix.com Thu Jun 11 13:23:21 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:23:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-eyed Vireos at Elijah Bristow 6/11 Message-ID: Hi birders, In the spirit of motorless listing, I biked this morning to Elijah Bristow State Park (southeast of Eugene). Two RED-EYED VIREOS were in the gallery forest along the river, where they have nested in past years. I had fantastic views of one perched and singing low in the subcanopy, while another could be heard a few hundred yards away. I also rode the trail from there to Dexter Reservoir, which was birdless except for a GREEN HERON. Good birding, Noah Strycker -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090611/8bb05774/attachment.html From davect at bendnet.com Thu Jun 11 14:38:59 2009 From: davect at bendnet.com (david tracy) Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:38:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI: Hummingbird images wanted Message-ID: Hi All, I'm looking for digital images of North American Hummingbirds (file size <3Mbyte). These are to be used in presentation I'm putting together for the local birder night here in Bend. Resolution should be sufficient to use for a powerpoint type slide show. Please reply directly to me and make sure not to Cc: OBOL since attachments are not supposed to be sent to the list. Of particular interest are images of species found in Oregon, especially with diagnostic looks at the spread tail, or close-ups showing details of the wing/primary feathers. Video captures are also useful, please email me before sending any video files as attachments. All materials will be attributed to the photographer. Thanks, Dave david tracy davect at bendnet.com From kiss at cot.net Thu Jun 11 15:51:34 2009 From: kiss at cot.net (Charlotte Ann Kisling) Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:51:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] snowy plovers on Tule Lake Message-ID: <4A318A76.3000402@cot.net> Today, I saw 10 or 11 snowy plovers on the Tule Lake auto tour route. IF you enter from Hill Road and follow the tour route past the English Channel, the tour route comes to a T intersection. From there turn right, south, and continue for a little over 0.3 miles. The plovers were on the long spit on the left side of the road. I was just in the process of getting an exact count when the rain started coming down in buckets. Not being one for heroics, I didn't care to see what the exact number was, although it was at least 10. Charlotte Ann From GOBLED at uidaho.edu Thu Jun 11 08:59:23 2009 From: GOBLED at uidaho.edu (Goble, Dale) Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:59:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: a binocular question Message-ID: <4B96D4D1066F3B418ACE31907E64EDBBE304E8@EXVS2.its.uidaho.edu> Thanx to all who had suggestions on Binocs. Dale Goble From rcgaines at spiritone.com Thu Jun 11 15:57:56 2009 From: rcgaines at spiritone.com (Ron Gaines) Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:57:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Patagial markers on red-tailed hawks Message-ID: <000601c9eae8$0fa67810$0500a8c0@Ron> I saw a day-glow pink patagial marker on an immature red-tail hawk with the character K on it near Vancouver, WA. Does any one know who might be doing this or where this bird may have come from? Ron Gaines -- I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users. It has removed 249 spam emails to date. Paying users do not have this message in their emails. Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.download.com/Spamfighter/3000-2382_4-10764780.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090611/656fb513/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Thu Jun 11 16:34:06 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:34:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mockingbird Again at Hatfield Marine Science Center on June 11 Message-ID: Hi. The morning of June 8, Doug Cottam saw a Northern Mockingbird near the construction site on the west side of the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center Visitor Center. Perhaps it or at least another is lingering in the area, as this morning (June 11) at about 8:20 AM, Roy Lowe saw one fly past his office window at the USFWS building on the south end of the HMSC and making its way around the HMSC trail towards EPA building. A few minutes later, Janet Lamberson saw it at the EPA building (the easternmost building at the HMSC) and noted that it was flying towards a NOAA building, perhaps the Barry Fisher Building at the east end of the HMSC Visitor Center Parking Lot. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport From greg at thebirdguide.com Thu Jun 11 17:11:02 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:11:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Franklin's Gull: Jackson Bottom Message-ID: Immature, Gene Pool, Jackson Bottom, Hillsboro, Oregon Reported 5 pm by Shawneen Finnegan. Since it is only a mile away, I'm outta here! Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Jun 11 19:14:36 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:14:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur update Message-ID: We have found no additional vagrants since the WE Vireo, and will depart Malheur Friday. Weather has become wet and stormy again. Yesterday a male Rufous Hummingbird was at HQ after a night of rain. Presumably a southbound migrant shoved off the ridgelines by nasty weather. It was not seen today. A territorial catbird named El Presidente has set up shop at HQ. A second bird may also be present. HQ today had a late migrant female Lazuli Bunting. Fields today had a late migrant Western Flycatcher. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From vernd at oregonfast.net Thu Jun 11 22:10:35 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:10:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] BRANT, Florence Message-ID: <039E5655-D08D-4FCF-B87C-7F3927ED8C5F@oregonfast.net> Hello OBOL, Today there were 2 ratty looking BRANT at the mud flat, North jetty, Siuslaw River, Florence Vern Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090611/c298d39c/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Thu Jun 11 22:15:12 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:15:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 06/10/09 Message-ID: <20090612051512.F18E8A8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 06/04 to 06/10/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk only 2 days this week: 6/9 and 6/10 Species # days found (peak #, date) Band-tailed Pigeon 1 (2, 6/9) Anna's Hummingbird 2 (1) Rufous Hummingbird 2 (1) RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER 1 (1, 6/9) Pileated Woodpecker 2 (1) Olive-sided Flycatcher 2 (1) Pacific-slope Flycatcher 2 (4) WARBLING VIREO 1 (1, 6/9) Western Scrub-Jay 2 (1) American Crow 2 (2) Violet-green Swallow 2 (4) Black-capped Chickadee 2 (5) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2 (5) Bushtit 1 (3, 6/10) Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 (6, 6/9) Brown Creeper 1 (2, 6/9) Winter Wren 2 (3) American Robin 2 (12) European Starling 1 (1, 6/9) Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 (1) Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 (1, 6/10) Wilson's Warbler 2 (2) Spotted Towhee 2 (5) Song Sparrow 2 (10) Dark-eyed Junco 2 (10) Black-headed Grosbeak 2 (2) Brown-headed Cowbird 2 (1) Purple Finch 2 (2) House Finch 2 (6, 6/10) Pine Siskin 2 (3) Evening Grosbeak 1 (1, 6/9) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: Western Tanager Misses (birds found at least 3 days during previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Mourning Dove, Vaux's Swift, Northern Flicker, Steller's Jay, Swainson's Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, Orange- crowned Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Lesser Goldfinch, American Goldfinch Wink Gross Portland From greenfant at hotmail.com Thu Jun 11 23:09:26 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 02:09:26 -0400 Subject: [obol] RBA: Franklin's Gull: Jackson Bottom In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Made it to Jackson Bottom at around 7:30pm where the gull was still visible from the blind at the Gene Pool, at least for some 5min. After that it proceeded to sit down behind the island, perfectly out of view from the blind. The tall grasses make it difficult to get good views from anywhere but the blind. There are 2 field marks that make me hesitant to believe that this is a Franklin's Gull. First off, this looks to be a first summer bird, so a Franklin's Gull should have black legs by then. This bird has bright pink legs. Second, you can see the blackish median coverts sticking out on both sides, good for Bonaparte's Gull, not for Franklin's. The bird didn't have pronounced white eye lids and had no white in the wingtips. It did however show a lot of white on the forehead. I never saw the it fly. Overall, this bird looks much more like a Bonaparte's Gull to me. That said, I spent only about 20min there and didn't bring my camera. Maybe a few good pictures will clear this up. Greg? Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR > From: greg at thebirdguide.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:11:02 -0700 > Subject: [obol] RBA: Franklin's Gull: Jackson Bottom > > Immature, Gene Pool, Jackson Bottom, Hillsboro, Oregon > Reported 5 pm by Shawneen Finnegan. > > Since it is only a mile away, I'm outta here! > > Greg Gillson > The Bird Guide, Inc. > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090612/d1a161b3/attachment.html From bcombs232 at gmail.com Fri Jun 12 00:08:57 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:08:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Common Nighthawk - southern Willamette Valley Message-ID: <8ce3a6520906120008m49219bd0xd9cbe10aa6bf9a6@mail.gmail.com> I heard a Common Nighthawk above my house when I was outside gardening on Tuesday evening, June 9, at about 8:50 p.m.. I heard only a single bird. I have been outside working in my yard for several hours each evening, and this is the first time I have heard a nighthawk for sure. I did not hear any nighthawks on Wednesday or Thursday evening. A week or two ago, I heard a faint, faraway sound that could have been a nighthawk, but I heard it only briefly so I did not report it as a definite record, although I strongly suspect it was. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090612/3ddb79c8/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Fri Jun 12 07:36:30 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 07:36:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Spotted Owl, NW Seblar Terrace, Portland Message-ID: <20090612143631.7F258A8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> I was awakened this morning about 5:30AM by a tremendous racket of jays, crows, robins, chickadees, etc. outside our window. After some searching in the firs and cedars behind my house, I was astonished to see a NORTHERN SPOTTED OWL about 20ft up. Crummy photos can be seen at http://picasaweb.google.com/wink144/NorthernSpottedOwl?feat=directlink (He's gone now, otherwise I would not be posting this to OBOL.) While I was in the backyard, Becki and Lillie were chasing 4 deer off our front yard. Hey, it's Wild Kingdom up here this morning! Wink Gross NW Portland From ed.mcvicker at comcast.net Fri Jun 12 08:48:41 2009 From: ed.mcvicker at comcast.net (Ed McVicker) Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:48:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mult. Co. Larch Mtn access? Message-ID: <4A3278D9.1010106@comcast.net> any one been up there lately to know about access to the top? ed mcvicker portland From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Jun 12 10:04:33 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:04:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Franklin's Gull: Jackson Bottom In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090612100433.im4uj2fbk8cwsckg@webmail.thebirdguide.com> I did get out to take some distant photos last night, about 6:15-6:30 p.m. Perhaps later tonight or some time this weekend I can "develop" and post them. It will be interesting to see what the photos reveal and if memory is supported by the physical evidence. However, what I remember is that the bird has a partial hind-head hood and eye crescents. Whitish breast and hind-neck. Dark primaries, with no white leading edge. Fairly strong gonys angle and small but thick bill. Legs dusky, feet pinkish. Back grayish, wings brown, matching a "first winter" bird, not yet even "first summer." See: "first winter" illustration: http://sibley.enature.com/species.asp?SpeciesID=2108&Image_ID=2108_09.jpg&RecNum=1&Srch=yes&searchStr=franklin%27s+gull&xLoc=&yLoc=#img My take is that it was a Franklin's, not a Sabine's, Common, Laughing, or Bonaparte's. But like I said, it will be interesting to see how much memory is influenced by expectation. Stay tuned.... Greg Quoting Stefan Schlick : > > Made it to Jackson Bottom at around 7:30pm where the gull was still > visible from the blind at the Gene Pool, at least for some 5min. > After that it proceeded to sit down behind the island, perfectly out > of view from the blind. The tall grasses make it difficult to get > good views from anywhere but the blind. > > There are 2 field marks that make me hesitant to believe that this > is a Franklin's Gull. First off, this looks to be a first summer > bird, so a Franklin's Gull should have black legs by then. This bird > has bright pink legs. Second, you can see the blackish median > coverts sticking out on both sides, good for Bonaparte's Gull, not > for Franklin's. The bird didn't have pronounced white eye lids and > had no white in the wingtips. It did however show a lot of white on > the forehead. I never saw the it fly. > > Overall, this bird looks much more like a Bonaparte's Gull to me. > That said, I spent only about 20min there and didn't bring my > camera. Maybe a few good pictures will clear this up. Greg? > > Stefan Schlick > Hillsboro, OR > >> From: greg at thebirdguide.com >> To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:11:02 -0700 >> Subject: [obol] RBA: Franklin's Gull: Jackson Bottom >> >> Immature, Gene Pool, Jackson Bottom, Hillsboro, Oregon >> Reported 5 pm by Shawneen Finnegan. >> >> Since it is only a mile away, I'm outta here! >> >> Greg Gillson >> The Bird Guide, Inc. >> greg at thebirdguide.com >> http://thebirdguide.com >> From sandyleapt at comcast.net Fri Jun 12 10:17:43 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:17:43 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] White-crowned Sparrow Fledglings In-Reply-To: <515971895.3162271244826518913.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <788128988.3166041244827063689.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi All, I went to the WoodVillage Fred Myer this morning (8:00 a.m. ish). Between the Backyard Bird Shop and the Kohol's store there is a "foundation" planting along the building. There were at least two fledglings and a harried adult White Crowned Sparrows. The Fledglings were on the ground and scrambling in the plants, the parent was in the small trees above the fledglings getting them to follow it to better cover. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090612/2f11dfee/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Jun 12 11:08:49 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:08:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-winged Blackbird photos for beginners Message-ID: <20090612110849.7yqj5vti8kckg4ks@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Today's post on the Pacific NW Backyard Birder (http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/) is "At the pond... Red-winged Blackbird." Since we've had several posted photos of "unidentified" birds over the past few weeks that have proved to be female Red-winged Blackbirds, I have included a photo. Also included are two photos obtained specifically for this article. They are of adult males, both showing off, and hiding, their red wing patches. You may wish to point newer birders and casual wildlife observers to this post. Greg Gillson greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Fri Jun 12 11:30:41 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (gerard.lillie at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:30:41 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Spotted Owl, NW Seblar Terrace, Portland In-Reply-To: <20090612143631.7F258A8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: <119748145.3702081244831441054.JavaMail.root@sz0066a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> That is a fantastic yard bird for, well, anywhere. But, I must have been sleep walking because I do not remember chasing deer this morning. Gerard Lillie? Subject: [obol] Spotted Owl, NW Seblar Terrace, Portland I was awakened this morning about 5:30AM by a tremendous racket of jays, crows, robins, chickadees, etc. outside our window. ?After some searching in the firs and cedars behind my house, I was astonished to see a NORTHERN SPOTTED OWL about 20ft up. ? Crummy photos can be seen at http://picasaweb.google.com/wink144/NorthernSpottedOwl?feat=directlink (He's gone now, otherwise I would not be posting this to OBOL.) While I was in the backyard, Becki and Lillie were chasing 4 deer off our front yard. ?Hey, it's Wild Kingdom up here this morning! Wink Gross NW Portland _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090612/01075b90/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Fri Jun 12 18:52:15 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:52:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] RED-EYED VIREO, Mt. Tabor, Portland Message-ID: <821929.18708.qm@web55702.mail.re3.yahoo.com> This afternoon around 4:00, we heard a RED-EYED VIREO singing at the top of Mt. Tabor in southeast Portland. Although it sang over and over without stopping, we couldn't see it. Finally, after 20 minutes of searching, we saw the bird near the top of a Big Leaf maple. It was still singing when we left. We observed it at the top, in the tall maples behind the closed restrooms. On a different subject, we saw a WESTERN GREBE from the Springwater Corridor near Oaks Bottom yesterday. The grebe was swimming in the canal in front of Hardtack Island. Good Birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090612/90f18195/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Jun 12 19:05:08 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 02:05:08 +0000 Subject: [obol] New BirdFellow.com post about nests found at Woodpecker Wonderland Fes. Message-ID: Greetings All, I just posted a new piece about all the nests that our groups located during the recent Woodpecker Wonderland Festival. Dave Irons Content Editor BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_SD_25GB_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090613/0b3adb11/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Jun 12 20:22:01 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:22:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Photos: Jackson Bottom Franklin's Gull Message-ID: A poor photo of the gull at Jackson Bottom, Hillsboro, Oregon is posted at: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/gallery/_from_others I don't see anything that would lead me to believe it is anything other than Franklin's Gull, here, but decide for yourself. This is about the 6th Washington County record. http://thebirdguide.com/washington/washington%20birdlist.doc County Bird #240 for me. Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Sat Jun 13 09:35:32 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:35:32 -0400 Subject: [obol] sooty heard Message-ID: SOOTY GROUSE in Columbia County still making themselves known. I was a bit surprised to hear one yesterday during an evening walk thru mostly cutover forestland with scattered clumps of trees. A couple of LAZULI BUNTINGS were singing in the clearcuts. Nothing else unexpected. Lona Pierce Warren _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090613/587f9ae5/attachment.html From tanager at nu-world.com Sat Jun 13 10:47:08 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 10:47:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pelagics- 60 miles out Message-ID: <000301c9ec4e$f97a0ee0$ec6e2ca0$@com> Hi all- I had an interesting conversation with a friend this week that goes out fishing most weekends during the summer. He fishes Heceta bank (and area) out of Newport from about 40 to 60 miles out and has been doing it for years. I of course quizzed him on the birds he sees and his knowledge of the species and field marks. He reported that he regularly sees FRIGATEBIRDS about 4-5 times per summer and TROPICBIRDS (although he didn't indicate frequency). He also mentioned all the other usual suspects (albatross, shearwaters etc.). I am hoping he will be able to get a few photographs this summer!! I tried to impress upon him to snap photos of anything "out of the ordinary" He said he will also get GPS coordinates & water temps. Now if we could only have the relocation cruises go by in the summer!! Good birding, Anne Heyerly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090613/8bf1b419/attachment.html From smithdwd at hotmail.com Sat Jun 13 11:06:07 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 18:06:07 +0000 Subject: [obol] Franklin's Gull, Jackson Bottoms Message-ID: The "Franklin's Gull" was at J Bottoms, "Gene Pool" foraging along the shore(plover style) between 7:30 and 8;00am. It is best seen from the "new blind" though it is often hidden behind the island. The tail matches the descrition of black band except for outer tail feathers. Other pictures online show more pronounced eye cresents(one side of this bird was "more" then the other), and none show the dull leg color pink/orange/dusky that is obvious on this bird. Good find. I'm surprised I saw it so easily; I usually confirm an RBA is gone! David Smith _________________________________________________________________ Drag n? drop?Get easy photo sharing with Windows Live? Photos. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/products/photos.aspx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090613/e649ff60/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sat Jun 13 14:16:51 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:16:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - 6/13/2009 Message-ID: <4A341743.5020300@pacifier.com> Columbia Estuary Report - 6/13/2009 We can now call the invasion complete. This morning a EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE was singing in the tree across the street from my house. A BULLOCK'S ORIOLE was heard at Westport Ferry Landing. This has been a regular spot for nesting individuals in past years. In butterfly news: The first SONORA SKIPPERS of the season were seen at Simmons Field up HWY202 on Thursday. First brood PURPLISH COPPERS are peaking. And in SNAIL news... http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11314 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Jun 13 15:18:49 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:18:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pelagics- 60 miles out In-Reply-To: <000301c9ec4e$f97a0ee0$ec6e2ca0$@com> References: <000301c9ec4e$f97a0ee0$ec6e2ca0$@com> Message-ID: <1c69ccfbf0e6b763f92926b644a9a943@earthlink.net> I know a retired tuna fisherman in Warrenton who had a Red-tailed Tropicbird follow his boat for a long time. He fished from the Columbia all the way south to Crescent City. Lars Norgren On Jun 13, 2009, at 10:47 AM, Anne & Dan Heyerly wrote: > Hi all- > ? > I had an interesting conversation with a friend this week that goes > out fishing most weekends during the summer.? He fishes Heceta bank > (and area) out of Newport from about 40 to 60 miles out and has been > doing it for years.? I of course quizzed him on the birds he sees and > his knowledge of the species and field marks.? He reported that he > regularly sees FRIGATEBIRDS about 4-5 times per summer and TROPICBIRDS > (although he didn?t indicate frequency).? He also mentioned all the > other usual suspects (albatross, shearwaters etc.).? ?I am hoping he > will be able to get a few photographs this summer!!? I tried to > impress upon him to snap photos of anything ?out of the ordinary?? He > said he will also get GPS coordinates ?& water temps.? Now if we could > only have the relocation cruises go by in the summer!! > ? > Good birding, > Anne Heyerly > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From nettielh at yahoo.com Sat Jun 13 16:00:34 2009 From: nettielh at yahoo.com (nettielh at yahoo.com) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 23:00:34 GMT Subject: [obol] Bullocks Oriole - Beaverton Koll Wetlands Message-ID: <200906132300.n5DN0YU6027790@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Annette Lange Hildebrand by http://birdnotes.net Date: June 13, 2009 Location: Koll Center Wetlands Park, Washington County, Oregon Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 90% Excited! Positive identity of a male Bullocks Oriole at Koll Wetlands (West of 217, between Hall and Scholl's Ferry)The call is magical ... almost like a combination of Chat, Robin and jay. Got to watch it sing as it perched on perhaps the only branch not fully covered with leaves .... way up high! (A week or so ago, heard similar sound, but only spotted a yellowish bird with longer slender bill, for a moment. Now that I've looked at the female bullocks in the book I can ID it. Same location. Never in 20 years have I seen an Oriole here! Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Ring-necked Pheasant California Quail Great Blue Heron Green Heron Osprey Red-tailed Hawk American Coot Killdeer Rock Dove Mourning Dove Belted Kingfisher Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit Bewick's Wren American Robin European Starling Common Yellowthroat Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Black-headed Grosbeak Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird House Finch Lesser Goldfinch American Goldfinch House Sparrow Total number of species seen: 40 From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sat Jun 13 19:05:17 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 19:05:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] fledgling Band-tailed Pigeon, Yamhill Co Message-ID: <6B9C61807E6646CBBD966EFBD452C0DF@yourw5st28y9a3> A young Band-tailed Pigeon with no neck markings and pale yellow bill and feet was here today around 1700, along with a beautifully-marked adult male. It was feeding itself independently and didn't beg to be fed. This is the first immature I have seen this year. Pamela Johnston outside McMinnville From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Jun 13 19:36:11 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 19:36:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gene Pool Gull. Jackson Bottoms WASH CO Message-ID: I spent plenty of time looking at a small gull at the Gene Pool late this afternoon. I can't find the remotest reason for calling it anything but BONAPARTE's. Could the other gull have left, and a Bony appeared? More details after I cook dinner. Lars Norgren From Oropendolas at aol.com Sat Jun 13 20:36:05 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 23:36:05 EDT Subject: [obol] Motorless Birding Message-ID: Hello All, Laura and I followed Noah's lead and biked to Elijah Bristow State Park this afternoon. We were also rewarded with great looks at a singing RED-EYED VIREO along the river trail. A bonus WILLOW FLYCATCHER and pair of RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were also seen in the park. John Sullivan & Laura Jonhson Springfield, Oregon **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222377049x1201454365/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd= JunestepsfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090613/0542b0e1/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sat Jun 13 21:46:24 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:46:24 -0400 Subject: [obol] Gene Pool Gull is a Bonaparte's. Jackson Bottoms WASH CO In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Ok, ok, I know nobody likes to hear more about this, but ... First off, I looked at the horrific pictures I took today and, this is the same gull that appears in Greg's pictures. I spent a good 3 hours there today, Lars was there for about 30min just before the rain shower. In my mind, there is no doubt any more that this is a first-summer Bonaparte's Gull. In fact, there isn't a single field mark left that could point to Franklin's except for the extensive white on the forehead. Lars and I saw this bird take flight twice, I saw it 3-4 more times. The upper wings had a clearly visible M pattern, a dead ringer for a young Bonaparte's. This matches up with the extensive black median coverts that the bird is sporting. The black tailband went all the way through, there is no white on the edges. Here a list of other field marks supporting Bonaparte's Gull: -Bill shape passes for Bonaparte's. It is long and relatively thin. I could not see a gonydeal angle. -The very dark ear spot is clearly visibly at the correct position of the smudgy hood (you would never see this on a Franklin's) -Leg color is pink, should be black for Franklin's -The mantle color is extremely light, Franklin's should be much darker -Black median coverts completely rule out Franklin's -I looked long and hard at the nape and I think you can see that it is light gray as well; Franklin's should be white -The white eye lids: Well, they are hardly visible. Even on the juvenal bird, they should be way more pronounced Again, Greg's pictures are at: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/gallery/_from_others. A large number of my (unmodified) shots from this afternoon are at: http://picasaweb.google.com/greenfant/BonapartesGull. I also have a 28sec video clip of the feeding behavior just in case anybody is interested. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > From: gnorgren at earthlink.net > Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 19:36:11 -0700 > Subject: [obol] Gene Pool Gull. Jackson Bottoms WASH CO > > I spent plenty of time looking > at a small gull at the Gene Pool late > this afternoon. I can't find the remotest > reason for calling it anything but > BONAPARTE's. Could the other gull have > left, and a Bony appeared? More details > after I cook dinner. Lars Norgren > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090614/640df1b8/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Jun 13 22:01:19 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 05:01:19 +0000 Subject: [obol] Gene Pool Gull is a Bonaparte's. Jackson Bottoms WASH CO In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Stefan, A better question is, what is the shorebird in the bottom right hand corner of photo number 37 in your series? The white around the base of the bill looks like a Ruff. It is dreadfully out of focus, but I can't really come up with a theory. Did you happen to notice this bird in the field? Have to agree on the gull. The mantle color is much too pale for a Franklin's, although the head pattern is strange. Dave Irons From: greenfant at hotmail.com To: gnorgren at earthlink.net; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:46:24 -0400 Subject: Re: [obol] Gene Pool Gull is a Bonaparte's. Jackson Bottoms WASH CO Ok, ok, I know nobody likes to hear more about this, but ... First off, I looked at the horrific pictures I took today and, this is the same gull that appears in Greg's pictures. I spent a good 3 hours there today, Lars was there for about 30min just before the rain shower. In my mind, there is no doubt any more that this is a first-summer Bonaparte's Gull. In fact, there isn't a single field mark left that could point to Franklin's except for the extensive white on the forehead. Lars and I saw this bird take flight twice, I saw it 3-4 more times. The upper wings had a clearly visible M pattern, a dead ringer for a young Bonaparte's. This matches up with the extensive black median coverts that the bird is sporting. The black tailband went all the way through, there is no white on the edges. Here a list of other field marks supporting Bonaparte's Gull: -Bill shape passes for Bonaparte's. It is long and relatively thin. I could not see a gonydeal angle. -The very dark ear spot is clearly visibly at the correct position of the smudgy hood (you would never see this on a Franklin's) -Leg color is pink, should be black for Franklin's -The mantle color is extremely light, Franklin's should be much darker -Black median coverts completely rule out Franklin's -I looked long and hard at the nape and I think you can see that it is light gray as well; Franklin's should be white -The white eye lids: Well, they are hardly visible. Even on the juvenal bird, they should be way more pronounced Again, Greg's pictures are at: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/gallery/_from_others. A large number of my (unmodified) shots from this afternoon are at: http://picasaweb.google.com/greenfant/BonapartesGull. I also have a 28sec video clip of the feeding behavior just in case anybody is interested. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > From: gnorgren at earthlink.net > Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 19:36:11 -0700 > Subject: [obol] Gene Pool Gull. Jackson Bottoms WASH CO > > I spent plenty of time looking > at a small gull at the Gene Pool late > this afternoon. I can't find the remotest > reason for calling it anything but > BONAPARTE's. Could the other gull have > left, and a Bony appeared? More details > after I cook dinner. Lars Norgren > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. Check it out. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_SD_25GB_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090614/db05576a/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Jun 13 22:15:03 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 05:15:03 +0000 Subject: [obol] Cropping photos of rare birds Message-ID: Greetings All, This is for all you who like to document rare birds and get your images published in North American Birds and elsewhere on actual paper. Please save your high resolution original photos of rare birds. For the purposes of North American Birds, for which I serve as a Regional Editor (Oregon and Washington Region), the photo editor informs me that digital images in files smaller than 0.5MB (or 500KB) are all but useless when printed. They may look great on your computer monitor, but they will not reproduce well on paper. I consistently get photo submissions that have been cropped to the point where they are no more than 50-100KB in size. Files this small will only look good in print if they are about the size of a small postage stamp. I know there is a temptation to make the bird as big as possible, I do it myself, but we are missing out on many opportunities to publish important photos. Last spring I actually resorted to taking a photograph of a small file picture that I had up on my monitor. Using this method I was able to create a larger file image of the Red-billed Tropicbird photographed off of Florence by Larry Hawley. Thankfully, the burlap look of the monitor feedback does not show up in the printed image. This may well be the first and hopefully last use of digi-monitoring. First state records require extraordinary effort. Thanks, Dave Irons Regional Editor North American Birds (Oregon and Washington Region) _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090614/02f69c61/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sat Jun 13 22:15:55 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 01:15:55 -0400 Subject: [obol] Jackson Bottom birds, Hillsboro (Washington Co) Message-ID: Also at Jackson Bottom this afternoon were a fly-by American Bittern, a Spotted Sandpiper with chick, a Lazuli Bunting (singing from the northern end of the Clear Water Services parking lot) and a drake BLUE-WINGED TEAL (seen by Lars and me at the Gene Pool). Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090614/9044e97c/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Jun 13 22:21:26 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 22:21:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] mystery shorebird at Jackson Bottom Message-ID: <42ebeb6f1bb42eb4e813182ee2b288d3@earthlink.net> David Irons was curious about a shorebird in one of Stefan's gull pictures. I'm on dial up and probably won't look for the image myself. I saw numerous Killdeer and some Spotted Sandpipers there. I was struck by the similarity in size between the Killdeer and Bony. I was also amazed how close the sizes of the Bony and Spotty appeared. Perhaps I wasn't looking at a Spotted Sandpiper. Lars Norgren From g_g_allin at hotmail.com Sat Jun 13 22:25:02 2009 From: g_g_allin at hotmail.com (John Puschock) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 05:25:02 +0000 Subject: [obol] Cropping photos of rare birds In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Howdy, To follow up on this subject, I believe that North American Birds, and most other publications, print photos at 300 dpi (dots per inch), which means a photo that's 300 pixels x 300 pixels will show up as 1 inch x 1 inch in the magazine. Simply put, the more pixels, the better. John Puschock Seattle, WA g_g_allin at hotmail.com http://www.birdtreks.com & http://www.zbirdtours.com From: llsdirons at msn.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 05:15:03 +0000 Subject: [obol] Cropping photos of rare birds Greetings All, This is for all you who like to document rare birds and get your images published in North American Birds and elsewhere on actual paper. Please save your high resolution original photos of rare birds. For the purposes of North American Birds, for which I serve as a Regional Editor (Oregon and Washington Region), the photo editor informs me that digital images in files smaller than 0.5MB (or 500KB) are all but useless when printed. They may look great on your computer monitor, but they will not reproduce well on paper. Dave Irons Regional Editor North American Birds (Oregon and Washington Region) Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. See how. _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090614/8fbb2227/attachment.html From dhogaza at pacifier.com Sat Jun 13 22:53:30 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 22:53:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cropping photos of rare birds In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On Jun 13, 2009, at 10:15 PM, David Irons wrote: > > This is for all you who like to document rare birds and get your > images published in North American Birds and elsewhere on actual > paper. Please save your high resolution original photos of rare > birds. For the purposes of North American Birds, for which I serve > as a Regional Editor (Oregon and Washington Region), the photo > editor informs me that digital images in files smaller than 0.5MB > (or 500KB) are all but useless when printed. They may look great on > your computer monitor, but they will not reproduce well on paper. > > I consistently get photo submissions that have been cropped to the > point where they are no more than 50-100KB in size. Files this small > will only look good in print if they are about the size of a small > postage stamp. I know there is a temptation to make the bird as big > as possible, I do it myself, but we are missing out on many > opportunities to publish important photos. You're confusing cropping with compression. A full-frame scan of a 35mm slide compressed at high quality to a couple hundred KB JPEG looks fine up to about a 1/4 page or so. A 500KB JPEG is adequate for a full-sized magazine cover for most magazines. A 10x crop blown up to a 500KB JPEG will still look like a 10x blown- up fuzzball. And, yes, I've been published. Many times. Worldwide. Covers, books, magazines, blah blah. Most birders photograph with lenses too short and of too poor quality to take top-quality images (sharpness-wise), though not having been to malheur in spring for about five years, I was pleasantly surprised at the number of birders photographing with good glass when I was there in May. But still, nothing can compensate for a frame-filling image, and good camera support. All things equal, a top-quality lens shot with a camera on a tripod's going to be considerably sharper than one taken with a hand-held 100-400 zoom, even with IS. > > Last spring I actually resorted to taking a photograph of a small > file picture that I had up on my monitor. Using this method I was > able to create a larger file image of the Red-billed Tropicbird > photographed off of Florence by Larry Hawley. Thankfully, the burlap > look of the monitor feedback does not show up in the printed image. > This may well be the first and hopefully last use of digi- > monitoring. First state records require extraordinary effort. This is totally bogus. This doesn't add resolution. Up-resolution in photoshop (elements as well as the full-blown beast) would do far, far better, and can even compensate for lens softness to a very limited extent. This can actually add apparent resolution through extrapolation and yield a better print result than the original small file. Photographing it on a monitor is going to reduce resolution of the result, no matter how large the file. This is just a matter of optics - every lens placed between a subject and the final printed result will reduce resolution. There's no getting around it. The physics of optics ensures this. If anyone needs help with generating an adequate file for a photo submission for a significant record, contact me, I'm more than willing to give advice. And printers/older photo-editors aren't particularly knowledgible about this stuff, so I'm not surprised at the feedback David Irons has been given. I've had printers tell a publisher that my high-quality JPEG isn't good enough, my response being to then take the JPEG, convert it to TIFF, send it back, and have the printer say "oh, nice big multi-megabyte file! Perfect!", even though the TIFF is simply a pixel-by-pixel uncompressed copy of the original JPEG which they could've done themselves (or have let the printing software do directly). As time goes on, more and more of them are up to speed, but don't take their word as gospel. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From dhogaza at pacifier.com Sat Jun 13 22:57:11 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 22:57:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cropping photos of rare birds In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <6A359AD1-8BF5-42A0-AC3D-394C69F746CA@pacifier.com> On Jun 13, 2009, at 10:25 PM, John Puschock wrote: > > To follow up on this subject, I believe that North American Birds, > and most other publications, print photos at 300 dpi (dots per > inch), which means a photo that's 300 pixels x 300 pixels will show > up as 1 inch x 1 inch in the magazine. Simply put, the more pixels, > the better. Actually the more brain cells the better :) I've had publishers tell me this all the time. I just upres my files and lie, as does any other regularly publishing photographer who has to deal with ignorant publishers. Fortunately, the knowledge on the printer/publisher end is much higher than it was even five years ago. But as David pointed out, photographing a shot from a computer monitor then shipping that off (presumably because the digital sensor had enough pixels to generate the needed size file) will make them happy even though doing so actually *reduces* resolution tremendously. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From tjanzen at comcast.net Sat Jun 13 23:03:34 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 23:03:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] late RBA: Indigo Bunting in Jefferson Co. Message-ID: <20090614060409.D83E3A8239@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear All, One of my colleagues at work told me several days ago that he heard from someone else that there had been an INDIGO BUNTING at Lake Billy Chinook about 10 days or so ago. It was apparently seen by multiple people and he said that some people from the local "Audubon Society" had come to see the bird. I got the impression that the bird was near a campground, possibly at Cove Palisades State Park, but he didn't give me any more specific information as to the location other than to say that it was at Lake Billy Chinook. I haven't been able to find anything about this on OBOL. Does anyone else have any more details on this situation? I can try to learn more details from my colleague if anyone is interested in this report. Sincerely, Tim Janzen Portland From dhogaza at pacifier.com Sat Jun 13 23:04:55 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 23:04:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cropping photos of rare birds In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <715DEB32-EC24-41F0-9800-1F957899072A@pacifier.com> On Jun 13, 2009, at 10:15 PM, David Irons wrote: > > This is for all you who like to document rare birds and get your > images published in North American Birds and elsewhere on actual > paper. Oh, just to make sure it's clear, I'm not annoyed at David for making this statement. It's FUD and ignorance by printers on the low-end publishing end that annoy the hell out of me (and have been for the last decade). The day that one can tell the difference between a great, sharp image upres'd to their favorite imagined megapixel size vs. an "original" of that size will be the day I change my mind. Unless the original is taken by something like a full-frame Nikon D3 or Canon 1DS Mark III (at around $8K, probably not the walking-around camera of choice for your average birder), on a tripod, with the highest quality lens you can get. Note that back in the early days of digital SLRs many magazines were demanding up to 25MB or so image files, even for partial-page repro, when the cameras were only 4MB or so. Every shooter on the planet who'd switched to digital simply blew up their files in photoshop and kept quiet. Yet Sports Illustrated - a high-end photo venue in terms of image quality - was publishing their covers from JPEGs generated by 4MB Canon 1D Model 1 bodies and beating high-speed 35mm film in terms of quality by doing so. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From dhogaza at pacifier.com Sat Jun 13 23:08:15 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 23:08:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cropping photos of rare birds In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <21A0FB81-D6D7-4E25-935D-7118812351E2@pacifier.com> On Jun 13, 2009, at 10:53 PM, Don Baccus wrote: > I've had printers tell a publisher that my high-quality > JPEG isn't good enough, my response being to then take the JPEG, > convert it to TIFF, send it back, and have the printer say "oh, nice > big multi-megabyte file! Perfect!", Should've added "charged for my time, the CD required for burning as the resulting TIFF was too large to e-mail, and for postage, plus a profit margin and an annoyance penalty" ... ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From carolk at viclink.com Sat Jun 13 23:34:58 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 23:34:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Corvallis Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Message-ID: <000701c9ecba$434901a0$8c76fea9@home> OBOL: It's been nearly a month since Rich Hoyer posted his sighting of a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher on the Dixon Creek Trail in north Corvallis. Carol had printed off his directions, and today we made an attempt to find the place. We discovered that we needed to take Walnut Blvd. to 29 Street and turn north past a tennis court to find the Timberhill Athletic Center. Once we parked, it was easy for find the paved walk that led north to the nice bridge over Dixon Creek. We readily followed the wood chip/tarp/dirt path north through a meadow for ~0.25 mile. It curved west at the north end of the meadow, and we had to hop a muddy little first side creek. Only a short ways further we found the other smaller wet ditch almost dry. Just beyond this ditch as the trail began to rise, we saw a tiny bird fly south on the east side of the trail. It had a long tail and flitted. It landed behind a leaf, moved quickly to the next oak behind some moss, then flitted on into an oak with lots of moss. It seemed to show a flash-o-blue. We discussed it and felt quite sure that we had found Rich's Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. We agreed we'd like a better look, but we were ready to "count" it. Then Carol spotted a tiny bird flitting back over the same course as the first bird had followed. It skipped from tree to tree in the same manner. It was small, with a long tail. It was brown. Carol saw it go to a hanging sock nest in a rosebush, about at the spot where the first bird had come from. Over the next 15 or so minutes we watched a Bushtit make multiple trips over the same course, north to south, south to north. We changed our minds about counting a gnatcatcher. The Dixon Creek Trail looks like a fine birding location. We recommend it. If you go to the site to look, you will find four woody plants extending eastward from the trail, just past the small wet ditch: a gooseberry, a poison oak, a crabapple, and a rosebush. The bushtit nest is head-high on the east side of the rosebush, which puts it right were Rich saw his bird. We're not saying what Rich saw. That was a month ago. Good birding, Paul T. Sullivan Carol Karlen --------------------------------- Corvallis Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Rich Hoyer calliope at theriver.com Fri May 15 17:25:20 PDT 2009 Friday, May 15 I just returned from a jog up the Dixon Creek trail in northern Corvallis where I found a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER. It was calling on its own, but I pished and whistled to get a visual on it in case my ears were fooling me. Incidentally, a Western Screech-Owl started calling back almost instantaneously. The gnatcatcher popped into sight within a few seconds, so I was able to continue on my jog. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was unrecorded in Benton County as of 1999 (that's the latest edition of Birds of Benton County I have). Does anyone know of records since then? The trail begins as a very wide sidewalk on the east side of the Timberhill Athletic Center, and where the pavement ends, the trail crosses Dixon Creek over a nice bridge. The bird was about 750 yards up the trail beyond the end of the paved portion. The first part of the trail is rather wet and muddy in a couple of spots but soon turns to very nice gravel and then is tarp-lined. Beyond that it becomes dirt. The trail crosses the the first side creek, then a smaller wet ditch, and then the gnatcatcher was calling about 20 yards above this second ditch and about 30 yards off to the east. I created a Google map with a blue marker where the bird was. http://tinyurl.com/pvl5zc Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Sat Jun 13 23:37:00 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 23:37:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gene Pool Gull is a Bonaparte's In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <2BAFC2E1-A78C-4F90-A491-4ADC2DE53BBA@gmail.com> I have been with a group of birders all weekend that were in town from all over the country. We finally had time to look at the photos tonight that we had only had time to glance at on the camera in harsh light and all agree that we were mistaken. We were too busy chatting having not seen each other in a long time, and didn't spend enough time studying it. It is in an odd plumage, looked dumpy at first glance, which set us off on the wrong track. At the time when it was at the back of the pond it looked much bigger than it actually was. Knowing the rarity of Franklin's Gull we did talk about needing to eliminate Bonaparte's, but obviously talked ourselves into Franklin's. It just goes to show that groups of people, even very good birders, under the right circumstances can be distracted for whatever reason, and can blow it. Stefan, thanks for taking so much time to study the Bonaparte's. Shawneen Finnegan Portland From willclemons at yahoo.com Sun Jun 14 08:42:31 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 08:42:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: White Pelicans and Bonaparte's Gulls ramain Message-ID: <20797.9743.qm@web55102.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Carol Ledford, my Mom (Olive) and I birded the River "S" Unit at Ridgefield NWR (~4mi W of I-5 at Exit 14 in SW Washington; http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ ). I was there from about 8:15Am until around 3:30PM. Highlights: AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: Two were on Rest Lake all day Saturday. These have been there for a couple of days. The original group of 23 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS reported by Jim Danzenbaker on June 5, have moved on. MOSQUITOS: Be warned and perhaps take protection! These little girls are forming blood sucking gangs, and are looking to get up close and way too personal. BLUE-WINGED TEAL: We saw at least 8 drakes and a few hens, you just need to keep an eye out as they are not usually out in the middle of ponds, rather at the edges, and on narrow waterways. BONAPARTE'S GULL: Four were on Rest Lake Saturday (none in breeding plumage). BONAPARTE'S GULLS have been there for more than a week now. YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: Still being seen at S Quigley Lake, but babies are almost fledged, so parents are ranging wider. They are also being seen more at Long Lake now. BULLOCK'S ORIOLE: The nesting pair still feeding young between R/R tracks and the entrance bridge about 30 feet above the center of the road, and 8 feet or so after the bridge railing begins. We watched both parents bring food to the nest. There is also a pair near the entrance to the Kiwa Trail in the trees behind the trail map billboard. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores Complete list of 64 species seen / heard: Pied-billed Grebe AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN American Bittern Great Blue Heron Great Egret Turkey Vulture Canada Goose Wood Duck (some seen w/babies) Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard BLUE-WINGED TEAL Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler (only a few seen) REDHEAD (only 1 seen) Ring-necked Duck (only 2 seen) Ruddy Duck (2 drakes, 1 hen on S Quigley) Osprey Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Virginia Rail (heard only) Sora (heard only) American Coot Killdeer Wilson's Snipe BONAPARTE'S GULL Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Vaux's Swift Red-breasted Sapsucker (still feeding young at nest near R/R) Northern Flicker Western Wood-Pewee Willow Flycatcher Pacific-slope Flycatcher Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Common Raven (1 seen being chased near The Blind) Tree Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch (heard only - entrance canyon) White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren House Wren Marsh Wren (heard only) (very low numbers this season) Swainson's Thrush American Robin European Starling Cedar Waxwing YELLOW WARBLER (at least 3 seen/heard on Kiwa) Common Yellowthroat Wilson's Warbler (entrance canyon) Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Black-headed Grosbeak Red-winged Blackbird YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (still feeding young between R/R and bridge) House Finch American Goldfinch Species seen by others but not by me: American Kestrel by Linda Forsgren Great Horned Owl by Brad Manchas From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Jun 14 09:34:51 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:34:51 +0000 Subject: [obol] Sapsucker ID Challenge Answer now up at BirdFellow.com Message-ID: This morning I posted the Sapsucker ID Challenge answer the the BirdFellow.com online journal. Dave Irons _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090614/2bcdc968/attachment.html From msgellerman at gmail.com Sun Jun 14 11:17:46 2009 From: msgellerman at gmail.com (Mike Gellerman) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 11:17:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mike added you as a friend on MyLife! Message-ID: <1228209693.234374@gmail.com> Mike Gellerman added you as a friend on MyLife(TM). Please confirm you know Mike so we can connect you. Do You Know Mike? YES - Connect with Mike, and see who's searching for you http://smtp26.mail.reunion.com:80/track?type=click&mailingid=68800&messageid=9300&databaseid=1238061940&serial=1228209693&emailid=obol at oregonbirdwatch.org&userid=234374&extra=&&&2002&&&http://www.mylife.com/showInviteRegistration.do?uid=362250493&invitee=obol at oregonbirdwatch.org NO - I don't know Mike http://smtp26.mail.reunion.com:80/track?type=click&mailingid=68800&messageid=9300&databaseid=1238061940&serial=1228209693&emailid=obol at oregonbirdwatch.org&userid=234374&extra=&&&2000&&&http://www.mylife.com/showInviteRegistration.do?unsub=true&invitee=obol at oregonbirdwatch.org&uid=362250493 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MyLife - Find everyone. All in one place.(TM) You have received this email because a MyLife member sent an invitation to this email address. For assistance, please refer to our FAQ or Contact Us: http://smtp26.mail.reunion.com:80/track?type=click&mailingid=68800&messageid=9300&databaseid=1238061940&serial=1228209693&emailid=obol at oregonbirdwatch.org&userid=234374&extra=&&&2001&&&http://help.mylife.com/ Our Address: 2118 Wilshire Blvd., Box 1008, Santa Monica, CA 90403-5784 Copyright (c) 2009 MyLife.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090614/1b348154/attachment.html From birdboy at bkpix.com Sun Jun 14 11:43:29 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:43:29 +1300 Subject: [obol] Mt. Ashland Rock Wren 6/14 Message-ID: Hi birders, This morning I found a singing ROCK WREN at the summit of Mt. Ashland (Jackson Co.). According to Massey and Vroman (2003), there are several summer records from this location, but it's a rare bird in Jackson Co. Good birding, Noah Strycker -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090615/22934cbe/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Jun 14 13:14:06 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 13:14:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mt. Ashland Rock Wren 6/14 References: Message-ID: <868B84EC946D476DA722DF636E8EF8A2@Warbler> Hi Noah, As you noted, Rock Wrens have been found in the Mt. Ashland area before. Recently however (06-12-09), Gary Shaffer reported one as noted below on the Rogue Valley Audubon web page. "Jim Lavaudais, Norm Barrett and myself found our first Rock Wren of the year off Conde Creek Road 1.5 miles from Dead Indian Memorial Road. It was in the rock quarry at the end of the road thru the gravel area parking." They are found in Jackson County, but are considered " very local" in distribution (2009 Jackson County Checklist).. Dennis Hi birders, This morning I found a singing ROCK WREN at the summit of Mt. Ashland (Jackson Co.). According to Massey and Vroman (2003), there are several summer records from this location, but it's a rare bird in Jackson Co. Good birding, Noah Strycker -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090614/e5a06a86/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Jun 14 13:57:37 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:57:37 +0000 Subject: [obol] Mt. Ashland Rock Wren 6/14 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Greetings All, I know that many moons ago, when I was 10-11 years old, we saw multiple Rock Wrens on Roxy Anne Butte during a Portland Audubon weekend in the Rogue Valley. Otis Swisher, with able assistance from a teenage Craig Roberts, led the trip. My impression was that Rock Wrens were locally uncommon at selected dry rocky sites in the area. Perhaps that is no longer the case. I haven't been to Roxy Anne Butte in years and I never hear people talk about birding there anymore. Seems like someone told me that it is all developed now with houses all over the place and that it is no longer good birding. On that same trip I saw the only Black-chinned Sparrow that I've seen in Oregon. Dave Irons Eugene, OR Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:43:29 +1300 From: birdboy at bkpix.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Mt. Ashland Rock Wren 6/14 Hi birders, This morning I found a singing ROCK WREN at the summit of Mt. Ashland (Jackson Co.). According to Massey and Vroman (2003), there are several summer records from this location, but it's a rare bird in Jackson Co. Good birding, Noah Strycker _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_BR_life_in_synch_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090614/e2048b05/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Jun 14 14:33:40 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:33:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Roxy Anne birds References: Message-ID: <513B86EEB905466F9B044596BFCC7247@Warbler> Dave and Others, Roxy Anne is a separate chapter in the book Noah mentions and no Rock Wrens were found during the surveys for the book (years around 1999). Also, the upper part of Roxy Anne has managed to stay house-free so far. There has been a lot of development of the lower part. The upper part has remained somewhat natural. Part of the south face was in a fire many years back now and the middle portion was clear of undergrowth with the idea of preventing future fires. Shrub removal had an impact on those species that need shrubs as could be imagined. The last time I visited it, the mixed hardwood-conifer forest at the top remained pretty much undisturbed. Dennis Greetings All, I know that many moons ago, when I was 10-11 years old, we saw multiple Rock Wrens on Roxy Anne Butte during a Portland Audubon weekend in the Rogue Valley. Otis Swisher, with able assistance from a teenage Craig Roberts, led the trip. My impression was that Rock Wrens were locally uncommon at selected dry rocky sites in the area. Perhaps that is no longer the case. I haven't been to Roxy Anne Butte in years and I never hear people talk about birding there anymore. Seems like someone told me that it is all developed now with houses all over the place and that it is no longer good birding. On that same trip I saw the only Black-chinned Sparrow that I've seen in Oregon. Dave Irons Eugene, OR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:43:29 +1300 From: birdboy at bkpix.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Mt. Ashland Rock Wren 6/14 Hi birders, This morning I found a singing ROCK WREN at the summit of Mt. Ashland (Jackson Co.). According to Massey and Vroman (2003), there are several summer records from this location, but it's a rare bird in Jackson Co. Good birding, Noah Strycker -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090614/d0e7a2f3/attachment.html From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Sun Jun 14 14:47:19 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:47:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Cropping photos of rare birds Message-ID: <187537.4797.qm@web30405.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I agree with the Mr. Baccus about the technical issues involved in digital imagery.? I too, routinely "up-res" digital images.? Having said that, it is a simple matter to save any image that has been cropped or otherwise enhanced with a different name than the original file.? This will preserve the original whole file, which is then readily available for submission to those who demand large and or unenhanced files.? Maitreya Subject: Re: Cropping photos of rare birds From: Don Baccus Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 22:53:30 -0700 On Jun 13, 2009, at 10:15 PM, David Irons wrote: > > This is for all you who like to document rare birds and get your > images published in North American Birds and elsewhere on actual > paper. Please save your high resolution original photos of rare > birds. For the purposes of North American Birds, for which I serve > as a Regional Editor (Oregon and Washington Region), the photo > editor informs me that digital images in files smaller than 0.5MB > (or 500KB) are all but useless when printed. They may look great on > your computer monitor, but they will not reproduce well on paper. > > I consistently get photo submissions that have been cropped to the > point where they are no more than 50-100KB in size. Files this small > will only look good in print if they are about the size of a small > postage stamp. I know there is a temptation to make the bird as big > as possible, I do it myself, but we are missing out on many > opportunities to publish important photos. You're confusing cropping with compression. A full-frame scan of a 35mm slide compressed at high quality to a couple hundred KB JPEG looks fine up to about a 1/4 page or so. A 500KB JPEG is adequate for a full-sized magazine cover for most magazines. A 10x crop blown up to a 500KB JPEG will still look like a 10x blown- up fuzzball. And, yes, I've been published. Many times. Worldwide. Covers, books, magazines, blah blah. Most birders photograph with lenses too short and of too poor quality to take top-quality images (sharpness-wise), though not having been to malheur in spring for about five years, I was pleasantly surprised at the number of birders photographing with good glass when I was there in May. But still, nothing can compensate for a frame-filling image, and good camera support. All things equal, a top-quality lens shot with a camera on a tripod's going to be considerably sharper than one taken with a hand-held 100-400 zoom, even with IS. > > Last spring I actually resorted to taking a photograph of a small > file picture that I had up on my monitor. Using this method I was > able to create a larger file image of the Red-billed Tropicbird > photographed off of Florence by Larry Hawley. Thankfully, the burlap > look of the monitor feedback does not show up in the printed image. > This may well be the first and hopefully last use of digi- > monitoring. First state records require extraordinary effort. This is totally bogus. This doesn't add resolution. Up-resolution in photoshop (elements as well as the full-blown beast) would do far, far better, and can even compensate for lens softness to a very limited extent. This can actually add apparent resolution through extrapolation and yield a better print result than the original small file. Photographing it on a monitor is going to reduce resolution of the result, no matter how large the file. This is just a matter of optics - every lens placed between a subject and the final printed result will reduce resolution. There's no getting around it. The physics of optics ensures this. If anyone needs help with generating an adequate file for a photo submission for a significant record, contact me, I'm more than willing to give advice. And printers/older photo-editors aren't particularly knowledgible about this stuff, so I'm not surprised at the feedback David Irons has been given. I've had printers tell a publisher that my high-quality JPEG isn't good enough, my response being to then take the JPEG, convert it to TIFF, send it back, and have the printer say "oh, nice big multi-megabyte file! Perfect!", even though the TIFF is simply a pixel-by-pixel uncompressed copy of the original JPEG which they could've done themselves (or have let the printing software do directly). As time goes on, more and more of them are up to speed, but don't take their word as gospel. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org ? ?Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.? Jonathan Livingston Seagull -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090614/8d8c0a7d/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Jun 14 15:21:10 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 15:21:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] BBS- my twentieth year Message-ID: <4A3577D6.1010201@pacifier.com> I ran my BBS route this morning under cloudy skies and temperatures in the high 40's. This is my 2oth year doing the BBS. I've posted an essay in which I wax nostalgic (sort of) at: http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11323 My daylist follws: Wood Duck 3 Mallard 3 Great Blue Heron 3 Turkey Vulture 1 Osprey 1 Bald Eagle 1 Red-tailed Hawk 4 Band-tailed Pigeon 5 Rufous Hummingbird 6 Belted Kingfisher 3 Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 Downy Woodpecker 2 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher 3 Western Wood-Pewee 2 Willow Flycatcher 12 Hammond's Flycatcher 2 Pac-slope Flycatcher 37 Warbling Vireo 10 Steller's Jay 2 American Crow 4 Common Raven 10 Purple Martin 12 Tree Swallow 4 Violet-green Swallow 10 N Rough-winged Swallow 5 Cliff Swallow 8 Barn Swallow 36 Black-capped Chickadee 4 Ch-backed Chickadee 22 Brown Creeper 1 Winter Wren 23 Marsh Wren 5 Golden-crowned Kinglet 23 Swainson's Thrush 41 American Robin 20 Varied Thrush 4 European Starling 2 Cedar Waxwing 35 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 17 Black-thr Gray Warbler 6 Hermit Warbler 20 MacGillivray's Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 11 Wilson's Warbler 28 Western Tanager 4 Spotted Towhee 1 Savannah Sparrow 9 Song Sparrow 21 White-crowned Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco 4 Black-headed Grosbeak 4 Red-winged Blackbird 7 Brown-headed Cowbird 9 Purple Finch 1 House Finch 3 Red Crossbill 8 American Goldfinch 10 Evening Grosbeak 3 House Sparrow 1 Total Species:62 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Natives, natives and natives http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/10664 From brazzzle at gmail.com Sun Jun 14 15:34:35 2009 From: brazzzle at gmail.com (Braz) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 15:34:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Roxy Anne birds In-Reply-To: <513B86EEB905466F9B044596BFCC7247@Warbler> References: <513B86EEB905466F9B044596BFCC7247@Warbler> Message-ID: <7ad948330906141534i596fcc82l4089118abf9ed07c@mail.gmail.com> Another Jackson County Rock Wren was viewed two days ago. Posted on the Rogue Valley Audubon website message board. The message board is found here: http://tinyurl.com/knj6mo click above * * * * * - Mark Brazelton* *Medford, Oregon* * * * * On Sun, Jun 14, 2009 at 2:33 PM, Dennis P. Vroman wrote: > Dave and Others, > > Roxy Anne is a separate chapter in the book Noah mentions and no Rock Wrens > were found during the surveys for the book (years around 1999). Also, the > upper part of Roxy Anne has managed to stay house-free so far. There has > been a lot of development of the lower part. The upper part has remained > somewhat natural. Part of the south face was in a fire many years back now > and the middle portion was clear of undergrowth with the idea of preventing > future fires. Shrub removal had an impact on those species that need shrubs > as could be imagined. The last time I visited it, the mixed > hardwood-conifer forest at the top remained pretty much undisturbed. > > Dennis > > > Greetings All, > > I know that many moons ago, when I was 10-11 years old, we saw multiple > Rock Wrens on Roxy Anne Butte during a Portland Audubon weekend in the Rogue > Valley. Otis Swisher, with able assistance from a teenage Craig Roberts, led > the trip. My impression was that Rock Wrens were locally uncommon at > selected dry rocky sites in the area. Perhaps that is no longer the case. I > haven't been to Roxy Anne Butte in years and I never hear people talk about > birding there anymore. Seems like someone told me that it is all developed > now with houses all over the place and that it is no longer good birding. On > that same trip I saw the only Black-chinned Sparrow that I've seen in > Oregon. > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > > ------------------------------ > Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:43:29 +1300 > From: birdboy at bkpix.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Mt. Ashland Rock Wren 6/14 > > Hi birders, > > This morning I found a singing ROCK WREN at the summit of Mt. Ashland > (Jackson Co.). According to Massey and Vroman (2003), there are several > summer records from this location, but it's a rare bird in Jackson Co. > > Good birding, > > Noah Strycker > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090614/f040a5e2/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Jun 13 08:41:22 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 08:41:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird books for sale (long) Message-ID: I am assisting an Oregon birder in the sale of a personal library. This contains a number of very rare items as well as practical Northwest materials. Discounts available for multiple item orders. Feel free to haggle over the price if you don't like it. ** Prices include shipping ** -- Alan Contreras 795 E 29th Ave EUGENE, OREGON 97405 acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos Author, Title, Year, Description and condition, price Beebe, Field Studies of the Falconiformes of British Columbia, 1974, Plastic spiral, 163 pgs., $9 Birds of Jackson County Oregon: Distribution & Abundance, 2001, Paper checklist, 28 pgs., $4 Blackwell, Great Basin Wildflowers, 2006, Flexible cover, 281 pgs., $7 Brooks & Swarth, Distributional List Birds of British Columbia, 1925, Paper, 200 pgs., $15 Bulletin of the Nuttall Orn. Club. Oct 1879 and Jul 1879. Both parts of Mearns?s annotated list of the birds of the Fort Klamath area. Originals, VG condition, $90 for pair Campbell et. Al., The Birds of British Columbia, vol.'s I/II/III, 1990, The first three volumes of the 4-volume definitive reference, with djs. Minor scuffing and nicks. Hardcover, 1843 pgs., $235 Carl et. Al., The Fresh-water Fishes of British Columbia, 1967, Paperback, 192 pgs., $6 Carl et. Al., The Fresh-water Fishes of British Columbia, 1973, Paperback, 192 pgs., $6 Carl, Guide to Marine Life of British Columbia, 1966, Paperback, 135 pgs. First edition, $6 Carl, Guide to Marine Life of British Columbia, 1975, Paperback, 135 pgs. Fifth printing, $6 Carl, The Reptiles of British Columbia, 1968, Paperback, 65 pgs., $6 Coues, Key to North American Birds (Sixth Edition), 1927, 2 vols hardbound. Contains tipped-in 1905 signature page of William L. Finley in both volumes. $89 for pair. Cowan & Guiguet, The Mammals of British Columbia, 1956, Paperback, 413 pgs., $6 Dickey, Familiar Birds of the Pacific Northwest, 1935, Flexible cover, 241 pgs., $5 Dwight, Gulls, 1925, hardbound over original wraps, Ira Gabrielson?s personal copy of the scarce original. $250 Eastman, Eating of Tree Seeds by Birds in Central Oregon, 1960, Very hard to find in the original. Paper, 24 pgs., $19 Eliot, Birds of the Pacific Coast, 1923, Hardcover, 211 pgs, $5 Evanich, Birder's Guide to Oregon, 1990, Plastic spiral, 288 pgs., $8 Farner, The Birds of Crater Lake National Park, 1952, This remains an excellent reference. Paperback, 187 pgs., $16 Fitchen, Birding Portland and Multnomah County, 2004, Plastic spiral, 70 pgs., $7 Florence Merriam (Bailey), A-Birding on a Bronco, 1896, The extremely rare classic of her visit to southern California in the late 1800s and the bird experiences she had there. Hardcover, 226 pgs. Very Good, with a somewhat faded red cover., $120 Gabrielson & Lincoln, Birds of Alaska, 1959, Very good, no dj. Hardcover, 922 pgs., $69 Second copy ex-lib, not quite as nice $60 Grinnell & Wythe, Directory to Bird-Life of S.F. Bay Region, 1927, Paper, 200 pgs., $17 Grinnell, A Distributional List of the Birds of California, 1915, Paper, 200 pgs., $17 Hoffmann, Birds of the Pacific States, 1927, The classic of literary regional ornithology, VG condition with moderate scuffing of spine. Hardcover, 353 pgs., $24 Holmgren, Chinese Pheasants, Oregon Pioneers, 1964, The best short history of pheasant introductions in Oregon. Paperback, 38 pgs., $7 Jewett & Gabrielson, Birds of the Portland Area, Oregon, 1929, Paper, 54 pgs., $15 Jewett et. Al., Birds of Washington State, 1953, Hardcover, 767 pgs. Includes pull out map, $59 Jobanek, Bibliography of Oregon Bird Literature Before 1935, 1997, Hardcover, 481 pgs., $39 Lethaby, A Bird Finding Guide to Alaska, 1994, Paperback, 151 pgs., $5 Littlefield, Birds of Malheur NWR, Oregon, 1990, Paperback, 294 pgs., $8 Lord, A First Book upon the Birds of Oregon & Washington, 1913, 3rd Edition, very good condition. Hardcover, 308 pgs., $32 Merriam (Bailey), Birds of Village and Field, 1898, Hardcover, 406 pgs., $12 Merriam (Bailey), Birds Through an Opera-Glass, 1889, Hardcover, 225 pgs, $25 Merriam Bailey, Among the Birds in the Grand Canyon, 1939, Hardcover, 211 pgs., $25 Merriam Bailey, Handbook of Birds of the Western U.S., 1924, Hardcover, 590 pgs., $20 Morrison et. Al., Res. & Mgt of B-h Cowbird in Western Landscapes, 1999, Paperback, 312 pgs., $14 Morse, Trumpets in the West, 1961, The introduction of trumpeter Swans. Paper, 8 pgs., $5 Neff, Econ. Status of Woodpeckers in relation to Oregon Horticulture, 1928, The remarkable detailed study of woodpecker food habits, focused on w. Oregon. Very rare. Paper, 68 pgs., $39 North American Bird Bander, 1976, Paper, 50 pgs; Vol. 1 No. 1, $4 Northwest Naturalist: a Journal of Vertebrate Biology, 95-96, Misc. Vol 76 No. 1 & 2, Vol. 77 No. 1-3. Price per issue., $4 Patterson, Birds & Wildlife on the Columbia River Estuary, 1998, Plastic spiral, 86 pgs., $5 Paul, Out of Doors in the West, 1914, Hardcover, 256 pgs., $5 Paulson, Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest, 1993, Hardcover, 406 pgs., $19 Ridgway, Manual of North American Birds, 1900. 4th edition hardbound. Interior very good with stickers in front matter and minor markings. Cover somewhat stained and spotted, front hinge loose. Over 400 superb line illustrations in appendix. $40 Schmidt, Rare Birds of Oregon, 1989, Plastic spiral photocopy of original, 189 pgs., $7 Shelton, Distributional List of Birds of West Central Oregon, 1917, An exceptionally well-preserved copy of the original of this excellent regional ornithology. Rarely on the market. Paper, 51 pgs., $42 Stevenson, Key to the Nests of Pacific Coast Birds, 1942, Paper, 70 pgs., $22 Sudworth, Forest Trees of the Pacific Slope, 1908, Loose binding, paper, 441 pgs, $12 Summers, A Birder's Guide to the Klamath Basin, 1993, Plastic spiral, 85 pgs., $5 Szaro & Balda, Bird Community Dynamics in Ponderosa Pine, 1979, Paperback, 66 pgs., $9 Szczawinski & Hardy, Guide to Common Edible Plants of B.C., 1972, Paperback, 90 pgs., $6 Tice, Birders Guide to the Sewage Ponds of Oregon, , Plastic spiral, 92 pgs., $19 Western Bird Bander, , Misc. Vol 48 No. 1 - Vol 50 No. 4, Vol 22 No.4 - Vol. 23 No. 2. Price per issue., $4 Wheelock, Birds of California, 1916, Flexible cover, 578 pgs., $5 Wildlife and Vegetation of Unmanaged Douglas-Fir Forests, 1991, Hardcover, 533 pgs., $19 Woodcock, Annotated list of the Birds of Oregon. 1902. The original, rarely on the market. Very Good interior with a few minor marks, ex-lib cover taped on at spine and carries several markings. 117 page paper. $39 END From whoffman at peak.org Sun Jun 14 17:15:20 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:15:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <1EE2E4DCB1144A029DDB656E4143EF2C@D48XBZ51> Seawatch at Boiler Bay this morning, June 14, 2009 from 8:10 AM to 9:20 AM (I slept in). Weather: overcast, calm to variable light breeze. Ocean 2-3' swell, minimal wind waves. Everything was northbound unless otherwise noted. Common Loon 4 Pacific Loon 60 Red-throated loon 3 Loon sp. 50 Western Grebe 1 on water Sooty Shearwater 6 MANX/BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER 1 Southbound at 1 mile Brown Pelican 250 Pelagic Cormorant 50 on water and local movements Brandt's Cormorant 30 both directions Double-crested Corm. 3 Waterfowl 0 Black Oystercatcher 8 Western Gull 85 local Glaucous-winged Gull 5 immatures, not moving California Gull 40 not really moving Heermann's Gull 60 2 groups lit on the rocks for a while, the rest were N Caspian Tern 6 Common Murre 8,000 80% N Pigeon Guillemot 60 local Marbled Murrelet 2 together on water Rhinoceros Auklet 75 mainly N, 20+ on the water TUFTED PUFFIN 2 1 N in large group of Murres, the other S, leading 5 murres. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090614/76ba523a/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sun Jun 14 17:16:50 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:16:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brant Message-ID: <2CBFC59B232D48099A3BE707C47A3E27@D48XBZ51> At 10 AM this morning (June 14) 16 very scruffy Black Brant were feeding on algae in the intertidal in the Marine Gardens at Otter Rock. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090614/4c672aa3/attachment.html From scre at aol.com Sun Jun 14 18:20:44 2009 From: scre at aol.com (scre at aol.com) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:20:44 -0400 Subject: [obol] Bayocean Spit-Tillamook summering birds Message-ID: <8CBBB6EA409EEFA-12E8-2E31@WEBMAIL-MZ17.sysops.aol.com> Not a lot at Bayocean spit on Tillamook Bay, on the incoming tide, but a few uncommon summering waterbirds.? ~20 Brant, 1 SY male Greater Scaup, and ~30 Whimbrels were of interest as all have been present for a few weeks.? No other shorebirds were present.? Netarts Bay had very little on it. David Vander Pluym Netarts, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090614/7cfe2363/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Jun 14 18:45:42 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:45:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Book signing event Message-ID: Dave Marshall and I will be signing our various bird books starting at 2 p.m. Saturday June 27 at Audubon House, 5151 NW Cornell Rd in Portland. I suspect that the "official" event will run til 3:00 or so; they have not given us a closing time. I'll probably stay til 4:00. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From justin.bosler at gmail.com Sun Jun 14 18:58:52 2009 From: justin.bosler at gmail.com (Justin Bosler) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:58:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brant In-Reply-To: <2CBFC59B232D48099A3BE707C47A3E27@D48XBZ51> References: <2CBFC59B232D48099A3BE707C47A3E27@D48XBZ51> Message-ID: <97d12a010906141858n72d89543y572f0ee046d8dfae@mail.gmail.com> Dear OBOL/Wayne, The 3 very scruffy BLACK BRANT reported by Vern last week continued yesterday, 13 June, at the Siuslaw River mouth off N. Jetty Rd. in Florence (Lane Co.). There were also 6 first-summer BONAPARTE'S GULLS foraging on the mud flats on the incoming tide. Aside from those presumed summering birds, there wasn't much else of interest. Good Birding, Justin Bosler Reedsport, OR On Sun, Jun 14, 2009 at 5:16 PM, Wayne Hoffman wrote: > > At 10 AM this morning (June 14)? 16 very scruffy Black Brant were feeding on algae in the intertidal?in the Marine Gardens at Otter Rock. > > Wayne > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sun Jun 14 19:45:55 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:45:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Grand Island and Amity, Yamhill Co Message-ID: Today Stefan Schlick and I birded several Yamhill Co sites. On Grand Island we followed up on Floyd Schrock's Red-eyed Vireo and walked into the woods until we heard singing, ultimately finding 3 singing males and getting a good look at one of them. We also heard the sounds of a Great Blue Heron rookery, probably not very large. Thanks to Floyd for details about the vireo site. There was no Vesper Sparrow at the spot where I previously found one. The irrigation lines had been shifted, and a no-till crop of unidentifiable cucurbits had sprouted in the field where it had been, so activity may have driven it off. At the Willamette Greenway around noon, a Common Nighthawk was flying just above the tree canopy. We found 75 or more Band-tailed Pigeons feeding on the ground in a filbert orchard the way Don Albright had reported recently. Near Amity, two male Yellow-headed Blackbirds were at the wetland below Briedwell Rd., as well as a pair of Cinnamon Teal, and some flightless young coots Pamela Johnston From fdlospalluto at gmail.com Sun Jun 14 20:29:15 2009 From: fdlospalluto at gmail.com (frank lospalluto) Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:29:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mt.Ashland Rock Wren Message-ID: <7330d47e0906142029i760bf757ybac33f1d1575a10@mail.gmail.com> Hey Noah and obolites- I live along Mt. Ashland Ski Rd. and have detected a Rock Wren sometime almost every summer in the rocks near the intersection with the Colestin Road the last decade or so. frank From uplandsandpiper at hotmail.com Sun Jun 14 22:20:50 2009 From: uplandsandpiper at hotmail.com (Tyler Hicks) Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:20:50 -0500 Subject: [obol] Smith & Bybee June 14 - New to Listserv Message-ID: Obolers,Hello. I recently moved to the area from Gunnison, Colorado by way of Fort Hood, Texas. I look forward to spending several productive years of birding and butterflying in the area. Today Sidra Blake and I stopped by Smith and Bybee. Nothing unusual but certainly a beautiful day to be in the field and many birds were feeding young or building nests.Pied-billed Grebe - several callingWood Duck - 20+Osprey - 1Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 Marsh Wren - 2Swainson's Thrush - 7Cedar Waxwings - several with youngYellow Warbler - ~15Bullock's Oriole - 2House Finch - many appear to be carotenoid deficient with orange/yellow plumageCheers,Tyler Hicks <><><><><><><><><><><><><><>Tyler L. Hicks Ph.D. Candidate Washington State University VancouverE-mail: tyler_hicks at wsu.eduWeb Page: http://thingswithwings.org<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>"We were certainly uncertain. At least, I'm pretty sure I am." - Modest Mouse _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090615/9b086d05/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Mon Jun 15 01:25:00 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:25:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brant In-Reply-To: <2CBFC59B232D48099A3BE707C47A3E27@D48XBZ51> References: <2CBFC59B232D48099A3BE707C47A3E27@D48XBZ51> Message-ID: Hi, It has been a good month for Brant reports in Lincoln County so far. But it is uncertain if this may be because of more observation effort, better reporting, or there are more Brant. Reports include: June 2-7 at Yachats (south of Newport): as many as 19 Brant (18 on June 2 and 19 on June 5)(Betty Bahn). June 8 at Seal Rocks (south of Newport): 2 Brant (Kitty Brigham). June 11 during 7:30-8:30 AM seawatch at Lost Creek State Park (south of Newport): two flocks of 5 Brant each flying north (David Bailey) June 11 at 7:45 AM at Yachats: 19 Brant took off and flew north (Betty Bahn). June 11 at 5:45 PM at Yaquina Head (north of Yaquina Head): 1 Brant (Wayne Hoffman). June 12: no Brant at Yaquina Bay embayments and 1 scruffy Brant at the rock shelf near the northwest corner of the Yaquina Bay Bridge (Range Bayer). June 14 at Marine Gardens at Otter Rock (north of Newport): 16 "very scruffy" Brant (Wayne Hoffman). One may wonder if some or all of the 16 that Wayne saw on June 14 were part of the 19 Betty Bahn noted at Yachats on June 5 and 11. There could have been some local movement. This year, we have a good number of Brant reports in early June, but Brant are often reported in Lincoln County in June. For example, during 1988-1992, Brant were recorded in 4 out of 5 years in early June and in all 5 years in late June (search for "Brant" at http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/jspui/bitstream/1957/8070/1/vol.%204%20pg.%20395-543.pdf). More recently, Brant were recorded in June in Lincoln County the past 3 years, with 7-11 Brant at Seal Rocks in late June 2006 (Kitty Brigham), an unspecified number at Yaquina Head in early and late June 2007 (Bureau of Land Management), and 13 Brant at Seal Rocks on 13 June 2008 (Kitty Brigham; Roy Lowe), and 19 at Otter Rock on 17 June 2008 (Don Stein & Dick Demarest). So the numbers reported this year so far are similar to those last year. Cheers, Range Bayer. See Observation Log link for International Brant Monitoring Project at http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/ for other Brant observations along the West Coast (this web site was down at the time of sending this email, so I was not able to post the above information). On Sun, Jun 14, 2009 at 5:16 PM, Wayne Hoffman wrote: > At 10 AM this morning (June 14)? 16 very scruffy Black Brant were feeding on > algae in the intertidal?in the Marine Gardens at Otter Rock. > > Wayne > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Jun 15 04:22:02 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:22:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Brant Message-ID: <561139.54985.qm@web45314.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Hi Range and obolers, Non-breeding Brant regularly oversummer in Coos Co. the past several years but the numbers vary. Lately I've seen a group of four in Charleston and four in Bandon also. We'll see if any of these birds lingering into July. Happy birding! Tim R Coos Bay --- On Mon, 6/15/09, Range Bayer wrote: > From: Range Bayer > Subject: Re: [obol] Brant > To: "Wayne Hoffman" , "Oregon Birders OnLine" > Cc: "Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing" > Date: Monday, June 15, 2009, 1:25 AM > Hi, > > ? ? It has been a good month for Brant reports in > Lincoln County so > far.? But it is uncertain if this may be because of > more observation > effort, better reporting, or there are more Brant.? > Reports include: > > June 2-7 at Yachats (south of Newport): as many as 19 Brant > (18 on > June 2 and 19 on June 5)(Betty Bahn). > June 8 at Seal Rocks (south of Newport): 2 Brant (Kitty > Brigham). > > June 11 during 7:30-8:30 AM seawatch at Lost Creek State > Park (south > of Newport): two flocks of 5 Brant each flying north (David > Bailey) > June 11 at 7:45 AM at Yachats: 19 Brant took off and flew > north (Betty Bahn). > June 11 at 5:45 PM at Yaquina Head (north of Yaquina Head): > 1 Brant > (Wayne Hoffman). > > June 12: no Brant at Yaquina Bay embayments and 1 scruffy > Brant at the > rock shelf near the northwest corner of the Yaquina Bay > Bridge (Range > Bayer). > June 14 at Marine Gardens at Otter Rock (north of Newport): > 16 "very > scruffy" Brant (Wayne Hoffman). > > One may wonder if some or all of the 16 that Wayne saw on > June 14 were > part of the 19 Betty Bahn noted at Yachats on June 5 and > 11.? There > could have been some local movement. > > This year, we have a good number of Brant reports in early > June, but > Brant are often reported in Lincoln County in June.? > For example, > during 1988-1992, Brant were recorded in 4 out of 5 years > in early > June and in all 5 years in late June (search for "Brant" > at > http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/jspui/bitstream/1957/8070/1/vol.%204%20pg.%20395-543.pdf). > More recently, Brant were recorded in June in Lincoln > County the past > 3 years, with 7-11 Brant at Seal Rocks in late June 2006 > (Kitty > Brigham), an unspecified number at Yaquina Head in early > and late June > 2007 (Bureau of Land Management), and 13 Brant at Seal > Rocks on 13 > June 2008 (Kitty Brigham; Roy Lowe), and 19 at Otter Rock > on 17 June > 2008 (Don Stein & Dick Demarest). > > So the numbers reported this year so far are similar to > those last year. > > Cheers, > > Range Bayer.? See Observation Log link for > International Brant > Monitoring Project at http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/ for other Brant > observations > along the West Coast (this web site was down at the time > of sending > this email, so I was not able to post the above > information). > > On Sun, Jun 14, 2009 at 5:16 PM, Wayne Hoffman > wrote: > > At 10 AM this morning (June 14)? 16 very scruffy > Black Brant were feeding on > > algae in the intertidal?in the Marine Gardens at > Otter Rock. > > > > Wayne > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Jun 15 07:08:44 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:08:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI: Grasshopper Sparrow off I-84? In-Reply-To: <007601c9e8cc$20da0020$f4c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> References: <007601c9e8cc$20da0020$f4c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Message-ID: A minor correction. Blalock Canyon Rd is Exit 129. 137 is Arlington. It was an easy 6.5 mile drive for me after leaving the freeway. HORNED LARKS by the hundreds once I got to the gentle terrain on top. A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was singing west of the fence described by Paul at 4:30 pm June 14 despite a fierce wind. About 100m north of the end of the public section of road (ie almost at its southern end) there is half-dozen/seven sage bushes standing alone in sort of a circle amidst the crested wheatgrass. The sparrow sang from the tallest of these bushes for quite awhile, long enough to get my scope set up and look at it. Then it flew 10-15m sw and landed in very short grass where it sang from the ground briefly. I heard a Long-billed Curlew off to the west as I started down the gravel road at its north end. At or near milepost 152 (well east of Arlington) I saw a curlew on the wing while at full freeway speed. The total detour if one continues east via Cedar Springs road is 24 miles. In future I'd probably return north on Blalock Canyon Road to the freeway. The landscape after Cedar Spring Ranch is decidely moth eaten. The Grasshopper Sparrows are in an area that appears to have been farmed for wheat for about a century with little or no grazing since. A new species for my Oregon list and one of my priorities for over a third of a century. Thank you Stefan and Paul Sullivan for instigating this pleasant diversion on my working trip to Tri-Cities. Paul Buescher, I was using your father's tripod, a pleasant association for this long awaited moment. I hope my grandchildren will use the same tripod to look at Ammodramus in Oregon and elsewhere. Lars Norgren On Jun 8, 2009, at 11:30 PM, Paul T. Sullivan wrote: > Stefan, > > If you take Blalock Canyon Rd. (exit 137) off of I-84 and climb up out > of > the Columbia Gorge to the flats for ~5 miles, past Philippi Rd., you > will be > heading south. You will come to a spot where the asphalt takes a 45 > degree > turn SE, and a gravel road continues straight south about a mile. On > the > west side of this road is a fence. Check this mile for Grasshopper > Sparrows. The open grassland east of the road may have Long-billed > Curlews. > You may find Ferruginous Hawk and Mt. Bluebirds near the high tension > lines > if you continue south on Blalock Canyon Rd. > > You can intersect Cedar Springs Rd. and follow it east to Hwy 19 to > get back > to Arlington. On the way you can get a whiff of your garbage at the > Arlington landfill. (Nice to visit old friends ;-) > > Good birding, > > Paul Sullivan > ----------------------------- > Subject: RFI: Grasshopper Sparrow off I-84? > From: Stefan Schlick > Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 17:45:12 -0400 > > I've often wondered if there is a good exit off I-84 where one can > reliably > pick up Grasshopper Sparrow within say 5-10mi of the exit between > Portland > and > Pendleton. Ash-throated Flycatcher, Bank Swallow, Chukar can easily be > found > at > the right exit in the right season. > > Are there any other good exits for uncommon species that I have not > mentioned? > There is nothing like a quick productive stop to lessen the boredom of > a > long > drive towards the Blues and Wallowas. > > > Stefan Schlick > > Hillsboro, OR > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From alfanana at q.com Mon Jun 15 09:05:06 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:05:06 +0000 Subject: [obol] Finches Message-ID: Hi, All; This morning, while watching my freshly filled feeders nose to window, I noticed that a Cassin's Finch was feeding quite happily on the ground, with occasional hops up to the large, open feeder. It gave me pause to think; the House Finches seem to prefer the feeders (tube, wooden house-type and clear plastic window). Have any of you noticed this at your feeders? Karen, La Pine -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090615/ace94819/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Mon Jun 15 09:55:10 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:55:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mult. Co. Larch Mtn access? In-Reply-To: <4A3278D9.1010106@comcast.net> References: <4A3278D9.1010106@comcast.net> Message-ID: Excuse me if someone has already answered this. Yes, a group of us went up to the top on Friday. Heard Sooty Grouse up at the top. The road had just opened as one of the group had been up there two times in the previous few days and it had still been shut. Shawneen Finnegan Portland, OR On Jun 12, 2009, at 8:48 AM, Ed McVicker wrote: > any one been up there lately to know about access to the top? > > ed mcvicker > portland > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From withgott at comcast.net Mon Jun 15 10:02:08 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:02:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wasco Co. Gray Catbird, E Kingbird, BB Woodp, Barrow's Goldeneye... Message-ID: After running a BBS route in central Wasco County with Char Corkran in the morning on Saturday 13 June, I birded my way back home. Among the 112 species I had for the day were the following highlights: I located the GRAY CATBIRD found 2 weeks earlier by Wink Gross, Andy Frank, and John Fitchen. From the town of Pine Grove on Rt. 216, go south on Kelly Springs Road. The road bends west and then bends southwest. Very soon after this bend to the SW, there is a small lake on the right and another one out of sight behind a berm on the left. The Catbird was in the patch of willows and other large bushes below the berm of the lake on the left. Best way to get good looks at an actively mewing catbird as I did here: Creep into the midst of the bushes, crouch down, pish, and be patient. I also found an EASTERN KINGBIRD west of the town of Tygh Valley. It was just south of Tygh Creek on Fairgrounds Road, a short N-S stretch of road that connects Oak Grove and Shadybrook Rds. The Price Road wetlands held a modest assortment of waterfowl and a vociferous VIRGINIA RAIL. At Camas Prairie I encountered a pair of BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS and a singing LINCOLN'S SPARROW. A pair of BARROW'S GOLDENEYES were at the boat ramp at Clear Lake in the Cascades. Jay Withgott, Portland From bigburd_jh at yahoo.com Mon Jun 15 10:24:14 2009 From: bigburd_jh at yahoo.com (jeff hayes) Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:24:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] test Message-ID: <288551.94253.qm@web36807.mail.mud.yahoo.com> This is a test to see if this thing is on. Bird reports coming soon! From bigburd_jh at yahoo.com Mon Jun 15 10:48:32 2009 From: bigburd_jh at yahoo.com (jeff hayes) Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:48:32 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Baskett Slough NWR - June 14, 2009 Message-ID: <124933.86655.qm@web36802.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello OBOLers. I'm finally on here, huzzah! I look forward to sharing more bird reports with you all. The following is a list of birds (plus numbers!) seen/heard at Baskett Slough from 6PM - 9PM. Water levels are pretty high, since it has been raining quite a bit lately. Partly cloudy skies, wind NW 5-12 mph, temps in the mid to upper 60s. Canada Goose - 30 Wood Duck - 1 Gadwall - 25 Mallard - 40 Blue-w x Cinnamon Teal - 1 male Cinnamon Teal - 13 N. Shoveler - 10 Ring-n Pheasant - 3 Pied-billed Grebe - 2 Great Blue Heron - 10 Turkey Vulture - 5 Bald Eagle - 1 adult N. Harrier - 3 Red-tailed Hawk - 3 Am. Kestrel - 3 Virginia Rail - 2 Sora - 1 Am. Coot - 8 Killdeer - 16 Spotted Sandpiper - 3 Wilson's Phalarope - 1 Mourning Dove - 6 Downy Woodpecker - 2 N. Flicker - 2 W. Wood-Pewee - 5 Pacific-slope Flyc - 1 W. Scrub-Jay - 3 Am. Crow - 12 Horned Lark - 4 Tree Swallow - 10 Violet-green Swallow - 15 N. Rough-w. " - 2 Cliff Swallow - 8 Barn Swallow - 15 Black-c. Chickadee - 4 Bushtit - 2 Red-br. Nuthatch - 1 Bewick's Wren - 2 Marsh Wren - 11 Swainson's Thrush - 3 Am. Robin - 20 Eur. Starling - 300+ (mostly juveniles in 2 swirling flocks) Cedar Waxwing - 5 Orange-cr. Warbler - 2 Com. Yellowthroat - 16 Yellow-br. Chat - 1 W. Tanager - 1 Spotted Towhee - 6 Savannah Sparrow - 25 Song Sparrow - 22 Dark-eyed Junco - 1 Black-h. Grosbeak - 7 Lazuli Bunting - 2 Red-w. Blackbird - 45 W. Meadowlark - 2 (singing from opposite sides of the s. end of the butte) Yellow-h. Blackbird - 5 Brewer's Blackbird - 30 Brown-h. Cowbird - 6 Purple Finch - 2 House Finch - 2 Lesser Goldfinch - 4 Am. Goldfinch - 17 61 species plus one hybrid. Note: One of my favorite places to bird here is the little stream crossing on Smithfield Rd perhaps three-tenths of a mile west of Hwy 99W. This place can be very birdy and is always worth 15 minutes of a birder's time. That's where I found most of the "forest edge" species on this list. From alfanana at q.com Mon Jun 15 10:48:38 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:48:38 +0000 Subject: [obol] (no subject) Message-ID: Hooray!!!!!! My FOY Clarke's Nutcracker!!!!!!! Karen S. La Pine -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090615/5cef5c19/attachment.html From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Mon Jun 15 14:03:21 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (gerard.lillie at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:03:21 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Mt. Tabor Park, Multnomah County, Oregon on June 15, 2009 Message-ID: <200906152103.n5FL3LY4007916@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Gerard Lillie by http://birdnotes.net Date: June 15, 2009 Location: Mt. Tabor Park, Multnomah County, Oregon Low temperature: 53 degrees fahrenheit High temperature: 56 degrees fahrenheit Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 100% Precipitation: none Hello All, This is a late report for last Saturday at Mt. Tabor in Portland. No great shakes, just some nice birds on a one hour dog walk. I did not relocate the Red-eyed Vireo that Adrian, Christopher and Em found on Friday. There were good numbers of PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS and BLACK-FEADED GROSBEAKS. There also was a small flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS and three RED CROSSBILLS. A nice Tabor treat was an adult BALD EAGLE soaring just above the tree tops at the top along with a RED TAILED HAWK. An eagle is always nice on Tabor. Good birding, Gerard. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Bald Eagle 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Band-tailed Pigeon 3 Vaux's Swift 15 Anna's Hummingbird 4 Northern Flicker 3 Western Wood-Pewee 1 Pacific-slope Flycatcher 5 Hutton's Vireo 2 Steller's Jay 7 Western Scrub-Jay 2 Violet-green Swallow 15 Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren American Robin European Starling Cedar Waxwing Townsend's Warbler 1 Western Tanager 1 Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Black-headed Grosbeak 6 Brown-headed Cowbird House Finch Red Crossbill 3 Pine Siskin 3 Lesser Goldfinch 25 House Sparrow Total number of species seen: 33 From greg at thebirdguide.com Mon Jun 15 17:31:12 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:31:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Butterfly photo ID help Message-ID: <0365C323F9FB47F0B36BB228E98258B8@GREG> Though normally I pay scant attention to butterflies while birding, there were so many last week on the Woodpecker Wonderland Bird Festival that I couldn't help myself. I have photos of 4 (I think) species. If you would be so kind to identify them for me, I'd appreciate it. Just write the ID into the comments section of the Pacific NW Backyard Birder blog: http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/ Thank you! Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Mon Jun 15 17:38:21 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:38:21 +0000 Subject: [obol] Mystery Grouse that needs ID! Message-ID: Hi all, What kind of fancy chicken is this? Please PRIVATELY email me your id or guesses. Photo was taken this month at a somewhat high elevation, forested area :) http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/updated_june_photos&page=all Good luck, cluck, cluck and cheers! Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From rie at pcfubar.net Mon Jun 15 18:02:10 2009 From: rie at pcfubar.net (roger morris) Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:02:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cropping photos of rare birds In-Reply-To: <187537.4797.qm@web30405.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <187537.4797.qm@web30405.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Yes.. After I open a photo to be edited, first thing I do is "Save As" and choose the name I want for the image. then, any time I hit "save", it saves as the new file name leaving the old file untouched. First time you ruin an image, you'll regret never having done a 'save as' first. On Sun, Jun 14, 2009 at 2:47 PM, Leith >Having said that, it is > a simple matter to save any image that has been >cropped or otherwise > enhanced with a different name than the original file.? >This will preserve > the original whole file, which is then readily available From celata at pacifier.com Mon Jun 15 20:07:35 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:07:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Saddle Mt - 6/15/2009 Message-ID: <4A370C77.4070108@pacifier.com> Michelle and I hiked up Saddle Mt today under marvelously sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-60's. The big news was the sighting on 3 GREAT ARCTICS on my favorite hilltopping mound just past the one-mile marker. We also saw plenty of MOSS' ELFINS and the always amusing OCEAN-SPRAY FAIRY MOTH. Photos at: http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11334 Date: June 15, 2009 Location: Saddle Mountain State Park, Clatsop County, Oregon Butterflies: Clodius Parnassian 3 Anise Swallowtail 9 Margined White 55 Moss' Elfin 8 Pacific Fritillary 39 Great Arctic 3 Ocean Spray Fairy Moth many Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Blue Grouse Turkey Vulture Vaux's Swift Rufous Hummingbird Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pacific-slope Flycatcher Warbling Vireo Steller's Jay Violet-green Swallow Chestnut-backed Chickadee Brown Creeper Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Swainson's Thrush American Robin Varied Thrush Wilson's Warbler White-crowned Sparrow Evening Grosbeak Total number of species seen: 20 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR 20 years on the Breeding Bird Survey http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11323 From beaniebear at peoplepc.com Mon Jun 15 20:34:39 2009 From: beaniebear at peoplepc.com (beaniebear at peoplepc.com) Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:34:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Anyone else hearing night hawks? Message-ID: Hello OBOLers! I thought I heard a nighthawk calling tonight for the first time, and wondered if anyone else had been hearing (or seeing!) them? Thanks, Isabella rural Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090615/b95312e8/attachment.html From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Tue Jun 16 02:33:27 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:33:27 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Mallard/Shoveler Hybrid? Message-ID: <426509406.1231245144807236.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> I found an unusual female duck in the concrete pond at Alton Baker Park in Eugene. She appeared to be basically a light-colored Mallard, but had a large, flared bill, like a Shoveler. Here's a couple of photos of her on my Flickr album: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/3631347947/sizes/o/ ? http://www.flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/3631347945/sizes/o/ ? Her bill appears to have been damaged on the left side, but the right side seems intact. Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090616/9374a811/attachment.html From vireogirl at yahoo.com Tue Jun 16 07:47:05 2009 From: vireogirl at yahoo.com (Vjera Thompson) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:47:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Springfield Nighthawk Message-ID: <771999.93155.qm@web56305.mail.re3.yahoo.com> OBOLers, Eddie and I were in a neighborhood south of Gateway (in Springfield) yesterday evening (6/15) and heard a COMMON NIGHTHAWK high overhead, my first this year. Vjera Thompson Eugene, OR vireogirl at yahoo.com From nepobirds at yahoo.com Tue Jun 16 09:01:40 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:01:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Black-Capped Chickadees Message-ID: <596676.82458.qm@web46010.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> We have a pair of Black-Capped Chickadees that have been bringing nesting material (feathers, lichen, etc.) for weeks to a house we have put up on the side of our home. Don't Chickadees typically nest in April? Could they just be using this as a roosting box? If so, they seem to be bringing bugs into the house quite often. We were under the impression that they roosted in flocks. Just trying to learn a little more about these little guys. Thanks, Seth and Michelle From alfanana at q.com Tue Jun 16 12:00:40 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:00:40 +0000 Subject: [obol] Red Crossbill Message-ID: My first fledgling Red Crossbill!!!!!!:) He's sitting on my "house" feeder, all fluffed up and soaking up the sun (yes, we actually have some today), and occasionally muching on seeds! Karen S. La Pine -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090616/d146b94c/attachment.html From roger at windemuths.com Tue Jun 16 12:39:25 2009 From: roger at windemuths.com (Roger Windemuth) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:39:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] (no subject) Message-ID: <000001c9eeba$28695810$793c0830$@com> After a couple of days of no Pelicans, today I saw a group of 35 White Pelicans on the north end of Rest Lake at the River "S" Unit of the Ridgefield NWR. The group of 24 noted a couple of weeks ago had narrowed down to two on Saturday and for the last two days none were noted. How long these will stay is anybody's guess. Roger Windemuth roger at windemuths.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090616/8b8c85b3/attachment.html From alfanana at q.com Tue Jun 16 12:55:09 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:55:09 +0000 Subject: [obol] Baby Day Message-ID: AND a fledgling House Finch on the tube feeder with an adult Male (Daddy?) Karen S. La Pine -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090616/a1fe2ceb/attachment.html From mazoerr at gmail.com Tue Jun 16 14:13:36 2009 From: mazoerr at gmail.com (Ann Chamberlain) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:13:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Golden eagle question Message-ID: <202f23ed0906161413t7c96f8bbw13defb7525a69a85@mail.gmail.com> How big is the range of a pair of Golden eagles? I am thinking we might have two active nests down here. The one closer to town has been documented but a couple of weeks ago, my neighbors went up the BLM roads out here and flushed a Golden eagle right about where we see them cruising down the ridge, but on the back side from us. I wondered if the pair closer in would be out this far? We are approximately ten miles further east from the documented nest (as the eagle flies). We are keeping watch for juveniles! Also flushed a GREEN HERON on my way out last Saturday, about mile post 13. First one I have seen here! Ann outside Myrtle Creek -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090616/1929abad/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Tue Jun 16 14:59:56 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:59:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Florence Night-Heron Message-ID: <447918.15909.qm@web37007.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, last night around 9:30 pm I heard a strange squaking call outside my bedroom window at Laurel Street, Florence. When I looked outside, I saw? a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON fly across the evening sky, going southwest. Lane County bird # 302 for me, hooray! BTW, Diane Pettey mentioned to me that she saw a Night-Heron a few days ago over Heceta Beach Road in N Florence early in the morning. There must be a roost out there somewhere. Good birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090616/78af3069/attachment.html From steve at paradisebirding.com Tue Jun 16 16:18:16 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:18:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Frenchglen stories and photos? Message-ID: <9a341ea30906161618o2e2848e7j5ffa8fc63d1870d4@mail.gmail.com> Hello all, Do you have favorite photos or stories from your thousands of collective days of birding at Frenchglen? The local Frenchglen folks need your input! See below. Steve Shunk ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Cindy Witzel Date: Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 10:21 AM Subject: To: Cindy Witzel *Hi there to everyone,* *Please pass the word we need recipes, stories & photos for the Frenchglen Cookbook. Read on below?* * * *RECIPES, STORIES, PHOTOS WANTED* * * The Frenchglen Education Foundation is putting together a "Frenchglen Cookbook" as a fundraiser (hopefully in time for the holidays). Any recipes, stories, photos (old and new), factoids, etc. would be greatly appreciated. There is no limit on how many items you can submit- the more the better!! Old stories, memories and photos will be placed throughout the pages of the cookbook. These will make great gifts and will be a nice addition to everyone's kitchen cookbook collection. Local past and present members of the Frenchglen Community, their families, and others who have visited and enjoyed the area are invited to participate. Please feel free to pass along this information. Please email your information to * info at frenchgleneducationfoundation.org *or mail copies to: FEF Cookbook Fundraiser 46911 Hammond Ranch Rd. Diamond, OR 97722 by July 15th, 2009. If you have questions or for more information, please call 495-2315, 493-2652 or 495-2405. Thank you!! *Thank you in advance for your help and participation!* * * *Cindy* * * *Cindy Witzel* *Volunteer-Vice Chair* *Frenchglen Education Foundation* *39269 Hwy 205* *Frenchglen, OR 97736* *info at frenchgleneducationfoundation.org* *541-495-2315* * * * * * * -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090616/9bb7575c/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Jun 16 19:02:17 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:02:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] RED-EYED VIREO,Columbia County (SAUVIE ISLAND) Message-ID: <150390e5fdab10336ce53bd21df73fcb@earthlink.net> I thought this might be of interest to county listers. I heard a Red-eyed Vireo just over the county line about 1pm today(6/16). Take Reeder Beach Road to milepost 7, where the county line is clearly marked with a road sign. A sandy road leads east here to the Columbia Beach. It makes a dogleg, first to the north then east again before entering the forest. North of this second bend is one tall cottonwood slightly separate from its brethren to the east. The vireo was singing loud and hard from this tree. Despite the tree standing a little alone I never managed to see the bird. A large parking lot is at the east end of the road. It's a birdy spot, although I've never seen it mentioned on this list. The cottonwoods aren't super big but there are White-breasted Nuthatches here. Today there were lots of them north of the parking lot. A series of deer trails and sand patches make the seemingly impenetrable woods accessible. I advise long pants for the ubiquitous blackberries. I heard a Red-eyed Vireo again while walking around, perhaps the same one, but I also think there were at least two. This was something of a dedicated search as I've never visited the spot in summer. The similarity to Sandy Delta where Red-eyed Vireos are well known intrigued me. Lars Norgren From hnehls6 at comcast.net Tue Jun 16 19:31:15 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:31:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] (no subject) In-Reply-To: <000001c9eeba$28695810$793c0830$@com> Message-ID: > Roger, > > Interesting, I received a call yesterday reporting a flock of White Pelicans > near Corbett flying west down the Columbia River. Apparently the Ridgefield > birds took a couple of days to do a little sight seeing up the the Columbia > River. > > > Harry > > > > > After a couple of days of no Pelicans, today I saw a group of 35 White > Pelicans on the north end of Rest Lake at the River ?S? Unit of the Ridgefield > NWR. The group of 24 noted a couple of weeks ago had narrowed down to two on > Saturday and for the last two days none were noted. How long these will stay > is anybody?s guess. > > Roger Windemuth > roger at windemuths.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090616/817a98bf/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Tue Jun 16 19:35:20 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:35:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-eyed vireos in Columbia County Message-ID: <4A385668.1030506@pdx.edu> Lars, The area on Sauvie Island you mention is known as "Willow Bar" or "Willow Bar Island." Red-eyed Vireos have been found there before, though I don't recall any reports in recent years. I have also found RED-EYED VIREOS at the Johnson Lake Unit just to the south in Multnomah Co., west of the two right angle turns on Reeder Rd. there is a gate on a dike that goes out to some similar Black Cottonwood habitat. Blue Slough out on the west side of Sauvie Island has also had Red-eyed Vireos. As you say, their is much habitat on Sauvie Is. that is the same as that at the Sandy Rive Delta, yet without the dog poop! David David C. Bailey From m_scatt at yahoo.com Tue Jun 16 20:00:17 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:00:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Red-eyed Vireo, Balch Creek, Portland Message-ID: <975777.11454.qm@web55701.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Today we did a short hike along Balch Creek below the Portland Audubon Sanctuary in NW Portland. The highlight was hearing a singing RED-EYED VIREO. It quickly moved downstream and out of earshot. Although we never saw it, we were mostly birding by ear, and didn't look very hard. Has anybody seen (or heard) Red-eyed Vireos along Balch Creek before? Other birds that we heard singing included an Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood- Pewees, Pacific-slope Flycatchers, a Warbling Vireo and Orange-crowned Warbler, Wilson's Warblers, and Western Tanagers. Good birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090616/05b57be9/attachment.html From andy.frank at kp.org Tue Jun 16 20:44:45 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:44:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-eyed Vireo, Balch Creek, Portland Message-ID: Em and OBOL, I run on Balch Creek frequently. Yesterday morning while running with my daughter Lisa I was pretty sure that I heard one (near the small bridge over Balch Creek at the bottom of the steep hill going down from Cornell Road. This is just outside Audubon's property). Lisa was in a hurry and so I couldn't stay and listen longer or look for it (though it seems I rarely can see them even when I do look). There have been a few other times I have thought I might have heard them in Forest Park, but have not been confident that I was not mistaking it for one of the much more common and similar sounding birds (similar sounding at least to me such as Robins, Grosbeaks, Tanagers). Andy Frank From brownnab at gmail.com Tue Jun 16 20:46:33 2009 From: brownnab at gmail.com (Nancy Brown) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:46:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur June 11-15 - Banded Swan Message-ID: Hello - a friend and I braved the rain and mosquitos over this past long weekend at Malheur. We spotted a pair of Tundra Swans at Dredger Pond, one of which had what looked like a green plastic collar at the base of it's neck. We couldn't see numbers, but it was about 3" wide. If anyone knows anything about that, I would appreciate hearing from you. It rained off and on all weekend, but hard all day Sunday, which precipitated closure of at least the south end of the CPR by 8pm that night. The Blitzen River at the P Ranch was almost at the bottom of the bridge. We identified 77 species and I was happy to see the Yellow-breasted Chat, Bobolinks, and Nighthawks I had missed there early in May. If anyone is interested in our list, I'd be happy to forward off-list. Oh, and the Acorn Woodpecker was still on the lone cottonwood tree. It was rather listlessly pecking at the trunk on the 13th, and hunkered down in the rain on the 14th. A sad sight. Nancy Brown NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090616/2280dbbd/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Tue Jun 16 21:03:13 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:03:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook County Weekend Message-ID: <1F18374BF59F4C12A667D0F5AC3F4218@cgatesPC> Salem Audubon came over this weekend and we had a great time finding birds in Crook County. Steve Dougill helped guide on Saturday and Scott Staats spent the day as a guide on Sunday. The group was lots of fun and we enjoyed the birds and the food of Crook County and Prineville (yes, Prineville has good food). Thanks to Glen Lindeman for setting this up and for bringing such a fun group. Here are the bird highlights: Wood Duck - Not always easy to find Blue-winged Teal Clark's Grebe White Pelican American Bittern Swainson's Hawk Ferruginous Hawk - Dark Phase Golden Eagle Chicks Bald Eagle Chicks Red-tailed Hawk Chicks Prairie Falcon Sora - within 5 feet of some Virginia Rail - ditto Sandhill Crane Black Tern PYGMY OWL White-throated Swift Calliope Hummingbird BLACK-BACKED WP Willow FC VARIED THRUSH- Perhaps the most unusual sighting. I've not found these birds during the breeding season before. Lark Sparrow Lazuli Bunting Bobolink Cassin's Finch CHUCK GATES PRINEVILLE -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090616/ecb19756/attachment.html From ellencantor at gmail.com Tue Jun 16 21:50:35 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:50:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Woodpecker Hunt at Dry Creek Message-ID: <7058c4c60906162150u192625aer65c3d71fe25d6e46@mail.gmail.com> On Monday, Jill Hubbard, Diane Horgan, and I went on a Woodpecker Hunt in the Camp Sherman area--in particular to the Dry Creek area. Judith Meredith supplied us with some very helpful directions. All in all, we had a great day, fine clear skies, and found 6 out of the 7 Woodpeckers we'd hoped to find, as well as other fine birds. Here are the highlights: We started our day at Lost Lake where we heard a PILEATED WOODPECKER. Then on to Camp Sherman area where we turned south in to the Dry Creek area. . We spent some time walking through the burn by the side of the road, where highlights included a very vocal GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, a pair of MT BLUEBIRDS coming and going to their nest cavity, a singing CASSIN'S VIREO, a PIGMY NUTHATCH, a HAIRY WOODPECKER, a DUSKY FLYCATCHER and HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER. Further down the road we found the previously reported BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER and its nest. We watched for a long time until one came back with a fat grub in its beak and eventually entered its nest cavity. Across the road we found the previously reported WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER, which was flying through the trees, but we did not spend enough time to find its nest, as we were distracted by finding a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER busily working on a Ponderosa Pine. NIGHTHAWKS were also flying and loudly calling, as were OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS. We also found a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and its nest. After exploring several side roads in the area, we went to Calliope Crossing. Before we even got out of the car, we heard a GOSHAWK calling loudly and found it not far away when we looked through the trees. We found a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER and heard a DOWNY WOODPECKER, but never did find the elusive Williamson's Sapsucker....all in all, a great day--especially for woodpeckers and flycatchers and nests... Ellen Cantor Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090616/3cbd3a0f/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Tue Jun 16 23:16:05 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 06:16:05 +0000 Subject: [obol] Mallard/Shoveler Hybrid? In-Reply-To: <426509406.1231245144807236.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> References: <426509406.1231245144807236.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: Steve, I suspect that this bird may not be a Mallard X Northern Shoveler hybrid. I think that this is just an odd blend of park ducks with a bill deformity. In terms of plumage, this bird is suggestive of a washed out Mallard (perhaps crossed with one of the all-white ducks at Alton Baker). A lot of the "Mallards" (who knows what the ancestry of these birds really is) are permanent residents, so there is a good chance that this bird hatched locally. I have rarely seen Northern Shovelers around these ponds, even in the winter season, so the chances are slim that the local bread-gobblers are hybridizing with shovelers. Crosses of exotic and native waterfowl at Alton Baker are legion, which leads me to presume that most of what is there (especially during the summer months) is of mysterious parentage/ancestry. Aside from the slightly flared look of the bill, I don't see any other characteristics that suggest Northern Shoveler. Compared to a pure Northern Shoveler, the bill of this bird is not particularly long or flared. I did an online search an found only a few mentions of Northern Shoveler X Mallard crosses, and only one extremely poor (useless) image of a bird that was labeled as this cross. Ironically, that image was taken in Oregon. It show a blurry image of a bird that looks mostly like a Northern Shoveler and may be nothing more unusual than a molting male. The absence of good images of this cross and limited mention in online chatter, suggest that it is an extremely rare cross. Dave Irons Eugene, OR Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:33:27 +0000 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Mallard/Shoveler Hybrid? I found an unusual female duck in the concrete pond at Alton Baker Park in Eugene. She appeared to be basically a light-colored Mallard, but had a large, flared bill, like a Shoveler. Here's a couple of photos of her on my Flickr album: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/3631347947/sizes/o/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/3631347945/sizes/o/ Her bill appears to have been damaged on the left side, but the right side seems intact. Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 _________________________________________________________________ Microsoft brings you a new way to search the web. Try Bing? now http://www.bing.com?form=MFEHPG&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MFEHPG_Core_tagline_try bing_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090617/b32d9467/attachment.html From campbell at peak.org Tue Jun 16 23:16:03 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:16:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Nighthawks, other Peoria yardbirds Message-ID: Monday of last week (6/8) after dark, I thought I heard something calling faintly on the other side of the river. The next day we went down to the beach a little earlier, about 9:15, heard it again, and then spotted a couple NIGHTHAWKS flying crazily over the river. That's the first time I've seen them here. Maybe I don't get out enough in the summer evenings. Those of you who visited Peoria might remember the (ugly) white shop south of our house and the road leading to our backyard. There is a nest of BULLOCK' S ORIOLES hanging beside that shop, right over that road, woven into the lower branches of the large birch. Even though I must have walked under the nest dozens of times, I didn't find it until I heard the begging of chicks last Wednesday. They're louder, now, and will probably be flying soon. That same tree hosted an Oriole nest four years ago, and we've been seeing more Orioles every year. Now it's almost impossible to walk through town without hearing Oriole chatter in half a dozen places. Some of you might remember the Yellow Victorian house south of our house. A pair of KILLDEER chose the gravel parking area in front of it for a nest site, and made a scrape about 9 feet from Main Street--I suspect because high water covered the gravel beach that they would have preferred. I spotted the first egg on May 11, and two more appeared within a few days. These eggs, and the parents taking turns sitting on them--and luring intruders away--became a sight to see among the pedestrians of Peoria. I figured that none of the eggs could hatch before June 4, and that they would probably hatch several days later. This was of special interest to me because I had already set aside the second week of June to reestablish the ditch across the front of that property. The main drain ran precisely below the Killdeer nest. We started digging Monday the 7th, at one edge of the property, worked to within about five yards of the nest, then moved to the far end and worked back toward the nest. The Killdeer tolerated me as long as I didn't come too close, but they didn't like my nephew, who was new to the neighborhood. Our proximity gave me plenty of opportunity to wonder about a Killdeer's ability to recognize people, and, in general, it seemed to me that they were less likely to be upset by everyday walkers than by first-time gawkers, and they got used to my nephew, too. (If we strike you as callous for having made the vicinity of their nest site into a work zone, they were considerably less stressed by our constant presence than they would have been by all of the neighborhood cats that we chased away.) The first egg had hatched by 6 a.m. Thursday the 11th, and the next two hatched sometime in the afternoon. By Friday evening two chicks were up and tottering around looking like dirty cotton balls on toothpicks, and both parents were occupied trying to sit on all three. Early Saturday morning there was no sign of the Killdeer. I had expected to see the little ones running up and down Main Street, or, maybe, to find distraught parents. I couldn't find any sign of either. So, at 10 a.m. we started digging up the gravel parking area. Late risers among my neighbors came by to see the wonderfully cute creatures, too, and found only a wide ditch where the nest used to be. Apparently I am a real heartless bastard. That's bird life in Peoria. Randy Campbell -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090616/c0bfa368/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Tue Jun 16 23:24:04 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:24:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Nocturnal predation??? Message-ID: <2BA5E55F-8846-43BD-A799-CB6E16AEFE27@oregonfast.net> Hello OBOL, I saw something interesting tonight on my way home. As I was passing the Ada Grange, I caught sight of a bird I believe was an owl coming out from beneath the entry roof of their outbuilding. I heard the panicked calls of a Swallow and looked with the flashlight for both the Swallow and the Owl but could not see them. Has anyone heard of Nocturnal nest predation by an Owl? Very interesting sight. Vern Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090616/532efe3b/attachment.html From dawn.rasmussen at hotmail.com Wed Jun 17 06:13:47 2009 From: dawn.rasmussen at hotmail.com (Dawn Rasmussen) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:13:47 -0600 Subject: [obol] Nighthawk over NE Portland Message-ID: On Thursday, June 11 around 7pm, saw and spotted a common nighthawk at very high altitude just west of Rocky Butte near PDX airport. Never have seen one in the metro area nor Western Oregon before! _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090617/c24b2282/attachment.html From jvanmoo at sisna.com Wed Jun 17 06:33:58 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 06:33:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Stukel Mtn, Klamath Falls, 6-16-09 Message-ID: <827C2F92-6F17-4D72-BBD0-27B91ACFFCE7@sisna.com> Jean Van Hulzen and I birded Stukel Mtn. yesterday. We couldn't go all the way up because a man-mad road-block of cut trees and a gate blocked the road with a private property sign attached. I thought the road was a public road--need to do some checking. Highlights: lots of BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, several GRAY FLYCATCHERS, 2 female CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRDS, 2 HAIRY WOODPECKERS, 2 RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS (one of each were entering holes in the same telephone pole at the same time until the Hairy chased the Red-breasted away), 2 LAZULI BUNTING, OLIVE-SDIED FLYCATCHER, WESTERN TANAGER, WESTERN WOOD PEWEE. One of the most interesting sightings was a ROCK WREN found in the quarry at the base of the mountain. It was very actively chasing and catching several species of butterflies (all unknown to us--little blue ones and some slightly bigger orange ones). It was surprising how fast the wren was. We watched this behavior for several minutes while it ate several and then flew off with one in its beak. A PRAIRIE FALCON was perched in an opening on the rock face in the quarry, too. After lunch at Pappy Gander's in Merrill, we went to the TRI-COLORED BLACKBIRD colony and saw several flying into the blackberry brambles. On the way home we found a BARN OWL roosting in an old, dilapidated barn near Merill. Good birdiing y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From 5hats at peak.org Wed Jun 17 06:37:06 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 06:37:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gilliam site guide Message-ID: <72ECCEACD2CE425FB2E64938E740C1F4@your5rlp3a9516> Obolites, On OBOL the other day I noticed once again a rather disparaging comment regarding the birding possibilities of the I-84 corridor between the Dalles and regions east of Boardman, Gilliam County in particular. While it is true that Gilliam County has extensive wheat fields, and most of the land is private, it is nevertheless a county with a lot of variety of habitats, and offers good to excellent birding. You just have to know where to look. Following is a partial site guide to the county, the route of which requires little backtracking, and covers most of the best birding spots. I hope people find it useful. Travelling east on I-84 take the Fulton Canyon exit, then follow Highway 206. After you cross the John Day River into Gilliam, look in the willows north for Chat, and north for Lazuli Bunting. Poor-will at night. Continue on 206. At the Mountain overlook: Brewer's Sparrow and other sage species Condon: not very birdy-except the sewage ponds, which are excellent for ducks, moderate for shorebirds; open to birders. Good idea to check first at the city hall, but the staff is very friendly. Continue south on highway 19. Turn right on Wehrli Canyon. Very birdy. Ash-throated Flycatcher. If you can continue on to Quinn Road, do so, but you may have to return to Highway 19. If you must return to Highway 19, go on south to Mayville and turn west on Quinn Road. Two or three miles down the road dips down into a hollow, takes a sharp turn west, and heads upslope past a juniper filled canyon. Gray Flycatcher, Lark Sparrow. Return to Mayville. Go across Highway 19 and take Carter Hill Road. Follow it east and then north. Swainson's and possibly Ferruginous Hawk. You will eventually come out at Dyer State park on Hwy 19. Very birdy. Rock Wren, Lazuli Bunting, Spotted Towhee, others. Go north on Hwy. 19. Turn east on Trail Fork Road. At west end, Chat. Continue east. Be aware that at the east end, Trail Fork Road jogs into Wheeler County. At its juncture with Lost Valley Road, turn north. The last 1/8 or so mile of pine forest is in Gilliam County. Excellent birding. All three nuthatches, creeper, Ruffed Grouse, Flammulated Owl, Hairy and Pileated Woodpecker, Clark's Nutcracker, Townsend's Solitaire, Cassin's Finch, in short, most of the forest species one would expect anywhere in eastern Oregon. Goshawk has been seen here, as has Williamson's Sapsucker. On the ridge above, (in Wheeler County) Great Gray Owl has been sighted. Leaving the pine forest you come to a large valley with open meadows and a brush bordered creek. Chipping, Vesper, and summering Fox Sparrow; Long-billed Curlew. Continue north. Where Lost Valley Road connects with Lonerock Road, turn east. Just before you reach the town of Lonerock, on the brushy slope to the west look for Green-tailed Towhee. In the town, be alert for Black-chinned Hummingbird. A large turkey flock is here. Continue south as far as Lonerock cemetery: Common Snipe, Red-winged Blackbird, both bluebirds. Return west to Condon. Go east on Hwy 206 to the Rock Creek Crossing. Extensive riparian area. Warbling Vireo, Bullick's Oriole, Western Kingbird. One report of Gray Catbird. Return to Condon. Go north. Turn east on Wolf Hollow Road, and follow it to Olex. Another area of extensive riparian growth with good possibilities. A bit far from the road, but not impossible. At Olex, cross Hwy 19 and continue down Rock Creek. Follow it all the way to the John Day River. Mostly a narrow valley with pasture/hay fields and brush along the creek. Good variety of birds. Both Brewer's Sparrow and Long-eared Owl have been seen here. Return to the Rock Creek School site. Go north toward Cedar Springs. Turn west on Blalock Canyon Road. Turn south on West Road. Look along fence on west side for Grasshopper Sparrow. Long-billed Curlew common. Continue west on Blalock Canyon Road. Turn west on Heritage Road. Turn west on Philippi Canyon Road. First half mile is good for Chukar, sparrows. Return to road leading north to I-84. Brush hillside on west of road harbors Rock and Canyon Wrens. ( Used to have more birds, when stock tank still held water). Near cliffs overlooking I-84, look for White-throated Swift. Turn east on I-84. Take Arlington exit. Arlington has lots of goldfinches, but not a lot else, but the cemetery, located on top of the hill at the southwest side of town, is a sure bet for Western Scrub Jay, and has a good variety of other birds. While in Arlington, go north through the park to the granary on the Columbia River. In winter expect both scaup and both goldeneyes. Tufted Duck has wintered here also. (Nuts -I missed them). Grebes. Continue east on I-84 to Morrow County. Take Three Mile Canyon exit. Go north. Take first right and follow signs to Willow Creek WMA. Good birding spot, a bit difficult of access for viewing. Many ducks in winter; Pied-billed and Western Grebe. Occasional White Pelicans. Follow ( on foot) the service road north. In summer, at north end, Western Kingbird, and and extreme south end, when you come to a gate, Eastern Kingbird. Brushy roadside has sparrows at any season. First 1/4 to 1/2 mile is a dirt road. Below this road is an extensive cattail marsh. Still has Virginia Rail, Red-winged Blackbird, occasional Yellow-headed Blackbird. Tricolored a possibility. This marsh used to be much more open, and in spring the mudflats there were a magnet for many shorebirds, including Black-necked Stilt and American Avocet. Black-crowned Night Heron and American Bittern have also been sighted here. Unfortunately, in recent years the drawing down of the waters behind the John Day dam have lowered the water level, and the mudflat has completely grown over with vegetation, so this area no longer attracts these species. At the parking lot near the water there are a number of cottonwood trees mixed with willows. The area is a potential vagrant trap. One June a vociferous Least Flycatcher was here. In the willows north of the substation both Cedar and Bohemian Waxwings have been sighted. Now if you can figure out how to get back to I-84, you can continue on your way east. Just don't try it at night. I did once, and thought I was never going to figure out how to get out of there. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090617/2f0af27f/attachment.html From rkorpi at hotmail.com Wed Jun 17 08:13:59 2009 From: rkorpi at hotmail.com (Ray Korpi) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:13:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gilliam County Message-ID: All, Darrel hits the nail on the on the head with the route he has plotted out for Gilliam County. The trip he outlines is about parallel to the route I used to use for the migration counts in Gilliam County around 10 years ago or so. It is an enjoyable daytrip that is well worth trying (and if you want a nice head start, camp at Deschutes River State Park, about four miles west of Fulton Canyon). Ray Korpi Vancouver WA rkorpi at hotmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090617/08b49916/attachment.html From alfanana at q.com Wed Jun 17 08:20:15 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:20:15 +0000 Subject: [obol] Crossbill Message-ID: The joy of seeing my first fledgling Red Crossbill was shortlived. I found him dead when I went out to fill the feeders this morning.:( Karen S. La Pine -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090617/55b229c7/attachment.html From alfanana at q.com Wed Jun 17 09:02:43 2009 From: alfanana at q.com (Karen Stewart) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:02:43 +0000 Subject: [obol] Happier news Message-ID: On a happier note: Was just watching Daddy House Finch feed "Daddy's little girl"!:) Karen S. La Pine -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090617/b89a18ab/attachment.html From ravan at centurytel.net Wed Jun 17 09:30:30 2009 From: ravan at centurytel.net (Judy Roth) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:30:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Heermanns, single Brant in with gulls and Pelicans Ocean Park approach Message-ID: <33A40857-2F43-4744-80B9-FDFC43B3E7A6@centurytel.net> Second sighting of Brant Goose Brown Pelicans heading in almost continual wave. Heermanns numbered 25 Scores of Caspian Terns No Bald Eagles or Common Raven picture on request Judy and Hal Roth Ocean Park, Wa From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Wed Jun 17 09:33:32 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:33:32 -0400 Subject: [obol] Peoria killdeer Message-ID: I have seldom seen killdeer successfully raise young in gravel near manicured landscaping. Even though the nest itself is camouflaged in the gravel, the tiny chicks stand out boldly on bright green grass. It's not much better on asphalt. I've seen crows polish the little guys off on the first day out of the eggs because they are so visible. The chicks also get run over by cars in parking lots (my husband told me about seeing that where he worked) or simply have no water when puddles quickly dry up. People unwittingly lure killdeer to try to raise young in the worst places. If there's gravel or decorative pebbles, open space, and water of any quantity, a pair of killdeer likely sees it as perfect habitat. That describes many roadsides, railroad beds, and parking lots. Once I did see success -- two chicks survived by the Warren School just off Highway 30. How they escaped the crows that hung out there is a mystery. Most of the Warren School killdeer chicks didn't last long, altho the killdeer tried year after year. More aggressive mowing this year drove away the killdeer before they could nest. Just as well. Anyone witness better success than I have? Lona Pierce Warren _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090617/e11fb548/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Jun 17 10:46:52 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:46:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos RB Grosbeak & Geoff Keller Message-ID: <137156.27496.qm@web45307.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> A lady (Jonell McGriff) who worked with Geoff Keller, before he retired to the beautiful hill country of Brown Co. Indiana, had a male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK last Saturday, the 13th, SE of Coos Bay near the hamlet of Sumpter.? She e-mailed Geoff about it and Geoff told her to get a hold of me and I found out last night.? It hasn't been seen since but they haven't spent much time watching their feeder since Saturday. By the way, for those of you who don't know Geoff Keller, he is a legendary bird song recorder who has thousands of bird recordings with the Cornell Lab of Sound and has many tapes/CD's including Florida, The Rio Grande Valley of SW Texas, Arizona and N. Sonora, Mexico, Birds of the Rocky Mts, Birds of California, and now Birds of the PNW.? Before he left Coos Bay, he did an incredible audio presentation at a local Audubon meeting of his 10 favorite recordings with stories about getting each recording.? His narratives were fantastic along with recordings for each species (for instance, his hike and unplanned overnight stay when he got the first ever recording of Five-striped Sparrow in AZ).? Anyhow, he will be back as one of the speakers for the Shorebird Festival/OFO Meeting this August in Charleston, I'm not sure what his presentation is on, but I wouldn't miss it! Still hoping for one or two more wayward birds here on the south coast... Have fun! Tim R Coos Bay From pamelaj at spiritone.com Wed Jun 17 10:52:47 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:52:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] killdeer (and Nighthawks) References: Message-ID: <61E0B9124246480C874E782E6A14B5B2@yourw5st28y9a3> Killdeer meet with lots of predation, and your point about green grass offering them no cover is very well taken. I once saw some little Killdeer doing well around the manure pile at a large stable. The color may have done the trick. What I'd like to drag into the conversation is Common Nighthawk, which also nests on gravel. I know that there are Nighthawk surveys starting up, and would like to suggest that people seek them in places where there is gravel behind locked gates, such as electrical substations and transformers, essentially places where gravel is largely undisturbed but birds have easy access. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: Bobbett Pierce To: obol Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 9:33 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Peoria killdeer I have seldom seen killdeer successfully raise young in gravel near manicured landscaping. Even though the nest itself is camouflaged in the gravel, the tiny chicks stand out boldly on bright green grass. It's not much better on asphalt. I've seen crows polish the little guys off on the first day out of the eggs because they are so visible. The chicks also get run over by cars in parking lots (my husband told me about seeing that where he worked) or simply have no water when puddles quickly dry up. People unwittingly lure killdeer to try to raise young in the worst places. If there's gravel or decorative pebbles, open space, and water of any quantity, a pair of killdeer likely sees it as perfect habitat. That describes many roadsides, railroad beds, and parking lots. Once I did see success -- two chicks survived by the Warren School just off Highway 30. How they escaped the crows that hung out there is a mystery. Most of the Warren School killdeer chicks didn't last long, altho the killdeer tried year after year. More aggressive mowing this year drove away the killdeer before they could nest. Just as well. Anyone witness better success than I have? Lona Pierce Warren ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. Check it out. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Jun 17 10:55:12 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (joel) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:55:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Corvallis Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Message-ID: <1245261312.3493.124.camel@joel-laptop> Hello folks, About this: > We discussed it and felt quite sure that we had found Rich's Blue-gray > Gnatcatcher. We agreed we'd like a better look, but we were ready to > "count" it. ... [but then] ... The bushtit nest is head-high on the east > side of the rosebush, which puts it right were Rich saw his bird. > > We're not saying what Rich saw. That was a month ago. ... the question is more what Rich (Hoyer) heard, than what he saw. In Rich's report he mentioned that he first heard the gnatcatcher calling, then pished it in for visual confirmation. While it's indeed easy to mistake a Bushtit for a gnatcatcher while looking at one that's flitting around, they sound quite different. Bushtits make scritchy little spitting noises while Blue-gray Gnatcatchers have more of a buzzy mewing quality. As I recall, other local birders followed up and confirmed Rich's find, though their efforts may have been reported on the MidValley birding list rather than on OBOL. So I don't think there is any question about the identity of the bird that Rich found. Also on the MidValley list, but perhaps not on OBOL, was mention of the previous record for this species in Benton County, which was found by Lauren Franko and Michael Dossett on Coffin Butte on August 9, 2005 (visual & audio ID, see OBOL archives or www.birdnotes.net for Michael's description). I looked for that bird and didn't manage to see it, though the next day I heard gnatcatcher-sounding calls within 100 yards of the place where Lauren and Michael had found it. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From bigburd_jh at yahoo.com Wed Jun 17 11:03:28 2009 From: bigburd_jh at yahoo.com (jeff hayes) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:03:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Common Nighthawk and Eastern Kingbird - SE Portland Message-ID: <882936.30993.qm@web36801.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello birders. I have a couple of pretty good 'heard-only' birds I feel confident enough about to warrant posting here. Yesterday (6/16) at about 8:30 PM I heard a COMMON NIGHTHAWK 'peenting' several times over my neighborhood in SE Portland (Madison @ 36th Ave). The sky was mostly cloudy, and though I looked for it, I could not catch a glimpse of the bird in the limited amount of sky visible in this very leafy neighborhood. And, belatedly, around noon on Monday 6/15, I had another 'heard-only' bird: the distinctive "zeep-zeep! zipper-zipper zeep!" crazy chattering of an EASTERN KINGBIRD in a tall tree on SE Madison between 35th and 36th Aves. There was only one outburst of chattering before a squadron of crows erupted from the same tree and I had to leave a few minutes later to take care of some business. I'll keep watching and listening for this bird, but I haven't seen or heard anything remotely kingbirdish since then. Also, I just wanted to mention that at least in my opinion VAUX'S SWIFTS are WAY down this year - I only see occasional singles overhead, and not every day. Even on overcast days, when you'd think they would be foraging lower, I only see a scant few? Thoughts? -- Jeff Hayes SE Portland From dbarendt at comcast.net Wed Jun 17 12:10:29 2009 From: dbarendt at comcast.net (Dennis Arendt) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:10:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene's Wednesday birders Message-ID: <612B5140286648F68CC255565CA73D08@DennisArendt> The Wednesday birders from Eugene went into the west section of Alton Baker Park this morning. We walked the trails and avoided being hit by passing bicyclists and runners. The birds were the usual ones, but we enjoyed the morning anyway. Here is our list. Canada Goose - lots Wood Duck - two flying over Mallard - frequently seen Common Merganser - flying down river Ring-necked Pheasant - heard twice Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture - two roosting in cottonwoods were called "turkey owls" Osprey - two Cooper's Hawk - one Spotted Sandpiper - five, at least, on river Anna's Hummingbird - a few Downy Woodpecker - two Northern Flicker Western Wood-Pewee - five Warbling Vireo - three heard Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit - two Red-breasted Nuthatch Bewick's Wren - calling loudly and often American Robin European Starling Common Yellowthroat - only one Spotted Towhee - several Song Sparrow Lazuli Bunting - a few Red-winged Blackbird House Finch Pine Siskin - one Lesser Goldfinch - numerous American Goldfinch - more numerous Birding today were Sarah Vasconcellos, Dave and Sally Hill, Randy Sinnott, Paul Sherrell, Sylvia Maulding, Don Schrouder, Fred Chancey, Dave Brown and Dennis Arendt. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090617/3445bd9d/attachment.html From andy.frank at kp.org Wed Jun 17 12:32:34 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:32:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crystal Springs Cackling Goose Message-ID: This morning at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens in Portland was a goose that to me looks like a Cackling Goose, though I sure didn't expect to see any around in summer. It kept separate from the Canada Geese, and had an obviously smaller bill, smaller neck, and smaller overall size. Some photos are at http://andyfrank.blogspot.com/. I'd appreciate comments as to whether this is a Cackler, and if so, just how unusual this is. Andy Frank From cgates326 at gmail.com Wed Jun 17 12:53:00 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:53:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Jefferson Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher Message-ID: <565578E595DA4A92B684C58BE8D0F729@cgatesPC> Kim Owen just called to say he found a BG Gnatcatcher on the north slope of Gray Butte in Jefferson County. For those of you that know the area, McCoin Orchard is the big Orchard near the saddle of the road that goes over Gray Butte. Traveling west from McCoin Orchard, take the first left. Go one mile and look for a blue jug on a fence post. This is the location. If you need more specific directions, let me know. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090617/7573769a/attachment.html From steve at paradisebirding.com Wed Jun 17 14:05:43 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:05:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Woodpecker mania this summer! Message-ID: <9a341ea30906171405v46611035l577482f3c0fe8742@mail.gmail.com> Hello all, Thanks to Dave Irons' postings, you have no doubt heard about some of the adventures from our second annual Woodpecker Wonderland Festival, held June 5-7. Thanks to the expertise of all our scouts and guides, we found a total of over 50 active woodpecker nests (with at least another dozen since the event weekend), not to mention another 70 nests of species from hummingbirds to sparrows. Well, if you missed the big event, you can still catch the action this summer by joining one of our Woodpecker Day-tours in the Sisters and Camp Sherman areas. Download the tour brochure by clicking this link, and let me know if you have any questions. I can offer special deals for groups of 3 or more. Come learn the natural history of woodpeckers and their habitats, while observing the greatest concentration of nesting woodpeckers in North America! See you this summer, Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090617/9debe777/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Wed Jun 17 15:57:40 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:57:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-eyed Vireo, Balch Creek, Portland In-Reply-To: Message-ID: A few years ago there was a pair of Red-eyed Vireos near the pond in the Forest Heights development, not far from the Balch Creek drainage. I haven't been there since, so I don't know if the species is still at that location. Jeff Gilligan On 6/16/09 8:44 PM, "Andy Frank" wrote: > Em and OBOL, I run on Balch Creek frequently. Yesterday morning while > running with my daughter Lisa I was pretty sure that I heard one (near the > small bridge over Balch Creek at the bottom of the steep hill going down > from Cornell Road. This is just outside Audubon's property). Lisa was in a > hurry and so I couldn't stay and listen longer or look for it (though it > seems I rarely can see them even when I do look). > > There have been a few other times I have thought I might have heard them in > Forest Park, but have not been confident that I was not mistaking it for one > of the much more common and similar sounding birds (similar sounding at > least to me such as Robins, Grosbeaks, Tanagers). > > Andy Frank > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From rakestraw.john at yahoo.com Wed Jun 17 16:57:21 2009 From: rakestraw.john at yahoo.com (John Rakestraw) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:57:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Crystal Springs Cackling Goose Message-ID: <476952.75761.qm@web59416.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> There were two Cackling Geese (minima) at the same location the last week in May. I thought that was pretty late. John Rakestraw Portland --- On Wed, 6/17/09, Andy Frank wrote: From: Andy Frank Subject: [obol] Crystal Springs Cackling Goose To: "obol" Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 7:32 PM This morning at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens in Portland was a goose that to me looks like a Cackling Goose, though I sure didn't expect to see any around in summer. It kept separate from the Canada Geese, and had an obviously smaller bill, smaller neck, and smaller overall size. Some photos are at http://andyfrank.blogspot.com/.? I'd appreciate comments as to whether this is a Cackler, and if so, just how unusual this is. Andy Frank _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090617/285d7d3d/attachment.html From hatlevis at comcast.net Wed Jun 17 18:33:41 2009 From: hatlevis at comcast.net (Susan Hatlevig) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:33:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Finlley last weekend Message-ID: <57A58C98270840AD9F4374C7A3067070@homeflydmyur2h> Hi all, Speaking of white pelicans-there were 5 in the middle of the large pond at Finley last Sunday. Mostly snoozing on the pile of logs there. We were trying out my newer scope on my new, birthday tripod-had a great view of a Willow Flycatcher calling-he looked like he was sneezing. Very cute. Spied a downy woodpecker's nest after hearing the babies inside. She came to feed and then was a bit nervous, so we backed away. She went into that perfectly round hole in the tree. Caught a hummer doing big circles in the air-trying to impress someone. While checking that out we spied a beautiful lazuli and "scoped" him out. Nice treat but that was the end of our trip for the day. Saw and heard other birds, of course, including savannah sparrows calling back and forth to each other. I also remember spying a killdeer nest way back when I worked for Unocal in Brea. The parking lot was surrounded by an edging of about 3 feet of stones before I went through the security check point. I don't remember now how I first spied the killdeer's nest, but it was right in the middle of the stones. Many years ago in Wisconsin, I was just looking along a field with my binoculars out by Barneveld and spied a killdeer nesting on the ground. Susie in Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090617/90f283aa/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Wed Jun 17 20:49:16 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:49:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pelicans - Ochoco Reservoir near Prineville In-Reply-To: <57A58C98270840AD9F4374C7A3067070@homeflydmyur2h> Message-ID: <4a39b92f.20018e0a.0ab9.ffff85dd@mx.google.com> While driving back from doing our Ochoco Breeding Bird Survey, Craig and I saw 80 plus PELICANS on the east side of Ochoco Reservoir. There were also some Caspian Terns, Western and Clark Grebes and some Canada Geese. Marilyn Miller No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.77/2184 - Release Date: 06/17/09 17:55:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090617/00d80337/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Wed Jun 17 21:52:17 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:52:17 -0400 Subject: [obol] Willow Flycatchers at Valley Memorial Park in Hillsboro (Washington Co) Message-ID: Just like 8 days ago I had 2 singing Willow Flycatchers at the back side of Valley Memorial Park off TV Hwy in Hillsboro over lunch today. There was even a third bird today, this one giving off its whit call. Looks like they might be breeding at the park. Definitely a somewhat unusual location for these birds. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Bing? brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now. http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MLOGEN&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MLOGEN_Core_tagline_local_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090618/11ce3ef5/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Jun 17 22:32:24 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:32:24 +0000 Subject: [obol] Golden-crowned Sparrow near Eugene 17 June Message-ID: Greetings All, While working southwest of Eugene (near Lorane) today, I saw a Golden-crowned Sparrow along a private road to a customer's house. This is the latest Golden-crowned Sparrow I've ever had. Surprisingly, it was not at a location where one might expect a late migrant to appear, so I am wondering if it might summer. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Bing? brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now. http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MLOGEN&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MLOGEN_Core_tagline_local_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090618/21eb2c3d/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Jun 17 23:34:31 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:34:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 6-18-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * June 18, 2009 * ORPO0906.18 - birds mentioned Blue-winged Teal MANX SHEARWATER Spotted Owl Common Nighthawk Acorn Woodpecker Red-eyed Vireo Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Golden-crowned Sparrow ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday June 18. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On June 14 a MANX SHEARWATER was off Boiler Bay. A male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was seen June 13 near Sumner in Coos County. The main movements of COMMON NIGHTHAWKS and RED-EYED VIREOS entered the state during the week and were reported from many areas. On June 14 eight male and some female BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen at Ridgefield NWR. Up to 35 WHITE PELICANS are still being seen there. A surprising and out of territory SPOTTED OWL was photographed June 12 in a northwest Portland neighborhood. Five WHITE PELICANS are now at Finley NWR. On June 17 a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW was seen near Eugene. On June 17 a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was on the north slope of Gray Butte south of Madras. The ACORN WOODPECKER continues at the lone cottonwood along the Central Patrol Road at Malheur NWR. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090617/7b1d8253/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Thu Jun 18 05:03:13 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:03:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Linn County Common Nighthawk Message-ID: Last night, at about 9:00, a Common Nighthawk flew over our house, calling. Here on the eastern edge of the Willamette Valley, away from town, I have only noted them here at home a few times, mostly in the early fall or late summer. I always record them in good numbers on the Cool Camp Breeding Bird Survey in the Cascades, but I don't recall (though there may have been a few instances) ever hearing them in the Scio BBS, that runs from Scio through Lyons to Union Hill Cemetery, NE of Sublimity. The Cool Camp route is in the Tombstone Pass area, starting on logging roads on the divide between the Middle and South Santiam River, running over by Iron Mountain, joining Highway 20 to go over Tombstone Pass, ending on the Lava Lake road. The elevation runs from 3000 to 4200 feet more or less. We hear nighthawks booming at every stop at first, but then they mostly shut up as the morning goes on, but then we often record them toward the end, around Lava Lake. In addition to adding the nighthawk to my Home Circle list, it is on my Motorless Birding list, and the sub-category of "birds observed while enjoying a beverage on the deck with family and friends". Good birding, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090618/64f105ea/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Thu Jun 18 05:13:48 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:13:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Scio BBS - Linn and Marion Counties Message-ID: <1C0788D9D8164618BDAE1FB5BA114448@laptop> Last Sunday, June 14th, Bill Thackaberry and I ran the Scio BBS, which runs from Scio through Lyons to Union Hill Cemetery, NE of Sublimity. Interesting birds included COMMON SNIPE winnowing at the first stop, where Thomas Creek crosses the Scio-Lyons Highway in Linn County, a single YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT "singing" at around 1200 feet elevation near Coon Hollow in Marion County, and a HORNED LARK singing at the intersection of Triumph and Dennison Road, where we have heard and seen them before. Good birding, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090618/05a928dd/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Thu Jun 18 09:21:15 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:21:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared-Dove at Feeder Area- N Silverton Message-ID: We now have two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES mingling with the MOURNING DOVES and BAND-TAILED PIGEONS under the bird feeders. They were first noticed yesterday afternoon while we were out working in the veggie garden. I figured this would happen sooner or later....I must admit they are a pretty bird for an invasive species. They are back this morning. On a more positive note, we have a very large number of immature RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS zipping around our 3 feeders and flowers. An ANNA'S shows up every few days to see if we are still feeding but is not a daily visitor. Also, three of the neighbors ACORN WOODPECKERS are still coming in to eat at the suet along with our resident DOWNY. Several CEDAR WAXWINGS have been on the Red-Hot Poker flowers. Half a dozen BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKs are in to munch on the Black Sunflower seed. Orange slices were out for a BULLOCK'S ORIOLE who was coming in a couple weeks ago but unfortunately the squirrels and raccoons defeated that feeding program by eating all the oranges! We still have an Oriole feeder out to try that route but this doesn't seem to interest the Bullock's so far. On the nestbox front: this is the first year that a HOUSE WREN pair has used one of our boxes. A lively pair! (Our more common wren is the BEWICK'S WREN. There are a pair here. ) Some of the other nest boxes have BC CHICKADEE and two have VG SWALLOW. Good Gardening While Birding!(Or is it "Birding While Gardening?"), John Thomas 5 mi N of Silverton From nepobirds at yahoo.com Thu Jun 18 09:39:30 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:39:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Cannon Beach Message-ID: <911181.24480.qm@web46007.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Michelle and I are headed to Cannon Beach this weekend for 2 nights. Is there anywhere that is a must see this time of year? Perhaps not even in Cannon Beach but the surrounding areas? Thanks in advance! Seth and Michelle From hilary at bendcable.com Tue Jun 16 17:40:29 2009 From: hilary at bendcable.com (hilary at bendcable.com) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:40:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] [COBOL] Frenchglen stories and photos? In-Reply-To: <9a341ea30906161618o2e2848e7j5ffa8fc63d1870d4@mail.gmail.com> References: <9a341ea30906161618o2e2848e7j5ffa8fc63d1870d4@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: What, specifically, are they fundraising for? Thanks, Hilary -------------- next part -------------- Hello all, Do you have favorite photos or stories from your thousands of collective days of birding at Frenchglen? The local Frenchglen folks need your input! See below. Steve Shunk ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Cindy Witzel Date: Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 10:21 AM Subject: To: Cindy Witzel *Hi there to everyone,* *Please pass the word we need recipes, stories & photos for the Frenchglen Cookbook. Read on below?* * * *RECIPES, STORIES, PHOTOS WANTED* * * The Frenchglen Education Foundation is putting together a "Frenchglen Cookbook" as a fundraiser (hopefully in time for the holidays). Any recipes, stories, photos (old and new), factoids, etc. would be greatly appreciated. There is no limit on how many items you can submit- the more the better!! Old stories, memories and photos will be placed throughout the pages of the cookbook. These will make great gifts and will be a nice addition to everyone's kitchen cookbook collection. Local past and present members of the Frenchglen Community, their families, and others who have visited and enjoyed the area are invited to participate. Please feel free to pass along this information. Please email your information to * info at frenchgleneducationfoundation.org *or mail copies to: FEF Cookbook Fundraiser 46911 Hammond Ranch Rd. Diamond, OR 97722 by July 15th, 2009. If you have questions or for more information, please call 495-2315, 493-2652 or 495-2405. Thank you!! *Thank you in advance for your help and participation!* * * *Cindy* * * *Cindy Witzel* *Volunteer-Vice Chair* *Frenchglen Education Foundation* *39269 Hwy 205* *Frenchglen, OR 97736* *info at frenchgleneducationfoundation.org* *541-495-2315* * * * * * * -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090616/6319370f/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ COBOL mailing list COBOL at lists.oregonstate.edu http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol To unsubscribe, send a message to: COBOL-request at lists.oregonstate.edu with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. From austink at peak.org Wed Jun 17 16:16:18 2009 From: austink at peak.org (Karen Austin) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:16:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding at feeders Message-ID: I'm interested in locating some feeders close to roads in several areas, so that I might do some roadside birding. The areas I'm interested in are near Elijah-Bristow State Park in Pleasant Hill, Fern Ridge (eastern side), and West Eugene wetlands area. Thanks for any information you can share! Karen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090617/b072fdd8/attachment.html From dhogaza at pacifier.com Thu Jun 18 11:29:55 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:29:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] [COBOL] Frenchglen stories and photos? In-Reply-To: References: <9a341ea30906161618o2e2848e7j5ffa8fc63d1870d4@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <1FB5B2A4-7F66-4FDB-AD83-EA98D7558C37@pacifier.com> On Jun 16, 2009, at 5:40 PM, wrote: > What, specifically, are they fundraising for? The Frenchglen elementary school: > Frenchglen Education Foundation > Here's their website: http://frenchgleneducationfoundation.org/ ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Jun 18 06:44:42 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:44:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Cty GOLDEN PLOVER Message-ID: <4A3A44CA.5040209@verizon.net> 6/18 Coos Bay North Spit, Coos Cty One GOLDEN PLOVER was on the beach at Coos Bay North Spit yesterday afternoon. Saw it briefly, flew north, then never saw it again. Not sure what species as I didn't get a good look, but I suspect PACIFIC. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Thu Jun 18 12:31:23 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:31:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tree Swalllows and other fledgelings Message-ID: <000001c9f04b$5dd98640$198c92c0$@NET> I was out at Tualatin River NWR Tuesday and found a TREE SWALLOW nest with a chick peeking out the opening. As I watched for close to an hour an adult came in once briefly without landing. Later the youngster with a bright orange-yellow gape popped all the way out and flew off. It was immediately replaced by another and it was later joined by a second, fully filling the opening. I stayed, pointing them out to all who came by to their universal delight. An adult bird came back, lit on a nearby branch and called out. The two youngsters in the nest opening soon flew out and all moved off. Am I right in assuming the young do not return to the nest once they leave? I went back that evening and saw no signs of activity. I feel very fortunate to have been there at the right time to see all this. I took pictures and can post them later when I have more time. I also encountered young SCRUB JAYS with very short tails hopping around on tree branches and into blackberries calling and getting visits from adults TRNWR. In our yard we have young STELLER'S JAYS, much more grey and with yellow gapes, in the company of adults. Also in the yard are BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES that flutter as they feed so I must have missed their departure from the nest in a stump near the house. SPOTTED TOWHEES too young to have white spots have been cleaning up under our feeder. Suddenly there are youngsters all over. Tom Shreve Tigard -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090618/cfc16d13/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Thu Jun 18 16:13:32 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:13:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] eagle chick at odell lake Message-ID: <06FAE79745E34011941D48401B0608FF@TomsPC> I notice on the Odell Lake eagle web-cam that the single EAGLE chick is now being left alone by the parents. It still looks vulnerable. Wouldn't RAVENS or other predators be a danger to it? Tom Escue -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090618/70a0a543/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Thu Jun 18 17:55:00 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:55:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seawatch: Gleneden Beach State Wayside: Lincoln Co. Message-ID: <4A3AE1E4.2030906@pdx.edu> -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Seawatch: Gleneden Beach State Wayside: Lincoln Co. Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:08:02 GMT From: baileydc at pdx.edu To: baileydc at pdx.edu This report was mailed for David C. Bailey by http://birdnotes.net Date: June 18, 2009 Location: Gleneden Beach State Wayside, Lincoln County, Oregon A watched from the seabluff at the Gleneden Beach State Wayside from about 1020 to 1120. Highlights: RED-NECKED PHALAROPE CLARK'S GREBE MARBLED MURRELET Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Surf Scoter 20 [1] Red-throated Loon 1 Pacific Loon 4 [2] Western Grebe 7 Clark's Grebe 1 [3] Brandt's Cormorant 5 Pelagic Cormorant 20 Red-necked Phalarope 1 [4] California Gull 30 Western Gull 20 Caspian Tern 1 Common Murre 400 Marbled Murrelet 33 [5] Rhinoceros Auklet 3 Footnotes: [1] surf scoter: some south, some north [2] Pacific Loon: 3 were flying north [3] CLARK'S GREBE: a classic field-guide individual with the Western Grebes [4] RED-NECKED PHALAROPE: a late bird on the water a few hundred meters from shore [5] MARBLED MURRELET: probably an undercount. Birds were on the water within a km of shore solitary to groups of up to six individuals. Some flew in from the south; others flew north; many were on the water offshore the entire viewing period. One bird I saw through the scope surfaced with a fish hanging out of its gape. It then took off from the water flying low at first, but quickly it ascended at a very steep angle to maybe 300 m before I lost it in the sky. The entire time I watched the bird it was over the ocean. I could not make out if the fish was still hanging from the bill or not, but with such a high flight I strongly suspect that this bird had a late breakfast and was headed inland to trade spots with a mate on the nest, or it was carrying a fish back to feed a newly hatched chick. Pretty exciting observation for me. I wonder if these birds normally ascend over the ocean to such heights before heading inland. I suppose if they drop their fish over the ocean it might be easier to get a new one while still be over water than if over forest. Total number of species seen: 14 From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Jun 18 18:25:01 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (joel) Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:25:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Willamette Valley Birding Trail brochure now available on the web Message-ID: <1245374701.3415.160.camel@joel-laptop> Hello Birders, On behalf of the Willamette Valley Birding Trail steering committee, I'm very pleased to inform you that a web version of the Willamette Valley Birding Trail guide is now available at: http://www.oregonbirdingtrails.org/willamettevalley.htm This is an initial version of the Trail Guide and website. We very much look forward to comments and corrections from you, as birders who are familiar with many of the sites listed in the Trail Guide. SO PLEASE, SEND ME YOUR COMMENTS AND CORRECTIONS AS YOU TRY THIS OUT IN THE FIELD!!! A full revision is planned prior to printing in late July, with additional content on bicycle-birding routes, winery tours, and other attractions along the Birding Trail. The website will also be improved by adding supplementary content, including more information about our sponsors who have supported the publication of this guide. Many of you have played key roles in the development of this guide. We could not have reached this point without your help. We especially wish to thank the many volunteers who helped by nominating and visiting sites, photographers who donated their beautiful photographs, and our financial sponsors who are listed at: http://www.oregonbirdingtrails.org/wvsponsors.htm On the volunteer end, I'd like to single out a few individuals in particular. But I'm going to hold off since it's been a long day and I'm afraid of leaving someone out by accident -- look for that on another day. I do look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions on how we can improve both the Trail Guide and this website, during the coming month. Thank you and happy birding, Joel ?- Joel Geier Project Coordinator Willamette Valley Birding Trail 38566 Hwy 99W Corvallis, Oregon 97330-9320 tel +1 541 745-5821 From gorgebirds at juno.com Thu Jun 18 18:57:50 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:57:50 GMT Subject: [obol] Steigerwald Lake NWR now open to the public Message-ID: <20090618.185750.7085.1@webmail04.vgs.untd.com> Last Sunday, the Steigerwald Lake NWR, near, Washougal in Clark County, opened to the public for the first time. There is a 2.25 mile walking trail that leads from the refuge parking lot at milepost 18 of Highway 14 out to the Columbia River and back skirting the wetlands before entering the cottonwood forest. There are two bridges the first crosses Gibbons Creek and the second goes over Redtail Lake. I would appreciate email reports of any interesting birds you might find here. Of the 300+ species found in Clark County over 200 have been seen on this 1,049 acre refuge. For more information about the refuge or volunteer opportunities please visit the two web sites below. http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=13556 http://www.refugestewards.org/index.html Wilson Cady Washougal, WA Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ See the difference a digital projector can make. Click now! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTMWI9c8y3gL8ClqGTxMbuOrmy0sH1E35Sh50lDbcfizQgdmjFYL0M/ From monroemolly at hotmail.com Thu Jun 18 19:50:27 2009 From: monroemolly at hotmail.com (Molly Monroe) Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:50:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cackling geese in the valley Message-ID: Just a quick comment on the late observation of the cackling goose. My guess on these individual birds is that they were injured or ill during the course of the winter and were left behind by the pack. These "loners" stay close to water, probably because they can't fly well. However, we did have a late group of 50 or so at Baskett Slough on the 21st of May which was the latest we'd ever seen them at the refuge. One bird was collared and the code was one I'd seen earlier in the season so they weren't late migrators from California, but for some reason lagged behind the masses that left in early May. Molly~ _ ( '< / ) ) //"Endangered species are sensitive indicators of how we are treating the planet and we should be listening carefully to their message _________________________________________________________________ Bing? brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now. http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MLOGEN&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MLOGEN_Core_tagline_local_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090618/505f8abc/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Thu Jun 18 21:08:17 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:08:17 -0400 Subject: [obol] Croeni/Jacobson ponds in West Union (Washington Co) Message-ID: The pond visible from Jacobson Rd (west of its intersection with Croeni) had a calling SORA when I got out of my car after work today. Within only a few seconds I spotted the active bird moving about in the short reeds at the SW corner of the pond. The other pond along Croeni held a Spotted Sandpiper and a single male Lazuli Bunting is still singing from/near the little mound at the NE corner of Croeni & Westmark. I rarely miss California Quail along Mauzey, a pair was on the road this evening as well. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090619/778fa348/attachment.html From uplandsandpiper at hotmail.com Thu Jun 18 21:18:31 2009 From: uplandsandpiper at hotmail.com (Tyler Hicks) Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:18:31 -0500 Subject: [obol] Probable Blue Grosbeak - Baskett Slough NWR (June 18) Message-ID: Obolers,While counting Fender's Blue eggs and larvae in the field today at Baskett Slough I swore I heard a Blue Grosbeak sing and give a "chink" call. However, being new to the area I didn't realize the significance (until I got home) and shoved my face back in the lupines looking for little green caterpillars. The exact location of the detection was about 40-50 meters in from the parking lot on the Baskett Butte trail. The habitat is a mix of shrubs, Garry Oaks, and grasslands which seemed like a typical habitat that Blue Grosbeak occurs in. I'll be back in the area on Monday but thought I should give a heads up to anyone in the area.Other birds in the area include:Western Wood-PeweeHutton's Vireo Western MeadowlarkLazuli Bunting Black-headed GrosbeaksPurple FinchWestern TanagerCheers,Tyler <><><><><><><><><><><><><><>Tyler L. Hicks Ph.D. Candidate Washington State University VancouverE-mail: tyler_hicks at wsu.eduWeb Page: http://thingswithwings.org<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>"We were certainly uncertain. At least, I'm pretty sure I am." - Modest Mouse _________________________________________________________________ Microsoft brings you a new way to search the web. Try Bing? now http://www.bing.com?form=MFEHPG&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MFEHPG_Core_tagline_try bing_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090618/a7711124/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Thu Jun 18 23:14:22 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:14:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Lane coast Nighthawks Message-ID: <979644.58125.qm@web37006.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi all, this evening there were two displaying COMMON NIGHTHAWKS over Buck Lake, 7 miles north of Florence. My first for the area ... and a? nice ending to a good afternoon of trout fishing. Happy summer birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090618/024ca836/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Fri Jun 19 00:00:47 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:00:47 -0400 Subject: [obol] off topic, Oregon Coast geology question Message-ID: <8CBBEC2CE56DCF8-1268-1DF1@WEBMAIL-DY01.sysops.aol.com> I was birding in several areas between Newport and Lincoln City Wednesday and I noticed this rock formation a little north of Boiler Bay. I can't tell if it was man made, or some kind of natural formation. I asked the question here because you guys know everything. Here is a link to the photo. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/3640852396/ On a birding note I saw 8 formations of Brown Pelicans of between 12-25 birds. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090619/d9f1206f/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Jun 19 04:49:14 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:49:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon Coast Geology Message-ID: Castles built upon the sand. Zoning is supposed to protect us from these travesties, but obviously precious little earth science is taught in our public schools. That's too bad as it's a very interesting topic as well as useful. At the top of the picture is a cement slab being exposed by the eroding substrate. The substrate is pre-sandstone- wind blown sand whose various layers are barely glued together by probably no more than iron oxide-"rust". Notice dark lines of orange-brown across the whole picture where there are layers of sand with more iron oxide. The natural assumption would be that the columns are some artificial structure intended to save the cement slab above, but pattern of wind-blown layers of sand is visible throughout the columned area. Perhaps some cement facing was applied that has subsequently fallen off. Or someone is preparing to apply such a quick fix. These attempts at forestalling erosion are rarely legal and never successful. Whether this column pattern was carved purposefully or for idle amusement, its execution was very dangerous. I know a woman in Corvallis whose husband and son were buried alive at Newport about 1970 when an identical cliff of semi- conglomerated sand collapsed. A similar, totally natural pattern occurs in basalt along our coast and elsewhere. Seal Rock is a good place to see it. As a fresh flow of basalt cools it contracts. Ever seen cracks in the bottom of a dried out mud puddle? Now project those cracks downward for many meters and you have the creation of basalt columns. Lars Norgren From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Jun 19 07:56:36 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:56:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Blck-necked Stilt, Washington State Message-ID: Someone subscribing to Tweeters might forward this for me. I saw a BLACK-NECKED STILT near milepost 60 of Interstate 82. This was on the north side of the freeway a little west of Granger in the Yakima Valley. My teenage son was driving which gave me greatly enhanced opportunities for observation. I saw the stilt Thursday June 18. On our outbound leg of the trip, Wednesday June 17, we saw a Peregrine from the west end of the St John's Bridge. A male Goshawk flew over Hwy 97 a few miles north of Goldendale yesterday afternoon (6/18). Lars Norgren From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Jun 19 08:24:00 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (joel) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:24:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] [Fwd: Oregon Coast geology question] Message-ID: <1245425040.3431.100.camel@joel-laptop> Hi folks, Here's my theory on this one, which I sent separately to Johnny. It would be interesting to take a closer look to check the composition of the columns. Another explanation for persistence of the bedding layers could be that concrete poured in the piling holes has agglomerated the natural sediments. Happy birding, Joel > Hi Johnny, > > The resolution isn't quite enough for me to make out the composition of > these "pillars," but this looks like an "urbanite" (concrete) formation > that shows an interesting combination of human activity and natural > processes of erosion. > > It looks like what happened here is that someone drilled a row of > closely spaced holes that were then filled with concrete to stabilize > the natural formation (looks like a poorly lithified sandstone). I can't > tell whether the pilings were cased (with the steel casing rusting away) > or just poured into the drilled holes. > > The face of the cliff was a little farther out to sea when this was > done, but has since eroded back to the pilings. Before that happened, > the pilings took on staining from iron-rich layers in the natural rock, > so you can see the traces of the natural bedding layers, running across > the columns. > > At least, that's the best story that I can come up with! > > You do occasionally see columnar rock formations along the coast (from > flood basalts), but the columns are polygonal in cross-section, not > cylindrical as these appear to be. Also they are much more irregular in > terms of column size, and generally show some curvature due to the > influence of the pre-existing topography that they covered, rather than > being straight up-and-down like these. > > If you have a higher-resolution image I'd be interested to take a > look ... or else I might try to find this location next time I'm out at > the coast. > > As a geologist, I've come to think of humans as basically hyperactive > agents of erosion and deposition, on the longer time scale of our > planet. If a new breed of geologists should arise among future life > forms on this planet, they'll have a hard time explaining the abundant > puzzles like this, resulting from the 0.01 million-year period of human > civilization -- especially the last 0.0002 million (i.e., 200) years!! > > Cheers, > Joel > > Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:00:47 -0400 > I was birding in several areas between Newport and Lincoln City Wednesday and I > noticed this rock formation a little north of Boiler Bay. I can't tell if it > was man made, or some kind of natural formation. I asked the question here > because you guys know everything. Here is a link to the photo. > > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/3640852396/ > > On a birding note I saw 8 formations of Brown Pelicans of between 12-25 birds. > Johnny Sasko > Sandy, O From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Jun 19 08:42:18 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (joel) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:42:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] [Fwd: Oregon Coast geology question] In-Reply-To: <1245425040.3431.100.camel@joel-laptop> References: <1245425040.3431.100.camel@joel-laptop> Message-ID: <1245426138.3431.102.camel@joel-laptop> P.S. Here's a similar "formation" in California, though with a wider spacing on the concrete pilings. http://www.geol.ucsb.edu/faculty/sylvester/UCSB_Beaches/IVCLIFFS/pillarhus.html From jvanmoo at sisna.com Fri Jun 19 09:52:26 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:52:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Thursday Birding Bunch, 6-18-09 Message-ID: Five people met for the Thursday Birding Bunch outing yesterday to Bonanza, east of Klamath Falls--Marilyn Christian, Dave Potter, Mary Ellen Sargent, Jean Van Hulzen and I. We saw 72 species for the day. Highlights: Lewis' Woodpecker (6), Clark's Nutcracker (~10), Ash- throated Flycatcher (3), Lazuli Bunting, two very late species that may be injured or sick: Ross' Goose (swimming with a huge flock of Canada Geese) and White-fronted Goose (4), Redhead, Blue-winged Teal, Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and Western Bluebird. We saw a Black-necked Stilt and an American Avocet each sitting on a nest within a few feet of each other and found a Killdeer's nest in the roadside gravel only about 2" off the paved road--4 eggs. There were also the usual assortment of doves, swallows, blackbirds, kingbirds, wrens, etc. We had a really good time and look forward to more folks joining us next time. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Fri Jun 19 12:27:48 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:27:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA RED NECKED STINT Message-ID: Daniel Farrar and Hendrik Herlyn have located an adult RED-NECKED STINT in northern Coos County and are getting photos. It is south of the mouth of Tenmile Creek and east of the Snowy Plover exclusion area. It is with five Semipalmated Plovers. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From mazoerr at gmail.com Fri Jun 19 12:37:32 2009 From: mazoerr at gmail.com (Ann Chamberlain) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:37:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] what happened to the swallows? Message-ID: <202f23ed0906191237s4d7aff2ei12cb934aa43667b7@mail.gmail.com> When we moved to Oregon, we put up boxes for the tree swallows. Our first two summers, they were full. The third summer, two were occupied by house wrens instead (OK by me!), while the others had swallows, even the wood duck box had a swallow nest. Last summer and this summer we do not have any swallows, wrens, chipping sparrows, or white-crowned sparrows, all of whom nested here before. Yes, I cleaned out all the boxes again, even though no one used them last year. Is the cooler weather in the mountains? Last summer it felt like it never got warm and this year, so far, we have had a lot of rain and cool temps. I have no idea what is going on. I am mystified and I miss the birds. Back to the eagles. I am beginning to think there are three pairs of golden eagles around. I am constructing a map based on sightings and will post sometime. Ann outside of Myrtle Creek -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090619/f9e70f86/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Fri Jun 19 13:21:44 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:21:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Willamette Birding Trail References: Message-ID: <001b01c9f11b$9fdea770$3700a8c0@windypoint99> Joel, Thank You! I wish to commend Oregon birders for their hard work in producing these fine birding trails, close to perfection in all ways except minor errors in mileages. Getting these on the web in a printable format makes them accessible to nearly everyone, another great feature. Ellen and I have referred to the completed trails almosy contantly while on our travels through Oregon. We look forward to using this new one. Congratulations on an excellent aid and tool to birders like us visiting Oregon! I have no doubt they are invaluable to Oregonians too. Andy Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Fri Jun 19 13:38:50 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:38:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] what happened to the swallows? Message-ID: <276134.9266.qm@web39706.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Ann, When I lived in Alaska I had the same sort of thing happen. I am not certain, but I think my yard "grew up" and the habitat was no longer suitable. I think these swallows might need "some open space around them" or they will be open to predation from Sharpshin hawks. As a kid in Indiana in the 50's, I noticed the same sort of departure of purple martins as the area matured. Just something to consider. Best, Dick --- On Fri, 6/19/09, Ann Chamberlain wrote: > From: Ann Chamberlain > Subject: [obol] what happened to the swallows? > To: "OR bird list" > Date: Friday, June 19, 2009, 12:37 PM > When we moved to Oregon, we put up > boxes for the tree swallows.? Our first two summers, they > were full.? The third summer, two were occupied by house > wrens instead (OK by me!), while the others had swallows, > even the wood duck box had a swallow nest. > > > Last summer and this summer we do not have any swallows, > wrens, chipping sparrows, or white-crowned sparrows, all of > whom nested here before. > > Yes, I cleaned out all the boxes again, even though no one > used them last year.? Is the cooler weather in the > mountains?? Last summer it felt like it never got warm and > this year, so far, we have had a lot of rain and cool > temps.? I have no idea what is going on.? I am mystified > and I miss the birds. > > > Back to the eagles.? I am beginning to think there are > three pairs of golden eagles around.? I am constructing a > map based on sightings and will post sometime. > > Ann outside of Myrtle Creek > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Fri Jun 19 15:21:54 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:21:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA RED NECKED STINT In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <2b1bbd260906191521recb4c1bmf673d1f9e5d10bc2@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Thanks Alan for the quick posting. I just spoke to Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelien at 2:45 and they were looking at the adult breeding plumaged RED-NECKED STINT that Hendrik Herlyn and I found today around noon. Around noon today after completing surveys at Tenmile Cr, Coos Co. I was looking east up river trying to find a suitable area to cross when I noticed a small flock of shorebirds flush. We decided it was worth a look and headed that direction. Initially I noticed a few SEMI-PALMATED PLOVERS and since they were real shorebirds and I wasn't hallucinating we decided to get yet closer. Hendrik had already noticed a peep in the flock. As I was distracted by two SNOWY PLOVERS (work duties were calling) I noticed Hendrik studying the flock closely. At this point I took another look through the scope and immediately noticed a very bright rufuos colored stint foraging with the Semi-palmated Plovers. I told Hendrik that we needed to get closer and he agreed, already realizing we were looking at a stint. As the bird came into closer view it became apparent that we were studying a Red-necked and not a Little Stint. The rufuos coloration covered the entire throat and breast and was surrounded by dark speckling. The bird had a prominent split supercilium, with the lower half being much bolder and noticeable from a distance. The white braces down the back formed a "V". The lesser coverts below the "V" were edged in rufous. The greater coverts below were brownish/gray and were edged with a creamy off white. The primaries and tertials lacked any rufuos and were also edged in a creamy off white. Hendrik should have photos up soon..... We studied the bird for 45 minutes before leaving and the cooperative bird was still present when we left. At the time the only other shorebird around was a KILLDEER. Kathy reports a WETERN SANDPIPER has joined the flock. Access for this location is difficult at best with a few miles of dunes between the bird and Hwy 101. It would require a significant amount of walking through sand from the road. If you would like specific directions please contact me, Hendrik or Dave Lauten. Daniel Farrar On Fri, Jun 19, 2009 at 12:27 PM, Alan Contreras wrote: > Daniel Farrar and Hendrik Herlyn have located an adult RED-NECKED STINT in > northern Coos County and are getting photos. It is south of the mouth of > Tenmile Creek and east of the Snowy Plover exclusion area. It is with five > Semipalmated Plovers. > > > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090619/575a7327/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Fri Jun 19 16:20:59 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:20:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Red-necked Stint pictures Message-ID: <257624.37940.qm@web37002.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, I've posted a few rather mediocre shots of the RED-NECKED STINT at the following address: http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2026464&id=1383356632&l=af2e6e1c8e Unfortunately the lighting was very bad, and the bird did not let us get close enough for some decent shots, but the ones I got should be diagnostic. Great find, and a LIFE BIRD for me! Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090619/8e1a17ac/attachment.html From roygerig at hotmail.com Fri Jun 19 17:48:01 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:48:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Baskett Slough CLARK'S GREBE Message-ID: I went to Baskett slough this morning to look for the possible Blue Grosbeak. As I did not see the post on OBOL until about 8 AM, by the time I got out there most bird singing had ended for the day. I did hear and see a singing PURPLE FINCH, as well as a couple each of BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKs and LAZULI BUNTINGs in the area that Tyler described. I plan to go out there tomorrow morning earlier and try again for Blue Grosbeak. >From the dam at Morgan Lake I could see a CLARK'S GREBE on the pond below Morgan Lake, and walked down for better looks. On the way back I saw a HORNED LARK in the weedy, ryegrassy field just west of that pond, where I don't think I've seen one recently. Also, a pair of WILSON'S PHALAROPEs in the marsh just west of the parking lot for Morgan Lake where I haven't seen that species before. I saw a distant (a mile away, no scope, couldn't even tell if there was black in the wings or not) mostly white bird that could have been anything from a Forster's Tern to an American Avocet at the far east edge of the refuge. By the time I got to the dike crossing to HQ where I could have ID'd it, I could not find it again. So - oh well, never mind.. I saw 11 species of Duck including RUDDY DUCK, AMERICAN WIGEON, NO. PINTAIL, SHOVELER, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, LESSER SCAUP, RING-NECKED DUCK, GADWALL, CINNAMON TEAL, MALLARD, WOOD DUCK. Margaret Stevens, if you read this, will you email me? We talked this morning at the refuge and I did not get your number. Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090619/b74be314/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Fri Jun 19 18:05:34 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:05:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] RED-NECKED STINT Message-ID: <4A3C35DE.2020000@verizon.net> Well, small miracles happen. Of course it helps to have a couple of sets really good eyes out there to assist... The RED-NECKED STINT was still present at Tenmile Creek Coos Cty as Daniel reports around 3:00 PM this afternoon. This was a long awaited life bird for Kathy and me, and in our home county, making our total shorebird count for the county now at 49. Kathy is determined to find number 50 soon, and her birthday is coming, and some of us know that could mean good things. The breeding plumaged stint was with about 5 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and 1 breeding plumage WESTERN SANDPIPER. I took a look at Hendrik's pictures, and they do clearly show the bird but unfortunately it is tough to get into fine detail. We got very close to the bird at one point (25 meters) and the sun peeked out enough to get fabulous views. It was then they I attempted to crudely digiscope it (I am not a digiscoper) but after a few shots the flock moved to another spot across the creek. We watched the bird for about 45 minutes or so, and here is my description: A peep shorebird the same size as the Western Sandpiper it was with, however it appeared slightly more compact and not as long and sleek. The bill was noticeable shorter than the Western, all black, straight, and not as blunt tipped as a Semipalmated Sandpiper. It was almost more like a Least bill. There was a prominent white supercilium, a dark brown loral area that touched the base of the bill and ran back to and thru the eye, although rear of the eye it was lighter brown. The chin was white. Above the eye from the base of the supercilium, another second, white line was present, much thinner than the supercilium but giving the bird a spilt supercilium appearance. The crown had dark brown feathers with darker edges, giving the head a streaked look. The neck, throat, sides of head, ear coverts, were all bright rufous colored. The neck and throat area had no streaks or marks within the rufous. The nape of the neck was also rufous, lighter so, with the dark centered head feathers continuing down the nape through the background rufous color. The back feathers were also dark brown centered with darker edging, but there was no rufous on the back. Under the rufous area on the neck and throat were black blotches, not really streaks, although the effect from a distance is a streaked look. The black markings went across the entire breast unbroken. The dark markings also extended slightly further down the flanks than on the breast of the bird, but did not continue down the flanks as much as the chevrons on the Western Sandpiper do. The outer edge of the back feathers create two parallel white lines, forming a 'V', although the lines did not meet at the base nor were they as prominent as some other species. The scapulars were rufous centered, with the lower portion of each feather edged in white and upper portion of the feathers edged in black. The wing coverts were much lighter brown, with a dark feather vane. Thus the scapulars stood out as much more colorful than the back or the wing feathers. The tertials were brown and edged white. The tail when seen in flight as it landed or flew away was mostly white on the outer tail feathers and brown on the central tail feathers. The rump was brown. The belly and undertail coverts were white. The legs were black, and the feet were unwebbed. The date of 19 June raises some interesting thoughts. Is the bird coming or going? Normally around 22 June shorebirds seen after that date are coming from north, prior to that date we tend to think of birds heading north. Many RN Stints are found around the beginning of June, when many adult Western Sandpipers are headed south (amongst other sandpipers), and the RN Stints tend to stand out in breeding plumage. The bird was with a very bright Western Sandpiper. There have not been too many WESA around lately, but there is always one or two here or there. I found it interesting that on the left wing, about 3 wing covert feathers were very beat up, and appeared as if they had not molted yet. They seemed much more beat up then any of the other plumage on the bird. In fact, the bird was stunning, about as cherry an adult Red-necked Stint as one could see. Seeing these covert feathers made me wonder if the bird was heading north, or not heading north at all. The WESA it was with though, was also very bright and crisp. I did not look at it intensely, but many returning adults even in July already show signs of wear and tear - it is a long journey north and south again, so plumage gets beat up. So, were these birds headed south already, and yet still had crispy and bright plumage? I tend to think so, and wonder if the wing covert feathers were just a little beat up for some reason or never properly molted on the way north. To see this bird requires either a very long walk or a four wheel drive and a long walk. It also requires extra good behavior as it is a Snowy Plover nesting area and the plovers need all the peace they can get. Misbehavior will be seriously, and I mean seriously, dealt with. However, the bird is not in a plover nesting area, it is outside of it, and place is lovely and awesome. If you really want to try, drop us a line. Great bird, thanks Daniel and Hendrik! Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Jun 19 19:16:55 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:16:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swallows Message-ID: <38c30045b7d91faa5cdf3607194f09aa@earthlink.net> I think in the short run the absence of swallows in upland areas is due to lack of heat units, hence reduced insect numbers. I hardly saw swallows at my house last summer, and I recall some Breeding Bird Census in the Coast Range reporting next to none. Douglas-fir broke bud here at a record late date, and many crops are running weeks behind average. Lars Norgren Manning Oregon From heinjv at charter.net Fri Jun 19 20:29:11 2009 From: heinjv at charter.net (Jim & Vikki Hein) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:29:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] RED-NECKED STINT Message-ID: <1BCEEE43DCA9462DB79FD647CB2D4827@MAIN> Obol, I just got home to Roseburg from a successful search for the RED-NECKED STINT on Tenmile Creek. I cannot add anything to the good descriptions of the bird already posted. I got to the site at about 5:30 this afternoon and found it after about a 15 min search. It was at the furthest north bend in the creek before entering the ocean. I was able to watch for about 20 minutes before it flew to an area that I could not see without crossing the deep creek. I can speak to the difficulty of getting to the site without a vehicle to drive on the sand. I stopped at the Spinreal ATV rental business before going out thinking I might rent an atv. They did not want me to rent one because I would need to leave it unattended while looking for the bird. They did offer to take me down about 1/2 of the way down and pick me up latter which I greatly appreciated. It is still a difficult walk which I made worse by cutting through the brush to get by the river. Very difficult to say the least. Anyway thanks to Daniel Farrar for his directions and help for a life bird. Jim Hein From andy.frank at kp.org Fri Jun 19 21:02:38 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:02:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] ? Black-and-White Warbler, Forest Park, Portland Message-ID: Yesterday afternoon while running in Forest Park in Portland I heard a song that did not sound like any of the usual ones I hear there. Sadly, I did not see the bird. I described it to a more knowledgeable birder as high pitched and had an up-and-down pattern, similar to a Hermit Warbler, but seemed higher-pitched, thinner and not at all burry. I was sure it was not any of the usual warblers found there. This more knowledgeable birder suggested that the description could fit American Redstart and Black-and-White Warbler. After listening to a number of recordings, I was struck how my recollection matched pretty exactly the song of a Black-and-White Warbler. According to BOGR, spring records range from early Apr to mid Jun, with most during Apr and May. There also have been some July records. This was on Wildwood Trail in Forest Park and was inbetween where Holman Lane and Wild Cherry intersect with it. I would be interested in suggestions of more common birds that would fit the description of this song. Andy Frank From bigburd_jh at yahoo.com Fri Jun 19 21:05:19 2009 From: bigburd_jh at yahoo.com (bigburd_jh at yahoo.com) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:05:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Wasco Treasures Message-ID: <69115.78669.qm@web36802.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello, birders.? Just got back from a one-night camping trip to the foothills northwest of Tygh Valley, Wasco Co. At around midnight (how appropriate) a BARRED OWL sounded off twice from the higher country to the west.? I would tentatively place the location as about 8 miles west of Friend, or just north-northwest of the Badger Creek Wilderness. This morning (6/20) I found a singing GRAY FLYCATCHER along a small seasonal creek 5.8 miles west of Tygh Valley.? Habitat was <30' ponderosa pines, a few scrubby oaks, big sage and dry grasses. I got to see the bird dart after something, with apparent success, the next time I saw it (a few seconds later) it had something in its beak. There were several (at least 4) ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS present at the White River canyon northeast of Pine Grove this afternoon, despite the screaming wind. Yesterday afternoon (about 5:40) there was an adult PEREGRINE FALCON perched upon a lightpole along I-84 at the I-205 airport exit. I'll post a full list tomorrow. --Jeff Hayes SE Portland From bettymkn at netscape.com Fri Jun 19 21:06:36 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:06:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yellow-Headed Blackbird, Foster Lake Message-ID: <20090619210636.FAF2C2BC@resin09.mta.everyone.net> A male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD stopped by the feeder this afternoon but before I could grab the camera he was gone. Haven't seen him come back. Saw a female on the 17th of May, which according to Mark Nikkas was a first for Foster Lake, so possibly a first for the male. Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From tjanzen at comcast.net Fri Jun 19 21:49:22 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:49:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Clackamas County trip report Message-ID: <20090620044931.29BF2A80CD@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear All, Yesterday Dan van den Broek, Jay Withgott, Forrest Rowland, and I ran a Big Day in Clackamas County. Forrest was only able to bird with us until 4:30 pm and then Jay, Dan, and I continued birding in the county after that. Dan, Jay, and I found a total of 123 species. During the time that Forrest was with us, we found a total of 116 species. We started owling at 3 am in the Molalla River drainage where Forrest has been doing a lot of owling surveys during the past month. Forrest's knowledge about the location of various owl species was the primary reason for our success in locating 6 species of owls. A major highlight was a singing RED-EYED VIREO that Dan was the first to hear at the south end of Feyrer Park just east of Molalla about 8:30 am. As far as I know this is the most southerly location in Clackamas County where this species has been detected. This species is much more common in the Sandy River drainage. We also heard 2 YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS along Dickey Prairie Rd. Another highlight was a ROCK WREN we found at High Rock about 5 miles northwest of Timothy Lake. Rock Wrens have been found at this location in the past and this is probably the most reliable location in Clackamas County to find this species. We also found a pair of TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES and a CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD at High Rock. Calliope Hummingbirds are very hard to find in Clackamas County in my experience. There is an active WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER nest in Abbott Burn about 3 miles NW of Timothy Lake. Williamson's Sapsuckers are relatively rare in Clackamas County. A pair of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES was on the telephone wires along Whiskey Hill Rd. just west of the intersection of Whiskey Hill Rd. and Barlow Rd. Dan, Jay, and I also saw a pair of BANK SWALLOWS along Eaden Rd. about 2 miles south of Barton. There is a known Bank Swallow colony along the Clackamas River in this area. I think that if we had done some scouting for this Big Day that we could have run the route more efficiently and could have hopefully found some locations for species we didn't see including Barn Owl, Vesper Sparrow, Dusky Flycatcher, Virginia Rail, Sora, Ring-necked Pheasant, and Gray Jay. Our worst miss was Anna's Hummingbird, a species we would have found if we had had additional time in the right section of the county. The previous Clackamas County Big Day record was 110 species that Darlene Philpott, Skip Russell, and I saw on June 12, 1999. Sincerely, Tim Janzen Portland From Oropendolas at aol.com Fri Jun 19 22:57:06 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 01:57:06 EDT Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Message-ID: Hello All, Among the 42 Pelicans on the roost south of the Royal Avenue viewing platform this afternoon were three scruffy looking BONAPARTE'S GULLS and one GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE. John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222585064x1201462784/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd= JunestepsfooterNO62) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090620/c3c7e8be/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Fri Jun 19 23:22:43 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:22:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Off topic ID help. Message-ID: Hello OBOL, The home page photo on my website is of what I believe to be a Western Fence Lizard. Anyone able to confirm that? Thanks!! Vern Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090619/d8d26093/attachment.html From tamickel at rio.com Sat Jun 20 07:18:14 2009 From: tamickel at rio.com (Tom & Allison Mickel) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:18:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Barred Owls, SE Eugene Message-ID: <000001c9f1b1$f35f8a40$da1e9ec0$@com> OBOL, This morning at about 5:30 I had two BARRED OWLS calling back and forth at each other at the Ridgeline Trail parking lot on Fox Hollow Rd. One was just north of the parking lot and the other was across the road just south of the entrance into Cascade Raptor Center. This is the area where I had adults and fledged young last year during July. I didn't notice any young this morning and last year when the young were in the area I never heard the adults call. This is the first time this spring/summer I've seen the owls - yesterday at about the same time the robins and jays were making a lot of noise in the area, but I didn't find the owl. Tom Mickel From johnpam at mtangel.net Sat Jun 20 08:54:35 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 08:54:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] "Good Deal" On High-End Binoculars Message-ID: Sportsman's Warehouse in Salem is selling Leica Ultravid 8x42 for $1499. With the Leica rebate of $350 in affect, the total cost comes down to $1150. These binoculars were priced at about $2000 just a few months ago and were considered in the top 3 along with Swarovski and Zeiss. Admittedly, this is a ridiculous amount of money to spend on a pair of binoculars even with the "good deal." But, if you have been thinking about finally breaking the bank (before it folds?) and buying a top end pair of bins, this might be worth checking out. The "wow" factor is pretty amazing. They have all the top models except the new Leica HD available for comparison I have no interest in this store except to note what they have in stock. I don't seem to find this older model available anywhere on the internet at this point but there are reviews buried online. Please note this is *not* the new Ultravid HD model. The only color available is green. But who cares? Green is green and "Wow" is the word that best fits this beauty. Good Birding, John Thomas Silverton From johnpam at mtangel.net Sat Jun 20 09:09:34 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 09:09:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Correction on Store Name Message-ID: Sportsman's Warehouse has changed its name to "Wholesale Sports." From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sat Jun 20 09:58:40 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 09:58:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yard fledglings Message-ID: <81b2a9930906200958h2651a501j29f048d2e123a38c@mail.gmail.com> This appears to be another good year for fledglings in my neighborhood. A couple of weeks ago, I noticed three juvenile PINE SISKINS in the tray of my thistle feeder. This is the second year in a row that they've bred here. There are also at least three adult JUNCOS still hanging around, and I imagine that I'll be seeing fledglings later this month. At least one male NORTHERN FLICKER is still visiting the suet feeder daily, suggesting that a pair is also breeding locally. Other fledglings observed so far include LESSER GOLDFINCHES, BC CHICKADEES, RB NUTHATCHES, BUSHTITS, and a HOUSE FINCH. Brandon Eugene From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Jun 20 10:03:52 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 10:03:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] NO stint on Saturday a.m. Message-ID: Daniel Farrar reports that the Red-necked Stint is NOT present at Tenmile on Saturday morning. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Sat Jun 20 10:41:17 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:41:17 -0600 Subject: [obol] Say's Pheobe babies and others long Message-ID: <4B3CC8928DA74827BEE4D0106864F185@larryPC> We just returned from an Alaskan Cruise to see our resident Phoebe baby fly. Well he sort "flumped". Larry had to rescue him from the inside shop window and I watched him run around our Cactus patch. He/she is very tame and cute. On our cruise we saw a good group of birds. On the coast were Bald Eagles sitting on lamp posts like gulls in lower 48 McDonalds. In Juneau at Mendenhall Glacier I was less than 4 feet away from a singing Yellow Warbler. He treated me as part of the scenery. I was so busy watching I forgot to take his picture. There were Cliff Swallows zooming around for bugs.On the way from Skagway to Icy Point we had a follower or we were following it. Returning from breakfast we notice a bird outside the door. We were doing 20 knots so he wasn't sitting, unfortunately we didn't get to ID him. Sun and glare were right. It was interesting to watch the ship pass him then like a teenager take off like a shot, not to be outdone by the ship. In Denali Park we saw Golden Eagles, soaring in the wind, Bald Eagles sitting on sand bars and just flying. Mew Gulls rummaging on a hillside, Cliff Swallows bugging above the Susitna River, White Crowned Sparrows around the picnic areas of the lodge we stayed at. The most interesting bird was a Tundra Swan, her nest was on a lake that was close to Alaska Railroad tracks. On our way north to the park she had her head up and watched the train go by. On the way south she was sleeping and didn't rouse till over half the train had passed her. Both times she refused to get off her eggs/babies. Yesterday on our return from Boise Id. I watched a Black-necked Stilt watch an Angus bull slosh through water towards him without getting excited. The water is at Hwy 95 and Pharmacy Hill Rd. Also saw lots of White-faced Ibis flying from one field to new ones. Karen in true SE Or. south of Burns Jct. In Malheur Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090620/12cade28/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Sat Jun 20 11:09:17 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:09:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Say's Pheobe babies and others long Message-ID: <410406.61183.qm@web39701.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Karen, Today I see the kestrel pair on my property have fledged at least two youngsters, this being 8 days sooner than last season. I'm 15 mi. S of Burns, and I've just been made aware that I don't live in SE (true) Oregon! :) Did you see any coastal peregrines whilst on your Alaskan adventure? Best, Dick --- On Sat, 6/20/09, Larry Cottrell wrote: > From: Larry Cottrell > Subject: [obol] Say's Pheobe babies and others long > To: "obol" > Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009, 10:41 AM > > > > > > > > We just returned from an Alaskan > Cruise to see our > resident Phoebe baby fly. Well he sort "flumped". > Larry had to rescue him from > the inside shop window and I watched him run around our > Cactus patch. He/she is > very tame and cute. > On our cruise we saw a good group > of birds. On the coast > were Bald Eagles sitting on lamp posts like gulls in lower > 48 McDonalds. In > Juneau at Mendenhall Glacier I was less than 4 feet away > from a singing Yellow > Warbler. He treated me as part of the scenery. I was so > busy watching I forgot > to take his picture. There were Cliff Swallows zooming > around for bugs.On the > way?from Skagway to Icy Point we had a follower or we > were following it. > Returning from breakfast we notice a bird outside the door. > We were doing 20 > knots so he wasn't sitting, unfortunately we didn't > get to ID him. Sun and glare > were right. It was interesting to watch the ship pass him > then like a teenager > take off like a shot, not to be outdone by the > ship. > In Denali Park we saw Golden > Eagles, soaring in the wind, > Bald Eagles sitting on sand bars and just flying. Mew Gulls > rummaging on a > hillside, Cliff Swallows bugging above the Susitna River, > White Crowned Sparrows > around the picnic areas of the lodge we stayed > at. > The most interesting bird was a > Tundra Swan, her nest was > on a lake that was close to Alaska Railroad tracks. On our > way north to the park > she had her head up and watched the train go by. On the way > south she was > sleeping and didn't rouse till over half the train had > passed her. Both times > she refused to get off her eggs/babies. > Yesterday on our return from Boise > Id. I watched a > Black-necked Stilt watch an Angus bull slosh through water > towards him without > getting excited. The water is at Hwy 95 and Pharmacy Hill > Rd. Also saw lots of > White-faced Ibis flying from one field to new > ones. > Karen > in true SE Or. > south of Burns Jct. > In Malheur Co. > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jonysky101 at aol.com Sat Jun 20 12:48:22 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:48:22 -0400 Subject: [obol] Birding Newport, where is South Jetty? Message-ID: <8CBBFF733B243E6-EF0-3F8@WEBMAIL-DY01.sysops.aol.com> I was in Newport last week with my wife and grand daughter. We did the Aquarium, and I scouted for the sites recommended to by members of this group, I'm going directly to Boiler Bay when I get off work Monday morning at 4am. I plan to go to Newport after that and do the walk behind the Science center, the walk to the lighthouse at Yaquina Bay and the South Jetty. But I can't find the South Jetty on the map. I would be grateful for?directions. ?I plan to end the day at Haystack Rock going for Tufted Puffins. I got some great shots at the Aquarium, but that seems like cheating to me, so I want to see them in the wild and get some shots. Thanks, Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090620/738e5611/attachment.html From dhogaza at pacifier.com Sat Jun 20 13:30:25 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:30:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding Newport, where is South Jetty? In-Reply-To: <8CBBFF733B243E6-EF0-3F8@WEBMAIL-DY01.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBBFF733B243E6-EF0-3F8@WEBMAIL-DY01.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <4ECF19DD-33CF-490C-B528-A129D8AC6C99@pacifier.com> On Jun 20, 2009, at 12:48 PM, jonysky101 at aol.com wrote: > I was in Newport last week with my wife and grand daughter. We did > the Aquarium, and I scouted for the sites recommended to by members > of this group, I'm going directly to Boiler Bay when I get off work > Monday morning at 4am. I plan to go to Newport after that and do the > walk behind the Science center, the walk to the lighthouse at > Yaquina Bay and the South Jetty. But I can't find the South Jetty on > the map. I would be grateful for directions. Go to http://maps.google.com and search for "yaquina bay". Zoom into the bridge that crosses the mouth of the bay (it carries US 101). There are two jetties, north and south, flanking the channel running about a mile or so west eventually out into the ocean. If you look at the south end of the bridge, and have zoomed in sufficiently, you'll see "Jetty Rd." marked there. It's a dirt road that follows the south jetty to more or less where the land ends. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Jun 20 15:34:56 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:34:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding Newport, where is South Jetty? In-Reply-To: <4ECF19DD-33CF-490C-B528-A129D8AC6C99@pacifier.com> References: <8CBBFF733B243E6-EF0-3F8@WEBMAIL-DY01.sysops.aol.com> <4ECF19DD-33CF-490C-B528-A129D8AC6C99@pacifier.com> Message-ID: Don't forget to check out the Oregon Coast Birding Trail maps every time you go to the coast. http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don Baccus" To: Cc: Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2009 1:30 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Birding Newport, where is South Jetty? > > On Jun 20, 2009, at 12:48 PM, jonysky101 at aol.com wrote: > >> I was in Newport last week with my wife and grand daughter. We did >> the Aquarium, and I scouted for the sites recommended to by members >> of this group, I'm going directly to Boiler Bay when I get off work >> Monday morning at 4am. I plan to go to Newport after that and do the >> walk behind the Science center, the walk to the lighthouse at >> Yaquina Bay and the South Jetty. But I can't find the South Jetty on >> the map. I would be grateful for directions. > > Go to http://maps.google.com and search for "yaquina bay". > > Zoom into the bridge that crosses the mouth of the bay (it carries US > 101). > > There are two jetties, north and south, flanking the channel running > about a mile or so west eventually out into the ocean. > > If you look at the south end of the bridge, and have zoomed in > sufficiently, you'll see "Jetty Rd." marked there. It's a dirt road > that follows the south jetty to more or less where the land ends. > > ---- > Don Baccus > http://donb.photo.net > http://birdnotes.net > http://openacs.org > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From jvanmoo at sisna.com Sat Jun 20 16:34:46 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 16:34:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hamaker Mtn., 6-20-09 Message-ID: <7815A3E6-0D66-4528-B556-B9D12BF4C1E7@sisna.com> Marilyn Christian and I birded Hamaker Mtn area this AM for a few hours. DUSKY FLYCATCHER, GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE and SOOTY GROUSE were the highlights. We then went over to the Merrill area and picked up a BARN OWL that Jean Van Hulzen and I saw on Tuesday. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From jvanmoo at sisna.com Sat Jun 20 16:39:41 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 16:39:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Stukel Mtn Access, Klamath Falls Message-ID: I got this message from someone who works at BLM: For years, the public was able to travel the entire road to the top of Stukel. However, part of that road has always crossed private land. The private landowner determined last summer that he would no longer allow the public to use that portion of his road and blocked it. There is a really rough road to the top (take a left) just prior to his posting/blockage. That is the public road that leads you to the top. Maps are available in this office should you need them. I haven't gone to get the map for the road to go around the blockage but plan to do so soon. I'll post after I go up there. Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Jun 20 17:18:58 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:18:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding Sherman County Message-ID: I'm creating a site guide and map for Sherman County. Using several sources, I've generated some of the more common birding areas of Sherman County. If you enjoy this part of Oregon and have a special place not included in these maps, would you let me know? A brief description to that spot would help as well. If you consider yourself knowledgeable about these birding locations and you would like to become part of this project, let me know. I would love to give someone else head building as the editor for this county. Northern Sherman County http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.00046ccf6694c7a9b02f2&ll=45.677401,-120.729446&spn=0.183267,0.528717&z=12 Central Sherman County http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.00046cd06c38625be333e&ll=45.551083,-120.682755&spn=0.367361,1.057434&z=11 Southern Sherman County http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.00046cd0514ac92dcb8e7&ll=45.286724,-120.729446&spn=0.369087,1.057434&z=11 Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090620/10895e44/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Sat Jun 20 18:40:53 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:40:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] more Gilliam notes Message-ID: June 18 Condon s.p. phalarope which I presumed to be a Wilson's, which is regular there. Decided to walk to the end of the pond to look at it anyway. Good choice. turned out to be a Red-necked. Very late -or early. New to my county list Also drove out Eightmile Road se of Arlington. About 1-1/2 miles out easily found Grasshopper Sparrow. After finding my first in the county last week, on a tip from Paul Sullivan, I now believe the birds are widespread in the county in appropriate habitat. Further along Eightmile Road and down Fourmile Road, habitat looks very good for Burrowing Owl, although I did not see any. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090620/e1a8e1af/attachment.html From gorgebirds at juno.com Sat Jun 20 19:34:39 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 02:34:39 GMT Subject: [obol] RBA Skamania County Indigo Bunting Message-ID: <20090620.193439.11374.1@webmail07.vgs.untd.com> I received a call from Stuart Johnston today alerting me to a first year or non-breeding plumaged INDIGO BUNTING in Skamania County. This second record for the county was found on June 20 at about 10 AM. The location is on Meadow Glade Road which is a short spur road off of Bergen Road which connects to Highway 14 between the town of Home Valley and Dog Mountain. About 300 yards down Meadow Glade Rd. there is a pond on the south side of the road. The bird was seen and heard around this pond and old fields that surround the pond. This old homestead area in the center of a forest has also had one record of American Redstart, also seen by Stuart a few years ago. Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Criminal Lawyers - Click here. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTOVoLrUQPqdfMuAI7EE4asm7MR2u5HWv9DJKc8qEtwnH6vakGDRUc/ From celata at pacifier.com Sat Jun 20 20:00:34 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:00:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] A completely different kind of quiz Message-ID: <4A3DA252.3060905@pacifier.com> http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11366/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Half a bee, philosophically... http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11366 From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Jun 20 21:23:53 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:23:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black-throated Sparrow back at Painted Hills, etc. Message-ID: <1245558233.3448.40.camel@joel-laptop> Hello folks, My son Wil and I ducked out to Wheeler County last night and this morning to run the Barnhouse Breeding Bird Survey in the Ochoco Mountains. The survey route was interesting as usual, with notables including two BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS and hooting/drumming DUSKY & RUFFED GROUSE. WILD TURKEY finally made it onto the list for this route, with a distant calling hen that had me stumped for a minute. A tom displaying on the road halfway to the next stop helped to convince me that I'd made the right ID. After finishing this route which ends up on the north side of Black Canyon Wilderness, we made a brief jaunt up to Spanish Peak in hopes of finding rosy-finches among the lingering snow fields, but didn't see any. Other typical birds of the high Ochocos, plus an amazing wildflower display, made the side trip worth the while. Barnhouse Springs Campground had a PILEATED WOODPECKER working over a log that was lying on the ground next to the springs, and a WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER farther back in the woods. This has long been a reliable site for these woodpeckers so we were glad to see that some were still around, despite the removal of many of the larger-diameter trees last year. Along with close views of RED-NAPED and WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS higher up the route, plus HAIRY WOODPECKER & N. FLICKER, that was a nice batch of woodpeckers to find before lunch. On the down side, we didn't hear any Flammulated Owls at Barnhouse Springs -- or any owls for that matter -- despite camping out under the stars in the campground last night, and even trying a bit of calling in the pre-dawn hours. However other regulars including TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS, and VAUX'S SWIFTS were around in numbers. On the way back home we detoured to the Painted Hills Unit of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, west of Mitchell. A CASPIAN TERN was fishing over Painted Cove. These used to be rare in Wheeler Co. but it seems like they've become regular summer visitors in recent years. Along the Leaf Trail road west of the Painted Cove turnoff, we quickly located a singing BLACK-THROATED SPARROW along with LARK SPARROWS, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE and other usual suspects. Considering that we visited in the mid-afternoon doldrums, there could well be more Black-throated Sparrows; there were a half dozen or more in the same vicinity in 2007. A quick stop by Meyers Canyon south of the Painted Hills yielded a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER singing in full view atop a juniper. I thought I saw a couple of BANK SWALLOWS flying near the road, but we were running late so didn't stop to check on the colony that's usually along this stretch of Bridge Creek. Ochoco Reservoir east of Prineville really has quite a flock of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS this year. We didn't stop to count them but I'd guess there were well over a hundred, very spectacular to watch as they flew around the upper end of the reservoir. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From roygerig at hotmail.com Sat Jun 20 21:28:21 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:28:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Polk Co. Avocet, Clark's Grebe Message-ID: The mostly white bird that I saw yesterday at Baskett Slough NWR turned out to be an AMERICAN AVOCET. I walked in and saw it closer (than a mile) today. It is on the most south east pond on the refuge. It is in a closed area, but it can be seen from a hill to the northwest, an easy hike gets you there. The CLARK'S GREBE I saw yesterday below Morgan Lake was still there. I saw 2 male GREEN-WINGED TEAL from below Coville Rd. today so that makes 12 species of ducks on the refuge now. There were 4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS near the Narrows on Coville Road. Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090620/98d9e1d5/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Sat Jun 20 21:36:16 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:36:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] WFO Conference: Papers still being accepted; and Register soon Message-ID: Hi OBOL -- The deadline for abstract submission for presenting a talk at the Western Field Ornithologists (WFO) conference in Boise this September has been extended to 1 JULY. We have a few remaining open slots on the program, so all you banders and citizen-science researchers and ornithologists out there, come join us for what is shaping up to be a great meeting. See the website to download a copy of the Call for Papers: go to http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/ , click on the link for the conference, and then the link for the call for papers. ALSO, anyone planning to register for the conference, I'd recommend doing so soon, as hotel space has become limited now that the local football team changed their schedule to create a home game in town that weekend. See the website for conference schedule and registration info. And don't overlook the field trip to view what may soon become the newest species of bird in North America, the South Hills Crossbill, a taxon of Red Crossbill restricted to a small region of southern Idaho. Looking forward to seeing you in Boise, Jay Withgott WFO, and Portland, OR From birdboy at bkpix.com Sat Jun 20 23:18:26 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:18:26 +1300 Subject: [obol] Eastern Coos Co. 6/20 Message-ID: Hi birders, I rode the 80-mile "Tour de Fronds" organized bike ride in eastern Coos County today with John Koenig (and 75 other cyclists), starting at Powers, climbing past Mount Bolivar to Arrasta Saddle, and returning to Powers. It was 47 degrees and raining at the top (a 4,000-foot gain); tough conditions! On the steep grades, we encountered a few birds: 1 - TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE 2 - AMERICAN DIPPER 1 - CALIFORNIA QUAIL 1 - WESTERN KINGBIRD 1 - NASHVILLE WARBLER 5 - HERMIT WARBLER 2 - OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER 2 - HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER 2 - VARIED THRUSH 5 - HERMIT THRUSH 1 - PILEATED WOODPECKER A very scenic area - just wish it was a little warmer and drier... Good birding, Noah Strycker -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090621/6d2816b4/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Sat Jun 20 23:20:45 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:20:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: Y-B Chat, L Bunting, W Pelicans, Bullock's Orioles w/3 babies Message-ID: <457695.49181.qm@web55108.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Saturday, Carol Ledford, my Mom (Olive) and I birded the River "S" Unit at Ridgefield NWR (~4mi W of I-5 at Exit 14 in SW Washington; http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ ). I was there from about 8Am until 3PM. Highlights: AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: Five were still seen on Rest Lake for the first half of the day, but they had left by 2PM. YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT: Carol and I listened to and I saw this Beauty. It was moving around near the Roth Unit gate on the SE side of the Auto Tour after you leave the E side of Rest Lake. It only popped up for a few seconds, but it shown brightly as it sung from an exposed perch atop the brambles before dropping out of sight for good. LAZULI BUNTING: Before Carol joined me, I walked the entrance canyon. As I walked uphill, near the top I heard a LAZULI BUNTING singing. I found it atop a Western Red Cedar. When I was walking back down, about midway down, the LAZULI BUNTING flew down to the road surface and was bugging at the edge, and then got some grit from the road surface. Nice! BULLOCK'S ORIOLE: Both parents were extremely actively feeding three chatty "babies" this morning. This is from the nest that hangs directly over the road at the E end of the entrance bridge. I expect these three will fledge any day this coming week, as they looked fully-grown ac they poked above the nest stretching toward dutiful parents. Mom and Dad are working their feathers to the quill to keep these loudly begging kids fed. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores Complete list of 67 species seen / heard: Pied-billed Grebe AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN Great Blue Heron Great Egret Canada Goose Wood Duck Gadwall Mallard Blue-winged Teal Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Redhead Ruddy Duck Osprey Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Virginia Rail (heard only) Sora (heard only) American Coot Killdeer Wilson's Snipe Mourning Dove Vaux's Swift Red-breasted Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Western Wood-Pewee Willow Flycatcher Pacific-slope Flycatcher Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee (seen in entrance canyon) Red-breasted Nuthatch (heard only, entrance canyon) White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper House Wren Winter Wren (seen in entrance canyon) Marsh Wren Swainson's Thrush (seen/heard in entrance canyon) American Robin European Starling Cedar Waxwing Orange-crowned Warbler (heard only, entrance canyon) Yellow Warbler (Kiwa Trail) Common Yellowthroat Wilson's Warbler (heard only, entrance canyon) YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (seen/heard near Roth Unit Gate Western Tanager (seen/heard in entrance canyon) Spotted Towhee Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Black-headed Grosbeak LAZULI BUNTING (seen/heard in entrance canyon) Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (seen feeding 3 babies near R/R) House Finch American Goldfinch Seen by others but not by me: Belted Kingfisher: by Paul Forsgren From ed.mcvicker at comcast.net Sun Jun 21 01:00:08 2009 From: ed.mcvicker at comcast.net (Ed McVicker) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 01:00:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Dutch Warblers - off topic Message-ID: <4A3DE888.8020807@comcast.net> Birders familiar with northern European warblers and wanting to keep in practice might take a shot at identifying the warblers in these photos from The Netherlands. At the link below you'll find multiple images of a dozen individuals that I collected in June, 2006. Oh, these guys are so confusing! I never figured out what they were.... http://www.flickr.com/photos/10665268 at N04/collections/72157620046289100/ Any help will be appreciated. Thanks, Ed McVicker Portland From bigburd_jh at yahoo.com Sun Jun 21 01:37:12 2009 From: bigburd_jh at yahoo.com (jeff hayes) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 01:37:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Wasco birds 6/18-19 Message-ID: <794105.90645.qm@web36807.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I went on a quick one-day camping/birding foray into Wasco County, focusing on eastside foothill habitats and the high prairies east/southeast of Maupin. I camped at a point just south of Jordan Creek (two drainages north of Tygh Creek, southwest of Friend at about 2400 feet - oak-dominated woodland with some Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir and Ceanothus, worlked my way south to Tygh Valley, across to Sherar's Bridge and south along the Deschutes to Maupin, Bakeoven Road, and the Smock Prairie/Wamic/Pine Grove area (including the White River crossing) back to Hwy. 216 to return to Portland. By 2:00 PM Friday, the wind really was an issue, hampering my efforts to find Swainson's Hawk :( Here's the list: Canada Goose Mallard Common Merganser - 15 incl. one hen w/young Calif. Quail Gr. Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Am. Kestrel Prairie Falcon - 2 on Bakeoven Rd. Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Calif. Gull Rock Pigeon - occupying cliffs west of Tygh Valley Band-tailed Pigeon Eur. Collared-Dove - 1 adult, .5 mi. west of Friend on Friend Rd. Mourning Dove Barred Owl - 1 'singing' west of campsite Common Nighthawk Vaux's Swift {Hummingbird, sp?} Lewis' Woodpecker - 30+ seen on trip Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker N. (r-sh) Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Olive-sided Flycatcher W. Wood-Pewee Willow Flycatcher Hammond's Flyc. Gray Flyc. Dusky Flyc. - numerous in pine-oak habitat Pacific-slope Flyc. Say's Phoebe - 3 singles, Bakeoven Rd. Ash-thr. Flycatcher - 4 or more, White R. canyon Western Kingbird - not numerous, a few near Tygh Valley Cassin's Vireo Warbling Vireo Steller's Jay W. Scrub-Jay Black-b. Magpie Am. Crow Com. Raven Horned Lark Tree Swallow - present around campsite, nesting in area? Violet-green Swallow N. Rough-w. Swallow Cliff Swallow - good-sized colony @ Gate Creek bridge on Smock Rd. Barn Swallow - decent numbers Black-c. Chickadee Mountain Chickadee Chestnut-b. Chickadee - upper few miles of Hwy. 216 in wet forest. Brown Creeper Rock Wren Canyon Wren Bewick's Wren House Wren - numerous in oak-pine habitat. Winter Wren Golden-cr. Kinglet W. Bluebird - numerous around Friend. Mountain Bluebird - several along Bakeoven Rd. Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush Am. Robin Sage Thrasher - 2 along Bakeoven Rd. Eur. Starling - uncannily common. Orange-cr. Warbler Nashville Warbler Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-thr. Gray W. Townsend's Warbler MacGillivray's Warbler Com. Yellowthroat Wilson's Warbler Yellow-br. Chat Western Tanager Green-tailed Towhee (which I dub The Shyest Bird Ever) Spotted Towhee Chipping Sparrow (common in oak-pine habitat) Brewer's Sparrow - several on Bakeoven Rd. Lark Sparrow Sage Sparrow - 2, near e. end of Bakeoven Rd. Savannah Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Black-h. Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting - common, even in more arid areas. Red-w. Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brewer's Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Bullock's Oriole Purple Finch - common in pine-oak-Douglas-fir habitat Cassin's Finch House Finch Pine Siskin Lesser Goldfinch Am. Goldfinch Evening Grosbeak House Sparrow I need to do some map work, then I plan on divulging the routes in a birding-guide type format. Question: does anyone know the name or designation of the weird little paved road that connects Tygh Valley to Friend? There are no signs along this route that designate that particular road, which winds in and out of Mount Hood Nat'l Forest, skirting the west boundary of Badger Creek Wilderness. It traverses excellent pine-oak and mixed Transition forests with a wide variety of microhabitats, resulting in a fat list. That coupled with an excursion out of Maupin on the Bakeoven Road which climbs out of the Deschutes canyon to elevations above 3000 feet at the east end will expose the birder to a cross-section of habitats one would normally travel farther east to explore. A lot of the sage/juniper habitat along Bakeoven has been converted to grass, however, which hosts Brewer's Blackbirds and Starlings and not much else. The higher east end of Bakeoven does still have some sage, and the espected sage birds were there. It was a bit disconcerting to not find a single shrike, though. From gorgebirds at juno.com Sun Jun 21 09:56:19 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:56:19 GMT Subject: [obol] Skamania Indigo Bunting-Yes Message-ID: <20090621.095619.22552.1@webmail16.vgs.untd.com> This morning I went to search for the INDIGO BUNTING found yesterday in Skamania County by Stuart Johnston. I arrived at the site shortly after 7 AM and heard the bird calling almost immediately. Ken Knittle and Marv Breece soon arrived and with the three of us searching and with the use of a taped call we soon had the bird in sight. This is a ratty looking mottled bird that perched in the open calling giving Marv the chance to acquire some photos. Location: East of Wind Mountain take Bergen Road off of Highway 14 and go .69 miles keeping to the right as you pass Girl Scout Road. At the end of Bergen Road go right on Meadow Glade Road for about 200 yards to a clearing in the forest with a pond on the south side of the road. We had the bird in the Oregon Ash tree in the meadow and the willows around the pond. Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ The difference is clear. Click now for a great laminating machine! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTG3Hs3ASA1M9ntbDjn2vkYZsc1e6bERoayVfInu2BTWfM3hoHxiHe/ From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sun Jun 21 11:46:44 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:46:44 +0000 Subject: [obol] Bandon Marsh Brants, Terns Message-ID: Not a whole bunch of action at the Marsh. Terns fishing is spectacular. About 12 birds. One lone brant hanging nearby at 11:45. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From timkadlecek at msn.com Sun Jun 21 12:08:33 2009 From: timkadlecek at msn.com (timkadlecek at msn.com) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:08:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] sandy river delta Message-ID: I birded Sandy River Delta this morning. Besides the numerous BULLOCK'S ORIOLES and LAZULI BUNTINGS, the highlight was an EASTERN KINGBIRD toward the east side in the grassy area where the relatively recently planted trees are located, maybe just over a hundred yards before the blind. There was also a male COMMON YELLOWTHROAT feeding two juvenile BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS. This is the first time I've actually seen this. Tim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090621/4e2bb624/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sun Jun 21 13:00:14 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:00:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swallows References: <38c30045b7d91faa5cdf3607194f09aa@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <8487C66B44B4440E85BCB867B69849A8@yourw5st28y9a3> I agree that the cold is a big part of the answer. Violet-green Swallows are finally nesting in the Coast Range south of Lars's place, outside McMinnville. They returned in April to look over the nestboxes, reappearing only when the weather was warm. Last year, with a similar weather pattern, we ended up with one simlarly late nesting attempt, foiled by interference from House Wrens. This year there are more boxes, and farther apart, so everybody is getting a chance. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: "Norgren Family" To: Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 7:16 PM Subject: [obol] Swallows I think in the short run the absence of swallows in upland areas is due to lack of heat units, hence reduced insect numbers. I hardly saw swallows at my house last summer, and I recall some Breeding Bird Census in the Coast Range reporting next to none. Douglas-fir broke bud here at a record late date, and many crops are running weeks behind average. Lars Norgren Manning Oregon _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Jun 21 13:52:51 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:52:51 +0000 Subject: [obol] more Gilliam notes In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Darrel et al., Interesting report on the Red-necked Phalarope. Steve Mlodinow called me yesterday afternoon (Sat. 20 June) to tell me that he found eight species of shorebirds (presumed southbound) at Port Susan Bay north of Everett, Washington. Among the birds he found was a single female Red-necked Phalarope. Small groups of Greater Yellowlegs were found at two Willamette Valley sites (Fern Ridge and Baskett Slough) yesterday. These are the first of this species that have been reported in the valley for several weeks. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: 5hats at peak.org To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:40:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] more Gilliam notes June 18 Condon s.p. phalarope which I presumed to be a Wilson's, which is regular there. Decided to walk to the end of the pond to look at it anyway. Good choice. turned out to be a Red-necked. Very late -or early. New to my county list Also drove out Eightmile Road se of Arlington. About 1-1/2 miles out easily found Grasshopper Sparrow. After finding my first in the county last week, on a tip from Paul Sullivan, I now believe the birds are widespread in the county in appropriate habitat. Further along Eightmile Road and down Fourmile Road, habitat looks very good for Burrowing Owl, although I did not see any. Darrel _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090621/0ed2bade/attachment.html From rriparia at charter.net Sun Jun 21 14:38:32 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:38:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] BBS RTS, N. Waterthrush, G. Catbird, KLAMCO Message-ID: <20090621173832.ZK66M.608784.root@mp20> OBOL and Klamath Bird News, from recently conducted Breeding Bird Surveys: CHINCHALO (across the Klamath Marsh, Silver Lake Hwy and into forested areas), PAUNINA (north of Chemult, all forested areas), and DAVIS LAKE (basically around the base of Hamner Butte, encountering Crescent Ck. and the Davis Lake Burn). Highlights: CHINCHALO (JUNE 18): YELLOW RAIL- 10 on 4 stops, mostly after the Refuge sign which is at approx. 5 miles east from Hwy 97. The birds were ticking away at 6:00 to 6:30 am at those stops. BLACK TERN and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD abundant near the Williamson River crossing on the Klamath Marsh. Interesting was the more abundant presence of Hammond's and Gray Flycatcher in the forested area on a route that has been dominated in the past by Dusky Flycatcher. I thought that the flycatchers were fairly loyal to their nest sites, but maybe this spring weather has caused a shift this year. After that BBS I visited Cave Mountain Burn, (JUNE 18) east of Chiloquin on the Sprague River, and hoofed it up to the top of the burn, investigating it for woodpeckers after a tip from Frank Lospalluto. I found several HAIRY WOODPECKER, two BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, and a few RED-SHAFTED WOODPECKER. PURPLE FINCH were also making use of finding insects in the lush sprouting new growth in the understory. A PRAIRIE FALCON must be nesting on a nearby cliff as one kept circling over me for some time. DAVIS LAKE BBS (JUNE 19): MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, FOX SPARROW, TREE SWALLOW, and COMMON NIGHTHAWK were common through the burn on USFS Rd. 62 east of Davis Lake. Different was the zero detection of Black-backed Woodpecker and Pileated Woodpecker, as the burn area was busy with them in the last few years. Most trees have lost the bark and cover for the beetles. Over the crest on Rd. 62 into the unburned mixed conifer area, TOWNSEND's and HERMIT WARBLER were heard on a couple of stops. FOX SPARROW was joined now by the similarly singing GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE. One RED CROSSBILL had a call that was quite hoarse and obviously different than the more usual Jip-Jip-Jip that I'm used to. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK flew across the road inbetween points along the section paralleling Crescent Ck. One RED-SHAFTED FLICKER nest was noted, and a BLACK-BLACKED WOODPECKER nest cavity was seen about a quarter mile south of southbound traffic sign noting a Cascade Byway viewing location. The nest was on the west side of the Cascades Lake Hwy, and about 3 miles, I think, from its intersection with the Crescent Cutoff Rd. Inbetween BBS routes I spent some time at Little Deschutes River, north of Gilchrist, where the G-2 road (formerly with a bridge) crossed the river (JUNE 18 & 19). At that point the riparian is wide. There was 4-5 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH singing, and one GRAY CATBIRD singing. Also, one WILLOW FLYCATCHER, several PURPLE FINCH, and RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER (nest). PAUNINA (JUNE 20): FOX SPARROW were more abundant on this route as well, compared to previous years, one stop had 3 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, and a single male WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER was heard/seen. One HAMMOND's FLYCATCHER had me curious as it had the same patterns of song, but its pitch was about an octave higher. It was like it hadn't reached puberty yet and was still in the Vienna Boys Choir. Kevin Spencer rriparia at charter.net Klamath Falls, OR From tedschroeder0800 at hotmail.com Sun Jun 21 18:44:00 2009 From: tedschroeder0800 at hotmail.com (ted schroeder) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:44:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Bluebirds vs. Mountain Chickadees Message-ID: Hi OBOL, On approximately 06/05/2009 we noticed a pair of Mountain Chickadees displaying feeding activity at a nest in a Ponderosa Pine at Spring Creek near La Grande, OR. Observations on three variably spaced subsequent days showed no change in the feeding behavior. In general, the chickadees would either fly directly to the nest hole or make a brief stop at an overhead dead limb before entering the nest hole with food. On 06/16/2009, a stop by the nest revealed two frantic adult chickadees being held at bay by a very vocal female Western Bluebird that was alternating between being in the nest or immediately outside on a limb, frequently making threatening thrusts at the chickadees. During, approximately 4 hours of observation, the female bluebird left and brought food to the nest twice and nesting material three times. Meanwhile, the frantic chickadees would, on occasion, be successful entering the nest to feed before the bluebird would run them off. At least, three times the bluebird would return and enter the nest when a chickadee was still in the nest which would result in prompt expulsion of the chickadee. As the observation period went on, the female bluebird became more aggressive about chasing the chickadees. The male bluebird would show up intermittently but made no advances at the chickadees nor did he try to enter the nest. On 06/17/2009, we watched the goings on at the nest for another three hours. Initially, it looked like more of the same, as the vocal female bluebird was throwing a fit every time one or both of the chickadees would show up to attempt to enter the nest with food. But shortly after we arrived, it became obvious that things were changing as the female bluebird showed less aggressive behavior towards the chickadees and they were repeatedly successful in entering the nest with food and sometimes then packing out fecal material. Over the observation period, the female bluebird made multiple forays to hunt, returning to the nest with food and on two occasions she removed fecal material. On two occasions the male bluebird brought food to the nest and passed it off to the female at the entrance to the nest. On one occasion the male bluebird brought in food to the nest when the female was not inside, entered and then came out without the food. On, at least, three occasions one of the chickadees was in the nest when the female bluebird entered and the chickadee was promptly ejected. On the day prior, we worried that the female bluebird might either kill the babies or cause them to starve to death. Now there was the question that they might be being overfed. On 06/18/2009 we were only able to observe the nest for 45 minutes from 4:30 to 5:15 PM which was within the time period of previous days? observations. The behavior of the chickadees had changed dramatically, in that, their approach to the nest was direct like it had been when viewed prior to 06/16/2009. The lone exception was when a juvenile sparrow was perched on a limb 8-10 feet above the nest. The chickadee bringing food then was all over the place flitting from one limb to the next, just as when the bluebirds had been present. It only entered the nest after the sparrow flew off. Strangely enough, there was no sign of the bluebirds during the entire 45 minutes. On 06/20/2009, I watched the nest for 30 minutes. The chickadees made multiple approaches with food, often direct or sometimes with one limb stop before entering the nest as had been the pre bluebird pattern. Again, there was no sign of the bluebirds. My take on this is that the bluebirds probably had a failed first nesting and so they were looking for a new nest site. Hostile takeover of the Mountain Chickadee nest looked to be the plan on 06/16. On 06/17 it appeared that adoption of the Mountain Chickadee babies might have become the motive. Then, perhaps, the male bluebird found an unoccupied, alternative nest site so the bluebirds gave up on their designs for the chickadee nest. Any thoughts? Ted-------------Just north of La Grande _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090621/ce49ab5c/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Jun 21 20:24:28 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:24:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] A few more BBS recollections Message-ID: <1245641068.3494.144.camel@joel-laptop> Hello folks, Reading Kevin Spencer's account of his Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) routes, I thought I should add a bit more. Running a BBS route is at once a chore and a life experience that you'll never forget. A route consists of 50 stops spaced half a mile apart. You spend 3 minutes at each stop (mostly listening but occasionally seeing birds) and you need to hustle to finish all 50 stops by 10 AM. But you'll also find out that three minutes offer a decent amount of time to figure out what birds are at a given stop. The last minute of each stop is often pure enjoyment of standing in one spot and soaking it all in. You need to get to your route and get up early in the morning. On our Barnhouse BBS route Saturday morning, Wil and I got up at 4 AM sharp but sorry to say, we dawdled a bit while boiling up a pot of coffee and didn't get down to the starting point of the route until 04:50, eight minutes late. But the reward is listening at a time of day when birds are the dominant species. As Dawn's rosy fingers creep over the horizon in your first stops. you'll hear American Robins for sure, and perhaps Hermit Thrush or Swainson's Thrush depending on where you start. Nighthawks and snipe might be calling, or Yellow-breasted Chats, or coyotes. For the first five to ten stops you can leave the binoculars in the car since the light is too dim to use them anyway. There's a definite sequence to when different bird species start calling in the morning, depending on the location of your route. You'll learn it by heart, and your life will be richer for that understanding. As the morning wears on, some species clam up while others start singing. You're never quite sure if it's the sequence of habitats of habitats that you're moving through, or the nature of the bird species, but it will become a part of your understanding. You'll get a few surprises each year, like the pair of Wilson's Phalaropes that came flying in to land in a wetland at one high-prairie stop on Saturday, but you'll also learn that there's a rhythm to your route. As you move along the route through different habitats, you'll find places that you'd like to return to someday. Chances are, you won't get around to revisiting these spots until you run the same route the next year, but at least these places will find their way into your perception, this one day each year! Your route might end on the edge of a remote wilderness area like the Barnhouse route that Wil and I ran on Saturday, or in exurban development like the Santiam route that I plan to do with my daughter next weekend. In the former case, you may experience remarkable solitude, where the only sound is the drumming of a Williamson's Sapsucker. In the latter case, you'll have the equally remarkable experience of listening in a morning world where no one else is paying attention to the birds all around them. There are currently 34 vacant BBS routes in Oregon, see: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBS/results/routemaps/oregon.cfm?CountryNum=840&StateNumber=69 to see which ones might strike your fancy. Good birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Sun Jun 21 20:38:22 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:38:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Clackamas County Solitaire, N. Pygmy Owl Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F022BEBDE@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> I birded Clackamas County Saturday afternoon without the benefit of reading Tim Jazen's big day account. I found 69 species for my efforts. Highlights were WILLOW FLYCATCHER, LESSER GOLDFINCH and a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER at Bonnie Lure Recreational Area along Eagle Creek. The sapsucker was bringing food to a nest cavity viewable from the bridge. There were WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH and LAZULI BUNTING near Eagle Creek Golf Course. Just west of High Rock (DeLorme C, 1) I heard SOOTY GROUSE and NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL. Other birds in this area were PILEATED WOODPECKER, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, HERMIT WARBLER and RED CROSSBILL. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090621/30448a61/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Jun 21 20:48:30 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:48:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Calliope Humingbird - Angora Peak, Clatsop 6/21/2009 Message-ID: <4A3EFF0E.7000806@pacifier.com> The NCLC took a trip up Angora Peak as part of the ongoing biological reconnaissance. The weather was an unsettle mix of showers and low clouds with occasional sun breaks. Bird activity was light, generally and included a fairly typical mix of Coast Range species. The rock walls of Angora are covered with a carpet of _Castelleja hispida_ however and so we saw plenty of hummingbirds including many hatch-year RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS. In one area we noticed a smallish, green and white hummingbird which responded to phishing by sitting in a nearby tree where we were all able to get very good views. It was green and white, with only the faintest buff at the flanks. The white on the face went all the way to the back of the auriculars and and the tail was noticably shorter than the tips of the primaries. A classic female CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD that we were able to get most of the group on. The best of the Angora Peak photos may be seen at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ As always, those on Siler will have to replace AT with the "at symbol" -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Half a bee, philosophically... http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11366 From scre at aol.com Sun Jun 21 21:27:07 2009 From: scre at aol.com (scre at aol.com) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:27:07 -0400 Subject: [obol] more Gilliam notes ebird Message-ID: <8CBC108D64C82EA-578-29AA@Webmail-mg17.sim.aol.com> E-bird is looking to improve its knowledge of some underbirded (and/or under represented in ebird) counties and Gilliam is one such county with only 4 checklists submitted for it.? If you have a bird list for Gilliam think about submitting it to e-bird.? Wheeler is also up there with only 9 checklists submitted.? I thought people might be interested in this and I know the folks at e-bird would appreciate any checklists people might have.? For more details check out ebird.org.? Good birding David Vander Pluym Netarts Or, for another week -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090622/c332c065/attachment.html From dhewitt37 at gmail.com Sun Jun 21 22:52:21 2009 From: dhewitt37 at gmail.com (David Hewitt) Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:52:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cave Mountain burn near Chiloquin, 21 June 2009 Message-ID: <653eaf880906212252p6b10c84enb18986f31c13bc02@mail.gmail.com> This is the same spot Kevin Spencer reported about. I took the tip passed along from Frank to Kevin to try and track down my first Black-backed Woodpecker at this location, and was not disappointed. Aside from maybe Hairy Woodpecker, Black-backed was the most common woodpecker in the area this morning between 0730 and 0930. I saw at least 10 birds, and two nest cavities visited by adults (one with chirping youngsters inside). One nest entrance hole was only 8 inches or so off the ground, which seemed odd. In addition to Hairy and Black-backed, I saw at least one of Pileated, White-headed, Downy, and Red-shafted Flicker, making for a pretty good woodpecker haul. This whole area is clearly marked for extraction activities, so I sure hope they wait until nesting season is over for the year. The area was very birdy and the chilly morning produced a nice list: Turkey Vulture 1 Mourning Dove 1 heard only Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 6 White-headed Woodpecker 1 Black-backed Woodpecker 10 Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 2 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher 2 heard only Western Wood-Pewee 2 Dusky Flycatcher 2 pair seen at nest, and on nest, in shrubby area amid pines Cassin's Vireo 1 Steller's Jay 2 Common Raven 1 Bewick's Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 Western Bluebird 3 American Robin 2 Nashville Warbler 2 pair at nest Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 2 Western Tanager 4 Green-tailed Towhee 1 singing on hillside just before area where burn crosses road Chipping Sparrow 1 Fox Sparrow 2 Interior West form Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 5 Lazuli Bunting 2 Western Meadowlark 1 heard only Purple Finch 7 Cassin's Finch 2 American Goldfinch 4 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2 (http://ebird.org) Dave Hewitt Klamath Falls From greenfant at hotmail.com Sun Jun 21 22:52:20 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:52:20 -0400 Subject: [obol] Conboy Lake NWR goodies - 06/21/09 Message-ID: Sam and I spent a relaxing afternoon at Conboy Lake NWR in Klickitat Co walking the Willard Springs loop trail. We immediately had a LEAST FLYCATCHER (yes, just another one of those ...) in the fenced-in aspen grove only about 0.2mi into the trail when you walk it in the suggested direction. The bird was actively calling. Between marker 12 and 13 was an active male BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER. This was exactly where the trail coming back from the spring tees back into the shortcut. Other interesting sightings included 3 Eastern Kingbirds, 3 Gray Flycatchers, a pair of Greater Sandhill Cranes with young and 2 Great Horned Owl younsters close to the parking lot. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090622/bd752d00/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sun Jun 21 23:06:32 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:06:32 -0400 Subject: [obol] FW: Conboy Lake NWR goodies - 06/21/09 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I sent this to OBOL rather than Tweeters. Sorry for that. It was a long day ... From: greenfant at hotmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:52:20 -0400 Subject: [obol] Conboy Lake NWR goodies - 06/21/09 Sam and I spent a relaxing afternoon at Conboy Lake NWR in Klickitat Co walking the Willard Springs loop trail. We immediately had a LEAST FLYCATCHER (yes, just another one of those ...) in the fenced-in aspen grove only about 0.2mi into the trail when you walk it in the suggested direction. The bird was actively calling. Between marker 12 and 13 was an active male BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER. This was exactly where the trail coming back from the spring tees back into the shortcut. Other interesting sightings included 3 Eastern Kingbirds, 3 Gray Flycatchers, a pair of Greater Sandhill Cranes with young and 2 Great Horned Owl younsters close to the parking lot. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. See how. _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090622/cee3fe5a/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: ATT00000 Url: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090622/cee3fe5a/attachment.pl From uuspirit at yahoo.com Mon Jun 22 00:27:47 2009 From: uuspirit at yahoo.com (Mary Reese) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:27:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Where can we find Acorn Woodpeckers in/near NE Portland? Message-ID: <459561.63841.qm@web54109.mail.re2.yahoo.com> We would like to find Acorn Woodpeckers as close to home as possible.? We live just east of PDX (NE Portland/Fairview area).? Reply privately.? Thanks! Mary Reese & Jim Allen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090622/34729c55/attachment.html From uuspirit at yahoo.com Mon Jun 22 00:30:17 2009 From: uuspirit at yahoo.com (Mary Reese) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:30:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Are Mute Swans "countable"? Message-ID: <976098.51913.qm@web54101.mail.re2.yahoo.com> We saw a Mute Swan in McGilchrist Pond in Salem this afternoon.? Are they "countable" for our life list? Thanks, Mary Reese & Jim Allen Portland / Fairview -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090622/a1130126/attachment.html From tedschroeder0800 at hotmail.com Mon Jun 22 02:23:38 2009 From: tedschroeder0800 at hotmail.com (ted schroeder) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:23:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Bluebirds vs. Mountain Chickadees Message-ID: Some representative specimen grade pictures taken during the two days of observing the Western Bluebirds and Mountain Chickadees at the chickadee nest at Spring Creek can be seen at the following link. http://picasaweb.google.com/ted0800/WBBVsMC?authkey=Gv1sRgCInWlfqhivbIrwE# Ted---------Near La Grande From: tedschroeder0800 at hotmail.com To: birding-l at eou.edu; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Western Bluebirds vs. Mountain Chickadees Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:44:00 -0700 Hi OBOL, On approximately 06/05/2009 we noticed a pair of Mountain Chickadees displaying feeding activity at a nest in a Ponderosa Pine at Spring Creek near La Grande, OR. Observations on three variably spaced subsequent days showed no change in the feeding behavior. In general, the chickadees would either fly directly to the nest hole or make a brief stop at an overhead dead limb before entering the nest hole with food. On 06/16/2009, a stop by the nest revealed two frantic adult chickadees being held at bay by a very vocal female Western Bluebird that was alternating between being in the nest or immediately outside on a limb, frequently making threatening thrusts at the chickadees. During, approximately 4 hours of observation, the female bluebird left and brought food to the nest twice and nesting material three times. Meanwhile, the frantic chickadees would, on occasion, be successful entering the nest to feed before the bluebird would run them off. At least, three times the bluebird would return and enter the nest when a chickadee was still in the nest which would result in prompt expulsion of the chickadee. As the observation period went on, the female bluebird became more aggressive about chasing the chickadees. The male bluebird would show up intermittently but made no advances at the chickadees nor did he try to enter the nest. On 06/17/2009, we watched the goings on at the nest for another three hours. Initially, it looked like more of the same, as the vocal female bluebird was throwing a fit every time one or both of the chickadees would show up to attempt to enter the nest with food. But shortly after we arrived, it became obvious that things were changing as the female bluebird showed less aggressive behavior towards the chickadees and they were repeatedly successful in entering the nest with food and sometimes then packing out fecal material. Over the observation period, the female bluebird made multiple forays to hunt, returning to the nest with food and on two occasions she removed fecal material. On two occasions the male bluebird brought food to the nest and passed it off to the female at the entrance to the nest. On one occasion the male bluebird brought in food to the nest when the female was not inside, entered and then came out without the food. On, at least, three occasions one of the chickadees was in the nest when the female bluebird entered and the chickadee was promptly ejected. On the day prior, we worried that the female bluebird might either kill the babies or cause them to starve to death. Now there was the question that they might be being overfed. On 06/18/2009 we were only able to observe the nest for 45 minutes from 4:30 to 5:15 PM which was within the time period of previous days? observations. The behavior of the chickadees had changed dramatically, in that, their approach to the nest was direct like it had been when viewed prior to 06/16/2009. The lone exception was when a juvenile sparrow was perched on a limb 8-10 feet above the nest. The chickadee bringing food then was all over the place flitting from one limb to the next, just as when the bluebirds had been present. It only entered the nest after the sparrow flew off. Strangely enough, there was no sign of the bluebirds during the entire 45 minutes. On 06/20/2009, I watched the nest for 30 minutes. The chickadees made multiple approaches with food, often direct or sometimes with one limb stop before entering the nest as had been the pre bluebird pattern. Again, there was no sign of the bluebirds. My take on this is that the bluebirds probably had a failed first nesting and so they were looking for a new nest site. Hostile takeover of the Mountain Chickadee nest looked to be the plan on 06/16. On 06/17 it appeared that adoption of the Mountain Chickadee babies might have become the motive. Then, perhaps, the male bluebird found an unoccupied, alternative nest site so the bluebirds gave up on their designs for the chickadee nest. Any thoughts? Ted-------------Just north of La Grande Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. _________________________________________________________________ Bing? brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now. http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MLOGEN&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MLOGEN_Core_tagline_local_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090622/748854e7/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Jun 22 05:44:07 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 05:44:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: Conboy Lake NWR goodies - 06/21/09 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <08eefdd9a312d1ba4c9801c806e5e9d3@earthlink.net> Please keep posting these things on Obol Stefan. I find the obsession with political boundaries ludicrous. Do the birds care? Conboy is an easy drive from Portland. The occurrence of a LEAST FLYCATCHER fascinating. I once detected VEERIES in nearby Trout Lake. I haven't visited Imnaha or Fields for decades and am confident that I shan't this year. But Klickitat County? Not too much of a stretch of the imagination. Lars Norgren On Jun 21, 2009, at 11:06 PM, Stefan Schlick wrote: > I sent this to OBOL rather than Tweeters. Sorry for that. It was a > long day ... > > From: greenfant at hotmail.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:52:20 -0400 > Subject: [obol] Conboy Lake NWR goodies - 06/21/09 > > Sam and I spent a relaxing afternoon at Conboy Lake NWR in Klickitat > Co walking the Willard Springs loop trail. We immediately had a LEAST > FLYCATCHER (yes, just another one of those ...) in the fenced-in aspen > grove only about 0.2mi into the trail when you walk it in the > suggested direction. The bird was actively calling. Between marker 12 > and 13 was an active male BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER. This was exactly > where the trail coming back from the spring tees back into the > shortcut. > > Other interesting sightings included 3 Eastern Kingbirds, 3 Gray > Flycatchers, a pair of Greater Sandhill Cranes with young and 2 Great > Horned Owl younsters close to the parking lot. > > Stefan Schlick > Hillsboro, OR > > Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. See how. > Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. > Check it out. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ATT00000 Type: application/octet-stream Size: 139 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090622/1a8a25d3/attachment.obj -------------- next part -------------- > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon Jun 22 06:53:20 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:53:20 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Garden Fledglings Message-ID: <324355702.5939241245678800760.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Good Morning, Saturday, June 20th I saw the first fledgling Robin of the year in my garden.? The adults were scrounging the flowerbeds for things to feed it so I put out some strawberries just for the fun of it.? Sunday June 21st I saw the Song Sparrow fledglings from the nest in the clematis vine out and about for the first time.? They have such bright yellow, wide beaks.? They were checking out the bird baths. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090622/53c2f561/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Mon Jun 22 07:13:35 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:13:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] last minute RFI Baskett Slough Message-ID: <664762.96705.qm@web55705.mail.re3.yahoo.com> We are heading down I-5 today and thought we would take a detour to Baskett Slough. I have never visited at this time of year. Can anyone recommend the best area for a summer visit? I have a map, but don't know which part of the refuge would be the best bet for summering birds. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. Please reply off list. Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090622/11e66e7b/attachment.html From scre at aol.com Mon Jun 22 10:26:41 2009 From: scre at aol.com (scre at aol.com) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:26:41 -0400 Subject: [obol] Fwd: BirdNotes and Ebird was more Gilliam notes ebird In-Reply-To: <6735deef0906221015x4d355f67pa171e19cbf178e21@mail.gmail.com> References: <200906220107.9824a3f11776@rly-mf09.mx.aol.com> <8CBC17273AA5C29-17C0-C37@WEBMAIL-MZ38.sysops.aol.com> <6735deef0906221015x4d355f67pa171e19cbf178e21@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <8CBC175BDDC468F-17C0-D63@WEBMAIL-MZ38.sysops.aol.com> From Brian Sullivan at ebird. -----Original Message----- From: Brian Sullivan To: scre at aol.com Cc: Miliff at aol.com Sent: Mon, Jun 22, 2009 10:15 am Subject: Re: [obol] more Gilliam notes ebird David We have spoken with BirdNotes on several occasions about sharing data with eBird, but unfortuantely it isn't a simple matter as the two data structures are different. When eBird was first launched it was not able to collaborate with other databases, and it definitely lost some opportunities straight away for working with groups like BirdNotes. Now that it has matured we are able to collaborate freely with other systems. While neither group is averse to the idea of data-sharing, there are inherent issues with attaching location information (eBird is spatially enabled through GIS) to the data in BirdNotes, which contains no spatial information. In addition, BirdNotes records, if passed to eBird, would have no user attribution, which is something we really like to retain for eBird records. We're hopeful that in the future we can work out a model that is beneficial to both systems. All eBird data are freely available for ingestion into BirdNotes, but it's unclear to me whether it is harvested for that database. Users of BirdNotes can upload their raw data from BidrNotes directly to eBird by formating a spreadsheet to our specifications. This is probably the best course of action in the short-term.? See this URL for more info: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ about/using-the-ebird-data-import-tool Thanks Brian On Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 10:03 AM, wrote: I was wondering if you guys could answer this question for Oregon birders. David Vander Pluym Netarts, Or for another week -----Original Message----- From: Tim Janzen To: scre at aol.com Sent: Sun, Jun 21, 2009 10:07 pm Subject: RE: [obol] more Gilliam notes ebird Dear David, ??????????? Is there any move afoot for cooperation between ebird and BirdNotes? ?A lot of Oregon birders use BirdNotes.? Ideally, the two databases would use each other?s data. Sincerely, Tim Janzen ? From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of scre at aol.com Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2009 9:27 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] more Gilliam notes ebird ? E-bird is looking to improve its knowledge of some underbirded (and/or under represented in ebird) counties and Gilliam is one such county with only 4 checklists submitted for it.? If you have a bird list for Gilliam think about submitting it to e-bird.? Wheeler is also up there with only 9 checklists submitted.? I thought people might be interested in this and I know the folk s at e-bird would appreciate any checklists people might have.? For more details check out ebird.org.? Good birding David Vander Pluym Netarts Or, for another week ? Save energy, paper and money -- get the Green Toolbar. Save energy, paper and money -- get the Green Toolbar. -- =========== Brian L. Sullivan Pacific Grove, CA eBird/AKN Project Leader www.ebird.org www.avianknowledge.net Photographic Editor, Birds of North America Online http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 Photographic Editor, North American Birds American Birding Association www.americanbirding.org bls42 at cornell.edu 609-694-3280 ------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090622/7405b923/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Mon Jun 22 10:53:53 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:53:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 06/17/09 Message-ID: <20090622175356.730B4A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 06/11 to 06/17/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous TWO weeks. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 4 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) ACCIPITER sp. 1 (1, 6/16) Band-tailed Pigeon 3 (10, 6/15) Mourning Dove 4 (2) Vaux's Swift 1 (1, 6/12) Red-breasted Sapsucker 3 (1) Northern Flicker 1 (1, 6/15) Pileated Woodpecker 2 (1, 6/15 & 16) Olive-sided Flycatcher 4 (1) Pacific-slope Flycatcher 4 (4) Hutton's Vireo 2 (1, 6/12 & 16) Warbling Vireo 1 (1, 6/15) Steller's Jay 3 (2) Western Scrub-Jay 4 (1) American Crow 4 (5) Violet-green Swallow 4 (6) Black-capped Chickadee 4 (10, 6/17) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4 (4) Bushtit 3 (10, 6/17) Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 (6) Brown Creeper 3 (1) Winter Wren 4 (3) Swainson's Thrush 2 (1, 6/12 & 16) American Robin 4 (20) European Starling 4 (5, 6/15) Orange-crowned Warbler 1 (1, 6/16) Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 (1, 6/12 & 16) Black-throated Gray Warbler 2 (2, 6/17) Wilson's Warbler 4 (3) Western Tanager 4 (1) Spotted Towhee 4 (6) Song Sparrow 4 (10) Dark-eyed Junco 4 (20, 6/16) Black-headed Grosbeak 2 (1, 6/16 & 17) Brown-headed Cowbird 2 (1, 6/12 & 15) Purple Finch 4 (3) House Finch 4 (5) Red Crossbill 1 (1, 6/12) Pine Siskin 3 (2) American Goldfinch 3 (8, 6/16) Evening Grosbeak 2 (1, 6/15 & 16) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: SPOTTED OWL(!) Misses (birds found at least 3 days during previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Anna's Hummingbird(!), Rufous Hummingbird(!) Wink Gross Portland From dhogaza at pacifier.com Mon Jun 22 10:56:26 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:56:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: BirdNotes and Ebird was more Gilliam notes ebird In-Reply-To: <8CBC175BDDC468F-17C0-D63@WEBMAIL-MZ38.sysops.aol.com> References: <200906220107.9824a3f11776@rly-mf09.mx.aol.com> <8CBC17273AA5C29-17C0-C37@WEBMAIL-MZ38.sysops.aol.com> <6735deef0906221015x4d355f67pa171e19cbf178e21@mail.gmail.com> <8CBC175BDDC468F-17C0-D63@WEBMAIL-MZ38.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: On Jun 22, 2009, at 10:26 AM, scre at aol.com wrote: > From Brian Sullivan at ebird. From Don Baccus of birdnotes (that's me!) > > We have spoken with BirdNotes on several occasions about sharing > data with eBird, but unfortuantely it isn't a simple matter as the > two data structures are different. When eBird was first launched it > was not able to collaborate with other databases, and it definitely > lost some opportunities straight away for working with groups like > BirdNotes. Even worse, when Joel Geier first approached them and described my birdnotes software to the ebird people, and I followed up, they were extremely dismissive to the point of rudeness. That led to a certain lack of interest on my part. This was before Brian Sullivan's time, though, let me make that clear. Since Brian (and I imagine others now on the team) arrived on the scene, the attitude was totally reversed, and we have had off- again and on-again conversations about integrating data. Brian's a good guy, and the ebird people now have a very sensible attitude towards data integration and cooperation with other people doing similar stuff, even old farts like me who beat them to the punch by several years. As Brian says, though, integrating data between the two is not trivial. > Now that it has matured we are able to collaborate freely with other > systems. While neither group is averse to the idea of data-sharing, > there are inherent issues with attaching location information (eBird > is spatially enabled through GIS) to the data in BirdNotes, which > contains no spatial information. That's a rather narrow definition of "spatial information", which is a term of art which specifically relates to industry-standard representations of geographical information in GIS systems. But generally, though, they're asking for Gilliam county information and of course birdnotes contains "Gilliam county" in its geographical database. My geographical coding scheme is simply different than that used by GIS systems. Birdnotes is not integrated with any GIS system, mostly because the quasi-industry standard GIS server software from ESRI is 1) expensive and 2) runs on windows, not unix/linux and 3) I've financed birdnotes entirely out of my own pocket (about $10K over 12 years) and 4 the major open source/free GIS server software just ain't that good. Also the spatial data itself defining common geographical areas, for generating maps etc, was not easily available when I began the project, and where available, mostly not for free (or cheap). Now, however, the state of Oregon has a lot of such stuff in ESRI SHAPE file format, which was why I was able to put up the birdnotes map- generation demonstration two summers ago that some of you enjoyed (unfortunately, the free mapping software's a bit lame, which is why I've not taken this further). Also traditionally birders have typically listed via areas assigned geographical names rather than lat/long data, though I'm aware that cheap GPS technology has been changing that for some. > In addition, BirdNotes records, if passed to eBird, would have no > user attribution, which is something we really like to retain for > eBird records. Uh, not sure why he believes this - every birdnotes record is attributed to a user of the site. The problem is that most birdnotes users aren't ebird users, and vice- versa, each being to some degree, at least, happy with the system they've chosen to use. So the user attribution they'd get from birdnotes wouldn't correspond in most cases to a ebird user. But that doesn't mean there's no user attribution in the birdnotes database! > We're hopeful that in the future we can work out a model that is > beneficial to both systems. All eBird data are freely available for > ingestion into BirdNotes, but it's unclear to me whether it is > harvested for that database. It isn't. I have limited time to give to the project, and the problem's not trivial. > Users of BirdNotes can upload their raw data from BidrNotes directly > to eBird by formating20a spreadsheet to our specifications. This is > probably the best course of action in the short-term. See this URL > for more info: > > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/about/using-the-ebird-data-import-tool It might not be that difficult to generate the file from birdnotes automatically, if there were sufficient interest. But I don't know when I might have free time to do so ... some of you may've noticed I've done a bit of a revamp to the site recently, it will be awhile before I have time to put more into it, and the highest priority item on the list is a web admin user interface that will make it easy for folks like Joel to maintain the taxonomy (split 'n lumps). ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From dhogaza at pacifier.com Mon Jun 22 10:58:28 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:58:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] more Gilliam notes ebird In-Reply-To: <8CBC108D64C82EA-578-29AA@Webmail-mg17.sim.aol.com> References: <8CBC108D64C82EA-578-29AA@Webmail-mg17.sim.aol.com> Message-ID: On Jun 21, 2009, at 9:27 PM, scre at aol.com wrote: > E-bird is looking to improve its knowledge of some underbirded (and/ > or under represented in ebird) counties and Gilliam is one such > county with only 4 checklists submitted for it. And birdnotes only has ~20 lists submitted ... ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From gorgebirds at juno.com Mon Jun 22 11:12:20 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:12:20 GMT Subject: [obol] Skamania County BRANT Message-ID: <20090622.111220.16598.1@webmail24.vgs.untd.com> This morning at about 10 AM our son, Brad, called from a Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife sturgeon research boat in the Columbia River just offshore of Skamania Landing in Skamania County. He told me he just had five BRANT fly downstream past the boat for a first county record of this species. These could be early migrants heading south from the arctic breeding grounds where this year's breeding season appears to have been disrupted by unusually cool and wet weather. Wilson Cady Washougal, WA Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Digital Photography - Click Now. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTDvmT7yZzEt7krI4IVVdRmqJ8pHVQkQCaWXbLnD8iIRixdKRv3JPi/ From scre at aol.com Mon Jun 22 11:17:51 2009 From: scre at aol.com (scre at aol.com) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:17:51 -0400 Subject: [obol] Fwd: BirdNotes and Ebird was more Gilliam notes ebird Message-ID: <8CBC17CE3AE8985-17C0-10A1@WEBMAIL-MZ38.sysops.aol.com> Just in case there is any misunderstanding (not that from the post I think there is) that I wanted to make clear that I don't represent ebird in any way.? Just a person who uses it and occasionally reviewed some records, and thought that others might be interested in knowing something I read on the ebird page.? David Vander Pluym Netarts, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090622/9fc66f42/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Mon Jun 22 11:27:19 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:27:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western SP, Douglas Co. Message-ID: <2b1bbd260906221127q5f232999k4d3c70a002a670d3@mail.gmail.com> There was an adult breeding plumaged WESTERN SANDPIPER on the beach near Dunes Overlook, Douglas Co. today. Fall shorebird migration seems to be starting up. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090622/b70182a8/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Jun 22 12:30:01 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:30:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: BirdNotes and Ebird was more Gilliam notes ebird (LONG) Message-ID: <1245699001.3416.184.camel@joel-laptop> Hello folks, Just to add a bit more here ... As Don Baccus points out, BirdNotes data are geospatially referenced, but using a different model than eBird. You could call it "coordinate-free" but that will probably only make sense to fellow math geeks out there. BirdNotes (www.birdnotes.net) considers that bird data come from areas rather than points. The geographic information is based on a hierarchical scheme in which you can choose from smaller areas inside of larger named areas. When I get around to posting my observations from Wheeler County on Saturday, I can choose whether to post one list for Wheeler County, or separate lists for: (1) Ochoco National Forest (portion in Wheeler County) (2) Mountain Creek Valley (3) Mitchell (4) Meyers Canyon (5) John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Painted Hills Unit In the last case, I could zoom in further and post a list specifically for Painted Cove. Whatever way I do it, all of the data will count for Wheeler County & the state of Oregon. If I choose to break out more detailed lists, then my list for Painted Cove will also count on checklists for the Painted Hills, as well as checklists for the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument as a whole (including Clarno and Sheep Rock administrative units). So the difference with eBird is a matter of referencing locations by spatial coordinates (lat/long) for points in eBird, versus named geographic areas in BirdNotes. If I remember correctly, eBird allows assigning data to counties but does not represent smaller birding sites as areas. So in mapping data between systems, you're either assigning data that were gathered over areas to single points, or you're taking point data and assigning them to the smallest area that contains the points. Either way means bringing in some assumptions that may not be valid for particular counts. The idea that BirdNotes data would not have user attribution, if imported to eBird, is a bit of a misunderstanding from a conversation that Brian Sullivan and I had a few years ago. We discussed this as one way to make the importing of data more expedient (on eBird's end, if I remember right; I think this had to do with the tools that Brian then had available for importing data without asking eBird's programmers for special-purpose coding). There are also permission issues to think about if one passes on user attribution. A user of one system has implicitly given permission to link their name with reports on that database, but is this transferable? We could ask contributors one by one but that's a big task, especially as birders occasionally move and/or change their e-mail addresses. Beyond that, now that BirdNotes has been running for over a decade, I'm sorry to say that some contributors of data have passed on entirely. These were some of the issues that Brian and I talked about, which may have led to the idea that user attribution would be lost in a data transfer. But that's not the case. About this: > All eBird data are freely available for ingestion into BirdNotes, > but it's unclear to me whether it is harvested for that database. Brian did send me a large data dump of eBird's database at one point, to explore the possibility of importing eBird data into BirdNotes. What I recall is that we were hoping to get something that would retain more of the count structure (i.e. information about time spent birding in a given location) so that this could be more easily mapped onto the basic count structure that birdnotes uses. This seems to have been beyond what could be extracted from eBird without additional work by BirdSource's hands-on programmers (rather than something that Brian could do on his own). Around that time, life got very busy. I assume Brian's been busy too, so we haven't talked about it since. In fact, I don't even seem to have his e-mail address on the computer that I currently use, so I'd appreciate if someone could forward this message on. Certainly sharing of data between these databases is a good goal that would increase the utility of both projects, for the average birder. But it takes a lot of work, and there are some non-trivial issues to tackle if one wants to do it in a way that preserves the full context of the data that birders have spent countless hours typing in. Another idea that may make more sense would be to take BirdNotes data directly into Cornell's Avian Knowledge Network (AKN). AKN is set up for data from diverse sources that use different protocols. So instead of trying to munge BirdNotes data into something that fits eBird's protocols, or vice versa, both datasets could just go straight into AKN alongside of these other diverse sources, keeping track of the respective protocols. In Cornell's grand strategy, eBird is just one tool for bringing data from "citizen scientists" into the AKN, along with CBC & BBS data, FeederWatch data, banding-station data, etc. BirdNotes could be seen as one more tool in this laudable effort. The good news is that BirdNotes has proven to be a very stable and secure repository of birders' lists in the Pacific Northwest region, for over ten years now. I think the website's only been down for a total of perhaps two days, in all that period. So long as birders are using these services and getting their data on line, the potential for efficiently sharing data is always there. The bigger worry, for those who'd like to see more birding data being preserved for future access on the web, is this: MOST BIRDERS STILL DON'T POST THEIR OBSERVATIONS *EITHER* ON EBIRD OR BIRDNOTES!!! If the two databases only have two dozen Gilliam County lists between them, there must be a whole bunch of Gilliam County data sitting in old noteboooks in shoeboxes -- or worse yet, lost and forgotten. I'm happy to say that the situation for Wheeler County is considerably better, with well over 300 lists on BirdNotes. But there are a lot of other holes in Oregon's birding map, which could be filled in if more birders shared their data via at least one of the tools that are available on the web. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From dhogaza at pacifier.com Mon Jun 22 12:45:09 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:45:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: BirdNotes and Ebird was more Gilliam notes ebird (LONG) In-Reply-To: <1245699001.3416.184.camel@joel-laptop> References: <1245699001.3416.184.camel@joel-laptop> Message-ID: On Jun 22, 2009, at 12:30 PM, Joel Geier wrote: > Just to add a bit more here ... > > As Don Baccus points out, BirdNotes data are geospatially referenced, > but using a different model than eBird. You could call it > "coordinate-free" but that will probably only make sense to fellow > math > geeks out there. Exactly, Brian was using "spatial" as a jargon word with a specific, GIS meaning, not generally. Thanks for the additional detailed summary, Joel! > > If I remember correctly, eBird allows assigning data to counties but > does not represent smaller birding sites as areas. So in mapping data > between systems, you're either assigning data that were gathered over > areas to single points, or you're taking point data and assigning them > to the smallest area that contains the points. Either way means > bringing > in some assumptions that may not be valid for particular counts. For a national effort, I think they've made a rational decision. Even maintaining the location data for Oregon, Washington, and (with less detail) Idaho has required a dedicated set of volunteers (and for those of you who aren't aware of it, Joel's responsible for a very large number of Oregon entries). > > Around that time, life got very busy. I assume Brian's been busy too, > so we haven't talked about it since. In fact, I don't even seem to > have > his e-mail address on the computer that I currently use, so I'd > appreciate if someone could forward this message on. I've got it, I'll send it to you in a private e-mail, Joel. > > > In Cornell's grand strategy, eBird is just one tool for bringing > data from > "citizen scientists" into the AKN, along with CBC & BBS data, > FeederWatch > data, banding-station data, etc. BirdNotes could be seen as one more > tool > in this laudable effort. I'd forgotten about the AKN. Yes, exporting data to the most comprehensive database being maintained is the best idea of all. > > The good news is that BirdNotes has proven to be a very stable and > secure > repository of birders' lists in the Pacific Northwest region, for over > ten years now. I think the website's only been down for a total of > perhaps > two days, in all that period. Three, at least, as I've moved the server three times :) ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From dhogaza at pacifier.com Mon Jun 22 13:04:08 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:04:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: BirdNotes and Ebird was more Gilliam notes ebird (LONG) In-Reply-To: <1245699001.3416.184.camel@joel-laptop> References: <1245699001.3416.184.camel@joel-laptop> Message-ID: <86333384-094A-4070-A670-190689E0B228@pacifier.com> On Jun 22, 2009, at 12:30 PM, Joel Geier wrote: > > As Don Baccus points out, BirdNotes data are geospatially referenced, > but using a different model than eBird. You could call it > "coordinate-free" but that will probably only make sense to fellow > math > geeks out there. It's mapped to a DAG, there, that will tell people a lot :) ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From ninerharv2 at msn.com Mon Jun 22 13:44:02 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:44:02 +0000 Subject: [obol] Are Mute Swans "countable"? Message-ID: I think the consensus is that you can count whatever you want. Its your list. Personally, I get hesitant to count them there or at the rhododendron garden. But where do you draw the line? Only if they are at the zoo? Even some of your best birders lure birds out with calls, well placed feed. In our case we prefer to encounter them in the wild and with a photo ID. But hey that our list. Would I not count the ones I saw at Mingo Park if I hadn't seen them elsewhere? I probably would. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Mary Reese Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:30:17 To: Subject: [obol] Are Mute Swans "countable"? We saw a Mute Swan in McGilchrist Pond in Salem this afternoon.? Are they "countable" for our life list? Thanks, Mary Reese & Jim Allen Portland / Fairview From ellenpillow at comcast.net Mon Jun 22 13:49:40 2009 From: ellenpillow at comcast.net (ellenpillow at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:49:40 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 15, Issue 22 In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <211857231.6578991245703780818.JavaMail.root@sz0055a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090622/9fe5bfbd/attachment.html From sheran at bendbroadband.com Mon Jun 22 14:33:50 2009 From: sheran at bendbroadband.com (Sheran Wright) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:33:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Are Mute Swans "countable"? References: Message-ID: <91C00B1582BF4798BFE8E16B67C55C98@notebook> Most birders do not put bird species on their personal lists that have not been accepted by the bird records committee in their state. The OBRC has not accepted Mute Swan. The species does not appear on the Oregon official bird list. Sheran Wright Bend, OR ----- Original Message ----- From: "HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE" To: "Mary Reese" ; "OBOL" Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 1:44 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Are Mute Swans "countable"? I think the consensus is that you can count whatever you want. Its your list. Personally, I get hesitant to count them there or at the rhododendron garden. But where do you draw the line? Only if they are at the zoo? Even some of your best birders lure birds out with calls, well placed feed. In our case we prefer to encounter them in the wild and with a photo ID. But hey that our list. Would I not count the ones I saw at Mingo Park if I hadn't seen them elsewhere? I probably would. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Mary Reese Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:30:17 To: Subject: [obol] Are Mute Swans "countable"? We saw a Mute Swan in McGilchrist Pond in Salem this afternoon. Are they "countable" for our life list? Thanks, Mary Reese & Jim Allen Portland / Fairview _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.375 / Virus Database: 270.12.87/2195 - Release Date: 06/22/09 06:54:00 From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Jun 22 14:50:35 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:50:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Help on replacement structure for migrant Vaux's Swifts Message-ID: <1245707435.3416.259.camel@joel-laptop> This request for information forwarded on behalf of Jo Yeager in Independence; please respond to Jo at : > My friend had to put a liner in a very deteriorated chimney, though > the job had been tabled as many years as possible in spite of unheated > rooms and surprise drop-in visitors. This was one of the major fall > roosts in Independence prior to migration. Now he seeks plans for a > substitute that he can build before the gathering season. Can anyone > out there help? > > Please and thank you > Jo Yeager, Independence From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Jun 22 14:52:15 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:52:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] High Arctic Chill Message-ID: <324116.49372.qm@web45305.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Sounds like the nesting season is pretty well hosed for many bird species, at least in the Churchill neighborhood- see this article that Knute Andersson forwarded me- thanks Knute! http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/big-chill-in-churchill-47992231.html Tim R Coos Bay From dhogaza at pacifier.com Mon Jun 22 15:05:58 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:05:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] High Arctic Chill In-Reply-To: <324116.49372.qm@web45305.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <324116.49372.qm@web45305.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1186E7F1-0BC5-42EA-80E9-114F6CA9AEEB@pacifier.com> On Jun 22, 2009, at 2:52 PM, garbledmodwit at yahoo.com wrote: > > Sounds like the nesting season is pretty well hosed for many bird > species, at least in the Churchill neighborhood- see this article > that Knute Andersson forwarded me- thanks Knute! The inland 1/2 or 2/3 of the continent's been colder than average, all through the midwestern states of the Canada and the US, etc. Apparently the rate of ice melting in Hudson's Bay is considerably behind schedule - and Churchill is, of course, located on Hudson's Bay. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From rflores_2 at msn.com Mon Jun 22 17:53:32 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:53:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] lazuli bunting, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: If interested I just drove by a lazuli bunting at 1601 Carty Rd. Carty road is south of the Ridgefield NWR River S Unit entrance on Hillhurst rd. The bird was on a powerline 30 yards west of the address given. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090622/bbc1ef0d/attachment.html From gruff at doddg.freeserve.co.uk Tue Jun 23 00:20:51 2009 From: gruff at doddg.freeserve.co.uk (Gruff Dodd) Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:20:51 +0200 (CEST) Subject: [obol] RFI: OREGON IN SEPTEMBER Message-ID: <86613.1322821245741651670.JavaMail.www@wwinf3710> Hi all Thinking about a short birding visit to Oregon later this year, and am trying to get an idea of what birds I have a chance of seeing. My visit would be in early September, probably second week. I have a potential target list I am working through, but while I?ve been able to get some info on seasonal movements, most of this is fairly vague, i.e. summer or fall. I am really struggling to get more accurate info, and so I would greatly appreciate your views on the likelihood of my being able to find the following species at that time: Tundra Swan White-winged Scoter Calliope Hummingbird Rock Sandpiper Short-billed Gull Thayer's Gull Tufted Puffin Sage Thrasher Fox Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow American Tree Sparrow Brewer's Sparrow I will undoubtedly be too late for some of these, and too early for others, but I don?t have that sort of info ? any help very gratefully received! Many thanks, GRUFF DODD Cardiff, Wales -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090623/c5585e20/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Tue Jun 23 07:29:00 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:29:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] UMATILLA RIVER TO BEAR VALLEY Message-ID: <000c01c9f40e$fc88c0f0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> NORTHEAST OREGON 30 MAY-2 JUNE 2009 We journeyed to northeast Oregon to again seek rare but regular species in Oregon: Upland Sandpiper, Least Flycatcher, and American Redstart. These are all species more typical of eastern North America. They are uncommon to rare in northeast Washington. I felt that by using my experience in Washington and focusing on similar habitats in Oregon, we might be rewarded with sightings of these birds near the limits of their distributions. Our efforts thus far have failed to produce any of these nor Clay-colored Sparrow (brushy habitats) for that matter. UMATILLA RIVER (20 JUNE). Early morning found us once again in beautiful riparian corridor along the Umatilla River in the Indian reservation of the same name. From the three-way junction of Cayuse, Thornhollow, and Bingham Roads in Thornhollow, we first explored the roadside riparian starting at a gravel pullout opposite a tiny pond 2.9 miles west of this junction. Once again we easily noted GRAY CATBIRD, VEERIES, and a couple RED-EYED VIREOS. YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were also numerous. We especially listened and watched for American Redstart and Least Flycatcher, both reported here in past years with no luck. We did find a ton of Yellow Warblers along with many Warbling Vireos. Aaron Skirvin, Umatilla County expert happened by and we chatted for some time regarding possibilities for "need" birds. We then went upstream to Wenix Springs 0.7 mile west of the junction (the obscure gravel lane to the north of Cayuse Road). Water levels were much lower than several weeks ago making it easier to take a longer walk. A RUFFED GROUSE, grunting like a pig from up a tree trying to keep her young in tow, was exciting. BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS seem commoner along the Umatilla River than I'm accustomed to in eastern Washington. We seemed to see them near masses of introduced blackberries making me wonder what the attraction this invasive shrub might hold. Other conspicuous birds of the 57 species we noted here were RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, WESTERN TANAGER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, LAZULI BUNTING, and BULLOCK'S ORIOLE. We spent an hour poking up the Squaw Creek Road, a stream feeding into the Umatilla River. This stream course is luxuriantly grown with alders and willows. The steep sides to the valley are forested with ponderosa pine and occasional Douglas-fir. The under story is grown to a dense cover of Douglas maple, ocean spray, and snowberry, good habitat for ORANGE-CROWNED and MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS. We also heard DUSKY FLYCATCHER and CASSIN'S VIREOS. We next climbed the old highway on Emigrant Hill Road, new for us. Though mid-day, the dense thickets on the north-facing hillsides (hawthorn, chokecherry, ocean spray and snowberry seemed the dominant species) were alive with birds. We heard lots of squawking from Black-billed Magpies and American Crows. More pleasing was a chorus by WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, WARBLING VIREO, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, LAZULI BUNTING, and CHIPPING and FOX SPARROWS. Brushy patches suitable for Clay-colored Sparrow were few; mostly these patches were way too tall for this sparrow to call home. Along the Grande Ronde River about 6 miles upstream from Hilgard State Park we took the Bird Tracks Interpretive Trail into very buggy riverside wetlands, good looking riparian habitat. Here we found an adult BALD EAGLE, RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, WILLOW and DUSKY FLYCATCHERS, GRAY CATBIRD, and another ton of YELLOW WARBLERS. Nary a rarity showed! BEAR VALLEY (21 JUNE). We made our third try for Upland Sandpiper this morning arriving before dawn at the well-known junction west 5.8 miles from US-395. We devoted four hours to this effort. It was cold (38 degrees F!) and a light rain fell for much of the time. Still we heard and saw lots of birds though less than on our visits 21-22 May. SANDHILL CRANES were quieter than in May as were the WILLETS, LONG-BILLED CURLEWS, and WILSON'S SNIPES. We focused our ears for the wolf whistle of Upland Sandpiper and scoped the landscape from this junction and at various points back to the highway without any luck. Momentarily, the calls of Long-billed Curlew caused our pulse to rise but on second thought we ascribed all calls to this commoner species. We then surveyed along the Paulina-Izee Road, then finally on the Gun Club Road that heads west into the pastures from Seneca. A couple FRANKLIN'S GULLS seemed a bit north of their usual range. Our major find for the morning were 20 or so VAUX'S SWIFTS entering and exiting the brick chimney on the west side of the Bear Cat Lodge Bed and Breakfast in Seneca (west side of US-395 a few yards south of the gas station). We suspect nesting here given the date and their behavior. Leaving Bear Valley I was struck by an indescribable tinge of sadness. The reality is the Upland Sandpiper is (or is close to) disappearing from Oregon as it has in Washington. The biologist in the District Rangers office in John Day, here in the heart of cattle country, said cattle grazing was good for the sandpiper. And yet, introduction of cattle grazing is probably the major change (and the concomitant invasion of invasives) wrought on the landscape in this region since the arrival of white man 150 years ago. MALHEUR (21 JUNE). We were so close to Burns we decided to blast down there for a few hours targeting a couple recently reported rarities: Cattle Egret northwest of town and Great tailed Grackle at McDonalds (no doubt munching on their French Fries like Yakima County Washington's first at Miner's Burgers in Union Gap and the Kelowna British Columbia bird at Burger King!). We missed both of these (by now we ought to be learning that our luck in chasing rarities is abysmal) so hit the sewage lagoons and some of the flooded field terrain south of town. In no time we chocked 65 species. Both CLARK'S, WESTERN, and very smart EARED GREBES were a treat as were at least 20 CANVASBACKS and four BUFFLEHEADS. White-faced Ibis everywhere always impresses us. CASSIN'S FINCHES at a feeder seemed to be the wrong date for this bird in town. Or, do they breed in Burns? LONG VALLEY TO MONUMENT (21 JUNE). Northward on US-395, on a lark we detoured west from Long Valley to Monument, another spot where Least Flycatcher has been reported in the past. Cruising by town here we could see habitat for this flycatcher in the dense white alder thickets off in the valley bottom but we could see no easy public access. Birds aside the colorful canyon cliffs (John Day Formation?) were certainly a treat, evidently welded ash flows from ancient lakebed sediments. We carried on west down the John Day River, through more impressive canyon country, then headed north over the Blue Mountains. In a gully just south of the unnamed summit (4600 feet elevation) over the Blues, we collected a sprig of western yews from a shrubbery thicket of these dwarf trees (obvious from the road by their unique blue-green hues). These were close to the southwestern extent of this species, a tongue on the map extending southwest from the northern Rocky Mountains. Cool! >From here we cruised through Heppner in the wheat lands (think Snowy Owl in the winter) north of the Blue Mountains, thence to Umatilla and home in the Lower Yakima Valley. The results of our efforts this weekend illustrates an obvious point: rare birds are, well, rare! Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net Aaron Skirvin: 541-215-0761 (Cell) 541-276-1948 (Home) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090623/08c5af13/attachment.html From gruff at doddg.freeserve.co.uk Mon Jun 22 16:32:39 2009 From: gruff at doddg.freeserve.co.uk (Gruff Dodd) Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:32:39 +0200 (CEST) Subject: [obol] RFI: OREGON IN SEPTEMBER Message-ID: <5938158.1359441245713559775.JavaMail.www@wwinf3701> Hi all Thinking about a short birding visit to Oregon later this year, and am trying to get an idea of what birds I have a chance of seeing. My visit would be in early September, probably second week. I have a potential target list I am working through, but while I?ve been able to get some info on seasonal movements, most of this is fairly vague, i.e. summer or fall. I am really struggling to get more accurate info, and so I would greatly appreciate your views on the likelihood of my being able to find the following species at that time: Tundra Swan White-winged Scoter Calliope Hummingbird Rock Sandpiper Short-billed Gull Thayer's Gull Tufted Puffin Sage Thrasher Fox Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow American Tree Sparrow Brewer's Sparrow I will undoubtedly be too late for some of these, and too early for others, but I don?t have that sort of info ? any help very gratefully received! Many thanks, GRUFF DODD Cardiff, Wales -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090623/882b9303/attachment.html From baltman at peak.org Tue Jun 23 10:16:52 2009 From: baltman at peak.org (Bob Altman) Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:16:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI: OREGON IN SEPTEMBER In-Reply-To: <5938158.1359441245713559775.JavaMail.www@wwinf3701> References: <5938158.1359441245713559775.JavaMail.www@wwinf3701> Message-ID: <001b01c9f426$6710f930$3532eb90$@org> Although it is possible to get some early Golden-crowned Sparrows in the lowlands in the second week of Sept (you can watch on the listserve for sightings)., best bet is to go up to higher elevation montane meadow/brushfields which is the migratory path this species takes before dropping into the lowlands. If you are in Portland, go up to Mt Hood meadows or any similar habitat around Mt Hood. Likewise further south, although best bet that time of the year is north in the Cascades of Oregon. Bob Altman American Bird Conservancy 311 NE Mistletoe Corvallis, OR 97330 baltman at abcbirds.org phone/fax - 541-745-5339 From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Gruff Dodd Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 4:33 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] RFI: OREGON IN SEPTEMBER Hi all Thinking about a short birding visit to Oregon later this year, and am trying to get an idea of what birds I have a chance of seeing. My visit would be in early September, probably second week. I have a potential target list I am working through, but while I?ve been able to get some info on seasonal movements, most of this is fairly vague, i.e. summer or fall. I am really struggling to get more accurate info, and so I would greatly appreciate your views on the likelihood of my being able to find the following species at that time: Tundra Swan White-winged Scoter Calliope Hummingbird Rock Sandpiper Short-billed Gull Thayer's Gull Tufted Puffin Sage Thrasher Fox Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow American Tree Sparrow Brewer's Sparrow I will undoubtedly be too late for some of these, and too early for others, but I don?t have that sort of info ? any help very gratefully received! Many thanks, GRUFF DODD Cardiff, Wales -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090623/711dca23/attachment.html From archmcc at qwest.net Tue Jun 23 11:08:47 2009 From: archmcc at qwest.net (Arch McCallum) Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:08:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird Song: "Hi, Sweetie!"; i.e., chickadee distribution // RFI Message-ID: <20090623180849.EBFC653BE97@mpls-qmqp-02.inet.qwest.net> Hello Obol, Following up on this thread from April, I plan to head out Wed. for a few days of recording and thought I would try to find the eastern limit of Black-capped Chickadees in south-central Oregon, and then find out what they sing. The black-caps in my yard are still singing, despite having fledlgings on the wing, so I am hopeful of getting some recordings. I can't find my disk of the atlas with all the locations, so any specifics about dependable locations would be greatly appreciated, especially in Ashland. Are they all over town? Klamath Falls. Any black-caps there. If so, any dependable spots? Lake County has a confirmed nesting in the center of the county. Anyone know where that was. (Sorry, I'm sure it's on the atlas disk.) Thanks, Arch McCallum Eugene From archmcc at qwest.net Tue Jun 23 11:31:09 2009 From: archmcc at qwest.net (Arch McCallum) Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:31:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] phoebe fledglings Message-ID: <20090623183112.5DE61621FA4@mpls-qmqp-03.inet.qwest.net> OBOL: On Sat. June 13 I went out to the Cantrell Rd bridge over Coyote Creek in an attempt to record dawnsong of Black Phoebe. No phoebe evident. Then it rained. On Sunday June 21 I went to the same place at 11:15 am and eventually heard the chip note of the Black Phoebe. I saw it fly under some overhanging veg. along the bank of the creek, and there, perched side by side on a branch about a foot above the water were four fledgling black phoebes. I had previously seen a blph feed a likely juvenile at the west sewage pond of LCC on June 12. Looks like the prospect is good for further range expansion and in-filling of vacant habitat. I can't think of a more welcome invader. Arch McCallum Eugene From archmcc at qwest.net Tue Jun 23 12:56:39 2009 From: archmcc at qwest.net (Arch McCallum) Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:56:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Scrub-Jays in tri-state area of CA-NV-OR Message-ID: <20090623195642.2FD0F1A9AB6@mpls-qmqp-01.inet.qwest.net> Hello everyone, In all this discussion I've yet to see mention of a recent paper in The Auk. It's "Genetic divergence and differentiation within the Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)." by Delaney, Zafar, and Wayne. Auk 125:839-849. Maybe it was mentioned a while back when it came out. For those who missed it, from the abstract: "...samples from a contact zone in western Nevada were genetically woodhousei and morphologically californica. Island Scrub-Jays evolved from the coastal californica, which makes Western Scrub-Jays paraphyletic with respect to Island Scrub-Jays. To solve the problem of paraphyly and to more accurately define the diversity that exists within Western Scrub-Jays, we suggest splitting Western Scrub-Jays into two or three species, California Scrub-Jay (A. californica), Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay (A. woodhousei), and, potentially, Sumichrast's Scrub-Jay (A. sumichrasti). " To unpack that a bit, Sumichrast's is a Mexican population and not germane to this discussion. The contact zone they mention is on the east flanks of the Sierras near Reno. Paraphyletic means that some WESJ under the current species limits are more closely related to Island than to other WESJ. That's a no-no according to current standards and requires a split. A few comments. This study is based on a single mitochondrial DNA gene. These days the stronger studies are based on nuclear as well as Mitochondrial DNA, and the results often differ. The authors have a nifty map that shows woodhousei barely entering OR from NV, with californica extending eastwards to the vicinity of Lakeview. Naturally they did not sample at the nearpoints of the ranges of the two forms in Oregon. They never do. Everything mentioned so far seems to fit this model, except that Joel has californica east of Lakeview, intercalated with the sparsely distributed woodhousei. As he's spent a lot of time in that area, he may have looked at the situation at a finer scale than anyone else. If they are that close, we have the chance for "the test of sympatry," classic evidence that two forms are good biological species. Anyway, with a split possibly in the offing (I wouldn't rate it's chances, but if you're interested, the AOU checklist committee has a website on which they post all the proposed changes, and their discussion on and disposition of each.) it may be desirable to clearly delineate the range of woodhousei while it is still here. Don't be too surprised if californica pushes it right out of the state, either ecologically or genetically. Regards to all, Arch McCallum Eugene At 12:14 PM 6/23/2009, Arch McCallum wrote: >At 08:43 AM 6/3/2009, you wrote: >>Hello folks, >> >>This has been an interesting discussion. I'd just like to clarify my >>comments about the possible occurrence of Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays in the >>tri-state region where California, Nevada and Oregon come together. >> >>In the various times I've visited this area (starting around 1987, and >>particularly around the time when I surveyed several Nevada Breeding >>Bird Atlas blocks in 2000), upward of 95% of the Western Scrub-Jays that >>I've seen were clearly "California" type. >> >>That includes the all of the scrub-jays that I've seen in the Surprise >>Valley (Cedarville, California area), and in the Warner Valley >>(Adel-Plush area) with its side drainages leading up Hart Rim, and also >>south along Twentymile Creek to within 2 or 3 miles of the California >>border. Most Scrub-jays in the Deep Creek drainage and up Greaser Canyon >>on the Coleman Rim to the east along Hwy 140 also seem to be relatively >>bright birds with distinct "necklaces." >> >>The places where I've seen more grayish scrub-jays, with less apparent >>"necklaces," that I thought seemed like good candidates for Woodhouse's, >>were: >> >>- Little Sheldon area of Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada >>(this is the west end of the refuge, and has some of the most >>interesting habitat if you like old-growth junipers); >> >>- In the jumbled dry terrain north of Fort Bidwell in California, not >>far from of Cow Head Lake; >> >>These birds struck me as much more wary than the "California" scrub-jays >>and were encountered well away from ranches & riparian growth. >> >>I've seen a couple of similarly very wary jays in Oregon that did not >>offer good looks, but which struck me as being less well marked than >>typical "California" scrub-jays. The locations that I recall are: >> >>(1) in steppe with widely spaced junipers a couple of miles east of the >>Big Valley/Long Canyon/Fifteenmile Creek spot that I've been >>recommending for Juniper Titmouse and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher for some >>years now, south of Adel and about 4-5 miles west of the Ft. Bidwell >>that runs up Twentymile Creek. >> >>(2) (less convincing) in a ravine on the north side of Deep Creek. >> >>In addition, a couple of years ago I asked a couple of OSU >>ornithologists who were banding in Sheldon NWR in Nevada, as to what >>subspecies of scrub-jays they were finding in the Little Sheldon area, >>and they stated that these were Woodhouse's. I've forgotten their names, >>and as I recall they weren't focusing on scrub-jays, so I don't know if >>any systematic work has been done on the Sheldon scrub-jays. >> >>My hypothesis/hunch is that the ranges of California and Woodhouse's >>scrub-jays may be intercalated in this area, with Californias occupying >>the more heavily wooded & more riparian areas, on relatively small >>territories, and Woodhouse's occupying the drier and more sparsely >>wooded areas, with accordingly much larger territories, so they are much >>less frequently encountered. >> >>I suspect that the most definitive answers will come from field work in >>NW Nevada, rather than in Oregon or California (which seems to be on the >>very fringe of the situation). >> >>Happy birding, >>Joel >> >>-- >>Joel Geier >>Camp Adair area north of Corvallis >> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>obol mailing list >>obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090623/0dc3abfb/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Jun 23 13:07:35 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:07:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Scrub-Jays in tri-state area of CA-NV-OR In-Reply-To: <20090623195642.2FD0F1A9AB6@mpls-qmqp-01.inet.qwest.net> Message-ID: The only time I have ever seen a scrubber that looked visually like a Woodhouse was maybe 20 years ago at Fields. I have seen one that looked exactly like a standard californica at Picture Rock Pass more than once in the 1980s, in Frenchglen recently and, as I recall, once in Lakeview. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Arch McCallum > Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:56:39 -0700 > To: OBOL > Subject: Re: [obol] Western Scrub-Jays in tri-state area of CA-NV-OR > > Hello everyone, > In all this discussion I've yet to see mention of a recent paper in The Auk. > It's "Genetic divergence and differentiation within the Western Scrub-Jay > (Aphelocoma californica)." by Delaney, Zafar, and Wayne. > Auk 125:839-849. > > Maybe it was mentioned a while back when it came out. > > For those who missed it, from the abstract: > "...samples from a contact zone in western Nevada were genetically > woodhousei and > morphologically californica. Island Scrub-Jays evolved from the > coastal californica, which > makes Western Scrub-Jays paraphyletic with respect to Island > Scrub-Jays. To solve the problem > of paraphyly and to more accurately define the diversity that exists > within Western Scrub-Jays, we suggest splitting Western > Scrub-Jays into two or three species, California Scrub-Jay (A. > californica), Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay > (A. woodhousei), and, potentially, Sumichrast's Scrub-Jay (A. sumichrasti). " > > To unpack that a bit, Sumichrast's is a Mexican population and not > germane to this discussion. The contact zone they mention is on the > east flanks of the Sierras near Reno. Paraphyletic means that some > WESJ under the current species limits are more closely related to > Island than to other WESJ. That's a no-no according to current > standards and requires a split. > > A few comments. This study is based on a single mitochondrial DNA > gene. These days the stronger studies are based on nuclear as well as > Mitochondrial DNA, and the results often differ. The authors have a > nifty map that shows woodhousei barely entering OR from NV, with > californica extending eastwards to the vicinity of > Lakeview. Naturally they did not sample at the nearpoints of the > ranges of the two forms in Oregon. They never do. > > Everything mentioned so far seems to fit this model, except that Joel > has californica east of Lakeview, intercalated with the sparsely > distributed woodhousei. As he's spent a lot of time in that area, he > may have looked at the situation at a finer scale than anyone else. > If they are that close, we have the chance for "the test of > sympatry," classic evidence that two forms are good biological species. > > Anyway, with a split possibly in the offing (I wouldn't rate it's > chances, but if you're interested, the AOU checklist committee has a > website on which they post all the proposed changes, and their > discussion on and disposition of each.) it may be desirable to > clearly delineate the range of woodhousei while it is still here. > Don't be too surprised if californica pushes it right out of the > state, either ecologically or genetically. > > Regards to all, > > Arch McCallum > Eugene > > > At 12:14 PM 6/23/2009, Arch McCallum wrote: >> At 08:43 AM 6/3/2009, you wrote: >>> Hello folks, >>> >>> This has been an interesting discussion. I'd just like to clarify my >>> comments about the possible occurrence of Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays in the >>> tri-state region where California, Nevada and Oregon come together. >>> >>> In the various times I've visited this area (starting around 1987, and >>> particularly around the time when I surveyed several Nevada Breeding >>> Bird Atlas blocks in 2000), upward of 95% of the Western Scrub-Jays that >>> I've seen were clearly "California" type. >>> >>> That includes the all of the scrub-jays that I've seen in the Surprise >>> Valley (Cedarville, California area), and in the Warner Valley >>> (Adel-Plush area) with its side drainages leading up Hart Rim, and also >>> south along Twentymile Creek to within 2 or 3 miles of the California >>> border. Most Scrub-jays in the Deep Creek drainage and up Greaser Canyon >>> on the Coleman Rim to the east along Hwy 140 also seem to be relatively >>> bright birds with distinct "necklaces." >>> >>> The places where I've seen more grayish scrub-jays, with less apparent >>> "necklaces," that I thought seemed like good candidates for Woodhouse's, >>> were: >>> >>> - Little Sheldon area of Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada >>> (this is the west end of the refuge, and has some of the most >>> interesting habitat if you like old-growth junipers); >>> >>> - In the jumbled dry terrain north of Fort Bidwell in California, not >>> far from of Cow Head Lake; >>> >>> These birds struck me as much more wary than the "California" scrub-jays >>> and were encountered well away from ranches & riparian growth. >>> >>> I've seen a couple of similarly very wary jays in Oregon that did not >>> offer good looks, but which struck me as being less well marked than >>> typical "California" scrub-jays. The locations that I recall are: >>> >>> (1) in steppe with widely spaced junipers a couple of miles east of the >>> Big Valley/Long Canyon/Fifteenmile Creek spot that I've been >>> recommending for Juniper Titmouse and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher for some >>> years now, south of Adel and about 4-5 miles west of the Ft. Bidwell >>> that runs up Twentymile Creek. >>> >>> (2) (less convincing) in a ravine on the north side of Deep Creek. >>> >>> In addition, a couple of years ago I asked a couple of OSU >>> ornithologists who were banding in Sheldon NWR in Nevada, as to what >>> subspecies of scrub-jays they were finding in the Little Sheldon area, >>> and they stated that these were Woodhouse's. I've forgotten their names, >>> and as I recall they weren't focusing on scrub-jays, so I don't know if >>> any systematic work has been done on the Sheldon scrub-jays. >>> >>> My hypothesis/hunch is that the ranges of California and Woodhouse's >>> scrub-jays may be intercalated in this area, with Californias occupying >>> the more heavily wooded & more riparian areas, on relatively small >>> territories, and Woodhouse's occupying the drier and more sparsely >>> wooded areas, with accordingly much larger territories, so they are much >>> less frequently encountered. >>> >>> I suspect that the most definitive answers will come from field work in >>> NW Nevada, rather than in Oregon or California (which seems to be on the >>> very fringe of the situation). >>> >>> Happy birding, >>> Joel >>> >>> -- >>> Joel Geier >>> Camp Adair area north of Corvallis >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> obol mailing list >>> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dpvroman at budget.net Tue Jun 23 13:56:53 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:56:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] BBS route Warbler song - Prothonotary? Message-ID: <464C0F329A7E4148BE12327F151C6D6E@Warbler> At stop 23 on my BBS route out of Selma this morning (06-23-09) there was a "not from around here" song heard. The bird was close to me and was singing continuously while at the point. The only bird detected, but it managed to stay out of site. Stayed for a bit after the 3-minute count, but no luck seeing it. Unfortunately, had to keep moving to accomplish the route. Pretty sure it was a Warbler. Once home I listen to likely Warblers and the song was pretty much that of a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. Five notes in the song, each sounding the same with a somewhat shorter note at the end. Was pretty uniform and kind of sounded like (to me at least) "tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet, twet." Noted Prothonotary song as described in Sibley is "tsweet, tsweet, tsweet, tsweet, tsweet - with little variation" was pretty darn close to what I heard. The Prothonotary song on Stokes's eastern bird songs was really similar to what was heard. The habitat was pretty good for Prothonotary for our part of the world. I'm going back tomorrow to see if I can get a look at this bird, if still around. Is anyone aware of what other Warbler or Warbler-sized bird would sound like this? Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090623/cbadd4e6/attachment.html From luk916 at hotmail.com Tue Jun 23 14:30:01 2009 From: luk916 at hotmail.com (Luke Redmond) Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:30:01 -0400 Subject: [obol] Rose-breasted Grosbeak and others, Malheur NWR Message-ID: I lucked out and caught the kingbird I was after this morning in less than a minute today (plus 20 minutes to take a blood sample, band, and measure it, not bad in the dark by yourself), so I decided to take the time to really look at/for other birds this morning. About 50 meters south on the CPR from the Krumbo bridge I saw and photographed (not great, but diagnostic) a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak. There was also a male Western Tanager in the area. Further down the road, just south of Benson Pond, I saw a very large concentration of herons and egrets centered mostly in the road and in the ditch to the east. There were approximately 30 Great Egrets, 20 Black-crowned Night-herons, 3 Great Blue Herons, 1 Snowy Egret, and 1 American White Pelican, which seemed a little awkward next to the herons. South of Knox Pond, which is beginning to fill with water, there was a Long-eared Owl acting very perturbed that a Great Horned Owl was around. I made a quick stop at the Big Cottonwood, but no Acorn Woodpecker or Gray Catbird (the later I had seen/heard as recently as a few days ago). Coming back by Knox Pond I checked out the shorebirds and among the expected phalaropes, stilts, and avocets, were a few Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs (I'm presuming they were migrants). Kind of a typical summer day out here. Good birding. Luke Redmond _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090623/8b298d4f/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Jun 23 15:25:27 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:25:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] BBS route Warbler song - Prothonotary? Message-ID: <20090623152527.4hqh6tc6scws8s4s@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Earlier this spring I heard a very slow, well-spaced song, similar to what you describe. It turned out to be a Wilson's Warbler. Not long thereafter, I heard another Wilson's Warbler-like song that sounded strange. I chased it down to a Common Yellowthroat! Chase down all those odd songs! Greg Gillson Hillsboro, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From scre at aol.com Tue Jun 23 18:36:51 2009 From: scre at aol.com (scre at aol.com) Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:36:51 -0400 Subject: [obol] Western Scrub-Jays in tri-state area of CA-NV-OR Message-ID: <8CBC28361D16428-F94-1CF9@webmail-mf21.sysops.aol.com> Since people seem to have missed my post the first time around (from a couple weeks ago) I am re posting it now.? In it I linked an article which addressed the identification issue and also addressed the Auk article.? The AOU is considering a proposal to split Western Scrub Jay 3 ways (as I mentioned previously) and since Woodhouse differs behaviorally, ecologically, morphologically, and genetically it seems likely to be split.? Anyway again here is the post from June 2, 2009 I thought that I would chime in on the interesting discussion of Scrub Jays in Oregon.? The AOU is considering a proposal to split Woodhouse (Aphelocoma woodhouseii), California (Aphelocoma californica), and Sumichrast Jays (Aphelocoma (w.?) sumichrasti southern Mexican taxa unlikely to be split at this time) from what is now Western Scrub Jay (Jon Dunn pers com), mostly based off a paper in the Oct 2008 Auk, but also based off unpublished data as well.? The paper states that the only contact zone between Woodhouse (A. w.? nevadae) and California (A. c. oocleptica) is in mountains of Douglas County in western Nevada, though hybrid specimens are also from the south-eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains (Grinnell and Miller 1944) and possible also in southern California.? The paper found that the taxa are paraphyletic with California Scrub Jay being more closely related to Island Scrub Jay (which the paper supported the split of) than with Woodhouse.? Now onto birds in this region.? In California there are no confirmed records that I am aware of, of Woodhouse Scrub Jay north of Alpine County (which is south of Lake Tahoe).? The birds in Modoc County (extreme NE California) are California (John Sterling pers com, Delaney, et al 2008), though in the Surprise Valley there could be an occasional wandering Woodhouse (which is actually pretty much true anyware).? This population of California Scrub Jays extend north to the Lakeview area of Oregon and further north (I believe gathering from Oregon Birds and postings here) to the Silver Lake, Christmas Valley area.? To me, not knowing that area (Christmas Valley), it seems as likely a source for the Burns/Hines birds as Bend, course the point is sort of moot we will not know where they came from, just that there are California Scrub Jays there now.? Woodhouse Scrub Jay in Oregon status in Oregon seems more complicated, I gather there are specimens from Steens Mountain area from birds believed to have wandered there.? To me these seem to be the best evidence of Woodhouse Scrub Jay in Oregon (they also occur due south in Nevada).? Birds from Hart Mountain and Adel area seem possiblly Woodhouse (coming in from the south east), but as California is the only one really known (proven? at least in California) from the other side of the Warner Mountains it would seem to need more work done to fully understand the status of the two in this area.? Unless there is a population of Woodhouse Scrub Jays in this area, it would seem that in Oregon Woodhouse is only an occasional visitor, with all other populations being California Scrub Jay.? Woodhouse Scrub Jays in Idaho are coming in from NE Nevada and northern Utah, a different area from the potential birds in Oregon (which would be coming in from NW or central Nevada).? ? For a good paper on there id see the featured photo in Western Birds Vol 32, #3, 2001 (Garrett and Dunn 2001) http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/wb/v32n03/index.php Good Birding David Vander Pluym Netarts, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090623/155df530/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Jun 23 18:41:52 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:41:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Local RBA: White Pelicans on the lower Columbia Message-ID: <4A418460.7070604@pacifier.com> I just received a phone call from Dan Fay. He was sturgeon fishing east of Tongue Point near Lois Island and saw 20+ AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS feeding in a pack. This is a difficult place to see from land, but we figure that the most likely spots are to either try from the Twilight Eagle Sanctuary or drop onto the railroad tracks from Hwy 30 near Fernhill. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Half a bee, philosophically... http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11366 From jeffharding at centurytel.net Tue Jun 23 18:43:46 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:43:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Are Mute Swans "countable"? In-Reply-To: <976098.51913.qm@web54101.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <976098.51913.qm@web54101.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Even without speaking to the issue of whether to count Mute Swans in Oregon, the ones on the McGilchrist Pond are pets, maintained by Spinnaker, the facility on the NW corner of the pond. Jeff _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Mary Reese Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 12:30 AM To: (Oregon Birders Online) OBOL Subject: [obol] Are Mute Swans "countable"? We saw a Mute Swan in McGilchrist Pond in Salem this afternoon. Are they "countable" for our life list? Thanks, Mary Reese & Jim Allen Portland / Fairview -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090623/b8e1bf63/attachment.html From drheath82 at verizon.net Tue Jun 23 20:28:50 2009 From: drheath82 at verizon.net (David Heath) Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:28:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Maine trip pictures Message-ID: <000001c9f47b$e5cc8370$b1658a50$@net> Just back from a trip to Maine and Nova Scotia. A heard-only Bicknell's Thrush was my 600th N. American bird (ended up at 612). Some pictures can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/drheath/ Enough of them are birds not to be totally off topic. (2 pages) David Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090623/f242f952/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Jun 24 08:29:27 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:29:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black-and-white Warbler Message-ID: Obolers, Jay Withgott called this morning (June 24) reporting that he saw a Black-and-white Warbler at Bullard?s Beach State Park near Bandon. It was along C Loop at campsite C. It was moving fast and may be anywhere in the area. Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090624/1d311798/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Wed Jun 24 09:19:35 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:19:35 -0400 Subject: [obol] Common Nighthawks off Banks-Vernonia ST (Columbia & Washington Co) Message-ID: Yesterday evening Sam and I heard and saw 2 Common Nighthawks off the Banks-Vernonia State Trail near Braun in Columbia Co. This is just about 0.5mi north of the county line and can be accessed by walking south for about 0.3mi on the state trail from where it intersects with McDonald Rd. Another Common Nighthawk was above the Tophill parking lot back in Washington Co. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090624/9ae5729f/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Wed Jun 24 09:41:28 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:41:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] American White Pelicans still on the Columbia River Message-ID: <4A425738.2080903@pacifier.com> The AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS reported by Dan Fay yesterday were easily seen today from the viewing platform at the Twilight Eagle Sanctuary on Burnside Road this morning. http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Half a bee, philosophically... http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11366 From dpvroman at budget.net Wed Jun 24 12:27:37 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:27:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mystery Warbler - no show Message-ID: Thanks to all that send suggestions as to whom the singer might be. Returned this morning to the Selma BBS stop, but no sign of the potential Prothonotary Warbler. Nothing singing at the location or near it, that was even close to the song heard yesterday. So, the bird will remain a mystery singer and un-named it appears. What was interesting was not only did the bird's song fit a Prothonotary, but where it was sing from was a logical place. Sang from near the tops of several trees (alder, D.fir) that surrounded a alder snag patch along a stream. Being cavity nesting birds, you would think this would be a good spot to for it to sing for a mate. Also, an expected sw OR Warbler with a strange song would likely still be hanging around and singing. Did find a MacGillvray's Warbler further up stream from the location. It sang a few times from near the ground, the normal location and song for a Mac. Was carrying food items too; young nearby no doubt. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090624/fd0305a3/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Wed Jun 24 12:33:19 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:33:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tides? Message-ID: <3C2C7B9A825749FDB71FAC2D1ADEE2C1@TomsPC> Just a question. How, if at all, will the negative tides affect coastal birding opportunities? Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090624/1dd33948/attachment.html From tgosh at shaw.ca Wed Jun 24 12:47:08 2009 From: tgosh at shaw.ca (Ted Goshulak) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:47:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Request for assistance Message-ID: My wife and I will be on vacation in the Cannon Beach / Rockaway Beach area of the Oregon coast at the beginning of August. What are the chances of seeing a Hermit Warbler? Where? Thanks. Ted Goshulak Langley, BC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090624/773b2059/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Jun 24 13:23:47 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:23:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wed Morning, Elija Bristow, REVI Message-ID: Starting from the inner-most parking lot of this State Park, we did the river trail downstream, which eventually led to the forest of tall cottonwoods that has generally harbored the RED-EYED VIREO. Instead, we found a cooperative bird singing loudly near the parking lot at the end of the morning. Great Blue Heron - 1 Turkey Vulture - 6 Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 Am. Kestrel - 1 Spotted Sandpiper - 2 Band-tailed Pigeon - 2 Mourning Dove - 1 Rufous Hummingbird - 1 Downy Woodpecker - 3 Western Wood Pewee - 18 Pac-slope Flycatcher - 1 Willow Flycatcher - 8+ Black Phoebe - 1 Violet-green Swallow - 1 Other swallows - 4 (begs the question again) Steller's Jay - 2 Am. Crow - 3 Black-capped Chickadee - 8 Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1 Brown Creeper - 1 Swainson's Thrush - 10 Am. Robin - 20 Cedar Waxwing - 6 Starling - 2 Hutton's Vireo - 1 Warbling Vireo - 7 Red-eyed Vireo - 1 Orange-crowned Warbler - 4 Yellow Warbler - 1 Black-throated Gray Warbler - 6 Com. Yellowthroat - 6 Yellow-breasted Chat - 1 W. Tanager - 2 Black-headed Grosbeak - 12 Ruf-sided Towhee - 4 Song Sparrow - 12 Brown-h. Cowbird - 5 Am. Goldfinch - 12 Dennis Arendt, Sylvia Maulding, Paul Sherrell, Ellen Cantor, Dave and Sally Hill, Don Schrouder, George Grier, Dave Brown, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090624/34d3cb51/attachment.html From krallfamily at comcast.net Wed Jun 24 13:46:21 2009 From: krallfamily at comcast.net (Kathy) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:46:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] white pelicans at Basket Slough today Message-ID: <339191B3CF2E445FACF1B4F2A42338C0@D04KrallStudy> We saw 3 white pelicans on the main pond at Basket Slough Refuge just west of Salem this morning (Wednesday) about 11:30 am. Kathy Krall -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090624/4ff4b310/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Wed Jun 24 16:21:48 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:21:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fort Stevens Message-ID: <755990.15885.qm@web46004.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Michelle and I just got back from our coast trip. The last place we stopped was Fort Stevens, parking lot C. Upon climbing the viewing platform, we were treated to a sight which we have never seen before. 10,000+ Brown Pelicans and 1000s of Cormorants. Sitting on the beach, on the jetty and flying in the air. Everywhere we looked, there were huge flocks of Pelicans coming and going. It was the most amazing birding sight we have ever witnessed. Is this a common place for them to congregate? We are in the process of posting photos of our trip and they should be up within the hour. Good birding, Seth and Michelle From foglark at att.net Wed Jun 24 17:29:40 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:29:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Elegant Terns make it to Humboldt Message-ID: <882812.30139.qm@web80012.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Yesterday the 23rd, 8 Elegant Terns were seen shortly inside Humboldt Bay from King Salmon (Matt Wachs), and today 11 were at the mouth of the Elk R. in south Eureka (Rob Fowler). First of the year here. They ought to push north into Oregon soon. At least one Ash-throated Flycatcher continues at the logpond at the Arcata Marsh, an unusual place for them this time of year. Also the Whip-poor-will just e. of Willow Creek was seen yesterday in the evening by Elias Elias et al. The bird is to be looked for along Enchanted Springs Road, which takes off from 299 about a couple of miles e. of town. This is its third summer. If anyone really wants to be sure of at least hearing it, let me know, and I can reply off-line with the phone number of the woman in whose yard the bird spends much of its time. She has tape-recorded its voice, played it back, and had it perch on top of her head twice in response. This site is about an hour e. of Arcata on the highway to Redding. David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090624/1eb50552/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Wed Jun 24 17:40:01 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:40:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Oregon Coast Trip Message-ID: <316448.87175.qm@web46008.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Michelle and I spent Sunday, Monday and Tuesday on the coast for her birthday. We didn't bird the whole time but we stopped quite a few places from Astoria to Newport. We stayed in Cannon Beach, with Haystack Rock right off our balcony. Here is the list we saw: Brant- 1 (just North of Depot Bay) Cackling Goose Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Northern Pintail- 2 - 1 male and 1 female (Nehalem Bay Sewage Ponds - had juveniles with them) Unidentified Teal- 3 (also at Nehalem Bay Sewage Ponds) Harlequin Ducks Common Merganser- 2 Western Grebe Brown Pelican- 10,000+ (majority of them at Fort Stevens, parking lot C) Brandt's Cormorants Double-Crested Cormorants Pelagic Cormorants (100's of them nesting on Haystack at on the cliffs at Cape Meares) Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey (nesting at Bald Eagle Red-Tailed Hawk Peregrine Falcon (with 3 chicks at Cape Meares) Killdeer Black Oystercatcher Greater Yellowlegs- 1 (at Necanicum Estuary) Whimbrel- 2 (1 at Fort Stevens, parking lot D and 1 in Newport) Heerman's Gull Ring-Billed Gull Western Gull tons of unidentified gulls Caspian Terns Common Murre Pigeon Gillemot Marbled Murrelet (1000's at Cape Meares) Tufted Puffin (nesting on Haystack Rock) Rock Dove Band-Tailed Pigeon Mourning Dove Anna's Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Northern Flicker Steller's Jay Scrub-Jay Crow Raven Purple Martin Tree Swallow Violet-Green Swallow Rough-Winged Swallow- 1 (in Newport) Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Black-Capped Chickadee (nesting) Chestnut-Backed Chickadee (nesting + fledglings) Bushtit Marsh Wren Swainson's Thrush (everywhere, but especially Cape Meares) Robin Starling Cedar Waxwings Yellow Warbler Wilson's Warbler Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow White-Crowned Sparrow Junco Red-Winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Cowbird House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow 70 identified species. Quite a few that we couldn't ID. Phenomenal trip that was capped off by all of those Brown Pelicans. We've posted some of the photos here: http://portlandbirds.blogspot.com Good birding, Seth and Michelle From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Jun 24 19:09:32 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:09:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon Coast Trip Message-ID: <653678EA679A4750BF4E8203E72B004C@GREG> Estimating numbers of birds is difficult. Most people tend to under-estimate smaller birds and over-estimate the numbers of larger birds. Thus, I thought: "no way!" when Seth claimed 10,000+ Brown Pelicans at the mouth of the Columbia River. However, a quick check on the web revealed that, indeed, that number is quite reasonable. According the US Fish & Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov/arcata/es/birds/brnPelican/b_pelican.html there are approximately 100,000 California Brown Pelicans. Of special note is this statement: "In 2002, as many as 11,000 California brown pelicans roosted on East Sand Island at the mouth of the Columbia River." I am not sure that I've seen 10,000 Brown Pelicans TOTAL in my entire life! In July 1994 I took a pelagic trip which cruised by Sand Island. Our trip total was 450 Brown Pelicans. I guess things have changed since then. Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Jun 24 19:18:32 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:18:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Request for assistance Message-ID: <1245896312.3458.272.camel@joel-laptop> Hello Ted & All, Hermit Warblers are still around in the Coast Range in early August, though they're seen less frequently as the season progresses. Two main resources for this kind of question (in general) are (1) the Oregon Birding Trails website at www.oregonbirdingtrails.org (which will lead you to the Oregon Coast Birding Trail for directions to sites near Cannon Beach -- I'd suggest Ecola State Park or Saddle Mountain for this particular interest), and (2) the BirdNotes database at www.birdnotes.net. Using the latter, if you choose the link to generate a plot of monthly abundance for a single species (Hermit Warbler) in all of Oregon or Clatsop County in particular, you can see that sightings peak in June and then tail off as summer progresses, though there are still good numbers of reports in August. Following the links to underlying reports, you can see where Hermit Warblers have been found in August in past years. Birding trails and databases aside, I'd recommend birding ridgelines in the Coast Range for this species in late July and early August, particularly ridgelines with dense, windswept young conifers, where you can look straight into the trees from a road that's a bit upslope. Though the species is associated with old-growth conifers, ridgeline situations generally offer better viewing. That's a good time of the summer to see family groups moving through this type of habitat, and it can be particularly satisfying to see the various plumages of adult males & females alongside of juveniles. My personal favorite place for watching this species in late summer is Laurel Peak in the Polk Co. Coast Range, but there are no doubt similar places to be found if you explore logging roads closer to Cannon Beach. The main thing to know, this is a widespread species in the Oregon Coast Range, not one that requires a trek to a specific hotspot. Best of luck & happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From justin.bosler at gmail.com Wed Jun 24 19:21:51 2009 From: justin.bosler at gmail.com (Justin Bosler) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:21:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black-and-white Warbler - NO Message-ID: <97d12a010906241921i5ed9cef6xd2c8cff8de22c8dd@mail.gmail.com> Dear OBOL, I searched for Jay's Black-and-white Warbler for nearly two hours today, starting around 12:15 PM, without any luck. I made a circuit around the entire campground paying extra attention to the alder thickets where I used playback and/or a screech-owl mobbing sequence, but nothing. I'm pretty sure if he was around he would have responded as he was singing vigorously early this morning for Jay. Good birding, Justin Bosler Reedsport, OR >Obolers, >Jay Withgott called this morning (June 24) reporting that he saw a Black-and-white Warbler at Bullard?s Beach State Park near >Bandon. It was along C Loop at campsite C. It was moving fast and may be anywhere in the area. >Harry Nehls >Portland, Oregon From celata at pacifier.com Wed Jun 24 20:42:04 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:42:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon Coast Trip Message-ID: <4A42F20C.2020802@pacifier.com> It is always difficult to critique a report without sounding like it is an attack on the observer. That is not my intention. I didn't see the birds reported from the South Jetty, though I have put in a bit of time there on other occasions. We are all only human and we are all more prone to observer error than we'd like to believe. Making reliable estimates is difficult enough when one is practiced and it is easy to get "over-stimulated" by some of the big flocks of murres, pelicans, gulls and such that turn up. Thus, Greg's initial reaction is probably closer to the mark he gives himself credit for. It is not uncommon to over-estimate be flocks of big birds. I always take the time to count. It is true that 10 to 12 thousand Brown Pelicans summer on the lower Columbia, roosting at Sand Island. They disperse during the day, however, so seeing 10,000 at any one spot on the estuary except Sand Island is unlikely. The 10,000 number, though technically possible, is more probably an over-estimate. More problematic is the "1000's" of Marbled Murrelets at Cape Meares given that the total estimated population of murrelets south of British Columbia is less than 10,000. The photo titled "1000's of Marbled Murrelets and 100's of Common Murres" looks to have only 1000's of Common Murres, however. On the other hand, my estimate on the number of birds in the photo is something close to 10,000. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Half a bee, philosophically... http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11366 From philliplc at charter.net Wed Jun 24 21:45:14 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:45:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] ] Oregon Coast Trip References: <4A42F20C.2020802@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <3D6B6A1E1DE34EC8BE35E59AC368D57D@Phil> > It is not uncommon to over-estimate be flocks of big birds. >From a lot of personal experience comparing pre-estimates to actual head counts I can attest that this is true in particular of Brown Pelicans when they're densely packed. They're so big and gregarious that the impressiveness factor of the total "volume of bird" that can be present in a relatively small area tends to run way ahead of the impressiveness factor of the actual number of individuals. Cheers, Phil From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Jun 24 22:05:00 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:05:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 06/24/09 Message-ID: <20090625050505.70490A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 06/18 to 06/24/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 3 days this week: 6/22-24 Species # days found (peak #, date) TURKEY VULTURE 1 (1, 6/23) Cooper's Hawk 1 (1, 6/24) Band-tailed Pigeon 3 (7, 6/23) Mourning Dove 1 (1, 6/24) Vaux's Swift 1 (2, 6/23) RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD 1 (1, 6/23) Hummingbird sp. 1 (1, 6/24) DOWNY WOODPECKER 1 (1, 6/24) HAIRY WOODPECKER 1 (4, 6/23) Northern Flicker 1 (1, 6/23) Olive-sided Flycatcher 2 (1, 6/23 & 24) Pacific-slope Flycatcher 3 (4) CASSIN'S VIREO 1 (1, 6/22) Hutton's Vireo 2 (1) Steller's Jay 3 (2) Western Scrub-Jay 2 (2) American Crow 3 (4) Violet-green Swallow 3 (6) Black-capped Chickadee 3 (10, 6/22) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2 (5, 6/24) Bushtit 3 (18, 6/23) Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 (6) Brown Creeper 2 (3, 6/24) BEWICK'S WREN 1 (1, 6/24) Winter Wren 3 (3) American Robin 3 (12) European Starling 3 (4) Wilson's Warbler 3 (1) Western Tanager 3 (3, 6/23) Spotted Towhee 3 (6) Song Sparrow 3 (8) Dark-eyed Junco 3 (8) Black-headed Grosbeak 2 (1) Brown-headed Cowbird 3 (2) Purple Finch 3 (3) House Finch 3 (10) Red Crossbill 1 (1, 6/22) Pine Siskin 2 (1) LESSER GOLDFINCH 1 (1, 6/23) American Goldfinch 3 (8, 6/23) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: Swainson's Thrush, Orange- crowned Warbler Misses (birds found at least 3 days during previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Red-breasted Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow- rumped Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Evening Grosbeak Wink Gross Portland From cgates326 at gmail.com Wed Jun 24 22:45:47 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:45:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook County Poorwills Message-ID: <505E615ECE4C4848AF5E33157F59427D@cgatesPC> Thanks to a tip from JoAnne Bernt, I heard a calling Poorwill on the west side of Powell Buttes in Crook County. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090624/9e7da302/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Jun 24 23:24:50 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:24:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Audubon event and book news Message-ID: A reminder that Dave Marshall and I will be signing various books at Portland Audubon Society from 2 to 4 on Saturday 27th. The Handbook of Oregon Birds, a small paperback condensation of distribution and related information, with new maps and vagrant charts, went to the printer today from OSU Press. It is expected to be available around September 1. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Jun 24 23:32:48 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:32:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 6-25-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * June 25, 2009 * ORPO0906.25 - birds mentioned American White Pelican Brant ? Golden-Plover Semipalmated Plover RED-NECKED STINT Red-necked Phalarope Calliope Hummingbird Western Kingbird Eastern Kingbird Hermit Warbler BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER Golden-crowned Sparrow ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK COMMON GRACKLE GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday June 25. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On June 19 a breeding plumaged RED-NECKED STINT was photographed on the beach near the mouth of Tenmile Creek in Coos County. It was with five SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS. A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was seen June 24 at Bullard?s Beach State Park near Bandon. A male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was photographed near Benson Pond in Malheur NWR. The Fern Ridge Reservoir GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE continues to be seen. On June 18 a GOLDEN-PLOVER was on the North Spit of Coos Bay. A lone RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was seen June 18 at Gleneden Beach State Park. A CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD was reported June 21 on Angora Peak north of Manzanita. On June 23 a group of 20 WHITE PELICANS were on the Columbia River east of Astoria. EASTERN and WESTERN KINGBIRDS continue to be seen at the Sandy River Delta. On June 22 a group of five BRANT were observed flying west along the Columbia River near Skamania, WA. A COMMON GRACKLE was reported June 23 at Multnomah Falls. On June 17 a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW was near Lorane, southwest of Eugene. At least 80 WHITE PELICANS are now being seen on Ochoco Reservoir east of Prineville. A HERMIT WARBLER was reported June 17 in the mountains near Mt. Vernon. That?s it for this weekl - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090624/3441acd3/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Thu Jun 25 07:43:35 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:43:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Are Mute Swans "countable"? Message-ID: <20090625074335.qiipr6vzqcs480cs@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Can I count it? http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/ Greg Gillson Forest Grove, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From tc at empnet.com Thu Jun 25 10:03:01 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:03:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Bend Message-ID: Barbara Winters saw an adult male Rose-breasted Grosbeak at 19511 W. Campbell Road in Bend last night around 7:30pm. It came to a feeder at the listed address. The feeder is on a deck about 25' above ground level. It went from there to a nearby tree where it sang for quite a while before flying farther away. >From Bend, head west on Century Drive. Once you are past Cascade Middle School, take a right on East Campbell Drive. At the fork, bear left on to West Campbell and proceed to 19511. If it is singing on territory it could be here for a while. Tom Crabtree -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090625/b4a14e88/attachment.html From rriparia at charter.net Thu Jun 25 10:47:44 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:47:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] BBS routes Lake Co Message-ID: <20090625134744.WERIV.842164.root@mp14> OBOL and Klamath Basin Bird News, I recently completed the Breeding Bird Surveys for the Paisley and Lakeview routes. The Paisley route starts at the Upper Sycan River on the Paisley Ranger District of the Fremont NF. In the past, this route was dominated by higher elevation meadows, creeks, and lodgepole dominated pine forests. Recently large tracts of forest have been browned by a devastating invasion of bark beetle. While left alone, lodgepole always seems doomed to such a blight if fire doesn't sweep through first. It will be interesting to see how changes in the vegetation affect the avifauna over the years. The Paisley BBS had a pair of AMERICAN DIPPER at the Upper Sycan R. bridge where Rd. 338 crosses. I took a photo of the nest under the bridge. It was there last year. There's two nests now. I don't know if they are both active. I only saw one pair, and I don't know if two pairs would nest so close together. Also at this site were 2 Lincoln's Sparrow. A write-in observation (possibly new to the count) was a HOUSE WREN, which I find interesting as they seemed to be a common species in the margins of the forest when I was there in the late '70s and early '80s. Much of the beetle-killed trees have lost their bark. I did not encounter very many woodpeckers which somewhat surprised me, but this may be attributed to the loss of the bark on many of the insect killed trees. Following the route I descended to Summer Lake WMA where I observed FRANKLIN'S GULL: 12, and visited the area where Yellow Rails were recently heard. (I've heard them in other areas during daylight hours so I gave it a try) I heard none on that day. I visited the Bobolink area along Hwy 31 south of Paisley, but did not encounter any. I went to the south end of Lake Abert, and counted 122 FRANKLIN'S GULLS among approx. 500 or so Ring-billed/California Gulls. I am curious if Franklin's Gull has an expanding and increasing population given the numbers seen in Klamath and Lake Cos. during spring and early summer in recent years. WILLET, with 62, seemed like an unusually high concentration for a small area. On to the Lakeview BBS. The start of this route is near Dismal Ck., east of Crane Mtn. It is in the Warner Mtns. I did some searching for titmouse during the late afternoon the day before the count, several miles east of the route's starting point. I found one in a stand of juniper along Co. Rd. 314-A, near its jct. with Co. Rd. 314-C. I attempted to record it, but it would only give quick, scratchy chatter. They have other sounds and calls, but this particular bird was not very accomodating. The Lakeview BBS, on June 22, had seven WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER. One male was seen entering and then poking its head out of a cavity. A female was seen going up a tree behind. This route has always had good numbers of sapsuckers. Near the end of the route, at Bull Prairie, there was a pair of SANDHILL CRANE with one colt. A total of 58 species were detected on this route. This route, too, seemed to have an above average year for GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE. Kevin Spencer rriparia at charter.net From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Thu Jun 25 12:48:32 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:48:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Shorebirds Message-ID: <2b1bbd260906251248oc95b562s2bd9e9d8f1bd9f22@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Today (6-25-09) at Tenmile Creek, Coos County Hendrik Herlyn and I observed 9 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, all in alternate plumage. Loosely associated were 4 adult SEMI-PALMATED PLOVERS. But no stints. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090625/679303e2/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Jun 25 16:09:33 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:09:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] New info on OFO website Message-ID: <1245971373.6844.19.camel@joel-laptop> Hello folks, Just a couple of new items on the Oregon Field Ornithologists website at www.oregonbirds.org - Plans for OFO's 30th Annual Meeting, August 28 ? 30, 2009 - Updated Checklist of Oregon Birds Revised May 2009 Happy biridng, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Jun 25 20:41:20 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:41:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Alaska bird production Message-ID: >From a staffer at Alaska fish and game, via a friend of mine at the Anchorage paper: "I'm not up on conditions throughout the state but I don't think we have the conditions described for eastern Canada. I heard they had a late snowpack back there, which affected geese more than ducks (see the DU website http://www.ducks.org/news/1878/DelayedGooseProducti.html). Here are some tidbits. The waterfowl surveys on the Yukon Delta have just been completed, approximately on time. Results have not been analyzed, but preliminary guesses are that there was good production. I think it's been warm on the North Slope, probably due once again to the poor sea ice conditions (open water or even slush on the sea instead of thick ice allows heat from the ocean to heat the air, which in turns warms up the adjacent land). We had that late April hot spell in the interior. I checked in with our waterfowl folks in Migratory Bird Management, and other than a somewhat late snowpack on the Copper River Delta, they think it is a pretty normal year in Alaska. So I don't think the eastern Canadian conditions extended to us." -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From dhogaza at pacifier.com Thu Jun 25 21:12:34 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:12:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Alaska bird production In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On Jun 25, 2009, at 8:41 PM, Alan Contreras wrote: >> From a staffer at Alaska fish and game, via a friend of mine at the > Anchorage paper: > > > "I'm not up on conditions throughout the state but I don't think we > have the > conditions described for eastern Canada. This would fit with global climate data which has shown Alaska, BC, WA, and OR being warmer than average. As of about the 13th or so of June, for instance, Portland was a whopping 5C (9F) above average. After, we got some cool weather, but this week is shaping up to be warm. On the other hand, the middle or actually more eastern parts of the country have been cool. Weather happens ... > I heard they had a late snowpack > back there Yes. It's been cooler than average. > I think it's been > warm on the North Slope, probably due once again to the poor sea ice > conditions (open water or even slush on the sea instead of thick ice > allows > heat from the ocean to heat the air, which in turns warms up the > adjacent > land). Yes, but it doesn't explain the warmth down here. I think the biggest cause has been jet stream weirdness, with not long ago conditions being the jet stream going from far south to far north then looping south into the midwest (first dragging warm tropospheric air north, then arctic air south). Poor ice conditions - yes. Arctic sea ice is currently below 2008 levels and very close to 2007 levels, despite a high degree of cloudiness, and this year's sea ice extent minimum is extremely likely to be close to those levels if not below. Meanwhile, arctic ice volume levels are lower. > We had that late April hot spell in the interior. I checked in with > our waterfowl folks in Migratory Bird Management, and other than a > somewhat > late snowpack on the Copper River Delta, they think it is a pretty > normal > year in Alaska. Global temp records and some of the earlier parts of this post would say "warmer than normal", but certainly in contrast to what's happening in NE Canada, very normal. Not out of range, certainly. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From tedschroeder0800 at hotmail.com Thu Jun 25 23:19:15 2009 From: tedschroeder0800 at hotmail.com (ted schroeder) Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:19:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Bluebirds vs. Mountain Chickadees Message-ID: A 30 minute observation at the Mountain Chickadee nest this afternoon late revealed that the chickadees continue feeding young in the nest without interference from the bluebirds. According to Stokes they should be fleged by now. Maybe tomorrow. Ted From: tedschroeder0800 at hotmail.com To: birding-l at eou.edu; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: Western Bluebirds vs. Mountain Chickadees Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:23:38 -0700 Some representative specimen grade pictures taken during the two days of observing the Western Bluebirds and Mountain Chickadees at the chickadee nest at Spring Creek can be seen at the following link. http://picasaweb.google.com/ted0800/WBBVsMC?authkey=Gv1sRgCInWlfqhivbIrwE# Ted---------Near La Grande From: tedschroeder0800 at hotmail.com To: birding-l at eou.edu; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Western Bluebirds vs. Mountain Chickadees Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:44:00 -0700 Hi OBOL, On approximately 06/05/2009 we noticed a pair of Mountain Chickadees displaying feeding activity at a nest in a Ponderosa Pine at Spring Creek near La Grande, OR. Observations on three variably spaced subsequent days showed no change in the feeding behavior. In general, the chickadees would either fly directly to the nest hole or make a brief stop at an overhead dead limb before entering the nest hole with food. On 06/16/2009, a stop by the nest revealed two frantic adult chickadees being held at bay by a very vocal female Western Bluebird that was alternating between being in the nest or immediately outside on a limb, frequently making threatening thrusts at the chickadees. During, approximately 4 hours of observation, the female bluebird left and brought food to the nest twice and nesting material three times. Meanwhile, the frantic chickadees would, on occasion, be successful entering the nest to feed before the bluebird would run them off. At least, three times the bluebird would return and enter the nest when a chickadee was still in the nest which would result in prompt expulsion of the chickadee. As the observation period went on, the female bluebird became more aggressive about chasing the chickadees. The male bluebird would show up intermittently but made no advances at the chickadees nor did he try to enter the nest. On 06/17/2009, we watched the goings on at the nest for another three hours. Initially, it looked like more of the same, as the vocal female bluebird was throwing a fit every time one or both of the chickadees would show up to attempt to enter the nest with food. But shortly after we arrived, it became obvious that things were changing as the female bluebird showed less aggressive behavior towards the chickadees and they were repeatedly successful in entering the nest with food and sometimes then packing out fecal material. Over the observation period, the female bluebird made multiple forays to hunt, returning to the nest with food and on two occasions she removed fecal material. On two occasions the male bluebird brought food to the nest and passed it off to the female at the entrance to the nest. On one occasion the male bluebird brought in food to the nest when the female was not inside, entered and then came out without the food. On, at least, three occasions one of the chickadees was in the nest when the female bluebird entered and the chickadee was promptly ejected. On the day prior, we worried that the female bluebird might either kill the babies or cause them to starve to death. Now there was the question that they might be being overfed. On 06/18/2009 we were only able to observe the nest for 45 minutes from 4:30 to 5:15 PM which was within the time period of previous days? observations. The behavior of the chickadees had changed dramatically, in that, their approach to the nest was direct like it had been when viewed prior to 06/16/2009. The lone exception was when a juvenile sparrow was perched on a limb 8-10 feet above the nest. The chickadee bringing food then was all over the place flitting from one limb to the next, just as when the bluebirds had been present. It only entered the nest after the sparrow flew off. Strangely enough, there was no sign of the bluebirds during the entire 45 minutes. On 06/20/2009, I watched the nest for 30 minutes. The chickadees made multiple approaches with food, often direct or sometimes with one limb stop before entering the nest as had been the pre bluebird pattern. Again, there was no sign of the bluebirds. My take on this is that the bluebirds probably had a failed first nesting and so they were looking for a new nest site. Hostile takeover of the Mountain Chickadee nest looked to be the plan on 06/16. On 06/17 it appeared that adoption of the Mountain Chickadee babies might have become the motive. Then, perhaps, the male bluebird found an unoccupied, alternative nest site so the bluebirds gave up on their designs for the chickadee nest. Any thoughts? Ted-------------Just north of La Grande Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. Bing? brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_SD_25GB_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090625/3344ccef/attachment.html From ginnyknepper at hotmail.com Fri Jun 26 07:14:20 2009 From: ginnyknepper at hotmail.com (Ginny Knepper) Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:14:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Costa Rica Message-ID: Planning a trip to Costa Rica April/May 2010. Would appreciate any information on birding this country, places to go and nice, but not expensive, places to stay. Respond off line to ginnyknepper at hotmail.com Ginny _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_BR_life_in_synch_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090626/6bee0836/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Fri Jun 26 07:30:01 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David Bailey) Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:30:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sooty Shearwaters off Gearhart; A. White Pelicans still in L. Columbia Message-ID: <4A44DB69.9070903@pdx.edu> Thursday evening 26 June 2009 Clatsop County I checked the Ocean off of the Gearhart Spit of the Necanicum Estuary last night and saw dozens of SOOTY SHEARWATERS flying south in groups just beyond the breakers. I also noted 3 WESTERN SANDPIPERS and 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS in the estuary. More on birdnotes.net. earlier, I noted 20 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS still on the flats and channels within scoping distance of the Twilight Eagle Sanctuary ye David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From rriparia at charter.net Fri Jun 26 09:32:22 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 9:32:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chestnut-sided Warb KLAMC may still be present Message-ID: <20090626123222.D9TPK.898892.root@mp17> OBOL and Klamath Basin Bird news, See below for the report and directions to a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, by Dave Larson, June 20, along Westside Rd., Klamath County. I have be away and the location about where this bird was found did not register until now. The location of this bird, on Rd. 3413, off of Westside Rd., is very close to the the location one was discovered many years ago by Paul Sullivan, at Mare's Egg Spring, at the north end of and right along Westside Rd. That particular bird lingered well past the 4th of July, and in fact I don't think it was even uncovered until that weekend, so that bird may have been around in June. So, it could be that the recently found Chestnut-sided Warbler is still around, and with some searching could be located still. SEE BELOW FOR DAVE'S message. Kevin Spencer rriparia at charter.net Decided to bird north of the border and see what is going on in Oregon... Here are a few observations that were interesting... a few unexpected... 1.) 6/20/09. Chestnut-sided Warbler. One male was observed .3 miles up Forest Service Road 3413, singing from small white fir and shrub component at 0820am, along road edge - small opening in road with large shrub and standing dead trees. Observed bird for 5 minutes singing from top of small dead white fir (20' height). The bird did not have a prominent complete chestnut side, may be a second year bird. This forest service road is approximately 300 feet after mile post 2 on the Westside Road, if you are driving towards milepost 1. The local area was also excellent for other birds - hermit warbler, macgillivray's warbler, nashville warbler (very common) and yellow-rumped warbler. There was also fox sparrow and lazuli bunting in the area. 2.) 6/20/09. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch. One male was observed at 1010 am along the Crater Lake rim drive. Great looks of this bird at the pullout just before the East Rim Drive/Cleatwood turnoff. This intersection is where you would continue to drive north to Diamond Lake. A few years back I observed a female with one fledgling in this same area. Basically, this pullout is very long (.3 miles long) and you should park at the start of the pullout. The male was observed perched on a dead snag above the first pullout and also on the rock wall in front of the parking. Excellent looks to the point the bird was about 20 feet away on the wall. 3.) 6/20/09. Bufflehead. One female was observed on Wocus Bay, Klamath Marsh NWR at 5:30 pm. Turn right off of Silver Lake road, taking road 690 to Wocus Bay - canoe put-in area. 4.) 6/21/09. Fledglings - (2) Gray Jays. Observed two young birds with one adult at 1215 pm, at Como Lake, Mountain Lakes Wilderness. Hiked up from the Varney Creek trailhead. Great array of birds observed during the hike. The jays really hit home that summer is here and the young are out! Ok, take care David Larson From Michael_Green at fws.gov Fri Jun 26 12:44:19 2009 From: Michael_Green at fws.gov (Michael_Green at fws.gov) Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:44:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Common Nighthawk more over NE Portland Message-ID: One heard on successive evenings last week, June 17 and 18, over ca. NE 22nd and Fremont. 'Peent' call only; did not see it. Mike Green U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Migratory Birds and Habitat Programs 911 NE 11th Avenue Portland, Oregon 97232 503-872-2707/FAX 503-231-2019 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090626/74a26a63/attachment.html From doxies at tymewyse.com Fri Jun 26 13:37:51 2009 From: doxies at tymewyse.com (Julie Edmonds) Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:37:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Warblers in SW Oregon? Message-ID: Is anyone seeing more than an occassional warbler in Jackson, Josephine, or Douglas County? Last year at this time I saw many anytime I was near water. This season? Very few sightings at all, and none along my creek in weeks! Where are they? Julie Edmonds Tiller, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090626/2e4ecb12/attachment.html From justin.bosler at gmail.com Fri Jun 26 13:50:32 2009 From: justin.bosler at gmail.com (Justin Bosler) Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:50:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] More Coos Shorebirds -- 26 June 2009 Message-ID: <97d12a010906261350q3c0da3a2s5de2b2db175951f8@mail.gmail.com> Hello OBOL, This morning, 26 June, I spent a few hours (0730-1030) out on the N. Spit of Coos Bay mainly seeking shorebirds. Aside from the expected Killdeer (22) and Spotted Sandpipers (5), I had 1 worn adult LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 2 worn adult SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS (dropped in around 1000), and at least 1 male WILSON'S PHALAROPE (likely a local breeder). Thanks to the dowitchers it wasn't a complete bust. Waterfowl diversity has dropped off since mid-June, but a few interesting finds this morning included 1 female BLUE-WINGED TEAL with 8 tiny ducklings in tow (very wary and secretive), 8 RING-NECKED DUCKS including a brood of 4 ducklings, and a rough count of 10 broods of GADWALL (92 birds in total). Disappointingly, only 1 female GREATER SCAUP remains (17 on 6/14), and zero Buffleheads (2 on 6/14) or Ruddy Ducks (1 on 6/14). Good Birding, Justin -- Justin Bosler Reedsport, OR justin.bosler at gmail.com 717-475-9998 http://www.flickr.com/photos/29219448 at N08/ From roygerig at hotmail.com Fri Jun 26 14:50:06 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:50:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Polk County Avocets, Clark's Grebe 6/26 Message-ID: I walked all over Baskett Slough NWR west of Salem today, and eventually saw 2 AMERICAN AVOCETs together in the same area where I reported 1 AMAV a week ago. You can see them with difficulty from the dike that crosses from the 90 degree curve below the main parking lot on Coville Rd. over to the refuge HQ. Stand where the deep channel crosses the dike road, and look east about 250 meters, and 20 meters or so south of that channel. I first located 1 Avocet and kept thinking I was seeing 2, but it took quite awhile to confirm that there were indeed 2 Avocets. They stayed in the same little area for the next 30 minutes or so that I stayed, feeding side by side most of the time. There is a little too much vegetation to see them easily, and only rarely can you see both at once. All of the wetland on either side of this dike road is closed, so the only viewing is from the road iself. The CLARK'S GREBE that I reported a week ago is also still there, on the pond below Morgan Lake, on the other side of the refuge. Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_SD_25GB_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090626/35083e39/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Fri Jun 26 15:54:04 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:54:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Warblers in SW Oregon? References: Message-ID: On the Selma BBS route on the 23 June there were: Black-throated Gray, Hermit, Yellow-rumped, Nashville, Orange-crowned, MacGillivary's and Yellow-breasted Chat (although it might end up a non-warbler by a AOU decision). Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Is anyone seeing more than an occassional warbler in Jackson, Josephine, or Douglas County? Last year at this time I saw many anytime I was near water. This season? Very few sightings at all, and none along my creek in weeks! Where are they? Julie Edmonds Tiller, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090626/b2617509/attachment.html From dlrobbo at comcast.net Fri Jun 26 19:20:21 2009 From: dlrobbo at comcast.net (Doug Robberson) Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:20:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: [SHOREBIRDS] Arctic Breeding Conditions in 2009 In-Reply-To: <20090626125333.YRYG13911.tomts22-srv.bellnexxia.net@toip6.srvr.bell.ca> Message-ID: Doug Robberson Tigard, OR ------ Forwarded Message From: Jean Iron Reply-To: Jean Iron Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:52:55 -0400 To: Shorebirds Subject: [SHOREBIRDS] Arctic Breeding Conditions in 2009 Yesterday we saw an adult Lesser Yellowlegs near Toronto and on Wednesday there was an adult Least Sandpiper in Hamilton at the west end of Lake Ontario. These are the first "fall migrant" shorebirds in southern Ontario and they are right on schedule. Several people asked us to comment about recent reports of a "Disastrous breeding season in the Arctic". The Arctic is huge; it is 3500 km from southern James Bay (subarctic) to northern Ellesmere Island. Most shorebirds have large breeding ranges and even in late years many birds breed successfully and rarely does the entire Arctic experience the same climatic conditions. We checked with northern researchers and summarized their comments below. Shorebird nesting in 2009 is poor in some regions but normal to good elsewhere. Ontario: Ken Abraham reports that conditions in the Hudson Bay Lowlands were about 10 days late from Attawapiskat south on James Bay, including Akimiski Island, with Canada Geese and Snow Geese hatching in mid June, more like the 1990s average than the 2000s average and within the overall norms. Other species on Akimiski Island were correspondingly late. His guess is that for those species that require shorter time there will be some reduction but not huge. Perhaps the predation effect will be somewhat greater if alternate species are less available. Because coastal snow, ice and water inundation conditions were similar from Cape Henrietta Maria to the Manitoba border, Ken expects that for Canada Geese nesting within 40 - 60 km from the coast, a much reduced effort and productivity will be the norm. Snow Geese at Cape Henrietta Maria were greatly down and the suggestion of a 90% reduction seems to fit what they saw on their survey. However, beyond 40 - 60 km inland, he thinks conditions will be different. Mark Peck said that species nesting away from the Hudson Bay Coast in boreal bogs and fens such as yellowlegs should not be severely impacted because much of the freeze took place near the coast. Manitoba: The situation is worse in northern Manitoba at Churchill where temperatures were well below normal until recently and the snow cover melted late. However, Erica Nol reports that birds have started to nest, just very late, and it won't be a complete bust for shorebirds if there are enough bare spots. Whimbrels and Hudsonian Godwits are nesting, but overall nesting success should be below average for most shorebirds in northern Manitoba. Nunavut: Snow melt was up to three weeks late in mainland Nunavut north of Manitoba. Recent temperatures have been close to normal. Much of Baffin Island is now snow free and conditions there and on Bylot Island are about normal. High Arctic breeders should have a good breeding year. Northwest Territories: Vicky Johnston suspects it will be a poor breeding year in parts of the Western Arctic. Spring was roughly three weeks late in Yellowknife on Great Slave Lake based on leaf-out. The Mackenzie Valley and Delta warmed early but then cooled off again. The Delta flooded slowly and the water receded slowly, so some prime shorebird breeding areas were subject to heavy predation. Yukon: Cameron Eckert reports a late spring, but once the heat came, everything shifted into high gear. Alaska: Declan Troy reports from the North Slope that the snow on the tundra is long gone. It was much warmer earlier in the month and his guess is that the breeding season has been early there. We will be recording the arrivals and numbers of adult and juvenile shorebirds in southern Ontario and may post updates. Acknowledgements: We thank Ken Abraham, Bruce Di Labio, Cameron Eckert, Michel Gosselin, Vicky Johnston, Erica Nol, Mark Peck, Ken Ross, Don Sutherland, and Declan Troy. Ron Pittaway and Jean Iron Toronto, Ontario ------ End of Forwarded Message From justin.bosler at gmail.com Fri Jun 26 21:53:25 2009 From: justin.bosler at gmail.com (Justin Bosler) Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:53:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] More Coos Shorebirds -- 26 June 2009 In-Reply-To: <97d12a010906261350q3c0da3a2s5de2b2db175951f8@mail.gmail.com> References: <97d12a010906261350q3c0da3a2s5de2b2db175951f8@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <97d12a010906262153u4c308d9ct8355fc2d8a339a0f@mail.gmail.com> Hello OBOL, I was questioned on a number of my observations from this morning, so I drove back down to the N. Spit of Coos Bay from Reedsport this evening to do some further investigating (and I'll likely be back there again tomorrow). My main objective was to re-find the yellowlegs that I had tentatively identified as a Lesser this morning. On first impressions at a distance, I had originally identified the bird as a Greater, but as I watched it off and on throughout the morning I became convinced it was a Lesser. Not only did it appear dainty with a thin, relatively short and straight bill, but the behavioral cues pointed me toward that identification. Unfortunately, I never heard the bird vocalize. I eventually settled on Lesser from an unbiased point of view, not knowing it was on the early side for southbound Lessers at this particular location. I may very well have been fooled by the apparent depth of water or height of vegetation, or both, in combination with the fact that it was a solitary yellowlegs at a distance with no nearby shorebirds for direct comparison. I never re-found that bird, or any yellowlegs for that matter, but as I returned to my truck at 7:00 PM I heard a GREATER YELLOWLEGS calling to the west. I'll never know if it was the same bird. However, in my better judgement, I'm retracting my earlier identification and leaving it at yellowlegs sp. I then returned home to find out that Tim Rodenkirk had a flock of 22 Greater Yellowlegs out on the N. Spit just before I got there this evening! How ironic. Anyway, it wasn't a wasted return trip. As for shorebirds, I picked up 2 WESTERN SANDPIPERS. Then, I got my first Oregon BANK SWALLOW in with a diverse aggregation of swallows that included at least 1 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED as well. There was also a pale-headed Cliff Swallow that was intriguing. Perhaps lacking melanin pigments in the head feathers? Good Birding, Justin Bosler On Fri, Jun 26, 2009 at 1:50 PM, Justin Bosler wrote: > Hello OBOL, > > ? ? This morning, 26 June, I spent a few hours (0730-1030) out on the > N. Spit of Coos Bay mainly seeking shorebirds. ?Aside from the > expected Killdeer (22) and Spotted Sandpipers (5), I had 1 worn adult > LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 2 worn adult SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS (dropped in > around 1000), and at least 1 male WILSON'S PHALAROPE (likely a local > breeder). ?Thanks to the dowitchers it wasn't a complete bust. > > ? ? Waterfowl diversity has dropped off since mid-June, but a few > interesting finds this morning included 1 female BLUE-WINGED TEAL with > 8 tiny ducklings in tow (very wary and secretive), 8 RING-NECKED DUCKS > including a brood of 4 ducklings, and a rough count of 10 broods of > GADWALL (92 birds in total). ?Disappointingly, only 1 female GREATER > SCAUP remains (17 on 6/14), and zero Buffleheads (2 on 6/14) or Ruddy > Ducks (1 on 6/14). > > Good Birding, > Justin > > -- > Justin Bosler > Reedsport, OR > justin.bosler at gmail.com > 717-475-9998 > http://www.flickr.com/photos/29219448 at N08/ From campbell at peak.org Sat Jun 27 06:32:10 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:32:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Caspian Tern, Peoria, Linn Co. Message-ID: When I stepped out the door at 5:30 this morning to get the paper, I heard a distinctive, ugly croak out over the river and caught a glimpse of a Caspian Tern. We've seen them here three times before: 7/1/2004, 5/4/2005, 3/7/2007. Usually they have been alone--once a pair--and they have always been flying south over the river. These kinds of sightings make me wonder how many other, quieter, birds fly past when I'm not looking. Randy Peoria -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090627/23f3de43/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Jun 27 07:28:49 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:28:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook County White Pelicapalooza Message-ID: <25C39C29135F433499D04F6002C7664F@cgatesPC> White Pelican numbers are very large in Crook County this summer. The Ochoco Reservoir flock is up to 130 now (12 Caspian Terns there as well). Prineville Reservoir and Houston Lake each have about a dozen. Last year, I saw one White Pelican in the county the whole summer. Chuck Gates Powell Butte P.S. Two female Anna's Hummingbirds have been coming to my feeders for a week. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090627/418f0556/attachment.html From archmcc at qwest.net Sat Jun 27 09:50:38 2009 From: archmcc at qwest.net (Arch McCallum) Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 09:50:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Least Flycatcher at Ft. Klamath Message-ID: <20090627165118.B85FC1A9AAE@mpls-qmqp-01.inet.qwest.net> OBOL: Friday, June 26 at 6:30 am I found a Least Flycatcher "chebecking" vigorously and flying from tree to tree every few seconds at the back of the Ft. Klamath cemetery, i.e., near the treeless pasture edge. It was audible from the gate. The aspen groves around Ft. Klamath would certainly support a small breeding population of these birds if enough founders could ever arrive at the same time. They recall the preferred habitat in Minnesota and North Dakota, and stopover spots in e. Washington. I found 4-5 singing "western" flycatchers along the road to the fish hatchery by Crooked Creek, and numerous "westerns" calling, post-dawn, along Westside Rd. north of Sevenmile Rd., i.e., on the dirt portion. Rich Hoyer tipped me to the latter spot. I'll reserve further comment until I have a chance to review the tapes. Good birding, Arch McCallum Eugene From adamus7 at comcast.net Sat Jun 27 09:48:30 2009 From: adamus7 at comcast.net (adamus7 at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:48:30 GMT Subject: [obol] Fisher Butte Message-ID: <200906271648.n5RGmUGk030014@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Paul Adamus by http://birdnotes.net Date: June 26, 2009 Location: Fisher Butte Unit, Fern Ridge, Lane County, Oregon Noted incidentally while doing vegetation transects across wetland on Rt. 126, from 9 a.m. to noon Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose Gadwall Mallard Cinnamon Teal Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Sora Killdeer Wilson's Phalarope [1] Vaux's Swift Northern Flicker Western Wood-Pewee American Crow Common Raven Purple Martin Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow American Robin European Starling Cedar Waxwing Song Sparrow Black-headed Grosbeak Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird American Goldfinch Footnotes: [1] At least 4 birds doing distraction dispay Total number of species seen: 27 From tom-escue at comcast.net Sat Jun 27 16:34:03 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:34:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] scrub-jay fledgling Message-ID: <6C5C06A9F6E844C4B72E69D022F6A8E4@TomsPC> While working in my backyard today I heard a huge commotion by the neighborhood SCRUB-JAYS coming from my backyard trees. My German Sheppard had grabbed a fledgling that was apparently on the ground. It died in a few seconds. The JAYS left immediately. This has happened before to other backyard birds. I have seen these SCRUB-JAYS scolding cats that come into the yard. I don't know where the nest is though. Probably near by. This was the first fledgling I've seen this summer. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090627/0f40e6f5/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Sat Jun 27 17:02:53 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:02:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: Quiet day, W PELICANS in the early AM only Message-ID: <357810.90075.qm@web55107.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Saturday, Carol Ledford and I birded the River "S" Unit at Ridgefield NWR with my Mom (Olive), my neighbor and her two children (~4mi W of I-5 at Exit 14 in SW Washington; http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/). Highlights: AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: There were 5-6 on Rest Lake early this morning, but they remained only until around 9AM. LAZULI BUNTING: I thought I heard two LAZULI BUNTINGS singing in the entrance canyon (one near the R/R tracks and one near the top), but Carol and I could only see the one nearest the top of the canyon. YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: These Beauties are still around, both at Long Lake and South Quigley Lake. Most have finished nesting but a few remain near nests at S Quigley. Foragers were seen on Long Lake. The Refuge seemed very quiet today, and numbers of individuals as well as species were low. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores Complete list of 54 species seen / heard: AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN American Bittern Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Canada Goose Gadwall Mallard Cinnamon Teal Ruddy Duck Osprey Red-tailed Hawk Virginia Rail Sora American Coot Wilson's Snipe Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Great Horned Owl Anna's Hummingbird Red-breasted Sapsucker Northern Flicker Western Wood-Pewee Willow Flycatcher Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Tree Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren House Wren Winter Wren Marsh Wren Swainson's Thrush American Robin European Starling Cedar Waxwing YELLOW WARBLER Common Yellowthroat Wilson's Warbler Spotted Towhee Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow LAZULI BUNTING Red-winged Blackbird YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD Brown-headed Cowbird Bullock's Oriole House Finch American Goldfinch From erikknight05 at comcast.net Sat Jun 27 19:02:00 2009 From: erikknight05 at comcast.net (Erik Knight) Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:02:00 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Common Nighthawk more over NE Portland In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <2068114310.56601246154520527.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Heard, then saw one over NE 39th & Going around 8:45PM Friday night. Erik Knight Portland, OR ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Green" To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 12:44:19 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [obol] Common Nighthawk more over NE Portland One heard on successive evenings last week, June 17 and 18, over ca. NE 22nd and Fremont. ?'Peent' ?call only; did not see it. Mike Green U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Migratory Birds and Habitat Programs 911 NE 11th Avenue Portland, Oregon 97232 503-872-2707/FAX 503-231-2019 _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090628/35897c8a/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sun Jun 28 03:33:59 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:33:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] 10,000 Pelicans Message-ID: <250041.70705.qm@web46006.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> It is very interesting to me that no one, and I mean no one, asked us about our counting methods. We did what we thought we should do: We counted a group of 10, then applied it 10 times to make a hundred, the we applied that to the entire flock, both inland and over-sea. The number, conservatively, was 10,000. We should have reported more. Greg, we truly appreciate you trying to be nice and give us the benefit of the doubt. You are a gentleman. We deserved it this time. There were birders from all over the country there that day (4 states, at least). Many of them said that they thought the number was more in the neighborhood of 15,000. We do not report items to OBOL, with out being as certain as we can be. For we know, that if we report something out of the ordinary, we will be chastised and ridiculed for some time to come. That is very unfortunate. We have seen, and reported, a couple of rare bird sightings. Now, we will not do so to OBOL. Why? Because we are made to feel like fools for our observations. We are "new" birders, so we must be mistaken. All of you who have been around for a while, you feel that we must not know what we are talking about. Way to be short-sighted and closed-minded. We were told repeatedly, that we did NOT see 10,000 Brown Pelicans in Fort Stevens. Yet no one said, "How did you arrive at this number"? Incredible that so many people are so closed minded. This will be our last post to OBOL. Thank you for teaching "new" birders that it is NOT okay to report unusual sightings. p.s. There are quite a few of you that do NOT fit this description. You know who you are. Thank you for all the help you have given us over the years. We truly appreciate all you have done and we hope to see you around. To the rest of you, those with blinders on and a chip on your shoulder, we wish you the best of luck. Good birding. Seth and Michelle From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sun Jun 28 11:53:07 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:53:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] LEAST FLYCATCHER Calliope Crossing Message-ID: <8D13AD5A2FEA477C910E6F454C339B93@MOM> > Hi birders > 11:50 a.m. > Steve Shunk just this minute called and is listening to and watching a > LEAST FLYCATCHER at Calliope Crossing. > Directions - Go about 1/4 to 1/2 mile down the 900 road, just past > the snowberry patch. ( 900 road is the one that is perpendicular to > Pine Street) > Have fun, > Judy > jmeredit at bendnet.com From dlrobbo at comcast.net Sun Jun 28 15:46:15 2009 From: dlrobbo at comcast.net (Doug Robberson) Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:46:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sandy River Delta Message-ID: Today Noah Strycker lead a group of Friends Of Doug (FOD) on a birding by ear trip to Sandy River Delta. Highlight of the trip was seeing &/or hearing 6 Red-eyed Vireos and two Yellow-breasted Chats. We missed seeing any Tyranninae kingbirds. If you get a chance to bird with Noah, go for it. Besides knowing his birds, he is a nice guy who answers all your questions. Thanks Noah! Doug Robberson Tigard, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090628/90435b20/attachment.html From jvanmoo at sisna.com Sun Jun 28 15:59:16 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:59:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] West Side Rd/Crater Lake, Klamath Co. 6-27-09 Message-ID: <30BE4C00-EF83-4680-9801-128D0687DD7B@sisna.com> Marilyn Christian and I looked for the Chestnut-sided Warbler yesterday but didn't find it. We did find LAZULI BUNTING and HERMIT WARBLER in the area. At Crater Lake we didn't find the Rosy-finch either--just lots of CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS and a pair of WESTERN BLUEBIRDS. At 7-Mile Guard Station we found a pair of MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS and saw a fledgling. On the way home on Hwy 140 heading east we saw a female BLUE GROUSE just east of MP 46 on the roadside. The funny thing about that is that Marilyn saw one in the exact same area on Thursday. She just got her lifer Blue Grouse at Hamaker Mtn about 2 weeks ago and now has seen a total of 3 in very short order! Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From mmarvin at spiritone.com Sun Jun 28 16:12:57 2009 From: mmarvin at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:12:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Singing Swainson's Thrush, SW Portland, Terwilliger Trail Message-ID: <741B623A-E625-4A2E-A6CE-6239FFCC3E7C@spiritone.com> Hello OBOL - This was a first for me - a singing Swainson's Thrush virtually in the neighborhood. I have had them in the yard on several occasions, but silent. I heard this one while on the Terwilliger Trail east of Capitol Highway. I took a hiking trail that, had I followed it to the end, would have taken me to John's Landing. Once I got down a ways, I began hearing the thrush, which continued vocalizing for the entire time I was in the area, until I started back up toward to road. As always with this bird, for me anyway, it was a magical experience and one that made me forget for a moment how close to civilisation I was. Good birding! Marcia From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sun Jun 28 16:40:06 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE) Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:40:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] 10,000 Pelicans In-Reply-To: <250041.70705.qm@web46006.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <250041.70705.qm@web46006.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: It is sad to lose Seth's communications on OBOL. Obviously, a raw nerve was touched and while some may see him as overreacting, I am afraid he was much too much on target. I have had similar feelings often as I continue to read some of the e-mails on OBOL. There seems to be an old guard infatuated with counts, county records and reputations who love to flaunt their expertise. They can be dead wrong but because of the list and count drive and reputations continue to marvel with fellow in-crowders and scoff at amateurs who may have been lucky enough to stumble on to something that they with all their expertise and experience did not. How many of them tromped around looking for the elusive Henslow sparrow that one of their "gods" had misidentified so that they could add still one more species to their life list? Only when some of us neophytes started to question that identification did they start to look closely at their "find". Almost two years ago, brown pelicans swarmed the rocks at the Yaquina Head lighthouse. They were on the big rock right off the lighthouse. They covered every other rock in the area. And contrary to a couple of comments made with regard to Seth's find, the pelicans kept coming as the day went along. They would leave at night only to come back in similar swarms and cover every inch of rock they could find the next day. Did I count them all? No. Could there have been 10,000 in the area? Possibly. Then again I don't hold myself out as birding expert and don't really care if someone else values my opinion or not. Our counts are not always precise anyway. I love these seawatch counts: 1000 of these, 150 of those. Maybe it was really 765 and 132. It's a ballpark number and who really cares anyway. I always love these counts and records that require a visual, that suddenly turn around and hear some owls and now they count too on a "big day" so we can say we saw 160 species when we actually saw only 148. Again, who cares? Both numbers are impressive to me. I hope Seth cools down and realizes that there are many of us who value the insights he has provided over time. Perhaps he will realize that there are many more of us that share his excitement about this wonderful world of birds. Harv ----- Original Message ----- From: Seth Reams To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 3:33 AM Subject: [obol] 10,000 Pelicans It is very interesting to me that no one, and I mean no one, asked us about our counting methods. We did what we thought we should do: We counted a group of 10, then applied it 10 times to make a hundred, the we applied that to the entire flock, both inland and over-sea. The number, conservatively, was 10,000. We should have reported more. Greg, we truly appreciate you trying to be nice and give us the benefit of the doubt. You are a gentleman. We deserved it this time. There were birders from all over the country there that day (4 states, at least). Many of them said that they thought the number was more in the neighborhood of 15,000. We do not report items to OBOL, with out being as certain as we can be. For we know, that if we report something out of the ordinary, we will be chastised and ridiculed for some time to come. That is very unfortunate. We have seen, and reported, a couple of rare bird sightings. Now, we will not do so to OBOL. Why? Because we are made to feel like fools for our observations. We are "new" birders, so we must be mistaken. All of you who have been around for a while, you feel that we must not know what we are talking about. Way to be short-sighted and closed-minded. We were told repeatedly, that we did NOT see 10,000 Brown Pelicans in Fort Stevens. Yet no one said, "How did you arrive at this number"? Incredible that so many people are so closed minded. This will be our last post to OBOL. Thank you for teaching "new" birders that it is NOT okay to report unusual sightings. p.s. There are quite a few of you that do NOT fit this description. You know who you are. Thank you for all the help you have given us over the years. We truly appreciate all you have done and we hope to see you around. To the rest of you, those with blinders on and a chip on your shoulder, we wish you the best of luck. Good birding. Seth and Michelle _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090628/ebd9fa98/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Jun 28 17:09:06 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:09:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Santiam Breeding Bird Survey, Linn county Message-ID: <1246234146.3419.26.camel@joel-laptop> Hi folks, My daughter Martha and I ran the Santiam Breeding Bird Survey this morning. This route starts at Crabtree Lake, a jewel of a spot in the western Cascades, and runs down the Crabtree Creek drainage (with a bit of a jog over one ridge) to the Roaring River, then hooks south to end end up near Lacomb. Last year the snow was still deep enough in late June that I had to walk over snow drifts for the first mile of this route. This year was nothing like that; there was no sign of snow at all. Stonecrop and Oregon sunshine are already blooming on the rock outcrops around the lake, with bleeding heart & penstemon blooming in the deeper soils. SWAINSON'S THRUSH, WINTER WREN, and PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER were the birds of the day, recorded at 38, 27, and 26 of the 50 stops, respectively. The first two are typical of this route but it seemed like flycatchers were more vocal than usual this year. A spontaneously calling NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL (heard at the first two stops) and 6 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS (all in the first ten stops) got the route off to a good start. We heard (or should I say "felt"?) SOOTY GROUSE hooting at four stops and RUFFED GROUSE at one stop in the upper elevations, plus saw one a couple of Sooty Grouse going across the road, and one Ruffed Grouse with a half-grown chick just past the end of the route north of Lacomb. The most surprising bird of the day came as we pulled in to Stop 34 on the ridge between the Crabtree Creek and Roaring River drainages, and we saw a BARRED OWL flying a short ways, then perching to look back at us. It flew off as I got out of the car to start the 3-minute count. I thought that we'd have to leave it as a "between-stops" bird. But just as I hit the start button on the timer for the 34th time of the day, another one flushed a short distance up the road, to become what I think is the first Barred Owl for this route. On our way up there last night, we spotted a male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE flying over the Albany-Lyons Hwy right at the junction with US Hwy 20, near Crabtree north of Lebanon -- seemed like an odd place for one. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From gorgebirds at juno.com Sun Jun 28 18:31:52 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:31:52 GMT Subject: [obol] Washington Ornithological Society Convention Message-ID: <20090628.183152.12257.1@webmail21.vgs.untd.com> This year's Washington Ornithological Society Convention is being held in Kelso/Longview on September 18, 19, 20 & 21, 2009 Registration is now open for the 2009 WOS conference in Kelso/Longview. If you get your registration in before July 3rd, you will receive priority status for the field trips of your choice. Highlights of the conference include: Over 40 field trips to choose from. We will cover a wide swath of southwest Washington, from the ocean to the Columbia Gorge to Mt St Helens. We will have owling trips and birding by kayak. Some of the premier birders in the state will be leading the trips, including several who live in this corner of the state An evening presentation for the Washington Rare Birds committee A banquet with special speaker Robert Michael Pyle, noted author and naturalist Register now at http://www.wos.org/2009conference.htm Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Win the battle of the bulge with great liposuction solutions. Click now! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTJeOKDwhy7eNqXbfwN7RWwucPlvPGdoyX1Gs8aGKXUMDxmZPsBIoY/ From steve at paradisebirding.com Sun Jun 28 18:49:20 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:49:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] LEAST FLYCATCHER Calliope Crossing In-Reply-To: <2558AC988E56431784DBAEE380D507E9@MOM> References: <2558AC988E56431784DBAEE380D507E9@MOM> Message-ID: <9a341ea30906281849x58e56a09qe0fd229483093155@mail.gmail.com> All, Steve and Bonnie Altshuld and I were birding at Calliope Crossing this morning, and just before noon, we found a vigorously singing LEAST FLYCATCHER about one-half mile upstream from the crossing on the south side of the creek. The bird made repeated loops around a small territory between the creek and the 900 road. As Judy mentions below, FR 900 is the road that leaves Pine Street westward just south of the crossing, parallelling the creek on its south side. About a half-mile west of the junction, there is a small opening on the north side of the road with 2 large, live ponderosa pines at its center. I marked the location with "Halloween"-colored flagging. The bird sang almost continuously for 15 minutes or so before we left to look for woodpeckers (we had our priorities straight!). At about 3 p.m., I drove back by the spot and did not see or hear the bird, but it was quite hot and things were generally quiet. I will post some poor pictures soon, and Steve A. has some good ones in full sun I'll get from him later. Thanks for the initial posting, Judy! Steve On Sun, Jun 28, 2009 at 11:52 AM, Judy Meredith wrote: > Hi birders > 11:50 a.m. > Steve Shunk just this minute called and is listening to and watching a > LEAST FLYCATCHER at Calliope Crossing. > Directions - Go about 1/4 to 1/2 mile down the 900 road, just past > the snowberry patch. ( 900 road is the one that is perpendicular to > Pine Street) > Have fun, > Judy > jmeredit at bendnet.com > > _______________________________________________ > COBOL mailing list > COBOL at lists.oregonstate.edu > http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol > > To unsubscribe, send a message to: > COBOL-request at lists.oregonstate.edu > with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. > -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090628/4dab5ff9/attachment.html From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Sun Jun 28 19:00:54 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:00:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] An Observation Message-ID: <4A482056.4080503@gmail.com> In the past few days and weeks I have been photographing many different nestlings. The common thread here is excrement and how it is handled and 'Homeland Security'. Common in raptors is expelling the foul stuff out of the nest as if from a water gun. The nestling backs up to the edge (sometimes rather awkwardly) and expels its load some twenty feet or so depending on the height of the nest. This tends to keep the area under the nest free from whitewash in contrast to Owls which do not expel quite as far and whose nests are therefore much easier to spot (sic). In the smaller birds (Warbling, Cassin's Vireos, Sparrows, Kingbirds, etc) the parents 'change the diapers' by removing a nicely packaged fecal sac which they fly off with some distance, maybe 50 to 100 feet. They seem to know when the nestling is about to produce this sac and will wait patiently until it pops out of the anal opening. Some nestlings will do a little 'wiggle dance' before this occurs. As in our population both the female and male take part in this cleaning, though the female seems to do it more often. I'm sure that if our progeny were to extrude this nice little 'package' the male of our species might partake more often. In the Woodpecker/Sapsucker/Flicker populations they carve out the interior of the nest cavity in such a way as to produce 'sawdust' as a nest lining. This sawdust comes in handy later as the nestlings are too far down in the nest for the parents to remove a nice packet as in the Vireos, etc and they cannot 'shoot' it out of the nest because of the depth of things, so it gets deposited in the nest bottom, in the sawdust. The parents then 'go deep' and retrieve a 'lump' of wet sawdust which is then carried away some distance from the nest cavity as in the Sparrows, Vireos, etc. This behavior ensures that intruders will not discover the where a bouts of the nestlings. Of course SOME nestlings announce their where a bouts with a constant crying call of "FEED ME!" This is especially true of the Red-naped Sapsucker nestlings who's nest can be easily located if your hearing is even as poor as mine. Others nestlings only cry when the parents come in with food. This seems much safer for said nestlings. But SOME parents are so proud of the fact that they have built a beautiful home er nest that they will sing non-stop while sitting on said nest right up until they have laid eggs and are incubating them (Sound familiar?). Until recently I never knew that the Vireos did this odd behavior. And I mean they REALLY SING it OUT! I look forward to exploring more the behavior of nesting birds. It is truly astonishing. Kevin Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090628/bf3c9cef/attachment.vcf From willclemons at yahoo.com Sun Jun 28 19:20:59 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:20:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] 10,000 Pelicans - the final feather... Message-ID: <763177.53894.qm@web55103.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Seth and Michelle, I was saddened to read your latest post. I have enjoyed your posts and your photos; especially when the two of you were blessed from time to time to have some uncommon visitor drop into your back yard and pose for photos - bravo. I particularly enjoyed your Brown Pelican photos. That's a boat load of Pelicans to be sure, I said to myself. I have seen hundreds (when N & S bound flocks in a day were aggregated), but I have never had the good fortune that the two of you had to witness the spectacle you photographed a part of. It reminds one of being in the Klamath area when thousands upon thousands of Snow Geese are there. I have birded in the Pacific Northwest for approaching 30 years now, and I have learned that to be a birder who speaks up about what one sees, one must take a Duck's approach to water relative to the ego that exists in our Oregon birding community. We need to let it roll off our back, because it will not cease or soften. Public birders on OBOL for some unknown reason seem to face more negativity than appears on other sites up and down the Pacific Coast.` Be upset. Let it settle. Do not quit posting your words or your photos. The two of you add value to OBOL! Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores From vernd at oregonfast.net Sun Jun 28 19:23:50 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:23:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] 10,000 Pelicans - the final feather... In-Reply-To: <763177.53894.qm@web55103.mail.re4.yahoo.com> References: <763177.53894.qm@web55103.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <53F00012-95E0-453B-86E8-A3109A089FD6@oregonfast.net> I agree! On Jun 28, 2009, at 7:20 PM, Will Clemons wrote: > > Seth and Michelle, > > I was saddened to read your latest post. > > I have enjoyed your posts and your photos; especially when the two > of you were blessed from time to time to have some uncommon visitor > drop into your back yard and pose for photos - bravo. > > I particularly enjoyed your Brown Pelican photos. That's a boat > load of Pelicans to be sure, I said to myself. I have seen > hundreds (when N & S bound flocks in a day were aggregated), but I > have never had the good fortune that the two of you had to witness > the spectacle you photographed a part of. It reminds one of being > in the Klamath area when thousands upon thousands of Snow Geese are > there. > > I have birded in the Pacific Northwest for approaching 30 years > now, and I have learned that to be a birder who speaks up about > what one sees, one must take a Duck's approach to water relative to > the ego that exists in our Oregon birding community. We need to let > it roll off our back, because it will not cease or soften. Public > birders on OBOL for some unknown reason seem to face more > negativity than appears on other sites up and down the Pacific Coast.` > > Be upset. > Let it settle. > Do not quit posting your words or your photos. > The two of you add value to OBOL! > > Will Clemons > SW of Portland > willclemons AT Yahoo dot com > > Birding: > The best excuse for getting outdoors > And avoiding chores > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090628/c1600262/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Sun Jun 28 20:16:09 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:16:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] 10,000 Pelicans Message-ID: <670A826EC4E24F57B15CA75F43EF889A@Phil> Speaking for myself, the trouble was not with the report itself which I took at face value. The trouble was the photo titles and captions suggest the number they document was being overestimated which, along with the report of 1000s of Marbled Murrelets elsewhere did not inspire confidence in the accuracy of the Pelican total. This is knowing from experience that even careful block counting can lead to inaccuracy when they are unevenly distributed with multiple dense clumps. That is not to say there weren't 10k+ there, but it is the reason I posted about the ease of overestimating Pelican numbers, and presumably the reason some others may have questioned the total. If anybody is dismissing the report out of hand that would indeed be doing a disservice to the Oregon birding community, but I'm guessing few if any are actually doing that. In this case there is objective reason to be skeptical pending further documentation or corroboration, and that isn't something that should be taken personally. Happens to everyone. Cheers, Phil From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sun Jun 28 20:43:33 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:43:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Forwarded - re: RFI Red Crossbills Message-ID: From: "Dean Hale" mep at q.com HI OBOLERS, Julie Smith called me last week to ask for help on studying red crossbills. Here is her Email. If anyone has some information it would be much appreciated. Please contact her. Thanks, Dean. ----- Original Message ----- From: smith at plu.edu I teach at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA and I work on Red Crossbills (specifically song divergence). This summer I am trying to record the songs of as many of the call types as possible. I would greatly appreciate any information that anyone has about red crossbills. They will likely be settling down to breed soon and so if anyone hears crossbills singing or observes behaviors that suggest that they are likely to remain in a given area to breed I would greatly appreciate an email to indicate where they were observed. Also helpful is information about developing cone crops. They specialize on seeds in conifer cones and so if there is a large cone crop in a given area this can be a good indicator that crossbills may breed in that area in July - August. It would be very helpful to know about cone crops for the following conifers - Ponderosa pine, Engleman spruce, Douglas fir, Western hemlock, Sitka spruce. Thanks for your help. Best, Julie smith at plu.edu From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Jun 28 20:49:53 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:49:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] On the non-warblerness of Chats Message-ID: <1246247393.3593.49.camel@joel-laptop> Dennis Vroman wrote: > ...Yellow-breasted Chat (although it might end up a non-warbler by a > AOU decision). Hooray for that! Chats are anything but warblers. Their manic repertoire and nocturnal habits place them closer to mockingbirds, so far as I'm concerned. Warblers are little, tiny birds that sing too fast for me to remember their songs from one week to the next. Chats are something else. Cheers, Joel (writing from Camp Adair, a.k.a. the Willamette Valley's Chat Central, where due to the cool spring they seem to be singing later into the season than usual -- still doing display flights even -- and all through the night). From celata at pacifier.com Sun Jun 28 21:00:45 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:00:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chat taxonomy Message-ID: <4A483C6D.9060607@pacifier.com> For those who feel left out on the whole chat family tree thing, this from the BNA: "Considerable controversy has surrounded the question of this species? taxonomic placement, the early history of which is described by Sibley and Ahlquist (1982). Eisenmann (1962) called into question the then generally accepted placement of the species in the wood-warblers by noting W. J. Beecher?s correction to an earlier publication that the pinnate M7b (M. adductor mandibulae externus medialis ?a jaw muscle) is missing, suggesting an affinity to tanagers (Thraupidae), and W. George?s comment that the hyoid apparatus differs from that of most genera of New World 9-primaried oscines. Ficken and Ficken (1962a) listed morphological and behavioral characters in which the species differs from other parulids. Nevertheless, 2 analyses based on molecular characters place the species in the wood-warblers. Avise et al. (1980) examined 16 proteins encoded by 26 loci in 28 species of wood-warbler, 1 thrush (Turdidae), and 1 vireo (Vireonidae); although somewhat distinct genetically from other wood-warblers, the species was grouped within the parulids (but see Ingold et al. 1988). Sibley and Ahlquist (1982), using DNA hybridization, also placed the species within the wood-warblers when compared with tanagers, vireos, mimids (Mimidae), and other taxa." -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Weaponized Ginseng http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11435/ From steve at paradisebirding.com Sun Jun 28 21:57:57 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:57:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sisters Least Flycatcher photos Message-ID: <9a341ea30906282157w26289e4agc981046a0f343524@mail.gmail.com> All, Here are a few of my digiscoped pixof the LEAST FLYCATCHER found at Calliope Crossing late this morning. Some of the characters to note include: - dark wing-coverts and tertials strongly contrasting with light feather edges - short, broad-based, mostly bright-colored bill - bold complete eye-ring - whitish throat contrasting with darker chest and flanks - pale buffy/yellowish tint to lower belly - short primary projection - compact, "pudgy", large-headed overall shape Of course, these characters are not individually unique to this species, but all of them together make a pretty good case. What first caught my attention, however, was the diagnostic "song," a spirited, snappy, rapidly (almost incessantly) repeated *chi-bek, *an unmistakable and characteristic song of the boreal forest. There are a handful of LEAST FLYCATCHER records from Deschutes County, and this makes a least the third from the vicinity of Indian Ford Creek (one from Ind. Ford Campground; one near the headwaters of the creek, on the west side of Black Butte Ranch; and this one near Calliope Crossing); all of these records are from June. Local fall migration records include the Redmond Sewage Ponds in September and Tumalo State Park in early October. As many of you know, LEAST FLYCATCHER has bred along the John Day River. In case today's bird continues in the area, we should watch carefully for breeding behavior, especially considering the multiple June records along Indian Ford Creek. Could flycatchers be as fun as woodpeckers?! Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090628/2c729b5f/attachment.html From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Sun Jun 28 22:05:59 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:05:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Nighthawk feeding on the ground Message-ID: <266647.80352.qm@web30402.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I am currently at Carpenter Mountain Lookout. I just watched a Nighthawk land outside my door, harvest and eat 2 insects while walking about 2 feet on the ground. Maitreya From celata at pacifier.com Sun Jun 28 23:14:25 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:14:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Common Nighthawk Clatsop Co. - 6/28/2009 Message-ID: <4A485BC1.9050907@pacifier.com> I got to see (and hear) a day-flying COMMON NIGHTHAWK at Hamilton Creek Meadow just west of Jewell this afternoon while doing butterfly surveys. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Weaponized Ginseng http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11435/ From birdernaturalist at me.com Mon Jun 29 07:06:16 2009 From: birdernaturalist at me.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:06:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] On the non-warblerness of Chats In-Reply-To: <1246247393.3593.49.camel@joel-laptop> References: <1246247393.3593.49.camel@joel-laptop> Message-ID: Hi All, The latest genetic information actually suggests that Yellow-breasted Chat is most closely related to Bobolink. When this is finally resolved, it would either be moved to Icteridae, or both would have to be removed and placed in a different family (or maybe even 2 different families; Bobolink isn't very icterid-like either). Just google "icteria dolichonyx" (without the quotes) for more info and citations. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- On Jun 28, 2009, at 8:49 PM, Joel Geier wrote: > Dennis Vroman wrote: > >> ...Yellow-breasted Chat (although it might end up a non-warbler by a >> AOU decision). > > Hooray for that! Chats are anything but warblers. Their manic > repertoire > and nocturnal habits place them closer to mockingbirds, so far as I'm > concerned. > > Warblers are little, tiny birds that sing too fast for me to remember > their songs from one week to the next. Chats are something else. > > Cheers, > Joel > > (writing from Camp Adair, a.k.a. the Willamette Valley's Chat Central, > where due to the cool spring they seem to be singing later into the > season than usual -- still doing display flights even -- and all > through > the night). > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Jun 29 07:36:25 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:36:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] multiple bullbats in western Washington County Message-ID: Last night I saw and heard three or more nighthawks at once in a clearcut off Hayward Road. It has been decades since I have encountered a "flock" of this species in nw Oregon. I have heard one at this spot on every evening visit since June 12 so it's probably a reliable spot for folks in the Portland area desiring to see this semi-rarity. The prolonged sunsets at this time of year and the waxing moon guarantee a very pleasant outing this entire week. The walk in is about a mile, with a nice view at the end of western Tualatin Valley, the part including Forest Grove and Fernhill Wetland. The clearcut is on an extensive south slope and true wild blackberries(Rubus ursinus) are starting to ripen. This ancestor to the Marion blackberry has such a fabulously intense flavor that it alone could justify the hike. Bring a non-birding friend, maybe a romantic interest. The ox-eye daisies that line the logging road and the foxglove in the clearcut are not native but look fabulous in the rosy twilight. Hayward Road leaves Hwy 26 between mileposts 46 and 47, just across the street from the Manning trailhead of the Banks-Vernonia linear park. This is about 4 miles west of Tillamook jct (where Hwy 6 begins and contolled access to 26 ends) or 2 miles east of Vernonia jct ("Staley's", where hwy 47 diverges from 26 to go north). Drive up Hayward Road almost 2 1/2 miles to where there is a gate on either side of the road. Park here and walk south past the blue gate. Bear left at the bottom of the slope and don't panic when you get to the steep stretch, it's relatively short. There are lots of birds to hear such as Pacific-slope Flycatcher and Willow Flycatcher, although it's not easy to see them. At the top of the grade a road goes left. Go straight ahead and you will soon come to an acute angled fork. This is the clearcut with the nighthawks. The left fork will take you up a bit higher for slightly better views. The right fork descends gently before curving north around the east side of the clearcut. This gives good access to blackberries. Pay attention to the road. There are Mountain Quail dustbaths at regular intervals. They evidently use the same spot repeatedly as each scrape has gotten deeper over the past month. It is possible to walk back west though the clearcut where this road reaches a high spot and rejoin the previously mentioned spur. Earlier in the day you might see Western Bluebirds foraging here, and Olive-sided Flycatchers have been calling from both the highest and lowest ends of the clearcut. The hilltop to the east provides stunning views of the entire Tualatin Valley, but trees along the road have grown so fast that it's almost necessary to climb one to see very far these days. Back at the gate be on the alert for Barred Owls. A juvenile bird is hanging out in the hollow to the north, making its begging screech frequently. Lars Norgren From rie at pcfubar.net Mon Jun 29 13:19:30 2009 From: rie at pcfubar.net (roger morris) Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:19:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Odell lake Eagle Message-ID: I occasionally go watch the eagle nest at Odell Lake. (via the web) Today, the adult was feeding on something. The young was just watching. When the adult had enough, it took a few flaps and moved up to a branch above the nest. The young watched the adult go up there. As if trying to figure out how to get up there, the young started flapping his wings. He didn't go anywhere, but still didn't keep him from trying. I'm not sure how soon they start their flapping before they actually fly. I figured with May 15th hatch, the eaglet isn't due to fledge for a few more weeks yet. From tom-escue at comcast.net Mon Jun 29 14:33:58 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:33:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Odell Lake eagle Message-ID: <6AF8B67F108E4B5DAF8EA8411FE2EA52@TomsPC> I too have watched the nest on the webcam often. Last year the nest failed. The egg did not hatch. This year's effort was successful. I am amazed that the nest survived the wind and snow of spring-time at that location. It would seem that there would should be more than one egg considering the nice fish supply available in Odell lake. Any ideas on that? I am amazed at how fast the eaglet bulked up after hatching. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090629/e88b29d6/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Jun 29 15:35:19 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:35:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Curry GT Grackles 6/29/2009 Message-ID: <756796.82303.qm@web45307.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Knute Andersson just sent this to me.? He lives just south and west of Langlois. This is the 4th sighting in that generally area since 29 May, the first with two birds though (not sure on the sex this last report).? Anyhow, somewhere between Port Orford and Floras Lake there are probably one or two birds hanging out?? They seem to be moving though, none of the sightings so far have involved seeing the bird more than one day at a site. Wind gusts to 45mph again on the coast today (current blowing at 37mph with gusts to 43), with winds already blowing 15mph+ on the beaches at sunrise- bring your parka if your headed over for the 4th! The only news bird-wise from Coos Co. lately was the first juvie WILSON'S PHALAROPE out on the N. Spit of Coos Bay back on 21 June. Have a good one! Tim R Coos Bay --- On Mon, 6/29/09, knute andersson wrote: > From: knute andersson > Subject: > To: "Tim Rodenkirk" > Date: Monday, June 29, 2009, 11:52 AM > two Great-tailed Grackles here on the farm for a few minutes at > 10 am- headed north without a picture From jvanmoo at sisna.com Mon Jun 29 15:52:48 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:52:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Klamath Falls, 6-29-09 Message-ID: <705E1F7F-FDBD-4CB0-8AAB-7950C20EADFF@sisna.com> Marilyn Christian and I tried to find the Least Flycatcher reported at Ft. Klamath but didn't have any luck. We did find about 6 BLACK- BACKED WOODPECKERS at the Cave Mtn burn area north of Chiloquin and a singing CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER. At Wood River Wetland, around 2 PM, we found an AMERICAN BITTERN--got great looks as it flew up close to us and then flew first away from us, dropped down into reeds, and then flew up and circled towards us for a fly-by. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From rie at pcfubar.net Mon Jun 29 19:06:12 2009 From: rie at pcfubar.net (roger morris) Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:06:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Odell Lake eagle In-Reply-To: <6AF8B67F108E4B5DAF8EA8411FE2EA52@TomsPC> References: <6AF8B67F108E4B5DAF8EA8411FE2EA52@TomsPC> Message-ID: I would think the conditions during the mating process would determine the number of eggs. I would imagine the ready supply of fish would determine survivability of the eaglet(s). I thought I read the young are probably as large or larger than the adults by the time they leave the nest? Roger On Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 2:33 PM, Tom Escue wrote: > I too have watched the nest on the webcam often. Last year the nest failed. > The egg did not hatch. This year's effort was successful. I am amazed that > the?nest survived the wind and snow of spring-time at that location. > > It would seem that there would should be more than one egg considering the > nice fish?supply available in Odell lake. Any ideas on that? > > I am amazed at how fast the eaglet bulked up after hatching. From roygerig at hotmail.com Mon Jun 29 19:12:09 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:12:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA Marion County LEAST TERN 6/29 Message-ID: Real quick in case anyone still wants to go for it before dark: I found an adult LEAST TERN at Ankeny NWR south of Salem about 4 PM, still there at 6:30 when I left. Seen from Wintel Rd. overlook, across the pond there. More later, Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090629/6a213e00/attachment.html From roygerig at hotmail.com Mon Jun 29 20:56:18 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:56:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] More on Ankeny Least Tern and other birds Message-ID: I went to Ankeny NWR this afternoon hoping to find a Tern, but was not thinking of a Least Tern. I was thinking more of Caspian, Black or Forster's, which do nest in the state, or occasionally locally. When I looked across the large pond from the Wintel Road overlook, just east of the railroad tracks, I saw a small pale bird in the distance over the far end of that wetland. Without bins I could see that it was small and flew in a distinctive buoyant way and I first thought Forster's Tern, or Bonaparte's Gull. But when I got on it with binoculars I could see that the back was too uniform light gray for that, and it wasn't a juvenile Black Tern either so I thought it was a Least Tern, but I guess I didn't really expect it to prove out that way once I got a better look. I walked up the dike to get closer looks and soon saw the bird on an island, clearly a LEAST TERN. I could easily see a somewhat large and very yellow bill, a white forehead, black cap, and small size not much bigger than a Killdeer. Then it flew and while the flight pattern is reminiscent of Forster's Tern and it does have narrow wings, it is also a little like Killdeer on the wing downstroke at least. It seemed to be flycatching up high with some swallows (do Least Terns flycatch?) some of the time and diving for fish (successfully) at other times. I put a call out for some local birders, and got Wes Craven. He came out and was able to see the bird quite well with me. We noted all field marks, just as shown in Sibley, with one exception: this bird's back looked to us a little darker than shown in Sibley. You can easily see the dark leading edge of distal half of the wings, as the first 2 primaries are dark, otherwise the back is uniform light gray. As noted in Sibley, the tail is shorter than some terns. Just before Wes got there, around 4:30, I saw 10,000 (just kidding, really 44) AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS flying in from the hills over South Salem and finally landing on the same pond. When Wes got there he told me that he didn't think it was 10,000 White Pelicans, so I counted. It was 44. The highest number of White Pelicans I've ever seen before at Ankeny is 14. The LEAST TERN continued during next the hour and a half, sometimes disappearing for 4,5 or once about 10 minutes, and was still there when we both had to leave, around 6:30. Other birds at Ankeny today: I saw a probable Bank Swallow several times, pretty sure not a young Tree Swallow (too small, white chin and breastband too distinct; but I never got diagnostic looks or a call) where I have seen the species once before. We saw 5 GREATER YELLOWLEGS and a half dozen LEAST SANDPIPERS plus a few KILLDEER and SPOTTED SANDPIPER, of shorebirds. A COOPER'S HAWK flew overhead. We could see an AMERICAN BITTERN frozen in the marsh vegetation, and I saw another one on the other side of the refuge from the kiosk on my way home. There are still 2 huge fat and ugly white geese that can be seen from the kiosk as well. They've been there for awhile... I hope some other birders get to see this beautiful little Least Tern. Mostly Terns don't stick around when they appear locally but this one seemed to be finding food and maybe will stay for awhile? Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_SD_25GB_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090629/197c9f3c/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Mon Jun 29 21:22:30 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:22:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] common nighthawk over Ridgefield, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: Just had a common nighthawk fly over the house. This is a county first for me! Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090629/0830740f/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Mon Jun 29 21:24:57 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:24:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Nighthawk feeding on the ground Message-ID: <002001c9f93a$d7de76b0$36c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Maitreya, Years ago I climbed S. Coyote Butte at the Malheur Field Station at dusk, looking for Poorwills. Instead, I saw a female Common Nighthawk walking on the path in front of me, picking at the ground like a chicken in a barnyard. The interesting thing was that a male nighthawk was diving overhead, displaying for her. She paid no discernable attention. When I wasn't looking, the male moved his diving position. When I looked on the ground again I saw that the female had moved. Paul T. Sullivan ------------------------------------- Subject: Nighthawk feeding on the ground From: Leith McKenzie Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:05:59 -0700 (PDT) I am currently at Carpenter Mountain Lookout. I just watched a Nighthawk land outside my door, harvest and eat 2 insects while walking about 2 feet on the ground. Maitreya From birdboy at bkpix.com Mon Jun 29 21:27:26 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:27:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge 6/29 Message-ID: Hi birders, In the spirit of motorless birding, I biked to Fern Ridge this morning (round trip 65 miles) to beef up my list and legs. Highlights: 3 - BLACK PHOEBE (1 at south Fisher Unit pond, 2 at Cantrell Rd bridge) 2 - HORNED LARK (probably breeding in East Coyote Unit) 1 - BONAPARTE'S GULL 2 - CASPIAN TERN 1 - RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (vocal and territorial at Cantrell Rd bridge) 1 - GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (north of Royal) 2 - BLACK-NECKED STILT (adult with young fledgling) 1 - WESTERN SANDPIPER 8 - LEAST SANDPIPER 11 - GREATER YELLOWLEGS 1 - BLUE-WINGED TEAL (male in south Fisher Unit pond) 1 - BUFFLEHEAD 2 - HOODED MERGANSER (pair) 1 - NORTHERN SHOVELER 2 - AMERICAN WIGEON Quite a few shorebirds were picking around Pelican Island, but it was difficult to sort through them without a scope. Didn't see the grackle out there - it was probably hiding behind the shorebirds and pelicans. Good birding, Noah Strycker -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090629/a8e8a243/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Mon Jun 29 22:54:35 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:54:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Least Tern at Ankeny Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F022F9B60@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> I read Roy's first post on the LEAST TERN at 7:35 while working in my office. I left my office in Gladstone at 7:45 and arrived at the Wintel Road overlook at 8:40 pm. I found the LEAST TERN right away and watched it through my scope and binoculars until 9:05 pm. The bird was flying like a Forster's Tern on steroids. In the windy conditions the flight behavior was sometimes quite swallow like. I watched it dive at least 20 times as it was actively feeding. In the last 8 minutes of observation the bird flew high above the pond area and may have been catching insects. Roy's physical description of the bird in his second post was quite accurate as far as what I observed. I agree that the top side of the wings looked darker than I would have expected, but all else indicated an adult bird. A gentlemen by the first name of Victor who lives in the area and I have seen at this spot before got his binoculars out and enjoyed looking at the bird as well. He arrived at 8:45 pm. The AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were there and I heard an AMERICAN BITTERN. Roy, thank you for posting so quickly. This allowed me to see my favorite tern. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090629/9aae3db6/attachment.html From richarmstrong at comcast.net Tue Jun 30 08:36:12 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:36:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] no Least Tern References: Message-ID: nanette & i got to ankeny about 645 this morning and there was NO least tern and NO pelicans. we checked to other overlook where there is not very much water. then went back to wintel overlook and even walked the boardwalk. Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 ----- Original Message ----- From: Roy Gerig To: obol Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 8:56 PM Subject: [obol] More on Ankeny Least Tern and other birds I went to Ankeny NWR this afternoon hoping to find a Tern, but was not thinking of a Least Tern. I was thinking more of Caspian, Black or Forster's, which do nest in the state, or occasionally locally. When I looked across the large pond from the Wintel Road overlook, just east of the railroad tracks, I saw a small pale bird in the distance over the far end of that wetland. Without bins I could see that it was small and flew in a distinctive buoyant way and I first thought Forster's Tern, or Bonaparte's Gull. But when I got on it with binoculars I could see that the back was too uniform light gray for that, and it wasn't a juvenile Black Tern either so I thought it was a Least Tern, but I guess I didn't really expect it to prove out that way once I got a better look. I walked up the dike to get closer looks and soon saw the bird on an island, clearly a LEAST TERN. I could easily see a somewhat large and very yellow bill, a white forehead, black cap, and small size not much bigger than a Killdeer. Then it flew and while the flight pattern is reminiscent of Forster's Tern and it does have narrow wings, it is also a little like Killdeer on the wing downstroke at least. It seemed to be flycatching up high with some swallows (do Least Terns flycatch?) some of the time and diving for fish (successfully) at other times. I put a call out for some local birders, and got Wes Craven. He came out and was able to see the bird quite well with me. We noted all field marks, just as shown in Sibley, with one exception: this bird's back looked to us a little darker than shown in Sibley. You can easily see the dark leading edge of distal half of the wings, as the first 2 primaries are dark, otherwise the back is uniform light gray. As noted in Sibley, the tail is shorter than some terns. Just before Wes got there, around 4:30, I saw 10,000 (just kidding, really 44) AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS flying in from the hills over South Salem and finally landing on the same pond. When Wes got there he told me that he didn't think it was 10,000 White Pelicans, so I counted. It was 44. The highest number of White Pelicans I've ever seen before at Ankeny is 14. The LEAST TERN continued during next the hour and a half, sometimes disappearing for 4,5 or once about 10 minutes, and was still there when we both had to leave, around 6:30. Other birds at Ankeny today: I saw a probable Bank Swallow several times, pretty sure not a young Tree Swallow (too small, white chin and breastband too distinct; but I never got diagnostic looks or a call) where I have seen the species once before. We saw 5 GREATER YELLOWLEGS and a half dozen LEAST SANDPIPERS plus a few KILLDEER and SPOTTED SANDPIPER, of shorebirds. A COOPER'S HAWK flew overhead. We could see an AMERICAN BITTERN frozen in the marsh vegetation, and I saw another one on the other side of the refuge from the kiosk on my way home. There are still 2 huge fat and ugly white geese that can be seen from the kiosk as well. They've been there for awhile... I hope some other birders get to see this beautiful little Least Tern. Mostly Terns don't stick around when they appear locally but this one seemed to be finding food and maybe will stay for awhile? Roy Gerig, Salem OR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. Get it on your BlackBerry or iPhone. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090630/43dc1be7/attachment.html From scre at aol.com Tue Jun 30 09:15:21 2009 From: scre at aol.com (scre at aol.com) Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:15:21 -0400 Subject: [obol] RFI Streaked Horned Lark Message-ID: <8CBC7B519F71B8A-12C8-39E@WEBMAIL-DF11.sysops.aol.com> Can anyone tell me good publically accesible places to see Streaked Horned Larks (E. a. strigata).? Please respond off list.? Thanks in advance. David Vander Pluym Netarts Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090630/35f9f5b8/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Tue Jun 30 09:39:38 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:39:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI violet-crowned hummingbird in Oregon - NOT AN RBA Message-ID: <20090630093938.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.cefc544547.wbe@email.secureserver.net> Last week, a violet-crowned hummingbird was photographed at a feeder in southwestern Virginia, and there has been some discussion of vagrancy patterns in the species. Violet-crowned hummingbird has been documented in northern California, and I seem to recall a report of a violet-crowned hummingbird in Portland within the last year or so. Does anyone know if the violet-crowned hummingbird reported in Portland was ever documented by photographs? Thanks. Craig Tumer SW Portland From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Tue Jun 30 10:30:05 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:30:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI violet-crowned hummingbird in Oregon - NOT AN RBA In-Reply-To: <20090630093938.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.cefc544547.wbe@email.secureserver.net> References: <20090630093938.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.cefc544547.wbe@email.secureserver.net> Message-ID: <635C698A-B41F-4F1D-98BB-A179B43FA8EE@gmail.com> I do not think it was photographed but I do believe the fellow had a Violet-crowned at his feeders. They are pretty hard to mistake. Jeff Gilligan and I spoke to the observer's daughter (in front of the house) once we learned about it, which was a week after the sighting. Her parents were away by the time we heard about it and we went to the house the following day just i case it was still around. From her description there wasn't much else it could be. Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland On Jun 30, 2009, at 9:39 AM, Craig Tumer wrote: > Last week, a violet-crowned hummingbird was photographed at a feeder > in > southwestern Virginia, and there has been some discussion of vagrancy > patterns in the species. Violet-crowned hummingbird has been > documented > in northern California, and I seem to recall a report of a > violet-crowned hummingbird in Portland within the last year or so. > Does > anyone know if the violet-crowned hummingbird reported in Portland was > ever documented by photographs? > > Thanks. > Craig Tumer > SW Portland > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From marknikas at comcast.net Tue Jun 30 10:44:24 2009 From: marknikas at comcast.net (Mark Nikas) Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:44:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI Streaked Horned Lark In-Reply-To: <8CBC7B519F71B8A-12C8-39E@WEBMAIL-DF11.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBC7B519F71B8A-12C8-39E@WEBMAIL-DF11.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <9C1A75D8DE954A8C95D366D0C1907CA3@library> David, The south side of Bruce Rd., about 1/2 mile west of Mcfadden Marsh in WL Finley NWR is a breeding area. Another is further north in Linn County along Diamond Hill Rd. Take the Harrisburg exit off I5 which is Diamond Hill Rd and go south 1 mile. Check the fields on the north side of the road for the next 3/4 mile. There are many other sites for this species in the valley but both of these have sizable populations. Mark Nikas From: scre at aol.com Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 9:15 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] RFI Streaked Horned Lark Can anyone tell me good publically accesible places to see Streaked Horned Larks (E. a. strigata). Please respond off list. Thanks in advance. David Vander Pluym Netarts Or -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090630/3bb8d85c/attachment.html From dbagues at earthlink.net Tue Jun 30 11:04:26 2009 From: dbagues at earthlink.net (Diane Bagues) Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:04:26 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [obol] Mountain Quail Message-ID: <29858304.1246385067145.JavaMail.root@wamui-june.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Are any Mountain Quail currently being seen in western Oregon? Diane Bagues San Leandro, California/Milwaukie, Oregon From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Jun 30 12:18:27 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:18:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Upcoming pelagic trip: August 8 Message-ID: <20090630121827.jz2gip135wg04k4k@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Friends, Oregon's fantastic fall pelagic season begins with a trip on August 8, 2009. The "Perpetua Bank: Albatross Hotspot" trip is 11 hours to 40 miles offshore at an underwater feature that is a seabird magnet. We chum twice, for an hour each, about 10 miles apart, bringing ALBATROSSES, FULMARS, JAEGERS and other seabirds right up to the boat for photo opportunities. Many other species are detected during the run out to deeper water and back. Plus, we usually spend a half hour or so near shore on either end of the trip for nearshore specialists including MARBLED MURRELETS and GRAY WHALES. This early fall trip features the best chance during the year for FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS, LONG-TAILED JAEGERS, RED and RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, and ARCTIC and COMMON TERNS, and SABINE'S GULLS. If seas are calm this trip often encounters many sharks and marine mammals; HUMPBACK WHALES are frequently seen. Rarities in August have included XANTUS'S MURRELETS, but last year's bird of note was Oregon's first state record of GREATER SHEARWATER! Photo trip report from last year: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/archive/08092008.htm Our two other Perpetua Bank trips are September 12 and October 3. Check out the full details on our web site. It will include full trip descriptions, preparation including what to eat, wear, and bring, map to charter, registration form, checklists, and trip report archives. http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/ Less than 6 weeks to go! Only 15 spaces remain! Greg Gillson Forest Grove, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com From heinjv at charter.net Tue Jun 30 12:58:41 2009 From: heinjv at charter.net (Jim & Vikki Hein) Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:58:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] NORTHERN PARULA Message-ID: Obol, A friend, Keith Phifer, is birding in eastern Oregon this week called me this morning to report he had seen a NORTHERN PARULA in the campground at Goose Lake south of Lakeview. He did not have cell coverage and could not get a call out. He saw it several days ago but when he went back later could not refind the bird. He will be back in town in a few days with more information. Good Birding, Jim From connierbruce at oregoncoast.com Tue Jun 30 11:00:44 2009 From: connierbruce at oregoncoast.com (Connie or Bruce Ryan) Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:00:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mountain Quail Message-ID: <2358d085b195b4fc2b25e9f4e8e87e98@oregoncoast.com> Are any Mountain Quail being seen anywhere in western Oregon currently? Diane Bagues San Leandro, California/Milwaukie, Oregon From oropendolas at aol.com Wed Jul 1 07:11:34 2009 From: oropendolas at aol.com (oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:11:34 -0400 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Night-Herons Message-ID: <8CBC86CF998F1F2-1810-29CA@WEBMAIL-DC11.sysops.aol.com> Hello All, Last night, June 30, I biked?to Fern Ridge?at sunset.?I arrived at the Royal Avenue viewing platform just in time to see 3 adult BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS?fly?in. Also, had a very vocal BARN OWL at the corner of Grennhill and Royal on my ride home ~ 10:00 PM. John Sullivan Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090701/766d398a/attachment.html From bigburd_jh at yahoo.com Wed Jul 1 10:24:36 2009 From: bigburd_jh at yahoo.com (jeff hayes) Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 10:24:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Sandy River Delta 6/28 Message-ID: <265136.71172.qm@web36805.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello birders. Forgive me for the lateness of this report. On Sunday 6/28 I had a few hours to kill in the afternoon, so despite the hour I went birding at Sandy River Delta from 1:30 - 4:00 PM. Surprisingly, quite a few birds were active and singing. I managed to see one of each species of kingbird and heard several REVIs and Chats. Pretty much all the usual suspects were about, except one real oddity: I found NO starlings, no cowbirds, no Red-winged or Brewer's Blackbirds. Strange. Two singing HOUSE WRENs were found along the east-west section of trail north of the slough, among the snags which have hosted Purple Martins in past years. Mallard 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Osprey 1 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Mourning Dove 3 Hummingbird, sp? 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 N. Flicker 2 Pileated Woodpecker 1 W. Wood-Pewee 8 Willow Flycatcher 7 Western Kingbird 1 Eastern Kingbird 1 Warbling Vireo 5 Red-eyed Vireo 4 W. Scrub-Jay 5 Am. Crow 4 Tree Swallow 30+ (many juveniles) Violet-green " 4 N. Rough-winged " 5 Cliff Swallow 4 Barn Swallow 6 (low number) Black-c. Chickadee 9 Bushtit 6 White-br Nuthatch 1 Bewick's Wren 4 House Wren 2 Swainson's Thrush 10 Am. Robin 30+ Cedar Waxwing 4 Yellow Warbler 4 Com. Yellowthroat 8 Yellow-br. Chat 3 Spotted Towhee 6 Song Sparrow 15 White-cr. Sparrow 2 Black-h. Grosbeak 8 Lazuli Bunting 7 Bullock's Oriole 4 House Finch 2 Lesser Goldfinch 1 Am. Goldfinch 25+ From nepobirds at yahoo.com Wed Jul 1 12:25:06 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:25:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fw: 10,000 Brown Pelicans Message-ID: <683848.9665.qm@web46014.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> We just received this email. I wanted to share it with all of you. Thank you so much to all of the folks that have sent us great emails! We truly appreciate it! Thank you! --- On Wed, 7/1/09, Deborah Jaques wrote: > From: Deborah Jaques > Subject: Brown Pelicans > To: nepobirds at yahoo.com > Date: Wednesday, July 1, 2009, > > Greetings > Seth and Michelle, > ? > I am a biologist with a > specialty in brown > pelicans.? I have just returned from a trip to > Missouri and read with > interest your report on huge numbers of pelicans off Fort > Stevens.?Sorry I > missed that action last week.???I am > guessing that there were > anchovy schools close to shore and that they were possibly > trapped by all the > foraging birds.??That situation may repeat itself > again, so I will go > out and see what I can see this > week.?? > ? > I am doing monthly counts > by boat at East Sand > Island this year.? My last roost census was around the > second week of > June.? I counted over 7,000 > pelicans?then.??I do not doubt > that there are more than 10,000 in the area by now.? > ? > ? > I would love to see your > photos of the pelicans > that day.? If you can direct me to them or forward, > I'd appreciate > it. > ? > Also, a question:? > Did you see any sooty > shearwaters mixed in, or offshore of the pelicans at Ft. > Stevens??? > ? > Thanks very much.? > > ? > Deborah > ? > Deborah Jaques > Pacific Eco Logic > 375 3rd > Street > Astoria, Oregon? 97103 From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Jul 1 12:32:47 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:32:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Odd Western Kingbird plumage Message-ID: <20090701123247.gf45wtkjs4440w00@webmail.thebirdguide.com> I have posted 3 kingbird photos from Wayne Hoffman. The bird seems to have very worn wings and tail, except for the tertials. Wayne's note is below. See: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/gallery/_from_others Greg Quoting Wayne Hoffman : Hi - On May 25, on my way back from NE Oregon I stopped at Hat Rock State Park, which is on the Columbia above McNary Dam. There were several Western Kingbirds in the "oasis" of irrigated lawns and shade trees. I took photographs of at least 3 Westerns, but tonight I was going back through my photos found 2 of a bird with a very odd tail for a Western. The tail is not black, and seems to lack white webs on the outer rectrices. Instead it is a dark rusty color that appears more suited to a Myiarchus or something. The photos are from behind, so do not show the breast. The bill may be a bit heavy for western, but does not appear particularly long. I am wondering if SY Westerns would have such a tail? or whether I should consider other possibilities? Would you be willing to post photos? I have cropped and resized to reasonably emailable size. thanks Wayne From LCain at astoria.k12.or.us Wed Jul 1 14:28:50 2009 From: LCain at astoria.k12.or.us (Lee Cain) Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 14:28:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared Dove, near Astoria Message-ID: <515DDA9BF1AC1E42829D6CD2AA9FC4017BB598E52A@asdxcng.intra.astoria.k12.or.us> "The sightings will continue until morale improves!!" A couple of weeks ago, Josh Saranpaa mentioned seeing a EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE near Lewis and Clark Elementary, about 2 miles south of Astoria. Yesterday I found one perched on a power pole near the base of the school driveway. Don't know if these are the same bird(s) reported in the spring in south Astoria. Lee Cain >//////> >//////> >//////> >//////> Aquatic Biology/Integrated Science https://www.edline.net/pages/Astoria_SHS (go to Contents, then Classes, then by teacher) Astoria High School 1001 West Marine Drive Astoria OR 97103 503-325-3911 vm 301 Astoria OR 97103 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090701/5c9e5219/attachment.html From LCain at astoria.k12.or.us Wed Jul 1 14:31:09 2009 From: LCain at astoria.k12.or.us (Lee Cain) Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 14:31:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird sounds website Message-ID: <515DDA9BF1AC1E42829D6CD2AA9FC4017BB598E52B@asdxcng.intra.astoria.k12.or.us> Some of you may not yet have discovered http://www.xeno-canto.org/ -- I hadn't until today. Warning: you can spend a LOT of time here if you are a bird sound geek... Lee Cain >//////> >//////> >//////> >//////> Astoria Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090701/e99ea4c8/attachment.html From justin.bosler at gmail.com Wed Jul 1 16:57:09 2009 From: justin.bosler at gmail.com (Justin Bosler) Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 16:57:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] N. Spit Coos Bay Shorebirds -- 1 July 2009 Message-ID: <97d12a010907011657o69f50ecdwe645aa322516be4f@mail.gmail.com> Hello OBOL, After work this morning, 1 July, I headed out to the N. Spit of Coos Bay (Coos Co.) to see what shorebirds the high tide (at ~10 AM) had brought in. With a total of 8 species, highlighted by a single adult (FOF) SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, I wasn't disappointed. I tried for photos of the Semipalm, but was unsuccessful. I stuck around for roughly 2 and a half hours, and may have stayed longer had I remembered my parka! Shorebirds included: (*note- all non-resident shorebirds were adults.) Killdeer, 15 Greater Yellowlegs, 4 (dropped in around 1145, but didn't stick long) Spotted Sandpiper, 9 (incl. 1 local juv.) Semipalmated Sandpiper, 1 ad. (in WESA flock) Western Sandpiper, 52 (2 flocks) Least Sandpiper, 2 Wilson's Phalarope, 4 (breeding males) Red-necked Phalarope, 1 breeding ad. female Poor digiscoped photos of both phalarope species at this link: http://snipurl.com/lex1d [www_flickr_com] Aside from the shorebirds, the only other sighting of interest was that of a nesting female NORTHERN SHOVELER, which had apparently gone unnoticed all of June. Good Birding, Justin -- Justin Bosler Reedsport, OR justin.bosler at gmail.com 717-475-9998 http://www.flickr.com/photos/29219448 at N08/ From rowbird2005 at yahoo.com Wed Jul 1 18:35:41 2009 From: rowbird2005 at yahoo.com (Forrest Rowland) Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 18:35:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Western Kingbird - Clackamas Co. Message-ID: <964625.45434.qm@web35302.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, Today I had my first Western Kingbird for the Molalla area and Clackamas Co. The bird was located on the wireline along Dickie Prairie Rd. just East of town after the OR211/Dickie Prairie Rd split. After the road curves sharply left and heads you towards Feyrer Park from town, there are farms and pastureland on either side of a long straightaway. This is where the bird was at 6:10pm. Good Birding, Forrest Rowland ____________________________________________________________________________________ ?Obt?n la mejor experiencia en la web! Descarga gratis el nuevo Internet Explorer 8. http://downloads.yahoo.com/ieak8/?l=e1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090701/ef816708/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Jul 1 18:50:17 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:50:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Regional field notes updated on OFO website Message-ID: <1246499417.3461.83.camel@joel-laptop> Hello folks, As of 2006, /Oregon Birds/ no longer prints detailed regional compilations of field notes for each of the nine reporting regions. Instead, a single column gives a statewide overview of the season. For those who are interested in more detailed records for each region, the detailed regional compilations are provided as supplementary materials in electronic form, on the OFO web site at: http://www.oregonbirds.org/FieldNotes/FieldNotesStatewide.html The tabular format of these compilations allows easy searching and sorting by species, county, rarity codes, etc. The ultimate goal is to have all of these data in an on-line, searchable database. I've just now updated the OFO web site with compilations through the Winter 2008-09 field season, for all of the regions for which these are available. I apologize for having sat on a number of these compilations for many months. The regional compiler positions are open for two of Oregon's nine regions (Rogue-Umpqua region and Northeast Oregon). If you'd like to volunteer for this task, please contact me. Also, over the longer term we'd like to convert reports from seasons prior to 2006 into this tabular format. Several of you helped on this a few years back when we wound up with more volunteers than we had files to work with at the time, so Ron, Phil, Bob & Diana, you know what this involves! Now that we know what we're doing, there's a much bigger batch of files to work with -- and no time constraints! -- so I'll be happy to hear from anyone who's interested to help. Thanks & happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From whoffman at peak.org Wed Jul 1 19:46:52 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 19:46:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Odd Western Kingbird plumage References: <20090701123247.gf45wtkjs4440w00@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Message-ID: <0DDC819754BF4069BA41B1697FB2078A@D48XBZ51> Greg Thanks for hosting these. The photos are cropped from the originals and resized. Two are otherwise unchanged. The one you posted on the left is the same as the middle one, but brightened in photoshop. Since sending these to you I found one photo online of a fall immature Western Kingbird with a dark brown rather than black tail. If the same rectrices were kept through the winter and spring, they might well wear to the color this bird shows. If this is at all regular, it would be a good thing to include in the field guide that Alan Contreras wants written. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg Gillson" To: "OBOL" Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 12:32 PM Subject: [obol] Odd Western Kingbird plumage > > I have posted 3 kingbird photos from Wayne Hoffman. The bird seems to > have very worn wings and tail, except for the tertials. Wayne's note > is below. > > See: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/gallery/_from_others > > Greg > > > Quoting Wayne Hoffman : > > Hi - > > On May 25, on my way back from NE Oregon I stopped at Hat Rock State > Park, which is on the Columbia above McNary Dam. There were several > Western Kingbirds in the "oasis" of irrigated lawns and shade trees. > I took photographs of at least 3 Westerns, but tonight I was going > back through my photos found 2 of a bird with a very odd tail for a > Western. The tail is not black, and seems to lack white webs on the > outer rectrices. Instead it is a dark rusty color that appears more > suited to a Myiarchus or something. The photos are from behind, so do > not show the breast. The bill may be a bit heavy for western, but does > not appear particularly long. > > I am wondering if SY Westerns would have such a tail? or whether I > should consider other possibilities? > > Would you be willing to post photos? I have cropped and resized to > reasonably emailable size. > > thanks > > Wayne > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Jul 1 19:54:57 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:54:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Motorless birding update Message-ID: <1246503297.3461.135.camel@joel-laptop> Hi folks, There have been a few postings mentioning motorless birding but if you want to follow this more closely, check out: http://www.oregonbirds.org/Listing/motorless.html We're now up to 15 participants, from the Portland Metro area, mid-Willamette Valley, and upper Willamette Valley, plus Bend. Randy Campbell continues to amaze all of us, with 173 species found either on bicycle or on foot. Even if you take away that Pyrrhuloxia in his back yard as just too ridiculously fortuitous to count, that's still mighty impressive. But the kid from Creswell seems to be making a move in the outside lane ... just casually biking 65 miles down to Fern Ridge & back, come on now! Vjera & Eddie Thompson so far have dibs on the "toughest motorless luck" story of the year. After biking 23 miles to Elijah Bristow and successfully finding the Red-eyed Vireo that they were looking for, they started home only to find that they had ... an irreparably flat tire, and no spare inner tube. So they ended up going home by motorized means -- what a heartbreaker! We're still waiting for the first Oregon birder to take up the "transit-assisted" challenge. Wish I could say that we had bus service here, but we don't. But I do know that a bus runs from Portland out to Sauvie Island. And, out in Lincoln County last weekend, I noticed that there's a bus running up and down the coast from Lincoln City to Waldport. So there are some good opportunities out there, just waiting for someone to give it a try. Happy low-impact birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From baileydc at pdx.edu Wed Jul 1 20:24:55 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (baileydc at pdx.edu) Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:24:55 GMT Subject: [obol] Lincoln Co. Coast Range this morning Message-ID: <200907020324.n623OtfU005439@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for David C. Bailey by http://birdnotes.net Date: July 1, 2009 Location: Lincoln County, Oregon I counted birds incidental to a survey for Marbled Murrlets I conducted this morning very near Euchre Mountain about 10 miles east of Boiler Bay. No murrelets, but a good variety of other birds starting off with displaying COMMON NIGHTHAWKS before sunrise. Notable was a HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER that was singing only the first phrase of its three-phrase song. It sounded similar to a Least Flycatcher's che-Bek, but the individual phrase was repeated with longer intervals than the rapidly repeated pattern of Least. The sound was more of a Sa-lick or cha-bik than a che-bek. I checked some references and apparently HAMMOND'S are known to sing only this first phrase of their song late in the season, so those hearing possible LEAST FLYCATCHER songs--be aware! I also saw the bird and noted its long primary-projection among other marks, that eliminates Least from the list of contenders. The flycatcher readily came into my imitation of Northern Pygmy-Owl hoots. Then a real NORTHERN PYGMY OWL started calling in response and it too came in. As it did, a pair of CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, HUTTON'S VIREOS, WILSON'S WARBLERS, and single RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD began mobbing the owl and scold-calling incessantly. I also heard my first of season WILLOW FLYCATCHER, a new species for my Lincoln County list (finally). Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Turkey Vulture 2 Northern Pygmy-Owl 1 Common Nighthawk 2 Rufous Hummingbird 2 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 Willow Flycatcher 1 Hammond's Flycatcher 1 [1] Pacific-slope Flycatcher 3 Warbling Vireo 2 Gray Jay 1 Steller's Jay 2 Violet-green Swallow 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2 Winter Wren 1 Swainson's Thrush 4 American Robin 1 Wrentit 1 Cedar Waxwing 2 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Hermit Warbler 2 Wilson's Warbler 6 Western Tanager 2 Spotted Towhee 1 Song Sparrow 1 White-crowned Sparrow 2 Black-headed Grosbeak 1 Red Crossbill 3 [2] Footnotes: [1] Hammond's Flycatcher: singing only the first two-syllable phrase of its three phrase song, spaced a second or two apart. Long primary-projection noted. [2] Red Crossbill: singing birds. Total number of species seen: 29 From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Jul 1 21:59:25 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:59:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 07/01/09 Message-ID: <20090702045950.A3DCCA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 06/25 to 07/01/09. Species in ALL CAPS were neither seen nor heard the previous week. This week Lillian and I completed our 9th year of dogwalks (over 2500 walks). Good dog! Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and an UPDATED checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 6 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Turkey Vulture 1 (1, 6/29) Cooper's Hawk 1 (1, 6/28) RED-TAILED HAWK 1 (1, 6/27) Band-tailed Pigeon 6 (6, 6/28) Mourning Dove 5 (2) GREAT HORNED OWL 1 (1, 6/26) Vaux's Swift 6 (5) Anna's Hummingbird 5 (2) Rufous Hummingbird 4 (2) RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER 3 (1) Downy Woodpecker 3 (2, 6/28 & 29) Northern Flicker 4 (2) PILEATED WOODPECKER 2 (2, 6/26 & 27) Olive-sided Flycatcher 4 (1) Pacific-slope Flycatcher 5 (2) Hutton's Vireo 4 (1) Steller's Jay 6 (4) Western Scrub-Jay 6 (2) American Crow 6 (10, 6/26) Violet-green Swallow 6 (10) BARN SWALLOW 2 (2, 6/29) Black-capped Chickadee 6 (20) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 5 (15) Bushtit 5 (28, 7/1) Red-breasted Nuthatch 6 (10, 6/27) Brown Creeper 2 (1, 6/26 & 29) Bewick's Wren 3 (3, 6/25) Winter Wren 5 (2) Swainson's Thrush 1 (1, 6/26) American Robin 6 (20) European Starling 5 (4, 6/25) Orange-crowned Warbler 2 (2, 6/25) YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER 1 (1, 6/27) BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER 5 (2) Wilson's Warbler 6 (4, 6/28) Western Tanager 5 (2) Spotted Towhee 6 (7) Song Sparrow 6 (10) Dark-eyed Junco 6 (10) Black-headed Grosbeak 4 (4, 6/28) Brown-headed Cowbird 2 (1, 6/26 & 28) Purple Finch 6 (3) House Finch 6 (10) Red Crossbill 2 (1, 6/28 & 7/1) Pine Siskin 2 (1, 6/25 & 7/1) American Goldfinch 6 (10, 6/27) EVENING GROSBEAK 1 (1, 6/27) Fledglings: Downy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Bewick's Wren, Orange-crowned Warbler, Wilson's Warbler Wink Gross Portland From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Jul 1 23:38:08 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:38:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 7-2-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * July 2, 2009 * ORPO0907.02 - birds mentioned Clark?s Grebe Sooty Shearwater Am. White Pelican Am. Avocet Semipalmated Sandpiper Western Sandpiper LEAST TERN Least Flycatcher ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday July 2. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On June 29 an adult LEAST TERN was at Ankeny NWR. It could not be relocated the next day. The GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES near Langlois and at Fern Ridge Reservoir continue to be seen. On June 24 a male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was in Bend. The fall adult shorebird migration is now moving through the state. On July 1 a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was among WESTERN SANDPIPERS on the North Spit of Coos Bay. SOOTY SHEARWATERS are also arriving just offshore. Two AVOCETS and a CLARK?S GREBE are still being seen at Baskett Slough NWR. Up to 44 WHITE PELICANS continue at Ankeny NWR. Up to 130 WHITE PELICANS are now at Ochoco Reservoir near Prineville. On June 26 a LEAST FLYCATCHER was calling at the Fort Klamath Cemetary. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090701/d5eb602a/attachment.html From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Thu Jul 2 10:04:34 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 13:04:34 -0400 Subject: [obol] Idaho birding tip Message-ID: Mark your "good places to bird" journal with this entry for future reference if you find yourself in northern Idaho. There's a section of the Trail of the Coeur d' Alenes, a paved rail to trail, that goes right thru miles of marshes and alongside lakes. EASTERN KINGBIRDS, CATBIRDS, BLACK TERNS, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS and other inland birds are common. At migration periods it's probably fantastic. Keep on the lookout for moose, too -- also common there. If you want more info about the best trailheads for prime birding, just email me off of obol. A bike is well worth the effort, but you can also see a portion of the marshes from Highway 3. And altho local experts probably already know about this hotspot in Washington state, there's this tiny town, Washtucna, that is well-known as a migratory fallout area for rare warblers, etc. If you're in eastern Washington in spring or fall, check out Bassett Park there. They claim it's an oasis for birds in a sea of wheat fields. There's one cafe in town, too. Lona Pierce, Warren _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090702/6e33b1f5/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Thu Jul 2 10:08:21 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 10:08:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Motorless birding update References: <1246503297.3461.135.camel@joel-laptop> Message-ID: Joe Evanich won the transit-assisted challenge years before its creation by setting a long-standing Multnomah Co big year record without owning a car. I can't say how often someone might have given him a ride, but he did plenty on his own. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joel Geier" To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" ; "Central Oregon Birders" ; "MidValley Birds" Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 7:54 PM Subject: [obol] Motorless birding update Hi folks, There have been a few postings mentioning motorless birding but if you want to follow this more closely, check out: http://www.oregonbirds.org/Listing/motorless.html We're now up to 15 participants, from the Portland Metro area, mid-Willamette Valley, and upper Willamette Valley, plus Bend. Randy Campbell continues to amaze all of us, with 173 species found either on bicycle or on foot. Even if you take away that Pyrrhuloxia in his back yard as just too ridiculously fortuitous to count, that's still mighty impressive. But the kid from Creswell seems to be making a move in the outside lane ... just casually biking 65 miles down to Fern Ridge & back, come on now! Vjera & Eddie Thompson so far have dibs on the "toughest motorless luck" story of the year. After biking 23 miles to Elijah Bristow and successfully finding the Red-eyed Vireo that they were looking for, they started home only to find that they had ... an irreparably flat tire, and no spare inner tube. So they ended up going home by motorized means -- what a heartbreaker! We're still waiting for the first Oregon birder to take up the "transit-assisted" challenge. Wish I could say that we had bus service here, but we don't. But I do know that a bus runs from Portland out to Sauvie Island. And, out in Lincoln County last weekend, I noticed that there's a bus running up and down the coast from Lincoln City to Waldport. So there are some good opportunities out there, just waiting for someone to give it a try. Happy low-impact birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From pamelaj at spiritone.com Thu Jul 2 10:13:10 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 10:13:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Upper Nestucca area, 7/1 Message-ID: Wednesday morning Dave Kennamer took me for a walk above McGuire Reservoir in Yamhill Co, an area new to me. Our birdlist included Hermit, Wilson's, and Townsend's Warblers, Swainson's Thrush, Winter Wren, and Warbling Vireo. Pamela Johnston From ellencantor at gmail.com Thu Jul 2 10:42:18 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 10:42:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wildcat Mt Hermit Warblers Message-ID: <7058c4c60907021042y601a4439i972d0b843098cb37@mail.gmail.com> I hiked Wildcat Mt, east of Estacada on Tuesday and was surrounded by the songs of HERMIT WARBLERS and SWAINSON'S THRUSHES. I had close looks at both species, including an adult bird of each species with a similar fat green caterpillar grasped in each of their beaks. I saw a fledging Swainson's Thrush at one point by the trail and about 1/4 mile or less further on, an adult, with caterpillar in beak, calling loudly and persistently (for at least the 20 minutes I was in the area) for its errant fledgling. The adult Hermit Warblers I saw were all males, though at one point, I saw movement down in a bush where a male had been closely hanging around....maybe the female? a nest? I saw 4 different Hermit Warblers and heard at least 6 more for a total of at least 10. Great wildflowers and views on this hike as well. Ellen Cantor -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090702/fd19a82b/attachment.html From ellencantor at gmail.com Thu Jul 2 10:48:24 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 10:48:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Smith-Bybee Heron Triple Header Message-ID: <7058c4c60907021048w506bf9ado1b1528c5d3f10b64@mail.gmail.com> I kayaked Smith-Bybee Lakes in N. Portland yesterday and had a great day escaping the heat and hanging in the marshes with the birds. Highlights: 1 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, 2 GREEN HERONS in a backwater off of the passage between Smith and Bybee Lakes. The whole area was loaded with GREAT BLUE HERONS, TREE and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, and the vocalizing of PIED-BILLLED GREBES. Ellen Cantor -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090702/9f875225/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Thu Jul 2 11:49:08 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 11:49:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Odd Western Kingbird plumage In-Reply-To: <0DDC819754BF4069BA41B1697FB2078A@D48XBZ51> References: <20090701123247.gf45wtkjs4440w00@webmail.thebirdguide.com> <0DDC819754BF4069BA41B1697FB2078A@D48XBZ51> Message-ID: <2b1bbd260907021149g7fcfaaccsd3ed35b5ef510e00@mail.gmail.com> Obol, I think Wayne is right on the money with this bird. It looks like a second year Western Kingbird. The brown is simply a result of wear, as Wayne implies. Since white feathers are much weaker than black (and juvenile are weaker than adult), it makes sense that the white edging has simply worn off. The tertials were obtained last fall when the bird underwent its formative or 1st basic molt giving them a darker, newer look than the rest of the flight feathers. Daniel On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 7:46 PM, Wayne Hoffman wrote: > Greg > > Thanks for hosting these. > > The photos are cropped from the originals and resized. Two are otherwise > unchanged. The one you posted on the left is the same as the middle one, > but brightened in photoshop. > > Since sending these to you I found one photo online of a fall immature > Western Kingbird with a dark brown rather than black tail. If the same > rectrices were kept through the winter and spring, they might well wear to > the color this bird shows. > > If this is at all regular, it would be a good thing to include in the field > guide that Alan Contreras wants written. > > Wayne > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Greg Gillson" > To: "OBOL" > Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 12:32 PM > Subject: [obol] Odd Western Kingbird plumage > > > > > > I have posted 3 kingbird photos from Wayne Hoffman. The bird seems to > > have very worn wings and tail, except for the tertials. Wayne's note > > is below. > > > > See: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/gallery/_from_others > > > > Greg > > > > > > Quoting Wayne Hoffman : > > > > Hi - > > > > On May 25, on my way back from NE Oregon I stopped at Hat Rock State > > Park, which is on the Columbia above McNary Dam. There were several > > Western Kingbirds in the "oasis" of irrigated lawns and shade trees. > > I took photographs of at least 3 Westerns, but tonight I was going > > back through my photos found 2 of a bird with a very odd tail for a > > Western. The tail is not black, and seems to lack white webs on the > > outer rectrices. Instead it is a dark rusty color that appears more > > suited to a Myiarchus or something. The photos are from behind, so do > > not show the breast. The bill may be a bit heavy for western, but does > > not appear particularly long. > > > > I am wondering if SY Westerns would have such a tail? or whether I > > should consider other possibilities? > > > > Would you be willing to post photos? I have cropped and resized to > > reasonably emailable size. > > > > thanks > > > > Wayne > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090702/cb696346/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Thu Jul 2 12:09:40 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 12:09:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Douglas Coast PARASITIC JAEGER, SEMI-PALM SANDPIPER, other shorebirds Message-ID: <2b1bbd260907021209p6d05693dp3dbb0cd4509030fb@mail.gmail.com> Obol, The last two days have produced some good movement along the coast. Yesterday (1 July) Hendrik Herlyn and I observed roughly 100 WESTERN SANDPIPERS in the mud south of Tenmile Creek, Coos Co. Today north of the creek we observed 5 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 11 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 1 SPOTTED SP, and 3 SEMI-PALMATED PLOVERS. Today around 7AM at Dunes Overlook, Douglas Co we observed a flock of ~115 WESTERN SANDPIPERS on the beach. Standing out of the crowd was an adult SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER, a nice treat as I usually only see juveniles during the fall. The flock flew south and out of sight. About twenty minutes later we heard the raucous call of a CASPIAN TERN. As we looked up we noticed it was being harassed by an adult dark phased PARASITIC JAEGER. A very nice July surprise. Both were headed north the last we saw. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090702/6b104dfd/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Thu Jul 2 12:38:48 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 12:38:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln Lazuli Message-ID: <574B1E86A9244B78BCDD1A8DA399DD77@your5rlp3a9516> Obolites, Just saw a male Lazuli Bunting at my feeder. First time in about ten years at this location, probably the first ever in July. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090702/a0e78a59/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Jul 2 16:08:00 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:08:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] 1 July Dunlin Coos Cty Message-ID: <4A4D3DD0.5040809@verizon.net> 1 July, Bandon State Natural Area, Bandon Coos Cty We saw a basic plumage (!) DUNLIN yesterday at Bandon Beach. Interesting find. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From rflores_2 at msn.com Thu Jul 2 18:00:02 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 18:00:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] shorebirds are back at Ridgefield, WA Message-ID: Just wanted to post for the last several days I have seen shorebirds around Ridgefield NWR. Today I had a chance to ID some I found 2 dunlin, 48 least sandpiper, 3 lesser and 6 greater yellowlegs. If you have a favorite shorebird spot around Vancouver-Portland area get out and look. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090702/f192f2b5/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Jul 2 19:33:28 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 19:33:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds and a late Curry Report Message-ID: <356469.15407.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> On the N. Spit of Coos Bay there was the following this evening: WILSON'S PHALAROPES: 2 adults- 2 juvies 1 adult- 2 juvies at least 2 adults still on nests 1- female N. PINTAIL (still around, no breeding records but a few oversummering records) 5- WESTERN SANDPIPERS 2- LEAST SANDPIPERS 1- GREATER YELLOWLEGS Also, heard from Jim Rogers that an INDIGO BUNTING was at Carol Hinman's feeder near Gold Beach on 4 June for only a day.? I guess she got photos; there are several spring records in Curry, much more "common" than in Coos Co. That's it, Have a good one all, Tim R Coos Bay From LammergeierEyes at aol.com Thu Jul 2 21:58:51 2009 From: LammergeierEyes at aol.com (LammergeierEyes at aol.com) Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 00:58:51 EDT Subject: [obol] Fwd: [CALBIRDS] do Yellow-billed Magpies range into Oregon Message-ID: For our sage old listers.... **************Make your summer sizzle with fast and easy recipes for the grill. (http://food.aol.com/grilling?ncid=emlcntusfood00000005) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090703/b598dd0b/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: SiriusGuy at aol.com Subject: [CALBIRDS] do Yellow-billed Magpies range into Oregon Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 00:50:22 EDT Size: 19154 Url: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090703/b598dd0b/attachment.mht From jonysky101 at aol.com Thu Jul 2 22:09:15 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:09:15 -0400 Subject: [obol] Caspian Terns Message-ID: <8CBC9B38B9A7804-15E0-1E5D@WEBMAIL-DZ38.sysops.aol.com> I went to Cannon Beach and Astoria on Tuesday. It was so windy I only got a couple of decent shots at Haystack Rock. But at Fort Stevens, I was able to get a few nice shots of some Caspian Terns. We also saw som Elk and Deer in the area. Here is a link to the Caspian Tern Photos. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/sets/72157620746214645/ Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090703/7d84e8e7/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Jul 2 22:09:31 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 22:09:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: [CALBIRDS] do Yellow-billed Magpies range into Oregon In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Along 395 I am confident they were Black-billed (aka American). I recall a record of Yellow-bill near Yreka in the early 70s, but I don't think they've made it north of the line along I-5. I do recall someone posting Black-billed Magpies in the Rogue Basin this very year, so no end of caution would apply to our deep south. Lars Norgren On Jul 2, 2009, at 9:58 PM, LammergeierEyes at aol.com wrote: > > For our sage old listers.... > > > Make your summer sizzle with fast and easy recipes for the grill. > From: SiriusGuy at aol.com > Date: July 2, 2009 9:50:22 PM PDT > To: CALBIRDS at yahoogroups.com > Subject: [CALBIRDS] do Yellow-billed Magpies range into Oregon > > > > > About two weeks ago, Magpies were evident as I drove along Highway 395 > just > south of the Oregon border. In fact, I saw one or two NORTH of the > state > line. I assumed that I was seeing YELLOW-billed Magpies, but after > reading > the 2009 Great Backyard Bird Count results, still ONLY California > reported > YBMA, while our state also reported BLACK-billed Magpies, including > some > from Alturas. > > Might someone with access to the official Oregon list advise if YBMA > has > been officially recorded in that state? Thanks. > > Alan Birnbaum > Fresno CA > **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just > 2 easy > steps! > > (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222585087x1201462804/aol? > redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx? > sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd= > JulystepsfooterNO62) > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > __._,_.___ > Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new > topic > Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Database | Calendar > Unsubscribe: mailto:CALBIRDS-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com > Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CALBIRDS > Listowners: mailto:CALBIRDS-owner at yahoogroups.com > > For vacation suspension of mail go to the website. Click on Edit My > Membership and set your mail option to No Email. Or, send a blank > email to these addresses: > Turn off email delivery: mailto:CALBIRDS-nomail at yahoogroups.com > Resume email delivery: mailto:CALBIRDS-normal at yahoogroups.com > > > Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) > Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch > format to Traditional > Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe > Recent Activity > 3 > New Members > Visit Your Group > Give Back > > Yahoo! for Good > > Get inspired > > by a good cause. > Y! Toolbar > > Get it Free! > > easy 1-click access > > to your groups. > Yahoo! Groups > > Start a group > > in 3 easy steps. > > Connect with others. > . > > __,_._,___ > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 7078 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090702/12d55926/attachment.bin From Oropendolas at aol.com Thu Jul 2 22:13:48 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 01:13:48 EDT Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Message-ID: Hello All, I biked to Fern Ridge on my way home from work this afternoon. I walked from the Royal observation platform to the Hwy 126 platform. Highlites were: American White Pelican - 60 on the roost south of Royal Great Egret - 2 Greater White-fronted Goose - 2 with the pelicans Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Greater Yellowlegs - 12 Lesser Yellowlegs - 4 Western Sandpiper - 3 Least Sandpiper - 30 Wilson's Phalarope - 2 Bonaparte's Gull - 2 Caspian Tern - 10 with pelicans Yellow-breasted Chat - 1 singing near Royal parking lot.. John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon **************Make your summer sizzle with fast and easy recipes for the grill. (http://food.aol.com/grilling?ncid=emlcntusfood00000005) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090703/6c109c87/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Fri Jul 3 07:21:43 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 07:21:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] lesser goldfinch returns, Ridgefield, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: Last night and this morning I have 4 lesser goldfinch at the feeders. This is the first I have seen since last fall. If your in the Clark Co area check your feeders. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090703/3f243e06/attachment.html From kirkpat at charter.net Fri Jul 3 07:41:08 2009 From: kirkpat at charter.net (Douglas Kirkpatrick) Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 07:41:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: [CALBIRDS] do Yellow-billed Magpies range intoOregon In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <739DC940EA5B4CD585B963C9C21183EC@D7CDFN81> Yes I regularly see BB Magpies on Hwy 66 east of Ashland but never the YB's, although I look and hope. I think there's a good chance someone will eventually spot one in Oregon on the south side of the I-5 summit perhaps on Colestin Road. I drove that road once looking for them but no results. One of our members lives up there, perhaps he's seen something....? I should caution everyone, however, that when the sun is at the right/wrong angle it can reflect off the BBM's bill and LOOK yellow (but ain't)... Doug K The Deep South (AKA Medford) Along 395 I am confident they were Black-billed (aka American). I recall a record of Yellow-bill near Yreka in the early 70s, but I don't think they've made it north of the line along I-5. I do recall someone posting Black-billed Magpies in the Rogue Basin this very year, so no end of caution would apply to our deep south. Lars Norgren On Jul 2, 2009, at 9:58 PM, LammergeierEyes at aol.com wrote: For our sage old listers.... Make your summer sizzle with fast and easy recipes for the grill. From: SiriusGuy at aol.com Date: July 2, 2009 9:50:22 PM PDT To: CALBIRDS at yahoogroups.com Subject: [CALBIRDS] do Yellow-billed Magpies range into Oregon About two weeks ago, Magpies were evident as I drove along Highway 395 just south of the Oregon border. In fact, I saw one or two NORTH of the state line. I assumed that I was seeing YELLOW-billed Magpies, but after reading the 2009 Great Backyard Bird Count results, still ONLY California reported YBMA, while our state also reported BLACK-billed Magpies, including some from Alturas. Might someone with access to the official Oregon list advise if YBMA has been officially recorded in that state? Thanks. Alan Birnbaum Fresno CA .org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090703/79d36fab/attachment.html From uplandsandpiper at hotmail.com Fri Jul 3 08:21:08 2009 From: uplandsandpiper at hotmail.com (Tyler Hicks) Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 10:21:08 -0500 Subject: [obol] [Tweeters] lesser goldfinch returns, Ridgefield, Clark Co, WA In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hello,We also have had 2 to 3 Lesser Goldfinch hanging around the garden in Ridgefield the past several days. In addition, we have had 2 male Yellow-headed Blackbirds coming to the feeders most evenings the past few days. Cheers,Tyler HicksRidgefield, WA <><><><><><><><><><><><><><>Tyler L. Hicks Ph.D. Candidate Washington State University VancouverE-mail: tyler_hicks at wsu.eduWeb Page: http://thingswithwings.org<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>"We were certainly uncertain. At least, I'm pretty sure I am." - Modest Mouse From: rflores_2 at msn.com To: tweeters at u.washington.edu; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 07:21:43 -0700 CC: Subject: [Tweeters] lesser goldfinch returns, Ridgefield, Clark Co, WA Last night and this morning I have 4 lesser goldfinch at the feeders. This is the first I have seen since last fall. If your in the Clark Co area check your feeders. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090703/934e3f27/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Fri Jul 3 10:45:52 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 09:45:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fwd: [CALBIRDS] do Yellow-billed Magpies range intoOregon In-Reply-To: <739DC940EA5B4CD585B963C9C21183EC@D7CDFN81> References: <739DC940EA5B4CD585B963C9C21183EC@D7CDFN81> Message-ID: I also had a "Yellow-billed" Magpie experience in the Klamath Basin. Years ago I was leading a bus load of Portland Audubon people on a trip when one of the group said, "I have a Yellow-billed Magpie." I patiently explained that they did not occur in Oregon when someone else piped up that this one did have a Yellow-bill. I set the scope up and saw that it did indeed have a Yellow bill, or more precisely, yellow in front of the bill. It had picked up a Cheeto and was parading around with it in its mouth, which when it was perpendicular to us looked like a yellow bill. As Doug says, be cautious.. Tom Crabtree, Bend _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Douglas Kirkpatrick Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 6:41 AM To: 'Norgren Family'; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Fwd: [CALBIRDS] do Yellow-billed Magpies range intoOregon Yes I regularly see BB Magpies on Hwy 66 east of Ashland but never the YB's, although I look and hope. I think there's a good chance someone will eventually spot one in Oregon on the south side of the I-5 summit perhaps on Colestin Road. I drove that road once looking for them but no results. One of our members lives up there, perhaps he's seen something....? I should caution everyone, however, that when the sun is at the right/wrong angle it can reflect off the BBM's bill and LOOK yellow (but ain't)... Doug K The Deep South (AKA Medford) Along 395 I am confident they were Black-billed (aka American). I recall a record of Yellow-bill near Yreka in the early 70s, but I don't think they've made it north of the line along I-5. I do recall someone posting Black-billed Magpies in the Rogue Basin this very year, so no end of caution would apply to our deep south. Lars Norgren On Jul 2, 2009, at 9:58 PM, LammergeierEyes at aol.com wrote: For our sage old listers.... Make your summer sizzle with fast and easy recipes for the grill. From: SiriusGuy at aol.com Date: July 2, 2009 9:50:22 PM PDT To: CALBIRDS at yahoogroups.com Subject: [CALBIRDS] do Yellow-billed Magpies range into Oregon About two weeks ago, Magpies were evident as I drove along Highway 395 just south of the Oregon border. In fact, I saw one or two NORTH of the state line. I assumed that I was seeing YELLOW-billed Magpies, but after reading the 2009 Great Backyard Bird Count results, still ONLY California reported YBMA, while our state also reported BLACK-billed Magpies, including some from Alturas. Might someone with access to the official Oregon list advise if YBMA has been officially recorded in that state? Thanks. Alan Birnbaum Fresno CA .org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090703/4f747284/attachment.html From erikknight05 at comcast.net Fri Jul 3 10:05:15 2009 From: erikknight05 at comcast.net (Erik Knight) Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 17:05:15 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Motorless birding update In-Reply-To: <1069359899.66691246640624796.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <219597297.67101246640715475.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Since I don't own a car, I get around using Trimet, and thankfully there are a lot of good birding areas along or near most transit lines here. Erik Knight Portland, OR ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joel Geier" To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" , "Central Oregon Birders" , "MidValley Birds" Sent: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 7:54:57 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [obol] Motorless birding update Hi folks, There have been a few postings mentioning motorless birding but if you want to follow this more closely, check out: http://www.oregonbirds.org/Listing/motorless.html We're now up to 15 participants, from the Portland Metro area, mid-Willamette Valley, and upper Willamette Valley, plus Bend. Randy Campbell continues to amaze all of us, with 173 species found either on bicycle or on foot. Even if you take away that Pyrrhuloxia in his back yard as just too ridiculously fortuitous to count, that's still mighty impressive. But the kid from Creswell seems to be making a move in the outside lane ... just casually biking 65 miles down to Fern Ridge & back, come on now! Vjera & Eddie Thompson so far have dibs on the "toughest motorless luck" story of the year. After biking 23 miles to Elijah Bristow and successfully finding the Red-eyed Vireo that they were looking for, they started home only to find that they had ... an irreparably flat tire, and no spare inner tube. So they ended up going home by motorized means -- what a heartbreaker! We're still waiting for the first Oregon birder to take up the "transit-assisted" challenge. Wish I could say that we had bus service here, but we don't. But I do know that a bus runs from Portland out to Sauvie Island. And, out in Lincoln County last weekend, I noticed that there's a bus running up and down the coast from Lincoln City to Waldport. So there are some good opportunities out there, just waiting for someone to give it a try. Happy low-impact birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090703/23efd88e/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri Jul 3 10:08:47 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 10:08:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Golden-plover 7/3/2009 Message-ID: <540609.1414.qm@web45315.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I was out on the north spit of Coos Bay this morning and found what I believe was an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER.? Given that this is much less common on the coast than Pacific Golden-plover, I'm always extra cautious about ID.? The bird was beautiful, in almost full breeding-plumage.? It was jet black below with the only white visible on the extreme tip of the undertail, the last few centimeters or so.? There was no white at all on the flanks.? The gold-spangling above was hardly apparent at all which is why I first thought BB Plover. The bird gave a queedle type call when I jumped it also, nothing like the chu-we call I'm use to from Pacifics.? The only thing that bothered me was that the tip of the primaries didn't extend much past the tip of the tail but I never got good looks at this or was able to count exposed primary tips.? All-in-all, I feel pretty good about calling it an American. The earliest previous southbound record in Coos for this species is 5 July. The only other migrant shorebirds were a couple LEAST SANDPIPERS. 50's, with fog/drizzle and wind out on the spit this AM.? I had a coat and wool hat on, ah summertime on the coast! Happy birding all, Tim R Coos Bay From dpvroman at budget.net Fri Jul 3 11:11:19 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 11:11:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: [CALBIRDS] do Yellow-billed Magpies range intoOregon References: <739DC940EA5B4CD585B963C9C21183EC@D7CDFN81> Message-ID: <71A92D1BA18740D6940F6E540DCA4837@Warbler> Bob Claypole, who wrote "Klamath River Bird Finder" reported a Yellow-billed Magpie at the ranch by Walker Bridge (west of I-5, near Quigley's Store) in Jan 99. It was never seen by any other observers, and therefore, not comfirmed by any others. Bob is a careful observer and it's pretty likely he did see one. This location is perhaps 10 miles or so south of the Oregon boundary, but it's not in Oregon. Yes I regularly see BB Magpies on Hwy 66 east of Ashland but never the YB's, although I look and hope. I think there's a good chance someone will eventually spot one in Oregon on the south side of the I-5 summit perhaps on Colestin Road. I drove that road once looking for them but no results. One of our members lives up there, perhaps he's seen something....? I should caution everyone, however, that when the sun is at the right/wrong angle it can reflect off the BBM's bill and LOOK yellow (but ain't)... Doug K The Deep South (AKA Medford) Along 395 I am confident they were Black-billed (aka American). I recall a record of Yellow-bill near Yreka in the early 70s, but I don't think they've made it north of the line along I-5. I do recall someone posting Black-billed Magpies in the Rogue Basin this very year, so no end of caution would apply to our deep south. Lars Norgren On Jul 2, 2009, at 9:58 PM, LammergeierEyes at aol.com wrote: For our sage old listers.... Make your summer sizzle with fast and easy recipes for the grill. From: SiriusGuy at aol.com Date: July 2, 2009 9:50:22 PM PDT To: CALBIRDS at yahoogroups.com Subject: [CALBIRDS] do Yellow-billed Magpies range into Oregon About two weeks ago, Magpies were evident as I drove along Highway 395 just south of the Oregon border. In fact, I saw one or two NORTH of the state line. I assumed that I was seeing YELLOW-billed Magpies, but after reading the 2009 Great Backyard Bird Count results, still ONLY California reported YBMA, while our state also reported BLACK-billed Magpies, including some from Alturas. Might someone with access to the official Oregon list advise if YBMA has been officially recorded in that state? Thanks. Alan Birnbaum Fresno CA .org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090703/d41a1785/attachment.html From steve_dougill at hotmail.com Fri Jul 3 14:23:41 2009 From: steve_dougill at hotmail.com (Steve Dougill) Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 14:23:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red Crossbill Research - Request for help Message-ID: I received this note below from Julie Smith who is carrying out research on Red Crossbills. Can anyone help her with some local information? >> >> I teach at Pacific Lutheran University and I work on Red Crossbills >> (specifically song divergence). This summer I am trying to record the >> songs of as many of the call types as possible. I would greatly >> appreciate any information that anyone has about red crossbills. They >> will likely be settling down to breed soon and so if anyone hears >> crossbills singing or observes behaviors that suggest that they are >> likely to remain in a given area to breed I would greatly appreciate an >> email to indicate where they were observed. >> >> Also helpful is information about developing cone crops. They specialize >> on seeds in conifer cones and so if there is a large cone crop in a >> given area this can be a good indicator that crossbills may breed in >> that area in July - August. It would be very helpful to know about cone >> crops for the following conifers - Ponderosa pine, Engleman spruce, >> Douglas fir, Western hemlock, Sitka spruce. >> >> Thanks for your help. >> >> >> Best, >> >> Julie Smith smithjw at plu.edu Steve Dougill, Redmond, Deschutes Co., OR EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD Join me -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090703/6f0935ce/attachment.html From Jfitchen at aol.com Fri Jul 3 15:09:55 2009 From: Jfitchen at aol.com (Jfitchen at aol.com) Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 18:09:55 EDT Subject: [obol] Calliope Xing Least Flycatcher Message-ID: Hello Obol, Has anyone seen or heard the Calliope Crossing LEAST FLYCATCHER reported by Steve Shunk and Steve and Bonnie Alltshuld on June 28th? Cheers, John Fitchen Portland **************It's raining cats and dogs -- Come to PawNation, a place where pets rule! (http://www.pawnation.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000008) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090703/ad580d1d/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Jul 3 15:31:56 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 15:31:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Yellow-billed Magpie range Message-ID: I went to Sacramento to watch the US Olympic trials in 2000. Yellow-billed Magpies were a common part of the avifauna in residential areas. It's times like these it pays to look long and hard at species we don't have at home. Hopefully one is better prepared when something exciting shows up on our side of the line. As I recall the Y-B has some yellow skin around the eyes. Lars Norgren Begin forwarded message: > Greetings, > > As a magpie fan, I recall being taught in college (Utah State) that a > single mutation would make Black-billed Magpies have yellow bills, and > such had been seen in Utah, but actual Yellow-billed Magpies had never > been recorded outside California. Since then, I've heard of a few > reports from states neighboring CA, but I think none have done the hard > work of eliminating aberrant Black-billed Magpies for those reports. > (There are other differences among the two spp., harder to note well in > the field.) In other words, I'd be extremely cautious of any reports > of > Yellow-billed outside its usual range in CA, even if they clearly had > yellow bills. > > Feel free to forward this as appropriate, especially if a thread > develops on the OR list. > > Cheers, > > Alan Grenon > Seattle > -- > pan > panmail at fastmail.fm > > -- > http://www.fastmail.fm - Choose from over 50 domains or use your own > From kirkpat at charter.net Fri Jul 3 15:49:10 2009 From: kirkpat at charter.net (Douglas Kirkpatrick) Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 15:49:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Yellow-billed Magpie range In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Right. The yellow skin on the face adjacent to the bill is key in the I.D. Doug K -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Norgren Family Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 3:32 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Fwd: Yellow-billed Magpie range I went to Sacramento to watch the US Olympic trials in 2000. Yellow-billed Magpies were a common part of the avifauna in residential areas. It's times like these it pays to look long and hard at species we don't have at home. Hopefully one is better prepared when something exciting shows up on our side of the line. As I recall the Y-B has some yellow skin around the eyes. Lars Norgren Begin forwarded message: > Greetings, > > As a magpie fan, I recall being taught in college (Utah State) that a > single mutation would make Black-billed Magpies have yellow bills, and > such had been seen in Utah, but actual Yellow-billed Magpies had never > been recorded outside California. Since then, I've heard of a few > reports from states neighboring CA, but I think none have done the > hard work of eliminating aberrant Black-billed Magpies for those reports. > (There are other differences among the two spp., harder to note well > in the field.) In other words, I'd be extremely cautious of any > reports of Yellow-billed outside its usual range in CA, even if they > clearly had yellow bills. > > Feel free to forward this as appropriate, especially if a thread > develops on the OR list. > > Cheers, > > Alan Grenon > Seattle > -- > pan > panmail at fastmail.fm > > -- > http://www.fastmail.fm - Choose from over 50 domains or use your own > _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jmeredit at bendnet.com Fri Jul 3 16:45:52 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 16:45:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] LEAST FLYCATCHER still there at Calliope, Deschutes Message-ID: <0076AC4E9EF14DECB101B574FDA56272@MOM> Just had a phone call from Ellen and Andy Stepniewski reporting success with the Least Flycatcher this a.m. The bird was calling a lot and they were able to obtain photos. The bird is still in the Ponderosa area by the orange and black flagging put there by Steve Shunk. Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com From pamelaj at spiritone.com Fri Jul 3 19:13:38 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 19:13:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: [CALBIRDS] do Yellow-billed Magpies range intoOregon References: <739DC940EA5B4CD585B963C9C21183EC@D7CDFN81> Message-ID: <508084AF169D47FCA245B1F8949FF685@yourw5st28y9a3> Sort of like the White-billed Crow, Corvus hamburgerbunsis. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: Tom Crabtree To: 'Douglas Kirkpatrick' ; 'Norgren Family' ; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 10:45 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Fwd: [CALBIRDS] do Yellow-billed Magpies range intoOregon I also had a "Yellow-billed" Magpie experience in the Klamath Basin. Years ago I was leading a bus load of Portland Audubon people on a trip when one of the group said, "I have a Yellow-billed Magpie." I patiently explained that they did not occur in Oregon when someone else piped up that this one did have a Yellow-bill. I set the scope up and saw that it did indeed have a Yellow bill, or more precisely, yellow in front of the bill. It had picked up a Cheeto and was parading around with it in its mouth, which when it was perpendicular to us looked like a yellow bill. As Doug says, be cautious.. Tom Crabtree, Bend ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Douglas Kirkpatrick Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 6:41 AM To: 'Norgren Family'; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Fwd: [CALBIRDS] do Yellow-billed Magpies range intoOregon Yes I regularly see BB Magpies on Hwy 66 east of Ashland but never the YB's, although I look and hope. I think there's a good chance someone will eventually spot one in Oregon on the south side of the I-5 summit perhaps on Colestin Road. I drove that road once looking for them but no results. One of our members lives up there, perhaps he's seen something....? I should caution everyone, however, that when the sun is at the right/wrong angle it can reflect off the BBM's bill and LOOK yellow (but ain't)... Doug K The Deep South (AKA Medford) Along 395 I am confident they were Black-billed (aka American). I recall a record of Yellow-bill near Yreka in the early 70s, but I don't think they've made it north of the line along I-5. I do recall someone posting Black-billed Magpies in the Rogue Basin this very year, so no end of caution would apply to our deep south. Lars Norgren On Jul 2, 2009, at 9:58 PM, LammergeierEyes at aol.com wrote: For our sage old listers.... Make your summer sizzle with fast and easy recipes for the grill. From: SiriusGuy at aol.com Date: July 2, 2009 9:50:22 PM PDT To: CALBIRDS at yahoogroups.com Subject: [CALBIRDS] do Yellow-billed Magpies range into Oregon About two weeks ago, Magpies were evident as I drove along Highway 395 just south of the Oregon border. In fact, I saw one or two NORTH of the state line. I assumed that I was seeing YELLOW-billed Magpies, but after reading the 2009 Great Backyard Bird Count results, still ONLY California reported YBMA, while our state also reported BLACK-billed Magpies, including some from Alturas. Might someone with access to the official Oregon list advise if YBMA has been officially recorded in that state? Thanks. Alan Birnbaum Fresno CA .org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From 5hats at peak.org Fri Jul 3 20:44:19 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 20:44:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] photo question Message-ID: <6AB9DA2512C94A9580807F1C325BCD1B@your5rlp3a9516> Obolites, I have some photos of a road killed bird which might be of significance. I'm still on dial up. I know people don't want photos sent directly to obol as attachments, because they take too long to download. So can someone tell be the best (and for goodness sake, the easiest) way to post the photos to obol? I would like to get a critique of them from the readership. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090703/5888ebda/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Jul 4 14:59:17 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 21:59:17 +0000 Subject: [obol] Interesting Frigatebird ID piece posted to BirdFellow.com journal Message-ID: Greetings All, We just posted a new piece about an odd undersized Magnificent Frigatebird (photographed in Baja last March) to the BirdFellow.com online journal. Steve Mlodinow researched and wrote this ID/photo essay article for us. It can be viewed at www.birdfellow.com Dave Irons _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_BR_life_in_synch_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090704/3198403f/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Sat Jul 4 15:36:20 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 15:36:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] photo question References: <6AB9DA2512C94A9580807F1C325BCD1B@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: <52AF163FB33D45AD95C654D0791D5363@1120639> Darrel, The easiest way is to get a 3rd party website such as Picasa or Flicker or Fotiki that gives you a free chunk of their server to store your files. I use Picasa and have found it easy to use and convenient as well. Then just post a link to your pictures. For example, here are the photos I took last summer of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird south of Klamath Falls. http://picasaweb.google.com/TCBend/KenoHummer Tom Crabtree, Bend ----- Original Message ----- From: Darrel Faxon To: Obol Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 8:44 PM Subject: [obol] photo question Obolites, I have some photos of a road killed bird which might be of significance. I'm still on dial up. I know people don't want photos sent directly to obol as attachments, because they take too long to download. So can someone tell be the best (and for goodness sake, the easiest) way to post the photos to obol? I would like to get a critique of them from the readership. Darrel ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090704/1fc11bf8/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Jul 4 15:51:20 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:51:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: [CALBIRDS] do Yellow-billed Magpies range into Oregon Message-ID: <1246747880.3849.14.camel@joel-laptop> Hello folks, Steve Shunk and I once spotted a similar magpie in Wheeler County, flying along Hwy 26 near Keyes Creek Summit (between Mitchell and Antone) with what appeared to be part of an orange peel in its bill. I have it recorded on my life list as Orange-Peel Magpie, but I'd be delighted to add a Cheeto's Magpie to the list. Just to bring the topic around to actual birding going on outside right now (yes there are still birds out there despite the heat): On a walk up Coffin Butte (Benton County) this morning I noted fledglings of LAZULI BUNTING, WHITE- and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, and AMERICAN CROW. BULLOCK'S ORIOLES appear to be nesting up there in oak woodland habitat (at least, a pair is present a couple of weeks after I found a male "singing" there a couple of weeks back), sort of unusual for these parts. Fledgling BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS showed up in our yard yesterday. Happy birding, Joel Tom Crabtree wrote: I also had a "Yellow-billed" Magpie experience in the Klamath Basin.... it did indeed have a Yellow bill, or more precisely, yellow in front of the bill. It had picked up a Cheeto and was parading around with it in its mouth, which when it was perpendicular to us looked like a yellow bill. As Doug says, be cautious. -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From tom-escue at comcast.net Sat Jul 4 17:32:46 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 17:32:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Immatures Message-ID: <7B8D01212DB548FA805B24980CE16A5D@TomsPC> I had an immature BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE at my thistle feeder today (the first chickadee in some time) and at least one SCRUB-JAY immature that has been around for several days. Hopefully these new birds are weary of my dogs and the neighborhood cats. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090704/7f787d3c/attachment.html From cncschneider at msn.com Sat Jul 4 18:24:08 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 18:24:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Common Nighthawk, Oregon Garden, Marion County 7/3 Message-ID: Hi Birders, I sighted a COMMON NIGHTHAWK, at the Oregon Garden, a couple of times before the Oregon Garden's annual fireworks display began. This is the 111th species of bird seen at the garden and the first add in about a year. If any one is interested in the Oregon Garden's checklist I will be willing to e-mail it to them. Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090704/52020218/attachment.html From uplandsandpiper at hotmail.com Sat Jul 4 20:56:31 2009 From: uplandsandpiper at hotmail.com (Tyler Hicks) Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 22:56:31 -0500 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield "S" Unit - July 4th Message-ID: Obolers & Tweeters,Sidra Blake and I spent the morning at Ridgefield NWR on the "S" Unit. The weather was thankfully cool this morning and mosquitoes were abundant. However, it was still a beautiful day to be out. Shorebirds do seem to be increasing with many more observed this week than just a week ago. Highlights were as follows:American Bittern - 2 (one eating a bullfrog, I love seeing a non-native being eaten by a native!)Great Blue Heron - 3 doing a bizarre slow "dance" display around each other with heads cocked back and plumes raised)All three teal species Northern HarrierWestern SandpiperLeast SandpiperLesser YellowlegsGreater YellowlegsRing-billed Gull Pileated WoodpeckerWillow Flycatcher - 7+Brown Creeper - landed on ground less than 2ft from our feet to capture large mothHave a good 4th! Cheers,Tyler <><><><><><><><><><><><><><>Tyler L. Hicks Ph.D. Candidate Washington State University VancouverE-mail: tyler_hicks at wsu.eduWeb Page: http://thingswithwings.org<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>"We were certainly uncertain. At least, I'm pretty sure I am." - Modest Mouse _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090704/9d6aef09/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Sat Jul 4 21:26:02 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 21:26:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] re. photo question Message-ID: <6AFCB99CF04E4AAB92B3876388877A6B@your5rlp3a9516> Thanks to all of you who responded to my question about sending photos to OBOL. Mike Patterson graciously offered to accept a post of them, so I sent three of them to him. There are others which I might send later, but the three already posted should provide enough detail for discussion. Once Mike posts them to OBOL, I hope anyone interested will provide feedback as to what they think the bird is. I plan to disclose details about it later. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090704/80fabf63/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Sat Jul 4 21:38:00 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 04:38:00 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Bewick's Wren Nest Message-ID: <81699771.327801246768680884.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi All, Today, while working in my garden, I discovered that Bewick's Wrens nested in a decorative bird house I put up years ago. I was able to see three wide mouths. They can't be very old, their eyes are not open. Also of note, House Finches and Gold Finches are taking every bit of dog hair I put out for them. It's fun to watch them try to get just the right amount of hair to carry off. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090705/6dc489ae/attachment.html From madsteins at hotmail.com Sat Jul 4 21:42:16 2009 From: madsteins at hotmail.com (Don Stein) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 00:42:16 -0400 Subject: [obol] Heermann's Gull, Depoe Bay Message-ID: Yesterday there was a large post-breeding dispersal of Heermann's Gulls northward, just off the basalt cliff at Little Whale Cove . Around 9:30 AM, I noticed counts of 6-20/ min. flying northward, almost all adult cycle. I didn't have time to do a sustained count, but for the next 3 hours I would occasionally glance over the ocean for 1-2 min. and notice the same rate. At 5 PM the frequency was much less, 15/5 min. interval. Frequency markedly reduced today. Don Stein Depoe Bay _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_SD_25GB_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090705/8bc2d363/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sat Jul 4 22:30:42 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:30:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Darrel Faxon's mystery photos Message-ID: <4A503A82.3070108@pacifier.com> I has placed Darrel Faxon's mystery photos in a file at: http://home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/temp/faxon_photos.html I have no other contextual information and will let Darrel explain what's going on... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Weaponized Ginseng http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11435/ From whoffman at peak.org Sat Jul 4 22:59:18 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 22:59:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brown Pelicans and Heermann's Gulls Message-ID: <29326E54D17E4ABAA430F0CEF6B1DAF3@D48XBZ51> This afternoon about 3:30-4 PM I watched a couple dozen Brown Pelicans feeding in Yaquina Bay, west of the Bridge. A somewhat larger number of Heermann's Gulls accompanied them, and tried to rob them each time they came up with fish. This is well-known behavior that I have seen many times but today I saw a wrinkle i had not noticed before: Several times pelicans partially drained their bills, then took off and flew a short way, evidently to avoid the gulls, before swallowing. When they did this, their bills were oriented straight down, with a bulge of water in the bottom 3-4 inches of the pouch. These flights were generally 100 feet or less, and stayed within 3' or so of the water. And, they were surprisingly successful at reducing harassment. The gulls were slower than I would have expected, to follow. The fish they were taking were quite small but abundant, such that one plunge might catch hundreds, and even when not harassed, quite a few of the fish were escaping as the pelican drained its bill and tossed them toward its throat. The fish also appeared very slender - too slender for herring, so possible juveniled anchovies, smelt, or sandlance. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090704/857dc2a0/attachment.html From roygerig at hotmail.com Sun Jul 5 08:27:24 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 08:27:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] More Ankeny Pelicans Message-ID: Yesterday July 4th I counted 70 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS at Ankeny NWR south of Salem. My previous high count there was 44, just a few days ago. Earlier in the morning I heard a single "peent" of a COMMON NIGHTHAWK along the Willamette River at Salem's Minto-Brown Island Park, where I've heard a single nighthawk several times in the past few years. Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090705/3e13f9db/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sun Jul 5 11:29:39 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 11:29:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Douglas and S. Lane Co. shorebirds Message-ID: <806558.32636.qm@web37005.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, southbound shorebird movement continues to pick up. This morning, on the beach south of the Dunes Overlook trail in Douglas Co. there was a flock of 55 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 6 LEAST SANDPIPERS and one adult SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. The lagoon at Siltcoos hosted ca. 60 WESTERN, 40 LEAST and another adult SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER as well as a single adult SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER. Several smaller flocks of peeps (mostly WESTERN) were noted flying south along the beach. Happy fall migration to all Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090705/36eba8ec/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Sun Jul 5 11:35:14 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 11:35:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln Co. Rock Wren Up N. Beaver Creek Road Message-ID: Hi, Chuck Philo heard a singing Rock Wren this morning (July 5) at 10:30 AM. It was in a clearcut at the "head" of North Beaver Creek Road near the junction with the GP 1000 Line road. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Sun Jul 5 12:24:02 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 12:24:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Pelicans vs Commercial Fish Message-ID: <976825.13843.qm@web51812.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Another example of fish centric approach to "wildlife management," a euphemistic term to say the least: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PELICANS_VS_TROUT It is unfortunate that wildlife management decisions are so often based on a species' price tag or lack thereof. Will the world ever get away from valuing money above everything else? Commercial species get most of the public funding on top of all the special interest money. Other species simply have to ride their coattails....and when in conflict with a commercial species, they start out with a severe handicap when it comes to protection from governmental agencies....even with such a charismatic endangered species. Luckily, US Fish and Wildlife has thus far rejected the plan. I have sent an email to Brad Bortner to see if there will be an official public comment period before any final decisions are made. Cindy Ashy From phainopepla at yahoo.com Sun Jul 5 13:04:27 2009 From: phainopepla at yahoo.com (Michael Dossett) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 13:04:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Darrel Faxon's photos Message-ID: <98160.40688.qm@web112512.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> This looks to me like a Wild Turkey poult. I'm curious to hear what the "possible significance" of it is and what others think... Michael Michael Dossett Corvallis, Oregon www.Mdossettphoto.com phainopepla at yahoo.com From jbw at oregoncoast.com Sun Jul 5 16:06:20 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara & John Woodhouse) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 15:06:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Owl Show at Fink farm Message-ID: Posted for Linda Fink The four baby barn owls are fledging one by one. I have not been seeing them fly at night, but that turns out to be because I wasn't staying out late enough. Last night I sat down and watched the back of the barn. The action didn't start until ten p.m., I suppose because we've had such clear weather that it hasn't been getting dark until then. Today the clouds are moving in -- hooray! So... I would hope the show will start by 9:30. If anyone would like to come at, say, 7:30 or 8 to bird the farm and then sit in chairs that we'll have set up in strategic owl-watching positions -- or anytime before 9:30 to get set up and ready, please call my cell 503-474-8122. I'm sorry for such short notice but the owls have been less than cooperative. There is one that has not yet fledged, I suspect the orphan (a rehabber brought an orphan when it was about 2 weeks old to join our 3 owlets), but it is fully feathered with just a little down sticking out here and there. Yesterday morning it was in the nest box alone. Two of the fledglings rejoined it overnight, which is the usual pattern when they first fledge. So if you want to brave climbing the ladder to the nest box, come by 7:30 to see the owlets up close and personal. They have given up hissing and just do bill clicking. No flash photos please: I don't want them flying out when it's still light and being harassed by crows. If you can't come tonight and would like to try another night, email or call linda at fink.com, 503-879-5354 or 503-474-8122, to find out the owl status (and get directions). Linda Fink, Fink Family Farm, SW Yamhill County near Grand Ronde Agency at Fink farm From whoffman at peak.org Sun Jul 5 16:49:02 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 16:49:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Newport Gulls Message-ID: This afternoon (July 5, 09) behind the Hatfield Marine Science Center the Gull roost included 12 Ring-billed Gulls - 3 adults and the rest subadults. No juveniles. Most of the roost was subadult California Gulls (approx. 80). Again no juveniles yet. One Adult California Gull with bright legs, bill, and eyering completely lacked the black spot on the bill. About 15 Caspian Terns Were flying around, all but one with full breeding caps, although a few looked as if they may have just started molting on the sides of the bill base. One was color-banded: White over Blue over Red on the bird's left leg; Green over Blue over USFWS band on the right. I will send to the Bird Banding lab as soon as I am done here. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090705/6fb42c1a/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Jul 5 17:04:09 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 17:04:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Help With Some Morrow County Birds Message-ID: I'm working on an official checklist for Morrow County (Thanks to Mike and Merrylynn Denny for their help). I've gleaned the following species from various sources but they don't seem likely. Has anyone seen or heard of records of the following species in Morrow County? Spruce Grouse Red-shouldered Hawk? Pacific Golden-Plover? Ruddy Turnstone - possible South Polar Skua? Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090705/8fc793ca/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sun Jul 5 17:16:22 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 17:16:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Darrel Faxon's photos In-Reply-To: <98160.40688.qm@web112512.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> References: <98160.40688.qm@web112512.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: I compared it to pix of my neighbors young Ring Neck Pheasants, looks alot like the 2 month old females she has. Her's appear to be in far better condition though! > Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 13:04:27 -0700 > From: phainopepla at yahoo.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Darrel Faxon's photos > > > This looks to me like a Wild Turkey poult. I'm curious to hear what the "possible significance" of it is and what others think... > > Michael > > Michael Dossett > Corvallis, Oregon > www.Mdossettphoto.com > phainopepla at yahoo.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090705/5b1c6936/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Jul 5 17:20:46 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 17:20:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur County Checklist Help Message-ID: I have some questionable reports from Malheur County that I've picked up. Has anyone ever seen or heard of the following species in Malheur County? Red-shouldered Hawk or Wrentit Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090705/11f2cdf4/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Jul 5 17:23:39 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 17:23:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Have you seen these birds in Grant County? Message-ID: <651398CA8FA043A8B35C0D1BDA13157E@cgatesPC> I have some questionable reports from Grant County that I've picked up. Has anyone ever seen or heard of the following species in Grant County? Sage Grouse, White-tailed Kite, Arctic Tern, Hermit Warbler, Lark Bunting, Scott's Oriole and Black Rosy Finch Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090705/2cafcdf5/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Jul 5 17:24:56 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 17:24:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Harney County Turkeys?????? Message-ID: <7E62DBF3CDA64F1691E103DA2DA2A7DA@cgatesPC> Anyone know of any records in Harney County of Wild Turkey? Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090705/4dce15f9/attachment.html From quetsal48 at comcast.net Sun Jul 5 17:25:22 2009 From: quetsal48 at comcast.net (Craig Merkel) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 17:25:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Saturday, July 18th Message-ID: <0C981B99D9C84BB49D762FA187BA039E@lastmaskin> I will be in Portland Saturday July 18th while my wife and daughter attend a conference. I thought that might be a good day to spend birding but I don't know anyplace to go up there. Any suggestions? Craig Merkel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090705/24660516/attachment.html From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Sun Jul 5 20:25:16 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (Jamie S.) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 20:25:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Help With Some Morrow County Birds Message-ID: <921121.73899.qm@web39506.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I lived in Boardman, Morrow Co., July 1988 - August 1991. I can vouch for the Ruddy Turnstone (8-May-90) and Pacific Golden-Plover (28-Sep-90) records.? I believe Craig Corder (and Judy?) also?saw the RUTU and maybe the PGPL.? Both were at a place I called the potato pond at the Port of Morrow (just east of Boardman) where effluent from local potato processing was pumped into a sloping diked area that created good shorebird habitat (and nasty odors). Craig told me years later that it no longer exists. ? No ideas about the other 3 questionable species. ? Jamie Simmons Corvallis ? Help With Some Morrow County Birds From: "Charles Gates" Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 17:04:09 -0700 I'm working on an official checklist for Morrow County (Thanks to Mike and Merrylynn Denny for their help). I've gleaned the following species from various sources but they don't seem likely. Has anyone seen or heard of records of the following species in Morrow County? Spruce Grouse Red-shouldered Hawk? Pacific Golden-Plover? Ruddy Turnstone - possible South Polar Skua? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090705/c9d2031a/attachment.html From jt_johnson at comcast.net Sun Jul 5 20:51:54 2009 From: jt_johnson at comcast.net (Jim Johnson) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 20:51:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Common Moorhen at Borax Lake, Harney County In-Reply-To: <921121.73899.qm@web39506.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <921121.73899.qm@web39506.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: During a dragonfly expedition to the Alvord Basin, Harney Co., a COMMON MOORHEN was sighted at Borax Lake on 4 July. I initially flushed it from the south side of the lake. It was clearly a dark, coot-like bird as it ran on the surface of the lake during take-off and I could see some white somewhere on the back end, but it was a blur. I thought at the time that it was likely a Moorhen, but wasn't positive. The bird dropped down out of sight just beyond the north shore of the lake. After telling Steve Gordon, he walked around the lake and got a good look at the bird (including mostly red bill) confirming that it was a Common Moorhen. The bird went further north into lower wetlands. Steve thought that it didn't look well-maybe it got a good dose of arsenic from the lake. Jim Johnson Vancouver, Washington jt_johnson at comcast.net http://odonata.bogfoot.net/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090705/05f9f6a5/attachment.html From jt_johnson at comcast.net Sun Jul 5 20:55:20 2009 From: jt_johnson at comcast.net (Jim Johnson) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 20:55:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] lesser goldfinch returns, Ridgefield, Clark Co, WA In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <645BC9E4281C4E24A20AD1393DFB8CCB@D81WS2C1> Lesser Goldfinches have been in my Fruit Valley neighborhood (west Vancouver) since April. Jim Johnson Vancouver, Washington jt_johnson at comcast.net http://odonata.bogfoot.net/ _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Bob Flores Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 7:22 AM To: Tweeters; OBOL Subject: [obol] lesser goldfinch returns, Ridgefield, Clark Co, WA Last night and this morning I have 4 lesser goldfinch at the feeders. This is the first I have seen since last fall. If your in the Clark Co area check your feeders. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090705/65de7619/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Jul 5 21:02:11 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 04:02:11 +0000 Subject: [obol] Have you seen these birds in Grant County? In-Reply-To: <651398CA8FA043A8B35C0D1BDA13157E@cgatesPC> References: <651398CA8FA043A8B35C0D1BDA13157E@cgatesPC> Message-ID: Hi Chuck, The Lark Bunting and Scott's Oriole records were reviewed and accepted by the Oregon Bird Records Committee (OBRC). The following citations appears among the "Accepted Records" that have been posted online at: http://www.oregonbirds.org/obrc.html Lark Bunting: Record #605-00-17 Seneca, Grant Co., 1 male on 4 September 2000 (details by COL, MOL). observers initialed are Clarence and Marilyn O'Leary. Scott's Oriole: Record #504-99-03 Mt. Vernon and John Day, Grant Co., 1 subadult 18 April to 18 May 1999 (photos by AnF). observer initialed is Anne Frost. I believe several people saw this bird, including the O'Learys. Several months ago, there was an OBOL thread about eastside records of Arctic Tern. I can't recall any from Grant Co., but you might go back and surf the OBOL archives for that thread. I would not quibble much over records of Hermit Warbler in Grant Co. This species has made several appearances at Malheur and in ne. Oregon. While it should be considered rare in Grant Co., I would not call it extremely rare there. The Oregon Breeding Bird Atlas (BBA) project detected Hermits in two Grant Co cells (per map in Birds of Oregon: A General Reference, hereafter BOGR), but they are lightly shaded, suggesting that there was no strong evidence of breeding. A logical question in such cases might be, "Was the possibility of Hermit X Townsend's considered?" In the BOGR species account for White-tailed Kite, this species is called "irregular" east of the Cascades, but the author did not provide an approximate (or exact) number of records. The account further notes that most records come from August or later (likely dispersing hatch-year birds) and that they are generally found to the south of the montane environs of northeast and north-central Oregon. I would not include this species in a list of Grant Co. birds unless I was able to locate a solid report supported either by photo or a good written description. According to BOGR, the Oregon range of Black Rosy Finch is generally restricted to the Steens Mtn. and perhaps the Alvord Basin during the winter months. They cite just three specimen records from elsewhere in Oregon, all from the Wallowas. Some have speculated (sans solid evidence) that they are a rare breeder in the Wallowa Mtns. BOGR lists one report of this species from Grant Co., but notes that this report was later retracted. Again, I would not include this species in a list of Grant Co. birds without a solidly documented record. As for Greater Sage Grouse, the Oregon BBA map shows a contiguous string of cells across southern Grant Co. where this species exhibited strong evidence of breeding. For those of you who are occasionally puzzled by this sort of question, BOGR, the OBRC files online, and the Oregon Breeding Bird Atlas (BBA) will answer the bulk of your questions. I reference these three sources hundreds of times a year as I prepare seasonal field notes columns for Oregon Birds and North American Birds. Dave Irons From: cgates326 at gmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 17:23:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Have you seen these birds in Grant County? I have some questionable reports from Grant County that I've picked up. Has anyone ever seen or heard of the following species in Grant County? Sage Grouse, White-tailed Kite, Arctic Tern, Hermit Warbler, Lark Bunting, Scott's Oriole and Black Rosy Finch Chuck Gates Powell Butte _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_BR_life_in_synch_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090706/3577933e/attachment.html From oschmidt at att.net Sun Jul 5 21:18:55 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 21:18:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Portland Birders Night is Tuesday Message-ID: ....... July 7th, 7:30 pm, Audubon House, 5151 NW Cornell Road. David Smith will show photos of birds from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Owen Schmidt will show photos and video of birds from Hawaii (if he can get it together on time .....). All are welcome. Bring your photos and videos ........ oschmidt at att.net Sunday, July 5, 2009 From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Jul 5 21:20:47 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 04:20:47 +0000 Subject: [obol] Malheur County Checklist Help In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Chuck, Red-shouldered Hawk -- I would fully expect this bird in Malheur Co. (which is hugely under-birded) given the recent uptick in eastside records. They are annual in Harney and there is every reason to believe that they could wander just a bit farther east to Malheur Co. Wrentit -- I have a hefty collection of ball caps (most with some sort of bird logo) and I will offer to consume one (or at least try to) when someone can provide a credible record of Wrentit from Malheur Co. Wrentits can barely fly, as evidenced by their inability to expand their range a couple miles across the Columbia River into Washington. Where they have expanded their range, they have moved seemingly inch-by-inch through dense understory. Ask yourself, when was the last time I saw a Wrentit out in the open unattached to some form of dense vegetation? I've never seen it. Expansions of even 40-50 miles have taken decades. The first line of the BOGR account says it all: "This is a mouse-like bird, only occasionally mustering the courage to dart from its shadowy domain." The Oregon Breeding Bird Atlas map shows just one detection east of the Cascades, and that was in western Klamath Co. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: cgates326 at gmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 17:20:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur County Checklist Help I have some questionable reports from Malheur County that I've picked up. Has anyone ever seen or heard of the following species in Malheur County? Red-shouldered Hawk or Wrentit Chuck Gates Powell Butte _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_SD_25GB_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090706/9d2d2500/attachment.html From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Sun Jul 5 23:58:48 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (Jamie S.) Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 23:58:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Black Rosy-Finch in the Strawberry Mtns? Message-ID: <555160.41733.qm@web39501.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I distinctly recall a report (on obol?) of Black Rosy-Finches found by someone high in the Strawberry Mtns.? My guess is that it was sometime?in the 90s. This is all the info I have; maybe someone else will have?a better memory than I. ? Jamie Simmons Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090705/bcc2bd74/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Jul 6 07:10:36 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:10:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Rosy-Finch in the Strawberry Mtns? In-Reply-To: <555160.41733.qm@web39501.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: One issue with northerly reports of Black RF is that the Wallowa mtn form of Gray-crown is very dark. It wanders a bit, too. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: "Jamie S." > Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 23:58:48 -0700 (PDT) > To: obol > Subject: [obol] Black Rosy-Finch in the Strawberry Mtns? > > I distinctly recall a report (on obol?) of Black Rosy-Finches found by someone > high in the Strawberry Mtns.? My guess is that it was sometime?in the 90s. > This is all the info I have; maybe someone else will have?a better memory than > I. > ? > Jamie Simmons > Corvallis > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From whoffman at peak.org Mon Jul 6 07:21:59 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 07:21:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur County Checklist Help References: Message-ID: This is not relevant to Malheur Co., but interestingly Wrentits appear to be present in numbers on the southwest (at least) slope of Mt. Shasta, 50 mi. or so S of Klamath Co., in a dense shrubby understory under scattered pines. Manzanita dominates this understory, Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: David Irons To: chuck gates ; post OBOL Sent: Sunday, July 05, 2009 9:20 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Malheur County Checklist Help Hi Chuck, Red-shouldered Hawk -- I would fully expect this bird in Malheur Co. (which is hugely under-birded) given the recent uptick in eastside records. They are annual in Harney and there is every reason to believe that they could wander just a bit farther east to Malheur Co. Wrentit -- I have a hefty collection of ball caps (most with some sort of bird logo) and I will offer to consume one (or at least try to) when someone can provide a credible record of Wrentit from Malheur Co. Wrentits can barely fly, as evidenced by their inability to expand their range a couple miles across the Columbia River into Washington. Where they have expanded their range, they have moved seemingly inch-by-inch through dense understory. Ask yourself, when was the last time I saw a Wrentit out in the open unattached to some form of dense vegetation? I've never seen it. Expansions of even 40-50 miles have taken decades. The first line of the BOGR account says it all: "This is a mouse-like bird, only occasionally mustering the courage to dart from its shadowy domain." The Oregon Breeding Bird Atlas map shows just one detection east of the Cascades, and that was in western Klamath Co. Dave Irons Eugene, OR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: cgates326 at gmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 17:20:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur County Checklist Help I have some questionable reports from Malheur County that I've picked up. Has anyone ever seen or heard of the following species in Malheur County? Red-shouldered Hawk or Wrentit Chuck Gates Powell Butte ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. Get it on your BlackBerry or iPhone. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090706/b8078a65/attachment.html From chet_ogan at yahoo.com Mon Jul 6 07:43:05 2009 From: chet_ogan at yahoo.com (Chet ogan) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 07:43:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Steen's Black Rosy-finch Message-ID: <760558.97880.qm@web80602.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi OBOL: We visited Steen's Mtn from Eureka, CA, where we were rewarded with good views of at least 2 male Black Rosy-finch at Desert Rim over look on July 4th around 6:30 in the evening. A herd of 20 or so bighorn sheep were cavorting around a snow field down the slope. Earlier in the day I saw a Tri-colored Balckbird along CPR bewteen Knox Pond and Krumbo. There was no cream or yellow stripe at all on this bird, only good clean white.? The wings were more pointed than the nearby RWBL and this bird was smaller . God luck! Chet Ogan Imagine there's no countries . . .It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for . . . . And no religion too Imagine all the people . . . .. .Living life in peace... - J Lennon- Chet Ogan chet_ogan at yahoo.com 707-442-9353 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090706/10b8c9c9/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Mon Jul 6 09:47:21 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 09:47:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Least Flycatcher at Calliope Crossing-3 July Message-ID: <006a01c9fe59$7778a6f0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> As Judy Meredith reported, on 3 July we heard and saw the Least Flycatcher first found by Steve Shunk at Calliope Crossing, outside Sisters, OR. On arriving at the marked tree (with "Halloween-colored" flagging tape), we set off to the aspen thickets along Indian Ford Creek, about 100 yards away as this is the habitat (in the Pacific Northwest anyways) I've always associated this species with. We spent 15 minutes or so among these aspens and did not hear or see the Leasty. As we turned around to head back to our vehicle on Road 900, we heard the LEAST FLYCATCHER "che-bekking" away from the pines by the roadside. Over the next 15 minutes we had great views of this bird as it circled the clearing, singing the whole time. The habitat here is open Ponderosa Pine woodland with a cover of low bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata). Off in the distance we heard several Gray Flycatchers singing. According to sources I have on Least Flycatcher habitat preferences in this region (Birds of Oregon by Marshall et al., Birds of Washington by Wahl et al. and Birds of British Columbia by Campbell et al.), none of these mention open dry forest pine woodland as a preferred habitat for Least Flycatcher. These references state Least Flycatchers prefer deciduous woodland (with aspen preferred, often with a multi-layered structure) for this species at the edge of its range. Because this is a very unusual habitat choice for this species, I wondered if this bird might be a hybrid. Hybridism among the Tyrannidae is evidently extraordinarily rare or unknown as far as I 've read. We photographed the bird and, to my eye, it shows all the characteristics of Least Flycatcher (structure, plumage patterning and coloration, call, and song) that I believe we pass this guy off as a truly aberrant individual. As females of many birds are known to pick males with the best habitats, we might predict this guy is highly unlikely to attract a passing female! We started the morning at the impressive Crooked River gorge overlook on US-97 where WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS and ROCK WRENS were chattering in the first light. West of Redmond about 10 miles on OR-126, we stopped right at dawn about 10 miles west of Redmond in juniper country. Ten minutes here yielded GRAY (3) and ASH-THROATED (2) FLYCATCHERS, PINYON JAY (1), and MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE (2). We arrived at Calliope Crossing a little after 6 am. The two just-fledged NORTHERN GOSHAWK juveniles were by their nest at Calliope Crossing with an adult ripping apart a mammal prey (possibly a chipmunk, an abundant mammal group in Ponderosa Pine forests with a bitterbrush component). When we departed a couple hours later, the nest was empty. Do the young return to the nest to roost at night for a period after fledging? Documenting Calliope Crossings importance for birds of the "dry forest" and riparian habitats we observed 50 species during our couple-hour visit: VIRGINIA RAIL, RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, HAIRY and WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS, GRAY and WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, all three nuthatches, BROWN CREEPER, CASSIN'S and WARBLING VIREOS, YELLOW and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, WESTERN TANAGER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, LAZULI BUNTING, PURPLE (feeding begging young), and CASSIN'S FINCHES, and RED CROSSBILL. We then headed off to Bend to look for the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, reported to be visiting a feeder. As we peered up the slope at the tube feeder a man hollered to us "hey you're weirding me out staring at me!" We packed up and went up to the neighboring house to apologize. The guys name is Paul, he knows his birds a bit and we talked for a good 30 minutes. A friendly bloke, just a tad put off by a scope barrel pointing directly (or so he thought) at him sun tanning. While talking to him within five feet of THE tube feeder next door, we kept an eye out for the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. We did not see the rarity but we did find both ANNA'S (singing) and RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS. With a feeder I'd wager virtually any address in this part of Oregon is a good birding site! Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090706/e317b119/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Mon Jul 6 11:00:46 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 11:00:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] photos, an educational experience Message-ID: OBOLites, Now and then one has a birding experience that is truly educational. It has been my personal experience that very often such experiences come more in cases when one is wrong than when he is right. I recently had just such an experience, and want to share the story on OBOL, just for educational purposes. Perhaps my experience will be of benefit to someone else. Let me preface the story to follow with this bit of sage advice I once heard from Harry Nehls. He said something to the effect of, "when you find an unusual bird, before assuming it to be a rare species, give consideration to the idea it is a common species in unusual plumage". I should have paid more attention to his advice. But at least in this instance I at least had the common sense to maintain enough reservations about my original idea to check with others possesing better skills than myself before committing myself to a mistaken identity. Here is the story. While visiting with my wife's relatives near Kamiah, Idaho, early on the morning of June 10, I found a dead bird on the shoulder US Highway 12. It was about seven inches long, had short, rounded wings, a short chicken-like beak, was basically browinish with many yellowish crossbars on the feathers of wings and back, and yellowish on the head and breast, rather bright pink legs, and a short slightly reddish tail. As I have always found it easier to properly identify living birds than dead ones, this one puzzled me. I thought it was a rail, and as size, general shape, and general color and pattern suggested Yellow Rail, a species unknown to Idaho, I thought it might be a record of signficance. Apparently my original idea was not so far off base as it might seem. When three pictures of the bird were posted by Mike Patterson to OBOL, I received one reply from two reputable birders stating that it was a Yellow Rail, and another person posting to OBOL suggested that while he thought it was a young pheasant, he could see that some people might think it was a Yellow Rail. However, even from the beginning, I had some reservations about actually calling the bird that species, as I found some discrepancies between the appearance of the bird and the pictures in the field guides in respect to detail of plumage. These discrapancies were: (1) The feathers of the breast were fairly heavily streaked with brown markings; (2) the primary feathers were marked with yellow spots. These spots gave the feathers of the back and folded wings the appearance of having yellow crossbars similar to those shown for Yellow Rail, but I could find no illustrations or photos of that species which showed that there was any spotting on the primary feathers. (3) The tail was reddish and not black as shown in the guides. (4) I could detect on the back feathering no longitudinal yellow striping. This lack was mainly due to the fact that the impact of the bird with the vehicle which it came into contact basically destroyed all the feathering on the mid to lower back. It was impossible to tell what these feathers might have looked like on the living bird. (5) Likewise, the feathers on the lower breast and belly were destroyed beyond recognition, and therefore offered no help in providing clues to proper identification. (6) try as I might, I also could not discern any white on the secondaries. These feathers were also somewhat damaged by the force of the impact, but not so much as to eliminate the possibility of seeing a white secondary patch if it were there. So I had plenty of reasons to be skeptical. Nevertheless, the bird had enough superficial resemblance to a Yellow Rail that I thought it was important to at least make an effort to document the find, just in case it might actually turn out to be that species. With that in mind, I made serious attempt to locate a birder or biologist in that part of Idaho who would be willing to store the specimen in a freezer. Unfortunately, I was unable to do so for several days. Also, I was unwilling to ask my wife's aunt, with whom we were staying, for permission to store the bird in her freezer. So I did the best I could. I put a bag of chopped ice in a bucket, and placed the bird in a plastic bag on top of the ice. Of course the ice melted, and the plumage of the bird became wet, making the feathers look darker than they really were (Hence their blackish appearance in the photos). My digital camera was in the shop for repairs, and I was not able to obtain photos of the specimen until my brother-in-law arrived from Montana late in the afternoon of June 11. So the photos are somewhat misleading in respect to the actual appearance of the specimen. Finally late on June 12 I was able to contact Dan Davis, a birder from Couer d' Alene who works in Orofino, and was able to deliver the specimen to him in the latter town around 1 P.M. on June 13. Unfortunately, by that time the specimen was so badly decayed that Dan was unable to determine much about it, and discarded the carcass. For some reason the transmission of the photos from the computer of my brother-in-law to my computer would not work. So I had to wait until he printed them off and sent them to me via snail mail. As I have no scanner, I had to take them to my sister to have them scanned and sent to me. I was then able to send them on to Mike Patterson who graciously offered to post them on OBOL. My intent for having them posted there was to get feedback from Oregon birders as to the identity and plumage particulars of the specimen before committing myself to a previously acknowledged shaky and uncertain identification. As stated earlier, I did get a couple of responses suggesting Yellow Rail, but the more part of the responses suggested juvenile turkey or pheasant. Frankly, I was a bit surprised at this assessment. We have neither turkeys or pheasants here in this part of Lincoln County, and I was completely unfamiliar with the apperance of these birds in juvenile plumage. However, after giving consideration to this input from others, and consulting again with the field guides, I concur with the identification of the specimen as juvenile Ring-necked Pheasant. At least such an assessment clears up most of the discrepancies associated with the hypothetical id of the bird as a Yellow Rail. Pheasants do have spotting on the primaries. They lack the white secondaries. They may (not certain of this) show some streaking on the breast. They possibly show reddish tails (although I have no actual illustrated or photographic data to support this). Mike Patterson also suggested that the feet show some evidence of the spur present on gallinaceous birds. So I have little doubt that the bird in the photographs is a young pheasant. Since this treatise is intended for educational purposes, I asked Mike if he would be willing to post to OBOL additional photos of the bird which show more plumage detail, including photos of breast pattern, spread wing, feet, and tail. Mike has once again graciously agreed to do so. In that way, by looking at all the photos, birders can see for themselves both the similarities of the specimen with Yellow Rail, and the discrepancies which forbid identification of the bird as that species. In my original post regarding this bird, I mentioned that it might (emphasize MIGHT) be a record of significance. I had hoped it would be a record of significance to bird records in Idaho. As it turns out, it was significant only in respect to its education value to me as a birder, and perhaps, to other birders here in Oregon. I wish to thank everyone who looked at the original three photos and took time to comment. I found those comments very helpful in the educational process. And I wish to express a special thank you to Mike Patterson for receiving and posting the photos, and adding his own educational comments. If I may close this treatise with a bit of humor, let me say that in the past I have been known for sending to OBOL posts which poked fun at those birders of more scientific bent than myself. Well, Mike, those posts ( which I never meant to be truly mean-spirited, only humorous) have come back to bite me. Maybe people like me need to think about scientific minded birders like we have been told to think about lawyers: "You like 'em when you need 'em". Thanks again. Still learning (and liking) birding, Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090706/9e97c848/attachment.html From archmcc at qwest.net Mon Jul 6 12:03:28 2009 From: archmcc at qwest.net (Arch McCallum) Date: Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:03:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Least Flycatcher at Calliope Crossing-3 July In-Reply-To: <006a01c9fe59$7778a6f0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> References: <006a01c9fe59$7778a6f0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> Message-ID: <20090706190332.93F74621FC0@mpls-qmqp-03.inet.qwest.net> Hello Andy, and OBOL, Thanks for the interesting post on this Least Flycatcher and his choice of habitat. I share your impression of the preferred habitat of Least Flycatcher in the Pacific Northwest. In fact, I underscored that preference in my recent post on a bird in Ft. Klamath. This is not the first Oregon Least in "inappropriate" pine forest, though. In 2003 Wink Gross found and recorded the singing of a bird maybe a dozen miles from Calliope Crossing, surrounded by miles of pine forest. Probably the closest aspens were several miles away at Black Butte Ranch. Others found the bird as well, but by the time I got there, several days later, all I found was Hammond's. The possibility of a Hammond's x Least cross is interesting, given the nearly parapatric ranges and their close phylogenetic relationship. One of the three song-types of the Hammond's is very similar to, and very probably homologous with, the chebec of the Least. As I recall, though, Wink's recording was solid Least. (I'll look again, though). To put this another way, if a Hammond's chose to sing his songtype 2 in the insistent, repetitive manner of the Least, I do not believe anyone would recognize it as a Hammond' s in the field. Spectrographic analysis of a recording would, however, reveal the minor features of frequency and shape that distinguish the two song-types. Songtype 2 is the sound that Hammond's delivers at long intervals (several minutes) at midmorning in midsummer, i.e., now. So, the plot thickens. But, what are the odds that this bird is a Hammond's singing with the wrong syntax, which is inherited? I'd say the odds are better that it was a Least who, desperate to find a girlfriend, perhaps even one of the wrong species, that he ventured into the pines. But, to rule out a hybrid, we'd need a recording, I think. The beauty of recording flycatcher songs is that it's pretty easy to tell when you do have a hybrid, and the hybrid vocalizations can be extraordinarily illuminating. For example, Nathan Pieplow et al. observed a hybrid phoebe Black x Eastern Phoebe in 2007 in Colorado (see Western Birds 2008 (4)), and Nathan was able to get some great recordings of it. He and I have a follow-up paper on phoebe syntax that is about ready for publication. This spring there was a Black x Say's hanging around Ferndale, CA, and I believe the observers got a feather for DNA analysis as well as some recordings. There was a publication on a Least x Acadian bird a couple of years ago in the upper Midwest, and I found, many years after the fact, that I had recorded a probable Dusky x Hammond's on two different occasions (same place) in New Mexico in 1981. In each case the hybrid songs of these birds tell us something interesting about the repertoires and the syntax of the parental species. So, thanks for bringing up the possibility that the Calliope Crossing bird is a hybrid, and may I implore anyone with even a rudimentary recording device to get a clip if you hear it sing. Thanks and good birding to all, Arch McCallum Eugene At 09:47 AM 7/6/2009, Andy Stepniewski wrote: >As Judy Meredith reported, on 3 July we heard and saw the Least >Flycatcher first found by Steve Shunk at Calliope Crossing, outside >Sisters, OR. On arriving at the marked tree (with >"Halloween-colored" flagging tape), we set off to the aspen thickets >along Indian Ford Creek, about 100 yards away as this is the habitat >(in the Pacific Northwest anyways) I've always associated this >species with. We spent 15 minutes or so among these aspens and did >not hear or see the Leasty. As we turned around to head back to our >vehicle on Road 900, we heard the LEAST FLYCATCHER "che-bekking" >away from the pines by the roadside. Over the next 15 minutes we had >great views of this bird as it circled the clearing, singing the >whole time. The habitat here is open Ponderosa Pine woodland with a >cover of low bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata). Off in the distance >we heard several Gray Flycatchers singing.ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> > > > >According to sources I have on Least Flycatcher habitat preferences >in this region (Birds of Oregon by Marshall et al., Birds of >Washington by Wahl et al. and Birds of British Columbia by Campbell >et al.), none of these mention open dry forest pine woodland as a >preferred habitat for Least Flycatcher. These references state Least >Flycatchers prefer deciduous woodland (with aspen preferred, often >with a multi-layered structure) for this species at the edge of its >range. Because this is a very unusual habitat choice for this >species, I wondered if this bird might be a hybrid. Hybridism among >the Tyrannidae is evidently extraordinarily rare or unknown as far >as I 've read. We photographed the bird and, to my eye, it shows all >the characteristics of Least Flycatcher (structure, plumage >patterning and coloration, call, and song) that I believe we pass >this guy off as a truly aberrant individual. As females of many >birds are known to pick males with the best habitats, we might >predict this guy is highly unlikely to attract a passing female! > > > >We started the morning at the impressive Crooked River gorge >overlook on US-97 where WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS and ROCK WRENS were >chattering in the first light. West of Redmond about 10 miles on >OR-126, we stopped right at dawn about 10 miles west of Redmond in >juniper country. Ten minutes here yielded GRAY (3) and ASH-THROATED >(2) FLYCATCHERS, PINYON JAY (1), and MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE (2). > > > >We arrived at Calliope Crossing a little after 6 am. The two >just-fledged NORTHERN GOSHAWK juveniles were by their nest at >Calliope Crossing with an adult ripping apart a mammal prey >(possibly a chipmunk, an abundant mammal group in Ponderosa Pine >forests with a bitterbrush component). When we departed a couple >hours later, the nest was empty. Do the young return to the nest to >roost at night for a period after fledging? > > > >Documenting Calliope Crossings importance for birds of the "dry >forest" and riparian habitats we observed 50 species during our >couple-hour visit: VIRGINIA RAIL, RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, HAIRY and >WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS, GRAY and WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, all three >nuthatches, BROWN CREEPER, CASSIN'S and WARBLING VIREOS, YELLOW and >YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, WESTERN TANAGER, >BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, LAZULI BUNTING, PURPLE (feeding begging >young), and CASSIN'S FINCHES, and RED CROSSBILL. > > > >We then headed off to Bend to look for the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, >reported to be visiting a feeder. As we peered up the slope at the >tube feeder a man hollered to us "hey you're weirding me out staring >at me!" We packed up and went up to the neighboring house to >apologize. The guys name is Paul, he knows his birds a bit and we >talked for a good 30 minutes. A friendly bloke, just a tad put off >by a scope barrel pointing directly (or so he thought) at him sun >tanning. While talking to him within five feet of THE tube feeder >next door, we kept an eye out for the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. We did >not see the rarity but we did find both ANNA'S (singing) and RUFOUS >HUMMINGBIRDS, WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS. With a >feeder I'd wager virtually any address in this part of Oregon is a >good birding site! > > > >Andy and Ellen Stepniewski > >Wapato WA > >windypointandy at dishmail.net > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090706/a55ed4b7/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Jul 6 12:50:02 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:50:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Have you seen these birds in Grant County? Message-ID: <1246909802.4100.56.camel@joel-laptop> Hello Chuck, Dave & All, I'll concur with Dave Irons' advice re: Hermit Warblers in Grant County. Last July I observed an apparent Hermit X Townsend's Warbler in Barnhouse Spring Campground (based on mixed plumage traits, and singing a different song from Townsend's Warblers in the same campground), and Steve Dougill and I heard a warbler singing a very similar song the next morning, higher along the Barnhouse Breeding Bird Survey route. We recorded that one as "Townsend's/Hermit Warbler sp." I encountered another one while running that BBS route this summer. These locations are within 10-15 miles of western edge of Grant County. There is contiguous suitable habitat, all the way from there into Grant County in the Black Canyon Wilderness Area. And where there are hybrids, it seems likely that both strands of their parentage are represented nearby. I also recall that Craig Miller recorded a Hermit Warbler farther east a few years back -- in Baker Co.(?) if I remember right. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Jul 6 12:53:24 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:53:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird references for aspiring bird pundits (and those who might just be interested) In-Reply-To: <1246909802.4100.56.camel@joel-laptop> References: <1246909802.4100.56.camel@joel-laptop> Message-ID: <1246910004.4100.60.camel@joel-laptop> Hello again folks, Dave Irons mentioned the Oregon Breeding Bird Atlas and the on-line version of the Oregon Bird Record Committee's records as references for the type of questions that Chuck Gates raised. For those of you who might be wondering where to obtain these, see: http://www.oregonbirds.org/breeding_atlas.html for information on how to order your own copy of the first, and http://www.oregonbirds.org/obrc.html to access the second on-line. The third reference that Dave mentioned (Birds of Oregon: A General Reference) is published by OSU Press; hopefully a few copies of the second printing are still available in bookstores around the state. Speaking of the Breeding Bird Atlas, it's now been 10 years since the conclusion of that very successful and informative project. That seems like enough of a respectful interval to let pass, before talking about doing an update on some scale. -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From rkorpi at hotmail.com Mon Jul 6 13:28:19 2009 From: rkorpi at hotmail.com (Ray Korpi) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 13:28:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Breeding Bird Atlas Message-ID: All, Joel's comment about the breeding bird atlas makes some sense--many of the atlases that have been done have been resurrected some 20 years after the first project--Nebraska is redoing theirs right now, and the comments about changes in habitat are interesting. If OFO gets this going again, count me in as atlasing is a wonderful use of our time and skills Ray Korpi rkorpi at hotmail.com Vancouver wa -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090706/87dc34a2/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Jul 6 13:35:30 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 13:35:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Curry Birds of Late Message-ID: <819601.53092.qm@web45316.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Knute Andersson reports an EASTERN KINGBIRD from Cape Blanco SP (the parking area near the large marsh) on the 4th with a nice photograph! This is a rarity on the coast for sure, especially in July. I was gone this past weekend hiking with my wife and our four-legged kids up in the beautiful Kalmiopsis Wilderness and vicinity on the Siskiyou NF east of Brookings.? The best birds were a couple of singing ROCK WRENS, one on the Windy Peak trail which is SE of Snow Mt. Lookout (7/4) and the other was just north of lower Vulcan Lake (7/5).? I have seen this species once before in the county, an adult with juvies near Chetco Lake.? In the past, Don Munson mentioned finding it a couple of places near Snow Mtn. Lookout also so I imagine it is a regular breeder in the Kalmiopsis country, with plenty of suitable habitat. It was hot and sunny (80-90F) Saturday and Sunny with great views of the coast socked in with fog from the 3-4,000' trails.? Sunday night a wall of fog engulfed us at Red Mtn. Prairie up near Vulcan Peak but fortunately we had a good stash of firewood as the temp plummeted from the 70's into the 40's within about an hour with fog/drizzle rain most of the night. Fun weekend, with absolute silence in the evenings, hardly any biting insects, lots of great wildflowers, butterflies and odonates, and only one other hiker seen on the trails!! Enjoy, Tim R Coos Bay From windypointandy at dishmail.net Mon Jul 6 14:28:46 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 14:28:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Upper Klamath Lake canoeing-4 July Message-ID: <000601c9fe80$c8c962c0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> CANOE TRAIL ON UPPER KLAMATH NWR 4 JULY 2009 Setting our sights on Least Bittern, my reading of the Oregon birding literature indicates the Canoe Trail on Upper Klamath NWR is as good a place as any to search for this rare Oregon bird. Reading the account on this species in Birds of Oregon (Marshall et al.) one gathers Least Bittern is a really rare bird in the state. Even with surveys at the right time and place, one's chances are zilch to low. The thought of a canoe trip in a nice setting amid the vast (14000 acre) refuge marshes was a sufficient enticement to do this trip and at least say we've given it a go. We lodged at Rocky Point Resort for two nights. This is the perfect spot to do this trip as arranging for taking a canoe out before dawn is easy to do if one is staying at the resort. We had a memorable dinner on the restaurant deck with an expansive view of the marshes the evening of 3 July. Remarkably, there were no mosquitoes here though we were plagued by skeeters birding elsewhere in the Klamath Basin (fields around Fort Klamath especially). With soft early evening light we enjoyed darn good birding while having dinner. Comprising the show were CANADA GOOSE, MALLARD, a flyby BLUE-WINGED TEAL, PIED-BILLED (with young) and WESTERN GREBES, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (2), DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (10), GREAT EGRET (1), GREAT BLUE (1) and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS (1), FORSTER'S (2) and BLACK TERNS (15), VAUX'S SWIFT (1), masses of distant swallows (mostly TREE but a few BARN too), and several thousand distant blackbirds (appeared mostly RED-WINGED with a few YELLOW-HEADED). The big masses of swallows and blackbirds out over this vast marsh indicate the young have fledged and these birds have begun to form their post-fledging flocks. The glory of the breeding season is all-too-short! We were out along the canoe trail by 5 am, a good half-hour before sunrise, heading counterclockwise along the main six-mile loop. We could hear AMERICAN BITTERNS virtually all along the route the first hour or so, thereafter their calling ceased. We counted at least eight birds "pumper-lunking" and saw several in flight. Other birds we were seldom out of sight of on our paddle included DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, BLACK and FORSTER'S TERNS, TREE SWALLOW, and MARSH WREN. In fact, I can't recall a better spot for more intimate views of both the terns! COMMON YELLOWTHROATS were less widespread but still common. SANDHILL CRANES bugled out in the distance. Several areas had patches of willows, good for WILLOW FLYCATCHER and SONG SPARROW. Wocus Cut seemed a good spot for loafing PIED-BILLED GREBES, WOOD, RING-NECKED, and RUDDY DUCKS. We heard VIRGINIA RAIL only near the west shore indicating the huge, open bulrush marsh might be too deep for rails generally. Along the main portion of Crystal Creek I imagined I heard a low-pitched four-parted call "gwak-gwak-gwak-gwak" that strongly suggested Least Bittern. It struck my ear quite distinct from the "cowm-cowm-cowm" of a Pied-billed Grebe. We lingered in the area but we did not hear this call again so I cannot put this species on our list. Walking the resort grounds among towering Douglas-firs, Ponderosa Pines, and Incense Cedars with lots of brushy edges, we found many birds including: RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, WHITE-HEADED and PILEATED WOODPECKERS, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, WESTERN WOOD PEWEE, STELLER'S JAY, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, HOUSE WREN, AMERICAN ROBIN, ORANGE-CROWNED, YELLOW, AND MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS, WESTERN TANAGER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, LAZULI BUNTING, SPOTTED TOWHEE, CHIPPING SPARROW, and BULLOCK'S ORIOLE. Combined, birding along both the canoe route and at Rocky Point Resort, we found 52 species. No doubt, had we gone off uphill of the Westside Road on old logging tracks, we might have added a number of others. In late morning we hit Eagle Ridge south along Klamath Lake. En route, birding was excellent along Shoalwater Bay. Hundreds of ducks (MALLARD, NORTHERN PINTAIL, AMERICAN WIGEON, GADWALL, REDHEAD, CANVASBACK, RUDDY) loafed, many perhaps molting birds, in the smelly shallows (an algal bloom?), pelicans cruised, and both FORSTER'S AND BLACK TERNS foraged. At the point a BALD EAGLE sat regally atop a snag while a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER drummed atop another. Brush lands on the steep side hill along the final mile to the point were good for BUSHTITS. The habitat here, reminiscent of the areas east of Klamath Falls, was in huge contrast to the stately conifer forest across the bay a couple miles at Rocky Point. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090706/eeeb143c/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Jul 6 14:33:59 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 14:33:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Darrel Faxon's photos Message-ID: I too was inclined to call it a Yellow Rail. Even before I saw the pictures, basically at the time of Darrel's first posting, intuition told me "yellow rail". When I saw the photos the bill struck me as gallinaceous, and given the season I suspected a barely fledged chick. There was nothing in the picture to establish scale, and it looked too stripedy for any of our grouse. I never considered introduced galliformes. Michael Dosset's posting was a real epiphany. Lars Norgren From tc at empnet.com Mon Jul 6 15:56:08 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 14:56:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Breeding Bird Atlas In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <3D5BAC198F804514BA6662D80137E8AA@102889> I would love to do it this time around as well. Not having an infant makes time availability a lot greater, too. Tom Crabtree Bend, OR _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Ray Korpi Sent: Monday, July 06, 2009 12:28 PM To: obol obol Subject: [obol] Breeding Bird Atlas All, Joel's comment about the breeding bird atlas makes some sense--many of the atlases that have been done have been resurrected some 20 years after the first project--Nebraska is redoing theirs right now, and the comments about changes in habitat are interesting. If OFO gets this going again, count me in as atlasing is a wonderful use of our time and skills Ray Korpi rkorpi at hotmail.com Vancouver wa -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090706/587db456/attachment.html From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Mon Jul 6 16:03:24 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 16:03:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] How Cool...Sibley Guide Online Message-ID: <320566.14643.qm@web51810.mail.re2.yahoo.com> This may be old news here but I just got this link from another list: http://sibley.enature.com There may be a few things missing (I didn't see the hybrid gull page for example) but most of the identification guide seems to be there and also stuff from the guide to bird life and behavior. Sound files have been added. Also seems they kept it simple enough that it could be useful through a cell phone/PDA. Cindy Ashy From celata at pacifier.com Mon Jul 6 16:08:40 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:08:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Speaking of things gallinaceous... Message-ID: <4A5283F8.7080708@pacifier.com> From this morning near Nicolai Mountain... http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11507/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Weaponized Ginseng http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11435/ From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Jul 6 16:48:43 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:48:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swallows fledge Message-ID: Vg swallows completed a sixth year of successful nesting at my house, with young fledged July 6, a few days earlier than usual. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon Jul 6 17:54:05 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 17:54:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] How Cool...Sibley Guide Online In-Reply-To: <320566.14643.qm@web51810.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <320566.14643.qm@web51810.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <128BBB1C785B45C784ACB26DAEEA5A0C@cgatesPC> There are also some very cool bird ringtones that can be downloaded for free. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cindy Ashy" To: Sent: Monday, July 06, 2009 4:03 PM Subject: [obol] How Cool...Sibley Guide Online > > This may be old news here but I just got this link from another list: > > http://sibley.enature.com > > There may be a few things missing (I didn't see the hybrid gull page for > example) but most of the identification guide seems to be there and also > stuff from the guide to bird life and behavior. Sound files have been > added. Also seems they kept it simple enough that it could be useful > through a cell phone/PDA. > > Cindy Ashy > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon Jul 6 18:32:23 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 01:32:23 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Bewick's Wrens Message-ID: <360070251.810641246930343942.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi all, I took a few pictures of the Wrens yesterday. After enlarging the pictures on the computer and checking a little book with pictures of hatchling Mountain Bluebirds I've decided the Wrens must be about 2 weeks old. I'm not sure how long it takes them to fledge, but the three little birds really fill up the space inside the box, they have feathers on their chests, the throats are streaked brown and white and the wing primaries are quite visable. I bought the Wrens some meal worms which they really like. The adults have stopped giving alarm calls when I walk through the garden; they feed the little ones the meal worms and carry away the fecal sacks. It is interesting how the little birds call, then stick their little tushes out the entrance to the bird box and the parent arrives with perfect timing to take away the mess. There seems to be a timing sequence to feeding and removing the fecal sacks. It would seem the little birds are getting plenty to eat. I see all this activity from the living room so I don't have to upset the birds to watch them. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090707/dea324d1/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon Jul 6 19:30:22 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 19:30:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Have you seen these Crook County birds? Message-ID: <1E2266F5AB3947B68AB88299BF61C6B8@cgatesPC> I'm going to be asking this question about several counties in Oregon over the next few days. If this is annoying, I'm sorry. I will finish as soon as I can. In the meantime, please just delete my messages if you have no interest. I have records for Crook County of the following species. I would be interested if anyone had information about the sightings. I would especially like to hear from the people who made the sightings if they get this message. The owl and the sparrow are certainly possibilities and might even be expected to be found in Crook rarely however, I do not know of any records. The Oak Titmouse seems like a problem. Great Gray Owl Oak Titmouse American Tree Sparrow Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090706/b7a2b3b5/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Jul 6 19:53:03 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 19:53:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] West Side Rd/Crater Lake, Klamath Co. 6-27-09 In-Reply-To: <30BE4C00-EF83-4680-9801-128D0687DD7B@sisna.com> References: <30BE4C00-EF83-4680-9801-128D0687DD7B@sisna.com> Message-ID: <6e1dae9ff5b5aa9a54cd91b438e072a9@earthlink.net> This is probably one of the better times of the year to look for Sooty Grouse. Broods have hatched and are very hungry. Rights of way create heat corridors where not only is there more grass that ripens earlier, but more insects than in the shade of the forest. Lars Norgren On Jun 28, 2009, at 3:59 PM, Julie Van Moorhem wrote: > Marilyn Christian and I looked for the Chestnut-sided Warbler > yesterday but didn't find it. We did find LAZULI BUNTING and HERMIT > WARBLER in the area. At Crater Lake we didn't find the Rosy-finch > either--just lots of CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS and a pair of WESTERN > BLUEBIRDS. At 7-Mile Guard Station we found a pair of MOUNTAIN > BLUEBIRDS and saw a fledgling. On the way home on Hwy 140 heading > east we saw a female BLUE GROUSE just east of MP 46 on the roadside. > The funny thing about that is that Marilyn saw one in the exact same > area on Thursday. She just got her lifer Blue Grouse at Hamaker Mtn > about 2 weeks ago and now has seen a total of 3 in very short order! > > Good birding y'all, > Julie Van Moorhem > Klamath Falls > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon Jul 6 20:56:34 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 20:56:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] questions about JEFF Least Flycatcher and Tree Sparrow Message-ID: I have two records from Jefferson County about which I would like to solicit comments. Does anyone know details about a Least Flycatcher or an American Tree Sparrow in Jefferson County? Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090706/14fc0eb3/attachment.html From tlove at linfield.edu Mon Jul 6 21:34:59 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 21:34:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Opperman's Washington Bird-finding Guide? Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F1215B0713B@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> Does anyone in the Portland area have a copy of Hal Opperman's Washington Bird-finding Guide they'd be willing to loan me for about a week? I could pick it up at your home or at Birders' Night tomorrow evening at Portland Audubon. Thanks in advance. Please reply privately to tlove AT linfield DOT edu. Tom Love -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090706/bb67af1d/attachment.html From justin.bosler at gmail.com Mon Jul 6 22:36:01 2009 From: justin.bosler at gmail.com (Justin Bosler) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 22:36:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cackling Geese, Pacific Golden-Plover, Baird's Sandpiper - N. Spit Coos Bay - 6 July 2009 Message-ID: <97d12a010907062236u5bd5323bn86d68c1630a90366@mail.gmail.com> Hello OBOL, I spent a pleasant afternoon on the N. Spit of Coos Bay (Coos Co.) targeting waterbirds, in particular shorebirds, but had one unexpected waterfowl sighting for July. I arrived at 1:30 PM and wound up staying for nearly 4 hours as a continual trickle of touch-and-go shorebirds did not make it easy for me to leave. At 2:09 PM, I heard some unfamiliar honking coming from over the dunes. I turned and quickly got on 2 CACKLING GEESE about 50 ft. or so above the dunes and heading north. They were on the move and provided only brief views against a bright sky. Having almost zero experience with the West Coast subspecies of Cackling Goose I'm in no position to confidently narrow down the identification any further without a longer, more thorough look. They did appear relatively pale breasted and I'm pretty sure I saw noticeable whitish collars at the base of the neck. Shorebirds included: (*note- all non-resident shorebirds were adults.) Pacific Golden-Plover, 1 presumed breeding ad. male (immaculate plumage) Killdeer, 12 Greater Yellowlegs, 5 Spotted Sandpiper, 13 (several local juvs.) Western Sandpiper, 25 Least Sandpiper, 5 Baird's Sandpiper, 1 breeding ad. (dropped in around 4:25, initially flighty, then preened, and was off by 4:40) Short-billed Dowitcher, 1 ad. (dropped in at 4:55, voice confirmed) Wilson's Phalarope, 4 (2 ad. males, 2 juvs.; 8 on 3 July) Good Birding, Justin -- Justin Bosler Reedsport, OR justin.bosler at gmail.com 717-475-9998 http://www.flickr.com/photos/29219448 at N08/ From dbagues at earthlink.net Mon Jul 6 22:41:10 2009 From: dbagues at earthlink.net (=?iso-8859-1?Q?Diane_Bag=FC=E9s?=) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 22:41:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mountain Quail References: <2358d085b195b4fc2b25e9f4e8e87e98@oregoncoast.com> Message-ID: <1933C345EA0F428780E550CAFC0F03E8@desktop> Thanks to all who responded to my request for info. I tried a couple of places with no success, but saw some pretty country in the process, and I knew the odds of seeing this bird were slim. Perhaps some other year. Diane Bagues San Leandro, Calif./Milwaukie, Oregon From hhactitis at yahoo.com Mon Jul 6 23:09:37 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 23:09:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Co.shorebirds Message-ID: <761415.52631.qm@web37008.mail.mud.yahoo.com> At Tenmile Beach (north of the creek) this morning: A flock of ca. 250 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, also including 8 SANDERLINGS in an amazing variety of plumages, from a deep rufous bird still in full breeding plumage to a white bird in full basic plumage, and many variations in between (all adults), at least 2 adult SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS (the flock moved on before I could finish a thorough scan), and 1 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. Separate from the peep flock, 2 WHIMBRELS on the beach. Plus 3 additional SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS in the Estuary. Several smaller flocks of peeps (20 to 30)(almost all WESTERN) were noted flying south along 5 miles of beach north of Tenmile Estuary. Ah, the joys of shorebirding! Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090706/00064219/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Mon Jul 6 23:37:04 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 06:37:04 +0000 Subject: [obol] questions about JEFF Least Flycatcher and Tree Sparrow In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Chuck, I can take responsibility for the Least Flycatcher. I can't recall the exact date, as I recall it was either late August or early September in about 2001 or 2002, I found a migrant in the park up on the bluff on the east side of Lake Billy Chinook. I watched the bird at close range for nearly a half hour and the plumage, size, proportions, and bill length and shape were all consistent with this species. Dave Irons From: cgates326 at gmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 20:56:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] questions about JEFF Least Flycatcher and Tree Sparrow I have two records from Jefferson County about which I would like to solicit comments. Does anyone know details about a Least Flycatcher or an American Tree Sparrow in Jefferson County? Chuck Gates Powell Butte _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090707/84afdc24/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Mon Jul 6 23:45:19 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 06:45:19 +0000 Subject: [obol] Malheur County Checklist Help In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Wayne et al., Wrentits are fairly common at about 4000' on the west slope of the Cascades north to at least the Oakridge area. While scouting the Deception Creek area for the 2003 ABA Convention in Eugene, I found them at several sites dominated by manzanita. Dave Irons From: whoffman at peak.org To: llsdirons at msn.com; cgates326 at gmail.com; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Malheur County Checklist Help Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 07:21:59 -0700 This is not relevant to Malheur Co., but interestingly Wrentits appear to be present in numbers on the southwest (at least) slope of Mt. Shasta, 50 mi. or so S of Klamath Co., in a dense shrubby understory under scattered pines. Manzanita dominates this understory, Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: David Irons To: chuck gates ; post OBOL Sent: Sunday, July 05, 2009 9:20 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Malheur County Checklist Help Hi Chuck, Red-shouldered Hawk -- I would fully expect this bird in Malheur Co. (which is hugely under-birded) given the recent uptick in eastside records. They are annual in Harney and there is every reason to believe that they could wander just a bit farther east to Malheur Co. Wrentit -- I have a hefty collection of ball caps (most with some sort of bird logo) and I will offer to consume one (or at least try to) when someone can provide a credible record of Wrentit from Malheur Co. Wrentits can barely fly, as evidenced by their inability to expand their range a couple miles across the Columbia River into Washington. Where they have expanded their range, they have moved seemingly inch-by-inch through dense understory. Ask yourself, when was the last time I saw a Wrentit out in the open unattached to some form of dense vegetation? I've never seen it. Expansions of even 40-50 miles have taken decades. The first line of the BOGR account says it all: "This is a mouse-like bird, only occasionally mustering the courage to dart from its shadowy domain." The Oregon Breeding Bird Atlas map shows just one detection east of the Cascades, and that was in western Klamath Co. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: cgates326 at gmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 17:20:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur County Checklist Help I have some questionable reports from Malheur County that I've picked up. Has anyone ever seen or heard of the following species in Malheur County? Red-shouldered Hawk or Wrentit Chuck Gates Powell Butte Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. Get it on your BlackBerry or iPhone. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090707/787cad9d/attachment.html From tlove at linfield.edu Tue Jul 7 06:28:33 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 06:28:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA - Hooded Warbler SW Portland Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F121885D5FE@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> Unbelievably, I just heard (06:20) and saw a male HOODED WARBLER in my backyard in SW Portland. I woke up a few minutes ago and heard a warbler repeatedly singing "we-ta-we-TEE-oh" from the subcanopy (oddly) in the maples in our backyard. I thought, that sounds like a Hooded Warbler. Grabbed the binos, and sure enough, a male Hooded Warbler. Black throat, white in tail, overall yellow. 8037 SW Kingfisher Way Durham, OR 503-936-3172 (cell) Take the 290 exit on I-5, go west past Bridgeport Village/REI about ? mile to the light (= Bridgeport Rd/Upper Boones Ferry Rd). Left a short block (south toward Tualatin), right on Ellmann Lane (you can only go right), in a short block right again on Kingfisher Way (you can only go right), which goes north a short block before bending west and dead-ending in about four blocks. We're about 15 houses down on the right, brick with three dormers. Tom Love tlove at linfield.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090707/7fc94e83/attachment.html From tlove at linfield.edu Tue Jul 7 07:20:10 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 07:20:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hooded Warbler SW Portland Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F121885D608@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> Immediately after posting I went back out for more looks at the HOODED WARBLER male which had been loudly singing in my backyard (about once every 8-10 seconds). No singing. I've just spent the past half hour (it's now 07:15) cruising every street in our quiet neighborhood and no luck. Unless it's suddenly gone quiet, I think it's flown. Sorry. You're welcome to come out and try. Tom L tlove at linfield.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090707/7af0fe54/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Tue Jul 7 11:12:16 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 11:12:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cascade Head 7/7 Message-ID: <09F7E8068F5441D49601DFDF42258063@Phil> 1- singing apparently territorial male Lazuli Bunting Phil philliplc at charter.net From cgates326 at gmail.com Tue Jul 7 13:13:32 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 13:13:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sherman Prairie Warbler????? Message-ID: I recently came across a record for Prairie Warbler in Sherman County. Does anyone know anything about this sighting? Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090707/367cb1a0/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Tue Jul 7 14:07:12 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 14:07:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Stukel Mountain east of klamath Falls-4 July Message-ID: <003601c9ff46$efaee560$3700a8c0@windypoint99> STUKEL MOUNTAIN EAST OF KLAMATH FALLS 4 JULY 2009 A Birder's Guide to the Klamath Basin (Steven Summers. Klamath Basin Audubon. 1993.) paints an enticing picture of birding on Stukel Mountain, 10 miles southeast of Klamath Falls. Distant views of this long and quite barren-appearing ridgeline from the south as we approached the mountains base were not overly inviting. Winding very steeply uphill and around to the mountains north aspects gave us a completely different view along with a dramatic change in vegetation and birds. Once surmounting the rocky and very steep first mile, we breathed more easily. The grade lessened and we soon passed by grazed sagebrush flats where we found BREWER'S SPARROW and WESTERN MEADOWLARK. An adult GOLDEN EAGLE soared beautifully high overhead. Traversing and steadily climbing the mountains north slopes we soon entered an interesting vegetation belt with lots of small tree-sized Mountain Mahogany interspersed with Ponderosa Pine and brush fields of Bitterbrush. At our first stop in this habitat, we were surprised, despite the heat of mid-day, to find 23 species of birds. We found our first BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS of the trip here; we were able to find gnatcatchers at three subsequent stops higher on the mountain in habitat with Mountain Mahogany. Other interesting birds we found at this stop included RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (both adult males and female or immature birds), OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (amazing habitat choice, mentioned in Summers's account here, too), GRAY FLYCATCHER, and LESSER GOLDFINCH (adult feeding begging fledged young). We made four more stops, each at higher elevations. At one we noted a HAIRY WOODPECKER and at two stops we noted GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES (one with fledged young). I kept alert for Black-chinned Sparrow, known from upper elevation brush lands on this mountain, especially in areas grown to "Mountain Plum," actually Bitter Cherry. The thickets of Mountain Mahogany also caught our attention as there are past reports of Virginia's Warbler's from this mountain, presumably in this habitat. But, the heat and time of day were clearly dashing any hope of finding these rarities. We had to be content with the great views of the region, including that of the vast marshlands and lakes below (Lower Klamath and Tule Lakes) and south to Mt. Shasta 40 or so miles away from the summit of the mountain at 6500 feet elevation. Scanning north to the next ridge, we spotted birds soaring in the thermals: TURKEY VULTURE (2), BALD EAGLE (2 juveniles or immature and one adult), RED-TAILED HAWK, AMERICAN KESTREL, and here and there, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. Stukel Mountain is one great birding venue and one we want to visit again, though we'll avoid the mid-day heat. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090707/ec2d2426/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Tue Jul 7 14:22:06 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 14:22:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bufflehead concentration on Agency Lake-5 July Message-ID: <003d01c9ff49$036bed30$3700a8c0@windypoint99> BUFFLEHEADS ON AGENCY LAKE 5 JULY 2009 At the north end of Agency Lake we walked the first half-mile of the Wood River Wetland Trail (Klamath Basin Birding Trail Site # 12), which accesses the north part of this lake. Most of this section of trail is the shade of tall willows, this we appreciated in the mid-day sun. Along the way we noted gobs of YELLOW WARBLERS, and an assortment of other birds wed to riparian and marsh habitats, interesting species included DOWNY WOODPECKER, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE (adult and begging young), TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD (one male), and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. In openings in the willows we looked off to the south at waterbirds in patches of open water among the bed of pond lilies. AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, RUDDY and RING-NECKED DUCKS were the common species. GREAT EGRETS and FORSTER'S TERNS flew by overhead. In the distance, we noted a few small flocks of WHITE-FACED IBIS winging their way south along the west shores of Agency Lake. Reaching the first bridge, I scoped the open water at the northwest end of Agency Lake and was surprised to see a large, loose flock of BUFFLEHEADS. We both counted these ducks and each time came up with a minimum of 150 birds! A modest percentage (~15% appeared to be males in various stages of molt, the other appeared to be in female plumage). I'm curious if this early summer concentration of Buffleheads we observed on Agency Lake is a usual and documented phenomenon? Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090707/8209fbd5/attachment.html From gorgebirds at juno.com Tue Jul 7 18:29:50 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2009 01:29:50 GMT Subject: [obol] Unusual Skamania County Nesting Species Message-ID: <20090707.182950.18018.1@webmail14.vgs.untd.com> Today I received a call that many birders get, " I have a bird in my birdhouse what is it?" They described the birds (a pair) as thin, green with a yellow belly. The location is in the west end of Skamania County at an elevation of about 1,600' in a forested area. When I went t the site because I couldn't guess what it might be the homeowner showed me a small ornamental bird house on a post next t o their hayfield. When I asked how often the birds came around they said it was in the box most of the time. I reached up and scratched on the front of the box and a Budgerigar flew out of the opening circled and shortly went back into the birdhouse. From the bird's actions I suspect it to be setting on eggs. I did not see the other Budgerigar but was told that it was usually around perched on the barn roof or nearby trees. First nesting pair that I have seen in Washington. I wonder how a pair ended up in that remote sparsely settled location? Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Looking for insurance? Compare and save today. Click here. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTInoKoVWttb5L4dgAV45Razp1sczPprSfmtDBilwHZsAxEO3dQRgM/ From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Tue Jul 7 18:41:26 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (Gerard Lillie) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 18:41:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] South American birding trip; Chile, the Falklands, Paraguay and Argentina Message-ID: <000001c9ff6d$36182540$a2486fc0$@lillie@comcast.net> Hello All, Jeff Gilligan, myself and four friends from Ireland did a trip to Chile this past late January/early February. We birded central Chile in the Santiago area and then boarded a cruise ship for a 12 day trip south around Cape Horn, to the Falkland Islands and ended in Buenos Aires, Argentina. There were five ports of call along the way and we were able to bird from those ports for the day. It was a very successful trip and many sought after species were seen. The birding was fantastic, the scenery amazing and the company was great. I had an amazing time and the others of the group did, as well. I took a zillion (technically speaking) photos and finally whittled them down to these. Hopefully some of you may enjoy them and get a glimpse of what wonderful birding there is to be had in that part of the world. The scenery was incomparable, it is stunning, to say the least. Good birding, Gerard http://www.flickr.com/photos/39159706 at N07/sets/72157619800416149/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090707/1fb879b2/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: ATT00011.txt Url: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090707/1fb879b2/attachment.txt From tom-escue at comcast.net Tue Jul 7 18:48:52 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 18:48:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Indian Ford campground closed Message-ID: <6F432B798C964DF5AE3139AFA2CEB1D2@TomsPC> I saw on local news where the campground is evacuated due to the fire. Would there be any/many nests in the area that are in danger in July? Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090707/d3620b0d/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Tue Jul 7 20:24:23 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 20:24:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Subadult Peale's Peregrine Falcon at Yaquina Head Message-ID: This afternoon (July 7, 2009) I carefully observed and photographed a Peale's Peregrine Falcon at Yaquina Head, Lincoln County. Peale's are regular in small numbers in winter on the Oregon coast, but this is the first I have seen in summer. My observation was from 1:30 to 1:50 PM I first saw the bird from the lighthouse parking lot as it flew by at eye level over the south side viewing platform. It made two rapid circuits along the cliff faces above the cobble beach, and then went over to the north side and perched on a dead branch in the little cluster of Sitka Spruces. The bird was very large and quite dark, but at first appeared to be an adult. When perched I could see (and photos show) that the crown retained some brown immature feathers. A few of the upper wing coverts were brown (retained immature feathers). The flight feathers were in molt. From my flight shots, primaries #1-2 were old (immature), #3 was missing, #4 4/5s new, grown, #5-7 new, #8-10 old. Secondaries were mostly old, with 3-4 of the inner ones new. At least one rectrix was growing, but otherwise I could not see the tail molt pattern. The new dorsal feathering was very dark, blackish slaty, with little if any grayish bloom. The belly was barred, while the chest was lightly spotted with teardrop-shaped spots. the upper cheast and throat were white. Characters consistent with Peale's vs other subspecies: 1. Very large size. 2. Head pattern: Black crown and moderately broad "sideburns", with a white auricular area behind the sideburns. The back edge of the sideburns was irregular, with some black feathers spotting into the white. 3. Very dark coloration of the new feathering of the upperparts. 4. pale yellowish skin around eyes and cere. 5. Underparts pattern. 6. lack of any reddish in underparts color. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090707/92e25828/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Tue Jul 7 21:31:29 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 21:31:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] additional photos of dead bird Message-ID: <49C2416F61F44B21855653D835E731FE@your5rlp3a9516> OBolites, I have sent to Mike Patterson four additional photos of the bird I picked up in Idaho. They show plumage details of breast, open wing, tail, and feet. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090707/57ac6bf0/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Tue Jul 7 23:22:41 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 23:22:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Second Incident of High Speed Driver on Beaches Killing Birds: This Time in Oregon In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi, ? See the story and link to the story below of the second recent incident. ? I wonder if someone saw the story of someone running down birds on a nearby Washington beach and decided to do it in Oregon? ?Sometimes news stories can give people ideas, especially since the story below indicates that there was publicity that the Washington driver was not prosecuted. According to the article below, "Wildlife officers say it's common for speeding vehicles to kill birds on Northwest beaches..." ? ?Yours, Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon ========================================= http://www.koinlocal6.com/mostpopular/story/Another-Beach-Bird-Slaughter/zZy9dvBfU0WoyN8dxmy0hg.cspx Another Beach Bird Slaughter Last Update: 7/05/2009 9:17 pm FORT STEVENS, Ore. - Just a week after the slaughter of dozens of seabirds in Southwestern Washington, it has happened again - this time in Oregon. In both instances, the bird-killers were driving trucks at high speeds on the beaches. In the Ocean Park, Washington episode, dozens of Caspian terns, Heermans's gulls and other birds were killed. A 20-year-old man, accompanied by two friends, raced his Jeep Wagoneer down the beaches, aiming them at flocks of birds. After local media reports and a reward off, he turned himself in, but it's unclear whether he was ever prosecuted. In the Oregon incident, witnesses say a white 2-door older model Toyota 4-Runner was speeding down Clatsop County beaches, mowing down flocks of birds on Friday afternoon, July 3. The joyride killing spree apparently started in the Fort Stevens area and moved south. The perpetrators have not been caught, and in the Oregon case, it's not known how many birds they killed. Wildlife officers suspect most were swept out to sea. One which was still on the beach but badly injured died Sunday. As of Sunday night, the driver and his passengers were still at large. Witnesses say that driver was a young white male with dark hair. There were three or four people in the 4-Runner. A private citizen has offered a $500 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person or people responsible. However, in the Washington state case, neither the local sheriff's office nor Washington State Police pressed any charges, leaving that up to the Pacific County Prosecutor. If the Oregon driver is found, the Oregon State Police would be the main law enforcement agency in charge. Anyone with any information about the case is asked to call the state police. Wildlife officers say it's common for speeding vehicles to kill birds on Northwest beaches, but less common for the drivers to create mass slaughters by deliberately aiming those speeding vehicles at flocks. From cgates326 at gmail.com Tue Jul 7 23:30:10 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 23:30:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Washington County Black-throated Sparrow & Red Knot ?????????? Message-ID: <12BD006E12A24108B3A7362A8C018AB3@cgatesPC> I found 2 Washington County records that I can't verify. Does anyone know anything about any historic records of Red Knot or a Black-throated Sparrow in Washington County? Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090707/0e1a5082/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Jul 8 05:55:59 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2009 05:55:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] "road" kill on beaches Message-ID: <4e42437b079ec53ad8af3d411c55745d@earthlink.net> The speed limit is quite low on Oregon beaches. It is clearly necessary to drive at high speeds to kill the birds. It's absurd to not prosecute when a suspect is on hand. Lars Norgren From vernd at oregonfast.net Wed Jul 8 13:45:55 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2009 13:45:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] (no subject) Message-ID: <7F5156A0-BF16-4379-90D5-ADD4FA86BB38@oregonfast.net> Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090708/7a37ed30/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Wed Jul 8 13:51:52 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2009 13:51:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: "road" kill on beaches References: <56695791-12D6-48CE-8BF7-24653E2B292E@oregonfast.net> Message-ID: <51AD2830-25FB-4087-9D2C-C9E8AB45E526@oregonfast.net> Begin forwarded message: > From: Vern DiPietro > Date: July 8, 2009 1:48:25 PM PDT > To: Norgren Family > Subject: Re: [obol] "road" kill on beaches > > I agree with Lars. > On a related note, someone mowed over 4 of 5 neighborhood White > geese and 4 Canadas on the road near my place out here at Ada. > It's just not very nice in my book. > I wonder what THAT Karma is going to look like? > Vern > > On Jul 8, 2009, at 5:55 AM, Norgren Family wrote: > >> The speed limit is quite low >> on Oregon beaches. It is clearly >> necessary to drive at high speeds >> to kill the birds. It's absurd to >> not prosecute when a suspect is >> on hand. Lars Norgren >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> > > Vern DiPietro > Ada Oregon. > www.vernondipietrophotographer.com > > "Be who you are and say what you feel, > because those that mind, don't matter, > and those who matter, don't mind." > -- Dr Seuss > > > Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090708/20db3865/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Jul 8 14:19:04 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2009 14:19:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wed morning, Eugene Message-ID: We took the trails to the Willamette River at the Wildish property, behind the old BRING (recycling) site. We found fair numbers of birds, but low diversity. Most numerous were waxwings and pewees. The waxwings were flycatching over the many ponds and along the river and the pewees were calling and chasing with spread tails, small bugs in the foliage. Many Black-headed Grosbeaks were still singing loudly. They generally are among the first to turn off their songs into nesting season. Wood Duck - 8+ two adults and half-developed brood. Mallard - 16 Cinnamon Teal - 1 Great Blue Heron - 1 Green Heron - 8 Turkey Vulture - 14 Osprey - 2 Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Spotted Sandpiper - 4 Mourning Dove - 7 Belted Kingfisher - 5 Red-breasted Sapsucker - 1 im. N. Flicker - 1 W. W. Pewee - 30+ Black Phoebe - 1 Warbling Vireo - 8+ Steller's Jay - 1 Scrub Jay - 3 Violet-green Swallow - 15+ Black-capped Chickadee - 10 Bewick's Wren - 3 Swainson's Thrush - 5 American Robin - 30+ Wrentit - 6 Cedar Waxwing - 150+ Yellow Warbler - 8 Yellow-breasted Chat - 1 Spotted Towhee - 10 Song Sparrow - 15+ Black-headed Grosbeak - 10+ Red-winged Blackbird - 2 B-h Cowbird - 8 House Finch - 2 Am. Goldfinch - 12+ Craig Merkel, Fred Chancey, Dave Brown, Paul Sherrell, Don Schrouder, Sarah Vasconcellos, Dave Hill, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090708/937299c4/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Wed Jul 8 15:26:52 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2009 15:26:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Question abt Low Magpie numbers Message-ID: <4423EBF0-25DD-459A-BC63-9A7FBF295174@oregonfast.net> Hello OBOL, I spent the weekend at the Bluegrass Festival in Fossil. Quite hot for this mossback, but fun just the same. On Sunday I spent time down at Sheep Rock and got a few nice photos. My question is: I noted NO MAGPIES from Thursday to Monday when I returned. When I was out at Hancock in '77 they were pretty common. Does anyone have some insight to this? The best sighting for the trip was a BADGER between Fossil and Condon. Vern Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090708/6910aca0/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Wed Jul 8 15:34:05 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:34:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Question abt Low Magpie numbers Message-ID: <20090708153405.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.0e177021c8.wbe@email.secureserver.net> West Nile Virus could be one possible explanation for low magpie numbers in Central/Eastern Oregon. West Nile Virus has hit yellow-billed magpies pretty hard in California, and it's been responsible for low numbers of corvids and some other species in many parts of the country. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] Question abt Low Magpie numbers > From: Vern DiPietro > Date: Wed, July 08, 2009 3:26 pm > To: OBOL OBOL > > > Hello OBOL, > I spent the weekend at the Bluegrass Festival in Fossil. Quite hot > for this mossback, but fun just the same. On Sunday I spent time down > at Sheep Rock and got a few nice photos. > My question is: > I noted NO MAGPIES from Thursday to Monday when I returned. When I > was out at Hancock in '77 they were pretty common. > Does anyone have some insight to this? > > The best sighting for the trip was a BADGER between Fossil and Condon. > > Vern > > Vern DiPietro > Ada Oregon. > www.vernondipietrophotographer.com > > "Be who you are and say what you feel, > because those that mind, don't matter, > and those who matter, don't mind." > -- Dr Seuss
_______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Wed Jul 8 15:40:32 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2009 15:40:32 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] "road" kill on beaches Message-ID: <95077.43960.qm@web51811.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Lars & others: I have been in contact with several people involved in this case (and 2 other similar cases). If anyone wants the contact information for the decision makers (state and federal) in this case, please contact me off list and I will provide it. No charges have been filed as of yet, there is no arraignment scheduled, and it may be a while before we know if there will be one. The state has up to 1 year to decide whether or not to indict and the feds have up to 5 years. It is possible that both the state and feds will decide to prosecute. This would not be double jeopardy as the charges are different. However, the feds will be paying attention to what the state does and will use it as one factor in deciding whether or not to prosecute. The Prosecuting Attorney in Pacific County, WA is waiting on the report from the enforcement sergeant in charge of the case at Washington Fish and Wildlife before making a decision. Although, he has up to a year to file it, he hopes to get it done by the end of the month. He is waiting on additional witness reports and doesn't plan to request lab work at this point...if he did, this could delay the report by quite a while. As reported in the papers, 32 dead birds were collected as evidence and there were multiple witnesses. Evidently there were 3-4 species involved, mostly gulls: a couple of Caspian Terns, about half Heermann's Gulls...the other half California Gulls and possibly Ring-billed Gulls (although I'm a bit skeptical due to the initial numbers given to me...may find out later today if these could have been misidentified). Going by state statue, Washington Fish and Game considers this a misdemeanor case, not a gross misdemeanor. Misdemeanor because it involves "protected species" as defined in law and not gross misdemeanor because there were no threatened or endangered species involved. Several people in the state seem to think that the feds have decided to let the state handle it solo but this doesn't seem to be the case according to US Fish & Wildlife, Enforcement Division, the lead agency in charge of violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act....and I get a definite sense that they mean what they say. A few finer points of the law on the federal side....they do not need to prove intent or even knowledge of the law....although this could affect whether they actually choose to prosecute.....they charge by the incident, not by the number of birds....so, if one drives through a flock of migratory birds and kills 20 of them, it is considered one incident, not 20. However, in this case, it has been reported that they intentionally took aim at the birds several times so there is at least potential that it could be charged as more than one incident, but not a separate charge for each dead/injured bird. Max penalties: federal: $15,000/6 months in prison (solid info) state: $1000/90 days in jail (according to the prosecuting attorney office....note this is different than reported in some of the papers...not clear to me yet if they can prosecute for each bird killed or just each incident on the state side) In my opinion, this is a particularly egregious case. If the facts as reported hold true, this was the REPEATED INTENTIONAL killing of migratory birds, and not just one bird but at least 34 birds, most likely more. In other words, this is not just a case of a young person taking a joy ride on the beach and accidentally killing a bird(s) in the process, which would be bad enough. Mostly because of the intentional nature but also because of the repeated nature of this alleged crime, this case infuriates me and I want them prosecuted if the facts as reported hold true. If they aren't truly held accountable, I'm afraid of the message that will be sent to the general public. You only have to read some of the bone-headed comments at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009397765_webbirdkill29m.html to see the importance of sending the right message in this case. My gut is telling me that these fellows will get little more than a slap on the wrist, if that, if left solely up to the state. I would like to see the feds step in. Why have these species federally protected if it doesn't mean something. It will be up to certain people at US Fish and Wildlife to determine if violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act have occurred and whether or not to present the case to the US Attorney's Office for prosecution. I'm told if the case is presented, the US Attorney's Office would likely go forward, although they will review it to make sure the case has merit of course. I have already voiced my opinion to US Fish and Wildlife and I'm getting a definite sense that it would be helpful for others to do the same. I believe there are many people on this list who could do so in a manner and style that would be most effective. If you would like to express your opinion, please contact me and I'll give you the contact info for the best two people to contact. There are many details I am not reporting here so if you are really interested in this, please contact me off list. Cindy Ashy P.S. This article from the Daily Astorian: http://www.dailyastorian.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=398&ArticleID=62100&TM=38874.61 shows a pic of the 34 bird carcasses laid out at the wildlife center and a good pic of the Caspian Tern that didn't make it. From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed Jul 8 21:54:23 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:54:23 -0400 Subject: [obol] birds I can't ID, again Message-ID: <8CBCE68767FB785-1058-24AE@WEBMAIL-MY23.sysops.aol.com> I went to Conboy NWR on Tuesday and it is a very birdy place. However, there were no signs or maps that even give you a clue about all the small roads that border or cross the refuge. If my wife did not have a GPS for her car, we would have never found the Headquarters,?which isn't a Headquarters at all, just a bulletin board. But in spite of that I saw and photographed some really great birds. I'm editing the ones I can identify, but there are 6 that I can not match up to anything in my Sibleys. Whether it is because some are juveniles or molting, or simply my inexperience I don't know. I suspect the experience thing is the main problem. I have posted these birds on my Flicker account by number. If anyone has a moment to check them out and can identify some of them, I will be most grateful for the information. I go out birding a lot, and I see a lot of birds I can't identify, especially those little ones that are never still. But when I look for them in the book, I'm just no t confident enough to add them to my list, unless I can get a photo to compare them too. Thanks in advance for any help. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Oregon http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/sets/72157621029215761/detail/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090709/fbb50ba4/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Jul 8 23:53:07 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:53:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 7-9-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * July 9, 2009 * ORPO0907.09 - birds mentioned Cackling Goose Bufflehead Am. White Pelican COMMON MOORHEN American Golden-Plover Pacific Golden-Plover Baird?s Sandpiper Dunlin Heermann?s Gull Parasitic Jaeger Eastern Kingbird HOODED WARBLER Tricolored Blackbird Black Rosy-Finch - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday July 9. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On July 4 a COMMON MOORHEN was at Borax Lake in the Alvord Basin. A singing male HOODED WARBLER was seen July 7 in a southwest Portland neighborhood. It did not remain. On July 4 an EASTERN KINGBIRD was at Cape Blanco. Both PACIFIC and AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were reported from the North Spit of Coos Bay. A BAIRD?S SANDPIPER and two late CACKLING GEESE were there July 6. On July 2 a PARASITIC JAEGER was at the Dunes Overlook south of Florence. A heavy northward movement of HEERMANN?S GULLS was reported July 3. On July 2 two DUNLIN were among a flock of migrant shorebirds at Ridgefield NWR. Ten WHITE PELICANS were at the mouth of the Deschutes River July 2. Over 150 BUFFLEHEAD were gathered July 5 on Agency Lake near Upper Klamath Lake. On July 5 a TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD was reported from Malheur NWR. Two BLACK-ROSY-FINCHES were seen on Steens Mountain that day. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090708/9fea1f2d/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Thu Jul 9 00:38:00 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:38:00 -0400 Subject: [obol] looking for Western Tanager, Portland area Message-ID: <8CBCE7F519AE8A5-1058-26E3@WEBMAIL-MY23.sysops.aol.com> I've been going out a couple of days each week looking to add new birds to my very short life list. I have managed to see a Western Tanager at the Sandy River Delta, for just a couple of seconds. I would really like to get a couple of photographs of one. I am patient, and persistant. But I'm hopeing someone has a place where they see Western Tanagers fairly often, and will share that info. Thanks. Johnny Sasko Sandy, or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090709/d411b0e1/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Jul 9 09:24:39 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 9 Jul 2009 16:24:39 +0000 Subject: [obol] New piece posted to www.birdfellow.com Message-ID: Greetings All, John C. Robinson, author of Birding for Everyone has written a piece for the BirdFellow.com (www.birdfellow.com) online journal. John is African-American and a former biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In recent years he has done much research into the under-representation of minorities, particularly blacks, in the birding community. He is currently touring the country introducing the world of birds to inner city and minority school children. He is also a regular speaker at bird clubs and Audubon societies around the country. Dave Irons _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_SD_25GB_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090709/921d591c/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Thu Jul 9 14:57:35 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Thu, 9 Jul 2009 14:57:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] birds I can't ID, again In-Reply-To: <8CBCE68767FB785-1058-24AE@WEBMAIL-MY23.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBCE68767FB785-1058-24AE@WEBMAIL-MY23.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: Johnny, Here are identifications of your unknown birds: 1st - Although this is almost unidentifiable because of over exposure, my guess is White-crowned Sparrow 2nd - Juvenile Western Bluebirds 3rd - Juvenile Western Meadowlark 4th - Eastern Kingbird 5th - Western Kingbird 6th - Eastern Kingbird Last - Juvenile Cliff Swallow _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of jonysky101 at aol.com Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 9:54 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] birds I can't ID, again I went to Conboy NWR on Tuesday and it is a very birdy place. However, there were no signs or maps that even give you a clue about all the small roads that border or cross the refuge. If my wife did not have a GPS for her car, we would have never found the Headquarters, which isn't a Headquarters at all, just a bulletin board. But in spite of that I saw and photographed some really great birds. I'm editing the ones I can identify, but there are 6 that I can not match up to anything in my Sibleys. Whether it is because some are juveniles or molting, or simply my inexperience I don't know. I suspect the experience thing is the main problem. I have posted these birds on my Flicker account by number. If anyone has a moment to check them out and can identify some of them, I will be most grateful for the information. I go out birding a lot, and I see a lot of birds I can't identify, especially those little ones that are never still. But when I look for them in the book, I'm ju st not confident enough to add them to my list, unless I can get a photo to compare them too. Thanks in advance for any help. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Oregon http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/sets/72157621029215761/detail/ _____ Dell Studio XPS Desktop: Save up to $400 - Limited Time Offer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090709/07282c83/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Thu Jul 9 15:57:34 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:57:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seaside Cove today - 7/9/2009 Message-ID: <4A5675DE.5010701@pacifier.com> I spent about a half hour watching stuff from Seaside Cove this afternoon. There have been a couple GRAY WHALES feeding close to shore the last week or so. Steve Warner got to go surfing with one yesterday. Plenty of HARBOR PORPOISES, too. The biggest surprise was a hatch-year MARBLED MURRELET with at least two (more likely three adults) fairly close to shore. I also got iffy looks at what was probably a POMARINE JAEGER harassing other piscivores (mostly pelicans, loons and murres) right at the edge of scope resolution. Definitely not a Heermann's Gull, by size and shape. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Surf Scoter 4 Red-throated Loon 3 Pacific Loon 2 Common Loon 2 Western Grebe 600 Clark's Grebe 2 Brown Pelican 25 Brandt's Cormorant 30 Pelagic Cormorant 2 Pomarine Jaeger 1 [1] Heermann's Gull 65 California Gull 15 Western Gull 2 Glaucous-winged Gull 3 Unidentified gull 40 Caspian Tern 12 Common Murre 1000 Pigeon Guillemot 1 Marbled Murrelet 4 [2] Footnotes: [1] Probably this species; large and bulky, harassing other fish eaters about 1km out. [2] In fairly close; 3 adults and 1 hatch-year Total number of species seen: 19 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Weaponized Ginseng http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11435/ From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Thu Jul 9 15:56:47 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (tmacport99 at hotmail.com) Date: Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:56:47 GMT Subject: [obol] A few Sandy River Birds (Mult.) Message-ID: <200907092256.n69MulhD007442@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Tom McNamara by http://birdnotes.net Date: July 9, 2009 Location: Sandy River Delta, Multnomah County, Oregon Temperature: 70 degrees fahrenheit Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 10% Precipitation: none OBOL, I hadn't been out to Sandy River Delta in a good number of months and so I thought I would take a leisurely mid-day walk out there today to find a chat or two, e.kingbird, red-eyed vireo etc. Ran into 2 Portland birders Jeff. S.. and Paul?...who were listening to an anonymous fledgling. Approaching the clump of trees from whence the sound emanated we finally saw a very recently out of nester --Black-headed Grosbeak. Fun. Taking our leave from one another I saw or heard: Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Red-tailed Hawk Mourning Dove Rufous Hummingbird Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Western Wood-Pewee [1] Willow Flycatcher Pacific-slope Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo [2] Steller's Jay Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit White-breasted Nuthatch Bewick's Wren Swainson's Thrush [3] American Robin European Starling Common Yellowthroat Yellow-breasted Chat [4] Spotted Towhee Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole American Goldfinch Footnotes: [1] tending a nest [2] mercifully, pretty low in the canopy and thus had good looks. Usual spot---over the rise in the road and in the cottonwoods to the right (east ) of the trail; singing a lot. [3] good numbers 20+ [4] at least 2 Total number of species seen: 33 From winkg at hevanet.com Thu Jul 9 18:45:57 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:45:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 07/08/09 Message-ID: <20090710014604.2AA71A8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 07/02 to 07/08/09. Had there been any species neither seen nor heard the previous week, they would have been listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and an updated (7/1/09) checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 5 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Cooper's Hawk 1 (1, 7/7) Band-tailed Pigeon 3 (6, 7/7) Mourning Dove 3 (1) Vaux's Swift 3 (2) Anna's Hummingbird 2 (1, 7/2 & 3) Rufous Hummingbird 2 (1, 7/6 & 7) Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 (1, 7/7) Downy Woodpecker 1 (1, 7/3) Northern Flicker 2 (1, 7/6 & 7) Pileated Woodpecker 1 (2, 7/3) Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 (1, 7/3) Pacific-slope Flycatcher 4 (4, 7/8) Hutton's Vireo 1 (3, 7/3) Steller's Jay 4 (2) Western Scrub-Jay 3 (2) American Crow 5 (3) Violet-green Swallow 5 (4) Black-capped Chickadee 5 (15) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2 (5, 7/3) Bushtit 4 (20, 7/6) Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 (5) Brown Creeper 3 (2) Bewick's Wren 1 (1, 7/8) Winter Wren 4 (2) Swainson's Thrush 1 (1, 7/3) American Robin 5 (20, 7/7) European Starling 1 (1, 7/2) Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 (1, 7/3) Black-throated Gray Warbler 4 (2) Wilson's Warbler 2 (3, 7/3) Western Tanager 5 (6, 7/7) Spotted Towhee 5 (5) Song Sparrow 5 (15, 7/7) Dark-eyed Junco 5 (8) Black-headed Grosbeak 4 (4, 7/7) Brown-headed Cowbird 1 (2, 7/2) Purple Finch 4 (2) House Finch 4 (15, 7/3) Pine Siskin 3 (4, 7/7) American Goldfinch 5 (10, 7/3) Fledglings: Red-breasted Sapsucker, Hutton's Vireo, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Western Tanager, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak, Brown-headed Cowbird (fed by Dark-eyed Junco) Misses (birds found at least 3 days in previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Orange-crowned Warbler Wink Gross Portland From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Jul 9 19:13:16 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (garbledmodwit at yahoo.com) Date: Thu, 9 Jul 2009 19:13:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos migrants of late Message-ID: <884253.74284.qm@web45303.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> All from the N. Spit of Coos Bay: 7/7: 1- SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (adult), nice looks and heard well, I finally found one after several others were reported! 7/8: 1- RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (Justin Bosler saw one on the first, but I hadn't seen one until this date). 7/9: 1- adult male PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER in regal breeding plumage, seen by Justin Bosler the day before and perhaps the same bird he saw a couple days earlier. Also WESA, LESA, GRYE and SBDO continue to come through. Oh, abbreviations, how tacky! The next week or so should bring in all sorts of new shorebird species- happy birding all! Tim R Coos Bay From jvanmoo at sisna.com Thu Jul 9 19:49:23 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Thu, 9 Jul 2009 19:49:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-necked Grebe, Klamath Falls, 7-9-09 Message-ID: Hi Folks, The Thursday BirdIng Bunch (Marilyn Christian, Dave Potter and I this week) went to Bliss Road ponds, Gerber Reservoir (east of Bonanza) Round Lake Reservoir (south of Gerber) and Nuss Pond (near Stukel Mtn.). It was a great day to be out in the field, sunny and not too hot and almost totally bug free! Highlights: Dave Potter spotted a RED-NECKED GREBE near the dam at Gerber Reservoir while we were eating lunch--totally unexpected! We got great scope looks and it was a lifer for Marilyn. I heard a BLUE- GRAY GNATCATCHER (at least 2, maybe more) on the way down the Gerber Reservoir road on our way home. I jumped out of the car (we were stopped!) and pished it up. Not a lifer for anyone but fun to watch. Gerber Reservoir: OSPREY, a couple of BLACK TERNs, 2 BALD EAGLEs, ROCK WREN, lots of MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDs, a VESPER SPARROW, heard BREWER'S SPARROW, a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, and a YELLOW WARBLER. We spotted SANDHILL CRANE (4) on East Langell Valley Rd on the way to Gerber. Bliss road Ponds (near Bonanza): GREAT EGRET (25), VIRGINIA RAIL, WHITE-FACED IBIS (9), LEAST SANDPIPER (15), WILSON'S PHALAROPE (3), WILLET, BLACK-NECKED STILT (10), GREATER YELLOWLEGS (2), LESSER YELLOWLEGS (1), SORA (audible). Nuss Pond: RING-NECKED DUCK (6), GREAT EGRET, EARED GREBE (2) Reeder Road where it crosses the Lost River: GREEN HERON (2), BLACK- CROWNED NIGHT HERON. The usual assortment of blackbirds, wrens, wood pewees, kingbirds, nighthawks, meadowlarks, horned larks, etc. were seen in a variety of places. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Thu Jul 9 20:36:11 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Thu, 9 Jul 2009 20:36:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] opening on Audubon Birding Weekend Message-ID: <000601ca010f$cc10f100$16db63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: Some cancellations have created openings on the Audubon Birding Weekend (sponsored by Audubon Society of Portland) going to Lane county, July 25-26. We will lodge in Eugene and visit Fern Ridge Reservoir on Saturday. On Sunday we will go to Florence. To join us, send a registration of $35/person to: Paul T. Sullivan 4470 SW Murray Blvd. #26 Beaverton, OR 97005 I will send a letter to participants, giving details, about July 14. Paul T. Sullivan Audubon Birding Weekends (503) 646-7889 http://www.audubonportland.org/trips-classes-camps/adult/weekends From greg at thebirdguide.com Thu Jul 9 23:58:18 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Thu, 9 Jul 2009 23:58:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Remember this name: Cooper Mountain Nature Park Message-ID: Metro (tri-county regional government in the Portland area that is responsible for urban growth boundaries, parks, garbage, mass transit, Portland zoo, etc.) has opened a new nature park this summer on Cooper Mountain, which rises about 500 feet over the southern edge of Beaverton, Oregon, to an elevation of 774 feet. The nature park occupies the top of the hill, saving it from residential development. The parking area starts on a grassy knoll with numerous lesser and American goldfinches. Over 5 miles of graveled trails lead in loops around the crown. All trails have some elevation changes, so these may not be suitable for some hikers. Habitats include scrubby oak and madrone on the south slope where white-crowned sparrows and lazuli buntings sing. There are ravines of willow, cottonwood, and western red-cedar with Swainson's thrushes and spotted towhees. And there are some Douglas-fir woods about 20 years old with dark-eyed juncos and black-throated gray warblers. http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=16016 I arrived just before noon and spent a little over an hour there. Despite this being the "slow" time of day, birds were quite active (list below). Starting next April, you can expect migration reports similar to what may come from Pittock Mansion and Mount Tabor in adjoining Multnomah County. This should be an excellent location for fallouts of warblers and other spring migrants. This location is reached more or less directly by following 185th from Hwy 26 south all the way through Beaverton. And it is pretty much a straight shot down the hill southward to the Tualatin River NWR. http://www.fws.gov/tualatinriver/ Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 11:04 PM Subject: Census Count: Cooper Mountain Nature Park, Washington County, Oregon on July 09, 2009 > This report was mailed for Greg Gillson by http://birdnotes.net > > Date: July 9, 2009 > Location: Cooper Mountain Nature Park, Washington County, Oregon > > Low temperature: 67 degrees fahrenheit High temperature: 70 degrees > fahrenheit > Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 100% > > Spent an hour and a half at noon checking out the newly opened park. > > Birds seen (in taxonomic order): > > Turkey Vulture 3 > Red-tailed Hawk 2 > Vaux's Swift 4 > Western Wood-Pewee 2 > Willow Flycatcher 1 > Hutton's Vireo 1 > Steller's Jay 1 > Western Scrub-Jay 8 > Tree Swallow 8 > Violet-green Swallow 3 > Barn Swallow 10 > Black-capped Chickadee 8 > Chestnut-backed Chickadee 3 > Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 > Bewick's Wren 3 > Winter Wren 1 > Swainson's Thrush 2 > American Robin 10 > Orange-crowned Warbler 1 > Black-throated Gray Warbler 3 > Common Yellowthroat 1 > Western Tanager 1 > Spotted Towhee 8 > Song Sparrow 2 > White-crowned Sparrow 7 > Dark-eyed Junco 6 > Black-headed Grosbeak 1 > Lazuli Bunting 3 > Purple Finch 15 > House Finch 2 > Pine Siskin 5 > Lesser Goldfinch 8 > American Goldfinch 10 > > Total number of species seen: 33 > > > From uuspirit at yahoo.com Fri Jul 10 01:11:26 2009 From: uuspirit at yahoo.com (Mary Reese) Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:11:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Conboy NWR Message-ID: <111553.9544.qm@web54112.mail.re2.yahoo.com> You're so right about Conboy Lake?- it's nearly impossible to find.? It's right on the border of two pages in the DeLorme, and drove us nuts circling around?all over the countryside trying to find it a year ago.? When we did, there wasn't any lake at all, but we saw lots of elk and various cool birds.? I recall that the "coolest" were: Pygmy Nuthatch, Western Bluebird, Cedar Waxwing, and Eastern Kingbird. ? If any of you get up that way, it's worth it just to see the old cabin.? And DO spend a night at the Trout Lake Motel, not too?far away.? It's the cutest place I've ever seen (bear and rubber ducky theme - yes, I'm serious), and great breakfast included!? Bird feeders just outside your window, absolutely loaded with Evening Grosbeaks.? Close to the ice caves too, although that road was blocked with snow when we tried to go there (late May). ? Mary Reese & Jim Allen Portland / Fairview OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090710/fc789acf/attachment.html From uuspirit at yahoo.com Fri Jul 10 01:25:46 2009 From: uuspirit at yahoo.com (Mary Reese) Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:25:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Thanks for Acorn Woodpecker info Message-ID: <187229.91640.qm@web54110.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Thank you to everyone who sent us locations of where to find ACORN WOODPECKERS.? We received about 15 replies - OBOL is so great!!? The same 3 locations kept popping up - Forest Grove, Hillsboro, and Molalla.? We chose to go to Molalla, because the country drive appealed to us much more than plowing through the city on Hwy 26. ? We were delighted to find?LOTS of the woodpeckers at Clark Park next to the Buckaroo rodeo grounds.? They were everywhere!? They especially like the dead snag at the far edge of the little park, where they were perched and acting like flycatchers.? It was quite a display.? Seems like the?STARLINGS are?competing to take over this park, though.? There were many nests of both species.? We also found a gorgeous pair of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES?that went back & forth between the oak grove and the neighbor's apple trees across the street. ? We had a lovely picnic on a beautiful day, and Jim finally got his elusive life bird. ? Thank You!! Mary Reese & Jim Allen Portland / Fairview OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090710/fd1bbcf6/attachment.html From rlowe at casco.net Fri Jul 10 06:43:18 2009 From: rlowe at casco.net (Roy Lowe) Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:43:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seabirds near Newport Message-ID: <10097A66-0605-409C-BB5B-10027B211350@casco.net> Yesterday, we conducted seabird surveys of colonies from Newport to Boiler Bay by boat on calm seas. We observed 17 common murre adult/ chicks pairs on the water so birds are beginning to depart the colonies at Yaquina Head. We also observed one recently fledged marbled murrelet. On the way back to Newport we looped at 3-4 miles offshore where sooty shearwaters and northern fulmars were abundant. We also observed on black-footed albatross in these nearshore waters. With the calm seas we were able to get good looks at 18 blue sharks finning along the surface. At the Yaquina Bay south jetty there were 7 surfbirds molting out of breeding plumage. Roy From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Jul 10 09:49:09 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:49:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Dunn Forest / Soap Creek Beef Ranch Vesper Sparrows etc. Message-ID: <1247244549.4333.28.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, After a week-long case of the midsummer crud, I finally felt up to a bicycle ride this morning so I rode over to Dunn State Forest and took Forest Road 400 up to the top end of OSU's Soap Creek Beef Ranch (north of Corvallis in Benton County). Most notable were the very good numbers of VESPER SPARROWS (14, including at least 5 fledglings) and CHIPPING SPARROWS (18+, including at least 6 fledglings). Most of these were concentrated within a radius of few hundred yards that has the best habitat structure (bunchgrasses -- mostly non-native but bunchgrasses anyway -- dotted with older oaks, a few clumps of Douglas' hawthorn & serviceberry, and widely spaced small bushes & oak saplings). This is far & away the most Vesper Sparrows I've ever found in one place in western Oregon, where the nesting subspecies (Oregon Vesper Sparrow) is a species of concern. Other oak savanna/woodland species present included numerous LAZULI BUNTINGS (with fledglings), LESSER GOLDFINCHES (two very cute youngsters perched right in front of me), WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, and WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE. From the look of the place, I really expected a Lark Sparrow or Grasshopper Sparrow to pop up if I stood there long enough, but I didn't see either of those, nor Western Kingbirds which the place also looks good for. The more forested parts of Dunn State Forest had dozens of PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS singing & calling, along with the usual forest warblers (HERMIT, MACGILLIVRAY'S, BLACK-THROATED GRAY, and one WILSON'S near the gate). There must have been 10 WESTERN TANAGERS and 20 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES in one regenerating clearcut, along with CEDAR WAXWINGS, HOUSE WRENS, OREGON JUNCOS, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS (many with fledglings). I was listening closely for a Hammond's Flycatcher all alogn this road but didn't hear any, just lots of Pac-slopes -- in one place where I stopped, three were countersinging within a hundred feet of me. It's amazing how many Pac-slopes are out there. I saw a few more CHIPPING SPARROWS along Soap Creek Rd. where YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS and WILLOW FLYCATCHERS are still singing in the clearcut slopes, plus two CHIPPING SPARROWS (possibly with a juvenile) right along the south edge of the Coffin Butte Regional Landfill. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From deweysage at verizon.net Fri Jul 10 15:20:59 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:20:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Cty Bank Swallow Message-ID: <4A57BECB.10200@verizon.net> 7/10 New River Coos Cty A BANK SWALLOW flew by me today while surveying at New River. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From tom-escue at comcast.net Fri Jul 10 15:48:06 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:48:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Starling pests Message-ID: <10CB34F008144E2794478D5D0258BB6E@TomsPC> Adult and chick STARLINGS have taken over my back yard. I wonder where the SHARP-SHINNED HAWK is when I need it! Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090710/f755bd6c/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Fri Jul 10 18:12:41 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:12:41 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Bewick's Wrens Message-ID: <803598943.250201247274761827.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi all, The Bewick's Wrens fledged yesterday morning (7/9/09).? They started leaving the nest about the time I left for work (7:30am ish).?The fledging was chaos with hummingbirds, bushtits, chickadees,?wrens and a raccoon in attendance.? I ran the raccoon off and believe the three fledglings were successful in climbing into the arbrovitae hedge.? ?I really miss the adult wrens.? They've been singing and calling in the garden for weeks and now its so quiet.? I hear the adult wrens calling a fussing a couple backyards away from my house, where there aren't quite so many threats to the kids. Guess this makes me an empty nester. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090711/0999389c/attachment.html From cockatoodowns at gmail.com Fri Jul 10 18:51:03 2009 From: cockatoodowns at gmail.com (chris shank) Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:51:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] White pelicans Message-ID: <4e95acbb0907101851m67865fbg9c333e27100cf1c6@mail.gmail.com> 50 +/- white pelicans were circling gracefully over Baskett Slough, 7/10 at 10:30 a.m. Stopped the truck on Hwy. 22 to count and observe them. -- Chris Shank Dallas, OR http://cockatoodowns.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090710/9bf5270d/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Fri Jul 10 21:41:06 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:41:06 EDT Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge - Solitary Sandpiper Message-ID: Hello All, I biked out Royal Avenue to Fern Ridge after work this afternoon and found good numbers of shorebirds there. Semipalmated Plover - 2 at Meadowlark Prairie Wilson's Snipe - 2 Long-billed Dowitcher - 380 (counted by 2's) Spotted Sandpiper - 2 Solitary Sandpiper - 1 (south of Redhead Pond flew to Redhead pond marsh) Greater Yellowlegs ~ 40 Lesser Yellowlegs - 6 Western Sandpiper ~110 (one flock of 80 at the scrape - the scrape is east of Redhead) Least Sandpiper ~ 300 (several hundred peeps, mostly Least on the pelican roost were hard to count) Wilson's Phalarope - 6 California Gull - 3 adult 1 juvenile Bonaparte's Gull - 2 Caspian Tern - 1 Redhead Pond is the first pond south of the Royal Avenue parking lot. It's not much of a pond now, just a narrow canal of water along the west dike. The rest of the pond is overgrown with vegetation and was packed full of shorebirds tonight. There were at least a couple hundred additional peeps, not included in the numbers above. They are nearly impossible to see while on the ground though. Flyover Turkey Vultures and Herons put the otherwise hidden birds up several times while I was there. Good Birding, John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon **************Looking for love this summer? Find it now on AOL Personals. (http://personals.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntuslove00000003) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090711/5e6db392/attachment.html From forcreeks at earthlink.net Sat Jul 11 00:22:30 2009 From: forcreeks at earthlink.net (Steve Berliner) Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:22:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] OT - American Badger photo Cabin Lake Message-ID: <380-2200976117223078@earthlink.net> I had a shocker sitting in my blind digiscoping birds last Monday at 8:45 a.m. at Cabin Lake's lower hole, when an American Badger cautiously approached the pool, looked my tent over, drank and hurried off. Had never seen one in the wild before; what a thrill. Photo in my wildlife gallery: http://www.pbase.com/sberliner/wildlife Birds photographed included WH Woodpecker; W. Tanager, Red Crossbill, W. Bluebirds, GT Towhee. Steve Berliner forcreeks at earthlink.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090711/32b1fb07/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Sat Jul 11 09:09:21 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 09:09:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Shorebirds of late Message-ID: <2b1bbd260907110909r78e5fca1y957267b06dd89fae@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Shorebird migration on the coast is picking up big time. Yesterday 10 July we had somewhere around 3000 WESTERN SANDPIPERS on the beach between Winchester Bay and Tenmile Creek (Douglas and Coos County). Most flocks were in the 500 range, but one flock had at least 1000 birds. Good numbers of SEMI-PALMATED PLOVERS were around too. At least 4 SANDERLINGS in various plumages were also in the large flock. We had good numbers of Western and Leasts flying overhead, impossible to count. One GREATER YELLOWLEGS was calling from Tenmile Creek. On Wednesday 8 July we observed a single adult SEMI-PALMALMATED SANDPIPER with one LEAST SANDPIPER and about 25 WESTERN SANDPIPERS at Siltcoos Estuary pond Lane Co. We've had pretty good luck with Semis this July. The key seems to be finding them in early July in the smaller flocks. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090711/33ddabe5/attachment.html From uplandsandpiper at hotmail.com Sat Jul 11 12:51:23 2009 From: uplandsandpiper at hotmail.com (Tyler Hicks) Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:51:23 -0500 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR River "S" Unit Message-ID: Tweeters and Obolers,Sidra Blake and I birded the River "S" Unit of Ridgefield NWR today. It was thankfully not as hot as forecasted which kept mosquito numbers down. Shorebird migration appears to be picking up.Highlights were as follows: American Bittern - 1Great Egrets - 3Virginia Rail - 5 SOLITARY SANDPIPER - 1Greater Yellowlegs - 8Lesser Yellowlegs - 10Semipalmated Sandpiper - 2Least Sandpiper - ~ 150Pectoral Sandpiper - 1 early?Long-billed Dowitcher - 30Vaux's Swift - 5Cheers,Tyler Hicks <><><><><><><><><><><><><><>Tyler L. Hicks Ph.D. Candidate Washington State University VancouverE-mail: tyler_hicks at wsu.eduWeb Page: http://thingswithwings.org<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>"We were certainly uncertain. At least, I'm pretty sure I am." - Modest Mouse _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_BR_life_in_synch_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090711/09e7243e/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Jul 11 14:11:23 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:11:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Benton County Sage Thrasher & Tricolored Blackbirds ????? Message-ID: <3D52BD650DDE43C08B6C2E2B7AD807D6@cgatesPC> While searching through birdnotes.net, I came across records of Tricolored Blackbird and Sage Thrasher in Benton County. Does anyone have any memory or details about these species in Benton County? From what I can gather, Strycker, Herlyn, and Simmons do NOT have records for these species in the county. Chuck Gates -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090711/617644e3/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Jul 11 19:32:49 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:32:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Benton County Sage Thrasher & Tricolored Blackbirds ????? Message-ID: <1247365969.9878.230.camel@clearwater> Hi Chuck & all, There are no dated records for Tricolored Blackbird or Sage Thrasher for Benton County in the www.birdnotes.net database. A quick way to check if there are dated records for a given county on BirdNotes is to produce a checklist for the months of January through November, then another checklist for any other range of months that includes December (for example, Feb-Dec). If the species don't show up on either checklist, then they're only represented on undated lists. Undated lists can be either personal "life lists" entered by birders for the county (or smaller locations in the county), or the birdnotes county checklist (which is used to set the species that are available on checklists for data input). In this case, it looks like the only place that these birds show up is on the birdnotes county checklist. As I recall, this was based on a checklist that was posted on the Audubon Society of Corvallis website about 10 years ago, with updates for new species (such as Sedge Wren) that have been found since. I think that Trent Bray put the original list together, so I've copied him here. I don't have any personal recollection of records for either of these species in Benton County. However, both have been found with some frequency in other mid-Willamette Valley counties, and should be expected to occur at some point in Benton County, even if they haven't already. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis Subject: From: "Charles Gates" Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:11:23 -0700 While searching through birdnotes.net, I came across records of Tricolored Blackbird and Sage Thrasher in Benton County. Does anyone have any memory or details about these species in Benton County? From what I can gather, Strycker, Herlyn, and Simmons do NOT have records for these species in the county. From rflores_2 at msn.com Sat Jul 11 19:38:54 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:38:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Shorebirds Ridgefield NWR Message-ID: I ran out to Ridgefield NWR to see what shorebirds were around this evening. The light could have been better but birds were found scattered all around Rest Lake, River S Unit. I estimated 150 least sandpipers, I did see two semipalmated sandpipers, only two dowitchers and 12 greater and 11 lesser yellowlegs. We will see what the morning will bring. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090711/369d38b3/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Sat Jul 11 19:40:57 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:40:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] western meadowlarks Ridgefield NWR, WA Message-ID: I was surprised to find two western meadowlarks at the south end of the tour route and Rest Lake. Meadowlarks are suspected nesters on the refuge but not all that common in summer. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090711/0a5682fc/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sat Jul 11 19:40:03 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:40:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] PHOTOS: North Oregon Coast Range Message-ID: <4A594D03.9000908@pacifier.com> For those interested, I have posted more photos documenting the effort to inventory the high peaks of the North Oregon Coast Range. http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ As always, if you're cutting and pasting from Siler's you'll have to change the AT to the "at symbol". -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Weaponized Ginseng http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11435/ From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Jul 12 00:50:42 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 07:50:42 +0000 Subject: [obol] New BirdFellow.com piece profiles a day with lots of juv. birds seen in central Oregon Message-ID: Greetings All, I've just posted a new piece to www.birdfellow.com journal that features many photos of birds taken in central Oregon today. We found lots of hatch-year birds and a disturbing array of species feeding juv. Brown-headed Cowbirds at Calliope Crossing. Otherwise, Diane Pettey and I enjoyed a great day afield in the Sisters area. Dave _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090712/35885340/attachment.html From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Sun Jul 12 12:28:57 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (barrymckenzie at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:28:57 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Eugene Birder's Night: July 13 In-Reply-To: <868759124.616571247426808573.JavaMail.root@sz0043a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <635279508.617051247426937131.JavaMail.root@sz0043a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> OBOL- Eugene Birder's Night will be July 13 (second Monday of each Month) at 7pm. LOCATION : Sacred Heart Hospital (downtown), 1255 Hilyard St; Conference Room A (across the hall from the Auditorium). Directions to Conference Room A: -enter main Lobby from Hilyard St -turn Left and walk down hall (past the cafeteria) to end of hall -turn Right and walk down hall (past Dining Room) to end of hall -turn Right and walk a few steps, then Left down the hall toward the Auditorium -Conference Room A (labelled simply Conference Room) is on the Right (across from a bank of telephones on the Left side of the hall) Parking: Parking lot structure (across Hilyard from the Lobby) charges $1/hour (I think). Street parking is not available on Hilyard per se, but is found on 13th, 12th (West of Patterson), and Patterson streets (street parking free after 6pm). Map is at this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=sacred+heart+hospital+eugene,+or&fb=1&split=1&cid=0,0,17378354515337851834&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image Agenda: a) usual reporting format and bird discussion b) photos from participants Note: we will have reliable access to audio/video support from this point on, so those wishing to bring a disc or laptop to show interesting images, etc should feel free to do so. For a lengthly presentation, please give me a heads-up so we can avoid conflicts. Barry McKenzie Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090712/8bc8d013/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Sun Jul 12 14:28:38 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 14:28:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Siletz Bay: Little Blue Heron on July 11 Message-ID: Hi, Dick Demarest writes that at July 11 at noon, he "was driving south from Lincoln City on Hwy 101. I saw the Little?Blue Heron on the west side of the Highway. It was wading in the? first slough north of Drift Creek. It was still mostly white with?some blue gray parts. I had given up hope of seeing it again! Since?I was going at highway speed, I got only a short look at it." Cheers, Range Bayer From range.bayer at gmail.com Sun Jul 12 14:33:46 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 14:33:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Toledo: Calliope Hummingbird on July 12 Message-ID: Hi, In Toledo on July 12, Chuck Philo saw a male Calliope Hummingbird on a bird balm plant. It was only there once, and if it returns, he will let us know. Also in Toledo on July 12, he saw a Peregrine Falcon. At his home in Toledo on June 26, he heard Eurasian Collared-Doves. On June 29-30, he was working in Siletz and heard them there, too. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sun Jul 12 16:10:24 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:10:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Deschutes - Sunday morning birds Calliope, then Hatfield, Tum Res. Message-ID: <113E7B7B46694DC090F255584A0CEF5C@MOM> > Birders > Calliope Crossing this a.m. with highlights of - > GRAY CATBIRD where it has been reported before, slightly downstream > from the spot with Steve's halloween flagging, around aspen. > WILLOW FLYCATCHER that did not vocalize but eventually gave us > enough views of the bill etc that we were comfortable giving it a name. > The Gray Flycatchers nearby had such narrow bills in comparison. > NO Least for us. It seems to be a tough one to find. > > We then went to Hatfield, first pond only which has only a tiny bit > of shoreline. 7 Western Sandpipers and one Least took up all of our > time as we studied them thoroughly. A Golden eagle flew past, a > 1st/2nd year California Gull sat nearby, rest were the usuals. > Brief check of Tum Reservoir turned up Least and Westerns and > Spotted SPs, no terns, gulls or yellowlegs etc. However there were > at least 200 Bank Swallows loafing on the spit and a few in the > air over the water. > > Report was mailed for Judy Meredith by http://birdnotes.net > for Calliope only. > Turkey Vulture > Northern Goshawk - heard only > Red-tailed Hawk > American Kestrel > Mourning Dove > Calliope Hummingbird > Rufous Hummingbird > Williamson's Sapsucker - adults and juvies > Red-naped Sapsucker > Northern Flicker > Western Wood-Pewee > Willow Flycatcher - Near the Halloween Flagging area, in pines. > Gray Flycatcher > Western Kingbird > Cassin's Vireo > Warbling Vireo - one pair busy feeding cowbird in their nest. > Steller's Jay > Common Raven > Tree Swallow > Mountain Chickadee > Bushtit > White-breasted Nuthatch > Pygmy Nuthatch > House Wren > Townsend's Solitaire - adult and young. > American Robin > Gray Catbird - aspen and alder along creek. > Yellow Warbler > Yellow-rumped Warbler > Common Yellowthroat > Chipping Sparrow > Song Sparrow > Dark-eyed Junco - one feeding cowbird. > Black-headed Grosbeak > Red-winged Blackbird > Brewer's Blackbird > Brown-headed Cowbird > Purple Finch > Cassin's Finch > Pine Siskin > House Sparrow > Total number of species seen: 41 > Good birding > Judy > jmeredit at bendnet.com From masohlstrom at msn.com Sun Jul 12 16:36:00 2009 From: masohlstrom at msn.com (M A SOHLSTROM) Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:36:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] "Afield" with Big Al Message-ID: All - check out the nice review of Alan Contreras' newest book "Afield: Forty Years of Birding the American West" in the Sunday Oregonian (Section "O" Page 9). Maybe we can convince him to have an autograph party on the lawns of Malheur headquarters sometime this fall (or next Memorial Day). Good on you, Alan and I'm looking forward to picking up a copy soon! Mary Anne Sohlstrom masohlstrom at msn.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090712/2d36c591/attachment.html From roygerig at hotmail.com Sun Jul 12 16:50:49 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:50:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Baskett Slough Whimbrel Message-ID: Baskett Slough NWR west of Salem July 12: A WHIMBREL was west of the road that crosses the marsh from Coville Rd. over to refuge headquarters today around noon. I saw it for only a short time before it flew to the west, and I never did find it again. This is the same area where I saw one, then seven, WHIMBREL on May 24 and 31 this year. Other fun birds there were 2-3 BLACK-NECKED STILTs, 2-3 WILSON'S PHALAROPEs, an adult PEREGRINE FALCON, and only one AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN today. Other shorebirds are showing up, with a pretty good assortment of GREATER YELLOWLEGS, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERs, and some PEEPs - scattered all over the wet area below Coville Road. That area is quite large right now, and it takes patient scanning to find much. Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090712/4b7ad850/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Jul 12 17:18:44 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:18:44 +0000 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge on Sunday: Black Tern juv. Message-ID: I spent about 45 minutes at Royal Ave during the late morning hours on Sunday before I decided I had not interest in being human lightning rod. From the observation platform I saw a distant juv. Black Tern. Perhaps other had seen hatch-year birds earlier, but I haven't seen any reports. At the of end of Royal, where the old gravel roadbed runs into the lake, I saw a Virginia Rail run from one side of the road to the other. My mom told that she had a family group at that same spot last Tuesday. This is the time of year when it is becomes pretty easy to see rails, particularly the young ones. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_BR_life_in_synch_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090713/c7f0142e/attachment.html From md at teleport.com Sun Jul 12 18:10:01 2009 From: md at teleport.com (Sumner Sharpe) Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:10:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Shorebirds Ridgefield NWR In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <008501ca0356$a626ec80$f274c580$@com> This morning I watched for about 45 minutes two adult and three baby Virginia rails along the north bank of Rest Lake (Ridgefield NWR), just past marker 11. They were in and out of the grass but in plain sight most of the time. Sumner Sharpe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090712/3c25266a/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Sun Jul 12 19:41:29 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:41:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] "Afield" with Big Al In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <4a5a9ed0.22ba720a.0654.2ec5@mx.google.com> Hi Obol: Craig and I bought Alan Contreras?s book about a month ago. We both have read it and really enjoyed it! It was very fun to read. Marilyn Miller _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of M A SOHLSTROM Sent: Sunday, July 12, 2009 4:36 PM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] "Afield" with Big Al All - check out the nice review of Alan Contreras' newest book "Afield: Forty Years of Birding the American West" in the Sunday Oregonian (Section "O" Page 9). Maybe we can convince him to have an autograph party on the lawns of Malheur headquarters sometime this fall (or next Memorial Day). Good on you, Alan and I'm looking forward to picking up a copy soon! Mary Anne Sohlstrom masohlstrom at msn.com Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.375 / Virus Database: 270.13.12/2233 - Release Date: 07/12/09 08:20:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090712/e041210e/attachment.html From iain.t.morris at gmail.com Sun Jul 12 19:46:51 2009 From: iain.t.morris at gmail.com (Iain Morris) Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:46:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] New BirdFellow.com piece profiles a day with lots of juv. birds seen in central Oregon In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On Jul 12, 2009, at 12:50 AM, David Irons wrote: > I've just posted a new piece to www.birdfellow.com journal that > features many photos of birds taken in central Oregon today. We > found lots of hatch-year birds and a disturbing array of species > feeding juv. Brown-headed Cowbirds at Calliope Crossing. Otherwise, > Diane Pettey and I enjoyed a great day afield in the Sisters area. Dave, Your photo of Black Butte provides a nice view of the mysterious "red band" in the forest, attributed to a persistent inversion layer. Here is a local news article for more information on the phenomenon: http://www.nuggetnews.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=15568&TM=72550.91 Thanks for the article, -Iain Bend, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090712/1753bf29/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Sun Jul 12 19:49:16 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:49:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Shorebirds at Ridgefield NWR, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: Today Jim Danzenbaker and I hit Rest Lake on the River S Unit for shorebirds. Later this evening I returned. Here is a compilation of what we found. least sandpiper 113 (there were many peeps because of various conditions that were not id) western sandpiper 15 greater yellowlegs 32 lesser yellowlegs 16 long-billed dowitcher 19 semipalmated sandpiper 2 of other interest 54 great blue heron and 19 great egret. One great "stare you down" look at a long-tailed weasel on the road. Soras heard everywhere, several Virginia rails seen and a yellow-breasted chat singing on the distant dike and heard from the road along the eastside of Rest Lake. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090712/7230d16a/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Sun Jul 12 19:48:36 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:48:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] No more tanagers in N. Am.!! Message-ID: For those interested, check out some of the changes in the AOU check list: http://djringer.com/birding/2009/07/11/aou-50th-supplement-taxonomic-and-nom enclatural-changes/ Larry From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sun Jul 12 20:46:18 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:46:18 +0000 Subject: [obol] Migration to Bandon Message-ID: Went out today hoping shorebird migration had hit Bandon Marsh. Met Knute Anderson and we did not have much luck. Saw a flyby of maybe 30 Westerns in about an hours time. About to leave, Paul Klahr joined me and suddenly we saw literally thousands of Westerns Sandpipers to the west. Not more than five minutes later they were all gone. Alas we found the peregrine falcon that was the cause. Slowly but surely some Westerns returned. For second Sunday Chinese goose was with canadians. Anyway, good news is migration has gotten this far south. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From baileydc at pdx.edu Sun Jul 12 20:38:21 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (baileydc at pdx.edu) Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:38:21 GMT Subject: [obol] Yaquina Bay shorebirds Message-ID: <200907130338.n6D3cLKH030804@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for David C. Bailey by http://birdnotes.net Date: July 12, 2009 Location: Hatfield Marine Science Center, Lincoln County, Oregon I made a brief check for shorebirds from the nature trail on this overcast evening. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Bald Eagle 1 Whimbrel 35 Marbled Godwit 1 Western Sandpiper 30 Short-billed Dowitcher 85 Total number of species seen: 5 From steve_dougill at hotmail.com Sun Jul 12 21:03:28 2009 From: steve_dougill at hotmail.com (Steve Dougill) Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:03:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Southern Harney County Message-ID: Peter Lowe and I had a great weekend in southern Harney County. On the Friday evening we spotted two BURROWING OWLS sitting up on top of the sage just north of the 5L Rd (just north of The Narrows). As we stopped we hear them calling. Saturday morning we walked along the rim of The Steins in a few locations and got very fleeting views of 2 BLACK ROSY-FINCHES. It was pretty windy which made it hard to hang out there too long on top. Back down the western slope we stopped at Jackson Park campground and battled the mosquitoes. We were surprised by 2 singing SWAINSON?S THRUSHES in the thick aspen groves. Is this a known nesting location, as it seems a long way away from other breeding areas? Down in the Alvord desert we camped Saturday night near Mickey hot springs. Around us were at least five singing BLACK THROATED SPARROWS and we saw two groups of young. As it got dark, a POORWIL sang two loops of its song and that was it. Sunday was cold and wet ? not good weather for lizard spotting and although we searched for Collard Lizard we failed (although we found more BT Sparrows in several other spots)? just means we have to return back again. On the way back to Bend we stopped in at Chickahominy Reservoir. Among the shorebirds was an adult BAIRD?S SANDPIPER. Enjoy the birding, Steve Dougill, Redmond, Deschutes Co., OR EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD Join me -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090712/0b2cc3de/attachment.html From verditer at gmail.com Sun Jul 12 22:27:30 2009 From: verditer at gmail.com (Suresh V) Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:27:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sites for shorebird and duck photography Message-ID: Hello all I'm interested to know what are good sites in Oregon for shorebird and duck photography. A good site for me would be where a couple of species of ducks/shorebirds are guaranteed, and where I can try to approach shorebirds, ducks by foot and be able to photograph them at close to eye-level. (I am a temporary visitor from India and have a few months of stay left here in US, and would like to make a few good pictures of Oregon ducks and shorebirds before I go.. You have a great variety of ducks and shorebirds that I dont get to see in India) I live in Salem and visited all ankeny, basket-slough and w.finley.. All three are great places for bird watching, but I couldn't find a good place there to try photography. I liked Crystal Springs park in Portland, where I was able to get eyelevel at some places to ducks, but it is crowdy and doesn't let you work in peace, and no shorebirds! :-) Please email me off list. Thank you Suresh www.justbirds.in From deweysage at verizon.net Mon Jul 13 07:33:31 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:33:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] a couple of Coos birds Message-ID: <4A5B45BB.8070003@verizon.net> Saturday 7/11 New River Coos Cty There was one BANK SWALLOW at the mouth of New River Saturday evening, maybe the same one I saw a day earlier further south. Also present were Cliff, Barn, Tree, and Rough-winged. Sunday 7/12 Coos Bay North Spit Coos Cty A GOLDEN PLOVER was on the beach at Coos Bay North Spit Sunday morning but we didn't have the time to take a hard look at it (looked Pacific to me). Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From glenn_rie at yahoo.com Mon Jul 13 09:52:17 2009 From: glenn_rie at yahoo.com (Rie Luft) Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:52:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Brown-headed Cowbirds Message-ID: <838408.7159.qm@web112209.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Re the Brown-headed Cowbirds report:? Returned recently from a 2-month trip into Colorado to view grouse on their leks and then into Ohio and Michigan for the spring migration.? Stopped in at Mio, MI, for the US Forest Service tour for the Kirkland Warbler in the Huron-Manistee NF where the warbler is being very well managed on various 200-acre parcels of Jack Pines.? They had a major problem with BH Cowbird predation on the young Kirklands until they started capturing the Cowbirds, using Judas Cowbirds in a large wire cage as bait.? The predation rate went from 75% to 6% in a matter of a few years!? If you are very lucky you can see the Kirkland on your own in the area from the road, but the tour takes you into the Jack Pines and we had a close-up view of one at about 20 feet for several minutes while he checked us out and seranaded us.? A real treat!? Saw several others as well in scopes. As a side note:? Magee Marsh, part of the Ottawa NWR in Ohio, is a fantastic place.? Just across from Pt. Pelee, it acts as a staging area for warblers before crossing the lake.? During the migration season Kenn Kaufman does a daily update, based on weather conditions, as to fall-out chances.? We visited the boardwalk four different days and on May 8 had a count of 24 warbler species.? Talked to several people who had been to Pelee who said the counts weren't nearly as good.? Perhaps, as the weather was never really bad, the birds just kept on going. Rie Luft -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090713/fc01a3bc/attachment.html From mazoerr at gmail.com Mon Jul 13 11:13:01 2009 From: mazoerr at gmail.com (Ann Chamberlain) Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:13:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] egg ID Message-ID: <202f23ed0907131113w3828cfa5tc20941c4e11d1e51@mail.gmail.com> Yesterday we found a white pointed egg along side the driveway. I checked Bent to see about ruffed grouse (often seen where we found the egg) or California quail (also seen there often). This egg is smaller than the length and width given for both species and the color is completely white, no speckles, no nothing. This egg measures 22 mm long by 18 mm at the largest diameter. Any suggestions? Why would a bird lay a single egg in the driveway? I saw Mountain Quail and Ruffed Grouse on the BLM road up above the house yesterday. Always a thrill. And we found a bear den in an uprooted tree! We did NOT stick our heads in to see if anyone was home but there was quite a lot of fresh scat around. Thanks - Ann outside Myrtle Creek -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090713/60ca6db0/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Egg-July09 002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 312534 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090713/60ca6db0/attachment.jpg -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Egg-July09 004.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 308318 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090713/60ca6db0/attachment-0001.jpg From greg at thebirdguide.com Mon Jul 13 13:50:02 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:50:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cardinal photos: Roseburg Message-ID: <20090713135002.e8xoke034swwwwg0@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Wildlife Biologist Kevin Sands sent me 3 photos of a female Northern Cardinal that a co-worker, Terri Sands, took at her feeder in Roseburg this past weekend. These photos join a photo farther down the page of last winter's bird in Central Point--over 90 miles south on I-5. http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/gallery/_from_others pBase has been a bit slow the past couple of days. If the photos don't start to load after 10 seconds, try refreshing the page... If only we knew the provenance of these birds! Greg Gillson Forest Grove, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From justin.bosler at gmail.com Mon Jul 13 19:27:48 2009 From: justin.bosler at gmail.com (Justin Bosler) Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:27:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bandon Shorebirds -- 13 July 2009 Message-ID: <97d12a010907131927l6a2582f7vc92799cd34782c3c@mail.gmail.com> Hello OBOL, I spent 3 hours (10:15 AM-1:15 PM) at Bandon Marsh NWR, off of Riverside Drive in Bandon (Coos Co.), scanning through and counting thousands of shorebirds at low tide today, 13 July. Somewhat surprising was only 1 adult SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER in with no fewer than 4,000 bright and showy WESTERNS and about 800 LEASTS. Disappointingly, there were very few large shorebirds around. A couple of non-shorebird highlights included a juvenile WHITE-TAILED KITE and my first-of-summer juvenile NORTHERN HARRIER on the coast. Also present to wreak havoc among the shorebirds was a subadult PEREGRINE FALCON. As I was leaving, I ran into Paul (didn't get his last name) who tipped me off to a WANDERING TATTLER that he had found roosting behind the U.S. Coast Guard Station at the Port of Bandon about 10 minutes prior. Sure enough the tattler was still there at 1:45 PM along with 4 BLACK TURNSTONES. Also, at the outflow next to the intersection of Riverside Dr. and 1st St. SE were the 2 oversummering BLACK BRANT that were previously reported by Tim Rodenkirk. Shorebirds included: (*note--all shorebirds adults unless otherwise noted.) Semipalmated Plover, 85 (single flock) Greater Yellowlegs, 4 Wandering Tattler, 1 (Port of Bandon) Whimbrel, 2 Black Turnstone, 4 (Port of Bandon) Semipalmated Sandpiper, 1 Western Sandpiper, ~4000 Least Sandpiper, ~800 (at least 1 juv.; FOF) Short-billed Dowitcher, 3 --8 migratory species in total. Good shorebirding, Justin -- Justin Bosler Reedsport, OR justin.bosler at gmail.com 717-475-9998 http://www.flickr.com/photos/29219448 at N08/ From roygerig at hotmail.com Mon Jul 13 20:28:50 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:28:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Marion County Solitary Sandpiper Message-ID: I saw a SOLITARY SANDPIPER today in the early afternoon at Ankeny NWR, not far north of the end of the short boardwalk (I forget if it has a name) that is shortly east of the gravel pad near the railroad tracks on Wintel Road, south of Salem. It was with a couple of SPOTTED SANDPIPERs at the edge of a brushy (Willows) pond. There were 10 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS there as well. 19 GREATER YELLOWLEGS were near the Kiosk on the other side of the refuge, with 20-30 mixed LEAST and WESTERN SANDPIPERs. I guess that I see Solitary Sandpiper about once a year around here. Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090713/93239499/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Jul 13 21:08:26 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:08:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - 7/13/2009 with two flavors of pelican Message-ID: <4A5C04BA.4030801@pacifier.com> Columbia Estuary Report - 7/13/2009 At least 26 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS continue to hang out in the Columbia Channel between Tongue Point and the Twilight Eagle Sanctuary. The bait fish are bringing AMERICAN BROWN PELICANS near shore in remarkable numbers. In past years, July seawatch counts rarely went above 100 individuals. Today I counted 2000 on the river beach (counting by 100's) and another 500 or so (counting by 10's) on the ocean or in the air. It's no wonder I keep getting phone calls and emails... There were also unusually high numbers of PACIFIC LOONS (100+), 20 or so RHINOCEROS AUKLETS and lots of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS and HEERMAN'S GULLS. Word on the street is that the bait is also bring GRAY WHALES very near shore at the Cove as well. See: http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11558 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Weaponized Ginseng http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11435/ From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Jul 14 07:09:35 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 07:09:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cassin's Vireo in Washington County Message-ID: <8f6e9f3f8d3254ce35b97e200659153d@earthlink.net> Stefan Schlick reported a Cassin's Vireo at the Buxton Trailhead of Banks- Vernonia Linear Park about a month ago. One was still there last Thursday(July 9) for the hour or more I was there. It was singing up and down the row of Douglas-firs that line the path from the county road to the trestle. I was there for such a long time because I was guiding some out of state birders who wanted good looks at a Red-breasted Sapsucker. A family of these was feeding in the Scouler Willows at the jct of the path with the county road. The Sapsuckers were initially so active that we couldn't focus a binocular as they apparently picked bugs off the branches. Then they seemed to disappear although none were seen flying away. It turned out they had all abruptly stopped moving. Each bird remained inert for ten minutes, plenty long enough to focus a scope if a clear view through the branches could be obtained. A Cassin's Vireo has been singing along the RR tracks near the Dairy Queen in Manning the last few days. One was here last summer as well. Park at DQ and use the driveway across the highway to get on the RR track. It is abandoned so you can bird there all day without concern. Walk west on the tracks. The trees here are shorter than at the Buxton site, and give the chance of better looks. Another Cassin's Vireo has been singing along Hayward Road near Schamdeke Reservoir, about 1 1/2 miles up Hayward Rd. This seems like quite a few for what is supposed to be a very uncommon breeder in the county. I saw an Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler at the end of Way Road (the first fork off Hayward Rd) the morning of June 23. It was with a mixed flock of warblers containing the species one would expect here in June. Lars Norgren From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Jul 14 07:44:41 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 07:44:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] OT:Moose in Oregon Message-ID: <21655a063b2bace2fb827057d76240ab@earthlink.net> My father recently spent several days in the Sled Springs area north of the town of Wallowa. A forest ecologist based in La Grande told him there are about 40 moose in the area. This is quite a bit more than the 5 estimated by ODF&W some years ago. My father is a soils scientist who did primarily soils/vegetation maps and has seen nearly the entire state of Oregon. He reports there is more aspen in the Sled Springs area than any other place he has been in Oregon. This is close to Troy, where the first Barred Owl in Oregon was detected about 1973. Lars Norgren From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Jul 14 08:39:54 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 08:39:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Who is Samuel Snook? Message-ID: <20090714083954.to38t8ik0s4480gc@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Who is Samuel Snook? A why you should take note. Technology trend is changing the way people watch birds 14 July 2009 http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/ Greg Gillson Forest Grove, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Tue Jul 14 10:35:54 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:35:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] The Oregon Gardens Message-ID: <4A5CC1FA.4030909@gmail.com> Kei and I finally took the trip from Aloha to Sublimity and saw the Oregon Gardens. Quite a place. Huge! Beautiful! Almost too much to take in in one day. We missed the Three Dog Night show on Wednesday (DANG!). I had thought that it was to show only Oregon plants and was somewhat surprised to see plantings from all over the world. I had hope it would be very 'birdie' but didn't see lots of species. Did get some great shots of a Common Yellowthroat bringing food to its nest (though I never did actually SEE the nest). Next time we must go see the new Lodge and Hotel. It looks grand from down below. And NEXT time we need to go earlier in the year to see more flowers, nests and more birds. Kevin Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090714/cd0fc2a4/attachment.vcf From watice at msn.com Tue Jul 14 12:38:36 2009 From: watice at msn.com (BILL ROSIE TICE) Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:38:36 +0000 Subject: [obol] BSNWR 7/14 Message-ID: Hi Folks, I birded BSNWR this AM with Roy Gerig for a couple hours. No rare birds, but of note were 6 imm BLACK-NECKED STILTS, and about 40 imm WILSON'S PHALAROPES. We think the latter were staging prior to migrating farther south as it is not likely that this many young birds were born at the refuge. Otherwise, there were a few of both yellowlegs species, dowitchers, peeps, and one semipalmated plover, and one peregrin falcon. Bill Tice Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors, and avoiding chores. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090714/76eb4808/attachment.html From peterpatricelli at comcast.net Tue Jul 14 13:59:19 2009 From: peterpatricelli at comcast.net (peterpatricelli) Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:59:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? Message-ID: <2901A45A8A0841F19F744DAC226361A3@PeterGateway> Just on the basis of casual observation, I have been seeing remarkable numbers of White Pelicans, and in places I typically have never seen them before. I saw WP's in the air on the outskirts of EUG, for the third time in 37 years of NOT specifically looking for them. No big deal, BUT I have seen multiple flocks in the Columbia gorge, Hood River to The Dalles this year. In 18 years of having a vacation home in The Dalles, I had not seen them here before. In June we drove from The Dalles to Walla Walla and I saw WP's all along the Columbia but especially around Hermiston and large flocks along the Walla Walla river 40 miles east of the Columbia, landing IN the WW River. Am I the only one thinking something atypical is up with WP's this year? Peter Patricelli -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090714/afea5ae9/attachment.html From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Tue Jul 14 15:08:28 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:08:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] March/April Shoots Message-ID: <4A5D01DC.8050609@gmail.com> In keeping with my normal lateness I have just posted my "New Sightings" for March and April on my web site at http://www.kevinsmithnaturephotos.com Click on "New Sightings" in the left column. New there are A series of portraits of a Pygmy Owl A series of shots of a Golden Eagle at a bird feeder! This feeder is set up for Magpies and the weight of the eagle broke the support and had to be repaired. The eagle came back for about two weeks and endured the harassment of the Magpies, Robins and many other birds to get its treat of ham-hocks and chicken. Ravens with nesting material Pigeon love White-throated Swifts Glaucous and Slaty-backed Gulls Enjoy. Maybe now that the nesting season is over I can catch up a bit. Kevin Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090714/050c7038/attachment.vcf From cgates326 at gmail.com Tue Jul 14 15:57:48 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:57:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? In-Reply-To: <2901A45A8A0841F19F744DAC226361A3@PeterGateway> References: <2901A45A8A0841F19F744DAC226361A3@PeterGateway> Message-ID: White Pelican numbers are unprecedented (in my 20 years here) in Crook County this year. ----- Original Message ----- From: peterpatricelli To: obol Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 1:59 PM Subject: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? Just on the basis of casual observation, I have been seeing remarkable numbers of White Pelicans, and in places I typically have never seen them before. I saw WP's in the air on the outskirts of EUG, for the third time in 37 years of NOT specifically looking for them. No big deal, BUT I have seen multiple flocks in the Columbia gorge, Hood River to The Dalles this year. In 18 years of having a vacation home in The Dalles, I had not seen them here before. In June we drove from The Dalles to Walla Walla and I saw WP's all along the Columbia but especially around Hermiston and large flocks along the Walla Walla river 40 miles east of the Columbia, landing IN the WW River. Am I the only one thinking something atypical is up with WP's this year? Peter Patricelli ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090714/3ccb0d36/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Tue Jul 14 17:00:28 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:00:28 -0400 Subject: [obol] Birding around Sisters Message-ID: <8CBD2F665A7607B-870-2703@webmail-mh44.sysops.aol.com> I'm going to be in the Sisters area tomorrow, and I wonder if someone could point me to some good birding sites. I am limited by time and distance. My wife has mobility issues and can't walk very far over rough terrain, and I don't like to leave her alone for too long, if I go out by myself. So if some one could point me to a couple of good 'birdy' spots, I would be most grateful. Thanks. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090714/c425cb01/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Tue Jul 14 17:02:45 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:02:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding around Sisters In-Reply-To: <8CBD2F665A7607B-870-2703@webmail-mh44.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <4a5d1c9a.1420720a.1eb8.4bb8@mx.google.com> Please go to www.ecbcbirds.org , it has lots of good ideas on where to bird near Sisters. Marilyn Miller _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of jonysky101 at aol.com Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 5:00 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Birding around Sisters I'm going to be in the Sisters area tomorrow, and I wonder if someone could point me to some good birding sites. I am limited by time and distance. My wife has mobility issues and can't walk very far over rough terrain, and I don't like to leave her alone for too long, if I go out by myself. So if some one could point me to a couple of good 'birdy' spots, I would be most grateful. Thanks. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or _____ A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.375 / Virus Database: 270.13.13/2237 - Release Date: 07/14/09 05:56:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090714/20f8ab1b/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Jul 14 17:08:21 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:08:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Off-topic: Orchids Message-ID: <4A5D1DF5.4010904@pacifier.com> I have posted a photo essay on North Coast orchids at: http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11563/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Orchid Season http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11563/ From johndeshler at yahoo.com Tue Jul 14 18:06:09 2009 From: johndeshler at yahoo.com (johndeshler at yahoo.com) Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:06:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Summertime Pygmy-owl family groups Message-ID: <272324.70824.qm@web34204.mail.mud.yahoo.com> This month, as the song bird breeding season ebbs and the dawn chorus fades out, consider this: the population of pygmy-owls has briefly exploded.? In June of 2008, the 20 breeding adults in Forest Park, where I study them, successfully produced more than 50 offspring, so more than 70 pygmy-owls graced the park last summer.? Similarly this year, 8 pair of adults has produced more than 40 offspring. >From my observations, it seems that a great majority of these youngsters survive the fledgling period unscathed even though this is a dangerous time for most birds. I know not how long they survive after initially reaching independence, but it seems likely that many of them starve at sometime afterward, with only the superstars making it to the next year...like a lot of birds.? Anyway, if you hear a vocalizing male pygmy-owl this month and can move to his exact location you might find yourself standing below the entire family unit. But it may still test your naturalist skills to identify the begging calls and locate the fledglings which may be perched shoulder to shoulder just below the canopy layer, or spread out among a few trees. It doesn't work the other way around though. If you call and get a response from a male pygmy-owl and persist such that he flies to your location, the offspring will not follow and you will simply be interrupting his non-stop hunting on behalf of the youngsters. Something fun to look for as the breeding season transitions to survival mode. Cheers, John Deshler Portland From rflores_2 at msn.com Tue Jul 14 18:45:07 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:45:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? References: <2901A45A8A0841F19F744DAC226361A3@PeterGateway> Message-ID: I suspect there was a major breeding colony failure somewhere. The last event similar to this there was a colony that failed in the Dakotas. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA ----- Original Message ----- From: peterpatricelli To: obol Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 1:59 PM Subject: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? Just on the basis of casual observation, I have been seeing remarkable numbers of White Pelicans, and in places I typically have never seen them before. I saw WP's in the air on the outskirts of EUG, for the third time in 37 years of NOT specifically looking for them. No big deal, BUT I have seen multiple flocks in the Columbia gorge, Hood River to The Dalles this year. In 18 years of having a vacation home in The Dalles, I had not seen them here before. In June we drove from The Dalles to Walla Walla and I saw WP's all along the Columbia but especially around Hermiston and large flocks along the Walla Walla river 40 miles east of the Columbia, landing IN the WW River. Am I the only one thinking something atypical is up with WP's this year? Peter Patricelli ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090714/699360ab/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Wed Jul 15 01:33:17 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:33:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? In-Reply-To: <2901A45A8A0841F19F744DAC226361A3@PeterGateway> References: <2901A45A8A0841F19F744DAC226361A3@PeterGateway> Message-ID: I agree that something is atypical about American White Pelicans this year. I recently drove to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons via Missoula, and returned via Idaho Falls and Pocatello. I saw good numbers of American White Pelicans in most counties I went through, much more than I've ever seen in the past. I also saw several large flocks circling the lakes at the foot of the Tetons, something I've never seen in my previous 5 visits. Scott Carpenter Portland On Tue, Jul 14, 2009 at 1:59 PM, peterpatricelli < peterpatricelli at comcast.net> wrote: > Just on the basis of casual observation, I have been seeing remarkable > numbers of White Pelicans, and in places I typically have never seen them > before. I saw WP's in the air on the outskirts of EUG, for the third time > in 37 years of NOT specifically looking for them. No big deal, BUT I have > seen multiple flocks in the Columbia gorge, Hood River to The Dalles this > year. In 18 years of having a vacation home in The Dalles, I had not seen > them here before. In June we drove from The Dalles to Walla Walla and I saw > WP's all along the Columbia but especially around Hermiston and large flocks > along the Walla Walla river 40 miles east of the Columbia, landing IN the WW > River. > > Am I the only one thinking something atypical is up with WP's this year? > > Peter Patricelli > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090715/9b95fca7/attachment.html From pointers at pacifier.com Wed Jul 15 06:32:21 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:32:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? In-Reply-To: References: <2901A45A8A0841F19F744DAC226361A3@PeterGateway> Message-ID: <20090715133223.D092C6AD42@smtp4.pacifier.net> for those of us newer into birding --- what is a breeding colony failure ??? ... thanks, Lyn At 06:45 PM 7/14/2009, Bob Flores wrote: >I suspect there was a major breeding colony failure somewhere. The >last event similar to this there was a colony that failed in the Dakotas. > >Bob Flores >Ridgefield, WA >----- Original Message ----- >From: peterpatricelli >To: obol >Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 1:59 PM >Subject: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? > >Just on the basis of casual observation, I have been seeing >remarkable numbers of White Pelicans, and in places I typically have >never seen them before. I saw WP's in the air on the outskirts of >EUG, for the third time in 37 years of NOT specifically looking for >them. No big deal, BUT I have seen multiple flocks in the Columbia >gorge, Hood River to The Dalles this year. In 18 years of having a >vacation home in The Dalles, I had not seen them here before. In >June we drove from The Dalles to Walla Walla and I saw WP's all >along the Columbia but especially around Hermiston and large flocks >along the Walla Walla river 40 miles east of the Columbia, landing >IN the WW River. > >Am I the only one thinking something atypical is up with WP's this year? > >Peter Patricelli > > >---------- >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Wed Jul 15 07:21:09 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:21:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] White Pelicans' breeding colony failure Message-ID: <000501ca0558$315c3d70$c7db63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Lyn, White Pelicans breed in colonies on flat sandbar islands somewhere that they are protected from predators. They may travel long distances to find fish. Once hatched, their young wait in tight groups for the parents to return and regurgitate food. If the food supply runs out, the young may die. If the water levels fall and connect the breeding island to the mainland, predators may get to the nests or young. Then the breeding season is a bust and the colony fails for that year. A faillure in NW Nevada several years ago drove White Pelicans north into Oregon & Washington. There are breeding colonies at Malheur NWR and in the Columbia River north of the mouth of the Walla Walla River. Paul Sullivan ------------------------------- Subject: Re: Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? From: Lyn Topinka Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:32:21 -0700 for those of us newer into birding --- what is a breeding colony failure ??? ... thanks, Lyn At 06:45 PM 7/14/2009, Bob Flores wrote: >I suspect there was a major breeding colony failure somewhere. The >last event similar to this there was a colony that failed in the Dakotas. > >Bob Flores >Ridgefield, WA >----- Original Message ----- >From: peterpatricelli >To: obol >Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 1:59 PM >Subject: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? > >Just on the basis of casual observation, I have been seeing >remarkable numbers of White Pelicans, and in places I typically have >never seen them before. I saw WP's in the air on the outskirts of >EUG, for the third time in 37 years of NOT specifically looking for >them. No big deal, BUT I have seen multiple flocks in the Columbia >gorge, Hood River to The Dalles this year. In 18 years of having a >vacation home in The Dalles, I had not seen them here before. In >June we drove from The Dalles to Walla Walla and I saw WP's all >along the Columbia but especially around Hermiston and large flocks >along the Walla Walla river 40 miles east of the Columbia, landing >IN the WW River. > >Am I the only one thinking something atypical is up with WP's this year? > >Peter Patricelli > From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Jul 15 07:30:39 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:30:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] breeding colony failure Message-ID: <20090715073039.h68q0dmvwkks88ko@webmail.thebirdguide.com> To briefly answer Lyn's question, 'What is a "breeding colony failure"?'... Birds that breed in colonies sometimes all fail to produce young. Or, the majority fail to successfully raise any young during a specific year. In the case of White Pelicans that could be because of lack of water at traditional breeding sites in the Great Basin. For those who visited Malheur NWR this spring, they got to see Malheur and Harney Lakes at the lowest I've ever seen (they actually didn't get to see any "lake" at all). Certainly, not very many White Pelicans breed here anyway, but IF this happened widely through the Great Basin, then birds would have no place to nest, or if they did, perhaps no fish to feed their young. [At this point this is only speculation as to why many are seeing White Pelicans in large numbers outside their normal breeding areas.] As another example, Common Murres nest in colonies on the coast and require strong summer upwelling to provide food. If this upwelling does not occur (El Nino years along the whole coast or sometimes just a more local phenomenon), the colony fails to produce young, and they may abandon the colony at any time from egg laying through normal fledging time. Locally, Bald Eagles may harass a murre colony so that they abandon their breeding attempts at that single location. Many aquatic colonial nesters live a long time and are adapted to such periodic climate fluctuations. Greg Gillson Forest Grove, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Wed Jul 15 09:54:49 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:54:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? Message-ID: <146272.83897.qm@web51809.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Regarding the unusual dispersal and abundance of American White Pelicans this season: The breeding colony failure theory is interesting but I have to ask: Does anyone know of an actual American White Pelican breeding colony failure(s) this season? Aren't these watched closely enough that if it happened someone on this list would have heard about it? The reason I ask: It's not just American White Pelicans that are showing up in unusual places and in larger than normal numbers. Brown Pelicans also seem to be on the move this season, and as discussed on OBOL, in numbers almost too numerous to count. Magnificent Frigatebirds, another migratory member of the Pelecaniformes Order, are putting on an unusually good show in the Gulf this year. I don't know all the details but I'm vaguely aware that several species of fish seem to be showing unusual dispersal patterns (vertical and horizontal dispersal). Whale watchers are having an exceptionally good year (and not just grey whales). Are there other species showing aberrant dispersal patterns this season? I just wonder if something else may be going on here....something on a grander scale....something caused by a change in the global physical environment rather than localized/regional colony failures....something affecting several species....and if we could see a connection between the species affected, it might give a clue as to what it is. Cindy Ashy From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Wed Jul 15 10:29:21 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:29:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? White-faced Ibis? In-Reply-To: <146272.83897.qm@web51809.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <853719.96640.qm@web39707.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Cindy, Normally I watch raptors, and was able to spend three solid weeks looking for falcons earlier this season here in Harney Co. What I do recall are very large numbers of white-faced ibis----many more than I've seen in previous years. There presence made falcon hunting more difficult as in flight they sometimes look like a peregrine (for a moment)------meaning every ibis had to be looked at to make certain it wasn't a falcon. Anyway, just one of my observations. Best, Dick --- On Wed, 7/15/09, Cindy Ashy wrote: > From: Cindy Ashy > Subject: Re: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 9:54 AM > > Regarding the unusual dispersal and abundance of American > White Pelicans this season: > > The breeding colony failure theory is interesting but I > have to ask: > > Does anyone know of an actual American White Pelican > breeding colony failure(s) this season? Aren't these watched > closely enough that if it happened someone on this list > would have heard about it? > > The reason I ask: > > It's not just American White Pelicans that are showing up > in unusual places and in larger than normal numbers. Brown > Pelicans also seem to be on the move this season, and as > discussed on OBOL, in numbers almost too numerous to count. > Magnificent Frigatebirds, another migratory member of the > Pelecaniformes Order, are putting on an unusually good show > in the Gulf this year. I don't know all the details but I'm > vaguely aware that several species of fish seem to be > showing unusual dispersal patterns (vertical and horizontal > dispersal). Whale watchers are having an exceptionally good > year (and not just grey whales). > > Are there other species showing aberrant dispersal patterns > this season? > > I just wonder if something else may be going on > here....something on a grander scale....something caused by > a change in the global physical environment rather than > localized/regional colony failures....something affecting > several species....and if we could see a connection between > the species affected, it might give a clue as to what it > is. > > Cindy Ashy > > > ? ? ? > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From vernd at oregonfast.net Wed Jul 15 10:31:49 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:31:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] OT: Arctic "Goo" Message-ID: <67DBBF4E-E325-4A92-B7F8-361F653A594F@oregonfast.net> Hello OBOL, Here's another interesting thing happening up North. Maybe we're going to pay for "playing" around with Big Momma Nature. http://www.adn.com/2835/story/864687.html Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090715/f5040356/attachment.html From chaetura at gmail.com Wed Jul 15 10:47:57 2009 From: chaetura at gmail.com (Charles Swift) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:47:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? In-Reply-To: <2901A45A8A0841F19F744DAC226361A3@PeterGateway> References: <2901A45A8A0841F19F744DAC226361A3@PeterGateway> Message-ID: Hello from north Idaho - Numbers of breeding White Pelicans in several south-central Idaho colonies (Snake R. reservoirs east of Twin Falls) have increased dramatically in the past few years. To the point where Idaho Fish & Game has made the (questionable) decision to reduce the colony sizes through lethal and non-lethal means due to perceived conflicts w/ local native and non-native fisheries. I'm not suggesting that it's the Idaho White Pelicans that are wandering near and far this summer but wonder if other nesting colonies have also increased resulting a general increase in the number of nomadic birds in the northwest. Some/many/most of these are presumably post-breeding dispersers (always the assumption later in the summer I guess) and young non-breeding birds but perhaps some birds are simply unable to find suitable colony locations and/or have outgrown existing colonies. Possibly related, White Pelicans showed up in northern Idaho in May this year and have been seen elsewhere in eastern WA during the spring and summer. I believe the only nesting colony in this region is on the Columbia R. downstream from the Tri-cities. I think the USFWS (and state agencies) track colonial waterbird numbers pretty carefully and data may be available later in the area that could shed some light on this phenomenon. (btw large number of White Pelicans in the Columbia R. around Hermiston are probably not unusual and attributable to the nesting colony mentioned above - possibly increasing?? - and large numbers in eastern Idaho and the Yellowston area are probably attributable to the exploding southern Idaho colonies. ) thanks, Charles. -- Charles Swift Moscow, ID chaetura at gmail.com On Tue, Jul 14, 2009 at 1:59 PM, peterpatricelli < peterpatricelli at comcast.net> wrote: > Just on the basis of casual observation, I have been seeing remarkable > numbers of White Pelicans, and in places I typically have never seen them > before. I saw WP's in the air on the outskirts of EUG, for the third time > in 37 years of NOT specifically looking for them. No big deal, BUT I have > seen multiple flocks in the Columbia gorge, Hood River to The Dalles this > year. In 18 years of having a vacation home in The Dalles, I had not seen > them here before. In June we drove from The Dalles to Walla Walla and I saw > WP's all along the Columbia but especially around Hermiston and large flocks > along the Walla Walla river 40 miles east of the Columbia, landing IN the WW > River. > > Am I the only one thinking something atypical is up with WP's this year? > > Peter Patricelli > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090715/a1a0c13c/attachment.html From lbviman at blackfoot.net Wed Jul 15 12:10:31 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:10:31 -0600 Subject: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 16, Issue 15 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090715190641.C9ED89B0230@mail.blackfoot.net> Vern DiPietro wrote: >Hello OBOL, >Here's another interesting thing happening up North. Maybe we're >going to pay for "playing" around with Big Momma Nature. > >http://www.adn.com/2835/story/864687.html Of course, we want to blame HUMANS for everything. Did you read the article? They've seen this stuff before, and it's likely natural, as they say, IN THE ARTICLE, that it occurs naturally. Before jumping in like a "climate change" puppet, wait until someone determines what the crap is. Then, if "we" did it, so be it; we'll deal with it -- Jim Greaves, Thompson Falls MT From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Jul 15 13:09:24 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:09:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] ECBC Cent Oregon Wednesday birding, Deschutes, Sawyer Park to 1st Street Rapids Message-ID: > Birders > Eleven of us strolled along between Sawyer Park and 1st St > Rapids. Birds stopped singing early. There are a lot of birds > feeding young, especially obvious were all the swallows, > House Wrens, and many House Finches and Pygmy Nuthatches. > Sadly, a Yellow Warbler was working like mad to feed a > hungry Brown-headed Cowbird. No young Yellow Warblers > were in sight. Water level in the river is high, excellent. > But no American Dippers. > This list was mailed for Judy Meredith by http://birdnotes.net > Birds seen (in taxonomic order): > Canada Goose > Trumpeter Swan - introduced > Mallard > Common Merganser > California Quail > Turkey Vulture > Osprey - circling while carrying fish > Red-tailed Hawk > Mourning Dove > Vaux's Swift > Rufous Hummingbird > Belted Kingfisher > Northern Flicker > Olive-sided Flycatcher - Sawyer, near parking area. > Western Wood-Pewee > Ash-throated Flycatcher - Sawyer > Steller's Jay > Western Scrub-Jay > American Crow > Common Raven > Tree Swallow > Violet-green Swallow > Northern Rough-winged Swallow > Barn Swallow > Mountain Chickadee > Pygmy Nuthatch > House Wren > American Robin > Yellow Warbler > Song Sparrow > Dark-eyed Junco > Black-headed Grosbeak > Red-winged Blackbird > Brewer's Blackbird > Brown-headed Cowbird > House Finch > American Goldfinch > House Sparrow > Total number of species seen: 38 > Birders today, out of towners Richard Tustain ( New Zealand), Larry Umthon > ( Richland Wa) and locals Marion Davidson and her young > neighbor Quinn who charmed us all, Howard Horvath, Mary Oppenheimer, Don > Sutherland, Mike Golden, Sherrie Pierce, Cindy > Zalunardo and Judy Meredith. jmeredit at bendnet.com From mazoerr at gmail.com Wed Jul 15 13:19:48 2009 From: mazoerr at gmail.com (Ann Chamberlain) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:19:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brown-headed Cowbirds In-Reply-To: <838408.7159.qm@web112209.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> References: <838408.7159.qm@web112209.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <202f23ed0907151319l68dd95b8u61ee52f062fb3af0@mail.gmail.com> Dear Rie - So glad you got to see Kirtland's warblers. As I said a while back, when we were grad students at Michigan, we used to go up to the jackpine forests and find nests and take out the cowbird eggs by hand. Much better with the trapping, believe me, but we did what we could at the time. The jackpine forest of Michigan is the only place I have ever been lost in the woods. It was completely overcast, no way to decide which was north. Every pine tree looks exactly like the next one! Fortunately, I remembered the map and the two highways on either side of the area, running N-S. By orienting my ears to the traffic sound, I managed to find my way out within 100 ft. of the car! And this from a NJ Piney! Good grief! I did find many nests that day and removed a lot of eggs. Most of the birds were very tame and would sit close by in the tree while I took the cowbird eggs out. I am so happy the predation rate has dropped so dramatically. I am also lucky enough to have an autographed copy of Harold Mayfield's "The Kirtland's Warbler". I tis a great book. Ann outside Myrtle Creek. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090715/6cfe1bb5/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Wed Jul 15 13:28:47 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:28:47 +0000 Subject: [obol] FWD: Birdwatching contributes to the economy Message-ID: Hi Obolers, Besides keeping me out of jail, I am glad I can contribute to the community in other ways. An interesting article below and enjoy. Khanhman USFWS states that new report shows Birdwatchers No Featherweights in Contributions to Economy* A new report released today by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows one of every five Americans watches birds, and in doing so, birdwatchers contributed $36 billion to the U.S. economy in 2006, the most recent year for which economic data are available. The report ? Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis ?shows that total participation in birdwatching is strong at 48 million, and remaining at a steady 20 percent of the U.S. population since 1996. Participation rates vary, but are generally greater in the northern half of the country. The five top states with the greatest birding participation rates include Montana (40 percent), Maine (39 percent), Vermont (38 percent), Minnesota (33 percent) and Iowa (33 percent).The participation rates of the Fish and Wildlife Service?s Pacific Region include Washington (31 percent), Idaho (28 percent), Oregon (27 percent) and Hawaii (10 percent). A copy of the Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis can be downloaded here: http://library.fws.gov/Pubs/birding_natsurvey06.pdf In conjunction with the release of the birding report, the Service also issued another similar addendum to the 2006 Survey entitled, Wildlife Watching Trends: 1991?2006 A Reference Report. This report shows similar trends in wildlife-watching, a broader category that includes large and small-mammal viewing. An overview of the Survey, and a wealth of other information, can be found online at: http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/NationalSurvey/National_Survey.htm This information courtesy of a public news release issued July 15 2009 by the USFWS. Please contact Amy Gaskill, APR (503) 231-6874 with any questions. From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Jul 15 13:41:06 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:41:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wed morning, Fern Ridge Message-ID: We were low on shorebirds compared with recent reports of buildups at Redhead Pond and other areas around end of Royal Ave. Nothing unusual to report, but it was a beautiful morning. Numbers are mostly quick estimates. Canada Goose - 50+ Wood Duck - 8 Gadwall - 1 Mallard - 35 plus broods Blue-winged Teal - 2 Cinnamon Teal - 8 Redhead - 5 Ruddy Duck - 6 plus broods Pied-billed Grebe - nc Western Grebe - 8+ Clark's Grebe - 1 Am. White Pelican - 53 (counted) Am. Bittern - 1 Green Heron - 1 Great Blue Heron - 11+ Black-crowned Heron - 1 adult Great Egret - 4 Turkey Vulture - 5 Osprey - 3 Bald Eagle - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Am. Kestrel - 1 Virginia Rail - 3 Sora - 1 Killdeer - 5+ Gr. Yellowlegs - 12 Least Sandpiper - 9 Long-billed Dowitcher - 4 Bonapart's Gull - 1 Ring-billed Gull - 6 Caspian Tern - 2 Black Tern - 12 Mourning Dove - 17 Vaux's Swift - 1 Hummingbird sp. - 1 Belted Kingfisher - 3 Acorn Woodpecker - 4 Western Kingbird - 1 Scrub Jay - 3 N. Raven - 3 Purple Martin - 30+ Tree Swallow - 8 Violet-green Swallow - 20 Barn Swallow - 10 Marsh Wren - 10 Starling - 5 Com. Yellowthroat - 10 Spotted Towhee - 2 Song Sparrow - 5 Savannah Sparrow - 30 Red-winged Blackbird - 120 Yellow-headed Blackbird - 50 Brewer's Blackbird - 25 Cowbird - 50 House Finch - 12 Am. Goldfinch - 8 Sylvia Maulding, Kimberly Cullen, Dave Brown, Dennis Arendt, Paul Sherrell, Craig Merthel, Don Schrouder, Dave Hill, Fred Chancey, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090715/dabcab67/attachment.html From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Wed Jul 15 14:58:22 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:58:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? Message-ID: <182647.90147.qm@web51802.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Could certain species of birds, including pelicans, be responding (directly or indirectly) to sunspot activity/solar magnetic cycle (or the lack thereof)? I haven't had time to even begin to satiate my curiosity on this subject but I find it very interesting that we're seeing so many unusual dispersal/migration patterns and we're just barely coming out of a 50 year low in sunspot activity: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/30sep_blankyear.htm Here's a potential explanation: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/17jun_jetstream.htm Some of you may remember when I pointed out on OBOL that there seems to be a correlation between sunspot activity and Snowy Owl irruptions. Further, most irruptions seem to occur at the BOTTOM of each cycle when sunspot activity is at its lowest....which for me was counterintuitive when I first started thinking about it. I haven't delved into this in great detail (yet) but using information from Mike Patterson's website, the major Snowy Owl irruptions for the west coast were 1897, 1916, 1947, 1955, 1966, 1973, 1977, 1984, 1996, 2005 (http://home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/SNOW/SNOW_FAQ.html) and you can view sunspot graphs at: http://www.spacew.com/swim/bigstorm.html and http://sidc.oma.be/sunspot-index-graphics/sidc_graphics.php BTW, I've read that there was a Snowy Owl irruption in 2008/2009 in Canada and several northern US states, with some owls not even migrating back to the arctic in the spring. Cindy Ashy From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Wed Jul 15 15:13:30 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:13:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Info forwarded: Re: Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? Message-ID: <117497.40394.qm@web51811.mail.re2.yahoo.com> In response to my earlier OBOL post, Monika Wieland, a marine naturalist based in Friday Harbor, Washington (San Juan Islands) reports: "This year has yielded several interesting things in terms of dispersal patterns of marine mammals: *Later than normal sightings of gray whales *Earlier than normal sightings of humpback whales *Dall's porpoise now almost non-existent, and used to be abundant *Harbor porpoise dramatic increase in abundance *More minke whales in the area than normal, and more actively feeding *Killer whales spent much more of the earlier part of the season out of the region - setting some records for non-sightings since they've been watched closely since 1970 *More elephant seals than normal" I've had several conversations with Oregon Coast marine mammal watchers regarding some unusual patterns but I'm waiting to check my facts before I post them here. Cindy Ashy From baileydc at pdx.edu Wed Jul 15 16:20:16 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:20:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] OT: Arctic Goo--response to J. Greaves (& Newport shorebirds) Message-ID: <4A5E6430.20909@pdx.edu> Sorry Mr. Greaves, but you might want to re-read the article yourself. According to the article NO ONE does actually know what the goo is and none have seen it in the ocean before. The article does say that it is *suspected* to be naturally occurring, and is *similar* to what has been seen in fresh-water lakes before. Also, increased pollution from human activities and increased warmth can contribute to increased frequency and biomass of algal blooms, that is well known. Also, Vern did not specifically say anything about "Climate Change" Still, that is a fine hypothesis for or guess of what may have caused or contributed to the goo phenomenon. A first step towards answering a biological question is to make a guess as to the reason, form testable hypothesis, and then test the hypothesis. And, you know, humans have shown to be responsible for quite a bit of ecological change on the planet whether you chose to believe it or not. Before calling someone a "puppet" it would be prudent to examine your own strings or at least lay off the Fox News for awhile. Respectfully, David Obligatory bird report: I saw only one WHIMBREL on the flats off Hatfield Marine Science Center this morning. I heard just one LEAST SANDPIPER. David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon > *Subject: Re: obol Digest, Vol 16, Issue 15* > From: Jim Greaves > Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:10:31 -0600 > Vern DiPietro > wrote: > >Hello OBOL, > >Here's another interesting thing happening up North. Maybe we're > >going to pay for "playing" around with Big Momma Nature. > > > >http://www.adn.com/2835/story/864687.html > > Of course, we want to blame HUMANS for everything. Did you read the > article? They've seen this stuff before, and it's likely natural, as > they say, IN THE ARTICLE, that it occurs naturally. Before jumping in > like a "climate change" puppet, wait until someone determines what > the crap is. Then, if "we" did it, so be it; we'll deal with it -- > Jim Greaves, Thompson Falls MT > *Subject: OT: Arctic "Goo"* > From: Vern DiPietro > Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:31:49 -0700 > Hello OBOL, > Here's another interesting thing happening up North. Maybe we're > going to pay for "playing" around with Big Momma Nature. > > http://www.adn.com/2835/story/864687.html > > > > Vern DiPietro > Ada Oregon. > www.vernondipietrophotographer.com > From deweysage at verizon.net Wed Jul 15 17:17:32 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:17:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] OT: Arctic Goo--response to J. Greaves (& Newport shorebirds) In-Reply-To: <4A5E6430.20909@pdx.edu> References: <4A5E6430.20909@pdx.edu> Message-ID: <4A5E719C.6010702@verizon.net> I might add that just because something is "naturally occurring" doesn't mean it is necessarily good (or bad) for the environment, nor does it mean it is not human related. The alga blooms that occur in some polluted waters are natural, in the sense that no human started them. But the reason they may be there may be related to humans (ie, we polluted it). Natural oil seeps aren't necessarily good for the environment, but they are natural. Regardless of whether the stuff is natural, it does not automatically exclude the reasons for it being human related. It could be a naturally occurring response to warmer waters and ice sheet melt that is being caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that is most attributed to humans burning fossil fuel. And it could cause anaerobic conditions resulting in the death of fish and other species, thus arguably being 'bad' for the environment. Just because someone makes some reference about global warming doesn't make them a puppet. That's like suggesting someone who sites information that global warming is not human related is a stooge. Neither statement is a necessary statement to make about others on OBOL. Cheers Dave Lauten David C. Bailey wrote: > Sorry Mr. Greaves, but you might want to re-read the article yourself. > According to the article NO ONE does actually know what the goo is and > none have seen it in the ocean before. The article does say that it is > *suspected* to be naturally occurring, and is *similar* to what has been > seen in fresh-water lakes before. Also, increased pollution from human > activities and increased warmth can contribute to increased frequency > and biomass of algal blooms, that is well known. Also, Vern did not > specifically say anything about "Climate Change" Still, that is a fine > hypothesis for or guess of what may have caused or contributed to the > goo phenomenon. A first step towards answering a biological question is > to make a guess as to the reason, form testable hypothesis, and then > test the hypothesis. And, you know, humans have shown to be responsible > for quite a bit of ecological change on the planet whether you chose to > believe it or not. > > Before calling someone a "puppet" it would be prudent to examine your > own strings or at least lay off the Fox News for awhile. > > Respectfully, > David > > Obligatory bird report: I saw only one WHIMBREL on the flats off > Hatfield Marine Science Center this morning. I heard just one LEAST > SANDPIPER. > > David C. Bailey > Gearhart, Oregon > > >> *Subject: Re: obol Digest, Vol 16, Issue 15* >> From: Jim Greaves >> Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:10:31 -0600 >> Vern DiPietro >> wrote: >> >>> Hello OBOL, >>> Here's another interesting thing happening up North. Maybe we're >>> going to pay for "playing" around with Big Momma Nature. >>> >>> http://www.adn.com/2835/story/864687.html >>> >> Of course, we want to blame HUMANS for everything. Did you read the >> article? They've seen this stuff before, and it's likely natural, as >> they say, IN THE ARTICLE, that it occurs naturally. Before jumping in >> like a "climate change" puppet, wait until someone determines what >> the crap is. Then, if "we" did it, so be it; we'll deal with it -- >> Jim Greaves, Thompson Falls MT >> > > >> *Subject: OT: Arctic "Goo"* >> From: Vern DiPietro >> Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:31:49 -0700 >> Hello OBOL, >> Here's another interesting thing happening up North. Maybe we're >> going to pay for "playing" around with Big Momma Nature. >> >> http://www.adn.com/2835/story/864687.html >> >> >> >> Vern DiPietro >> Ada Oregon. >> www.vernondipietrophotographer.com >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > From ken.johnson at bend.k12.or.us Wed Jul 15 17:19:39 2009 From: ken.johnson at bend.k12.or.us (Ken Johnson) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:19:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Unsubscribe Message-ID: Please unsubscribe me from the obol bulk mailing list as I will be on vacation for the summer. Ken Johnson Science Department Mt View High School 2755 NE 27th St Bend, OR 97701 Office Phone (541) 322-5090 Cell Phone (541) 788-6644 email: ken.johnson at bend.k12.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090715/18b8d826/attachment.html From WeberHome at att.net Wed Jul 15 17:53:38 2009 From: WeberHome at att.net (Cliff & Joanne Weber) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:53:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cooper Mountain Message-ID: <20090716005351.822C0A80CD@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> OBOL, hello! We haven't been to Cooper Mountain Nature Park yet, but when Joanne returns from visiting her sister in Connecticut, we plan to go. Google Earth has a pretty good satellite image of the area. To see it, go to http://maps.google.com In the address box type: 18892 SW Kemmer Road, Beaverton Oregon Click: Search Maps The default is a street map. To see other kinds of maps, including a satellite image, and/or a concise topographic map, click on the appropriate tabs. You can also click on the little dinky twin << in the upper left corner of the map to give yourself a broader view. There's also a sliding zoom scale on the left side, and a direction control pad above it for traversing north, south, east, and west. The map you see is practically just a pixel on an enormous spread sheet. You can traverse from Cooper Mountain all the way back east to New York City and the Hamptons if you like. Cliff & Joanne Beaverton (Bethany Area) From vernd at oregonfast.net Wed Jul 15 18:48:22 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:48:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Nipping the "Goo" References: <20090715202118.A2C339B0226@mail.blackfoot.net> Message-ID: <42502335-C6C3-4484-BB90-9C7AE6CDE3D7@oregonfast.net> Hello OBOL, I think that it's appropriate that I post the emails between Jim Greaves and myself. I want everyone to know that there is no hard feelings about his "Goo" post between him and myself. Nuf Said. Best, Vern Begin forwarded message: > At 02:33 PM 7/15/2009, Vern DiPietro wrote: > >> Hey Jim, >> No worries. >> You're right... it's a ten year "sky is falling" cycle...LOL >> Oyi! Drives me crazy. >> Something tells me that "God" is looking down and saying "This >> is not what I had in mind." >> Take care, >> Vern >> > > Or laughing his behind off! After all, half the populace was a > spare rib! > From: Jim Greaves > Date: July 15, 2009 1:25:08 PM PDT > To: Vern DiPietro > Subject: Re: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 16, Issue 15 > > Hi Vern -- all of us, creatures and plants, will suffer if things > get bad.... must have been the sunshine that sent me over the edge; > you're right, the earth will continue, despite cries that it's "the > end of the world" every decade or so since the first post-33AD > "Christian" walked the earth ... Meantime, thanks for taking my > comments with humor; I suppose I could have been less "pointed" and > done likewise... can't wait for the barbs -- Jim > > At 01:48 PM 7/15/2009, Vern DiPietro wrote: >> Wow Jim, >> Interesting reply. No I just looked at the photos and went off >> half cocked and posted it to OBOL. >> I suppose it was the strings controlling my appendages that made >> me do it. LOL >> Perhaps a nice walk and a few deep breathes are in order. >> My Point there was that at some time we Will have to face the >> music with what we do on the earth. I kind of think that WE are >> the ones that will suffer though. The earth is resilient and will >> carry on. It's one thing that gives me hope. >> Best, >> Vern >> >> On Jul 15, 2009, at 12:10 PM, Jim Greaves wrote: >> >>> Vern DiPietro >>> wrote: >>>> Hello OBOL, >>>> Here's another interesting thing happening up North. Maybe we're >>>> going to pay for "playing" around with Big Momma Nature. >>>> >>>> http://www.adn.com/2835/story/864687.html >>> >>> Of course, we want to blame HUMANS for everything. Did you read the >>> article? They've seen this stuff before, and it's likely natural, as >>> they say, IN THE ARTICLE, that it occurs naturally. Before >>> jumping in >>> like a "climate change" puppet, wait until someone determines what >>> the crap is. Then, if "we" did it, so be it; we'll deal with it -- >>> Jim Greaves, Thompson Falls MT >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> obol mailing list >>> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> >> Vern DiPietro >> Ada Oregon. >> www.vernondipietrophotographer.com >> >> "Be who you are and say what you feel, >> because those that mind, don't matter, >> and those who matter, don't mind." >> -- Dr Seuss >> >> Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090715/a40bc35a/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Jul 15 22:14:00 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:14:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 07/15/09 Message-ID: <20090716051429.B9CACA80CD@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 07/09 to 07/15/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and an updated (7/1/09) checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 5 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Cooper's Hawk 1 (1, 7/9) Band-tailed Pigeon 5 (7, 7/12) Mourning Dove 3 (1) BARRED OWL 1 (1, 7/9) Vaux's Swift 3 (10, 7/15) Anna's Hummingbird 4 (5, 7/15) Rufous Hummingbird 5 (3) Red-breasted Sapsucker 3 (2) Downy Woodpecker 3 (2) HAIRY WOODPECKER 1 (1, 7/15) Northern Flicker 5 (3) Pileated Woodpecker 2 (1) Olive-sided Flycatcher 3 (1) Pacific-slope Flycatcher 5 (5, 7/11) Hutton's Vireo 3 (1) Steller's Jay 4 (4) Western Scrub-Jay 4 (1) American Crow 5 (7) Violet-green Swallow 5 (20, 7/15) BARN SWALLOW 1 (2, 7/15) Black-capped Chickadee 5 (22, 7/11) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 5 (15, 7/12) Bushtit 5 (11) Red-breasted Nuthatch 5 (4) Brown Creeper 4 (2) Bewick's Wren 2 (1) Winter Wren 5 (3) Swainson's Thrush 2 (3, 7/13) American Robin 5 (27) CEDAR WAXWING 4 (2) ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER 1 (2, 7/12) Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 (1, 7/12 & 15) Black-throated Gray Warbler 2 (2, 7/11 & 15) COMMON YELLOWTHROAT 1 (1, 7/12) Wilson's Warbler 3 (2) Western Piranga 5 (5, 7/15) Spotted Towhee 5 (10) Song Sparrow 5 (15) Dark-eyed Junco 5 (12) Black-headed Grosbeak 5 (5) Brown-headed Cowbird 2 (3, 7/15) Purple Finch 5 (4) House Finch 5 (25, 7/15) RED CROSSBILL 2 (2, 7/11) Pine Siskin 2 (7, 7/13) LESSER GOLDFINCH 3 (2) American Goldfinch 5 (5) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: TURKEY VULTURE, CLIFF SWALLOW Misses (birds found at least 3 days in previous 2 weeks but not found this week): European Starling Wink Gross Portland From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Jul 15 23:28:43 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 23:28:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 7-16-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * July 16, 2009 * ORPO0907.16 - birds mentioned Pacific Loon Brown Pelican Great Egret LITTLE BLUE HERON No. Goshawk Solitary Sandpiper Wandering Tattler Whimbrel Marbled Godwit Surfbird Baird?s Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Calliope Hummingbird Least Flycatcher Gray Catbird - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday July 16. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. The Siletz Bay LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen again July 11 along Hwy 101 south of Lincoln City. Large schools of small fishes are now pushing close to shore attracting clouds of birds. On July 13, 2500 BROWN PELICANS, hundreds of PACIFIC LOONS and other fish eating birds were just off Clatsop County Beaches. On July 13 a TATTLER was at Bandon. Seven SURFBIRDS were on the South Jetty of Yaquina Bay July 9. A male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD was seen July 12 in Toledo. On July 11 a PECTORAL SANDPIPER and a SOLITARY SANDPIPER were at Ridgefield NWR. The next day 19 GREAT EGRETS were reported there. On July 12 a WHIMBREL was at Baskett Slough NWR. A SOLITARY SANDPIPER was seen July 13 at Ankeny NWR. Another was at Fern Ridge Reservoir July 10. Calliope Crossing north of Sisters has been very good lately; a LEAST FLYCATCHER, a GRAY CATBIRD, and a family of GOSHAWKS have been regularly seen. On July 10 two SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were at Hatfield Lake near Bend. A BAIRD?S SANDPIPER was at Chickahominey Reservoir July 12. On July 10 two MARBLED GODWITS were at Thief Valley Reservoir south of LaGrande. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090715/9c72468f/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Jul 16 00:24:34 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:24:34 +0000 Subject: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? White-faced Ibis? In-Reply-To: <853719.96640.qm@web39707.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <146272.83897.qm@web51809.mail.re2.yahoo.com> <853719.96640.qm@web39707.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: I've carefully avoided jumping into this discussion, but I find that it is growing legs and spawning lots of unfounded speculations about the cause of these "extraordinary" events. Personally, I'm not so sure that anything too out of the ordinary is going on. American White Pelicans have been showing up away from their historic Great Basin and Columbia River haunts for more than a decade. I think one of the things that is happening here in the Willamette Valley is that one or two decent sized flocks are moving north and south through the valley between Fern Ridge and Baskett Slough creating the illusion that there are hundreds and hundreds of pelicans around. It should be pointed out that the numbers at Fern Ridge in any given day vary from up to 100 to only about 20 or so and many of the big flocks seen (50+ birds) around Finley, Baskett Slough, and Ankeny (all of which were about the same size) were only present for a day or so. Just a quick comment on White-faced Ibis. This year is most certainly not "extraordinary." The breeding population of White-faced Ibis in the Harney Basin has been growing on a rather steep trajectory for decades. There are now something like 10,000 pairs of ibis breeding in the collective wetlands fed by the Silvies and Blitzen rivers. These numbers are not a one-year anomaly. This has been the case for at least a couple years running. This year's breeding numbers may be the highest ever, but I suspect that next year's will be even higher as this has been a continuing pattern for some time. When I first started visiting Malheur in 1977, the breeding population of White-faced Ibis numberd just 200 pairs. Continent-wide, both Glossy and White-faced Ibis have been expanding their ranges northward and westward for several years. I have recommended this book before and I will recommend it again. Before offering up hyberbole based on a small sample of observations, take the time to read "The Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives" by Leonard Mlodinow. It offers an enlightening examination of the persistent human inclination to assign pattern to small samples of events. Our memories are short, hence the most recent interesting thing we've observed is often assigned far greater significance that it warrants. Further, we tend to observe what others suggest we might be seeing. When someone poses a question like the one in the subject line of this thread, our social nature takes over (we want to be part of the group) and we willingly notice a pattern that we had not observed previously. My two cents, Dave Irons > Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:29:21 -0700 > From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org; tunicate89 at yahoo.com > Subject: Re: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? White-faced Ibis? > > > Hi Cindy, > Normally I watch raptors, and was able to spend three solid weeks looking for falcons earlier this season here in Harney Co. What I do recall are very large numbers of white-faced ibis----many more than I've seen in previous years. There presence made falcon hunting more difficult as in flight they sometimes look like a peregrine (for a moment)------meaning every ibis had to be looked at to make certain it wasn't a falcon. Anyway, just one of my observations. Best, Dick > > > --- On Wed, 7/15/09, Cindy Ashy wrote: > > > From: Cindy Ashy > > Subject: Re: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 9:54 AM > > > > Regarding the unusual dispersal and abundance of American > > White Pelicans this season: > > > > The breeding colony failure theory is interesting but I > > have to ask: > > > > Does anyone know of an actual American White Pelican > > breeding colony failure(s) this season? Aren't these watched > > closely enough that if it happened someone on this list > > would have heard about it? > > > > The reason I ask: > > > > It's not just American White Pelicans that are showing up > > in unusual places and in larger than normal numbers. Brown > > Pelicans also seem to be on the move this season, and as > > discussed on OBOL, in numbers almost too numerous to count. > > Magnificent Frigatebirds, another migratory member of the > > Pelecaniformes Order, are putting on an unusually good show > > in the Gulf this year. I don't know all the details but I'm > > vaguely aware that several species of fish seem to be > > showing unusual dispersal patterns (vertical and horizontal > > dispersal). Whale watchers are having an exceptionally good > > year (and not just grey whales). > > > > Are there other species showing aberrant dispersal patterns > > this season? > > > > I just wonder if something else may be going on > > here....something on a grander scale....something caused by > > a change in the global physical environment rather than > > localized/regional colony failures....something affecting > > several species....and if we could see a connection between > > the species affected, it might give a clue as to what it > > is. > > > > Cindy Ashy > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090716/ce25c51a/attachment.html From dustdevil at centurytel.net Wed Jul 15 22:59:55 2009 From: dustdevil at centurytel.net (Patty Bowers) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:59:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] New Property Bird & Other Info Message-ID: <5CE7ABF07294463BAB89550D06FCF75C@your0cdc4f5844> When we drove up the driveway late Monday afternoon after a few days away, we were greeted by an amazing bird sighting. Flying away from the pond area was a BELTED KINGFISHER. Our pond is small and has no fish, but it does provide a breeding ground for large numbers of tree frogs. We assume the kingfisher was snacking on the tiny ? inch frogs or any remaining tadpoles. It circled around the area for an hour or so, landing here and there, but was not seen the next day. We live near a ridge top surrounded by native grasses and shrubs with a few junipers nearby. We are a long way from a stream with water, let alone fish, so the presence of the kingfisher was a delightful surprise indeed. For those of you who are tracking records for any breeding bird atlas updates, it appears we may have a probable nesting pair of LAZULI BUNTINGS in the square for Unit #25509. Since June 18 we have observed both a male and female Lazuli Bunting repeatedly visiting our pond to drink and bathe. Sometimes it is just the male, sometimes just the female, sometimes both together. We?ve seen the male more often, but it is easier to miss the female if not looking closely at each ?finch-like? bird that comes to the pond. We?ve heard the male singing several times. We?ve tried to see which way they go when they leave the pond area, but they are too fast for us, so we have not found a nest site. The time frame, the pair of birds, potential nest sites, etc., leads us to think it is possible they may be breeding nearby. We have also had Swainson?s Hawks confirmed nesting twice in the same unit # since the breeding bird atlas project was completed The American Kestrel young in the snag in the yard are quite vocal now. It won?t be long until we see them venturing out. Mom and Dad have been working hard to keep up with their appetites. Happy Birding, Wayne and Patty Bowers -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090715/86a8c682/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Thu Jul 16 07:55:35 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:55:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? White-faced Ibis? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <520341.39037.qm@web39707.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi David, I was wondering how much time you've spent observing here in Harney co. this season? Do you live here? Best, Dick --- On Thu, 7/16/09, David Irons wrote: > From: David Irons > Subject: RE: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? White-faced Ibis? > To: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com, "post OBOL" , tunicate89 at yahoo.com > Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009, 12:24 AM > > > > #yiv77802065 .hmmessage P > { > margin:0px;padding:0px;} > #yiv77802065 { > font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} > > > > I've carefully avoided jumping into this discussion, > but I find that it is growing legs and spawning lots of > unfounded speculations about the cause of these > "extraordinary" events. Personally, I'm not so > sure that anything too out of the ordinary is going on. > American White Pelicans have been showing up away from their > historic Great Basin and Columbia River haunts for more than > a decade. I think one of the things that is happening here > in the Willamette Valley is that one or two decent sized > flocks are moving north and south through the valley between > Fern Ridge and Baskett Slough creating the illusion that > there are hundreds and hundreds of pelicans around. It > should be pointed out that the numbers at Fern Ridge in any > given day vary from up to 100 to only about 20 or so and > many of the big flocks seen (50+ birds) around Finley, > Baskett Slough, and Ankeny (all of which were about the same > size) were only present for a day or so. > > Just a quick comment on White-faced Ibis. This year is most > certainly not "extraordinary." The breeding > population of White-faced Ibis in the Harney Basin has been > growing on a rather steep trajectory for decades. There are > now something like 10,000 pairs of ibis breeding in the > collective wetlands fed by the Silvies and Blitzen rivers. > These numbers are not a one-year anomaly. This has been the > case for at least a couple years running. This year's > breeding numbers may be the highest ever, but I suspect that > next year's will be even higher as this has been a > continuing pattern for some time. When I first started > visiting Malheur in 1977, the breeding population of > White-faced Ibis numberd just 200 pairs. Continent-wide, > both Glossy and White-faced Ibis have been expanding their > ranges northward and westward for several years.? > > I have recommended this book before and I will recommend it > again. Before offering up hyberbole based on a small sample > of observations, take the time to read "The > Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives" by > Leonard Mlodinow. It offers an enlightening examination of > the persistent human inclination to assign pattern to small > samples of events. Our memories are short, hence the most > recent interesting thing we've observed is often > assigned far greater significance that it warrants. Further, > we tend to observe what others suggest we might be seeing. > When someone poses a question like the one in the subject > line of this thread, our social nature takes over (we want > to be part of the group) and we willingly notice a pattern > that we had not observed previously. > > My two cents, > > Dave Irons > > > Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:29:21 -0700 > > From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org; tunicate89 at yahoo.com > > Subject: Re: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for > White Pelicans? White-faced Ibis? > > > > > > Hi Cindy, > > Normally I watch raptors, and was able to spend > three solid weeks looking for falcons earlier this season > here in Harney Co. What I do recall are very large numbers > of white-faced ibis----many more than I've seen in > previous years. There presence made falcon hunting more > difficult as in flight they sometimes look like a peregrine > (for a moment)------meaning every ibis had to be looked at > to make certain it wasn't a falcon. Anyway, just one of > my observations. Best, Dick > > > > > > --- On Wed, 7/15/09, Cindy Ashy > wrote: > > > > > From: Cindy Ashy > > > Subject: Re: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year > for White Pelicans? > > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 9:54 AM > > > > > > Regarding the unusual dispersal and abundance of > American > > > White Pelicans this season: > > > > > > The breeding colony failure theory is interesting > but I > > > have to ask: > > > > > > Does anyone know of an actual American White > Pelican > > > breeding colony failure(s) this season? > Aren't these watched > > > closely enough that if it happened someone on > this list > > > would have heard about it? > > > > > > The reason I ask: > > > > > > It's not just American White Pelicans that > are showing up > > > in unusual places and in larger than normal > numbers. Brown > > > Pelicans also seem to be on the move this season, > and as > > > discussed on OBOL, in numbers almost too numerous > to count. > > > Magnificent Frigatebirds, another migratory > member of the > > > Pelecaniformes Order, are putting on an unusually > good show > > > in the Gulf this year. I don't know all the > details but I'm > > > vaguely aware that several species of fish seem > to be > > > showing unusual dispersal patterns (vertical and > horizontal > > > dispersal). Whale watchers are having an > exceptionally good > > > year (and not just grey whales). > > > > > > Are there other species showing aberrant > dispersal patterns > > > this season? > > > > > > I just wonder if something else may be going on > > > here....something on a grander scale....something > caused by > > > a change in the global physical environment > rather than > > > localized/regional colony failures....something > affecting > > > several species....and if we could see a > connection between > > > the species affected, it might give a clue as to > what it > > > is. > > > > > > Cindy Ashy > > > > > > > > > ? ? ? > > > _______________________________________________ > > > obol mailing list > > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > Lauren found her dream laptop. Find > the PC that?s right for you. > From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Thu Jul 16 08:34:11 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:34:11 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? White-faced Ibis? Message-ID: <661424.23135.qm@web51808.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hi David, If it were one species showing aberrant dispersal patterns, I might agree with you. Given the very real fact that we are seeing aberrant dispersal patterns across multiple species, across phyla, in different regions of at the least the United States, among disparate observers, I simply can not agree with you. The resistance to new recognitions/explanations, even in cases where hindsight makes them seem blatantly obviously, has always been and will always be part of the scientific milieu. It is human nature after all. Cindy Ashy --- On Thu, 7/16/09, David Irons wrote: > From: David Irons > Subject: RE: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? White-faced Ibis? > To: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com, "post OBOL" , tunicate89 at yahoo.com > Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009, 2:24 AM > > > > #yiv808475856 .hmmessage P > { > margin:0px;padding:0px;} > #yiv808475856 { > font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} > > > > I've carefully avoided jumping into this discussion, > but I find that it is growing legs and spawning lots of > unfounded speculations about the cause of these > "extraordinary" events. Personally, I'm not so > sure that anything too out of the ordinary is going on. > American White Pelicans have been showing up away from their > historic Great Basin and Columbia River haunts for more than > a decade. I think one of the things that is happening here > in the Willamette Valley is that one or two decent sized > flocks are moving north and south through the valley between > Fern Ridge and Baskett Slough creating the illusion that > there are hundreds and hundreds of pelicans around. It > should be pointed out that the numbers at Fern Ridge in any > given day vary from up to 100 to only about 20 or so and > many of the big flocks seen (50+ birds) around Finley, > Baskett Slough, and Ankeny (all of which were about the same > size) were only present for a day or so. > > Just a quick comment on White-faced Ibis. This year is most > certainly not "extraordinary." The breeding > population of White-faced Ibis in the Harney Basin has been > growing on a rather steep trajectory for decades. There are > now something like 10,000 pairs of ibis breeding in the > collective wetlands fed by the Silvies and Blitzen rivers. > These numbers are not a one-year anomaly. This has been the > case for at least a couple years running. This year's > breeding numbers may be the highest ever, but I suspect that > next year's will be even higher as this has been a > continuing pattern for some time. When I first started > visiting Malheur in 1977, the breeding population of > White-faced Ibis numberd just 200 pairs. Continent-wide, > both Glossy and White-faced Ibis have been expanding their > ranges northward and westward for several years.? > > I have recommended this book before and I will recommend it > again. Before offering up hyberbole based on a small sample > of observations, take the time to read "The > Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives" by > Leonard Mlodinow. It offers an enlightening examination of > the persistent human inclination to assign pattern to small > samples of events. Our memories are short, hence the most > recent interesting thing we've observed is often > assigned far greater significance that it warrants. Further, > we tend to observe what others suggest we might be seeing. > When someone poses a question like the one in the subject > line of this thread, our social nature takes over (we want > to be part of the group) and we willingly notice a pattern > that we had not observed previously. > > My two cents, > > Dave Irons > > > Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:29:21 -0700 > > From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org; tunicate89 at yahoo.com > > Subject: Re: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for > White Pelicans? White-faced Ibis? > > > > > > Hi Cindy, > > Normally I watch raptors, and was able to spend > three solid weeks looking for falcons earlier this season > here in Harney Co. What I do recall are very large numbers > of white-faced ibis----many more than I've seen in > previous years. There presence made falcon hunting more > difficult as in flight they sometimes look like a peregrine > (for a moment)------meaning every ibis had to be looked at > to make certain it wasn't a falcon. Anyway, just one of > my observations. Best, Dick > > > > > > --- On Wed, 7/15/09, Cindy Ashy > wrote: > > > > > From: Cindy Ashy > > > Subject: Re: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year > for White Pelicans? > > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 9:54 AM > > > > > > Regarding the unusual dispersal and abundance of > American > > > White Pelicans this season: > > > > > > The breeding colony failure theory is interesting > but I > > > have to ask: > > > > > > Does anyone know of an actual American White > Pelican > > > breeding colony failure(s) this season? > Aren't these watched > > > closely enough that if it happened someone on > this list > > > would have heard about it? > > > > > > The reason I ask: > > > > > > It's not just American White Pelicans that > are showing up > > > in unusual places and in larger than normal > numbers. Brown > > > Pelicans also seem to be on the move this season, > and as > > > discussed on OBOL, in numbers almost too numerous > to count. > > > Magnificent Frigatebirds, another migratory > member of the > > > Pelecaniformes Order, are putting on an unusually > good show > > > in the Gulf this year. I don't know all the > details but I'm > > > vaguely aware that several species of fish seem > to be > > > showing unusual dispersal patterns (vertical and > horizontal > > > dispersal). Whale watchers are having an > exceptionally good > > > year (and not just grey whales). > > > > > > Are there other species showing aberrant > dispersal patterns > > > this season? > > > > > > I just wonder if something else may be going on > > > here....something on a grander scale....something > caused by > > > a change in the global physical environment > rather than > > > localized/regional colony failures....something > affecting > > > several species....and if we could see a > connection between > > > the species affected, it might give a clue as to > what it > > > is. > > > > > > Cindy Ashy > > > > > > > > > ? ? ? > > > _______________________________________________ > > > obol mailing list > > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > Lauren found her dream laptop. Find > the PC that?s right for you. > From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Jul 16 09:36:17 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:36:17 +0000 Subject: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? White-faced Ibis? In-Reply-To: <661424.23135.qm@web51808.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <661424.23135.qm@web51808.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Greetings All, I want to be clear that I was not claiming to know whether or not this year is somehow a special case. It could be. But I'm seeing an awful lot of hyperbole tossed about, none of it supported by any data. Ultimately, a collection of casual observations has value, or I would not invest the many, many hours I put in each year compiling and summarizing all of your reports. I do keep a "database" for each reporting season, most of it gleaned right off of OBOL, hence I can compare one season to another in the end. While it seems (even to me) that American White Pelicans are wandering about a bit more than normal, I know that my databases from recent summers are rife with reports of "stray" flocks of White Pelicans. I suspect, with both pelicans and White-faced Ibis, that we are seeing a dispersal/prospecting pattern that goes far beyond a one-year anomaly, but the number of years data supporting this notion is insufficient to draw a firm conclusion. Perhaps it's climate change, perhaps some other factor like just plain old population growth. We know that numbers of ibis are increasing and their range is expanding. In the case of pelicans and other species of Pelicaniformes, their numbers have grown dramatically since the banning of DDT in the 1970's. Some species, particularly Double-crested Cormorant and Brown Pelican, have experienced exponential population growth over the last two decades. As populations grow, carrying capacities are tested, and birds must look for new places to nest. As pointed out by several others, American White Pelicans have very specific nesting needs and year-to-year water fluctuations may affect the usability of certain nest sites. Water levels are quite low in many parts of Malheur NWR this summer, so some of the traditional nesting islands my not be islands this year. Water levels also affect ibis. They seem prone to move about more in low water years. Many have speculated that the northward and westward range expansions have been in response to persisitent droughts across much of their historic breeding ranges. The jury is still out on many of these issues and they cannot be answered by a year or two of data collection. It is fun to speculate and ponder these questions and for me a big part of why I enjoy birding as much as I do. However, there is a certain "me too" momentum that occurs when these types of discussions arise. The most important thing is to continue reporting what you see, where you see it, and when you saw it. Include specific numbers to the point that gathering them is possible. In the end this will help answer the question in the subject line. We may look back five years from now and realize that the summer of 2009 was little more than a point a trendline, or perhaps it will be viewed as truly out of the ordinary. Dave Irons > Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:34:11 -0700 > From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com > Subject: RE: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? White-faced Ibis? > To: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org; llsdirons at msn.com > > > Hi David, > > If it were one species showing aberrant dispersal patterns, I might agree with you. Given the very real fact that we are seeing aberrant dispersal patterns across multiple species, across phyla, in different regions of at the least the United States, among disparate observers, I simply can not agree with you. > > The resistance to new recognitions/explanations, even in cases where hindsight makes them seem blatantly obviously, has always been and will always be part of the scientific milieu. It is human nature after all. > > Cindy Ashy > > --- On Thu, 7/16/09, David Irons wrote: > > > From: David Irons > > Subject: RE: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? White-faced Ibis? > > To: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com, "post OBOL" , tunicate89 at yahoo.com > > Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009, 2:24 AM > > > > > > > > #yiv808475856 .hmmessage P > > { > > margin:0px;padding:0px;} > > #yiv808475856 { > > font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} > > > > > > > > I've carefully avoided jumping into this discussion, > > but I find that it is growing legs and spawning lots of > > unfounded speculations about the cause of these > > "extraordinary" events. Personally, I'm not so > > sure that anything too out of the ordinary is going on. > > American White Pelicans have been showing up away from their > > historic Great Basin and Columbia River haunts for more than > > a decade. I think one of the things that is happening here > > in the Willamette Valley is that one or two decent sized > > flocks are moving north and south through the valley between > > Fern Ridge and Baskett Slough creating the illusion that > > there are hundreds and hundreds of pelicans around. It > > should be pointed out that the numbers at Fern Ridge in any > > given day vary from up to 100 to only about 20 or so and > > many of the big flocks seen (50+ birds) around Finley, > > Baskett Slough, and Ankeny (all of which were about the same > > size) were only present for a day or so. > > > > Just a quick comment on White-faced Ibis. This year is most > > certainly not "extraordinary." The breeding > > population of White-faced Ibis in the Harney Basin has been > > growing on a rather steep trajectory for decades. There are > > now something like 10,000 pairs of ibis breeding in the > > collective wetlands fed by the Silvies and Blitzen rivers. > > These numbers are not a one-year anomaly. This has been the > > case for at least a couple years running. This year's > > breeding numbers may be the highest ever, but I suspect that > > next year's will be even higher as this has been a > > continuing pattern for some time. When I first started > > visiting Malheur in 1977, the breeding population of > > White-faced Ibis numberd just 200 pairs. Continent-wide, > > both Glossy and White-faced Ibis have been expanding their > > ranges northward and westward for several years. > > > > I have recommended this book before and I will recommend it > > again. Before offering up hyberbole based on a small sample > > of observations, take the time to read "The > > Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives" by > > Leonard Mlodinow. It offers an enlightening examination of > > the persistent human inclination to assign pattern to small > > samples of events. Our memories are short, hence the most > > recent interesting thing we've observed is often > > assigned far greater significance that it warrants. Further, > > we tend to observe what others suggest we might be seeing. > > When someone poses a question like the one in the subject > > line of this thread, our social nature takes over (we want > > to be part of the group) and we willingly notice a pattern > > that we had not observed previously. > > > > My two cents, > > > > Dave Irons > > > > > Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:29:21 -0700 > > > From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com > > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org; tunicate89 at yahoo.com > > > Subject: Re: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for > > White Pelicans? White-faced Ibis? > > > > > > > > > Hi Cindy, > > > Normally I watch raptors, and was able to spend > > three solid weeks looking for falcons earlier this season > > here in Harney Co. What I do recall are very large numbers > > of white-faced ibis----many more than I've seen in > > previous years. There presence made falcon hunting more > > difficult as in flight they sometimes look like a peregrine > > (for a moment)------meaning every ibis had to be looked at > > to make certain it wasn't a falcon. Anyway, just one of > > my observations. Best, Dick > > > > > > > > > --- On Wed, 7/15/09, Cindy Ashy > > wrote: > > > > > > > From: Cindy Ashy > > > > Subject: Re: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year > > for White Pelicans? > > > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > > Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 9:54 AM > > > > > > > > Regarding the unusual dispersal and abundance of > > American > > > > White Pelicans this season: > > > > > > > > The breeding colony failure theory is interesting > > but I > > > > have to ask: > > > > > > > > Does anyone know of an actual American White > > Pelican > > > > breeding colony failure(s) this season? > > Aren't these watched > > > > closely enough that if it happened someone on > > this list > > > > would have heard about it? > > > > > > > > The reason I ask: > > > > > > > > It's not just American White Pelicans that > > are showing up > > > > in unusual places and in larger than normal > > numbers. Brown > > > > Pelicans also seem to be on the move this season, > > and as > > > > discussed on OBOL, in numbers almost too numerous > > to count. > > > > Magnificent Frigatebirds, another migratory > > member of the > > > > Pelecaniformes Order, are putting on an unusually > > good show > > > > in the Gulf this year. I don't know all the > > details but I'm > > > > vaguely aware that several species of fish seem > > to be > > > > showing unusual dispersal patterns (vertical and > > horizontal > > > > dispersal). Whale watchers are having an > > exceptionally good > > > > year (and not just grey whales). > > > > > > > > Are there other species showing aberrant > > dispersal patterns > > > > this season? > > > > > > > > I just wonder if something else may be going on > > > > here....something on a grander scale....something > > caused by > > > > a change in the global physical environment > > rather than > > > > localized/regional colony failures....something > > affecting > > > > several species....and if we could see a > > connection between > > > > the species affected, it might give a clue as to > > what it > > > > is. > > > > > > > > Cindy Ashy > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > obol mailing list > > > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > obol mailing list > > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > Lauren found her dream laptop. Find > > the PC that?s right for you. > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_BR_life_in_synch_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090716/182af5e5/attachment.html From rkorpi at hotmail.com Thu Jul 16 09:56:08 2009 From: rkorpi at hotmail.com (Ray Korpi) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:56:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pelicans, Ibises, and Frigates, oh my Message-ID: All, I read the thread on this with some interest this morning. I think that I am tending toward the Dave Irons side of the spectrum. Over the past ten years, we have seen occasions in the summer where Pelicans have shown up like this and they have moved up and down the valley-wandering around during the day and being seen in different places. What seems different to me this year is the number of reports, and that leads me to speculate on this: With gas prices down this summer, are people getting out and seeing things more? It seems a lot of people are going to refuges up and down the valley and finding these birds. The reports to OBOl have been pretty steady, and there seems to be a lot of pelicans in places where they are not usually (and not so many pelicans where they would be usually). Brown Pelican and White-faced Ibis populations are both increasing (the ibises in the midwest are doing the same from what I read in Nebraska), and it seems that we are seeing simply larger massings of some birds. For this sort of phenomenon, I think we need to look at trend data over years as Dave suggests. One year could be a blip--more than one year could be a trend (and don't forget, we're into El Nino now, so looking at what this phenomenon causes in some of the coastal birds is important). Interesting discussion, wish I could get out of this *!+^&%$!_&* office to find some of what you all are seeing. Ray Korpi rkorpi at hotmail.com Vancouver WA Still lurkin' after all these years -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090716/f1b755d7/attachment.html From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Thu Jul 16 11:00:56 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:00:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? White-faced Ibis? Message-ID: <613157.72930.qm@web51805.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Again Dave, it's not just one species, or even a few species. In fact, it's not just bird species. Another set of examples would be the abundance of reports regarding deep sea species moving into shallow water. The comparative method is a mighty useful tool and was the predominant method used in the biological sciences before the 60/70's. I am very happy that this method has been somewhat revived....in fact, has a whole new life with modern ways of analyzing data. Many important discoveries in science start by the casual observations of individuals and the sharing of those observations in a variety of forums....and it certainly doesn't have to be just scientists that are doing the observing. In my opinion, scientists with any sense listen to and value observations by non-scientists. It is often a collective effort, although it is usually not credited in this way. Just because it hasn't yet been rigorously collated and analyzed statistically doesn't make it hyperbole. It is worthy of discussion right where it stands. Interesting correlations are always worthy of discussion....and fun to think about. Since we're recommending books, I recommend "Great Geological Controversies" by Hallam. I read it long ago and it left an indelible influence, as did the professor who originally recommended it. I think it's a book that should be read by every first year grad student in every scientific discipline...and would be enjoyed by many on this list as well. It gives insight into how ideas originate and evolve and the competing factors influencing that. Let me also say that I have a great deal of respect for Dave, even though we may disagree on this point (and others LOL). The effort (unpaid volunteer work) that he puts into compiling data is not only useful now but will be useful for centuries to come and he probably doesn't get enough credit for that.....and the same applies to several others on this list. So, let me take this opportunity to say thanks to Dave specifically and to all of you to whom this applies. Cindy Ashy --- On Thu, 7/16/09, David Irons wrote: > From: David Irons > Subject: RE: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? White-faced Ibis? > To: tunicate89 at yahoo.com, "post OBOL" > Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009, 11:36 AM > > > > #yiv1179076019 .hmmessage P > { > margin:0px;padding:0px;} > #yiv1179076019 { > font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} > > > > Greetings All, > > I want to be clear that I was not claiming to know whether > or not this year is somehow a special case. It could be. But > I'm seeing an awful lot of hyperbole tossed about, none > of it supported by any data. Ultimately, a collection of > casual observations has value, or I would not invest the > many, many hours I put in each year compiling and > summarizing all of your reports. I do keep a > "database" for each reporting season, most of it > gleaned right off of OBOL, hence I can compare one season to > another in the end. While it seems (even to me) that > American White Pelicans are wandering about a bit more than > normal, I know that my databases from recent summers are > rife with reports of "stray" flocks of White > Pelicans. I suspect, with both pelicans and White-faced > Ibis, that we are seeing a dispersal/prospecting pattern > that goes far beyond a one-year anomaly, but the number of > years data supporting this notion is insufficient to draw a > firm conclusion. > > Perhaps it's climate change, perhaps some other factor > like just plain old population growth. We know that numbers > of ibis are increasing and their range is expanding. In the > case of pelicans and other species of Pelicaniformes, their > numbers have grown dramatically since the banning of DDT in > the 1970's. Some species, particularly Double-crested > Cormorant and Brown Pelican, have experienced exponential > population growth over the last two decades. As populations > grow, carrying capacities are tested, and birds must look > for new places to nest. As pointed out by several others, > American White Pelicans have very specific nesting needs and > year-to-year water fluctuations may affect the usability of > certain nest sites. Water levels are quite low in many parts > of Malheur NWR this summer, so some of the traditional > nesting islands my not be islands this year. Water levels > also affect ibis. They seem prone to move about more in low > water years. Many have speculated that the northward and > westward range expansions have been in response to > persisitent droughts across much of their historic breeding > ranges. The jury is still out on many of these issues and > they cannot be answered by a year or two of data collection. > > > It is fun to speculate and ponder these questions and for > me a big part of why I enjoy birding as much as I do. > However, there is a certain "me too" momentum that > occurs when these types of discussions arise. The most > important thing is to continue reporting what you see, where > you see it, and when you saw it. Include specific numbers to > the point that gathering them is possible. In the end this > will help answer the question in the subject line. We may > look back five years from now and realize that the summer of > 2009 was little more than a point a trendline, or perhaps it > will be viewed as truly out of the ordinary. > > Dave Irons > > > > Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:34:11 -0700 > > From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com > > Subject: RE: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for > White Pelicans? White-faced Ibis? > > To: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org; > llsdirons at msn.com > > > > > > Hi David, > > > > If it were one species showing aberrant dispersal > patterns, I might agree with you. Given the very real fact > that we are seeing aberrant dispersal patterns across > multiple species, across phyla, in different regions of at > the least the United States, among disparate observers, I > simply can not agree with you. > > > > The resistance to new recognitions/explanations, even > in cases where hindsight makes them seem blatantly > obviously, has always been and will always be part of the > scientific milieu. It is human nature after all. > > > > Cindy Ashy > > > > --- On Thu, 7/16/09, David Irons > wrote: > > > > > From: David Irons > > > Subject: RE: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year > for White Pelicans? White-faced Ibis? > > > To: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com, "post OBOL" > , tunicate89 at yahoo.com > > > Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009, 2:24 AM > > > > > > > > > > > > #yiv808475856 .hmmessage P > > > { > > > margin:0px;padding:0px;} > > > #yiv808475856 { > > > font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} > > > > > > > > > > > > I've carefully avoided jumping into this > discussion, > > > but I find that it is growing legs and spawning > lots of > > > unfounded speculations about the cause of these > > > "extraordinary" events. Personally, > I'm not so > > > sure that anything too out of the ordinary is > going on. > > > American White Pelicans have been showing up away > from their > > > historic Great Basin and Columbia River haunts > for more than > > > a decade. I think one of the things that is > happening here > > > in the Willamette Valley is that one or two > decent sized > > > flocks are moving north and south through the > valley between > > > Fern Ridge and Baskett Slough creating the > illusion that > > > there are hundreds and hundreds of pelicans > around. It > > > should be pointed out that the numbers at Fern > Ridge in any > > > given day vary from up to 100 to only about 20 or > so and > > > many of the big flocks seen (50+ birds) around > Finley, > > > Baskett Slough, and Ankeny (all of which were > about the same > > > size) were only present for a day or so. > > > > > > Just a quick comment on White-faced Ibis. This > year is most > > > certainly not "extraordinary." The > breeding > > > population of White-faced Ibis in the Harney > Basin has been > > > growing on a rather steep trajectory for decades. > There are > > > now something like 10,000 pairs of ibis breeding > in the > > > collective wetlands fed by the Silvies and > Blitzen rivers. > > > These numbers are not a one-year anomaly. This > has been the > > > case for at least a couple years running. This > year's > > > breeding numbers may be the highest ever, but I > suspect that > > > next year's will be even higher as this has > been a > > > continuing pattern for some time. When I first > started > > > visiting Malheur in 1977, the breeding population > of > > > White-faced Ibis numberd just 200 pairs. > Continent-wide, > > > both Glossy and White-faced Ibis have been > expanding their > > > ranges northward and westward for several > years.? > > > > > > I have recommended this book before and I will > recommend it > > > again. Before offering up hyberbole based on a > small sample > > > of observations, take the time to read "The > > > Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our > Lives" by > > > Leonard Mlodinow. It offers an enlightening > examination of > > > the persistent human inclination to assign > pattern to small > > > samples of events. Our memories are short, hence > the most > > > recent interesting thing we've observed is > often > > > assigned far greater significance that it > warrants. Further, > > > we tend to observe what others suggest we might > be seeing. > > > When someone poses a question like the one in the > subject > > > line of this thread, our social nature takes over > (we want > > > to be part of the group) and we willingly notice > a pattern > > > that we had not observed previously. > > > > > > My two cents, > > > > > > Dave Irons > > > > > > > Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:29:21 -0700 > > > > From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com > > > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org; > tunicate89 at yahoo.com > > > > Subject: Re: [obol] Is this an extraordinary > year for > > > White Pelicans? White-faced Ibis? > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi Cindy, > > > > Normally I watch raptors, and was able > to spend > > > three solid weeks looking for falcons earlier > this season > > > here in Harney Co. What I do recall are very > large numbers > > > of white-faced ibis----many more than I've > seen in > > > previous years. There presence made falcon > hunting more > > > difficult as in flight they sometimes look like a > peregrine > > > (for a moment)------meaning every ibis had to be > looked at > > > to make certain it wasn't a falcon. Anyway, > just one of > > > my observations. Best, Dick > > > > > > > > > > > > --- On Wed, 7/15/09, Cindy Ashy > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > From: Cindy Ashy > > > > > > Subject: Re: [obol] Is this an > extraordinary year > > > for White Pelicans? > > > > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > > > Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 9:54 > AM > > > > > > > > > > Regarding the unusual dispersal and > abundance of > > > American > > > > > White Pelicans this season: > > > > > > > > > > The breeding colony failure theory is > interesting > > > but I > > > > > have to ask: > > > > > > > > > > Does anyone know of an actual American > White > > > Pelican > > > > > breeding colony failure(s) this > season? > > > Aren't these watched > > > > > closely enough that if it happened > someone on > > > this list > > > > > would have heard about it? > > > > > > > > > > The reason I ask: > > > > > > > > > > It's not just American White > Pelicans that > > > are showing up > > > > > in unusual places and in larger than > normal > > > numbers. Brown > > > > > Pelicans also seem to be on the move > this season, > > > and as > > > > > discussed on OBOL, in numbers almost > too numerous > > > to count. > > > > > Magnificent Frigatebirds, another > migratory > > > member of the > > > > > Pelecaniformes Order, are putting on an > unusually > > > good show > > > > > in the Gulf this year. I don't know > all the > > > details but I'm > > > > > vaguely aware that several species of > fish seem > > > to be > > > > > showing unusual dispersal patterns > (vertical and > > > horizontal > > > > > dispersal). Whale watchers are having > an > > > exceptionally good > > > > > year (and not just grey whales). > > > > > > > > > > Are there other species showing > aberrant > > > dispersal patterns > > > > > this season? > > > > > > > > > > I just wonder if something else may be > going on > > > > > here....something on a grander > scale....something > > > caused by > > > > > a change in the global physical > environment > > > rather than > > > > > localized/regional colony > failures....something > > > affecting > > > > > several species....and if we could see > a > > > connection between > > > > > the species affected, it might give a > clue as to > > > what it > > > > > is. > > > > > > > > > > Cindy Ashy > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ? ? ? > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > obol mailing list > > > > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > > > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > obol mailing list > > > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > Lauren found her dream laptop. Find > > > the PC that?s right for you. > > > > > > > > > > > Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. Check > it out. > From fschrock at gmail.com Thu Jul 16 11:43:23 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:43:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Violet-green tribulations Message-ID: <390ebd880907161143h2f56801fo4010e22a33de0150@mail.gmail.com> "My" one brood of Violet-green Swallows fledged yesterday (July 15) and at noon I heard one fledgling hidden in a tree uttering its repetitious feeding call. Never heard or saw any of the others. This morning the adult female was flying back and forth a few feet high over my neighbors' driveway, and I discovered one of the fledglings lying dead there with a crushed skull, but no other visible injuries or defects. Whatever else may be affecting Swallow populations, I'm beginning to suspect that the increasing numbers of Scrub-Jays and Crows in my neighborhood might have something to do with the decline here. I've seen Jays kill fledgling Chickadees in my backyard, and once watched a Crow kill and drop a Phalarope that was hunkered down, minding its own business, by a rain puddle in a parking lot at Newport. Of course, Starlings might also be likely suspects. This was the only pair of Violet-greens that nested in my neighborhood this year, where there used to be four or five. I'm wondering if there will be any next year. ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090716/abad9828/attachment.html From fshipley at paclink.com Thu Jul 16 12:22:23 2009 From: fshipley at paclink.com (fs) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:22:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] oddity at 900' References: Message-ID: <00e601ca064a$c20f4e50$6501a8c0@judithT> As we walked across the gravel road from the garden back into the woods near the saddle of Chehalem Mountain a flash of movement at the road edge 2 power poles up the hill caught my eye and I was thinking it might be a Sharp-Shinned Hawk tussling with his prey. Yup. It was. As we walked towards the combatants the Sharp Shinned flew up and away and there at the edge of the road barely alive was an American Coot. We turned around and wasn't 40 foot away when he returned to finish his job. Not sure what his plan would be since the coot either is equal his weight or outweighs him..... odd matchup To me really odd matchup in fir forest at 900' fred From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Thu Jul 16 13:30:13 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:30:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Douglas RUDDY TURNSTONE, other coastal shorebirds Message-ID: <2b1bbd260907161330y40d4a64bn547504c0f32d4e5e@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Shorebird migration on the coast has slowed a bit over the last few days as David Bailey implied. We have not seen any huge flocks this week along the Lane/Douglas coast like we did last. Variety, however, has picked up a bit. Today 16 July on the beach near Oregon Dunes Overlook we observed 2 WHIMBREL and a single RUDDY TURNSTONE. We have had dozens of SEMI-PALMATED PLOVERS along the beach this week, particularly in Douglas Co. Most peep flocks are pretty spread out now and are hard to count. They are still dominated by WESTERNS, but LEAST SP numbers have increased significantly since early July. SANDERLING numbers are also starting to pick up. We have had a few flocks of around a dozen birds this week. Yesterday at Siltcoos, Lane Co. we saw 3 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS in the marshy pond S of the Waxmyrtle trail. We also saw a BLACK PHOEBE on the beach at Tahkenitch. It flew past in the fog looking very exotic....until it landed. Late report but on 13 July we observed 5 MARBLED GODWITS and a BONAPARTE'S GULL at Tenmile Creek, Coos Co. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090716/2e171dbd/attachment.html From tlove at linfield.edu Thu Jul 16 14:50:31 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:50:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Newport Whimbrels Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F1218AEB845@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> I saw David Bailey's flock of 25 WHIMBRELS lift up behind the Hatfield Science center Tuesday afternoon, 14 July, at high tide about 4:30 p.m., and fly down-estuary toward the ocean. (No godwit with them that I discerned.) Other than that not much unusual to report from a several-days R&R near Boiler Bay. Tom Love tlove AT linfield.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090716/26f5e2de/attachment.html From smithdwd at hotmail.com Thu Jul 16 15:41:10 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:41:10 +0000 Subject: [obol] FW: OFO annual Mtng, Shorebird Festival Plus In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Oboltonians, This NFS website may not attach. Geoff Keller is returning to Charleston as one of 2 speakers; Jim Danzenbaker being the other, for the Oregon Shorebird Festival Plus. Geoff's new 5 CD compilation of Pacific NW bird songs was recently released. I'm not going to profess bird song ID skills, but the variety, quality, and local representation are great. There will be 2 venues; dual programs. Jim will present on Shorebird ID and a digiscoping workshop. OFOers and Coos Bayers will be guides on the free field trips. Greg, The Bird Guide, will have Sat and Sun pelagics. A Sat Seafood Buffet, presentation, with a short OFO annual meeting and a Fri presentation are featured. All information and registration are on the wbsite:Google Oregon Shorebird Festival fo this Aug 28-30 event(weekend BEFORE Labor Day). Registration is ahead of previous years. Join us for the variety, learning, and socializing. "You won't know if you don't go". David Smith To: smithdwd at hotmail.com Subject: Emailing: shorebirdfestival From: Dave.W.Smith at kp.org Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:05:43 -0700 Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex Pacific Region Home Refuges Oregon Islands Cape Meares Three Arch Rocks Nestucca Bay Siletz Bay Bandon Marsh News Events CCP Education Wildlife Pinnipeds Seabirds Shorebirds Birds of Prey Waterfowl Viewing Tips Maps Volunteer FAQ Links Contact Oregon Shorebird Festival Plus! August 28-30, 2009 The Oregon Shorebird Festival, one of the longest running bird festivals in Oregon, will celebrate 23 years in 2009. This year the festival is teaming up with Oregon Field Ornithologists to make the festival even bigger. There will be a full weekend of activities planned for birders of all skill levels. The festival is headquartered at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in Charleston, OR. Activities include expertly guided land based field trips to Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, New River and the Coos Bay area. And for those who want to experience birding on the water, The Bird Guide, Inc. will offer two pelagic trips: a long eight hour trip on Saturday and a short five hour trip on Sunday. Expected seabirds include Black-footed Albatross, Parasitic Jaeger, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, Sooty & Pink-footed Shearwater, Pomarine Jaeger, Red-necked Phalarope, Cassin's Auklets, and more. Evening programs on birds will feature Geoff Keller "My Most Memorable Field Recording Experiences" and Jim Danzenbaker ?A Workshop on the Nuances of Shorebird Identification.? The Oregon Shorebird Festival usually attracts between 60 to 100 birders from all over the nation but primarily from the Pacific Northwest. The Festival is small compared to the larger wildlife festivals that have premiered in the past ten years; this keeps the festival intimate so visitors are able to interact more closely with field trip leaders, guest speakers and other festival attendees. So join us for days filled with shorebirds and evenings with good conversation and great presentations. Register Today! Download the bird list from the 2008 Field Trips. Schedule of Events Friday, August 28 5:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. - - Registration at OIMB cafeteria 7:30 p.m. - - Evening Program Opening remarks Field Trip Announcements Presentations: Choose one to attend. South Slough NERR Auditorium Geoff Keller: "My Most Memorable Field Recording Experiences" Geoff began recording bird song in 1985, and soon thereafter developed a close working relationship with Cornell University?s Laboratory of Ornithology. His desire was to produce a series of regional audio guides that would contain high quality examples of bird songs to help birders locate and identify birds in the field. Since the beginning, he collaborated with Cornell on six regional, audio bird guides with Bird Songs of the Pacific Northwest being the most recent. Over the last 24 years he has recorded all over North America from Nome, Alaska to the Florida Keys, and from Newfoundland to about 800 miles south into Mexico. In that time he archived almost 3,000 recordings. For 24 years he worked full time as a laboratory technologist on the Oregon Coast and used vacation time to get about five weeks per year in the field. Now retired he lives in Nashville, Indiana, in the heart of the scenic hill country, where he continues to record birds of the eastern deciduous forest. OIMB Auditorium Jim Danzenbaker: A Workshop on the Nuances of Shorebird Identification Shorebirds are difficult to identify, we all know that. When we try to ID them using a field guide our eyes are immediately drawn to the illustrations with the bright breeding plumages. But what about those shorebirds in winter plumage? This presentation will focus on identifying shorebirds of the Oregon coast in all plumages and taking the questions out of identification. Jim Danzenbaker has been a birder since he was six years old growing up in southern New Jersey. His interest turned to an obsession which took him all over the United States and, eventually, to over 20 countries in six continents. He also has co-led over 250 pelagic trips for Shearwater Journeys and more than 15 neotropical birding tours to Panama, Venezuela, and Ecuador. Jim has served as a naturalist and leader on eight Antarctic tours. He currently lives in Washington State where he is the Sales Manager for Kowa Optics. Saturday, August 29 6:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. -- Pelagic Trip : Early, pre-registration required Meet at Betty Kay Charters in the Charleston Boat Marina at 6:30 am for an eight hour trip 7:30 a.m. -- Birding the Slough via Canoe Meet in parking lot across from OIMB 7:45 a.m. -- Land-based Field Trips Meet in parking lot across from OIMB to carpool 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. -- SEA watches for marine mammals and seabird at Simpson Reef Overlook 6:00 p.m. - - Sustainable Seafood Buffet Dinner at OIMB Cafeteria 7:30 p.m. -- Evening Program Review of birds seen Field Trip Announcements Presentations: Repeat of Friday evening's presentation. Choose one to attend.Sunday, August 30 6:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. -- Pelagic Trip : Early, pre-registration required through the Bird Guide www.thebirdguide.com/pelagics Meet at Betty Kay Charters in the Charleston Boat Marina at 6:30 am for a five hour trip 8:30 a.m. -- Birding the Slough via Canoe Meet in parking lot across from OIMB 7:45 a.m. - - Land based Field Trips Meet in parking lot across from OIMB to carpool Registration To register please complete a registration form and mail completed form to Oregon Shorebird Festival, 2127 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport OR 97365. Registration forms can be downloaded as an adobe pdf document or you can get a hard copy by contacting Dawn Grafe at 541-867-4550 or via email at oregoncoast at fws.gov. Location All festival events are based out of the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology Campus in Charleston, OR. Directions to OIMB: Take Highway 101 to Coos Bay or North Bend. Follow signs to "Ocean Beaches" and "Charleston." Charleston is eight miles from Coos Bay. In Charleston, cross the South Slough bridge and turn right on Boat Basin Drive. OIMB is 1/2 miles on the left at 53566 Boat Basin Drive. Meals The festival does not provide options for dining on friday evening nor for any lunches. A local deli, Davey Jones Locker, can make you a lunch box which can be ordered the evening prior and picked up by 7 am the following morning. Breakfast items, both hot and cold, along with juice and coffee will be available for purchase in the lobby adjacent to the cafeteria between 6:15 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday. At 6:00 pm on Saturday there will be an optional Sustainable Seafood buffet in the OIMB cafeteria. The dinner includes Albacore Tuna, salad, side dishes, bread, dessert and a drink. The cost is $20 per person. Pre-registration for tickets to this dinner is encouraged. Lodging OIMB Dormitory The Dormitory at OIMB is available for Friday and Saturday night at $20 per person per night. The dormitory is bunk-style lodging, each room is private with a single bed, desk and dresser. Bathrooms are shared. Bring your own linens and towels. Space is limited so please register early to reserve a bunk room. Other Lodging Options Bandon Chamber of Commerce (541) 347-9616 Bastendorff Beach County Park (541) 888-5353 Bay Area Chamber of Commerce (541) 266-0868 Captain John's Motel (541) 888.4041 Charleston Harbor Inn (877) 888-1178 Charleston Chamber of Commerce corner of Boat Basin Dr. & Cape Arago Hwy ( 541) 888-2311 Loft By the Lighthouse (541) 888- 8386 Plainview Motel (800) 962-2815 Sunset Bay State Park (541) 888-4902 Sponsors Many people work hard to make the festival as success. Thank you to each and every one of you! U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Shoreline Education for Awareness Cape Arago Audubon Society The Bird Guide, Inc. South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve Oregon Institute of Marine Biology Pacific Region National Wildlife Refuge System Home Pacific Region Home Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex Home | News | Events | CCP | Education | Wildlife | Maps and Directions | Volunteers | FAQ | Links | Contact Us U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Home Page | Department of the Interior | USA.gov | About the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Accessibility Privacy | Notices | Disclaimer | FOIA Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 2127 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, 97365 Phone: 541-867-4550. Email: Oregoncoast at fws.gov. Site last updated July 9, 2009 Down NOTICE TO RECIPIENT: If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, you are prohibited from sharing, copying, or otherwise using or disclosing its contents. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete this e-mail and any attachments without reading, forwarding or saving them. Thank you. _________________________________________________________________ Show them the way! Add maps and directions to your party invites. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/products/events.aspx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090716/f83a6211/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ATT00000 Type: image/gif Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090716/f83a6211/attachment.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: ATT00005 Type: image/gif Size: 169 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090716/f83a6211/attachment-0005.gif From lbviman at blackfoot.net Thu Jul 16 16:24:40 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:24:40 -0600 Subject: [obol] goo in the pacific In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090716232049.C06349B0224@mail.blackfoot.net> I never called any specific person a "puppet", and I never asserted that this so-called goo (which scientists have seen long before Al Gore "burst" onto the scene) was NOT man-caused. But, YOUR assertions and comments would lead us to believe that you "believe" it to be man-caused, with NO substantiation. I was merely cautioning caution in jumping to "convenient" conclusions. While it is true that Humans have caused SOME changes in biological systems, it is NOT true that Humans have caused all of them, as we have been here but a "blip" in time compared to other biota and universal, planetary, or other biological contributors to methane, carbon dioxide, and ozone -- Jim Greaves At 01:00 PM 7/16/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >And, you know, humans have shown to be responsible >for quite a bit of ecological change on the planet whether you chose to >believe it or not. > >Before calling someone a "puppet" it would be prudent to examine your >own strings or at least lay off the Fox News for awhile. > >Respectfully, >David From lbviman at blackfoot.net Thu Jul 16 16:29:27 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:29:27 -0600 Subject: [obol] Oil Bad, people BAD for using it In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090716232536.4D1119B021A@mail.blackfoot.net> And natural oil seeps could be GOOD for the environment. Who made anti-oil people into the arbiters of what's good or bad in the environment!? - Jim Greaves Tell it to the Chumash in souther California, who for millenia used the natural oil to seal their canoes! At 01:00 PM 7/16/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >Natural oil seeps aren't necessarily good for the >environment, but they are natural. Regardless of whether the stuff is >natural, it does not automatically exclude the reasons for it being >human related. It could be a naturally occurring response to warmer >waters and ice sheet melt that is being caused by increased levels of >carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that is most attributed to humans >burning fossil fuel. And it could cause anaerobic conditions resulting >in the death of fish and other species, thus arguably being 'bad' for >the environment. From lbviman at blackfoot.net Thu Jul 16 16:31:10 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:31:10 -0600 Subject: [obol] name-calling In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090716232719.3E1729B021A@mail.blackfoot.net> I have rabbit ears. I do NOT watch CNN or Fox. - Jim Greaves At 01:00 PM 7/16/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >Before calling someone a "puppet" it would be prudent to examine your >own strings or at least lay off the Fox News for awhile. > >Respectfully, >David From rfadney at hotmail.com Thu Jul 16 17:52:50 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:52:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] goo in the pacific In-Reply-To: <20090716232049.C06349B0224@mail.blackfoot.net> References: <20090716232049.C06349B0224@mail.blackfoot.net> Message-ID: Thank you Jim for being courageous enough to voice the other opinion. I often wonder why it is so painful for people to hear an opposing opinion. Those of us who are skeptics of Mr. Gore are very vocally admonished. I think that everyone has right to his or her opinion, and should well be respected for having and stating that opinion. Whether one may agree with it or not. By the way, read about the glop on CNN's news site, and it said that it is common knowledge among scientists that this stuff is a naturally occurring substance. The have found similar stuff under Nevada as well. Personally, I'm more worried keeping the bids from getting into the glop and dying, and in finding a way to clean them up if they do. Rather than debating climate change theories that politicians take up to further their own agendas. Besides, this is NOT the place to get into that discussion! Rich Adney > Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:24:40 -0600 > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > From: lbviman at blackfoot.net > Subject: [obol] goo in the pacific > > I never called any specific person a "puppet", and I never asserted > that this so-called goo (which scientists have seen long before Al > Gore "burst" onto the scene) was NOT man-caused. But, YOUR assertions > and comments would lead us to believe that you "believe" it to be > man-caused, with NO substantiation. I was merely cautioning caution > in jumping to "convenient" conclusions. While it is true that Humans > have caused SOME changes in biological systems, it is NOT true that > Humans have caused all of them, as we have been here but a "blip" in > time compared to other biota and universal, planetary, or other > biological contributors to methane, carbon dioxide, and ozone -- Jim Greaves > > At 01:00 PM 7/16/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: > >And, you know, humans have shown to be responsible > >for quite a bit of ecological change on the planet whether you chose to > >believe it or not. > > > >Before calling someone a "puppet" it would be prudent to examine your > >own strings or at least lay off the Fox News for awhile. > > > >Respectfully, > >David > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_BR_life_in_synch_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090716/82074962/attachment.html From dhogaza at pacifier.com Thu Jul 16 18:34:54 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:34:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] goo in the pacific In-Reply-To: References: <20090716232049.C06349B0224@mail.blackfoot.net> Message-ID: <00916BAB-B31C-41AF-AAAB-E1CA3AC7F40C@pacifier.com> On Jul 16, 2009, at 5:52 PM, R. Adney Jr. wrote: > Thank you Jim for being courageous enough to voice the other > opinion. I often wonder why it is so painful for people to hear an > opposing opinion. Those of us who are skeptics of Mr. Gore are very > vocally admonished. Unless Mr. Gore is a birder, I believe he's off-topic. If you want to discuss climate science with someone who's fairly knowledgeable, feel free to e-mail me off-list. But please, if you do, don't mention Gore. There is absolutely nothing in climate science that is dependent on Gore's understanding of the science (which happens to be very good, but as irrelevant to climate science as is his ability or lack thereof to identify bird species by eye or ear is to the science of ornithology). Thank you. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From gorgebirds at juno.com Thu Jul 16 20:09:18 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 03:09:18 GMT Subject: [obol] Pelicans, Ibises, and Frigates, oh my Message-ID: <20090716.200918.12602.0@webmail15.vgs.untd.com> I have been following this thread and find it interesting, and while I have to admit that there are definitely many more birders now than there were forty years ago and a whole lot more sighting reports than ever before, I do think the number of White Pelicans in this area has increased. I saw my first Clark County, WA. pelican in 1987 and did not find another there for five years. Then starting in the year 2000, they became a nearly annual bird. During those forty years we have made numerous trips per year from home to Spokane and back as this is where my wife's family ranch is located. White Pelicans were a rare and exciting sighting on the earlier trips. Over the years the population has grown in the mid-Columbia River area through efforts of the State and Federal Wildlife agencies. The 1968 book; "WASHINGTON BIRDS, Their Location and Identification" by Earl J. Larrison, listed this pelican as: "Very rare spring and fall visitor west of the Cascades." The Brown Pelican was also rare in Washington back then and he wrote of them: "Unfortunately Washington is a little too far north for our own bird students to see this species at all commonly. Neverless, the sighting of one of these huge birds is well worth the searching along the southwestern Washington coast." Populations do change for a variety of reason including habitat changes, the banning of DDT and protection of wetlands. Some of the White Pelicans in our area may be dispersing foam these new colonies and following the Columbia River through the Gorge. But this would not explain that the first White Pelicans reported from Lewis County came from a hiker in the Goat Rocks Wilderness Area south of Mt. Rainer. I believe one of the pelicans at the Ridgefield NWR this year had a wing marker identifying it as from a colony in Idaho. Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Get your dream car or truck. Click here. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTLa8v7EjQZ0PnPgzBmYwqGPybNXSNKvV0HOKwqxFhmKCJjBtyUBig/ From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Jul 16 20:42:32 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:42:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pelicans, goo, and a real whopper Message-ID: <1247802152.3536.71.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, I'm kind of disappointed since I purposely forwarded my observations on multitudinous Vesper Sparrows to this list a few days ago, just hoping to ward off a case of mid-summer non-birding angst on OBOL. I've been unable to get out in the field myself these past couple of days for medical reasons (no, nothing to be concerned about, just the routine 100,000 mile maintenance). However I'm wondering why there are so many non-birding posts on OBOL, since I doubt that everyone else was on doctor's orders to limit their field activity. At least the pelican thread is about Oregon birds, though it runs pretty far to the speculative side. I'll repeat the sentiment that I've voiced many times in various ways: Conclusions about trends are best drawn from observations in places where a species is relatively common, rather than from places where observations of the species are statistical "outliers." Outliers can be of interest as indicators of patterns that may develop further, but science requires robust measures. The "goo in the Arctic Sea" could impact Oregon birds (perhaps migrant terns and gulls?) but I have yet to see anyone draw a firm connection. As a geologist & mining engineer with a smattering of background in petroleum engineering (including research on oil-well drilling tools), I was amused by the banter about natural oil seeps. Of course, oil seeps are a part of the natural environment! Crude oil is created by natural processes, and occasionally (though rarely) it also comes to the surface by natural processes. The Los Angeles Basin and the La Brea tar pits alongside of the Los Angeles County Art Museum (both worth visiting) are among the best examples that you'll find in the world. But this has very little to do with the circumstances under which oil spills could occur in the Arctic. I'd personally rather wait to hear if an algae bloom is the cause of the reported Arctic goo, rather than indulge in speculation. If it does turn out to be an algae bloom, Dave Lauten makes a fair point that algae blooms may also be anthropogenic. Anyway, all of this runs to the speculative side and I have yet to see a clear connection to Oregon birds. Meanwhile, something of much greater importance to Oregon birds & birding is in today's news: The Western Oregon Plan Revision (WOPR) is officially dead in the water. Those of you who still hope to get Northern Spotted Owl on your life list, or add Marbled Murrelet to the list of birds that you've found in a county that includes a patch of the Coast Range, you can breathe a sigh of relief. A big thanks to all of you who worked on this issue! There will no doubt be another logging plan, but at least we can hope that the next proposal will include some legitimate science. Meanwhile, there are still plenty of birds to be found, so how about some actual bird reports from those of you who don't have doctors telling you to stay at home? This time of year when the weather is hot, it helps to get out at 4:30 AM -- but that's good news for everyone with a day job, right? Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From tanager at nu-world.com Thu Jul 16 21:25:40 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:25:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Co. Vesper Sparrows 16 July 2009 Message-ID: <000301ca0696$a4f3c2a0$eedb47e0$@com> This evening Anne and I found a family group of VESPER SPARROWS plus at least one other individual singing its evening song out in the pasture to the west of Scharen Rd. Scharen Rd. is off Hampton Rd., which is off Hwy. 99 just south of Zip-O-Log mill in Goshen. When you turn onto Scharen Rd., go through two 90-degree turns and the field in which the birds are located is uphill and to the west and it has several horses out in the pasture. There is a large barn/arena at the SW corner of the pasture. If you go through another 90-degree turn you will be near the road's end and thus you have gone too far. It is great habitat all along there. It is a very birdy stretch of road. Lots of weedy fencerows, ash swale, and weeds that have gone to seed along the roadside edge as well. In the weedy fencerows we saw many goldfinches (American and Lesser), Cedar Waxwings, American Robins, Savannah Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Tree Swallows, plus a handful of Cliff and Barn Swallows. We also ran across two groups of California Quail. One Red-tailed Hawk was calling from a perch out in the field. (A couple of years ago a family group of Red-tailed Hawks were omnipresent in that same area.) The Vesper Sparrow family group was feeding in the fencerow right along the west boundary of Scharen Rd. I imagine that in the early morning with the sun in the east and the birds to the west it would be spectacular. This specific field has supported Vesper Sparrows in recent years, so it is encouraging to find them there again this year. Especially since we have heard of others failing to find them in their formerly regular haunts on the east flanks of Mt. Pisgah! Good Birding, Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090716/e39fdc15/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Thu Jul 16 21:30:04 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:30:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] FOY - HY California Gull Message-ID: I saw my first Juvenal California Gull of the summer this afternoon about 3:45 PM at the Yaquina Bay South Jetty. It was with about 40 subadults. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090716/22568ec4/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Thu Jul 16 21:37:11 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:37:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brant predation Message-ID: <8145B2759470440E91E55CA8A3DA9DBE@D48XBZ51> This afternoon at 5:05 Pm I watched an Adult Bald Eagle begin an attack on a Brant, in Alsea Bay, I was watching from the Port of Alsea parking lot in Waldport. The eagle swooped down repeatedly at the Brant, which ducked under water at each pass. After about 20 swoops aecond adult eagle joined, and they alternated swoops, generally oriented 90 degrees from each other. At about 5:15 the eagles both flew off to the west, and the Brant swam upstream and toward the south (near) shore. Five minutes later, the egales returned, and on about the 5th swoop one got a hold on the Brant and dragged it about 15 feet before losing it. Two swoops later, an eahle got a good grasp, picked it out of the water, and flew to a large snag on a sandbar. The second eagle (presumably mate) followed, and quickly, witout fuss, took the Brant from the one that caught it. The Brant appeared flightless, and may have been in wing molt. the whole hunt took a bit less than 20 minutes. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090716/2e7629c0/attachment.html From bettymkn at netscape.com Thu Jul 16 21:51:35 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:51:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Foster Lake Birds Message-ID: <20090716215135.7598A482@resin17.mta.everyone.net> Yesterday (Wednesday) on leaving for a day trip with the grandson my husband spotted a flock of white birds across the lake. Stopped for a look. Not Pelicans, Not gulls. On the other side of the lake so too far for a good look. About 50 or so. All white, (maybe). While watching them about half flew showing dark underwing tips. Isn't it a bit early to be watching for any type of geese other than the local live-in Canada type????? Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Jul 16 22:04:00 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:04:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Foster Lake Birds In-Reply-To: <20090716215135.7598A482@resin17.mta.everyone.net> References: <20090716215135.7598A482@resin17.mta.everyone.net> Message-ID: <5f6c4e0ed7ba3e7d7aad4913d83cf68e@earthlink.net> The time- mid-July, and the place, midway between the Great Basin and the Pacific, make California Gull seem the likeliest species to me. The adults show a good deal more black in the wing-tips than our other pale mantled gulls. Lars Norgren On Jul 16, 2009, at 9:51 PM, Betty Mankin wrote: > Yesterday (Wednesday) on leaving for a day trip with the grandson my > husband spotted a flock of white birds across the lake. > Stopped for a look. Not Pelicans, Not gulls. On the other side of > the lake so too far for a good look. About 50 or so. > All white, (maybe). While watching them about half flew showing > dark underwing tips. > Isn't it a bit early to be watching for any type of geese other than > the local live-in Canada type????? > > Betty Mankin > bettymkn at netscape.com > > _____________________________________________________________ > Netscape. Just the Net You Need. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Jul 16 22:26:37 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:26:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Westside Pelicans Message-ID: I'm confident David Irons has it right. But one thing that requires no speculation is the changes in habitat. Most postings are taking for granted the shallow empoundments at the various Willamette Valley NWRs. Thirty years ago they didn't exist or were so new as to not work as finished ecosystems. Fern Ridge WMU as well. We now have nesting stilts, phalaropes, and Black Terns as well. When I was a teenage birder in the early seventies these were very much a dream. In all my hours of sailing on Fern Ridge Res. I never dreamed they'd become a reality. Like wise I believe there have been similar water projects large and small throughout the northwest that pelicans might take advantage of. I'm curious about David's implication that White Pelicans nest at Malheur NWR. I saw a slide show at the refuge in the early 70s during which the refuge manager said the only colony in Oregon was the island in Pelican Lake in the Warner Valley. Apparently the birds at Malheur Lake were commuters in those days. The idea of these birds bouncing back and forth around the Willamette Valley on a daily basis is equivalent to the Slaty-backed Gull that moved from Tom McCall Park to Westmoreland in the course of a normal day. I had to go to Malheur several times before I saw my first ibis. I think most birders expected to miss the species often in those days. As I recall the first big movement of ibis into the Silvies/Blitzen Basin was around 1984 when flooding in Nevada drowned traditional nesting areas. The area around Burns had far more water than usual at the time, but conditions seemed to suit the ibis. Lars Norgren From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Jul 16 22:41:32 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:41:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Daylight Screech Owl Message-ID: While walking south of my house tonight I heard a Screech Owl give the bouncing ball call. It was about 7:30 and still an hour before sunset. It continued to do so while I was within earshot--20 or 30 minutes. The area is fully stocked Douglas-fir reprod, only 20 years old at most, with a permanent stream in the canyon bottom. This stream is Sadd Creek, the headwaters for Cedar Canyon/Killin Wetlands. Of the regular species of owl in this area Screech is the one I detect least often. Lars Norgren From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Jul 17 00:02:01 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:02:01 +0000 Subject: [obol] Westside Pelicans In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Greetings All, Regarding pelicans nesting at Malheur NWR. Lars is quite correct, White Pelicans summered at Malheur for several decades without ever nesting there. When I learned this as a much younger lad, I was amazed. I can recall thinking at the time, "How can all these pelicans be here during the breeing season without nesting?" Pelicans first bred (in recent times) at Malheur in 1985 after many decades of being summer visitors/residents on the refuge (see citation and abstract in italics). The entire article can be found online. The Re-Establishment of American White Pelican Nesting in the Malheur-Harney Lakes Basin, Oregon, by David G. Paullin, Gary L. Ivey and Carroll D. Littlefield ? 1988 Society for Northwestern Vertebrate Biology. Abstract American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythroryhnchos) re-established nesting in the Malheur-Harney Lakes Basin in 1985 when seven pairs fledged three young on a small greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) island. In 1986, nesting efforts increased to an estimated 140 nests in four colonies with a total production of 125 young. Nesting islands were less than 1 ha in size, apparently free from mammalian predators, and occupied by other bird species which had pioneered the island before pelicans initiated nesting. On three islands greasewood shrubs dominated the vegetation, providing shade for the pre-fledged young. On the shrubless island shade was provided by tall forbs. Lars' points about habitat enhancements in the Willamette Valley are also on the money. The list of "eastside birds" that now breed in the valley is mind-boggling from a historical perspective. He did not make mention of Redhead and Gadwall, which now nest in numbers at Fern Ridge (Gadwall are now breeding all over western Oregon, including the outer coast). What will be the next of the Great Basin birds to start (or be documented) breeding in the Willamette Valley? The most likely candidates include White-faced Ibis, Forster's Tern, and Black-crowned Night-Heron, which may already be nesting in the area given adults and immatures have appeared at Royal Ave in late June/early July for at least five years running. Dave Irons > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > From: gnorgren at earthlink.net > Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:26:37 -0700 > Subject: [obol] Westside Pelicans > > I'm confident David Irons has it right. > But one thing that requires no speculation is > the changes in habitat. Most postings are taking > for granted the shallow empoundments at the various > Willamette Valley NWRs. Thirty years ago they > didn't exist or were so new as to not work as > finished ecosystems. Fern Ridge WMU as well. We > now have nesting stilts, phalaropes, and Black > Terns as well. When I was a teenage birder in > the early seventies these were very much a dream. > In all my hours of sailing on Fern Ridge Res. I > never dreamed they'd become a reality. > Like wise I believe there have been similar > water projects large and small throughout the > northwest that pelicans might take advantage of. > I'm curious about David's implication that White > Pelicans nest at Malheur NWR. I saw a slide show > at the refuge in the early 70s during which the > refuge manager said the only colony in Oregon was > the island in Pelican Lake in the Warner Valley. > Apparently the birds at Malheur Lake were commuters > in those days. > The idea of these birds bouncing back and > forth around the Willamette Valley on a daily > basis is equivalent to the Slaty-backed Gull > that moved from Tom McCall Park to Westmoreland > in the course of a normal day. > I had to go to Malheur several times before > I saw my first ibis. I think most birders expected > to miss the species often in those days. As I recall > the first big movement of ibis into the Silvies/Blitzen > Basin was around 1984 when flooding in Nevada drowned > traditional nesting areas. The area around Burns had > far more water than usual at the time, but conditions > seemed to suit the ibis. Lars Norgren > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_SD_25GB_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090717/232f6add/attachment.html From dhogaza at pacifier.com Fri Jul 17 06:49:05 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:49:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Westside Pelicans In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On Jul 17, 2009, at 12:02 AM, David Irons wrote: > Greetings All, > > Regarding pelicans nesting at Malheur NWR. Lars is quite correct, > White Pelicans summered at Malheur for several decades without ever > nesting there. When I learned this as a much younger lad, I was > amazed. I can recall thinking at the time, "How can all these > pelicans be here during the breeing season without nesting?" > Pelicans first bred (in recent times) at Malheur in 1985 after many > decades of being summer visitors/residents on the refuge (see > citation and abstract in italics). The entire article can be found > online. This was during the years of very high flooding that caused state 205 to be rebuilt as a causeway (that looked hilarious this spring, when there was no sign of Malheur Lake). This caused bits of higher ground near the lake to become isolated islands, and pelicans started nesting there - note the comment in the abstract about " a small greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) island", that's what happens when a high spot gets surrounded by high flood waters. As the high water receeded later in the 1980s/early 90s these "islands" became "mainland" again. During at least one summer while waters receeded there were requests for volunteers to keep a (long distance) lookout for pothunters near the nesting colonies. The waves had exposed many native campsites etc and pothunters were exploiting them, in one case at least with a backhoe... ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Fri Jul 17 09:21:54 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:21:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Buccal Pouch in Swifts Message-ID: <4A60A522.4070305@gmail.com> Recently I photographed White-throated Swifts from my front porch here at Crooked River Ranch and on closer observation found that it looked like they were carrying a marble in their throats! I found out that Swifts do not have a 'crop' but what is called a 'buccal pouch' where they store the caught food for the nestlings and fledglings (which they feed on the wing). The following is a note I received from Prof Charles Collins in England on the subject. Kevin Smith PS: Thanks Chuck. I think the "throat pouch" >> you are referring to is called the "Buccal >> Cavity" THIS WOULD BE A CORRECT TERMINOLOGY. IT APPEARS TO BE AN EXPANSION OF THE FLOOR OF THE MOUTH TO ACCOMODATE THE 'BOLUS' OF ARTHROPOD (MOSTLY INSECTS) BEING BROUGHT TO NESTLINGS. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY ANATOMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE MUSCULATURE INVOLVED IN THIS. HOWEVER, SWIFTS OF MANY SORTS CARRY THE FOOD IN THE MANNER. THE EXCEPTIONS ARE THE BLACK SWIFT OF NORTH AMERICA AND ITS ALLIES IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA. THEY CARRY THE EQUIVALENT OF SEVERAL BOLUSES DEEPER IN THE ESOPHAGUS AND REGURGITATE MULTIPLE TIMES TO FEED THE NESTLINGS AT VERY LONG INTERVALS, INCLUDING AT DUSK AND LATER IN THE EVENING. I HAVE CAUGHT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SPECIES OF SWIFTS CARRYING THESE FOOD BOLUSES, WHICH THEY USUALLY QUICKLY EJECT, AND SAVED THE SAMPLES FOR ANALYSIS OF PREY TYPE AND SIZE. THE PREY ITEMS ARE ENTIRE AND CAN BE IDENTIFIED, EVEN 1-2 MM LONG FLIES, AND A SIZE DISTRIBUTION DETERMINED. IT IS MUCH BETTER THAN WORKING WITH INSECT REMAINS (I.E. FRAGMENTS) FROM STOMACH CONTENTS AND NOT LETHAL TO THE SWIFTS. THE PREY ITEMS ARE FREQUENTLY STILL ALIVE AND JUST GUMMED UP WITH STICKY SALIVA WHEN THE BOLUSES ARE COLLECTED. -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090717/e6983b45/attachment.vcf From william738 at centurytel.net Fri Jul 17 09:33:53 2009 From: william738 at centurytel.net (Sarah and Bill Thackaberry) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:33:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] barn swallows Message-ID: 3 days ago I noticed an above normal number of Barn Swallows over a lower pasture. Barn Swallows had a very good year here, but their numbers surprised me. Next day practically all of them were gone save for the ones with young in the nests. Floyd Schrock reports of tremendous numbers of Barn Swallows in the coast range in the fall. I wonder if there is a movement started already this year. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090717/a75819cb/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Fri Jul 17 11:46:20 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:46:20 -0400 Subject: [obol] Sisters trip and Bird ID help Message-ID: <8CBD52602E87CBA-A10-411A@WEBMAIL-DF18.sysops.aol.com> I went down to Sisters, Or on Wednesday and went to several of the locations given to me here on OBOL. I didn't see too many birds, but it was in the heat of the day. I did add Red Crossbills and with the help of a birder I met at Calliope Crossing, I saw my first Cassins Vireo. But as usual for me I have pictres of some birds I can't ID. I've posted some photos of birds and Bambi at this location. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/sets/72157621587198066/ ?The 1st bird I can't ID is this guy, 2 shots but neither are very good. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3443/3728067347_b4d43f43a7.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3457/3728871220_48a78a798a.jpg?v=0 The 2nd is a little yellow bird that I think is a Warbler, but there are so many yellow Warblers.Before I could get a 2nd shot he was gone. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2427/3728872598_1fff2476eb.jpg?v=0 This guy is obviously a juvenile, but what kind. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2664/3728068263_2ef88a3f2a.jpg?v=0 Are both of these birds juvenile Robins at different ages? http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2502/3728059667_dccdb58694.jpg?v=0 http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2114/3728862144_b2ef15a559.jpg?v=0 And this last little guy. I think he is a Pygmy Nuthatch? http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2494/3729054018_7e0ed1ac29.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3463/3728869798_e9197bcc1f.jpg?v=0 Thanks for your help. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090717/5f7a5ee6/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Fri Jul 17 11:55:43 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:55:43 -0400 Subject: [obol] Cassins Vireo and Cowbird juvenile Message-ID: <8CBD527522DE3DE-A10-419E@WEBMAIL-DF18.sysops.aol.com> While in Sisters, I met a local birder (I'm sorry I forgot your name), who took me along the creek at Callope Crossing to where we saw my 1st Cassin's Vireo. As we watched this little bird kept flying to a what we both think was a Cowbird Juvenile and then flying away. At first we thought the little guy was trying to run him off. But after several trips, we realized that was not what was happening.?Does anyone else know of a case where the Cassin's Vireo raised a Cowbird chick? One other question about Cowbird chicks being raised by birds of other species. Does the chick grow up singing the songs and using the vocalizations of the surrogate family? Thanks for any help. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090717/d44a2695/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Jul 17 12:31:33 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:31:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sisters trip and Bird ID help Message-ID: <20090717123133.ppkei0wfwcok480o@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Johnny, Yes, Pygmy Nuthatch Mountain Chickadee and juvenile Townsend's Solitaire are the others. The yellow bird is much longer than the ponderosa pine needles, thus well over 5 inches, thus not a small warbler. Try female Western Tanager. Greg From baltman at peak.org Fri Jul 17 12:41:38 2009 From: baltman at peak.org (Bob Altman) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:41:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] barn swallows In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <005a01ca0716$9a3af330$ceb0d990$@org> At our barn north of Corvallis near Lewisberg we had more barn swallows nesting than ever before - probably twice as many nests (and its not over yet). At one point there were 4 nests with nestilings being fed by adults all within a 5-foot circle area. It was deafening in there at times. I have heard others comment about lack of barn swallows at their barn this year. I will be interested in the size of the flocks this year that Floyd always reports in Sept near Yamhill. Bob Altman American Bird Conservancy 311 NE Mistletoe Corvallis, OR 97330 baltman at abcbirds.org phone/fax - 541-745-5339 From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Sarah and Bill Thackaberry Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 9:34 AM To: Obol l Subject: [obol] barn swallows 3 days ago I noticed an above normal number of Barn Swallows over a lower pasture. Barn Swallows had a very good year here, but their numbers surprised me. Next day practically all of them were gone save for the ones with young in the nests. Floyd Schrock reports of tremendous numbers of Barn Swallows in the coast range in the fall. I wonder if there is a movement started already this year. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090717/3ca13320/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Fri Jul 17 14:24:03 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:24:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: possibble Thick-billed Murre at SJCR Message-ID: <4A60EBF3.6010406@pacifier.com> I just got a phone call from Owen Schmidt who reports a hefty- looking black, not brown murre swimming by as he and a couple friends were birding at the South Jetty of the Columbia River He apparently got pictures and will post more when he is able. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Orchid Season http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11563/ From celata at pacifier.com Fri Jul 17 14:34:46 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:34:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sisters trip and Bird ID help Message-ID: <4A60EE76.1030701@pacifier.com> The yellow bird is a Yellow Warbler. If you look at the tail, you can see the yellow inner webs which, in theory at least, is diagnostic. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Orchid Season http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11563/ From lbviman at blackfoot.net Fri Jul 17 14:38:58 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:38:58 -0600 Subject: [obol] cowbird In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090717213507.4DC859B0217@mail.blackfoot.net> >At 01:00 PM 7/17/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >Does anyone else know of a case where the Cassin's Vireo raised a >Cowbird chick? > >One other question about Cowbird chicks being raised by birds of >other species. Does the chick grow up singing the songs and using >the vocalizations of the surrogate family? > >Thanks for any help. >Johnny Sasko >Sandy, Oregon Specifically, no, in 30 years of riparian-related work, I never encountered a Cowbird being tended by Cassin's vireos. However, I did once observe a male Red-eyed vireo enter a sparsely vegetated tree and seemingly indiscriminately feed several of 6 cowbird juveniles perched there, and I have records of several vireo species accepting cowbird eggs and/or feeding cowbird fledglings and nestlings. As to the call, cowbirds learn to be cowbirds (but I expect they learn host calls and songs, later keying in on them, as on several occasions I've seen adult Cowbirds responding "instantly" to at least one host species' calls when I was monitoring it). As for how the cowbird juvenile learns to be a cowbird, I think it is "collected" (at least that is my theory based on observations over several seasons) by the male as it flies back and forth uttering its "flight call", long after it (seems that it) would be of interest to now-gonad-shrinking females who have spent the prior 40 or so days finding nests and laying their limited annual supply of eggs. I have notes from two times when a male swooped past calling when at least one juvenile flew up to join him, on one of which occasion the juvenile had been recently fed by its surrogate parent (species forgotten, in buried notes). I know that my observations are not of Oregon birds, so I have to apologize to those who have criticized me for interloping with anything I learned elsewhere, or who may be offended by bringing my experience to bear on any topic related to Oregon birds or questions about same. And I further apologize profusely for being so presumptuous as to respond to anyone so rude as to bring extraneous questions to OBOL on any subject other than birds IN OREGON [think, arctic goo] - Jim Greaves, Thompson Falls MT (formerly of southern CA) From pamelaj at spiritone.com Fri Jul 17 14:44:34 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:44:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Westside Pelicans References: Message-ID: <6B64AA4DB75744888C4CD983B9316B5C@yourw5st28y9a3> The high water that began in 1984 caused some strange situations, like Great Blue Herons stalking through the sagebrush, and caused a small stone barn to fall down near the Narrows. At the time there was consideration of draining the basin with a big canal,which I'm glad did not come to pass. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don Baccus" To: "David Irons" Cc: "post OBOL" Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 6:49 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Westside Pelicans On Jul 17, 2009, at 12:02 AM, David Irons wrote: > Greetings All, > > Regarding pelicans nesting at Malheur NWR. Lars is quite correct, > White Pelicans summered at Malheur for several decades without ever > nesting there. When I learned this as a much younger lad, I was > amazed. I can recall thinking at the time, "How can all these > pelicans be here during the breeing season without nesting?" > Pelicans first bred (in recent times) at Malheur in 1985 after many > decades of being summer visitors/residents on the refuge (see > citation and abstract in italics). The entire article can be found > online. This was during the years of very high flooding that caused state 205 to be rebuilt as a causeway (that looked hilarious this spring, when there was no sign of Malheur Lake). This caused bits of higher ground near the lake to become isolated islands, and pelicans started nesting there - note the comment in the abstract about " a small greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) island", that's what happens when a high spot gets surrounded by high flood waters. As the high water receeded later in the 1980s/early 90s these "islands" became "mainland" again. During at least one summer while waters receeded there were requests for volunteers to keep a (long distance) lookout for pothunters near the nesting colonies. The waves had exposed many native campsites etc and pothunters were exploiting them, in one case at least with a backhoe... ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dhogaza at pacifier.com Fri Jul 17 14:50:59 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:50:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] cowbird In-Reply-To: <20090717213507.4DC859B0217@mail.blackfoot.net> References: <20090717213507.4DC859B0217@mail.blackfoot.net> Message-ID: <5423AB15-3FAE-407B-A26E-09D351DA0C76@pacifier.com> On Jul 17, 2009, at 2:38 PM, Jim Greaves wrote: > I know that my observations are not of Oregon birds, so I > have to apologize to those who have criticized me for interloping > with anything I learned elsewhere, or who may be offended by bringing > my experience to bear on any topic related to Oregon birds or > questions about same. Oh, Lord. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From larmcqueen at msn.com Fri Jul 17 15:05:01 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:05:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sisters trip and Bird ID help In-Reply-To: <8CBD52602E87CBA-A10-411A@WEBMAIL-DF18.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBD52602E87CBA-A10-411A@WEBMAIL-DF18.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: Johnny, You are right about your guesses - PYGMY NUTHATCH AND YOUNG ROBIN. Your unknowns are MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, JUVENILE TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, and YELLOW WARBLER. The "Night" Grosbeak is a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. Larry McQueen _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of jonysky101 at aol.com Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 11:46 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Sisters trip and Bird ID help I went down to Sisters, Or on Wednesday and went to several of the locations given to me here on OBOL. I didn't see too many birds, but it was in the heat of the day. I did add Red Crossbills and with the help of a birder I met at Calliope Crossing, I saw my first Cassins Vireo. But as usual for me I have pictres of some birds I can't ID. I've posted some photos of birds and Bambi at this location. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/sets/72157621587198066/ The 1st bird I can't ID is this guy, 2 shots but neither are very good. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3443/3728067347_b4d43f43a7.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3457/3728871220_48a78a798a.jpg?v=0 The 2nd is a little yellow bird that I think is a Warbler, but there are so many yellow Warblers.Before I could get a 2nd shot he was gone. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2427/3728872598_1fff2476eb.jpg?v=0 This guy is obviously a juvenile, but what kind. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2664/3728068263_2ef88a3f2a.jpg?v=0 Are both of these birds juvenile Robins at different ages? http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2502/3728059667_dccdb58694.jpg?v=0 http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2114/3728862144_b2ef15a559.jpg?v=0 And this last little guy. I think he is a Pygmy Nuthatch? http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2494/3729054018_7e0ed1ac29.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3463/3728869798_e9197bcc1f.jpg?v=0 Thanks for your help. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or _____ An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090717/66e9da7a/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Fri Jul 17 15:10:51 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:10:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur 1984+ Message-ID: <24AC5E178FCB4D0E8C97795A07D3F60E@TomsPC> Wow! Malheur was an excitingly different environment then. A lot of water. A lot of birds. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090717/b51dea10/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Fri Jul 17 15:45:14 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:45:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cowbird again Message-ID: On the Cowbird thread and vireo hosts, here's one that takes the cake! Many of you probably remember the vireo nest at Jasper Park (just south-west of Eugene) that was being tended by a male Cassin's (then called "Solitary") and a female Red-eyed Vireo. If I'm not remembering correctly, it was a cowbird they were feeding. Larry -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090717/9e680767/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Fri Jul 17 15:47:24 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:47:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: Cowbird again (what I meant to say) Message-ID: _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Larry McQueen Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 3:45 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Cowbird again On the Cowbird thread and vireo hosts, here's one that takes the cake! Many of you probably remember the vireo nest at Jasper Park (just south-west of Eugene) that was being tended by a male Cassin's (then called "Solitary") and a female Red-eyed Vireo. Unless I'm not remembering correctly, it was a cowbird they were feeding. Larry -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090717/33c6d915/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: ATT00011.txt Url: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090717/33c6d915/attachment.txt From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Jul 17 15:52:25 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:52:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cassins Vireo and Cowbird juvenile Message-ID: <1247871145.3322.36.camel@clearwater> Hi Johnny & All, Per your first question, Cassin's Vireos seem to host cowbird chicks fairly regularly in western Oregon. I see about one case per year around the Camp Adair neighborhood -- though less frequently than I see Western Tanagers, Song Sparrows & warblers hosting cowbird chicks. As to how young cowbirds learn their cowbirdly ways, I recall that someone much more knowledgeable (perhaps Dan Gleason?) once posted a very thorough explanation on OBOL. This is exactly the sort of question for which we could use a birding "wiki" site. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From romain at frontiernet.net Fri Jul 17 16:51:01 2009 From: romain at frontiernet.net (Romain Cooper) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:51:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cassins Vireo and Cowbird juvenile In-Reply-To: <8CBD527522DE3DE-A10-419E@WEBMAIL-DF18.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBD527522DE3DE-A10-419E@WEBMAIL-DF18.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20090717164731.0273e518@frontiernet.net> I did observe a Cassin's vireo adult feeding a cowbird chick right here in the riparian area near our garden, Josephine Co, Illinois Valley, OR. I'd have to look back at records to give the date. The size difference (cowbird chick much larger) made the scene someone grotesque to me. best, Romain At 11:55 AM 7/17/2009, jonysky101 at aol.com wrote: >While in Sisters, I met a local birder (I'm sorry I forgot your >name), who took me along the creek at Callope Crossing to where we >saw my 1st Cassin's Vireo. As we watched this little bird kept >flying to a what we both think was a Cowbird Juvenile and then >flying away. At first we thought the little guy was trying to run >him off. But after several trips, we realized that was not what was >happening. Does anyone else know of a case where the Cassin's Vireo >raised a Cowbird chick? > >One other question about Cowbird chicks being raised by birds of >other species. Does the chick grow up singing the songs and using >the vocalizations of the surrogate family? > >Thanks for any help. >Johnny Sasko >Sandy, Oregon > >---------- >An Excellent Credit Score is 750. >See >Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Romain Cooper 10398 Takilma Road Cave Junction, OR 97523 541-592-2311 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090717/766e72af/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Jul 17 17:45:22 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:45:22 +0000 Subject: [obol] Cassins Vireo and Cowbird juvenile In-Reply-To: <8CBD527522DE3DE-A10-419E@WEBMAIL-DF18.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBD527522DE3DE-A10-419E@WEBMAIL-DF18.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: Johnny et al., Last Saturday Diane Pettey and I spent a couple hours at Calliope Crossing. Among the five species we saw feeding or being followed by juv. Brown-headed Cowbirds was a Cassin's Vireo (see most recent post to www.birdfellow.com). The number of adult Cassin's Vireos that have ended up feeding young cowbirds surely reaches into the thousands. Who knows if the birds we saw were the same as those you saw. Vireos seem particularly vulnerable to cowbird nest parasitism. Warbling Vireo is among the most common "host" species for cowbird eggs. I know that you are a relatively new birder, but I will assume that you have learned a bit about the unusual breeding ecology of cowbirds. If not, simply Google "Brown-headed Cowbird, nest parasitism" and you will quickly understand the dynamics of what you observed. As for vocalizations, Brown-headed Cowbirds seem to have a fairly rigid assortment of sounds they produce and, to my knowledge, they do not mimic or learn the vocalizations of the surrogate parents. The juveniles seem to become independent rather quickly and find others of their kind by late summer and early fall. Since they don't build nests or defend territories, learning territorial songs likely has no evolutionary benefits. Cowbirds get a bad rap due to the impacts they have on many species that nest in semi-open woodlands. However, they evolved to fill a somewhat specialized short-grass prairie niche where they followed nomadic herds of native ungulates around the Great Plains. They didn't stray far and wide from that habitat until white settlement created corridors and other openings in what was once contiguous forest and began introducing non-native hooved animals to the landscape. If you think about their nesting strategy without passing value judgements (remember it is never the bird's fault) on their more recent impacts on other songbirds, it is really pretty cool. Like all birds, they are just doing what they are hard-wired to do. They are not malicious. It is a certainty that they are not programmed to negatively impact populations of their host species, as that would ultimately have a negative impact on their own viabilty as a species. In most cases, female cowbirds only lay one egg in each host species nest. This ensures that some of the chicks of the host species survive and also spreads the risk when it comes to predation or egg loss from their own clutch. I was actually quite surprised last weekend, when we saw a pair of Dark-eyed Juncos feeding two juvenile cowbirds and no juv. juncos. Most of the time you will see just one cowbird tailing around the host adults. All this said, cowbirds do seem to be parasitizing a high percentage of nests at Calliope Crossing. Dave Irons Eugene, OR To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:55:43 -0400 From: jonysky101 at aol.com Subject: [obol] Cassins Vireo and Cowbird juvenile While in Sisters, I met a local birder (I'm sorry I forgot your name), who took me along the creek at Callope Crossing to where we saw my 1st Cassin's Vireo. As we watched this little bird kept flying to a what we both think was a Cowbird Juvenile and then flying away. At first we thought the little guy was trying to run him off. But after several trips, we realized that was not what was happening. Does anyone else know of a case where the Cassin's Vireo raised a Cowbird chick? One other question about Cowbird chicks being raised by birds of other species. Does the chick grow up singing the songs and using the vocalizations of the surrogate family? Thanks for any help. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Oregon An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? has ever-growing storage! Don?t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090718/6a4ccbad/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Jul 17 17:54:48 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:54:48 +0000 Subject: [obol] Cassins Vireo and Cowbird juvenile In-Reply-To: <7.0.1.0.2.20090717164731.0273e518@frontiernet.net> References: <8CBD527522DE3DE-A10-419E@WEBMAIL-DF18.sysops.aol.com> <7.0.1.0.2.20090717164731.0273e518@frontiernet.net> Message-ID: Cowbirds consistently lay their eggs in the nests of smaller host species. This ensures that the juv cowbird will be the largest bird in the nest and get fed more often. According to Birds of North America online (requires subscription), young cowbirds "always" get fed with greater frequency than the young of the host species. Among vireos, Red-eyed, Bell's, and Yellow-throated were included in the top 17 host species. Number one on the list is Yellow Warbler. Dave Irons Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:51:01 -0700 To: jonysky101 at aol.com; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org From: romain at frontiernet.net Subject: Re: [obol] Cassins Vireo and Cowbird juvenile I did observe a Cassin's vireo adult feeding a cowbird chick right here in the riparian area near our garden, Josephine Co, Illinois Valley, OR. I'd have to look back at records to give the date. The size difference (cowbird chick much larger) made the scene someone grotesque to me. best, Romain At 11:55 AM 7/17/2009, jonysky101 at aol.com wrote: While in Sisters, I met a local birder (I'm sorry I forgot your name), who took me along the creek at Callope Crossing to where we saw my 1st Cassin's Vireo. As we watched this little bird kept flying to a what we both think was a Cowbird Juvenile and then flying away. At first we thought the little guy was trying to run him off. But after several trips, we realized that was not what was happening. Does anyone else know of a case where the Cassin's Vireo raised a Cowbird chick? One other question about Cowbird chicks being raised by birds of other species. Does the chick grow up singing the songs and using the vocalizations of the surrogate family? Thanks for any help. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Oregon An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Romain Cooper 10398 Takilma Road Cave Junction, OR 97523 541-592-2311 _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090718/95a5973c/attachment.html From oschmidt at att.net Fri Jul 17 20:02:57 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:02:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: interesting murre at SJCR References: <4A60EBF3.6010406@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <7632E951-A002-441C-891C-CF7B4A2D2A57@att.net> ....... false alarm! I birded Sunset Beach (Clatsop County) with a couple of others this afternoon. Around 1:30 pm, standing on the South Jetty, looking into the sun, a surprisingly robust and "black" murre popped up next to the jetty, paddling west. Because of the poor light and the fact that the bird spent most of its time under water we never got a good fix on the bill or the foreneck. But because it was so robust and dark, I called Mike Patterson in the event he'd like to check it out. I did get photos, and now that I put them up on the computer the bird is quite plainly a Common Murre after all ...... though a lot darker than other murres seen from the jetty today. Thanks to Mike for posting earlier. Other birds were a few adult Semipalmated Plovers, quite a few Heerman's Gulls and Brown Pelicans, and a small number of Sanderlings and Western and Least Sandpipers also in adult plumage. oschmidt at att.net Friday, July 17, 2009 Begin forwarded message: > From: Mike Patterson > Date: July 17, 2009 2:24:03 PM PDT > To: OBOL > Subject: [obol] RBA: possibble Thick-billed Murre at SJCR > > I just got a phone call from Owen Schmidt who reports a hefty- > looking black, not brown murre swimming by as he and a couple > friends were birding at the South Jetty of the Columbia River > > He apparently got pictures and will post more when he is able. > > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Orchid Season > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11563/ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090717/de448dda/attachment.html From timkadlecek at msn.com Sat Jul 18 10:52:36 2009 From: timkadlecek at msn.com (timkadlecek at msn.com) Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 10:52:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] sauvie island chukar Message-ID: I birded this morning with my dad who is in town from Wisconsin. We did the Oak Island loop trail on Sauvie Island. On our way back, about 1/2 to 3/4 mile from the parking lot at the end of Oak Island Road, there was a single CHUKAR walking on the road. I was able to drive right up next to it without scaring it off, but unfortunately only had a camera phone and the pictures did not turn out well. Are chukars known to be found on Sauvie Island? Tim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090718/5b3570d0/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Sat Jul 18 11:47:33 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:47:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] sauvie island chukar In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I think someone along Oak Island Road must raise them. I had a young scruffy one standing in the middle of Oak Island Road near that big huge new house on the east side of the road last summer. Same thing. Very tame. Shawneen Finnegan Portland, OR On Jul 18, 2009, at 10:52 AM, wrote: > I birded this morning with my dad who is in town from Wisconsin. We > did the Oak Island loop trail on Sauvie Island. On our way back, > about 1/2 to 3/4 mile from the parking lot at the end of Oak Island > Road, there was a single CHUKAR walking on the road. I was able to > drive right up next to it without scaring it off, but unfortunately > only had a camera phone and the pictures did not turn out well. > Are chukars known to be found on Sauvie Island? > > Tim > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090718/27766d81/attachment.html From dlbird at earthlink.net Sat Jul 18 13:25:05 2009 From: dlbird at earthlink.net (Donna Lusthoff) Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:25:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] sauvie island chukar In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <6DD66FB3336F49DA86BB233F195A28D9@Donna> There are bird dog kennels on the Island that train retrievers and other bird dogs. They have been using Chukar for years, so there are usually one or two around. Donna Lusthoff -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Shawneen Finnegan Sent: Saturday, July 18, 2009 11:48 AM To: Timothy Kadlecek; OBOL OBOL Subject: Re: [obol] sauvie island chukar I think someone along Oak Island Road must raise them. I had a young scruffy one standing in the middle of Oak Island Road near that big huge new house on the east side of the road last summer. Same thing. Very tame. Shawneen Finnegan Portland, OR On Jul 18, 2009, at 10:52 AM, wrote: I birded this morning with my dad who is in town from Wisconsin. We did the Oak Island loop trail on Sauvie Island. On our way back, about 1/2 to 3/4 mile from the parking lot at the end of Oak Island Road, there was a single CHUKAR walking on the road. I was able to drive right up next to it without scaring it off, but unfortunately only had a camera phone and the pictures did not turn out well. Are chukars known to be found on Sauvie Island? Tim _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090718/1807e515/attachment.html From m.denny at charter.net Sat Jul 18 13:41:21 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:41:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Job opening/Texas Message-ID: Hello all, Thought I would post this - may be an interested NW birder - - Mike and I birded this place several times in April - wonderful spot - we saw the Crimson-collared Grosbeak there. -MerryLynn FRONTERA AUDUBON SEEKS AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Frontera Audubon Society, Inc. in Weslaco, Texas seeks applications from persons interested in serving as its Executive Director. The Executive Director position will be full-time for eight months-10/1/09 through 5/30/09. The mission of Frontera Audubon Society is the preservation of the natural environment of the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. It is a private, non-profit organization that owns and manages a 15-acre nature preserve (bird sanctuary) and a State-registered historic residence in need of rehabilitation. The primary responsibilities of the position are: 1) Manage Frontera's Visitors Center, including the retail store. 2) Supervise the management of the Thicket, including the ponds, irrigation system, water feature, removal of exotic and invasive plants; re-vegetation and as-needed repairs. 3) Meet and greet members, visitors and birders. 4) Recruit and manage volunteers. 5) Help coordinate and implement efforts to diversify and expand Frontera's financial resources, including assisting with the organization and promotion of an annual Birdathon, mail appeals, solicitation of support from the City's hotel-motel tax fund, and the cultivation of individual & corporate members, sponsors and donors. 6) Manage communications with members, including the website; liaison with city leadership. 7) Prepare financial and other reports for quarterly Board of Directors' meetings. A background and interest in natural history, birds and native plants is required. Financial book-keeping skills are desired. Frontera intends to make its hiring decision by September 1, 2009. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Questions may be directed to Frontera Audubon be telephone at 956-968-3275 or email at fronteraaudubon AT yahoo.com. Please send letter of interest and resume to: Frontera Audubon Society, Inc. "ED Search Committee" 1101 South Texas Blvd. Weslaco, TX 78596 .................................................................................. Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived From calocitta8 at gmail.com Wed Jul 15 08:53:15 2009 From: calocitta8 at gmail.com (Jesse Ellis) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:53:15 -0500 Subject: [obol] breeding colony failure In-Reply-To: <20090715073039.h68q0dmvwkks88ko@webmail.thebirdguide.com> References: <20090715073039.h68q0dmvwkks88ko@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Message-ID: Hey all- I can't provide answers to whether there was a breeding failure or not specifically, but from my understanding there are Pelicans in places that there often aren't not only out west where you are, but here in the Midwest. This DOES suggest a big failure somewhere, and early. The birds have been reported in unusual locations (or at least in large numbers) since May/June, I believe. Good birding Jesse Ellis Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin At 7:30 AM -0700 7/15/09, Greg Gillson wrote: >To briefly answer Lyn's question, 'What is a "breeding colony failure"?'... > >Birds that breed in colonies sometimes all fail to produce young. Or, >the majority fail to successfully raise any young during a specific >year. > >In the case of White Pelicans that could be because of lack of water >at traditional breeding sites in the Great Basin. For those who >visited Malheur NWR this spring, they got to see Malheur and Harney >Lakes at the lowest I've ever seen (they actually didn't get to see >any "lake" at all). Certainly, not very many White Pelicans breed here >anyway, but IF this happened widely through the Great Basin, then >birds would have no place to nest, or if they did, perhaps no fish to >feed their young. [At this point this is only speculation as to why >many are seeing White Pelicans in large numbers outside their normal >breeding areas.] > >As another example, Common Murres nest in colonies on the coast and >require strong summer upwelling to provide food. If this upwelling >does not occur (El Nino years along the whole coast or sometimes just >a more local phenomenon), the colony fails to produce young, and they >may abandon the colony at any time from egg laying through normal >fledging time. Locally, Bald Eagles may harass a murre colony so that >they abandon their breeding attempts at that single location. > >Many aquatic colonial nesters live a long time and are adapted to such >periodic climate fluctuations. > >Greg Gillson >Forest Grove, Oregon >greg at thebirdguide.com >http://thebirdguide.com > > > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- Jesse Ellis, Ph. D. Madison, WI From calocitta8 at gmail.com Thu Jul 16 07:12:06 2009 From: calocitta8 at gmail.com (Jesse Ellis) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:12:06 -0500 Subject: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? In-Reply-To: References: <146272.83897.qm@web51809.mail.re2.yahoo.com> <853719.96640.qm@web39707.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Hey Dave and Obol- For what it's worth, I'll offer that I'd noticed this "pattern" before it was mentioned explicitly on obol. It started (for me) when I arrived in Madison to see people commenting on large numbers of pelicans (independent of what was happening in other states) and was reinforced by sightings of Pelicans over Seattle (unusual). While there certainly may only be one flock of 100 pelicans cruising the Willamette, they're there. They're not on their breeding site. And pelicans keep popping up in other places they're not often this time of year (although I suspect we're at about the point where dispersal might be expected anyway, making future sightings tough to attribute to one pattern or another). I scrounged around a bit on eBird and various bird lists, but it's tough to tell if there's anything widespread. Does anyone know of breeding colony locations? I'd be interested in calling refuge/preserve managers and seeing how breeding is actually going. (If you do, you can email me offlist please - I will report back.) Jesse Ellis Madison, WI At 7:24 AM +0000 7/16/09, David Irons wrote: >I've carefully avoided jumping into this discussion, but I find that >it is growing legs and spawning lots of unfounded speculations about >the cause of these "extraordinary" events. Personally, I'm not so >sure that anything too out of the ordinary is going on. American >White Pelicans have been showing up away from their historic Great >Basin and Columbia River haunts for more than a decade. I think one >of the things that is happening here in the Willamette Valley is >that one or two decent sized flocks are moving north and south >through the valley between Fern Ridge and Baskett Slough creating >the illusion that there are hundreds and hundreds of pelicans >around. It should be pointed out that the numbers at Fern Ridge in >any given day vary from up to 100 to only about 20 or so and many of >the big flocks seen (50+ birds) around Finley, Baskett Slough, and >Ankeny (all of which were about the same size) were only present for >a day or so. > >Just a quick comment on White-faced Ibis. This year is most >certainly not "extraordinary." The breeding population of >White-faced Ibis in the Harney Basin has been growing on a rather >steep trajectory for decades. There are now something like 10,000 >pairs of ibis breeding in the collective wetlands fed by the Silvies >and Blitzen rivers. These numbers are not a one-year anomaly. This >has been the case for at least a couple years running. This year's >breeding numbers may be the highest ever, but I suspect that next >year's will be even higher as this has been a continuing pattern for >some time. When I first started visiting Malheur in 1977, the >breeding population of White-faced Ibis numberd just 200 pairs. >Continent-wide, both Glossy and White-faced Ibis have been expanding >their ranges northward and westward for several years. > >I have recommended this book before and I will recommend it again. >Before offering up hyberbole based on a small sample of >observations, take the time to read "The Drunkard's Walk: How >Randomness Rules Our Lives" by Leonard Mlodinow. It offers an >enlightening examination of the persistent human inclination to >assign pattern to small samples of events. Our memories are short, >hence the most recent interesting thing we've observed is often >assigned far greater significance that it warrants. Further, we tend >to observe what others suggest we might be seeing. When someone >poses a question like the one in the subject line of this thread, >our social nature takes over (we want to be part of the group) and >we willingly notice a pattern that we had not observed previously. > >My two cents, > >Dave Irons > >> Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:29:21 -0700 >> From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com >> To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org; tunicate89 at yahoo.com >> Subject: Re: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White >>Pelicans? White-faced Ibis? > > >> >> Hi Cindy, >> Normally I watch raptors, and was able to spend three solid weeks >>looking for falcons earlier this season here in Harney Co. What I >>do recall are very large numbers of white-faced ibis----many more >>than I've seen in previous years. There presence made falcon >>hunting more difficult as in flight they sometimes look like a >>peregrine (for a moment)------meaning every ibis had to be looked >>at to make certain it wasn't a falcon. Anyway, just one of my >>observations. Best, Dick >> >> >> --- On Wed, 7/15/09, Cindy Ashy wrote: >> >> > From: Cindy Ashy >> > Subject: Re: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? >> > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> > Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 9:54 AM >> > >> > Regarding the unusual dispersal and abundance of American >> > White Pelicans this season: >> > >> > The breeding colony failure theory is interesting but I >> > have to ask: >> > >> > Does anyone know of an actual American White Pelican >> > breeding colony failure(s) this season? Aren't these watched >> > closely enough that if it happened someone on this list >> > would have heard about it? >> > >> > The reason I ask: >> > >> > It's not just American White Pelicans that are showing up >> > in unusual places and in larger than normal numbers. Brown >> > Pelicans also seem to be on the move this season, and as >> > discussed on OBOL, in numbers almost too numerous to count. >> > Magnificent Frigatebirds, another migratory member of the >> > Pelecaniformes Order, are putting on an unusually good show >> > in the Gulf this year. I don't know all the details but I'm >> > vaguely aware that several species of fish seem to be >> > showing unusual dispersal patterns (vertical and horizontal >> > dispersal). Whale watchers are having an exceptionally good >> > year (and not just grey whales). >> > >> > Are there other species showing aberrant dispersal patterns >> > this season? >> > >> > I just wonder if something else may be going on >> > here....something on a grander scale....something caused by >> > a change in the global physical environment rather than >> > localized/regional colony failures....something affecting >> > several species....and if we could see a connection between >> > the species affected, it might give a clue as to what it >> > is. >> > >> > Cindy Ashy >> > >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > obol mailing list >> > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> > >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > >Lauren found her dream laptop. >Find >the PC that's right for you. > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- Jesse Ellis, Ph. D. Madison, WI -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090716/d29338f4/attachment.html From eaglecd at hotmail.com Mon Jul 13 18:34:38 2009 From: eaglecd at hotmail.com (Christopher Distel) Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:34:38 -0400 Subject: [obol] RFI: Portland area Message-ID: If anyone has information on exciting and/or reliable (safe) spots to bird around Portland I would greatly appreciate it. I'm from Ohio and will be visiting Portland next week, staying at the Hilton Portland on SW Sixth Ave. I'm largely inexperienced with western birds, so any park or local hotspot within walking distance or a short drive is bound to be exciting. From maps I've seen that Washington Park, McCall Park, and North and South Park Blocks look fairly close (please correct me if that's wrong), so any good areas in there might be particularly appealing. Please respond off list to this email address (eaglecd at hotmail.com). Thanks in advance for any help you can give! Chris Distel _________________________________________________________________ Bing? brings you health information from trusted sources. Try it now. http://www.bing.com/search?q=pet+allergy&form=MHEINA&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TXT_MHEINA_Health_Health_PetAllergy_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090713/d4ca0071/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Sat Jul 18 15:23:26 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:23:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] sauvie island chukar In-Reply-To: Message-ID: > Everyone, > > Hunters use Chukars and quail to train their dogs on the Island. They let them > go if the dog does not retrieve them. > > Harry > > > > > I think someone along Oak Island Road must raise them. I had a young scruffy > one standing in the middle of Oak Island Road near that big huge new house on > the east side of the road last summer. Same thing. Very tame. > > Shawneen Finnegan > Portland, OR > > > On Jul 18, 2009, at 10:52 AM, wrote: > >> >> >> I birded this morning with my dad who is in town from Wisconsin. We did the >> Oak Island loop trail on Sauvie Island. On our way back, about 1/2 to 3/4 >> mile from the parking lot at the end of Oak Island Road, there was a single >> CHUKAR walking on the road. I was able to drive right up next to it without >> scaring it off, but unfortunately only had a camera phone and the pictures >> did not turn out well. Are chukars known to be found on Sauvie Island? >> >> >> >> Tim >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090718/34bbdb21/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Sat Jul 18 15:40:24 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:40:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Jaeger Message-ID: <4A624F58.3080300@verizon.net> 7/18 Coos Bay North Spit, Coos Cty I believe a JAEGER of unknown species cut through the thick pea soup fog near the north jetty, Coos Bay North Spit, at about mid day today. Truth is I'm not totally sure what I saw in some sense, except that a tubular shaped bird the size of a gull came barreling out of the fog heading south over the base of the jetty, and promptly disappeared into the fog again. What I saw was white upper wing markings on a dark bird with pointed wings and a tubular body that could only be a jaeger or possibly a skua, but I just doubt the latter so I am calling it a jaeger sp. PS - saw on the news just now that that gooey stuff off Alaska has in fact been identified as algae bloom. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Jul 18 16:40:54 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:40:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chukars Message-ID: I believe chukars can be raised with the same ease as bantam chickens. This confers on them a quality of disposability that most dog trainers or bird breeders would not accord a Golden Pheasant or even a Bobwhite. I saw chukar chicks for 75 cents each from a mail order business in Nebraska. On a similar note, I heard a Bobwhite 1/2 mile east of Hwy 47 on Reiling Lane yesterday(July 17). I was picking up berries at the time and asked the farmer where the cage was. He assured me the bird was wild. I have been living in this area for 15 years now and never heard a Bobwhite before. This was surely a recent escapee. Lars Norgren From rfadney at hotmail.com Sat Jul 18 18:55:13 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:55:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brown Pelicans in Yachats Message-ID: Lots (30) plus brown Pelicans hanging around Yachats today. Also a Bald Eagle with something large in it's mouth buzzed my wife while she walked the beach just north of town. Other than that just the usual throng of Gulls and Cormorants. Good Birding all, Rich _________________________________________________________________ NEW mobile Hotmail. Optimized for YOUR phone. Click here. http://windowslive.com/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_CS_MB_new_hotmail_072009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090718/17199199/attachment.html From justin.bosler at gmail.com Sat Jul 18 19:24:36 2009 From: justin.bosler at gmail.com (Justin Bosler) Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 19:24:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Jaeger In-Reply-To: <4A624F58.3080300@verizon.net> References: <4A624F58.3080300@verizon.net> Message-ID: <97d12a010907181924o1c89c2f3x58a2abc2d008caca@mail.gmail.com> Hello Dave/OBOL, For what it's worth, I had a sleek, light morph adult PARASITIC JAEGER cruising around just beyond the surf and then alighting on the water within a small group of Heerman's Gulls at the N. Spit of Coos Bay in the late afternoon on 11 July. Good birding, Justin Bosler Reedsport, OR On Sat, Jul 18, 2009 at 3:40 PM, DJ Lauten and KACastelein wrote: > 7/18 Coos Bay North Spit, Coos Cty > > I believe a JAEGER of unknown species cut through the thick pea soup fog > near the north jetty, Coos Bay North Spit, at about mid day today. > Truth is I'm not totally sure what I saw in some sense, except that a > tubular shaped bird the size of a gull came barreling out of the fog > heading south over the base of the jetty, and promptly disappeared into > the fog again. ?What I saw was white upper wing markings on a dark bird > with pointed wings and a tubular body that could only be a jaeger or > possibly a skua, but I just doubt the latter so I am calling it a jaeger > sp. > > PS - saw on the news just now that that gooey stuff off Alaska has in > fact been identified as algae bloom. > > Cheers > Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein > Bandon OR > deweysage at verizon.net > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Jul 18 20:29:51 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 03:29:51 +0000 Subject: [obol] Western Kingbird photo essay now up on BirdFellow.com Message-ID: Greetings All, Those who enjoy Western Kingbirds and photos of fuzzy-headed nestlings, will surely like the latest post on the BirdFellow website. Yesterday morning I returned to the site of an active Western Kingbird at the home of one of my customers sw. of Eugene. Two adults were taking turns feeding the near fledgling youngsters. The interactions between the adults and behavior of the nestlings are discussed in this photo essay. Hope you enjoy it, Dave Irons Content Editor www.birdfellow.com Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?: Celebrate the moment with your favorite sports pics. Check it out. http://www.windowslive.com/Online/Hotmail/Campaign/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_QA_HM_sports_photos_072009&cat=sports -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090719/e67bd60b/attachment.html From cockatoodowns at gmail.com Sat Jul 18 21:50:33 2009 From: cockatoodowns at gmail.com (chris shank) Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 21:50:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Juvenile Great Horned Owl Message-ID: <4e95acbb0907182150t7bb7b543j508e35d68cc6379e@mail.gmail.com> For the last week there has been a young Great Horned Owl calling during various times of the night in various areas of my property. I didn't know what it was at first. Assuming it might be an owl, I did some bird call research on the web and discovered this loud, short screech belonged to a juvenile GHO and was classified as a begging call. Don't know much about GHOs, but thought it a bit late in the season for youngsters to still be dependent on their parents. Anybody know? -- Chris Shank Dallas, OR http://cockatoodowns.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090718/e2185bab/attachment.html From margieparis1 at mac.com Sun Jul 19 04:33:28 2009 From: margieparis1 at mac.com (Margie Paris) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 04:33:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Kingbird photo essay now up on BirdFellow.com In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Delightful essay, Dave. Thank you for sharing your experiences and expertise so generously! Best, Margie Paris 2394 Charnelton Street Eugene, OR 97405 (541) 484-0763 margieparis1 at mac.com On Jul 18, 2009, at 8:29 PM, David Irons wrote: > Greetings All, > > Those who enjoy Western Kingbirds and photos of fuzzy-headed > nestlings, will surely like the latest post on the BirdFellow website. > > Yesterday morning I returned to the site of an active Western > Kingbird at the home of one of my customers sw. of Eugene. Two > adults were taking turns feeding the near fledgling youngsters. The > interactions between the adults and behavior of the nestlings are > discussed in this photo essay. > > Hope you enjoy it, > > Dave Irons > Content Editor www.birdfellow.com > Eugene, OR > > Windows Live? Hotmail?: Celebrate the moment with your favorite > sports pics. Check it > out._______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090719/50ea5443/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Sun Jul 19 05:03:47 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:03:47 -0400 Subject: [obol] birding Tillamook Message-ID: <8CBD6801B48FA9F-A54-75C@webmail-mh34.sysops.aol.com> I attended a Harry Nehls Shorebirds Class last week at the Portland Audubon building, and I'm all fired up to get some shorebird photos. I'm planning to catch the low tide at Haystack rock and try to get better shots of the Tufted Puffins than I did a few weeks back. The plan is to go to Tillamook after that and try to get some shore birds as the tide comes in. However I'm not at all sure where the tidal flats are or how to get there. I know where the Bar is, and the roads that go around the 3 capes. (And I definately know where the Ice Cream is.) But where to go to see shore birds or know where to park to get close, I really don't have a clue. I would appreciate and input from folks that know the area. My trip is planned for Wendsday the 22nd. Thanks in advance for any help. I have printed out tide tables for both areas. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090719/309c944a/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Sun Jul 19 07:22:06 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 07:22:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] oddity at 900' In-Reply-To: <00e601ca064a$c20f4e50$6501a8c0@judithT> Message-ID: <916576.37595.qm@web39703.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Fred, Interesting post! Are you sure the hawk you saw wasn't a Coopers hawk? Sharpshinned hawks weigh about 4 to 9 oz., with the females nearly twice as heavy as the boys. The Am. coots average close to 1.5 lbs., and this weight disparity is probably too much for this diminutive accipter. I'm not saying you misidentified the hawk, but a male Coopers (western) at about 10 oz., is at times very difficult to distinguish from a female Sharpy, and much more likely to tackle this large quarry. However, your ID could be completely accurate, as I'm frequently amazed by sharpy predation. I know of an instance of a very young snowshoe hare that was captured by a sharpy and fed to her chicks! I apologize for using oz. instead of grams, but I'm an old guy. Best, Dick --- On Thu, 7/16/09, fs wrote: > From: fs > Subject: [obol] oddity at 900' > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009, 12:22 PM > As we walked across the gravel road > from the garden back into the woods near > the saddle of Chehalem Mountain a flash of movement at the > road edge 2 power > poles up the hill caught my eye and I was thinking it might > be? a > Sharp-Shinned Hawk tussling with his prey. > Yup. It was. As we walked towards the combatants the Sharp > Shinned flew up > and away and there at the edge of the road barely alive was > an American > Coot. We turned around and wasn't 40 foot away when he > returned to finish > his job. > Not sure what his plan would be since the coot either is > equal his weight or > outweighs him..... > odd matchup > To me really odd matchup in fir forest at 900' > > fred > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From oschmidt at att.net Sun Jul 19 08:01:44 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:01:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] birding Tillamook In-Reply-To: <8CBD6801B48FA9F-A54-75C@webmail-mh34.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBD6801B48FA9F-A54-75C@webmail-mh34.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: ....... Joe Evanich's "The Birders Guide to Oregon" though published in 1990 is still good for Bayocean Spit (pages 32-33). It's available at the Portland Audubon bookstore; it is published by Portland Audubon. oschmidt at att.net Sunday, July 19, 2009 On Jul 19, 2009, at 5:03 AM, jonysky101 at aol.com wrote: > I attended a Harry Nehls Shorebirds Class last week at the Portland > Audubon building, and I'm all fired up to get some shorebird photos. > I'm planning to catch the low tide at Haystack rock and try to get > better shots of the Tufted Puffins than I did a few weeks back. The > plan is to go to Tillamook after that and try to get some shore > birds as the tide comes in. However I'm not at all sure where the > tidal flats are or how to get there. I know where the Bar is, and > the roads that go around the 3 capes. (And I definately know where > the Ice Cream is.) But where to go to see shore birds or know where > to park to get close, I really don't have a clue. I would appreciate > and input from folks that know the area. My trip is planned for > Wendsday the 22nd. Thanks in advance for any help. I have printed > out tide tables for both areas. > Johnny Sasko > Sandy, Oregon From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Sun Jul 19 08:02:38 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:02:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Juvenile Great Horned Owl In-Reply-To: <4e95acbb0907182150t7bb7b543j508e35d68cc6379e@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <345083.87599.qm@web39708.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Chris, We had a young GHO here (Harney Co.) about 10 days ago. These begging calls you spoke of can continue well into the fall. If there is lots of GHO food, the youngsters hang around the nesting area for an extended period, calling to the adults. We had a pair nest in our yard a few years ago and payed close attention to their "comings and goings." The adult male liked my pigeons, but he only needed to be ejected from my pigeon coop once, and he then stayed away. The immature owls called to the adults (off and on) until the adults "ran them off" as the next breeding season approached. GHO's are really tough birds. I watched one capture a full grown blacktail jack, quickly tear its head off, and pack it (the head) away. They have killed a few of my wife's full grown hens (during the day), but that's part of the cost of having free ranging chickens. GHO's kill and eat other hawks and owls. ALL hawks and falcons detest GHO's and will attack them if the opportunity arises. GHO's are themselves sometimes killed by an aggressive prairie or peregrine falcon, if the falcon can discover it (in the open) during the day. This big owl must turn its head to see danger, and the attacking falcon seems to try to, "stoop from behind." When looking for falcons during the nesting season, birders should not get too close to cliffs, because a flushed parent GHO is easily killed by a protective prairie falcon----and they nest close together on cliffs. Probably more than you wanted to know. Best, Dick --- On Sat, 7/18/09, chris shank wrote: > From: chris shank > Subject: [obol] Juvenile Great Horned Owl > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Saturday, July 18, 2009, 9:50 PM > For the last week there has been a > young Great Horned Owl calling during various times of the > night in various areas of my property. I didn't know > what it was at first. Assuming it might be an owl, I did > some bird call research on the web and discovered this loud, > short screech belonged to a juvenile GHO and was classified > as a begging call.? > > Don't know much about GHOs, but thought it a > bit late in the season for youngsters to still be dependent > on their parents. Anybody know?? > > -- > Chris Shank > Dallas, OR > http://cockatoodowns.com > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From greg at thebirdguide.com Sun Jul 19 08:38:54 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:38:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Local RBA: White Pelican, Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove Message-ID: <1F634FE64CC84EF484C7D4CEFD4C1925@GREG> Mike Smith sent me a couple of photos of a flock of about 9 White Pelicans in the Mitigation ponds at Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, Oregon yesterday, 19 July 2009. These constitute the 5th Washington County record. http://thebirdguide.com/washington/washington%20birdlist.doc 2006, 24 May, 7, TRNWR, Pamela Johnston. 2006, 6 May, 2, FW, David Smith, Tim Shelmerdine (OBOL). 2004, 14-17 October, 2, FW, Wink Gross, Greg Gillson, Luke Redmond, Donna Lusthoff (BirdNotes, OBOL, Oregon Birds 31(1):27). 1999, 3 January, 2, JB, Carol Hallett (Oregon Birds 25(3):85). You may be able to click on this link and see his photos. http://photos.msn.com/Viewing/Album.aspx?PST=8nK2AN1B!1LmPLmC9HXTY6aSymRiuIPZRghiQJHnaWGOzORbx7cPNnNl9BAkwXGkLLdMMPkEgDAU4dghxe1DAw%24%24 Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From fshipley at paclink.com Sun Jul 19 08:44:41 2009 From: fshipley at paclink.com (fs) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:44:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] oddity at 900' References: <916576.37595.qm@web39703.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <002901ca0887$d81e6c00$44e2d4ce@judithT> Richard: I don't rule out the possibility that you are correct. However, this is what I saw: 1.the hawk could not carry the prey away. In fact when we came up onto the scene they were staring eye to eye about 5-6" apart and each pecking at each other. Of course the hawks talons were around the neck of the coot.... This was after he knocked it down and they both tumbled to the ground the second time. 2. During the tumbling the hawks tailfeathers were splayed attempting some control and they seemed to be sharp cornered unlike the round corners of the Coopers. 3. We do have Cooper's Hawks here going through the woods so I am somewhat familiar with the size and bearing of both hawks. The size of the bird seemed to be around 12" maximum. As usual, I wish I been more attentive to details. fred ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard and Marilyn Musser" To: ; "fs" Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2009 7:22 AM Subject: Re: [obol] oddity at 900' Hi Fred, Interesting post! Are you sure the hawk you saw wasn't a Coopers hawk? Sharpshinned hawks weigh about 4 to 9 oz., with the females nearly twice as heavy as the boys. The Am. coots average close to 1.5 lbs., and this weight disparity is probably too much for this diminutive accipter. I'm not saying you misidentified the hawk, but a male Coopers (western) at about 10 oz., is at times very difficult to distinguish from a female Sharpy, and much more likely to tackle this large quarry. However, your ID could be completely accurate, as I'm frequently amazed by sharpy predation. I know of an instance of a very young snowshoe hare that was captured by a sharpy and fed to her chicks! I apologize for using oz. instead of grams, but I'm an old guy. Best, Dick --- On Thu, 7/16/09, fs wrote: > From: fs > Subject: [obol] oddity at 900' > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009, 12:22 PM > As we walked across the gravel road > from the garden back into the woods near > the saddle of Chehalem Mountain a flash of movement at the > road edge 2 power > poles up the hill caught my eye and I was thinking it might > be a > Sharp-Shinned Hawk tussling with his prey. > Yup. It was. As we walked towards the combatants the Sharp > Shinned flew up > and away and there at the edge of the road barely alive was > an American > Coot. We turned around and wasn't 40 foot away when he > returned to finish > his job. > Not sure what his plan would be since the coot either is > equal his weight or > outweighs him..... > odd matchup > To me really odd matchup in fir forest at 900' > > fred > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From greg at thebirdguide.com Sun Jul 19 08:47:02 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:47:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Local RBA: Black Phoebe, Sauvie Island Message-ID: I see no records on BirdNotes for Black Phoebe in either Multnomah or Columbia counties. So perhaps Randy Stafford's great photo he sent me of a Black Phoebe on Rentenaar Road is the first Columbia County record? I have asked for permission to post his photo. If he gives permission I'll post the link. It appears to have a bit of pink at the gape, perhaps indicating it is a recent fledgling. Sauvie Island would make an excellent breeding location, however, it is equally possible it fledged far to the south and made its way to this location. His directions to the bird: "sauvies island rentenaar road over the dike,first road on the left all the way to the end,also saw my first wilsons warbler." Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Jul 19 08:55:31 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:55:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Local RBA: Black Phoebe, Sauvie Island In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: There were repeated postings of a Black Phoebe on the Mult. portion of Sauvie Island two years ago in late winter. There's that big ditch at the south end of Reeder Beach Road and various people saw it there. My one effort was not successful. I imagine the few sightings are the result of very limited access to very extensive habitat. Lars Norgren On Jul 19, 2009, at 8:47 AM, Greg Gillson wrote: > I see no records on BirdNotes for Black Phoebe in either Multnomah or > Columbia counties. So perhaps Randy Stafford's great photo he sent me > of a > Black Phoebe on Rentenaar Road is the first Columbia County record? > > I have asked for permission to post his photo. If he gives permission > I'll > post the link. It appears to have a bit of pink at the gape, perhaps > indicating it is a recent fledgling. Sauvie Island would make an > excellent > breeding location, however, it is equally possible it fledged far to > the > south and made its way to this location. > > His directions to the bird: "sauvies island rentenaar road over the > dike,first road on the left all the way to the end,also saw my first > wilsons > warbler." > > Greg Gillson > The Bird Guide, Inc. > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sun Jul 19 10:16:08 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:16:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Juvenile Intergrade Flicker, Eugene Message-ID: <81b2a9930907191016p59e6ee0ob4b3cd2dc485589e@mail.gmail.com> This morning, a juvenile "red x yellow" intergrade NORTHERN FLICKER showed up in my yard, accompanied by an adult Red-shafted male. While the latter was loud and bold, the juvenile was quiet and shy at first, before gingerly and somewhat clumsily navigating the branches of our Rhododendron bushes to get to the bird bath. I managed to shoot a semi-decent photo that shows a hint of red on the nape: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/3735795096_9a3d1a1dcc_b.jpg This is somewhat interesting to me because I spotted a "pure" Yellow-shafted female in my yard about two years ago. I'm wondering if that individual is the mother of this one. Brandon Eugene From willclemons at yahoo.com Sun Jul 19 10:48:00 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:48:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Local RBA: Black Phoebe, Sauvie Island Message-ID: <222263.8570.qm@web55106.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Greg, et al There was a Black Phoebe at the "OM" slough in Jan/Feb/Mar of 2007. OBOL Archives will show reports in Jan/Feb. I missed on it on Mar 6, 2007 but did see it on another trip, I just cannot locate a field notes for it. First report I saw was from Owen Schmidt, as follows: [OBOL] Black Phoebe on Sauvie Island today Owen Schmidt oschmidt at att.net Sun Jan 21 18:37:54 PST 2007 ...... message passed on from Jack Kiley and John Elizalde, who saw a Black Phoebe on Sauvie Island, Gillihan Loop Road on a water channel about a quarter mile before Reeder Road on the east side. oschmidt at att.net Sunday, January 21, 2007 Will Clemons SW of Portland From jeffgill at teleport.com Sun Jul 19 10:56:34 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:56:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Local RBA: Black Phoebe, Sauvie Island In-Reply-To: <222263.8570.qm@web55106.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Message-ID: As I recall, Iain Tomlinson saw one a few years ago near Bybee Lake in North Portland. I believe that was the first Multnomah Co. record. Jeff Gilligan On 7/19/09 10:48 AM, "Will Clemons" wrote: > Greg, et al > > There was a Black Phoebe at the "OM" slough in Jan/Feb/Mar of 2007. > > OBOL Archives will show reports in Jan/Feb. > > I missed on it on Mar 6, 2007 but did see it on another trip, I just cannot > locate a field notes for it. > > First report I saw was from Owen Schmidt, as follows: > > [OBOL] Black Phoebe on Sauvie Island today > > Owen Schmidt oschmidt at att.net > Sun Jan 21 18:37:54 PST 2007 > > ...... message passed on from Jack Kiley and John Elizalde, who saw a > Black Phoebe on Sauvie Island, Gillihan Loop Road on a water channel > about a quarter mile before Reeder Road on the east side. > > oschmidt at att.net > Sunday, January 21, 2007 > > Will Clemons > SW of Portland > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From larmcqueen at msn.com Sun Jul 19 12:21:24 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 12:21:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Juvenile Intergrade Flicker, Eugene In-Reply-To: <81b2a9930907191016p59e6ee0ob4b3cd2dc485589e@mail.gmail.com> References: <81b2a9930907191016p59e6ee0ob4b3cd2dc485589e@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Brandon, Since this juvenile appears to have all the features of the Red-shafted Flicker with the exception of the red on the nape, I think this bird could be one or several generations removed from the original cross. I would be interested in checking out both the parents. We have Yellow-shafted types during the non-breeding seasons, as flickers from the north come to winter in the Willamette Valley, annually. I would be surprised if a Yellow-shafted were to nest in this region, and if that were the case it would be worth reporting. Thanks for posting the image, Larry McQueen -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Brandon Green Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2009 10:16 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Juvenile Intergrade Flicker, Eugene This morning, a juvenile "red x yellow" intergrade NORTHERN FLICKER showed up in my yard, accompanied by an adult Red-shafted male. While the latter was loud and bold, the juvenile was quiet and shy at first, before gingerly and somewhat clumsily navigating the branches of our Rhododendron bushes to get to the bird bath. I managed to shoot a semi-decent photo that shows a hint of red on the nape: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/3735795096_9a3d1a1dcc_b.jpg This is somewhat interesting to me because I spotted a "pure" Yellow-shafted female in my yard about two years ago. I'm wondering if that individual is the mother of this one. Brandon Eugene _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From davehelzer at mac.com Sun Jul 19 12:38:57 2009 From: davehelzer at mac.com (David Helzer) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 12:38:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Local RBA: Black Phoebe, Sauvie Island Message-ID: <5C25064A-7D4A-4F28-876C-1B0410D1CF4D@mac.com> On Black Phoebes in Mult Co, I know of two recent records: 1. Katy Weil and Ry Thompson had one on the south end of Bybee Lake about two years ago. 2. Gabe McNassar, my former co-worker with Portland Airport Wildlife, photographed one along Elrod Slough (off Elrod Road) on the SW side of PDX about two years ago. Unfortunately, both sites are in areas that are not open to the public. Dave Helzer Portland Oregon == Subject: Re: Local RBA: Black Phoebe, Sauvie Island From: Jeff Gilligan Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:56:34 -0700 As I recall, Iain Tomlinson saw one a few years ago near Bybee Lake in North Portland. I believe that was the first Multnomah Co. record. Jeff Gilligan On 7/19/09 10:48 AM, "Will Clemons" wrote: > Greg, et al > > There was a Black Phoebe at the "OM" slough in Jan/Feb/Mar of 2007. > > OBOL Archives will show reports in Jan/Feb. > > I missed on it on Mar 6, 2007 but did see it on another trip, I just cannot > locate a field notes for it. > > First report I saw was from Owen Schmidt, as follows: > > [OBOL] Black Phoebe on Sauvie Island today > > Owen Schmidt oschmidt at att.net > Sun Jan 21 18:37:54 PST 2007 > > ...... message passed on from Jack Kiley and John Elizalde, who saw a > Black Phoebe on Sauvie Island, Gillihan Loop Road on a water channel > about a quarter mile before Reeder Road on the east side. > > oschmidt at att.net > Sunday, January 21, 2007 > > Will Clemons > SW of Portland > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Local RBA: Black Phoebe, Sauvie Island From: "Greg Gillson" Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:47:02 -0700 I see no records on BirdNotes for Black Phoebe in either Multnomah or Columbia counties. So perhaps Randy Stafford's great photo he sent me of a Black Phoebe on Rentenaar Road is the first Columbia County record? I have asked for permission to post his photo. If he gives permission I'll post the link. It appears to have a bit of pink at the gape, perhaps indicating it is a recent fledgling. Sauvie Island would make an excellent breeding location, however, it is equally possible it fledged far to the south and made its way to this location. His directions to the bird: "sauvies island rentenaar road over the dike,first road on the left all the way to the end,also saw my first wilsons warbler." Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg AT thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sun Jul 19 13:23:47 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:23:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Juvenile Intergrade Flicker, Eugene In-Reply-To: References: <81b2a9930907191016p59e6ee0ob4b3cd2dc485589e@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <81b2a9930907191323i1c89378dte459aff0e287e76f@mail.gmail.com> Larry, That makes sense. The lone Yellow-shafted female that I've seen here was in March of 2007, so it's definitely possible that it just wintered here. I did manage to get a good photo of the (apparent) father, and it appears to be relatively "pure" Red-shafted, but has a *very* slight hind of red on the nape... http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3481/3735795960_fa4fd97cf3_b.jpg No sign of the mother, though. The intergrade came back for a drink of water a little while ago, and its clumsiness definitely suggests a juvenile. -Brandon On Sun, Jul 19, 2009 at 12:21 PM, Larry McQueen wrote: > Brandon, > > Since this juvenile appears to have all the features of the Red-shafted > Flicker with the exception of the red on the nape, I think this bird could > be one or several generations removed from the original cross. ?I would be > interested in checking out both the parents. ?We have Yellow-shafted types > during the non-breeding seasons, as flickers from the north come to winter > in the Willamette Valley, annually. ?I would be surprised if a > Yellow-shafted were to nest in this region, and if that were the case it > would be worth reporting. > > Thanks for posting the image, > Larry McQueen > > -----Original Message----- > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Brandon Green > Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2009 10:16 AM > To: OBOL > Subject: [obol] Juvenile Intergrade Flicker, Eugene > > This morning, a juvenile "red x yellow" intergrade NORTHERN FLICKER > showed up in my yard, accompanied by an adult Red-shafted male. ?While > the latter was loud and bold, the juvenile was quiet and shy at first, > before gingerly and somewhat clumsily navigating the branches of our > Rhododendron bushes to get to the bird bath. ?I managed to shoot a > semi-decent photo that shows a hint of red on the nape: > > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/3735795096_9a3d1a1dcc_b.jpg > > This is somewhat interesting to me because I spotted a "pure" > Yellow-shafted female in my yard about two years ago. ?I'm wondering > if that individual is the mother of this one. > > Brandon > Eugene > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > From rie at pcfubar.net Sun Jul 19 18:59:49 2009 From: rie at pcfubar.net (roger morris) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:59:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Odell Lake Message-ID: On the way back from Central Oregon, I stopped off at Odell lake. I didn't figure I'd see the eagle nest, and I didn't. I stopped off at East Odell Lake lodge area. Went down to the marina. Using my binocs, I saw a pair of eagles directly across the lake. each one in a different tree. While I was watching, I heard an eagle call. THinking it was a little too close for the other side of the lake, I looked up. There was an eagle harassing an osprey I think. They both headed east before I could get a good look at them. If they had gone west, I would have been real close to the action. I knew the one pair was there. Anybody have any idea how many eagles are resident at the lake? I didn't have a chance to go to the other end of the lake to see what was down there. Roger From pointers at pacifier.com Sun Jul 19 19:49:08 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:49:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pelicans over the Expo Center Message-ID: <20090720024906.9A54E6A42B@smtp4.pacifier.net> hi ... while walking my dogs into Portland's Expo Center this morning about 9:00 a.m. I watched a flock of at least 20 Pelicans flying overhead from SE to NW ... low enough to see their wing markings but not low enough to make out head markings ... it was a pretty sight however with the sun on the white feathers and highlighting the black wingtips ... for you non-locals the Expo Center is about 1/4 mile south of the Columbia River and west of the I-5 bridge crossing ... Lyn pointers at pacifier dot com Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From erikknight05 at comcast.net Sun Jul 19 20:01:49 2009 From: erikknight05 at comcast.net (Erik Knight) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:01:49 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Finley happenings In-Reply-To: <370848451.2723221248058747298.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1829704146.2723571248058909929.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> OBOLers, While my dad & I were out at Finley NWR south of Corvallis today, we noticed that the refuge headquarters had moved into a new building near the maintenance facility.? There apparently is a gift shop inside as well.? There is also new signage going up along Finley Refuge Road, plus a photo blind(reservations necessary) at the pond across the road from the memorial trail .? There was a group of 8 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS on Cabell Marsh.? full list on birdnotes. -------------- Erik Knight Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090720/623ca534/attachment.html From dlrobbo at comcast.net Sun Jul 19 20:34:20 2009 From: dlrobbo at comcast.net (Doug Robberson) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:34:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tigard Bobcat (Not a bird) Message-ID: A dead bobcat was removed from Summerfield (99W & Durham) last week. Has there been other reports of bobcats within Greater Portland city limits? Doug Robberson Tigard, OR From djaques.pel at charter.net Sun Jul 19 21:07:38 2009 From: djaques.pel at charter.net (Deborah Jaques) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:07:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Extraordinary year for Brown Pelicans In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20090719210975.SM03320@D88LG071> In response to the question about extraordinary numbers of Brown Pelicans in Clatsop County, I would say that yes, this is a remarkable year. I have been collecting data on and off at the main night roost in the Columbia River Estuary, East Sand Island, since 1999. Last Thursday (July 16) my assistants and I conducted a survey that totaled over 22,000 birds. This is nearly twice the peak count ever obtained at the site- and more pelicans than were counted in the whole state of Oregon during the USFWS aerial surveys last September. OSU has also been counting pelicans at East Sand Island and has recorded unprecedented numbers this year. My limited observations elsewhere along the Oregon coast and in northern California, suggest that the birds have so far been extremely concentrated in the lower Columbia region. All of the reports of huge feeding flocks (>1,000) that I have heard of have been recorded off northern Clatsop and Pacific County WA beaches--East Sand Island is the primary night roost serving these areas. I suspect that the pelican 'anomaly' has to do with the distribution and abundance of anchovy from Mexico to the Columbia River, possibly poor prey conditions to the south and abundant prey here. However, that is pure speculation at this point. The pelican season is far from over, so I hope that people will keep reporting large concentrations of birds as they continue to move along the coast. With another El Nino forming at the equator, this could prove to be another challenging winter for pelicans..... On another note, I can't help but wonder about the White Pelicans. There was a proposal to implement White Pelican control measures somewhere (I think Idaho?) due to fish predation issues--I believe that the proposal is still in review, but perhaps some form of colony "management" is taking place that is affecting the dispersal of these birds? Maybe somebody could check that out. Deborah -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2009 12:00 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: obol Digest, Vol 16, Issue 19 Send obol mailing list submissions to obol at oregonbirdwatch.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org You can reach the person managing the list at obol-owner at oregonbirdwatch.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of obol digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: sauvie island chukar (Donna Lusthoff) 2. Job opening/Texas (Mike and MerryLynn) 3. Re: breeding colony failure (Jesse Ellis) 4. Re: Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? (Jesse Ellis) 5. RFI: Portland area (Christopher Distel) 6. Re: sauvie island chukar (Harry Nehls) 7. Coos Jaeger (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) 8. Chukars (Norgren Family) 9. Brown Pelicans in Yachats (R. Adney Jr.) 10. Re: Coos Jaeger (Justin Bosler) 11. Western Kingbird photo essay now up on BirdFellow.com (David Irons) 12. Juvenile Great Horned Owl (chris shank) 13. Re: Western Kingbird photo essay now up on BirdFellow.com (Margie Paris) 14. birding Tillamook (jonysky101 at aol.com) 15. Re: oddity at 900' (Richard and Marilyn Musser) 16. Re: birding Tillamook (Owen Schmidt) 17. Re: Juvenile Great Horned Owl (Richard and Marilyn Musser) 18. Local RBA: White Pelican, Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove (Greg Gillson) 19. Re: oddity at 900' (fs) 20. Local RBA: Black Phoebe, Sauvie Island (Greg Gillson) 21. Re: Local RBA: Black Phoebe, Sauvie Island (Norgren Family) 22. Juvenile Intergrade Flicker, Eugene (Brandon Green) 23. Re: Local RBA: Black Phoebe, Sauvie Island (Will Clemons) 24. Re: Local RBA: Black Phoebe, Sauvie Island (Jeff Gilligan) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:25:05 -0700 From: "Donna Lusthoff" Subject: Re: [obol] sauvie island chukar To: "'Shawneen Finnegan'" , "'Timothy Kadlecek'" , "'OBOL OBOL'" Message-ID: <6DD66FB3336F49DA86BB233F195A28D9 at Donna> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" There are bird dog kennels on the Island that train retrievers and other bird dogs. They have been using Chukar for years, so there are usually one or two around. Donna Lusthoff -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Shawneen Finnegan Sent: Saturday, July 18, 2009 11:48 AM To: Timothy Kadlecek; OBOL OBOL Subject: Re: [obol] sauvie island chukar I think someone along Oak Island Road must raise them. I had a young scruffy one standing in the middle of Oak Island Road near that big huge new house on the east side of the road last summer. Same thing. Very tame. Shawneen Finnegan Portland, OR On Jul 18, 2009, at 10:52 AM, wrote: I birded this morning with my dad who is in town from Wisconsin. We did the Oak Island loop trail on Sauvie Island. On our way back, about 1/2 to 3/4 mile from the parking lot at the end of Oak Island Road, there was a single CHUKAR walking on the road. I was able to drive right up next to it without scaring it off, but unfortunately only had a camera phone and the pictures did not turn out well. Are chukars known to be found on Sauvie Island? Tim _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090718/1807e515/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:41:21 -0700 From: "Mike and MerryLynn" Subject: [obol] Job opening/Texas To: "OBOL" , "tweeters" Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original Hello all, Thought I would post this - may be an interested NW birder - - Mike and I birded this place several times in April - wonderful spot - we saw the Crimson-collared Grosbeak there. -MerryLynn FRONTERA AUDUBON SEEKS AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Frontera Audubon Society, Inc. in Weslaco, Texas seeks applications from persons interested in serving as its Executive Director. The Executive Director position will be full-time for eight months-10/1/09 through 5/30/09. The mission of Frontera Audubon Society is the preservation of the natural environment of the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. It is a private, non-profit organization that owns and manages a 15-acre nature preserve (bird sanctuary) and a State-registered historic residence in need of rehabilitation. The primary responsibilities of the position are: 1) Manage Frontera's Visitors Center, including the retail store. 2) Supervise the management of the Thicket, including the ponds, irrigation system, water feature, removal of exotic and invasive plants; re-vegetation and as-needed repairs. 3) Meet and greet members, visitors and birders. 4) Recruit and manage volunteers. 5) Help coordinate and implement efforts to diversify and expand Frontera's financial resources, including assisting with the organization and promotion of an annual Birdathon, mail appeals, solicitation of support from the City's hotel-motel tax fund, and the cultivation of individual & corporate members, sponsors and donors. 6) Manage communications with members, including the website; liaison with city leadership. 7) Prepare financial and other reports for quarterly Board of Directors' meetings. A background and interest in natural history, birds and native plants is required. Financial book-keeping skills are desired. Frontera intends to make its hiring decision by September 1, 2009. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Questions may be directed to Frontera Audubon be telephone at 956-968-3275 or email at fronteraaudubon AT yahoo.com. Please send letter of interest and resume to: Frontera Audubon Society, Inc. "ED Search Committee" 1101 South Texas Blvd. Weslaco, TX 78596 ............................................................................ ...... Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:53:15 -0500 From: Jesse Ellis Subject: Re: [obol] breeding colony failure To: OBOL Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" Hey all- I can't provide answers to whether there was a breeding failure or not specifically, but from my understanding there are Pelicans in places that there often aren't not only out west where you are, but here in the Midwest. This DOES suggest a big failure somewhere, and early. The birds have been reported in unusual locations (or at least in large numbers) since May/June, I believe. Good birding Jesse Ellis Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin At 7:30 AM -0700 7/15/09, Greg Gillson wrote: >To briefly answer Lyn's question, 'What is a "breeding colony failure"?'... > >Birds that breed in colonies sometimes all fail to produce young. Or, >the majority fail to successfully raise any young during a specific >year. > >In the case of White Pelicans that could be because of lack of water >at traditional breeding sites in the Great Basin. For those who >visited Malheur NWR this spring, they got to see Malheur and Harney >Lakes at the lowest I've ever seen (they actually didn't get to see >any "lake" at all). Certainly, not very many White Pelicans breed here >anyway, but IF this happened widely through the Great Basin, then >birds would have no place to nest, or if they did, perhaps no fish to >feed their young. [At this point this is only speculation as to why >many are seeing White Pelicans in large numbers outside their normal >breeding areas.] > >As another example, Common Murres nest in colonies on the coast and >require strong summer upwelling to provide food. If this upwelling >does not occur (El Nino years along the whole coast or sometimes just >a more local phenomenon), the colony fails to produce young, and they >may abandon the colony at any time from egg laying through normal >fledging time. Locally, Bald Eagles may harass a murre colony so that >they abandon their breeding attempts at that single location. > >Many aquatic colonial nesters live a long time and are adapted to such >periodic climate fluctuations. > >Greg Gillson >Forest Grove, Oregon >greg at thebirdguide.com >http://thebirdguide.com > > > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- Jesse Ellis, Ph. D. Madison, WI ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:12:06 -0500 From: Jesse Ellis Subject: Re: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? To: David Irons , Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hey Dave and Obol- For what it's worth, I'll offer that I'd noticed this "pattern" before it was mentioned explicitly on obol. It started (for me) when I arrived in Madison to see people commenting on large numbers of pelicans (independent of what was happening in other states) and was reinforced by sightings of Pelicans over Seattle (unusual). While there certainly may only be one flock of 100 pelicans cruising the Willamette, they're there. They're not on their breeding site. And pelicans keep popping up in other places they're not often this time of year (although I suspect we're at about the point where dispersal might be expected anyway, making future sightings tough to attribute to one pattern or another). I scrounged around a bit on eBird and various bird lists, but it's tough to tell if there's anything widespread. Does anyone know of breeding colony locations? I'd be interested in calling refuge/preserve managers and seeing how breeding is actually going. (If you do, you can email me offlist please - I will report back.) Jesse Ellis Madison, WI At 7:24 AM +0000 7/16/09, David Irons wrote: >I've carefully avoided jumping into this discussion, but I find that >it is growing legs and spawning lots of unfounded speculations about >the cause of these "extraordinary" events. Personally, I'm not so >sure that anything too out of the ordinary is going on. American >White Pelicans have been showing up away from their historic Great >Basin and Columbia River haunts for more than a decade. I think one >of the things that is happening here in the Willamette Valley is >that one or two decent sized flocks are moving north and south >through the valley between Fern Ridge and Baskett Slough creating >the illusion that there are hundreds and hundreds of pelicans >around. It should be pointed out that the numbers at Fern Ridge in >any given day vary from up to 100 to only about 20 or so and many of >the big flocks seen (50+ birds) around Finley, Baskett Slough, and >Ankeny (all of which were about the same size) were only present for >a day or so. > >Just a quick comment on White-faced Ibis. This year is most >certainly not "extraordinary." The breeding population of >White-faced Ibis in the Harney Basin has been growing on a rather >steep trajectory for decades. There are now something like 10,000 >pairs of ibis breeding in the collective wetlands fed by the Silvies >and Blitzen rivers. These numbers are not a one-year anomaly. This >has been the case for at least a couple years running. This year's >breeding numbers may be the highest ever, but I suspect that next >year's will be even higher as this has been a continuing pattern for >some time. When I first started visiting Malheur in 1977, the >breeding population of White-faced Ibis numberd just 200 pairs. >Continent-wide, both Glossy and White-faced Ibis have been expanding >their ranges northward and westward for several years. > >I have recommended this book before and I will recommend it again. >Before offering up hyberbole based on a small sample of >observations, take the time to read "The Drunkard's Walk: How >Randomness Rules Our Lives" by Leonard Mlodinow. It offers an >enlightening examination of the persistent human inclination to >assign pattern to small samples of events. Our memories are short, >hence the most recent interesting thing we've observed is often >assigned far greater significance that it warrants. Further, we tend >to observe what others suggest we might be seeing. When someone >poses a question like the one in the subject line of this thread, >our social nature takes over (we want to be part of the group) and >we willingly notice a pattern that we had not observed previously. > >My two cents, > >Dave Irons > >> Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:29:21 -0700 >> From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com >> To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org; tunicate89 at yahoo.com >> Subject: Re: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White >>Pelicans? White-faced Ibis? > > >> >> Hi Cindy, >> Normally I watch raptors, and was able to spend three solid weeks >>looking for falcons earlier this season here in Harney Co. What I >>do recall are very large numbers of white-faced ibis----many more >>than I've seen in previous years. There presence made falcon >>hunting more difficult as in flight they sometimes look like a >>peregrine (for a moment)------meaning every ibis had to be looked >>at to make certain it wasn't a falcon. Anyway, just one of my >>observations. Best, Dick >> >> >> --- On Wed, 7/15/09, Cindy Ashy wrote: >> >> > From: Cindy Ashy >> > Subject: Re: [obol] Is this an extraordinary year for White Pelicans? >> > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> > Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 9:54 AM >> > >> > Regarding the unusual dispersal and abundance of American >> > White Pelicans this season: >> > >> > The breeding colony failure theory is interesting but I >> > have to ask: >> > >> > Does anyone know of an actual American White Pelican >> > breeding colony failure(s) this season? Aren't these watched >> > closely enough that if it happened someone on this list >> > would have heard about it? >> > >> > The reason I ask: >> > >> > It's not just American White Pelicans that are showing up >> > in unusual places and in larger than normal numbers. Brown >> > Pelicans also seem to be on the move this season, and as >> > discussed on OBOL, in numbers almost too numerous to count. >> > Magnificent Frigatebirds, another migratory member of the >> > Pelecaniformes Order, are putting on an unusually good show >> > in the Gulf this year. I don't know all the details but I'm >> > vaguely aware that several species of fish seem to be >> > showing unusual dispersal patterns (vertical and horizontal >> > dispersal). Whale watchers are having an exceptionally good >> > year (and not just grey whales). >> > >> > Are there other species showing aberrant dispersal patterns >> > this season? >> > >> > I just wonder if something else may be going on >> > here....something on a grander scale....something caused by >> > a change in the global physical environment rather than >> > localized/regional colony failures....something affecting >> > several species....and if we could see a connection between >> > the species affected, it might give a clue as to what it >> > is. >> > >> > Cindy Ashy >> > >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > obol mailing list >> > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> > >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > >Lauren found her dream laptop. >Find >the PC that's right for you. > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- Jesse Ellis, Ph. D. Madison, WI -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090716/d29338f4/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:34:38 -0400 From: Christopher Distel Subject: [obol] RFI: Portland area To: Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" If anyone has information on exciting and/or reliable (safe) spots to bird around Portland I would greatly appreciate it. I'm from Ohio and will be visiting Portland next week, staying at the Hilton Portland on SW Sixth Ave. I'm largely inexperienced with western birds, so any park or local hotspot within walking distance or a short drive is bound to be exciting. From maps I've seen that Washington Park, McCall Park, and North and South Park Blocks look fairly close (please correct me if that's wrong), so any good areas in there might be particularly appealing. Please respond off list to this email address (eaglecd at hotmail.com). Thanks in advance for any help you can give! Chris Distel _________________________________________________________________ Bing? brings you health information from trusted sources. Try it now. http://www.bing.com/search?q=pet+allergy&form=MHEINA&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TXT_M HEINA_Health_Health_PetAllergy_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090713/d4ca0071/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 6 Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:23:26 -0700 From: Harry Nehls Subject: Re: [obol] sauvie island chukar To: Shawneen Finnegan , Timothy Kadlecek , obol Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > Everyone, > > Hunters use Chukars and quail to train their dogs on the Island. They let them > go if the dog does not retrieve them. > > Harry > > > > > I think someone along Oak Island Road must raise them. I had a young scruffy > one standing in the middle of Oak Island Road near that big huge new house on > the east side of the road last summer. Same thing. Very tame. > > Shawneen Finnegan > Portland, OR > > > On Jul 18, 2009, at 10:52 AM, wrote: > >> >> >> I birded this morning with my dad who is in town from Wisconsin. We did the >> Oak Island loop trail on Sauvie Island. On our way back, about 1/2 to 3/4 >> mile from the parking lot at the end of Oak Island Road, there was a single >> CHUKAR walking on the road. I was able to drive right up next to it without >> scaring it off, but unfortunately only had a camera phone and the pictures >> did not turn out well. Are chukars known to be found on Sauvie Island? >> >> >> >> Tim >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090718/34bbdb21/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 7 Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:40:24 -0700 From: DJ Lauten and KACastelein Subject: [obol] Coos Jaeger To: Oregon Birders On Line Message-ID: <4A624F58.3080300 at verizon.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed 7/18 Coos Bay North Spit, Coos Cty I believe a JAEGER of unknown species cut through the thick pea soup fog near the north jetty, Coos Bay North Spit, at about mid day today. Truth is I'm not totally sure what I saw in some sense, except that a tubular shaped bird the size of a gull came barreling out of the fog heading south over the base of the jetty, and promptly disappeared into the fog again. What I saw was white upper wing markings on a dark bird with pointed wings and a tubular body that could only be a jaeger or possibly a skua, but I just doubt the latter so I am calling it a jaeger sp. PS - saw on the news just now that that gooey stuff off Alaska has in fact been identified as algae bloom. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net ------------------------------ Message: 8 Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:40:54 -0700 From: Norgren Family Subject: [obol] Chukars To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed I believe chukars can be raised with the same ease as bantam chickens. This confers on them a quality of disposability that most dog trainers or bird breeders would not accord a Golden Pheasant or even a Bobwhite. I saw chukar chicks for 75 cents each from a mail order business in Nebraska. On a similar note, I heard a Bobwhite 1/2 mile east of Hwy 47 on Reiling Lane yesterday(July 17). I was picking up berries at the time and asked the farmer where the cage was. He assured me the bird was wild. I have been living in this area for 15 years now and never heard a Bobwhite before. This was surely a recent escapee. Lars Norgren ------------------------------ Message: 9 Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:55:13 -0700 From: "R. Adney Jr." Subject: [obol] Brown Pelicans in Yachats To: OBOL Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Lots (30) plus brown Pelicans hanging around Yachats today. Also a Bald Eagle with something large in it's mouth buzzed my wife while she walked the beach just north of town. Other than that just the usual throng of Gulls and Cormorants. Good Birding all, Rich _________________________________________________________________ NEW mobile Hotmail. Optimized for YOUR phone. Click here. http://windowslive.com/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_CS_MB_new_hotmail_072009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090718/17199199/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 10 Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 19:24:36 -0700 From: Justin Bosler Subject: Re: [obol] Coos Jaeger To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <97d12a010907181924o1c89c2f3x58a2abc2d008caca at mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Hello Dave/OBOL, For what it's worth, I had a sleek, light morph adult PARASITIC JAEGER cruising around just beyond the surf and then alighting on the water within a small group of Heerman's Gulls at the N. Spit of Coos Bay in the late afternoon on 11 July. Good birding, Justin Bosler Reedsport, OR On Sat, Jul 18, 2009 at 3:40 PM, DJ Lauten and KACastelein wrote: > 7/18 Coos Bay North Spit, Coos Cty > > I believe a JAEGER of unknown species cut through the thick pea soup fog > near the north jetty, Coos Bay North Spit, at about mid day today. > Truth is I'm not totally sure what I saw in some sense, except that a > tubular shaped bird the size of a gull came barreling out of the fog > heading south over the base of the jetty, and promptly disappeared into > the fog again. ?What I saw was white upper wing markings on a dark bird > with pointed wings and a tubular body that could only be a jaeger or > possibly a skua, but I just doubt the latter so I am calling it a jaeger > sp. > > PS - saw on the news just now that that gooey stuff off Alaska has in > fact been identified as algae bloom. > > Cheers > Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein > Bandon OR > deweysage at verizon.net > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > ------------------------------ Message: 11 Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 03:29:51 +0000 From: David Irons Subject: [obol] Western Kingbird photo essay now up on BirdFellow.com To: post OBOL Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" Greetings All, Those who enjoy Western Kingbirds and photos of fuzzy-headed nestlings, will surely like the latest post on the BirdFellow website. Yesterday morning I returned to the site of an active Western Kingbird at the home of one of my customers sw. of Eugene. Two adults were taking turns feeding the near fledgling youngsters. The interactions between the adults and behavior of the nestlings are discussed in this photo essay. Hope you enjoy it, Dave Irons Content Editor www.birdfellow.com Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?: Celebrate the moment with your favorite sports pics. Check it out. http://www.windowslive.com/Online/Hotmail/Campaign/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_W L_QA_HM_sports_photos_072009&cat=sports -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090719/e67bd60b/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 12 Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 21:50:33 -0700 From: chris shank Subject: [obol] Juvenile Great Horned Owl To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <4e95acbb0907182150t7bb7b543j508e35d68cc6379e at mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" For the last week there has been a young Great Horned Owl calling during various times of the night in various areas of my property. I didn't know what it was at first. Assuming it might be an owl, I did some bird call research on the web and discovered this loud, short screech belonged to a juvenile GHO and was classified as a begging call. Don't know much about GHOs, but thought it a bit late in the season for youngsters to still be dependent on their parents. Anybody know? -- Chris Shank Dallas, OR http://cockatoodowns.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090718/e2185bab/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 13 Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 04:33:28 -0700 From: Margie Paris Subject: Re: [obol] Western Kingbird photo essay now up on BirdFellow.com To: David Irons Cc: post OBOL Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" Delightful essay, Dave. Thank you for sharing your experiences and expertise so generously! Best, Margie Paris 2394 Charnelton Street Eugene, OR 97405 (541) 484-0763 margieparis1 at mac.com On Jul 18, 2009, at 8:29 PM, David Irons wrote: > Greetings All, > > Those who enjoy Western Kingbirds and photos of fuzzy-headed > nestlings, will surely like the latest post on the BirdFellow website. > > Yesterday morning I returned to the site of an active Western > Kingbird at the home of one of my customers sw. of Eugene. Two > adults were taking turns feeding the near fledgling youngsters. The > interactions between the adults and behavior of the nestlings are > discussed in this photo essay. > > Hope you enjoy it, > > Dave Irons > Content Editor www.birdfellow.com > Eugene, OR > > Windows Live? Hotmail?: Celebrate the moment with your favorite > sports pics. Check it > out._______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090719/50ea5443/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 14 Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:03:47 -0400 From: jonysky101 at aol.com Subject: [obol] birding Tillamook To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <8CBD6801B48FA9F-A54-75C at webmail-mh34.sysops.aol.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I attended a Harry Nehls Shorebirds Class last week at the Portland Audubon building, and I'm all fired up to get some shorebird photos. I'm planning to catch the low tide at Haystack rock and try to get better shots of the Tufted Puffins than I did a few weeks back. The plan is to go to Tillamook after that and try to get some shore birds as the tide comes in. However I'm not at all sure where the tidal flats are or how to get there. I know where the Bar is, and the roads that go around the 3 capes. (And I definately know where the Ice Cream is.) But where to go to see shore birds or know where to park to get close, I really don't have a clue. I would appreciate and input from folks that know the area. My trip is planned for Wendsday the 22nd. Thanks in advance for any help. I have printed out tide tables for both areas. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090719/309c944a/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 15 Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 07:22:06 -0700 (PDT) From: Richard and Marilyn Musser Subject: Re: [obol] oddity at 900' To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org, fs Message-ID: <916576.37595.qm at web39703.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Hi Fred, Interesting post! Are you sure the hawk you saw wasn't a Coopers hawk? Sharpshinned hawks weigh about 4 to 9 oz., with the females nearly twice as heavy as the boys. The Am. coots average close to 1.5 lbs., and this weight disparity is probably too much for this diminutive accipter. I'm not saying you misidentified the hawk, but a male Coopers (western) at about 10 oz., is at times very difficult to distinguish from a female Sharpy, and much more likely to tackle this large quarry. However, your ID could be completely accurate, as I'm frequently amazed by sharpy predation. I know of an instance of a very young snowshoe hare that was captured by a sharpy and fed to her chicks! I apologize for using oz. instead of grams, but I'm an old guy. Best, Dick --- On Thu, 7/16/09, fs wrote: > From: fs > Subject: [obol] oddity at 900' > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009, 12:22 PM > As we walked across the gravel road > from the garden back into the woods near > the saddle of Chehalem Mountain a flash of movement at the > road edge 2 power > poles up the hill caught my eye and I was thinking it might > be? a > Sharp-Shinned Hawk tussling with his prey. > Yup. It was. As we walked towards the combatants the Sharp > Shinned flew up > and away and there at the edge of the road barely alive was > an American > Coot. We turned around and wasn't 40 foot away when he > returned to finish > his job. > Not sure what his plan would be since the coot either is > equal his weight or > outweighs him..... > odd matchup > To me really odd matchup in fir forest at 900' > > fred > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > ------------------------------ Message: 16 Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:01:44 -0700 From: Owen Schmidt Subject: Re: [obol] birding Tillamook To: OBOL Cc: jonysky101 at aol.com Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes ....... Joe Evanich's "The Birders Guide to Oregon" though published in 1990 is still good for Bayocean Spit (pages 32-33). It's available at the Portland Audubon bookstore; it is published by Portland Audubon. oschmidt at att.net Sunday, July 19, 2009 On Jul 19, 2009, at 5:03 AM, jonysky101 at aol.com wrote: > I attended a Harry Nehls Shorebirds Class last week at the Portland > Audubon building, and I'm all fired up to get some shorebird photos. > I'm planning to catch the low tide at Haystack rock and try to get > better shots of the Tufted Puffins than I did a few weeks back. The > plan is to go to Tillamook after that and try to get some shore > birds as the tide comes in. However I'm not at all sure where the > tidal flats are or how to get there. I know where the Bar is, and > the roads that go around the 3 capes. (And I definately know where > the Ice Cream is.) But where to go to see shore birds or know where > to park to get close, I really don't have a clue. I would appreciate > and input from folks that know the area. My trip is planned for > Wendsday the 22nd. Thanks in advance for any help. I have printed > out tide tables for both areas. > Johnny Sasko > Sandy, Oregon ------------------------------ Message: 17 Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:02:38 -0700 (PDT) From: Richard and Marilyn Musser Subject: Re: [obol] Juvenile Great Horned Owl To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org, cockatoodowns at gmail.com Message-ID: <345083.87599.qm at web39708.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Hi Chris, We had a young GHO here (Harney Co.) about 10 days ago. These begging calls you spoke of can continue well into the fall. If there is lots of GHO food, the youngsters hang around the nesting area for an extended period, calling to the adults. We had a pair nest in our yard a few years ago and payed close attention to their "comings and goings." The adult male liked my pigeons, but he only needed to be ejected from my pigeon coop once, and he then stayed away. The immature owls called to the adults (off and on) until the adults "ran them off" as the next breeding season approached. GHO's are really tough birds. I watched one capture a full grown blacktail jack, quickly tear its head off, and pack it (the head) away. They have killed a few of my wife's full grown hens (during the day), but that's part of the cost of having free ranging chickens. GHO's kill and eat other hawks and owls. ALL hawks and falcons detest GHO's and will attack them if the opportunity arises. GHO's are themselves sometimes killed by an aggressive prairie or peregrine falcon, if the falcon can discover it (in the open) during the day. This big owl must turn its head to see danger, and the attacking falcon seems to try to, "stoop from behind." When looking for falcons during the nesting season, birders should not get too close to cliffs, because a flushed parent GHO is easily killed by a protective prairie falcon----and they nest close together on cliffs. Probably more than you wanted to know. Best, Dick --- On Sat, 7/18/09, chris shank wrote: > From: chris shank > Subject: [obol] Juvenile Great Horned Owl > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Saturday, July 18, 2009, 9:50 PM > For the last week there has been a > young Great Horned Owl calling during various times of the > night in various areas of my property. I didn't know > what it was at first. Assuming it might be an owl, I did > some bird call research on the web and discovered this loud, > short screech belonged to a juvenile GHO and was classified > as a begging call.? > > Don't know much about GHOs, but thought it a > bit late in the season for youngsters to still be dependent > on their parents. Anybody know?? > > -- > Chris Shank > Dallas, OR > http://cockatoodowns.com > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------ Message: 18 Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:38:54 -0700 From: "Greg Gillson" Subject: [obol] Local RBA: White Pelican, Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove To: "OBOL" Message-ID: <1F634FE64CC84EF484C7D4CEFD4C1925 at GREG> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original Mike Smith sent me a couple of photos of a flock of about 9 White Pelicans in the Mitigation ponds at Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, Oregon yesterday, 19 July 2009. These constitute the 5th Washington County record. http://thebirdguide.com/washington/washington%20birdlist.doc 2006, 24 May, 7, TRNWR, Pamela Johnston. 2006, 6 May, 2, FW, David Smith, Tim Shelmerdine (OBOL). 2004, 14-17 October, 2, FW, Wink Gross, Greg Gillson, Luke Redmond, Donna Lusthoff (BirdNotes, OBOL, Oregon Birds 31(1):27). 1999, 3 January, 2, JB, Carol Hallett (Oregon Birds 25(3):85). You may be able to click on this link and see his photos. http://photos.msn.com/Viewing/Album.aspx?PST=8nK2AN1B!1LmPLmC9HXTY6aSymRiuIP ZRghiQJHnaWGOzORbx7cPNnNl9BAkwXGkLLdMMPkEgDAU4dghxe1DAw%24%24 Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com ------------------------------ Message: 19 Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:44:41 -0700 From: "fs" Subject: Re: [obol] oddity at 900' To: "Richard and Marilyn Musser" , Message-ID: <002901ca0887$d81e6c00$44e2d4ce at judithT> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original Richard: I don't rule out the possibility that you are correct. However, this is what I saw: 1.the hawk could not carry the prey away. In fact when we came up onto the scene they were staring eye to eye about 5-6" apart and each pecking at each other. Of course the hawks talons were around the neck of the coot.... This was after he knocked it down and they both tumbled to the ground the second time. 2. During the tumbling the hawks tailfeathers were splayed attempting some control and they seemed to be sharp cornered unlike the round corners of the Coopers. 3. We do have Cooper's Hawks here going through the woods so I am somewhat familiar with the size and bearing of both hawks. The size of the bird seemed to be around 12" maximum. As usual, I wish I been more attentive to details. fred ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard and Marilyn Musser" To: ; "fs" Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2009 7:22 AM Subject: Re: [obol] oddity at 900' Hi Fred, Interesting post! Are you sure the hawk you saw wasn't a Coopers hawk? Sharpshinned hawks weigh about 4 to 9 oz., with the females nearly twice as heavy as the boys. The Am. coots average close to 1.5 lbs., and this weight disparity is probably too much for this diminutive accipter. I'm not saying you misidentified the hawk, but a male Coopers (western) at about 10 oz., is at times very difficult to distinguish from a female Sharpy, and much more likely to tackle this large quarry. However, your ID could be completely accurate, as I'm frequently amazed by sharpy predation. I know of an instance of a very young snowshoe hare that was captured by a sharpy and fed to her chicks! I apologize for using oz. instead of grams, but I'm an old guy. Best, Dick --- On Thu, 7/16/09, fs wrote: > From: fs > Subject: [obol] oddity at 900' > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009, 12:22 PM > As we walked across the gravel road > from the garden back into the woods near > the saddle of Chehalem Mountain a flash of movement at the > road edge 2 power > poles up the hill caught my eye and I was thinking it might > be a > Sharp-Shinned Hawk tussling with his prey. > Yup. It was. As we walked towards the combatants the Sharp > Shinned flew up > and away and there at the edge of the road barely alive was > an American > Coot. We turned around and wasn't 40 foot away when he > returned to finish > his job. > Not sure what his plan would be since the coot either is > equal his weight or > outweighs him..... > odd matchup > To me really odd matchup in fir forest at 900' > > fred > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > ------------------------------ Message: 20 Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:47:02 -0700 From: "Greg Gillson" Subject: [obol] Local RBA: Black Phoebe, Sauvie Island To: "OBOL" Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original I see no records on BirdNotes for Black Phoebe in either Multnomah or Columbia counties. So perhaps Randy Stafford's great photo he sent me of a Black Phoebe on Rentenaar Road is the first Columbia County record? I have asked for permission to post his photo. If he gives permission I'll post the link. It appears to have a bit of pink at the gape, perhaps indicating it is a recent fledgling. Sauvie Island would make an excellent breeding location, however, it is equally possible it fledged far to the south and made its way to this location. His directions to the bird: "sauvies island rentenaar road over the dike,first road on the left all the way to the end,also saw my first wilsons warbler." Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com ------------------------------ Message: 21 Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:55:31 -0700 From: Norgren Family Subject: Re: [obol] Local RBA: Black Phoebe, Sauvie Island To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed There were repeated postings of a Black Phoebe on the Mult. portion of Sauvie Island two years ago in late winter. There's that big ditch at the south end of Reeder Beach Road and various people saw it there. My one effort was not successful. I imagine the few sightings are the result of very limited access to very extensive habitat. Lars Norgren On Jul 19, 2009, at 8:47 AM, Greg Gillson wrote: > I see no records on BirdNotes for Black Phoebe in either Multnomah or > Columbia counties. So perhaps Randy Stafford's great photo he sent me > of a > Black Phoebe on Rentenaar Road is the first Columbia County record? > > I have asked for permission to post his photo. If he gives permission > I'll > post the link. It appears to have a bit of pink at the gape, perhaps > indicating it is a recent fledgling. Sauvie Island would make an > excellent > breeding location, however, it is equally possible it fledged far to > the > south and made its way to this location. > > His directions to the bird: "sauvies island rentenaar road over the > dike,first road on the left all the way to the end,also saw my first > wilsons > warbler." > > Greg Gillson > The Bird Guide, Inc. > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > ------------------------------ Message: 22 Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:16:08 -0700 From: Brandon Green Subject: [obol] Juvenile Intergrade Flicker, Eugene To: OBOL Message-ID: <81b2a9930907191016p59e6ee0ob4b3cd2dc485589e at mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 This morning, a juvenile "red x yellow" intergrade NORTHERN FLICKER showed up in my yard, accompanied by an adult Red-shafted male. While the latter was loud and bold, the juvenile was quiet and shy at first, before gingerly and somewhat clumsily navigating the branches of our Rhododendron bushes to get to the bird bath. I managed to shoot a semi-decent photo that shows a hint of red on the nape: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/3735795096_9a3d1a1dcc_b.jpg This is somewhat interesting to me because I spotted a "pure" Yellow-shafted female in my yard about two years ago. I'm wondering if that individual is the mother of this one. Brandon Eugene ------------------------------ Message: 23 Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:48:00 -0700 (PDT) From: Will Clemons Subject: Re: [obol] Local RBA: Black Phoebe, Sauvie Island To: OBOL Message-ID: <222263.8570.qm at web55106.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Greg, et al There was a Black Phoebe at the "OM" slough in Jan/Feb/Mar of 2007. OBOL Archives will show reports in Jan/Feb. I missed on it on Mar 6, 2007 but did see it on another trip, I just cannot locate a field notes for it. First report I saw was from Owen Schmidt, as follows: [OBOL] Black Phoebe on Sauvie Island today Owen Schmidt oschmidt at att.net Sun Jan 21 18:37:54 PST 2007 ...... message passed on from Jack Kiley and John Elizalde, who saw a Black Phoebe on Sauvie Island, Gillihan Loop Road on a water channel about a quarter mile before Reeder Road on the east side. oschmidt at att.net Sunday, January 21, 2007 Will Clemons SW of Portland ------------------------------ Message: 24 Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:56:34 -0700 From: Jeff Gilligan Subject: Re: [obol] Local RBA: Black Phoebe, Sauvie Island To: Bill Clemons , OBOL Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" As I recall, Iain Tomlinson saw one a few years ago near Bybee Lake in North Portland. I believe that was the first Multnomah Co. record. Jeff Gilligan On 7/19/09 10:48 AM, "Will Clemons" wrote: > Greg, et al > > There was a Black Phoebe at the "OM" slough in Jan/Feb/Mar of 2007. > > OBOL Archives will show reports in Jan/Feb. > > I missed on it on Mar 6, 2007 but did see it on another trip, I just cannot > locate a field notes for it. > > First report I saw was from Owen Schmidt, as follows: > > [OBOL] Black Phoebe on Sauvie Island today > > Owen Schmidt oschmidt at att.net > Sun Jan 21 18:37:54 PST 2007 > > ...... message passed on from Jack Kiley and John Elizalde, who saw a > Black Phoebe on Sauvie Island, Gillihan Loop Road on a water channel > about a quarter mile before Reeder Road on the east side. > > oschmidt at att.net > Sunday, January 21, 2007 > > Will Clemons > SW of Portland > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol End of obol Digest, Vol 16, Issue 19 ************************************ From pamo at osubookstore.com Sun Jul 19 21:29:00 2009 From: pamo at osubookstore.com (Pam Otley) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:29:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Bandon Godwits In-Reply-To: <1978401599.520141248064134925.JavaMail.root@mail.mu.oregonstate.edu> Message-ID: <745676940.520161248064140656.JavaMail.root@mail.mu.oregonstate.edu> Sat, 7/18, about 3:30, 4 Marbled Godwits at Bandon Marsh along with a number of peeps (40-50, sorry no id). Sun, 7/19, 6:15pm, 1 Semipalmated Plover with 8 Western Sandpipers, Yaquina Bay, east of Marine Sci Ctr parking lot. Pam Corvallis From range.bayer at gmail.com Sun Jul 19 21:33:09 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:33:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] birding Tillamook In-Reply-To: References: <8CBD6801B48FA9F-A54-75C@webmail-mh34.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: Hi, The North Coast section of the Oregon Coast Birding Trail (http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/) may also be helpful, though it can be slow downloading. Cheers, Range Bayer On Sun, Jul 19, 2009 at 8:01 AM, Owen Schmidt wrote: > > ....... Joe Evanich's "The Birders Guide to Oregon" though published > in 1990 is still good for Bayocean Spit (pages 32-33). ?It's available > at the Portland Audubon bookstore; it is published by Portland Audubon. > > oschmidt at att.net > Sunday, July 19, 2009 > > > > On Jul 19, 2009, at 5:03 AM, jonysky101 at aol.com wrote: > >> I attended a Harry Nehls Shorebirds Class last week at the Portland >> Audubon building, and I'm all fired up to get some shorebird photos. >> I'm planning to catch the low tide at Haystack rock and try to get >> better shots of the Tufted Puffins than I did a few weeks back. The >> plan is to go to Tillamook after that and try to get some shore >> birds as the tide comes in. However I'm not at all sure where the >> tidal flats are or how to get there. I know where the Bar is, and >> the roads that go around the 3 capes. (And I definately know where >> the Ice Cream is.) But where to go to see shore birds or know where >> to park to get close, I really don't have a clue. I would appreciate >> and input from folks that know the area. My trip is planned for >> Wendsday the 22nd. Thanks in advance for any help. I have printed >> out tide tables for both areas. >> Johnny Sasko >> Sandy, Oregon > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sun Jul 19 21:59:06 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:59:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield, Washington Message-ID: <56929.14811.qm@web55708.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Today we went to the River "S" Unit at Ridgefield NWR, Washington in hopes seeing summering birds, shorebirds and just getting outside when it wasn't too hot. On Rest Lake there were 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 10 Long-billed Dowitchers, and a few Killdeer. Finally a flock of about 30 Least Sandpipers flew in. There were two adult Semipalmated Sandpipers mixed in. Overall, we missed a lot of the typical passerines because we got there pretty late in the morning. We did see a Common Raven from the blind and heard a Lesser Goldfinch singing from the trees along the canal just before the blind. On the Kiwa Trail was a Green Heron, Virginia Rails, a Sora, a Great-horned Owl, and a fluffy fledgling White-breasted Nuthatch. Good Birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle, Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090719/9158f0c0/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Jul 19 22:08:37 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:08:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Collared Dove Marion Co Message-ID: Probably no big news, but today I saw a Eur Collared Dove in nw Marion County along Hwy 219 near mp 25. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From isaacsf at onid.orst.edu Mon Jul 20 09:00:58 2009 From: isaacsf at onid.orst.edu (Frank Isaacs) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:00:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Odell Lake In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Roger. I coordinated the bald eagle nest survey in Oregon through 2007. That year there were 9 pairs of bald eagles nesting at Odell Lake. The nest that is on the web cam is near the highway at the west end of the lake. - Frank ---------------------------------------------------- Frank B. Isaacs 24178 Cardwell Hill Dr. Philomath, OR 97370 Home & Office Phone: 541-929-7154 FAX (call for instructions) Email: isaacsf at onid.orst.edu Senior Faculty Research Assistant Oregon Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit Oregon State University Corvallis, OR ---------------------------------------------------- On 19 Jul 2009, at 6:59 PM, roger morris wrote: > On the way back from Central Oregon, I stopped off at Odell lake. > I didn't figure I'd see the eagle nest, and I didn't. > I stopped off at East Odell Lake lodge area. Went down to the marina. > Using my binocs, I saw a pair of eagles directly across the lake. > each one in a different tree. While I was watching, I heard an eagle > call. THinking it was a little too close for the other side of the > lake, I looked up. There was an eagle harassing an osprey I think. > They both headed east before I could get a good look at them. If they > had gone west, I would have been real close to the action. > > > I knew the one pair was there. Anybody have any idea how many > eagles are resident at the lake? I didn't have a chance to go to the > other end of the lake to see what was down there. > > > Roger > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From lammergeiereyes at aol.com Mon Jul 20 10:31:27 2009 From: lammergeiereyes at aol.com (lammergeiereyes at aol.com) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:31:27 -0400 Subject: [obol] Bighorn Sheep; Mammals-OT Message-ID: <8CBD7770BD3070C-B74-722@WEBMAIL-MA15.sysops.aol.com> I had a near-full curl ram, along with some ewes feeding right along?the highway,?in the Gorge, not far from the dam at John Day. I was unaware there was a population here.?Does ODFW or USFWS have an ongoing reintroduction in the region? Blake T. Matheson "Men still live who, in their youth, remember Passenger Pigeons. Trees still live who, in their youth, were shaken by a living wind. But a decade hence only the oldest oaks will remember, and at long last only the hills will know." Leopold (1949). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090720/fa8f5680/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Mon Jul 20 10:44:26 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:44:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Backyard Birds-Eurasian Collared Dove Message-ID: We are still feeding Black Sun & some Hen Scratch along w/ one or two suet cakes. Also, we have five (5) hummingbird feeders out and many plants blooming that hummingbirds like. The "backyard" extends beyond mowed yard, several gardens, woodpiles, etc to a long brushline, a 4 acre woodlot and a brushy ditch with water for 300 feet. The roof has been redone and some of our siding so the birds have had to put up with a lot of workers, noise, etc ! Surprisingly, they sneak back in the middle of activity! Backyard Birds (might be missing some here): Rufous Hummingbirds -15 or ? -many on large SILK TREE and CAPE FUSCHIA Mourning Dove - 5 EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE -1 or 2 consistently Red-Breasted Nuthatch California Quail -2 (first time back in 14 months) Acorn Woodpecker -working on Oregon Ash tree - looks like making storage area in the ash tree? Western Wood PeeWee Violet Green Swallows - pair in box, other box failed with male House Sparrow interference American Goldfinch -10 ? Black-Headed Grosbeak -6+ with fledglings BC Chickadee -10? with fledglings Spotted Towhee - several pair with apparent nests nearby Song Sparrow - gathering food for apparent nest Cedar Waxwing- on Service Berry Trees American Robin Starling - just a few, thankfully House Sparrow- way too many House Wren -fledged and not seen for several days Bewick's Wren - nest in woodpile Barn Owls -fledged and not heard or seen for several days GH Owls - run out of woodlot by crows but in at night on occasion lately Bullock's Oriole - in/out seen/heard once a week Brown-headed Cowbird Missing this summer and here other summers: Tree Swallow, Swainson's Thrush, Common Yellowthroat Good Birding, John Thomas NE Marion County From quetsal48 at comcast.net Mon Jul 20 11:27:12 2009 From: quetsal48 at comcast.net (Craig Merkel) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:27:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Thanks PDX OBOLers Message-ID: Thanks to everyone in Portland for their suggestions of birding locations for me this past weekend. I wound up going to Sandy River Delta both Friday PM and Saturday AM. It's a fantastic area and lots of fun at this time of year when things can be so slow. Portland is lucky to have such a large area so close by. I did meet up with Pete (whose last name I never got) and we spent the morning Saturday birding and looking at the wildlife in general; in short, a very pleasurable time. I found we had many mutual acquaintances and opinions so that made the morning even better. We learned a lot from each other. Thanks again Craig Merkel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090720/a56d413f/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Mon Jul 20 13:17:13 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:17:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] 7/18 Coos Ruddy Turnstones Message-ID: <4A64D0C9.2060700@verizon.net> I forgot to mention that we had 3 RUDDY TURNSTONES on South Beach, Coos Bay North Spit, Coos Cty on Saturday 7/18. There were two out there this morning (in the pea soup fog). Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Jul 20 13:27:49 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:27:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bighorn Sheep; Mammals-OT In-Reply-To: <8CBD7770BD3070C-B74-722@WEBMAIL-MA15.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBD7770BD3070C-B74-722@WEBMAIL-MA15.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: This is for sure an introduced population. Everyone seems to have seen them but me. There has been serious discussion of the traffic hazard they pose because people stop or slow down to look. Lars Norgren On Jul 20, 2009, at 10:31 AM, lammergeiereyes at aol.com wrote: > I had a near-full curl ram, along with some ewes feeding right > along?the highway,?in the Gorge, not far from the dam at John Day. I > was unaware there was a population here.?Does ODFW or USFWS have an > ongoing reintroduction in the region? > > Blake T. Matheson > > "Men still live who, in their youth, remember Passenger Pigeons. > Trees still live who, in their youth, were shaken by a living wind. > But a decade hence only the oldest oaks will remember, and at long > last only the hills will know." Leopold (1949). > > > Get ready to win! You could score awesome prizes all summer long on > AOL. _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From steve at paradisebirding.com Mon Jul 20 13:52:22 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:52:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: [COBOL] P Jay chaos In-Reply-To: References: <9a341ea30907200944w1b74b34aj201924974a331d89@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <9a341ea30907201352t402b4efg32806de49f9bb5ed@mail.gmail.com> For those who do not wish to brave the 1.7 miles of dusty gravel to our feeders, the PJs are also active at the Sisters Ranger District feeding station (thanks to Sandy Sharp!). Steve Shunk ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Sandy Sharp Date: Mon, Jul 20, 2009 at 10:36 AM Subject: Re: [COBOL] P Jay chaos To: steve at paradisebirding.com The over-flow are making their happy selves at home at the district feeders. Sandy Sharp, Information Assistant Sisters Ranger District 541-549-7707 email: ssharp at fs.fed.us ************************************************ If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning. *Stephen Shunk * Sent by: cobol-bounces at lists.oregonstate.edu 07/20/2009 09:44 AM Please respond to steve at paradisebirding.com To COBOL cc Subject [COBOL] P Jay chaos All, Anyone who has not experienced the frenzied feeding of fledgling Pinyon Jays is welcome to come sit on our deck to take it all in. Bring your camera. I may not be here, as I can not possibly get any work done when they are here (which is most of the day). Patiently, Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA* **www.paradisebirding.com* 541-408-1753_______________________________________________ COBOL mailing list COBOL at lists.oregonstate.edu http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol To unsubscribe, send a message to: COBOL-request at lists.oregonstate.edu with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090720/53289a12/attachment.html From susanl at speedyquick.net Mon Jul 20 13:17:27 2009 From: susanl at speedyquick.net (Susan Lindstedt) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:17:27 -0400 Subject: [obol] Bighorn Sheep; Mammals-OT References: <8CBD7770BD3070C-B74-722@WEBMAIL-MA15.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <005301ca0977$1f660ba0$6401a8c0@COMPUTER911F6D> The Bighorns were not originally transplanted to I-84 near Arlington, Or, where they dazzle astute drivers on i-84. They got there on their own during the mid 1990s. They were captured and removed Dec 2007, because it was thought that they slowed down interstate traffic because of drivers slowing for the wildlife view of a friggin' lifetime. (Yeah. I'm editorializing) ODFW transplanted the herd away from I-84,in 2007, but the sheep came back. Heres an article about the 2007 sheep removal project: http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071213/LIFE/712130305/-1/OREGONOUTDOORS02 ( Pictures of wildlife dangling from helicopters makes me cry) Heres another article: http://www.biggamehunt.net/sections/Oregon/Oregon-Relocates-Bighorn-Sheep-12070708.html From: lammergeiereyes at aol.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Monday, July 20, 2009 1:31 PM Subject: [obol] Bighorn Sheep; Mammals-OT I had a near-full curl ram, along with some ewes feeding right along the highway, in the Gorge, not far from the dam at John Day. I was unaware there was a population here. Does ODFW or USFWS have an ongoing reintroduction in the region? Blake T. Matheson "Men still live who, in their youth, remember Passenger Pigeons. Trees still live who, in their youth, were shaken by a living wind. But a decade hence only the oldest oaks will remember, and at long last only the hills will know." Leopold (1949). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Get ready to win! You could score awesome prizes all summer long on AOL. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Internal Virus Database is out of date. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.0/1959 - Release Date: 02/18/09 20:55:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090720/8418e381/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Jul 20 16:36:13 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:36:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - 7/20/2009 Message-ID: <4A64FF6D.4080307@pacifier.com> Columbia Estuary Report - 7/20/2009 I counted 33 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS in the river from Twilight Eagle Sanctuary. There are also huge rafts of molting CANADA GEESE and ducks. A flock of hatch-year RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS (at least 3 individuals) spent yesterday morning in my backyard apple tree. I've come across two different family groups of WESTERN BLUEBIRDS while cruising the backroads for salamander streams: Gnat Creek and up Angora. There also appears to be some early neotropical feeding flock formation. I came across a mixed flock of vireos, warblers and grosbeaks (both BLACK-HEADED and EVENING) on the Gnat Creek Corridor above the falls. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From whoffman at peak.org Mon Jul 20 18:47:04 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:47:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Calofornia Gull juvs. Message-ID: <26FC199C89194C6DBDA0836538033958@D48XBZ51> 5 California Gulls in Juvenal plumage were at the Yaquina Bay south jetty this afternoon about 5 PM. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090720/b9668f44/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Jul 20 19:00:11 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:00:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding Tillamook ... or Sisters area ... or Sandy River, etc. Message-ID: <1248141611.3295.149.camel@clearwater> Hi folks, As Range Bayer rightly points out, the Oregon Coast Birding Trail is a thorough compendium of birding sites all along the Oregon Coast, including Bayocean Spit and other sites around Tillamook Bay. It will even help you out along the northern California Coast, including the fabled land of Humboldtshun! Printed copies of the guide are still available for free at various spots (ranger stations, visitor centers etc.) along the coast. Similarly, if you'd like to bird anywhere around the Cascades, including the Sisters area, the Oregon Cascades Birding Trail guide will get you to places such as Calliope Crossing(*), and even more fun places like Three Creeks Lake. See www.oregonbirdingtrails.org and follow the links to the Cascades trail to download this guide (a reprint drive by ECBC is underway, which will hopefully lead to copies being stocked at ranger stations etc.). At the same website, you'll find the initial web version of the new Willamette Valley Birding Trail guide, which includes directions to places like Sandy River Delta. For those of you who are already savvy to this, please keep the corrections & suggestions coming!!!! In fact, www.oregonbirdingtrails.org will get you to all of these Oregon Birding Trails, plus the Basin & Range Birding Trail (Lake & Modoc Counties, with expert input from Craig & Marilyn Miller), and the Klamath Basin Birding Trail. So please bookmark that link and use it to check for birding information that's already out there on the web! For more detailed birding info, I'd still recommend Joe Evanich's "The Birders Guide to Oregon" as it covers some sites in greater detail than is possible in the format of these Oregon Birding Trail guides. John Rakestraw's recent book, "Birding Oregon," covers some additional sites around Oregon. Fred Ramsey's book by the same title (published by OSU Press, still available at the OSU Bookstore but I'm not sure where else) is getting dated in some respects, but still gives one of the best printed accounts of the Ochoco Mountains. Finally, I should mention the "Birding Site Guide" pages at www.birdnotes.net!!! The coverage is still a bit hit-and-miss for most counties in Oregon, but this website will give you the unabridged scoop on many birding sites around the Pacific Northwest. And, you're always welcome to add description of your own favorite sites! Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis On Sun, Jul 19, 2009 at 8:01 AM, Owen Schmidt wrote: > > ....... Joe Evanich's "The Birders Guide to Oregon" though published > in 1990 is still good for Bayocean Spit (pages 32-33). ?It's available > at the Portland Audubon bookstore; it is published by Portland Audubon. > > oschmidt AT att.net > Sunday, July 19, 2009 From margieparis1 at mac.com Mon Jul 20 19:04:12 2009 From: margieparis1 at mac.com (Margie Paris) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:04:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Alan Contreras's new book reviewed in Oregonian Message-ID: Dear OBOL, Alan Contreras's new book, "Afield," was reviewed in this Sunday's Oregonian. Here's the review: Nonfiction review: 'Afield' by Katie Schneider, Special to The Oregonian Friday July 10, 2009, 3:29 PM Eugene birder Alan Contreras has been studying birds and natural history for four decades. The past president of Oregon Field Ornithologists, he's written several guides, including "Birds of Oregon: A General Reference." Yet when he stands in front of his own bird feeder, he's content to watch common finches and chickadees squabbling over seed. "Birding, ultimately, is not really about keeping lists -- 'bird golf' -- but about awareness," he writes. It is Contreras' acute awareness of birds, birders and the natural world that informs his most recent work: "Afield: Forty Years of Birding the American West." Published by Oregon State University Press, "Afield" is billed as a love story and it is exactly that. While a few of his essays celebrate birds in other locales, "Afield" is really about Contreras' love and enthusiasm for the state of Oregon and its wild places. From the coastal beaches to Steens Mountain, Contreras has walked and hiked in hope of catching a fleeting glimpse of beauty that most of us rarely see. He holds a particular affection for Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, so far removed from civilization that an excursion there is part meditative retreat. From the front lawn of Malheur headquarters, Contreras notes, one can see and hear more species of birds than from any other location in the state, possibly in the entire Pacific Northwest. It isn't just the sheer number of birds or their rarity, he says, "it is the kind of experiences that an observer can have there." Contreras writes with a wry sense of humor. He is a Pied Piper of sorts, beckoning readers to follow him in a grand adventure. His enthusiasm is infectious when he writes about the exhilaration of a Big Day, an event that resembles a daylong scavenger hunt for birders. The goal is to list as many birds as possible. One particular Big Day in 1999, Contreras and his team started at 3 a.m. in Eugene with a Swainson's Thrush, heading for the coast and Short-billed Dowitchers, back to Skinner's Butte for a rare male Calliope Hummingbird. Contreras and his team finished up at 10:10 p.m., listening to a Western Screech Owl in a riverside parking lot. Listing 154 species in one day, they broke the countywide record by one. "I am always looking for the next bird," Contreras concludes, "not necessarily the rarest or most colorful, just the next one, as a confirmation of the explicable glory of life." AFIELD Alan Contreras Oregon State University Press $18.95 paperback, 176 pages -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090720/0967a830/attachment.html From mmarvin at spiritone.com Mon Jul 20 21:08:23 2009 From: mmarvin at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:08:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Towhees and fruit Message-ID: <3AA4E8D5-3ED9-4919-B571-F4EE2770A65F@spiritone.com> Specifically, my berries! I have noticed this summer that my raspberries are popular not just with the usual suspects (jays, robins) but with Spotted Towhees. My neighbor says he sees them also in his blueberries. I checked BOGR and found this statement: "Dietary information for Oregon is essentially absent, although the species is observed to eat insects in the breeding season and seeds in the winter." So I want to report that they have been observed eating fruit. I'm wondering if it may have to do with the hot and dry weather which causes them to seek the water in the berries. I also have a whole lot of youngsters who may be exploring their food choices. Good birding! Marcia -- Marcia Marvin * mmarvin at spiritone.com * SW Portland, OR, USA From SJJag at comcast.net Mon Jul 20 22:17:56 2009 From: SJJag at comcast.net (SJJag at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2009 05:17:56 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] rumored Starling outmigration, Calif. to Wilamette Valley? Message-ID: <1678451090.3414001248153476418.JavaMail.root@sz0081a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hello Obol, A berry grower I know mentioned that his fruit is being eaten by unusually large groups of Starlings this year. He believes that the drought in Calif. Central Vally growing areas has reduced crop yields denying Starlings access to food and they have moved up into Oregon seeking new food sources. This would seem ususual so I am fact checking of a sort. I wonder if the report of increased berry consumption has anything to do with the possibliity of Starlings moving in from California .?? (arg, great straight line for someone)? Anyhow- Thoughts? Good Birds, Steve Jaggers Milwaukie, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090721/9a590a99/attachment.html From monroemolly at hotmail.com Tue Jul 21 08:36:56 2009 From: monroemolly at hotmail.com (Molly Monroe) Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:36:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Finley offices moving In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: This is in response to Erik Knight's post on Finley happenings. Sorry for the belated update, obol! Molly~ From: monroemolly at hotmail.com To: list at midvalleybirding.org Subject: Finley offices moving Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 09:08:12 -0700 Finley National Wildlife Refuge Office Moving on July 7, 2009 The Finley National Wildlife Refuge administrative office will be moving from its current location in Cabell Lodge to a new facility located near the Mill Hill Trail. Located approximately one mile further west on Finley Refuge Road, the office will share a central location with the Refuge shop compound. Since 1979, Cabell Lodge has been used as the headquarters office for the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The building, nearly a century old, was upgraded to accommodate computer systems and other modern office needs but has costly limitations due to its age, condition and design. The new headquarters will allow staff to work more effectively and efficiently, while providing more accessibility for visitors. Exterior restrooms, improved parking for passenger vehicles and buses, and a new access route to Mill Hill Trail will provide comfort and convenience. Future plans for landscaping and interpretive signs are under way. Visitors can also look forward to finding friendly faces and information inside the office on the weekends in the near future. The Friends of the Willamette Valley NWR Complex, a non-profit organization formed to provide support to the Refuge, plan to open the Wild Goose Nature Store inside the headquarters office on August 7th. The new Nature Store will be open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10am - 4pm. Items relating to the Willamette Valley Refuges, the National Wildlife Refuge System, and other conservation related themes will provide the inspiration behind t-shirts, hats, books, pins, and more. Volunteers are needed! If you are interested in talking with people from all walks of life and sharing your passion for wildlife, contact the Friends at freckles672 at comcast.net. You may also contact the Refuge Ranger at (541) 757-7236 or sallie_gentry at fws.gov. Sallie Gentry Visitor Services Manager Willamette Valley NWR Complex 26208 Finley Refuge Road Corvallis, OR 97333 Office: 541-757-7236 Fax: 541-757-4450 "Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best." William Blake -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090721/4bb8de1a/attachment.html From dan-gleason at comcast.net Tue Jul 21 09:12:19 2009 From: dan-gleason at comcast.net (Dan Gleason) Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:12:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Towhees and fruit In-Reply-To: <3AA4E8D5-3ED9-4919-B571-F4EE2770A65F@spiritone.com> References: <3AA4E8D5-3ED9-4919-B571-F4EE2770A65F@spiritone.com> Message-ID: <3B310AF7-6B96-4C62-83B9-373A63E27DBB@comcast.net> I've no doubt that towhees eat some fruits but sometimes, the juicy part of the fruit is less important and the seed inside is the real treat. Just yesterday, I watched 3 House Finches feeding on wild blackberries. In each case, the birds meticulously picked apart each individual portion of the berry until they exposed the small seed inside, which was then quickly devoured. Only the top 1/3 of the whole berry was eaten. Apparently the bottom portion did not have seeds of a size worth going after. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Jul 20, 2009, at 9:08 PM, Marcia Marvin wrote: > Specifically, my berries! I have noticed this summer that my > raspberries are popular not just with the usual suspects (jays, > robins) but with Spotted Towhees. My neighbor says he sees them also > in his blueberries. I checked BOGR and found this statement: > "Dietary information for Oregon is essentially absent, although the > species is observed to eat insects in the breeding season and seeds > in the winter." So I want to report that they have been observed > eating fruit. I'm wondering if it may have to do with the hot and > dry weather which causes them to seek the water in the berries. I > also have a whole lot of youngsters who may be exploring their food > choices. > > Good birding! > > Marcia > > > -- > Marcia Marvin * mmarvin at spiritone.com * SW Portland, OR, USA > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090721/0877ae30/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Jul 21 11:18:29 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:18:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] August Perpetua Bank seabird abundance Message-ID: <20090721111829.0ii4ty3jkss40gso@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Statistics for 10 Perpetua Bank trips in August from 2001-2008. Gleaned from: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/archive_perpetua.htm Frequency = Percentage of trips seen High = Highest number of birds seen Low = Lowest number of birds seen Average = Average number of birds seen per trip (including when not seen) Median = Median number seen when detected (non-zero) Black-footed Albatross 100% freq, 400 high, 14 low, 81 ave, 40 median Northern Fulmar 100%, 1000, 28, 220, 113 Pink-footed Shearwater 100%, 606, 12, 187, 105 Flesh-footed Shearwater 10%, 1, 0, 0.1, 1.0 Greater Shearwater 10%, 1, 0, 0.1, 1.0 Buller's Shearwater 80%, 35, 0, 12, 5.5 Sooty Shearwater 100%, 600, 50, 156, 108 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel 100%, 842, 6, 195, 39 Red-necked Phalarope 100%, 325, 6, 118, 33 Red Phalarope 100%, 65, 1, 25, 20 Sabine's Gull 90%, 200, 0, 28, 5.0 Common Tern 20%, 10, 0, 1.1, 5.5 Arctic Tern 50%, 80, 0, 13, 7.0 South Polar Skua 70%, 2, 0, 0.9, 1.0 Pomarine Jaeger 70%, 13, 0, 2.7, 2.0 Parasitic Jaeger 90%, 10, 0, 4.7, 6.0 Long-tailed Jaeger 90%, 126, 0, 18, 5.0 Common Murre 100%, 1000, 46, 258, 168 Pigeon Guillemot 100%, 55, 18, 37, 39 Marbled Murrelet 90%, 20, 0, 7.5, 6.0 Xantus's Murrelet 10%, 4, 0, 0.4, 4.0 Cassin's Auklet 80%, 168, 0, 32, 20 Rhinoceros Auklet 100%, 30, 5, 15, 15 Tufted Puffin 20%, 1, 0, 0.2, 1 Other birds seen from the boat at least once on these 10 trips in August: Greater White-fronted Goose Northern Pintail Scoter: Surf, White-winged Greater Scaup Loon: Common, Pacific, Red-throated Western Grebe Brown Pelican Cormorant: Brandt's, Pelagic, Double-crested Heron: Great Blue, Green Great Egret Osprey Turkey Vulture Peregrine Falcon Whimbrel Wandering Tattler Lesser Yellowlegs Turnstone: Black, Ruddy Surfbird Red Knot Western Sandpiper Dowitcher: (species) Gull: Heermann's, Ring-billed, California, Herring, Western, Glaucous-winged Caspian Tern Rock Pigeon Belted Kingfisher Barn Swallow American Crow European Starling Brown-headed Cowbird House Sparrow Marine mammals and fishes seen at least once on these 10 trips in August: Coho (Silver) Salmon Albacore Tuna Ocean Sunfish Shark: Blue, Salmon, Soupfin, Short-finned Mako Long-nosed Skate Whale: Gray, Humpback Porpoise: Harbor, Dall's Pacific White-sided Dolphin Seal: Harbor, Elephant, Northern Fur Sea Lion: California, Steller's To reserve your space on the 8 August 2009 trip: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/ Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From dhewitt37 at gmail.com Tue Jul 21 12:45:07 2009 From: dhewitt37 at gmail.com (David Hewitt) Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:45:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Williamson River delta, TNC restoration, Upper Klamath Lake; 18 July 2009 Message-ID: <653eaf880907211245tc440247oc4a408361c55966a@mail.gmail.com> http://groups.google.com/group/klamathbasinbirdnews/msg/7c4c4a6ba2a519ae OBOL, Bright and early on 18 July, Heather Hendrixson of the Klamath Falls office of The Nature Conservancy led four Klamath Basin Audubon Society members on a tour of TNC's restoration activities around the delta of the Williamson River in Upper Klamath Lake. It was quickly apparent that this area represents one of the best places in the region for wetland-dependent birds. We accumulated an impressive list of sightings for a hot, summer morning in the Klamath Basin. We found 62 species in total, and another observer added 2-3 additional species later in the day. We began on the north (Tulana) side of the river, where we found 53 species. Highlights included the snazzy-looking juvenile Coots and Pied-billed Grebes, a Swainson's Hawk, some Sora calling, two Sandhill Cranes, Black-necked Stilts, a small group of Least Sandpipers, and an impressive breeding colony of Black and Forster's Terns (some with young still on nest). The full list for this part is below: Canada Goose Wood Duck Gadwall Mallard Blue-winged Teal Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler (mixed in with huge group of ducks too distant to ID; looked gadwall-mallard size) Ruddy Duck Pied-billed Grebe Eared Grebe Western Grebe Clark's Grebe American White Pelican Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Great Egret Snowy Egret (added by other observer on the same day) Black-crowned Night-Heron White-faced Ibis Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Swainson's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Sora American Coot Sandhill Crane Killdeer Black-necked Stilt Spotted Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Least Sandpiper (no Westerns) Ring-billed Gull California Gull Caspian Tern Black Tern Forster's Tern Mourning Dove Northern Flicker Empidonax sp. (most likely a Willow Flycatcher, but no certain ID; did not call) Black-billed Magpie Common Raven Tree Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Marsh Wren American Robin European Starling Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird American Goldfinch Next we went to the Goose Bay section on the south side of the river, on the inside of the remaining levees. Here the highlights were a lone Common Goldeneye that looked very out of place, American Avocets, a Willet, five Bonaparte's Gulls, a decent number of Bank Swallows mixed with the other swallows, and a small group of Tricolored Blackbirds. Two separate reports were submitted to eBird (http://ebird.org). To learn more about the restoration and see videos of exploding levees, see: http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/oregon/preserves/art6811.html Note that this area is private property of TNC and visits are by permission only. Inquiries can be directed to Heather at . ---------- Dave Hewitt Klamath Falls From willclemons at yahoo.com Tue Jul 21 16:24:19 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:24:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: GREEN HERON, YELLOWLEGS and other treats... Message-ID: <820230.29512.qm@web55101.mail.re4.yahoo.com> My Mom (Olive) and I birded the River "S" Unit at Ridgefield NWR (~4mi W of I-5 at Exit 14 in SW Washington; http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ ). We were there from 6:30AM until 12:30PM. We also birded some with Roger Windemuth. Highlights: GREATER & LESSER YELLOWLEGS: It is always a treat to see these species side by side in the same scope view. Several LESSERS were on Rest Lake with at least three dozen GREATERS. GREEN HERON: This lovely was on a dead tree fall in the water canal at the Kiwa Trail entrance. It was where Em Scattaregia and Adrian and Christopher Hinkle reported seeing one Saturday 7/19. I missed it on the way in, but saw it on the way out after a birder/photographer told me he had just photographed it. It was standing in the sun panting (or whatever you call it when herons are trying to shed heat). Olive completed the Kiwa Trail again today (5th time this season), albeit slowly with her 4-wheeled walker. Not bad for an old gal 4 months shy of 94. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores Complete list of 58 species seen / heard, Plus 4 species seen / heard by others: Pied-billed Grebe (w/babies on Bull Lake) Great Blue Heron Great Egret (2 seen on Rest Lake) GREEN HERON (Kiwa entrance S side on downed tree in canal) Turkey Vulture Wood Duck (w/young) Gadwall (w/young) Mallard (w/young) Cinnamon Teal (w/young) Osprey (4 seen) Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk VIRGINIA RAIL (Kiwa Trail: 3 seen + 1 chick) SORA (Kiwa Trail: 1 seen) American Coot (w/babies and juveniles on Horse Lake) Killdeer GREATER YELLOWLEGS (close to 3 dozen on Rest Lake) LESSER YELLOWLEGS (a few on Rest Lake) Least Sandpiper (about 10 on Rest Lake) Long-billed Dowitcher (about 18 on Rest Lake) Wilson's Snipe (8 together on S Quigley Lake) Gull (Species) GREAT HORNED OWL (2 seen, 1 heard) Vaux's Swift Belted Kingfisher (seen from entrance bridge over Lake River) Downy Woodpecker (heard only) Northern Flicker (heard only) Western Wood-Pewee Willow Flycatcher Pacific-slope Flycatcher (heard - entrance canyon) Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit (small flock near entrance bridge) Red-breasted Nuthatch (heard - entrance canyon) White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper (heard - entrance canyon) House Wren Winter Wren (heard - entrance canyon) Marsh Wren Swainson's Thrush (singing well in several spots) American Robin European Starling Yellow Warbler (at least 2 on Kiwa Trail) Common Yellowthroat Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Black-headed Grosbeak (3 seen/heard near R/R tracks) Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird (3 juveniles begging - did not see adults) Brown-headed Cowbird House Finch American Goldfinch The following were all seen by Roger Windemuth, but not by me: American Bittern American Kestrel Purple Martin Chestnut-backed Chickadee (entrance canyon) From billbradford1 at gmail.com Sat Jul 18 16:35:46 2009 From: billbradford1 at gmail.com (Bill Bradford) Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:35:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Spotted Sandpipers - Oaks Bottom/East Island Message-ID: There were 4 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS between 6 AM and 7 AM this morning on the SE edges of East Island, which is visible from the paved bike path along the west side of Oaks Bottom in Portland. Two had loose downy feathers in their tails. My scope only gave me a hint of spots on one of the four. I'm not sure if that's special for anyone else but these were new Portland birds for me. Bill Bradford -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090718/81335d24/attachment.html From Elaine.Stewart at oregonmetro.gov Tue Jul 21 19:12:11 2009 From: Elaine.Stewart at oregonmetro.gov (Elaine Stewart) Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:12:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Local RBA: Black Phoebe, Sauvie Island Message-ID: The Bybee Lake "black phoebe" was actually an eastern kingbird if I remember right. I'll double-check. In the heat of the moment, Ry wrote the wrong name even though he was well aware what he was looking at. -Elaine Stewart, Metro Dave Helzer wrote: On Black Phoebes in Mult Co, I know of two recent records: 1. Katy Weil and Ry Thompson had one on the south end of Bybee Lake about two years ago. 2. Gabe McNassar, my former co-worker with Portland Airport Wildlife, photographed one along Elrod Slough (off Elrod Road) on the SW side of PDX about two years ago. Unfortunately, both sites are in areas that are not open to the public. Dave Helzer Portland Oregon == Subject: Re: Local RBA: Black Phoebe, Sauvie Island From: Jeff Gilligan Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:56:34 -0700 As I recall, Iain Tomlinson saw one a few years ago near Bybee Lake in North Portland. I believe that was the first Multnomah Co. record. Jeff Gilligan On 7/19/09 10:48 AM, "Will Clemons" wrote: > Greg, et al > > There was a Black Phoebe at the "OM" slough in Jan/Feb/Mar of 2007. > > OBOL Archives will show reports in Jan/Feb. > > I missed on it on Mar 6, 2007 but did see it on another trip, I just cannot > locate a field notes for it. > > First report I saw was from Owen Schmidt, as follows: > > [OBOL] Black Phoebe on Sauvie Island today > > Owen Schmidt oschmidt at att.net > Sun Jan 21 18:37:54 PST 2007 > > ...... message passed on from Jack Kiley and John Elizalde, who saw a > Black Phoebe on Sauvie Island, Gillihan Loop Road on a water channel > about a quarter mile before Reeder Road on the east side. > > oschmidt at att.net > Sunday, January 21, 2007 > > Will Clemons > SW of Portland > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Local RBA: Black Phoebe, Sauvie Island From: "Greg Gillson" Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:47:02 -0700 I see no records on BirdNotes for Black Phoebe in either Multnomah or Columbia counties. So perhaps Randy Stafford's great photo he sent me of a Black Phoebe on Rentenaar Road is the first Columbia County record? I have asked for permission to post his photo. If he gives permission I'll post the link. It appears to have a bit of pink at the gape, perhaps indicating it is a recent fledgling. Sauvie Island would make an excellent breeding location, however, it is equally possible it fledged far to the south and made its way to this location. His directions to the bird: "sauvies island rentenaar road over the dike,first road on the left all the way to the end,also saw my first wilsons warbler." Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg AT thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From Elaine.Stewart at oregonmetro.gov Tue Jul 21 19:33:32 2009 From: Elaine.Stewart at oregonmetro.gov (Elaine Stewart) Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:33:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tigard bobcat (off topic) Message-ID: Doug and OBOL, I don't know about the rest of the metro area, but there's at least 1 big male bobcat in northeast Washington County. It's been seen in my general area (near 26 & 217 intersection and west to Bethany) in the last few years, and I got a real treat when it walked across my driveway in broad daylight in the snow at the first of this year. I hope that wasn't the animal found in Tigard; the one in my yard was such a healthy animal with a beautiful coat. It was clearly habituated to a residential area, because it calmly studied me when I shrieked to my husband to "come see, you won't believe this". (So much for the cool calm collected biologist!) There are also elk, cougar and black bear in NE Washington & NW Multnomah county (and copious black-tailed deer making me rethink my roses, and copious coyotes that should have my neighbors rethinking their outside cats). -Elaine Stewart "SW" Portland (and Metro) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:34:20 -0700 From: Doug Robberson Subject: [obol] Tigard Bobcat (Not a bird) To: Oregon Birders On Line obol at oregonbirdwatch.org A dead bobcat was removed from Summerfield (99W & Durham) last week. Has there been other reports of bobcats within Greater Portland city limits? Doug Robberson Tigard, OR From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Jul 22 07:49:18 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 07:49:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tigard bobcat (off topic) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4d6e84476915e88024b69774f100158e@earthlink.net> I believe bobcats have a small home range in this part of the world where food is plentiful. I'm confident the roadkill reported is not the Bethany individual. I also think they get hit by cars very rarely, compared to coyotes at least. I've only found one roadkill in the 30 years I've lived in the Portland area. That was at Tillamook jct (Hwys 26/6) where habitat is discreet thickets, not continuous woods. In that same period I may have seen bobcats less than 6 times, but I suspect they see me almost daily. There are two herds of elk, each over 50 head, along Cornelius Pass Road now. Lars Norgren On Jul 21, 2009, at 7:33 PM, Elaine Stewart wrote: > Doug and OBOL, > > I don't know about the rest of the metro area, but there's at least 1 > big male bobcat in northeast Washington County. It's been seen in my > general area (near 26 & 217 intersection and west to Bethany) in the > last few years, and I got a real treat when it walked across my > driveway in broad daylight in the snow at the first of this year. I > hope that wasn't the animal found in Tigard; the one in my yard was > such a healthy animal with a beautiful coat. It was clearly > habituated to a residential area, because it calmly studied me when I > shrieked to my husband to "come see, you won't believe this". (So > much for the cool calm collected biologist!) There are also elk, > cougar and black bear in NE Washington & NW Multnomah county (and > copious black-tailed deer making me rethink my roses, and copious > coyotes that should have my neighbors rethinking their outside cats). > > -Elaine Stewart > "SW" Portland (and Metro) > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:34:20 -0700 > From: Doug Robberson > Subject: [obol] Tigard Bobcat (Not a bird) > To: Oregon Birders On Line obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > A dead bobcat was removed from Summerfield (99W & Durham) last week. > Has > there been other reports of bobcats within Greater Portland city > limits? > > Doug Robberson > Tigard, OR > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Wed Jul 22 09:29:44 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:29:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] A GREAT morning! Message-ID: <4A673E78.7080804@gmail.com> This morning I had a wondrous opportunity. A family of Western Kingbirds (maybe the same parents as last year), three chicks and two adults were hunting and feeding right next to my deck! The chicks are fairly well along and can hunt for themselves, but are letting Mom & Dad still do it for them also. The entire family showed no fear of that big black 'eye' going click, click, click within TEN feet of them. One chick (obviously the oldest one) was even making sorties within 3-4 feet from my lens! Too bad my lens can't focus that close. On another note-For years since the world went digital I have been sending my digital files in to be converted into 'real' slides (at a cost of $1.00 each). That way I could show them on my Kodak projectors. Digital projectors have been too expensive and the quality just wasn't there. Well, finally I broke down and purchased one which seems to do a fair job. The price was not too high. The quality is 'respectable' (still not like a 'real' slide). AND the most important point is that I can plug in my entire show using a 'Thumb Drive' or SD Card! The files must be converted into JPG format, but that is easily done. No need to carry my laptop even! It's all in one small package. (Now I just need to make sure I don't lose the thumb drive). Maybe we can start showing some of our birders' great stuff again at our meetings. Please, though, EDIT your shoot (throw out the 'bad' shots) and size your slides to 8"x 10" (for consistency). Put them in a file named "Slide Show" and save them to your thumb drive or SD card. Stick them in your pocket and bring them to the Crooked River Ranch Birders' Group meeting. Next one is August 19th (third Wednesday of the month) 7PM at the Senior Center. Kevin Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090722/438f0955/attachment.vcf From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Wed Jul 22 11:02:33 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:02:33 +0000 Subject: [obol] Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and BC birding trip (June 26-July 5th) with some photos Message-ID: Hi all, Sorry for the delayed and trite trip report. I made it back safely from up North without being stumped by a moose or attacked by a Grizzly. This was solely a vacation trip and resulted in less time to bird and photograph my desired feather subjects. I had to compromise my time and priorities with my significant other but regardless, we had a FANTASTIC time! We managed to see a few cool birds, wildlife, and of course, SPECTACULAR scenery. We had excellent weather the entire time with the exception of one snowy day near Tok, Alaska. It was definitely one of my best vacation. We flew into Anchorage and drove up to Inuvik (Northwest Territories) along the Dempster Highway. This is the only road in Canada that you can drive above the Arctic Circle. Scenery and geology of the land was simply AWESOME. Towards the end of the trip and as a last minute decision, we headed southwest,taking an amazing ferry ride from Haines, AK to Juneau. Ironically, the same day we were in the state capitol, Sarah Palin decided to resign. I guess after she watched the special, 3-D version of Star Trek-The Wrath of Khan, she took the hint:) As always it is a treat to see these birds in their full breeding plumage and summer grounds. Here are my favorites from the trip. Favorite Bird: Pacific Loon in breeding plumage. Simply gorgeous!! Favorite Restaurant: Hegland Hotel in Juneau. Apple Crisp was out of this world with vanilla ice cream. Favorite Town; Dawson City,Yukon. Has character and great energy. Favorite Scenic Area: Dempster Highway near Tombstone Territorial Campground. Haines Summit in British Columbia was tough to beat, too. Favorite Mammal and Bird moment: Two short-eared owls and a gyrfalcon harassing a fox with a mouthful of voles. Later on, the father fox caught another one, dropped his stash, and then re-assemble the meal for the six kits. Way cool! List of highlight species: Trumpter Swan with cygnets Tufted Duck (breeding male) Harlequin Duck White winged Scoter Surf Scoter Long tailed Duck Spruce Grouse (Taiga form) several hens with chicks Willow Ptarmigan (with chicks) Rock Ptarmigan Sooty Grouse Sharp tailed Grouse (with chicks) Red throated Loon Pacific Loon Northern Goshawk Swainson's Hawk Rough legged Hawk Golden Eagle Gyrfalcon Peregrine Falcon American Golden Plover Semipalmated Plover Solitary Sandpiper Baird's Sandpiper Wandering Tattler Upland Sandpiper Red necked Phalarope Bonaparte's Gull Arctic Tern Parasitic Jaeger Long-tailed Jaeger Pigeon Guillemot Marbled Murrelet Cassin's Auklet Great Horned Owl Northern Hawk Owl(4 birds total, numbers down from 2008; I had 12 without trying last spring) Great Gray Owl Short eared Owl American Three Toe Woodpecker Black backed Woodpecker Yellow bellied Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher Northern Shrike Northwestern Crow Boreal Chickadee Arctic Warbler (lifer bird) Northern Wheatear Mountain Bluebird Gray Cheeked Thrush Bohemian Waxwing Northern Waterthrush Blackpoll Warbler American Tree Sparrow Timberline Sparrow Harris's Sparrow (nice to see in full breeding plumage, breeds only in Canada) Lapland Longspur Smith's Longspur (Several birds) Snow buntings Gray crowned Rosyfinch Pine Grosbeak White winged crossbills (several flocks) Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll (near Inuvik, NWT) A few recent photos are on my newly designed website: www.ktbirding.com More photos to come and enjoy your summer!! Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From windypointandy at dishmail.net Wed Jul 22 11:03:30 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:03:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Spruce Grouse and 3-toe woodpecker in the Wallowas-20 July Message-ID: <000e01ca0af6$c4839230$3700a8c0@windypoint99> SPRUCE GROSE AND THREE-TOED WOODPECKER NEAR MOSS SPRINGS 20 JULY 2009 In Oregon, the Wallowa Mountains in the northeastern part of the state is the only area known to harbor Spruce Grouse. Oregon birding site guides (The "Birder's Guide to Oregon" by Evanich (Portland Audubon) and "Birding Oregon" by Rakestraw (Falcon) mention the forests about Moss Springs Campground east of LaGrande as a good spot to search for Spruce Grouse. Starting out at the trailhead a little after 6 am, we were presented with two options, either east into the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area or up the Lodgepole Trail (Trail 1920). We made the decision by flipping a coin "Heads, east into the wilderness, tails Lodgepole." Tails won so we set off on Trail 1920. Immediately, we entered an open forest of uniform-aged Lodgepole Pine of pole-sized stature with a "monoculture" groundcover of Grouseberry (Vaccinium scoparium), a grouse-sized shrublet, very attractive to Spruce Grouse, especially males, at this season. As this trail is close to a popular campground, a number (does it take this many?) of berms have been erected to discourage motorized traffic (ORVs). At the first dead snag after the tenth berm (about a half-mile along the trail) I heard the incessant begging calls of baby woodpeckers. The adult female soon came to the nest cavity to feed its young and we were pleased to see it was an AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. One young bird, clearly a young male with a yellow fore crown, seemed ready to fledge. We pressed on upwards and southwards along the trail. After another stretch we came to an old logging road and took a left keeping on the Lodgepole Trail. Soon, the gradient increased and we ascended a north-facing slope. Lodgepole Pines disappeared and Mountain Hemlock (with an understory of a much larger huckleberry, Vaccinium membranaceum) and Subalpine Fir, with occasional Western Larch, became the dominant forest trees. Frankly, I was surprised to encounter the hemlocks here but both "Trees to Know in Oregon" (Jensen et al. Oregon State Univ. Ext. Serv.) and "Western Trees" (Petrides. Peterson Field Guides) show this species present in the Wallowa Mountains. Though not optimal habitat for Spruce Grouse, we still kept alert for this bird as Michael Schroeder, the top-ranking "grouseologist" in Washington has noted a "surprising number of Spruce Grouse in a forest dominated by Mountain Hemlocks west of Rainy Pass in the North Cascades." By and by we crested a rocky knoll grown to pretty yellow-flowered Sulphur Buckwheats and soon descended back in dry forest with Lodgepole Pine and Grouseberry. After another mile, we decided to turn around; it was hot and the forest pretty quiet. We trudged through a short stretch where the corn-like Indian Hellebore (Veratrum veride) grew thick in a wet opening. Horse hooves had sunk deeply here, a sign the trail was muddy only a short while ago. Here, at the south edge of the hellebore, we encountered a hen SPRUCE GROUSE with at least two tiny, downy chicks. For a ground nesting bird, two chicks is a tiny brood; we hope there were more hidden in the hellebore to ensure a successful nesting season. Species noted along the trail: SPRUCE GROUSE - 3 VAUX'S SWIFT- 1 overhead HAIRY WOODPECKER - 2 AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER - 4 (both parents and two young) NORTHERN FLICKER - 2 GRAY JAY - 5 MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE - 15 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH - 5 BROWN CREEPER - 1 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET- 5, some recently fledged RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET - 2, one recently fledged HERMIT THRUSH - 7 AMERICAN ROBIN - 5 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER - 5 WESTERN TANAGER - 4 CHIPPING SPARROW - 3 DARK-EYED JUNCO - 5 RED CROSSBILL - 5, Lodgepole Pines seemed to be the tree they were foraging in PINE SISKIN - 1, overhead In the campground we noted PILEATED WOODPECKER, WINTER WREN and lots more PINE SISKINS. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090722/89fe275c/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Wed Jul 22 11:30:56 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:30:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Common Merganser Clutch Size Message-ID: On Monday afternoon, I was surprised to observe one adult female Common Merganser with 20 nearly full sized juveniles in tow at Cascade Streamwatch/Wildwood Recreation Site along Hwy 26 east of Sandy. Birds of North America states the following about clutch size of Common Mergansers: "Not well studied. Average clutch sizes range from 6 to 17 eggs in North America; 9?12 eggs most common (Bent 1925). Clutch size estimates in the literature are no doubt confounded by frequent intraspecific brood parasitism." Whether this particular female laid all 20 eggs or received some extra eggs from another female, it was quite a sight to have this large family unit swim by us single file, hunting and eating along the way. Even more impressive that the adult managed to keep so many babies alive for so long. Up the stream a bit we encountered two fledgling dippers voraciously begging for food from their parents. They were so loud that we heard their begging over the stream noise before we saw them. Scott Carpenter Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090722/4b1f9350/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Wed Jul 22 12:36:24 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:36:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO at Sandy River Delta Message-ID: I have just returned home from watching and listening to a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO at the Sandy River Delta, Multnomah Co., this morning. It called a number of times between 7:45 and 9:40, and I finally got views of it at 9:45 and 10:05. It ranged from about 250 to 100 m WSW of the newly built Maya Lin / Lewis & Clark blind. Further directions with map at bottom. I was standing by the power line towers watching the family of newly fledged Eastern Kingbirds (more on that in a subsequent message) at about 7:45 when I heard a distant cooing sound to the northeast. It was far enough away I could not tell if it was a cuckoo or a dove or something else, so I walked along the foot-trail in that direction. The trail leads roughly 500 m to the newly built Maya Lin / Lewis & Clark blind along the river, and I reached this spot and remained here until hearing the bird again, about halfway between the blind and the kingbird tower on the NW side of the trail. Its cooing bouts were infrequent, so it took me until 8:20 to triangulate on it and get close enough to hear it well enough to be sure it was a cuckoo. Every 15 minutes or so it would utter a couple bouts of the long patient series of downslurred notes common to Yellow-billed Cuckoos and some other species in the cuckoo family: "cooah, cooah, cooah ... " extending for anywhere from 9 to 16 notes (most often 13-15 for this bird). At about 200 or 250 m west of the blind, I followed a little footpath down off the main trail to the slough paralleling the trail on the NW side. From here I had an excellent view of the treeline on the other side of the slough. At last I heard a second call from the species' repertoire: the "Giddyup, giddyup, giddyup, clup, clup clup..." call. With this there was no doubt left about the identity of the bird, but I had not yet seen it, and it sounded so close. Well, the next hour was spent waiting for further calls, with the bird managing to keep out of sight of me whenever it did call. By poking a stick I saw that the slough was at least waist deep and who-knows how goopy with mud at the bottom -- not wise to cross. The bird moved to the NE a bit, and I found a second little footpath down to the slough. It was keeping out of sight, but now calling a bit more, including on several occasions the third main call of the repertoire: "kik-kik-klack-klack-klack-klack-kla-coow, coow, coow..." I carefully edged my way through thick brambles along the precarious muddy shore for about 30 m until coming to a large multi-trunked willow hanging over the slough. The bird called from here for the last time at, I think, 9:37, but I still couldn't find it. Finally I saw that it was perched in the open at the top among dead twigs and branches, and I got a 90-second view from below. Then it flew into dense leaves. It was at this point I noticed that the little noisy bunch of American Goldfinches in this tree appeared to actually be mobbing the cuckoo, as if it were a small owl. A Pewee joined in, and later a BC Chickadee. Could it be that the cuckoo's slow-moving behavior caused them to react as they would to a small owl? Or was it just a strange imposter to them? I returned to the main trail, and managed to view the cuckoo again from the trail for about 30 seconds amid the still-mobbing goldfinches in the same tree. This tree is about 100-125 m WSW of the Maya Lin blind. I placed a small log in the trail here lined up with the tree, although there are enough bikers and dog-walkers here that it may well get moved. Field marks I saw from my angles were: * long slim body shape of cuckoo. * slightly decurved bill, rich yellow on both mandibles, with blackish or dark brown at very tip. * dull blackish mask through eye * light gray-brown on all parts of head above blackish mask. * throat and breast and belly all clear creamy dull white. * wing coverts gray-brown * flight feathers rufous-brown, clearly distinct in color from the wing coverts. * long tail (obscured at base from my angle), but could clearly see two pairs of large white spots dominating tail set against black background, in pattern distinctive for YB Cuckoo. I was extremely fortunate in that the weather this morning was unusual for the current hot spell: It was cloudy and cool the entire time. The sun only broke through the clouds as I was leaving about 10:15. I doubt that the cuckoo would have been nearly as vocal on a hotter sunnier morning. I would therefore advise others looking for this bird to get there a bit earlier than I did today, and to be patient -- even in these favorable weather conditions, I generally had to wait 15-30 minutes between its bouts of calling. For a map of the area, see: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/columbia/forest/projects/images/srdproposalssitetourapril292006.jpg The Maya Lin blind is at the spot on the map where the box reading "Proposed Confluence Project Area" points, at the end of the yellow & black trail. The slough that the bird was along can be seen between this trail and the triangle of trees to its NW. This is apparently the old course of the Sandy River before it was diked. From the parking area I generally walk ENE along the trail along the edge of the woods, then N through the fields to the power line towers. There are two large towers next to each other, and one has a large square flashing red light at the top. This is where the kingbirds have nested. Just beyond this tower with the flashing red light, take the footpath to the ENE, which soon joins the graveled trail that leads to the Maya Lin blind. As far as I know this is the first record of Yellow-billed Cuckoo for Multnomah Co. in recent times (or ever??; it is not on the Miller/Summers county list), but the habitat is superb. It would be wonderful to think that this species could make a comeback in the West and someday breed again this far north in places like the Sandy River Delta. Jay Withgott Portland From withgott at comcast.net Wed Jul 22 12:49:57 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:49:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eastern Kingbirds fledged at Sandy River Delta Message-ID: Just before being so productively distracted by the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, I was watching a family of EASTERN KINGBIRDS, which have apparently nested successfully this year at Sandy River Delta. At the two large power line towers (one with a large square flashing red light atop it), at least 5 Eastern Kingbirds were calling and flying around this morning. They were all high above me, but at least two looked a bit scruffy and light-colored, and on one occasion, one bird fed another. Thus I interpret this as being two parents with three fledglings. There may have been even one or two more in the area, but I went off to chase the cuckoo. Sandy River Delta is off Exit 18 of I-84. From the parking area, I generally walk ENE along the trail along the edge of the woods, then N through the fields to the power line towers. There are two large towers next to each other, and one has a large square flashing red light at the top. The walk is about a mile or a bit less. Other species I had here this morning included: 3 RED-EYED VIREOS 1 PURPLE MARTIN 1 NORTHERN HARRIER 1-3 WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES 1 YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT WILLOW FLYCATCHERS and all the other usual suspects 1 RED-LEGGED FROG (3" long, perched in brambles 2.5 feet off the ground!) 1 PACIFIC CHORUS FROG (weirdly, perched, just 6 inches from the much-larger Red-legged!) 1 NORTHERN or BOREAL BLUET Jay Withgott Portland From craig at greatskua.com Wed Jul 22 13:42:35 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:42:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO at Sandy River Delta Message-ID: <20090722134235.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.b319fa8ecf.wbe@email.secureserver.net> My grandparents called yellow-billed cuckoos "rain crows". They claimed that rain crows only sing before it rains. I guess the cloudy, humid morning tricked your bird into revealing his presence. Great bird! Cuckoos can be hard to find if they're not singing. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO at Sandy River Delta > From: Jay Withgott > Date: Wed, July 22, 2009 12:36 pm > To: OBOL > > > I have just returned home from watching and listening to a > YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO at the Sandy River Delta, Multnomah Co., this > morning. It called a number of times between 7:45 and 9:40, and I > finally got views of it at 9:45 and 10:05. It ranged from about 250 > to 100 m WSW of the newly built Maya Lin / Lewis & Clark blind. > Further directions with map at bottom. > > I was standing by the power line towers watching the family of newly > fledged Eastern Kingbirds (more on that in a subsequent message) at > about 7:45 when I heard a distant cooing sound to the northeast. It > was far enough away I could not tell if it was a cuckoo or a dove or > something else, so I walked along the foot-trail in that direction. > The trail leads roughly 500 m to the newly built Maya Lin / Lewis & > Clark blind along the river, and I reached this spot and remained > here until hearing the bird again, about halfway between the blind > and the kingbird tower on the NW side of the trail. Its cooing bouts > were infrequent, so it took me until 8:20 to triangulate on it and > get close enough to hear it well enough to be sure it was a cuckoo. > Every 15 minutes or so it would utter a couple bouts of the long > patient series of downslurred notes common to Yellow-billed Cuckoos > and some other species in the cuckoo family: "cooah, cooah, cooah > ... " extending for anywhere from 9 to 16 notes (most often 13-15 for > this bird). > At about 200 or 250 m west of the blind, I followed a little > footpath down off the main trail to the slough paralleling the trail > on the NW side. From here I had an excellent view of the treeline on > the other side of the slough. At last I heard a second call from the > species' repertoire: the "Giddyup, giddyup, giddyup, clup, clup > clup..." call. With this there was no doubt left about the identity > of the bird, but I had not yet seen it, and it sounded so close. > Well, the next hour was spent waiting for further calls, with the > bird managing to keep out of sight of me whenever it did call. By > poking a stick I saw that the slough was at least waist deep and > who-knows how goopy with mud at the bottom -- not wise to cross. > The bird moved to the NE a bit, and I found a second little > footpath down to the slough. It was keeping out of sight, but now > calling a bit more, including on several occasions the third main > call of the repertoire: "kik-kik-klack-klack-klack-klack-kla-coow, > coow, coow..." I carefully edged my way through thick brambles along > the precarious muddy shore for about 30 m until coming to a large > multi-trunked willow hanging over the slough. The bird called from > here for the last time at, I think, 9:37, but I still couldn't find > it. Finally I saw that it was perched in the open at the top among > dead twigs and branches, and I got a 90-second view from below. Then > it flew into dense leaves. It was at this point I noticed that the > little noisy bunch of American Goldfinches in this tree appeared to > actually be mobbing the cuckoo, as if it were a small owl. A Pewee > joined in, and later a BC Chickadee. Could it be that the cuckoo's > slow-moving behavior caused them to react as they would to a small > owl? Or was it just a strange imposter to them? > I returned to the main trail, and managed to view the cuckoo > again from the trail for about 30 seconds amid the still-mobbing > goldfinches in the same tree. This tree is about 100-125 m WSW of > the Maya Lin blind. I placed a small log in the trail here lined up > with the tree, although there are enough bikers and dog-walkers here > that it may well get moved. > > Field marks I saw from my angles were: > * long slim body shape of cuckoo. > * slightly decurved bill, rich yellow on both mandibles, with > blackish or dark brown at very tip. > * dull blackish mask through eye > * light gray-brown on all parts of head above blackish mask. > * throat and breast and belly all clear creamy dull white. > * wing coverts gray-brown > * flight feathers rufous-brown, clearly distinct in color from the > wing coverts. > * long tail (obscured at base from my angle), but could clearly > see two pairs of large white spots dominating tail set against black > background, in pattern distinctive for YB Cuckoo. > > I was extremely fortunate in that the weather this morning was > unusual for the current hot spell: It was cloudy and cool the entire > time. The sun only broke through the clouds as I was leaving about > 10:15. I doubt that the cuckoo would have been nearly as vocal on a > hotter sunnier morning. I would therefore advise others looking for > this bird to get there a bit earlier than I did today, and to be > patient -- even in these favorable weather conditions, I generally > had to wait 15-30 minutes between its bouts of calling. > > For a map of the area, see: > http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/columbia/forest/projects/images/srdproposalssitetourapril292006.jpg > The Maya Lin blind is at the spot on the map where the box reading > "Proposed Confluence Project Area" points, at the end of the yellow & > black trail. The slough that the bird was along can be seen between > this trail and the triangle of trees to its NW. This is apparently > the old course of the Sandy River before it was diked. From the > parking area I generally walk ENE along the trail along the edge of > the woods, then N through the fields to the power line towers. There > are two large towers next to each other, and one has a large square > flashing red light at the top. This is where the kingbirds have > nested. Just beyond this tower with the flashing red light, take the > footpath to the ENE, which soon joins the graveled trail that leads > to the Maya Lin blind. > > As far as I know this is the first record of Yellow-billed Cuckoo for > Multnomah Co. in recent times (or ever??; it is not on the > Miller/Summers county list), but the habitat is superb. It would be > wonderful to think that this species could make a comeback in the > West and someday breed again this far north in places like the Sandy > River Delta. > > Jay Withgott > Portland > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Jul 22 15:54:56 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:54:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Willet 7/22/09 Message-ID: <917913.26430.qm@web45302.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Saw a juvie WILLET at Bandon Marsh early this morning.? I can't say I've seen many bright juvies there before, so it was a bit of a surprise although non-breeding plumaged birds are regular in small numbers.? Also a G. Yellowlegs and a few hundred peeps (WESA, LESA, SEPL).? I just can't shake those 4-letter acronyms... Ciao, Tim R Coos Bay From surfbird at q.com Wed Jul 22 16:23:13 2009 From: surfbird at q.com (Diane Pettey) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:23:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Coast Sightings 21-22 July 09 Message-ID: Zanah Stotz called me yesterday (while I was at work) to report three WANDERING TATTLERS on the South Jetty of the Siuslaw River in Florence. Late this morning, I observed two flying from my position on the North Jetty, to the South Jetty, inside the river channel. Large numbers of BROWN PELICANS, HEERMANN's GULLS, and COMMON MURRES. Several murres had young in the river. regards, Diane Pettey Heceta Beach, OR surfbird at q.com From andy.frank at kp.org Wed Jul 22 17:35:38 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:35:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yellow-billed Cuckoo- yes Message-ID: Craig Tumer is right regarding both his comments. Yellow-billed Cuckoos don't sing much when it's sunny, and they can be hard to find. I arrived at the area where Jay Withgott had found the Yellow-billed Cuckoo just after 2PM and was joined by John Fitchen a little afterwards. We extensively canvassed the area between the towers and the Maya Lin blind with the only thing to show being numerous scratches on my legs from blackberry brambles. We were finally going to leave but decided to walk the area once more when we heard what Jay noted as the "kik-kik-klack-klack-klack-klack-kla-coow, coow, coow..." call at 4:00PM. We looked a little longer but never saw the bird and didn't hear another call. The weather this afternoon was quite different than the cloudy and cool conditions this morning. It was quite comfortable in the shade but very hot in the sun. There apparently is one previous Multnomah County record for Yellow-billed Cuckoo, though I don't know the details. Only other bird of note that we found was a Green Heron. Andy Frank Portland From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Jul 22 18:20:54 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:20:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yellow-billed Cuckoo- yes In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: "The cuckoo is a pretty little bird, And she warbles as she flies. She sings her song in May and June, But never in July." I've heard cuckoos in July in Saskatchewan and Vermont. In both cases it was an overcast day. A cuckoo was heard calling at Oak Island or some other Sauvie Island location some summer in the seventies. I recall reading about it in the Chat, the Corvallis newsletter. But back in the twenties Gabrielson and Jewett made frequent observations:"Our earliest date is May 19, and our latest September 5, both Multnomah County...During 1923, 1924, and 1925 we found it to be a fairly common bird along the Columbia." page 329 of the first edition Birds of Oregon Doesn't anyone read those dudes anymore? As for the mobbing, one wonders about the prior experience of the birds doing it, or is it instinctual? I don't know about other New World cuckoos, but Roadrunners will certainly eat songbirds every chance they get. When visiting folks in Borrego Springs, east San Diego County, they told me a Roadrunner had eaten the Cactus Wrens nesting in the cholla in their front yard. The next morning I put Roadrunner on my life list when I saw one sunning itself on a utility line. It was being mobbed by a Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, another lifer. The Roadrunner was the first lifer-in-bed for two of my children, who were sleeping on a futon in the back of the van until I woke them up. Lars Norgren On Jul 22, 2009, at 5:35 PM, Andy Frank wrote: > Craig Tumer is right regarding both his comments. Yellow-billed > Cuckoos > don't sing much when it's sunny, and they can be hard to find. > > I arrived at the area where Jay Withgott had found the Yellow-billed > Cuckoo > just after 2PM and was joined by John Fitchen a little afterwards. We > extensively canvassed the area between the towers and the Maya Lin > blind > with the only thing to show being numerous scratches on my legs from > blackberry brambles. We were finally going to leave but decided to > walk the > area once more when we heard what Jay noted as the > "kik-kik-klack-klack-klack-klack-kla-coow, coow, coow..." call at > 4:00PM. > We looked a little longer but never saw the bird and didn't hear > another > call. > > The weather this afternoon was quite different than the cloudy and cool > conditions this morning. It was quite comfortable in the shade but > very hot > in the sun. > > There apparently is one previous Multnomah County record for > Yellow-billed > Cuckoo, though I don't know the details. > > Only other bird of note that we found was a Green Heron. > > Andy Frank > Portland > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Jul 22 19:04:17 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:04:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wed morning Eugene group Message-ID: We took Diamond Hill Road access from I-5 about 15 m. north of Eugene, to the east. This road turns into Gap Rd, running north. We parked at Gap Rd and Belts Rd (gravel) and walked westward on Belts Rd. We found much activity and movement of songbirds in this savannah - grassland. There were many tanagers, some feeding full-sized young and one pair was feeding an immature cowbird. The cowbird looked to be about the same size as a tanager. Sylvia had reported Grasshopper Sparrows at this site May 12, and we were hoping they stayed to nest here, but we did not find any. There were so many birds flitting here and there, it was impossible to study them all. Cool and overcast until about 10 - 11am. Going east on Diamond Hill Rd there is a wetland reclamation pond to the north. In the winter this pond is rather extensive and can be seen from the freeway, but today we found it barely visible from Diamond Hill Rd . We walked out to it and found Streaked Horned Larks around the dry flats, one a juvenile. All the while an adult lark was singing in flight directly above us. The shorebirds in this list were also seen here. Turkey Vulture - 9 N. Harrier - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Am. Kestrel - 1 Killdeer - 5 Least Sandpiper - 3 Long-b. Dowitcher - 7 Wilson's Phalarope - 1 Mourning Dove - 3 Rufous Hummingbird - 1 W. W. Pewee - 3 W. Kingbird - 6 (2 young) Horned Lark - 2 adults, 1 juvenile Swallows: Tree, V-g, Barn, Cliff - fairly numerous in flocks Bewick's Wren - 3 W. Bluebird - 3 Am. Robin - 10+ Starling - 18 Cedar Waxwing - 3 Com. Yellowthroat - 4+ W. Tanager - 25 Spotted Towhee - 8 Vesper Sparrow - 2 Savannah Sparrow - numerous Song Sparrow - 4 White-crowned Sparrow - 8 singing adults and many immatures. Black-headed Grosbeak - 3 Lazuli Bunting - 6 W. Meadowlark - 6 (1 juvenile) Brewer's Blackbird - 30+ B-h Cowbird - 1 getting food from Tanager foster parents Bullock's Oriole - 4 House Finch - 2 Am. Goldfinch - 12 Sarah Vasconcellos, Sylvia Maulding, Becky Uhler, Paul Sherrell, Fred Chancey, Dennis Arendt, Dave and Sally Hill, Dave Brown, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090722/13d4a1c9/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Jul 22 19:05:42 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:05:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yellow-billed Cuckoo kudos & a request Message-ID: <1248314742.11271.88.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, Congratulations to Jay for a really great find!!!! For me this is the most exciting Oregon bird report since ... well, Dave Budeau's sighting of a cuckoo sp. at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area about 8 or 9 years ago. What makes this more exciting than the typical vagrant is that this could herald the return to the Willamette Valley of an effectively extirpated, former breeding species. As Lars notes, this was a regular breeding species back in the days of Gabrielson & Jewett. Perhaps this is just a stray bird that, like most vagrants, will not manage to find a mate. However, the Sandy River Delta is one of many places in the Willamette Valley where significant restoration of bottomland riparian habitat has taken place in the past decade. Just maybe, the scales are starting to tip toward the point where Yellow-billed Cuckoo could once again become a viable breeding species. I can understand that many Multnomah County birders will be excited by the possibility to add this bird to their county list. However, **PLEASE** consider that this bird is most definitely in the category of "rare nesting bird" as covered by: http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html. Any kind of prompting (by playing of recordings etc.) could be critically detrimental to the hopeful reestablishment of this species in western Oregon. >From Jay's posting, it's clear to me that he only used passive methods of observation & triangulation (and a good dose of patience) to find this bird, so I commend him on that. I trust that Andy & John did the same. I hope that everyone who follows them in the coming days will follow their good example, and in particular, avoid use of recordings/playback or other disruption of the habitat. For my part, I'm going to hang back. While this would be a life bird for me (I've seen Black-billed Cuckoo in NW Minnesota), I would *much*, much rather see this bird as a successfully reestablished nesting species in the Willamette Valley, some years down the road, than rush to see this particular bird. Thanks & happy birding, Joel P.S. I'd be curious to know if anyone is seeing tent caterpillars at the site. Around the time of Dave Budeau's sighting at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, tent caterpillars were in evidence around the wildlife area. These are supposed to be a major food source for this species. -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From hhactitis at yahoo.com Wed Jul 22 19:08:51 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:08:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Florence area birds and mammals of late Message-ID: <793858.47856.qm@web37006.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, during a very brief visit this afternoon I found one WANDERING TATTLER on the rocks at the North Jetty, and a very washed-out BRANT was with several hundred gulls (mostly CALIFORNIA) on the North Jetty Flats. On the beach between Siltcoos and Tenmile (Coos Co.) - yesterday and today: Scattered flocks of WESTERN SANDPIPERS and SANDERLINGS (the latter in increasing numbers), along with a few SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS. North of Tenmile Creek (Coos Co.) today: 4 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and one BLACK TURNSTONE as well as one lone WHIMBREL. Mammal sightings on the beach (in the surf!) include a sick California Sea Lion pup, one BEAVER and a sick-looking MUSKRAT, as well as a very dead Harbor Porpoise. Late report: On July 18, a single WILSON'S PHALAROPE was with a small flock of KILLDEER in the Snowy Plover nesting area at Siltcoos, Lane Co. Happy fall migration! Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090722/fbc28238/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Wed Jul 22 21:33:19 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:33:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln note Message-ID: <95667666026044D5903D50B8EA132C69@your5rlp3a9516> OBOL, Today at Lincoln City sewage ponds there were a lot of Canada Geese and Mallards, and one Ruddy Duck.. Seems to me the latter was highly out of date. It was also in rather odd plumage. The cheeks were exceptionally white, the top of the head blackish, and the chest plain gray. Odd looking bird. Are there other coastal records for this time of year? Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090722/8a342aef/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Jul 22 21:45:12 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:45:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 07/22/09 Message-ID: <20090723044518.37095A8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 07/16 to 07/22/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and an updated (7/1/09) checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 6 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Cooper's Hawk 1 (1, 7/19) RED-TAILED HAWK 1 (1, 7/18) Band-tailed Pigeon 5 (3, 7/16) Mourning Dove 4 (2) Vaux's Swift 5 (4) Anna's Hummingbird 6 (6, 7/18) Rufous Hummingbird 6 (7) Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 (1, 7/18 & 21) Downy Woodpecker 4 (2) Northern Flicker 5 (5) Pileated Woodpecker 3 (1) Olive-sided Flycatcher 3 (2) Pacific-slope Flycatcher 6 (8, 7/19) Hutton's Vireo 3 (2) WARBLING VIREO 1 (1, 7/19) Steller's Jay 6 (10, 7/21) Western Scrub-Jay 5 (3, 7/18) American Crow 6 (4) Violet-green Swallow 5 (10, 7/18) Barn Swallow 1 (1, 7/19) Black-capped Chickadee 6 (20) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 6 (15, 7/18) Bushtit 6 (45) Red-breasted Nuthatch 6 (7) Brown Creeper 6 (3) Bewick's Wren 3 (2) Winter Wren 6 (4) Swainson's Thrush 2 (2, 7/17 & 18) American Robin 6 (20) Cedar Waxwing 4 (5) Orange-crowned Warbler 1 (2, 7/16) Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 (2) Black-throated Gray Warbler 2 (1, 7/17 & 20) Wilson's Warbler 4 (3, 7/19) Western Tanager 4 (2) Spotted Towhee 6 (10) Song Sparrow 6 (12) Dark-eyed Junco 6 (13, 7/16) Black-headed Grosbeak 5 (5, 7/16) Purple Finch 6 (4, 7/17) House Finch 6 (20) Red Crossbill 4 (3) Pine Siskin 2 (1, 7/16 & 18) Lesser Goldfinch 1 (2, 7/21) American Goldfinch 6 (8) EVENING GROSBEAK 1 (1, 7/16) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: Turkey Vulture, CASSIN'S VIREO, PURPLE MARTIN, Brown-headed Cowbird Wink Gross Portland From greenfant at hotmail.com Wed Jul 22 22:07:09 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:07:09 -0400 Subject: [obol] Kings Mtn (Tillamook Co) Message-ID: During en evening hike up Kings Mtn, I had an obliging Northern Pygmy-Owl right at the 2500ft sign. I got crippling looks from about 10ft away. Other regulars at higher elevation included 2 Gray Jays at the picnic table at around 3000ft, flyover Pine Siskin and Evening Grosbeak. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Bing? brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now. http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MLOGEN&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TXT_MLOGEN_Local_Local_Restaurants_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090723/7b3b4b13/attachment.html From alderspr at peak.org Wed Jul 22 22:20:43 2009 From: alderspr at peak.org (Karan & Jim Fairchild) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:20:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Common Merganser Clutch Size References: Message-ID: Scott and Obolers, Several years back about this time of year, Karan and I came across a group of young Common Mergansers while canoeing down the Willamette River near Corvallis. Only one adult female was in attendance. We were surprised to find the group getting larger and larger, as they flushed downstream ahead of us. Eventually we counted 47 youngsters, still with only one adult in evidence. I surmised that she must have gotten the short straw on babysitting duty that day. And it might explain why at other times we've seen groups of adult females without young in mid-July. Jim Fairchild, Philomath ----- Original Message ----- From: Scott Carpenter To: obol Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 11:30 AM Subject: [obol] Common Merganser Clutch Size On Monday afternoon, I was surprised to observe one adult female Common Merganser with 20 nearly full sized juveniles in tow at Cascade Streamwatch/Wildwood Recreation Site along Hwy 26 east of Sandy. Birds of North America states the following about clutch size of Common Mergansers: "Not well studied. Average clutch sizes range from 6 to 17 eggs in North America; 9?12 eggs most common (Bent 1925). Clutch size estimates in the literature are no doubt confounded by frequent intraspecific brood parasitism." Whether this particular female laid all 20 eggs or received some extra eggs from another female, it was quite a sight to have this large family unit swim by us single file, hunting and eating along the way. Even more impressive that the adult managed to keep so many babies alive for so long. Up the stream a bit we encountered two fledgling dippers voraciously begging for food from their parents. They were so loud that we heard their begging over the stream noise before we saw them. Scott Carpenter Portland ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090722/057570d1/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Wed Jul 22 22:32:58 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:32:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yellow-billed Cuckoo kudos & a request In-Reply-To: <1248314742.11271.88.camel@clearwater> References: <1248314742.11271.88.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: Joel & all -- I did note at least one tent caterpillar colony in the area. Yes, these are a major food source and the birds move around nomadically to some extent in search of them. This was for me far more exciting than some random vagrant for just the reason Joel mentions. In fact, if anyone out there has been involved in the restoration efforts at Sandy River or knows the people who have, let me know, as it would be nice to let them know about this encouraging arrival of a riparian-restoration flagship species. I suspect that to some extent there are likely more cuckoos around than we realize because they arrive so late in the spring, just about the time that most of us stop birding in lowland riparian areas for a few months. And plus, just being super-sneaky birds. But still, there can't be many. Thanks to Lars for consulting Gabrielson & Jewett; I should've done the same but was in a rush to get back to work after getting home today. And thanks to Craig for the "rain crow" reference. I loved that! Jay At 7:05 PM -0700 7/22/09, Joel Geier wrote: >Hello folks, > >Congratulations to Jay for a really great find!!!! For me this is the >most exciting Oregon bird report since ... well, Dave Budeau's sighting >of a cuckoo sp. at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area about 8 or 9 years ago. > >What makes this more exciting than the typical vagrant is that this >could herald the return to the Willamette Valley of an effectively >extirpated, former breeding species. As Lars notes, this was a regular >breeding species back in the days of Gabrielson & Jewett. > >Perhaps this is just a stray bird that, like most vagrants, will not >manage to find a mate. However, the Sandy River Delta is one of many >places in the Willamette Valley where significant restoration of >bottomland riparian habitat has taken place in the past decade. Just >maybe, the scales are starting to tip toward the point where >Yellow-billed Cuckoo could once again become a viable breeding species. > >I can understand that many Multnomah County birders will be excited by >the possibility to add this bird to their county list. However, >**PLEASE** consider that this bird is most definitely in the category of >"rare nesting bird" as covered by: http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html. >Any kind of prompting (by playing of recordings etc.) could be >critically detrimental to the hopeful reestablishment of this species in >western Oregon. > >>From Jay's posting, it's clear to me that he only used passive methods >of observation & triangulation (and a good dose of patience) to find >this bird, so I commend him on that. I trust that Andy & John did the >same. I hope that everyone who follows them in the coming days will >follow their good example, and in particular, avoid use of >recordings/playback or other disruption of the habitat. > >For my part, I'm going to hang back. While this would be a life bird for >me (I've seen Black-billed Cuckoo in NW Minnesota), I would *much*, much >rather see this bird as a successfully reestablished nesting species in >the Willamette Valley, some years down the road, than rush to see this >particular bird. > >Thanks & happy birding, >Joel > >P.S. I'd be curious to know if anyone is seeing tent caterpillars at the >site. Around the time of Dave Budeau's sighting at E.E. Wilson Wildlife >Area, tent caterpillars were in evidence around the wildlife area. These >are supposed to be a major food source for this species. > >-- >Joel Geier >Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Jul 22 22:47:31 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:47:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cuckoo habitat Message-ID: Gabrielson and Jewett emphasized the sporadic nature of the California Cuckoo's occurence in Oregon. At the time of their observations the bottomlands of the Sacramento/ San Joaquin system were not completely destroyed, and provided a population pool that sporadically erupted north. Until this base is restored I see little likelihood of a cuckoo comeback in California's neighbor to the north. What about food base? Haven't Lepitoptera populations crashed across the continent? I remember all the butterflies I saw growing up in downtown Corvallis in the 60s. I don't see that variety anywhere these days. Bt is widely used as a "biological" control in berry fields and the like. Doesn't this affect non-target species as well as the pests the farmer is trying to control? Lars Norgren From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Jul 22 23:31:11 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:31:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, Or 7-23-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * July 23, 2009 * ORPO0907.23 - birds mentioned American White Pelican Brown Pelican Wandering Tattler Willet Band-tailed Pigeon YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 Compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday July 23. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On July 22 a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was seen at the Sandy River Delta. It was west of the new Maya Lin Blind. A juvenile WILLET was at Bandon July 22 and three WANDERING TATTLERS at the mouth of the Siuslaw River July 21 as the shorebird movement continues. A July 16 survey on East Sand Island counted 22,000 BROWN PELICANS. On July 20 a group of 33 WHITE PELICANS were east of Astoria off the Twilight Eagle Sanctuary. On July 19 a flock of 20 WHITE PELICANS were over Delta Park in North Portland. That day 9 were at the Fernhill Wetlands in Forest Grove. On July 19 a BAND-TAILED PIGEON was at a LaPine bird feeder. That?s it for this week. - end transcirpt -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090722/470fc7e5/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Jul 23 04:36:30 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:36:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Lincoln note In-Reply-To: <95667666026044D5903D50B8EA132C69@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: <902570.19460.qm@web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Ruddy Ducks rarely oversummer on the north spit of Coos Bay, about one every other year- none this year though. There is also one breeding record so keep your eye on that bird Darrel! Happy birding all, Tim R Coos Bay --- On Wed, 7/22/09, Darrel Faxon <5hats at peak.org> wrote: > From: Darrel Faxon <5hats at peak.org> > Subject: [obol] Lincoln note > To: "Obol" > Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 9:33 PM > > > > > > > > OBOL,??? > > Today at Lincoln City > sewage ponds there were a lot > of Canada Geese and Mallards, and one Ruddy Duck.. Seems to > me the latter was > highly out of date.? It was also in rather odd > plumage.? The cheeks > were exceptionally white, the top of the head blackish, and > the chest plain > gray.? Odd looking bird.? Are there other coastal > records for this > time of year? > ? > Darrel > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From windypointandy at dishmail.net Thu Jul 23 07:31:21 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:31:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ladd Marsh and Rhinehart Canyon-21 July Message-ID: <000901ca0ba2$49067d50$3700a8c0@windypoint99> LADD MARSH AND RHINEHART CANYON NEAR LAGRANDE 20-21 JULY 2009 LADD MARSH. En route home to Yakima after our trek to find Spruce Grouse in the Wallowas, we spent the night in LaGrande. After dinner on the 20th and before dusk we cruised by the west unit of Ladd Marsh, an extensive 1000-acre wetland protected by Oregon Fish and Wildlife Department. Viewing of this west unit from the roadside vantage is mostly distant; a scope is necessary, even then one's views are barely satisfactory though it's obvious there are lots of birds out there. We did hear SANDHILL CRANES bugling in the distance, always a treat. Much more satisfactory was our dawn walk on the 1.9-mile Pheasant Trail on the East Ladd Marsh unit the next morning. We found a ton of birds here encompassing a wide diversity. In all, we tallied more than 60 species on this walk. Shallow, drying ponds were most interesting with 14 GREATER SANDHILL CRANES, 65 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, 10 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, 1 AMERICAN BITTERN, 5 GREAT BLUE HERONS, 4 GREAT EGRETS, AND 10 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS. Seven species of waterfowl included several BLUE-WINGED TEAL though CINNAMONS were much more numerous as expected. PIED-BILLED GREBE young were swimming about, still very distinctive on account of their head markings. FORSTER'S TERNS called harshly as they patrolled overhead for small fish while only the occasional VIRGINIA RAIL called. By far the most conspicuous water bird we noted was the lowly AMERICAN COOT. Adults and young, in all manner of sizes, were everywhere. We counted in excess of 500 coots on this walk; these will prove important in helping to feed BALD EAGLES this winter! COMMON YELLOWTHROATS were still singing up a storm from the marsh vegetation, though we observed adults feeding fledged young. MARSH WRENS were much quieter as were SAVANNAH SPARROWS. Shorebirds were everywhere and noisy. The cacophony produced by upwards of 80 alarmed BLACK-NECKED STILTS was actually a bit much. Other waders we noted were KILLDEER, AMERICAN AVOCET, both yellowlegs, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, both WESTERN AND LEAST SANDPIPERS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, and both WILSON'S and RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, and WILSON'S SNIPE. Terrestrial habitats were full of birds, too. Blackbirds were everywhere; many were short-tailed young birds. RED-WINGED, YELLOW-HEADED and BREWER'S were about. Drier fields had a few WESTERN MEADOWLARKS. BANK SWALLOWS were numerous; we counted 400 along a single wire! Fewer numbers of TREE and CLIFF SWALLOWS were about. From the willows we heard and saw WILLOW FLYCATCHERS and both WESTERN and EASTERN KINGBIRDS as well NORTHERN FLICKERS. YELLOW WARBLERS were in the willows too, though singing has diminished greatly this past week. We did hear BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES singing, though. BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES squawked while several SWAINSON'S HAWKS perched, maybe waiting for thermals to develop. Other raptors included nesting OSPREY (en route), NORTHERN HARRIER (including bright rusty youngsters), RED-TAILED HAWK, and AMERICAN KESTREL. Overhead, we heard both AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES and CEDAR WAXWINGS. We left Ladd Marsh thoroughly pleased. LaGrande birders have an important birding venue right at their doorstep! RHINEHART CANYON NORTH OF IMBLER. The other exceptional birding trail we walked this morning was Rhinehart Canyon north of Imbler (OR-82). Passing through Imbler, we spied an EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE perched on a roadside wire. We parked well short of the end of the abandoned road to walk a bit more and thus enjoy more fully the area. The riparian vegetation flanking the placid Grande Ronde River here is composed of thickets of hawthorn and red-osier dogwood while willows and elderberries are less common. Masses of hawthorn berries are just on the verge of ripening and will no doubt bring in lots of fruit-loving species such as waxwings, grosbeaks, robins, and orioles. GRAY CATBIRD was especially conspicuous, we noted at least 15 while EASTERN KINGBIRD was only slightly less conspicuous. YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were still singing a little, no doubt we were a few weeks late for the real show by this loud songster. The same perhaps was true for VEERY. We only briefly heard a bird go "vee-ur," but we did spy a just fledged juvenile in the densest red-osier dogwoods. WILLOW FLYCATCHER was another common bird of the riparian vegetation. We noted a couple each of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and WARBLING VIREO, perhaps local breeders but also possibly early migrants. OSPREY and BELTED KINGFISHER were flybys as were both VIOLET-GREEN and CLIFF SWALLOWS. The brushy slopes (primarily hawthorn) were full of SPOTTED TOWHEES, many dark-hued juveniles. We saw several BEWICK'S WRENS, a species not mapped here in Birds of Oregon (Marshall et al.). No doubt it has been recorded here of late as this species continues to expand its range. Scattered clumps of ponderosa pines were good for five or so PYGMY NUTHATCHES, a number of WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES and HOUSE WRENS. Along the low cliffs (both natural and quarried) we noted both ROCK and CANYON WRENS, making this walk a darn good site for wrens. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090723/b9b0696c/attachment.html From dan at heyerly.com Thu Jul 23 09:22:04 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Dan Heyerly) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:22:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cuckoos - possible Douglas County detection in late June 2009 Message-ID: <9008FD9732D94B5B9B59369B570D6285@Dan> Hello obolors, First of all, please accept my apologies for the lateness of this post. I didn't believe myself, and am now sorry I did not speak up. Approximately the second week of June Anne and I were visiting her dad in Roseburg. He lives outside the city limits close to the county fairgrounds, and his property fronts the Umpqua River just north of the fairgrounds. The riverbank at his yard edge is very thick, brushy, and unpenetrable. There are a lot of willows, Oaks, and other typical streamside tangly vegetation. I had walked to the edge of the lawn at the riparian area edge in the early afternoon when I heard a call that I immediately "knew" had to be a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. It only called once, but it was the distinctive call that Jay described in his post from yesterday, which I have heard several times before in SE Arizona as well as one time with Jim Carlson in one of those canyons of the Steens' east flank a few years back. I had talked myself out of this identification, but am now rethinking it. The habitat and time of year was right, as was the bird's habit of calling once and then going silent. If anyone in the Douglas County area (Jim Hein, Jim Harleman?) has any free time, I would suggest a look/listen in this area. Take the Douglas Co. Fairgrounds exit off of I-5, go east on that street (not sure of the name) until it dead-ends at the river edge. I don't know about parking, but the fairgrounds is right there as a possibility. A caution: please be respectful of private property and do not trespass. Good birding, Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090723/0ebc1aa6/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Jul 23 09:51:32 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:51:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cuckoo habitat - what components? References: Message-ID: As many are aware, Yellow-billed Cuckoos are wide spread the east (northern NY for one). Here they tend to concentrate where the Eastern Tent Caterpillar populations are high (out break areas). Someone on OBOL mentioned Tent Caterpillars as a food source for what Cuckoos we might have. When in Kern County, CA early this June, we visited habitat where they are known to be (a bit too early for them, however). At the Kern River Audubon Preserve they have planted large stands of Cottonwoods in riparian areas (found a nest of Summer Tanagers in them, nice substitute). It was mentioned that here the Cuckoos seemed to prefer the younger, smaller sized trees. More Caterpillars? One thing about the riparian forests along the Sacramento River, and other large rivers down that way, is that at many locations there are a lot of large oaks, which can be mixed with the Cottonwoods. Don't Tent Caterpillars like oaks as well as other deciduous broadleaf trees (as with the eastern hardwood forests)? I find Tent Caterpillars at our place and they are feeding in the Cal Black Oaks. Perhaps some oaks along side or mixed with Cottonwoods would be a good combination for western Cuckoos by providing more Caterpillar habitat? We have to think food...and the birds will hopefully come for it. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Jul 23 11:16:30 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:16:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yellow-billed Cuckoo NO ... Message-ID: <1248372990.16596.44.camel@clearwater> ... at Luckiamute State Natural Area in SE Polk Co., that is. Following Jay Withgott's discovery of a singing Yellow-billed Cuckoo at the Sandy River Delta yesterday morning, it occurred to me that this morning's weather was about as favorable for checking the local habitat, as anything we're likely to get in the next two weeks. So I bicycled over to the Luckiamute Landing unit of Luckiamute SNA, and listened at various stops along the trail through the gallery forest (dominantly black cottonwood, Oregon ash, & bigleaf maple but with a diverse understory & willows around the edges). I also listened along the younger cottonwood plantings. The result was NO cuckoos heard or seen (closest thing heard were several calling Dusky-striped Cuckoo-Squirrels, a.k.a. Townsend's Chipmunks). I didn't see any tent caterpillar webs. I wonder if anyone's thought about surveying for cuckoos at the Grand Island Greenway, Truax Island, Snag Boat Bend, Green Island, Elijah Bristow, Jackson Bottom, or other significant patches of riparian habitat in the valley? Just a thought. Also in the realm of negative data, I detected: - NO Red-eyed Vireos (which are nearly annual here, but this seems to be one of those years that puts the "nearly" in that phrase), - NO Vesper Sparrows (the former small nesting colony seems to have finally given up, after habitat modifications to the areas that they were using), and - NO Common Nighthawks (I have yet to see one in the neighborhood this year, despite anecdotal reports that suggest better-than-usual numbers in some other parts of the valley; I found none in two checks of their past nesting spot at E.E. Wilson). - NO shorebirds on the gravel bars at the Santiam/Willamette River confluence. So, it was kind of a disappointing morning on multiple fronts. As consolation there was still one WILLOW FLYCATCHER calling and the usual beautiful chorus of SWAINSON'S THRUSHES etc. I got to watch a WILSON'S WARBLER as it foraged in the understory, ranging up into the lower canopy as high as 40 ft above the ground, and enjoyed watching a fledgling BEWICK'S WREN along the trail. Happy birding before it gets hot, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Thu Jul 23 12:19:18 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:19:18 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Merganser Clutch Size Message-ID: <953040661.106751248376758771.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> What do Common Mergansers, Canada Geese and Ostriches have in common? They're all involved in kidnapping activities. The exact method that mergansers use, to steal the ducklings of other females, is not clear to me. I suspect that it is sometimes due to confusion on the part of young ones, that start following the wrong mother. Perhaps their flocking instinct spurs them to go to the largest group.? More than one female laying eggs in the same nest may explain some large broods, but there's a limit to how many eggs can be incubated successfully in one nest.? If the females were sisters in the same clutch themselves, they might both incubate, side-by-side. Sometimes, Hooded Mergansers will lay eggs in a Wood Duck nest and vice-versa. They're about the same size, both nest in trees and have the same incubation period.? If you see a Wood Duck diving for small fish, you might suspect something about a surrogate mother being involved in its early life. Canada Geese may agressively drive away other parents, so they can take charge of their goslings. Sometimes,?several sets of parents form creches, where?they join together and all the adults remain with them.? I have observed this most often, when the female parents were siblings in the same clutch or creche, when they were goslings. Male ostriches may gather over 100 chicks to raise, taking them from other males. Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090723/df60f7c9/attachment.html From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Thu Jul 23 12:24:12 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:24:12 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Photo of Amazing Cedar Waxwing Feeding Method Message-ID: <2127879547.108061248377052700.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Here's a link to a revealing photo, posted online by a photographer named Janice, from Illinois.? It shows a Cedar Waxwing squeezing a round berry just right, to squirt a stream of juice into her nestling's open mouth. Afterwards, she swallowed the berry, herself. http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=32458632 http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090723/dfb217a2/attachment.html From lbviman at blackfoot.net Thu Jul 23 14:15:39 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:15:39 -0600 Subject: [obol] Yellow-billed cuckoo diet In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090723211149.8B19A9B0231@mail.blackfoot.net> Great find! In addition to blooms of tent caterpillars as food, this description may help determine if it is transient of summer residential, if some of these are in abundance at the site: "Sphinx moth larvae are the favored food of Western Yellow-billed Cuckoos (Laymon 2000). Included in their diet are tent caterpillars, grasshoppers, cicadas, moths, spiders, beetles, webworms, cankerworms, lacewings, as well as small tree frogs and lizards and some fruits and seeds (Hughes 1999). They will eat spiny-covered and bold-patterned caterpillars which other birds tend to avoid due to the unappetizing characteristics of sharp hair coverings, taste, toxicity (Thelander 1994)." http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses/Fall%2003%20project/WYBCuckoo1.htm I heard that in some years they seem to rely HEAVILY on tree frog blooms in the Kern Preserve and along the Colorado River (CA). Caution: many sightings of YBCU in the West occur in July as transients only, some of which have been of the eastern race [2 window kills in Santa Barbara CA a few years ago, were females in post-breeding condition, as I understood it]. - Jim Greaves, Thompson Falls MT From cncschneider at msn.com Thu Jul 23 14:30:19 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:30:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Scrub-Jays Raising two Broods? Message-ID: Hi Birders, On May 21st I noted a pair of Western Scrub-Jays feeding five just fledged young in my back yard. I saw and heard this family for about 3 weeks and after that time period the number of begging calls and sightings of juveniles tapered off. I figured that the pair had successfully raised the brood and the young had dispersed. Then two days ago (Tuesday the 21st) I saw an adult Western Scrub-Jay feeding a very recently fledged begging juvenile in the exact same spot I saw and heard the fledglings in May and on Wednesday I saw 2 fledglings with 2 Adults. At first I figured that the pair of Western Scrub-Jays was raising a second brood. Though after checking BOGR and another book and finding no reference of Western Scrub-Jays raising a second brood in Spring/Summer I thought maybe the first brood had fallen to predation and the brood I am seeing now is a replacement brood or a new pair of Western Scrub-Jays had moved in and was raising a later brood. Any ideas? Thanks in advance. Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090723/e39737ef/attachment.html From foglark at att.net Thu Jul 23 14:51:42 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:51:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] cuckoo, mergansers Message-ID: <590778.64734.qm@web80005.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> The news of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Multnomah County is exciting. What a great bird to find. The comments about habitat restoration made me think of the nearly unbelievable recent history of cuckoos down here in Humboldt County. What could have been dismissed as a "pure vagrant" discovered about 2000 or so led to a series of hopeful cuckoo surveys spearheaded by Gary Falxa and done by many birders over several years. One or two birds continued to be found and, ultimately, breeding was confirmed a couple years ago. This is presently the only place in northern California away from the Central Valley where breeding is known to occur. The habitat here is variable-sized stringers and clumps of riparia along the lower Eel River with mostly black cottonwood, red alder, and willow. There is twinberry, ninebark, red elderberry, and both native and exotic blackberry beneath (yes, all of this stuff occurs in Western Oregon). Almost beyond imagining, the site at which two adults and a juvenile were found is less than two miles from the ocean and, indeed, a regular haul-out of Harbor Seals can be seen downstream from the bridge the cuckoos can be heard from. Pelagic Cormorants, Brown Pelicans, and other estuarine waterbirds feed in the river there. Long-tailed Ducks show up in winter. Cal Fish & Game can be commended for their efforts to replant what had been a pretty much open, sterile expanse of pasture just to the southeast of the site with many acres of willows. That patch, on Cock Robin Island, has now grown in so as to accompany and abut the known cuckoo hab, and so the future could look a lot worse for them here. A few birds is a far cry from the tens of thousands of cuckoos estimated to have originally occurred in the state, but then the steaming riparian jungles of the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys have been reduced and degraded to almost nothing in little more than 150 years. Elsewhere in California, the fortunes of Bell's Vireos have been improved in part by habitat restoration or even outright creation. We now could not be totally amazed were one of those birds to show up in Humboldt, as well. The phenomenon of female Common Mergansers leading outsized broods is "creching" (noun- creche, pronounced KRESH) and is something that happens every summer where the birds are numerous. Later on, in August and early September, one will sometimes see groups of 30-50 hanging out on islets in estuaries. At that point the chicks have become fully grown and the males, if present, are not in "male" plumage," and so the whole flock will look like "big females." Congratulations to Jay Withgott for what is certainly one of the hottest discoveries of the year in Oregon. David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090723/c9a79d1e/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Jul 23 14:55:43 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:55:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ever wonder why Toucans have such large bills? Message-ID: <4A68DC5F.5040701@verizon.net> Apparently here's why: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8165895.stm Cheers Dave Lauten From dan-gleason at comcast.net Thu Jul 23 15:51:24 2009 From: dan-gleason at comcast.net (Dan Gleason) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:51:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Scrub-Jays Raising two Broods? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <7E6863C0-02C9-4404-95E5-9D2FAF9D64FE@comcast.net> Western Scrub-Jays will frequently raise a second brood but usually only if the first is lost, and sometimes, that can be well after fledging. We have a pair of jays nesting in our yard here in south Eugene every year and a second brood is often raised. In each case, the first brood has fallen prey to a Cooper's Hawk or a Crow. Crows have on two occasions discovered the nest and removed either eggs or young nestlings. The Cooper's Hawk has taken young after they are out of the nest feeding some and begging from the parents. This year, two young had been actively feeding around our feeding station for nearly three weeks. Then one day, a Cooper's Hawk swooped by, nearly in arm's reach as I coincidentally stepped outside, and took one of the young birds from our front yard. The young jay put up a loud commotion before being killed and brought out the adults. The second young disappeared the next day. Two days later, I saw the adults carrying sticks and starting fresh. Just yesterday, I saw a young jay but I think it is too soon for any young from that nest. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Jul 23, 2009, at 2:30 PM, Carl & Christine Schneiders wrote: > Hi Birders, > > On May 21st I noted a pair of Western Scrub-Jays feeding five just > fledged young in my back yard. I saw and heard this family for > about 3 weeks and after that time period the number of begging > calls and sightings of juveniles tapered off. I figured that the > pair had successfully raised the brood and the young had > dispersed. Then two days ago (Tuesday the 21st) I saw an adult > Western Scrub-Jay feeding a very recently fledged begging juvenile > in the exact same spot I saw and heard the fledglings in May and on > Wednesday I saw 2 fledglings with 2 Adults. At first I figured > that the pair of Western Scrub-Jays was raising a second brood. > Though after checking BOGR and another book and finding no > reference of Western Scrub-Jays raising a second brood in Spring/ > Summer I thought maybe the first brood had fallen to predation and > the brood I am seeing now is a replacement brood or a new pair of > Western Scrub-Jays had moved in and was raising a later brood. Any > ideas? > > Thanks in advance. > > Matthew Schneider > Silverton, Oregon > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090723/a694fa7c/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Thu Jul 23 16:19:12 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:19:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yellow-billed Cuckoo Sandy River Delta Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F023B879C@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> At 11:45 am this morning I observed a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO in the area where Jay Withgott found one yesterday. I am assuming it is the same bird. It was a flyby. I was down along the slough about 250 m WSW from the Lewis & Clark Blind. I believe this is the best place to watch for the bird in flight. Leave the gravel trail and go down an opening to the slough. This area provides a panoramic view of the slough. There is another spot to go down to the water, but viewing is limited. The bird was flying down the slough toward the Columbia River. It was silent. I was back and away from the water's edge watching from under a small tree. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090723/1d844523/attachment.html From heinjv at charter.net Thu Jul 23 17:03:54 2009 From: heinjv at charter.net (Jim & Vikki Hein) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:03:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cuckoos - possible Douglas County detection in late June 2009 In-Reply-To: <9008FD9732D94B5B9B59369B570D6285@Dan> References: <9008FD9732D94B5B9B59369B570D6285@Dan> Message-ID: <314013E3DEC44BE089E7600A6992295D@MAIN> Obol, Regarding Dan Heyerly's message concerning a possible Douglas County Yellow-billed Cuckoo, I went to the area described by Dan this morning at 10:30 for about 45 minutes. The skies were still overcast and cool. I did not see the bird however I did hear one short vocalization that reminded me of the ybcu. There is allot of habitat that I could not get near because of houses. I will continue to monitor that area and see if anything shows up in the future. Jim Hein -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090723/ee450fb3/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Jul 23 17:33:36 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:33:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Ruddy Duck Message-ID: <1844e9c70fc72dd00cde9da4b2cbb279@earthlink.net> Begin forwarded message: > Hello Lars, > I see a discussion about over-summering ruddy ducks in the Lincoln > City or County area on the Oregon Birding list.? Since I'm not signed > up, I can't post there, but in the "for what it's worth" dept., While > traveling along the water-side route from Toledo to Newport last week, > I saw a Ruddy in a roadside pond.? Being from New Mexico, I just > assumed it was normal summer resident, but perhaps not.? Anyway, there > it was, in case anyone thinks it noteworthy. > Al Trompler From m_scatt at yahoo.com Thu Jul 23 18:08:53 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:08:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Yellow-billed Cuckoo Sandy River Delta Message-ID: <145756.39953.qm@web55706.mail.re3.yahoo.com> We headed to Sandy River Delta this morning and got to the cuckoo location at around 7:00 a.m. Others had been there since 6:00 a.m. Most birders searching for the cuckoo had to leave for work, so after a while there were only a few of us searching. Nobody heard anything that sounded like a cuckoo all morning, despite the good (overcast, even a bit drizzly) conditions. There was so much good habitat that we feared that it had moved on. We continued to search until about noon when we had to leave. On our way back to the parking lot, near the Eastern Kingbird towers, we heard some distant whistling. John Gatchet had told us that if he saw/heard anything, he'd whistle to get our attention. We raced back and he told us that he had just seen the Yellow-billed Cuckoo. We waited near the slough where he saw it, but didn't see anything. However, Adrian heard the cuckoo "coo" one time from the other side of the slough. After a while, Christopher heard some cooing a little bit closer, and then we all heard a two-part "knock" that we thought was a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. To our knowledge, nobody saw or heard any more of the cuckoo. Be forewarned, even if it sticks around, if it acts like it did today, it will probably be very tough bird to locate. It will most likely require a lot of searching, patience, and some good luck. We only heard those few calls after we had already been there more than 5 1/2 hours. It's possible that the bird is moving around and was not at the original site earlier in the morning, and eventually flew in around noon and didn't call much, but it's more likely that it simply eluded us and stayed hidden and quiet the whole time. There were several other good birds in the area today. Along the river we saw a Hooded Merganser, a few Semipalmated Plovers and Least Sandpipers, a Caspian Tern, one Bank Swallow, and two Purple Martins. The Eastern Kingbirds and Yellow-breasted Chats were hanging out near the towers. We saw or heard 60 species total. Good luck to all cuckoo searchers. Hopefully tomorrow it will be more cooperative. Thanks, Jay, for the great find and thanks, John, for getting our attention after you relocated the cuckoo today! Good birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle, Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090723/1a6f2b38/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Thu Jul 23 20:34:56 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:34:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Photo: Sauvie Island Black Phoebe Message-ID: <5415B66AE61449B18FCFD71A364B4E50@GREG> Photo by Randy Stafford on 18 July 2009. Apparently a First Columbia County record of Black Phoebe. In the "Photos by others" album http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/bird_photos Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From range.bayer at gmail.com Thu Jul 23 21:30:59 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:30:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln note In-Reply-To: <902570.19460.qm@web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <95667666026044D5903D50B8EA132C69@your5rlp3a9516> <902570.19460.qm@web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Hi, In Lincoln Co. for records through 1992, we had a record in late June and on 1 August 1977 and another on 25 July 1990 (search for "Duck, Ruddy at http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/jspui/handle/1957/8070). They thus appear to be much scarcer here than in Coos County. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport On Thu, Jul 23, 2009 at 4:36 AM, Tim Rodenkirk wrote: > > Ruddy Ducks rarely oversummer on the north spit of Coos Bay, about one every other year- none this year though. ?There is also one breeding record so keep your eye on that bird Darrel! > > Happy birding all, > Tim R > Coos Bay > > --- On Wed, 7/22/09, Darrel Faxon <5hats at peak.org> wrote: > >> From: Darrel Faxon <5hats at peak.org> >> Subject: [obol] Lincoln note >> To: "Obol" >> Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 9:33 PM >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> OBOL, >> >> Today at Lincoln City >> sewage ponds there were a lot >> of Canada Geese and Mallards, and one Ruddy Duck.. Seems to >> me the latter was >> highly out of date.? It was also in rather odd >> plumage.? The cheeks >> were exceptionally white, the top of the head blackish, and >> the chest plain >> gray.? Odd looking bird.? Are there other coastal >> records for this >> time of year? >> >> Darrel >> >> >> -----Inline Attachment Follows----- >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From hatlevis at comcast.net Thu Jul 23 22:17:33 2009 From: hatlevis at comcast.net (Susan Hatlevig) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:17:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] early morning in corvallis-kingfisher Message-ID: Hi all, What exciting news about the cuckoo! I've never heard or seen one and will be heading to a Balkan music/dance camp close to that area around the Sandy River in August. I realize that I probably won't hear anything at that time, but now I know about the trail. So, I'll check it out with my husband when we have some downtime from the camp. Last year, while lying in my tent, I heard Great Horned Owls calling to each other at around 2 a.m. (in between the Greek and Bulgarian musicians). Meanwhile, in NW Corvallis, while we were having breakfast around 6 a.m., we heard a kingfisher chattering as it flew over our backyard. I went outside and realized it had parked itself into one of the trees further down Dixon Creek. We're one house away from the creek. I could hear it chattering. We also had a family of Stellar's jay come in to eat peanuts on the platform feeder. The scrub jays magically appear as soon as the Stellars arrive, but this time they were outnumbered and didn't chase them off. A Stellar stuffed as many peanuts as it could into its "mouth" before the scrubs arrived. We've had lots of chickadees including a chestnut backed at our suet. Had to reifill the suet feeder since it is getting a lot of use. The nuthatches are busy and calling a lot. I swear I saw a flycatcher, or something that reminded me of that head shape, tonight but it was gone in a flash. Very yellowish, but otherwise non-descript. I'll check my birdbook. Getting Rufous hummers back into the yard as well as Anna's. Heard a Swainson's thrush close to work today on my walk (the walking/bike path between Research Way and 35th Street on the way from Starker Arts Park.) It's surrounded by houses but is amazing what birds still are in there. Susie in Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090723/31992abb/attachment.html From tanager at nu-world.com Thu Jul 23 23:10:22 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:10:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Correction/Douglas Co. birder, and additional YB-Cuckoo thoughts Message-ID: <005301ca0c25$6dd5c590$498150b0$@com> Obolinks, In my posting earlier today about the possible June 2009 YB-Cuckoo detection, I mentioned two Douglas County birders, Jims Hein and Harleman. I have no idea where the name Harleman came from. I meant to say Jim ARNESON!!! Sorry Jim. BTW the street that dead ends at the river at the fairgrounds exit is Portland Street. The first street to the left is Kendall, which is the street on which both Jim Arneson and Anne's dad live. Anne's dad lives approximately three tax lots north of Portland street on the east side of Kendall, so where I heard whatever I heard, would have been fairly close to the end of Portland St. Today I was thinking about access to this area, and remember that when we visit in the summer it seems like there are always people that are either fishing or swimming in the river, and that they are able to access the river from the east side! That side of the river is much more accessible with less brush and vegetation. There are RR tracks that run along the river there, but it seems like it would be a good place to view the west bank of the river, which is the tangled Cottonwood, Willow, Oak, and Pine area in the wide bench area before the steep bank that leads up to the houses lawns along that bank. If there is a YB-Cuckoo in there, I would think that a person would have a much better chance of seeing it from the east side of the river, as opposed to from the end of Portland St. Good Birding, Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090723/52ed6eb6/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Fri Jul 24 06:47:35 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:47:35 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Starling Migration Message-ID: <1120576032.4314821248443255430.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi Steve, I think I'm seeing fewer Starlings around my home in northeast Portland and at Salish Pond in Fairview, Multnomah County, Oregon. I guess I'll have a better picture when they start forming the huge (10,000+) flock that forms around here in the fall. I was thinking the reason there are fewer would be either the hard winter because I saw quite a few Starlings in my garden that had quite a bit of ice on their feathers; or the Port of Portland is doing them in some how as I have seen jets abruptly change course when they accidentally fly into the edge of that flock. Airport flight patterns seem to change when that flock forms each fall, so I am grateful to the Starlings. As I think about it, I'm not sure which is louder, jets or large groups of Starlings. I think the Starlings are the loudest. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090724/687673bd/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Fri Jul 24 07:59:54 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 07:59:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon Canyon Mountains-14-16 July Message-ID: <001301ca0c6f$715e7780$3700a8c0@windypoint99> OREGON CANYON MOUNTAINS IN SOUTHEASTERN OREGON 14-16 JULY 2009 After a long drive north from Nevada's Ruby Mountains (think Himalayan Snowcock!) on the 14th June, Stan and Lori (and Spaniel "Ms. Sally"), and Ellen and myself made camp a mile or so up from Mud Springs in an aspen grove on the north flanks of the Oregon Canyon Mountains. Nightfall soon came and we were then rewarded with two LONG-EARED OWLS flying about the aspens. During the night a GREAT HORNED OWL hooted away in the distance. At daybreak, walking about the aspen grove, Ellen and I immediately noticed the bird activity was very quiet as compared to our visit here the end of May. We were able to roust out DUSKY FLYCATCHER, WARBLING VIREOS, a few each of BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS and HOUSE WRENS, YELLOW and a single BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES, and BREWER'S and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS. We headed upslope towards Twin Buttes. In the high quality shrub-steppe habitat along the way, we observed several each of NORTHERN HARRIERS, RED-TAILED HAWKS (recently fledged juveniles too), AMERICAN KESTRELS, PRAIRIE FALCONS, SAGE THRASHERS, and BREWER'S and VESPER'S SPARROWS. At Twin Buttes, we hiked and birded the slopes, especially those mantled in Mountain Mahogany and aspen thickets. Again, bird activity was quiet as compared to six weeks ago. We did tally the following: NORTHERN HARRIER (adult male and female bringing food to two bright rusty, just-fledged juveniles), RED-TAILED HAWKS (upwards of five juveniles kiting), AMERICAN KESTRELS, DUSKY FLYCATCHERS (conspicuous here), VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, COMMON RAVENS, ROCK WRENS, MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS, AMERICAN ROBINS, WARBLING VIREOS, ORANGE-CROWNED, NASHVILLE (one only), and MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS, GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (still singing quite a lot), CHIPPING, BREWER'S, AND VESPER, and FOX SPARROWS, CASSIN'S FINCH (adults and just-fledged young), and PINE SISKIN. We were not able to re find either CASSIN'S VIREO or VIRGINIA'S WARBLER, present here six weeks ago. We made camp the night of the 15th in an aspen grove just south of Twin Buttes. Nesting DOWNY WOODPECKERS were a treat, though causing us consternation as even with close study, we were quite certain their outer tail feathers were white (most have bars or spots). HOUSE WRENS were nesting here also, coming with food to feed the young within a few feet of us lounging in camp. NORTHERN FLICKERS also appeared to be nesting in these aspens. Ellen set up a hummingbird feeder to attract the Broad-tailed hummers we fantasized were almost certainly about (we saw and heard these daily in the Ruby Mountains only 200 miles southeast). CALLIOPE and RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS appeared within minutes. Within another 30 minutes, the pugnacious RUFOUS had usurped the feeder 100 % and we never saw the CALLIOPE again. In late afternoon an Oregon State Police officer and companion happened along; patrolling their "beat." Apparently, in Oregon, State Police also have law enforcement responsibilities in theses remote outback areas. The officers companion, it turns out, was a retired wildlife biologist. I began querying him on grazing policies as it was clear this "Wilderness Study Area" was much more lightly grazed by cattle than much of the surrounding landscape. He said management of endangered Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (with the aim of preserving and improving stream quality) had dictated a complete cessation of cattle grazing for three years in this area a decade or so again followed by light grazing at this time. He pointed to the many sprouting aspens in the grove here and said there were none 10 years ago, not a one. He was quite emphatic that reducing grazing was reaping huge improvements in rangeland quality in this area in addition to helping the threatened trout. Regarding birds, they gave us the location near Mud Springs where they had noted a brood of sage grouse only a few hours before. As dusk settled, we savored the sublime scene of the multi-colored slopes east across Oregon Canyon. I felt even the most inspired artist could not improve on this scene with steep slopes of castellated lavas of varying hues of reds, pinks, and buffs, all perfectly framed by crisp blackness of cliff fissures in shadows. The nearby slopes of soft greens of varying intensity reflected various dwarf vegetation belts, presumably governed by differences in soil depth. From the rocky slopes nearby a COMMON POORWILL called and several LONG-EARED OWLS flew over the dwarf shrub-steppe and aspens. Early in the morning of the 16th, Stan, Lori, and Ellen hiked down into Oregon Canyon about halfway down before heat sent them back early to camp, arriving at 11:30 am. In the aspen stringers down in the canyon they added COOPER'S HAWK, RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, YELLOW WARBLER, WESTERN TANAGER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, and SONG SPARROW to our Oregon Canyon Mountains list. Meanwhile, I traipsed about all the mountain mahogany groves around Twin Buttes, with Virginia's Warbler my key target. I encountered a number of WARBLING VIREOS, one BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (four pairs here six weeks ago), a group of MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES (including recently fledged juveniles), several ORANGE-CROWNED and at least four adult male YELLOW WARBLERS. We set off down the mountain after lunch, detouring to see GREATER SAGE-GROUSE in the sage lands north of mud Springs. The seven or so "chicks" were nearly adult-sized but behaved rather "stupidly." They flew only a short distance as compared to the wild abandon seasoned adults, as these rocket away from humankind, seemingly headed for the next county. Descending towards Whitehorse Road, we stopped a few times to nab another sparrow or two to our list for these mountains and were rewarded, in the lowest elevations (at a bit of rimrock on a low ridgeline to the north of the road at: 42.18.968 N 118.09.097 W) with a pair of BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS bringing food to their young. LARK SPARROWS were also here, as were WESTERN MEADOWLARKS and LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES. We could not find any Sage Sparrows on this day, though they were easy to hear and see in May. We started the long drive to the Steens Mountains, stopping to clean off in the small pools at Willow Hot Springs south of Whitehorse Ranch (which the State Police officer had kindly told us about). Beyond, in the Trout Creek gorge, we spied a ringtail Golden Eagle soaring on the skyline and noted a massive stick nest on a low cliff near creek level; we supposed this was this bird's nest. Meanwhile, Sally freshened off in cool Trout Creek as Lori had firmly forbidden her to enter the hot pools at Willow Hot Springs. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA wqindypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090724/20a1a657/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Jul 24 08:24:08 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:24:08 +0000 Subject: [obol] Great Blue Heron visits BirdFellow.com office Message-ID: Greetings All, Sometimes, birds do funny things. This was the case on 22 July, when a young Great Blue Heron walked into the waterfront office of BirdFellow, which is located on Oswego Lake just south of Portland. I wish I would have been there. Thankfully, Bjorn Hinrichs was able to capture some pictures with his iPhone. He has written a short piece about this rather unexpected visit. Check it out at www.birdfellow.com. Dave Irons Content Editor BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?: Search, add, and share the web?s latest sports videos. Check it out. http://www.windowslive.com/Online/Hotmail/Campaign/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_QA_HM_sports_videos_072009&cat=sports -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090724/d53af4ea/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Fri Jul 24 09:01:01 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:01:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] shorebirds at Ridgefield NWR, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: This morning on Rest Lake I found the following long-billed dowitcher 126 greater yellowlegs 26 lesser " " 1 western sandpiper 2 least " " 27 semipalmated sandpiper 1 " " " plover 1 Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090724/408c66f2/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Fri Jul 24 10:02:02 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:02:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Steens Mountains Black Rosy Finch Message-ID: <000a01ca0c80$80bdccb0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> STEENS MOUNTAINS 16-18 JULY 2009 Targeting Black Rosy Finch, reliable in Oregon only on Steens Mountain we (Stan and Lori, and Spaniel Ms. Sally, and Ellen and myself) began our approach to this fault block range in early evening of the 16th. Climbing the South Steens Road, we camped in juniper country, greeted by bleatings of COMMON NIGHTHAWKS and brief snips of GRAY FLYCATCHER song. The morning of the 17th we continued up the South Steens Road, stopping at the Donner und Blitzen River crossing, where a narrow ribbon of riparian vegetation (alders, willows) interrupts the otherwise arid juniper habitat. BELTED KINGFISHERS (flying very high, weird!) and YELLOW WARBLERS were conspicuous birds here. Above, the South Steens Road becomes very steep and rough up the so-called Rooster Comb; the warning sides by the roadside were apt, indeed. We stopped a few times to see if we could hear or see Gray or Ash-throated Flycatchers or Black-throated Gray Warbler, all seemingly likely here. We had no luck on any of these. Near the top of the Rooster Comb, the road gradient lessens and we stopped at a commanding view of Little Blitzen River gorge, our first of many truly inspiring views of deep, U-shaped, glacier-carved gorges emanating off the slopes of the Steens Mountain. The vegetation belts we noted included aspen woodlands down in the gorge, especially on north-facing slopes. Higher, south-facing slopes were mantled in patches of mountain mahogany, intriguing-looking habitat, though to say this area would be difficult to access would be an understatement. The next zone we climbed through was an extensive belt of high quality shrub-steppe, dominated by sagebrush of modest stature, good habitat for BREWER'S and VESPER SPARROWS. No doubt Greater Sage-Grouse lurk in these sage lands but this was not our lucky day for grouse. Higher, above about 8500 feet elevation, approaching the Steens Mountain crest, we entered the famous and well-studied alpine zone on Steens Mountain. We admired a kaleidoscope of color presented by the many species of wildflowers, reason enough to venture up this mountain. Shortly we reached the crest at more than 9600 feet elevation and began to take in the awesome views all around but especially east the 5000-foot drop to the Alvord Desert, probably the prime reason most regular tourists come here for. We agree with the guidebooks that the views here certainly rank among Oregon's very best. We set about looking for rosy finches. HORNED LARKS were everywhere on the tundra. VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS chattered pleasingly in the warm and still air about the cliffs while chorus from ROCK WRENS on the precipices below echoed up to us. It didn't take us long to spot raptors: GOLDEN EAGLES, RED-TAILED HAWKS, and PRAIRIE FALCONS. Rodents such as BELDING'S GROUND SQUIRRELS were abundant, constantly uttering their very high-pitched, piercing "teee-tee-te" alarm call. Yellow-bellied Marmots were less numerous but still conspicuous by their "chuck" call. Stan saw a flyby BLACK ROSY FINCH, a bird we never caught up with. Pretty MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS called and a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE sang in a habitat devoid of shrubs or trees but perhaps cliffs suffice as habitat for this species here? We ambled along the rim for perhaps a mile in the area north of East Steens Viewpoint before returning to this viewpoint. Here, Stan noted a BLACK ROSY FINCH just below the rim on a ledge; this bird promptly slipped down and out of view. We set up vigil here and within 15 minutes we all were on to another rosy finch, perhaps returning to its nest with food. It perched in plain view, giving us all a pleasing view. I noted the habitat here featured cliffs, melting snow banks, lush alpine "gardens," all features important to a rosy finch for breeding habitat. Continuing on the rim drive, we noted a NORTHERN HARRIER working its way over the tundra. After lunch, we drove south to the road end at Steens Mountain and began the hike down to Wildhorse Lake, a stunning cirque lake set in a cliff-rimmed bowl. The way down was steep and rocky. Wildflowers were a special treat, especially the many showy penstemons. We all kept our ears tuned for the distinctive musical hum from a passing Broad-tailed Hummingbird with no luck. We heard or saw these daily in the Ruby Mountains of northeastern Nevada a few days earlier about 200 miles air miles to the southeast. We did note CALLIOPE and RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, though. The lake is indeed beautiful, rimmed by lush greenery of sedges, grasses, and rushes and a precious few willow bushes. Here, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS sang and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS called, while high on the cliffs, PRAIRIE FALCON fledglings begged "eeh.eeh.eeh." This lake proved perfect for a cool and refreshing swim! We lingered until sunset at the East Steens Viewpoint to take in the view. The shadows extending from Steens Mountain gradually spread east over southeastern Oregon's desert ranges and south to the rugged Santa Rosa Mountains 70 miles away in northern Nevada. Westward, the view out to the hot sagebrush country to the west of Malheur NWR was cast in haze, as were the white patches marking dry Harney Lake. The morning of the 18th we hiked about the tundra, always near receding snow banks searching for AMERICAN PIPIT. We heard and briefly observed only two pipits. If these alpine birds are prevalent on Steens Mountain, it might be in the more snowy basins lying off the ridge line extending west from the peak of Steens Mountain. We added AMERICAN KESTREL to our mountaintop list and a few other species: BREWER'S BLACKBIRD and a few more WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS. An adult GOLDEN EAGLE flapped by, quite close giving us a magnificent study. The botanical extravaganza here is near-impossible to ignore. I became interested in various aspects of Steens Mountains flora and found this mountain block has a most impressive total of 1085 (including 65 subspecies) vascular species, larger than the total for any of other 96 local floras catalogued throughout the western United States. Of great interest to a biogeographer, dealt with in this book, is the development of the Steens flora tied to various geologic events in the region. It turns out at least 154 species are near the edge of their range here: 76 Great Basin species are at their northern edge here; 29 Rocky Mountain species at their westerly limit; 20 are Sierran and reach the northeast limit of their ranges here; and 12 are Sierran/Cascade species with their easternmost populations here (Flora of Steens Mountain. Mansfield. OSU.). One passage in this book under Shepardia canadensis (Canada Buffalo-berry) brought me a smile: "rare in riparian woodlands in Blitzen Canyon; one plant known in Willow Creek." Plant people do thoroughly canvas their ground! Another interesting aspect of Steens Mountain flora is the near-absence of conifers. Western junipers thrive on the lower slopes and a few shrubby common Junipers (Juniperus communis) at upper elevations, otherwise only a couple relict groves of White Fir (Abies concolor var.?) persist on a few north aspects. Mansfield cite these as a "taxonomic problem" as it is uncertain if these are allied with Blue Mountain Grand Firs (Abies grandis) or Sierran/Cascade White Fir. Near the rim we especially admired the dwarf, mat-forming buckwheat aptly named Mat Buckwheat (Eriogonum cespitosum), and the inflated pods of Balloon Milkvetch (Astralagus whitneyi). These are just two examples of the beautiful plants on Steens Mountain. Everywhere we looked at every elevation there were beautiful wildflowers, mosses, and lichens to savor. We descended by the graded and smooth North Steens Road, stopping one last time on the rim at the Kiger Gorge Viewpoint, featuring yet another stupendous view. Glacial erosion on a grand scale is featured here. Down along the North Steens Road, we made a few stops, mostly in the aspen belt such as at Fish Lake. We found a DOWNY WOODPECKER nest with young chattering from inside their nest hole and saw a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER. YELLOW WARBLERS and SONG SPARROWS were other conspicuous birds along with TREE and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090724/2cedaf59/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Fri Jul 24 11:35:29 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:35:29 -0400 Subject: [obol] Cape Meares and Cannon Beach Message-ID: <8CBDAA4A76D3125-1204-C94@WEBMAIL-MA19.sysops.aol.com> I got up at 4am Wed. to make it over to Cannon Beach very low tide at 730am. I wanted to get so good Tifted Puffin shots. The weather was supposed to be sunny. I made it on time, which is unusal considering I took my wife and daughter-in-law along. But when I got there the fog was pretty thick. I waited a while for it to burn off. But when It didn't I took photos thru the soup. I have several fair shots that I have to tweek a bit before I post them. But this is the 4th trip to get Puffin shots didn't work out as planned. My wife says she heard the birds laughing at me. We also went to Cape Meares and Tillamook. The folks that set up their scopes and let people scope out the Perigrine Falcons are the greatest. I saw them the best I have ever seen them thru a modified telescope a very nice lady had set up. While I was there Mamma Falcon zoomed down caught a bird, decapitated it and brought it up to junior. Which brought up a question. ?With a nesting pair of Falcons high in the rocks, why do so many Comorants and other birds nest and hunt there? Don't the know they are on the buffet menu for the Falcons? Even though the weather didn't cooperate it was a nice day at the beach. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090724/b94a31cf/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Fri Jul 24 11:44:25 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:44:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur NWR-18-19 July Message-ID: <000c01ca0c8e$ccb7b000$3700a8c0@windypoint99> MALHEUR NWR 18-19 JULY 2009 Descending the North Steens Road to Page Springs we (Stan and Lori and Spaniel Ms. Sally, and Ellen and I) were greeted by quite hot weather as we headed off north on the Center P Auto Tour Route in Malheur NWR. In the shade of tall trees at the Circle P Ranch, we found WILLOW FLYCATCHER and EASTERN KINGBIRDS. Stops farther north on the route out in the open proved toilsome in the heat and the mosquitoes were definitely bothersome. On our last visit here in late May, we found the birding experience nothing short of exceptional. Now, the marsh vegetation had grown high enough to block views of many wetlands and others have since become dry. Overall, the experience this time in July was but a fraction of that six weeks ago. One wetland along the tour route proved excellent for wading birds and we sort of cleaned up here: GREAT BLUE HERON, GREAT EGRET, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, lots of ducks, mostly in young or drab plumage (therefore uninteresting!) including MALLARD, CINNAMON TEAL, and RUDDY DUCK, and shorebirds such as KILLDEER, BLACK-NECKED STILT, AMERICAN AVOCET, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, WILLET, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, WILSON'S SNIPE, and WILSON'S and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. Overhead, FRANKLIN'S GULLS and FORSTER'S TERNS wheeled. There were thousands of swallows! Where the Krumbo Reservoir Road meets the auto tour route, there were so many swallows that Stan suggested the power line might crumple! Most of the swallows were BANK (70 %), second in abundance were Cliff (30 %) followed by a handful of TREE and BARN. Checking the bird listing board at Malheur NWR headquarters revealed no juicy sightings. We added SAY'S PHOEBE to our trip list here as well as another gob of mosquitoes. It was hot! We cut birding time due to the heat and bugs and sought refuge in Burns with dinner out and a motel stay. Very early in the morning of the 19th we explored new areas for us along the north shore of Malheur Lake. On a lark we took Lawen Road south and west towards the lake. A SHORT-EARED OWL hunting the weedy fields made for a great start. Along this route we encountered a number of marshy sloughs with many wading birds. AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS and numbers of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS were working one pool. WHITE-FACED IBIS were always in view, many commuting. GREAT BLUE HERONS, GREAT and SNOWY (2) EGRETS, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, and SANDHILL CRANES were the other conspicuous wading birds. The dry fields, mostly given over to cattle grazing, were chock full of blackbirds, several thousand of them. RED-WINGED and BREWER'S were the dominant species, with lesser numbers of YELLOW-HEADED. Lawen Road curves to the west eventually becoming Ruh-Reds Road. The habitat gradually changes to shrub-steppe. LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES became common, we counted 17 along this road and others we drove this morning. We noted a few SAGE THRASHERS and WESTERN MEADOWLARKS and one SAGE SPARROW. On the Diamond Craters Road we stopped briefly overlooking Diamond Marsh. FRANKLIN'SGULLS by the hundreds indicated this is a significant colony. At Diamond Craters, we peered into the first crater and found a GREAT HORNED OWL sitting quite out in the open on the opposite wall from the viewpoint.. CANYON and ROCK WRENS were easy to find as advertised on the interpretive display (the "only known place where the two species are sympatric" seems a risky generalization). Hardy wildflowers such as the bright yellow Blazing Star and the bright purple Cusick's Monkeyflower on the gravel-textured lava soils certainly caught our attention. "Raptor Alley," On the east side of the Harney Basin, the stretch of road from Princeton north past Crane to OR-20, a landscape of irrigated hay pastures (with a bazillion squirrels!), was still very good for birds of prey. We tallied 3 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 3 SWAINSON'S, 25 RED-TAILED, and 6 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, 4 GOLDEN EAGLES, and 2 AMERICAN KESTRELS along this stretch. A half-dozen TURKEY VULTURES wheeling overhead indicated hay-mowing machines might be munching a few of the rodents. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090724/c43b4e82/attachment.html From tanager at nu-world.com Fri Jul 24 12:03:12 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:03:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Douglas County Jims Message-ID: <002101ca0c91$647fd190$2d7f74b0$@com> Well, there are two Douglas County Jims (Hein and Arneson), but the one I first mentioned (Harleman) is a Jackson County Jim. Sorry for the mixup. Dan -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090724/ac6533e6/attachment.html From archmcc at qwest.net Fri Jul 24 12:11:06 2009 From: archmcc at qwest.net (Arch McCallum) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:11:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ever wonder why Toucans have such large bills? In-Reply-To: <4A68DC5F.5040701@verizon.net> References: <4A68DC5F.5040701@verizon.net> Message-ID: <20090724191116.78D2D22DC13@mpls-qmqp-04.inet.qwest.net> Thanks for this link, Dave. When I followed it I also found a link to an article explaining that song complexity in 29 species of mockingbirds (South America) is correlated with unpredictability of climate. Here's the link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8062420.stm Arch McCallum At 02:55 PM 7/23/2009, DJ Lauten and KACastelein wrote: >Apparently here's why: > >http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8165895.stm > >Cheers >Dave Lauten > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jonysky101 at aol.com Fri Jul 24 11:18:06 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:18:06 -0400 Subject: [obol] Little Shore birds on Bayocean Causeway Message-ID: <8CBDAA239A6248D-1204-BA6@WEBMAIL-MA19.sysops.aol.com> I got a few shots of some small ocean birds along Bayocean road, but they took off before I could get close. They flew in a very tight ball and could turn on a dime. Their flight maneuvers were unbelievable. I've posted a couple of shots of them in the air. I haven't found this bird Or birds in my book yet. I see a lot like them, but none that match for sure. Also There are a couple of birds in the group that seem taller than the rest. I've posted some shots on Flicker. If you can't enlarge them enough to ID the birds, I'll gladly email the larger photo to anyone requesting it. Fight Balls; http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2081/3752177705_34691ac91d.jpg?v=0 http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2466/3752177055_78f60f194e.jpg?v=0 the birds on shore; http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2585/3752173693_4356c0be13_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2599/3752966940_b2f799246c_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2052/3752175559_018a6edd8a_b.jpg I appreciate any help. Johnny Sasko -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090724/4c7a1bb6/attachment.html From smithdwd at hotmail.com Fri Jul 24 12:31:46 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:31:46 +0000 Subject: [obol] YB Cuckoo no Message-ID: Up to ten people were at Sandy Delta from before 7 to 10 this am. No detection; however since I did leave-chances are better! 60-65 degrees, overcast. David Smith _________________________________________________________________ More than messages?check out the rest of the Windows Live?. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090724/9333ffa0/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Fri Jul 24 13:58:52 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:58:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cape Meares and Cannon Beach In-Reply-To: <8CBDAA4A76D3125-1204-C94@WEBMAIL-MA19.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: The one species there that seems to be able to hold its own there is Black Oystercatcher. Two years ago I saw a Peregrine grab a young Black Oystercatcher. Its screams immediately summoned an adult oystercatcher which used its powerful bill to rout the falcon. The young oystercatcher looked none the worse. Up to the summer when the Peregrines were established at Cape Meares (brought there?, there were a few pairs of Tufted Puffins that nested on the grassy slope on the mainland that were clearly viewable from the lookout half way down the trail. The puffins haven?t been there since. Jeff Gilligan On 7/24/09 11:35 AM, "jonysky101 at aol.com" wrote: > I got up at 4am Wed. to make it over to Cannon Beach very low tide at 730am. I > wanted to get so good Tifted Puffin shots. The weather was supposed to be > sunny. I made it on time, which is unusal considering I took my wife and > daughter-in-law along. But when I got there the fog was pretty thick. I waited > a while for it to burn off. But when It didn't I took photos thru the soup. I > have several fair shots that I have to tweek a bit before I post them. But > this is the 4th trip to get Puffin shots didn't work out as planned. My wife > says she heard the birds laughing at me. > We also went to Cape Meares and Tillamook. The folks that set up their scopes > and let people scope out the Perigrine Falcons are the greatest. I saw them > the best I have ever seen them thru a modified telescope a very nice lady had > set up. > While I was there Mamma Falcon zoomed down caught a bird, decapitated it and > brought it up to junior. Which brought up a question. > With a nesting pair of Falcons high in the rocks, why do so many Comorants > and other birds nest and hunt there? Don't the know they are on the buffet > menu for the Falcons? > Even though the weather didn't cooperate it was a nice day at the beach. > Johnny Sasko > Sandy, Oregon > > > A bad credit score is 600 below. Checking won't affect your score. See now! > //www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd=Jul > yBadfooterNO62> > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090724/3c9b42bb/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Fri Jul 24 15:01:06 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:01:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] North OR Coast birding Message-ID: <029B8A01-988E-4375-A1EC-33FBA49CDFFE@gmail.com> From Monday to Thursday afternoon I was lucky to stay right at Little Beach in Gearhart at a house with my sister while she and hubby played in a golf club tournament. I spent lots of time on foot combing the beach and the inlet in sometimes very soggy conditions. The sun finally came out yesterday just about the time Mom and I had to head home. Shorebirds were slim upon arrival but numbers built by the day. Peak numbers were: BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER: 4 adults on July 23 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER: 100 including first juvenile on July 23 WESTERN SANDPIPER: 225 including first juvenile on July 22 LEAST SANDPIPER: 50 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER: on July 22 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: 1 stunning adult on July 22 CASPIAN TERNS: 400 (probably a lot more) including a few juveniles The gull, tern and pelican show was stunning. There were thousands of adult CALIFORNIA GULLS with many, many juveniles in the inlet, with fewer numbers of WESTERNS, HEERMANN'S, and a smattering of GLAUCOUS- WINGED and hybrids. At Steve Warner's suggestion I went over to "THE COVE" off Ocean View in Seaside yesterday and was sorry I hadn't gone there earlier. The Cove is crammed with bait fish and the number of birds feeding on them is spectacular, between the gulls, pelicans, murres, cormorants, etc. There is also a GRAY WHALE or two that are feeding really close to the shore, practically in with the surfers. Steve mentioned that he had his first BLACK TURNSTONE flock of the season on Wednesday. On Tuesday I drove up to the South Jetty and poked around. Notably there were lots of adult loons including PACIFIC LOON: 235 RED-THROATED LOON: 20 SURF SCOTER: 12 MARBLED MURRELET: 1 WESTERN SANDPIPERS: 100 LEAST SANDPIPERS: 5 Lots of COMMON MURRES and a few PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, BROWN PELICANS, CASPIAN TERNS, cormorants, etc. offshore and reams of gulls (lots of Heermann's) along the shoreline and amid the feeding frenzy in the cove. There were at least three BALD EAGLES and a pair of NORTHERN HARRIERS at Little Cove, plus a female HOODED MERGANSER. Shawneen Finnegan Portland, OR From richarmstrong at comcast.net Fri Jul 24 15:29:36 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:29:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] alaska cruise References: <000c01ca0c8e$ccb7b000$3700a8c0@windypoint99> Message-ID: <3543C0D421C9448B93523B662453C7DC@armstrong> this will be a long report on the 10-day alaska cruise nanette & i took from san francisco on 7/13 with emphasis on the 1 ? days of pelagic birding off oregon. so if you are not interested in pelagics or in an alaska cruise just delete now. 1.. 1st let me identify our lack of skills. i guess i would call us slightly above average pelagic birders (since we have done 4 pelagic cruises and 2 greg gillson trips), but way way below the skill levels of gillson, gilligan, schmidt, irons, janzen, and all the others we have gone with). this means we don't even bother looking more than about 200 yards off the ship or so and still miss some close ones we don't get a long enough look at. during slow times we did scan out and saw some flying dots, only in hopes that they might fly toward us and become birds. so it will seem we identified confidently a high % of what we saw, and we did, but that's because we only looked close to ship. we did use gps and had owen schmidt's excellent oregon map of county gps coordinates. we also used the jay withgott technique of recording all birds all the time. so we feel we got quite accurate county lists for the trip. we hope jay or greg gillson can add these sightings to the oregon data base and we hope we contributed. 2.. the ship left san francisco at about 5:00 on 7/13. since the 1st stop would be ketchikan the ship headed further out from shore than the normal repositioning cruises that go to vancouver. 3.. 7/14 began unfortunately with 30 knot north winds making it 100% impossible to be looking to front of ship from anywhere. so we were observing from the side of the ship. since we know many more birds cross the front than are seen from the side we know we missed a lot, but nothing we could do about it. the ship was going slow into the wind and heading more northwest than normal, so it entered oregon at 935 am 71 miles off brookings. 4.. here are the count results and locations and times for the entire day - birding was very slow 5.. curry county (935 to 1258, begin 71 miles, end 85 miles from coast, speed 21 mph) 1.. black-footed albatross 1 2.. leach's storm petral 13 3.. WILSON'S STORM PETRAL 1 (50 feet off ship right below us, seen perfectly) 4.. ASHY STORM PETRAL 2 (50-100 feet off ship seen very well, no white and more stiff winged flight compared to butterfly flight of leach's - and yes we know leach's can have no white although we have never seen one) 5.. sooty shearwater 1 6.. unknown birds 10 6. coos county (12:58 to 2:45, begin 85 miles, end 100 miles from coast) 1.. black-footed albatross 1 2.. leach's storm petral 3 3.. ASHY STORM PETRAL 1 (definitely no white and flew more stiff winged) 4.. fork-tailed storm petral 2 5.. rhinoceros auklet 1 6.. unknown birds 6 (probable 2 ashy storm petrals - didn't see white and flew more stiff winged, but little further out) 7. douglas county (2:45 to 3:38, begin 110 miles, end 120 miles from coast) 1.. fork-tailed storm-petrel 6, 2.. unknown jaeger (probably pomarine) 3.. parasitic jaeger 10, 4.. 2 unknown birds that we don't think we have ever seen before. 1st was seen close but flying away - shearwater size, definite m pattern on back, banked once and looked all black below, but we did not see head and were not fast or smart enough to look at tail. closest guess we could do looking in seabirds of work was herald petral, but we didn't do as well as we should have. 2nd was way to front of ship and i saw a brown backed shearwater size bird that banked once and looked all white underneath but then went out of sight to front of boat. i can only say it did not give me a pink foot or manx impression. we needed good birders with us! 8. lane county (3:38 to 4:57, begin 120 miles, end 126 41 024 from coast) - the further out we got the fewer the birds 1.. sooty shearwater 2 2.. fork-tailed storm-petrel 1 3.. jaeger (sp.) 2 4.. unknown birds 4 9. lincoln county (4:57 to 7:18, end 146 miles from coast) 1.. black-footed albatross 1 2.. unknown birds 2 (so slow we looked further out) 10. tillamook county (7:18 to dark 9:13, begin 146 miles, end 160 miles from coast) 1.. long-tailed jaeger 1 (only flying thing we saw in last 2 hours) 11. it got toooooo dark to see anything at 9:13 that evening and we quit. 12. 9 days later on 7/22 we had left victoria at 2 pm in order to get to san francisco early on 24th. this was lousy because we crossed into oregon off astoria about 1 am. the good news was the weather was much better with 10 knot tail winds, and warmer. so we birded from front of ship entire time. 13. we were birding at the front about 30 minutes before dawn and were already in lincoln county. 14. here are the count results and locations and times for the entire day 15. lincoln county (5:30 to about 7:00, begin 55 miles, end 53 miles from coast) 1.. leach's storm petral 3 2.. sooty shearwater 1, 3.. fork-tailed storm-petrel 2 4.. black-footed albatross 1 16. lane county (7:00 to about 8:10, begin 53 miles, end 50 miles from coast) - we did not see 1 bird in lane county (the dave irons jinx?) 17. douglas county (8:10? to about 8:40?), about 50 miles from coast) - no birds 18. coos county (8:40 to 10:53, begin 48 miles, end 35 miles from coast) 1.. leach's storm petral 2 2.. sooty shearwater 1 3.. parasitic jaeger 5 4.. red-necked phalaropes 21 5.. unknown jaeger 2 6.. unknown storm petral 2 (so slow we looked further out) 7.. unknown auklet 2 8.. western gull 4 19. curry county (10:53 to 1:44, begin 35 miles, end 35 miles from coast) - the hours of tedious boredom turned to total chaos about noon) 1.. leach's storm petral 792+, over 700 in last hour (we looked at most of these and there were likely many more as when we concentrated on shearwaters and jaegers we undoubtedly missed lots of leach's) - we did not see any possible ashy or wilson's or other at all and we tried pretty hard 2.. sooty shearwater 3 3.. fork-tailed storm-petrel 2 (probably more as we had 100+ storm petrals in a flock and although most were leach's there were likely more than 2 4.. black-footed albatross 6 5.. n fulmar 2 6.. pink-footed shearwater 6 7.. parasitic jaeger 18 (reasonably sure they were all parasitic) 8.. cassin's auklet 10 9.. rhinocerous auklet 5 10.. bonaparte's gulls 6 11.. unknown shearwater type 3 12.. unknown auklet 10 (look at the south end of north sitting auklet and then it dives) 21. now there was zero daylight in washington including going from victoria in total fog bank from 2 pm till dark on 21st. 22. however we did do some birding off canada (we hope dave irons or someone can forward this section to someone in bc interested in pelagics. 23. 7/15 nice day from front of ship from 930 am to about 11 going north. location off north part of vancouver island just looking from lido deck a. leach's storm petral 500 b. sooty shearwater 4 c. parasitic jaeger 1 d. marbled murrelet 2 24. 7/20 coming south. location off north part of vancouver island (50 12 333 and 129 22 679 at 11:48 am) from about 9:15 to 2:00 not working hard from front of ship a. leach's storm petral 700 b. sooty shearwater 20 c. n fulmar 1 d. marbled murrelet 10 e. ancient murrelet 8 f. unknown auklet 10 g. black-footed albatross 2 h. tufted puffin 3 i. fork-tailed strom petral 4 j. common murre 1 k. rhinocerous auklet 10 25. then 4:30-5:30 fairly close to vancouver island a. leach's storm petral 1 b. sooty shearwater 10 c. pomarine jaeger 1 d. unknown jaeger 2 e. black-footed albatross 2 f. n fulmar 3 g. fork-tailed strom petral 30 h. pink-footed shearwater 3 26. we also saw birds in alaska channels - if anyone is interested in that let me know 27. also mammals off oregon - pacific white-sided dolfins and fur seals 28. besides all the birding we had a great time on entire cruise with shore days in ketchikan, juneau, and skagway (we drove to the yukon) and the many wonderful shows and activities on ship. We recommend this as a cruise. So if you want to do an alaska cruise and get some oregon pelagic birding in, this is a way to do both. if you have any questions please ask. Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090724/bcfe3b91/attachment.html From ggrier at efn.org Fri Jul 24 15:35:30 2009 From: ggrier at efn.org (George Grier) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:35:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane County Indigo Bunting Message-ID: <5.0.0.25.2.20090724151757.01733a80@pop.efn.org> Kit Larsen, Cynthia and I found a singing, male INDIGO BUNTING at Indian Ridge yesterday. Cynthia and I relocated it today. Indian Ridge is SW of Cougar Reservoir in the Willamette NF, and is at an elevation of about 5200'. It is best reached by going south past Cougar Reservoir (accessed from Hwy 126) to Road 1980, then up 1980 to Rd 1980-247. The bird was found about 2.5 miles up Rd 247 where there is a sharp left hand turn (as you are ascending) and a pullout. This is a steep road and rugged in spots. The bird appears to be on territory. It is not a hybrid. There was also a singing LAZULI BUNTING in the vicinity. Neither a nest nor a female of either species was found. We have some pictures of varying quality. Please contact me off-line if you are interested and I can forward them on. To top off a fine morning, we also enjoyed a male SOOTY GROUSE calling nearby. Cynthia and I later got great, close looks at a female. It was about 40 feet off the ground but at eye-level due to the steep dropoff. George Grier and Cynthia Pappas Springfield, OR From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Fri Jul 24 16:00:19 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:00:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Cape Meares and Cannon Beach Message-ID: <371791.5707.qm@web51804.mail.re2.yahoo.com> A couple of summers ago during Bonding With Birds, we watched 4 pairs of oystercatchers very closely through the entire nesting season. It was surprising to everyone how UNattentive 3 of the 4 pairs were in guarding their eggs. The parent(s) would stand FAR away from the nest while gulls and raptors encroached....they did not put up a fight when their eggs were stolen...and at times, they would simply go off feeding and leave the eggs completely unattended without even one parent guarding them. Needless to say, the nests failed including second attempts. The first nest of the one pair of attentive parents also failed that summer. The gulls, on the other hand, were almost militant in protecting their eggs/chicks and the cooperation between the parents was truly amazing to watch. Cindy Ashy From celata at pacifier.com Fri Jul 24 16:36:38 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:36:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ashy Storm-petrel Message-ID: <4A6A4586.8060902@pacifier.com> It should be noted that there are no currently accepted records of Ashy Storm-petrel for Oregon (there may be one or two bouncing around in committee, I don't know). Sightings of this species (which is being considered for federal listing) north of its expected range would be of high interest not only to the Oregon Records Committee, but avian researchers as well. I hope the observers will write complete accounts and send them on to all interested parties, especially if photo documentation is part of the package. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From cheekywidow at peak.org Thu Jul 23 15:34:40 2009 From: cheekywidow at peak.org (Gayle) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:34:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] very disappointed........... Message-ID: <4F471AC19D0E47A79BAB19EE606AE99E@MYPC> would like to know subject of "species" of bird under each list or group of photos!! takes too long to try to search for specific photos, because you have no search engine. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090723/49c145ba/attachment.html From katandbill at yahoo.com Fri Jul 24 18:19:39 2009 From: katandbill at yahoo.com (Kat & Bill) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:19:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Eugene - Oregon Junco Yesterday (7/24) Message-ID: <675233.29485.qm@web53901.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hi OBOL, We had an Oregon Junco in the yard yesterday. We usually get an early one every few years, but this one is especially early. We also have a pair of Hairy Woodpeckers in the area, with young! Kat and Bill?Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090724/3091aaf4/attachment.html From dustdevil at centurytel.net Fri Jul 24 22:02:45 2009 From: dustdevil at centurytel.net (Patty Bowers) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:02:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Webb Slough, Umatilla Co. Message-ID: Hi gang, On July 19th Patty and I birded the Webb Slough area in Umatilla Co. We had a great day in country we seldom get to bird in and picked up 31 species. One of the trip highlights was finding a Killdeer nest and watching them hatch throughout the day. Early in the day I found the nest along a gravel road. It had 4 eggs. The female did a great job of decoying my dog down the road away from the nest with an impressive act of serious injury- always just out of reach even for my fleet-footed bird hunting dog. About an hour later I took my brother-in-law for a look and there was one wet hatchling. Three hours later there were three warm bodies and one egg and by evening there were no eggs and the birds had left the nest. Another highlight was watching a recently fledged Red-tailed Hawk come in for a landing or trying to catch a bird in a chokecherry tree. It tried to land on a too small branch and ended up hanging upside down by its feet. It hung there periodically flapping its wings before finally letting go and falling into the branches below. It floundered through the branches reminding me of one of my recent forays through streamside brush while fishing the Deschutes River below Steelhead Falls. Birds Observed: Killdeer - 6 (one family) Western Tanager - 2 bright males Western Wood Peewee - at least 2 American Goldfinch - at least 12 House Finch - at least 6 Barn Swallow - 4 Vesper Sparrow - 4 Lark Sparrow - 10 Brewer's Sparrow - 4 White-crowned Sparrow - 2 (both juveniles) Dark-eyed Junco - 1 Western Kingbird - at least 10 Eastern Kingbird - family of 5 (2 adults, 3 youngsters) Horned Lark - at least 100 American Robin - 6 Say's Phoebe - 2 Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Mourning Dove - 4 Black-billed Magpie - 5 (family group) Brewer's Blackbird - 3 European Starling - at least 50 Common Raven - 4 Turkey Vulture - 1 Chukar - 15 +/-, included about 10 young California Quail - about 10 including one small brood Northern Harrier - 1 Common Nighthawk - 2 Gray Partridge - brood of about 8 Pheasant - 1 Bullock's Oriole - at least 10 including young and adult birds Western Meadowlark - at least 20 And LOTS of grasshoppers Wayne and Patty Bowers Hines, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090724/9e83e46f/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Jul 24 22:19:33 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:19:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ashy Storm-petrel Message-ID: Rich & Nanette, Welcome back from your cruise! As Mike Patterson pointed out, the Ashy Storm-Petrel has only 6 previously reported Oregon sightings (one report of 6 birds by you Gilligan, Schmidt, and Wright I see back in May 2007, and the first record 115 miles off Tillamook County by seabird expert Peter Pyle in August 2005), none accepted to the official state list yet. Please send as detailed notes as possible to the Records Committee. Many state committees will not accept a first state record at all without physical evidence (specimen or photo). That is not the case with Oregon. However, a first state record needs excellent written documentation that describes the what you saw well enough so that there is no reasonable doubt (even when photos are obtained). Keep in mind, that after reading your description, a Committee member should be able to name your bird without you saying what you think it was. A photograph (actually several) would be great, but from 7 stories up on the ship it'd be tough to get the photo angles you'd need to prove this species. That said, the location in Curry and Coos counties (and not farther north) is expected. The fact that you also recorded both Leach's and Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels in the same waters shows you were identifying the regular similar species correctly. And this is a perfect time of year (late summer/fall) for these birds to appear. Best of all, your flight description seems accurate. The bottom line is that this report is certainly credible. Leach's Storm-Petrels hold their long pointed wings bent forward at the wrists and flap deeply and zigzag very much like a common nighthawk. They usually fly and glide with their wings above the horizontal. On the other hand, Ashy Storm-Petrels have slightly rounded wing tips. They flap with stiff, rapid, shallow wing strokes, rarely raising their wings above the horizontal in rather level and direct flight. Then to get a Wilson's Storm-Petrel, too? Wow! That is a Review species as well (4 previous reports, 3 accepted by OBRC), and you should write up a report for the Records Committee for that. If you got a great look as you said, you should be able to describe that distinctive bird well-enough for it to be accepted. Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From whoffman at peak.org Fri Jul 24 19:42:46 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:42:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon Canyon Mountains-14-16 July References: <001301ca0c6f$715e7780$3700a8c0@windypoint99> Message-ID: Re Downy Woodpeckers. According to Gabrielson and Jewett (1940 - Birds of Oregon) the subspecies "Dryobates pubescens leucurus" was the subspecies from eastern Oregon. They gave it the English name Batchelder's Woodpecker. The Latin name has changes, and of course we don't use separate English names for subspecies much anymore. However, "leucurus" means white-tailed, and Gabrielson and Jewett's brief diagnosis read in part: "...undertail coverts pure white instead of spotted and barred with black; outer tail feathers with much less black..." (than the other subspecies in Oregon). In the 1970s I had a couple of friends, a biologist and an experienced bird bander, both of whom should have known better, tell me that they had mistnetted and banded a tiny Hairy Woodpecker on Steens Mountain. They said it was the size of a Downy Woodpecker but had to be a Hairy becuase the outer webs of the outer tailfeathers were pure white. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: Andy Stepniewski To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 7:59 AM Subject: [obol] Oregon Canyon Mountains-14-16 July OREGON CANYON MOUNTAINS IN SOUTHEASTERN OREGON 14-16 JULY 2009 After a long drive north from Nevada's Ruby Mountains (think Himalayan Snowcock!) on the 14th June, Stan and Lori (and Spaniel "Ms. Sally"), and Ellen and myself made camp a mile or so up from Mud Springs in an aspen grove on the north flanks of the Oregon Canyon Mountains. Nightfall soon came and we were then rewarded with two LONG-EARED OWLS flying about the aspens. During the night a GREAT HORNED OWL hooted away in the distance. At daybreak, walking about the aspen grove, Ellen and I immediately noticed the bird activity was very quiet as compared to our visit here the end of May. We were able to roust out DUSKY FLYCATCHER, WARBLING VIREOS, a few each of BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS and HOUSE WRENS, YELLOW and a single BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES, and BREWER'S and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS. We headed upslope towards Twin Buttes. In the high quality shrub-steppe habitat along the way, we observed several each of NORTHERN HARRIERS, RED-TAILED HAWKS (recently fledged juveniles too), AMERICAN KESTRELS, PRAIRIE FALCONS, SAGE THRASHERS, and BREWER'S and VESPER'S SPARROWS. At Twin Buttes, we hiked and birded the slopes, especially those mantled in Mountain Mahogany and aspen thickets. Again, bird activity was quiet as compared to six weeks ago. We did tally the following: NORTHERN HARRIER (adult male and female bringing food to two bright rusty, just-fledged juveniles), RED-TAILED HAWKS (upwards of five juveniles kiting), AMERICAN KESTRELS, DUSKY FLYCATCHERS (conspicuous here), VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, COMMON RAVENS, ROCK WRENS, MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS, AMERICAN ROBINS, WARBLING VIREOS, ORANGE-CROWNED, NASHVILLE (one only), and MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS, GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (still singing quite a lot), CHIPPING, BREWER'S, AND VESPER, and FOX SPARROWS, CASSIN'S FINCH (adults and just-fledged young), and PINE SISKIN. We were not able to re find either CASSIN'S VIREO or VIRGINIA'S WARBLER, present here six weeks ago. We made camp the night of the 15th in an aspen grove just south of Twin Buttes. Nesting DOWNY WOODPECKERS were a treat, though causing us consternation as even with close study, we were quite certain their outer tail feathers were white (most have bars or spots). HOUSE WRENS were nesting here also, coming with food to feed the young within a few feet of us lounging in camp. NORTHERN FLICKERS also appeared to be nesting in these aspens. Ellen set up a hummingbird feeder to attract the Broad-tailed hummers we fantasized were almost certainly about (we saw and heard these daily in the Ruby Mountains only 200 miles southeast). CALLIOPE and RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS appeared within minutes. Within another 30 minutes, the pugnacious RUFOUS had usurped the feeder 100 % and we never saw the CALLIOPE again. In late afternoon an Oregon State Police officer and companion happened along; patrolling their "beat." Apparently, in Oregon, State Police also have law enforcement responsibilities in theses remote outback areas. The officers companion, it turns out, was a retired wildlife biologist. I began querying him on grazing policies as it was clear this "Wilderness Study Area" was much more lightly grazed by cattle than much of the surrounding landscape. He said management of endangered Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (with the aim of preserving and improving stream quality) had dictated a complete cessation of cattle grazing for three years in this area a decade or so again followed by light grazing at this time. He pointed to the many sprouting aspens in the grove here and said there were none 10 years ago, not a one. He was quite emphatic that reducing grazing was reaping huge improvements in rangeland quality in this area in addition to helping the threatened trout. Regarding birds, they gave us the location near Mud Springs where they had noted a brood of sage grouse only a few hours before. As dusk settled, we savored the sublime scene of the multi-colored slopes east across Oregon Canyon. I felt even the most inspired artist could not improve on this scene with steep slopes of castellated lavas of varying hues of reds, pinks, and buffs, all perfectly framed by crisp blackness of cliff fissures in shadows. The nearby slopes of soft greens of varying intensity reflected various dwarf vegetation belts, presumably governed by differences in soil depth. From the rocky slopes nearby a COMMON POORWILL called and several LONG-EARED OWLS flew over the dwarf shrub-steppe and aspens. Early in the morning of the 16th, Stan, Lori, and Ellen hiked down into Oregon Canyon about halfway down before heat sent them back early to camp, arriving at 11:30 am. In the aspen stringers down in the canyon they added COOPER'S HAWK, RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, YELLOW WARBLER, WESTERN TANAGER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, and SONG SPARROW to our Oregon Canyon Mountains list. Meanwhile, I traipsed about all the mountain mahogany groves around Twin Buttes, with Virginia's Warbler my key target. I encountered a number of WARBLING VIREOS, one BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (four pairs here six weeks ago), a group of MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES (including recently fledged juveniles), several ORANGE-CROWNED and at least four adult male YELLOW WARBLERS. We set off down the mountain after lunch, detouring to see GREATER SAGE-GROUSE in the sage lands north of mud Springs. The seven or so "chicks" were nearly adult-sized but behaved rather "stupidly." They flew only a short distance as compared to the wild abandon seasoned adults, as these rocket away from humankind, seemingly headed for the next county. Descending towards Whitehorse Road, we stopped a few times to nab another sparrow or two to our list for these mountains and were rewarded, in the lowest elevations (at a bit of rimrock on a low ridgeline to the north of the road at: 42.18.968 N 118.09.097 W) with a pair of BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS bringing food to their young. LARK SPARROWS were also here, as were WESTERN MEADOWLARKS and LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES. We could not find any Sage Sparrows on this day, though they were easy to hear and see in May. We started the long drive to the Steens Mountains, stopping to clean off in the small pools at Willow Hot Springs south of Whitehorse Ranch (which the State Police officer had kindly told us about). Beyond, in the Trout Creek gorge, we spied a ringtail Golden Eagle soaring on the skyline and noted a massive stick nest on a low cliff near creek level; we supposed this was this bird's nest. Meanwhile, Sally freshened off in cool Trout Creek as Lori had firmly forbidden her to enter the hot pools at Willow Hot Springs. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA wqindypointandy at dishmail.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090724/0d941be8/attachment.html From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Sat Jul 25 08:42:05 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 11:42:05 -0400 Subject: [obol] youngsters in yard Message-ID: Not common at this time of year typically, a female EVENING GROSBEAK is calling loudly from a maple in our yard, with its youngster close by. I've heard a few grosbeaks the last several days, but this is the first I've spotted them. At the NW corner of the state, I'm not sure where the nest site was. Columbia County elevations are low. They're on the move, perhaps. Also, a BANDTAIL PIGEON and its youngster dropped into the backyard this morning to take a bath. Haven't had them in the yard for awhile, either. The two birdbaths, one shallow and one deeper with a trickling flow, are powerful bird magnets. The hummers fight over the right to perch in the trickle to bathe. We have a creek close by, but the birdbaths are busy all year around. Lona Pierce Warren _________________________________________________________________ NEW mobile Hotmail. Optimized for YOUR phone. Click here. http://windowslive.com/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_CS_MB_new_hotmail_072009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090725/45dc101c/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sat Jul 25 09:08:53 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 09:08:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] youngsters in yard References: Message-ID: <4FED27FD96214D7F99D2E82C90C9726A@yourw5st28y9a3> After having Evening Grosbeaks here for months, I may have seen the last one yesterday. They had been coming into the yard in smaller numbers and I saw only one begging young bird, last week. White-crowned Sparrows and Robins have also departed. Other youngsters are more numerous than ever before- Juncos, Evening Grosbeak, Spotted Towhee, even Brown Creeper seem to have been more productive than last year. Pamela Johnston outside McMinnville ----- Original Message ----- From: Bobbett Pierce To: obol Sent: Saturday, July 25, 2009 8:42 AM Subject: [obol] youngsters in yard Not common at this time of year typically, a female EVENING GROSBEAK is calling loudly from a maple in our yard, with its youngster close by. I've heard a few grosbeaks the last several days, but this is the first I've spotted them. At the NW corner of the state, I'm not sure where the nest site was. Columbia County elevations are low. They're on the move, perhaps. Also, a BANDTAIL PIGEON and its youngster dropped into the backyard this morning to take a bath. Haven't had them in the yard for awhile, either. The two birdbaths, one shallow and one deeper with a trickling flow, are powerful bird magnets. The hummers fight over the right to perch in the trickle to bathe. We have a creek close by, but the birdbaths are busy all year around. Lona Pierce Warren ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NEW mobile Hotmail. Optimized for YOUR phone. Click here. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From celata at pacifier.com Sat Jul 25 09:16:15 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 09:16:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Evening Grosbeaks Message-ID: <4A6B2FCF.2090204@pacifier.com> I think this may be an irruptive year for Evening Grosbeaks, at least on the west side of the Cascades. I have been running across great gangs of them in many of the Coast Range spots I've been visiting. On Thursday, a noisy flock of 30+ was working the firs on Mt Hebo. Evening Grosbeaks are regularly encountered in most years, but usually summer numbers are 2's and 3's. The the numbers seem more remarkable this season. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sat Jul 25 10:16:44 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 10:16:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] youngsters in yard/Evening Grosbeaks Message-ID: <81b2a9930907251016y2d4738d8te7b194cf10da7b3e@mail.gmail.com> I'm also hosting more juveniles in the yard than usual. Some of the recent highlights include a WESTERN TANAGER, a SPOTTED TOWHEE, and a Red x Yellow "intergrade" NORTHERN FLICKER that has become a regular over the past week. In addition, there were at least two fledgling PINE SISKINS at the feeders last month. This is the second year in a row that Siskins have nested locally. The "usual suspects" youngsters are also in full force: BC CHICKADEES, RB NUTHATCHES, BUSHTITS, CROWS, LESSER GOLDFINCHES, HOUSE FINCHES, and ANNAS HBs. I'm seeing about twice as many BUSHTITS as I usually do in the summer. The current abundance of EVENING GROSBEAKS in Western OR sounds like a continuation of what we saw this spring. This is interesting as, IIRC, the seed crops in Western Canada were pretty good last fall. Any thoughts on why they're spilling over into the Valley? Brandon Eugene ----- Subject: Re: youngsters in yard From: "pamela johnston" Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 09:08:53 -0700 After having Evening Grosbeaks here for months, I may have seen the last one yesterday. They had been coming into the yard in smaller numbers and I saw only one begging young bird, last week. White-crowned Sparrows and Robins have also departed. Other youngsters are more numerous than ever before- Juncos, Evening Grosbeak, Spotted Towhee, even Brown Creeper seem to have been more productive than last year. Pamela Johnston outside McMinnville From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Jul 25 10:39:29 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:39:29 +0000 Subject: [obol] youngsters in yard/Evening Grosbeaks In-Reply-To: <81b2a9930907251016y2d4738d8te7b194cf10da7b3e@mail.gmail.com> References: <81b2a9930907251016y2d4738d8te7b194cf10da7b3e@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Tis the time of year when seemingly every bird one looks at has a yellow gape flange. Early yesterday evening, I went back out to check in on the Western Kingbird nest that I did a photo essay about last week (can be seen at www.birdfellow.com). The three nestlings have now fledged and are making short flights with the encouragement of their parents. After spending some time photographing the kingbirds, I drove to the home of another one of my customers. The women is the niece of Alex Walker, who for many years was the curator of the Tillamook County Museum. Walker collected many of the birds and created the wonderful dioramas that were on the top floor of the museum (hopefully still there). Anyway, these folks live about two miles south of Veneta and have a wonderful yard for birds. They have several occupied bird houses (Tree Swallows and Western Bluebirds) and lots of brushy hedgerows and woods around the perimeter of their yard. I picked a spot in the shade and sat for several minutes pishing occasionally and photographing a variety of common birds. In about 30 minutes time I got shots of hatch-year Red-naped Sapsucker, Orange-crowned Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, and Black-headed Grosbeaks, plus adults of several other species. There is a certain joy that comes with seeing recently-fledged birds start to move about on their own, kind of like watching your own kids growing up. Of course the fact that I have three teenagers may heighten my awareness to such things. I'll probably post a follow-up piece about the kingbirds and throw in some shots of the other young birds. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 10:16:44 -0700 > From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org; pamelaj at spiritone.com; celata at pacifier.com > Subject: Re: [obol] youngsters in yard/Evening Grosbeaks > > I'm also hosting more juveniles in the yard than usual. Some of the > recent highlights include a WESTERN TANAGER, a SPOTTED TOWHEE, and a > Red x Yellow "intergrade" NORTHERN FLICKER that has become a regular > over the past week. In addition, there were at least two fledgling > PINE SISKINS at the feeders last month. This is the second year in a > row that Siskins have nested locally. > > The "usual suspects" youngsters are also in full force: BC CHICKADEES, > RB NUTHATCHES, BUSHTITS, CROWS, LESSER GOLDFINCHES, HOUSE FINCHES, and > ANNAS HBs. I'm seeing about twice as many BUSHTITS as I usually do in > the summer. > > The current abundance of EVENING GROSBEAKS in Western OR sounds like a > continuation of what we saw this spring. This is interesting as, > IIRC, the seed crops in Western Canada were pretty good last fall. > Any thoughts on why they're spilling over into the Valley? > > Brandon > Eugene > > ----- > Subject: Re: youngsters in yard > From: "pamela johnston" > Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 09:08:53 -0700 > > After having Evening Grosbeaks here for months, I may have seen the last one > yesterday. They had been coming into the yard in smaller numbers and I saw > only one begging young bird, last week. White-crowned Sparrows and Robins > have also departed. > > Other youngsters are more numerous than ever before- Juncos, Evening > Grosbeak, Spotted Towhee, even Brown Creeper seem to have been more > productive than last year. > > Pamela Johnston > outside McMinnville > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?: Celebrate the moment with your favorite sports pics. Check it out. http://www.windowslive.com/Online/Hotmail/Campaign/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_QA_HM_sports_photos_072009&cat=sports -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090725/9471c7c9/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sat Jul 25 11:08:39 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 11:08:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Seed sellers Message-ID: Can anyone give me a few names of shops the sell affordable seed for my feeders? I need to feed a buhzillion goldfinches and various others and buying little bags is becoming very expensive. Rich _________________________________________________________________ Bing? brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now. http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MLOGEN&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TXT_MLOGEN_Local_Local_Restaurants_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090725/74a65f8f/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sat Jul 25 12:53:01 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:53:01 +0000 Subject: [obol] Bandon port Message-ID: Tattlers, Black turnstones, killdeer on bank Coast guard building Bandon. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sat Jul 25 14:14:24 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 21:14:24 +0000 Subject: [obol] Bandon port Message-ID: Also ruddy turnstones same site. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:53:01 To: Subject: [obol] Bandon port Tattlers, Black turnstones, killdeer on bank Coast guard building Bandon. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From bigburd_jh at yahoo.com Sat Jul 25 15:39:51 2009 From: bigburd_jh at yahoo.com (jeff hayes) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:39:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Sandy River Delta 7/25/09 - NO YBCU Message-ID: <778655.74406.qm@web36805.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Went to SRD today from 8-11am. The morning was partly cloudy and becoming hazy and warm by the time I got there, later than intended. As I approached the bird blind, I met a birder who was leaving the area, who had not seen or heard the cuckoo. There were a lot of birds around, including several pairs of adult neotropical migrants busily feeding their begging young. After about 45 minutes and no cuckoo, I left the blind area to access the slough. There, I met Anne and Dan Heyerly, who had been there a while and no cuckoo. I followed the slough the 200 meters or so that can be safely negotiated by humans, and spent a good hour there swatting at mosquitoes, watching adult YELLOW WARBLERS and WILLOW FLYCATCHERS feeding young, and... no cuckoo. Oddly, I heard a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER increased in viciousness, bid goodbye and good luck to the Heyerlys and headed over to Kingbird Towers. I saw at least one short-tailed EASTERN KINGBIRD being attended to by the pair of adults. Two YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS chattered nonchalantly from either side of the slough west of the kingbird towers. Two more YELLOW WARBLERS sang from the south side of the slough along the "old channel" trail, three RED-EYED VIREOS were here also. I saw family groups of many species, (warning: list below) including two families of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES. It's good to see what looks like bumper crops of several neotropical species. -------------------------------------------------------------------- species preceded by an asterisk (*) were actively tending recent fledglings. Canada Goose - 22 Wood Duck - 1 *Mallard - 10 Great Blue Heron - 3 Green Heron - 1 Turkey Vulture - 1 Red-t Hawk - 1 Calif. Gull - 35 (almost all juveniles, single-group flyover) Rock Pigeon - 15 Mourning Dove - 2 Hummingbird, sp - 1 Belted Kingfisher - 2 *Downy Woodpecker - 6 Hairy Woodpecker - 1 N. Flicker - 2 *W. Wood-Pewee - 10 *Willow Flyc. - 9 *Eastern Kingbird - 3 Warbling Vireo - 1 Red-eyed Vireo - 3 Tree Swallow - 15 N. Rough-w. " - 1 Barn Swallow - 2 *W. Scrub-Jay - 5 Am. Crow - 2 *Black-c. Chickadee -20 White-br. Nuthatch - 2 *Bewick's Wren - 7 Marsh Wren - 1 Swainson's Thrush - 12 *Am. Robin - 16 *Eur. Starling - 7 Cedar Waxwing - 2 *Yellow Warbler - 5 Black-thr Gray " - 1 *Com. Yellowthroat - 11 Yellow-br. Chat - 2 Spotted Towhee - 4 Savannah Sparrow - 1 *Song Sparrow - 8 *White-cr. " - 2 (1 ad. seen feeding one fledgling) Red-w. Blackbird - 1 Brown-h. Cowbird - 6 (one fledgling seen, did not see surrogate parents. *Bullock's Oriole - 12 *Black-h. Grosbeak - 10 *Lazuli Bunting - 8 *Am. Goldfinch - 18 From hadada at centurytel.net Sat Jul 25 15:58:47 2009 From: hadada at centurytel.net (ron and Polly Maertz) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:58:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] ww cross,peregrine Message-ID: <811D5A649AA84D5B9790F98B89886DFC@RonPC> Hi This week up at Waldo Lake we had a singing male WHITE-WINGED CROSBILL. We only saw it twice in 9 days. Also first time I've seen a PEREGRINE working the fire. It seems with the magnificent food source up there (mega amounts of skeets) that there would be a lot more insect eating birds. Maertz Glide -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090725/6436a254/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Jul 25 16:09:17 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 23:09:17 +0000 Subject: [obol] Youngsters... Message-ID: Diane Pettey pointed out that I typed in Red-naped rather than Red-breasted Sapsucker in my earlier post. It was surely the latter. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ NEW mobile Hotmail. Optimized for YOUR phone. Click here. http://windowslive.com/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_CS_MB_new_hotmail_072009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090725/edd0ea47/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Sat Jul 25 16:15:24 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:15:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] sandpipers Ridgefield NWR, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: I went to the River S Unit, Rest Lake this morning and found a fair number of birds. I noted a reduction in least sandpipers and absence of lesser yellowlegs. I then went back this afternoon when the low tides were in effect to see if it effected the numbers. I found far fewer yellowlegs but about 50 more dowitchers and 8 more western sandpipers. New birds for this migration included a Wilson's phalarope and spotted sandpiper. Here are my numbers. semiplamated sandpiper 1 killdeer 73 least sandpiper 38 western sandpiper 12 greater yellowlegs 30 long-billed dowitcher 155 Wilson's phalarope 1 semipalmated sandpiper 3 spotted sandpiper 2 Good birding Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090725/c9f09b7a/attachment.html From dkmunson at wildblue.net Sat Jul 25 17:19:27 2009 From: dkmunson at wildblue.net (Don & Karen Munson) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:19:27 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time) Subject: [obol] Elegant Tern time Message-ID: <4A6BA10F.000005.02792@OFFICE> Today while dutifully accompanying my wife on a garden tour in the Gold Beach area I snuck a quick peek at the birds that were in the Rogue River boat basin. 13 Elegant Terns and a Brant were there. Don Munson Brookings, Curry County -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090725/2b502e1c/attachment.html From bettymkn at netscape.com Sat Jul 25 17:32:11 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:32:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seaside, Oregon Birds Message-ID: <20090725173211.ADB8F374@resin18.mta.everyone.net> I guess I was at "The Cove" on the south end of Seaside, possibly when Shawneen Finnegan was there. Thursday late afternoon. Posting a few photos from a point and shoot photographer only. Added one photo to prove I really saw a PUFFIN at Haystack Rock. Caught a photo of a bird that I was told was an ARTIC TERN harassing the BALD EAGLE. There were actually a pair of them taking turns coming up from behind him. Not sure if they hit him as they went by or just yelled at him but he was not happy as you can see if you enlarge the photo. They also made a few passes at him when he went down to the surf to fish but then flew off. I have never seen an ARTIC TERN so would appreciate it if anyone has a correction to this. As Shawneen said, lots and lots of birds. Several folks determined that there were at least 4 whales just off shore and one person saw 4 spouts at one time. http://www.flickr.com/photos/betamk/sets/72157621828569560/ Have a great day and stay cool. Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Sat Jul 25 17:46:18 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:46:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Darby Butte, Gresham OR Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F023B88B1@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> My wife and I took an early morning walk up and around Darby Butte which is located in southwest Gresham above Persimmons Gold Course. We had 34 species of birds with a GREAT-HORNED OWL being our most enjoyable bird. It was in a field and flew up into a tree where we got great looks at it. We had five woodpecker species with PILEATED and RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER being the most interesting. We saw several juvenile HAIRY WOODPECKERS. A dozen BAND-TAILED PIGEON are in the area with six coming to my feeders. Other birds that were fun to observe were CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, BROWN CREEPER, BEWICK'S WREN, WINTER WREN, CEDAR WAXWING, PINE SISKIN, and LESSER GOLDFINCH. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090725/97bf59e6/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sat Jul 25 17:56:22 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:56:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seed Search Message-ID: Well, we we took everyone's suggestions and ran with them!! And after spending a good deal of time searching out seed we came up with the following; Nyjer seed - 50llbs for $33.62 at Diess Feed Sunflower chips - 40lbs for $24.30 at Wilco in Springtuckey (I live there so I can call it that) Songbird Mix - 10lbs for $11.99 at Petco (Consists of Sunflower seeds, Safflower, cracked peanut, raisin and cherry bits) Bulk Nyjer - $1.89 per pound was the bext buy for small quantities. They also have a good selection of bulk specialty mixes and misc supplies for backyard birding. Beside that, Down to Earth is just a fun place to visit! All the vendors with the exception of Fred Meyer, have tons of red and white millet in the seed mixes. We were looking for mixes with non-germinating seeds, and found several different ones. However their were only the two, Fred Meyer and Petco that were not mostly millet. Our BYB's pick the millet out and drop it on the ground! Below our feeders are little piles of millet with only the occasional house sparrow picking at them. So we thought we might try to find some bulk simllar to what Fred Meyer is selling, ince our birds really seem to love it. But no luck there. So....We are going to buy the ingredients bulk and mix it our selves. Thanks for all the suggestions, we actually had quite a good time running all over town looking at feed, and supplies. Rich _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? SkyDrive?: Store, access, and share your photos. See how. http://windowslive.com/Online/SkyDrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_CS_SD_photos_072009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090725/c6046273/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sat Jul 25 17:58:04 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:58:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Elegant Tern time In-Reply-To: <4A6BA10F.000005.02792@OFFICE> Message-ID: <998795.61868.qm@web45305.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I was in Gold Beach on Friday and saw no Elegant Terns and was by there last weekend without luck also so I think Don's timing was right on for finding the first northbound birds in Gold Beach! Tim R Coos Bay --- On Sat, 7/25/09, Don & Karen Munson wrote: > From: Don & Karen Munson > Subject: [obol] Elegant Tern time > To: "OBOL" > Date: Saturday, July 25, 2009, 5:19 PM > > > > #yiv1927930233 #yiv1927930233 :* { > } > > #yiv1927930233 #yiv1927930233 :* { > } > > > > > > > > > Today while dutifully accompanying my wife on a > garden tour in the Gold Beach area I snuck a quick peek at > the birds that were in the Rogue River boat basin.? 13 > Elegant Terns and a Brant were there. > ? > Don > Munson > Brookings, Curry County > > > > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Jul 25 18:16:57 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:16:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seaside, Oregon Birds In-Reply-To: <20090725173211.ADB8F374@resin18.mta.everyone.net> References: <20090725173211.ADB8F374@resin18.mta.everyone.net> Message-ID: <46ca893b650b30679a6326d6cda73771@earthlink.net> I don't have much luck with flikr on my dial-up. Given the time and place I'd say they were Caspian Terns. Arctic terns are very uncommon, but regular in September. I don't know how likely they are to harass an eagle. Lars Norgren On Jul 25, 2009, at 5:32 PM, Betty Mankin wrote: > I guess I was at "The Cove" on the south end of Seaside, possibly when > Shawneen Finnegan was there. Thursday late afternoon. > > Posting a few photos from a point and shoot photographer only. Added > one > photo to prove I really saw a PUFFIN at Haystack Rock. Caught a photo > of > a bird that I was told was an ARTIC TERN harassing the BALD EAGLE. > There were > actually a pair of them taking turns coming up from behind him. Not > sure if they > hit him as they went by or just yelled at him but he was not happy as > you can > see if you enlarge the photo. They also made a few passes at him when > he went > down to the surf to fish but then flew off. > > I have never seen an ARTIC TERN so would appreciate it if anyone has a > correction > to this. > > As Shawneen said, lots and lots of birds. Several folks determined > that there were > at least 4 whales just off shore and one person saw 4 spouts at one > time. > > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/betamk/sets/72157621828569560/ > > Have a great day and stay cool. > > Betty Mankin > bettymkn at netscape.com > > > _____________________________________________________________ > Netscape. Just the Net You Need. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Jul 25 18:59:41 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2009 01:59:41 +0000 Subject: [obol] Seaside, Oregon Birds In-Reply-To: <20090725173211.ADB8F374@resin18.mta.everyone.net> References: <20090725173211.ADB8F374@resin18.mta.everyone.net> Message-ID: As Lars Norgren has already suggested, the tern harrassing the Bald Eagle is a Caspian. The keys to this ID are the overall bulkiness of the bird, the tail shape, and the underwing pattern (hard to see in this image). This tern is obviously fairly good-sized compared to the eagle and it heavy-bodied (more suggestive of a gull than a tern), and has comparatively short, broad tail with a shallow fork. The wings look broad as well and, though it isn't easy to see, the undersides of the primaries show extensive black, as though the wingtip had been dipped in an ink bottle. An Arctic Tern would be quite unusual at this time of year. Additionally, Arctic Terns are quite small, have very slender pointed wings, a slim torso, and fairly long, deeply-forked tail (adults). Finally, the underwings of an Arctic Tern do not show much black. The black is limited to the a narrow strip along the trailing edge of the flight feathers and a little bit of dark on the undersides of the outermost primaries. Conversely, Caspian Tern is the default species of tern this time of year along the northern Oregon Coast. Their breeding colony at the mouth of the Columbia R. is the largest in the world, numbering into the 10s of thousands of pairs I believe. There are no other locally breeding tern species in this part of Oregon, and as Lars mentions, the migrant Common and Arctic Terns that move along the Oregon coast typically pass through mostly during September. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:32:11 -0700 > From: bettymkn at netscape.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Seaside, Oregon Birds > > I guess I was at "The Cove" on the south end of Seaside, possibly when > Shawneen Finnegan was there. Thursday late afternoon. > > Posting a few photos from a point and shoot photographer only. Added one > photo to prove I really saw a PUFFIN at Haystack Rock. Caught a photo of > a bird that I was told was an ARTIC TERN harassing the BALD EAGLE. There were > actually a pair of them taking turns coming up from behind him. Not sure if they > hit him as they went by or just yelled at him but he was not happy as you can > see if you enlarge the photo. They also made a few passes at him when he went > down to the surf to fish but then flew off. > > I have never seen an ARTIC TERN so would appreciate it if anyone has a correction > to this. > > As Shawneen said, lots and lots of birds. Several folks determined that there were > at least 4 whales just off shore and one person saw 4 spouts at one time. > > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/betamk/sets/72157621828569560/ > > Have a great day and stay cool. > > Betty Mankin > bettymkn at netscape.com > > > _____________________________________________________________ > Netscape. Just the Net You Need. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Bing? brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now. http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MLOGEN&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TXT_MLOGEN_Local_Local_Restaurants_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090726/68af45df/attachment.html From sheilach at nwtec.com Sat Jul 25 19:08:58 2009 From: sheilach at nwtec.com (sheila) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:08:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fading summer Message-ID: <1FE3D7D1B5D64D10ABEA9533BC67C625@sheila> It's been a rough year for me, agonizing back pain kept me down for about a month. As though that wasn't bad enough, I had Deer mice build a nest in the heating fan of my car, what a HORRIBLE STENCH that made!!!! I had to spend several hundred dollars to get it cleaned out so my car doesn't still smell like a cess pit! I also had routine matenence done at the same time. I felt sorry for the poor mechanic that had to clean out that stinking mess. As for the birds, they had a fairly good year. I had two VIOLET-GREEN and one TREE SWALLOW nest here. The TREE SW. fledged 4 nestlings as did one VIOLET GREEN SWALLOW but a late nesting VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW only had three fledglings and two un hatched eggs. The BARN SWALLOW that had built a nest over the front door last year did not return, I think it didn't like our cold, damp, sunless "summer". BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, PINE SISKINS are enjoying the free eats and hordes of ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS have taken over the feeder the ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD thought he "owned". A flock of BROWN HEADED COWBIRDS gathered their young and headed south, with a few less than they would have had. A BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE had a threesome of fledglings following it around begging to be fed and there are quite a few HOUSE FINCHES at the feeders along with the always hungry BREWERS BLACKBIRDS, EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES and a STELLERS JAY. Inside, one of my "bait" HOUSE SPARROWS has been laying eggs, of course they won't get a chance to hatch them! It was also a bad year for STARLINGS as they hunted for a nest site in my nest box trap. The fog is rolling in again, looks like another cold, damp sunless "sun"day for Harbor. Sheila from Harbor Or. From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Jul 25 20:22:11 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 20:22:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wheeler County Birding Sites Message-ID: I'm trying to create a list of favorite birding locations in Wheeler County. Not so easy because few people spend much time there. I've generated a list at http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.00046f8c61c025d8f9fa9&ll=44.604157,-119.179687&spn=1.492019,4.22699&z=9 Are there other sites that I missed? Are there sites on my list that are not accessible or not worth birding? Let me know if you have thoughts about this. I'm eventually going to write comments about the habitat and types of birds found at each location so input on those would be appreciated if you have some time to burn. I have little experience in Wheeler so someone who knows might be much more able to make intelligent remarks about these locations. Chuck Gates East Cascades Bird Conservancy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090725/85c924ce/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Sat Jul 25 22:38:39 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 22:38:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR Saturday Message-ID: <639356.18079.qm@web55104.mail.re4.yahoo.com> I birded the River "S" Unit at Ridgefield NWR Saturday from 6:30 Am until 2:45PM. Carol Ledford joined me at 9AM, and we birded together for the balance of the day. I also birded with Al Larrabee from about 8-9AM and again when Carol, Al and I walked the Kiwa Trail together. There are still very few duck species there, and what else we found we had to look hard for, or rely on luck. Ridgefield NWR: (~4mi W of I-5 at Exit 14 in SW Washington; http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ ). Mosquitoes were not too bad Saturday. A lot more of the grasses have been mowed (lots yet to mow) so Kestrels and other raptors, can more easily find rodents. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores Complete list of 59 species seen / heard: Pied-billed Grebe (seen w/babies on Bull Lake) American Bittern (3 seen ) Great Blue Heron Great Egret (3 seen on Rest Lake) Turkey Vulture (3 on ground E of Rest Lake) Canada Goose (~34 seen on Rest Lake) Wood Duck Gadwall Mallard Cinnamon Teal Osprey (3 seen) Bald Eagle (juvenile on snag at Long Lake) Northern Harrier (2 juveniles) Cooper's Hawk (large female seen on Kiwa Trail) Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel (3 seen) Virginia Rail (1 seen on Horse Lake) Sora (adult and juvenile seen on Horse Lake) American Coot (adults, juveniles and babies) Killdeer (several spots + one flock of 31) Greater Yellowlegs (maybe 10 on Rest Lake) Western Sandpiper (seen on Rest Lake) Least Sandpiper (seen on Rest Lake) Long-billed Dowitcher (at least 100 on Rest Lake) Vaux's Swift Red-breasted Sapsucker (in entrance canyon) Downy Woodpecker (on Kiwa Trail) Northern Flicker Western Wood-Pewee Pacific-slope Flycatcher (in entrance canyon) Steller's Jay (in entrance canyon) Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit (~20 in entrance canyon) Red-breasted Nuthatch (in entrance canyon) White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper (entrance canyon and Kiwa Trail) Bewick's Wren House Wren Marsh Wren Swainson's Thrush American Robin European Starling Cedar Waxwing YELLOW WARBLER (near entrance of Kiwa Trail) Common Yellowthroat WESTERN TANAGER (near R/R tracks) Spotted Towhee (in entrance canyon) Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Black-headed Grosbeak (near R/R tracks) Red-winged Blackbird YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (saw a few on S Quigley Lake - no males) Bullock's Oriole (near entrance of Kiwa Trail) House Finch American Goldfinch Seen/heard by others, but not but me: Lesser Yellowlegs (seen by Al Larrabee - Rest Lake) From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Sun Jul 26 10:38:33 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:38:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Little Shore birds on Bayocean Causeway + Balling up In-Reply-To: <8CBDAA239A6248D-1204-BA6@WEBMAIL-MA19.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <179071.53664.qm@web39708.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Johnny, Interesting photos. In my experience some species of birds will "ball up" in flight----and I've often wondered what causes this. What I've been able to partially figure out is that this flight makes it difficult for an aireal predator to single out an individual. High up in the sky there could have been a peregrine circling, beyond your vision, but within sight of the flock. I have seen flocks, "sky out" and leave the area when a peregrine is in view, but this was in costel Alaska. I've seen this behavior numerous times by starlings being hunted by a merlin, and peregrines hunting my pigeon flock. It seems to me the falcons, "run the flock up into the sky," the quarry (starlings) staying in a ball. When the falcon reaches the elevation (or maybe a little higher)of the flock, it stoops thru them, trying to grab a single. Mostly this doesn't work, as the Ball quickly opens up into a "donut," with the falcon stooping thru the hole. It seems that while the falcon is pushing the flock upward, it is carefully looking for any individual that can't "make the climb" and if this quarry leaves the ball it is invariably pursued, and often killed. This behavior isn't limited to "raptors," as I saw at least a dozen incidents this past winter (here outside of Burns) of a northern shrike doing the same thing to english sparrows, house finches, and oregon juncos. I saw many little birds get taken. Hope this helps some. Best, Dick --- On Fri, 7/24/09, jonysky101 at aol.com wrote: > From: jonysky101 at aol.com > Subject: [obol] Little Shore birds on Bayocean Causeway > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Friday, July 24, 2009, 11:18 AM > I got a few shots of some small ocean > birds along Bayocean road, but they took off before I could > get close. They flew in a very tight ball and could turn on > a dime. Their flight maneuvers were unbelievable. I've > posted a couple of shots of them in the air. I haven't > found this bird Or birds in my book yet. I see a lot like > them, but none that match for sure. Also There are a couple > of birds in the group that seem taller than the rest. > I've posted some shots on Flicker. If you can't > enlarge them enough to ID the birds, I'll gladly email > the larger photo to anyone requesting it. > > Fight Balls; > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2081/3752177705_34691ac91d.jpg?v=0 > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2466/3752177055_78f60f194e.jpg?v=0 > > > > the birds on shore; > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2585/3752173693_4356c0be13_b.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2599/3752966940_b2f799246c_b.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2052/3752175559_018a6edd8a_b.jpg > > > > I appreciate any help. > > Johnny Sasko A bad credit score is 600 & > below. Checking won't affect your score. See > now! > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Sun Jul 26 11:14:53 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2009 11:14:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Why they nest there In-Reply-To: <8CBDAA4A76D3125-1204-C94@WEBMAIL-MA19.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <386370.45996.qm@web39704.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Johnny, I kinda view this situation somewhat differently. I think the peregrines nest there because much of their prey is nesting there also. The prey nest there because there is lots of food and habitat for them to rear their youngsters. So in my opinion, it's the concentration of prey (plus nest site) that draws them (peregrines) to this particular vicinity. I think the prey species view the peregrines as unfortunate additions to their nesting territory. Probably the peregrines view the bald eagles in a similar manner. However, with an explosion of babies during nesting season, the probability of any individual youngster getting killed (by the falcon) is low. Humans live in cities and towns because it ts easier, and we do not foresake this "grouped" living because of the possibility of our kids getting hit by a car and killed; or by "predators" who will try and get our kids "hooked on drugs." Even tho our kids could get killed, humans still live in "cities," as do the prey (grouped living, concentrations, flocks) of peregrines. Hope this is of some help, and didn't confuse you. Best, Dick --- On Fri, 7/24/09, jonysky101 at aol.com wrote: > From: jonysky101 at aol.com > Subject: [obol] Cape Meares and Cannon Beach > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Friday, July 24, 2009, 11:35 AM > I got up at 4am Wed. to make it over > to Cannon Beach very low tide at 730am. I wanted to get so > good Tifted Puffin shots. The weather was supposed to be > sunny. I made it on time, which is unusal considering I took > my wife and daughter-in-law along. But when I got there the > fog was pretty thick. I waited a while for it to burn off. > But when It didn't I took photos thru the soup. I have > several fair shots that I have to tweek a bit before I post > them. But this is the 4th trip to get Puffin shots > didn't work out as planned. My wife says she heard the > birds laughing at me. > > We also went to Cape Meares and Tillamook. The folks that > set up their scopes and let people scope out the Perigrine > Falcons are the greatest. I saw them the best I have ever > seen them thru a modified telescope a very nice lady had set > up. > > While I was there Mamma Falcon zoomed down caught a bird, > decapitated it and brought it up to junior. Which brought up > a question. > > ?With a nesting pair of Falcons high in the rocks, why > do so many Comorants and other birds nest and hunt there? > Don't the know they are on the buffet menu for the > Falcons? > > Even though the weather didn't cooperate it was a nice > day at the beach. > > Johnny Sasko > > Sandy, Oregon A bad credit score is 600 & > below. Checking won't affect your score. See > now! > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From Oropendolas at aol.com Sun Jul 26 15:38:28 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2009 18:38:28 EDT Subject: [obol] Motorless Birding Message-ID: Hello All, I biked to Clay Creek Rec. Area in the Coast Range West of Eugene yesterday. I missed most of my target species, but it was a nice ride anyway. I took the bike path from Springfield to Greenhill Rd. then Crow Rd. to Wolf Creek Rd. then Siuslaw River Rd. to the campground and back for an 85 mile round trip. Here's a list of sp. that I don't normally see on my daily work commute. Northern Harrier -1 Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 Wild Turkey - 3 Band-tailed Pigeon - 1 Pacific-slope Flycatcher - 12 Olive-sided Flycatcher - 6 Golden-crowned Kinglet - 6 Winter Wren - 4 Wrentit - 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadee - 15 Red-breasted Nuthatch - 4 Hutton's Vireo - 3 Warbling Vireo - 1 Purple Finch - 6 Red Crossbill - 12 Pine Sisken - 6 Black-throated Gray Warbler - 1 MacGillivray's Warbler - 2 Western Tanager - 1 Chipping Sparrow - 6 Dark-eyed Junco - 4 Good birding, John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222585106x1201462830/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=115&bcd =JulystepsfooterNO115) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090726/65b99c24/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sun Jul 26 17:13:13 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:13:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Headed Grosbeak?? Message-ID: Here are links for a couple of shots of a new bird on our feeder. At first glance in the tree I thought it was a young Robin. After developing these pix I am convinced it is not. I am now thinking about a Black Headed Grosbeak, due to the beak shape, and the bi-coloration of the beak, as well as it's overall feather color. Would someone like to confirm or deny this one for me? http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2524/3760078444_64a9955bd5_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2431/3760078534_d75fe8fb3f_o.jpg Thanks folks, Rich in Springfield _________________________________________________________________ Bing? brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now. http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MLOGEN&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TXT_MLOGEN_Local_Local_Restaurants_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090726/94e40293/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Sun Jul 26 17:44:09 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:44:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Headed Grosbeak?? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Rich, This is an immature Black-headed Grosbeak, as you surmised. It looks as though it had been feeding on berries or cherries, with that red color on the bill. Larry _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of R. Adney Jr. Sent: Sunday, July 26, 2009 5:13 PM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Black Headed Grosbeak?? Here are links for a couple of shots of a new bird on our feeder. At first glance in the tree I thought it was a young Robin. After developing these pix I am convinced it is not. I am now thinking about a Black Headed Grosbeak, due to the beak shape, and the bi-coloration of the beak, as well as it's overall feather color. Would someone like to confirm or deny this one for me? http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2524/3760078444_64a9955bd5_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2431/3760078534_d75fe8fb3f_o.jpg Thanks folks, Rich in Springfield _____ BingT brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090726/32f8fbd7/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Jul 26 19:36:16 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:36:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook County Birds Message-ID: I birded Crook County today. I haven't had much time to get out recently so it felt great to be out there seeing great birds. Pelicans continue to be abundant. 85 on Prineville Reservoir, 45 on Ochoco Reservoir, 20 on Houston Lake. Several Western Grebes are around but Clark's are hard to find this year. An American Bittern was calling at Houston Lake and a Caspian Tern was flying around. The best bird of the day was a Prineville Reservoir leucistic magpie that had no black, just dirty brown on all the normally black areas. The exception was a completely white tail. Very cool bird. Ochoco Reservoir had many shorebirds but I was out of time when I got there. I think I'll go check them out tomorrow. Along North Shore Rd. (Prineville Reservoir) there were two Black-throated Gray Warblers and Three chats. The only probable migrant I found was a Western Tanager but I did see a Willow Flycatcher that could have been moving. Lots of baby sparrows everywhere (Chipping, Lark, Brewer's, Vesper, Song, Savannah, towhee). Several male Lazuli Buntings were still chasing females. Total list below Chuck Gates Powell Butte Canada Goose Mallard Green-winged Teal California Quail Western Grebe White Pelican American Bittern Great-blue Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel American Coot Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Spotted Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Long-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe California Gull Caspian Tern Eurasian Collared Dove Mourning Dove Rufous Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Northern Flicker Willow Flycatcher Say's Phoebe Ash-throated Flycatcher Western Kingbird Pinyon Jay Black-billed magpie American Crow Common Raven Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow House Wren Marsh Wren Mountain Bluebird American Robin European Starling Yellow Warbler Black-throated Gray Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat Western Tanager Spotted Towhee Chipping Sparrow Brewer's Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Lark Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Lazuli Bunting Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brewer's Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Bullock's Oriole House Finch -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090726/59811b87/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Jul 26 19:54:10 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:54:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] PHOTOS: another trip to Onion Peak - 7/26/2009 Message-ID: <4A6D16D2.9070202@pacifier.com> Okay, we didn't actually go up Onion Peak, just the the road on the map called "Onion Peak Road". Our mission was to survey the rocky outcrops for rare botanical specimens (including the very rare _Filipendula occidentalis_). We found the Filipendula, a first county record (we think) for Black Petaltail (a dragonfly), heard BLUE GROUSE and saw signs of MOUNTAIN QUAIL. Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ As always those using Siler will need to replace the AT with the "at symbol"). -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From hatlevis at comcast.net Sun Jul 26 20:13:16 2009 From: hatlevis at comcast.net (Susan Hatlevig) Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2009 20:13:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] news from Corvallis Message-ID: <9FB1A1C9EFC144609340FC894E77E811@homeflydmyur2h> Hi, I forgot to mention that my neighbor has a bird house on a pole in his front yard-within a few feet of ours. Violet-green swallows nested in it this year. I had been worried about them in the intensely hot days wondering if they would bolt from the nest due to the heat. However, they stayed and the babies got noisier and noisier. Finally one day they were just gone and a few evenings later we saw 5 rather than 2 swallows in the sky. Do they just immediately fly? Should I suggest the box get cleaned out now or will the birds do it themselves next time? I don't know enough about their behavior. Last night we were at a private farm/vineyard for a wedding on the same road that leads to Airlie or Emerson wineries. The ceremony was on a very high hill overlooking the valley and under towering white oaks. Quite a lovely site. Around darkness I distinctly heard a nighthawk(s) calling. I asked my husband if there was water around since that has been my past experience with them in Wisconsin. They were always many around the Rock River in Janesville. He told me that there was a small lake/pond nearby. I was told by a birding friend that it is unusual for them to be in this area which surprised me. Is this true? I know that I've heard them here in the past. Susie in Corvallis . -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090726/4974d03c/attachment.html From ellencantor at gmail.com Sun Jul 26 23:10:34 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:10:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Deadwood Warblers and more Message-ID: <7058c4c60907262310je93c7f1oe4591d0b34917812@mail.gmail.com> In the cool of the morning today, I birded what turned out to be some very birdy areas along Deadwood Creek, outside of the town of Deadwood just east of the Coast Range. Lots of willows, alders, and Big-leaf Maple made for excellent habitat in the wet areas near the creek. I barely needed to move; in one spot I counted 9 WILSON'S WARBLERS, 1 MACGILLIVRAY'S WARLBER, 15 WARBLING VIREOS (5 in one willow shrub--some juveniles), many SWAINSON'S THRUSHES--some seen while singing, many heard, a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, 3 WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, 3 CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, 1 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, a small flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS, ROBINS, AND SONG SPARROWS. A fine place to escape the heat of the valley, and I think the birds agreed. Ellen Cantor Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090726/e60c9e2b/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Mon Jul 27 06:25:32 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:25:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Headed Grosbeak?? References: Message-ID: <64C75EFC204F457E83386CD0A1E3BF39@Warbler> Would agree with Larry, immature Black-headed Grosbeak. They have what I call a "baby face" look. That is, really clean, white stripes to their face (if not stained by berry juice that is). Also, note there is no wear evident to the birds back, and covert feathers. An adult bird would be totally beat up at this time of the year with really ragged looking feathers. Great photo, Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Rich, This is an immature Black-headed Grosbeak, as you surmised. It looks as though it had been feeding on berries or cherries, with that red color on the bill. Larry ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of R. Adney Jr. Sent: Sunday, July 26, 2009 5:13 PM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Black Headed Grosbeak?? Here are links for a couple of shots of a new bird on our feeder. At first glance in the tree I thought it was a young Robin. After developing these pix I am convinced it is not. I am now thinking about a Black Headed Grosbeak, due to the beak shape, and the bi-coloration of the beak, as well as it's overall feather color. Would someone like to confirm or deny this one for me? http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2524/3760078444_64a9955bd5_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2431/3760078534_d75fe8fb3f_o.jpg Thanks folks, Rich in Springfield ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090727/7a6aa67a/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon Jul 27 06:43:44 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:43:44 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Backyard Water/Fledglings Message-ID: <125437207.5006261248702224809.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi all, I will be watching the birdbaths and fish pond carefully this week. I'm guessing the heat will be bringing more birds than usual to the garden. I spent time in my garden this weekend, I've been meaning to do that. I saw a Red-breasted Nuthatch, loads of young Bushtits, Black-capped Chickadees, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Starlings,House Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Scrub Jay, Bewick's Wren, Robin, Rufous Hummingbirds, Anna's Hummingbirds and Tiger Swallowtail, Red Admiral, Cabbage Moth, and Skipper butterfiles as well as some very colorful dragonflies. Also loads of bumble bees and honey bees (hurray). The Bewick's Wrens appear to be the ones that successfully nested in the garden. It appears that they left there territory with the fledgelings and returned once the youngsters were on their own. The Scrub Jays have done just the opposite. The adults that are normally around seem to have left the area leaving the two fledgelings in the garden. Those two get into all kinds of adventures. They are growing up quickly, I will miss their antics when they leave. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090727/79c3f511/attachment.html From Michael_Green at fws.gov Mon Jul 27 10:09:34 2009 From: Michael_Green at fws.gov (Michael_Green at fws.gov) Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:09:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Woodpeckers at Conboy In-Reply-To: Message-ID: On July 22nd I and several other US Fish and Wildlife Service employees found HAIRY, WHITE-HEADED, and BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS along a 1/4-mile stretch of the Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge entrance road, from the entrance sign (which is about halfway down the dirt road from the highway) toward the parking lot. The Hairy and Black-backed were on the same snag, in fact. The White-headed is always a treat, and a regular there, but the Black-backed is less commonly found there, I believe. Regardless, the diversity of woodpeckers along this stretch Ponderosa Pine forested road punctuated our discussion of the day, management of Conboy Lake NWR's forests. This p-pine patch had been treated with a controlled burn 15 years ago, and is beginning to achieve the structural characteristics that woodpeckers and other indicator species like, apparently. NORTHERN FLICKER, DOWNY WOODPECKER, and RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER rounded out the woodpecker list for the site. Mike Green U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090727/ab07e478/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Mon Jul 27 12:57:12 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:57:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Headed Grosbeak?? References: <64C75EFC204F457E83386CD0A1E3BF39@Warbler> Message-ID: <60273BE222C74766BCB6385303AC63D8@yourw5st28y9a3> I've seen lots of fruit-stained young Black-headed Grosbeaks this summer and must throw in my agreement with this i.d. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: Dennis P. Vroman To: Larry McQueen ; 'R. Adney Jr.' ; 'OBOL' Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 6:25 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Black Headed Grosbeak?? Would agree with Larry, immature Black-headed Grosbeak. They have what I call a "baby face" look. That is, really clean, white stripes to their face (if not stained by berry juice that is). Also, note there is no wear evident to the birds back, and covert feathers. An adult bird would be totally beat up at this time of the year with really ragged looking feathers. Great photo, Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Rich, This is an immature Black-headed Grosbeak, as you surmised. It looks as though it had been feeding on berries or cherries, with that red color on the bill. Larry ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of R. Adney Jr. Sent: Sunday, July 26, 2009 5:13 PM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Black Headed Grosbeak?? Here are links for a couple of shots of a new bird on our feeder. At first glance in the tree I thought it was a young Robin. After developing these pix I am convinced it is not. I am now thinking about a Black Headed Grosbeak, due to the beak shape, and the bi-coloration of the beak, as well as it's overall feather color. Would someone like to confirm or deny this one for me? http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2524/3760078444_64a9955bd5_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2431/3760078534_d75fe8fb3f_o.jpg Thanks folks, Rich in Springfield ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From marknikas at comcast.net Mon Jul 27 14:12:47 2009 From: marknikas at comcast.net (Mark Nikas) Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:12:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crows identify people Message-ID: <5EB32C2896124584B1DB6D1E37A47F11@library> Too hot to bird. NPR had a good story today on Crows being able to ID specific people. It's in the same vein as the Mockingbird article posted here a few months ago and subsequent posts by some of our local biologists attesting to the same. Today's story carries the "bird IDs human" concept to new levels. They did some experiments proving the crows focus in on the person's face for their identification. The crows also teach each other which people they view as threats. One guy related the story of how crows across campus would squawk at him and only him all across campus. Experiments they did with people wearing masks were quite interesting. The whole story can be heard here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106826971&ft=1&f=1007 Mark Nikas -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090727/e11a50e6/attachment.html From sparsons at canby.com Mon Jul 27 15:24:11 2009 From: sparsons at canby.com (Steve and Diana Parsons) Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:24:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chestnut-backed Chickadees --- Canby Message-ID: <1442E1A4-88A6-49D1-B517-BBB507B23262@canby.com> I don't know if the Chestnut-backed Chickadees are scarcer, or if I haven't been paying attention, but I was delighted to find 3 or 4 working my feeder today. Here's a link.... http://www.flickr.com/photos/35425630 at N03/3763605724/ From whoffman at peak.org Mon Jul 27 19:50:18 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:50:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Off Topic: Pika (Ochotona) Message-ID: Where are good places to see and maybe photograph pikas in the Cascades that are not too far (i.e. within a mile or two) from a road accessible to 2wd vehicles? Do they occur in the lava flows in the McKenzie Pass? I have had a request for into. Please reply directly to me. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090727/be8e1ac4/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Mon Jul 27 19:59:55 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:59:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Off Topic: Pika (Ochotona) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F023B8BF1@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> Wayne: I have seen and photographed them south of Bend at Newberry Craters along the interpretive trail. I have not seen them in the lava flows at McKenzie pass, but they may be there. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR ________________________________ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Wayne Hoffman Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 7:50 PM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Off Topic: Pika (Ochotona) Where are good places to see and maybe photograph pikas in the Cascades that are not too far (i.e. within a mile or two) from a road accessible to 2wd vehicles? Do they occur in the lava flows in the McKenzie Pass? I have had a request for into. Please reply directly to me. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090727/d77ff017/attachment.html From tlove at linfield.edu Mon Jul 27 22:31:34 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 22:31:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] pikas Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F1218D48CAA@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> I've seen pikas in years past on the big talus slope one has to cross on the upper part of the trail to the top of Multnomah Falls (i.e., above the bridge). They descend quite low in the talus slopes on the north-facing side of the Columbia Gorge. Tom Love tlove AT linfield DOT edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090727/eb72f016/attachment.html From davebrownbirder at yahoo.com Mon Jul 27 22:55:17 2009 From: davebrownbirder at yahoo.com (Dave Brown) Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 22:55:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Pika Message-ID: <244842.17196.qm@web59914.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> A freind of mine has seen pika in the lava on old McKenzie pass. I have seen them on a little cliff at Vivian Lake in the Diamond Peak wilderness area and also on a small cliff on the north side of Cultus Lake but both are kind of long hikes. Dave Brown Alvadore From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Tue Jul 28 00:22:38 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:22:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane county Audubon Birding Weekend Message-ID: <006901ca0f55$abbf53c0$dac963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: Here's some birds from HOT and not-so-hot Lane county. Carol & I led an Audubon Birding Weekend trip (sponsored by Audubon Society of Portland) to Lane county July 25-26. We went to Florence for the day on Saturday to escape the heat. Then we did a short day at Fern Ridge on Sunday morning until things got hot at ~10:30. Notable birds: Pacific Loon - few on ocean and at south jetty of Siuslaw R. Western Grebe - Fern Ridge Res. Clark's Grebe - Fern Ridge Res. American White Pelican - Fern Ridge Res. Brown Pelican - on ocean Brandt's Cormorant - Sea Lion Caves American Bittern - Fern Ridge Res. Redhead - Fern Ridge Res. Ring-necked Duck - Fern Ridge Res. White-winged Scoter - ocean Ruddy Duck - Fern Ridge Res. Peregrine Falcon - Haceta Head lighthouse Snowy Plover - mouth of Siltcoos R. (seen July 18 & 25) Black-necked Stilt - Fern Ridge Res. (a county first for me) Greater Yellowlegs - Fern Ridge Res. Wandering Tattler(2) - north jetty of Siuslaw R. Surfbird(1) - north jetty of Siuslaw R. Short-billed Dowitcher - Fern Ridge Res. Wilson's Snipe - Fern Ridge Res. Wilson's Phalarope - Fern Ridge Res. Heermann's Gull - ocean Black Tern - Fern Ridge Res Marbled Murrelet - ocean overlook Rhinoceros Auklet - ocean & south jetty of Siuslaw Acorn Woodpecker - Royal Ave & Fisher Rd. Black Phoebe - Coyote Cr. & Cantrell Rd. ( seen July 18 & 26) Purple Martin - Fern Ridge Res & Old Town Florence Wrentit - road to N. Jetty of Siuslaw R., bottom of hill Yellow-headed Blackbird - Fern Ridge Res Common Grackle - Fern Ridge Res Also seen on scouting trip on July 18-19 Wild Turkey - Jean penninsula Western Kingbird - fence near the entrance to Eugene airport Y-b. Chat - Fisher Butte R-e Vireo - Elijah Bristow St. Pk. Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan Audubon Birding Weekends (503) 646-7889 http://www.audubonportland.org/trips-classes-camps/adult/weekends From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Jul 28 08:23:08 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:23:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chestnut-backed Chickadees --- Canby In-Reply-To: <1442E1A4-88A6-49D1-B517-BBB507B23262@canby.com> References: <1442E1A4-88A6-49D1-B517-BBB507B23262@canby.com> Message-ID: <12f12cbf17d1078df41eb6b4819b50fd@earthlink.net> I live in prime habitat. They were rarely seen in June. About ten days ago they suddenly became the dominant species at our feeder. Evidently the young fledged and families are in circulation. They nest in riparian habitat in the Willamette Valley bottomland, but at much lower densities than the foothills of the Cascades and Coast Range. LArs Norgren On Jul 27, 2009, at 3:24 PM, Steve and Diana Parsons wrote: > I don't know if the Chestnut-backed Chickadees are scarcer, or if I > haven't been paying attention, but I was delighted to find 3 or 4 > working my feeder today. > > Here's a link.... > http://www.flickr.com/photos/35425630 at N03/3763605724/ > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Jul 28 08:33:15 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:33:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] pikas In-Reply-To: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F1218D48CAA@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> References: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F1218D48CAA@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> Message-ID: This spot is documented in Verts and Carraway (The Land Mammals of Oregon). They consider it the lowest elevation for Pikas in the continental US. This book is an excellent companion to BOGR. Do you know someone that already has everything? Doesn't need a new widget to stick in the attic? Give them Verts and Carraway for their next birthday or Christmas. The grandchildren will be reading 50 years from now. Lars Norgren On Jul 27, 2009, at 10:31 PM, Thomas Love wrote: > I?ve seen pikas in years past on the big talus slope one has to cross > on the upper part of the trail to the top of Multnomah Falls (i.e., > above the bridge).? They descend quite low in the talus slopes on the > north-facing side of the Columbia Gorge.? > ? > Tom Love > tlove AT linfield DOT edu > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Tue Jul 28 08:47:45 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:47:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] DE Juncos raise Cowbird, and other yard observations Message-ID: <81b2a9930907280847q31a72e15ubfaf5da762734968@mail.gmail.com> Shortly after waking up this morning, I heard a metallic-like buzzing call in my front yard. All I saw was a pair of adult DE JUNCOs. A minute later, I heard the call again on my back deck and saw the Juncos, with a juvenile. I was pleased to see this, as this is the second year that Juncos have nested in my neighborhood. A few seconds later, I saw a medium-sized juvenile finch-looking bird with a streaked breast and conical bill. It began making the aforementioned buzzing call and flapping its wings, as both adult Juncos quickly ran up to it and fed it Nyjer seed. After the Juncos moved on, the fledgling BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD sat on the deck by itself for a good 5 minutes. I had never actually witnessed Cowbird parasitism before, and found this fascinating. It seems unlikely that more than one or two pairs of Juncos nested in my neighborhood. What are the odds of them being selected by an adult Cowbird, especially with all of the Goldfinches nesting in the area? This weekend, the first-of-the-summer fledgling AMERICAN GOLDFINCH visited and learned to bathe in one of my bird baths. There was also a female and/or first-year BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK at one of my sunflower feeders this morning. Brandon Eugene From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Tue Jul 28 08:59:18 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:59:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge - Common Grackle Message-ID: <001301ca0f9c$79d16000$18c963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: I had several inquiries about the Common Grackle that I included in my report about the Audubon Birding Weekend just concluded. Here's the scoop. On these weekends birds are seen by competent observers that are not see by the leaders. Happens all the time. We were southeast of the observation platform, on the dike between the pool seen from the platform (Field 6 on the official ODF&W map of the Fisher Butte Unit) and the "Redhead Pond" (Field 5 on the official map). I did not see this bird. It was seen by a capable observer who grew up in New Jersey. He saw the bird while walking between groups on the dike in the heat of the late morning, and was not able to alert anyone else to see it. It flew past, eastbound toward the "Redhead Pond" AKA Field 5 and disappeared. He said words to the effect that "If I were in New Jersey and saw that I wouldn't give it a second thought. Grackle." We were both aware of its rarity at Fern Ridge, but by the time we talked, it was long gone. I asked about Great-tailed Grackle, and he just said Grackle. I believe there was a grackle seen out there a few weeks ago. No? Anyway, it's something to look for if you can get out there early and not cook to death. Good luck, Paul T. Sullivan From llsdirons at msn.com Tue Jul 28 09:44:20 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:44:20 +0000 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge - Common Grackle In-Reply-To: <001301ca0f9c$79d16000$18c963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> References: <001301ca0f9c$79d16000$18c963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Message-ID: Paul, As you are likely aware, on multiple occasions Great-tailed Grackles at Fern Ridge have been initially misreported at Common Grackles. Great-taileds have been showing up (probably summering) at Fern Ridge almost annually for about the last six years or more. During this time no Common Grackles have been found here. A consistent issue with visiting birders, regardless of where on the continent they visit, is that they manage to find birds common to their home area in places where they are out of range. In nearly every case, the observer is unaware that the bird they are reporting is locally rare or unknown. When questioned on such sightings, the typical response is, "I see species X where I live all the time." On some level, familiarity breeds disinterest. In other words, if you asked these observers to give a good description (acceptable to a records committee or field notes compiler) of one of these familiar birds, they would be hard pressed to do so because they haven't taken much time to look carefully at the species. We tend to take common birds for granted, especially those that are ridiculously abundant, which is the case with Common Grackle in the East. This issue is exacerbated when the familiar bird they are reporting is very similar to a species with which they have little or no experience. Judging the overall size, tail length, bill size, and other factors one would use to tell a Common from a Great-tailed Grackle in flight is not always easy. The bottom line on this bird is that the observer was not in New Jersey, but probably used his "New Jersey yardstick" (a rather casual approach) to identify the bird as a Common and did so without critically thinking about the possibility (if he even recognized the possibility) of it being a Great-tailed. I'm not saying that he didn't see a Common, but recent history would suggest that the bird he saw was more likely a Great-tailed. Of course it is important that these birds get reported so others can be on the lookout if they dare venture out to Fern Ridge during the current heat wave. Hopefully, this bird will be relocated and its identity confirmed. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:59:18 -0700 > Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge - Common Grackle > > OBOL: > > I had several inquiries about the Common Grackle that I included in my > report about the Audubon Birding Weekend just concluded. > > Here's the scoop. On these weekends birds are seen by competent observers > that are not see by the leaders. Happens all the time. We were southeast > of the observation platform, on the dike between the pool seen from the > platform (Field 6 on the official ODF&W map of the Fisher Butte Unit) and > the "Redhead Pond" (Field 5 on the official map). > > I did not see this bird. It was seen by a capable observer who grew up in > New Jersey. He saw the bird while walking between groups on the dike in the > heat of the late morning, and was not able to alert anyone else to see it. > It flew past, eastbound toward the "Redhead Pond" AKA Field 5 and > disappeared. He said words to the effect that "If I were in New Jersey and > saw that I wouldn't give it a second thought. Grackle." We were both aware > of its rarity at Fern Ridge, but by the time we talked, it was long gone. I > asked about Great-tailed Grackle, and he just said Grackle. > > I believe there was a grackle seen out there a few weeks ago. No? > > Anyway, it's something to look for if you can get out there early and not > cook to death. > > Good luck, > > Paul T. Sullivan > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?: Search, add, and share the web?s latest sports videos. Check it out. http://www.windowslive.com/Online/Hotmail/Campaign/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_QA_HM_sports_videos_072009&cat=sports -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090728/c4be0236/attachment.html From steve.altshuld at gmail.com Tue Jul 28 10:42:32 2009 From: steve.altshuld at gmail.com (Steve Altshuld) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:42:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] western tanager naming Message-ID: <7fb4f5b0907281042s13003623ida99aa645d9185fb@mail.gmail.com> So, with the reclassification of western tanagers, are there plans to rename the bird (along with the other pirangas)? thanks, Steve -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090728/cff0753d/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Jul 28 11:47:23 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:47:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] western tanager naming In-Reply-To: <7fb4f5b0907281042s13003623ida99aa645d9185fb@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <784384.7704.qm@web45308.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> There is some interesting discussion about that on the original link that Larry McQueen sent out about the change. Here is the link: http://djringer.com/birding/2009/07/11/aou-50th-supplement-taxonomic-and-nomenclatural-changes/ Tim R in cool Coos Bay (had to wear a wool hat out on the north spit late yesterday afternoon, it was upper 50's and blowing 20+mph, can't wait for this "cold" spell to break) --- On Tue, 7/28/09, Steve Altshuld wrote: > From: Steve Altshuld > Subject: [obol] western tanager naming > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2009, 10:42 AM > So, with the reclassification of > western tanagers, are there plans to rename the bird (along > with the other pirangas)?? > thanks, Steve? > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Jul 28 11:46:30 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:46:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Grackle Message-ID: <52cb40f176c8b72502fb21273765f6ed@earthlink.net> As always, Dave nails it on the head:"Familiarty breeds disinterest". The most fascinating thing for me about guiding out of state birders is that I get a tiny glimpse of my home through someone else's eyes. Who would have thought Purple Finch or Evening Grosbeak an object of pursuit, let alone the subject of prolonged study? A special aspect to Great-tailed Grackles in Oregon is the fact that our subspecies, spreading north from western Mexico, is thirty percent smaller than the more widespread subspecies in the southern central US. When they're not vocalizing I would expect an eastern birder to ignore/dismiss them. I've seen all American Grackles in the heart of their range, but none in Oregon. They remain in my top ten most wanted state species. I know for a host of subscribers raised in the mid-west and east this must seem ludicrous. Lars Norgren From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Jul 28 12:14:24 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:14:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] western tanager naming Message-ID: <20090728121424.xm64nd7eo40gwg44@webmail.thebirdguide.com> The Piranga tanagers are moved out of the true tanager family and into the cardinal and grosbeak family. On the Oregon checklists, instead of fitting between the Yellow-breasted Chat and Green-tailed Towhee, the Summer, Scarlet, and Western Tanagers will move to between McKay's Bunting and Pyrhuloxia. The English and scientific names will stay the same. After all, not all sparrows are in the sparrow family. This may create some confusion, but less than calling them the Western Cardinal-Tanager or Western Piranga. (You remember the "robin" in London in Mary Poppins, right?) Of course, the chat isn't really a warbler, either, so expect it to move elsewhere in the future. Greg Gillson Forest Grove, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From falcosparveriusjf at gmail.com Tue Jul 28 14:16:33 2009 From: falcosparveriusjf at gmail.com (RJ FEELY) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:16:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] crows identifying individual people Message-ID: <90a4ffbc0907281416g3788f347ia649becbe0844260@mail.gmail.com> As for the "crow experiment", where people wore masks (to study the reaction of the crows): What did one crow say to the other? answer: "Who is that masked man?" If you are old enough to have seen many of the "Lone Ranger" episodes - you'll get the joke! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090728/65a5f5bc/attachment.html From falcosparveriusjf at gmail.com Tue Jul 28 14:23:30 2009 From: falcosparveriusjf at gmail.com (RJ FEELY) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:23:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Where to find Pikas, close by. Message-ID: <90a4ffbc0907281423t9c85fa9qa521699c22c85b80@mail.gmail.com> Any "Talus" rock slide, in the Cascades, is a very likely area for Pikas (I've seen them countless times). Close to Portland, would be several of the trails in the Columbia Gorge (i.e. Horsetail Falls); within 1 mile of the trailhead are several Talus rock slides. Also, at this trailhead is one of the very best places (other than the beach) to beat the heat. Just pull up a lawn chair, on the grassy area, to the left side (facing) of the falls, and you can get as much cold water spray as you want; depending on how close your chair is, to the falls! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090728/c7fa2745/attachment.html From mmarvin at spiritone.com Tue Jul 28 16:02:23 2009 From: mmarvin at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:02:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lone Ranger WAS crows identifying individual people Message-ID: RJ FEELY wrote: > What did one crow say to the other? answer: "Who is that > masked man?" If you are old enough to have seen many of the "Lone > Ranger" > episodes - you'll get the joke! Seen?! A few of us are old enough to have *heard* those episodes. If you are, there's a great NPR piece from last year about the show at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18073741 Sorry, it's hot today. Marcia From tom-escue at comcast.net Tue Jul 28 16:12:57 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:12:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hot birds! Message-ID: I have an immature CEDAR WAXWING and immature AMERICAN ROBIN at my bird bath. Both have their beaks wide open...cooling off I suppose. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090728/aef87c88/attachment.html From sheilach at nwtec.com Tue Jul 28 16:23:16 2009 From: sheilach at nwtec.com (sheila) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:23:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Another foggy day-mostly Message-ID: <10A14472439A4B90A1C88C9B322AFD07@sheila> I finally had time to checkout the port of Brookings/Harbor today. I saw one poor BROWN PELICAN being stalked by a HEERMAN'S GULL, out at sea were many more PELICANS, DOUBLE CRESTED CORMERANTS, CALIFORNIA and WESTERN GULLS, and up river what I think was a RED-NECKED LOON, COMMON MURE and an adult OSPREY and I could see two young OSPREY in a nest near the bridge. Also at the Chetco cove were some lounging harbor seals and sunning DOUBLE CRESTED CORMERANTS and BRANDTS CORMERANTS. Near home there are more CROWS and finally some RAVENS, SCRUB JAYS, STELLER'S JAYS, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, BLACKHEADED GROSBEAKS, HOUSE FINCHES, EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE, BAND-TAILED PIGEON, ANNA'S and ALLAN'S HUMMINGBIRDS, I heard a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, CEDAR WAXWINGS, DOWNEY WOODPECKER and a FLICKER. I see the fog is lurking offshore so I exspect more fog this afternoon and night and morning yet again. Sheila from Harbor OR. From celata at pacifier.com Tue Jul 28 17:09:36 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:09:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] The Eagle and the Whale Message-ID: <4A6F9340.1010300@pacifier.com> I was chatting with Neal Maine this afternoon and he told me about a very unique set of observations he got to make yesterday at the Seaside Cove. Apparently, the anchovy are running near shore this week and have attracted what Neal describes as a "some sort of Pilot Whale". A small pond of them (at least 3) was chasing fish to the surface. The fish were leaping out of the water to escape. That alone would have been something to see, but a Bald Eagle was using the opportunity to do some fishing itself. The eagle would swoop down and pick up fish off the surface, left by the whales and would eat them while flying, then swoop around for a second helping. Sound like quite a show. Gray Whales and Humpbacks are routine summer sights at the Cove as are Harbor Porpoises. Most other species usually only turn up dead or dying on the beach. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Tue Jul 28 17:48:25 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:48:25 +0000 Subject: [obol] How Great Gray Owls are easy to miss and mystery grouse............ Message-ID: Hi all, This is how Mr. Bowtie 'plays' hard to get! Mike Marsh and I saw this magnificent bird this weekend in Havillah, WA near Dry Gulch Rd. First time I had one in great light at this location and at one point the forest phantom was 8 feet from our car!! I only received a handful of guesses on the 'mystery' grouse. Place a guess and don't CHICKEN out! Sorry to be such a slacker in posting the answer to those who guessed about a month ago:( To venture a guess, you can email me privately. Photo is also in same gallery. Go to: www.ktbirding.com Click on my Pbase link and look under Summer 2009 Gallery for photos. Good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From smithdwd at hotmail.com Tue Jul 28 19:40:52 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 02:40:52 +0000 Subject: [obol] Nehalem SP Bank Swallow Message-ID: Monday 8am morning a Juv Bank Swallow was on the fence at the entrance of the sewage ponds. It was with a dozen other flavored swallows in the morning sun. I was within 15' and could clearly see size difference, breast band, white swath "around" ear, and "small mouth. About 150 swallows were at the ponds; I found no shorebirds there. David Smith _________________________________________________________________ Drag n? drop?Get easy photo sharing with Windows Live? Photos. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/products/photos.aspx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090729/39eb8a90/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Jul 28 20:29:48 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:29:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge - Common Grackle Message-ID: <1248838188.3302.49.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, I've written on this subject before, so will keep it relatively short here. "Familiarity breeds disinterest" is not quite the half of it, when it comes to grackles. In Minnesota's farming country where I grew up, the type of grackle that was most reported by my neighbors could be abbreviated as the "G-d Grackle" The "G-d" does not stand for "Green-daubed," but the implied capitalization is correct. I will not go into the details for the sake of those whose stomachs and sensibilities would be turned. However Common Grackles were the one bird species where, as a kid, I witnessed things that would without a doubt (and rightly so) be prosecutable as animal abuse, in today's climate. The level of disregard and outright hatred for this species that I experienced as a youth is perhaps the best indicator of the moral divide that I always felt, but didn't fully recognize until I moved away. Since then, I'm glad to say that the sensibilities of the people among whom I grew up have also changed, to the point where the worst abuses would no longer be tolerated. However you would still have a hard time convincing one of them that a grackle is an interesting bird to look at. Time passes, and generations roll by. The big-time farmer who bought our land and plowed up some of the virgin prairie eventually got old, and was found dead of exposure after wandering out into a slough in his underpants. The prairie has a way of doing that to people. It's not irony and it's not poetic justice, it's just the kind of thing that happens and then people shake their heads about it. I can't read the word "grackle" today without having all of these thoughts come flooding back. Great-tailed, Common, or G**-**mned, it's still not a bird that I would travel any distance to see. But to those of you who can view the bird without the cultural baggage that I bear with me ... more power to you! Good birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Tue Jul 28 20:30:01 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:30:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] If we were all standing around in a circle... Message-ID: <002101ca0ffd$e42b0e90$a6c963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Ahhh, the joys of email listservs. If we were all standing around in a circle, this Fern Ridge grackle thing would have been handled in a minute. Joe would have seen the bird and thought "grackle." He would have mentioned it to us and said that if he'd seen it in New Jersey he'd have had no doubt, but that since we were in Oregon, he hesitated to believe his own eyes. I'd have encouraged his report, knowing that both Common & Great-tailed Grackles have been seen in the area. (I've seen them myself.) I asked him about Great-tailed, and he said, "grackle." I vaguely knew a bird was seen lately. If Lane county folks had been there, they'd have said, "We've had a Great-tailed Grackle around here this summer," and that would have been it. We'd all have smiled and got out of the darn hot sun. Instead, I put out the report and added "Common" in front of "grackle." It was hot and midnight Monday, and I didn't want to search the OBOL archive to find out which species had been seen recently. So Joe saw the real bird and reported his sighting accurately: "grackle." I passed on the fact that there was a sighting of a grackle, and named it wrong: "common." Folks corrected me, and we got it right: "Great-tailed Grackle." Instead of a minute in a circle, it took from Sunday noon to Tuesday evening, and 10 emails. But we got it right. Ah, the wonders of modern technology... Thanks for setting me straight. Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Jul 28 20:49:02 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:49:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] A new dimension to grackle study In-Reply-To: <002101ca0ffd$e42b0e90$a6c963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Message-ID: No one has asked whether there is any difference in taste between the grackles (assuming that each is prepared the same way--for some reason roasted on a kabob-stick with pearl onions and water chestnuts seems right), so I thought I would attempt to add a new dimension to this unique discussion. Thoughts? -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: "Paul T. Sullivan" > Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:30:01 -0700 > To: obol > Subject: [obol] If we were all standing around in a circle... > > Ahhh, the joys of email listservs. > > If we were all standing around in a circle, this Fern Ridge grackle thing > would have been handled in a minute. Joe would have seen the bird and > thought "grackle." He would have mentioned it to us and said that if he'd > seen it in New Jersey he'd have had no doubt, but that since we were in > Oregon, he hesitated to believe his own eyes. > > I'd have encouraged his report, knowing that both Common & Great-tailed > Grackles have been seen in the area. (I've seen them myself.) I asked him > about Great-tailed, and he said, "grackle." I vaguely knew a bird was seen > lately. > > If Lane county folks had been there, they'd have said, "We've had a > Great-tailed Grackle around here this summer," and that would have been it. > We'd all have smiled and got out of the darn hot sun. > > Instead, I put out the report and added "Common" in front of "grackle." It > was hot and midnight Monday, and I didn't want to search the OBOL archive to > find out which species had been seen recently. > > So Joe saw the real bird and reported his sighting accurately: "grackle." > I passed on the fact that there was a sighting of a grackle, and named it > wrong: "common." > Folks corrected me, and we got it right: "Great-tailed Grackle." > > Instead of a minute in a circle, it took from Sunday noon to Tuesday > evening, and 10 emails. > > But we got it right. Ah, the wonders of modern technology... > > Thanks for setting me straight. > > Good birding, everyone, > > Paul T. Sullivan > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Jul 28 20:59:56 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:59:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] A new dimension to grackle study Message-ID: <1248839996.3302.58.camel@clearwater> Dear Alan & OBOL, Alas, that you didn't visit me in Minnesota around 1976 or I could have furnished abundant specimens for you to calibrate your taste buds upon. That said, grackles are probably still exempted from the U.S. Migratory Bird Act in cases of "depredation." However, I am most sorry to say that neither pearl onions nor kabob sticks would have been allowed in Minnesota at that time. These are both in the category of "food that hurts." Joel From: Alan Contreras Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:49:02 -0700 No one has asked whether there is any difference in taste between the grackles (assuming that each is prepared the same way--for some reason roasted on a kabob-stick with pearl onions and water chestnuts seems right), so I thought I would attempt to add a new dimension to this unique discussion. From whoffman at peak.org Tue Jul 28 21:05:02 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:05:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] The Eagle and the Whale References: <4A6F9340.1010300@pacifier.com> Message-ID: Back in the late 70s I encountered a paper describing a similar feeding opportunity in Norway, but the participants were orcas, Erne (White-tailed Sea Eagles) and herring. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Patterson" To: "OBOL" Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 5:09 PM Subject: [obol] The Eagle and the Whale >I was chatting with Neal Maine this afternoon and he told me about > a very unique set of observations he got to make yesterday at the > Seaside Cove. > > Apparently, the anchovy are running near shore this week and have > attracted what Neal describes as a "some sort of Pilot Whale". > A small pond of them (at least 3) was chasing fish to the surface. > The fish were leaping out of the water to escape. That alone would have > been something to see, but a Bald Eagle was using the opportunity to do > some fishing itself. The eagle would swoop down and pick up fish off > the surface, left by the whales and would eat them while flying, then > swoop around for a second helping. > > Sound like quite a show. > > Gray Whales and Humpbacks are routine summer sights at the Cove as are > Harbor Porpoises. Most other species usually only turn up dead or dying > on the beach. > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > My Summer Reading List > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From hhactitis at yahoo.com Tue Jul 28 21:44:18 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:44:18 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] A new dimension to grackle study In-Reply-To: <1248839996.3302.58.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: <135581.16418.qm@web37007.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Enough already! :-) The Valley heat must have affected you people's brains! I can only recommend y'all pack up your sweaters and come over to the beautiful central Oregon coast - today the temperatures actually reached the mid-seventies, and it felt HOT for the first time this "summer" (provided you managed to stay out of the ever-present wind). Otherwise, you get to enjoy 10-degree mornings with drizzle and fog dense enough to practice your "shorebirding by blurry silhoutte only" skills. Not really missing the 100-degree-sweltering Valley nights but sometimes wondering what if was like to have a true summer .... Hendrik in Florence (still working on topping that Red-necked Stint) _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Tue, 7/28/09, Joel Geier wrote: From: Joel Geier Subject: Re: [obol] A new dimension to grackle study To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2009, 8:59 PM Dear Alan & OBOL, Alas, that you didn't visit me in Minnesota around 1976 or I could have furnished abundant specimens for you to calibrate your taste buds upon. That said, grackles are probably still exempted from the U.S. Migratory Bird Act in cases of "depredation." However, I am most sorry to say that neither pearl onions nor kabob sticks would have been allowed in Minnesota at that time. These are both in the category of "food that hurts." Joel From: Alan Contreras Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:49:02 -0700 No one has asked whether there is any difference in taste between the grackles (assuming that each is prepared the same way--for some reason roasted on a kabob-stick with pearl onions and water chestnuts seems right), so I thought I would attempt to add a new dimension to this unique discussion.? _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090728/f4694cc5/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Jul 29 04:29:22 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:29:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] A new dimension to grackle study In-Reply-To: <135581.16418.qm@web37007.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <426745.73131.qm@web45315.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Yep, I agree with Hendrik! We were only two degrees off from breaking our old 74F record here in Coos Bay yesterday, I did see 40 SP Plovers and 20 W. Sandpipers out on the north spit of Coos Bay in the late PM- the shorebirding has been a bit slow lately but should really peak up any day now. Stay cool! Tim R Coos Bay --- On Tue, 7/28/09, Hendrik Herlyn wrote: > From: Hendrik Herlyn > Subject: Re: [obol] A new dimension to grackle study > To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" , joel.geier at peak.org > Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2009, 9:44 PM > Enough > already! :-) > > The Valley heat must have affected you people's brains! > I can only recommend y'all pack up your sweaters and > come over to the beautiful central Oregon coast - today the > temperatures actually reached the mid-seventies, and it felt > HOT for the first time this "summer" (provided you > managed to stay out of the ever-present wind). Otherwise, > you get to enjoy 10-degree mornings with drizzle and fog > dense enough to practice your "shorebirding by blurry > silhoutte only" skills. > > Not really missing the 100-degree-sweltering Valley nights > but sometimes wondering what if was like to have a true > summer .... > > Hendrik in Florence (still working on topping that > Red-necked Stint) > > _________________________________ > > Hendrik G. Herlyn > > 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 > > Florence, OR 97439 > > USA > > Phone: 541-997-2730 > > E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com > > --- On Tue, 7/28/09, Joel Geier > wrote: > > From: Joel Geier > Subject: Re: [obol] A new dimension to grackle study > To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" > > Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2009, 8:59 PM > > Dear Alan & OBOL, > > Alas, that you didn't visit me in Minnesota around 1976 > or I could have > furnished abundant specimens for you to calibrate your > taste buds upon. > That said, grackles are probably still exempted from the > U.S. Migratory > Bird Act in cases of "depredation." > > However, I am most sorry to say that neither pearl onions > nor kabob > sticks would have been allowed in Minnesota at that time. > These are both > in the category of "food that hurts." > > Joel > > From: Alan > Contreras > Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:49:02 -0700 > No one has asked whether there is any difference in taste > between the > grackles (assuming that each is prepared the same way--for > some reason > roasted on a kabob-stick with pearl onions and water > chestnuts seems right), > so I thought I would attempt to add a new dimension to this > unique > discussion.? > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From amshonkwiler at mail.millikin.edu Wed Jul 29 11:10:53 2009 From: amshonkwiler at mail.millikin.edu (Anastacia Shonkwiler) Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:10:53 -0500 Subject: [obol] Participants needed for bird feeding study Message-ID: <4A704A5D020000C4000A33F6@mail.millikin.edu> Hello, The National Bird-Feeding Society is currently assisting in a scientific study of bird seed preferences. Participants will receive free bird feeders, bird seed, poles, and squirrel baffles. In return, participants will be responsible for recording the number of birds visiting each feeder for approximately six weeks. During the six weeks, you will complete twenty-four surveys with each survey taking approximately one hour to complete. You will also be responsible for filling and rotating feeders based on a pre-assigned schedule. Participants must be able to identify all species of birds visiting their feeders, and data collection must be completed by October 31. Interested in participating? Limited slots are available. Visit the National Bird-Feeding Society?s website at www.nbfs.orgor call us at 1-866-945-3247 before August 12. Thank you! Sincerely, Stacey Shonkwiler ________________________ Stacey Shonkwiler - General Manager National Bird-Feeding Society 1184 W. Main Street Decatur, IL 62522 1-866-WILDBIRD www.nbfs.org stacey at nbfs.org ( mailto:amshonkwiler at millikin.edu ) ( http://www.nbfs.org/ ) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090729/103085ce/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Wed Jul 29 12:25:49 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:25:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hundreds of Evening Grosbeaks at High Elevation in Lincoln County Message-ID: Hi, On July 25, Chuck Philo was in northeastern Lincoln County near Rocky Point and Elk Wallow at an elevation of about 2,800-2,900 ft. Chuck said that there were "hundreds and hundreds of Evening Grosbeaks." He had not seen such high numbers of Evening Grosbeaks before. He also saw lots of warblers. We have few observations in Lincoln County above 1,000 ft (e.g., see observations for Saddle Bag Mountain at http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/jspui/handle/1957/8062 and Floyd Schrock's observations above 2,000 ft on Euchre Mountain in Chap. 1 of http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/jspui/bitstream/1957/8047/1/vol.%202%20pg.%20163-207.pdf). In part, because high elevation sites are not easily accessible in Lincoln County. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport From peterpatricelli at comcast.net Wed Jul 29 12:35:12 2009 From: peterpatricelli at comcast.net (peterpatricelli) Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:35:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] 37 pics of fledgling Bald Eagles Message-ID: <0E5EFD6EBC3149FFB9C45D120AA64B09@PeterGateway> I ran into a pair of newly fledged (I think) Bald Eagles at Wizard Falls fish hatchery on the Metolious River and had hours of close encounters on successive days. The 37 pics are up on my website, will run as a slideshow once started. http://www.flyfishingfotography.com/bald_eagles_juvenile_001.htm Peter Patricelli www.flyfishingfotography.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090729/5adc6c15/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Wed Jul 29 15:31:27 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:31:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Mt. Tabor, Portland Message-ID: <526710.25685.qm@web55708.mail.re3.yahoo.com> This morning we birded Mt. Tabor (SE Portland) from 6:20 to 8:15. It was much birdier than it has been for many days. On our way to the park, at 60th and Lincoln, we heard an oriole-like rattle. We looked up and to our surprise, we glimpsed a BULLOCK'S ORIOLE in the top of a cedar tree. It flew across the road into the Tabor nursery. Orioles are unusual at Mt. Tabor, and we've never seen one there in summer before. On the east trail there was a GREAT-HORNED OWL getting mobbed by robins. It has been a whole year since we last saw one on Tabor. As we were scanning the lower reservoir, Adrian heard a rough-winged swallow. We checked the swarm of Barn Swallows and sure enough, there were two NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, our first for the park. A juvenile CALIFORNIA GULL flew over. Other highlights included two WESTERN TANAGERS and two WILSON'S WARBLERS, presumably migrants. Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Bushtits, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and Cedar Waxwings are beginning to flock. More Rufous Hummingbirds and Black-headed Grosbeaks are moving in, while the throngs of Lesser Goldfinches are starting to disperse. In the past week or two, we have seen a few additional migrants including Warbling Vireo, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and Wilson's Warbler. Also, yesterday and the day before yesterday we saw a BELTED KINGFISHER at the lower reservoir. She didn't stick around for very long either time. Perhaps somebody has a fish pond nearby. Once it cools off, maybe some more migrant passerines with start to move through. Usually we aren't around this time of year so we aren't sure how early migrants start to move through Mt. Tabor, but a number of birds that don't breed in the park are beginning to move through already. Good Birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090729/256c5ec4/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Jul 29 15:33:05 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:33:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wed morning Message-ID: Things were quiet at Mt Pisgah Arboretum so we covered ground quickly. We then went to the area north of the bridge and walked the road westward through the trees. Turkey Vulture - 6 Osprey - 2 Red-tailed Hawk - 2 Am. Kestrel - 1 Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Mourning Dove - 4 Hummingbird sp. - 1 Downy Woodpecker - 1 N. Flicker - 5 Olive-sided Flycatcher - 1 W. Wood Pewee - 10+ Swallows: Barn, Cliff, Violet-green - not many Steller's Jay - 4 Scrub Jay - 2 Am. Crow - 3 Black-capped Chickadee - 6 White-breasted Nuthatch - 3 Brown Creeper - 2 Bewick's Wren - 2 Am. Robin - 25+ Wrentit - 4 Cedar Waxwing - 5 Eur. Starling - 20 Warbling Vireo - 3 Western Tanager - 6 (A female was feeding fledglings) Lazuli Bunting - 1 male seen and heard singing Spotted Towhee - 7 Chipping Sparrow - family group Song Sparrow - 8 Am. Goldfinch - 8 Paul Sherrell, Dennis Arendt, Sylvia Maulding, Randy Sinnott, Craig Merkel, David and Sally Hill, Dave Brown, Frank Caruso (visiting), newcomer Lewis Bowdin, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090729/a473c05f/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Wed Jul 29 15:45:10 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:45:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] solitary sandpiper at Ridgefield NWR, River S Unit, Rest Lake Message-ID: This morning Roger and I found a solitary sandpiper in Rest Lake. It was long the west side of the wetland and just beyond the dike. You have to look for it. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090729/4161a81f/attachment.html From bigburd_jh at yahoo.com Wed Jul 29 16:15:13 2009 From: bigburd_jh at yahoo.com (jeff hayes) Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:15:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Message-ID: <966767.12722.qm@web36801.mail.mud.yahoo.com> This morning I was at the Royal Ave. entrance to Fern Ridge with a novice birder from 9:00 - 10:30 AM. It was already hot, so we only spent about an hour around the viewing platform and the little pond that grackles (of whatever flavor) seem to like so much. We did not see a grackle there. I was briefly excited when I saw a blackbird on a log out on the flats, near an adult-plumage California Gull. Everything about that bird was typical of a male Brewer's Blackbird, so... that's two misses for me, the cuckoo and this latest grackle. We did see the following birds: Am. Bittern Great Egret (3) Am. White Pelican (47) Wood Duck (5) N. Pintail (7) Am. Wigeon (4) Osprey (4) Gr. Yellowlegs (4) Wilson's Phalarope (1) California Gull (1) Black Tern (5) Acorn Woodpecker (6-8 birds at Royal Ave/Fisher Rd) Purple Martin (6) Lazuli Bunting (1 juvenile) ------ I grew up in Missouri, where Com. Grackle is abundant most of the year and Great-tailed is uncommon and local, but spreading. Last June (6/14 or 15, I think) I saw a second-year male Great-tailed Grackle at Fern Ridge, at the little pond. I myself was confused looking at the bird, thinking it was about halfway between Common and Great-tailed in size, and was hesitant to call it one or the other. Several other birders were on hand, and nobody as I recollect had made a firm decision to ID it until... the bird vocalized - an alien squeal/squawk unlike anything any Common Grackle I've ever heard makes. "Great-tailed!" was the final call, and I was comfortable with it and still am. It's interesting, though, to find that birds in the western part of the species' range are smaller than their eastern counterparts. Now it all makes sense! Somewhat. Dragonflies were out in full force. From jvanmoo at sisna.com Wed Jul 29 16:25:04 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:25:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Klamath Falls, 7-28-09 Message-ID: Hi Folks, Marilyn Christian and I birded Miller Island and Lower Klamath NWR (CA). Miller Island highlights: SANDHILL CRANE (2), BARN OWL. Lower Klamath NWR Highlights: RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (4), WILSON'S PHALAROPES (~50), LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (~200), DUNLIN (~50), SNOWY EGRET (4). Avocets, stilts, egrets, and lots of WHITE-FACED IBIS. On the OR side of Stateline Rd at Fugate Rd, ~1000 WHITE-FACED IBIS were in a flooded pasture. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From sandyleapt at comcast.net Wed Jul 29 18:09:48 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 01:09:48 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] A new dimension on Grackle study Message-ID: <839698788.6051021248916188110.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi All, According to my cook book, sportsmen wishing to keep their wild fowl in very hot weather should draw the bird as soon as killed, force down the throat two or three whole peppers (doesn't say what kind) and tie the throat above the peppers. Then sprinkle the inside of the fowl with a little powdered charcoal, fill the cavity of the body with very dry grass. Do not use green or wet grass to stuff the bird as it will hasten decay. I would not want Alan to get food poisoning if he can't cook the Grackle immediately. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090730/7436cb84/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Wed Jul 29 19:29:40 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:29:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Thanks - off topic Message-ID: <78D7409808B84C829C481A67F7FD364F@D48XBZ51> Thanks to all your replies about pika distribution. We have lots of places to try now. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090729/63da21f5/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Wed Jul 29 19:49:23 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:49:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seabird ID at distance, and the best hummer flower Message-ID: I am at a location on Willapa Bay where the bay is about 2.5 miles wide from the peninsula to Long Island. At times, observers have reported seabirds from shore and have estimated the distance. I have heard others question whether the birds reported could be identified at the reported distances. Firstly, I don't think land based observers can reasonably estimate distance on the ocean. That said, based on the known distance here, I think that albatrosses should be sometimes identified as to species at least as far as 2.5 miles with a 30X scope. (Bald Eagles here can be identified at greater distances.) In regard to hummingbird bird flowers: 1. The red blooming large crocosimias are amazing. Almost constant hummingbird activity. 2. Red-trumpet Honeysuckle - good. 3. Japanese (Hall's) Honeysuckle- not used much. 4. Magelenica fuschias - While I have seen hummers use them, they are very much less preferred than 1 and 2 above. 5. hardy bottle-brush (sp.) - some use. A Black Phoebe on the deck on Saturday was a nice surprise. Jeff Gilligan From greenfant at hotmail.com Wed Jul 29 21:26:31 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:26:31 -0400 Subject: [obol] Fernhill White Pelicans (Washington Co) Message-ID: As of this evening just before sunset, there are still/again several White Pelicans at Fernhill Wetlands. I counted 4, but they were all pretty much hidden away in a slough pretty much straight south of the southern shelter along the eastern edge of the big pond (Fernhill Lake). I would guess that this is still the same group of up to 11 birds last reported about 1.5 weeks ago. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?: Search, add, and share the web?s latest sports videos. Check it out. http://www.windowslive.com/Online/Hotmail/Campaign/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_QA_HM_sports_videos_072009&cat=sports -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090730/34e14fd4/attachment.html From jbw at oregoncoast.com Wed Jul 29 23:06:03 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara & John Woodhouse) Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:06:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] change of email address Message-ID: New address jbwalso at hughes.net However we will still have the oregoncoast address as well for at least 2 more months. Barbara & John Woodhouse From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Jul 29 23:23:41 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:23:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 7-30-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * July 30, 2009 * ORPO0907.30 - birds mentioned White-faced Ibis Solitary Sandpiper Elegant Tern Black Phoebe OVENBIRD INDIGO BUNTING White-winged Crossbill Evening Grosbeak - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday July 30. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On July 26 an OVENBIRD was heard calling at Cold Springs Campground near Sisters. A singing male INDIGO BUNTING was seen July 24 at Indian Ridge, southwest of Cougar Reservoir in the Willamette National Forest. Shorebird movements continue along was some post breeding dispersal of other species. There are several reports of large numbers of EVENING GROSBEAKS in the northern Oregon Coast Range. On July 25, 13 ELEGANT TERNS were at Gold Beach. A BLACK PHOEBE was seen July 29 in Gresham. A SOLITARY SANDPIPER was at Ridgefield NWR July 29. Recently a singing male WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was seen at Waldo Lake at the crest of the Cascades southeast of Eugene. A WHITE-FACED IBIS was at the Redmond Sewage Ponds July 27. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090729/20cc1966/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed Jul 29 23:37:28 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 02:37:28 -0400 Subject: [obol] bird boat trips. Message-ID: <8CBDEF75783817B-884-2B50@webmail-mh12.sysops.aol.com> I'm looking over the trips you have coming up. My attemps at getting decent sea/shore birds have left much to be desired. I'm thinking seriously about 1 of the trips from newport. Which one is the most likely to see the most birds? How is it in August? I'm eager to go, but I can only afford 1... A little advice if you please...........Thanks Johnny Sasko Sandy, or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090730/14865b3e/attachment.html From tsnetsinger at centurytel.net Thu Jul 30 02:10:45 2009 From: tsnetsinger at centurytel.net (tsnetsinger at centurytel.net) Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:10:45 -0400 Subject: [obol] CALIF. QUAIL in the Coast Range mountains? Message-ID: <20090730051045.45cbdi19m7fccosc@webmail2.centurytel.net> OBOL, On July 28 I was out near Dorn Peak in west-central Polk County, well into the Coast Range mountains, and I came across a family group of California Quail. Every other quail I have seen in the Coast Range mountains has been a Mountain Quail. The location was at least 10 miles from the nearest agricultural area. cheers, Tom Snetsinger thomas.snetsinger at oregonstate.edu From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Jul 30 08:16:02 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:16:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] new species of bird Message-ID: <4A71B932.8030302@verizon.net> http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090730/sc_livescience/newfoundbirdisbald Cheers Dave Lauten From Foxwinter at aol.com Thu Jul 30 11:03:25 2009 From: Foxwinter at aol.com (Foxwinter at aol.com) Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:03:25 EDT Subject: [obol] Barn Swallow young return to nest at night: Welches, OR Message-ID: A pair of Barn Swallows have nested this summer on a small shelf (put up by me several years ago) on the front porch, just outside my kitchen window. Four eggs were laid, three hatched. They were fed constantly by the parents. I left on a camping trip and returned to find only two left. These two flew out of the nest on July 20, Monday, circled the neighborhood, cheeping, then returned off and on to the nest area that day. The parents were still feeding them. Now they are gone all day, probably over to the golf course and ponds about a half mile away. They return to the nest about 9 pm each night and sleep on the nest. I shine a flashlight on them about 11 pm, and see them sound asleep, on the edge of the mud nest facing in. Last night July 29, only one returned to sleep, and flew out before 7 am this morning. That is 10 nights they have returned to the nest at night. Interesting..... Barbara Fox, Welches, Oregon **************Hot Deals at Dell on Popular Laptops perfect for Back to School (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1223105306x1201716871/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Faltfarm.mediaplex.com%2Fad%2Fck%2F12309%2D81939%2D1629%2D9) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090730/f440943f/attachment.html From uplandsandpiper at hotmail.com Thu Jul 30 15:05:06 2009 From: uplandsandpiper at hotmail.com (Tyler Hicks) Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:05:06 -0500 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR Shorebirds Message-ID: Hello, Sidra and I made a quick run through the River "S" Unit of Ridgefield NWR today. The mud on Rest Lake looks great for shorebirds. However, shorebird numbers were down today. This heat has certainly evaporated a great deal of the water. Shorebird List: Least Sandpiper - 30 Western Sandpiper - 15 Semipalmated Sandpiper - 2 Dunlin - 1 Greater Yellowlegs - 4 Lesser Yellowlegs - 1 Long-billed Dowitcher - 35 Killdeer - 4 Cheers, Tyler Hicks Ridgefield, WA <><><><><><><><><><><><><><>Tyler L. Hicks Ph.D. Candidate Washington State University VancouverE-mail: tyler_hicks at wsu.eduWeb Page: http://thingswithwings.org<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>"We were certainly uncertain. At least, I'm pretty sure I am." - Modest Mouse _________________________________________________________________ Bing? brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now. http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MLOGEN&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TXT_MLOGEN_Local_Local_Restaurants_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090730/88f6d038/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Thu Jul 30 15:18:00 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:18:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seabird ID at distance Message-ID: Jeff~>Firstly, I don't think land based observers can reasonably estimate distance >on the ocean...That said, based on the known distance here, While this opinion has merit, practiced observers can do a decent job with knowndistances. For example, at Depoe Bay there are buoys that are 1/2 mile and 1 mile due west from the harbor. With a little practice, an observer can make fairly accurate distance estimates. It gets tricky when the observer changes height. The horizonisn't as far on the beach as it is on high sea cliffs, therefore "halfway to the horizon"will significantly change in distance.>I think that albatrosses should be sometimes identified as to species at least as far as 2.5 miles >with a 30X scope. I was on top of hotel in Cardel counting hawks in the Mexican state of Veracruz andI saw a mixed flock of Cattle Egrets/Little Blue Herons that were about 4 miles away flying over the Gulf. At one point, they disappeared behind a headland only to pop out on the southern side.My email is acting funny. Sorry about that.Good birding,Russ NamitzCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090730/5de55a45/attachment.html From rie at pcfubar.net Thu Jul 30 15:49:33 2009 From: rie at pcfubar.net (roger morris) Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:49:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Odell Lake eagle Message-ID: I keep the odell lake eagle-cam running while I'm at work. Keep hitting the refresh button on the video. I thought for sure he was going to fly away a few minutes ago. the eagle does this thing where he flaps his wings and bounces around the nest, sometimes hovering. He's hop/flapped across the nest a few times. Just a few minutes ago, he was doing the hover thing and really got to flapping. he went up off camera and then came back down. I honestly thought he was going to take off when he went off camera like that. Roger From tc at empnet.com Thu Jul 30 16:37:12 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:37:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] FW: [BIRDWG05] "North American Birds" now on-line at SORA Message-ID: <5205499F2FCE4B71BA024367328C3AC8@102889> I am forwarding an email I received from the Arizona birding list, as it should be of interest to Obolers. Tom -----Original Message----- From: NBHC AZ/NM Birds [mailto:BIRDWG05 at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of Mark Stevenson Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 2:27 PM To: BIRDWG05 at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: [BIRDWG05] "North American Birds" now on-line at SORA Hi Birders, The journal now known as "North American Birds" and previously known as "Field Notes" and "American Birds" etc is now available FREE on-line at SORA for the years 1973-2008. 2008 is the most recent date of any of the journals there. I don't know who is responsible for this happening, but they deserve a big "THANKS". If you haven't used SORA, check it out. Many journals are available. http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/search.php Good birding, Mark Stevenson Tucson, AZ From dustdevil at centurytel.net Thu Jul 30 17:03:57 2009 From: dustdevil at centurytel.net (Patty Bowers) Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:03:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Harney County, Bowers Homestead Report Message-ID: Hi Gang, Just some notes to let you know what has been going on around our place lately. The Northern Flickers in the tree cavity across our driveway fledged 6-28. The American Kestrel family in the snag 20 feet away from the flickers fledged the last of 3 young on 7-25. Western Kingbirds nesting over the dog kennel fledged 7-20. The single youngster Swainson's Hawk is still occupying the nest in a juniper tree along our driveway. The Ash-throated Flycatchers are occupying the nest box hanging on the garage eve. Successful nesters in the surrounding area are coming to our pond to drink/bathe. BB Magpie, Western Meadowlark, Lark Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Bullock's Oriole, Loggerhead Shrike family. The choke-cherries near the pond are ripe and are attracting a number of birds - American Robin, and orioles especially like them. There were at least 20 Western Meadowlarks feeding on grasshoppers in the lawn this morning. We are starting to see dispersing/early fall migrants - Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Tanager, Sage Thrasher, House Wren, Spotted Towhee, Gray Flycatcher, Cedar Waxwing. The Rufus Hummingbirds are coming through in pulses on their way south with up to 6-8 at a time working the feeders and flowers. The Lazuli Bunting pair is still coming to the pond to bathe and drink and we are still trying to locate a nest which would be first "on the property" for us. A Common Poorwill is bugging regularly from the driveway near the house. It appears to be taking advantage of bugs attracted to the light coming from the windows after dark. I observed an adult Common Raven teaching two fledglings how to turn over dry cow patties to look for bugs, worms as they worked along the hill east of the house. Bushy-tailed Wood Rat # 11 for the summer is hanging limply on the gatepost for an easy treat for whichever winged scavenger gets to it first. We have trans-located 6 Western Rattlesnakes away from the house so far. The Western Fence Lizard youngsters are starting to emerge from their nests. Unless a late nesting pair shows up soon this will be the first time in the 18 years we have lived here that no Mountain Bluebirds will have used any of our nestboxes. Cheers from Rural Harney County 5 miles west of Hines Wayne and Patty Bowers -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090730/134485bb/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Thu Jul 30 21:18:13 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:18:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] CALIF. QUAIL in the Coast Range mountains? References: <20090730051045.45cbdi19m7fccosc@webmail2.centurytel.net> Message-ID: Tom, There is still a holdout population of California Quail near Nashville, in east central Lincoln County, which is not outrageously far from where you saw your birds. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 2:10 AM Subject: [obol] CALIF. QUAIL in the Coast Range mountains? > OBOL, > On July 28 I was out near Dorn Peak in west-central Polk County, well into > the Coast Range mountains, and I came across a family group of California > Quail. Every other quail I have seen in the Coast Range mountains has been > a Mountain Quail. The location was at least 10 miles from the nearest > agricultural area. > > cheers, > Tom Snetsinger > thomas.snetsinger at oregonstate.edu > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From davehelzer at mac.com Thu Jul 30 21:59:07 2009 From: davehelzer at mac.com (David Helzer) Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:59:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Local RBA: Black Phoebe, Sauvie Island Message-ID: Obolers, For anyone tracking the Black Phoebe thread, I checked with Ry Thompson on the Bybee lake bird, and he confirmed that it was in fact a BLACK PHOEBE and not an Eastern Kingbird. Speaking of Mult Co Eastern Kingbirds, the following link should provide an opportunity to view photos of an Eastern Kingbird that my former co-worker Alex Lauber photographed at Portland Airport. There are some other PDX bird pics there as well, including two different Swainson's Hawks and a Solitary Sandpiper. This will be an interesting test of my ability to actually post viewable photos to the web. http://gallery.me.com/davehelzer#100107 Dave Helzer Portland, OR == > Subject: Re: Local RBA: Black Phoebe, Sauvie Island > From: Elaine Stewart > Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:12:11 -0700 > > The Bybee Lake "black phoebe" was actually an eastern kingbird if I > remember > right. I'll double-check. In the heat of the moment, Ry wrote the > wrong name > even though he was well aware what he was looking at. > > -Elaine Stewart, Metro > > > Dave Helzer wrote: > > On Black Phoebes in Mult Co, I know of two recent records: > > 1. Katy Weil and Ry Thompson had one on the south end of Bybee Lake > about two years ago. > > 2. Gabe McNassar, my former co-worker with Portland Airport Wildlife, > photographed one along Elrod Slough (off Elrod Road) on the SW side > of PDX about two years ago. > > Unfortunately, both sites are in areas that are not open to the > public. > > > Dave Helzer > Portland Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090730/3747849d/attachment.html From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Thu Jul 30 23:35:13 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (Jamie S.) Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:35:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ca Quail in Lincoln Co., June 6th (late report) Message-ID: <758635.20176.qm@web39503.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Tom, Darrel, obol, On June 6th, after running the Salado Breeding Bird Survey, I had a brief but excellent view of a pair of CALIFORNIA QUAIL just north of Rock Creek Road in a re-planted clearcut in Lincoln County, less than 2 miles (as the quail scurries) south of the Polk County line.? (Delorme, p. 52, C3, where Rock Creek Road is running east-west (and almost straight) for several miles. This location appears to be about 20 miles (between south and ssw) from Tom Snetsinger's sighting at Dorn Peak. I can likely provide more detailed directions (e.g. approx. mile post and exact name & number on the gate on the road into the clearcut) upon request. There were several singing WILLOW FLYCATCHERS in the area as the replanted trees are at a good height & density for them. Jamie Simmons Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090730/399cd611/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Jul 31 04:20:10 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:20:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] CALIF. QUAIL in the Coast Range mountains? In-Reply-To: References: <20090730051045.45cbdi19m7fccosc@webmail2.centurytel.net> Message-ID: There is a heck of a lot of inappropriate habitat between Dorn Peak and Nashville. But on several occasions I've detected California Quail on my property, which is two miles from the covey I know about. The most recent occurence was this time of year about five years ago and involved a full family. They were on the county road, surrounded by tall alders and maple. We had graydiggers on this property when we moved in. They disappeared as the vegetation matured. Verts and Carraway reports the same mammal in isolated clearcuts and posits they travel along roads through the deep forest to get there. Conversely, Mountain Quail can occur on the valley floor, albeit adjacent to extensive forest. Bellfountain Road comes to mind, which forms the western boundary of Finley. Lars Norgren On Jul 30, 2009, at 9:18 PM, Darrel Faxon wrote: > Tom, > There is still a holdout population of California Quail near > Nashville, > in east central Lincoln County, which is not outrageously far from > where you > saw your birds. > > Darrel > ----- Original Message ----- > From: > To: > Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 2:10 AM > Subject: [obol] CALIF. QUAIL in the Coast Range mountains? > > >> OBOL, >> On July 28 I was out near Dorn Peak in west-central Polk County, well >> into >> the Coast Range mountains, and I came across a family group of >> California >> Quail. Every other quail I have seen in the Coast Range mountains has >> been >> a Mountain Quail. The location was at least 10 miles from the nearest >> agricultural area. >> >> cheers, >> Tom Snetsinger >> thomas.snetsinger at oregonstate.edu >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From celata at pacifier.com Fri Jul 31 08:47:22 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:47:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] A quiz bird two-fer Message-ID: <4A73120A.8060505@pacifier.com> When the summer doldrums lead to discussions of California Quail it's time to get folks re-focused. It's migrant time. Pay attention. Dave Lauten sent me a photo with legs for you all to puzzle over and I had an encounter on Mt Hebo with an interesting bird in a mixed flock of passerines. http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From tanager at nu-world.com Fri Jul 31 09:38:00 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:38:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sandy River Delta and NE Oregon weekend (July 25-27) SPRUCE GROUSE Message-ID: <001501ca11fd$44db9600$ce92c200$@com> Anne and I had 4 days last weekend to explore first the Sandy River Delta in Multnomah Co. before heading east to Union County looking for some summer specialties and other surprises. On Friday 7/25 we easily found the spot described by Jay Withgott and later birders. We found great habitat and lots of birds, but alas no Yellow-billed Cuckoo. We got there kind of late on Friday (late afternoon) and spent some time there also early Saturday 7/26 morning before heading east. In his timely posting Jeff Hayes pretty much summed up the birds we encountered, except we missed his Red-eyed Vireo. Union County on Saturday 7/26 left us time only for a quick trip through Ladd Marsh before dusk. We saw lots of BLACK-NECKED STILTS, AMERICAN AVOCETS, and BANK SWALLOWS, one FORSTER'S TERN, one BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, and at dusk in La Grande itself, just off Adams St. at approximately the Fir St. intersection, one flycatching LEWIS'S WOODPECKER. On Sunday 7/27 we were up at Moss Springs Campground east of Cove early and headed up the Lodge Pole trail looking for grouse. The Lodge Pole trail seemingly followed the Minam (on the left) and Catherine Creek (on the right) wildlife management units as you hiked south and up! A previous writer (I can't put my hands on the printed report, nor can I remember your name. Sorry!) described the habitat well, and thanks to his detailed directions we were able to find the woodpecker nest tree, but the cavity was abandoned. Approximately 200 to 300 yards away however, as the woodpecker flies, we did find one AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER adult and one recently fledged youngster working the dead trees for food. I am guessing these two individuals are the same two he saw. Above from where the Lodge Pole trail meets the logging road I was walking along the trail when I rounded a bend and saw something in the trail and immediately thought "bobwhite", and then I saw the adult female SPRUCE GROUSE standing alongside the trail. We watched and photographed her and her chicks for several minutes while she clucked quietly and gathered her chicks together. Eventually five chicks, each just slightly smaller than a bobwhite quail adult, emerged from both sides of the trail and they all walked off together. The whole time we were about 10-15 feet away from them. Photo essay will be shown at SWOC (Eugene Birders Night) on Aug. 10 (I think that is the correct date). We encountered one other grouse on our descent about 7 hours later. The jury's still out on that one. A lot of marks point to Spruce Grouse (young male), although the long tail and this individual's less confiding nature are troublesome. On our way back to La Grande we headed toward Reinhard Bridge along North Cove Rd. which travels NW along the base of the mountain. Along this road is where all of the AMERICAN BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES have gone! We stopped counting after hitting 18 individuals. They seemingly were everywhere along here. I think we saw maybe only three or four other individuals during the entire weekend, and half of those were not in Union County! We also encountered a live WESTERN RATTLESNAKE crossing this graveled road. We stopped to photograph him/her (it had 5-6 rattles and was quite noisy especially when we got close) but it soon slithered down a hole under some wood piled at the edge of the road. This was the first live rattler either of us has seen in North America. At Reinhard Bridge we had numerous GRAY CATBIRDS calling and flying from one side of the road to the other, crossing the Grand Rhonde River, and flycatching from the middle of the road! VEERY were also calling occasionally in this late afternoon. On Monday 7/28 we headed cross country on Spring Creek Rd. west to Hwy. 395 past Indian Lake. Nothing spectacular along this route, other than the super-abundance of CHIPPING SPARROWS and MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES. Good Birding, Dan Heyerly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090731/ccb74dc2/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Fri Jul 31 11:49:03 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:49:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 07/29/09 Message-ID: <20090731184934.585D4A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 07/23 to 07/29/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and an updated (7/1/09) checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 5 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Cooper's Hawk 1 (1, 7/26) Band-tailed Pigeon 3 (5, 7/23) Mourning Dove 3 (6. 7/23) Vaux's Swift 3 (4) Anna's Hummingbird 5 (5) Rufous Hummingbird 5 (8, 7/26 & 27) Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 (1, 7/26) Downy Woodpecker 2 (1, 7/26 & 27) Northern Flicker 4 (5, 7/23) Pileated Woodpecker 4 (1) Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 (1, 7/25) Pacific-slope Flycatcher 5 (4, 7/25) Steller's Jay 5 (8) Western Scrub-Jay 4 (3, 7/26) American Crow 5 (4) Violet-green Swallow 3 (2) Barn Swallow 2 (2, 7/25) Black-capped Chickadee 5 (15) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 5 (25, 7/26) Bushtit 5 (50, 7/27) Red-breasted Nuthatch 5 (6) Brown Creeper 5 (3) Winter Wren 5 (3) Swainson's Thrush 1 (1, 7/25) American Robin 5 (25) Cedar Waxwing 3 (4) Orange-crowned Warbler 1 (1, 7/25) Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 (1, 7/26) Black-throated Gray Warbler 2 (3, 7/26) Wilson's Warbler 4 (4, 7/23) Western Tanager 4 (2) Spotted Towhee 5 (8) Song Sparrow 5 (10) Dark-eyed Junco 5 (12) Black-headed Grosbeak 4 (3) Purple Finch 1 (3, 7/25) House Finch 5 (10) Red Crossbill 3 (3, 7/24) Pine Siskin 2 (1, 7/24 & 27) American Goldfinch 5 (7) Evening Grosbeak 5 (5, 7/24) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: BARRED OWL, CLIFF SWALLOW Misses (species found on at least 3 days in previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Hutton's Vireo, Bewick's Wren, Lesser Goldfinch Wink Gross Portland From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Fri Jul 31 11:52:33 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:52:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Seabird ID at distance Message-ID: <978238.48518.qm@web51802.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Judging distances from the shore is quite tricky because of the inherent optical illusions due to the curvature of the earth. I would take such a guestimate, even from the most experienced birder out there, with a large grain of salt. It would be very interesting to set up a "ground truthing" experiment with experienced birders/birding class (I can't yet think of a simple way to do this but it could be fun). In the Depoe Bay example, if I'm remembering correctly, the height of the sea wall/whale watching center is somewhere between 30-40 feet and on a crystal clear day the distance to the horizon is about 7 miles from this vantage point. HOWEVER, and this is the key, the distances that your eyes see are NOT linear. What your eyes see as half way to the horizon is only about 0.5 miles of the total 7 miles! (or is it 1 mile...can't remember for sure). You can test this by looking at where the half mile and mile buoys fall within your line of sight. In fact, most of the 7 miles is squashed into the last thin strip of water (often fuzzy) right along the horizon. The distance to the horizon changes with height and it doesn't change in a linear way. The horizon for a person standing on a flat beach is about 3 miles out. If you're standing on a 10 foot dune, it increases to around 4 miles. If the change was linear, then the horizon would be about 40 miles out if you go up to 100 feet.....but actually, it's about 13.5 miles. Regardless of the height/horizon distance, the most important thing to remember is that what your eyes see is NOT linear and because of this judging distances from shore accurately is extremely difficult if not impossible. It would be difficult enough to judge the distance of birds sitting on the water (more possible for the first half mile or so and from an area you are intimately familiar with and know the height) but add to that the ability of birds to fly and the fact they fly at different heights, it becomes nearly impossible. Here's a cool little calculator I found to estimate distance to horizon depending on height: http://www.boatsafe.com/tools/horizon.htm Keep in mind the formula uses radius of the earth which changes according to latitude....plus weather conditions, etc... Consider this when plugging in numbers: The observation decks at Yaquina Head are about 50-70 feet high (Boiler Bay is much lower). The Cape Foulweather lookout is about 500 feet high and that awesome lookout just north of Manzanita is about 700 feet high. When considering whether or not you can accurately estimate distances from the shore, think about how big the moon looks during a moonrise/moonset versus high in the sky. The tricks that our eyes/brains play on us sometimes enhances the experience :-) Of course, Jeff's original point was not really about judging distances (except to say we can't accurately do this...I agree) but about the ability to identify to species birds far away....and it is very helpful for less experienced birders like myself to have some idea of what's possible for the most experienced birders. Cindy Ashy From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Jul 31 12:10:41 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:10:41 +0000 Subject: [obol] Follow-up post about Western Kingbirds now up on BirdFellow Message-ID: Greetings all, I have posted a follow-up piece about the nesting Western Kingbirds. It is now up on BirdFellow.com. If you have yet to submit an entry to the headline contest on the Great Blue Heron piece, you have just under five hours to submit you offering. You could win BirdFellow wearables. Dave Irons Content Editor www.birdfellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?: Search, add, and share the web?s latest sports videos. Check it out. http://www.windowslive.com/Online/Hotmail/Campaign/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_QA_HM_sports_videos_072009&cat=sports -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090731/a126b244/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Fri Jul 31 13:59:15 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:59:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seasonal shorebird doldrums have begun. Message-ID: Here at location on Willapa Bay (about 8 miles north of the Oregon border) the migration of adult Western Sandpipers and Semipalmated Plovers has largely passed. As recently as two days ago, several hundred Westerns were normal at this specific location near ebb tide. Yesterday and today there were none. In my experience the first week of August along the coast is often depauperate in shorebirds, with the push of juveniles not expected to begin in significant numbers for about ten days or more. Jeff Gilligan From gneavoll at comcast.net Fri Jul 31 14:11:36 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:11:36 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Red-shouldered Hawk at Ridgefield NWR Message-ID: <1588263678.6983081249074696928.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> A bird I swear was a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (imm.) was at Ridgefield NWR this morning (7/31/09). It flew out of one of the Oregon Ash trees lining the water channel between Markers 9 and 10, on the west side of Canvasback Lake. It lighted in an ash on the opposite side of the channel before flying off several minutes later. It showed prominent light round spots at the base of the primaries in flight. It had the smallish head and bill of the Red-shouldered. It had long legs and a narrowly banded tail (the bands not nearly as prominent as in the adult). I never got a good look at its undersides. DOWITCHERS were the shorebird of the day on the refuge (although the "peeps" also were numerous). The distinctly reddish underparts suggested the 46 birds I counted in the middle of Rest Lake were all LONG-BILLED. (I'm sure more Dows were there.) An AMERICAN BITTERN (ad.) stood with its bill angled skyward in the channel across the road from Sora Marsh - where not a concealing reed was in sight. GEORGE NEAVOLL S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090731/c7814de1/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Fri Jul 31 14:18:05 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:18:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seabird ID at distance Message-ID: > Firstly, I don't think land based observers can reasonably estimate > distance on the ocean. Depends on what you mean by reasonably. Obviously without a laser nobody is going to be making precision measurements. However with experience watching known distance points such as buoys it's not that hard to learn within what I would consider a reasonable margin of error how certain species appear at different distances at a set magnification, and/or to get a feel for how the angles of distances appear in relation to the horizon from a fixed elevation above the water. For example by triangulation the outer Depoe Bay buoy is roughly 1.5 miles from the rocks at Government Point. Anytime I want at Boiler Bay I can look at the base of the buoy and get a feel for the space (angle) between that distance and the horizon line, which of course stays the same wherever you look along the horizon, and for the size species appear to be at that distance. By extension when they appear 1/2 that size they are at (very roughly) 3 miles. With enough experience the feel for size or angle to the horizon can help elsewhere from similar elevations even when fixed distance reference points aren't available. While nothing close to useful methods for determining exact distances, these are enough to help make useful approximate distance calls such as 1-1.5 miles, 2-3 miles etc. >I think that albatrosses should be sometimes identified as to species at >least as far as 2.5 miles with a 30X scope I think to a point experience and viewing conditions are equally important factors as distance. For example to someone with a lot of experience separating albatrosses by shape and flight as well as plumage (not me) species should be obvious at 2.5 30x in reasonable viewing conditions, and likely can be ID'd out to 6-7 miles or more in perfect conditions. Same applies for smaller species at more limited distances. IMO birders tend to conservatively underestimate the amount of detail that can be detected at great distance with a good scope IF conditions allow. Cheers, Phil From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Fri Jul 31 14:20:01 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:20:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seasonal shorebird doldrums have begun. In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <2b1bbd260907311420o71276296ga9c5223106945ac0@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Interesting that things were so dead up north today. Down here in Lane/Douglas counties we saw just the opposite. On the beach this AM between Siltcoos River and Tahkenitch Creek there were hundreds of SEMI-PALMATED PLOVERS. Hard to get a very good estimate, as they were spread out over 5 miles, but there were more today than we have seen all season. The same thing with SANDERLINGS. We have had scattered flocks of 10-20 birds for the last two weeks, but today we saw a flock with 300 birds in it. WESTERN SANDPIPERS on the other hand have dropped off significantly, but were not absent. We did have a single juvenile today, our first for the year. I suspect we were observing the last push of Semi adults and the first big push of Sanderlings. I'm sure the doldrums are coming.... BTW, also had 2 WHIMBREL fly past headed down the beach south of Siltcoos. Daniel Farrar On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 1:59 PM, Jeff Gilligan wrote: > Here at location on Willapa Bay (about 8 miles north of the Oregon border) > the migration of adult Western Sandpipers and Semipalmated Plovers has > largely passed. As recently as two days ago, several hundred Westerns were > normal at this specific location near ebb tide. Yesterday and today there > were none. In my experience the first week of August along the coast is > often depauperate in shorebirds, with the push of juveniles not expected to > begin in significant numbers for about ten days or more. > > Jeff Gilligan > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090731/e4e34f2c/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Jul 31 14:21:24 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:21:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seabird ID at distance Message-ID: <20090731142124.rieyruezkkc4k4c0@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Cindy's mathematics for distance at sea is all well and good, except that my experience is that most people can't accurately estimate ANY distance, period, land or sea. That's millimeters, feet, miles, or light years. They can be short by half or long by double, easily. Think you're more accurate? Try this. Put two marks on your desk at what you think 3 inches is. Measure it. Mine just now was 2-5/8. That's 2.625 out of 3 or 87.5% accuracy. The real question is, when you are standing out at the fence line on Government Point at Boiler Bay State Wayside, how far out are you able to accurately identify birds? Check yourself the next time you are there by training your binoculars (not scope) southwest to the farthest offshore buoy off Depoe Bay. According to the maps, it is 1.94 miles from the west fence at Boiler Bay to the buoy a mile off Depoe Bay. From that distance I can barely separate white-winged scoters from surf scoters flying behind the buoy, right at 2 miles, with my 8x binoculars. Theoretically, with a 24x scope, I should be able to do the same at 6 miles. Thus, with a 40-60x scope it should not be unreasonable to identify an albatross at the apparent edge of the sea 7 miles offshore from Boiler Bay, assuming its not too hazy and flies above the wave troughs sufficiently high. Shearwaters should be identifiable with a good scope 3-4 miles to sea from Boiler Bay with decent light and clear air. Tiny murrelets and auklets might be identifiable in a scope at 2 miles. Maybe. But I'd like them closer. Greg Gillson Forest Grove, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From hhactitis at yahoo.com Fri Jul 31 14:43:57 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:43:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Seasonal shorebird doldrums have begun. In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <626323.5074.qm@web37007.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Jeff and all, on the central coast (Lane and Douglas Counties) the movement of WESTERN SANDPIPERS has certainly slowed down. Daniel Farrar and I only found a few small flocks today on the beach during our Snowy Plover surveys. We did see one juvenile WESTERN, our first of the season. There was, however, still a very good movement of SANDERLINGS, with several flocks numbering between 100 and 300 (all adult). Also, a flock of 100+ SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS. Besides, we found 4 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and one WHIMBREL. It'll be fun once the juvie movement picks up! Happy shorebirding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Fri, 7/31/09, Jeff Gilligan wrote: From: Jeff Gilligan Subject: [obol] Seasonal shorebird doldrums have begun. To: "OBOL" Date: Friday, July 31, 2009, 1:59 PM Here at location on Willapa Bay (about 8 miles north of the Oregon border) the migration of adult Western Sandpipers and Semipalmated Plovers has largely passed. As recently as two days ago, several hundred Westerns were normal at this specific location near ebb tide.? Yesterday and today there were none.? In my experience the first week of August along the coast is often depauperate in shorebirds, with the push of juveniles not expected to begin in significant numbers for about ten days or more. Jeff Gilligan _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090731/03659e3c/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Fri Jul 31 14:46:17 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:46:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Seasonal shorebird doldrums have begun - OOPS In-Reply-To: <626323.5074.qm@web37007.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <591897.84775.qm@web37003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Oops - I should read ahead before I answer an email. Didn't notice that Daniel had already posted our findings from today. Sorry about the repeat. Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Fri, 7/31/09, Hendrik Herlyn wrote: From: Hendrik Herlyn Subject: Re: [obol] Seasonal shorebird doldrums have begun. To: "OBOL" , "Jeff Gilligan" Date: Friday, July 31, 2009, 2:43 PM Hi Jeff and all, on the central coast (Lane and Douglas Counties) the movement of WESTERN SANDPIPERS has certainly slowed down. Daniel Farrar and I only found a few small flocks today on the beach during our Snowy Plover surveys. We did see one juvenile WESTERN, our first of the season. There was, however, still a very good movement of SANDERLINGS, with several flocks numbering between 100 and 300 (all adult). Also, a flock of 100+ SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS. Besides, we found 4 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and one WHIMBREL. It'll be fun once the juvie movement picks up! Happy shorebirding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Fri, 7/31/09, Jeff Gilligan wrote: From: Jeff Gilligan Subject: [obol] Seasonal shorebird doldrums have begun. To: "OBOL" Date: Friday, July 31, 2009, 1:59 PM Here at location on Willapa Bay (about 8 miles north of the Oregon border) the migration of adult Western Sandpipers and Semipalmated Plovers has largely passed. As recently as two days ago, several hundred Westerns were normal at this specific location near ebb tide.? Yesterday and today there were none.? In my experience the first week of August along the coast is often depauperate in shorebirds, with the push of juveniles not expected to begin in significant numbers for about ten days or more. Jeff Gilligan _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090731/aa789600/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Fri Jul 31 15:12:33 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:12:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seasonal Shorebird Doldrums--yes, but... Message-ID: <20090731221232.CD131A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> ...I did find a single BAIRD'S SANDPIPER at Tierra del Mar Wednesday evening, with a few SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, WESTERN SANDPIPERS, and SANDERLINGS. But, I agree, it's pretty quiet right now, shorebird-wise, in Tillamook County. Wink Gross Portland From philliplc at charter.net Fri Jul 31 15:22:16 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:22:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seabird ID at distance References: <20090731142124.rieyruezkkc4k4c0@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Message-ID: <26954A0D991240CEBECCAD6B9012F828@Phil> > According to the maps, it is 1.94 miles from the west > fence at Boiler Bay to the buoy a mile off Depoe Bay. I've always come up with more like 1.6-1.7 when I try to do the math. To be further than that the buoy would have to be south of the mouth of Depoe Bay, and it doesn't seem to be. Maybe Greg has a map that shows exact location. Phil From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Fri Jul 31 15:38:21 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:38:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Seabird ID at distance Message-ID: <305958.41033.qm@web51803.mail.re2.yahoo.com> "...that my experience is that most people can't accurately estimate ANY distance, period, land or sea. That's millimeters, feet, miles, or light years. They can be short by half or long by double, easily." I completely agree with Greg on this, having had to test how accurate one's visual estimates are for real on many occasions over the years (such as calculating the volume of squid egg cases coming up on fishing nets and the dispersal of various things on the surface of water)....and I have more confidence in the estimates of those people who understand this than those who seem completely confident in their estimates :-) ... especially since I don't see a way to test the accuracy of distances (and sizes) reported by birders on the shore ... a bird that looks like it is flying over/near a certain buoy or other landmark on the surface of the water may actually be much further away from that landmark than it appears. With squid eggs you can grab them off the net and measure the volume (with more effort than you might think) but how do you measure the distances (or even sizes) of birds moving through a 3 dimensional area over landmarks that are not on a flat plane but rather on an arched plane which is very deceptive to the human eye/brain? Cindy Ashy From deweysage at verizon.net Fri Jul 31 16:30:05 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:30:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] good quiz bird In-Reply-To: <20090731105820.pmp3j8n2uogcc8oo@webmail.thebirdguide.com> References: <4A7309F6.9010701@verizon.net> <20090731105820.pmp3j8n2uogcc8oo@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Message-ID: <4A737E7D.2070601@verizon.net> Thanks to Greg and Mike, my photo of the mystery shorebird has been posted. Greg also took a guess below, and Dave Irons and another person posted on Mike's webpage. Now I'll tell you a couple of things about the bird. One, it's wings are longer than it's tail. Two, it was larger than any peep or Snowy Plover around, which is not possible to tell since the photo has no scale. So now that you know these two facts, is it still a Western Sandpiper? Cheers Dave Lauten Greg Gillson wrote: > > I uploaded your photo, Dave, to: > http://www.pbase.com/image/115569221 > > To me it seemed pretty straight-forward, when scrolling down only to > the bill. However, perhaps that means I'm wrong? Of course, I'm > sitting in my comfortable office, not out on the cold, windy beach. > > It appears to be a Western Sandpiper, adult female in worn breeding > plumage with sand-covered bill. > > Greg > > From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Fri Jul 31 16:45:21 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:45:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] good quiz bird In-Reply-To: <4A737E7D.2070601@verizon.net> Message-ID: It looks like an adult female Western Sandpiper to me. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: DJ Lauten and KACastelein > Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:30:05 -0700 > To: Greg Gillson > Cc: Mike Patterson , Oregon Birders On Line > > Subject: Re: [obol] good quiz bird > > Thanks to Greg and Mike, my photo of the mystery shorebird has been > posted. Greg also took a guess below, and Dave Irons and another person > posted on Mike's webpage. > > Now I'll tell you a couple of things about the bird. One, it's wings > are longer than it's tail. Two, it was larger than any peep or Snowy > Plover around, which is not possible to tell since the photo has no scale. > > So now that you know these two facts, is it still a Western Sandpiper? > > Cheers > Dave Lauten > > Greg Gillson wrote: >> >> I uploaded your photo, Dave, to: >> http://www.pbase.com/image/115569221 >> >> To me it seemed pretty straight-forward, when scrolling down only to >> the bill. However, perhaps that means I'm wrong? Of course, I'm >> sitting in my comfortable office, not out on the cold, windy beach. >> >> It appears to be a Western Sandpiper, adult female in worn breeding >> plumage with sand-covered bill. >> >> Greg >> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From philliplc at charter.net Fri Jul 31 17:02:56 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:02:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] good quiz bird References: Message-ID: molting adult Dunlin? From deweysage at verizon.net Fri Jul 31 17:07:45 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:07:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] good quiz bird In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4A738751.2080201@verizon.net> Alan Contreras wrote: > It looks like an adult female Western Sandpiper to me. > > We agree. In the field, this bird was rather large and with a large bill. Next to Sanderlings and Snowy Plovers, it competed with the former in size and was noticeable large than the latter. We spent some time looking at the bird and taking notes, and upon review we agree that the field marks indicate Western Sandpiper. It is a case of not stepping back and trying to fit a rather common bird on the large side of the bell curve into a 'its-something else' category. Thanks for the help. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From deweysage at verizon.net Fri Jul 31 17:12:08 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:12:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] good quiz bird In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4A738858.2010304@verizon.net> This is what we were thinking in the field, or more so, molting juvenile Dunlin. This is a plumage we don't get to see too much, since they tend to molt on the breeding ground before heading south. However, our notes indicate the bird had semipalmations between the toes, a feature Dunlin to not have and WESA does. Plus, Dunlin should have shorter wings, not as long as the tail. Cheers Dave Lauten Phil Pickering wrote: > molting adult Dunlin? > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Fri Jul 31 17:30:42 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:30:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] good quiz bird In-Reply-To: <4A738858.2010304@verizon.net> Message-ID: I don't think any plumage of Dunlin would have BOTH the reddish feathers above and the dotlike pattern below. Both are seen in late-season adult Westerns. Also, the face pattern of Dunlin is quite distinctive for a peeplike bird. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: DJ Lauten and KACastelein > Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:12:08 -0700 > To: Phil Pickering > Cc: > Subject: Re: [obol] good quiz bird > > This is what we were thinking in the field, or more so, molting juvenile > Dunlin. This is a plumage we don't get to see too much, since they tend > to molt on the breeding ground before heading south. However, our notes > indicate the bird had semipalmations between the toes, a feature Dunlin > to not have and WESA does. Plus, Dunlin should have shorter wings, not > as long as the tail. > > Cheers > Dave Lauten > > Phil Pickering wrote: >> molting adult Dunlin? >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> >> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From celata at pacifier.com Fri Jul 31 18:00:55 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:00:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] good quiz bird In-Reply-To: <4A737E7D.2070601@verizon.net> References: <4A7309F6.9010701@verizon.net> <20090731105820.pmp3j8n2uogcc8oo@webmail.thebirdguide.com> <4A737E7D.2070601@verizon.net> Message-ID: <4A7393C7.2030000@pacifier.com> I haven't actually weighed in yet, except to note that it has a very long bill and long looking legs. And while my first reaction was WESA, I rejected this for three reasons: 1. It seemed too obvious. 2. Structurally, the bill seems too long and the legs seem too long and the primary projections seems too long and (if one blows up the photo) there don't seem to be any obvious palmations. 3. I read the reports from Coos/Curry and recall an off-season report... DJ Lauten and KACastelein wrote: > Thanks to Greg and Mike, my photo of the mystery shorebird has been > posted. Greg also took a guess below, and Dave Irons and another person > posted on Mike's webpage. > > Now I'll tell you a couple of things about the bird. One, it's wings > are longer than it's tail. Two, it was larger than any peep or Snowy > Plover around, which is not possible to tell since the photo has no scale. > > So now that you know these two facts, is it still a Western Sandpiper? > > Cheers > Dave Lauten > > Greg Gillson wrote: >> >> I uploaded your photo, Dave, to: >> http://www.pbase.com/image/115569221 >> >> To me it seemed pretty straight-forward, when scrolling down only to >> the bill. However, perhaps that means I'm wrong? Of course, I'm >> sitting in my comfortable office, not out on the cold, windy beach. >> >> It appears to be a Western Sandpiper, adult female in worn breeding >> plumage with sand-covered bill. >> >> Greg >> >> > > > > -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From celata at pacifier.com Fri Jul 31 19:05:19 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:05:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] For those who can't wait... Message-ID: <4A73A2DF.2060804@pacifier.com> I have posted a "cheat" at my flickr site for the second of the mystery birds posted earlier. It is in a more "conventional" pose. http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/3776060739/ As for the first... A glandular Western Sandpiper seems to be the leading opinion, but I have to say Jeff Gilligan's alternative is provocative and worth talking about the why's and why-not's. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Fri Jul 31 19:12:38 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:12:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Female Western Sand bills Message-ID: See my bird photo blog for an in-hand photo of a known female Western Sandpiper with a large bill, taken at Tillamook Bay. http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary From deweysage at verizon.net Fri Jul 31 19:30:36 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:30:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] For those who can't wait... In-Reply-To: <4A73A2DF.2060804@pacifier.com> References: <4A73A2DF.2060804@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <4A73A8CC.7040104@verizon.net> Mike Patterson wrote: > As for the first... > A glandular Western Sandpiper seems to be the leading opinion, > but I have to say Jeff Gilligan's alternative is provocative and > worth talking about the why's and why-not's. > > For further info, the rump of the shorebird we are talking about was not white. We were on that field mark both for White-rumped and Curlew Sandpiper. I will say this is a provocative discussion, because of both the White-rumped and Phil Pickerings Dunlin comment. Kathy and I see literally thousands and thousands of shorebirds every year, due to our job on the Oregon coast. This bird turned Kathy's head right away, because it was so big, both body and bill. I thought the same as soon as I looked at it. It looked like a Dunlin in Western plumage. I wouldn't have sent it along if it was just some normal WESA. Cheers Dave Lauten From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Fri Jul 31 19:38:49 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:38:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Off-brand peeps In-Reply-To: <4A73A8CC.7040104@verizon.net> Message-ID: Many years ago I was standing on the mudflats at Tillamook Bay in mid-September when in flew a sandpiper that landed out on the mud all by itself. And it looked Wrong. It was in a stage of half-molt and it just didn't look right. It wasn't right. It was a molting adult Rock Sandpiper - three weeks early and in absurdly wrong habitat. It seems to me that either Jeff Gilligan or Al Prigge was there, too. In mid-summer there are more shorebird plumages side-by-side than at any other time of year. Its a good time to study them. When the new Handbook of Oregon Birds appears in three weeks (knock wood), it will contain color plates of photos of various plumages of Western, Least and Semi sandpipers, to serve as a convenient additional field reference. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: DJ Lauten and KACastelein > Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:30:36 -0700 > To: OBOL > Subject: Re: [obol] For those who can't wait... > > Mike Patterson wrote: >> As for the first... >> A glandular Western Sandpiper seems to be the leading opinion, >> but I have to say Jeff Gilligan's alternative is provocative and >> worth talking about the why's and why-not's. >> >> > For further info, the rump of the shorebird we are talking about was not > white. We were on that field mark both for White-rumped and Curlew > Sandpiper. I will say this is a provocative discussion, because of both > the White-rumped and Phil Pickerings Dunlin comment. Kathy and I see > literally thousands and thousands of shorebirds every year, due to our > job on the Oregon coast. This bird turned Kathy's head right away, > because it was so big, both body and bill. I thought the same as soon as > I looked at it. It looked like a Dunlin in Western plumage. I wouldn't > have sent it along if it was just some normal WESA. > > Cheers > Dave Lauten > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From slcarpenter at gmail.com Fri Jul 31 19:51:02 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:51:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: Baird's Sandpiper Message-ID: At the south end of Rest Lake on the River S Unit of Ridgefield NWR was a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER among the many Western and Least Sandpipers. The Baird's was still there at 6:35 p.m. this evening when I left. Scott Carpenter Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090731/aca21e51/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Fri Jul 31 20:21:04 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:21:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Off-brand peeps In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Alan: I was there for the mudflat and early Rock Sandpiper. Jeff On 7/31/09 7:38 PM, "Alan Contreras" wrote: > Many years ago I was standing on the mudflats at Tillamook Bay in > mid-September when in flew a sandpiper that landed out on the mud all by > itself. And it looked Wrong. It was in a stage of half-molt and it just > didn't look right. > > It wasn't right. It was a molting adult Rock Sandpiper - three weeks early > and in absurdly wrong habitat. > > It seems to me that either Jeff Gilligan or Al Prigge was there, too. > > In mid-summer there are more shorebird plumages side-by-side than at any > other time of year. Its a good time to study them. > > When the new Handbook of Oregon Birds appears in three weeks (knock wood), > it will contain color plates of photos of various plumages of Western, Least > and Semi sandpipers, to serve as a convenient additional field reference. From jeffgill at teleport.com Fri Jul 31 20:38:32 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:38:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] For those who can't wait... In-Reply-To: <4A73A8CC.7040104@verizon.net> Message-ID: Ok...I am now thinking its a hybrid - perhaps Western X Dunlin or a White-rumped X something. I have seen two hybrid shorebirds on the Oregon coast (perhaps more that I didn't recognize as such). One was a Sanderling x Semipalmated or perhaps x Western. It was a very strange creature with a flock of Sanderlings. Tom Crabtree and/or Owen Schmidt saw it as well. The other was an apparent Least x Baird's with Baird's on the beach at Bandon. Gerard Lillie and I got photos of that one. It probably deserves another look after all these years. Jeff Gilligan On 7/31/09 7:30 PM, "DJ Lauten and KACastelein" wrote: > Mike Patterson wrote: >> As for the first... >> A glandular Western Sandpiper seems to be the leading opinion, >> but I have to say Jeff Gilligan's alternative is provocative and >> worth talking about the why's and why-not's. >> >> > For further info, the rump of the shorebird we are talking about was not > white. We were on that field mark both for White-rumped and Curlew > Sandpiper. I will say this is a provocative discussion, because of both > the White-rumped and Phil Pickerings Dunlin comment. Kathy and I see > literally thousands and thousands of shorebirds every year, due to our > job on the Oregon coast. This bird turned Kathy's head right away, > because it was so big, both body and bill. I thought the same as soon as > I looked at it. It looked like a Dunlin in Western plumage. I wouldn't > have sent it along if it was just some normal WESA. > > Cheers > Dave Lauten > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From 5hats at peak.org Fri Jul 31 21:20:02 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:20:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] judging distance to birds Message-ID: <05110070411D4D82A5549FBA160CE51B@your5rlp3a9516> Obolites, This discussion reminds me of the time American Birds printed what I assume was a typo, about someone seeing a certain bird "one hundred years from shore". Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090731/54f30f01/attachment.html From tlove at linfield.edu Fri Jul 31 21:26:00 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:26:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Humboldt Co., CA - Long-billed Murrelet Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F1215B07189@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> Long-billed Murrelet seen today off the mouth of the Eel River, Humboldt County, CA: http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CALB.html#1249095841 Tom Love tlove at linfield.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090731/5f2a1b7f/attachment.html From mavethegreat at hotmail.com Fri Jul 31 21:45:34 2009 From: mavethegreat at hotmail.com (David G Crisman) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:45:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding Lincoln County Message-ID: Most of my birding experience at the coast has been around Tillamook or further north. Can anyone help with suggestions of productive birding in Lincoln County? Birds of particular interest for my family will likely be White-Tailed Kite, Peregrine Falcon, Shorebirds and I guess any bird that tends to be coast-exclusive. Thanks a million, David Crisman Tigard, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live? Hotmail?: Celebrate the moment with your favorite sports pics. Check it out. http://www.windowslive.com/Online/Hotmail/Campaign/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_QA_HM_sports_photos_072009&cat=sports -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090731/32bcffff/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Fri Jul 31 19:25:04 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:25:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Kestrels, pelicans Message-ID: <141F11F594B14E65890AED64006502CE@D48XBZ51> On my way home from a meeting in Salem, this afternoon I briefly visited Baskett Slough, and Ankeny NWRs. The highlight at Baskett Slough was 7 American Kestrels along a quarter-mile of Colville Road from the parking area east. The grass fields there had just been mowed, and the straw not yet picked up. Two were carrying small mammals, presumably voles. At Ankeny 12 White Pelicans were feeding in a group in the only open water visible from the road. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090731/e1eade89/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Jul 31 23:00:23 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cook's Petrels off the West Coast Message-ID: <49A144C2CBE74C6199C9339FB1278354@GREG> The largest influx of COOK'S PETRELS ever on the West Coast is happening this week! 136 COOK'S PETRELS were off Santa Barbara last Saturday, July 25. http://socalbirding.com/tripreports/santabarbarajul252009.html 138 COOK'S PETRELS were in Monterey Bay today, July 31, some as close as 15 miles to shore. There are 9 spaces remaining on our Perpetua Bank trip from Newport, Oregon, on August 8. While COOK'S Petrel is possible on this trip on the edge of the Newport Sea Valley, 35 miles offshore, it is not really likely (7 total Oregon reports, 2 accepted by Records Committee, 1 photo). (But, then, Cook's Petrel is not likely in Monterey Bay, either.) However, XANTUS'S MURRELET is certainly possible in the warm water offshore now, as a rarity. And there are always lots of common seabirds this time of year. http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/ Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com From mcoolidge at audubonportland.org Thu Jul 30 13:45:06 2009 From: mcoolidge at audubonportland.org (Mary Coolidge) Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:45:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird window strike volunteers needed! Message-ID: Bird window strikes account for the death of hundreds of millions of birds worldwide every year. Portland Audubon is spearheading a study to determine the rate of this problem in our growing city skyline. We have laid out survey routes in 5 areas around the greater downtown area to be walked in the early morning by volunteers throughout September. We need your help collecting this first-ever data set in Portland! Routes begin at sunrise (and run about 1.5 hours) in order to find dead and injured birds before they are removed by scavengers and street and sidewalk maintenance crews. If you are interested in helping with this very important study, contact Mary Coolidge at 503.292.6855 x111 or mcoolidge at audubonportland . Commitment: ~1 (or 2) morning(s) per week throughout September. Mary Coolidge Assistant Conservation Director Audubon Society of Portland 5151 NW Cornell Road Portland, OR 97210 503.292.6855 ext. 111 503.292.1021 fax Pledge my birdathon trip! http://audubonportland.dojiggy.com/pledge/index.cfm?mid=MARYMAC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090730/d6d68c98/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Sat Aug 1 00:16:41 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 00:16:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding Lincoln County In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi, The Central Coast portion of the Oregon Coast Birding Trail (http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/) includes many sites for birding in Lincoln County and coastal Lane County. It is a 2.8 MB PDF, so it takes a while to download, but it is worth it. Good birding! Range Bayer, Newport On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 9:45 PM, David G Crisman wrote: > Most of my birding experience at the coast has been around Tillamook or > further north.? Can anyone help with suggestions of productive birding in > Lincoln County?? Birds of particular interest for my family will likely be > White-Tailed Kite, Peregrine Falcon, Shorebirds and I guess any bird that > tends to be coast-exclusive. > > Thanks a million, > > David Crisman > Tigard, OR > > ________________________________ > Windows Live? Hotmail?: Celebrate the moment with your favorite sports pics. > Check it out. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From pppahooie at comcast.net Sat Aug 1 07:43:51 2009 From: pppahooie at comcast.net (pppahooie at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 14:43:51 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Big Eddy & The Wash (Sauvie Island) Message-ID: <113029559.6635491249137831346.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Big Eddy, Friday 7/31/09 late afternoon I went without optics Sorting thoughts instead of field marks A few birds were there anyway: Ring-billed Gulls (2 adults and a juvenile) Bald Eagle (one adult with a few primaries missing and a voice like a squeaky bike wheel) American Robins American Goldfinches Violet-green, Tree and Barn Swallows And one Great Blue Heron walking the path ahead of me near Big Eddy Mud Lake had immature ducks in bright light.? Perhaps woodies? Aside from?the laundry, where or what is "The Wash"? KB Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090801/b1839190/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Sat Aug 1 10:20:12 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Sat, 01 Aug 2009 10:20:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yellowlegs doldrums Message-ID: The cove on Willapa Bay (about 8 miles north of Oregon) where I am working on projects, had adult Greater Yellowlegs from June 27 until two days ago. Since then there have been none. The high count was 41 on July 25. Jeff Gilligan From scre at aol.com Sat Aug 1 15:08:46 2009 From: scre at aol.com (scre at aol.com) Date: Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:08:46 -0400 Subject: [obol] Cook's Petrels off the West Coast Message-ID: <8CBE10BC65EFDA8-158C-37D2@WEBMAIL-MB08.sysops.aol.com> If any year were to record Cook's Petrels in Oregon it would be this year.? Michael Force also recorded 185 Cook's Petrels and a Stejneger Petrel on Monterey Bay yesterday (July 31) as well on a research vessel.? All of the birds we had on the Shearwater Journeys trip were within 20 miles of shore.? Cook's Petrels have not been recorded from single day pelagics out of Monterey Bay before and the previous high count for the county was 10 on a research vessel far offshore.? Shearwater Journeys is doing trips out of Bodega Bay on August 12 and Fort Bragg on August 14, with the way things are going it seems likely for this species to be recorded there and from there it is not all that far to Oregon.? In other words if this species is recorded in numbers from the Northern California trips I imagine the trips in Oregon will record it as well!? Good luck and be sure and study up as other species of Pterdroma are possible out there as well with the Cook's as well.? Just as another heads up as well, Hawaiian Petrel has been found to be regular off west coast from California to BC including Oregon.? http://www.oikonos.org/projects/uau.htm? Most records in California have been from around the 500 fathom line and this is also where a lot of the Cook's were (a lot more were further out as well though).? Good seabirding. David Vander Pluym Currently wandering around California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090801/7777364a/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sat Aug 1 15:26:10 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 15:26:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry Shorebirds 7/31/09 Message-ID: <307.55254.qm@web45303.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Bandon Marsh NWR, around noon, tide to high to walk out but from the observation deck I was able to see: 9- Dowitchers sp. (both species from what I could hear) 14- BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS 1- RUDDY TURNSTONE (two on 8/1) 2-300 peeps, way out yonder Floras Lake, 1-2PM, where Floras Creek turns into New River, outside the signed Snowy Plover area of course: 25- WESTERN SANDPIPERS (a few juvies) 12- LEAST SANDPIPERS (half juvies) 10- SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS 2- SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS (1 juvie) 1- LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (juvie) 1- SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (a bright juvie and a new county bird for me) 1- GREATER YELLOWLEGS No ELEGANT TERNS IN Gold Beach on either 7/31 or 8/1, I also have checked a couple other times wihout luck since Don Munson reported the 13 birds.? The mouth of the river is packed with fishing boats, quite a sight. Nice and toasty in the Siskiyous last night but very smokey from forest fires in CA?? The coast continues to hold onto the fog with some clearing inland and on the beach for a few hours each day. Oh, I had a heard only WESTERN SANDPIPER at 4:30AM at 4,600' elevation near Fish Hook Peak where I was camped this morning (8/1), pretty unusual!! Happy shorebirding all, Tim R Coos Bay From bbrace at eskimo.com Sat Aug 1 19:10:54 2009 From: bbrace at eskimo.com ({ brad brace }) Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 19:10:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] what was it? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: a big, scruffy, ash-grey bird -- cross between an owl (his head) and a hawk (talons) -- seen in the SW Portland wooded area at dusk (any suggestions appreciated) /:b From greg at thebirdguide.com Sat Aug 1 19:19:02 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 19:19:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Forest Grove Tundra Swan & White Pelicans Message-ID: There was a lone Tundra Swan at Fernhill Wetlands today, out in the back pond. I imagine it is unable to fly and remains from last winter, though I haven't heard of anyone else reporting it. The American White Pelicans remain from July. I was able to count exactly 12. Photos: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115609905 http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115612867 http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115601409 Other photos from this morning: Cedar Waxwings: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115606283 http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115606279 http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115601945 http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115611528 Savannah Sparrow: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115610555 http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115602339 Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Aug 1 19:46:53 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 02:46:53 +0000 Subject: [obol] what was it? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Sounds like a pretty good description of a Barred Owl, especially given the habitat. I recommend going online, finding an audio file of Barred Owl and then do your best to imitate it, and you'll probably get a better look, or at least get to hear a very cool owl call. Dave IronsEugene, OR > Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 19:10:54 -0700 > From: bbrace at eskimo.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] what was it? > > > a big, scruffy, ash-grey bird -- cross between an owl (his > head) and a hawk (talons) -- seen in the SW Portland wooded > area at dusk (any suggestions appreciated) > > /:b > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Get free photo software from Windows Live http://www.windowslive.com/online/photos?ocid=PID23393::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_PH_software:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/3e69f1c9/attachment.html From m.denny at charter.net Sat Aug 1 19:55:03 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 19:55:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hat Rock SP Birding Message-ID: <8FE2F1081DE0433586CC81D6D40AF852@24FLIGHT> Hello All, MerryLynn and I ventured into Umatilla Co. in the 100 degree heat to see what species were attracted to the water/springs at Hat Rock SP. Birds of note were; 1. Common Loon-5 birds east of Juniper Canyon on the Columbia River between milepost 201 and 202 along hwy 730. Hat Rock SP 2.Common Nighthawk-2 birds 3.Eastern Kingbirds-6 birds 4.Red-eyed Vireo-1 ad. migrant -first time I have seen this species at this location. 5.Olive-sided Flycatcher-1 bird, migrant 6.Western Wood-pewee-1 bird 7.Yellow Warbler-1 bird 8.Belted Kingfisher-1 bird 9.Black-capped Chickadee-2 birds, not expected in this park. 10.Downy Woodpecker-1 ad. Thats it for now. Later Mike .................................................................................. Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived From quetsal48 at comcast.net Sat Aug 1 19:55:46 2009 From: quetsal48 at comcast.net (Craig Merkel) Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 19:55:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coopers Hawk Message-ID: <1B588FB669674E9A976730961468C5A7@lastmaskin> The wife and I saw an immature Coopers Hawk in the East Alton Baker woodlands today sitting in a branch of an Incense Cedar tree next to Pre's Trail begging for food. The adults could be heard in the top of the same tree. He was only about 10' off the ground so we were about eye-to-eye with him. Craig Merkel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090801/9daf7a26/attachment.html From bbrace at eskimo.com Sat Aug 1 20:02:11 2009 From: bbrace at eskimo.com ({ brad brace }) Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 20:02:11 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] what was it? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: thanks! David Machamer correctly guessed a male Northern Harrier despite my minimal description; the recording of the voice on the Cornell Ornithology site cinched it! /:b On Sun, 2 Aug 2009, David Irons wrote: > > Sounds like a pretty good description of a Barred Owl, especially given the habitat. I recommend going online, finding an audio file of Barred Owl and then do your best to imitate it, and you'll probably get a better look, or at least get to hear a very cool owl call. > Dave IronsEugene, OR > > > Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 19:10:54 -0700 > > From: bbrace at eskimo.com > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Subject: [obol] what was it? > > > > > > a big, scruffy, ash-grey bird -- cross between an owl (his > > head) and a hawk (talons) -- seen in the SW Portland wooded > > area at dusk (any suggestions appreciated) > > > > /:b From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Aug 1 20:05:53 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 03:05:53 +0000 Subject: [obol] Migrant MacGillivray's Warbler in Eugene Message-ID: Earlier today I heard a loud familiar warbler chip in my yard. It didn't immediately register because it was a MacGillivray's Warbler, a species I've not had in the yard before. Our house, at 21st and Hayes, is in the heart of in-town residential habitat, not exactly where one expects to find this species. Since I didn't have a camera in my hands, it obligingly hopped right out into plain view atop our cattle fence arch in the garden. By the time I retrieved a camera, it was long gone. Dave IronsEugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Get back to school stuff for them and cashback for you. http://www.bing.com/cashback?form=MSHYCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHYCB_BackToSchool_Cashback_BTSCashback_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/be9ad07e/attachment.html From uplandsandpiper at hotmail.com Sat Aug 1 20:33:14 2009 From: uplandsandpiper at hotmail.com (Tyler Hicks) Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 22:33:14 -0500 Subject: [obol] Birding Ridgefield NWR - Carty Unit - Motorless Birding Message-ID: Tweeters & Obolers, Sidra and I birded the Oak to Wetlands trail today in the Carty Unit. Mosquitos have declined but are still a nuisance on some parts of the trail. Nothing "rare" but every bird seen is a "good" one. MALLARD - 1 GB HERON - 2 TURKEY VULTURE - 3 OSPREY - 1 RED-TAILED HAWK - 1 MOURNING DOVE - 1 VAUX'S SWIFT - 2 RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER - 2 juveniles DOWNY WOODPECKER - 1 NORTHERN FLICKER - 2 WESTERN WOOD-PEWEEE - 5 DUSKY FLYCATCHER - 2 probable birds STELLAR'S JAY - 3 AMERICAN CROW - 4 PURPLE MARTIN - 2 TREE SWALLOW - 2 BARN SWALLOW - 1 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE - ~ 10 CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE - 4 BUSHTIT - ~ 20 (they remind me so much of parrotbills in Korea) RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH - 2 WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH - 1 BROWN CREEPER - 2 BEWICK'S WREN - 1 HOUSE WREN - 1 SWAINSON'S THRUSH - 3 AMERICAN ROBIN - 2 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER - 2 WILSON'S WARBLER - 3 COMMON YELLOWTHROAT - 4 SPOTTED TOWHEE - 6 SONG SPARROW - many WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW - 1 streaky juvenile RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD - ~50 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD - 1 juvenile with 2-3 outer primaries symmetrically white - strange looking? PURPLE FINCH - 5 AMERICAN GOLDFINCH - 3 EVENING GROSBEAK - 1 Other Interesting Things: A glimpse at some sort of comma butterfly not sure what it was Woodland Skippers - everywhere now! Painted Lady - 1 Canary Reed Grass - way too much! Common Garter Snakes - 5 Cheers, Tyler Hicks Ridgefield, WA <><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Tyler L. Hicks Ph.D. Candidate Washington State University Vancouver E-mail: tyler_hicks at wsu.edu Web Page: http://thingswithwings.org <><><><><><><><><><><><><><> "We were certainly uncertain. At least, I'm pretty sure I am." - Modest Mouse _________________________________________________________________ Get back to school stuff for them and cashback for you. http://www.bing.com/cashback?form=MSHYCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHYCB_BackToSchool_Cashback_BTSCashback_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090801/39269a0a/attachment.html From orembirder at yahoo.com Sat Aug 1 20:53:49 2009 From: orembirder at yahoo.com (KC) Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 20:53:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Shorebirds a plenty Message-ID: <76920.9231.qm@web53910.mail.re2.yahoo.com> This morning I went out to the Fern Ridge wildlife viewing area located on the south side of Highway 126. To get to it you turn south on the road near the Perkins peninsula off of 126. We parked and walked through the gates past the offices out to some flooded fields. Where the water pumped out and towards the large body of water there was a large concentration of shorebirds. I got there a little later in the day and things started to heat up dramatically, so I left, but intend to go back tomorrow morning earlier. There were many other species possible out there. Lots of peeps mixed in. Also the trees around the offices were full of plenty of birds and migrants. Great day spent. The shorebirds I identified were. Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs LB Dowitchers Western Sandpipers Least Sandpipers Common Snipe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090801/3c9a645f/attachment.html From rawieland at comcast.net Sat Aug 1 21:26:09 2009 From: rawieland at comcast.net (rawieland at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 02 Aug 2009 04:26:09 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Bayocean Spit, Tillamook County, Oregon on August 01, 2009 Message-ID: <200908020426.n724Q9O7006967@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Rainer Wieland by http://birdnotes.net Date: August 1, 2009 Location: Bayocean Spit, Tillamook County, Oregon Temperature: 66 degrees fahrenheit Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 50% Precipitation: none Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 60 Brown Pelican 30 Brandt's Cormorant 20 Double-crested Cormorant 5 Pelagic Cormorant 6 Great Blue Heron 10 Great Egret 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Northern Harrier 1 Black-bellied Plover 1 Semipalmated Plover 50 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Sanderling 6 Western Sandpiper 30 Least Sandpiper 30 Unidentified Dowitcher 1 Ring-billed Gull 10 California Gull 20 Western Gull 20 Unidentified gull 100 Caspian Tern 3 Common Murre 20 Pigeon Guillemot 5 Belted Kingfisher 4 Northern Flicker 3 Barn Swallow 4 American Robin 5 Savannah Sparrow 2 White-crowned Sparrow 12 Total number of species seen: 29 From tendon-87282 at mypacks.net Sat Aug 1 22:08:31 2009 From: tendon-87282 at mypacks.net (tendon-87282 at mypacks.net) Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 22:08:31 -0700 (GMT-07:00) Subject: [obol] Green heron; Willamette near oaks Bottom Message-ID: <16946435.1249189711555.JavaMail.root@elwamui-rustique.atl.sa.earthlink.net> I had a long view of a green heron by the Willamette, from the Springwater bike path near Oaks Bottom (Portland). The heron was on rocks on the east shore of the channel, across from the south end of Ross Island. It stayed in the open much longer than green herons normally do. I left after twenty minutes and it was still there. Though it was in the open, it was easy to overlook. It spend most of its time hunting some prey that was on or just an inch or two below the surface. Mike Bogar From greenfant at hotmail.com Sat Aug 1 23:00:16 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 02:00:16 -0400 Subject: [obol] Sandy River Delta (Multnomah Co) Message-ID: The 3 hours I spent this morning from 7-10am at the Sandy River Delta were surprisingly birdy. The 5ish Eastern Kingbirds posted by Jay Withgott were still at/on the tower with the blinking light. 2 more Eastern Kingbirds were due north of the parking lot as you emerge from the causeway in about 0.75mi. One singing Red-eyed Vireo south of the causeway, several noisy Yellow-breasted Chats near the tower with the blinking light, 3 singing Yellow Warblers and many Lazuli Buntings and Willow Flycatchers rounded up a good morning. I did not spend any time looking for the Cuckoo. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Get free photo software from Windows Live http://www.windowslive.com/online/photos?ocid=PID23393::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_PH_software:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/3c4f5ec9/attachment.html From bigburd_jh at yahoo.com Sat Aug 1 23:13:46 2009 From: bigburd_jh at yahoo.com (jeff hayes) Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 23:13:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Quiz bird, Sandy River (Troutdale) birds Message-ID: <555896.16693.qm@web36808.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I'm in agreement with the general consensus: Western Sandpiper. Definitely an adult just beginning to lose its spots, bill shape, wing length and legs all look 'westerny' to me. I've seen an occasional 'big' WESA hulking over other Westerns and Leasts in late summer/early fall, and briefly wondered if I was losing my mind. Dunlin did come to mind as a possible alternative (size seems right), but never mind the rusty scapulars, look at the bill - especially the base of the lower mandible. Western has a very slightly curved profile to the lower edge, while Dunlin has a rather pronounced curve from the base of the bill out to maybe one-fifth of the way to the droopy tip. The Western's 'droop' seems to me the result of the UPPER mandible thinning rapidly toward the tip. That's just me - these things aren't pointed out in (most) field guides (that I've seen, anyway) and I've never had either species in the hand. I tried to post this on BirdFellow, but my computer decided to be non-cooperative in that regard. Squawk. In other news, I was kayaking on the lower Sandy River east of Troutdale (near Stark Street) this afternoon and saw the following rather expected birds: OSPREY - 4 SPOTTED SANDPIPER - 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS - 1 VAUX'S SWIFT - 30+ (nice to see some of these for a change) PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER - 1 The property owner there knows a little bit about birds, and after I started asking her about herons, she mentioned having had "night-herons" there repeatedly over the summer. I was like "Wha?" and after demonstrating the calls of both Green and Great Blue Herons and receiving head-shakes and "no, not that" for an answer, I imitated the Black-cr. Night-Heron's "WOK!" call, and then she was just about jumping up and down. "That's IT!" So, does this sound peculiar, or is it more or less expected for Black-crowned (presumably) Night-Herons to be inhabiting a typical rocky-pebbly stretch of the Sandy River this time of year? I didn't get much info about plumage, but since she mentioned seeing and hearing them around dusk, that wouldn't be very reliable anyway. Thoughts? - Jeff Hayes SE Portland From tjanzen at comcast.net Sat Aug 1 23:47:17 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 23:47:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cook's Petrels off the West Coast In-Reply-To: <8CBE10BC65EFDA8-158C-37D2@WEBMAIL-MB08.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <20090802064731.43400A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear David, Can you provide any more details about any recent sightings of Hawaiian Petrels off Oregon? There are currently no accepted records of this species from Oregon. Sincerely, Tim Janzen _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of scre at aol.com Sent: Saturday, August 01, 2009 3:09 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Cook's Petrels off the West Coast Just as another heads up as well, Hawaiian Petrel has been found to be regular off west coast from California to BC including Oregon. http://www.oikonos.org/projects/uau.htm Most records in California have been from around the 500 fathom line and this is also where a lot of the Cook's were (a lot more were further out as well though). David Vander Pluym -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090801/6de2c07a/attachment.html From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Sun Aug 2 01:32:56 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 08:32:56 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Snorkeling mallard---a New Feeding Technique Message-ID: <906200155.71249201976098.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> At the Delta Ponds in Eugene, I saw a Mallard drake that had adopted a feeding method I've never seen before. He stuck his head and the front part of his body underwater and then swam rapidly ahead, as though he was chasing something below the surface. I couldn't tell if he was getting anything for his efforts. The video is here: http://www.vimeo.com/5885810 http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/ba50f78e/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Sun Aug 2 07:52:15 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 14:52:15 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Migrating Hummingbirds Message-ID: <597516047.7005861249224735874.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi All, Starting last weekend, July 25th-July 26th, I am seeing numerous Rufous Hummingbirds in the garden and at the feeders in the morning. All are female-plumaged. There is one fluffy little male whose left profile is in juvenile plumage and his right profile has a striking gorget developing. The Anna's Hummingbirds have been in molt for sometime. In the right light one of the adult males looks sort of an overall silvery grey. I am seeing a few hummingbirds that really pump their tails while feeding, hearing lots of little chirps and squeaks, and hearing some unusual wing sounds. I'm pretty sure the wing sounds are from the molting Anna's, the sound is a dull buzz rather than a trill. This morning I think I saw a female Calliope. It perched close by and facing me. It was maybe 2/3 the size of the Rufous Hummingbirds I've been seeing. It had a slender, delicate, short black bill approximately the same length as the measurement of the width of the head. It's chest was white with a delicate, pastel peach-colored wash coming around the sides to almost meet at the center of the belly/chest area. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/f4d90903/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sun Aug 2 08:02:34 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 08:02:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Evening Grosbeaks, Yamhill Co Message-ID: <4E90AA6C3BFB41A69A786360F80C9B38@yourw5st28y9a3> Yesterday about 0800 I saw Evening Grosbeaks at the former Flying M Ranch, now called Five Rocks Ranch. Around 20 were in the tops of Doug fir near the lodge. These were the first I had seen in the county since they exited my yard. While riding the trail I noticed Willow Flycatchers calling in old clearcuts. Pamela Johnston From namitzr at hotmail.com Sun Aug 2 08:33:47 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 08:33:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cook's Petrels off the West Coast Message-ID: David Vader Pluym wrote: "Just as another heads up as well, Hawaiian Petrel has been found to be regular off west coast from California to BC including Oregon. http://www.oikonos.org/projects/uau.htm" I'm guessing David made this statement based on the map on the website of unpublished data of a two week journey of a single bird foraging from Maui out into the eastern/northern Pacific. The line does appear to reach Oregon waters. Right-clicking on the map photo gives the following title, "hawaiian_petrel_06track_small.jpg" which presumably indicates that the bird was tracked in 2006. But that is just an assumption. Sincerely, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/4070b243/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Aug 2 08:37:38 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 02 Aug 2009 08:37:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Night herons on the Sandy River In-Reply-To: <555896.16693.qm@web36808.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: I don't recall hearing about any night herons on the Sandy. North portland, yes. They use very similar habitat along the lower Rogue River just above Gold Beach. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: jeff hayes > Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 23:13:46 -0700 (PDT) > To: > Subject: [obol] Quiz bird, Sandy River (Troutdale) birds > > > The property owner there knows a little bit about birds, and after I started > asking her about herons, she mentioned having had "night-herons" there > repeatedly over the summer. I was like "Wha?" and after demonstrating the > calls of both Green and Great Blue Herons and receiving head-shakes and "no, > not that" for an answer, I imitated the Black-cr. Night-Heron's "WOK!" call, > and then she was just about jumping up and down. "That's IT!" So, does this > sound peculiar, or is it more or less expected for Black-crowned (presumably) > Night-Herons to be inhabiting a typical rocky-pebbly stretch of the Sandy > River this time of year? I didn't get much info about plumage, but since she > mentioned seeing and hearing them around dusk, that wouldn't be very reliable > anyway. > > Thoughts? > > > - Jeff Hayes > SE Portland > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From greg at thebirdguide.com Sun Aug 2 08:53:45 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 08:53:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hawaiian Petrels (was Cook's Petrels) Message-ID: <3C911768B0004893B3BD31006C08BCBF@GREG> Hawaiian/Galapagos Petrel reports for Oregon: 19 October 1986: 270 mi off Cape Arago, Coos Co. (beyond official Oregon boundary) September 2001: 248 mi west of Coos Bay. (beyond official Oregon boundary) 8 August 2002: 45 nm west of Port Orford (David Ainley, OBRC accepted as Hawaiian/Galapagos Petrel). 10 August 2002: 45 nm west of Florence (David Ainley, OBRC accepted as Hawaiian/Galapagos Petrel). 7 August 2008: 160 nm west of Newport (Sophie Webb). 8 August 2008: 160 nm west of Newport (Sophie Webb). 17-30 August 2008: 1 bird during this two-week leg, 130 nm west of Newport (Sophie Webb, ORCAWALE). http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/rare_seabirds.htm Despite the fact that the bird is missing from the Checklist of Oregon Birds: http://www.oregonbirds.org/checklist2009.html It is included in the list of Accepted records: http://www.oregonbirds.org/obrc_accepted_2009.html Hawaiian/Galapagos Petrel. Pterodroma phaeopygia/sandwichensis 098.5/6-02-01 45nm W Port Orford, Curry Co., 1 bird on 8 August 2002 ((DaA). 098.5/6-02-02 45nm W Florence, Lane Co., 1 bird on 10 August 2002 (DaA). New identification criteria has been published and all birds from California that were identifiable were Hawaiian Petrels and not Galapagos Petrels. These were split recently from Dark-rumped Petrel. Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From celata at pacifier.com Sun Aug 2 08:52:56 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 02 Aug 2009 08:52:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cook's Petrels off the West Coast Message-ID: <4A75B658.1010504@pacifier.com> I believe the "Oregon boundary" for the records committee is at 200 miles offshore or +/- 128degrees west. The satellite track appears to be west of 130degrees, more than 300 miles off the coast of Oregon. So, while this track suggests that Hawaiian Petrel is certainly possible in Oregon, this record would not count. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From rflores_2 at msn.com Sun Aug 2 09:15:40 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 09:15:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Shorebirds Ridgefield NWR Rest Lake Message-ID: Jim Danzenbaker and I checked Rest Lake, Ridgefield NWR first thing this morning. The birds were jumpy and moved around. This was especially true for the peeps and our numbers for them are a good estimate and probably short. Also we had a red-shouldered hawk calling west of Rest Lake. Here is what we had. greater yellowlegs 13 lesser yellowlegs 2 semipalmated plover 7 Baird's sandpiper 1 sem-palmated sandpiper 1 least sandpiper 220 western sandpiper 100 long-billed dowitcher 39 we also noted 13 great egrets and a few bank swallows. Bob Flores Ridgefield WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/e0321883/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Sun Aug 2 09:20:01 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 09:20:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] goshawk Ridgefield, WA Message-ID: While working out side I was visited by a male northern goshawk. It flew around and headed north. There are allot of evening grosbeaks in the area and I wonder if that was an attractant to this wandering bird? Also I have had a male Lazuli bunting at the feeder so they may be on the move. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/e4221eb1/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Aug 2 11:04:31 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 18:04:31 +0000 Subject: [obol] Hawaiian Petrels (was Cook's Petrels) In-Reply-To: <3C911768B0004893B3BD31006C08BCBF@GREG> References: <3C911768B0004893B3BD31006C08BCBF@GREG> Message-ID: Greetings All, My recollection is that David Ainley, who is one of the most experienced deepwater pelagic birders along the Pacific Coast, reported his birds as Hawaiian Petrels. There is every reason to believe that is what he saw. The fact that these birds were accepted as a Hawaiian/Galapagos Petrel reflects conservatism on the part of the OBRC rather than a questioning of the reports. While I typically reside on the conservative end of the spectrum in my committee voting, in cases like these I'm more inclined to trust the experience and expertise of the reporting observer (who's reputation in this arena is as good as it gets) rather than being curmudgeonly simply because I don't have similar experience. Pelagic birding is quite different than terrestrial birding in that nearly every bird you see must be identified in flight. When you are on the high seas with someone who has vast pelagic experience (in our state, people like Greg Gillson, Tim Shelmerdine, and Tom Snetsinger) you quickly realize that they have a "feel" for the subtle differences in proportion and flight characteristics that allow them to "process" birds at a much faster rate than the rest of us. When something is different, they know it immediately. This is because they've seen the common seabirds in all their plumages and in various wind conditions thousands upon thousands of times. If you go on a pelagic trip once in a blue moon, you'll likely need to relearn these skills during each and every voyage. When I was in my 20's, I led several pelagic trips that were organized by Portland Audubon. I became quite proficient with seabird ID. Then I moved to the midwest for eight years, where they have no tubenoses, and when I returned most of what I once knew was GONE! Prior to the recent run of cruises, I had done very little pelagic birding since returning to Oregon in 1998. I recall going on a pelagic trip in 1999 or 2000 and feeling like a total newbie. I suspect that if you added up all the hours that David Ainley has spent watching pelagic birds, it probably approximates the number of hours I've spent examining the nuances of Orange-crowned Warbler subspecies, juvenile dowitchers, and juvenile peeps. Presuming this is the case, I would trust his IDs without question. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > From: greg at thebirdguide.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 08:53:45 -0700 > Subject: Re: [obol] Hawaiian Petrels (was Cook's Petrels) > > Hawaiian/Galapagos Petrel reports for Oregon: > 19 October 1986: 270 mi off Cape Arago, Coos Co. (beyond official Oregon > boundary) > September 2001: 248 mi west of Coos Bay. (beyond official Oregon boundary) > 8 August 2002: 45 nm west of Port Orford (David Ainley, OBRC accepted as > Hawaiian/Galapagos Petrel). > 10 August 2002: 45 nm west of Florence (David Ainley, OBRC accepted as > Hawaiian/Galapagos Petrel). > 7 August 2008: 160 nm west of Newport (Sophie Webb). > 8 August 2008: 160 nm west of Newport (Sophie Webb). > 17-30 August 2008: 1 bird during this two-week leg, 130 nm west of Newport > (Sophie Webb, ORCAWALE). > http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/rare_seabirds.htm > > Despite the fact that the bird is missing from the Checklist of Oregon > Birds: > http://www.oregonbirds.org/checklist2009.html > > It is included in the list of Accepted records: > http://www.oregonbirds.org/obrc_accepted_2009.html > Hawaiian/Galapagos Petrel. Pterodroma phaeopygia/sandwichensis > 098.5/6-02-01 45nm W Port Orford, Curry Co., 1 bird on 8 August 2002 ((DaA). > > 098.5/6-02-02 45nm W Florence, Lane Co., 1 bird on 10 August 2002 (DaA). > > > New identification criteria has been published and all birds from California > that were identifiable were Hawaiian Petrels and not Galapagos Petrels. > These were split recently from Dark-rumped Petrel. > > Greg Gillson > The Bird Guide, Inc. > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Get free photo software from Windows Live http://www.windowslive.com/online/photos?ocid=PID23393::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_PH_software:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/cdb86b5b/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sun Aug 2 11:53:27 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 14:53:27 -0400 Subject: [obol] Baird's Sandpiper @ Tualitin River NWR (Washington Co) Message-ID: This morning I had a Baird's Sandpiper mixed in with a flock of peeps at Tualitin River NWR. The refuge is quickly drying up, yet there were a decent number of shorebirds. The Baird's was about 100-150yds south of the main gravel trail running east-west connecting the 2 parking lots, yet not in the first body or water, but even further south in the second area of water. A good scope is a must. A calling Semi-palmated Plover flew over at one time. Lots of Yellowlegs, in particular Lesser. A male Lazuli Bunting was still singing hard near the park entrance. At Valley Memorial Cemetery and Park in Hillsboro, a calling and singing Willow Flycatcher is still present. I've still not been able to confirm breeding at this unlikely location. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/personalize.aspx?ocid=PID23391::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HYGN_express:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/951a3206/attachment.html From orembirder at yahoo.com Sun Aug 2 12:28:46 2009 From: orembirder at yahoo.com (KC) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 12:28:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Shorebirds again Message-ID: <786838.41785.qm@web53908.mail.re2.yahoo.com> ???? I went back to the wildlife viewing area near the fern ridge wildlife viewing offices on the south side of highway 126 today to study the shorebirds from yesterday. It was an amazing experience. I have never had peeps get so close to me. They were literally five feet away and could be enjoyed with the naked eye. Never been able to study the differences so well. The numbers had changed today but still a couple hundred peeps around. The number of passerines that seemed to be in the area was great as well. I tried to make one of the peeps into a Bairds without luck, but lots of Least and Western and who knows what else could show up with them? Had? a great day with a large variety of birds. The shorebirds were: Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Spotted Sandpiper Western Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Passerines: Black Phoebe Orange-crowned Warbler Western Tanager Purple Martin Black-headed Grosbeak -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/bb85fde2/attachment.html From steve at paradisebirding.com Sun Aug 2 12:39:54 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 12:39:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sisters post-breeding dispersal Message-ID: <9a341ea30908021239s4761c502gae27ad24b3a5168a@mail.gmail.com> Hello all, Over the last 2 weeks, I have seen my first-of-the-season migratory birds away from their breeding grounds in the Sisters area. I would not call this migration yet, as these birds are all well known to breed in the area but away from the locations where I observed them. Most notable was this morning's visit to Cold Springs, were the birds were swarming around the head of the first spring, including at least 2 dozen ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS literally dripping from the trees and shrubs just below the highway. I also saw one each of WILSON'S and NASHVILLE WARBLERS. Additionally, I have had a female BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK at our property east of Sisters at least twice in the last 2 wks. Other birds at Cold Springs today that breed in and around the small basin there (therefore not really able to be considered "dispersing"): - many WESTERN TANAGERS - at least two GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES - at least two juvenile FOX SPARROWS - GRAY FLYCATCHER - many, many RED CROSSBILLS - CASSIN'S FINCHES - HAIRY, DOWNY, and WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS, and FLICKERS (all juvs or adult/juv pairs) and lots of other common ponderosa pine birds. For the photographers, I shot almost 4 Gb of photos there in about 45 minutes (at 20 Mb each), and I consider myself to have a fairly restrained shutter finger. Shooting was best from just above the spring, with the sun to my right. A little pishing repeatedly brought ORANGE-CROWNS almost too close for the camera to focus. Enjoy! Steve Shunk P.S. For those on a quest for PINYON JAYS, the "downtown" Sisters flock has been quite vocal around and north of the Ponderosa Best Western (heard from as far away as Ray's). If you go there, please stop in and thank the management for maintaining their very productive feeding stations. -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/384664f6/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun Aug 2 12:52:44 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 12:52:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Sisters post-breeding dispersal and Siskiyou Birds Moving In-Reply-To: <9a341ea30908021239s4761c502gae27ad24b3a5168a@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <879696.3346.qm@web45308.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> In the Siskiyous (east of Gold Beach) this past Saturday I found large numbers of Orange-crowned Warblers moving along the high ridgelines near Bear Camp (close to 5,000'). Other non-breeders up top included Warbling Vireo and Black-headed Grosbeak. The habitat is good for Dusky Flycatcher with lots of open burned habitat but they were amazing thick and calling. Still singing were many Cassin's Vireos, I'm not sure what their status is up that high but there were an awful lot of them? I had no luck finding any Green-tailed Towhees, they seemed to have already left their breeding habitat up there. I also had a few Common Yellowthroats on the ridgelines, definitely not breeding habitat. I saw several different Mt. Quail coveys also, a good time of year to see this species. Birds are definitely on the move as Steve noted. Merry migration! Tim R Coos Bay --- On Sun, 8/2/09, Stephen Shunk wrote: > From: Stephen Shunk > Subject: [obol] Sisters post-breeding dispersal > To: "COBOL" , "obol" > Date: Sunday, August 2, 2009, 12:39 PM > Hello all, > Over the last 2 weeks, I have seen my > first-of-the-season migratory birds away from their breeding > grounds in the Sisters area. I would not call this migration > yet,?as these birds are all well known to breed in the area > but away from the locations where I observed them.? > > ? > Most notable was?this morning's visit to Cold > Springs, were the birds were swarming around the head of the > first spring, including at least 2 dozen ORANGE-CROWNED > WARBLERS literally dripping from the trees and shrubs just > below the highway. I also saw one each of WILSON'S and > NASHVILLE WARBLERS. Additionally, I have had a female > BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK at our property east of Sisters at > least twice in the last 2 wks. > > ? > Other birds at Cold Springs today that breed in and > around the small basin there (therefore not really able to > be considered "dispersing"): > - many WESTERN TANAGERS > - at least two GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES > - at least two?juvenile?FOX SPARROWS > - GRAY FLYCATCHER > - many, many RED CROSSBILLS > - CASSIN'S FINCHES > - HAIRY, DOWNY, and WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS, and > FLICKERS (all juvs or adult/juv pairs) > and lots of other common ponderosa pine birds. > ? > For the photographers, I shot almost 4 Gb of photos > there in about 45 minutes (at 20 Mb each), and I consider > myself to have a fairly restrained shutter finger. Shooting > was best from just above the spring, with the sun to my > right. A little pishing repeatedly brought ORANGE-CROWNS > almost too close for the camera to focus. > > ? > Enjoy! > Steve Shunk > ? > P.S. For those on a quest for PINYON JAYS, the > "downtown" Sisters flock has been quite vocal > around and north of the Ponderosa Best Western (heard from > as far away as Ray's). If you go there, please stop in > and thank the management for maintaining their very > productive feeding stations. > > ? > ? > ? > ? > > ? > > -- > Stephen Shunk > Paradise Birding > Sisters, OR USA > www.paradisebirding.com > 541-408-1753 > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From steve at paradisebirding.com Sun Aug 2 13:13:04 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 13:13:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] PB dispersal vs. singing breeders Message-ID: <9a341ea30908021313p34126643u7452bfac1eefd094@mail.gmail.com> All, One addendum to Tim's addendum to my original note on post-breeding dispersal. I too am still finding what seems like a surprising number of breeding birds still singing in their breeding habitats. Most vocal are the flycatchers, with PEWEES, OLIVE-SIDED, HAMMOND'S, DUSKY, and PAC-SLOPE alll still singing in at least a few locations, the *Contopids *far more vocal than the *Empids *. The ASH-THROATS are also still singing occasionally behind my house. Other still-singing birds in the area (excluding the birds that sing all year, e.g. Song Sparrow) include LAZ BUNTING, CASSIN'S VIREO, and LINCOLN'S SPARROW. Thanks, Tim, for inspiring me to share more details. Steve On Sun, Aug 2, 2009 at 12:52 PM, Tim Rodenkirk wrote: > > In the Siskiyous (east of Gold Beach) this past Saturday I found large > numbers of Orange-crowned Warblers moving along the high ridgelines near > Bear Camp (close to 5,000'). Other non-breeders up top included Warbling > Vireo and Black-headed Grosbeak. The habitat is good for Dusky Flycatcher > with lots of open burned habitat but they were amazing thick and calling. > Still singing were many Cassin's Vireos, I'm not sure what their status is > up that high but there were an awful lot of them? I had no luck finding any > Green-tailed Towhees, they seemed to have already left their breeding > habitat up there. I also had a few Common Yellowthroats on the ridgelines, > definitely not breeding habitat. I saw several different Mt. Quail coveys > also, a good time of year to see this species. Birds are definitely on the > move as Steve noted. > > Merry migration! > > Tim R > Coos Bay > > --- On Sun, 8/2/09, Stephen Shunk wrote: > > > From: Stephen Shunk > > Subject: [obol] Sisters post-breeding dispersal > > To: "COBOL" , "obol" < > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org> > > Date: Sunday, August 2, 2009, 12:39 PM > > Hello all, > > Over the last 2 weeks, I have seen my > > first-of-the-season migratory birds away from their breeding > > grounds in the Sisters area. I would not call this migration > > yet, as these birds are all well known to breed in the area > > but away from the locations where I observed them. > > > > > > Most notable was this morning's visit to Cold > > Springs, were the birds were swarming around the head of the > > first spring, including at least 2 dozen ORANGE-CROWNED > > WARBLERS literally dripping from the trees and shrubs just > > below the highway. I also saw one each of WILSON'S and > > NASHVILLE WARBLERS. Additionally, I have had a female > > BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK at our property east of Sisters at > > least twice in the last 2 wks. > > > > > > Other birds at Cold Springs today that breed in and > > around the small basin there (therefore not really able to > > be considered "dispersing"): > > - many WESTERN TANAGERS > > - at least two GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES > > - at least two juvenile FOX SPARROWS > > - GRAY FLYCATCHER > > - many, many RED CROSSBILLS > > - CASSIN'S FINCHES > > - HAIRY, DOWNY, and WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS, and > > FLICKERS (all juvs or adult/juv pairs) > > and lots of other common ponderosa pine birds. > > > > For the photographers, I shot almost 4 Gb of photos > > there in about 45 minutes (at 20 Mb each), and I consider > > myself to have a fairly restrained shutter finger. Shooting > > was best from just above the spring, with the sun to my > > right. A little pishing repeatedly brought ORANGE-CROWNS > > almost too close for the camera to focus. > > > > > > Enjoy! > > Steve Shunk > > > > P.S. For those on a quest for PINYON JAYS, the > > "downtown" Sisters flock has been quite vocal > > around and north of the Ponderosa Best Western (heard from > > as far away as Ray's). If you go there, please stop in > > and thank the management for maintaining their very > > productive feeding stations. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Stephen Shunk > > Paradise Birding > > Sisters, OR USA > > www.paradisebirding.com > > 541-408-1753 > > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/65e00c52/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Aug 2 14:03:43 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 21:03:43 +0000 Subject: [obol] PB dispersal vs. singing breeders In-Reply-To: <9a341ea30908021313p34126643u7452bfac1eefd094@mail.gmail.com> References: <9a341ea30908021313p34126643u7452bfac1eefd094@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Greetings All, Comments by Steve and Tim are of interest. It is somewhat typical that Orange-crowned and particularly Nashville Warblers follow ridgelines during southbound migrations. Surely, food supply contributes to this routing. Tim mentions both Warbling Vireo and Black-headed Grosbeaks moving at high elevations in the Siskiyous. Both Black-headed Grosbeak and the western subspecies of Warbling Vireo are "molt migrants." Unlike most birds, which complete a pre-basic molt before leaving the breeding grounds, molt migrants may initiate their molt or not start at all on the breeding grounds, then suspend their molt, make a partial migration (usually to a site with ample food supply because growing new feathers takes a lot of energy), then stop to complete their pre-basic molt before continuing on to their wintering grounds. Molt migration is more common in western species/subspecies than it is in the east, perhaps due to the dryness of our summers. I suspect that many insectivorous birds, which arrive to bountiful food supplies in spring, find the pickings a little slim later in the summer when it hasn't rained in many areas for more than a month. It is interesting that the western populations of Warbling Vireo and Willow Flycatcher are molt migrants, while the eastern populations aren't. I get to watch this phenomenon in my backyard every August. We have a bunch of volunteer sunflowers that we leave in place for the annual influx of Black-headed Grosbeaks. Any day now, they will begin appearing and within a few days we will have up to a dozen birds coming to gorge on sunflower heads on a daily basis. They will be conspicuous for 3-4 weeks and then be gone by the first week of September. We only get Black-headed Grosbeaks during migration. If you get a sudden incursion of Black-headed Grosbeaks in your yard in the next couple weeks, you'll now know why. Listen for their loud squeaky "eek" calls. Additionally, young Black-headed Grosbeaks give a soft whistled "pooweeoh" that I've only heard during late summer and early fall. David Fix taught me this call (and about a thousand others) that isn't described in most field guides. Only Sibley comes close, but his description of a juvenile begging call ("weeoo") misses the first syllable of the slurred three-note call. Dave Irons Eugene, OR Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 13:13:04 -0700 From: steve at paradisebirding.com To: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com CC: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] PB dispersal vs. singing breeders All, One addendum to Tim's addendum to my original note on post-breeding dispersal. I too am still finding what seems like a surprising number of breeding birds still singing in their breeding habitats. Most vocal are the flycatchers, with PEWEES, OLIVE-SIDED, HAMMOND'S, DUSKY, and PAC-SLOPE alll still singing in at least a few locations, the Contopids far more vocal than the Empids. The ASH-THROATS are also still singing occasionally behind my house. Other still-singing birds in the area (excluding the birds that sing all year, e.g. Song Sparrow) include LAZ BUNTING, CASSIN'S VIREO, and LINCOLN'S SPARROW. Thanks, Tim, for inspiring me to share more details. Steve On Sun, Aug 2, 2009 at 12:52 PM, Tim Rodenkirk wrote: In the Siskiyous (east of Gold Beach) this past Saturday I found large numbers of Orange-crowned Warblers moving along the high ridgelines near Bear Camp (close to 5,000'). Other non-breeders up top included Warbling Vireo and Black-headed Grosbeak. The habitat is good for Dusky Flycatcher with lots of open burned habitat but they were amazing thick and calling. Still singing were many Cassin's Vireos, I'm not sure what their status is up that high but there were an awful lot of them? I had no luck finding any Green-tailed Towhees, they seemed to have already left their breeding habitat up there. I also had a few Common Yellowthroats on the ridgelines, definitely not breeding habitat. I saw several different Mt. Quail coveys also, a good time of year to see this species. Birds are definitely on the move as Steve noted. Merry migration! Tim R Coos Bay --- On Sun, 8/2/09, Stephen Shunk wrote: > From: Stephen Shunk > Subject: [obol] Sisters post-breeding dispersal > To: "COBOL" , "obol" > Date: Sunday, August 2, 2009, 12:39 PM > Hello all, > Over the last 2 weeks, I have seen my > first-of-the-season migratory birds away from their breeding > grounds in the Sisters area. I would not call this migration > yet, as these birds are all well known to breed in the area > but away from the locations where I observed them. > > > Most notable was this morning's visit to Cold > Springs, were the birds were swarming around the head of the > first spring, including at least 2 dozen ORANGE-CROWNED > WARBLERS literally dripping from the trees and shrubs just > below the highway. I also saw one each of WILSON'S and > NASHVILLE WARBLERS. Additionally, I have had a female > BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK at our property east of Sisters at > least twice in the last 2 wks. > > > Other birds at Cold Springs today that breed in and > around the small basin there (therefore not really able to > be considered "dispersing"): > - many WESTERN TANAGERS > - at least two GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES > - at least two juvenile FOX SPARROWS > - GRAY FLYCATCHER > - many, many RED CROSSBILLS > - CASSIN'S FINCHES > - HAIRY, DOWNY, and WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS, and > FLICKERS (all juvs or adult/juv pairs) > and lots of other common ponderosa pine birds. > > For the photographers, I shot almost 4 Gb of photos > there in about 45 minutes (at 20 Mb each), and I consider > myself to have a fairly restrained shutter finger. Shooting > was best from just above the spring, with the sun to my > right. A little pishing repeatedly brought ORANGE-CROWNS > almost too close for the camera to focus. > > > Enjoy! > Steve Shunk > > P.S. For those on a quest for PINYON JAYS, the > "downtown" Sisters flock has been quite vocal > around and north of the Ponderosa Best Western (heard from > as far away as Ray's). If you go there, please stop in > and thank the management for maintaining their very > productive feeding stations. > > > > > > > > > -- > Stephen Shunk > Paradise Birding > Sisters, OR USA > www.paradisebirding.com > 541-408-1753 > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=PID23384::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:NF_BR_sync:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/0e004ede/attachment.html From heinjv at charter.net Sun Aug 2 14:35:51 2009 From: heinjv at charter.net (Jim & Vikki Hein) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 14:35:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Douglas County shorebirds, ect. Message-ID: <0FC7B75C5CC442CE82B178A71338A67D@MAIN> Obol, With the cooler morning today I went to Ford's Pond in Sutherlin today to see what shorebirds may have come in. The pond has very good habitat right now with a lot of exposed mudflats. I found about 400 peeps with 75% LEAST SANDPIPERS and 25% WESTERN SANDPIPERS. Also there were 3 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, 16 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 18 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. There were also 3 CASPIAN TERNS and 1 BONAPARTE'S GULL. The usual suspects include BLACK PHOEBE, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, a large flock of House Sparrows and American Goldfinch everywhere. Jim Hein From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Sun Aug 2 15:13:38 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 15:13:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] local PDX/Vancouver shorebirding Message-ID: Midmorning I decided to test-drive my newly-arrived 65mm NIKON EDG scope, which is pretty darn sweet... I started out across the river in the Vancouver Lake area. On the way to the lake itself there is a wetland pool on the northside of the road which had a few shorebirds, lots and lots of starlings, and numbers of swallows, mostly Barn. There is another pool adjacent to the larger pool that is surrounded by a plastic fence that I don't remember but had some potential edge, though was mostly being used by swallows, a few Killdeer and a snipe. Given the temperatures I don't know how long the water will last in the this little pool. But the definite highlight was seeing 8 small STERNA terns flying around at Vancouver Lake, which were either Forster's or Common's. Because they were so pale and long-tailed I leaned towards Forster's. They were small Sterna terns, definitely not Caspian, from their smaller size, faster wingbeats, and more slender shape (plus no black on the underside of the wing). But they were a far enough away that I wouldn't be my life on them being Forster's. I watched them get farther and farther away until they disappeared. But 8 of either Common or Forster's seemed a good count for either species here. At Vanport Wetlands the highlight was a juvenile SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. Location: Vancouver Lake Park Observation date: 8/2/09 Number of species: 17 Canada Goose 10 Western Grebe 2 Great Blue Heron 2 Turkey Vulture 2 Osprey 8 American Kestrel 1 Forster's/Common Tern 8 Western Wood-Pewee 1 Western Scrub-Jay (Coastal) 1 American Crow 3 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1 Cliff Swallow 1 Barn Swallow 35 Black-capped Chickadee 4 Bewick's Wren 1 Yellow Warbler 3 Common Yellowthroat 2 Location: NW Lower River Rd pool -- just west of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (which is west of where W Fourth Plain Blvd and W Mill Plain Blvd join and turn into NW Lower River Road). Observation date: 8/2/09 Number of species: 25 Mallard 5 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Great Blue Heron 5 Great Egret 2 Turkey Vulture 3 Osprey 2 Killdeer 7 Spotted Sandpiper 2 Greater Yellowlegs 3 Western Sandpiper 1 Least Sandpiper 6 Long-billed Dowitcher 8 Wilson's Snipe 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Western Scrub-Jay (Coastal) 1 Tree Swallow 2 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1 Barn Swallow 80 European Starling 150 Cedar Waxwing 2 Yellow Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 1 Red-winged Blackbird 10 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 American Goldfinch 2 Crossing back into Oregon I stopped at Vanport Wetlands. This is only a partial listing of what I saw there: Location: Vanport Wetlands Observation date: 8/2/09 Notes: stopped and looked at the shorebirds here. Lots of eclipse ducks (mostly Mallards), coots, and PBGR that I didn't feel like counting in the heat as it was warming up. Number of species: 5 Greater Yellowlegs 5 Semipalmated Sandpiper 1 Western Sandpiper 2 Least Sandpiper 1 Long-billed Dowitcher 58 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/c11dcbad/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Aug 2 16:21:07 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:21:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Unusual migrant Message-ID: Looking out my window in flatland south Eugene today, I was astonished to see, creeping out of the viburnum, a juvenile yellowthroat, which scorned the official bird-bath and chose instead to bathe itself in the overflow channel (by which I send the drippings to water a few plants). Having wallowed in this thin mud for a while, it came up into a plum tree to preen itself, having acquired a remarkable set of false field marks: brown streaks, gray spots and white patches. This is the second time I have seen a yellowthroat here in eight years. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sun Aug 2 16:24:46 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 16:24:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Singing Non-breeders Message-ID: <549DD97CA53E48FD94B1A2D16A143637@laptop> Olive-sided Flycatchers sing in the winter in the Andes of Ecuador and Colombia. Since they will respond to playback, winter territorialism is suspected. It would be interesting to know if they sing intermittently in migration as well, or whether they exhibit winter territorialism. Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/5b58115e/attachment.html From aslarrabee at aol.com Sun Aug 2 16:49:20 2009 From: aslarrabee at aol.com (aslarrabee at aol.com) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 19:49:20 EDT Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared Dove Message-ID: This morning early there was a Eurasian Collared Dove on 279th St. halfway between 10th and 11th st East of I-5 exit 14 in Ridgefield. On the way home at ca. noon, he was in the same place. Al Larrabee **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222846709x1201493018/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=115&bcd =JulystepsfooterNO115) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/1d803361/attachment.html From foglark at att.net Sun Aug 2 17:01:34 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 17:01:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] bird viewing distance: Oh Please Dept Message-ID: <638199.53186.qm@web80016.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I've followed with some interest various peoples' thoughts on extreme distances at which birds can be identified. I haven't seen anyone express doubt about one person's opinion, expressed a couple days ago, that albatrosses might be "identified" with a scope at a range of 6 to 7 miles. I broke out our Oregon DeLorme and a scale and measured some six-mile distances (not seven): Top of Skinner Butte to the Eugene Airport Top of Spencer Butte to the Creswell exit off I-5 Intersection of Greenhill and Royal Ave. to [the mall which formerly was] Veneta Mt. Tabor to the Columbia R. n. of PDX Sylvan summit to Delta Park Skyline Blvd. to the nearest portion of Vancouver Lake Narrows to Malheur HQ Washington Square (Progress) to Reed College The base of Bayocean Spit to the Pioneer Museum in Tillamook Top of Marys Peak to the nearest point in Hwy 20 In excess of the north-south length of Waldo Lake In excess of the widest point in Lake Abert At seven miles it becomes absurd, and we won't go there. I suggest that, while a bird may be known AS AN ALBATROSS (sorry for the shouting--read underscores there) at a range of six miles, everything else, and I mean everything, about the ID would be guesswork. You start with two, arguably three, "likely" species and imagine whittling it down from there. What if the bird happened not to be Black-footed, Laysan, or Short-tailed? What if someone out there following the thing on a boat radioed to you that it was a Southern Giant Petrel? The acid test is, if somebody who was a better birder than you were standing by your side, would you say Hey Look, it's a such-and-such, when you probably couldn't even begin to get them on the bird to begin with because it's so vanishingly tiny in the field of view? Just some thoughts. David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/4dd902f7/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Sun Aug 2 17:13:02 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 17:13:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bend Birding by Bicycles In-Reply-To: <638199.53186.qm@web80016.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4a762b87.22ba720a.6888.ffff9048@mx.google.com> Craig and I went for a short ten mile loop bike ride from our house (12 miles east of Bend) and back this morning. The ride took 50 minutes. We rode much slower than normal because I have a broken little toe. It is amazing to me how much a little toe can hurt and for how long. The ride started at 80 degrees out and ended at 89 degrees! Canada Goose Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel California Quail Mourning Dove Killdeer Northern Flicker Ash-throated Flycatcher Barn Swallow Pinyon Jays Raven Mountain Chickadee Bushtit Mountain Bluebirds American Robin Brewer's Blackbirds House Finch Looks like more thunderstorms are brewing... Marilyn Miller No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.39/2275 - Release Date: 08/01/09 09:38:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/51fa2161/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Aug 2 17:25:25 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 00:25:25 +0000 Subject: [obol] Singing Non-breeders In-Reply-To: <549DD97CA53E48FD94B1A2D16A143637@laptop> References: <549DD97CA53E48FD94B1A2D16A143637@laptop> Message-ID: Olive-sided Flycatchers surely "sing" during their northbound migrations, as I suspect that a significant portion of the OBOL subscribership has enjoyed. Dave Irons From: jeffharding at centurytel.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 16:24:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Singing Non-breeders Olive-sided Flycatchers sing in the winter in the Andes of Ecuador and Colombia. Since they will respond to playback, winter territorialism is suspected. It would be interesting to know if they sing intermittently in migration as well, or whether they exhibit winter territorialism. Jeff _________________________________________________________________ Get free photo software from Windows Live http://www.windowslive.com/online/photos?ocid=PID23393::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_PH_software:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/25a7f8f0/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Aug 2 17:52:35 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 00:52:35 +0000 Subject: [obol] bird viewing distance: Oh Please Dept In-Reply-To: <638199.53186.qm@web80016.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <638199.53186.qm@web80016.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Boy, this Fix character is quite the curmudgeon. I guess now isn't the time to tell him that we stand in the parking lot in front of Ray's in Veneta and separate the juv. Long-billed and Short-billed Dowitchers at Royal Ave based on loral angle and whether they look like they swallowed a baseball or not. Dave Irons Eugene, OR (where we can discern the subspecies of the Orange-crowned Warblers atop Skinner Butte from the airport.) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 17:01:34 -0700 From: foglark at att.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] bird viewing distance: Oh Please Dept I've followed with some interest various peoples' thoughts on extreme distances at which birds can be identified. I haven't seen anyone express doubt about one person's opinion, expressed a couple days ago, that albatrosses might be "identified" with a scope at a range of 6 to 7 miles. I broke out our Oregon DeLorme and a scale and measured some six-mile distances (not seven): Top of Skinner Butte to the Eugene Airport Top of Spencer Butte to the Creswell exit off I-5 Intersection of Greenhill and Royal Ave. to [the mall which formerly was] Veneta Mt. Tabor to the Columbia R. n. of PDX Sylvan summit to Delta Park Skyline Blvd. to the nearest portion of Vancouver Lake Narrows to Malheur HQ Washington Square (Progress) to Reed College The base of Bayocean Spit to the Pioneer Museum in Tillamook Top of Marys Peak to the nearest point in Hwy 20 In excess of the north-south length of Waldo Lake In excess of the widest point in Lake Abert At seven miles it becomes absurd, and we won't go there. I suggest that, while a bird may be known AS AN ALBATROSS (sorry for the shouting--read underscores there) at a range of six miles, everything else, and I mean everything, about the ID would be guesswork. You start with two, arguably three, "likely" species and imagine whittling it down from there. What if the bird happened not to be Black-footed, Laysan, or Short-tailed? What if someone out there following the thing on a boat radioed to you that it was a Southern Giant Petrel? The acid test is, if somebody who was a better birder than you were standing by your side, would you say Hey Look, it's a such-and-such, when you probably couldn't even begin to get them on the bird to begin with because it's so vanishingly tiny in the field of view? Just some thoughts. David Fix Arcata, California _________________________________________________________________ Get free photo software from Windows Live http://www.windowslive.com/online/photos?ocid=PID23393::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_PH_software:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/5c4ebba6/attachment.html From pointers at pacifier.com Sun Aug 2 18:02:24 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:02:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mute Swan at Steigerwald ... Message-ID: <20090803010223.0CF386EFF5@smtp1.pacifier.net> hi group ... Gene and I braved the heat and went to check out Steigerwald NWR this afternoon ... and to our surprise there was a Mute Swan on Steigerwald Lake !!! ... check out http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Images09Aug/steigerwald_NWR_mute_swan_08-02-09.jpg now, I've never seen a Mute Swan before but the bill, head markings, and tail set sure match the books ... I'm open to correction or other opinions ... and if it is a Mute, is it a legitimate wild one ??? ... does anyone know of a place nearby who might have had an domestic swan escapee ??? our impression of the Refuge ... it's going to be FUN !!!!!!!! ... even with the heat (mid-90s) it was quite birdy ... and just about the time we were melting in the heat we hit trees !!! ... I'm not a good birder and I dont keep notes, but here's the ones I can remember ... american goldfinches (LOTS) american robin bald eagle black-capped chickadees flycatcher of some sort, perhaps wood pewee, haven't quite figured it out yet great blue herons mallards northern harrier (male and female) pied-billed grebe purple finch (female) song sparrow white-breasted nuthatch and there was one gorgeously singing bird, hanging out in the area of the goldfinchs, which I'd never heard before ... have no idea what it was ... we could never spot it, just heard it ... and flying east to west on the Columbia River was approximately 20 big white birds, fairly low, and in a tight flying formation ... I would assume White Pelicans (???) ... we could just see them from the dike between the trees ... later, Lyn Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Aug 2 19:30:36 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 02 Aug 2009 19:30:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird viewing distances In-Reply-To: <638199.53186.qm@web80016.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Here are some real-world measurable distances. I have been able to identify shorebirds (bellies and dunlin) and ducks from Fern Ridge dam and from the tip of Zumwalt peninsula to the edge of the winter pool at Fern Ridge Reservoir using a good-quality standard scope in the 40 to 60 power range. That is a distance of between a mile and a mile and a quarter. When there is any heat distortion, that distance is not achievable with standard optics. Using a five-inch catadioptric reflector under similar good conditions at the coast, I have been able to identify small shorebirds and small waterfowl like Horned Grebes, GW Teal and female Bufflehead scoping up Coos Bay from Charleston about the same distance, at most 1.5 miles, in the 60-90x power range. The problem at long distances is less a question of optical capacity (there isn't much better than a five-inch reflector for terrestrial use), but air conditions. In late fall and winter there are sometimes amazingly clear conditions over the ocean, especially after rain when the land, air and water are not much different in temperature and there is no spray, but even under those "perfect" conditions, I doubt that I could see enough detail on even a large bird to identify it more than two miles off. Obviously it is easier to identify large, well-patterned birds farther away than for small brownish birds. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: David Fix & Jude Power > Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 17:01:34 -0700 (PDT) > To: > Subject: [obol] bird viewing distance: Oh Please Dept > > > I've followed with some interest various peoples' thoughts on extreme > distances at which birds can be identified. I haven't seen anyone express > doubt about one person's opinion, expressed a couple days ago, that > albatrosses might be "identified" with a scope at a range of 6 to 7 miles. I > broke out our Oregon DeLorme and a scale and measured some six-mile distances > (not seven): > > Top of Skinner Butte to the Eugene Airport > Top of Spencer Butte to the Creswell exit off I-5 > Intersection of Greenhill and Royal Ave. to [the mall which formerly was] > Veneta > Mt. Tabor to the Columbia R. n. of PDX > Sylvan summit to Delta Park > Skyline Blvd. to the nearest portion of Vancouver Lake > Narrows to Malheur HQ > Washington Square (Progress) to Reed College > The base of Bayocean Spit to the Pioneer Museum in Tillamook > Top of Marys Peak to the nearest point in Hwy 20 > In excess of the north-south length of Waldo Lake > In excess of the widest point in Lake Abert > > At seven miles it becomes absurd, and we won't go there. > > I suggest that, while a bird may be known AS AN ALBATROSS (sorry for the > shouting--read underscores there) at a range of six miles, everything else, > and I mean everything, about the ID would be guesswork. You start with two, > arguably three, "likely" species and imagine whittling it down from there. > What if the bird happened not to be Black-footed, Laysan, or Short-tailed? > What if someone out there following the thing on a boat radioed to you that it > was a Southern Giant Petrel? > > The acid test is, if somebody who was a better birder than you were standing > by your side, would you say Hey Look, it's a such-and-such, when you probably > couldn't even begin to get them on the bird to begin with because it's so > vanishingly tiny in the field of view? > > Just some thoughts. > > David Fix > Arcata, California > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From goosemiller at gmail.com Sun Aug 2 19:34:49 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 19:34:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] bird viewing distance: Geese In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <4a764cc2.06d7720a.65df.ffffaf49@mx.google.com> I am pretty sure I can see geese at least 20 miles away. I can even tell if they are in the same county that I am. I have special abilities when it comes to geese! I also can tell if they are a female goose or a male gander and if they are in a good mood that day. Marilyn Miller _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of David Irons Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2009 5:53 PM To: David and Jude Fix and Power; post OBOL Subject: Re: [obol] bird viewing distance: Oh Please Dept Boy, this Fix character is quite the curmudgeon. I guess now isn't the time to tell him that we stand in the parking lot in front of Ray's in Veneta and separate the juv. Long-billed and Short-billed Dowitchers at Royal Ave based on loral angle and whether they look like they swallowed a baseball or not. Dave Irons Eugene, OR (where we can discern the subspecies of the Orange-crowned Warblers atop Skinner Butte from the airport.) _____ Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 17:01:34 -0700 From: foglark at att.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] bird viewing distance: Oh Please Dept I've followed with some interest various peoples' thoughts on extreme distances at which birds can be identified. I haven't seen anyone express doubt about one person's opinion, expressed a couple days ago, that albatrosses might be "identified" with a scope at a range of 6 to 7 miles. I broke out our Oregon DeLorme and a scale and measured some six-mile distances (not seven): Top of Skinner Butte to the Eugene Airport Top of Spencer Butte to the Creswell exit off I-5 Intersection of Greenhill and Royal Ave. to [the mall which formerly was] Veneta Mt. Tabor to the Columbia R. n. of PDX Sylvan summit to Delta Park Skyline Blvd. to the nearest portion of Vancouver Lake Narrows to Malheur HQ Washington Square (Progress) to Reed College The base of Bayocean Spit to the Pioneer Museum in Tillamook Top of Marys Peak to the nearest point in Hwy 20 In excess of the north-south length of Waldo Lake In excess of the widest point in Lake Abert At seven miles it becomes absurd, and we won't go there. I suggest that, while a bird may be known AS AN ALBATROSS (sorry for the shouting--read underscores there) at a range of six miles, everything else, and I mean everything, about the ID would be guesswork. You start with two, arguably three, "likely" species and imagine whittling it down from there. What if the bird happened not to be Black-footed, Laysan, or Short-tailed? What if someone out there following the thing on a boat radioed to you that it was a Southern Giant Petrel? The acid test is, if somebody who was a better birder than you were standing by your side, would you say Hey Look, it's a such-and-such, when you probably couldn't even begin to get them on the bird to begin with because it's so vanishingly tiny in the field of view? Just some thoughts. David Fix Arcata, California _____ Get free photo software from Windows Live Click here. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.39/2275 - Release Date: 08/01/09 09:38:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/68d18a99/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sun Aug 2 19:48:30 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 02:48:30 +0000 Subject: [obol] Bald Eagle versus Osprey on Bradley Lake in Bandon Message-ID: Last night I e-mailed Tim R about the activity at Bradley Lake, particularly in our back yard. Each year we have been getting a Bald Eagle in our backyard on my Birthday. I reported that to Tim along with other spottings here including an osprey. A night later we had it all. Barbequing some burgers, a baldy appeared searching for a soft landing in one of our backyard trees. Right on its heels, peeping like crazy was on Osprey. Not at all happy apparently that the Eagle was eating its fish the Osprey strafed the Eagle three or four times to no avail. Five minutes later the Eagle calmly flew away with the Osprey still protesting from across the Lake. Score one for the Eagle. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sun Aug 2 19:57:10 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 02:57:10 +0000 Subject: [obol] Bird viewing distances Message-ID: I agree with Alan that heat distortion limits my ability to scope and I agree that anything over 1.5 miles when I am zooming at 50 to 60 is forgetitsville. That is using a Swarovski ATS 80 HD. That is why I bird early to reduce the heat issue. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Alan Contreras Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 02:30:36 To: Subject: [obol] Bird viewing distances Here are some real-world measurable distances. I have been able to identify shorebirds (bellies and dunlin) and ducks from Fern Ridge dam and from the tip of Zumwalt peninsula to the edge of the winter pool at Fern Ridge Reservoir using a good-quality standard scope in the 40 to 60 power range.? That is a distance of between a mile and a mile and a quarter.? When there is any heat distortion, that distance is not achievable with standard optics. Using a five-inch catadioptric reflector under similar good conditions at the coast, I have been able to identify small shorebirds and small waterfowl like Horned Grebes, GW Teal and female Bufflehead scoping up Coos Bay from Charleston about the same distance, at most 1.5 miles, in the 60-90x power range. The problem at long distances is less a question of optical capacity (there isn't much better than a five-inch reflector for terrestrial use), but air conditions.? In late fall and winter there are sometimes amazingly clear conditions over the ocean, especially after rain when the land, air and water are not much different in temperature and there is no spray, but even under those "perfect" conditions, I doubt that I could see enough detail on even a large bird to identify it more than two miles off. Obviously it is easier to identify large, well-patterned birds farther away than for small brownish birds. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com ? http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: David Fix & Jude Power > Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 17:01:34 -0700 (PDT) > To: > Subject: [obol] bird viewing distance: Oh Please Dept > > >??? I've followed with some interest various peoples' thoughts on extreme > distances at which birds can be identified. I haven't seen anyone express > doubt about one person's opinion, expressed a couple days ago, that > albatrosses might be "identified" with a scope at a range of 6 to 7 miles. I > broke out our Oregon DeLorme and a scale and measured some six-mile distances > (not seven):???? > > Top of Skinner Butte to the Eugene Airport > Top of Spencer Butte to the Creswell exit off I-5 > Intersection of Greenhill and Royal Ave. to [the mall which formerly was] > Veneta > Mt. Tabor to the Columbia R. n. of PDX > Sylvan summit to Delta Park > Skyline Blvd. to the nearest portion of Vancouver Lake > Narrows to Malheur HQ > Washington Square (Progress) to Reed College > The base of Bayocean Spit to the Pioneer Museum in Tillamook > Top of Marys Peak to the nearest point in Hwy 20 > In excess of the north-south length of Waldo Lake > In excess of the widest point in Lake Abert > > At seven miles it becomes absurd, and we won't go there. > > I suggest that, while a bird may be known AS AN ALBATROSS (sorry for the > shouting--read underscores there) at a range of six miles, everything else, > and I mean everything, about the ID would be guesswork. You start with two, > arguably three, "likely" species and imagine whittling it down from there. > What if the bird happened not to be Black-footed, Laysan, or Short-tailed? > What if someone out there following the thing on a boat radioed to you that it > was a Southern Giant Petrel? >??? > The acid test is, if somebody who was a better birder than you were standing > by your side, would you say Hey Look, it's a such-and-such, when you probably > couldn't even begin to get them on the bird to begin with because it's so > vanishingly tiny in the field of view? > > Just some thoughts. > > David Fix > Arcata, California >_______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From oschmidt at att.net Sun Aug 2 19:59:24 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 19:59:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birders Night in Portland Message-ID: ....... is the first Tuesday of every month, in this case Tuesday, August 4, 2009, at Portland Audubon House, 5151 NW Cornell Road. 7:30 pm. All are welcome. Bird quiz, potpourri. Bring your bird slides, photos, or videos. oschmidt at att.net Sunday, August 2, 2009 From mklittletree at comcast.net Sun Aug 2 20:13:46 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (michel Kleinbaum) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 20:13:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: Ankeny Kingbirds Message-ID: ----- Original Message ----- From: "michel Kleinbaum" To: "OBOL" Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2009 7:23 PM Subject: Ankeny Kingbirds >2 Western Kingbirds were seen flycatching at the Pintail Marsh overlook >this afternoon. They were working from the downed trees between Pintail >marsh and Frog Pond. > Michel Kleinbaum S. Salem From philliplc at charter.net Sun Aug 2 20:27:45 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 20:27:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] bird viewing distance: Oh Please Dept References: <638199.53186.qm@web80016.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: I don't disagree with Dave in practice. Normally it is not possible to confidently differentiate between the expected albatross sp. at 6+ miles, and certainly not the unexpected. Didn't mean to imply that it normally is, sorry if I did. I was talking more about the actual factors that limit detail that can be detected with increasing distance. The point I was attempting to make is that for species that don't necessarily require a close view of plumage detail for ID, viewing conditions and experience with the set of possible species involved (as well as quality of optics) are normally the factors that limit the distance at which an ID is possible- well before the distance itself actually does. It follows that a blanket statement about the distance at which it is or isn't reasonable to make that type of ID doesn't mean much without considering those factors. To stick with the albatross example, a person who can separate B-f, S-t, Laysan at 2.5 miles under normal viewing conditions (possible) should be able to make the same ID under ideal conditions (calm seas, clear atmosphere, flat lighting) much further out. An albatross at 6 miles (at 30x same as ~1000 ft with the naked eye I think?) would appear quite tiny, but not necessarily "vanishingly" small. Under ideal conditions whether it is light or dark bellied should still be discernable, as well as potentially to an experienced observer aspects of proportion, and wing position and other flight characteristics. The trouble is conditions that allow this type of look are rare, not that the ID at that distance is impossible in principal Of course if you introduce a rare species to the set of possibilites that the observer isn't familiar with, or that necessarily requires a close view of plumage detail to separate from expected species that would be monkey wrench - a problem if the ID being made itself is of a rarity. With expected species, though, that is just something that is part of the game - something that is (or should be) stipulated as as factor that limits the confidence level of distant IDs of expected species to less than 100% anyway. Phil From philliplc at charter.net Sun Aug 2 20:42:58 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 20:42:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird viewing distances References: Message-ID: >In late fall and winter there are sometimes amazingly clear conditions over the ocean, especially after rain when the land, air and water are not much different in temperature and there is no spray, but even under those "perfect" conditions, I doubt that I could see enough detail on even a large bird to identify it more than two miles off. I think you are underestimating (or understating) a bit what is possible with experience a good scope and good conditions. To repeat Greg's challenge, next time you are at Boiler Bay during migration look south and see how many large-end species you can ID that are actually passing behind the outer Depoe Bay buoy. Cheers, Phil From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sun Aug 2 21:17:50 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 21:17:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird viewing distances In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: >I think you are underestimating (or understating) a bit what is possible with experience a good scope and good conditions. To repeat Greg's challenge, next time you are at Boiler Bay during migration look south and see how many large-end species you can ID that are actually passing behind the outer Depoe Bay buoy. Since Alan and I have the scopes and we have had the good conditions, alas it must be our experience that is limiting us. Darn! ----- Original Message ----- From: Phil Pickering To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2009 8:42 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Bird viewing distances >In late fall and winter there are sometimes amazingly clear conditions over the ocean, especially after rain when the land, air and water are not much different in temperature and there is no spray, but even under those "perfect" conditions, I doubt that I could see enough detail on even a large bird to identify it more than two miles off. I think you are underestimating (or understating) a bit what is possible with experience a good scope and good conditions. To repeat Greg's challenge, next time you are at Boiler Bay during migration look south and see how many large-end species you can ID that are actually passing behind the outer Depoe Bay buoy. Cheers, Phil _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/6b7c850b/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Aug 2 21:20:14 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 04:20:14 +0000 Subject: [obol] bird viewing distance: Oh Please Dept In-Reply-To: References: <638199.53186.qm@web80016.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: From: Not the "Dave" in the fight, If one is birding in Oregon, just how often are you likely to need to be able to identify an albatross or anything else from six miles away? I've been doing seawatches in Oregon for over 30 years. In that time my luck has been far better than average (by my estimation) and I think I've seen a grand total of three albatrosses from land. In case you hadn't heard, there's this guy named Greg Gillson, and he runs these things call "pelagic trips." For somewhere north of $150 you can spend a day on a boat full of similarly-minded folks and close that six-mile viewing distance down to about 60 feet (perhaps even less), and you might even get to feed the albatrosses whatever you had for breakfast. My preferred alternative is being on 1000' cruise ship, which has a stable, elevated deck where I can set up my scope. Thankfully I don't partake, but feeding an albatross is far less likely when traveling aboard one of these giant floating hotels, and the repositioning cruises (Vancouver to San Francisco) we do are pretty darned affordable (or I wouldn't be doing them). I wish to thank those who have fanned the embers and kept this thread smoldering. I needed a break from grinding on a North American Birds column, hence my somewhat sardonic offerings. Back to work, Dave Irons Eugene, OR > From: philliplc at charter.net > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 20:27:45 -0700 > Subject: Re: [obol] bird viewing distance: Oh Please Dept > > I don't disagree with Dave in practice. Normally it is not possible > to confidently differentiate between the expected albatross sp. > at 6+ miles, and certainly not the unexpected. Didn't mean to > imply that it normally is, sorry if I did. I was talking more about > the actual factors that limit detail that can be detected with > increasing distance. > > The point I was attempting to make is that for species that > don't necessarily require a close view of plumage detail for > ID, viewing conditions and experience with the set of possible > species involved (as well as quality of optics) are normally the > factors that limit the distance at which an ID is possible- well > before the distance itself actually does. It follows that a blanket > statement about the distance at which it is or isn't reasonable > to make that type of ID doesn't mean much without considering > those factors. > > To stick with the albatross example, a person who can > separate B-f, S-t, Laysan at 2.5 miles under normal viewing > conditions (possible) should be able to make the same ID under > ideal conditions (calm seas, clear atmosphere, flat lighting) much > further out. An albatross at 6 miles (at 30x same as ~1000 > ft with the naked eye I think?) would appear quite tiny, but > not necessarily "vanishingly" small. Under ideal conditions > whether it is light or dark bellied should still be discernable, > as well as potentially to an experienced observer aspects of > proportion, and wing position and other flight characteristics. > The trouble is conditions that allow this type of look are rare, > not that the ID at that distance is impossible in principal > > Of course if you introduce a rare species to the set of possibilites > that the observer isn't familiar with, or that necessarily requires > a close view of plumage detail to separate from expected species > that would be monkey wrench - a problem if the ID being made > itself is of a rarity. With expected species, though, that is just > something that is part of the game - something that is (or should > be) stipulated as as factor that limits the confidence level of > distant IDs of expected species to less than 100% anyway. > > Phil > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Get free photo software from Windows Live http://www.windowslive.com/online/photos?ocid=PID23393::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_PH_software:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/50ede831/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Sun Aug 2 21:23:58 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 21:23:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] long distance pelagics, etc. Message-ID: OBOlites, First of all, let me say I make no claim of expertise as a pelagic birder, or as a judge of distance over water. I have some experience at birding from Boiler Bay and other points along the Lincoln County coast, but not so much as to claim a high level of expertise. Furthermore, I cannot use a scope for more than about five minutes at a time without going fuzzy in the eyes, so most of the time rely on my 10 x binoculars. However, since it is said that fools jump in where angels fear to tread, I will add my two bits worth -it certainly is not of more value than that-to the discussion on long range pelagic birding, from the standpoint of my own experience. I cannot comfortably call the identity of most species beyond what looks to me to be half a mile. After that,for a person of my experience and ability doing so becomes largely guesswork. this situation is particulary true for small birds sitting on the water. At a mile I cannot tell the difference between a Marbled Murrelet and a mile marker, or a Red-necked Grebe from a Budweiser bottle (!). Flying birds may be a little better, but at least in my case, that is not because of plumage details, but rather because of jizz. (General impression, size, and shape). Even with my limited experience, I have learned that this characterisic is helpful in discerning differences between distant seabirds, at least when one is observing common species. And under certain conditions, the ability to do so may be stretched out over a much greater distance. I remember once birding with Alan Schmerer at Boiler Bay on a gray, overcast day in October. There were impressive numbers of birds going by all day, at distances varying from a mile or so out all the way to the horizon. We were able to notice flocks of birds wheeling and circling at the far edge of visibility, certainly in the six to seven mile range others have suggested. It was obvious from the behavior of these birds that most of them were shearwaters. Most of them were dark, but we would occasionally be able to see others that were clearly light bellied. After watching them for a time, we discerned that among these light bellied birds there were two distinct types: one which floated languidly up off the water, made a relatively slow turn and dipped down again. the flight pattern was entirely consistent with what I had previously observed to be true of Pink-footed Shearwater. The other birds appeared slightly smaller, were somewhat brighter white on the underside, and, at just the right angle showed an M pattern on the upperparts. This mark was seen only at very rare occasions on very few of the birds. However, the more we watched, the more we became aware that these lighter bellied birds zoomed up more quickly and banked more sharply than the Pink-footed Shearwaters. Under the circumstances, we felt confindent in calling them Buller' Shearwaters. There are a several things worth considering in respect to this story. One is that viewing conditions are not consistent from time to time. To state that one could tell an albatross at such and such distance must be taken as a generality, not as a rule. I have never been at Boiler Bay any other time when I thought it would have been possible to identify shearwaters as to species that far out. Two, experience makes a lot of difference. Alan and I were there for the good part of a morning, and it was only after we had watched the birds for some time that we began to get a feel for what we were looking at, and that feel was based upon the amount of time we had put in to observing the same thing for the extended period of time. Three, I am confident these kind of identifications can only be considered valid for common and expected species. Nobody is going to be able to separate Cook's and Stejneger's Petrels with any degree of certaintly at any signficicant distance. Four, practice makes perfect, or, in this case, creates credibility, at least in the mind of the observer. Irons can speak of details of Orange-crowned Warblers precisely because he has scrutinized them so carefully for so long. Pickering can make determinations of seabirds I would never attempt to make for precisely the same reason. Five, in spite of one's proficiency at making these kind of determinations, there still is the potential for being wrong. Birding is never so exacting as we like to think it is, and even the very best sometimes make errors in judgment. Now about those Hawaiin Petrels. I think I may have seen one once, but would not be so bold as to suggest any level of certainty. It might have been, but I will never know. It was a very dark and rather stormy November day on the coast. I was parked on a bluff about twenty five feet above the ocean a mile or so south of Waldport. At a distance I estimated to be one and a half miles, I could see flocks of dark shearwaters, certainly either/or Sooty or Short-tailed working their figure 8's over the waves. Suddenly among them I saw another bird of a different shape come bounding along, flying in a pattern of looping arcs which carried it rapidly up to heights of fifty feet or so and then back down to the level of the waves. It did this for a time, and then with what seemed to be with little effort of wing, flapped rapidly a couple of times, and swooped upward to a height of about two hundred feet above the waves. It then set its wings and glided on a long, slow course of about one-quarter of a mile back to the water surface. Due to the darkness of the day, I could discern no field marks whatsoever, but the flight pattern seemed to fit what I could find regarding Hawaiin Petrel. It certainly must have been a gadfly petrel of some sort, and there may well be others that fly in this manner, but I found no information regarding that, and the description of the flight pattern I did find, very closely fit the flight style of the bird I saw. I have no idea what it really was, but it was nothing like I have ever seen, before or since. So the bottom line in pelagic bitrding at any distance, for me at least, is: do your homework with the field guides, get as much experience as you can, hope for good viewing conditions -they don't come as often as you would like- , take light conditions and jizz into account, stick for certainties sake with common and expected species, and be prepared to have someone suggest you may have been wrong-because they may be right. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/fed35056/attachment.html From carolk at viclink.com Sun Aug 2 21:46:22 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 21:46:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yamhill county Aug 1 & 2 weekend sightings Message-ID: <001a01ca13f5$7f2f4500$8c76fea9@home> OBOL: We spent the weekend visiting Yamhill county sites and dodging the heat. Saturday: Aug 1 City of Yamhill sewage pond, mid-day, HOT. --a few waterfowl --a begging young Great Horned Owl along the nature trail, not visible Carol's yard 18 species, evening, -- 10 Vaux's Swifts -- Rufous & Anna's Hummingbirds -- Bushtits -- Eurasian collared-dove Sunday: Aug 2 Carol's yard - 21 Species -- 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadee (also arrived Aug. 2 in 2008) -- 15 Vaux's swifts Amity pond, S of Amity: a bit of shoreline -- 1 L-b dowitcher - very bright McKee Rd., S of Amity -- 4 Vesper Sparrows Patty Lane blueberry pond -- Virginia Rail -- 1 flying Greater Yellowlegs Janzen's farm pond & chicken farm pond on Webfoot Rd., too much water, no birds Grand Island, Willamette Greenway cottonwood forest: -- NO Yellow-billed Cuckoo -- 2 RED-EYED VIREOS * -- Swainson's thrush -- 5 Red-breasted sapsuckers --10-15 W. wood-pewees Fairview Rd.pond -- 1 Greater Yellowlegs Salt Creek Rd. -- Peregrine Falcon Brigittine Monastery pond: high water -- Green Heron Sheridan wetland, small pond near entrance -- 2 Long-billed Dowitchers -- 9 Least Sandpipers -- 1 Greater Yellowlegs Sheridan sewage pond -- no shorebirds Willamina fishing pond -- no shorebirds or ducks Briedwell Rd. -- 200 Violet-green Swallows Can any expert in phenology tell us if the Violet-green Swallows leave before the other species of swallow? * Directions: from the Hwy 221 south of Dayton, at the Grand Island Store, turn east on Grand Island Rd. Cross the bridge and turn (right) south at the first 4-way corner. Park at the white gate and walk south on the trail into the cottonwood forest. Good birding, everyone, Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Aug 2 21:51:14 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:51:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yamhill county Aug 1 & 2 weekend sightings In-Reply-To: <001a01ca13f5$7f2f4500$8c76fea9@home> Message-ID: VGs leave very early and cluster along rivers and on the coast. They have been essentially gone from residential Eugene since 3rd week July. Almost all swallows around town now are Barns. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Carol Karlen > Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 21:46:22 -0700 > To: OBOL > Subject: [obol] Yamhill county Aug 1 & 2 weekend sightings > > OBOL: > > We spent the weekend visiting Yamhill county sites and dodging the heat. > > Saturday: Aug 1 > City of Yamhill sewage pond, mid-day, HOT. > --a few waterfowl > --a begging young Great Horned Owl along the nature trail, not visible > > Carol's yard 18 species, evening, > -- 10 Vaux's Swifts > -- Rufous & Anna's Hummingbirds > -- Bushtits > -- Eurasian collared-dove > > Sunday: Aug 2 > Carol's yard - 21 Species > -- 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadee (also arrived Aug. 2 in 2008) > -- 15 Vaux's swifts > > Amity pond, S of Amity: a bit of shoreline > -- 1 L-b dowitcher - very bright > > McKee Rd., S of Amity > -- 4 Vesper Sparrows > > Patty Lane blueberry pond > -- Virginia Rail > -- 1 flying Greater Yellowlegs > > Janzen's farm pond & chicken farm pond on Webfoot Rd., too much water, no > birds > > Grand Island, Willamette Greenway cottonwood forest: > -- NO Yellow-billed Cuckoo > -- 2 RED-EYED VIREOS * > -- Swainson's thrush > -- 5 Red-breasted sapsuckers > --10-15 W. wood-pewees > > Fairview Rd.pond > -- 1 Greater Yellowlegs > > Salt Creek Rd. > -- Peregrine Falcon > > Brigittine Monastery pond: high water > -- Green Heron > > Sheridan wetland, small pond near entrance > -- 2 Long-billed Dowitchers > -- 9 Least Sandpipers > -- 1 Greater Yellowlegs > > Sheridan sewage pond > -- no shorebirds > > Willamina fishing pond > -- no shorebirds or ducks > > Briedwell Rd. > -- 200 Violet-green Swallows > > Can any expert in phenology tell us if the Violet-green Swallows leave > before the other species of swallow? > > * Directions: from the Hwy 221 south of Dayton, at the Grand Island Store, > turn east on Grand Island Rd. Cross the bridge and turn (right) south at > the first 4-way corner. Park at the white gate and walk south on the trail > into the cottonwood forest. > > Good birding, everyone, > > Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From cliff_cordy at yahoo.com Sun Aug 2 21:58:38 2009 From: cliff_cordy at yahoo.com (Cliff Cordy) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 21:58:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Franklin's Gull, Nehalem Sewage Ponds Message-ID: <266617.42306.qm@web112503.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Yesterday I found an unusual gull at Nehalem Sewage Ponds. Today I went back and a friend obtained some photos of what appears to be a juvenile Franklin's Gull. I am not familiar with this species, so I'd be interested in finding out if anyone can confirm or correct this ID. ? Cliff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/c0a02491/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sun Aug 2 22:26:37 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 22:26:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Off Topic- bat i.d. Message-ID: <51E1F2CC1146461CBB846C6776DF8855@yourw5st28y9a3> This morning we found a dead bat in our driveway. It had an injury at the shoulder. I took pictures of the decedent before burial and assumed it was Myotis lucifugus, Little Brown Bat. But the photos and illustrations I've seen show a bat whose fur lighter brown below than above, and this one is dark all over. The tail vertebrae are attached to the flight membranes. If anyone would care to see pictures, let me know. Pamela Johnston From mavethegreat at hotmail.com Sun Aug 2 23:22:10 2009 From: mavethegreat at hotmail.com (David G Crisman) Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 23:22:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln County Birds Message-ID: Thanks for the help for finding productive birding places in Lincoln County. Some highlights for us: Seal Rock was fabulous. We saw BRANDT'S and PELAGIC CORMORANT, WESTERN GULL, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (1, is this uncommon?) PIGEON GUILLEMOT, COMMON MURRE, BLACK OYSTERCATCHER, and KILLDEER among others. Yaquina Bay produced many WHIMBREL, GREAT EGRET and GREAT BLUE HERON, WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPER, CALIFORNIA GULL (with only red and no black on bill. This confused me, but the yellow legs, dark iris, and overall size left me with no other good possibility. Do MEW GULLS ever have red on the bill?), OSPREY, and BALD EAGLE. >From the South Jetty we could see all three typical CORMORANT species. As well as COMMON MURRE with young. On the beach north of Depoe Bay, we saw a MARBLED GODWIT (pictures here), a HEERMANN's GULL, some BROWN PELICAN, and some SURF SCOTERS. >From the Salishan Nature Trail, there were many unidentified stints out on the mudflats just too far out to make out. A BALD EAGLE was perched on a log, and we got many passerines on the trail. Just past the surf at the end of the trail there were 2 CLARK's GREBES swimming with a bunch of COMMON MURRES. Also, we saw a Weasel from the Nature Trail near the beginning (picture of him here). There were several seemingly mid-molt juvenile WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, SONG SPARROWS, and SPOTTED TOWHEEs that looked strange. At the Siletz Bay and surrounding marshes there were a few RED-TAILED HAWKs, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, OPSREY, lots of CEDAR WAXWINGS, and some RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS with some of the othe usual suspects. I'm probably leaving some out, but that's the gist. I don't have much experience birding at the coast, but it seemed like we encountered a fair number of species whose range maps show winter only (Surf Scoter, Glacous-winged gull, California Gull, Clark's Grebe). Are these range maps out of date or uninformed? David Crisman Tigard, OR _________________________________________________________________ Get back to school stuff for them and cashback for you. http://www.bing.com/cashback?form=MSHYCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHYCB_BackToSchool_Cashback_BTSCashback_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090802/7423c762/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Mon Aug 3 01:12:08 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 08:12:08 +0000 Subject: [obol] Lincoln County Birds In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: David, To answer your questions from the beginning and end of your post. 1. No, Glaucous-winged Gulls are not uncommon. While the bulk of the population breeds well north of Oregon, non-breeders and immature birds (they take four years to reach full adulthood) may be encountered anytime of year along the entirety of the Oregon coast. 2. I've never seen a Mew Gull with red on the bill, which of course doesn't mean it's impossible. While it's not completely out of the question to see a Mew Gull along the Oregon coast now, they are pretty scarce in Oregon June-July and into August. They do not breed here and for the most part they are gone from the state from mid-May until early September. They are a common wintering bird, with the main southbound flights coming in October. 3. Based on your comments about range maps, I would ask what field guide(s) you are using? Surf Scoter, Glaucous-winged Gull (as stated above), and California Gull can be seen along the Oregon coast every day of the year. Neither Surf Scoter nor California Gull breeds on the Oregon coast. Small numbers of Glaucous-winged Gulls or apparent Glaucous-wingeds nest along the coast. The bulk of these birds are part of the massive intergrade swarm that results from widespread hybridization between Western and Glaucous-winged gulls (sometimes referred to as "Olympic" Gulls). Non-breeders and immatures of all three species summer along the Oregon coast in significant numbers. Additionally, most California Gulls (including the dark gray-brown and highly-patterned juveniles) have already dispersed from inland breeding colonies and returned to coastal areas where they will spend the fall, winter, and early spring months. I suspect that you encountered some juvie Cals (one of the most attractive gulls) over the weekend. 3.b. Clark's Grebes are generally pretty scarce along the Oregon coast year-around. They may be encountered at any time, but in most seasons less than 10 will be reported from the outer coast. Hope this answers at least some of your questions, Dave Irons Content Editor www.birdfellow.com From: mavethegreat at hotmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 23:22:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln County Birds Thanks for the help for finding productive birding places in Lincoln County. Some highlights for us: Seal Rock was fabulous. We saw BRANDT'S and PELAGIC CORMORANT, WESTERN GULL, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (1, is this uncommon?) PIGEON GUILLEMOT, COMMON MURRE, BLACK OYSTERCATCHER, and KILLDEER among others. Yaquina Bay produced many WHIMBREL, GREAT EGRET and GREAT BLUE HERON, WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPER, CALIFORNIA GULL (with only red and no black on bill. This confused me, but the yellow legs, dark iris, and overall size left me with no other good possibility. Do MEW GULLS ever have red on the bill?), OSPREY, and BALD EAGLE. >From the South Jetty we could see all three typical CORMORANT species. As well as COMMON MURRE with young. On the beach north of Depoe Bay, we saw a MARBLED GODWIT (pictures here), a HEERMANN's GULL, some BROWN PELICAN, and some SURF SCOTERS. >From the Salishan Nature Trail, there were many unidentified stints out on the mudflats just too far out to make out. A BALD EAGLE was perched on a log, and we got many passerines on the trail. Just past the surf at the end of the trail there were 2 CLARK's GREBES swimming with a bunch of COMMON MURRES. Also, we saw a Weasel from the Nature Trail near the beginning (picture of him here). There were several seemingly mid-molt juvenile WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, SONG SPARROWS, and SPOTTED TOWHEEs that looked strange. At the Siletz Bay and surrounding marshes there were a few RED-TAILED HAWKs, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, OPSREY, lots of CEDAR WAXWINGS, and some RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS with some of the othe usual suspects. I'm probably leaving some out, but that's the gist. I don't have much experience birding at the coast, but it seemed like we encountered a fair number of species whose range maps show winter only (Surf Scoter, Glacous-winged gull, California Gull, Clark's Grebe). Are these range maps out of date or uninformed? David Crisman Tigard, OR Get back to school stuff for them and cashback for you. Try BingT now. _________________________________________________________________ Get back to school stuff for them and cashback for you. http://www.bing.com/cashback?form=MSHYCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHYCB_BackToSchool_Cashback_BTSCashback_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/48a2b40c/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Aug 3 04:33:09 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 04:33:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Yamhill county Aug 1 & 2 weekend sightings In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <766487.72025.qm@web45304.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I think the Trees are some of the first too leave. There was an amazing number of VG Swallows along the high ridgelines in the Siskiyous this past weekend also. Tim R Coos Bay --- On Sun, 8/2/09, Alan Contreras wrote: > From: Alan Contreras > Subject: Re: [obol] Yamhill county Aug 1 & 2 weekend sightings > To: "Carol Karlen" > Cc: "obol" > Date: Sunday, August 2, 2009, 9:51 PM > VGs leave very early and cluster > along rivers and on the coast.? They have > been essentially gone from residential Eugene since 3rd > week July.? Almost > all swallows around town now are Barns. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos > & News > > > > From: Carol Karlen > > Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 21:46:22 -0700 > > To: OBOL > > Subject: [obol] Yamhill county Aug 1 & 2 weekend > sightings > > > > OBOL: > > > > We spent the weekend visiting Yamhill county sites and > dodging the heat. > > > > Saturday: Aug 1 > > City of Yamhill sewage pond, mid-day, HOT. > > --a few waterfowl > > --a begging young Great Horned Owl along the nature > trail, not visible > > > > Carol's yard 18 species, evening, > > -- 10 Vaux's Swifts > > -- Rufous & Anna's Hummingbirds > > -- Bushtits > > -- Eurasian collared-dove > > > > Sunday: Aug 2 > > Carol's yard - 21 Species > > -- 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadee (also arrived Aug. 2 in > 2008) > > -- 15 Vaux's swifts > > > > Amity pond, S of Amity: a bit of shoreline > > -- 1 L-b dowitcher - very bright > > > > McKee Rd., S of Amity > > -- 4 Vesper Sparrows > > > > Patty Lane blueberry pond > > -- Virginia Rail > > -- 1 flying Greater Yellowlegs > > > > Janzen's farm pond & chicken farm pond on Webfoot > Rd., too much water, no > > birds > > > > Grand Island, Willamette Greenway? cottonwood > forest: > > -- NO Yellow-billed Cuckoo > > -- 2 RED-EYED VIREOS * > > -- Swainson's thrush > > -- 5 Red-breasted sapsuckers > > --10-15 W. wood-pewees > > > > Fairview Rd.pond > > -- 1 Greater Yellowlegs > > > > Salt Creek Rd. > > -- Peregrine Falcon > > > > Brigittine Monastery pond: high water > > -- Green Heron > > > > Sheridan wetland, small pond near entrance > > -- 2 Long-billed Dowitchers > > -- 9 Least Sandpipers > > -- 1 Greater Yellowlegs > > > > Sheridan sewage pond > > -- no shorebirds > > > > Willamina fishing pond > > -- no shorebirds or ducks > > > > Briedwell Rd. > > -- 200 Violet-green Swallows > > > > Can any expert in phenology tell us if the > Violet-green Swallows leave > > before the other species of swallow? > > > > * Directions:? from the Hwy 221 south of Dayton, > at the Grand Island Store, > > turn east on Grand Island Rd.? Cross the bridge > and turn (right) south at > > the first 4-way corner.? Park at the white gate > and walk south on the trail > > into the cottonwood forest. > > > > Good birding, everyone, > > > > Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Aug 3 04:39:59 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 04:39:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Shorebirds 8/2/2009 Message-ID: <985172.79732.qm@web45315.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Empire area- Pigeon Point, Coos Bay, AM: 17- WHIMBREL 2- MARBLED GODWITS 2- BB PLOVERS N. Spit of Coos Bay, PM: 7- LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS 2- SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER 3- GREATER YELLOWLEGS 2- LEAST SANDPIPERS 20- WESTERN SANDPIPERS Justin Bosler saw larger numbers of peeps including SP Plovers in the late AM/early PM on the spit also. That's it for now, Tim R Coos Bay From dpvroman at budget.net Mon Aug 3 06:32:25 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 06:32:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] High elevation Swallows References: <766487.72025.qm@web45304.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: It's not uncommon to find good numbers of Violet-green Swallow during their migration in along the highest ridges of the Siskiyou or Klamath Mtns this time of the year running into Sept. Also, as Tim mentioned in a previous message. The higher elevation wet meadow/brushfield areas this month have large mixed species flocks of Warblers, Vireos, Flycatchers, Hummingbirds with a few other odd species thrown it (mostly juveniles, but some molting adults too). Good place to watch these birds now. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Subject: Re: [obol] Yamhill county Aug 1 & 2 weekend sightings I think the Trees are some of the first too leave. There was an amazing number of VG Swallows along the high ridgelines in the Siskiyous this past weekend also. Tim R Coos Bay From steve_dougill at hotmail.com Mon Aug 3 06:44:09 2009 From: steve_dougill at hotmail.com (Steve Dougill) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 06:44:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lots of birds at Redmond Sewage lagoons Message-ID: After reports of a strange looking shorebird from Kim Owen I went to the Redmond Sewage lagoons with my dad. We didn?t see the odd bird but had great shorebird variety (all reported by Kim) plus Ibises and Black terns. 200 Peeps (Mostly Least and a few Western) 1 Semi-palmated Sandpiper (immature) 3 Spotted sandpipers 3 Bairds Sandpipers (immatures) 4 Red-necked Phalaropes 40 LB Dowitcher 1 Lesser Yellowlegs Kildeers 7 WF Ibis 5 Herons 7 Black Terns 1 N Harrier A few migrants are stating to move through our yard in Redmond; yesterday Warbling Vireo and Western Tanager Steve Dougill, Redmond, Deschutes Co., OR EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD Join me -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/1cf4e418/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Aug 3 07:07:06 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:07:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] On Clark's Grebes, "winter" gulls and range maps Message-ID: <4A76EF0A.2020601@pacifier.com> In the world of field guides, compromises abound. A guide can either be selective about the species it includes and pile on the information about those selected few (eg. Howell and Dunn's _Gulls of the Americas_) or it can try to cover everything and, in the process make some ballpark generalizations that can be confusing. For Glaucous-winged Gull and California Gull, the maps in Sibley's (which are small enough that I had to get out a magnifying glass to read) show blue along the coast, the entire coast for Cal Gull and the coast south of the Columbia Estuary for GW Gull. And Sibley's key says blue=winter. One can only include so many colors on these tiny maps. For some species, this is going to lead to some conflict and confusion. Those of us who live here and have experience know that blue=non-breeding for gulls (and ducks and some shorebirds and grebes and loons) and only found in winter for other species. Then there's Clark's Grebe... There are some places along the coast, Seaside Cove being a case in point, where there are almost always 100's and 100's of _Aechmophorus_ Grebes. On days when I take the time to count, I see as many as 750. And in these large flocks, the screaming majority are Western Grebes, but Clark's Grebes are routine. At the cove, I've seen as many as 6 in a flock of 750 Westerns. What do we call that? Commonly occur? Regularly occur? Do we judge them relative to Western numbers? or ease of finding, independent of the other species? Clark's Grebe is such a regular part of the Seaside grebe experience that we don't always inform those who live elsewhere. Familiarity breeds lassitude. The result is that folks who have the job of reporting bird numbers do so without a full set of data points. And that leads to what we see in field note reports and field guide range maps... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From notisj at gmail.com Mon Aug 3 08:14:44 2009 From: notisj at gmail.com (notisj at gmail.com) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 15:14:44 +0000 Subject: [obol] High elevation Swallows In-Reply-To: References: <766487.72025.qm@web45304.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1041939847-1249312481-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-411510626-@bxe1187.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> I was up at Elk and Hosmer Lakes this weekend - high Cascades, about 5000 ft elevation, a few miles west of Mt. Bachelor. Violet-Greens were plentiful. They did give the impression of being on the move, so what a nice timely series of posts that answered a question I barely knew I had. Thanks. Also particularly plentiful were Red Crossbills and Olive-sided Flycatchers. The latter were singing their brains out. -John .. -----Original Message----- From: "Dennis P. Vroman" Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 06:32:25 To: Tim Rodenkirk; Carol Karlen; Alan Contreras Cc: obol Subject: [obol] High elevation Swallows It's not uncommon to find good numbers of Violet-green Swallow during their migration in along the highest ridges of the Siskiyou or Klamath Mtns this time of the year running into Sept. Also, as Tim mentioned in a previous message. The higher elevation wet meadow/brushfield areas this month have large mixed species flocks of Warblers, Vireos, Flycatchers, Hummingbirds with a few other odd species thrown it (mostly juveniles, but some molting adults too). Good place to watch these birds now. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Subject: Re: [obol] Yamhill county Aug 1 & 2 weekend sightings I think the Trees are some of the first too leave. There was an amazing number of VG Swallows along the high ridgelines in the Siskiyous this past weekend also. Tim R Coos Bay _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From deweysage at verizon.net Mon Aug 3 08:16:50 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:16:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos birds In-Reply-To: <985172.79732.qm@web45315.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <985172.79732.qm@web45315.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4A76FF62.4020900@verizon.net> 8/2 Coos Bay North Spit Coos Cty 17 MARBLED GODWITS flew out of the fog and towards the bay near the North Jetty Coos Bay North Spit on Sunday morning. On the way out the spit along the main road particularly near the aeration ponds and the boat launch, SWALLOWS were everywhere by the hundreds. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From tom-escue at comcast.net Mon Aug 3 08:53:11 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 08:53:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eagle Cam Message-ID: <5FC2945C680D4A9C8BFBB3E9D232F44A@TomsPC> The eagle cam at Odell Lake is off-line. Does anyone know if the eaglet has flown? Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/49b667e8/attachment.html From tanager at nu-world.com Mon Aug 3 09:16:41 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 09:16:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] bird viewing distance: Oh Please Dept Message-ID: <000701ca1455$c9be7b80$5d3b7280$@com> As one ages, the proximity of bathrooms becomes important, hence Irons birding from a scissor lift in Rays parking lot in Veneta (Obolonians, you just THINK Dave is everywhere all the time.)! But then I shouldn't mention the ladder up and the viewing platform in the 80-foot tall Spruce in our back yard when someone posts something interesting seen at Redhead Pond. Now Dave, about that county record from a few years back . . . . Summer doldrums indeed. Nice shot Fix! Dan (not Anne) in Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/2357498c/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Mon Aug 3 09:33:31 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 09:33:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird viewing distances References: Message-ID: <4E7941CFE03E4337AC515BEEA482C0E6@Phil> >Since Alan and I have the scopes and we have had the >good conditions, alas it must be our experience that is limiting us. >Darn! Not at all. I was suggesting that, given that Alan can ID small shorbirds up to 1.5 miles, yet with the same optics and given prime conditions he doubts he would be able to ID large birds at 2+, it might be worth challenging his preconceptions. Cheers, Phil From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Mon Aug 3 09:57:33 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 16:57:33 +0000 Subject: [obol] Ptarmigan and mountain goat photos.... Message-ID: Hi Obolers! Photos can be seen at: http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/recent_summer_images_2009&page=all Khanh Tran www.ktbirding.com **************************************Trip report************************************ This weekend, I had a successful birding and hiking trip to Sunrise at Mt. Rainier. Spent most of my time around the Burroughs and the Mount Fremont Trail. It was good exercise and I had a fun time! I started the morning with a pair of PINE GROSBEAK near Frozen Lake area. As I ascended up to Mt. Fremont trail, a ROCK WREN was bouncing away along the rocks. While scanning for raptors along the Mt. Fremont trail, I happened to look at the saddle of the 'first' Burroughs and spied on a large herd of MOUNTAIN GOATS (roughly 30). I quickly made a detour and hauled my butt upslope to get a better look. I don't know who looked shaggier or felt more goaty after camping for two days without showering. Also within the vicinity, several immature and adult GRAY CROWNED ROSYFINCHES were feeding a few feet away from me. Continuing towards Mt. Fremont produced alot of immature Mountain bluebirds, juncos, pipits, and a couple singing Fox Sparrows--always a nice sweet song to hear. After some careful scanning near the Mt. Fremont Tower, I finally found in the lush area, one female WHITE TAILED PTARMIGAN with 3 chicks. She was about a hundred yards away. Moments later, while sitting down and having a snack with other hikers, a cooperative male was right by and dustbathed right along the trail. He eventually moved and perched right on some small rocks while looking at the magnificent views of Mt. Rainier. Such a tough life for an alpine chicken!! The non-birders were amused watching the non-chalant chicken. I did some owling near Sunrise but was only able to hear a BARRED OWL and one NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL. Lower down in elevation, I got a weak response from a SPOTTED OWL. A great day to be out and about! Good birding and enjoy your summer: Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From larmcqueen at msn.com Mon Aug 3 10:16:36 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 10:16:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] "Singing" woodpecker Message-ID: I was surprised to hear the drill of a Downy Woodpecker in my neighborhood in Eugene. I think of the woodpecker drill as a spring song, never to be heard at other seasons. On one occasion, at Cold Springs C.G., I heard the drill in mid-summer while I looked for a White-headed Woodpecker, but that turned out to be a raven making a perfect vocal imitation of a woodpecker drill. The raven was watching me, and I figured it knew exactly what I was looking for! Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/85b47a9f/attachment.html From tamickel at rio.com Mon Aug 3 08:08:48 2009 From: tamickel at rio.com (Tom & Allison Mickel) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 08:08:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gray Jays - Eugene south hills Message-ID: <000001ca144c$4e4c6560$eae53020$@com> OBOL, This morning on my walk along the Ridgeline Trail between Fox Hollow Rd and Dillard Rd in SE Eugene I heard GRAY JAYS for the first time in my 13 months of doing these morning walks. I heard what I thought might've been Gray Jays yesterday morning, but wasn't sure. Gray Jays have been reported on Spencer Butte and in the area of Fox Hollow Rd and S Willamette St in the past, which are only a few miles from where I heard them this morning. Tom Mickel Eugene From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Mon Aug 3 10:19:17 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 10:19:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Seabird ID at distance In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <237336.12922.qm@web39704.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello obolers, I must agree with Alan on this distance ID thing----but that doesn't mean I disagree with David. Some folks have much better visual acuity than others. Do any of you recall Pete Islieb (sp?). Now that guy had a "great eye". Experience, weather conditions, lighting, and optics, etc. are all factors (already mentioned)that effect this ID distance---but so does the eyesight of the observer. I'm certain that raptors can identify there own species even before I can see ANYTHING (even a speck!) in the sky. Visual acuity is a factor, and it doesn't seem to improve with age. Best, Dick --- On Thu, 7/30/09, Russ Namitz wrote: > From: Russ Namitz > Subject: Re: [obol] Seabird ID at distance > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Thursday, July 30, 2009, 3:18 PM > > > > #yiv2093311769 .hmmessage P > { > margin:0px;padding:0px;} > #yiv2093311769 { > font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} > > > > Jeff~>Firstly, I don't think land based observers > can reasonably estimate distance > >on the ocean...That said, based on the known distance > here, While this opinion has merit, practiced observers > can do a decent job with knowndistances. For example, at > Depoe Bay there are buoys that are 1/2 mile and 1 mile > due > west from the harbor. With a little practice, an observer > can make fairly accurate distance estimates. It gets tricky when > the observer changes height. The > horizonisn't as far on the beach as it is on high sea > cliffs, therefore "halfway to the > horizon"will significantly change in > distance.>I think that albatrosses should be sometimes > identified as to species at least as far as 2.5 miles > >with a 30X scope. I was on top of hotel in Cardel counting > hawks in the Mexican state of Veracruz > andI > saw a mixed flock of Cattle Egrets/Little Blue Herons that > were about 4 miles away flying over the Gulf. At one point, > they disappeared behind a headland only to pop out > on > the southern side.My email is acting > funny. Sorry about that.Good > birding,Russ NamitzCoos Bay > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From scre at aol.com Mon Aug 3 11:10:44 2009 From: scre at aol.com (scre at aol.com) Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:10:44 -0400 Subject: [obol] Hawaiian Petrels Message-ID: <8CBE27CDA5ACAA2-B8C-5CF@FWM-D19.sysops.aol.com> I see that more information is needed on this.? I was just trying to suggest that given these birds are regular off the West Coast of North America, they should be looked for on Oregon pelagic trips.? Yes a lot of these are outside the 200 mi "rule" for counting for the Oregon list, but off northern California they have been found regularly on 1 day pelagics in August.? The reason these are Hawaiian and not Galapagos is that they have been satelite tracked from the breeding grounds in Hawaii by David Ainely, et al.? These are unpublished data but is more than just the single track shown on the webpage.? This is not to say that Galapogos could not show up, but Hawaiian has been shown to be the "expected" species.? The species is a summer visitor to our coast (May-September) with most records in California from August (probably reflecting that this is when there are more pelagic trips).? THE paper on the identification of Dark-rumped Petrels is in Western Birds by Micheal Force , Sophie Webb, and Steve Howell (sorry I don't remember what issue it was in and I don't have it handy to check, 2007 maybe).? It is a tricky id and they are preliminary field marks but it mostly lays with the exact pattern of the dark on the face. ? Hope this clears up peoples questions.? Good seabirding. David Vander Pluym currently wandering around California Also, a couple Dark-rumped Petrels were seen out of Monterey yesterday along with more Cook's on a Shearwater Journeys pelagic, unfortunately I missed the Dark-rumps but had a good time studying Cook's.? These birds were in 1000 fathom water.? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/c4f2295c/attachment.html From kspinks at thprd.org Mon Aug 3 07:55:15 2009 From: kspinks at thprd.org (Kyle Spinks) Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:55:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Koll/Creekside pond Message-ID: <4A7697E3.9BD6.0045.0@thprd.org> Hi all, Just to let you know... THPRD staff have temporarily lowered the pond level at Koll Center Wetlands (known by many of you as the Creekside Pond) but about a foot. This has exposed lots of mudflats around the edges, so there should be some good birding for mudflat birds. Around the second week of September, we will raise the pond levels back up to the original level. Kyle Spinks Park Ranger Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District Natural Resources Department 5500 SW Arctic Drive, Suite 2 Beaverton, Oregon 97005 503-629-6305 x2952 From sgmlod at aol.com Sun Aug 2 21:28:08 2009 From: sgmlod at aol.com (Steven Mlodinow) Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:28:08 -0400 Subject: [obol] bird viewing distance: Oh Please Dept In-Reply-To: References: <638199.53186.qm@web80016.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <8CBE209F01B54EE-2DF8-60B0@webmail-dh44.sysops.aol.com> Greetings All I must say that I can not tell the difference between an albatross and a sailboat at 6 miles, even using my Swarovski 88mm telescope with the sun behind me, no wind, and no heat waves.? Maybe some folks eyes work better than mine, or maybe some folks can not estimate distances accurately.? Best Wishes and Clear Skies Steve Mlodinow Everett WA -----Original Message----- From: David Irons To: Phil Pickering ; post OBOL Sent: Sun, Aug 2, 2009 9:20 pm Subject: RE: [obol] bird viewing distance: Oh Please Dept From: Not the "Dave" in the fight, If one is birding in Oregon, just how often are you likely to need to be able to identify an albatross or anything else from six miles away? I've been doing seawatches in Oregon for over 30 years. In that time my luck has been far better than average (by my estimation) and I think I've seen a grand total of three albatrosses from land. In case you hadn't heard, there's this guy named Greg Gillson, and he runs these things call "pelagic trips." For somewhere north of $150 you can spend a day on a boat full of similarly-minded folks and close that six-mile viewing distance down to about 60 feet (perhaps even less), and you might even get to feed the albatrosses whatever you had for breakfast. My preferred alternative is being on 1000' cruise ship, which has a stable, elevated deck where I can set up my scope. Thankfully I don't partake, but feeding an albatross is far less likely when traveling aboard one of these giant floating hotels, and the repositioning cruises (Vancouver to San Francisco) we do are pretty darned affordable (or I wouldn't be doing them). I wish to thank those who have fanned the embers and kept this thread smoldering. I needed a break from grinding on a North American Birds column, hence my somewhat sardonic offerings. Back to work, Dave Irons Eugene, OR > From: philliplc at charter.net > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 20:27:45 -0700 > Subject: Re: [obol] bird viewing distance: Oh Please Dept > > I don't disagree with Dave in practice. Normally it is not possible > to confidently differentiate between the expected albatross sp. > at 6+ miles, and certainly not the unexpected. Didn't mean to > imply that it normally is, sorry if I did. I was talking more about > the actual factors that limit detail that can be detected with > increasing distance. > > The point I was attempting to make is that for species that > don't necessarily require a close view of plumage detail for > ID, viewing conditions and experience with the set of possible > species involved (as well as quality of optics) are normally the > factors that limit the distance at which an ID is possible- well > before the distance itself actually does. It follows that a blanket > statement about the distance at which it is or isn't reasonable > to make that type of ID doesn't mean much without considering > those factors. > > To stick with the albatross example, a person who can > separate B-f, S-t, Laysan at 2.5 miles under normal viewing > conditions (possible) should be able to make the same ID under > ideal conditions (calm seas, clear atmosphere, flat lighting) much > further out. An albatross at 6 miles (at 30x same as ~1000 > ft with the naked eye I think?) would appear quite tiny, but > not necessarily "vanishingly" small. Under ideal conditions > whether it is light or dark bellied should still be discernable, > as well as potentially to an experienced observer aspects of > proportion, and wing position and other flight characteristics. > The trouble is conditions that allow this type of look are rare, > not that the ID at that distance is impossible in principal > > Of course if you introduce a rare species to the set of possibilites > that the observer isn't familiar with, or that necessarily requires > a close view of plumage detail to separate from expected species > that would be monkey wrench - a problem if the ID being made > itself is of a rarity. With expected species, though, that is just > something that is part of the game - something that is (or should > be) stipulated as as factor that limits the confidence level of > distant IDs of expected species to less than 100% anyway. > > Phil > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Get free photo software from Windows Live Click here. = -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/91a4f987/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon Aug 3 12:09:49 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 12:09:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook Birds Message-ID: I did some birding in Crook County today. Mostly, I visited Prineville Reservoir, Ochoco Reservoir, and Prineville Sewage Ponds. Highlights: 33 White-faced Ibis - Prineville Reservoir 1 Hammond's Flycatcher - North Shore Road 120 White Pelicans - 100 at Prineville Res. and 20 at Houston Lake 6 Greater Yellowlegs - 4 at Prineville Res., 1 at Ochoco and 1 at sewage ponds 1 Lesser Yellowlegs - Prineville Res. few peeps anywhere - Ochoco Reservoir may be lower than I've ever seen it at this stage. 1 Bonaparte's Gull - Ochoco 2 Caspian Terns - Ochoco 2 Collared Doves - Prineville 1 Yellow-breasted Chat - North Shore Rd. Chuck Gates Powell Butte Canada Goose American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal Green-winged Teal Lesser Scaup Common Merganser California Quail Western Grebe White Pelican Double-crested Cormorant Great-blue Heron White-faced Ibis Turkey Vulture Osprey Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel American Coot Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Spotted Sandpiper Western Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Long-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe Wilson's Phalarope Bonaparte's Gull Ring-billed Gull California Gull Caspian Tern Eurasian Collared Dove Mourning Dove Common Nighthawk Northern Flicker Hammond's Flycatcher Ash-throated Flycatcher Black-billed magpie American Crow Common Raven Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow House Wren Mountain Bluebird American Robin European Starling Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat Spotted Towhee Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow Lazuli Bunting Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brown-headed Cowbird -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/936016bb/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Aug 3 12:09:12 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:09:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird viewing distances In-Reply-To: <4E7941CFE03E4337AC515BEEA482C0E6@Phil> Message-ID: It depends on what the large birds are. Colors tend to fade with distance, while patterns remain clearer. An Emperor Goose has a pattern that is distinct at a great distance, while a Brant and a Cackler would be harder to i.d. Because they don't have large chunks of black and white to see. Likewise a flying White-winged Scoter is easy to identify at very long distances, while brown ducks of similar size are not. Flight style helps, too, as with fulmars. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Phil Pickering > Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 09:33:31 -0700 > To: > Subject: Re: [obol] Bird viewing distances > >> Since Alan and I have the scopes and we have had the >> good conditions, alas it must be our experience that is limiting us. >> Darn! > > > Not at all. I was suggesting that, given that Alan can ID > small shorbirds up to 1.5 miles, yet with the same optics and > given prime conditions he doubts he would be able to > ID large birds at 2+, it might be worth challenging his > preconceptions. > > Cheers, > > Phil > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From marciafcutler at comcast.net Mon Aug 3 12:28:31 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 12:28:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Snag Boat Bend Closure [Linn Co.] Message-ID: <0B7D8F21-B1E0-4A6B-95EE-C24E910A30B1@comcast.net> I just received the following announcement from the Finley Refuge people: Effective immediately, the Snag Boat Bend Unit of William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge is closed to all public access due to bridge construction. Restoration work should take approximately two weeks. Visitors should contact the Refuge PRIOR to entry to verify official re-opening. Marcia F. Cutler -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/b0a71a92/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Mon Aug 3 12:54:41 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 12:54:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Old Booth-Kelly log pond, downtown Springfield Message-ID: <5C9DEBA74E3840F5AF259D12A0E80843@TomsPC> I had the following at around 11 AM today; Two adult GREEN Herons flying over. One immature trying to catch a fish. One BELTED KINGFISHER. Two TURKEY VULTURES circling. Two BLACK PHOEBES. I did NOT see any immature although a brood was raised here last year. I also saw an OTTER like mammal. It was about 2 1/2 feet long, slender, very dark brown fur, medium length tail with otter like head.. I am not too familiar with these animals. Could it have been an immature OTTER? I did not see it enter the water. Instead it prowled around the rocky edge of the pond. It was not a nutria although they like the area. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/24f3e057/attachment.html From lbviman at blackfoot.net Mon Aug 3 14:15:32 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:15:32 -0600 Subject: [obol] copy-paste-replies In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090803211125.A84179B021D@mail.blackfoot.net> As with all postings here, though it isn't MY place to say it, there is an admonishment somewhat below the opening credits at OBOL [quote below]. I wish all people (esp. those who join threads) would adhere more closely to it, so the flow of information is less crackly. Thanks - Jim in MT At 01:00 PM 8/3/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific >than "Re: Contents of obol digest..." From namitzr at hotmail.com Mon Aug 3 14:20:50 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 14:20:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rocky Pt, Lincoln County Message-ID: I visited Rocky Pt in extreme NE Lincoln County in the Coast Range as it is right behind my dad's house (via Bear Creek Rd.) around lunchtime today (8/3). Besides the aforementioned EVENING GROSBEAKS mentioned by Chuck Philo via Range Bayer, there were 10+ RED CROSSBILLS, 2 MACGILLIVRAY'S & 2 HERMIT WARLBERS, 1 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, 4 CEDAR WAXWINGS, many DARK-EYED JUNCOS and a RED-TAILED HAWK. Bird activity was subdued do the heat, but there are berries and fir cones all over the place. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/72c876ed/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Mon Aug 3 14:37:35 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:37:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mystery "squeeze toy" calls Laurelhurst Park, Portland Message-ID: Just back from a walk around Laurelhurst Park with my stubborn terrier. I repeatedly heard double squeeze-toy calls from high in the London Plane Trees (sycamores). The calls were not like anything I have heard in Oregon (unless I am totally forgetful today). The area where the calls were heard was along the of the western part of the park - where the former creek bed ran before the development of the Laurelhurst neighborhood. I don't have a sound play system set up. I AM NOT CLAIMING THE ID OF THE CALLS - but if this was Madera Canyon, AZ I would have assumed that they were from a Sulphur-bellied Fycathcer. I am going back to the park. Jeff Gilligan From jonysky101 at aol.com Mon Aug 3 15:01:53 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:01:53 -0400 Subject: [obol] Stuff to take on boat birding trip Message-ID: <8CBE29D250356EE-15CC-F24@webmail-md18.sysops.aol.com> I'm going out on Gregs? Perpetua Bank trip this Saturday. I've read about the stuff you should bring, rain suit, saltines, water and other necessary items. But I would ask those who have a couple of trips under their belt, what stuff they suggest in addition the list Greg has at his site. You know, the "I should of brought" stuff. Thanks for you help. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/472f5243/attachment.html From ronaldgp at onlinemac.com Mon Aug 3 15:14:39 2009 From: ronaldgp at onlinemac.com (ronaldgp at onlinemac.com) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 15:14:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Stuff to take on boat birding trip In-Reply-To: <8CBE29D250356EE-15CC-F24@webmail-md18.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBE29D250356EE-15CC-F24@webmail-md18.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <91a5ec8085448ad8a34968982185206d.squirrel@mail.onlinenw.com> Johnny, My wife and I took a pelagic trip with Greg last year at the Shorebird Festival. As it was our first experience of any kind on the ocean, we followed the instructions he provides to the letter. As a result, we had a fabulous day, despite the 10' swells over the bar. Given this one experience, I won't add anything to his list when we go this year. It would either be a distraction from the visuals around us or go over the side. And they had enough popcorn.... However, your mileage may vary. Ron --- Ronald G. Peterson McMinnville, Oregon > I'm going out on Gregs? Perpetua Bank trip this Saturday. I've read about > the stuff you should bring, rain suit, saltines, water and other necessary > items. But I would ask those who have a couple of trips under their belt, > what stuff they suggest in addition the list Greg has at his site. You > know, the "I should of brought" stuff. Thanks for you help. > Johnny Sasko > Sandy, Or > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jeffgill at teleport.com Mon Aug 3 15:22:54 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:22:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Laurelhurst calls identified - not rare Message-ID: I am quite sure that I saw the bird that was calling - a fledgling COOPER'S HAWK. Jeff Gilligan From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Mon Aug 3 16:05:22 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 16:05:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge shorebirds, 8/3 Message-ID: <0FCE6539-7152-45E0-933D-1E28AD4E5C48@comcast.net> OBOL- Inspired by the cooler weather and recent reports of shorebirds, I checked out Fern Ridge Reservoir this morning... 1) Royal Avenue hike out to viewing platform yielded no shorebirds at all. Water is still too high and no shorebird habitat available. We did not walk west of the platform on Royal, but as best I could tell, there were no visible mudflats along the lake edge north/west of Royal. Nothing unusual seen here, but watching the Black Terns feeding fledged young was interesting; an adult would catch a fish, then fly over to the juvs and drop the fish in the water creating a scramble. 2) Drive-by Fischer Butte parking lot: high water, didn't stop. 3) Refuge HQ on Cantrell Road: I have rarely birded this site, but this morning it turned out to be the hidden gem. Shorebirds seen west of HQ in a relatively small, shallow body of water with muddy edges: Greater Yellowlegs -- 20 Lesser Yellowlegs -- 4 Solitary Sandpiper -- 1 LB Dowitcher -- 2 (breeding plumage) Least Sandpiper -- 25 Western Sandpiper -- zero Spotted Sandpiper -- 1 (immature) Semipalmated Plover -- 2 Killdeer -- 3 The birds were so intent on feeding that close approach is possible. Directions: drive into refuge HQ on Cantrell Road and park in the large parking lot below the big barn/garage. Walk northeast on a wide mowed track past a yellow bulldozer. Continue straight past the bulldozer going east approx 100yds; the path jogs to the north, then turns due north. The pond/puddle with the birds is easily seen on the left of the track about 100ft up the track. Turning left (north) at the bulldozer takes you to lake's edge, but no shorebird habitat. Note on parking: we drove thru the open gate at the entrance off Cantrell Rd and spoke to a worker at the site. We were asked to close the gate behind us when we left. I don't know the policy, but if the gate is closed upon arrival, it may be best to simply park along Cantrell and walk in (it's about 75yds to the parking area). Barry McKenzie Eugene From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Mon Aug 3 16:10:12 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 16:10:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane/Douglas Shorebirds Message-ID: <2b1bbd260908031610m30b98a0clbbdffacc619cd6f6@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Warm, overcast and calm on the beach today. Shorebirds from Siltcoos River, Lane Co. to Tahkenitch Creek, Douglas Co included: ~50 Western Sandpipers (about half juvenile, half worn adults) ~30 Least Sandpipers (over half juvenile, 8 were in the little pond south of Waxmyrtle trail, Siltcoos) 1 SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER (neatly marked juvenile with 2 Westerns and a few Semi plovers, near Oregon Dunes Overlook. FOY juvie for me, been about 3 weeks since my last adult) ~200 Semi-palmated Plovers (spread across four miles of beach) ~500+ SANDERLINGS (They were spread out and I might be way low with this estimate, the largest flock had at least 400 birds, all others were scattered. This is great time of year to view Sanderlings and their various plumages. Almost like seeing a bunch of RN Stints on steroids) 4 WHIMBREL (two at Overlook and two at Tahkenitch) 6 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS (can somebody please send me a golden plover before the field season is up?) Siltcoos had nearly a THOUSAND roosting gulls. I did not try to count. A mile down the beach I sifted a flock of ~120. Half were Westerns, almost half were Californias, and about a dozen were Heermans. Most were adult or nearly adult. Juveniles made up maybe 5-10% of the flock. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/16cacc58/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Mon Aug 3 16:21:36 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 16:21:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge shorebirds, 8/3 In-Reply-To: <0FCE6539-7152-45E0-933D-1E28AD4E5C48@comcast.net> References: <0FCE6539-7152-45E0-933D-1E28AD4E5C48@comcast.net> Message-ID: <2b1bbd260908031621r2622b453hb9da1d928511d43f@mail.gmail.com> Obol, The folks at the Corps of Engineers deserve a big hand for this gem. A few years ago this habitat did not exist. It was nothing more than a flooded field with waist high Canary grass. Then the dam decided to fail as you all remember. It had to been torn down and rebuilt. This left a lot of extra dirt to be dealt with. Long story short, the dike that Barry refers to is in fact the old dam. This dike and two subdikes (located on the NE side of the reservoir) were built from the old fill dirt. The effect was seen instantly. Canary grass can only grow through so much water, so once the field was flooded it died out quickly. Many ducks and shorebirds now regularly use the habitat. Black Terns often fly back and forth over Hwy 126 there and may very well nest on both sides now. During Wings and Wine I saw a flock of Ibis headed that direction. As Barry said, it really is a gem and I hope more birders check it out in the future. Daniel Farrar On Mon, Aug 3, 2009 at 4:05 PM, Barry McKenzie wrote: > OBOL- > Inspired by the cooler weather and recent reports of shorebirds, I > checked out Fern Ridge Reservoir this morning... > > 1) Royal Avenue hike out to viewing platform yielded no shorebirds at > all. Water is still too high and no shorebird habitat available. We > did not walk west of the platform on Royal, but as best I could tell, > there were no visible mudflats along the lake edge north/west of > Royal. Nothing unusual seen here, but watching the Black Terns > feeding fledged young was interesting; an adult would catch a fish, > then fly over to the juvs and drop the fish in the water creating a > scramble. > 2) Drive-by Fischer Butte parking lot: high water, didn't stop. > 3) Refuge HQ on Cantrell Road: I have rarely birded this site, but > this morning it turned out to be the hidden gem. > > Shorebirds seen west of HQ in a relatively small, shallow body of > water with muddy edges: > Greater Yellowlegs -- 20 > Lesser Yellowlegs -- 4 > Solitary Sandpiper -- 1 > LB Dowitcher -- 2 (breeding plumage) > Least Sandpiper -- 25 > Western Sandpiper -- zero > Spotted Sandpiper -- 1 (immature) > Semipalmated Plover -- 2 > Killdeer -- 3 > > The birds were so intent on feeding that close approach is possible. > Directions: drive into refuge HQ on Cantrell Road and park in the > large parking lot below the big barn/garage. Walk northeast on a wide > mowed track past a yellow bulldozer. Continue straight past the > bulldozer going east approx 100yds; the path jogs to the north, then > turns due north. The pond/puddle with the birds is easily seen on the > left of the track about 100ft up the track. Turning left (north) at > the bulldozer takes you to lake's edge, but no shorebird habitat. > > Note on parking: we drove thru the open gate at the entrance off > Cantrell Rd and spoke to a worker at the site. We were asked to close > the gate behind us when we left. I don't know the policy, but if the > gate is closed upon arrival, it may be best to simply park along > Cantrell and walk in (it's about 75yds to the parking area). > > Barry McKenzie > Eugene > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/5b90c60e/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Mon Aug 3 16:22:15 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 16:22:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher [NOT!] - The REAL Story Message-ID: Upon arriving, breathless, at Laurelhurst Park laden down with camera, recording gear, and a shelf full of Latin American field guides, I saw Jeff Gilligan, who quickly informed me that his potential Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher calls were actually from a juvenile Cooper's Hawk. Jeff headed home to post the unfortunate news on OBOL, and I stayed on, hoping to hear the unusual calls myself. Well, I did eventually hear Jeff's Cooper's Hawk, but not before encountering what, I concluded, was ACTUALLY producing the intriguing Madera-Canyonesque vocalizations. For there, in the swale at the west end of the park, a blond woman in a black dress was demonstrating EXHIBIT A in "How to Get a Birder's Heart Racing": Stand amid rows of gnarled century-old sycamore trees on a 90-degree August day and repeatedly squeeze a rubber-ducky ball toy for your little dog. I am not making this up. "Nena! Woo-hoo! Nena, come here!," she called. "Squeaky-weaky-weaky!" went the squeezable rubber ball in her right hand. "Nena!" Woo-hoo!" Spindly-legged little Nena, a Dalmation-colored thing about the size of a rat, was happily prancing around off-leash with absolutely zero regard for her ball or for the sounds of a potential avian mega-rarity up from Arizona. I opted not to accost the poor woman for impersonating a subtropical tyrannid. ("I'll get you, my pretty -- and your little dog, too!") How could she have known that she had nearly just given two active Portland birders heart attacks? Moral of the story, although it's painful to acknowledge for a dedicated ear-birder like myself: Always get a visual. Woo-hoo indeed, Jay Withgott Portland From tom-escue at comcast.net Mon Aug 3 16:33:34 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 16:33:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mink at Booth-Kelly Pond Message-ID: <32437E82BBC940A387F18F6B4BC59B49@TomsPC> For now I am calling the critter I saw a large mink. It fits the various descriptions. Thanks. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/3cb3d13a/attachment.html From darhawk500 at msn.com Mon Aug 3 16:37:37 2009 From: darhawk500 at msn.com (D Scott) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 16:37:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Duck Houses for ponds and W. Bluebirds Message-ID: Hello fellow birders, Has anyone had any experience with the Duck Houses that float on ponds? Do they help or work well? My father In-law would like to buy one for his pond. Seems like they get the same set of Mallard ducks every year and they have 1-2 sets of ducklings, but all ducklings seem to get eatin. Duck house cost about $1000 and just wonder if it would be a good investment to keep the ducklings alive. It's making my mother in-law sad every year to see the ducklings disappear. Next Topic: Western Bluebirds around the Sherwood area such as Parrott Mountain or Champoeg State Park are they in this area yet? Is it early to start seeing them in the Sherwood/Newberg area? Perhaps they are in another part of Oregon nearby? Derek Scott Sherwood, OR _________________________________________________________________ Get back to school stuff for them and cashback for you. http://www.bing.com/cashback?form=MSHYCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHYCB_BackToSchool_Cashback_BTSCashback_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/9f533a24/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Mon Aug 3 17:06:17 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 17:06:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] bird viewing distance: Oh Please Dept Message-ID: David Fix wrote: "What if someone out there following the thing on a boat radioed to you that it was a Southern Giant Petrel?" Funny you should mention this as a few weeks ago, Joe Fontaine and I were looking at a Giant Petrel sp. from Albany, WA (Western Australia) and trying to discern the color of the tip of the bill to indicate Northern or Southern Giant Petrel. I estimated the bird was at least a mile away. Southern Giant Petrel is the expected species there, but alas even with good light behind us, we couldn't see a red or green spot. I look forward to testing out the 6 mile identification hypothesis. I don't know if I can do it, but I'll enlist a few birders to help me test this out later this month. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/b498db96/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Mon Aug 3 17:24:54 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 17:24:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Little Gull Message-ID: Wayne Hoffman just called to report a probable juvenile Little Gull at the Yaquina Bay south jetty "gull puddle". Heading there now. Phil From whoffman at peak.org Mon Aug 3 18:43:32 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 18:43:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] NOT A LITTLE GULL Message-ID: <2A0730C5920C478CA25C714B45DDD737@D48XBZ51> Hi - The gull I initially reported as a first-summer Little Gull (a plumage I have not seen) eventually morphed into a tiny runt of a first-summer Franklin's Gull. Eventually it spread its tail and as the black band did not extend onto the outer rectrices, all the other fantasies had to be discarded. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/7d045ea5/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Mon Aug 3 18:50:05 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 18:50:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Laurelhurst calls identified - not rare Message-ID: <305770.90389.qm@web55102.mail.re4.yahoo.com> For many years now, I have been treated to begging juvenile calling from Western Screech Owls and juvenile Cooper's Hawks. I live in Mountain Park, SW of Portland, and a bit S of PCC Sylvania. My home (15 years now) backs up onto a mixed woodland with Maple, Alder, and a few conifers. Right now the WS Owls have been silent other than "adult-like" calls in the wee hours, before dawn. This season's Cooper's Hawk juvenile begging calling has been going on for at least a fortnight now. Most of the time I only hear one juvenile, but yesterday, I heard two (today also). Yesterday as I had my kitchen window opened and I was washing dishes, I heard the juvenile calling, and watched an adult female fly into the tree I surmised the begging was coming from. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores ****************************** Subject: Laurelhurst calls identified - not rare From: Jeff Gilligan Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:22:54 -0700 I am quite sure that I saw the bird that was calling - a fledgling COOPER'S HAWK. Jeff Gilligan *********************** Subject: Mystery "squeeze toy" calls Laurelhurst Park, Portland From: Jeff Gilligan Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:37:35 -0700 Just back from a walk around Laurelhurst Park with my stubborn terrier. I repeatedly heard double squeeze-toy calls from high in the London Plane Trees (sycamores). The calls were not like anything I have heard in Oregon (unless I am totally forgetful today). The area where the calls were heard was along the of the western part of the park - where the former creek bed ran before the development of the Laurelhurst neighborhood. I don't have a sound play system set up. I AM NOT CLAIMING THE ID OF THE CALLS - but if this was Madera Canyon, AZ I would have assumed that they were from a Sulphur-bellied Fycathcer. I am going back to the park. Jeff Gilligan From celata at pacifier.com Mon Aug 3 19:05:54 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:05:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] PHOTO ESSAY: My day with the feeding flocks Message-ID: <4A779782.9010105@pacifier.com> A spent a big chunk of the day at the Sunset Beach Trail Head Park. My official business was to photograph damselfly butts (it's complicated). But while there I encountered several post-breeding feeding flocks including one with a female LAZULI BUNTING in it. http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11712 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From iain.t.morris at gmail.com Mon Aug 3 19:19:52 2009 From: iain.t.morris at gmail.com (Iain Morris) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 19:19:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mystery bird Message-ID: <29863A50-8390-4C38-91FE-294B8795A55A@gmail.com> We were in the vicinity of Wolf Rock, up some forest service roads off McKenzie Hwy 126 near Blue River. This bird was near a group of Chestnut-backed Chickadees and we're at a loss as to what it is. It looks like it could be a baby of something, but we weren't sure. Can anyone here ID this thing? Apologies, the photo is not great. http://www.bitrodeo.com/bird1.jpg -Iain Bend, Oregon From celata at pacifier.com Mon Aug 3 19:29:08 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:29:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mystery Bird Message-ID: <4A779CF4.60903@pacifier.com> The photos show a hatch-year GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From smithdwd at hotmail.com Mon Aug 3 19:46:06 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 02:46:06 +0000 Subject: [obol] Sooty Grouse, Broken Top Message-ID: We had close looks at a booming Sooty grouse along the Broken Top Trail, at 2pm, 75 degrees, a few miles above Todd Lake. Just walk along the trail about 3 miles; listen left. Several Kestrels, Gray Jays, and Nutcrackers among usual suspects. David Smith _________________________________________________________________ Drag n? drop?Get easy photo sharing with Windows Live? Photos. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/products/photos.aspx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090804/72e224c7/attachment.html From iain.t.morris at gmail.com Mon Aug 3 19:45:03 2009 From: iain.t.morris at gmail.com (Iain Morris) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 19:45:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mystery Bird In-Reply-To: <4A779CF4.60903@pacifier.com> References: <4A779CF4.60903@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <406B29DE-8E07-49AF-8E06-B9496A0500FF@gmail.com> Thanks! I suppose we've heard this bird a lot more than we have seen it. The kinglet crossed our minds, but the strong yellow on the lower back didn't seem quite right based on some guidebook drawings. Thanks to all of you for such a great resource. -Iain On Aug 3, 2009, at 7:29 PM, Mike Patterson wrote: > The photos show a hatch-year GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > My Summer Reading List > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon Aug 3 21:07:04 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 21:07:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding Malheur County this weekend Message-ID: My wife and I have decided to get away this weekend and we'll be touring Malheur County. To me, this is the least known part of the state so I would love to hear from others about favorite spots to visit. Directions would be appreciated. I will gladly add other locations to the Malheur County Site Guide I've been working on if you think new additions should be made. Here are the locations I've found on the web: Ironside Mountain - Bully Creek Reservoir - Vale - Malheur River - Vale Sewage Ponds - Malheur Butte - Ontario Airport - Ontario Sewage Ponds - Ontario - Beulah Reservoir - Nyssa - Warm Springs Reservoir - Lake Owyhee Reservoir - Lake Owyhee State Park - Adrian and Snake River - Succor Creek State Recreational Area - Leslie Gulch - Mahogany Mountain - Cow Lakes - Jordan Valley - Antelope Reservoir - Danner Loop Road - Little Grassy Reservoir - Rome & Owyhee River - Crooked Creek State Park - Burns Junction - Whitehorse Road - Basque - Oregon Canyon Mountains - McDermitt - What are your favorite locations in Malheur County? Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090803/d2a727bd/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Tue Aug 4 00:40:34 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:40:34 -0400 Subject: [obol] partly white crow Message-ID: <8CBE2EDFC59156F-1684-3057@webmail-mh17.sysops.aol.com> I took my pups down to Dodge Park in Sandy this afternoon.. I was scanning the trees for birds when I saw 2 crows land on a downed tree. One was your regular garden varity crow, but the other had a lot of silver white feathers in both wings. He also showed about 50 % silver white in his tail feathers. I've never see that before. Is this something that happens at molting or something? Any info appreciated. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090804/a2587d12/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Tue Aug 4 01:22:15 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 01:22:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln County Birds In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi David, Thanks for reporting your sightings! I would add to Mike Patterson's and David Iron's responses to your questions that Red-breasted Mergansers are rare here this time of year (e.g., see Oregon Coast Birding Trail Checklist at http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/PDFs/6%20Birding%20Trail%20Checklist.pdf). Common Mergansers nest in the Siletz, Yaquina, and Alsea watersheds and commonly show up in the lower estuaries this time of year at sites where Red-breasted Mergansers are common in winter. Distinguishing Common & Red-breasteds is pretty easy in winter, as illustrated in field guides. However, female and juvenile Common Mergansers in summer can look very similar to female Red-breasted's in winter. Unfortunately, several field guides are not helpful in pointing this out. Ken Kauffmann's article (1990. The practiced eye: common merganser and red-breasted merganser. Am. Birds 44:1203-1205 at http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/NAB/v044n05/p01203-p01205.pdf) is useful in pointing out the similarities of these two species in summer. Sibley's "Guide to Birds" is also helpful in showing that juvenile Common Mergansers don't have a sharp white demarcation line on the neck that many birders use to ID female Red-breasted's in winter; the online version (without some of the text) is at http://sibley.enature.com/species.asp?SpeciesID=2253&Image_ID=2253_06.JPG&RecNum=1&Srch=yes&searchStr=common+merganser&image1.x=13&image1.y=8&xLoc=&yLoc=). In Sibley's printed version, he writes to accompany adult female Common Merganser in breeding plumage drawing "adult female nonbreeding (Jul-Oct) similar but head pattern like juvenile." When large mergansers are closely examined here for more details than just the presence or absence of a sharp white demarcation on the neck this time of year, they are almost always identified as Common Mergansers, though we have a few records of well-studied Red-breasted Mergansers. Thanks again for your sighting! Range Bayer, Newport On Sun, Aug 2, 2009 at 11:22 PM, David G Crisman wrote: > Thanks for the help for finding productive birding places in Lincoln > County. > > Some highlights for us: > > Seal?Rock was fabulous.? We saw BRANDT'S and PELAGIC CORMORANT, WESTERN > GULL, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (1, is this uncommon?) PIGEON GUILLEMOT, COMMON > MURRE, BLACK OYSTERCATCHER, and KILLDEER among others. > > Yaquina Bay produced many WHIMBREL, GREAT EGRET and GREAT BLUE HERON, > WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPER, CALIFORNIA GULL (with only red and no black?on > bill.? This confused me, but the yellow legs, dark iris, and overall > size?left me with no other good?possibility.? Do MEW GULLS ever have red on > the bill?), OSPREY, and BALD EAGLE. > > >From the South Jetty we could see all three typical CORMORANT species.? As > well as COMMON MURRE with young. > > On the beach north of Depoe Bay, we saw a MARBLED GODWIT (pictures here), a > HEERMANN's GULL, some BROWN PELICAN, and some SURF SCOTERS. > > >From the Salishan Nature Trail, there were many unidentified stints out on > the mudflats just too far out to make out.? A BALD EAGLE was perched on a > log, and we got many passerines on the trail.? Just past the surf at the end > of the trail there were 2 CLARK's GREBES swimming with a bunch of COMMON > MURRES.? Also, we saw a Weasel from the Nature Trail near the beginning > (picture of him here).? There were several seemingly mid-molt juvenile > WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, SONG SPARROWS, and SPOTTED TOWHEEs that looked > strange. > > At the Siletz Bay and surrounding marshes there were?a few?RED-TAILED HAWKs, > a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, OPSREY, lots of CEDAR WAXWINGS, and some RED-BREASTED > MERGANSERS with some of the othe usual suspects. > > I'm probably leaving some out, but that's the gist. > > I don't have much experience birding at the coast, but it seemed like we > encountered a fair number of species whose range maps show winter only (Surf > Scoter, Glacous-winged gull, California Gull, Clark's Grebe).? Are these > range maps out of date or uninformed? > > David Crisman > Tigard, OR > > > ________________________________ > Get back to school stuff for them and cashback for you. Try BingT now. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From ChrisGardner05 at aol.com Tue Aug 4 04:32:25 2009 From: ChrisGardner05 at aol.com (ChrisGardner05 at aol.com) Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 07:32:25 EDT Subject: [obol] Eugene trip help Message-ID: Hi everyone, I will be visiting friends near Eugene with my family next week. I've never birded in the Northwest, and looking through my bird books, I found there are quite a few birds that I've never seen that I might be able to on this trip. It's not a birding trip since my family doesn't really bird, so I'll have the chance to maybe only go to 3 places, so I was hoping to find the best places to see the most birds together. Also, I will be driving up through south central Oregon, like Klamath Falls, so any good places to stop along the way, maybe Yellow Rail at Klamath Marsh or Black Swift at Salt Creek Falls? Here's a list- American Bittern, Black Oystercatcher, Dipper, Mountain Quail, Goshawk, Sooty Grouse, Ruffed Grouse, Lewis' Woodpecker, Winter Wren, Gray Jay, Hutton's Vireo, Hermit Warbler, Chesnut-backed Chickadee, and Evening Grosbeak. I know some are hard to find, but if I know where I have the best chance to see them that would be great. Also, are there any good places to see some owls, especially the Spotted and Great Gray? Thanks for any help, I would really appreciate it and it would help me consolidate my time. If anyone visits Vegas and wants help birding, I know a lot of great spots so I would be glad to help. Chris Ruiz-Gardner Las Vegas, NV _www.imageevent.com/lhshrikeboy_ (http://www.imageevent.com/lhshrikeboy) (photos) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090804/9104efe5/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Tue Aug 4 07:12:35 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 07:12:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] partly white crow References: <8CBE2EDFC59156F-1684-3057@webmail-mh17.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: Johnny, In certain places along the Lincoln County coast it is not at all uncommon to see crows with a considerable amount of white in the wings and tail. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: jonysky101 at aol.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 12:40 AM Subject: [obol] partly white crow I took my pups down to Dodge Park in Sandy this afternoon.. I was scanning the trees for birds when I saw 2 crows land on a downed tree. One was your regular garden varity crow, but the other had a lot of silver white feathers in both wings. He also showed about 50 % silver white in his tail feathers. I've never see that before. Is this something that happens at molting or something? Any info appreciated. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090804/f8cd4654/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Tue Aug 4 08:12:07 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 08:12:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene trip help In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <4a784fc0.1f538c0a.21b0.ffffd581@mx.google.com> Craig and I were just admiring an adult Goshawk out our bedroom window. Beautiful bird, I hope you get to see one. Marilyn Miller 12 miles east of Bend _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of ChrisGardner05 at aol.com Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 4:32 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Eugene trip help Hi everyone, I will be visiting friends near Eugene with my family next week. I've never birded in the Northwest, and looking through my bird books, I found there are quite a few birds that I've never seen that I might be able to on this trip. It's not a birding trip since my family doesn't really bird, so I'll have the chance to maybe only go to 3 places, so I was hoping to find the best places to see the most birds together. Also, I will be driving up through south central Oregon, like Klamath Falls, so any good places to stop along the way, maybe Yellow Rail at Klamath Marsh or Black Swift at Salt Creek Falls? Here's a list- American Bittern, Black Oystercatcher, Dipper, Mountain Quail, Goshawk, Sooty Grouse, Ruffed Grouse, Lewis' Woodpecker, Winter Wren, Gray Jay, Hutton's Vireo, Hermit Warbler, Chesnut-backed Chickadee, and Evening Grosbeak. I know some are hard to find, but if I know where I have the best chance to see them that would be great. Also, are there any good places to see some owls, especially the Spotted and Great Gray? Thanks for any help, I would really appreciate it and it would help me consolidate my time. If anyone visits Vegas and wants help birding, I know a lot of great spots so I would be glad to help. Chris Ruiz-Gardner Las Vegas, NV www.imageevent.com/lhshrikeboy (photos) No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.42/2279 - Release Date: 08/03/09 05:57:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090804/db7cdab7/attachment.html From quetsal48 at comcast.net Tue Aug 4 12:30:01 2009 From: quetsal48 at comcast.net (Craig Merkel) Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 12:30:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Booth-Kelly Log Pond Critter Message-ID: <508A70CBA03D4926A8E854D27DEE2828@lastmaskin> It could have been a mink. They are slender and darker brown than an otter though you don?t say if the 2 ?? is overall or just body length. I would think otters would be IN the water and every mink I?ve seen is on the bank at the waters edge. That wouldn?t be too far from the river for either to travel and mink travel quite a distance (for them) in search of food. Craig Merkel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090804/b19ae01c/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Tue Aug 4 12:32:51 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 12:32:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rocky Pt, Lincoln Co - possible Sooty Grouse Message-ID: Went up to Rocky Point for a dawn excursion hoping to see grouse on the road, but didn't have any luck. At the top, I believe I heard the booming of a SOOTY GROUSE. It didn't sound perfect and may have been the first sequence of a RUFFED GROUSE drumming, but I don't think so. The habitat was right, the elevation good, I just couldn't triangulate the distant sound. Other birds present were Common Nighthawk Band-tailed Pigeon Rufous Hummingbird Varied Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing Hermit Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler Wilson's Warbler Dark-eyed Junco Evening Grosbeak Red Crossbill Pine Siskin Good birding, Russ Namitz -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090804/86c80de0/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Tue Aug 4 12:36:34 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 12:36:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rocky Pt, Lincoln Co - possible Sooty Grouse References: Message-ID: <60B4B023CF6A45ACB346A51058CC0A46@your5rlp3a9516> Russ, The area west of Rocky Point is one of the most reliable places in Lincoln County where Sooty Grouse can be found. And at that elevation, it is the most likely of the grouse species. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: Russ Namitz To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 12:32 PM Subject: [obol] Rocky Pt, Lincoln Co - possible Sooty Grouse Went up to Rocky Point for a dawn excursion hoping to see grouse on the road, but didn't have any luck. At the top, I believe I heard the booming of a SOOTY GROUSE. It didn't sound perfect and may have been the first sequence of a RUFFED GROUSE drumming, but I don't think so. The habitat was right, the elevation good, I just couldn't triangulate the distant sound. Other birds present were Common Nighthawk Band-tailed Pigeon Rufous Hummingbird Varied Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing Hermit Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler Wilson's Warbler Dark-eyed Junco Evening Grosbeak Red Crossbill Pine Siskin Good birding, Russ Namitz ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090804/73c54748/attachment.html From jeffandlaurettayoung at comcast.net Tue Aug 4 14:52:05 2009 From: jeffandlaurettayoung at comcast.net (Young) Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 14:52:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] wasp next near Sturgeon Lake on Sauvie Island for birders trying to see shorebirds In-Reply-To: <508A70CBA03D4926A8E854D27DEE2828@lastmaskin> References: <508A70CBA03D4926A8E854D27DEE2828@lastmaskin> Message-ID: Dear Group Today I took my nephew to see the white pelicans on Sturgeon Lake . We parked at Coon Point and walked the dike to the gate and then proceeded down the ?trail? thru the thick grass toward lake. Right off the dike is a patch of blackberries. There is a wasp next , huge paper wasp nest right by the trail to the south under the blackberries. We walked past it fine on the way down but on the way back up he got stung twice. We should of course have made a new path around the edge of the berries but he is short and the grass is tall and sharp but I would recommend that to adults. We saw many peeps and pelicans and swallows but the day was not capped off well! Hoping to save any of your from a similar fate. Lauretta _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Craig Merkel Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 12:30 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Booth-Kelly Log Pond Critter It could have been a mink. They are slender and darker brown than an otter though you don?t say if the 2 ?? is overall or just body length. I would think otters would be IN the water and every mink I?ve seen is on the bank at the waters edge. That wouldn?t be too far from the river for either to travel and mink travel quite a distance (for them) in search of food. Craig Merkel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090804/d48d7f64/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Aug 4 15:22:44 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 15:22:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] local RBA:Purple Martin at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens Message-ID: I saw and heard a single male PUMA at Crystal Springs about 10:15 am 8/4. THis is the first time for me in SE Portland over 31 years of birding there. Lars Norgren From cgates326 at gmail.com Tue Aug 4 17:57:33 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 17:57:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gutierrez Ranch Eastern Crook County Message-ID: I took one of my students (Cory Williams) and Kim Owen to Gutierrez Ranch (private) in eastern Crook County today. We found 88 species there and back from Prineville. Highlights: 2 Blue-winged Teal 1 Redhead 1 HORNED GREBE (BASIC PLUMAGE) 20 White-faced Ibis 1 Swainson's Hawk 1 Willet 2 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER 10 Baird's Sandpiper 1 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER 2 Red-necked Phalarope 20 Black Tern 2 Eurasian Collared-Dove 1 Long-eared Owl (dead) 1 Dusky Flycatcher (migrant) 10 Eastern Kingbird 4 Western Tanager (migrants) Chuck Gates Powell Butte The whole list: Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Blue-winged Teal Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Green-winged Teal Redhead Bufflehead Ruddy Duck California Quail Horned Grebe Eared Grebe White Pelican Double-crested Cormorant Great-blue Heron White-faced Ibis Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Swainson's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Golden Eagle American Kestrel Virginia Rail Sandhill Crane Killdeer American Avocet Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Willet Spotted Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper Western Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Baird's Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Long-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe Wilson's Phalarope Red-necked Phalarope Black Tern Rock Pigeon Eurasian Collared Dove Mourning Dove Long-eared Owl Common Nighthawk Rufous Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Northern Flicker Gray Flycatcher Dusky Flycatcher Say's Phoebe Ash-throated Flycatcher Western Kingbird Eastern Kingbird Steller's Jay Black-billed magpie American Crow Common Raven Horned Lark Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Canyon Wren House Wren Marsh Wren Mountain Bluebird American Robin Sage Thrasher European Starling Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat Western Tanager Spotted Towhee Chipping Sparrow Brewer's Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Lark Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Lazuli Bunting Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird House Finch House Sparrow -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090804/0d8ecfa7/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Tue Aug 4 19:29:16 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 19:29:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fantastic display of sooty shearwaters just off the beach at Long Beach, WA Message-ID: Today I watched about 5-10,000 shearwaters forging on smelt or anchovies? They were feeding on a small thin silver fish and in a swarm that ranged up and down the beach. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090804/9417e44b/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Tue Aug 4 21:42:36 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 21:42:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Stuff to take on boat birding trip Message-ID: <000901ca1587$4d9b1da0$cbdb63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Johnny, Greg's list is borne of years of experience. Bring what he tells you. The one thing I regularly bring is this: I get a good sized, DRY hand towel and wrap it around my neck under my rain gear like a scarf. Leave one end long, down the front inside of your jacket. I keep it protected from the spray and rain all day. However, your hands and mittens/gloves will become wet with spray as the day goes on. The drip off your sleeves, and your handling of the ships rail will soak your hands or gloves. Your binoculars will be wet, too. You won't be able to handle a book, notes, napkins, or anything with those wet hands. You'll want a towel. And presto! you have one. Turn your back to the spray and dry what needs to be dried. I keep separate DRY soft cotton bandana in my pocket for my binocular lenses. Just a tip. Paul T. Sullivan ------------------------------ Subject: Stuff to take on boat birding trip From: jonysky101 AT aol.com Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:01:53 -0400 I'm going out on Greg's Perpetua Bank trip this Saturday. I've read about the stuff you should bring, rain suit, saltines, water and other necessary items. But I would ask those who have a couple of trips under their belt, what stuff they suggest in addition the list Greg has at his site. You know, the "I should of brought" stuff. Thanks for you help. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or From jeffharding at centurytel.net Tue Aug 4 21:56:51 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 21:56:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding Malheur County this weekend In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <2595549D3F99497396FDB6C30ED8C419@laptop> Chuck, You fail to list Three Forks, a spectacular canyon south of Jordan Valley. Take the road south from Jordan Valley hard on the Idaho border. There are some nice aspen groves on the way. Here is a link to some images from our visit last May, including maps: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/May2009MalheurCounty#5343346096363 076018 Cheers, Jeff _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Charles Gates Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 9:07 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] Birding Malheur County this weekend My wife and I have decided to get away this weekend and we'll be touring Malheur County. To me, this is the least known part of the state so I would love to hear from others about favorite spots to visit. Directions would be appreciated. I will gladly add other locations to the Malheur County Site Guide I've been working on if you think new additions should be made. Here are the locations I've found on the web: Ironside Mountain - Bully Creek Reservoir - Vale - Malheur River - Vale Sewage Ponds - Malheur Butte - Ontario Airport - Ontario Sewage Ponds - Ontario - Beulah Reservoir - Nyssa - Warm Springs Reservoir - Lake Owyhee Reservoir - Lake Owyhee State Park - Adrian and Snake River - Succor Creek State Recreational Area - Leslie Gulch - Mahogany Mountain - Cow Lakes - Jordan Valley - Antelope Reservoir - Danner Loop Road - Little Grassy Reservoir - Rome & Owyhee River - Crooked Creek State Park - Burns Junction - Whitehorse Road - Basque - Oregon Canyon Mountains - McDermitt - What are your favorite locations in Malheur County? Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090804/052a6034/attachment.html From rkorpi at hotmail.com Wed Aug 5 11:05:10 2009 From: rkorpi at hotmail.com (Ray Korpi) Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 11:05:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Purple Martins Message-ID: All, Lars' notes on a Purple Martin at Crystal Springs reminded me to post that Purple Martins are clearly moving at this point. I have had birds high overhead (have heard them more than seen--the eyes are fading faster than the ears) every day since Saturday at either home or at the Clark campus. This is about the time I had them moving last year. Ray Korpi rkorpi at hotmail.com Vancouver WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090805/d3b96d39/attachment.html From puma at smt-net.com Wed Aug 5 11:18:22 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 11:18:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] PURPLE MARTINS Message-ID: <1CC2BA3F-9D8F-4459-BDFA-D743ED472BBA@smt-net.com> Folks, This has been a strange year for PURPLE MARTINS (PUMA), at our ranch. They arrived late, about April 27, two weeks behind other nesting areas within 6 miles of us. Only two nest boxes were claimed. At the same time, Starlings, being nest trapped, continued to challenge them, and their nest boxes. I had starling traps up through July 4, and recycled 21 of them. The PUMA would disappear for days, and in the first week in July they were here only occasionally. With 160 nest boxes up for Swallows and Western Bluebirds, it was loud and busy. In the second week of July, the Martins would return, but they were silent. If they let out their rich chirps, or song, they were mobbed like hawks, and escorted, unwillingly out of the area. Now that most of the swallows have fledged and moved on, they are back. While picking dinner last night in the garden, I saw a PUMA land on the suspended wire that supports the bird houses. It was mobbed by 16 swallows, 8 birdhouses still have TREE SWALLOW fledglings. The PUMA remained on the wire. PUMA are here most of the time now, chirping, flying low, especially over the crushed oyster shell, which they love, as well as all Swallows. I am wondering if they are here for the oyster shell, or are they thinking of nesting after the gangs of swallows go; there are NO starlings in resident here. For swallows and PUMA, they like their crushed oyster shell out in the open, where they can scan for predators. PUMA can nest late, as they have fledged at the end of August here before. I will know soon their intentions. Pat Waldron East of Scio -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090805/b9a139be/attachment.html From mrchickadee at gmail.com Wed Aug 5 11:19:49 2009 From: mrchickadee at gmail.com (Miss Jacqui) Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 11:19:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] frozen specimens Message-ID: <7e34f7b0908051119l67a27112gec42133c022c68b4@mail.gmail.com> Hi Obolers I have 2 frozen specimens (Bushtit & White Breasted Nuthatch) that I take out of the freezer to look at in my studies. I found each at different times freshly dead on the ground. They are not dissected or anything. All in one piece. I am going to be in transition for the next couple of months and thought I would check w/ ya'll before I toss em. I'm in Beaverton, FYI - email me off line if you are interested. Thanks Jacqui -- Jacqui Parker Portland, OREGON ........... "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss ( '< < ? ) / ) ) ( (\) // " " ? ? \\ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090805/671e6fff/attachment.html From jvanmoo at sisna.com Wed Aug 5 12:42:33 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 12:42:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Klamath Falls, 8-4-09 Message-ID: <86E6A714-B336-41DB-972E-CC8104EB19FD@sisna.com> Marilyn Christian and I birded Modoc Pt. Rd, Wood River Wetland, Wood River Day Use Area, and FS 3300 (near 7-Mile Guard Station yesterday. It was a fun day in the field. Wood River Wetland highlights: Several BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, WILLOW FLYCATCHER (4), WESTERN WOOD PEWEE (5-6), lots of YELLOW WARBLERs, DOWNY WOODPECKER, BANK SWALLOW, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (audible). Modoc Pt Rd/Agency Lake jct: OSPREY (3) Hwy 62 near Fish Hatchery: OSPREY (3) Wood River Day Use Area: BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, MCGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER (3), YELLOW WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, DOWNY WOODPECKER. FS Rd 3300: CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE (~7-8), GRAY JAY (3) "floating" across an open area, DIPPER, BELTED KINGFISHER. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From Elaine.Stewart at oregonmetro.gov Wed Aug 5 12:50:53 2009 From: Elaine.Stewart at oregonmetro.gov (Elaine Stewart) Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 12:50:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Old Booth-Kelly log pond, downtown Springfield In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Tom and OBOL, That mammal may have been a long-tailed weasel. I have seen them on margins of wet areas in daylight. The size and general description sound about right. Elaine Stewart Senior Natural Resources Scientist Metro 503.797.1515 503.797.1849 fax elaine.stewart at oregonmetro.gov www.oregonmetro.gov People Places | Open Spaces From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Aug 5 13:30:12 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 13:30:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Wed morning Message-ID: We accessed the pond and wetlands from the Cantrell Rd. refuge headquarters. Pied-billed Grebe - 8 Western Grebe - 1 Great Blue Heron - 3 Great Egret - 18 Canada Goose - 40 Wood Duck - 12 Mallard - 10+ Cinnamon Teal - some sizeable flocks - 100 N. Shoveler - 5 flying Turkey Vulture - 8+ Osprey - 1 Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 Wild Turkey - 9 Coot - 4 Semipalmated Plover - 2 flying Killdeer - 6+ Gr. Yellowlegs - 30 Les. Yellowlegs - 3 Western Sandpiper - 1 Least Sandpiper - 15 Long-b. Dowitcher - 10 Wilson's Snipe - 1 Bonaparte's Gull - 2 Ring-billed Gull - 2 California Gull - 2 im Caspian Tern - 1 Mourning Dove - 15+ Downy Woodpecker - 1 W. W. Pewee - 2 Willow Flycatcher - 2 Black Phoebe - 3 Horned Lark - 1 on Nielsen Road (Wayne Morrow) Purple Martin - 10 Tree Swallow, V-g Swallow, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow - the last 3 spp numerous Scrub Jay - 1 Black-capped Chickadee - 8 Bewick's Wren - 1 Swainson's Thrush - 3 Am. Robin - 2 Wrentit - 3 Cedar Waxwing - 10+ Com. Yellowthroat - 3 Western Tanager - 2 black-headed Grosbeak - 4 Spotted Towhee - 2 Savannah Sparrow - 16 Song Sparrow - 8 Red-winged Blackbird - 20 B-h Cowbird - 1 Purple Finch - 4 House Finch - 5 L. Goldfinch - 1 Am Goldfinch - 10 Sylvia Maulding, Becky Uhler, Dennis Arendt, Fred Chancey, Craig Merkel, Don Schrouder, Paul Sherrell, Sarah Vasconcellos, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090805/441bd7c2/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Aug 5 13:42:42 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 13:42:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Deschutes, Hatfield, HORNED GREBE, WILLET - Wednesday ECBC birders Message-ID: Birders > > One HORNED GREBE studied well by all of us, scope looks > and pretty close. It was with the duck flock and easy to > compare with nearby Eared. In fact both this Horned > and one of the Eared were already heading into winter > plumage. Don brought the new Kauffman book which > had a lot of good text about these grebes and was a help. > > One WILLET - front pond. Early birders saw it, later arriving > birders did not find it. > > One PEREGRINE FALCON at the back chasing ducks, > spotted by Kim, not seen by most of us, too busy with > those grebes. > > Ten White-faced Ibis remain at the front pond. > There were 6 Long-billed Dowitchers > Only one Red-necked Phalarope but 17 Wilson's > Phalaropes flew around and back and forth at back > pond and left heading toward front pond. Peeps but no > Semipalmated Sandpiper. We studied the peeps at > length. Two had shorter bills but some rufus on their > backs etc. No gulls or terns. > > To see the full list, go to Hatfield http://birdnotes.net > Total number birds seen was 44. > Birders David Smith, Kim Boddie, Howard Horvath, Mary > Oppenheimer, Don Sutherland, Judy Meredith. > Good birding, > Judy Meredith > jmeredit at bendnet.com > From philliplc at charter.net Wed Aug 5 14:33:47 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 14:33:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] bird viewing distance: Oh Please Dept Message-ID: <884ABDF68A3C4EF4865A7A7D9FA9AA89@Phil> > I must say that I can not tell the difference between an albatross and a > sailboat at 6 miles, even using my Swarovski 88mm telescope with the sun > behind me, no wind, and no heat waves.? > Maybe some folks eyes work better than mine, or maybe some folks can not > estimate distances accurately.? My eyesight is not perfect, and yet today with a beat up 22x60 spacemaster in moderate shimmering heat waves I was able to detect shirt color of hikers on Cascade Head from the beach near my house in Lincoln City at 6.5 miles. For the sake of your eyesight I sincerely hope you are misjudging distance, or being facetious : ) Either way, Cheers. Phil From puma at smt-net.com Wed Aug 5 15:22:55 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 15:22:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] MT./VALLEY QUAIL and STELLER'S Message-ID: Folks, This has been a better year for MOUNTAIN QUAIL here on our ranch. Both species are endemic, and it is always a treat to see young striped, cotton balls on toothpicks scurry after Mom and Pop. In June, I noticed a covey of MT'S with only one adult present. Through the kitchen window I could see how independent the young were, picking and bugging, quite a distance from the adult, who looked stressed because her/his calls were not heeded. Another brood of 13, with 2 adults were much more orderly, one adult in front, and one in the back for stragglers. I feed ( cracked corn and crushed oyster shell) at different places, usually under blackberry bushes, for cover as a very large female COOPERS HAWK knows their presents. Half of my veggie garden is overgrown with blue flowering Borage, orange Calendula, yellow and white Sweet Clover that grows 5 ft. high, and lots of Collards. They love this area for cover and feed, collards seed first, then clover. I do hope this clover does not cause an estrogen imbalance, as I know New Zealand clover is not good for Quail. I do not throw cracked corn in the garden as I spend a lot of time there and prefer they go places where I am not. There is nothing more stressful than to scare young quail and get them separated from the pack. They call persistently, and I know if I can hear them SHARPIE,and COOPER (HAWKS) can hear them too. During baby quail time both my husband and I give them preference. If encountered, we walk backwards and go in a different direction away from them. We never invite guests here during that time. The VALLEY QUAIL that nest on our driveway have not been lucky the last two years, Last year's covey of 12, was decreased to one by the time it could fly. This year, a covey of 13 was wiped out in a week. We think of STELLER'S as baby bird predators. But, sometimes they are helpers! They feed and breed here. Last month I was in the house and could hear STELLERS mobbing. I could also hear a meek, little bleating voice. After 5 minutes, I went out to investigate. Twelve STELLERS had the large female COOPERS surrounded, and were loudly scolding her, she was complaining with her meek voice, no contest, she left, and the STELLERS escorted her away, screaming the whole time. Then I realized that she was after the young quail, that she had scattered, as they were calling from everywhere. I left so they could regroup. Baby STELLERS are cute little miniatures, until they open their mouth and squawk. Pat Waldron East of Scio From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Wed Aug 5 18:02:59 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 18:02:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Co Shorebirds, 6 SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS Message-ID: <2b1bbd260908051802m8509ddeu3b7570a12787893d@mail.gmail.com> Obol, The beach was pretty devoid of shorebirds this AM at Tenmile Creek, Coos County. This afternoon around 3 though I decided to check out the mudflats at the North Jetty of the Siuslaw, Lane Co. There I found an incredible flock of about 30 peeps. Initially I only saw 3 birds separated from the main flock, one was a juvenile LEAST SP, the other 2 (to my great surprise) were juvenile SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS. My partner Lydia Cruz then noticed 3 more peeps which turned out to be 2 juvenile WESTERN SANDPIPERS and another juvenile SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER. There turned out to be about 30 birds total, but it was extremely hard to count/sift the flock due to unleashed dogs running around, chasing the birds. Before the dogs arrived I was astonished to pick out 3 more juvenile SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS for a total of at least 6 birds, my highest ever count for this species. The flock otherwise was about half WESTERN and a third LEAST. Juveniles dominated the flock but I picked out at least 3 very worn adult WESTERNS. Quite an exciting flock, sure wish I could have gone through it more thoroughly. There was also an adult BONAPARTE'S GULL hanging with the gull wad. Later at 5 PM we saw a juvenile PEREGRINE FALCON make a swoop past the gulls. Good birding! -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090805/40a6ef9d/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Aug 5 18:24:58 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:24:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Diamond Peak Wilderness: No luck on Black Swift search but good hike anyway Message-ID: <1249521898.6229.29.camel@clearwater> Hi folks, Today a few of us finally got around to doing a hike up to one of the reported Black Swift sites that is mentioned in /Birds of Oregon: A General Reference/. Below is the summary. We didn't find any Black Swifts, nor did we find anything that would cause county listers to go rushing up this trail on the eastern extreme of Lane County, even though we could definitely see potential for some "east-slope specialties" to show up here. However it was a nice morning to be up in the forest, and we were reminded that it's still "early" summer in the mountains. While staking out the falls, we enjoyed good views of a male RED CROSSBILL singing from atop a tree below us. There looks to be a good (white?) fir cone crop in this area. On the drive up, we saw a couple of SOOTY GROUSE hens with half-grown chicks nearby. After we stopped to watch, one of the hens engaged in a flycatching maneuver from the road surface. Are there any bird species that *don't* engage in flycatching in August? The trailhead that we hiked in from is located along Forest Road 23 above Hills Creek Reservoir, about 18-20 miles up from Hwy 58 in eastern Lane County, east of Oakridge. Also of note is a NEW COFFEE SHOP AND BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER CAFE in Oakridge, on the right-hand side as you're heading into town from Eugene. I got a very good deal on a cup of coffee, with discounts both for bringing in my own cup and because it was a small one -- and it was a very good, strong brew. I won't quote the price since it was sort of ad hoc. But Oakridge has sure changed a lot in the last 10 years. Happy birding, Joel -------- Forwarded Message -------- This report was mailed for Joel Geier by http://birdnotes.net Date: August 5, 2009 Location: Diamond Peak Wilderness, Lane County, Oregon Hike up Happy Lake Trail to Happy Lake and back, about 8 miles round-trip, 9:15 AM to 2 PM, with Bob Altman, Barb Bresson, Fritz, and Daisy the Blue Heeler. We spent about 1.5 hours hanging around the falls area at the outlet of Happy Lake to check on possible Black Swift nesting site (a report from 1998 is mentioned in Birds of Oregon). We were able to climb right into the falls and could not locate any nesting spots in use, although possibly there is a nook somewhere in the few places that we could not see into. Otherwise, a pleasant hike. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Sooty Grouse Two hens with young seen along upper part of FR 23, though none seen in wilderness area proper. Osprey 1 Flying over lake and later over falls area. Rufous Hummingbird 2 Red-breasted Sapsucker 4 Family group on snag. Hairy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 3 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher Heard along FR 23 about a mile below trailhead. Hammond's Flycatcher 1 Gray Jay 2 Steller's Jay 2 Common Raven 1 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 6 Red-breasted Nuthatch 5 Brown Creeper 2 American Dipper 1 In rapids below falls. Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 American Robin 2 Varied Thrush 2 Western Tanager 2 Dark-eyed Junco 10 Red Crossbill 8 One singing from top of fir below falls. Pine Siskin 10 Evening Grosbeak 15 Total number of species seen: 24 From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Aug 5 18:50:22 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 18:50:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Lane Co Shorebirds, 6 SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS In-Reply-To: <2b1bbd260908051802m8509ddeu3b7570a12787893d@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <645110.34497.qm@web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Wow, nice flock of Semi-sands Daniel, that is indeed a truly high count for the coast! I had a single juvie out on the north spit of Coos Bay today. Also saw my first Green-winged Teal migrants yesterday as well as a heard only Baird's Sandpiper (I think?!). On Monday there were 4,000+ shorebirds (mostly peeps) at Bandon Marsh all day. I think it is already beginning to increase shorebird wise again as the juvies move south. Merry migration! Tim R Coos Bay --- On Wed, 8/5/09, Daniel Farrar wrote: > From: Daniel Farrar > Subject: [obol] Lane Co Shorebirds, 6 SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS > To: "OBOL" > Date: Wednesday, August 5, 2009, 6:02 PM > Obol, > > The beach was pretty devoid of shorebirds this AM at > Tenmile Creek, Coos County.? > > This afternoon around 3 though I decided to check out the > mudflats at the North Jetty of the Siuslaw, Lane Co.? There > I found an incredible flock of about 30 peeps.? Initially I > only saw 3 birds separated from the main flock, one was a > juvenile LEAST SP, the other 2 (to my great surprise) were > juvenile SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS.? My partner Lydia Cruz > then noticed 3 more peeps which turned out to be 2 juvenile > WESTERN SANDPIPERS and another juvenile SEMI-PALMATED > SANDPIPER.? There turned out to be about 30 birds total, > but it was extremely hard to count/sift the flock due to > unleashed dogs running around, chasing the birds.? Before > the dogs arrived I was astonished to pick out 3 more > juvenile SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS for a total of at least 6 > birds, my highest ever count for this species.? The flock > otherwise was about half WESTERN and a third LEAST.? > Juveniles dominated the flock but I picked out at least 3 > very worn adult WESTERNS.?? Quite an exciting flock, sure > wish I could have gone through it more thoroughly. > > > There was also an adult BONAPARTE'S GULL hanging with > the gull wad.? Later at 5 PM we saw a juvenile PEREGRINE > FALCON make a swoop past the gulls. > > Good birding! > > -- > Daniel Farrar > Dunes City, Oregon > > jdanielfarrar at gmail.com > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From margieparis1 at mac.com Wed Aug 5 19:25:48 2009 From: margieparis1 at mac.com (Margie Paris) Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:25:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black-headed Grosbeaks in Eugene Message-ID: <84273BF3-5763-46EF-89DC-89D0407A8DE5@mac.com> Dear OBOL, There's a major movement of Black-headed Grosbeaks in Eugene right now. Must be 20 or 30 in my yard at any one time -- and they're making funky noises. I feel like I'm in a jungle! Margie Paris 2394 Charnelton Street Eugene, OR 97405 (541) 484-0763 margieparis1 at mac.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090805/f90a6670/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Aug 5 22:07:49 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:07:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 08/05/09 Message-ID: <20090806050755.54BBDA8217@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 07/30 to 08/05/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and an updated (7/1/09) checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 4 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) TURKEY VULTURE 1 (1, 7/31) RED-TAILED HAWK 1 (1, 7/31) Band-tailed Pigeon 3 (3) Mourning Dove 2 (2, 7/31) Vaux's Swift 1 (5, 8/3) Anna's Hummingbird 4 (5) Rufous Hummingbird 3 (3, 7/31) Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 (1, 8/3) Northern Flicker 3 (2) Pileated Woodpecker 2 (1, 7/31 & 8/3) HUTTON'S VIREO 2 (1, 8/3 & 4) Steller's Jay 4 (15, 8/4) Western Scrub-Jay 3 (2) American Crow 4 (12, 8/4) Black-capped Chickadee 4 (10) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 3 (6) Bushtit 2 (3+, 7/31) Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 (5) Brown Creeper 2 (3, 7/31) BEWICK'S WREN 2 (2, 8/5) Winter Wren 4 (1) American Robin 4 (15, 7/31) Cedar Waxwing 2 (2, 7/31) Black-throated Gray Warbler 2 (2, 7/31) Wilson's Warbler 2 (2, 7/31 & 8/4) Spotted Towhee 4 (7) Song Sparrow 4 (10) Dark-eyed Junco 4 (10) Black-headed Grosbeak 2 (1, 8/3 & 5) Purple Finch 1 (1, 8/3) House Finch 3 (6) Pine Siskin 1 (1, 8/4) American Goldfinch 4 (8, 7/31) Evening Grosbeak 1 (1, 8/3) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: OSPREY, PURPLE MARTIN Misses (species found on at least 3 days in previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Downy Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Pacific- slope Flycatcher, Violet-green Swallow, Barn Swallow, Swainson's Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Western Tanager, Red Crossbill Wink Gross Portland From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Aug 5 22:49:36 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 22:49:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Calm seas forecast: August 8 Perpetua Bank pelagic trip Message-ID: NOAA sea condition forecast for Perpetua Bank on Saturday, August 8: Sat...NW wind 5 kt...backing to SW in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 foot. W swell 4 ft. We haven't had it this calm since August 2007. I expect a trip very similar to that detailed here on this photo essay from that trip (same boat, sea conditions, time of year, and route): http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/archive/08252007.htm Six spaces remain at $160 per person. All other trips sold out this fall except for October 3. Reservations: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/ Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Aug 5 23:33:53 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:33:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 8-26-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * August 6, 2009 * ORPO0908.06 - birds mentioned Northern Goshawk Marbled Godwit Semipalmated Sandpiper Franklin?s Gull Sterna tern Western Kingbird Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 Compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday August 6. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. The main fall migration is now underway, with large flocks of VIOLET-GREEN and TREE SWALLOWS are now being reported. The adult shorebird movement has passed oregon; the juvenile movement now arriving. The outstanding anchovie run continues along Clatsop County beaches attracting large numbers of birds. On August 2, 17 MARBLED GODWITS were on the North Spit of Coos Bay. On August 5 six juvenile SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS were seen among a group of 30 small shorebirds at Tenmile Creek in Coos County. On August 2 a juvenile FRANKLIN?S GULL was at the Nehalem Sewage Ponds. The next day one was seen at the South Jetty of Yaquina Bay. On August 2 eight small Sterna terns were over Vancouver Lake north of Vancouver Washington. That day a GOSHAWK was at Ridgefield. Two WESTERN KINGBIRDS were at Ankeny NWR August 2. That?s it for this week - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090805/ebeadd7d/attachment.html From verditer at gmail.com Wed Aug 5 23:42:33 2009 From: verditer at gmail.com (Suresh V) Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 23:42:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern ridge shorebirds Message-ID: Thanks to KC and Barry McKenzie, I went out this evening to the spot near Fernridge HQ, and spent some very good time with several shorebirds. At one point they were just within 10ft of me and offered good opportunities for some photographs. I was able to get portraits of Lesser Yellowlegs, and what I think is Least or Western Sandpiper. Can someone look at this picture and tell me which species it is? http://www.justbirds.in/display.php?image=images/leastsandpiper.jpg&name=Least%20Sandpiper Thank you Suresh Salem, OR From jonysky101 at aol.com Thu Aug 6 00:47:10 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:47:10 -0400 Subject: [obol] Big day (for me) at Ridgefield today, 1 unknown Message-ID: <8CBE4813CF1854F-1100-BDD@FWM-D27.sysops.aol.com> I saw several new birds for my list, and some very cool bird behavior. Probably the neatest thing I saw was a Momma Virginia Rail leave her 3 chicks at the edge of the ground cover as she would cautiously sneak to a large puddle, snag a minnow and race back to the grass pausing the chase her chicks back under cover, where she would feed one of the?chicks her minnow. Then back to the pond and the same drill again. I guess little birds don't stay where they are supposed to any more than little kids do. Link http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2109/3794637256_fe7b10eea5_o.jpg I saw one Red Tail Hawk knock another RTH of his perch with a sneak attack. I added Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, American Bittern, Vaux's Swifts and my first for sure House Wren. I saw a lot of big birds, Hawks and what ever else, flying the heavily wooded area. I'm sure a couple were Red Tails, but the others I don't for sure. I was watch a large Great Horned Owl from the Kiwa Trail. He was about 100 yard away, across some high grass habitat.Just as I started to click my shutter, a Red Tail Hawk landed right beside him on the same branch. I don't know what they talked about before both flew off with no visible conflict. That was my 1st Great Horned Owl. Here is the shot, not a great shot because of the distance, and no tripod. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3435/3794633146_8bb9365cf6_o.jpg At one place on the road around Rest Lake I had 12 Great Egrets and 19 Great Blue Herons in view. The most I've ever seen of either species close to each other. Here is a shot of a few of them, all I could get in one frame. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2570/3794641464_6e3910cbb6_o.jpg And lastly as I pulled on the paved road from the refuge a hawk landed on the powerline very near the road. I pulled of the road and got some photos. I think it is a Cooper's Hawk, but I am not certain. A little here would be greatly appreciated. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/3794642814_36ecaed05a_o.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3548/3794642586_a083ce342f_b.jpg I had a real great time and took a lot of photos. I've posted? a few here, and will be adding more later. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/sets/72157621959931494/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090806/26c24c81/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Thu Aug 6 07:23:44 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 07:23:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Big day (for me) at Ridgefield today, 1 unknown In-Reply-To: <8CBE4813CF1854F-1100-BDD@FWM-D27.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <39634.96300.qm@web39701.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello, I would say that unknown bird is a Coopers, just like you thought. Best, Dick --- On Thu, 8/6/09, jonysky101 at aol.com wrote: > From: jonysky101 at aol.com > Subject: [obol] Big day (for me) at Ridgefield today, 1 unknown > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Thursday, August 6, 2009, 12:47 AM > I saw several new birds for my list, > and some very cool bird behavior. Probably the neatest thing > I saw was a Momma Virginia Rail leave her 3 chicks at the > edge of the ground cover as she would cautiously sneak to a > large puddle, snag a minnow and race back to the grass > pausing the chase her chicks back under cover, where she > would feed one of the?chicks her minnow. Then back to > the pond and the same drill again. I guess little birds > don't stay where they are supposed to any more than > little kids do. Link > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2109/3794637256_fe7b10eea5_o.jpg > > > > I saw one Red Tail Hawk knock another RTH of his perch with > a sneak attack. > > > > I added Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, American Bittern, > Vaux's Swifts and my first for sure House Wren. I saw a > lot of big birds, Hawks and what ever else, flying the > heavily wooded area. I'm sure a couple were Red Tails, > but the others I don't for sure. > > > > I was watch a large Great Horned Owl from the Kiwa Trail. > He was about 100 yard away, across some high grass > habitat.Just as I started to click my shutter, a Red Tail > Hawk landed right beside him on the same branch. I don't > know what they talked about before both flew off with no > visible conflict. That was my 1st Great Horned Owl. Here is > the shot, not a great shot because of the distance, and no > tripod. > > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3435/3794633146_8bb9365cf6_o.jpg > > > > At one place on the road around Rest Lake I had 12 Great > Egrets and 19 Great Blue Herons in view. The most I've > ever seen of either species close to each other. Here is a > shot of a few of them, all I could get in one frame. > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2570/3794641464_6e3910cbb6_o.jpg > > > > And lastly as I pulled on the paved road > from the refuge a hawk landed on the powerline very near the > road. I pulled of the road and got some photos. I think it > is a Cooper's Hawk, but I am not certain. A little here > would be greatly appreciated. > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/3794642814_36ecaed05a_o.jpg > > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3548/3794642586_a083ce342f_b.jpg > > > > I had a real great time and took a lot of photos. I've > posted? a few here, and will be adding more later. > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/sets/72157621959931494/ > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From rflores_2 at msn.com Thu Aug 6 09:05:46 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 09:05:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eurasian collared-dove, Pacific Co, WA Message-ID: I can not keep track of the spread of these birds. I did see two birds together in Chinook on 8/4/09 right as I entered town. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090806/6eccec84/attachment.html From paul at furzwo.com Thu Aug 6 11:27:33 2009 From: paul at furzwo.com (Paul Buescher) Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 11:27:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Purple Martins In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <3C0559A494A842FC8BF6E6BF00C964B0@paul> The PURPLE MARTINS at the moorage continue to delivery tasty dragonflies, the young must be near fledging. The HOUSE SPARROWS also are feeding their second or third nest full. The TREE SWALLOWS seem to be gone as are most of the AM GOLDFINCHES, BARN SWALLOWS and a few CLIFF SWALLOWS still fly between the house in search of bugs. We had a rare summer DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANT flyby today. The OSPREY are busy teaching the next generation to fish and other OSPREY flight maneuvers. Warm Regards, Paul West Hayden Island Moorage _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Ray Korpi Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 11:05 AM To: obol obol Subject: [obol] Purple Martins All, Lars' notes on a Purple Martin at Crystal Springs reminded me to post that Purple Martins are clearly moving at this point. I have had birds high overhead (have heard them more than seen--the eyes are fading faster than the ears) every day since Saturday at either home or at the Clark campus. This is about the time I had them moving last year. Ray Korpi rkorpi at hotmail.com Vancouver WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090806/0dda596b/attachment.html From woodenapple at juno.com Thu Aug 6 12:45:18 2009 From: woodenapple at juno.com (woodenapple at juno.com) Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 19:45:18 GMT Subject: [obol] Obol: N. Eugene/Santa Clara Junco Message-ID: <20090806.124518.16709.0@webmail02.vgs.untd.com> Greetings, Obolists! We had a male, adult, DARK-EYED JUNCO in the yard this morning (Thursday). This is early for them here except in those couple of years where they've bred somewhere nearby, which wasn't the case this year. Also seen, to relieve the rather boring summer contingent of bird species in the yard, was a male WILSON'S WARBLER. He's right on time here for post-breeding dispersal. Rudi ____________________________________________________________ Moving can be stressful. Call an ex Are you ready for the big move? Let Swift Shift Removals, Leeds, help keep down your stress levels a http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=h0Gj0P2ASrFFL19pHaBJKgAAJ1AHcaoQFB_Xw2ggvz9-JEKpAAUAAAAAAAAAANobrD6d6iUiB-e8zjI-C-BOVzZzAAAAAA== From rflores_2 at msn.com Thu Aug 6 13:27:49 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 13:27:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] shorebirds and Merlin Rest Lake, Ridgefield NWR,WA Message-ID: Water has been added to the wetland. Shorebirds numbers are still up. Here is what I noted. greater - 8 and lesser yellowlegs 4 least 380 and western sandpiper 140 Bairds 1 and semipalmated sandpiper 4 dunlin 2 long-billed dowitcher 98 Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090806/e1410618/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Thu Aug 6 14:40:41 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 14:40:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] South Jetty Siuslaw shorebirds 8/6/09 Message-ID: <964248.7064.qm@web37001.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, a brief late-morning jaunt down the South Jetty Road produced the following shorebirds (also present were Bill and Zana Stotz and company (sorry, I forgot your name :-)): Mudflats south of Crab Dock: Big scattered flock of peeps on the mudflat: ca. 200 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 30-40 LEAST SANDPIPERS, at least 1 juv. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, 50+ SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 2 SHORT-BIILLED DOWITCHERS. The lighting was pretty bad so I didn't really attempt to ID everything. Cove north of Crab Dock: 2 WILLETS and 1 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, 5 LEAST SANDPIPERS Dog Pond: 2 LESSER YELLOWLEGS Earlier that morning north of the Siltcoos River mouth: At least 32 SNOWY PLOVERS A huge feeding flock on he ocean near shore, including several hundred gulls (mostly CALIFORNIA & WESTERN, with a few HEERMAN'S), BROWN PELICANS, COMMON MURRES with chicks, a few MARBLED MURRELETS, 20-30 SOOTY SHEARWATERS, and assorted SCOTERS (mostly SURF). Happy birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090806/34b21b78/attachment.html From dustdevil at centurytel.net Thu Aug 6 14:58:56 2009 From: dustdevil at centurytel.net (Patty Bowers) Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 14:58:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Reply to Malheur County Birding trip Message-ID: <0902D41DA06E46AAB6168A6D45E2EA9A@your0cdc4f5844> Regarding the Gates trip to Malheur County Here are a few more places to explore: THREE FORKS - Owyhee River (rimrock species plus riparian species along the river) MALHEUR RESERVOIR and surrounding hills, BLUE MOUNTAIN - west of Hwy 95 north of McDermitt, LOWER OREGON CANYON CREEK - parallels Hwy 95 (unique habitat with buffalo brush thickets). Patty and I had Northern Mockingbirds on territory there in 2003/ also nesting Greater Sandhill Cranes, Virginia Rail. SHEEPSHEAD MOUNTAINS, ANDERSON CROSSING - West Little Owyhee River, DRY CREEK ACEC - turn right as you break up on top past the cattle guard on the way to Oregon Canyon Mountains via the route north of Oregon Canyon Ranch. It's Mountain Mahogany/ Low Sage/ Wyoming Sage/ rimrock/ grassland with riparian springs in the bottoms. We had a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, numerous Black-throated Gray Warblers nest there - we recorded 40 species there in June 2003. It is also a good place to see sage grouse. Part of the TROUT CREEK MOUNTAINS is also in Malheur County. It includes upper McDermitt Creek and Willow Creek. It's similar habitat as the upper Oregon Canyon Creek country. About Mahogany Mountain - although it would be an intriguing place to poke around it is all private property with locked gates and lots of NO TRESPASSING SIGNS. Few people get permission to go there. If you get this before you head out be aware that the area you are heading to is under a SEVERE WEATHER WATCH (think flashflood) for the nest two days. 80% chance of rain/hail, severe at times with possible accumulations of 2-4 inches. A lot of the country you are heading toward is not the place to be under those conditions. It's supposed to be better weather by Saturday but you may find some impassible roads depending on where the storms hit. Patty and I will be spending most of next week camped on McDermitt Creek. We will be busy cooking for 70 people on a Lahontan Cutthroat Trout fish project but hope to sneak in some birding while we are down there. We will try to make a report when we get back. Have a great trip Wayne Bowers -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090806/af832302/attachment.html From jt_johnson at comcast.net Thu Aug 6 18:21:03 2009 From: jt_johnson at comcast.net (Jim Johnson) Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 18:21:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Columbia Gorge American White Pelicans Message-ID: <77DF46C778424D109C9BA42DE287E56B@D81WS2C1> During a drive to eastern Washington and Oregon last Thursday (30 July), I saw AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS at a number of Columbia River locations while speeding by on I-84: 4 just E of The Dalles, Wasco Co. ~35 at the Deschutes River mouth, Wasco/Sherman Cos. 8 between Biggs and Rufus, Sherman Co. 20-25 on the island below John Day Dam, Sherman Co. 1 between exits to Philippi and Blalock Canyons, Gilliam Co. I returned to Vancouver today on I-84 and saw 6 pelicans at the Deschutes River mouth (I got on the interstate at Biggs, so didn't see any locations to the east). In dragonfly news, two species were found in Oregon for the first time this week: Lestes forcipatus (Sweetflag Spreadwing) north of Enterprise, Wallowa Co., and Aeshna tuberculifera (Black-tipped Darner) north of Elgin, Union Co. Jim Johnson Vancouver, Washington jt_johnson at comcast.net http://odonata.bogfoot.net/ From lisaandgeorge at hevanet.com Thu Aug 6 13:41:35 2009 From: lisaandgeorge at hevanet.com (Lisa DeBruyckere) Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 13:41:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] mute swan abundance and distribution in the Portland metro area Message-ID: <057301ca16d6$4ace7fe0$e06b7fa0$@com> The City of Portland is conducting an invasive species animal assessment. I've been reviewing the records of mute swan sightings at oregonbirdwatch.org, but there are very few sightings of mute swans. If you have know of specific locations where mute swans have been seen in the Portland metropolitan area, would you please email me at lisad at createstrat.com? Thank you. Lisa A. DeBruyckere Oregon Invasive Species Council Coordinator Creative Resource Strategies, LLC 6159 Rosemeadow Lane NE Salem, OR 97317 (503) 704-2884 fax (503) 371-5939 lisad at createstrat.com www.createstrat.com From lisad at createstrat.com Thu Aug 6 13:38:47 2009 From: lisad at createstrat.com (Lisa DeBruyckere) Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 13:38:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] mute swans in the Portland area Message-ID: <056c01ca16d5$e6ee6a30$b4cb3e90$@com> The City of Portland is conducting an invasive species animal assessment. I've been reviewing the records of mute swan sightings at oregonbirdwatch.org, but there are very few sightings of mute swans. If you have know of specific locations where mute swans have been seen in the Portland metropolitan area, would you please email me at lisad at createstrat.com? Thank you. Lisa A. DeBruyckere Oregon Invasive Species Council Coordinator Creative Resource Strategies, LLC 6159 Rosemeadow Lane NE Salem, OR 97317 (503) 704-2884 fax (503) 371-5939 lisad at createstrat.com www.createstrat.com From kit at uoregon.edu Thu Aug 6 20:37:27 2009 From: kit at uoregon.edu (Kit Larsen) Date: Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:37:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Elegant Terns - Florence Message-ID: <200908070337.n773bRVh018836@smtp.uoregon.edu> I saw two Elegant Terns on the beach just south of the crab docks near the south jetty of the Siuslaw River, Florence at about noon today. One was an adult, the other a juvenile. They fished in the river for a few minutes, then flew in to the beach to join a flock of California Gulls. I put a couple of pictures of the terns on http://www.flickr.com/photos/tkl425/ Kit Larsen Eugene, OR From baileydc at pdx.edu Thu Aug 6 22:54:21 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:54:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Elegant Terns - Florence AND Necanicum Estuary birds (Gearhart) Message-ID: <4A7BC18D.3050500@pdx.edu> Nice photos Kit. Thank you for posting. I am struck by the presence of a juvenile. I can't recall if that age has been observed in Oregon before by me or others. Birds of Oregon A General Reference says most observations are of adults or some such. Nice documentation. The Northern Anchovies are thick in the Necanicum River Estuary and nearshore waters around Seaside and Gearhart attracting numerous BROWN PELICANS and HEERMAN'S GULLS, and CASPIAN TERNS. Anchovies are THE prey species for Elegant Terns as I understand it, so there should be some up here soon if not already. In addition to the seabirds, this evening I noted a juv. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER with half a dozen WESTERN and 30 LEAST SANDPIPERS on the mudflats off Little Beach off of S. Wellington in Gearhart incidental to an evening walk with my family. Also noted two post-breeding BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS in the neighborhood birch trees on our block. David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Aug 7 00:20:10 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 07:20:10 +0000 Subject: [obol] Elegant Terns - Florence AND Necanicum Estuary birds (Gearhart) In-Reply-To: <4A7BC18D.3050500@pdx.edu> References: <4A7BC18D.3050500@pdx.edu> Message-ID: Greetings All, I've seen hundreds of Elegant Terns in Oregon (most during the 1980's) and I can't recall seeing one sporting this sort of juvenile plumage. Dave Irons > Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 22:54:21 -0700 > From: baileydc at pdx.edu > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Elegant Terns - Florence AND Necanicum Estuary birds (Gearhart) > > Nice photos Kit. Thank you for posting. I am struck by the presence of a > juvenile. I can't recall if that age has been observed in Oregon before > by me or others. Birds of Oregon A General Reference says most > observations are of adults or some such. Nice documentation. > The Northern Anchovies are thick in the Necanicum River Estuary and > nearshore waters around Seaside and Gearhart attracting numerous BROWN > PELICANS and HEERMAN'S GULLS, and CASPIAN TERNS. Anchovies are THE prey > species for Elegant Terns as I understand it, so there should be some up > here soon if not already. > > In addition to the seabirds, this evening I noted a juv. SEMIPALMATED > SANDPIPER with half a dozen WESTERN and 30 LEAST SANDPIPERS on the > mudflats off Little Beach off of S. Wellington in Gearhart incidental to > an evening walk with my family. > > Also noted two post-breeding BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS in the > neighborhood birch trees on our block. > > David > > > David C. Bailey > Gearhart, Oregon > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/personalize.aspx?ocid=PID23391::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HYGN_express:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090807/c1ba9774/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Aug 7 07:01:47 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 07:01:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Johnny's hawk & owl photo Message-ID: I asked Johnny for a larger crop of the owl and hawk photo at Ridgefield on the 5th. Is the hawk a juvenile Red-tailed or a Red-shouldered Hawk? http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115815828 Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From fschrock at gmail.com Fri Aug 7 07:53:06 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 07:53:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Johnny's hawk & owl photo In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <390ebd880908070753g7c873aa7nc6b609ca5e202c55@mail.gmail.com> For what it's worth, the juv. Red-tail tail that I photographed last fall had 9 dark bands. (photo at: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oR8bXlKjX0M/SLDvYgubzzI/AAAAAAAAEBw/7ka1hP361pg/s1600-h/R_t+Hawk+juv_tail.jpg ) This bird at Ridgefield appears to have only four, and maybe they're a bit wider. (?) ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== On Fri, Aug 7, 2009 at 7:01 AM, Greg Gillson wrote: > I asked Johnny for a larger crop of the owl and hawk photo at Ridgefield on > the 5th. > > Is the hawk a juvenile Red-tailed or a Red-shouldered Hawk? > > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115815828 > > Greg Gillson > The Bird Guide, Inc. > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090807/854ea156/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Fri Aug 7 08:29:37 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:29:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Elegant Terns at the Necanicum Message-ID: <4A7C4861.9050409@pacifier.com> I heard what was probably an ELEGANT TERN at the Necanicum Estuary yesterday. The tern flocks were out on the beach farther away then I had time to walk. There were over 100 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, and 60+ WESTERN SANDPIPERS on the flats. The majority of the Westerns appeared to be juveniles. Stave Warner reports at least 3 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS there. Neal showed me photos of the whale that was chasing fish in the cove last week and it's pretty clearly a MINKE WHALE. Steve Warner has had several close encounters with GRAY WHALES the last couple days while surfing there. Steve tells me the ocean temperatures have been steadily on the rise (possibly aided by typhoons in the equatorial Pacific) and that this often presages Elegant Tern arrivals. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Fri Aug 7 09:05:28 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (ptsulliv at spiritone.com) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 09:05:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Koll/Creekside pond Message-ID: <200908071605.n77G5SNd012624@sapphire.spiritone.com> OBOL: I stopped by Creekside, off Hall Blvd in Beaverton this morning and found 12 Long-billed Dowitchers 12 Least Sandpipers 8-10 Killdeer 2 Gt. blue herons There were certainly more birds, but I had to get to work... Paul Sullivan ---------------------------- Koll/Creekside pond Kyle Spinks kspinks at thprd.org Mon Aug 3 07:55:15 PDT 2009 Hi all, Just to let you know... THPRD staff have temporarily lowered the pond level at Koll Center Wetlands (known by many of you as the Creekside Pond) but about a foot. This has exposed lots of mudflats around the edges, so there should be some good birding for mudflat birds. Around the second week of September, we will raise the pond levels back up to the original level. Kyle Spinks Park Ranger Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District Natural Resources Department 5500 SW Arctic Drive, Suite 2 Beaverton, Oregon 97005 503-629-6305 x2952 From philliplc at charter.net Fri Aug 7 09:22:17 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 09:22:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <084DC4F8C61C4B01ACD2644E2111FEA5@Phil> 7:45-8:45 AM (8/7): overcast calm, ocean nearly flat 2 Pink-footed Shearwater 1 MANX-TYPE SHEARWATER (N 1+ mile out, hint of brownish to upperparts suggested possible Black-vented) 500 Sooty Shearwater (N) 300 Brown Pelican (feeding, trending N) 100 Brandt's Cormorant 50 Pelagic Cormorant 50 White-winged Scoter 80 Surf Scoter 1 Parasitic Jaeger (adult) 200 California Gull 500 Western Gull 50 Glaucous-winged Gull 25 Heermann's Gull 1 Caspian Tern 600 Common Murre 30 Pigeon Guillemot 2 Marbled Murrelet 2 Rhinoceros Auklet Phil philliplc at charter.net From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Aug 7 09:31:33 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 16:31:33 +0000 Subject: [obol] Johnny's hawk & owl photo In-Reply-To: <390ebd880908070753g7c873aa7nc6b609ca5e202c55@mail.gmail.com> References: <390ebd880908070753g7c873aa7nc6b609ca5e202c55@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: This is a young Red-shouldered Hawk. An immature Red-tailed would not show this much light-to-dark contrast in the tail bands, as evidenced by Floyd Schrock's close-ups of the typical tail pattern of a young Red-tailed. This image provides even more evidence suggesting that Red-shouldered Hawks are breeding at Ridgefield, now all someone has to do is find a nest. There are no documented breeding records for Red-shouldered in Washington...yet. Dave Irons Eugene, OR Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 07:53:06 -0700 From: fschrock at gmail.com To: greg at thebirdguide.com CC: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Johnny's hawk & owl photo For what it's worth, the juv. Red-tail tail that I photographed last fall had 9 dark bands. (photo at: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oR8bXlKjX0M/SLDvYgubzzI/AAAAAAAAEBw/7ka1hP361pg/s1600-h/R_t+Hawk+juv_tail.jpg ) This bird at Ridgefield appears to have only four, and maybe they're a bit wider. (?) ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== On Fri, Aug 7, 2009 at 7:01 AM, Greg Gillson wrote: I asked Johnny for a larger crop of the owl and hawk photo at Ridgefield on the 5th. Is the hawk a juvenile Red-tailed or a Red-shouldered Hawk? http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115815828 Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- _________________________________________________________________ Get your vacation photos on your phone! http://windowsliveformobile.com/en-us/photos/default.aspx?&OCID=0809TL-HM -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090807/7b71239e/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Aug 7 09:35:17 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 16:35:17 +0000 Subject: [obol] Johnny's hawk & owl photo In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Greetings All, Interesting that this young Red-shouldered is in such close proximity to an adult Great Horned Owl. Great Horneds are notoriously aggressive. Last August, Diane Pettey and I found the remains (complete wing and some tail feathers) of a Red-shouldered Hawk in the woodlot at Fields, Oregon. I suspected at the time it was the victim of the resident Great Horneds. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > From: greg at thebirdguide.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 07:01:47 -0700 > Subject: [obol] Johnny's hawk & owl photo > > I asked Johnny for a larger crop of the owl and hawk photo at Ridgefield on > the 5th. > > Is the hawk a juvenile Red-tailed or a Red-shouldered Hawk? > > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115815828 > > Greg Gillson > The Bird Guide, Inc. > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Get back to school stuff for them and cashback for you. http://www.bing.com/cashback?form=MSHYCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHYCB_BackToSchool_Cashback_BTSCashback_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090807/c983f3d3/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Fri Aug 7 09:48:28 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 09:48:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Johnny's hawk & owl photo In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <692993.2135.qm@web39705.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi David, In my experience larger buteos are willing to confront GHO's directly (as the photo reveals) during daylight hours---but have great fear of them towards darkness. The GHO's aggression is much dampened by daylight, but during darkness, they are truly the "tigers of the night." I couldn't quite be certain of my ID on this photo, so I decided "not to try and call it." Best, Dick --- On Fri, 8/7/09, David Irons wrote: > From: David Irons > Subject: Re: [obol] Johnny's hawk & owl photo > To: greg at thebirdguide.com, "post OBOL" > Date: Friday, August 7, 2009, 9:35 AM > > > > #yiv1100686703 .hmmessage P > { > margin:0px;padding:0px;} > #yiv1100686703 { > font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} > > > > Greetings All, > > Interesting that this young Red-shouldered is in such close > proximity to an adult Great Horned Owl. Great Horneds are > notoriously aggressive. Last August, Diane Pettey and I > found the remains (complete wing and some tail feathers) of > a Red-shouldered Hawk in the woodlot at Fields, Oregon. I > suspected at the time it was the victim of the resident > Great Horneds. > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > > > From: greg at thebirdguide.com > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 07:01:47 -0700 > > Subject: [obol] Johnny's hawk & owl photo > > > > I asked Johnny for a larger crop of the owl and hawk > photo at Ridgefield on > > the 5th. > > > > Is the hawk a juvenile Red-tailed or a Red-shouldered > Hawk? > > > > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115815828 > > > > Greg Gillson > > The Bird Guide, Inc. > > greg at thebirdguide.com > > http://thebirdguide.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > Get back to school stuff for them and cashback > for you. Try > Bing now. > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Fri Aug 7 10:15:27 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 10:15:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Johnny's hawk & owl photo In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <505902.61319.qm@web39702.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi David, I agree that NORMALLY what you indicate (the tail) is so. However there is such a wide variation in the amount of barring contrast (in RT's) tails that I wasn't convinced enough to make the "call." One can see this variation in the volume "A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors," by Wheeler and Clark. Also keep in mind that some Harlans RT's could have already migrated in, and their plumage is even more variable. I was leaning towards RSH, as the back of the bird was quite spotted with white, but after thinking about it for a while, I recalled trapping RT's with their back patterened just like that. Best, Dick --- On Fri, 8/7/09, David Irons wrote: > From: David Irons > Subject: Re: [obol] Johnny's hawk & owl photo > To: "Floyd Schrock" , greg at thebirdguide.com > Cc: "Brad Waggoner" , "post OBOL" > Date: Friday, August 7, 2009, 9:31 AM > > > > #yiv2141079921 .hmmessage P > { > margin:0px;padding:0px;} > #yiv2141079921 { > font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} > > > > This is a young Red-shouldered Hawk. An immature Red-tailed > would not show this much light-to-dark contrast in the tail > bands, as evidenced by Floyd Schrock's close-ups of the > typical tail pattern of a young Red-tailed. This image > provides even more evidence suggesting that Red-shouldered > Hawks are breeding at Ridgefield, now all someone has to do > is find a nest. There are no documented breeding records for > Red-shouldered in Washington...yet. > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > > Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 07:53:06 -0700 > From: fschrock at gmail.com > To: greg at thebirdguide.com > CC: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Johnny's hawk & owl photo > > For what it's worth, the juv. Red-tail tail that I > photographed last fall had 9 dark bands. (photo at: > > http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oR8bXlKjX0M/SLDvYgubzzI/AAAAAAAAEBw/7ka1hP361pg/s1600-h/R_t+Hawk+juv_tail.jpg? > ) > > > This bird at Ridgefield appears to have only four, and > maybe they're a bit wider. (?) > > > ==================== > Floyd Schrock > McMinnville, Oregon ? USA > http://empids.blogspot.com > > ==================== > > On Fri, Aug 7, 2009 at 7:01 AM, > Greg Gillson > wrote: > > I asked Johnny for a larger crop of the owl and hawk photo > at Ridgefield on > > the 5th. > > > > Is the hawk a juvenile Red-tailed or a Red-shouldered > Hawk? > > > > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115815828 > > > > Greg Gillson > > The Bird Guide, Inc. > > greg at thebirdguide.com > > http://thebirdguide.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > -- > > Get your vacation photos on your phone! Click > here. > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From accipiter at sky-hunters.org Fri Aug 7 10:39:41 2009 From: accipiter at sky-hunters.org (Karen Hoyt) Date: Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:39:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Johnny's hawk & owl photo In-Reply-To: <692993.2135.qm@web39705.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Very interesting photo of the hawk and the Great Horned owl. The tail pattern on the hawk is light, but Red-tailed hawks have such variation in tail patterns that it could be one or the other. You have all probably seen Bill Clark's Harlan's Hawk tail variation article at: http://www.aba.org/birding/v41n1p30.pdf Just an example of variations seen in the Red-tail. The head of the hawk is fairly dark for a Red-shouldered hawk, but the size compared to the owl, even if it was an large female Great Horned owl, shows the hawk to be smallish. I wish the picture showed a little of the wing pattern as I have seen Red-tailed hawks backs as light as this birds. I guess I would lean towards a Red-shouldered hawk myself. Hawk have very poor night-time vision and will rarely leave a roost after dark. Great Horned owls are well known for going after birds much bigger than themselves after dark, truly flying tigers. Daylight hours the owl is at a disadvantage due to mobbing. Just my thoughts, Karen Hoyt Sky Hunters Environmental Education Carlton, OR On 8/7/09 9:48 AM, "Richard and Marilyn Musser" wrote: > > Hi David, > In my experience larger buteos are willing to confront GHO's directly (as > the photo reveals) during daylight hours---but have great fear of them towards > darkness. The GHO's aggression is much dampened by daylight, but during > darkness, they are truly the "tigers of the night." I couldn't quite be > certain of my ID on this photo, so I decided "not to try and call it." Best, > Dick > > --- On Fri, 8/7/09, David Irons wrote: > >> From: David Irons >> Subject: Re: [obol] Johnny's hawk & owl photo >> To: greg at thebirdguide.com, "post OBOL" >> Date: Friday, August 7, 2009, 9:35 AM >> >> >> >> #yiv1100686703 .hmmessage P >> { >> margin:0px;padding:0px;} >> #yiv1100686703 { >> font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} >> >> >> >> Greetings All, >> >> Interesting that this young Red-shouldered is in such close >> proximity to an adult Great Horned Owl. Great Horneds are >> notoriously aggressive. Last August, Diane Pettey and I >> found the remains (complete wing and some tail feathers) of >> a Red-shouldered Hawk in the woodlot at Fields, Oregon. I >> suspected at the time it was the victim of the resident >> Great Horneds. >> >> Dave Irons >> Eugene, OR >> >>> From: greg at thebirdguide.com >>> To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 07:01:47 -0700 >>> Subject: [obol] Johnny's hawk & owl photo >>> >>> I asked Johnny for a larger crop of the owl and hawk >> photo at Ridgefield on >>> the 5th. >>> >>> Is the hawk a juvenile Red-tailed or a Red-shouldered >> Hawk? >>> >>> http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115815828 >>> >>> Greg Gillson >>> The Bird Guide, Inc. >>> greg at thebirdguide.com >>> http://thebirdguide.com >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> obol mailing list >>> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> >> Get back to school stuff for them and cashback >> for you. Try >> Bing now. >> >> -----Inline Attachment Follows----- >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From rflores_2 at msn.com Fri Aug 7 12:41:41 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 12:41:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ptarmigan at Mt Rainier, Paradise today Message-ID: After a long period of looking this nemesis bird is finally behind me! Those who know how hard it has been will probably want to bird with me again on the tall mountains! One hour after I left my car I found three ptarmigan at the UPPER intersection of Dead Horse and Skyline Trails at 0830 this morning. This is 1.6 km from Paradise. The birds were about 10 yards off the trail. Weather was poor with fog and drizzle off and on. Now that I have clipped this one I must fall back on white-faced storm-petrel in North Carolina or red-throated becard in Arizona as my new nemesis bird! Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090807/f0564807/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Fri Aug 7 12:44:23 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 12:44:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] sooty grouse and common nighthawk, Lewis Co, WA Message-ID: This morning on Hwy 7 near Forest Road 74 I had a sooty grouse and a common nighthawk. They were about 1/8 mile apart and just south of the rd mentioned. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090807/15386a1f/attachment.html From richarmstrong at comcast.net Fri Aug 7 13:08:45 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 13:08:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] steen area References: <084DC4F8C61C4B01ACD2644E2111FEA5@Phil> Message-ID: we will be heading for klamath falls and on to steens mountains next week. we obviously hope to see black rosy finches. if anyone can suggest places to go to look for 1. long-eared owls 2. sage grouse we would appreciate it. we realize not the best time of year. Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Fri Aug 7 17:07:47 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 17:07:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Johnny's hawk & owl photo In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <558486.11891.qm@web39705.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Karen, Thanks for pointing out the size disparity----I noticed that too, but thought the hawk may have been 'leaning away,' making it appear shorter in length. RT's vary a lot in size also. I recall trapping a very small (butterball fat) male that weighed 28 oz., and later the same day trapping one (a big girl) that weighed 48 oz. Forgive me for using oz. instead of grams---it's an old people's thing. When I lived in Alaska, I recall that harlans RT's were migrating on Aug 1st. in the area around Delta Junction. I've trapped some of these birds, and their plumage is so variable (especially their tails) that telling an imm. from an adult is difficult with bird in hand. Best, Dick --- On Fri, 8/7/09, Karen Hoyt wrote: > From: Karen Hoyt > Subject: Re: [obol] Johnny's hawk & owl photo > To: "post OBOL" > Date: Friday, August 7, 2009, 10:39 AM > Very interesting photo of the hawk > and the Great Horned owl.? The tail > pattern on the hawk is light, but Red-tailed hawks have > such variation in > tail patterns that it could be one or the other.? You > have all probably seen > Bill Clark's Harlan's Hawk tail variation article at: > http://www.aba.org/birding/v41n1p30.pdf? ? > Just an example of variations > seen in the Red-tail. > The head of the hawk is fairly dark for a Red-shouldered > hawk, but the size > compared to the owl, even if it was an large female Great > Horned owl, shows > the hawk to be smallish.? I wish the picture showed a > little of the wing > pattern as I have seen Red-tailed hawks backs as light as > this birds.? I > guess I would lean towards a Red-shouldered hawk myself. > > Hawk have very poor night-time vision and will rarely leave > a roost after > dark.? Great Horned owls are well known for going > after birds much bigger > than themselves after dark, truly flying tigers.? > Daylight hours the owl is > at a disadvantage due to mobbing. > > Just my thoughts, > > Karen Hoyt > Sky Hunters Environmental Education > Carlton, OR > > > On 8/7/09 9:48 AM, "Richard and Marilyn Musser" > wrote: > > > > > Hi David, > >? ? ? In my experience larger buteos are > willing to confront GHO's directly (as > > the photo reveals) during daylight hours---but have > great fear of them towards > > darkness. The GHO's aggression is much dampened by > daylight, but during > > darkness, they are truly the "tigers of the night." I > couldn't quite be > > certain of my ID on this photo, so I decided "not to > try and call it." Best, > > Dick > > > > --- On Fri, 8/7/09, David Irons > wrote: > > > >> From: David Irons > >> Subject: Re: [obol] Johnny's hawk & owl photo > >> To: greg at thebirdguide.com, > "post OBOL" > >> Date: Friday, August 7, 2009, 9:35 AM > >> > >> > >> > >> #yiv1100686703 .hmmessage P > >> { > >> margin:0px;padding:0px;} > >> #yiv1100686703 { > >> font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} > >> > >> > >>? > >> Greetings All, > >> > >> Interesting that this young Red-shouldered is in > such close > >> proximity to an adult Great Horned Owl. Great > Horneds are > >> notoriously aggressive. Last August, Diane Pettey > and I > >> found the remains (complete wing and some tail > feathers) of > >> a Red-shouldered Hawk in the woodlot at Fields, > Oregon. I > >> suspected at the time it was the victim of the > resident > >> Great Horneds. > >> > >> Dave Irons > >> Eugene, OR > >> > >>> From: greg at thebirdguide.com > >>> To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > >>> Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 07:01:47 -0700 > >>> Subject: [obol] Johnny's hawk & owl photo > >>> > >>> I asked Johnny for a larger crop of the owl > and hawk > >> photo at Ridgefield on > >>> the 5th. > >>> > >>> Is the hawk a juvenile Red-tailed or a > Red-shouldered > >> Hawk? > >>> > >>> http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115815828 > >>> > >>> Greg Gillson > >>> The Bird Guide, Inc. > >>> greg at thebirdguide.com > >>> http://thebirdguide.com > >>> > >>> > _______________________________________________ > >>> obol mailing list > >>> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > >>> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > >> > >> Get back to school stuff for them and cashback > >> for you. Try > >> Bing now. > >> > >> -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> obol mailing list > >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Fri Aug 7 17:34:10 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 17:34:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] steen area In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <453696.8951.qm@web39703.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Rich, I haven't seen a long eared owl on Steens, but there are sage grouse up there. At this time of year one is likely to encounter family groups, and if I'm not mistaken, the last aspen stand (highest in elevation entering from the North end) usually has some of these big grouse. They move in an out of sage brush of mixed heights. It seems to me the hens like to forage in cover (with their chicks) of a height that allows then to "stand and see," or stop and "duck down" and be hidden. At this time of year they are usually near water. Good luck. Best, Dick --- On Fri, 8/7/09, rich armstrong wrote: > From: rich armstrong > Subject: [obol] steen area > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Friday, August 7, 2009, 1:08 PM > we will be heading for klamath falls > and on to steens mountains next week. > we obviously hope to see black rosy finches. > if anyone can suggest places to go to look for > ? ? 1. long-eared owls > ? ? 2. sage grouse > we would appreciate it. we realize not the best time of > year. > Rich Armstrong > 541-753-1978 > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Fri Aug 7 18:11:58 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 18:11:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Birder's Night: Monday, 8/10 Message-ID: <601B931A-3EE9-4EC1-AB95-BD4147FE3CE4@comcast.net> OBOL- Eugene Birder's Night will be August 10 (second Monday of each Month) at 7pm. LOCATION : Sacred Heart Hospital (downtown), 1255 Hilyard St; Conference Room A (across the hall from the Auditorium). Directions to Conference Room A: -enter main Lobby from Hilyard St -turn Left and walk down hall (past the cafeteria) to end of hall -turn Right and walk down hall (past Dining Room) to end of hall -turn Right and walk a few steps, then Left down the hall toward the Auditorium -Conference Room A (labelled simply Conference Room) is on the Right (across from a bank of telephones on the Left side of the hall) Parking: Parking lot structure (across Hilyard from the Lobby) charges $1/hour (I think). Street parking is not available on Hilyard per se, but is found on 13th, 12th (West of Patterson), and Patterson streets (street parking free after 6pm). Map is at this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=sacred+heart+hospital+eugene,+or&fb=1&split=1&cid=0,0,17378354515337851834&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image Agenda: usual reporting format, bird discussion, and the Heyerlys' photos of a recent trip to NE Oregon grouse country. Note: we will have reliable access to audio/video support from this point on, so those wishing to bring a disc or laptop to show interesting images, etc should feel free to do so. For a lengthly presentation, please give me a heads-up so we can avoid conflicts. Barry McKenzie Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090807/ea51bb68/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Aug 7 19:02:40 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 19:02:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Newport Semipalmated Sandpiper photo Message-ID: <20090807190240.02kej6f1hc0cossc@webmail.thebirdguide.com> I have uploaded a quick crop from the Marine Science Center at Newport today about noon. I sat on the edge of the flats as the tide came in, forcing the birds to me, photographing mostly Whimbrel at close range. The flock of peep built to about 80 birds. Among them this bird about 10 feet away. I'll make a better photo later with better software and the original RAW image. This was just a default thumbnail. http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115835769 I'm practicing on Marlene's laptop and software so I can send some good photos tomorrow after the pelagic trip... (dreaming). Greg Gillson From Nye Cottage Newport, Oregon From celata at pacifier.com Fri Aug 7 19:05:11 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:05:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] South Jetty of the Columbia River today Message-ID: <4A7CDD57.207@pacifier.com> I went out on the South Jetty of the Columbia River in the drizzly rain, so you won't have to. I expected a bit more action, but the SOOTY SHEARWATERS are massing... Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Greater Scaup 13 [1] Black Scoter 1 [2] Pacific Loon 15 Common Loon 2 Sooty Shearwater 1000 [3] Brown Pelican 1200 [4] Brandt's Cormorant 20 Double-crested Cormorant 750 Pelagic Cormorant 35 Killdeer 1 Parasitic Jaeger 1 [5] Heermann's Gull California Gull Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Caspian Tern Common Murre 1000+ Rhinoceros Auklet 3 American Crow Barn Swallow 6 Savannah Sparrow 2 Footnotes: [1] Group of 13 was on the ocean throughout count period [2] female, flyby [3] undercount, official count about 200/min fly north [4] 700 on beach another 500 or so in the air [5] harassing pelicans at a feeding spot. [6] 20+ attending juveniles on water, majority as flocks going N Total number of species seen: 21 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From goosemiller at gmail.com Fri Aug 7 21:35:54 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 21:35:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] steen area In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <4a7d00ad.1ed6720a.5441.fffff192@mx.google.com> Craig and I have seen Sage Grouse in many places on Steens Mountain. We have seen Long Eared Owls between Fish Lake Campground and Jack ? Campground. Marilyn Miller -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of rich armstrong Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 1:09 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] steen area we will be heading for klamath falls and on to steens mountains next week. we obviously hope to see black rosy finches. if anyone can suggest places to go to look for 1. long-eared owls 2. sage grouse we would appreciate it. we realize not the best time of year. Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.47/2289 - Release Date: 08/07/09 18:37:00 From whoffman at peak.org Fri Aug 7 22:34:59 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 22:34:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Elegant Terns - Florence AND Necanicum Estuarybirds (Gearhart) References: <4A7BC18D.3050500@pdx.edu> Message-ID: <87038FDEEA684C228480C93294A44A73@D48XBZ51> Hi - Last summer, on August 28, I went down to Gold Beach harbor and photographed Elegant Terns. There were at least 160 present that day, and some were juveniles that were begging for food, and being fed. None, however, had this plumage. They had shorter, straighter bills than the adults, shorter crest feathers, and dark markings on the wing coverts, tertials, and rectrices, like kit's bird, but clear gray back feathers, already replaced, probably within 6-10 weeks of fledging. Kit's bird seems just a few weeks younger. Crested terns (Elegant, Royal, Sandwich, Greater and Lesser Crested, etc.) coimmopnly feed their young for several months after fledging, far longer than any other seabirds known. They will migrate together, as well. It is common to see Royal Terns with parents begging for food in the southern Caribbean that are carrying bands from colonies in the United States, so have migrated together two thousand miles or more, and still being fed. These terns, like most gulls, have a partial prebasic molt that begins very shortly after fledging. This molt replaces many body and head feathers, and some wing coverts but not all, and does not replace flight feathers. This summer I saw my FOY first-summer California Gull on July 16, and by now they are common on the coast,as is normal. Already, many of them are showing molt of head and breast feathers, and back feathers will likely start very soon. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: David Irons To: David C. Bailey ; post OBOL Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 12:20 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Elegant Terns - Florence AND Necanicum Estuarybirds (Gearhart) Greetings All, I've seen hundreds of Elegant Terns in Oregon (most during the 1980's) and I can't recall seeing one sporting this sort of juvenile plumage. Dave Irons > Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 22:54:21 -0700 > From: baileydc at pdx.edu > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Elegant Terns - Florence AND Necanicum Estuary birds (Gearhart) > > Nice photos Kit. Thank you for posting. I am struck by the presence of a > juvenile. I can't recall if that age has been observed in Oregon before > by me or others. Birds of Oregon A General Reference says most > observations are of adults or some such. Nice documentation. > The Northern Anchovies are thick in the Necanicum River Estuary and > nearshore waters around Seaside and Gearhart attracting numerous BROWN > PELICANS and HEERMAN'S GULLS, and CASPIAN TERNS. Anchovies are THE prey > species for Elegant Terns as I understand it, so there should be some up > here soon if not already. > > In addition to the seabirds, this evening I noted a juv. SEMIPALMATED > SANDPIPER with half a dozen WESTERN and 30 LEAST SANDPIPERS on the > mudflats off Little Beach off of S. Wellington in Gearhart incidental to > an evening walk with my family. > > Also noted two post-breeding BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS in the > neighborhood birch trees on our block. > > David > > > David C. Bailey > Gearhart, Oregon > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. Try it now. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090807/38040c6c/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Aug 8 00:13:41 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 07:13:41 +0000 Subject: [obol] Elegant Terns - Florence AND Necanicum Estuarybirds (Gearhart) In-Reply-To: <87038FDEEA684C228480C93294A44A73@D48XBZ51> References: <4A7BC18D.3050500@pdx.edu> <87038FDEEA684C228480C93294A44A73@D48XBZ51> Message-ID: Greetings All, I received private feedback on this issue from David Fix, who lives at Bayside, CA on the east side of Humboldt Bay. Elegant Terns are essentially annual there, unlike here where they are a bit more sporadic. He told me that he has seen Elegant Terns still in juvenal plumage (like the bird Kit photographed) on many occasions at Humboldt Bay. Note that the term juvenal is not spelled juvenile. It is being used as an adjective to describe a the first complete feather set. Many species of birds attain a juvenal plumage shortly after hatching (i.e. all-brown heavily streaked Spotted Towhees and Dark-eyed Juncos) that is retained for only a few weeks when they are first out of the nest. Before migrating or dispersing from the nest area, they will undergo a pre-basic molt that results in a plumage that is more like that of the adults. I have to wonder what the dates are for Fix's sightings since Elegant Terns often appear at Humboldt Bay weeks earlier than they reach Oregon (if they even make it this far north). I suspect (but don't know) that he is seeing juvenal-plumaged birds earlier in the season, before they make it as far north as Oregon. Perhaps David Bailey and I should have been more clear in our earlier posts We were not suggesting that all the Elegant Terns that have previously made it to Oregon were adults. Surely, this is not the case, which I know because I've seen many, many hatch-year Elegant Terns in Oregon. However, the hatch-year birds that typically appear along our shores have, as Wayne suggests, almost invariably (based on most of our observations) undergone significant pre-basic molt which results in them looking like a "winter-plumaged" adults (accurately referred to as "first basic plumage" in a bird hatched this year). By the time most terns move any significant distance from their breeding areas, they have usually lost the dark spotting on the coverts and the brown or black mottling on the neck and back that characterize their juvenal plumages. Once the pre-basic molt is completed, one must look at the bill shape, length, and color to properly age Elegant Terns. As Wayne mentions, the bills of young birds are shorter and somewhat straighter. They are also paler and more yellowish in tone when compared to the longer more orange bills on the adults. I visited the species account for Elegant Tern on Birds of North America online (a subscriber service) and it suggests that hatch-year birds undergo their pre-basic molt in September and October. If this were the case (I doubt it is so late), then many of the hatch-year birds we get in Oregon (most reports are from Aug-mid Sep) would be showing some evidence of juvenal plumage. It may be that much of the dark on the juvenal plumage is lost to feather wear and/or bleaching and is not due to molt. However, I would think if that were the case, we would be seeing more variation in the appearances of hatch-year birds. I also reviewed the OBRC records (this species is no longer reviewed) which list all records prior to 1992. The short notes that accompany each record describe mixed flocks of adults and immatures/juveniles. Not sure what the distinction is between imm. and juv. in these cases, I suspect it is based on how the observer described the ages of the birds. It would be interesting to hear from the veteran birders, some of whom must still have pictures of the massive flocks that appeared during 1983 and subsequent flight years, to learn if any of the birds in their images are in juvenal plumage. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: whoffman at peak.org To: llsdirons at msn.com; baileydc at pdx.edu; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Elegant Terns - Florence AND Necanicum Estuarybirds (Gearhart) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 22:34:59 -0700 Hi - Last summer, on August 28, I went down to Gold Beach harbor and photographed Elegant Terns. There were at least 160 present that day, and some were juveniles that were begging for food, and being fed. None, however, had this plumage. They had shorter, straighter bills than the adults, shorter crest feathers, and dark markings on the wing coverts, tertials, and rectrices, like kit's bird, but clear gray back feathers, already replaced, probably within 6-10 weeks of fledging. Kit's bird seems just a few weeks younger. Crested terns (Elegant, Royal, Sandwich, Greater and Lesser Crested, etc.) coimmopnly feed their young for several months after fledging, far longer than any other seabirds known. They will migrate together, as well. It is common to see Royal Terns with parents begging for food in the southern Caribbean that are carrying bands from colonies in the United States, so have migrated together two thousand miles or more, and still being fed. These terns, like most gulls, have a partial prebasic molt that begins very shortly after fledging. This molt replaces many body and head feathers, and some wing coverts but not all, and does not replace flight feathers. This summer I saw my FOY first-summer California Gull on July 16, and by now they are common on the coast,as is normal. Already, many of them are showing molt of head and breast feathers, and back feathers will likely start very soon. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: David Irons To: David C. Bailey ; post OBOL Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 12:20 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Elegant Terns - Florence AND Necanicum Estuarybirds (Gearhart) Greetings All, I've seen hundreds of Elegant Terns in Oregon (most during the 1980's) and I can't recall seeing one sporting this sort of juvenile plumage. Dave Irons > Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 22:54:21 -0700 > From: baileydc at pdx.edu > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Elegant Terns - Florence AND Necanicum Estuary birds (Gearhart) > > Nice photos Kit. Thank you for posting. I am struck by the presence of a > juvenile. I can't recall if that age has been observed in Oregon before > by me or others. Birds of Oregon A General Reference says most > observations are of adults or some such. Nice documentation. > The Northern Anchovies are thick in the Necanicum River Estuary and > nearshore waters around Seaside and Gearhart attracting numerous BROWN > PELICANS and HEERMAN'S GULLS, and CASPIAN TERNS. Anchovies are THE prey > species for Elegant Terns as I understand it, so there should be some up > here soon if not already. > > In addition to the seabirds, this evening I noted a juv. SEMIPALMATED > SANDPIPER with half a dozen WESTERN and 30 LEAST SANDPIPERS on the > mudflats off Little Beach off of S. Wellington in Gearhart incidental to > an evening walk with my family. > > Also noted two post-breeding BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS in the > neighborhood birch trees on our block. > > David > > > David C. Bailey > Gearhart, Oregon > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. Try it now. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Get free photo software from Windows Live http://www.windowslive.com/online/photos?ocid=PID23393::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_PH_software:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090808/35ca6a2c/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Aug 8 08:17:50 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 15:17:50 +0000 Subject: [obol] Winners announced Message-ID: I posted the winners of the Great Blue Heron story headline contest on the BirdFellow site a couple days ago. Dave Irons Content Editor BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/personalize.aspx?ocid=PID23391::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HYGN_express:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090808/d606339c/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Aug 8 08:28:17 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 08 Aug 2009 08:28:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] steen area In-Reply-To: <4a7d00ad.1ed6720a.5441.fffff192@mx.google.com> Message-ID: The other one is called Jackman Park. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Marilyn Miller > Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 21:35:54 -0700 > To: 'rich armstrong' , > Cc: 'Marilyn Miller II' > Subject: Re: [obol] steen area > > Craig and I have seen Sage Grouse in many places on Steens Mountain. We > have seen Long Eared Owls between Fish Lake Campground and Jack ? > Campground. > Marilyn Miller > > > -----Original Message----- > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of rich armstrong > Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 1:09 PM > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] steen area > > we will be heading for klamath falls and on to steens mountains next week. > we obviously hope to see black rosy finches. > if anyone can suggest places to go to look for > 1. long-eared owls > 2. sage grouse > we would appreciate it. we realize not the best time of year. > Rich Armstrong > 541-753-1978 > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.47/2289 - Release Date: 08/07/09 > 18:37:00 > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From whoffman at peak.org Sat Aug 8 09:47:28 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 09:47:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Elegant Terns - Florence AND Necanicum Estuarybirds(Gearhart) References: <4A7BC18D.3050500@pdx.edu> <87038FDEEA684C228480C93294A44A73@D48XBZ51> Message-ID: <78C23637EBA3490EB429C94DC4B5CDBA@D48XBZ51> David Wrote: "I visited the species account for Elegant Tern on Birds of North America online (a subscriber service) and it suggests that hatch-year birds undergo their pre-basic molt in September and October. If this were the case (I doubt it is so late), then many of the hatch-year birds we get in Oregon (most reports are from Aug-mid Sep) would be showing some evidence of juvenal plumage. It may be that much of the dark on the juvenal plumage is lost to feather wear and/or bleaching and is not due to molt. However, I would think if that were the case, we would be seeing more variation in the appearances of hatch-year birds." I agree. In my photos, the begging young clearly had new, completely gray back feathers, not worn or bleached feathers. David also wrote: "Once the pre-basic molt is completed, one must look at the bill shape, length, and color to properly age Elegant Terns. As Wayne mentions, the bills of young birds are shorter and somewhat straighter. They are also paler and more yellowish in tone when compared to the longer more orange bills on the adults." I agree in general, but first-summer birds do retain significant dark marking on tertials and wing coverts that are helpful in aging, in addition to the bill characters. They also tend to have shorter black feathering in their crests, so that the crests end higher on the nape. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: David Irons To: Wayne Hoffman ; David C. Bailey ; post OBOL ; David and Jude Fix and Power Sent: Saturday, August 08, 2009 12:13 AM Subject: RE: [obol] Elegant Terns - Florence AND Necanicum Estuarybirds(Gearhart) Greetings All, I received private feedback on this issue from David Fix, who lives at Bayside, CA on the east side of Humboldt Bay. Elegant Terns are essentially annual there, unlike here where they are a bit more sporadic. He told me that he has seen Elegant Terns still in juvenal plumage (like the bird Kit photographed) on many occasions at Humboldt Bay. Note that the term juvenal is not spelled juvenile. It is being used as an adjective to describe a the first complete feather set. Many species of birds attain a juvenal plumage shortly after hatching (i.e. all-brown heavily streaked Spotted Towhees and Dark-eyed Juncos) that is retained for only a few weeks when they are first out of the nest. Before migrating or dispersing from the nest area, they will undergo a pre-basic molt that results in a plumage that is more like that of the adults. I have to wonder what the dates are for Fix's sightings since Elegant Terns often appear at Humboldt Bay weeks earlier than they reach Oregon (if they even make it this far north). I suspect (but don't know) that he is seeing juvenal-plumaged birds earlier in the season, before they make it as far north as Oregon. Perhaps David Bailey and I should have been more clear in our earlier posts We were not suggesting that all the Elegant Terns that have previously made it to Oregon were adults. Surely, this is not the case, which I know because I've seen many, many hatch-year Elegant Terns in Oregon. I also reviewed the OBRC records (this species is no longer reviewed) which list all records prior to 1992. The short notes that accompany each record describe mixed flocks of adults and immatures/juveniles. Not sure what the distinction is between imm. and juv. in these cases, I suspect it is based on how the observer described the ages of the birds. It would be interesting to hear from the veteran birders, some of whom must still have pictures of the massive flocks that appeared during 1983 and subsequent flight years, to learn if any of the birds in their images are in juvenal plumage. Dave Irons Eugene, OR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: whoffman at peak.org To: llsdirons at msn.com; baileydc at pdx.edu; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Elegant Terns - Florence AND Necanicum Estuarybirds (Gearhart) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 22:34:59 -0700 Hi - Last summer, on August 28, I went down to Gold Beach harbor and photographed Elegant Terns. There were at least 160 present that day, and some were juveniles that were begging for food, and being fed. None, however, had this plumage. They had shorter, straighter bills than the adults, shorter crest feathers, and dark markings on the wing coverts, tertials, and rectrices, like kit's bird, but clear gray back feathers, already replaced, probably within 6-10 weeks of fledging. Kit's bird seems just a few weeks younger. Crested terns (Elegant, Royal, Sandwich, Greater and Lesser Crested, etc.) coimmopnly feed their young for several months after fledging, far longer than any other seabirds known. They will migrate together, as well. It is common to see Royal Terns with parents begging for food in the southern Caribbean that are carrying bands from colonies in the United States, so have migrated together two thousand miles or more, and still being fed. These terns, like most gulls, have a partial prebasic molt that begins very shortly after fledging. This molt replaces many body and head feathers, and some wing coverts but not all, and does not replace flight feathers. This summer I saw my FOY first-summer California Gull on July 16, and by now they are common on the coast,as is normal. Already, many of them are showing molt of head and breast feathers, and back feathers will likely start very soon. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: David Irons To: David C. Bailey ; post OBOL Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 12:20 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Elegant Terns - Florence AND Necanicum Estuarybirds (Gearhart) Greetings All, I've seen hundreds of Elegant Terns in Oregon (most during the 1980's) and I can't recall seeing one sporting this sort of juvenile plumage. Dave Irons > Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 22:54:21 -0700 > From: baileydc at pdx.edu > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Elegant Terns - Florence AND Necanicum Estuary birds (Gearhart) > > Nice photos Kit. Thank you for posting. I am struck by the presence of a > juvenile. I can't recall if that age has been observed in Oregon before > by me or others. Birds of Oregon A General Reference says most > observations are of adults or some such. Nice documentation. > The Northern Anchovies are thick in the Necanicum River Estuary and > nearshore waters around Seaside and Gearhart attracting numerous BROWN > PELICANS and HEERMAN'S GULLS, and CASPIAN TERNS. Anchovies are THE prey > species for Elegant Terns as I understand it, so there should be some up > here soon if not already. > > In addition to the seabirds, this evening I noted a juv. SEMIPALMATED > SANDPIPER with half a dozen WESTERN and 30 LEAST SANDPIPERS on the > mudflats off Little Beach off of S. Wellington in Gearhart incidental to > an evening walk with my family. > > Also noted two post-breeding BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS in the > neighborhood birch trees on our block. > > David > > > David C. Bailey > Gearhart, Oregon > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. Try it now. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Get free photo software from Windows Live Click here. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090808/9069aa36/attachment.html From birdboy at bkpix.com Sat Aug 8 10:14:00 2009 From: birdboy at bkpix.com (Noah Strycker) Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 06:14:00 +1300 Subject: [obol] Elegant Terns - Florence AND Necanicum Estuarybirds (Gearhart) In-Reply-To: References: <4A7BC18D.3050500@pdx.edu> <87038FDEEA684C228480C93294A44A73@D48XBZ51> Message-ID: Hi all, For what it's worth, the newly-released Part II of the Pyle Identification Guide advises that Elegant Terns undergo complete preformative ("prebasic") molt beginning in July in hatch-year birds. It also states, "The preformative occurs on non-breeding grounds, often commencing during migration and suspending, typically after 1-3 inner primaries are replaced." Since these terns are known to molt out of juvenal plumage away from breeding areas, it's not surprising to find individuals retaining such plumage along the Oregon coast; though, as Dave points out, many hatch-year birds have already lost many of their speckled-looking juvenal feathers. Good birding, Noah Strycker On 8/8/09, David Irons wrote: > > > > > > > > Greetings All, > > I received private feedback on this issue from David Fix, who lives at > Bayside, CA on the east side of Humboldt Bay. Elegant Terns are essentially > annual there, unlike here where they are a bit more sporadic. He told me > that he has seen Elegant Terns still in juvenal plumage (like the bird Kit > photographed) on many occasions at Humboldt Bay. > > Note that the term juvenal is not spelled juvenile. It is being used as an > adjective to describe a the first complete feather set. Many species of > birds attain a juvenal plumage shortly after hatching (i.e. all-brown > heavily streaked Spotted Towhees and Dark-eyed Juncos) that is retained for > only a few weeks when they are first out of the nest. Before migrating or > dispersing from the nest area, they will undergo a pre-basic molt that > results in a plumage that is more like that of the adults. > > I have to wonder what the dates are for Fix's sightings since Elegant Terns > often appear at Humboldt Bay weeks earlier than they reach Oregon (if they > even make it this far north). I suspect (but don't know) that he is seeing > juvenal-plumaged birds earlier in the season, before they make it as far > north as Oregon. > > Perhaps David Bailey and I should have been more clear in our earlier posts > We were not suggesting that all the Elegant Terns that have previously made > it to Oregon were adults. Surely, this is not the case, which I know because > I've seen many, many hatch-year Elegant Terns in Oregon. However, the > hatch-year birds that typically appear along our shores have, as Wayne > suggests, almost invariably (based on most of our observations) undergone > significant pre-basic molt which results in them looking like a > "winter-plumaged" adults (accurately referred to as "first basic plumage" in > a bird hatched this year). By the time most terns move any significant > distance from their breeding areas, they have usually lost the dark spotting > on the coverts and the brown or black mottling on the neck and back that > characterize their juvenal plumages. > > Once the pre-basic molt is completed, one must look at the bill shape, > length, and color to properly age Elegant Terns. As Wayne mentions, the > bills of young birds are shorter and somewhat straighter. They are also > paler and more yellowish in tone when compared to the longer more orange > bills on the adults. > > I visited the species account for Elegant Tern on Birds of North America > online (a subscriber service) and it suggests that hatch-year birds undergo > their pre-basic molt in September and October. If this were the case (I > doubt it is so late), then many of the hatch-year birds we get in Oregon > (most reports are from Aug-mid Sep) would be showing some evidence of > juvenal plumage. It may be that much of the dark on the juvenal plumage is > lost to feather wear and/or bleaching and is not due to molt. However, I > would think if that were the case, we would be seeing more variation in the > appearances of hatch-year birds. > > I also reviewed the OBRC records (this species is no longer reviewed) which > list all records prior to 1992. The short notes that accompany each record > describe mixed flocks of adults and immatures/juveniles. Not sure what the > distinction is between imm. and juv. in these cases, I suspect it is based > on how the observer described the ages of the birds. It would be interesting > to hear from the veteran birders, some of whom must still have pictures of > the massive flocks that appeared during 1983 and subsequent flight years, to > learn if any of the birds in their images are in juvenal plumage. > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > > > > From: whoffman at peak.org > To: llsdirons at msn.com; baileydc at pdx.edu; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Elegant Terns - Florence AND Necanicum > Estuarybirds (Gearhart) > Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 22:34:59 -0700 > > > > > > > > > > > Hi - > > Last summer, on August 28, I went down to Gold Beach > harbor and photographed Elegant Terns. There were at least 160 present > that day, and some were juveniles that were begging for food, and being > fed. None, however, had this plumage. They had shorter, straighter > bills than the adults, shorter crest feathers, and dark markings on the wing > coverts, tertials, and rectrices, like kit's bird, but clear gray back > feathers, already replaced, probably within 6-10 weeks of fledging. Kit's > bird seems just a few weeks younger. > > Crested terns (Elegant, Royal, > Sandwich, Greater and Lesser Crested, etc.) coimmopnly feed their young for > several months after fledging, far longer than any other seabirds known. > They will migrate together, as well. It is common to see Royal Terns with > parents begging for food in the southern Caribbean that are carrying bands > from > colonies in the United States, so have migrated together two thousand miles > or more, and still being fed. > > These terns, like most gulls, have a partial prebasic molt > that begins very shortly after fledging. This molt replaces many body and > head feathers, and some wing coverts but not all, and does not replace > flight > feathers. > > This summer I saw my FOY first-summer California Gull > on July 16, and by now they are common on the coast,as is normal. Already, > many of them are showing molt of head and breast feathers, and back feathers > will likely start very soon. > > Wayne > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: > David Irons > > To: David C. Bailey ; post > OBOL > Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 12:20 > AM > Subject: Re: [obol] Elegant Terns - > Florence AND Necanicum Estuarybirds (Gearhart) > > Greetings All, > > I've seen hundreds of Elegant Terns in > Oregon (most during the 1980's) and I can't recall seeing one sporting > this > sort of juvenile plumage. > > Dave Irons > >> Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 > 22:54:21 -0700 >> From: baileydc at pdx.edu >> To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> > Subject: Re: [obol] Elegant Terns - Florence AND Necanicum Estuary birds > (Gearhart) >> >> Nice photos Kit. Thank you for posting. I am > struck by the presence of a >> juvenile. I can't recall if that age has > been observed in Oregon before >> by me or others. Birds of Oregon A > General Reference says most >> observations are of adults or some such. > Nice documentation. >> The Northern Anchovies are thick in the Necanicum > River Estuary and >> nearshore waters around Seaside and Gearhart > attracting numerous BROWN >> PELICANS and HEERMAN'S GULLS, and CASPIAN > TERNS. Anchovies are THE prey >> species for Elegant Terns as I > understand it, so there should be some up >> here soon if not > already. >> >> In addition to the seabirds, this evening I noted a > juv. SEMIPALMATED >> SANDPIPER with half a dozen WESTERN and 30 LEAST > SANDPIPERS on the >> mudflats off Little Beach off of S. Wellington in > Gearhart incidental to >> an evening walk with my family. >> > >> Also noted two post-breeding BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS in the > >> neighborhood birch trees on our block. >> >> David >> > >> >> David C. Bailey >> Gearhart, Oregon >> > _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing > list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. > Try it now. > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing > list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _________________________________________________________________ > Get free photo software from Windows Live > http://www.windowslive.com/online/photos?ocid=PID23393::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_PH_software:082009 From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Aug 8 10:26:33 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 08 Aug 2009 10:26:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] GPS follies Message-ID: This is not a bird post, but because so many birders now use GPS systems, here is a cautionary tale. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32340356/ns/us_news-life/ -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sat Aug 8 10:40:45 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 10:40:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Finch ID help Message-ID: <81b2a9930908081040w6d2bf05amf2bd07286ab31aae@mail.gmail.com> There was a finch at one of my sunflower feeders earlier this morning that caught my attention because it had some markings that differ from what I would expect from a juvenile or female House Finch. I was able to snap a few photos... http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2659/3801574346_1c79c3992b_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2589/3801573814_c0c0cfd83e_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2435/3801574032_676fd28d7c_b.jpg The marking that really caught my eye was what appears to be a partial submoustachial stripe (first photo) and a very faint white eyebrow (second photo). These suggest Purple Finch (perhaps a juvenile), although I wouldn't expect them to be in the area until October. Am I reading too far into this? I suppose that a molting first-year House Finch could also exhibit unexpected plumage. Any held would be appreciated. Thanks. Brandon Eugene From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Aug 8 11:17:40 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 18:17:40 +0000 Subject: [obol] Finch ID help In-Reply-To: <81b2a9930908081040w6d2bf05amf2bd07286ab31aae@mail.gmail.com> References: <81b2a9930908081040w6d2bf05amf2bd07286ab31aae@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Brandon et al., This bird is a hatch-year House Finch. If you look closely, you can see the remnant yellow skin at the corners of the gape, which assure us of its age. Juvenal-plumaged House Finches show more crisply streaked underparts than adult females and often a hint of a face pattern, causing them to look like Purple Finches. While this bird shows the suggestion of a pale supercilium ("eye brow") there is no pale moustachial stripe, thus the face is not nearly patterned enough to be a Purple Finch. Additionally, the streaking on the underparts would be even more crisp than what this bird shows on a young Purple Finch. The overall color, particularly on the upperparts, is good for House Finch, which is typically dull gray-brown above, and not right for Purple Finch, which normally shows some green tones in their darker brown upperparts. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 10:40:45 -0700 > From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Finch ID help > > There was a finch at one of my sunflower feeders earlier this morning > that caught my attention because it had some markings that differ from > what I would expect from a juvenile or female House Finch. I was able > to snap a few photos... > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2659/3801574346_1c79c3992b_b.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2589/3801573814_c0c0cfd83e_b.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2435/3801574032_676fd28d7c_b.jpg > > The marking that really caught my eye was what appears to be a partial > submoustachial stripe (first photo) and a very faint white eyebrow > (second photo). These suggest Purple Finch (perhaps a juvenile), > although I wouldn't expect them to be in the area until October. Am I > reading too far into this? I suppose that a molting first-year House > Finch could also exhibit unexpected plumage. > > Any held would be appreciated. Thanks. > > Brandon > Eugene > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Get free photo software from Windows Live http://www.windowslive.com/online/photos?ocid=PID23393::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_PH_software:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090808/b4de21ca/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Sat Aug 8 11:46:05 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 11:46:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Spanish Head, Lincoln City 8/8 Message-ID: <2347F59BF36E485A8E7D71B5009F4B12@Phil> Went out for a quick ocean check about 8:45 this morning, ended up staying for almost an hour. many - Sooty Shearwater (widely spread out south flight, 50-100/min) 10+ Pink-footed Shearwater 20+ Northern Fulmar 1 Buller's Shearwater 1 LONG-TAILED JAEGER (adult with full tail flying N at 1/2 mile) 1 Parasitic Jaeger hundreds - immature California Gull only a few Pelicans and Heermann's Phil From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Sat Aug 8 12:17:08 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 12:17:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Siuslaw Shorebirds Message-ID: <2b1bbd260908081217k687e673bv99d2353c1c826adb@mail.gmail.com> Obol, I briefly checked for shorebirds at the mouth of the Siuslaw River, Lane Co today during low tide (10:30-11:30). The north jetty mudflats were empty except a few of the regular gulls and some crows. The south jetty crab docks were much more productive. There I found a flock of ~150 juvenile WESTERN SANDPIPERS (I did manage to find 3 worn adults), a dozen SEMI-PALMATED PLOVERS (half juvenile, half adult), and 2 juvenile SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS. I could not find a Least in the flock. The only tern around was an adult Caspian. In the small cove north of the crab docks I found 2 juvenile LEAST SANDPIPERS and 3 WILLETS (2 juveniles and 1 partially molted adult). -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090808/eeb410e2/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Aug 8 16:04:24 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 08 Aug 2009 16:04:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Australia advice Message-ID: I would like to hear from Oregon birders who have used guiding services based in Brisbane, Australia. It is likely that I will be there for a couple of weeks in early December, with 4-5 days free for a birding trip. I will not be driving and I will not be going anywhere but southern Queensland and northern NSW. Advice welcome. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From tom-escue at comcast.net Sat Aug 8 16:26:11 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 16:26:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black-Phobe Message-ID: <68D9C980D6EE44E8AB286AF4CF6302B7@TomsPC> I found one adult BLACK PHOEBE feeding two fledglings today at the Booth-Kelly log pond in downtown Springfield. This would be second consecutive year that I have seen fledglings there. Also seen; The juvenile GREEN HERON, MOURNING DOVES, TREE SWALLOW and BARN SWALLOW. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090808/251404db/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Aug 8 17:27:13 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 17:27:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur County GT Grackle Message-ID: <280C32EF83FD407E8CEFB30626ED4D99@cgatesPC> My wife and I returned from a soggy trip to Malheur County today. The scenery was great but the birds were hunkered down due to the weather. We only managed 76 species. The only unusual bird we saw was a Great-tailed Grackle in a hay field on the Skinner Ranch off of Donner Loop Road on our way to Cow Lakes. We managed to visit the following locations: Vale Sewer Ponds-Ontario State Park-Kiwanis Park in Ontario-Ontario Airport-Ontario Sewer Ponds-Nyssa-Owyhee State Park-Succor Creek-Jordan Valley-Cow Lakes-Antelope Reservoir-Danner Loop. There were several other areas we had planned on visiting but the roads were very unfriendly looking so we decided to try again another time. Thanks to all the folks who helped with suggestions. You gotta love Malheur County. For those that haven't been, Succor Creek is a gem. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090808/0baf3812/attachment.html From ErikKnight05 at comcast.net Sat Aug 8 17:32:01 2009 From: ErikKnight05 at comcast.net (ErikKnight05 at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:32:01 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, Marion County, Oregon on August 08, 2009 Message-ID: <200908090032.n790W1wv013281@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Erik Knight by http://birdnotes.net Date: August 8, 2009 Location: Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, Marion County, Oregon Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 70% Precipitation: none from 12:00PM to 3:14PM. Eagle Marsh completely dry. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 137 Gadwall 8 [1] American Wigeon 1 Mallard 250 Cinnamon Teal 7 Green-Winged Teal 3 Ring-necked Duck 8 Pied-billed Grebe 6 American White Pelican 19 [2] Great Blue Heron 3 Great Egret 1 Turkey Vulture 23 Osprey 8 [3] Unidentified Accipiter 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 [4] Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Kestrel 3 American Coot 7 Killdeer 5 Greater Yellowlegs 6 Spotted Sandpiper 2 Least Sandpiper 6 Long-billed Dowitcher 67 Belted Kingfisher 1 Downy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 2 Western Wood-Pewee 7 Western Kingbird 2 [5] Western Scrub-Jay 3 Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee 3 Bushtit 4 Red-breasted Nuthatch 14 Bewick's Wren 17 American Robin 39 European Starling Cedar Waxwing 8 Common Yellowthroat 1 Spotted Towhee 6 Song Sparrow 4 Brewer's Blackbird House Finch American Goldfinch Footnotes: [1] female & young, Pintail Marsh [2] Pintail Marsh [3] adults & juveniles on nests near Buena Vista ferry crossing [4] juvenile, Frog Pond [5] Pintail Marsh Total number of species seen: 45 From greg at thebirdguide.com Sat Aug 8 19:09:29 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 19:09:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Highlights from Perpetua Bank pelagic trip: 8 August 2009 Message-ID: <20090808190929.i0vblio2sggo0c4c@webmail.thebirdguide.com> Sunny skies, little to no wind, warm temperatures, and bathtub smooth seas off Newport, Oregon featured the following unofficial highlights (number are my guesses without consulting other guides): 500 Black-footed Albatross 700 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel 10 Buller's Shearwater 9 South Polar Skua 3 Long-tailed Jaeger 80 Blue Shark 30 Salmon Shark 1 Humpback Whale 50 Albacore Tuna An all around excellent pelagic trip; amazingly fantastic for August, as seabird migration is not yet in full swing! Greg Gillson (currently in Nye Beach) From whoffman at peak.org Sat Aug 8 19:45:18 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 19:45:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay, and identifying distant seabirds Message-ID: I sea-watched at Boiler Bay from 7:25 to 7:55 this morning. Almost no wind, overcast, hazy horizon. Canada Geese 55 flock overhead southbound - Westerns Surf Scoter 10 Pacific Loon 1 Sooty Shearwater 30 + both north and south Brown Pelican 60 mostly N DC Cormorant 35 Pelagic Cormorant 40 Brandt's Cormorant 10 California Gull 35 Western Gull 50 Common Murre 500 mostly N Pigeon Guillemot 30 Rhinoceros Auklet 5 Marbled Murrelet 4 S in a group, all in brown plumage Harbor Porpoise 12 Black Rockfish numerous, finning within 200 yds of the point. Identification at a distance. I followed Phil's advice and pointed my scope at the outer Depoe Bay buoy, either 1.6-1.7, or 1.94 miles away according to Phil and Greg, respectively. I could readily identify flocks of murres flying behind it (of course I would not have been able to pick out a Thick-billed), and could identify Sooty Shearwaters to species. If the latter banked properly I could see white underwing flashes at that distance, and dark underparts. I would like to add one other thing to the identification at a distance discussion: Those who are experts at long-distance identification (and Phil, Greg, and others are much better than me) do not need to see as much to make an identification as people without their extensive experience. With enough experience, flying alcids can be told apart by the combination of overall shape and wingbeat rate at distances where color and pattern are very difficult to discern. The flight and shape of a Marbled Murrelet are distinctive at distances where there is no chance to look for the white on the back at the base of the wings. Kittiwakes have a very distinct wingbeat. And where color and pattern are important, the secret is flat-out knowing what to look for. Ad. California Gulls have a different "look" to the black on the underwings than all the species you might confuse them with. Female Surf Scoters and Rhinoceros Auklets are both chunky brown birds with paler bellies and rapid wingbeats, but can be distinguished at great differences by shape: Scoters have a neck, and Auklet heads sprout directly from their shoulders. And so on and so on. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090808/6438c2af/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sat Aug 8 19:59:54 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 19:59:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] HMSC birds Message-ID: I visited hatfied Marine Science Center (Lincoln County) this afternoon, 3:00 to 4:50. A flock of peeps was 2/3 Western, and 1/3 Least, and included 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper, probably the same one Greg photographed yesterday. I counted 29 Whimbrels At the SW end of the nature trail about 15 Purple Martin fledglings were sittingon the snags and periodically being stuffed with dragonflies by the hardworking adults. A group of gulls that gathered about 4:30 included 80 California Gulls, 20 Ringbilled Gulls (about 5 second-cycle, the rest adult), and 2 adult Mew Gulls. I think this is the most Ringbilled Gulls I have seen in a group on the outer coast, and the earliest adult Mew Gulls. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090808/afd23caa/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Aug 8 21:40:45 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 21:40:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] More on Malheur County trip Message-ID: <5912520D53B84F8E83DCDBEEE08C7494@cgatesPC> After looking through my notes, there were a few additional bits of Malheur County bird news that I wanted to convey. 1) Collared-Doves are everywhere!!! 6 in Ironside, a good dozen in Jordan Valley, and some were found in just about every community or ranch house. 2) Two Snowy Egrets near Jordan Valley on Friday night. 3) Lots of Vaux's Swift around John Day on the way over on Thursday. 4) A Grant County Willow Flycatcher at a pond right near the Baker/Grant border on Hwy 26. 5) Ferruginous Hawk at Ironside 6) Sage Grouse on Bonita Road near Ironside (Loved the willows at Bonita Road) 7) Lots of Great Egrets at Beck Park in Ontario. 8) Wood Ducks on the Owyhee River below the dam. 9) Black-chinned Hummingbirds at feeders in Jordan Valley and Danner Loop. 10) Crows just over the Idaho border from Jordan Valley. I would guess these are hard to find in southern Malheur. 11) Forster's Tern near Jordan Valley 12) Black-crowned Night-heron on a pond near Jordan Valley. 13) Several Shrike Families on Danner Loop Road 14) Lots of Lark Sparrows everywhere. 15) Earred Grebe, Clark's Grebe, and Pelican on Antelope Res. 16) A very "Krider" looking red-tail on Danner Loop. I have poor pics. Non-bird observations: 1) You have to love the Basque Inn for good food family style. 2) The Shell Station is open 24 hours in Jordan Valley. 3) The market in Jordan Valley is open until midnight. 4) The motel in Jordan Valley was just fine (about 20 rooms). 5) I talked to one of the managers at the sewage facility in Ontario and the city manager in Vale about birding the sewer ponds in both cities. Both people commented that no one had ever approached them about visiting their facilities for birds. We need to get some birders planted in Ontario. 6) I briefly considered a trip out to 3 Forks south of Jordan Valley but I tend to get cautious when contemplating my own death (with the rain, those roads looked pretty hairy). 7) For those of you who may consider a trip out to Malheur County, I would not recommend early August. After seeing the types of locations I visited, late spring or later fall seems like better times to be there. I didn't find any peeps, the farm fields were all dried up for harvest, and the ducks were all in eclipse plumage. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090808/c50a96d2/attachment.html From roger at windemuths.com Sat Aug 8 23:37:46 2009 From: roger at windemuths.com (Roger Windemuth) Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 23:37:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black-crowned Night Heron at Ridgefield NWR Message-ID: <000a01ca18bb$e893c5f0$b9bb51d0$@com> This afternoon I saw an immature Black-crowned Night Heron just before marker #12 at Ridgefield NWR. I also saw a Semipalmated Plover along with the usual numerous peeps, yellowlegs, and dowitchers in Rest Lake. I also saw a Green Heron flying from snag to snag on Long Lake at Marker #2 and heard a couple of Red-shouldered Hawks calling near Marker #5. Roger Windemuth roger at windemuths.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090808/145031b3/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Aug 9 07:20:41 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 07:20:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: Xantus's Murrelet and Horned Puffin Message-ID: <999DAE8878344267A5C5682A2FC027EE@Warbler> A coastal report from Colin Dillingham, includes pelagic trip out of Charleston, OR. Dennis Subject: Xantus's Murrelet and Horned Puffin The birding and fishing have been quite good on the southern Oregon Coast this week. Yesterday, August 8, Mark R Stevens and Mark B Stevens had a Horned Puffin fly by them while they were in their kayaks near Goat Island, Harris Beach State Park, Curry County. August 7 I took a pelagic trip out of Charleston, Coos County with both of the Mark Stevens and we had a great trip. We went 39 miles offshore in search of albacore tuna and found some great birds, the best being a pair of Xantus's murrelets, about 30 miles offshore. We also had another sighting of 2 Xantus's Murrelets, so there may have seen 4 birds. Other highlights include 118 black-footed albatross, 16 long-tailed jaeger, 3 arctic tern, 1 parasitic jaeger, 250 cassin's auklet, 1 marbled murrelet, 40 northern fulmar, 25 sooty shearwater, 20 pink-footed shearwater, 2 leach's storm petrel, 8 fork-tailed storm petrel, 200 sabine's gull, 2 south polar skua, 30 rhinoceros auklet, 100 Risso's Dolphin, 140 pacific white-sided dolphin, 5 Dall's porpoise and about 70 blue sharks. Can one of you please forward the bird list to OBOL. Thanks, Colin ____________________________________________________________ Find success and happiness with drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Click now. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090809/9276e121/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Aug 9 07:49:49 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 09 Aug 2009 07:49:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: Xantus's Murrelet and Horned Puffin In-Reply-To: <999DAE8878344267A5C5682A2FC027EE@Warbler> Message-ID: I recall, somewhat dimly, that some years ago there was a report of an adult and subadult Horned Puffin seen on the water at Goat Island. Also by kayakers? I don't know the Stevens duo. Local or passing through? -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: "Dennis P. Vroman" > Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 07:20:41 -0700 > To: > Cc: Colin Dillingham > Subject: [obol] Fw: Xantus's Murrelet and Horned Puffin > > A coastal report from Colin Dillingham, includes pelagic trip out of > Charleston, OR. > > Dennis > > > Subject: Xantus's Murrelet and Horned Puffin > > > The birding and fishing have been quite good on the southern Oregon Coast this > week. Yesterday, August 8, Mark R Stevens and Mark B Stevens had a Horned > Puffin fly by them while they were in their kayaks near Goat Island, Harris > Beach State Park, Curry County. > > August 7 I took a pelagic trip out of Charleston, Coos County with both of the > Mark Stevens and we had a great trip. We went 39 miles offshore in search of > albacore tuna and found some great birds, the best being a pair of Xantus's > murrelets, about 30 miles offshore. We also had another sighting of 2 > Xantus's Murrelets, so there may have seen 4 birds. Other highlights include > 118 black-footed albatross, 16 long-tailed jaeger, 3 arctic tern, 1 parasitic > jaeger, 250 cassin's auklet, 1 marbled murrelet, 40 northern fulmar, 25 sooty > shearwater, 20 pink-footed shearwater, 2 leach's storm petrel, 8 fork-tailed > storm petrel, 200 sabine's gull, 2 south polar skua, 30 rhinoceros auklet, 100 > Risso's Dolphin, 140 pacific white-sided dolphin, 5 Dall's porpoise and about > 70 blue sharks. > > Can one of you please forward the bird list to OBOL. Thanks, Colin > > > > ____________________________________________________________ > Find success and happiness with drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Click now. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Sun Aug 9 08:02:46 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 08:02:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Birder's Night: Monday, 8/10 Message-ID: <04B33EFF-2923-4C82-A9AA-054F81EBA652@comcast.net> OBOL- Eugene Birder's Night will be August 10 (second Monday of each Month) at 7pm. LOCATION : Sacred Heart Hospital (downtown), 1255 Hilyard St; Conference Room A (across the hall from the Auditorium). Directions to Conference Room A: -enter main Lobby from Hilyard St -turn Left and walk down hall (past the cafeteria) to end of hall -turn Right and walk down hall (past Dining Room) to end of hall -turn Right and walk a few steps, then Left down the hall toward the Auditorium -Conference Room A (labelled simply Conference Room) is on the Right (across from a bank of telephones on the Left side of the hall) Parking: Parking lot structure (across Hilyard from the Lobby) charges $1/hour (I think). Street parking is not available on Hilyard per se, but is found on 13th, 12th (West of Patterson), and Patterson streets (street parking free after 6pm). Map is at this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=sacred+heart+hospital+eugene,+or&fb=1&split=1&cid=0,0,17378354515337851834&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image Agenda: usual reporting format, bird discussion, and the Heyerlys' photos of a recent trip to NE Oregon grouse country. Note: we will have reliable access to audio/video support from this point on, so those wishing to bring a disc or laptop to show interesting images, etc should feel free to do so. For a lengthly presentation, please give me a heads-up so we can avoid conflicts. Barry McKenzie Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090809/f6440911/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Sun Aug 9 08:25:17 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 08:25:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] More on Malheur County trip In-Reply-To: <5912520D53B84F8E83DCDBEEE08C7494@cgatesPC> Message-ID: <992532.32483.qm@web39702.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Chuck, If you can, I'd appreciate seeing those photos (even tho they may be poor) of the "Krider appearing RT." When living in Alaska, I saw Krider appearing RT's migrating on Aug.1 st., and it would help to know if they come (at least a few of them)in this direction. If I'm not mistaken, the latest research suggests that the Kriders is just another of the many variations of Harlans hawk. Best, Dick --- On Sat, 8/8/09, Charles Gates wrote: > From: Charles Gates > Subject: [obol] More on Malheur County trip > To: "obol" > Date: Saturday, August 8, 2009, 9:40 PM > > > > > > > > After looking through my > notes, there were > a?few additional bits of Malheur County bird news that > I wanted to > convey. > ? > 1) Collared-Doves are > everywhere!!!? 6 in > Ironside, a good dozen in Jordan Valley, and some were > found in just about every > community or ranch house. > 2) Two Snowy Egrets near > Jordan Valley on Friday > night. > 3) Lots of Vaux's > Swift around John Day on the way > over on Thursday. > 4) A?Grant County > Willow Flycatcher at a pond > right?near the Baker/Grant border on Hwy > 26. > 5) Ferruginous Hawk at > Ironside > 6) Sage Grouse on Bonita > Road near Ironside (Loved > the willows at Bonita Road) > 7) Lots of Great Egrets at > Beck Park in > Ontario. > 8) Wood Ducks on the > Owyhee River below the > dam. > 9) Black-chinned > Hummingbirds at feeders in Jordan > Valley and Danner Loop. > 10) Crows just over the > Idaho border from Jordan > Valley.? I would guess these are hard to find in > southern > Malheur. > 11) Forster's Tern > near Jordan Valley > 12) Black-crowned > Night-heron on a pond near Jordan > Valley. > 13) Several Shrike > Families on Danner Loop > Road > 14) Lots of Lark Sparrows > everywhere. > 15) Earred Grebe, > Clark's Grebe, and Pelican on > Antelope Res. > 16) A very > "Krider" looking red-tail on Danner > Loop.? I have poor pics. > ? > Non-bird > observations: > 1) You have to love the > Basque Inn for good food > family style. > 2) The Shell Station is > open 24 hours in Jordan > Valley. > 3) The market in Jordan > Valley is open until > midnight. > 4) The motel in Jordan > Valley was just fine (about > 20 rooms). > 5) I talked to one of the > managers at the sewage > facility in Ontario and the city manager in Vale about > birding the sewer ponds > in both cities.? Both people commented that no one had > ever approached them > about visiting their facilities for birds.? We need to > get some birders > planted in Ontario. > 6) I briefly considered a > trip out to 3 Forks south > of Jordan Valley but I tend to get cautious when > contemplating my own death > (with the rain, those roads looked pretty > hairy). > 7) For those of you who > may consider a trip out to > Malheur County, I would not recommend early August.? > After seeing the types > of locations I visited, late spring or later fall seems > like better times to be > there.? I didn't find any peeps, the farm fields > were all dried up for > harvest, and the?ducks were all in eclipse > plumage.? > ? > Chuck Gates > Powell Butte > ? > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sun Aug 9 11:27:55 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 11:27:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Linn County Monarch & Multnomah Eastern Kingbird, Semipalmated Plover Message-ID: <3601E5C4A4644C089261B69A2A654E8F@laptop> After dropping Patricia off at PDX, I did a little birding in east Multnomah County. There was still an Eastern Kingbird at the Sandy River Delta, on the big power lines, and migrants seemed to be moving through, including McGillivray's and Wilson's Warblers. At Rooster Rock State Park there was a small flock of peeps, including something like 25 Least, 5 Western and a Semipalmated Plover. Two Green Herons were active there, and four Caspian Terns were fishing the river, and chasing each other around. Up at Larch Mountain, birds were pretty quiet. The find of the day for me was there - a Cascade Torrent Salamander. A photo is here: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/Herpetiles#5368027182190917602 Today, just now, there was a Monarch, Danaus plexippus in the garden, briefly. I went out on the deck intending to fight the wasps for a few figs, and there some twenty yards out it was nectaring. I got a good look at the underside, and it seemed fresh. After going back in for a camera, and running out past the wasps, it was gone. Perhaps it will return. Something like a month ago we some flew by, but they seemed faded. Perhaps they reproduced in the area somewhere. Our milkweed patch is too small. Cheers, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090809/f422273e/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Sun Aug 9 12:43:48 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 12:43:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: Xantus's Murrelet and Horned Puffin In-Reply-To: <999DAE8878344267A5C5682A2FC027EE@Warbler> References: <999DAE8878344267A5C5682A2FC027EE@Warbler> Message-ID: Hello OBOL, A little off topic, but i am sure glad to hear of all the Blue Shark sightings this year by the Tuna fishers. From what I understand speaking to my "educated" shark friends, the Blues make a huge circle route past Asia and they have really taken a hit from "Finning". Vern On Aug 9, 2009, at 7:20 AM, Dennis P. Vroman wrote: > A coastal report from Colin Dillingham, includes pelagic trip out > of Charleston, OR. > > Dennis > > > Subject: Xantus's Murrelet and Horned Puffin > > The birding and fishing have been quite good on the southern Oregon > Coast this week. Yesterday, August 8, Mark R Stevens and Mark B > Stevens had a Horned Puffin fly by them while they were in their > kayaks near Goat Island, Harris Beach State Park, Curry County. > > August 7 I took a pelagic trip out of Charleston, Coos County with > both of the Mark Stevens and we had a great trip. We went 39 miles > offshore in search of albacore tuna and found some great birds, the > best being a pair of Xantus's murrelets, about 30 miles offshore. > We also had another sighting of 2 Xantus's Murrelets, so there may > have seen 4 birds. Other highlights include 118 black-footed > albatross, 16 long-tailed jaeger, 3 arctic tern, 1 parasitic > jaeger, 250 cassin's auklet, 1 marbled murrelet, 40 northern > fulmar, 25 sooty shearwater, 20 pink-footed shearwater, 2 leach's > storm petrel, 8 fork-tailed storm petrel, 200 sabine's gull, 2 > south polar skua, 30 rhinoceros auklet, 100 Risso's Dolphin, 140 > pacific white-sided dolphin, 5 Dall's porpoise and about 70 blue > sharks. > > Can one of you please forward the bird list to OBOL. Thanks, Colin > > > > ____________________________________________________________ > Find success and happiness with drug and alcohol rehabilitation. > Click now. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090809/8a294fd9/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Aug 9 12:57:59 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 19:57:59 +0000 Subject: [obol] Nesting/summering Lark Sparrows in Douglas Co. Message-ID: Greetings All, I am putting the finishing touches on my Spring 2009 North American Birds report and I had a question about Lark Sparrows. I know that they formerly bred around Umpqua C.C. and perhaps out towards Glide. Is anyone aware of any recent breeding records/summering birds in Douglas Co? The Oregon Breeding Bird Atlas shows one darkened cell in the north central part of the county, but nothing else. I can't recall any reports of nesting birds in the aforementioned areas since the 1980's. Thanks, Dave _________________________________________________________________ Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/personalize.aspx?ocid=PID23391::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HYGN_express:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090809/ca33eb1f/attachment.html From orembirder at yahoo.com Sun Aug 9 17:22:05 2009 From: orembirder at yahoo.com (KC) Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 17:22:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Headquarters Message-ID: <897356.79053.qm@web53911.mail.re2.yahoo.com> I went out to try and see if any shorebirds were still hanging around the Fern Ridge Headquarters on the south side of highway 126. The water has dried up considerably and the shorebirds were almost non-existent that I could see. I had Greater Yellowlegs, Killdeer and some Least Sandpipers was all. It was still a nice day to be out birding. I was surprised to see a Lincoln Sparrow this early in the fall migration season. I also saw a beautiful Bonaparte's Gull out on the pond behind the headquarters. Always love to see those. A gorgeous light phased Red-shouldered Hawk also posed for great looks. A complete list follows below. KC Childs 8 Canada Goose 25 Wood Duck 30 Mallard 8 Cinnamon Teal 10 Northern Shoveler 10 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Great Egret 2 Turkey Vulture 1 Cooper's Hawk 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 20 American Coot 2 Killdeer 2 Greater Yellowlegs 2 Least Sandpiper 1 Bonaparte's Gull 1 Belted Kingfisher 2 Black Phoebe 1 Steller's Jay 4 Western Scrub-Jay 4 Purple Martin 4 Barn Swallow 1 Marsh Wren 5 American Robin 10 Cedar Waxwing 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 Spotted Towhee 4 Savannah Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 1 Lincoln's Sparrow 4 Black-headed Grosbeak 3 Red-winged Blackbird 1 Purple Finch -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090809/e52418bd/attachment.html From vagabondbirder at yahoo.com Sun Aug 9 17:59:16 2009 From: vagabondbirder at yahoo.com (Richard Messenger) Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 17:59:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Possible sharp- tailed Sandpiper?? at South Jetty at Yaquina Bridge Message-ID: <688405.50861.qm@web59007.mail.re1.yahoo.com> ? ? This afternoon?my friend from Chicago and I?saw what we believe?to be a juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper.??? It was seen on the rocks?where the beach and the jetty intersect. It had a very prominent white?eye-line, a rufous cap,?a lightly streaked buffy/rufous breast cut off?similarly to?a?Pec,? an even primary projection with the tail, and overall much more reddish than a Pec.??? We were unable to see the under tail coverts from the angle we were looking at it.. After checking several places and especially the Illinois Ornithological Society diagnostic photo by Kanae Hirabayshi we feel confident in? our sighting and that it was not a juvenile Pec.? Unfortunately we did not have a camera with us .We would appreciate any comments from those who might see this bird. ? Good? Birding ? Richard Messenger The Vagabond Birder ?Wherever the RV is Parked Reedsport, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090809/6a739632/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sun Aug 9 18:00:27 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 18:00:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] RED-SHOULDERED HAWK - Deschutes County - Tumalo SP, Tum Res, Hatfield ponds. Message-ID: OBOL STAR of the morning - Red-shouldered Hawks which have been about annual for the past several years around Tumalo Reservoir. We did see 2 birds at one time so there is more than one but no certainty of breeding in the area yet. While shorebirding on the flats of the Res, Pete heard the call. It called repeatedly for the next hour or more and we moved about to follow the sounds. Since Steve K had his ipod, we were able to verify the calls and it even responded to the brief playing of it. We had lengthy scope views of a beautiful adult. I would suggest parking where the horse trailers always park, listen, and move in the direction of the calls. Also at Tum Res, we enjoyed flocks of variety of swallows, Vesper Sparrows, one juv Lazuli Bunting, and a small group of Empids with Gray and the usual "Dammonds" and "Husky" that Howard and Dean are famous for identifying. A few distant peeps and a couple of G Yellowlegs were out there also. Red Crossbills are active in the area with apparent young birds in tow, brown streaky things without color. Fun to watch them up close. ONE White-fronted Ibis remains at Hatfield, front pond. ONE Semipalmated SANDPIPER at the front pond with about 30 peeps, mostly Leasts, a few Westerns. Good scope views of the bird with it's short black bill, plumage without red, the black legs etc. 20+ Long-billed Dowitchers, 4 Greater Yellowlegs. And for Tumalo State Park, the most notable birds were small flocks of Orange-crowned Warblers in willows/ brushy areas and also several Cassins Vireos. To see the full list, see the report called "Bend" at http://birdnotes.net. Total number of species seen: 62 Good birding, judy jmeredit at bendnet.com From dawn.rasmussen at hotmail.com Sun Aug 9 18:17:44 2009 From: dawn.rasmussen at hotmail.com (Dawn Rasmussen) Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 19:17:44 -0600 Subject: [obol] Great Horned Owl - Rocky Butte (NE PDX) Message-ID: Friday, Aug 7th @ about 10:00pm, heard a great horned owl below Rocky Butte (near PDX airport); responded in kind and it came closer. No visual, but was excited to know it is in the neighborhood. _________________________________________________________________ Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail?. http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/personalize.aspx?ocid=PID23391::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HYGN_express:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090809/c77720f7/attachment.html From bigburd_jh at yahoo.com Sun Aug 9 18:03:09 2009 From: bigburd_jh at yahoo.com (bigburd_jh at yahoo.com) Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 01:03:09 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Clark County, Washington on August 09, 2009 Message-ID: <200908100103.n7A139Ox027001@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Jeff Hayes by http://birdnotes.net Date: August 9, 2009 Location: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Clark County, Washington Low temperature: 68 degrees fahrenheit High temperature: 80 degrees fahrenheit Wind direction: N Prevailing wind speed: 6-11 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 50% Precipitation: none Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 2 Gadwall 10 Mallard 200 Cinnamon Teal 5 Northern Shoveler 2 Green-Winged Teal 2 Pied-billed Grebe 8 American Bittern 1 Great Blue Heron 7 Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 [1] Turkey Vulture 3 Osprey 3 [2] Bald Eagle 1 [3] Northern Harrier 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 [4] Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Kestrel 1 American Coot 30 [5] Semipalmated Plover 2 Killdeer 3 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Least Sandpiper 6 Dunlin 4 [6] Caspian Tern 2 Mourning Dove 1 Vaux's Swift 3 Belted Kingfisher 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Western Wood-Pewee 6 Willow Flycatcher 1 Western Scrub-Jay 5 American Crow 60 Common Raven 1 Purple Martin 6 Tree Swallow 8 Violet-green Swallow 20 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 5 Barn Swallow 25 Black-capped Chickadee 9 Bushtit 6 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 [7] Brown Creeper 2 Bewick's Wren 2 House Wren 8 [8] Swainson's Thrush 2 American Robin 5 European Starling 100 Cedar Waxwing 15 [9] Common Yellowthroat 8 Savannah Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 10 Black-headed Grosbeak 1 Lazuli Bunting 1 [10] Red-winged Blackbird 150 Brewer's Blackbird 20 House Finch 2 American Goldfinch 12 Footnotes: [1] juvenile, just past where the road crosses the slough BEFORE Rest Lake (I should pay more attention to the markers) The Bittern was on one side of the car, the BCNH on the other. [2] 1 adult with 2 juveniles, airborne [3] second-year bird [4] one adult and one juvenile seen flying overhead, mobbed by crows [5] many juveniles [6] adult, winter plumage [7] entrance canyon [8] family group [9] mostly juveniles [10] juvenile Total number of species seen: 58 From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Aug 9 19:05:27 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 09 Aug 2009 19:05:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Central Coast Range & Coast birds this weekend Message-ID: <1249869927.5914.61.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, Some quick notes (nothing rare) from a weekend camping at Salmonberry Park in western Benton County with Steve & Kelly Dougill's family, including a day at Ona Beach north of Waldport in Lincoln County on Saturday. At Salmonberry Campground, the usual Coast Range denizens were present, though (for the most part) quieter than might be expected earlier in the season. SWAINSON'S THRUSHES were calling but no longer singing in the evenings. EVENING GROSBEAKS and RED CROSSBILLS were vocal, a few WINTER WRENS were singing, and a family group of HUTTON'S VIREOS were seen and heard flying around. A few COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were heard in the evenings and a couple of GREEN HERONS were squawking along the Alsea River in the early mornings. At Ona Beach on Saturday, we enjoyed extended close views of about 90 WESTERN SANDPIPERS (overwhelmingly juveniles with a few adults), 5 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 3 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, plus a few HEERMANN'S GULLS along with the Californias & Westerns. Some birds were flying well offshore but apart from noting that a few of them were cormorants, we let go of the ones that were 7.5+ miles offshore (no doubt including many rare albatrosses, boobies, frigatebirds, and tropicbirds). Eckman Slough east of Waldport had about 5 LESSER YELLOWLEGS to go with a few GREATER YELLOWLEGS. At Alsea Falls today we heard a RED CROSSBILL singing yet another improvisational-sounding song. Steve saw a DIPPER which the rest of us missed even though we were looking at all the DIPPER POOP. Later we stopped by Marys Peak to pick some huckleberries at an undisclosed location, where Steve (apparently not focused on the task at hand) also mentioned hearing an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER and a good assortment of warblers (WILSON'S, HERMIT, ORANGE-CROWNED and I think he mentioned a MACGILLIVRAY'S). Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From andy.frank at kp.org Sun Aug 9 19:34:46 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 19:34:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island 50+ Pelicans Message-ID: <949E40A843A445E7BFF2992F4E3EB56E@familyroom> This afternoon I went to Oak Island on Sauvie Island and had a blast. There are more than 50 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS there. Almost half of them were in a tight group actively feeding. With their heads bobbing up and down and rapidly changing positions as the group moved, in combination with their staying at the opposite side of the lake and others flying around, it was difficult to get an accurate count. I first counted 51 and a repeat count a few minutes later I got 58. Either way, that's a lot of pelicans for there. The largest I've counted there previously was 44 and that was last year. There were several flocks of peeps that must have had at least 50 birds in each. They never got close enough to ID. However there was a group of about a dozen shorebirds that also kept their distance but I noted that they were significantly larger than the other peeps and had a weak wing stripe and mostly dark tail and am assuming they were BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS. There were also 5 CASPIAN TERNS, my first-of-season GREAT EGRET, and lots of TREE SWALLOWS with one PURPLE MARTIN. Andy Frank From dendroicaman at peak.org Mon Aug 10 12:20:59 2009 From: dendroicaman at peak.org (dendroicaman at peak.org) Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:20:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Off topic: KBO Wings and Wine Gala Message-ID: <12492.66.241.66.51.1249932059.squirrel@webmail.peak.org> Hi all, Thought I would pass along this event--please delete if uninterested. Here's a link to the flyer: http://www.klamathbird.org/ww2009web.pdf Or, if you can't read it, visit the KBO main site: www.klamathbird.org, or the text is below: Klamath Bird Observatory Wings and Wine Gala Saturday, August 22nd 6pm?10pm RoxyAnn Winery in Medford, Oregon Flying into the future, celebrating a tradition of conservation Benefitting birds...ecosystems...our quality of life Features: Complimentary wine and delicious local food Not-So-Silent Auction from 6pm-9pm Live Music from ONE HORSE SHY Tickets: $45 ($55 at the door) Available at: Northwest Nature Shop in Ashland Wild Birds Unlimited in Medford Or call 541.201.0866 Thanks! Karl Fairchild currently Ashland, OR From gary.l.ivey at gmail.com Mon Aug 10 12:26:29 2009 From: gary.l.ivey at gmail.com (Gary Ivey) Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:26:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 17, Issue 10 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On 8/10/09, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: > Send obol mailing list submissions to > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > obol-owner at oregonbirdwatch.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of obol digest..." > From pdbfreeman at centurytel.net Mon Aug 10 00:51:19 2009 From: pdbfreeman at centurytel.net (Patrick Freeman) Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:51:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] wilson's warbler Message-ID: On Friday Aug 9, I watched a Wilson's Warbler flit around my rock garden. There was no escaping that round black cap on that yellow body. I hope he returns with a family. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090810/cd109af8/attachment.html From willwright26 at q.com Sun Aug 9 22:07:40 2009 From: willwright26 at q.com (willwright26 at q.com) Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 22:07:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] [birding] Fall Migrants In-Reply-To: <1249869927.5914.61.camel@clearwater> References: <1249869927.5914.61.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: Hello birders, I've noticed over the last two weeks fall migrants in the neighborhood (SW Corvallis). Western Tanagers are in the neighborhood as well as Olive-sided Flycatchers and (down from the woods) Hutton's Vireo (to stay all winter). --Will P.S. Although there seems to be lots of good mud, as Lisa suggests, the only shorebird I find at Starker Mud Pond is the Greater Yellowlegs ( with a small, Western-type flying away along the creek). From winkg at hevanet.com Mon Aug 10 13:12:37 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:12:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mt Jefferson Wilderness/Santiam Pass Message-ID: <20090810201241.2AC87A80CD@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> My son and I camped this weekend at Big Lake and went on a couple of hikes. On Saturday, Aug 8, we hiked to Carl Lake (DeLorme pg 56 D-2) from the Cabot Lake trailhead. Driving in on FR1230, in the vicinity of Roaring Springs (pg 56 D-3) we found about a half dozen LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS, WESTERN BLUEBIRDS and MacGILLIVRAY'S, ORANGE-CROWNED, and NASHVILLE WARBLERS. The first two miles or so of the Cabot Lake trail were very birdy, with WESTERN TANAGERS, BLACK- HEADED GROSBEAKS, ORANGE-CROWNED and MacGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS, and WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES. At the 5200' level between Cabot and Carl Lakes we found a single BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER. On Sunday, we hiked from Santiam Pass to Lower Berley Lake (Delorme pg 50 A-1). Not nearly as birdy, except for DARK-EYED JUNCOS. Of interest, to me anyway, was a couple of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES at 5200ft in a small stand of firs that had survived the extensive burn. Less than a mile from the trailhead at Santiam Pass, we found an AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER and two MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS (found on the way out, of course--have to pay your dues first). Although not birdy, the trail to Berley Lakes had tons of butterflies: mostly CALIFORNIA TORTOISESHELLS, but also ORANGE SULPHURS, LILAC- BORDERED COPPERS, LORQUIN'S ADMIRALS, a couple of HOFFMAN'S CHECKERSPOTS, and a bunch of BLUES and FRITILLARIES that I'm still trying to sort out. Wink Gross Portland From deweysage at verizon.net Mon Aug 10 18:55:15 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:55:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Cty PRAIRIE FALCON Message-ID: <4A80CF83.70306@verizon.net> 8/10 Bandon, Coos Cty Kathy and I had a PRAIRIE FALCON fly over the vehicle on Seabird Lane at the south end of Bandon this morning. The bird was flying low and north. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Mon Aug 10 22:25:15 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:25:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] N. Central OR weekend Message-ID: <002b01ca1a44$3b17e340$0100007f@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: This weekend we visited N. Central Oregon. Highlights below: Saturday: Sherman county Osprey -- Deschutes River below Sherar's Bridge many Lazuli Bunting -- Deschutes River below Sherar's Bridge BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER -- Deschutes River below Sherar's Bridge (only warbler of the weekend! and a county first for me) Virginia Rail -- Finnegan Rd. pond Gtr. Yellowlegs -- Kopke Rd. pond, W of Kent Yellow-headed Blackbird -- Twin Lakes Rd. Eurasian collared-doves -- Grass Valley & Moro 2 Least Sandpiper -- Moro sewage pond nil at Wasco sewage pond Saturday eve: Condon sewage pond 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 5 Western Sandpipers 15 Least Sandpipers 3 Baird's Sandpipers 17 Long-billed Dowitchers 1 Wilson's Snipe 40+ Common Nighthawks 1 N. Harrier Plus EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES in town (a county first) plus a begging immature Gt. Horned Owl at Lost Valley Sunday: Lost Valley forest C. Nighthawk Williamson's Sapsucker -- male Hairy Woodpecker Flicker W. wood-pewee - many Dusky Flycatcher Steller's Jay Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Pygmy Nuthatch Mt. Chickadee House Wren W Bluebird Robins W. Tanager Spotted Towhee Chipping Sparrow Vesper Sparrow -- MANY, on Trail Fork Rd. as well. Good birding, everyone, Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Tue Aug 11 07:48:14 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:48:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fall Swallows Message-ID: <000501ca1a92$e5afc6d0$49db63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: This Saturday we saw many (50-100) VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS along the Deschutes River below Sherar's Bridge in Sherman/Wasco county. They were flying over the river and sitting on utility wires by the RR tracks. We saw a few BARN SWALLOWS and heard a ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW. Up above on the heights of Sherman county, we found small numbers of BARN SWALLOWS at Kopke Rd. (W of Kent), along Twin Lakes Rd., and over the sewage ponds at Moro and Wasco. Over at the Condon sewage ponds toward dusk we found numbers of BARN SWALLOWS and heard another ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW. On Sunday we found no swallows at higher elevation Lost Valley on the south end of Gilliam county. On Trail Fork Rd. (deLorme atlas, p.84, D4) we found a few BARN SWALLOWS. We continued to see a few as we continued north through Condon to Arlington. ****************** I have a vivid memory of legions of swallows on high tension wires just SW of the town of Wallowa in September. I just looked back in my journal and found these entries: Aug. 31, 1979 -- high tension line south of the Wallowa football field "... counted 178 swallows on high wire." Sept. 1, 1979 "Joseph sewage lagoon: r.w., t., b.,v.g., c. swallow." [b=barn] "No swallows on wire W of Wallowa" Sept. 6, 1979 "... at [Wallowa] football field I saw swallows on the wire again... I counted some, then estimated : 600 birds!" Sept 7, 1979 " The barn swallows have been gone from the [Wallowa River] bridge for some weeks now, but the swallows were still on the wire this morn..." Sept 10, 1979 "... on the wire: swallows, mostly violet-green. 1/2 mile of them, 6-8" apart on 2 wires (that would be 10,000 birds, sounds like too many)..." Sept 11, 1979 " swallows still on the wire this morning" Sept 12, 1979 "swallows still on the wire - same numbers" After that I was gone for a long weekend, and when I came back, the swallows were gone. Good memories... *********************** Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan -------------------------------- Yamhill county Aug 1 & 2 weekend sightings Alan Contreras acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Aug 2 21:51:14 PDT 2009 VGs leave very early and cluster along rivers and on the coast. They have been essentially gone from residential Eugene since 3rd week July. Almost all swallows around town now are Barns. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON > From: Carol Karlen > Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 21:46:22 -0700 > To: OBOL > Subject: [obol] Yamhill county Aug 1 & 2 weekend sightings > > OBOL: > > Sunday: Aug 2 ...> > Briedwell Rd. > -- 200 Violet-green Swallows > > Can any expert in phenology tell us if the Violet-green Swallows leave > before the other species of swallow? ...> Good birding, everyone, > > Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen From romain at frontiernet.net Tue Aug 11 09:35:49 2009 From: romain at frontiernet.net (Romain Cooper) Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:35:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] CA-OR shorebird-ple Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20090811091109.044e2978@frontiernet.net> Hello all, The Siskiyou Field Institute (www.thesfi.org - 541-597-8530) is offering a Coastal Birding class on Sept. 11`th (Fri.) & 12th (Sat.) led by Southern Oregon Univ. ornithologist Stewart Janes. On Friday, Shorebirds will be the main target and the Crescent City, CA / Del Norte County area will be birded. Lodging is provided on Friday night at the beautiful, historic Redwood Hostel (on Hwy 101, False Klamath Cove south of Crescent City on the ocean). For Saturday: A pelagic trip on the Tidewater out of Brookings, OR. All this (including lodging) for an economical $170 and you support a wonderful non-profit nature education organization, Siskiyou Field Institute. I participated in this event last year and we had a great time and saw lots of birds. (It's possible to pick only one day or the other at a reduced rate - $130 for the Pelagic so this is a good way for some of you to pump up your Curry County list.) Call SFI or check out their website for more info. Thanks, R Siskiyou Biological Services LLC Romain Cooper 10398 Takilma Road Cave Junction, OR 97523 541-592-2311 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090811/1b63c6cc/attachment.html From romain at frontiernet.net Tue Aug 11 09:37:56 2009 From: romain at frontiernet.net (Romain Cooper) Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:37:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] CA-OR shorebird-pelagic course Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20090811093653.0471dcf8@frontiernet.net> Hello all, (Excuse the repetition. My first message had a goof in the title.) The Siskiyou Field Institute (www.thesfi.org - 541-597-8530) is offering a Coastal Birding class on Sept. 11`th (Fri.) & 12th (Sat.) led by Southern Oregon Univ. ornithologist Stewart Janes. On Friday, Shorebirds will be the main target and the Crescent City, CA / Del Norte County area will be birded. Lodging is provided on Friday night at the beautiful, historic Redwood Hostel (on Hwy 101, False Klamath Cove south of Crescent City on the ocean). For Saturday: A pelagic trip on the Tidewater out of Brookings, OR. All this (including lodging) for an economical $170 and you support a wonderful non-profit nature education organization, Siskiyou Field Institute. I participated in this event last year and we had a great time and saw lots of birds. (It's possible to pick only one day or the other at a reduced rate - $130 for the Pelagic so this is a good way for some of you to pump up your Curry County list.) Call SFI or check out their website for more info. Thanks, R Siskiyou Biological Services LLC Romain Cooper 10398 Takilma Road Cave Junction, OR 97523 541-592-2311 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090811/16274127/attachment.html From fschrock at gmail.com Tue Aug 11 12:34:29 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:34:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fall Swallows In-Reply-To: <000501ca1a92$e5afc6d0$49db63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> References: <000501ca1a92$e5afc6d0$49db63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Message-ID: <390ebd880908111234k646b595ag77f32d6deb2dec72@mail.gmail.com> I've seen only scattered individual Violet-green Swallows for the past few weeks, but yesterday at about 6:30 p.m. in the Coast Range foothills west of Willamina in Yamhill Co. on a ridgetop I drove under a flock of about 100 swallows, and the only ones I could identify were Violet-greens. I'm guessing that it was a group traveling southward together. There was no open water in the area, but maybe there was an insect hatch going on there, or some updraft air currents coming over the ridge giving them a lift. ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== On Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 7:48 AM, Paul T. Sullivan wrote: > OBOL: > > This Saturday we saw many (50-100) VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS along the > Deschutes > River below Sherar's Bridge in Sherman/Wasco county. They were flying over > the river and sitting on utility wires by the RR tracks. We saw a few BARN > SWALLOWS and heard a ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW. > > Up above on the heights of Sherman county, we found small numbers of BARN > SWALLOWS at Kopke Rd. (W of Kent), along Twin Lakes Rd., and over the > sewage > ponds at Moro and Wasco. > > Over at the Condon sewage ponds toward dusk we found numbers of BARN > SWALLOWS and heard another ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW. > > On Sunday we found no swallows at higher elevation Lost Valley on the south > end of Gilliam county. On Trail Fork Rd. (deLorme atlas, p.84, D4) we > found > a few BARN SWALLOWS. We continued to see a few as we continued north > through Condon to Arlington. > ****************** > I have a vivid memory of legions of swallows on high tension wires just SW > of the town of Wallowa in September. I just looked back in my journal and > found these entries: > > Aug. 31, 1979 -- high tension line south of the Wallowa football field > "... counted 178 swallows on high wire." > > Sept. 1, 1979 > "Joseph sewage lagoon: r.w., t., b.,v.g., c. swallow." [b=barn] > "No swallows on wire W of Wallowa" > > Sept. 6, 1979 > "... at [Wallowa] football field I saw swallows on the wire again... I > counted some, then estimated : 600 birds!" > > Sept 7, 1979 > " The barn swallows have been gone from the [Wallowa River] bridge for some > weeks now, but the swallows were still on the wire this morn..." > > Sept 10, 1979 > "... on the wire: swallows, mostly violet-green. 1/2 mile of them, 6-8" > apart on 2 wires (that would be 10,000 birds, sounds like too many)..." > > Sept 11, 1979 > " swallows still on the wire this morning" > > Sept 12, 1979 > "swallows still on the wire - same numbers" > > After that I was gone for a long weekend, and when I came back, the > swallows > were gone. > > Good memories... > *********************** > Good birding, everyone, > > Paul T. Sullivan > > > -------------------------------- > Yamhill county Aug 1 & 2 weekend sightings > Alan Contreras acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM > Sun Aug 2 21:51:14 PDT 2009 > > VGs leave very early and cluster along rivers and on the coast. They have > been essentially gone from residential Eugene since 3rd week July. Almost > all swallows around town now are Barns. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > > > From: Carol Karlen > > Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 21:46:22 -0700 > > To: OBOL > > Subject: [obol] Yamhill county Aug 1 & 2 weekend sightings > > > > OBOL: > > > > Sunday: Aug 2 > ...> > > Briedwell Rd. > > -- 200 Violet-green Swallows > > > > Can any expert in phenology tell us if the Violet-green Swallows leave > > before the other species of swallow? > > ...> Good birding, everyone, > > > > Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090811/cfe58c01/attachment.html From rkorpi at hotmail.com Tue Aug 11 14:37:02 2009 From: rkorpi at hotmail.com (Ray Korpi) Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:37:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Violet-Greens Message-ID: All, My family went in search of peaches in the Hood River Valley this weekend and we noticed many Violet-green (and a few tree mixed in for good measure) over the orchards. There seemed to be good gatherings in the dozens when we were off the highways and could notice them more. I have had some small v-g flocks over Clark's campus in Vancouver this week. And I have started to join in the Eurasian Collared Dove fun as I had one in Hood River Sunday and one near Terrebonne last weekend Ray Korpi rkorpi at hotmail.com Vancouver WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090811/1647502a/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Aug 11 15:53:21 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:53:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Lake Co. Trip- Abert Lake and Beyond 8/7-8/10/2009 Message-ID: <377513.38396.qm@web45311.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Here is my long-winded version of our recent trip to Lake Co.? You can delete immediately if your not interested although I'll try to highlight key birds and numbers for those who are just interested in unusual birds. Friday the 7th: Holly, the dogs, and I left Friday morning and spent most of the day just driving over to Abert Lake. The weather was unsettled but clearing.? Temps were 20 degrees below normal with lots of wind and ample signs of some good rain.? We hit Abert Lake from south to north on Friday but only made brief stops.? The shorebird and gull numbers were hard to ascertain due to the windy conditions.? We decided to head north and camp out in the sage NE of the lake and a couple thousand feet higher.? We found the sage inundated in water, it must have been a good rain alright! We picked out a dry spot and set up camp when I realized I had forgotten the tent- bad news in mosquito country.? Not much we could do so we just threw a tarp down and slept under the stars the rest of the weekend.? Saturday the 8th: About 3AM on Saturday morning I was awakened by a strange "clacking" noise.? I thought I was dreaming and went back to sleep.? A little while later I heard it again and looked out of my sleeping bag, which I was buried in, and saw nothing?? Finally, on the third round of clacking I saw the culprit, a SHORT-EARED OWL which circled us off and on the rest of the night. Pretty cool!? I was planning on getting up and starting a fire around dawn (it got down to 36F), but was awaken a bit early by a coyote howling not 150' away from us.? It would not budge, but neither did our dogs! I finally had to get up and run it off, after a half hour or so of barking. As the sun hit, I found lots of SAGE SPARROWS and BREWER SPARROWS around plus good looks at juvies as well as one GRAY FLYCATCHER. Once the sun dried all our damp gear we loaded up and headed down to the lake. We hit the north end of the Abert Lake about 8AM. It is a large alkaline line with a healthy brine shrimp and brine fly population and is about 15 miles long and about 5 miles wide in spots. It was clear and cold with no wind.? The first thing that struck me was GULLS and were there a lot!? They started at the mudflats on the north end of the lake and continued in a solid string at least five miles south along the east edge of the lake, I imagine there were at least 50-100,000 but did not try to do a really accurate count as I would not have had time to bird!? Mostly CA GULLS (in a variety of color morphs for the juvies) with several thousand FRANKLINS and RING-BILLEDS mixed in.? I also saw a single BONAPARTE'S GULL, there may have been more but I tried to limit my gull time to not push my wife's?and dogs gracious patients?so far.??Also on the north end mudflat was a single?MARBLED GODWIT and the lone flock of LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS?I was to find.? There were scattered small flocks of WILLETS here also and here and there south along the lake. Southwards, we found the?flocks of WILSON'S PHALAROPES with peeps mixed in along the shoreline the northern 1/3 of the lake.?Only maybe ten thousand phalaropes but I was able to pick out 4 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS from the WESTERN SANDPIPER flocks that were mixed with the phalaropes.? Also, a smattering of LEAST SANDPIPERS, with both juvies and adults of all species.? Also a few RED-NECKED PHALAROPES here and there. At about midlake, I spotted my only group of ducks, shovelers, with one SNOW GOOSE. About that point the WILSON'S PHALAROPES rafts started up and continued eight miles to the south end of the lake!? Hundreds of thousands for sure, how many is hard to say, but several hundred thousand would be my estimate.? Most birds were out in the middle of the lake here.? Also the big AMERICAN AVOCET flocks began here.? I estimate 7-10,000 of these easily with BN STILTS scattered everywhere on the lake. All in all, it's pretty mind-blowing thinking that there could be upwards of a half-million to a million birds on this lake?? Oh, and it stunk of brine shrimp.? And that black looking mat on the beach that looks like algae, oh, it isn't algae, it moves when the birds run through it and is actually brine flys! Very cool watching phalaropes running through a cloud of these flys just munching as they go. We spent a meager three hours here and headed up to the high country on the Fremont NF west of Paisley to do some hiking and camping up yonder.? Paisley was infested with EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES as was ever burg we hit in Lake Co. We climbed up into the Fremont NF (now called the Fremont-Winema NF) and it immediately became apparent that something wasn't right on the forest when you can see miles and miles of dead and dying lodgepole and ponderose pine- Mt. Pine beetles, the most amazing infestation I've seen in my life.? Oodles of dead trees, maybe half the entire forest.? Wow!? The only surviving tree in much of the forest is white/grand fir. Even the whitepark pine is dead or dying at higher elevations. Several campgrounds were closed and had been clearcut to remove dead trees (which is most every tree).? There are trees cut down along the roads everywhere and just left on the ground.? The entire forest is a huge tinderbox, awaiting the inevitable dry lightning barage- that would be a conflagration to see!! We stopped and hiked a trail up to Jennie Rim, about 2.5 miles one-way at around 7,000' at the top.? Best birds were the CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS, gotta love these noisy high-countriers. We hiked back down and only then did?I realize I had left my binos up at the top of the rim.??I got to jog back up to the top and luckily found them then jogged?jog back down again, in a little over an hour, felt like a marathon afternoon.? At our camp spot that evening in the dead and dying?lodgepole and ponderosa pine forest we had a COMMON POORWILL at sunset, always a nice treat. Sunday the 9th: Got up at 4:30AM and listened to the GREAT HORNED OWL calling away.?? Another cool morning- 36F at sunrise.? No luck taping in any other owls.? By 5AM there was a COMMON NIGHTHAWK buzzing our campsite and the COMMON POORWILL started calling too, nice way to start the day!? We tried to hike the Dead Horse Rim Trail but quickly got lost and instead hiked the Blue Lake Trail in the Gearhart Mtn. Wilderness.? Lots of dead trees here as everywhere but made for good birding as we had 4 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS on the way up to the lake and not a soul to be found at the lake.? From the lake you could see Gearheart Mtn. well, looked like it was covered with dead trees also. Later in the afternoon we made it back down to the valley and headed north to Summer Lake.? We picked up a slew of birds we hadn't seen at Abert Lake earlier. The most unusual birds were 4 calling SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. It was pretty dang hot so we didn't stay long, saw some distance SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS but didn't see the Snowy Plovers that breed here.? There were A. WHITE-PELIS here which interestingly, there were none of at Abert Lake. Lots of FORSTER'S and BLACK TERNS, CASPIAN TERNS, etc. EC DOVES were singing near Hdqs.,couldn't seem to get away from them in any town this weekend, even Ft. Rock had a few.? Saw maybe 20 nighthawks just as we?we left Summer Lake for ?Silver Lake along the Hwy before going over pass. ? We then bee-lined for Cabin Lake?where we lounged in the warm lake waters before making camp on the edge of the high desert a few miles from the guard station.? Had another GREAT HORNED OWL here during the night. ? Monday the 10th: Clear and cool, but dry with no mosquitoes all night, 35 degrees at sunrise.? It had been around 80F the evening before, it sure dropped temp wise by morning! We headed over to the guzzlers around 9AM and saw quite a few species include GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, CHIPPING and BREWER'S SPARROWS, PINON JAYS, LEWIS'S WOODPECKER, CASSIN'S FINCHES, CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS, and RED CROSSBILLS.?Then it was time to hit the road and head back to the coast- a most enjoyable weekend for sure. ? Merry birding all! Tim R back in Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090811/7d74f318/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Tue Aug 11 16:12:19 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:12:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bank Swallows, Sauvie Island Message-ID: <20090811231221.BF097A80CD@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> The pup and I had a few hours to kill today, so we walked from the end of Rentenaar Road out to the north end of Sturgeon Lake. There were a couple of Andy's AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS across the way, about 50 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, and one SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. Best was the diversity of swallows flying around: all of them (except Purple Martin--oddly), including 5 or so BANK SWALLOWS making their electric-spark calls. Rentenaar Road is almost completely dry; only the deepest ditches have water. A PEREGRINE FALCON flew over as we were driving out. Wink Gross Portland From celata at pacifier.com Tue Aug 11 18:25:30 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:25:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Off topic: Egg-laying Cardinal Meadowhawks Message-ID: <4A821A0A.9050606@pacifier.com> A few snaps of CARDINAL MEADOWHAWKS laying eggs at Crabapple Lake. http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11784/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Aug 11 19:13:18 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:13:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oh, please,... and Thank you!, dept Message-ID: Here's a data point for you (oh so wrong) individuals who thought this discussion thread gratefully long forgotten.... Near Perpetua Bank on 8 August, I spotted a fishing boat on the horizon amid all the tuna fishing vessels. From the deck of our moving charter boat, with only 8x binoculars, I discerned some specks wheeling above the horizon. From this I went inside to have the captain turn the boat to this 20 minute detour, stating that I saw albatrosses behind it. He fix'd a skeptical eye upon me. The radar indicated the boat was 4 nautical miles away--that's 4.4 statute miles US for you landlubbers. Albatrosses are not attracted to tuna fishing vessels, and albacore were jumping out of the water all around us, and forcing other baitfish to the surface to the delight of the many Pink-footed Shearwaters. So, OK, I saw a dozen dark specks that remained above the horizon for 3-4 seconds. But that was sufficient to identify them. Since there were considerably more individuals than just one, I reasonably eliminated Short-tailed Albatross and Southern Giant Petrel, settling on Black-footed Albatross as the only option for ID. Ten minutes later at 12 knots, when we were 2.0 nautical miles (2.2 statute miles) distant, I went outside and took a photo of the boat. From that distance, I could clearly identify by coloration, shape, and flight style, Black-footed Albatross with 8x binoculars while on a moving boat. http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115989072/original I missed a few, though--it turns out there were 475 Black-footed Albatrosses feeding on bycatch behind this oddly unseasonable shrimper! Of course, the birds are nicer up close: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115989931/original In fairness, I should note that this amazing feat of optical dexterity was offset by my trying to turn a Pink-footed Shearwater at 250 feet into a Black-vented Shearwater. And digital photography now gives a new twist on the "two bird" theory. "I must have photographed the wrong bird!" .... Ah, such is birding. Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Aug 11 20:05:13 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:05:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oh, please,... and Thank you!, dept In-Reply-To: Message-ID: This is very useful information, thanks for posting it. I have occasionally identified fulmars by their flight style at distances that seemed sort of dubious, but how far they really were was hard to tell. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Greg Gillson > Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:13:18 -0700 > To: OBOL > Subject: [obol] Oh, please,... and Thank you!, dept > > Here's a data point for you (oh so wrong) individuals who thought this > discussion thread gratefully long forgotten.... > > Near Perpetua Bank on 8 August, I spotted a fishing boat on the horizon amid > all the tuna fishing vessels. From the deck of our moving charter boat, with > only 8x binoculars, I discerned some specks wheeling above the horizon. From > this I went inside to have the captain turn the boat to this 20 minute > detour, stating that I saw albatrosses behind it. He fix'd a skeptical eye > upon me. The radar indicated the boat was 4 nautical miles away--that's 4.4 > statute miles US for you landlubbers. Albatrosses are not attracted to tuna > fishing vessels, and albacore were jumping out of the water all around us, > and forcing other baitfish to the surface to the delight of the many > Pink-footed Shearwaters. > > So, OK, I saw a dozen dark specks that remained above the horizon for 3-4 > seconds. But that was sufficient to identify them. Since there were > considerably more individuals than just one, I reasonably eliminated > Short-tailed Albatross and Southern Giant Petrel, settling on Black-footed > Albatross as the only option for ID. > > Ten minutes later at 12 knots, when we were 2.0 nautical miles (2.2 statute > miles) distant, I went outside and took a photo of the boat. From that > distance, I could clearly identify by coloration, shape, and flight style, > Black-footed Albatross with 8x binoculars while on a moving boat. > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115989072/original > > I missed a few, though--it turns out there were 475 Black-footed Albatrosses > feeding on bycatch behind this oddly unseasonable shrimper! > > Of course, the birds are nicer up close: > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/115989931/original > > In fairness, I should note that this amazing feat of optical dexterity was > offset by my trying to turn a Pink-footed Shearwater at 250 feet into a > Black-vented Shearwater. And digital photography now gives a new twist on > the "two bird" theory. "I must have photographed the wrong bird!" > > .... Ah, such is birding. > > Greg Gillson > The Bird Guide, Inc. > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gorgebirds at juno.com Tue Aug 11 21:41:15 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:41:15 GMT Subject: [obol] Skamania County Birds Message-ID: <20090811.214115.24817.1@webmail05.vgs.untd.com> Today, August 11, Eric Bjorkman, Barry Woodruff and I headed for the Skamania County high elevation lakes on the northwest side of Mt. Adams in search of Spruce Grouse and any other birds. We dipped on the grouse but did have a few good finds including RED CROSSBILLS and EVENING GROSBEAKS at nearly every stop. At Takhlakh Lake we had a pair of PINE GROSBEAKS near the boat ramp and the first of the probably 50 NASHVILLE WARBLERS that we saw during the day. At Horseshoe Lake we found 4 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS but no sign of any grouse. On the way back to check Ollalie Lake we stopped after hearing a few calls and located a scruffy HERMIT WARBLER and more NASHVILLE WARBLERS. Olallie Lake was swarming with birds, we stood in the middle of a mixed flock that had to number over a hundred individuals consisting of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, NASHVILLE WARBLERS, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, HERMIT WARBLERS, WILSON'S WARBLERS and a few GRAY JAYS attracted by the commotion. We thought that we would check Horseshoe Lake one more time for the Spruce Grouse and were treated to a NORTHERN GOSHAWK flying down the road in front of the vehicle, the bird would fly ahead of us and perch in the roadside trees allowing us to flush it two more times before heading into the forest. At the lake we had amazing views of a bright male WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL at eye level. While enjoying this view a COMMON LOON surfaced just yards offshore of us. At the south end of Takh Takh Meadows a PINE MARTEN ran across the road and up into a fir tree where we had close views of it for several minutes and the opportunity for Eric to get some photos of this gorgeous mammal. The only grouse we saw all day was a single SOOTY GROUSE that was calling near Council Lake. Wilson Cady Washougal, WA Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Criminal Lawyers - Click here. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTOVoJO2JEw7ioMBlmmgnq2sKrfwujRIyhDsV88RxOgMJagvemugz2/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090812/ee139974/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Tue Aug 11 22:28:34 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 05:28:34 +0000 Subject: [obol] Lake Co. Trip- Abert Lake and Beyond 8/7-8/10/2009...He ain't making this up! In-Reply-To: <377513.38396.qm@web45311.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <377513.38396.qm@web45311.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Greetings All, Tim's description of the scene at Abert Lake is by no means an exaggeration. David Fix, Jude Power, Dan and Anne Heyerly, my girlfriend Jennifer Brown and I will be in this area this coming weekend and I can't wait. It is absolutely mind-numbing to look out across the lake and then down the mudflats and realize that you can't even begin to start counting the carpet of birds on this lake. I've seen some incredible assemblages of birds in my life, but nothing that has left me as awed as this spectacle. Tim's estimates are pretty close to the numbers that Diane Pettey and I and Steve Dougill and Peter Low came up in late July/early August last year. Simply staggering. I think that a half million total birds is the absolute low end of what is there and as Tim suggests, they may well be a million birds on and around the lake. If you are reading this and live within a half-day drive of Abert Lake, the time is now if you want to catch this year's spectacle. It will be worth every minute of the drive. Dave Irons Eugene, OR Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:53:21 -0700 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Lake Co. Trip- Abert Lake and Beyond 8/7-8/10/2009 Here is my long-winded version of our recent trip to Lake Co. You can delete immediately if your not interested although I'll try to highlight key birds and numbers for those who are just interested in unusual birds. Friday the 7th: Holly, the dogs, and I left Friday morning and spent most of the day just driving over to Abert Lake. The weather was unsettled but clearing. Temps were 20 degrees below normal with lots of wind and ample signs of some good rain. We hit Abert Lake from south to north on Friday but only made brief stops. The shorebird and gull numbers were hard to ascertain due to the windy conditions. We decided to head north and camp out in the sage NE of the lake and a couple thousand feet higher. We found the sage inundated in water, it must have been a good rain alright! We picked out a dry spot and set up camp when I realized I had forgotten the tent- bad news in mosquito country. Not much we could do so we just threw a tarp down and slept under the stars the rest of the weekend. Saturday the 8th: About 3AM on Saturday morning I was awakened by a strange "clacking" noise. I thought I was dreaming and went back to sleep. A little while later I heard it again and looked out of my sleeping bag, which I was buried in, and saw nothing? Finally, on the third round of clacking I saw the culprit, a SHORT-EARED OWL which circled us off and on the rest of the night. Pretty cool! I was planning on getting up and starting a fire around dawn (it got down to 36F), but was awaken a bit early by a coyote howling not 150' away from us. It would not budge, but neither did our dogs! I finally had to get up and run it off, after a half hour or so of barking. As the sun hit, I found lots of SAGE SPARROWS and BREWER SPARROWS around plus good looks at juvies as well as one GRAY FLYCATCHER. Once the sun dried all our damp gear we loaded up and headed down to the lake. We hit the north end of the Abert Lake about 8AM. It is a large alkaline line with a healthy brine shrimp and brine fly population and is about 15 miles long and about 5 miles wide in spots. It was clear and cold with no wind. The first thing that struck me was GULLS and were there a lot! They started at the mudflats on the north end of the lake and continued in a solid string at least five miles south along the east edge of the lake, I imagine there were at least 50-100,000 but did not try to do a really accurate count as I would not have had time to bird! Mostly CA GULLS (in a variety of color morphs for the juvies) with several thousand FRANKLINS and RING-BILLEDS mixed in. I also saw a single BONAPARTE'S GULL, there may have been more but I tried to limit my gull time to not push my wife's and dogs gracious patients so far. Also on the north end mudflat was a single MARBLED GODWIT and the lone flock of LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS I was to find. There were scattered small flocks of WILLETS here also and here and there south along the lake. Southwards, we found the flocks of WILSON'S PHALAROPES with peeps mixed in along the shoreline the northern 1/3 of the lake. Only maybe ten thousand phalaropes but I was able to pick out 4 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS from the WESTERN SANDPIPER flocks that were mixed with the phalaropes. Also, a smattering of LEAST SANDPIPERS, with both juvies and adults of all species. Also a few RED-NECKED PHALAROPES here and there. At about midlake, I spotted my only group of ducks, shovelers, with one SNOW GOOSE. About that point the WILSON'S PHALAROPES rafts started up and continued eight miles to the south end of the lake! Hundreds of thousands for sure, how many is hard to say, but several hundred thousand would be my estimate. Most birds were out in the middle of the lake here. Also the big AMERICAN AVOCET flocks began here. I estimate 7-10,000 of these easily with BN STILTS scattered everywhere on the lake. All in all, it's pretty mind-blowing thinking that there could be upwards of a half-million to a million birds on this lake? Oh, and it stunk of brine shrimp. And that black looking mat on the beach that looks like algae, oh, it isn't algae, it moves when the birds run through it and is actually brine flys! Very cool watching phalaropes running through a cloud of these flys just munching as they go. We spent a meager three hours here and headed up to the high country on the Fremont NF west of Paisley to do some hiking and camping up yonder. Paisley was infested with EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES as was ever burg we hit in Lake Co. We climbed up into the Fremont NF (now called the Fremont-Winema NF) and it immediately became apparent that something wasn't right on the forest when you can see miles and miles of dead and dying lodgepole and ponderose pine- Mt. Pine beetles, the most amazing infestation I've seen in my life. Oodles of dead trees, maybe half the entire forest. Wow! The only surviving tree in much of the forest is white/grand fir. Even the whitepark pine is dead or dying at higher elevations. Several campgrounds were closed and had been clearcut to remove dead trees (which is most every tree). There are trees cut down along the roads everywhere and just left on the ground. The entire forest is a huge tinderbox, awaiting the inevitable dry lightning barage- that would be a conflagration to see!! We stopped and hiked a trail up to Jennie Rim, about 2.5 miles one-way at around 7,000' at the top. Best birds were the CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS, gotta love these noisy high-countriers. We hiked back down and only then did I realize I had left my binos up at the top of the rim. I got to jog back up to the top and luckily found them then jogged jog back down again, in a little over an hour, felt like a marathon afternoon. At our camp spot that evening in the dead and dying lodgepole and ponderosa pine forest we had a COMMON POORWILL at sunset, always a nice treat. Sunday the 9th: Got up at 4:30AM and listened to the GREAT HORNED OWL calling away. Another cool morning- 36F at sunrise. No luck taping in any other owls. By 5AM there was a COMMON NIGHTHAWK buzzing our campsite and the COMMON POORWILL started calling too, nice way to start the day! We tried to hike the Dead Horse Rim Trail but quickly got lost and instead hiked the Blue Lake Trail in the Gearhart Mtn. Wilderness. Lots of dead trees here as everywhere but made for good birding as we had 4 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS on the way up to the lake and not a soul to be found at the lake. From the lake you could see Gearheart Mtn. well, looked like it was covered with dead trees also. Later in the afternoon we made it back down to the valley and headed north to Summer Lake. We picked up a slew of birds we hadn't seen at Abert Lake earlier. The most unusual birds were 4 calling SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. It was pretty dang hot so we didn't stay long, saw some distance SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS but didn't see the Snowy Plovers that breed here. There were A. WHITE-PELIS here which interestingly, there were none of at Abert Lake. Lots of FORSTER'S and BLACK TERNS, CASPIAN TERNS, etc. EC DOVES were singing near Hdqs.,couldn't seem to get away from them in any town this weekend, even Ft. Rock had a few. Saw maybe 20 nighthawks just as we we left Summer Lake for Silver Lake along the Hwy before going over pass. We then bee-lined for Cabin Lake where we lounged in the warm lake waters before making camp on the edge of the high desert a few miles from the guard station. Had another GREAT HORNED OWL here during the night. Monday the 10th: Clear and cool, but dry with no mosquitoes all night, 35 degrees at sunrise. It had been around 80F the evening before, it sure dropped temp wise by morning! We headed over to the guzzlers around 9AM and saw quite a few species include GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, CHIPPING and BREWER'S SPARROWS, PINON JAYS, LEWIS'S WOODPECKER, CASSIN'S FINCHES, CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS, and RED CROSSBILLS. Then it was time to hit the road and head back to the coast- a most enjoyable weekend for sure. Merry birding all! Tim R back in Coos Bay _________________________________________________________________ Get back to school stuff for them and cashback for you. http://www.bing.com/cashback?form=MSHYCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHYCB_BackToSchool_Cashback_BTSCashback_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090812/777d4a76/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Tue Aug 11 23:08:10 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 02:08:10 -0400 Subject: [obol] Pelagic Trip from Newport 8-8, photos and unknowns Message-ID: <8CBE92A6708E582-CC0-1417@FWM-M34.sysops.aol.com> The trip was my first pelagic trip, but it will certainly not be my last. Greg, Tim and the other guides were nothing short of awesome. I was constantly amazed by their ability to zone in on a bird and identify it, while it was just a black dot to me. And along with the amazing birds and animals were some pretty amazing people too. I'm grateful to all who took the time to share your knowledge with me. I have some photos of the trip here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/sets/72157621890033979/detail/ Of course it would not be me if I did not have birds I can't identify. Here are those links: #2: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3523/3812425675_5c6170870e_o.jpg #3: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3540/3812436063_f4c9b54b4c_o.jpg #5: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2551/3813255942_e413588cd2_o.jpg #6: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3484/3813257184_704e197d98_o.jpg #7: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2424/3813256510_304b61f05e_o.jpg It is entirely possible that I misnamed some that I think I know, Please correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks in advance Johnny Sasko Sandy, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090812/7686d900/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Aug 12 06:24:37 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:24:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mary's Peak 8/5/09 Message-ID: I spent last Tuesday night on Mary's Peak and awoke to a windless morning. Flying insects were so thick on the noble firs as to sound like a bee hive. Where the Meadow Edge Trail crosses the service road to the summit a mixed flock of birds was feasting on these bugs. At least 50% of the flock was juncos, adults and parents alike. They were feeding in the branches at the same level as the warblers, 3-10m above the ground. The next most abundant species was Hermit Warbler, probably 30% of the flock, then Wilson's Warbler, the latter still fabulously bright yellow. There were no Black-throated Grays in the flock, although I saw one around the corner, further up the road, by itself. There were no chickadees in this mixed flock, just juncos. THey didn't move as long as I watched, maybe ten minutes. Several score birds were present. Lars Norgren From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Wed Aug 12 08:23:04 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:23:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] May Shoot Message-ID: <4A82DE58.2090409@gmail.com> My May shoot is up on my web site at http://www.kevinsmithnaturephotos.com Click on 'New Sightings' in the left column. In May I photo'd American Dipper feeding a fledgling American Robin on nest Bald Eagle feeding nestling Res-tail Hawks on nests Brewer's Blackbird with food for nestlings And MORE Enjoy Kevin Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090812/26b16bde/attachment.vcf From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Wed Aug 12 12:12:45 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:12:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lake Co. Trip- Abert Lake and Beyond 8/7-8/10/2009...He ain't making this up! In-Reply-To: References: <377513.38396.qm@web45311.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <2b1bbd260908121212i4cef3c9bpcc934a9827b405ce@mail.gmail.com> I have to agree with Dave on this. Lydia Cruz and I visited Lake Abert mid September 2007 on our way home from Malheur and it was just as incredible. It ended up being an unexpected highlight of the trip. Shorebird movement along the coast has been pretty steady this week. Lots of juvenile peeps. Yesterday (8-12) we had 9 WHIMBREL, 1 MARBLED GODWIT and 3 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS fly south past Siltcoos, Lane Co. On Monday (8-11) we saw 19 WHIMBREL fly south past Tenmile Creek, Coos Co. Today there were 4 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS there along with the regulars. Daniel Farrar On Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 10:28 PM, David Irons wrote: > Greetings All, > > Tim's description of the scene at Abert Lake is by no means an > exaggeration. David Fix, Jude Power, Dan and Anne Heyerly, my girlfriend > Jennifer Brown and I will be in this area this coming weekend and I can't > wait. It is absolutely mind-numbing to look out across the lake and then > down the mudflats and realize that you can't even begin to start counting > the carpet of birds on this lake. I've seen some incredible assemblages of > birds in my life, but nothing that has left me as awed as this spectacle. > Tim's estimates are pretty close to the numbers that Diane Pettey and I and > Steve Dougill and Peter Low came up in late July/early August last year. > Simply staggering. I think that a half million total birds is the absolute > low end of what is there and as Tim suggests, they may well be a million > birds on and around the lake. > > If you are reading this and live within a half-day drive of Abert Lake, the > time is now if you want to catch this year's spectacle. It will be worth > every minute of the drive. > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > > ------------------------------ > Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:53:21 -0700 > From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Lake Co. Trip- Abert Lake and Beyond 8/7-8/10/2009 > > Here is my long-winded version of our recent trip to Lake Co. You can > delete immediately if your not interested although I'll try to highlight key > birds and numbers for those who are just interested in unusual birds. > > *Friday the 7th*: > Holly, the dogs, and I left Friday morning and spent most of the day just > driving over to Abert Lake. The weather was unsettled but clearing. Temps > were 20 degrees below normal with lots of wind and ample signs of some good > rain. We hit Abert Lake from south to north on Friday but only made brief > stops. The shorebird and gull numbers were hard to ascertain due to the > windy conditions. We decided to head north and camp out in the sage NE of > the lake and a couple thousand feet higher. We found the sage inundated in > water, it must have been a good rain alright! We picked out a dry spot and > set up camp when I realized I had forgotten the tent- bad news in mosquito > country. Not much we could do so we just threw a tarp down and slept under > the stars the rest of the weekend. > > *Saturday the 8th*: > About 3AM on Saturday morning I was awakened by a strange "clacking" > noise. I thought I was dreaming and went back to sleep. A little while > later I heard it again and looked out of my sleeping bag, which I was buried > in, and saw nothing? Finally, on the third round of clacking I saw the > culprit, a SHORT-EARED OWL which circled us off and on the rest of the > night. Pretty cool! I was planning on getting up and starting a fire around > dawn (it got down to 36F), but was awaken a bit early by a coyote howling > not 150' away from us. It would not budge, but neither did our dogs! I > finally had to get up and run it off, after a half hour or so of barking. As > the sun hit, I found lots of SAGE SPARROWS and BREWER SPARROWS around plus > good looks at juvies as well as one GRAY FLYCATCHER. Once the sun dried all > our damp gear we loaded up and headed down to the lake. > > We hit the north end of the Abert Lake about 8AM. It is a large alkaline > line with a healthy brine shrimp and brine fly population and is about 15 > miles long and about 5 miles wide in spots. It was clear and cold with no > wind. The first thing that struck me was GULLS and were there a lot! They > started at the mudflats on the north end of the lake and continued in a > solid string at least five miles south along the east edge of the lake, I > imagine there were at least *50-100,000* but did not try to do a really > accurate count as I would not have had time to bird! Mostly CA GULLS (in a > variety of color morphs for the juvies) with several thousand FRANKLINS and > RING-BILLEDS mixed in. I also saw a single BONAPARTE'S GULL, there may have > been more but I tried to limit my gull time to not push my wife's and dogs > gracious patients so far. Also on the north end mudflat was a > single MARBLED GODWIT and the lone flock of LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS I was to > find. There were scattered small flocks of WILLETS here also and here and > there south along the lake. > > Southwards, we found the flocks of WILSON'S PHALAROPES with peeps mixed in > along the shoreline the northern 1/3 of the lake. Only maybe ten thousand > phalaropes but I was able to pick out 4 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS from the > WESTERN SANDPIPER flocks that were mixed with the phalaropes. Also, a > smattering of LEAST SANDPIPERS, with both juvies and adults of all species. > Also a few RED-NECKED PHALAROPES here and there. At about midlake, I spotted > my only group of ducks, shovelers, with one SNOW GOOSE. About that point the > WILSON'S PHALAROPES rafts started up and continued eight miles to the south > end of the lake! Hundreds of thousands for sure, how many is hard to say, > but *several hundred thousand* would be my estimate. Most birds were out > in the middle of the lake here. Also the big AMERICAN AVOCET flocks began > here. I estimate *7-10,000* of these easily with BN STILTS scattered > everywhere on the lake. All in all, it's pretty mind-blowing thinking that > there could be upwards of a half-million to a million birds on this lake? > Oh, and it stunk of brine shrimp. And that black looking mat on the beach > that looks like algae, oh, it isn't algae, it moves when the birds run > through it and is actually brine flys! Very cool watching phalaropes running > through a cloud of these flys just munching as they go. > > We spent a meager three hours here and headed up to the high country on the > Fremont NF west of Paisley to do some hiking and camping up yonder. Paisley > was infested with EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES as was ever burg we hit in Lake > Co. We climbed up into the Fremont NF (now called the Fremont-Winema NF) and > it immediately became apparent that something wasn't right on the forest > when you can see miles and miles of dead and dying lodgepole and ponderose > pine- Mt. Pine beetles, the most amazing infestation I've seen in my life. > Oodles of dead trees, maybe half the entire forest. Wow! The only > surviving tree in much of the forest is white/grand fir. Even the whitepark > pine is dead or dying at higher elevations. Several campgrounds were closed > and had been clearcut to remove dead trees (which is most every tree). > There are trees cut down along the roads everywhere and just left on the > ground. The entire forest is a huge tinderbox, awaiting the inevitable dry > lightning barage- that would be a conflagration to see!! > > We stopped and hiked a trail up to Jennie Rim, about 2.5 miles one-way at > around 7,000' at the top. Best birds were the CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS, gotta > love these noisy high-countriers. We hiked back down and only then did I > realize I had left my binos up at the top of the rim. I got to jog back up > to the top and luckily found them then jogged jog back down again, in a > little over an hour, felt like a marathon afternoon. At our camp spot that > evening in the dead and dying lodgepole and ponderosa pine forest we had a > COMMON POORWILL at sunset, always a nice treat. > > *Sunday the 9th*: > Got up at 4:30AM and listened to the GREAT HORNED OWL calling away. > Another cool morning- 36F at sunrise. No luck taping in any other owls. By > 5AM there was a COMMON NIGHTHAWK buzzing our campsite and the COMMON > POORWILL started calling too, nice way to start the day! We tried to hike > the Dead Horse Rim Trail but quickly got lost and instead hiked the Blue > Lake Trail in the Gearhart Mtn. Wilderness. Lots of dead trees here as > everywhere but made for good birding as we had 4 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS on > the way up to the lake and not a soul to be found at the lake. From the > lake you could see Gearheart Mtn. well, looked like it was covered with dead > trees also. > > Later in the afternoon we made it back down to the valley and headed north > to Summer Lake. We picked up a slew of birds we hadn't seen at Abert Lake > earlier. The most unusual birds were 4 calling SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. It > was pretty dang hot so we didn't stay long, saw some distance SEMIPALMATED > PLOVERS but didn't see the Snowy Plovers that breed here. There were A. > WHITE-PELIS here which interestingly, there were none of at Abert Lake. Lots > of FORSTER'S and BLACK TERNS, CASPIAN TERNS, etc. EC DOVES were singing near > Hdqs.,couldn't seem to get away from them in any town this weekend, even Ft. > Rock had a few. Saw maybe 20 nighthawks just as we we left Summer Lake for > Silver Lake along the Hwy before going over pass. > > We then bee-lined for Cabin Lake where we lounged in the warm lake waters > before making camp on the edge of the high desert a few miles from the guard > station. Had another GREAT HORNED OWL here during the night. > > *Monday the 10th*: > Clear and cool, but dry with no mosquitoes all night, 35 degrees at > sunrise. It had been around 80F the evening before, it sure dropped temp > wise by morning! We headed over to the guzzlers around 9AM and saw quite a > few species include GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, CHIPPING and BREWER'S SPARROWS, > PINON JAYS, LEWIS'S WOODPECKER, CASSIN'S FINCHES, CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS, and > RED CROSSBILLS. Then it was time to hit the road and head back to the coast- > a most enjoyable weekend for sure. > > Merry birding all! > Tim R > back in Coos Bay > > > > > ------------------------------ > Get back to school stuff for them and cashback for you. Try Bing now. > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090812/de0ea255/attachment.html From magicallaughter04 at yahoo.com Wed Aug 12 12:31:42 2009 From: magicallaughter04 at yahoo.com (Brandon Heston) Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:31:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] iPhone Birdpost apps question Message-ID: <136812.5330.qm@web51902.mail.re2.yahoo.com> I have recently updated to an iPhone and have been having fun with a free app Birdpost. However I am wondering what most people use for this type of app? Is one better than the other? What types of birds are people recording. The records I find seem to be people reporting any and all birds... Is this a good practice or should only certian birds be reported.... What are peoples views on this subject. Thanks, Brandon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090812/dd4f5883/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Wed Aug 12 12:59:56 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:59:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Odell Lake eaglet has flown Message-ID: <01BAAD47F6124787A469A30060215C15@TomsPC> It appears that the eaglet flew sometime over the weekend. It is no longer visible in the web-cam view. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090812/5629ca83/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Aug 12 14:27:00 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:27:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Malheur NWR Plan Message-ID: <820230.92042.qm@web45307.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I saw this and thought some of the OBOL crowd may be interested. ? Tim ? Malheur refuge plan.? The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has begun work on its comprehensive conservation plan for Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and will be soliciting initial comments until October 15.? The process kicked off in early June with a four-day biological review, followed by a visitor services review last month; both sessions included "non-traditional" participants from the local community and non-government organizations.? The service has committed to make this a collaborative process and will be working closely with the Oregon Consensus Program and the High Desert Partnership, a community-based organization that received funding earlier this year from the Intermountain West Joint Venture to help support conservation efforts in the Harney Basin. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090812/28d90290/attachment.html From dbarendt at comcast.net Wed Aug 12 15:36:01 2009 From: dbarendt at comcast.net (Dennis Arendt) Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:36:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene-Springfield Wednesday birders Message-ID: The Wednesday birders went to Fern Ridge Reservoir this morning. We walked the trail that goes north from Royal Avenue into the oak woods and to the Amazon Canal. From there we walked west along the canal and circled back to Royal Avenue through the dry marsh grasses. It was very birdy in the mixed oak woods at the beginning of our trek, but quieted down considerably after we entered the thick woods leading to the canal. The birding stayed relatively quiet as we walked west and north back to Royal. It's rare to go to Fern Ridge Reservoir and not see an identifiable duck, but we managed to do that today. Here is our bird list for the morning. Canada Goose- several flying over Pied-billed Grebe - 3 in canal Western Grebe - 2 heard American White Pelican - 8 Great Blue Heron - 1 Great Egret - 2 Turkey Vulture - 3 Gull and tern species seen from a great distance, no identification Domestic Red Chicken - 1 at the Royal Avenue parking lot, a beautiful red scaly chested bird Osprey - 1 White-tailed Kite - 3 seen over small trees north of the parking area at the end of Royal. Sharp-shinned Hawk - one in the open fields with few trees Cooper's Hawk - one flew out of the thick woods. Mourning Dove - 10 Acorn Woodpecker - 6 Downy Woodpecker - 1 Hairy Woodpecker - 1 Western Wood-Pewee - only 6 to 8 seen, but they were heard constantly early in the day Steller's Jay - heard 1 Western Scrub-Jay - several Purple Martin - seen flying over the dry marsh area Tree Swallow - a few seen flying Violet-green Swallow - common Barn Swallow - common Black-capped Chickadee - in the oak woods White-breasted Nuthatch - at least one family, in the oak woods Brown Creeper - 1 House Wren - 1 in the scrub area along the trail as you enter the oak woods Western Bluebird - heard on two occasions, not seen American Robin - many along the canal European Starling - too many, 45? Cedar Waxwing - many in the oaks Black-throated Gray Warbler - 4 or so in the oaks Common Yellowthroat - several seen and heard (buzz call) in the shrubs Western Tanager - several in the oaks Spotted Towhee - in the oaks Savannah Sparrow - scattered along the trail Song Sparrow - only 1 Black-headed Grosbeak - several in the oaks Red-winged Blackbird - a bunch flying over Western Meadowlark - several in the fields north of Royal Brewer's Blackbird - a couple flying over House Finch - 1 Lesser Goldfinch - 1 flying over the oaks American Goldfinch - some noisy ones in the oaks Kimberley Cullen, Fred Ferguson, Dave Jones, Dave Brown, Dave and Sally Hill, Sylvia Maulding, Don Schrouder, Paul Sherrell, Kit Larsen, Craig Merkel, Randy Sinnott and Dennis Arendt -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090812/20584e18/attachment.html From andy.frank at kp.org Wed Aug 12 17:35:31 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:35:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] 112 American White Pelicans at Sauvie Island Message-ID: <8901561A36DB4FA0B00DDBF6092C66DC@familyroom> I went back to Oak Island on Sauvie Island this afternoon, and though it may not compare with Lake Albert, it's a great show, and a lot closer. Today I counted 112 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS. As with my previous count, the count may not be exact due to the distance of the birds (almost all were on the far side of the lake) and a lot of heat distortion. I would estimate that there are about 2000 shorebirds there, nearly all along the Northeast edge of the lake (in Columbia County). There were about 100 DOWITCHERS, at least 15 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, at least 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, with the rest a mixture of what looked like WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS. The peeps were too far to see much about them but I could convince myself that some were slightly larger than others. There were a few Yellowlegs in the Northwest corner of the lake (also Columbia County) and I did not see any shorebird in Multnomah County. I found 2 BANK SWALLOWS (conveniently one was in Multnomah and the other in Columbia County), 1 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED, and multiple BARN, VIOLET-GREEN and TREE SWALLOWS. Top it off with about a dozen GREAT EGRETS, 3 BALD EAGLES, 3 CASPIAN TERNS, at least 20 GREAT BLUE HERONS and about 100 gulls (mostly RING-BILLED with CALIFORNIA and one that at least from a distance looked good for WESTERN), and it was quite a show. The birds on land were quieter, but of note was a flock of about 60 CEDAR WAXWINGS, multiple calling WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES, HOUSE WRENS, and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. Andy Frank From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed Aug 12 20:32:44 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:32:44 -0400 Subject: [obol] More Virginia Rail Photos Message-ID: <8CBE9DDDB10E48C-12D4-16F4@MBLK-M21.sysops.aol.com> I've had several people ask me to post more of the Virginia Rail & chicks photos, so I posted the whole series. Some are not perfectly focused or are a bit dark, but I included them for the sake of continuity. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/sets/72157621895750381/detail/ Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090812/b09c7308/attachment.html From campbell at peak.org Wed Aug 12 20:35:14 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:35:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Good Linn Co. Cascade Birds (too long) Message-ID: <69F9F531C9EB4990A158C8A1F3EF7FA5@maryPC> This last few days I made a hiking trip in the Jefferson/Santiam Pass area to get some birds that I hadn't yet seen in the county this year (to "pimp my list," as the young hip-hop birders say.) On the way up, Friday (8/7), I searched the Santiam River for Harlequin Ducks. I stopped more than twenty places between Detroit and Marion Forks, with no luck, but there were several Common Mergansers running the rapids, and dozens of AMERICAN DIPPERS enjoying the drizzle. The next morning (8/9), after the clouds lifted in the Eight Lakes Basin, I found two BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS by Blue Lake, and later, in sunshine, two THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS at Jorn Lake. RED CROSSBILL, GRAY JAY, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, CLARK'S NUTCRACKER, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, and NASHVILLE WARBLER were all FOY for me, and there were the usual suspects: McGillivray's, Townsend's, and Hermit Warblers, Dammond's Flycatchers, hundreds of Red-breasted Nuthatches, etc. (Much of the Eight Lakes Basin burned in the B&B fire several years ago, so dead trees surround many of the lakes, making attractive woodpecker habitat. There is a large unburned area, though, that is forest broken by many small meadows--an ideal mixed habitat for birds. In the last few years I've found both species of three-toed woodpeckers in the basin, as well as Rock Wren and Cassin's Finch--two species that I missed this time. The walk in is only 6+ miles, so birders willing to get an early start could make a day trip out of it. A bonus: since the burn, the area seems to have fewer human visitors.) Sunday morning (8/10), on the way up toward Three Fingered Jack, I found two more Black-backed Woodpeckers, and a female MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD feeding two fledglings. I climbed the north ridge of TFJ above the Pacific Crest Trail to get a good vantage of the north face. After about 30 minutes I heard and saw a flock of some 25 small birds rise from farther up the ridge and fly across the cliff face to the east side, acting and sounding like GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCHES. I climbed to the knob at 7300 feet and, after another half-hour, a smaller flock of gray and brown and just-a-little-bit rosy birds flew by below me, from the west side, and over to the cliff face. (I had looked for them before, on Mount Jefferson, but the shaded, northern cliffs of TFJ are a better bet for this bird. While I was there, none of the finches dropped below 6800 feet, so the north ridge might be a better choice for seeing them than Canyon Creek Meadows far below. From Santiam Pass it's 7+ miles to the north ridge, and then a scramble up, but, it's a plausible day hike for the early riser. The views from the north ridge are worth it, even if you miss the finches.) Farther south, in the burn north of Santiam Pass, I finally figured out that the flocks of little-brown-jobs that kept buzzing past far overhead were Pine Siskins. On the trail north of Big Lake I found three more Black-backed Woodpeckers. I walked around the lake hoping to find some early migrants, but found only one possible, distant, Solitary Sandpiper and a lot of motor boats. The area seems to be great habitat for lazy yobs who like to make noise and go fast, but for me it was a waste of time and energy. (A better choice would have been to head east and look for the exotics Steve Shunk keeps on that side of the mountains.) Late Sunday night, near Lower Berley Lake, I thought I might have heard the rough purr of a Barred Owl, but then I decided that it must have been a semi-tractor engine-braking down from the pass, more than two miles away. Monday morning (8/11), I found two more Black-backed woodpeckers near Lower Berley Lake. Later, while I was sitting trailside in the meadow above Santiam Lake, an elegant, gray GOSHAWK blew through. After I hiked to the trailhead, I had another chance to look for a Rock Wren in the clearcuts near Big Meadows, but I wimped out. (Instead, I'm going to sit on my back deck with a beverage in hand and hope for a miracle.) That afternoon I birded Lava Lake, hoping to find some Sandhill Cranes--which didn't fly over our house this year. (Lava Lake--the one near Santiam Pass--is a large seasonal lake that sits on a lava pan. As far as I know, it doesn't usually get more than a few feet deep, and it almost dries out in the summer, leaving a bed of grasses, sedges, rushes, hardhack, ceanothes, and a lot of other stuff I can't identify. Cranes have nested there in the past.) I didn't hear any cranes, but the vegetation is tall enough to hide even a large bird like a crane, so I tromped out and around most of the lake bed, searching. One small pond still remained out in the center, surround by a maze of small streams that meander around until they finally sink into the ground somewhere beneath the vegetation. It's nesting habitat for thousands of the small birds you might expect--Lazuli Buntings, Common Yellowthroats, and Lincoln Sparrows were the one's I noticed most often that afternoon. An unexpected RED-SHOULDERED HAWK perched above the margins. But no Cranes. That night I camped above the north end of the lake in a stand of old-growth fir, hoping for some kind of owl. Before sundown, though, what I heard were the distinctive calls of agitated SANDHILL CRANES--either that, or it was flocks of turkeys and Canada Geese trying to strangle each other. By the time I got down to the lake, the Cranes were quiet, again, and hidden, but three elk had taken over the center of the marsh. Finally, before dark, after four fatuous nights of trying out my spotted owl imitations--my imitations of their hooting, that is--a BARRED OWL responded. It didn't come to murder me, though, so I only heard it. Ground fog covered the lake Tuesday morning, so I never got to actually see the Cranes, either. But the big miss of the trip was Harlequin Duck, even after many more stops to search the river on my way down from the mountains. I got home by dinnertime, ready to sit on the porch with beverage in hand. Randy Peoria Every bird mentioned in this post was found, or not, using only human power. (230 miles by bike, 47+ miles on foot.) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090812/8714e00e/attachment.html From dhogaza at pacifier.com Wed Aug 12 21:00:26 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:00:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] More Virginia Rail Photos In-Reply-To: <8CBE9DDDB10E48C-12D4-16F4@MBLK-M21.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBE9DDDB10E48C-12D4-16F4@MBLK-M21.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <9C93EAA7-2989-4B06-A681-6E0EACC07DCC@pacifier.com> On Aug 12, 2009, at 8:32 PM, jonysky101 at aol.com wrote: > I've had several people ask me to post more of the Virginia Rail & > chicks photos, so I posted the whole series. Some are not perfectly > focused or are a bit dark, but I included them for the sake of > continuity. Well, I don't have any of chicks, but I do have this, from Malhuer ... http://donb.photo.net/photo_cd/d/b33.html Could be better, but for an unexpected drive-by shooting ... I'll take it. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From dhogaza at pacifier.com Wed Aug 12 21:32:08 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:32:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Weird eagle story ... Message-ID: <1156EDA4-057F-46D3-8808-04D0AF868584@pacifier.com> "MARBLEHEAD, Ohio ? A woman in Ohio is telling a fish story about one that got away ? from a bird, and damaged her car. Authorities in northwest Ohio say the fish ? a Lake Erie freshwater drum, known as a sheepshead ? smashed a car windshield Tuesday when an eagle dropped its catch from a height of about 40 feet. Leighann Niles says the impact felt like a brick hitting her Toyota's windshield. The woman from the Cleveland suburb of South Euclid was vacationing along the lake in Marblehead." Well, obviously she's an anti-american crypto-terrorist commie pinko hippy freak if our national bird and official seal bird dropped one on her car! ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Aug 12 21:31:15 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:31:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 08/12/09 Message-ID: <20090813043223.96802A8239@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 08/06 to 08/12/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and an updated (7/1/09) checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 5 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Turkey Vulture 1 (2, 8/10) COOPER'S HAWK 1 (1, 8/6) ROCK PIGEON 1 (2, 8/10) Band-tailed Pigeon 5 (7, 8/12) Mourning Dove 1 (2, 8/12) BARRED OWL 2 (1, 8/7 & 11) Vaux's Swift 1 (15, 8/10) Anna's Hummingbird 5 (6, 8/10) Rufous Hummingbird 2 (3, 8/7) Hummingbird sp. 4 (3, 8/10) Northern Flicker 4 (3) Pileated Woodpecker 3 (2, 8/10) PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER 1 (1, 8/7) EMPIDONAX sp. 1 (2, 8/10) CASSIN'S VIREO 1 (1, 8/11) Hutton's Vireo 3 (3) Steller's Jay 5 (8) Western Scrub-Jay 4 (2) American Crow 2 (3, 8/7) COMMON RAVEN 1 (1, 8/6) Black-capped Chickadee 5 (20) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 5 (15) Bushtit 2 (10, 8/6 & 7) Red-breasted Nuthatch 5 (6) Brown Creeper 3 (2) Bewick's Wren 2 (5, 8/7) Winter Wren 1 (2, 8/7) GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET 1 (2, 8/10) SWAINSON'S THRUSH 2 (1, 8/11 & 12) American Robin 5 (8) Cedar Waxwing 2 (4, 8/11) ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER 2 (2, 8/7) Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 (1, 8/10) Wilson's Warbler 4 (2) Spotted Towhee 5 (8, 8/7) Song Sparrow 5 (10) Dark-eyed Junco 5 (7, 8/12) Black-headed Grosbeak 2 (4, 8/10) House Finch 5 (5) Pine Siskin 2 (1, 8/6 & 7) American Goldfinch 3 (1) Misses (species found on at least 3 days in previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Violet-green Swallow, Western Tanager, Red Crossbill Evening Grosbeak Wink Gross Portland From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed Aug 12 22:50:30 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:50:30 -0400 Subject: [obol] Does anyone have a list of birds from the 8-8-09 pelagic trip from Newport Message-ID: <8CBE9F1199F0A31-12D4-1A01@MBLK-M21.sysops.aol.com> When I got home from the trip I tried to write down all the birds that we saw on our trip. I went thru the Sibleys when I did it, but I could only come up with 14. And I'm sure there was more than 30. Does anyone have a complete list? Johnny Sasko Sandy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090813/4f87fef0/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Aug 12 23:37:06 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:37:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 8-13-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * August 13, 2009 * ORPO0908.13 - birds mentioned Black-footed Albatross Pink-footed Shearwater Buller?s Shearwater MANX-TYPE SHEARWATER Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel Am. White Pelican Brown Pelican Black-crowned Night-Heron Prairie Falcon Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Sabine?s Gull Heermann?s Gull Arctic Tern Elegant Tern South Polar Skua Long-tailed Jaeger XANTUS?S MURRELET Black Phoebe GREAT-TAILED JAEGER - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday August 13. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On August 7 a MANX-TYPE SHEARWATER was off Boiler Bay. A GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was seen during the week near the Cow Lakes in Malheur County. Warblers and other woodland birds are now gathering into flocks and moving southward. Many are showing up in unexpected places. On the August 8 offshore boat trip out of Newport about 500 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, 700 FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS, ten BULLER?S SHEARWATERS, nine SKUAS, and three LONG-TAILED JAEGERS were seen. The next day a trip out of Charleston found four XANTUS?S MURRELETS, 118 ALBATROSS, 16 LONG-TAILED JAEGERS, 20 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, 200 SABINE?S GULLS and three ARCTIC TERNS. On August 10 a PRAIRIE FALCON was at Bandon. Two ELEGANT TERNS were at the mouth of the Siuslaw River August 6. Another was heard at the mouth of the Necanicum River in Seaside the next day. A possible SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER was reported August 9 at Yaquina Bay. During the week about 1200 BROWN PELICANS and 1500 HEERMANN?S GULLS were at the South Jetty of the Columbia River. An immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was at Ridgefield NWR August 8. Up to 112 WHITE PELICANS were on Sauvie Island during the week. On August 8 an adult BLACK PHOEBE was seen feeding two fledglings in Springfield. The tremendous bird concentrations on Lake Abert is coming to a peak about now. A trip to the lake is highly recommended. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090812/bb855f45/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Aug 13 06:37:14 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 06:37:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] [birding] Good Linn Co. Cascade Birds (too long) In-Reply-To: <69F9F531C9EB4990A158C8A1F3EF7FA5@maryPC> References: <69F9F531C9EB4990A158C8A1F3EF7FA5@maryPC> Message-ID: <1250170634.25249.158.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, Noticing this line at the bottom of Randy Campbell's posting: > Every bird mentioned in this post was found, or not, using only human > power (230 miles by bike, 47+ miles on foot.) I realized I'd have to update the "motorless listing" page: http://www.oregonbirds.org/Listing/motorless.html > Remarkably, only three of the bird species that Randy found on his Cascades bike-n-hike were new additions to this page. The combined list for birders keeping motorless lists in 2009 is now at 240 species. Randy has found 191 of those species himself. I believe that he found all of those while sticking to Linn County (even shunning the Wrentits that are waiting for him just across the river in Benton Co.). Now that we've seen that a birder who lives on the banks of the Willamette River can venture out on an extended weekend, and find Black-backed & Three-toed Woodpecker plus Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch without burning any fossil fuels .... what else is possible?!? This certainly broadens the imagination. Thanks for that, Randy! Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From namitzr at hotmail.com Thu Aug 13 08:50:39 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:50:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Does anyone have a list of birds from the 8-8-09 pelagic trip from Newport Message-ID: Johnny~ We're working on a finalized list and Greg will post after some discussion. Glad you had a good time. Sincerely, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090813/7ffc6121/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Thu Aug 13 09:10:53 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:10:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Diamond Lake/Thorn Prairie - 8/11 Message-ID: Coming home from the weekend, I made brief stops at Diamond Lake and Thorn Prairie (past Toketee Lake). DIAMOND LAKE As previously noted, there were large aggregations of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS over the edges of the lake. Near the main boat ramp & general store, there were calling CASSIN'S FINCHES and TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES. A single VAUX'S SWIFT flew over. THORN PRAIRIE I was mainly looking for Calliope Hummingbird and Dusky Flycatcher, but missed both. The highlight was a family of 4 SOOTY GROUSE in the road. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090813/c51883f1/attachment.html From bettymkn at netscape.com Thu Aug 13 10:22:15 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:22:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Foster Lake, Osprey Message-ID: <20090813102215.BDDAF97@resin13.mta.everyone.net> I was told that there were five working OSPREY nests on Foster Lake. For those not familiar with the area we are on the east edge of Sweethome. Apparently they must have all been successful due to the number of birds flying over. They do a lot of fishing the the pond on the Weyerhouser property. You can observe the pond from above by accessing it from the Gilliland Cemetery off 48th?? The road in front of the Senior Housing area. (Sweethome) The training sounds for flight and fishing are very different from the recordings I have so far listened to for the OSPREY. It might be a good time for someone that records their calls to check it out. It took me a bit to realize it was the OSPREY calling to each other rather than some of the smaller birds that fly around here. Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Thu Aug 13 10:35:55 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:35:55 -0600 Subject: [obol] SE Or. Malheur Co.birds Message-ID: During our travels to Arock we have seen large groups of White-faced Ibis. There have been large flocks along Crooked Creek, hay fields in Rome, and hay fields in Jordan Valley. Beside an uncut oat field there were Western Kingbirds, Chipping Sparrow, Willow Flycatcher, Barn Swallow,Say's Phoebe, Raven, Redtail Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Canada Geese, and American Robins. In the area were Ring-necked Pheasant, Doves both EC and Mourning, American Kestrel, and more Redtail Hawks. Along Hwy 95 at Burns Jct. was a group of Common Nighthawks. They were "hawking bugs" right in front of traffic. At home we have continued to see our White Yellow-headed Blackbird. Also seen a Black Chinned Hummingbird. The Horned Larks continue at the gravel pit and along the creek there are Ca. Quail, Brewers Blackbirds, YHBB(normal color),Say's Phoebe and House Finches. We have seen assorted ducks near all standing water but they flush before we can ID. them. Karen in true SEOr south of Burns Jct. In Malheur Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090813/7bdda353/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Thu Aug 13 11:48:51 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:48:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Movement Message-ID: <81b2a9930908131148w53c6f8bev5d4f31c165057048@mail.gmail.com> I'm seeing signs of late summer movement in my yard. At least two different female/hatch-year BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS have been visiting my feeders for the past couple of days. (I rarely enjoy sustained, multi-day visits from them.) I also haven't seen a male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD in over a week, indicating that the locals may have already moved south. However, an increased number of females and juveniles are currently draining my nectar feeders. In an unrelated note, a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH visited my bird bath this past weekend. This was the first I've seen in the yard in over two years. Brandon Eugene From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Thu Aug 13 12:20:34 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:20:34 -0600 Subject: [obol] Abert Lake birds Message-ID: We have seen that many birds on the lake back in the late '70's and early '80's. On trips to Burns and spots NNE in the late summer early all the lake would be hosting innumerable species of shorebirds. Our first trip by we pulled off at every wide spot to glass the area just amazed at the numbers and different species. Karen in true SEOr south of Burns Jct. in Malheur Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090813/30145a75/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Aug 13 13:26:51 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:26:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] [Fwd: E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area: Duck, peeps & vireos] Message-ID: <1250195211.31164.73.camel@clearwater> Hi folks, On a walk around E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area this morning, I finally found a few "peeps" (one WESTERN SANDPIPER and two LEAST SANDPIPERS), which have been scarce this summer due to continuing high water levels on the Canal Pond due to a stuck water-control structure that will hopefully be repaired after this season. While trying to get a better angle on the peeps, I flushed a RUDDY DUCK out of one corner of the pond. It was in a weird, confusing plumage and certainly not something that I expected to see around here in summer. A family of GREEN HERONS (2 adults and 3 juveniles) were conspicuous around the pond. I optimistically went looking for a RED-EYED VIREO in the cottonwoods in the NE part of the wildlife area where one was found a couple of summers ago. Much to my surprise, I found one singing and was able to track it down to within about 50 feet a couple of times, though I never got much of a view. A GREAT EGRET (or maybe two?) in the NE corner also seemed to be a recent arrival. Overall it was a very nice morning to be out birding. I also heard CASSIN'S and WARBLING VIREOS singing, so now I'm going to try Randy's "beverage in hand" method to see if I can detect a Hutton's for a four-vireo day. The full list is attached below. Happy birding, Joel This report was mailed for Joel Geier by http://birdnotes.net Date: August 13, 2009 Location: E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area (main tract), Benton County, Oregon Low temperature: 55 degrees fahrenheit High temperature: 68 degrees fahrenheit Wind direction: SW Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h gusting to: 1-5 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 80% Precipitation: none Morning walk around north half of E.E. Wilson. Birds very active after two days with occasional showers. Butterflies included Tiger Swallowtail and Lorquin's Admiral. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 25 Wood Duck 2 Mallard 4 Cinnamon Teal 3 Ruddy Duck 1 Female or one in some sort of weird transition plumage flushed from edge of canal pond into open water, but did not fly. Distinct dark cap, grungy rusty barred look on sides. Pied-billed Grebe 8 Great Blue Heron 3 Great Egret 1 Killdeer Corner pond. May have been two as one was seen flying into the same spot later while the one was out of view. Green Heron 5 Turkey Vulture 4 Red-tailed Hawk 3 Killdeer 6 Western Sandpiper 1 Juvenile with Least Sandpipers on Canal Pond. Least Sandpiper 2 Band-tailed Pigeon 6 Perched on dead tree next to NW corner marsh. Mourning Dove 12 Downy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 4 Belted Kingfisher 2 Western Wood-Pewee 20 Willow Flycatcher 1 Pacific-slope Flycatcher 2 Seen low in understory of cottonwood/hawthorn groves in NE part of wildlife area. Cassin's Vireo 1 Sang briefly in response to Red-eyed Vireo. Warbling Vireo 1 Heard singing about 1/3 mile NE of Angling Pond. Red-eyed Vireo 1 Singing in cottonwoods along NE side of wildlife area. Heard giving full song repeatedly at close range, hurried in comparison to Cassin's Vireo song. Seen several times from a distance of 50+ ft while moving between trees. Western Scrub-Jay 2 American Crow 1 Violet-green Swallow 150 Flocks foraging over fields and marshes (which are now dried up). Barn Swallow 50 Black-capped Chickadee 20 Bushtit 20 Single flock. Brown Creeper 1 Bewick's Wren 10 Marsh Wren 1 Swainson's Thrush Notably very few vocalizing now, but still around. American Robin 10 Wrentit 6 European Starling 10 Cedar Waxwing 15 Yellow Warbler 1 Black-throated Gray Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 40 Many juveniles now starting to gain adult markings. Wilson's Warbler 2 Separate locations. Yellow-breasted Chat 2 No longer singing, but heard giving "mew" call from a few thickets. Western Tanager 2 Spotted Towhee 20 Song Sparrow 15 Dark-eyed Junco 4 Black-headed Grosbeak 4 Numbers seem to be dwindling. Lazuli Bunting 3 Numbers also seem to be dwindling. Brown-headed Cowbird 2 Purple Finch 20 Flocks forming. House Finch 10 American Goldfinch 30 Flocks forming. Total number of species seen: 54 From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Thu Aug 13 13:47:01 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:47:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos BAIRD'S, RN PHALAROPE Message-ID: <2b1bbd260908131347x238cde04pf656b79aab96b678@mail.gmail.com> Obol, There were 2 juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS at Tenmile Creek Estuary, Coos County. They were along the river maybe 200 yards east of the beach. In fact, they were in nearly the exact same location as the RN Stint Hendrik and I saw almost two months ago. There were also 3 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 12 WESTERN SANDPIPERS and 24 LEAST SANDPIPERS. Did not see the dows well, but all the peeps I saw were juveniles. On the beach, maybe 1.5 miles north, a juvenile RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was with 5 juvenile WESTERN SANDPIPERS. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090813/a76d3c18/attachment.html From jschultz001 at centurytel.net Thu Aug 13 15:53:43 2009 From: jschultz001 at centurytel.net (Jim Schultz) Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:53:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur Refuge call for Comments/Input Message-ID: Here us the website for the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Please help them! Jim Schultz http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-IMPACT/2009/June/Day-29/i15271.htm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090813/b108dd6c/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Aug 13 17:34:02 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:34:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Beverage-in-hand method of birding Message-ID: <1250210042.31164.129.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, In my earlier posting to the MidValley list-serv (also copied to OBOL), I attributed the "beverage-in-hand" method of motorless birding to Randy (Campbell) who had mentioned it in a posting earlier today. To give credit where credit is due, I should note that Jeff Harding was the originator of this phrase, if not the entire idea of beverage-in-hand birding. I suspect that Randy's mention of this method was a tip of the hat to a fellow Linn County birder. Beverage-in-hand birding has unfortunately not yielded a Hutton's Vireo for me today, so I'll settle for just three vireo species on the day. Nothing ventured, nothing lost. Cheers, & happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From greg at thebirdguide.com Thu Aug 13 21:29:14 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:29:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Trip results: August 8 Perpetua Bank pelagic Message-ID: <21A572DFB7F64953B2735136535443F8@GREG> This trip certainly had the calmest seas and nicest weather of any Oregon pelagic trip I've ever been on. That's saying a lot, because I've been on over 150 pelagic trips! Encountering a shrimp trawler over Perpetua Bank turned the day's 25 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES into 400. We encountered several flocks of 50+ FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS. The 9 SOUTH POLAR SKUAS were a treat and, I believe, our second highest total. PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS were abundant, and the 600 could be a serious underestimate. Calm waters gave many views of well over 100 SHARKS of 4 species and 1000 rather large SEA NETTLE jellies. I am starting a photo gallery of this trip at: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/20090808 It will take a couple of weeks before I have all the photos up. Joe Fischer has many photos here: http://www.pbase.com:80/joe_e_fischer/new Here is the official trip tally. White-winged Scoter 20 Pacific Loon 1 Black-footed Albatross 500 Northern Fulmar 225 Sooty Shearwater 115 Pink-footed Shearwater 600 Buller's Shearwater 10 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel 700 Double-crested Cormorant 15 Brandt's Cormorant 60 Pelagic Cormorant 100 Brown Pelican 35 Peregrine Falcon 1 (bay) Wandering Tattler 4 (jetty) Black Turnstone 1 (jetty) Least Sandpiper 1 Red Phalarope 6 (seen by few) Red-necked Phalarope 70 Heermann's Gull 70 California Gull 400 Western Gull 100 Glaucous-winged Gull 3 Sabine's Gull 25 Arctic Tern 3 Common Murre 400 (nearly all parent/chick pairs) Pigeon Guillemot 125 Marbled Murrelet 10 Cassin's Auklet 65 Rhinoceros Auklet 80 Tufted Puffin 2 South Polar Skua 9 Pomarine Jaeger 10 Parasitic Jaeger 1 (seen by few) Long-tailed Jaeger 3 Elephant Seal 4 Steller's Sea Lion 6 Harbor Seal 15 (bay) Dall's Porpoise 15 Pacific White-sided Dolphin 10 Harbor Porpoise 25 Humpback Whale 1 whale (likely Blue Whale, seen by few) 1 Blue Shark 80 Salmon Shark 30 Soupfin Shark 2 Shortfin Mako Shark 2 Ocean Sunfish 15 Albacore Tuna 45 Pacific Sea Nettle 1000+ Moon Jelly 30+ Ochre Sea Star many (jetty) Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Thu Aug 13 22:32:11 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (tmacport99 at hotmail.com) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:32:11 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Necanicum River Estuary, Clatsop County, Oregon on August 13, 2009 Message-ID: <200908140532.n7E5WBcg015409@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Tom McNamara by http://birdnotes.net Date: August 13, 2009 Location: Necanicum River Estuary, Clatsop County, Oregon Went to Necanicum Estuary this afternoon. Plenty of mud...and Rain! (or at least a thoroughly drenching shower). After that the weather fined up. No Heermann's gulls this trip, ditto for hoped-for Elegant Terns. Caspian terns were doing well with the anchovies. good birding, Tom Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose [1] Northern Pintail [2] Green-Winged Teal [3] Common Loon [4] Western Grebe [5] Sooty Shearwater [6] Brown Pelican [7] Double-crested Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Osprey Semipalmated Plover [8] Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Whimbrel [9] Western Sandpiper [10] Least Sandpiper [11] Short-billed Dowitcher [12] California Gull [13] Glaucous-winged Gull [14] Caspian Tern [15] Common Murre Rock Dove American Crow Barn Swallow Chestnut-backed Chickadee Marsh Wren Cedar Waxwing Common Yellowthroat Savannah Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch Footnotes: [1] 12 [2] 2 [3] ~15 [4] 1 --ocean [5] " " [6] ocean. Many, many 1000s flying N and huge numbers rafted up beneath the flyers [7] ~200 [8] ~60 [9] 7 [10] all juvs. 300-400 hundred [11] small numbers flocking with the westerns [12] 5 [13] 300+ [14] 1 [15] 75-100? Total number of species seen: 31 From jmeredit at bendnet.com Thu Aug 13 23:59:20 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:59:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] ?? RBA?? Deschutes - Confusing shorebird - Hatfield Message-ID: <4E850D26BEB14694ABE547DA4CFE22C9@MOM> I can't say RBA specifically as the bird has no definitive ID yet. We had a bird late evening that looked structurally like a BAIRDS but had a WHITE RUMP. Other details didn't necessarily support Bairds but not perfect for White-rumped so I don't want to drum up excitement in case it is just an odd ordinary shorebird. I am also mindful that Dave and Kathy had that odd HUGE Western so who knows what can happen. A few birders will go back out in early a.m. and hope to find it again. If it is something unusual we will get it right onto OBOL of course. My descriptions are notoriously hopeless but I am forwarding this local message just in case the bird turns out to be something unusual. Judy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Judy Meredith" To: "cobol" Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 11:38 PM Subject: [COBOL] 7 to 8 pm - Confusing shorebird - ??? RBA ? Hatfield > Birders > I tried to call a few people on the east side of town whose numbers were > in my cell phone. It was sort of late when I started to get the word out. > I > went down there initially for a 10 minute quick check, with no books etc. > Dean answered his phone and we talked through field marks at which point > I went back to my car for books and started eliminating common birds > and so started calling people. > > Mary O lives close and she and Howard made it there a few minutes > before the rapidly approaching darkness made it impossible to see the > bird. It flew off in last light but could have just gone to the opposite > shore which it did a few times in the hour+ that I was there. > > The bird structurally looked most like a Bairds but had white rump > and legs were dark, dirty orangish. Other plumage variables didn't match > what I am familiar with for Bairds. Details below. > > Hatfield, 7 -8:15 pm, first pond, along the shoreline. Initially out with > dowitchers in water, later up on shoreline, picking at food on surface > most of the time, sometimes back up on land picking at the > surface. > > Larger than Westerns, I thought maybe 1 1/2 inch bigger, Howard > described it as 20 to 25% larger. > Bill slightly longer than head, I said maybe 1.25 length of head, > Howard thought 1.25 to 1.5 length of head. > Dark orangish to very base of the underside of the bill, rest black, > slight droop to the end of it. Not a fine bill like phalarope, but not > heavy like Dunlin. Shorter and finer than Western's bill. > > White supercilium, did not broaden at the end. Met over the front > at the bill. No eye ring. > Cap finely streaked brownish rufus, dull rufus, not bright. Round > head, no square forehead or odd shape like Pec sometimes shows.... > > Chin whitish. > Throat and upper breast finely streaked, vert fine streaks black on white > background, NO buffiness whatsoever on head, throat, chest, sides. > > Streaking on upper breast did not end in a straight line or distinct > demarkation, some of the vertical lines ended at slightly different > places on the breast. Sides of upper chest had streaking slightly > lower along flanks. Along sides of flanks down 2/3 length of wings > there was a row of fine dark chevrons, somewhat asymmetrical. Rest > of chest and undersides bright white. NO buffiness or yellowish or > rufus tones at all. > > Back brown, gray, black and white with a patch of more prominent > white blotchiness on the scapulars. NO rufus or buffiness at all on > the back, sides, wings. > > Wings were longer than tail. WHITE rump showed in flight. It was > always facing away when preening and I never saw the white > rump except in flight. White did not go up the back. Was not > in a Vee shape. I did not see barring on the end of the tail. I did not see the underside of the wings. > > Legs - rather heavy body compared to shortish legs for long > looking body proportionately. Not long legged like Stilt SP. > Legs were NOT black. They were dark though. I didn't have good > light but at one point I could see a dirty dark orangish color, like > a very muddy old pumpkin, just a bit of orangish showing up. > Legs not yellow, not black, not green. By contrast, the Leasts > and Westerns near it had very definite yellow or black legs so I don't > think the color on the bird's legs was altered by mud etc. So not coal > black but dark. I have to say the light was tough though. Late, cloudy, > bits of filtered sun at times and so, can the evening light make black > look orangish? > > I am not prepared to give it a name. If it is a Bairds, it is like none > of the illustrations in any of the guides including a couple of > shorebird books. While shaped like Bairds and odds go with that, > it had a white rump. Does Bairds always have pure dark black > legs? I thought so, but maybe I have never given one the time > to study it like tonight? > > I got a couple of people live on phones later and will have some > company out there at daybreak to see if we can find it again. The > bird was very mobile, flew off several times and landed on different > sections of the first pond although it came back to the close shore a > few times briefly. I did not hear it vocalize specifically but we did > hear a bird calling as it flew off with some other shorebirds and > we did not recognize the call, Howard and Mary didn't recognize > it either. This tidbit may be of no consequence since we don't know > if "our bird" was even the one calling. > > Access to the front pond - park at the gate. Even if it is open, park > outside and walk in to the front pond, the one you can see from > the road. It is not far. The bird was pretty skittish and moved when > I got too close. I was not able to get close compared to how you > can creep up on peeps etc. So approach with some care. > Oh, and Semi-palmated Plovers came in while I was there, one > White - faced Ibis is still there, about 20 Dowitchers, etc. Enough > interesting stuff to get you out there? > Hope the bird stays overnight and into morning. If nothing else, it > could turn into an interesting learning experience of how a common > bird can look uncommon. This is what makes shorebirding fun. > The learning is never done. ( for me!) > Judy > jmeredit at bendnet.com > > _______________________________________________ > COBOL mailing list > COBOL at lists.oregonstate.edu > http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol From johnpam at mtangel.net Fri Aug 14 10:09:08 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:09:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding I5 Corridor to Bay Area-RFI ? Message-ID: We are contemplating a trip down Interstate 5 from Salem area to visit a very elderly Aunt in Concord, CA. We have never birded southern OR or northern CA so have never seen Oak Titmouse or California Towhee or Yellow-Billed Magpie or any other possible endemics or regional birds down that way. We are especially interested in productive stops along the freeway or just off the freeway (e.g. rest areas, state parks, county parks) that would give us a possible sighting or two while stretching the back. (I remember a posting a few years ago concerning a rest area in southern Oregon that had some good possibilities but have lost the message.) If anyone has had any luck in stops going to Bay Area, we would be interested. We do have copies of "Birding Oregon" and "Birding Northern California."(Falcon Guides) Yes, we have seen the Mute Swans at Lithia Park in Ashland. That's about it! ;-) On a local note, we still have the EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE at our feeder area everyday. RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD youngsters are still at our feeders and chasing each other around the house (about 6-8 now I guess- half of mid-July numbers). With new roof, some siding and exterior painting this summer, the place has been very noisy and it is a wonder any of the birds stayed around! The BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK families have left and our main entertainment at the feeders are some BC CHICKADEES, some noisy young Crows, several AMERICAN GOLDFINCH and a scruffy SCRUB JAY youngster who looks like he is in a teenage phase. We had some CALIFORNIA QUAIL come in for a few weeks but now they are missing again. A WESTERN WOOD PEEWEE has been hangin around the back brushline this summer as well. Good Birding, Thanks, John Thomas NE Marion County From falcosparveriusjf at gmail.com Fri Aug 14 10:16:01 2009 From: falcosparveriusjf at gmail.com (RJ FEELY) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:16:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cabin Lake - need directions Message-ID: <90a4ffbc0908141016x2919e22em76d3cb2f899921ce@mail.gmail.com> Can someone please describe exactly how to get to Cabin Lake (please be very specific)? Also, what is the best time to go there, for birding & what species can I usually expect to see there? Is there anywhere else close by there, where I should also bird? Thank you. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090814/d151d82e/attachment.html From tsnetsinger at centurytel.net Fri Aug 14 10:57:52 2009 From: tsnetsinger at centurytel.net (tsnetsinger at centurytel.net) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:57:52 -0400 Subject: [obol] ?? RBA?? Deschutes - Confusing shorebird - Hatfield Message-ID: <20090814135752.2vuy0vw4wxwoos8k@webmail2.centurytel.net> OBOL, FYI I just got a call from Rich and Nanette Armstrong at 1056 AM. They stopped by Hatfield to look for the "interesting: shorebird reported by Judy Meredith yesterday. The bird has not been seen this morning. Judy was there from early AM and is still there looking. Tom Snetsinger thomas.snetsinger at oregonstate.edu Subject: ?? RBA?? Deschutes - Confusing shorebird - Hatfield From: "Judy Meredith" Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:59:20 -0700 I can't say RBA specifically as the bird has no definitive ID yet. We had a bird late evening that looked structurally like a BAIRDS but had a WHITE RUMP. Other details didn't necessarily support Bairds but not perfect for White-rumped so I don't want to drum up excitement in case it is just an odd ordinary shorebird. I am also mindful that Dave and Kathy had that odd HUGE Western so who knows what can happen. A few birders will go back out in early a.m. and hope to find it again. If it is something unusual we will get it right onto OBOL of course. My descriptions are notoriously hopeless but I am forwarding this local message just in case the bird turns out to be something unusual. Judy From jeffgill at teleport.com Fri Aug 14 11:04:46 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:04:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] ?? RBA?? Deschutes - Confusing shorebird - Hatfield In-Reply-To: <4E850D26BEB14694ABE547DA4CFE22C9@MOM> Message-ID: Most (all?) of the west coast fall records of White-rumped Sandpiper have been adult birds that were in somewhat worn plumage. Judy's description would be consistent with that. Jeff Gilligan On 8/13/09 11:59 PM, "Judy Meredith" wrote: > I can't say RBA specifically as the bird has no definitive ID yet. > We had a bird late evening that looked structurally like a BAIRDS but > had a WHITE RUMP. Other details didn't necessarily support Bairds > but not perfect for White-rumped so I don't want to drum up > excitement in case it is just an odd ordinary shorebird. I am also > mindful that Dave and Kathy had that odd HUGE Western so who > knows what can happen. A few birders will go back out in early a.m. > and hope to find it again. If it is something unusual we will get it right > onto OBOL of course. > > My descriptions are notoriously hopeless but I am forwarding this > local message just in case the bird turns out to be something unusual. > Judy > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Judy Meredith" > To: "cobol" > Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 11:38 PM > Subject: [COBOL] 7 to 8 pm - Confusing shorebird - ??? RBA ? Hatfield > > >> Birders >> I tried to call a few people on the east side of town whose numbers were >> in my cell phone. It was sort of late when I started to get the word out. >> I >> went down there initially for a 10 minute quick check, with no books etc. >> Dean answered his phone and we talked through field marks at which point >> I went back to my car for books and started eliminating common birds >> and so started calling people. >> >> Mary O lives close and she and Howard made it there a few minutes >> before the rapidly approaching darkness made it impossible to see the >> bird. It flew off in last light but could have just gone to the opposite >> shore which it did a few times in the hour+ that I was there. >> >> The bird structurally looked most like a Bairds but had white rump >> and legs were dark, dirty orangish. Other plumage variables didn't match >> what I am familiar with for Bairds. Details below. >> >> Hatfield, 7 -8:15 pm, first pond, along the shoreline. Initially out with >> dowitchers in water, later up on shoreline, picking at food on surface >> most of the time, sometimes back up on land picking at the >> surface. >> >> Larger than Westerns, I thought maybe 1 1/2 inch bigger, Howard >> described it as 20 to 25% larger. >> Bill slightly longer than head, I said maybe 1.25 length of head, >> Howard thought 1.25 to 1.5 length of head. >> Dark orangish to very base of the underside of the bill, rest black, >> slight droop to the end of it. Not a fine bill like phalarope, but not >> heavy like Dunlin. Shorter and finer than Western's bill. >> >> White supercilium, did not broaden at the end. Met over the front >> at the bill. No eye ring. >> Cap finely streaked brownish rufus, dull rufus, not bright. Round >> head, no square forehead or odd shape like Pec sometimes shows.... >> >> Chin whitish. >> Throat and upper breast finely streaked, vert fine streaks black on white >> background, NO buffiness whatsoever on head, throat, chest, sides. >> >> Streaking on upper breast did not end in a straight line or distinct >> demarkation, some of the vertical lines ended at slightly different >> places on the breast. Sides of upper chest had streaking slightly >> lower along flanks. Along sides of flanks down 2/3 length of wings >> there was a row of fine dark chevrons, somewhat asymmetrical. Rest >> of chest and undersides bright white. NO buffiness or yellowish or >> rufus tones at all. >> >> Back brown, gray, black and white with a patch of more prominent >> white blotchiness on the scapulars. NO rufus or buffiness at all on >> the back, sides, wings. >> >> Wings were longer than tail. WHITE rump showed in flight. It was >> always facing away when preening and I never saw the white >> rump except in flight. White did not go up the back. Was not >> in a Vee shape. I did not see barring on the end of the tail. I did > not see the underside of the wings. >> >> Legs - rather heavy body compared to shortish legs for long >> looking body proportionately. Not long legged like Stilt SP. >> Legs were NOT black. They were dark though. I didn't have good >> light but at one point I could see a dirty dark orangish color, like >> a very muddy old pumpkin, just a bit of orangish showing up. >> Legs not yellow, not black, not green. By contrast, the Leasts >> and Westerns near it had very definite yellow or black legs so I don't >> think the color on the bird's legs was altered by mud etc. So not coal >> black but dark. I have to say the light was tough though. Late, cloudy, >> bits of filtered sun at times and so, can the evening light make black >> look orangish? >> >> I am not prepared to give it a name. If it is a Bairds, it is like none >> of the illustrations in any of the guides including a couple of >> shorebird books. While shaped like Bairds and odds go with that, >> it had a white rump. Does Bairds always have pure dark black >> legs? I thought so, but maybe I have never given one the time >> to study it like tonight? >> >> I got a couple of people live on phones later and will have some >> company out there at daybreak to see if we can find it again. The >> bird was very mobile, flew off several times and landed on different >> sections of the first pond although it came back to the close shore a >> few times briefly. I did not hear it vocalize specifically but we did >> hear a bird calling as it flew off with some other shorebirds and >> we did not recognize the call, Howard and Mary didn't recognize >> it either. This tidbit may be of no consequence since we don't know >> if "our bird" was even the one calling. >> >> Access to the front pond - park at the gate. Even if it is open, park >> outside and walk in to the front pond, the one you can see from >> the road. It is not far. The bird was pretty skittish and moved when >> I got too close. I was not able to get close compared to how you >> can creep up on peeps etc. So approach with some care. > >> Oh, and Semi-palmated Plovers came in while I was there, one >> White - faced Ibis is still there, about 20 Dowitchers, etc. Enough >> interesting stuff to get you out there? >> Hope the bird stays overnight and into morning. If nothing else, it >> could turn into an interesting learning experience of how a common >> bird can look uncommon. This is what makes shorebirding fun. >> The learning is never done. ( for me!) >> Judy >> jmeredit at bendnet.com >> >> _______________________________________________ >> COBOL mailing list >> COBOL at lists.oregonstate.edu >> http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jmeredit at bendnet.com Fri Aug 14 11:15:53 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:15:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Deschutes - Shorebird not there - Hatfield Message-ID: Birders, Several of us were out there 6:30 a.m. to 1015a.m. today without seeing the individual remarked on last night. Armstrongs were arriving as we left. There is quite a change in the population of shorebirds compared to last evening. Howard and I are headed to check Tumalo Res now but I thought I would stop home and post that we HAVE NOT SEEN THE BIRD TODAY. He will forward his description later today. Judy jmeredit at bendnet.com From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Aug 14 12:26:37 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:26:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] I 5 Corridor Message-ID: <615d8a2d782b800cc4cbdd36e0d54200@earthlink.net> My children saw their first Oak Titmouse at Emigrant Lake. This is a county park maybe three miles from the southern Ashland exit. Quite a short detour, impossible to get lost. There's scattered scrub oaks in the campground. The titmice were two or three meters off the ground. On the same trip Yellow-billed Magpies were visible from the freeway starting around Redding. In Sacramento they were a common urban bird, foraging in lawns adjacent to many arterial streets. I believe someone saw Gnatcatchers at that rest area near Grants Pass/Merlin this year, but I don't know which side of the freeway. Incidentally, when one descends from the summit(southbound) towards Grants Pass there's a mountainside to the east that appears covered with Ponderosa Pine. I made this trip with my father a few years ago and he pointed out that they are JEFFEREY PINES. Lars Norgren From jmeredit at bendnet.com Fri Aug 14 12:32:00 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:32:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] No - Hatfield shorebird - still no bird by noon Message-ID: I just talked to the Armstrongs. They spent an hour or so and did not see the shorebird either. Tumalo Res a bust as well. Good birding, Judy jmeredit at bendnet.com From jeffgill at teleport.com Fri Aug 14 12:46:44 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:46:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Even I don't think this one is a true vagrant. | Blogging through the Outdoors with Mike Stahlberg | The Register-Guard (somewhat off topic) Message-ID: http://blogs.registerguard.com/cms/index.php/outdoors/comments/alligator-on- the-applegate/ From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Fri Aug 14 13:08:52 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (gerard.lillie at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:08:52 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Even I don't think this one is a true vagrant. | Blogging through the Outdoors with Mike Stahlberg | The Register-Guard (somewhat off topic) In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <465598854.12200511250280532125.JavaMail.root@sz0066a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Yes it is- the mythical Apllegator. Gerard Lillie Portland, OR? Subject: [obol] Even I don't think this one is a true vagrant. | Blogging through the Outdoors with Mike Stahlberg | The Register-Guard (somewhat off topic) http://blogs.registerguard.com/cms/index.php/outdoors/comments/alligator-on- the-applegate/ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090814/60a1a9e8/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Fri Aug 14 13:50:09 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:50:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: Shorebird at Hatfield Message-ID: <10161E0B9723404DAED9958C6E04FF4B@MOM> Howard's description. ----- Original Message ----- From: Howard Horvath On the evening of Aug. 13th Mary Oppenheimer and I received a call from Judy Meredith was looking at a different shorebird at Hatfield. We went out there and arrived around 8:15-8:20 p.m. At that time the light was beginning to fade. What I saw was a bird feeding near 4-5 Western Sandpipers. This bird was 25 to 30% larger and much darker than the Westerns. The cap was streaked and was a different color than the back, which was a scalloped grey. There was a small patch of white on the lower scapulars. The beak was 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 times the width of the head, was black, of medium thickness, and slightly drooped at the tip. There was a strong white supercillum on the head. Underneath I saw a dark chest and white belly with no sharp delineation between the two. I could also see some patterning on the flank just below the wing. The wings extended past the end of the tail. The legs appeared dark and short to me. This bird was feeding off of the surface and higher on the bank than the Westerns. I was unable to see the bird in flight. All of the Baird's Sandpipers which I have seen in Central Oregon have a warm buffy tone, which this bird did not have. Howard Horvath -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090814/cee1d394/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Fri Aug 14 15:08:16 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:08:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cabin Lake - need directions In-Reply-To: <90a4ffbc0908141016x2919e22em76d3cb2f899921ce@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <4a85e04b.16048e0a.3198.ffffd092@mx.google.com> Hi: go to www.basinrangebirdingtrail.com and click on maps. It has the Cabin Lake site with directions. Marilyn Miller _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of RJ FEELY Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 10:16 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Cabin Lake - need directions Can someone please describe exactly how to get to Cabin Lake (please be very specific)? Also, what is the best time to go there, for birding & what species can I usually expect to see there? Is there anywhere else close by there, where I should also bird? Thank you. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.57/2303 - Release Date: 08/14/09 18:10:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090814/4d3eef37/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri Aug 14 16:00:04 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:00:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Shorebirding Picking Up in Coos Co. 8/14/2009 Message-ID: <778151.4734.qm@web45305.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Stopped for a quick look at Bandon Marsh NWR this morning.? Tide was coming in and the shorebirds were scattered across the entire marsh.? All the larger shorebirds were on the south end.??I only?spent?a few?minutes taking as?I was headed south, here is what?I saw: ? 8-10,000 peeps (Westerns, Leasties and SP plovers, bet there was a few Semisands in the mass of peeps and who knows what else?) 75+?DOWITCHERS (both species) 36+ BB PLOVERS 2+ GREATER YELLOWLEGS 1- LESSER YELLOWLEGS 1- RUDDY TURNSTONE (I imagine there were more but?I was in a hurry) ? I?hope to get back there this weekend and spend a few more minutes there! ? Merry migration, Tim R Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090814/44c9ab4a/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Fri Aug 14 16:53:43 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:53:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cascade Head 8/14 Message-ID: 1 Red-shouldered Hawk many Oregon Silverspots + minor flight of Variegated Meadowhawks, 30-40/hour http://philliplc.com/images/xch09007.jpg Phil philliplc at charter.net From celata at pacifier.com Fri Aug 14 20:01:51 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:01:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Central Coast observations - 8/14/2009 Message-ID: <4A86251F.80406@pacifier.com> I spent the last two days on the central coast doing butterfly stuff. I too saw a directed flight of northbound VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWKS though I failed to get definitive ID shots like Phil. The most unusual part of this was the northbound part. More typically these flights are southbound and are associated with east winds. And, like Phil, I saw RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, one at Bray Point, Lane Co. and one just south of Lincoln City in that wetland off the east side of Hwy 101. There were 49 GREAT EGRETS on Yaquina Bay behind the Hatfield MSC. Also there were 200 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 60 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 4 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and 3 WHIMBREL. There was a sizable mixed flock of PACIFIC LOONS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and SURF SCOTERS off Bray Point. A very light movement of SOOTY SHEARWATERS off Boiler Bay. There were 1000's of SOOTY SHEARWATERS and 100's of near shore PACIFIC LOONS at Seaside Cove. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From johnpam at mtangel.net Fri Aug 14 21:22:07 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:22:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Vaux's Swifts Staging-Silverton Message-ID: Pam, Anna and I saw 150 Vaux's Swifts go down a chimney near the intersection of Lewis & 1st Streets in downtown Silverton at dusk today. This is across the street from the State Farm Insurance Co. office. Seems like a pretty good group for so early in the fall staging season. John Thomas Silverton From johnpam at mtangel.net Fri Aug 14 21:25:11 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:25:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Swift Still Possible? RFI Message-ID: Are the Black Swifts still possible at Salt Creek Falls? We possibly have some discretionary days to check them out this week. Seeing the Vaux's Swifts in Silverton tonight reminded me of the one Oregon swift we still would like to try seeing. Also, thanks to all on the I5 "Birding to Bay Area" RFI. Great information! If it all works out, we can check some of these spots later in the month when we go to visit my Aunt. If anyone wants a summary, let me know. Thanks and Good Birding, John Thomas circa de Silverton From azuurmees at canada.com Fri Aug 14 22:08:37 2009 From: azuurmees at canada.com (azuurmees at canada.com) Date: 14 Aug 2009 22:08:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Multnomah Village Osprey sighting Message-ID: <20090815050843.0B2EAA80CD@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090814/b4caf8b8/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Fri Aug 14 22:14:34 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:14:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] fun with quail, Yamhill Co Message-ID: <50D34D8C50EE40C195CE7A627504DA15@yourw5st28y9a3> Yesterday I finally got a good look at the young Mountain Quail that have been frequenting my yard. There were 6 young, accompanied by an adult. At times I have heard the parent calling to them and quiet peeps and chatter as they move along, but often they are quiet, only stirring dead leaves as they pass along. These young birds are not as crisply marked as adults, and colored differently, with some patches similar to the vermiculation on California Quail. They had whitish dots on a dark grey upper breast, with tan and brown scaly patterned feathers on the flanks. They completely lack side stripes. Their topknots were blunt and short while adults' are long and tapered, and a blackish stripe runs vertically through their eyes. The effect is more cryptic than the adult plumage. When they settled down to groom themselves they resembled a loose pile of dry leaves. Pamela Johnston From 4cains at charter.net Fri Aug 14 22:25:22 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:25:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Warrenton non-natives: Eurasian Collared Dove and Chukar Message-ID: <7C98A6E0590240A699CCF60585B23A9D@HAL> On 8/12 a lone EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE was perched on a phone wire by NW King Ave. Then tonight while playing soccer at the Warrenton Soccer Complex, I thought I was seeing things as a CHUKAR walked along the cyclone fencing at the north end of the west field. One of the players put it off to global warming, but I think recent release or escape more likely. Lee Cain Astoria -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090814/8d87e64f/attachment.html From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Fri Aug 14 23:01:08 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (Tom McNamara) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:01:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Smith & Bybee (Mult.) birds Message-ID: OBOL, Went over to Smith & Bybee lakes today to see what was going on with the egret and pied-billed grebe staging numbers. Counted 43 egrets on Bybee and slightly more than a 100 pied-bills. Extremely thin margin around the lake = no shorebirds. Heard one purple martin as I was walking in but couldn't see it through the cottonwood canopy. One warbling vireo in red osiers and a juv. yellowthroat. Heard about 5 yellow warblers. Wood duck numbers in the slough look good. Looking at the slough, I made a mental note to try to search it better later on in the year for Black-Crowned Night Herons, looks as if it would be likely habitat. Quick check of Smith revealed........not too much. Another 3 egrets, no mud. Did sight a calling juv. purple martin there though, a first for me at that site. Wapato jailbirds were 26 LB dowitchers, 4 Greater yellowlegs. One juv. Cooper's hawk. few more egrets and GB herons. good birding, Tom _________________________________________________________________ Get free photo software from Windows Live http://www.windowslive.com/online/photos?ocid=PID23393::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_PH_software:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090814/6bd0004e/attachment.html From puma at smt-net.com Fri Aug 14 23:41:20 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:41:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Nighthawks Message-ID: <34706611-0872-4A7E-BCAF-A6DE78F88147@smt-net.com> Folks, This evening, Friday Aug. 14, around 7:30 p.m., there were 10 to 12 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, flying overhead. A week ago I saw and heard 5 flying over the trees. Pat Waldron East of Scio From cliff_cordy at yahoo.com Sat Aug 15 01:34:12 2009 From: cliff_cordy at yahoo.com (Cliff Cordy) Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 01:34:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] many Sooty Shearwaters, Columbia River South Jetty Message-ID: <62053.99657.qm@web112517.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> ? This afternoon there was a huge number of Sooty Shearwaters?a few miles?south of the Columbia River South Jetty, best viewed from near the wreck on the beach. This was possibly the greatest number of birds I have seen in one place.?I?think an estimate of 100,000 would be?very?conservative. At times some would come quite close to the beach just past the waves. ? There were also a couple of Jaegers, Parasitic I think, that were keeping pace with the shearwaters. ? Cliff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090815/deb1b32a/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Aug 15 03:18:46 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 03:18:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Multnomah Village Osprey sighting In-Reply-To: <20090815050843.0B2EAA80CD@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> References: <20090815050843.0B2EAA80CD@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: Ospreys certainly still have young on the nest, as I saw a full house on Sauvie Island yesterday. They also will travel considerable distance to hunt. I see them regularly in my neighborhood (Manning) which is 10 miles from the nearest nest I know about (Forest Grove). Perhaps the presence of two Bald Eagle nests in Banks keeps them from nesting closer. I believe any pond large enough to support fish will attract an Osprey. The first time I saw one rising from my neighbor's front yard with a fish in hand I was a little surprised, as the pond there is 10m across at best. But we've all heard of "shooting fish in a barrel" and when obliged to feed two nestlings as big as themselves, I don't expect Osprey parents should be held to the same standards of sportsmanship as a bass derby. Lars Norgren On Aug 14, 2009, at 10:08 PM, azuurmees at canada.com wrote: > Hello all, I'm new to the list, but have visited it on numerous > occasions in the past.? I was finally spurred into subscribing after > two recent sightings; I'll be curious to see if anyone else can add to > them... > > Earlier this week (I unfortunately cannot recall the day, but it was > no earlier than Tuesday), I was driving toward Capitol Hwy on SW 31st > Ave around 3pm and as I came parallel with the Multnomah Art Center, > spotted what I at first took to be a large gull flying over the road.? > This seemed peculiar enough given the time of year, until I realized > the white I was seeing was really that of an osprey's underside as it > circled once and headed west.? The Willamette isn't terribly far away, > but it still struck me as very strange to see an osprey in that area. > > Just after 7pm this evening, I was driving east along Multnomah Blvd > approaching the Capitol Hwy underpass when an osprey passed by > overhead, not flying more than 30 feet up and again heading west, but > this time with prey.? It did indeed look like a fish, though appeared > to be rather orange...leading me to wonder if a local osprey has > discovered a large koi pond somewhere in the neighborhood.? Has anyone > else seen this osprey around the area, or perhaps heard of instances > of them fishing in suburban ponds?? > > - Devon > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From celata at pacifier.com Sat Aug 15 07:30:38 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 07:30:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sooty Shearwaters - how many? Message-ID: <4A86C68E.7050600@pacifier.com> The SOOTY SHEARWATERS are massing off the Oregon Coast, as they do just about every year and the numbers are, to say the least, mind numbing. If you don't do boats, this is the absolute best time of year to do some pelagic birding from land. 100,000 were recently reported seen from the South Jetty of the Columbia River. Can that possible? Yes, it can. Infact, it was probably an undercount. I have seen days when the shearwater flock stretched from the South Jetty to Tillamook Head (30km away). One day, standing on the viewing platform at parking lot C, with Fred Ramsey, we guessed we were looking at something close to a million. These are such stupifyingly large numbers that I don't always believe them myself, but the Sooty Shearwater is said to be the most abundant seabird on the planet with an estimated world population of about 20 million and a Pacific Ocean population of over 10 million. Every year they all make an incredible journey between March and October to the NE Pacific, and here's the weird part... even though they all show up in the same place, they're not getting here in a single, cohesive flock. Tracking studies have been able to show that individuals birds get here independently. For more on Sooty Shearwaters including satellite tracking data see: http://terranature.org/sootyShearwaterMigration.htm http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/index.shtml?project_id=282 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Sat Aug 15 10:26:50 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (tmacport99 at hotmail.com) Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:26:50 GMT Subject: [obol] Birding Trip Report: Mt. Tabor Park, Multnomah County, Oregon on August 15, 2009 Message-ID: <200908151726.n7FHQopj012866@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Tom McNamara by http://birdnotes.net Date: August 15, 2009 Location: Mt. Tabor Park, Multnomah County, Oregon Low temperature: 64 degrees fahrenheit High temperature: 64 degrees fahrenheit Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 100% Precipitation: none Tabor had decent variety of passerines this a.m but absolute numbers were pretty low. Movements are definitely getting under way..... Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Band-tailed Pigeon Anna's Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pacific-slope Flycatcher [1] Warbling Vireo Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Swainson's Thrush [2] Yellow Warbler [3] Townsend's Warbler Wilson's Warbler Western Tanager Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Black-headed Grosbeak House Finch Red Crossbill [4] Pine Siskin [5] Lesser Goldfinch American Goldfinch [6] Footnotes: [1] at least 4 [2] 1 [3] 1 female [4] 1 calling non-stop from atop a fir [5] been here all summer [6] quite uncommon in park Total number of species seen: 30 From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Aug 15 10:44:49 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 10:44:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] E.E. Wilson snipe, sandpiper, and duck revisited Message-ID: <1250358289.31164.309.camel@clearwater> -------- Forwarded Message -------- From: Joel Geier Reply-to: joel.geier at peak.org To: MidValley Birds Subject: E.E. Wilson snipe, sandpiper, and duck revisited Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 10:41:26 -0700 Hi folks, This morning I made a short loop out to the Canal Pond at E.E. Wilson and found just one LEAST SANDPIPER with the "Shrieking Plovers" (KILLDEER). A WILSON'S SNIPE was sneaking around in the rushes on the south side of the pond. This is one of the parts of the wildlife area where winnowing displays have been seen in past years, so maybe this bird has been around all summer -- though now is also the right time for fall migrants to start showing up. I had another look at what I'm pretty sure was the same weird duck that I called a Ruddy Duck a couple of days ago. This time I had my scope along and I could see a white eye-ring with a bit of a white streak running through it. I think it might be a female RING-BILLED DUCK rather than a Ruddy Duck. The bill tip looked broad and plain for that species, but shape & general pattern seem OK. I watched it floating around next to the Pied-billed Grebes for a while, and it never raised its tail. On the trail on the way back, I ran across Paul Sullivan and Carol Karlen who were headed out to look for the Red-eyed Vireo. So maybe there will be some additional birds to hear about later today. I didn't check for the REVI today and have not heard of anyone else going out there in recent days. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From winkg at hevanet.com Sat Aug 15 10:49:50 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 10:49:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding Trip Report: Mt. Tabor Park, Multnomah County, Oregon on August 15, 2009 Message-ID: <20090815174950.1D744A80CD@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Interesting about the Red Crossbill calling non-stop from top of fir this morning at Mt. Tabor. Four RED CROSSBILLS were calling, also non-stop, from top of fir at the Pittock Mansion. I thought/ hoped they were mobbing a pygmy-owl, but didn't seem to be. Good diversity at the Pittock this AM: LAZULI BUNTING, WESTERN TANAGER, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, HERMIT WARBLER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, PURPLE FINCH and crossbill were all species "neither seen nor heard the previous week". Wink Gross Portland From richarmstrong at comcast.net Sat Aug 15 10:57:22 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 10:57:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] southeast oregon References: <7.0.1.0.2.20090811093653.0471dcf8@frontiernet.net> Message-ID: <0232263633A44EEFAC2476F8FFD52077@armstrong> 1. nanette & i birded hart mountain (lake county) on 12th and steens mountain on 13th and some of malheur on afternoon of 13th. 2. we drove about 80 miles of hart mountain desert from about 4-8 pm a. 6 GREATER SAGE GROUSE (5 in 1 group on blue sky road maybe 4 miles from hq, and 1 going toward frenchglen maybe 5 miles from hq). we talked to 2 hunters that said they saw over 100 in 9 days, mostly on blue sky road. incidentally the road from plush to frenchglen through hart is in excellent shape. b. more sage thrashers than we could count c. a family of at least 4 BURROWING OWLS maybe 15 miles from hq on way to frenchglen 3. we drove the entire steens mt loop from 545 am till about 1 pm. a. the south part is in terrible shape from the campground for what seemed like 10 miles. now there were workers working on it, but i would strongly urge you to NOT try to drive up from south side, and unless you want the entire steens experience lkie we did i would suggest you go up from page springs and come back same way. b. i would also say that anyone who has not been up to the top of steens shoud go there - even if not seeing any birds the views and canyons and everything is breathtaking. c. 2 BLACK ROSY FINCHES at kiger overlook. we searched a lot of the east rim, the entire summit, and other places along the top without ever finding any more so we were lucky to find them at kiger. d. about 4 GOLDEN EAGLES, 1 PRAIRIE FALCON, and many rock wrens along the top e. many horned larks, vesper sparrows, and brewer's sparrows in various places f. a family of mountain bluebirds on south side maybe 10 miles in from 205 4. we did cpr from diamond to hq on malheur - much drier than early june and much more overgrown, and other than coot families not many birds a. 3 SNOWY EGRETS b. 2 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS c. 1 caspian tern, 5+ immature black terns, young trumpeter swans, young pied-billed grebes at benson pond d. at hq there were many rufous hummingbirds 5. we were driving from burns toward corvallis home when we heard about judy meredith's probable white-rumped sandpiper so we headed to hatfield but the bird was gone. 6. we did a lot of other birding along the way there and back but i don't want to bore people with more details. Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090815/e1ac8f43/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Sat Aug 15 12:27:33 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:27:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Tattler Message-ID: <2b1bbd260908151227l4e7c2a2dm397ee13448710d0b@mail.gmail.com> Obol This AM around 11 Lydia Cruz and I observed a WANDERING TATTLER on the beach just south of the Tenmile Creek, Coos Cty. We studied the supercilium and nasal grooves carefully until it flew and called. It was a good try anyway. Otherwise shorebirds were scarce. We saw 6 WESTERN and 12 LEAST SANDPIPERS, all were juveniles except a half molted adult Western. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090815/43c710f7/attachment.html From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Sat Aug 15 13:51:23 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:51:23 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Duck Re-visited----Female Ring-billed Duck Message-ID: <1796958745.16711250369483649.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Congratulations to Joel. It isn't often that a new species of duck is found in Oregon. However, it has already been observed and photographed elsewhere, as you can see at this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/martytdx/394125293/?addedcomment=1#comment72157621923269421 Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090815/a5a1064c/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Sat Aug 15 14:30:04 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 14:30:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tribe seeks to restore the condor to Northwest skies - OregonLive.com Message-ID: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/tribe_seeks_to_restore_the_ con.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Aug 15 15:05:19 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:05:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Duck Re-visited----Female Ring-billed Duck Message-ID: <1250373919.31164.354.camel@clearwater> Oh nuts! Now I guess I'll need to write up a rare-bird report for the OBRC, not to mention the AOU and its international counterpart, the IOU. Cheers, Joel > Congratulations to Joel. It isn't often that a new species of duck is found in > Oregon. However, it has already been observed and photographed elsewhere, as > you can see at this link: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/martytdx/394125293/?addedcomment=1#comment72157621923269421 From tlove at linfield.edu Sat Aug 15 16:25:47 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:25:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tualatin River NWR Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F1219263A89@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> Spent about an hour and a half at Tualatin River NWR near Sherwood this morning with a friend from the Bay Area. Shorebirds picking back up (8 spp.). Highlights included: RED-SHOULDERED HAWK - one; also one seen Friday morning perched on the big dead "eagle" trees KILLDEER - 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS - 4 SPOTTED SANDPIPER - 1 WESTERN SANDPIPER - 6+ LEAST SANDPIPER - 4 BAIRD'S SANDPIPER - 1 juv. LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER - 10 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE - 1 WILLOW FLYCATCHER - 1 Tom Love tlove AT linfield DOT edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090815/73a6fd8f/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sat Aug 15 17:04:10 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:04:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Shearwaters on the Columbia Message-ID: <4A874CFA.4070903@pacifier.com> I got a phone call early this morning from Lee Cain, who was surf fishing on the beach off parking lot B, Ft Stevens. He reported that the SOOTY SHEARWATERS were in close and that he figured there were at least a million. By the time I got to the South Jetty at around 09:30, there wasn't a single shearwater in sight. This is NOT unusual. I walked a little over a kilometer out onto the jetty and did some seawatching. Now I know that this is going to rankle my good friend in sunny Humboldt County, but I could see the shearwaters off Tillamook Head some 30km to the south. How? you ask. Well, what I actually saw were thousands of little, tiny specks moving in the manner I've come to expect from hundreds of thousands of shearwaters dancing on the horizon. Skeptics are absolutely correct to say that I did not see a single field mark and even most of the behavioral cues were impossible to discern, but I will put money on them having been Sooty Shearwaters. I have largely stayed out of the how far can you see debate, because this is one of those discussions that can, unintentionally, drift into territory that sounds kind of like personal attack. I know what my limitations are in seawatching and I know that the majority of the species I report are relatively common. As I think is true of most birders, I will be a little freer in calling a common species than a rare one. I don't treat Sooty Shearwater ID's with the same criteria that I use for Manx Shearwater. Anyway, today I conducted an experiment with my 300mm camera that you all are invited to check out at: http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11816 It is not a perfect experiment. It is fraught with all kinds of weaknesses that can be picked at by those of us who enjoy that sort of thing. But the distances are accurate and provide a framework for those who want to take their own spotting scopes in hand and check things out in the shearwater high season... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Sat Aug 15 17:13:51 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (Denise Hughes) Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 18:13:51 -0600 Subject: [obol] Duck Re-visited----Female Ring-billed Duck In-Reply-To: <1250373919.31164.354.camel@clearwater> References: <1250373919.31164.354.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: <008c01ca1e06$707a9800$516fc800$@net> I tried to search the web for information about Ring-billed Ducks but they seem to be confused with Ring-necked Ducks. What is the usual range for the Ring-billed Duck? I'd like to find some information on this duck species. Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho deniseh55 at clearwire.net There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before. -?? Robert Lynd -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Joel Geier Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 4:05 PM To: Oregon Birders OnLine Cc: Bigrocketman at comcast.net Subject: Re: [obol] Duck Re-visited----Female Ring-billed Duck Oh nuts! Now I guess I'll need to write up a rare-bird report for the OBRC, not to mention the AOU and its international counterpart, the IOU. Cheers, Joel > Congratulations to Joel. It isn't often that a new species of duck is found in > Oregon. However, it has already been observed and photographed elsewhere, as > you can see at this link: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/martytdx/394125293/?addedcomment=1#comment72157 621923269421 _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From smithdwd at hotmail.com Sat Aug 15 19:36:33 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 02:36:33 +0000 Subject: [obol] ASoP Tillamook Trip Message-ID: 20 birders spent today at the coast; in general, few shorebirds. Nehalem Sewage Ponds: a few regular shorebirds, 2 Green Herons(one very close), Wood Ducks, Purple Martins, and swallows in various plumage transitions. In Bay City, near the Sewage Ponds several Eur Col Doves. Your Doves are coastal. On the bayside flats at bayocean spit parking; a lone Marbled Godwit; very alone, no other shorebirds, only Caspian Terns. 3 Graces: all 3 cormorants, Rhino Auklet(2) and lots of Brown Pelicans. Good weather, fun trip. D Smith _________________________________________________________________ With Windows Live, you can organize, edit, and share your photos. http://www.microsoft.com/middleeast/windows/windowslive/products/photo-gallery-edit.aspx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090816/546721a1/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Sat Aug 15 20:24:36 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:24:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR - cloudy & quiet - but pleasant Message-ID: <143275.12922.qm@web55104.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Saturday, my mother (Olive) and I birded Ridgefield NWR (~4mi W of I-5 at Exit 14 in SW Washington; http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ ). We birded the River "S" Unit from 8:45AM until about 3:15PM. Before that, I birded the entrance canyon and R/R area from 7:15AM. It was a very quiet morning and a fairly quiet day in total. Weather was cool with a full cloud cover. Nothing real unusual was seen, but it was a very pleasant day to be outside, especially considering the heat that is coming midweek. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores Complete list of 55 species seen / heard: American Bittern (Horse Lake, and South Big Lake) Great Blue Heron Great Egret Green Heron (very active juvenile on Long Lake) Turkey Vulture Wood Duck (4 seen at Kiwa entrance canal) Gadwall Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Osprey Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Cooper's Hawk (juvenile seen from Kiwa parking area) Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel American Coot Killdeer Western Sandpiper (seen on Rest Lake) Least Sandpiper (seen on Rest Lake) Long-billed Dowitcher (seen on Rest Lake) Wilson's Snipe Bonaparte's Gull (seen on Rest Lake) Mourning Dove Vaux's Swift Belted Kingfisher (Long Lake and Kiwa Trail) Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker (entrance canyon) Western Wood-Pewee Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Purple Martin (Kiwa Trail) Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch (entrance canyon) White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Winter Wren (entrance canyon) Swainson's Thrush (entrance canyon) American Robin European Starling Cedar Waxwing Common Yellowthroat Spotted Towhee Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird House Finch American Goldfinch Seen by others but not by me: Greater Yellowlegs (seen on Rest Lake) From philliplc at charter.net Sat Aug 15 20:41:22 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:41:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Shearwaters on the Columbia Message-ID: <593704A6976F4C5AA30812695007CE7A@Phil> > I walked a little over a kilometer out onto the jetty and did some > seawatching. Now I know that this is going to rankle my good friend in > sunny Humboldt County, but I could see the shearwaters off Tillamook > Head some 30km to the south. How? you ask. Well, what I actually saw > were thousands of little, tiny specks moving in the manner I've come to > expect from hundreds of thousands of shearwaters dancing on the horizon. Obviously I'm all for pushing the limits of what can be detected at distance, but I have to point out a basic problem with Mike's report. That is from the jetty Mike's true horizon would have been way, way short of 30km, and the true base of Tillamook Head (sea level) would not be visible. The apparent base would be at the true horizon (probably 5-6 miles in this case), and beyond that even if birds are flying high enough not to be hidden behind the horizon, there would be no means to compare distances. Birds at any distance from just in front of the horizon or beyond would all appear to be "off" the head, and their true distance could only be guessed at (unless they were detected passing behind the lighthouse rock, which I assume wasn't the case). Knowing that it requires extraordinary atmospheric clarity just to detect shearwaters at 1/3 the reported distance, with due respect I'm skeptical the distance isn't an overestimate (although would love for Mike to prove me wrong!) Cheers, Phil From greenfant at hotmail.com Sat Aug 15 20:54:03 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 23:54:03 -0400 Subject: [obol] Seaside area birds (Clatsop Co) Message-ID: Rebecca Atherton and I headed to the coast as well this morning. At the Seaside Cove we had many Pacific Loons, a female Harlequin Duck and a Ruddy Turnstone. Remarkable was the already mentioned movement of 1000s of Sooty Shearwaters northward. At high tide (yeah right) we stopped at the Necanicum Estuary. We hiked in from the southern tip of Wellington. A juvie Semipalmated Sandpiper gave fantastic looks from about 25ft away. We were able to easily see the semi-palmated feet and most of the time we had the bird with a single Least or Western in the scope for comparison. 4 Short-billed Dowitchers were also present in a small puddle. Walking around the southern tip of the spit on the Gearhart side, we were treated to massive numbers of Heerman's Gulls, Brown Pelicans, Caspian Terns (no Elegants were detected) and Common Murres out on the open water. By then it was about 10:30am. Right off the beach we watched 1000s of Sooty Shearwaters moving south this time. 2 Red-necked Phalaropes were floating just beyond the breakers. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=PID23384::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:NF_BR_sync:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090815/25142c81/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sat Aug 15 23:47:23 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 23:47:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Shearwaters on the Columbia Message-ID: <4A87AB7B.3020902@pacifier.com> If you all take a look at the photo link I included with the post I made, http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11816 the last photo is of Tillamook Head and the Tillamook Lighthouse. The lighthouse is clearly visible and is where the 32km value comes from. The lighthouse structure is 19m tall and sits on a rock that is about 22m above sea level. The light can be seen 18 miles (just short of 30km) out to sea. Phil's first mistake, is assuming the earth is round and use the Pythagorean Theorem. Earth's presumed average radius = 6378km and a chord directed straight out from my position- calculated drop below the horizon = (sqrt(6378^2 + 30^2)) - 6378 or about 70m The rock plus the structure of Tillamook Lighthouse total 40m (plus or minus). From a distance of 30km, and assuming a round earth, the top of the lighthouse should be about 30m below the horizon. My photos clearly show the light house from 32km away. Why isn't it below the horizon as predicted? Obviously, the world is flat and I can see shearwaters from the south jetty. Not buying the flat Earth model? Well the above model assumes that I am at an elevation of zero... If, instead, we take my non-trivial height above sea level (the place where I was standing on the South Jetty was about 10m above sea level) and the refraction of the air, my distance to the apparent horizon is over 12km and the apparent drop over the next 18km is only about 20m. That's why the Tillamook head lighthouse can be seen 18 miles out to sea and why it is possible for me to see little dancing specks at seemingly impossible distances. Of course, I'm only seeing the ones that are flying at a sufficient height above the surface to clear the apparent horizon and I would have no prayer of identifying them if I wasn't predisposed to believe they were shearwaters. Need the math? See: http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/GF/explain/atmos_refr/horizon.html or the handy calculator at: http://pollux.nss.nima.mil/calc/horizon.html -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Sun Aug 16 02:25:29 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 09:25:29 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Duck Re-visited: Female Ring-billed Duck In-Reply-To: <1802090146.351250413034317.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <755072855.471250414729741.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Denise Hughes wrote: What is the usual range of the Ring-billed Duck? ___________________________________________ Denise, the Ring-billed Duck is a Cyberspace species and ranges only on the Internet. It has some fellow birds there, of a like kind, such as the Double-breasted Cormorant and Ultra-violet Swallow. Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090816/0c1011a8/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Sun Aug 16 09:09:23 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 09:09:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Shearwaters on the Columbia Message-ID: <47C388ECB00C41B284C44B64DCDA3453@Phil> Respectfully, Mike missed the point of my post. I was not questioning whether the lighthouse should be visible. I was suggesting that if both the birds and the actual sea level base of the landmark used for comparison are at or beyond the horizon, and the birds/landmark don't directly overlap in some meaningful manner (birds passing behind or associating with it, following large boats that clearly passed near it etc), there is no means to determine if they are actually at the same distance. If both are in front of the horizon the actual sea level base of the landmark can still be seen as a (very rough) reference point of angular distance to the horizon that can be used for birds very near the water at the same angular distance However if even a few meters of the base of the landmark is hidden behind the horizon, and/or if the birds are flying at significant elevation, no such comparative frame of reference exists. Beyond the horizon a speck in the sky at 12 km and one at 30 would both appear to be equally "off" the head. Any inference about distance could only be made from the in-scope apparent physical size of the specks, which at the these distances would necessarily be mostly guesswork. Forgive me if I'm ranting about the obvious and Mike did in fact observe some sort of physical overlap between birds/landmarks that allowed him to associate distances, but he hasn't specifically mentioned that he did yet : ) Cheers, Phil > If you all take a look at the photo link I included with the > post I made, > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11816 > the last photo is of Tillamook Head and the Tillamook Lighthouse. The > lighthouse is clearly visible and is where the 32km value comes from. > The lighthouse structure is 19m tall and sits on a rock that is about > 22m above sea level. The light can be seen 18 miles (just short of > 30km) out to sea. From fschrock at gmail.com Sun Aug 16 10:11:37 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:11:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Purple Martins in Yamhill Co. Message-ID: <390ebd880908161011g449de650ne09b52a388184b0b@mail.gmail.com> Yesterday (Aug. 15), I watched three PURPLE MARTINS for about 20 minutes. This was only my third sighting in Yamhill County, and the first time I've seen more than one at a time. About three miles west of Willamina, at about 700 ft. elevation, the trio was circling and calling above the ridgetop I was on. This spot is about two miles north of the Polk Co. line. It made me suspect that there might be a nesting colony somewhere in the area. In a non-bird sighting, I also saw a Robber Fly that had captured a Yellowjacket and appeared to be effectively injecting its toxins. Anyone interested can see a photo at http://empids.blogspot.com. According to a photo I found on an internet site, I think it was a female Laphria flavicollis. -- ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090816/dc73ef36/attachment.html From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Sun Aug 16 11:13:27 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 14:13:27 -0400 Subject: [obol] nut time Message-ID: STELLAR'S and SCRUB JAYS now harvesting filberts to consume and bury everywhere. The nuts aren't quite brown yet. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS favor sampling the small dark volunteer plums -- trees loaded this year. Local wetlands in the area have WOOD DUCKS galore. Lona Pierce, Columbia County _________________________________________________________________ With Windows Live, you can organize, edit, and share your photos. http://www.windowslive.com/Desktop/PhotoGallery -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090816/a5a78c66/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Sun Aug 16 12:26:36 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:26:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] shorebirds at Ridgefield NWR, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: This morning I found least sandpiper 66 western sandpiper 60 Baird's sandpiper 1 red-necked phalarope 1 dunlin 1 semi-palmated plover 1 semipalmated sandpiper 1 long-billed dowitcher 4 It was low tide along the river so this could change later today as birds move away from tidal areas. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090816/e6aa723c/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Sun Aug 16 12:31:20 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:31:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] migrant movement along Columbia River, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: Checked a riparian strip along the river at about 0930 hrs for about an hour and found the following migrants. western tanager 2 Wilson's warbler 2 warbling vireo 1 orange-crowned warbler 3 there were also some breeders still hanging around. willow flycatcher 2 purple martin 3 western wood-pewee 2 black-headed grosbeak 1 Swanson's thrush 3 Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090816/5cfc98c6/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Sun Aug 16 12:50:50 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:50:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Murrelets, whales & pinnipeds Message-ID: This morning at Cape Arago (Coos Co.) there were 100+ MARBLED MURRELETS in various plumages. At least 4 Long-billed Murrelets have been reported in N. California, so it is worth scrutinizing any birds seen. Also present were a mother and calf Gray Whale feeding right below the point. At Simpson Reef, the 4 species of pinniped put on a good show (Northern Elephant Seal, Steller's Sea Lion, California Sea Lion & Harbor Seal) with a cacophony of sound. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090816/577f5786/attachment.html From coffehound at gmail.com Sun Aug 16 13:42:33 2009 From: coffehound at gmail.com (Demian Ebert) Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:42:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Kiwa Lake, Waldo Lake Wilderness, Lane County, 12 Aug 2009 (long-ish post) Message-ID: Afternoon- We were on vacation over the last week, camping our way up the Cascades from Crater Lake. On 12 Aug, we took a day hike from the North Waldo Lake Campground into the Waldo Lake Wilderness around the Rigdon Lakes. The last lake in this loop is Kiwa Lake. As we walked up to the lake we saw a female bufflehead on the south end. We walked on along the edge to a nice peninnsula for lunch. From here we saw a female common goldeneye and two chicks out in the middle of the lake. There was also a brood of six juvenile bufflehead much closer to shore to the west and about eight juvenile mallards with a female across the lake to the north. Three things surprised me. First was the presence of the birds themselves. I was surprised to see both the bufflehead and goldeneye in August. The National Geographic guide (5th ed) with me but it clearly put Oregon in the winter range as does Sibley for goldeneye. The bufflehead are given a small area of year-round range in southern Oregon and Northern CA in both guides. I just looked at Rakestraw's Birding Oregon (2007), which I didn't have with me, and there are no summer records for common goldeneye listed in the checklist. The bill on this bird was all dark and we could see no yellow. Most of the diagnostic features discussed in the books compare common to Barrow's and although I have seen both Barrow's and common goldenye this doesn't help a great deal with one bird by themselves. The Barrow's has a mapped breeding range that extends into central Oregon in Sibley, so perhaps I'm mistaken. Thoughts on this would be welcome. Second, I was surprised to see both birds with young. Breeding had obviously occurred in this location as the young were foraging, but did not appear able to fly. I suppose if this is a Barrow's then this isn't so unusual and I'll chalk it up to not knowing the Oregon breeding bird distribution that well yet. Third was the interactions between the female goldeneye and the bufflehead. The goldeneye would approach the bufflehead with its head held very low to the water and as submerged as possible. She would dive when she got close to the bufflehead and then attack them from below. The bufflehead tried hard to get away, calling and paddling and flapping furiously across the surface. The juveniles appeard unable to fly to escape the goldeneye. When the goldeneye was harrasing the female bufflehead, she moved away from her brood, but never flew. Eventually the goldeneye had the femaile bufflehead separated from the brood and moved back into the center of the lake where her two young were foraging. After a few minutes, she started swimming back towards the juvenile bufflehead. The harassment started again. This whole process was repeated twice over a half-hour period. At no time did the goldeneye pay any attention to the mallards. Viewing conditions were excellent, with the sun at our backs allowing clear views of the birds through 10x bins. This all occurred in mid-afternoon. There are no pictures of the birds (but there are of the lake and our hound dog...). Demian Ebert -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090816/9a64384f/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Sun Aug 16 14:48:29 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 14:48:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] [Tweeters] migrant movement along Columbia River, Clark Co, WA References: Message-ID: Opps forgot the Pacific-sloped flycatcher Bob Flores ----- Original Message ----- From: Bob Flores To: Tweeters ; OBOL Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 12:31 PM Subject: [Tweeters] migrant movement along Columbia River, Clark Co, WA Checked a riparian strip along the river at about 0930 hrs for about an hour and found the following migrants. western tanager 2 Wilson's warbler 2 warbling vireo 1 orange-crowned warbler 3 there were also some breeders still hanging around. willow flycatcher 2 purple martin 3 western wood-pewee 2 black-headed grosbeak 1 Swanson's thrush 3 Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters at u.washington.edu http://mailman2.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090816/cda49c83/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun Aug 16 15:58:40 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:58:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Bandon Marsh 8/16/2009 Message-ID: <820342.38368.qm@web45315.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Right after sunrise, clear, no wind, 50's, tide coming in: 6,000 peeps (50-50 Western and Leasts, mostly juvies with several basic plumaged birds, both species)150- SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS (or is that SEMI-PALMATED?)70+ Dowitchers, out of walking range due to incoming tides on the way south end36- BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS1- RUDDY TURNSTONE2- GREATER YELLOWLEGS On a late note, Terry Wahl had 4 LONG-BILLED CURLEW on the family ranch near Cape Blanco, Curry Co. on the 10th. That's it for now,Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090816/5f1099b5/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Aug 16 15:58:23 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:58:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Waldo Lake Bucephalids Message-ID: <69361993fe2166fcab8b45baace92607@earthlink.net> Books aimed at continental coverage such as Sibley and National Geographic cannot give fine textured detail such as Lake of the Woods vs Waldo Lake. I recall one publication from decades ago that estimated 100 breeding pairs of Buffleheads in the state. Memorial Day weekend of 1973 my family camped by sailboat on the north shore of Waldo Lake. There was a small, nameless lake a few 100m north of the big lake, with a pair of Buffleheads I assumed were preparing to nest there. Fleshy parts of birds are highly problematic when using the colors thereof as field marks. The season, bird's age, bird's health all contribute to variations in color. There have been a variety of postings on this list about Goldeneye beaks. I would be reluctant to ID a female Goldeneye on beak color/pattern alone. A Goldeneye discovered in Hillsboro the winter before last inspired lively debate. People posted ample, excellent photos. Someone else provided pictures of a female Barrow's Goldeneye emerging from a nest hole at Lost Lake(Santiam Pass). What I took away from this is that the Barrow's has a much smaller bill. Its culmen emerges from the forehead halfway between the chin and eye level. The Common Goldeneye's culmen begins at the same level as its eye. Lars Norgren From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sun Aug 16 16:15:14 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:15:14 +0000 Subject: [obol] Bandon Marsh 8/16/2009 Message-ID: Wish I could have gotten up that early, but numbers still strong at 9:30 as they have been all weekend at the Marsh! HARV Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Tim Rodenkirk Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 22:58:40 To: Subject: [obol] Bandon Marsh 8/16/2009 Right after sunrise, clear, no wind, 50's, tide coming in: 6,000 peeps (50-50 Western and Leasts, mostly juvies with several basic plumaged birds, both species) 150- SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS (or is that SEMI-PALMATED?) 70+ Dowitchers, out of walking range due to incoming tides on the way south end 36- BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS 1- RUDDY TURNSTONE 2- GREATER YELLOWLEGS On a late note, Terry Wahl had 4 LONG-BILLED CURLEW on the family ranch near Cape Blanco, Curry Co. on the 10th. That's it for now, Tim R Coos Bay From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sun Aug 16 16:47:05 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:47:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Deschutes - that Aug 13 pm shorebird at Hatfield Message-ID: Hi birders I am now comfortable calling the "different" shorebird a White-rumped Sandpiper. I looked over more references when I had time this weekend. Particularly the Hayman "Shorebirds" (1986) and North American Thayers software (1998) had the info illustrated that cinched it for me. While both of those references are old, they had illustrations of the molt stage that fit the bird and Hayman and newer O'Brien and Crossley had text that helped as well, So I will write up the report for the records committee. No photos so it may not be a go for the records committee but thought I should follow up the post at least. Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com From rflores_2 at msn.com Sun Aug 16 17:53:43 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:53:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Afternoon Shorebirds at Ridgefield NWR Message-ID: Not much different than this morning. One more Baird's sandpiper, a lesser yellowlegs and a short-billed dowitcher were new birds. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090816/672ba8df/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Sun Aug 16 18:56:00 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:56:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cautions for Long-billed Murrlet seekers Message-ID: <491E9001F9244CDBB6346B237118C793@GREG> http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/116069584/original This photo of a Marbled Murrelet from last weekend shows a bird likely molting into non-breeding plumage. It gives the impression of a nape spot as one would expect on Long-billed Murrelet. This is one species ID where you want to see birds at very close range! Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From chrisgardner05 at aol.com Sun Aug 16 20:02:09 2009 From: chrisgardner05 at aol.com (chrisgardner05) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 03:02:09 +0000 Subject: [obol] Black Swifts Message-ID: 8-10 black swifts seen at salt creek falls on saturday. Soaring to the north above the mountain past the highway and only visible with binoculars. From cell, I'll post more when I get home. Chris Ruiz-Gardner, Las Vegas, NV ---------- This AOL Mail was sent from AT&T's Wireless network using Mobile Email From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun Aug 16 20:40:06 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 20:40:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Cautions for Long-billed Murrlet seekers In-Reply-To: <491E9001F9244CDBB6346B237118C793@GREG> Message-ID: <266335.40908.qm@web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Nice shot Greg. ?Makes one wonder about the multiple sightings in different locations in N. CA this past week or two. Tim RCoos Bay --- On Sun, 8/16/09, Greg Gillson wrote: From: Greg Gillson Subject: [obol] Cautions for Long-billed Murrlet seekers To: "OBOL" Date: Sunday, August 16, 2009, 6:56 PM http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/116069584/original This photo of a Marbled Murrelet from last weekend shows a bird likely molting into non-breeding plumage. It gives the impression of a nape spot as one would expect on Long-billed Murrelet. This is one species ID where you want to see birds at very close range! Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090816/345dccf1/attachment.html From krallfamily at comcast.net Sun Aug 16 20:52:18 2009 From: krallfamily at comcast.net (Kathy) Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 20:52:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wheeler, Netarts, Bayocean spit Message-ID: We saw a few shorebirds this weekend. Thursday evening, about 7 pm on the beach between Happy Camp and Oceanside, saw 3 whimbrels. Friday afternoon in Nehalem bay, just north of Wheeler, a flock of (probably) least sandpipers on some logs at high tide. Saturday afternoon on the bay side of Bay Ocean spit, about 5 pm (about 2 hours after low tide), saw a flock of Western sandpipers and one yellowlegs (not sure which one, sorry). Kathy Krall -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090816/5e9c892c/attachment.html From tlove at linfield.edu Sun Aug 16 21:08:43 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:08:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] L-b Murrelet photo (from CA) Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F1219263AB2@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> In case people hadn't seen this, here's a photo posted to CalBird recently of (one of?) the Long-billed Murrelet(s) off Del Norte County, CA: http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/ Scroll through the pictures on the right. Tom Love tlove AT linfield DOT edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090816/7376779e/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Mon Aug 17 08:10:09 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:10:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bandon Marsh 8/16/2009 In-Reply-To: <820342.38368.qm@web45315.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <820342.38368.qm@web45315.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4A8972D1.50201@verizon.net> Can someone somewhere please point out what field guide, what resource, claims it is SEMI-PALMATED? That is one word as far as I know folks. I don't mean to be picky or mean about it (actually I have a smile on my face), but I've seen it posted both ways here and in the past I pointed out that it is SEMIPALMATED by all the resources I have. Check them out. Cheers Dave Lauten Tim Rodenkirk wrote: > Right after sunrise, clear, no wind, 50's, tide coming in: > > 6,000 peeps (50-50 Western and Leasts, mostly juvies with several > basic plumaged birds, both species) > 150- SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS (or is that SEMI-PALMATED?) > 70+ Dowitchers, out of walking range due to incoming tides on the way > south end > 36- BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS > 1- RUDDY TURNSTONE > 2- GREATER YELLOWLEGS > > On a late note, Terry Wahl had 4 LONG-BILLED CURLEW on the family > ranch near Cape Blanco, Curry Co. on the 10th. > > That's it for now, > Tim R > Coos Bay > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From windypointandy at dishmail.net Mon Aug 17 08:44:57 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:44:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] McKay and Cold Springs NWRs-16 AUGUST Message-ID: <006101ca1f51$b7815940$3700a8c0@windypoint99> MCKAY AND COLD SPRINGS NWR 16 AUGUST 2009 Targeting shorebirds, we started the day at McKay NWR just south of Pendleton at 6:30 am. We met Umatilla County expert Aaron Skirvin, who, along with her friend Judy, were already there. Over the course of two hours, we noted 11 species of waders. Right away we noted a juvenile SOLITARY SANDPIPER and SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, and a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. Aaron and I spied a dowitcher with strong internal striping on its tertials, working dryer mud than several breeding plumaged (still very bright) LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS. We flushed this bird to prompt it to call and both instantly heard it utter strident "tu.tu.tu" notes, thus a SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, rare but regular in eastern Oregon. In the cool of the morning swallows of five species (TREE, N. ROUGH-WINGED, BANK, CLIFF and BARN) were flitting about low over the reservoir. Over the reservoir, three OSPREYS flew, several crisp juveniles. At the parking lot (2nd lot from the end on the refuge westside road), birds were swarming about a hawthorn tree laden with fruits. Most were AMERICAN ROBINS but several each of BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, and immature WESTERN TANAGERS swelled our trip list. WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES and YELLOW WARBLERS called from the lakeside trees. Next, we moved west to Cold Springs NWR and began from Parking Lot F. Walking southeast from the parking area on a sandy track, we hit receding ponds in a flooded woodland. These ponds were chock full of ducks (including WOOD DUCK, GREEN-WINGED and CINNAMON TEALS,) and many shorebirds. SOLITARY SANDPIPERS were easy to find; we counted at least four. Among noisy GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, was a juvenile STILT SANDPIPER, perhaps the same bird found by Aaron the day before. Moving east along the gravel track in this swamp towards the "T" at Memorial Marsh (now dry), we flushed a smallish egret plus a Great Egret. These birds flew directly against the sun, so we couldn't see leg or feet color. We could compare their size differences and flight mode. We were reasonably certain it was a SNOWY EGRET so phoned Aaron who said he might come later. Also from the trees here we heard an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER call "quick, three beers!" among the more numerous pewees. This is one pretty neat swamp; we also noted BELTED KINGFISHER and three wrens scolding us: BEWICK'S, HOUSE, and MARSH. A SWAINSON'S HAWK soared overhead. We then canoed the edges of the reservoir. The water in the shallows was pea soup green, Campbells Soup grade. The thought of capsizing in this stuff was pretty appalling. Along the muddy south and east shores we noted hundreds of WESTERN SANDPIPERS, with four or so juvenile SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, one SEMIPALMATED PLOVER and a molting adult BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. We found the north shore much dryer and quite rocky; here were four BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS (simply put, lovely birds) and loads of SPOTTED SANDPIPERS. Along the lakeshore we noted hundreds of dabbling ducks (MALLARD, AM. WIGEON, N. PINTAIL, and N. SHOVELER), all in eclipse plumage. GREAT EGRETS and GREAT BLUE HERONS were working the shores, too. Out in the lake were lots of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, WESTERN and CLARK'S (well, at least one) GREBES. We finished the day with 15 species of shorebirds, a pretty good day for eastern Oregon, we thought. As we were leaving, Aaron was returning to search for the Snowy Egret. He first bumped into a BLACK PHOEBE, then confirmed our SNOWY EGRET, both Umatilla County firsts! Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090817/048fbfd0/attachment.html From dhogaza at pacifier.com Mon Aug 17 10:24:41 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:24:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Beverage-in-hand method of birding In-Reply-To: <1250210042.31164.129.camel@clearwater> References: <1250210042.31164.129.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: On Aug 13, 2009, at 5:34 PM, Joel Geier wrote: > Hello folks, > > In my earlier posting to the MidValley list-serv (also copied to > OBOL), > I attributed the "beverage-in-hand" method of motorless birding to > Randy > (Campbell) who had mentioned it in a posting earlier today. > > To give credit where credit is due, I should note that Jeff Harding > was > the originator of this phrase, if not the entire idea of > beverage-in-hand birding. I suspect that Randy's mention of this > method > was a tip of the hat to a fellow Linn County birder. Here's an example of "beverage-in-hand" bird photography, which I would argue is at least one step superior to mere "beverage-in-hand" birding: http://donb.photo.net/photo_cd/a/b54.jpg The beverage-in-hand in this case being a chocolate milkshake, which leads to a simple quiz I'm sure nearly all can answer: Where was this photo taken? ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From Rick.Krabbe at NETL.DOE.GOV Mon Aug 17 11:20:45 2009 From: Rick.Krabbe at NETL.DOE.GOV (Rick Krabbe) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:20:45 -0400 Subject: [obol] Beverage-in-hand method of birding In-Reply-To: References: <1250210042.31164.129.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: <4A893D0C.23F7.0095.0@NETL.DOE.GOV> Hello all: Not to steal the thunder from Mssr's Baccus, Campbell and Harding, I would like to take my shot at revising history. I first observed beverage-in-hand-birding practiced by Dr. Storm, then a professor at OSU. This was back in the early eighties when Gilligan, Schmit, Crabtree and company were still part of the brat pack. While everyone else, myself included, was running willy-nilly about the refuge Dr. Storm would haul out a lawn chair and cooler and perch in the shade near the HQ office and wait for the birds to find him. Just some thoughts. Rick >>> "Don Baccus" 8/17/2009 10:24 AM >>> On Aug 13, 2009, at 5:34 PM, Joel Geier wrote: > Hello folks, > > In my earlier posting to the MidValley list-serv (also copied to > OBOL), > I attributed the "beverage-in-hand" method of motorless birding to > Randy > (Campbell) who had mentioned it in a posting earlier today. > > To give credit where credit is due, I should note that Jeff Harding > was > the originator of this phrase, if not the entire idea of > beverage-in-hand birding. I suspect that Randy's mention of this > method > was a tip of the hat to a fellow Linn County birder. Here's an example of "beverage-in-hand" bird photography, which I would argue is at least one step superior to mere "beverage-in-hand" birding: http://donb.photo.net/photo_cd/a/b54.jpg The beverage-in-hand in this case being a chocolate milkshake, which leads to a simple quiz I'm sure nearly all can answer: Where was this photo taken? ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090817/47e22ce6/attachment.html From srnord101 at verizon.net Mon Aug 17 12:57:39 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:57:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands - Pelicans , Phalaropes Message-ID: <000001ca1f74$fa0db470$ee291d50$@net> OBOL; Was at Fernhill Wetlands today between 11:00-12:00. Overall very quiet, but had a few highlights: AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN 13 (assume these are the same birds that have been here a few weeks. Today they were not hiding in the grasses, but swimming out in the open of the Mitigation Ponds. BONAPARTE'S GULL 1 (imm) on Cattail Marsh pond WILSON'S PHALAROPE 5 - the southern Mitigation Ponds. Still had some of their breeding colors. GREEN HERON 1 (imm) GREAT EGRET 1 CALIFORNIA GULL 2 (1ad, 1imm) GREATER YELLOWLEGS 8 WESTERN SANDPIPER 1 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 2 KILLDEER 18 Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Mon Aug 17 14:29:03 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:29:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] "semi-palmated plover" vs "semipalmated plover" Message-ID: <740365.36017.qm@web51801.mail.re2.yahoo.com> I know this may seem trivial to some but I have been stumped on how to write this too and have seen it both ways in all kinds of sources. I would personally like to know what people think the official "ultimate" reference is on this? Is it what the AOU says (but then that's not worldwide)? If you go to amazon.com and do a search in books for "semi-palmated plover" (with the quotes), you'll find plenty of examples where it is hyphenated and some where it is written as two words: semi palmated. The hyphenated forms include at least one Peterson guide and a Sibley book. You can get plenty of examples both ways googling it too. I would personally prefer the unhyphenated form since most style manuals leave out the hyphen on compound words where the first word is considered a prefix....not that I think any of this matters when posting to OBOL but I have written things where it did matter. Cindy Ashy From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Mon Aug 17 14:54:01 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:54:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] "semi-palmated plover" vs "semipalmated plover" In-Reply-To: <740365.36017.qm@web51801.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <740365.36017.qm@web51801.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: The correct way to spell Semipalmated it is without the hyphen. Just check of the official checklists of AOU, ABA, Clement's, British Ornithological Union,, etc. and you will see that none of them hyphenate the name, nor do the standard high-quality field guides. AOU sets the bar for the correct English spelling in North America. Below is what I just copied from AOU's checklist for North American birds for the plovers. Charadriinae Pluvialis squatarola Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis apricaria European Golden-Plover A Pluvialis dominica American Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva Pacific Golden-Plover Charadrius mongolus Lesser Sand-Plover N Charadrius leschenaultii Greater Sand-Plover A Charadrius collaris Collared Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Snowy Plover Charadrius wilsonia Wilson's Plover Charadrius hiaticula Common Ringed Plover Charadrius semipalmatus Semipalmated Plover Charadrius melodus Piping Plover Charadrius dubius Little Ringed Plover A Charadrius vociferus Killdeer Charadrius montanus Mountain Plover Charadrius morinellus Eurasian Dotterel Cheers, Shawneen Finnegan On Aug 17, 2009, at 2:29 PM, Cindy Ashy wrote: > I know this may seem trivial to some but I have been stumped on how > to write this too and have seen it both ways in all kinds of > sources. I would personally like to know what people think the > official "ultimate" reference is on this? Is it what the AOU says > (but then that's not worldwide)? > > If you go to amazon.com and do a search in books for "semi-palmated > plover" (with the quotes), you'll find plenty of examples where it > is hyphenated and some where it is written as two words: semi > palmated. The hyphenated forms include at least one Peterson guide > and a Sibley book. You can get plenty of examples both ways googling > it too. > > I would personally prefer the unhyphenated form since most style > manuals leave out the hyphen on compound words where the first word > is considered a prefix....not that I think any of this matters when > posting to OBOL but I have written things where it did matter. > > Cindy Ashy > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090817/36292c89/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Mon Aug 17 15:00:14 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:00:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] "semi-palmated plover" vs "semipalmated plover" In-Reply-To: <740365.36017.qm@web51801.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <740365.36017.qm@web51801.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4A89D2EE.9050406@verizon.net> Folks, We live in North America, and the AOU IS the authority on all things birds. A quick check of the that list, as Shawneen has pointed out, reveals the word is "Semipalmated". It really does not matter if some other group or author or whatever writes it as with a hyphen, the correct way of spelling it is without a hyphen. Cheers Dave Lauten Cindy Ashy wrote: > I know this may seem trivial to some but I have been stumped on how to write this too and have seen it both ways in all kinds of sources. I would personally like to know what people think the official "ultimate" reference is on this? Is it what the AOU says (but then that's not worldwide)? > > If you go to amazon.com and do a search in books for "semi-palmated plover" (with the quotes), you'll find plenty of examples where it is hyphenated and some where it is written as two words: semi palmated. The hyphenated forms include at least one Peterson guide and a Sibley book. You can get plenty of examples both ways googling it too. > > I would personally prefer the unhyphenated form since most style manuals leave out the hyphen on compound words where the first word is considered a prefix....not that I think any of this matters when posting to OBOL but I have written things where it did matter. > > Cindy Ashy > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Mon Aug 17 15:33:03 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:33:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] "semi-palmated plover" vs "semipalmated plover" Message-ID: <104381.8120.qm@web51808.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Thank you Shawneen. That is helpful. I can accept the AOU as the source to follow but I would like to understand the logic behind it. Are they being inconsistent with style? At first glance, I thought all the compound words where the first word was not a prefix were hyphenated and the ones where it was a prefix were not. However, it's actually not that simple when you compare species like: American Golden-Plover vs Little Ringed Plover ...and there are several other examples similar to this like Lesser Sand-Plover vs Mountain Plover. Don't understand yet their reasoning for determining what's a compound word and what is not. I'm betting it is not arbitrary. Could it be color vs another adjective....that is IF sand is actually referring to color...but using this logic, there's a problem with "Snowy Plover" if snowy is referring to a color. Cindy Ashy From goosemiller at gmail.com Mon Aug 17 16:26:33 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:26:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Beverage-in-hand method of birding In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <4a89e720.1c048e0a.7b37.40d8@mx.google.com> Easy-----FIELDS. But the real question is did you share the mill shake or drink the whole one by yourself? Marilyn Miller -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Don Baccus Sent: Monday, August 17, 2009 10:25 AM To: joel.geier at peak.org Cc: MidValley Birds; Oregon Birders OnLine Subject: Re: [obol] Beverage-in-hand method of birding On Aug 13, 2009, at 5:34 PM, Joel Geier wrote: > Hello folks, > > In my earlier posting to the MidValley list-serv (also copied to > OBOL), > I attributed the "beverage-in-hand" method of motorless birding to > Randy > (Campbell) who had mentioned it in a posting earlier today. > > To give credit where credit is due, I should note that Jeff Harding > was > the originator of this phrase, if not the entire idea of > beverage-in-hand birding. I suspect that Randy's mention of this > method > was a tip of the hat to a fellow Linn County birder. Here's an example of "beverage-in-hand" bird photography, which I would argue is at least one step superior to mere "beverage-in-hand" birding: http://donb.photo.net/photo_cd/a/b54.jpg The beverage-in-hand in this case being a chocolate milkshake, which leads to a simple quiz I'm sure nearly all can answer: Where was this photo taken? ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.58/2309 - Release Date: 08/17/09 06:08:00 From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Mon Aug 17 16:47:44 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:47:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] "semi-palmated plover" vs "semipalmated plover" Message-ID: <992284.42020.qm@web51806.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hi again, It just ocurred to me that the AOU might be following some particular style manual so I googled "AOU style manual nomenclature" and sure enough there is a "AOU Committee on Classification and Nomenclature" and I found this discussion rather interesting regarding hyphens: http://www.aou.org/committees/nacc/proposals/2007_A_votes_web.php#2007-A-3 "...The hyphen is especially useful for making group membership clear in cases such as Storm-Petrel, Wood-Partridge, where the group is a very distinctive subset and/or not even a true member of that group (e.g. Wood-Partridge)..." I haven't gotten any further than this as it is now placed on my "to do when there's time and/or when I'm in the mood and don't feel like doing what I'm supposed to be doing" list (the latter is much more likely to happen). There's also further reading (and maybe the exact answer) linked off their homepage: http://www.aou.org/committees/nacc/ including what appears at first glance to be an interesting discussion by the International Ornithological Congress (IOC) and I rather like the idea of at least attempting international consistency for naming creatures that migrate all over the world. Cindy Ashy From tayben at teleport.com Mon Aug 17 17:29:04 2009 From: tayben at teleport.com (Martha taylor & Chris Bennett) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:29:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Westmorland yard sightings Message-ID: <38B00729BED2403886A65E7144A81C28@D4P8RDC1> Sunday early afternoon we had a Yellow Warbler (Male), Female Rufous Hummer and a White throated Sparrow came thru our yard. Goldfinches' American and Lesser's populations are picking up consuming more seeds. Chris -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090817/91e6be00/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Mon Aug 17 17:06:33 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:06:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] hyphenation and common English names In-Reply-To: <104381.8120.qm@web51808.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <104381.8120.qm@web51808.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <8FCFD3F4-B120-4BD2-8A76-347563FFB467@gmail.com> I am glad you found those links, Cindy. How the birds are named may seem inconsistent, but such is the problem of naming birds common English names by different English-speaking countries. It is a giant can of worms. In the 18 years I have worked on BirdArea, a software program that lists the ranges of the birds of the world by country, all 50 US states, and the Canadian Provinces, I have had to deal with name issues and differing taxonomy until I soemtimes look like in Linda Blair in the Exorcist. For example Little Ring Plover is how the British spell as it (see http://www.bou.org.uk/recbrlst1.html) on their side of the pond (as they say) so that is probably why the AOU adopted it as such. But obviously both committees decided to use different rules/styles when it came to hyphenating the same species. Needless to say that is why latin names are so important--because no matter what the common name, be it Dutch, French, Swahili, or Chinese, that doesn't change. The hyphenation issue has been batted back and forth and will probably continue to be so. You can see from the BOU checklist of plovers that we don't necessary spell or hyphenate the way the British checklist committee does for the same birds. In 2006 there was been an attempt by an international checklist committee to standardize common or vernacular English names of the birds of the world by the IOC (International Ornithological Congress), which is what the middle column represents when it differs from the BOU checklist. See worldbirdnames.org if you are interested in more on this. Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Ringed Plover Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus Killdeer Charadrius vociferus Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus Dotterel Eurasian Dotterel Charadrius morinellus American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva Golden Plover European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola Sociable Plover Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius White-tailed Plover White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus Spell it how you wish, but Semipalmated is how it is currently spelled per AOU so that is how one should spell it, IMHO. Shawneen On Aug 17, 2009, at 3:33 PM, Cindy Ashy wrote: > Thank you Shawneen. That is helpful. I can accept the AOU as the > source to follow but I would like to understand the logic behind it. > > Are they being inconsistent with style? At first glance, I thought > all the compound words where the first word was not a prefix were > hyphenated and the ones where it was a prefix were not. However, > it's actually not that simple when you compare species like: > > American Golden-Plover vs Little Ringed Plover > > ...and there are several other examples similar to this like Lesser > Sand-Plover vs Mountain Plover. > > Don't understand yet their reasoning for determining what's a > compound word and what is not. I'm betting it is not arbitrary. > Could it be color vs another adjective....that is IF sand is > actually referring to color...but using this logic, there's a > problem with "Snowy Plover" if snowy is referring to a color. > > Cindy Ashy > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090817/82860317/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Aug 17 17:41:37 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:41:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Beverage-in-hand method of birding Message-ID: <1250556097.31164.535.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, I did not expect this topic to get so much attention, having simply wanted to give credit where credit was due. But having started this thread and having followed its peregrinations from here to Malheur, Fields, and beyond, I feel bound to pass on this clarification by Jeff Harding: > It is a fine point, but the phrase I used was "beverage at hand", as opposed > to "in hand". You wouldn't want some legalistic person to question whether > you were actually holding the beverage container instead of, say binoculars, > when a given sighting occurred. I like to have the binoculars at hand too, > whatever [one might say] about birding without binoculars. There is clearly a relation to the hyphen thread that is currently raging -- should "beverage at hand" be hyphenated or not? My personal style guide (the one in which I make up my own entries to suit the circumstances of the moment, though inspired by the teaching of the venerable Henry W. Fowler) indicates that a combination of words should be hyphenated when used as an adjective, but not when used as a noun (in which case the first word or words function as modifiers of the latter or last). So one should keep beverage at hand while practising the fine pastime of beverage-at-hand birding. In the case of "semi-anything" my style guide notes that "semi" is ordinarily a prefix rather than a word that stands on its own with the important exception of the semi that invariably looms up in your rear-view mirror just as you're attempting to identify birds on a pond along the interstate at 65 mph.(*) So "semicircle," "semicolon," "semiconductor," "semifinal," "semiprecious," and "semiquaver" are all perfectly good English words. So is "semiliterate." Accordingly "semipalmated" should be written thus. I can't imagine why anyone would ever see a reason for writing "semi-palmated." I could understand "semi-palaverated" as a construction just because the latter half of this expression is so unfamiliar that I had to look in my Swedish-English dictionary (the only dictionary that I keep at hand, even if not in hand) to confirm my sense of the meaning. "Palaver = konferens" -- OK that makes sense. As the topic has now been palaverated half to death, the term semi-palaverated might reasonably be applied, though now I cannot recall if we are palaverating about a plover or a sandpiper. Happy birding, Joel (*) The older I grow, the less important the comma becomes. Let the reader catch his own breath. ? Elizabeth Clarkson Zwart -- Joel Geier Still trying to confirm that Ring-billed Duck in the Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon Aug 17 17:47:27 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:47:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook gnatcatchers Message-ID: <4E3E0B63ECCA497F97540C10E8652BEC@cgatesPC> I took a trip out to North Shore Road which is on the eastern shore of Prineville Reservoir in Crook County. Right away I found 6 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS. This is a historic location for them in the fall but I've never found 6 in one spot. I also re-found the leucistic magpie I found a few weeks ago. A couple of CLARK'S GREBES were with some westerns. A few pelicans are still around. 6 White-faced Ibis were with the pelicans. Migrating warblers included Yellow, Nashville, Wilson's, and Orange-crowned. Warbling Vireo, Willow Flycatcher, Gray Flycatcher, were also in the willows. An adult and a juvenile Loggerhead Shrike were also present. At Ochoco Reservoir, I saw a Black-necked Stilt "swimming" with a group of Mallards. Swallows, swifts, and nighthawks are massing and the shorebirds included both yellowlegs, least and west peeps, dowitcher, snipe, and phalarope. A Black-chinned Hummer was at my feeder when I got home. First one of the year. Here is the whole list for the morning. Chuck Gates Powell Butte Canada Goose Mallard Cinnamon Teal Bufflehead California Quail Western Grebe Clark's Grebe White Pelican Double-crested Cormorant Great-blue Heron White-faced Ibis Turkey Vulture Osprey American Kestrel American Coot Killdeer Black-necked Stilt Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Spotted Sandpiper Western Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Long-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe Wilson's Phalarope Ring-billed Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Common Nighthawk Vaux's Swift Black-chinned Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Northern Flicker Willow Flycatcher Gray Flycatcher Dusky Flycatcher Loggerhead Shrike Warbling Vireo Pinyon Jay Black-billed magpie American Crow Common Raven Violet-green Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Mountain Chickadee House Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Mountain Bluebird American Robin European Starling Cedar Waxwing Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Yellow Warbler Wilson's Warbler Spotted Towhee Chipping Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird House Finch Lesser Goldfinch House Sparrow -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090817/d7478082/attachment.html From dhogaza at pacifier.com Mon Aug 17 18:33:48 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:33:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Beverage-in-hand method of birding In-Reply-To: <1250556097.31164.535.camel@clearwater> References: <1250556097.31164.535.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: <6800C2B0-D6D5-4582-AA07-AD58712DFE2C@pacifier.com> On Aug 17, 2009, at 5:41 PM, Joel Geier wrote: > >> It is a fine point, but the phrase I used was "beverage at hand", >> as opposed >> to "in hand". You wouldn't want some legalistic person to question >> whether >> you were actually holding the beverage container instead of, say >> binoculars, >> when a given sighting occurred. That's why we put the camera (or spotting scope) on a tripod ... makes multitasking so much easier! ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From celata at pacifier.com Mon Aug 17 18:36:00 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:36:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Beverage-in-hand method of birding Message-ID: <4A8A0580.1030600@pacifier.com> I too learn beverage-in-hand birding (and herping) from Dr. Storm. He used the beverage to judge when it was time to turn around when doing a transect. When the bottle was half finished it was time to turn around. For long transects, a second bottle was placed in the back pocket... And that would have been about 1977. I learned more stuff from Dr. Storm that I still use today in the field than any other course I took at OSU. Good times... Subject: Re: Beverage-in-hand method of birding From: "Rick Krabbe" Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:20:45 -0400 Hello all: Not to steal the thunder from Mssr's Baccus, Campbell and Harding, I would like to take my shot at revising history. I first observed beverage-in-hand-birding practiced by Dr. Storm, then a professor at OSU. This was back in the early eighties when Gilligan, Schmit, Crabtree and company were still part of the brat pack. While everyone else, myself included, was running willy-nilly about the refuge Dr. Storm would haul out a lawn chair and cooler and perch in the shade near the HQ office and wait for the birds to find him. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From rfadney at hotmail.com Mon Aug 17 18:42:55 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:42:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Beverage-in-hand method of birding In-Reply-To: <1250556097.31164.535.camel@clearwater> References: <1250556097.31164.535.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: If Jeff had anything to do with the coining the phrase, I would bet the specific beverage at/in hand would depend on the time of day one was birding! Just guessing, but Jeff would have to be enjoying a cup of unbelievably good coffee in the morning, and possibly a very tasty local brew in the evening! As I remember from chatting in person, Jeff has very good taste in beverages! Jeff is also the person who started me down the slippery slope to birding, for which I thank him. Now my wife has started to become quite the birder so we now both enjoy our mornings/evenings "beverage IN hand" (nothing "at hand" about it!!!) birding in our back yard. Rich in Springtuckey Happy Birding all > From: joel.geier at peak.org > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:41:37 -0700 > Subject: Re: [obol] Beverage-in-hand method of birding > > Hello folks, > > I did not expect this topic to get so much attention, having simply > wanted to give credit where credit was due. > > But having started this thread and having followed its peregrinations > from here to Malheur, Fields, and beyond, I feel bound to pass on this > clarification by Jeff Harding: > > > It is a fine point, but the phrase I used was "beverage at hand", as opposed > > to "in hand". You wouldn't want some legalistic person to question whether > > you were actually holding the beverage container instead of, say binoculars, > > when a given sighting occurred. I like to have the binoculars at hand too, > > whatever [one might say] about birding without binoculars. > > There is clearly a relation to the hyphen thread that is currently > raging -- should "beverage at hand" be hyphenated or not? > > My personal style guide (the one in which I make up my own entries to > suit the circumstances of the moment, though inspired by the teaching of > the venerable Henry W. Fowler) indicates that a combination of words should > be hyphenated when used as an adjective, but not when used as a noun (in which > case the first word or words function as modifiers of the latter or last). > > So one should keep beverage at hand while practising the fine pastime of > beverage-at-hand birding. > > In the case of "semi-anything" my style guide notes that "semi" is ordinarily > a prefix rather than a word that stands on its own with the important > exception of the semi that invariably looms up in your rear-view mirror just > as you're attempting to identify birds on a pond along the interstate at > 65 mph.(*) > > So "semicircle," "semicolon," "semiconductor," "semifinal," "semiprecious," > and "semiquaver" are all perfectly good English words. So is "semiliterate." > Accordingly "semipalmated" should be written thus. > > I can't imagine why anyone would ever see a reason for writing "semi-palmated." > I could understand "semi-palaverated" as a construction just because the > latter half of this expression is so unfamiliar that I had to look in my > Swedish-English dictionary (the only dictionary that I keep at hand, even if > not in hand) to confirm my sense of the meaning. "Palaver = konferens" -- OK > that makes sense. > > As the topic has now been palaverated half to death, the term semi-palaverated > might reasonably be applied, though now I cannot recall if we are palaverating > about a plover or a sandpiper. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > (*) The older I grow, the less important the comma becomes. Let the reader catch his own breath. > ? Elizabeth Clarkson Zwart > > -- > Joel Geier > Still trying to confirm that Ring-billed Duck in the Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Make it easier for your friends to see what you?re up to on Facebook. http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_facebook:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090817/dde7df22/attachment.html From LCain at astoria.k12.or.us Mon Aug 17 18:50:19 2009 From: LCain at astoria.k12.or.us (Lee Cain) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:50:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] South Jetty Columbia River Message-ID: <515DDA9BF1AC1E42829D6CD2AA9FC4017C1DE262A7@asdxcng.intra.astoria.k12.or.us> This report was mailed for Lee Cain by http://birdnotes.net Date: August 17, 2009 Location: South Jetty, Columbia River, Clatsop County, Oregon Wind direction: NW Prevailing wind speed: 20-28 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 0% Precipitation: none Observations made while jetty fishing, 0800-1100 hrs. Non-birds of note: HARBOR PORPOISE 2 NORTHERN SEA LION 100+ CALIFORNIA SEA LION 1500+ [I was at the tip of the jetty where they were hauled out] Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Surf Scoter Pacific Loon Sooty Shearwater 1000 Brown Pelican 500 Brandt's Cormorant Double-crested Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Great Blue Heron 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 Greater Yellowlegs 2 Wandering Tattler 3 Ruddy Turnstone 1 Black Turnstone 8 Surfbird 15 Least Sandpiper Heerman's Gull California Gull Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Glaucous-winged x Western Gull Caspian Tern Common Murre 250 Pigeon Guillemot 2 Marbled Murrelet 1 [1] Footnotes: [1] juvenal Total number of species seen: 24 Lee Cain >//////> >//////> >//////> >//////> Aquatic Biology/Integrated Science Astoria High School -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090817/a64d1039/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Aug 17 19:21:42 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:21:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - 8/17/2009 Message-ID: <4A8A1036.4070606@pacifier.com> Columbia Estuary Report - 8/17/2009 SOOTY SHEARWATERS are still massing by thousands at Seaside Cove and Tillamook Head. Apparently the GRAY WHALES are putting on quite a show there as well. Neal Maine got some impressive pictures of the Grays and tells me that the shearwaters were swooping in to snatch up the leavings when the whale broke the surface. The was a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER hanging out (hyphen free) with LEAST SANDPIPERS at Stanley Lake. Also at Stanley were 2 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS and 75 or so WESTERN SANDPIPERS. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From pamelaj at spiritone.com Mon Aug 17 19:32:45 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:32:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Beverage-in-hand method of birding References: <4A8A0580.1030600@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <26F6687BF21442C6A834BED71475AB0B@yourw5st28y9a3> Dr Storm reminds me of Dr Tinnin at PSU, who instructed his field ecology class in the random beer can method of marking study plots. Having chosen your general area, you toss the empty beer can over your shoulder and use that marker as a corner of your plot. Dr Tinnin pointed out that people may pull up your carefully marked stakes, but they will NEVER remove or in any way interfere with your empty beer can. When and how you empty it is outside the scope of this discussion. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Patterson" To: "OBOL" Sent: Monday, August 17, 2009 6:36 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Beverage-in-hand method of birding I too learn beverage-in-hand birding (and herping) from Dr. Storm. He used the beverage to judge when it was time to turn around when doing a transect. When the bottle was half finished it was time to turn around. For long transects, a second bottle was placed in the back pocket... And that would have been about 1977. I learned more stuff from Dr. Storm that I still use today in the field than any other course I took at OSU. Good times... Subject: Re: Beverage-in-hand method of birding From: "Rick Krabbe" Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:20:45 -0400 Hello all: Not to steal the thunder from Mssr's Baccus, Campbell and Harding, I would like to take my shot at revising history. I first observed beverage-in-hand-birding practiced by Dr. Storm, then a professor at OSU. This was back in the early eighties when Gilligan, Schmit, Crabtree and company were still part of the brat pack. While everyone else, myself included, was running willy-nilly about the refuge Dr. Storm would haul out a lawn chair and cooler and perch in the shade near the HQ office and wait for the birds to find him. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From kevkas57 at yahoo.com Mon Aug 17 19:49:44 2009 From: kevkas57 at yahoo.com (Kevin Kasowski) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:49:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] wading birds at Oaks Bottom Message-ID: <528210.53992.qm@web38906.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Saw a GHB, great egret and immature sandhill crane all within about 20 feet of each other this afternoon at the north end of the pond. And all within city of Portland limits. Pretty cool. From davect at bendnet.com Mon Aug 17 20:54:53 2009 From: davect at bendnet.com (david tracy) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:54:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Pomarine Jaeger, Manx Shearwater 15 & 16 August Message-ID: We spent the weekend in Depoe Bay with my Dad and I got out both Saturday and Sunday to do a seawatch for about an hour each morning from 7 to 8. There was a good movement of Sooty Shearwaters on Saturday, they were heading north at a rate that varied between 50-100/minute for the hour I was there. They were mostly 1-3 miles out. At about 7:30, an adult Pomarine Jaeger flew by going south, less than 1/2 mile out. The light colored belly was evident and the light neck and nape area set off the dark cap. The tail feathers were long and palmated at the end. This must be a good time of year for them, I saw a Pom on 17 August back in 2003 while out fishing with my Dad, about 2-3 miles off Depoe Bay. It was also a light phase adult. There was also a nice movement of Common Murres, assorted Scoters, a smattering of Rhinoceros Auklets, two Marbled Murrelets and Brown Pelicans among the commoner species. On Sunday morning the sun was out and the light from behind made for optimal viewing. The wind was from the north at about 10, gusting to maybe 20, enough to shake the scope at times but otherwise conditions were superb. A large feeding flock of gulls, cormorants and murres was working over some kind of baitfish ball about 1/2 mile off Government Point. While watching the occasional Sooty Shearwater come slicing through the flock, I noticed a smaller, black & white shearwater fly in from the south. It took 3 or 4 laps around the flock and then flew off to the north. I was able to watch for about a minute in my Nikon Fieldscope with ED glass and 20-45X zoom eyepiece (set at 20X). I could see the dark above and clean white undersides very clearly several times, including the white undertail coverts and thin blackish border around the wings and hint of blackish in the axillaries. This bird showed much less smudgy black on the flanks and underside of the wing than a Pink-footed would have and the upper parts were too dark for a Buller's, which would have appeared strongly patterned gray and blackish. The flight style of the Manx was obviously different than the Sootys. It would soar more on wings that were mostly straight and slightly downcurved. The wingbeats were quick and stiff compared to the Sooty Shearwaters. Dave david tracy davect at bendnet.com From jmeredit at bendnet.com Mon Aug 17 21:57:02 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:57:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] ECBC annual meeting Nov 14, 2009 Message-ID: <2D2CC0DD1B7F4709BD837CBB2FD390B6@MOM> Hi birders Grab your calendars and mark the date for the East Cascades Bird Conservancy annual meeting and fundraiser at the Bend Senior Center, 5:30 pm to 9 pm, Saturday Nov 14, 2009. There will be complimentary food and beverages and also a silent auction, raffle, live music, project displays and a great speaker. For something new, celebrate recycling and participate in our book exchange. New this year, we are going to have a table accepting donated books with any bird related theme. Attendees can purchase any book for $1 during the night. Bring a book, buy a book for a buck, it doesn't get any better than that. I have several to bring, perhaps all of us have some we won't use again and can get out in circulation to birders who will appreciate them. The funds all help ECBC to continue projects to help birds, birders and conservation. This is a fun party, perfect for birders, their families, and thanking volunteers and celebrating successes. See the website for related information, www.ecbcbirds.org. See you at the party! Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com From llsdirons at msn.com Tue Aug 18 08:04:24 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:04:24 +0000 Subject: [obol] Summer Lake/Lake Abert/Goose Lake weekend Message-ID: Greetings All, This past weekend David Fix, Jude Power, Jennifer Brown and I birded southern Lake Co., Oregon and northern Modoc Co., California. As expected, we found spectacular numbers of water birds feasting on brine flies at Lake Abert in s. central Lake Co. Summer and Goose lakes also offered a nice variety and large numbers of shorebirds etc. The least expected shorebirds we found were six Marbled Godwits at Goose L. on Saturday (in CA), a Black-bellied Plover there on Sunday (also in CA), and two juv. Short-billed Dowitchers at Lake Abert on Sunday. The numbers of phalaropes, avocets, and gulls on Lake Abert defied quantification. We were there both Sat. and Sun. and there was no wind either day, so the birds were scattered all over the lake rather than being piled up along the eastern shore. However, at the north end of the lake, which is about five miles wide, there were several large dense flocks of phalaropes in addition to a loose carpet of birds on the water. The stream channel feeding the lake (at the northeast corner) had about 75,000 phalaropes in it. There was no way to effectively count the distant flocks, but Fix and I were both "comfortable" in estimating that there were somewhere between 750,000-1,000,000 phalaropes present. To get a real handle on the total birds would require an aerial survey. As Tim Rodenkirk suggested last week, there probably in the neighborhood of 100,000 gulls (mostly California and Ring-billed), about 50,000-75,000 American Avocets, thousands of Eared Grebes, and thousands of Western and Least Sandpipers there as well. As we made the 12+/- mile drive north along the east side of the lake, there were birds (gulls, avocets, phalaropes, and peeps) along almost the entire shoreline with several spots densely packed with birds. We stopped a few places and culled through the peeps looking for rarities, but there were not safe pullouts at many of the most populated sites. We spent most of Saturday first at Summer L. and then at Lake Abert. Summer Lake was loaded with White-faced Ibis, Am. Avocets, Black-necked Stilts, and Am. Coots. We saw thousands of all four species, particularly the latter three. We also had a nice assortment of migrant and locally-breeding waterfowl. At Schoolhouse Lake we encountered lots of Forster's and Black Tern. We ended the day on Saturday birding down Westside Dr. on the west side of Goose L. It was raptor show with perhaps as many as 50 Buteos (mostly Red-tailed Hawks) and several N. Harriers seen. The water level at Goose L. was extremely low so we were never within a mile of the lake edge. However, the distant pool was dotted with gulls (thousands) and Am. White Pelicans and we saw several thousand more phalaropes and avocets, plus the aforementioned Marbled Godwits. We stayed over in Lakeview and started Sunday at Goose Lake S.R.A. This Oregon State Park is right at the OR/CA border at New Pine Creek on the east side of Goose Lake. The campground and picnic area are ringed with deciduous woodlands, and some broad ribbons of riparia. There are large willows, poplars/cottonwoods with dense nicely stratified understory, excellent for passerine birding. There is a new (unfinished) path that has been created that follows the creek (dry right now) through the woods along the south side of the campground. We walked this path and birded several other clumps of trees at the east end of the campground and found the following: "Western" Flycatcher -- 1 probable LEAST FLYCATCHER -- 1 W. Wood-Pewee -- 1 RED-EYED VIREO -- 1 Warbling Vireo -- 6-8 Cassin's Vireo -- 2 Orange-crowned Warbler -- 15-20 Yellow Warbler 20+ MacGillivray's Warbler -- 4 Western Tanager -- 12+ Brewer's Sparrow -- 6-8 (along the outer edges) Black-headed Grosbeak -- 8-10 Lazuli Bunting -- 8+ Bullock's Oriole -- 1 The configuration and location of this stand of trees appear to make it a potentially great migrant/vagrant trap. We also heard a calling RED-SHOULDERED HAWK near the large parking area just w. of the campground. We continued south from New Pine Creek into Modoc Co. California. We went as far south as Davis Creek, then turned west on the county road that connects to Westside Dr. Though we never got near the edge of the main lake (you would in a wet year) we found a sizeable pond/lake along this road that was loaded with shorebirds and Am. White Pelicans. Here we found a full alternate plumaged male Black-bellied Plover and a flock of 165 Long-billed Curlews. There were also several small flocks of peeps, about a dozen Lesser Yellowlegs, a few Greater Yellowlegs and about 150 American Avocets. On our way north and west on Sunday, we again drove up the east side of Lake Abert. We only stopping only at the very north end of the lake. We also stopped two potential vagrant traps, a rest area with a few deciduous trees, and the ODOT property at Alkali Lake Station. It was getting hot and midafternoon, so these places were pretty dead. Fix found the wings of dead Common Poorwill here. We continued north on Hwy 395 then cut west Christmas Valley Rd. Our last stop was at Fort Rock. There we had both Canyon and Rock Wrens, Prairie Falcon, a few White-throated Swifts, and a a bunch of desert sparrows, mostly Brewers, with one family group of Sage Sparrows, and a few Vespers. We also had a couple Green-tailed Towhees in the "bowl." We would heartily visiting this area at this time of year, if for no other reason than to witness the spectacle of Lake Abert. We found lots of birds everywhere we stopped and it was evident that passerines were on the move. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=PID23391::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HYGN_faster:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090818/9cdfffcf/attachment.html From pointers at pacifier.com Tue Aug 18 08:20:53 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:20:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] need help - Mount Hood bird ID In-Reply-To: <4A8A0580.1030600@pacifier.com> References: <4A8A0580.1030600@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <20090818152050.C5DD16A572@smtp4.pacifier.net> hi group ... went up to Timberline at Mount Hood on sunday ... hiked only a few hundred yards up the hill and wandered through the trees ... was looking for the Clark's Nutcracker (which we found) and also the grey-crowned Rosy Finch or the Cassin's Finch, both of which "googling" said I might find around Timberline ... what we found was this bird ... http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/HoldingPen/mount_hood_unknown_bird_08-16-09.html I'm thinking the black central spot on Bird #1 might just be dirty feathers ... something about the way the feathers lie ... I could be wrong ... both birds were in a loosely grouping of 3 to 4 other birds ... both were Finch-size, although Bird #1 appeared to be slightly larger to us comparing it to Bird #2 ... although that could be just an illusion with the tree top ... neither match images in the books for Grey-Crowned or Cassin's ... other sightings were the Common Raven and American Kestrel ... could hear Chickadee sounds in the trees but never spotted one ... and there were flocks of 20-30 smaller birds which flew around the slopes and the motion appeared Goldfinch-like ... always too fast and too far away for me to ID ... thanks for the help on my unknown(s) ... Lyn Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From pointers at pacifier.com Tue Aug 18 08:58:27 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:58:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lesser Goldfinches Message-ID: <20090818155825.246757558@smtp3.pacifier.net> hi group ... here's another question ... will our Lesser Goldfinches stay all winter ??? http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/HoldingPen/backyard_lesser_goldfinches_08-06-09.jpg this is only one sock ... we have 2 hanging and both are always crowded ... there's around 20 to 30 in the backyard when it's busy ... we've watched 2 different broods being raised so they are nesting either in the yard or nearby ... they are going through both socks (one is smaller) in a couple of days ... we're just wondering if they'll stay or some of them stay the winter ??? ... we'll need to budget for them if so (GRIN) ... Lyn Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Aug 18 10:38:28 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:38:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Summer Lake/Lake Abert/Goose Lake weekend Message-ID: <1250617108.3284.35.camel@clearwater> Hello Daves (both) and OBOL, Thanks for the great report. Regarding these two potential vagrant traps: > On our way north and west on Sunday, we again drove up the east side of Lake > Abert. We only stopping only at the very north end of the lake. We also stopped > two potential vagrant traps, a rest area with a few deciduous trees, and the > ODOT property at Alkali Lake Station. It was getting hot and midafternoon, so > these places were pretty dead. I assume the first place mentioned is the "Highway Wells" rest stop south of Alkali Lake, and north of Hogback Rd. I've stopped there whenever passing through. Although it's the only patch of trees for miles around, I've never found anything but birds that are typical of the surrounding sagebrush steppe (Horned Lark, shrikes, etc.). My hunch is that most migrant passerines with any sense skirt around the edges of the surrounding, open expanse. The ODOT station at Alkali Lake has been more productive for me, at least on one late-May stop when the sprinklers were going. Peering through the fence I saw two warblers, one of which I couldn't get a good enough look at to identify, but the other was a female Black-throated Blue Warbler. A Black-chinned Hummingbird was also around the ODOT employee residences, along with more common passerines. On other trips I've generally come through Alkali Lake Station at the wrong time of day, as was your experience, or else in early evening when I tend to get frustrating views of sparrow flocks moving along the ditched stream on the north side of the ODOT property. But the place is certainly worth a stop if you can get there in the morning hours. Birding through the chain-link fence is difficult, and I've never found anyone around the premises to ask permission to go inside. If anyone has a good connection to ODOT in that region, it could be a good service to the Oregon birding community to find out how to arrange birding access. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From dpvroman at budget.net Tue Aug 18 12:13:16 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:13:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] need help - Mount Hood bird ID References: <4A8A0580.1030600@pacifier.com> <20090818152050.C5DD16A572@smtp4.pacifier.net> Message-ID: <077F0666C914421C8C7C367F49F50803@Warbler> Lyn, Your birds you photographed appear to be juvenile Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon Junco) to me. The "juvies" are pretty streaking and you reminded one of a finch. Think I see a pinkish bill color and some white in the outer tail feathers. Subject: [obol] need help - Mount Hood bird ID > > hi group ... > > went up to Timberline at Mount Hood on sunday ... hiked only a few > hundred yards up the hill and wandered through the trees ... was > looking for the Clark's Nutcracker (which we found) and also the > grey-crowned Rosy Finch or the Cassin's Finch, both of which > "googling" said I might find around Timberline ... what we found was > this bird ... > > http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/HoldingPen/mount_hood_unknown_bird_08-16-09.html > > I'm thinking the black central spot on Bird #1 might just be dirty > feathers ... something about the way the feathers lie ... I could be wrong > ... > > both birds were in a loosely grouping of 3 to 4 other birds ... > > both were Finch-size, although Bird #1 appeared to be slightly larger > to us comparing it to Bird #2 ... although that could be just an > illusion with the tree top ... neither match images in the books for > Grey-Crowned or Cassin's ... > > other sightings were the Common Raven and American Kestrel ... could > hear Chickadee sounds in the trees but never spotted one ... and > there were flocks of 20-30 smaller birds which flew around the slopes > and the motion appeared Goldfinch-like ... always too fast and too > far away for me to ID ... > > thanks for the help on my unknown(s) ... > Lyn From lbviman at blackfoot.net Tue Aug 18 12:19:57 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:19:57 -0600 Subject: [obol] semi-palmated beverages-in-hand In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090818191538.4E8669B0208@mail.blackfoot.net> Looks like a lot of imbibing going on! Hope all's resolved :-) Cheers - Jim Greaves, MT At 01:00 PM 8/18/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >Today's Topics: >[snips for brevity] > 2. "semi-palmated plover" vs "semipalmated plover" (Cindy Ashy) > 3. Re: "semi-palmated plover" vs "semipalmated plover" > (Shawneen Finnegan) > 4. Re: "semi-palmated plover" vs "semipalmated plover" > (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) > 5. Re: "semi-palmated plover" vs "semipalmated plover" (Cindy Ashy) > 6. Re: Beverage-in-hand method of birding (Marilyn Miller) > 7. Re: "semi-palmated plover" vs "semipalmated plover" (Cindy Ashy) > 10. Re: Beverage-in-hand method of birding (Joel Geier) > 12. Re: Beverage-in-hand method of birding (Don Baccus) > 13. Re: Beverage-in-hand method of birding (Mike Patterson) > 14. Re: Beverage-in-hand method of birding (R. Adney Jr.) > 17. Re: Beverage-in-hand method of birding (pamela johnston) From Elaine.Stewart at oregonmetro.gov Tue Aug 18 12:54:59 2009 From: Elaine.Stewart at oregonmetro.gov (Elaine Stewart) Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:54:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Smith-Bybee (Mult. county) update In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: For those that like to bird at Smith-Bybee: Metro completed the annual drawdown for Bybee Lake last week, and mudflats are becoming exposed there as water continues to flow out. Great egrets must have numbered close to 150 this morning (visible from the trail). Shorebird habitat will continue to slowly improve daily. Water levels in Smith Lake remain perched because of a family of enterprising beavers that set up shop in the channel between the lakes. We aren't doing anything with the beaver dam right now because of an ongoing study of how native plants are responding to water level management (including the beavers' modification of the humans' plan). We want to let the water situation play itself out this year so we can get more data. Elaine Stewart Senior Natural Resources Scientist Metro 503.797.1515 503.797.1849 fax elaine.stewart at oregonmetro.gov www.oregonmetro.gov People Places | Open Spaces From dan at heyerly.com Tue Aug 18 13:09:09 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Dan Heyerly) Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:09:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] 15th birding-with-beverage-in-hand commentary, **** I'm-not-making-this-up!, milkshake-in-hand-where-am-I?, you-name-it "revisited" Message-ID: <6A6AA22522A041B397C9F54BBEDDC53C@Dan> I don't mean to offend, because the above threads are somewhat amusing and enjoyable, but it is an absolute certainty that the mid-summer birding (it's too hot to go outside) doldrums are here. Thanks Dave Irons for the mind-numbing posting about Lake Abert and points south. I wish we could have joined you last weekend, but we would have had to borrow someone's helicopter and I don't think it was available. Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090818/84509af9/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Tue Aug 18 17:32:52 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:32:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Goldfinches (aka Lil Yeller Bullits) and others In-Reply-To: <20090818155825.246757558@smtp3.pacifier.net> References: <20090818155825.246757558@smtp3.pacifier.net> Message-ID: We are hoping some stick around our yard, but each morning we have close to a hundred Americans, Lessers, House finches, Sparrows, Chickadees and several Grosbeaks feeding at our place. Not to mention several miscellaneous species! We have five socks, one cage Nyjer feeder, three waste free food feeders and two feeders full of grosbeak treats (song bird mix with fruit)! We are going through 12 plus pounds of Nyjer, 20lbs of waste free and 10lbs of grosbeak food every two weeks. The real bummer is that I posted some prices from around town on here a couple weeks ago, and afterword one store owner said he quickly sold out. Now some of the seed has nearly doubled there! Go figure! This weekend I purchased $50 bucks worth of bird feed and $40 in groceries on the same day. I have not even brought up the Hummingbirds, I'm starting to wonder if I am the bird brain! So don't worry Lyn, if they do stay around, I'll be keeping you company at the poor house! > Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:58:27 -0700 > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > From: pointers at pacifier.com > Subject: [obol] Lesser Goldfinches > > > hi group ... > > here's another question ... will our Lesser Goldfinches stay all winter ??? > > http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/HoldingPen/backyard_lesser_goldfinches_08-06-09.jpg > > this is only one sock ... we have 2 hanging and both are always > crowded ... there's around 20 to 30 in the backyard when it's busy > ... we've watched 2 different broods being raised so they are nesting > either in the yard or nearby ... they are going through both socks > (one is smaller) in a couple of days ... we're just wondering if > they'll stay or some of them stay the winter ??? ... we'll need to > budget for them if so (GRIN) ... > > Lyn > > > > Lyn Topinka > http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com > http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com > http://RidgefieldBirds.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Make it easier for your friends to see what you?re up to on Facebook. http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_facebook:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090818/8d1290ff/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Tue Aug 18 18:05:15 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:05:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eastern Kingbird, Ridgefield NWR, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: An employee, yes he knows his birds, told me today he had a eastern kingbird on Bachelor Island. He had seen it Thursday and neglected to mention it! He felt the scorn of the gaze of a birder when I asked him what today was? This is a closed area but I decided to post because the bird could show up anywhere. I looked today and found nothing. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090818/f44ea538/attachment.html From tayben at teleport.com Tue Aug 18 18:17:50 2009 From: tayben at teleport.com (Martha taylor & Chris Bennett) Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:17:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] CORRECTION Westmoreland yard sightings Message-ID: <1481494E483042BC8D26C4BA2B7E5D1A@D4P8RDC1> It was pointed out to me a mistake in my last posting. I meant to say White-Crowned Sparrow not White-Throated Sparrow. Not trying to get everyone excited. Chris -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090818/c4987a47/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Tue Aug 18 21:16:29 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:16:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Benton County Saturday Message-ID: <004701ca2083$eec2d130$69c963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: Carol & I headed to Benton County on Saturday. Our county lists stood at 199 & 198 respectively. I'm the one trying for 200. ;-) Following on Joel's posting of Red-eyed Vireo in the NE corner of E.E. Wilson wildlife area, we went there early. We found 1 Joel and modest numbers of birds as we walked out to the NE corner. The swampy pond by the fishing pond had a couple GREEN HERONS, OSPREY, and KINGFISHER. Further out, I called out a WRENTIT. We found chickadees, pewees, towhees. WE FOUND BLACKBERRIES, luscious BLACKBERRIES. We stayed from 10-1 PM, but we didn't hear a Red-eyed Vireo. After lunch we sat by the river at the south end of Willamette Park on the south edge of Corvallis. We saw several GREEN HERONS, and lots of swallows, but no Rough-winged Swallows, terns, or night-herons to pad our lists. We swung through Finley NWR and noted the White Pelicans on Cabel Marsh, but McFadden Marsh is so grown in that we could barely see water. Following another of Joel's posts, we headed out past Alpine and Alsea to Salmonberry Campground at the far west end of the county at the end of the day. We parked where Salmonberry Rd. meets Hwy 34 to watch the sky over a large clearcut hill. Eventually I heard 'em, and Carol found 'em. COMMON NIGHTHAWKS! A new county sighting for both of us. High five! Then we stopped at the Hayden covered bridge near Alsea on our way home and found another Common Nighthawk. They're everywhere. So I'm still at 199, and she's hummm, well, over the top... Good birding, everyone, Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen From pointers at pacifier.com Tue Aug 18 22:43:18 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:43:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] THANKS: need help - Mount Hood bird ID In-Reply-To: <20090818152050.C5DD16A572@smtp4.pacifier.net> References: <4A8A0580.1030600@pacifier.com> <20090818152050.C5DD16A572@smtp4.pacifier.net> Message-ID: <20090819054315.75C026A6BC@smtp2.pacifier.net> hi ... thanks for all the responses ... lots of folks informed me that Bird #2 is a juvenile Dark-eyed Junco ... I never seen a young one before so that bird never crossed my mind ... folks weren't sure what Bird #1 is using only those two images I was able to get ... the most common suggestion was a Pine Siskin ... thanks again, Lyn Vancouver, Washington pointers at pacifier dot com At 08:20 AM 8/18/2009, Lyn Topinka wrote: >hi group ... > >went up to Timberline at Mount Hood on sunday ... hiked only a few >hundred yards up the hill and wandered through the trees ... was >looking for the Clark's Nutcracker (which we found) and also the >grey-crowned Rosy Finch or the Cassin's Finch, both of which >"googling" said I might find around Timberline ... what we found was >this bird ... > >http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/HoldingPen/mount_hood_unknown_bird_08-16-09.html > >I'm thinking the black central spot on Bird #1 might just be dirty >feathers ... something about the way the feathers lie ... I could be wrong ... > >both birds were in a loosely grouping of 3 to 4 other birds ... > >both were Finch-size, although Bird #1 appeared to be slightly larger >to us comparing it to Bird #2 ... although that could be just an >illusion with the tree top ... neither match images in the books for >Grey-Crowned or Cassin's ... > >other sightings were the Common Raven and American Kestrel ... could >hear Chickadee sounds in the trees but never spotted one ... and >there were flocks of 20-30 smaller birds which flew around the slopes >and the motion appeared Goldfinch-like ... always too fast and too >far away for me to ID ... > >thanks for the help on my unknown(s) ... >Lyn > > > > > >Lyn Topinka >http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com >http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com >http://RidgefieldBirds.com > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Aug 19 09:28:53 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:28:53 +0000 Subject: [obol] New photo essay posted to BirdFellow.com Message-ID: Greetings All, After a 12-day hiatus, I finally put up a new piece on the BirdFellow.com online journal. Having at last moved the Spring 2009 North American Birds report for Oregon and Washington off my plate, I was able to enjoy a fantastic trip to the northern Great Basin this past weekend and carve out a little time to put together a short photo essay. Lots of great photos of other species should result in several upcoming entries. Today's post shows some of the various Forster's Tern plumages one can see at this time of year. They have an interesting molt sequence, which is discussed in this photo essay. Good birding, Dave Irons Content Editor BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=PID23391::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HYGN_faster:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090819/480fe1ce/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Aug 19 09:49:34 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:49:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Handbook of Oregon Birds released Message-ID: The new Handbook of Oregon Birds, produced by Hendrik Herlyn and me, a paperback including a complete new map set, vagrant seasonality and maps and revised distribution info condensed from Birds of Oregon, is now available. It is shipping to stores this week, so you can now place orders. I know that Portland Audubon plans to carry it. It will be available at the Western Field Ornithologists meeting in Boise on Sep. 11, and at the Malheur Field Station store after Sep. 6. There might be a copy or two at Northwest Nature in Ashland by Aug. 23. I will bring a couple of advance copies to Wings and Wine in Medford Saturday, Aug 22. Thanks to OFO's financial support, it has a section of color plates in the middle featuring both photos and art. All royalties go to OFO. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From dbarendt at comcast.net Wed Aug 19 12:15:57 2009 From: dbarendt at comcast.net (Dennis Arendt) Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:15:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wednesday Birders Message-ID: The Eugene/Springfield Wednesday birders went to the Delta Ponds this morning. We left from the Valley River Center mall parking lot and walked north along the bike path, then crossed Goodpasture Island Road to view more shallow ponds and mud flats. As you would expect, it was very birdy early in the morning with passerines flitting about the trees and shrubs. Shorebirds, herons, ducks and dragonflies withstood the heat later in the morning better than we did. Here is our list. Canada Goose - flying about Wood Duck - many young birds Mallard - many Green-winged Teal - one female sitting on log, not showing us the green speculum Hooded Merganser - one Pied-billed Grebe Double-crested Cormorant - only two Great Blue Heron - several Great Egret - one Green Heron - many family groups, probably 8 or more Turkey Vulture Osprey Red-shouldered Hawk - one flew from the trees, not to be seen again Killdeer - several Greater Yellowlegs - several Western Sandpiper - about five with one trying to look like a Semipalmated Least Sandpiper - about a dozen Long-billed Dowitcher - several with a couple of them almost looking like Short-billed Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Rufous Hummingbird - couple Belted Kingfisher - several seen and heard Red-breasted Sapsucker - 2 Downy Woodpecker - 2 Northern Flicker - 2 Western Wood-Pewee - 8 or so Willow Flycatcher - one or two Western Scrub-Jay - 5 American Crow Cliff Swallow - a few Barn Swallow - a few more than Cliffs Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit - 25 (could there be fewer?) Brown Creeper - 1 Bewick's Wren - 1 American Robin - common, many speckled youngsters European Starling - yes Cedar Waxwing - very numerous especially along the river Common Yellowthroat - 5 Western Tanager - some heard and seen early in day Spotted Towhee - heard Song Sparrow - a few Black-headed Grosbeak - a few Red-winged Blackbird - a few Brown-headed Cowbird - 2 House Finch - 5 Lesser Goldfinch - many in a huge flock with Americans and scattered about American Goldfinch - numerous And seven species of Dragonflies Birders: Dave Brown, Dave and Sally Hill, Sylvia Maulding, Don Schrouder, Paul Sherrell, Roger Robb, Craig Merkel, Randy Sinnott, Larry McQueen and Dennis Arendt -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090819/6794e31c/attachment.html From stseager at gmail.com Wed Aug 19 14:02:47 2009 From: stseager at gmail.com (Trent Seager) Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:02:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lake Abert shorebirds, raptors & lake level Message-ID: <3e7e4cb70908191402u5961b764rc46495e2a5251d38@mail.gmail.com> Hi Everyone,* *Great to read about all the posts on Lake Abert. I was just over there myself last week for 3 days (11-13th of August). I attempted to do a full bird count, but found it was not possible to scope out into the open salt flats at the north end. Because the lake is so low, the birds are not as congregated as normally are during higher lake level years. The lake level has dropped dramatically and is at risk of going dry without fresh water inflow in the next year or two (see below for more). SHOREBIRDS: I did see an unusually high number of FRANKLIN'S GULLS. In my years of counting at the lake for the past 15 years, I normally only see a few of these here and there throughout the fall and winter. I counted over 200 at the south end alone last week. Also of interest to me was the WILSON'S PHALAROPE'S foraging along the shore. Normally I only see these birds out in the water. Instead, I saw that they were able to switch from swimming (twirling) and foraging to probing along the shore. I assume this is from the higher concentration of shrimp and flies along the lower shore line. This would also help explain the movement of the shorebirds to the NW corner and west side of the lake, making it very challenging to count. RAPTORS: I had quite the raptor run while staying in Valley Falls. Not only did a pair of SWAINSON'S HAWKS nest in a tree right there in VFalls (and fledge two young), but an immature RED-SHOULDERED HAWK joined in the roosting at the site one night. I was quite surprised to see the young SWHA turn into a RSHA. The AMERICAN ROBINS cued me in to this, as they were much more aggressive to the RSHA than they had been to the SWHAs. Here's a quick run down of the raptors that flew over or were seen at Lake Abert and Valley Falls: Bald Eagle Golden Eagle (multiple pair with young) Red-tailed Hawk (family groups) Swainson's Hawk (2 pair) Red-shouldered Hawk (imm) Prairie Falcon American Kestrel (multiple pair with young) Cooper's Hawk (imm male) Sharp-shinned Hawk (ad female) Northern Harrier Great-horned Owl LAKE LEVEL: More important to me than the birds is the dropping lake level. Many of you may not know this, but Lake Abert has been dropping in depth and lake size for the last 2 years. Since April 2007, the lake has lost ~ 100,000 acre feet of water. It currently is at ~60,000 acre feet. At this level (4248.8'), it could go dry next year. This is of grave concern for the millions of migratory birds that use the lake as a stopover. Many of these birds do a full moult at the lake before continuing on to Mexican and Central American coasts and lakes. The salt lake's large amount of brine shrimp and brine flies (usually consumed in cyst form) provide fat and protein to all the birds. This year not only were there brine flies and shrimp, but they have been concentrated in the shrinking lake. The lake has dropped by about 3/4-1 mile on each end, but more importantly has experienced an overall drop of 4.5 feet. If it drops much further, we could see a dramatic drop in brine shrimp and flies, including a complete loss of this migratory bird food source. If the lake were to go dry, I would hope that the inland nesting Western Snowy Plovers that currently nest there could shift to Summer or Alkali lake. I am not so certain about the millions of migratory shorebirds that use Lake Abert as their stop over. Back in 1995 the lake got really low (4249.7', a foot above where it is now). That fall, the lake was 'spitting salts' as the waves moved along the shore. This meant that as the waves or shoreline moved, large salt deposits were being left because the salinity was so high. The following spring brought a huge amount of snow melt and fresh water run-off allowing the lake to rise an amazing 5 feet. We can only hope for such weather conditions in the next year or two. That is unless interventions could work to enforce water right agreements and allow water flow into the lake. Trent Seager Corvallis, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090819/2ab5e3e8/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Wed Aug 19 19:24:16 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:24:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Buff-breasted Sandpiper Message-ID: <4A8CB3D0.7080006@verizon.net> 8/19 Bandon Beach SNA, Coos Cty Somewhat oddly, a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER flew out of nowhere, circled around me overhead, flew directly back northwest and disappeared, not to be seen again, at Bandon Beach while I surveyed today. I thought for sure it would be on the beach somewhere, but it was not to be. Heard and saw 2-3 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS on the New River side of the beach today also. Keep forgetting to post them, but we have seen several over the last week or so at Coos Bay and New River. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From quetsal48 at comcast.net Wed Aug 19 19:48:19 2009 From: quetsal48 at comcast.net (Craig Merkel) Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:48:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding with beverage in hand Message-ID: <5FAC0033946B4DBE8492406258651E34@lastmaskin> All this talk reminds me of a conversation I had with a coworker once: He was a mechanic at work and one day we were talking about beer. He had done some woodworking for me (another of his talents) and I asked him what kind of beer he drank, as a way of payment you see. He said it depends: is it lawnmower beer or what he really liked? I asked him what lawnmower beer was and he explained that lawnmower beer was what he drank when he was on his riding lawnmower. If it spilled it was no big deal; he just got another and kept mowing his lawn ( it was a rather big lawn you see, hence the riding lawn mower) and he REALLY liked Mirror Pond Pale Ale. I got him the Mirror Pond. Craig Merkel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090819/8c134896/attachment.html From pattonl2 at yahoo.com Wed Aug 19 20:39:14 2009 From: pattonl2 at yahoo.com (leslie patton) Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:39:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Swifts in the chimney Message-ID: <598538.78908.qm@web52801.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Tonight I watched at least 70 swifts dive into my brick chimney between 8:25 and 8:35. Magical. This is the third year they have taken up end of summer residence and the numbers are getting larger each year. Any thoughts on how common this is in this area? Leslie Patton Bethany Pond Washington Co. From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Wed Aug 19 21:06:56 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:06:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Vaux's Swifts Message-ID: <53D9B8B0379345A2B4302B4AF4A42C6D@KimPC> The Swifts are back in Bend. I went down to 644 Harriman tonight Wed. the 19th. The swifts were flying around when I got there at 7:30. The first one went in the chimney at 7:50 and the 149th one went in at 8:15. The were pretty spread out and easy to count tonight. For the COBOLers, if anyone goes down to watch and you get a count or a good estimate, let me know the numbers and times so I can keep a record. thanks ----kim kcboddie at bendbroadband.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090819/a14b3796/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Aug 19 21:38:59 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:38:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 08/19/09 Message-ID: <20090820043901.43ABFA8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 08/13 to 08/19/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and an updated (7/1/09) checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 6 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) OSPREY 1 (2, 8/18) Band-tailed Pigeon 4 (11, 8/13) Mourning Dove 4 (2) Vaux's Swift 2 (2, 8/14) Anna's Hummingbird 5 (4) Rufous Hummingbird 3 (1) Hummingbird sp. 5 (3) RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER 1 (1, 8/13) DOWNY WOODPECKER 3 (1) HAIRY WOODPECKER 1 (1, 8/17) Northern Flicker 5 (4, 8/13) Pileated Woodpecker 3 (1) OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER 1 (1, 8/18) WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE 2 (2, 8/17) Pacific-slope Flycatcher 1 (1, 8/17) Empidonax sp. 3 (2) Hutton's Vireo 3 (4, 8/17) WARBLING VIREO 1 (1, 8/14) Steller's Jay 6 (7) Western Scrub-Jay 5 (2) American Crow 6 (4) Common Raven 2 (1, 8/16 & 17) PURPLE MARTIN 1 (1, 8/13) Black-capped Chickadee 6 (20) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 6 (10) Bushtit 2 (15, 8/17) Red-breasted Nuthatch 6 (6) Brown Creeper 5 (2) Bewick's Wren 2 (1, 8/14 & 15) *HOUSE WREN 1 (1, 8/18) Winter Wren 2 (1, 8/13 & 14) Swainson's Thrush 1 (1, 8/18) American Robin 6 (12, 8/14) Cedar Waxwing 5 (20, 8/13) Orange-crowned Warbler 2 (1, 8/15 & 18) Black-throated Gray Warbler 4 (3) HERMIT WARBLER 1 (1, 8/15) Wilson's Warbler 6 (5) WESTERN TANAGER 3 (3, 8/17) Spotted Towhee 6 (7) Song Sparrow 6 (14, 8/13) WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW 1 (1, 8/18) Dark-eyed Junco 6 (15, 8/14) Black-headed Grosbeak 4 (2) LAZULI BUNTING 1 (1, 8/15) PURPLE FINCH 2 (1, 8/15 & 18) House Finch 6 (15, 8/18) RED CROSSBILL 1 (4, 8/15) Pine Siskin 3 (3) LESSER GOLDFINCH 1 (2, 8/15) American Goldfinch 4 (2) EVENING GROSBEAK 1 (1, 8/18) *only the second House Wren in 9 years of dogwalks In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: Cooper's Hawk, RED-TAILED HAWK, GREAT HORNED OWL, CLIFF SWALLOW Now entering the best time of the year for birding the Pittock Mansion "patch"! Wink Gross Portland From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Wed Aug 19 22:05:43 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:05:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sharpi vs Coopers Message-ID: Are you having trouble telling the difference between Sharp-shinned and Coopers Hawks? If you are, ECBC has a deal for you. It is called Green Ridge Migratory Raptor Survey. If you join us on Green Ridge you should get lots of practice distinguishing the two species as well as most of the other western raptor species. The views are fantastic, the passerines are abundant and the company is outstanding. You ask, how can I experience all this good stuff? The answer is join ECBC on the last two weekends of September 9/17-18, 26-27 and the first two weekends of October, 10/3-4, 10-11. We will meet at Indian Ford Campground west of Sisters at 0915 hours each day and car pool to the site which is about 20 miles north on the ridge top. The road to the site is half paved and half gravel, (a super highway compared to the road to Bonney Butte) For more information or to sign up as a spotter, contact Kim Boddie at 541 389 3613 or kcboddie at bendbroadband.com. We will send out more info as we get closer to the survey dates. thanks ----kim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090819/d220d870/attachment.html From md at teleport.com Wed Aug 19 22:09:01 2009 From: md at teleport.com (Sumner Sharpe) Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:09:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Central Oregon birding Message-ID: <00bf01ca2154$54fce5f0$fef6b1d0$@com> WE will be spending a weekend on the Metolius River in mid September. Any suggestions about birding along the river and in the Camp Sherman area? Thanks. Sumner Sharpe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090819/7d439df7/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Aug 19 23:24:32 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:24:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 8-20-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * August 20, 2009 * ORPO0908.20 - birds mentioned Sooty Shearwater MANX SHEARWATER Clark?s Grebe Am. White Pelican Great Egret Sandhill Crane Buff-breasted Sandpiper Pomarine Jaeger Parasitic Jaeger Black Swift Vaux?s Swift Least Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Red-eyed Vireo Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday August 20. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On August 16 a MANX SHEARWATER was seen off Boiler Bay. Thousands of SOOTY SHEARWATERS are now being seen off Oregon beaches along with some POMARINE and PARASITIC JAEGERS and other seabirds. GREAT EGRETS are now showing up at western Oregon wetlands with up to 140 now at Smith-Bybee Lakes in North Portland. VAUX?S SWIFTS are now gathering in various chimneys in the state. A BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was seen August 19 at Bandon Beach. On August 13 an EASTERN KINGBIRD was at Ridgefield NWR. An immature SANDHILL CRANE was reported August 17 at Oaks Bottom in southeast Portland. Up to 13 WHITE PELICANS continue to be seen at the Fernhill Wetlands in Forest Grove. About 20 were at Baskett Slough NWR August 17. On August 13 a RED-EYED VIREO was at the EE Wilson SWA. About ten BLACK SWIFTS were seen August 15 at Salt Creek Falls southeast of Eugene. On August 17 six BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS and two CLARK?S GREBES were at Prineville Reservoir. A probable LEAST FLYCATCHER and a RED-EYED VIREO were at New Pine Creek south of Lakeview August 16. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090819/dd7450c6/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Aug 19 23:59:37 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:59:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] ECBC Wednesday birders, Pine Mountain and surrounds, resident birds. Message-ID: Birders Seven ECBC Wednesdayers went out to beat the heat and go up Pine Mountain this evening. While it was 99 degrees when we were gathering in Bend, it was pleasant while birding at the higher elevation. Sparrows were active. BREWERS and VESPERS were cooperative enough that several birders got to do high fives for lifer looks. Brewers stayed perched for scope views. We had to scoot past Sage Thrashers and Sage Sparrows too quickly in order to get to the top in time. Possible distant flock of Pinyon Jays while on Pine mtn rd, too far away. The Common Poorwills were cooperative, right on cue. The birder who instigated this trip, Kim Kathol, was the first to spot one, a lifer for him. They continued to fly around and call and sat in the road to further delight the birders. We also saw one on the way back down, on the road. We struck out on Flamulated Owls or any owls. We didn't try for long, getting home early was on the mind of a few of us. Very nice to have some new birders with us regulars. Welcome to Carolyn Barr, Sunny of Bend, Paul Miller of Santa Cruz, Ca, and regulars Kim Kathol, Don Sutherland, Mary Yanalcanlin and Judy Meredith. Tally of lifers on trips, this one netted a nice NINE lifers amoung the group. Lots of fun on a starry night. http://birdnotes.net and look at Pine Mountain for the whole( short) list. Back to mornings again next week. Good night, Judy jmeredit at bendnet.com > _______________________________________________ > COBOL mailing list > COBOL at lists.oregonstate.edu > http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol > > To unsubscribe, send a message to: > COBOL-request at lists.oregonstate.edu > with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. > From ghoti5 at hotmail.com Thu Aug 20 06:25:01 2009 From: ghoti5 at hotmail.com (otis swisher) Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:25:01 +0000 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wednesday Birders In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: From: dbarendt at comcast.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:15:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wednesday Birders The Eugene/Springfield Wednesday birders went to the Delta Ponds this morning. We left from the Valley River Center mall parking lot and walked north along the bike path, then crossed Goodpasture Island Road to view more shallow ponds and mud flats. As you would expect, it was very birdy early in the morning with passerines flitting about the trees and shrubs. Shorebirds, herons, ducks and dragonflies withstood the heat later in the morning better than we did. Here is our list. Canada Goose ? flying about Wood Duck ? many young birds Mallard - many Green-winged Teal ? one female sitting on log, not showing us the green speculum Hooded Merganser - one Pied-billed Grebe Double-crested Cormorant ? only two Great Blue Heron - several Great Egret - one Green Heron ? many family groups, probably 8 or more Turkey Vulture Osprey Red-shouldered Hawk ? one flew from the trees, not to be seen again Killdeer - several Greater Yellowlegs - several Western Sandpiper ? about five with one trying to look like a Semipalmated Least Sandpiper ? about a dozen Long-billed Dowitcher ? several with a couple of them almost looking like Short-billed Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Rufous Hummingbird - couple Belted Kingfisher ? several seen and heard Red-breasted Sapsucker - 2 Downy Woodpecker - 2 Northern Flicker - 2 Western Wood-Pewee - 8 or so Willow Flycatcher ? one or two Western Scrub-Jay - 5 American Crow Cliff Swallow ? a few Barn Swallow ? a few more than Cliffs Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit ? 25 (could there be fewer?) Brown Creeper - 1 Bewick's Wren - 1 American Robin ? common, many speckled youngsters European Starling - yes Cedar Waxwing ? very numerous especially along the river Common Yellowthroat - 5 Western Tanager ? some heard and seen early in day Spotted Towhee - heard Song Sparrow ? a few Black-headed Grosbeak ? a few Red-winged Blackbird ? a few Brown-headed Cowbird - 2 House Finch - 5 Lesser Goldfinch ? many in a huge flock with Americans and scattered about American Goldfinch ? numerous And seven species of Dragonflies Birders: Dave Brown, Dave and Sally Hill, Sylvia Maulding, Don Schrouder, Paul Sherrell, Roger Robb, Craig Merkel, Randy Sinnott, Larry McQueen and Dennis Arendt _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Make it easier for your friends to see what you?re up to on Facebook. http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_facebook:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090820/3cae4949/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Aug 20 07:54:53 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:54:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swifts in the chimney In-Reply-To: <598538.78908.qm@web52801.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <598538.78908.qm@web52801.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: I believe there was some school building in Hillsboro that had a sizeable roost. The structure may have been recently demolished. Some years ago I saw a modest number of swifts enter a chimney in downtown Forest Grove. I very rarely find myself in Forest Grove in the evening. A similarly small number of swifts roosts in the chimney of the Banks School District administration building. The first time I saw this I assumed they were going to go down the enormous chimney of the central heating plant, but after circling for half an hour they went down a tiny, blocky affair I never would have noticed without the swifts. Washington County has a large human population, but it is so recently arrived that masonry chimneys are rather rare. How long the Banks chimney has been a roost I couldn't say. We live 10km out of town, far enough into the Coast Range that swifts are always a noteworthy bird. I find myself in town at twilight more often now that my children are teenagers. The chimney in question has been around about eighty years. Lars Norgren On Aug 19, 2009, at 8:39 PM, leslie patton wrote: > Tonight I watched at least 70 swifts dive into my brick chimney > between 8:25 and 8:35. Magical. This is the third year they have > taken up end of summer residence and the numbers are getting larger > each year. Any thoughts on how common this is in this area? > Leslie Patton > Bethany Pond > Washington Co. > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Thu Aug 20 08:32:42 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:32:42 -0600 Subject: [obol] new visitor Message-ID: <81A00A448AE64B93BFE6DFEB6A30C1F3@larryPC> Yesterday while watering our fruit trees,they are very thirsty in summer out here, I was checked over by a Hummingbird. Since it was about 3 feet in front of me and I got a good look at it. Comparing it to all my bird books it is a juvenile Broad-tailed Hummingbird. At first I thought it was an Anna's but there was a hint of rufous on the sides and flanks. It checked out the hose, with water running, then disappeared towards the creek. We don't have willows here but down the creek there are some. Across the road there are trees and willows along the creek. Our resident Nighthawks are doing a good job on the bugs. There was a brightly colored Western Kingbird bugging among the Quail last night. The Killdeer are bright and crisp looking running through the weeds and grass. Karen in true SE Or. south of Burns Jct. in Malheur Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090820/0020d3e7/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Thu Aug 20 11:11:14 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:11:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper ID Message-ID: I have created a brief ID article with photos on juvenile Western versus Semipalmated ID: http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/ Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Thu Aug 20 11:52:48 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:52:48 -0400 Subject: [obol] OSU memories Message-ID: The beverage thread that is more or less bird-related mentioned Dr. Storm at OSU. That brings back a few interesting memories, especially during field trips in the early 1970s. I still have some field notes from a class trip wandering thru eastern Oregon -- listing what herps and birds we saw at various locations. What a character Dr. Storm was. My local bird sightings are not very noteworthy lately. Nonbird: while at Scappoose Bay Marina yesterday morning I watched a vicious stinging battle between a yellowjacket and a bald-faced hornet. They landed on the same flower. Bad mistake for the yellowjacket -- after they tumbled locked together off the flower, the yellowjacket became a meal for the hornet. Quite a few wasps were, for the most part, peacefully feeding on water parsnip umbels. A Calif. quail family (three adults) that visits our yard has only one grown juv. with them. Lona Pierce, Columbia County _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Keep your friends up to date with what you do online. http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_online:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090820/e9e97574/attachment.html From dustdevil at centurytel.net Thu Aug 20 12:13:15 2009 From: dustdevil at centurytel.net (Patty Bowers) Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:13:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] McDermitt Creek Message-ID: <45E6F9E928B84DD789D5BB90B86C35EC@your0cdc4f5844> Patty and I were volunteer camp cooks for 75 fish crew workers on McDermitt Creek August 10-14. For those of you not familiar with the area the stream drains the southeast side of the Trout Creek Mountains on the Nevada/Oregon border. It joins the Quinn River near the hamlet of McDermitt, NV. The area we were camped in was wild hay meadows recently hayed with willow stringers along the stream and sage brush uplands. It was located on the privately owned Zimmerman Ranch (also known as the Disaster Peak Ranch). We didn't have much time to bird and missed a number of sage brush associated species - especially sparrows. Sandhill Crane - summer residents not migrants 4, all adults Barn Swallow American Crow - several working the meadows Common Raven Lazuli Bunting Downy Woodpecker - adult with several begging young Song Sparrow Gadwall - at least one brood Mallard Northern Harrier - several working the meadows Yellow Warbler - common singing in the willows American Kestrel Black-billed Magpie Brown-headed Cowbird Tree Sparrow Gray Flycatcher Bullock's Oriole - several family groups American Goldfinch Western Tanager Killdeer Golden-crowned Kinglet Swainson's Hawk Warbling Verio Greater Sage Grouse - several broods at least 50 birds total Chukar - several broods California Quail - one brood with freshly hatched chicks Red-tailed Hawk Turkey Vulture Northern Mockingbird Great-horned Owl - a family group of 5 Western Meadowlark - common Barn Owl Common Nighthawk - common over the fields in the evening Brewer's Blackbird Northern Flicker Short-eared Owl - several working the fields at dusk Golden Eagle Horned Lark Loggerhead Shrike Spotted Towhee European Starling Mourning Dove Western Kingbird Wilson's Snipe - several seen up and down the creek Cinnamon Teal Rough-winged Swallow Common Merganser - adult with brood Black-crowned Night-Heron American Dipper Common Poorwill Rock Wren Black-chinned Hummingbird Cheers from sunny SE Oregon, Wayne and Patty Bowers -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090820/c488d37c/attachment.html From dan at heyerly.com Thu Aug 20 12:39:08 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Dan Heyerly) Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:39:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Swift fall migration question Message-ID: I know that Black Swift migrants are typically seen along the outer coast, at least in spring. I am not near a copy of BOGR right now (Birds of Oregon, General Reference), so I can't look up this aspect of their movements, and last evening I was distracted by the wonderful weather and corn on the cob, and to be honest I forgot to look this up! I am wondering about fall records of Black Swift from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Are there any, and if so what are their dates? Why am I asking this? Yesterday at mid-day I was walking near the Willamette River in Eugene, and I noticed two black colored swifts heading north, high up but not too high as to seem to be only specks. They were not like the typical grayish/brownish shade of a Vaux's, nor did they exhibit the wing beat style of the most likely Vaux's. Wing beats were slightly slower, they were moving quite fast, and were out of sight within about 3 seconds. The sighting was not good enough or long enough to definitively say what it was, but it struck me instantly as different from what I would normally expect. Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090820/61649824/attachment.html From sparsons at canby.com Thu Aug 20 15:05:24 2009 From: sparsons at canby.com (Steve and Diana Parsons) Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:05:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Immature Green Heron - Ridgefield Message-ID: I had the pleasure of watching a young green heron reduce the bullfrog population at Ridgefield today. Here's a link to a couple of shots... http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen_parsons/3840104335/ From jonysky101 at aol.com Thu Aug 20 15:45:13 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:45:13 -0400 Subject: [obol] Sisters birding Wednesday Message-ID: <8CBEFFF039F7515-12C0-E7@webmail-da05.sysops.aol.com> I traveled back to Sisters yesterday to try and get some of those birds that got away from me ?a couple of weeks ago. I don't claim to be a good birder, yet, but I do claim to be persistant. I added 4 birds to my life list, which is no great feat considering how short it is. Sisters is so different than Sandy, but it is beautiful in a different way. Here is the link to the album; http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/sets/72157621971852567/detail/ But of couse I have a couple of mystery birds, and?a hummingbird I've labeled an Anna's, but doesn't look right. 1st mystery bird: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2467/3841120782_e226518ed4_o.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2612/3840328471_18439750d6_o.jpg 2nd mystery bird; http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3530/3841214222_165ff04c17_o.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2628/3840423057_8055b50f3c_o.jpg And the Anna's Hummingbird: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2503/3840323985_214012cac5_o.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2460/3841113786_7a882eaf7c_o.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3247/3841114376_6165bff8ed_o.jpg It just doen't look like the Anna's I've had at my feeders. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090820/f77a4215/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Thu Aug 20 16:26:09 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:26:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Swift fall migration question References: Message-ID: The great big book says Black Swifts would be migrating now, and continue until ~20Sept. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: Dan Heyerly To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 12:39 PM Subject: [obol] Black Swift fall migration question I know that Black Swift migrants are typically seen along the outer coast, at least in spring. I am not near a copy of BOGR right now (Birds of Oregon, General Reference), so I can't look up this aspect of their movements, and last evening I was distracted by the wonderful weather and corn on the cob, and to be honest I forgot to look this up! I am wondering about fall records of Black Swift from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Are there any, and if so what are their dates? Why am I asking this? Yesterday at mid-day I was walking near the Willamette River in Eugene, and I noticed two black colored swifts heading north, high up but not too high as to seem to be only specks. They were not like the typical grayish/brownish shade of a Vaux's, nor did they exhibit the wing beat style of the most likely Vaux's. Wing beats were slightly slower, they were moving quite fast, and were out of sight within about 3 seconds. The sighting was not good enough or long enough to definitively say what it was, but it struck me instantly as different from what I would normally expect. Dan Heyerly, Eugene ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Aug 20 17:00:51 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:00:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Baird's Sandpipers Message-ID: <4A8DE3B3.7040608@verizon.net> There were 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS on the beach at Tahkenitch, Douglas Cty and a flock of 5 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS at South Tenmile Coos Cty today. Also at S Tenmile were 24 DOWITCHERS (presumably SBs) and 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS along with a number of Western and Least Sandpipers. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From tlove at linfield.edu Thu Aug 20 20:55:22 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:55:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tualatin R. NWR Pectoral S.; swift note Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F1215B071D3@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> There were two PECTORAL SANDPIPERS in with over a dozen each of WESTERNS and LEASTS at Tualatin R. NWR this morning. Otherwise diversity was down from end of last week. A small flock of migrating VAUX'S SWIFTS passed through, maybe 25 of them. I scanned for Blacks; I never seem to catch them in migration, so I've appreciated the discussion. Tom Love tlove AT linfield DOT edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090820/fd9bcb5f/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Thu Aug 20 21:08:57 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:08:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sisters birding Wednesday Message-ID: <604DA1E91D0B45E5B82AF0D0FE5E2F95@GREG> First bird is a juvenile warbler. The tail spots should help narrow it down. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2467/3841120782_e226518ed4_o.jpg the second bird is a nuthatch restricted to the ponderosa http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3530/3841214222_165ff04c17_o.jpg the third hummingbird has cinnamon sides and underparts, not gray or green. It has a short tail. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3247/3841114376_6165bff8ed_o.jpg I thought maybe rather than telling you, giving you clues to help you look them up might help you learn better. Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From pamelaj at spiritone.com Thu Aug 20 21:28:33 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:28:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Vaux's Swift roost, McMinnville Message-ID: This evening as I was heading home on Wallace Rd I saw about 100 Vaux's Swifts twittering and swirling around. I arrived about 2022 as they spun and spread, and began to funnel into a chimney. They were so near that I could hear the different sound their wings made as they slowed to drop into the chimney. About 3 didn't make it in, and as I waited to see if they would try again, suddenly there were 5, then 8, and like the long finale of a Beethoven symphony, they approached, retreated, regrouped, and finally the last was in at 2030. The house is on the south side of Wallace Rd just east of NW Conrad, which is east of Michelbook. I didn't see the number, but there is a driveway loop with an island flower garden in the front yard. The chimney is near the garage door and has two tile-lined flues. Pamela Johnston From gneavoll at comcast.net Thu Aug 20 22:26:16 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 05:26:16 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Black Swifts over Portland In-Reply-To: <1407894273.1898061250832236053.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1129846325.1898431250832376833.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Large number of BLACK SWIFTS over Kings Hill neighborhood of S.W. Portland (roughly, intersection of S.W. Main St., Vista Ave.) between 7:30-8:25 p.m. today (8/20/09). Hard to estimate total, with swarming birds dipping behind trees, buildings, but counted 36 in one sweep of eye, with at least twice that many likely present. Large size; almost languid flight; long, scimitar-shaped wings; "two-toned" blackish plumage; long tails, occasionally fanned - all set birds apart from smaller Vaux's Swifts and their bat-like flight that later appeared. Black Swifts' flight ended abruptly just as darkness falling. George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090821/a8eadb28/attachment.html From oropendolas at aol.com Fri Aug 21 07:14:30 2009 From: oropendolas at aol.com (oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:14:30 -0400 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Message-ID: <8CBF080D5B028FB-B24-11FA0@webmail-m020.sysops.aol.com> Hello All, There were 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES on the Royal?Viewing Platform?Pond yesterday (Thursday) afternoon. Also a single WHITE-TAILED KITE north of the parking lot. Most of the?Black Terns?have left the area. I walked the loop from Royal to the Hwy 126 viewing platform and found only?1 juvenile BLACK TERN. Does anyone know?when the dikes west of the Royal Viewing Platform will be accessible? John Sullivan Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090821/4c785769/attachment.html From jdanzenbaker at gmail.com Fri Aug 21 07:32:31 2009 From: jdanzenbaker at gmail.com (Jim Danzenbaker) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:32:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Battle Ground Night Flight and American Crows Message-ID: Hi Obolites, I was glad to hear a flood of nocturnal migrants flying over my house in Battle Ground, Clark County, Washington this morning. I estimated about 5 birds per minute at 4:45am which built to about 15 birds per minute from 5:10am until about 5:45am and then it dropped off completely after 6am. Interestingly, this coincided with the National Weather Service Radar from Portland which showed lots of blue (presumed migrants) which dropped off at around 6:06am. The site for the radar imagery is http://radar.weather.gov/radar_lite.php?rid=rtx&product=NCR&loop=yes. I estimated the following numbers: Swainson's Thrush 400 Yellow Warbler 1 Orange-crowned Warbler (I think) 1 This flight was not unpredictable since the winds turned northwest yesterday evening for the first time in several days and there was a fairly low cloud deck. However, this is the earliest that I've had a big flight. It usually starts around August 25th. On a completely different note, the local American Crow roost which usually holds about 45 crows during 10 months of the year and swelled to a previous high of 225 birds at this time of year was rocking this morning. I counted a total of *800* leaving the roost today! Unfortunately, every one of them had something to say to the other 799 crows so it was pretty noisy. Keep your eyes and ears skyward. Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090821/105608b9/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Fri Aug 21 07:40:36 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:40:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] recommended reading Message-ID: <000c01ca226d$5bc69100$80c963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: Following on Greg Gillson's offering about shorebirds... http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/ Kenn Kaufman has a fine article in the current BirdWatcher's Digest (Sept/Oct 2009, p. 14) about shorebirds. In his column, "After the Spark" he writes an article titled "Fade to Purple" about shorebirds, highlighting Purple Sandpipers, the close look-alike to the Rock Sandpipers we see in winter on the Oregon Coast. Very well written. Follow that with a species profile on Caspian Terns by Jim McCormac, and then a lucid "Identify Yourself" column by Alvaro Jaramillo titled "Age and Sex in Songbirds." Then another fine article about Condors by Connie Toops. Maybe there's more, but that's as far as I've got. If you don't subscribe to this magazine, go out an buy a newstand copy. It's worth it. Paul T. Sullivan "...all the people who can identify a dusky flycatcher when they see one, ... won't add up to enough votes to elect a mayor.... You like those little red birds, whatever they're called? So do I.... You're a birder, and we're pals." Kenn Kaufman -- BirdWatcher's Digest, Nov-Dec 2001 From nelson8908 at yahoo.com Fri Aug 21 08:50:40 2009 From: nelson8908 at yahoo.com (Connie Nelson) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:50:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] klamath birding help Message-ID: <406697.86369.qm@web57312.mail.re1.yahoo.com> greetings we are staying at Kamp Klamath september 5,6, 7 and 8 . can anyone refer me to a klamath birding guide -- or any scheduled field trips during that time ?? also - any specialty birds in that area that i might not have in the s f bay area .... appreciate the help and wisdom connie nelson fremont, ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090821/a0e034e0/attachment.html From monroemolly at hotmail.com Fri Aug 21 10:03:44 2009 From: monroemolly at hotmail.com (Molly Monroe) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:03:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] NE Oregon advice Message-ID: We're headed to the Snake River for a rafting trip next weekend and will have some time after to poke around that corner of Oregon. I went to college in LaGrande but didn't do much birding back then and would love any tips people would like to share on where to go this time of year. We'll be camping at Wallowa and hopefully do a little hiking along the way, pretty flexible as far as where we're going. Any recommendations would be much appreciated. Thanks, Molly~ _ ( '< / ) ) //"Endangered species are sensitive indicators of how we are treating the planet and we should be listening carefully to their message EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD Join me -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090821/e890ce44/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Fri Aug 21 11:18:29 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:18:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrushes, NW Portland Message-ID: <20090821181832.AAB45A8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Heard our first migrating SWAINSON'S THRUSHES of the Fall overhead this morning about 5:00AM. Earlyish: 1998: Aug 27 1999: Aug 28 2000: Aug 26 2001: Aug 25 2002: Aug 26 2003: Aug 25 2004: Aug 20 2005: Aug 23 2006: Aug 22 2007: Aug 23 2008: Aug 28 2009: Aug 21 Wink Gross NW Portland From craig at greatskua.com Fri Aug 21 12:53:53 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:53:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrushes, NW Portland Message-ID: <20090821125353.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.bbe823ea45.wbe@email.secureserver.net> I had a Swainson's thrush in my backyard yesterday morning (8/19). Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrushes, NW Portland > From: Wink Gross > Date: Fri, August 21, 2009 11:18 am > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > Heard our first migrating SWAINSON'S THRUSHES of the Fall overhead this > morning about 5:00AM. Earlyish: > > 1998: Aug 27 > 1999: Aug 28 > 2000: Aug 26 > 2001: Aug 25 > 2002: Aug 26 > 2003: Aug 25 > 2004: Aug 20 > 2005: Aug 23 > 2006: Aug 22 > 2007: Aug 23 > 2008: Aug 28 > 2009: Aug 21 > > Wink Gross > NW Portland > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From rflores_2 at msn.com Fri Aug 21 13:34:25 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:34:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] red-necked grebe, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: Jim Danzenbaker and I found a red-necked grebe in breeding plumage at the flushing channel Vancouver Lake. We were there about 1:00 pm today. As a bonus we also had 10 black-throated gray, 6 yellow, 1 Wilson's and 4 orange-crowned warblers trying to get our attention. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090821/d1ddca58/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Fri Aug 21 13:38:52 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:38:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] sandpipers, Ridgefield NWR, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: Allot of bird movement because of peregrine falcon action but here are the numbers. lb dowitcher 127 le yellowlegs 3 gr yellowlegs 7 red-necked phalarope 3 semipalmated sandpiper 5 semipalmated plover 2 Baird's sandpiper 1 poss 2 western sandpiper 362 least sandpiper 191 Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090821/e16a19ee/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Fri Aug 21 13:39:02 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:39:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos ELEGANT TERNS Message-ID: At Pt. Adams in the Charleston harbor, there were 2 ELEGANT TERNS feeding off the eastern end of the north jetty. They were also visible from the south jetty. At Bandon Marsh, thousands of peeps were spread out over the mudflats. Although there was an adult PEREGRINE FALCON perched nearby, it must have been some time since breakfast as the birds weren't concentrated. Didn't have time to scrutinize all flocks but shorebird species detected were 6 Marbled Godwit 2 Willit 85 Short-billed Dowitcher 30 Black-bellied Plover 80 Semipalmated Plover 1 Greater Yellowlegs 5000+ Western Sandpiper 3000+ Least Sandpiper Good birding, Russ Namitz -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090821/44353fb4/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Fri Aug 21 15:52:46 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:52:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Mt. Tabor, Portland migrants Message-ID: <163861.19901.qm@web55703.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Since we got back from vacation earlier this week, we've been going to Mt. Tabor every morning. In general, there have been almost no migrants. We thought that this morning's change in weather might bring in some migrants, and we were rewarded with a variety of good birds. Near the top there was a mixed flock including a Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Hammond's Flycatcher, Warbling Vireos (4), and a Cassin's Vireo (heard only). Warblers were an Orange-crowned, 6 Black-throated Gray, 1 Townsend's,1 Hermit, and 3 Wilson's. Elsewhere in the park we encountered good numbers of Rufous Hummingbirds, more Pacific-slope Flycatchers, and a Winter Wren. A few Western Tanagers and Black-headed Grosbeaks were around too. A Willow Flycatcher (unusual in the park) was near the upper reservoir, and we saw a Spotted Sandpiper (also unusual in the park) at the lower reservoir. Several American Goldfinches (which are uncommon in the park but nested this year) are still around, as well as a few Red Crossbills and lots of Pine Siskins. Good Birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090821/e2a37049/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Fri Aug 21 15:58:16 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:58:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] RFI south coast Message-ID: <55021.91473.qm@web55706.mail.re3.yahoo.com> We will be doing a trip to the south coast in early September. The first night we'll stay at Lake Selmac State Park. The next day we dip down into the California Redwoods and then head north along the coast to Bullards Beach, where we will spend a few nights. On our way home we'll spend a night at Yaquina Bay. Does anyone have any suggestions of where to bird along the way? Some species we are especially targeting are: Mountain Quail Shorebirds in general (especially American Golden-plover, Wandering Tattler and Buff-breasted Sandpiper) Jaegers (all three species) Elegant Tern Allen's Hummingbird Oak Titmouse California Towhee Please reply off-line. Thanks in advance for your suggestions; we really appreciate it. Christopher and Adrian Hinkle, Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090821/58bb7f32/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri Aug 21 17:39:51 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:39:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] RFI south coast In-Reply-To: <55021.91473.qm@web55706.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <534439.73368.qm@web45302.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Hi You All, I will be gone to MA from 2-9 September, for a wedding which was called off at the last minute, but we should be in eastern migrant heaven on Martha's Vineyard off of the south coast there. ?I'll be getting some "practice" for a later trip to Malheur the last half of September. Anyhow, here you go for your list: Mountain Quail- you need to drive roads in the Coast Range/Siskiyous for this which means spending hours away from the coast (I'm thinking south OR coast here). ?Perhaps during the PM? ?There are numerous roads that take off into the Coast Range on the south coast but you are talking at least an hour or two one-way with only a small chance of seeing birds. If you are still interested I may be able to think of some routes to drive. Otherwise, should be really slow up there. Shorebirds in general (especially American Golden-plover, Wandering Tattler and Buff-breasted Sandpiper)- ?American Golden-plover is really tough on the coast, maybe 10 to 1 Pacifics. In fact, its a review species in CA. ?Your best bet is Bandon Marsh (bring mud boots to walk out there at low tide), but you'll probably mostly see Pacifics if you do see golden-plovers.. ?With heavily molted adults you are counting exposed primary tips to ID these birds, 2-3 on Pacifics and 4 on Americans. ?The juvies are so much easier to ID! Wandering Tattler should be easy in Bandon, check the old dock behind the Coast Guard station at high tide in Bandon, it's just west of the main harbor area along the road that goes out to the south jetty. ?Actually, any rocky headlands you stop at could have them. ?Same habitat as oystercatchers. ?Buff-breasted Sandpiper is tough. ?The north spit site use to be a sure thing but it is dry this year and lots of vegetation has grown over the site. ?Stay tune to the Shorebird Festival highlights to see if one is seen. ?They are usually found on sandy beaches (never on the mudflats) or the open sandy NW corner of the old Weyco pond site on the north spit of Coos Bay (hopefully we'll get them this year). Oh, the Curry coast is shorebird poor in general. ?Bandon Marsh and Coos Bay are much better. ?Bandon Marsh is the BEST spot on the OR coast for shorebirds... Jaegers (all three species)- scope the mouth of the Rogue, there are good gull concentrations here and they attract jaegers. ?Could see Common Tern and/or Elegants also. ?This is in Gold Beach. Any river mouth on the ocean with lots of gulls could be good. Elegant Tern- Gold Beach. ?Check the mouth of the Rogue, the best spot in the state for this species. Allen's Hummingbird- next year, between March and May in Curry and very SW Coos Co. Oak Titmouse- oak woodlands anywhere around Lake Selmac I would suspect? ?I still haven't seen them this year. California Towhee- I had them at the airport south of Cave Jct. in July. There is a road south of town that goes out to the north end of the airport, I saw them near the dense ceanothus thickets. They may be elsewhere and easier to find but I'm not sure where? ?I didn't have any luck for them at the rest stop area near Merlin (west of Grants Pass). I hope this helps, have a great trip!!!!!! Tim --- On Fri, 8/21/09, m_scatt at yahoo.com wrote: From: m_scatt at yahoo.com Subject: [obol] RFI south coast To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Friday, August 21, 2009, 3:58 PM We will be doing a trip to the south coast in early September. The first night we'll stay at Lake Selmac State Park. The next day we dip down into the California Redwoods and then head north along the coast to Bullards Beach, where we will spend a few nights. On our way home we'll spend a night at Yaquina Bay. Does anyone have any suggestions of where to bird along the way? Some species we are especially targeting are: ? Please reply off-line. Thanks in advance for your suggestions; we really appreciate it. Christopher and Adrian Hinkle, Em Scattaregia -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090821/947fd259/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Fri Aug 21 17:43:37 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:43:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos birds Message-ID: <4A8F3F39.5030504@verizon.net> 8/21 We looked for the ELEGANT TERNS off the base of the north jetty Coos Bay North Spit Coos Cty at about 11:30 AM and did not see them. We did see at least 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS on South Beach. At North Tenmile, we had one flock of 11 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, which may be the most I've ever seen in one flock in Oregon. We had a minimum of 12 BAIRD'S along the beach there, but it could have been as many as double that as they were moving around and it was confusing how many really were there. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri Aug 21 17:56:39 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:56:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos birds In-Reply-To: <4A8F3F39.5030504@verizon.net> Message-ID: <915808.36161.qm@web45313.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I was out in the Charleston/Empire are of Coos Bay and did not see the ELEGANT TERNS, this PM either. I did see 3 MARBLED GODWITS near the Empire Sewage treatment plant. At Pigeon Point there was only 8 Least Sandpipers because the tide was so high. ?The gull flock there was mostly Californias but I did see one MEW GULL. Lots of peep flocks winging through Charleston. ?I saw thee dowitchers there and a flock of 100+ Western Sandpipers at Bastendorff Beach. On 8/20 on the north spit of Coos Bay I had a fly-over LONG-BILLED CURLEW and three RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. ?The day before there was a BONAPARTE'S GULL. Migrants having been moving through the willows out there including lots of yellowthroats, and a few Wilson's and Yellow-rumped Warblers, and one BH Grosbeak on 8/19. I was up in an old-growth forest stand in eastern Coos today, about 2400', where I typically get GRAY JAY, I did today also. ?This species is absent from the west end of the county and very rare on the coast, unlike other areas north of here. Things are heating up for the Shorebird Festival and OFO meeting, only a week away- should be a blast!! Tim RCoos Bay --- On Fri, 8/21/09, DJ Lauten and KACastelein wrote: From: DJ Lauten and KACastelein Subject: [obol] Coos birds To: "Oregon Birders On Line" Date: Friday, August 21, 2009, 5:43 PM 8/21 We looked for the ELEGANT TERNS off the base of the north jetty Coos Bay North Spit Coos Cty at about 11:30 AM and did not see them.? We did see at least 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS on South Beach. At North Tenmile, we had one flock of 11 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, which may be the most I've ever seen in one flock in Oregon.? We had a minimum of 12 BAIRD'S along the beach there, but it could have been as many as double that as they were moving around and it was confusing how many really were there. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090821/5391a472/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Fri Aug 21 20:14:19 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:14:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] OFF TOPIC: Red-striped Garter Snake Message-ID: <4A8F628B.4040205@pacifier.com> I caught and photographed a red-stripe color morph of Northwestern Garter Snake yesterday at Rock Creek, Lane Co. _Reptiles of Washington and Oregon_ discusses this variation, but I don't recall having seen one before, myself. Photos at: http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11870/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Aug 21 20:50:37 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 22 Aug 2009 03:50:37 +0000 Subject: [obol] Heceta Beach (north of Florence) shorebirds Message-ID: Greetings All, I spent several hours wandering about on Heceta Beach with my kids today. There were several small flocks of shorebirds. As one might expect, Western Sandpipers predominated, but there was a nice variety of other species. Here's what I saw: Semipalmated Plover -- 40+ Sanderling -- 3 Western Sandpiper -- 600 Least Sandpiper -- 30+ Baird's Sandpiper -- 7 Short-billed Dowitcher -- 1 juv. I also had one Surfbird and one Wandering Tattler along the north jetty. There was nothing moving offshore and very few birds between the jetties. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Keep your friends up to date with what you do online. http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_online:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090822/2c18857a/attachment.html From mlstep at msn.com Fri Aug 21 21:15:20 2009 From: mlstep at msn.com (Margaret Stephens) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:15:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Info needed: Salem Vaux's Swifts Message-ID: If anyone knows of Vaux's Swift roosts in Salem (for a swift count), please let me know. Thanks. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090821/734558ba/attachment.html From youngwarriors at hotmail.com Fri Aug 21 23:14:20 2009 From: youngwarriors at hotmail.com (Keith Owen) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 23:14:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Info needed: Salem Vaux's Swifts In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Take the Mission Street (Hwy 22) exit off I-5. Go west to the end of Mission Street. This is one block past Commercial St. Office building on the right AM/PM on the left. The office building that looks like a house at the end of the street has a chimney. The swifts roost in that chimney. From: mlstep at msn.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:15:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Info needed: Salem Vaux's Swifts If anyone knows of Vaux's Swift roosts in Salem (for a swift count), please let me know. Thanks. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Make it easier for your friends to see what you?re up to on Facebook. http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_facebook:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090821/912c0302/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Sat Aug 22 07:34:52 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sat, 22 Aug 2009 07:34:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI south coast References: <534439.73368.qm@web45302.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Hi Tim and Christopher, Oak Titmice are pretty tough to find in the Cave Junction area (only found them once over that way). The north-bound Manzanita (Merlin) I-5 rest stop (along the frontage road) does have them, but they are pretty quite this time of the year. Have them at our place every day (Shetland Drive, south of the rest stop a bit). Dennis Hi You All, I Oak Titmouse- oak woodlands anywhere around Lake Selmac I would suspect? I still haven't seen them this year. California Towhee- I had them at the airport south of Cave Jct. in July. There is a road south of town that goes out to the north end of the airport, I saw them near the dense ceanothus thickets. They may be elsewhere and easier to find but I'm not sure where? I didn't have any luck for them at the rest stop area near Merlin (west of Grants Pass). I hope this helps, have a great trip!!!!!! Tim --- On Fri, 8/21/09, m_scatt at yahoo.com wrote: From: m_scatt at yahoo.com Subject: [obol] RFI south coast To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Friday, August 21, 2009, 3:58 PM We will be doing a trip to the south coast in early September. The first night we'll stay at Lake Selmac State Park. The next day we dip down into the California Redwoods and then head north along the coast to Bullards Beach, where we will spend a few nights. On our way home we'll spend a night at Yaquina Bay. Does anyone have any suggestions of where to bird along the way? Some species we are especially targeting are: Please reply off-line. Thanks in advance for your suggestions; we really appreciate it. Christopher and Adrian Hinkle, Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090822/6354e7e1/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Sat Aug 22 07:57:54 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sat, 22 Aug 2009 07:57:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gull photo comments requested Message-ID: Darrel Faxon took this gull photo and invites comment. http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/116369559/original Greg From whoffman at peak.org Sat Aug 22 09:17:22 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 22 Aug 2009 09:17:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gull photo comments requested References: Message-ID: <53714F6ED02B40BC9B11AA9E4B06C37C@D48XBZ51> I have seen and photographed the same individual, at the Yaqiona Bay South Jetty. I identified it as a Ring-billed Gull in juvenal plumage. I have been playing particular attention to the gulls around Yaquina Bay this summer, and have seen more Ring-bills than in previous years. Also more summer Mew Gulls. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg Gillson" To: "OBOL" Sent: Saturday, August 22, 2009 7:57 AM Subject: [obol] Gull photo comments requested > Darrel Faxon took this gull photo and invites comment. > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/116369559/original > > Greg > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From mklittletree at comcast.net Sat Aug 22 09:25:14 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (michel Kleinbaum) Date: Sat, 22 Aug 2009 09:25:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] OFF TOPIC: Red-striped Garter Snake References: <4A8F628B.4040205@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <42103391D3F249A79CCD796EFB7B50D4@michel1927> Whilr all the Garter Snakes I have seen and photographed were yellow striped I did photograph 1 red striped snake, a few years ago, in Minto Brown Park, Salem. Michel Kleinbaum S. Salem ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Patterson" To: "OBOL" ; "Northcoast Land Conservancy" Sent: Friday, August 21, 2009 8:14 PM Subject: [obol] OFF TOPIC: Red-striped Garter Snake >I caught and photographed a red-stripe color morph of Northwestern > Garter Snake yesterday at Rock Creek, Lane Co. _Reptiles of > Washington and Oregon_ discusses this variation, but I don't recall > having seen one before, myself. > > Photos at: > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11870/ > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > My Summer Reading List > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From tom-escue at comcast.net Sat Aug 22 12:54:08 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:54:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black-Headed Grosbeak Message-ID: I had a female BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK at my backyard Friday. They have been missing all summer at my place. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090822/378f7fec/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Sat Aug 22 13:09:59 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:09:59 EDT Subject: [obol] Long-billed curlew at Fern Ridge Reservoir Message-ID: Dear OBOLers, I just received a phone call (1pm) from Dan Heyerly; there is a LONG-BILLED CURLEW at Fern Ridge Reservoir. The directions are as follows: walk out from the end of Royal Ave. to the viewing platform, then proceed on the dike that heads south from the platform; the bird is currently west of that dike, on the island with the pelican roost. Enjoy the beautiful weekend, Laura Johnson -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090822/5c021bd6/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Sat Aug 22 13:46:31 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:46:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Coast Shorebirds Message-ID: <2b1bbd260908221346x15063ce7l5e6aa46cfae9d3@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Lydia Cruz and I made a brief stop at the North Jetty of the Siuslaw around noon today. On the jetty rocks directly south of the parking lot: 2 - WANDERING TATTLER 6 - SURFBIRD At the mudflats: ~40 - Western Sandpipers (in two flocks) 6 - Least Sandpipers 1 - SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (flew in at 1215) 1 - Semipalmated Plover (flew in and then left at 1200) All shorebirds were in juvenal plumage. Birds were active with some stopping only very briefly before continuing south. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090822/3d203ad2/attachment.html From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Sat Aug 22 15:55:26 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:55:26 -0600 Subject: [obol] Mike Patterson's snake Message-ID: <07948C10488E460F955C533186E649C5@larryPC> Sorry to answer on line and off topic.I checked my "Reptiles of the Northwest" by Alan St. John and your snake is just a bit crisper than the one he has pictured. If you can get a copy the picture is on page number 217. On the bird topic during our trip to Arock we saw 2 Swainson Hawks, several young Kestrels, a family group of Turkey Vultures. They have a tree among the houses that they really like. The top part is dead with several large branches that make it perfect to sit and soak in the early morning sun. We have seen Swainson Hawks out on Hwy 95 near the road into Arock. Karen in true SEOr. south of Burns Jct. in Malheur Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090822/8d420553/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Sat Aug 22 17:55:02 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:55:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR Saturday Message-ID: <200889.7321.qm@web55108.mail.re4.yahoo.com> My mother (Olive) and I arrived at the River "S" Unit at Ridgefield NWR Saturday around 6:45 AM. Carol Ledford joined me at 8:30 AM, and the three of us birded together for the balance of the day until about 2:45PM. Carol, Olive and I also walked the Kiwa Trail together. There are still very few duck species there, and what else we found we had to look hard for, or rely on luck. Ridgefield NWR: (~4mi W of I-5 at Exit 14 in SW Washington; http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ ). Highlights: It was a pleasant day with a nice breeze. Birding was slow. Almost no mosquitoes :-) I suppose our best sight was a COMMON RAVEN that Carol and I saw flying over Long Lake, and then it dropped to the lake, grabbed something (frog/salamander as best I could tell scoping it) and flew north across the road to the top of a dead tree to eat. It was quickly joined by 2 cautious Crows who clearly wanted to share in the RAVEN'S bounty, but were reluctant to get too close to the RAVEN. Shorebird species were few, but there were every bit of 300 Western/Least Sandpipers on Rest Lake in the early morning before 9:30AM. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores Complete list of 43 species seen / heard: Pied-billed Grebe American Bittern (1 seen on Rest Lake) Great Blue Heron Great Egret (1 seen on Rest Lake) Turkey Vulture Canada Goose (~ 22 on Rest Lake) Wood Duck Gadwall Mallard Cinnamon Teal Green-winged Teal Osprey Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel American Coot SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (1 seen on Rest Lake) Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs (Long Lake) Lesser Yellowlegs (Long Lake) SPOTTED SANDPIPER (seen on bank of Lake River) Western Sandpiper (several spots) Least Sandpiper (several spots) Vaux's Swift Northern Flicker (entrance canyon) Western Wood-Pewee Steller's Jay (entrance canyon) Western Scrub-Jay American Crow (2 in snag trying to steal from a RAVEN) COMMON RAVEN (seen flying at Long Lake and as 2 crows tried to take its frog) Violet-green Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch (entrance canyon) White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper (entrance canyon) Bewick's Wren (entrance canyon) European Starling Common Yellowthroat Spotted Towhee (entrance canyon) Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow American Goldfinch Seen by other but not by me: Peregrine Falcon (seen over Rest lake - by Bob FLores) Long-billed Dowitcher (seen over Rest lake - by Bob FLores) From ErikKnight05 at comcast.net Sat Aug 22 18:35:16 2009 From: ErikKnight05 at comcast.net (ErikKnight05 at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 01:35:16 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Washington County, Oregon on August 22, 2009 Message-ID: <200908230135.n7N1ZGSQ021573@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Erik Knight by http://birdnotes.net Date: August 22, 2009 Location: Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Washington County, Oregon Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h gusting to: 6-11 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 0% Precipitation: none from 8:40AM to 12:18PM. transit-assisted birding trip. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 117 Gadwall 6 Mallard 137 Northern Shoveler 1 Northern Pintail 6 Pied-billed Grebe 2 Great Blue Heron 23 Turkey Vulture 7 Red-tailed Hawk 2 American Kestrel 1 Killdeer 8 Greater Yellowlegs 4 Solitary Sandpiper 1 [1] Western Sandpiper 11 Least Sandpiper 10 Long-billed Dowitcher 8 Mourning Dove 1 Vaux's Swift Anna's Hummingbird 2 Downy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 7 Unidentified Empidonax 2 [2] Western Scrub-Jay 5 American Crow 39 Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee 3 Bushtit 10 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 Brown Creeper 2 Bewick's Wren 2 Western Bluebird 3 American Robin 17 European Starling 19 Cedar Waxwing 4 Common Yellowthroat 27 Spotted Towhee 1 [3] Savannah Sparrow 17 Song Sparrow 3 Lazuli Bunting 7 [4] Red-winged Blackbird 10 House Finch Lesser Goldfinch 2 American Goldfinch 7 Footnotes: [1] seen on larger wetland West of first pond near entrance [2] pair East of Roy Rogers Road entrance [3] juvenile [4] male & females Total number of species seen: 43 From pmcregan at bresnan.net Sat Aug 22 21:10:49 2009 From: pmcregan at bresnan.net (Poody McLaughlin) Date: Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:10:49 -0600 Subject: [obol] Good OR birds for MT birders Message-ID: OBOL, We've had a great trip to Oregon and want to thank Judy Meredith, Bend, for pointing us to some locations to see White-headed woodpeckers in the Sisters area. Plus, in a 2-year-old burn that Judy recommended we saw 5 Black-backed woodpeckers. Today at Yaquina Head highlights included Marbled murrelet, surfbird, and Western sandpipers (3). The sandpipers were in a tidal pool area at the base of the quarry parking lot. Then at the Yaquina estuary (behind the Hatfield Marine Research center in Newport) we found Whimbrel (6), Marbled godwit (1), Short-billed dowitcher (3), and Greater yellowlegs (1). At sunset there were hundreds of Sooty shearwaters at Boiler Bay. We're not sure if any of these birds are especially unique to Oregon, but they've made our trip very special. Is there a good place to see Band-tailed pigeons as we head north to Tillamook and east, eventually, to Montana? Thanks for all the info, Joe Regan & Poody McLaughlin pmcregan at bresnan.net From carolk at viclink.com Sat Aug 22 21:44:15 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Sat, 22 Aug 2009 21:44:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Vaux's Swift roost, McMinnville Message-ID: <001b01ca23ad$ce048ec0$5a430a0a@home> OBOL: This evening we visited the site described by Pam Johnston (below) and saw a great show of ~100 Vaux Swifts going down the chimney. We watched from 7:50 - 8:30. Birds circled through most of the time, but the first birds really went down the chimney ~8:19. Good birding, Carol Karlen Paul Sullivan -------------------------------------- Subject: Vaux's Swift roost, McMinnville From: "pamela johnston" Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:28:33 -0700 This evening as I was heading home on Wallace Rd I saw about 100 Vaux's Swifts twittering and swirling around. I arrived about 2022 as they spun and spread, and began to funnel into a chimney. They were so near that I could hear the different sound their wings made as they slowed to drop into the chimney. About 3 didn't make it in, and as I waited to see if they would try again, suddenly there were 5, then 8, and like the long finale of a Beethoven symphony, they approached, retreated, regrouped, and finally the last was in at 2030. The house is on the south side of Wallace Rd just east of NW Conrad, which is east of Michelbook. I didn't see the number, but there is a driveway loop with an island flower garden in the front yard. The chimney is near the garage door and has two tile-lined flues. Pamela Johnston From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Sat Aug 22 22:43:28 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 05:43:28 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Mallards Diving for Food Message-ID: <151477427.24721251006208888.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> On the Willamette River next to Glenwood in the Eugene area, Sat. evening, I saw a flock of Mallards diving repeatedly in the middle of the stream. I saw a couple of them working their bills after surfacing, as though they were swallowing something. I don't know what they were getting, whether it was water plants, small fish or perhaps periwinkle snails from the bottom. They only rarely dive for food. If you'd seen them from a distance, they might have appeared to be Greater Scaup, from their diving style. Here's a link to the HD video: http://www.vimeo.com/6229148 http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/83337d51/attachment.html From madsteins at hotmail.com Sun Aug 23 00:46:29 2009 From: madsteins at hotmail.com (Don Stein) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:46:29 -0400 Subject: [obol] Gull photo comments requested Message-ID: Looks like a Second-Cycle Thayer's Gull, in "retarded" plumage as in photo 36.19, GULLS, Howell/Dunn. Aged by strongly bicolored bill, a few scattered light gray lesser and greater coverts, and tertial; and brownish black primaries with fine white tips. For a Juvenile Ringed-bill I would expect scaled mantle and scapulars with much darker centers. And head with a flatter crown and much heavily pattered with brown streaking than this bird. The rounded head and more substantial bill seems more Thayer than Ringed-bill. Don Stein _________________________________________________________________ Get back to school stuff for them and cashback for you. http://www.bing.com/cashback?form=MSHYCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHYCB_BackToSchool_Cashback_BTSCashback_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/ee16c819/attachment.html From donalbri at teleport.com Sun Aug 23 08:17:47 2009 From: donalbri at teleport.com (Don Albright) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 08:17:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Barred Owl--Yamhill County Message-ID: <5C22F81844AE46618B0158EB7495305B@ownerPC> Last night (August 22) at 10:30 p.m. I heard a BARRED OWL calling outside my bedroom window. It gave a piercing scream, followed by the typical "Who cooks for you?" phrase repeated three times. I live on Chehalem Mountain, about four miles north of Newberg, at 1,000 feet elevation. The owl was calling from an area of mostly second-growth Douglas-fir, with some older trees mixed in. This is the first time I've heard a Barred Owl in the 16 years that I've lived here. I believe there are still only a handful of Barred Owl reports from Yamhill County at all. This makes five owl species I've heard from bed (Barred, Great Horned, Western Screech, Northern Saw-whet and Barn). I'm sure my "birds from bed" list doesn't rival Joel's "motorless birding" list, but it can be a pretty relaxing pastime! Don Albright Newberg, Oregon donalbri at teleport.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/582a50a9/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Aug 23 09:12:37 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 09:12:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] For Ron Maertz Only (everyone else delete) Message-ID: To anyone other than Ron who opens this email....sorry for using obol for a single contact. Ron, can you send me your new email address? I'm including the text of two emails I sent today to the rest of the NAMC coordinators: Gates Greetings Fellow NAMC Coordinators, This note is just a reminder that the fall NAMC is just a month away. It's time to begin recruiting extra people and organizing routes. I will now begin regular contacts and will assist you in any way I can. Right now, you can help me in two ways: 1) If you know you will NOT be able to compile for your regular county, please let me know. If you can't, it's OK but I hope you will be able to contact someone else in your county to take over for the fall count. So far, I know that Union and Lake County coordinators have conflicts and will be unable to compile. Anyone else? 2) I want to begin establishing the calendar so if you know which day (Saturday 19th or Sunday 20th) you want to for your count, please let me know. Last spring, we came close to covering all 36 counties. This fall, I would really love to achieve that goal. Spread the word around the state and let's have a great NAMC!!! Chuck Gates State NAMC Coordinator I FOUND THE FOLLOWING ON THE KANSAS ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY WEBSITE AND THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE INFORMATIVE AND HELP SOME OF YOU WHO ARE NEW TO THE NAMC. NOT ALL OF THE INFORMATION BELOW PERTAINS TO OREGON BUT IT DOES A GOOD JOB OF CLARIFYING THE DATA COLLECTIONS METHODS. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE GOALS OF THE NAMC AND TO THE DEFINITIONS OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF COUNTS i.e. REGULAR, STATIONARY.... YOU MAY WANT TO FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO YOUR VOLUNTEERS OR CUT AND PASTE THE PERTINENT PARTS AND SPREAD THEM AROUND SO EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE. Most of you have participated on the Christmas Bird Counts sponsored by the National Audubon Society. The rules are simple: spend a day in the field counting birds in a specified area, and keep track of the hours and miles on foot, car, boat, feeder watching. The North American Migration Count (NAMC) is like the Christmas Bird Count, but with a few twists. The AREA is not a 15 mile diameter circle but an ENTIRE COUNTY (Parish in Louisiana). The big twist is the timing: unlike Christmas Bird Counts, which are spread over several weeks, this count is done on just a SINGLE DAY. The choice of the second Saturday in May has been made to try to find the peaks of movement of neotropical species while they are still where most of the birders are. It will not be peak everywhere: the Northern States will be getting their first glimmer of Spring and the Deep South will be in early breeding season, but the overall goal is of importance to everyone. The goals of the NAMC are: u Have fun. u To obtain a "snapshot" of the process of Spring Migration. u To obtain information on the abundance and distribution of each species. u Initiate more participation among Birders within a state and between states. u Create challenges and goals among Birders while collecting useful information. u Aid in organization and centralization of data. u Establish the Second Saturday in May (May 10 this year) as "National Birding Day". About the NAMC The North American Migration Count is an event not affiliated with any particular organization. Partners in Flight, the American Birding Association, and numerous State and local bird clubs provide support by increasing awareness of this activity. The NAMC collects no dues. You cannot join, only participate. All of the original data sheets submitted to NAMC have archived; and the data have been transferred to spreadsheets. It was the intent to share all of the archived information with the Biological Resources Division of the USGS with the understanding that it would be public information which can be readily accessed. This has not happened, for various reasons. Thus again this year we are asking you to submit the data to an electronic resource, eBird, which is an NSF-funded venture jointly operated by Cornell University and the National Audubon Society. Data submitted to eBird are accessible to everyone via the internet, and it is hoped that this change will be a positive step toward making all the NAMC data available to citizens and scientists alike. To submit data to eBird, just prepare the checklist as you have done in the past, including all sightings, names of participants, mileage, times etc. Then log on to the eBird website (http://www.ebird.org/), take a couple of minutes to register and locate your county on the map, then type in the data in the appropriate boxes. After you have done this, and checked the accuracy of your numbers, just hit the "submit" button and it all goes into a vast and accessible database. It really is quite simple, and I urge you to use eBird not just for NAMC data, but for all your birdwatching trips. If you don't think that this is something you can do, I will accept your paper copies as before and hopefully find the time to do the data entry myself, but I would obviously rather not do that. It might be best if you logged on to eBird and did the registration and location steps before you are faced with that big data set the day after the NAMC. If you have questions, the help available on that site is quite good, or you can email me (drintoul at ksu.edu) and I will try to help. How To: The count has been designed so that it is outside everyone's house, and not limited to a set of widely-spaced, discrete circles. After all, migratory birds are everywhere and should be of concern to everyone. But you should remember to count all the birds (not just migrants); those data on sedentary or introduced species will be valuable to someone too. Participation by ALL birders, irrespective of skill or style, is encouraged. To collect the most scientifically valuable information under these conditions requires a bit of extra work in compiling the data. If you just think about it, one hour of "field birding" is quite different from one hour of "hawk watching" or one hour of "owling". If you did your county with just feeder watchers one year, then just hawk watchers, then just field birders, the differences in the numbers of hummingbirds, Sharp-shinned Hawks, and Tennessee Warblers might be significant from year to year but would have no relationship to the true populations. To compensate for the different styles of birding and obtain the most useful information for data analysis, some complications in reporting are necessary. Each observer must indicate the "kind" of list they are submitting: Regular, Stationary, Feeder Watch, Owling (designated N) and the compiler has to accumulate the sets of information separately. A "typical" County Tally form might look like: R S F N 123 1 5 0 Tufted Titmouse 8 15 1 0 Sharp-shinned Hawk 57 0 120 0 House Finch 2 0 0 12 Great Horned Owl To enter them on eBird, use the category "traveling count" for most of the data collected while walking or driving from place to place, and the "stationary" count category "stationary count" for the data collected at feeders, (or while conducting a stationary count!). Depending on how you do your owling (stationary or with a lot of driving), you will have to make your own judgments about how to enter these data. I have included the reporting forms for Kansas with this newsletter. As noted above, the best way to handle the data which your counters have collected is to submit it to eBird yourself. If you don't want to do that, send me the data sheets AND a note indicating that these data have NOT been entered into eBird, and I will do it for you. But that won't be nearly as much fun! The following are guidelines, not rules. Just use common sense to convey the best measure of an individual style of birding. (1) REGULAR: These are your traditional types of birding, where the observer moves from one place to another during the period from dawn-to-dusk. In theory, the birds are more-or-less stationary, distributed over a geographic area, and the observer wanders through the area. A quick stop by a feeder is O.K., but a route that goes from one feeder to the next to the next etc. is not (see Feeder Watching). Miles by Foot: estimate how many miles to the nearest ? mile Hours by Foot: includes not only time spent walking but a modification of the Breeding Bird Survey Method: Drive a mile or so (it might be ? mile or even 10 miles to the next stop), then bird a small area, hop in the car, and repeat: all time not spent driving, even if you just sit in the car or on the hood, is tallied in "Hours by foot". As a rule, the average party travels no more than ? mph. but less than 1 mph. on foot. Miles by Car: Include time spent driving while at least some counting of birds on fence posts, telephone lines, etc. DO NOT INCLUDE a mad dash (carefully, not to exceed the speed of light) from Hot Spot #1 to Hot Spot #2, etc. DO INCLUDE miles driven on a modified "Breeding Bird Survey" (see hours by Car). In general the average speed should be 25 mph, when party miles is divided by party hours (some may poke along at 10 mph, but if someone is near 50 mph, they are in the Indy 500, not birding). Hours by Car: How much time was actually spent driving? A BBS Routine may have 2 minutes driving, then 3 minutes per stop: in one hour this totals 24 minutes by car, 36 minutes by foot, 12 miles by car and ZERO miles by foot. A modified route may have more time driving between stops and longer times at individual stops and may include some time spent on foot (which is tallied as Hours by foot, Miles by foot). I want to make sure that there are enough distinctions that might make a difference to the statisticians (if you think you have more than one kind of "other", list them separately. Note that canoe/kayak (include rowboat, raft, inner tube) is distinct from boat (i.e. motorized boat, sailboat). (2) STATIONARY: In Stationary Counts, the observer spends a significant amount of time, between dawn and dusk , in one spot, and many birds are moving past the observation point (i.e. a hawk watch). Note: there is no category for "Miles Stationary". The difference between this and a feeder watch is the lack of feeders to attract birds. Stationary does not include time spent scanning a lake full of waterfowl, or gulls at a landfill, or shorebirds on a mudflat.... in all cases the birds are staying in one place, and not flying past the observer's Station. In general, a Stationary Count should be at least 2 hours in one location. (3) FEEDER WATCHING: In this type of counting, the observer stays more-or-less in one spot and the birds are attracted to it. The birds and observer are both more-or-less stationary. How to count birds at a feeder is a problem. Most avid watchers know that they have exactly 3 pairs of chickadees, or a morning group of goldfinches which is different from the afternoon goldfinches, but some first-timers might put down two chickadees each time they see two on the feeder. This category is meant for dedicated Feeder Watchers and not for the observation of a few birds at a feeder when most of the time the observer is traveling on foot or by car. In general, the minimum reportable Feeder Watching time (at a single Feeding station) should be 1 hour. (4) "OWLING" (actually Night-time) All of the birds tallied from midnight to dawn, and from dusk to midnight. This includes owls, rails, thrushes, chats, mockingbirds or anything that goes boo in the night. This can be in the backyard or for the insomniacs, a night-time modified BBS route. (5) Miscellaneous: Do not wait until the end of the day to try to guess mileage or hours; do it whenever you change from one mode to another. If you are with someone, then split up for a while, get the hours and miles down as soon as you rejoin. It is O.K. for two or more parties to submit a single list. When the total number of party-hours is small the "individual observer on an individual route" effect is important, but grows smaller as more parties are added. Rule of thumb: if a county gets 50+ Regular party-hours of coverage, the numbers from year-to-year in that particular county can have statistical significance. It may take a few years for an observer to figure out a good route; but once they get it worked out it is best to use the same route every year. There is no conflict between the NAMC count and a Birdathon. If a Birdathon Team birds more than one county, all they have to remember are two things: keep track of birds/miles/hours in each individual county and COUNT of birds in each county (simple checklists are of no value to NAMC). Note that the 2007 checklist incorporates some of the recent changes in the AOU checklist. Species which have been split into two species are included. Specifically, rufous-sided towhees are split into two species, the Red-eyed (Eastern) Towhee and the Spotted (Western) Towhee; Northern Orioles are re-split into Baltimore and Bullock's orioles; solitary vireos are split into three species (Cassin's, Plumbeous, and Eastern/blue-headed). Please take care to separate these species, since all may occur in Kansas during May. Additionally, if an asterisked bird is common in your part of the state in May (e.g. Pine Siskins in western Kansas), you need not submit details. But if a non-asterisked bird is uncommon in your part of the state in May (e.g. Cinnamon Teal in eastern Kansas), please document it fully! If you have questions or comments, please contact the state coordinator, Dave Rintoul by: snail mail - Biology Division, Ackert Hall, KSU, Manhattan KS 66506-4901 voice phone - 785-532-6615 (days) FAX - 785-537-6653 e-mail - drintoul at ksu.edu Thank you for your participation in this long-term data collecting effort. For more information, including a summary of data from all the previous KS NAMC efforts, check out the KOS web page (use the link to KOS Projects) at the URL: http://ksbirds.org That site also has a map indicating all the counties that have participated in the KS NAMC since 1993. Not all have been counted every year, but we are getting there! If you want to add a county this year, find some volunteers, copy the forms and use them for that effort. Thanks again for all your help. - Dave Rintoul -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/13bf3233/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Aug 23 11:25:14 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:25:14 +0000 Subject: [obol] Gull photo comments requested In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: While the images of of this bird bear some superficial resemblance to the Thayer's Gull image that Don references, I don't think this bird is a Thayer's Gull for the following reasons: 1. His "substantial" bill is my small thin bill. I don't think the bill of this bird is near long enough or thick enough for a Thayer's. 2. No one has mentioned primary extension beyond the tertials. This bird shows an awful lot of wing extending beyond the tertials and the folded primaries are rather attenuated, a combination typically shown by Ring-billeds. Granted, Thayer's also have fairly long wings, but the folded tips of their wings are not as pointed and not as long (proportionally) as those of a Ring-billed Gull. 3. Finally, the primaries of this bird seem much too black for anything but an adult Thayer's, and even they have fairly limited black in the wingtips. Third-cycle and younger Thayer's Gulls have dusky brown to medium brown folded primaries, not black. The image in Howell and Dunn makes it look like the bird has black wing tips, but my good friend Steve Heinl took this picture in October in Ketchikan, AK, which is a dark and dreary place (or so he tells me) at that time of year. The blackish looking wings on this bird are surely an artifact of the apparent overcast conditions (no shadow under the bird). On a brighter, sunnier day, I am confident that the wings of this bird would not look nearly as dark as they appear in this photo and would not be as dark as the wings on the bird photograhed by Darrel Faxon. I am in agreement with those who have concluded that this bird is hatch-year Ring-billed Gulls for these and several other reasons. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: madsteins at hotmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org; greg at thebirdguide.com Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:46:29 -0400 Subject: [obol] Gull photo comments requested Looks like a Second-Cycle Thayer's Gull, in "retarded" plumage as in photo 36.19, GULLS, Howell/Dunn. Aged by strongly bicolored bill, a few scattered light gray lesser and greater coverts, and tertial; and brownish black primaries with fine white tips. For a Juvenile Ringed-bill I would expect scaled mantle and scapulars with much darker centers. And head with a flatter crown and much heavily pattered with brown streaking than this bird. The rounded head and more substantial bill seems more Thayer than Ringed-bill. Don Stein Get back to school stuff for them and cashback for you. Try BingT now. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Keep your friends up to date with what you do online. http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_online:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/44222a32/attachment.html From sandycab1 at comcast.net Sun Aug 23 14:23:44 2009 From: sandycab1 at comcast.net (Sandy Cabraser) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 14:23:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] how to post on the obol list I already am subscribing to Message-ID: <20090823211759.58A18A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Hi there, I need a little help being able to post messages on the list. I get the obol list daily already. I want to be able to post what I'm seeing and occasionally some photos. How do I do that? Sincerely, passionate birder Sandy Cabraser From sandycab1 at comcast.net Sun Aug 23 14:34:29 2009 From: sandycab1 at comcast.net (Sandy Cabraser) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 14:34:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] 17 pictures for you of cormorants, brown pelicans, whimbrel, gulls Message-ID: <20090823212857.58064A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> You have been sent 17 pictures. Hi there, I'm trying to post my first message on obol. There were many cormorants, pelagic, I think, and Brants, brown pelicans, gulls (western), and pigeon Guillimotts at Colony rock near Newport Aug. 20th. Also, I saw a Whimbrel along the Yaquina Bay Rd. from Newport to Toledo the same day. Anyone know if the these are correct identifations? Any help is welcome, and you may reply on list or via my email sandycab1 at comcast.net. good birding Sandy, West Eugene P8200006.JPG P8200007.JPG P8200008.JPG P8200024.JPG P8200021.JPG P8200025.JPG P8200027.JPG P8200028.JPG P8200038.JPG P8200033.JPG P8200055.JPG P8200087.JPG P8200088.JPG P8200092.JPG P8200093.JPG P8200028-1.JPG P8200064-1.JPG These pictures were sent with Picasa, from Google. Try it out here: http://picasa.google.com/ -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: P8200006.JPG Type: image/jpeg Size: 86229 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/dbec5c3d/attachment.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: P8200064-1.JPG Type: image/jpeg Size: 23835 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/dbec5c3d/attachment-0016.jpe From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun Aug 23 15:37:23 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:37:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry Birds of Late 8/21-8/23/2009 Message-ID: <126589.35995.qm@web45308.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> On 8/21, Terry Wahl found a LARK SPARROW at the family ranch near Cape Blanco in Curry Co., always a good find anywhere on the coast. On 8/22 at Bandon Marsh w/ Russ Namitz and Eric Clough we saw the following birds:8,000- WESTERN/LEAST SANDPIPERS (about 60:40 W/L)90- SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS38- BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS80- SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS7- MARBLED GODWITSthere were 2 WILLETS along with most of this same group on 8/23. On 8/22, north of Floras Lake in Curry Co. where Floras creek meets New River (the bend), there were the following shorebirds:2- BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS (a tough Curry bird; also there on 8/23)1- GREATER YELLOWLEGS30- WESTERN SANDPIPERS14- LEAST SANDPIPERS10- SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS1- BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (8/23)1- RUDDY TURNSTONE (8/23)1- SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (8/23) NO ELEGANT TERNS in Gold Beach on 8/22 during the PM, I think I'm about 0 for 10 trying to find them there this year. ?They have only been seen on one day as far as I know, back in July. I went to the South Coast Mill north of Brookings at 4AM on 8/23 in hopes of finding some stray LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS; however, the weather didn't cooperate, it was actually totally clear and very starry and a bit windy, foggy conditions are needed for these birds to show and be seen. ?I only spent a half-hour and didn't see anything but lots of moths. ?The mill is north of Brookings, has very bright lights, and is close to some offshore islands to where these birds breed, so this has been a tradition spot to try and see them in late August on a foggy night- my first try, need to come back when it isn't clear (actually, pretty dang unusual this time of year). ?The stars where incredible bright up in the Coast Range where I camped, a real treat with no moon. Happy Birding all!Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/6c3693d9/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sun Aug 23 15:45:53 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:45:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry Birds of Late 8/21-8/23/2009 References: <126589.35995.qm@web45308.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1C556959E8BE47E6AAE76EFFC03FA42E@D48XBZ51> In the past (1970s) I have also heard of storm-petrels being seen around the lights during night football games in Gold Beach, and I think also Brookings. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: Tim Rodenkirk To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Sunday, August 23, 2009 3:37 PM Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry Birds of Late 8/21-8/23/2009 On 8/21, Terry Wahl found a LARK SPARROW at the family ranch near Cape Blanco in Curry Co., always a good find anywhere on the coast. On 8/22 at Bandon Marsh w/ Russ Namitz and Eric Clough we saw the following birds: 8,000- WESTERN/LEAST SANDPIPERS (about 60:40 W/L) 90- SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS 38- BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS 80- SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS 7- MARBLED GODWITS there were 2 WILLETS along with most of this same group on 8/23. On 8/22, north of Floras Lake in Curry Co. where Floras creek meets New River (the bend), there were the following shorebirds: 2- BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS (a tough Curry bird; also there on 8/23) 1- GREATER YELLOWLEGS 30- WESTERN SANDPIPERS 14- LEAST SANDPIPERS 10- SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS 1- BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (8/23) 1- RUDDY TURNSTONE (8/23) 1- SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (8/23) NO ELEGANT TERNS in Gold Beach on 8/22 during the PM, I think I'm about 0 for 10 trying to find them there this year. They have only been seen on one day as far as I know, back in July. I went to the South Coast Mill north of Brookings at 4AM on 8/23 in hopes of finding some stray LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS; however, the weather didn't cooperate, it was actually totally clear and very starry and a bit windy, foggy conditions are needed for these birds to show and be seen. I only spent a half-hour and didn't see anything but lots of moths. The mill is north of Brookings, has very bright lights, and is close to some offshore islands to where these birds breed, so this has been a tradition spot to try and see them in late August on a foggy night- my first try, need to come back when it isn't clear (actually, pretty dang unusual this time of year).. The stars where incredible bright up in the Coast Range where I camped, a real treat with no moon. Happy Birding all! Tim R Coos Bay ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/97fcd8c4/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sun Aug 23 16:02:54 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:02:54 +0000 Subject: [obol] Snowy Egret Bandon Message-ID: Redmond pond in Bandon at 4:00 has snowy egret, pied billed grebe, gadwalls, mallards usual domestic geese. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From withgott at comcast.net Sun Aug 23 18:01:17 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:01:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] nocturnal flight over Portland, 22-23 Aug. Message-ID: A good nocturnal migration flight passed over SW Portland last night (22-23 Aug.). I heard a few Swainson's Thrush call notes overhead in the evening, so I got up at 5:00 a.m. and listened to the last hour of the night's flight. I estimated 116 Swainson's Thrushes in 52 minutes (with most individuals calling multiple times, thus several hundred actual call notes). This rate of 2.2 birds per minute makes for one of the better nocturnal flights I've heard here the last few falls. The most amazing thing to me continues to be just how much this one species dominates the nighttime chorus here (as opposed to the more species-rich flights in eastern North America). For instance, this morning in those 52 minutes I heard only one bird (a warbler species) I could be sure was not a Swainson's Thrush. Part of the explanation is probably that thrush calls are louder and thus more easily heard, and it is also the case that Western Tanager and Black-headed Grosbeak can sound a lot like Swainson's Thrush, and apparently all these species show quite a bit of variation. Nonetheless, the great majority of audible calls really do seem to be SWTH. Weather conditions will be similar for a few days more, with clear or mixed skies and NNW winds, so others may want to give it a listen in the early morning (when background noise is quietest and night migrants are starting to descend). The peak of SWTH migration tends to be in the first week of Sept., but it's looking like it may be a bit earlier this year. Jay Withgott Portland From withgott at comcast.net Sun Aug 23 18:20:25 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:20:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Purple Martins in Portland Message-ID: While cleaning up outdated email I'd allowed to accumulate this summer, I saw several mentions of people being surprised by Purple Martins flying overhead in the Portland region in summer. At my yard in SW Portland, I hear (and occasionally see) small numbers of Martins at seemingly random times in June, July, and August, generally hunting high overhead on sunny days. I presume these nest along the Willamette or the Columbia, many -- or at least several -- miles from here. This year, though, on 10 August, I was astounded to see no less than 12 PURPLE MARTINS flying overhead, calling, at 8 a.m. They were unusually low and were making a beeline WSW, so I concluded they must be migrating. This is the first time I've had more than 3 at a time, and the first time I think I've caught them in migration. Jay W., Portland From rflores_2 at msn.com Sun Aug 23 18:35:42 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:35:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lesser Canada geese? Nocturnal listeners alert Message-ID: I was outside today and heard lesser Canada geese calling. I searched the sky but could not locate them I am sure they were flying in the heavens. Those of you who night listen for migrants keep a listen for Canada's. This is way to early but one never should say never to birds! Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/37e1c028/attachment.html From ErikKnight05 at comcast.net Sun Aug 23 18:22:32 2009 From: ErikKnight05 at comcast.net (ErikKnight05 at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:22:32 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Clark County, Washington on August 23, 2009 Message-ID: <200908240122.n7O1MWU2011973@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Erik Knight by http://birdnotes.net Date: August 23, 2009 Location: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Clark County, Washington Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h gusting to: 6-11 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 40% Precipitation: none from 11:25AM to 4:49PM. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 27 Wood Duck 21 Gadwall 107 [1] Mallard 37 Cinnamon Teal 7 [2] American Bittern 2 Great Blue Heron 17 Great Egret 1 Turkey Vulture 4 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 1 Red-tailed Hawk 3 American Kestrel 2 Virginia Rail 1 American Coot 1 Killdeer 3 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper 2 [3] Western Sandpiper 17 Least Sandpiper 7 Baird's Sandpiper 1 [4] Pectoral Sandpiper 1 [5] Belted Kingfisher 1 Northern Flicker 7 Western Wood-Pewee 4 Willow Flycatcher 1 Hutton's Vireo 1 Steller's Jay 3 Western Scrub-Jay 8 Purple Martin 1 Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee 23 Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 White-breasted Nuthatch 6 Brown Creeper 3 Bewick's Wren 3 House Wren 1 Cedar Waxwing 1 Black-throated Gray Warbler 3 Common Yellowthroat 7 Spotted Towhee 5 Savannah Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 6 House Finch American Goldfinch Footnotes: [1] Rest Lake [2] SW corner of Rest Lake [3] Life bird. Seen east of blind on Rest Lake. [4] South end of Rest Lake, seen from "two trees" area [5] see above Total number of species seen: 47 From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun Aug 23 18:43:27 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:43:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Purple Martins in Portland In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <241331.73640.qm@web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Jay, Migration it is. ?Knute Andersson, who lives along the coast near Langlois in Curry Co., currently has 25 Purple Martins at his place, none bred there this year as far as I know (or only a pair or two in the neighborhood). ?He said he's had 30+ in past years during migration, a small "staging" site it sounds like. Tim RCoos Bay --- On Sun, 8/23/09, Jay Withgott wrote: From: Jay Withgott Subject: [obol] Purple Martins in Portland To: "OBOL" Date: Sunday, August 23, 2009, 6:20 PM While cleaning up outdated email I'd allowed to accumulate this summer, I saw several mentions of people being surprised by Purple Martins flying overhead in the Portland region in summer.? At my yard in SW Portland, I hear (and occasionally see) small numbers of Martins at seemingly random times in June, July, and August, generally hunting high overhead on sunny days.? I presume these nest along the Willamette or the Columbia, many -- or at least several -- miles from here.? This year, though, on 10 August, I was astounded to see no less than 12 PURPLE MARTINS flying overhead, calling, at 8 a.m.? They were unusually low and were making a beeline WSW, so I concluded they must be migrating.? This is the first time I've had more than 3 at a time, and the first time I think I've caught them in migration. Jay W., Portland _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/79795798/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun Aug 23 18:49:25 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:49:25 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry additions Message-ID: <685065.65516.qm@web45308.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I forgot to mention that Terry Wahl still has a couple LB Curlew at his place, at least through a couple days ago near Cape Blanco in Curry Co. Also, add 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS to the list of birds from Bandon Marsh on the 22nd, Russ Namitz may have some additions from today (8/23)? Add 2 BB Plover to the list for Floras Lake on 8/23. There was a LB CURLEW out on the north spit of Coos Bay in the PM today. That's it I think! Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/e8a325cd/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sun Aug 23 19:09:47 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 19:09:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR Message-ID: <441886.99985.qm@web46001.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Michelle and I spent the majority of the day up at Ridgefield NWR. We were treated to quite a few species, but the two biggest surprises (for us) of the day was coming across a juvenile Black-Crowned Night Heron and 2 Blue-Winged Teal. They were such great sights! Other species included (not in taxonomic order): Willow Flycatcher Olive-Sided Flycatcher Pied Billed Grebe (with juveniles) Coot (with lots of juveniles) Osprey Red-tailed Hawk Northern Harrier Turkey Vulture Blue Heron Great Egret Juvenile Black-Crowned Night Heron Mallard Blue-Winged Teal Red-Necked Phalarope Lesser Yellowlegs Killdeer Belted Kingfisher Black-Capped Chickadee Chestnut-Backed Chickadee Brown Creeper Bushtit Robin Red-Winged Blackbird Mourning Dove Barn Swallow Rough-Winged Swallow Tree Swallow Cedar Waxwing Crow Steller's Jay Scrub-Jay House Finch Starling We posted some photos from the trip (along with others) and we would love some help with id'ing a couple of the birds in the photos. They can be found here: portlandbirds.blogspot.com Thanks to all and good birding! Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area From namitzr at hotmail.com Sun Aug 23 19:21:25 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 19:21:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry additions 8/23 Message-ID: Patagonia effect or changing of the tides? Curry County By the time I made it down to Floras Creek, there were 3 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS and 4 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS. Lois Miller & Knute Andersson were out taking photos. Coos County Tim R. thought he had a golden-plover yesterday at Bandon Marsh NWR and I confirmed it this morning when I saw a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER amongst the Black-bellied Plovers. There was the 1 SNOWY EGRET that Harvey S. mentioned at the freshwater pond on the way to the Bandon south jetty. Around the jetty there were 6 WANDERING TATTLERS hanging out with Black Turnstones. Also flying around was an immature BONAPARTE'S GULL. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/3f958fbf/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Sun Aug 23 20:01:16 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:01:16 EDT Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Message-ID: Hello All, Biking to Royal Ave. then South through the refuge to the Wildlife Area HQ on Cantrell turned up NO Curlew today. There was an immature PREGRINE FALCON keeping the ducks and the few shorebirds in the Fisher Unit stirred up. The small flock of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES has increased to Thirteen on the Royal Observation Deck Pond. The lake level is dropping, Royal Ave. is exposed out to the "pull-out" 3/4 of the way to Tern Island. A couple dozen peeps, a few Yellowlegs and one SEMIPALMATED PLOVER were near the end of Royal. One SOLITARY SANDPIPER was in the small muddy area near the middle of the western dike of Redhead Pond. The recent pumped water attraction near HQ is near completely dry now, only a few Killdeer and Leasties were on the last bit of mud there today. Six BLACK PHOEBES were encountered along today's route; two at the hwy 126 viewing platform pond, 3 at HQ and one at the Coyote Creek Bridge on Cantrell. Good Birding, John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/1efe8914/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sun Aug 23 20:43:48 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:43:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sooty Shearwaters, Neskowin,Tillamook county Message-ID: Birders Several Bend birders spent the weekend at a Coastal Ecology workshop near Lincoln City, taught by Dan Gleason. Thursday evening and also Friday a.m. we had enormous rafts of Sooty Shearwaters on the near shore water, flying and actively feeding, just south of Neskowin. We could see little fish jumping out of the water and birds picking at them and even diving for the food. While we did not find any rare birds in with the Sooty Shearwaters, we were enrapt and amazed for a long time, watching them feeding, soaring, swirling, and just plain enjoying seeing the massive number of birds. It was beyond us to count them. Next chance to look, ALL GONE and for the remainder of the weekend we only saw single birds here and there. We caught it at the right time. Dan taught us so much about the why, how and what about birds. A good workshop for birders who want to know more about how birds function. good birding, Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Aug 23 20:56:07 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:56:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Optics for sale Message-ID: A careful review shows that I own five pairs of binoculars and four telescopes, not counting the little Leupold 10-20x scopelet that lives in the car, cohabiting with its monopod. This is an unreasonable amount of glass and takes up a lot of space. Therefore I have for sale: Leupold Goldring 10x42 binoculars. Their top-of-the-line bins, retail around $1,000, waterproof, fogproof etc. Excellent. Full-size and therefore not lightweight. $400 or make an offer. Leupold Wind River 12x50 binoculars. Amazingly good, fogproof etc., can easiy be handheld because they are not very heavy. Great for the coast and open spaces. $200 Leupold Variable scope. 12-40 zoom, the best small-format zoom on the market, with huge eye relief all the way to 40x. Fogproof etc. Retails around $1,000. For sale for $450 or make an offer. Orion 80mm multiple-use scope, can be used for birding or astronomy. Uses standard 1.25 inch astronomical lenses (and I would throw in one or two depending on buyer's needs) and draw-tube focus. This is not a cheapo scope, I have priced it low because I need to get it out of my closet. $50 Celestron Vixen zoom eyepiece, 1.25 inch. Superb eyepiece for scopes such as Celestron, Meade, Orion, Questar. They cost about $275 new. This one is $125 -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Sun Aug 23 21:26:31 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:26:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Smith & Bybee, Portland Message-ID: <5EC710DD-B2D7-41F8-8EC3-77B53380E842@gmail.com> I spent a bit of time at Bybee Lake this morning looking for shorebirds. As Elaine Stewart mentioned Smith is full with no edge to speak of. The water levels are dropping and there were plenty of herons, ducks and some shorebirds, though most of the shorebirds were on the far (north) side and too far to identify further than Least/Western sized peep. There were GOBS of Pied-billed Grebes like last summer with plenty of still stripe-headed young. Very cute... lots of swallows swooping about. Wood Duck: 40 Gadwall: 15 American Wigeon: 1 male Mallard: 175 Cinnamon Teal: 5 Green-winged Teal: 6 Ring-necked Duck: 4 Pied-billed Grebe: 115 Double-crested Cormorant: 1 Great Blue Heron: 45 Great Egret: 113 Turkey Vulture: 1 Osprey: 6 Bald Eagle: 1 Cooper's Hawk: 1 American Coot: 75 Killdeer: 8 Greater Yellowlegs: 2 Western Sandpiper: 12 Least Sandpiper: 10 peep sp: 70 Long-billed Dowitcher: 5 Ring-billed Gull: 10 Mourning Dove: 1 Vaux's Swift: 12 Belted Kingfisher: 1 Downy Woodpecker: 2 American Crow: 10 Bank Swallow: 1 Violet-green Swallow: 20 Barn Swallow: 300 Black-capped Chickadee: 10 Bushtit: 8 Brown Creeper: 3 Bewick's Wren: 2 Marsh Wren: 1 American Robin: 2 Eurasian Starling: 25 Cedar Waxwing: 6 Yellow Warbler: 4 Common Yellowthroat: 12 Song Sparrow: 5 House Finch: 3 American Goldfinch: 8 Cheers, Shawneen Finnegan Portland, OR From carolk at viclink.com Sun Aug 23 22:24:00 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:24:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] good Sunday sightings - Yamhill, Benton counties Message-ID: <003201ca247b$1c6d8f80$8a430a0a@home> OBOL: This sunny Sunday we found a couple pair of good birds. At the old mill site next to the Willamina fishing pond we found 2 PURPLE MARTINS on the wire near the Osprey nest. They seemed to be young birds. They were our first sighting of this species in Yamhill county. Quinton Nice found 2 birds near the fishing ponds on Aug. 19, 2006. Floyd Schrock has seen Purple Martins west of town twice in the last week. At the end of the day we visited the Philomath sewage ponds, where we found eclipse ducks, a couple Least Sandpipers, and 75 American Goldfinches. As we were about to leave, we spotted 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE in the bare dirt field just east of the ponds. On the way home we found 2 Great Horned Owls along Hwy 99 in Yamhill county south of McMinnville. Good birding, everyone, Carol Karlen Paul Sullivan From sandycab1 at comcast.net Sun Aug 23 22:54:53 2009 From: sandycab1 at comcast.net (Sandy Cabraser) Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:54:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] sending photos directly to obol list...so sorry Message-ID: <20090824054908.3632AA8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> My sincerest apologies for sending photos directly to the obol list. I'm working on getting my Picassa public page to open when the link is sent. I won't send photos again. Sandy in W. Eugene, OR. From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon Aug 24 07:01:26 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:01:26 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Hummingbird ID help Message-ID: <314584575.3052561251122486945.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi all, I tried to set up a public album yesterday so I could ask people to look at some pictures of a hummingbird in my garden.? No luck.? I will keep trying.? Almost spammed the list again. Anyway,? I would like to hear from people who would be willing to take a look at a few pictures and help me Identify this hummingbird.? When feeding it pumps its tail continuously?with the tail partially spread so it appears rather wide and notched, unlike the Rufous and Anna's and Calliope?I've seen here, their?tails form a neat taper when they feed (except when fighting).? The visible part of the outer rectrices are black with white tips.? Rectrices 1 are black on the tip, maybe a?tiny bit of white, then a smudge of?rufous, and then green.? It's hard to describe.? It's got a nice dollop of pollen on the forehead so I can't really tell what color those feathers are. I've checked my books and watched the?Hummingbirds of North America DVD.? The hummingbird?looks most like an immature female?Black-chinned Hummingbird, and since that is what I want it to be (vanity--that would make four species of hummingbirds I've seen in my garden)?I would appreciate some objective feedback. A Rufous x Anna's is possible since I saw some mating behavior between a Rufous female and an Anna's male this summer. I have to head off to work, so I can't send pictures until this evening. Thanks for your help. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090824/a0ef7701/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Mon Aug 24 09:35:42 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:35:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Buff-breasted Sandpiper near Seaside-22, 23 August Message-ID: <001a01ca24d8$f49ebca0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> NORTHWEST OREGON COAST 22-23 AUGUST 2009 We blasted off to the Seaside area Saturday morning targeting shorebirds (and with a wish list of other birds such as Manx Shearwater and Elegant Tern) exploring new birding sites for us. We arrived before noon at the Columbia River South Jetty on an incoming tide. The tidal pools a short walk from Parking Area C had 10 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 1 LESSER YELLOWLEG, 1 SEMIPALMATED, 100 WESTERN, 10 LEAST, and 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, 4 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and 1 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. From the viewing platform, we trained our scopes offshore and noted SOOTY SHEARWATERS, perhaps 10 per second, heading north around the end of the jetty. A PARASITIC JAEGER cruised by. BROWN PELICANS, HEERMANN'S GULLS and CASPIAN TERNS were everywhere. Next, as Cofenberry Lake is mentioned in several of the bird finding guides, we were curious about the area, so walked the trail along the east side. It was mid-day and breezy so the birds were quiet but we definitely enjoyed the habitat: a mix of Red Alder and Sitka Spruce with a lush shrubby under story. CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, BEWICK'S and WINTER WRENS, BROWN CREEPERS, and SWAINSON'S THRUSHES were conspicuous species in the woodland while BELTED KINGFISHER patrolled the lake edge. Overhead, VAUX'S SWIFTS and BARN SWALLOWS cruised. In late afternoon we hit our last spot for the day was the Necanicum River estuary north access. As soon as we hit the estuary edge, our pulses quickened as there were birds everywhere! Shorebirds, herons, terns, and gulls fairly swarmed over the mudflats. We took a worn path southwest around the estuary to the river mouth area and dunes. Several hundred yards along this route in short marsh vegetation, we had close studies of a juvenile BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER right alongside a juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. Also on the mudflats were 60 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 500+ WESTERN and 20 LEAST SANDPIPERS. We left this place pretty excited. Not only did we find a "good" bird, but, being as seekers of wild places, we were impressed with the solitude and beauty of the estuarine habitats here. Saturday night we camped on a side road on the approach to Saddle Mountain State Park. Owling was a bust at night but dawn Sunday brought a tooting NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL. A steady west wind and drizzle discouraged us from heading up Saddle Mountain but we look forward to hiking this trail in better weather. Poking about the parking area, in fine mixed wood habitat, VARIED THRUSHES and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS were about. We next visited "The Cove," south of Seaside. The tide was low revealing a broad, steep rocky shoreline, great for rockpipers. We saw only BLACK TURNSTONES while we were there but others we talked to saw Ruddy Turnstones, Surfbirds, and Wandering Tattlers on Saturday A dozen each of PACIFIC LOONS and WESTERN GREBES worked the roiling waters between the breakers. SOOTY SHEARWATERS streamed by perhaps a half-mile offshore. Just back from the beach here we took a walk along Edgewood Drive in a well-wooded (mixed wood) residential area. We watched a small flight of migrant warblers fly across the road coming from the north and dropping out of the sky into the trees: YELLOW, BLACK-THROATED GRAY, and WILSON'S. A flight of VAUX'S SWIFTS twittered overhead. Cool! We paid a short visit to Ecola State Park and walked out to the viewing platform. Though only mid-morning, the place was swarming with tourists so we didn't linger long here. BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS called, though hidden from view. Capped on the beautiful sea stacks just offshore, we noted a handful of COMMON MURRES, numbers of BRANDT'S and PELAGIC CORMORANTS, BROWN PELICANS, and HEERMANN'S GULLS. Just Offshore PACIFIC LOONS and PIGEON GUILLEMOTS dove, while a mile or so out, SOOTY SHEARWATERS streamed northward. A short stop along the Necanicum River behind the church, a spot mentioned in the Falcon guide revealed our only trip list KILLDEER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS, bringing our shorebird total for the weekend to a modest 13. We again walked the Necanicum River estuary north access, this time on the incoming tide. As soon as we hit the estuary edge, birds were again everywhere. We hiked out to the grassy sand dunes by the edge of the river not finding any shorebirds tied to this habitat. CASPIAN TERNS, and HEERMANN'S and CALIFORNIA GULLS by the hundreds, loafed on the flats. Many young terns were begging with their whistling cries, in contrast to the rude, grating squawk uttered by adults. Some juvenile terns still showed downy feathers. We carefully studied all the terns for an Elegant Tern without success. On our return just as the salt marsh was being flooded, Ellen spotted the BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER again. A pretty juvenile SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was methodically "picking" the dry tundra-like saltmarsh vegetation, somewhat characteristic of this species, as opposed to the probing in shallows as Western Sandpipers often show. Also here was a juvenile RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA Windypoint andy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090824/3c10da0d/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Mon Aug 24 12:00:47 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:00:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Photo: Buff-breasted Sandpiper by Lois Miller Message-ID: Buff-breasted Sandpiper by Lois Miller, 23 August 2009 at New River, Curry Co., Oregon. One of 3 present. http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/116466860 Greg Gillson From m_scatt at yahoo.com Mon Aug 24 12:00:24 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:00:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] RFI: Sauvie Island water levels Message-ID: <840244.85740.qm@web55701.mail.re3.yahoo.com> We hope to go to Sauvie Island some time in the next week, possibly tomorrow, mainly to look for shorebirds. Has anyone been there recently? Were there any good shorebirds or other birds? We know that the tides can affect water levels in Sturgeon Lake. Does anyone have a way to calculate what the tides will be? Also, has anybody noticed how high the Columbia River is and what the water flow is at Bonneville Dam? Thanks a lot for your help, we really appreciate it! Christopher and Adrian Hinkle, Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090824/ca85bff4/attachment.html From chacha6120 at yahoo.com Mon Aug 24 12:13:40 2009 From: chacha6120 at yahoo.com (John Plank) Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:13:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Red-Shouldered Hawk Ridgefield In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <63547.4005.qm@web30601.mail.mud.yahoo.com> We had a great view of a Red-Shouldered Hawk at Ridgefield.? Also saw a Green Heron, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Wood Duck, Mallards,?Pied-Billed Grebe, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Red-Tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Cedar Waxwing, Scrub Jay, Northern Flicker, Black-Capped Chickadee, and American Goldfinch just to name a few!? Great birding here always.? --- On Mon, 8/24/09, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: From: obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: obol Digest, Vol 17, Issue 24 To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Monday, August 24, 2009, 12:00 PM Send obol mailing list submissions to ??? obol at oregonbirdwatch.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit ??? http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to ??? obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org You can reach the person managing the list at ??? obol-owner at oregonbirdwatch.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of obol digest..." Today's Topics: ???1. Re: how to post on the obol list I already am subscribing to ? ? ? (Sandy Cabraser) ???2. 17 pictures for you of cormorants, brown pelicans, whimbrel, ? ? ? gulls (Sandy Cabraser) ???3. Coos/Curry Birds of Late 8/21-8/23/2009 (Tim Rodenkirk) ???4. Re: Coos/Curry Birds of Late 8/21-8/23/2009 (Wayne Hoffman) ???5. Snowy Egret Bandon (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) ???6. nocturnal flight over Portland, 22-23 Aug. (Jay Withgott) ???7. Purple Martins in Portland (Jay Withgott) ???8. Lesser Canada geese? Nocturnal listeners alert (Bob Flores) ???9. Census Count: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge,??? Clark ? ? ? County, Washington on August 23, 2009 (ErikKnight05 at comcast.net) ? 10. Re: Purple Martins in Portland (Tim Rodenkirk) ? 11. Coos/Curry additions (Tim Rodenkirk) ? 12. Ridgefield NWR (Seth Reams) ? 13. Re: Coos/Curry additions 8/23 (Russ Namitz) ? 14. Fern Ridge (Oropendolas at aol.com) ? 15. Sooty Shearwaters, Neskowin,Tillamook county (Judy Meredith) ? 16. Optics for sale (Alan Contreras) ? 17. Smith & Bybee, Portland (Shawneen Finnegan) ? 18. good Sunday sightings - Yamhill, Benton counties (Carol Karlen) ? 19. Re: sending photos directly to obol list...so sorry ? ? ? (Sandy Cabraser) ? 20. Hummingbird ID help (sandyleapt at comcast.net) ? 21. Buff-breasted Sandpiper near Seaside-22, 23 August ? ? ? (Andy Stepniewski) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 14:23:44 -0700 From: Sandy Cabraser Subject: Re: [obol] how to post on the obol list I already am ??? subscribing to To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <20090823211759.58A18A8216 at server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Hi there, I need a little help being able to post messages on the list. I get the obol list daily already. I want to be able to post what I'm seeing and occasionally some photos. How do I do that? Sincerely, passionate birder Sandy Cabraser ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 14:34:29 -0700 From: Sandy Cabraser Subject: [obol] 17 pictures for you of cormorants, brown pelicans, ??? whimbrel, gulls To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <20090823212857.58064A8216 at server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" You have been sent 17 pictures. Hi there, I'm trying to post my first message on obol. There were many cormorants, pelagic, I think, and Brants, brown pelicans, gulls (western), and pigeon Guillimotts at Colony rock near Newport Aug. 20th. Also, I saw a Whimbrel along the Yaquina Bay Rd. from Newport to Toledo the same day. Anyone know if the these are correct identifations?? 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Name: P8200064-1.JPG Type: image/jpeg Size: 23835 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/dbec5c3d/attachment-0033.jpe ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:37:23 -0700 (PDT) From: Tim Rodenkirk Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry Birds of Late 8/21-8/23/2009 To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <126589.35995.qm at web45308.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" On 8/21, Terry Wahl found a LARK SPARROW at the family ranch near Cape Blanco in Curry Co., always a good find anywhere on the coast. On 8/22 at Bandon Marsh w/ Russ Namitz and Eric Clough we saw the following birds:8,000- WESTERN/LEAST SANDPIPERS (about 60:40 W/L)90- SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS38- BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS80- SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS7- MARBLED GODWITSthere were 2 WILLETS along with most of this same group on 8/23. On 8/22, north of Floras Lake in Curry Co. where Floras creek meets New River (the bend), there were the following shorebirds:2- BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS (a tough Curry bird; also there on 8/23)1- GREATER YELLOWLEGS30- WESTERN SANDPIPERS14- LEAST SANDPIPERS10- SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS1- BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (8/23)1- RUDDY TURNSTONE (8/23)1- SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (8/23) NO ELEGANT TERNS in Gold Beach on 8/22 during the PM, I think I'm about 0 for 10 trying to find them there this year. ?They have only been seen on one day as far as I know, back in July. I went to the South Coast Mill north of Brookings at 4AM on 8/23 in hopes of finding some stray LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS; however, the weather didn't cooperate, it was actually totally clear and very starry and a bit windy, foggy conditions are needed for these birds to show and be seen. ?I only spent a half-hour and didn't see anything but lots of moths. ?The mill is north of Brookings, has very bright lights, and is close to some offshore islands to where these birds breed, so this has been a tradition spot to try and see them in late August on a foggy night- my first try, need to come back when it isn't clear (actually, pretty dang unusual this time of year). ?The stars where incredible bright up in the Coast Range where I camped, a real treat with no moon. Happy Birding all!Tim RCoos Bay ? ? ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/6c3693d9/attachment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:45:53 -0700 From: "Wayne Hoffman" Subject: Re: [obol] Coos/Curry Birds of Late 8/21-8/23/2009 To: "Tim Rodenkirk" , ??? Message-ID: <1C556959E8BE47E6AAE76EFFC03FA42E at D48XBZ51> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" In the past (1970s) I have also heard of storm-petrels being seen around the lights during night football games in Gold Beach, and I think also Brookings. Wayne ? ----- Original Message ----- ? From: Tim Rodenkirk ? To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org ? Sent: Sunday, August 23, 2009 3:37 PM ? Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry Birds of Late 8/21-8/23/2009 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? On 8/21, Terry Wahl found a LARK SPARROW at the family ranch near Cape Blanco in Curry Co., always a good find anywhere on the coast. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? On 8/22 at Bandon Marsh w/ Russ Namitz and Eric Clough we saw the following birds: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 8,000- WESTERN/LEAST SANDPIPERS (about 60:40 W/L) ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 90- SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 38- BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 80- SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 7- MARBLED GODWITS ? ? ? ? ? ? ? there were 2 WILLETS along with most of this same group on 8/23. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? On 8/22, north of Floras Lake in Curry Co. where Floras creek meets New River (the bend), there were the following shorebirds: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 2- BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS (a tough Curry bird; also there on 8/23) ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1- GREATER YELLOWLEGS ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 30- WESTERN SANDPIPERS ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 14- LEAST SANDPIPERS ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 10- SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1- BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (8/23) ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1- RUDDY TURNSTONE (8/23) ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1- SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (8/23) ? ? ? ? ? ? ? NO ELEGANT TERNS in Gold Beach on 8/22 during the PM, I think I'm about 0 for 10 trying to find them there this year.? They have only been seen on one day as far as I know, back in July. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? I went to the South Coast Mill north of Brookings at 4AM on 8/23 in hopes of finding some stray LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS; however, the weather didn't cooperate, it was actually totally clear and very starry and a bit windy, foggy conditions are needed for these birds to show and be seen.? I only spent a half-hour and didn't see anything but lots of moths.? The mill is north of Brookings, has very bright lights, and is close to some offshore islands to where these birds breed, so this has been a tradition spot to try and see them in late August on a foggy night- my first try, need to come back when it isn't clear (actually, pretty dang unusual this time of year)..? The stars where incredible bright up in the Coast Range where I camped, a real treat with no moon. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Happy Birding all! ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Tim R ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Coos Bay ? ? ? ? ? ??? ? ? ??? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ? _______________________________________________ ? obol mailing list ? obol at oregonbirdwatch.org ? http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/97fcd8c4/attachment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:02:54 +0000 From: "HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE " Subject: [obol] Snowy Egret Bandon To: "OBOL " Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-15" Redmond pond in Bandon at 4:00 has snowy egret, pied billed grebe, gadwalls, mallards usual domestic geese. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T ------------------------------ Message: 6 Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:01:17 -0700 From: Jay Withgott Subject: [obol] nocturnal flight over Portland, 22-23 Aug. To: OBOL Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" A good nocturnal migration flight passed over SW Portland last night (22-23 Aug.). I heard a few Swainson's Thrush call notes overhead in the evening, so I got up at 5:00 a.m. and listened to the last hour of the night's flight.? I estimated 116 Swainson's Thrushes in 52 minutes (with most individuals calling multiple times, thus several hundred actual call notes).? This rate of 2.2 birds per minute makes for one of the better nocturnal flights I've heard here the last few falls.? The most amazing thing to me continues to be just how much this one species dominates the nighttime chorus here (as opposed to the more species-rich flights in eastern North America).? For instance, this morning in those 52 minutes I heard only one bird (a warbler species) I could be sure was not a Swainson's Thrush.? Part of the explanation is probably that thrush calls are louder and thus more easily heard, and it is also the case that Western Tanager and Black-headed Grosbeak can sound a lot like Swainson's Thrush, and apparently all these species show quite a bit of variation. Nonetheless, the great majority of audible calls really do seem to be SWTH. Weather conditions will be similar for a few days more, with clear or mixed skies and NNW winds, so others may want to give it a listen in the early morning (when background noise is quietest and night migrants are starting to descend).? The peak of SWTH migration tends to be in the first week of Sept., but it's looking like it may be a bit earlier this year. Jay Withgott Portland ------------------------------ Message: 7 Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:20:25 -0700 From: Jay Withgott Subject: [obol] Purple Martins in Portland To: OBOL Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" While cleaning up outdated email I'd allowed to accumulate this summer, I saw several mentions of people being surprised by Purple Martins flying overhead in the Portland region in summer.? At my yard in SW Portland, I hear (and occasionally see) small numbers of Martins at seemingly random times in June, July, and August, generally hunting high overhead on sunny days.? I presume these nest along the Willamette or the Columbia, many -- or at least several -- miles from here.? This year, though, on 10 August, I was astounded to see no less than 12 PURPLE MARTINS flying overhead, calling, at 8 a.m.? They were unusually low and were making a beeline WSW, so I concluded they must be migrating.? This is the first time I've had more than 3 at a time, and the first time I think I've caught them in migration. Jay W., Portland ------------------------------ Message: 8 Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:35:42 -0700 From: "Bob Flores" Subject: [obol] Lesser Canada geese? Nocturnal listeners alert To: "Tweeters" , "OBOL" ??? Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" I was outside today and heard lesser Canada geese calling.? I searched the sky but could not locate them I am sure they were flying in the heavens.? Those of you who night listen for migrants keep a listen for Canada's. This is way to early but one never should say never to birds! Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/37e1c028/attachment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 9 Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:22:32 GMT From: ErikKnight05 at comcast.net Subject: [obol] Census Count: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, ??? Clark County, Washington on August 23, 2009 To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <200908240122.n7O1MWU2011973 at host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Erik Knight by http://birdnotes.net Date: August 23, 2009 Location: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Clark County, Washington Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h gusting to: 6-11 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 40% Precipitation: none from 11:25AM to 4:49PM. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???27 Wood Duck? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 21 Gadwall? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???107 [1] Mallard? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 37 Cinnamon Teal? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???7 [2] American Bittern? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 2 Great Blue Heron? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???17 Great Egret? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???1 Turkey Vulture? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 4 Osprey? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1 Northern Harrier? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1 Red-tailed Hawk? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???3 American Kestrel? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 2 Virginia Rail? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???1 American Coot? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???1 Killdeer? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 3 Greater Yellowlegs? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper? ? ? ? ? ? ? 2 [3] Western Sandpiper? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 17 Least Sandpiper? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???7 Baird's Sandpiper? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???1 [4] Pectoral Sandpiper? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1 [5] Belted Kingfisher? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???1 Northern Flicker? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 7 Western Wood-Pewee? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 4 Willow Flycatcher? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???1 Hutton's Vireo? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1 Steller's Jay? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???3 Western Scrub-Jay? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???8 Purple Martin? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???1 Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee? ? ? ? ? ???23 Red-breasted Nuthatch? ? ? ? ? ? ???4 White-breasted Nuthatch? ? ? ? ? ???6 Brown Creeper? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???3 Bewick's Wren? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???3 House Wren? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1 Cedar Waxwing? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???1 Black-throated Gray Warbler? ? ? ???3 Common Yellowthroat? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???7 Spotted Towhee? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 5 Savannah Sparrow? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 3 Song Sparrow? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 6 House Finch American Goldfinch Footnotes: [1]? Rest Lake [2]? SW corner of Rest Lake [3]? Life bird.? Seen east of blind on Rest Lake. [4]? South end of Rest Lake, seen from "two trees" area [5]? see above Total number of species seen: 47 ------------------------------ Message: 10 Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:43:27 -0700 (PDT) From: Tim Rodenkirk Subject: Re: [obol] Purple Martins in Portland To: OBOL , Jay Withgott ??? Message-ID: <241331.73640.qm at web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Jay, Migration it is. ?Knute Andersson, who lives along the coast near Langlois in Curry Co., currently has 25 Purple Martins at his place, none bred there this year as far as I know (or only a pair or two in the neighborhood). ?He said he's had 30+ in past years during migration, a small "staging" site it sounds like. Tim RCoos Bay --- On Sun, 8/23/09, Jay Withgott wrote: From: Jay Withgott Subject: [obol] Purple Martins in Portland To: "OBOL" Date: Sunday, August 23, 2009, 6:20 PM While cleaning up outdated email I'd allowed to accumulate this summer, I saw several mentions of people being surprised by Purple Martins flying overhead in the Portland region in summer.? At my yard in SW Portland, I hear (and occasionally see) small numbers of Martins at seemingly random times in June, July, and August, generally hunting high overhead on sunny days.? I presume these nest along the Willamette or the Columbia, many -- or at least several -- miles from here.? This year, though, on 10 August, I was astounded to see no less than 12 PURPLE MARTINS flying overhead, calling, at 8 a.m.? They were unusually low and were making a beeline WSW, so I concluded they must be migrating.? This is the first time I've had more than 3 at a time, and the first time I think I've caught them in migration. Jay W., Portland _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ? ? ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/79795798/attachment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 11 Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:49:25 -0700 (PDT) From: Tim Rodenkirk Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry additions To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <685065.65516.qm at web45308.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I forgot to mention that Terry Wahl still has a couple LB Curlew at his place, at least through a couple days ago near Cape Blanco in Curry Co. Also, add 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS to the list of birds from Bandon Marsh on the 22nd, Russ Namitz may have some additions from today (8/23)? Add 2 BB Plover to the list for Floras Lake on 8/23. There was a LB CURLEW out on the north spit of Coos Bay in the PM today. That's it I think! Tim RCoos Bay ? ? ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/e8a325cd/attachment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 12 Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 19:09:47 -0700 (PDT) From: Seth Reams Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <441886.99985.qm at web46001.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Michelle and I spent the majority of the day up at Ridgefield NWR. We were treated to quite a few species, but the two biggest surprises (for us) of the day was coming across a juvenile Black-Crowned Night Heron and 2 Blue-Winged Teal. They were such great sights! Other species included (not in taxonomic order): Willow Flycatcher Olive-Sided Flycatcher Pied Billed Grebe (with juveniles) Coot (with lots of juveniles) Osprey Red-tailed Hawk Northern Harrier Turkey Vulture Blue Heron Great Egret Juvenile Black-Crowned Night Heron Mallard Blue-Winged Teal Red-Necked Phalarope Lesser Yellowlegs Killdeer Belted Kingfisher Black-Capped Chickadee Chestnut-Backed Chickadee Brown Creeper Bushtit Robin Red-Winged Blackbird Mourning Dove Barn Swallow Rough-Winged Swallow Tree Swallow Cedar Waxwing Crow Steller's Jay Scrub-Jay House Finch Starling We posted some photos from the trip (along with others) and we would love some help with id'ing a couple of the birds in the photos. They can be found here: portlandbirds.blogspot.com Thanks to all and good birding! Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area ? ? ? ------------------------------ Message: 13 Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 19:21:25 -0700 From: Russ Namitz Subject: Re: [obol] Coos/Curry additions 8/23 To: Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Patagonia effect or changing of the tides? Curry County By the time I made it down to Floras Creek, there were 3 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS and 4 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS.? Lois Miller & Knute Andersson were out taking photos. Coos County Tim R. thought he had a golden-plover yesterday at Bandon Marsh NWR and I confirmed it this morning when I saw a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER amongst the Black-bellied Plovers.? There was the 1 SNOWY EGRET that Harvey S. mentioned at the freshwater pond on the way to the Bandon south jetty. Around the jetty there were 6 WANDERING TATTLERS hanging out with Black Turnstones.? Also flying around was an immature BONAPARTE'S GULL. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/3f958fbf/attachment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 14 Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:01:16 EDT From: Oropendolas at aol.com Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hello All, Biking to Royal Ave. then South through the refuge to the Wildlife? Area HQ on Cantrell turned up NO Curlew today. There was an immature? PREGRINE FALCON keeping the ducks and the few shorebirds in the Fisher Unit? stirred up. The small flock of? RED-NECKED PHALAROPES has increased to? Thirteen on the Royal Observation Deck Pond. The lake level is? dropping, Royal Ave. is exposed out to the "pull-out" 3/4 of the way to? Tern Island. A couple dozen peeps, a few Yellowlegs and one? SEMIPALMATED PLOVER were near the end of Royal. One SOLITARY SANDPIPER was in? the small muddy area near the middle of the western dike of Redhead Pond.? The recent pumped water attraction near HQ is near completely dry now, only? a few Killdeer and Leasties were on the last bit of mud? there today. Six BLACK PHOEBES were encountered along today's? route; two at the hwy 126 viewing platform pond, 3 at HQ and one at? the Coyote Creek Bridge on Cantrell.? Good Birding, John? Sullivan Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090823/1efe8914/attachment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 15 Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:43:48 -0700 From: "Judy Meredith" Subject: [obol] Sooty Shearwaters, Neskowin,Tillamook county To: "obol" Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; ??? reply-type=original Birders Several Bend birders spent the weekend at a Coastal Ecology workshop near Lincoln City, taught by Dan Gleason. Thursday evening and also Friday a.m.? we had enormous rafts of Sooty Shearwaters on the near shore water, flying and actively feeding, just south of Neskowin. We could see little fish jumping out of? the water and birds picking at them and even diving for the food. While we did not find any rare birds in with the Sooty Shearwaters, we were enrapt and amazed for a long time,? watching them feeding, soaring, swirling, and just plain enjoying seeing the massive number of birds. It was beyond us to count them. Next chance to look, ALL GONE and for the remainder of the weekend we only saw single birds here and there. We caught it at the right time. Dan taught us so much about the why, how and what about birds. A good workshop for birders who want to know more about how birds function. good birding, Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com ------------------------------ Message: 16 Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:56:07 -0700 From: Alan Contreras Subject: [obol] Optics for sale To: obol Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain;??? charset="ISO-8859-1" A careful review shows that I own five pairs of binoculars and four telescopes, not counting the little Leupold 10-20x scopelet that lives in the car, cohabiting with its monopod.? This is an unreasonable amount of glass and takes up a lot of space.? Therefore I have for sale: Leupold Goldring 10x42 binoculars.? Their top-of-the-line bins, retail around $1,000, waterproof, fogproof etc.? Excellent.? Full-size and therefore not lightweight.? $400 or make an offer. Leupold Wind River 12x50 binoculars.? Amazingly good, fogproof etc., can easiy be handheld because they are not very heavy.? Great for the coast and open spaces.? $200 Leupold Variable scope.? 12-40 zoom, the best small-format zoom on the market, with huge eye relief all the way to 40x.? Fogproof etc.? Retails around $1,000.? For sale for $450 or make an offer. Orion 80mm multiple-use scope, can be used for birding or astronomy.? Uses standard 1.25 inch astronomical lenses (and I would throw in one or two depending on buyer's needs) and draw-tube focus.? This is not a cheapo scope, I have priced it low because I need to get it out of my closet. $50 Celestron Vixen zoom eyepiece, 1.25 inch.? Superb eyepiece for scopes such as Celestron, Meade, Orion, Questar.? They cost about $275 new.? This one is $125 -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News ------------------------------ Message: 17 Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:26:31 -0700 From: Shawneen Finnegan Subject: [obol] Smith & Bybee, Portland To: OBOL OBOL Message-ID: <5EC710DD-B2D7-41F8-8EC3-77B53380E842 at gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes I spent a bit of time at Bybee Lake this morning looking for? shorebirds. As Elaine Stewart mentioned Smith is full with no edge to? speak of. The water levels are dropping and there were plenty of herons, ducks? and some shorebirds, though most of the shorebirds were on the far? (north) side and too far to identify further than Least/Western sized? peep. There were GOBS of Pied-billed Grebes like last summer with plenty of? still stripe-headed young.? Very cute...? lots of swallows swooping? about. Wood Duck:? 40 Gadwall:? 15 American Wigeon: 1 male Mallard:? 175 Cinnamon Teal: 5 Green-winged Teal:? 6 Ring-necked Duck: 4 Pied-billed Grebe: 115 Double-crested Cormorant: 1 Great Blue Heron:? 45 Great Egret:? 113 Turkey Vulture: 1 Osprey: 6 Bald Eagle: 1 Cooper's Hawk: 1 American Coot:? 75 Killdeer:? 8 Greater Yellowlegs: 2 Western Sandpiper:? 12 Least Sandpiper: 10 peep sp:? 70 Long-billed Dowitcher: 5 Ring-billed Gull: 10 Mourning Dove: 1 Vaux's Swift:? 12 Belted Kingfisher: 1 Downy Woodpecker: 2 American Crow:? 10 Bank Swallow: 1 Violet-green Swallow: 20 Barn Swallow:? 300 Black-capped Chickadee: 10 Bushtit:? 8 Brown Creeper: 3 Bewick's Wren: 2 Marsh Wren: 1 American Robin: 2 Eurasian Starling:? 25 Cedar Waxwing: 6 Yellow Warbler: 4 Common Yellowthroat:? 12 Song Sparrow: 5 House Finch:? 3 American Goldfinch: 8 Cheers, Shawneen Finnegan Portland, OR ------------------------------ Message: 18 Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:24:00 -0700 From: "Carol Karlen" Subject: [obol] good Sunday sightings - Yamhill, Benton counties To: "OBOL" Message-ID: <003201ca247b$1c6d8f80$8a430a0a at home> Content-Type: text/plain;??? charset="iso-8859-1" OBOL: This sunny Sunday we found a couple pair of good birds. At the old mill site next to the Willamina fishing pond we found 2 PURPLE MARTINS on the wire near the Osprey nest.? They seemed to be young birds. They were our first sighting of this species in Yamhill county.? Quinton Nice found 2 birds near the fishing ponds on Aug. 19, 2006.? Floyd Schrock has seen Purple Martins west of town twice in the last week. At the end of the day we visited the Philomath sewage ponds, where we found eclipse ducks, a couple Least Sandpipers, and 75 American Goldfinches.? As we were about to leave, we spotted 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE in the bare dirt field just east of the ponds. On the way home we found 2 Great Horned Owls along Hwy 99 in Yamhill county south of McMinnville. Good birding, everyone, Carol Karlen Paul Sullivan ------------------------------ Message: 19 Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:54:53 -0700 From: Sandy Cabraser Subject: Re: [obol] sending photos directly to obol list...so sorry To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <20090824054908.3632AA8216 at server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed My sincerest apologies for sending photos directly to the obol list. I'm working on getting my Picassa public page to open when the link is sent. I won't send photos again. Sandy in W. Eugene, OR. ------------------------------ Message: 20 Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:01:26 +0000 (UTC) From: sandyleapt at comcast.net Subject: [obol] Hummingbird ID help To: OBOL Message-ID: ??? <314584575.3052561251122486945.JavaMail.root at sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> ??? Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Hi all, I tried to set up a public album yesterday so I could ask people to look at some pictures of a hummingbird in my garden.? No luck.? I will keep trying.? Almost spammed the list again. Anyway,? I would like to hear from people who would be willing to take a look at a few pictures and help me Identify this hummingbird.? When feeding it pumps its tail continuously?with the tail partially spread so it appears rather wide and notched, unlike the Rufous and Anna's and Calliope?I've seen here, their?tails form a neat taper when they feed (except when fighting).? The visible part of the outer rectrices are black with white tips.? Rectrices 1 are black on the tip, maybe a?tiny bit of white, then a smudge of?rufous, and then green.? It's hard to describe.? It's got a nice dollop of pollen on the forehead so I can't really tell what color those feathers are. I've checked my books and watched the?Hummingbirds of North America DVD.? The hummingbird?looks most like an immature female?Black-chinned Hummingbird, and since that is what I want it to be (vanity--that would make four species of hummingbirds I've seen in my garden)?I would appreciate some objective feedback. A Rufous x Anna's is possible since I saw some mating behavior between a Rufous female and an Anna's male this summer. I have to head off to work, so I can't send pictures until this evening. Thanks for your help. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090824/a0ef7701/attachment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 21 Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:35:42 -0700 From: "Andy Stepniewski" Subject: [obol] Buff-breasted Sandpiper near Seaside-22, 23 August To: Message-ID: <001a01ca24d8$f49ebca0$3700a8c0 at windypoint99> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" NORTHWEST OREGON COAST 22-23 AUGUST 2009 We blasted off to the Seaside area Saturday morning targeting shorebirds (and with a wish list of other birds such as Manx Shearwater and Elegant Tern) exploring new birding sites for us. We arrived before noon at the Columbia River South Jetty on an incoming tide. The tidal pools a short walk from Parking Area C had 10 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 1 LESSER YELLOWLEG, 1 SEMIPALMATED, 100 WESTERN, 10 LEAST, and 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, 4 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and 1 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. From the viewing platform, we trained our scopes offshore and noted SOOTY SHEARWATERS, perhaps 10 per second, heading north around the end of the jetty. A PARASITIC JAEGER cruised by. BROWN PELICANS, HEERMANN'S GULLS and CASPIAN TERNS were everywhere. Next, as Cofenberry Lake is mentioned in several of the bird finding guides, we were curious about the area, so walked the trail along the east side. It was mid-day and breezy so the birds were quiet but we definitely enjoyed the habitat: a mix of Red Alder and Sitka Spruce with a lush shrubby under story. CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, BEWICK'S and WINTER WRENS, BROWN CREEPERS, and SWAINSON'S THRUSHES were conspicuous species in the woodland while BELTED KINGFISHER patrolled the lake edge. Overhead, VAUX'S SWIFTS and BARN SWALLOWS cruised. In late afternoon we hit our last spot for the day was the Necanicum River estuary north access. As soon as we hit the estuary edge, our pulses quickened as there were birds everywhere! Shorebirds, herons, terns, and gulls fairly swarmed over the mudflats. We took a worn path southwest around the estuary to the river mouth area and dunes. Several hundred yards along this route in short marsh vegetation, we had close studies of a juvenile BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER right alongside a juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. Also on the mudflats were 60 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 500+ WESTERN and 20 LEAST SANDPIPERS. We left this place pretty excited. Not only did we find a "good" bird, but, being as seekers of wild places, we were impressed with the solitude and beauty of the estuarine habitats here. Saturday night we camped on a side road on the approach to Saddle Mountain State Park. Owling was a bust at night but dawn Sunday brought a tooting NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL.? A steady west wind and drizzle discouraged us from heading up Saddle Mountain but we look forward to hiking this trail in better weather. Poking about the parking area, in fine mixed wood habitat, VARIED THRUSHES and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS were about. We next visited "The Cove," south of Seaside. The tide was low revealing a broad, steep rocky shoreline, great for rockpipers. We saw only BLACK TURNSTONES while we were there but others we talked to saw Ruddy Turnstones, Surfbirds, and Wandering Tattlers on Saturday A dozen each of PACIFIC LOONS and WESTERN GREBES worked the roiling waters between the breakers. SOOTY SHEARWATERS streamed by perhaps a half-mile offshore. Just back from the beach here we took a walk along Edgewood Drive in a well-wooded (mixed wood) residential area. We watched a small flight of migrant warblers fly across the road coming from the north and dropping out of the sky into the trees: YELLOW, BLACK-THROATED GRAY, and WILSON'S. A flight of VAUX'S SWIFTS twittered overhead. Cool! We paid a short visit to Ecola State Park and walked out to the viewing platform. Though only mid-morning, the place was swarming with tourists so we didn't linger long here. BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS called, though hidden from view. Capped on the beautiful sea stacks just offshore, we noted a handful of COMMON MURRES, numbers of BRANDT'S and PELAGIC CORMORANTS, BROWN PELICANS, and HEERMANN'S GULLS. Just Offshore PACIFIC LOONS and PIGEON GUILLEMOTS dove, while a mile or so out, SOOTY SHEARWATERS streamed northward. A short stop along the Necanicum River behind the church, a spot mentioned in the Falcon guide revealed our only trip list KILLDEER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS, bringing our shorebird total for the weekend to a modest 13. We again walked the Necanicum River estuary north access, this time on the incoming tide. As soon as we hit the estuary edge, birds were again everywhere. We hiked out to the grassy sand dunes by the edge of the river not finding any shorebirds tied to this habitat. CASPIAN TERNS, and HEERMANN'S and CALIFORNIA GULLS by the hundreds, loafed on the flats. Many young terns were begging with their whistling cries, in contrast to the rude, grating squawk uttered by adults. Some juvenile terns still showed downy feathers. We carefully studied all the terns for an Elegant Tern without success. On our return just as the salt marsh was being flooded, Ellen spotted the BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER again. A pretty juvenile SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was methodically "picking" the dry tundra-like saltmarsh vegetation, somewhat characteristic of this species, as opposed to the probing in shallows as Western Sandpipers often show. Also here was a juvenile RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA Windypoint andy at dishmail.net ??? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090824/3c10da0d/attachment-0001.html ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol End of obol Digest, Vol 17, Issue 24 ************************************ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090824/f27a75e6/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Mon Aug 24 12:36:05 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:36:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Mt. Tabor Portland migrants Message-ID: <736567.67450.qm@web55702.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Recently, we've been going to Mt. Tabor every morning. A trickle of migrants came through yesterday, including a Hammond's Flycatcher, a Swainson's Thrush and a MacGillivray's Warbler. We also saw a Red-breasted Sapsucker. The Spotted Sandpiper was at the lower reservoir yesterday for the 3rd day in a row, but was gone today. Migrants today included a Hammond's and Pacific-slope Flycatcher, a couple of Warbling Vireos, 2 Swainson's Thrushes, and a few Western Tanagers. Warblers were Orange-crowned (4), Black-throated Gray (10ish), Townsend's (5), and Wilson's (3). Christopher saw a probable Hermit Warbler; it looked exactly like a Hermit but because of a bad angle and a branch, he couldn't see the head. Additionally, 19 flyover Double-crested Cormorants and a Red-breasted Sapsucker were noteworthy. Hummingbird numbers have really increased; there were at least 20 Anna's and even more Rufous Hummingbirds this morning. There were close to 20 hummingbirds at the top alone. Also, there were 6-7 hummingbirds chasing each other around and flying through the sprinklers near the upper reservoir. Lots of other species were attracted to the water as well. Good Birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090824/b6aa028e/attachment.html From nnielsenpincus at yahoo.com Mon Aug 24 14:06:47 2009 From: nnielsenpincus at yahoo.com (Nicole Nielsen-Pincus) Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:06:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Vaux's Swift Watch: new web page and doodle calendar Message-ID: <872521.90927.qm@web55306.mail.re4.yahoo.com> It's migration time again and the East Cascade Bird Conservancy and Vaux's Happening are looking for volunteers to count Vaux's swifts at roosts?throughout Oregon. As the swift project grows and in?effort to get organized this fall, we've incorporated a few new tools?to plan for swift counting across the state.? Thanks to Joel Geier, a new web page is up and running with a working list of active, historic, and suspected roosts in Oregon.? This list will be udpated periodically and results will be posted after the fall migration.? You can access this through the?Oregon Field Ornithologists webpage (and in the future at?the East Cascade Bird?Conservancy's webpage)?with this link: http://www.oregonbirds.org/vauxs_swift_survey.html ? You'll also find there a document called Helpful Hints for Swift Counting and a data sheet.? ? Additionally, you'll?find a link to a Doodle calendar there- an online calendar that allows volunteers to sign up for a slot to count swifts at roosts that still need counters.? Feel free to sign up for as few or as many different time slots as you can commit to.? We don't need more than 2 counters per roost at a time and we really would like to get Sept 12th covered.? The doodle calendar can also be reached directly by clicking this link: http://www.doodle.com/itqh3b6ct2gm59pn ? Feel free to pass this email and these webpages on to any interested parties.? Thanks again for your help. ? Nicole Nielsen-Pincus East Cascade Bird Conservancy Vaux's Happening Oregon State Coordinator -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090824/477cb272/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Mon Aug 24 15:15:13 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:15:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sharing Swift Watch in Silverton Message-ID: Just realized that others may want to do the Silverton Swift Watch on Sept 5, 12, 19. I signed Pam and I up for multiple nights because I *presumed* no one else would want to do it; but, hmmm, it could be that idea is totally wrong as I know there are some intense birders around Silverton. Please join us. The more counters, the merrier. You can fill out the form if you want. Main thing is to see the migration. Might even make the Aug 29th count if we are in town. It should start to get pretty interesting by that date.... John Thomas 5 mi N Silverton From winkg at hevanet.com Mon Aug 24 15:44:39 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:44:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island water levels Message-ID: <20090824224437.77706A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> I've observed that high tide on Sturgeon Lake is about 8 hours behind Astoria (Tongue Point). So, I try to time my visits to be about 10 hours behind high tide at Astoria, hoping that a little, but not too much, mud is showing. But there are a lot of variables, and nothing will correct for the fact that the shorebirds are always on the other side of Sturgeon Lake--no matter which side you come in on. Good luck! Wink Gross Portland From celata at pacifier.com Mon Aug 24 16:29:25 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:29:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Columbia River Tide Tables Message-ID: <4A932255.8060609@pacifier.com> Columbia River Tides are available at: http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tides09/tab2wc1b.html#133 The relevant locations for Sauvie Island are St Helens and Kelley Pt. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR My Summer Reading List http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11612/ From vagabondbirder at yahoo.com Mon Aug 24 16:50:57 2009 From: vagabondbirder at yahoo.com (Richard Messenger) Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:50:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Loon lake Spotted Owl Message-ID: <58970.32505.qm@web59002.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Last evening I heard and saw a Spotted Owl in the Loon Lake Area E of Reedsport, Or. To get to the area take Hwy 38 E of Reedsport to Loon lake Rd [just past mile marker 13].? Turn? onto Loon Lake Rd and go @5 mi to a left hand turnoff across a bridge.? Continue? to the first open primitive camping area.? I heard and saw the Owl in? the trees on the N side of the road across from the camping area. ? Good Birding ? Richard Messenger? The Vagabond Birder Wherever the RV is parked -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090824/851b9b49/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon Aug 24 18:29:43 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:29:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fall NAMC Message-ID: The fall North American Migration Count will occur on the weekend of September 19 and 20. This is your chance to help collect migration data in our state and increase our understanding of the migration patterns of the birds that pass through on their way to winter habitats. If you have participated in the past, contact your county coordinator and give her/him a heads up that you would like to participate. If you have not participated in the past, I invite you to take the plunge and join us for a day of birding in your chosen county. The count is much like the Christmas Bird Count only we cover the entire county instead of a small CBC circle. Since the area covered is pretty large, every county needs more volunteers. A list of county coordinators can be found at the East Cascades Bird Conservancy website http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=69 or at the Oregon Field Ornithologists website http://www.oregonbirds.org/2009_migration_count.html There are several counties that do not currently have county coordinators. To be a coordinator, you are asked to organize the volunteers and collect the data from the count. As of today, we need county coordinators for Gilliam, Grant, Lake (just for this season while the Millers are in Italy), Lincoln, Tillamook, and Union counties. If you are interested in helping with the process of involving all 36 counties in this count, let me know. I'm biased but the fall migration count day is my favorite day of the year. My group always finds unusual birds and we always have a great time. Come join us. Chuck Gates State NAMC Coordinator East Cascades Bird Conservancy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090824/f8130c90/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Mon Aug 24 22:33:03 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:33:03 -0500 (GMT-05:00) Subject: [obol] Wilson's Storm-Petrel - Curry Co. Message-ID: <19699001.1251178383738.JavaMail.root@mswamui-thinleaf.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Owen Schmidt and I birded off shore (65 miles at California border to 186 miles off Columbia R) on Sunday. Best bird was a well-seen WILSON'S STORM-PETREL off approximately Pistol River. More details and other sightings in a week. I blame Owen for me not getting a photo of the bird when it was close. Let me say though - LOTS of Buller's Shearwaters and Arctic Terns and Long-tailed Jaegers. Currently off Queen Charlotte Island, BC. Jeff Gilligan From sandyleapt at comcast.net Tue Aug 25 07:01:16 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:01:16 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Hummingbird ID Message-ID: <39445492.3472081251208876038.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Good Morning:??Thank you to the folks?who responded to my hummingbird ID request.? Consensus? is the bird is?a female or immature male Anna's.? So, I will continue to watch the hummingbirds in my garden and work on getting my web picture viewing thing up and running so other people can learn from the pictures. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090825/c5c04b98/attachment.html From alanmcgie at comcast.net Tue Aug 25 10:25:33 2009 From: alanmcgie at comcast.net (Alan McGie) Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:25:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Old Dickcissel Record Message-ID: OBOL, I was typing up Bird Phenology Records for the N. A. Bird Phenology Program when I ran across a record for the arrival of 2 Dickcissels reported by Olive Barber on 2 May 1932 in Coos Bay, OR. She reported them as rare and breeds with a question mark. She also noted that "Have never found nest". Dickcissels are strictly vagrants in Oregon and normally found across the grasslands in the interior of e. North America. Herlyn and Contreras in their new book, Handbook of Oregon Birds, 2009, p. 263-264, state there are 11 accepted records of this species in Oregon, although none are shown for May. Gabrielson and Jewett in their book Birds of Oregon published in 1940 do not list any records of Dickcissels in Oregon, although Olive Barber's record was submitted 8 years earlier. They probably didn't know about this record or chose to ignore it without a specimen. Olive Barber was a prominent resident of Coos Bay and has a road named after her in the Isthmus Heights Area on the east side of Coos Bay. She was born in 1889 and died in Coos Bay in 1972. I lived in Coos Bay/North Bend from 1960 to 1984 but did not know her. The resident female guru of birding around there at that time was Hilda Reiher who I did know. The first known record in Coos County at that time was a mature male in basic plumage that showed up in Lakeside, OR, north of Coos Bay, on 30 Nov 1979 at Sarah Thurman's feeder. She was kind enough to allow many of us to crowd around in her kitchen and watch through the kitchen window. Alan McGie North Albany, OR (Benton Co.) E-mail: alanmcgie at comcast.net From tlove at linfield.edu Tue Aug 25 10:48:35 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:48:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] central OR this past weekend Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F12194F4CC5@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> The family enjoyed a spectacular weekend in Black Butte area this past weekend. Birding highlights included five Lane County birds: a pair of THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS and MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES on the Hand Lake Trail, and new for my Deschutes County list a EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE in Sisters, near the Sisters Coffee Company on the north end of town. Otherwise a lot of regular migrants and late summer activity, e.g. at Calliope Crossing. Tom Love tlove AT linfield DOT edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090825/e2efa170/attachment.html From jdanzenbaker at gmail.com Tue Aug 25 11:08:41 2009 From: jdanzenbaker at gmail.com (Jim Danzenbaker) Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:08:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Battle Ground Night Flight and Migrant flock Message-ID: Hi Tweeters and OBOLers, Throughout the night there were Swainson's Thushes flying over my Battle Ground, Clark County yard. I estimated probably about 75 birds total. I missed the critical 5am-5:45am time since I was sleeping. However, the variety of birds in the yard certainly increased this morning: Warbling Vireo 2 (first of "Fall") Willow Flycatcher 1 Yellow Warbler 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 1(first of "Fall") Black-throated Gray Warbler 1(first of "Fall") Common Yellowthroat 1 (seems regular around the deck - probably not a migrant) Cedar Waxwing 35 (the flock is growing daily) Black-headed Grosbeak 1 (I lost all the presumed local breeders several weeks ago - no food makes grosbeaks head to greener pastures) Evening Grosbeak 3 Purple Finch 4 The season is certainly changing and I particularly enjoyed the light rain this morning. Keep your eyes and ears skyward. Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090825/04dfec8b/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Tue Aug 25 11:21:43 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:21:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Off Topic: birds on Google Earth Message-ID: Hi - Back last winter I sent a post about looking for birds on the Google Earth application. My main point was that some of the images might be so detailed that birds could be seen. I am stuck at home now, fighting through a nasty respiratory infection (no high fever so maybe unrelated to pigs?) so I have been doing some searching. The first two sets of coordinates are the best views I have found. It may take a really good monitor to make them out, but they are pretty neat. Note this is straight Google Earth, not Street View. I have not tried that yet. 57o 51'14"N; 8o 30' 38"W and 43o 29' 11.33"N, 4o 24' 20.97"E Closer to home, here is an awesome image from Tule Lake NWR: 41o 51' 07.60"N, 121o 28' 45.43" W I wonder if anyone in OBOL can get a positive ID on the 2 "birds." I have my own guesses. Wayne Hoffman -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090825/5655bc83/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Tue Aug 25 12:49:36 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:49:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Portland August 24 Vaux's count and a plea Message-ID: Last evening I strolled over to Chapman School to check on numbers of Vaux's Swifts. A neighbor said she had heard them the previous three nights already. There were several groups of people beginning the fall vigil on the side of the hill. I bumped into Mary Coolidge of Portland Audubon and Emily from Americorp. Between the three of us we estimated there were already about 1200. As someone who lives a few blocks from Chapman and walks over regularly to watch the swfits, I would ask the following. Because coming to see the swifts has become so popular, which is fabulous mind you, there are few downsides to so many people coming that could easily be remedied. I know I mentioned this last fall, but will do so prior to the season beginning again-- hoping that you all will spread the word to anyone you know that likes to go watch the swifts, particularly to people who do not belong to Audubon, read their website, or read OBOL. Last year's peak swift count was about 21,000 and the peak people count was about 3000 one night when I was there. I have talked to neighbors who complained of people double-parking, blocking their driveways, and even being asked if visitors could park in their driveways. Please park some distance away and walk, or take public transport. By 5:30 PM there is little to no parking near the school. Parents who bring cardboard boxes for their kids to slide down the hill on, PLEASE take the cardboard home with you (hopefully to be recycled). And it would be wonderful if everyone would pick up their trash. There is always a mess in the morning. If everyone would be respectful of the neighbors that would be grand. There is more from Audubon at: http://www.audubonportland.org/local-birding/swiftwatch/swifts_landing Cheers, Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland From Elaine.Stewart at oregonmetro.gov Tue Aug 25 13:35:58 2009 From: Elaine.Stewart at oregonmetro.gov (Elaine Stewart) Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:35:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Additional info for tides in Sauvie Is area In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Mike Patterson passed along a URL to find the predicted times of high and low tides along the Columbia River. When you go to the tables for Kelley Point, for example, you won't find predicted water levels because river levels are impossible to predict that far ahead. If you want an idea how high or low the tide is likely to be, there are a couple of tools that can be helpful. A NOAA site with short-term predictions, including Vancouver, is here: http://ahps2.wrh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=pqr If you want to get a feel for historical trends, the USGS has some river level and discharge data that are fun to tinker with. Here's a link to Columbia Slough, where the gauge is near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/or/nwis/uv/?site_no=14211820&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060 You can play around with that site to get an idea of seasonal trends in water levels etc. at your favorite stream. Hope that's helpful. -Elaine Elaine Stewart Senior Natural Resources Scientist Metro 503.797.1515 503.797.1849 fax elaine.stewart at oregonmetro.gov www.oregonmetro.gov People Places | Open Spaces From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Tue Aug 25 14:47:40 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:47:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Reservoir: dikes open Aug 25 Message-ID: <065437D8-F910-454F-BF9E-A02F1B9B684E@comcast.net> OBOL- Nothing significant to report bird-wise, but while I was there today a Fish/Wildlife guy drove up and opened the gate to the dike road west of the Royal Ave viewing platform. He said he was opening up all the closed-for-nesting dikes today and that it is now possible to walk all the way around to the west. Also: he told me that pumping of water into the viewing ponds stopped about 2 weeks ago and the water levels are being allowed to evaporate off and gradually drop. Today, the water levels were still fairly high and there was very little shorebird habitat to be found. I did not venture over to the area behind refuge HQ. Barry McKenzie Eugene From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Aug 25 18:15:18 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:15:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] this was on NWCALBird today Message-ID: <4A948CA6.2080706@verizon.net> Hi all, Here is the essence of some messages I received last night and this morning. Since I have not heard anything else about this bird, I thought I would post it on Cal-Birds and other norcal lists. I don't have any more info, not even to confirm the identification, but thought someone would comment or go check it out! ------------ ---------------------------------------------- ---------- Not sure how rare it is, or if you spend time chasing birds around to add to your list but there is evidently a European White Stork hanging around over here between Yreka and Montague. A couple of other biologist went and took a look at it Saturday. Not sure how long it's been here. The bird was still there this morning. Jim said it's been there for almost two weeks. It was off of the Yreka Ager Rd about a mile and a half north of Hwy 3. T45N R6W, I think sec 17 but not positive of that. I guess it's following the cattle around eating grasshoppers. Sounds like it's been visible from the road. Forgot to mention it's also been seen off Hwy 3 near the Shasta River (about a mile or so south of the where it was this morning). That would be sec's 20 and 29. On Saturday it was on Fioks property off of Ager Road. Ron LeValley Photography P.O. Box 332 Little River CA 95456 707/937-1742 Mendocino Coast Photographer Guild and Gallery 301 North Main Street Fort Bragg California USA 95437 Cell: 707/496-3326 Gallery: 707/964-4706 > Ron at LeValleyPhoto.com From deweysage at verizon.net Wed Aug 26 07:12:19 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 07:12:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos shorebirds Message-ID: <4A9542C3.3070703@verizon.net> 8/25 Coos Bay North Spit Coos Cty High Tide on South Beach yesterday afternoon has impressive numbers of shorebirds. A juvenile GOLDEN PLOVER which I believe from structure was a PACIFIC was the highlight. There were about 3000 peeps in total in huge roosting flocks up and down the beach, almost entirely juvenile WESTERN SANDPIPERS and SANDERLINGS, plus several hundred SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and a bunch of SNOWY PLOVERS. There was one MARBLED GODWIT at South Tenmile Coos Cty and a couple of BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS too. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From tsnetsinger at centurytel.net Wed Aug 26 09:11:20 2009 From: tsnetsinger at centurytel.net (tsnetsinger at centurytel.net) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:11:20 -0400 Subject: [obol] Linn County SWAINSON'S HAWK(S) Message-ID: <20090826121120.f9g0546p9f28ckco@webmail2.centurytel.net> Morning OBOL, On the drive in this morning there was at least one (possibly two) dark morph SWAINSON'S HAWK(S) north of Plainview Drive 1/2 way between Manning Rd and Sand Ridge Rd. The bird seen best was perched on a power pole on the south side of the road. When I drove back for a better look I found it on the ground 200 m into the field on the north side of the road. (long-winged with wings extending to around the tail tip, white patch around base of bill, undertail coverts pale with the rest of the bird dark). A second dark buteo was on the ground at the far end of the field, however with binoculars I could not say anything more than it was a dark buteo. cheers, Tom Snetsinger thomas.snetsinger at oregonstate.edu From windypointandy at dishmail.net Wed Aug 26 09:19:44 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:19:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos shorebirds Message-ID: <000501ca2669$0fa4f190$3700a8c0@windypoint99> Hi Dave, Thanks for this report. Can you tell me where "South Beach" is? The birding site guides do not seem to name such a site. Thx, Andy Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090826/fc0f1f67/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed Aug 26 10:14:58 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:14:58 -0400 Subject: [obol] Possible Long-billed Curlew Message-ID: <8CBF487DFBBEB7B-3B08-F43@webmail-d027.sysops.aol.com> These 2 shots are of a bird that landed next to the small lake at Tulatin Refuge. It was a pretty big bird. Could it be a Long-billed Curlew? I have a couple more bird shots to edit and then post. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2116/3858939879_bd502c1c32_b.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3064/3859728484_a4f658e2fc_b.jpg Johnny Sasko Sandy, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090826/1cfb7255/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Aug 26 10:27:57 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:27:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fall NAMC: Info on web & request for Polk Co. birders Message-ID: <1251307677.3285.66.camel@clearwater> Hi folks, I was a bit behind on getting the information for the Fall 2009 Migration Count up on the OFO website, but you can find it there now at the link that Chuck Gates gave: http://www.oregonbirds.org/2009_migration_count.html The information will be updated as more of the county coordinators decide which day to go. As Chuck mentioned, the information is also posted on ECBC's website at: http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=69 Anyone interested in counting in Polk County, please drop me a line and let me know if Saturday, September 19th or Sunday, September 20th works better for you. We'll also try to coordinate with Benton, Linn, Yamhill & Marion Co. since there are only so many birders to go around. Thanks & happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From jdanzenbaker at gmail.com Wed Aug 26 10:30:18 2009 From: jdanzenbaker at gmail.com (Jim Danzenbaker) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:30:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] 8/26 am Ridgefield NWR Message-ID: Tweeters and OBOLers, A quick update from around 8:00 am to 9:00 am at Rest Lake, Ridgefield NWR, Clark County, Washington this morning: PECTORAL SANDPIPER 25 (the first ones I have seen this Fall and they were scattered everywhere on Rest Lake) Baird's Sandpiper 1 Semipalmated Plover 5 Western Sandpiper 45 Least Sandpiper 45 Killdeer 15+ Greater Yellowlegs 2 Long-billed Dowitcher 3 3 Greater White-fronted Geese flew south from Rest Lake. Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090826/42f79f9b/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Wed Aug 26 10:55:40 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:55:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gr. WF Geese; nocturnal migrants Message-ID: Heard a small flock of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE migrating south overhead last night just after midnight. SWAINSON'S THRUSH nocturnal migration has continued at a pretty good clip the last few nights. From my brief sampling I've gotten estimates of * 2.23 birds per minute on 22nd/23rd, as reported earlier * 1.31 birds per minute on 23rd/24th * 0.10 birds per minute on 24th/25th * 0.92 birds per minute on 25th/26th Daytime migrants and wanderers through the yard have included PURPLE FINCH twice in the past week and RED CROSSBILLS today, as well as small numbers of Western Tanager, BH Grosbeak, and BT Gray Warbler. Jay W., Portland From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Aug 26 11:54:00 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:54:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] About reporting Spotted Owls Message-ID: <1251312840.3285.123.camel@clearwater> Hi folks, One of the great things over the last 10 years has to see the increase in the number of birders who have either started birding or recently moved to Oregon, and are sharing their finds. Since many of today's Oregon birders were not around for the "Spotted Owl Wars" that took place in the 1980s and early 1990s, they might reasonably not be aware of the unwritten rule that's generally observed by longtime Pacific Northwest birders: To keep quiet about Spotted Owl detections, or at least, not publicize detailed coordinates to where you found them. In the bad old days, this was partly because a few disgruntled individuals were known to go out and shoot the birds, blaming them for the demise of the logging industry. Boxes of "Spotted Owl Helper" (a la Hamburger Helper) were on display in logging town cafes, mostly in a grumpy sort of humor, but some people went beyond that(*). These days, habitat/territory disturbance by birders using playback is probably a bigger risk. In the worst case, a birder who calls in a Spotted Owl could subject it to attack by a Barred Owl. There have been many reports of Barred Owls coming in to Spotted Owl tapes, presumably looking for the Spotted Owl. The more birders go looking for a particular owl, the greater the chance of impact. I hope this explains the situation, if you're relatively new to the Pac NW birding scene. As to how or what to report if you do encounter a Spotted Owl: First of all, congratulations for your rare experience! Please take time to enjoy it and celebrate in whatever way you reserve for your best life birds. After that, you really don't need to report anything. I've heard that the locations of pretty much every single pair of Spotted Owls in our region are known to researchers, so there's no real "citizen science" value in reporting them on a birding list-serv. If you want, you can send in the coordinates to Spotted Owl researchers such as Eric Forsman's group at OSU, just in case you've found a new territory, or to confirm that a known owl is still alive. Sometimes conservation groups that advocate for old-growth habitat are also interested in this information. If you really want to let other birders know about your observation, you could describe the location in general terms, like "Rock Creek drainage, Champoeg County." If you're one of the many who are still hoping to see, or at least hear a Spotted Owl before they all disappear: There are a few pairs of Spotted Owls around that are judged by researchers to have become acclimated to human disturbance, to the point where their locations can be mentioned. A couple of these locations are listed in the Oregon Cascades Birding Trail guide (see www.oregonbirdingtrails.org), along with hiking trails that provide fairly good chances to encounter a Spotted Owl. Another way is to tag along with someone who's doing an owl survey. Or else, spend some quality time in the remaining bits of good habitat. Best of luck to you! Good birding, Joel (*) By the way, there is no truth to the rumor that a certain curmudgeonly birder was the only person known to have purchased a box of Owl Helper with the actual intention of trying it out it. For one thing, he has better taste and usually avoids foods that are heavy on MSG. -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From hhactitis at yahoo.com Wed Aug 26 12:25:25 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:25:25 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Florence birds of late Message-ID: <196466.68897.qm@web37001.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, a few recent sightings: August 25, 2009 North Jetty in Florence: On the mudflats: ca. 400 peeps, mostly WESTERN SANDPIPERS, with ca. 20% LEAST SANDPIPERS and at least one juv. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (plus another likely SEMI). Also 3 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and 3 LESSER YELLOWLEGS. On the jetty:? 3 WANDERING TATTLERS, ca. 10 SURFBIRDS and 5-6 BLACK TURNSTONES. A flock of 4 MARBLEd GODWITS, 9 WHIMBRELS and 2 DOWITCHER sp. flew south over the jetty. August 26, 2009 (with Daniel Farrar and Lydia Cruz) North Jetty flats: ca. 150 peeps, mostly WESTERN and 15-20% LEAST SANDPIPERS, 6 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS South Jetty area: Dog Pond: 1 LESSER and 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 1 WESTERN and 5 LEAST SANDPIPERS; one SHARP-SHINNED HAWK circling overhead Crab Dock Flats: 2 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, ca. 100 peeps (WESTERN and LEAST) and a few SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS mixed in. One PEREGRINE FALCON overhead. Happy birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090826/fb6cc602/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Aug 26 12:43:51 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:43:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] ECBC Wednesday birders to Hatfield Message-ID: > Hi Birders > Five of us birded around Hatfield this a.m. Highlights for us - > A Tringa Trifecta! One each Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs and a > SOLITARY Sandpiper. All at the front pond. > > Sparrows, nice mix - most of us saw LARK Sparrows in 1 or 2 > spots out there as well as usual Vespers, Brewers, Savannah etc. > Except, NO Song sparrows today. Wierd. > > Enjoyed watching rails at the end of the little channel where the > back pond and overflow ponds are connected. A Juvie Sora and an > adult Virginia rail shared the space except for a couple of little chase > scenes when the Virginia tried to chase the Sora out of a prime location > with prized foam. We had great scope views of both of them for a while, > most likely because Mike Golden was NOT with us. Three lifers for the > group today. > > NO Robins, Ash-throated Fly, Kestrels, etc. Curious. Full list below. > > Birders Sunny Hancock, Jim Moodie, Don Sutherland, Howard > Horvath and Judy Meredith > > Greater White-fronted Goose - about 20 birds. > Canada Goose > Wood Duck - 2 at back pond inlet > American Wigeon > Mallard > Northern Shoveler > Northern Pintail > Green-Winged Teal > Ring-necked Duck > Lesser Scaup > Bufflehead > Ruddy Duck > Pied-billed Grebe > Eared Grebe - still on nests, back pond > White-faced Ibis - same individual with the white forehead/crown feathers > Turkey Vulture > Cooper's Hawk > Red-tailed Hawk > Virginia Rail - along channel between back pond and overflow > Sora - juvie, along channel between back pond and overflow. > American Coot > Killdeer > Greater Yellowlegs - 1 > Lesser Yellowlegs - 1 - front pond, arrived while we were there. > Solitary Sandpiper - 1- good scope views > Spotted Sandpiper > Western Sandpiper > Least Sandpiper > Long-billed Dowitcher - About 10 birds, one winter plumage, all gray. > Common Snipe > Red-necked Phalarope - back pond. 1 bird, then joined by 7 more. > Northern Flicker > Western Scrub-Jay - in town, en-route > Black-billed Magpie > Common Raven > Barn Swallow > Mountain Chickadee > Rock Wren > Marsh Wren > European Starling > Yellow-rumped Warbler > Chipping Sparrow > Brewer's Sparrow > Vesper Sparrow > Lark Sparrow - First along edge of front pond, later near Chain Link > fence. > Savannah Sparrow > Red-winged Blackbird > Western Meadowlark > Yellow-headed Blackbird > Brewer's Blackbird > House Finch > House Sparrow > Total number of species seen: 52 > Good birding, > Judy Meredith > jmeredit at bendnet.com From whoffman at peak.org Wed Aug 26 12:45:44 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:45:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] About reporting Spotted Owls References: <1251312840.3285.123.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: <074221EB608F41E4B45C19B756EBB248@D48XBZ51> Wasn't he going to try it on a rare goose? Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joel Geier" To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 11:54 AM Subject: [obol] About reporting Spotted Owls > Hi folks, > > One of the great things over the last 10 years has to see the increase > in the number of birders who have either started birding or recently > moved to Oregon, and are sharing their finds. > > Since many of today's Oregon birders were not around for the "Spotted > Owl Wars" that took place in the 1980s and early 1990s, they might > reasonably not be aware of the unwritten rule that's generally observed > by longtime Pacific Northwest birders: To keep quiet about Spotted Owl > detections, or at least, not publicize detailed coordinates to where you > found them. > > In the bad old days, this was partly because a few disgruntled > individuals were known to go out and shoot the birds, blaming them for > the demise of the logging industry. Boxes of "Spotted Owl Helper" (a la > Hamburger Helper) were on display in logging town cafes, mostly in a > grumpy sort of humor, but some people went beyond that(*). > > These days, habitat/territory disturbance by birders using playback is > probably a bigger risk. In the worst case, a birder who calls in a > Spotted Owl could subject it to attack by a Barred Owl. There have been > many reports of Barred Owls coming in to Spotted Owl tapes, presumably > looking for the Spotted Owl. The more birders go looking for a > particular owl, the greater the chance of impact. > > I hope this explains the situation, if you're relatively new to the Pac > NW birding scene. > > As to how or what to report if you do encounter a Spotted Owl: > > First of all, congratulations for your rare experience! Please take time > to enjoy it and celebrate in whatever way you reserve for your best life > birds. > > After that, you really don't need to report anything. I've heard that > the locations of pretty much every single pair of Spotted Owls in our > region are known to researchers, so there's no real "citizen science" > value in reporting them on a birding list-serv. > > If you want, you can send in the coordinates to Spotted Owl researchers > such as Eric Forsman's group at OSU, just in case you've found a new > territory, or to confirm that a known owl is still alive. Sometimes > conservation groups that advocate for old-growth habitat are also > interested in this information. > > If you really want to let other birders know about your observation, you > could describe the location in general terms, like "Rock Creek drainage, > Champoeg County." > > If you're one of the many who are still hoping to see, or at least hear > a Spotted Owl before they all disappear: > > There are a few pairs of Spotted Owls around that are judged by > researchers to have become acclimated to human disturbance, to the point > where their locations can be mentioned. A couple of these locations are > listed in the Oregon Cascades Birding Trail guide (see > www.oregonbirdingtrails.org), along with hiking trails that provide > fairly good chances to encounter a Spotted Owl. Another way is to tag > along with someone who's doing an owl survey. Or else, spend some > quality time in the remaining bits of good habitat. Best of luck to you! > > Good birding, > Joel > > (*) By the way, there is no truth to the rumor that a certain > curmudgeonly birder was the only person known to have purchased a box of > Owl Helper with the actual intention of trying it out it. For one thing, > he has better taste and usually avoids foods that are heavy on MSG. > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From vagabondbirder at yahoo.com Wed Aug 26 15:05:25 2009 From: vagabondbirder at yahoo.com (Richard Messenger) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:05:25 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Florence South Jetty Message-ID: <2563.81879.qm@web59008.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Today I birded the? south jetty at?Florence from 10:45am to 12:30pm hoping to find a Wandering Tattler.? This is a bird that has eluded me so far during my Oregon stay. During that time?I saw a couple dozen Surfbirds, California and Western gulls, Common Mures, P Guillemots, 1 Peregrine Falcon, Brant and Pelagic Cormorants?and 6 Scoters to far away to positively ID.? To my great surprise there were also 4 Wandering Tattlers which after consulting O'Brian and Sibley?appear?to be juveniles.??Two?were singles and two were together.? I believe they were different individuals because they were seen so far apart.? All were seen on the river side if the Jetty? Only once have I seen that many Tattlers in one place on one day and that was in 2000 on the rocks at Goleta Pt, Ca. when?I saw a flock of 10. ? Good Birding ? Richard Messenger? The Vagabond Birder Wherever the RV is parked -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090826/43db30f5/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 33817 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090826/43db30f5/attachment.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 10729 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090826/43db30f5/attachment-0001.gif From kiss at cot.net Wed Aug 26 15:38:14 2009 From: kiss at cot.net (Charlotte Ann Kisling) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:38:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] white stork Message-ID: <4A95B956.6060109@cot.net> There has been a European white stork near the city of Yreka in California for almost two weeks now. I saw it this morning within 100 yards of the road, no scope needed. Take the northernmost Yreka exit off of I-5 (Yreka Montague Road or Highway 3), east toward Montague. After 1.5 miles you come to Eger Road where you make a left (north). The stork was exactly 2.5 miles north of Highway 3 in a field on the east side of the road. It has no markings or bands on it and I have no way of knowing whether or not it is an escapee. It was feed non-stop on something which I assumed were grasshoppers. Escapee or not, it is one nice looking bird. Charlotte Ann From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Aug 26 15:50:31 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:50:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird article Message-ID: Oregon Quarterly, the UO alumni mag, has run an excerpt from my birding memoir Afield in its fall issue, mailed this week. The online version is at: http://uoregon.journalgraphicsdigital.com/pubs/uoregon/09Autumn/ It has a number of other bird and nature themed pieces in it. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From kiss at cot.net Wed Aug 26 16:14:31 2009 From: kiss at cot.net (Charlotte Ann Kisling) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:14:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Re. white stork Message-ID: <4A95C1D7.6040905@cot.net> Oops, The road is Ager, not Eger. From fitzbeew at gmail.com Wed Aug 26 16:53:43 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:53:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Deschutes County Birds (W. Scrub Jay, mystery sparrow, etc.) Message-ID: Obol, My family and I just got back last night from camping at LaPine State Park in Deschutes County. It was a great trip, and I saw a fair amount of birds. Highlights include: - C. Nighthawk (heard) - Orange-crowned Warbler - Western Tanager - Adult D.E. Junco feeding juvenile - Empidonax flycatcher saying "shu-REER" (I don't know the species and the lighting was poor) - WESTERN-SCRUB JAY in LaPine; there may have been two; I was focused on looking at one of them, because I thought it was a Pinyon Jay; I did not have my camera or Sibley handy, so I had to observe it and look up later. There were two jays, but I only got details on one, as I was feverishly trying to get all the details recorded in my brain (Pinyon Jay is a nemesis bird for me). It had a gray head, very blue tail, and a white eyebrow--definitely a Scrub Jay, though probably a Juvenile. It was also making the characteristic "ZREEK!" call of a Scrub Jay, though I thought it sounded a bit off (probably because it was a juvenile individual). - mystery sparrows; I have posted pictures to my google account, which may be seen here: http://picasaweb.google.com/fitzbeew/Birds# The sparrow photos are the last few in the batch. The photos may be of more than one bird; I think they are. I want to call them White-crowned Sparrow juveniles, but some had a very, very bright rufous crown....Any comments/ideas are more than welcome. Good birding and happy migration, Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090826/9ddfa68e/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Aug 26 17:15:11 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:15:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wed morning, Fern Ridge Message-ID: We walked some of the dikes at Fern Ridge, from Royal parking to the platform, then the dike southward between the ponds and back by Redhead Pond dike. Numbers of many species were impossible to sort out. Best birds were Brewer's Sparrow and Red Phalarope. Western Grebe - 1 Pied-billed grebe - 15 White Pelican - not the full number Great Blue Heron - a few Green Heron - 1 Great Egret - 1 Am. Bittern - 1 Canada Goose - a few small flocks Mallard - common Gadwall - about 5 were noted, but many ducks were scattered in a mix. Pintail - numerous Green-winged Teal - 2 Blue-winged Teal - 2 Cinnamon Teal - many N. Shoveler - 2 noted Ruddy Duck - 10 Turkey Vulture - a few White-tailed Kite - 1, maybe 2 Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 Osprey - 2 Peregrine - 1 Kestrel - 1 Coot - many Wilson's Snipe - 1 Gr. Yellowlegs - some Les. Yellowlegs - 1 Least Sandpiper - few Pectoral Sandpiper - 3 Long-billed Dowitcher - maybe 300+ RED PHALAROPE - 1 close view in Redhead pond. *Red-necked Phalarope - about six phalarope were noted from a distance. Since Red-necked had recently been reported in the same area, we assumed that they were correctly identified as such. But when we had a good study of the Red Phalarope, we could not be certain the birds in the distance were actually Red-necked and not Red Phalaropes, as critical details were not discernable. Ring-billed Gull - 1 Black Tern - 10 Great Horned Owl - 1 perched in one of the "Night Heron" bushes. Belted Kingfisher - 1 Swallows - many, mostly Violet-green. Barn and Tree were noted. Purple Martin - heard and seen constantly overhead. Scrub Jay - several Northern Raven - 1 Black-capped Chickadee -2 Marsh Wren - 4 Cedar Waxwing - 30 Starling - some Com. Yellowthroat - 5 Red-winged Blackbird - some Am. Goldfinch - many Les. Goldfinch - few Savannah Sparrow - many were immature. These were buffier than the adults. Brewer's Sparrow - 2 Kit Larsen, Craig Merkel, Don Schrouder, Paul Sherrell, Sylvia Maulding, Rick Ahrens, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090826/965c2f48/attachment.html From marciafcutler at comcast.net Wed Aug 26 17:58:22 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:58:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] [birding] Re: Fall NAMC: Info on web & request for Polk Co. birders In-Reply-To: <1251307677.3285.66.camel@clearwater> References: <1251307677.3285.66.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: <7BE05EBD-3914-4E79-87A5-77822DCC0ACD@comcast.net> I have set Saturday, Sept. 19th as the date for the NAMC in Benton Co. I'd like to encourage all birders to try and get out and participate in one of the counts on that weekend. If you are planning on birding in Benton Co. advance notice is appreciated so that I can make sure that as much of the county as possible is covered. However, spur of the moment birders and feeder watchers are also welcome. Thanks, Marcia F. Cutler On Aug 26, 2009, at 10:27 AM, Joel Geier wrote: > Hi folks, > > I was a bit behind on getting the information for the Fall 2009 > Migration Count up on the OFO website, but you can find it there now > at > the link that Chuck Gates gave: > > http://www.oregonbirds.org/2009_migration_count.html > > The information will be updated as more of the county coordinators > decide which day to go. As Chuck mentioned, the information is also > posted on ECBC's website at: > > http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=69 > > Anyone interested in counting in Polk County, please drop me a line > and > let me know if Saturday, September 19th or Sunday, September 20th > works > better for you. We'll also try to coordinate with Benton, Linn, > Yamhill > & Marion Co. since there are only so many birders to go around. > > Thanks & happy birding, > Joel > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > > _______________________________________________ > list mailing list > list at midvalleybirding.org > http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ From hhactitis at yahoo.com Wed Aug 26 18:08:47 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:08:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] The Death March (aka Florence S. Jetty Deplation Plain) Message-ID: <381667.71063.qm@web37005.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Howdy y'all, this afternoon, Daniel Farrar and I braved the uncharacteristic coastal heat and undertook the dreaded death march into the Deflation Plain, hoping to scare up a Buff-breasted Sandpiper or a Dotterel .... well, no such luck, the plain itself proved to be rather dead, indeed. On the way in along the dike, however, we encountered 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER (FOS for me), 1 WESTERN SANDPIPER, 5 LEAST SANDPIPERS and 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, as well as an AMERICAN BITTERN, so the trip was not a total waste :-) Happy Fall Birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090826/5fe3bd4b/attachment.html From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Wed Aug 26 18:11:47 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (Denise Hughes) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:11:47 -0600 Subject: [obol] NAMC - Malheur County Message-ID: <008401ca26b3$5aad51b0$1007f510$@net> If you are going to be in eastern Oregon on Saturday, September 19th, please consider joining us in Malheur County. Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho deniseh55 at clearwire.net There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before. - Robert Lynd -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090826/3ae4c600/attachment.html From mtweel at charter.net Wed Aug 26 18:15:43 2009 From: mtweel at charter.net (Margaret) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:15:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cape Meares Black and White Warbler Message-ID: <3DD268D2E78E49FEBA37CFF237E776DB@Margaret> I just put out my feeder yesterday and now have some birds coming in. Mostly goldfinches. This noon (Wednesday) a black and white warbler came near the bird bath very quickly. It left and then returned a couple minutes later but did not stay. It had a striped head of black and white and stripes on the upper body. The breast was pale. According to Sibley it is a rare bird here though has been sighted in Oregon. I have seen this bird before in Texas but not here. I'll keep a look out to see if it comes back. Marg Tweelinckx Cape Meares -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090826/54717bd4/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Wed Aug 26 18:31:59 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:31:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] About reporting Spotted Owls In-Reply-To: <074221EB608F41E4B45C19B756EBB248@D48XBZ51> Message-ID: <4a95e209.1ed7720a.02c5.ffff9bb5@mx.google.com> Everyone in the world has agreed never, ever, never to eat any type of goose, rare or otherwise. Marilyn Miller -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Wayne Hoffman Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 12:46 PM To: joel.geier at peak.org; Oregon Birders OnLine Subject: Re: [obol] About reporting Spotted Owls Wasn't he going to try it on a rare goose? Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joel Geier" To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 11:54 AM Subject: [obol] About reporting Spotted Owls > Hi folks, > > One of the great things over the last 10 years has to see the increase > in the number of birders who have either started birding or recently > moved to Oregon, and are sharing their finds. > > Since many of today's Oregon birders were not around for the "Spotted > Owl Wars" that took place in the 1980s and early 1990s, they might > reasonably not be aware of the unwritten rule that's generally observed > by longtime Pacific Northwest birders: To keep quiet about Spotted Owl > detections, or at least, not publicize detailed coordinates to where you > found them. > > In the bad old days, this was partly because a few disgruntled > individuals were known to go out and shoot the birds, blaming them for > the demise of the logging industry. Boxes of "Spotted Owl Helper" (a la > Hamburger Helper) were on display in logging town cafes, mostly in a > grumpy sort of humor, but some people went beyond that(*). > > These days, habitat/territory disturbance by birders using playback is > probably a bigger risk. In the worst case, a birder who calls in a > Spotted Owl could subject it to attack by a Barred Owl. There have been > many reports of Barred Owls coming in to Spotted Owl tapes, presumably > looking for the Spotted Owl. The more birders go looking for a > particular owl, the greater the chance of impact. > > I hope this explains the situation, if you're relatively new to the Pac > NW birding scene. > > As to how or what to report if you do encounter a Spotted Owl: > > First of all, congratulations for your rare experience! Please take time > to enjoy it and celebrate in whatever way you reserve for your best life > birds. > > After that, you really don't need to report anything. I've heard that > the locations of pretty much every single pair of Spotted Owls in our > region are known to researchers, so there's no real "citizen science" > value in reporting them on a birding list-serv. > > If you want, you can send in the coordinates to Spotted Owl researchers > such as Eric Forsman's group at OSU, just in case you've found a new > territory, or to confirm that a known owl is still alive. Sometimes > conservation groups that advocate for old-growth habitat are also > interested in this information. > > If you really want to let other birders know about your observation, you > could describe the location in general terms, like "Rock Creek drainage, > Champoeg County." > > If you're one of the many who are still hoping to see, or at least hear > a Spotted Owl before they all disappear: > > There are a few pairs of Spotted Owls around that are judged by > researchers to have become acclimated to human disturbance, to the point > where their locations can be mentioned. A couple of these locations are > listed in the Oregon Cascades Birding Trail guide (see > www.oregonbirdingtrails.org), along with hiking trails that provide > fairly good chances to encounter a Spotted Owl. Another way is to tag > along with someone who's doing an owl survey. Or else, spend some > quality time in the remaining bits of good habitat. Best of luck to you! > > Good birding, > Joel > > (*) By the way, there is no truth to the rumor that a certain > curmudgeonly birder was the only person known to have purchased a box of > Owl Helper with the actual intention of trying it out it. For one thing, > he has better taste and usually avoids foods that are heavy on MSG. > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.69/2328 - Release Date: 08/26/09 12:16:00 From namitzr at hotmail.com Wed Aug 26 19:17:59 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:17:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yachats swifts & Baskett Slough pelican 8/25 Message-ID: I went up to see family in Lincoln City on Tuesday and saw a couple dozen VAUX'S SWIFTS flying above the bridge in Yachats in Lincoln County. Oddly, it was a count bird for me. Later, I swung by Baskett Slough NWR and saw a single AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN at Taverner's Marsh off Coville Rd. http://library.fws.gov/refuges/BaskettSlough_map.pdf Shorebirds present were 2-3 Western Sandpipers, 2 Greater Yellowlegs and 1 Short-billed Dowitcher (juv.). Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090826/c9b18e8f/attachment.html From gorgebirds at juno.com Wed Aug 26 20:04:19 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 03:04:19 GMT Subject: [obol] Ridgefield BirdFest Message-ID: <20090826.200419.3293.1@webmail06.vgs.untd.com> BirdFest gives you your only opportunity to bird this fantastic refuge from outside your vehicle between Oct, 1 and May 1st. The Sandhill Cranes and wintering waterfowl will just be arriving by this date. Wilson Cady Washougal, WA BirdFest & Bluegrass 2009. October 10-11, 2009 all day Ridgefield, WA Locations: in town and on two Ridgefield NWR units BIRDWATCHING, BLUEGRASS MUSIC MAKING, CELEBRATING, NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY REPLICATING, all in one place! BirdFest and Bluegrass 2009 A celebration of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Guided bird, plant, and history walks, kayak tours, bluegrass music, a salmon bake and storytelling. Fun for birders, musicians, historians and families. Saturday and Sunday, October 10th and 11th all day. In Ridgefield, WA, just 25 minutes north of downtown Portland. I-5 to exit 14 follow the signs. Park your car once and ride an eco-shuttle to experience it all. Come see the beauty and explore the rich cultural history of the refuge. Adults and children can participate in so many free activities while enjoying the sights and sounds of fall migration. Archaeologist led demonstrations and walks will follow in the footsteps of Native Americans and Lewis and Clark to a replica of a Cathlapotle (Cath-lah-poh-tl) plank house, hand built using ancient techniques and tools. Sunday afternoon a traditional Salmon bake will be held at the plankhouse. The Bald Eagle is the featured bird and will be the focus of many of the expert guided walks and presentations. The refuge is home to many nesting pairs of these soaring beauties. Free children activities include Audubon guided bird walks, Oregon Zoo ?Wildlife Live? show, raptor displays, craft stations, storytelling and much, much more. When you get tired of looking up head to the BirdersMarketplace with great buys on, garden items, pottery, art, photography birdhouses, clothes and books. Fly the coop and try something new, see the refuge from the water on a guided kayak/paddle tour. (Reservations required ,children twelve and under are free, with an adult in a double kayak) Spectacular sunrise and sunset tours to view Sandhill Cranes flying in to a traditional roost, a rare opportunity to visit a closed area of the refuge, are offered on a limited basis, reservations and fees are required. 14 Bluegrass bands will play from 11:00am to 9:00 pm in downtown Ridgefield on Saturday only. All venues are within walking distance of each other, $10.00 gets you in all shows (children 12 and under are free) Bring your string instrument along, jamming is encouraged and workshops will be offered. All these activities might make a stomach grumble, food booths will be serving tasty treats to keep you playing all day. Proceeds from Birdfest and Bluegrass go to the Friend of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge to support programs on the refuge. For more information go to www.ridgefieldfriends.org Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 1022 Ridgefield, WA 98642 360-887-9495 Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Paying too much for your business phone system? Click here to compare systems from top companies. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTQZaqOAEHdossHB6EBrGTMY5NgpFfAwsy24TpouBMUtYTufNE3d9e/ From campbell at peak.org Wed Aug 26 21:34:09 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:34:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Linn Co. Swainson's Hawk(s): Yup Message-ID: <00E61D50797E41A6B995B479597349E4@maryPC> Tom Snetsinger's Swainson's Hawk's were too tantalizingly close, so I took a long lunch and checked them out. At 11:00 many large birds were hunting the newly mowed the fields north and south of Plainview (and between Manning and Sand Ridge Roads), many on the ground and quite a few in the air. Most of those on the ground were, I think, Ravens, Crows, Vultures and Red Tails, but it was hard to tell because of the shimmer. The group taking turns around the sky seemed to shrink to dots before I could get my scope set up, so picking out a dark phase Swainson's would have required an experienced hawk-watcher. Fifteen or twenty minutes of searching the sky did turn up a slender buteo in an aerial joust with a raven, less than a half-mile away. They were of roughly the same dimensions, but the Raven was by-far the stouter of the two. The hawk had long wings, not blunt, a light belly, an unmemorable tail, dark primaries and secondaries and a light leading edge to the wing, a dark head, and a peculiar, blank, bill-less appearance that I attribute to a white face around a small bill. I followed it for about three minutes at 20x, until it got rid of the Raven and began to kite with its wings extended and its tail tucked down. When I stepped back to get an idea of how far away it was, the bird somehow disappeared--down to the ground, I guess. I couldn't find it again, but I would call it a light morph SWAINSON'S HAWK--to make a pair with Tom's dark morph. This is a bird I would never have picked out, or even noticed, if not for the scope and the "head's up" from Tom. While I'm at it, I should mention that Sunday morning there were about twenty LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS at the Pioneer Villa sewage ponds, along with about eight LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and two RED-NECKED PHALAROPES. Randy Campbell Peoria (As usual, all of these birds were found without the use of a motor.) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090826/d8a5a28b/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Wed Aug 26 21:45:32 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:45:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] About reporting Spotted Owls References: <4a95e209.1ed7720a.02c5.ffff9bb5@mx.google.com> Message-ID: <88104C600381445E9B8F1D682F0023FE@1120639> Well, not everybody.... http://www.backwoodsbound.com/zgoos.html Tom Crabtree ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marilyn Miller" To: "'Wayne Hoffman'" ; ; "'Oregon Birders OnLine'" Cc: "'Marilyn Miller II'" Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 6:31 PM Subject: Re: [obol] About reporting Spotted Owls > Everyone in the world has agreed never, ever, never to eat any type of > goose, rare or otherwise. > Marilyn Miller > > > -----Original Message----- > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Wayne Hoffman > Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 12:46 PM > To: joel.geier at peak.org; Oregon Birders OnLine > Subject: Re: [obol] About reporting Spotted Owls > > Wasn't he going to try it on a rare goose? > > Wayne > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Joel Geier" > To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" > Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 11:54 AM > Subject: [obol] About reporting Spotted Owls > > >> Hi folks, >> >> One of the great things over the last 10 years has to see the increase >> in the number of birders who have either started birding or recently >> moved to Oregon, and are sharing their finds. >> >> Since many of today's Oregon birders were not around for the "Spotted >> Owl Wars" that took place in the 1980s and early 1990s, they might >> reasonably not be aware of the unwritten rule that's generally observed >> by longtime Pacific Northwest birders: To keep quiet about Spotted Owl >> detections, or at least, not publicize detailed coordinates to where you >> found them. >> >> In the bad old days, this was partly because a few disgruntled >> individuals were known to go out and shoot the birds, blaming them for >> the demise of the logging industry. Boxes of "Spotted Owl Helper" (a la >> Hamburger Helper) were on display in logging town cafes, mostly in a >> grumpy sort of humor, but some people went beyond that(*). >> >> These days, habitat/territory disturbance by birders using playback is >> probably a bigger risk. In the worst case, a birder who calls in a >> Spotted Owl could subject it to attack by a Barred Owl. There have been >> many reports of Barred Owls coming in to Spotted Owl tapes, presumably >> looking for the Spotted Owl. The more birders go looking for a >> particular owl, the greater the chance of impact. >> >> I hope this explains the situation, if you're relatively new to the Pac >> NW birding scene. >> >> As to how or what to report if you do encounter a Spotted Owl: >> >> First of all, congratulations for your rare experience! Please take time >> to enjoy it and celebrate in whatever way you reserve for your best life >> birds. >> >> After that, you really don't need to report anything. I've heard that >> the locations of pretty much every single pair of Spotted Owls in our >> region are known to researchers, so there's no real "citizen science" >> value in reporting them on a birding list-serv. >> >> If you want, you can send in the coordinates to Spotted Owl researchers >> such as Eric Forsman's group at OSU, just in case you've found a new >> territory, or to confirm that a known owl is still alive. Sometimes >> conservation groups that advocate for old-growth habitat are also >> interested in this information. >> >> If you really want to let other birders know about your observation, you >> could describe the location in general terms, like "Rock Creek drainage, >> Champoeg County." >> >> If you're one of the many who are still hoping to see, or at least hear >> a Spotted Owl before they all disappear: >> >> There are a few pairs of Spotted Owls around that are judged by >> researchers to have become acclimated to human disturbance, to the point >> where their locations can be mentioned. A couple of these locations are >> listed in the Oregon Cascades Birding Trail guide (see >> www.oregonbirdingtrails.org), along with hiking trails that provide >> fairly good chances to encounter a Spotted Owl. Another way is to tag >> along with someone who's doing an owl survey. Or else, spend some >> quality time in the remaining bits of good habitat. Best of luck to you! >> >> Good birding, >> Joel >> >> (*) By the way, there is no truth to the rumor that a certain >> curmudgeonly birder was the only person known to have purchased a box of >> Owl Helper with the actual intention of trying it out it. For one thing, >> he has better taste and usually avoids foods that are heavy on MSG. >> >> -- >> Joel Geier >> Camp Adair area north of Corvallis >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.69/2328 - Release Date: 08/26/09 > 12:16:00 > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From withgott at comcast.net Wed Aug 26 21:57:59 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:57:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] 165 Sauvie Pelicans, 296 Bybee Egrets, fewer shorebirds Message-ID: I needed a break from work, so cut out this afternoon to finally do my first shorebirding of the season. Went to Vanport Wetlands, Bybee Lake, and Sauvie Island. Shorebirds were a bit disappointing, but the numbers of big charismatic waterbirds were pretty stunning, especially the 165 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS at Sturgeon Lake. Vanport: 35 DOWITCHERS 2 LEAST SAND. 2 KILLDEER Bybee Lake: 296 GREAT EGRETS 60 DOWITCHERS 3 PHALAROPES, apparently RED-NECKED (distant) 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS 5 LEAST SAND. 80 PEEP SP. (distant & in flight) 2 KILLDEER 1 PEREGRINE FALCON Many uncounted dozens of Great Blue Herons and Pied-billed Grebes Sturgeon Lake, Sauvie Island: 165 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS 231 GREAT BLUE HERONS 6 GREAT EGRETS 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS 2 LEAST SAND. 140 PEEP SP. (distant) 15 KILLDEER 2 CASPIAN TERNS Rentenaar Road, Sauvie Island: 25+ BANK SWALLOWS along with 4 other swallow spp. Conditions are dry at Rentenaar and virtually dry at the Reeder Road blind, while Sturgeon Lake has so many vast acres of mudflats that it was either (A) shocking that there weren't more shorebirds or (B) no surprise that I couldn't find many of them in that huge expanse of habitat. Bybee Lake had great conditions for shorebirds and herons/egrets. Vanport had seemingly good intermediate water levels, but is so overgrown with weeds along the edges that shorebirds perhaps don't have enough mudflats for their taste. Jay W, Portland From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Aug 26 23:42:14 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:42:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 8-27-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * August 27, 2009 * ORPO0908.27 - birds mentioned Gr. White-fronted Goose Canada Goose WILSON?S STORM-PETREL Am. White Pelican Great Egret Snowy Egret Swainson?s Hawk Pacific Golden-Plover Long-billed Curlew Baird?s Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper Red Phalarope Elegant Tern Black Swift Western Scrub-Jay Swainson?s Thrush BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER Brewer?s Sparrow - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday August 27. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On August 24 a WILSON?S STORM-PETREL was seen about 65 miles west of Curry County. A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was seen August 26 at Cape Meares Village. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS, BAIRD?S SANDPIPERS, and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS are now arriving on Oregon shorebird flats. The first nocturnal flights of SWAINSON?S THRUSHES are now being reported. The first movements of WHITE-FRONTED GEESE are also being reported. On August 23 a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER and a SNOWY EGRET were at Bandon. Two ELEGANT TERNS were at Charleston August 21, but could not be relocated. On August 23 a flock of LESSER CANADA GEESE were over Ridgefield NWR. There are now 165 WHITE PELICANS at Sauvie Island and 296 GREAT EGRETS at the Smith/Bybee Lakes in North Portland. A large flock of BLACK SWIFTS was reported August 20 over NW Portland. On August 26 a LONG-BILLED CURLEW was at the Tualatin NWR. One was at Fern Ridge Reservoir August 22. On August 26 a RED PHALAROPE and two BREWER?S SPARROWS were at Fern Ridge. Two SWAINSON?S HAWKS were along Plainview Road north of Brownsville August 26. On August 25 a flock of 12 SCRUB-JAYS were at Crooked River Ranch north of Terrebonne, and one was at LaPine, south of Bend. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090826/2e191b3e/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Thu Aug 27 00:28:26 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 03:28:26 -0400 Subject: [obol] Telling shore birds apart Message-ID: <8CBF4FF1A1BC051-3B08-9452@webmail-d027.sysops.aol.com> I've spent quite a bit of time looking for shore birds. I've found quire a few, even have a bunch of photos.? But I can't really tell which birds they are for sure. Especially the little ones. And with the birds going thru different phases of development. Is there any key or method that lets you determine which bird with any kind of reliability? I use a Sibley book. Is there a better one. Any help appreciated. Johnny -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090827/4a8465b4/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Aug 27 04:47:22 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 04:47:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Early AM Bird Movement 8/27/2009 Message-ID: <288643.70407.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> The 4:30AM report from near Mingus Park, Coos Bay: 12 SWAINSON'S THRUSH/minute lots of WESTERN SANDPIPERS heard also, didin't count them. ?Many flocks seen around town, along the beach, flying to and fro from the bay yesterday also. Merry migration! Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090827/619d5e71/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Aug 27 07:15:12 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:15:12 +0000 Subject: [obol] Old Dickcissel Record In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: As of 27 May, 2009 there is a May Dickcissel record for Oregon. Phil Hicks photographed on in his yard near Grants Pass on this date. As Al McGie notes below, there are no prior May records from the state. This is a highly unusual spring record. Most west coast records come during fall and winter. Dave Irons > From: alanmcgie at comcast.net > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:25:33 -0800 > Subject: [obol] Old Dickcissel Record > > OBOL, > > I was typing up Bird Phenology Records for the N. A. Bird Phenology > Program when I ran across a record for the arrival of 2 Dickcissels > reported by Olive Barber on 2 May 1932 in Coos Bay, OR. She reported > them as rare and breeds with a question mark. She also noted that > "Have never found nest". Dickcissels are strictly vagrants in Oregon > and normally found across the grasslands in the interior of e. North > America. Herlyn and Contreras in their new book, Handbook of Oregon > Birds, 2009, p. 263-264, state there are 11 accepted records of this > species in Oregon, although none are shown for May. Gabrielson and > Jewett in their book Birds of Oregon published in 1940 do not list any > records of Dickcissels in Oregon, although Olive Barber's record was > submitted 8 years earlier. They probably didn't know about this > record or chose to ignore it without a specimen. > > Olive Barber was a prominent resident of Coos Bay and has a road named > after her in the Isthmus Heights Area on the east side of Coos Bay. > She was born in 1889 and died in Coos Bay in 1972. I lived in Coos > Bay/North Bend from 1960 to 1984 but did not know her. The resident > female guru of birding around there at that time was Hilda Reiher who > I did know. The first known record in Coos County at that time was a > mature male in basic plumage that showed up in Lakeside, OR, north of > Coos Bay, on 30 Nov 1979 at Sarah Thurman's feeder. She was kind > enough to allow many of us to crowd around in her kitchen and watch > through the kitchen window. > > Alan McGie > North Albany, OR (Benton Co.) > E-mail: alanmcgie at comcast.net > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Keep your friends up to date with what you do online. http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_online:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090827/dff36aed/attachment.html From cncschneider at msn.com Thu Aug 27 08:50:05 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 08:50:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Acorn Woodpeckers Silverton, Marion County Message-ID: Hi Birders, Yesterday (8/26) there were 6 ACORN WOODPECKERS in a European White Birch in my back yard. At least 3 of the ACORN WOODPECKERS were juveniles and there were possibly 4 juveniles. The woodpeckers appeared to be drinking sap from some sap wells in the birch. I have had an occasional ACORN WOODPECKER in the yard but never more than one so I was surprised to see 6. I know of at lest 3 colonies within a couple of mile of my house but I have not seen more than 2 at any of these colonies. I was wondering if ACORN WOODPECKERS will wander from there territories in search of food before the acorn crop ripens. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance. On a side note I heard a EUROPEAN STARLING doing a perfect imitation of a Killdeer. I've never heard a starling do such good mimicking. Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090827/f9ad251b/attachment.html From tjanzen at comcast.net Thu Aug 27 09:20:40 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:20:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Old Dickcissel Record In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20090827162103.A1BB4A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear Dave and others, There are also several June reports that were never accepted by the OBRC. This report is from Harry Nehl's weekly Audubon RBA on June 27, 1996: "A male DICKCISSEL has set up a territory in Stuart Craghons back yard at the Malheur Field Station near Malheur Refuge Headquarters. It has been there for some time." This report is from Harry Nehl's weekly Audubon RBA on June 19, 1996: "On June 10 a bright male DICKCISSEL was near Malheur NWR Headquarters at the Blitzen River Bridge along the road from Headquarters to the Field Station. It was still there the next day." As noted at http://www.oregonbirds.org/obrc_unaccepted_2009.html the Dickcessel reports on June 9 and 10, 1996 weren't accepted by the OBRC. This bird may have been the same one that was at Stuart Craghon's home. I don't think a report to the OBRC was ever received from Stuart Craghon. Sincerely, Tim Janzen _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of David Irons Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2009 7:15 AM To: alanmcgie at comcast.net; post OBOL Subject: Re: [obol] Old Dickcissel Record As of 27 May, 2009 there is a May Dickcissel record for Oregon. Phil Hicks photographed on in his yard near Grants Pass on this date. As Al McGie notes below, there are no prior May records from the state. This is a highly unusual spring record. Most west coast records come during fall and winter. Dave Irons -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090827/fadaefec/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Thu Aug 27 11:52:41 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:52:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR shorebirds this AM Message-ID: <377A76CB-172A-4184-B908-FA4DEC3D6B9B@gmail.com> I got to the east side of Rest Lake at Ridgefield this morning at about 7:30-7:45 and stayed longer than I needed to, but was enjoying looking at the shorebirds that were there. The tide was supposed to be high around 11 AM according to Bob Flores who drove by, so I wanted to see if anything came in with it. I had to drag myself away as there were too many thing to do before leaving tomorrow early for the Oregon Shorebird Festival down at Charleston. All of the shorebirds below were juveniles, except for the Killdeer. Semipalmated Plovers - 2 Killdeer - 41 BAIRD'S SANDPIPER - 5 PECTORAL SANDPIPER - 8 Least Sandpiper - 45 Western Sandpiper - 25 Lesser Yellowlegs - 2 Great Yellowlegs - 3 Wilson's Snipe - 1 And a very sweet family of otters (Mom and 3 kids). Cheers, Shawneen Finnegan Portland, OR From winkg at hevanet.com Thu Aug 27 12:53:20 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:53:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 08/26/09 Message-ID: <20090827195323.AEE10A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 08/20 to 08/26/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and an updated (7/1/09) checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 7 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) CANADA GOOSE 1 (4, 8/21) Red-tailed Hawk 1 (1, 8/23) Band-tailed Pigeon 5 (12, 8/22) Mourning Dove 5 (4) Vaux's Swift 2 (6, 8/20) Anna's Hummingbird 4 (6) Rufous Hummingbird 3 (6, 8/26) Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 (2, 8/23) Hairy Woodpecker 3 (1) Northern Flicker 4 (2) Pileated Woodpecker 3 (2) CASSIN'S VIREO 1 (1, 8/26) Hutton's Vireo 3 (1) Warbling Vireo 1 (2, 8/26) Steller's Jay 7 (10, 8/23) Western Scrub-Jay 5 (2) American Crow 5 (3) Common Raven 2 (1, 8/21 & 26) Purple Martin 1 (1+[heard only], 8/23) Black-capped Chickadee 7 (20) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 5 (2) Bushtit 3 (10) Red-breasted Nuthatch 6 (5) Brown Creeper 5 (1) Bewick's Wren 3 (3, 8/20) Winter Wren 5 (2) GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET 1 (3, 8/22) Swainson's Thrush 6 (3, 8/20) American Robin 1 (1, 8/24) Cedar Waxwing 6 (15, 8/20) Orange-crowned Warbler 1 (1, 8/26) Black-throated Gray Warbler 3 (1) TOWNSEND'S WARBLER 1 (2, 8/26) MacGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER 1 (1, 8/21) Wilson's Warbler 6 (6, 8/20) Western Tanager 1 (2, 8/21) Spotted Towhee 7 (5) Song Sparrow 7 (10, 8/23) Dark-eyed Junco 7 (10, 8/20) Black-headed Grosbeak 1 (1, 8/24) Purple Finch 2 (1, 8/21 & 23) House Finch 7 (15) Red Crossbill 4 (5, 8/22) Pine Siskin 2 (3, 8/20) American Goldfinch 5 (2) Evening Grosbeak 1 (1, 8/26) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: Western Wood-Pewee, Cliff Swallow Misses (birds found at least 3 days in previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Downy Woodpecker, Empidonax sp. Wink Gross Portland From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Aug 27 13:21:01 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:21:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Link to Vaux's Swift video Message-ID: <1251404461.25376.225.camel@clearwater> Hi folks, As a warm-up for swift-counters, there's now a link to a video showing a "tornado" of Vaux's Swifts going into a chimney in Stayton last spring. See: http://www.oregonbirds.org/vauxs_swift_survey.html Thanks to Irene Jackson for the link to her video, and happy counting! Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From m_scatt at yahoo.com Thu Aug 27 13:58:10 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:58:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Mt. Tabor Dusky Flycatcher, Purple Martin Message-ID: <540526.46027.qm@web55704.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Quite a few migrants are moving through Mt. Tabor, SE Portland right now. This morning Adrian saw a Dusky Flycatcher in the brushy area southeast of the statue near the top (Flycatcher Corner). He also heard a probable distant Purple Martin. Also we saw lots of Orange-crowned, Black-throated Gray and Wilson's Warblers, as well as several Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Warbling Vireos, Swainson's Thrushes, Western Tanagers, and Black-headed Grosbeaks. There are still many hummingbirds around, although not as many Rufous as there were earlier this week. On the 25th we saw lots of Wilson's Warblers and Black-headed Grosbeaks, 2 or 3 MacGillivray's Warblers, and heard a Cassin's Vireo. Yesterday (the 26th) we saw a Townsend's Warbler along with the usual suspects. Good Birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090827/f0619d73/attachment.html From dan at heyerly.com Thu Aug 27 15:07:35 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Daniel d.Heyerly) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:07:35 -0400 Subject: [obol] 1996 Dickcissel record Message-ID: On the date the Dickcissel was reported from the bridge over the Blitzen River near Malheur HQ back in June 1996, I heard about this sighting that afternoon while looking for Upland Sandpipers east of Seneca. A carload of birders from California saw this bird and told me about it as we looked for Upland Sandpipers together. I encouraged them to report it to the OBRC, but I do not know if they did. It seems like I remember that they indeed reported it, but that it was an incomplete report or it was rejected for some reason. This probably is the report from the June 10, 1996 sighting I would guess. I do not think they photographed it. One of the birders as I recall was familiar with the species because he lived in the Midwest somewhere where they are common. Too bad it was rejected, because from talking with them it sounded like a good one. Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090827/3d5b01ec/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Thu Aug 27 15:10:44 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:10:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos birds - Buff-breasted Sandpiper 8/27 Message-ID: Jim Danzenbaker (WA) and I birded the North Spit of Coos Bay as well as Bandon Marsh NWR. We did a short seawatch from the dunes at the north spit. Here is a selective list for each place with an emphasis on shorebirds for the upcoming festival. North Spit 3 Red-shouldered Hawks 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 Merlin 11 Whimbrel (fly over) 1 Wandering Tattler 2 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 6 Pectoral Sandpipers 2 Least Sandpipers 1 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER (on beach) 50 Sanderlings (beach) 1 Black-bellied Plover (beach) 2 Killdeer 30 Red-necked Phalarope 10 Marbled Murrelet 5 Rhinoceros Auklet 1 Common Loon 4 Pacific Loon 1 Red-necked Grebe Bandon Marsh (very foggy) *same species and similar numbers as report from the weekend with the addition of a heard-only Pectoral Sandpiper. Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Western/Least Sandpiper 1 Baird's Sandpiper (heard only) 1 Pectoral Sandpiper (heard only) Short-billed Dowitcher Marbled Godwit 1 Ruddy Turnstone Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090827/884e9305/attachment.html From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Thu Aug 27 15:45:40 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (Gerard Lillie) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:45:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mt. Tabor Dusky Flycatcher, Purple Martin In-Reply-To: <540526.46027.qm@web55704.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <540526.46027.qm@web55704.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <00f301ca2768$1afe35b0$50faa110$@lillie@comcast.net> There have been pretty much the same birds, although smaller numbers,(but no Dusky Flycatcher or Purple Martin) in and around my yard not far from the park. The slow, spread out "fall" migration has been under way on Tabor for a few weeks now. It's always fun to see what will show up next and what the numbers will be. Gerard Lillie Mt. Tabor Portland, OR From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of m_scatt at yahoo.com Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2009 1:58 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Mt. Tabor Dusky Flycatcher, Purple Martin Quite a few migrants are moving through Mt. Tabor, SE Portland right now. This morning Adrian saw a Dusky Flycatcher in the brushy area southeast of the statue near the top (Flycatcher Corner). He also heard a probable distant Purple Martin. Also we saw lots of Orange-crowned, Black-throated Gray and Wilson's Warblers, as well as several Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Warbling Vireos, Swainson's Thrushes, Western Tanagers, and Black-headed Grosbeaks. There are still many hummingbirds around, although not as many Rufous as there were earlier this week. On the 25th we saw lots of Wilson's Warblers and Black-headed Grosbeaks, 2 or 3 MacGillivray's Warblers, and heard a Cassin's Vireo. Yesterday (the 26th) we saw a Townsend's Warbler along with the usual suspects. Good Birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia start: 0000-00-00 end: 0000-00-00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090827/38759e37/attachment.html From sheran at bendbroadband.com Thu Aug 27 17:20:47 2009 From: sheran at bendbroadband.com (Sheran Wright) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:20:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: LESSER NIGHT-HAWK Message-ID: I just got a phone call from Duncan Evered at Malheur Field Station. He said there is an adult female Lesser Night-hawk at the field station (along the east side). He said those coming to see the bird should contact him or Lyla (541 493-2629) and they will show you where it is hanging out. He believes it has been there for possibly a couple of day, but just got good scope looks today to be sure of the ID. He describes, among other things, the bird having small buffy wing patches, and flying differently than the many Common Nighthawks there. He called me because he thought only Bend birders (and those closer) would have a chance of getting there before nightfall today, but it is a bit too far to make it there today before it gets dark. I'm hoping birders from Burns can get out there this evening. Judy Meredith and I are heading to Charleston at dawn tomorrow morning for the OFO annual meeting/Shorebird Festival. If any OBOL/COBOLers see this rare bird, I hope they will put a leash on it until I can get back in a few days. Sheran Wright Bend, OR From susanl at speedyquick.net Thu Aug 27 15:45:52 2009 From: susanl at speedyquick.net (Susan Lindstedt) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:45:52 -0400 Subject: [obol] 1996 Dickcissel record References: Message-ID: <004701ca2768$220363d0$6401a8c0@COMPUTER911F6D> I learned about the Dickcissel at Malheur Field Station from CD Littlefield. It was a dickcissel. It was there. A letter or call to CD ought to clear up the matter. Littlefield does not do email. CD Littlefield PO Box 44 Rodeo, NM 88056-0044 575-557-2381 Happy Trails Susan ----- Original Message ----- From: Daniel d.Heyerly To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2009 6:07 PM Subject: [obol] 1996 Dickcissel record On the date the Dickcissel was reported from the bridge over the Blitzen River near Malheur HQ back in June 1996, I heard about this sighting that afternoon while looking for Upland Sandpipers east of Seneca. A carload of birders from California saw this bird and told me about it as we looked for Upland Sandpipers together. I encouraged them to report it to the OBRC, but I do not know if they did. It seems like I remember that they indeed reported it, but that it was an incomplete report or it was rejected for some reason. This probably is the report from the June 10, 1996 sighting I would guess. I do not think they photographed it. One of the birders as I recall was familiar with the species because he lived in the Midwest somewhere where they are common. Too bad it was rejected, because from talking with them it sounded like a good one. Dan Heyerly, Eugene ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Internal Virus Database is out of date. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.0/1959 - Release Date: 02/18/09 20:55:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090827/97606876/attachment.html From sheran at bendbroadband.com Thu Aug 27 17:54:07 2009 From: sheran at bendbroadband.com (Sheran Wright) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:54:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pix of Lesser Night-hawk Message-ID: <8BF4CD09B7E448BE84E4BBDA3BF66732@notebook> Rick Vetter is on his way from Burns to MFS to try to get a photo of this bird. He said he would email them to me tonight if he is fortunate enough to get any. Duncan said he would try to send me his digiscope pic. Who can I send them to this evening (assuming there are any)? I am too low tech to know how to post them to some site myself. Please let me know ASAP (Patterson? Gillson? Schmidt?) as I am leaving here at 6 am tomorrow. Sheran Wright From jmeredit at bendnet.com Thu Aug 27 18:45:27 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:45:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wickiup report-RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS. GOSHAWKS Message-ID: Lew Rems went to Wickiup earlier this week. He reports a lot of raptors including: Two RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS. He watched them a while from the dam, an apparent adult and juvenile, hunting along the line of willows and pestering the small birds in there. Three NORTHERN GOSHAWKS. Includes one that came toward him and as he turned, the wing grazed his hat! It was a juvenile. He noted lots of Harriers, Osprey etc. A lot of shorebirds were out there farther out. One Common Loon remains near the dam. Judy jmeredit at bendnet.com From srnord101 at verizon.net Thu Aug 27 20:52:37 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:52:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Smith-Bybee Lakes, Portland and Oak Island on Sauvie Island Message-ID: <000001ca2792$fc6c87c0$f5459740$@net> OBOL; Inspired by Jay Withgott's report from yesterday, I visited some of the same locations to see what I could find this morning. I first visited both lakes at Smith-Bybee, followed by a walk, with my scope, around the loop trail at Oak Island on Sauvie Island. Lot of mud on Sturgeon Lake, but except for the many Ring-billed and California Gulls, the mudflats were mostly empty. SMITH LAKE (8:30-9:00) 185 PIED-BILLED GREBE 43 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT 20 GREAT BLUE HERON 4 GREAT EGRET 1 GREEN HERON 1 COOPER'S HAWK (immature) 1 BALD EAGLE (adult) 2 OSPREY BYBEE LAKE (9:15-9:55) 130 PIED-BILLED GREBE 2 DOUBLE_CRESTED CORMORANT 68 GREAT BLUE HERON 298 GREAT EGRET 2 GREEN HERON 17 KILLDEER 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS 2 LESSER YELLOWLEGS 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER 14 WESTERN SANDPIPER 37 LEAST SANDPIPER 11 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE OAK ISLAND (10:20-12:15) 145+ AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (distant and bunched together so getting an exact count difficult) 112 GREAT BLUE HERON 1 COOPER'S HAWK (immature) 1 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (immature bird) 1 OSPREY 30 LEAST SANDPIPER (north end of lake) 17 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (north end of lake) 2 BONAPARTE'S GULL (north end of lake) Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From jmeredit at bendnet.com Thu Aug 27 20:59:10 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:59:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Vaux's Swifts in Bend Message-ID: > Birders > I checked out the night scene in Bend at 644 Harriman, business > location of Christmas Presence. > The birds were circling starting at 7:25 when I arrived. > The first entry was 7:49. > By 8 pm 128 birds had entered. > While I was packing up, 2 more birds entered. So 130 total. > > In the area for viewing pleasure while waiting, Common > Nighthawks and Eurasian Collared Doves. > Lets patronize her business and mention the chimney and the > birds so she continues to be influenced to leave it as is. She > sells holiday doo-dads, not just Christmas things. > Judy > jmeredit at bendnet.com From 5hats at peak.org Thu Aug 27 21:02:44 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:02:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Siletz Bay Red-shouldered Hawk Message-ID: <1059F8F9BF5B424D8837CCEB7EE1EC87@your5rlp3a9516> Obolites, In most Oregon locations Red-shouldered Hawks are hardly hot news any more, but it still seems to me that in any given location they can be sometimes difficult to find. So it seems worth mentioning that we have seen one with great regularity lately at Siletz Bay. I has been hanging out south of the Siletz River on the east side of US 101, between the south end of the Kernville Bridge and Imomen Road. We have seen it several times perched atop the Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge sign. Darrel & Laura -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090827/31936851/attachment.html From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Thu Aug 27 21:10:51 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (Tom McNamara) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:10:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] day late, dollar short...oh! and not as many shorebirds.... Message-ID: Read Shawneen's post about Ridgefield and was wishing I was about 3 hours earlier on arrival. By the time I got there, the heat shimmer was a significant factor and, addtitionally, the numbers of both birds and species were down. I managed 2 Pectoral Sandpipers and 3 Bairds and some killdeer. Most of these birds were way off, save one Pec, and it was a case of reading what had been posted at the entrance (presumably by Shawneen) and jizz inference i.e. figuring that those distant, darkish biggish shorebirds foragaing like pecs were the pecs and the silvery gray were the Baird's. Both species were in the company of peeps and killdeer for size comparison. Unsatisfied with such shimmering looks, I decided to go to Smith and Bybee and the jail backside to see what was around. Got 1 very distant Pec at Bybee associating with some (about 8) peeps and killdeer. Between the back of the jail and Bybee near the blind I counted 245 Great Egrets and there were a bunch of Great Blue Herons too (dozens). Oh, and before I left the house in the a.m I noticed an influx of Lesser Goldfinches, and juv. juncos and song sparrows. Also, surprisingly, a female tanager perched on a tomato cage. I was thinking it was going to be good across the street in Tabor and Christopher, Adrian and Em findings supported that hunch. good birding, Tom _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=PID23391::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HYGN_faster:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090827/c0101710/attachment.html From sheran at bendbroadband.com Thu Aug 27 21:12:28 2009 From: sheran at bendbroadband.com (Sheran Wright) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:12:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: Lesser Nighthawk photos Message-ID: I am forwarding Duncan's two photos. Since he sent them as a Word file, I'm sending them directly. I hope this doesn't cause a problem for anybody. Rick Vetter is going to try for photos again tomorrow. Sheran Wright ----- Original Message ----- From: Malheur Field Station To: sheran at bendbroadband.com Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2009 8:44 PM Subject: Lesser Nighthawk photos Attached find a Word file with 2 photos. Rick had no luck (it was a bit late), but will try again tomorrow if the bird is still around. Duncan -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090827/022fb737/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: LENI.doc Type: application/msword Size: 3754496 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090827/022fb737/attachment.doc From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Aug 27 21:26:27 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:26:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lesser Nighthawk photo In-Reply-To: Message-ID: I have posted Duncan Evered's best currently available photo to my bird photo blog. More photos will be coming in a day or three. http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From tanager at nu-world.com Thu Aug 27 22:54:13 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:54:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon Field Ornithologists Annual Meeting Message-ID: <00b401ca27a3$f90cd240$eb2676c0$@com> The Annual Meeting of Oregon Field Ornithologists (OFO), Oregon's statewide non-profit birding organization established in the 1970s, will be held in Charleston, Oregon on Saturday August 29, 2009. Specifically the time and location of the meeting is 7:00pm at the Boathouse of the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in Charleston. The meeting will be short and will feature a Treasurer's report, nominations for Board positions (President 1-year term, Secretary 1-year term, Treasurer 1-year term, and two Director two-year terms). Following the business part of the meeting, a special award will be presented to a deserving recipient. After the nominations are closed at this meeting, ballots will be mailed out to the membership for voting within the time period stipulated in the by-laws of OFO. The OFO Board is seeking responsible people willing to volunteer and serve in this organization. If you would like to serve on the Board, or if you want to place in nomination the name of someone who would like to serve, please contact one of the current members of the Board of Directors (click on the "Officers and Other Volunteers" link on the OFO Website http://www.oregonbirds.org/ for contact information). If you want to contact me regarding this information, you can reach me only by mobile phone beginning Friday morning (8/28) at 541-228-0513. Serving on the Board is fun, some birding is involved, and it certainly challenging at times. It is worth it. Sincerely, Dan Heyerly, Secretary -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090827/6bf58be3/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri Aug 28 06:02:29 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 06:02:29 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrushes Moving 8/28/2009 Message-ID: <716477.14120.qm@web45303.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Just before 6AM at our place in Coos Bay and there is a cloud of Swainson's Thrushes moving through, hundreds per minute, probably 5+ per second, back out to listen!! Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090828/a1b8036a/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Fri Aug 28 09:25:32 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:25:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] House Finches going to roost, McMinnville Message-ID: Thursday evening about 1940 I wne to watch the Vaux's Swifts go into the chimney on Wallace Rd where I had seen them the previous week. As there was some time before they would be ready to drop into the chimney, I walked around a bit and saw Corws and other birds also heading off to roost. Among these were House Finches, which were going into a pair of Douglas Firs on the west side of Wallace Way. I had never seen large numbers of House Finches roost together like this. They were ducking into the interior of the trees. I was too late to estimate a number, but it was clear from the sound that the trees were loaded with them. Pamela Johnston From pointers at pacifier.com Fri Aug 28 09:47:59 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:47:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Belted Kingfisher Question - Juvie Male ??? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090828164802.DD8C36A565@smtp2.pacifier.net> hi group ... here's the pix, bird seen yesterday (thursday) at Ridgefield NWR ... on the River S tour, over Bower Slough ... the bird was calling like I've heard juveniles of other species do, it remained for quite a long time at one spot, and it didn't seem to mind the car stopping ... in the past I found the Kingfishers seemed to leave when the car actually stopped ... when I went by the area again about 2 hours later it was still within about 50 feet of where I took the earlier picture ... http://ridgefieldbirds.com/Images09Aug/RNWR_belted_kingfisher_08-27-09.jpg now, as to why I'm wondering if it is a Juvenile Male --- here's some online quotes ... from Cornell's "ALL ABOUT BIRDS" (I do not have access to their Birds of North America) Male Description Belly white, without rufous band. May have rufous flanks and some reddish in blue chest band. Female Description Rufous flanks and band across chest below the blue band. Rufous tips to feathers in blue chest band. Immature Description Immature like adult, but immature male has incomplete rufous chest band. and from another website: Pay attention to the appearance of the Belted Kingfisher. It is a stocky bird with slate blue upperparts and underparts that are mostly white in color. Males and females both have a slate blue band on their breasts, while females also have a rust colored band on their bellies. Juvenile Belted Kingfishers have rust-colored spots in their breast bands and yet another website stated that the female adult's rufous breast band was thinner than the juvenile males ... the band in the pix I took yesterday is much thicker than previous females I have photographed in past years. ... I'm not sure where else to look ... Sibley isn't very helpful here (page 304 if you've got yours next to you) ... thanks, Lyn Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090828/48931860/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Fri Aug 28 10:32:03 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:32:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry birds 8/28 - 8/29 Message-ID: Floras Creek - Curry County 8/28 Jim Danzenbaker reports the continuing presence of 3 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS at Floras Creek. They have moved out to the beach directly west from Floras Lake, feeding at the high tide wrack line. Previously they were located north of here at the junction of Floras Creek and New River. Cape Arago - Coos County 8/29 Jim Danzenbaker and I did an hour seawatch in the intermittent rain. The usual murre, murrelet, auklet, cormorant and gull species were present. At least 2 miles out were presumably migrating SOOTY (100+) & PINK-FOOTED (50) SHEARWATERS. One distant ARTIC TERN flew by as well as an unidentified jaeger species. Perhaps the highlight was a small pod of 5 ORCA heading south. An immature Steller Sea Lion passed within 20 yards of the pod, but I guess they weren't hungry. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090828/4e81719b/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Aug 28 12:04:44 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:04:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Local RBA: Black Swifts headed for Corvallis Message-ID: <1251486284.25376.352.camel@clearwater> Hi folks, I was painting some fence posts just now (12:00 noon) and saw a mixed flock of swallows and swifts over Tampico Ridge. At least three of them are BLACK SWIFTS. One went out over E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area air space briefly. Wil came out to look and we saw three of them together with their distinctive wingbeats and fanning tails, back over the ridge. The whole bunch are working their way south so might be looked for over Vineyard Mountain on the north edge of Corvallis, in a half hour to an hour ... or less if they decide to hightail! Great viewing conditions with the cloud cover. Thanks to George Neavoll in Portland for alerting us all to the possibility that Black Swifts are coming through the Willamette Valley. Now back to painting one last post so it can dry before it rains. Happy sky-gazing, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From coffehound at gmail.com Fri Aug 28 12:07:26 2009 From: coffehound at gmail.com (Demian Ebert) Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:07:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] USFWS Considers listing Black-footed Albatross Message-ID: FYI The USFWS is soliciting information for a status review of black-footed albatross. They are considering listing as threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act. The news release is at: http://tinyurl.com/l3kyxu Demian -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090828/77e8188d/attachment.html From kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us Fri Aug 28 12:35:03 2009 From: kyle.w.bratcher at state.or.us (Kyle W Bratcher) Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:35:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] NAMC-Wallowa County Message-ID: Hey all, We know it's almost time for the fall migration count. Anyone interested in participating in the Wallowa county count contact me. I have not decided on what day the count will be held. I would like to get some volunteers together and get an idea of a preference. Thank you all and good birding. Kyle Bratcher 541-740-1093 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090828/2a30e753/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Aug 28 12:48:08 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:48:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrushes Moving 8/28/2009 In-Reply-To: <716477.14120.qm@web45303.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <716477.14120.qm@web45303.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <7d68ceda37a3fc3b567636c7a5aa244e@earthlink.net> I had a similar experience yesterday at dawn- a veritable chorus of Swainson's Thrushes aloft. I've never heard this before, just individual flight notes. Curiously, no White-fronts yet. Given my location, a ridgetop in the nw corner of the state, I'm usually among the first to detect them. Furthermore, I sleep outside whenever possible and it seems like a high percentage of these geese come on shore after dark. At least from an Anser perspective there's no threat of an early Fall. Lars Norgren On Aug 28, 2009, at 6:02 AM, Tim Rodenkirk wrote: > Just before 6AM at our place in Coos Bay and there is a cloud of > Swainson's Thrushes moving through, hundreds per minute, probably 5+ > per second, back out to listen!! > > Tim R > Coos Bay > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Fri Aug 28 13:29:52 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:29:52 -0400 Subject: [obol] hint of change Message-ID: Yard changes this week: the hummers have pretty much vanished, as have all the black-headed grosbeaks, a couple of bullock orioles showed up to use the birdbath -- rare for the backyard -- and a juvenile chipping sparrow has been here for a couple of days. I don't see them except briefly during migration every few years. Off topic: Right now the Hood to Coast relay walkers who start out in Portland are passing by in droves. We're a block from the major turn in Warren that takes them due east. So far they have been walking northward on Highway 30. It gets far more rural for them after they make that turn. Lona Pierce, Columbia County _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Keep your friends up to date with what you do online. http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_online:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090828/c2cb6404/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Fri Aug 28 15:04:29 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:04:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR shorebirds Message-ID: Kinda slow today. I did have 8 Baird's sandpipers and that is a good #. Five pectoral, about 60 western and 10 least sandpipers. One lesser yellowlegs and one lb dowitcher. That was it and the Peregrine kept them moving! bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090828/d34fb58c/attachment.html From campbell at peak.org Fri Aug 28 15:10:17 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:10:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Peoria Black Swifts Message-ID: <1DEED7F6C558428E8C943098796F425A@maryPC> As with Joel, today was a painting day for me, until rain sent me to lunch at 1:30. I checked my computer at 2:00 and saw his noontime post from Adair and, on the mid-valley list, Rich Armstrong's post from Corvallis about an hour-and-a-half later. So I headed back out into a light rain, down to the river bank to sit and watch the several-hundred swallows that were swirling above the water. Twenty minutes later, and after almost falling asleep, I saw my first swift, and then some others, flying among the swallows, between 40 and 90 feet above the river--generally higher than the swallows. I couldn't judge based on size or color, but the wing beats seemed slow relative to Vaux's, and they did fan their tails. I counted at least six, but I had trouble keeping track among the other birds, so there could have been many more. (Curiously, I didn't see a single Vaux's Swift in the group.) There were still some Black Swifts here at 2:40 when I came up to type this post. This is the second time in three days that I've seen a species that I didn't expect to see this year, and would not have seen if not for prompt posts by other list members. So, many thanks to Joel, and Rich and Nanette. Randy Campbell Peoria -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090828/a5920868/attachment.html From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Fri Aug 28 15:27:56 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (gerard.lillie at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:27:56 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Peoria Black Swifts In-Reply-To: <1612150539.260271251498323257.JavaMail.root@sz0066a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1912177603.261411251498476058.JavaMail.root@sz0066a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hello All, Randy's mention of rain has given me a thought (finally!!).?It hasn't rained yet in Portland as of 3:00 PM- at least not in my area. If it rains tonight it could possibly cause a migrant fall-out, especially at some of the higher points such as Mt. Tabor, Pittock Mansion, Mt. Talbert, etc. So it might be a good idea to check out your local patch. Good birding, Gerard.? Subject: [obol] Peoria Black Swifts As with Joel, today was a painting day for me, until rain sent me to lunch at 1:30.? I checked my computer at 2:00 and saw his noontime post from Adair and, on the mid-valley list,?Rich Armstrong's post from Corvallis?about an hour-and-a-half later.? So I headed back out into a light rain, down to the river bank to sit and watch the several-hundred swallows that were swirling above the water.? Twenty minutes later, and after almost falling asleep,?I saw my first swift, and then some others,?flying among the swallows, between 40 and 90?feet above the river--generally higher than the swallows.? I couldn't judge based on size or color, but the wing beats seemed slow relative to Vaux's, and they did fan their tails.? I counted at least six, but?I had trouble keeping track among the other birds, so there could have been many more.? (Curiously, I didn't see a single Vaux's Swift in the group.)? There were still some Black Swifts here at 2:40 when I came up to type this post.? This is the second time in three days?that I've seen a?species that I didn't expect to see this year, and would not have seen if not for prompt posts by other list members.? So, many thanks to Joel, and Rich and Nanette.? Randy Campbell Peoria _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090828/ddc68dd0/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri Aug 28 17:49:07 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:49:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 8/28/2009 Message-ID: <116633.68488.qm@web45313.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I was out at the north spit of Coos Bay for a short period of time during the rain this morning (we had about a half inch or so), it was pouring for a while including when I was out there: 1- BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER2- LESSER YELLOWLEGS3 - PECTORAL SANDPIPERS (8 there yesterday)1- WANDERING TATTLER1- WHIMBRELand several flocks of mixed peeps (Western, Leasts, and SP Plovers) Lots of swallows there this afternoon, many hundreds, perhaps up to a thousand. Lots of folks out today scouting for the Shorebird Festival which starts tomorrow, probably some other goodies to report later this weekend. Merry migration!Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090828/dfd35c96/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sat Aug 29 05:35:37 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 05:35:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] More Swainson's Thrushes 8/29/2009 Message-ID: <974212.11617.qm@web45309.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Thick fog, 0530, Mingus Park area, Coos Bay: Lots Swainson's Thrushes again, impossible to really count. ?I did several 1-second counts and always had at least one bird calling and up to six. ?Pretty cool! Merry migration,Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090829/0c2043f6/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sat Aug 29 08:46:14 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:46:14 +0000 Subject: [obol] Pipers at Bastendorf Message-ID: Baird's, Semipalmaeted,Western And least sandpipers side by side at Bastendorf Beach. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From surfbird at q.com Sat Aug 29 10:07:29 2009 From: surfbird at q.com (Diane Pettey) Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 10:07:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] No Malheur Lesser Nighthawk, 29 Aug 09 Message-ID: I just spoke with Dave Irons and he and Tim Janzen have been searching but not found the previously reported LESSER NIGHTHAWK. He said there were 30-40 Common Nighthawks at the Field Station. No reports of the lesser since Thursday. Dave saw a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD on the Central Patrol Road (CPR). From rflores_2 at msn.com Sat Aug 29 12:00:30 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 12:00:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR Shorebirds Message-ID: At 11:00 am at Rest Lake I found the following. 7 pectoral, 15 least, 65 western, 4 Baird's sandpipers. 7 lesser and 3 greater yellowlegs and one single semipalmated plover. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090829/fd6c1be0/attachment.html From cncschneider at msn.com Sat Aug 29 14:01:00 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:01:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Silverton area birds Message-ID: Hi Birders, I took a bike ride to Torvend Rd. Pond a local pond/mud flat. The best birds were 12 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 4 CHIPPING SPARROWS, 20+ SAVANNAH SPARROWS, and 1 COMMON RAVEN. I thought that SAVANNAH SPARROWS were a lot less common until I started biking through grass and grain fields. List Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Pied-billed Grebe Double Crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel American Coot Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Least Sandpiper Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Vaux's Swift Northern Flicker Western Wood-Pewee Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Common Raven Violet-green Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch American Robin European Starling Spotted Towhee Chipping Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090829/0e7a9849/attachment.html From billbradford1 at gmail.com Sat Aug 29 17:24:31 2009 From: billbradford1 at gmail.com (Bill Bradford) Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:24:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Migration call notes Message-ID: Can someone direct me to a good source for identifying the call notes of migrating birds? I sat outside from 5 to 6 AM this morning listening to birds flying over, but the I couldn't identify the calls. None of the birdsong sources I use for identification has migration calls, just songs. For example, I know the whit call of a Swainson's Thrush, but I understand that's not their flight call. I'm guessing I'm not the only one who has this problem, so a response to everyone would probably be appreciated. Bill Bradford -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090829/24779d88/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Sat Aug 29 17:51:14 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:51:14 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Salish Pond 08/28/09 Message-ID: <522708987.473991251593474923.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hello, All the talk online of migrating birds got me out to Salish Ponds for a while yesterday afternoon.? I found a new patch of Purple Loosestrife while stalking the Green Heron.? If you don't already report noxious weeds you find while bird watching, you can do so on line.? Can't remember the website name at the moment, but you can Goggle Noxious Weeds in Oregon and find the site to report nasty plants you find and which ones should be reported.? I will be heading back up to Salish Pond in the next few days to mark the plants and?cut the seeds and flowers off the plants.? The local soil and water conservation district folks will remove the plants.? They can't be every where, reporting these plants can keep our favorite places alive and well. Yesterday at Salish Pond I found:? Adult and fledgling Barn Swallows, an Osprey, Starlings, House Finches, American Goldfinches, Song Sparrows, Bewicks Wren's, Western Scrub Jays, Black-capped Chickadees, Bushtits, a single American Robin, a female Downy Woodpecker, a Belted Kingfisher,?Mallard Ducks, Rock Doves, a Blue Heron, a Green Heron, Cedar Waxwings and my current favorite--a family of Common Yellow Throats I've followed this year.? I love to track them?by following their voices and the wiggling?movement of the tall grass.? Friday they seemed to be?foraging on Lupine, thistle?and other types of seeds in the tall grass.? I also found three types of Dragonflies and?three Ochre Ringlet butterflies. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland This year has been a bit disapointing at Salish Pond, last year there were so many more types of birds to see.? I really miss the flycatchers, warblers, Pied-billed Grebes and American Coots. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090830/9118f67b/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sat Aug 29 18:06:15 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:06:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wallowa Birding Message-ID: My wife and I will be spending Labor Day weekend in Joseph. Any suggestions for birding the area would be greatly appreciated. I am particularly interested in photographing raptors. Thanks and good birding all! Rich in Springfield _________________________________________________________________ With Windows Live, you can organize, edit, and share your photos. http://www.windowslive.com/Desktop/PhotoGallery -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090829/4310a846/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sat Aug 29 18:58:44 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:58:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Migration call notes Message-ID: <4A99DCD4.5090904@pacifier.com> You're probably going to have some difficulty finding a web page with downloadable recordings. There are plenty of sonogram sources, however, and a CD that you can buy for $35. The best of the descriptive sites is the first of the URL's below. It has tables that classify the various call types and provides descriptive terminology for may species (eg. Swainson's Thrush - short whistled note; Orange-crowned Warbler - rising tseet). Many of these nocturnal calls are also frequently made during the day when the diligent birder can track them down and see who's talking. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pifcapemay/evans_rosenberg.htm http://www.birds.cornell.edu/birdcalls http://www.oldbird.org/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From m.denny at charter.net Sat Aug 29 21:36:14 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 21:36:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: [Tweeters] RBA- Black-tailed Gull-RBA Message-ID: <3C08D0E3360F47228BF1DE291E4BC46E@24FLIGHT> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike and MerryLynn" To: "tweeters" ; "Inland NW Birders" Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2009 9:29 PM Subject: [Tweeters] RBA- Black-tailed Gull-RBA > Hello All, > Black-tailed Gull- > This morning after arriving at the Walla Walla River delta at the > confluence > of the Walla Walla River and the Columbia River at about 8:50 AM we > unloaded > our scopes and at about 9AM I spotted a darker mantled ring-billed size > gull > in with a group of adult Ring-billed Gulls floating on the surface of the > delta in a strong wind out of Wallula Gap. The water was high on the delta > so we set up and studied this gull. Its bill was longer than a > ring-billed, > it had a dark black tip at this distance (about 150 meters) the red on the > upper mandibles nail was only seen after the sun broke through the clouds. > The bill between the black terminal tip and the base of the bill was a > gray/green. It had some pale mottling/streaking on the nape and side > neck. > Noticeable eye crescents above and below the pale eyes only at certain > angles. Legs and feet were > yellow. Tail had a terminal white border with a broad solid black band > across all retraces. There were no windows in the very dark primaries. The > primaries extended well beyond the tail when closed. This gull was just a > bit larger than a Ring-billed and smaller overall than a California Gull. > We > have many distant photos of this bird. In the morning we will be there by > 7AM with chum. > Other birds of note..... > > WWRdelta > BLACK-TAILED GULL...1 ADULT > Franklins Gull........2 birds > Mew Gull..............1 adult, very early date for WWRdelta > Bonaparte's Gull.....3 birds > California Gull.......240+ > Ring-billed Gulls....400+ > Glaucous-winged Gull...2 > Western Gull..........1 ad. > Caspian Tern..........1 ad. > Black Tern..............1 sub ad. > Forsters Tern...........4 ad. > > That is it for now. > Later Mike > .................................................................................. > Mike and MerryLynn Denny > Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley > > If you have not birded, you have not lived > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters at u.washington.edu > http://mailman2.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.71/2334 - Release Date: 08/29/09 17:51:00 From bcombs232 at gmail.com Sat Aug 29 22:10:11 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:10:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Salish Pond 08/28/09 In-Reply-To: <522708987.473991251593474923.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> References: <522708987.473991251593474923.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <8ce3a6520908292210y2a9bfb5cv65a23ca413b2d3e2@mail.gmail.com> The invasive species report form is at: http://oregoninvasiveshotline.org/ On Sat, Aug 29, 2009 at 5:51 PM, wrote: > > Hello, > > All the talk online of migrating birds got me out to Salish Ponds for a > while yesterday afternoon. I found a new patch of Purple Loosestrife while > stalking the Green Heron. If you don't already report noxious weeds you > find while bird watching, you can do so on line. Can't remember the website > name at the moment, but you can Goggle Noxious Weeds in Oregon and find the > site to report nasty plants you find and which ones should be reported. I > will be heading back up to Salish Pond in the next few days to mark the > plants and cut the seeds and flowers off the plants. The local soil and > water conservation district folks will remove the plants. They can't be > every where, reporting these plants can keep our favorite places alive and > well. > > > > Yesterday at Salish Pond I found: Adult and fledgling Barn Swallows, an > Osprey, Starlings, House Finches, American Goldfinches, Song Sparrows, > Bewicks Wren's, Western Scrub Jays, Black-capped Chickadees, Bushtits, a > single American Robin, a female Downy Woodpecker, a Belted > Kingfisher, Mallard Ducks, Rock Doves, a Blue Heron, a Green Heron, Cedar > Waxwings and my current favorite--a family of Common Yellow Throats I've > followed this year. I love to track them by following their voices and the > wiggling movement of the tall grass. Friday they seemed to be foraging on > Lupine, thistle and other types of seeds in the tall grass. I also found > three types of Dragonflies and three Ochre Ringlet butterflies. > > > > Sandy Leaptrott > > NE Portland > > > > This year has been a bit disapointing at Salish Pond, last year there were > so many more types of birds to see. I really miss the flycatchers, > warblers, Pied-billed Grebes and American Coots. > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090829/0d28b020/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Aug 29 23:57:55 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:57:55 +0000 Subject: [obol] Malheur etc. Saturday: NO Lesser Nighthawk Message-ID: Greetings All, As previously updated by Diane Pettey, Tim Janzen and I did not relocate the Lesser Nighthawk today. There are still about 30-40 Common Nighthawks hanging around the Malheur Field Station, but this is apparently down from the numbers a few days ago. We learned much about the range of variation in Common Nighthawk plumages. Some of the juvs. we saw superficially resembled Duncan's bird, but none that we saw showed the exposed vertical buffy bar across the primaries. Sibley points out (quite correctly) that the white bars across the primaries on Common Nighthawks are before the end of the tertials and when the wing is folded they are aligned in a partially obscured diagonal pattern. On nearly every one of the perched birds we examined, the white primary bar (extends across several primaries) was partially obscured if not totally obscured by the folded secondaries and tertials, and it was always diagonal. The fully exposed vertical buffy bar(s) and buffy spots along base of the exposed primaries shown by Duncan's bird is unlike anything we saw today, and is likely diagnostic for Lesser Nighthawk. For those of you looking forward to birding Malheur headquarters (more like shredquarters) for vagrants this fall, I will forewarn you to temper your enthusiasm and be prepared for the major pruning that has been done since Memorial Day Weekend. The continuing understory abatement program has now been extended to the removal of nearly all the lower branches of some of the best trees at headquarters. The two large elm trees on the east side (next to the handicapped parking area) bear no resemblance to their former selves. All the lower limbs are gone. I'm sure there is some motivation to make headquarters more "park" like and visually attractive for the visitors (I'm not one of them) who have no appreciation for the dense tangles of semi-dead understory that used to cover large sections of what is now lawn. Perhaps safety concerns led to the removal of dead or dying branches from larger trees. Hopefully, someone close to this situation can offer an explanation for the heavy pruning that has been done of late, particularly over the past three months. We are in the midst of fall migration for many passerines and yet, headquarters was absolutely deserted today. Tim and I spent nearly two hours combing around. Between the two of us, we found the following paltry sum of migrants: Lewis Woodpecker -- 2 (perhaps the only species that benefited from the presence of bare, heavily pruned trunks) Warbling Vireo -- 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch -- 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler -- 3 Yellow Warbler -- 1 Western Tanager -- 3 Black-headed Grosbeak -- 2 Note there were NO Empids, Orange-crowned Warblers, and just two species of warblers, one of which breeds on site. It was not as though there were not birds around elsewhere. Later in the day (at 3:00PM, the worst time of day for passerines) I spent about 20 minutes birding along the dike at Buena Vista Station and found 5-6 Willow Flycatchers, 12+ Orange-crowned Warblers, 6+ Yellow Warblers, 3 MacGillivray's Warblers, about 8-10 Common Yellowthroats and a Black-headed Grosbeak. We also found a Townsend's Warbler at the Field Station while chasing around nighthawks. On a positive note, shorebird enthusiasts should make a point of birding Chickahominy Reservoir n. of Riley along Hwy 20. I stopped there this afternoon and it was very birdy. The water is lower than I've ever seen, so there is a lot of mudflat. In addition to the wide variety of ducks (both dabblers and divers) there was a nice assortment of shorebirds including: White-faced Ibis -- 20+ American Avocet -- 3 Black-necked Stilt -- about 30 Semipalmated Plover -- 1 (surprisingly low) Killdeer -- probably 100 (had to give them some love) Western Sandpiper -- 250 Least Sandpiper -- 6-8 (surprisingly low) Baird's Sandpiper -- 2 Long-billed Dowitcher -- 4 adults Short-billed Dowitcher -- 1 juv. Wilson's Phalarope -- 6+ Red-necked Phalarope -- 30+ Given the conditions, I would have expected to find even more variety and something more unusual (i.e. Marbled Godwit, Stilt Sandpiper). Though they are super rare inland in the west (particularly in the Great Basin), the grassy/dried mud margins look great for Buff-breasted Sandpiper or at least a golden-plover. As the season moves forward this site should have great potential for pipits and longspurs and continue to be good for shorebirds. Today there were about 200-250 Horned Larks present. I took a ton of photos today, so I will probably posting something to BirdFellow.com in the next day or two. Multiple juv. Soras and Virginia Rails were feeding on the open mud (one both sides of the road) at the first bridge east of the field station entrance road along Sod House Lane (the road that runs east west from The Narrows to Malheur HQ. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Make it easier for your friends to see what you?re up to on Facebook. http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_facebook:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090830/d8d7c465/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Sun Aug 30 10:05:52 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 10:05:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Good Spots on I5 Corridor to Bay Area-partly off topic & long Message-ID: On our very fast tripthrough hot, dry, sunny country (upper 90s to 102 in southern OR and most of CA) we had several good spots that are worthwhile mentioning for I5 travellers. The one OR spot that is a must is Lower Table Rock by Medford. We had CALIFORNIA TOWHEE there immediately up the trail. Heard ACORN WOODPECKERS off in the oaks. We were running short of time and had to quickly leave but if you have any time at all this spot deserves it. What a gem! (This was in contrast to the mid-day total bust north and south at the Merlin Rest Area on I5.) In CA, the first productive spot was the Klamath River Rest Area (20 mi south of Oregon border) with OAK TITMOUSE, LEWIS'S WOODPECKER, WARBLING VIREO, CASSIN'S VIREO, YR WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH. The Goldfinch seemed "iffy" to me but the bird seemed to match the guides except for strict interpretation of range. (Birding was so good we stopped going both ways and spent some time there early in the morning coming home.) The second excellent spot was the park along the Sacramento River in Anderson, CA. We saw many YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES, NUTALL'S WOODPECKERS, ACORN WOODPECKERS, BLACK PHOEBE. We were surprised to see the amount of yellow around the eyes on the YB Magpies. Further south off on a very interesting side road west of Arbuckle, CA but -due to time constraints could not fully explore the road- ACORN WOODPECKERS again were the highlight. We sadly skipped many of the other recommendations in OR and WA due to lack of time, low water in the refuges, etc, on this trip. However, we wound up "birding" John Muir National Monument in Martinez, CA, while staying nearby. Fairly large grounds and interesting house. It seemed fitting for our interests though the birds were common backyard variety. As a note of interest: we saw a WILD TURKEY, BLACK PHOEBE, and COOPER'S HAWK in my elderly Aunt's backyard in Concord, CA. The upshot on quickly birding I5 was to gain 5 Life Birds. The main bird of the trip was not a lifer but the ACORN WOODPECKER CLAN that we always enjoy. We missed several new ones we were looking for (a thrasher, a sparrow) but we'll be back. Maybe "next time" we can add the Oak Titmouse to the Oregon list and build our knowledge by visiting more side roads, NWRs, and parks. Thanks to all for the information that helped us on drive down Interstate 5. John Thomas Silverton area From roygerig at hotmail.com Sun Aug 30 10:09:40 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 10:09:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Salem area shorebirds 8/29/09 Message-ID: In a quick trip to Baskett Slough NWR west of Salem yesterday morning I saw 10 species of shorebirds: LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 40 PECTORAL SANDPIPER 5 BAIRD'S SANDPIPER 3 WESTERN SANDPIPER 20 LEAST SANDPIPER 5 KILLDEER 5 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER 1 WILSON'S PHALAROPE 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS 2 LESSER YELLOWLEGS 7 In an afternoon quick trip to Ankeny NWR south of Salem I saw 9 species of shorebirds: GREATER YELLOWLEGS 15 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER 4 WESTERN SANDPIPER 25 LEAST SANDPIPER 20 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE 3 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 5 KILLDEER 4 PECTORAL SANDPIPER 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPER 2 Non-shorebirds: AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN 2 PEREGRINE FALCON 1 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK 1 (juv.) AMERICAN BITTERN 1 GREEN HERON 1 At both refuges the shorebirds seemed restless and were almost constantly flying up and down. During the past few days there have sometimes been large numbers (up to 100) of VAUX'S SWIFTs over my backyard near the Willamette River a couple miles north of downtown Salem, there are 20-30 overhead right now. Yesterday a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was here. Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Keep your friends up to date with what you do online. http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_online:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090830/2bf297fa/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sun Aug 30 12:26:57 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 12:26:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] S Jetty Siuslaw Deflation Plain - Golden-Plovers & Red Knot Message-ID: <634569.70986.qm@web37004.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, this morning I was able to find the following in the Deflation Plain at Florence: 3 Golden-Plovers (they were rather flighty and distant, but I am pretty sure they were Pacific) 1 Red Knot Along the dike leading to the plain ("Dotterel Dike"): 2 Pectoral Sandpipers 1 Greater Yellowlegs 3 Wilson's Snipe 2 Western Sandpipers (flyover) 1 American Bittern Otherwise, birding was very slow. Foggy conditions precluded any useful seawatching from the jetty. I found one lone WANDERING TATTLER on the south jetty, otherwise no shorebirds. Happy Birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090830/80986205/attachment.html From chacha6120 at yahoo.com Sun Aug 30 12:49:51 2009 From: chacha6120 at yahoo.com (John Plank) Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 12:49:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Peregrine Falcon on Fremont Bridge Message-ID: <18602.3652.qm@web30601.mail.mud.yahoo.com> At first I was disappointed to be stuck in traffic on the Fremont Bridge, but as I sat there, I was able to watch a Peregrine Falcon chase some Rock Dove.? It was quite a show, best traffic jam ever!? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090830/15aa490d/attachment.html From cncschneider at msn.com Sun Aug 30 14:21:52 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:21:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Silverton area birds Correction In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Birders, This morning I found out that I had made an identification error yesterday morning. What I thought were 2 juvenile NORTHERN HARRIERS were actually 2 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS (a lifer)!! I think this is significant since I have heard very few reports of RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS in the Silverton area. Matthew Schneider From: Carl & Christine Schneiders Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2009 2:01 PM To: obol ; midvalleybirding Subject: [obol] Silverton area birds Hi Birders, I took a bike ride to Torvend Rd. Pond a local pond/mud flat. The best birds were 12 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 4 CHIPPING SPARROWS, 20+ SAVANNAH SPARROWS, and 1 COMMON RAVEN. I thought that SAVANNAH SPARROWS were a lot less common until I started biking through grass and grain fields. List Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Pied-billed Grebe Double Crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel American Coot Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Least Sandpiper Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Vaux's Swift Northern Flicker Western Wood-Pewee Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Common Raven Violet-green Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch American Robin European Starling Spotted Towhee Chipping Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090830/7a525544/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Sun Aug 30 14:50:50 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:50:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] S Jetty Siuslaw Deflation Plain - Golden-Plovers & Red Knot In-Reply-To: <634569.70986.qm@web37004.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <634569.70986.qm@web37004.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <2b1bbd260908301450l27b762afs63952fdfbee59790@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Hendrik gave me a call after his AM jaunt, so Lydia Cruz, her niece Mikala and I headed out to the deflation plain around 12:30. The knot was not, but there were still 2 juvenile PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS. While I was unable to count primaries past the tertials, we did hear them call upon initial observation when they were accidentally flushed. We also were able to study back/face pattern, head/bill shape and leg length, all of which fit Pacific perfectly well and not American. The dike had a juvenile GREATER YELLOWLEGS and 2 juvenile WESTERN SPs. One WILSON'S SNIPE and an AM BITTERN also were hidden in the grass. No Pecs though. I also checked the Crab dock cove mudflats. There were ~30 peeps (all I saw were Westerns before the flock got flushed by a dog). There was also an adult BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER still is almost complete breeding plumage. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090830/ef88a88a/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sun Aug 30 15:35:18 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:35:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Feeding the Monster Message-ID: I just thought I'd share a couple pics of the Monster I have created in my yard. What started with one feeder and a couple American Goldfinches, is now nine feeders and close to two hundred Lesser Gold, American Gold and House finches. You can not believe the sights and sounds until you sit out among them. Whizzing by your head at lightning speed, fighting, singing, eating, drinking and pooping all over the place! And now, if ALL the feeders are not full, I get constant complaining out back until I fill them! They sit in the butterfly bush and tweet like crazy, they even land on the window sills outside and look in. Until I bring out the food! The the back yard erupts again into a frenzy even Alfred Hitchcock would be proud of. They are emptying the feeders daily, and we're not talking small feeders either! Here are some links if you're interested! http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/fatrichie/Birds/P8302231.jpg http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/fatrichie/Birds/P8302210.jpg http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/fatrichie/Birds/P8302217.jpg http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/fatrichie/Birds/P8302216.jpg http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/fatrichie/Birds/P8302187.jpg Rich in Springfield _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Make it easier for your friends to see what you?re up to on Facebook. http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_facebook:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090830/4cd7bd9e/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sun Aug 30 20:21:44 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:21:44 -0400 Subject: [obol] Necanicum Snowy Plovers (Clatsop Co) Message-ID: Spent a slow day at the coast trying to escape the airshow circus in Hillsboro. The Necanicum (access off Wellington) had 2 Snowy Plovers on the extensive mud flats mixed in with many Semipalmated Plovers. Both were ringed on both legs. A single calling Short-billed Dowitcher flew in at some time as well. A Eurasian Collared-Dove was on the wire about 1/4mi west of 101 & Sunset Beach Ln. 3 Whimbrels and nothing else was at the South Jetty of the Columbia. Did I mention it was a slow day? Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=PID23391::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HYGN_faster:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090830/55648792/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sun Aug 30 20:48:52 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:48:52 -0400 Subject: [obol] A few local Washington Co birds Message-ID: It is quiet in the county. Yesterday, I made a run through finding few interesting birds. Now is the time to tune out if you are not interested in local Washington County bird news. Jackson Bottom had a Red-necked Phalarope yesterday, 08/29, in the big pond (Pintail Pond) where mudflats are forming on its south side. The Gene Pool has dried up completely. Koll Center Wetlands still has lots of Long-billed Dowichers and Greater Yellowlegs. I saw about 4 Green Herons yesterday as well. Again yesterday, the 13 White Pelicans continue at Fernhill Wetlands. Mudflats are starting to look good at the middle pond. 3 Eurasian Collared-Doves were on the wires along LaFollett, just like always it seems. Behind my house a young Great Horned Owl has just stopped screaming incessantly a couple of days ago. Before that, the bird would squeak every 30sec or so for several hours each night keeping the residents awake. A Red-breasted Sapsucker was just north of the MAX track, just NE of Orenco Elementary. This was at an unnamed little park between NE Rocky Brook St and NE 72 Ave that seems to have quite a few birds in it. There is also a granary tree used by Acorn Woodpeckers, but the location is not reliable. On 08/21, a Willow Flycatcher was at the Croeni & Westmark pond in West Union. On 8/24, I had 2 more Willows at Valley Memorial Park off TV Hwy. While not confirmed, I suspect that there was a breeding pair at this unlikely location this summer. On 08/28, 3 Red Crossbills flew over the Intel Jones Farm campus just west of the Hillsboro airport. Unusual at any time of the year. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=PID23391::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HYGN_faster:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090830/c76f0274/attachment.html From campbell at peak.org Sun Aug 30 21:40:37 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:40:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Some Central Linn Birds Message-ID: <67371C55B63C40978A0FFFA932A9161B@maryPC> This morning at the Pioneer Villa ponds (jct. of I-5 and 228) there were: Great Egret, 1 Green Heron, 1 Dowitchers, 25+ Greater Yellowlegs, 8+ Lesser Yellowlegs, 10+ Least Sandpiper, 5+ Western Sandpiper, 10+ PECTORAL SANDPIPER, 2 There is very little water and a lot of mud in the south pond right now. Three Red-shouldered Hawks were making a lot of noise where Oak Plain Road crosses Muddy Creek, Between Peoria and Halsey. I didn't see them well, but I assume this was a family. This last winter Jeff Fleischer saw a Red-shouldered Hawk nearby, and the habitat is right for them. Yesterday (8/29) a Peregrine took a few turns over the river behind our house. Randy Campbell Peoria Yep, I rode my bike. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090830/18d435cd/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Sun Aug 30 21:42:35 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:42:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eurasian collared-doves Message-ID: <20090830214235.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.265a26b62c.wbe@email.secureserver.net> Yesterday (8/29), I saw Eurasian collared-doves in locations where I had not previously seen them: - Washington County - 2 flying low and toward the west across Oleson Road, just south of Scholls Ferry Road, in the Raleigh Hills area (I guess it's only a matter of time before they show up in my yard); and - Clackamas County - 2 on utility wires long Knights Bridge Road in Canby. Craig Tumer SW Portland From fschrock at gmail.com Sun Aug 30 22:45:48 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:45:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Annual Barn Swallow flock forming again Message-ID: <390ebd880908302245x404d104foc013f39aa7b76e51@mail.gmail.com> The biologist (Purple Martin researcher) up on Vancouver Island alerted me to the fact that Doppler radar is now showing a telltale image of a large flock of birds flying out of Grand Island at dawn again, as in prior years. So this evening (8_30_09) I drove over there to look for the flock. It's in the same general area as in the past three years, but fortunately the field they roosted in tonight is to the west from the Lower Island Road, so it's more visible against the sunset sky. There were many tens of thousands of birds in the flock, but that may be a low estimate, and will probably increase in the next two weeks. My son took a photo with his iPhone, and that locked in the GPS coordinates of the spot where we were standing. The following link will show you that spot on a Google image, but the main roost field was straight west of there about 3,000 ft. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&q=45.145664,-123.039192+(Dayton,+OR+97114,+USA)&ie=UTF8&ll=45.160495,-123.039322&spn=0.093202,0.227966&t=h&z=12&iwloc=A I've also captured an image in Google Earth and marked the field itself. It can be seen on my blog < http://empids.blogspot.com > along with a video clip of small portion of the major flock, but this smaller group went down in a field closer to the road. For those who might like to go take a look, Grand Island is south of Dayton on the east side of Hwy. 221 (Wallace Rd.). Just south of Unionvale, turn east on Grand Island Rd., and proceed about a mile to the first road crossing. Turn north (left) on Lower Island Road, and after two right angle turns (first a left and then a right by the Osprey nest) go about another 1/2 mile to our observation spot, which is just before you come to the orchard on the right. The most intense activity is between 7:45 and 8:15 p.m., and you will need binoculars to get the full visual effect of the action. But it's better to get there an hour earlier to watch the swallows begin to gather, and to enjoy the other sights and sounds of birds preparing for the night, including the hooting of a Great Horned Owl and some Vaux's Swifts heading to a chimney somewhere. ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090830/678f8daf/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Sun Aug 30 23:36:39 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:36:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln Co.--Yellow-headed Blackbird near Waldport Message-ID: Hi, Today (Aug. 30), Jorrie & Ken Ciotti saw and photographed a female Yellow-headed Blackbird at a feeder at their home, about 4 miles east of Waldport. It is a first for that location, and the first this year in Lincoln County, I believe. For Lincoln Co. records through 1992, most records were during April-early June, though we had a late August record in 1982 and an early July record in 1985 (search for "Blackbird, Yellow-headed" at http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/jspui/bitstream/1957/8070/1/vol.%204%20pg.%20395-543.pdf). Although they have never been common, they seem to have become even less frequent in Lincoln County in recent years. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport From llsdirons at msn.com Mon Aug 31 00:54:40 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:54:40 +0000 Subject: [obol] Juvie rail photo essay posted to BirdFellow.com Message-ID: I took advantage of some nice pictures of juvenile Soras and Virginia Rails (taken at Malheur NWR this Saturday) to create a photo essay for the BirdFellow online journal. I'll likely do another on the variation in Common Nighthawk plumages in the next couple of days. Dave Irons Content Editor BirdFellow.com Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Make it easier for your friends to see what you?re up to on Facebook. http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_facebook:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090831/b0b20363/attachment.html From m.denny at charter.net Mon Aug 31 07:06:16 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:06:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Phoebe/Umatilla County Message-ID: <469E763EEF294491A3158779614508C6@24FLIGHT> Hello all, After an unsuccessful morning of looking for the Black-tailed Gull at the WWriver delta we headed for Cold Springs NWR near Hermiston, OR to see the Black Phoebe that Aaron Skirvin found - and thanks to his directions we did find this out-of-place bird - Nice find Aaron!! Birds at Memorial Marsh, Cold Springs NWR: Black Phoebe Least Flycatcher Hammond's Flycatcher Western Wood-Pewee Eastern Kingbird Western Tanager MacGillivray's Warbler Wilson's Warbler Great Egrets - 6 GB Heron BC Night-Heron Great Horned Owl Cooper's Hawk Spotted Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Blue-winged Teal - 5 - among the many other waterfowl Cold Springs Res. was surrounded by ATV's ripping around - a few ducks and pelicans were there. .................................................................................. Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Aug 31 07:39:29 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:39:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Saturday night Message-ID: <8265f97881dbbeab50cbe564b7217a1d@earthlink.net> A lack of postings about Fernhill Wetlands, coupled with the spike in Black Swift postings, inspired me to make a quick check of this Forest Grove destination. I have seen Black Swifts here twice in 35 years, both time in late August as a wet weather system was approaching. There were no swallows what-so-ever, and I was there 15 minutes before I saw any swifts-- all Vaux's which trickled north in twos and threes to a presumed roost in town. I guess the pelicans are a daytime bird as I saw none in this last hour of daylight. THree adult CALIFORNIA GULLS were the only birds on FErnhill Lake. Another gull that flew in after sunset from the east apparently didn't land, but about then five teal appeared in the middle of the pool, Green-winged I assume. Ducks were almost as scarce as swallows. As Stefan mentioned, Cattailess Marsh has some good shore now, which held six immature WESTERN SANDPIPERS and a single Killdeer. A lone GREATER YELLOWLEGS was in the Mitigation Wetlands just south of the gazebo, two more at the far northern edge of these same puddles. Another two or three Killdeer. Best birds were two SHORT-BILLEDS DOWs which made a feeble announcement of their presence high above the mitigation wetlands then departed in very fitful fashion to the se. I saw four GREEN HERONS, probably the most for me at this spot in my experience. Lars Norgren From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon Aug 31 07:45:56 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:45:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook County NAMC Message-ID: <760D5465FBD84CFBA86C1B3FEE9C0F4D@cgatesPC> The Crook County North American Migration Count will be Saturday, September 19. If you are interested in exploring the very best county in Oregon (Ok, maybe I'm a little biased), then drop me an email and I'll include you in our group. Anything is possible here in the best county (condors, Archaeopteryx, dodo...) so come join us for a day of counting birds and viewing beautiful country. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090831/d8cce6e6/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon Aug 31 07:56:39 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:56:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Harney County NAMC Message-ID: The Harney County Fall NAMC will be held on Sunday, September 20 this year. I know many of you will be down there that weekend so I'm inviting you to join us for part of the day. If you would be willing to head away from headquarters (actually, I need someone to count at headquarters too) for a few hours and cover an adjacent area, you would help our count tremendously. It wouldn't take too long and you would be contributing to the count. Examples of short side counts might be: Krumbo and surrounding ponds Diamond Craters, Round Barn, and Diamond Raptors at Princeton Alvord (OK, not so short) Steens Mt. Catlow Valley and Fields (someone's going anyway...why not keep track of the birds) CPR French Glen Page Springs P Ranch Many don't want to spend a whole day counting but a few hours at one of these locations would add volumes to our count. Let me know if you would be willing to take on one or more of these sites (or join us for the whole day) on Sunday, Sept 20. Chuck Gates Harney County NAMC Coordinator -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090831/b1b75320/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon Aug 31 08:01:50 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:01:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eastern Oregon NAMCs Message-ID: Here's a great idea. You're heading to Malheur on the weekend of September 19 and 20. Why not spend one day birding in an eastern Oregon county that is on the way. We need surveyors to spend time in almost every Eastern Oregon County. You could add a Gilliam or Sherman County adventure to your normal Malheur trip. Let me know if you would be interested in birding Morrow, or Umatilla, or Grant, or Lake or any other county along the way. Chuck Gates State NAMC Coordinator East Cascades Bird Conservancy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090831/9eaf3a80/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon Aug 31 08:09:08 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:09:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gilliam NAMC Message-ID: The Gilliam NAMC is set for Saturday, September 19. Let me know if you want to help out with this count. Chuck Gates State NAMC Coordinator -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090831/1d86a6ac/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Aug 31 08:33:39 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:33:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gray-cheeked Thrush report from Marys Peak on Saturday Message-ID: <1251732819.3272.71.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, Since this hasn't shown up on the statewide list yet I thought it should be mentioned, if nothing else, to raise an intriguing possibility that other birders could be on the lookout for statewide. On Saturday (29 Aug) Doug Robinson reported a heard-only Gray-cheeked Thrush from near the upper campground on Marys Peak. He said he heard the bird call about 8 or 9 times but did not manage to get a visual despite trying for half an hour. Sounds like he considered other thrushes that make somewhat similar calls (Veery, juv. Hermit Thrush etc.). This species does show up with some frequency in California in the fall, and looking at the range maps, it seems reasonable that a few could pass through the Coast Range and/or Cascades. So it does seem like a possibility that should be on the radar for anyone who's up in the mountains this time of year. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From dan at heyerly.com Mon Aug 31 11:16:16 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Daniel d.Heyerly) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:16:16 -0400 Subject: [obol] Correction to Message posted 29 Aug "Pipers at Bastendorf" plus some new BAIRD'S SAND. information Message-ID: Lest anyone be gleaning this list for detections of Semipalmated Sandpipers, there were NO (zero) individuals of that species seen at Bastendorf Beach, Coos County, on 29 Aug. There were Semipalmated PLOVERS, but no Semi Sands that day. The birds were working the freshwater stream and sand at the first view of water on your left as you are driving in from Cape Arago Hwy. There WERE two Baird's Sands present that day (8/29), FYI. Anne found one other Baird's at Bandon Marsh later in the afternoon on 8/29 as well. Regarding the same location on Sunday 8/30, Shawneen Finnegan indicated to me that SIX (6) Baird's Sandpipers were seen at that same location in the afternoon. Good birding, Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090831/c170b0c2/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Mon Aug 31 11:59:04 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:59:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Correction to Message posted 29 Aug "Pipers at Bastendorf" plus some new BAIRD'S SAND. information In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Dan is of course correct that the semipalmated indeed referred to semipalmated plovers. With regard to not noting the other Baird's, the whole concept with posting with the Blackberry in the field is to put it out there live so those in the area around that very time (Saturday morning at 8:30) can get there and see it as well. It does little good to someone who was in the vicinity at that time to read a post two days later after they have driven back home several hundred miles away. ----- Original Message ----- From: Daniel d.Heyerly To: OBOL (obol at oregonbirdwatch.org) Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 11:16 AM Subject: [obol] Correction to Message posted 29 Aug "Pipers at Bastendorf" plus some new BAIRD'S SAND. information Lest anyone be gleaning this list for detections of Semipalmated Sandpipers, there were NO (zero) individuals of that species seen at Bastendorf Beach, Coos County, on 29 Aug. There were Semipalmated PLOVERS, but no Semi Sands that day. The birds were working the freshwater stream and sand at the first view of water on your left as you are driving in from Cape Arago Hwy. There WERE two Baird's Sands present that day (8/29), FYI. Anne found one other Baird's at Bandon Marsh later in the afternoon on 8/29 as well. Regarding the same location on Sunday 8/30, Shawneen Finnegan indicated to me that SIX (6) Baird's Sandpipers were seen at that same location in the afternoon. Good birding, Dan Heyerly, Eugene _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090831/7d474cb8/attachment.html From bigburd_jh at yahoo.com Mon Aug 31 12:47:10 2009 From: bigburd_jh at yahoo.com (jeff hayes) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:47:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Migration & Stationary Birding Message-ID: <999254.41643.qm@web36805.mail.mud.yahoo.com> This is a little bit dated, but should still be relevant. Sometimes, you don't have to go through much effort at all to get a glimpse of the ephemeral concentrations of birds that can occur during the migration seasons. On Friday Aug. 28 I was at my internship site in Clackamas County (near Oatfield Rd and Concord in south Milwaukie, up on Oatfield Ridge) sitting outside and working on my assignments when a flurry of bird activity erupted in the row of Douglas-firs along the fence line: the usual Black-capped Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches and one yelping Flicker were joined by a succession of birds, some of them clearly migrants. Here is the tally of birds in this suburban fenceline stringer: Empidonax, sp. - 2 (repeatedly diving at one another), Anna's Hummer - 1, N. Flicker - 1, W. Scrub-Jay - 2, Steller's Jay - 1 (responded to my pishing), Black-c. Chickadee - 4, Bushtit - 10 mor so, Red-br Nuthatch - 3, Bewick's Wren - 1, Swainson's Thrush - 1, Black-thr Gray Warbler - 1, Yellow-r Warbler - 1, Starling - 10 (noisy things, thankfully they left soon after arrival), W. Tanager - 1, Black-h. Grosbeak - 4, Red Crossbill - 5, House Finch - 2, Lesser Goldfinch - 1, Am. Goldfinch - 2, Evening Grosbeak - 2. This occurred in the early afternoon (12:30-1:00) Friday. After 1 PM, only the local 'dees and nuthatches and jays were present, although I did note more crossbills and evening grosbeaks (and house finches) swarming on of the loaded bigleaf maples nearby. The previous day featured three OSPREYS (two adult, one squee-ing juvie) perching on/circling over the cell-phone tower on top of the ridge. Friday night (technically, very early Sat. morning, about 12:30 AM) I heard 20+ SWAINSON'S THRUSHES migrating overhead in the space of perhaps one minute. - Jeff From jonysky101 at aol.com Mon Aug 31 15:06:11 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:06:11 -0400 Subject: [obol] Possible Klamath trip this week Message-ID: <8CBF89E6271C037-2EA4-5890@webmail-d045.sysops.aol.com> My wife and I are both in the mood to go exploring. For birding, but also to enjoy some of the beauty of Oregon that we haven't seen before. I was thinking about the Klamath Basin area. Neither of us have been in that part of the state. We only have 3 days, and want to?see and enjoy?as much as we can. I'm hoping for some good suggestions from Obolers as the best spots to see in that area. My wife is extremely tolerant of my birding activities, but I don't want the whole trip to be about what I want. I appreciate any info that I can get. Thanks. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090831/44d6c170/attachment.html From nelson8908 at yahoo.com Mon Aug 31 15:15:02 2009 From: nelson8908 at yahoo.com (Connie Nelson) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:15:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Possible Klamath trip this week In-Reply-To: <8CBF89E6271C037-2EA4-5890@webmail-d045.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBF89E6271C037-2EA4-5890@webmail-d045.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <257624.94205.qm@web57315.mail.re1.yahoo.com> sandy - i asked this very question of the group about a week ago and have many wonderful answers that i will be happy to forward to you within a few minutes -- and so everyone will not have to answer you again ... thanks to ' obol ' for their help. we are leaving wednesday morning and i'm sure will have a wonderful time. connie nelson fremont, ca ________________________________ From: "jonysky101 at aol.com" To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 3:06:11 PM Subject: [obol] Possible Klamath trip this week My wife and I are both in the mood to go exploring. For birding, but also to enjoy some of the beauty of Oregon that we haven't seen before. I was thinking about the Klamath Basin area. Neither of us have been in that part of the state. We only have 3 days, and want to see and enjoy as much as we can. I'm hoping for some good suggestions from Obolers as the best spots to see in that area. My wife is extremely tolerant of my birding activities, but I don't want the whole trip to be about what I want. I appreciate any info that I can get. Thanks. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090831/67144769/attachment.html From lbviman at blackfoot.net Mon Aug 31 15:22:36 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:22:36 -0600 Subject: [obol] Good Spots on I-5 Corridor-partly off topic In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090831221808.CCAFC9B022C@mail.blackfoot.net> If one has time, a 2-hour side trip off I-5 from Yreka to Klamath Falls [50 mrt], on US 97, will bring one to Grass Lake Rest Area [in CA], where one may see breeding YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS, BLACK TERNS, and SANDHILL CRANES, in season - Jim Greaves MT At 01:00 PM 8/30/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >Message: 9 >Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 10:05:52 -0700 >From: "John Thomas" >Subject: [obol] Good Spots on I5 Corridor to Bay Area-partly off topic > & long >[edited for brevity] >John Thomas >Silverton area From jeffgill at teleport.com Mon Aug 31 16:14:52 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:14:52 -0500 (GMT-05:00) Subject: [obol] Cook's Petrels, Ashy-Storm-Petrels (Oregon) Message-ID: <16247876.1251760492534.JavaMail.root@mswamui-billy.atl.sa.earthlink.net> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090831/ce3b5426/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Mon Aug 31 16:16:07 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:16:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gray-cheeked Thrush report from Marys Peak on Saturday References: <1251732819.3272.71.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: Joel, I have suspected for years that a few Gray-cheeked Thrushes pass over the Coast Range in the fall, if for no other reason than that from late August to early October, hundreds of thousands (and that is likely a conservative figure) of Swainson's Thrushes do so. It would be to me more surprising if a few Gray-cheeked Thrushes did not intermingle with this horde than if they did. However, confirming such an event could prove to be extraordinarily difficult. Even though there are so many Swainson's migrating over nightly, once they drop down into the forest at first light, they become as quiet and difficult to observe as mice. I know the woodlands are full of them every day, but it is only rarely I see even one. If one was going to search for a Gray-cheeked, the chances of seeing one would be almost zero. The best hope one might have of recording one would be by sound, and just before dusk. As daylight begins to fade, the Swainson's Thrushes begin to give numerous contact calls to one another. If one happens to be out among them, he can actually hear them making these contact calls from the trees until they switch to the overhead "heep" call as they take wing for another night's flight. Any Gray-cheeked Thrush among them would likely also be vocalizing in this manner just prior to the beginning of the evening flight. But it would likely take many hours of listening before one could satisfy himself that he had heard a bird of that species. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joel Geier" To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 8:33 AM Subject: [obol] Gray-cheeked Thrush report from Marys Peak on Saturday > Hello folks, > > Since this hasn't shown up on the statewide list yet I thought it should > be mentioned, if nothing else, to raise an intriguing possibility that > other birders could be on the lookout for statewide. > > On Saturday (29 Aug) Doug Robinson reported a heard-only Gray-cheeked > Thrush from near the upper campground on Marys Peak. He said he heard > the bird call about 8 or 9 times but did not manage to get a visual > despite trying for half an hour. Sounds like he considered other > thrushes that make somewhat similar calls (Veery, juv. Hermit Thrush > etc.). > > This species does show up with some frequency in California in the fall, > and looking at the range maps, it seems reasonable that a few could pass > through the Coast Range and/or Cascades. So it does seem like a > possibility that should be on the radar for anyone who's up in the > mountains this time of year. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From Randy.Moore at oregonstate.edu Mon Aug 31 17:39:28 2009 From: Randy.Moore at oregonstate.edu (Moore, Randy - FW) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:39:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hybrid Barid's/Pectoral Sandpiper in South Willamette Valley Message-ID: Hi All, A few days ago I saw what was almost certainly a Baird's/Pectoral sandpiper cross near Eugene- it's not anywhere that folks can get to, but I thought I'd post it given the bird's proximity to Fern Ridge Resevoir shorebird habitat. It was a very odd-looking bird, almost entirely Baird's-like in shape and plumage except for a slightly more distinct and extensive bib of streaking, a much more prominent supercilium, and two distinct white scapular lines on an otherwise perfectly bland scaly juv. Baird's back. Bill was perfectly Baird's except for a very slight light (yellowish, greenish, orangish? It was hard to tell) tinge at the base, and all of this placed on two dull yellow legs that were and inch too long for any Baird's- it looked like it was on stilts.... It may have had a slightly longer neck than is normal for Baird's, but I'd take that with a grain of salt. Unfortunately, no pics, but I may get back to try and see if the bird is still around for documentation. cheers, randy Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090831/48d36d76/attachment.html From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Mon Aug 31 18:07:07 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:07:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] WA Black-tailed Gull -- nope Message-ID: <7D6A4AF3-5B72-4B00-AEFE-0F3DF87D176A@comcast.net> OBOL- For those considering a chase to the Black-tailed Gull seen Sat 8/29 at the mouth of the Walla Walla River: the bird was not seen again after Saturday. When I arrived on Sun at approx noon, several birders had been working the gull flock since 0700 without refinding the bird. I stayed until 4pm when the light got realllllly bad. This morning (Monday) the bird was not seen from 7am to 11:30am. Dang. Barry McKenzie Eugene From greg at thebirdguide.com Mon Aug 31 18:09:00 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:09:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Trip report: 29 August 2009: Shorebird Festival Pelagic Message-ID: <3FC83FE058224A80B4198305EB2E8A35@GREG> The pelagic trip for the joint Oregon Shorebird Festival and the Oregon Field Ornithologists' meeting was a success on Saturday's 8 hour trip, though we were turned back by wind and bumpy water on Sunday's scheduled 5 hour trip and didn't really see any birds in the fog (a couple of odd Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels and a "Commic" Tern within 3 miles before we returned to port). The highlight of the trip was LONG-TAILED JAEGERS. We saw at least 60 birds, with 30 at once over our chum slick. Other birds were in rather low numbers in the warm water. The trip report with some photos is at: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/archive/08292009.htm The remaining pelagic trips in 2009 are full. We'll have two trips in the spring, including our regular Perpetua Bank trip to search for Laysan Albatrosses, likely in March, and a new trip of 5 hours nearshore to search for Manx Shearwaters in late April. At least, that's the tentative plan now. http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/ Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Aug 31 16:37:45 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:37:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Good Spots on I-5 Corridor-partly off topic Message-ID: <1251761865.10522.39.camel@clearwater> Jim Greaves wrote: > If one has time, a 2-hour side trip off I-5 from Yreka to Klamath > Falls [50 mrt], on US 97, will bring one to Grass Lake Rest Area [in > CA], where one may see breeding YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS, BLACK > TERNS, and SANDHILL CRANES, in season - Jim Greaves MT Agreed. And better yet, travelers starting from Eugene or points farther north can simply take Oregon State Hwy 58 over Willamette Pass to Hwy 97, then continue on to Weed (south of Yreka) with Grass Lake Rest Area right along the way. In terms of mileage from Eugene to Weed, this route is exactly the same (243 miles) as staying on I-5 all the way. Check it out on the map, it's surprising but true. This is a good, low-stress route in terms of grades (except the west side of Willamette Pass) and is favored over I-5 by fuel-conscious truckers. However, if you're driving straight through, it takes a little longer because the speed limit is 55 mph much of the way, and you pass through four or five towns. For birders, it can take a *lot* longer since you have to get past: - Dexter Reservoir - Hills Creek Dam - Salt Creek Falls - Waldo Lake - Gold Bog Lake - Odell Lake - Crescent Creek - Little Deschutes River - Klamath Marsh NWR - Chiloquin & Fort Klamath area - Upper Klamath Lake - Lower Klamath NWR - Meiss Lake & Butte Valley Wildlife Area - Grass Lake - Shastina Lake among other places. If you really work hard to stay on schedule, you can do it in four or five days, but two weeks is better. The other drawback is that you miss SW Oregon birding spots entirely, but you can always pick those up on your way back from California. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From rarebirdart at verizon.net Mon Aug 31 19:00:05 2009 From: rarebirdart at verizon.net (Lois Miller) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:00:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] White winged Dove Curry Message-ID: <820111.34332.qm@web84203.mail.re3.yahoo.com> I don't know how unusual this is but it's the first White winged Dove I have ever seen !? I'll send a photo to Greg Gillson in a minute and see if he will post on his rare bird page for a positive ID. It was on Lakeshore Drive right by the lake??in the center of Port Orford just a little while ago. Lois Miller Port Orford -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090831/d0c8f289/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Aug 31 19:07:54 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:07:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Heermann's Gull maximum Message-ID: <4A9C81FA.8080204@pacifier.com> We're approaching HEERMANN'S GULL maximum here on the Lower Columbia. I took a few snaps at Seaside Cove and Necanicum Estuary for those who are easily impressed by numbers... http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11957/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From ninerharv2 at msn.com Mon Aug 31 19:13:57 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 02:13:57 +0000 Subject: [obol] White winged Dove Curry Message-ID: Lois We had one in Bandon a couple of years ago in a neighborhood while on a shorebird festival tour, so timing is right. That was the only one I have seen. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Lois Miller Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 02:00:05 To: Subject: [obol] White winged Dove Curry I don't know how unusual this is but it's the first White winged Dove I have ever seen !? I'll send a photo to Greg Gillson in a minute and see if he will post on his rare bird page for a positive ID. It was on Lakeshore Drive right by the lake??in the center of Port Orford just a little while ago. Lois Miller Port Orford From calocitta8 at gmail.com Mon Aug 31 19:29:42 2009 From: calocitta8 at gmail.com (Jesse Ellis) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:29:42 -0500 Subject: [obol] Gray-cheeked Thrush report from Marys Peak on Saturday In-Reply-To: References: <1251732819.3272.71.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: <202ab9ef0908311929w294dfad7ib7214a9c83360659@mail.gmail.com> All- It would be easiest to detect (and perhaps document?) a Grey-cheek flying overhead at night. As Darrel said, that's when you're getting access to the horde or Swainson's that a Grey-cheek would be with. Grey-cheek flight calls are not like Swainson's at all. (More of a high "FEER" than the rising piping of Swainson's. The trick would be getting someone to believe you, and a mic in a cone with decent recoding gear could aid that. Not saying it would be EASY, but I think that's your best shot, simply because that's when you'd detect the highest number of Catharus thrushes overall. And for those of you who haven't experienced a good night flight, it can be incredible. A low cloud ceiling, a high (and hopefully exposed) observation/listening point, and the right wind conditions can lead to the detection of thousands of birds. I've heard flights of 60 birds/second. Not all of these are identifiable at all, and even with a lot of practice many can't be IDed, but the phenomenon is incredible. And with some practice and experience (and outside references) many flight calls CAN be IDed. Thrushes in particular. I don't know if anyone has put together a database for western birds, but oldbird.org has some resources for eastern birds. Jesse Ellis Madison, WI On Mon, Aug 31, 2009 at 6:16 PM, Darrel Faxon <5hats at peak.org> wrote: > Joel, > I have suspected for years that a few Gray-cheeked Thrushes pass over > the Coast Range in the fall, if for no other reason than that from late > August to early October, hundreds of thousands (and that is likely a > conservative figure) of Swainson's Thrushes do so. It would be to me more > surprising if a few Gray-cheeked Thrushes did not intermingle with this > horde than if they did. However, confirming such an event could prove to > be > extraordinarily difficult. Even though there are so many Swainson's > migrating over nightly, once they drop down into the forest at first light, > they become as quiet and difficult to observe as mice. I know the > woodlands > are full of them every day, but it is only rarely I see even one. If one > was going to search for a Gray-cheeked, the chances of seeing one would be > almost zero. The best hope one might have of recording one would be by > sound, and just before dusk. As daylight begins to fade, the Swainson's > Thrushes begin to give numerous contact calls to one another. If one > happens to be out among them, he can actually hear them making these > contact > calls from the trees until they switch to the overhead "heep" call as they > take wing for another night's flight. Any Gray-cheeked Thrush among them > would likely also be vocalizing in this manner just prior to the beginning > of the evening flight. But it would likely take many hours of listening > before one could satisfy himself that he had heard a bird of that species. > > Darrel > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Joel Geier" > To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" > Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 8:33 AM > Subject: [obol] Gray-cheeked Thrush report from Marys Peak on Saturday > > > > Hello folks, > > > > Since this hasn't shown up on the statewide list yet I thought it should > > be mentioned, if nothing else, to raise an intriguing possibility that > > other birders could be on the lookout for statewide. > > > > On Saturday (29 Aug) Doug Robinson reported a heard-only Gray-cheeked > > Thrush from near the upper campground on Marys Peak. He said he heard > > the bird call about 8 or 9 times but did not manage to get a visual > > despite trying for half an hour. Sounds like he considered other > > thrushes that make somewhat similar calls (Veery, juv. Hermit Thrush > > etc.). > > > > This species does show up with some frequency in California in the fall, > > and looking at the range maps, it seems reasonable that a few could pass > > through the Coast Range and/or Cascades. So it does seem like a > > possibility that should be on the radar for anyone who's up in the > > mountains this time of year. > > > > Happy birding, > > Joel > > > > -- > > Joel Geier > > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Jesse Ellis Madison, Dane Co, WI -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090831/09195d3d/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Aug 31 19:39:27 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:39:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] WW Dove photo Message-ID: I posted Lois Miller's White-winged Dove photo on my bird photo blog. http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary From vagabondbirder at yahoo.com Mon Aug 31 20:13:02 2009 From: vagabondbirder at yahoo.com (Richard Messenger) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:13:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Newport South Jetty Message-ID: <954395.9522.qm@web59004.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Briefly I birded the South Jetty today?and saw 2 birds of note, at least for me. 2 Black Scoters and @15 red Phalropes. Good Brding ? Richard Messenger? The Vagabond Birder Wherever the RV is parked -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090831/0b9f3cfd/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 33817 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090831/0b9f3cfd/attachment.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 10729 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090831/0b9f3cfd/attachment-0001.gif From dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM Mon Aug 31 20:30:49 2009 From: dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM (Cheryl Whelchel) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:30:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pictures from Shorebird festival Message-ID: The annual Shorebird Festival in Charleston was great fun. The festival had 2 wonderful speakers, and excellent field trip leaders. This provided an excellent weekend of birding on the truly wonderful South coast. Keep this festival in mind for next year, it was a great experience. I almost went away disappointed though. As it seemed nearly everyone had seen the Baird's Sandpipers at Bastendorf Beach except myself. On Sunday after all of the field trips, I made a desperate last trip to Bastendorf. After checking the Least in the puddle for several disappointing minutes I had almost given up, when I saw a small flock out near the tide line. Through my scope, I could see that some were noticebly larger. I rushed down to the waters edge and was finally rewarded with my lifer Baird's Sandpiper. I always thought that this would be a difficult bird to pick out or differentiate, but it was so clearly different and the long primaries and scalyness of the feathers were instantly apparent. What a wonderful bird! I have posted some pictures of various birds from the weekend at the following link. http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/ Cheryl Whelchel Tangent -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090831/13f7e5ad/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Mon Aug 31 21:14:32 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:14:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gray-cheeked Thrush report from Marys Peak on Saturday In-Reply-To: <202ab9ef0908311929w294dfad7ib7214a9c83360659@mail.gmail.com> References: <1251732819.3272.71.camel@clearwater> <202ab9ef0908311929w294dfad7ib7214a9c83360659@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: I agree with everything Jesse says here, but also want to caution folks that Swainson's Thrushes show a huge amount of variation in their nocturnal flight call notes. About 10-20% of the call notes I hear here in Portland at night have a burry component to them, and some of them very much so. Occasionally I hear a downslurred fully burry note reminiscent of Veery or Gray-cheeked, but I feel that these are coming from the Swainson's as well (based on their frequency of occurrence and my impression that they seem like they are merely at the end of a continuum of variation). Individual birds will change their calls as well; for instance, the other night I heard one particular individual (it was low and I could track it audibly through the sky) that gave four or five very different call notes, one time each in succession, ranging from a pure whistled tone to a fully burry tone, and with both upslurred and downslurred variations! So ... the bottom line is that whereas I would feel very comfortable identifying a typical Gray-cheeked call (or Veery) in the East where they are expected, I would be very nervous indeed about calling one here in western Oregon, even if it sounded perfect for those species. A recording and sonogram, as Jesse suggests, would probably be necessary to clinch an identification. Jay Withgott, Portland At 9:29 PM -0500 8/31/09, Jesse Ellis wrote: >All- > >It would be easiest to detect (and perhaps document?) a Grey-cheek >flying overhead at night. As Darrel said, that's when you're getting >access to the horde or Swainson's that a Grey-cheek would be with. >Grey-cheek flight calls are not like Swainson's at all. (More of a >high "FEER" than the rising piping of Swainson's. The trick would be >getting someone to believe you, and a mic in a cone with decent >recoding gear could aid that. Not saying it would be EASY, but I >think that's your best shot, simply because that's when you'd detect >the highest number of Catharus thrushes overall. > >And for those of you who haven't experienced a good night flight, it >can be incredible. A low cloud ceiling, a high (and hopefully >exposed) observation/listening point, and the right wind conditions >can lead to the detection of thousands of birds. I've heard flights >of 60 birds/second. Not all of these are identifiable at all, and >even with a lot of practice many can't be IDed, but the phenomenon >is incredible. And with some practice and experience (and outside >references) many flight calls CAN be IDed. Thrushes in particular. > >I don't know if anyone has put together a database for western >birds, but oldbird.org has some resources for >eastern birds. > >Jesse Ellis >Madison, WI > >On Mon, Aug 31, 2009 at 6:16 PM, Darrel Faxon ><5hats at peak.org> wrote: > >Joel, > I have suspected for years that a few Gray-cheeked Thrushes pass over >the Coast Range in the fall, if for no other reason than that from late >August to early October, hundreds of thousands (and that is likely a >conservative figure) of Swainson's Thrushes do so. It would be to me more >surprising if a few Gray-cheeked Thrushes did not intermingle with this >horde than if they did. However, confirming such an event could prove to be >extraordinarily difficult. Even though there are so many Swainson's >migrating over nightly, once they drop down into the forest at first light, >they become as quiet and difficult to observe as mice. I know the woodlands >are full of them every day, but it is only rarely I see even one. If one >was going to search for a Gray-cheeked, the chances of seeing one would be >almost zero. The best hope one might have of recording one would be by >sound, and just before dusk. As daylight begins to fade, the Swainson's >Thrushes begin to give numerous contact calls to one another. If one >happens to be out among them, he can actually hear them making these contact >calls from the trees until they switch to the overhead "heep" call as they >take wing for another night's flight. Any Gray-cheeked Thrush among them >would likely also be vocalizing in this manner just prior to the beginning >of the evening flight. But it would likely take many hours of listening >before one could satisfy himself that he had heard a bird of that species. > >Darrel > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Joel Geier" <joel.geier at peak.org> >To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" ><obol at oregonbirdwatch.org> >Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 8:33 AM >Subject: [obol] Gray-cheeked Thrush report from Marys Peak on Saturday > > >> Hello folks, >> >> Since this hasn't shown up on the statewide list yet I thought it should >> be mentioned, if nothing else, to raise an intriguing possibility that >> other birders could be on the lookout for statewide. >> >> On Saturday (29 Aug) Doug Robinson reported a heard-only Gray-cheeked >> Thrush from near the upper campground on Marys Peak. He said he heard >> the bird call about 8 or 9 times but did not manage to get a visual >> despite trying for half an hour. Sounds like he considered other >> thrushes that make somewhat similar calls (Veery, juv. Hermit Thrush >> etc.). >> >> This species does show up with some frequency in California in the fall, >> and looking at the range maps, it seems reasonable that a few could pass >> through the Coast Range and/or Cascades. So it does seem like a >> possibility that should be on the radar for anyone who's up in the >> mountains this time of year. >> >> Happy birding, >> Joel >> >> -- >> Joel Geier >> Camp Adair area north of Corvallis >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> >>http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > >-- >Jesse Ellis >Madison, Dane Co, WI > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090831/3854e401/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Mon Aug 31 21:22:39 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:22:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] migrants hawking, Yamhiil Co Message-ID: <4E74E2E475EF419D9930092B5262B270@yourw5st28y9a3> This evening after dinner my husband and I took a walk down the road and saw 4 Western Tanagers hawking after termite-like insect. We saw the clear wings drifting down as a Tanager consumed the unfortunate bug. We also saw some Cedar Waxwings, 2 Red-breasted Sapsuckers, and some Western Wood Pewees going for more of the same. In the distance an accipiter was flying irregularly, as if it might also be flycatching. On our return we heard Swainson's Thrushes calling from the roadside woods. Pamela Johnston From pamelaj at spiritone.com Mon Aug 31 21:27:57 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:27:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Golden-crowned Sparrow, Linn Co Message-ID: Around noon I was at West Stayton Rd and Santiam Loop when I heard the clear whistle of a Golden-crowned Sparrow. Pamela Johnston From srnord101 at verizon.net Mon Aug 31 21:27:52 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:27:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands - Tundra Swan and Pelicans Message-ID: <000001ca2abc$92754e60$b75feb20$@net> OBOL; I walked around all the ponds today between 12:50-14:10. Overall not a lot seen. Despite all the exposed mud on Cattail Marsh Pond, very few shorebirds. The biggest surprise was seeing a TUNDRA SWAN in the southern most mitigation ponds. The WHITE PELICANS were also in that same pond, out in the open for a change. Usually all I see is the top of their heads as they stand in the tall grasses. The mammal highlight was a MINK running along the trail. Birds of note include: 13 AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN 6 GREAT BLUE HERON 8 GREAT EGRET - first I've seen here this season 4 GREEN HERON (2 adults, 2 immature) 1 TUNDRA SWAN 4 WOOD DUCK 1 NORTHERN HARRIER (immature) 1 VIRGINIA RAIL 10 KILLDEER 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER 13 WESTERN SANDPIPER 2 LEAST SANDPIPER 1 MINK Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From tjanzen at comcast.net Mon Aug 31 22:07:26 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:07:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur update Message-ID: <20090901050756.DA939A8217@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear All, My family returned home last night after spending 3 days birding at Malheur Wildlife Refuge. We looked for the Lesser Nighthawk each day, but weren't ever successful in relocating it. There were about 30 or so COMMON NIGHTHAWKS around the Malheur Field Station. Dave Irons and I saw a migrant VAUX'S SWIFT there on August 29. Passerine migration was relatively slow at the headquarters. There were a few migrant YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and two WESTERN TANAGERS. There were also 2 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS there on August 29. Duncan Evered mentioned that he had a WHITE-WINGED DOVE at his feeder at the Malheur Field Station for 6 consecutive days in early August. Joan Talley posted a note on the species list at the headquarters that she had seen a WHITE-WINGED DOVE there on August 8. This may have been the same bird that was at Duncan Evered's house. Duncan also mentioned that he had a female BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD at his house earlier this summer. Sincerely, Tim Janzen Portland From 5hats at peak.org Tue Sep 1 06:15:11 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 06:15:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] more on thrushes Message-ID: <089B98ABCAE5476B9630EB33F83891C0@your5rlp3a9516> Obolites, If you happen to be one of those people who thrill to the sound of Swainson's Thrushes in their nocturnal migration, you simply must, during some point at this time of year make a trip to the interior Coast Range at dawn. Apparently the bulk of this great flight passes over this section of the state. I was out a little before six this morning, and the vocalizations of the thrushes filled the sky from horizon to horizon, so many in number it was impossible to even think of counting them. It will likely be the same way each morning for a couple more weeks. Here on Thornton Creek ( Lincoln) I usually begin hearing the thrushes overhead in mid-August, and contiue to hear them until around the tenth of October. However, the movement peaks in early to mid-September, so now is the time to take in what I consider to be one of Oregon's great birding experiences. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090901/9596733d/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Tue Sep 1 06:24:23 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 06:24:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gray-cheeked Thrush report from Marys Peak on Saturday References: <1251732819.3272.71.camel@clearwater><202ab9ef0908311929w294dfad7ib7214a9c83360659@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <645CFC4AD2AB49799C5421E598B02681@your5rlp3a9516> Re: [obol] Gray-cheeked Thrush report from Marys Peak on SJay, One of the things that must be taken into account here is that at dusk when the birds are preparing to fly, and at dawn as they are coming in from their night's flight, they give two different types of calls. The calls they make when flying over are different from the contact calls they make from the ground. If you happen to be in the woods at dusk or dawn, you can actually hear when they make the switch as they rise from or come into the trees. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: Jay Withgott To: Jesse Ellis ; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 9:14 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Gray-cheeked Thrush report from Marys Peak on Saturday I agree with everything Jesse says here, but also want to caution folks that Swainson's Thrushes show a huge amount of variation in their nocturnal flight call notes. About 10-20% of the call notes I hear here in Portland at night have a burry component to them, and some of them very much so. Occasionally I hear a downslurred fully burry note reminiscent of Veery or Gray-cheeked, but I feel that these are coming from the Swainson's as well (based on their frequency of occurrence and my impression that they seem like they are merely at the end of a continuum of variation). Individual birds will change their calls as well; for instance, the other night I heard one particular individual (it was low and I could track it audibly through the sky) that gave four or five very different call notes, one time each in succession, ranging from a pure whistled tone to a fully burry tone, and with both upslurred and downslurred variations! So ... the bottom line is that whereas I would feel very comfortable identifying a typical Gray-cheeked call (or Veery) in the East where they are expected, I would be very nervous indeed about calling one here in western Oregon, even if it sounded perfect for those species. A recording and sonogram, as Jesse suggests, would probably be necessary to clinch an identification. Jay Withgott, Portland At 9:29 PM -0500 8/31/09, Jesse Ellis wrote: All- It would be easiest to detect (and perhaps document?) a Grey-cheek flying overhead at night. As Darrel said, that's when you're getting access to the horde or Swainson's that a Grey-cheek would be with. Grey-cheek flight calls are not like Swainson's at all. (More of a high "FEER" than the rising piping of Swainson's. The trick would be getting someone to believe you, and a mic in a cone with decent recoding gear could aid that. Not saying it would be EASY, but I think that's your best shot, simply because that's when you'd detect the highest number of Catharus thrushes overall. And for those of you who haven't experienced a good night flight, it can be incredible. A low cloud ceiling, a high (and hopefully exposed) observation/listening point, and the right wind conditions can lead to the detection of thousands of birds. I've heard flights of 60 birds/second. Not all of these are identifiable at all, and even with a lot of practice many can't be IDed, but the phenomenon is incredible. And with some practice and experience (and outside references) many flight calls CAN be IDed. Thrushes in particular. I don't know if anyone has put together a database for western birds, but oldbird.org has some resources for eastern birds. Jesse Ellis Madison, WI On Mon, Aug 31, 2009 at 6:16 PM, Darrel Faxon <5hats at peak.org> wrote: Joel, I have suspected for years that a few Gray-cheeked Thrushes pass over the Coast Range in the fall, if for no other reason than that from late August to early October, hundreds of thousands (and that is likely a conservative figure) of Swainson's Thrushes do so. It would be to me more surprising if a few Gray-cheeked Thrushes did not intermingle with this horde than if they did. However, confirming such an event could prove to be extraordinarily difficult. Even though there are so many Swainson's migrating over nightly, once they drop down into the forest at first light, they become as quiet and difficult to observe as mice. I know the woodlands are full of them every day, but it is only rarely I see even one. If one was going to search for a Gray-cheeked, the chances of seeing one would be almost zero. The best hope one might have of recording one would be by sound, and just before dusk. As daylight begins to fade, the Swainson's Thrushes begin to give numerous contact calls to one another. If one happens to be out among them, he can actually hear them making these contact calls from the trees until they switch to the overhead "heep" call as they take wing for another night's flight. Any Gray-cheeked Thrush among them would likely also be vocalizing in this manner just prior to the beginning of the evening flight. But it would likely take many hours of listening before one could satisfy himself that he had heard a bird of that species. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joel Geier" To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 8:33 AM Subject: [obol] Gray-cheeked Thrush report from Marys Peak on Saturday > Hello folks, > > Since this hasn't shown up on the statewide list yet I thought it should > be mentioned, if nothing else, to raise an intriguing possibility that > other birders could be on the lookout for statewide. > > On Saturday (29 Aug) Doug Robinson reported a heard-only Gray-cheeked > Thrush from near the upper campground on Marys Peak. He said he heard > the bird call about 8 or 9 times but did not manage to get a visual > despite trying for half an hour. Sounds like he considered other > thrushes that make somewhat similar calls (Veery, juv. Hermit Thrush > etc.). > > This species does show up with some frequency in California in the fall, > and looking at the range maps, it seems reasonable that a few could pass > through the Coast Range and/or Cascades. So it does seem like a > possibility that should be on the radar for anyone who's up in the > mountains this time of year. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- Jesse Ellis Madison, Dane Co, WI _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090901/da7ea4c9/attachment.html From henry at formandstructure.net Tue Sep 1 07:16:31 2009 From: henry at formandstructure.net (Henry Horvat) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 10:16:31 -0400 Subject: [obol] Hundreds of Starlings and a White Breasted Nuthatch-Scappoose Message-ID: <0090BB72E804224C982654FE9B7D7F1401482C16@MAILR012.mail.lan> OBOL'ers: Sometimes the mundane can be just as exciting as trying to break a big day record. While sitting in the backyard enjoying the White Oaks that surround our property I listened to a single Whit Breasted Nuthatch give it's call/song and hundreds of European Starlings started responding. About one quarter of the Starlings were able to mimic the Nuthatch, while others gave much more different sounds. There seemed to be four distinct choruses happening. One tiny conductor and an orchestra of hundreds. I enjoyed the symphony for an hour. Henry Horvat Scappoose Bottoms -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090901/0aa2cc52/attachment.html From oschmidt at att.net Tue Sep 1 07:52:49 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 07:52:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tuesday is Birder's Night Message-ID: <9EC3B746-7EF7-45D5-BC83-A7A389AB8599@att.net> ........ September 1st, Portland Audubon House, 5151 NW Cornell Road, 7:30 pm, all are welcome. Jeff Gilligan and I are wending our way back to Portland today after 10 days at sea off the west coast of North America, and may be able to share a few of the highlights. Potpourri. Please bring your bird videos and bird photos .......... oschmidt at att.net Tuesday, September 1, 2009 From vireogirl at yahoo.com Tue Sep 1 07:56:09 2009 From: vireogirl at yahoo.com (Vjera Thompson) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 07:56:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Eugene Screech Owl Message-ID: <460828.86012.qm@web56304.mail.re3.yahoo.com> OBOLers, Had a pleasant surprise on my bike commute home last night. I was heading home a little later than usual, around 8 pm, and heard a W SCREECH OWL call. That brought me to a quick stop! I was near the Valley River footbridge. Listened to it call about a dozen times before it stopped and I continued on my way. Other recent commuting notes: W WOOD PEEWEES have dropped sharply in the last couple weeks. At the start of August I was hearing ~10 every morning along Alton Baker. Yesterday I had one in Alton Baker and one in Skinner Butte. Today I only heard the one in Skinner Butte (along the river). BROWN CREEPERS are calling everywhere along my route right now, as usual for this time of year. Good birding, Vjera Thompson Eugene, OR vireogirl at yahoo.com From jdanzenbaker at gmail.com Tue Sep 1 08:01:52 2009 From: jdanzenbaker at gmail.com (Jim Danzenbaker) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 08:01:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Battle Groud Night Flight and yard notes Message-ID: Hi Tweeters and OBOLers, Visiting birder Ann Nightingale from Victoria, BC and I had about 875 SWAINSON'S THRUSHes flying over my yard in Battle Ground, Clark County from about 5:15am through 5:50am this morning. Number was determined based on 100 calls per minute times 35 minutes divided by 4 (total number of calls heard from one individual bird flying over earlier in the night - from extreme northern end of hearing to extreme southern end of hearing). Yesterday, the following migrants were observed form the back deck: Lazuli Bunting 1 (immature feeding on butterfly bush hanging over the deck) Western Tanager 1 Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 2 Black-headed Grosbeak (I think this is one of the local breeders since it has been here for several days) Willow Flycatcher 1 (migrant or not - who knows) Western Wood Pewee (migrant or not - who knows) Savannah Sparrow 1 (year yard bird #101) The Cedar Waxwing flock is up to 150 and includes some Evening Grosbeaks. Pine SIskins are more noticeable now too. Keep your eyes and ears skyward. Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090901/cf53fd69/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Tue Sep 1 09:27:22 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 09:27:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gray-cheeked Thrush report from Marys Peak on Saturday In-Reply-To: <645CFC4AD2AB49799C5421E598B02681@your5rlp3a9516> References: <1251732819.3272.71.camel@clearwater><202ab9ef0908311929w294dfad7ib7214a9c83360659@mail.gmail.com> <645CFC4AD2AB49799C5421E598B02681@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: Indeed, Darrel -- the common daytime "whit" note is yet another sound they make, independent of the highly variable nocturnal flight notes. I also don't think I've ever heard from the air at night the weird cackle they often make at dawn (but on the ground). At 6:24 AM -0700 9/1/09, Darrel Faxon wrote: >Jay, > One of the things that must be taken into account here is that >at dusk when the birds are preparing to fly, and at dawn as they are >coming in from their night's flight, they give two different types >of calls. The calls they make when flying over are different from >the contact calls they make from the ground. If you happen to be in >the woods at dusk or dawn, you can actually hear when they make the >switch as they rise from or come into the trees. > >Darrel > >----- Original Message ----- >From: Jay Withgott >To: Jesse Ellis ; >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 9:14 PM >Subject: Re: [obol] Gray-cheeked Thrush report from Marys Peak on Saturday > > >I agree with everything Jesse says here, but also want to caution >folks that Swainson's Thrushes show a huge amount of variation in >their nocturnal flight call notes. About 10-20% of the call notes I >hear here in Portland at night have a burry component to them, and >some of them very much so. Occasionally I hear a downslurred fully >burry note reminiscent of Veery or Gray-cheeked, but I feel that >these are coming from the Swainson's as well (based on their >frequency of occurrence and my impression that they seem like they >are merely at the end of a continuum of variation). Individual >birds will change their calls as well; for instance, the other night >I heard one particular individual (it was low and I could track it >audibly through the sky) that gave four or five very different call >notes, one time each in succession, ranging from a pure whistled >tone to a fully burry tone, and with both upslurred and downslurred >variations! > >So ... the bottom line is that whereas I would feel very comfortable >identifying a typical Gray-cheeked call (or Veery) in the East where >they are expected, I would be very nervous indeed about calling one >here in western Oregon, even if it sounded perfect for those >species. A recording and sonogram, as Jesse suggests, would >probably be necessary to clinch an identification. > >Jay Withgott, Portland > > >At 9:29 PM -0500 8/31/09, Jesse Ellis wrote: > >>All- >> >>It would be easiest to detect (and perhaps document?) a Grey-cheek >>flying overhead at night. As Darrel said, that's when you're >>getting access to the horde or Swainson's that a Grey-cheek would >>be with. Grey-cheek flight calls are not like Swainson's at all. >>(More of a high "FEER" than the rising piping of Swainson's. The >>trick would be getting someone to believe you, and a mic in a cone >>with decent recoding gear could aid that. Not saying it would be >>EASY, but I think that's your best shot, simply because that's when >>you'd detect the highest number of Catharus thrushes overall. >> >>And for those of you who haven't experienced a good night flight, >>it can be incredible. A low cloud ceiling, a high (and hopefully >>exposed) observation/listening point, and the right wind conditions >>can lead to the detection of thousands of birds. I've heard flights >>of 60 birds/second. Not all of these are identifiable at all, and >>even with a lot of practice many can't be IDed, but the phenomenon >>is incredible. And with some practice and experience (and outside >>references) many flight calls CAN be IDed. Thrushes in particular. >> >>I don't know if anyone has put together a database for western >>birds, but oldbird.org has some resources for >>eastern birds. >> >>Jesse Ellis >>Madison, WI >> >On Mon, Aug 31, 2009 at 6:16 PM, Darrel Faxon ><5hats at peak.org> wrote: > >Joel, > I have suspected for years that a few Gray-cheeked Thrushes pass over >the Coast Range in the fall, if for no other reason than that from late >August to early October, hundreds of thousands (and that is likely a >conservative figure) of Swainson's Thrushes do so. It would be to me more >surprising if a few Gray-cheeked Thrushes did not intermingle with this >horde than if they did. However, confirming such an event could prove to be >extraordinarily difficult. Even though there are so many Swainson's >migrating over nightly, once they drop down into the forest at first light, >they become as quiet and difficult to observe as mice. I know the woodlands >are full of them every day, but it is only rarely I see even one. If one >was going to search for a Gray-cheeked, the chances of seeing one would be >almost zero. The best hope one might have of recording one would be by >sound, and just before dusk. As daylight begins to fade, the Swainson's >Thrushes begin to give numerous contact calls to one another. If one >happens to be out among them, he can actually hear them making these contact > >calls from the trees until they switch to the overhead "heep" call as they >take wing for another night's flight. Any Gray-cheeked Thrush among them >would likely also be vocalizing in this manner just prior to the beginning >of the evening flight. But it would likely take many hours of listening >before one could satisfy himself that he had heard a bird of that species. > >Darrel > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Joel Geier" <joel.geier at peak.org> >To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" ><obol at oregonbirdwatch.org> >Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 8:33 AM >Subject: [obol] Gray-cheeked Thrush report from Marys Peak on Saturday > > >> Hello folks, >> >> Since this hasn't shown up on the statewide list yet I thought it should >> be mentioned, if nothing else, to raise an intriguing possibility that >> other birders could be on the lookout for statewide. >> >> On Saturday (29 Aug) Doug Robinson reported a heard-only Gray-cheeked >> Thrush from near the upper campground on Marys Peak. He said he heard >> the bird call about 8 or 9 times but did not manage to get a visual >> despite trying for half an hour. Sounds like he considered other >> thrushes that make somewhat similar calls (Veery, juv. Hermit Thrush >> etc.). >> >> This species does show up with some frequency in California in the fall, >> and looking at the range maps, it seems reasonable that a few could pass >> through the Coast Range and/or Cascades. So it does seem like a >> possibility that should be on the radar for anyone who's up in the >> mountains this time of year. >> >> Happy birding, >> Joel >> >> -- >> Joel Geier >> Camp Adair area north of Corvallis >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> >>http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > >-- >Jesse Ellis >Madison, Dane Co, WI > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090901/9eb3eeb6/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Sep 1 11:45:11 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 11:45:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] South Coast Photos: Leucistic Semipalmated Plover; White-winged Dove Message-ID: <642D80951F074F6E8ED95ECBEAE95F12@GREG> Two photos uploaded. Anne Heyerly's leucistic Semipalmated Plover at Bandon Marsh on August 29. Lois Miller's White-winged Dove at Port Orford on August 30. http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/gallery/_from_others Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From jdanzenbaker at gmail.com Tue Sep 1 11:45:17 2009 From: jdanzenbaker at gmail.com (Jim Danzenbaker) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 11:45:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Ridgefield NWR shorebirds Message-ID: Hi Tweeters and OBOLers, A quick trip to see the shorebirds at Rest Lake at Ridgefield NWR, Clark County, WA this morning produced the following: Pectoral Sandpiper 19-22 (19 counted on the ground and then possibly 22 in flight) Baird's Sandpiper 3 Western Sandpiper 10 Least Sandpiper 10 Killdeer - yes all shorebirds except the Killdeer flew off at 9:30am There were also 18 loafing Greater White-fronted Geese. Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090901/c914e778/attachment.html From dhewitt37 at gmail.com Tue Sep 1 12:35:59 2009 From: dhewitt37 at gmail.com (David Hewitt) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 12:35:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Possible Klamath trip this week Message-ID: <653eaf880909011235ye27d1dpfedbf177a1ad7138@mail.gmail.com> Johnny and other OBOLers, This query comes up often enough (sometimes to me off-list) that I'll throw out some general advertisement for Klamath Basin birding resources that may or may not be well known to "outsiders." We've got a lot to offer, and wonderful resources to guide you. Klamath Basin Birding Trail: http://www.klamathbirdingtrails.com/ Klamath Basin Bird News: http://groups.google.com/group/klamathbasinbirdnews (you can read without signing up, but if you want to sign up, let me know) Klamath Basin Audubon Society: http://www.eaglecon.org/index.shtml (the web site got a major face lift two days ago!) * You can also write to the current President about obtaining a copy of Steve Summers's Guide to Birding the Klamath Basin (title something like that). The booklet is dated but still very relevant and full of great info. It is currently under revision. - Dave Hewitt, Klamath Falls Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:06:11 -0400 > From: jonysky101 at aol.com > Subject: [obol] Possible Klamath trip this week > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > My wife and I are both in the mood to go exploring. For birding, but also > to enjoy some of the beauty of Oregon that we haven't seen before. I was > thinking about the Klamath Basin area. Neither of us have been in that part > of the state. We only have 3 days, and want to?see and enjoy?as much as we > can. I'm hoping for some good suggestions from Obolers as the best spots to > see in that area. My wife is extremely tolerant of my birding activities, > but I don't want the whole trip to be about what I want. I appreciate any > info that I can get. Thanks. > > Johnny Sasko > > Sandy, Or > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090901/98a7c33c/attachment.html From dan at heyerly.com Tue Sep 1 14:31:40 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Daniel d.Heyerly) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 17:31:40 -0400 Subject: [obol] Possible Klamath trip Message-ID: In a response to acquiring a copy of Steve Summer's "Birding the Klamath Basin", not sure the title is exactly correct, David Hewitt is correct in advising you to contact the Klamath Audubon organization for a copy of that publication. The OFO Bookcase sold its last copy of it during last weekend's joint venture Oregon Shorebird Festival/OFO Annual Meeting in the Charleston/Coos Bay/Bandon area. I agree it is a good booklet and full of relevant information. Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090901/da264b73/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Tue Sep 1 14:54:18 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 14:54:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cascade Head- possible Chimney Swift Message-ID: This morning 9/1 while standing at the top of the CH meadow I had a lone swift go over with a group of Barn Swallows, passing very closely a few times as low as eye level. My almost immediate and very strong impression was that it was somewhere intermediate in size between Vaux's and Black, closer to Vaux's but still noticeably heavier bodied and broader and longer winged than I am used to seeing, closer to the size of a Barn Swallow. Wingbeats seemed heavier and more powerful than typical for Vaux's. It also appeared very dark, slightly paler than Black overall, but with no obvious throat or rump contrast. In fact at first split second glance before the smaller size became apparent my inclination was to parse it as a Black based on color. It did not vocalize. Duration of observation 15 seconds. I have no recent experience with Chimney Swift, although have seen numerous Vaux's and Black under identical circumstances from this spot. other migrants this morning - 1 BREWER'S SPARROW (in brush on top associating with a group of staging Savannahs, 2nd for location both fall) several small groups of swallows inc. pure flock of 8-10 Rough-winged along the cliff rim - 5 Warbling Vireo 25+ Hermit Warbler (inc. a few "singing" hatch year birds) 15+ Orange-crowned 5 Wilson's 2 Townsend's 1 Yellow 3 Brown Creeper did not hear a Swainson's Thrush anywhere for the first time this season. I didn't run into one today, but over the last 2 weeks I have seen 1-2 Red-shouldered Hawks on Cascade Head on 4 different occasions, assume the same 2 birds. Phil philliplc at charter.net From snellinj at peak.org Tue Sep 1 15:29:27 2009 From: snellinj at peak.org (John Snelling) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 15:29:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Corvallis Eurasian Collard Doves Message-ID: <6B1B8BDD92AE477E9F264A968CB5CB69@DESKTOP> A pair (and perhaps more) of Eurasian Collard Doves can be seen regularly between HWY 99 and Pettibone Ave. on Granger Dr. (near Mt. View School). So much for the neighborhood of Mourning Doves and Band-tails! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090901/9b829def/attachment.html From glenn_rie at yahoo.com Tue Sep 1 15:48:31 2009 From: glenn_rie at yahoo.com (Rie Luft) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 15:48:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Purple Martins on the Willamette/Geo-locators Used in Tracking Message-ID: <272845.90054.qm@web112209.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> First time I've had time to make a submission to OBOL so am late sending this info on Purple Martins seen in the Willamette River in downtown Portland.? Most likely they were from our moorage at Oregon Yacht Club just north of the Sellwood Bridge.? For the past 7 years we have been developing a small colony consisting of 22 gourds maintained by 5? "landlords". Up until 2008 we had grown each year with an occupancy of 17 gourds in 2007.? However, in the summer of '08 our moorage had to dredge the silt beneath our homes, which involved moving each house out onto a boom log for a 3 week-stretch some time during that summer, changing the orientation of the house by 90 degrees; of course there also was considerable barge and heavy equipment noise and? traffic.? As a result, there was a decided drop in martin occupation.? For those interested, the Purple Martin Conservation Association will be publishing my article "A Site Fidelity Test" in their fall quarterly issue.? This year we had a slight increase in occupancy with 9 gourds fledging; hopefully the future will be brighter as OYC should not have to dredge for another 11 years or so, with the weather cooperating. OYC has also served as a staging stop a number of times during the fall migration back to Brazil.? An interesting new migration tracking study using miniature geo-locators attached to several Purple Martins has recently been published by PMCA in their summer issue. For an overview, see? http://purplemartin.org/main/geolocator.html. In addition to the other sources sited in the above reference, the Los Angeles Times of 2/13/09 also had an article "Tiny Birds Go the Distance", which includes information on the Wood Thrushes that were fit up with the tiny recorders as well. Based on the findings of the geo-locators, which record the times of sunrise and sunset, one female martin flew 4,400 miles from her last stop in Brazil to Pennsylvania in 13 days, with four of those spent as stopovers - an amazing 300+ miles per day!? As martins only fly during the daytime, the female martin covered an average of a little less than 500 miles per flight day at approximately a ground speed of about 40 miles per hour, according to Bridget J.M. Stutchbury's article for PMCA. Of York University in Toronto, Ms. Stutchbury first recorded her findings in the journal Science, which released the study online. ? As this is the first time individual songbirds have been tracked to their wintering grounds and back, both articles are well worth reading. Rie Luft, Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090901/50ba0e47/attachment.html From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Tue Sep 1 16:06:45 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 23:06:45 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Corvallis Eurasian Collard Doves Message-ID: <883200940.159161251846405408.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> What an excellent idea this suggests: Broiled dove, served on a bed of collard greens. Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090901/be401a86/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Tue Sep 1 16:35:58 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 16:35:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Future of Bird Finding In Oregon In-Reply-To: <653eaf880909011235ye27d1dpfedbf177a1ad7138@mail.gmail.com> References: <653eaf880909011235ye27d1dpfedbf177a1ad7138@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: This isn't really going to help Johnny right now but the East Cascades Bird Conservancy is developing an online site guide for every one of Oregon's 36 counties including Klamath. This resource will become available after the first of the year (2010) and should help anyone trying to find good birding places throughout the state. The current draft of the Klamath guide lists 58 locations. Each location lists DeLorme page numbers (for both 2001 and 2008 versions of DeLorme), GPS Coordinates (Lat and Long), a Google Map (later we plan to add a Google Earth KML), Written directions to the site, and a detailed description of the habitat and birds one might find at that location. In addition, each county will have some physical data listed, the top lister for the county will be listed, the "Big Day" record for the county, some unusual birds seen in that county, and a county contact person to answer any questions you may have. Finally, there will be two checklists available for each county. One checklist lists all the species ever reported (and confirmed) in the county while the other is a condensed checklist with a bigger font and no rarities listed so as to be more practical to use in the field. Many of the sites simply have links to already established bird guides like the Oregon Birding Trail. As I said before, this resource should be available to all Oregon birders after Christmas. We currently have drafts of 27 counties completed. While we continually modify all counties as new information is unearthed, we are currently working on 9 counties in particular. If you have favorite locations to bird in Baker, Jackson, Josephine, Moro, Polk, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, and Yamhill counties, we could use your help. We have begun the process of collecting birding locations in all 10 of these counties but we are far from complete in this task. If you have favorite places you like to bird, send them to me and I'll see if I can put them in the guide for the county of your choice. If you would like a copy of the locations we already have, just let me know and I'll send them to you. We already have all the locations listed in birdnotes and the Oregon Birding Trail but if you know of sites that are not in either of those excellent sources, let me know. Chuck Gates East Cascades Bird Conservancy ----- Original Message ----- From: David Hewitt To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 12:35 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Possible Klamath trip this week Johnny and other OBOLers, This query comes up often enough (sometimes to me off-list) that I'll throw out some general advertisement for Klamath Basin birding resources that may or may not be well known to "outsiders." We've got a lot to offer, and wonderful resources to guide you. Klamath Basin Birding Trail: http://www.klamathbirdingtrails.com/ Klamath Basin Bird News: http://groups.google.com/group/klamathbasinbirdnews (you can read without signing up, but if you want to sign up, let me know) Klamath Basin Audubon Society: http://www.eaglecon.org/index.shtml (the web site got a major face lift two days ago!) * You can also write to the current President about obtaining a copy of Steve Summers's Guide to Birding the Klamath Basin (title something like that). The booklet is dated but still very relevant and full of great info. It is currently under revision. - Dave Hewitt, Klamath Falls Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:06:11 -0400 From: jonysky101 at aol.com Subject: [obol] Possible Klamath trip this week To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org My wife and I are both in the mood to go exploring. For birding, but also to enjoy some of the beauty of Oregon that we haven't seen before. I was thinking about the Klamath Basin area. Neither of us have been in that part of the state. We only have 3 days, and want to?see and enjoy?as much as we can. I'm hoping for some good suggestions from Obolers as the best spots to see in that area. My wife is extremely tolerant of my birding activities, but I don't want the whole trip to be about what I want. I appreciate any info that I can get. Thanks. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090901/bb6db38c/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Tue Sep 1 16:41:58 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 16:41:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birds eating Mountain Ash fruit Message-ID: Here in South Beach our Mountain Ash fruits are usually gone by mid-September. This afternoon I watched the trees for a little while, and the culprits were: American Robin: 8+ incl. 3+ juv. Swainson's Thrush 1 Cedar Waxwing several Black-headed Grosbeak 1 female Evening Grosbeak 2 females, 1 scruffy male Western Tanager 1 female A couple of Days ago, an American Crow was also thrashing around in one of the trees. Also present today: Wilson's Warbler Spotted Towhee When I lived in The Dalles in the 1960s, Mountain Ash berries lasted into the winter, and sometimes attracted Bohemian Waxwings. Here they are all gone before the leaves drop, every fall. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090901/5a79bf8b/attachment.html From heinjv at charter.net Tue Sep 1 18:16:32 2009 From: heinjv at charter.net (Jim & Vikki Hein) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 18:16:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Douglas County Shorebirds Message-ID: <6C9E6A786B024A01AA80399FFD335A12@MAIN> Obol, It has been 10 days since I birded Ford's Pond in Sutherlin so I went this afternoon. The best bird was a juvenile MARBLED GODWIT. I have not seen them at this inland location before. Other shorebirds seen were LEAST SANDPIPER 14, WESTERN SANDPIPER 23, GREATER YELLOWLEGS 9, LESSER YELLOWLEGS 2, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER 5, GREEN HERON 2, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 1. I also had a BOBCAT jump out of some long grass about 10 feet away and lope across the mudflat today also. Jim Hein From larmcqueen at msn.com Tue Sep 1 18:41:19 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 18:41:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gray-cheeked Thrush report from Marys Peak on Saturday In-Reply-To: References: <1251732819.3272.71.camel@clearwater><202ab9ef0908311929w294dfad7ib7214a9c83360659@mail.gmail.com><645CFC4AD2AB49799C5421E598B02681@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: I have to remark about Jay's comment on the "weird cackle" of Swainson's Thrush. I've associated this call with peak disturbance, as I hear it mainly when the bird is greatly agitated by an owl call (of my own making). I've heard it at any time of day, but if this call is used often at dawn, it may have another purpose. Maybe it wards off an owl attack! Larry _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Jay Withgott Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 9:27 AM To: Darrel Faxon; Jesse Ellis; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org; Jay Withgott Subject: Re: [obol] Gray-cheeked Thrush report from Marys Peak on Saturday Indeed, Darrel -- the common daytime "whit" note is yet another sound they make, independent of the highly variable nocturnal flight notes. I also don't think I've ever heard from the air at night the weird cackle they often make at dawn (but on the ground). At 6:24 AM -0700 9/1/09, Darrel Faxon wrote: Jay, One of the things that must be taken into account here is that at dusk when the birds are preparing to fly, and at dawn as they are coming in from their night's flight, they give two different types of calls. The calls they make when flying over are different from the contact calls they make from the ground. If you happen to be in the woods at dusk or dawn, you can actually hear when they make the switch as they rise from or come into the trees. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: Jay Withgott To: Jesse Ellis ; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 9:14 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Gray-cheeked Thrush report from Marys Peak on Saturday I agree with everything Jesse says here, but also want to caution folks that Swainson's Thrushes show a huge amount of variation in their nocturnal flight call notes. About 10-20% of the call notes I hear here in Portland at night have a burry component to them, and some of them very much so. Occasionally I hear a downslurred fully burry note reminiscent of Veery or Gray-cheeked, but I feel that these are coming from the Swainson's as well (based on their frequency of occurrence and my impression that they seem like they are merely at the end of a continuum of variation). Individual birds will change their calls as well; for instance, the other night I heard one particular individual (it was low and I could track it audibly through the sky) that gave four or five very different call notes, one time each in succession, ranging from a pure whistled tone to a fully burry tone, and with both upslurred and downslurred variations! So ... the bottom line is that whereas I would feel very comfortable identifying a typical Gray-cheeked call (or Veery) in the East where they are expected, I would be very nervous indeed about calling one here in western Oregon, even if it sounded perfect for those species. A recording and sonogram, as Jesse suggests, would probably be necessary to clinch an identification. Jay Withgott, Portland At 9:29 PM -0500 8/31/09, Jesse Ellis wrote: All- It would be easiest to detect (and perhaps document?) a Grey-cheek flying overhead at night. As Darrel said, that's when you're getting access to the horde or Swainson's that a Grey-cheek would be with. Grey-cheek flight calls are not like Swainson's at all. (More of a high "FEER" than the rising piping of Swainson's. The trick would be getting someone to believe you, and a mic in a cone with decent recoding gear could aid that. Not saying it would be EASY, but I think that's your best shot, simply because that's when you'd detect the highest number of Catharus thrushes overall. And for those of you who haven't experienced a good night flight, it can be incredible. A low cloud ceiling, a high (and hopefully exposed) observation/listening point, and the right wind conditions can lead to the detection of thousands of birds. I've heard flights of 60 birds/second. Not all of these are identifiable at all, and even with a lot of practice many can't be IDed, but the phenomenon is incredible. And with some practice and experience (and outside references) many flight calls CAN be IDed. Thrushes in particular. I don't know if anyone has put together a database for western birds, but oldbird.org has some resources for eastern birds. Jesse Ellis Madison, WI On Mon, Aug 31, 2009 at 6:16 PM, Darrel Faxon <5hats at peak.org> wrote: Joel, I have suspected for years that a few Gray-cheeked Thrushes pass over the Coast Range in the fall, if for no other reason than that from late August to early October, hundreds of thousands (and that is likely a conservative figure) of Swainson's Thrushes do so. It would be to me more surprising if a few Gray-cheeked Thrushes did not intermingle with this horde than if they did. However, confirming such an event could prove to be extraordinarily difficult. Even though there are so many Swainson's migrating over nightly, once they drop down into the forest at first light, they become as quiet and difficult to observe as mice. I know the woodlands are full of them every day, but it is only rarely I see even one. If one was going to search for a Gray-cheeked, the chances of seeing one would be almost zero. The best hope one might have of recording one would be by sound, and just before dusk. As daylight begins to fade, the Swainson's Thrushes begin to give numerous contact calls to one another. If one happens to be out among them, he can actually hear them making these contact calls from the trees until they switch to the overhead "heep" call as they take wing for another night's flight. Any Gray-cheeked Thrush among them would likely also be vocalizing in this manner just prior to the beginning of the evening flight. But it would likely take many hours of listening before one could satisfy himself that he had heard a bird of that species. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joel Geier" To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 8:33 AM Subject: [obol] Gray-cheeked Thrush report from Marys Peak on Saturday > Hello folks, > > Since this hasn't shown up on the statewide list yet I thought it should > be mentioned, if nothing else, to raise an intriguing possibility that > other birders could be on the lookout for statewide. > > On Saturday (29 Aug) Doug Robinson reported a heard-only Gray-cheeked > Thrush from near the upper campground on Marys Peak. He said he heard > the bird call about 8 or 9 times but did not manage to get a visual > despite trying for half an hour. Sounds like he considered other > thrushes that make somewhat similar calls (Veery, juv. Hermit Thrush > etc.). > > This species does show up with some frequency in California in the fall, > and looking at the range maps, it seems reasonable that a few could pass > through the Coast Range and/or Cascades. So it does seem like a > possibility that should be on the radar for anyone who's up in the > mountains this time of year. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- Jesse Ellis Madison, Dane Co, WI _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _____ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.74/2339 - Release Date: 09/01/09 06:52:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090901/163b0f55/attachment.html From hatlevis at comcast.net Tue Sep 1 20:10:14 2009 From: hatlevis at comcast.net (Susan Hatlevig) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 20:10:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] birds calling overhead, early morning in Corvallis Message-ID: <7B0087BC28824D4AA400C69C492F511B@homeflydmyur2h> Thanks to whoever posted the note about hearing migrating birds calling early in the morning. I went out to get the paper this morning at about 5:30 and there was a low cloud cover. I could hear the calls of birds across the sky and I called my husband to join me to experience the sounds! I couldn't see anything, but it was magical to hear. I don't have any idea what they are either, as someone else has said. But, I'm so glad I heard it. Susie in Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090901/8907013b/attachment.html From andy.frank at kp.org Tue Sep 1 20:42:50 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 20:42:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chapman School Vaux Swifts Message-ID: <4D4B1655CCB443D9A3169E65D64D3470@familyroom> The VAUX SWIFTS are back in force at the Chapman School in NW Portland, as are the raptors who feed upon them. They put on a great show with their usual tornado like swirling into the chimney as well as several groups forming tight rings. I didn't try to count, but heard that last night there were counts of 4500 and 5000 by two different counters. It would have been very difficult to count tonight as they went into the chimney in bursts, with periods of none or few going in and at other times it seemed as many as 30/second were dropping in. They started going in at 8:08PM and were mostly finished by 8:14. A COOPER'S HAWK sat for awhile on the chimney and got one, and a PEREGRINE FALCON needed several tries before it also caught one. It's always fascinating to watch the Swifts mobbing the Falcon, as well as how they went ever higher in the sky to remain above it. On a sad note, after one pass by the Peregrine, two Swifts fell to the ground. When I left they were being attended to by Audubon volunteers with the prognosis for one looking quite grim but the other seeming to have a better chance of survival. Andy Frank From foglark at att.net Tue Sep 1 21:50:18 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 21:50:18 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Thrushes Message-ID: <815616.44829.qm@web80012.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> The report of a possible Gray-cheeked Thrush heard at Marys Peak a few days ago was followed by a post with the statement that this species occurs with some regularity in California in fall. That may be so, but it wouldn't be based on what birders have found. There had been 19 accepted fall reports for Gray-cheeked Thrush in the history of birding in California as of 2007 (with four more reports pending). In comparison, about 4000 Blackpoll Warblers have now been reported in the state in fall. If we transplant the past half-century of California experience north to a point in the north-central Oregon Coast Range and allow all else to be equal for the sake of argument, on average about 200 Blackpolls might be expected on Marys Peak between each occurrence of a Gray-cheeked Thrush. In addition, a Blackpoll in fall would probably be far more obvious to a birder than the thrush would be--the warbler would likely come to light among a conspicuous mixed flock in trees, while the thrush would be more or less on its own, in the shadows of underbrush, and maybe never calling. Of course it is far more complicated than this, but the idea is interesting. The other thought I would pass on is a suggestion that birders enjoying the night flights and morning drop-outs of Swainson's Thrushes are not counting birds, they are counting calls. R. Eductio Adabsurdum Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090901/640b768e/attachment.html From puma at smt-net.com Tue Sep 1 23:33:54 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 23:33:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Purple Martins on the Willamette/Geo-locators Used in Tracking In-Reply-To: <272845.90054.qm@web112209.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> References: <272845.90054.qm@web112209.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <111837EF-1A0C-40BE-9D69-5B839840EC3E@smt-net.com> Rie and OBOL, This year we had no nesting PURPLE MARTINS (PUMA). They were here checking out their nest boxes in April/May, but so were the starlings. 21 starlings were recycled this year. The PUMA continued to come to the ranch and they were chased by nesting TREE SWALLOWS. On August 24, 5 PUMA were heard flying over the trees and hawking insects. They stayed for 10 minutes and flew off toward the North, as there are other ranchers in the area that put up PUMA nest boxes. I read in the PMCA literature, that a PUMA bred and banded in Roseberg, Oregon was found wounded on the East coast of Brazil. There has been some discussion of a "SPLIT", as the PUMA that come up the West coast of the US, are different from the ones that fly to the East. Pat Waldron East of Scio On Sep 1, 2009, at 3:48 PM, Rie Luft wrote: > First time I've had time to make a submission to OBOL so am late > sending this info on Purple Martins seen in the Willamette River in > downtown Portland. Most likely they were from our moorage at > Oregon Yacht Club just north of the Sellwood Bridge. For the past > 7 years we have been developing a small colony consisting of 22 > gourds maintained by 5 "landlords". Up until 2008 we had grown > each year with an occupancy of 17 gourds in 2007. However, in the > summer of '08 our moorage had to dredge the silt beneath our homes, > which involved moving each house out onto a boom log for a 3 week- > stretch some time during that summer, changing the orientation of > the house by 90 degrees; of course there also was considerable > barge and heavy equipment noise and traffic. As a result, there > was a decided drop in martin occupation. For those interested, the > Purple Martin Conservation Association will be publishing my > article "A Site Fidelity Test" in their fall quarterly issue. This > year we had a slight increase in occupancy with 9 gourds fledging; > hopefully the future will be brighter as OYC should not have to > dredge for another 11 years or so, with the weather cooperating. > > OYC has also served as a staging stop a number of times during the > fall migration back to Brazil. An interesting new migration > tracking study using miniature geo-locators attached to several > Purple Martins has recently been published by PMCA in their summer > issue. For an overview, see http://purplemartin.org/main/ > geolocator.html. > > In addition to the other sources sited in the above reference, the > Los Angeles Times of 2/13/09 also had an article "Tiny Birds Go the > Distance", which includes information on the Wood Thrushes that > were fit up with the tiny recorders as well. > > Based on the findings of the geo-locators, which record the times > of sunrise and sunset, one female martin flew 4,400 miles from her > last stop in Brazil to Pennsylvania in 13 days, with four of those > spent as stopovers - an amazing 300+ miles per day! As martins > only fly during the daytime, the female martin covered an average > of a little less than 500 miles per flight day at approximately a > ground speed of about 40 miles per hour, according to Bridget J.M. > Stutchbury's article for PMCA. Of York University in Toronto, Ms. > Stutchbury first recorded her findings in the journal Science, > which released the study online. As this is the first time > individual songbirds have been tracked to their wintering grounds > and back, both articles are well worth reading. > > Rie Luft, Portland > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090901/03a7bb2f/attachment.html From calocitta8 at gmail.com Wed Sep 2 07:49:01 2009 From: calocitta8 at gmail.com (Jesse Ellis) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 09:49:01 -0500 Subject: [obol] Thrushes In-Reply-To: <815616.44829.qm@web80012.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <815616.44829.qm@web80012.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <202ab9ef0909020749n22f90654p3250895cb83f296e@mail.gmail.com> David and obol- I'd respectfully submit that there's a good chance the low number of detections in CA is probably due to observer bias and misID. Grey-cheeks are distributed similarly to many of the Eastern warbler species which have large numbers of records in CA. Seems unlikely that Grey-cheeks would have a markedly different pattern of vagrancy - they're just much harder to notice and ID than a bright eastern warbler. And ID during night flights is not exactly widely practiced yet - this is somewhat of a frontier of birding. And with respect to the comment about counting calls, not birds, this may be relevant for a morning dropout, where the observer is being surrounded by individual thrushes who are calling repeatedly. But on a night flight an observer may count perhaps 3-6 calls per bird. That doesn't change the fact that thousands of birds are going overhead, increasing possible detections of rare thrushes by a large factor compared with, say, scouting coastal chaparral during the day. I suspect that the night flight phenomenon is something birders are going to have to experience to value. The tricky thing (esp. out west) is determining when to listen, I guess. I hope this gets the idea on people's radar, though (speaking of, radar can help a lot in assessing potential night flights...) Jesse Ellis Madison, WI (formerly of Portland and Seattle) On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 11:50 PM, David Fix & Jude Power wrote: > > The report of a possible Gray-cheeked Thrush heard at Marys Peak a few > days ago was followed by a post with the statement that this species occurs > with some regularity in California in fall. That may be so, but it wouldn't > be based on what birders have found. > > There had been 19 accepted fall reports for Gray-cheeked Thrush in the > history of birding in California as of 2007 (with four more reports > pending). In comparison, about 4000 Blackpoll Warblers have now been > reported in the state in fall. > > If we transplant the past half-century of California experience north to > a point in the north-central Oregon Coast Range and allow all else to be > equal for the sake of argument, on average about 200 Blackpolls might be > expected on Marys Peak between each occurrence of a Gray-cheeked Thrush. In > addition, a Blackpoll in fall would probably be far more obvious to a birder > than the thrush would be--the warbler would likely come to light among a > conspicuous mixed flock in trees, while the thrush would be more or less on > its own, in the shadows of underbrush, and maybe never calling. Of course it > is far more complicated than this, but the idea is interesting. > > The other thought I would pass on is a suggestion that birders enjoying the > night flights and morning drop-outs of Swainson's Thrushes are not counting > birds, they are counting calls. > > R. Eductio Adabsurdum > Arcata, California > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Jesse Ellis Madison, Dane Co, WI -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090902/b8847fb3/attachment.html From tim at twonets.net Wed Sep 2 09:11:22 2009 From: tim at twonets.net (Tim Haller) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 09:11:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Request for shorebirding suggestions Message-ID: Hi All, I'm new to the area and the list. My mom and sister are coming to visit in a couple of weeks, and I have been informed that we're spending a day birding. I just hate it when that happens. ;-) Anyway, they're both interested in shorebirds. We're willing to do a 'section' of the coast somewhere between Florence and Astoria. Obviously, we can't do the whole thing in one day. Can anybody suggest a series of good stops, particularly for shorebirds? You can contact me off-list. Thanks in advance, Tim Haller Vancouver, WA timattwonetsdotnet -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090902/97df604f/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Sep 2 09:50:07 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 16:50:07 +0000 Subject: [obol] Thrushes In-Reply-To: <202ab9ef0909020749n22f90654p3250895cb83f296e@mail.gmail.com> References: <815616.44829.qm@web80012.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <202ab9ef0909020749n22f90654p3250895cb83f296e@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Greetings All, While good points are made on both sides of this discussion, I would take issue with a couple of Jesse's points. 1. Calling a fall immature Blackpoll Warbler a "bright eastern warbler" is a stretch to be sure. It is important to note that the vagrancy of eastern warblers to California is heavily weighted towards Fall and the majority of reports involve hatch-year birds that are in comparatively non-bright plumages. 2. It is an oversimplification to infer that just because Gray-cheeked Thrushes occupy the same range as other expected boreal nesting vagrants they will stray to the Pacific Coast with the same relative frequency (the pattern of records on CA would suggest otherwise). One thing to consider is that the estimated population of Blackpoll Warbler (20,000,000) is nearly double that of Gray-cheeked Thrush (12,000,000). Base on pure numbers, Blackpoll should be considered the more likely vagrant. 3. We do know that Blackpolls are strong candidates to show up on the Pacific Coast based on 4000+ California records (pointed out by Fix). We don't know that Gray-cheeked Thrush is a strong candidate for such vagrancy because there is very limited (19) body of records to support this claim. As Fix points out: "Of course it is far more complicated than this, but the idea is interesting." It may be that Gray-cheeked Thrushes show up far more often than we can imagine and it may be that they pass through habitats that aren't classic vagrant traps (like the Oregon Coast Range). Certainly detection and ID of Gray-cheeked Thrush presents some challenges and to some degree the same can be said for finding and identifying many fall immature warblers. To what degree this colors what birders actually observe is hard to know. I would point out that Fix's commentary is prefaced by "based on what birders have found." In the end, we know what we know and any conclusion lacking a foundation of actual records/documented observations is purely speculative. Dave Irons Eugene, OR Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 09:49:01 -0500 From: calocitta8 at gmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Thrushes David and obol- I'd respectfully submit that there's a good chance the low number of detections in CA is probably due to observer bias and misID. Grey-cheeks are distributed similarly to many of the Eastern warbler species which have large numbers of records in CA. Seems unlikely that Grey-cheeks would have a markedly different pattern of vagrancy - they're just much harder to notice and ID than a bright eastern warbler. And ID during night flights is not exactly widely practiced yet - this is somewhat of a frontier of birding. And with respect to the comment about counting calls, not birds, this may be relevant for a morning dropout, where the observer is being surrounded by individual thrushes who are calling repeatedly. But on a night flight an observer may count perhaps 3-6 calls per bird. That doesn't change the fact that thousands of birds are going overhead, increasing possible detections of rare thrushes by a large factor compared with, say, scouting coastal chaparral during the day. I suspect that the night flight phenomenon is something birders are going to have to experience to value. The tricky thing (esp. out west) is determining when to listen, I guess. I hope this gets the idea on people's radar, though (speaking of, radar can help a lot in assessing potential night flights...) Jesse Ellis Madison, WI (formerly of Portland and Seattle) On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 11:50 PM, David Fix & Jude Power wrote: The report of a possible Gray-cheeked Thrush heard at Marys Peak a few days ago was followed by a post with the statement that this species occurs with some regularity in California in fall. That may be so, but it wouldn't be based on what birders have found. There had been 19 accepted fall reports for Gray-cheeked Thrush in the history of birding in California as of 2007 (with four more reports pending). In comparison, about 4000 Blackpoll Warblers have now been reported in the state in fall. If we transplant the past half-century of California experience north to a point in the north-central Oregon Coast Range and allow all else to be equal for the sake of argument, on average about 200 Blackpolls might be expected on Marys Peak between each occurrence of a Gray-cheeked Thrush. In addition, a Blackpoll in fall would probably be far more obvious to a birder than the thrush would be--the warbler would likely come to light among a conspicuous mixed flock in trees, while the thrush would be more or less on its own, in the shadows of underbrush, and maybe never calling. Of course it is far more complicated than this, but the idea is interesting. The other thought I would pass on is a suggestion that birders enjoying the night flights and morning drop-outs of Swainson's Thrushes are not counting birds, they are counting calls. R. Eductio Adabsurdum Arcata, California _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- Jesse Ellis Madison, Dane Co, WI _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=PID23391::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HYGN_faster:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090902/f959f279/attachment.html From calocitta8 at gmail.com Wed Sep 2 11:12:04 2009 From: calocitta8 at gmail.com (Jesse Ellis) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 13:12:04 -0500 Subject: [obol] Thrushes In-Reply-To: References: <815616.44829.qm@web80012.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <202ab9ef0909020749n22f90654p3250895cb83f296e@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <202ab9ef0909021112l60b2b0cbp4d88062646cd4dde@mail.gmail.com> I agree with Dave Iron's points, in general. I guess I would flip the question over and ask "Why, given their distribution, are there not more reports of Grey-cheeked Thrush in the Pacific States?" One plausible hypothesis is that Grey-cheeks have a different pattern of vagrancy than similarly distributed species of boreal breeders. A second is that birders (our detectors in the field, at this point) don't detect Grey-cheeks very well. Both can be true at once, it should be pointed out. However, I favor the second, simply because I know that Grey-cheeks are probably overlooked on the ground, even in the East, where they do migrate through in numbers. I have heard far more Grey-cheeks migrating than I have ever comfortably identified on the ground in the field. Thrushes are more difficult to ID than other boreal breeders that might stray to the coast, and if people aren't looking they won't find them. While it's a caution to say that in some cases (i.e. when you want to see a species, you see it regardless of whether it's there), it's been my personal experience that it takes looking in the right places, looking for the right bird, at the right time, to find them. If you're not doing any of those things, you miss them. I'm sure in every state birds formerly considered rare, casual, or even accidental are now known to pass through the state on a regular basis, because people starting looking for them in the right circumstances (I'm thinking of inland jaegers, little gull, sabine's gull, for example). Blah - I don't mean to lecture, here. As for the first hypothesis, I can't think of any great reasons why Grey-cheeks wouldn't show similar relative numbers of vagrants on the coast (i.e. 1 Grey-cheek for every 2 Blackpoll warblers). That's possibly because we lack information about their migratory habits. There certainly may be compelling features of their natural history for a different pattern of vagrancy, I just don't know of any, and I can't see anything obvious about the species that would cause me to think that they would vagrate to the coast (dibs on that neologism!) I just wonder if Oregonians and Californians haven't adequately considered the possibility of finding Grey-cheeks in the field, and therefore have not. Too long, didn't read version - We should start looking for Grey-cheeks and see what we find. Jesse On Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 11:50 AM, David Irons wrote: > Greetings All, > > While good points are made on both sides of this discussion, I would take > issue with a couple of Jesse's points. > > 1. Calling a fall immature Blackpoll Warbler a "bright eastern warbler" is > a stretch to be sure. It is important to note that the vagrancy of eastern > warblers to California is heavily weighted towards Fall and the majority of > reports involve hatch-year birds that are in comparatively non-bright > plumages. > > 2. It is an oversimplification to infer that just because Gray-cheeked > Thrushes occupy the same range as other expected boreal nesting vagrants > they will stray to the Pacific Coast with the same relative frequency (the > pattern of records on CA would suggest otherwise). One thing to consider is > that the estimated population of Blackpoll Warbler (20,000,000) is nearly > double that of Gray-cheeked Thrush (12,000,000). Base on pure numbers, > Blackpoll should be considered the more likely vagrant. > > 3. We do know that Blackpolls are strong candidates to show up on the > Pacific Coast based on 4000+ California records (pointed out by Fix). We > don't know that Gray-cheeked Thrush is a strong candidate for such vagrancy > because there is very limited (19) body of records to support this claim. As > Fix points out: "Of course it is far more complicated than this, but the > idea is interesting." It may be that Gray-cheeked Thrushes show up far more > often than we can imagine and it may be that they pass through habitats that > aren't classic vagrant traps (like the Oregon Coast Range). > > Certainly detection and ID of Gray-cheeked Thrush presents some challenges > and to some degree the same can be said for finding and identifying many > fall immature warblers. To what degree this colors what birders actually > observe is hard to know. I would point out that Fix's commentary is prefaced > by "based on what birders have found." In the end, we know what we know and > any conclusion lacking a foundation of actual records/documented > observations is purely speculative. > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > > > > ------------------------------ > Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 09:49:01 -0500 > From: calocitta8 at gmail.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Thrushes > > > David and obol- > > I'd respectfully submit that there's a good chance the low number of > detections in CA is probably due to observer bias and misID. Grey-cheeks are > distributed similarly to many of the Eastern warbler species which have > large numbers of records in CA. Seems unlikely that Grey-cheeks would have a > markedly different pattern of vagrancy - they're just much harder to notice > and ID than a bright eastern warbler. And ID during night flights is not > exactly widely practiced yet - this is somewhat of a frontier of birding. > > And with respect to the comment about counting calls, not birds, this may > be relevant for a morning dropout, where the observer is being surrounded by > individual thrushes who are calling repeatedly. But on a night flight an > observer may count perhaps 3-6 calls per bird. That doesn't change the fact > that thousands of birds are going overhead, increasing possible detections > of rare thrushes by a large factor compared with, say, scouting coastal > chaparral during the day. > > I suspect that the night flight phenomenon is something birders are going > to have to experience to value. The tricky thing (esp. out west) is > determining when to listen, I guess. I hope this gets the idea on people's > radar, though (speaking of, radar can help a lot in assessing potential > night flights...) > > Jesse Ellis > Madison, WI (formerly of Portland and Seattle) > > On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 11:50 PM, David Fix & Jude Power wrote: > > > The report of a possible Gray-cheeked Thrush heard at Marys Peak a few > days ago was followed by a post with the statement that this species occurs > with some regularity in California in fall. That may be so, but it wouldn't > be based on what birders have found. > > There had been 19 accepted fall reports for Gray-cheeked Thrush in the > history of birding in California as of 2007 (with four more reports > pending). In comparison, about 4000 Blackpoll Warblers have now been > reported in the state in fall. > > If we transplant the past half-century of California experience north to > a point in the north-central Oregon Coast Range and allow all else to be > equal for the sake of argument, on average about 200 Blackpolls might be > expected on Marys Peak between each occurrence of a Gray-cheeked Thrush. In > addition, a Blackpoll in fall would probably be far more obvious to a birder > than the thrush would be--the warbler would likely come to light among a > conspicuous mixed flock in trees, while the thrush would be more or less on > its own, in the shadows of underbrush, and maybe never calling. Of course it > is far more complicated than this, but the idea is interesting. > > The other thought I would pass on is a suggestion that birders enjoying the > night flights and morning drop-outs of Swainson's Thrushes are not counting > birds, they are counting calls. > > R. Eductio Adabsurdum > Arcata, California > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > -- > Jesse Ellis > Madison, Dane Co, WI > > ------------------------------ > Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. Try it > now. > -- Jesse Ellis Madison, Dane Co, WI -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090902/ca122aa1/attachment.html From calocitta8 at gmail.com Wed Sep 2 11:17:35 2009 From: calocitta8 at gmail.com (Jesse Ellis) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 13:17:35 -0500 Subject: [obol] Thrushes In-Reply-To: <202ab9ef0909021112l60b2b0cbp4d88062646cd4dde@mail.gmail.com> References: <815616.44829.qm@web80012.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <202ab9ef0909020749n22f90654p3250895cb83f296e@mail.gmail.com> <202ab9ef0909021112l60b2b0cbp4d88062646cd4dde@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <202ab9ef0909021117j5c8301f4ydf0498f72e940632@mail.gmail.com> Obol- Sorry for the second post, but let me head off a thousand, difficult-to-evaluate sightings of Grey-cheeks now... Instead of my final line, let me amend it to this: We should go out and learn Swainson's Thrushes like the back of our hands so that we will know when we find a Grey-cheeked Thrush, and see what we find. I don't mean to imply with my posts that THEY ARE THERE, just that I suspect that they might be more frequent than records suggest. And as I and others have pointed out, because of the similarities among Catharus thrushes, documenting a Grey-cheek will be an interesting challenge. Happy migration! Jesse Ellis Madison, WI -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090902/88587f91/attachment.html From David.Mellinger at oregonstate.edu Wed Sep 2 11:39:14 2009 From: David.Mellinger at oregonstate.edu (Dave Mellinger) Date: Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:39:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gray-cheeked Thrush calls In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4A9EBBD2.7040209@oregonstate.edu> If you're looking for migrating thrush calls, this might also be useful: Bill Evans, the guy behind a lot of nocturnal flight call research (and oldbird.org), wrote a paper comparing Gray-cheeked and Bicknell's Thrush calls. It has some spectrograms of diurnal and nocturnal calls of both species. You can get it via the web page http://oldbird.org/pubs.htm . Dave David.Mellinger at oregonstate.edu From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Wed Sep 2 11:40:47 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 11:40:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] North Jetty Siuslaw, Lane Co. Message-ID: <2b1bbd260909021140g3c0f348ek8fccc4cacad5169c@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Made a brief stop at the mudflats at the North Jetty of the Siuslaw. There were ~200 peeps and 3 MARBLED GODWITS. The godwits were later seen flying out to sea. The peeps were 95% Western Sandpipers, the rest were Least, all in juvenal plumage. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090902/ee47f432/attachment.html From marciafcutler at comcast.net Wed Sep 2 12:07:50 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 12:07:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ankeny NWR Message-ID: <72379CB4-9884-460F-8B28-FD5A71DE0FAB@comcast.net> I dropped by Ankeny NWR yesterday (Sept.1) afternoon between 3-4 p.m. Since this was on the way home from a meeting in Salem I didn't have a scope with me and I really wasn't able to do justice to the shorebirds that were present at Egret Marsh. What I did see was: Greater Yellowlegs - about 12 Lesser Yellowlegs - 2 or 3 Dowitchers - at least 2 Peeps, - at least 30. Those seen well were Leasts. Green-winged Teal Cinnamon Teal Northern Pintail - at least 2 American Wigeon - 1 Greater White-fronted Goose - 1 adult consorting with the Canadas American White Pelican - 2 Interestingly, the lower portion of the legs of one of the Lesser Yellowlegs was orangy. Marcia F. Cutler From sengel at audubonportland.org Wed Sep 2 13:40:52 2009 From: sengel at audubonportland.org (Steve Engel) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 13:40:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Viewing Vaux's Swifts at Chapman School Important info for 2009 In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <200909022040.n82Keiau087299@broadway.hevanet.com> To all those who may visit the Chapman Elementary School site to view the Vaux's Swifts and their attendant predators this fall season, Portland Audubon strongly encourages you to read the cover story of the September issue of our Warbler newsletter as well as visit our website for important information about Swift Watch 2009. http://www.audubonportland.org/local-birding/swiftwatch/swifts_landing The last several years has seen an increase in attendance with as many as 3000 people present on some evenings. In an effort to mitigate the impact this has on the neighborhood residents, as well as maintaining a quality swift watching experience for all, we are promoting a spirit of Community Mindfulness. What this means is spelled out in more detail in the sources just mentioned. The shorthand version encompassing two of the most important points is this: 1. TRAFFIC and PARKING: Avoid being stressed out by traffic and parking issues near the school and use the Montgomery Park Building Visitor Parking Lot (second right after NW 27th if west bound) on NW Vaughn St, just 5 blocks away. Plan on the extra 10 minutes it takes to walk from your car to the school and your evening will be absent much stress. 2. LITTER: Take ALL your trash with you when you leave and grab some extra if you have the chance. I regret even having to say this but, after traffic issues, trash left behind is the number one complaint of neighbors and the school. Audubon Swift Watch Outreach Volunteers will be there each night during September with information, specimens, binoculars, spotting scope and a chance to win a free membership. Most nights in Sept. Swift Roost Monitoring Volunteers will also be present getting a count of roosting birds (as well as at other roost sites in the area besides Chapman). If this year follows recent patterns the numbers of birds will climb from the current 4-5000 up to around 20,000 near the equinox and decline into the low thousands by the end of the month. The Portland Police Bureau, Portland's Department of Transportation, and Portland's Crime Prevention Program are working together with The Audubon Society of Portland and the Northwest Development Association to help keep Swift Watch a positive experience for all concerned. Please visit our website for more info: http://www.audubonportland.org/local-birding/swiftwatch/swifts_landing And feel free to contact me directly if you have questions or comments. Thank you for reading and here's to a pleasant and enjoyable swift watching experience for all! steve Steve Engel Adult Education Coordinator Audubon Society of Portland EMAIL: sengel at audubonportland.org PHONE: 503-292-6855 x 119 (main) 971-222-6119 (direct) From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Sep 2 14:08:02 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 14:08:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Wed morning Message-ID: Our small group opted for Shore Park on the east side of Fern Ridge and Royal Ave area. Numbers were not kept by me, but they were lower than usual (this is not because five regular members of our group are in Peru having a grand time chasing life birds!) Pied-billed Grebe ? many stripe-headed young Western Grebe ? 8+ White Pelican ? low number American Bittern ? 1 Great Blue Heron ? several Great Egret ? probably about 10 Canada Goose ? small flocks Wood Duck ? 1 Mallard ? many Pintail ? several noticed Cinnamon Teal ? probably predominant in the groups feeding Turkey Vulture ? about 6 Osprey ? 1 Red-shouldered Hawk ? 1 Red-tailed Hawk ? 1 White-tailed Kite ? 2 Harrier ? 1 Coot ? 50+ Killdeer ? 1 Gr. Yellowlegs ? several Long-billed Curlew ? 1 distant bird sailing to land beyond ?Pelican Island? (west of) and obscured when down. Western Sandpiper ? around 7 Least Sandpiper ? a couple of small groups Wilson?s Snipe ? 1 Ring-billed Gull ? 2 Caspian Tern ? 2 Flicker ? 1 Violet-green Swallow ? predominant species in any group Barn Swallow ? noted in small numbers Scrub Jay ? about 15 Crow ? several groups Marsh Wren ? 1 Swainson?s Thrush ? 1 (Shore Park) Robin ? probably over 20, nearly all that I saw were spot-breasted. Cedar Waxwing ? about 12 Starling ? nc Black-throated Gray Warbler ? 1 (Shore Park) Western Tanager ? 1 (Shore Park) Savannah Sparrow ? many White-crowned Sparrow ? 1 im. Song Sparrow ? 5 Red-winged Blackbird ? always around, but not counted Brewer?s Blackbird ? few House Finch ? 4 Am. Goldfinch ? heard overhead Sylvia Maulding, Barry McKenzie, Rick Ahrens, Don Schrouder, Randy Sinnott, and Larry McQueen. We met Dave Jones and friend (apologies for not getting name) already at Royal Ave. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090902/f0b3e29e/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Sep 2 15:28:09 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:28:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] E.E. Wilson shorebirds - Semipalmated Sandpiper (yes, Sandpiper) Message-ID: <1251930489.8615.240.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, I went for a long walk around E.E. Wilson at lunchtime today, and just got back now. I dragged my scope along hoping for some shorebirds, and was pleasantly surprised to see that a fair amount of mud has opened up on the Canal Pond. There were only about 5 peeps out in the open when I first arrived, but while I hung aroudn and studied the ones that were in view, eventually good numbers materialized out of the vegetation around the pond. Here's the quick summary: Killdeer - 8 or so Greater Yellowlegs - 1 juv and 1 adult Least Sandpiper - about 30 Western Sandpiper - about 25, mix of juvs & adults SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER - 1 juv Long-billed Dowitcher - 2 juvs Wilson's Snipe - 2 The SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER stood out from the Westerns because of the evenly scaly appearance of its back (except for a faint set of whitish braces), its overall buffier (versus rufous) tones, shorter bill, and a strong whitish supercilium contrasting with the darker cap -- I was actually looking for a Baird's Sandpiper when I spotted it. Its bill was noticeably shorter than most of the nearby Westerns, and was close to straight but with a slight downward curvature (relatively evenly curved along the length of the bill, rather than drooping toward the end). Black legs, dingy buffy-brownish breast, other underparts clean white. The adult GREATER YELLOWLEGS tried to choke down what looked a dead Red-legged Frog, though maybe a Pacific Chorus-Frog (whatever it was, the frog's hind legs hung down about even with the bird's bill tip, when the frog's head was jammed about as far into its mouth as it would go. After trying for about five minutes, the bird finally gave up and resorted to picking at the frog. Other birds of interest included two GREEN HERONS. I also checked the more secluded NE corner pond hoping for a little more Tringa diversity, but found no shorebirds there, despite open water and some exposed mud. Toketie Marsh (the remediation pond for Coffin Butte Regional Landfill) had: Killdeer - 6 Spotted Sandpiper - 1 spotless Close to eighty shorebirds, with eight shorebird species on one walk, is about as good as it ever gets in shorebird-deprived northern Benton County. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From chukarbird at yahoo.com Wed Sep 2 15:33:06 2009 From: chukarbird at yahoo.com (Kathy Andrich) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 15:33:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Sisters Pinyon Jays? In-Reply-To: <642D80951F074F6E8ED95ECBEAE95F12@GREG> Message-ID: <533342.64442.qm@web52903.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hi OBOL, Are Pinyon Jays still reliable near Ray's Food Mart in Sisters? I might have the opportunity to check this out but don't want to waste the gas if it isn't likely I will see them. Kathy Roosting in Kent, near Lake Meridian (chukarbird at yahoo dot com) From tayben at teleport.com Wed Sep 2 15:40:09 2009 From: tayben at teleport.com (Martha taylor & Chris Bennett) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 15:40:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Westmorland Black-Thoarted Gray Warbler Message-ID: This afternoon I had a very beautiful male Black-Throated Gray Warbler taking a bath in our stream in our backyard in Westmorland. Chris -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090902/9c44cb3e/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Sep 2 16:03:10 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:03:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] [Fwd: [birding] What's not around E.E. Wilson anymore] Message-ID: <1251932590.8615.266.camel@clearwater> Hello again folks, In the interest of reporting birds that aren't there (it just occurs to me as I start writing here, that this could be an oblique reference to David Fix's comments this morning, but no, that's not my intent): Notably absent from E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area (going on two weeks now) are LAZULI BUNTINGS and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS. My last detections of the season are noted in www.birdnotes.net as August 15th (for both species), but I notice that Erik Knight and Quinton Nice had detections as much as a week later. Speaking of lazuli Buntings, did it seem to anyone else that this was an "up" year for them? Also, I'm no longer hearing the "mew!" call of YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS. I was hearing it through the middle part of last week, but now I'm not (I didn't even pay attention to this call in past seasons, so thanks to Donna Lusthoff for mentioning it; it seems to be the best evidence of their continuing presence during August, after they stop their usual commotion). COMMON YELLOWTHROATS are still around, but numbers seem to be tailing off even if I factor in the time of day of this walk (mid-day). I heard one or two SWAINSON'S THRUSH contact calls from inside a minuscule clump of hawthorns near the famed Sedge Wren/Harris's Sparrow/American Tree Sparrow spot of two winters ago -- definitely migration rather than breeding habitat! Happy birding, Joel P.S. Speaking of Fix's comments this morning, it never occurred to me that all those Blackpoll Warblers that keep flying onto our windows every morning would be of interest. 25 or 30 today, minus the ones that the cats and caracaras got to first. Should I be sweeping up these these birds to mail in to the Oregon Bird Records Committee? The Magnolia Warblers too? ;) -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis _______________________________________________ list mailing list list at midvalleybirding.org http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Wed Sep 2 16:35:20 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 16:35:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] More Lane Shorebirds, Golden-plovers Message-ID: <2b1bbd260909021635i42599c34s75d6e4a5b7ca7401@mail.gmail.com> Obol, The nice weather lured me back outside today. I birded the south jetty of the Siuslaw a bit from 2:30-4:00PM. Highlights: Dog Pond- 1 AM BITTERN 16 Least SP 5 Western SP Hendrik saw a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE there this AM. Deflation plane dike- 1 BLACK PHOEBE flew overhead calling, but did not land in view 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER 1 AM BITTERN 0 shorebirds 1 small falcon that zipped past headed north (poor look either Merlin or Kestrel) Deflation plane- 1 PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER 1 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER Both were juveniles associated together and were about 1 mile north of the dike. Conditions were excellent (no wind and sunny), so I was able to study these birds for a solid 20 minutes. The American was more gray in general (most golden on the rump), had a dark line behind the eye setting off the whitish supercilium and appeared sightly shorter legged. The Pacific was more golden overall, especially on the face and neck. It lacked a dark line behind the eye making the face appear brighter than on the American. The back spots were noticably larger and more golden on the Pacific. Since the weather was nice I was also able to count primaries with a little effort. The American showed 4 visible primaries past the tertials giving it a long winged look. The Pacific, however, had only 3 primaries exposed, making it look shorter winged compared to the American. Crab Dock Cove- 3 MARBLED GODWIT presumably the same three I saw fly out over the ocean this AM at the north jetty 75 Western Sanpipers 5 Least Sanpiper Hendrik mentioned he saw a WILLET this AM in cove north of the crab docks. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.co -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090902/ac9a03eb/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Wed Sep 2 17:06:48 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 20:06:48 -0400 Subject: [obol] American Redstart, Hillsboro (Washington Co) Message-ID: Earlier over lunch I found an AMERICAN REDSTART at the Natural Area at the NW corner of the Intel Jones Farm campus west of the Hillsboro airport. Park at the little neighborhood park (Glencoe Creek Park aka Jones Farm Park) at the NW corner of Prahl Pkwy & NW 15th Ave and walk to the fence an the northern edge of the park. There is a little gate. Pass through the gate and walk west along the dirt 2-track. The bird was near the gate along the 2-track originally when I found it, but then moved about 80yds further west about 30min ago. I was able to get diagnostic pictures. This looks like a young male, but I have to evaluate my pictures again later tonight. There is a sign at the gate to the Natural Area requiring to call Hillsboro Parks for permission to access. Well, I called the number on the sign and access has been granted. It is public land, just be careful since there are no maintained trails and lots of yellowjackets. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Get back to school stuff for them and cashback for you. http://www.bing.com/cashback?form=MSHYCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHYCB_BackToSchool_Cashback_BTSCashback_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090902/012d1e7a/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Wed Sep 2 18:01:09 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 18:01:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Florence shorebirds, Golden-Plovers Message-ID: <666747.19862.qm@web37003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, although I had trudged through the South Jetty Deflation Plain without any success earlier today (around noon), I went back out there after Daniel called me about his Golden-Plovers. I walked almost 2 miles north without finding anything, but on the way back two Golden-Plovers suddenly flew in and landed near me. I concur with Daniel's ID - one was a typical PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, the other fit very nicely for a juv. AMERICAN. Great side-by-side comparison, and thanks to Daniel for getting the word out! The only other thing of note was a somewhat out-of-place, slightly bedraggled looking BRANDT'S CORMORANT in one of the ponds along "Dotterel Dike" (the dike to the deflation plain). There were also 2 WILSON'S SNIPE along the dike, but no other shorebirds. Earlier today (noon to 1 pm), I saw the following: At the Dog Pond: 1 Red-necked Phalarope 1 Short-billed Dowitcher 2 Greater Yellowlegs 6 Western Sandpipers 10 Least Sandpipers At the Crab Dock Cove: 1 Willet 1 Western Sandpiper 1 Least Sandpiper The deflation plain and dike were entirely devoid of shorebirds. Just goes to show how quickly things change around, even in the course of a day. Good birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090902/ffe153e0/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Wed Sep 2 18:07:36 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 18:07:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] More birds eating Mountain Ash berries. Message-ID: <7AE17CC673684D90823DB0DC70C7A60D@D48XBZ51> This evening, the trees also attracted: Northern Flicker 2 Wrentit 2 I watched a Wrentit pick a fruit with its bill, then hold it under its foot and bite chunks out of it. There were still robins and Swainson's thrushes as well. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090902/0c04a327/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Wed Sep 2 17:12:57 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 17:12:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tangent Sewer Ponds Message-ID: <89E04B05AB5F4D0CAD5345E7D4514B34@cgatesPC> Does anyone have current information on the Tangent Sewer Ponds? Viewable? Not viewable? Any access? Any restrictions? Chuck Gates ECBC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090902/03300a5b/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Sep 2 18:44:14 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 18:44:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] ECBC - Cent or Wednesday birders to Wickiup and surrounds Message-ID: <7ABBD49C904440D291EFA27244A2482C@MOM> Birders Birders Nothing rare to report. Warm shirtsleeve weather was rare though. Water is still far out there. Lots of dry land near the dam. Nine of us birded. We started at the dam at Wickiup, walked the flats in search of shorebirds and passerines, then to Gull Point and Sheeps Bridge, back across the dam to Wickiup Butte launch, around the south end toward Davis and on to Crane Prairie, Cow Camp was the last stop. Misses - distant flock of small bouncey TERNS, could not see to ID as Common or Forsters but likely either of them. Black crowns noted. Several moderate size flocks of shorebirds with white bellies were distant and flying about but never landed close enough to ID specifically. Many ducks were too distant to ID or count. Impressive number of Am White Pelicans in groups were fun to see. A single RED- SHOULDERED HAWK was perhaps the rarest bird of the day. No accipiters at all. The Sooty Grouse was not seen well by all, a single roadside bird who flushed into dense lodgepole and brush. Osprey, DC Cormorants and the Pelicans were the most obvious and conspicuous birds of the day, just everywhere. Birders today Carolyn Barr, Sunny Hancock, Howard Horvath, Mary Oppenheimer, Don Sutherland, Kim Kathol, Cindy Zalunardo, Sherrie Pierce, and Judy Meredith. Total number of species 64, full list below. This report was mailed for Judy Meredith by http://birdnotes.net Wednesday birders. Mallards, cormorants and gulls not counted, estimates only. migrants such as pelicans, white-fronted geese were counted. One flock of 18 Great Blue Herons all fishing edge of same pond was noted Birds seen (in taxonomic order): > Greater White-fronted Goose 50 [1] > Canada Goose 300 > Wood Duck 24 [2] > Gadwall 4 > Mallard 300 > Northern Shoveler 3 > Northern Pintail 60 > Green-Winged Teal 20 > Bufflehead 10 > Red-breasted Merganser 80 > Ruddy Duck 4 > Blue Grouse 1 [3] > California Quail 2 [4] > Common Loon 2 [5] > Pied-billed Grebe 16 > Western Grebe 1 [6] > American White Pelican 210 [7] > Double-crested Cormorant 400 [8] > Great Blue Heron 28 > Turkey Vulture 12 > Osprey 20 > Bald Eagle 7 [9] > Northern Harrier 1 [10] > Red-shouldered Hawk 1 [11] > Red-tailed Hawk 1 > American Kestrel 5 > Merlin 1 [12] > Prairie Falcon 1 [13] > American Coot 20 > Sandhill Crane 5 [14] > Killdeer 3 > Greater Yellowlegs 6 [15] > Lesser Yellowlegs 2 [16] > Spotted Sandpiper 22 > Western Sandpiper 20 [17] > Least Sandpiper 5 > Ring-billed Gull 160 > Terns - Sterna type 16 > Rock Dove 20 > Mourning Dove 10 > Belted Kingfisher 3 > Lewis' Woodpecker 10 [18] > Northern Flicker 1 [19] > Steller's Jay 1 > Common Raven 8 > Tree Swallow 10 [20] > Violet-green Swallow 2 [21] > Barn Swallow 20 [22] > Mountain Chickadee 2 > Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 > White-breasted Nuthatch 2 > Brown Creeper 1 > Mountain Bluebird 12 > American Robin 3 > Yellow Warbler 1 [23] > Yellow-rumped Warbler 46 [24] > Spotted Towhee 1 [25] > Chipping Sparrow 3 > Savannah Sparrow 1 [26] > Song Sparrow 1 > White-crowned Sparrow 6 > Dark-eyed Junco 30 > Red-winged Blackbird 100 > Brewer's Blackbird 75 > Brown-headed Cowbird 2 > Footnotes: > [1] several small flocks, 17, 31, 2 >> [2] back edge of Wickiup, near Res boat ramp. Appeared to be some >> young birds >> [3] edge of road near Gull Point >> [4] returning through Sunriver >> [5] Wickiup, breeding plumage >> [6] one that was a Western type, could not get close enough to ID >> Western or Clarks >> [7] Large flocks, high count 210, some birds likely out of sight. >> [8] Did not count, large flocks all over. >> [9] Four birds at Sheeps Bridge, 2 adults, 2 juvie, one year and 3 >> to 4 year old. Others two -three adults here and there Wickiup >> [10] Wickiup >> [11] FLying high overhead Wickiup near Reservoir Boat Ramp area >> [12] Pestering shorebirds south of Wickiup Butte boat launch. >> [13] Cow Camp inlet area to Crane Prairie >> [14] Out in meadow south end Wickiup >> [15] Overflow area where water goes between Wickiup and Davis Lake, >> against the lava flow. >> [16] As above, water between Wickup and Davis, almost against the lava >> [17] In addition to these, there were several large flocks in >> distances sseveral times most likely Westerns, over 100 birds >> total. Far away and on the wing >> [18] Apparent migration flock, seen strung out over trees at Gull >> Point and then seen again at South Twin, approx same number. >> [19] heard >> [20] Undercount >> [21] Undercount >> [22] Undercount >> [23] Willows near dam at Wickiup >> [24] Small flocks flycatching and chasing each other, here and there >> [25] Wickiup >> [26] Crane Prairie out in meadow > Total number of species seen: 64 > Good birding, > Judy Meredith > jmeredit at bendnet.com From mtweel at charter.net Wed Sep 2 18:53:19 2009 From: mtweel at charter.net (Margaret) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 18:53:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cape Meares Towhee???? Message-ID: <6F1028845A03442B831831D5226F5F81@Margaret> I have had what I thought was a towhee around for awhile in the yard. But this morning I had a good look at it and it has a black band across its chest, a bronze head, orange sides, white spot on each side of the tail, bill and eye are dark. Is this an immature spotted towee? The head looks like the warm brown head on the Eastern towhee. I don't see the spotted towhee in Sibley showing a brown head. I am puzzled about the black band like on the varied thrush. Anyone have any idea about this bird? Marg Tweelinckx Cape Meares yard -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090902/bf04c3b2/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Sep 2 19:29:50 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 19:29:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] oops, Wickiup error Message-ID: Hi birders Those Mergansers were COMMON, not Red-breasted. Thanks to Lew Rems for pointing out my typing error. See, someone read the whole list! Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com From David.Mellinger at oregonstate.edu Wed Sep 2 20:37:15 2009 From: David.Mellinger at oregonstate.edu (Dave Mellinger) Date: Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:37:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: vast shifts in bird distributions and ecology Message-ID: <4A9F39EB.1030101@oregonstate.edu> This is forwarded. The article in question is about California birds, but the principles undoubtedly apply to Oregon as well. ----------------------------------- Vast Shifts in Birds from Warming As much as half of California could see entirely new communities of birds by 2070 according to a study released on September 2, 2009 by PRBO Conservation Science and partners: "Reshuffling of species with climate disruption: A no-analog future for California birds?" The study shows that species that often occur together now are projected to shift in very different ways, resulting in new ecological communities. These novel (or "no-analog") communities may disrupt complex webs of plant and animal interactions, with unanticipated consequences for species and ecosystems. You can read more about it at: SF Chronicle front page: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/02/MNBT19E450.DTL and Science Daily: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090901202834.htm. Also, please see www.prbo.org for a link to the study published in PLoS today. From windypointandy at dishmail.net Wed Sep 2 20:38:22 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 20:38:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Elegant Terns at the Necanicum Message-ID: <000501ca2c48$06a4c6d0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> Hello Mike, Ellen and I are engaged in a nutso 2009 Oregon Big Year. Time limits us mostly to weekends and now is shorebird time. Searching archival data I see Pacific Golden-Plovers reported on a beach drive from Sunset Beach to Gearhart, also the "SJCR beach." Could you spare a moment to advise where you think we have the best chances for this species along the north Oregon coast? Frankly, we've struggled a bit with Oregon shorebirds and haven't blundered on any magic location where oddballs have been a reasonable bet. We REALLY like Bandon but it's an eight-hour drive from Yakima! Do you consider the SJCR area still a good bet. A number of folks we've talked to say changes there have reduced the areas appeal to waders. Ruff is another as are rare godwits. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thx, Andy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090902/86b3f3ca/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Wed Sep 2 20:45:43 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 20:45:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook Sabine's Gull Message-ID: <8B4D224BE0B4494F8D11872BC749B9B8@cgatesPC> I had a juvenile Sabine's Gull at Ochoco Reservoir today around 4:00. Red-necked Phalaropes at the sewer ponds in Prineville. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090902/16d8c54f/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Wed Sep 2 20:57:25 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 20:57:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Shorebird info Message-ID: <000801ca2c4a$b1501ce0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> The following message was intended for Mike Patterson but mistakenly went out to OBOL. My apologies... Andy Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net Hello Mike, Ellen and I are engaged in a nutso 2009 Oregon Big Year. Time limits us mostly to weekends and now is shorebird time. Searching archival data I see Pacific Golden-Plovers reported on a beach drive from Sunset Beach to Gearhart, also the "SJCR beach." Could you spare a moment to advise where you think we have the best chances for this species along the north Oregon coast? Frankly, we've struggled a bit with Oregon shorebirds and haven't blundered on any magic location where oddballs have been a reasonable bet. We REALLY like Bandon but it's an eight-hour drive from Yakima! Do you consider the SJCR area still a good bet. A number of folks we've talked to say changes there have reduced the areas appeal to waders. Ruff is another as are rare godwits. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thx, Andy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090902/b57074d9/attachment.html From tetraka at yahoo.com Wed Sep 2 21:48:26 2009 From: tetraka at yahoo.com (Robert Lockett) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 21:48:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Migrants...in Jamaica Message-ID: <87347.6121.qm@web38707.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Obolists, Just thought I'd drop a note to let you know that fall migration has begun here on the island. On a Birdlife Jamaica field trip to the Blue Mountains last weekend participants found the first American Redstarts and Yellow-throated Warblers of the fall. Adrienne and I stayed an extra day and added Prairie Warbler and Louisiana Waterthrush to the list. We saw 20 of Jamaica's 27 endemics during the 2.5 days in the mountains. Bob Lockett Adrienne Wolf-Lockett -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090902/cc50ee2e/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Sep 2 22:15:46 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:15:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 09/02/09 Message-ID: <20090903051545.D3F7AA8217@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 08/27 to 09/02/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and an updated (7/1/09) checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 5 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) COOPER'S HAWK 1 (1, 9/1) Band-tailed Pigeon 2 (12, 8/28) Vaux's Swift 3 (40, 9/1) Anna's Hummingbird 5 (8, 8/27) Rufous Hummingbird 1 (1, 8/28) Red-breasted Sapsucker 3 (1) DOWNY WOODPECKER 2 (2, 9/1) Hairy Woodpecker 1 (1, 9/1) Northern Flicker 5 (2) Pileated Woodpecker 2 (1, 9/1 & 2) Western Wood-Pewee 2 (1, 8/27 & 28) EMPIDONAX sp. 1 (2, 8/27) PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER 1 (1, 9/1) Hutton's Vireo 2 (1, 8/27 & 9/1) Warbling Vireo 1 (5, 9/1) Steller's Jay 5 (10) Western Scrub-Jay 3 (2) American Crow 4 (3) Black-capped Chickadee 5 (30, 9/1) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 5 (15) Bushtit 1 (10, 8/28) Red-breasted Nuthatch 5 (10, 9/1) Brown Creeper 4 (3) Bewick's Wren 3 (2) HOUSE WREN 1 (1, 8/28) Winter Wren 1 (1, 9/2) Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 (2, 8/28 & 9/1) Swainson's Thrush 2 (3, 9/1) Cedar Waxwing 2 (2, 8/27) Orange-crowned Warbler 2 (2, 9/1 & 2) Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 (4, 9/1) Townsend's Warbler 1 (22, 9/1) HERMIT WARBLER 1 (1, 9/1) COMMON YELLOWTHROAT 1 (1, 9/2) Wilson's Warbler 3 (10, 9/1) Western Tanager 3 (1) Spotted Towhee 5 (5) Song Sparrow 5 (10) Dark-eyed Junco 5 (10) Black-headed Grosbeak 2 (1, 8/27 & 31) Purple Finch 2 (2, 9/1) House Finch 5 (15) Red Crossbill 3 (8, 8/31) Pine Siskin 4 (5, 8/27) American Goldfinch 3 (3) Evening Grosbeak 2 (2, 8/31 & 9/1) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: TURKEY VULTURE, Red-tailed Hawk, WESTERN SCREECH-OWL Misses (birds found at least 3 days in previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Mourning Dove, Common Raven, American Robin (this is the annual "Robin Break") Wink Gross Portland From iaintom at yahoo.com Wed Sep 2 22:22:55 2009 From: iaintom at yahoo.com (Iain Tomlinson) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 22:22:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] compact scope wanted Message-ID: <41926.92956.qm@web112105.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Hi, I am interested in a light weight scope for backpacking. If you have any recommendations I would like to hear from you. Also if you have such a scope and would like to sell it to me, please let me know. Thanks, Iain From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Sep 2 23:35:13 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:35:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 9-3-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * September 3, 2009 * ORPO0909.03 - birds mentioned Pied-billed Grebe COOK?S PETREL Pink-footed Shearwater Buller?s Shearwater ASHY STORM-PETREL Am. White Pelican Great Egret Marbled Godwit Sabine?s Gull South Polar Skua Long-tailed Jaeger WHITE-WINGED DOVE LESSER NIGHTHAWK Black Swift Vaux?s Swift Dusky Flycatcher Barn Swallow American Redstart Golden-crowned Sparrow - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday September 3. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On August 27 a female LESSER NIGHTHAWK was photographed at the Malheur Field Station. It could not be relocated. A boat sailing about 55 miles off the southern Oregon coast on August 31 recorded three COOK?S PETRELS, nine ASHY STORM-PETRELS, and nine SKUAS. On August 31 a WHITE-WINGED DOVE was photographed in Port Orford. An offshore boat trip out of Coos Bay August 29 found 85 PINK-FOOTED and four BULLER?S SHEARWATERS, two SKUAS, and 60 LONG-TAILED JAEGERS. Up to 5000 VAUX?S SWIFTS are now roosting in the Chapman School Chimney in northwest Portland. Bird concentrations at Smith/Bybee Lakes in North Portland now include 815 PIED-BILLED GREBES and 302 GREAT EGRETS. The large flock of WHITE PELICANS on Sauvie Island continue to be seen. On August 27 a DUSKY FLYCATCHER was seen among many migrants on Mt. Tabor Park in Portland. An AMERICAN REDSTART was seen September 2 at the Intel Jones Farm Campus in Hillsboro. The huge annual BARN SWALLOW roost on Grand Island south of Dayton is now active and worth a visit. The first GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW of the fall was seen August 31 near Stayton. Among a flock of swallows and swifts over the EE Wilson SWA August 28 were three BLACK SWIFTS. On September 1 a MARBLED GODWIT was at Ford?s Pond in Sutherlin. On September 2 a young SABINE?S GULL was at Ochoco Reservoir east of Prineville. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090902/328713f8/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Thu Sep 3 06:48:24 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 13:48:24 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Last Rufous Hummingbird Sighting of the Summer Message-ID: <1956664758.2088241251985704995.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi, I'm not sure who, if anyone,?tracks this, but my last backyard Rufous Hummingbird sighting of the year was August 27.??Haven't heard or seen one in my garden since. There are six or seven Anna's Hummingbirds zipping around the garden.? I need to spend some time figuring out just how many there really are.? The immature Anna's are really into people watching. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090903/ec509064/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Thu Sep 3 07:00:42 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 14:00:42 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Salish Ponds Message-ID: <1339702415.2092971251986442928.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> I went to Salish Ponds to cut the seeds and flowers off the Purple Loosestrife Sunday August 30th.? Two sightings I found interesting: 1) ?A pair of Cedar Waxwings feeding a begging and apparently newly fledged brood. 2)? A bird I think is a first-year female Yellow Warbler.? I took a few pictures.? A small, bright yellow bird with darker wings (not a finch, definitely a warbler),?the?wing feathers are edged in yellow with dark up the center.? The feet were yellow, it had a faint but distinct,?entire, white?eye ring and a flesh-colored beak.?? My?first thought was Orange-Crowned Warbler, but I don't think so.? ?I'm happy to share pictures. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090903/900469a7/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Sep 3 07:03:27 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:03:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Last Rufous Hummingbird Sighting of the Summer In-Reply-To: <1956664758.2088241251985704995.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> References: <1956664758.2088241251985704995.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <4A9FCCAF.4070503@verizon.net> We still have a few Selasphorus in our yard here north of Bandon, Coos Cty. Cheers Dave Lauten sandyleapt at comcast.net wrote: > > > Hi, > > > > I'm not sure who, if anyone, tracks this, but my last backyard Rufous > Hummingbird sighting of the year was August 27. Haven't heard or seen > one in my garden since. > > > > There are six or seven Anna's Hummingbirds zipping around the garden. > I need to spend some time figuring out just how many there really > are. The immature Anna's are really into people watching. > > > > Sandy Leaptrott > > NE Portland > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From cgates326 at gmail.com Thu Sep 3 07:24:18 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 07:24:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: Wandering Tattler near Bend, OR Message-ID: <1B6A0DA321534479AC07EE3618A679D7@cgatesPC> This just in from a Kansas birder. BOGR reports only 8 inland records for this species. It has never been recorded in Deschutes County. ----- Original Message ----- From: Dan LaShelle To: cgates at webformixair.com Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2009 5:09 AM Subject: Wandering Tattler near Bend, OR Chuck, I want to report a Wandering Tattler in basic plumage I saw Sun AM (mid-morning) 30 Aug 2009 along the Deschutes River Trail near Bend, OR. It was located about 100 m from the foot bridge crossing the river (farthest point upstream), and was perched on the rocks along the shore of the river, and was seen directly across from a high "overlook area" on the right bank of the river. I'm not sure how unusual this species is in this area, and I hope others got to see it. Thank you. Dan LaShelle Topeka, KS [Life member of the Kansas Ornithological Society] Phone (home; with voice mail): 785.354.1270 Phone (work; no voice mail): 785.296.7899 Email: dexter at ksdot.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090903/478d2551/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Sep 3 07:45:34 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 14:45:34 +0000 Subject: [obol] E.E. Wilson shorebirds - Semipalmated Sandpiper (yes, Sandpiper) In-Reply-To: <1251930489.8615.240.camel@clearwater> References: <1251930489.8615.240.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: Joel, Thanks for noting the age of the Long-billed Dowitchers. To my knowledge, these are the first juv. Long-billeds reported in Oregon this fall. It is interesting to note that juvenile Long-billed Dowitchers are late migrants as shorebirds go. The hatch-year birds of most other shorebird species have now been around for 4-5 weeks and, for most, the peak passage has already come and gone. Conversely, Long-billed juvs are just starting to arrive. Juvenile Long-billed Dows rarely show up in Oregon before September and they won't peak for another 4-5 weeks. Also, nice description of the Semipalmated Sand. Field notes editors appreciate such details. Dave Irons Eugnene, OR > From: joel.geier at peak.org > To: list at midvalleybirding.org; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 15:28:09 -0700 > Subject: [obol] E.E. Wilson shorebirds - Semipalmated Sandpiper (yes, Sandpiper) > > Hello folks, > > I went for a long walk around E.E. Wilson at lunchtime today, and just > got back now. I dragged my scope along hoping for some shorebirds, and > was pleasantly surprised to see that a fair amount of mud has opened up > on the Canal Pond. There were only about 5 peeps out in the open when I > first arrived, but while I hung aroudn and studied the ones that were in > view, eventually good numbers materialized out of the vegetation around > the pond. > > Here's the quick summary: > > Killdeer - 8 or so > Greater Yellowlegs - 1 juv and 1 adult > Least Sandpiper - about 30 > Western Sandpiper - about 25, mix of juvs & adults > SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER - 1 juv > Long-billed Dowitcher - 2 juvs > Wilson's Snipe - 2 > > The SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER stood out from the Westerns because of the > evenly scaly appearance of its back (except for a faint set of whitish > braces), its overall buffier (versus rufous) tones, shorter bill, and a > strong whitish supercilium contrasting with the darker cap -- I was > actually looking for a Baird's Sandpiper when I spotted it. Its bill was > noticeably shorter than most of the nearby Westerns, and was close to > straight but with a slight downward curvature (relatively evenly curved > along the length of the bill, rather than drooping toward the end). > Black legs, dingy buffy-brownish breast, other underparts clean white. > > The adult GREATER YELLOWLEGS tried to choke down what looked a dead > Red-legged Frog, though maybe a Pacific Chorus-Frog (whatever it was, > the frog's hind legs hung down about even with the bird's bill tip, > when the frog's head was jammed about as far into its mouth as it would > go. After trying for about five minutes, the bird finally gave up and > resorted to picking at the frog. > > Other birds of interest included two GREEN HERONS. > > I also checked the more secluded NE corner pond hoping for a little more > Tringa diversity, but found no shorebirds there, despite open water and > some exposed mud. Toketie Marsh (the remediation pond for Coffin Butte > Regional Landfill) had: > > Killdeer - 6 > Spotted Sandpiper - 1 spotless > > Close to eighty shorebirds, with eight shorebird species on one walk, is > about as good as it ever gets in shorebird-deprived northern Benton > County. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Get back to school stuff for them and cashback for you. http://www.bing.com/cashback?form=MSHYCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHYCB_BackToSchool_Cashback_BTSCashback_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090903/e66b4ef1/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Sep 3 08:00:45 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 08:00:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Last Rufous Hummingbird Sighting of the Summer References: <1956664758.2088241251985704995.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> <4A9FCCAF.4070503@verizon.net> Message-ID: <525082B13FD34CD3BB8BF6637B362562@Warbler> There's still immature/female Rufous Hummers at our place just east of the Merlin I-5 exit. They should all disappear sometime before the end of this month. Had an adult Male Rufous Hummer here on 19 August, which is the latest date I have for an adult male. I recorded each day the bird was seen (had a favorite perch) and didn't see it again here after the 19th. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Subject: Re: [obol] Last Rufous Hummingbird Sighting of the Summer > We still have a few Selasphorus in our yard here north of Bandon, Coos > Cty. > > Cheers > Dave Lauten > > sandyleapt at comcast.net wrote: >> >> >> Hi, >> >> >> >> I'm not sure who, if anyone, tracks this, but my last backyard Rufous >> Hummingbird sighting of the year was August 27. Haven't heard or seen >> one in my garden since. >> >> >> >> There are six or seven Anna's Hummingbirds zipping around the garden. >> I need to spend some time figuring out just how many there really >> are. The immature Anna's are really into people watching. >> >> >> >> Sandy Leaptrott >> >> NE Portland From celata at pacifier.com Thu Sep 3 08:25:58 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 03 Sep 2009 08:25:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Some Central Coast notes - 9/1 and 9/2 Message-ID: <4A9FE006.9070609@pacifier.com> I spent a couple days on business along the Central Coast. On Tuesday a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK and a WESTERN KINGBIRD were at the Rock Creek Conservation Area south of Cape Perpetua. A noisy HOUSE WREN was on Mt Hebo. Also at Hebo, a sizable flock of newly minted GRAY JAYS. There were good numbers of VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWKS along the eastern ridge (no directed movements, just typical meadowhawk feeding behaviors). No other obvious migrant activities at Hebo, not even a single GCTH... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Thu Sep 3 09:21:53 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 09:21:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Emma's (& Stefan's) REDSTART Message-ID: <000701ca2cb2$c2e99810$28db63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Dear Birding Friends, Imagine Calliope Crossing. That's the strip of water and willows, bounded by cottonwoods, that arches through the Ponderosa pines north of Sisters. It's about 150 ft. wide. It contains sightings and memories of sightings of Calliope Hummingbirds, American Redstarts, and even a Blue-winged Warbler. It is a beloved, magical place. Now, in your mind's eye, straighten the valley, replace the pines on the south side with a rustic 6 ft. retaining wall and houses. Run a pair of wheel tracks down between the willows and the cottonwoods. Replace the pines on the north side with houses. Plant the whole scene into urban western Oregon. Indian Ford in Hillsboro. The Emma Jones Nature Preserve runs west from 15th Avenue in Hillsboro, just west of the Hillsboro airport. It offers those of us who live on the west side an opportunity that Bend folks have enjoyed for years, convenient access to this wonderful kind of habitat. The valley extends west for 200 yds, then opens out into a triangular space with another drainage coming in from the southeast. There are a couple ponds, a weeping willow on a knoll, and a few snags. This morning I visited the preserve for the first time, following the directions offered by Stefan Schlick (below). Within 10 minutes I found the young male AMERICAN REDSTART he had reported. It was at the NW corner of the small Glencoe Creek city park, where it meets the first house, which has a feeder. After I had walked down the length of the preserve and returned, I again found the bird, and Stefan appeared to share the sighting. Other species seen included a Wilson's Warbler, Cedar Waxwings, American Goldfinches, Mallards, B-c. Chickadees, Bewick's Wren, and a nice quiet morning. Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan -------------------------------------------------- Subject: American Redstart, Hillsboro (Washington Co) From: Stefan Schlick Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 20:06:48 -0400 Earlier over lunch I found an AMERICAN REDSTART at the Natural Area at the NW corner of the Intel Jones Farm campus west of the Hillsboro airport. Park at the little neighborhood park (Glencoe Creek Park aka Jones Farm Park) at the NW corner of Prahl Pkwy & NW 15th Ave and walk to the fence an the northern edge of the park. There is a little gate. Pass through the gate and walk west along the dirt 2-track. The bird was near the gate along the 2-track originally when I found it, but then moved about 80yds further west about 30min ago. I was able to get diagnostic pictures. This looks like a young male, but I have to evaluate my pictures again later tonight. There is a sign at the gate to the Natural Area requiring to call Hillsboro Parks for permission to access. Well, I called the number on the sign and access has been granted. It is public land, just be careful since there are no maintained trails and lots of yellowjackets. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Thu Sep 3 09:57:42 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 09:57:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Peregrine Message-ID: <388559.7527.qm@web39706.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello obolers, About an hour ago an immature female peregrine was chasing my pigeon flock here 15 mi. south of Burns. Raptors are moving very high today, so sky gazing may be productive. Also an immature Swainson's made the pigeons flush (gently). Best, Dick From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Sep 3 13:29:43 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:29:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Baird's Sandpipers Message-ID: <4AA02737.4070406@verizon.net> On 9/1 at New River Coos Cty there were 8 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS in one flock and today 9/3 there were 7 in the same spot. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From margieparis1 at mac.com Thu Sep 3 13:39:25 2009 From: margieparis1 at mac.com (Margie Paris) Date: Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:39:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Vaux's Swifts in Eugene Message-ID: <24B2A98C-F523-445E-9CA8-3901666A6364@mac.com> Dear OBOL, Good numbers of Vaux's Swifts are roosting in the Agate Hall chimney at 18th & Agate in Eugene. I estimated 4000 last night (in addition to the one that met its demise in the talons of a Cooper's Hawk), and I was counting very conservatively. Margie Paris 2394 Charnelton Street Eugene, OR 97405 (541) 484-0763 margieparis1 at me.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090903/e22dcd57/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Thu Sep 3 13:49:52 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 13:49:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] FOY Long-billed Dowitcher juveniles Message-ID: I can't access OBOL archives from work, but I saw 4 juvenile LB Dowitchers at Bandon Marsh amongst the 85 SB Dowitchers on Aug 22nd or 23rd. Russ Namitz Coos Bay, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090903/69198f0d/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Thu Sep 3 14:04:17 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:04:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tweeters-Alerts Info Page Message-ID: http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters-alerts/ The Washington State equivalent to OBOL (Tweeters) now has a second site that is just for time sensitive reports of rarities. Please refer to their criteria. Sound like a good idea for Oregon? Jeff From baileydc at pdx.edu Thu Sep 3 14:24:45 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:24:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Broad-Winged Hawk fide Mike Patterson Message-ID: <4AA0341D.9050007@pdx.edu> Mike Patterson called this afternoon to say he and his daughter Michelle saw an immature BROAD-WINGED HAWK while blackberry picking at the North Coast Land Conservancy Circle Creek Preserve just S. of Seaside, Clatsop Co. He said it was moving north along the fields there. He will post more details when he can. The winds are from the south, so maybe the bird is settling in for a day or two until the winds change? David David C. Bailey Geahart, Oregon From greg at thebirdguide.com Thu Sep 3 16:48:02 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 16:48:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Photo and map: American Redstart: First confirmed Washington County record Message-ID: <9B3BB842A52D4E388B0A7977CA69813D@GREG> Spent about an hour from 1-2 p.m. with no sighting of Stefan's Redstart, walking in Emma Jones nature preserve near Prahl Pkwy & NW 15th Ave in Hillsboro. Finally laid in the lawn at Glencoe Creek park and took in as wide a view as possible of the willows and tall poplars. After 20 minutes finally heard it call, a loud "sit!" or "zit!". http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/116855533 American Redstart in lowest branches of ornamental willow in NW corner of Glencoe Creek Park, and 8-15 feet up a cottonwood a few feet north in Emma Jones nature preserve. I talked to the woman at the nearest residence (the willow overhangs her yard and she has a thistle sock set up with goldfinches). So she will not be too surprised to see birders. http://maps.google.com/?q=45.546336,-122.967622+(American+Redstart)&ie=UTF8&ll=45.546382,-122.967622&spn=0.000491,0.000671&t=h&z=20&iwloc=A Map label is exactly in ornamental willow This bird is the first confirmed Washington County record, though the bird is listed in BirdNotes for the county, though with no definite sighting recorded. I suspect the rain forecast for Friday night and Saturday may move this bird out. Better try on Friday if you want to see it. You can probably find it up to 7:30 p.m. tonight... if you hurry. Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Sep 3 17:47:51 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:47:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tweeters-Alerts Info Page Message-ID: <1252025271.9183.118.camel@clearwater> Jeff & All, This is not something that I would personally be interested but I'm sure there's a substantial constituency for such a thing in Oregon (namely, everyone who grumbles about non-rarity-related postings, probably including most of my postings). And personally again, I'd be happy if there were a list for people who are only interested in time-critical reports of state-level rarities; then the rest of us can enjoy the more prolix discussions that make OBOL what it is. But another e-mail alert list? Nine years into the 21st century? Sorry, but this seems about as technologically relevant to the problem of rapid communication as the Pony Express was, in its second year of operation. I find this kind of reporting to be incredibly sterile, BUT ... if you're going to do it, you might as well upgrade to a database-driven technology that will give you instant maps etc. Check out how rare birds are being reported by dedicated twitchers in, say, Uppland, Sweden: http://www.artportalen.se/birds/dagens.asp (apparently, a Caspian Gull(?) was hot on yesterday's menu -- I would love to see that Ortonlansparv). Then have fun, whatever kind of birding you're into. Joel Jeff Gilligan wrote: > The Washington State equivalent to OBOL (Tweeters) now has a second site > that is just for time sensitive reports of rarities. Please refer to their > criteria. > > Sound like a good idea for Oregon? > > Jeff From celata at pacifier.com Thu Sep 3 19:58:51 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:58:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Broad-winged Hawk at Circle Creek Message-ID: <4AA0826B.7030003@pacifier.com> As David Bailey has already posted, Michelle and I saw what we believe was a BROAD-WINGED HAWK at Circle Creek while on a mission to collect blackberries. I DID NOT have my binoculars or camera, so was obliged to depend on eyes only. What we saw was a small buteo flying with a TURKEY VULTURE. We therefore had good size comparison. A bird that small should be a Cooper's Hawk, which was my initial assumption. As we watched, however, we both noted conspicuously dark wing-tips on an otherwise pale, very plainly unmarked underside. I could make out faint, narrow banding on a short tail and there may have been some faint marking on the belly, but the overall impression was unmarked underside. No patagial marks. The tail was quite short. Michelle repeated this over and over as she looked at pictures in the field guide. She picked out Broad-winged Hawk without prompting. Dark wing-tips and short tail would seem to exclude accipiters. Black confined to the wing-tips, short stocky (buteo-like) build and short tail should exclude male Northern Harier. My "official" description and field sketch are at: http://home.pacifier.com/~mpatters/obrc/bwha20090903.html -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From celata at pacifier.com Thu Sep 3 20:06:16 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:06:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oh, and I forgot to mention... Message-ID: <4AA08428.7010207@pacifier.com> Broad-winged Hawk would be bird species number 400 for me in Oregon. Now I don't have to wait for the AOU to re-split the rumps... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From windypointandy at dishmail.net Thu Sep 3 21:12:24 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 21:12:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Bay to Bandon Shorebirding-29-30 August Message-ID: <001901ca2d15$f431fbc0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> COOS BAY TO BANDON SHOREBIRDING 29-30 AUGUST 2009 Once again we targeted shorebirds on the Oregon coast. We started birding at the "Weyerhaueser industrial pond" at the base of the North Spit of Coos Bay. Just a quarter mile to the north we noted Great Egrets in the wetland and then heard a Green Heron squawk off to the east in a wooded area. As we were birding the edge of the pond, birders from the Shorebird Festival, led by Jim Danzenbaker, appeared and so we joined them on this tour encircling the pond on the gravel road with an extension west to the deflation plain and dunes overlooking the beach. The pond, no longer looking very industrial is now, apparently, property of Port of Coos Bay. Signs forbid entry but the public (birders, walkers) seem to be here in droves. There were lots of waterfowl, many in eclipse plumage. With a little effort, we identified seven species: Canada Goose (these weren't so hard), Mallard, Northern Pintail and Shoveler, Gadwall, Ring-necked Duck, and Lesser Scaup. Shorebirds were scattered about the rocky edges of the pond and included: Lesser Yellowlegs - 2 WANDERING TATTLER - 1, out-of-place Least Sandpiper - 2 Pectoral Sandpiper - 2 Red-necked Phalarope - 10 An adult Peregrine Falcon straffed the shorebirds and ducks at least three times over the course of several hours. Turkey Vultures wheeled and rocked overhead in the stiff northwesterly winds and were always visible. Encircling the pond, we found two Black Phoebes, exotic fare for us Washingtonians. Several Yellow-rumped Warblers called notes I ascribe as Audubon's types. The extension on to the deflation plain was a bust though a Buff-breasted Sandpiper was seen there by Jim a few days before. Likewise, the beach was almost birdless. We continued with the group, first stopping on the boat launch right off the Cape Arago Highway along the shore in Empire where we noted Black Turnstone and Pigeon Guillemot, then with a walk near Cape Arago. Fog hindered our viewing but walking on a pleasant trail through the coastal forest of Sitka spruce and dense salal undergrowth was a treat, as always. Birds were few save for a band of Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Golden-crowned Kinglets. Another exotic bird for us was a delightful Wrentit singing its bouncing ball song from the salal thickets. On our own now we drove past the state park on Bastendorf Road, good for a Baird's Sandpiper, half-hidden in kelp by a sandy-edged pool. While en route to Coos Bay, we obtained an off-road vehicle permit and safety flag at the Oregon Dunes Recreation Area Visitor Center in Reedsport, thinking we would try to make it all the way out to the North Spit of Coos Bay. The very best map, though a flashy BLM color map was attractive, proved to be a mimeographed black-and-white sheet issued by the BLM titled "North Spit of Coos Bay." We then mustered courage for the 4 X 4 route south along North Spit and soon found the sandy track a little more intimidating than we cared for so we retreated. By the inside bay on Bayshore "Road", actually just a track at the high tide line we scanned the mudflats and counted 30 Semipalmated Plovers, 150 Western Sandpipers, 20 Least Sandpipers, and five Short-billed Dowitchers. The sandy South Dike "Road." heading off to the beach from the BLM boat launch was equally intimidating. I suppose had we deflated our tires to 18 psi or so, we could have managed but the four-wheeling just isn't what we want to do. This truly is the domain of the off-road vehicle! We fled the scene and headed south to Bandon. Though thwarted by fog at the shore in Bandon, we paid a short visit to the Coquille River South jetty and noted one SNOWY EGRET along with Black Oystercatcher and Wandering Tattler. Fog was confined to the immediate coastline, On the other side of the dunes at Bandon Marsh overlook on Riverside Drive it was sunny. Indeed, it was too sunny and the afternoon sun made viewing birds on the mudflats difficult. We opted for a visit in the morning to bird this fine area with decent light. Late afternoon we hit the inland Ni-les'tun Unit, established to protect and restore intertidal marsh, freshwater marsh and riparian areas that are habitat for migratory birds and anadromous fish (e.g., salmon, steelhead, cutthroat trout). From the refuge website: "an overlook area is underlain by a historic Coquille (Ko-kwell) Indian campsite. The Coquille Indian Tribe and students of Southern Oregon University archeologically investigated the site and now the 4,500-year-old site is protected. The Refuge is planning a marsh restoration for this unit where an influx of saltwater and freshwater will allow re-establishment of mudflats and marsh plants, and interconnecting tidal channels will bisect the wildlife habitat south of the overlook deck. As the land returns to a rich functioning intertidal marsh, flocks of seasonally driven migratory birds and young fish will use the restored habitat." Here we admired two WHITE-TAILED KITES, American Kestrels, and several Northern Harriers were working the rank grasslands, now under restoration efforts. Ellen spied some juicy blackberries and spent a happy spell picking fruit to top our cereal for Sunday breakfast breakfast. Sunday morning we began by checking the Coquille River South Jetty. The tide was low exposing an exceptionally wide area of inter tidal, rocky shore habitat. Rockpipers by the score was picking about the rocks and bathing in the small pools. We counted 150 Black Turnstones and 30 Surfbirds. The SNOWY EGRET was there again, foraging in its usual active style, in the rocky shore habitat. Next we hit the Bandon Marsh overlook. It was to be a "low high" tide (5.9 feet), so we donned our Wellingtons to trek out there. We saw another birder, properly outfitted, making his way out across the mudflats to higher marsh west towards the Coquille River. Emboldened, we set off west across the shallow channel and soon met up with him. It turned out Carl was trusting his strength to flee the incoming tide if it swept in too rapidly. I felt the predicted modest high tide level was not an issue so we set to work birding and enjoying this fabulous mosaic of beautiful estuary habitats: mudflats, Salicornia and rush marshes, and nearby dunes. We spent a couple hours out there and I thrilled at every moment. The tide never covered the mudflats so I'm convinced our birding was impacted by this. I fantasize of doing this trek again on a higher high tide when all shorebirds would be forced to move about the estuary and, thus, all the rarities in the region drop in for us to tally! We were treated to both an adult and immature Peregrine Falcon rocket through the shorebird flocks. The immature bird seemed to employ some sort of "20 Minute Rule," whereby, the falcon would come in for a strike, miss on the occasions we watched it, then disappear, not to return for about 20 minutes. We never did see it make a capture, though once it really put a peep through a severe test for a full minute. We, of course, were rooting for the peep! Here's shorebirds we saw out at Bandon Marsh: Black-bellied Plover - 50 Semipalmated Plover - 25 Greater Yellowlegs - 2 Lesser Yellowlegs - 1 Whimbrel - 4 Western Sandpiper - 5000 Least Sandpiper - 150, I'm surprised several recent counts say 50-50 Western and Leasts, the Leasties must have split! Pectoral Sandpiper - 2 Short-billed Dowitcher - 60 Long-billed Dowitcher - 2 Wilson's Snipe - 1 Red-necked Phalarope - 1 >From the folks at the shorebird festival, we heard the waterfront in Bandon "behind" the old Coast Guard Station (red-roofed), now an office-plex of sorts. An abandoned railway for boat launching and the nearby rocky beach there is thoroughly encrusted with juicy marine life, perfect for rockpipers. We saw a bunch of these birds there, at super close range: one Wandering Tattler, 130 Black Turnstones, and ten Surfbirds. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090903/6cf81b56/attachment.html From fschrock at gmail.com Thu Sep 3 22:51:39 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 22:51:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Barn Swallow radar image Message-ID: <390ebd880909032251o2c7d480aief2c7622e9b4d886@mail.gmail.com> I saved an image from this morning's Doppler radar scan that shows the Barn Swallow flock soon after taking off from their roost in the cornfields on Grand Island in Yamhill Co. If any birder happens to be somewhere between Woodburn and Newberg at 6:25 a.m., I would like to know if you can see or hear the flock overhead. The flock is apparently still dense enough at that time to be detected by the radar beam, but perhaps it is too high to be observed from the ground. I'm wondering what the explanation is for why the majority of the flock seems to head east when they first take off. Maybe they can see insects better when flying toward the rising sun. Or...(?) The image can be seen at http://empids.blogspot.com and I also placed another (somewhat better) video clip there. Apparent ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090903/72f9de53/attachment.html From invite+zrdocvrf=oef at facebookmail.com Thu Sep 3 22:58:05 2009 From: invite+zrdocvrf=oef at facebookmail.com (Mike Marsh) Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 22:58:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Check out my photos on Facebook Message-ID: <321cda03d9cdd39ce3b0d969ecfeffe5@localhost.localdomain> Hi obol at oregonbirdwatch.org, I set up a Facebook profile where I can post my pictures, videos and events and I want to add you as a friend so you can see it. First, you need to join Facebook! Once you join, you can also create your own profile. Thanks, Mike To sign up for Facebook, follow the link below: http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=100000129874682&k=Z6E3Y5VY3VYCYJFJPB63QTSR2TFAX25&r obol at oregonbirdwatch.org was invited to join Facebook by Mike Marsh. If you do not wish to receive this type of email from Facebook in the future, please click on the link below to unsubscribe. http://www.facebook.com/o.php?k=d13482&u=100000218152761&mid=10aa99bG5af31d7aff39G0G8 Facebook's offices are located at 1601 S. California Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090903/7746d9a9/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Thu Sep 3 23:28:21 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 23:28:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Range Bayer honored by OFO Message-ID: <004f01ca2d29$0d6348c0$06c963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: It was my pleasure, last weekend at the annual meeting of Oregon Field Ornithologists, to present an award to Range Bayer of Newport for his many contributions to Oregon birding, Oregon ornithology, and OFO. Since the 1970's Range has been a key figure in the local club that came to be called the Yaquina Birders and Naturalists. He has served as president, editor, field notes compiler, and field trip leader. He keeps the ongoing records of sightings in Lincoln county. Not only birds, but also other natural history subjects, from dragonflies to stars. Range has been a prolific writer, authoring papers on Great Blue Herons, fish, dragonflies. He has also compiled the notes of other living observers, getting them into print and into libraries. He has researched the notes of historic bird enthusiasts and made their writings more accessible to today's readers and future generations. He has researched and written about contemporary issues like the proposed ship-breaking in Yaquina Bay. Congratulations, Range. Well done. Paul T. Sullivan Thanks to Bob Olson & Janet Webster for their research into Range's contributions. From smithdwd at hotmail.com Fri Sep 4 12:01:43 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 19:01:43 +0000 Subject: [obol] AMRedstart no Message-ID: We looked for the AM Redstart 7:30-9:15 without luck. David Smith _________________________________________________________________ More than messages?check out the rest of the Windows Live?. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090904/fe73a200/attachment.html From judie310hansen at comcast.net Fri Sep 4 12:44:37 2009 From: judie310hansen at comcast.net (Hansen Judith) Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 12:44:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sabine's Gulls and Common ? Terns - Fern Ridge Message-ID: Dave Irons just called to say he has three (3) Sabine's gulls at Fern Ridge. They are hanging out just off of Orchard Point Park at the east end of Fern Ridge Dam. There is also at least thirty- to thirty-five terns that are almost assuredly Common terns out over the middle of the lake between Gibson Island and Fern Ridge Shores. Given that he is between a mile to two miles away a positive ID is not possible. He is scoping from the Dam, just east of the outflow. Judie Hansen From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Fri Sep 4 13:23:57 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 16:23:57 -0400 Subject: [obol] owls on the move Message-ID: I don't recall ever having 2 GREAT HORNED OWLS hooting in the yard before, but last nite I could hear them just outside our open window, answering each other for quite awhile. They are rare in my yard, period, altho common around Scappoose Bay nearby. Birds of Oregon says the juvs are dispersing in September, so perhaps I had a couple of youngsters looking for territory. Also, this morning the first flock of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS were at a feeder, making their peculiar sounds when squabbling. For the last few weeks it's just been 1-3 on occasion. Off-topic: a skunk has been boldly coming out during the day the past week or two, digging around under one of the bird feeders. Yesterday it showed up while we were playing croquet a few feet away! He left quietly and returned later when the yard wasn't quite as busy. I've never found them to be aggressive in the least -- if you aren't. William F. Finley wrote a story (Nature Magazine, in 1924) about taking a young wild skunk across the Willamette River in a rowboat with no mishaps. A neighbor preferred it dead. The skunk got out of its tipsy container and ambled right between Finley's feet in the boat. Also, congrats to Range Bayer for being honored by the Oregon Field Ornithologists. Knowing him from college days, I'm not surprised he is making important contributions. Lona Pierce, Warren, in Columbia County _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=PID23391::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HYGN_faster:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090904/eccbdb44/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Fri Sep 4 13:37:03 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 13:37:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Northern Goshawk and Peregrine Falcon Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F024F1566@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> I had a Northern Goshawk fly by my office window just a few minutes ago. Yesterday I was looking at a Cooper's Hawk sitting in a tree outside my office and showing it to my Administrative Assistant when a Peregrine Falcon flew by at a high rate of speed. The goshawk was close and large. This sighting added some excitement to an office bound day. I am located at the intersection of Oatfield Road and 82nd Drive just off I-205. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090904/bd6a7fdd/attachment.html From billbradford1 at gmail.com Fri Sep 4 16:14:16 2009 From: billbradford1 at gmail.com (Bill Bradford) Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 16:14:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] AMRedstart no In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: We didn't see the Redstart either between noon and 2 PM, but it was a nice park for a picnic, and birdy with common birds. Bill Bradford & Lora Minty On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 12:01 PM, david smith wrote: > We looked for the AM Redstart 7:30-9:15 without luck. David Smith > ------------------------------ > check out the rest of the Windows Live?. More than mail?Windows Live? goes > way beyond your inbox. More than messages > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090904/c2cba8ef/attachment.html From sylviam at clearwire.net Fri Sep 4 16:57:38 2009 From: sylviam at clearwire.net (Sylvia Maulding) Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 16:57:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Dam Message-ID: <5f916ae60909041657h43cd40berb694acd1f2b2729e@mail.gmail.com> I went out to Fern Ridge Dam after Dave Irons birds. I was there from 2:45 to 3:30 and saw several small WHITE TERNS, one group of 5 on the west side and one group 3 in the marshes on the east side. There were a couple of small white birds on buoys. I saw one adult SABINE'S GULL toward Gibson Island, very pretty as it flew low and turned and finally landed on the water.. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090904/373694d0/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Fri Sep 4 18:10:46 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 01:10:46 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Salish Pond Yellow Warbler In-Reply-To: <1799741178.2713241252112558949.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1867757539.2715161252113046654.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi, My mystery warbler is (was) indeed an immature Yellow Warbler. The feet are green, gray yellow. The eyering is pale yellow rather than white. Now that I've seen those colors on a Yellow Warbler I can write a better description should I see something different. That makes seven different kinds of Warblers I can sort of identify. I can't be disappointed that it is not a Blackpoll Warbler since I didn't know anything about them until yesterday. Thanks Dave. Joel, do you ever get pictures of the cats and Caracaras eating the Blackpoll and Magnolia Warblers? I'd love to see some so I can compare them to any other warblers I might see up at Salish Pond. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/86dc4a2f/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Sep 4 19:50:09 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 02:50:09 +0000 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Sabine's Gulls, Common Terns, and Forster's Tern Message-ID: Greetings All, After calling my mom to have her post news about the small Sterna terns and Sabine's Gulls, the terns came within a few hundred yards allowing me to determine that they were Commons. Later, a noticed a lone tern with a different flight style and much paler upper wings. I finally got a good look at it and it was a basic-plumaged Forster's Tern. Two of the three Sabine's Gulls were adults, which is a bit unusual. Most of the inland birds (almost always during Sept.) are juveniles. After running some errands, I went back out late in the afternoon and met up with Rich and Nanette Armstrong. We got great looks at the Sabine's Gulls and the Common Terns, but did not relocate the Forster's. We also had about 5-6 Red-necked Phalaropes. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Keep your friends up to date with what you do online. http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_online:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/ac551378/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Fri Sep 4 21:09:30 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 21:09:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] RBA: Yaquina Bay Hudsonian Godwits Message-ID: <178943.74412.qm@web55705.mail.re3.yahoo.com> This morning we found two HUDSONIAN GODWITS at Yaquina Bay. They were loosely associated with three Marbled Godwits on the mudflats along the nature trail behind the Hatfield Marine Center. We found them at about 11:15 and watched them until noon. They were very cooperative and unwary. Despite several boisterous groups clamming, the Hudsonian Godwits only flew twice. We tried to stay far enough away so that they weren't disturbed, but they kept walking towards us and came within 15 feet of us! We got many photos. We will post details later, as well as details about our very successful trip to the south coast. Good birding and good luck to anyone who goes to look for the godwits. Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090904/7cd81d82/attachment.html From fschrock at gmail.com Fri Sep 4 22:34:04 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 22:34:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Barn Swallow morning story Message-ID: <390ebd880909042234j3d2ea0f9g767d914801f831d@mail.gmail.com> For any who might be interested in more of the Barn Swallow narrative... This morning I got up in time to be on Grand Island by about 6:05 a.m. It was overcast and a few sprinkles of rain fell while I was there, but Mt. Hood was silhouetted against a band of clear orange sky. I could hear no Swallow noises in the cornfield, but I did hear Swainson's Thrushes in the area. Not sure if they were flying over, or had landed in the corn or in the orchard across the road. Also, I heard a Savannah Sparrow nearby and a Common Yellowthroat was visible and audible at the edge of the cornfield. A Great Horned Owl was standing on the ground in the stubble field near the cornfield, and soon flew out of my sight across the tops of the corn. I had expected to see Swallows coming out of the corn by about 6:10 if they were to have time enough to move east to where they showed up on Doppler radar yesterday south of Newberg, but at that time I began to notice only the sound of Swallow voices. The first visible wave of rising birds occurred at 6:17. Then for about the next 20 minutes there were successive waves of birds appearing suddenly out of the standing corn, and climbing quickly up to what I estimated to be 800 to 1,000 ft.above the field. I could barely see them without binoculars, even though the cloudy sky was quite bright by that time. In fact, if it had not been for the huge collective sound they were making, it would have been easy for a person to totally miss the event. Even a birder whose back was toward the field might have not noticed what was happening, if not for the sound. The volume was remarkable. But I noticed that although the flock generally drifted to the east, the birds were pretty leisurely about it, and some even came back down and either went back into the corn, or flew around just above it. I concluded that it was because of the weather that they did not follow the pattern of recent clear mornings. When I got home and checked the Doppler radar, there was no sign of the familiar green "burst" that we've been seeing. Also, the radar indicated that the flow of air movement was from northeast to southwest; in other words, a headwind for birds heading east across the river. Unfortunately, I will be leaving the country again in a few days, and will miss most of the month of September here. Perhaps someone else can get down to Grand Island soon on a clear morning and compare their observations with what I saw. I'm guessing that the Swallows might leave a little earlier, and in a more concentrated "flyout" on a clear morning. I did try to record with my video camera something of the sound the birds were making once they were airborne, even though I could not capture much visually. I've posted what I got at http://empids.blogspot.com. I won't be able to be here on NAMC day, so I hope some other observer/counter can visit Grand Island at 7:45 p.m. on Sept. 19 to give Yamhill Co. the national high count of Barn Swallows for Fall 2009. If so, please report to Quinton Nice, who will be compiling the results of the count. :-) ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090904/18a4154b/attachment.html From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Fri Sep 4 22:34:32 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 22:34:32 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Birding Adventures on Fox Sports Net? Message-ID: <837429.29803.qm@web51804.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Has anyone on OBOL ever seen the TV show "Birding Adventures" on the Fox Sports Net? What do you think....does it appeal to "real" birders? The show is described on one site as: "A bird-watching series that also looks at conservation and preservation of habitats." On their own website, they have this announcement (I think the time should actually be 8:00a.m.): "BATV IS MIGRATING!! After an incredibly successful first season with excellent Nielson ratings, Birding Adventures TV is very proud to announce that we will be migrating to national TV coverage on Fox SportsNet! BATV will now be available in every major market in the US every Saturday morning prime-time from 7.30-8.00 am on your local Fox SportsNet Channel. Additionally, BATV will be carried by Untamed Sports 3 times a week. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our sponsors and viewers for all your support during our premiere season on FSN Florida and CSS. Please continue to support us at our new homes on Fox SportsNet National and on Untamed Sports. And please keep spreading the word." Unfortunately, seems like a really bad time slot if you are targeting birders. Cindy Ashy From jonysky101 at aol.com Sat Sep 5 05:20:26 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Sat, 05 Sep 2009 08:20:26 -0400 Subject: [obol] Back from Klamath Refuge and Tule Lake Message-ID: <8CBFC3A6291116D-3D44-AE00@webmail-d018.sysops.aol.com> I did a little recon down Kalmath area on Wednesday and Thursday. I added a bunch of new birds (for me) to my list, and saw some really neat action. Hawks and Eagles were everywhere. Some of my best birds are American Avocet, I saw about 20 at Lake Abert along with about 150 assorted peeps. I also got Black-necked Stilt, about 8 Whitefaced Ibis, Western Grebes, lots of Terns and White Pelicans were well represented, at least 500 that you could see from the road going past the Upper Klamath area. I haven't had any time to edit my photos, but as soon as I have time I'll post them. Most likely needing help with a few. More later. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/fef420d4/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Sat Sep 5 05:24:13 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Sat, 05 Sep 2009 08:24:13 -0400 Subject: [obol] What happened to Summer Lake? Message-ID: <8CBFC3AE9BC85CD-3D44-AE42@webmail-d018.sysops.aol.com> I cut my drive along Lake Abert short to try to get to Summer Lake while there was still enough light to see. But when I got there, the lake was dry. Just a couple of wet spots. Is this normal for the lake? I googled it, but was unable to get any info. Any body know? Any input appreciated. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/bd7352e7/attachment.html From rccarl at pacbell.net Sat Sep 5 08:14:26 2009 From: rccarl at pacbell.net (Richard Carlson) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 08:14:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Seaside Shearwaters Message-ID: <691111.34679.qm@web81007.mail.mud.yahoo.com> We just got back from a trip to Seaside (sans computer under spousal orders) and hit a huge concentration of Sooty Shearwaters in the Cove Tuesday pm. Numbers were incredible. It took me until the next day to figure out better access so I could get close enough to try IDing any rarities, but they did not reappear. Didn't see a shorebird. I'm used to seeing thousands in the SF Bay area this time of year. Where the heck do they hide, or is it just my bad luck? RCC Richard Carlson Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian Part-time Economist Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA rccarl at pacbell.net Tucson 520-760-4935 Tahoe 530-581-0624 Kirkland 425-828-3819 Cell 650-280-2965 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/781e9f40/attachment.html From apteryx1 at gmail.com Sat Sep 5 08:23:39 2009 From: apteryx1 at gmail.com (Ariana Longanecker) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 08:23:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] NAMC Sept Count Message-ID: <943588110909050823m4cd1f2e4ndd6db0e8d9cee71@mail.gmail.com> Hi I will be coordinating the North American Migration Count for Multnomah County on Saturday, September 19th. If you would like to count, please contact me. I will email you data sheets and protocol. Check out ECBC's page on NAMC for more information. http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=69 Cheers, Ariana Longanecker apteryx1 at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/84319bf4/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Sat Sep 5 09:54:08 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Sat, 05 Sep 2009 09:54:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seaside Shearwaters In-Reply-To: <691111.34679.qm@web81007.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: RCC: In response to your inquiry below regarding shorebird numbers or lack thereof: The number of shorebirds along the Oregon coast has always been small compared to the numbers at the large estuaries in Washington State and California. Unfortunately, through the past 45 years of my experience, the numbers of shorebirds that assemble at various locations along the Oregon coast has greatly declined. I attribute this to a number of factors: 1. Oregon shorebird roost areas have become vegetated, making them unusable to shorebirds. This is evident at locations such as the south jetty of the Columbia ponds and the Bayocean sand spit. If there isn?t a roost, migrant shorebirds leave at the first high tide. 2. Draining and tiling of meadowlands near the ocean has greatly reduced habitat that was especially used at high tide, but also used by species that preferred shallow freshwater habitats. 3. In a few instances tidal flats and high tide roosts have been developed (e.g.. the marina at Newport). 4. Environmental rules have resulted in much less biological pollutants from human waste and cattle washing into the bays. These pollutants in some locations fed the invertebrates that attracted concentrations of shorebirds. At no location is this more evident than the still productive Bandon. The creek at the waste water treatment facility once was a location of incredible concentrations. Newer birders will find it almost unimaginable that some friends and I once counted over 350 Ruddy turnstones from that creek to the ocean. 5. Related the #4, dairy farms no longer have over slurry ponds ? which were great attractants of shorebirds. Some over-flowed and caused shallow water meadows ? great habitat for shorebirds. 6. Sewage treatment ponds (such as at Gold Beach and Nehalem) have been deactivated or have had their shores covered with rocks to mitigate the damage done by nutria. 7. The increase in Peregrine Falcons in combination with the limited size of Oregon estuaries has resulted in migrant shorebirds having to move on or be consumed. (This isn?t just my theory, it has been well-studied.) I am not against Peregrines ? just unnatural numbers by breeding and hacking programs. At the huge Willapa Bay in Washington State the shorebirds have a lot of options and number of Peregrine Falcons in relation to acres of habitat is much more in line with a natural scheme. 8. Siltation may still be a factor at bays such as Tillamook, though most of that occurred after the great burns and before better regulated logging practices. Jeff Gilligan On 9/5/09 8:14 AM, "Richard Carlson" wrote: > We just got back from a trip to Seaside (sans computer under spousal orders) > and hit a huge concentration of Sooty Shearwaters in the Cove Tuesday pm. > Numbers were incredible. It took me until the next day to figure out better > access so I could get close enough to try IDing any rarities, but they did not > reappear. > Didn't see a shorebird. I'm used to seeing thousands in the SF Bay area this > time of year. Where the heck do they hide, or is it just my bad luck? > > RCC > > Richard Carlson > Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian > Part-time Economist > Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA > rccarl at pacbell.net > Tucson 520-760-4935 > Tahoe 530-581-0624 > Kirkland 425-828-3819 > Cell 650-280-2965 > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/d6412f71/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sat Sep 5 11:18:08 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 11:18:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] RFI - Newport HUGOs Message-ID: <421903.89001.qm@web37004.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Howdy all, has anyone been out to look for the Hudsonian Godwits at Yaquina Bay today? I'd appreciate any info whether they were still around or not, since I am contemplating a chase. Thanks Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/192e82ea/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Sat Sep 5 11:24:54 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 11:24:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Yaquina Bay Hudsonian Godwits--Resighted Message-ID: Hi, This morning at 11 AM, Chuck Philo found the 2 Hudsonian Godwits with 3 Marbled Godwits on the mudflats at the southwest corner of Idaho Flats. To get there, go south of the Hatfield Marine Science Center and Oregon Coast Aquarium in South Beach, turn east on SE 35th Street, and follow it to where it meets Idaho Flats, near where the Condos have been built. Chuck noted that they seemed to be moving slowly north, so they may be near the Hatfield Marine Science Center Nature Trail later, like they were reported yesterday. Chuck noted that the Hudsonian's black underwings were visible as well as the white rump patch. They appeared to be slightly smaller than the Marbled Godwits. Good birding, Range Bayer, Newport On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 9:09 PM, m_scatt at yahoo.com wrote: > This morning we found two HUDSONIAN GODWITS at Yaquina Bay. They were > loosely associated with three Marbled Godwits on the mudflats along the > nature trail behind the Hatfield Marine Center. We found them at about 11:15 > and watched them until noon. They were very cooperative and unwary. Despite > several boisterous groups clamming, the Hudsonian Godwits only flew twice. > We tried to stay far enough away so that they weren't disturbed, but they > kept walking towards us and came within 15 feet of us! > > We got many photos. We will post details later, as well as details about our > very successful trip to the south coast. > > Good birding and good luck to anyone who goes to look for the godwits. > > Adrian and Christopher Hinkle > Em Scattaregia > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Sep 5 13:30:53 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 13:30:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln County NAMC Message-ID: <4F8A01C745C749C5B3038271C91EF2F5@cgatesPC> Is anyone planning on participating in the Lincoln County NAMC in two weeks? We need to set a date for either Saturday or Sunday so I need to know people's preferences. We're leaning toward Sunday at this point. Chuck Gates State NAMC Coordinator -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/f13f25a5/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sat Sep 5 15:22:13 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 15:22:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Band-Tailed Pigeons Message-ID: <929801.85042.qm@web46015.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Well, for the last couple of weeks, we have been host to 2 Band-Tailed Pigeons in the yard on a daily basis. It's been great to see them up close and to watch their behavior. This is only the second time in many years that we have had one in the yard. Two years ago, we hosted 1 for a couple of days and haven't seen on since. I don't think we don't have the ideal Band-Tailed Pigeon habitat, as we only have a few conifers in the area, but they seem to be sticking around. This morning, however, we awoke to 6 Band-Tailed Pigeons (and 2 Mourning Doves) in the yard. We have never seen so many together at one time anywhere, let alone in the yard. Just a little update. We will post some photos tomorrow of our visitors. Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From philliplc at charter.net Sat Sep 5 15:39:53 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 15:39:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cascade Head 9/5 References: Message-ID: 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Golden-crowned Sparrow 1 Lapland Longspur Phil From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sat Sep 5 16:07:13 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 16:07:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Hudsonian Godwits in Newport still there Message-ID: <915198.94063.qm@web37001.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, as of 2 pm today, the 2 HUGOs were still behind the Marine Science Center in Newport, in the company of 3 Marbled Godwits. Very cooperative birds! Happy chasing Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/2cfd1fb3/attachment.html From dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM Sat Sep 5 17:46:30 2009 From: dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM (Cheryl Whelchel) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 17:46:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hudsonian Godwit photo Message-ID: I ran over to Newport this morning and easily found the Godwits. These birds are not at all flighty. Very wonderful views at close range. Having Marbled Godwits standing right next to the HUGO's made it very easy to see and compare these two similar species. I have included side by side comparisons. Hopefully they will stick around so others can enjoy! Cheryl Whelchel Tangent http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/b1054522/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Sep 5 19:03:22 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:03:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA Phil Vireo and Tennessee Warb at Malheur HQ Message-ID: This evening I found a PHILADELPHIA Vireo and Tennessee Warbler at Malheur HQ. mediocre photos of vireo posting later. Tennessee hanging out just east of main HQ building. Vireo on east edge of complex in what's left of the morning trees and nearby trees. Details to come later. Umatilla birders say Steens road is awful and they saw no finches on top. They are now over at HQ. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From vagabondbirder at yahoo.com Sat Sep 5 19:07:04 2009 From: vagabondbirder at yahoo.com (Richard Messenger) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 19:07:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Sabiine's--- yes Message-ID: <642781.43628.qm@web59008.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Oregon Birders Decided to?try to find??the Sabine's Gull at Fern Ridge today.? For about 30 min. there were no Gulls only Western Grebes.? Then off to the East?I saw?a?buoyant?looking?flying Gull, looked through the Bins and there it was.? The?black and white wing pattern just jumped out? you.? A few minutes later I was able?to get?it in? the scope for several minutes. Many thanks to those who found it and posted it. Good Birding Richard Messenger? The Vagabond Birder Wherever the RV is parked -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/14fefcba/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 33817 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/14fefcba/attachment.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 10729 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/14fefcba/attachment-0001.gif From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Sep 5 19:26:28 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:26:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Phil Vireo photos Message-ID: I have posted five Phil Vireo photos on my photo blog. If you think it is something else, please let me know. It was a tough bird to get a look at. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From drheath82 at verizon.net Sat Sep 5 19:43:26 2009 From: drheath82 at verizon.net (David Heath) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 19:43:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] OT (mostly): Peru pictures Message-ID: <000f01ca2e9b$d1769aa0$7463cfe0$@net> Hola Obolistas, I have acquired a means of digitizing my slides, and I have now uploaded a bunch of pictures from my trip to Peru last year. There are a few birds, so it's not entirely OT, or I wouldn't have gummed up your inbox. http://www.flickr.com/photos/drheath/sets/72157622260860332/detail/ David Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/a2594440/attachment.html From dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM Sat Sep 5 20:27:24 2009 From: dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM (Cheryl Whelchel) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 20:27:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: [birding] Hudsonian Godwit photo Message-ID: Looks like I made an error in id, see Dave's comments below. Sorry if my error lead to confusion for anyone. Cheryl Whelchel ----- Original Message ----- From: David Irons To: Cheryl Whelchel Sent: Saturday, September 05, 2009 8:24 PM Subject: RE: [birding] Hudsonian Godwit photo Hi Cheryl, I was fortunate enough to see the two Hudsonian Godwits at Newport today (and get some killer photos). I looked at your gallery and noticed that both images labeled "Hudsonian and Marbled" are actually two juv. Hudsonians together. You may notice that the front bird is larger and has a longer bill. It is a female and the back bird is a male. We studied these birds at exceptionally close range and also noticed that the tertials of the male were much more patterned than those of the female. I plan to do some research and see what I can learn about sexual dimorphism in juv. Hudsonian Godwits. I may even do a BirdFellow piece if there is enough to discuss. Glad you got to see these highly cooperative birds, Dave -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org; list at midvalleybirding.org Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 17:46:30 -0700 CC: Subject: [birding] Hudsonian Godwit photo I ran over to Newport this morning and easily found the Godwits. These birds are not at all flighty. Very wonderful views at close range. Having Marbled Godwits standing right next to the HUGO's made it very easy to see and compare these two similar species. I have included side by side comparisons. Hopefully they will stick around so others can enjoy! Cheryl Whelchel Tangent http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Windows Live: Make it easier for your friends to see what you?re up to on Facebook. Find out more. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/d9c3c611/attachment.html From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Sat Sep 5 20:58:08 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 20:58:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bend Vaux's Swifts Message-ID: <3708393A3E4749EDB4E8BA6CDF376BE4@KimPC> 9/4 Fri: I counted 211 Swifts enter the chimney at 644 NW Harriman. The first entered at 7:33 and the rest entered in groups of 5 -40 up to 7:50. I was the only observer. 9/5 Sat.: Judy Meredeth and I counted 147 Swifts enter the chimney at 644 NW Harriman. 2 birds entered the chimney at 7:36 and instead of entering in small groups over several minutes, tonight the rest entered in about 15 seconds at 7:55. Their whole pattern was different tonight. Instead of flying lower over the chimney as usual, the flock took off for about 10 minutes and then came back in a solid flock high above the house and then dove down the chimney all at once. ----kim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/8b967e1b/attachment.html From Andy.Frank at kp.org Sat Sep 5 21:08:33 2009 From: Andy.Frank at kp.org (Andy.Frank at kp.org) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 21:08:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Smith-Bybee today, and Chapman School 10,000 Vaux Swifts Message-ID: Tonight at the Chapman School in NW Portland were an estimated 10,000-11,000 VAUX SWIFTS. They started going in the chimney at 7:53PM. No raptors showed up. This afternoon Iain Tomlinson and I went to Smith-Bybee. There were several GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS; a large flock of peeps that spent a lot of time flying around that had a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER among them. We also heard a PURPLE MARTIN and a GREEN HERON. Both a mature BALD EAGLE and an immature PEREGRINE FALCON were flying around. Plus the "usual" several hundred GREAT EGRETS, GREAT BLUE HERONS, and PIED BILLED GREBES. There's now an increasing variety of ducks with MALLARD, WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN WIGEON, NORTHERN SHOVELER, and NORTHERN PINTAIL. Andy Frank NOTICE TO RECIPIENT: If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, you are prohibited from sharing, copying, or otherwise using or disclosing its contents. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete this e-mail and any attachments without reading, forwarding or saving them. Thank you. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/995b48e5/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Sat Sep 5 21:18:27 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 21:18:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Silverton Swift Watch = One Swift Down Chimney Message-ID: The Silverton V. Swifts have moved to another site. We had one (1) enter the chimney tonight and leave a minute later. "Hey, where is everybody?" There were about 20 staging overhead and they seemed to fly off to the north but not sure if they are in town somewhere or a nearby town. This chimney had 150 Vaux's Swifts on Aug. 14th. Last Saturday I showed up a bit late but counted 62 Swifts. Tonight 1. Instead of building, the birds are moving on....That's birding, according to a very close friend. If anyone around the area knows of other sites, let me know. We also checked the old Palace Theater chimneys tonight and there were none there. (There were 4 people so we split up.) About 8-9 years ago, the Palace Theater chimney had about 1700 when we were doing that volunteer Swift Watch. Pam said it is good that the word Swift can mean one or many in the term "Swift Watch." Yes, we DID have a Swift Watch! ;-} And she is wondering why I am still working on reporting one Swift. At any rate, good Swift Watching or Watching of Swifts. John Thomas 5 mi N Silverton From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Sep 5 21:19:02 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 21:19:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] What happened to Summer Lake? In-Reply-To: <8CBFC3AE9BC85CD-3D44-AE42@webmail-d018.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CBFC3AE9BC85CD-3D44-AE42@webmail-d018.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <67f8519576576f2188758a17ea1e4e8a@earthlink.net> It's really a giant puddle, much of it inches deep at the best of times. Abert Lake has a real river (the Chewacan) feeding it. Summer lake doesn't, and nearly all the water comes from snow melt. An earlier posting on this list mentioned the critical state of Abert Lake's level. It has been falling for years. Summer Lake only has meaningful birds at the north end, where ODF&W has a management unit, fed by "Ana River" which is just a few big springs. At this season, months after snowmelt is done, one can't expect much water in Summer"Lake". This has been the case for ten thousand years, since the end of the last glacial advance. Summer Lake is dry so much of the time that a large area to the northeast and east, including uplands, has very alkaline soils and matching vegetation. Instead of Big Sage there is Shadscale, Budsage, Hopsage, Horsebrush, etc.. This is the result of alkaline dust blowing off the dry bed of Summer Lake. I believe this is the largest salt shrub community in Oregon, almost completely unknown to most of our state's nature lovers. Of course, much of the Chewacan never gets to Abert Lake due to water "rights" held by ranchers on its banks. The millions of migrant birds dependant on this pool don't even have "junior" water rights. I'd love to see it change. The number of biophiles in Oregon and around the nation greatly outnumber the ranchers of Paisley, but as Joe Stalin once said, "It's not who votes that counts, but who counts the votes". Lars Norgren On Sep 5, 2009, at 5:24 AM, jonysky101 at aol.com wrote: > I cut my drive along Lake Abert short to try to get to Summer Lake > while there was still enough light to see. But when I got there, the > lake was dry. Just a couple of wet spots. Is this normal for the lake? > I googled it, but was unable to get any info. Any body know? Any input > appreciated. > Johnny Sasko > Sandy, Or_______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From Andy.Frank at kp.org Sat Sep 5 21:31:19 2009 From: Andy.Frank at kp.org (Andy.Frank at kp.org) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 21:31:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI: lightweight tripod Message-ID: I've become interested in building my motorless bird list that Joel Geier has brought up (http://www.oregonbirds.org/Listing/motorless.html) and find that my 8.8lb tripod is quite cumbersome on a bicycle, and would appreciate any recommendations for a lightweight tripod. Thanks, Andy Frank Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/9624e5ce/attachment.html From oschmidt at att.net Sat Sep 5 21:52:40 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 21:52:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI: lightweight tripod In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <578B146E-A081-4922-A7F0-0A42F43F3736@att.net> Gitzo GT1541 Series 1 6X Carbon Fiber Tripod is 2.47 pounds, less than a foot collapsed but 54 inches extended (62 inches with center column extended). Around $600, unfortunately ....... ouch! Gitzo G2180 Series 1 Fluid Head is only 2 pounds. Around $225, unfortunately ....... ouch! But it's really nice stuff. oschmidt at att.net Saturday, September 5, 2009 On Sep 5, 2009, at 9:31 PM, Andy.Frank at kp.org wrote: > > I've become interested in building my motorless bird list that Joel > Geier has brought up (http://www.oregonbirds.org/Listing/motorless.html > ) and find that my 8.8lb tripod is quite cumbersome on a bicycle, > and would appreciate any recommendations for a lightweight tripod. > > Thanks, > Andy Frank > Portland_______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/5c63690b/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sat Sep 5 22:11:00 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 22:11:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] South Coast trip details (long) Message-ID: <107887.79672.qm@web55707.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Thanks to everyone who emailed tips, directions, etc. about our South Coast trip. All of the comments were very helpful. We located most of our targeted species, largely thanks to the great tips we received. Here are the highlights: August 31: We stopped at Manzanita Rest Area (near Merlin) late in the afternoon. It was very quiet and warm, but we did hear a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER. Finally, as we were about to give up on our targeted Oak Titmouse, Adrian heard what sounded just like an OAK TITMOUSE. At last we found it. We watched it forage in the oak trees in the rest area and across from the rest area along Highland Avenue. September 1: In the morning we checked out a tip for good California Towhee habitat west of Kerby. We found the CALIFORNIA TOWHEES pretty quickly and got awesome views. After that, we drove to the redwoods in Northern California. They were spectacular. Next we went to the Alexandre Dairy farm (Del Norte County) to look for shorebirds and a Crested Caracara that had been hanging around. We didn't find much at all. As we were headed back to the highway, Adrian spotted the CARACARA right by the road! We got amazing views. Back in Oregon, we stopped at various locations in Curry County, mostly of minimal interest bird-wise. September 2: We headed to Cape Arago for a short morning sea watch. It was a bust, although Adrian briefly saw a distant JAEGER (probably PARASITIC). The sea lions were amazing. We also saw a Gray Whale. A bit surprising was a BLACK PHOEBE calling from the tall conifers. Next we proceeded to Charleston. Right when we got out of the car we lucked out with a flyby ELEGANT TERN. A quick stop at the Empire sewage treatment plant produced three flyover TUNDRA SWANS (probably very early migrants unless they've stuck around through the summer, which seems unlikely). In the early afternoon we headed to Bandon Marsh NWR. The tide started fairly high but rapidly receded, revealing extensive mudflats and plenty of shorebirds to cover them. We estimated 6-8,000 peeps (about 20/1 WESTERN/LEAST). There were also a few GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, and RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, at least 80 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 31 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 1 WHIMBREL, 3 MARBLED GODWITS, and one GOLDEN-PLOVER species (distant). There was a WEIRD SHOREBIRD that was in bad lighting. The plumage was similar to a juvie Red Knot but the shape was wrong. Later we headed to New River which was quiet but there were 12 GREATER-WHITE FRONTED GOOSE. September 3: We headed to Bandon Marsh at the crack of dawn. We saw a MARBLED GODWIT, 38 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 15 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 1 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, 7 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and 43 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. There were probably at least 7,500 peeps (still mostly WESTERN). The odd shorebird was still there. We got fairly close and saw it in flight as well. It was dowitcher-sized with longer legs than a Red Knot and perhaps a slightly longer neck and bill. It was definitely more slender and more pointed in the rear. The plumage wasn't quite right either. We could send details and extremely poor photos to those of you who are interested. Later in the day we did some hiking/birding in the Oregon Dunes and saw 14 SNOWY PLOVERS. Ironically, all of which were in the narrow strip of permitted beach access right next to the "trail". A stop at the south spit of the Siuslaw River was very quiet. We searched the deflation plain for golden-plovers but only came up with a PEREGRINE FALCON. The crab docks had a few shorebirds and a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. The dog ponds were empty. September 4: As we already posted, we found two juvenile HUDSONIAN GODWITS at Yaquina Bay. The photos turned out great. We plan to send a report and photos to OBRC when we get the time. We'd be happy to send the photos to anybody who wants as well. We're glad to hear that the godwits are sticking around...they are such gorgeous and cooperative birds. The south jetty of the Yaquina Bay had a few birds including about 25 SOOTY SHEARWATERS and a good movement of WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and PACIFIC LOONS. Boiler Bay had similar species with 250+ SOOTY SHEARWATERS in only 15 minutes. At Yaquina Head we scoped two CASSIN'S AUKLETS and a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. At the end of the day we briefly stopped at Tualatin River NWR. There were few ducks and even fewer shorebirds. We had a juvenile LAZULI BUNTING though. Good birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia (Portland) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/6693e910/attachment.html From richarmstrong at comcast.net Sat Sep 5 23:11:22 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 23:11:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] newport References: Message-ID: <6861EE60ADC94C8B8CB24025FC01FDB4@armstrong> 1. nanette & i & paula vanderhuel & marcia cutler went to newport and like others saw the hudsonian godwits at close range. 2. there were 3 MEW GULLS among all the california and ring-billed behind the science center 3. at the newport jetty 3 CASPIAN TERNS 1 BROWN PELICAN many HEERMAN'S GULLS 2 SURFBIRDS 4+ BLACK TURNSTONES 4. and it was a rare day that we walked out to the jetty without coats! Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090905/faf4111a/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Sep 6 03:48:53 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:48:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Vireo Message-ID: Some observers reviewing the photos think the vireo at HQ is a bright Warbling. They are hard to distinguish. It does have obvious dark lores, but the bill seems long for Philly. It is extremely sluggish, sitting in one place for ages. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From smithdwd at hotmail.com Sun Sep 6 08:12:37 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 15:12:37 +0000 Subject: [obol] RFI:lightweight tripod Message-ID: Manfrotto 7301 YB, $130, Eagle optics, 3.5 lbs, 20", with quick release clip, flip locks, pan head, holds my Kowa 820. David Smith _________________________________________________________________ More than messages?check out the rest of the Windows Live?. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090906/d1583793/attachment.html From fschrock at gmail.com Sun Sep 6 09:32:11 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 09:32:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Swallows on radar, Biologist's comments Message-ID: <390ebd880909060932q12305a42r170766c02ee4e898@mail.gmail.com> Some might be interested in the following reply I received from Bruce Cousens, the Purple Martin researcher in B.C., describing something of the technical aspects of using Doppler weather radar to detect bird movements. I'm not sending the "loops" he attached, but I will send them individually to anyone who requests them. They are not large files. Last evening the flock went to roost again at the same place on Grand Island. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Bruce Cousens & Charlene Lee (PuMa Coord.) Date: Sun, Sep 6, 2009 at 8:18 AM Subject: Re: Barn Swallow morning story To: Floyd Schrock Thanks Floyd... Very interesting account of BASW dawn roost dispersal on a cloudy wet morning. The gradual flyout in waves that you describe may help to explain some of the variability between days seen in the roost dispersal signal on radar. I think your assumption that they may move out earlier and more quickly in a more concentrated flock on a clear morning is correct. This is suggested from my archived radar loops of dawn dispersal over the last several years as well. I monitored dawn roost dispersal on radar on Thurs., Sep. 3 (attached), but not on Friday, partly because of the patches of heavy showers in the area. As you know when there is rain in the area Doppler radar automatically shifts down to lower sensitivity preciptation mode and the roost dispersal signal is reduced and may be fully masked by rain over the roost site. 'Sensitivity' (echo signal strength) ranges in clear air mode from -28 to +28 dBZ, and in precip. mode from +5 to +75 dBZ. Dispersing swallow flocks typically register in the +4 to +20 dBZ range (see attached loop), occasionally higher briefly in a large dense flock directly above the roost, and since dBZ is a logarithmic decibel scale and rain is highly radar-reflective, even moderate precipitation produces a far stronger echo signal than a flock of swallows. When I checked at 6 am there were bands of fairly heavy rain in the roost area (up to 30-40 dBZ) that would mask the roost dispersal echo, so I went back to bed. (A loop from this morning with more diffuse bands of rain over the roost and no dispersing swallows echo is also attached.) The wind situation can be tricky, with layers of air moving in different directions at different altitudes. Wind direction at ground level may be quite different than at 800-1000 feet and higher and sometimes the WU wind velocity azimuth display can be deceptive, particularly close to the ground where wind is influenced by local topography. As I recall, when I checked briefly at 6 am on Sept. 4 the bands of rain were travelling from south/southwest to north/northeast, which would match your observed dispersal direction, though I didn't save the radar loop or check the wind velocity at altitude display to confirm, so I can't be certain. (The 'handle' end of the 'hockey stick' symbols in the wind velocity-at-altitude display point in the compass direction that the air mass is travelling, *not * the direction the wind is blowing from - the usual reporting convention. I forget and have to re-confirm this each roost monitoring season. :-) Great idea logging the BASW roost for the NAMC count day, which is another good way to document the roost location - I hope someone follows through on your suggestion. If nothing else I can save a loop of the dawn roost dispersal on radar, which should be close to peak by then, but someone else local will still have to vouch for the bird ID and an estimate of numbers on the ground. I'll leave it to you and Quinton Nice to decide what level of documentation is required for the roost on count day. Good luck and plenty of good birding on your trip to South America! Cheers, ...Bruce ----- Original Message ----- *From:* Floyd Schrock *To:* OBOL ; YamhillBirders at yahoogroups.com *Sent:* Friday, September 04, 2009 10:34 PM *Subject:* Barn Swallow morning story For any who might be interested in more of the Barn Swallow narrative... This morning I got up in time to be on Grand Island by about 6:05 a.m. It was overcast and a few sprinkles of rain fell while I was there, but Mt. Hood was silhouetted against a band of clear orange sky. I could hear no Swallow noises in the cornfield, but I did hear Swainson's Thrushes in the area. Not sure if they were flying over, or had landed in the corn or in the orchard across the road. Also, I heard a Savannah Sparrow nearby and a Common Yellowthroat was visible and audible at the edge of the cornfield. A Great Horned Owl was standing on the ground in the stubble field near the cornfield, and soon flew out of my sight across the tops of the corn. I had expected to see Swallows coming out of the corn by about 6:10 if they were to have time enough to move east to where they showed up on Doppler radar yesterday south of Newberg, but at that time I began to notice only the sound of Swallow voices. The first visible wave of rising birds occurred at 6:17. Then for about the next 20 minutes there were successive waves of birds appearing suddenly out of the standing corn, and climbing quickly up to what I estimated to be 800 to 1,000 ft.above the field. I could barely see them without binoculars, even though the cloudy sky was quite bright by that time. In fact, if it had not been for the huge collective sound they were making, it would have been easy for a person to totally miss the event. Even a birder whose back was toward the field might have not noticed what was happening, if not for the sound. The volume was remarkable. But I noticed that although the flock generally drifted to the east, the birds were pretty leisurely about it, and some even came back down and either went back into the corn, or flew around just above it. I concluded that it was because of the weather that they did not follow the pattern of recent clear mornings. When I got home and checked the Doppler radar, there was no sign of the familiar green "burst" that we've been seeing. Also, the radar indicated that the flow of air movement was from northeast to southwest; in other words, a headwind for birds heading east across the river. Unfortunately, I will be leaving the country again in a few days, and will miss most of the month of September here. Perhaps someone else can get down to Grand Island soon on a clear morning and compare their observations with what I saw. I'm guessing that the Swallows might leave a little earlier, and in a more concentrated "flyout" on a clear morning. I did try to record with my video camera something of the sound the birds were making once they were airborne, even though I could not capture much visually. I've posted what I got at http://empids.blogspot.com. I won't be able to be here on NAMC day, so I hope some other observer/counter can visit Grand Island at 7:45 p.m. on Sept. 19 to give Yamhill Co. the national high count of Barn Swallows for Fall 2009. If so, please report to Quinton Nice, who will be compiling the results of the count. :-) ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -- ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090906/58436bdb/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Sun Sep 6 10:43:02 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 10:43:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI: lightweight tripod References: <578B146E-A081-4922-A7F0-0A42F43F3736@att.net> Message-ID: <592D8991DDA64C19AA084632187F55F1@1120639> For a really good light-weight tripod with only 1/3 of the "ouch factor" of a Gitzo, I recommend the Feisol carbon fiber tripods. I use the CT-3301, which weighs in at 2.59 pounds and goes for $215. Check out their website at www.feisol.net. Don't be afraid of the direct order from Hong Kong aspect. They were 100% reliable and faster than service from east coast camera stores. Tom Crabtree, Bend ----- Original Message ----- From: Owen Schmidt To: Andy.Frank at kp.org Cc: OBOL Sent: Saturday, September 05, 2009 9:52 PM Subject: Re: [obol] RFI: lightweight tripod Gitzo GT1541 Series 1 6X Carbon Fiber Tripod is 2.47 pounds, less than a foot collapsed but 54 inches extended (62 inches with center column extended). Around $600, unfortunately ....... ouch! Gitzo G2180 Series 1 Fluid Head is only 2 pounds. Around $225, unfortunately ....... ouch! But it's really nice stuff. oschmidt at att.net Saturday, September 5, 2009 On Sep 5, 2009, at 9:31 PM, Andy.Frank at kp.org wrote: I've become interested in building my motorless bird list that Joel Geier has brought up (http://www.oregonbirds.org/Listing/motorless.html) and find that my 8.8lb tripod is quite cumbersome on a bicycle, and would appreciate any recommendations for a lightweight tripod. Thanks, Andy Frank Portland_______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090906/761260da/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sun Sep 6 11:10:25 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 11:10:25 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Florence South Jetty in the rain Message-ID: <799063.79912.qm@web37007.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Howdy folks, Shorebirding at the Siuslaw South Jetty was pretty dismal this morning. Between (and during) squalls of rain, I was only able to find the following: Shorebirds on the ground: 2 KILLDEER in the "tundra"-like gravel pullout near the north end of the jetty road. Flyover shorebirds: 3 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS and 1 LEAST SANDPIPER over the Crab Dock Flats 1 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, 2 MARBLED GODWITS and 1 LEAST SANDPIPER over the Deflation Plain (which - not surprisingly - has many puddles of water now and looks like good potential shorebird habitat) Otherwise, I noted an increase in ducks (36 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 8 NORTHERN PINTAIL and 2 NORTHERN SHOVELERS at the Crab Dock Flats) - yes, fall is definitely on the way! Not much else to report ... now it's time to get into some dry clothes and look at the HUGO pictures I took in Newport yesterday :-) Happy Squall (uh, Fall) Birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090906/79301d13/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Sep 6 11:53:50 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 18:53:50 +0000 Subject: [obol] FW: Goose Lake S.R.A. birds In-Reply-To: <177F164F-49B1-4B28-A7EA-90A0C6672762@harveyecology.com> References: <177F164F-49B1-4B28-A7EA-90A0C6672762@harveyecology.com> Message-ID: Greetings All, Just got this post from California birder Steve Rottenborn. California birders have been regularly birding the campground/picnic area at Goose Lake S.R.A. at New Pine Creek on the OR/CA border along the east side of Goose Lake. Everyone (that I know of) who has birded this area in recent months has found interesting birds. Red-eyed Vireos bred there this summer (see below) and there have been four reports of Black-and-white Warblers from this site over the past few months. Though extensive, I would compare the habitat at this site very favorably with anything that the Harney Basin has to offer. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > From: srottenborn at harveyecology.com > To: acontrer at mindspring.com; llsdirons at msn.com > Subject: Goose Lake S.R.A. birds > Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 10:27:56 -0700 > CC: jsterling at wavecable.com > > Alan and Dave, > > I've been birding the New Pine Creek area on the Lake County, OR/Modoc > County, CA border the past few days and wanted to pass along a few > good birds. I'm focusing on the CA side, but the best landbird > habitat is at Goose Lake SRA on the OR side, so much of my time has > been along Stateline Road. > > Yesterday (5 Sep), a basic AHY male Black-and-white Warbler was on > both sides of the road, singing occasionally, where the tall > cottonwoods abut the road midway between the entrance to the GLSRA > campground and the large parking lot near the west end of Stateline > Road. A flyover Bobolink was heading north along the RR tracks. > > This morning (6 Sep), I saw a White-winged Dove flying south low over > the large grassy area near the aforementioned large parking lot; I > watched it continue into CA and out of site. The Black-and-white > Warbler was still present (on the OR side only), and an AHY Red-eyed > Vireo was feeding a large juvenile, flight-capable but still acquiring > some feathering. The vireos spent most of their time along a gravel > road perpendicular to, and south of, Stateline Road (and marked with a > "Honker Inn" sign), but I saw the adult on the OR side of the road > once. For what it's worth, a Warbling Vireo was closely associating > with the two Red-eyeds, and the HY Red-eyed begged from it on several > occasions, but I never saw the Warbling feed the Red-eyed. > > Steve > > > > Steve Rottenborn, Ph.D. > Principal - Wildlife Ecologist > H. T. Harvey & Associates > 983 University Avenue, Bldg. D > Los Gatos, CA 95032 > Office: (408) 458-3205 > Cell: (408) 722-0931 _________________________________________________________________ With Windows Live, you can organize, edit, and share your photos. http://www.windowslive.com/Desktop/PhotoGallery -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090906/09440459/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Sep 6 13:22:39 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 20:22:39 +0000 Subject: [obol] New BirdFellow piece posted: Hybrid Dark-eyed Junco X White-throated Sparrows in CT. Message-ID: Greetings All, If you, like me, are interested in hybridization, check out the lastest piece posted at BirdFellow.com. The author, Mark Szantyr, is among the rare birders who actually spend time scrutinizing and photographing common birds. Funny what can turn up in your own backyard. Dave Irons Content Editor BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ With Windows Live, you can organize, edit, and share your photos. http://www.windowslive.com/Desktop/PhotoGallery -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090906/ccb5a2a1/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Sep 6 13:23:54 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 20:23:54 +0000 Subject: [obol] (no subject) Message-ID: Greetings All, If you, like me, are interested in hybridization, check out the lastest piece posted at BirdFellow.com. The author, Mark Szantyr, is among the rare birders who actually spend time scrutinizing and photographing common birds. Funny what can turn up in your own backyard. Dave Irons Content Editor BirdFellow.com P.S. If you enjoy this piece and would like to see more, please let us know via a comment in the space provided on our site. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Keep your friends up to date with what you do online. http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_online:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090906/71a1a936/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Sun Sep 6 14:56:12 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 14:56:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Newport Hudsonian Godwits on Sept. 6--Yes Message-ID: Hi, Judy Butts reports that she and at least 5 other birders saw three Marbled?Godwits, two Hudsonian Godwits & a Whimbrel at 12:30 at the Hatfield Science Center's Nature Trail near the hut at 12:30. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Sep 6 15:08:28 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 06 Sep 2009 15:08:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur update Message-ID: No sign of a Philly Vireo on Sunday morning. I spent a lot of time with the photos and concluded that they are not diagnostic for Philly vs. Warbling. I have asked a few other people to look at them. I didn't expect turnover last night owing to strong sw wind, but we got one anyway. At HQ a lot of Wilson's Warblers came in, as did Warb Vireos. See notes below. Sep 5 en route - saw some "robin-size" birds with short tails about to fly over the hwy just west of Horse Ridge. I was anticipating the pleasure of Pinyon Jays, which I often see there in fall. As they passed over in front of me they became a string of eight Lewis's Woodpeckers, flapping steadily southwest. They are probably in Medford by now. Sep 5 at HQ. Besides the Tennessee Warbler and the Vireo From Heck, a female Calliope and Rufous were present. Not much else happening in high wind. Sunday Sep 6 HQ had at least a dozen Wilson's Warblers including a tailless female. Also present were a MacGillivray's, two green orange-crowns, about five Warbling Vireos (all of which I looked at carefully), a House Wren, 2 female Calliope, 1 Rufous and 1 Black-chin, a pewee, a few Yellow Warblers, 1 dull Yellow-rump, a reddish-brown Swainson's Thrush and a female Western Tanager were present. Fairly slow for HQ. Sodhouse Ranch historic site has a large central willow tangle that always has things in it, even when it seems empty. It seemed empty, so I just watched it for a while, pishing a couple of times. It contained a GH Owl, MacGillivray's, Spotted Towhee, pewee, yellow warbler and yellowthroat. Nearby was my first of fall Lincoln's Sparrow. Benson Pond was by far the birdiest place today. Walking in I saw over twenty Orange-crowns, ALL of which were gray-faced birds. They looked like oresteras, as they sometimes had yellowish throats. Also on the walk in was the odd sight of a male MacGillivray's Warbler feeding in a stand of bulrush out in the water. A large Cooper's Hawk was chased out of the trees. Notable waterbirds included five BC Night-herons, a couple of thousand coots and a few pelicans. In the stray trees between the bridge and the main grove were a House Wren, perhaps 10 yellowthroats, a pewee, willow flycatcher, Hammond's flycatcher and something that may well have been a LEAST flycatcher seen well but briefly. In the main grove were two Orange-crowns, both green-heads, about 35 yellow warblers (way more than local breeders), a pewee and a couple of Wilson's. Yellowthroat numbers are astonishing everywhere. They are in every bush and tree, sometimes in small groups. Shorebird habitat is limited. In the one decent mudhole 2 miles south of the field station, there were three G Yellowlegs, a snipe and a killdeer, plus a swarm of egrets and ibis, including eight Snowy Egrets, the largest flock I have seen at one time at Malheur in many years. Also loads of juvie rails and soras, easy to see and photograph. Pendleton bird club went to Fields today. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From mtweel at charter.net Sun Sep 6 15:22:00 2009 From: mtweel at charter.net (Margaret) Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 15:22:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cape Meares Spotted towhee Message-ID: Here is one photo of the questionable towhee in Cape Meares. Now this bird has white spots on its wings. The black band is there but a little more blackish above. I do think it's an immature spotted towhee. Marg Tweelinckx P9060001.JPG P9060002.JPG -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090906/4d4a07cf/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: P9060001.JPG Type: image/jpeg Size: 77216 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090906/4d4a07cf/attachment.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: P9060002.JPG Type: image/jpeg Size: 80401 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090906/4d4a07cf/attachment-0001.jpe From celata at pacifier.com Sun Sep 6 16:09:55 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:09:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Loocal RBA: Elegant Tern at Ft Stevens Message-ID: <4AA44143.4010304@pacifier.com> I just got a call from Paul Sullivan. He reports an ELEGANT TERN from Parking Lot D, visible from the Wildlife Bunker, Ft Stevens State Park. I saw a single LAPLAND LONGSPUR at the Shorebird Flats, Parking lot C, earlier this morning. There were 1000's of SOOTY SHEARWATERS at Seaside Cove, fairly close to shore. Also plenty of WESTERN GREBES. I was hoping the unsettled weather and high winds might blow something more exotic in, but no soap. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From 5hats at peak.org Sun Sep 6 16:44:08 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 16:44:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yaquina Bay Sept 6 Message-ID: <9AC83BB5ECBA4E24B4EC37C7309D719E@your5rlp3a9516> Obolites, I was not able to get to Yaquina Bay until 2:30, when the tide was flooding all the mudflats. Under these type of circumstances, almost all shorebirds go somewhere else, as was the case today. I found no shorebirds of any kind on either side of Idaho Flats, either behind the MSC, or on the south side from the road to Idaho Point. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090906/8fa6eb17/attachment.html From fitzbeew at gmail.com Sun Sep 6 20:02:35 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 20:02:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Anyone want to chase the Hudsonian Godwits tomorrow (Monday)? Message-ID: The title says it all. I want to go to Newport tomorrow to chase the would-be lifers, the Hudsonian Godwits. Any takers? I can drive. Gas $ would be appreciated. E-mail me, or call me at (541) 579-0594. -Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090906/1ba81504/attachment.html From skylarkguy at hotmail.com Sun Sep 6 21:45:04 2009 From: skylarkguy at hotmail.com (Daniel Battaglia) Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 04:45:04 +0000 Subject: [obol] Hudsonian Godwit high tide Message-ID: We got a good look at the two Hudsonian Godwits at 3:45 pm by the hut at HSC. They were with three marbled godwits still. We missed the birds on the first pass, as the high tide had pushed them up directly behind the small grass ridge along the shore and they couldn't be seen from the path. So if the tide is high, try walking out a little from the hut. Good birding, Dan Battaglia Dallas, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Make it easier for your friends to see what you?re up to on Facebook. http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_facebook:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090907/ecd628ef/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Sun Sep 6 21:58:40 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:58:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-shouldered hawk, Sauvie Island Message-ID: <20090906215840.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.7bc658c555.wbe@email.secureserver.net> I spent much of this morning at Sauvie Island. The best bird was an immature red-shouldered hawk along Oak Island Road, near the 90-degree bend in the road before the end of the paved road. Other interesting birds included several thousand swallows (the vast majority barn swallows) feeding over Sturgeon Lake; three American white pelicans on Sturgeon Lake; and a small flock of migrants that included Wilson's, orange-crowned, yellow, and black-throated gray warblers and western tanagers. Craig Tumer SW Portland From mariam at easystreet.net Sun Sep 6 22:47:23 2009 From: mariam at easystreet.net (Maria Michalczyk) Date: Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:47:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Not a bird In-Reply-To: <20090906215840.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.7bc658c555.wbe@email.secureserver.net> Message-ID: I hope people won't mind but I am curious about a frog we found this frog on our door this evening September 6th about 10 pm in Salem. Of course after two days of rain. Does anyone know whether this is a tree frog? He/she was about two inches. Thanks in advance. Maria Maria -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Labor Day Froggie 09.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 447573 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090906/a1868534/attachment.jpg From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Sun Sep 6 22:59:41 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 22:59:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Hudsonian Godwit high tide Message-ID: <359464.73989.qm@web51809.mail.re2.yahoo.com> There is another similar little high tide pocket hidden from view if you're on the HMSC "nature trail" (dubbed the "asphalt trail" by another oboler) where shorebirds congregate....maybe half way between the "hut" and the start of the trail at the visitor center parkinng lot. Cindy Ashy From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Sun Sep 6 23:40:16 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (Jamie S.) Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 23:40:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Lincoln Co coast 9/6 (HUGO, WEKI, BLPH, tern) Message-ID: <932445.17203.qm@web39501.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Mark Aron and I enjoyed a mostly sunny (!) day at the Lincoln Co. coast with the following highlights: ? -The 2?HUDSONIAN GODWITS at Yaquina Bay. We first viewed them from a long distance (from the HMSC trail hut looking to the SW corner of Idaho Flats, presumed to be them based on relative size and color with the attending 3 Marbled Godwits) until they all?flew to parts unknown as the water rose. We drove to that SW corner and on to Idaho Point, with no luck except to exchange cell phone numbers with Judy Butts. While we tried to get better views of geese and ducks on shore (with hopes of roosting godwits), Judy called?and we?returned to the hut for excellent views of all 5 godwits and a lone Whimbrel. ? -One calling BLACK PHOEBE was?on some old posts between the road and the water just south of where SE 35th St. meets Yaquina Bay/Idaho Flats. ? -One juvenile WESTERN KINGBIRD,?noted by Dave Irons yesterday,?at a park (including a wetland) in Yachats. Take 4th St. west from Hwy 101. Just after you pass a boardwalk starting on your right, park in the diagonal parking zone and walk the boardwalk. Go right at the first intersection, then left at the next and you should come to the wetland. We saw the bird from just beyond the wetland?to the end of the boardwalk as it moved around.? ? -A small Sterna?TERN from along the HMSC trail. I'm leaning towards imm. Forster's but need to look at more resources. ? -Two MARBLED MURRELETS were in the channel between the jetties near the car turnaround (end of the road for most vehicles). ? Jamie Simmons Corvallis woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com ? __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090906/0ee75ea1/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Mon Sep 7 10:49:00 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 10:49:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tripod for sale Message-ID: For birding and bird photography: I have for sale, a Manfrotto 3001 BD (now190XB) with a 3130 head (micro fluid, with quick release plate). I purchased this combination in 2005, but it is practically like new. Pick-up price: $100. P & H: additional $20 Please use direct email, Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090907/25b2cd85/attachment.html From 1smooth_move at earthlink.net Mon Sep 7 11:51:21 2009 From: 1smooth_move at earthlink.net (Josh Saranpaa) Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 14:51:21 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [obol] Auklet Classification Message-ID: <3669023.1252349481268.JavaMail.root@wamui-june.atl.sa.earthlink.net> I was just wondering if the Auklets have been reclassified as puffins. I heard awhile back that they were going to be puffins and I am not sure if they are or aren't yet. Any help? Josh Saranpaa Astoria, OR From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon Sep 7 13:21:30 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 20:21:30 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Salish Pond--Warblers In-Reply-To: <61771720.3243141252354490865.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1514796571.3244811252354890441.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi all, I walked Salish Pond this morning from 8:00 until 10:00. There were lots of Cedar Waxwings, Brewer's Blackbirds, Starlings, Mallards, Bushtits and Black-capped Chickadees around and quite a few warblers. There were two Townsend's Warblers, maybe six Yellow Warblers and a few Orange-crowned Warblers feeding in the Ash, Willow and blackberry thicket just west of the northeast corner of the trail around the east pond. It was prime viewing because the trail is elevated a little and the trees are low. The warblers stayed in the patch for half and hour. All I needed was a chair and a beverage (coffee would have been perfect). With the warblers were American Robins and at least one Swainson's Thrush. I got one really nice unobstructed glimpse of the Thrush. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090907/4426bbfa/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Mon Sep 7 13:42:55 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 13:42:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Auklet classification Message-ID: In 2008, Adam Smith put forth the proposal to rename the Rhinoceros Auklet as Rhinoceros Puffin on the AOU list. It is clear that this bird is closely related to puffins and not the other auklets. http://www.aou.org/committees/nacc/proposals/2008-A.pdf This proposal failed 2 to 7, with one abstain. http://www.aou.org/committees/nacc/proposals/2008_A_votes_web.php#2008-A-6 One typical comment: "NO. English names are unreliable indicators of phylogeny. If phylogeny drove English names, we would have to remove "flycatcher" from all tyrannid names, "sparrow" from all emberizid names, "warbler" from all parulid names, etc. And think about Calidris. That said, we have made such changes when involving family-level misplacements, e.g., Schiffornis lost its "Manakin" last name, and Bartramia lost its "Plover" name. So, I'm tempted by this one because, as the proposal states, it represents an opportunity to have a phylogenetically meaningful English name. All evidence indicates that Cerorhinca is the sister to Lunda + Fratercula. Nonetheless, I favor retaining an entrenched English name (GOOGLE gives 31,400 entries for "Rhinoceros Auklet" and GOOGLE Scholar, 688 citations), relegating "auklet" to morphotype status, and retaining "puffin" for the clade that even many kids can recognize as such. It's simply a matter of taste, but Rhinos just don't cut it as "puffins."" Perhaps more interesting, in the 2009, there are AOU proposals to split the Pacific Winter Wren from the Eastern form. Also, a proposal to split Woodhouse's Jay from Western Scrub-Jays. http://www.aou.org/committees/nacc/proposals/pending.php Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From deweysage at verizon.net Mon Sep 7 13:53:55 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:53:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Reminder on photos! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4AA572E3.3030305@verizon.net> Folks, I'm not scolding anyone, so don't take this wrong, but over the past couple of days a few emails have crossed OBOL with photos attached. This is generally not a good idea and the Greater OBOL Community asks that we don't do this, mostly because some people still use dial up access and sending photos jams up their lines. There are some other concerns too (like viruses). Thanks Dave Lauten Maria Michalczyk wrote: > I hope people won't mind but I am curious about a frog we found this frog on > our door this evening September 6th about 10 pm in Salem. Of course after > two days of rain. Does anyone know whether this is a tree frog? He/she was > about two inches. Thanks in advance. Maria > > Maria > > From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Sep 7 14:50:18 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:50:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur Parula etc. Message-ID: Almost all of the migrants left HQ and Benson Pond last night. At least 2 Calliope, 2 Rufous and one black-chin, all females, are squabbling over the feeders at HQ. A female PARULA was at Duncan Evered's dripper at Malheur Field Station this morning, seen by the Pendleton bird club as well as Duncan and Lyla. I carefully avoided it. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From celata at pacifier.com Mon Sep 7 15:23:04 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:23:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] South Jetty Shorebirds, but no Elegant Terns Message-ID: <4AA587C8.8040507@pacifier.com> Steve Warner and I spent a big chunk of the morning at the South Jetty of the Columbia River this morning. We did not relocate the ELEGANT TERN reported by Paul Sullivan yesterday. We had a decent shorebird day, however, including this photo quiz bird which was hanging out on the river beach. http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12008 Our shorebird day list: [photo quiz] Plover 1 Semipalmated Plover 9 Whimbrel 2 Wandering Tattler 1 Western Sandpiper 4 Least Sandpiper 2 Sanderling 8 Pectoral Sandpiper 1 Red-necked Phalarope 5 It's been a while since I had a 9 species day at the SJCR. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From hatlevis at comcast.net Mon Sep 7 15:36:36 2009 From: hatlevis at comcast.net (Susan Hatlevig) Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 15:36:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] goldfinch inundation Message-ID: Does anyone else have goldfinches (and other finches) inundating their feeders these days? We have dozens showing up in our yard in NW Corvallis. One careened off our window and I was able to get to it before the cat did. Put it up into the platform feeder and it appears to have taken off. Most of them look like young ones and a few lessers, but there has been a very motley-looking male around too. I spotted what looked like a female purple finch (maybe a house finch) with a big black growth between its eyes and over the top of its bill. Can anyone tell me what this is, or if I should be on the alert for something? I looked up House Finch disease and there is a conjunctivitis disease. But this bird's eyes looked wide open and clear. It was feeding just fine. I don't know if it has been around since then. I have always had problems with getting finches to actually go to my niger thistle feeders and was about to give up. I have feeders of sunflower chip which they really love (as do other small birds). So, they seemed to always ignore the thistle feeders. Finally I got another extension to my pole system and put a little seed into the thistle feeder (one that I purchased at the Wild Birds store that is a mesh container with a big cover over the top.) It's right next to the big tube feeder. They are now eating the niger. I think having it very close by has done the trick (I noticed this at a friend's house too.) Not to mention they finally were hungry enough when the other feeders have been full! Susie in Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090907/8c0ca99c/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Sep 7 15:37:00 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:37:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Indigo Bunting (or hybrid?) at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, Benton County Message-ID: <1252363020.3592.331.camel@clearwater> Hi folks, During a lunchtime walk around E.E. Wilson today, I came across a molting male PASSERINA BUNTING sp. which I think was either an INDIGO BUNTING or perhaps a hybrid Indigo x Lazuli (not sure I can rule that out so will need to do some research). I initially heard the bird giving soft chip notes from a brushy thicket to the NW of the Canal Pond (just inside the area that's closed to the public, but is viewable if you walk east along the fenceline north of the canal to where the fenceline crosses a ditch with cattails, from there look to the north). The chip notes sounded similar to but seemed a little funny for Lazuli Bunting (all of which seemed to have disappeared from this neighborhood by the last week of August), so I was a little suspicious. After finally locating the bird, I had a good look in my scope from a distance of about 30 yards for 2-3 minutes, until a small tribe of yellowjackets decided to start chomping on my feet (which were scratched from coming through the blackberries). The bird was a real patchwork quilt of brown and blue. It had blue in the shoulder area of the folded wing, but brown in the area between where the wingbars should have been, then blueish in the primaries & secondaries, brownish on the back I looked for but could not spot any pale wingbars, not even really a hint. The head was disheveled but mainly brownish. Back and breast were also brownish. I thought I saw some yellow in the gape of the bill, which I think would indicate a hatch-year bird just coming into adult plumage. I had an idea that it was important to look at the curvature of the culmen on weird buntings so I did that -- looked typical for Lazuli (or Indigo for that matter). The bird stayed at about mid-height (6-8 ft high) in the thicket the whole time. Other interesting birds in the area included an adult LINCOLN'S SPARROW and a hatch-year WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, both the first I've seen of those species since last spring. I found this bird while on my way to check the Canal Pond for shorebirds (there were just a few today: WESTERN, LEAST & SPOTTED SANDPIPERS plus a GREATER YELLOWLEGS and KILLDEER). Otherwise it was a great day to be out, with lots of songbird activity. Full list will go on birdnotes.net but I wanted to get this out first. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Sep 7 16:00:10 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:00:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] [birding] Indigo Bunting (or hybrid?) at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, Benton County Message-ID: <1252364410.3592.341.camel@clearwater> P.S. I did some poking around on the web. The photos of a "JUL-DEC: after-hatch-year male" on this website run by McGill University: http://www.migrationresearch.org/mbo/id/inbu.html look pretty good for the bird that I was looking at. I have not found any examples of molting Lazuli Bunting that look very close yet. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From whoffman at peak.org Mon Sep 7 16:39:40 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 16:39:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: POSSIBLE Long-toed Stint; HMSC Nature Trail; Newport Message-ID: This morning (Sept. 7) about 11:00 AM I was near the shelter along the HMSC Nature Trail (Oregon Coast Birding Trail #75) waiting for the godwits to fly across from the other side of the embayment, as the had the previous two days, and noticed a peep working along the edge of the vegetation. I took a quick look and identified it as a Least Sandpiper, and decided to try to get photos. It was pretty accomodating, and I took quite a few pictures. As I worked, I kept studying it, and things kept looking not quite right for a Least Sandpiper. So, I went back to the shelter where several other birders were gathered, and told them I had a "wierd-looking" Least Sandpiper. The group included John Gatchet and his friend Steve, and I did not get the other names - sorry, guys. Anyway, we went back to look at it, and everybody was commenting on odd aspects of it (which hapened to be the same things that I had found odd, and had NOT related to them). The first was very prominent whitish supercilia, contrasting with a dark crown. The pattern reminded me of the Hudsonian Godwits, but this bird has a streaked cap, unlike them. The bird had a darkish area between the eye and bill, but otherwise the sides of the face were kind of pale for a Least. Altogether, a more patterned face than I expect on a least. The bird is a worn adult, with overall somber brownish tones. Primaries did not extend past the tail. The bird seemed long-legged for a Least Sandpiper. In particular, there seemed to be more leg between the belly feathering and the Crural joint (ankle). The bird also seemed to have more neck than typical of a Least Sandpiper, and spent more time with its neck somewhat extended. The group decided to flush the bird to listen for call notes. It was unwilling to flush but finally did, and circled back a short distance and landed again. It was silent. Then I managed to "herd" it quite close to John and he took a bunch of closeup photos. We ended up deciding it was probably a Least Sandpiper, but worth looking up when we got back to good references. So, a short time ago I began comparing my photos to the descriptions and text in the O'Brien, Crossley and Karlson and the Paulson guides, and found several additional things suggestive of Long-toed Stint. 1. My photos do show very long toes. 2. In a few of the photos the bird shows the suggestion of a bifurcated supercilium. The "main" supercilium is broad and distinct. A very narrow white stripe parallels it above in the cap, and in a few photos the two seem to be connected just anterior to the eye. I think the connection is dependent on how the feathers lie. See photos 67.1, 67.2 in Paulson. 3. The bird does have some tertials with broad bright rufous edgings. Things that do not point to Long-toed Stint: 1. The bill seemed kind of long for Least, and Long-toed usually has shorter bill? 2. Bird did not seem "pot-bellied" to me, as suggested for Long-toed. Hopefully when John gets home he can commentas well, and maybe we can put up photos for people to see. In the mean time, I suspect the bird is still there. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090907/2e5bcb21/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Sep 7 17:20:05 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:20:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] [birding] Indigo Bunting (or hybrid?) at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, Benton County In-Reply-To: <1252363020.3592.331.camel@clearwater> References: <1252363020.3592.331.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: <1252369205.3592.362.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, Doug Robinson pointed out to me that an after-hatch-year bunting should not have yellowish gape flanges. It also seems that, to show any blue, the bird would have to be older than hatch-year. To be clear, this my impression of yellow in the gape was a fleeting impression that I got as the bird turned its head one time. I wondered if it might be due to yellow at that base of the mandible, or if I was really seeing the gape coloration. The photo on the McGill University website that I referred to in my previous posting shows an after-hatch-year Indigo Bunting in a similar stage of molt, which also shows some yellow at the base of the lower mandible. I don't know if it is possible to rule out a hybrid Indigo x Bunting based on this much. It seems like those are not uncommon where these two species come together, so probably should be considered as a possibility. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon Sep 7 19:10:14 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 19:10:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook Birds Message-ID: <57E1F3EE34684C1688B86B9E42AA2385@cgatesPC> Kevin Smith, John (oops, I forgot your last name John), and I toured around the major water features of western Crook County today. Nothing too crazy but we had some good birds. Migrants were just about absent along North Shore Road and along Hwy 27 at milepost 8. There were numerous Warbling Vireos and one Cassin's Vireo. Warblers were almost absent. The weather change must have caused a good exodus. Houston Lake - 4 American Bittern, 5 Snipe, 5 Pelicans, 15 Cormorants, lots of ducks (1 Great Egret, 8 Forster's Terns, and 12 Yellow-headed Blackbirds there yesterday). Prineville Reservoir - 1 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER. Shorebirds were thin. A few westys and leastys but no other peeps. Four White-faced Ibis, 5 Greater Yellowlegs, and several snipe. Five pelicans were here along with a half dozen Ring-billed Gulls and 18 Western Grebes. Ochoco Reservoir - The SABINE'S GULL first found on Sept 2 is still there. One flock of 10 Western Sandpipers. Not much else. Prineville Sewage Ponds - 4 Wood Ducks, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 SHORT-BILLED DOWICHER (we had a good chance to take Dave Irons' advise and use Sibley to work through the ID on this bird), 3 Spotted Sandpiper, 1 possible Solitary Sandpiper (I hastily called this one an odd spotty but now I'm having second thoughts. Kevin got good photos so I'll find out later today when he sends me some). Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090907/4b9aa93d/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Mon Sep 7 19:44:00 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 19:44:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crescent/Odell Lakes - Klamath Co. Message-ID: I stayed at a cabin at Crescent Lake and spent the weekend hiking in the Cascades. I spent most of my time in Klamath County, but dipped into Lane County at Emigrant Pass above Summit Lake. 9/5 Crescent Lake I pished up a mixed flock of CHESNUT-BACKED and MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES. A SPOTTED SANDPIPER was foraging along the edge. 9/6 Summit Lake RED CROSSBILLS, PINE SISKINS & YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were everywhere. The warblers were foraging in flocks by the dozen. A PILEATED WOODPECKER made a brief appearance as did a NORTHERN GOSHAWK. 9/7 Odell Lake An AMERICAN DIPPER was under the bridge at the east end of Odell Lake while a throng of CALIFORNIA GULLS sat on the dock at the west end. Nothing but WESTERN GREBES and COMMON MERGANSERS were out on the water. A RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER and BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER were nice treats on the trail to Yoran Lake. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090907/a8b7d4e4/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Sep 7 19:50:39 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:50:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] On identifying Long-toed Stint Message-ID: <4AA5C67F.3040302@pacifier.com> O'Brien, et al. make it sound like Long-toed Stint ID is more straight forward than it is. I see birds annually that meet the split super test, the brighter test, the finer streaks test, the more "Pectoral" shaped test. All of these characters are to varying degrees, subjective. If we assume, unlike the Russians, that Least and Long-toed are actually different species. The best field marks are: 1. The Gilligan- Long-toed Stint (always?) has a yellowish base to the lower mandible. 2. The Photo-metric test- In clear photos, the length of the middle toed exceeds the length of the culmen in Long-toed Stint. Culmen length averages the same in both species, but the toes are longer in LTST. And those worried about the Russians? Phylogenetic "super-tree" analysis doesn't support their taxonomy... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From winkg at hevanet.com Mon Sep 7 20:52:45 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:52:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Buller's Shearwaters, Tierra del Mar Message-ID: <20090908035245.A9D32A80CD@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> On Saturday I saw several distant shearwaters with bright white underparts banking with high, looping arcs. I figured they were probably Buller's Shearwaters, but couldn't be certain at the distance. Today, 9/7, about 11:30AM, one BULLER'S SHEARWATER came close enough (within a mile?) that I could see the "M" on the upperparts. I have seen them before from Tierra del Mar (Tillamook Co.), but it's always a red-letter day when I do. Otherwise, not much to report. Many BROWN PELICANS and HEERMAN'S GULLS were flying south today. Several large flocks of NORTHERN PINTAILS, sometimes with a few AMERICAN WIDGEON and GREEN-WINGED TEAL were also moving south. Curiously, a couple of large pintail flocks were flying north as well. Many SOOTY SHEARWATERS, a few RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, a RED-NECKED GREBE, and 2 WESTERN GREBES were just beyond the surf this morning. On the beach yesterday afternoon were several hundred juvenile WESTERN SANDPIPERS with 2 or 3 juvie BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS mixed in. A single basic plumage SANDERLING was among them. An adult PEREGRINE FALCON was perched on driftwood at the north end of Tierra del Mar beach. Wink Gross Portland From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Sep 7 21:04:13 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 07 Sep 2009 21:04:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] E.E. Wilson bunting Message-ID: <1252382653.3592.405.camel@clearwater> Hi folks, Sorry for the multiple postings while my multiple scattered trains of thought gradually converge on an ID here, but ... First, it seems that the blue patches on this bird make it an after-hatch-year male. After looking through all of the online images that I could find based on searches on various combinations of the words "indigo lazuli bunting molting hybrid" etc., it seems that there ought to be at least some visible trace of a pale wingbar or two, on an after-hatch-year, hybrid Indigo x Lazuli Bunting. Or is it just that hybrids/backcrosses are only recognized when there is some trace of wing bars? Seems like this discussion comes up a lot when eastern birders are hoping for a Lazuli Bunting, so maybe there is some circumstantial selection toward birds that show wing bars. This one was such a motley-looking bird, it was hard even to describe and the yellowjacket feasting on my foot didn't help. It would be nice if someone could get a photograph tomorrow for better diagnosis. I might give it a try but the equipment I have at hand is not really up to the purpose. The location again is straight north of E.E. Wilson HQ, after you cross the canal, then turn right just before the fence on the south side of the area that's closed to the public. Walk out about 200 ft to where this fence crosses a ditch with cattails, then look north. Happy birding, Joel P.S. We were back out there to pick plums this evening but didn't see the bunting. We did hear about 30 or so SWAINSON'S THRUSHES calling from just about everywhere, as it got close to dusk. P.P.S. For Sandy -- sorry, after sweeping up all of those Blackpoll & Magnolia Warblers I neglected to take a photo, before mailing the whole box in to the OBRC. Hope it gets there soon, I hear the weather is getting warm again. ;) -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From withgott at comcast.net Mon Sep 7 21:55:44 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 21:55:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] great night for migration tonight Message-ID: Tonight is shaping up to be a great night for listening to nocturnal migration. Swainson's Thrushes are going over my place in SW Portland at a rate of close to 20 calls (roughly 5 birds) per minute, and Jim Danzenbaker called to say that he is having a great flight of them over his place across the river in Washington. So those of you in the Portland region may wish to get out tonight (or in the darkness before dawn tomorrow) to take a listen. From carolk at viclink.com Mon Sep 7 22:21:29 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 22:21:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Grand Island Barn Swallow phenomenon Message-ID: <000701ca3045$69fac800$8c76fea9@home> OBOL: This evening at sundown we went to the site described by Floyd Schrock on Lower Island Rd. on Grand Island, Yamhill county. [http://empids.blogspot.com ] We arrived at 7 PM and parked at the SW corner of the orchard on the east side of the road about 1/3 mile north of the two 90 degree corners. We saw BARN SWALLOWS flying around in various directions. Many went east of the road, over to the Willamette River, but that was all preliminary to the main show. The sun set at 7:30 and the flock began to coalesce over the field to the west of us, above the trees along Lambert Slough, which forms the west side of the island. They gathered and circled over the field, forming a dense cloud of birds against the orange sunset and the purple cloud overhead. By 8 PM they were all down in the cornfield. All 60,000 of 'em! What a wonderful show! Music was by the duo, the Great Horned Owls. Carol Karlen & Paul Sullivan From range.bayer at gmail.com Mon Sep 7 23:29:16 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 23:29:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] great night for migration tonight In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi, Calls have really picked up tonight over the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport. For 1-minute periods, I counted 17/minute at 10:50 PM and 15/minute at 10:59 PM. A few days ago, I only heard about 1/minute. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport On Mon, Sep 7, 2009 at 9:55 PM, Jay Withgott wrote: > Tonight is shaping up to be a great night for listening to nocturnal > migration. ?Swainson's Thrushes are going over my place in SW > Portland at a rate of close to 20 calls (roughly 5 birds) per minute, > and Jim Danzenbaker called to say that he is having a great flight of > them over his place across the river in Washington. ?So those of you > in the Portland region may wish to get out tonight (or in the > darkness before dawn tomorrow) to take a listen. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From tanager at nu-world.com Mon Sep 7 23:36:57 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 23:36:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrush migration 9/7/2009 11:30pm Message-ID: <007f01ca304e$c33938d0$49abaa70$@com> Thanks for the head up Jay. Even with the background city/freeway noise here in Eugene, the numbers of call notes overhead right now easily hits 20 per minute! I can hear them in spite of my tinnitus! At times there might be many more, like they seemingly come by in waves. Very cool! Dan Heyerly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090907/39332a59/attachment.html From vagabondbirder at yahoo.com Tue Sep 8 00:19:43 2009 From: vagabondbirder at yahoo.com (Richard Messenger) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 00:19:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Newport MHSC Birding & Possible Long-toed Stint Message-ID: <245009.5286.qm@web59006.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Saw some really good stuff at MHSC today, at least for me.??Hudsonian Godwit,?Ruddy turnstone, and Mew Gull.? All?were?Oregon and ABA year birds.? All were Oregon Life birds.? The Mew gull was an ABA Lifer. I also saw the unusual peep that was there.? At first glance ?I thought it was a Least Sandpiper.??Having seen thousands of Least Sandpipers in the East where most of my birding experience has been the more I looked at it the less?it's Jizz was just not right for a Least Sandpiper?for all of the reasons Wayne put in his post.??? However after?studying O'Brian and Hayman,??I'm inclined to agree with Wayne that it is a possible worn adult?Long-toed Stint. It certainly comes closer to matching the pictures and illustrations of it than any Least Sandpiper that I have ever seen inn structure, facial pattern, and overall coloration.? Its prominent supercilium just jumped out like a lit sign. Having never seen a Long-toed Stint I'm certainly not in any position to make a credible identification.? However after studying all of the shorebird references I have it appears to me to that it is ?considerably closer to being a Stint than a Least. I hope that some of the several people taking pictures of it will put them on line and/or get them to an expert?is capable of making a?credible ID. Richard Messenger? The Vagabond Birder Wherever the RV is parked -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090908/5ab28a4e/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 33817 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090908/5ab28a4e/attachment.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 10729 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090908/5ab28a4e/attachment-0001.gif From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Tue Sep 8 07:59:23 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 14:59:23 +0000 Subject: [obol] Finding Waldo in the flock?? (Photo) Message-ID: Hi Obolers, See if you can find Waldo in the group?? http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/image/117022190 Winners will be entered in a contest for a designer pair of D&G sunglasses!! Good birding, Khanh Tran -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090908/c63e75a9/attachment.html From katandbill at yahoo.com Tue Sep 8 08:02:22 2009 From: katandbill at yahoo.com (Kat & Bill) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 08:02:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] House Finch Eye Disease Q's & MASSIVE Goldfinch Flocks Message-ID: <858948.70133.qm@web53909.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hi OBOL, I have a question that I can't seem to find the answer to. ?We have seen a House Finch with eye disease in the yard. The feeders immediately came down and were cleaned and bleached.? How often do we need to clean and bleach them if we have a sick bird around?! Also, do I need to bleach the bird baths? Can I use something else, like an alcohol prep pad, and just wipe the pegs and openings on the feeder, or does it have to be bleach? Right now we are being inundated with American Goldfinches! Sunday we counted approximately 250! What a sight. Thanks, Kat in Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090908/b8180e2c/attachment.html From srnord101 at verizon.net Tue Sep 8 08:51:22 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:51:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Photos: Yesterday's peep/stint at Newport Message-ID: <000301ca309c$378a1c70$a69e5550$@net> OBOL; As a follow up to the messages posted by Wayne Hoffman and Richard Messenger, I've posted some of my photos of the peep that attracted a lot of examination from birders yesterday at the Science Center in Newport. In the field, this bird presented an image that didn't seem right for a Least Sandpiper. However after looking at my photos, field guides, and considering Mike Patterson's posted ID tips for Long-toed Stint, I don't see that this bird has the field marks needed to be a Long-toed Stint, although I could be wrong, I have no experience with that species. Even though this bird didn't seem typical for the vast majority of Least Sandpipers we see, I feel it's a LEAST SANDPIPER. I present the photos to settle any curiosity or even to be proven wrong. Here's the link to my photos: http://www.pbase.com/srn_naturalist/newport_peep The 2 HUDSONIAN GODWITS were still present yesterday. I first saw them at 8:50am, at low tide and at a distance. As the tide came in, the Godwits came much closer, within a few feet, at 1:00pm. They were still hanging out with 3 MARBLED GODWITS along the nature trail at the Science Center. Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Tue Sep 8 09:54:06 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 09:54:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yesterday's peep/stint at Newport Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F024F167E@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> I was strongly feeling the bird was a Least Sandpiper yesterday after looking at my pictures. After reading about Long-toed Stint this morning I believe the bird we saw was a Least Sandpiper. The bill is too long in comparison to the long toe and without going into detail the body shape and feather pattern does not seem to fit descriptions of this species and pictures I have looked at on-line. I am not an expert in this area, but I have spent hours looking at Least Sandpipers with variable plumage patterns trying to make them into another species. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090908/ac03b50b/attachment.html From vagabondbirder at yahoo.com Tue Sep 8 10:00:35 2009 From: vagabondbirder at yahoo.com (Richard Messenger) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 10:00:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Photos: Yesterday's peep/stint at Newport In-Reply-To: <000301ca309c$378a1c70$a69e5550$@net> References: <000301ca309c$378a1c70$a69e5550$@net> Message-ID: <945241.32725.qm@web59003.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Steve Thanks for posting your pictures.? I think they are a good?example of how confusing and difficult it sometimes is to really know the ID of a given bird. ? By the way they are really great pictures. Good Birding Richard Messenger? The Vagabond Birder Wherever the RV is parked ________________________________ From: Steve Nord To: OBOL Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 8:51:22 AM Subject: [obol] Photos: Yesterday's peep/stint at Newport OBOL; As a follow up to the messages posted by Wayne Hoffman and Richard Messenger, I've posted some of my photos of the peep that attracted a lot of examination from birders yesterday at the Science Center in Newport.? In the field, this bird presented an image that didn't seem right for a Least Sandpiper.? However after looking at my photos, field guides, and considering Mike Patterson's posted ID tips for Long-toed Stint, I don't see that this bird has the field marks needed to be a Long-toed Stint, although I could be wrong, I have no experience with that species.? Even though this bird didn't seem typical for the vast majority of Least Sandpipers we see, I feel it's a LEAST SANDPIPER. I present the photos to settle any curiosity or even to be proven wrong. Here's the link to my photos: http://www.pbase.com/srn_naturalist/newport_peep The 2 HUDSONIAN GODWITS were still present yesterday.? I first saw them at 8:50am, at low tide and at a distance.? As the tide came in, the Godwits came much closer, within a few feet, at 1:00pm. They were still hanging out with 3 MARBLED GODWITS along the nature trail at the Science Center. Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR ? ? ? _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090908/544a6eb0/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Tue Sep 8 10:01:04 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:01:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Photos: Yesterday's peep/stint at Newport In-Reply-To: <000301ca309c$378a1c70$a69e5550$@net> Message-ID: Thanks for posting te photos. I see no reason to conclude that the photos are of anything but a Least. Jeff Gilligan On 9/8/09 8:51 AM, "Steve Nord" wrote: > OBOL; > > As a follow up to the messages posted by Wayne Hoffman and Richard > Messenger, I've posted some of my photos of the peep that attracted a lot of > examination from birders yesterday at the Science Center in Newport. In the > field, this bird presented an image that didn't seem right for a Least > Sandpiper. However after looking at my photos, field guides, and > considering Mike Patterson's posted ID tips for Long-toed Stint, I don't see > that this bird has the field marks needed to be a Long-toed Stint, although > I could be wrong, I have no experience with that species. Even though this > bird didn't seem typical for the vast majority of Least Sandpipers we see, I > feel it's a LEAST SANDPIPER. I present the photos to settle any curiosity or > even to be proven wrong. > > Here's the link to my photos: > http://www.pbase.com/srn_naturalist/newport_peep > > The 2 HUDSONIAN GODWITS were still present yesterday. I first saw them at > 8:50am, at low tide and at a distance. As the tide came in, the Godwits > came much closer, within a few feet, at 1:00pm. > They were still hanging out with 3 MARBLED GODWITS along the nature trail at > the Science Center. > > Good Birding > Steve Nord > Hillsboro, OR > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jdanzenbaker at gmail.com Tue Sep 8 10:50:00 2009 From: jdanzenbaker at gmail.com (Jim Danzenbaker) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 10:50:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Battle Ground Night Flight In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: To OBOLers, Last night was a great night for listening to teh night flight over my yard in Battle Ground, Clark County. From about 5:45am through 6:15am, about 75 SWAINSON'S THRUSH chirps per minute which calculates roughly to about 565 individual birds in that half hour period (assuming four audbile chirps per bird). Other birds included several YELLOW WARBLERs, one apparent BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, and some unidentifiables. Yard biding has been fairly productive the last week. A flock of GREATER WHITE-FROTED GEESE flew over on September 1st, several flocks of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS on September 1st and 3rd, a surprise PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER several days ago and my first ever RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH seen from the yard - this one almost landed on the railing of the deck in the fog. I look forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming WOS meeting. Keep your ears and eyes skyward! -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090908/9e594dbf/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Tue Sep 8 11:45:08 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 11:45:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] South Jetty Siuslaw BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS etc. Message-ID: <480622.76000.qm@web37004.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello Obolites, once again, the dreaded "death march" into the deflation plain at the Siuslaw South Jetty paid off! This morning around 10:30, I found 4 juvenile BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS there. They were hanging out near the foredune, approximately on a level with the south end of the first willow-covered hill in the plain. The birds were very flighty and didn't allow me to approach close enough for pictures :-(? Very beautiful birds, though! Otherwise, shorebirds were pretty thin. There were 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES at the Dog Pond and 5 on the ponds along "Dotterel Dike". 4 MARBLED GODWITS were on the Crab Dock Flats, wich were otherwise entirely devoid of shorebirds. WILSON'S SNIPE were at the Dog Pond and along Dotterel Dike. 2 KILLDEER graced the "tundra"-like gravel pullout near the end of South Jetty Road (were one always hopes for Golden-Plovers). A lone WANDERING TATTLER was on the South Jetty. Despite excellent viewing conditions, sea watching was mediocre. A small trickle of SOOTY SHEARWATERS, a small but steady movement of PACIFIC LOONS, with one RED-THROATED and 2 COMMON LOONS thrown in, a few skeins of SCOTERS (SURF and WHITE-WINGED), and hardly any alcids (2 COMMON MURRES) was about the extent of the excitement. It appeared that more movement was happing waaaay out there, beyond the useful application of my scope. Landbird migration is certainly picking up. Nothing rare, but I noted a good movement and assortment of various dickey birds in the willows along Dotterel Dike, including many AUDUBON'S WARBLERS, several ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, PURPLE and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, SPOTTED TOWHEE, SAVANNAH, SONG and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, one ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, a single BLACK PHOEBE and many BARN and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, with at least one N. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW mixed in. Happy migration Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090908/6166dd57/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Tue Sep 8 11:46:48 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 11:46:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cascade Head 9/8 Message-ID: 1 BLUE JAY (moving S along cliff rim) 1 Black Swift (N over the top) 1 Palm Warbler 15+ Yellow Warbler 2 Townsend's 5 Wilson's 5 Warbling Vireo 2 Western Flycatcher 2 American Pipit 3 Golden-crowned Sparrow (all juv) several hundred - Violet-green Swallow (apparently trending N with smaller numbers of Barn Swallow and Vaux's Swift mixed in) 500+ Cedar Waxwing (interesting flight of small groups that appeared to be all juv birds, all headed N) 20 Canada Goose (S) + moderate S movement of Pelicans offshore Phil philliplc at charter.net From RILLO3 at MSN.COM Tue Sep 8 12:06:58 2009 From: RILLO3 at MSN.COM (Bob ARCHER) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 12:06:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Glaze Meadow Red-shouldered Hawk Message-ID: Hi: In case anyone is tracking Red-shouldered Hawks, there was one flying the large meadow between Glaze Meadow and Black Butte Ranch in central Oregon this Labor Day weekend. (Along FS 335, near where 335 hits 300), it was being chased by what appeared to be an imm. Cooper's Hawk. It was flying low over the meadow up sun, but I thought it was an adult. Bob Archer PDX From ginnyknepper at hotmail.com Tue Sep 8 12:39:27 2009 From: ginnyknepper at hotmail.com (Ginny Knepper) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 12:39:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Vaux's Swifts Portland Message-ID: Does any one know the current count at the Chapman School in NW Portland? thanks Ginny Knepper ginnyknepper at hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Make it easier for your friends to see what you?re up to on Facebook. http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_facebook:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090908/d519177e/attachment.html From bbulgin at comcast.net Wed Sep 2 13:24:32 2009 From: bbulgin at comcast.net (bbulgin at comcast.net) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 20:24:32 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] help Message-ID: <772643873.1850091251923072592.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> How do I findout how to unsubscribe from my membership in obol. My name is Lansing Bulgin and my password is chickadee5305 My e-mail is l.bulgin at att.net My phone is 503-316-9021 thanks for any help you can be -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090902/f66c36eb/attachment.html From mary.logalbo at or.nacdnet.net Wed Sep 2 13:00:13 2009 From: mary.logalbo at or.nacdnet.net (Logalbo, Mary - Portland, OR) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 14:00:13 -0600 Subject: [obol] OBOL Posting - Multnomah Weed Watchers Needed! Message-ID: Hello! Please post the following to the Oregon Bird Watch website: The Multnomah Weed Watchers Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) program needs your help! The Multnomah Weed Watchers program assists volunteers in identifying and controlling new invaders before they become a big problem. We offer FREE technical assistance and in some cases will offer on-the-ground treatment of priority species. In addition, we offer free trainings designed to help you learn more about the problem of invasive species and develop skills to look for, identify, and report new invaders. If you would like to volunteer at community invasive species pulls we can help out with that too! If you find any of the following in Multnomah County, please file an online report at via the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline at http://oregoninvasiveshotline.org/ : * False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum) * Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) * Gorse (Ulex europaeus) * Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) * Indigo Bush (Amorpha fruticosa) * Knotweed species (Polygonum spp.) * Orange Hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum) * Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) * Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) * Spurge Laurel (Daphne laureola) * Travelers Joy/Old Man's Beard (Clematis vitalba) For more information please contact the West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District at 503.238.4775 or visit our website at www.wmswcd.org to view the complete EDRR Guide Booklet with detailed information about our priority EDRR species! Thanks, Mary Logalbo Conservation Planner/Technician West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District 2701 NW Vaughn St, Suite 450 Portland, OR 97210 Phone: 503 238 4775 Fax: 503 326 3942 From mpatters at pacifier.com Sun Sep 6 16:07:44 2009 From: mpatters at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:07:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Loocal RBA: Elegant Tern at Ft Stevens Message-ID: <4AA440C0.5040706@pacifier.com> I just got a call from Paul Sullivan. He reports an ELEGANT TERN from Parking Lot D, visible from the Wildlife Bunker, Ft Stevens State Park. I saw a single LAPLAND LONGSPUR at the Shorebird Flats, Parking lot C, earlier this morning. There were 1000's of SOOTY SHEARWATERS at Seaside Cove, fairly close to shore. Also plenty of WESTERN GREBES. I was hoping the unsettled weather and high winds might blow something more exotic in, but no soap. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From clearwater at peak.org Mon Sep 7 15:54:55 2009 From: clearwater at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:54:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] [birding] Indigo Bunting (or hybrid?) at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, Benton County In-Reply-To: <1252363020.3592.331.camel@clearwater> References: <1252363020.3592.331.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: <1252364095.3592.340.camel@clearwater> P.S. I did some poking around on the web. The photos of a "JUL-DEC: after-hatch-year male" on this website run by McGill University: http://www.migrationresearch.org/mbo/id/inbu.html look pretty good for the bird that I was looking at. I have not found any examples of molting Lazuli Bunting that look very close yet. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From tc at empnet.com Tue Sep 8 13:59:17 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 12:59:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] OBOL Posting - Multnomah Weed Watchers Needed! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Do you offer FREE technical assistance for invasive emails that do not belong on a birding mailing list? If so, I have an email address for you that needs to be pulled before it becomes a big problem. -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Logalbo, Mary - Portland, OR Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 12:00 PM To: 'obol at oregonbirdwatch.org' Cc: Kern-Korot, Kamela - Portland, OR; 'Mary Coolidge' Subject: [obol] OBOL Posting - Multnomah Weed Watchers Needed! Hello! Please post the following to the Oregon Bird Watch website: The Multnomah Weed Watchers Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) program needs your help! The Multnomah Weed Watchers program assists volunteers in identifying and controlling new invaders before they become a big problem. We offer FREE technical assistance and in some cases will offer on-the-ground treatment of priority species. In addition, we offer free trainings designed to help you learn more about the problem of invasive species and develop skills to look for, identify, and report new invaders. If you would like to volunteer at community invasive species pulls we can help out with that too! If you find any of the following in Multnomah County, please file an online report at via the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline at http://oregoninvasiveshotline.org/ : * False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum) * Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) * Gorse (Ulex europaeus) * Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) * Indigo Bush (Amorpha fruticosa) * Knotweed species (Polygonum spp.) * Orange Hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum) * Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) * Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) * Spurge Laurel (Daphne laureola) * Travelers Joy/Old Man's Beard (Clematis vitalba) For more information please contact the West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District at 503.238.4775 or visit our website at www.wmswcd.org to view the complete EDRR Guide Booklet with detailed information about our priority EDRR species! Thanks, Mary Logalbo Conservation Planner/Technician West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District 2701 NW Vaughn St, Suite 450 Portland, OR 97210 Phone: 503 238 4775 Fax: 503 326 3942 _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Sep 8 14:01:15 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:01:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur update Message-ID: Turnover at HQ brought in a female PARULA along with a chat and a Winter Wren (first since I got here). Not sure if this is the same Parula that was at MFS yesterday morning. Numbers remain very low. A Western Kingbird at Roaring Springs today seems latish. It is the first I have seen here in four days. Fields was fairly slow today, with a few common migrants and a single Pine Siskin that seems a bit unseasonal. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From monroemolly at hotmail.com Tue Sep 8 15:01:38 2009 From: monroemolly at hotmail.com (Molly Monroe) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 15:01:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Finley NWR Big Sit Message-ID: This year's Big Sit is coming up on October 11, lining up nicely with National Wildlife Refuge Week. After last year's success of having Oregon's highest count, I'm wanting to see if anyone would be interested in doing it again this year at Finley. I'd like to get the circle registered in the next couple of weeks, please let me know if you would like to participate this year. For more information go to: http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/funbirds/bigsit/bigsit.aspx Thanks, Molly~ _ ( '< / ) ) //"Endangered species are sensitive indicators of how we are treating the planet and we should be listening carefully to their message EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD Join me -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090908/09ff6a5a/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Tue Sep 8 15:27:36 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:27:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] A new type of field guide. In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Based on these sample plates this guide will be the closest thing to field experience. Jeff Gilligan ------ Forwarded Message From: Ian Paulsen Reply-To: Ian Paulsen Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 14:05:04 -0700 To: Subject: [BIRDWG01] more plates HI: More plates from the forthcoming photo guide: http://www.crossleybirds.com/gallery/THE-I-D-GUIDE-coming-soon sincerely -- Ian Paulsen Bainbridge Island, WA, USA " Which just goes to show that a passion for books is extremely unhealthy." from Cornelia Funke's "Inkheart". Join or Leave BIRDWG01: http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html ------ End of Forwarded Message From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Sep 8 17:30:13 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:30:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] E.E. Wilson Indigo Bunting and weeds Message-ID: <1252456213.4350.33.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, Rich and Nanette Armstrong were able to relocate the apparent INDIGO BUNTING at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area this morning, and observed some additional characteristics that all seem to favor that ID rather than a hybrid Lazuli x Indigo Bunting. Nanette got some photos which will hopefully be available before too long. I was out there later on in the afternoon and couldn't find the bird, so I'm really glad that Rich & Nanette were able to get some additional details to help pin this one down. I also observed some invasive weeds, and was sorry to see the negative reaction to the posting from the West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District. Birders would make for great weed spotters so I hope that some of you will participate in this useful program: http://oregoninvasiveshotline.org/ Considering that invasive weeds threaten bird habitat practically everywhere we birders turn around, and that we birders inadvertently help to spread some of these weeds that get caught in our clothes and boots(*), please consider this as a way to give back to the resource. I was disappointed to see today that another bad invasive, Meadow Knapweed, now has a pilot population going in the famous winter sparrow patch in the north end of E.E. Wilson. Some has also shown up on Marys Peak (right where Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches like to hang out in winter), almost certainly from seeds borne there by hikers. Happy birding (and please consider tackling a few weeds while you're out there), Joel (*) one more reason for barefoot birding! -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From bettymkn at netscape.com Tue Sep 8 18:06:17 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 18:06:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] HSMC Godwits Message-ID: <20090908180617.9BBAA69E@resin15.mta.everyone.net> Did anyone see the Hudsonians today at HSMC?? May try tomorrow if they were still there today. Thanks Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From richarmstrong at comcast.net Tue Sep 8 18:26:08 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 18:26:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] E.E. Wilson bunting Message-ID: <0BB7D3AA25C4494FA673881D2350479B@armstrong> 1. see my message below about this weird bunting that joel geier found yesterday. 2. the 6 pictures that you get by clicking on the following link were taken with a little camera through a scope at 50 feet. light was pretty good, but branches are in the way. nanette is not a great photographer and does not have a great camera for this - but these are better than nothing and hopefully these are worth something. i am interested in comments from the excellent birders in oregon. http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h202/nyarmstrong/birds/?track=share_email_album_view_click Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 ----- Original Message ----- From: "rich armstrong" To: "corvbird" Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 11:02 AM Subject: E.E. Wilson bunting > 1. nanette & i went out to e e wilson at 930 and after about 20 minutes of > goldfinches and barn swallows, the BUNTING showed up right where joel sent > us. it actually posed reasonably for us about 50 feet into the private > area north of the fence. it then flew down behind a bush in the cattails. > 2. i did take my scope, and nanette did take her camera, and she did get a > bunch of pictures that hopefully will show something. we will figure out > how to get them to someone. > 3. definitely a splotchy bird. now 1st i must point out that we are not > close to the skill level of joel geier, so take these comments for what > they are worth - not a lot. > a. the chest was mostly brown but had a belly area that was quite > blue - i don't think lazuli would have blue on the belly in any plumage? > b. we saw no wing bars. > c. the browns of the throat and chest and back were darker brown which > i think leans more to indigo > 4. i have no clue what a hybrid would look like. > 5. so we think it is not a lazuli, but we hope the pictures will be > definitive to the experts. nanette has to work at school but hopefully she > will get them loaded up late afternoon. > Rich Armstrong > 541-753-1978 > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Joel Geier" > To: "MidValley Birds" ; "Oregon Birders OnLine" > > Sent: Monday, September 07, 2009 9:04 PM > Subject: [birding] E.E. Wilson bunting > > >> Hi folks, >> >> Sorry for the multiple postings while my multiple scattered trains of >> thought gradually converge on an ID here, but ... >> >> First, it seems that the blue patches on this bird make it an >> after-hatch-year male. >> >> After looking through all of the online images that I could find based >> on searches on various combinations of the words "indigo lazuli bunting >> molting hybrid" etc., it seems that there ought to be at least some >> visible trace of a pale wingbar or two, on an after-hatch-year, hybrid >> Indigo x Lazuli Bunting. >> >> Or is it just that hybrids/backcrosses are only recognized when there is >> some trace of wing bars? Seems like this discussion comes up a lot when >> eastern birders are hoping for a Lazuli Bunting, so maybe there is some >> circumstantial selection toward birds that show wing bars. >> >> This one was such a motley-looking bird, it was hard even to describe >> and the yellowjacket feasting on my foot didn't help. It would be nice >> if someone could get a photograph tomorrow for better diagnosis. I might >> give it a try but the equipment I have at hand is not really up to the >> purpose. >> >> The location again is straight north of E.E. Wilson HQ, after you cross >> the canal, then turn right just before the fence on the south side of >> the area that's closed to the public. Walk out about 200 ft to where >> this fence crosses a ditch with cattails, then look north. >> >> Happy birding, >> Joel >> >> P.S. We were back out there to pick plums this evening but didn't see >> the bunting. We did hear about 30 or so SWAINSON'S THRUSHES calling from >> just about everywhere, as it got close to dusk. >> >> P.P.S. For Sandy -- sorry, after sweeping up all of those Blackpoll & >> Magnolia Warblers I neglected to take a photo, before mailing the whole >> box in to the OBRC. Hope it gets there soon, I hear the weather is >> getting warm again. ;) >> >> -- >> Joel Geier >> Camp Adair area north of Corvallis >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> list mailing list >> list at midvalleybirding.org >> http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ > From bettymkn at netscape.com Tue Sep 8 18:53:09 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 18:53:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Newport Godwits Message-ID: <20090908185309.9BBCBC67@resin18.mta.everyone.net> Going to Newport tomorrow (Wed) to check on the Godwits. Will leave Sweet Home at about 8 AM, thru Lebanon, Corvallis and Philomath. If anyone would like to ride along either e-mail me direct or call me at 775-315-4372 this evening. We could come back along the river to Toledo or make stops wherever?? Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From dan at heyerly.com Tue Sep 8 18:56:28 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Daniel d.Heyerly) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 21:56:28 -0400 Subject: [obol] Hudsonian Godwits 9/8/2009 - YES! Message-ID: Holly Reinhard just sent me a text that she and her party saw the HUGOs today at the HMSC, Newport. Dan Heyerly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090908/ab231262/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Tue Sep 8 19:08:21 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 02:08:21 +0000 Subject: [obol] Shorebirding Picking Up in Coos Co. 8/14/2009 Message-ID: Tim's counts, while done quickly, have been holding up all week long, again mostly on South side. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Tim Rodenkirk Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:00:04 To: Subject: [obol] Shorebirding Picking Up in Coos Co. 8/14/2009 Stopped for a quick look at Bandon Marsh NWR this morning.? Tide was coming in and the shorebirds were scattered across the entire marsh.? All the larger shorebirds were on the south end.??I only?spent?a few?minutes taking as?I was headed south, here is what?I saw: ? 8-10,000 peeps (Westerns, Leasties and SP plovers, bet there was a few Semisands in the mass of peeps and who knows what else?) 75+?DOWITCHERS (both species) 36+ BB PLOVERS 2+ GREATER YELLOWLEGS 1- LESSER YELLOWLEGS 1- RUDDY TURNSTONE (I imagine there were more but?I was in a hurry) ? I?hope to get back there this weekend and spend a few more minutes there! ? Merry migration, Tim R Coos Bay From celata at pacifier.com Tue Sep 8 20:16:03 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:16:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] This Morning on Coxcomb Hill - 9/8/2009 Message-ID: <4AA71DF3.9020506@pacifier.com> Quite foggy this morning, but still a movement of Yellow Warblers, Black-throated Grays, and Wilson's Take a look at the mix at: http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12023/ And take a close look at the Orange-crowned... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Sep 8 20:27:44 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:27:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] I knew this sounds silly, but.... Message-ID: <4AA720B0.2010908@verizon.net> Does anyone know for sure when there was the last siting of Snowy Plover at Nehalem Bay? Greg Baker photographed one there on Sept 6 2009. I believe this is the first plover at Nehalem in a very long time. Anyone have any old records? PS - it's silly because I believe most of you expect me to know this answer, but I don't know and I have to go look into it some, so I figured you gurus on the north coast may know. Cheers Dave Lauten Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From jeffgill at teleport.com Tue Sep 8 20:36:08 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:36:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] I knew this sounds silly, but.... In-Reply-To: <4AA720B0.2010908@verizon.net> Message-ID: I birded Nehalem Bay for many years and look forward to do so again. I never saw or heard of one being seen there. I assume the Snowy Plover was out near the ocean where here is sandy habitat. Jeff On 9/8/09 8:27 PM, "DJ Lauten and KACastelein" wrote: > Does anyone know for sure when there was the last siting of Snowy Plover > at Nehalem Bay? Greg Baker photographed one there on Sept 6 2009. I > believe this is the first plover at Nehalem in a very long time. Anyone > have any old records? > > PS - it's silly because I believe most of you expect me to know this > answer, but I don't know and I have to go look into it some, so I > figured you gurus on the north coast may know. > > Cheers > Dave Lauten > Bandon OR > deweysage at verizon.net > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From whoffman at peak.org Tue Sep 8 21:07:02 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 21:07:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Further thoughts on the "Stint" Message-ID: <5A3E3F90E8F847D6B9A66AD6FCB8E2EE@D48XBZ51> Since I posted my initial report yesterday, I have looked at a lot of photos on-line, sent a selection of mine to several people who asked to see them, and received copies of unpublished stint photos from other people. A California birder sent me 4 photos he took recently in China, and another birder sent me a series from Alaska. I have also received quite a few opinions as to the bird's identity, a large majority favoring Least Sandpiper. Some of those provided some of the reasoning behind their choices. My conclusions: 1. As we all know, Least Sandpipers are quite variable in plumage and "jizz." From the photos I have examined, Long-toed Stint is similarly variable. a. bill color: Paulson says "Lower mandible usually pale at extreme base, Least shows this only rarely." I could make this out on hist photo 67.1 and 67.5, and very slightly on photos 67.3 and 67.7. Photos 67.2, 67.4, and 67.6 seem to show bills black to the base. O'Brien et al. say "often pale-based lower mandible" I could make out a slightly paler base on 3 of 7 of their photos (I only counted the in-better-focus bird in their photo 3). Mike Patterson stated that "Long-toed Stint (always?) has a yellowish base to the lower mandible." From the photos I have examined the lower mandible is often paler at the base, but seldom actually yellow. Our bird's bill generally looks black, but I have one photo showing the under side, and it pales slightly at the base, between the rami. This would not show at all in a side view. b. Bill length. Long-toed Stint tends to have a short bill for a peep, marginally shorter than Least (data in Pyle Part II, 2008) but the O'Brien et al. photo on P. 292 (bird from Cyprus) shows a longer bill than 4 of the 5 other species on the page (after subtracting the food item). Our bird's bill is long for a Long-toed Stint. This certainly casts doubt on its chances of being one. On the other hand, it also complicates comparisons of bill length to toe length. c. Crown pattern. Among the photos I have examined crowns are usually streaked, variably show bifurcated supercilia, and often extend down to meet the top of the bill. This latter character can be quite distinctive, but is variable. Our bird has the front of the dark crown streaking narrowing greatly, and more or less meeting the bill. Some of our photos show it meeting and some show a little interruption of white, depending on how the feathers are arranged. d. Leg and toe length, and bill length. Pyle quotes measurements of tarsus 19-24mm, middle toe with claw 21.4-25.5mm, and culmen 16.2-20.4 VS tarsus 17-21, toe 18-20.6 and culmen 16.2-21 for Least Sandpiper. The best of my photos show a middle toe that I measure on the computer monitor as equal or slightly longer (0-3% longer) than the tarsus and bill, depending on the shot. I have done a lot of work with bird specimens, and I suspect most people looking at these photos would not measure to the actual location of the joint at the toe base. The tendency would be to measure the culmen pretty accurately, and to under-measure the toe, and over-measure the tarsus. This is because the basal phalanx (toe bone) extends back a bit past where the skin divides and the toe seems to start on the outside. As noted above, this bird has a long bill for Long-toed Stint, and it is not clear whether we should expect the toe to be in proportion. Subjectively, my photos show similar to longer feet in proportion than some of the photos I have examined (e.g. one of the ones from China). So, based on what I have found in photos and in the literature, I think people are identifying birds as Long-toed Stints in places where Long-toed Stints should be, that American birders would be afraid to identify. I think we in North America are recognizing only the ones that show all the typical or even extreme, characters of the species, and much of the variation within the species overlaps too much with least Sandpiper for us to feel safe abot the identification. One more comparison: I suspect that Long-toed Stints also have longer tarso-metatarsi than Least Sandpipers (this is the part of the leg that sticks out of the body feathers to the backward facing crural joint) On most birds, the femur and knee joint are completely hidden under the body feathers, so this is the top of the visible part of the leg. Pyle and other references do not give measurements of the tibiotarsus because in preparing study skins it is ususally cut or broken, and not measurable. Bit in looking at photos, Long-toed Stints often show "more leg" between the crural joint and the body feathering than least Sandpipers. Of course this changes radically if the bird fluffs or sleeks its feathers, so it is hard to judge. But one of the things that first struck me as odd about this bird was too much leg showing. Age of the bird: I called this bird a worn adult (or at least AHY) based on the degree of feather wear seeming too much for a bird-of-the year. One respondent who saw my photos and considered the bird a juvenile based on the "rufous edges to the feathers and especially the white edges to the median/greater coverts." If it were a Least Sandpiper these would be indications of juvenal plumage. However, Paulson describes rufous edgings on adults persisting on worn adults after they have worn off the feathers of adult Leasts. If this bird is in juvenal plumage is is more likely Least than Long-toed, but it seems excessively worn to me, to be a juvenile. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090908/9709c326/attachment.html From coffehound at gmail.com Tue Sep 8 22:44:20 2009 From: coffehound at gmail.com (Demian Ebert) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 22:44:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] White pelicans at Deschutes River Message-ID: Sorry for the late post. We were driving past the mouth of the Deschutes River on I-84 Monday afternoon and saw 4 white pelicans perched on the sandbar that has formed in the Columbia. Seemed a little out of pace, but. I don't know how frequently they show up out here so figured it was worth posting. Happy birding. Demian -- Sent from my mobile device From namitzr at hotmail.com Tue Sep 8 23:27:35 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 23:27:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Further thoughts on the "Stint" + Godwits (long) Message-ID: I drove up to Newport tonight and saw the HUDSONIAN GODWITS at 6:30pm feeding on Idaho Flats. Best scope views were from the bridge SW of the HMSC shed along the paved path. In the marsh across from Idaho Flats off 35th St. there were multiple VIRGINIA RAILS giving their "grunt" and "kicker" calls. For a sample of these named calls, check out the National Marsh Bird Monitoring website. http://www.cals.arizona.edu/research/azfwru/NationalMarshBird/ Scroll down until you see Virginia Rail. I also saw the stint in question (Least or Long-toed) along the fringe of vegetation just SW of the HMSC shed. I studied it for a few minutes and saw everything I had already seen in the photographs except the behavior. It behaved like a plover with a lot of stop-and-go with its head up. It didn't flush (or call), choosing instead to walk out onto the mudflat every time I got close. This behavior was noteworthy. I agree with Wayne's comments that "we in North America are recognizing only the ones that show all the typical or even extreme, characters of the species." Personally I consider the Least vs Long-toed ID more difficult than discerning Red-necked/Little Stints. For the sake of brevity, I will only list three things that I'd like to see to call it a Long-toed Stint, but that I didn't. 1) Stiped pattern to the back instead of scalloped 2) Pale (greenish-yellow) base to lower mandible 3) Wide, dark crown that fully meets the top of the bill with no question and wraps into the dark lores I have to thank Wayne for calling attention to this bird as it has made many of us pour through literature and photos to get a better handle on this ID complex. I still feel that this is a juvenile Least Sandpiper. One of the most compelling points for juvenile is the white fringes to the two rows of scapular (not wing covert) feathers. Adults should be in worn breeding (i.e. feather edges worn off) and/or transitioning to winter plumage by now. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090908/f7f640bb/attachment.html From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Wed Sep 9 02:19:52 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 02:19:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Long-toed Stints vs. Least Sandpipers (excellent references) Message-ID: <832228.19922.qm@web51804.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Here are a couple of excellent references that describe the differences between Long-toed Stints and Least Sandpipers (both can be downloaded for free): Patten, M., Daniels, B. 1991. First Record of the Long-toed Stint in California. Western Birds 22:131-138. Download: http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/wb/v22n03/p0131-p0138.pdf (detailed comparison of physical traits...sounds like some overlapping, some not) Gilligan, J., Schmidt, O., Nehls, H., and Irons, D. 1987. First record of Long-toed Stint in Oregon. Western Birds 18:126-128. Download: http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/wb/v18n02/p0126-p0128.pdf (very interesting notes on the differences between behavior and calls) From srnord101 at verizon.net Wed Sep 9 08:14:01 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:14:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Photos: Hudsonian Godwits, Newport - Sept 7th. Message-ID: <000001ca3160$2a17ba60$7e472f20$@net> OBOL; I've updated my website with some photos taken on Sept 7th, of the HUDSONIAN GODWITS at Newport. http://www.pbase.com/srn_naturalist/hudsonian_godwit Some photos also show the Marbled Godwits, Short-billed Dowitchers and Ruddy Turnstone that were with the Hudsonians. Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From celata at pacifier.com Wed Sep 9 09:27:57 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:27:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] This Morning on Coxcomb Hill - 9/9/2009 Message-ID: <4AA7D78D.6090403@pacifier.com> It was overcast this morning, but no fog. There was a good sized feeding flock at the bottom turn. I saw (and heard) a first of the season FOX SPARROW which is pretty much right on time. The day list: Vaux's Swift 8 Anna's Hummingbird 2 Barn Swallow 4 Violet-Green Swallow 2 W. Scrub Jay 2 Warbling Vireo 3 Black-cap Chickadee 2 Chstnt-bk Chickadee 6 Winter Wren 2 Bewick's Wren 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 3 Yellow Warbler 10+ Black-thtd Gray Warbler 8+ Townsend's Warbler 1 Wilson's Warbler 10+ Swainson's Thrush 2 Am Robin 2 Western Tanager 1 Song Sparrow 3 Fox Sparrow 1 White-cr Sparrow 4 I have added a large group of pictures, including a study of the very gray-headed Orange-crowned seen yesterday at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From jeffgill at teleport.com Wed Sep 9 09:41:46 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:41:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Further thoughts on the "Stint" + Godwits (long) In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Hi Russ: In regard to item three of the identification factors that you mention: I have seen and photographed Leasts that have dark crowns that meet the tops of their bills. I am not sure whether Long-toed Stints always have that aspect. An unusually large rangy looking Least like the one Wayne Hoffman found is suggestive of Long-toed, but in rather worn juvenal plumage like this one, I don?t know how identification could be made without the the bird having a pale base to the lower mandible, or the calls being recorded. I have seen a few Long-toeds in Asia that apparently lacked the pale base to the lower mandible, but as I recall those were all spring birds. I agree, thanks to Wayne for being so observant to note a reasonable suspect for Long-toed. Jeff Gilligan On 9/8/09 11:27 PM, "Russ Namitz" wrote: > I drove up to Newport tonight and saw the HUDSONIAN GODWITS at 6:30pm feeding > on Idaho Flats. Best scope views were from the bridge SW of the HMSC shed > along the paved path. In the marsh across from Idaho Flats off 35th St. there > were multiple VIRGINIA RAILS giving their "grunt" and "kicker" calls. For a > sample of these named calls, check out the National Marsh Bird Monitoring > website. http://www.cals.arizona.edu/research/azfwru/NationalMarshBird/ > Scroll down until you see Virginia Rail. > > I also saw the stint in question (Least or Long-toed) along the fringe of > vegetation just SW of the HMSC shed. I studied it for a few minutes and saw > everything I had already seen in the photographs except the behavior. It > behaved like a plover with a lot of stop-and-go with its head up. It didn't > flush (or call), choosing instead to walk out onto the mudflat every time I > got close. This behavior was noteworthy. > > I agree with Wayne's comments that "we in North America are recognizing only > the ones that show all the typical or even extreme, characters of the > species." Personally I consider the Least vs Long-toed ID more difficult than > discerning Red-necked/Little Stints. For the sake of brevity, I will only > list three things that I'd like to see to call it a Long-toed Stint, but that > I didn't. > 1) Stiped pattern to the back instead of scalloped > 2) Pale (greenish-yellow) base to lower mandible > 3) Wide, dark crown that fully meets the top of the bill with no question and > wraps into the dark lores > > I have to thank Wayne for calling attention to this bird as it has made many > of us pour through literature and photos to get a better handle on this ID > complex. > > I still feel that this is a juvenile Least Sandpiper. One of the most > compelling points for juvenile is the white fringes to the two rows of > scapular (not wing covert) feathers. Adults should be in worn breeding (i.e. > feather edges worn off) and/or transitioning to winter plumage by now. > > Good birding, > Russ Namitz > Coos Bay > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090909/1ee78c54/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Sep 9 10:38:48 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:38:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Indigo Bunting still at EE Wilson Wildlife Area Message-ID: <1252517928.3967.222.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, Doug Robinson found the remarkably male INDIGO BUNTING in the same spot as previously reported, again this morning. There is so far no indication from either field or photos of it being a hybrid, just one very motley looking bunting that also seems to be missing most its tail. For any HUGOnauts or stintorians who might be en route to the Coast via Corvallis, E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area is about 10 miles north of Corvallis along Hwy 99W. Turn east on to Camp Adair Rd., and park by the WW II memorial park and gamebird pens which are on the left side, just past the entrance for the headquarters. Walk or bicycle north past the guest hosts' RV and a big old oak with a sign about the historic town of Wells. Then jog one block west to get on the road that runs north from the HQ. >From HQ go about 1/3 mile N, until you cross a ditch/canal that opens into a big pond on the east side of the road. Continue 100 yards or so to the south edge of an area that's signed as being closed to public entry (on the east side of the road). Skirt east along the south (open-to-public) side of this fence about 60-70 yards to where it crosses a small ditch with cattails, then scan hawthorn/blackberry clumps on north side of fence. Happy birding, Joel P.S. My son Wil points out that most of the field marks described so far would also work for Moulting Bunting, a species that is not found in conventional field guides, but is written up in "A Field Guide to Little-Known and Seldom-Seen Birds of North America." -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Sep 9 10:49:25 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:49:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Indigo Bunting still at EE Wilson Wildlife Area In-Reply-To: <1252517928.3967.222.camel@clearwater> References: <1252517928.3967.222.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: <1252518565.3967.227.camel@clearwater> Er, sorry, that phrase should have been, "remarkably [motley] male." -- Joel On Wed, 2009-09-09 at 10:38 -0700, Joel Geier wrote: > Hello folks, > > Doug Robinson found the remarkably male INDIGO BUNTING in the same spot > as previously reported, again this morning. From celata at pacifier.com Wed Sep 9 11:21:54 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:21:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Long-toed Stint: I feel your pain Message-ID: <4AA7F242.8090801@pacifier.com> Long-toed Stint: I feel your pain I have been sorting through shorebirds with some rigor for about 20 years now. Back in the days when I had my summers off, I'd be out at the high tide roosts every day. The reason I don't have Long-toed Stint on my life-list is not because I haven't been trying or because I don't know the field marks. It's because Long-toed Stint falls into that special (and especially frustrating) category of species that really do need to be ID'd in hand (or at least photographed at close range from every angle). I have almost certainly seen Long-toed Stint at the South Jetty at least once (Aug 2, 1993), and have seen at least two others that were pretty close. I've also seen way too many wanna-bes that had multiple "classic characters" described in Paulson's indispensable _Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest_ (1993). But I have no convincing photographic evidence for my claims, just what I think I saw. And here's the thing, eye-witness accounts are the least reliable form of evidence for us sciency types (call it the Sasquatch problem, if you like). I am an honest, upright human being and a careful observer, but I am subject to the same kinds of rationalization and wishful thinking as any other human being. Most of the characters employed in identifying Long-toed Stint are so subjective, so non-quantifiable, that they just don't lend themselves convincingly to a written account, even one with sketches. My observations may be good enough to warrant sending out an RBA to get other eyes involved, but they may not be good enough to produce the definitive ID. I came to the conclusion long ago that, for me, any Long-toed Stint I counted on my life-list would have to been one I identified in hand or got unequivocal photos for. I do not hold myself to this standard for all identifications, just Long-toed Stint and Gray-cheeked Thrush and Jack Snipe and? Those interested in my field notes for my 1993 stint are invited to: http://home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/observatory/ltst_draw.jpg -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From namitzr at hotmail.com Wed Sep 9 11:31:21 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 11:31:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Further thoughts on the "Stint" Message-ID: Hey Jeff~ I believe that Long-toed Stints always (almost always?) have dark foreheads and Least Sandpipers only rarely show this trait and never as extensive as Long-toed Stint. I'm not sure about only spring bird lacking the pale base as I've seen photos of worn adults lacking the pale base, but it seems that most individuals do exhibit that greenish-yellow base. I recall reading that calls enough might not be totally diagnostic as Least have a low call as well according to Paulson. One thing that should be seen, even on worn juvenal plumage, is a "streaky" effect of the mantle feathers. Cheers, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090909/dd1853c3/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Wed Sep 9 11:46:02 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:46:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Further thoughts on the "Stint" In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Hi Russ: I agree on the comment about calls. In the 1981 note that we wrote, Dave Irons and I mentioned that we had occasionally heard similar calls from what were apparently Leasts. That note in Western Birds was linked by Cindy Ashy in her recent post. Incidentally, the photos in the article don?t come across well on my screen. Interestingly, several of us saw what was likely the same bird two years later at exactly the same spot in July 1983 ? but then as an even more obvious adult in breeding plumage. Jeff On 9/9/09 11:31 AM, "Russ Namitz" wrote: > Hey Jeff~ > > I believe that Long-toed Stints always (almost always?) have dark foreheads > and Least Sandpipers only rarely show this trait and never as extensive as > Long-toed Stint. I'm not sure about only spring bird lacking the pale base as > I've seen photos of worn adults lacking the pale base, but it seems that most > individuals do exhibit that greenish-yellow base. I recall reading that calls > enough might not be totally diagnostic as Least have a low call as well > according to Paulson. One thing that should be seen, even on worn juvenal > plumage, is a "streaky" effect of the mantle feathers. > > Cheers, > Russ Namitz > Coos Bay > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090909/94241a37/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Sep 9 12:46:52 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 12:46:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Local RBA: Lewis's Woodpecker: Beaverton Message-ID: Tualatin Hills Nature Park Ranger Kelly Perry sent me email that there has been a Lewis's Woodpecker hanging out at Greenway Park/Koll Center Wetlands for the past 5 days. It has been in a dead oak on an island in a small pond behind the business Digimarc (Gemini Street off Nimbus and Hall). I spent 9-11 there this morning. Didn't find the woodpecker, but nice views of Cooper's, Sharp-shinned, and the first of the fall season Red-shouldered Hawk for Washington County. You can approach from either the parking lot behind Digimarc off Gemini, or from an access to Greenway Park near the corner of SW Settler Way and SW Robbins Drive (off Scholls Ferry and Conestoga Dr). This is apparently the 6th County Record since 1960. Supposedly it was common in summer in the oaks about 1902. See the Washington County annotated bird checklist (updated 4 September 2009): http://thebirdguide.com/washington/washington%20birdlist.doc Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed Sep 9 13:25:51 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:25:51 -0400 Subject: [obol] Birds from Lower Klamath Basin Refuge, I can't ID Message-ID: <8CBFFA2DC1C4AEB-1890-CA03@webmail-d014.sysops.aol.com> I went to the Lower?Klamath and Tule Refuges last Wed and Thur. We had a wonderful time and I added a lot of birds to my life list. I have been working on sorting and identifying my photos (over 1200) since then. I am going to get the birds I have been able to identify this afternoon. But of course none of my birding adventures would be complete with out a bunch of birds I can't identify. I actually whittled it down from 23 unknows originally. Here is a link to my mystery birds from the Klamath/Tule refuges. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/sets/72157622197622943/detail/ I appreciate any help. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090909/4a9123f6/attachment.html From birdmandon at clearwire.net Wed Sep 9 13:16:20 2009 From: birdmandon at clearwire.net (Don Schrouder) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 13:16:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wed morning group Message-ID: The Wednesday morning group decided to do some birding at the south end of Fern Ridge Reservoir west of Eugene-starting at Perkins Peninsula and then Zumwalt Park. Birds found were: Canada Goose Mallard Wild Turkey Pied-billed Grebe Western Grebe- one seen carrying a juvenile on its back Clark's Grebe Great Blue Heron Great Egret Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Red-shouldered Hawk (heard only) Red-tailed Hawk American Coot Spotted Sandpiper Ring-billed Gull Vaux's Swift Belted Kingfisher Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Steller's Jay Western Scrub Jay American Crow Violet-green Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch (heard only) Bewick's Wren American Robin Wrentit (heard only) Cedar Waxwings- everywhere flycatching Black-throated Gray Warbler Common Yellowthroat Western Tanager (heard only) Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Lesser Goldfinch Don Schrouder, Sylvia Maulding, Dave & Sally Hill, Craig Merkel, Fred Chancey and Dave Brown. From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Sep 9 13:34:47 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:34:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur update Message-ID: After two days with very few migrants on the refuge, last night brought in large movements of yellow-rumps, orange-crowns, yellows. Also a few tanagers, chipping sparrows, flycatchers (8 pewees, 3 Hammond's, 2 Willow, 1 Dusky). Best birds today were a RED-SHOULDERED Hawk soaring over Benson Pond trees and a female Lazuli Bunting (late) also at Benson. Benson has been consistently better than HQ all week. One plump-n-tasty was cooing and flying around at HQ. First of the week Townsend's Warbler was at Benson. Sodhouse historic site willows were stuffed with towhees. The hawk was in a rather ecumenical thermal, keeping company with one red-tail, one vulture, one osprey and one White pelican. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Sep 9 13:51:23 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:51:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur hummer Message-ID: Also at HQ this morning was an ambiguous female hummer that may not be a Black-chin after all, now that I see the pic. Could be a Ruby-throat. I have one semi-decent photo that I'll post. Will look for it again this evening. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From kirkpat at charter.net Wed Sep 9 14:06:19 2009 From: kirkpat at charter.net (Douglas Kirkpatrick) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 14:06:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Night Flight In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Greetings, All, OK, so I went out last night and listened very carefully but only heard a bazillion crickets and some remote highway traffic. How exactly does one listen for/identify Swainson thrushes or other birds at night? Are you guys using parabolic dishes, sonar receivers, small children with perfect hearing or what? Does it have to be 5 am ? I've heard Swainson's and other during the day but at night the crickets are overwhelming my auditory scanners (aka ears.) Thanks. Doug Kirkpatrick Medford -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090909/10fd4057/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Wed Sep 9 15:26:17 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 15:26:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Coast Birds Message-ID: <2b1bbd260909091526q7a7903ebo9d4f69bcbffa72de@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Lydia Cruz and I spent most of the morning birding the Florence area. Highlights: Siuslaw North Jetty mudflats 9:15-- 4 MARBLED GODWIT (presumably the same 4 being seen at the crab docks off and on) 2 Semipalmated Plovers no other shorebirds Siuslaw North Jetty 9:30-- 1000+ SOOTY SHEARWATER (the first large flock I have run into this year and they were in very close just beyond the jetty. The ocean was as close to glass as I have seen it) 1 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER (in with the Sooty's after about 20 minutes of watching) 1 Peregrine Falcon 10+ Red-necked Phalaropes (1 was also at the s jetty dog pond this afternoon) lots of Harbor Porpoises Baker Beach Rd 10:30-- 1 GREEN HERON (I sneezed as I got out of the car and it flushed) 1 VIRGINIA RAIL (same sneeze, but this one responded vocally) 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 EVENING GROSBEAK 7 Band-tailed Pigeon Siuslaw South Jetty Deflation Plane 1:00-- 4 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS (only about 2-300 yards south of the dike, stayed mostly along the dune) 1 Whimbrel (flew in and landed along the dike) 2 American Bittern South Jetty gravel pan-- 3 AMERICAN PIPTS 2 juvenile Least Sandpipers (around one of the mud puddles) In my yard yesterday I had 4 Hutton's Vireos and 1 YELLOW WARBLER (my first of the fall). -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090909/50e7059f/attachment.html From srnord101 at verizon.net Wed Sep 9 15:27:03 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:27:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands - Pelicans, Shorebirds & Acorn Woodpecker Message-ID: <000f01ca319c$a840f910$f8c2eb30$@net> OBOL; A walk around the ponds today, 11:10-12:40, produced the following: 13 AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN 4 GREAT EGRET 7 GREEN HERON 1 COOPER'S HAWK 1 SEMIPLAMATED PLOVER 10 KILLDEER 5 GREATER YELLOWLEGS 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS 2 SPOTTED SANDPIPER 1 WESTERN SANDPIPER 17 LEAST SANDPIPER 1 ACORN WOODPECKER (in large snag seen to the northwest of parking lot) Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From deweysage at verizon.net Wed Sep 9 15:58:43 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:58:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Night Flight In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4AA83323.5040308@verizon.net> Doug, Actually, we were sitting in our hot tub last night and the birds were moving over us in droves. No need to use anything but your ears. We had a pretty endless series of calling Swainson's Thrushes, and there was other things not identifiable to us except for a Caspian Tern and it's fledgling, which were both calling. Seriously there was not one minute out there last night (about 9:00 PM or so) that did not have 20-30 plus calls from Swainson's T's at a minimum. Cheers Dave Lauten Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net Douglas Kirkpatrick wrote: > Greetings, All, > > OK, so I went out last night and listened very carefully but only > heard a bazillion crickets and some remote highway traffic. > > How exactly does one listen for/identify Swainson thrushes or other > birds at night? Are you guys using parabolic dishes, sonar receivers, > small children with perfect hearing or what? Does it have to be 5 am ? > I've heard Swainson's and other during the day but at night the > crickets are overwhelming my auditory scanners (aka ears.) > > Thanks. > > Doug Kirkpatrick > Medford > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From celata at pacifier.com Wed Sep 9 16:20:04 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:20:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Night Flight Message-ID: <4AA83824.5060809@pacifier.com> The phenomenon is patchier than the reports to OBOL might indicate. People who hear stuff report it, but negative data is rarely reported. David Bailey, who lives in Seaside generally gets more impressive overflight numbers than I do in Astoria in the evenings. I have, however, had a few experiences, especially early in the pre-dawn morning when the intensity has been remarkable. I bought all the parts to build a night-flight call recorder, but it probably won't be up and running before next season. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Sep 9 16:23:35 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 16:23:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] tripod sold Message-ID: The Manfrotto tripod I had posted had many responders and it was finally sold to the first one. It's too bad I didn't have ten more to sell ! Larry -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090909/3bb233ab/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Wed Sep 9 16:22:22 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 16:22:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fall Movement-Silverton Area Message-ID: Today was a tough day to get anything done in the "backyard." Little birds kept popping up this morning and after awhile I just sat there with binoculars and camera and bird books. I should have been working in the veggie garden but I put it off for awhile. The summer doldrums have ended and there is a very definite fall movement. I wish there were "wave" of birds and the trees were "dripping" but what I did see: COMMON YELLOWTHROAT-3 YELLOW WARBLER-1 BLACK THROATED GRAY WARBLER -1 female WARBLING VIREO-2 RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER-1 (tapping a Dawn Redwood behind me while I was looking at warblers) We also have at least 40 American Goldfinch, many RB Nuthatch about, a couple Downy Woodpeckers, many House Finch, Scrub Jays, Mourning Dove, Song Sparrow, Bewick's Wren. I have heard Swainson's Thrush a couple times in the past week and also had one WILSON'S WARBLER. Two American Kestrel came in yesterday while diving on a Cooper's Hawk (who I think lives in our woodlot).That seemed a bit different for this time of year. Last night, listening for night fliers, I heard Great Horned Owls in the distance. I still have not heard the calls of the Swainson's at night this year but there is a lot of road noise, irrigation pump noise, etc. John Thomas 5 mi N Silverton From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Wed Sep 9 16:56:01 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:56:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] OBOL list may be down for a bit Message-ID: <20090909165601.w6zlvxn1ooc04g4o@webmail2.jimnorton.org> Hello, I am in the process of upgrading / patching the mail server that the OBOL list uses. Therefore the OBOL list will experience intermittent operation for the rest of the day.. Sorry for the inconvenience.. but upgrades and patching needs to happen periodically. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Sep 9 17:05:58 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 17:05:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Nature magazine givaway Message-ID: I would like to unload some of my magazine cache. These are issues of "National Parks", "Wilderness", "Nature Conservancy", "Wildlife Conservation", "Conservation Sciences", Ducks Unlimited", "Audubon", "Arizona Highways", and some Ornithological Monographs (AOU). Please respond by personal email for details. I'm in the feeder doldrums, so have no report on local birds. The young crows finally stopped pestering the neighborhood. Larry -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090909/31270dc8/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Wed Sep 9 17:38:35 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 17:38:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Common Nighthawk in NE Portland Message-ID: <193856.85684.qm@web46005.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> We just had a Common Nighthawk circling above our home. It took us a little while to ID it (I think we are right). We posted a couple of poor photos here portlandbirds.blogspot.com This is a life lister for us. Fun stuff! Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Wed Sep 9 17:48:45 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:48:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] ignore - test Message-ID: <20090909174845.4524hhhqg4k4848s@webmail2.jimnorton.org> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From katandbill at yahoo.com Wed Sep 9 18:13:16 2009 From: katandbill at yahoo.com (Kat & Bill) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 18:13:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Eugene - Fabulous Flycatcher Flocks Message-ID: <54358.1801.qm@web53910.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hi OBOL, Every evening this week about 7:00 we have had flocks (15-20) of flycatchers gather in the fir row behind our house. They spend the evening catching bugs and putting on quite a show. We *think* they are Western Wood Pewees. Kat in Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090909/8bad775f/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Wed Sep 9 18:51:47 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 18:51:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur update References: Message-ID: <66B4C94EC5EE4A72B2A419E4402BC930@D48XBZ51> I did not know that geese cooed. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan Contreras" To: "obol" Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 1:34 PM Subject: [obol] Malheur update After two days with very few migrants on the refuge, last night brought in large movements of yellow-rumps, orange-crowns, yellows. Also a few tanagers, chipping sparrows, flycatchers (8 pewees, 3 Hammond's, 2 Willow, 1 Dusky). Best birds today were a RED-SHOULDERED Hawk soaring over Benson Pond trees and a female Lazuli Bunting (late) also at Benson. Benson has been consistently better than HQ all week. One plump-n-tasty was cooing and flying around at HQ. First of the week Townsend's Warbler was at Benson. Sodhouse historic site willows were stuffed with towhees. The hawk was in a rather ecumenical thermal, keeping company with one red-tail, one vulture, one osprey and one White pelican. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From whoffman at peak.org Wed Sep 9 20:03:47 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 20:03:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Further thoughts on the "Stint" + Godwits (long) References: Message-ID: <763FE56EBD6A45C6B1AA53E45636AD1C@D48XBZ51> Interesting comments on the behavior. I saw the same thing, but its significance did not really sink in. Plovers are visual feeders. They scan the substrate around themselves, and when the see potential food, they run over and grab. Many sandpipers are tactile feeders, visually locating a "patch' of potential food, and locating items by touch/taste. They tend to have softer bill tips, with more sensory connections. It is my sense that small Calidris are more generalized than many sandpipers, and do some of each. But you are right, this bird was foraging mostly visually, more so than Least's usually do. Of course I have no information on "typical" stint foraging. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: Russ Namitz To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 11:27 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Further thoughts on the "Stint" + Godwits (long) I drove up to Newport tonight and saw the HUDSONIAN GODWITS at 6:30pm feeding on Idaho Flats. Best scope views were from the bridge SW of the HMSC shed along the paved path. In the marsh across from Idaho Flats off 35th St. there were multiple VIRGINIA RAILS giving their "grunt" and "kicker" calls. For a sample of these named calls, check out the National Marsh Bird Monitoring website. http://www.cals.arizona.edu/research/azfwru/NationalMarshBird/ Scroll down until you see Virginia Rail. I also saw the stint in question (Least or Long-toed) along the fringe of vegetation just SW of the HMSC shed. I studied it for a few minutes and saw everything I had already seen in the photographs except the behavior. It behaved like a plover with a lot of stop-and-go with its head up. It didn't flush (or call), choosing instead to walk out onto the mudflat every time I got close. This behavior was noteworthy. I agree with Wayne's comments that "we in North America are recognizing only the ones that show all the typical or even extreme, characters of the species." Personally I consider the Least vs Long-toed ID more difficult than discerning Red-necked/Little Stints. For the sake of brevity, I will only list three things that I'd like to see to call it a Long-toed Stint, but that I didn't. 1) Stiped pattern to the back instead of scalloped 2) Pale (greenish-yellow) base to lower mandible 3) Wide, dark crown that fully meets the top of the bill with no question and wraps into the dark lores I have to thank Wayne for calling attention to this bird as it has made many of us pour through literature and photos to get a better handle on this ID complex. I still feel that this is a juvenile Least Sandpiper. One of the most compelling points for juvenile is the white fringes to the two rows of scapular (not wing covert) feathers. Adults should be in worn breeding (i.e. feather edges worn off) and/or transitioning to winter plumage by now. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090909/83b6b4a4/attachment.html From gneavoll at comcast.net Wed Sep 9 20:04:48 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 03:04:48 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Red-shouldered over PGE Park In-Reply-To: <1974467383.4301711252551758270.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <534532389.4302361252551888389.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, light patches at base of primaries plainly visible, soaring over Portland's PGE Park around noon hour Tuesday (9/8/09). George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090910/a8b354ac/attachment.html From verditer at gmail.com Wed Sep 9 20:16:32 2009 From: verditer at gmail.com (Suresh V) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 20:16:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hudsonian and Marbled Godwits, HMSC, Newport Message-ID: I went out to Hatfield Marine Science center today afternoon to try my luck with the godwits, and sure enough, they were there as reported. Thanks to the kind gentleman who showed them to me near the 'hut'. There were 3 Marbled Godwits and 2 Hudsonian Godwits. I spent roughly 2 hours with them, and they were very conifding and allowed me to take all the photos I wanted. Here are some of the photos: http://www.justbirds.in/display.php?image=images/hudsoniangodwit.jpg&name=Hudsonian%20Godwit http://www.justbirds.in/display.php?image=images/marbledgodwit1.jpg&name=Marbled%20Godwit http://www.justbirds.in/display.php?image=images/marbledgodwit2.jpg&name=Marbled%20Godwit http://www.justbirds.in/display.php?image=images/marbledgodwit1.jpg&name=Marbled%20Godwit I hope I am right with the IDs. Please correct if I'm wrong. Wishes Suresh www.justbirds.in From prigge1 at mindspring.com Wed Sep 9 20:31:26 2009 From: prigge1 at mindspring.com (Allen Prigge) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 20:31:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hudsonian Godwits Message-ID: <1B0498A7C97C4DC9B8D19307939321EC@alrup5ujaxzzmc> Have they been seen today? And after reading Jim Norton's quote from St. Augustine I can't resist including a similar quote from an old Irishman in my home town. "'Right is right, and wrong is wrong. And right wrongs nobody.' (Strange that I can remember somethng like that from the 1930's, but don't remember if I put instant coffee in the cup about five seconds ago.) AAP -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090909/96cde512/attachment.html From dustdevil at centurytel.net Wed Sep 9 20:55:45 2009 From: dustdevil at centurytel.net (Patty Bowers) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 20:55:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Weeds Message-ID: <1EC729696E3943B3AD06B68E55A91276@your0cdc4f5844> I too found the comment about helping out with invasive weeds off base. How many of us clean our clothes and scrub our boots after/before each outing - especially those who bird all over the state and in other states/ countries? Also remember to clean your boots when you come off of the mud flats. Quagga and Zebra mussels/larvae can live for at least 30 days out of water. They have hitch hiked from the Great Lakes west and are now working their way north from the Colorado River Basin. Soaking your shoes/boots in bleach or steam cleaning them is about the only way to kill them. It always amazes me how many seeds I find in the crease between my boot tongue and lace holes each time I clean my hiking boots. I have found a number of invasive weed seeds in/on my boots from places like Malheur Refuge, John Day River, Owyhee River, Malheur River, Umatilla area, Northern Nevada, SE Arizona, SW California. And... don't forget to clean your mutt and vehicle especially after you have been driving in eastern Oregon mud. Wayne Bowers -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090909/ff17d161/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed Sep 9 21:04:48 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:04:48 -0400 Subject: [obol] Trip to Klamath & Tule Refuges with photos Message-ID: <8CBFFE2F93A32DF-152C-82CB@webmail-d042.sysops.aol.com> My wife and I made a quick trip down to to Lower Klamath Refuge and Tule lake Refuge. Going past Upper Klamath lake we must have seen at least 500 White Pelicans from the highway. After getting down to the Lower Klamath Refuge we found the road you take thru the refuge and explored it. There were a lot of ducks everywhere, and a lot of hawks and at least 1 Bald Eagle on the prowl. You did not have many wide open vistas, there seemed to be lots openings in the mass of reeds and weeds. But you could not see the birds in those places. There were several roads opposite the Refuge that were better birding. I saw my first Black-necked Stilts.? There were about 40 birds in the group. Photo below. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3524/3905525370_54fdfe32e2_o.jpg There was a group of shore birds with the Stilts that I have not been able to ID. Picture here. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3523/3904071599_f1d9ee65af_o.jpg ?We stayed in?the little town of Merrill and went to the Ranger Station for Lower Klamath Refuge first thing the next morning. That is a very birdy place. You could easily spend half a day there. Lots of Warblers in the trees around the station. Lots of raptors in the cliffs behind the station. I stood by the little water feature behind the building and saw about a dozen Hummers competing for the feeders. I actually had one brush my ear in one of the many chase scenes. Very cool. Photo here: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3454/3905533218_ae39af3de0_o.jpg >From here we went to Tule Lake. It was covered with thousands of American Coots. I also found my first Western Grebe, Clark's Grebes, Snowy Egret and Ruddy Duck here. It was much more open than LKNWR. The road thru the area was great. I accidently flushed 8 White-faced Ibis that were invisible from the road. Unfortunately my photos only show them in profile as they flew away. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3478/3905550244_666fe1838e_o.jpg We left early to be able to go by Abert Lake on the way home. There we found a lot of peeps and a small group of American Avocet. My first. Photo: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3622/3904773353_33efe3d853_o.jpg We left there to try to get to Summer Lake before dark. We didn't know where to see birds there, and left with the impression that it was just a dry lake. All in all it was great, but the pace was too fast. We promised our selves to go back when we have several days to stay. I resolved to take a pillow for my tush next time. link to the birds we saw. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/sets/72157622199698299/detail/ Link to those not identified.? http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/sets/72157622197622943/detail/ Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090910/b001b4e8/attachment.html From bettymkn at netscape.com Wed Sep 9 21:12:01 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 21:12:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Godwits Message-ID: <20090909211201.9BBB1442@resin14.mta.everyone.net> The Godwits all showed up about 12:30-1:00 around the area just past the sandy beach close to the start of the walk. They worked their way down towards the hut as the tide was coming in. The first gentlemen with the camera also saw the peep and got some photos. If they stayed several hours after Suresh (thinking he was the second man with a camera) showed up they were there for quite a long time. Also a Caspian Tern hanging out on the beach early in the afternoon. Just a note. Something spooked the flock of birds on the beach and the Marbled flew a bit north back to the sandy beach while the Hudsonians stayed where they were. They were working the beach just below where the grassy area drops down. Someone that had not seen them go down there would not have known they were there except occasionally a head would pop up over the edge. Be sure and walk out to the edge of the grassy area and look over and see if they might be working along the ledge. Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscaape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Sep 9 21:44:57 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 21:44:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: report of Common Ground Doves Message-ID: Note OBRC shows one record, south coast August 2006. See below. Locals are going to try tomorrow. Will report immediately to OBOL if there is any news. The host family are hoping someone will come and confirm the sighting so we are working on that. Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Judy Meredith" To: "cobol" Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 9:12 PM Subject: [COBOL] FW: Common Ground Doves > Report of Common Ground Dove - chapter 2. > > Bruce and Bette are fine hosts for birds. Kudos to them also > for being OK with reporting and allowing visitors. I have not > been there but talked with them today and he called tonight at > dusk when the birds returned. > > The birds were not seen today until last light tonight. They first > saw the birds briefly on Monday a.m., again Tuesday in pm, and > now, Wednesday, finally at the end of the day. Bruce reports that > they are being harrassed by the larger Mourning Doves and will > leave when the MODOs make it too tough for them. > > Bruce describes them as smaller than Mourning Doves, with a short > and squared off tail. It was too dark tonight for him to see the bill, > if there was any red in the wing or if the eye was red etc. > > You have the address below. They are OK with visitors. Dean is > going over early a.m. I will go over later a.m. The feeder and ground > where Gardners put seed is in FRONT of the house. He says driving > up to the house or in the driveway won't disturb the birds. > > OBOL is ? down for maint right now. Records committee people, > Common Ground Doves have been in southern Oregon, but ever > farther north? If anyone sees them again, a post should go to OBOL > as well as COBOL with permission first from the Gardners. This is > a rare bird in Oregon, if wild etc. > Good birding, > judy > jmeredit at bendnet.com > --- Original Message ----- > From: "Jim Moodie" > To: > Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 7:10 PM > Subject: [COBOL] FW: Common Ground Doves > > On Behalf Of Bruce Gardner [bgardner at bendbroadband.com] > Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 11:26 AM > To: cobol-owner at lists.oregonstate.edu > Subject: Common Ground Doves > > We have had a pair of what appear to be Common Ground Doves coming toour > feeders in NE Bend.or address is 1646 NE Canyon Park Dr. Phone # 382-1006. > I > hope some one can confirm this sighting . From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Sep 9 22:08:27 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 22:08:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Hudonsian Gowits? Message-ID: <970524.84613.qm@web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Are the HUGOS still around? Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090909/9e4c3771/attachment.html From jmax11 at comcast.net Wed Sep 9 22:26:28 2009 From: jmax11 at comcast.net (jmax11 at comcast.net) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 22:26:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Basket Slough SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER Message-ID: <200999222628.090861@Jamie-VistaHP> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090909/7df0bf83/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Sep 9 22:31:33 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:31:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 09/09/09 Message-ID: <20090910053133.5DD38A82A6@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 09/03 to 09/09/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk only 3 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Cooper's Hawk 1 (1, 9/4) Band-tailed Pigeon 1 (3, 9/4) Vaux's Swift 1 (10, 9/3) Anna's Hummingbird 2 (3, 9/3) Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 (1, 9/4) Downy Woodpecker 1 (1, 9/4) Hairy Woodpecker 1 (1, 9/8) Northern Flicker 1 (1, 9/4) Pileated Woodpecker 2 (1, 9/3 & 4) Hutton's Vireo 2 (2, 9/4) Warbling Vireo 1 (4, 9/4) Steller's Jay 2 (8, 9/4) Western Scrub-Jay 2 (1, 9/4 & 8) American Crow 2 (2, 9/8) BARN SWALLOW 1 (1, 9/3) Black-capped Chickadee 3 (25, 9/4) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 3 (15) Bushtit 1 (12, 9/8) Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 (6) Brown Creeper 3 (3, 9/8) Bewick's Wren 2 (1, 9/4 & 8) Winter Wren 3 (2) Swainson's Thrush 2 (2, 9/4 & 8) Cedar Waxwing 1 (9, 9/8) Orange-crowned Warbler 1 (2, 9/4) Black-throated Gray Warbler 3 (2) Townsend's Warbler 1 (3, 9/4) Hermit Warbler 1 (1, 9/4) Wilson's Warbler 3 (4, 9/4) Spotted Towhee 3 (5) Song Sparrow 3 (10) Dark-eyed Junco 3 (12, 9/4) Purple Finch 1 (1, 9/4) House Finch 2 (4, 9/4) Pine Siskin 1 (1, 9/8) American Goldfinch 2 (6, 9/8) Evening Grosbeak 1 (2, 9/4) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: Western Screech-Owl Misses (birds found at least 3 days in previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Mourning Dove, Rufous Hummingbird, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Red Crossbill Wink Gross Portland From pamo at osubookstore.com Wed Sep 9 22:48:42 2009 From: pamo at osubookstore.com (Pam Otley) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 22:48:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] HUGOs 9/9, 6:45pm In-Reply-To: <672093360.328481252561159532.JavaMail.root@mail.mu.oregonstate.edu> Message-ID: <487264009.328501252561722820.JavaMail.root@mail.mu.oregonstate.edu> I looked for the Godwits from the HMSC path at about 6:00 pm. The three Marbled Godwits were feeding a bit north of the shelter but no sign of the Hudsonians. I proceeded south on the path and, while scanning the Idaho Flats area, noticed one of the MAGOs flying south toward the condos mentioned in a previous report. I returned to my car and drove around to those condos and scanned what I could see of the tide flats and, yes, there were the two Hudsonian Godwits and the three Marbled Godwits amongst assorted gulls. Terrific! From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Sep 9 23:02:23 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 23:02:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Annual Clean-up at Calliope Crossing, OFO requests volunteers Message-ID: Hi birders Everyone is welcome to pitch in with the annual clean-up and a bit of birding at Calliope Crossing on Oct 10, 2009. See the OFO website for details, link below. This premier birding location gets some heavy use from non-birders as well as birders. OFO is a sponsor for this site on the Three Sisters Loop of the Cascades Birding Trail. http://www.oregonbirds.org/Events/calliope.html For the present, we'll work on trash removal. Perhaps in the future we can partner with the Forest Service on some work to maintain or improve habitat, trails etc. Good clean birding, Judy jmeredit at bendnet.com From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Sep 9 23:42:55 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:42:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 9-10-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * September 10, 2009 * ORPO0909.10 - birds mentioned Northern Goshawk Red-shouldered Hawk HUDSONIAN GODWIT Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper Sabine?s Gull Common Tern Forster?s Tern Elegant Tern WHITE-WINGED DOVE Black Swift PHILADELPHIA VIREO BLUE JAY TENNESSEE WARBLER NORTHERN PARULA BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER Fox Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Lapland Longspur INDIGO BUNTING - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday September 10. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On September 5 a possible PHIADELPHIA VIREO and a TENNESSEE WARBLER were at Malheur NWR Headquarters On September 7 a female NORTHERN PARULA was at the Malheur Field Station. A male BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was seen September 5 at New Pine Creek south of Lakeview. The next day a WHITE-WINGED DOVE was there. Two HUDSONIAN GODWITS are now being seen behind the Marine Science Center on Yaquina Bay. On September 3 a BROAD-WINGED HAWK was south of Seaside at the Circle Creek Preserve. An INDIGO BUNTING in heavy molt is now at the EE Wilson SWA. Very heave migrations were reported during the week. On September 8 four BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were at the South Jetty of the Siuslaw River. On Cascade Head September 5 were a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR. On September 8 a BLUE JAY, a BLACK SWIFT, and three GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS were there. A FOX SPARROW was in Astoria September 9. On September 6 an ELEGANT TERN and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR were at the South Jetty of the Columbia River. On September 4 a GOSHAWK was in Milwaukie. A SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER was seen September 8 at Baskett Slough NWR. Three SABINE?S GULLS, 35 COMMON TERNS, and a FORSTER?S TERN were at Fern Ridge Reservoir September 4. The SABINE?S GULLS at Ochoco Reservoir near Prineville continue to be seen. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090909/86a38971/attachment.html From mary.logalbo at or.nacdnet.net Tue Sep 8 17:44:36 2009 From: mary.logalbo at or.nacdnet.net (Logalbo, Mary - Portland, OR) Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 18:44:36 -0600 Subject: [obol] OBOL Posting - Multnomah Weed Watchers Needed! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hello, I do not foresee a problem. I do not plan to post any further to this site, but wanted to make know local resources to those that are interested. I sent this posting in response to an email that was sent out about invasives - that often threaten native bird habitat - and wanting to let the birding community know that we are here to assist should they like to work with us. I hope this was helpful. Thank you, Mary Logalbo Conservation Planner/Technician West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District 2701 NW Vaughn St, Suite 450 Portland, OR 97210 Phone: 503 238 4775 Fax: 503 326 3942 -----Original Message----- From: Tom Crabtree [mailto:tc at empnet.com] Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 1:59 PM To: Logalbo, Mary - Portland, OR; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: RE: [obol] OBOL Posting - Multnomah Weed Watchers Needed! Do you offer FREE technical assistance for invasive emails that do not belong on a birding mailing list? If so, I have an email address for you that needs to be pulled before it becomes a big problem. -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Logalbo, Mary - Portland, OR Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 12:00 PM To: 'obol at oregonbirdwatch.org' Cc: Kern-Korot, Kamela - Portland, OR; 'Mary Coolidge' Subject: [obol] OBOL Posting - Multnomah Weed Watchers Needed! Hello! Please post the following to the Oregon Bird Watch website: The Multnomah Weed Watchers Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) program needs your help! The Multnomah Weed Watchers program assists volunteers in identifying and controlling new invaders before they become a big problem. We offer FREE technical assistance and in some cases will offer on-the-ground treatment of priority species. In addition, we offer free trainings designed to help you learn more about the problem of invasive species and develop skills to look for, identify, and report new invaders. If you would like to volunteer at community invasive species pulls we can help out with that too! If you find any of the following in Multnomah County, please file an online report at via the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline at http://oregoninvasiveshotline.org/ : * False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum) * Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) * Gorse (Ulex europaeus) * Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) * Indigo Bush (Amorpha fruticosa) * Knotweed species (Polygonum spp.) * Orange Hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum) * Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) * Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) * Spurge Laurel (Daphne laureola) * Travelers Joy/Old Man's Beard (Clematis vitalba) For more information please contact the West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District at 503.238.4775 or visit our website at www.wmswcd.org to view the complete EDRR Guide Booklet with detailed information about our priority EDRR species! Thanks, Mary Logalbo Conservation Planner/Technician West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District 2701 NW Vaughn St, Suite 450 Portland, OR 97210 Phone: 503 238 4775 Fax: 503 326 3942 _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From craig at greatskua.com Thu Sep 10 08:41:37 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:41:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Local RBA: Lewis's Woodpecker: Beaverton Message-ID: <20090910084137.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.9fae6b58ac.wbe@email.secureserver.net> I saw the Lewis's woodpecker at the Koll Center Wetlands at approximately 5:20 yesterday evening. I had only a brief view as it flew from the oaks to the west of the large, dead one on the island toward the southeast. I wasn't able to relocate it, but I didn't have a lot of time to search for it. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] Local RBA: Lewis's Woodpecker: Beaverton > From: "Greg Gillson" > Date: Wed, September 09, 2009 12:46 pm > To: "OBOL" > > > Tualatin Hills Nature Park Ranger Kelly Perry sent me email that there has > been a Lewis's Woodpecker hanging out at Greenway Park/Koll Center Wetlands > for the past 5 days. It has been in a dead oak on an island in a small pond > behind the business Digimarc (Gemini Street off Nimbus and Hall). > > I spent 9-11 there this morning. Didn't find the woodpecker, but nice views > of Cooper's, Sharp-shinned, and the first of the fall season Red-shouldered > Hawk for Washington County. > > You can approach from either the parking lot behind Digimarc off Gemini, or > from an access to Greenway Park near the corner of SW Settler Way and SW > Robbins Drive (off Scholls Ferry and Conestoga Dr). > > This is apparently the 6th County Record since 1960. Supposedly it was > common in summer in the oaks about 1902. > See the Washington County annotated bird checklist (updated 4 September > 2009): > http://thebirdguide.com/washington/washington%20birdlist.doc > > Greg Gillson > The Bird Guide, Inc. > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Sep 10 09:26:03 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:26:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur update Message-ID: Highlights this morning at HQ are female Lazuli (late), female blackchin still around, movement of tanagers, a couple of Hammond's Fly. Sodhouse had a Vaux's Swift, not common here. Numbers of towhees, chipping sparrows up. First RC Kinglet at HQ. Off to Boise for a few days, back to Malheur Sunday eve. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From tom-escue at comcast.net Thu Sep 10 10:27:23 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:27:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Springfield Goldfinches Message-ID: <69297B1983BD43EBB51EF1C50F686602@TomsPC> I too am getting a lot of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES at my Springfield back yard feeders. Fledglings are also real noisy while begging from the adults. Tom Escue -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090910/e742b82b/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Thu Sep 10 12:10:55 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:10:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cascade Head 9/10 Message-ID: 1 BLACKPOLL WARBLER (female/imm) 30 Yellow 10 Hermit 10 Townsend's 4 Wilson's 1 Orange-crowned 1 Western Tanager (singing) 3 Western Flycatcher 40 Cedar Waxwing (juv N) 25 Savannah Sparrow (all in one transient tight flock) raptors all drifting north over the top - 1 Red-shouldered 3 Sharp-shinned 1 Coopers 2 Kestrel hundreds- Veriegated Meadowhawk (flushing from the grass everywhere, no directional movement) +still many Silverspots on the summit, apparently a good year http://philliplc.com/images/xch09008.jpg Phil philliplc at charter.net From dan at heyerly.com Thu Sep 10 12:35:49 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Daniel d.Heyerly) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:35:49 -0400 Subject: [obol] Eugene migrants 9/9/2009 and 9/10/2009 Message-ID: Migrants present in Eugene (just north of the Willamette River and close to the Oakway Mall): 9/9/2009: Warbling Vireo Rufous Hummingbird 9/10/2009: Western Tanager (helping itself to our grapes) Black-headed Grosbeak Rufous Hummingbird Other residents generally making pigs of themselves on all days: Lesser Goldfinch American Goldfinch House Finch The goldfinches are especially attacking the few sunflower plants we have scattered around our garden. The seeds are not yet ripe/ready, so the birds are cutting out sections of the leaves and eating them. A couple of days ago I noticed that they were 'staging' in the red beets and winter cabbage plants. I had been blaming slugs and snails for the shredded beet and cabbage leaves. Nope. I was wrong. It was the goldfinches! That's a new behavior to me, but at least they are eating their vegetables!!! Dan Heyerly Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090910/5f1e01d8/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Sep 10 14:18:25 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:18:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene migrants 9/9/2009 and 9/10/2009 References: Message-ID: Hi Dan and folks with shredded veggie leaves. Have had a good number of Lesser Goldfinches through the summer (still around). Planted some Squash and once up and growing the Goldfinches have been pecking away since. Took me a bit to find out just who was shredding the squash plant leaves, but sure enough...Goldfinches. Next year I'm going to plant some just for them close to the thistle feeder in hopes they will leave some other plants further away along. Will see. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) The goldfinches are especially attacking the few sunflower plants we have scattered around our garden. The seeds are not yet ripe/ready, so the birds are cutting out sections of the leaves and eating them. A couple of days ago I noticed that they were 'staging' in the red beets and winter cabbage plants. I had been blaming slugs and snails for the shredded beet and cabbage leaves. Nope. I was wrong. It was the goldfinches! That's a new behavior to me, but at least they are eating their vegetables!!! Dan Heyerly Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090910/2bea8d58/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Sep 10 14:33:27 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:33:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Plumas Co PRBO Big Day Message-ID: <0E38641924474A8B87E6BE6B5C0940D2@Warbler> Colin Dillingham and myself managed to accomplish another Big Day Bird-a-thon for Point Reyes Bird Observatory on Sunday, 6 September in Plumas County, CA. Colin was attempting to find some species for his Big County Year and total number of species for the day was kind of a second concern. He got at least 3 more for about 215, beating his old County record. Managed 109 species for the day; nothing total unexpected. One of our first finds (with some daylight) were several Burrowing Owls. If anyone is interested in our list for the day, can send you a copy. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090910/9f1f24e6/attachment.html From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Thu Sep 10 15:19:54 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:19:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Reservoir, Sept 10 Message-ID: OBOL- Wayne Schmidt and I were able to find some shorebirds at FRR this morning. Water levels are still quite high and pheasant season has begun, but the best shorebird habitat was due south of the Royal Ave viewing platform at the extreme south end of the Redhead Pond. Shorebirds seen (numbers approx): -- Lesser Yellowlegs 8 --Greater Yellowlegs 4 --Least Sandpiper 25 --Western Sandpiper 15 --Baird's Sandpiper 0 --Semi-palmated Plover 4 --Killdeer 2 --LB Dowitcher 2 (juv) --SB Dowitcher 3 (juv) --Dowitcher sp 25 (presumed LB) Especially interesting was a prolonged study of Dowitchers. The flock was of mixed age, plumage, and species. With excellent views of feathering and a small library in the field, we convinced ourselves that 3 of the juveniles were Short-billed. Some juv LB's also present as well as many birds in solid basic plumage, some in eclipse (breeding --> winter), and one bird still in essentially full breeding plumage. I find the adults very difficult to separate, but this is the time of year to get down on juv SB Dowitcher, right? Barry McKenzie Eugene From andrewm25 at earthlink.net Thu Sep 10 16:01:09 2009 From: andrewm25 at earthlink.net (Andrew Marshall) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:01:09 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [obol] basket slough Message-ID: <29037026.1252623669460.JavaMail.root@mswamui-andean.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Went by Basket Slough today, just passing through... lots of tiny peeps in the mud (couldnt stop to ID, was sort of in a hurry) and a few white egrets. Not as many egrets as a few weeks ago, and no white pelicans either. Any idea when they do the draw down, seems late this year Regarding St. Augustines quote... a slightly modern version "two wrongs dont make a right, but three lefts will" Best wishes Andrew please stop by my photo albums at http://atlanticsalmonflyguy.myphotoalbum.com/albums.php or find me at webshots under the pseudonym Atlanticsalmonflyguy. Comments are always appreciated. Thank-you! From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Thu Sep 10 16:44:17 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:44:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Goldpiggies Message-ID: <81b2a9930909101644o69f7c1f8j2b0919e0dafbbe24@mail.gmail.com> Like Dennis, Dan, and Tom, I've been seeing a large uptick in AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES in my yard as well (flocks of roughly 20-25). That's pretty much par for the course, and I expect that number to triple by the end of the month. LESSER GOLDFINCHES have been picking at my sunflower leaves since late July. Normally that would annoy me, but my two largest plants were trampled by a raccoon about a month ago. I hate raccoons. Brandon Eugene From celata at pacifier.com Thu Sep 10 16:53:15 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:53:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Newport godwits today - 9/10/2009 Message-ID: <4AA9916B.7020204@pacifier.com> I my way through Newport on butterfly business, I stopped to twitch the HUDSONIAN GODWITS. I first came through this morning between 9:00 and 10:10. I found all three MARBLED GODWITS, but only one Hudsonian all WAY out on the flats. This afternoon around 16:00 I stopped by again at high tide. The 3 Marbleds and a single Hudsonian were right there at the hut almost too close to focus the camera on. I wonder where the second Hudsonian went? Also seen was a single juvie PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER and about a dozen LEAST SANDPIPERS. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Sep 10 16:59:29 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:59:29 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Hudsonian Godwit- Yes, 9/10/2009 Message-ID: <826658.32684.qm@web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Multiple observers found a single HUDSONIAN GODWIT with thee Marbled Godwits in the Idaho Flats area at Newport today. ?I observed the bird from about 1100-1300. ?The bird was about mid-way between the Hatfield center and the road that goes around the south end of the bay. The best viewing was walking out in the Salicornia at the SW end of the flats (it was low tide) a ways so you could actually get good looks at the bird, otherwise it was just a distance godwit that appeared smaller than the Marbleds. Tremendous find Em, Adrian and Chris!!!!!!!! Tim Rback in Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090910/be532f65/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Thu Sep 10 17:23:18 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:23:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] swallow & swift band Message-ID: <6BAFEA7CB6DF431AADEF326A6E583A68@yourw5st28y9a3> Late this morning while I was walking at Joe Dancer Pk in McMinnville a mixed flock of Barn Swallows, Violet-green Swallows and Vaux's Swifts passed overhead, pausing to sweep around for insects, chattering all the while. Pamela Johnston From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Sep 10 17:33:38 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:33:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Snowy Plover at Nehalem Message-ID: <4AA99AE2.4070601@verizon.net> To those interested, I was told of the previous records at Nehalem Bay for Snowy Plover: 7/13/84 1 adult plover Nehalem Spit a record of a plover was from 1972 when Wayne Hoffman recorded an immature plover. There has been historic nesting (records from the 1920s only). So it appears that it has been about 2.5 decades since a plover was seen at Nehalem. Cheers Dave Lauten Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From rfadney at hotmail.com Thu Sep 10 17:45:39 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:45:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Goldpiggies In-Reply-To: <81b2a9930909101644o69f7c1f8j2b0919e0dafbbe24@mail.gmail.com> References: <81b2a9930909101644o69f7c1f8j2b0919e0dafbbe24@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: We still have mega flocks of Lessers, but the American Gold finches have thinned out quite a bit. Our little gang of Rufous Hummers are still buzzing about all day long too. > Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:44:17 -0700 > From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Goldpiggies > > Like Dennis, Dan, and Tom, I've been seeing a large uptick in AMERICAN > GOLDFINCHES in my yard as well (flocks of roughly 20-25). That's > pretty much par for the course, and I expect that number to triple by > the end of the month. > > LESSER GOLDFINCHES have been picking at my sunflower leaves since late > July. Normally that would annoy me, but my two largest plants were > trampled by a raccoon about a month ago. I hate raccoons. > > Brandon > Eugene > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ With Windows Live, you can organize, edit, and share your photos. http://www.windowslive.com/Desktop/PhotoGallery -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090910/d1ff4b98/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Thu Sep 10 17:52:50 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:52:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Snowy Plover at Nehalem In-Reply-To: <4AA99AE2.4070601@verizon.net> References: <4AA99AE2.4070601@verizon.net> Message-ID: <0BABFCBEB52E4F3E85433D0C557C45E2@102889> Nehalem spit could mean on the open ocean side as opposed to the bay side. I will check my old records to see if I have anything more recent as I used to spend a week or two every summer at Manzanita for 17 years from '82 to '99. Tom Crabtree Bend, OR -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of DJ Lauten and KACastelein Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 4:34 PM To: Oregon Birders On Line Subject: [obol] Snowy Plover at Nehalem To those interested, I was told of the previous records at Nehalem Bay for Snowy Plover: 7/13/84 1 adult plover Nehalem Spit a record of a plover was from 1972 when Wayne Hoffman recorded an immature plover. There has been historic nesting (records from the 1920s only). So it appears that it has been about 2.5 decades since a plover was seen at Nehalem. Cheers Dave Lauten Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From sandyleapt at comcast.net Thu Sep 10 18:21:33 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:21:33 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrush thread Message-ID: <435102746.4636391252632093848.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> I want to thank people for alerting the rest of us to this phenomenon. I too had cricket noise problems in the evening so, Wednesday at 5:30 a.m. I bolted out of bed and ran barefooted into the garden to listen for Swainson's Thrush. I heard a freight train, several jets, I 84 traffic and what I think was a Barn Owl ( creeped me out I went back in). After cleaning my feet (barefoot birding not recommended in slug country) and having breakfast I had coffee on the back porch between 7:00 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. I think I heard a couple Swainson's Thrushes. One calling from the neighbor's pine trees and another from under the Viburnum and Clematis in my garden. The best I can figure is I heard either Swainson's Thrushes or a Bewick's Wren and a Pacific Chorus Frog. ;) It was great fun. Did I mention the mosquitoes ? Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090911/1e2878b3/attachment.html From jdanzenbaker at gmail.com Thu Sep 10 21:12:17 2009 From: jdanzenbaker at gmail.com (Jim Danzenbaker) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:12:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Night Flight In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Doug, As Mike Patterson stated, the spectacle of Swainson's Thrush migration seems to be patchy. It doesn't seem to be a broad swath of birds that is evenly dispersed across the night sky. Last Friday morning, I left the house at 3am and had loads of calling thrushes flying over the house. I drove about five miles west, got out and listened and heard nothing. I think it would interesting to note where people are located who hear all these thrushes overhead and plot them on a map then connect the dots to see if these streams of birds are following certain topographical features. (Should we have an official "Night Flight" night where everybody goes out at a certain time and listens and reports? - late evening and early morning if the stream fluctuates?) Yes, in this case, information on where they are *not* heard is just as important as where they *are* heard. I attempted to do this several years ago and collected data from great OBOL and Tweeters volunteers but, unfortunately, had very little time to critically analyze the data and report back to them. I hope to do something with this information in the future and volunteer names will be mentioned. Interestingly, I only hear Swainson's Thrushes in the Fall. I have never heard a night flight over my house in Battle Ground in Spring like folks in the Eugene area do. Therefore, I can only assume that the streams of Spring migrants are in different places than in the Fall. Regarding listening to them and separating them from other calls, that is difficult. I have found that the best time to hear the peak number flying over is about a half hour before sunrise. This is presumably when birds are ending their night flight and descending. Therefore, more birds are heard. A recent post on another listserve surmized that an *average* nocturnal migrant flies at *about* 5000 feet. Can you hear a calling Swainson's Thrush at 5000 feet? Who knows - probably not since that's almost a mile. Are the ones that we hear during the night (before descending flight in the morning) flying at less than 5000 feet and then that number is augmented in the early morning by birds descending from 5000 feet? Who knows. I do strongly feel that if you are in an area with not many other night sounds and you happen to be under one of the "streams" of migrants, you will hear them (assuming that you can hear thrushes, warblers, etc during the day). As far as separating the Swainson's Thrush calls from, say, tanagers and grosbeaks or something else like that, I can't comment because I'm not familiar with the night flight calls of those other species. However, thrush calls are a night and day difference compared to migrant warbler and sparrow chips. I am currently at the Western Field Ornithologist meeting in Boise, Idaho and we will do a couple of night flight field trips where we will hopefully hear something. Ted Floyd who does incredible work with night flights over Boulder Colorado will be there and hopefully we will hear other species besides Swainson's Thrushes. I don't listen from a hot tub, just have a window open and listening from the luxury (?) of my home. Keep your ears and eyes skyward! Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com On Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 2:06 PM, Douglas Kirkpatrick wrote: > Greetings, All, > > OK, so I went out last night and listened very carefully but only heard a > bazillion crickets and some remote highway traffic. > > How exactly does one listen for/identify Swainson thrushes or other birds > at night? Are you guys using parabolic dishes, sonar receivers, small > children with perfect hearing or what? Does it have to be 5 am ? I've heard > Swainson's and other during the day but at night the crickets are > overwhelming my auditory scanners (aka ears.) > > Thanks. > > Doug Kirkpatrick > Medford > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090910/f5472584/attachment.html From tjanzen at comcast.net Thu Sep 10 22:52:56 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:52:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: report of Common Ground Doves In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20090911055313.383F9A82A6@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear Judy and others, There is at least one other previous valid report of a Common Ground-Dove in Oregon besides the one in 2006. A Common Ground-Dove was photographed at a feeder somewhere near Medford about 2000. A copy of the photograph was sent to Harry Nehls. Harry brought it to a Portland Audubon Birder's Night and a number of us at the meeting reviewed the photograph there. We all agreed that the bird in the photo was a Common Ground-Dove. The photograph was subsequently misplaced by someone before it could be circulated through the OBRC. If anyone knows the person who saw and photographed the Common Ground-Dove near Medford about 2000, it would be helpful if another copy of the photograph could be sent to the OBRC. Sincerely, Tim Janzen -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Judy Meredith Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 9:45 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] FW: report of Common Ground Doves Note OBRC shows one record, south coast August 2006. See below. Locals are going to try tomorrow. Will report immediately to OBOL if there is any news. The host family are hoping someone will come and confirm the sighting so we are working on that. Judy Meredith From withgott at comcast.net Thu Sep 10 23:26:52 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:26:52 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Umatilla Co. shorebird bonanza, & other NE Oregon highlights, 8-9 Sept. In-Reply-To: <2095224242.4379451252650239566.JavaMail.root@sz0070a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <631824940.4379611252650412880.JavaMail.root@sz0070a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Jim Danzenbaker and I did some birding in NE Oregon, mostly Umatilla Co., 8 & 9 Sept., on our way to the Western Field Ornithologists conference in Boise. SANDERLING, MARBLED GODWIT, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, COMMON TERN, and SHORT-EARED OWL were some of the highlights. We also heard what sounded like a Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Hat Rock S.P. in Umatilla Co. twice at dawn, but were unable to locate the bird. Major stops included: * Umatilla NWR, Morrow Co., 8 Sept. * McNary Dam, Umatilla Co., 8 & 9 Sept. * Hat Rock S.P., Umatilla Co., 9 Sept. * Cold Springs Reservoir, Umatilla Co., 9 Sept. * McKay Reservoir, Umatilla Co., 9 Sept. * Ladd Marsh, Union Co., 9 & 10 Sept. Cold Springs Reservoir was excellent for shorebirds, and hosted at least 13 species. NWR signs prevented us getting close enough to most shorebirds to identify and count them all, which was a shame, but the scene here was impressive nonetheless. Highlight species included: Clark?s Grebe ? 3 at Cold Springs American White Pelican ? numerous and widespread; 1 to 60 birds at every major water body we stopped at. American Bittern ? 1 at Umatilla NWR, 1 at Ladd Marsh Virginia Rail ? 1 at Umatilla NWR, 1 at McNary Dam Sandhill Crane ? 100 at Ladd Marsh Semipalmated Plover ? 10 at Cold Springs, 1 at McKay Res. Greater Yellowlegs ? 2 at Umatilla NWR Lesser Yellowlegs ? 17 at Cold Springs SOLITARY SANDPIPER ? 1 at Cold Springs, 1 at jct. Edwards & Punkin Ctr Rds. MARBLED GODWIT ? 1 at Cold Springs SANDERLING ? 2 at Cold Springs Baird?s Sandpiper ? 14 at Cold Springs Pectoral Sandpiper ? 12 at Cold Springs Peeps (mostly Western, some Least, 1 possible Semipalmated) ? 200 at Cold Springs, small numbers elsewhere. Dunlin OR STILT SANDPIPER ? 1 at Cold Springs. * Dowitcher Sp. ? 10 at Cold Springs, all very distant Red-necked Phalarope ? 1 at Cold Springs Caspian Tern ? 1 at McNary Dam, 1 at Cold Springs COMMON TERN ? 2 flying over Columbia River north of Umatilla NWR Eurasian Collared Dove ? 2 south of Boardman, 6-8 at & near Hat Rock S.P. POSSIBLE Yellow-billed Cuckoo ? 1 at Hat Rock S.P. ** SHORT-EARED OWL ? 1 at Ladd Marsh at dusk Pileated Woodpecker ? 1 near Kamela, Umatilla Co. Olive-sided Flycatcher ? 1 at McNary Dam Cassin?s Vireo ? 1 at McNary Dam Bank Swallow ? many dozens, perhaps well over 100, at Cold Springs Western Bluebird ? 1 near Kamela, Umatilla Co. MacGillivray?s Warbler ? 1 at McNary Dam Lincoln?s Sparrow ? 4 at McNary Dam Lazuli Bunting ? 1 at McNary Dam Yellow-headed Blackbird ? 2 south of Boardman RIVER OTTER ? 3 at McNary Dam We had 102 species on the 9th, despite Jim?s getting food poisoning(!) and our having to curtail our birding to see a doctor and check into a motel. He is better now, but may choose not to order the mesquite chicken alfredo at the Shari?s restaurant in Hermiston again anytime soon. We are gearing up for a fine WFO conference in Boise now, and hope to report more eastern Oregon birds on our way home in several days. Jay Withgott Portland, OR * This extremely distant bird at the far edge of the lake was observed only at high power in our scopes through mild heat waves. While feeding with dowitchers it behaved consistently like a Stilt Sandpiper, but during the briefer time feeding alone it appeared to behave more like a Dunlin. Size (smaller than dowitchers and just slightly smaller than lesser yellowlegs) was consistent with either species, as was its color, and its bill could not be seen well enough to judge curvature. This bird was certainly either a Dunlin or a Stilt Sandpiper, but we cannot say which. ** Upon getting out of our car at dawn at the main parking lot at Hat Rock S.P., I heard twice and Jim heard once a series of several low cooing notes, slightly downslurred, in the manner of a cuckoo or roadrunner: ?coouh, coouh, coouh, coouh, coouh?. Extensive visual searching, listening, and playback did not produce the bird. Eurasian Collared Doves are in the area, but this call did not sound like an EC Dove. Habitat here is poor for keeping a YB Cuckoo in place for long, but is certainly passable for hosting a migrant or wanderer for a brief stay. Local birders may want to give this bird a try. From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Thu Sep 10 23:26:09 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:26:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Local RBA: Lewis's Woodpecker: Beaverton In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <003c01ca32a8$c0f64520$42e2cf60$@NET> My wife and I watched for the Lewis's from about 5 to 7 Thursday afternoon without success. The easiest approach to view the tree is form the parking lot Greg mentions in his post. We did have a flyover COMMON NIGHTHAWK. OT: there was a snake in a bush near the pond. It looked like a common garter snake but had a blue stripe instead of the yellow one in my very basic book. Photos of the snake at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_pix/ If anyone would care to ID the snake I would appreciate it. Tom Shreve -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Greg Gillson Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 12:47 PM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Local RBA: Lewis's Woodpecker: Beaverton Tualatin Hills Nature Park Ranger Kelly Perry sent me email that there has been a Lewis's Woodpecker hanging out at Greenway Park/Koll Center Wetlands for the past 5 days. It has been in a dead oak on an island in a small pond behind the business Digimarc (Gemini Street off Nimbus and Hall). I spent 9-11 there this morning. Didn't find the woodpecker, but nice views of Cooper's, Sharp-shinned, and the first of the fall season Red-shouldered Hawk for Washington County. You can approach from either the parking lot behind Digimarc off Gemini, or from an access to Greenway Park near the corner of SW Settler Way and SW Robbins Drive (off Scholls Ferry and Conestoga Dr). This is apparently the 6th County Record since 1960. Supposedly it was common in summer in the oaks about 1902. See the Washington County annotated bird checklist (updated 4 September 2009): http://thebirdguide.com/washington/washington%20birdlist.doc Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From pat2ly at comcast.net Thu Sep 10 23:48:05 2009 From: pat2ly at comcast.net (Pat Tilley) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:48:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Baskett Slough...Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Message-ID: On the way to Newport this morning before noon found one Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Baskett Slough. ST Sandpiper was in the north pond at the narrows of Coville Rd. on the east side of the pond with many Western and Least Sandpipers. In Newport, we saw the three Marbled and one Hudsonian Godwit just over the edge of the bank in front on the hut on the HMSC trail; and the Pacific Golden Plover, about 4:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon. Incredible viewing! It was a great shorebird viewing day!!! Pat Tilley Mary Lou Hornaday Salem -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090910/239aacfc/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Thu Sep 10 23:58:41 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:58:41 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Night Flight In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <1359370939.4381721252652321954.JavaMail.root@sz0070a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Doug and others -- I'll second what Jim says here. While local phenomena like cricket noise, traffic noise, etc., may certainly impede one's hearing, the Swainson's Thrush migration is indeed patchy, and we don't yet fully understand their migratory routes and nocturnal behavior. A number of us tonight here at the WFO Conference in Boise were talking about this very phenomenon, and nobody has solid answers right now. This and many other questions about nocturnal migration and night flight calls are at the cutting-edge frontier of knowledge in field ornithology. And this is something to which every birder can potentially make a contribution. I like Jim's idea of a many-observer effort on a single night across a wide geographic area. Doing this on even just a few nights would likely produce valuable data and insight that would be very hard to gather otherwise. Jay W, Portland ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Danzenbaker" To: "Douglas Kirkpatrick" Cc: "obol" Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 9:12:17 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: Re: [obol] Night Flight Doug, As Mike Patterson stated, the spectacle of Swainson's Thrush migration seems to be patchy. It doesn't seem to be a broad swath of birds that is evenly dispersed across the night sky. Last Friday morning, I left the house at 3am and had loads of calling thrushes flying over the house. I drove about five miles west, got out and listened and heard nothing. I think it would interesting to note where people are located who hear all these thrushes overhead and plot them on a map then connect the dots to see if these streams of birds are following certain topographical features. (Should we have an official "Night Flight" night where everybody goes out at a certain time and listens and reports? - late evening and early morning if the stream fluctuates?) Yes, in this case, information on where they are *not* heard is just as important as where they *are* heard. I attempted to do this several years ago and collected data from great OBOL and Tweeters volunteers but, unfortunately, had very little time to critically analyze the data and report back to them. I hope to do something with this information in the future and volunteer names will be mentioned. Interestingly, I only hear Swainson's Thrushes in the Fall. I have never heard a night flight over my house in Battle Ground in Spring like folks in the Eugene area do. Therefore, I can only assume that the streams of Spring migrants are in different places than in the Fall. Regarding listening to them and separating them from other calls, that is difficult. I have found that the best time to hear the peak number flying over is about a half hour before sunrise. This is presumably when birds are ending their night flight and descending. Therefore, more birds are heard. A recent post on another listserve surmized that an *average* nocturnal migrant flies at *about* 5000 feet. Can you hear a calling Swainson's Thrush at 5000 feet? Who knows - probably not since that's almost a mile. Are the ones that we hear during the night (before descending flight in the morning) flying at less than 5000 feet and then that number is augmented in the early morning by birds descending from 5000 feet? Who knows. I do strongly feel that if you are in an area with not many other night sounds and you happen to be under one of the "streams" of migrants, you will hear them (assuming that you can hear thrushes, warblers, etc during the day). As far as separating the Swainson's Thrush calls from, say, tanagers and grosbeaks or something else like that, I can't comment because I'm not familiar with the night flight calls of those other species. However, thrush calls are a night and day difference compared to migrant warbler and sparrow chips. I am currently at the Western Field Ornithologist meeting in Boise, Idaho and we will do a couple of night flight field trips where we will hopefully hear something. Ted Floyd who does incredible work with night flights over Boulder Colorado will be there and hopefully we will hear other species besides Swainson's Thrushes. I don't listen from a hot tub, just have a window open and listening from the luxury (?) of my home. Keep your ears and eyes skyward! Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com On Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 2:06 PM, Douglas Kirkpatrick wrote: > Greetings, All, > > OK, so I went out last night and listened very carefully but only heard a > bazillion crickets and some remote highway traffic. > > How exactly does one listen for/identify Swainson thrushes or other birds > at night? Are you guys using parabolic dishes, sonar receivers, small > children with perfect hearing or what? Does it have to be 5 am ? I've heard > Swainson's and other during the day but at night the crickets are > overwhelming my auditory scanners (aka ears.) > > Thanks. > > Doug Kirkpatrick > Medford > _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From m.denny at charter.net Fri Sep 11 07:37:27 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:37:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Umatilla Co. shorebird bonanza, & other NE Oregon highlights, 8-9 Sept. References: <631824940.4379611252650412880.JavaMail.root@sz0070a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <977276839D954B3ABFE4C8C4E74359DA@24FLIGHT> There were a couple Stilt Sandpipers on the Walla Walla River Delta/Tyson Pond for a week - then on the 7th the water level went up and the mud disappeared. So your bird could easily have been a stilt - Cold Springs is just a short flight away. MerryLynn From Elaine.Stewart at oregonmetro.gov Fri Sep 11 08:59:51 2009 From: Elaine.Stewart at oregonmetro.gov (Elaine Stewart) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:59:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Off-topic postings and a plea for kindness In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi everyone, Maybe it's just because it's Friday and I'm tired, but I sighed heavily when I read another unforgiving reply to a well-intentioned but unwanted (by some) posting. Some of you OBOLers can be a pretty tough crowd. Maybe you always follow the rules perfectly and never make a mistake, but I certainly can't say that for myself. (I can't wait to see the replies to this posting...) The latest case that spurred these comments was Mary Logalbo's about EDRR for invasive weeds. Sure it's not about bird sightings. It IS about bird habitat, and Mary and the crew at WMSWCD do a lot of great work that benefits us by improving habitat for those feathered dinosaurs we love to watch. I cringe when I see OBOL slapping the hands of a partner, just as much as I cringe when newbies are not supported. If we want to discourage announcements such as hers, there are ways to do it gently. To quote Kurt Vonnegut: "There's only one rule that I know of, babies-*** **** it, you've got to be kind." Elaine Stewart Senior Natural Resources Scientist Metro 503.797.1515 503.797.1849 fax elaine.stewart at oregonmetro.gov www.oregonmetro.gov People Places | Open Spaces From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Sep 11 09:43:31 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:43:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Photo: Beaverton Lewis's Woodpecker 9/6/09 Message-ID: <32035995ED36482181378ADE7A3C348D@GREG> Received this just now... Greg We've never meet, and I don't belong to any birdwatching organizations. My name is Ron Anderson, and I'm retired, and got into bird watching last year after some guided bird walks with Kelly Perry, a Beaverton Parks Ranger. I also went on one with Paul Sullivan this past spring in the same location. I photographed this Lewis's Woodpecker last Sunday 9-6-09 in a dead tree in the Koll Business Park, bordering the Greenway Park, in Beaverton, around 3:15 in the afternoon. I didn't know how rare it was until Kelly informed me. I went to see if it is still around this morning, and ran into Paul Sullivan, and he wanted me to make sure you got some photos of this bird. I have 19 photos that I thought were worthy of not deleting. I'm going to send you three of them, but if you want more, you're welcome to them. Here's the first of three.......Ron Photo is at: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/117143466 Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From tyler_hicks at wsu.edu Fri Sep 11 10:05:07 2009 From: tyler_hicks at wsu.edu (Tyler Hicks) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:05:07 -0500 Subject: [obol] Off-topic postings and a plea for kindness In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: OBOLers, I have to agree with Elaine. I don't think anyone is forced to read every e-mail they receive so I can't fathom why one e-mail on invasive weeds would be cause to infuriate one person. Certainly invasive weeds have far more to do with birds than some other threads I've seen on the listserv. I see no harm in one e-mail about invasive weeds just as much as I see no harm in pointless drawn out threads about how far one can see or identify birds on the horizon or estimating Brown Pelican flocks (I think someone got flogged about that too!). Perhaps I'm too young to be jaded or just to busy to care but people need to lighten up, go birding, and relax. By the way does anyone know how to contact the obnoxious weeds board in Deschutes County? I know a certain crabtree that needs to be eradicated. Cheers, Tyler Tyler L. Hicks Ph.D. Student Washington State University Vancouver E-mail: tyler_hicks at wsu.edu Web Page: http://thingswithwings.org "We were certainly uncertain. At least, I'm pretty sure I am." - Modest Mouse > From: Elaine.Stewart at oregonmetro.gov > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:59:51 -0700 > Subject: Re: [obol] Off-topic postings and a plea for kindness > > Hi everyone, > > Maybe it's just because it's Friday and I'm tired, but I sighed heavily when I read another unforgiving reply to a well-intentioned but unwanted (by some) posting. Some of you OBOLers can be a pretty tough crowd. Maybe you always follow the rules perfectly and never make a mistake, but I certainly can't say that for myself. (I can't wait to see the replies to this posting...) The latest case that spurred these comments was Mary Logalbo's about EDRR for invasive weeds. Sure it's not about bird sightings. It IS about bird habitat, and Mary and the crew at WMSWCD do a lot of great work that benefits us by improving habitat for those feathered dinosaurs we love to watch. I cringe when I see OBOL slapping the hands of a partner, just as much as I cringe when newbies are not supported. If we want to discourage announcements such as hers, there are ways to do it gently. To quote Kurt Vonnegut: "There's only one rule that I know of, babies-*** **** it, you've got to be kind. > " > > Elaine Stewart > Senior Natural Resources Scientist > Metro > 503.797.1515 > 503.797.1849 fax > > elaine.stewart at oregonmetro.gov > > www.oregonmetro.gov > People Places | Open Spaces > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ With Windows Live, you can organize, edit, and share your photos. http://www.windowslive.com/Desktop/PhotoGallery -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090911/9dc3de76/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Fri Sep 11 12:26:31 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:26:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cascade Head 9/11 meadowhawks etc Message-ID: <4831B6AB825844B1A5CE1A349CE18818@Phil> Variegated Meadowhawk - continuous directional flight visible while I was there 7:15-8:45, with conservatively 40/min spread out flying SE into the meadow from off the ocean, and a more concentrated stream of 50-80/minute headed due S through the small saddle on the summit. E/NE wind. http://philliplc.com/images/xch09009.jpg also- 2 LESSER GOLDFINCH (pair, inc. first male I've seen here) http://philliplc.com/images/xch09010.jpg 30+ Yellow Warbler 15+ Townsend's 2 Hermit 1 Western Flycatcher 2 Peregrine (adult pair parked in snag on the rim) http://philliplc.com/images/xch09011.jpg 400+ Cedar Waxwing (many small flocks N, again what I was able to sample seemed to be entirely segregated hatch-year) http://philliplc.com/images/xch09012.jpg 20+ Swainson's Thrush (inc. at least 1 Olive-backed) large pale non-local Savannah - http://philliplc.com/images/xch09013.jpg Phil philliplc at charter.net From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Sep 11 12:38:16 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:38:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Speaking of weeds and bird habitat Message-ID: <1252697896.3384.300.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, The discussion of weeds and birds on OBOL reminds me that there is a work party for one of the Willamette valley's best birding sites, Finley NWR, scheduled for tomorrow. When: September 12th (at Finley NWR) Time: 10am ? 1pm -Refuge Tour to Follow- Bring: Hat, Sunscreen, Water, Smile, Gloves, Boots, Long Sleeved Shirt Meet: at Woodpecker Loop Parking Area I know that many of you have been remembering former valley refuge manager Rich Guadagno today, and some of you knew him better than I did. One thing I remember is that he liked working on native habitat, and taking out invasive weeds. It might be a nice tribute to all he did for birders in the Willamette Valley, for a few of us to get out there and pull some weeds tomorrow. See you there, and bring your bins too. Good birding, Joel P.S. There will be another work party at Ankeny NWR on October 17th. For additional details please see: http://www.fws.gov/WillametteValley/complex/index.html And if you want to know a little more about Rich and one of the places he worked on, see: http://www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails/trailNRT/GuadagnoBaskett-OR.html -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From lbviman at blackfoot.net Fri Sep 11 13:16:25 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:16:25 -0600 Subject: [obol] eradicating noxious weeds In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090911201151.387349B0211@mail.blackfoot.net> What's a crabtree? I picture the BBC report on spaghetti trees years ago... I thought such things were somehow beneficial X;{ - Jim Greaves, MT At 01:00 PM 9/11/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >By the way does anyone know how to contact the obnoxious weeds board >in Deschutes County? I know a certain crabtree that needs to be eradicated. > >Cheers, > >Tyler From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Fri Sep 11 13:42:21 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:42:21 -0400 Subject: [obol] negative Swainson's Message-ID: Last year when obolers reported the nighttime migration of Swainson's, I went out to listen in my yard. It was wonderful hearing them overhead and even falling out into the nearby woodland. I am on the eastern edge of the coast range in Columbia County. This year so far -- nearly zero. I've gone out predawn and other times, starry nights and overcast. Our snowy tree crickets offer some competition, but they sing less as dawn approaches. I think I heard maybe one or two Swainson's, not the continuous stream like last year. Does it matter if there are tree farms, clearcuts, or real forests on the migration route? If landing spots are poor, maybe they change course the following year. I hope the new management plan on the Clatsop and Tillamook state forests won't hurt Swainson's in the long term. Topic for grad students? Lona Pierce, Warren _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=PID23391::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HYGN_faster:082009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090911/ab5c6fc8/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Fri Sep 11 14:03:04 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:03:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] OBOL Postings In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <924B8CD8C290430881BC424DC5302134@102889> I suppose the question should be what is OBOL and what should it be. I have taken some flack and some of it personal, which my email was not, for questioning whether postings of the type Mary Logalbo posted regarding noxious weeds. This is a bird list about birds and sightings as most of us know. Certainly weeds have a bit to do about the environment and tangentially to birds as well. Should we welcome any posting that tangentially deals with birds? What about cats? They affect birds far more than weeds do. What about pesticides? They affect birds a lot more than weeds do as well. What about all sorts of conservation issues, as they can have a serious impact on birds. What about individual candidates for public office when conservation is an issue? Then there are discussions about birds themselves. What about one's pet birds, should we open it to that? How about the athletic teams that are named after birds. I could go on and on about the Cardinals. Jeff could talk about the Ducks. Others could chime in about the Blue Jays, Orioles, Seahawks, Falcons, Eagles, Owls and probably 100 more. Then there is the whole commercial aspect of postings. Unless I am greatly mistaken, Mary's posting fell into this category, too. A commercial/governmental venture offering a service to private individuals. Should we have a policy allowing all of these? We never have before, but is that the will of the group? Let's say Alex Author makes so much off his royalties on his book, "Astream," that he can retire from his government job and open a bookstore, a nature bookstore. Should he then be able to post weekly notices on the books he has for sale? What about our retirees, Evan and Jimm. If Jimm opens a health food store, should he post daily about what he is selling to keep everyone organic and healthy and benefiting nature at the same time? And Evan, realizing that his government pension won't let him live the life he wants, instead of selling his binoculars once a decade, opens an optical store and has posts about the latest great equipment he is selling? How about Tommy Tourguide, hawking his services as a private birding tour guide at $30 an hour, is that fair game? Or Kevin Cameraguy who every week sends out 30 jpeg attachments of his latest bird photos that he is offering for sale. There is no end to this, folks. On our local birding list we even had one guy, pedaling his latest real estate offerings saying, "Just think of the yard list you could have if you bought this house!" As I see it, we can either have rules as to what we allow and what we don't allow, or let everyone have free reign and post whatever they want. I have been a member of some lists that have had no rules and deteriorated into cat-chat and flame wars. I would rather OBOL didn't go down that path. But if everyone wants to do that, I can start off by posting a "Job wanted" announcement for my unemployed son. Tom Crabtree Bend, OR From namitzr at hotmail.com Fri Sep 11 15:08:18 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:08:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos BAR-TAILED GODWITS Message-ID: Tim Rodenkirk just called and said there were 2 BAR-TAILED GODWITS at Pigeon Pt in Empire, between Coos Bay and Charleston. Access is behind (NW) the fenced off pumphouse through a short forest path to the bayshore. There is very limited parking on the west side of the road. Easier parking exists across Cape Arago Hwy along Miluk Dr. http://maps.google.com/maps?q=43.362415,-124.30018 I'm heading out after school to try and refind the birds. Good birding, Russ Namitz -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090911/d608ffe0/attachment.html From srnord101 at verizon.net Fri Sep 11 15:23:53 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:23:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cascade Head 9/11 meadowhawks etc Message-ID: <000001ca332e$8c1a5a90$a44f0fb0$@net> OBOL; Like Phil Pickering, I was also on Cascade Head this morning and witnessed the southward movement of the VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWKS he reported earlier. I did multiple "minute-timed" counts to determine the rate, which increased after Phil's departure. This was at the lower lookout and I counted only those passing within 30 feet in front of me. The insects covered a much larger area however. 9:30-9:40 the counts averaged out to 150/min 9:55-10:00 the average was 113/min 10:15 the flight had stopped. Amazing to see the sky empty out like that when earlier it was a constant stream of insects. Also saw 2 COMMON GREEN DARNERS moving southward too. I saw some of the same birds Phil reported. Missed the warblers. In addition I had my scope with me, and did a short sea watch. Very quiet out on the water. 9 SOOTY SHEARWATER 154 BROWN PELICAN 31 HEERMANN'S GULL 1 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 1 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK 27 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW 15 RED CROSSBILL Also appeared to be a movement (?) of STELLER'S JAYS along the cliff-edged trees. Saw 20 birds playing follow-the-leader through the trees. Also while I drove Hwy 101 from Tillamook to Cascade Head, seemed to be higher numbers of Steller's Jays flying across the road. Two pleasant surprises was a PORCUPINE on the lower trail, and a NORTHERN ALLIGATOR LIZARD near the lower lookout. Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Fri Sep 11 15:31:45 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:31:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Tom Crabtree's Post & My Reaction To It Message-ID: <99852.40746.qm@web51809.mail.re2.yahoo.com> I personally think people are making far too much out of Tom's post. I took his tongue and cheek "invasive email" post as not much more than a clever play on words and I personally had a hardy chuckle, thus he won points with me...and I'm someone who is actively interested in the topic of invasive species. It seemed to me it was simply a humorous way of expressing his opinion. While I did not find Tom's post offensive, I did find the personal attacks on him offensive. It is the only place where I firmly draw the line on something that does not belong on OBOL. This is especially true when it involves someone like Tom who has spent who knows how many volunteer hours (officially and unofficially) on bird habitat/conservation issues. I've held my tongue before when other obolers who I happen to have enormous respect for got personally attacked on OBOL. Today, I'm just not in the mood to do so. There's never going to be firm boundaries on what is and isn't allowed on OBOL topic wise but I think we could all agree that our disagreements over this issue and/or any other issues should never escalate to the point of it becoming a personal attack on an individual. Cindy Ashy From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri Sep 11 15:32:52 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:32:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fw: Coos BAR-TAILED GODWITS- more instructions Message-ID: <65059.32996.qm@web45315.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Here are more detailed instructions. ?From Hwy 101 in Coos Bay/North Bend take any of the turnoffs to Charleston/Cape Arago. ?Follow these roads through Coos Bay/North Bend all the way to the Empire area of Coos Bay. ?You'll be driving along past the Bay Area Athletic Club and the Silver Dollar saloon and you'll come to a 90 degree turn to the left with the first views of the bay. ?Follow the road left here and continue 2.3 miles down a hill to where a small pumping station is with a fence around it (easy to miss, it's at the bottom of a hill). Parking is very limited (one vehicle) so it's best to continue a few hundred feet further and turn left into the Indian Reservation. ?You can park off the road here close to the main Hwy to Charleston. Walk across the Hwy and go around the outside of the fence to a short trail to the bay. ?The two juvie BTGO were just to the right when you get out to the bay with a flock of CA Gulls. ? As I watched the birds the fog rolled in so thick that it may be difficult to even see them a few hundred feet away by later this afternoon (I saw them at 2:45PM). ?The tides were coming in- this spot is best birded at or near high tide for shorebirds. ?I've seen BTGO here once before, it was really foggy then too! ?Good week for unusual godwits... Good luck anyone who goes to look, I'm off to Bandon Marsh in the AM tomorrow to lead a Cape Arago Audubon Field Trip, we'll be at the observation deck at 9:45AM or so, bring mud boots if you want to tag along. ?The tides aren't particularly low for low tide, but I'm still hoping we can muck around a bit? Merry migration!Tim RCoos Bay --- On Fri, 9/11/09, Russ Namitz wrote: From: Russ Namitz Subject: [obol] Coos BAR-TAILED GODWITS To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Friday, September 11, 2009, 3:08 PM Tim Rodenkirk just called?and said there were 2 BAR-TAILED GODWITS at Pigeon Pt in Empire, between Coos Bay and Charleston.? Access is behind (NW) the fenced off pumphouse through a short forest path to the bayshore.? There is very limited parking on the west side of the road.? Easier parking exists across?Cape?Arago Hwy?along?Miluk Dr.? ? http://maps.google.com/maps?q=43.362415,-124.30018 ? I'm heading out after school to try and refind the birds. ? Good birding, Russ Namitz -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090911/371108b9/attachment.html From birdmandon at clearwire.net Fri Sep 11 16:15:56 2009 From: birdmandon at clearwire.net (Don Schrouder) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:15:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Florence/So. Jetty Shorebirds Message-ID: We made a trip over to the South Jetty and deflation plain this morning to see if all the good birds were still around. The good news- they were! And the weather was perfect-sunny and little wind. The first stop was to walk out Dotterel dike into the deflation plain look for the Buff-breasted Sandpipers. They were about 150 yards north along with some Pacific Golden Plovers. Both groups were separate at first but later joined. The Buff-breasted actually sat down and let us approach within easy photo range- about 25-30 ft. The Pacifics were much more flighty and distant. Deflation plain: Buff-breasted Sandpipers- 4 Pacific Golden Plovers- 4 American Bittern- 3 American Pipits- several On the way out the dike, Am. Goldfinch, Cedar Waxwing, Blk-cap Chickadee,Song Sparrow,etc. South Jetty: Wandering Tattler- 2 Ruddy Turnstone- 1- the Tattlers & Turnstones were very cooperative for the photographers Black Turnstone- 1 Sooty Shearwaters- several off the end of the jetty Brown Pelicans- several Crab Docks: group of a dozen California Gulls One Caspian Tern over the river A Great day at the coast- Don Schrouder with Sylvia Maulding. From hhactitis at yahoo.com Fri Sep 11 17:15:24 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:15:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Florence BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS etc. Message-ID: <440505.42349.qm@web37008.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello OBOL, I didn't really have any time to go birding today, but I managed to squeeze in a very brief run out to the South Jetty Deflation Plain in the afternoon - and it was well worth it! I didn't see the Pacific Golden-Plovers reported by Don Schrouder (then again, I didn't go out into the plain far enough), but the 4 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS (presumably the same birds I found 3 days ago) were very obliging and posed for some nice pictures (I'll post some later). The Buffies were rather easily found near the end of the dike, at first about 150 yards north, then they flew south and hung out pretty much were the dike meets the dune. I met Richard Messenger out there, who also got to enjoy great looks at the Buffies (he actually gets credit for spotting them first!). In the same vicinity I also noted 6-7 AMERICAN PIPITS, and Judy Meredith, Sharon Wright and other Bend birders reported one LAPLAND LONGSPUR from that area. On my way back out along the dike I noted the following: 2 Green-winged Teal 1 American Bittern 1 Great Egret 1 Whimbrel 1 Pectoral Sandpiper - acting much like a Phalarope, swimming in the water and turning in circles 1 Black Phoebe Absolutely nothing at the Dog Pond, and I had no time to check out any other areas (it was high tide, anyway). Happy fall migration Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090911/d9000990/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Fri Sep 11 17:28:00 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:28:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Godwit and meadowhawks - 9/11/2009 Message-ID: <4AAAEB10.9050903@pacifier.com> There was at least one HUDSONIAN GODWIT in the bay behind the science center this morning. Lots of egrets as well. I also got to see a big movement of southbound VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWKS. I counted about 60/min headed down HWY 101 from the wall at DePoe Bay at around 09:30. A FOX SPARROW and flock of AMERICAN PIPITS were the avian highlights on Mt Hebo. Plus a good movement 2-3/min of CALIFORNIA TORTOISESHELLS. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From hhactitis at yahoo.com Fri Sep 11 17:33:49 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:33:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Buff-breasted Sandpiper photos Message-ID: <382005.52052.qm@web37008.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Here's a link to a few of my Buff-breasted pictures, for those who are interested: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22154335 at N07/sets/72157622217634591/ Sweet birds!!! Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090911/df70ba02/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri Sep 11 18:00:42 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:00:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Bar-tailed Godwits-Nope! Message-ID: <154120.96979.qm@web45316.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Just heard from Russ Namitz that the birds I saw were not BTGOs but were in fact Marbled Godwits- dang! ?I saw them in the fog and they sure looked gray to me before the pea soup fog came and I left them alone so Russ could come out and see them, which he did, and wala, they turned into Marbleds?! ?Sorry about the mix up, that's what happens when you don't get really good looks though!! ?I guess the Hudsonian Godwit got me too fired up. ?Nice to have Russ around to keep me on the straight and narrow. On another note, there was a single BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER out on the north spit at 5PM- I'm pretty sure about that one because I actually got really good looks! So sorry... Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090911/ed4ff432/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Fri Sep 11 18:47:02 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:47:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Godwit and meadowhawks & Re: Cascade Head meadowhawks etc [Dragonfly Flight on 9/11] Message-ID: Hi, Besides Phil Pickering's, Steve Nord's, and Mike Patterson's OBOL reports of the dragonfly flight this morning, I also received several telephone calls from Betty Bahn, Chuck Philo, and Tina --- about the flight. Taken together, there were reports from Cascade Head, Depoe Bay, Newport, Alsea Bay (Bayshore), and Yachats for dragonflies heading in a southerly direction until about 10-10:15 AM. Some observers estimated "thousands" and timed counts of what could be seen passing with unaided eyes over a 25-50 yard line were up to 150-200/minute at Cascade Head and Yachats. Timed counts give an index of the abundance, but can't estimate the total numbers passing--a wider line is not feasible with unaided eyes because the dragonflies are not visible. One could use binocs to have a wider line, but then counts are harder to compare to counts with unaided eyes. This flight was impressive! At 10 AM in Newport, I could see that the flight was breaking up, as some were beginning to head east, and a few were flying north. The change in direction, especially flying eastward, has been noted at the end of previous major flights. Other observers also noted that the flight was ending at about 10-10:15, and looking at weather station data, this was also about the time that the wind direction changed from being from an easterly direction to having a westerly component. Past major flights have also ended with a shift of wind direction. Most past major flights have been associated with very warm temperatures and especially strong winds from the east. But not this flight. It was a bit warmer than normal, but winds from the east only had gusts of up to 5-10 miles per hour. One hypothesis has been that strong winds from the east have pushed dragonflies to the coast, and they then flew south along the coastline. This flight did not fit that pattern, but it did occur during the time window of late August-September when major southerly flights have been reported in the past. Although most dragonflies observed in these flights appear to be Variegated Meadowhawks (Sympetrum corruptum), Steve Nord's observation of 2 Green Darners is significant because a few darners have been captured and also reported in the past in flights and may be regular in low numbers. I suspect that they can be easily overlooked because it is not easy to sort through many flying dragonflies to identify all of them. Capturing them during a flight to be able to identify them is difficult, and one way to identify them has been to look for roadkills alongside of HWY 101 where a flight has crossed the highway as they often may only be a few feet above the substrate. But roadkilled dragonflies can be hard to see in ditches without getting low (e.g., your eyes are about 3 ft above the ground). Photographing dragonflies that have landed is possible, but photographing them during a flight is more challenging, but could be a good way to better identify them. Thanks to the observers who reported this flight! There may be more flights! One year, I recall that we had major flights several days in a row, but that was unusual. Many years we don't have a major flight at all. Also see Pacific Northwest Dragonfly Migration Project (http://www.ent.orst.edu/ore_dfly/migrate.htm) and http://yaquina.info/ybn/nature/nature.htm#dragonflies Happy observing! Range Bayer, Newport ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Mike Patterson Date: Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 5:28 PM Subject: [obol] Godwit and meadowhawks - 9/11/2009 To: OBOL , Northcoast Land Conservancy There was at least one HUDSONIAN GODWIT in the bay behind the science center this morning. Lots of egrets as well. I also got to see a big movement of southbound VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWKS. I counted about 60/min headed down HWY 101 from the wall at DePoe Bay at around 09:30. A FOX SPARROW and flock of AMERICAN PIPITS were the avian highlights on Mt Hebo. Plus a good movement 2-3/min of CALIFORNIA TORTOISESHELLS. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 3:23 PM, Steve Nord wrote: > OBOL; > > Like Phil Pickering, I was also on Cascade Head this morning and witnessed > the southward movement of the VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWKS he reported earlier. ?I > did multiple "minute-timed" counts to determine the rate, which increased > after Phil's departure. ?This was at the lower lookout and I counted only > those passing within 30 feet in front of me. The insects covered a much > larger area however. > > 9:30-9:40 the counts averaged out to 150/min > 9:55-10:00 the average was 113/min > 10:15 the flight had stopped. ?Amazing to see the sky empty out like that > when earlier it was a constant stream of insects. > Also saw 2 COMMON GREEN DARNERS moving southward too. > > I saw some of the same birds Phil reported. Missed the warblers. In addition > I had my scope with me, and did a short sea watch. Very quiet out on the > water. > 9 ? SOOTY SHEARWATER > 154 BROWN PELICAN > 31 ?HEERMANN'S GULL > > 1 ?SHARP-SHINNED HAWK > 1 ?RED-SHOULDERED HAWK > 27 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW > 15 RED CROSSBILL > Also appeared to be a movement (?) of STELLER'S JAYS along the cliff-edged > trees. ?Saw 20 birds playing follow-the-leader through the trees. ?Also > while I drove Hwy 101 from Tillamook to Cascade Head, seemed to be higher > numbers of Steller's Jays flying across the road. > > Two pleasant surprises was a PORCUPINE on the lower trail, and a NORTHERN > ALLIGATOR LIZARD near the lower lookout. > > Good Birding > Steve Nord > Hillsboro, OR > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Phil Pickering Date: Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 12:26 PM Subject: [obol] Cascade Head 9/11 meadowhawks etc To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Variegated Meadowhawk - continuous directional flight visible while I was there 7:15-8:45, with conservatively 40/min spread out flying SE into the meadow from off the ocean, and a more concentrated stream of 50-80/minute headed due S through the small saddle on the summit. E/NE wind. http://philliplc.com/images/xch09009.jpg also- 2 LESSER GOLDFINCH (pair, inc. first male I've seen here) http://philliplc.com/images/xch09010.jpg 30+ Yellow Warbler 15+ Townsend's 2 Hermit 1 Western Flycatcher 2 Peregrine (adult pair parked in snag on the rim) http://philliplc.com/images/xch09011.jpg 400+ Cedar Waxwing (many small flocks N, again what I was able to sample seemed to be entirely segregated hatch-year) http://philliplc.com/images/xch09012.jpg 20+ Swainson's Thrush (inc. at least 1 Olive-backed) large pale non-local Savannah - http://philliplc.com/images/xch09013.jpg Phil philliplc at charter.net _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From deweysage at verizon.net Fri Sep 11 19:07:23 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:07:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Godwit and meadowhawks & Re: Cascade Head meadowhawks etc [Dragonfly Flight on 9/11] In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4AAB025B.2080509@verizon.net> I'm no dragonfly guy, but yesterday when Kathy and I were at N Tahkenitch, Douglas Co doing Snowy Plover surveys, the wind was out of the east in the morning and it was very warm, and there was a huge amount of some kind of smallish dragonfly everywhere you looked. Also on the beach was a massive amount of winged ant looking things - small wings, not large long ones. There were so many of these critters that the gulls and shorebirds were going bonkers feeding on them, easily picking them up left and right. One Snowy Plover was flipping them this way and that and not even eating them, as if it couldn't resist to bend down and attack the moving object, but not really needing to eat it so flipping it over its shoulder. Then the wind shifted to the NW literally in about 30 seconds and that was that, dragonflies gone. The ant creatures didn't leave, I think most were doomed. Cheers Dave Lauten Range Bayer wrote: > Hi, > > Besides Phil Pickering's, Steve Nord's, and Mike Patterson's OBOL > reports of the dragonfly flight this morning, I also received several > telephone calls from Betty Bahn, Chuck Philo, and Tina --- about the > flight. Taken together, there were reports from Cascade Head, Depoe > Bay, Newport, Alsea Bay (Bayshore), and Yachats for dragonflies > heading in a southerly direction until about 10-10:15 AM. Some > observers estimated "thousands" and timed counts of what could be seen > passing with unaided eyes over a 25-50 yard line were up to > 150-200/minute at Cascade Head and Yachats. Timed counts give an > index of the abundance, but can't estimate the total numbers > passing--a wider line is not feasible with unaided eyes because the > dragonflies are not visible. One could use binocs to have a wider > line, but then counts are harder to compare to counts with unaided > eyes. This flight was impressive! > > At 10 AM in Newport, I could see that the flight was breaking up, > as some were beginning to head east, and a few were flying north. The > change in direction, especially flying eastward, has been noted at the > end of previous major flights. Other observers also noted that the > flight was ending at about 10-10:15, and looking at weather station > data, this was also about the time that the wind direction changed > from being from an easterly direction to having a westerly component. > Past major flights have also ended with a shift of wind direction. > > Most past major flights have been associated with very warm > temperatures and especially strong winds from the east. But not this > flight. It was a bit warmer than normal, but winds from the east only > had gusts of up to 5-10 miles per hour. One hypothesis has been that > strong winds from the east have pushed dragonflies to the coast, and > they then flew south along the coastline. This flight did not fit > that pattern, but it did occur during the time window of late > August-September when major southerly flights have been reported in > the past. > > Although most dragonflies observed in these flights appear to be > Variegated Meadowhawks (Sympetrum corruptum), Steve Nord's observation > of 2 Green Darners is significant because a few darners have been > captured and also reported in the past in flights and may be regular > in low numbers. I suspect that they can be easily overlooked because > it is not easy to sort through many flying dragonflies to identify all > of them. Capturing them during a flight to be able to identify them > is difficult, and one way to identify them has been to look for > roadkills alongside of HWY 101 where a flight has crossed the highway > as they often may only be a few feet above the substrate. But > roadkilled dragonflies can be hard to see in ditches without getting > low (e.g., your eyes are about 3 ft above the ground). Photographing > dragonflies that have landed is possible, but photographing them > during a flight is more challenging, but could be a good way to better > identify them. > > Thanks to the observers who reported this flight! There may be > more flights! One year, I recall that we had major flights several > days in a row, but that was unusual. Many years we don't have a major > flight at all. > > Also see Pacific Northwest Dragonfly Migration Project > (http://www.ent.orst.edu/ore_dfly/migrate.htm) and > http://yaquina.info/ybn/nature/nature.htm#dragonflies > > Happy observing! > > Range Bayer, Newport > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Mike Patterson > Date: Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 5:28 PM > Subject: [obol] Godwit and meadowhawks - 9/11/2009 > To: OBOL , Northcoast Land Conservancy > > > There was at least one HUDSONIAN GODWIT in the bay behind the science > center this morning. Lots of egrets as well. > > I also got to see a big movement of southbound VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWKS. > I counted about 60/min headed down HWY 101 from the wall at DePoe Bay > at around 09:30. > > A FOX SPARROW and flock of AMERICAN PIPITS were the avian highlights > on Mt Hebo. Plus a good movement 2-3/min of CALIFORNIA TORTOISESHELLS. > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Things juvenal > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 3:23 PM, Steve Nord wrote: > >> OBOL; >> >> Like Phil Pickering, I was also on Cascade Head this morning and witnessed >> the southward movement of the VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWKS he reported earlier. I >> did multiple "minute-timed" counts to determine the rate, which increased >> after Phil's departure. This was at the lower lookout and I counted only >> those passing within 30 feet in front of me. The insects covered a much >> larger area however. >> >> 9:30-9:40 the counts averaged out to 150/min >> 9:55-10:00 the average was 113/min >> 10:15 the flight had stopped. Amazing to see the sky empty out like that >> when earlier it was a constant stream of insects. >> Also saw 2 COMMON GREEN DARNERS moving southward too. >> >> I saw some of the same birds Phil reported. Missed the warblers. In addition >> I had my scope with me, and did a short sea watch. Very quiet out on the >> water. >> 9 SOOTY SHEARWATER >> 154 BROWN PELICAN >> 31 HEERMANN'S GULL >> >> 1 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK >> 1 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK >> 27 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW >> 15 RED CROSSBILL >> Also appeared to be a movement (?) of STELLER'S JAYS along the cliff-edged >> trees. Saw 20 birds playing follow-the-leader through the trees. Also >> while I drove Hwy 101 from Tillamook to Cascade Head, seemed to be higher >> numbers of Steller's Jays flying across the road. >> >> Two pleasant surprises was a PORCUPINE on the lower trail, and a NORTHERN >> ALLIGATOR LIZARD near the lower lookout. >> >> Good Birding >> Steve Nord >> Hillsboro, OR >> > > >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Phil Pickering > Date: Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 12:26 PM > Subject: [obol] Cascade Head 9/11 meadowhawks etc > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Variegated Meadowhawk - continuous directional flight > visible while I was there 7:15-8:45, with conservatively 40/min > spread out flying SE into the meadow from off the ocean, > and a more concentrated stream of 50-80/minute headed > due S through the small saddle on the summit. E/NE wind. > http://philliplc.com/images/xch09009.jpg > > also- > 2 LESSER GOLDFINCH (pair, inc. first male I've seen here) > http://philliplc.com/images/xch09010.jpg > 30+ Yellow Warbler > 15+ Townsend's > 2 Hermit > 1 Western Flycatcher > > 2 Peregrine (adult pair parked in snag on the rim) > http://philliplc.com/images/xch09011.jpg > 400+ Cedar Waxwing (many small flocks N, again what I was > able to sample seemed to be entirely segregated hatch-year) > http://philliplc.com/images/xch09012.jpg > 20+ Swainson's Thrush (inc. at least 1 Olive-backed) > large pale non-local Savannah - > http://philliplc.com/images/xch09013.jpg > > Phil > philliplc at charter.net > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Fri Sep 11 19:22:54 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:22:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Godwit and meadowhawks & Re: Cascade Head meadowhawks etc [Dragonfly Flight on 9/11] In-Reply-To: Message-ID: There was a major movement of small dragonflies through Malheur this past week. Pewees were the main predator. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Range Bayer > Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:47:02 -0700 > To: Mike Patterson , Steve Nord , > Phil Pickering > Cc: Oregon Birders OnLine , "Lincoln Co. Birding & > Nature Observing" > Subject: Re: [obol] Godwit and meadowhawks & Re: Cascade Head meadowhawks etc > [Dragonfly Flight on 9/11] > > Hi, > > Besides Phil Pickering's, Steve Nord's, and Mike Patterson's OBOL > reports of the dragonfly flight this morning, I also received several > telephone calls from Betty Bahn, Chuck Philo, and Tina --- about the > flight. Taken together, there were reports from Cascade Head, Depoe > Bay, Newport, Alsea Bay (Bayshore), and Yachats for dragonflies > heading in a southerly direction until about 10-10:15 AM. Some > observers estimated "thousands" and timed counts of what could be seen > passing with unaided eyes over a 25-50 yard line were up to > 150-200/minute at Cascade Head and Yachats. Timed counts give an > index of the abundance, but can't estimate the total numbers > passing--a wider line is not feasible with unaided eyes because the > dragonflies are not visible. One could use binocs to have a wider > line, but then counts are harder to compare to counts with unaided > eyes. This flight was impressive! > > At 10 AM in Newport, I could see that the flight was breaking up, > as some were beginning to head east, and a few were flying north. The > change in direction, especially flying eastward, has been noted at the > end of previous major flights. Other observers also noted that the > flight was ending at about 10-10:15, and looking at weather station > data, this was also about the time that the wind direction changed > from being from an easterly direction to having a westerly component. > Past major flights have also ended with a shift of wind direction. > > Most past major flights have been associated with very warm > temperatures and especially strong winds from the east. But not this > flight. It was a bit warmer than normal, but winds from the east only > had gusts of up to 5-10 miles per hour. One hypothesis has been that > strong winds from the east have pushed dragonflies to the coast, and > they then flew south along the coastline. This flight did not fit > that pattern, but it did occur during the time window of late > August-September when major southerly flights have been reported in > the past. > > Although most dragonflies observed in these flights appear to be > Variegated Meadowhawks (Sympetrum corruptum), Steve Nord's observation > of 2 Green Darners is significant because a few darners have been > captured and also reported in the past in flights and may be regular > in low numbers. I suspect that they can be easily overlooked because > it is not easy to sort through many flying dragonflies to identify all > of them. Capturing them during a flight to be able to identify them > is difficult, and one way to identify them has been to look for > roadkills alongside of HWY 101 where a flight has crossed the highway > as they often may only be a few feet above the substrate. But > roadkilled dragonflies can be hard to see in ditches without getting > low (e.g., your eyes are about 3 ft above the ground). Photographing > dragonflies that have landed is possible, but photographing them > during a flight is more challenging, but could be a good way to better > identify them. > > Thanks to the observers who reported this flight! There may be > more flights! One year, I recall that we had major flights several > days in a row, but that was unusual. Many years we don't have a major > flight at all. > > Also see Pacific Northwest Dragonfly Migration Project > (http://www.ent.orst.edu/ore_dfly/migrate.htm) and > http://yaquina.info/ybn/nature/nature.htm#dragonflies > > Happy observing! > > Range Bayer, Newport > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Mike Patterson > Date: Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 5:28 PM > Subject: [obol] Godwit and meadowhawks - 9/11/2009 > To: OBOL , Northcoast Land Conservancy > > > There was at least one HUDSONIAN GODWIT in the bay behind the science > center this morning. Lots of egrets as well. > > I also got to see a big movement of southbound VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWKS. > I counted about 60/min headed down HWY 101 from the wall at DePoe Bay > at around 09:30. > > A FOX SPARROW and flock of AMERICAN PIPITS were the avian highlights > on Mt Hebo. Plus a good movement 2-3/min of CALIFORNIA TORTOISESHELLS. > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Things juvenal > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 3:23 PM, Steve Nord wrote: >> OBOL; >> >> Like Phil Pickering, I was also on Cascade Head this morning and witnessed >> the southward movement of the VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWKS he reported earlier. ?I >> did multiple "minute-timed" counts to determine the rate, which increased >> after Phil's departure. ?This was at the lower lookout and I counted only >> those passing within 30 feet in front of me. The insects covered a much >> larger area however. >> >> 9:30-9:40 the counts averaged out to 150/min >> 9:55-10:00 the average was 113/min >> 10:15 the flight had stopped. ?Amazing to see the sky empty out like that >> when earlier it was a constant stream of insects. >> Also saw 2 COMMON GREEN DARNERS moving southward too. >> >> I saw some of the same birds Phil reported. Missed the warblers. In addition >> I had my scope with me, and did a short sea watch. Very quiet out on the >> water. >> 9 ? SOOTY SHEARWATER >> 154 BROWN PELICAN >> 31 ?HEERMANN'S GULL >> >> 1 ?SHARP-SHINNED HAWK >> 1 ?RED-SHOULDERED HAWK >> 27 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW >> 15 RED CROSSBILL >> Also appeared to be a movement (?) of STELLER'S JAYS along the cliff-edged >> trees. ?Saw 20 birds playing follow-the-leader through the trees. ?Also >> while I drove Hwy 101 from Tillamook to Cascade Head, seemed to be higher >> numbers of Steller's Jays flying across the road. >> >> Two pleasant surprises was a PORCUPINE on the lower trail, and a NORTHERN >> ALLIGATOR LIZARD near the lower lookout. >> >> Good Birding >> Steve Nord >> Hillsboro, OR > >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Phil Pickering > Date: Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 12:26 PM > Subject: [obol] Cascade Head 9/11 meadowhawks etc > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Variegated Meadowhawk - continuous directional flight > visible while I was there 7:15-8:45, with conservatively 40/min > spread out flying SE into the meadow from off the ocean, > and a more concentrated stream of 50-80/minute headed > due S through the small saddle on the summit. E/NE wind. > http://philliplc.com/images/xch09009.jpg > > also- > 2 LESSER GOLDFINCH (pair, inc. first male I've seen here) > http://philliplc.com/images/xch09010.jpg > 30+ Yellow Warbler > 15+ Townsend's > 2 Hermit > 1 Western Flycatcher > > 2 Peregrine (adult pair parked in snag on the rim) > http://philliplc.com/images/xch09011.jpg > 400+ Cedar Waxwing (many small flocks N, again what I was > able to sample seemed to be entirely segregated hatch-year) > http://philliplc.com/images/xch09012.jpg > 20+ Swainson's Thrush (inc. at least 1 Olive-backed) > large pale non-local Savannah - > http://philliplc.com/images/xch09013.jpg > > Phil > philliplc at charter.net > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Fri Sep 11 19:36:20 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:36:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Green Ridge Sign Up or Show UP Message-ID: <6DA5BE8DA71942A3987D1CD4F06A432C@KimPC> The ECBC Green Ridge Hawk Migration Count starts next weekend (Sept. 19 & 20) and runs for the following 3 weekends. For all you west of the Cascades birders, especially those from Eugene north to Salem, Green Ridge is an easy day trip. All you need to bring is a folding chair, your lunch, binos, and the proper clothing for the day. In the past, our raptor counts have ranged from 20 up to 400 per day. The main sightings are Sharp-shinned, Coopers, and Red-tailed Hawks. We always have a mixture that can include N. Harriers, Osprey, A. Kestrels, Rough Legs, Merlins, Peregrins, both Eagles, and lots of T. Vultures. Red Shoulders and Broad Wings are out there waiting to join the list. For those of you who are familiar with or have visited Hawkwatch International's Bonney Butte migration count, be aware that Green Ridge often counts more raptors than they do on a given day. Our roads to the site are also a heck of a lot better. If the counts are low the views from the site make the day worth the trip. To join us, sign up with me, Kim Boddie, at my e-mail address below or just show up. We meet at Indian Ford Campground at 0900 and carpool the 20 miles to the site. Indian Ford CG is located 6 miles west of Sisters at the jct .of Hgwy 20 and Forest Rd.11. For complete directions to the site , go to "ECBCbirds.org" and click on projects>Green Ridge. Thanks for listening. Kim Boddie kcboddie at bendbroadband.com 541 389 3613 Kim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090911/f08f134f/attachment.html From surfbird at q.com Fri Sep 11 19:49:15 2009 From: surfbird at q.com (Diane Pettey) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:49:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Termite Hatch in Florence area Message-ID: Greetings OBOLers, I believe the "winged ants" that folks are seeing are probably winged termites. The chickadees and a Townsend's Warbler were feeding on them here in the yard. This time of year, we usually see them after a rain with a sunny day. If we have rain this weekend, there will most likely be another big "hatch". Of course, there's also winged Carpenter ants and others. regards, Diane Pettey Michael McDermet Heceta Beach, OR (north of Florence) surfbird at q.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "DJ Lauten and KACastelein" To: "Range Bayer" Cc: "Mike Patterson" ; "Steve Nord" ; "Oregon Birders OnLine" ; "Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing" Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 7:07 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Godwit and meadowhawks & Re: Cascade Head meadowhawks etc [Dragonfly Flight on 9/11] > I'm no dragonfly guy, but yesterday when Kathy and I were at N > Tahkenitch, Douglas Co doing Snowy Plover surveys, the wind was out of > the east in the morning and it was very warm, and there was a huge > amount of some kind of smallish dragonfly everywhere you looked. Also > on the beach was a massive amount of winged ant looking things - small > wings, not large long ones. There were so many of these critters that > the gulls and shorebirds were going bonkers feeding on them, easily > picking them up left and right. One Snowy Plover was flipping them this > way and that and not even eating them, as if it couldn't resist to bend > down and attack the moving object, but not really needing to eat it so > flipping it over its shoulder. Then the wind shifted to the NW > literally in about 30 seconds and that was that, dragonflies gone. The > ant creatures didn't leave, I think most were doomed. > > Cheers > Dave Lauten From andy.frank at kp.org Fri Sep 11 21:06:17 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:06:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chapman School Vaux Swifts Message-ID: <4BF1555D31CA472EB63178CA0FB9B8D1@familyroom> Kudos to Portland Audubon. They recognized that the crowds that were coming to see the Vaux Swifts at the Chapman School in NW Portland were creating problems for those living in the neighborhood and took action. Earlier posts by Shawneen Finnegan and Steve Engel discussed this. This year police have been present at least some of the nights, and there has not been the same problems with blocked driveways and trash. The crowds are increasing, so we'll have to see if all remains well. Tonight there were an estimated 10,000 VAUX SWIFTS as well as an estimated 2300 spectators. A COOPER'S HAWK and a PEREGRINE FALCON each had dinner there. A 43 second video to give you an idea of the crowd is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3q2bafk6kA Another 33 second video shows some of the Swifts funnelling in while a Cooper's Hawk comes by http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZhMsR_NYzc Andy Frank From celata at pacifier.com Fri Sep 11 22:25:56 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:25:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] PHOTOS: Hudsonian Godwit - 9/10/2009 Message-ID: <4AAB30E4.9020506@pacifier.com> For those who are not yet bored with looking at photos of the less than camera shy HUDSONIAN GODWIT hanging out at the Marine Science Center... http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12053/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Fri Sep 11 23:10:29 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:10:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tualatin River NWR Friday Message-ID: <008901ca336f$bb45a310$31d0e930$@NET> There were large numbers, 150+ and multiple flocks, of CEDAR WAXWINGs at Tualatin River NWR in the early morning but all had gone by 10 a.m. As in other postings I saw none with adult markings; many still have streaked breasts. There is very little mudflat area left for shorebirds and what remains is in a closed area across the 'canal'. Birds seen: Great Blue Heron Canada Goose Mallard Turkey Vulture Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed hawk Killdeer Flicker Scrub Jay Crow White-breasted Nuthatch Bewick's Wren American Robin Cedar Waxwing Starling Orange-crowned Warbler Common Yellowthroat Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow House finch Lesser Goldfinch American Goldfinch The Mylitta Crescent butterflies are still there but I didn't see the Woodland Skippers and Juba Skippers that were present 3 days ago. Tom Shreve Tigard -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090911/7bcc3603/attachment.html From madsteins at hotmail.com Fri Sep 11 23:35:03 2009 From: madsteins at hotmail.com (Don Stein) Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 02:35:03 -0400 Subject: [obol] Cascade Head, GRAY JAY Message-ID: 9.11 3:30 PM At the Nature Conservancy Preserve parking lot there were 4 GRAY JAYS, on and off the road to the nearby bushes. A HAIRY WOODPECKER foraged nearby. And then a BLUE GROUSE walked into the middle of the road about 100 feet away. Don Stein Depoe Bay _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090912/3620e075/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Sat Sep 12 07:26:50 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:26:50 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Night Flight Message-ID: <52921741.357511252765610798.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi Jay, I am surprised at how many websites I found that have bird songs and calls that I can access.? I knew about Cornell Lab and e-Nature.? Two sites new to me that had helpful Thrush songs and calls were?xeno-canto.org and pjdeye.blogspot. Using the interent and my limited collection of CD's I came to the conclusion that one of the?calls (similar to a Bewick's Wren?call I hear around here,?but different quality of sound) I heard around 7:00 a.m. Wednesday morning was a Swainson's Thrush. ?Once a year for the last two or three years I've seen a Swainson's Thrush very briefly in the garden. I'm game to participate and report?what I hear from ny house?if you and/or Jim decides want to put some some night flight data together. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090912/6e77d775/attachment.html From hatlevis at comcast.net Sat Sep 12 07:32:32 2009 From: hatlevis at comcast.net (Susan Hatlevig) Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 07:32:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] recordings of swainsons thrush night calls Message-ID: <0B4055A424694D6D870D400DE0CE308C@homeflydmyur2h> After lots of searching I finally found a great recording of Swainsons Thrushes calling at night, well, actually early morning. Now I know that the calls I've heard are from these birds. I hear them at around 5:30 in Corvallis, even though I can't see anything in the sky. I haven't heard them every morning, but it has been often enough lately. I was wondering if they were hunkering down in trees at that time. But the other day the sounds sort of faded away as if they were continuing to move south. Anyway, it is a NOVA website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/kalahari/migrating.html It's a discussion on migrating birds by Bill Evans about getting sonograms to recognize bird calls at night, and there is an example to click down on the left side. If the sight gets scrubbed in my email I'll write it out differently for the next message. It seems the population of finches has died down a bit here, but I'll check out our garden to see if there are any shredded leaves! I didn't realize they'd do this. I learn a lot from this list. Oh, before I forget, my neighbor saw 2 nighthawks fly over late Wednesday. She said they used to be very common here when she was growing up. Susie in Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090912/13a752f6/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Sep 12 09:33:04 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:33:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] OBOL posting conventions Message-ID: <1252773184.3384.555.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, The subject of OBOL "rules," such as how often commercial postings are tolerated, seems to come up every now and then. Last year Paul Sullivan posted some sensible guidelines on OBOL etiquette that he had put together, and had posted once before. I thought that might be helpful to have these in a place that is easier to find, than buried deep in the OBOL archives. So here you go: http://www.oregonbirds.org/obol.html Now I'm off to pull weeds and hopefully see a bird or two. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From vireogirl at yahoo.com Sat Sep 12 11:51:56 2009 From: vireogirl at yahoo.com (Vjera Thompson) Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 11:51:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Royal Ave Lewis' Woodpecker Message-ID: <360258.48105.qm@web56304.mail.re3.yahoo.com> OBOLers, Eddie and I rode out the Fern Ridge today (9/12) to look for shorebirds. We saw a PEREGRINE FALCON harassing shorebirds way south of the platform, but when we got over there no shorebirds were evident. We found a group of 11 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES south of the platform off the main dike. They were just far enough away that I couldn't tell if any were Red Phalaropes. A couple CASPIAN TERNS were also new for our motorless list. On the way out we stopped to check the Acorn Woodpecker grove on Royal Ave. a large woodpecker took two flycatching sallies over the road and disappeared into the back of the grove. Although not very cooperative, it was larger, broader, and darker than a flicker, with a pinkish breast: LEWIS' WOODPECKER. I hope some local birders can refind it! Vjera & Eddie Thompson Eugene, OR vireogirl at yahoo.com From lbviman at blackfoot.net Sat Sep 12 12:34:25 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:34:25 -0600 Subject: [obol] postings tangential to birding at OBOL In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090912192949.D55909B0092@mail.blackfoot.net> Regarding below, MANY folks advertise below their signatures [government positions, student status, company name, etc], yet no one has objected. I suggest it is acceptable. However, I think financial benefit to poster remain OFF the list (except as identifier below name), such as "I have such and such for sale". Postings about BIRD habitat, impacts of pesticides, human development, cars to BIRDS, etc, should be acceptable if BRIEF and to some "favored" OBOL list birding spot... I KNOW I am not from Oregon, and hope my comments are not taken as arrogant - Jim Greaves, Thompson Falls MT At 01:00 PM 9/12/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >Let's say Alex Author makes so much off his >royalties on his book, "Astream," that he can retire from his government job >and open a bookstore, a nature bookstore. Should he then be able to post >weekly notices on the books he has for sale? What about our retirees, Evan >and Jimm. If Jimm opens a health food store, should he post daily about >what he is selling to keep everyone organic and healthy and benefiting >nature at the same time? And Evan, realizing that his government pension >won't let him live the life he wants, instead of selling his binoculars once >a decade, opens an optical store and has posts about the latest great >equipment he is selling? How about Tommy Tourguide, hawking his services as >a private birding tour guide at $30 an hour, is that fair game? Or Kevin >Cameraguy who every week sends out 30 jpeg attachments of his latest bird >photos that he is offering for sale. There is no end to this, folks. On our >local birding list we even had one guy, pedaling his latest real estate >offerings saying, "Just think of the yard list you could have if you bought >this house!" From lbviman at blackfoot.net Sat Sep 12 12:37:15 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:37:15 -0600 Subject: [obol] crabtrees In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090912193240.62A759B0092@mail.blackfoot.net> Oh! ?? THAT Crabtree! ?? ;-) I know. Not a bird in Oregon - Jim Greaves At 01:00 PM 9/12/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >Tom Crabtree >Bend, OR Message: 3 Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:16:25 -0600 From: Jim Greaves Subject: Re: [obol] eradicating noxious weeds To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <20090911201151.387349B0211 at mail.blackfoot.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed What's a crabtree? I picture the BBC report on spaghetti trees years ago... I thought such things were somehow beneficial X;{ - Jim Greaves, MT At 01:00 PM 9/11/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >By the way does anyone know how to contact the obnoxious weeds board >in Deschutes County? I know a certain crabtree that needs to be eradicated. > >Cheers, > >Tyler From richarmstrong at comcast.net Sat Sep 12 12:38:33 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:38:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] parasitic jaeger References: <200999222628.090861@Jamie-VistaHP> Message-ID: <92BA9D45B5C54942B2D35471C9D3DDE8@armstrong> karl fairchild saw the husdonian godwit behind the science center in newport this morning and told me to post that he also had a PARASITIC JAEGER. i am sure he will post more when he gets back. Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090912/5b1878a4/attachment.html From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Sat Sep 12 14:27:09 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (Tom McNamara) Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:27:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tabor today and yesterday's action Message-ID: Had an enjoyable 1 hours or so up in Tabor this a.m. Best bird was a FOS Merlin that was causing some excitement amongst some passerines and Vaux swifts. Swift nos.= at least 40 5-ish Swainson's Thrushes 1 Willow flycatcher 1 un-IDed empid---got a very brief glimpse enough only to see it was indeed an empid and that it had some manner of eyering Hummers numbers seem to have balanced i.e. there are roughly as many Anna's around as Rufous. I saw/heard about 8 Anna's and about 6 Rufous. 1 OC warbler; the only warbler I saw. I did hear some BT GRay or Townsend chip notes (I can't separate 'em) but couldn't located the high up birds. Yesterday, after gathering a good mess of FOS chanterelles, we went to Cooper's Spur and saw&heard a Three-toed Woodpecker, some Evening Grosbeaks, gray jays, ravens, RB nuthatches. All in all an good birds to go with the outrageously fine weather. good birding, Tom _________________________________________________________________ Ready for Fall shows? Use Bing to find helpful ratings and reviews on digital tv's. http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?q=digital+tv's&form=MSHNCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHNCB_Vertical_Shopping_DigitalTVs_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090912/5d00ec6d/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sat Sep 12 15:08:40 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:08:40 +0000 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands - Pelicans, Shorebirds & Acorn Woodpecker Message-ID: We were there from 8:30 to 11 and saw much the same list but add phalaropes (6) And many ducks. Harv And Kelle Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Steve Nord Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 22:27:03 To: Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands - Pelicans, Shorebirds & Acorn Woodpecker OBOL; A walk around the ponds today, 11:10-12:40, produced the following: 13 AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN 4? GREAT EGRET 7? GREEN HERON 1? COOPER'S HAWK 1? SEMIPLAMATED PLOVER 10 KILLDEER 5? GREATER YELLOWLEGS 1? LESSER YELLOWLEGS 2? SPOTTED SANDPIPER 1? WESTERN SANDPIPER 17 LEAST SANDPIPER 1? ACORN WOODPECKER (in large snag seen to the northwest of parking lot) Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From iluv2bird at sbcglobal.net Sat Sep 12 20:20:23 2009 From: iluv2bird at sbcglobal.net (Marilyn Trabert) Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:20:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding with a bum foot Message-ID: <64876D87-55DC-4695-82C2-859CDD556D1F@sbcglobal.net> Hello Oregon birders . . . . . My husband and I are heading to Timberline Lodge near Mt. Hood for a granddaughter's wedding next weekend. We planned to bird for a week down the Cascades on the way home. As luck would have it, I have a "stress fracture" in my right foot, which is now incarcerated in a BIG black velcro-strapped boot! We did get a wheelchair, which should help us get around a bit. As we are complete strangers to Oregon and its birding, may I ask, please, do you know of Central Oregon and Klamath area birding spots that are wheelchair accessible? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm hoping that with the help of the nice people on OBOL and COBOL, we can perhaps salvage some of our trip. I do have the "Oregon Cascades Birding Trail" and "Basin and Range Birding Trail" brochures, The Birder's Guide to Oregon, and A Birder's Guide to the Klamath Basin, which I might be able to refer to for directions. Many thanks, Marilyn Trabert Walnut Creek, CA ILuv2Bird at sbcglobal.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090912/8b672061/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Sat Sep 12 21:55:25 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 21:55:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swifts in Silverton Message-ID: We found a new chimney tonight in Silverton that had at least 200 V. Swifts enter it. The chimney is at a private residence at Oak and South Church on East Hill in Silverton. We got there a little late as we were still zeroing in on downtown chimneys formerly used. Plans are to check tomorrow night at dusk and also next Saturday to get more accurate counts of the Swifts. Thanks to some gung-ho volunteers who came into town and saw the activity on East Hill. Made my day!I hate to admit it, but I was about ready to give up on finding the new chimney amongst all the old houses in Silverton. For a small town, a lot of chimneys! Maybe I should say, "Real birders never quit." John Thomas N of Silverton From greg at thebirdguide.com Sat Sep 12 22:04:10 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:04:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Laysan, Manx, Xantus's Message-ID: Just a quick note to highlight the fantastic pelagic trip we had today from Newport. We adjusted our normal route to meet up with the American Dynasty hake processor about 30 miles west of Depoe Bay. On the way we found a pair of SCRIPPS'S XANTUS'S MURRELETS and a MANX SHEARWATER 20 miles west of Depoe Bay. http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/117200071/original.jpg At American Dynasty was a LAYSAN ALBATROSS. http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/117200555/original.jpg More later... Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From dendroicaman at peak.org Sat Sep 12 22:15:52 2009 From: dendroicaman at peak.org (Karl Fairchild) Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:15:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hudsonian Godwit and Parasitic Jaeger, HMSC, 12 Sept Message-ID: <4AAC8008.4080101@peak.org> Hi Obol, My folks and I were treated to good looks at the HUDSONIAN GODWIT today, hanging out with 3 Marbled Godwits, first at Idaho Flats, then at the HMSC mudflats. Also interesting was a PARASITIC JAEGER, hanging out with the California Gull flocks, first at Idaho Flats and then at HMSC as well. It appeared to be a light morph adult or near adult. We first observed the above mentioned-birds around 1100 on the Idaho Flats mud area near the condos. The birds were moderately distant at this point. Also around this time, we observed some distant peeps on a farther mud island, that looked mostly like WESTERNS. One or two birds, however, looked more like PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, but the distance and heat waves were too much to be sure. Later (about 1400), we observed the godwits and jaeger near the HMSC hut at much closer range. We searched for the peep flock as well, but to no avail. It was great to see the Hudsonian Godwit up fairly close--it seems relatively seldom that I get a state bird this obliging anymore. The jaeger was perhaps the most surprising bird of the day--this is probably only the second time I've seen one inland. It seemed rather comfortable hanging out with the gulls, though I wonder if it was unhealthy. It seemed to be preening a lot while sitting, and frequently shook itself in flight. Its flight seemed lethargic for a jaeger and it spent much of its time lying down when not preening. I got some crummy photos of the godwit and jaeger for anyone who is interested. A nice day at the coast, and thanks again to Adrian and Christopher Hinkle for finding the Hudsonian Godwit! Good Birding, Karl (and Karan and Jim) Fairchild Philomath/Ft. Klamath, OR From skylarkguy at hotmail.com Sat Sep 12 22:27:40 2009 From: skylarkguy at hotmail.com (Daniel Battaglia) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 05:27:40 +0000 Subject: [obol] Nye Beach South Jaeger and Plovers Message-ID: Our afternoon COASST walk on Nye Beach South in Newport yielded some good live birds as well as the dead. The PARASITIC JAEGER down towards the North Jetty at 1630 was a big surprise. It swept in from the south, landed and sat for 5-10 minutes along the wrack line, then flew inland towards Yaquina Bay. It appeared to have a bum foot when it did walk, which wasn't very much, and is very likely the same bird the Fairchilds had earlier in the day. It would have been nice to have our bird guides with us rather than our dead bird key. Other birds of note were: a SNOWY PLOVER up on the dunes also near the North Jetty. We haven't seen one there all summer. Three SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS were with the sanderlings and peeps near the water, along with a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, a GOLDEN PLOVER, and a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER with a very bum foot. A very plovery day overall. Good birding, Daniel Battaglia and Ariel Muldoon Dallas, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090913/ecb6851c/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Sep 13 06:42:20 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 13:42:20 +0000 Subject: [obol] Morning Swainson Thrush flight over Eugene Message-ID: Good Morning, I was up early this morning, so I stepped outside to wait for the newspaper delivery folks to show up. From about 6:00-6:15AM I was hearing about 50-80 Swainson's Thrush calls per minute. Most of the birds were fairly low. We had a minor thunderstorm last night and the skies are solid overcast. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Ready for Fall shows? Use Bing to find helpful ratings and reviews on digital tv's. http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?q=digital+tv's&form=MSHNCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHNCB_Vertical_Shopping_DigitalTVs_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090913/fb21ce24/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Sep 13 07:26:26 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 07:26:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Morning Swainson Thrush flight over Eugene References: Message-ID: Congratulations Dave, Was outside our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit) during the same time period this morning and managed to hear nothing from the bird world. Perhaps the Thrushes made a stop and some will pass over tomorrow morning (I'm out every morning I'm home at that time). There has been a few messages about "negative" results concerning hearing Swainson's Thrushes in night flight. It appears very few pass over out place, for have not heard any that were for sure Swainson's. Heard a couple of pretty distance calls one morning, but can not be sure they were Swainson's (might have been Tanagers or the like). When I was banding along the Applegate River, migrating Swainson's were captured regularly, so there are some that migrate through the Rogue/Applegate Valleys in the fall, but it appears they don't like the air-space over our place. Will keep an ear open, Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Subject: [obol] Morning Swainson Thrush flight over Eugene Good Morning, I was up early this morning, so I stepped outside to wait for the newspaper delivery folks to show up. From about 6:00-6:15AM I was hearing about 50-80 Swainson's Thrush calls per minute. Most of the birds were fairly low. We had a minor thunderstorm last night and the skies are solid overcast. Dave Irons Eugene, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090913/8bb7ea23/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Sep 13 07:57:36 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 07:57:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crowned Sparrows Message-ID: <343FC07B825147F79225373C8565E6E1@Warbler> On the 11th there was a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW at a residence in Grants Pass (southwest part of city). My earliest fall date for Josephine is 11 Sept 1994, this one ties it. Yesterday (09-12-09) we hosted one at our place just east of the Merlin I-5 exit. Around 2 dozen WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS (juvenile and adults) were at a residence east of Grants Pass. Appears the Crowned Sparrows are on the move and returning for the winter. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090913/087114ef/attachment.html From kspinks at thprd.org Thu Sep 10 10:45:30 2009 From: kspinks at thprd.org (Kyle Spinks) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:45:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Access - Local RBA: Lewis's Woodpecker: Beaverton Message-ID: <4AA8D8CA.9BD6.0045.0@thprd.org> Hi all, Please note that the pond and the access point from the parking lot are on private property, not part of Greenway Park. Your respect of this allowed access across their land is appreciated. Thanks, Kyle Spinks Park Ranger Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District Natural Resources Department 5500 SW Arctic Drive, Suite 2 Beaverton, Oregon 97005 503-629-6305 x2952 From barryterry at comcast.net Thu Sep 10 15:16:25 2009 From: barryterry at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:16:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Reservoir, Sept 10 Message-ID: OBOL- Wayne Schmidt and I were able to find some shorebirds at FRR this morning. Water levels are still quite high and pheasant season has begun, but the best shorebird habitat was due south of the Royal Ave viewing platform at the extreme south end of the Redhead Pond. Shorebirds seen (numbers approx): -- Lesser Yellowlegs 8 --Greater Yellowlegs 4 --Least Sandpiper 25 --Western Sandpiper 15 --Baird's Sandpiper 0 --Semi-palmated Plover 4 --Killdeer 2 --LB Dowitcher 2 (juv) --SB Dowitcher 3 (juv) --Dowitcher sp 25 (presumed LB) Especially interesting was a prolonged study of Dowitchers. The flock was of mixed age, plumage, and species. With excellent views of feathering and a small library in the field, we convinced ourselves that 3 of the juveniles were Short-billed. Some juv LB's also present as well as many birds in solid basic plumage, some in eclipse (breeding --> winter), and one bird still in essentially full breeding plumage. I find the adults very difficult to separate, but this is the time of year to get down on juv SB Dowitcher, right? Barry McKenzie Eugene From leerentz at mac.com Fri Sep 11 08:16:49 2009 From: leerentz at mac.com (Karen Rentz) Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:16:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Puffins and Walruses at Round Island, Alaska Message-ID: <12269761-A546-4090-BFBF-E44BF976BE76@mac.com> In July, my wife Karen and I made a birding and nature observation trip to Round Island, Alaska, where we were able to observe Tufted Puffins, Parakeet Auklets, Pacific Walruses, and Horned Puffins at close range. Although this trip was not directly related to Oregon birding, I thought that some of you might be interested in taking this wonderful trip. I posted four weblog entries about the trip, linked below. Lee Rentz Shelton WA lee at leerentz.com Experiencing the Walruses of Round Island, Alaska http://leerentz.wordpress.com/2009/09/09/round-island-alaska/ I Am the Walrus http://leerentz.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/i-am-the-walrus/ 4th of July in an Eskimo Village http://leerentz.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/4th-of-july-in-an-alaskan- eskimo-village/ Puffins and Auklets and Murres, Oh My! http://leerentz.wordpress.com/2009/09/09/puffins-and-auklets-and- murres-oh-my/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090911/445002a2/attachment.html From birder at iinet.com Sun Sep 13 09:53:21 2009 From: birder at iinet.com (Sherry Hagen) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 09:53:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Parasitic Jaeger Message-ID: Vancouver Audubon field trip lead by Arden & Sherry Hagen to the coast on Saturday the 12th. I am not going into everything we saw but the highlight birds were as follows. Tillamook / Fenk Rd: Black Phoebe Bay Ocean Spit: Parasitic Jaeger Nehalem sewage lagoon: White-tailed Kite, Peregrine Falcon, Red-necked Phalaropes, Lark Sparrow Sherry Hagen Vancouver, WA birder at iinet.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090913/351b7c95/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sun Sep 13 10:16:19 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:16:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] ID help Message-ID: <305632.94187.qm@web46003.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> We just had this bird land in some trees across the street from the house. It was making an odd noise that I can only liken to (for lack of experience) a Cowbird. It was similar to the bubbling/gurgling sound that the Cowbirds make. We posted 2 photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nepobirds/?saved=1 It's the first 2 photos on the page. I lightened the second one but left the first photo original. I don't know if anyone will be able to help, but in case, thanks in advance. Seth Reams and Michelle King NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From larmcqueen at msn.com Sun Sep 13 11:22:29 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:22:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] ID help In-Reply-To: <305632.94187.qm@web46003.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <305632.94187.qm@web46003.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Seth and Michelle, As far as I can tell, the bird looks like a robin. I can't explain the sound it was making, as any of their calls would not normally be described as gurgling, as of the cowbird. Robins do make a thin, very high-pitched "seeer" call, with downward inflection, but it is not gurgling. If the breast of the bird was spotted, it was a juvenile, in which case it might have made a juvy call. Best, Larry -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Seth Reams Sent: Sunday, September 13, 2009 10:16 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] ID help We just had this bird land in some trees across the street from the house. It was making an odd noise that I can only liken to (for lack of experience) a Cowbird. It was similar to the bubbling/gurgling sound that the Cowbirds make. We posted 2 photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nepobirds/?saved=1 It's the first 2 photos on the page. I lightened the second one but left the first photo original. I don't know if anyone will be able to help, but in case, thanks in advance. Seth Reams and Michelle King NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sun Sep 13 12:10:30 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 12:10:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] ID Help Message-ID: <250503.10433.qm@web46010.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> A couple of other items I should have noted in my earlier post. We saw the bird fluttering from tree to tree and when it flew off, it didn't have a flight pattern we recognized. Our thought (and it may be WAY off) is that it was some type of flycatcher. We didn't actually see it fly catching, though. It's size seemed to be a little larger than a house finch. Thanks again Seth and Michelle From jonysky101 at aol.com Sun Sep 13 13:22:35 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:22:35 -0400 Subject: [obol] Got Shorebird Guide, now I know everything Message-ID: <8CC02C710AE1ED9-E64-2FE7B@webmail-m055.sysops.aol.com> NOT!!?? ?But I must say the first 20 pages has taught me more than I've learned birding my way for the past year. I have been birding by sight alone. Even taking photos to certain I could identify bird when I got home.? The Shorebird Guide by Michael O'Brien, Richard Crossley, and Kevin Karlson has a whole different approach that I never considered. By using things that don't change like size, the way they move or feed and their structure among other things, you don't get hung up on color or pattern. It is an epiphany to me. I know the more experienced birders know and use these things. But for new Birders like me, who have just using Sibleys, this kind of information is priceless. A whole new way to see birds. So for new birders like me, you really need to read the introduction chapter of this book, if you read nothing else. I would like to thank the members here who suggested this book to help me with my shorebird ID problems. Johnny Sasko Sandy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090913/51b00377/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Sep 13 13:34:29 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 13:34:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] NAMC is next weekend Message-ID: The North American Migration Count is next weekend. You can go to http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Projects/NAMC/tabid/69/Default.aspx or http://www.oregonbirds.org/2009_migration_count.html to find out how to get involved in your county. I would still like to hear from people who plan on being in Harney County on Sunday. If you are in Harney on Sunday and you want to help, even for a short time, please contact me and I'll tell you how. Chuck Gates NAMC Coordinator -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090913/61c0ae61/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sun Sep 13 14:34:09 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:34:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bath Time! Message-ID: Here is a link to some sequenced shots I took of a Dark Morph Red Tail, near Enterprise last weekend. He was sitting on a pivot sprinkler and really seemed to enjoy the water spraying him. I was I had a video of this because it's really much better when you hear this guy screaming the entire time he is sitting there getting wet. If you zoom into his head you can see the water just running off and into his mouth. We got a great laugh out of the show. He got up to fly off, we assumed, but then just flew to a different pivot and started all over again! The area around Joseph is Dark Morph heaven, we counted seven in the area just east of Joseph, we lost count at 14 to the west and north of there. We had one that allowed me to get within twenty feet of it, shooting pictures While I was there a Feruginous hawk came near the tree and the DM flew down and attacked it just a few feet from me! I have shots of it taking off, Landing on the same branch it left, then cleaning the feathers from it talons shortly after the attack! It was a site to see, it was a first for my wife to see such a thing, and she couldn't stop talking about it! I'll post a couple shots of that soon. I hope you enjoy these... http://http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=1161698012/a=100504741_100504741/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=comcast2/ Rich in Springfield _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090913/e866f604/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun Sep 13 15:43:04 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:43:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 9/12-9/13/09 Message-ID: <451899.85651.qm@web45303.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Some highlights from the past couple of days: Bandon Marsh NWR, Saturday morning:3- RED KNOTS1- SNOWY EGRETand the usual species mix of late (BBPL, SPPL, WESA, LESA, GRYE, ?BLTU, both dowitchers plus BLOY, WATA, and SURF over at the south jetty). Oh, and a calling WESTERN TANAGER. N. Spit of Coos Bay, Sunday morning:1- BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER (day 3)3- PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS (all juvies)3- WHIMBREL2- PECTORAL SANDPIPERS1- LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER2- SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER101- RED-NECKED PHALAROPES2- LEAST SANDPIPER4- COMMON SNIPE1- LAPLAND LONGSPUR (fly over calling) passerine migrants of late include yellowthroats, OC Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Audubon's Warbler and loads of A. Goldfinches and Cedar Waxwings. Bandon Marsh, 1PM, Sunday:same mix as yesterday plus6- DUNLINand a few A. PIPITS Oh, and 2 MARBLED GODWITS at Pigeon Point in Empire on Saturday morning... Merry migration!Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090913/a09e3cb2/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sun Sep 13 15:50:34 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:50:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] 2nd Try! Message-ID: Sorry folks, there was one too many http's in my first post! Here is a new link. By the way, Let me know (I know you will) if my ID is wrong. Maybe a Swainson's??? http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=1161698012/a=100504741_100504741/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=comcast2/ That should work better! Embarrassed Rich in Springfield! _________________________________________________________________ Bing brings you health info from trusted sources. http://www.bing.com/search?q=pet+allergy&form=MHEINA&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TXT_MHEINA_Health_Health_PetAllergy_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090913/c6efda64/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Sep 13 16:02:54 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:02:54 +0000 Subject: [obol] ID help In-Reply-To: <305632.94187.qm@web46003.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <305632.94187.qm@web46003.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Seth and Michelle, I think your bird was probably a Western Tanager. When I blow it up, it appears to be all yellow below and the bill and overall proportions are right. The bill is too long and thin for a Brown-headed Cowbird. Could the vocalization you heard be described as a throaty "pit ti tuk?" Dave Irons > Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:16:19 -0700 > From: nepobirds at yahoo.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] ID help > > We just had this bird land in some trees across the street from the house. It was making an odd noise that I can only liken to (for lack of experience) a Cowbird. It was similar to the bubbling/gurgling sound that the Cowbirds make. > > We posted 2 photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nepobirds/?saved=1 > > It's the first 2 photos on the page. I lightened the second one but left the first photo original. > > I don't know if anyone will be able to help, but in case, thanks in advance. > > Seth Reams and Michelle King > NE Portland, OR - Gateway area > portlandbirds.blogspot.com > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222985/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090913/760ddb6d/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Sep 13 16:11:05 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:11:05 +0000 Subject: [obol] probable American Golden-Plover and other stuff at Fern Ridge Message-ID: Greetings All, I spent several hours birding around Fern Ridge Res. today. The highlight was distant golden-plover that based on primary extension, lack of golden tones in face, and short-looking legs was likely an American Golden-Plover. Though the water remains high, there was a nice variety of shorebirds including: 1 Golden-Plover (likely American) 4 Semipalmated Plovers 18+ Greater Yellowlegs 12+ Lesser Yellowlegs 100 Western Sandpipers 60+ Least Sandpipers 4 Pectoral Sandpipers 180+ Long-billed Dowitchers 14 Red-necked Phalaropes Earlier in the day I spent a couple hours looking for passerines at Kirk Park (across the road from the dam) and Richardson Park (west of the dam). I had the following assortment of landbirds 1 Western Wood-Pewee 1 Black Phoebe 4 Warbling Vireos 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers 3 Black-throated Gray Warblers 3 Wilson's Warblers Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222984/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090913/05a92be2/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sun Sep 13 16:14:26 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:14:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] My apologies Message-ID: Please accept my apology folks. Snapfish is now a memory for me! _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090913/d429f5ec/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sun Sep 13 16:47:53 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:47:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Third times the charm. Message-ID: Let's try a Photobucket link, if that doesn't work, you'll find me hiding under a bridge somewhere. http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/fatrichie/Bathtime/ _________________________________________________________________ Bing brings you health info from trusted sources. http://www.bing.com/search?q=pet+allergy&form=MHEINA&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TXT_MHEINA_Health_Health_PetAllergy_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090913/84d05b89/attachment.html From pointers at pacifier.com Sun Sep 13 18:09:14 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 18:09:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Benton Co Fairgrounds (Corvallis) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090914010914.8F7D06A424@smtp4.pacifier.net> hi group ... just got back from a weekend camping at the Benton County Fairgrounds, Corvallis, Oregon ... inbetween walking back and forth from my rig to the Arena, I "birded" the oak woods ... quite a variety ... in no particular order: Acorn Woodpeckers ... quite a few with some noisy youngsters hounding the parents ... got to watch the adults feeding the youngsters too ... I did try to find the "grainery" I saw there last year but I couldn't re-locate it ... since it's not that big of an Oak forest I would suspect the fairgrounds folks have chopped "the dead tree full of holes" down ... Western Bluebirds ... didn't see as many as last year ... and seemed to me I saw more males this year than I could locate last year ... Red-breasted Sapsucker ... looked like a juvenile (not much red) ... this one totally surprised me as I wasn't expecting one in the Oak woods ... I actually thought I was chasing an Acorn Woodpecker until I looked at the 2 pictures I managed to take ... Brown Creeper Black-capped Chickadee (heard only, in oak) Western Wood Peewee (in oak and in ash (???) and scrub bordering campsite at edge of Oaks ) White-breasted Nuthatch (ditto) Western Scrub Jay (in ash (???) and scrub bordering campsite at edge of Oaks) European Starling (ditto) House Sparrow (ditto) American Crow (all over) Pigeon (in Arena rafters) Common Raven (overhead) Red-tailed Hawk (overhead) Turkey Vulture (overhead) duck species (overhead) Lyn Vancouver, Washington pointers at pacifier dot com Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Sep 13 18:27:50 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 18:27:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eastern Oregon notes Message-ID: Rich Hoyer and I have returned from Boise to Malheur. Our main birding today was at Bully Creek Reservoir near Vale, Malheur Co. Best birds there were 2 SANDERLINGS, other shorebirds included 2 Pectoral, 2 Least, small flock of Western, 1 LB Dow, killdeer and spottys. Plenty of both Western and Clark's Grebes, pelicans, a few Ruddy Ducks, Ring-necked Duck. Passerines of note were 2 female Lazuli Buntings (latish), Townsend's Warb, other common migrants and a flock of collared doves. Malheur HQ offered small numbers but a pretty good variety this evening, with highlights being Cassin's Vireo, loads of towhees, gray-headed Fox Sparrow, House Wren. We'll be on the refuge Monday, returning to Eugene Tuesday. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From namitzr at hotmail.com Sun Sep 13 19:28:55 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:28:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln County birds 9/12-9/13 Message-ID: 9/12 Hatfield Marine Science Center (observing with Tim Shelmerdine @ 6pm) 1 HUDSONIAN GODWIT 3 Marbled Godwit 1 Red-shouldered Hawk Lincoln City Sewage Ponds 30 Red-necked Phalaropes 1 Spotted Sandpiper good number of ducks including Northern Shoveler, Mallard, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon and Northern Pintail 9/13 Cutler City (Lincoln City) 30 Black-bellied Plover 2 Red Knot 1 dowitcher sp. (only seen in flight, not calling) Waldport (upper Alsea Bay) 10+ Greater Yellowlegs 5 Short-billed Dowitchers same assortment of ducks as in Lincoln City In addition, there were many flocks of Northern Pintail flying south. These were almost never "pure" flocks as one to four other duck species was usually present. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090913/a1228416/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sun Sep 13 19:29:23 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:29:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Waldo Hills birds, Marion Co Message-ID: <63F91407DBE849488AFCD0D55590B926@yourw5st28y9a3> Today from about 0900 to 1340 I was in the Waldo Hills, south of Silverton and east of Salem. This wasn't a birding trip but I noticed some sights and sounds. The route I traveled was through farmland and forest, mostly east of Cascade Hwy. There were Barn Swallows scattered over much of the open area, and at one point I saw a mixed flock of Barn and Violet-green Swallows with a few Vaux's Swifts. Turkey Vultures were working the breeze, and White-crowned Sparrows were in the brush at one point. Pamela Johnston From jblowers at ix.netcom.com Sun Sep 13 19:55:47 2009 From: jblowers at ix.netcom.com (Joseph Blowers) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:55:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainsons Thrushes in backyard Message-ID: <2AA5C658-0C69-428F-A997-632DD6CDD295@ix.netcom.com> I know that some of you are hearing Swainsons Thrushes as they migrate over at nighttime. With a freeway in my neighborhood, I can't hear them as they fly over. However, I have seen them in my woods most evenings and early mornings this last week. I've seen two taking baths in my bird bath. I have heard many of them calling from the bushes. I'm guessing that I'm seeing different birds each day as they rest and recuperate. Does anyone know about what time of night they start migrating? Joe Blowers Beaverton From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sun Sep 13 20:17:10 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:17:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Detroit Flats SANDERLING Message-ID: <334D74C2EA24429D81B074C9AE83750D@MOM> Today, on the way home from our weekend including the Saturday Manx Excellent pelagic by the Greg Gilson et al, we stopped for a birding break at the Detroit Flats area. We walked out along the path to the exposed stumps and enjoyed the many American Pipits there and a lone SANDERLING in winter plumage, feeding along the shoreline. It was the only shorebird we found there. Judy and 5 more ECBCers, jmeredit at bendnet.com From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Sun Sep 13 20:17:14 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:17:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Birders Night: Monday Sept 14 Message-ID: OBOL- Eugene Birder's Night will be Sept 14 (second Monday of each Month) at 7pm. LOCATION : Sacred Heart Hospital (downtown), 1255 Hilyard St; Conference Room A (across the hall from the Auditorium). Directions to Conference Room A: -enter main Lobby from Hilyard St -turn Left and walk down hall (past the cafeteria) to end of hall -turn Right and walk down hall (past Dining Room) to end of hall -turn Right and walk a few steps, then Left down the hall toward the Auditorium -Conference Room A (labelled simply Conference Room) is on the Right (across from a bank of telephones on the Left side of the hall) Parking: Parking lot structure (across Hilyard from the Lobby) charges $1/hour (I think). Street parking is not available on Hilyard per se, but is found on 13th, 12th (West of Patterson), and Patterson streets (street parking free after 6pm). Map is at this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=sacred+heart+hospital+eugene,+or&fb=1&split=1&cid=0,0,17378354515337851834&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image Agenda: usual reporting format and bird discussion Note: we will have reliable access to audio/video support from this point on, so those wishing to bring a disc or laptop to show interesting images, etc should feel free to do so. For a lengthly presentation, please give me a heads-up so we can avoid conflicts. Barry McKenzie Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090913/98ba0a7d/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Sun Sep 13 20:18:23 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:18:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainsons Thrushes in backyard In-Reply-To: <2AA5C658-0C69-428F-A997-632DD6CDD295@ix.netcom.com> References: <2AA5C658-0C69-428F-A997-632DD6CDD295@ix.netcom.com> Message-ID: This evening around 7:30, several Swainson's Thrushes began calling from the darkening trees and shrubs around my yard. I had the impression that they had just arrived and that they were going to roost -- wings flapping in the thick holly -- as there had been no sign of their presence all day. But I could also be mistaken and the thrushes were actually getting coordinated for their nighttime departure. Larry -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Joseph Blowers Sent: Sunday, September 13, 2009 7:56 PM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Swainsons Thrushes in backyard I know that some of you are hearing Swainsons Thrushes as they migrate over at nighttime. With a freeway in my neighborhood, I can't hear them as they fly over. However, I have seen them in my woods most evenings and early mornings this last week. I've seen two taking baths in my bird bath. I have heard many of them calling from the bushes. I'm guessing that I'm seeing different birds each day as they rest and recuperate. Does anyone know about what time of night they start migrating? Joe Blowers Beaverton _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sun Sep 13 20:27:41 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:27:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] NO Common Ground Doves Message-ID: > Birders > I called the Gardners tonight. They have not seen the doves since > last reported late in the evening on Wednesday. We could all check > places in the area where there are known feeders and watch that weedy > field on Butler Market Road I guess. > So a big thanks to Bruce and Bette for reporting and for being cordial > hosts while we searched! > Good birding, > Judy > jmeredit at bendnet.com > From carolk at viclink.com Sun Sep 13 20:39:57 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:39:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Weekend sightings Message-ID: <000e01ca34ed$1771ade0$8c76fea9@home> OBOL: This weekend we tried for the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Baskett Slough early on Saturday morning and late Sunday afternoon without success. We did find 3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS just north of the Narrows on Coville Rd. We tried for the Indigo Bunting at E.E.Wilson wildlife area late on Saturday morning and early Sunday afternoon without success. We tried for the BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS at the deflation plane off the south jetty road at Florence late Saturday afternoon and finally found them at high tide, 6:45 PM, about 50 yds north of the dike. We found the Am. Bittern along the dike, :-) but no golden plovers. :-( Early Sunday morning we found Swainson's Thrushes and Wrentits in Waxmyrtle campground near the mouth of the Siltcoos River. Late Sunday morning we found 2 immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS near McFadden Marsh at Finley NWR. One was in the trees along Muddy Creek, across McFadden marsh from the viewing blind. The other was just south of the Bruce Road bridge over McFadden marsh. This was species #200 for Paul in Benton county! We also found 5 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS! -- 1 along Territorial Hwy north of Elmira -- 1 at the SE corner of McFadden marsh -- 1 at the north end of McFadden marsh -- 2 at E.E. Wilson wildlife area. Good birding, everyone, Paul Sullivan Carol Karlen From Oropendolas at aol.com Sun Sep 13 21:02:10 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:02:10 EDT Subject: [obol] Possible Boreal Owl - Mt. Pisgah, Wheeler Co. Message-ID: Hello All, Laura and I returned home tonight from a fantastic two weeks in Northeast Oregon. One of our target species for the trip was Boreal Owl. We did a 6 day back pack in the Eagle Cap Wilderness in the Wallowa Mts. where we tried for Boreal Owl in three places. East Eagle Creek - nothing, Hidden Lake - nothing, Lakes Basin - one bark, probably nothing. We also tried at Moss Springs Campground where we had a brief moment of excitement when Laura spotted a bird, silhouetted by the stars, fly into the tree above us. Turned out to be a Barred Owl, we stopped trying for Boreal there. Last night on Mt. Pisgah, in the Ochoco Mts. in Wheeler Co. about 6/10 mile down (east) from the lookout, we had a bird respond with three or four squealy barks that sounded right for BOREAL OWL, but was frustrating because we could not locate or get another response from the bird. We're not positive that it was not Saw-whet or Screech, so all we really know for sure was that it was a small owl. We had fun trying anyway, and had an awesome time exploring that spectacular corner of the State. Good Birding, John Sullivan & Laura Jonhson Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090914/f30f50c4/attachment.html From fitzbeew at gmail.com Mon Sep 14 00:14:41 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:14:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ashland/S. Oregon birds Message-ID: Obol, My family and I just got back today from camping in Ashland. No rarities, but we had a nice time and I got a bit of birding in. Highlights: My dad and I saw one AMERICAN DIPPER at Lithia Park in downtown Ashland. It seems that every time I go to Ashland, I see a Dipper or two here. :) - today, a male and female WESTERN TANAGER in our campground, along with a YELLOW WARBLER or two. - in Grant's Pass at a rest stop, a WARBLING VIREO, several BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES (which I valiantly tried to turn into Oak Titmice, but failed at), and a nice WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. Nothing earth-shattering, but it was a nice and relatively birdy weekend. Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090914/a5b2dbd9/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Mon Sep 14 06:23:49 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:23:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cold Springs NWR-12 Sept. Message-ID: <000801ca353e$a360b930$3700a8c0@windypoint99> COLD SPRINGS NWR 12 SEPTEMBER 2009 I awoke at the ungodly hour of 1:30 am and couldn't get back to sleep. What to do? Blast off for Cold Springs NWR near Hermiston and do some owling! We drove the refuge road between Parking Lots A and F from 4:45 AM to 6:30 AM, stopping occasionally and listened for owls. Our luck was pretty good netting calling Barn, Western Screech- and Great Horned Owls. In open sagelands we listened for any migrant poorwills without any luck. We napped the next hour , exhaustion having overtaken us. Then, with the sun well up and with lots of bird activity, we walked the trail east from Parking Lot F in riparian woods and sagelands for the next two hours. We noted lots of migrants. Of five warblers, an immature COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was our best find, highly uncommon in in Umatilla County according to Aaron Skirvin, county expert. Accipiters such as Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks were about to take advantage of the migrant songbirds and swarms of California Quail. Out at the end of the trail were tons of sparrows, mostly White-crowned but also Chipping and Brewer's. Finally, we canoed the reservoir for several hours. Our best find was an adult RED-NECKED GREBE. Shorebirding was good, with 14 species. The prettiest were the four juvenile SANDERLINGS, uncommon in eastern Oregon. Species list: American Wigeon 20 Mallard 50 Green-winged Teal 50 Lesser Scaup 1 Ruddy Duck 80 Ring-necked Pheasant 1 California Quail 130 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Red-necked Grebe 1 Adult Western Grebe 40 Clark's Grebe 3 American White Pelican 20 Double-crested Cormorant 5 Great Blue Heron 5 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 Cooper's Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 2 American Coot 2 Semipalmated Plover 5 Killdeer 40 Spotted Sandpiper 8 Solitary Sandpiper 1 Channel near dam Greater Yellowlegs 2 "Memorial Marsh" Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Sanderling 4 Juveniles Western Sandpiper 700 Least Sandpiper 120 Baird's Sandpiper 10 Pectoral Sandpiper 2 Long-billed Dowitcher 15 Wilson's Snipe 4 "Memorial Marsh" Red-necked Phalarope 2 Ring-billed Gull 110 California Gull 2 Mourning Dove 20 Barn Owl 1 Western Screech-Owl 3 Great Horned Owl 1 Downy Woodpecker 8 Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 15 Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 Empidonax sp. 1 Warbling Vireo 3 Black-billed Magpie 200 American Crow 3 Common Raven 2 Barn Swallow 30 Black-capped Chickadee 15 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 Bewick's Wren 8 House Wren 5 Marsh Wren 3 American Robin 15 European Starling 50 American Pipit 3 Orange-crowned Warbler 15 Nashville Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 35 Townsend's Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 1 First detected by call note. Spished in, immature bird. Western Tanager 4 Spotted Towhee 3 Chipping Sparrow 5 Brewer's Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow 5 Lincoln's Sparrow 2 White-crowned Sparrow 200 Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 1 Lazuli Bunting 2 Red-winged Blackbird 50 Western Meadowlark 2 House Finch 5 American Goldfinch 5 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090914/c1543890/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Sep 14 07:16:23 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:16:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Wash Co WETA, etc Message-ID: <039616c15a230ba0e93d57d3da64947e@earthlink.net> A Western Tanager was at my shop Sunday, along Hwy 26 in Manning. This must be about the latest date around here in my recollection. Eurasian Collared Doves now probably outnumber Mourning Doves and Rock Doves on the utility lines in and south of Banks. Two years ago I had yet to see the species north of Roy. Sunday morning there were hundreds of Robins in our yard, extremely vocal. They were joined by numerous Steller's Jays who seemed to be inspired by the noise and crowd, rather than a special food source. Lars Norgren From 5hats at peak.org Mon Sep 14 09:58:51 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:58:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainsons Thrushes in backyard References: <2AA5C658-0C69-428F-A997-632DD6CDD295@ix.netcom.com> Message-ID: Joe, They begin giving their ground location calls just as dusk begins to turn towards darkenss, and take off soon afterwards. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joseph Blowers" To: "OBOL" Sent: Sunday, September 13, 2009 7:55 PM Subject: [obol] Swainsons Thrushes in backyard >I know that some of you are hearing Swainsons Thrushes as they migrate > over at nighttime. With a freeway in my neighborhood, I can't hear > them as they fly over. However, I have seen them in my woods most > evenings and early mornings this last week. I've seen two taking > baths in my bird bath. I have heard many of them calling from the > bushes. I'm guessing that I'm seeing different birds each day as they > rest and recuperate. Does anyone know about what time of night they > start migrating? > > Joe Blowers > Beaverton > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dan at heyerly.com Mon Sep 14 10:23:58 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Daniel d.Heyerly) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:23:58 -0400 Subject: [obol] Newport, Lincoln County Sunday 9/13/2009 Message-ID: Anne and I made an afternoon trip to Newport in a last-ditch attempt to see the Hudsonian Godwit(s) that had been reported the last several days (weeks). Alas this was the first day we could both make the trip, and it appears we were one day late. HSMC birds (partial list): Caspian Tern Least Sandpiper (small flock of 3) Marbled Godwit (1) The godwit flew in from the Idaho Flats area and landed in front of the hut as the late afternoon tide rose covering up the beach. South Jetty Yaquina Bay: Red-necked Grebe (1) on the ocean side Sooty Shearwater (1000s feeding on surface baitfish approximately 100 yards SW of the end of the S. Jetty. Heerman's Gull (100s roosting on the N. Jetty and also on the baitfish with the sooties) Brown Pelican (100s roosting and baitfishing with the sooties and Heerman's) Wandering Tattler (1) White-winged Scoter Common Murre There were others, but those were the highlights. Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090914/fd1595bd/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Mon Sep 14 10:49:17 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:49:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Newport HUGO - NO; Merlin at HMSC, Sept. 13, 09 Message-ID: <375589.65839.qm@web37001.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, like Dan and Anne, Oscar Harper and I were one day late in our attempt to see the Hudsonian Godwit(s) at Newport yesterday afternoon (well, it was my second attempt, I was lucky enough to see both HUGOs several days ago). We found the same lone MARBLED GODWIT reported by the Heyerlys, originally on Idaho Flats and later behind the Marine Science Center; the only other bird of note was a MERLIN over the mud at Idaho Flats. Good birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090914/2fcfa5ce/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Mon Sep 14 10:57:04 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:57:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Florence area Message-ID: <849020.78245.qm@web37003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Howdy OBOLites, I made a brief run to the usual spots around Florence this morning, with very moderate success. Shorebirding continues to be mediocre, at best, and there wasn't a lot of activity over he ocean, despite rather decent viewing conditions. Highlights included: North Jetty mudflats: 4 MARBLED GODWITS 1 NORTHERN PINTAIL Seawatch from North Jetty: a small scattering of distant SOOTY SHEARWATERS, a few COMMUN MURRES, 2 MARBLED MURRELETS (in winter plumage), a few PACIFIC LOONS, SURF and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, 10 BROWN PELICANS South Jetty - Dog Pond: 1 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 2 WILSON'S SNIPES Deflation Plain and Dotterel Dike: no sign of Buff-breasted Sandpipers or Golden-Plovers 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER 1 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE 2 WILSON'S SNIPES 3 AMERICAN BITTERNS ca. 15 AMERICAN PIPITS 1 YELLOW WARBLER A pretty slow morning on the sunny Oregon coast Happy fall birding Hendrik ________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090914/db7013ce/attachment.html From fitzbeew at gmail.com Mon Sep 14 11:00:12 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:00:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Off-topic: Bird magazines Message-ID: Obol, I recently went through all my stuff at my parents' house and thus I now have a considerable collection of "Oregon Birds", "Birding", and "Winging it" magazines/publications, dating back to 1999 or so to recent years. I have a whole box of them and they are free for the taking; you pick up. Please reply off-list. Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090914/bbb26125/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Sep 14 11:13:22 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:13:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds of Late Message-ID: <826338.33769.qm@web45304.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Jim Heaney reported a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER at his place on east bay of Coos Bay middle of last week,?I saw three today out on the north spit of Coos Bay with a chickadee flock. ? Kerry Johnson?saw 4 PALM WARBLERS at Saunder's Lake (a few miles north of North Bend)?this past Saturday- the 12th, for the earliest county record by two weeks.? He also had a LINCOLN'S SPARROW and a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER. ? Oh, and the BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was still out on the north spit of Coos Bay this AM (9/14). ? That's it for now, Tim R Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090914/9d096408/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Mon Sep 14 11:59:52 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:59:52 +0000 Subject: [obol] Newport HUGO - NO; Merlin at HMSC, Sept. 13, 09 Message-ID: We seached for an hour and one half before meeting Dan and Anne yesterday, searched again this morning...no HUGO. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Hendrik Herlyn Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:49:17 To: Subject: [obol] Newport HUGO - NO; Merlin at HMSC, Sept. 13, 09 Hello all, like Dan and Anne, Oscar Harper and I were one day late in our attempt to see the Hudsonian Godwit(s) at Newport yesterday afternoon (well, it was my second attempt, I was lucky enough to see both HUGOs several days ago). We found the same lone MARBLED GODWIT reported by the Heyerlys, originally on Idaho Flats and later behind the Marine Science Center; the only other bird of note was a MERLIN over the mud at Idaho Flats. Good birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com From greg at thebirdguide.com Mon Sep 14 13:29:09 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:29:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Trip results: 12 September pelagic trip Message-ID: Three rarities! Below is the text of the trip report for yesterday's fantastic pelagic trip. Included are links to the original web report and additional photos. Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com Report with photos: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/archive/09122009.htm Additional photos: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/gallery/20090912 Pelagic trip report: Saturday, September 12, 2009 11 hours >From Newport, Oregon, to 30 miles west of Depoe Bay where we met up with the American Dynasty hake fishing fleet. Seas: large slow swell, smooth surface, winds 5-8 knots. Boat: Misty Captain Robert Waddell Newport Tradewinds Charter The Bird Guide, Inc. http://thebirdguide.com/ Guides: Greg Gillson, Tim Shelmerdine, David Mandell, Russ Namitz Oh, why can't more of our trips have such marvelously smooth seas! There are no words for such a insanely great trip! About 20 miles due west of Cape Foulweather (typically a very apt name given to it by Captain Cook), guide David Mandell spotted a MANX SHEARWATER sitting in a flock of birds which we snuck up on. At least half the boat spied this rare bird before it flushed with the rest of the flock of SOOTY and PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS. Not 10 minutes later, in our very next flock of birds on the water, was an equally rare pair of the SCRIPPS'S race of XANTUS'S MURRELET! This time the birds remained for everyone to get great looks. Not to be outdone by those birds, an hour and a half later while we were birding alongside the American Dynasty hake fishing ship, a LAYSAN ALBATROSS overflew our boat! While fairly regular (~50% of trips) from late October into early May, this is one of the very few we have seen from June-September. Smiles and high-fives all around.... CASSIN'S and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS were everywhere. We encountered two flocks of FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS and had RED and RED-NECKED PHALAROPES give an identification clinic of side-by-side comparisons. Several close GRAY WHALES, HUMPBACK WHALES, HARBOR PORPOISES, and NORTHERN FUR SEALS highlighted the marine mammals, while giddy passengers were waving back at the out-of-the-water fins of several OCEAN SUNFISH. These included some frying pan-sized ones that jumped out of the water, and a huge one about 7 feet across from dorsal to ventral fin. One newer birder recorded an astounding TWENTY life birds! Truly, an insanely great trip! Northern Pintail 200 Surf Scoter 80 White-winged Scoter 80 Common Loon 10 Pacific Loon 5 Red-throated Loon 3 Black-footed Albatross 120 LAYSAN ALBATROSS 1 Northern Fulmar 135 Pink-footed Shearwater 650 Sooty Shearwater 500 Buller's Shearwater 1 MANX SHEARWATER 1 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel 550 Brown Pelican 200 Double-crested Cormorant 2 Brandt's Cormorant 200 Pelagic Cormorant 100 Red-necked Phalarope 350 Red Phalarope 75 Heermann's Gull 120 California Gull 5000 Western Gull 80 Sabine's Gull 10 Common Tern 2 Common Murre 130 Pigeon Guillemot 15 Marbled Murrelet 25 XANTUS'S (SCRIPPS'S) MURRELET 2 Cassin's Auklet 600 Rhinoceros Auklet 850 South Polar Skua 5 Pomarine Jaeger 15 Parasitic Jaeger 5 Long-tailed Jaeger 6 jaeger (sp.) 8 HUMPBACK WHALE 2 Gray Whale 4 Harbor Porpoise 30 Harbor Seal 2 California Sea Lion 25 Steller's Sea Lion 8 ELEPHANT SEAL 1 NORTHERN FUR SEAL 5 Blue Shark 3 Ocean Sunfish 12 Moon Jelly Sea Nettle From tamickel at rio.com Mon Sep 14 13:56:33 2009 From: tamickel at rio.com (Tom & Allison Mickel) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:56:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Off topic - iPod speaker for birding Message-ID: <000701ca357d$d7faea50$87f0bef0$@com> OBOL, I was wondering if anyone has recently found a good iPod speaker for playing bird songs in the field? I've been using the 9 volt Radio Shack speaker for a number of years, but while birding in Peru recently, I gave my speak and cord to our guide because he was having trouble with his, thinking I would replace the speaker once home. Well, Radio Shack don't sell the 9 volt speaker anymore! So, if anyone has found a good speaker that will hold up to field use, I would be interested in knowing brand, model, and price. Please reply off the list and if others are interested, I can post a summary. Thanks, Tom Mickel From greg at thebirdguide.com Mon Sep 14 14:24:22 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:24:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] How to Find a Dipper Nest Message-ID: <4D328F39DC5B474F86A7E6DF87037F07@GREG> Today's entry on the Pacific NW Backyard Birder blog is "How to Find a Dipper Nest." It has photos of American Dipper nests and river characteristics on the Metolius River and the Nehalem River. http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/ Other recent entries: September 11: "Backyard Birds of... Sacramento, California" September 9: "Juvenile Green Heron" recent photo September 7: "Orange-crowned Warbler... So where's the orange?" September 4: "What bird is that?... Questions and answers" September 2: "Great Blue Heron in flight" recent photo August 31: "At the coast... Pigeon Guillemot" Next scheduled post: September 17: "Juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk" recent photo. Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From dlrobbo at comcast.net Mon Sep 14 14:24:17 2009 From: dlrobbo at comcast.net (Doug Robberson) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:24:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Off topic - iPod speaker for birding In-Reply-To: <000701ca357d$d7faea50$87f0bef0$@com> Message-ID: Yes, Travelsound model MF1530. iPod fits into speaker which fits into shirt pocket. Volume is excellent. Recharges both speaker and iPod from computer. About $80 from birdjam. Doug Robberson Tigard, OR > OBOL, > > I was wondering if anyone has recently found a good iPod speaker for playing > bird songs in the field? I've been using the 9 volt Radio Shack speaker for > a number of years, but while birding in Peru recently, I gave my speak and > cord to our guide because he was having trouble with his, thinking I would > replace the speaker once home. Well, Radio Shack don't sell the 9 volt > speaker anymore! So, if anyone has found a good speaker that will hold up > to field use, I would be interested in knowing brand, model, and price. > Please reply off the list and if others are interested, I can post a > summary. > > Thanks, > Tom Mickel > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Mon Sep 14 15:28:45 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:28:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Florence area In-Reply-To: <849020.78245.qm@web37003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <849020.78245.qm@web37003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <2b1bbd260909141528t4a38a8b5ob41628799b53fdd9@mail.gmail.com> Obol, I too was out and about, but later in the afternoon. A few additional birds: South Jetty--Dog Pond 1-WESTERN KINGBIRD (flew south) 2-juv. PECTORAL SP 1-juv. Least SP 1-juv. LB DOW 5-Wilson's SNIPE (shorbs were very flighty) South Jetty-Crab Dock cove 16-juv. Western SP 2-juv. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS Perhaps the oddest sight was a WHIMBREL just north of the D plain parking lot roaming the small burnt area. Daniel Farrar On Mon, Sep 14, 2009 at 10:57 AM, Hendrik Herlyn wrote: > Howdy OBOLites, > > I made a brief run to the usual spots around Florence this morning, with > very moderate success. Shorebirding continues to be mediocre, at best, and > there wasn't a lot of activity over he ocean, despite rather decent viewing > conditions. > > Highlights included: > > North Jetty mudflats: > > 4 MARBLED GODWITS > 1 NORTHERN PINTAIL > > Seawatch from North Jetty: > > a small scattering of distant SOOTY SHEARWATERS, a few COMMUN MURRES, 2 > MARBLED MURRELETS (in winter plumage), a few PACIFIC LOONS, SURF and > WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, 10 BROWN PELICANS > > South Jetty - Dog Pond: > > 1 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER > 2 WILSON'S SNIPES > > Deflation Plain and Dotterel Dike: > > no sign of Buff-breasted Sandpipers or Golden-Plovers > 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER > 1 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE > 2 WILSON'S SNIPES > 3 AMERICAN BITTERNS > ca. 15 AMERICAN PIPITS > 1 YELLOW WARBLER > > A pretty slow morning on the sunny Oregon coast > > Happy fall birding > > Hendrik > > ________________________________ > Hendrik G. Herlyn > 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 > Florence, OR 97439 > USA > Phone: 541-997-2730 > E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090914/800af56b/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Sep 14 16:59:21 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:59:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur update Message-ID: Today a very cooperative NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was at HQ, another waterthrush was at a stand of trees between Burns Junction and Rome (Ed Pandolfino and Oscar Johnson), a juv Red-shouldered Hawk was at Benson Pond (maybe same one as last week). Also at Benson Pond were two buntings, one definitely Lazuli and one more streaked and blah-looking. Fields offered small numbers with fair variety, including Hammonds and Gray Fly. At Fields I heard a bird that sounded just like a Black Phoebe but could never see it. It called twice in quick succession from the far side of the southern ditch and by the time I got around to the south side of the eastern end of the ditch (so I could see on that side), there was nothing to be seen. Large movements of towhees and white-crowned sparrows are obvious. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Sep 14 17:36:00 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:36:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur addendum Message-ID: I neglected to mention that Oscar Johnson and Ed Pandolfino saw a *singing* RED-EYED VIREO at Malheur HQ today Sep 14. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From ptweet2005 at msn.com Mon Sep 14 17:56:33 2009 From: ptweet2005 at msn.com (NANCY FRASER) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:56:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Belgian birder/photog visit to Eugene Message-ID: This Belgian gentleman is looking for information about birding opportunities in/around Eugene. He belongs to a photography/birding group list to which I subscribe. If you be willing to respond to his questions, please communicate directly to his e mail. Nancy Fraser Portland ================================================= Hi all, I have to spend some (working) days in Eugene (Oregon), and I have the possibility to stay 3 days more to visit the country. This week can be either at the beginning of November or January. I'd like to know if anyone in the list can give me some tips (best places to see, typical birds, ...). And also tell me what should more productive (in birding terms) : November or January? I have to add that I'm from Belgium (Western Europe) and I've never been to the West coast of the USA. So, I guess that any bird I'll see will be a lifer! I'm specially interested in waterbirds (Divers are among my favorites). Thank you for your help! Cheers, Gabrielrasson.winandy at skynet.be -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090914/ea033b74/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Sep 14 18:04:36 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:04:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur addendum Message-ID: <1252976676.3389.404.camel@clearwater> Alan Contreras wrote: > I neglected to mention that Oscar Johnson and Ed Pandolfino saw a *singing* > RED-EYED VIREO at Malheur HQ today Sep 14. Hello Alan & All, My impression is that Red-eyed Vireos pay little attention to the possibility of breeding, when they sing. We had one singing here in Benton County in mid-August, and it's not the first time I've encountered one well past the likely breedign period. Perhaps there's another territorial function to their singing. At Malheur HQ it might be, "I've found the only significant patch of trees for miles around, so keep out!" That said, HUTTON'S VIREOS have been singing here in recent days, and CASSIN'S within the past week. Today a PILEATED WOODPECKER and DOWNY WOODPECKER were exchanging what I guess passes for "song" among woodpeckers, for the first time since spring. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From range.bayer at gmail.com Mon Sep 14 18:29:17 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:29:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Newport Hudsonian Godwit on Sept. 14--Yes at 6:20 PM Message-ID: Hi, Janet Lamberson just telephoned. She saw 1 Hudsonian Godwit with 1 Marbled Godwit working the tideline on the mudflats near the hut along the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center Nature Trail at 6:20 PM this evening (Sept. 14). Also there were lots of Brown Pelicans in the area. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Sep 14 18:55:02 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:55:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur BLACKPOLL Message-ID: A BLACKPOLL was found by Jim Danzenbaker, Jay Withgott, et al. at MHQ this evening. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From j.woodard at cox.net Mon Sep 14 19:15:21 2009 From: j.woodard at cox.net (jwoodard) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:15:21 -0500 Subject: [obol] RFI from OKLA birder Message-ID: A small group of birders from Oklahoma will be attending the WOS conference in Longview, WA from Sept 18-20th. We will be birding in Oregon after the conference. I am looking for info on the best spots to find the following birds: Sooty Grouse, Ruff, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. I have the Birder's Guide to Oregon by Joseph Evanich published in 1990 and the John Rakestraw Falcon Guide to Birding Oregon. I am planning on us birding down the Oregon coast after the conference unless a rarity turns up worth chasing. Thanks in advance for any help you can give. I am willing to provide any help if anyone ever needs info or a guide in Oklahoma or the surrounding states. Jimmy Woodard Mustang, OK 405-365-5685 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090914/f75f80e1/attachment.html From surfbird at q.com Mon Sep 14 19:28:39 2009 From: surfbird at q.com (Diane Pettey) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:28:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Co. Coast FOX SPARROW, 14 Sept 09 Message-ID: Obolers, This evening, the first-of-season FOX SPARROW was seen in our front yard. Good birding, Diane Pettey Heceta Beach, OR (north of Florence) surfbird at q.com From johnpam at mtangel.net Mon Sep 14 20:09:22 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:09:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Off topic - iPod speaker for birding In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Radio Shack still sells the 9V speaker on the internet. The URL is: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062620&cp The best news is that they cost $14.99 without shipping and that's a very good deal. I just ordered two of them yesterday. My old one still works but is sort of falling apart after a number of years of hard knocks. The local Radio Shack stores claim they are not available. John Thomas From ammillman at earthlink.net Mon Sep 14 21:21:37 2009 From: ammillman at earthlink.net (Meredith Millman) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:21:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur addendum In-Reply-To: <1252976676.3389.404.camel@clearwater> References: <1252976676.3389.404.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: My understanding is that day length in the fall is similar to that in spring and can trigger hormonal surges that result in singing in some birds. There's a fun bit of verse that addresses this: The Autumnal Recrudescence of the Amatory Urge When the birds are cacaphonic in the trees and on the verge Of the fields in mid-October when the cold is like a scourge. It is not delight in winter that makes feathered voices surge, But autumnal recrudescence of the amatory urge. When the frost is on the punkin' and when leaf and branch diverge, Birds with hormones reawakened sing a paean, not a dirge. What's the reason for their warbling? Why on earth this late-year splurge? The autumnal recrudescence of the amatory urge. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Written by Susan Stiles, copyright December 1973 At 06:04 PM 9/14/2009, you wrote: >Alan Contreras wrote: > > > I neglected to mention that Oscar Johnson and Ed Pandolfino saw a *singing* > > RED-EYED VIREO at Malheur HQ today Sep 14. > >Hello Alan & All, > >My impression is that Red-eyed Vireos pay little attention to the >possibility of breeding, when they sing. We had one singing here in >Benton County in mid-August, and it's not the first time I've >encountered one well past the likely breedign period. > >Perhaps there's another territorial function to their singing. At >Malheur HQ it might be, "I've found the only significant patch of trees >for miles around, so keep out!" > >That said, HUTTON'S VIREOS have been singing here in recent days, and >CASSIN'S within the past week. Today a PILEATED WOODPECKER and DOWNY >WOODPECKER were exchanging what I guess passes for "song" among >woodpeckers, for the first time since spring. > >Happy birding, >Joel > >-- >Joel Geier >Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090914/9cebd03c/attachment.html From vireogirl at yahoo.com Mon Sep 14 21:45:51 2009 From: vireogirl at yahoo.com (Vjera Thompson) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:45:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Harney Sabine's Message-ID: <275222.94549.qm@web56303.mail.re3.yahoo.com> OBOLers, Michael Dossett asked me to post that he had a SABINE'S GULL at Chickahominy Reservoir in Harvey County this afternoon. Vjera Thompson Eugene, OR viregirl at yahoo.com From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Mon Sep 14 21:35:54 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:35:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wheeler County NAMC Message-ID: <00aa01ca35c8$46bcf380$6adb63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> If you are interested in participating in the Wheeler county North American Migration Count (NAMC), we will be conducting it on Saturday, Sept. 19. Paul T. Sullivan Contact me at (503) 646-7889 ptsulliv at spiritone.com From ninerharv2 at msn.com Mon Sep 14 22:58:45 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 05:58:45 +0000 Subject: [obol] Hudsonian Godwit and Parasitic Jaeger, HMSC, 12 Sept Message-ID: As stated earlier, we missed the Hudsonian for the 2nd straight day. We did see Karl's parasitic jaeger at about 9:30 AM at high tide around the hut joining the gulls. Like Karl, this did not appear to be a healthy bird to me, moving deliberatly but very slowly almost seeming to be dragging something! Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Karl Fairchild Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 05:15:52 To: ; Subject: [obol] Hudsonian Godwit and Parasitic Jaeger, HMSC, 12 Sept Hi Obol, My folks and I were treated to good looks at the HUDSONIAN GODWIT today, hanging out with 3 Marbled Godwits, first at Idaho Flats, then at the HMSC mudflats.? Also interesting was a PARASITIC JAEGER, hanging out with the California Gull flocks, first at Idaho Flats and then at HMSC as well.? It appeared to be a light morph adult or near adult.? We first observed the above mentioned-birds around 1100 on the Idaho Flats mud area near the condos.? The birds were moderately distant at this point.? Also around this time, we observed some distant peeps on a farther mud island, that looked mostly like WESTERNS.? One or two birds, however, looked more like PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, but the distance and heat waves were too much to be sure.? Later (about 1400), we observed the godwits and jaeger near the HMSC hut at much closer range.? We searched for the peep flock as well, but to no avail.? It was great to see the Hudsonian Godwit up fairly close--it seems relatively seldom that I get a state bird this obliging anymore.? The jaeger was perhaps the most surprising bird of the day--this is probably only the second time I've seen one inland.? It seemed rather comfortable hanging out with the gulls, though I wonder if it was unhealthy.? It seemed to be preening a lot while sitting, and frequently shook itself in flight.? Its flight seemed lethargic for a jaeger and it spent much of its time lying down when not preening.? I got some crummy photos of the godwit and jaeger for anyone who is interested. A nice day at the coast, and thanks again to Adrian and Christopher Hinkle for finding the Hudsonian Godwit! Good Birding, Karl (and Karan and Jim) Fairchild Philomath/Ft. Klamath, OR _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From hnehls6 at comcast.net Mon Sep 14 23:39:18 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:39:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: Cape May Warbler at Clatsop Spit In-Reply-To: <16DD87487289A44088D4991B7D9EA8B501AD2ADF@exchange.harvey.corp> Message-ID: Obolers, Received this email this evening. Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon ------ Forwarded Message From: Scott Terrill Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:09:19 -0700 To: Cc: Conversation: Cape May Warbler at Clatsop Spit Subject: Cape May Warbler at Clatsop Spit Hello Harry, I am visiting for the Oregon Wave Energy Trust meetings in Seaside. I arrived in Seaside late this afternoon and made a quick trip to Clatsop Spit to look for migrant passerines. I checked the area around parking lot D and found an HY male Cape May Warbler with a small mixed flock of Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Yellow Warblers, Two Townsend's Warblers and a Black-throated Gray. The flock was at the boardwalk to the wildlife viewing area. Unfortunately, since I am traveling for two days of meetings, I did not have my camera. I will submit a detailed description, but wanted to get the word out in case anyone wants to look for the bird. I am very familiar with this species, having seen a number of vagrant Cape Mays in California and Arizona and seeing and banding a number of them in the east and central America. I have been a member of the California Bird Records Committee (13 years) and the Arizona Bird Records Committee and a NAB regional editor for the northern California and Arizona/ New Mexico regions. Not trying to toot my own horn, just want you to know that I have quite a bit of experience. I will forward a written description to you shortly. Scott Scott B. Terrill, PhD Vice President, Wildlife Principal H. T. Harvey & Associates | Ecological Consultants 983 University Avenue Building D | Los Gatos, CA 95032 P. 408.458.3203 F. 408.458.3210 sterrill at harveyecology.com www.harveyecology.com ------ End of Forwarded Message -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090914/0439c732/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Tue Sep 15 00:34:38 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 07:34:38 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Malheur HQs Blackpoll Warbler Message-ID: <1339071253.1129401253000078404.JavaMail.root@sz0070a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> The BLACKPOLL WARBLER at Malheur NWR Headquarters this afternoon, 14 Sept., was discovered by Jim Danzenbaker. He called me over, and we got good looks, but we at first could not confirm whether this first-fall bird was Blackpoll or Bay-breasted. After losing track of the bird, we searched for two more hours, and were joined by Rich Hoyer. Then I relocated the bird just as Dan Froehlich and Tayler Brooks (both of Washington) arrived. The warbler stayed high in the cottonwoods along the south edge of the HQs area, but was extremely accommodating in that it foraged on the same limb repeatedly. The five of us (all returning home from the Western Field Ornithologists conference in Boise) finally confirmed black streaking on the back to clinch the identification as Blackpoll. Other good species we noted at HQs this afternoon included: Prairie Falcon ? 1 Caspian Tern ? 1 Hammond?s Flycatcher ? 1 Willow Flycatcher ? 1 Bank Swallow - 2 Townsend?s Solitaire - 3 Golden-crowned Sparrow ? 1 Lincoln?s Sparrow - 1 Fox Sparrow - 1 Before arriving at Malheur NWR, Jim and I spent most of our day birding Malheur County, particularly Antelope Reservoir, which was spectacular. Highlights from here are covered in a separate message?. Jay Withgott Portland, OR From withgott at comcast.net Tue Sep 15 00:39:36 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 07:39:36 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] =?utf-8?b?TWFsaGV1ciBDby4gaGlnaGxpZ2h0cyDigJMgU2FiaW5l4oCZ?= =?utf-8?q?s=2C_Stilt_Sand=2E=2C_Sanderlings=2C_etc=2E_at_Antelope_Reservo?= =?utf-8?q?ir?= In-Reply-To: <1209160960.1129491253000240183.JavaMail.root@sz0070a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <824527708.1129611253000376192.JavaMail.root@sz0070a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Jim Danzenbaker and I spent most of 14 Sept. birding Malheur County, particularly Antelope Reservoir (west of Jordan Valley). At Antelope Reservoir we had 14 species of shorebirds, 2 SABINE?S GULLS, a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, and other species. Our best birds elsewhere in Malheur County were 3 SNOWY EGRETS near Jordan Valley and a pale-subspecies (Richardson?s) MERLIN at Rome. Highlights below: Antelope Reservoir had the following: RED-BREASTED MERGANSER ? 1 female flew east over Antelope Reservoir but, surprisingly, rather than stopping, continued on over the desert. This is a very good bird for Malheur County. Canvasback ? 7 White-faced Ibis -- 408 birds! Semipalmated Plover ? 1 Am. Avocet ? 1 Greater Yellowlegs ? 14 Lesser Yellowlegs ? 25 Spotted Sandpiper ? 2 SANDERLING ? 5 Western Sandpiper - 65 Least Sandpiper ? 40 Peep Sp., mostly Western ? 100 Baird?s Sandpiper ? 15 Pectoral Sandpiper ? 15 STILT SANDPIPER ? 2 LB Dowitcher ? 70 Red-necked Phalarope ? 80 SABINE?S GULL ? 2 immatures Olive-sided Flycatcher ? 1 Lazuli Bunting ? 1 ... and yes, it had (pronghorn) antelope. The shorebirds scattered somewhat, and some apparently left, after two PEREGRINE FALCONS and a Northern Harrier began shaking things up. In addition, we found 3 SNOWY EGRETS and 3 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS at the creek crossing on Dinwitty Road, which leads south from Hwy 95 just west of Jordan Valley. At Rome, a lovely pale-subspecies (?Richardson?s?) MERLIN gave us great views as it perched in the cottonwoods behind the store. Jordan Valley had EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE. Although we found no rarities at various desert migrant traps in Malheur Co., they all had good numbers of common migrant species. Jay Withgott Portland, OR From dpvroman at budget.net Tue Sep 15 06:09:45 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:09:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] fallish singing birds References: <1252976676.3389.404.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: <941D3F224BF8422F8BBB0F146AC07E81@Warbler> For the last two days, an AMERICAN ROBIN has been singing in the afternoon at our place. The bird appears to be triggered by turning on sprinklers to water (perhaps sounds/feels like a spring-time rain to the bird). Also, an OAK TITMOUSE singing, which seems a bit more unusual. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) My understanding is that day length in the fall is similar to that in spring and can trigger hormonal surges that result in singing in some birds. There's a fun bit of verse that addresses this: The Autumnal Recrudescence of the Amatory Urge When the birds are cacaphonic in the trees and on the verge Of the fields in mid-October when the cold is like a scourge. It is not delight in winter that makes feathered voices surge, But autumnal recrudescence of the amatory urge. When the frost is on the punkin' and when leaf and branch diverge, Birds with hormones reawakened sing a paean, not a dirge. What's the reason for their warbling? Why on earth this late-year splurge? The autumnal recrudescence of the amatory urge. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Written by Susan Stiles, copyright December 1973 At 06:04 PM 9/14/2009, you wrote: Alan Contreras wrote: > I neglected to mention that Oscar Johnson and Ed Pandolfino saw a *singing* > RED-EYED VIREO at Malheur HQ today Sep 14. Hello Alan & All, My impression is that Red-eyed Vireos pay little attention to the possibility of breeding, when they sing. We had one singing here in Benton County in mid-August, and it's not the first time I've encountered one well past the likely breedign period. Perhaps there's another territorial function to their singing. At Malheur HQ it might be, "I've found the only significant patch of trees for miles around, so keep out!" That said, HUTTON'S VIREOS have been singing here in recent days, and CASSIN'S within the past week. Today a PILEATED WOODPECKER and DOWNY WOODPECKER were exchanging what I guess passes for "song" among woodpeckers, for the first time since spring. Happy birding, Joel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090915/223a5a7a/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Tue Sep 15 06:12:25 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:12:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Prineville Pectoral Sandpiper Message-ID: A single Pectoral Sandpiper was at Prineville Sewer Ponds yesterday. This is the first time I've seen this species at this location in about 5 years. It used to be somewhat regular but the shorebird habitat is not what it used to be at Prineville Sewer Ponds. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090915/17f7c635/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Tue Sep 15 08:57:36 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:57:36 +0000 Subject: [obol] Malheur addendum In-Reply-To: <1252976676.3389.404.camel@clearwater> References: <1252976676.3389.404.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: Joel, Regarding "well past the breeding season:" Our notion of the breeding season is sometimes a lot more narrow than it is in reality. As an example, Red-eyed Vireos have been seen regularly since early August by several birders who visited Goose Lake S.R.A. s. of Lakeview. On 5 September California birder Steve Rottenborn (who is an experienced observer) watched an adult Red-eyed Vireo feeding a juvenile of that species at this site. I quickly perused Birds of North America online and the Red-eyed Vireo species accounts mentions nest building into August and adults feeding juvs. into September. Dave Irons > From: joel.geier at peak.org > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:04:36 -0700 > Subject: Re: [obol] Malheur addendum > > Alan Contreras wrote: > > > I neglected to mention that Oscar Johnson and Ed Pandolfino saw a *singing* > > RED-EYED VIREO at Malheur HQ today Sep 14. > > Hello Alan & All, > > My impression is that Red-eyed Vireos pay little attention to the > possibility of breeding, when they sing. We had one singing here in > Benton County in mid-August, and it's not the first time I've > encountered one well past the likely breedign period. > > Perhaps there's another territorial function to their singing. At > Malheur HQ it might be, "I've found the only significant patch of trees > for miles around, so keep out!" > > That said, HUTTON'S VIREOS have been singing here in recent days, and > CASSIN'S within the past week. Today a PILEATED WOODPECKER and DOWNY > WOODPECKER were exchanging what I guess passes for "song" among > woodpeckers, for the first time since spring. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222985/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090915/7a390fe3/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Tue Sep 15 09:36:38 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:36:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hey, you shouldn't sing now! References: <1252976676.3389.404.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: <605F3B4F98E242A0AF5344E971872FAE@Warbler> On my first trip to se AZ in September there were many species nesting, feeding young and singing, which is "normal" for this area during the rainy season. I recall stepping out of our car at lower Madera Canyon to hear what sounded like one of those Black-headed Grosbeaks, only to see it was a Blue Grosbeak! Would be nice to be a bird and not have to follow the rules. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Joel, Regarding "well past the breeding season:" Our notion of the breeding season is sometimes a lot more narrow than it is in reality. As an example, Red-eyed Vireos have been seen regularly since early August by several birders who visited Goose Lake S.R.A. s. of Lakeview. On 5 September California birder Steve Rottenborn (who is an experienced observer) watched an adult Red-eyed Vireo feeding a juvenile of that species at this site. I quickly perused Birds of North America online and the Red-eyed Vireo species accounts mentions nest building into August and adults feeding juvs. into September. Dave Irons > From: joel.geier at peak.org > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:04:36 -0700 > Subject: Re: [obol] Malheur addendum > > Alan Contreras wrote: > > > I neglected to mention that Oscar Johnson and Ed Pandolfino saw a *singing* > > RED-EYED VIREO at Malheur HQ today Sep 14. > > Hello Alan & All, > > My impression is that Red-eyed Vireos pay little attention to the > possibility of breeding, when they sing. We had one singing here in > Benton County in mid-August, and it's not the first time I've > encountered one well past the likely breedign period. > > Perhaps there's another territorial function to their singing. At > Malheur HQ it might be, "I've found the only significant patch of trees > for miles around, so keep out!" > > That said, HUTTON'S VIREOS have been singing here in recent days, and > CASSIN'S within the past week. Today a PILEATED WOODPECKER and DOWNY > WOODPECKER were exchanging what I guess passes for "song" among > woodpeckers, for the first time since spring. > > Happy birding, > Joel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090915/4376970d/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Sep 15 09:55:32 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:55:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur update Message-ID: Tues a.m. At Malheur, the WATERTHRUSH and BLACKPOLL still present. GNATCATCHER also. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From lammergeiereyes at aol.com Tue Sep 15 10:47:26 2009 From: lammergeiereyes at aol.com (lammergeiereyes at aol.com) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:47:26 -0400 Subject: [obol] Value Bins; off-topic Message-ID: <8CC0443B8CC6A49-8D08-819B@webmail-d099.sysops.aol.com> Greetings, I've always been something of an optics snob and mortgaged my soul to get Leica and Swaro scopes and bins. But, my wife and I are honeymooning in South Africa in a month, and rather than wrestle over the same pair while we're looking at birds and game, it would make sense to get a second pair. Does anyone with a broad range of optics experience have any reccomendations for an excellent value for under, say, $300? I have been looking a range of brands from nikon to vortex and eagle optics. Thanks, Blake T. Matheson "Men still live who, in their youth, remember Passenger Pigeons. Trees still live who, in their youth, were shaken by a living wind. But a decade hence only the oldest oaks will remember, and at long last only the hills will know." Leopold (1949). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090915/8b821c09/attachment.html From phils at rio.com Tue Sep 15 11:05:19 2009 From: phils at rio.com (Phil and Christina) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:05:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Value Bins; off-topic In-Reply-To: <8CC0443B8CC6A49-8D08-819B@webmail-d099.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: My main birding bins are Swarovski. A few years ago my wife and I got Eagle Optics bins in their Range Platinum Class for their close focussing while butterflying (and as a spare pair of less expensive glasses). We are very happy with them. I still use the Swaros for most serious birding, but it isn't a horrible compromise to use the Eagles when I want a lighter pair. Seems like we paid mid $200s for 8x32 and about $100 more for the 8x42. Good luck. Phil Shepard -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org]On Behalf Of lammergeiereyes at aol.com Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 10:47 AM To: tweeters at u.washington.edu; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Value Bins; off-topic Greetings, I've always been something of an optics snob and mortgaged my soul to get Leica and Swaro scopes and bins. But, my wife and I are honeymooning in South Africa in a month, and rather than wrestle over the same pair while we're looking at birds and game, it would make sense to get a second pair. Does anyone with a broad range of optics experience have any reccomendations for an excellent value for under, say, $300? I have been looking a range of brands from nikon to vortex and eagle optics. Thanks, Blake T. Matheson "Men still live who, in their youth, remember Passenger Pigeons. Trees still live who, in their youth, were shaken by a living wind. But a decade hence only the oldest oaks will remember, and at long last only the hills will know." Leopold (1949). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090915/43a3de5d/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Tue Sep 15 11:55:43 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:55:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Value Bins; off-topic In-Reply-To: <8CC0443B8CC6A49-8D08-819B@webmail-d099.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CC0443B8CC6A49-8D08-819B@webmail-d099.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: Blake, I've always found Pete Dunne's recommendations to be on target. Here are his selections for the various categories: http://featheredgeoptics.com/petespick-binoculars.htm . I recently got to play with a number of the Vortex binoculars and was quite favorably impressed with the quality they had for under $300. Tom Crabtree, Bend _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of lammergeiereyes at aol.com Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 9:47 AM To: tweeters at u.washington.edu; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Value Bins; off-topic Greetings, I've always been something of an optics snob and mortgaged my soul to get Leica and Swaro scopes and bins. But, my wife and I are honeymooning in South Africa in a month, and rather than wrestle over the same pair while we're looking at birds and game, it would make sense to get a second pair. Does anyone with a broad range of optics experience have any reccomendations for an excellent value for under, say, $300? I have been looking a range of brands from nikon to vortex and eagle optics. Thanks, Blake T. Matheson "Men still live who, in their youth, remember Passenger Pigeons. Trees still live who, in their youth, were shaken by a living wind. But a decade hence only the oldest oaks will remember, and at long last only the hills will know." Leopold (1949). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090915/25f11f44/attachment.html From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Tue Sep 15 12:47:52 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (Barbara Millikan) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:47:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] junco behavior Message-ID: <855070e90909151247l370f24a3g143a5eaf9c7ff3b1@mail.gmail.com> We have a few juncos all summer here in NW Polk County, but the last few days the yard has been full of them, chasing each other, playing tag, whatever it is they do collectively that involves a lot of flitting around. Anyone know what this is about? If it was spring, I'd say it was courting. Thanks Barbara -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090915/122690e2/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Tue Sep 15 14:36:11 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:36:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] "Fall" sightings in Bend Message-ID: <9F2B1BF9CD564B08A7399A2B7B756626@102889> Yesterday I had the first TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE of the season in my stream. I still have one each of CALLIOPE, RUFOUS and ANNA's HUMMINGBIRDS hanging around, but this is a far cry from the 10 or so Rufous that were here two weeks ago. A few minutes ago I had over a dozen WESTERN SCRUB JAYS flaying around at the corner of Franklin & Harriman in Bend. That's a fairly significant concentration of the birds for the area. This morning I noticed that their annual raid on the oak trees along Wall Street have begun. Today it was just a handful of Steller's & Scrubs, but fairly soon there will be over 20 engaged in acorn attacks. This may not be quite as exciting as the Swifts along Harriman Street, but it is a fun thing to observe and speculate how many Jays and how many acorns are involved in the process. Tom Crabtree Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090915/e496d691/attachment.html From lbviman at blackfoot.net Tue Sep 15 14:53:18 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:53:18 -0600 Subject: [obol] fallish singing birds In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090915214840.DD9A69B01FF@mail.blackfoot.net> Singing birds in "fallish" times (where is "fallish"? ;-) ) sometimes, if not predominately, may be young birds practicing. Picking up on the Red-eyed vireo theme, I've been able to entice ADULT Least Bell's Vireos to sing in mid to late September [once in October] in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties CA by playing back songs (I knew them to be adult because they were banded birds still "on territory" from earlier studies I conducted), and I've heard other species (Song Sparrow mainly) practicing what I think of as "spastic song" [sorry if that is a non-PC term] in September through winter (in CA). I do not think there are provable "triggers" for many of these events, other than their exuberance, or more likely warm weather, like we experience in fall. But, admitting I can and have been wrong in the past, and can accept all explanations, including that some don't like my opinions - Jim Greaves, Thompson Falls MT, formerly Santa Barbara CA At 01:00 PM 9/15/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >Message: 23 >Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:09:45 -0700 >From: "Dennis P. Vroman" >Subject: [obol] fallish singing birds >To: , "Meredith Millman" > >Message-ID: <941D3F224BF8422F8BBB0F146AC07E81 at Warbler> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > >For the last two days, an AMERICAN ROBIN has been singing in the >afternoon at our place. The bird appears to be triggered by turning >on sprinklers to water (perhaps sounds/feels like a spring-time rain >to the bird). > >Also, an OAK TITMOUSE singing, which seems a bit more unusual. > >Dennis (north of Grants Pass) > > > My understanding is that day length in the fall is similar to > that in spring and can trigger hormonal surges that result in > singing in some birds. There's a fun bit of verse that addresses this: > > >The Autumnal Recrudescence of the Amatory Urge > >When the birds are cacaphonic in the trees and on the verge >Of the fields in mid-October when the cold is like a scourge. >It is not delight in winter that makes feathered voices surge, >But autumnal recrudescence of the amatory urge. > >When the frost is on the punkin' and when leaf and branch diverge, >Birds with hormones reawakened sing a paean, not a dirge. >What's the reason for their warbling? Why on earth this late-year > splurge? >The autumnal recrudescence of the amatory urge. > >----------------------------------------------------------------- > >Written by Susan Stiles, copyright December 1973 > > > >At 06:04 PM 9/14/2009, you wrote: > Alan Contreras wrote: > > > I neglected to mention that Oscar Johnson and Ed Pandolfino > saw a *singing* > > RED-EYED VIREO at Malheur HQ today Sep 14. > > Hello Alan & All, > > My impression is that Red-eyed Vireos pay little attention to the > possibility of breeding, when they sing. We had one singing here in > Benton County in mid-August, and it's not the first time I've > encountered one well past the likely breedign period. > > Perhaps there's another territorial function to their singing. At > Malheur HQ it might be, "I've found the only significant patch of trees > for miles around, so keep out!" > > That said, HUTTON'S VIREOS have been singing here in recent days, and > CASSIN'S within the past week. Today a PILEATED WOODPECKER and DOWNY > WOODPECKER were exchanging what I guess passes for "song" among > woodpeckers, for the first time since spring. > > Happy birding, > Joel From chaetura at gmail.com Tue Sep 15 15:19:13 2009 From: chaetura at gmail.com (Charles Swift) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:19:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] fall singing vireos Message-ID: In my experience it is not unusual to hear vireos singing in fall migration (in places where they are clearly migrants) although Cassin's seems to be somewhat more prone to this. Nathan Pieplow mentions this on his excellent ear birding blog in a post here: http://earbirding.com/blog/archives/619 in a list of reasons why recordists should continue recording in late summer/fall. -- Charles Swift Moscow, ID chaetura at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090915/a7ad2e60/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Sep 15 20:03:55 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:03:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Blackpoll photos Message-ID: I have posted photos of the Malheur Blackpoll to my bird photo blog. http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary From rflores_2 at msn.com Tue Sep 15 20:29:33 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:29:33 +0000 Subject: [obol] Looked like a good riparian day along Columbia River, least flycatcher Message-ID: If you have tomorrow off you may want to bird a riparian habitat along the river. I was out on Bachelor Island walking a route for the upcoming WOS Convention and stumbled onto what looked like the best day for migrants I have experienced there this fall. I could not bird much but as I walked the trail with another trip leader I saw the following highlights. I was there about 1/2 hour. black-throated gray warbler 4 yellow warbler 2 orange-crowned warbler 10 warbling vireo 2 Swainson's thrush 8 horned grebe 1 river white-crowned sparrow 8 golden-crowned sparrow 1 Lincoln's sparrow 1 willow flycatcher 2 least flycatcher 1 Not bad wished I could have spent more time but had a conference call to get to. Oh the agony! Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090916/97cb1e44/attachment.html From jdanzenbaker at gmail.com Tue Sep 15 21:23:16 2009 From: jdanzenbaker at gmail.com (Jim Danzenbaker) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:23:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] negative Swainson's In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Lona, Thanks for your e-mail and my apologies for this delayed response. Jay Withgott and I are proposing an official listening time tomorrow night and Thursday morning. We will use the results to start to try to map where the migration streams are and potentially whether terrain influences where these streams are each year. Look for more information on this semi-official nocturnal night flight observation time hopefully tonight or tomorrow morning. We're still getting things organized. Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 1:42 PM, Bobbett Pierce wrote: > Last year when obolers reported the nighttime migration of Swainson's, I > went out to listen in my yard. It was wonderful hearing them overhead and > even falling out into the nearby woodland. I am on the eastern edge of the > coast range in Columbia County. > This year so far -- nearly zero. I've gone out predawn and other times, > starry nights and overcast. Our snowy tree crickets offer some competition, > but they sing less as dawn approaches. I think I heard maybe one or two > Swainson's, not the continuous stream like last year. > Does it matter if there are tree farms, clearcuts, or real forests on the > migration route? If landing spots are poor, maybe they change course the > following year. I hope the new management plan on the Clatsop and Tillamook > state forests won't hurt Swainson's in the long term. Topic for grad > students? > Lona Pierce, Warren > > ------------------------------ > Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. Try it > now. > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090915/5cab116d/attachment.html From jdanzenbaker at gmail.com Tue Sep 15 21:25:36 2009 From: jdanzenbaker at gmail.com (Jim Danzenbaker) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:25:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Night Flight In-Reply-To: <52921741.357511252765610798.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> References: <52921741.357511252765610798.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: Thanks Sandy, Hopefully we will post something tonight or tomorrow morning about the listening dates and times. Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com On Sat, Sep 12, 2009 at 7:26 AM, wrote: > > Hi Jay, > > > > I am surprised at how many websites I found that have bird songs and calls > that I can access. I knew about Cornell Lab and e-Nature. Two sites new to > me that had helpful Thrush songs and calls were xeno-canto.org and > pjdeye.blogspot. > > > > Using the interent and my limited collection of CD's I came to the > conclusion that one of the calls (similar to a Bewick's Wren call I hear > around here, but different quality of sound) I heard around 7:00 a.m. > Wednesday morning was a Swainson's Thrush. Once a year for the last two or > three years I've seen a Swainson's Thrush very briefly in the garden. > > > > I'm game to participate and report what I hear from ny house if you and/or > Jim decides want to put some some night flight data together. > > > > Sandy Leaptrott > > NE Portland > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090915/d0c8c351/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Tue Sep 15 21:39:27 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:39:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Value Bins; off-topic In-Reply-To: References: <8CC0443B8CC6A49-8D08-819B@webmail-d099.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <2037E1354ACE4A2F89714D7BF9622B37@cgatesPC> A number of Central Oregon birders have gone with Alpen Optics in California. Nice quality and nice warranty for a fraction of the big gun prices. http://www.alpenoutdoor.com/ ----- Original Message ----- From: Tom Crabtree To: lammergeiereyes at aol.com ; tweeters at u.washington.edu ; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 11:55 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Value Bins; off-topic Blake, I've always found Pete Dunne's recommendations to be on target. Here are his selections for the various categories: http://featheredgeoptics.com/petespick-binoculars.htm . I recently got to play with a number of the Vortex binoculars and was quite favorably impressed with the quality they had for under $300. Tom Crabtree, Bend ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of lammergeiereyes at aol.com Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 9:47 AM To: tweeters at u.washington.edu; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Value Bins; off-topic Greetings, I've always been something of an optics snob and mortgaged my soul to get Leica and Swaro scopes and bins. But, my wife and I are honeymooning in South Africa in a month, and rather than wrestle over the same pair while we're looking at birds and game, it would make sense to get a second pair. Does anyone with a broad range of optics experience have any reccomendations for an excellent value for under, say, $300? I have been looking a range of brands from nikon to vortex and eagle optics. Thanks, Blake T. Matheson "Men still live who, in their youth, remember Passenger Pigeons. Trees still live who, in their youth, were shaken by a living wind. But a decade hence only the oldest oaks will remember, and at long last only the hills will know." Leopold (1949). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090915/d4bf576f/attachment.html From rottyler at peak.org Tue Sep 15 22:01:23 2009 From: rottyler at peak.org (Randy and Pam Comeleo) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:01:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Night Flight In-Reply-To: References: <52921741.357511252765610798.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <003e01ca368a$bd77c410$38674c30$@org> We had a strong flight of Swainson's Thrushes from 5 - 5:20 AM Monday (9/14) morning at 800' in the eastern foothills of the Coast Range just west of Corvallis. Twenty to fifty thrushes could be heard calling overhead continuously during this period. Calls diminished around 5:20 and we could hear birds calling from the oak/Doug-fir woodlands surrounding our home after 5:20. No calls were heard during the same time period this morning (9/15). Jim, we would be interested in participating in the 'Big Listen' later this week. Randy and Pam Comeleo Corvallis, OR From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Jim Danzenbaker Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 9:26 PM To: sandyleapt at comcast.net Cc: OBOL Subject: Re: [obol] Night Flight Thanks Sandy, Hopefully we will post something tonight or tomorrow morning about the listening dates and times. Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com On Sat, Sep 12, 2009 at 7:26 AM, wrote: Hi Jay, I am surprised at how many websites I found that have bird songs and calls that I can access. I knew about Cornell Lab and e-Nature. Two sites new to me that had helpful Thrush songs and calls were xeno-canto.org and pjdeye.blogspot. Using the interent and my limited collection of CD's I came to the conclusion that one of the calls (similar to a Bewick's Wren call I hear around here, but different quality of sound) I heard around 7:00 a.m. Wednesday morning was a Swainson's Thrush. Once a year for the last two or three years I've seen a Swainson's Thrush very briefly in the garden. I'm game to participate and report what I hear from ny house if you and/or Jim decides want to put some some night flight data together. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090915/44621324/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Tue Sep 15 22:33:01 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:33:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chickahominy Reservoir 15 Sept. Message-ID: After enjoying the Blackpoll Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, and other migrants at Malheur HQs this morning, Jim Danzenbaker and I stopped at Chickahominy Reservoir in Harney County on our way home. The water level was much lower than last fall, and the lake was smaller with extensive mudflats and the birds in closer. However, there were few shorebirds, and we did not see the Sabine's Gull found by Michael Dossett yesterday. The only shorebirds were 4 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, about 50 Western Sandpipers, 1 Least Sandpiper, and a few Killdeer. Two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were also present. Jay Withgott, Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090915/cb3e2210/attachment.html From jdanzenbaker at gmail.com Wed Sep 16 09:35:17 2009 From: jdanzenbaker at gmail.com (Jim Danzenbaker) Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:35:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrush Night Out - action item Message-ID: Hi OBOLers and Tweeters, You are invited to participate TONIGHT and TOMORROW MORNING in a collaborative effort to begin mapping aspects of the nocturnal migration of Swainson's Thrushes in Washington and Oregon. We're hoping that an informal citizen-science effort of minimal time investment can help to address some unresolved questions about this species' migration in the West, such as how thrush density varies from place to place, whether corridors of migration exist, how migration relates to topography and weather, and how these patterns vary between spring and fall. As a start, we propose that any interested birder in Washington or Oregon spend 30 minutes TONIGHT and TOMORROW MORNING listening for Swainson's Thrush calls as the birds pass overhead in the night sky, and then report the data to us for compilation. We apologize for the last-minute organization, but we have just returned home from a trip, the idea just came to us, and this needs to be done very soon, as the thrush migration is already starting to peter out. We will consider this fall's effort to be a pilot run for a more organized effort next spring and next fall. All you need to do to participate is: ? Listen outside your home (or in any location open to the night sky; quieter is better) between 9:30 and 10:00 pm tonight (Wed. 16th) and again from 5:30 to 6:00 tomorrow morning (Thu. 17th). ? Write down the number of call notes you hear that sound like those of Swainson's Thrushes. (Number of calls, not inferred number of birds.) ? Email your data to the two of us, along with the following: 1. Brief description of your location (GPS coordinates, Google Map location, or nearest cross streets). 2. Brief description of the topography (flat, along lakeshore, hills 1 mile to north, ridgeline 2 miles to east, etc.) 3. Weather conditions at your site during the listening periods (temperature, percent cloud cover, precipitation, wind at ground level, wind at cloud level if cloudy) 4. Any other bird flight calls heard during your listening periods (they need not be identified to species) That's it! We will compile the data and report back to OBOL and Tweeters. No need to let us know of your participation in advance; just send us your data before the weekend. For those not familiar with Swainson's Thrush nocturnal flight calls, a recording of a large number of them in an exceedingly thick flight together may be heard online at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/kalahari/migrating.html. Note that generally only one call note at a time is heard, and rates on most nights are less than one per minute. Thanks so much. We'll hope for a good flight, and we look forward to hearing what you hear. Jim Danzenbaker and Jay Withgott Battle Ground, WA, and Portland, OR jdanzenbaker at gmail.com and withgott at comcast.net Thanks! Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090916/e67e719b/attachment.html From jdanzenbaker at gmail.com Wed Sep 16 12:08:18 2009 From: jdanzenbaker at gmail.com (Jim Danzenbaker) Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:08:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrush Night Out Message-ID: Hi OBOLers, You are invited to participate TONIGHT and TOMORROW MORNING in a collaborative effort to begin mapping aspects of the nocturnal migration of Swainson's Thrushes in Washington and Oregon. We're hoping that an informal citizen-science effort of minimal time investment can help to address some unresolved questions about this species' migration in the West, such as how thrush density varies from place to place, whether corridors of migration exist, how migration relates to topography and weather, and how these patterns vary between spring and fall. As a start, we propose that any interested birder in Washington or Oregon spend 30 minutes TONIGHT and TOMORROW MORNING listening for Swainson's Thrush calls as the birds pass overhead in the night sky, and then report the data to us for compilation. We apologize for the last-minute organization, but we have just returned home from a trip, the idea just came to us, and this needs to be done very soon, as the thrush migration is already starting to peter out. We will consider this fall's effort to be a pilot run for a more organized effort next spring and next fall. All you need to do to participate is: ? Listen outside your home (or in any location open to the night sky; quieter is better) between 9:30 and 10:00 pm tonight (Wed. 16th) and again from 5:30 to 6:00 tomorrow morning (Thu. 17th). ? Write down the number of call notes you hear that sound like those of Swainson's Thrushes. (Number of calls, not inferred number of birds.) ? Email your data to the two of us, along with the following: 1. Brief description of your location (GPS coordinates, Google Map location, or nearest cross streets). 2. Brief description of the topography (flat, along lakeshore, hills 1 mile to north, ridgeline 2 miles to east, etc.) 3. Weather conditions at your site during the listening periods (temperature, percent cloud cover, precipitation, wind at ground level, wind at cloud level if cloudy) 4. Any other bird flight calls heard during your listening periods (they need not be identified to species) That's it! We will compile the data and report back to OBOL and Tweeters. No need to let us know of your participation in advance; just send us your data before the weekend. For those not familiar with Swainson's Thrush nocturnal flight calls, a recording of a large number of them in an exceedingly thick flight together may be heard online at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/kalahari/migrating.html. Note that generally only one call note at a time is heard, and rates on most nights are less than one per minute. Thanks so much. We'll hope for a good flight, and we look forward to hearing what you hear. Jim Danzenbaker and Jay Withgott Battle Ground, WA, and Portland, OR jdanzenbaker at gmail.com and withgott at comcast.net Thanks! Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090916/598999b3/attachment.html From mchar5 at msn.com Wed Sep 16 12:37:37 2009 From: mchar5 at msn.com (Jim Harleman and/or Kathy McNeill) Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:37:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Buff-breasted sandpiper Message-ID: Obolers, A Buff-breasted sandpiper has been seen numerous times at Agate Reservoir in Jackson County east of White City since Monday of this week. Primarily seen on the east side near where the canal/creek enters the lake. Get there early if interested to avoid the fishermen, horse riders and dog walkers who spook the birds. Other birds of interest: Caspian terns, lots of Great egrets, Green heron, dowitchers, Greater yellowlegs, Baird's sandpiper, Pectoral sandpiper, Lewis woodpecker. Jim Harleman -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090916/315beaed/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Wed Sep 16 12:33:01 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:33:01 +0000 Subject: [obol] Bar tailed godwit, buff breasted sandpipers, other rare peeps and fancy grouse PHOTOS Message-ID: Hi Obolers! Here are some recent images of my trip to the Okanogan and Gray's Harbor area with Guy McWethy (Renton, WA) and Bill Bradford (Portland, Oregon). Two great trips with Guy netting 2 state lifers and 30 county ticks, and Bill, seeing 3. Good company, great birds, and some fine scenery. Some comical moments: A beautiful, female WHITE TAILED PTARMIGAN crossing the road about 1 meter from Guy's feet at Slate Peak. First time, I have seen a ptarmigan crossed the road and the fancy chicken was 50 yards from our car!! A RED KNOT and a STILT SANDPIPER coming out of nowhere and landing 10 feet from me! I was so into the moment, I did n't care that my sneakers got mucky and wet. Literally picking up the male SPRUCE GROUSE so he wouldn't get shot from the hunters. What a gorgeous bird! Took a few attempts to lure him into the dense forest. I wonder why I still eat chicken! Lastly, while camping near the Havillah Sno-Park, Guy heard a GREAT GRAY OWL hooting away late at night. Trying to triangulate where it is was, he soon discovered it was me, as my snores vibrated and resonated in the car. My favorite shots are: The flock of SANDHILL CRANE (seeing 600 elegant birds against the austere setting and moody skies was so mesmerizing); the male WHITE TAILED PTARMIGAN blending in so well with the rock. Also, I love Guy's photos of the female ptarmigan. This time of year, their plumages are so colorful and interesting. Quite elegant in her own way! Most are not my best shots, but more for documentation. Hope you enjoy, http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/recent_summer_images_2009&page=all Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From campbell at peak.org Wed Sep 16 12:57:04 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:57:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] More Linn Black Swifts Message-ID: <91662C68E3494D1591853CFB34CB7BD3@maryPC> Just after noon today we had two (I think) BLACK SWIFTS over the river here in Peoria, with a large number of swallows. I didn't have my field glasses when I first saw them, and noticed them only because they were with a large flock of white-bellied swallows, which I hadn't seen in awhile. What I first thought was an odd Barn Swallow just above the water turned out to be a swift. After running 200 yds to get my field glasses, I was able to get some looks from just about every angle, though, because of the cloud cover, without any direct sunlight. This is the third time I've seen Black Swifts here in Peoria this fall, after being alerted a couple weeks ago via birding lists. Each time they've been with swallows and they've been flying lower than the tops of the tallest trees. In the past I had always expected them to be higher, forced down just under the cloud cover, and in the past I usually brushed off the big swallow conventions as just swallows. But Black Swifts do a fair swallow imitation, appearing roughly the same size, flapping more slowly than Vaux's, gliding a fair amount of the time, changing direction erratically, and--to my surprise--sometimes even skimming the water. I'd say that the one's I've seen aren't as black as in the Sibley illustration, but are a dark gray-brown on the throat and breast, as in the National Geographic plate, with a black well around the eye. They fan their tails fairly often. >From now on, on overcast fall days I will be scanning the large swallow flocks over the Willamette for large, dark swifts. Randy Campbell -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090916/71272542/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Wed Sep 16 13:15:22 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:15:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Summer Lincoln Co. Bird Notes Received Through 8/31 Message-ID: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BIRD FIELD NOTES from the August 2009 Sandpiper 30(6) for Summer Observations Received Through 8/31 by Range Bayer The Sandpiper is a publication of Yaquina Birders and Naturalists, a Lincoln County (Oregon) natural history group. Comments in this column about abundance or seasonality refer to LINCOLN COUNTY only. There is room only for some of the many Lincoln County sightings to be included here of those sent to me or posted to the Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) or Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL) email discussion lists. If you have any Lincoln County field notes, please share them with Range (range.bayer at gmail.com; P.O. Box 1467, Newport, OR 97365; 541-265- 2965) by the 20th of the month. Bird field notes columns in the Sandpiper since 1992 are at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent). Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations (numbers refer to the site number in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide (http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/): BEAVER CREEK (#78, in part): creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, BOILER BAY STATE WAYSIDE (#59): about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, ECKMAN LAKE (#84): lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, HMSC (#75): OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of the HMSC, MIKE MILLER PARK (#76): county park 1.2 miles south of the Yaquina Bay Bridge on the east side of Hwy 101, ONA BEACH (#77): State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SPANISH HEAD: pullout north of Inn at Spanish Head at 4009 SW Highway 101 in Lincoln City, SP: State Park, THORNTON CREEK: about midway between Toledo and Eddyville along HWY 20, YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty, YAQUINA HEAD OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA (#65): headland north of Newport (vehicle fee, http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/yaquina/files/yh_passes.pdf). HIGH ELEVATION BIRDING We have few observations in Lincoln County above 1,000 ft (e.g., see Saddle Bag Mountain at http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/jspui/handle/1957/8062 and Floyd Schrock's observations above 2,000 ft on Euchre Mountain in Chap. 1 of http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/jspui/bitstream/1957/8047/1/vol.%202%20pg.%20163-207.pdf), in part, because high elevation sites are not easily accessible in Lincoln County, and it is easy to get lost. Subalpine plants occur at lower elevations in the Coast Range than in the Cascades. Some plants indicative of the Canadian Life Zone such as Pacific silver fir, noble fir, and white pine occur above about 2,500 ft on Saddle Bag Mountain in NE Lincoln Co. (RB). On 7/25, CP was in NE Lincoln Co. near Rocky Point and Elk Wallow at an elevation of about 2,800-2,900 ft. CP saw "hundreds and hundreds of EVENING GROSBEAKS." He had not seen such high numbers of Evening Grosbeaks before. He also saw lots of warblers. On 8/3, RN visited Rocky Point and besides Evening Grosbeaks, there were 1 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, 10+ RED CROSSBILLS, 2 MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS, 2 HERMIT WARBLERS, 4 CEDAR WAXWINGS, many DARK-EYED JUNCOS and a RED-TAILED HAWK. At dawn on 8/4, RN returned and thought he heard the booming of a SOOTY GROUSE, though it may have been the first sequence of a RUFFED GROUSE drumming; other birds included Common Nighthawk, Band-tailed Pigeon, Rufous Hummingbird, Varied Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Hermit Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Dark-eyed Junco, Evening Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, and Pine Siskin. GEESE The late May northerly flight of Western CANADA GEESE ended on 6/1 (MN; JL, BB; JW). On 6/25, BB observed 15 northbound geese flying quietly over Yachats that seemed larger than Brant, but they were obscured in the fog, so they were unidentifiable other than as geese. On 8/8, WH spotted a flock of 55 Western Canada Geese flying south at Boiler Bay-- Westerns move around and are not as sedentary as it was thought when the ODFW released them along the Oregon Coast in the early 1980's. Lingering BRANT in June included as many as 19 at Yachats during 6/2-11 (BB), two flocks of 5 Brant each flying north during a 6/11 seawatch at Lost Creek SP (south of South Beach) (DB), 1-2 at various other coastal sites during 6/8-23 (KB; S&CG; WH; JL; S&MR; LO; RB), and 16 "very scruffy" Brant at Marine Gardens at Otter Rock on 6/14 (WH). Brant have often been here in June in the past. For example, during 1988-1992, Brant were recorded in 4 out of 5 years in early June and in all 5 years in late June (search for "Brant" in SemiL). On 7/16, WH saw a pair of adult BALD EAGLES repeatedly swoop down on and finally catch a single, apparently flightless Brant at Alsea Bay. At least one nonbreeding HARLEQUIN DUCK was at Yaquina Head on 6/9 and 7/2-3 (BLM; S&CG). MERGANSERS-RUDDY DUCK Field trip leader EH writes that one of the highlights of the 6/27 YB&N Field Trip to Mike Miller Park was appreciating a female HOODED MERGANSER "fly by quickly, and land in the entrance opening to a large rot pocket in an old hemlock--she then went inside and stayed. ... Rare to see one land and go into a tree nest hole!" At a freshwater lake north of Sandpiper Road and north of Alsea Bay, RL saw a female Hoodie with a brood of 7 on 6/11. In early August, we had a report of some RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, but no COMMON MERGANSERS, at Siletz Bay. However, Commons nest in the Siletz, Yaquina, and Alsea watersheds and often show up in the lower estuaries this time of year at sites where Red-breasted Mergansers are common in winter. Distinguishing Common and Red-breasteds is easy in winter, as illustrated in field guides. However, female and juvenile Common Mergansers in summer and early fall can look very similar to female Red-breasted's in winter. Unfortunately, several field guides are not helpful in illustrating this. Ken Kauffmann's article (1990. The Practiced Eye: Common Merganser and Red-breasted Merganser. Am. Birds 44:1203-1205 at http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/NAB/v044n05/p01203-p01205.pdf) is useful in pointing out the similarities of these two species in summer and that they can only be safely told apart then by bill and head shape and nostril position. In summer, when large mergansers are closely examined here for more details than just the presence or absence of a sharp white demarcation on the neck, they are almost always identified as Common Mergansers, though we do have a few records of well-studied Red-breasted Mergansers. A few other waterfowl sometimes linger as nonbreeders at areas such as the GP Settling Ponds in Toledo. Identifying them can be tricky as they are often molting and do not fit the tidy images shown in many field guides. This summer, DF found a RUDDY DUCK in odd plumage at the Lincoln City Sewage Ponds on 7/22. For records through 1992, we also had summer Ruddy Duck records in late June and on 1 August 1977 and another on 25 July 1990 (SemiL). BOBWHITE-TUBENOSES On July 5, J&GP detected a male NORTHERN BOBWHITE in a semi-wooded area off Wakonda Beach Road south of Waldport--it probably escaped or was released from captivity. At Nashville in eastern Lincoln Co., BLl found a pair of CALIFORNIA QUAIL on 7/11. PACIFIC LOONS, RED-THROATED LOONS, and COMMON LOONS are regularly here in June and July, but this year we did not have any July reports, though WH found all 3 during a 6/14 Boiler Bay seawatch, and DB found Pacific and Red-throated Loons during 6/11 & 19 Lost Creek and Gleneden Beach SP seawatches. RH found 2 CLARK'S GREBES with 2 WESTERN GREBES at Yaquina Head on May 19 and noted that "At one point, a Western was courting with one of the Clark's." During a 6/18 Gleneden Beach SP seawatch, DB found 1 Clark's with 7 Westerns. On 8/1 or 2, DCr found 2 Clark's near Common Murres in the ocean near Salishan Spit. Clark's are uncommonly reported here, though they may be more common than our records indicate because they are overlooked amongst the much more abundant Western Grebe. Nonbreeding Western Grebes often oversummer, and we had 10 reports of 1-7 in June along the coast or near the HMSC (S&CG; DB; WH; JL) and 3 days at Yaquina Head in July (S&CG). There were many reports of tubenoses. While salmon fishing offshore of Newport on 8/3, BLo noted PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, and Bird Guide's 8/13 pelagic trip to Perpetua Bank (BGPT) tallied 225 NORTHERN FULMARS, 115 SOOTY SHEARWATERS, 600 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, 10 BULLER'S SHEARWATERS, and 700 FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS. During a 7/9 boat survey about 3-4 miles offshore between Newport to Boiler Bay, fulmars and Sooties were abundant (RL). From shore, Sooties were often surveyed during seawatches at several locations during 6/11-14 (DB) and August (PP; WH; MP; DT; JR & PM). Sooties have a fascinating migration--for satellite tracking of Sooties in 2009 along the Pacific Coast (including Oregon)(see especially "WA-56 to -60" at http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/?project_id=396). A rare MANX/BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER was noted at Boiler Bay on 6/14 (WH) and 8/7 (PP) and at Depoe Bay on 8/16 (DT). At Boiler Bay, 2 Pink-footeds were discovered on 8/7 (PP), and at Spanish Head in Lincoln City, 10+ Pink-footeds, 20+ fulmars, and 1 Buller's were viewed on 8/8 (PP). In July and August, 4 fulmars and 3 Sooty Shearwaters were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). HERONS On 7/11, DD was driving south from Lincoln City on Hwy 101 and saw the LITTLE BLUE HERON on the west side of the Highway wading in the first slough north of Drift Creek. "It was still mostly white with some blue gray parts." It had last been reported in that area on April 5. Our only BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was calling in the darkness as it flew over the HMSC on 8/18 (RB). "Squawker" the GREAT BLUE HERON that calls almost continually while flying went over the HMSC on 6/9 (RB), and JL heard it next on 7/14. On 7/15, RB was walking outside the HMSC Library, when he heard Squawker flying north over the Library; MH, a HMSC graduate student, then walked outside from a different building, looked up, and without prompting exclaimed, "It's Squawker!" She had been to one of the YB&N meetings where we had talked about it. Great that she was there to witness it! In 15 seconds, it squawked 10 times (RB). It was next heard at the HMSC on five days during 8/5-26 (RL; JL; RB). In recent years, a few GREAT EGRETS remained during the nesting season and even showed in Great Blue Heron colonies, but they appeared to have disappeared this summer. PK observed a single one in pastures or perched in a tree between Newport and Toledo on 6/3-4. Our next report was a singleton at Yaquina Bay on 7/27 (RB)--this is surprisingly late because many usually arrive in mid-July. They became common in August. [Image Not Included: Roy Lowe's August 26 photo of a Great Egret with a Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa) in its bill at Eckman Lake. Note that the newt is in a defensive posture ("unken" reflex) that displays its warning coloration (reddish-orange) that it is distasteful/poisonous. Some wild birds have been found dead after eating Taricha newts; in the laboratory, all birds that ate Taricha died.] RAPTORS A WHITE-TAILED KITE was near Logsden on 6/21 (BLl) and the HMSC on 8/10 (RL). One RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was regularly in the south Siletz Bay area, including on 8/1 or 2 (DCr), 8/13 or 14 (MP), and 8/27 (D&LF). In August, D&LF saw it perched several times on a Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge sign! Elsewhere, a juvenile was at the HMSC on 8/21 & 28 (RL). There were many BALD EAGLE sightings. TW saw some interesting eagle behavior on 7/22. A Bald Eagle stooped on the water in the main channel at Idaho Flats and came up holding a sub-adult Dungeness crab. The eagle then flew off southward with its catch. "Looking upstream, there were three sport fishing boats sorting crabs about 50 yards away" (TW), so it is possible that the eagle picked up one of the discards rather than caught a crab on its own. PEREGRINE FALCONS were also reported from a variety of locations, but BO's observation of a flyby of 3 at once near the mouth of Alsea Bay on 7/15 was extra-special because he was accompanied by family, including two grandkids! [Image Not Included: Barry McPherson's June 8 photo of a pair of Osprey and their nest on a Yaquina Bay navigation marker near the southwest side of the Yaquina Bay Bridge. Barry notes that the Osprey in the nest to the right of the silver light on the pole appears to be sitting on eggs, while the Osprey stretching its wings on the rail is guarding. Note the large pile of sticks and nesting material from the base of the platform to the top of the railing! This is the first Osprey nest on a navigational marker at Yaquina Bay. Their nest does not appear to be blocking this light this year. If it does, it becomes a safety hazard to boaters who use this marker for navigation. RL of the USFWS notes that the expanding Osprey population along the Columbia River has been a problem for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) as many of their channel markers are used as nest platforms with nests blocking lights and/or burying solar panels. RL writes that rather than battle Osprey nests annually, the USCG are, in many cases, building a side extension off of their structures and moving the nest during the nonbreeding season. RL adds that "Osprey are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so once eggs or chicks are in the nest it can not be destroyed. It is legal for the USCG to remove nests that have no eggs or young, but this requires being out there routinely to prevent nesting and they don't have the personnel to do that." Yaquina Bay navigation markers are maintained by the USCG Aids to Navigation (ATON) crew from Coos Bay and not by the USCG boat crews here in Newport (RL).] SHOREBIRDS Up to 3-4 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS are often counted in summer. But BM saw 9 bathing in the mouth of Schooner Creek, just north of Yaquina Head on 6/5, and WH counted 8 at Boiler Bay on 6/14. Migrant WHIMBRELS depart in May and arrive in July, but we regularly have had some nonbreeders remain in June (SemiL). This year was no exception, with a high count of 85 on 6/8 near the HMSC (JL), and 43 near the HMSC on 6/15-16 (RL). There were 7 other observations along the open coast or near the HMSC in June (DB; LO; RB), including a flock of 28 hunting mole crabs on the ocean beach near Yaquina Bay Lighthouse on 6/11 (DB). A MARBLED GODWIT near the HMSC Nature Trail on 6/8 (JL) was late (SemiL) and our only June record. The next one was at Idaho Flats on 7/10 & 12 (JL; DB). One was also near Depoe Bay on 8/1 or 2 (DCr) and at Idaho Flats on 8/22 (JR & PM). GG saw and photographed an uncommon SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER at Idaho Flats on 8/7, and WH found presumably the same one there the next day. A possible juvenile SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER was found on the beach near the YBSJ on 8/9 (RM). Phalaropes are uncommon in June (SemiL), but DB found 1 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE on a beach north of Yaquina Head on 6/3 and in the ocean near Gleneden Beach SP on 6/18. The next phalaropes were 70 Red-necks and 6 RED PHALAROPES during Bird Guide's 8/13 pelagic trip to Perpetua Bank (BGPT). JAEGERS-TERNS Bird Guide's pelagic trip (BGPT) on 8/13 also tallied 9 SOUTH POLAR SKUA, 10 POMARINE JAEGERS, 1 PARASITIC JAEGER, and 3 LONG-TAILED JAEGERS. Seawatches from shore revealed 1 Pomarine at Depoe Bay on 8/15 (DT), 1 Parasitic at Boiler Bay on 8/7 (PP) and Spanish Head on 8/8 (PP), and a Long-tailed Jaeger at Spanish Head on 8/8 (PP). WH found an uncommon first-summer FRANKLIN'S GULL on 8/3 at theYBSJ "gull puddle." It was still there on 8/4 (CP). On warm afternoons in late summer, ants and other insects sometimes fly up into the sky in mating swarms. These swarms generally occur after most insectivorous birds such as swallows and flycatchers have left. This year, RB saw the first flock of gulls (including at least some WESTERN GULLS) hawking swarming insects about 50-100 ft above the ground in the early evening of 8/26 over the HMSC; flying ants and some other flying insects were visible at ground level. Nonbreeding CASPIAN TERNS have regularly lingered in June (SemiL). This year 1-13 were noted at Yaquina Bay or along the open coast during 9 days in June through 6/28 (DB; RB; WH). An influx at Idaho Flats was apparent on 6/30, when JL counted 76, and on 7/1, when DB tallied 85. ALCIDS COMMON MURRE chicks jump from their nesting colony when they are flightless and only about 1/3 of adult size--they swim off with and are cared for by their fathers. With thousands of Common Murres nesting along the Oregon Coast, it is not surprising that some murre chicks don't survive after they leave the colony. This July and August, 14 adults and 32 chicks were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). This is less than the 28 adults and 32 chicks in 2008 and much less than the highs in July and August since 1977 of 279 adults in 2005 and 1,217 chicks in 1982. 2-33 MARBLED MURRELETS were noted at coastal sites during 6/11, 14, & 18 (DB; WH). During a 10:20-11:20 AM seawatch on 6/18 at Gleneden Beach State Wayside, DB observed: "One Marbled Murrelet I saw through the scope surfaced with a fish hanging out of its gape. It then took off from the water flying low at first, but quickly it ascended at a very steep angle to maybe 300 m (984 ft) before I lost it in the sky. The entire time I watched the bird it was over the ocean. I could not make out if the fish was still hanging from the bill or not, but with such a high flight I strongly suspect that this bird had a late breakfast and was headed inland to trade spots with a mate on the nest, or it was carrying a fish back to feed a newly hatched chick. ... I wonder if these birds normally ascend over the ocean to such heights before heading inland." Our only July Marbled Murrelet record was a recent fledgling during a 7/9 boat survey of seabird colonies from Newport to Boiler Bay (RL). As many as 4 were counted during four August seawatches at Boiler Bay, Depoe Bay, and Yaquina Head (PP; WH; DT; JR& PM). TUFTED PUFFINS were noted at Yaquina Head on 5/29 (BLM), and 1-2 flew by Lost Creek SP, Boiler Bay, and Yaquina Head on 6/11, 14, & 21 (DB; WH; EH). We had additional reports at Yaquina Head, but I do not know if they were flying or had landed during 6 days in June (BLM; AG). Our next reported was of two during the 8/13 Perpetua Bank pelagic (BGPT). COLLARED-DOVES-THRUSHES Although they first appeared in May 2006 (FN), our EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES reports were few and scattered until 2009. This year they became relatively common and probably nested. We had reports in June (6), July (6), and August (2) of as many as 4 at various areas in Newport, the HMSC, Toledo, Criteser's Moorage downstream of Toledo, Newton Hill between Toledo and Siletz, and Siletz (JL; CP; PR; B& PR; DB; SK; RS; EH). MOURNING DOVES had a good showing and were regularly noted in various locations during June-August (L&JM; TS; CP; LO; DB). We had two BARRED OWLS--one near Eckman Lake on 8/15 (RL) and another on Newton Hill between Toledo and Siletz on 8/20 (JL). EH found a SPOTTED OWL along North Horse Creek Trail in Drift Creek Wilderness on 6/15. A BARN OWL swooped over MD's head as she walked in a Logsden field on 7/16 (fide BLl). A male, rare CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD visited Toledo on 7/12 (CP). RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS are rarely reported in summer, and our only one this summer was of one in MD & BLl's backyard in Logsden on 6/10. JL detected a rare ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER along the HMSC Nature Trail on 6/8. Single WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS were at the HMSC on 6/10 (BO) and 6/15 (DG) and in Newport on 6/30 (CP) and 8/9 (EH). On 8/24, TS discovered GRAY JAYS while hiking at Cape Perpetua. In summer, they are found in older forests, even at low elevations. They are most often reported here in fall and winter in habitats they don't use in summer. On 7/5, CP discovered a rare ROCK WREN singing in a clearcut at the head of North Beaver Creek Road near the junction with the GP 1000 Line road. [Image Not Included: Gloria and Herb Baum's photo of 2 nestling Northern Flickers peering out into the world from a nest cavity in a dead alder south of Depoe Bay on July 7. They appear to be a brother and a sister, with the one above a male, based on a partial red malar stripe.] Our first report of nocturnal calls of migrating SWAINSON'S THRUSHES was over the HMSC just after midnight the morning of 8/24, when there was 1 call in 3 minutes (RB). Numbers should pick up in September. MOCKINGBIRD-HOUSE FINCH A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD invasion! On 5/30, J&KC had one at their home about 4 miles east of Waldport. The last weekend of May, SS reported 3-4 near Camp Westwind and Salmon River, and LO found one on 6/1 at Ona Beach SP. One was appreciated around the HMSC on 6/8 (DCo), 6/11 (RL; JL), and 6/15 (RL). Mockingbirds are uncommon, and more than 1 at a time is rare. A male LAPLAND LONGSPUR in breeding plumage was late at the YBSJ on 5/22 (WH). For records through 1992, our latest record was on 7 May 1978, with only 2 years with any May records (SemiL). [Image Not Included: Tom Nelson's Aug. 24 cropped photo of 14 adult and juvenile CEDAR WAXWINGS taking a shower under a sprinkler and lounging in Tom and Robin Nelson's backyard in Newport (fide RN). There were 39 adults and juveniles in the whole photo! Adults have a warm brown crest, nape, and throat, not gray like juveniles.] A male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was at PPa's feeder at Makai north of Ona Beach SP on 6/6 and for a few days thereafter. They are still uncommon, though in recent years, we have had a scattering of reports in May-June. Our only record of a LAZULI BUNTING this summer was of a male on DF's Thornton Creek feeder on 7/2. We did not have any July records for Lazuli's during 1970-1992, but we had early July records in 1926 and 1930 (SemiL). JC photographed a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD at J&KC's home about 4 miles east of Waldport on a feeder on 8/30. The white on the wing coverts suggest that it was an immature male--definitely not an adult male. This was a first for that location. Sadly, DG reports that the partially albinistic HOUSE FINCH that appeared at the feeders at the USFWS building at the HMSC 3 springs ago has avian pox, and its left eye was looking bad on 6/19. Avian pox and House Finch eye disease (avian conjunctivitis) have been hard on them (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/hofi/recognizing.html; http://www.birds.cornell.edu/private/Publications/Birdscope/Autumn2004/epidemic_northwest.html). OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Betty Bahn, David Bailey, Range Bayer, Kitty Brigham, Bureau of Land Management staff at Yaquina Head (BLM), Jorrie & Ken Ciotti (http://www.birdsamore.com), CoastWatch (a volunteer project monitoring one-mile segments of the Oregon coast; http://oregonshores.org/coastwatch.php5), Doug Cottam (DCo), David Crisman (DCr), Dick Demarest, Martha Doldt, Darrel & Laura Faxon (see http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#thornton_creek and http://www.oregoncoasttoday.com/fieldguide.html), Greg Gillson, Amanda Gladics, Dawn Grafe, Sandy & Carl Greenbaum (fide BLM), Bird Guide Pelagic Trip out of Newport (BGPT; info about pelagic trips, http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/), Margot Hessing-Lewis, Wayne Hoffman, Eric Horvath, Rich Hoyer, Penelope Kaczmarek, Steve Kupillas, Janet Lamberson, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Linda & John MacKown, Poody McLaughlin, Barry McPherson, Richard Messenger, Russ Namitz, Michael Noack, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent), Bob Olson, Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Pam Parker (PPa), Mike Patterson, Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, Jan & Gary Power, Joe Regan, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive at OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Seth and Michelle Reams, Paul Reed, Bill & Pam Rogers, Trent Seager, Sumner Sharpe, Rob Suryan, Dave Tracy, Tom Wainwright, Jean Weakland, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (http://ybn.yaquina.info/;YBNFT Field Trip led by EH). From birdmandon at clearwire.net Wed Sep 16 13:02:47 2009 From: birdmandon at clearwire.net (Don Schrouder) Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:02:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wednesday morning/Eugene Message-ID: <95320A74-443A-435A-B9CB-CCBEF19AD2E7@clearwire.net> The Wednesday birding group decided to bird Fern Ridge for shorebirds this morning. We walked out Royal to the observation platform and then walked the dike south between Osprey Lake and Pelican Lake. Birds found: Greater White Fronted Goose-1 Canada Geese Wood Duck American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal Green-winged Teal Pied-billed Grebe Western Grebe American White Pelican-25 American Bittern Great Blue Heron Great Egret Turkey Vulture White-tailed Kite Northern Harrier Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Coot Semipalmated Plover Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Western Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Long-billed Dowitchers- one still in breeding plumage Red-necked Phalarope-5 Ring-billed Gull Caspian Tern-2 Belted Kingfisher American Crow Violet-green Swallow Barn Swallow Marsh Wren Cedar Waxwings Common Yellowthroat Savanna Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Yellow-headed Blackbird (heard) American Goldfinch Don Schrouder, Sylvia Maulding, Dave Brown, Fred Chancey, Craig Merkel From namitzr at hotmail.com Wed Sep 16 14:26:04 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:26:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] OFO calendar of events In-Reply-To: <1253134105.3596.38.camel@clearwater> References: <1253134105.3596.38.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: Fellow bird enthusiasts~ The Oregon Field Ornithologists (OFO) has a calendar of bird-related events on their website for those interested parties. http://www.oregonbirds.org/calendar.html If you feel a bird-related event is worthy of posting in the calendar, please email me or another board member of your choice. http://www.oregonbirds.org/officers.html Most postings should be Oregon-based, but there could be a few exceptions of festivals just over the border like the Aleutian Goose Festival and Godwit Days from extreme northern CA and perhaps Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival. The Western Field Ornithologist (WFO) meeting could have been included as it was just across the border in Boise, ID this year. Something like the Southwest Wings Festival in Arizona would probably not qualify. Whatever upcoming birding events you send (in-state or out-of-state), we'll add to the calendar, as long as you send me these three items of info: 1) Date(s) of event 2) Name of event 3) URL for more information We are asking for everyone to help, on a routine basis, by keeping your eyes open for events that should go on the calendar, and sending me the information. We'll gladly do the formatting and post calendar updates, but we can't be solely responsible for tracking events and chasing down the URLs. CBCs and Audubon birding weekends are two examples of events that could be added. Joel Geier has done an excellent job updating the website and adding new information as it comes in and deserves a big Thank You for his hard work! There are other people out there behind the scenes. If you know them and feel like it, thank them for their volunteer efforts. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090916/aca1c254/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Sep 16 14:30:19 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:30:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Demoiselle Crane (not RBA) Message-ID: While in Boise for the Western Field Ornithologists meeting last week, I had an opportunity to meet Father Hugh Feiss, formerly librarian at Mt. Angel Abbey and a birder. He told me that in the spring of 2007 (he was slightly fuzzy about the date) he and a friend had seen a Demoiselle Crane with a small flock of Sandhill Cranes in wet fields near Jordan Valley, Oregon. They watched the bird long enough to note that it walked with a limp. I don't know if this is the same crane of unknown provenance that had earlier appeared in California and BC, but thought I'd mention it as a matter of general interest. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From Bobolink06 at comcast.net Wed Sep 16 16:12:31 2009 From: Bobolink06 at comcast.net (Bobolink06 at comcast.net) Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:12:31 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Hugo Message-ID: <1003088862.1767171253142751810.JavaMail.root@sz0011a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Obolites, Jack Anderson? and I refound the Hudsonian Godwit this A.M. on the mudflats behind the Marine S.C. in Newport 9:30 -10:00?. the bird was solo and no Marbled Godwits appeared during the 30 min. or so of observation. The bird was quite approachable and field marks were well seen. A life bird for us. Still a good chance to see this rare bird. Bob Bender, Eugene Bird on! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090916/4401f724/attachment.html From mrchickadee at gmail.com Wed Sep 16 18:45:23 2009 From: mrchickadee at gmail.com (Miss Jacqui) Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:45:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Elk Rock Island 9/14 - 3:15pm-5pm Message-ID: <7e34f7b0909161845ve907eeav40903ad3b07317d3@mail.gmail.com> Hi OBOL My friend and I went to Elk Rock Island Mondayafternoon to do some birding: Here is the link to some PIX she took. Good views of Juv Peregrine Falcon. The pix make the chest look more grey than brown but w/ naked eye - the chest was clearly brown. Your thoughts? We had a Turkey Vulture circling over us very close directly over head - not sure why - we both had a bath that day!!! Other highlights: 3 female common Mergansers various song birds mostly heard Elk Rock Island is in Milwaukee: http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?PropertyID=113&action=ViewPark PIX: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=ptakkrolowa&target=ALBUM&id=5381768406040599057&authkey=Gv1sRgCM6-ucLuupWJ-gE&feat=email -- Jacqui Parker Portland, OREGON ........... "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss ( '< < ? ) / ) ) ( (\) // " " ? ? \\ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090916/643e7ed3/attachment.html From davehelzer at mac.com Wed Sep 16 20:05:58 2009 From: davehelzer at mac.com (David Helzer) Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:05:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] western tanagers in NE Portland Message-ID: <247B89F1-42F9-4FEB-B3FB-CADC07B0C8EC@mac.com> This morning I heard a Western Tanager outside my house in NE Portland. It was calling and also gave a short song several times. Over the last week I have heard two or three other birds in the neighborhood, calling in the early morning. Dave Helzer Portland OR From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Wed Sep 16 20:09:05 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (barbara.millikan at gmail.com) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:09:05 +0000 Subject: [obol] OT, need a mycology question answered. Message-ID: <001636b149b594f6180473bd5634@google.com> Hoping someone out there can give me a referral for a mushroom question. TIA Barbara -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090917/b67372c3/attachment.html From dinpdx at yahoo.com Wed Sep 16 22:41:51 2009 From: dinpdx at yahoo.com (Dwight) Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:41:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Bonney Butte BROAD-WINGED HAWKS+Photo Message-ID: <514868.4703.qm@web31604.mail.mud.yahoo.com> On Tuesday 9/15/09 a pair of BROAD-WINGED HAWKS flew over the HawkWatch (hawkwatch.org) observation station on Bonney Butte in the Mt. Hood National Forest. A distant photo of one bird can be seen here: http://www.pbase.com/dwight_porter/image/117381222 The crew reported one was also seen Sunday 9/13/09. Last season a total of 5 were counted. Tuesday the raptor count was 102 birds, surpassing the previous high count for the season of 77 birds on 9/13/09. Today (Wednesday) was much slower with only 30+ birds by 4:30pm but two GOLDEN EAGLES helped make up for it. Good Birding, Dwight Porter Portland, Oregon From bcombs232 at gmail.com Wed Sep 16 23:06:11 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:06:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane County North American Migration Count Saturday, September 19 Message-ID: <8ce3a6520909162306g161615d9j5927138143a6cd41@mail.gmail.com> I just sent a data sheet for Saturday's Lane County North American Migration Count to past Lane County participants. If you did not receive one and would like to participate, please let me know so I can send you one, too. We have a huge county to cover so there is always room for more counters. Lane County has a great variety and number of birds, with a total 177 species detected on the spring count this year. We can achieve this kind of success only with a lot of coverage - please help! -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090916/67f2c13b/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Sep 16 23:34:25 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:34:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 9-17-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * September 17, 2009 * ORPO0909.17 - birds mentioned Red-breasted Merganser Laysan Albatross MANX SHEARWATER Pacific Golden-Plover HUDSONIAN GODWIT Sanderling Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper Sabine?s Gull Common Tern Parasitic Jaeger XANTUS?S MURRELET Black Swift Cedar Waxwing CAPE MAY WARBLER Palm Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Lark Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Lapland Longspur - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls Coverage: entire state Hello this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday September 17. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On September 13 a male CAPE MAY WARBLER was seen at Parking Lot D at the South Jetty of the Columbia River. A female BLACKPOLL WARBLER was on Cascade Head September 10, another was at Malheur Refuge Headquarters September 14. The HUDSONIAN GODWIT behind the Marine Science Center on Yaquina Bay continues to be seen. A PARASITIC JAEGER has recently been seen in the bay. The September 12 offshore boat trip out of Newport found two XANTUS?S MURRELETS, a MANX SHEARWATER, and a LAYSAN ALBATROSS about 20 miles offshore. Heavy WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW movements are now being reported from east of the Cascades. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW sightings are increasing. Large flocks of CEDAR WAXWINGS are now west of the Cascades. One flock of 150 was at the Tualatin NWR September 11. On September 13 a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, three PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS, and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR were on the North Spit of Coos Bay. Four PALM WARBLERS were seen September 12 at Saunders Lake north of North Bend. On September 11 four BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS and four PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS were at the South Jetty of the Siuslaw River. On September 12 a PARASITIC JAEGER was on the Bayocean Spit at Tillamook Bay. That day a LARK SPARROW was at the Nehalem Sewage Ponds. A SANDERLING was at Detroit Flats September 13. A SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER was at Baskett Slough NWR September 10. On September 16 two BLACK SWIFTS were over Peoria. A BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was seen September 14 at Agate Reservoir east of White City. On September 9 two SANDERLINGS were at Cold Springs Reservoir and two COMMON TERNS were over the Columbia River near the Umatilla NWR. A SABINE?S GULL was seen September 14 at Chickahominy Reservoir. On September 13 a SANDERLING was at Bully Creek Reservoir near Vale. On September 15 a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, five SANDERLINGS, two STILT SANDPIPERS, and two SABINE?S GULLS were at Antelope Reservoir near Jordan Valley. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090916/c94877f3/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Thu Sep 17 06:29:22 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:29:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrush Night Out Message-ID: <000301ca379a$e1959b90$72c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL, I know this is not my party, but may I suggest one more item that observers might report to Jim & Jay? (Thank you, guys, for organizing this. Good idea!) Let me suggest folks also report 5. Ambient noise. Traffic, airplanes, power lines. Water, frogs/crickets, etc. 'Twas fun. I'll sent my results off-line. ;-) Paul T, Sullivan "As dusk begins to settle, ... Quiet "whit" calls begin to resonate from the throats of hundreds of thrushes still in hiding in the foliage, and as dark begins to descend upon the forest, you can hear the calling birds begin to rise into the sky to resume their nocturnal journeys. So ... go into the woods ...very late in the afternoon and you will get to experience a truly soul-thrilling event ..." -- Darrel Faxon, Sept 1, 2005 ------------------------------ Subject: Swainson's Thrush Night Out From: Jim Danzenbaker Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:08:18 -0700 Hi OBOLers, You are invited to participate TONIGHT and TOMORROW MORNING in a collaborative effort to begin mapping aspects of the nocturnal migration of Swainson's Thrushes in Washington and Oregon. We're hoping that an informal citizen-science effort of minimal time investment can help to address some unresolved questions about this species' migration in the West, such as how thrush density varies from place to place, whether corridors of migration exist, how migration relates to topography and weather, and how these patterns vary between spring and fall. As a start, we propose that any interested birder in Washington or Oregon spend 30 minutes TONIGHT and TOMORROW MORNING listening for Swainson's Thrush calls as the birds pass overhead in the night sky, and then report the data to us for compilation. We apologize for the last-minute organization, but we have just returned home from a trip, the idea just came to us, and this needs to be done very soon, as the thrush migration is already starting to peter out. We will consider this fall's effort to be a pilot run for a more organized effort next spring and next fall. All you need to do to participate is: ? Listen outside your home (or in any location open to the night sky; quieter is better) between 9:30 and 10:00 pm tonight (Wed. 16th) and again from 5:30 to 6:00 tomorrow morning (Thu. 17th). ? Write down the number of call notes you hear that sound like those of Swainson's Thrushes. (Number of calls, not inferred number of birds.) ? Email your data to the two of us, along with the following: 1. Brief description of your location (GPS coordinates, Google Map location, or nearest cross streets). 2. Brief description of the topography (flat, along lakeshore, hills 1 mile to north, ridgeline 2 miles to east, etc.) 3. Weather conditions at your site during the listening periods (temperature, percent cloud cover, precipitation, wind at ground level, wind at cloud level if cloudy) 4. Any other bird flight calls heard during your listening periods (they need not be identified to species) That's it! We will compile the data and report back to OBOL and Tweeters. No need to let us know of your participation in advance; just send us your data before the weekend. For those not familiar with Swainson's Thrush nocturnal flight calls, a recording of a large number of them in an exceedingly thick flight together may be heard online at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/kalahari/migrating.html. Note that generally only one call note at a time is heard, and rates on most nights are less than one per minute. Thanks so much. We'll hope for a good flight, and we look forward to hearing what you hear. Jim Danzenbaker and Jay Withgott Battle Ground, WA, and Portland, OR jdanzenbaker AT gmail.com and withgott AT comcast.net Thanks! Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker AT gmail.com From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Sep 16 21:39:19 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:39:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] More Linn Black Swifts In-Reply-To: <91662C68E3494D1591853CFB34CB7BD3@maryPC> References: <91662C68E3494D1591853CFB34CB7BD3@maryPC> Message-ID: <58c29e6e70587d053c9166cf1421d303@earthlink.net> Not only was the day overcast, but it was due to an advancing front. People would be well advised to give these flocks extra attention in the hours before the rain starts to fall. Lars Norgren On Sep 16, 2009, at 12:57 PM, M & R Campbell wrote: > Just after noon today we had two (I think)?BLACK SWIFTS over the river > here in Peoria, with a large number of swallows.? I didn't have my > field glasses when I first?saw them, and noticed them only because > they were with a large flock of white-bellied swallows, which I hadn't > seen in awhile.? What I first thought was an odd Barn Swallow > just?above the water turned out to be a swift.? After running 200 yds > to get my field glasses, I was able to get some looks?from just about > every angle, though, because of the cloud cover,?without any direct > sunlight.? > ? > This is the third time I've seen Black Swifts here in Peoria this > fall, after being alerted a couple weeks ago via birding lists.? Each > time they've been with swallows and they've been flying lower than the > tops of the tallest trees.? In the past I had always expected them to > be higher, forced down just under the cloud cover, and in the past I > usually brushed off the big swallow conventions as just swallows.? But > Black Swifts do a fair swallow imitation, appearing roughly the same > size,?flapping more slowly than Vaux's,?gliding a fair amount of the > time, changing direction erratically, and--to my surprise--sometimes > even skimming the water.? I'd say that the one's I've seen aren't > as?black?as in the Sibley illustration, but are a dark gray-brown on > the throat and breast, as in the National Geographic plate, with a > black well around the eye.? They fan their tails fairly often. > ? > From now on, on overcast fall days I will be scanning the large > swallow flocks over the Willamette for large, dark swifts. > ? > ? > Randy Campbell_______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Sep 16 21:33:29 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:33:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] western tanagers in NE Portland In-Reply-To: <247B89F1-42F9-4FEB-B3FB-CADC07B0C8EC@mac.com> References: <247B89F1-42F9-4FEB-B3FB-CADC07B0C8EC@mac.com> Message-ID: There was one at the peach farm in Banks yesterday, apparently prepared to remain past the peaches. I'm struck by the absence of swallows in my neighborhood at the moment. Typically there are substantial flocks in mid-September around Banks, mostly Violet-green. Lars Norgren On Sep 16, 2009, at 8:05 PM, David Helzer wrote: > This morning I heard a Western Tanager outside my house in NE > Portland. It was calling and also gave a short song several times. > Over the last week I have heard two or three other birds in the > neighborhood, calling in the early morning. > > > Dave Helzer > Portland OR > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From rkorpi at hotmail.com Thu Sep 17 08:23:40 2009 From: rkorpi at hotmail.com (Ray Korpi) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:23:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tanagers Today Message-ID: All, I also just had two or three Western Tanagers calling on the Clark College campus this morning. I had tanagers in my yard both Saturday and Tuesday (which I saw--couldn't hear after the Miley Cyrus concert). Also had a Golden-crowned Sparrow here at Clark yesterday--love the overlap of seasons! Ray Korpi rkorpi at hotmail.com Vancouver WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090917/3e234d4b/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Thu Sep 17 10:02:02 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:02:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Siltcoos River, 9/17/09 Message-ID: <2b1bbd260909171002u54ccb02bubd5edf7e25edf0ff@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Lydia and I went out to Siltcoos this AM. We stuck to the north side. Access to the river is now available. Not many shorebirds though. A flyover BB PLOVER and LEAST SP were the only shorebirds near the river. We saw 4 SNOWY PLOVERS and maybe 150 SANDERLINGS (juveniles and adults in basic plumage) along the beach. We stopped on the way out for a brief sea watch. Pink-footed Shearwaters actually outnumbered Sooty's in a feeding flock beyond the breakers. A first for me. Lydia and I got extended views, with up to 6 PFSH in the scope at once! A full list follows. Siltcoos River Estuary Observation date: 9/17/09 Number of species: 29 Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos X Surf Scoter - Melanitta perspicillata X White-winged Scoter - Melanitta fusca X Pacific Loon - Gavia pacifica 5 Pink-footed Shearwater - Puffinus creatopus 12 Sooty Shearwater - Puffinus griseus 8 Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis 8 Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 2 Great Egret - Ardea alba 1 Osprey - Pandion haliaetus 1 Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus 1 Peregrine Falcon - Falco peregrinus 1 Black-bellied Plover - Pluvialis squatarola 1 Snowy Plover - Charadrius alexandrinus 4 Sanderling - Calidris alba 150 Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla 1 Heermann's Gull - Larus heermanni X Western Gull - Larus occidentalis X California Gull - Larus californicus X Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia 3 Band-tailed Pigeon - Patagioenas fasciata 7 Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon 1 American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 3 Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor 6 Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica 80 American Pipit - Anthus rubescens 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler - Dendroica coronata 1 Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 3 White-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia leucophrys 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090917/46471a95/attachment.html From dhogaza at pacifier.com Thu Sep 17 10:10:41 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:10:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] OT: Monteverde, Costa Rica lodging recommendations ... Message-ID: Please respond in private e-mail so as not to further clutter OBOL ... I'm going to a conference at a university outside San Jose and will have time to do a little exploring before heading home. We're allocating a couple of nights in the cloud forests of Monteverde and are interested in lodging recommendations. Clean, comfortable, reasonably priced. Staff doesn't need to speak English. Thanks! ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From winkg at hevanet.com Thu Sep 17 10:38:57 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:38:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 09/16/09 Message-ID: <20090917173858.1A1EDA8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 09/09 to 09/16/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 6 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 2 (1, 9/10 & 12) Cooper's Hawk 2 (1, 9/12 & 14) Band-tailed Pigeon 4 (7) MOURNING DOVE 1 (2, 9/10) Vaux's Swift 5 (60, 9/13) Anna's Hummingbird 6 (5, 9/12) RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD 1 (1, 9/13) Red-breasted Sapsucker 3 (1) Hairy Woodpecker 1 (1, 9/13) Northern Flicker 6 (3) Pileated Woodpecker 4 (2, 9/13) PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER 1 (1, 9/15) EMPIDONAX sp. 1 (2, 9/14) Hutton's Vireo 1 (1, 9/14) Warbling Vireo 1 (1, 9/15) Steller's Jay 6 (23, 9/15) Western Scrub-Jay 5 (2, 9/11) American Crow 4 (3, 9/12) VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW 1 (3, 9/12) Barn Swallow 2 (1, 9/12 & 13) Swallow sp. 1 (4, 9/15) Black-capped Chickadee 6 (20, 9/15) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 6 (15, 9/14) Bushtit 2 (7, 9/14) Red-breasted Nuthatch 6 (10, 9/15) Brown Creeper 5 (4, 9/12) Bewick's Wren 2 (1, 9/12 & 14) HOUSE WREN 1 (1, 9/10) Winter Wren 4 (3, 9/15) GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET 1 (1, 9/14) Swainson's Thrush 6 (7, 9/13) AMERICAN ROBIN 4 (3, 9/11) EUROPEAN STARLING 2 (4, 9/14) Cedar Waxwing 3 (12, 9/11) Orange-crowned Warbler 1 (1, 9/12) Black-throated Gray Warbler 4 (2) Townsend's Warbler 1 (1, 9/14) WESTERN TANAGER 3 (3, 9/12) Spotted Towhee 6 (7) Song Sparrow 6 (10) Dark-eyed Junco 5 (6) Purple Finch 3 (2) House Finch 6 (7) RED CROSSBILL 4 (2) Pine Siskin 1 (1, 9/11) American Goldfinch 3 (1) Evening Grosbeak 3 (35, 9/14) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (fide Andy Frank) Misses (birds found at least 3 days in previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Downy Woodpecker, Wilson's Warbler Wink Gross Portland From winkg at hevanet.com Thu Sep 17 10:51:46 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:51:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] House Wrens, NW Portland Message-ID: <20090917175203.6E50EA8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> In the first 9 years of my morning dogwalks to the Pittock Mansion, I only saw House Wren one, or possibly two, times: Sept 19, 2001 and a questionable sighting Sept 12, 2007. This Fall I've seen 4 HOUSE WRENS, so far, including one this morning. As they've been widely separated in time and/or space, I'm quite sure these are 4 individual birds. Not likely that this increase is owing to a habitat change along my route, so I have no explanation for it. Perhaps a new clear-cut opened up this year in the Tualatin Mountains to the NW? Curious, in any case. And this item just in from the Changing Seasons desk: this morning I found the first GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS (2) and VARIED THRUSH of the season. Wink Gross Portland From greenfant at hotmail.com Thu Sep 17 10:58:43 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:58:43 -0400 Subject: [obol] Pileated Woodpecker @ Noble Woods in Hillsboro (Washington Co) Message-ID: I never see anything at Noble Woods Park in Hillsboro. Except for last night, just before sunset, when a Pileated Woodpecker was working the trees just south of the parking lot. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090917/69daf988/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Thu Sep 17 12:17:10 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:17:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrush Night Out In-Reply-To: <000301ca379a$e1959b90$72c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> References: <000301ca379a$e1959b90$72c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Message-ID: Thanks very much, Paul. I'd had exactly the same thought shortly after we'd sent out our message. ... So, if you listened for thrushes last night & this morning, please also report to us a brief description of ambient noise levels in your area, and how much you think that may have hindered your ability to detect call notes. In addition, let us know to what extent vegetation, topography, or structures surrounding your listening spot may have decreased your ability to hear sounds from an open sky. A big THANK YOU from Jim and me to all those of you who counted Swainson's Thrush calls. The reports are streaming in now, and people so far have heard everything from zero to hundreds of call notes. Jim and I will post a summary of the results in a few days. Jay Withgott Portland, OR withgott at comcast.net At 6:29 AM -0700 9/17/09, Paul T. Sullivan wrote: >OBOL, > >I know this is not my party, but may I suggest one more item that observers >might report to Jim & Jay? (Thank you, guys, for organizing this. Good >idea!) Let me suggest folks also report >5. Ambient noise. Traffic, airplanes, power lines. Water, frogs/crickets, >etc. > >'Twas fun. I'll sent my results off-line. > >;-) > >Paul T, Sullivan > >"As dusk begins to settle, ... Quiet "whit" calls begin to resonate from >the throats of hundreds of thrushes >still in hiding in the foliage, and as dark begins to descend upon the >forest, you can hear the calling birds begin to rise into the sky to resume >their nocturnal journeys. So ... go into the woods ...very late in the >afternoon and you will get to experience a truly soul-thrilling event ..." > > -- Darrel Faxon, Sept 1, 2005 >------------------------------ >Subject: Swainson's Thrush Night Out >From: Jim Danzenbaker >Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:08:18 -0700 > >Hi OBOLers, > >You are invited to participate TONIGHT and TOMORROW MORNING in a >collaborative effort to begin mapping aspects of the nocturnal migration of >Swainson's Thrushes in Washington and Oregon. > >We're hoping that an informal citizen-science effort of minimal time >investment can help to address some unresolved questions about this species' >migration in the West, such as how thrush density varies from place to >place, whether corridors of migration exist, how migration relates to >topography and weather, and how these patterns vary between spring and fall. > >As a start, we propose that any interested birder in Washington or Oregon >spend 30 minutes TONIGHT and TOMORROW MORNING listening for Swainson's >Thrush calls as the birds pass overhead in the night sky, and then report >the data to us for compilation. We apologize for the last-minute >organization, but we have just returned home from a trip, the idea just came >to us, and this needs to be done very soon, as the thrush migration is >already starting to peter out. We will consider this fall's effort to be a >pilot run for a more organized effort next spring and next fall. > >All you need to do to participate is: >? Listen outside your home (or in any location open to the night sky; >quieter is better) between 9:30 and 10:00 pm tonight (Wed. 16th) and again >from 5:30 to 6:00 tomorrow morning (Thu. 17th). >? Write down the number of call notes you hear that sound like those of >Swainson's Thrushes. (Number of calls, not inferred number of birds.) >? Email your data to the two of us, along with the following: >1. Brief description of your location (GPS coordinates, Google Map location, >or nearest cross streets). >2. Brief description of the topography (flat, along lakeshore, hills 1 mile >to north, ridgeline 2 miles to east, etc.) >3. Weather conditions at your site during the listening periods >(temperature, percent cloud cover, precipitation, wind at ground level, wind >at cloud level if cloudy) >4. Any other bird flight calls heard during your listening periods (they >need not be identified to species) > >That's it! > >We will compile the data and report back to OBOL and Tweeters. > >No need to let us know of your participation in advance; just send us your >data before the weekend. > >For those not familiar with Swainson's Thrush nocturnal flight calls, a >recording of a large number of them in an exceedingly thick flight together >may be heard online at: >http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/kalahari/migrating.html. >Note that generally only one call note at a time is heard, and rates on most >nights are less than one per minute. >Thanks so much. We'll hope for a good flight, and we look forward to >hearing what you hear. > >Jim Danzenbaker and Jay Withgott >Battle Ground, WA, and Portland, OR >jdanzenbaker AT gmail.com and withgott AT comcast.net > Thanks! > >Jim >-- >Jim Danzenbaker >Battle Ground, WA >360-723-0345 >jdanzenbaker AT gmail.com > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From hnehls6 at comcast.net Thu Sep 17 14:45:43 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:45:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: wheatear In-Reply-To: <200909172144.n8HLi4JX027458@broadway.hevanet.com> Message-ID: Obolers, Just received this message. 1445 9-17-09 Harry Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon ------ Forwarded Message From: Tammi Miller Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:44:04 -0700 To: 'Harry Nehls' Subject: wheatear Hi Harry, Just took a call from Steve Engel whose Portland Audubon/Elderhostel trip spotted a Northern Wheatear at 1pm today at Whalen Island County Park/Clay Meyers Natural Area at Sand Lake, south of Cape Lookout. The bird was hanging around the bridge that goes over Sand Lake, also in the picnic area closest to the bridge on the South side of the road. It was frequenting rocks, gravel, road surface and picnic tables. The bird was in basic or juvenile plumage. If you would like to post to OBOL Steve would be grateful. He may have computer access tonight but wanted to get the word out ASAP. thanks, tammi tammi miller office manager audubon society of portland 5151 nw cornell rd - portland, or - 97210 503.292.6855 ext 102 www.audubonportland.org ------ End of Forwarded Message -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090917/bd774d5c/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Thu Sep 17 15:53:18 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:53:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Labrador Duck talk Message-ID: Obolers, Glen Chilton, editor of the Labrador Duck account and co-editor of the White-crowned Sparrow account in ?The Birds of North America? series, will be at the Audubon Society of Portland on Thursday October 1. He will present his most recent book ? The Curse of the Labrador Duck?. If the book is any indication, this should be a very interesting and enjoyable program. Meet in Heron Hall at 7 PM. Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090917/e0ddc623/attachment.html From oldpineywoods at gmail.com Thu Sep 17 16:38:28 2009 From: oldpineywoods at gmail.com (Matt Greene) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:38:28 -0600 Subject: [obol] birding locales and information request....6 week roadtrip through Pacific NW Message-ID: <2d51ca550909171638m3ed585eeu84169968f387b107@mail.gmail.com> Good evening, New member here. My significant other and I, wildlife biologists by trade, will be traveling to the Pacific NW for the first time in less than 2 weeks and we will be spending ~ 6 weeks in WA,OR, CA (~Sept 20 ? Oct 29) visiting federal and state lands marveling at big trees, chasing birds, and enjoying ecosystems and biodiversity unfamiliar to us. I?ve enjoyed casual birding in the past, but this spring I was bitten by the birding bug about the time I moved to New Mexico in late March to work for Game and Fish as a herpetologist. During my off time, I?ve been searching for and identifying birds, to date 238 species in NM, AZ,CO, and TX during relatively few outings at various locales and ? days in NM, 6 days in SE AZ, ? day in S Texas, and 2 days in CO So my question to you, can you provide suggestions for birding locales.? Any specific or general information you can provide will be greatly appreciated. I know migration will be occurring and that is about it. I plan to spend time in S Oregon at the Klamath complex and hopefully a few days in N Cali tagging along with bird banding folks from the Humboldt State banding team. I?m especially game for improving on sparrows, and shore-birds. Here is my list since late March in approximate order of being found, if it helps. Thanks in advance, Matt Greene Co-owner of Fingerprince Prints Nature Photography www.fingerprinceprints.com Purple finch Sandhill Crane Cooper's Hawk mallard eurasian collared dove canada geese red-tailed hawk pinyon jay scrub jay horned lark curve billed thrasher pied-billed grebe cormorant sp. great egret snowy egret cattle egret turkey vulture snow geese mallard blue-winged teal northern shovler northern pintail green-winged teal redhead lesser scaup bufflehead hooded merganser osprey northern harrier american kestrel ring-necked pheasant american coot black-necked stilt american avocet long-billed dowitcher ring-billed gull greater roadrunner vermillion flycatcher tree swallow barn swallow red-winged blackbird western meadowlark american crow common raven Clark's grebe white-faced ibis cinnamon teal ruddy duck gambel's quail wilson's phalarope black pheobe say's phoebe downy woodpecker mourning dove common poorwill american kestrel swainson's hawk lesser prairie chicken (call only) lark bunting pyrrhuloxia chihuahuan raven great-tailed grackle white-crowned sparrow hairy woodpecker black capped chickadee dark eyed junco ( pygmy nuthatch american magpie northern flicker stellar's jay western bluebird mountain bluebird townsend's solitare red crossbill wilson's warbler Audobon's warbler western tanager bushtit brewer's blackbird house sparrow white-crowned sparrow white-breasted nuthatch european starling western wood pewee black-chinned hummingbird white-winged dove lesser goldfinch Bendire's thrasher common yellowthroat lazuli bunting house wren northern mockingbird cassin's kingbird western kingbird Harris's hawk Bullock's oriole black-throated sparrow common nighthawk barn owl killdeer ladder-backed woodpecker scaled quail loggerhead shrike spotted towhee gnatcatcher sp. rufous-crowned sparrow chipping sparrow cave swallow green heron yellow-breasted chat rose-breasted grosbeak summer tanager Townsend's warbler MacGillivary's warbler northern cardinal black-headed grosbeak orchard oriole american goldfinch cowbird sp painted bunting!! swamp sparrow great horned owl hermit thrush northern waterthrush indigo bunting blue grosbeak Virginia's warbler Cassin's vireo zone-tailed hawk black and white warbler plumbeous vireo violet-green swallow whip-poor-will cordillerean flycatcher Grace's warbler red faced warbler broad-tailed hummingbird mountain chickadee painted redstart Mexican spotted owl (call only) dark-eyed junco (gray headed form) phainopepla yellow warbler acorn woodpecker willow flycatcher american dipper bridled titmouse common black hawk canyon wren vesper sparrow cactus wren band-tailed pigeon long-billed curlew least sandpiper snowy plover Forester's Tern goldern crowned kinglet brown creeper pine siskin sharp-shinned hawk northern bobwhite eastern kingbird white pelican eared grebe western grebe lesser yellowlegs Baird's Sandpiper Abert's towhee gilded woodpecker black-throated sparrow Inca dove brown-crested flycatcher eastern meadowlark "Lilian's" form broad-billed hummingbird rufous-crowned sparrow thick-billed kingbird Sinoloa Wren Anna's hummingbird Violet-crowned woodpecker bronzed cowbird yellow-headed blackbird dusky capped woodpecker yellow-eyed junco flame colored tanager Magnificent hummingbird hepatic tanager elegant trogon mexican chickadee Stricklands' woodpecker canyon towhee green kingfisher Berylline hummingbird white eared hummingbird blue throated hummingbird rufous hummingbird Hutton's vireo black-throated gray warbler elegant trogon brown backed solitare golden eagle varied bunting warbling vireo Green Jay Couch?s Kingbird Yellow-billed Cuckoo Long-billed Thrasher Plain Chachalaca Black-bellied Whistling Duck Great Kiskadee Golden-fronted Woodpecker Clay-colored robin?? ---According the SANWRefuge bird list they are encountered every 2-5 yrs. I thought I was just adding another S TX specialty so I didn?t think much of it at the time. Least Grebe Olive Sparrow Gray Hawk (Black-crested Mexican) Tufted Titmouse Buff-bellied Hummingbird Groove-billed Ani white ibis little blue heron tricolored heron roseate spoonbill blue jay cedar waxwing white-tailed ptarmigan spotted sandpiper calliope hummingbird red-naped sapsucker three-toed woodpecker gray jay Clark's nutcracker ruby-crowned kinglet american pipit green-tailed towhee lincoln's sparrow Cassin's finch evening grosbeak savannah sparrow song sparrow -- Fingerprince Prints Photography by Aubrey M. Heupel and Matt Greene www.fingerprinceprints.com Listen! The great trees call to each other: ?Is it come your time to die, my brother?? And through the forests, wailing and moaning, The hearts of the pines, in their branches groaning: ?We die, we die! Flaying the bark, and our bodies baring, Like dim, white ghosts in the moonlight staring, Naked we stand, with the life-sap welling? Tears of resin to gather for selling? We die, we die!? All through the land are the forest dying, One piece of silver a tree-life buying; Listen! The great trees moan to each other; ?The ax has scarred us too, my brother? We die, we die!? -North Carolina poet Anne McQueen (1924) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090917/82127b80/attachment.html From sengel at audubonportland.org Thu Sep 17 17:31:06 2009 From: sengel at audubonportland.org (sengel at audubonportland.org) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:31:06 GMT Subject: [obol] Northern Wheatear Sand Lake Message-ID: <200909180031.n8I0V6G1035003@broadway.hevanet.com> Today between 1 and 2pm the Portland Audubon Elderhostel group enjoyed observing a Northern Wheatear at the Whalen Island County Park picnic at Sand Lake just south of Cape Lookout. Follow signs from the Cape Lookout Rd south to Sand Lake but continue south past the Sand Lake Recreation Area sign to just past mile post 7 and a sign will direct you to Whalen Island ect., a right hand turn, after which you quickly cross a bridge over tidal Sand "Lake". The bird was active along the rocks on the south side of the road on either side of the bridge, on the road itself, along the gravelly parts of the shore west and south of the bridge, on the picnic tables and on the large boulders that outline the picnic area. Once you cross the bridge the road splits, left is to the Whalen Island Co. park ($3 daily use fee) and right is to a state run Natural Area (name is escaping me at the moment, sorry). You can park free here, there are restrooms too, and walk 75m or so back to the area where the Wheatear was active. This little guy/gal should be heading for Northern Africa but missed a turn somewhere. Steve Engel From rfadney at hotmail.com Thu Sep 17 19:13:30 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:13:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Area Birds, Accipiter help needed! Message-ID: This morning at about 9:30 a.m. I was on the cell phone in my work van on the new bridge at the junction of Kentuck Way and East Bay. I was parked in the wide spot on the bridge, facing East Bay. To my left on the wires near the light pole and accipiter landed and began to survey the brush along the slough. I took a good look, and thought blue back,long skinny legs, long tail, flat or rounded? It took of after something and I got my look at the tail, Coopers! Rounded tail. My first! As it swooped down a Raven shot up from the grass and brush and started chasing the hawk. They flew across Kentuck, around the pastures then back toward me. Still racing, Raven after Hawk. But what got me, was as the hawk pulled a quick left away from me, I saw it's back full on, wings and tail spread, just like in the books. It had Black stripes three or four inches wide front to back on its greater primaries. There were thin white stripes on each side of the black stripes. Fingers and secondaries matched the back color. The stripes were not as vivid as it's blue-gray back, sort of faded but still very obvious and symmetrical. It's frontal coloring matched the Coopers photos in Liguori's book, size and wing shape as well. Since I didn't have my camera, I drew some quick sketches on a business card to review later! I have looked in Sibley, Wheeler's "Raptors of the Western US" and Jerry Liguori's "hawks From Every Angle" and can not find an accipiter with stripes on the wings. Is this possibly a juvenile trait? Maybe a local morph, or am I just missing a bird description somewhere? You all know my poor identity skills! Has someone in Coos Bay seen it too? Maybe someone could check it out. By the way this location is a real hot spot for Hawks, Kingfishers, Egrets, Herons various waterfowl and lots of small waders. There was a Red Shoulder and several Kingfishers this morning watching the action as well. Rich Adney http://avianpics.blogspot.com/ http://adneyvisualarts.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/ _________________________________________________________________ Bing brings you health info from trusted sources. http://www.bing.com/search?q=pet+allergy&form=MHEINA&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TXT_MHEINA_Health_Health_PetAllergy_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090917/fc3df647/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Thu Sep 17 19:20:43 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:20:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] NE Oregon trip Message-ID: <0DC4C8156FCE4556847BA8206E8721B9@D48XBZ51> I attended the OWEB meeting in Joseph this week, and used it as an excuse for some extended exploring. I left Newport Saturday morning, drove thru Kings Valley to visit Baskett Slough and not see a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, then up I-5 and out I-84 to Umatilla NWR, McNary Dam, La Grande. Sunday: Ladd Marsh, Moss Springs, Baker City Elkhorn Mt. pass, upper Grande Ronde River, Spring Creek. Monday: Moss Springs, Enterprise area, Joseph, Imnaha, part way out Hat Point Rd., Wallowa Lake. Tuesday-Wednesday meeting. Wednesday Afternoon long drive back west. The highlights: Great-tailed Grackle, 1, female plumage was in a large mixed flock of blackbirds at the bend in Peach Road, Ladd Marsh, evening of Sept 12. The flock was mainly Redwinged and Brewer's, but also contained a few Yellow- headed, and a fair number of Starlings. Chickens. Trying to emulate Khanh Tran, I kept special watch for chickens. The diversity (7) was better than the quality. The latter definitely not up to Khanh's standards: Giant bronze Tex-Mex chickens: 2 in Kings Valley Sept. 12 as I started trip. Mini-chickens with topnots curved forward. Abundant, numerous places incl. Ladd Marsh and residential areas of La Grande, Union, Cove, Haines. Chickens with long pointed tails: abundant in and around Ladd Marsh. Several groups of half-grown ones. Big Chickens with topknots, males had iridescent blue necks and breasts, but lacked ocellated upper-tail coverts this time of year. Sept. 13, 5 walked across the road in the area of Ladd Marsh where Hot Lake Road becomes Foothill Road. Big Dusky Chicken: 1 female, in Moss Springs CG Sept. 13. Smallish Chickens with erectile neck feathers, fanned tails: two, appeared juvenile and not fully grown, Hat Point Rd. Sept. 14 Mini-chicken with straight topknot: 1, Wallowa River riparian area below Enterprise, Sept. 15. Raptors: Merlin: 1 at Baskett Slough, 1 over Wallowa River above the lake. Swainson's Hawk: still common in Grande Ronde Valley. Bald Eagle: 1 Ad, upper Grande Ronde R. Oddly none at Wallowa Lake, even tho Kokanee were spawning. Osprey: Many Red-tailed Hawk: ubiquitous American Kestrel, N. harrier: widespread Cooper's Hawk: 1, Ladd Marsh Ferrugineous Hawk: 1, E. of Joseph. Had a very nice passerine flock at Moss Springs Monday, included Mt. Chickadees, RB Nuthatches, Brown Creeper (at least 9 individuals), Golden-crowned Kinglets, 1 warbler (likely imm. Townsends, but poor look) and Red Crossbills. The crossbills were a petite form with smallish bills, and were fairly quiet for crossbills. They were around in the treetops, but several came down to within 10' of the ground when the flock came thru. Eurasian Collared-Dove: several places, but 2 in Haines were in a place I have not seen mentioned previously. Mammals: Mink: watched 1 hunting crayfish in the upper Grande Ronde River near Starkey. Red Squirrel: common and widespread, incl. Moss Springs, Anthony Lakes area, Spring Creek, Wallowa Lake. Yellow-Pine Chipmunk: abundant in forests, including at much higher elevations than Ponderosa Pines occur. Mule Deer: widespread in the northeast White-tailed Deer: saw about 20 in several groups in Wallowa River riparian areas and alfalfa fields. Pronghorn Antelope 1 buck with harem of 5 does, Ladd Marsh Bighorn Sheep: 9, from I-84 between John Day River mouth, Philippi Canyon. Mountain Goat: 1 young male, I-84 at mm 117, a couple of miles east of the John Day River. Wayne Hoffman -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090917/21487d8e/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Sep 17 19:28:53 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:28:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] CBC schedule (yes, really) Message-ID: Although it is true that the forecast is for a high of 90 or more in Eugene on Monday, some of us have been planning CBC schedules. Port Orford wants Dec 27, so Coquille Valley will be Saturday, January 2. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From RILLO3 at MSN.COM Thu Sep 17 20:48:17 2009 From: RILLO3 at MSN.COM (Bob ARCHER) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:48:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seaside area Message-ID: Hi: I went from the mouth of the Columbia to the cove at Seaside and saw very few shorebirds this afternoon. I did see three G Yellowlegs at the flats below Gearhart along with a north-bound Jeff and Owen, the beach at Gearhart had some imm. Sanderlings and the cove had some Black Turnstones and one Surfbird. That is all, I did not see any shearwater, although I hoped so, there were several fishing boats working offshore. Bob Archer PDX From carolk at viclink.com Thu Sep 17 20:50:09 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:50:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Northern Wheatear (Whalen Island Tillamook Co.) Message-ID: <000701ca3813$237cdc80$8c76fea9@home> Marilyn van Dyk, Don Roberts and I were on Whalen Island north of Pacific City and watched the Northern Wheatear from about 5:15pm this evening for an hour. It moved around the parking lot and picnic tables a great deal. An Oregon life bird for all three of us. As we were about to leave Tim and Andrew Janzen arrived. They were taking pictures of the bird as we left. I am sure Jim will post more about this beautiful rarity. Thanks Steve Engel for finding this bird and getting the word out so promptly. Good birding, Carol Karlen McMinnville From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Thu Sep 17 20:41:41 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (tmacport99 at hotmail.com) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:41:41 GMT Subject: [obol] Birding Trip Report: Smith and Bybee Lakes Wildlife Area, Multnomah County, Oregon on September 17, 2009 Message-ID: <200909180341.n8I3ff2J030276@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Tom McNamara by http://birdnotes.net Date: September 17, 2009 Location: Smith and Bybee Lakes Wildlife Area, Multnomah County, Oregon Temperature: 84 degrees fahrenheit Precipitation: none OBOL, Went to S & B today to see if I could find any shorebirds. I did: 1 =dowitcher-at-distance sp. (on Bybee) There was, though, a good mix of ducks on Bybee with with some way-diminished counts of Gr. Egrets. A distant peregrine got the ducks moving briefly but was not intent on hanging around.....etc. Beautiful weather to be out Tom Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose Wood Duck Gadwall [1] American Wigeon Mallard Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-Winged Teal Pied-billed Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Great Egret Osprey [2] Red-tailed Hawk Peregrine Falcon American Coot [3] Unidentified Dowitcher Red-necked Phalarope [4] California Gull [5] Mourning Dove Vaux's Swift Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Western Wood-Pewee American Crow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren American Robin Cedar Waxwing Song Sparrow Footnotes: [1] influx of dozens since I was there last==mostly on Bybee [2] dining [3] many, many, many on Smith-- [4] 1 amidst mixed flock of gadwall, mallards, wigeon, gw teal, pintail [5] about 8-10 Total number of species seen: 32 From range.bayer at gmail.com Thu Sep 17 23:08:13 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:08:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Newport Hudsonian Godwit on Sept. 17--Yes Message-ID: Hi, Janet Lamberson saw 1 Hudsonian Godwit but no Marbled Godwits today (Sept. 17) on Idaho Flats, the mudflats east of the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center Nature Trail, near the hut. Cheers, Range Bayer From kskiivv at comcast.net Thu Sep 17 23:10:26 2009 From: kskiivv at comcast.net (Kevin Kompolt) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:10:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] (no subject) Message-ID: <28093055-2E61-4BF8-AFA2-96DFAFB009D1@comcast.net> Sent from my iPhone From tjanzen at comcast.net Thu Sep 17 23:13:24 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:13:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Northern Wheatear video In-Reply-To: <200909180031.n8I0V6G1035003@broadway.hevanet.com> Message-ID: <20090918061331.B867FA8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear All, My son Andrew and I went to see the Northern Wheatear at Whalen Island this evening. John Gatchet arrived just as we were getting ready to leave. The bird was still present at 7 pm. I have uploaded a 31 second video clip of the bird to You Tube. It can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f99sF-co1Y. Sincerely, Tim Janzen Portland From 5hats at peak.org Fri Sep 18 06:58:01 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:58:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] mystery owl Message-ID: <26F7C6B6FE5643B789CA352A195FD8B6@your5rlp3a9516> Obolites, Last night in Lincoln City, at the last stages of dusk, I heard an owl giving a loud, sharp single "peek" note. The closest sound I could relate it to is the single note given by a Sora, but it was louder and sharper. I heard the bird make the call several times, and then saw if flying around over the treetops, still calling. It was a medium sized owl; not as large a a Great Horned, but much larger than a Screech. The flight was mostly flapping with rather quick, deep strokes. The wings appeared to be long and not too broad, but that was only a general impression. The owl flew north for about a hundred yards, then turned back south and disappeared into the trees. I heard it give the call a couple more times after that. I have never before heard an owl giving that particular vocalization, and wonder what kind of an owl it was likely to have been. Any suggestions? Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090918/dee554fd/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Sep 18 07:32:27 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:32:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainson's thrush survey & Oregon birding resources for visitors Message-ID: <1253284347.5806.58.camel@clearwater> Hi folks, Two things here: THING 1: For all of my fellow procrastinators out there who haven't sent in your "Swainson's Thrush Night Out" tallies, or if you may have misplaced Jim & Jay's e-mail descriptions of what info to send in, you can go to: http://www.oregonbirds.org/swainsons_survey.html and it's all there. There is also a simple Excel spreadsheet that you can download for reporting, in case it helps to have a template to work from. THING 2: For Matt Greene and anyone else who might be currently browsing this list with an eye for an upcoming trip to Oregon, there are three main questions that always come up: WHAT? WHERE? and WHEN? The following web site takes care of a big part of the WHERE question: www.oregonbirdingtrails.org This will connect you to information on Oregon Birding Trails including the five trails that have been completed as part of the planned statewide network: Oregon Coast, Willamette Valley, Cascades, Basin & Range, and Klamath Basin. You'll find directions and birding information on more than 600 birding sites in Oregon and northern California. Checklists at the back of each birding trail guide also help with the WHAT? and WHEN? questions. If that's not enough sites to choose from, you can check the "site guide" pages of: www.birdnotes.net which indexes birding sites by counties, National Forests, National & State Parks, etc. The East Cascades Bird Conservancy is putting together an even more ambitious compendium of Oregon birding sites which will be organized by county; some of this is already available at: www.ecbcbirds.org For more info on WHEN?, the Oregon Birding Calendar that Russ Namitz mentioned: www.oregonbirds.org/calendar.html includes some info on when to expect fall/winter arrivals. For instance, "When do Trumpeter Swans, Eurasian Wigeons and Gyrfalcons tend to show up in the Willamette Valley?" is answered there. Even Northern Wheatear, though the Tillamook bird seems to have jumped the gun by a few weeks (well, things always seem to be a bit earlier on the Coast!). Similar info for the Coast and Central Oregon is coming soon. For seabirds, you'll want to check out Greg Gillson's page at: www.thebirdguide.com especially the bar charts showing WHEN to expect different species. For seabirds, the best answer to WHERE? is generally on one of Greg's pelagic boat trips. With luck, skill, and a high-end scope, you can pick up a few of these birds from various coastal vantages that are described in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail guide. I'm sure I've missed some resources but that will get you started on planning a trip. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From winkg at hevanet.com Fri Sep 18 09:17:17 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:17:17 +0000 Subject: [obol] Whalen Wheatear Message-ID: <1021840719-1253290826-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-612458786-@bda407.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> Still here. 9:15 AM Wink Gross Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Fri Sep 18 10:36:09 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:36:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Area Birds, Accipiter help needed! In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <989851.75813.qm@web39702.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Rich, I don't know what you saw, but can offer a few thoughts. The bird you saw may have had those dark markings across the wings because it was only partially through the moult---from imm. feathers to adult. As raptors moult, the same feathers are dropped from the left and right wings (usually in less than a day). If two or three brown (imm.) ones are dropped and regrow next to each other, viewing these grey adult feathers (next to the brown) would appear as wide barring. The slight white edging you mentioned could have been "what shows" of the imm. feather next to the grey adult feather (with wings spread). In my experience, accipiters don't moult as completely as do other hawks and falcons. It is not uncommon to encounter a third year bird that still has a few imm. feathers, and can recall an incident where a goshawk moulted so quickly that it went flightless, and certainly would have starved without intervention. I would guess that more coopers and goshawks do not moult completely into adult plumage (1st to 2nd yr.) than do. Just a few thoughts. Best, Dick --- On Thu, 9/17/09, R. Adney Jr. wrote: > From: R. Adney Jr. > Subject: [obol] Coos Area Birds, Accipiter help needed! > To: "OBOL" > Date: Thursday, September 17, 2009, 7:13 PM > > > > #yiv788726704 .hmmessage P > { > margin:0px;padding:0px;} > #yiv788726704 { > font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} > > > > This morning at about 9:30 a.m. I was on the cell phone in > my work van on the new bridge at the junction of Kentuck Way > and East Bay.? I was parked in the wide spot on the > bridge, facing East Bay.? To my left on the wires near > the light pole and accipiter landed and began to survey the > brush along the slough.? I took a good look, and > thought blue back,long skinny legs, long tail, flat or > rounded?? It took of after something and I got my look > at the tail, Coopers!? Rounded tail.? My > first!? As it swooped down a Raven shot up from the > grass and brush and started chasing the hawk.? They > flew across Kentuck, around the pastures then back toward > me.? Still racing, Raven after Hawk.? But what got > me, was as the hawk pulled a quick left away from me, I saw > it's back full on, wings and tail spread, just like in > the books.? It had Black stripes three or four inches > wide front to back on its greater primaries.? There > were thin white stripes on each side of the black > stripes.? Fingers and secondaries matched the back > color.? The stripes were not as vivid as it's > blue-gray back, sort of faded but still very obvious and > symmetrical.? It's frontal coloring matched the > Coopers photos in Liguori's book, size and wing shape as > well.? Since I didn't have my camera, I drew some > quick sketches on a business card to review later! > > I have looked in Sibley, Wheeler's "Raptors of the > Western US" and Jerry Liguori's "hawks From > Every Angle" and can not find an accipiter with stripes > on the wings.? Is this possibly a juvenile trait?? > Maybe a local morph, or am I just missing a bird description > somewhere?? You all know my poor identity skills! Has > someone in Coos Bay seen it too?? Maybe someone could > check it out. > > By the way this location is a real hot spot for Hawks, > Kingfishers, Egrets, Herons various waterfowl and lots of > small waders.? There was a Red Shoulder and several > Kingfishers this morning watching the action as well. > > > Rich Adney > > http://avianpics.blogspot.com/ > http://adneyvisualarts.com > http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/ > > > > Bing brings you health info from trusted > sources. Try > it now! > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From marciafcutler at comcast.net Fri Sep 18 10:46:55 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:46:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] NAMC this Saturday Message-ID: Hi, This is just a reminder that the Benton Co. migratory bird count is this coming Saturday, Sept. 19th. If you're out and about in Benton Co. or just enjoying your backyard birds, I'd appreciate a list of the number of birds you see in each area you're at. For backyard birders please include the amount of time (nearest 1/4 hr. is OK) spent observing. For others, I also need the usual time and mileage info. If you have any questions, let me know Thanks, Marcia F. Cutler From rkorpi at hotmail.com Fri Sep 18 11:18:54 2009 From: rkorpi at hotmail.com (Ray Korpi) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:18:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gilliam County NAMC Message-ID: All, i'll be out in the wilds of Gilliam County tomorrow for the NAMC. If you are out and about out that way, especially at Willow Creek Area, please feel free to send a list. Ray Korpi rkorpi at hotmail.com vancouver WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090918/1da8d5d2/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Fri Sep 18 11:43:01 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:43:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Co Pecs Message-ID: <2b1bbd260909181143m31abce6maeecf7d7938a8ced@mail.gmail.com> Obol, I stopped by the dog pond along S Jetty Rd last night and today around 11. Yesterday there were 8 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 3 LONG-BILLED DOWS, 3 SHORT-BILLED DOWS, 1 unid. dow, and 3 Least SP. Today there were 7 PECTORAL and 1 LB DOWITCHER. All were in juvenal plumage. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090918/e2e3461e/attachment.html From galacres at comcast.net Fri Sep 18 13:03:33 2009 From: galacres at comcast.net (Patrick Gallagher) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:03:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] N. Wheatear Message-ID: <5BC15B87735949CD8B59F474307B5A1A@PatPC> A quick trip to see the Wheatear was very successful this morning (0930-1030). Beautiful sunny weather, easy access, and great viewing. The bird was flighty if folks or cars got too close, so everyone present gave it space and got great scope views at about 40-50 yards. Using the Collins Bird Guide to Britain and Europe for reference, it appears this is an adult male in autumn plumage. The black on the face and wings is too dark for a juvenile or an adult female. Harry Nehls was in attendence, and he indicated this is the fourth Oregon record for this species. This was not a life bird for me (life lister was breeding plumaged birds in Hungary), but a first for my ABA and Oregon lists. A very good sighting. Patrick Gallagher Salem -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090918/8361a901/attachment.html From SJJag at comcast.net Fri Sep 18 13:26:30 2009 From: SJJag at comcast.net (SJJag at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:26:30 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] off topic, SJCR birders find any women's glasses? Message-ID: <1745177228.2931501253305590650.JavaMail.root@sz0081a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hello-if anyone visiting the shorebird flats near the viewing platform of the South Jetty of the Columbia River happen to spot a pair of women;s precscription glasses in the sand or wherever, pls. grab them and let me know. Thanks in advance, Steve Jaggers -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090918/121bf9d8/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Fri Sep 18 13:27:16 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:27:16 -0400 Subject: [obol] Best binoculars for about $300 Message-ID: <8CC06B58C5E2541-5720-2397C@webmail-d014.sysops.aol.com> I'm sure this question has been asked many times, but I couldn't find it in old mail. My present Binos are not so great and I'd like to get a better pair. I can spend about $300. I do wear glasses, bifocals, so that is a consideration. Any help appreciated. Johnny Sasko, Sandy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090918/3f1829c6/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Fri Sep 18 13:29:24 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:29:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] CBC schedule (yes, really) References: Message-ID: Grants Pass CBC on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 this time out. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Subject: [obol] CBC schedule (yes, really) Although it is true that the forecast is for a high of 90 or more in Eugene on Monday, some of us have been planning CBC schedules. Port Orford wants Dec 27, so Coquille Valley will be Saturday, January 2. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From bettymkn at netscape.com Fri Sep 18 16:26:13 2009 From: bettymkn at netscape.com ( Betty Mankin) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:26:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Kestrel-Lebanon Message-ID: <20090918162613.A671ED56@resin17.mta.everyone.net> A KESTREL was hanging around on the light poles and down into the field along the entrance/exit road on the dead-end at Walmart in Lebanon a couple of hours ago. He/she had the definite head markings and the dk brown/light brn barred tail. The chest was grey/white with light grey stripes. He didn't seem to mind my stopping and watching him/her like most of them you see on the wires along the road. Didn't turn so I could see if the blue was on the wings but didn't seem to be as colorful as a male. Possibly a female or juvie having the striping? Haven't seen any on the wires along the road lately. First for a long time. Betty Mankin bettymkn at netscape.com _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. From dustdevil at centurytel.net Fri Sep 18 16:44:58 2009 From: dustdevil at centurytel.net (Patty Bowers) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:44:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Warm Springs Res/Near Hines Birding Message-ID: <32DC910EC59149119F55C9A83FCCFE6F@your0cdc4f5844> Saturday 9/12 I was at Warm Springs Reservoir, Harney Co. There appeared to be a significant Western Meadowlark migration happening there. There were at least 100 meadowlarks per mile over 5 miles. I also saw a number of Burrowing Owls - had 9 in view at one time and saw 6 more individuals. There were 800 Canada Geese using the area which is much lower than usual. Also 40 White Pelicans plus a number of common ducks, 13 Greater Sage Grouse. At our home west of Hines White-crowned Sparrow numbers have been building. There are now over 100 around the house. Two Scrub Jays arrived yesterday the first in several years. Last Lazuli Bunting was 9/16. On 9/15 there were 3 Clark's Nutcracker and one Sharp Shinned Hawk at the Kiger Gorge Overlook on Steens Mt. Cheers, Wayne Bowers -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090918/9d7fae5f/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Fri Sep 18 17:31:32 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:31:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] harney burrowing owls? Message-ID: <28FD4B9D414B4F1596E04C3A6FD80EB7@cgatesPC> Anyone found any Burrowing Owls while they were cruising around Harney County recently? I see Wayne Bowers had a bunch but I don't think we can make it out to Warm Springs Reservoir on Sunday. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090918/1b068d72/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Sep 18 17:35:27 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:35:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wheatear photos Message-ID: <0D09C11379544A02ABE3DE3B3A0E6522@GREG> http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/gallery/wheatear I went down to Whalen Park after Wink's post and arrived just before noon. Sat at the picnic table and Diane Pettey drove up while the bird caught insects and flew all around us, always landing on boulders, stumps, and picnic tables. It was very accommodating. As more and more people arrived it moved off down the causeway and spent some time on the road edge as well. 10-15 minute delay for road construction each way at milepost 28 on Hwy 6 (just east of the summit). [Don't accidentally go over Cape Lookout. The road should be closed it is so broken up. I think it knocked my suspension back into alignment!] Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From hhactitis at yahoo.com Fri Sep 18 17:40:37 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:40:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Juniper Titmouse and other Lake Co. notes Message-ID: <884130.38645.qm@web37007.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello OBOL, my partner and I spent a couple of days fishing and exploring the Warner Mountains east of Lakeview. Birding was slow overall, but we ran into a flock of at least 6 JUNIPER TITMICE near Dismal Creek in the South Warners. I had never seen the species there before, but the habitat looks great. In the same area we observed a WESTERN SCRUB-JAY that showed all the features and behavioral characteristics of WOODHOUSE'S subspecies (a potential future split from California Scrub-Jay). Other than that, there was a noticeable movement of sparrows, mainly WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS. All birds I saw well were of the subspecies gambellii, which moves through Oregon on migration. I did not see a single bird of the resident subspecies oreantha, the Mountain White-crowned Sparrow, which breeds in the willows along the streams in the Warners. Maybe they already moved out. There were also good numbers of VESPER and BREWER'S SPARROWS, along with a few GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES. Several COMMON POORWILLS flushed from the roads in the arly evening, bu I did not hear any calling at night. TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES were singing everywhere. Overall, the fishing proved better than the birding, and we returned with a nice assortment of Rainbow, Redband and Brook Trout for our freezer. Happy birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090918/512fff99/attachment.html From fitzbeew at gmail.com Fri Sep 18 18:37:32 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:37:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wheatear YES, Hudsonian Godwit (Newport) YES Message-ID: Dan Heyerly just called me and asked me to post that he and Anne saw the NORTHERN WHEATEAR today; it was still there when they left at 4-ish. They are now (as of 6:30pm) watching the HUDSONIAN GODWIT at the Newport HMSC. Good birds! -Holly Reinhard Eugene, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090918/7cac71ba/attachment.html From dwhipple at opusnet.com Fri Sep 18 19:49:10 2009 From: dwhipple at opusnet.com (Darrel Whipple) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:49:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Off-topic: Malheur lodging Sept. 21-23 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I am looking for two, three or four birders to share lodging at Malheur Field Station next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 21-23. I reserved a kitchenette (3-bedroom house) at the station, but my friends who were joining me had to cancel when one of them developed serious health problems this week. I plan to go for the good birding and would appreciate some company and some help with the lodging fee -- about $40 per person per night if three of us show up (more people makes it even lower). Email me right away or call me ASAP to claim one or both of the two empty bedrooms. If you call, the best time is after 7 pm Saturday the 19th or any time on Sunday. (Don't reply to the list as this is off-topic.) Darrel Whipple Rainier, Oregon 503-556-9838 dwhipple at opusnet.com From birdmandon at clearwire.net Fri Sep 18 18:59:00 2009 From: birdmandon at clearwire.net (Don Schrouder) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:59:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] N Wheatear Message-ID: Four of us from Eugene got great looks at the Wheatear between 1:30 to 2 PM this afternoon. It should be mentioned that the park host for the campground was getting upset at people not paying the daily fee while watching the bird. We parked just past the bridge at the first picnic tables as there were several fishermen by the bridge. We all paid our fees and would suggest others consider the same if only to keep birders in good standing. Not a bad price for such a great bird! Don Schrouder, Sylvia Maulding, Dave & Bea Jones plus a couple from Tillamook. From stormyoregonskies at hotmail.com Fri Sep 18 20:25:31 2009 From: stormyoregonskies at hotmail.com (Stephanie H) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:25:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Massive flock of Ceder Waxwings in SE Portland Message-ID: I live in SE Portland and yesterday morning I was very suprised to see a bird I had never seen in my area. When I got my binaculars I saw it was a ceder waxwing, next to the tree is a huge Holly Bush filled with berries, and was several hundred other Ceder Waxwings. They were making all kinds of noise. Then out of no where a huge red tailed hawk swooped in and they scattered. I have not seen or heard from them since. I am really hoping they return! _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090918/315aa24d/attachment.html From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Fri Sep 18 19:58:14 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:58:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] June shoot on-line Message-ID: <4AB448C6.2040609@gmail.com> My June shoot is on-line at http://www.kevinsmithnaturephotos.com Click on "New Sightings" in the left column. June Shoot has: Birds on nest w/nestlings-- Red-tail Hawks Northern Goshawks Cassin's Vireo Warbling Vireo Ash-throated Flycatcher Western Kingbird Red-naped Sapsucker Western Wood Peewee and Eastern Kingbird and Western Kingbird showing red crown! Winnowing Snipe in flight (kind of goes together ;-) Enjoy. Kevin Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090918/128e8d08/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090918/128e8d08/attachment.vcf From stormyoregonskies at hotmail.com Fri Sep 18 20:27:59 2009 From: stormyoregonskies at hotmail.com (Stephanie H) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:27:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tangers in SE Portland Message-ID: I have been seeing and hearing tangers too! I could not believe my eyes, I am so ticked it flew off before i could get a photo. It was all yellow, I've been hearing it.. I know it's a tanger. Any one know what kind??? _________________________________________________________________ Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222985/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090918/87bfb0ff/attachment.html From fitzbeew at gmail.com Fri Sep 18 19:44:08 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:44:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wheatear chase tomorrow or Sun.? Message-ID: Obol, I want to chase the Wheatear tomorrow (Sat.) or Sunday. I'll be leaving from Corvallis. Any takers? I'll drive if you help some with gas. :) Let me know via e-mail or phone. Holly Reinhard Eugene/Corvallis, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com (541) 579-0594 (cell) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090918/207b971c/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Fri Sep 18 20:41:56 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:41:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Monmouth Area Birding Advise Message-ID: <567AB183D3C94552B6B067F00050736A@cgatesPC> I'm very interested in listing preferred birding locations in and around Monmouth and Independence in the online guide to Polk County that I'm working on. I know both have productive sewage ponds but I don't know how to access either or if there are limitations to either. I would like to know if you have favorite places around these two towns and I would like to know how best to bird the two sewage facilities. Anyone want to help me? Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090918/0c068b0f/attachment.html From marciafcutler at comcast.net Fri Sep 18 21:21:50 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:21:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] CBC schedule (yes, really) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <552E54F7-2F17-4CE6-B2C1-510B7532A594@comcast.net> And the Corvallis CBC will be on Tuesday, December 22, 2009. Marcia F. Cutler On Sep 18, 2009, at 1:29 PM, Dennis P. Vroman wrote: > Grants Pass CBC on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 this time out. > > Dennis (north of Grants Pass) > > Subject: [obol] CBC schedule (yes, really) > > > Although it is true that the forecast is for a high of 90 or more in > Eugene > on Monday, some of us have been planning CBC schedules. > > Port Orford wants Dec 27, so Coquille Valley will be Saturday, > January 2. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From celata at pacifier.com Fri Sep 18 21:59:21 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:59:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] North Wheatear fun facts Message-ID: <4AB46529.3040301@pacifier.com> I too got to see the Whalon Wheatear. I stopped by on my way to Mt Hebo to count butterflies. Quite fortuitous. I also got there before the sun had risen over the hills so all my photos are a bit fuzzy from low light levels. They're not nearly as nice as others already posted. Did you know that the Northern Wheatear is one of only a very few species that breed in North America, but do not winter in the Americas? The little guy at Whalon Island was supposed to head to East Africa via Siberia. There are over twenty species of wheatear (give or take, and depending on who's taxonomy one reads) and at least 6 subspecies of the Northern Wheatear. Two subspecies breed in North America (and both migrate away to the old world using different routes). The Whalon Island bird is most probably the nominate _oenanthe_ subspecies that breeds in Alaska. The taxonomy of wheatears is apparently a bit controversial. The group has traditionally been placed in the family _Turdidae_ which includes thrushes and bluebirds. Both the AOU and Birds of North America database continue to place wheatears there. But the the USGS database places wheatears with the old world flycatchers, _Muscicapidae_. Many European checklists also place wheatears and old world chats with the _Muscicapidae_. Then again, old world flycatchers are far more "thrush-like" than North American tyrannids, so it's not as big a stretch and one might think. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From carolk at viclink.com Fri Sep 18 22:29:16 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:29:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wheatear still there Friday eve Message-ID: <002501ca38ea$28e242a0$8c76fea9@home> OBOL: We viewed the beautiful NORTHERN WHEATEAR at Whalen Island, north of Pacific City, from 5 - 6:30 Friday evening. It flew all about the campsites 24, 25, 26, over toward the bridge, across the road, and back, with stops on several picnic tables, multiple rocks, logs, and a stump. We shared the sighting with a group who were on an "extension" of a Washington Ornithological Society field trip, from the WOS annual meeting taking place in Kelso, WA. It was a very pleasant evening. Carol had a nice chat with the camp host, who was very cordial. She simply asks that folks not park in the campsites (#24-31). Good birding, everyone, Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen From celata at pacifier.com Fri Sep 18 22:30:29 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:30:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mt Hebo migrants - 9/18/2009 Message-ID: <4AB46C75.6090507@pacifier.com> While counting butterflies on Mt Hebo today, I came across the following interesting migrants: Pacific-slope Flycatcher - 2 in association with Wilson's Warblers and Chestnut-backed Chickadees. Ruby-crowned Kinglet - first of the season also hanging out with the Wilson's and Chestnut-backs. Hermit Thrush - first of the season, photographs. Praying Mantis sp. - not really sure what it was doing on Hebo, photos. California Tortoiseshell - still a pretty good south bound movement though not as impressive as last week. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From sandycab1 at comcast.net Sat Sep 19 01:24:26 2009 From: sandycab1 at comcast.net (Sandy Cabraser) Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:24:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Picasa Web Albums - Sandra - 2009 Sept. 17 Smith River Reedsport Umpqua River birding Message-ID: <20090919081829.73BD5A8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Hi Obolers, Hope I'm doing this correctly now. My friends and I made a loop going south out of Eugene to the Smith River, out to Reedsport, then back by Hwy 38 on Sept. 17. We were delighted to see a Great Grey Owl (see link to photo) many Stellar's Jays everywhere, and Turkey Vultures everywhere too. One small flock of Vaux Swifts, small flock of W. Tanagers, and many more birds. Stopped at the Dean Creek Elk viewing area, too. One American Kestrel seen, and a No. Flicker, one Wood peewee, a couple of band-tailed Pigeons, a few Robins, and some domestic Guinea fowl. The highlight of the trip for me was the owl, a first for me. Happy birding Sandy West Eugene, OR. http://picasaweb.google.com/sandy1199ster/2009Sept17SmithRiverReedsportUmpquaRiverBirding# From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Sep 18 16:24:15 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:24:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] mystery owl In-Reply-To: <26F7C6B6FE5643B789CA352A195FD8B6@your5rlp3a9516> References: <26F7C6B6FE5643B789CA352A195FD8B6@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: <97cce963f043ee179c713989ebe4719f@earthlink.net> How about the begging call of a Barred Owl? I hear them every June and July, but I imagine many Oregon birders have yet to encounter it. Lars Norgren On Sep 18, 2009, at 6:58 AM, Darrel Faxon wrote: > Obolites, > ??? Last night in Lincoln City, at the last stages of dusk, I heard an > owl giving a loud, sharp single "peek" note.? The closest sound I > could relate it to is the single note given by a Sora, but it was > louder and sharper.? I heard the bird make the call several times, and > then saw if flying around over the treetops, still calling.? It was a > medium sized owl; not as large a a Great Horned, but much larger than > a Screech.? The flight was mostly flapping with rather quick, deep > strokes.? The wings appeared to be long and not too broad, but that > was only a general impression.? The owl flew north for about a hundred > yards, then turned back south and disappeared into the trees.? I heard > it give the call a couple more times after that.? I have never before > heard an owl giving that particular vocalization, and wonder what kind > of an owl it was likely to have been.? Any suggestions? > ? > Darrel_______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Sep 19 07:34:07 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 07:34:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Picasa Web Albums - Sandra - 2009 Sept. 17 Smith River Reedsport Umpqua River birding In-Reply-To: <20090919081829.73BD5A8218@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: Great owl photo. This is a Barred Owl, which is quite similar to a Great Gray. Great Gray has beady little yellow eyes instead of the big dark eyes of Barred and Spotted. You should send these photos to Oregon Birds (Jeff Harding) to include in a future issue. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Sandy Cabraser > Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:24:26 -0700 > To: > Subject: [obol] Picasa Web Albums - Sandra - 2009 Sept. 17 Smith River > Reedsport Umpqua River birding > > > Hi Obolers, > Hope I'm doing this correctly now. My friends and I made a loop going > south out of Eugene to the Smith River, out to Reedsport, then back > by Hwy 38 on Sept. 17. We were delighted to see a Great Grey Owl (see > link to photo) many Stellar's Jays everywhere, and Turkey Vultures > everywhere too. One small flock of Vaux Swifts, small flock of W. > Tanagers, and many more birds. Stopped at the Dean Creek Elk viewing > area, too. One American Kestrel seen, and a No. Flicker, one Wood > peewee, a couple of band-tailed Pigeons, a few Robins, and some > domestic Guinea fowl. The highlight of the trip for me was the owl, a > first for me. Happy birding > Sandy > West Eugene, OR. > > http://picasaweb.google.com/sandy1199ster/2009Sept17SmithRiverReedsportUmpquaR > iverBirding# > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From namitzr at hotmail.com Sat Sep 19 10:41:24 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 10:41:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tim Rodenkirk - Wheatear sacrificial lamb Message-ID: Tim Rodenkirk left me a message early Thursday morning that he was leaving on a week long trip to Burns/Fields and Nevada. He specifically mentioned that he was leaving so that something "real good" would show up. Half a day later came Steve's great find of the N.Wheatear. For all I know Tim is speeding back from Malheur as we speak, but if not, thanks Tim. This bird look like a first fall (immature) male to me. The first photo of Greg Gilson's excellent photos demonstrate the following points... 1) very subdued outline of "mask" with only hint of black in lores and none in auriculars (mask would be more complete in adult male). 2) buffy forehead (should be white in adult male) 3) large buff "panel" created in folded tertial feathers 4) rufous-buff on breast/throat/cheeks also present in undertail coverts Good birding on your NAMC, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090919/f8462a96/attachment.html From archmcc at qwest.net Sat Sep 19 10:59:26 2009 From: archmcc at qwest.net (Arch McCallum) Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 10:59:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Autumn sounds Message-ID: <20090919175932.2DEE922DE62@mpls-qmqp-04.inet.qwest.net> Hello OBOL: Herewith a few random notes on autumn bird sounds. Thursday morning (9/17/09) I finally managed to record a snippet of a "fall call" of the Western Screech-Owl. Some of these calls sound so much like a squirrel to me that the first time I ever heard them, two years ago, at 4am through my bedroom window, I refused to get out of bed and track it down. (Yes, I can convince myself that a squirrel is calling in the dead of night if it helps me stay in bed.) That bird kept waking me up, night after night, and I kept refusing to get out of bed. Finally I heard a screech-owl trill associated with that sound, and I deeply regretted my laziness. I tracked the sound down on the Cornell Lab of O's excellent Owls of North America CD set, but of course I never heard it again after that. Last year I was ready, but I only heard it occasionally in the distance. This year I was ready, too, and the WESOs have been active. Two nights ago I heard a bird give this call about 7 times, but I fumbled so with my recording gear that I didn't get it. So, here is my hard-earned first success. It's not a good sample, but I'm still pleased to have it. http://www.appliedbioacoustics.com/features/sounds/weso_or_fallcall_lanhom1_dam0941a-54.wav After doing a little research, I'm beginning to think this sound is an example of the "agitated bark" of CLO disc 1, cut 21. It sounds a bit like an Acorn Woodpecker to me. I think this might also be the same call Dave Herr recorded in June (1990, Macaulay Library 47543). He had an adult and juve present at the time. [To hear sounds from the Macaulay Library, formerly the Library of Natural Sounds, at CLO, go to http://macaulaylibrary.org/index.do and type the name of the species in the "find" box. Then you will have a list of all the sounds for that species in the catalog and need only click to hear them.] I believe the squirrel-like call I have heard is the "Te-te-do" call of Disc 1, cut 22. Both of these calls may be part of a continuum. It seems that no one has actually sat down with all the recordings and worked out a consistent terminology. The following Macaulay cuts, all by Dave Herr from Wash. and Ore., are in this family of calls. 47691, 50549, 63001, 63048, 63048. Even more that these "fall calls," I have been hearing one or two notes immediately followed by a trill. Here's an example from July 23 this year. This one is lower, and probably a male. http://www.appliedbioacoustics.com/features/sounds/weso_or_trill_lanhomm_dam0940a-1578.wav This one is higher and probably a female. http://www.appliedbioacoustics.com/features/sounds/weso_or_trill_lanhomf_dam0940a-1859.wav When I made the recording Thursday morning at 5:50, a second bird was doing a trill like that, and it was in the higher register, so probably it was a female and the squawker was a male. These trills are in the "double trill" family of calls, but these examples associated with "fall calls" could be called "agitated double-trills" following the CLO disc. It seems that these "agitated" versions always have only a few (usually 2) notes in the first trill, while "double trills" that are given in duets at the beginning of the breeding season have more notes in the first trill. These differences are well illustrated on the disc. Any comments or experiences with these calls would be welcome, off list or on. ................. A week ago, I drove out to Cantrell Road, south of Fern Ridge Reservoir and west of Eugene, to try to record singing by the local Black Phoebe(s). Phoebes are known to crank up in the fall, and my fellow-recordist Nathan Pieplow, in Colorado, had just recorded a Say's Phoebe singing (with its usual three song-types) in a way he and I had never heard of. Nothing much was happening at the Coyote Creek bridge, where the phoebes presumably are now regular nesters, so I drove east to the end of the pavement. I was listening through the windows of my car, around 6:30 am, when something that sounded a little like a Gray Catbird started up in the hedgerow a few feet away. I knew it wasn't a catbird, but it had the sputtery, unrepetitive, all-over-the-place quality of catbird singing. My best guess was American Goldfinch, but I really didn't know what it was. I'll let you identify it. Just click the link below, and you can hear 36 seconds of its singing. There are four or five distinct songs, each different, with little internal repetition. http://www.appliedbioacoustics.com/features/sounds/fallsong.wav If you know it right off the bat, it's probably because you've tracked it down before and have a good memory, because this is not the regular style of singing of this very common species This is a sample of "subsong," or "plastic" song, the kind of thing a bird does in its first fall. If that's not enough of a hint, the adult male typically repeats one song type several times before switching to another, and each song-type has numerous internal repeats of phrases. Songs typically include buzzes, trills, and sometimes whistles. The development of song in the Song Sparrow is explained in the following paper: http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/podos/PodosLab/1995Podos+AnimBehav.pdf I did finally find a Black Phoebe, who was singing rapidly, while moving around, but far from water. He was moving around in isolated trees in the fields north of the east end of the pavement. Autumn is full of acoustic surprises. Arch McCallum Eugene ps: check out Nathan's excellent blog at http://earbirding.com/blog/ From jeffgill at teleport.com Sat Sep 19 12:09:41 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:09:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] No. Wheatear - no Message-ID: I was fortunate to see it yesterday. I have heard from Gerard Lillie that it has not been seen today. Jeff Gilligan From sengel at audubonportland.org Sat Sep 19 12:27:05 2009 From: sengel at audubonportland.org (sengel at audubonportland.org) Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:27:05 GMT Subject: [obol] Northern Wheatear Viewing Message-ID: <200909191927.n8JJR5XG047350@broadway.hevanet.com> A couple of recent posts mentioned the Whalen County Park's camp host (her name is Rosa) and the daily use fee. One post suggested frustration on her part at people using the park's parking facilities and not paying, the other suggested she is quite gracious about all the activity. She is a very nice person. Each year volunteer leaders Denny Graham and Sue Carr have checked in with Rosa about our impending visit and she has always welcomed our Elderhostel group to bird the park. When my group found the bird Thursday we told her she'd get lots of visitors soon and she said "great!". For those who don't want to (or can't) park in the NO FEE Clay Meyers Natural area parking lot (take the right fork after the bridge) and walk 75m to view the wheatear, then realize your other option is paying the 3$ daily use fee. It's all for a good cause (county park services) and as was mentioned, it's a good price for the what you get (assuming the wheatear is still there) and helps keep birder's activities in a positive light. steve engel From dpvroman at budget.net Sat Sep 19 14:01:46 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:01:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] JT and the Falcon Message-ID: <4944AD9B028340F28B2147AAC03C4707@Warbler> Last evening at the "Evening with James Taylor" concert (near Central Point) at about 7:15 pm a PEREGRINE FALCON fly directly over us an a fairly low level. Happened to have my binos for concert watching. Great look at the Falcon. ...James Taylor and band were great too. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090919/0c3f50d4/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Sat Sep 19 15:44:15 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:44:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Newport South Jetty: 2 Bristle-thighed Curlews Message-ID: Hi, Carol Louderback from Kennewick just telephoned that she had seen and photographed 2 probable Bristle-thighted Curlews along the Yaquina Bay South Jetty this afternoon (Sept. 19). They were together and near Black Turnstones on the rocks. They were closer to the Yaquina Bay Bridge than to the end of the Jetty. Carol is on OBOL and will post more information when she gets home tomorrow night. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport From rakestraw.john at yahoo.com Sat Sep 19 16:31:00 2009 From: rakestraw.john at yahoo.com (John Rakestraw) Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:31:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Sabine's Gull - Fernhill Wetlands Message-ID: <208702.278.qm@web65312.mail.ac2.yahoo.com> The Portland Audubon shorebird class went out to Fernhill Wetlands (Birding Oregon p. 61) Saturday morning. Best bird of the day was a first cycle Sabine's Gull. The bird moved around a lot, and we wondered if there might be two, but we only saw one at a time. He was most often seen in Cattail Pond. Shorebirds were very few. Highlights include: White Pelican (2, Cattail Pond) Wilson's Snipe (at least 6, Mitigation Marsh) Western Grebe (2, Fernhill Lake) Green Heron (at least 4) Cheers, John Rakestraw Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090919/c5b48b89/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Sat Sep 19 16:40:04 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:40:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Age/sex of wheatear Message-ID: I think I posted too hastily about the age/sex of this bird. Daniel Farrar reminded me about that bit Svensson et. al lumps fall plumaged females in with 1st winter males. Suffice to say, I feel confident that the bird is not an adult male. Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090919/ce32aea5/attachment.html From davidmandell at earthlink.net Sat Sep 19 17:01:43 2009 From: davidmandell at earthlink.net (David Mandell) Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:01:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] possible Mountain X Black-capped hybrid (Sherman Co.) Message-ID: <108B7EBA-6CF6-4652-AB41-572120EA2410@earthlink.net> While birding Sherman County today, I had a bird I believe was a Mountain X Black-capped Chickadee Hybrid along the Deschutes River. It had a thin white line over the eye (thinner than a typical Mountain), but white feather edgings to the wings and buff on the sides. I didn't have a camera with me, so no documentation. The song was also different enough to pick it out from the other Black-capped Chickadees it was traveling with. There was also a PECTORAL SANDPIPER south of Grass Valley and two immature COMMON TERNS west of John Day Dam. Just a smattering of migrants with a couple of Warbling Vireos, Yellow Warblers and O-c Warblers. One each of Lincoln Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush and Western Wood-Pewee. David Mandell Portland, OR From pointers at pacifier.com Sat Sep 19 18:03:16 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:03:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird with red gills ... In-Reply-To: <108B7EBA-6CF6-4652-AB41-572120EA2410@earthlink.net> References: <108B7EBA-6CF6-4652-AB41-572120EA2410@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <20090920010317.D8D666A4E1@smtp4.pacifier.net> hi ... took the dog for a run at the Sandy River Delta this afternoon ... Gene (my fisherman hubby) went with me and he had my binoculars and I had my camera ... not many people there which was good, but unfortunately not much bird action either ... however we hit one tree where there were 50 or so Cedar Waxwings stripping it clean ... I was busy snapping pix of Waxwings and red fruit and Gene was watching the birds thru the binocs ... then he got excited about one he saw ... he described it as "bigger than the Waxwings and smaller than a hawk, and it has RED GILLS" ... he kept pointing high up in a tree and I could see nothing ... meanwhile my brain is trying to translate "red gills" into bird terms ... then I saw a large bird flush, a nice white rump showing, and by gosh and by golly, it had RED GILLS !!!!!!! ... a beautiful male Northern Flicker ... LOL !!!!!! Lyn Vancouver, Washington pointers at pacifier dot com Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From whoffman at peak.org Sat Sep 19 18:13:40 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:13:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bristle-thighed Curlews - NOT Message-ID: Hi - After a call from Range I headed to the South Jetty and found two Whimbrels in the area where the BT Curlews had been reported. They had brown tails without a hint of cinnamon, and not particularly tawny underparts. They did have darker than average backs for Whimbrels, and perhaps more than usual red on the lower mandible. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090919/c915b0bc/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sat Sep 19 18:15:58 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:15:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Age/sex of wheatear Message-ID: <4AB5824E.2040202@pacifier.com> From Pyle (1997) Basic Plumage (Aug-Mar) HY/SY m-f (Aug-Mar): Upperparts heavily washed brownish or cinnamon; dusky mask indistinctly defined; supercilium buff; wing feathers uniformly juvenal and brown (noticeably browner than the mask of alternate-plumaged males), or one or more inner gr or med covs replaced and dark brown to blackish, contrasting with the brownish, retained outer covs (Fig. 133A-C); outer gr covs edged buff to cinnamon when fresh; outer pp covs narrow, tapered, relatively abraded (Fig. 138A-C), and brownish; roof of the mouth (upper mandible lining) with yellowish (through Oct-Mar). Note: Most HY/SYs are not reliably sexed in Aug-Feb, although some SY males in Jan-Feb with incoming black mask feathers can be sexed. Also, the replaced inner wing covs may average blacker on males than on females and this could be useful in sexing some birds; more study is needed. Intermediates can be difficult or impossible to age, especially females. AHY/ASY f (Aug-Mar): Upperparts heavily washed brownish or cinnamon; dusk)' mask indistincty defined; supercilium buffy; wing feathers uniformly adult (Fig. 133F) and dark brown; gr covs with narrow or no buff to cinnamon edging; outer pp covs broad, truncate, fresh (Fig. 138B), and brownish black; roof of the mouth gray or black, without yellowish. Note: See HY/SY m-f. AHY/ASY m (Aug-Mar): Upperparts gray with a brownish or cinnamon wash; black mask distinctly defined; supercilium white; wing feathers uniformly adult (Fig. 133F) and blackish; gr covs edged gray; outer pp covs broad, truncate, fresh (Fig. 138B), and black; roof of the mouth gray or black, without yellowish. Note: See HY/SY m-f. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sat Sep 19 20:01:31 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:01:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Linn County Semipalmated Plovers & Pectoral Sandpipers Message-ID: <8E69F912685F4E43A8D41AC5AC7C6C2B@laptop> Lebanon's Cheadle Lake has extensive mudflats just now, and there was a nice little flock of shorebirds there this evening, including four Pectoral Sandpipers and two Semipalmated Plovers. They were with a dozen or so Least Sandpipers and two or three Western Sandpipers, for size comparison. There were more peeps in the distance, so there could be other interesting birds there. A great Egret was there too. I was just stopping by on my way back from Santiam Pass, were it was miserable, and the birds were all hunkering, or almost all. I did see a few things, but couldn't find a Grey Jay or one of the boreal woodpeckers. More later, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090919/ec923a7d/attachment.html From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Sat Sep 19 20:38:17 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:38:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Green Ridge Raptor Migration Message-ID: <8934DEA517D14CA6A4DFBCABC021549B@KimPC> Our first day on Green Ridge started out with a bang, the first 5 minutes we had 2 Sharpies and a Cooper's. That was it for the first hour. Activity picked up between 11:00 and 1:00 and then slowed down to 5 birds the last 4 hours. All the birds we saw were on the west side of the ridge and most were down low. We think we probably missed some Sharpies and Coops that were flying low below our line of sight. We ended up seeing 36 raptors as follows. Turkey Vulture 6 Osprey 1 Bald Eagle 1 A, 1S Sharp-shinned Hawk 13 Cooper's Hawk 4 Red-tailed Hawk 3 Golden Eagle 3 Unident. Buteo 1 Unident. Raptor 3 Owliver, our fake owl on a pole had two Sharpies try to take him on. One, put on a show for about five minutes. It would make a pass at the owl, land nearby, scream at the owl then make another pass. It went through this routine about 6 times. Observers: Jay Smith - Portland, Kim Boddie - Bend ----kim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090919/69d07c95/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Sat Sep 19 21:27:16 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:27:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sabine's Gull and Sandhill Crane Fernhill Wetlands Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F025673F4@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> I left home in Gresham at 5:30 and drove to Fernhill Wetlands and located the the SABINE'S GULL on Cattail Pond swimming and catching small fish at regular intervals. I left after sunset and it was still on the pond. Thank you to John Rakestraw for posting this. In addition there was a SANDHILL CRANE viewable from the same spot two the right of the covered observation area. The two AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN flew off at sunset. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090919/892eae2e/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sat Sep 19 21:41:28 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:41:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Bird with red gills ... In-Reply-To: <20090920010317.D8D666A4E1@smtp4.pacifier.net> Message-ID: <968119.57596.qm@web37002.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Lyn, this is priceless! Thanks for sharing. I go birding with my "fisherman" partner a lot, but so far he has never attributed gills to a bird. Perhaps we should rename the bird "Red-gilled Flicker" instead of "Red-shafted Flicker" ... has a nice ring to it. Happy fishing and birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Sat, 9/19/09, Lyn Topinka wrote: From: Lyn Topinka Subject: [obol] Bird with red gills ... To: "OBOL" Date: Saturday, September 19, 2009, 6:03 PM hi ... took the dog for a run at the Sandy River Delta this afternoon ... Gene (my fisherman hubby) went with me and he had my binoculars and I had my camera ... not many people there which was good,? but unfortunately not much bird action either ... however we hit one tree where there were 50 or so Cedar Waxwings stripping it clean ...? I was busy snapping pix of Waxwings and red fruit? and Gene was watching the birds thru the binocs ... then he got excited about one he saw ... he described it as "bigger than the Waxwings and smaller than a hawk, and it has RED GILLS" ... he kept pointing high up in a tree and I could see nothing ... meanwhile my brain is trying to translate "red gills" into bird terms ... then I saw a large bird flush, a nice white rump showing, and by gosh and by golly, it had RED GILLS !!!!!!! ... a beautiful male Northern Flicker ... LOL !!!!!! Lyn Vancouver, Washington pointers at pacifier dot com Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090919/2a14356a/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sat Sep 19 22:43:06 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:43:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hampton Warbler - Deschutes county Message-ID: <92C32D5AACB245A6AF5EE31A2D06F7A4@MOM> > Hi birders > Had a possible HOODED WARBLER in the trees in Hampton today > but the wind was blowing pretty hard and the bird didn't hang on there > for long. I was one of 3 birders, but I was the only one to see it. > > Location - town of Hampton some 60 miles east of Bend along > Hwy 20, in the little deciduous trees in the "campground" which > had one motorhome in it. Location is just east of the "main > commercial district" of one building, on the north side of Hwy 20. > > The is the same general location where the team of Low and Dougill > had a Chestnut-sided Warbler last fall NAMC. Trees in the surrounding > area are pretty scarce. > Note that the "Hampton Station" has opened again for services. If you > are on the way to Malheur etc, perhaps stopping in there would > be a good break. > good birding > judy meredith > jmeredit at bendnet.com > From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Sun Sep 20 00:50:15 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (Tom McNamara) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:50:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wheatear age/sex Message-ID: OBOL, Seems to be some divergent opinion on the age and sex of this bird. Excellent! the birding fun goes on after the viewing...........This is a life bird for me so can't claim any prior experience. I suspect most Oregon birders are not going to have an absolute wealth of experience with this one but......who knows Having said that, I am inclining (merely, not staking a rock solid claim) to this being a basic-plumaged adult male. Maybe someone who got some killer photos could post this to Frontiers of ID and get the international view. Anyway, after having viewed this bird at close range in good light (with a bunch of other folks) I saw a bird that looks remarkably like one on pg. 265 of Mullarney, Svensonn et al. "Birds of Europe". The pictured bird is indeed O. oenanthe (top row, 2nd from right). Along with Patrick G, I and others were comparing the live object of our fascination with the pics in the book. (I know last year this field guide in the actual field business occasioned some criticism and I would offer this episode as the almost perfect refutation ----unless an American birder was razor-like up on all field marks of all 14 species of wheatear ....) Other pics I've viewed on Google haven't provided much help for this individual. In any event, a number of OR's notable birders thought that the bird corresponded most closely with the above-cited one. The breast did indeed look buffy unlike the other sex, ages and phases pictured for that subspecies. Those others would, according to this guide, have a much paler/whitish breast. The throat, by the way, was distinctly paler than the breast. Viewed live, the supercilium did not look buffy; it looked whitish. On my computer monitor, the pictures Greg Gillson posted show the supercilium as buffier than I was seeing. The crown and mantle did not look entirely brown or gray, rather these colors appeared mixed and, depending on light angle, seemed to shift to "more gray" or "more brown" The lesser and median coverts appeared almost exactly as depicted in the referenced bird in book---blackish, fringed w/ whitish rather than a more buff-colored appearance that the 1st winter female and imm. male of O. oenanthe sport as well as those on O.leucorhoa. I acknowledge that the pictures Greg took do show a kind of buff "panel" in the folded tertials. I can only say that, again, it didn't look quite this "panely" but instead showed more marked contract in the black and buff feather edging. Whatever. Beautiful bird, beautiful weather to see it, nice birdy frisson amongst the crowd I was with. Thanks to Steve Engle for finding it and getting the word out so quickly. good birding, Tom _________________________________________________________________ Ready for Fall shows? Use Bing to find helpful ratings and reviews on digital tv's. http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?q=digital+tv's&form=MSHNCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHNCB_Vertical_Shopping_DigitalTVs_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/bb5ac398/attachment.html From tayben at teleport.com Sun Sep 20 07:46:59 2009 From: tayben at teleport.com (Martha taylor & Chris Bennett) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 07:46:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swifts in Oregon City Message-ID: If you live in Oregon City and don't have time to make it to Chapman school to see the Swifts. Go to the base of the old Oregon City West Linn Bridge (7th & Main) the building on the SE corner has a good number of swifts using it plus a hungry Sharpie/Coopers. Chris -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/38331570/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Sep 20 07:57:54 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 07:57:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird with red gills ... References: <968119.57596.qm@web37002.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <5748B47188794A8D9BC48B6235A397EC@Warbler> We had better watch it, something like this might get us "hooked" on Flickers. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Subject: Re: [obol] Bird with red gills ... Lyn, this is priceless! Thanks for sharing. I go birding with my "fisherman" partner a lot, but so far he has never attributed gills to a bird. Perhaps we should rename the bird "Red-gilled Flicker" instead of "Red-shafted Flicker" ... has a nice ring to it. Happy fishing and birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Sat, 9/19/09, Lyn Topinka wrote: From: Lyn Topinka Subject: [obol] Bird with red gills ... To: "OBOL" Date: Saturday, September 19, 2009, 6:03 PM hi ... took the dog for a run at the Sandy River Delta this afternoon ... Gene (my fisherman hubby) went with me and he had my binoculars and I had my camera ... not many people there which was good, but unfortunately not much bird action either ... however we hit one tree where there were 50 or so Cedar Waxwings stripping it clean ... I was busy snapping pix of Waxwings and red fruit and Gene was watching the birds thru the binocs ... then he got excited about one he saw ... he described it as "bigger than the Waxwings and smaller than a hawk, and it has RED GILLS" ... he kept pointing high up in a tree and I could see nothing ... meanwhile my brain is trying to translate "red gills" into bird terms ... then I saw a large bird flush, a nice white rump showing, and by gosh and by golly, it had RED GILLS !!!!!!! ... a beautiful male Northern Flicker ... LOL !!!!!! Lyn Vancouver, Washington pointers at pacifier dot com Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/aed00196/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Sep 20 08:04:08 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:04:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] JoCo Varied Thrush arrive Message-ID: <01E81E20C6964BD0B42AF763EE735A79@Warbler> Wouldn't you know it, this morning (09-20-09), the day after our NAMC the VARIED THRUSHES decided to drop in at our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit). That's ok, nice to hear their eerie calls just the same. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/3711b18c/attachment.html From tim at twonets.net Sun Sep 20 08:34:29 2009 From: tim at twonets.net (Tim Haller) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:34:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Smith/Bybee Greater White-fronted Geese and Red-necked Phalaropes Message-ID: <1AE12729622043E1A123E43408D27605@Haller2> I spent yesterday afternoon birding Smith & Bybee Lakes with my Mom, who is visiting from Colorado, via Alaska. In addition to the usual suspects, we found two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and two RED-NECKED PHALAROPES on Bybee Lake (across from the blind on the Marine Dr. side). The geese were mixed in with the Canadas on the far shore. Many thanks to the gentleman who told they were there. The phalaropes were swimming near that same shore. Tim Haller Vancouver, WA tim at twonets dot net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/084cecf5/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sun Sep 20 09:22:49 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:22:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Need ID help Message-ID: <81b2a9930909200922h78719976j4bc856cd2e5e1b14@mail.gmail.com> OBOL, I'd appreciate some input on two species I've photographed out in the field this year. I have a good idea of what both are, but wanted "second opinions" of each. The first is of a warbler taken in Litchfield, CT last week. My guess is that it's a fall plumage BLACKBURNIAN, but I've never seen this species before, so I'm not sure... http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/3937038845_5d0052df0a_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/3937038579_55327183d5_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/3937817392_3d91665fd3_b.jpg The second was taken outside of Sisters back in June. I have tentatively identified it as a stphensi subspecies FOX SPARROW... http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3648098917_458e8859ef_b.jpg Thanks in advance, Brandon Eugene From greg at thebirdguide.com Sun Sep 20 09:51:02 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:51:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sabine's photo Message-ID: <5C48D87A62034FB4B268D2FCF0F9382C@GREG> The Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, Sabine's Gull is still present this morning. I took this photo this morning about 7:30 am. It was in the back little pond near the observation hut. http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/117496730 This is a third Washington County record: http://thebirdguide.com/washington/WashCo_2009.htm Two White Pelicans remain in Cattail Marsh from the 13 that have been present since July (5th county record). http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/117497616 Full list for today is on BirdNotes. I think this link will get you in without a password: http://birdnotes.net/census/list-counts-2.tcl?context_bar=%7b%2fshared%2frecent%2dlists+%7bRecent+data%7d%7d&locale_name=Fernhill+Wetlands%2c+Washington+County%2c+Oregon&d=2009%2d09%2d20&census_id=42249 Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From greg at thebirdguide.com Sun Sep 20 10:01:42 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:01:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Need ID help Message-ID: Brandon, The subspecies of Fox Sparrow in the Sisters area is thought to be fulva, one of the Thick-billed Fox Sparrow races. This is quite similar to megarhyncha in SW Oregon. The stephensi race is nearly resident in southern California (San Bernardino Co. and nearby). See Fox Sparrow pages here: http://thebirdguide.com/fox/fox.htm > The second was taken outside of Sisters back in June. I have > tentatively identified it as a stphensi subspecies FOX SPARROW... > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3648098917_458e8859ef_b.jpg Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Sep 20 10:05:42 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:05:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Need ID help References: <81b2a9930909200922h78719976j4bc856cd2e5e1b14@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Hi Brandon, My two cents (birds) worth. The Warbler appears to be a Black-throated Green to me; let's see what others think on it. The Fox Sparrow appears to be a Thick-billed, at least it look similar to those nesting in the mountain brushfields in the Grants Pass/Cave Junction area. Boy, I'm envious, get to see eastern Warblers, ahhh, Blackburnian Warblers, the males are such beauties, Dennis Subject: [obol] Need ID help > OBOL, > > I'd appreciate some input on two species I've photographed out in the > field this year. I have a good idea of what both are, but wanted > "second opinions" of each. > > The first is of a warbler taken in Litchfield, CT last week. My guess > is that it's a fall plumage BLACKBURNIAN, but I've never seen this > species before, so I'm not sure... > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/3937038845_5d0052df0a_b.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/3937038579_55327183d5_b.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/3937817392_3d91665fd3_b.jpg > > > The second was taken outside of Sisters back in June. I have > tentatively identified it as a stphensi subspecies FOX SPARROW... > > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3648098917_458e8859ef_b.jpg > > > Thanks in advance, > Brandon > Eugene > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From craig at greatskua.com Sun Sep 20 10:22:16 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:22:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Need ID help Message-ID: <20090920102216.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.dd1992f2f3.wbe@email.secureserver.net> Brandon, The warbler in your photos is a black-throated green warbler. A fall blackburnian warbler would have a pale blackish or dark gray auricular patch rather than the greenish auricular patch shown by this bird. The top of the head, nape and back of this bird is green and unmarked with black. A blackburnian warbler would show pale streaking on the back and these areas would appear overall more blackish rather than greenish. The wide black patch on the upper breast, extending toward the throat, is also good for black-throated green, but too extensive for blackburnian warbler. The yellow on this birds face is relatively bright yellow. Even in fall, the color on a blackburnian warblers face tends more to orange than bright yellow. The stephensi subspecies of fox sparrow is limited to south-central California. I have relatively little field experience with the fox sparrows that nest in the Cascades so someone else could better address the subspecific ID of that bird. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] Need ID help > From: Brandon Green > Date: Sun, September 20, 2009 9:22 am > To: OBOL > > > OBOL, > > I'd appreciate some input on two species I've photographed out in the > field this year. I have a good idea of what both are, but wanted > "second opinions" of each. > > The first is of a warbler taken in Litchfield, CT last week. My guess > is that it's a fall plumage BLACKBURNIAN, but I've never seen this > species before, so I'm not sure... > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/3937038845_5d0052df0a_b.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/3937038579_55327183d5_b.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/3937817392_3d91665fd3_b.jpg > > > The second was taken outside of Sisters back in June. I have > tentatively identified it as a stphensi subspecies FOX SPARROW... > > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3648098917_458e8859ef_b.jpg > > > Thanks in advance, > Brandon > Eugene > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From larmcqueen at msn.com Sun Sep 20 10:29:06 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:29:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Need ID help In-Reply-To: <81b2a9930909200922h78719976j4bc856cd2e5e1b14@mail.gmail.com> References: <81b2a9930909200922h78719976j4bc856cd2e5e1b14@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Brandon, The warbler is a female Townsend's. Blackburnian would at least show pale streaks on the back and it would not have the rather heavy, blackish molar patch (at cheek). The other is the "Slate-colored" or "Large-billed" Fox Sparrow - supposed to be megarhyncha, fulva, or an intergrade thereof, in that region. Larry -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Brandon Green Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2009 9:23 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Need ID help OBOL, I'd appreciate some input on two species I've photographed out in the field this year. I have a good idea of what both are, but wanted "second opinions" of each. The first is of a warbler taken in Litchfield, CT last week. My guess is that it's a fall plumage BLACKBURNIAN, but I've never seen this species before, so I'm not sure... http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/3937038845_5d0052df0a_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/3937038579_55327183d5_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/3937817392_3d91665fd3_b.jpg The second was taken outside of Sisters back in June. I have tentatively identified it as a stphensi subspecies FOX SPARROW... http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3648098917_458e8859ef_b.jpg Thanks in advance, Brandon Eugene _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From larmcqueen at msn.com Sun Sep 20 10:32:08 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:32:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Need ID help In-Reply-To: <81b2a9930909200922h78719976j4bc856cd2e5e1b14@mail.gmail.com> References: <81b2a9930909200922h78719976j4bc856cd2e5e1b14@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Brandon, Sorry, I didn't notice the location of the warbler. It is of course, a Black-throated Green. The face appeared too well marked, but the photo enhances that. Larry -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Brandon Green Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2009 9:23 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Need ID help OBOL, I'd appreciate some input on two species I've photographed out in the field this year. I have a good idea of what both are, but wanted "second opinions" of each. The first is of a warbler taken in Litchfield, CT last week. My guess is that it's a fall plumage BLACKBURNIAN, but I've never seen this species before, so I'm not sure... http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/3937038845_5d0052df0a_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/3937038579_55327183d5_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/3937817392_3d91665fd3_b.jpg The second was taken outside of Sisters back in June. I have tentatively identified it as a stphensi subspecies FOX SPARROW... http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3648098917_458e8859ef_b.jpg Thanks in advance, Brandon Eugene _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Sun Sep 20 10:35:26 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:35:26 -0400 Subject: [obol] personal NAMC highlites Message-ID: As a participant yesterday in Columbia County's migration count, I was rather discouraged all morning by the low number of species I was tallying, with rain not being helpful. Vultures added interest by being everywhere nearly all day -- most I saw at one time was 17, my official number. Heading to the nearby hills in late afternoon after a long break, was happy to add RED CROSSBILLS (a NAMC first for me) and a RUFFED GROUSE that flushed. We were surprised by around 200 EVENING GROSBEAKS at the same location. Felt better about the bummer morning. Lona Pierce, Warren _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/73268a55/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Sep 20 10:45:35 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:45:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Clatsop Beach, Sunday 9/20 Thousands of gulls Message-ID: I drove the beach from Sunset Access to Gearhart starting at sunrise. Three large groups of gulls were loafing at the Sunset Access totaling perhaps 2,000 birds. At least 85% were CALIFORNIAS, predominately young birds. The balance were HEERMAN'S with a distinct minority of WESTERNS (probably no more than 1%). 4 adult BROWN PELICANS were in this flock. A mile and a quarter north of Del Rey Access a flock of gulls began that is the biggest single flock I have ever seen. It went on for a mile and a half, with birds evenly spaced between the upper edge of wet sand and the surf. Same species composition, if anything more young CALIFORNIAS. Repeated scanning did not reveal a single G-wing or Ring-bill, let alone anything really surprising. As I proceeded south the reason for the concentration became evident--thousands of dead fish. THey appear to be herring-like, with big scales, small tails, fat bodies, all about 20cm long. The fish became increasingly abundant as I approached Gearhart, forming a windrow at the high tide line, but all feeding activity by the gulls seemed restricted to the north end of the flock, and only in the surf's edge. The majority of birds were sated already. I made no serious attempt to count a sample of the flock and extrapolate. The number of birds may be higher. Alas I had no time to check Little Beach or the Necannicum Estuary, where many more white birds were in evidence on the tide flats (tide was near low at 8am). The beach was noteworthy for a complete absence of terns (Caspian Terns can outnumber gulls in summer). The only shorebirds were Sanderlings, less than twenty for what is probably a six mile drive. A SCRUB JAY flying over the main cross-roads in downtown Gearhart is indicative of how humdrum this once noteworthy species has become on both banks of the Neccanicum. Lars Norgren From namitzr at hotmail.com Sun Sep 20 12:03:23 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:03:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wheatear age/sex Message-ID: A good comparison of vagrant Northern Wheatears seen during September 2009 can be viewed at http://www.surfbirds.com/cgi-bin/gallery/display.cgi?gallery=gallery10 Scroll down after the photos have loaded. Click on the link at the very bottom "Next 12" to view more photos. The adult male wheatears are readily distinguished from the 1st winter male/adult female types. For those who don't know, www.surfbirds.com has current images of rarities being seen around the country (and world). On the upper left portion of the home page under "Photo Galleries", click on "N. American Stop The Press" Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/4979e67e/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Sep 20 12:25:51 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:25:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wheatear age/sex Message-ID: <4AB681BF.2080309@pacifier.com> The Whalon Wheatear is almost certainly a hatch-year bird. We can tell this not by looking at color which is always dicey on computer monitors, but by looking at the pattern and shape of the feathers. Take a look at Greg Gillson very excellent photos and note that the outer primary coverts are pointed rather than blunt, and almost entirely buff-colored (little or no dark centers). The ratio of pale fringe to dark center on the inner coverts strongly favors pale fringe as well. This is a hatch-year trait. Then take a look at the tips of the primaries, also very pointy. An after-hatch-year bird (adult) should show more rounded tips. The hardest to see markers are the rectrices. This bird seems to show center rects that are shorter than the outers. This makes it possible to see that the outer rects are rounded rather than squared off. Rounded (not squared off) outer rects denote a hatch-year bird. As to gender? I suspect, based on the amount of black between the eye and the bill, and the darkness of the centers of the primary coverts that this is probably a male, but the argument for this is much squishier. So, hatch-year almost certainly. Likely male, but not so certainly. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Sep 20 13:07:27 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:07:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Need ID help References: <81b2a9930909200922h78719976j4bc856cd2e5e1b14@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <047FE6901C504715AE3714B05B7FB0F4@Warbler> When I do get to see Black-throated Green Warblers in the east, have noted how easy it would be to call some of the individuals seen Townsend's. ...and afterall, they are pretty closely relate. A Townsend's in the east would really stir things up wouldn't it. Dennis Subject: Re: [obol] Need ID help > Brandon, > > The warbler is a female Townsend's. Blackburnian would at least show pale > streaks on the back and it would not have the rather heavy, blackish molar > patch (at cheek). > > The other is the "Slate-colored" or "Large-billed" Fox Sparrow - supposed > to > be megarhyncha, fulva, or an intergrade thereof, in that region. > > Larry > > -----Original Message----- > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Brandon Green > Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2009 9:23 AM > To: OBOL > Subject: [obol] Need ID help > > OBOL, > > I'd appreciate some input on two species I've photographed out in the > field this year. I have a good idea of what both are, but wanted > "second opinions" of each. > > The first is of a warbler taken in Litchfield, CT last week. My guess > is that it's a fall plumage BLACKBURNIAN, but I've never seen this > species before, so I'm not sure... > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/3937038845_5d0052df0a_b.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/3937038579_55327183d5_b.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/3937817392_3d91665fd3_b.jpg > > > The second was taken outside of Sisters back in June. I have > tentatively identified it as a stphensi subspecies FOX SPARROW... > > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3648098917_458e8859ef_b.jpg > > > Thanks in advance, > Brandon > Eugene From tayben at teleport.com Sun Sep 20 13:30:35 2009 From: tayben at teleport.com (Martha taylor & Chris Bennett) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:30:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] White Pelican's over Westmorland Message-ID: About 1:15pm I looked up, noticed very high up a flock of about 75 White Pelicans catching some thermals then they drifted to the north in a V pattern. Chris -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/2ac209c7/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Sep 20 13:51:56 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:51:56 +0000 Subject: [obol] Need ID help In-Reply-To: <81b2a9930909200922h78719976j4bc856cd2e5e1b14@mail.gmail.com> References: <81b2a9930909200922h78719976j4bc856cd2e5e1b14@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Brandon et al., One of the consistent criticisms of the Natl. Geo. Guides is the over-use of subspecific trinomial labeling in connection to birds that have lots of subspecies. The Birds of North America Online account notes that there are 18 subspecies of Fox Sparrow that are divided into 3 or 4 groupings of birds that are very similar and, in some cases, difficult or impossible to separate in the field. Since it would take too much space to illustrate all of these species, the NGG editors chose to illustrate one or two subspecies that are representative of a particular group. The problem with the editorial choice is that birders look at the NGG and decide that a bird they saw looks most like the labeled subspecies and identify it as that subspecies rather than just identifying it to the subspecific grouping. Within the particular groupings of Fox Sparrow, many of the subspecies can only be separated in the hand. Sibley recognized the problem this style creates, so he opted to use geographic groupings or coloration groupings and eschewed the use of Latin trinomials in labeling his illustrations. In some cases (such as the three subspecies of Short-billed Dowitcher) the subspecies can be separated in the field (some ages), thus illustrations with trinomial labels are both helpful and useful. However, for most species the trinomial labeling leads to either confusion or a false sense of expertise. As an example, I've been looking at Sooty Fox Sparrows in w. Oregon for many decades and I have no idea how to start sorting them at the subspecific level. Finally, if one is going to call a bird certain subspecies, it is important to first understand the geographic distribution of that subspecies. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:22:49 -0700 > From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Need ID help > > OBOL, > > I'd appreciate some input on two species I've photographed out in the > field this year. I have a good idea of what both are, but wanted > "second opinions" of each. > > The first is of a warbler taken in Litchfield, CT last week. My guess > is that it's a fall plumage BLACKBURNIAN, but I've never seen this > species before, so I'm not sure... > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/3937038845_5d0052df0a_b.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/3937038579_55327183d5_b.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/3937817392_3d91665fd3_b.jpg > > > The second was taken outside of Sisters back in June. I have > tentatively identified it as a stphensi subspecies FOX SPARROW... > > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3648098917_458e8859ef_b.jpg > > > Thanks in advance, > Brandon > Eugene > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Ready for Fall shows? Use Bing to find helpful ratings and reviews on digital tv's. http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?q=digital+tv's&form=MSHNCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHNCB_Vertical_Shopping_DigitalTVs_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/b0540ec3/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Sun Sep 20 13:52:40 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:52:40 -0400 Subject: [obol] 8X vs 10X binoculars Message-ID: <8CC084B6DC45A0D-1088-BFBE@webmail-m038.sysops.aol.com> I've recieved a lot of great input on my question about $300 binos. I'm going out looking to see if I can find a pair of Nikon Monarch in the Portland area to try out. But I wonder why everyone recommends the 8 X instead of the 10X? More is better, isn't it? I realize that the "voice of experience" is speaking, so I am listening. I'm just curious why the lower magnification is preferred. Thanks in advance. Johnny Sasko Sandy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/a62898c0/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Sun Sep 20 13:58:27 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:58:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wheatear photos References: <4AB681BF.2080309@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <4E86374BE01B4A8894B49196F8862277@1120639> I have posted ten shots of the Whalon Northern Wheatear. I'm not sure they will help in the age/sex debate, but hopefully someone will find them of use. Tom Crabtree Bend http://picasaweb.google.com/TCBend/NorthernWheatear From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Sep 20 14:11:56 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:11:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wheatear photos In-Reply-To: <4E86374BE01B4A8894B49196F8862277@1120639> Message-ID: Good shots, Tom. I could not manage a flight shot, but put a few onto my photo blog. http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary > From: Tom Crabtree > Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:58:27 -0700 > To: OBOL > Subject: Re: [obol] Wheatear photos > > I have posted ten shots of the Whalon Northern Wheatear. I'm not sure they > will help in the age/sex debate, but hopefully someone will find them of > use. > > Tom Crabtree > Bend > > http://picasaweb.google.com/TCBend/NorthernWheatear > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From tc at empnet.com Sun Sep 20 14:12:48 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:12:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] 8X vs 10X binoculars References: <8CC084B6DC45A0D-1088-BFBE@webmail-m038.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: Johnny -- the 8x are preferred by a lot of birders for two reasons. They let in more light, particularly at dawn, dusk and gloomy Western Oregon days; and they have a greater field of view. This is particularly helpful when trying to find small birds in trees. Here are the specs for the various Monarchs: http://www.nikon.com/products/sportoptics/lineup/binoculars/spec.htm#hunting . The 8 x 36 have a 122 meter field of view at 1000m (400 feet) where as the 10x are 105m (344 feet). The brightness factors aren't as great on the Nikons as they are on some others, 17 to 16, whereas if you were comparing an 8x42 to a 10x42 would be more like 28.1 to 17.6. The one other thing you might look at if you wear glasses is the eye relief. Here the higher number the better. REI should carry the Monarchs. If you have a Sportsman's Warehouse nearby they have a ton of binoculars. Tom Crabtree, Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/f3de8a7a/attachment.html From ac7zg at verizon.net Sun Sep 20 15:17:32 2009 From: ac7zg at verizon.net (Don) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:17:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sabine's Gull still at Fernhill Sunday Message-ID: <31104BCC7EAD46A3BE8F5DF8721A4E5B@SB51G1> Returned to Fernhill Wetlands today to photograph the Sabine's gull after taking John's class yesterday. During the morning hours, it was often patrolling the edges of the Mitagation Ponds - flying over the grasses surrounding at 5-15 feet above the grass. Often landed in the water to grab a small fish. It also walked the shoreline of the nearest right pond - entering the water to take a fish. After 11:00 am, it moved back to the Cattail pond where it stayed until I left. So if its not in the cattail pond - go take a look in the mitigation ponds and watch for it patrolling the pond edges. Don -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/6dd50963/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sun Sep 20 15:20:09 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:20:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Need ID help In-Reply-To: <2b1bbd260909201317y42979eccybdc66663a4e42016@mail.gmail.com> References: <81b2a9930909200922h78719976j4bc856cd2e5e1b14@mail.gmail.com> <047FE6901C504715AE3714B05B7FB0F4@Warbler> <2b1bbd260909201317y42979eccybdc66663a4e42016@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <81b2a9930909201520t2c4ecb23h43dd090fbb26cd7d@mail.gmail.com> Thanks all for your help. I had no idea that there were that many subspecies of Fox Sparrow. Yeesh... -Brandon From pointers at pacifier.com Sun Sep 20 15:20:40 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:20:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] 8X vs 10X binoculars In-Reply-To: References: <8CC084B6DC45A0D-1088-BFBE@webmail-m038.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <20090920222042.87F2D7AC5@smtp3.pacifier.net> hi ... having used both I also found the 10x, with it's smaller field of view and slightly heavier weight (altho weight migh vary with maker), just harder to hold still and actually look at the bird ... I have 2 Monarchs ... the 8x42 and the 8x36 ... the 8x42s I keep in my big camera bag for my tours around Ridgefield NWR ... the 8x36s are my "go everywhere" binocs and the pair my husband grabs ...both pairs are adaptable to people with glasses and those without ... I got mine at GIJoes where they were highly recommended for hunters ... since they are no longer in existence, I would try the other outdoorsy stores ... Amazon use to sell Monarchs too ... Lyn At 02:12 PM 9/20/2009, Tom Crabtree wrote: >Johnny -- the 8x are preferred by a lot of birders for two >reasons. They let in more light, particularly at dawn, dusk and >gloomy Western Oregon days; and they have a greater field of >view. This is particularly helpful when trying to find small birds >in trees. Here are the specs for the various Monarchs: > >http://www.nikon.com/products/sportoptics/lineup/binoculars/spec.htm#hunting >. > >The 8 x 36 have a 122 meter field of view at 1000m (400 feet) where >as the 10x are 105m (344 feet). The brightness factors aren't as >great on the Nikons as they are on some others, 17 to 16, whereas if >you were comparing an 8x42 to a 10x42 would be more like 28.1 to >17.6. The one other thing you might look at if you wear glasses is >the eye relief. Here the higher number the better. > >REI should carry the Monarchs. If you have a Sportsman's Warehouse >nearby they have a ton of binoculars. > >Tom Crabtree, Bend >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Sep 20 16:16:32 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:16:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] 8X vs 10X binoculars References: <8CC084B6DC45A0D-1088-BFBE@webmail-m038.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: Tom pretty much sums up 8x verses 10x. For years I used 10x Leicas. Went to 8x, mostly for the difference in over all weight hanging from your neck. When I first started using 8x (still do) I didn't notice any outstanding difference with 2x less with the majority of the birding I do. The wider field of view is pretty handy for most brush and treed habitat birding. Perhaps with open grassland and ocean viewing 2x might make a little difference, but then a person is really going to want to use a scope with more power in these habitats anyway. I found 8x binos really good in the forests of NY, where you can not see all that far anyway; a lot of close-in birding. Perhaps this will help, Dennis Subject: Re: [obol] 8X vs 10X binoculars Johnny -- the 8x are preferred by a lot of birders for two reasons. They let in more light, particularly at dawn, dusk and gloomy Western Oregon days; and they have a greater field of view. This is particularly helpful when trying to find small birds in trees. Here are the specs for the various Monarchs: http://www.nikon.com/products/sportoptics/lineup/binoculars/spec.htm#hunting . The 8 x 36 have a 122 meter field of view at 1000m (400 feet) where as the 10x are 105m (344 feet). The brightness factors aren't as great on the Nikons as they are on some others, 17 to 16, whereas if you were comparing an 8x42 to a 10x42 would be more like 28.1 to 17.6. The one other thing you might look at if you wear glasses is the eye relief. Here the higher number the better. REI should carry the Monarchs. If you have a Sportsman's Warehouse nearby they have a ton of binoculars. Tom Crabtree, Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/dc41c69e/attachment.html From tanager at nu-world.com Sun Sep 20 16:27:52 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:27:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] more N Wheatear pics Message-ID: <006401ca3a49$f9ed69f0$edc83dd0$@com> Hi Obol- Here are a few more shots of the Sand Lake Wheatear. Just for interest, I included 3 shots from the Iberian peninsula in Fall 2007. http://picasaweb.google.com/aheyerly/NorthernWheatear?authkey=Gv1sRgCKP4v5ra hNS9LA &feat=directlink Anne Heyerly Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/e2b1ecf2/attachment.html From tanager at nu-world.com Sun Sep 20 16:54:06 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:54:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] No. Wheatear flight shot Message-ID: <007c01ca3a4d$a42436d0$ec6ca470$@com> On Friday when Anne took the series of photos of the wheatear in flight (it was on the other side of the bridge and she was in the freebie parking lot west of the bridge) I thought it was too far away so I said somewhat sarcastically, "You have got to be kidding me?" I guess she wasn't kidding. One turned out really well. "Not bad", if I don't say so myself! Check out her Picasa link. Dan Heyerly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/38384588/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Sep 20 17:24:25 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:24:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wheatear subspecies Message-ID: <4AB6C7B9.2050508@pacifier.com> Since we're getting into the picture comparison stage of the discussion, it may be useful to point out that there are four generally recognized subspecies of Northern Wheatear. The subspecies presumed to vagrate to the West Coast is _C.o.oenanthe_ and the subspecies that most probably turns up on the East Coast is _C.o.leucorhoa_. One may get the wrong impression of some features by comparing birds photographed in Europe or the East Coast of North America, as _oenanthe_ averages paler and grayer than _leucorhoa_ The photos posted by the Heyerly's from Spain are most probably of a third subspecies, _O. o. libanotica_ which is closer to _leucorhoa_ in appearance than _oenanthe_. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From smithdwd at hotmail.com Sun Sep 20 18:11:35 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:11:35 +0000 Subject: [obol] Sabine's Gull, others, 3pm yes Message-ID: At 3pm the Sabine's Gull was flying between the main pond and small pond near the kiosk next to the mitigation pond(not visible there). Also seen were 2 AWPelicans, a juv GRHeron and 4 adult sightings(? actually how many); no "Weedeater"! David Smith _________________________________________________________________ More than messages?check out the rest of the Windows Live?. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090921/bf10fa40/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sun Sep 20 19:16:33 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:16:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wheatear age/sex References: Message-ID: A word of caution: The vagrant Wheatears in the east are very likely a different subspecitrs than the Whalen Island bird, as we need to be careful about generalizing from them. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: Russ Namitz To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2009 12:03 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Wheatear age/sex A good comparison of vagrant Northern Wheatears seen during September 2009 can be viewed at http://www.surfbirds.com/cgi-bin/gallery/display.cgi?gallery=gallery10 Scroll down after the photos have loaded. Click on the link at the very bottom "Next 12" to view more photos. The adult male wheatears are readily distinguished from the 1st winter male/adult female types. For those who don't know, www.surfbirds.com has current images of rarities being seen around the country (and world). On the upper left portion of the home page under "Photo Galleries", click on "N. American Stop The Press" Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/cb865d4a/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sun Sep 20 19:31:56 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:31:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: This morning (20 september) I watched the ocean at Boiler Bay from 7:40 to 8:50. The sky was clear, little breeze. Initially the ocean had a little chop, but it settled down closer to glassy by the end. A rip less than 1/2 mile offshore attracted a lot of birds, including 100+ Sooty Shearwaters, some Pelicans, many Murres, Heermann's Gulls, and cormorants. Pacific Loon 60 mainly south Red-throated Loon 1 Breeding plumage Sooty Shearwater 800 Brown Pelican 120 Double-crested Cormorant 700 big flocks N early Pelagic Cormorant 45 Brandt's Cormorant 35 White-winged Scoter 400 flocks both directions Surf Scoter 1200 mainly southbound Heermann's Gull 450 mainly following Pelicans Western Gull 120 Glaucous-winged Gull 85 California Gull 250 Common Murre 650 Pigeon Guillemot 4 Marbled Murrelet 9 all in basic plumage Rhinoceros Auklet 8 Barn Swallow 4 Savannah Sparrow 2 Gray Whale 1 Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/14668382/attachment.html From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Sun Sep 20 20:21:06 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:21:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Green Ridge Broad-wing Message-ID: Day two , Sun. 9/20 turned out to be the opposite of Sat. The first 5 hours were slow with 2-10 birds per hour. The birds were high and mostly flying down the east side of the ridge. Things picked up at 3 with a kettle of TVs and more Sharpies. After 4 we had a couple more kettles of TVs plus more sharpies. Then we started watching an odd looking Red-tail close to a red-tailed Red-tail. When I got the scope on the first bird it gave me a great view of the large white tail band and no dark mark on wing leading edge. It was also smaller than the red-tail. It was a Broad-winged Hawk. We had up to 9 observers under clear skies with light to mod. winds from varied directions. We counted an even 100 birds passing by as follows: Turkey Vulture 63 Osprey 1 Bald Eagle 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 16 Cooper's Hawk 6 Red-tailed Hawk 6 Broad-winged Hawk 1 Golden Eagle 1 Unid. Raptor 1 Unid Accipiter 4 It was a great day on the mountain kim Boddie Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/28f21a66/attachment.html From hatlevis at comcast.net Sun Sep 20 20:35:34 2009 From: hatlevis at comcast.net (Susan Hatlevig) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:35:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pacific Coast Trail hike-Mt Bluebirds & Black-backed woodpecker Message-ID: <1A03D1A0B647465399B3510B522C938E@homeflydmyur2h> Hi all, On a whim our botanist neighbor swept us into her car and off to the PCT above the Santiam Pass-in the B&B Burn area. I've never been on the trail there, and it's quite stunning and shocking to see such devastation. However, things are growing back slowly. Bright sunny, blue skies contrasting with the stark trees was eerily beautiful. We were checking out the plants and took a rest by a small pond to have a bite to eat. Hadn't been much bird activity-but we did see and hear ravens overhead. At the pond some chipping sparrows moved in to bathe-very cute. A few red-breasted nuthatches and a yellow-rumped warbler showed up. Then to our surprise a pair (m & f) of mountain bluebirds flew in and hung around. The sun was on them so their color was gorgeous. That was a treat! A bit further up the trail we noticed a very industrious woodpecker blasting bark off a tree that still had some left. The bird was in the shadows so it was at first difficult to make out-but I was again surprised to see that it was a black-backed woodpecker. Both my husband and I distinctly saw the yellow on top of its head and all other markings were correct. First time for him to see these birds. I saw a black-backed woodpecker on top of "M" mountain in Boseman many years ago now and haven't seen mountain bluebirds for 30 years. Not enough birding, eh? That's what graduate school does to you.anyway, it was a great day. Susie in Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/fec18ccb/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Sun Sep 20 21:13:06 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:13:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands: Sabine's Gull, Night Herons, Crane, etc. Message-ID: The previously reported juvenile plumage SABINE'S GULL at Fernhill Wetlands in Forest Grove provided many excellent views -- in flight, on the ground, and in the water -- from 3:30 or so until about 5:00 p.m. this evening. I last saw it heading to the far ponds in the E/SE portion of the complex, where the 2 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were. In addition, the following birds of local interest were present: GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE -- 1 in a back pond in the E/SE portion of the property TUNDRA SWAN -- 1 not far from the GW Goose; presumably the same one reported by Greg Gillson on 8/1 and Steve Nord on 8/31 GREEN HERON -- at least 3 immatures (observed all at once) and 1-2 adults BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS -- 3-4 adults and 2 immatures; flushed from the trees east of the southernmost trail in the SE corner SANDHILL CRANE -- 1 flew over and landed in the field next to the extreme SE portion of the property I put some photos of the SABINE'S GULL on the web at: www.westerngrebe.com/SAGU Scott Carpenter Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/172ab311/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Sep 20 22:01:41 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:01:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Wigeon at Krumbo Message-ID: <3A62CDA150BF445E9B48A760EB42841D@cgatesPC> Tim Rodenkirk called to report a male Eurasian Wigeon in basic plumage at Krumbo Reservoir Saturday. We were able to see the bird today. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/1d057bcd/attachment.html From rarebirdart at verizon.net Sun Sep 20 22:09:08 2009 From: rarebirdart at verizon.net (Lois Miller) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:09:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Cape Blanco this morning Message-ID: <315574.7913.qm@web84205.mail.re3.yahoo.com> I went out to Cape Blanco Lighthouse early this morning and as I was driving up to the parking area I got just a glimpse of a bird.......really far away though....appearing to be gliding along the edge of the cliffs ....NO WAY !!!? I'm not anywhere near Costa Rica......but another glimpse for a split second as it again appeared and dropped back out of sight......Oh holy ****? big and bright RED......all that kept coming to mind was Scarlet Macaw ....as I finally got to the parking area and stopped it got closer.....never even thought before.....a darn remote control airplane??? bright red and just the right size? :)?? I hope everyone had a good weekend ! Lois Miller Port Orford -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/c8682602/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Sep 20 22:28:33 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:28:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Harney NAMC highlights Message-ID: <872E3D68EC514BB0A2AAD251CFC973C8@cgatesPC> I just returned from the NAMC in Harney County. I was joined by Kim Owen and David Schas. We found 104 species. Water levels are very low and bird totals paralleled that. Headquarters and Benson Pond were nearly devoid of birds. We did find some goodies elsewhere though: 3 Greater White-fronted Geese - Chickahominy Res. 1 Wood Duck - Buena Vista 1 Eurasian Wigeon - Krumbo 1 Common Goldeneye - Burns Sewage Ponds 1 Western Grebe - Krumbo 1 Osprey - Krumbo 47 Collared-Dove - Burns (we could have found many more had we wanted to spend the time) 1 N. Pygmy-Owl - 41 Road 1 Lewis's Woodpecker - Near Page Springs 1 Williamson's Sapsucker - 41 Road 2 White-headed Woodpeckers - 41 Road 2 Loggerhead Shrike - Between Headquarters and Princeton 1 Horned Lark - Chickahominy 1 YELLOW WARBLER - There have been years when I swear there were a million of these on CPR. We had to work hard to find one. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/d28ccd6e/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Sep 20 22:41:00 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:41:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook NAMC results Message-ID: Several of us did the Crook County NAMC on Saturday. The overcast skies made for a comfortable day of birding. We tallied 112 species and there is another group that has not yet reported. Our crew consisted of Larry (his last name is not coming to me right now), Kim Owen, David Schas, JoAnne Bernt, and Peter Low. Our best birds included: 2 Trumpeter Swans - Gutierrez Ranch 37 Wild Turkey - Maury Mnts 4 Clark's Grebes - Prineville Res. 2 Great Egret - (hard to find in Crook) Houston Lake 3 American Bittern - Houston Lake 2 Ring-necked Pheasant 1 Merlin - Crooked River 67 Sandhill Cranes - Gutierrez Ranch 2 Baird's Sandpipers - Prineville Res. 1 Sanderling - Prineville Res. 2 Pectoral Sandpipers - Prineville Sewage Ponds 19 Collared-Dove - Prineville 3 Barn Owls - Prineville 2 N. Pygmy-Owls - Maury Mnts 190 Pinyon Jays - North Shore Road 1 Bank Swallow - Houston Lake 1 Cliff Swallow - Crooked River 1 House Wren - North Shore Road 1 Sage Thrasher - Paulina 1 Lincoln Sparrow - Crooked River 1 Lark Sparrow - Gutierrez Ranch Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/7ecb8dee/attachment.html From carolk at viclink.com Sun Sep 20 23:23:28 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:23:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] 75 Townsend's Solitaires, 148 Mt. Bluebirds Message-ID: <000701ca3a84$2a5b48c0$8c76fea9@home> OBOL: Highlights of the Wheeler county North American Migration Count (NAMC) were 75 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES and 148 MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS (low estimates,both). We also found a CLARK'S NUTCRACKER, a WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER, PILEATED WOODPECKER & 2 WINTER WRENS at Barnhouse Spring c.g., SE of Mitchell, and 3 E. Collared-doves at Fossil. We found a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE & the usual Barn Owl & Osprey east of Spray. Other good finds of the weekend came in adjacent counties: At the Condon Sewage Pond a GREATER YELLOWLEGS was a county first for us in Gilliam county, today. At Vanora (DeLorme p. 57 BC7, AKA Pelton Dam viewpoint, AKA Dizney Ln) on Sept. 19 we found 20 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, a dark-phase SNOW GOOSE, a CLARK'S GREBE, which were county firsts in Jefferson county. Then 2 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES north of Madras were also county firsts . Good birding, everyone, Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen From grantandstacy17 at gmail.com Mon Sep 21 06:09:06 2009 From: grantandstacy17 at gmail.com (Grant Canterbury) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:09:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] White-fronted Geese over N Portland Message-ID: One vocal flock flying over about 10 PM Sunday night, heard through our open bedroom window. Also several dozen Swainson's thrushes moving about the same time. From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Sep 21 06:14:15 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:14:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Polk County NAMC highlights & lowlights Message-ID: <1253538855.3414.46.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, With numbers in from three volunteers so far, here are some preliminary highlights from Sunday's migration count in Polk County. Abbreviations are: BSNWR = Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge & vicinity (covered by Bill Tice); LSNA = Luckiamute State Natural Area (Polk Co. portions birded by Howard Bruner). Gerlinger County Park and Gerlinger State Forest are a few miles above (west of) Falls City along Black Rock Rd. RECENT ARRIVALS: Gadwall 2 at BSNWR (or did they summer there?) Northern Pintail 2 at BSNWR Green-winged Teal 50 at BSNWR Lesser Scaup 1 at BSNWR Merlin 1 at LSNA American Pipit 20 at BSNWR Lincoln's Sparrow 2 Golden-crowned Sparrow 4 LINGERING BIRDS: Osprey 1 still at LSNA Pacific-slope Flycatcher 1 heard near Gerlinger State Forest Western Wood-Pewee 1 at LSNA House Wren 2 one apiece at BSNWR and LSNA Swainson's Thrush 5 scattered individuals Orange-crowned Warbler 7 all at LSNA Common Yellowthroat 20 mainly at LSNA & BSNWR Wilson's Warbler 1 at LSNA Western Tanager 1 near Gerlinger State Forest Black-headed Grosbeak 1 heard a few miles west of Monmouth HARD TO FIND: Red-shouldered Hawk 2 one apiece at BSNWR and LSNA Western Meadowlark 3 at BSNWR (maybe part of nesting population) UNUSUAL LOCATION: Northern Pygmy-Owl 1 at LSNA (first record there that I know of) BIG NUMBERS: Turkey Vulture 58 all over the place Western Scrub-Jay 69 Polk Co. has them! Common Raven 34 incl. 30 in a single field near Suver Cliff Swallow 100 Platt dairy pond near Buena Vista Violet-green Swallow 2282 incl. 1500 over Platt dairy pond Barn Swallow 1210 half of them around Platt dairy pond American Goldfinch 762 incl. 650 along Stapleton Rd. SHOREBIRD ROUNDUP: Killdeer 12 various locations Greater Yellowlegs 5 at BSNWR Western Sandpiper 30 at BSNWR Least Sandpiper 16 at BSNWR Long-billed Dowitcher 41 at BSNWR EXOTICS: Eurasian Collared-Dove 1 near BSNWR (maybe in Dallas?) Rock Pigeon 2 Platt dairy near Buena Vista (no doubt there were more there but I tried not to look too hard). European Starling 610 mostly at BSNWR and Platt dairy Brown-headed Cowbird 200 at Platt dairy, low estimate House Finch 250 mainly Platt dairy and Stapleton Rd. House Sparrow 137 mainly at Platt dairy, plus a few in towns. JUST GENERALLY FUN TO SEE: American Dipper 1 swimming and diving in creek near Gerlinger County Park Pileated Woodpecker 3 including a pair at Gerlinger Co. Park. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Sep 21 07:28:16 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 07:28:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] [birding] Polk County NAMC highlights & lowlights Message-ID: <1253543296.3414.87.camel@clearwater> Sorry, a correction here: The one WESTERN TANAGER recorded on yesterday's Polk. Co. migration count was in the patch of riparian habitat where the Luckiamute River crosses the Corvallis-Independence Hwy, not in the Gerlinger area west of Falls City. There were not many neotropical passerines left in the western half of Polk County, so far as I could get into the Coast Range (which was not very far, due to the profusion of gates). The PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER was the one exception, and he seemed to think that it was still breeding season (giving male position notes). Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From glenn_rie at yahoo.com Mon Sep 21 09:01:35 2009 From: glenn_rie at yahoo.com (Rie Luft) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:01:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Seeking Mountain Quail, Gray Partridge Message-ID: <825742.78610.qm@web112216.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Hi, Obolers, If anyone has good locations for either the Mountain Quail or Gray Partridge, I would greatly appreciate your letting me know at my email.? A friend is coming into town next week; he's? the head of the Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma and is giving several lectures here at a conference.? Has one day free to bird with us so would really like to get a life bird for him, if possible.? Thanks for your help! Rie Luft, Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090921/6ac937b2/attachment.html From dhewitt37 at gmail.com Mon Sep 21 09:22:34 2009 From: dhewitt37 at gmail.com (David Hewitt) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:22:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Klamath NAMC, Klamath Falls -- Black-throated Gray Warbler et al. Message-ID: <653eaf880909210922v4112f734wa031b5e8f94f85be@mail.gmail.com> On Saturday morning I ran a local route in Klamath Falls to contribute to the Klamath Co. NAMC. [I imagine Kevin Spencer will post a full county report to OBOL once the reports are all in.] Although I was technically "in town," I hit three good spots near the northwest corner along Upper Klamath Lake and was treated to one of the best mornings of birding I've had in my 1.4 years in Oregon. Birds were everywhere and the weather was awesome. Full list from eBird is below and the sites are described here: http://www.klamathbirdingtrails.com/sites/29putnam.shtml I started at Putnam's Point counting the water-associated birds and checking for warblers in the riparian trees. The only real highlight was a lone Wilson's Warbler and the gobs of Western and Clark's Grebes. Next stop was the waterfront area of Moore Park. Highlights were the pile of Am. White Pelicans mowing down juvenile fish in the boat launch, two Spotted Sandpipers, both Orange-crowned and Yellow Warblers, and a Lincoln's Sparrow. Next I hiked the road-trail in Moore Park, including the loop up around the hilltop on the west side. Along this hilltop loop, I found the best birds of the morning. The overwhelming highlight for me was a lifer Black-throated Gray Warbler. It was in the same tree as a Townsend's Warbler. In this same area I found a number of White-crowned Sparrows, a lone Golden-crowned Sparrow, 2 Warbling Vireos, and 3 Townsend's Solitaires. I finished by hiking over the hill that forms the east side of the park and down the slope onto the Link River Trail, ending back at Putnam's Point. Nothing unexpected along the river, but I did see a tagged White Pelican on the rock reef above the Link River dam. The tag was a red plastic square on the middle of the back, number 796. If anyone knows who to report this to, please let me know. All in all, an awesome morning. I reflected on some odd misses that I really expected to get (e.g., Green Heron, Snowy Egret, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Caspian Tern) and realized that this could have been a 70-species morning just out my front door. Not bad. Location: Putnam's Point/Moore Park/Link River Trail Observation date: 9/19/09 (0730-1130) Number of species: 63 Distance: 4 miles, all walking Elevation: ca. 4200 feet Mallard 40 Hooded Merganser 4 Common Merganser 74 Ruddy Duck 2 California Quail 3 Pied-billed Grebe 2 Western Grebe 24 Clark's Grebe 31 Western/Clark's Grebe 105 too far to identify to species American White Pelican 117 Double-crested Cormorant 34 Great Blue Heron 1 Great Egret 15 Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 Turkey Vulture 71 Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Coot 24 Killdeer 7 Spotted Sandpiper 2 Greater Yellowlegs 8 Ring-billed Gull 57 California Gull 2 Rock Pigeon 3 Mourning Dove 2 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-breasted Sapsucker 4 Downy Woodpecker 3 Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 3 Warbling Vireo 2 Steller's Jay 5 Western Scrub-Jay 15 Black-billed Magpie 4 Tree Swallow 45 Cliff Swallow 12 Barn Swallow 50 Mountain Chickadee 13 Oak/Juniper Titmouse 3 Bushtit 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 3 Brown Creeper 1 Bewick's Wren 2 Townsend's Solitaire 3 American Robin 106 European Starling 58 Cedar Waxwing 13 Orange-crowned Warbler 3 Yellow Warbler 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 108 Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 Townsend's Warbler 1 Wilson's Warbler 1 Spotted Towhee 5 Savannah Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 2 Lincoln's Sparrow 2 White-crowned Sparrow 18 Golden-crowned Sparrow 1 Red-winged Blackbird 8 Brewer's Blackbird 30 House Finch 4 Lesser Goldfinch 5 American Goldfinch 3 House Sparrow 17 This report was generated automatically by eBird (http://ebird.org/Klamath-Siskiyou) -- Dave Hewitt Klamath Falls From marciafcutler at comcast.net Mon Sep 21 10:51:03 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:51:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Benton Co. NAMC results summary Message-ID: <755486C5-EF2F-482E-9FC9-DBA8BB0A80CA@comcast.net> The preliminary species total for Benton Co. NAMC which was held on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009 is 113 species. The day started off damp with counters running into heavy drizzle during the morning hours. Clearing skies raised hopes for better birding in the afternoon, but strong cold winds may have kept birds down. While the county was birded from north to south, areas west of Bellfountain Rd. were not covered - in other words, little mountain or coastal range birding was done. Noteworthy are the debut of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES (5) to the tally and a rare (audio) appearance by a RUFFED GROUSE at Peavy Arboretum. Here are some highlights: Redhead - 2 at Philomath Sewage Ponds (PSP) Common Merganser - 6 where the Long Tom meets the Willamette River Eared Grebe - 2 PSP White Pelican - at least 33 at Cabell Marsh, Finley NWR (FNWR) Double-crested Cormorant - 1 FNWR Black-crowned Night-Heron - 1 immature FNWR Osprey - 2 (Adair ODF&W pond, Willamette Park) White-tailed Kite - 1 FNWR Bald Eagle - 2 Red-shoulder Hawk - 5 Merlin -1 EE Wilson (EEW) Peregrine Falcon - 1 FNWR and a possible second one observed during the football game at Reser Stadium Greater Yellowlegs - 7 FNWR EEW Western Sandpiper - 10 FNWR & EEW Least Sandpiper - 9 FNWR & EEW Pectoral Sandpiper - 2 FNWR & PSP Long-billed Dowitchers - 57 FNWR and 1 at PSP Red-necked Phalaropes - 17 PSP and 1 at FNWR Purple Martin - 1 FNWR Cliff Swallow - 3 FNWR Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2 Swainson's Thrush - 26 Wrentit - 4 EEW & FNWR American Pipit - 42 FNWR Orange-crowned Warbler - 2 Yellow Warbler - 1 Black-throated Gray Warbler - 6 Townsend's Warbler - 1 Common Yellowthroat - 55 Wilson's Warbler - 1 Yellow-breasted Chat - 1 EEW Western Tanager - 7 Chipping Sparrow - 1 Lincoln Sparrow - 19 Golden-crowned Sparrow - 16 EEW Black-headed Grosbeak - 1 Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 Evening Grosbeak - 7 I also saw a probable PRAIRIE FALCON on Rifle Range Rd a bit south of the Rifle Range facility. However, this was during one of those periods of heavy drizzle and I wasn't able to confirm the ID. Lowlights include a bad miss - Chestnut-backed Chickadee, and a good miss - House Sparrow. I'd like to conclude with an interesting observation of Vaux's Swift behavior by Susan Brown, The highlight was watching Vaux Swifts at the chimney behind Wiegand Hall at 30th and Campus Way. It was just before the rain began [which she said was 7:10 a.m.] and it appeared they were gathering and swirling "down" into the chimney. When I first saw them, there were about 50, but more kept arriving and when I left to continue my walk west, there were at least several hundred in view, with many having already gone in. I was questioning the gathering into the chimney in the morning, but I watched carefully, and was fully convinced they were going in. Might they have been seeking shelter before the rain? Marcia F. Cutler Corvallis From lbviman at blackfoot.net Mon Sep 21 12:41:10 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:41:10 -0600 Subject: [obol] 8x v 10x binoculars Message-ID: <20090921193630.1CC029B024E@mail.blackfoot.net> I'd consider looking at SWIFT 8.5 x 44 in rubber armored (and possibly ED) version - both of which are waterproof. The latter (parentheses) is a little more in price than "original" Nikon 10x Monarch, but ALL Swift binos in that power have the added advantage of a MUCH greater field of view (430 feet/1000yards vs 330ft) - unless one is talking the NEW Monarchs which are MORE expensive than the Swifts and still offer less field of view [360 ft]. ONLY Nikon advantage I see is closer focus and/or camo, but if you are THAT close to a bird, you probably don't need the binocular! When looking at birds relatively close, 30 feet or so, WIDEST angle possible helps a great deal if the bird suddenly moves 6 feet. Also, divide power INTO objective lens (44 / 8.5, for instance, versus 42 / 10) and you get MUCH greater light transmitted to your tired eyes (5.1 mm exit pupil versus 4.2 mm, which means 20% more light with the Swift). Exit pupil is VERY important in shade or other low-light situations, AND depending on age of the birder, as it is the diameter of the light going to the eye that determines how bright an image appears: at age 50, one's pupils tend NOT to dilate past about 5.0 mm diameter, while at age 20 they might be 7.0 mm - hence use of 7 x 50 or comparable binoculars by the Navy, since its personnel using such things tend to be about 20 years of age and have much better visual acuity. But for us fossils, we need some thing that will be appropriate for us -- any exit pupil diameter that EXCEEDS what our eyes open to, is wasted light. In other words, of little or no value. I have NO financial stake in any product I mention. I HAVE owned 4 of the Swift 8.5x44 (broke my first pair 26 years ago, gave one away @ decade ago, and still use 2, one each waterproof/armored for outdoors, and a non-waterproof one for through the window viewing of feeders). Swift 8.5x close-focus to about 13 feet, versus 8 feet for the Nikon. MOST people do NOT get within 30 feet of birds they are observing, and many are in shade. I would prefer better light transmission over close focus ANY day of the year. Final consideration, Swift "older style" [porro prism], while slightly heavier and perhaps bulkier, allow objective lenses to "see around" leaves and other objects that might not be close enough together to allow Monarch style [roof prism] to see around -- I have tested this, naked eyes versus bino, and not seen nest or bird through leaves with naked eye, but seen them when my Swifts gave that advantage. Sorry this was so long-winded. Good luck with what ever you decide to buy - Jim Greaves, MT From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Sep 21 12:45:54 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:45:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Female hummer identification Message-ID: While at Malheur recently, I encountered two femalic Archilochus hummers that differed in subtle ways. See the photo sets labeled Hummer No. 1 and Hummer No 2 on my photo blog. I would appreciate any insights into whether both are Black-chins or whether No. 1 could be a Ruby-throated. See text below photos of Hummer No. 1 for additional info. http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From celata at pacifier.com Mon Sep 21 13:21:29 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:21:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Female hummer identification Message-ID: <4AB7E049.6080201@pacifier.com> I think the differences you're seeing may be age related. Bird #1 looks to be a hatch-year individual. HY birds should show buffy tips to the coverts and tertials and the second photo down shows these well. Bird #2 does not show any of this buffiness and is likely an AHY female. The reason why this matters is that the shape of the primaries is different in HY birds when compared to adults. And if you look closely at P6 on each individual, you can see that Bird#2 has a sharper corners to the feather shape than Bird#1 consistent with the speculation about ages. Both birds show the broad tip to p10 which is consistent with Black-chinned. So, my best spin is 1 AHY female, 1 HY female, both Black-chinned. But I'm willing to be talked out of it... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From dan at heyerly.com Mon Sep 21 13:31:46 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Daniel d.Heyerly) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:31:46 -0400 Subject: [obol] Lane Co. LEWIS'S WOODPECKER 9/21/2009 Message-ID: This morning at approximately 10:30am two Lewis's Woodpeckers flew north along a ridge line approximately ? mile SSW of the intersection of Pine Grove Rd. and Crow Rd. in Lane County (this general area is approximately five miles SW of the boundary of the City of Eugene). I was on private land and cannot be any more specific than that, although the north-south ridgeline was a mix of Oak and Douglas Fir and would be visible from Pine Grove Rd. if one was looking. Good birding, Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090921/090b53f9/attachment.html From dan at heyerly.com Mon Sep 21 13:39:07 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Daniel d.Heyerly) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:39:07 -0400 Subject: [obol] Lewis's Woodpecker message clarification Message-ID: If you, like I, read OBOL messages via Siler's website as opposed to receiving all of the e-mails from obol, you are probably scratching your head wondering how far SSW of the Pine Grove Rd./Crow Rd. intersection I saw these birds. I saw them approximately one-quarter mile SSW of the intersections of those two roads. Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090921/fec7a785/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon Sep 21 14:11:15 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:11:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Farewell Bend Sewer Ponds? Message-ID: <87F1C140D2884FAB8625143037F78541@cgatesPC> Using Google Earth, I see that there are a set of sewer ponds about a half mile SE of Farewell Bend Park. This is in the extreme NE corner of Malheur County. Has anyone tried to visit these ponds? They are less than a half mile from the Snake River so they may be very productive. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090921/fd63b72c/attachment.html From tlove at linfield.edu Mon Sep 21 14:30:48 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:30:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] speaking of sewer ponds Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F121A163ECA@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> I was at my son's X-C meet Saturday at WOU. Afterward I thought I'd duck into the Monmouth and Independence sewage ponds, which have been very productive in the past. I was surprised to find them not just locked (it was Saturday after all), but seemingly off limits to all access anytime. I vaguely recall some notice of this, but I'm clearly out of the loop. What's the current status with birder access to either of these renowned sewage ponds? Tom Love tlove AT linfield DOT edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090921/5500599a/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Mon Sep 21 14:29:43 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:29:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Female hummer identification In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <5705FD95D9A4415FA076E5B6DB387B09@102889> Alan, I don't think either of these birds is a female Ruby-throat. Here are the reasons: Tail: RTH would have a deeply notched tail that would be obvious in your first photo of bird #1. Lores: RTH has dark lores, your bird's seem to be a pale buff in color. Crown: RTH has a bright green crown; the one you show is a light greenish buff color. Throat pattern: RTH should have very fine streaks across the throat. Your bird has mainly a clean throat. Bill: The bill on both of your birds is fairly long and slightly down curved. RTH has a short, straight bill. Wing shape: RTH has a distinctive wing shape. The outer primaries are very narrow. The shape of the folded wing has an appearance similar to a steak knife. The outer primaries on the birds you photographed are quite broad and rounded. For comparison purposes, here are photos I took of the Keno Ruby-throated Hummingbird (which Rich Hoyer helped confirm)last September http://picasaweb.google.com/TCBend/KenoHummer# . There is a very good article by Donna L. Dittmann & Steven W. Cardiff published by Louisiana Ornithological Society that goes into fine detail (with helpful illustrations) on how to separate Archilochus- type hummers. It's available online at: http://losbird.org/los_news_188_99nov2.htm#7 another good article by the same authors on separating Selasphorus-type hummers at: http://losbird.org/los_news_189_00feb2.htm Both highly recommended. Tom Crabtree Bend, OR -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Alan Contreras Sent: Monday, September 21, 2009 11:46 AM To: obol; gaybird Cc: Rich Hoyer; Sean Fitzgerald Subject: [obol] Female hummer identification While at Malheur recently, I encountered two femalic Archilochus hummers that differed in subtle ways. See the photo sets labeled Hummer No. 1 and Hummer No 2 on my photo blog. I would appreciate any insights into whether both are Black-chins or whether No. 1 could be a Ruby-throated. See text below photos of Hummer No. 1 for additional info. http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ - Bird Photos & News -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From andy.frank at kp.org Mon Sep 21 14:32:19 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:32:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Smith-Bybee today, and Vaux Swifst last night Message-ID: <2DFBB266FC5849969DDAEE51274A8A1C@familyroom> It's remarkable what a difference a few days can make. On 9/13 there were only 30 GREAT EGRETS at Smith-Bybee, on Friday 105, whereas today there were 339 (209 on Smith, 130 Bybee). Also quite the difference with shorebirds. On Friday I saw 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES and no other shorebirds. None. Today, there were 134 distant DOWITCHERS (presumably all Long-billed), a flock of distant peeps that appeared to be mostly LEAST with a few WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and 1 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. Also lots of BARN SWALLOWS (the first 20 I looked at closely were all Barn and so I stopped looking after that) and lots of VAUX SWIFTS. And speaking of Swifts, last night someone estimated 6000-7000 VAUX SWIFTS at the Chapman School chimney, and I estimated about 3000 spectators. It looks like numbers (of birds) will be significantly less than last year. Andy Frank From lesliemeserve at comcast.net Mon Sep 21 15:24:45 2009 From: lesliemeserve at comcast.net (Meserve) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:24:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sabine's Gull still at Fernhill 10:30-noon Monday Message-ID: <0407D94C3F184BECA8DADA4450B0A1B8@LMPC> Hello, The Sabine's Gull was in Cattail Marsh - mostly around a stump in the pond sharing space with a Great Egret. 2 California Gulls were nearby. Very good views close by, & nice looks when it flew around. Leslie Meserve Washington County, Oregon From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Mon Sep 21 15:34:27 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (Denise Hughes) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:34:27 -0600 Subject: [obol] Malheur County NAMC Message-ID: <464db1a10909211534m6083fb66y7bb770868ea130a@mail.gmail.com> There were only two of us counting in Malheur County on Saturday so we headed for the southern part of the county. Our route took us through Succor Creek State Park, Antelope Reservoir, Cow Lakes and the Jorday Valley area. The only shorebirds of the day were White faced Ibis and Killdeer. Waterfowl species included: Northern Pintail, Canvasback, Northern Shoveler, American Coots and Canada Geese. White crowned Sparrows have returned to the area so winter must be on its way. Horned Larks and Savannah Sparrows were everywhere. We saw a single Loggerhead Shrike near Succor Creek along with the only Pigeons of the day. The only flycatchers of the day were 2 Say's Phoebes and 2 Western Kingbirds. Upland birds included lots of California Quail, Chukars and two Ring necked Pheasants (the male was either molting or was a young bird...he didn't have many colorful feathers on him.) The cloud cover was almost 100% by late afternoon so the temperature stayed cooler than predicted. -- Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho dhughes55 at clearwire.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090921/478cfddc/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Mon Sep 21 16:42:00 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:42:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: Wahkiakum Co. Gray Catbird, this morning Message-ID: From: Bob Flores Sent: Monday, September 21, 2009 3:52 PM To: tweeters at u.washington.edu Subject: Wahkiakum Co. Gray Catbird, this morning Mary-Francis, Jeff Cohen, Ron Friesz, Phil Kelly, Guy McWethy, Phyllis Moss and myself found a gray catbird on Brook Slough Rd, Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge. Some in the group thought this might be a County first and if so for some of you County Listers worth a chase? The bird was in a patch of shrubs and tree along the road just as it meets the slough. We had a great day with a good number of species but no real high numbers. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090921/6696d700/attachment.html From gneavoll at comcast.net Mon Sep 21 17:55:28 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:55:28 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Semipalmated Sandpiper at Fernhill? In-Reply-To: <1062373686.3707701253580142634.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <636508725.3713091253580928669.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> I may have had a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (juv.) in the s.w. corner of Cattail Marsh at Fernhill Wetlands early this afternoon. It had a prominent supercilium that appeared joined at the back of the head, and uniformly grayish scalloped-looking upperparts without any of the reddish shown by two nearby WESTERN SANDPIPERS. I soon lost it, however, and by the time I had finished admiring the gorgeous SABINE'S GULL - which for a time was just offshore - I could not relocate it to confirm the I.D. It would be worth a look, however, if anybody is out that way. George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090922/4f80c464/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Mon Sep 21 18:42:43 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 01:42:43 +0000 Subject: [obol] Photos of Golden Plovers, Godwits, and ptarmigan plumage and molting variations Message-ID: Hi all, Hi Obolers, A few more shorebirds shots of golden plovers, godwits galore, and ptarmigans in various stages of molt. It may be nausea for some but I hope you get something out of it! The ptarmigan pair at Slate Peak photographed in June 2008 shows the female almost entirely in summer plumage while the male is 70% white. This recently photographed pair at Mt. Rainier shows the female much further in winter plumage. I have posted photos of both situation. Fun stuff!! For comparison, I also included some fall plumaged birds photographed almost a year ago at the same Mt. Rainier location. I wonder what dictates or accelerates molting variations besides length of daylight, temperatures and other factors. http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/recent_summer_images_2009&page=all Good birding, Khanh Tran www.ktbirding.com From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Sep 20 17:23:32 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:23:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: 8X vs 10X Message-ID: <66e14c15d8f066f56254dd19a8ecfd36@earthlink.net> Begin forwarded message: > Some years ago I solicited this > advice prior to a pelagic trip. Everyone > had me scared of anything higher than 10x. > I went to Bi-Mart the eve of the boat trip > and low and behold, it was also the night > before elk season. All the 10Xs were gone > and I had no time to shop around. I settled > for 12X 50s. It's probably a cheaper model > than Monarch (I paid $99) but I have never > used my 8Xs again. They let in a lot of > light (that's where the 50 comes in, as > opposed to 35 or 42, etc) and focus amazingly > close--just as good for Swamp Sparrows as > eagles. They are heavy, but so am I, and > most of my birding is close to a car. > Lars Norgren > From jmoodie at cocc.edu Mon Sep 21 21:52:54 2009 From: jmoodie at cocc.edu (Jim Moodie) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:52:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Deschutes County fall NAMC highlights Message-ID: <69604A6A87BA234584B8C01536FA667D147DFC92AA@mail2.ad.cocc.edu> Here are some of the highlights for the 2009 Deschutes County fall NAMC: We counted 164 species this year, up from 156 last year. The most unusual bird was a possible HOODED WARBLER found near Hampton (extreme Eastern part of the county). Windy conditions caused the observers to be cautious about a positive ID. Other great finds: Rough-legged Hawk Black-crowned Night Heron Three-toed Woodpecker Calliope Hummingbird Gray Flycatcher Bewick's Wren Lark Sparrow Owling netted four species: Western Screech Owl 4 Great Horned Owl 7 Northern Pygmy-Owl 2 (including one tooted up by my four year old daughter, Summitt; I am a proud Dada) Northern Saw-whet Owl 1 I should have totals by this weekend (first week of classes at COCC). Cheers, Jim Moodie From jplissner at yahoo.com Mon Sep 21 21:53:15 2009 From: jplissner at yahoo.com (Jonathan Plissner) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:53:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Sabine's Gull still at Fernhill, Monday evening Message-ID: <242349.55641.qm@web45402.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> The juvenile Sabine's Gull was still present at Fernhill as the sun set on Monday evening. The bird was walking among four Greater Yellowlegs at the south end of Cattail Marsh at ~6PM but later spent time swimming nearby and in Fernhill Lake and flying around most of the waterbodies. Other notable birds: 7 Long-billed Dowitchers (vocalizing), including three that were the target of (but avoided) a swooping Peregrine Falcon 2 Pectoral Sandpipers 3 Least and 1 Western Sandpiper (no Semipalmated-like birds) 2 American White Pelicans 1 Hooded and 3 Common Mergansers Stefan Schlick was also present and reported seeing two Black-crowned Night Herons. Jon Plissner Cornelius, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090921/251ece3f/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Mon Sep 21 22:37:17 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:37:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Another way to think about binocular power Message-ID: <006201ca3b46$e9b8c3b0$70c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: Besides the ideas already noted about 8X vs 10X binoculars a) the field of view of 8X is greater b) the light gathered by 8X is greater c) the stability of 8X is greater (they're easier to hold still) d) it is easier to follow a small bird moving at close quarters in brush with 8X e) it is easier to use 8X on pelagic trips (stability again) consider this: If you're looking at an object that is 100 feet away, 2X brings the object to 50 ft away 4X brings it to 25 ft. 8X brings it to 12.5 ft. 10X brings it to 10 ft. As you go up in power you gain less and less. 10X only brings you 2.5 ft closer than 8X. Why go for all the disadvantages of 10X just to gain a couple feet. You're already so close with 8X. ----------------------- On the other hand, if you want to talk about the difference between better glasses and cheaper glasses: Cheaper glasses are more likely to be used. If you break them you can get another pair. You can treat them more casually. Better glasses might stay in the case more. Break them and you're out real money (but they can be fixed - often under warranty). But the real advantage of better glasses is the true color, and the clear focus all across the field of view. It's worth it. In dim light, you'll see the bird that others cannot see. Theory 1. Buy the best you can afford, and use them. It is a lifetime of satisfaction. Theory 2. Buy cheap binoculars and spend your money on trips to tropical places with beautiful birds. Theory 3. Buy cheap, high power. Throw them under the seat of your car. Use them often, and replace as needed. Paul T. Sullivan From craig at greatskua.com Tue Sep 22 10:04:42 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:04:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-shouldered hawk in Tigard, Washington County Message-ID: <20090922100442.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.1850b12ec4.wbe@email.secureserver.net> This morning, I saw a red-shouldered hawk in Fanno Creek Park between SW Hall Boulevard and SW Main Street in Tigard. The hawk was near the end of SW Ash Avenue. It was chased from its perch by a flock of crows and flew low through the trees toward the southeast. I wasn't able to relocate it. Other birds of note were several flocks of cedar waxwings (approx. 100 birds total) gorging on hawthorn berries, a black-throated gray warbler, a common yellowthroat, a Swainson's thrush, and two white-breasted nuthatches. Craig Tumer SW Portland From hhactitis at yahoo.com Tue Sep 22 11:04:22 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:04:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] South Jetty Siuslaw Message-ID: <779902.18575.qm@web37004.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello OBOL, I birded the usual hotspots along the Siuslaw South Jetty Road this morning. Shorebirding remains painfully slow and by 9 am it was already too hot for comfortable birding. A good day to break out the lawn chair, crack a brew and work on that suntan we never got during the coastal summer :-) A few highlights: Shorebirds: The Dog Pond had 4 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and 1 juv. LONG-BILLED DOWICHER. One GREATER YELLOWLEGS and one WILSON'S SNIPE were along "Dotterel" Dike, and 8 distant peeps were on the Crab Dock flats. C'est tout! No rockpeckers on the jetty. Seawatching was very poor, with a bit of a haze and already enough heatwaves to distort anything far out. Not much activity, had one SOOTY and one PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER close in, a few PACIFIC LOONS, not much else. A flock of 120 AMERICAN PIPITS foraged in the Deflation Plain. Watched them closely for 20 minutes, but failed to dig up anything more exotic among them. Nice migration movement in the willows along "Dotterel" Dike, including a late WESTERN KINGBIRD (nope, couldn't turn it into a Tropical), a lone VAUX'S SWIFT, ca. 50 "AUDUBON'S" WARBLERS and at least one "MYRTLE" WARBLER, and a couple of ORANGE-CROWNED and YELLOW WARBLERS among the usual suspects. A MERLIN harrassed a couple of crows at the Dog Pond, and a NORTHERN HARRIER patrolled the dunes along the road. Happy fall migration Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090922/f7095595/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Tue Sep 22 11:34:55 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:34:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] peregrine falcon Message-ID: <122957.86230.qm@web39701.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello, Today at about 10:15 AM an imm. peregrine falcon was chasing my pigeon flock----only half-heartedly. Best, Dick (!5 mi. south of Burns) From sengel at audubonportland.org Tue Sep 22 12:51:03 2009 From: sengel at audubonportland.org (Steve Engel) Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:51:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrush calls Message-ID: <200909221950.n8MJoq8k019524@broadway.hevanet.com> Sunday 9/20 at 9:30pm and again at 11:40pm I listened for just a few minutes in my backyard at SE Main and 80th. Calls of about 3/10seconds or 18/minute were heard - I'd only heard one or two a minute on other nights. Unlike previous nights the calls were coming from multiple flight tracks across the sky from west to east. Steve Engel Steve Engel Adult Education Coordinator Audubon Society of Portland EMAIL:? sengel at audubonportland.org PHONE:? 503-292-6855 x 119 (main)? 971-222-6119 (direct) From fabflockfinder at gmail.com Tue Sep 22 13:05:58 2009 From: fabflockfinder at gmail.com (Elias Elias) Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:05:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] 20090922-1300 SAGU Message-ID: <601A43F0-E9A8-4A25-B08C-4E874852AD81@gmail.com> 20090922-1300 SAGU The sabine's gull was still present at the north pond of Fernhill Wetlands. The link above directs you to a google map. E Arcata CA Walkie talkie 559-433-7254 Sent from my iPhone -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090922/3837c39f/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 20090922-1300 SAGU.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 333 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090922/3837c39f/attachment.vcf -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090922/3837c39f/attachment-0001.html From djaques.pel at charter.net Tue Sep 22 14:44:53 2009 From: djaques.pel at charter.net (Deborah Jaques) Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:44:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Thousands of gulls In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <200909221450318.SM05048@D88LG071> The fish mortality incident that Lars mentioned apparently spread all the way from north of Gearheart down to the Cove in Seaside. I checked it out yesterday. The fish were sardines, and I heard second-hand that the Seaside Aquarium is considering it a fishing-related accident. I have not been able to reach anybody that can confirm the cause of the fish death. I do know that purse-seining for sardines was taking place nearshore in Seaside Saturday, but do not think that we should point any fingers until/unless further info becomes available. If anybody saw a pelican reaction to this event, I'd love to hear about it. I counted less than 100 pelicans in the Necanicum yesterday. More heresy was that the estuary was loaded with (same?) fish on Saturday. Deborah -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2009 12:00 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: obol Digest, Vol 18, Issue 20 Send obol mailing list submissions to obol at oregonbirdwatch.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org You can reach the person managing the list at obol-owner at oregonbirdwatch.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of obol digest..." Today's Topics: 1. No. Wheatear - no (Jeff Gilligan) 2. Re: Northern Wheatear Viewing (sengel at audubonportland.org) 3. JT and the Falcon (Dennis P. Vroman) 4. Newport South Jetty: 2 Bristle-thighed Curlews (Range Bayer) 5. Sabine's Gull - Fernhill Wetlands (John Rakestraw) 6. Age/sex of wheatear (Russ Namitz) 7. possible Mountain X Black-capped hybrid (Sherman Co.) (David Mandell) 8. Bird with red gills ... (Lyn Topinka) 9. Bristle-thighed Curlews - NOT (Wayne Hoffman) 10. Re: Age/sex of wheatear (Mike Patterson) 11. Linn County Semipalmated Plovers & Pectoral Sandpipers (Jeff Harding) 12. Green Ridge Raptor Migration (Kim Boddie) 13. Sabine's Gull and Sandhill Crane Fernhill Wetlands (John Gatchet) 14. Re: Bird with red gills ... (Hendrik Herlyn) 15. Hampton Warbler - Deschutes county (Judy Meredith) 16. Wheatear age/sex (Tom McNamara) 17. Swifts in Oregon City (Martha taylor & Chris Bennett) 18. Re: Bird with red gills ... (Dennis P. Vroman) 19. JoCo Varied Thrush arrive (Dennis P. Vroman) 20. Smith/Bybee Greater White-fronted Geese and Red-necked Phalaropes (Tim Haller) 21. Need ID help (Brandon Green) 22. Sabine's photo (Greg Gillson) 23. Re: Need ID help (Greg Gillson) 24. Re: Need ID help (Dennis P. Vroman) 25. Re: Need ID help (Craig Tumer) 26. Re: Need ID help (Larry McQueen) 27. Re: Need ID help (Larry McQueen) 28. personal NAMC highlites (Bobbett Pierce) 29. Clatsop Beach, Sunday 9/20 Thousands of gulls (Norgren Family) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:09:41 -0700 From: Jeff Gilligan Subject: [obol] No. Wheatear - no To: OBOL Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" I was fortunate to see it yesterday. I have heard from Gerard Lillie that it has not been seen today. Jeff Gilligan ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:27:05 GMT From: sengel at audubonportland.org Subject: Re: [obol] Northern Wheatear Viewing To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <200909191927.n8JJR5XG047350 at broadway.hevanet.com> A couple of recent posts mentioned the Whalen County Park's camp host (her name is Rosa) and the daily use fee. One post suggested frustration on her part at people using the park's parking facilities and not paying, the other suggested she is quite gracious about all the activity. She is a very nice person. Each year volunteer leaders Denny Graham and Sue Carr have checked in with Rosa about our impending visit and she has always welcomed our Elderhostel group to bird the park. When my group found the bird Thursday we told her she'd get lots of visitors soon and she said "great!". For those who don't want to (or can't) park in the NO FEE Clay Meyers Natural area parking lot (take the right fork after the bridge) and walk 75m to view the wheatear, then realize your other option is paying the 3$ daily use fee. It's all for a good cause (county park services) and as was mentioned, it's a good price for the what you get (assuming the wheatear is still there) and helps keep birder's activities in a positive light. steve engel ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:01:46 -0700 From: "Dennis P. Vroman" Subject: [obol] JT and the Falcon To: Message-ID: <4944AD9B028340F28B2147AAC03C4707 at Warbler> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Last evening at the "Evening with James Taylor" concert (near Central Point) at about 7:15 pm a PEREGRINE FALCON fly directly over us an a fairly low level. Happened to have my binos for concert watching. Great look at the Falcon. ...James Taylor and band were great too. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090919/0c3f50d4/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:44:15 -0700 From: Range Bayer Subject: [obol] Newport South Jetty: 2 Bristle-thighed Curlews To: Oregon Birders OnLine , "Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing" Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Hi, Carol Louderback from Kennewick just telephoned that she had seen and photographed 2 probable Bristle-thighted Curlews along the Yaquina Bay South Jetty this afternoon (Sept. 19). They were together and near Black Turnstones on the rocks. They were closer to the Yaquina Bay Bridge than to the end of the Jetty. Carol is on OBOL and will post more information when she gets home tomorrow night. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:31:00 -0700 (PDT) From: John Rakestraw Subject: [obol] Sabine's Gull - Fernhill Wetlands To: obol Message-ID: <208702.278.qm at web65312.mail.ac2.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" The Portland Audubon shorebird class went out to Fernhill Wetlands (Birding Oregon p. 61) Saturday morning. Best bird of the day was a first cycle Sabine's Gull. The bird moved around a lot, and we wondered if there might be two, but we only saw one at a time. He was most often seen in Cattail Pond. Shorebirds were very few. Highlights include: White Pelican (2, Cattail Pond) Wilson's Snipe (at least 6, Mitigation Marsh) Western Grebe (2, Fernhill Lake) Green Heron (at least 4) Cheers, John Rakestraw Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090919/c5b48b89/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 6 Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:40:04 -0700 From: Russ Namitz Subject: [obol] Age/sex of wheatear To: Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" I think I posted too hastily about the age/sex of this bird. Daniel Farrar reminded me about that bit Svensson et. al lumps fall plumaged females in with 1st winter males. Suffice to say, I feel confident that the bird is not an adult male. Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090919/ce32aea5/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 7 Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:01:43 -0700 From: David Mandell Subject: [obol] possible Mountain X Black-capped hybrid (Sherman Co.) To: OBOL Message-ID: <108B7EBA-6CF6-4652-AB41-572120EA2410 at earthlink.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes While birding Sherman County today, I had a bird I believe was a Mountain X Black-capped Chickadee Hybrid along the Deschutes River. It had a thin white line over the eye (thinner than a typical Mountain), but white feather edgings to the wings and buff on the sides. I didn't have a camera with me, so no documentation. The song was also different enough to pick it out from the other Black-capped Chickadees it was traveling with. There was also a PECTORAL SANDPIPER south of Grass Valley and two immature COMMON TERNS west of John Day Dam. Just a smattering of migrants with a couple of Warbling Vireos, Yellow Warblers and O-c Warblers. One each of Lincoln Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush and Western Wood-Pewee. David Mandell Portland, OR ------------------------------ Message: 8 Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:03:16 -0700 From: Lyn Topinka Subject: [obol] Bird with red gills ... To: OBOL Message-ID: <20090920010317.D8D666A4E1 at smtp4.pacifier.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed hi ... took the dog for a run at the Sandy River Delta this afternoon ... Gene (my fisherman hubby) went with me and he had my binoculars and I had my camera ... not many people there which was good, but unfortunately not much bird action either ... however we hit one tree where there were 50 or so Cedar Waxwings stripping it clean ... I was busy snapping pix of Waxwings and red fruit and Gene was watching the birds thru the binocs ... then he got excited about one he saw ... he described it as "bigger than the Waxwings and smaller than a hawk, and it has RED GILLS" ... he kept pointing high up in a tree and I could see nothing ... meanwhile my brain is trying to translate "red gills" into bird terms ... then I saw a large bird flush, a nice white rump showing, and by gosh and by golly, it had RED GILLS !!!!!!! ... a beautiful male Northern Flicker ... LOL !!!!!! Lyn Vancouver, Washington pointers at pacifier dot com Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com ------------------------------ Message: 9 Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:13:40 -0700 From: "Wayne Hoffman" Subject: [obol] Bristle-thighed Curlews - NOT To: "OBOL" Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Hi - After a call from Range I headed to the South Jetty and found two Whimbrels in the area where the BT Curlews had been reported. They had brown tails without a hint of cinnamon, and not particularly tawny underparts. They did have darker than average backs for Whimbrels, and perhaps more than usual red on the lower mandible. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090919/c915b0bc/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 10 Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:15:58 -0700 From: Mike Patterson Subject: Re: [obol] Age/sex of wheatear To: OBOL Message-ID: <4AB5824E.2040202 at pacifier.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed From Pyle (1997) Basic Plumage (Aug-Mar) HY/SY m-f (Aug-Mar): Upperparts heavily washed brownish or cinnamon; dusky mask indistinctly defined; supercilium buff; wing feathers uniformly juvenal and brown (noticeably browner than the mask of alternate-plumaged males), or one or more inner gr or med covs replaced and dark brown to blackish, contrasting with the brownish, retained outer covs (Fig. 133A-C); outer gr covs edged buff to cinnamon when fresh; outer pp covs narrow, tapered, relatively abraded (Fig. 138A-C), and brownish; roof of the mouth (upper mandible lining) with yellowish (through Oct-Mar). Note: Most HY/SYs are not reliably sexed in Aug-Feb, although some SY males in Jan-Feb with incoming black mask feathers can be sexed. Also, the replaced inner wing covs may average blacker on males than on females and this could be useful in sexing some birds; more study is needed. Intermediates can be difficult or impossible to age, especially females. AHY/ASY f (Aug-Mar): Upperparts heavily washed brownish or cinnamon; dusk)' mask indistincty defined; supercilium buffy; wing feathers uniformly adult (Fig. 133F) and dark brown; gr covs with narrow or no buff to cinnamon edging; outer pp covs broad, truncate, fresh (Fig. 138B), and brownish black; roof of the mouth gray or black, without yellowish. Note: See HY/SY m-f. AHY/ASY m (Aug-Mar): Upperparts gray with a brownish or cinnamon wash; black mask distinctly defined; supercilium white; wing feathers uniformly adult (Fig. 133F) and blackish; gr covs edged gray; outer pp covs broad, truncate, fresh (Fig. 138B), and black; roof of the mouth gray or black, without yellowish. Note: See HY/SY m-f. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ ------------------------------ Message: 11 Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:01:31 -0700 From: "Jeff Harding" Subject: [obol] Linn County Semipalmated Plovers & Pectoral Sandpipers To: "'obol'" Message-ID: <8E69F912685F4E43A8D41AC5AC7C6C2B at laptop> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Lebanon's Cheadle Lake has extensive mudflats just now, and there was a nice little flock of shorebirds there this evening, including four Pectoral Sandpipers and two Semipalmated Plovers. They were with a dozen or so Least Sandpipers and two or three Western Sandpipers, for size comparison. There were more peeps in the distance, so there could be other interesting birds there. A great Egret was there too. I was just stopping by on my way back from Santiam Pass, were it was miserable, and the birds were all hunkering, or almost all. I did see a few things, but couldn't find a Grey Jay or one of the boreal woodpeckers. More later, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090919/ec923a7d/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 12 Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:38:17 -0700 From: "Kim Boddie" Subject: [obol] Green Ridge Raptor Migration To: "OBOL Sightings" , "COBOL sightings" Message-ID: <8934DEA517D14CA6A4DFBCABC021549B at KimPC> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Our first day on Green Ridge started out with a bang, the first 5 minutes we had 2 Sharpies and a Cooper's. That was it for the first hour. Activity picked up between 11:00 and 1:00 and then slowed down to 5 birds the last 4 hours. All the birds we saw were on the west side of the ridge and most were down low. We think we probably missed some Sharpies and Coops that were flying low below our line of sight. We ended up seeing 36 raptors as follows. Turkey Vulture 6 Osprey 1 Bald Eagle 1 A, 1S Sharp-shinned Hawk 13 Cooper's Hawk 4 Red-tailed Hawk 3 Golden Eagle 3 Unident. Buteo 1 Unident. Raptor 3 Owliver, our fake owl on a pole had two Sharpies try to take him on. One, put on a show for about five minutes. It would make a pass at the owl, land nearby, scream at the owl then make another pass. It went through this routine about 6 times. Observers: Jay Smith - Portland, Kim Boddie - Bend ----kim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090919/69d07c95/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 13 Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:27:16 -0700 From: "John Gatchet" Subject: [obol] Sabine's Gull and Sandhill Crane Fernhill Wetlands To: "obol" Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F025673F4 at npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I left home in Gresham at 5:30 and drove to Fernhill Wetlands and located the the SABINE'S GULL on Cattail Pond swimming and catching small fish at regular intervals. I left after sunset and it was still on the pond. Thank you to John Rakestraw for posting this. In addition there was a SANDHILL CRANE viewable from the same spot two the right of the covered observation area. The two AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN flew off at sunset. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090919/892eae2e/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 14 Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:41:28 -0700 (PDT) From: Hendrik Herlyn Subject: Re: [obol] Bird with red gills ... To: Lyn Topinka , obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: <968119.57596.qm at web37002.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Lyn, this is priceless! Thanks for sharing. I go birding with my "fisherman" partner a lot, but so far he has never attributed gills to a bird. Perhaps we should rename the bird "Red-gilled Flicker" instead of "Red-shafted Flicker" ... has a nice ring to it. Happy fishing and birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Sat, 9/19/09, Lyn Topinka wrote: From: Lyn Topinka Subject: [obol] Bird with red gills ... To: "OBOL" Date: Saturday, September 19, 2009, 6:03 PM hi ... took the dog for a run at the Sandy River Delta this afternoon ... Gene (my fisherman hubby) went with me and he had my binoculars and I had my camera ... not many people there which was good,? but unfortunately not much bird action either ... however we hit one tree where there were 50 or so Cedar Waxwings stripping it clean ...? I was busy snapping pix of Waxwings and red fruit? and Gene was watching the birds thru the binocs ... then he got excited about one he saw ... he described it as "bigger than the Waxwings and smaller than a hawk, and it has RED GILLS" ... he kept pointing high up in a tree and I could see nothing ... meanwhile my brain is trying to translate "red gills" into bird terms ... then I saw a large bird flush, a nice white rump showing, and by gosh and by golly, it had RED GILLS !!!!!!! ... a beautiful male Northern Flicker ... LOL !!!!!! Lyn Vancouver, Washington pointers at pacifier dot com Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090919/2a14356a/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 15 Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:43:06 -0700 From: "Judy Meredith" Subject: [obol] Hampton Warbler - Deschutes county To: "obol" Message-ID: <92C32D5AACB245A6AF5EE31A2D06F7A4 at MOM> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=response > Hi birders > Had a possible HOODED WARBLER in the trees in Hampton today > but the wind was blowing pretty hard and the bird didn't hang on there > for long. I was one of 3 birders, but I was the only one to see it. > > Location - town of Hampton some 60 miles east of Bend along > Hwy 20, in the little deciduous trees in the "campground" which > had one motorhome in it. Location is just east of the "main > commercial district" of one building, on the north side of Hwy 20. > > The is the same general location where the team of Low and Dougill > had a Chestnut-sided Warbler last fall NAMC. Trees in the surrounding > area are pretty scarce. > Note that the "Hampton Station" has opened again for services. If you > are on the way to Malheur etc, perhaps stopping in there would > be a good break. > good birding > judy meredith > jmeredit at bendnet.com > ------------------------------ Message: 16 Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:50:15 -0700 From: Tom McNamara Subject: [obol] Wheatear age/sex To: Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" OBOL, Seems to be some divergent opinion on the age and sex of this bird. Excellent! the birding fun goes on after the viewing...........This is a life bird for me so can't claim any prior experience. I suspect most Oregon birders are not going to have an absolute wealth of experience with this one but......who knows Having said that, I am inclining (merely, not staking a rock solid claim) to this being a basic-plumaged adult male. Maybe someone who got some killer photos could post this to Frontiers of ID and get the international view. Anyway, after having viewed this bird at close range in good light (with a bunch of other folks) I saw a bird that looks remarkably like one on pg. 265 of Mullarney, Svensonn et al. "Birds of Europe". The pictured bird is indeed O. oenanthe (top row, 2nd from right). Along with Patrick G, I and others were comparing the live object of our fascination with the pics in the book. (I know last year this field guide in the actual field business occasioned some criticism and I would offer this episode as the almost perfect refutation ----unless an American birder was razor-like up on all field marks of all 14 species of wheatear ....) Other pics I've viewed on Google haven't provided much help for this individual. In any event, a number of OR's notable birders thought that the bird corresponded most closely with the above-cited one. The breast did indeed look buffy unlike the other sex, ages and phases pictured for that subspecies. Those others would, according to this guide, have a much paler/whitish breast. The throat, by the way, was distinctly paler than the breast. Viewed live, the supercilium did not look buffy; it looked whitish. On my computer monitor, the pictures Greg Gillson posted show the supercilium as buffier than I was seeing. The crown and mantle did not look entirely brown or gray, rather these colors appeared mixed and, depending on light angle, seemed to shift to "more gray" or "more brown" The lesser and median coverts appeared almost exactly as depicted in the referenced bird in book---blackish, fringed w/ whitish rather than a more buff-colored appearance that the 1st winter female and imm. male of O. oenanthe sport as well as those on O.leucorhoa. I acknowledge that the pictures Greg took do show a kind of buff "panel" in the folded tertials. I can only say that, again, it didn't look quite this "panely" but instead showed more marked contract in the black and buff feather edging. Whatever. Beautiful bird, beautiful weather to see it, nice birdy frisson amongst the crowd I was with. Thanks to Steve Engle for finding it and getting the word out so quickly. good birding, Tom _________________________________________________________________ Ready for Fall shows? Use Bing to find helpful ratings and reviews on digital tv's. http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?q=digital+tv's&form=MSHNCB&publ=WLHMTAG& crea=TEXT_MSHNCB_Vertical_Shopping_DigitalTVs_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/bb5ac398/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 17 Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 07:46:59 -0700 From: "Martha taylor & Chris Bennett" Subject: [obol] Swifts in Oregon City To: "Obol" Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" If you live in Oregon City and don't have time to make it to Chapman school to see the Swifts. Go to the base of the old Oregon City West Linn Bridge (7th & Main) the building on the SE corner has a good number of swifts using it plus a hungry Sharpie/Coopers. Chris -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/38331570/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 18 Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 07:57:54 -0700 From: "Dennis P. Vroman" Subject: Re: [obol] Bird with red gills ... To: "Hendrik Herlyn" , "Lyn Topinka" , Message-ID: <5748B47188794A8D9BC48B6235A397EC at Warbler> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" We had better watch it, something like this might get us "hooked" on Flickers. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Subject: Re: [obol] Bird with red gills ... Lyn, this is priceless! Thanks for sharing. I go birding with my "fisherman" partner a lot, but so far he has never attributed gills to a bird. Perhaps we should rename the bird "Red-gilled Flicker" instead of "Red-shafted Flicker" ... has a nice ring to it. Happy fishing and birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Sat, 9/19/09, Lyn Topinka wrote: From: Lyn Topinka Subject: [obol] Bird with red gills ... To: "OBOL" Date: Saturday, September 19, 2009, 6:03 PM hi ... took the dog for a run at the Sandy River Delta this afternoon ... Gene (my fisherman hubby) went with me and he had my binoculars and I had my camera ... not many people there which was good, but unfortunately not much bird action either ... however we hit one tree where there were 50 or so Cedar Waxwings stripping it clean ... I was busy snapping pix of Waxwings and red fruit and Gene was watching the birds thru the binocs ... then he got excited about one he saw ... he described it as "bigger than the Waxwings and smaller than a hawk, and it has RED GILLS" ... he kept pointing high up in a tree and I could see nothing ... meanwhile my brain is trying to translate "red gills" into bird terms ... then I saw a large bird flush, a nice white rump showing, and by gosh and by golly, it had RED GILLS !!!!!!! ... a beautiful male Northern Flicker ... LOL !!!!!! Lyn Vancouver, Washington pointers at pacifier dot com Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/aed00196/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 19 Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:04:08 -0700 From: "Dennis P. Vroman" Subject: [obol] JoCo Varied Thrush arrive To: Message-ID: <01E81E20C6964BD0B42AF763EE735A79 at Warbler> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Wouldn't you know it, this morning (09-20-09), the day after our NAMC the VARIED THRUSHES decided to drop in at our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit). That's ok, nice to hear their eerie calls just the same. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/3711b18c/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 20 Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:34:29 -0700 From: "Tim Haller" Subject: [obol] Smith/Bybee Greater White-fronted Geese and Red-necked Phalaropes To: Message-ID: <1AE12729622043E1A123E43408D27605 at Haller2> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I spent yesterday afternoon birding Smith & Bybee Lakes with my Mom, who is visiting from Colorado, via Alaska. In addition to the usual suspects, we found two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and two RED-NECKED PHALAROPES on Bybee Lake (across from the blind on the Marine Dr. side). The geese were mixed in with the Canadas on the far shore. Many thanks to the gentleman who told they were there. The phalaropes were swimming near that same shore. Tim Haller Vancouver, WA tim at twonets dot net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/084cecf5/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 21 Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:22:49 -0700 From: Brandon Green Subject: [obol] Need ID help To: OBOL Message-ID: <81b2a9930909200922h78719976j4bc856cd2e5e1b14 at mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 OBOL, I'd appreciate some input on two species I've photographed out in the field this year. I have a good idea of what both are, but wanted "second opinions" of each. The first is of a warbler taken in Litchfield, CT last week. My guess is that it's a fall plumage BLACKBURNIAN, but I've never seen this species before, so I'm not sure... http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/3937038845_5d0052df0a_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/3937038579_55327183d5_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/3937817392_3d91665fd3_b.jpg The second was taken outside of Sisters back in June. I have tentatively identified it as a stphensi subspecies FOX SPARROW... http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3648098917_458e8859ef_b.jpg Thanks in advance, Brandon Eugene ------------------------------ Message: 22 Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:51:02 -0700 From: "Greg Gillson" Subject: [obol] Sabine's photo To: "OBOL" Message-ID: <5C48D87A62034FB4B268D2FCF0F9382C at GREG> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original The Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, Sabine's Gull is still present this morning. I took this photo this morning about 7:30 am. It was in the back little pond near the observation hut. http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/117496730 This is a third Washington County record: http://thebirdguide.com/washington/WashCo_2009.htm Two White Pelicans remain in Cattail Marsh from the 13 that have been present since July (5th county record). http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/117497616 Full list for today is on BirdNotes. I think this link will get you in without a password: http://birdnotes.net/census/list-counts-2.tcl?context_bar=%7b%2fshared%2frec ent%2dlists+%7bRecent+data%7d%7d&locale_name=Fernhill+Wetlands%2c+Washington +County%2c+Oregon&d=2009%2d09%2d20&census_id=42249 Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com ------------------------------ Message: 23 Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:01:42 -0700 From: "Greg Gillson" Subject: Re: [obol] Need ID help To: "OBOL" Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original Brandon, The subspecies of Fox Sparrow in the Sisters area is thought to be fulva, one of the Thick-billed Fox Sparrow races. This is quite similar to megarhyncha in SW Oregon. The stephensi race is nearly resident in southern California (San Bernardino Co. and nearby). See Fox Sparrow pages here: http://thebirdguide.com/fox/fox.htm > The second was taken outside of Sisters back in June. I have > tentatively identified it as a stphensi subspecies FOX SPARROW... > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3648098917_458e8859ef_b.jpg Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com ------------------------------ Message: 24 Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:05:42 -0700 From: "Dennis P. Vroman" Subject: Re: [obol] Need ID help To: "Brandon Green" , "OBOL" Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original Hi Brandon, My two cents (birds) worth. The Warbler appears to be a Black-throated Green to me; let's see what others think on it. The Fox Sparrow appears to be a Thick-billed, at least it look similar to those nesting in the mountain brushfields in the Grants Pass/Cave Junction area. Boy, I'm envious, get to see eastern Warblers, ahhh, Blackburnian Warblers, the males are such beauties, Dennis Subject: [obol] Need ID help > OBOL, > > I'd appreciate some input on two species I've photographed out in the > field this year. I have a good idea of what both are, but wanted > "second opinions" of each. > > The first is of a warbler taken in Litchfield, CT last week. My guess > is that it's a fall plumage BLACKBURNIAN, but I've never seen this > species before, so I'm not sure... > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/3937038845_5d0052df0a_b.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/3937038579_55327183d5_b.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/3937817392_3d91665fd3_b.jpg > > > The second was taken outside of Sisters back in June. I have > tentatively identified it as a stphensi subspecies FOX SPARROW... > > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3648098917_458e8859ef_b.jpg > > > Thanks in advance, > Brandon > Eugene > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > ------------------------------ Message: 25 Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:22:16 -0700 From: "Craig Tumer" Subject: Re: [obol] Need ID help To: "Brandon Green" Cc: OBOL Message-ID: <20090920102216.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.dd1992f2f3.wbe at email.secure server.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Brandon, The warbler in your photos is a black-throated green warbler. A fall blackburnian warbler would have a pale blackish or dark gray auricular patch rather than the greenish auricular patch shown by this bird. The top of the head, nape and back of this bird is green and unmarked with black. A blackburnian warbler would show pale streaking on the back and these areas would appear overall more blackish rather than greenish. The wide black patch on the upper breast, extending toward the throat, is also good for black-throated green, but too extensive for blackburnian warbler. The yellow on this birds face is relatively bright yellow. Even in fall, the color on a blackburnian warblers face tends more to orange than bright yellow. The stephensi subspecies of fox sparrow is limited to south-central California. I have relatively little field experience with the fox sparrows that nest in the Cascades so someone else could better address the subspecific ID of that bird. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] Need ID help > From: Brandon Green > Date: Sun, September 20, 2009 9:22 am > To: OBOL > > > OBOL, > > I'd appreciate some input on two species I've photographed out in the > field this year. I have a good idea of what both are, but wanted > "second opinions" of each. > > The first is of a warbler taken in Litchfield, CT last week. My guess > is that it's a fall plumage BLACKBURNIAN, but I've never seen this > species before, so I'm not sure... > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/3937038845_5d0052df0a_b.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/3937038579_55327183d5_b.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/3937817392_3d91665fd3_b.jpg > > > The second was taken outside of Sisters back in June. I have > tentatively identified it as a stphensi subspecies FOX SPARROW... > > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3648098917_458e8859ef_b.jpg > > > Thanks in advance, > Brandon > Eugene > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------ Message: 26 Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:29:06 -0700 From: "Larry McQueen" Subject: Re: [obol] Need ID help To: "'Brandon Green'" , "'OBOL'" Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Brandon, The warbler is a female Townsend's. Blackburnian would at least show pale streaks on the back and it would not have the rather heavy, blackish molar patch (at cheek). The other is the "Slate-colored" or "Large-billed" Fox Sparrow - supposed to be megarhyncha, fulva, or an intergrade thereof, in that region. Larry -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Brandon Green Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2009 9:23 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Need ID help OBOL, I'd appreciate some input on two species I've photographed out in the field this year. I have a good idea of what both are, but wanted "second opinions" of each. The first is of a warbler taken in Litchfield, CT last week. My guess is that it's a fall plumage BLACKBURNIAN, but I've never seen this species before, so I'm not sure... http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/3937038845_5d0052df0a_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/3937038579_55327183d5_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/3937817392_3d91665fd3_b.jpg The second was taken outside of Sisters back in June. I have tentatively identified it as a stphensi subspecies FOX SPARROW... http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3648098917_458e8859ef_b.jpg Thanks in advance, Brandon Eugene _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------ Message: 27 Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:32:08 -0700 From: "Larry McQueen" Subject: Re: [obol] Need ID help To: "'Brandon Green'" , "'OBOL'" Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Brandon, Sorry, I didn't notice the location of the warbler. It is of course, a Black-throated Green. The face appeared too well marked, but the photo enhances that. Larry -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Brandon Green Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2009 9:23 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Need ID help OBOL, I'd appreciate some input on two species I've photographed out in the field this year. I have a good idea of what both are, but wanted "second opinions" of each. The first is of a warbler taken in Litchfield, CT last week. My guess is that it's a fall plumage BLACKBURNIAN, but I've never seen this species before, so I'm not sure... http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/3937038845_5d0052df0a_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/3937038579_55327183d5_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/3937817392_3d91665fd3_b.jpg The second was taken outside of Sisters back in June. I have tentatively identified it as a stphensi subspecies FOX SPARROW... http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3648098917_458e8859ef_b.jpg Thanks in advance, Brandon Eugene _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------ Message: 28 Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:35:26 -0400 From: Bobbett Pierce Subject: [obol] personal NAMC highlites To: obol Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" As a participant yesterday in Columbia County's migration count, I was rather discouraged all morning by the low number of species I was tallying, with rain not being helpful. Vultures added interest by being everywhere nearly all day -- most I saw at one time was 17, my official number. Heading to the nearby hills in late afternoon after a long break, was happy to add RED CROSSBILLS (a NAMC first for me) and a RUFFED GROUSE that flushed. We were surprised by around 200 EVENING GROSBEAKS at the same location. Felt better about the bummer morning. Lona Pierce, Warren _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutori al_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090920/73268a55/atta chment-0001.html ------------------------------ Message: 29 Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:45:35 -0700 From: Norgren Family Subject: [obol] Clatsop Beach, Sunday 9/20 Thousands of gulls To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed I drove the beach from Sunset Access to Gearhart starting at sunrise. Three large groups of gulls were loafing at the Sunset Access totaling perhaps 2,000 birds. At least 85% were CALIFORNIAS, predominately young birds. The balance were HEERMAN'S with a distinct minority of WESTERNS (probably no more than 1%). 4 adult BROWN PELICANS were in this flock. A mile and a quarter north of Del Rey Access a flock of gulls began that is the biggest single flock I have ever seen. It went on for a mile and a half, with birds evenly spaced between the upper edge of wet sand and the surf. Same species composition, if anything more young CALIFORNIAS. Repeated scanning did not reveal a single G-wing or Ring-bill, let alone anything really surprising. As I proceeded south the reason for the concentration became evident--thousands of dead fish. THey appear to be herring-like, with big scales, small tails, fat bodies, all about 20cm long. The fish became increasingly abundant as I approached Gearhart, forming a windrow at the high tide line, but all feeding activity by the gulls seemed restricted to the north end of the flock, and only in the surf's edge. The majority of birds were sated already. I made no serious attempt to count a sample of the flock and extrapolate. The number of birds may be higher. Alas I had no time to check Little Beach or the Necannicum Estuary, where many more white birds were in evidence on the tide flats (tide was near low at 8am). The beach was noteworthy for a complete absence of terns (Caspian Terns can outnumber gulls in summer). The only shorebirds were Sanderlings, less than twenty for what is probably a six mile drive. A SCRUB JAY flying over the main cross-roads in downtown Gearhart is indicative of how humdrum this once noteworthy species has become on both banks of the Neccanicum. Lars Norgren ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol End of obol Digest, Vol 18, Issue 20 ************************************ From celata at pacifier.com Tue Sep 22 15:00:26 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:00:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gearhart dead fish Message-ID: <4AB948FA.3070709@pacifier.com> There are still remarkable numbers of gulls on Clatsop Beaches and the near-shore numbers of pelicans between Gearhart and the South Jetty of the Columbia River remains high. According to my contacts in the fisheries community, the dead sardines that washed up are an artifact of fisheries rules that limit the size of a catch. Apparently, some seiners limit out while they still have nets in the water. The extra fish are being dumped back in the ocean and some fraction of the re-released catch are dead or seriously injured. Last weekend seiners were working close enough to shore that the damaged fish washed ashore. I was at the Necanicum this morning and all of the fish there looked like they'd been there for several days, so the wash-up event was limited in scope. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From namitzr at hotmail.com Tue Sep 22 16:06:00 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:06:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos NAMC highlights Message-ID: Not too much to report for a quiet morning of birding. Bandon Marsh was active, but 3 PEREGRINE FALCONS and 1 MERLIN kept the birds from staying in one place. There was 1 RED KNOT hanging out with Black Turnstones & Surfbirds on the Bandon harbor pilings. I first picked it up in flight and the very gray tail got the imagination going. We did not quite tally 100 species, but participation was down and birding time was limited to the morning. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090922/6fab73ac/attachment.html From dhogaza at pacifier.com Tue Sep 22 17:22:24 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:22:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Another way to think about binocular power In-Reply-To: <006201ca3b46$e9b8c3b0$70c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> References: <006201ca3b46$e9b8c3b0$70c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Message-ID: <2D5FB63B-A9F8-4F9F-B3C9-86454C118F15@pacifier.com> On Sep 21, 2009, at 10:37 PM, Paul T. Sullivan wrote: > > b) the light gathered by 8X is greater Depends on the actual binocular, there's no optical reason that this must be true. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From redshoulderedhawk at earthlink.net Tue Sep 22 18:22:03 2009 From: redshoulderedhawk at earthlink.net (Jennifer Jones) Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:22:03 -0700 (GMT-07:00) Subject: [obol] Portland Rock Wren Message-ID: <14287117.1253668924068.JavaMail.root@mswamui-cedar.atl.sa.earthlink.net> I am fairly new to the Northwest so not sure if a ROCK WREN is all that rare, but this was my first for the Portland area. The bird was vocalizing and working the riprap and debris on the western bank of the Willamette River about 1/2 mile upstream of the railroad bridge. This is a very industrial area (Superfund site) and accessible only by water. Jenny Jones Portland From Oropendolas at aol.com Tue Sep 22 20:04:18 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:04:18 EDT Subject: [obol] Lane Coast Motorless Birding Message-ID: Hello All, I saddled up and peddled to Florence last weekend where I met Daniel Farrar and Lydia Cruz for an excellent weekend of coastal birding. Sat. 09/19 North Jetty Pacific Loon - many Common Loon - 6 Red-necked Grebe - 1 Sooty Shearwater - many Brown Pelican - 10 Brandt's Cormorant - 20 Pelagic Cormorant - 80 Surf Scoter - many White-winged Scoter - many Heermann's Gull - 6 Western Gull - many Parasitic Jeager - 1 Common Murre - many Pigeon Guillemot - 2 Sat. 9/19 Sea Lion Caves Black Oystercatcher - 2 Black Turnstone - 20 Sunday 09/20 South Jetty Wandering Tattler - 2 Surfbird - 1 Sanderling - many Marbled Murrelet - 1 Rhinoceros Auklet - 2 American Pipit - several flyovers Sunday 09/20 Deflation Plain Western Kingbird - 1 American Pipit - many Sunday 09/20 Siltcoos River Pink-footed Shearwater - 20+ outnumbered Sooty Snowy Plover - 2 Monday 09/21 Siltcoos River Common Tern - 4 Monday 09/20 Triangle Lake American Dipper - 1 Good Birding, John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon Details of the ride: 09/19 Springfield to Florence via Hwy 36 - 85 miles to the North Jetty, then up the killer hill to Sea Lion Caves and back to Florence - 111 total miles. 09/20 Florence to South Jetty, to Siltcoos and back to Daniels and Lydia's - 27 miles. 09/20 D&L's to Siltcoos to Florence to Springfield via Hwy 36 - 95 miles. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090922/7add790a/attachment.html From henry at formandstructure.net Wed Sep 23 06:26:10 2009 From: henry at formandstructure.net (Henry Horvat) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:26:10 -0400 Subject: [obol] Columbia Co. Fall NAMC Results Message-ID: <0090BB72E804224C982654FE9B7D7F140161FAC50A@MAILR012.mail.lan> OBOL'ers: Three teams found a total of 75 species in Columbia County for the fall NAMC count. Migration was rather dull, as there were no flycatchers and the only warblers that we saw were Common Yellowthroats. Swallow numbers were in the hundreds. Perhaps the best find was a flock of 200 Evening Grosbeaks that Lona Pierce saw. Sauvie Island, normally a hot bed of activity was a bust, as a large pond just across the county line had been drained and the refuge was full of hunters and their dogs. We had half a day of rain and an afternoon of sunshine. Henry Horvat Scappoose, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090923/3d9aff39/attachment.html From jdanzenbaker at gmail.com Wed Sep 23 08:33:45 2009 From: jdanzenbaker at gmail.com (Jim Danzenbaker) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:33:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Binoculars and light gathering (was: Another way to think about binocular power) Message-ID: Hi OBOL, Paul, Don, and others, I'm going to jump into this conversation now that it has veered away from binoculars for less than $300.00. The ability of a binocular to gather light is determined by the size of the ojective lens (the lens furthest from our eyes or the lens closest to the object). This is the second number in the 8x32, 10x42 etc number. However, just because a binocular gathers light doesn't mean that its going to deliver high quality light and a bright image to your eyes. This is determined by the quality of the lenses, the quality of the coatings on the lenses, and the magnification. The lens material and the coatings on the lenses will determine the quality of the light that reaches your eyes (true color v grayish and washed out, etc). The magnification will determine the exit pupil which is the width of the shaft of light that exits the ocular lens and enters your pupil - the wider the shaft of light, the bighter the image with all other things being equal (meaning same lens and coating quality). To determine the exit pupil or the width of the beam of light (that you can see when you hold your binocular at arm's length in the direction of a light source), divide the objective lens number (32, 42, etc) by the magnification. The larger this end resulting number is, the brighter your image will be (again, assuming that coatings and lens quality are equal). For this reason, the 8 power will always deliver a brighter image than a 10 power with all other things being equal. Hope this didn't muddy the waters. Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Sales Manager for the Americas Kowa Optimed Inc. perched in Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com jimd at kowa.com On Tue, Sep 22, 2009 at 5:22 PM, Don Baccus wrote: > > On Sep 21, 2009, at 10:37 PM, Paul T. Sullivan wrote: > > > > b) the light gathered by 8X is greater > > Depends on the actual binocular, there's no optical reason that this > must be true. > > ---- > Don Baccus > http://donb.photo.net > http://birdnotes.net > http://openacs.org > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090923/1b501340/attachment.html From dhogaza at pacifier.com Wed Sep 23 09:03:55 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:03:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Binoculars and light gathering (was: Another way to think about binocular power) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On Sep 23, 2009, at 8:33 AM, Jim Danzenbaker wrote: > For this reason, the 8 power will always deliver a brighter image > than a 10 power with all other things being equal. > But they aren't, typically. 10x42 and 8x32 are two common combinations, and 42 <> 32. I myself have 10x50s and they're very bright. This is why I say you have to consider binoculars individually. Also porro prism binoculars with a high level of light transmission are relatively easy to build (mirrored prisms) while roof- prism binoculars, even the best, lose a bit of light via transmission through the glued-together prism elements. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From johnpam at mtangel.net Wed Sep 23 09:25:01 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:25:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Warblers Still Passing Through-Silverton Message-ID: Those of us in our little bit of the Marion County NAMC only saw one Common Yellowthroat last Saturday for the warbler contingent. We did see 5 GREEN HERON and 3 PILEATED WOODPECKER along with 250 VAUX'S SWIFT in our area around Silverton and another 50 or so species but warblers were notably missing. Since that rainy NAMC day, I have seen YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (3), ORANGE CROWNED WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (2-3) in the back corner of our property. Several days before the NAMC, I was surprised to find a YELLOW WARBLER also here. That was absolutely a new one for the yard. I heard a SWAINSON'S THRUSH yesterday morning just before spotting the 3rd BT GRAY WARBLER and noted BARN SWALLOWS still passing overhead. John Thomas 5 mi N Silverton From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Sep 23 09:56:15 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:56:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Another way to think about binocular power In-Reply-To: <2D5FB63B-A9F8-4F9F-B3C9-86454C118F15@pacifier.com> References: <006201ca3b46$e9b8c3b0$70c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> <2D5FB63B-A9F8-4F9F-B3C9-86454C118F15@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <8be1f8a0202618bfeebe86d16949f2b1@earthlink.net> Any given power (6X, 8X, 20X, you name it) binocular can gather more OR less light to the human eye than ambient illumination. The variable is the size of lenses out front. That number following the X is the diameter of the lens in cm. My 12 x 50s provide more light to my eyes after sunset than the naked eye, and a very wide field of view. Lars Norgren On Sep 22, 2009, at 5:22 PM, Don Baccus wrote: > > On Sep 21, 2009, at 10:37 PM, Paul T. Sullivan wrote: >> >> b) the light gathered by 8X is greater > > Depends on the actual binocular, there's no optical reason that this > must be true. > > ---- > Don Baccus > http://donb.photo.net > http://birdnotes.net > http://openacs.org > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From windypointandy at dishmail.net Wed Sep 23 10:09:10 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:09:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bay Ocean Spit to Florence-19-20 September Message-ID: <000601ca3c70$9bf35660$3700a8c0@windypoint99> BAY OCEAN SPIT TO FLORENCE 19-20 SEPTEMBER 2009 Once again on a quest to see shorebirds, our decision for the first stop was again made very easy as a Northern Wheatear had been found at Whalen Island Beach south of Tillamook. Though present the prior afternoon, it moved on during the night. We tried! We ventured north to hike out on Bay Ocean Spit, a new spot for us. The initial stretch along this spit is along a gravel track with Scots broom thickets intermingled with stunted Sitka spruce to the west of the track and views Tillamook Bay to the east. We made this walk on an incoming tide and noted a sprinkling of shorebirds in the mud near the dike: one Greater Yellowlegs, and sandpiper: 35 Western, two Baird's, and one Pectoral. Though the site guides talk of swarms of shorebirds hereabouts on an incoming tide; we saw but a handful. A Merlin dashed by putting up the shorebirds which flew west towards the beach, perhaps to a high tide roost. An American Kestrel zipped by the same spot on our return trek. About a mile up the spit, the Scots broom and stunted spruce give way to a habitat of shore pine and spruce at a junction with the first trail heading off to the beach. Just beyond, on the track enters a pretty woodland of red alder and abundant understory deciduous vegetation, a clear signal for us to stop and check out songbird activity. Fifteen minutes here yielded Black-capped Chickadee, Bewick's and Winter Wrens, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Swainson's Thrush, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and Song and Fox Sparrows. I'd wager frequent census of this spot would yield many interesting finds. Adding further interest to the area is the hillside above the track, mantled in a dense coastal coniferous forest with Sitka spruce and western hemlock. Farther along, the track leaves the alder woodland and re-enters shore pine and spruce in a stabilized dune setting. Abundant openings here held a number of White-crowned Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos. Overhead, in the pines, Red Crossbills chattered. Birds were few on Tillamook Bay. We did tally a handful of Surf Scoters, a single Common Loon, a few Brown Pelicans, both Double-crested and Pelagic Cormorants, a few Great Blue Herons, and gulls such as California and Western. Farther north, we took the second trail west across the shore pine forest, now very sandy, to the dunes and the beach. From here we headed south hoping the first beach access trail was easy to find. The beach was, unfortunately, devoid of birds. Offshore a mile or so were a few Sooty Shearwaters. We easily found the trail back to the track we started on. This enters the dunes at the south end of the obvious hilly area we had just encircled. Saturday afternoon we popped in at the overlook at Cape Meares where an adult Peregrine Falcon cruised by effortlessly in the stiff north breeze right before our eyes. I exclaimed "Peregrine," startling others on the platform. This invited lots of conversation and we spent a happy half-hour interpreting the scene to folks on the viewpoint from Oregon, Minnesota, British Columbia, and Korea. Lots of fun! At dawn on Sunday we were at the first viewpoint north of Sea Lion Caves to do a mini sea watch. Both Surf and White-winged Scoters were numerous as were Brandt's and Pelagic Cormorants. There were a few Sooty Shearwaters a mile or so out but Alcids seemed to be somewhere else. At the very north edge of the pull out, we thrilled at the mass of sea lions (both barking Californias and much quieter pale-furred Steller's or Northern Sea Lions). Our next stop was the Siuslaw North Jetty Access where we flushed a Cooper's Hawk hunting the Shore Pine habitat. We spied John Sullivan on the South Jetty scoping the ocean. His bike propped by jetty boulders, we bumped into him later on one of our stops at Dog Pond and learned he was on a "Motorless Birding" quest, having biked 80 miles from Eugene, enduring four hours of steady rain in the Coast Range Saturday morning. He was lugging a scope but no camping gear, "treating myself to a motel." Next we hit the South Jetty, hitting Dog Pond and "Deflation Plain" hike. Here we met Farrell Farrar and Lydia Cruz who had pretty much staked out the scene. The pond had three Pectoral Sandpipers, Bushtit, Cedar Waxwings, Yellow-rumped Warbler (both the "Myrtle" and "Audubon's" called), and Common Yellowthroat. Shorebirds along "Dotterel Dike" to the deflation plain included one Greater Yellowlegs. That was it. From there we headed north 1 ? miles across the very open plain to its end and ate lunch in the shade of a shore pine atop the dunes just shy of the Siuslaw River. Two weeks ago, the flats here were shallows, due to recent rains, attracting many birds, both waterfowl and shorebirds. Today, it was dry. Bummer! We found no shorebirds, nary a one. Our list on the flats on this three-mile return march included: one Northern Harrier, about 50 American Pipits (attracted to the narrow sward of stunted rushes edging the taller sedge flats), 10 Common Ravens, and a half-dozen Savannah Sparrows. That was all. I did keep an ear out for any Red-throated Pipit or wagtail that might have flown the wrong way from Alaska. Alas, this was pure fantasy. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090923/a6e7c047/attachment.html From jdanzenbaker at gmail.com Wed Sep 23 10:30:06 2009 From: jdanzenbaker at gmail.com (Jim Danzenbaker) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:30:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Binoculars and light gathering (was: Another way to think about binocular power) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Don, All other things being equal includes the size of the objective lens so an 8x42 compared to a 10x42 with the same lens quality and coatings will be brighter. If a binocular is that different from one unit to the next (lower quality optics tend to have less consistent light transmission within a specific model so considering a binocular individually is always a good idea*), I suggest, moving onto another brand of optic. Yes, a 10x50 should be bright given the exit pupil of 5 but make sure that the brightness test is done in a low light situation. Also, make sure that you can hold a 10 power steady and that the weight of a 50 is comfortable for you in your hands. * always try to buy a binocular or spotting scope from a store where you can test the actual optic that you will buy instead of off the internet. In this way, you can check the consistency of light transmission as well as a variety of other features on the optic. Of course, if you don't live close to an authorized dealer, that may be difficult! I agree about light transmission through porro vs roof....in a lower quality roof prism binocular. The additional money that you spend on a higher quality optic should (I can't speak for all high end optics) deliver higher light transmission and a crisper, sharper image from edge to edge. To Randy's point, eye fatigue is an issue. If you plan on using your binocular for extended periods of time, be aware that eye fatigue is a huge issue. You have one set of eyes and you shouldn't be straining your eyes looking through a binocular that will fatigue your eyes. Fatigue could lead to additional strain which could cause other problems. Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Sales Manager for the Americas Kowa Optimed Inc. perched in Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com On 9/23/09, Don Baccus wrote: > > On Sep 23, 2009, at 8:33 AM, Jim Danzenbaker wrote: > > > For this reason, the 8 power will always deliver a brighter image than a > 10 power with all other things being equal. > > > > > > > But they aren't, typically. ?10x42 and 8x32 are two common combinations, > and 42 <> 32. ?I ?myself have 10x50s and they're very bright. ?This is why I > say you have to consider binoculars individually. ?Also porro prism > binoculars with a high level of light transmission are relatively easy to > build (mirrored prisms) while roof-prism binoculars, even the best, lose a > bit of light via transmission through the glued-together prism elements. > > > > ---- > Don Baccus > http://donb.photo.net > http://birdnotes.net > http://openacs.org > > > > > > > From tc at empnet.com Wed Sep 23 10:30:26 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:30:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Binoculars and light gathering (was: Another way tothink about binocular power) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <39393CB6808F47D9A3FF288405F646A7@102889> We used to talk about a "twilight factor" with binoculars which was calculated by dividing the size of the objective lens by the power of the binocular. 7x35s (which for a long time were the standard) had a factor of 5. 8x40s and 10x50s also had a factor of 5. 7x50s had an amazing factor of 7.1, whereas the 8x32s I carry around have a factor of 4. As Don points out, things aren't equal. All the best quality binoculars are roof prisms now with anti-reflective coatings that increase the light gathering potential. My 8x32 Zeiss are a lot brighter than my 9x36 Bausch & Lomb porro prisms. They appear even brighter than my first generation roof prism B&L 8x42s. The point is there are very few absolutes when it comes to binoculars. If you are looking for the best binocular for you for $300, I can't tell you what it will be. You have to decide on the various factors -- power, weight, brightness, coloration (some have a yellowish cast, some bluish, some reddish), close focusing ability, new v. used (I got a used pair of Swarovski 8x30s for $300 last year, for example). Do your research, go to a store and play around. Figure out what is important to you and then enjoy them for years to come. Tom Crabtree, Bend PS In case you wanted more info, here are a couple of places to look: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Publications/LivingBird/Winter2005/Age_Binos.ht ml http://www.birdwatching.com/optics.html -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Don Baccus Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 8:04 AM To: Jim Danzenbaker Cc: Paul T. Sullivan; obol Subject: Re: [obol] Binoculars and light gathering (was: Another way tothink about binocular power) On Sep 23, 2009, at 8:33 AM, Jim Danzenbaker wrote: > For this reason, the 8 power will always deliver a brighter image > than a 10 power with all other things being equal. > But they aren't, typically. 10x42 and 8x32 are two common combinations, and 42 <> 32. I myself have 10x50s and they're very bright. This is why I say you have to consider binoculars individually. Also porro prism binoculars with a high level of light transmission are relatively easy to build (mirrored prisms) while roof- prism binoculars, even the best, lose a bit of light via transmission through the glued-together prism elements. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dhogaza at pacifier.com Wed Sep 23 11:03:18 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:03:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Binoculars and light gathering (was: Another way tothink about binocular power) In-Reply-To: <39393CB6808F47D9A3FF288405F646A7@102889> References: <39393CB6808F47D9A3FF288405F646A7@102889> Message-ID: <2C571EB8-5925-49A5-8B84-A484B28ABA33@pacifier.com> On Sep 23, 2009, at 10:30 AM, Tom Crabtree wrote: > > > The point is there are very few absolutes when it comes to > binoculars. If > you are looking for the best binocular for you for $300, I can't > tell you > what it will be. You have to decide on the various factors -- power, > weight, brightness, coloration (some have a yellowish cast, some > bluish, > some reddish), close focusing ability, new v. used (I got a used > pair of > Swarovski 8x30s for $300 last year, for example). Do your research, > go to a > store and play around. Figure out what is important to you and then > enjoy > them for years to come. Add build quality to the list if you want to enjoy them for years to come. Some are much more rugged than others, and typically it correlates to price, unfortunately. My old armored Zeiss 10x42s (stolen four years ago) survived about 15 years of being knocked off benches etc while trapping and banding hawks at a very rocky site. My current Leuopold and Stevens 10x50 roof prisms are just fine optically but a bit delicate, which encourages me to be kind to them. But I could buy about three of them for the price of a new Zeiss pair so that should be considered, too! ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Wed Sep 23 11:57:38 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:57:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Migrants on the high road Message-ID: <519223.52407.qm@web30408.mail.mud.yahoo.com> My current location is Carpenter Mt. Lookout on the Willamette National Forest. I just now had an interesting observation of two AMERICAN PIPITS. They flew in from the North and landed on the summit rocks here. They sat for about one minute before continuing South. At this time there is less than one mile visibility here because of smoke from the Tumblebug Fire(5000 acres as of 2 am today). The birds proceeded South without the landscape markers they would normally have during daytime flight. From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Sep 23 12:48:37 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:48:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Motorless listing update Message-ID: <1253735317.3372.164.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, John Sullivan's bicycle ride from Springfield out to the coast and back means that there are now two birders who have found 198 bird species so far this year, without use of motorized vehicles. See: http://www.oregonbirds.org/Listing/motorless.html if you'd like to see what birds they've found. The collective motorless year list for the 19 birders keeping track of motorless birds is now at 266 species. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From hhactitis at yahoo.com Wed Sep 23 12:56:53 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:56:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Florence area shorebirds Message-ID: <252306.73613.qm@web37002.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, I made my obligatory brief round of the usual shorebird spots this morning. The results were marginally more exciting than yesterday: North Jetty Siuslaw - mudflats: lots of mud, shorebird count: 0; jetty rocks: 0 rockpeckers South Jetty Siuslaw Dog Pond:? 4 Pectoral Sandpipers, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 1 Long-billed Dowitcher (also enjoyed by a group of 5 Eugene birders) Crab Dock flats:? 2 Marbled Godwits, 8 Black-bellied Plovers Deflation Plain/Dotterel Dike:? 4 Wilson's Snipe, 1 Killdeer; a distant? flyover flock, incl. 2 Marbled Godwits, ca. 30 Black-bellied Plovers and a few smaller birds that I was unable to ID at the distance (bigger than peeps, maybe mid-sized sandpipers or even Golden-Plovers???) Other than that, the Deflation Plain housed a flock of ~60 American Pipits. Songbird migration along the dike was pretty slow today. Tomorrow is the 9th anniversary of the glorious Deflation Plain Dotterel. I will be out there looking! Happy fall migration Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090923/c3e380ca/attachment.html From birdmandon at clearwire.net Wed Sep 23 15:38:34 2009 From: birdmandon at clearwire.net (Don Schrouder) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:38:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wednesday morning/Eugene Message-ID: <4D884803-438B-46A0-A939-FCFF3ADF8AA7@clearwire.net> Five of us couldn't decide just where to go locally so we all jumped into a car and headed over to Florence to see the Jumbo Humboldt Squid that had washed up onto the beaches. We stopped at the dog pond first, went out the south jetty and walked south on the beach, checked the crab docks and walked out the dike to the deflation plain. Saw many parts of squid that had been picked apart by all the gulls and one dead sea lion. Birds seen: Brown Pelican-lots Double-crested Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture-2 Northern Harrier-1 Red-shouldered Hawk-1 Peregrine Falcon-1-sitting on beach logs watching the birds along the water line Black-bellied Plover-8 Semipalmated Plover-6 Greater Yellowlegs-2 Western Sandpiper-2 Pectoral Sandpiper-4 Long-billed Dowitcher-1 Wilson's Snipe-4 California Gull Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull American Robin American Pipit-hundreds Yellow-rumped Warbler Spotted Towhee Savanna Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird American Goldfinch-25 Don Schrouder, Barry McKenzie, Fred Chancey, Dave Brown & Sylvia Maulding From tc at empnet.com Wed Sep 23 17:03:49 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:03:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (not RBA) Message-ID: How very timely; the September issue of Birding has a great ID article on alternate plumaged Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. It is available online at http://www.aba.org/birding/v41n5p32.pdf . The online version has an additional 13 pages of text, 12 large format photos and other goodies. Tom Crabtree, Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090923/c12aaf35/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Sep 23 21:35:19 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:35:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 09/23/09 Message-ID: <20090924043555.DD8A4A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 09/17 to 09/23/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 6 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Band-tailed Pigeon 5 (15, 9/20) Mourning Dove 4 (4, 9/21) Vaux's Swift 5 (20, 9/20) Anna's Hummingbird 5 (3) Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 (2, 9/23) DOWNY WOODPECKER 4 (1) Hairy Woodpecker 2 (1, 9/19 & 23) Northern Flicker 6 (6) Pileated Woodpecker 3 (2) OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER 1 (1, 9/23) Pacific-slope Flycatcher 1 (1, 9/23) Hutton's Vireo 1 (1, 9/23) Steller's Jay 6 (3) Western Scrub-Jay 4 (2) American Crow 4 (4) Violet-green Swallow 2 (3, 9/21) Black-capped Chickadee 6 (20) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 6 (15, 9/21) Bushtit 2 (20, 9/22) Red-breasted Nuthatch 6 (10, 9/23) Brown Creeper 4 (3, 9/20) Bewick's Wren 2 (1, 9/19 & 23) House Wren 1 (1, 9/17) Winter Wren 4 (2) Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 (1, 9/21 & 22) RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET 1 (1, 9/23) Swainson's Thrush 5 (4) HERMIT THRUSH 1 (1, 9/23) American Robin 5 (20, 9/23) VARIED THRUSH 2 (1, 9/17 & 23) European Starling 1 (2, 9/20) Cedar Waxwing 3 (50, 9/23) Orange-crowned Warbler 1 (1, 9/23) Black-throated Gray Warbler 3 (3, 9/22) Townsend's Warbler 1 (1, 9/22) Western Tanager 3 (1) Spotted Towhee 6 (10) Song Sparrow 6 (12) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW 2 (3, 9/23) Dark-eyed Junco 6 (8) Purple Finch 4 (2) House Finch 5 (4) Red Crossbill 5 (2) Pine Siskin 1 (3, 9/17) American Goldfinch 3 (2) Evening Grosbeak 5 (75, 9/20) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: TURKEY VULTURE, Cooper's Hawk, RED-TAILED HAWK, WESTERN SCREECH-OWL Misses (birds found at least 3 days in previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Barn Swallow Wink Gross Portland From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Wed Sep 23 22:18:29 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:18:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Broad-winged Hawk, Chimney Swift Big Lake Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F025A0D85@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> Yesterday I was teaching a birding class to 6th graders at Big Lake near Santiam Pass and the kids spotted a hawk. They quickly got me on the bird and it was a BROAD-WINGED HAWK. Needless to say this group of 6th grade girls was my top birding group of the day. Today among the 100's of migrating swallows at Big Lake there was what I believe to be a single CHIMNEY SWIFT. Reasons for my belief in the bird being a CHIMNEY SWIFT are as follows. The rapid twittering call nothing like that of a Vaux Swift. The size was equal to the Violet-green Swallows it was flying with and the long wings made it appear almost larger than some of the swallows. The uniform brown coloration of the back and the breast. It was only lighter in color on the throat and not the breast. The throat was not all that light in color making me wonder if this was a first year bird. The constant vibration of the wings as it flew. I watched it for several minutes and they never stopped vibrating seemingly in time to the constant twittering call. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090923/7942c915/attachment.html From bcombs232 at gmail.com Wed Sep 23 23:07:33 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:07:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane County bird lists from Saturday, September 19 Message-ID: <8ce3a6520909232307r3ce5239dx77a4b7e2f2da0fd7@mail.gmail.com> If you birded in Lane County on Saturday, September 19, I would appreciate receiving your species lists with numbers of each species recorded, as well as time spent and miles traveled. Thank you. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090923/b89453d2/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Sep 23 23:33:44 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:33:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 9-24-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * September 24, 2009 * ORPO0909.24 - birds mentioned Gr. White-fronted Goose Eurasian Wigeon Red-necked Grebe Am. White Pelican Great Egret Broad-winged Hawk Sandhill Crane Sanderling Semipalmated Sandpiper Sharp-tailed Sandpiper CHIMNEY SWIFT Rock Wren NORTHERN WHEATEAR Mountain Bluebird American Pipit HOODED WARBLER - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To Report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday September 24. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. A possible HOODED WARBLER was seen September 19 in Hampton along hwy 20 between Bend and Burns. On September 17 a NORTHERN WHEATEAR was at Whalen Island at Sandlake. It remained two days before moving on. A BROAD-WINGED HAWK and a CHIMNEY SWIFT was reported at Big Lake in Santiam Pass September 23. Heavy migrations continue to be reported. Most noticeable were WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, PIPITS, and MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS east of the Cascades. WHITE PELICANS continue to be seen in the Willamette Valley. On September 21, 239 GREAT EGRETS were at Smith/Bybee Lakes in North Portland. A ROCK WREN was along the Willamette River in mid-town Portland September 22. On September 19 a SANDHILL CRANE was over the Fernhill Wetlands. A SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was there September 21. The SABINE?S GULL at the Fernhill Wetlands continue to be seen. On September 20 a RED-NECKED GREBE was on Suttle Lake at Santiam Pass. A probable SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER was seen September 22 at Hatfield Lake near Bend. On September 20 a SANDERLING was at Prineville Reservoir. A male EURASIAN WIGEON was seen September 19 on Krumbo Reservoir in Malheur NWR. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090923/d84feff6/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Sep 24 06:54:25 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:54:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Broad-winged Hawk, Chimney Swift Big Lake In-Reply-To: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F025A0D85@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> Message-ID: That would be Oregon's first Chimney Swift, great find ! -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: John Gatchet > Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:18:29 -0700 > To: obol > Subject: [obol] Broad-winged Hawk, Chimney Swift Big Lake > > Yesterday I was teaching a birding class to 6th graders at Big Lake near > Santiam Pass and the kids spotted a hawk. They quickly got me on the > bird and it was a BROAD-WINGED HAWK. Needless to say this group of 6th > grade girls was my top birding group of the day. Today among the 100's > of migrating swallows at Big Lake there was what I believe to be a > single CHIMNEY SWIFT. Reasons for my belief in the bird being a CHIMNEY > SWIFT are as follows. > > The rapid twittering call nothing like that of a Vaux Swift. The size > was equal to the Violet-green Swallows it was flying with and the long > wings made it appear almost larger than some of the swallows. The > uniform brown coloration of the back and the breast. It was only > lighter in color on the throat and not the breast. The throat was not > all that light in color making me wonder if this was a first year bird. > The constant vibration of the wings as it flew. I watched it for > several minutes and they never stopped vibrating seemingly in time to > the constant twittering call. > > John F. Gatchet > Gresham, OR > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From winkg at hevanet.com Thu Sep 24 06:59:36 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:59:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Greater White-fronted Geese, NW Portland Message-ID: <20090924135936.8BE20A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Heard a flock of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flying over my house in NW Portland this morning about 5:40AM. Wink Gross Portland From chukarbird at yahoo.com Thu Sep 24 07:43:40 2009 From: chukarbird at yahoo.com (Kathy Andrich) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:43:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Pinyon Jays and Barn Swallow Roost In-Reply-To: <2C571EB8-5925-49A5-8B84-A484B28ABA33@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <31900.48330.qm@web52908.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hi OBOL'ers, I took the long way home from the Washington Ornithological Society conference in Kelso by taking the going home east trip with Wilson Cady and then heading south to Sisters the following day. I arrived on Tuesday of this week. I spent a lot of time driving and walking around town without success and then decided to spend the night at the Best Western. About 6pm ish the Pinyon Jays literally descended into town from the north. They flew past the Best Western into town. At first I thought there was 50 birds but after chasing them down and watching them fly around I had to up that to around 100. I got wonderful looks at all aspects, calls, behavior, flight, adult and juvenile. Thank you to all who sent me emails with information about them. It was worth the time to find them to spend as much time as I did with a life bird. Last night I went to see the Barn Swallow roost at Grand Island. I got there plenty early (5pm) and would have missed a Coopers Hawk being harassed by about 500 Barn Swallows if I had gotten there later. It was a lot of waiting for the main event but it was worth it. The numbers built around 6:45pm and peaked around 7:10pm. They were down into the cornfields by 7:25. This is truly an event not to be missed. It was amazing!!! The first time I heard about this several years ago I wanted to go and finally I got my chance. I would not doubt the estimate of a quarter of a million birds that I have read. It didn't take much to figure out why you want to see the birds against the western sky because after the sun goes down is when the peak is and they are nicely backlit rather than flying in darkness. For excellent directions see Floyd Schrock's email from August 30. I was close to the edge of the corn parked in a tamped down area of grass, some of the corn Floyd was near may have been mowed down because there was a large empty field in front of me. Kathy Roosting in Kent, near Lake Meridian (chukarbird at yahoo dot com) From rkorpi at hotmail.com Thu Sep 24 08:29:41 2009 From: rkorpi at hotmail.com (Ray Korpi) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:29:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrush Message-ID: Just had a Swainson's Thrush outside my office here on the Clark campus. A nice morning treat! Ray korpi rkorpi at clark.edu Vancouver WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090924/4d37e414/attachment.html From alderspr at peak.org Thu Sep 24 09:05:23 2009 From: alderspr at peak.org (Karan & Jim Fairchild) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:05:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Greater white fronted geese, Benton Co References: <20090924135936.8BE20A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: <833941E5B4A14DD39D132D32D6FEFFFF@HOMESTEAD> Hi Obol- Flock after flock are passing high overhead this morning, heading south. We are on the eastern edge of the Coast Range. Karan Fairchild 6 mi SW of Philomath From withgott at comcast.net Thu Sep 24 09:21:33 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:21:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon PELAGIC CRUISE results: 22 September 2009 Message-ID: Hello OBOL -- Once again, a spirited group of birders commandeered an unspeakably large and decadent cruise ship in order to conduct a systematic transect of marine bird life off the Oregon coast. Fifteen observers from Oregon, Washington, and California rode the Star Princess from Vancouver, BC, to San Francisco, CA, on 21-23 Sept., a route that gave us 12 hours of daylight observation along the Oregon coast, from the WA state line to the CA state line, on 22 Sept. We were 40-66 miles offshore during this N-S transect. The list below summarizes preliminary total numbers of all species seen by our group in Oregon waters. For those interested in more detail, an official full report for the trip, complete with a county-by-county breakdown of numbers of all pelagic species, as well as species and numbers in WA and CA, will be prepared shortly. Please email me privately if you would like to receive a copy of this full report. Compared with the Oregon portion of previous large-group September cruises, this one was notable for the high number of individual birds overall. The total number of individuals was 48% greater than on the Sept 2007 cruise, and four times as great as on the Sept 2008 cruise. It was also roughly 7 times greater than on the May 2009 cruise. This was largely due to great numbers of Sabine's Gulls, Arctic Terns, Pink-footed and Sooty Shearwaters, and jaegers. There were virtually no times at which a bird was not to be seen somewhere on the horizon, and through most of the day there were too many birds for any one person to observe. This cruise produced our highest-yet numbers for Pink-footed Shearwater (1,345), South Polar Skua (15), Long-tailed Jaeger (386), total jaegers (615), Sabine's Gull (3,294), and Arctic Tern (1,028), as well as for a few less-numerous species such as Short-tailed Shearwater, Bonaparte's Gull, and California Gull. For alcids and for Sooty Shearwater, numbers were intermediate between our previous Sept. trips. Numbers were on the low side for Black-footed Albatross and Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, and we did not see Laysan Albatross, Leach's Storm-Petrel, or Xantus's Murrelet. Highlight species included a FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER in Curry County seen by nearly everyone, and a COOK'S PETREL in Coos County seen by just a few at a great distance. Species seen in OREGON: Black-footed Albatross - 22 Northern Fulmar - 111 Cook's Petrel - 1 Pink-footed Shearwater - 1345 Flesh-footed Shearwater - 1 Buller's Shearwater - 40 Sooty Shearwater - 1417 Short-tailed Shearwater - 2 Shearwater SP. - 35 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel - 16 Black Turnstone - 1 (66 miles out!) Red-necked Phalarope - 3 Red Phalarope - 62 Phalarope SP. - 48 South Polar Skua - 15 Pomarine Jaeger - 85 Parasitic Jaeger - 37 Long-tailed Jaeger - 386 Jaeger SP. - 107 Bonaparte's Gull - 4 California Gull - 94 Sabine's Gull - 3294 Arctic Tern - 1028 Murrelet SP. - 2 Cassin's Auklet - 101 Rhinoceros Auklet - 13 Alcid SP. - 5 Northern Fur Seal - 1 Whale SP. (likely Fin or Sei) - 2 Pacific White-sided Dolphin - 410+ Risso's Dolphin - 10+ Dall's Porpoise - 14+ Dolphin/Porpoise SP. (likely mostly Pac. White-sided) - 250 Cetacean SP. - 8 Shark SP(s). - 7 ? and in Calif., a spectacular show by 13 Humpback Whales, two breaching at close range. Seas were calm and viewing conditions were excellent, with only a few minutes lost to fog. Winds largely kept us off the bow, which decreased the amount of ocean we could cumulatively census, but viewing conditions from our windless stations on the sides of the boat allowed for ample coverage. Observers included: From Oregon: Jeff Gilligan, Owen Schmidt, Rich Armstrong, Nanette Armstrong, Sharon Blair, Bjorn Hinrichs, Dave Irons, Tim Janzen, Rachel Janzen, Judy Meredith, Jay Withgott, Sheran Wright From Washington: Ryan Merrill, Steve Mlodinow From California: Ebbe Banstorp A fabulous time was had by all, Jay Withgott Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090924/df6359ed/attachment.html From lbviman at blackfoot.net Thu Sep 24 09:24:11 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:24:11 -0600 Subject: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 18, Issue 23 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090924161929.B49D79B024D@mail.blackfoot.net> Someone's done it again. Quoted the entire previous list of sightings/information. Please, when replying to the list, try to adhere to the rules about relevance and brevity in quoted parts of your messages. Thank you - Jim Greaves, MT From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Thu Sep 24 11:09:10 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:09:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Binoculars and light gathering (was: Another way to think about binocular power) Message-ID: <658060.31258.qm@web30404.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Mr Danzenbaker is muddying the waters here.? He fails to make any mention of the huge role that human physiology and perception play. For example the theoretical advantage of a 5 mm exit pupil over a 4 mm exit pupil exists only when the iris of the human eye is opened to at least 5 mm.? The average human iris opening during daylight hours is only 2.5 mm. A human iris opening of 5 mm normally occurs only during darkness.? As a practical matter, as soon as there is enough twilight to actually see a bird, the human iris will be smaller than 5 mm. Steven Ingraham summarizes the advantages of 10X thusly: Among the differences that were evident however, the most surprising to me was that hand-held 10 power glasses, whether 50mm or 42mm, either showed more detail and color, or showed it more easily, than any of the 8 power glasses in most of the extreme condition tests. Whether this difference would stand up to a full day in the field or not is another question, but undoubtedly, in extreme conditions, with a relatively steady hand, 10 power glasses do give a slight edge...in ease of seeing, if in nothing else. Full article: http://www.betterviewdesired.com/Complete-February-1998-Issue.php For the record I own 2 pairs of Nikon Premier SE (used to be Superior E) binoculars.? When birding at Fields or similar situations, I use the 8x32 almost exclusively.? When birding the Oregon Coast or Fern Ridge Reservoir I use the 10x42 almost exclusively.? Maitreya From: Jim Danzenbaker Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:33:45 -0700 Hi OBOL, Paul, Don, and others, I'm going to jump into this conversation now that it has veered away from binoculars for less than $300.00. The ability of a binocular to gather light is determined by the size of the ojective lens (the lens furthest from our eyes or the lens closest to the object). This is the second number in the 8x32, 10x42 etc number. However, just because a binocular gathers light doesn't mean that its going to deliver high quality light and a bright image to your eyes. This is determined by the quality of the lenses, the quality of the coatings on the lenses, and the magnification. The lens material and the coatings on the lenses will determine the quality of the light that reaches your eyes (true color v grayish and washed out, etc). The magnification will determine the exit pupil which is the width of the shaft of light that exits the ocular lens and enters your pupil - the wider the shaft of light, the bighter the image with all other things being equal (meaning same lens and coating quality). To determine the exit pupil or the width of the beam of light (that you can see when you hold your binocular at arm's length in the direction of a light source), divide the objective lens number (32, 42, etc) by the magnification. The larger this end resulting number is, the brighter your image will be (again, assuming that coatings and lens quality are equal). For this reason, the 8 power will always deliver a brighter image than a 10 power with all other things being equal. Hope this didn't muddy the waters. Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Sales Manager for the Americas Kowa Optimed Inc. perched in Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker AT gmail.com jimd AT kowa.com ? ?Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.? Jonathan Livingston Seagull -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090924/515ee4b1/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Thu Sep 24 11:22:31 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:22:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Prairie falcon Message-ID: <49545.81336.qm@web39708.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello, Today at about 10:15 AM, an imm. female prairie falcon forced my entire flock of pigeons back into the safety of the loft. It was only about one meter behind its quarry, when that pigeon flew full speed thru the loft entrance, the falcon stooping, then rising just over the roof at high speed. The pigeon, amazingly, was not hurt. Best, Dick From Andy.Frank at kp.org Thu Sep 24 12:04:25 2009 From: Andy.Frank at kp.org (Andy.Frank at kp.org) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:04:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Smith-Bybee American Pipits Message-ID: Yesterday I returned to Bybee Lake (didn't make it over to Smith) and found my first of season AMERICAN PIPITS. There were about 35. I estimated that there are now 250 DOWITCHERS there and about 10 GREATER YELLOWLEGS. There were distant peeps and one looked good for PECTORAL SANDPIPER. Andy Frank -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090924/b8cf5249/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Thu Sep 24 12:37:24 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:37:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Binoculars and light gathering (was: Another way tothink about binocular power) In-Reply-To: <658060.31258.qm@web30404.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <658060.31258.qm@web30404.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: To muddy Maitreya's waters further, who quotes Steven Ingraham on the advantages of 10x binoculars - Ingraham writes in a different spot in the Better View Desired website: "I don't like 10X binoculars. I find them too difficult, too uncomfortable to use for extended periods in the field. I am convinced that you see more, over time, through excellent 8X glasses than you ever will through 10X glasses." http://www.betterviewdesired.com/High-Power-Binoculars-bvd.php. It's all a matter of personal preference, folks. I own Zeiss Victory FL's in 8x32 and 10x42 flavors. I use the 8x 95% of the time. That's what works best for me, however there are many others who would pick the 10x. Some have even suggested that the best binocular for the money is the Leopold 6 x 30. There is no "Holy Grail" of binoculars. Every review carries with it the idiosyncrasies and biases of the reviewer. Take 10 birders with ten of the "best" binoculars under $300 to examine and you will get at least 8 different answers. Tom Crabtree, Bend _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Leith McKenzie Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 10:09 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Binoculars and light gathering (was: Another way tothink about binocular power) * * * * Steven Ingraham summarizes the advantages of 10X thusly: Among the differences that were evident however, the most surprising to me was that hand-held 10 power glasses, whether 50mm or 42mm, either showed more detail and color, or showed it more easily, than any of the 8 power glasses in most of the extreme condition tests. Whether this difference would stand up to a full day in the field or not is another question, but undoubtedly, in extreme conditions, with a relatively steady hand, 10 power glasses do give a slight edge...in ease of seeing, if in nothing else. * * * * * Maitreya -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090924/fbaff0df/attachment.html From millerstwo at comcast.net Thu Sep 24 13:50:37 2009 From: millerstwo at comcast.net (Nora Miller) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:50:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Binoculars and light gathering (was: Another way tothink about binocular power) In-Reply-To: <658060.31258.qm@web30404.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <658060.31258.qm@web30404.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Fellow Obolians: I don't claim authority on birding or optics, but I do have an opinion on the original question about good low-cost binos, which also indirectly applies to some of the erudite discussion of optics. I have owned several binoculars from Orion Optics, and my favorite and current, which I use all the time, is their 10x50 Ultra-Wide. They offer a 22mm eye relief, essential for glasses wearers--I can even use the lower part of my no-line bifocals to get a slightly different focus and still see most of the extra-wide 6.5 degree field of view. They are very light, so I find I can keep them plenty steady enough for finding the bird in the bush, and with the 10x I can sometimes see birds that the 8x users can't distinguish. Whenever I bird with 8x users, they invariably ask to borrow mine to actually see the features of the bird they can only see in general--and they invariably want to know where to get a pair. The Ultra-Wide binos are sturdy enough to toss in my backpack and shove under the seat in front of me on the airplane, and they come with a ten-year warranty. And they are not only under $300, they are under $200. Here's a link: http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~product_id=09351 If I have any complaint, it is that, being 10x, they have a pretty distant near-focus point, between 12 and 16 feet, as someone previously noted. If you do a lot of birding in the dense woods or at feeders, you may not want these. But for all other applications I have used them for, they do a bang-up job, in my opinion! Good birding to all Nora Miller Tucson (formerly Portland) _____ From: Leith McKenzie [mailto:loinneilceol at yahoo.com] Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 11:09 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Binoculars and light gathering (was: Another way tothink about binocular power) Mr Danzenbaker is muddying the waters here. He fails to make any mention of the huge role that human physiology and perception play. For example the theoretical advantage of a 5 mm exit pupil over a 4 mm exit pupil exists only when the iris of the human eye is opened to at least 5 mm. The average human iris opening during daylight hours is only 2.5 mm. A human iris opening of 5 mm normally occurs only during darkness. As a practical matter, as soon as there is enough twilight to actually see a bird, the human iris will be smaller than 5 mm. Steven Ingraham summarizes the advantages of 10X thusly: Among the differences that were evident however, the most surprising to me was that hand-held 10 power glasses, whether 50mm or 42mm, either showed more detail and color, or showed it more easily, than any of the 8 power glasses in most of the extreme condition tests. Whether this difference would stand up to a full day in the field or not is another question, but undoubtedly, in extreme conditions, with a relatively steady hand, 10 power glasses do give a slight edge...in ease of seeing, if in nothing else. Full article: http://www.betterviewdesired.com/Complete-February-1998-Issue.php For the record I own 2 pairs of Nikon Premier SE (used to be Superior E) binoculars. When birding at Fields or similar situations, I use the 8x32 almost exclusively. When birding the Oregon Coast or Fern Ridge Reservoir I use the 10x42 almost exclusively. Maitreya From: Jim Danzenbaker Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:33:45 -0700 Hi OBOL, Paul, Don, and others, I'm going to jump into this conversation now that it has veered away from binoculars for less than $300.00. The ability of a binocular to gather light is determined by the size of the ojective lens (the lens furthest from our eyes or the lens closest to the object). This is the second number in the 8x32, 10x42 etc number. However, just because a binocular gathers light doesn't mean that its going to deliver high quality light and a bright image to your eyes. This is determined by the quality of the lenses, the quality of the coatings on the lenses, and the magnification. The lens material and the coatings on the lenses will determine the quality of the light that reaches your eyes (true color v grayish and washed out, etc). The magnification will determine the exit pupil which is the width of the shaft of light that exits the ocular lens and enters your pupil - the wider the shaft of light, the bighter the image with all other things being equal (meaning same lens and coating quality). To determine the exit pupil or the width of the beam of light (that you can see when you hold your binocular at arm's length in the direction of a light source), divide the objective lens number (32, 42, etc) by the magnification. The larger this end resulting number is, the brighter your image will be (again, assuming that coatings and lens quality are equal). For this reason, the 8 power will always deliver a brighter image than a 10 power with all other things being equal. Hope this didn't muddy the waters. Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Sales Manager for the Americas Kowa Optimed Inc. perched in Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker AT gmail.com jimd AT kowa.com "Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom." Jonathan Livingston Seagull -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090924/1f36cf4a/attachment.html From rakestraw.john at yahoo.com Thu Sep 24 14:02:49 2009 From: rakestraw.john at yahoo.com (John Rakestraw) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:02:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island autumn arrivals Message-ID: <406607.37932.qm@web65301.mail.ac2.yahoo.com> I birded the Oak Island unit on Sauvie Island today. Highlights included: Red-shouldered Hawk (adult) Cackling Geese (minima subspecies, at least 200) Sandhill Cranes Golden-crowned Sparrow American White Pelican (about 12 on Sturgeon Lake) Great Horned Owl Despite the large expanses of mud around the lake, the only shorebirds I saw were a flock of eight Killdeer. Cheers, John Rakestraw Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090924/e159ccde/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Thu Sep 24 14:22:38 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:22:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Greater White-fronted Geese Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F025A1059@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> I heard a flock of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE fly over my house in Gresham this morning at 5:10. This adds to the recent reports. They were headed south. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090924/47e0ddb2/attachment.html From lesliemeserve at comcast.net Thu Sep 24 14:35:30 2009 From: lesliemeserve at comcast.net (Meserve) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:35:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sabine's Gull still at Fernhill, Washington County Message-ID: <9EEB4208A08B43B8AD1C61E88F52CEA9@LMPC> This morning the SABINE'S GULL was sitting on an island in the Mitigation Ponds (east side of the ponds.) It rested until after 11, then began to fly around, eat some small fish. Dowitchers, Greater Yellowlegs, one Least Sandpiper in same area. Someone did spot two American White Pelicans to far southeast from viewing stand (I couldn't quite make them out,) and a SANDHILL CRANE was visible on an island in that direction - the crane was harassing some ducks in its path. Leslie Meserve Washington County, Oregon From hhactitis at yahoo.com Thu Sep 24 15:29:51 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:29:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Siuslaw South Jetty area today Message-ID: <780415.32631.qm@web37007.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello OBOL, Oscar and I went out for a quick check of the South Jetty area today around noon. Birding was slow, and the high winds made it pretty difficult and less than enjoyable. There were 6 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS at the Dog Pond. No shorebirds at the Crab Dock. The dike into the Deflation Plain yielded 2 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and one BLACK PHOEBE. By the time we reached the end of the dike, the howling wind from the north thwarted any ambitions we might have entertained about walking out into the actual Deflation Plain - I guess the potential Dotterels and other goodies will have to wait for calmer weather :-) All in all a beautiful, sunny, windy and slow day on the Central Coast. Happy Fall Migration Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090924/582c5551/attachment.html From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Thu Sep 24 16:11:32 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (barbara.millikan at gmail.com) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:11:32 +0000 Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrush In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <0016e64eeca6cadeec04745af360@google.com> Last evening from about 5 to 9 pm we had a Swainson's Thrush attempting to escape our house through the clerstory windows in the living room. I finally turned off all the inside lights when it got dark, turned on the outside ones and swept the thrush out of the window with a duster. I beat the cat to it by milliseconds and released it on the back porch where it immediately flew straight up. Having one outside is SO much nicer. But now I know what their alarm calls sound like. Barbara On Sep 24, 2009 8:29am, Ray Korpi wrote: > Just had a Swainson's Thrush outside my office here on the Clark campus. > A nice morning treat! > Ray korpi > rkorpi at clark.edu > Vancouver WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090924/e1c0860c/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Thu Sep 24 16:37:37 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:37:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Greater White-fronted Geese References: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F025A1059@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> Message-ID: I did, too, at 5:54, at the edge of the Coast Range outside McMinnville. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: John Gatchet To: obol Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:22 PM Subject: [obol] Greater White-fronted Geese I heard a flock of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE fly over my house in Gresham this morning at 5:10. This adds to the recent reports. They were headed south. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From pamelaj at spiritone.com Thu Sep 24 17:11:36 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:11:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lewis's Woodpecker, Yamhill Co Message-ID: <8771C5FD20CC435389F1AD98CD85C6BE@yourw5st28y9a3> In the late morning, Carol Karlen, Karen Hoyt and I saw a Lewis's Woodpecker flycatching from and oak tree on Gopher Valley Rd, N of Hwy 18. Pamela Johnston From dendroicaman at peak.org Thu Sep 24 17:32:20 2009 From: dendroicaman at peak.org (dendroicaman at peak.org) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:32:20 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (late) Message-ID: Hi OBOL, Sorry for the delay in posting this, I have had limited computer access lately. My co-worker observed 4 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS at Wood River Wetland in Klamath County on Tuesday, Sept. 15. He has a photo of one of the birds, which is clearly a Rose-breasted (I can get a link for interested parties). He observed the birds on the small island across the water from the Petric Park boat launch. Good Birding, Karl Karl Fairchild currently in smoky Ashland, OR From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Thu Sep 24 18:14:06 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (Denise Hughes) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:14:06 -0600 Subject: [obol] sewage ponds near Farewell Bend State Park Message-ID: <000301ca3d7d$82495210$86dbf630$@net> I don't know if there is any water in those ponds. I'll have to check it out. Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho deniseh55 at clearwire.net There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before. - Robert Lynd Using Google Earth, I see that there are a set of sewer ponds about a half mile SE of Farewell Bend Park. This is in the extreme NE corner of Malheur County. Has anyone tried to visit these ponds? They are less than a half mile from the Snake River so they may be very productive. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090924/bb1f50eb/attachment.html From SJJag at comcast.net Thu Sep 24 19:57:15 2009 From: SJJag at comcast.net (SJJag at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:57:15 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Swallow Swarm, East Mult. County In-Reply-To: <935482889.5359081253846892542.JavaMail.root@sz0081a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <663872303.5361771253847435292.JavaMail.root@sz0081a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Linda called a bit go, 7:00 ish pm. to report a large, est. low thousands, ?mixed swarm of swallows over a very small, cyclone fenced, " wetland" behind the Arco at I-84 and 238th. St. It is exit 16 from the freeway. She did not watch but a few descend into small trees inside the fence, but stated that many more were coming in as those settled.? The Arco is in the N.E. corner, the wet spot is immediately adjacent on the N.E. side. It is practically lost untill it draws one's attention. This looks like a mitigation spot with pavement on nearly all sides. Best viewing is probably from the East side in the camper sales parking lot.? (Camper World? ) I'm interested to know if others have seen this apparent roost in action. Steve Jaggers Linda Neumann -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090925/b5a8eb34/attachment.html From fdlospalluto at gmail.com Thu Sep 24 22:07:37 2009 From: fdlospalluto at gmail.com (frank lospalluto) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:07:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Greater White-fronted Geese Message-ID: <7330d47e0909242207j34af5c62p662fb92a61a2e942@mail.gmail.com> While working along Chiloquin Ridge in Klamath Co. this morning,Sept.24, had a few hundred Greater White-fronted Geese flyover. frank From gdalindy at msn.com Thu Sep 24 22:18:01 2009 From: gdalindy at msn.com (GLEN LINDEMAN) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:18:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] NAMC Results - Marion County Message-ID: Saturday was a very good day for the Marion County count, a bit rainy in the morning but clearing up before noon and glorious in the afternoon. We had 13 counters in the field, plus half a dozen feeder counters. Here are the county totals: 36 Pied-billed Grebe 2 Horned Grebe 1 Double-crested Cormorant 3 American Bittern 14 Great Blue Heron 1 Great Egret 9 Green Heron 35 Turkey Vulture 241 Canada Goose 16 Wood Duck 3 Gadwall 6 American Wigeon 703 Mallard 16 Cinnamon Teal 15 Northern Shoveler 86 Northern Pintail 99 Green-winged Teal 1 Ring-necked Duck 2 Bufflehead 11 Hooded Merganser 81 Common Merganser 2 Ruddy Duck 1 Osprey 2 Northern Harrier 2 Cooper's Hawk 1 Northern Goshawk 23 Red-tailed hawk 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 15 American Kestrel 1 Peregrine Falcon 98 California Quail 14 Virginia Rail 2 Sora 45 American Coot 67 Killdeer 13 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 2 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Least Sandpiper 5 Long-billed Dowitcher 10 Wilson's Snipe 38 Ring-billed Gull 4 Glaucous-winged Gull 2 Caspian Tern 3 Forster's Tern 470 Rock Pigeon 45 Mourning Dove 2 Western Screech-Owl 2 Great-horned Owl 2 Barred Owl 1 Northern Pygmy-Owl 333 Vaux's Swift (270 roosting in a chimney in Silverton) 10 Anna's Hummingbird 9 Rufous Hummingbird 11 Belted Kingfisher 9 Acorn Woodpecker 4 Red-breasted Sapsucker 7 Downy Woodpecker 2 Hairy Woodpecker 38 Northern Flicker 4 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Western Wood-Pewee 33 Steller's Jay 111 Western Scrub-Jay 257 American Crow 2 Common Raven 6 Horned Lark 45 Tree Swallow 407 Violet-green Swallow 545 Barn Swallow 107 Black-capped Chickadee 22 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 57 Bushtit 23 Red-breasted Nuthatch 7 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Brown Creeper 8 Bewick's Wren 10 Marsh Wren 6 American Dipper 12 Western Bluebird 2 Townsend's Solitaire 29 American Robin 1817 European Starling 383 Cedar Waxwing 2 Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 Townsend's Warbler 5 Common Yellowthroat 2 Western Tanager 27 Spotted Towhee 62 Savannah Sparrow 69 Song Sparrow 2 Fox Sparrow 16 White-crowned Sparrow 1 Golden-crowned Sparrow 14 Dark-eyed Junco 170 Red-winged Blackbird 452 Brewer's Blackbird 3 Brown-headed Cowbird 67 House Finch 15 Red Crossbill 6 Lesser Goldfinch 558 American Goldfinch 33 House Sparrow -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090924/ed650f39/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Thu Sep 24 22:24:00 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:24:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrush Message-ID: <20090924222400.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.ae88839b49.wbe@email.secureserver.net> Today, I watered the lawn for the first time in a couple of weeks. I hadn't seen robins in the yard for a few weeks, but this evening, there were about a dozen on the lawn hunting for earthworms attracted to the surface by the watering. I was surprised to see a Swainson's thrush join the robins because the front lawn is rather open and exposed. Yesterday morning, there was a Swainson's thrush (maybe the same bird?) in the back yard eating raspberries, but the backyard isn't as wide-open as the front yard. Yesterday morning, and again this morning, there was a western tanager calling from the birch tree in the yard. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrush > From: Ray Korpi > Date: Thu, September 24, 2009 8:29 am > To: obol obol > > > Just had a Swainson's Thrush outside my office here on the Clark campus. A nice morning treat! > > Ray korpi > > rkorpi at clark.edu > > Vancouver WA
_______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dpvroman at budget.net Fri Sep 25 06:01:48 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:01:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Greater White-fronted Geese References: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F025A1059@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> Message-ID: <712B6D100C1847008FD7A0018750D13A@Warbler> John and Others, If not the flock you observed, a different one past directly over our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit) this morning (09-25-09) at about 0530 bound southward. Pretty tough to estimate their numbers, however. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:22 PM Subject: [obol] Greater White-fronted Geese I heard a flock of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE fly over my house in Gresham this morning at 5:10. This adds to the recent reports. They were headed south. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090925/cf68d7bf/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Fri Sep 25 06:40:16 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:40:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook County Merlin & Pec Sandpiper Message-ID: Prineville Sewer Ponds - 700 Shovelers, 1 Merlin, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090925/e803df60/attachment.html From fdlospalluto at gmail.com Fri Sep 25 09:56:57 2009 From: fdlospalluto at gmail.com (frank lospalluto) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:56:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Greater White-fronted Geese over Siskiyou Summit Message-ID: <7330d47e0909250956o4c635155wb022a0092893de5@mail.gmail.com> OBOL: My first night home in 10 days and was kept awake through the night and into this morning by the constant calling overhead of thousands of Greater White-fronted Geese along with a few flocks of Canada Geese. I live near Siskiyou Summit. frank From dpvroman at budget.net Fri Sep 25 10:30:09 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:30:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Greater White-fronted Geese over Siskiyou Summit & to the west References: <7330d47e0909250956o4c635155wb022a0092893de5@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <7C0F2F5AE6BD4DF3A718E6F5C63CB487@Warbler> Add more to Frank's flocks to the west of Mt. Ashland (Josephine Co on 09-25-090). There's not much that can keep me awake at night (missed any at this time), but in addition to the unseen night-flying flock reported at our place (just east of the Merlin I-5 exit) at 0530 there was another heard at about 0635 and while working on our roof, a high-up flock of an estimate 180 at 0925 (got to see these). Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Sent: Friday, September 25, 2009 9:56 AM Subject: [obol] Greater White-fronted Geese over Siskiyou Summit > OBOL: > My first night home in 10 days and was kept awake through the > night and into this morning by the constant calling overhead of > thousands of Greater White-fronted Geese along with a few flocks > of Canada Geese. I live near Siskiyou Summit. > frank From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Sep 25 11:01:36 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:01:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] [Fwd: [birding] Interesting Empidonax (Least?) Flycatcher at Luckiamute Landing, Polk Co.] Message-ID: <1253901696.3921.62.camel@clearwater> -------- Forwarded Message -------- From: Joel Geier Reply-to: joel.geier at peak.org To: MidValley Birds Subject: [birding] Interesting Empidonax (Least?) Flycatcher at Luckiamute Landing, Polk Co. Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:58:51 -0700 Hi folks, I stopped by the Luckiamute Landing unit of Luckiamute State Natural Area this morning to pick some of the hops which grow wild there (and are in effect an invasive species). Before I started picking, I indulged in a bit of birding. Notables included a MERLIN (probably the same one reported by Howard Bruner on Sunday's NAMC), a VESPER SPARROW in the former nesting area by the reed-canary-grass slough (though I don't think any nested there this year), and two late migrant HOUSE WRENS. I also had a brief view of a puzzling EMPIDONAX FLYCATCHER sp. with a distinct eye-ring and pale underside of the bill, which was foraging in view for about 30 seconds on the SW edge of the woods, right where the field road that leads toward the trail through the gallery forest takes an E/SE-ward bend at the NE corner of said slough (the field road has been planted over with fescue in this stretch). I first noticed the bird while watching a couple of DOWNY WOODPECKERS that were wrangling over a cottonwood until another woodpecker sp. flew in that I thought was a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. I gave a couple of owl calls to see if I could get the sapsucker to peek around the edge of the cottonwood trunk, and then I heard an unfamiliar, buzzy sort note and saw the flycatcher, which was moving through a small Oregon ash tree ash tree (~30 ft high) that was standing a bit outside of the closed-canopy part of the woods. I had one good look at the underside of the bill. It appeared to be entirely yellow or slightly orangeish yellow, as typical for "Western" Flycatcher. However it struck me as a bit too narrow for a "Western," more like a Dusky in terms of length-to-width ratio. The bird had a fairly bold, complete whiteish eye ring. However it was not noticeably elongated toward the back, as I'd expect for a Western. Also the head was rather rounded and the head color was more gun-metal grayish (it reminded me of one of the more colorful Cassin's Vireos that we sometimes see. I didn't get much of a look at the rest of the bird as it was moving in and out of view, chasing insects among the branches of the ash tree. It had some yellowish tones on the belly and olive tones on the back and breast, and it did have two pale wing bars, but I can't say more than that. I didn't get enough of a look to say anything about primary projection etc. However, my overall impression was a of a somewhat smallish, boxy bird compared with Western Flycatcher. Aside from that first buzzy call which I took to be a scold note, I didn't hear any vocalizations while the bird was in view. I lost track of it when it flew back into the brush within the edge of the woods. I waited around for about 15-20 minutes to see if it would appear again, but it didn't. I did hear one two-syllable, flycatcher-like call that sounded like, "CHEE-bek" coming from back in the brush, toward the end of my wait, but I just heard it once. As for possibilities: A territorial male Willow Flycatcher was in this same area during the summer months, but I'm sure that this wasn't a Willow Flycatcher (based on the relatively bold eye ring, narrow bill, and rounded head, and general impression of a more boxy shape). Dusky and Hammond's are possible here as migrants but normally show mostly dark lower mandibles. Pacific-slope Flycatcher is regular at this site but for the reasons mentioned above, it didn't seem to be one of those. I'm leaning toward LEAST FLYCATCHER, which seems to fit in all respects provided that those can have an entirely pale lower mandible (Sibley shows birds with partly dark lower bills but National Geographic, 3rd Edition, shows mostly to entirely pale bills for this species. I have no past experience with Least Flycatchers but they have occurred 2-3 times at Ankeny NWR which is only 4 or 5 miles from this spot by air. Sorry to say, this was not a "motorless" bird since I took our minivan to haul along hops-picking paraphernalia. I may bicycle back over there tomorrow to look some more. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis _______________________________________________ list mailing list list at midvalleybirding.org http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Sep 25 11:07:00 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:07:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] [Fwd: Re: Interesting Empidonax (Least?) Flycatcher at Luckiamute Landing, Polk Co.] Message-ID: <1253902020.3921.68.camel@clearwater> -------- Forwarded Message -------- From: Joel Geier Reply-to: joel.geier at peak.org To: MidValley Birds Subject: Re: Interesting Empidonax (Least?) Flycatcher at Luckiamute Landing, Polk Co. Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:06:16 -0700 P.S. For those who don't know where Luckiamute Landing is, you can find directions in the Birding Site Guide pages of: http://www.birdnotes.net (look under Polk Co.), or else download the pdf of the Luckiamute Loop of the Willamette Valley Birding Trail from: http://oregonbirdingtrails.org/wvtrailguide.htm Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From dinpdx at yahoo.com Fri Sep 25 11:24:12 2009 From: dinpdx at yahoo.com (Dwight) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:24:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Bonney Butte- Greater White-fronted Geese, hawks Message-ID: <264019.43668.qm@web31604.mail.mud.yahoo.com> On the night of 9/22 I woke up to the sound of Greater White-fronted Geese calling. I was in the Mt. Hood National Forest near Bonney Butte. I actually forgot about the incident until I read all the geese reports on OBOL. I had never heard this call before, my "Birdsongs of the Pacific Northwest" CD confirmed the call. Yesterday 9/24 there was an unusual buteo seen at Bonney Butte, very light underneath with no dark patagium marks visible. Tom McNamara also saw this bird. The crew decided it was a Red-tailed Hawk. When PBase gets back on-line I will post some photos. On 9/21 five Merlins were counted. On 9/22 there were three BROAD-WINGED HAWKS counted. I saw a Williamson's Sapsucker fly over on 9/23. On 9/24 I saw my FOS Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Good Birding, Dwight Porter Portland, Oregon From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Sep 25 11:28:02 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:28:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Greater White-fronted Geese & Swainson's Thrush Message-ID: <1253903282.3921.74.camel@clearwater> Hello again folks, Just noticed the comment on migrant geese and Swainson's Thrushes. I did happen to get up in the night due to some raccoon/dog interaction as I mentioned on the Mid-Valley list, and heard two flocks of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flying south between 1:00 and 2:00 AM. We're along the west edge of the mid-Willamette Valley. I went outside to listen for 10 minutes and didn't hear any Swainson's Thrushes (though I'd heard 14 calls in 10 minutes, around 2 AM the night before). However, this morning at least one SWAINSON'S THRUSH was in the willows at Luckiamute Landing this morning. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From woodenapple at juno.com Fri Sep 25 12:32:41 2009 From: woodenapple at juno.com (woodenapple at juno.com) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:32:41 GMT Subject: [obol] Obol: Swifts, Eugene, Agate Hall Message-ID: <20090925.123241.25607.0@webmail16.vgs.untd.com> Greetings, Obolists! Last night, Thursday, my wife and I went to Agate Hall (18th and Agate) on the U of O campus to check out the VAUX' SWIFT show. It appears to be in full swing. Swifts started to enter the chimney at 7:19 at an estimated average rate of 10/second. We had to leave at 7:35 to attend an 8 o'clock concert, and there were still numerous swifts waiting to enter the chimney. 16 minutes @ 10/second equals 9600. I think an estimate of 10,000+ isn't unreasonable. An accipiter, which I believe was a small COOPER'S HAWK, delayed the start of entry by sitting on the edge of the chimney until one swift made the ultimate sacrifice. The hawk came back later for a second helping. Take advantage of the nice weather forecast for the next few days and come down to see the show! Rudi ____________________________________________________________ Lose up to 20 lbs in one month with a new diet. Click here. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTFoYdv39Gy1sjijEhbmB4W0E7MwodYCAP4CpbOAuEt8EkhPWI3e2s/ From hhactitis at yahoo.com Fri Sep 25 12:52:08 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:52:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Florence area birds Message-ID: <826294.61128.qm@web37003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello OBOL, I had another rather slow morning of birding some of the areas south of Florence. Siltcoos Estuary: No shorebirds at the river or lagoon; the only shorebirds found were 5 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER on the pond south of the beach trail. The lagoon harbored 6 NORTHERN PINTAIL and 2 GREEN-WINGED TEAL. Along the trail, I pished up a mixed flock, including 3 FOX SPARROWS, 1 HUTTON'S VIREO and 2 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES. South Jetty area: Dog Pond: 1 MERLIN (perched), 1 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, 1 flyover WILSON'S SNIPE, 2 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 35 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE overhead. Crab Dock flats:? 5 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS between the jetties:? 1 WESTERN GREBE, 1 GREATER SCAUP Due to the wind, I decided to skip the Deflation Plain altogether today. Happy birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090925/c16818c5/attachment.html From Randy.Moore at oregonstate.edu Fri Sep 25 14:29:11 2009 From: Randy.Moore at oregonstate.edu (Moore, Randy - FW) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:29:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 18, Issue 25 References: Message-ID: Hi All, There were at least two big flocks of white-fronted geese going over Corvallis at around midnight last night- sounds like a great night for goose migration! There were also a middling number of Swainson's thrushes going over (5-10/min.- one of them sounded like someone goosed it in mid-flight). And as a special treat this morning along Diamond Hill Rd. in Linn Co., we saw a beautiful and very confiding family group of 5 white-fronted geese on the ground- 2 adults with 3 undersized and juv.-plumaged kids. Also my first cackling goose of the season. Shorebirds are slowing down, but there were still 2 short-billed dowitchers, 19 long-bills, and my all-time personal high count in the valley of 28 pectoral sandpipers. randy Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090925/0e9b4357/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Fri Sep 25 15:11:23 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:11:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] JoCo G.White-fronted Geese numbers Message-ID: <71041649F4BF47F6A1FDEB45DB7E7EE9@Warbler> Here's a summary of estimated GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE numbers for today (09-25-09) so far. Birds all detected in the air from our place just east of the Merlin I-5 exit (Josephine County). Flocks were directly over us, a few flocks east of us and a good number just to the west (perhaps some just west of I-5 corridor). Observations from about 0900 to 1200. Again from 1330 to 1430. Time (approx): Flocks and est numbers 0925 1 - 180 1040 1 - 170 1120 1 - 200 1 - 220 1 - 95 1130 1 - 260 1 - 210 1 - 70 1 - 63 (actual count; quick est was 70...pretty good) 1140 1 - 120 1145 1 - 7 (pretty small compared to other flocks) 1200 5+ flocks near each other 450 (likely low estimate) 1355 1 - 140 Total estimated number is 2185. Likely more flocks that were missed; also, Phil Hicks estimate a flock of about 70 over his place (east of Grants Pass) yesterday before dark. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090925/2fa537f0/attachment.html From kimdelo at yahoo.com Fri Sep 25 16:04:36 2009 From: kimdelo at yahoo.com (Kimdel Owen) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:04:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Redmond Sewer Ponds Message-ID: <656297.36654.qm@web50210.mail.re2.yahoo.com> There were 7 Pectoral Sandpipers and 2 Lesser Yellowlegs and Redmond Sewer Ponds this morning. "Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high? On the rock he dwells and makes his home in the fastness of the rocky crag. There he spies out the prey; his eyes behold it afar off." Kimdel Owen Redmond, OR From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Fri Sep 25 16:48:26 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:48:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] [Fwd: [birding] Interesting Empidonax (Least?) Flycatcher at Luckiamute Landing, Polk Co.] In-Reply-To: <1253901696.3921.62.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: <523895.77735.qm@web30408.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hatch year Hammond's Flycatcher can have a fully colored (orangish) lower mandible. Also Least Flycatcher has the most spatulate bill - both short and wide- of the species mentioned. Maitreya Joel Geier wrote: > -------- Forwarded Message -------- > From: Joel Geier > Reply-to: joel.geier at peak.org > To: MidValley Birds > Subject: [birding] Interesting Empidonax (Least?) Flycatcher at > Luckiamute Landing, Polk Co. > Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:58:51 -0700 > Hi folks, > I stopped by the Luckiamute Landing unit of Luckiamute State Natural > Area this morning to pick some of the hops which grow wild there (and > are in effect an invasive species). Before I started picking, I indulged > in a bit of birding. > Notables included a MERLIN (probably the same one reported by Howard > Bruner on Sunday's NAMC), a VESPER SPARROW in the former nesting area by > the reed-canary-grass slough (though I don't think any nested there this > year), and two late migrant HOUSE WRENS. > I also had a brief view of a puzzling EMPIDONAX FLYCATCHER sp. with a > distinct eye-ring and pale underside of the bill, which was foraging in > view for about 30 seconds on the SW edge of the woods, right where the > field road that leads toward the trail through the gallery forest takes > an E/SE-ward bend at the NE corner of said slough (the field road has > been planted over with fescue in this stretch). > I first noticed the bird while watching a couple of DOWNY WOODPECKERS > that were wrangling over a cottonwood until another woodpecker sp. flew > in that I thought was a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. I gave a couple of owl > calls to see if I could get the sapsucker to peek around the edge of the > cottonwood trunk, and then I heard an unfamiliar, buzzy sort note and > saw the flycatcher, which was moving through a small Oregon ash tree ash > tree (~30 ft high) that was standing a bit outside of the closed-canopy > part of the woods. > I had one good look at the underside of the bill. It appeared to be > entirely yellow or slightly orangeish yellow, as typical for "Western" > Flycatcher. However it struck me as a bit too narrow for a "Western," > more like a Dusky in terms of length-to-width ratio. > The bird had a fairly bold, complete whiteish eye ring. However it was > not noticeably elongated toward the back, as I'd expect for a Western. > Also the head was rather rounded and the head color was more gun-metal > grayish (it reminded me of one of the more colorful Cassin's Vireos that > we sometimes see. > I didn't get much of a look at the rest of the bird as it was moving in > and out of view, chasing insects among the branches of the ash tree. It > had some yellowish tones on the belly and olive tones on the back and > breast, and it did have two pale wing bars, but I can't say more than > that. I didn't get enough of a look to say anything about primary > projection etc. However, my overall impression was a of a somewhat > smallish, boxy bird compared with Western Flycatcher. > Aside from that first buzzy call which I took to be a scold note, I > didn't hear any vocalizations while the bird was in view. I lost track > of it when it flew back into the brush within the edge of the woods. I > waited around for about 15-20 minutes to see if it would appear again, > but it didn't. I did hear one two-syllable, flycatcher-like call that > sounded like, "CHEE-bek" coming from back in the brush, toward the end > of my wait, but I just heard it once. > As for possibilities: > A territorial male Willow Flycatcher was in this same area during the > summer months, but I'm sure that this wasn't a Willow Flycatcher (based > on the relatively bold eye ring, narrow bill, and rounded head, and > general impression of a more boxy shape). Dusky and Hammond's are > possible here as migrants but normally show mostly dark lower mandibles. > Pacific-slope Flycatcher is regular at this site but for the reasons > mentioned above, it didn't seem to be one of those. > I'm leaning toward LEAST FLYCATCHER, which seems to fit in all respects > provided that those can have an entirely pale lower mandible (Sibley > shows birds with partly dark lower bills but National Geographic, 3rd > Edition, shows mostly to entirely pale bills for this species. I have no > past experience with Least Flycatchers but they have occurred 2-3 times > at Ankeny NWR which is only 4 or 5 miles from this spot by air. > Sorry to say, this was not a "motorless" bird since I took our minivan > to haul along hops-picking paraphernalia. I may bicycle back over there > tomorrow to look some more. > Happy birding, > Joel > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > _______________________________________________ > list mailing list > list at midvalleybirding.org > http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Fri Sep 25 16:59:46 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:59:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA WOOD (?) SANDPIPER at FERN RIDGE Message-ID: Lars Norgren observed a strange shorebird with yellowlegs south of the observation platform at Royal Avenue on the west edge of Fern Ridge Reservoir this afternoon Fri Sep 25 that may have been a WOOD SANDPIPER in essentially the same location as last fall. The bird flew before he could definitively grasp it. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Sep 25 17:08:51 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:08:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Interesting Empidonax (Least?) Flycatcher at Luckiamute Landing, Polk Co. In-Reply-To: <523895.77735.qm@web30408.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <523895.77735.qm@web30408.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1253923731.3921.149.camel@clearwater> Thanks Maitreya, Based on this information -- that hatch-year Hammond's can have a fully orangeish lower mandible, there is no reason to rule out hatch-year Hammond's Flycatcher based on what I observed. In fact, looking now at Sibley's (big version) depictions of 1st winter Hammond's (& Dusky for that matter) Flycatcher, the Cassin's Vireo-like color scheme of the head is also there. Hammond's seems more likely for this site, and also squares with that buzzy note that I first heard from the bird. Happy birding, Joel On Fri, 2009-09-25 at 16:48 -0700, Leith McKenzie wrote: > Hatch year Hammond's Flycatcher can have a fully colored (orangish) lower mandible. > Also Least Flycatcher has the most spatulate bill - both short and wide- of the species > mentioned. Maitreya From winkg at hevanet.com Fri Sep 25 17:44:07 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:44:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lesser Yellowlegs, Black-bellied Plovers, Sauvie Island Message-ID: <20090926004411.16F51A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> I went out to bird Sauvie Island today, probably for the last time before major areas close for 7(!) months (Oct 1 to Apr 30). At the north end of Sturgeon Lake (accessed from Rentenaar Rd) there was a flock of 70 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, all in basic plumage. The south end of Racetrack Pond has been disked in an effort to improve shorebird habitat, but so far only a single LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and 3 or 4 WILSON'S SNIPE were enjoying the new mud. There was also one COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF waiting for me when I got back to my, alledgedly, illegally parked car (got off with just a warning). At Round Lake, on the west side, there were about 15 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, a couple of GREATERs, about a dozen LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and a few LEAST SANDPIPERS. Unfortunately, they all skedaddled before I could get exact counts. Wink Gross Portland From sandyleapt at comcast.net Fri Sep 25 17:58:27 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:58:27 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Swallow Migration/European Starlings Message-ID: <1975847661.5105561253926707666.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi Steve, Think I'll go look for that Arco, I'm reasonably close by. What I have in the neighborhood are several thousand starlings, not as many as normal (the last few years anyway).? They showed up on the 20th so I couldn't count them for the Multnomah County count. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090926/0a631f8e/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Fri Sep 25 19:30:27 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:30:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Greater white fronted geese, Benton Co References: <20090924135936.8BE20A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> <833941E5B4A14DD39D132D32D6FEFFFF@HOMESTEAD> Message-ID: Karan, No doubt the same which passed over Thornton Creek, Lincoln County a bit earlier. My house is directly under one of the main flyways, one which turns southeast at Siletz Bay and makes a direct line for Mary's Peak. The geese have been going over here for the past two days. Yesterday they were flying abnormally high, almost out of the distance of human sight. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Karan & Jim Fairchild" To: ; "MidValley Birds" Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 9:05 AM Subject: [obol] Greater white fronted geese, Benton Co > Hi Obol- > > Flock after flock are passing high overhead this morning, heading south. > We are on the eastern edge of the Coast Range. > > Karan Fairchild > 6 mi SW of Philomath > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From 5hats at peak.org Fri Sep 25 19:56:24 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:56:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] odd vocalization Message-ID: OBOlites, About 6:30 this evening I heard a loud two note too-wheet call coming from somewhere southwest of my house (LIncoln County). It had some resemblance to the call of a Greater Yellowlegs, but most certainly was not that species. Thinking it might be an odd shorebird that had landed in the recently worked field nearest out house, I went looking to see the source of the call. After about ten minutes I located the bird, not in the field, but perched high in a hemlock tree in my neighbor's yard. It was a large (estimated 16 inches) parrot! I didn't have my binoculars, and the bird was above the skyline, so all I could see was the silouette, no colors. I didn't concern myself with it further, since it seemed unlikely(if no one minds the understatement) it was a naturally occuring vagrant Thick-billed Parrot from Mexico. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090925/a9384ae1/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Fri Sep 25 20:02:55 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:02:55 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Swallow Swarm Message-ID: <882958137.5131861253934175690.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi Steve, The swallows are amazing. I joined a fellow OBOLee in the Camper's World RV center parking lot after watching from the shoulder of the road (Sandy Blvd.). We think they are Barn Swallows, although I did not see well enough to catch the tail extensions. There are thousands of them, I don't really know how to estimate the numbers. I watched them from 6:55 p.m. until 7:35 p.m. when the show ended. Eventually all the swallows came to rest in the trees that line the east edge of the wetland and the west edge of the RV dealers fenced stock/inventory yard. I kind of think the best view was from Sandy Boulevard. The birds did not mind the parked car. I felt like I was watching snowflakes swirl around me. If I do it again tomorrow I will walk over to the north end of the wetland if I can do so without disturbing the birds. I might also try a vantage point looking east for the best light to see details of the birds. Most dramatic light would be watching from east in the RV dealer parking lot. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090926/e6bd3a9c/attachment.html From paulettefilz at gmail.com Fri Sep 25 20:28:23 2009 From: paulettefilz at gmail.com (Paulette Filz) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:28:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swallow Swarm, East Mult. County In-Reply-To: <663872303.5361771253847435292.JavaMail.root@sz0081a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> References: <935482889.5359081253846892542.JavaMail.root@sz0081a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> <663872303.5361771253847435292.JavaMail.root@sz0081a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: Wow! And thank you!! My husband and I went out to see this roost tonight, with our five-year-old granddaughter (who already knows that birds are for watching). What a special experience we had!! Linda's directions were exact, and very helpful. The Arco station (on 238th) is between I-84 and Sandy Boulevard, and the wetland is between the motorhome lot, the Arco station, and the Jack in the Box parking lot. You could watch from any number of places, but we stood in the NE corner of the Arco lot, as suggested. We have been to see the swallows roost at Grand Island, as well as the swifts at Chapman School, but this was an experience unlike either of those. Never have we been so close to spiraling birds as they prepare to roost. Many times, birds flew within a foot of our faces, and Audrey was ecstatic with delight at seeing birds so close, from Grandpa's shoulders. The birds perched first in the row of trees at the northern boundary of the wetland, but by the final moments, they were also in the smaller trees and shrubs right in front of us. To see barn swallows evenly spaced on every branch, at such easy viewing distance was something we had never seen before. Our presence seemed irrelevant to them. The circular motion was easy to track, and its center seemed to vary over the general area before the mass roosting began. Sometimes they were circling directly over us, and then the whole vortex shifted. It is very hard to estimate numbers in such a fluid event, but the estimate of 10,000 seems possible. An umbrella or a pocket full of handiwipes could be helpful, but when you consider how many birds flew over us, for so long, only 2 hits is a good score from our point of view. Audrey was so entralled that a direct hit on her arm was only a momentary distraction. This is a wonderful experience for children, and so much closer to the urban area than Grand Island, so bedtime is not a problem. We were all thrilled by the spectacle. We arrived about ten minutes to seven, to find the flock already swirling, and the show was over by 7:25. I encourage anyone interested to go see it. We are so glad that we did! Larry and Paulette Filz SE Portland paulettefilz at gmail.com On Thu, Sep 24, 2009 at 7:57 PM, wrote: > > Linda called a bit go, 7:00 ish pm. to report a large, est. low thousands, > mixed swarm of swallows over a very small, cyclone fenced, " wetland" > behind the Arco at I-84 and 238th. St. It is exit 16 from the freeway. > > > > She did not watch but a few descend into small trees inside the fence, but > stated that many more were coming in as those settled. > > > > > > The Arco is in the N.E. corner, the wet spot is immediately adjacent on the > N.E. side. It is practically lost untill it draws one's attention. This > looks like a mitigation spot with pavement on nearly all sides. Best viewing > is probably from the East side in the camper sales parking lot. (Camper > World?) > > > > I'm interested to know if others have seen this apparent roost in action. > > > > Steve Jaggers > > Linda Neumann > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090925/a8da439f/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Sep 25 21:13:18 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:13:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sandpiper at Royal Avenue Message-ID: In response to Joel's private email, the bird was definitely NOT a Solitary. I got one excellent look at the back as it briefly fluttered away from me. Lots of white on the rump. I initially saw it with Dowitchers and thought it was a Phalarope. I was looking straight into the sun at that point. I walked south on the dike to get a view with the sun at 90 degrees, and it looked like a Phalarope wearing a Yellowlegs costume. Its neck seemed too short and too thin for a Lesser Yellowlegs, the belly closer to the water due to shorter legs. The folded secondaries looked browner and darker than a Yellowlegs, a distinct but dingy supercilium, a brownish rather than grayish cap. The upper chest looked pale brown, strongly demarcated from the paler lower chest and belly. There was lots of primary extension, a very attenuated bird. I watched it for ten or fifteen minutes, always with mediocre light. It was actively feeding, and eventually wandered north to a flock of mixed Yellowlegs which I hadn't even noticed until then. It was decidedly smaller than the Lesser Yellowlegs, and overall darker. As long as it was in their company I was convinced I had a Woody. It soon worked south again, away from the yellowlegs. It seemed to feed exclusively near sparse, emergent vegetation, not open water. At this point I began wondering who to call and how. It was about 3 o'clock and any Eugene birder that came to mind probably wasn't home. I have long since spaced a list of cell phones from some CBC past. Phone in hand, I decided to look a little longer and harder. It was all by itself, maybe 70m west of the dike and 200m south of the observation platform. At this point I couldn't find it in my scope. I'd look up, relocate it with binoculars, then look through the scope again. Without my knowledge or consent it left. I spent another thirty or forty minutes studying every Lesser Yellowlegs I could find. This is a species I'm surprisingly unfamiliar with, and I surely examined more this afternoon than the rest of my life combined. When the bird was with Yellowlegs I was 95% sure it was a Woody. When it was alone my resolve weakened. When it was absent I became wracked with doubt. I have at least three books than illustrate the species(Collins, Birds of Japan, Nat. Geo- graphic). THey are all completely useless pictures. Lars Jonsson's illustrations are excellent, but that tome has gone the way of my list of cell phone numbers. I saw the Woody last year on two separate days, and it's the jiz that I took away that came back to me to day. I wish I'd seen it fly off today. Last year the individual at Royal Avenue ranged over an area about a mile wide and equally long. Faced with a 130 mile drive home and an early work day tomorrow, I was disinclined to walk around more. Lars Norgren From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Sep 25 21:19:42 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:19:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Royal Avenue addendum Message-ID: Two adult Mew Gulls seemed noteworthy. No other gulls, but a juvenile Peregrine was fun to see as well. It harrassed many score of shorebirds in the sw corner of what I guess is called Redhead Pond, but the waders I was looking at ignored it. Lars From dinpdx at yahoo.com Fri Sep 25 21:51:19 2009 From: dinpdx at yahoo.com (Dwight) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:51:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Bonney Butte Unusual Buteo Photo Message-ID: <882897.30210.qm@web31605.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Since PBase is still down I posted the photo of the unusual buteo here: http://birdshots.blogspot.com/ This buteo was seen Thursday 9/24/09 at the Bonney Butte HawkWatch site. In the field it appeared completely pale underneath with no obvious (to me) markings. The bird was a high fly-over with no upperside views. The crew counted it as a Red-tailed Hawk. Dwight Porter, Portland, Oregon From justin.bosler at gmail.com Fri Sep 25 21:59:07 2009 From: justin.bosler at gmail.com (Justin Bosler) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:59:07 -0400 Subject: [obol] Bonney Butte Unusual Buteo Photo In-Reply-To: <882897.30210.qm@web31605.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <882897.30210.qm@web31605.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <97d12a010909252159n7f84bf79h3d66833f9e8214b2@mail.gmail.com> Hello Dwight/OBOL, This is a typical juvenile Broad-winged Hawk. Nice pearing knife-shaped wings and noticeable dark malar stripes against an unmarked white throat, along with other consistent markings for this species. Red-tailed Hawk is easily ruled out by wing shape, unmarked, or white, patagium, and no obvious belly band. Congrats on the record and the great photos! Good birding, Justin Bosler On Sat, Sep 26, 2009 at 12:51 AM, Dwight wrote: > Since PBase is still down I posted the photo of the unusual buteo here: > > http://birdshots.blogspot.com/ > > This buteo was seen Thursday 9/24/09 at the Bonney Butte HawkWatch site. In the field it appeared completely pale underneath with no obvious (to me) markings. The bird was a high fly-over with no upperside views. The crew counted it as a Red-tailed Hawk. > > Dwight Porter, > Portland, Oregon > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Justin Bosler Harrow, Ontario justin.bosler at gmail.com 717-475-9998 http://www.flickr.com/photos/29219448 at N08/ From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Fri Sep 25 22:05:12 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (Tom McNamara) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:05:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bonney Butte buteo Message-ID: Thanks Dwight for posting the photo so soon. After looking at it I guess I have to stand by what I said right after seeing it on the mountain i.e. it looks to me to be a juvenile Broad-winged Hawk. Some photos in Ligouri's "Hawks From Every Angle" seem like a pretty good match specifically BW01 on pg 46 and the right panel bird on BW08. good birding, Tom _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail?. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090925/0046f5f0/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Fri Sep 25 22:17:59 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:17:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook NAMC Final Count Message-ID: I think I have all the numbers in for the Crook NAMC. We had 127 species which ties our 2nd best total ever. First time appearances were turned in by Ring-necked Pheasant, "Western" Flycatcher, and Wild Turkey. The following species broke or tied high count records for this count: WF Goose Gadwall Bufflehead Ring-necked Pheasant Wild Turkey Clark's Grebe Bald Eagle Merlin Prairie Falcon Virginia Rail Sanderling Rock Pigeon Collared-Dove Barn Owl Great Horned Owl Western Flycatcher Gray Flycatcher Steller's Jay Pinyon Jay Pygmy Nuthatch Golden-crowned Kinglet European Starling American Pipit Spotted Towhee Sage Sparrow Red Crossbill Big misses included: Chukar Black-crowned Night-heron Sora Lesser Yellowlegs Red-necked Phalarope No hummingbirds Lewis's Woodpecker Williamson's Sapsucker White-breasted Nuthatch Hermit Thrush Western Tanager Yellow-headed Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090925/ecfd8ac9/attachment.html From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Fri Sep 25 22:38:49 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:38:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pelicans at Sand Lake Message-ID: <001e01ca3e6b$a0430510$e0c90f30$@NET> On Thursday morning I walked the trail around the Clay Myers State Natural Area on Whalen Island in Tillamook County. No signs of the Wheatear. There were a lot of PELICANS on the ocean beach about a quarter mile west. I tried to count through the binoculars and estimated 500, A coyote was taking a much closer look but was separated from the pelicans by the channel out of the estuary. I have posted a photo of the coyote and pelicans at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_pix/ I tried to upload a panorama of the pelicans but flickr reduced the resolution to an unusable degree. I will be happy to send this rather large file to anyone interested off list, whether for curiosity or a more accurate count. There was also a GREAT EGRET near the intersection of hwy 101 and the Little Nestucca River Road just south of Pacific City. Tom Shreve -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090925/238d0188/attachment.html From tjanzen at comcast.net Fri Sep 25 23:09:19 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:09:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bonney Butte Unusual Buteo Photo In-Reply-To: <97d12a010909252159n7f84bf79h3d66833f9e8214b2@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <20090926061423.4FA23A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear All, I agree with Justin on this. Another good field mark that this bird shows that suggests a juvenile Broad-winged Hawk are the two translucent windows seen in the other portion of the remiges. Another possibility would be a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk, but that species has translucent windows that are typically seen further out in the reminges. This is nicely illustrated in the drawings on the inner cover of Pete Dunne's, David Sibley's, and Clay Sutton's book Hawks in Flight. The bands in the tail seem to be too wide for a Red-tailed Hawk, but are fine for a juvenile Broad-winged Hawk of the "narrow-banded type". The terminal tail band seems to be too dark for a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk. The trailing edges of the remiges are a little light for a juvenile Broad-winged Hawk, but not all juvenile Broad-winged Hawks have particularly dark trailing edges of the remiges as seen in the photo on Plate 240 on p. 219 of Brian Wheeler's book Raptors of Eastern North America. Sincerely, Tim Janzen Portland -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Justin Bosler Sent: Friday, September 25, 2009 9:59 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Bonney Butte Unusual Buteo Photo Hello Dwight/OBOL, This is a typical juvenile Broad-winged Hawk. Nice pearing knife-shaped wings and noticeable dark malar stripes against an unmarked white throat, along with other consistent markings for this species. Red-tailed Hawk is easily ruled out by wing shape, unmarked, or white, patagium, and no obvious belly band. Congrats on the record and the great photos! Good birding, Justin Bosler On Sat, Sep 26, 2009 at 12:51 AM, Dwight wrote: > Since PBase is still down I posted the photo of the unusual buteo here: > > http://birdshots.blogspot.com/ > > This buteo was seen Thursday 9/24/09 at the Bonney Butte HawkWatch site. In the field it appeared completely pale underneath with no obvious (to me) markings. The bird was a high fly-over with no upperside views. The crew counted it as a Red-tailed Hawk. > > Dwight Porter, > Portland, Oregon From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Sat Sep 26 08:17:15 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 08:17:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Bonney Butte Unusual Buteo Photo In-Reply-To: <882897.30210.qm@web31605.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <75078.24221.qm@web39703.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Dwight, This looks like an imm. broadwing to me. But I have a question: didn't anyone notice a big size difference between a redtail and a broadwing? I realize this may be difficult without a frame of reference, but those photos were great, and wonder how close you were to that hawk? Best, Dick --- On Fri, 9/25/09, Dwight wrote: > From: Dwight > Subject: [obol] Bonney Butte Unusual Buteo Photo > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Cc: tmacport99 at hotmail.com > Date: Friday, September 25, 2009, 9:51 PM > Since PBase is still down I posted > the photo of the unusual buteo here: > > http://birdshots.blogspot.com/ > > This buteo was seen Thursday 9/24/09 at the Bonney Butte > HawkWatch site. In the field it appeared completely pale > underneath with no obvious (to me) markings. The bird was a > high fly-over with no upperside views. The crew counted it > as a Red-tailed Hawk. > > Dwight Porter, > Portland, Oregon > > > ? ? ? > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From sandyleapt at comcast.net Sat Sep 26 08:22:06 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:22:06 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Swallow Count Message-ID: <1405041244.5196281253978526941.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi all, Thank you Steve and Linda. I really enjoyed watching the Swallows last night and going over the blurry pictures I took this morning. I was hoping I could use pictures to get an idea of how many swallows I was watching. I got 741 in a single frame using a wide-angle lens. I could have filled at least three frames which would make my under-counted estimate at least 2,500 birds. I liken this exercise to counting beans in a jar. Now that I am over the initial shock of trying to count so many fast flying birds maybe I can come up with a better count. There were three European Starlings perching on the lights that illuminate the RV dealer parking lot. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090926/4058349c/attachment.html From hatlevis at comcast.net Sat Sep 26 10:19:19 2009 From: hatlevis at comcast.net (Susan Hatlevig) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 10:19:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] geese, thrushes Message-ID: Good morning! Arrived home in Corvallis from the Scandi dance in Salem at about 12:30, heard Swainson's thrushes overhead. Also have heard geese lately and now I'll have to look up the white-fronted goose call. Also thanks for the connection to the Willamette Valley loops. I keep hearing thrushes calling early morning too (5:30), just wonder how long the migration lasts. We still have a big population of gold finches hanging around. Susie in Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090926/a78cdd7e/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sat Sep 26 10:42:06 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 10:42:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: Seawatch at Boiler Bay from 7:10 tp 8:25 North wind 15+ mph, clear sky above and vto the east, fog bank or cloud deck over the ocean several miles out. Highlights were numerous mixed feeding flocks between 3oo yds and 1 mile out, including lots of shearwaters. Most birds were moving north, into the wind. Common Loon 2 alternate plumage Pacific Loon 20 several alternate Western Grebe 1 on water Sooty Shearwater 5000 at times 100/minute N. Many joined feeding flocks. Buller's Shearwater 4+ multiple sightings at a flock 3/4 mile out were probably just 2 birds Pink-footed Shearwater 2+ Brown Pelican 650 N DC Cormorant 20 Pelagic Cormorant 45 Brandt's Cormorant 20 White-fronted Goose 0 surprising, expected to see them coming in off the ocean American Wigeon 3 2 drakes, 1 hen N Pintail 1 hen, with the wigeons White-winged Scoter 220 Surf Scoter 90 Western Gull 200 Glaucous-winged Gull 50 California Gull 400 Heermann's Gull 800 Common Murre 2500 Marbled Murrelet 7 all flying, all basic plumage, 2 pairs and a single N, 1 pair S. Gray Whale 1 California Sea Lion 1 Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090926/b9e554c3/attachment.html From dinpdx at yahoo.com Sat Sep 26 11:56:13 2009 From: dinpdx at yahoo.com (Dwight) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:56:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Bonney Butte Unusual Buteo Photo Message-ID: <175704.83584.qm@web31604.mail.mud.yahoo.com> The hawk was farther away than it appears in the cropped photo. I'm not sure how high it was- 50m? 80m? Viewing photos on a monitor is different than seeing the bird fly by in the field. I added a full frame version to give an impression of the distance- this is with a 400mm lens and full-frame sensor. Viewing this version reminded me of the other field mark I noticed, the "wedge" shaped windows that reminded me of a Red-shouldered Hawk but weren't quite right. http://birdshots.blogspot.com/ So far I have had 4 replies for Immature Broad-winged Hawk and one for a possible Red-tailed Hawk. Thanks to all for sharing your impressions. Dwight Porter Portland, Oregon --- On Sat, 9/26/09, Richard and Marilyn Musser wrote: > From: Richard and Marilyn Musser > Subject: Re: [obol] Bonney Butte Unusual Buteo Photo > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org, "Dwight" > Cc: tmacport99 at hotmail.com > Date: Saturday, September 26, 2009, 8:17 AM > Hi Dwight, > ? ???This looks like an imm. broadwing > to me. But I have a question: didn't anyone notice a big > size difference between a redtail and a broadwing? I realize > this may be difficult without a frame of reference, but > those photos were great, and wonder how close you were to > that hawk? Best, Dick > > --- On Fri, 9/25/09, Dwight > wrote: > > > From: Dwight > > Subject: [obol] Bonney Butte Unusual Buteo Photo > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Cc: tmacport99 at hotmail.com > > Date: Friday, September 25, 2009, 9:51 PM > > Since PBase is still down I posted > > the photo of the unusual buteo here: > > > > http://birdshots.blogspot.com/ > > > > This buteo was seen Thursday 9/24/09 at the Bonney > Butte > > HawkWatch site. In the field it appeared completely > pale > > underneath with no obvious (to me) markings. The bird > was a > > high fly-over with no upperside views. The crew > counted it > > as a Red-tailed Hawk. > > > > Dwight Porter, > > Portland, Oregon > > > > > > ? ? ? > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Sep 26 13:04:44 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:04:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Luckiamute Landing - no empid today Message-ID: <1253995484.3390.20.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, I bicycled over to Luckiamute Landing this morning in the hopes of getting another look at yesterday's Empidonax flycatcher, but didn't find any flycatchers at all. There is a lot of similar edge habitat there. I covered about a half mile's worth, including parts adjacent to the reed-canary grass slough which is where I found the most bird activity. Based on some additional info from banders who have worked with Hammond's Flycatchers, I don't think hatch-year Hammond's is such as good explanation for yesterday's bird. The bill would have to be on the long end, and sounds like even an all-yellow lower mandible on the odd HY bird shouldn't be that bright. So I think I'll leave it as a CONFUSING EMPIDONAX SP., which come to think of it, is the most common type that I seem to encounter in Oregon in fall. Today's notables included a couple of late WARBLING VIREOS, another late HOUSE WREN, and two RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS which were the first that I've seen locally this fall. SWAINSON'S THRUSHES are still around. Inside the gallery forest I found a group of SEVEN(!) BROWN CREEPERS swarming over a couple of big cottonwoods that were growing side-by-side! This site always has good numbers of creepers but it was quite a sight to see that many leapfrogging over each other. A flock of 25 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS flew off as I was leaving. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From WeberHome at att.net Sat Sep 26 14:50:10 2009 From: WeberHome at att.net (Cliff & Joanne Weber) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:50:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Message-ID: <20090926215049.283F4A8216@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> OBOL, hello! TRNWR was the place to be today at 12:pm as the place was virtually infested with Western Blue Birds, and it wasn't necessary to walk a mile and a half or more to see them. Several were around the benches along the trail just past the vernal Study Ponds and quite a few more were out back by the visitor's center's bird feeder and around the dumpster enclosure. Where? . . TRNWR's main entrance, and visitors' center, is roughly 15 miles south of the city of Portland; just north of the community of Sherwood on the west side of 99W. Page 684 of Thomas Portland Street Guide, square H4 Google satellite image: http://tinyurl.com/dfaxlr Accommodations? . . Excellent restrooms on-site. Restaurants and such down the road a bit in Sherwood. ADA Friendly? . . Very! For folks who find the trails a bit challenging, there's a good solid patio alongside the visitor's center affording an excellent panorama of the refuge. BTW: this is a good time to see the refuge as pasture before they start flooding it for the Fall migrations. Off-Street parking? . . Yes Entry Fee? . . No. Nature Store? . . Yes Visitor's information available online at http://tinyurl.com/cn9y2v Cliff & Joanne Weber Beaverton (Bethany area) From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Sat Sep 26 14:58:02 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:58:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Reservoir, Sat 9/26 (no odd Tringa) Message-ID: OBOL- Birded FRR this morning hoping to relocate the possible Wood Sandpiper reported yesterday. I was fortunate to encounter visiting British birder Ian Bowstead, but in 4 hours searching, we could find no candidates for a Wood Sandpiper. Plenty of Gr and Lesser Yellowlegs. Many LB Dowitchers. A few Western and Least Sandpipers. Water levels remain quite high. Barry McKenzie Eugene From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Sat Sep 26 15:02:33 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:02:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Possible Costa's Hummingbird Gresham Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F025A1277@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> I located a hummingbird in my back yard this morning that may have been a COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD. The bird was sitting in a Willow Tree and I was able to observe it for about five minutes. It took off straight upward into the sky and upon reaching approximately 150 feet it flew off to the west. I have been look at my hummingbird feeder and the Willow Tree since then and have not relocated the bird. It was fortunate that I had my camera with me and got several pictures despite the wind blowing the tree and making it difficult to focus. My thinking is that it is an immature male. Here is what I observed about the bird. The bill was short and thin and slightly decurved. The forehead and face in general was flat and very little tapering to the beginning of the bill. The tail was short and the feathers curved giving it a narrow appearance. The tail had a small white tip, but I could not identify the R factor. The wings were at about the length of the tail sometime looking just a bit longer and sometimes exactly the same length. The belly had a gray to pale brown/rust coloration with the lower belly/vent area looking quite white. The head showed a different pattern on each side. The left side was patterned with pale gray to white on the upper chest and this extended to the lower throat and back to the hind neck. The eye had an area of white that was small behind the eye and extensive above the eye extending to the bill or forecrown (with flecking that broke up the white). The white to gray extended upward toward the top of the head and into the hindcrown. The other side of the head had a thin area of white above and extending in front of the eye to the bill, but with more flecking as it nears the bill. The white area behind the eye was brighter white and a little more extensive. A dark gray area extended down from the bottom of the eye and was surround on three sides by a white area on the throat that wrapped around the bottom of the shoulder area and went upward to the area behind the eye. This latter area extending up to the eye was more gray than white, but sometimes looked more white in the right light. The back was a metallic deep green as was the hind neck. The green extended all the way down the back and to the tip of the tail. Some unanswered questions are should a male show a white tip on the tail? Should a COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD be in brighter plumage now if it is a male? Why have I not seen the bird since in the tree or at my feeders. Did the Anna's (I have at least three) discourage it from staying here? Is this really a COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD? Any chance of sending my picture to someone to post? John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090926/0641f855/attachment.html From Kcparkton1 at aol.com Sat Sep 26 16:26:08 2009 From: Kcparkton1 at aol.com (Kcparkton1 at aol.com) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:26:08 EDT Subject: [obol] Red-shouldered Hawk at Finley Wildlife Refuge Message-ID: I saw this guy yesterday at Finley wildlife refuge. I was told I should report it. I'm really new to birding. _http://www.flickr.com/photos/35913342 at N04/3954181266/_ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35913342 at N04/3954181266/) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090926/79ba21d2/attachment.html From Kcparkton1 at aol.com Sat Sep 26 16:34:57 2009 From: Kcparkton1 at aol.com (Kcparkton1 at aol.com) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:34:57 EDT Subject: [obol] New link for Red-shouldered Hawk Pic Message-ID: _http://www.flickr.com/photos/35913342 at N04/3954181266/_ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35913342 at N04/3954181266/) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090926/62d8e6da/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Sep 26 18:38:09 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:38:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane coast and FRR birds Message-ID: Spent the morning in coastal Lane Co and much of the afternoon walking the western dike loop at Fern Ridge Res. with Daniel Farrar and Holly Reinhard. Best bird was AM GOLDEN-PLOVER this morning at the crab dock cove with a small flock of Black-bellies. Shorebird numbers and variety at Fern Ridge were very good this afternoon, with perhaps 900 dowitchers (essentially all Long-bills), scores of both yellowlegs, perhaps 25-35 Pectoral Sandpipers, 2 BB Plovers, a Semi Plover, a few Dunlin, small numbers of Western, Least, Killdeer and W Snipe. We were unable to see all shorebirds well owing to poor afternoon light. It would be much better in the morning. Also several flocks of WF Geese. It is stuffed with birds. Also at the coast we saw three Merlins incl one very dark bird. Seawatch from Bray Point was quite good; no tubenoses but a wide variety of other seabirds. The horse pasture near Baker Beach had three species of geese including some very dark Cackling with no neck banding at all. We saw and heard a strange warbler fly over at the Dog Pond. It was bright yellow below and had a dark, unspotted tail as far as we could tell. The call notes were a yellow-like short buzzy "vree" and a short middle-to-low pitched chip. We came to no definite conclusion as to its identity. Daniel and Holly can add anything I forgot. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From m.denny at charter.net Sat Sep 26 19:31:26 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:31:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Merg/Um. county Message-ID: Hello all, Our plans changed this am when a neighbor brought an injured Kingfisher which we took to Blue Mt. Wildlife Rehab south of Pendleton. McKay Res. had one Osprey, 18 Western Grebes, 34 Ruddy Duck, 100+ Barn Swallows over the dam, 2 female Williamson's Sapsuckers. Reith Road - 1 GH Owl, Rock Wren, Bewick's Wren, lots of YRumps and not much else. Hat Rock SP - had one HY Red-breasted Merganser fly up the pond and land near us - dove once then flew back out to the river. Very quiet there otherwise - a few YRumps, one Wilson's Warbler and one Hermit Thrush. Yes Aaron we found another one for Umatilla County!! Later, Mike .................................................................................. Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived From johnpam at mtangel.net Sat Sep 26 19:59:17 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:59:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Last Night to Count Vaux Swifts- 400+ Silverton Message-ID: Pam and I went to S. Church Street on East Hill in Silverton tonight and counted 422 Swifts entering the private residence chimney. They came in very late: 7:16 and- except for a couple strays- were all in by 7:20. This is the largest contigent we have seen around Silverton- Mt Angel for many years; but, I think there are other chimneys we don't know about. We need those other volunteers to track them down. ;-) John Thomas N Silverton From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Sep 26 20:40:12 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:40:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Green Ridge Hawkwatch Message-ID: <22487C6FC60A497CBE14AEBE24979605@cgatesPC> I was up at the ECBC's Green Ridge Hawkwatch location today. We saw a total of 119 migrating raptors and several residents. We also had visits from Sooty Grouse, Pileated Woodpecker, Western Bluebird, Vaux's Swift, and a far off flock of probable White-fronted Geese. Here are today's results: Turkey Vulture - 31 Osprey - 4 Bald Eagle - 1 Northern Harrier - 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk - 64 Cooper's Hawk - 19 Red-tailed Hawk - 19 Golden Eagle - 1 Merlin - 3 Peregrine Falcon - 2 Unidentified Raptors - 5 The ECBC would like to invite you to participate in this count. We need volunteers of all experience levels. Good eyes are the only requirement. We missed several birds today because we did not have enough eyes on the sky. It's an easy drive up to the location and a spectacular view. The first week in October is historically our best weekend for raptors so why not come out and check out the Green Ridge Hawkwatch? Go to http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=70 and come out and join us. We still have two more weekends to count birds this season and we might extend the season if the weather is good and we have the volunteers. Chuck Gates ECBC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090926/529526d8/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Sun Sep 27 10:58:53 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:58:53 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Salish Pond Mystery Bird Message-ID: <763422872.5407531254074333932.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi I would appreciate some guidance as to what birds I might need to study to identify these birds.? I've tried my books and recordings and am feeling a little overwhelmed.? At least I know these birds were not hummingbirds or ducks. There were two, mystery to me,? birds that flew?across the east pond with nice backlighting, impression was of even grey color.? Flight reminded me of Mourning Doves; rapid, stiff but deeper wingbeats.? The wings had?pointed?tips and definite elbow.? Overall shape was narrow, tapered v-shaped?somewhat like a gull. Very noisy while perched or on the ground and flying.? Calls reminded me of a Kildeer, but they were not Killdeer. >From the sounds they were making I thought?I was looking for a shorebird.? They appeared?out of nowhere?bigger than a Kestral, smaller than a Crow.? they flew away so fast I couldn't get the binoculars up.I cannot decide if I was seeing some type of shore bird or a raptor.? They?flew off towards the wet meadow from the SW corner of the east pond. No obvious legs trailing behind as they flew.? No attention grabbing beak. These birds were not a Sharp-shinned or Cooper's Hawk.? I've seen a pair of mystery accipiter at Salish Pond about once a year for two or three years now, this might have been them. Thanks Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090927/b8467cca/attachment.html From cncschneider at msn.com Sun Sep 27 13:14:11 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:14:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] American White Pelicans, Marion County Message-ID: Hi Birders, While on a bike with my sisters ride today I saw a flock of 60 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS flying south-south-east over Silverton. They were lifers for my sisters and a new species (102) for my motorless bird list. Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon From donalbri at teleport.com Sun Sep 27 13:53:00 2009 From: donalbri at teleport.com (Don Albright) Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:53:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Another Yamhill County Lewis' Woodpecker Message-ID: <3AAC1E2614E04C1CB4C3AF66AF7B0F54@ownerPC> A few minutes ago my wife Lory and I watched a LEWIS' WOODPECKER along Mountain Top Road on Chehalem Mountain, in northeastern Yamhill County. This is the second or third Lewis' reported from Yamhill County in the past week, and the first one that I've seen in the county since 2001. The bird was in a scrubby area along Mountain Top Road, about 0.4 miles east of where Neill Road takes off to the north. To reach the spot, take Highway 219 (Hillsboro Hwy) about 5 miles north from Newberg. At the summit of Chehalem Mountain, at the Washington County line, turn right onto Mountain Top Road. The woodpecker was about a mile east of this intersection, barely within Yamhill County. No guarantee that it'll stick around....it seemed to be moving gradually toward the northeast, perching in oak and fir trees. Don Albright Newberg, Oregon donalbri at teleport.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090927/d1439c8c/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Sep 27 14:07:59 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:07:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Three kinds of pluvialis plus longspurs Message-ID: <4ABFD42F.2080000@pacifier.com> There was a single AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER with two PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVERS at the South Jetty of the Columbia this morning. They were very cooperative and so I got photos. http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12220/ There were also 17 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS which were a bit more skiddish. I also posted a couple of the better LAPLAND LONGSPUR photos on my flickr page. http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ As always, you'll need to change the AT back into the at symbol to make the URL work from Siler's page. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From tamickel at rio.com Sun Sep 27 14:22:46 2009 From: tamickel at rio.com (Tom & Allison Mickel) Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:22:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Skinner Butte, Eugene Message-ID: <001201ca3fb8$a99c8520$fcd58f60$@com> OBOL, Allison & I birded on Skinner Butte last this morning (27 Sept) and had a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER on the east end around the EWEB reservoir, plus HOUSE WREN, WILSON'S & TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS along with the more normal species. Tom Mickel From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Sun Sep 27 14:50:31 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:50:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Possible Costa's Hummingbird Gresham In-Reply-To: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F025A1277@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> References: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F025A1277@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> Message-ID: <008701ca3fbc$894480d0$9bcd8270$@NET> John asked to have his hummingbird photo posted. It's at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_pix/ Tom Shreve From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of John Gatchet Sent: Saturday, September 26, 2009 3:03 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] Possible Costa's Hummingbird Gresham I located a hummingbird in my back yard this morning that may have been a COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD. The bird was sitting in a Willow Tree and I was able to observe it for about five minutes. It took off straight upward into the sky and upon reaching approximately 150 feet it flew off to the west. I have been look at my hummingbird feeder and the Willow Tree since then and have not relocated the bird. It was fortunate that I had my camera with me and got several pictures despite the wind blowing the tree and making it difficult to focus. My thinking is that it is an immature male. Here is what I observed about the bird. The bill was short and thin and slightly decurved. The forehead and face in general was flat and very little tapering to the beginning of the bill. The tail was short and the feathers curved giving it a narrow appearance. The tail had a small white tip, but I could not identify the R factor. The wings were at about the length of the tail sometime looking just a bit longer and sometimes exactly the same length. The belly had a gray to pale brown/rust coloration with the lower belly/vent area looking quite white. The head showed a different pattern on each side. The left side was patterned with pale gray to white on the upper chest and this extended to the lower throat and back to the hind neck. The eye had an area of white that was small behind the eye and extensive above the eye extending to the bill or forecrown (with flecking that broke up the white). The white to gray extended upward toward the top of the head and into the hindcrown. The other side of the head had a thin area of white above and extending in front of the eye to the bill, but with more flecking as it nears the bill. The white area behind the eye was brighter white and a little more extensive. A dark gray area extended down from the bottom of the eye and was surround on three sides by a white area on the throat that wrapped around the bottom of the shoulder area and went upward to the area behind the eye. This latter area extending up to the eye was more gray than white, but sometimes looked more white in the right light. The back was a metallic deep green as was the hind neck. The green extended all the way down the back and to the tip of the tail. Some unanswered questions are should a male show a white tip on the tail? Should a COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD be in brighter plumage now if it is a male? Why have I not seen the bird since in the tree or at my feeders. Did the Anna's (I have at least three) discourage it from staying here? Is this really a COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD? Any chance of sending my picture to someone to post? John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090927/ded4f983/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Sun Sep 27 15:47:46 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:47:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos birds 9/27 Message-ID: I birded around Coos Bay this morning with limited success. I did see a Golden-Plover sp. out on the mudflats at Pony Slough. At Pigeon Pt. there were 3 CACKLING GEESE of what appeared to be the minima subspecies. Out to Cape Arago, the only highlights were MARBLED MURRELETS, HARLEQUIN DUCKS and 60 CACKLING GEESE flying north (mixed flock with and without white necklaces). Not much else moving...I didn't even shee any searwaters. This afternoon, Tim Rodenkirk and I birded Bandon Marsh. We didn't keep track of all the numbers, but we saw... Mallard Northern Shovelor Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal 3 American Wigeon Canada Geese 10 Greater White-fronted Geese 80 Black-bellied Plover 1 Golden-plover sp. 3 Semipalmated Plover 1 Marbled Godwit Long-billed & Short-billed Dowitcher (by call) 15 Dunlin Western & Least Sandpiper 4 Black Turnstone Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull California Gull Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090927/6438826c/attachment.html From marshwren at pondhouse.com Sun Sep 27 15:58:52 2009 From: marshwren at pondhouse.com (Suzanne Staples) Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:58:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lapland Longspurs off Parking lot C Message-ID: <78680c550909271558y4c25a771o6ae57ad3299e5e39@mail.gmail.com> Nice trio of longspurs sunning on the jetty rocks just where the rock track heading off Parking lot C degrades. They let us get great long looks. Suzanne -- Suzanne Staples marshwren at pondhouse.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090927/fc997623/attachment.html From oregonjunco at msn.com Sun Sep 27 16:10:48 2009 From: oregonjunco at msn.com (Linda Gilbert) Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:10:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mt Pisgah parachutists and soaring raptors Message-ID: Hiking down the west side of Mt Pisgah just before noon today, I noticed 2 parachutists descending. While watching them I realized there were a number of soaring raptors in the same area : a RED-TAILED HAWK, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, TURKEY VULTURES and even an immature BALD EAGLE a little lower down. It caused me to wonder if parachutists watch for bird movements before they drop. I found a dead SWAINSON'S THRUSH on my south-facing back deck this morning when I got up. This seems to happen at least once a year. Linda Gilbert Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090927/d98e1582/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Sep 27 16:19:27 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:19:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - 9/27/2009 Message-ID: <4ABFF2FF.3050504@pacifier.com> Columbia Estuary Report - 9/27/2009 There was an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER with two PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVERS at the South Jetty of the Columbia River this morning. Also present were 17 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and 11 LAPLAND LONGSPURS. Steve Warner saw a small hawk yesterday with field marks consistent with BROAD-WINGED HAWK at the Necanicum Estuary. Also at the Necanicum was a PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER and several PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. I heard, but did not see a PHEUCTICUS-type GROSBEAK in the trees across from my house on Friday. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS made a conspicuous return to the area over the week. A THRESHER SHARK washed up on Seaside Beach and made big news. It is believed that it was part of the by-catch incident that also brought in 1000's of dead SARDINES to the beaches at Seaside and Gearhart. http://www.nwcn.com/statenews/oregon/stories/NW_092309ORN-seaside-thresher-shark-LJ.1aab04c39.html There was a conspicuous movement of VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWKS on Tuesday, though not of the 100's flying by per minute variety. 100's of meadowhawks appeared Tuesday morning along the dunes (they were not seen in significant numbers Monday), but were mostly perched on the tops of the dune grass florets and didn't seem to be in a hurry to get anywhere. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sun Sep 27 16:46:06 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:46:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] South Jetty Siuslaw/Florence White-fronts Message-ID: <855617.64373.qm@web37006.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello OBOL, I made a brief run out the South Jetty this afternoon. Highlights included: Dog Pond: 2 Greater White-fronted Geese (1 ad., 1 juv.) Crab Dock flats:? 31 Black-bellied Plovers and 1 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER Crab Dock cove:? 3 Western Sandpipers Deflation Plain/Dotterel Dike:? 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Wilson's Snipes I also had a large flock of Greater White-fronts fly over my apartment in Florence late last night, and a smaller group flew over very low earlier this afternoon. Happy Fall Migration Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090927/6c927bd5/attachment.html From lgoodhew at surfin-g.com Sun Sep 27 18:01:22 2009 From: lgoodhew at surfin-g.com (Larry & Jacque Goodhew) Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:01:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] parachutists and birds Message-ID: <4ABFA872.26886.2FE58961@lgoodhew.surfin-g.com> Hi. Those of us that parachute do try to be mindful of birds. Most times we open above them. At our drop zone for part of the summer we had a Swainson's Hawk that soared about 500 ft up and it would often make a pass at a jumper as they passed. By then the chute was open .. We all enjoyed the show as there was not much danger to us or the bird. Larry Goodhew Walla Walla, WA From withgott at comcast.net Sun Sep 27 19:34:26 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:34:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mult. White-thr Sparrow; Fall migration dates Message-ID: A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW appeared in my SW Portland yard today -- 1st one of the fall for me, and only my 2nd for this location. A small flock of WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew overhead high early in the morning. Some fall arrival dates here include: Cackling Goose -- 24 Sept Golden-cr Kinglet -- 20 Sept Hermit Thrush -- 17 & 20 Sept Varied Thrush -- 20 Sept Townsend's Warbler -- 25 Sept Golden-cr Sparrow -- 18 Sept, building to 7 birds by today White-cr Sparrow -- 23 Sept Fox Sparrow -- 22 Sept Purple Finch -- 18 Sept (tho were also a few in late Aug) Evening Grosbeak -- 18 Sept (tho were also a few in late Aug) Red Crossbills appeared several days in late Aug. but not since then. Violet-green Swallow, Swainson's Thrush, and Western Tanagers are all still making appearances, but in dwindling numbers. Several raptor spp, Band-tailed Pigeons, Vaux's Swifts, & 7 warbler spp all moving through in the past week. Jay W, SW Portland From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sun Sep 27 21:22:49 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:22:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Portland migrant departure dates Message-ID: <947681.67919.qm@web55701.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Dear OBOL, We are interested in compiling departure dates of migrants in the Portland area. Many birders record when they see their first-of-fall migrant/wintering birds such as Golden-crowned Sparrows or Ruby-crowned Kinglets. We'd guess that very few birders record when they see the last of migrants such as warblers, vireos, flycatchers, swallows, and other non-wintering species. For the past few years we've been recording when we see the last fall migrants in the Portland metro area including very locally, such as in our yard and Mt. Tabor. It's not terribly difficult and provides a lot of valuable information. When a migrant leaves is just as important as when it arrives, but usually isn't noted unless a species is observed much later than it is expected to be seen. I doubt many of you have migrant departure dates, but if so we'd really appreciate such information. In a few years we might be able to compile the data and begin to record patterns of migrant departures. Right now most of us don't have a very good idea of when a certain migrant, such as Black-throated Gray Warbler, leaves for the winter. Hopefully in several years we will know. If you are interested in helping with this project, now is the right time of year to start taking notes. When it gets close to when you think a particular species should be leaving for good, keep track of migrant sightings and continue doing so until each species leaves for the winter. If you don't have the time or interest to consistently record your sightings, it would still be very helpful if you send us information regarding any "late" migrants you observe. When this fall comes to an end, please email us (off-list) your notes for your departure dates for this year. We'd appreciate it if you don't send notes until you're pretty certain that all of the migrants are gone, because there could always be a straggler. Also, a lot of species keep moving through later than you might think. If you have any questions, please contact us off-list. Thanks in advance for your help, Adrian and Christopher Hinkle SE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090927/ae95f67a/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sun Sep 27 22:08:47 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:08:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Bayocean Spit, Tillamook Co. Message-ID: <490324.79926.qm@web55702.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Today we went birding at Tillamook Bay. When we got to the south side of the bay the tide was still too high for shorebirds, so we headed to Cape Meares. Two CACKLING GEESE flew over headed north. A brief sea-watch was rather uneventful. After Cape Meares we went to Bayocean Spit. There were hundreds of pintail and wigeons on the bay near Bayocean Road. The only shorebird near the parking lot was a GREATER YELLOWLEGS. We also saw a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET near the parking lot. We hiked out the bay side and returned along the beach. We found a scattering of shorebirds along the fresh mudflats. We counted 38 BLACK-BELLIED and 11 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 2 SANDERLING, a single WESTERN SANDPIPER, a RED KNOT, one MARBLED GODWIT, and a RUDDY TURNSTONE. We saw WRENTITS in the woods where we usually see them, but didn't see much else. The bay had lots of BROWN PELICANS and a few SURF SCOTERS and COMMON LOONS. Hiking all the way to the south jetty paid off. From the jetty we saw a RED-NECKED GREBE, a BLACK TURNSTONE, several MEW GULLS, and many other gulls. In the grassy dunes just south of the jetty we flushed up a WESTERN MEADOWLARK and 8 LAPLAND LONGSPURS. The beach was packed with HEERMAN'S GULLS and BROWN PELICANS. We hiked south on the beach for a few miles before cutting back towards the shorebird flats. The mudflats west of the parking lot still had lots of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS as well as the knot, godwit, and turnstone. Almost back at the parking lot was a DUNLIN and a fresh PECTORAL SANDPIPER. In Tillamook there was a EURASIAN-COLLARED DOVE. In other news, last Wednesday (9/23) we went to Mt. Tabor, Portland, for a couple of hours and saw a decent number of migrants including 3 Hammond's Flycatchers. One was singing. The highlight was a BARRED OWL on the east trail. Later in the day it could not be relocated. We have been unable to post until now. Good Birding, Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090927/7347805e/attachment.html From galacres at comcast.net Sun Sep 27 22:23:12 2009 From: galacres at comcast.net (Patrick Gallagher) Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:23:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Nemesis no more! Mountain Quail! Message-ID: Ever have a nemesis bird that is common to other birders but eludes you for years? I've been actively looking for Mountain Quail for 18 years. I've heard them several times in impenetrable brush, but can't count how many times I have run into Joel Geier on Coffin Butte just AFTER he had seen them. I've even seen a flock of small birds scrambling up a road cut on Mary's Peak that may have been them, but until tonight I had never seen one I could identify. I wasn't out birding, just taking my wife, Joan, for her birthday dinner at the Oregon Garden Resort in Silverton. After our excellent meal we decided to drive the road through the guest housing area and just as we turned the far corner a bird hopped off the curb and into the street, just 30 feet ahead of us. It stood there looking at us for over two minutes, then scurried across the road into the landscaping around the guest houses. Now, I've already admitted I had no experience to help me ID it, but it was a mountain quail, for sure. We looked for covey mates, but just one bird was seen. Patrick Gallagher Salem -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090927/e43c7dd1/attachment.html From krjones at easystreet.net Mon Sep 28 07:45:01 2009 From: krjones at easystreet.net (Karen Jones) Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:45:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Broadwing Hawk over Portland Council Crest Message-ID: <11f467c40909280745p60edc651n819c8ed99ca80cf8@mail.gmail.com> On Sunday, Jerry Sutherland and I did a townie hawkwatch, since car issues kept us from Bonney Butte. We ended up at Council Crest and were looking northeast and east from about 2 to 3 p.m. It was mostly quiet for hawk migration, but we did have a Red-tailed Hawk and an immature Broadwing Hawk soaring together overhead. The size difference was clear. The birds were only seen underneath. The smaller bird was fairly pale and unmarked in the body, had dark tips on scalpel-shaped wings, and had a thin-striped tail with dark subterminal band. It looked quite similar to the photograph from BB discussed here in the last few days. We also saw a kettle of 15-20 Turkey Vultures passing south; saw 20-30 throughout the day. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090928/6b94659d/attachment.html From tsnetsinger at centurytel.net Mon Sep 28 09:38:21 2009 From: tsnetsinger at centurytel.net (tsnetsinger at centurytel.net) Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:38:21 -0400 Subject: [obol] Deschutes: BOREAL OWL 9/26 Message-ID: <20090928123821.9ecn9tr8pqw0kwws@webmail2.centurytel.net> OBOL, This weekend Christina and I had a great camping trip up to an area north of Mount Bachelor in Deschutes County. The weather was perfect during the day, and there was virtually no wind at night and a bright moon. On Saturday night we had a BOREAL OWL within 10 yards of our tent. WOW! good birding, Tom Snetsinger From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Sep 28 13:03:25 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:03:25 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Curry Sharp-tailed Sandpipers 9/23/2009 Message-ID: <302746.52700.qm@web45308.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Just found out today that Dave Pitkin ID'ed a couple of Sharp-taileds that Rick McKenzie found on his ranch near Langlois on the 23rd, they were gone the next day.? That's a great Curry bird, I think there is only one other record?? Dave?is the one who found?the Yellow-throated Warbler in the same area last winter, we have high hopes for this coming winter Dave! ? Merry migration, Tim R Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090928/08a27488/attachment.html From sheilach at nwtec.com Mon Sep 28 14:49:20 2009 From: sheilach at nwtec.com (sheila) Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:49:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gold-crowns are here Message-ID: <5869C57C301641ABBFE788BE74BC1C8B@sheila> It must be fall, the days get shorter, low wet clouds hang over the shore and the first GOLD-CROWN SPARROW has arrived! A flock of CALIFORNIA QUAIL was heard in the bushes, winter colored AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are at the feeders and flocks of tiny BLACK-CAPPED & CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES and HOUSE FINCHES fight over seeds, WHITE-CROWN SPARROWS and their young enjoy the free eats and a NORTHERN FLICKER calles from a neighbors roof. The CROWS and RAVENS have many young croaking and crucking about, SCRUB & STELLERS JAYS take turns at the feeders and the ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD has the feeder mostly to itself these days.. Large flocks of EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES and their young have taken over the feeders early each morning but the returning flocks of hawks will soon thin the hordes of doves again. People and their loose dogs keep the beaches shorebird free while leaving huge piles of poop to remind us of their passage - YUCK! But offshore, a large raft of GULLS was unaffected by the peopled, dog pooed beaches. I had my surgery and am as ornery as ever and disobeying the doctors orders by driving and working too soon after surgery, but I haven't died from it - yet. Sheila in Harbor OR. From range.bayer at gmail.com Mon Sep 28 14:50:32 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:50:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln Co.: Swan Flew by Seal Rocks/Ona Beach This Morning Message-ID: Hi, This morning (Sept. 28), there were two independent observations of a flying swan. At 10:45 AM, Kit Brigham saw a swan flying south at about 60 ft above water level just north of the Seal Rock County Wayside. Sometime between 10:30 and 11 AM, Stacy Strickland "saw a swan flying south, low over the beach, around 1 mile north of Ona Beach." A swan now is definitely out of season as they often first appear in late October or November (search for "swan" at http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/jspui/bitstream/1957/8070/1/vol.%204%20pg.%20395-543.pdf [2.6 MB]). Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport From goosemiller at gmail.com Mon Sep 28 15:08:55 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:08:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Snow Geese Wickiup Reservoir Message-ID: <4ac133dd.161bf30a.689e.622e@mx.google.com> Craig and I birded Wickiup Reservoir yesterday. It was fun to bird in a place where we knew all the birds and all the birds' songs unlike Sicilia. Although it was fun to get 132 life birds in Sicilia! We saw our first Snow Geese of Fall 2009 flying over Wickiup. There was also lots of Greater White-fronted Geese around the area. We also admired some Canada Geese that were having a great old time just goosing around. Marilyn Miller Bend, Oregon From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Sep 28 15:13:42 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:13:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Lincoln Co.: Swan Flew by Seal Rocks/Ona Beach This Morning In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <319114.29958.qm@web45311.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> We had a report of three Tundra Swans on 2 September in the Empire area of Coos Bay which was way, way earlier than our earliest previous fall county record of 25 October?? The observers also ruled out Mute Swans?? ? Tim R Coos Bay? --- On Mon, 9/28/09, Range Bayer wrote: From: Range Bayer Subject: [obol] Lincoln Co.: Swan Flew by Seal Rocks/Ona Beach This Morning To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" , "Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing" Cc: "Range Bayer" , "Kit Brigham" , "Stacy Strickland" Date: Monday, September 28, 2009, 2:50 PM Hi, ? ? This morning (Sept. 28), there were two independent observations of a flying swan. ? ???At 10:45 AM, Kit Brigham saw a swan flying south at about 60 ft above water level just north of the Seal Rock County Wayside. Sometime between 10:30 and 11 AM, Stacy Strickland "saw a swan flying south, low over the beach, around 1 mile north of Ona Beach." ? ? A swan now is definitely out of season as they often first appear in late October or November (search for "swan" at http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/jspui/bitstream/1957/8070/1/vol.%204%20pg.%20395-543.pdf [2.6 MB]). ? ???Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090928/f291a162/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon Sep 28 17:16:09 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:16:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] ECBC Green Ridge Hawk Watch RED-SHOULDERED HAWK Message-ID: Yesterday, we finished week 2 of the Green Ridge Hawk Watch. This location is north of Sisters on a long ridge that the birds use for thermals and updrafts. We found a total of 70 raptors and 72 Turkey Vultures on Sunday. As usual, the bulk of the birds were Sharp-shinned Hawks but we had some interesting sightings. Our best bird of the day was an immature RED-SHOULDERED HAWK which was the first ever tallied at this location. Besides raptors we had 20 Flickers, 1 Williamson's Sapsucker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 2 Black-backed Woodpeckers, 2 Varied Thrush, 3 Gray Jays, 1 Band-tailed Pigeon, 1 Evening Grosbeak, and a mix of Cassin's and Purple Finches. Chuck Gates ECBC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090928/bef02ac4/attachment.html From gneavoll at comcast.net Mon Sep 28 17:28:54 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:28:54 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Black Swifts over Portland In-Reply-To: <1015193560.6195891254183248483.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1814620337.6200341254184134049.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> BLACK SWIFTS (10-12, probably more) flying/soaring over Vista St. Clair Apartments, 1000 S.W. Vista Ave., under overcast skies with rain threatening, between 5 and 5:25 p.m. today (Monday, 9/28/09). A spectacular sight as large BLACK swifts swept on scimitar-shaped wings over cityscape, dipping at times below horizon with buildings of Portland as backdrop. George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090929/a136d61d/attachment.html From ellencantor at gmail.com Mon Sep 28 18:25:28 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:25:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge many White-fronted Geese Message-ID: <7058c4c60909281825kaf52c87q5fdc830cdb730973@mail.gmail.com> I walked the big loop today down the center and up the westernmost dikes in the Royal Unit of Fern Ridge. Highlights included a large flock of over 50 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and a PEREGRINE FALCON that got the several flocks of Dowitchers and Yellowlegs moving. I saw one LESSER YELLOWLEGS among the groups of GREATER YELLOWLEGS. Also a small group of WESTERN SANDPIPERS, and one LEAST SANDPIPER on a gravel spit up at the north marsh. Other highlights included 1 RAVEN, 1 WILSON'S SNIPE, AND 1 male PHEASANT. The AMERICAN PELICANS were far to the north. I counted about 10. good birding! Ellen Cantor Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090928/34bcbf83/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Sep 28 19:06:48 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:06:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swans... Message-ID: <4AC16BB8.3010600@pacifier.com> Steve Warner reports 2 MUTE SWANS were on the Necanicum in Seaside Saturday. Both flight capable, they were gone by the afternoon. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From geraldham at comcast.net Mon Sep 28 20:17:12 2009 From: geraldham at comcast.net (geraldham at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:17:12 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Fwd: .........Ridgefield NWR In-Reply-To: <2033071290.6825831254193825304.JavaMail.root@sz0058a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <658641325.6828021254194232287.JavaMail.root@sz0058a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: geraldham at comcast.net To: tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 8:10:25 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: .........Ridgefield NWR .............Mostly cloudy and cool with rain by 6:00 pm today at River-S Unit---Ridgefield N WR north of Vancouver Wash. 39 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE(.....with 2 smaller CANADA GEESE with them) in the east side of Rest Lake. Lots of SANDHILL CRANES heard and flying overhead with 10 cranes feeding near the road just south of the contact station. for the only closeup view of the cranes I saw. GREAT EGRETS and lots of GREAT BLUE HERONS around. .............8 LONG=BILLED DOWITCHERS and 1 GREATER YELLOWLEG south end of Rest Lake, plus a small flock of unidentified small shorebirds flying overhead.Several CANVASBACKS reported, but not seen by me. Some COOTS and MALLARDS ( ...males starting to get their colors) about it for ducks right now. Canada Geese coming down from the north and should be more prevalent short. The HORNED OWL still around the area of the observation blind for Rest lake. Water still low there, but starting to fill up more with the refuge pumps going with water from the Columbia River. .............3 River Otters on the small lake with all the dead trees to the left of road shortly after passing the entrance station. ..............Cheers.......Gerald Hamilton Brush Prairie, Wash. geraldham at comcast.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090929/a52f0b8c/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Mon Sep 28 20:33:39 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:33:39 -0400 Subject: [obol] 4 Pectoral Sandpipers @ Jackson Bottom (Washington Co) Message-ID: I was watching 4 Pecs working the mudflats on the south side of the large pond at Jackson Bottom just as the first squall of rain came through late afternoon. They might stick around for a day or two, considering that there is a front moving through. There is excellent shorebird habitat right now at the south side of the big retention pond. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Bing? brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now. http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MLOGEN&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MLOGEN_Core_tagline_local_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090928/00192ccc/attachment.html From mrchickadee at gmail.com Mon Sep 28 21:51:06 2009 From: mrchickadee at gmail.com (Miss Jacqui) Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:51:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Green Ridge Raptor Count - Carpool from PDX Message-ID: <7e34f7b0909282151r6baa4664j22a8853f077f502d@mail.gmail.com> Hi OBOLers I was wondering if there is any interest in a car pool from PDX this coming Sunday (or the one following) to go for the raptor count. I would want to get there to the camp ground to car pool w/ the officials to the site. I have a car... or if you'd rather drive.... I'm open. Pls email me direct. Thanks! Jacqui mrchickadee at gmail.com -- Jacqui Parker Portland, OREGON ........... "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss ( '< < ? ) / ) ) ( (\) // " " ? ? \\ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090928/ca321004/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Tue Sep 29 09:22:02 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:22:02 -0400 Subject: [obol] Unidentified bird at Hoh Rainforest Message-ID: <8CC0F381C7A313F-3064-2F905@webmail-m063.sysops.aol.com> My wife and I did a quick run through Washington last week going to Mt Rainer and then on around the Olympic peninsula. Not much birding time, but I got a couple of new birds, (for me) and a picture of one I can't ID. I think it might be a Spruce Grouse, but I'm not sure. The photo is the best of two and was taken while leaving the Hoh Rain forest. The bird walked onto the road but flew away when I I opened the car door for a better shot. Any help appreciated. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2541/3966454706_bd8825f0dd_b.jpg Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090929/c9ffb1c3/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Tue Sep 29 10:59:34 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:59:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Unidentified bird at Hoh Rainforest In-Reply-To: <8CC0F381C7A313F-3064-2F905@webmail-m063.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CC0F381C7A313F-3064-2F905@webmail-m063.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: Johnny, The coarse dark barring on the side and the dark tail band shows this to be a Ruffed Grouse. Larry McQueen _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of jonysky101 at aol.com Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 9:22 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Unidentified bird at Hoh Rainforest My wife and I did a quick run through Washington last week going to Mt Rainer and then on around the Olympic peninsula. Not much birding time, but I got a couple of new birds, (for me) and a picture of one I can't ID. I think it might be a Spruce Grouse, but I'm not sure. The photo is the best of two and was taken while leaving the Hoh Rain forest. The bird walked onto the road but flew away when I I opened the car door for a better shot. Any help appreciated. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2541/3966454706_bd8825f0dd_b.jpg Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090929/a7c3a58c/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Sep 29 12:10:59 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:10:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Belated Coos/Curry report Message-ID: <818257.80075.qm@web45309.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I thought I'd already sent this out, but?I don't think?I did, sorry if it's a repeat: ? Knute Andersson found a TROPICAL KINGBIRD out on the Cape Blanco road on 9/25. ? On 9/26 there was a male basic-plumaged EURASAIN WIGEON on the north spit of Coos Bay. ? On 9/28 out on the north spit there were 4 EARED GREBES, a couple MYRTLE WARBLERS, and a YELLOW WARBLER. ? That's it for now- the rain is back! Tim R Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090929/7f4af4e7/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Sep 29 12:34:01 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:34:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Juv. Solitary Sandpiper at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, Benton Co. Message-ID: <1254252841.3390.569.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, The small shorebird contingent at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area's Canal Pond today included a juvenile SOLITARY SANDPIPER (with slightly orangeish-yellow legs) along with a juvenile GREATER YELLOWLEGS, a few KILLDEER and WILSON'S SNIPE, and about eight PEEPS that looked from a distance to be Least Sandpipers. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was calling and flying around in the woods on the south side of this pond, the first one I've seen or heard there since last January. I had a fleeting glimpse, then heard a few call notes from a ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER that was consorting loosely with the first migrant YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS that I've seen this season (not a good look but I think at least one was a MYRTLE WARBLER). No Swainson's Thrushes heard in any of the usual thickets that they've been using in migration. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From winkg at hevanet.com Tue Sep 29 12:44:48 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:44:48 +0000 Subject: [obol] RBA: Northern Parula, Bayocean Message-ID: <1160076519-1254253478-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-128910313-@bda407.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> Andy Frank and I are listening to and occasionally glimpsing an immature NORTHERN PARULA in the willow thicket in the woods at Bayocean. I believe this location is also known as "Owen's Black and White Warbler spot". Wink Gross Portland Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry From gneavoll at comcast.net Tue Sep 29 14:47:10 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:47:10 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Turkey Vulture kettle over Portland Message-ID: <743745237.6590941254260830303.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Kettle of nine TURKEY VULTURES, building to 13, riding thermals over downtown, drifting south, between 1:50 and 2:10 p.m. today (9/29/09). George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090929/de67f548/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Tue Sep 29 15:10:58 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:10:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Peregrine Falcon, Yamhill Co Message-ID: Shortly after 10AM I saw a Peregrine Falcon pushing a ball of Starlings around along West Side Rd just south of Meadowlake Rd. As I approached it gave up on them and went off across the road. It was surging along the fields when I turned back for another look, and it continued in a southeasterly direction, while the Starlings began to settle down in some small trees along West Side Rd. Pamela Johnston From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Sep 29 16:37:00 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:37:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper? Message-ID: I'm a little surprised that a Solitary Sandpiper would have legs that color. It is getting a little late for them. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From maguspa at comcast.net Tue Sep 29 17:13:41 2009 From: maguspa at comcast.net (Jerry Vermillion) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:13:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Turkey Vulture kettle over Portland In-Reply-To: <743745237.6590941254260830303.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> References: <743745237.6590941254260830303.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <4AC2A2B5.2030308@comcast.net> I saw them around 2:15 over NW 20th and NW Lovejoy. Ran inside to get my binocs but they had drifted out of view by that time. gneavoll at comcast.net wrote: > Kettle of nine TURKEY VULTURES, building to 13, riding thermals over > downtown, drifting south, between 1:50 and 2:10 p.m. today (9/29/09). > > George Neavoll > S.W. Portland > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090929/f5ffc538/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Tue Sep 29 17:36:06 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:36:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Coast, Am. Golden-Plover still present Message-ID: <2b1bbd260909291736v70ec0fa9kcbfaed1cc0c4001e@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Lydia Cruz and I ran out to the Siuslaw South Jetty around 4:30PM. At the dog pond there were 3 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and 7 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS (all juv). At the crab docks cove the juvenile AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was still accompanied by 19 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and 6 WESTERN SANDPIPERS. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090929/d0ecbe05/attachment.html From gneavoll at comcast.net Tue Sep 29 18:14:38 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:14:38 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] More Black Swifts over the city In-Reply-To: <1589732641.6675401254272887923.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1386288913.6677931254273278094.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> BLACK SWIFTS again over Portland, this time a disjointed flock of at least 15-20, probably many more, over Uptown Shopping Center, West Burnside and Vista Avenue (near last evening's sighting), from 5:30 to 5:50 p.m. today (9/29/09). NOTE: This is Black Swift weather, with lowering skies and drizzly conditions forcing birds nearer the ground. Look for large all-black (or blackish) swifts with scimitar wings, wingbeats discernibly slower than Vaux's, occasionally fanning tails. Willamette Valley appears to be migratory flyway. George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090930/c1e71bac/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Tue Sep 29 18:40:02 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:40:02 -0400 Subject: [obol] thanks for ID Message-ID: <8CC0F86107A1E93-15DC-665C@webmail-m063.sysops.aol.com> I appreciate the ID help on the Ruffled Grouse. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090929/65e316ea/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Tue Sep 29 19:42:45 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:42:45 -0400 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield today Message-ID: <8CC0F8ED34B35A8-15DC-72B8@webmail-m063.sysops.aol.com> I was at Ridgefield this morning during on and off showers. Lots of?assorted ducks, Piedbill Grebes and loads of Great Blue Herons. I aslp counted 53 Greater White-fronted Goose on the bank of Rest Lake. They were my first. But this guy was the star of the show. ?http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2425/3967911780_8c4199f0a8_b.jpg He was so big I rolled my windows up to protect my pups when I stopped at the blind. Johnny Sasko Sandy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090929/49cfcf56/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Tue Sep 29 21:15:38 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:15:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. Message-ID: <20090930041539.B87D9A8217@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> In addition to the NORTHERN PARULA reported earlier today (from the ALDER thicket--not "willow"--that's about 100 yds in from the south entrance to the woods at Bayocean), Andy Frank and I found some other good stuff in the Tillamook area. A MERLIN was along Goodspeed Rd. At Bayocean, we found a single RED KNOT, six MARBLED GODWITS, two BLACK TURNSTONES, and about 40 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS (almost all juveniles). We also heard a WILSON'S SNIPE winnowing, which seemed a bit bizarre. 40 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew over, heading south. At Bay City oyster dock there was a flock of 35 BLACK TURNSTONES and a single WANDERING TATTLER. A rather late YELLOW WARBLER was at Fenk Road. Wink Gross Portland From Oropendolas at aol.com Tue Sep 29 22:38:47 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:38:47 EDT Subject: [obol] Skinner's Butte Tree Swallows Message-ID: Hello All, The coolest thing I saw today was from the top of Skinner's Butte; a huge swirling flock of Tree Swallows with flashing white undersides, lit by the late afternoon sun from a cloudless sky to the west, showed up as hundreds of sparkling bursts of light against the black storm clouds to the east. John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090930/ec92a223/attachment.html From grantandstacy17 at gmail.com Tue Sep 29 23:39:52 2009 From: grantandstacy17 at gmail.com (Grant Canterbury) Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:39:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Curry Sharp-tailed Sandpipers 9/23/2009 Message-ID: >Just found out today that Dave Pitkin ID'ed a couple of Sharp-taileds that Rick McKenzie found on his ranch near Langlois on the 23rd, they were gone the next day. That's a great Curry bird [...] Mmm... specialty of Indian cuisine? From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Sep 30 02:44:44 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:44:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper? Message-ID: <1254303884.27828.25.camel@clearwater> Alan Contreras wrote: > I'm a little surprised that a Solitary Sandpiper would have legs that color. > It is getting a little late for them. Hello Alan & All, I was less surprised, as a very similar bird was at E.E. Wilson from September 30 through October 8, 2002. I tried to make that one into something a little more exotic at first. But like today's bird, it showed a Solitary Sandpiper tail pattern and looked and acted like a Solitary Sandpiper in all other respects. If you or anyone else wants to try to make this one into something else, I expect that it will stick around for a few days as fall SOSAs normally do at E.E. Wilson, so go for it! But I think you'll be disappointed. There is too much of an eye ring and not enough of a pale supercilium to even think about Wood Sandpiper. I considered Green Sandpiper for both this and the 2002 bird (though orangeish-yellow color would also be atypical for that species), but tail pattern ruled that out. Yesterday's bird was kind enough to do a bit of a tail wiggle while standing on the shore, spreading the feathers enough that I could see brown running all the way up the center, so I didn't have to puzzle over it as long as the 2002 bird. I think there may be some sort of environmentally caused leg-staining that goes on with these late fall migrant SOSAs -- perhaps caused by algae blooms wherever they're coming from? Who knows. anyway, the bird looked very happy patrolling the edges of the pond, so it may hang around long enough for others who are curious to take a look. The Canal Pond is reached by way of the "nature trail" which runs north from the pheasant pens to the angling pond, about a 1/3 mile stroll. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From cgates326 at gmail.com Wed Sep 30 06:11:58 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:11:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook County Birds Message-ID: I had a SABINE'S GULL and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER on the Prineville Sewer Ponds yesterday. Houston Lake had a single WHITE PELICAN and 75 WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090930/8a0b228d/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Sep 30 06:33:31 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:33:31 +0000 Subject: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. In-Reply-To: <20090930041539.B87D9A8217@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> References: <20090930041539.B87D9A8217@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: Wink et al., With regard to your Yellow Warbler being "rather late:" While it does seem to be getting late for neo-tropical migrants, Yellow Warblers are one of later warblers to depart Oregon in the Fall. A modest passage of immatures can be expected until about the 10th of October. Dave Irons > Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:15:38 -0700 > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > From: winkg at hevanet.com > Subject: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. > > In addition to the NORTHERN PARULA reported earlier today (from > the ALDER thicket--not "willow"--that's about 100 yds in from the > south entrance to the woods at Bayocean), Andy Frank and I found > some other good stuff in the Tillamook area. > > A MERLIN was along Goodspeed Rd. > > At Bayocean, we found a single RED KNOT, six MARBLED GODWITS, two > BLACK TURNSTONES, and about 40 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS (almost all > juveniles). We also heard a WILSON'S SNIPE winnowing, which seemed > a bit bizarre. 40 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew over, heading south. > > At Bay City oyster dock there was a flock of 35 BLACK TURNSTONES and > a single WANDERING TATTLER. > > A rather late YELLOW WARBLER was at Fenk Road. > > Wink Gross > Portland > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090930/6ff78173/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Wed Sep 30 07:28:44 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:28:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. References: <20090930041539.B87D9A8217@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: <1615B575232B46209AD056D5583B372E@your5rlp3a9516> David, If memory serves me correctly, we once found a Yellow Warbler on the Coquille Valley CBC. Maybe someone with better knowledge of that CBC can access the record. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: David Irons To: Wink Gross ; post OBOL Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 6:33 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. Wink et al., With regard to your Yellow Warbler being "rather late:" While it does seem to be getting late for neo-tropical migrants, Yellow Warblers are one of later warblers to depart Oregon in the Fall. A modest passage of immatures can be expected until about the 10th of October. Dave Irons > Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:15:38 -0700 > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > From: winkg at hevanet.com > Subject: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. > > In addition to the NORTHERN PARULA reported earlier today (from > the ALDER thicket--not "willow"--that's about 100 yds in from the > south entrance to the woods at Bayocean), Andy Frank and I found > some other good stuff in the Tillamook area. > > A MERLIN was along Goodspeed Rd. > > At Bayocean, we found a single RED KNOT, six MARBLED GODWITS, two > BLACK TURNSTONES, and about 40 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS (almost all > juveniles). We also heard a WILSON'S SNIPE winnowing, which seemed > a bit bizarre. 40 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew over, heading south. > > At Bay City oyster dock there was a flock of 35 BLACK TURNSTONES and > a single WANDERING TATTLER. > > A rather late YELLOW WARBLER was at Fenk Road. > > Wink Gross > Portland > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090930/6121a7c5/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Sep 30 07:46:52 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:46:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. In-Reply-To: <1615B575232B46209AD056D5583B372E@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: Yes, Rich Hoyer found a Yellow in Bandon on the CBC. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Darrel Faxon <5hats at peak.org> > Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:28:44 -0700 > To: David Irons , Wink Gross , post OBOL > > Subject: Re: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. > > David, > If memory serves me correctly, we once found a Yellow Warbler on the Coquille > Valley CBC. Maybe someone with better knowledge of that CBC can access the > record. > > Darrel > ----- Original Message ----- > From: David Irons > To: Wink Gross ; post OBOL > Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 6:33 AM > Subject: Re: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. > > > Wink et al., > > With regard to your Yellow Warbler being "rather late:" While it does seem > to be getting late for neo-tropical migrants, Yellow Warblers are one of later > warblers to depart Oregon in the Fall. A modest passage of immatures can be > expected until about the 10th of October. > > Dave Irons > >> Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:15:38 -0700 >> To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> From: winkg at hevanet.com >> Subject: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. >> >> In addition to the NORTHERN PARULA reported earlier today (from >> the ALDER thicket--not "willow"--that's about 100 yds in from the >> south entrance to the woods at Bayocean), Andy Frank and I found >> some other good stuff in the Tillamook area. >> >> A MERLIN was along Goodspeed Rd. >> >> At Bayocean, we found a single RED KNOT, six MARBLED GODWITS, two >> BLACK TURNSTONES, and about 40 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS (almost all >> juveniles). We also heard a WILSON'S SNIPE winnowing, which seemed >> a bit bizarre. 40 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew over, heading south. >> >> At Bay City oyster dock there was a flock of 35 BLACK TURNSTONES and >> a single WANDERING TATTLER. >> >> A rather late YELLOW WARBLER was at Fenk Road. >> >> Wink Gross >> Portland >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dpvroman at budget.net Wed Sep 30 07:54:25 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:54:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Last Yellow Warlbers around References: <20090930041539.B87D9A8217@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: The latest record I have for Josephine Co is 5 Oct 2000 at Whitehorse Park area. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Wink et al., With regard to your Yellow Warbler being "rather late:" While it does seem to be getting late for neo-tropical migrants, Yellow Warblers are one of later warblers to depart Oregon in the Fall. A modest passage of immatures can be expected until about the 10th of October. Dave Irons > Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:15:38 -0700 > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > From: winkg at hevanet.com > Subject: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. > > In addition to the NORTHERN PARULA reported earlier today (from > the ALDER thicket--not "willow"--that's about 100 yds in from the > south entrance to the woods at Bayocean), Andy Frank and I found > some other good stuff in the Tillamook area. > > A MERLIN was along Goodspeed Rd. > > At Bayocean, we found a single RED KNOT, six MARBLED GODWITS, two > BLACK TURNSTONES, and about 40 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS (almost all > juveniles). We also heard a WILSON'S SNIPE winnowing, which seemed > a bit bizarre. 40 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew over, heading south. > > At Bay City oyster dock there was a flock of 35 BLACK TURNSTONES and > a single WANDERING TATTLER. > > A rather late YELLOW WARBLER was at Fenk Road. > > Wink Gross > Portland > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090930/b29b6fe0/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Sep 30 08:02:52 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:02:52 +0000 Subject: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. In-Reply-To: References: <1615B575232B46209AD056D5583B372E@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: Alan, Now that's a late migrant. We had a Yellow Warbler on the Portland CBC (at Crystal Springs) back in about 1977 or 78. Can't remember who found it originally, maybe Richard Smith. On that day I think our group (David Fix, my dad, and I) had five species of warblers (Yellow-rumped, Orange-crowned, Townsend's, Black-throated Gray, and Yellow). Dave Irons > Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:46:52 -0700 > Subject: Re: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. > From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM > To: 5hats at peak.org; llsdirons at msn.com; winkg at hevanet.com; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Yes, Rich Hoyer found a Yellow in Bandon on the CBC. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > > > > > > > > From: Darrel Faxon <5hats at peak.org> > > Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:28:44 -0700 > > To: David Irons , Wink Gross , post OBOL > > > > Subject: Re: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. > > > > David, > > If memory serves me correctly, we once found a Yellow Warbler on the Coquille > > Valley CBC. Maybe someone with better knowledge of that CBC can access the > > record. > > > > Darrel > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: David Irons > > To: Wink Gross ; post OBOL > > Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 6:33 AM > > Subject: Re: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. > > > > > > Wink et al., > > > > With regard to your Yellow Warbler being "rather late:" While it does seem > > to be getting late for neo-tropical migrants, Yellow Warblers are one of later > > warblers to depart Oregon in the Fall. A modest passage of immatures can be > > expected until about the 10th of October. > > > > Dave Irons > > > >> Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:15:38 -0700 > >> To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > >> From: winkg at hevanet.com > >> Subject: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. > >> > >> In addition to the NORTHERN PARULA reported earlier today (from > >> the ALDER thicket--not "willow"--that's about 100 yds in from the > >> south entrance to the woods at Bayocean), Andy Frank and I found > >> some other good stuff in the Tillamook area. > >> > >> A MERLIN was along Goodspeed Rd. > >> > >> At Bayocean, we found a single RED KNOT, six MARBLED GODWITS, two > >> BLACK TURNSTONES, and about 40 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS (almost all > >> juveniles). We also heard a WILSON'S SNIPE winnowing, which seemed > >> a bit bizarre. 40 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew over, heading south. > >> > >> At Bay City oyster dock there was a flock of 35 BLACK TURNSTONES and > >> a single WANDERING TATTLER. > >> > >> A rather late YELLOW WARBLER was at Fenk Road. > >> > >> Wink Gross > >> Portland > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> obol mailing list > >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _________________________________________________________________ Bing? brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now. http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MLOGEN&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MLOGEN_Core_tagline_local_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090930/554bdfbc/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Wed Sep 30 08:44:22 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:44:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. In-Reply-To: Message-ID: The most surprising thing about that Yellow Warbler was that it was an adult male ? bright yellow with red streaking below. Jeff Gilligan On 9/30/09 8:02 AM, "David Irons" wrote: > Alan, > > Now that's a late migrant. We had a Yellow Warbler on the Portland CBC (at > Crystal Springs) back in about 1977 or 78. Can't remember who found it > originally, maybe Richard Smith. On that day I think our group (David Fix, my > dad, and I) had five species of warblers (Yellow-rumped, Orange-crowned, > Townsend's, Black-throated Gray, and Yellow). > > Dave Irons > >> > Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:46:52 -0700 >> > Subject: Re: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. >> > From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM >> > To: 5hats at peak.org; llsdirons at msn.com; winkg at hevanet.com; >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> > >> > Yes, Rich Hoyer found a Yellow in Bandon on the CBC. >> > >> > -- >> > Alan Contreras >> > EUGENE, OREGON >> > acontrer at mindspring.com >> > >> > >> > http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary >> > http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >>> > > From: Darrel Faxon <5hats at peak.org> >>> > > Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:28:44 -0700 >>> > > To: David Irons , Wink Gross , >>> post OBOL >>> > > >>> > > Subject: Re: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. >>> > > >>> > > David, >>> > > If memory serves me correctly, we once found a Yellow Warbler on the >>> Coquille >>> > > Valley CBC. Maybe someone with better knowledge of that CBC can access the >>> > > record. >>> > > >>> > > Darrel >>> > > ----- Original Message ----- >>> > > From: David Irons >>> > > To: Wink Gross ; post OBOL >>> > > Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 6:33 AM >>> > > Subject: Re: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > Wink et al., >>> > > >>> > > With regard to your Yellow Warbler being "rather late:" While it does >>> seem >>> > > to be getting late for neo-tropical migrants, Yellow Warblers are one of >>> later >>> > > warblers to depart Oregon in the Fall. A modest passage of immatures can be >>> > > expected until about the 10th of October. >>> > > >>> > > Dave Irons >>> > > >>>> > >> Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:15:38 -0700 >>>> > >> To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>>> > >> From: winkg at hevanet.com >>>> > >> Subject: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. >>>> > >> >>>> > >> In addition to the NORTHERN PARULA reported earlier today (from >>>> > >> the ALDER thicket--not "willow"--that's about 100 yds in from the >>>> > >> south entrance to the woods at Bayocean), Andy Frank and I found >>>> > >> some other good stuff in the Tillamook area. >>>> > >> >>>> > >> A MERLIN was along Goodspeed Rd. >>>> > >> >>>> > >> At Bayocean, we found a single RED KNOT, six MARBLED GODWITS, two >>>> > >> BLACK TURNSTONES, and about 40 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS (almost all >>>> > >> juveniles). We also heard a WILSON'S SNIPE winnowing, which seemed >>>> > >> a bit bizarre. 40 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew over, heading >>>> south. >>>> > >> >>>> > >> At Bay City oyster dock there was a flock of 35 BLACK TURNSTONES and >>>> > >> a single WANDERING TATTLER. >>>> > >> >>>> > >> A rather late YELLOW WARBLER was at Fenk Road. >>>> > >> >>>> > >> Wink Gross >>>> > >> Portland >>>> > >> >>>> > >> _______________________________________________ >>>> > >> obol mailing list >>>> > >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>>> > >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>> > > Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that?s right for you. >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > _______________________________________________ >>> > > obol mailing list >>> > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >>> > > >>> > > _______________________________________________ >>> > > obol mailing list >>> > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> > >> > > > > Bing? brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now. > LOGEN_Core_tagline_local_1x1> > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090930/2ccf5e6e/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Sep 30 09:57:49 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:57:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tillamook Co. Godwits, Knot, Tattler, Merlin, etc. Message-ID: <20090930165749.677F5A8217@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Well, if I had checked my own records before posting my comment about a "rather late Yellow Warbler", we could have avoided this whole thread. I found a Yellow Warbler at the Pittock on Oct 9, 2007. Not that it was a _bad_ thread, mind you. Wink Gross Portland From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Wed Sep 30 11:31:31 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:31:31 +0000 Subject: [obol] SPRUCE GROUSE amateur VIDEO by Khanh Tran Message-ID: Hi Obolers, I finally had the time to figure out how to process this video. I apologize for not editing the clip to make it more presentable. I am a total amateur and don't know what I am doing and it SHOWS:( Simple,short clip with elusive,fancy chicken eating grit and strutting his stuff. Male was recorded in the upper elevations of Conconully, WA in Northcentral WA of September 2009. Enjoy! Hope you don't get too bored without any sound. I am trying to get the wingclap display:) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COKgaRdl_gE Good grousin, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From woodenapple at juno.com Wed Sep 30 12:30:18 2009 From: woodenapple at juno.com (woodenapple at juno.com) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:30:18 GMT Subject: [obol] Obol: Eugene Rufous Hummers Message-ID: <20090930.123018.14678.0@webmail11.vgs.untd.com> As of this morning (Wed. 9/30), we still have two RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS in our N. Eugene/Santa Clara yard. Rudi ____________________________________________________________ Best Weight Loss Program - Click Here! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTFoYd46Ky5BzJMKqMFmRTIkwj8OvtAVNQhQzdXFRbP4IG1ulO3XQ8/ From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Sep 30 13:43:03 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:43:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wed morning Message-ID: With the return of the Peruvian Wanderers, (two groups gone during Sep) we had a good turnout of people this morning - better than the turnout of birds. There were so many simultaneous conversations during coffee it was difficult for someone like me, who was sitting in the middle. So we had a somewhat delayed start at Alton-Baker Park where we found a few pockets of avian activity, including the following spp. I probably missed a few that others saw. Canada Goose - 50 Mallard - 30 Com. Merganser - 3 Merlin - 1 adult perched Glaucous-winged Gull - 1 Herring? Gull - 1 Vaux's Swift - 20 + Anna's Hummingbird - 3 Pileated Woodpecker - 1 fem at close range Downy Woodpecker - 4 W.W. Pewee - 1 Violet-gr. Swallow - many Rough-winged Swallow - 2 Scrub Jay - 3 Com. Crow - 16 Black-capped Chickadee - 20 Bushtit - 15 Red-br. Nuthatch - 3 Brown Creeper - 4 Bewick's Wren - 5 Golden-cr. Kinglet - 1 Ruby-cr. Kinglet - 1 Cedar Waxwing - 30 Hutton's Vireo - 1 Black-throated Gray Warbler - 1 Townsend's Warbler - 1 Hermit Warbler - 1 C. Yellowthroat - 1 Red-winged Blackbird - 2 House Finch - 12 Am. Goldfinch - 75+ Les. Goldfinch - 4 Spotted Towhee - 1 Chipping Sparrow - 1 White-crowned Sparrow - 1 Golden-crowned Sparrow - 4 Song Sparrow - 6 Sarah Vasconcellos, Sylvia Maulding, Roger Robb, Kit Larsen, Randy Sinnott, Paul Sherrell, Dennis Arendt, George Grier, Dave Brown, Don Schrouder, Fred Chancey, Jim Carlson, and Larry McQueen (a few others showed up for breakfast but could not continue birding with the group). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090930/01bd4533/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Wed Sep 30 13:57:05 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:57:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln Co.: Lapland Longspur & Red-shouldered Hawk Message-ID: Hi, At about 8 AM this morning (Sept. 30), Chuck Philo found a Lapland Longspur in a grassy area about a mile east of Mooloch Beach, north of Yaquina Head. Chuck noted that the site looked to be good habitat for them. Today, Janet Lamberson saw that after an Osprey vacated the top of the dead alder along the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center Nature Trail, a Red-shouldered Hawk took its place. Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm From carolk at viclink.com Wed Sep 30 14:25:47 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:25:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lewis's Woodpeckers (Yamhill Co.) Message-ID: <004601ca4214$a0a7a180$8c76fea9@home> Today our group found three LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS at the previous location where we found them last Thursday. Location is: The woodpeckers were flying about at the junction of Gopher Valley with Agee Lane. The birds were using the 2nd power pole from the junction with Agee Lane. This junction is about 7 miles north along Gopher Valley Road from Hwy 18 at the Diary Queen (east of Sheridan). Go about a half mile or so on beyond where the pavement ends. Agee Lane is not signed at the north end where it meets Gopher Valley Road. Park at this wide junction and look up the road to the power poles. We also had excellent interaction with the folks who live just west of the Nature Conservancy property. They were excited to see and hear about these beautiful birds. Good birding, Carol Karlen McMinnville From lbviman at blackfoot.net Wed Sep 30 15:42:22 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:42:22 -0600 Subject: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper? Message-ID: <20090930223736.45D1A9B0225@mail.blackfoot.net> Regarding "soft tissue" coloration, not all birds of any given species will show "typical" colors. Images of a Pectoral found by others, to illustrate the point [photos 2-4]; note, also the legs "seemed" brighter yellow than the "norm": http://blackfoot.net/~larkwick/Plovers_and_Sandpipers.html - Jim Greaves, Thompson Falls MT From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Sep 30 16:19:37 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:19:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Redmond area ECBC Wednesday birders - SEVEN Pectorals! Message-ID: OBOL > Six of us birded today, starting at Lower Bridge. The number of > White-crowned Sparrows seems to be building and we had a few > Gold-crowned also. Warbling Vireos, Varied Thrush were nice > and the expected migrant warblers kept us busy. There was a nice > display from 2 Prairie Falcons, 1 Coopers Hawk, 3 Red-tails, > 1 Harrier and 4 Ravens all mixing it up and going after each > other in different combinations. We also had Osprey there > and Kestrels for a very nice raptor morning. > Redmond ponds had SEVEN PECTORAL SANDPIPERS > together feeding at the west edge of the main pond. We enjoyed > watching them for a while. Otherwise, shorebirds seem to > be on the wane. > Hammonds Flycatcher was about the only bird we could find > at Tetherow Crossing where the wind was blowing hard. > Total 65 species today counting a few extra that 3 of us > saw on the way home. > Birders today Kate Harner, Kim Kathol, Howard Horvath, > Mary Oppenheimer, Don Sutherland, and Judy Meredith. > Full list on birdnotes under Deschutes County, this date. > http://birdnotes.net > > Good birding, > Judy Meredith > jmeredit at bendnet.com From rriparia at charter.net Wed Sep 30 18:46:29 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:46:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Shorebirds in The Klamath Basin Message-ID: <20090930214629.QALLN.6026409.root@mp16> This message was sent to a Klamath Basin listserve. Since Pectoral Sandpipers seem be be putting in a good show in the state, I'm forwarding what a recent fieldtrip turned up. The shorebirds fieldtrip on Sat. Sept. 26, was actually pretty good. Given such a dry year, there seemed to be enough water flooding some fields to attract what was around. And we seemed to find the fields. Despite the smoke and heat it turned out to be a good day. (Pectorals were seen the day before, and are still being reported in the same areas this week) Hightlights included: SWAINSON'S HAWK, 2, intermediate to intermediate dark morphs, on pivot line, about 1 mi. south of Township Rd. on west side of Straits Drain. PECTORAL SANDPIPER, 27, west of Fugate Rd. on the N side of Stateline Rd., and about 12 in a field south of Merrill and Lower Klamath Lk Rd. prior to Stateline Rd., and on W side. In that field there were probably over 100 KILLDEER. (the number represents the highest total Pectorals I've ever experienced or seen at one time, and at first gave me doubt about the species call... but the field marks were there: slightly smaller than Killdeer, finely streaked upper breast with abrupt change to a clear white lower breast, supercillium above and behind eye, rufous and streaked crown, yellow longish legs. The flooded grassy field was just what they love. They were not intimidated by the wandering black and white cows. LESSER YELLOWLEG, 2, found mixed with numerous LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and GREATER YELLOWLEG along Township Rd. in flooded field west of Oregon Drain. One or two WILSON's SNIPE were also seen there. GOLDEN EAGLE, 1 adult, Oregon Drain GREEN HERON, 1 at Oregon Drain and Stateline Rd., and another at Merrill/Lost River Bridge, (and Walt, Jerry, and I watched it catch and devour a large BULLFROG!!!) RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, 1, Tule Lake NWR HQ, SNOW GOOSE, 4 adults, 6 first fall immatures.... first fall arrivals? Ended day viewing > 250 SANDHILL CRANE at very east end of Lower Klamath NWR unit (near Bank Swallow colony mound and quarry) about 14 HORNED LARK, and 1 soaring overhead PRAIRIE FALCON were also at that last stop on Lower Klamath NWR. Wherever there were trees, there were many Yellow-rumped Warblers. We detected approxiamately 70 species, and seven of them were shorebirds. Not too shabby, especially with Pectoral Sandpiper numbers! 10 attended this fieldtrip. Kevin Spencer rriparia at charter.net Klamath Falls, Oregon --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Klamath Basin Bird News" group. To post to this group, send email to klamathbasinbirdnews at googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to klamathbasinbirdnews+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/klamathbasinbirdnews?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- ============= From namitzr at hotmail.com Wed Sep 30 20:03:50 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:03:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper? (soft part coloration) Message-ID: This is good information for those on this list that might not yet be aware of exceptions to the "norm" in regards to soft part coloration. Thank you for sharing your photos, a wonderful way to drive home your example. I sincerely hope that the aforementioned group was your targeted audience and not the original observer nor the subsequent poster, both of which have decades of birding experience. Russ Namitz Coos Bay, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090930/eb3018d9/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Sep 30 18:27:39 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:27:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper? Message-ID: <1254360460.22038.118.camel@clearwater> Hello Jim & All, Thanks for the photos to illustrate variation of soft-tissue color in shorebirds. Another factor to consider -- which I assumed was familiar to most readers but maybe that was a mistake -- is that juvenile Solitary Sandpipers often have yellowish legs, as mentioned by Hayman, Marchant & Prater in /Shorebirds: An Identification Guide/. From "yellowish" to "orange-ish yellow" is not that big of a jump. I'm fortunate to live in a place where I get to see a lot of Solitary Sandpipers each year, just by walking across the road to the multitude of semi-wooded ponds around E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area. I've lost count but I think I must be well over a dozen for the year, and at least 60 or 70 over the past 10 years. We may not get many other shorebirds here, but we do get plenty of Solitary Sandpipers. Yesterday I didn't even bother to check another pond that frequently gets one in late fall, since that was a longer walk than I had time for. My impression is that leg color is more variable, and a far less useful mark for this species than the books suggest. When I do see one with noticeably greenish legs, my reaction is to say, "Wow, just like the books say!" I don't say that very often. Shape, size, and action of the bird are all much more reliable, along with the eye ring & tail pattern. My travel schedule for work is such that I usually catch the spring migration of Wood & Green Sandpipers through central Sweden, less often in fall migration. Believe me, I keep an eye open for those species on this continent too, and will be jumping up and down if I ever find one here -- but I haven't yet seen a serious candidate. I've also seen Greater Yellowlegs with brick-red legs that most assuredly weren't Redshanks (either kind -- I see those annually too). Helps if you hear their calls. Unusual leg color might reasonably be seen as a flag for Tringas that deserve closer study, but it's not reliable. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From 5hats at peak.org Wed Sep 30 21:26:35 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:26:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper? (soft part coloration) References: Message-ID: Russ, Happens with gulls, too. I once found an otherwise typical second year California Gull with bright blue legs. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: Russ Namitz To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org ; lbviman at blackfoot.net Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 8:03 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper? (soft part coloration) This is good information for those on this list that might not yet be aware of exceptions to the "norm" in regards to soft part coloration. Thank you for sharing your photos, a wonderful way to drive home your example. I sincerely hope that the aforementioned group was your targeted audience and not the original observer nor the subsequent poster, both of which have decades of birding experience. Russ Namitz Coos Bay, OR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090930/cad0db02/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Sep 30 21:35:00 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:35:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper? In-Reply-To: <1254360460.22038.118.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: Some bird books indicate that Solitary is a rare bird in western Oregon in migration, which it certainly isn't. However, it is one of the pickiest shorebirds we have in terms of habitat (dubious little ponds, unlikely backwaters and goopy little sloughs - the last one I saw was feeding in a cow wallow!) and, in spring, has a rather short "normal" window of migration, basically the last week of April and the first ten days of May. Joel's comments point out the importance of actual experience in the field with plenty of birds. That will also help you get past Western and Least Sandpipers that don't look like the pictures in the books. Just last Saturday I spent quite a bit of time staring at a Western Sandpiper that happened to be at a point in its feather wear that it didn't look quite "normal," yet it was pretty clearly that species. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Joel Geier > Reply-To: > Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:27:39 -0700 > To: Oregon Birders OnLine > Cc: Jim Greaves > Subject: Re: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper? > > Hello Jim & All, > > Thanks for the photos to illustrate variation of soft-tissue color in > shorebirds. > > Another factor to consider -- which I assumed was familiar to most > readers but maybe that was a mistake -- is that juvenile Solitary > Sandpipers often have yellowish legs, as mentioned by Hayman, Marchant & > Prater in /Shorebirds: An Identification Guide/. From "yellowish" to > "orange-ish yellow" is not that big of a jump. > > I'm fortunate to live in a place where I get to see a lot of Solitary > Sandpipers each year, just by walking across the road to the multitude > of semi-wooded ponds around E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area. I've lost count > but I think I must be well over a dozen for the year, and at least 60 or > 70 over the past 10 years. We may not get many other shorebirds here, > but we do get plenty of Solitary Sandpipers. Yesterday I didn't even > bother to check another pond that frequently gets one in late fall, > since that was a longer walk than I had time for. > > My impression is that leg color is more variable, and a far less useful > mark for this species than the books suggest. When I do see one with > noticeably greenish legs, my reaction is to say, "Wow, just like the > books say!" I don't say that very often. Shape, size, and action of the > bird are all much more reliable, along with the eye ring & tail pattern. > > My travel schedule for work is such that I usually catch the spring > migration of Wood & Green Sandpipers through central Sweden, less often > in fall migration. Believe me, I keep an eye open for those species on > this continent too, and will be jumping up and down if I ever find one > here -- but I haven't yet seen a serious candidate. > > I've also seen Greater Yellowlegs with brick-red legs that most > assuredly weren't Redshanks (either kind -- I see those annually too). > Helps if you hear their calls. Unusual leg color might reasonably be > seen as a flag for Tringas that deserve closer study, but it's not > reliable. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Sep 30 21:47:29 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:47:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 09/30/09 Message-ID: <20091001044727.23BEEA8283@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 09/24 to 09/30/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 5 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) CACKLING GOOSE 1 (80, 9/27) CANADA GOOSE 1 (18, 9/24) SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 1 (1, 9/28) Cooper's Hawk 1 (1, 9/30) Band-tailed Pigeon 4 (10, 9/24) Mourning Dove 3 (1) Anna's Hummingbird 5 (4, 9/30) Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 (1, 9/24) Hairy Woodpecker 2 (2, 9/25) Northern Flicker 5 (6, 9/24) Pileated Woodpecker 4 (2, 9/24) Pacific-slope Flycatcher 1 (1, 9/27) Hutton's Vireo 2 (2, 9/25 & 30) Steller's Jay 5 (6) Western Scrub-Jay 1 (1, 9/24) American Crow 3 (8, 9/24) Black-capped Chickadee 5 (25) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 5 (20, 9/30) Bushtit 2 (1+, 9/25 & 28) Red-breasted Nuthatch 5 (10, 9/27) Brown Creeper 5 (3) Bewick's Wren 1 (2, 9/24) Winter Wren 4 (3, 9/24) Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 (5, 9/30) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 (3, 9/30) Swainson's Thrush 2 (3, 9/25) Hermit Thrush 3 (2, 9/27) American Robin 5 (15, 9/24) Varied Thrush 3 (2) European Starling 3 (3) Cedar Waxwing 2 (5, 9/27) Orange-crowned Warbler 1 (1, 9/30) YELLOW WARBLER 1 (2, 9/24) Black-throated Gray Warbler 3 (4, 9/24) Townsend's Warbler 3 (3, 9/30) Spotted Towhee 5 (7) FOX SPARROW 2 (3, 9/30) Song Sparrow 5 (12) Golden-crowned Sparrow 1 (4, 9/27) Dark-eyed Junco 5 (15) Purple Finch 3 (2, 9/24) House Finch 4 (7, 9/27) Red Crossbill 1 (1, 9/24) American Goldfinch 1 (3, 9/27) Evening Grosbeak 4 (15) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Misses (birds found at least 3 days in previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Vaux's Swift, Downy Woodpecker, Violet-green Swallow, Western Tanager Wink Gross Portland From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Sep 30 23:27:46 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:27:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 10-1-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * October 1, 2009 * ORPO0910/01 - Birds mentioned Gr. White-fronted Goose Cackling Goose Eurasian Wigeon Red-breasted Merganser American White Pelican BROAD-WINGED HAWK Sandhill Crane Black-bellied Plover American Golden-Plover Pacific Golden-Plover WOOD SANDPIPER Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Sabine?s Gull Mew Gull Boreal Owl Black Swift Costa?s Hummingbird Tropical Kingbird Tree Swallow NORTHERN PARULA White-throated Sparrow Lapland Longspur - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday October 1. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On September 29 a NORTHERN PARULA was in the woods on the Bayocean Peninsula at Tillamook Bay. A BOREAL OWL was north of Bachelor Butte September 26. A BROAD-WINGED HAWK was seen September 27 passing over Council Crest in Portland. Another was at Seaside September 26. A possible WOOD SANDPIPER was reported from Fern Ridge Reservoir September 25. Two MEW GULLS were also there. A heavy movement September 24 brought WHITE-FRONTED and CACKLING GEESE and SANDHILL CRANES through Oregon. WHITE PELICANS are still being seen in the Willamette Valley with 60 over Silverton September 27. On September 23 two SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPERS were near Langlois. A TROPICAL KINGBIRD was near Cape Blanco September 25. A male EURASIAN WIGEON was on the North Spit of Coos Bay September 26. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was at Boiler Bay September 27. An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER and 31 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were at the South Jetty of the Siuslaw River September 27. On September 26 an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, two PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS and 11 LAPLAND LONGSPURS were at the South Jetty of the Columbia River. Up to a dozen BLACK SWIFTS were seen September 28 and 29 over SW Portland. A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was in Portland September 27. A possible COSTA?S HUMMINGBIRD was at a Gresham feeder September 26. A very large flock of TREE SWALLOWS was over Skinner?s Butte in Eugene September 26. On September 29 a SABINE?S GULL was at the Prineville Sewage Ponds. A young RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was at Hat Rock State Park east of Umatilla September 26. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090930/4354da73/attachment.html From tc at crlaw.org Tue Sep 15 13:52:19 2009 From: tc at crlaw.org (Tom Crabtree) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:52:19 -0000 Subject: [obol] "Fall" sightings in Bend Message-ID: Yesterday I had the first TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE of the season in my stream. I still have one each of CALLIOPE, RUFOUS and ANNA's HUMMINGBIRDS hanging around, but this is a far cry from the 10 or so Rufous that were here two weeks ago. A few minutes ago I had over a dozen WESTERN SCRUB JAYS flaying around at the corner of Franklin & Harriman in Bend. That's a fairly significant concentration of the birds for the area. This morning I noticed that their annual raid on the oak trees along Wall Street have begun. Today it was just a handful of Steller's & Scrubs, but fairly soon there will be over 20 engaged in acorn attacks. This may not be quite as exciting as the Swifts along Harriman Street, but it is a fun thing to observe and speculate how many Jays and how many acorns are involved in the process. Tom Crabtree Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20090915/c37093dd/attachment.html From stoel at SpiritOne.com Sun Sep 20 16:13:52 2009 From: stoel at SpiritOne.com (Peter Stoel) Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:13:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Best binoculars for about $300 In-Reply-To: <8CC06B58C5E2541-5720-2397C@webmail-d014.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20090920155614.035f6ad0@mail.spiritone.com> The May 02 Consumer Reports p 28 has an excellent article comparing the optics etc of 30 binoculars under $400. It discusses the best ones for birders too. Everyone has opinions but only their lab has the equipment and solid methodology for objective comparison of so many models. Though seven years old I highly recommend going to the library and reading this in depth article before buying anything in this price range. Also, see the CR Jan 07 p 9 article. Peter _________________________________________ At 04:27 PM 9/18/2009 -0400, you wrote: >I'm sure this question has been asked many times, but I couldn't find it >in old mail. My present Binos are not so great and I'd like to get a >better pair. I can spend about $300. I do wear glasses, bifocals, so that >is a consideration. Any help appreciated. >Johnny Sasko, >Sandy >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Peter Stoel 503-245-8093 RESULTS Portland volunteer From lbviman at blackfoot.net Thu Oct 1 06:37:00 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:37:00 -0600 Subject: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper? (soft part coloration) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20091001133213.E523E9B01FC@mail.blackfoot.net> Russ and all - Yes! One thing that is rarely evident on this and other sites is a person's experience. As you see, Joel wrote back outlining his Tringa experiences. I hope I didn't seem insulting or arrogant by posting my link. If I'd meant it only for one person, I guess I would have sent it off list - Jim Greaves, MT At 09:03 PM 9/30/2009, Russ Namitz wrote: >This is good information for those on this list that might not yet >be aware of exceptions to the "norm" in regards to soft part >coloration. Thank you for sharing your photos, a wonderful way to >drive home your example. >I sincerely hope that the aforementioned group was your targeted >audience and not the original observer nor the subsequent poster, >both of which have decades of birding experience. > >Russ Namitz >Coos Bay, OR From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Thu Oct 1 07:58:38 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 07:58:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur NWR CCP (planning) Message-ID: <002e01ca42a7$ab53adc0$efdb63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: While leading an Audubon Birding Weekend last Saturday, I met the new manager of Malherur NWR, Tim Bodeen (nice guy). He offered us some brochures about the refuge's latest planning effort. They are looking for comments up to Oct. 31, 2009 I'm passing along the following information: Name: Comprehensive Planning Process Website: http://www.fws.gov/malheur/ Mailing address: Malheur National Wildlife Refuge 36391 Sodhouse Lane Princeton, OR 97221 Phone: 541-493-2612 Email for comments: FW1PlanningComments at fws.gov Please put "Malheur NWR CCP" in the subject line. Public meetings: Oct. 6, 2009 6:00 - 9:00 PM Central Oregon Enviriomental Center, 16 NW Kansas Ave., Bend., OR Oct. 12, 2009 7:00 PM Audubon House, 5151 MW Cornell Rd., Portland, OR Oct. 14, 2009 6:00 - 9:00 PM Doubletree Hotel - Lloyd Center, 1000 NE Multnomah Blvd., Portland, OR Good birding, Paul T. Sullivan From vireogirl at yahoo.com Thu Oct 1 08:19:57 2009 From: vireogirl at yahoo.com (Vjera Thompson) Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 08:19:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Springfield Tanager Message-ID: <316406.92990.qm@web56306.mail.re3.yahoo.com> OBOLers, Had a WESTERN TANAGER calling in Springfield on my ride to work today. The last one I had was in Alton Baker on 09/09/09. In regards to the Wednesday birders' Pewee yesterday: The last summer resident (calling) WESTERN WOOD PEEWEE I had along my river route was in Skinner Butte on 09/01/09. I have heard none call since then (despite riding through almost daily). Happy migration, Vjera Thompson Eugene, OR vireogirl at yahoo.com or nemesisquail at gmail.com From namitzr at hotmail.com Thu Oct 1 08:44:11 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 08:44:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper? (soft part coloration) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: No harm done. I probably overreacted. I have also seen this phenomenum in about 3 species, so I am aware of it as well. I am sometimes guilty of pontificating to the group when really the email is meant for one person. My apologies for the past and future. Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091001/22db8423/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Oct 1 11:02:06 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:02:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Snowy/Kentish Plovers Message-ID: <4AC4EE9E.30002@verizon.net> For those interested, There is a new paper in The Auk Kentish versus Snowy Plover: Phenotypic and Genetic Analyses of Charadrius alexandrinus Reveal Divergence of Eurasian and American Subspecies Clemens K?pper,1,2,4 Jakob Augustin,1,2,5 Andr?s Kosztol?nyi,1,6 Terry Burke,2 Jordi Figuerola,3 and Tam?s Sz?kely1 "Genetic analyses revealed that American and Eurasian populations have strongly diverged, the Kentish Plover being more closely related to the White-fronted Plover (C. marginatus) than to the Snowy Plover. These results were consistent across all assessed nuclear markers (26 microsatellites and a partial CHD sequence) and two mitochondrial markers (ND3 and ATPase 6/8). Within subspecies, populations sampled across large geographic distances were not genetically differentiated (all Fst ? 0.01 and all ?st ? 0.06), which suggests panmixia. Snowy Plovers differed morphologically from Kentish Plovers, having significantly shorter tarsi and wings. Chick plumage and calls also may serve as diagnostic characters to distinguish Snowy and Kentish plovers, although more data are needed to quantify these differences. Our combined results suggest that the taxonomic status of C. alexandrinus needs to be revised, and we propose that Kentish Plover and Snowy Plover be recognized as separate species: C. alexandrinus and C. nivosus, respectively." Cheers Dave Lauten From larmcqueen at msn.com Thu Oct 1 12:21:11 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 12:21:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper? In-Reply-To: References: <1254360460.22038.118.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: On this issue, I only want to add my observation of a Gr. Yellowlegs with red-orange legs at Fern Ridge. Some decades ago, Tom Lund and I were canoe paddling around the edges of Gibson Island when we found this bird and we both concluded it was really a yellowlegs and not a redshank. Larry McQueen -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Alan Contreras Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 9:35 PM To: obol Subject: Re: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper? Some bird books indicate that Solitary is a rare bird in western Oregon in migration, which it certainly isn't. However, it is one of the pickiest shorebirds we have in terms of habitat (dubious little ponds, unlikely backwaters and goopy little sloughs - the last one I saw was feeding in a cow wallow!) and, in spring, has a rather short "normal" window of migration, basically the last week of April and the first ten days of May. Joel's comments point out the importance of actual experience in the field with plenty of birds. That will also help you get past Western and Least Sandpipers that don't look like the pictures in the books. Just last Saturday I spent quite a bit of time staring at a Western Sandpiper that happened to be at a point in its feather wear that it didn't look quite "normal," yet it was pretty clearly that species. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ - Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ - Bird Photos & News > From: Joel Geier > Reply-To: > Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:27:39 -0700 > To: Oregon Birders OnLine > Cc: Jim Greaves > Subject: Re: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper? > > Hello Jim & All, > > Thanks for the photos to illustrate variation of soft-tissue color in > shorebirds. > > Another factor to consider -- which I assumed was familiar to most > readers but maybe that was a mistake -- is that juvenile Solitary > Sandpipers often have yellowish legs, as mentioned by Hayman, Marchant & > Prater in /Shorebirds: An Identification Guide/. From "yellowish" to > "orange-ish yellow" is not that big of a jump. > > I'm fortunate to live in a place where I get to see a lot of Solitary > Sandpipers each year, just by walking across the road to the multitude > of semi-wooded ponds around E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area. I've lost count > but I think I must be well over a dozen for the year, and at least 60 or > 70 over the past 10 years. We may not get many other shorebirds here, > but we do get plenty of Solitary Sandpipers. Yesterday I didn't even > bother to check another pond that frequently gets one in late fall, > since that was a longer walk than I had time for. > > My impression is that leg color is more variable, and a far less useful > mark for this species than the books suggest. When I do see one with > noticeably greenish legs, my reaction is to say, "Wow, just like the > books say!" I don't say that very often. Shape, size, and action of the > bird are all much more reliable, along with the eye ring & tail pattern. > > My travel schedule for work is such that I usually catch the spring > migration of Wood & Green Sandpipers through central Sweden, less often > in fall migration. Believe me, I keep an eye open for those species on > this continent too, and will be jumping up and down if I ever find one > here -- but I haven't yet seen a serious candidate. > > I've also seen Greater Yellowlegs with brick-red legs that most > assuredly weren't Redshanks (either kind -- I see those annually too). > Helps if you hear their calls. Unusual leg color might reasonably be > seen as a flag for Tringas that deserve closer study, but it's not > reliable. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dan at heyerly.com Thu Oct 1 12:24:07 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Daniel d.Heyerly) Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 15:24:07 -0400 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird in Eugene today Message-ID: A male Rufous Hummingbird was visiting our feeders in Eugene this morning just after sunrise. Seems near the end of their residency in Oregon to me, but that is a shot from the hip that could possibly be repudiated soon. Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091001/c626d556/attachment.html From dan at heyerly.com Thu Oct 1 12:26:56 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Daniel d.Heyerly) Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 15:26:56 -0400 Subject: [obol] Turkey Vulture kettle over Skinner Butte, Eugene Message-ID: A large kettle of Turkey Vultures was riding a thermal elevator just to the north of Skinner Butte about 30 minutes ago. I was on the phone then and could not look at it closely with bins so I was not able to see if there were any other goodies mixed in. I would estimate over 30 birds were visible at one time. Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091001/ac5a30e5/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Thu Oct 1 12:44:58 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 12:44:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird in Eugene today Message-ID: <81b2a9930910011244r23731812w3f66e27de6e0f3a4@mail.gmail.com> The vast majority have left at this point, but it's not surprising that some are still around. A female visited my nectar feeder on 10/25 and 10/26 of last year, although this is definitely a more extreme outlier. This year, I haven't seen any at my place for at least a week and a half. Brandon Eugene ----- Subject: Rufous Hummingbird in Eugene today From: Daniel d.Heyerly Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 15:24:07 -0400 A male Rufous Hummingbird was visiting our feeders in Eugene this morning just after sunrise. Seems near the end of their residency in Oregon to me, but that is a shot from the hip that could possibly be repudiated soon. Dan Heyerly, Eugene_______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Oct 1 13:50:13 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 13:50:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird in Eugene today References: Message-ID: <78CE99335AEF4397A1F384F9169D03F6@Warbler> The latest Rufous Hummingbird report for Josephine Co (not a adult male) is 30 September. This year I had an adult male to 19 Aug, which is the latest adult male sighting I have. Dennis Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird in Eugene today A male Rufous Hummingbird was visiting our feeders in Eugene this morning just after sunrise. Seems near the end of their residency in Oregon to me, but that is a shot from the hip that could possibly be repudiated soon. Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091001/5a4d5b42/attachment.html From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Thu Oct 1 14:28:13 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 14:28:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yellow Warbler, American Pipit at TRNWR Message-ID: <024501ca42de$1577dbf0$406793d0$@NET> I spent a cool showery Wednesday at the Tualatin River NWR Near Sherwood. The road that was open to pedestrians closed today, October 1 leaving the path as the only access. There was a YELLOW WARBLER at the point where the path goes between trees after leaving the parking lot. There were two AMERICAN PIPITS where the two dike roads meet, a point now closed to access. Other highlight birds were LINCOLN'S SPARROWS and a very cooperative Red-tailed Hawk. Newly arrived waterfowl included NORTHERN PINTAIL, GADWALL and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. There were very large flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds, numbering in the hundreds per flock. Pictures of the Yellow Warbler and Pipit at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_pix/ On the sunnier days last week there were a lot of Praying Mantis flying short distances in the grass, on Sunday it appeared that a hovering Kestrel dropped down to catch one and ate it while flying. Species seen: Pied-billed Grebe Great Blue Heron Greater White-fronted Goose Canada Goose Cackling Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Northern Pintail Gadwall Turkey Vulture Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed hawk Bald Eagle Greater Yellowlegs Flicker Scrub Jay Crow Violet-green Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Western Bluebird American Robin American Pipit Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Purple Finch House finch Tom Shreve Tigard -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091001/08cd9730/attachment.html From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Thu Oct 1 14:33:56 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (tmacport99 at hotmail.com) Date: Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:33:56 GMT Subject: [obol] Birding Trip Report: Mt. Tabor Park, Multnomah County, Oregon on October 01, 2009 Message-ID: <200910012133.n91LXuvJ031326@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Tom McNamara by http://birdnotes.net Date: October 1, 2009 Location: Mt. Tabor Park, Multnomah County, Oregon Low temperature: 55 degrees fahrenheit High temperature: 55 degrees fahrenheit Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 80% Precipitation: none Pretty birdy at Mt. Tabor this a.m. Variety was good, absolute numbers not too too high. No Rufous hummers or Vaux swifts today.....may've split for good.... Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Anna's Hummingbird Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Hammond's Flycatcher [1] Unidentified Empidonax [2] Cassin's Vireo [3] Hutton's Vireo Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow [4] Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch [5] Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet [6] Ruby-crowned Kinglet [7] Swainson's Thrush [8] Hermit Thrush [9] American Robin Varied Thrush [10] Cedar Waxwing [11] Orange-crowned Warbler [12] Black-throated Gray Warbler [13] Townsend's Warbler [14] Western Tanager [15] Spotted Towhee Fox Sparrow [16] Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow [17] Dark-eyed Junco [18] Purple Finch [19] House Finch Pine Siskin [20] Footnotes: [1] Bright [2] too distant to get a legitimate call on [3] at least 4 singing; it's been a good while since I'd heard any [4] YOW! like about 70-80 all going nuts over something I could not see. What a racket! [5] MANY.must've been 35 at least [6] FOS SEEN in a tree stuffed with other passerines [7] same tree as above [8] just 1 seen and probably the same bird heard [9] at least 15, chucking away and making the red osiers seem alive [10] 3 or 4 heard only [11] heard only [12] 1 [13] 1 [14] at least 6 [15] heard only; may have been 2 [16] 1 [17] 11 [18] Many--at least 40 [19] 1 well seen/heard bright male; there may have been another bird too [20] only a few today. Total number of species seen: 35 From hhactitis at yahoo.com Thu Oct 1 14:57:10 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 14:57:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <93307.56543.qm@web37007.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Larry's observation reminds me of an episode many years ago at the Muenster Sewage Lagoons in Germany, which was basically the reverse case: we discovered a Common Redshank with very atypically orange-yellow legs, which almost gave us a heart attack - until the bird finally flushed and revealed the tell-tale back and wing pattern, convincing us that we didn't have a coveted Yellowlegs, just another Redshank (aww shucks!) .... Happy birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Thu, 10/1/09, Larry McQueen wrote: From: Larry McQueen Subject: Re: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper? To: "'obol'" Date: Thursday, October 1, 2009, 12:21 PM On this issue, I only want to add my observation of a Gr. Yellowlegs with red-orange legs at Fern Ridge.? Some decades ago, Tom Lund and I were canoe paddling around the edges of Gibson Island when we found this bird and we both concluded it was really a yellowlegs and not a redshank. Larry McQueen -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Alan Contreras Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 9:35 PM To: obol Subject: Re: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper? Some bird books indicate that Solitary is a rare bird in western Oregon in migration, which it certainly isn't.? However, it is one of the pickiest shorebirds we have in terms of habitat (dubious little ponds, unlikely backwaters and goopy little sloughs - the last one I saw was feeding in a cow wallow!) and, in spring, has a rather short "normal" window of migration, basically the last week of April and the first ten days of May. Joel's comments point out the importance of actual experience in the field with plenty of birds.? That will also help you get past Western and Least Sandpipers that don't look like the pictures in the books.? Just last Saturday I spent quite a bit of time staring at a Western Sandpiper that happened to be at a point in its feather wear that it didn't look quite "normal," yet it was pretty clearly that species. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ - Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ - Bird Photos & News > From: Joel Geier > Reply-To: > Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:27:39 -0700 > To: Oregon Birders OnLine > Cc: Jim Greaves > Subject: Re: [obol] Solitary Sandpiper? > > Hello Jim & All, > > Thanks for the photos to illustrate variation of soft-tissue color in > shorebirds. > > Another factor to consider -- which I assumed was familiar to most > readers but maybe that was a mistake -- is that juvenile Solitary > Sandpipers often have yellowish legs, as mentioned by Hayman, Marchant & > Prater in /Shorebirds: An Identification Guide/. From "yellowish" to > "orange-ish yellow" is not that big of a jump. > > I'm fortunate to live in a place where I get to see a lot of Solitary > Sandpipers each year, just by walking across the road to the multitude > of semi-wooded ponds around E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area. I've lost count > but I think I must be well over a dozen for the year, and at least 60 or > 70 over the past 10 years. We may not get many other shorebirds here, > but we do get plenty of Solitary Sandpipers. Yesterday I didn't even > bother to check another pond that frequently gets one in late fall, > since that was a longer walk than I had time for. > > My impression is that leg color is more variable, and a far less useful > mark for this species than the books suggest. When I do see one with > noticeably greenish legs, my reaction is to say, "Wow, just like the > books say!" I don't say that very often. Shape, size, and action of the > bird are all much more reliable, along with the eye ring & tail pattern. > > My travel schedule for work is such that I usually catch the spring > migration of Wood & Green Sandpipers through central Sweden, less often > in fall migration. Believe me, I keep an eye open for those species on > this continent too, and will be jumping up and down if I ever find one > here -- but I haven't yet seen a serious candidate. > > I've also seen Greater Yellowlegs with brick-red legs that most > assuredly weren't Redshanks (either kind -- I see those annually too). > Helps if you hear their calls. Unusual leg color might reasonably be > seen as a flag for Tringas that deserve closer study, but it's not > reliable. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091001/30c1fc17/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Thu Oct 1 17:42:10 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:42:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gull Season Message-ID: <4AC54C62.7060803@pacifier.com> I know what you all are wondering? When will we get our next gull quiz? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12260 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From tayben at teleport.com Thu Oct 1 18:34:42 2009 From: tayben at teleport.com (Martha taylor & Chris Bennett) Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 18:34:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yellow-Rumps in Westmorland Message-ID: Tonight about 6:15 I had 3 yellow-rumps bathing one was a Myrtle's. It's been quite for these migrants until now. Chris -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091001/1f26638c/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Oct 1 20:19:57 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:19:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur NWR public meetings & CBC calendar Message-ID: <1254453597.20450.224.camel@clearwater> Hello Paul & All, Thanks for posting the public meeting dates for the Malheur NWR Comprehensive Planning Process. This is certainly something that every Oregon birder who frequents Malheur will appreciate being aware of. I've added these dates, as well as the deadline for comments, to the Oregon Birding Calendar at: http://www.oregonbirds.org/calendar.html The meeting at Portland Audubon on Oct 12th is not yet listed on the Malheur NWR website, so if you'd like to attend, please make a note of the meeting time and place as posted by Paul: Oct. 12, 2009, 7:00 PM, at Audubon House, 5151 NW Cornell Rd., Portland. The Christmas Bird Count season is also starting to shape up, thanks to Don Albright's efforts. The calendar shows the counts for which the compilers have picked out dates so far. A more complete compilation with full contact information for compilers, meeting times/places etc. will be posted closer to the CBC season. Local field trip organizers, I'll be glad to add your schedules to this page. All I need is the date, name of the event, and either an e-mail contact or a web page for more information on the event. Thanks & happy fall birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis On Thu, 2009-10-01 at 12:00 -0700, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: > Message: 15 > Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 07:58:38 -0700 > From: "Paul T. Sullivan" > Subject: [obol] Malheur NWR CCP (planning) > To: "obol" , "EOR list" , > "COBOL" > Message-ID: <002e01ca42a7$ab53adc0$efdb63d8 at dell307ac3e2b6> > Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; > reply-type=original > > OBOL: > > While leading an Audubon Birding Weekend last Saturday, I met the new > manager of Malherur NWR, Tim Bodeen (nice guy). He offered us some > brochures about the refuge's latest planning effort. They are looking > for > comments up to Oct. 31, 2009 > > I'm passing along the following information: > > Name: Comprehensive Planning Process > Website: http://www.fws.gov/malheur/ > > Mailing address: Malheur National Wildlife Refuge > 36391 Sodhouse Lane > Princeton, OR 97221 > Phone: 541-493-2612 > Email for comments: FW1PlanningComments at fws.gov Please put "Malheur > NWR > CCP" in the subject line. > > > Public meetings: > > Oct. 6, 2009 6:00 - 9:00 PM > Central Oregon Enviriomental Center, 16 NW Kansas Ave., Bend., OR > > Oct. 12, 2009 7:00 PM > Audubon House, 5151 NW Cornell Rd., Portland, OR > > Oct. 14, 2009 6:00 - 9:00 PM > Doubletree Hotel - Lloyd Center, 1000 NE Multnomah Blvd., > Portland, OR > > Good birding, > > Paul T. Sullivan > > From res0y3oz at verizon.net Thu Oct 1 21:03:45 2009 From: res0y3oz at verizon.net (RONALD LOUDERBACK) Date: Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:03:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] early American Tree Sparrow Message-ID: Ron photographed this American Tree Sparrow at Cabin Lake SE of Bend on 9-28-09. It can be seen on our photo site at www.flickr.com/photos/loud_pics. Ron & Carole Louderback Kennewick WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091001/6b6ebfd0/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Thu Oct 1 21:10:42 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 21:10:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird in Eugene today References: <78CE99335AEF4397A1F384F9169D03F6@Warbler> Message-ID: These reports are interesting to me. Here at Thornton Creek in the inteior Coast Range of Lincoln County, in about fifty five years of birding, I have seen male Rufous Hummingbirds after the first of July precisely twice, and then only in the first few days of that month. Almost all of that species have departed each year by the end of August, and I think my latest report ever was September 12. This movement of birds through the valley must be from an entirely different population that that of the breeding birds of the Coast Range. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: Dennis P. Vroman To: Daniel d.Heyerly ; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2009 1:50 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird in Eugene today The latest Rufous Hummingbird report for Josephine Co (not a adult male) is 30 September. This year I had an adult male to 19 Aug, which is the latest adult male sighting I have. Dennis Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird in Eugene today A male Rufous Hummingbird was visiting our feeders in Eugene this morning just after sunrise. Seems near the end of their residency in Oregon to me, but that is a shot from the hip that could possibly be repudiated soon. Dan Heyerly, Eugene ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091001/07ae64d4/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Oct 1 21:22:14 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:22:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] early American Tree Sparrow In-Reply-To: Message-ID: This is the earliest fall report I know of for Oregon, by about a week. Does anyone know of other September records? -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: RONALD LOUDERBACK > Date: Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:03:45 -0700 > To: > Subject: [obol] early American Tree Sparrow > > Ron photographed this American Tree Sparrow at Cabin Lake SE of Bend on > 9-28-09. It can be seen on our photo site at www.flickr.com/photos/loud_pics. > Ron & Carole Louderback > Kennewick WA > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Fri Oct 2 02:25:26 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 09:25:26 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Young White-fronted Goose Gets Lost Message-ID: <1169347950.96631254475526673.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Today at Island Park on the Willamette River, upstream about?3/4th-mile?from the I-5 bridge in the Eugene area,?there was a very young Gr. White-fronted Goose. Large flocks have been migrating south over here this week and it may have become separated from its group. It was trusting enough to let me walk within 10 feet. Every year, several of them?fall in?with resident geese around here and they may all have become lost from their flocks in the nighttime clouds or fog. They seem to usually appear, after a period of stormy weather. In the Spring, they disappear, so they may hook up again with flocks heading north. However, one spent 9 Winters with?the Canada Geese on?our farm, so it must have preferred the company and food and annually opted-out of going farther with its flock. It was a female, but never brought a mate with it,?although it?may have had one with which it made a rendezvous up north. The HD video is here:? http://www.vimeo.com/6863687 ? Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091002/bf847252/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Fri Oct 2 07:35:13 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:35:13 -0400 Subject: [obol] nikon Binoculars under $200 Message-ID: <8CC1184AFC440A1-1CF0-89B9@webmail-d080.sysops.aol.com> I wanted to thank everyone for the input I received when I asked about the best binos for around $300. Nikon Monarch 8 X 42's were the most recommended. I was able to find?a pair,?as well as most of the other recommended brands at a local Sports Warehouse. So I was able to look through them and choose the ones that worked best for me. I couldn't really see much difference between most of them in the store, so I went with the Nikon Monarch 8 X 42's since they were so highly recommended by the experienced birders who replied to my question.?Now for the best part, they were only $233.56 at Amazon, and there is a $50 rebate from Nikon to boot. At $183, they would be an affordable 2nd pair to keep in the car for the well heeled crowd, and a great pair of roof prism for the rest of us. Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply to my question. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091002/7e38ba5b/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Fri Oct 2 07:59:40 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 07:59:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Peregrines Message-ID: <523540.95706.qm@web39708.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello, Yesterday at about 11 AM I noticed most of my pigeon flock flying haphazardly in every direction, and at every elevation----something was scaring them. Within 30 sec. I noticed an imm. female peregrine "knife thru" a portion of the flock, but coming up empty. This continued for at least 15 min., when I noticed another falcon, somewhat smaller, move "over" this scene at about 800 ft. It was an adult male peregrine. This male was obviously much more experienced than the youngster, and slowly assessed the scene prior to selecting a victim. Down he came with a vertical stoop, capturing a pigeon with appearant ease-----whit the young female quickly stealing his prize. He didn't seem to mind this theft, and that youngster could have been one of his daughters. Anyway, it was an interesting display of hunting prowess by a little male falcon. Best, Dick From nepobirds at yahoo.com Fri Oct 2 09:31:24 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 09:31:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Juncos Message-ID: <644015.49012.qm@web46014.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Just a few minutes ago, as I was staring out at our backyard, I saw the first Junco of the season (at least for the yard). I called Michelle at her work in Beaverton to tell her about it and as we were talking she said she just saw 2 in the parking lot of her office. We haven't seen one in the yard since May 17th. Seth NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From tc at empnet.com Fri Oct 2 09:38:10 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 08:38:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Juncos In-Reply-To: <644015.49012.qm@web46014.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <644015.49012.qm@web46014.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <8BBC9CE3B53E4DB5B5CF134251AE9FC2@102889> Juncos seem to be making an appearance all over. I had my first one of the fall last night, and I encountered two small flocks this morning. Since they are talking about snow showers here over the weekend, they should feel right at home. Tom Crabtree, Bend From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Fri Oct 2 09:42:27 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:42:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] First juncos at GC Sparrows Message-ID: My first juncos of the season arrived in s Eugene flats a few days ago. First Golden-crowned Sparrows were in the yard today Oct 2. I usually see juvs in fall; these are both adults still with much head pattern present. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From oropendolas at aol.com Fri Oct 2 10:16:21 2009 From: oropendolas at aol.com (oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:16:21 -0400 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Thursday Message-ID: <8CC119B3298C64C-6F28-13088@webmail-d071.sysops.aol.com> Hello All, Yesterday, late afternoon in the Fisher Unit South of Royal Ave, nothing unusual but lots of birds. Viewing conditions are much tougher than last year with high water and much more vegitation where there is exposed mud. Could easily be something really good going undetected out there. Black-bellied Plover - 3 Killdeer?~ 10 Wilson's Snipe - 6 Long-billed Dowitcher ~ 500+ Greater Yellowlegs?~ 25 Lesser Yellowlegs?~ 8 Wesreetn Sandpiper - 6 Least Sandpiper?~ 30 Pectoral Sandpiper?~ 20 Red-necked Phalarope - 1 Osprey - 2 White-tailed Kite - 4 Northern Harrier - 6 Cooper's Hawk - 1 chased and missed a?Morning Dove near the Royal parking lot. Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 vocal immature with nearly unrecognizable voice. Red-tailed Hawk? - 2 Peregrine Falcon - 1 imm. White-fronted Goose - 50 John Sullivan Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091002/f508f2f7/attachment.html From alderspr at peak.org Fri Oct 2 10:31:53 2009 From: alderspr at peak.org (Karan & Jim Fairchild) Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 10:31:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Varied thrushes, Benton Co References: Message-ID: Hi Obolers- VARIED THRUSHES have returned to lower elevations in our area. We've been hearing them for several days now, at our location around 730', on the eastern edge of the Coast Range. They're singing and feeding on dogwood and other berries. Karan Fairchild 6 mi SW of Philomath From tlove at linfield.edu Fri Oct 2 11:57:38 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 11:57:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] juncos, G=cr. Sp; Varied Thrush Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F121A6D85AD@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> 30 Sep - first Varied Thrush of the fall calling in our neighborhood early morning (SW Portland) - Big influx of juncos, but there had been a few over the past week (a few breed locally I'm convinced) 2 Oct - first Golden-crowned Sparrow for me this fall, in older residential neighborhood in central McMinnville Tom Love tlove AT linfield DOT edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091002/cf34428c/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Fri Oct 2 12:33:52 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 12:33:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Varied Thrush Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F026180B2@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> I heard a VARIED THRUSH call this morning at my house. I am glad others posted on this as it was my first for this fall and I was wondering if they were in other places as well. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091002/b91f5153/attachment.html From jmoodie at cocc.edu Fri Oct 2 12:56:31 2009 From: jmoodie at cocc.edu (Jim Moodie) Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 12:56:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Deschutes county migrants: Deschutes river woods Message-ID: <69604A6A87BA234584B8C01536FA667D148218C3A2@mail2.ad.cocc.edu> We had our first GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW of the season show up yesterday. This morning we had two HERMIT THRUSHES, three RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS and only two DE JUNCOs along with other usual species. The Junco numbers are quite low for us at this time of year; we usually have around a dozen by now. Strange fall migration. And we have one remaining PURPLE FINCH still hanging around the feeders. Cheers, Jim Dr. James Moodie Science Department Central Oregon Community College Bend, OR 97701 541-383-7282 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091002/2e47f004/attachment.html From circle2square at yahoo.com Fri Oct 2 12:57:15 2009 From: circle2square at yahoo.com (ECollins) Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 12:57:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Turkey Vulture kettle over NE Portland Message-ID: <628550.9850.qm@web33302.mail.mud.yahoo.com> A kettle of around 40 Turkey?Vultures were flying south over NE Portland at 1:00 today, with at least one?Red-Tailed Hawk circling under them at a lower altitude. Elizabeth Collins NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091002/07dedb48/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Fri Oct 2 13:04:33 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 13:04:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln Co.: Nashville Warbler Message-ID: Hi, In blackberries along the paved road to the big green LNG tank at the west side of Sally's Bend in Yaquina Bay, Chuck Philo found many sparrows (including Lincoln's Sparrows) and 1 Nashville Warbler today (Oct. 2). The LNG area is site 66 for the Central Coast portion of the Oregon Coast Birding Trail (http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/). Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm From greenfant at hotmail.com Fri Oct 2 13:58:20 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 16:58:20 -0400 Subject: [obol] Jacobson/Croeni ponds (Washington Co) Message-ID: There was a lone Western Meadowlark near the rise at Croeni & Westmark in West Union last night at sunset. Golden-crowned and Lincoln's Sparrows are definitely back along Mauzey. A large corporate building is currently being erected pretty much right between the 2 ponds, severely degrading the habitat at this spot. Moreover, there were a couple of model airplane folks flying planes on the north side of Mauzey. I'm pretty sure they were trespassing, but did not confront them. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091002/8a21daf3/attachment.html From caryng at wildlifeimages.org Thu Oct 1 13:25:01 2009 From: caryng at wildlifeimages.org (caryn goron) Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 13:25:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] W. Tanager Message-ID: <035001ca42d5$413c7970$0600a8c0@Pooty> I am wondering if it is too late to release a Western Tanager in time for it to migrate? Caryn Goron, CVT Animal Care Supervisor Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center PO Box 36, Merlin, OR 97532 541.476.0222 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091001/ac63bb4f/attachment.html From baltman at abcbirds.org Thu Oct 1 16:10:49 2009 From: baltman at abcbirds.org (Bob Altman) Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 16:10:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lewis's Woodpecker extravaganza in Willamette valley Message-ID: I usually visit a private land oak savannah/woodland restoration project south of Salem this time of year to find a couple Lewis's Woodpeckers. Talked to the land manager/restorationist this am and heard that after a prescribed burn last Thurs, there were at least 20 Lewis's on the property. Even if that was an exaggeration, I knew there must be a lot so I went to check it out around noon today. No exaggeration - one week later I estimated 15 birds and I might have missed some. At one point I had 10 in my field of view including 5 on one snag. What a treat. Bob Altman American Bird Conservancy 311 NE Mistletoe Corvallis, OR 97330 baltman at abcbirds.org phone/fax - 541-745-5339 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091001/60450965/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Fri Oct 2 16:02:08 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 16:02:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: Varied Thrush Message-ID: <1D6C3939DDA84C9F8BB838D8D46815E0@Warbler> We had Varied Thrush (several) at our place (just east of Merlin I-5 exit) the day after the NAMC, 20 Sept, but have not heard any here since. Subject: [obol] Varied Thrush I heard a VARIED THRUSH call this morning at my house. I am glad others posted on this as it was my first for this fall and I was wondering if they were in other places as well. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091002/2a4432b6/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Fri Oct 2 16:20:04 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 16:20:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] W. Tanager References: <035001ca42d5$413c7970$0600a8c0@Pooty> Message-ID: It should be OK. Saw one today along the Bear Creek Greenway near Central Point. My latest Josephine Count sighting is 21 Oct 1997 at Pierce Riffle Park. If released, I would pick a riparian area with trees and lots of either/or California grape or blackberry fruit. The bird seen today had a blackberry in its bill. Perhaps the banding station along the river at Wildlife Images. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Subject: [obol] W. Tanager I am wondering if it is too late to release a Western Tanager in time for it to migrate? Caryn Goron, CVT Animal Care Supervisor Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center PO Box 36, Merlin, OR 97532 541.476.0222 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091002/7b326222/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Fri Oct 2 19:48:59 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:48:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Full moon migrant watching Message-ID: <4AC6BB9B.3080001@pacifier.com> Those who are having trouble hearing the night migration may want to train their spotting scopes on the moon and watch birds fly past. I getting a rate of 1-2 per minute right now. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From celata at pacifier.com Fri Oct 2 20:17:55 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:17:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Moon watch results Message-ID: <4AC6C263.8080703@pacifier.com> I spent about a half an hour watching the moon with the following results (identities for qualitative purposes only": "thrush" 22 "sparrow" 4 "swallow" 3 "pigeon" 1 "teal" 15 Birds were going by in pulses, 2-3 birds withing seconds of one another then stretches of no birds. The pigeon, presumably a Band- tailed, was a surprise. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From hhactitis at yahoo.com Fri Oct 2 20:35:43 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 20:35:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Lane non-shorebirds Message-ID: <705456.87036.qm@web37004.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi OBOL, took a break from the usual coastal round today and explored the Coast Range mountains with Oscar instead. Pretty slow, bird-wise. A couple of highlights: we flushed a RUFFED GROUSE on Cape Mountain Road, and an AMERICAN DIPPER was singing his heart out on the upper North Fork of the Siuslaw River. Still no Lane Co. Mountain Quail - sigh! Good Chanterelling, though ... Happy Fall Migration Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091002/990a21f7/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Oct 2 21:54:47 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 04:54:47 +0000 Subject: [obol] Cruise ship birding piece posted to BirdFellow.com journal Message-ID: Greetings All, I just posted a new piece to the BirdFellow.com online journal about cruise ship pelagic birding. We apologize for the lack of recent additions. We've been very busy editing species accounts, adding photos, and working on other features. Dave Irons Content Editor BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091003/6da7253c/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Sat Oct 3 09:15:56 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 09:15:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] spanish head Message-ID: <063E17526BC042538D3F73E5FA59546A@Phil> Had time for a couple brief checks of the ocean from Spanish Head in Lincoln City this morning, total about 25 min between 7:30-8:30 AM. Saw moderate but continuous S flight of Pelicans/ Heermann's/Cals/Surf Scoters + a few flocks of Pintail, G-w Teal, Wigeon. Only small numbers of Pac Loons, few alcids. Phil From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Oct 3 10:45:05 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 17:45:05 +0000 Subject: [obol] Chipping Sparrow in Eugene yard Message-ID: Greetings All, I just had a migrant Chipping Sparrow show up in my yard with a mixed flock of Golden-crowned and White-crowned Sparrows. Earlier this morning, I heard the "tail chirp" of a displaying Anna's Hummingbird. All it takes is a little sunshine. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091003/cdfb4ff3/attachment.html From archmcc at qwest.net Sat Oct 3 10:53:39 2009 From: archmcc at qwest.net (Arch McCallum) Date: Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:53:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Varied Thrush In-Reply-To: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F026180B2@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA > References: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F026180B2@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> Message-ID: <20091003175346.6E392621C3D@mpls-qmqp-03.inet.qwest.net> My first was today, 10/3/09. Arch McCallum s of Eugene At 12:33 PM 10/2/2009, John Gatchet wrote: >Content-class: urn:content-classes:message >Content-Type: multipart/alternative; > boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01CA4397.45EE55BF" > >I heard a VARIED THRUSH call this morning at my house. I am glad >others posted on this as it was my first for this fall and I was >wondering if they were in other places as well. > >John F. Gatchet >Gresham, OR >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091003/a5b36acb/attachment.html From archmcc at qwest.net Thu Oct 1 09:30:03 2009 From: archmcc at qwest.net (Arch McCallum) Date: Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:30:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] White-breasted Nuthatch - new yard bird Message-ID: <20091003175452.A137F1A9805@mpls-qmqp-01.inet.qwest.net> Dear OBOL, Herewith a tale of changing micro-distributions: We live at 1100 feet on the north slope of a spur of the ridge that runs southward from Spencer Butte. Fox Hollow Rd runs along that ridge for several miles, affording good views of both the Cascades and the Coast Range. The west slope of that ridge is mostly covered with dense second-growth dougfir forest, but the whole area could be oak savannah under a different fire regime. I think it's academic which of those two habitat types is "natural." The fire-regime has probably been managed by humans for thousands of years. I have never seen or heard a scrub-jay on our property in the 8 years we've been here, even though they are common in the Spencer Creek valley 2 miles down the road to the north. About a year ago I started seeing scrub-jays at the jct of Koinonia Rd and McBeth Rd, less than a mile below our place. California Quail are at the same place, but not up here. (We have the occasional Mtn. Quail.) A couple of weeks ago I heard what I thought was a White-breasted Nuthatch in my yard. We have some oak savannah around the house mixed in with the dougfirs. I raced out with the recording gear but then didn't find it. After a bit I heard a Red-breasted Nuthatch in the distance and convinced myself I had just mistaken the red for the white. But Wed. I saw it at the bird bath, and this morning I heard its distinctive 'yank.' I hope it will stay, and with abundant sunflower seeds around maybe it will. I'll welcome the chance to compare the similar vocabularies of these two nuthatches, distinguishable though they are. So, I'm wondering if this is just a random event, or part of a trend. Are the "oak birds" moving upslope because of global warming? I doubt it. They all occur at much higher elevations, and I doubt they are temperature or humidity limited. There is a real habitat break at Koinonia, with the forest becoming much denser, with fewer openings as one ascends from there. Probably it is a random event, in the sense that a dispersing bird doesn't happen up this way all that often. Maybe the wbnus are having a little population growth. That would be nice considering their sparse numbers. Maybe the scrub-jays will be next. I'll let you know when they arrive. Good birding, in all its wondrous manifestations, Arch McCallum south of Eugene. From fschrock at gmail.com Sat Oct 3 10:58:06 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 10:58:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] A note to Swallow watchers Message-ID: <390ebd880910031058l42774746vbcd4d2a276557b75@mail.gmail.com> There are not many Barn Swallows roosting in the Grand Island (Yamhill Co.) cornfields anymore, but a casual-birder friend told me she had seen "a lot" going into a cornfield a few miles north of there in the bottomland near the end of Mallard/Dorsey Lane in a field that the swallows used as their staging area about eight years ago. Mallard Lane turns east off of Hwy. 221 about two miles south of Dayton. So last evening I checked it out, and enjoyed a dramatic show. There were an estimated few 10's of thousands, and the viewing perspective was excellent. I watched from the road shoulder (Dorsey Rd.) on the south side of the cornfield, which is higher than the corn, so for a change I was actually able to look down into the corn as the swallows were finding their perches for the night. Another good angle would be from the east side of the field, after the road turns sharply left, looking back against the sunset. Since this was also closer than I have usually been able to get to the actual roosting site, the drama of the final plunge into the corn was impressive. When the moment finally came, the birds actually propelled themselves (not just gliding) in a near-vertical trajectory down from as high as five or six hundred feet directly above the field. And the collective sound of their wings slicing the air during those few seconds (during which time they do not vocalize) was remarkable. The real show started at about 6:45, and last birds went down at 7:06 p.m. I did hear a few Violet-green voices in the flock. Of course, the birds will be moving on soon, but unless there is a sudden significant change to colder or wetter weather, I expect that this field will continue to be used for a few more nights. ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091003/160e14fb/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sat Oct 3 11:13:38 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 11:13:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] (no subject) Message-ID: <132583.94224.qm@web46005.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> To add to our Junco post yesterday, we now have had a few Golden-Crowned Sparrows, about a dozen Purple Finches and a Ruby-Crowned Kinglet this morning. I also forgot to say that we had our first White-Crowned sparrow about 2 weeks ago. Fall is definitely here! Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From tom-escue at comcast.net Sat Oct 3 11:59:22 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 11:59:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Junco in Spfld Message-ID: <090530D24C334F1CA60312FE33D697F9@TomsPC> I saw my first OREGON JUNCO this morning in my central Springfield backyard. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091003/073628be/attachment.html From alderspr at peak.org Sat Oct 3 12:34:40 2009 From: alderspr at peak.org (Karan & Jim Fairchild) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 12:34:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] ruby crowned kinglet Benton Co. Message-ID: Hi Obol- We had our first RUBY CROWNED KINGLET of the autumn chukking in the bushes this morning. Karan Fairchild 6 mi SW of Philomath, E. edge of Coast Range From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sat Oct 3 14:07:02 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 14:07:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ruby-crowned Kinglet and White-breasted Nuthatch, Eugene Message-ID: <81b2a9930910031407ka31b225t2c06de3e4d5e987d@mail.gmail.com> About a half hour ago, I noticed a RC KINGLET foraging through the pines along my driveway. This is a bit early, but still doesn't beat my yard record of 9/29/07. Earlier this morning, a male WB NUTHATCH was hammering away at sunflower seeds in the tree outside my living room window: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2637/3977433255_353b12fbe7_b.jpg I've had four yard sightings of a male (possibly the same one) since early August, which is a bit unusual. Regarding Arch's comments, it's possible that they're making a "comeback" in the area. A couple of years ago, somebody here proposed this idea and, IIRC, cited some CBC data as evidence. I'm at a much lower elevation than Arch, and my neighborhood is loaded with oak trees. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are still flocking like mad here. I just casually counted 59 at my feeders. Brandon Eugene From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sat Oct 3 15:00:20 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 15:00:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oops... Message-ID: <81b2a9930910031500v5feee25fhb33c5b771851d9da@mail.gmail.com> My nuthatch photo is of a female, not a male. -Brandon From oschmidt at att.net Sat Oct 3 15:00:53 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 15:00:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Juncos, warbler Message-ID: ....... as I was watching the first 2 of the season Dark-eyed (Oregon) Juncos in my backyard this afternoon, a streak of yellow shot through ...... an Orange-crowned Warbler. Northeast Portland (Multnomah Co.), near Grant High School. oschmidt at att.net Saturday, October 3, 2009 From jonysky101 at aol.com Sat Oct 3 14:56:23 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:56:23 -0400 Subject: [obol] trip to Tokeland, Midway on Tuesday Message-ID: <8CC128B7B413A33-1CF0-18491@webmail-d080.sysops.aol.com> A couple of us from the Portland area are heading up th the Grays Harbor area Tuesday. Tokeland and Midway beach are 1 and 2 on our list. It is only a day trip but we want to maximize our visit. We would appreciate any help from birders who are familiar with the area. Thanks. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091003/a5c72f05/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Sat Oct 3 14:58:56 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 14:58:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Golden-Crowned Message-ID: <3CFD76BB18BF4CC5BB7D8C4AD36EC454@TomsPC> Added: First Golden-Crowned SPARROW to my backyard list today to go along with the JUNCO. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091003/aa5bca02/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Sat Oct 3 15:26:06 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:26:06 -0400 Subject: [obol] Coyote at Ridgefield Message-ID: <8CC128FA20E9C58-20B4-1CD47@webmail-m040.sysops.aol.com> I know this is off topic, but I thought that many of the folks that bird Ridgfield would be interested in some shots of a coyote working the grass beside the bird blind. This was the best and longest view of a coyote that I have ever saw. Here is the link. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/sets/72157622509262446/detail/ Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091003/efc42634/attachment.html From archmcc at qwest.net Sat Oct 3 16:03:59 2009 From: archmcc at qwest.net (Arch McCallum) Date: Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:03:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ruby-crowned Kinglet and White-breasted Nuthatch, Eugene In-Reply-To: <81b2a9930910031407ka31b225t2c06de3e4d5e987d@mail.gmail.com > References: <81b2a9930910031407ka31b225t2c06de3e4d5e987d@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <20091003230407.494D6621C61@mpls-qmqp-03.inet.qwest.net> What a picture, Brandon! I agree with the "comeback" hypothesis. Randy Moore also sent me a note of a recent arrival, in Corvallis. All three birds have probably just participated in normal natal dispersal, having spent a few weeks near their natal nest before moving off to find a permanent territory. If we already had wbnus we probably wouldn't notice this, but with populations low, new arrivals stand out. Let's hope it continues. Arch McCallum At 02:07 PM 10/3/2009, Brandon Green wrote: >About a half hour ago, I noticed a RC KINGLET foraging through the >pines along my driveway. This is a bit early, but still doesn't beat >my yard record of 9/29/07. > >Earlier this morning, a male WB NUTHATCH was hammering away at >sunflower seeds in the tree outside my living room window: > >http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2637/3977433255_353b12fbe7_b.jpg > >I've had four yard sightings of a male (possibly the same one) since >early August, which is a bit unusual. Regarding Arch's comments, it's >possible that they're making a "comeback" in the area. A couple of >years ago, somebody here proposed this idea and, IIRC, cited some CBC >data as evidence. I'm at a much lower elevation than Arch, and my >neighborhood is loaded with oak trees. > >AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are still flocking like mad here. I just >casually counted 59 at my feeders. > >Brandon >Eugene From celata at pacifier.com Sat Oct 3 17:13:42 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:13:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lower Columbia trip - 10/3/2009 Message-ID: <4AC7E8B6.4050802@pacifier.com> Lower Columbia trip - 10/3/2009 The Lower Columbia birders went out on their first Saturday trip under Sunny skies and coolish temperatures. We had no real surprises. Three YELLOW WARBLERS and a BLACK-THROATED GRAY were in the willows near the Astoria Airport as was a largish flock of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. The flock of LAPLAND LANGSPURS at the South Jetty of the Columbia River continues to grow and now stands at something just over 30 individuals. There was a very cooperative group of 5 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS there as well. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose American Wigeon Mallard Northern Pintail Green-Winged Teal Surf Scoter Bufflehead Pacific Loon Pied-billed Grebe Brown Pelican Brandt's Cormorant Double-crested Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Great Blue Heron Red-tailed Hawk Peregrine Falcon Pectoral Sandpiper Mew Gull Ring-billed Gull California Gull Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Band-tailed Pigeon Belted Kingfisher Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Common Raven Violet-green Swallow [1] Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Marsh Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin European Starling Cedar Waxwing Yellow Warbler [2] Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Gray Warbler [3] Townsend's Warbler Spotted Towhee Savannah Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Lapland Longspur [4] Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Purple Finch House Finch Footnotes: [1] 75+ Astoria Airport [2] at least 3 at Astoria Airport [3] Astoria Airport [4] 30+ at SJCR Total number of species seen: 58 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From johnpam at mtangel.net Sat Oct 3 17:29:53 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 17:29:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ruffed Grouse In Backyard-Silverton Message-ID: Saw a Ruffed Grouse in our "backyard" early this afternoon. This was in our 4 acre small woodlot at 310' at edge of valley north of Silverton. We have seen one for sure, two maybe, later in fall-winter over the past 30+ years. Ruffed Grouse are rare at this edge of the foothills. As an anecdote, my family: The Thomas Family: reported shooting 100 Ruffed Grouse going through this area during a Christmas shoot many years ago. They used 25 center fire with peepsights. I could see how this "worked" when the hen flew up into a tree and stayed there for over 20 minutes. Easy shot. Who would think this bounty would be so rare! (How about a Great Great Grandson?) Now we know; a little later.... Lots of shooting to scare birds away in vineyard nearby. Was really surprised to see this bird to say the least! I think the guy on the ATV and shotgun ( a nice kid really) has no idea what is so close to all those Starlings. I have talked to him and believe he would not go after the CA Quail flock I am so worried about. I never imagined a Ruffed Grouse. Good Birding, John Thomas From dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM Sat Oct 3 17:56:40 2009 From: dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM (Cheryl Whelchel) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 17:56:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] American Golden Plover at South Jetty/Florence Message-ID: I decided to run down to Florence this afternoon, hoping for an American Golden Plover. From the South Jetty itself I was able to see a flock of ploverish birds some ways south. I drove down to the crab docks area and crossed the dunes to the beach. Plovers were about 50 yards farther south. The ran up to some drift wood and nearly disappeared. I didn't count but there must have been about a dozen Black-bellied Plovers. After carefully picking through the crowd, I was able find a golden plover. The plover had a smaller thiner bill, yellowish feathering in cap, warm buff brown underparts, and very long primary projection. The bird appeared slimmer and longer necked than the BB plover standing next to it. From these things I concluded it was an American Golden Plover. Cheryl Whelchel Tangent -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091003/7ac4ff7d/attachment.html From Kcparkton1 at aol.com Sat Oct 3 18:15:24 2009 From: Kcparkton1 at aol.com (Kcparkton1 at aol.com) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 21:15:24 EDT Subject: [obol] Finley Wildlife Refuge Early AM 10/3 Message-ID: Started out at around 6:45 am 1- great horned owl 5- northern harriers 1- merlin 2- juvenile red-tailed hawks 3- adult red-tailed hawks 1- northern flicker 2- american kestrels couple small flocks of golden-crowned sparrows those were the highlights of the morning. wasn't paying much attention to anything I couldn't photograph. just as a heads up, shotgun deer season opened today at finley. seemed to be quite a few hunters out. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091003/3568c6a1/attachment.html From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Sat Oct 3 20:13:45 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 20:13:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] ECBC Green Ridge Hawkwatch Message-ID: <53E528E0B2384F9FAF9063ABEB01C8E6@KimPC> Five of us braved the cold and snow on Green Ridge today (SAt.) for a slow day of Raptor migration. We counted a total of 41 raptors as shown below. The temp. stayed pretty much in the 30s and had several light snow showers plus one heavy snow that lasted for over 1/2 hour. After this we think the birds went to roost because we had no sightings between 3:00 and 5:00PM. Non raptors helped make the day interesting. We had over 60 Varied Thrushes fly over east to west, 14 N. Flickers north to south, 1 Pileated Woodpecker plus several other passerines. New birds for the sight were 13 Snow Geese and a Common Loon. Last Monday, Steve Small and Carol Cwiklinski from Tillamook went to the site and counted 198 raptors. They saw another Broad-winged Hawk (no. 2 for the site) and 2 Swainson's Hawks (I believe a first for the site). 10/3 Raptors counted. Turkey Vulture 11 Sharp-shinned Hawk 12 Cooper's Hawk 2 Northern Goshawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 10 Rough-legged Hawk 2 Golden Eagle 1 Unid. Raptor 2 ----kim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091003/d4ed1ab5/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Sat Oct 3 20:19:14 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 20:19:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] late Rufous Hummer Message-ID: A female Rufous Hummingbird visited our feeder in SW Portland today, 3 October. - Jay W. From greenfant at hotmail.com Sat Oct 3 21:03:32 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 00:03:32 -0400 Subject: [obol] Hagg Lake owling 10/2/09 (Washington Co) Message-ID: Last night's owling sesson at Hagg Lake was very successful and a lot of fun too. We had 3 whining/singing Northern Sawwhet-Owls, 6 Great Horneds, 1 BARRED OWL and 1 BARN OWL. The last 2 were new for me at Hagg Lake. Western Screech Owls were not responding at all. We also heard a coyote, Killdeer, Great Blue Heron and Canada Goose, but no ducks, and saw a raccoon. An upset beaver was hissing at us before disappearing underwater at Tanner Creek. See you at the lake. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222985/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/68edf90c/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Sat Oct 3 21:06:51 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 21:06:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] hairy woodpecker Message-ID: OBolites, Chuck Philo informs me that since about August 1 one of the Hairy Woodpeckers coming to his feeder is a female with bright white plumage everywhere the local breeding birds show dingy gray. Would this bird likely be from the population in the Cascades, or from further east? I have done very little birding in the Cascades, and don't recall what Hairy Woodpeckers there look like, but am familiar with the very white plumaged birds from Wallowa County. It sounds like the bird he described is equal in whiteness to these far eastern subspecies. In any case, how much do these Hairy subspecies move around? Are there other coastal records of white plumaged birds, or does this one provide a truly exceptional record? Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091003/c24fdd34/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sat Oct 3 22:08:16 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 22:08:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Mt. Tabor, Portland Message-ID: <277268.88151.qm@web55703.mail.re3.yahoo.com> This morning we headed up Mt. Tabor in Southeast Portland. The most unusual find was a first-of-season tan-striped WHITE-THROATED SPARROW near the smallest reservoir. Even though we regularly see one or two every winter in our yard, this was only our second for Mt. Tabor. Only Adrian saw it before it flew. There were many other sparrows around. We saw what appeared to be a SLATE-COLORED JUNCO at the Top. We also saw over 20 GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS and 5 sooty FOX SPARROWS. Other winter birds are picking up as well. We saw 20 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS and at least 50 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS. We also counted 24 HERMIT and 9 VARIED THRUSHES. On the other hand, a number of summer migrants are still hanging around. We saw 4 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, 1-2 BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS, and a WESTERN TANAGER. Adrian heard a singing CASSIN'S VIREO. Two female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS were still lingering at the top. We also saw a HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, which seems a bit late. A few VAUX'S SWIFTS, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, and BARN SWALLOWS were noted flying overhead. There were quite a few PURPLE FINCHES, including one that was singing. We heard some distant EVENING GROSBEAKS. About 15 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS (including at least one myrtle) were seen. A RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, always noteworthy at Tabor, was in the off-leash dog area. In total we saw 52 species within Mt. Tabor Park today. Fifty-two species at Mt. Tabor is good at any time of year, especially in October. In our yard, the Golden-crowned Sparrows arrived on September 26th, which is several days later than usual. Now they are beginning to increase. Today we saw 2 juveniles and 5 adults. We saw a MERLIN over our yard on October 1st and we saw a flyover OSPREY a few blocks away on September 29th. Good birding and happy fall! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091003/c48dbee5/attachment.html From dhewitt37 at gmail.com Sat Oct 3 22:53:42 2009 From: dhewitt37 at gmail.com (David Hewitt) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 22:53:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Williamson River delta, TNC restoration, Upper Klamath Lake - Burrowing Owl; 3 Oct 2009 Message-ID: <653eaf880910032253n17c0c5fbi65ce925fb3281763@mail.gmail.com> http://groups.google.com/group/klamathbasinbirdnews/browse_thread/thread/2690a22f0bb85449 OBOL, This morning Heather Hendrixson of the Klamath Falls office of The Nature Conservancy led a field trip for Klamath Basin Audubon Society to TNC's restoration activities around the delta of the Williamson River in Upper Klamath Lake. The highlight of the trip was a single BURROWING OWL that had taken up residence in an old badger burrow right along one of the main roads in the Tulana (north of the river) section. This is an extremely rare bird in Klamath County, and Kevin Spencer passed on word that it might be the first in 20 years or more. Combined across the north and south (Goose Bay) sections of the property, other highlights included 2 Ferruginous Hawks, a Prairie Falcon, Black-bellied Plovers, Avocets, a Say's Phoebe, Greater White-fronted Geese, a variety of other waterfowl, a rather late Violet-green Swallow, a Merlin that posed on a wheel line, and a lone Wilson's Snipe. The full list for the Tulana section is below, as well as an incomplete list for the Goose Bay section that shows the new species added there. Reports were submitted to eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ebird/klamath-siskiyou). To learn more about the restoration and see videos of exploding levees, see: http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/oregon/preserves/art6811.html Note that this area is private property of TNC and visits are by permission only. Inquiries can be directed to Heather at . -- Dave Hewitt Klamath Falls Location: Williamson River Delta Restoration (TNC), Tulana side Number of species: 46 Canada Goose 141 Mallard 12 Blue-winged Teal 1 Camp Fields section Cinnamon Teal 2 Camp Fields section Green-winged Teal 6 Greater/Lesser Scaup 1 Common Merganser 1 Williamson River Pied-billed Grebe 6 Western Grebe 1 Cul-de-sac American White Pelican 89 Double-crested Cormorant 5 Great Blue Heron 3 Great Egret 20 Turkey Vulture 2 Bald Eagle 1 Cul-de-sac Northern Harrier 4 Red-tailed Hawk 5 Ferruginous Hawk 2 Northern section near entrance road; Camp Fields American Kestrel 1 Entrance road Prairie Falcon 1 American Coot 5 Black-bellied Plover 14 Cul-de-sac Killdeer 5 American Avocet 21 Cul-de-sac Greater Yellowlegs 3 peep sp. 8 Short-billed/Long-billed Dowitcher 23 Ring-billed Gull 10 Burrowing Owl 1 Right along road in old badger burrow on way out to Cul-de-sac; posed for the whole group Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 4 Say's Phoebe 1 Near Williamson River Black-billed Magpie 5 Common Raven 3 Tree Swallow 75 Barn Swallow 5 Marsh Wren 7 American Robin 2 European Starling 6 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Camp Fields section Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 37 Savannah Sparrow 44 Song Sparrow 9 Lincoln's Sparrow 2 White-crowned Sparrow 32 Red-winged Blackbird 5 Western Meadowlark 13 Brewer's Blackbird 31 Lesser Goldfinch 2 American Goldfinch 4 Location: Williamson River Delta Restoration (TNC), Goose Bay side Greater White-fronted Goose 75 Canada Goose 250 Gadwall 1 American Wigeon 2 Mallard 12 Blue-winged Teal 2 Northern Shoveler 16 Green-winged Teal 19 Ring-necked Duck 2 Pied-billed Grebe 6 Great Blue Heron 2 Great Egret 33 White-faced Ibis 2 Fly-by American Kestrel 1 Merlin 1 Entrance road on wheel line Killdeer 9 Greater Yellowlegs 20 Least Sandpiper 12 peep sp. 50 Short-billed/Long-billed Dowitcher 50 Wilson's Snipe 1 Great spot by Dave Potter Violet-green Swallow 1 From fitzbeew at gmail.com Sat Oct 3 23:17:56 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 23:17:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] WB Nuthatches, Juncos Message-ID: Obol, I too have noticed White-breasted Nuthatches here in Corvallis. I heard them on OSU main campus for roughly three days in a row, and saw it one time as well. Also, Dark-eyed Juncos appeared on campus a few days ago. Good birding, -Holly Reinhard Corvallis, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091003/6345e2a1/attachment.html From carolk at viclink.com Sat Oct 3 23:18:03 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 23:18:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Tillamook County - Saturday Message-ID: <000c01ca44ba$adf06860$8c76fea9@home> OBOL: We went to Tillamook County today, Sat. Oct. 3. The weather turned out beautifully sunny, with only a sprinkle. Notable finds included: 2 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS at Nehalem meadows (Paul's first in the county) 4 WHITE-TAILED KITES at Nehalem meadows (across from the sewage ponds) 1 WHITE-TAILED KITE just north of the Kilchis R. off Hwy 101 ~40 Gtr White-fronted Geese at Nehalem sewage ponds, as well as Canada & cackling geese. 1 Pectoral Sandpiper at Nehalem sewage pond 1 SCRUB JAY in Wheeler 4 Marbled Godwits at Bayocean mudflats 6 Black-bellied Plovers at Bayocean mudflats 2500 American Wigeon at Tillamook Bay 500 Pintails at Tillamook Bay 10 Common Loons at Tillamook Bay 1 Bald Eagle above the south end of Tillamook Bay 4000 BROWN PELICANS roosting on Three Arch Rocks at the end of the day (seen from Cape Meares) We also saw Gray Jays at Sourgrass Summit on Hwy 22 in western Yamhill county on the way to the coast. Good birding, everyone, Carol Karlen & Paul Sullivan From smithdwd at hotmail.com Sun Oct 4 07:49:15 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 14:49:15 +0000 Subject: [obol] Bayocean Spit Shorebirds Sat Message-ID: Walking to the forested hill from parking area. Shorebirds: 30+ BB Plovers, 4 Mar Godwits, 1 Red knot, 1 Bairds Sppr, 1 heard Semi P Plover, 50+ W Sppr. No NO Parula. Mild, sun, no wind, hi tide. D Smith, S Finnegan. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Make it easier for your friends to see what you?re up to on Facebook. http://www.microsoft.com/middleeast/windows/windowslive/see-it-in-action/social-network-basics.aspx?ocid=PID23461::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-xm:SI_SB_2:092009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/30e91313/attachment.html From smithdwd at hotmail.com Sun Oct 4 07:54:02 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 14:54:02 +0000 Subject: [obol] Xmas Bird Count dates?? Message-ID: Anyone have an early projection on some, or all, of these dates? Thought I saw something. Portland 2 Jan. Thanks, D Smith _________________________________________________________________ Keep your friends updated?even when you?re not signed in. http://www.microsoft.com/middleeast/windows/windowslive/see-it-in-action/social-network-basics.aspx?ocid=PID23461::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-xm:SI_SB_5:092010 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/b21ee055/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Sun Oct 4 07:58:12 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 07:58:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Varied Thrushes - SW of Portland... Message-ID: <693860.12549.qm@web55103.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Coming from opposite directions, I heard at least 2 Varied Thrushes this morning around 7:30AM. Nice sound for a cool and moist autumn morning. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores From rriparia at charter.net Sun Oct 4 09:44:03 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 9:44:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Klam Co Fall 2009 NAMC results Message-ID: <20091004124403.KWVHG.6440888.root@mp19> OBOL, I compiled the results for Klamath County's portion of the NAMC, North American Migration Count, Fall 2009. Hightlights included: 140 species tallied, and noteable species: BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, 1, SORA, 1, BARN OWL, 1, LONG-EARED OWL, 1, SAW-WHET OWL, 1, WOOD DUCK, 2, SAGE THRASHER, 1, MOUNTAIN QUAIL, 6, EARED GREBE, 2, (low and probably due to not visiting prime fall open water locations), GREEN HERON, 2, OSPREY, 1, COOPER'S HAWK, 1, GOLDEN EAGLE, 1, MERLIN, 1, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 1, SWAINSON'S HAWK, 10, FERRUGINOUS HAWK, 2, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, 8, COMMON TERN, 2, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, 5, (late lingerers), COMMON POORWILL, 1, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, 1, ACORN WOODPECKER, 1, WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER, 1, WESTERN WOOD PEEWEE, 1, (usually some linger later into Sept.), SAY'S PHOEBE, 2, GRAY JAY, 5, and GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, 1. Thanks to all who participated: Marilyn Christian, Jean Van Hultzen, BJ Matzen, Wes Stone, Mary King, Dave Hewitt, and myself. Kevin Spencer Klamath Falls, Oregon rriparia at charter.net From donalbri at teleport.com Sun Oct 4 10:09:10 2009 From: donalbri at teleport.com (Don Albright) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 10:09:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Christmas Bird Count Dates In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi All, I'm putting together the dates of Oregon's Christmas Bird Counts for the upcoming season. I have dates so far for 23 counts...roughly half the counts in Oregon. I'll post updates to OBOL as I get them. Also, Joel Geier is placing the dates, with compiler contact information, on the calendar at the OFO website: http://www.oregonbirds.org/calendar.html Below is the schedule as it currently stands. Don Albright Newberg, Oregon donalbri at teleport.com Saturday, December 19 Bend Grants Pass John Day Salem Tillamook Bay Sunday, December 20 Albany-Airlie Coos Bay Illinois Valley Lyle, WA Medford Sisters Wallowa County Tuesday, December 22 Corvallis Saturday, December 26 Brownsville Sunday, December 27 Port Orford Tuesday, December 29 Wahkiakum Thursday, December 31 Prineville Friday, January 1 Cowlitz-Columbia Santiam Pass Saturday, January 2 Columbia Hills-Klickitat Valley, WA Coquille Valley Portland Umatilla County Yaquina Bay ----- Original Message ----- From: david smith To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2009 7:54 AM Subject: [obol] Xmas Bird Count dates?? Anyone have an early projection on some, or all, of these dates? Thought I saw something. Portland 2 Jan. Thanks, D Smith ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Keep your friends updated? even when you?re not signed in. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/ddd1dc02/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Sun Oct 4 10:12:42 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 10:12:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Local RBA: photo Coos Bay Red-eyed Vireo Message-ID: <488BCAA9F3EB4684A3229A5E34D71146@GREG> Red-eyed Vireo struck window in Coos Bay 2 October 2009. Apparent 4th Coos Co. record. http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/gallery/_from_others Greg From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Oct 4 10:14:33 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 04 Oct 2009 10:14:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon Birding Calendar updates Message-ID: <1254676473.13710.10.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, I got some feedback that the fall/spring arrival info on the Oregon Birding Calendar at: www.oregonbirds.org/calendar.html was a bit confusing. I've added some further explanations; hope it makes sense now. Also, the calendar includes some new information about "winter sanctuary" closures and events on the Willamette Valley refuges. The winter sanctuary closures are to protect wintering waterfowl from disturbance; for birders it means to do birding either from our cars or along the specific trails that remain open year-round. I was going to include the winter closure date for the upper road on Marys Peak (used to be December 1st), but it looks like Siuslaw National Forest will let that be decided by snow conditions again this year. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sun Oct 4 10:28:13 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 10:28:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Skinner Butte, Eugene, morning of 10/4 Message-ID: <81b2a9930910041028s511bfe99pa8192a3740f209f0@mail.gmail.com> For some reason, I decided to bird Skinner Butte in the cold drizzle this morning (8:15-9:00). There was very little going on, but I did hear at least one VARIED THRUSH calling from the trees just south of the butte. Anna's HB - 1* Northern Flicker - 1 Western Scrub-Jay - 1 BC Chickadee - 4 Bushtit - 5+ RB Nuthatch - 1 Bewick's Wren - 2 American Robin - 3 Varied Thrush - 1+* Spotted Towhee - 2 Fox Sparrow - 2 DE Junco - 3 American Goldfinch - 7 Brandon Eugene From philliplc at charter.net Sun Oct 4 10:31:35 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 10:31:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <64843370EAB2452ABF14DAC281F419A4@Phil> 7:15-8:30 AM (10/4): mostly overcast, wind N 5-10, swells 6-8 100 Red-throated Loon 30 Pacific Loon 30 Common Loon 1 Red-necked Grebe 2 Western Grebe 1 Buller's Shearwater 150+ Pink-footed Shearwater (scattered N w/Sooty) 2500+ Sooty Shearwater (N many within 1/2 mile early) 600+ Brown Pelican (feeding with minor S movement after 8:00) 50 Double-crested Cormorant (several on the water actively surface feeding with gulls/Pelicans) 100 Brandt's Cormorant 40 Pelagic Cormorant 15 Green-winged Teal 400 White-winged Scoter (most S) 7000 Surf Scoter (steady strings S) 1 Black Turnstone 3 Mew Gull 400 California Gull (feeding, trending N) 1 Herring Gull 800 Western Gull (feeding, trending N) 80 Glaucous-winged Gull 300 Heermann's Gull (most feeding) 1 Black-legged Kittiwake 300 Common Murre 1 Rhinoceros Auklet Phil philliplc at charter.net From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sun Oct 4 10:59:02 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 10:59:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Red-Breasted Sapsucker NE Portland Message-ID: <429310.37548.qm@web46006.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> We just were treated to a Red-Breasted Sapsucker in the yard a few minutes ago. It's the first time her has been seen in our yard this entire year. We will post some photos of the yard, including a (really) bad photo of the Sapsucker later this afternoon. We have only been host to him 2 other times in the last 3 years. It's been a busy last few days in the yard. Good birding to all! Seth Reams and Michelle King NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Sun Oct 4 12:06:52 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 12:06:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] ECBCGreen Ridge Hawkwatch Message-ID: <7FB1A95B18AA4992966782E6BE77E789@KimPC> We didn't make it today (Sun.) . I went to Indian Ford CG at 0900 this morning and no one showed up. There was light rain and no snow on the ground at the campground. I headed for the site and made about 4 miles up the road and it was snowing hard with visibility less than 1/4 mile. I turned around and came home. Tomorrow ( Mon) looks like a good day and I am going to try and get to the site after my morning appointments. If anyone wants to join me give me a call. The weather for next weekend looks great. Kim Boddie 541-389-3613 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/afd8f3dd/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Sun Oct 4 12:07:32 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 12:07:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] "Winter" birding Message-ID: Woke up to a surprise snow storm in Bend this morning. There is about 6 inches of snow on the ground at my house -- this is by far the earliest measurable snow in Bend since I've been here (28 years). With all the leaves still on the trees (and mostly still green) the snow is wreaking havoc on them. There are a lot of downed and snapped trees. Ironically, it is supposed to be in the 60s on Tuesday. For the most part the birds are staying under cover. I did hear an Anna's Hummingbird when I went to shake some snow off my trees. I wonder what the Rufous Hummer I saw at the feeder yesterday is doing. Tom Crabtree Bend, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/9eff32c5/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Oct 4 12:29:05 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 19:29:05 +0000 Subject: [obol] "Winter" birding In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Wasn't it just a couple days ago that you posted a note about "Fall" birding. Apparently Fall doesn't last as long in Bend as it does elsewhere around the globe. Summer to Fall to Winter all in the space of a week. That'll age you quick. Dave Irons From: tc at empnet.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 12:07:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] "Winter" birding Woke up to a surprise snow storm in Bend this morning. There is about 6 inches of snow on the ground at my house -- this is by far the earliest measurable snow in Bend since I've been here (28 years). With all the leaves still on the trees (and mostly still green) the snow is wreaking havoc on them. There are a lot of downed and snapped trees. Ironically, it is supposed to be in the 60s on Tuesday. For the most part the birds are staying under cover. I did hear an Anna's Hummingbird when I went to shake some snow off my trees. I wonder what the Rufous Hummer I saw at the feeder yesterday is doing. Tom Crabtree Bend, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft?s powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/4fea9b54/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Oct 4 12:35:07 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 19:35:07 +0000 Subject: [obol] Yellow and Black-throated Gray Warblers in Eugene yard Message-ID: Greetings All, Earlier today, while chatting on the phone with my friend Mark Szantyr in Connecticut, I had both a Yellow and a Black-throated Gray Warbler pass through the yard. I also had two Steller's Jays come in to the feeders, a first in 3+ years of living here. Steller's Jays move downslope (elevational migration) this time of year, so I presume that these birds were making a brief stopover as they trickle down out of the nearby south hills here in Eugene. They will surely settle somewhere with a greater abundance and stand density of conifers (we have none). Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/0235d86a/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sun Oct 4 13:23:27 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 13:23:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] "Myrtle" Warblers, Eugene Message-ID: <81b2a9930910041323n61283974lf4b5eb35e2cd6f57@mail.gmail.com> My first-of-the-season Myrtle YR WARBLERS have arrived. Two of them were foraging through the pine trees in my yard about an hour ago. Also, there were close to 100 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES at my feeders yesterday afternoon. Interestingly, no Siskins were mixed into that enormous flock. -Brandon From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sun Oct 4 13:53:55 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 13:53:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Townsend's and "Audubon's" Warbler yard sightings, Eugene Message-ID: <81b2a9930910041353t2f36444ftddbdad99df998441@mail.gmail.com> I decided to stop watching football for a while and focused my binoculars on the cluster of pines where I observed the Myrtle Warbler. Within a few minutes, I caught a brief glimpse of a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER and an Audubon's YR WARBLER. The Townsend's is unusually early, with my previous yard record being 11/22/07. It's interesting to see that others are reporting serious movement as well. I'm assuming that the unusually-low temperatures we're experiencing have something to do with this. -Brandon From jonysky101 at aol.com Sun Oct 4 14:02:19 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:02:19 -0400 Subject: [obol] where is Ocean Shores Game Range and STP Message-ID: <8CC134D18666DC7-481C-EDB8@webmail-d081.sysops.aol.com> We will be in the area around Ocean Shores this Tuesday. The Ocean Shores Game Range and STP seem to be great birding areas, but I don't know the area. Could someone give me directions? We will be coming by?Rt. 109. Any help appreciated. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/c6d9ab9e/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Oct 4 14:32:40 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 14:32:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yellow and Black-throated Gray Warblers in Eugene yard References: Message-ID: Dave and Others, Don't know if you have any oaks around or near your place, but in sw Oregon Steller's Jay drift into the lowlands now where there are oaks with acorns to pick over. There has been days when they have been detected recently near our place (just east of Merlin I-5 exit). The White Oaks have a pretty good crop now. The Deer are feasting on the acorns that make it to the ground. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2009 12:35 PM Subject: [obol] Yellow and Black-throated Gray Warblers in Eugene yard Greetings All, Earlier today, while chatting on the phone with my friend Mark Szantyr in Connecticut, I had both a Yellow and a Black-throated Gray Warbler pass through the yard. I also had two Steller's Jays come in to the feeders, a first in 3+ years of living here. Steller's Jays move downslope (elevational migration) this time of year, so I presume that these birds were making a brief stopover as they trickle down out of the nearby south hills here in Eugene. They will surely settle somewhere with a greater abundance and stand density of conifers (we have none). Dave Irons Eugene, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/801e85d1/attachment.html From kirkpat at charter.net Sun Oct 4 14:34:54 2009 From: kirkpat at charter.net (Douglas Kirkpatrick) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 14:34:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding in Israel In-Reply-To: <1359370939.4381721252652321954.JavaMail.root@sz0070a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <34692E2D0FC44F2198376C6038A177A6@D7CDFN81> Hi, All, We're leaving next week for a visit to Israel. If anyone has suggestions re: places and books on birding there I'd appreciate hearing of them (off-line.) Thank you. Douglas Kirkpatrick kirkpat at charter.net From deweysage at verizon.net Sun Oct 4 14:45:50 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:45:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bandon Birds Message-ID: <4AC9178E.90306@verizon.net> Bandon, Coos Cty We had a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER in the front yard today, shortly after Kathy looked at me and said, "well, around this week each year the Sapsucker shows up" - bingo, not an hour later. Yesterday AMERICAN ROBINS descended on our yard enforce, there was a large flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS in the yard too. And on cue, the STELLER'S JAY, JUNCOS, WHITE-CROWNED, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, SPOTTED TOWHEES, MOURNING DOVES, and CHIPMUNKS all promptly started showing up at the feeder location around 1 Oct as if to say, 'we know you start feeding at this time of year, so where's the goods, folks?'.....so Kathy got them the goods. It's feeding chaos now, with Chipmunks bounding all over the yard and Steller's Jays up to their usual hooliganism. Also, I have noted as I drive around Bandon that town just seems to be chock full of EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES.....just about every where you drive in Bandon, the Sky Rats are flying all around. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Sun Oct 4 16:50:51 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 16:50:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Shorbs, Siuslaw Lane Co. Message-ID: <2b1bbd260910041650i470c65b1x9b05191bcb7afb3b@mail.gmail.com> Stopped by the dog pond at 4:30 and saw the following juvenile shorebirds: 2 - PECTORAL SANDPIPERS 2 - WESTERN SANDPIPERS 1 - G. YELLOWLEGS 1 - LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER Just before at the crab docks a dozen and a half BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and a single AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER continued. The flock has been going back on forth between the beach and crab dock mudflats for just over a week now. Alan Contreras was out here this AM and will have more sightings to share.... -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/bdd4e3e8/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Oct 4 16:57:45 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:57:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] CLAY-colored Sparrow Florence Message-ID: Today Daniel Farrar, Lydia Cruz and I had several views of an uncooperative sparrow that is almost certainly a CLAY-colored. It is hanging out loosely with a bunch of White-crowns and one White throated at the end of the south jetty road at Florence. Stop at the first gravel pan (just where the one-lane paved road emerges from the trees) and check the birdy sump just east of the road. The bird moved around quite a bit and was extremely shy. We think it also went across the pan to the north. I laid a seed slick near the rockpile and also on the north edge of the pan this afternoon. I spent the entire day on south jetty road. Quite birdy. Saw three female Yellow Warblers, an astonishing northbound flight of flock after flock of VG Swallows, mostly young birds, and a couple of adult peregrines squabbling over a freshly killed California Gull that one of them was plucking at the crab dock flats in the afternoon. Yellow-rumps are present in peak numbers, with about 3/4 being Myrtles. I did find one cluster of Audubon's in the afternoon. Big movements of Golden-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Savannah and towhees seemed to be underway. Daniel and Lydia saw the Am Golden Plover with bellies at the crab dock flats in the morning. Otherwise in the shorebird department I saw one greater legs, one Western all by itself and fifty Least on the booms at the port of Siuslaw in the afternoon. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From bettyehunt at aol.com Sun Oct 4 16:59:03 2009 From: bettyehunt at aol.com (bettyehunt at aol.com) Date: Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:59:03 -0400 Subject: [obol] Juncos In-Reply-To: <644015.49012.qm@web46014.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <644015.49012.qm@web46014.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <8CC1365C88D448C-5B78-C18B@webmail-m058.sysops.aol.com> I've had a singleton in my Escalonia for about a week. Bettye Hunt Waldport -----Original Message----- From: Seth Reams To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Fri, Oct 2, 2009 9:31 am Subject: [obol] Juncos Just a few minutes ago, as I was staring out at our backyard, I saw the first Junco of the season (at least for the yard). I called Michelle at her work in Beaverton to tell her about it and as we were talking she said she just saw 2 in the parking lot of her office. We haven't seen one in the yard since May 17th. Seth NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/6db122cb/attachment.html From acontrer at mindspring.com Sun Oct 4 18:34:30 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 18:34:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane coast addendum Message-ID: I forgot to mention a Black Phoebe along the dike and a single straggler TV. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone From davemac at gmail.com Sun Oct 4 18:52:39 2009 From: davemac at gmail.com (Dave MacHamer) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 18:52:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black-throated Gray in Ashland Message-ID: <48048c140910041852h29af0261iaec05ab0600ef02a@mail.gmail.com> I chanced to look out my window this afternoon and observed an Adult Male Black-Throated Gray gleaning in my Cedar Tree. I think the storm is bringing down alot of birds right now. The Ashland Duck Pond was hopping with Audubon, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's, Orange Crown, and Yellow Warblers.David MacHamer Ashland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/9112cc28/attachment.html From donalbri at teleport.com Sun Oct 4 19:02:39 2009 From: donalbri at teleport.com (Don Albright) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 19:02:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Christmas Bird Count Dates Message-ID: It looks like I had the wrong date for the Medford CBC on the email I sent this morning. According to the Rogue Valley Audubon Society website, that count is on December 19, not the 20th. Below is the corrected schedule as it now stands, with a couple counts that I got dates for this afternoon. Don Albright Newberg, Oregon donalbri at teleport.com Christmas Bird Counts in Oregon, 2009-10: Saturday, December 19 Bend Grants Pass John Day Klamath Falls Medford Roseburg-Sutherlin Salem Tillamook Bay Sunday, December 20 Albany-Airlie Coos Bay Illinois Valley Lyle, WA Sisters Wallowa County Tuesday, December 22 Corvallis Saturday, December 26 Brownsville Sunday, December 27 Port Orford Tuesday, December 29 Wahkiakum Thursday, December 31 Prineville Friday, January 1 Cowlitz-Columbia Santiam Pass Saturday, January 2 Columbia Hills-Klickitat Valley, WA Coquille Valley Portland Umatilla County Yaquina Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/fba6bf0c/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Oct 4 19:03:04 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:03:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Humbug Mountain adventure - 10/4/2009 Message-ID: <4AC953D8.1090202@pacifier.com> I decided to hike up the Humbug Mountain Mainline today to see if there were any promising dicamptodon streams (there weren't). But there was plenty of other interesting stuff including a flock of GRAY JAYS, a huge migrant swarm of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, three butterfly species and COUGAR sign. I've posted a few snaps at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Cooper's Hawk 2 [1] Red-tailed Hawk 1 Northern Flicker 1 Hutton's Vireo 2 Gray Jay 6 Steller's Jay 1 Common Raven 4 Violet-green Swallow 40 [2] Black-capped Chickadee 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 12 Winter Wren 3 Golden-crowned Kinglet 25 [3] Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5 American Robin 8 Orange-crowned Warbler 2 Townsend's Warbler 1 Dark-eyed Junco 15 Red Crossbill 4 Evening Grosbeak 2 Footnotes: [1] adults seen separately, the second chasing a RTHA [2] Probably an undercount. Large numbers seen all afternoon [3] undercount Total number of species seen: 19 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From gorgebirds at juno.com Sun Oct 4 19:29:55 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 02:29:55 GMT Subject: [obol] Steigerwald Lake NWR Message-ID: <20091004.192955.7812.0@webmail21.vgs.untd.com> Today (9-4-09) I led a visit the Steigerwald Lake NWR in Clark County, for the Vancouver Audubon Society. This was a fitting destination since this was our chapter's first environmental/conservation project. The chapter formed in 1975 and took on the protection of this wetland that was then zoned heavy industrial and slated for draining and inclusion in the Camas/Washougal Industrial Park. As usual the MUTE SWAN and TUNDRA SWAN were easily viewable along with an AMERICAN BITTERN. While walking out the trail we spotted a large flock of small geese flying east over the Columbia River and were surprised that they turned out to be 200 SNOW GEESE. I kept these birds in scope view as they flew up the Columbia River Gorge so that I could add them to the 2009 cumulative Skamania County checklist when they passed Rooster Rock. Later we saw two large flocks of CACKLING GEESE fly east up the Gorge. In the cottonwoods forest along the Dike Trail there was a nice group of migrants including 4 YELLOW WARBLERS, 6 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and a WARBLING VIREO. At the Washougal Sewage Lagoons we found 5 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, 2 RUDDY DUCKS, a LESSER SCAUP, 2 LEAST SANDPIPERS and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER. The marsh at the south end of the lagoons rang with the calls of VIRGINIA RAILS after I coaxed them with my rail imitation. We then proceeded to check the riparian forest at Capt. William Clark Park and quickly found a very active flock of ORANGE-CROWNED, YELLOW, YELLOW-RUMPED and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS with a few RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS. It was a great day of birding with fine people in good weather. Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Criminal Lawyer Criminal Lawyers - Click here. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=nNN6n-TPAu9bOPkesB58hwAAJ1AHcaoQFB_Xw2ggvz9-JEKpAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAiFgAAAAA= From greenfant at hotmail.com Sun Oct 4 19:43:15 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 22:43:15 -0400 Subject: [obol] Lapland Lonspurs continue at the South Jetty of the Columbia (Clatsop Co) Message-ID: At the South Jetty of Ft. Stevens SP, OR, the about 30 Lapland Longspurs persist, mostly in the salicornia. Ian Boustead and I were able to get decent pictures and enjoy these birds at close range for a long time. 4 Pectoral Sandpipers and a Western Meadowlark were also around, as well as a Peregrine Falcon and 2 Wilson's Snipe. On the way back home, 2 Marbled Godwits and 2 Black-bellied Plovers were visible from Holladay Dr (just north of 17th Ave) in Seaside, OR. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/1eb1f1de/attachment.html From tayben at teleport.com Sun Oct 4 19:48:00 2009 From: tayben at teleport.com (Martha taylor & Chris Bennett) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 19:48:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Warblers and more on the move in the gorge Message-ID: <1CCEE3BB08B240A8913DA0BB388F95E0@D4P8RDC1> Today up in the Mt Pleasant area east of Camas we saw. Gold-crowned and White-crowned sparrows (1 each). Mac Gillivray's Warblers (1), Lots of Orange-crowned warblers, Chipping sparrow (1). In Stevenson WA a Red-Necked Grebe (1) (juvenile) at Bobs Beach. Chris -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/438c20cd/attachment.html From markhamm at charterinternet.com Sun Oct 4 20:04:23 2009 From: markhamm at charterinternet.com (Mark Hamm) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 20:04:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] roosting TVs Message-ID: Around 3 pm saw around 10 or so TVs roosting in trees near downtown Roseburg. Seemed to be waiting for it to warmup. From greenfant at hotmail.com Sun Oct 4 21:02:39 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 00:02:39 -0400 Subject: [obol] Tillamook County - Saturday In-Reply-To: <000c01ca44ba$adf06860$8c76fea9@home> References: <000c01ca44ba$adf06860$8c76fea9@home> Message-ID: Two more Red-shouldered Hawks were along Goodspeed Rd in Tillamook Saturday morning. At the farm just across the (only) bridge on Goodspeed were 2 Black Phoebes. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR > From: carolk at viclink.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 23:18:03 -0700 > Subject: [obol] Tillamook County - Saturday > > OBOL: > > We went to Tillamook County today, Sat. Oct. 3. The weather turned out > beautifully sunny, with only a sprinkle. > > Notable finds included: > 2 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS at Nehalem meadows (Paul's first in the county) > 4 WHITE-TAILED KITES at Nehalem meadows (across from the sewage ponds) > 1 WHITE-TAILED KITE just north of the Kilchis R. off Hwy 101 > ~40 Gtr White-fronted Geese at Nehalem sewage ponds, as well as Canada & > cackling geese. > 1 Pectoral Sandpiper at Nehalem sewage pond > 1 SCRUB JAY in Wheeler > 4 Marbled Godwits at Bayocean mudflats > 6 Black-bellied Plovers at Bayocean mudflats > 2500 American Wigeon at Tillamook Bay > 500 Pintails at Tillamook Bay > 10 Common Loons at Tillamook Bay > 1 Bald Eagle above the south end of Tillamook Bay > 4000 BROWN PELICANS roosting on Three Arch Rocks at the end of the day > (seen from Cape Meares) > > We also saw Gray Jays at Sourgrass Summit on Hwy 22 in western Yamhill > county on the way to the coast. > > Good birding, everyone, > > Carol Karlen & Paul Sullivan > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft?s powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now. _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091005/77f493fd/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sun Oct 4 21:45:10 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 21:45:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Portland area migrant departure dates Message-ID: <405077.802.qm@web55703.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Thanks to those of you who have offered to send us your Portland area migrant departure dates. A few people wanted to know more details about the project. Specifically, we were asked what we define as the "Portland area" and what species should be counted. Because there will probably be less data for fall than spring, we have decided to include a broader area than we did for our spring phenology data. We'd appreciate any information from Washington County, Multnomah County, Clark County, and the parts of Columbia and Clackamas Counties that are closer to Portland. The species that we'd like information on when you last see them are basically the same species that we included in our spring phenology data. This is a link to that phenology data: http://www.oregonbirds.org/phenology.html#Portland A few species are regular in spring in the Portland area but not in fall, such as Nashville Warbler or Say's Phoebe. Thus, we will probably compile data for most but not all species that we did in spring. Feel free to email us if you have any questions. Good birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/cf663eb0/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sun Oct 4 21:45:19 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 21:45:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Nashville Warbler-Oaks Bottom, Portland Message-ID: <685406.89953.qm@web55701.mail.re3.yahoo.com> After a fundraiser event this morning at Oaks Park, we decided to check out adjacent Oaks Bottom. The biggest surprise was seven species of warblers. We had numerous YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, 4 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, 3 COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, 2 BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS, 1 TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, and a YELLOW WARBLER. Also, we saw a NASHVILLE WARBLER on the trail beneath the bluff. It suddenly popped out of a clump of vegetation at the edge of the lake. We were surprised by the sighting because it was our first fall sighting in the Portland area and it seemed a bit late for this species. Oaks Bottom was fairly birdy with other species as well. We heard a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH along the bluff were we sometimes hear and see them. We were surprised to hear two agitated VIRGINIA RAILS calling loudly from the vegetation along the east side of the lake. Many of the fall duck species have returned. Eight GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew low overhead. There were lots of VAUX'S SWIFTS, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, BARN SWALLOWS, and a few TREE SWALLOWS over the lake. Just south of Ross Island we saw a WESTERN GREBE. Our yard was really active today. We saw a flyover MERLIN and we heard a flyover AMERICAN PIPIT. On a quick walk up Mt. Tabor we saw 3 RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS. One was across the street, one was at Mt. Tabor, and one was a few blocks from our house. At Mt. Tabor we saw 2 RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS and a few other migrants. Good Birding. Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/2bb08006/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Sun Oct 4 22:10:07 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 01:10:07 EDT Subject: [obol] Weekend Motorless Birds Message-ID: Hello All, I biked out to Fern Ridge early Sat., 4:00 AM to try to find some owls along the way. It was pretty quiet overall. I did have one WESTERN SCREECH-OWL on Skinner's Butte. No other small owls. I was hoping for Saw-whet or Pygmy at the Oak Hill Cemetery on Royal Ave., but a distant GREAT HORNED OWL was all that was heard from there. I got to FRR at first light, but Short-eared Owls were a no-show. 7 WHITE-TAILED KITES were roosting north of the Royal parking lot. Gobs of LINCOLN SPARROWS lined the dikes around the Fisher unit. At the South end of the Redhead "canal" was one GREATER SCAUP. I guess it was a first winter male; looked like a female, brown head and white ear-patch with mottled white sides. Laura and I rode to FRR this afternoon to see what we could find on the main lake. Not much. A couple CALIFORNIA GULLS, WESTERN GREBES and some specs of a raft of ducks in the middle of the lake. One WESTERN TANAGER was heard calling from the Shore Lane parking lot and a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was also there. Good Birding, John Sullivan & Laura Jonhson Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091005/475ed661/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Oct 5 06:49:25 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:49:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Out of Context at High Tide Message-ID: <4AC9F965.6010601@pacifier.com> A couple out of context behaviors during the high tide at Stanley Lake yesterday. http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12289/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From djaques.pel at charter.net Mon Oct 5 09:30:38 2009 From: djaques.pel at charter.net (Deborah Jaques) Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 09:30:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] trip to Tokeland, Midway on Tuesday Message-ID: Johnny, Be sure to check for roosting Godwits in the harbor at Tokepoint. This time of year there should be several hundred Marbled Godwits present, and as I recall, Bar-tailed Godwit have shown up there in the past. Shorebirds also roost in the harbor at Westport, scan from the boat launch area and take it from there. Deborah Jaques Pacific Eco Logic 375 3rd Street Astoria, Oregon 97103 (503) 298-0599 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091005/7a06a394/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Mon Oct 5 09:55:52 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 09:55:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] where is Ocean Shores Game Range and STP In-Reply-To: <8CC134D18666DC7-481C-EDB8@webmail-d081.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CC134D18666DC7-481C-EDB8@webmail-d081.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: Johnny and others who may not be aware -- A Birder's Guide to Washington ( http://www.aba.org/siteguides/wa.html) is an _excellent_ resource with detailed maps and descriptions of so many birding locations throughout the entire state of Washington that it could keep you occupied for months, if not years. The Ocean Shores region is covered in detail in the book, including how to time your visit to specific sites with the tides. I suspect Portland Audubon and Powell's Books in the Portland metro area have this book in stock or could get it for you. Scott Carpenter Portland On Sun, Oct 4, 2009 at 2:02 PM, wrote: > We will be in the area around Ocean Shores this Tuesday. The Ocean Shores > Game Range and STP seem to be great birding areas, but I don't know the > area. Could someone give me directions? We will be coming by Rt. 109. Any > help appreciated. > Johnny Sasko > Sandy, Or > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091005/6244a091/attachment.html From sandy1199ster at gmail.com Sat Oct 3 21:26:53 2009 From: sandy1199ster at gmail.com (Sandra) Date: Sun, 04 Oct 2009 04:26:53 +0000 Subject: [obol] Invitation to view Sandra's Picasa Web Album - 2009-10-03 1 Wood duck heron Message-ID: <0016364c64d91b4431047514687a@google.com> Hi obolers, I took a stroll from Valley River Center parking lot to the Delta Ponds this evening, in Eugene, OR. To my surprise the wood ducks were out and about. The photos aren't all that good, but it was so thrilling to see these male wood ducks (a first time for me). The heron was fishing and the the light was fading. In all, I think there were at least 4 pairs of wood ducks seen from the paved path. Good birding, Sandy in W. Eugene, OR. http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=sandy1199ster&target=ALBUM&id=5388590288293788641&authkey=Gv1sRgCOXopd_NyNnLYg&invite=CNfri8sE&feat=email -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/5ef6fe85/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: picasaweblogo-en_US.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2868 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/5ef6fe85/attachment.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: email.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 5976 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091004/5ef6fe85/attachment.jpg From archmcc at qwest.net Mon Oct 5 10:51:07 2009 From: archmcc at qwest.net (Arch McCallum) Date: Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:51:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] hairy woodpecker In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20091005175114.8376F22DD4F@mpls-qmqp-04.inet.qwest.net> Yo, OBOL! I think this sounds interesting. Can anybody answer Darrel's questions? By the way, Aug. 1 is about the time I would expect a dispersing woodpecker to show up on its new home range. Ornithologists still don't have a decent handle on summer dispersal in most species, especially those too small to carry satellite transmitters, because some of them go too far to be tracked with radios. Most summer dispersal is also natal dispersal, meaning it's the departure of juves from the place they were reared. Most data on natal dispersal are biased toward the shorter distances, for obvious detectability reasons. Thanks, Arch McCallum Eugene At 09:06 PM 10/3/2009, Darrel Faxon wrote: >OBolites, > Chuck Philo informs me that since about August 1 one of the > Hairy Woodpeckers coming to his feeder is a female with bright > white plumage everywhere the local breeding birds show dingy > gray. Would this bird likely be from the population in the > Cascades, or from further east? I have done very little birding in > the Cascades, and don't recall what Hairy Woodpeckers there look > like, but am familiar with the very white plumaged birds from > Wallowa County. It sounds like the bird he described is equal in > whiteness to these far eastern subspecies. In any case, how much > do these Hairy subspecies move around? Are there other coastal > records of white plumaged birds, or does this one provide a truly > exceptional record? > >Darrel >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091005/95d0ef2f/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Mon Oct 5 11:15:18 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 11:15:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Juncos and others Message-ID: It's been interesting to read about the arrival of Dark-eyed Juncos because I see them here every day of the year. Numbers do change dramatically, or it would be a sort of seasonless Junco presence. This morning I was delighted to hear the first Winter Wren ticking here since the one remaining stopped after a few days of territorial song in spring. Pamela Johnston outside McMinnville From surfbird at q.com Mon Oct 5 11:37:36 2009 From: surfbird at q.com (Diane Pettey) Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 11:37:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane Coast Clay-colored Sparrow NOT relocated Message-ID: Greetings OBOLers, Hendrik Herlyn and I spent some time this morning prowling and pishing for sparrows at the site that Alan Contreras seeded yesterday. The usual suspects appeared, but no confirmed Clay-colored. I found a beautiful ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK cruising northbound along the foredune about 930. regards, Diane Pettey Heceta Beach, OR (n. of Florence) surfbird at q.com From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Oct 5 11:54:06 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:54:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] hairy woodpecker In-Reply-To: <20091005175114.8376F22DD4F@mpls-qmqp-04.inet.qwest.net> Message-ID: Two winters ago I was surprised to find a pair of Downy Woodpeckers in my yard that were quite white, not the usual grayish. I photographed them intending to look up issues such as molt, wear and dispersal. Haven't yet. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Arch McCallum > Date: Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:51:07 -0700 > To: Darrel Faxon <5hats at peak.org>, Obol > Subject: Re: [obol] hairy woodpecker > > Yo, OBOL! > I think this sounds interesting. Can anybody answer Darrel's questions? > By the way, Aug. 1 is about the time I would expect a dispersing > woodpecker to show up on its new home range. > Ornithologists still don't have a decent handle on summer dispersal > in most species, especially > those too small to carry satellite transmitters, because some of them > go too far to be tracked with > radios. Most summer dispersal is also natal dispersal, meaning it's > the departure of juves from the > place they were reared. Most data on natal dispersal are biased > toward the shorter distances, for obvious detectability reasons. > Thanks, > Arch McCallum > Eugene > > At 09:06 PM 10/3/2009, Darrel Faxon wrote: >> OBolites, >> Chuck Philo informs me that since about August 1 one of the >> Hairy Woodpeckers coming to his feeder is a female with bright >> white plumage everywhere the local breeding birds show dingy >> gray. Would this bird likely be from the population in the >> Cascades, or from further east? I have done very little birding in >> the Cascades, and don't recall what Hairy Woodpeckers there look >> like, but am familiar with the very white plumaged birds from >> Wallowa County. It sounds like the bird he described is equal in >> whiteness to these far eastern subspecies. In any case, how much >> do these Hairy subspecies move around? Are there other coastal >> records of white plumaged birds, or does this one provide a truly >> exceptional record? >> >> Darrel >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Oct 5 12:26:25 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:26:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Weekend Motorless Birds In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1254770785.13710.339.camel@clearwater> Congrats to John Sullivan for being the first Oregon birder to find more than 200 bird species on his own power this year! The two owls and the Greater Scaup put him at 201 "motorless" birds, according to the running tally at: www.oregonbirds.org/Listing/motorless.html Not sure but I think that all of these have been in Lane County. Randy Campbell is right on John's tail with 198 species -- all of them in Linn County. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis On Mon, 2009-10-05 John Sullivan wrote: > Hello All, > > I biked out to Fern Ridge early Sat., 4:00 AM to try to find some > owls > along the way. It was pretty quiet overall. I did have one WESTERN > SCREECH-OWL > on Skinner's Butte. No other small owls. I was hoping for Saw-whet or > Pygmy > at the Oak Hill Cemetery on Royal Ave., but a distant GREAT HORNED > OWL was > all that was heard from there. I got to FRR at first light, but > Short-eared Owls were a no-show. 7 WHITE-TAILED KITES were roosting > north of the > Royal parking lot. Gobs of LINCOLN SPARROWS lined the dikes around > the Fisher > unit. At the South end of the Redhead "canal" was one GREATER SCAUP. > I guess > it was a first winter male; looked like a female, brown head and > white > ear-patch with mottled white sides. > > Laura and I rode to FRR this afternoon to see what we could find on > the > main lake. Not much. A couple CALIFORNIA GULLS, WESTERN GREBES and > some specs > of a raft of ducks in the middle of the lake. One WESTERN TANAGER > was > heard calling from the Shore Lane parking lot and a RED-SHOULDERED > HAWK was > also there. > > Good Birding, > > John Sullivan & Laura Johnson > Springfield, Oregon From hhactitis at yahoo.com Mon Oct 5 13:07:32 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 13:07:32 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Lane Coast - additional notes Message-ID: <589325.98752.qm@web37008.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello OBOL, a few additions to Diane's post: I ran out to the end oft he South Jetty yesterday evening, hoping for the Clay-colored Sparrow. No luck then, either - just 5 White-crowns and a sh..-load of Yellow-rumps. Also last night, the AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was still at the Crab Dock in the company of 20 Black-bellies. It was not around this morning. There were 2 WESTERN SANDPIPERS in the Crab Dock Cove. Today, I had 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and 4 juv. GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at the Dog Pond (the latter have been hanging out there for a few days and are quite tame). There was a lot of activity over the ocean off the end of the South Jetty, but much of the feeding frenzy happened just beyond the usable range of my scope. I noticed around 100 SOOTY and a few PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, ca. 40 PACIFIC, 5 RED-THROATED and 15 COMMON LOONS, 100s of gulls, including a good number of HEERMANN'S, few alcids (only about 15 COMMON MURRES and 1 RHINO AUKLET), ca. 20 WESTERN GREBES, 50 BROWN PELICANS, as well as assorted cormorants and scoters (no Blacks, yet). Happy Fall Birding! Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091005/6d6ee008/attachment.html From fschrock at gmail.com Mon Oct 5 13:23:57 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 13:23:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Juncos and others In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <390ebd880910051323i5d13aac0s17a3540f30a9ab29@mail.gmail.com> Yes, Pamela, as I've mentioned in past fall seasons when Juncos make the news, I also enjoy having them here in this part of the valley year-round. I don't hear much out of them them during the summer, but I occasionally find a nest, and often see them feeding young. But now I'm occasionally hearing their songs again. The sound of a Junco singing gives a cheery "springtime" feeling to an October morning while I'm walking to work (here in McMinnville). :-) ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== On Mon, Oct 5, 2009 at 11:15 AM, pamela johnston wrote: > It's been interesting to read about the arrival of Dark-eyed Juncos because > I see them here every day of the year. Numbers do change dramatically, or > it > would be a sort of seasonless Junco presence. > > This morning I was delighted to hear the first Winter Wren ticking here > since the one remaining stopped after a few days of territorial song in > spring. > > Pamela Johnston > outside McMinnville > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091005/9eef882e/attachment.html From sheilach at nwtec.com Mon Oct 5 15:18:53 2009 From: sheilach at nwtec.com (sheila) Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 15:18:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Paved with fishermen Message-ID: <6D746D8F65404089A93D905C17583958@sheila> I made a quick stop at the Port of Brookings/Harbor today and I could hardly see the water. There were fishermen slowly trolling up and down the river in spite of the fact that 1, the river is low and very clear and 2, we haven't had any rain to bring the fish into the river. There were other things there besides clueless fishermen. There was a raft of SURF SCOTTERS and WESTERN GREBES offshore, WESTERN , HERRMAN'S GULLS, BLACK TURNSTONES, flocks of BROWN PELICANS, DOUBLE CRESTED, BRANDTS and PELAGIC CORMERANTS, a GREAT BLUE HERON on a large rock in Chetco cove. At home more migrants have arrived to give the GOLD-CROWN SPARROWS company, a FOX SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, hordes of EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES, a flock of CALIFORNIA QUAIL, STELLERS, SCRUB JAY, CROWS, RAVENS, BREWERS BLACKBIRDS and some HOSPs. Wonderful weather, blue skys, warm days and fewer tourists, time to go beach bumming. Sheila from sunny Harbor Oregon From sbkornfeld at msn.com Mon Oct 5 18:29:02 2009 From: sbkornfeld at msn.com (STEVE KORNFELD) Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 18:29:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eastern Phoebe - Calliope Crossing Message-ID: OBOL,COBOL This evening Kim Boddie and I found an Eastern Phoebe about 5:15 PM at Calliope Crossing outside of Sisters. The bird was along the South East corner from the road (at the beginning of the riparian zone on your right as you come down from Indian Ford Road). It was working its way up stream occasionally calling. Nice end to a typical fall day. Steve Kornfeld Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091005/aee2cac2/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Mon Oct 5 20:08:21 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 20:08:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] still lots of Vaux's Swifts at Chapman Message-ID: <0ACD2B78-ED07-49A6-9F64-E2397E3E6F1A@gmail.com> On my dog walk I stopped by the Chapman School and tried to count Vaux's Swifts. My best estimate is that there were still about 2000 birds tonight and about 75 people watching the show. Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland From Oropendolas at aol.com Mon Oct 5 20:17:21 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 23:17:21 EDT Subject: [obol] Weekend Motorless Birds Message-ID: Thanks, Joel, Yes, all of my "motorless" birding, so far this year has been in Lane Co. I have a feeling that if Linn Co. extended all the way to the coast, Randy would have well over 200 sp. by now. Happy Birding & Biking, John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon In a message dated 10/5/2009 12:27:45 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, joel.geier at peak.org writes: Congrats to John Sullivan for being the first Oregon birder to find more than 200 bird species on his own power this year! The two owls and the Greater Scaup put him at 201 "motorless" birds, according to the running tally at: www.oregonbirds.org/Listing/motorless.html Not sure but I think that all of these have been in Lane County. Randy Campbell is right on John's tail with 198 species -- all of them in Linn County. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091005/84e8d88a/attachment.html From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Mon Oct 5 20:20:15 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 20:20:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] ECBC Green Ridge Hawkwatch Message-ID: <49730F20B8514E09AC2E1C0DA5886FDC@KimPC> Steve Kornfeld and I made it up to Green Ridge at Noon today (Mon. 9/5). The weather was clear, cool (40s) and there was a good NE wind. The only thing that wasn't right was there were no raptors. WE stayed there until 2:00 PM and had 4 Red-tails, 1 Unid. Buteo, and one Sharpie. We had as many wrong way birds as we did counters. ----- kim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091005/5125aff4/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Mon Oct 5 21:20:42 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 21:20:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainson's Hawk, Yamhill Co Message-ID: <1ABD52247CB4419397A38854B508F10F@yourw5st28y9a3> An adult Swainson's Hawk was perched up on a roadside wire this afternoon around 4 as I drove by on Hwy 240. It was near Stone Rd in the Chehalem Valley. When I returned about 6PM it was gone. Hwy 240 is not very amenable to birding. To seek this bird, I would recommend looking along the side roads, such as Red Hills, Stone or Dopp, and along North Valley Rd. Pamela Johnston From jeffgill at teleport.com Mon Oct 5 21:22:27 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:22:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Clatsop Co., OR; Pacific Co. , WA Message-ID: Owen Schmidt and I birded these counties today: Clatsop Co. 2 Clark's Grebes with a large flock of Western Grebes at The Cove - Seaside. 2 Marbled Godwits - Necanicum estuary 1 Baird's Sandpiper - Sunset Beach Pacific Co., WA 1 Great Egret at Nachotta (rare I that county) Several hundred Black-bellied Plovers at mid-tide Jeff Gilligan From llsdirons at msn.com Mon Oct 5 22:05:31 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 05:05:31 +0000 Subject: [obol] still lots of Vaux's Swifts at Chapman In-Reply-To: <0ACD2B78-ED07-49A6-9F64-E2397E3E6F1A@gmail.com> References: <0ACD2B78-ED07-49A6-9F64-E2397E3E6F1A@gmail.com> Message-ID: I heard and saw several dozen Vaux's Swifts flying around over Alvadore (w. of Eugene) today. They were flying about with several Barn and Violet-green Swallows. Also saw a Black-throated Gray Warbler. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 20:08:21 -0700 > Subject: [obol] still lots of Vaux's Swifts at Chapman > > On my dog walk I stopped by the Chapman School and tried to count > Vaux's Swifts. My best estimate is that there were still about 2000 > birds tonight and about 75 people watching the show. > > Shawneen Finnegan > NW Portland > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222985/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091006/ed95484a/attachment.html From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Mon Oct 5 22:51:59 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 22:51:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Whalen Island Monday Message-ID: <001d01ca4649$1efb40e0$5cf1c2a0$@NET> I walked the trail at Clay Meyers State Natural Area on Whalen Island in Tillamook County today. Species seen: Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Great Egret Red-tailed Hawk Belted Kingfisher Flicker Crow Red-breasted Nuthatch Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet American Robin Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler Spotted Towhee White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow House Finch I saw WINTER WRENS at two places. One was much more boldly marked than the other, significantly more than even the juvenile in Sibley. Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_pix/ For those tracking butterflies; 1 California Tortoiseshell. Tom Shreve -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091005/e132289e/attachment.html From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Mon Oct 5 23:21:09 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 23:21:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Flycatcher at Nestucca NWR Message-ID: <002d01ca464d$321a2200$964e6600$@NET> I made a short drive by stop at the Nestucca NWR just south of Pacific City in Tillamook County. Along the entrance road there were numerous White crowned and Golden Crowned Sparrows, a Fox Sparrow and a small flycatcher that did not call. Although I am uncertain of the species, small bill and eye ring suggest Hammond's to me. There are pictures at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_pix/ It was low in the brush between the road and a pasture with a stream. Tom Shreve -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091005/076af7f8/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Tue Oct 6 01:27:52 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 08:27:52 +0000 Subject: [obol] Follow-up piece about repositioning cruises posted to BirdFellow.com Message-ID: Greetings All, I just put together a short photo essay about birds found on the boat during respositioning cruises. It can be viewed at BirdFellow.com. Dave Irons Content Editor BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091006/3589fb58/attachment.html From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Tue Oct 6 08:00:40 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 15:00:40 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Taverner's Geese Seen in Eugene Area Message-ID: <587050317.80221254841240285.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> The first small flock of Taverner's Geese I've seen this season, flew overhead Monday evening, headed for the Willamette River near Clearwater Park. There were?six of them, with one smaller B. m. minima?with them.? The larger flocks of them usually arrive from Alaska, beginning about the middle of October. For the last ten years, there have been several thousand that have remained in the area for the entire wintering period. Prior to that, they made Fall and Spring stopovers for about two weeks each, but spending most of the season elsewhere. There was a time, perhaps prior to 20 years ago, when I rarely saw any of them on the ground, in this end of the valley. Throughout my life, the wintering ranges of all migrating geese, swans?and some other waterfowl, have been in a steady flux in this region. Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091006/7cdbb55e/attachment.html From grantandstacy17 at gmail.com Tue Oct 6 10:09:18 2009 From: grantandstacy17 at gmail.com (Grant Canterbury) Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 10:09:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Snow Geese - Portland Message-ID: This morning in N Portland heard a high-pitched, hoarse, resonant honking overhead in the fog - for sure not Canada Geese... Cackling, no, different from the White-fronted flocks I've been hearing too... looking up I saw a flock of a dozen geese slip from one fog bank to another. A bit grayed out in the mist, but definitely very pale and a reasonably certain identification as Snow Geese. First I've seen this fall. - Grant C. From windypointandy at dishmail.net Tue Oct 6 11:49:34 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 11:49:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bandon to Florence-3-4 October Message-ID: <000801ca46b5$c782e670$3700a8c0@windypoint99> BANDON TO FLORENCE 3-4 OCTOBER 2009 Our quest was again shorebirds. We've been pleased with our visits to the Bandon estuary so I hatched a plan to spend the day out on this saltmarsh, taking refuge at high tide on the small sand ridge on an island in the middle of the estuary. Since low tide was at 6 am we had time to bird some other nearby sites. So, we started at dawn at the inland Ni-les'tun unit of Bandon NWR overlooking fields where restoration is ongoing. Just before sunrise two Red-shouldered Hawks screamed from the trees behind the overlook and just after sunrise, two White-tailed Kites flew in (from a roost?) and perched atop large snags nearby. Other raptors we noted included Northern Harrier and an American Kestrel. The harrier flushed several Wilson's Snipe from a channel in the fields. On the west side of the unit, we heard several Virginia Rails scolding. Off in the distance, both Northern Flickers and Pileated Woodpeckers called. We next hit the Bandon waterfront At the creek inlet at the east end of town were gobs of Killdeers and several Whimbrels. Rocky shores just east of the jetty had Black Oystercatchers, Black Turnstones, and Surfbirds. We began our trek for the day was out to the estuary from Riverside Drive viewpoint. As we planned to get stranded by the Noon high tide we took all food and gear to enjoy the spectacle of both the flood and ebb tides. We had a very good day indeed, thoroughly enjoying our time out on the estuary. We planned to wait out high tide on a quarter-mile long "upland" on the west side of the estuary grown to beachgrass, California mrytle, gorse, Scots broom and a few Sitka spruce. We would be safe from all danger save a tsunami (which was on our mind due to the disaster in American Samoa this past week). Donning our Wellingtons, we trudged out across the mudflats to the Salicornia flats on "our" island getting super studies of a lone juvenile AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER amid a loose flock of 150 Black-bellied Plovers with a few scattered Semipalmated Plovers. Greater Yellowlegs were about and a surprising 30 Black Turnstones (to us as we usually associate this species with rocky shores) with three Ruddy Turnstones nearby. Three Marbled Godwits flew wildly here, there and everywhere about the mudflats. Peeps included a modest number of Western's (50) and a much higher proportion (350) of Least Sandpipers than on our prior visits here this fall. Dunlins (15) had arrived, too. Virtually all dowitchers (20) we noted called Long-billed save two birds. As the tide flooded the estuary Pectoral Sandpipers appeared briefly, 15 in all. A lone RED KNOT and all the Black-bellied Plovers congregated in the last area of mud, a bit north of west across the estuary from the viewpoint. Then all the shorebirds vanished as the mud disappeared. As the tide inched up into the marsh, a Merlin rocketed by, putting up most of the shorebirds. A short time later, a Peregrine Falcon again put up all the birds. On the tiny upland a White-tailed Kite briefly perched. We ate lunch here in the bright sunshine, admiring hundreds of Violet-green Swallows fluttering about, slowly drifting south. A Yellow-rumped Warbler chipped and Savannah Sparrows lisped. We then dozed off for a bit on the beach, intoxicated by the warm sunshine, beautiful scene, and abundant birdlife. Later, clouds rolled in from the north and it began to sprinkle. Off to the mainland I spied Turkey Vultures, and one each of Cooper's and Red-tailed Hawk. In the Coquille River channel Surf Scoters and Double-crested Cormorants appeared. The ebbing tide was a near repeat of flood with Black-bellied Plovers, the several Marbled Godwits and lone Red knot occupying the first mud north of west of the view[point. Expanses of mud soon appeared, as did the swarms of peeps, dowitchers, and then 20 Pectoral Sandpipers. We studied these closely for a Sharp-tailed with no success. We lingered about the Salicornia flats for shorebirds to appear but none came. The waders all kept to the mud. As the tide ebbed down the Coquile River, it met the sea and created a pronounced wave evidently the signal for hundreds of gulls (mostly California and Westerns but a few each of Glaucous-winged, Ring-billed, and Heermann's) to mass at the southeast tip of the spit to take advantage of some feeding bonanza. Overhead, a flock of Cackling Geese flew in from the west; we mused they were just making landfall after a coastwise journey down the northeast Pacific Ocean from Alaska! In all we tallied 19 waders and 79 species total in the Bandon are, truly a memorable birding spot. North and a bit homeward, Sunday morning we spent a happy three hours birding the Milicoma Marsh Trail in Coos Bay. A tan striped WHITE-THROATED SPARROW sang from the brambles just east of the entrance gazebo. A swarm of other seedeaters were singing and calling here including Fox, Golden-crowned and White-crowned and several Lincoln's plus the usual Song and Spotted Towhees. >From the north side of the trail overlooking the mudflats, we had a White-tailed Kite atop a brushy tree across the bay. Closer scoping also revealed a Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon. A Merlin dashed by and a Red-shouldered Hawk called. In the bay were hundreds of Double-crested Cormorants, and one Western Grebe. We counted 30 Great Egrets at one time, a pleasing scene! The tide was still low so we noted but one Greater Yellowlegs. The west side of the loop trail was very birdy. The alder and Douglas-fir woodland with abundant brambles was fairly swarming with birds. An impressive 250 Cedar Waxwings erupted into flight as we strolled by bramble thickets. Here we encountered a mixed species flock of songbirds. We picked out about 25 species in this immediate area; highlights included three Hutton's Vireos and an immature BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER. Then we walked the Coos Bay North Spit to again search for shorebirds. The walk should have been termed a waterfowl search as we spotted 12 species of ducks including a Hooded Merganser. Out on the deflation plain among a scattering of American Pipit, one LAPLAND LONFSPUR called. Tim Rodenkirk, also present, got a glimpse of this bird. As at Bandon, swallows were everywhere, again mostly Violet-greens but a modest number of Barns. I briefly glimpsed a sandy-backed swallow, either Bank or Northern Rough-winged but I lost the bird. A solitary juvenile Red-necked Phalarope boosted our shorebird count to 20 for the weekend. A couple Pectoral Sandpipers and a handful of Long-billed Dowitchers were here, too. Most pleasing were five or so Black Phoebes. Northward (and still homeward), we hit the Siuslaw River South Jetty. On Dotterel Dike we had lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers (Myrtle "checks" in the majority) along with both kinglets, Black-capped Chickadee, Bushtit (30 or so), Wrentit (just love these guys!), White-crowned, Golden-crowned and Song Sparrows. We then trudged north over the deflation plain seeing a harrier or two, a few ravens, and scaring up a handful of pipits. Our final birding was at the Crab Dock mudflats where we found 20 or so Black-bellied Plovers. Dog Pond had much of the same assortment and number of shorebirds others noted that afternoon: one Greater Yellowlegs, two Pectoral Sandpipers, one Long-billed Dowitcher and one Western Sandpiper. We also saw the same four Greater White-fronted Geese others had seen and too noted they seemed quite tame. Or, perhaps they were still recuperating from an over-ocean migration from Alaska! Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091006/ac2a3151/attachment.html From falcosparveriusjf at gmail.com Tue Oct 6 11:52:18 2009 From: falcosparveriusjf at gmail.com (RJ FEELY) Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 11:52:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] MOTORLESS LIST Message-ID: <90a4ffbc0910061152l513d4582s7b2f7ea75b15ce44@mail.gmail.com> Amazing! At least 2 people have found nearly 200 birds - motorless! ( I didn't realize that birds could be either motorless, or with motors) ! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091006/971ad663/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Tue Oct 6 11:53:25 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 18:53:25 +0000 Subject: [obol] Bird photos using PHONE camera Message-ID: Hi all, My first bird image using my new phone camera (LG Xenon). Not the clearest shot, but the subject, lighting, and mood is quite interesting. Photo was taken this weekend. How many birds do you see?? http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/image/117956731 Don't have a camera handy, try a phone camera. Might work for something unexpected, close and cooperative. All the BEST, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) www.ktbirding.com From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Tue Oct 6 14:28:38 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 14:28:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Rare Portland Bird on Oregon Field Guide References: <0EFBC7C31DB4F24F8CAC48136A1762D7232F2B68E2@MAIL2.rose.portland.local> Message-ID: <2D136873-0DC7-453B-A0DD-5E0765EF8A14@gmail.com> A friend just told me about this upcoming show. If you are interested in the plight of the Streaked Horned Lark, that is native to Portland, tune to OPB on Sunday, October 18 at 6:30 PM and watch Oregon Field Guide. Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091006/4ea2e7e1/attachment.html From oschmidt at att.net Tue Oct 6 15:49:24 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 15:49:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Portland Birders Night Message-ID: ..... tonight! Tuesday, October 6, 2009, 7:30 pm, Portland Audubon House, 5151 NW Cornell Road, all are welcome. Bird quiz, potpourri ...... maybe a surprise or 2 ...... one never knows this far in advance ....... !! oschmidt at att.net Tuesday, October 6, 2009 From oschmidt at att.net Tue Oct 6 16:48:28 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 16:48:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Portland Birders Night In-Reply-To: <97629.60404.qm@web33306.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <97629.60404.qm@web33306.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: ....... it's a fairly wide open forum for nearly anything related to wild birds and birding in Oregon. Mostly we watch whatever videos or slides or digital photos that are brought in. Each night is different from the others. Occasionally we have an announced "program" if someone steps forward with something pre-prepared. But we usually enjoy pot pourri and the eclecticism that chance brings us ............ It's free! oschmidt at att.net Tuesday, October 6, 2009 On Oct 6, 2009, at 4:09 PM, ECollins wrote: > Owen, > > I'm a new subscriber to OBOL, but a 15 year member of Audubon. Can > you share what "Birder's Night" is about? > > Elizabeth > > > ----- Forwarded Message ---- > From: Owen Schmidt > To: OBOL > Sent: Tue, October 6, 2009 3:49:24 PM > Subject: [obol] Portland Birders Night > > > > ..... tonight! Tuesday, October 6, 2009, 7:30 pm, Portland Audubon > House, 5151 NW Cornell Road, all are welcome. Bird quiz, > potpourri ...... maybe a surprise or 2 ...... one never knows this far > in advance ....... !! > > oschmidt at att.net > Tuesday, October 6, 2009 > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091006/4f80a0ce/attachment.html From 4cains at charter.net Tue Oct 6 16:58:19 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 16:58:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Northern Mockingbird, Astoria Message-ID: Lori spotted an adult NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD coming to the mountain ash berries in our back yard today. We were lucky enough to see it again just now. As far as I can tell (Birdnotes.net) this is the fourth record for the county, and the only fall bird so far. Lee Cain Astoria -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091006/4a5c8972/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Oct 6 17:09:38 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:09:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Northern Mockingbird, Astoria Message-ID: <4ACBDC42.30501@pacifier.com> While Northern Mockingbird anywhere north of the central coast is a good bird any time, its occurrence in the county is pretty regular. There was a Northern Mockingbird that wintered in at least 3 consecutive years in Warrenton and another that wintered at least two years in a row at Jeffers Garden. Don Haller found one just down the street from my house which I never relocated. I've seen at least two out at the South Jetty, one at Brownsmead (which wintered in a holly tree across the railroad track from the grange) and one out at Sigfredson County Park. If one were to make it worth this mockingbird's while, it might stay the winter as well... Try tequilla -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From dbagues at earthlink.net Tue Oct 6 17:55:12 2009 From: dbagues at earthlink.net (=?iso-8859-1?Q?Diane_Bag=FC=E9s?=) Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 17:55:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding Apps for Handheld Devices Message-ID: <70C1FD509DFE46829BEEF85A913B6058@desktop> A couple of years ago I saw a birding app for handheld devices demonstrated at the Verde Valley Birding Festival in Arizona. Can someone tell me what it was I saw, what it runs on, and whether it's any good? How does it compare with a desktop program such as Thayer's? Thank you. Diane Bagues San Leandro, California dbagues at earthlink.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091006/00389d75/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Oct 6 18:41:55 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:41:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding Apps for Handheld Devices In-Reply-To: <70C1FD509DFE46829BEEF85A913B6058@desktop> Message-ID: There are two that run on iPhones and iPod Touch. Rich Hoyer is writing a review of them for Western Birds; the review should be done late November but not officially released until mid-2010. I recently got an iPhone and will probably get such a program, too. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Diane Bag??s > Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 17:55:12 -0700 > To: > Subject: [obol] Birding Apps for Handheld Devices > > A couple of years ago I saw a birding app for handheld devices demonstrated at > the Verde Valley Birding Festival in Arizona. > > Can someone tell me what it was I saw, what it runs on, and whether it's any > good? How does it compare with a desktop program such as Thayer's? > > Thank you. > > Diane Bagues > San Leandro, California > dbagues at earthlink.net > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From johnpam at mtangel.net Tue Oct 6 18:56:54 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 18:56:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding Apps for Handheld Devices In-Reply-To: <70C1FD509DFE46829BEEF85A913B6058@desktop> Message-ID: The app has a website with some experts commenting on it: http://www.ibirdexplorer.com/reviews.aspx I saw one of the event guides at the John Scharff Migratory Bird Festival in Burns using it on an iTouch iPod. Pretty cool but I think an external speaker for the bird calls is necessary as the internal speaker is weak. John Thomas -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091006/7f48d90c/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Tue Oct 6 19:08:47 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 19:08:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Warblers Again-Silverton Message-ID: Hi OBOLers, Some of our backyard birds today included YELLOW RUMPED WARBLER (3-Audubon), brilliant ORANGE CROWNED WARBLER (1) and more brilliant TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (1). This was the first Townsend seen here this year. These were feeding with recently arriving GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS and our resident Black-Capped Chickadees in a mixed flock going through Black Locust, Alder, Doug Fir and other trees by our veggie garden. There were also GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS a RED-TAILED HAWK hanging about with many CEDAR WAXINGS, American Robins, Starlings, American Goldfinch etc As others have indicated, OREGON JUNCOS have also arrived at our feeder area. Also counted 16 CA QUAIL just before dark scratching at the feed. John Thomas N of Silverton From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Oct 6 19:16:43 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:16:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding Apps for Handheld Devices In-Reply-To: Message-ID: With an iPod Touch you definitely need an external speaker. Less an issue with an iPhone, which can be made fairly loud. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: John Thomas > Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 18:56:54 -0700 > To: Diane Bag??s , > Subject: Re: [obol] Birding Apps for Handheld Devices > > The app has a website with some experts commenting on it: > http://www.ibirdexplorer.com/reviews.aspx > > I saw one of the event guides at the John Scharff Migratory Bird Festival in > Burns using it on an iTouch iPod. Pretty cool but I think an external > speaker for the bird calls is necessary as the internal speaker is weak. > > John Thomas > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From circle2square at yahoo.com Tue Oct 6 21:09:46 2009 From: circle2square at yahoo.com (ECollins) Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 21:09:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fw: Birding Apps for Handheld Devices Message-ID: <644209.43083.qm@web33307.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I don't think any iPhone app compares with the ones you can install on a computer, but I love having iBird on my iPhone when I'm birding. It's searchable, has a few photos and facts, and the audio is loud enough I can share the song or call with a friend.I have iBird West ($9.99) and iBird Plus ($19.99). Next on my list is iBird Explorer Pro at $29.99. Maybe for Christmas. :) Other apps for the iPhone: --Birdpost is a great idea, similar to OBOL, but it's not very active yet. --Peterson's Field Guide to Backyard Birds may be worth the $2.99 but I feel like I've got good info with iBird. --National Geographic's Handheld Birds is also $19.99 and I didn't want to invest in it just yet, although it also looks good. --Chirp! Bird Songs is a free app but it includes only 15 birds. --Bird Sounds is $0.99 and includes only 40 birds. --The Bird Study Book is "the complete original 1917 classic treatise by T. Gilbert Pearson." for $0.99. --iLove Birds Lite is free and I plan to download it tonight to see how it looks. Elizabeth Collins ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Diane Bag??s To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Tue, October 6, 2009 5:55:12 PM Subject: [obol] Birding Apps for Handheld Devices A couple of years ago I saw a birding app for handheld devices demonstrated at the Verde Valley Birding Festival in Arizona. Can someone tell me what it was I saw, what it runs on, and whether it's any good? How does it compare with a desktop program such as Thayer's? Thank you. Diane Bagues San Leandro, California dbagues at earthlink.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091006/b3d0d148/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From ed.mcvicker at comcast.net Tue Oct 6 23:52:25 2009 From: ed.mcvicker at comcast.net (Ed McVicker) Date: Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:52:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] BirdFellow.com / birds aboard ships Message-ID: <4ACC3AA9.7040005@comcast.net> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091006/89e9e2e1/attachment.html From g_g_allin at hotmail.com Wed Oct 7 00:10:16 2009 From: g_g_allin at hotmail.com (John Puschock) Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2009 07:10:16 +0000 Subject: [obol] BirdFellow.com / birds aboard ships In-Reply-To: <4ACC3AA9.7040005@comcast.net> References: <4ACC3AA9.7040005@comcast.net> Message-ID: Regarding counting ship-assisted birds, if you're following ABA rules, and assuming those rules haven't been changed recently, ship-assisted birds are considered countable. You'd have to look into whether or not there's another governing body and/or separate rules for the states and counties involved. The "ship-assisted birds don't count" rule generally applies to adding a species to a checklist, such as the ABA and state checklists. In other words, if an individual of a species that hasn't been recorded in the ABA Area rides a boat into the region and you see it, you couldn't count it because it would not be added to the checklist. If however a bird that's already on the checklist, like Red-footed Booby, hops on a boat in Mexico and then rides it into San Diego, CA, you can tick it. See interpretations B(i) and B(ii) of Rule 3 at http://www.aba.org/bigday/rules.pdf for an explanation of the ABA rules regarding ship-assisted birds. John Puschock Seattle, WA g_g_allin at hotmail.com http://www.zbirdtours.com & http://www.birdtreks.com Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 23:52:25 -0700 From: ed.mcvicker at comcast.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org CC: kennedyds at earthlink.net Subject: Re: [obol] BirdFellow.com / birds aboard ships Seeing these birds caused me to consider an inconsistency when it comes to birds and ships and lists. Why do I feel OK about including them on my list if I saw them fly onto and ride along with the ship when I would not count a vagrant in Tillamook County if it were determined to be ship-assisted? What if that Yellowthroat came aboard the ship while crossing Juan de Fuca - could I include it on my Oregon list? Could I count that Yellowthroat as a county bird for all the California counties it passed through while on the ship? Could I count it as an L.A. county bird if it flew ashore as we were docking in Long Beach? _________________________________________________________________ Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222985/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091007/6cc6c81d/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Oct 7 06:27:40 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2009 06:27:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Calliope Crossing - the Clean-up is on Saturday Oct 10 Message-ID: Birders Just a reminder, this OFO sponsored outstanding birding site needs to get cleaned up again. Here is the link to all the info. http://www.oregonbirds.org/Events/calliope.html Judy jmeredit at bendnet.com From srnord101 at verizon.net Wed Oct 7 06:44:22 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:44:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands, Tuesday Oct 6 Message-ID: <000001ca4754$478e8d30$d6aba790$@net> OBOL; Yesterday afternoon (16:20-17:35) visited Fernhill Wetlands. Water levels still low with exposed mud in many areas, some shorebirds. I had my first of season GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. Those seen were of the "Myrtle" variety. The mitigation ponds held a noisy, active gathering of CACKLING GEESE (minima). One WHITE PELICAN is still present. Highlights: 10 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 2000 CACKLING GOOSE 1 TUNDRA SWAN 1 AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN 5 GREAT EGRET 1 GREEN HERON 11 KILLDEER 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS 1 WESTERN SANDPIPER 5 LEAST SANDPIPER 3 WILSON'S SNIPE 4 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 5 CALIFORNIA GULL 6 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER 2 GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW 12 LESSER GOLDFINCH Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Oct 7 08:51:25 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2009 08:51:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] October 3 pelagic trip results Message-ID: Our Saturday trip of 11 hours to Perpetua Bank had typical birds for late fall. There were no unusual species detected this trip. It was strange to see numerous BROWN PELICANS out to 12 miles offshore. Several hundred gathered for an evening roost below the Yaquina Bay bridge. We encountered a small dragger about 35 miles off Yachats, which accounted for 75% of the BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES and NORTHERN FULMARS. They put on a good show as they crowded up to the boat for our chum and fought and screamed at one another for our offerings. You'd think they hadn't eaten in a week, though they were probably stuffed with bycatch from the dragger. I guess they were just happy to have something besides fish. Greater White-fronted Goose 45 Cackling Goose 75 Northern Pintail 300 Green-winged Teal 8 Surf Scoter 250 White-winged Scoter 100 Red-breasted Merganser 2 (seen by few) Common Loon 8 Pacific Loon 5 Red-throated Loon 3 Western Grebe 1 Black-footed Albatross 350 Northern Fulmar 750 Pink-footed Shearwater 65 Sooty Shearwater 100 Short-tailed Shearwater 4 (seen by few) Buller's Shearwater 40 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel 8 Brown Pelican 750 Double-crested Cormorant 15 Brandt's Cormorant 80 Pelagic Cormorant 60 Whimbrel 1 Red Phalarope 10 Red-necked Phalarope 35 Heermann's Gull 45 Mew Gull 8 California Gull 65 Herring Gull 5 Western Gull 45 Glaucous-winged Gull 7 Sabine's Gull 4 Common Murre 80 Pigeon Guillemot 7 Marbled Murrelet 8 Cassin's Auklet 180 Rhinoceros Auklet 70 South Polar Skua 3 Pomarine Jaeger 1 (seen by few) Parasitic Jaeger 1 (seen by few) Humpback Whale 1 possible Blue Whale (distant spouts only) 2 (seen by few) Harbor Porpoise 3 Steller's Sea Lion 8 California Sea Lion 3 Harbor Seal 30 Ocean Sunfish 5 We are now planning our 2010 schedule. We are looking at a couple of trips next spring. We'll likely have a Perpetua Bank trip in March to search for LAYSAN ALBATROSSES. We will add a new trip in April or May--a 5-hour nearshore trip to search for MANX SHEARWATERS which also should see most of Oregon's alcids. Keep watching our we site for details: http://thebirdguide.com Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Wed Oct 7 11:00:18 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (barbara.millikan at gmail.com) Date: Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:00:18 +0000 Subject: [obol] hawk and kingbird, Colorado Message-ID: <0016e64cae6aa003d604755c1e08@google.com> I assume some of you have seen this picture by now, but it is an amazing show of aggression. http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_13452818 Barbara -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091007/d5cfc33f/attachment.html From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Wed Oct 7 11:37:16 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (Gerard Lillie) Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2009 11:37:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] hawk and kingbird, Colorado In-Reply-To: <0016e64cae6aa003d604755c1e08@google.com> References: <0016e64cae6aa003d604755c1e08@google.com> Message-ID: <001101ca477d$3257f630$9707e290$@lillie@comcast.net> I guess that is why they're called kingbirds! Gerard Lillie Mt. Tabor Portland, OR From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of barbara.millikan at gmail.com Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 11:00 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] hawk and kingbird, Colorado I assume some of you have seen this picture by now, but it is an amazing show of aggression. http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_13452818 Barbara -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091007/768add9b/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed Oct 7 13:20:29 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:20:29 -0400 Subject: [obol] Bar-tailed Gotwit among Marbled Gotwits at Tokeland Message-ID: <8CC15A2BFAF532D-78AC-1227B@webmail-d026.sysops.aol.com> George Neavoll and I had a great adventure Tuesday in the Grays Harbor area. The highlight was finding the Bar-tailed Gotwit among a flock of approximately a thousand Marbled Gotwits at the marina at Tokeland. We were fortunate to have long unobstructed views in great light. I took lots of photos and some are very good. I will post more later when I have time to edit them. But for now I will post links to these. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2565/3990371987_4122fa1222_o.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3520/3990365687_55416ba4c5_o.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2540/3991126688_3657607cd3_o.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/3991125294_a26dfc16e3_o.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3424/3990368685_a020602c87_o.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3418/3990367371_869a1740d7_o.jpg I will post more on the trip later. My Pups say it is time they get to go somewhere, so we are off to Multnomah Falls. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091007/1336b034/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Wed Oct 7 14:11:11 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:11:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird story Message-ID: <4ACD03EF.2090507@verizon.net> Here's a link to a cool picture of a Western Kingbird harassing a Red-tailed Hawk. http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_13452818?source=email Cheers Dave Lauten Bandon, OR deweysage at verizon.net From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Oct 7 14:20:58 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2009 14:20:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wednesday ECBC birders at Hatfield, Deschutes Message-ID: <93D8645517AC4707B84F7AF569F8B175@MOM> Birders > Nothing rare, but some first of season birds and also birds that > are due to depart soon were nice to see. No swallows, gulls, > terns, etc. The Goldeneyes, Mergansers, Scoters did not make > a showing. > > One OSPREY flying over back overflow area - Oct is getting late. > Four or five REDHEADS and three or four CANVASBACKS > moving around ponds. > Rails entertained us, out sunning themselves. Sorry Mike, we > watched a VIRGINIA RAIL and several cooperative SORAS > with good views. > Yellow-rumps were all over. Number of ducks is much increased > over recent weeks. Wonder if the many Eared Grebes were from > the breeding pairs there this summer. At least 20 of them around, > all into winter plumage now. > Nice to meet up with Lew Rems while we were there, and the 6 > others of us were Cindy Zalunardo, Kim Kathol, Don Sutherland, > Mary Oppenheimer, Howard Horvath and Judy Meredith. Next > week is the last of the 7 a.m. car pooling. We move to 7:30 a.m > starting October 21. Full list below and on http://birdnotes.net. > > Greater White-fronted Goose - 31 > Canada Goose > Wood Duck - 1 > Eurasian Wigeon - 1 > American Wigeon > Mallard > Cinnamon Teal > Northern Shoveler > Northern Pintail > Green-Winged Teal > Canvasback -3 or 4 > Redhead - 4 or 5 > Ring-necked Duck > Lesser Scaup > Bufflehead > Ruddy Duck > California Quail > Pied-billed Grebe > Eared Grebe - 20 or more > Osprey - 1 > Red-tailed Hawk > Virginia Rail - 3 or more > Sora - 4 or 5 or more > American Coot > Killdeer - 3 - way down in numbers > Common Snipe - 2 > Mourning Dove > Northern Flicker > Pinyon Jay - fly-bys along junipers in distance > Marsh Wren > Townsend's Solitaire > American Robin > European Starling > American Pipit - 30 or 40, same place edge of first pond > Orange-crowned Warbler - 3 or so > Yellow-rumped Warbler - many small flocks > Common Yellowthroat - 2 or 3 birds, back in/on reeds etc. > Savannah Sparrow > Song Sparrow > White-crowned Sparrow > Dark-eyed Junco > Red-winged Blackbird > Western Meadowlark > House Finch > House Sparrow > Total number of species seen: 45 > Good birding > judy > jmeredit at bendnet.com From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Oct 7 15:31:32 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2009 22:31:32 +0000 Subject: [obol] Western Tanager in sw. Eugene Message-ID: This morning I heard a Western Tanager calling near Churchill H.S. in sw. Eugene. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft?s powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091007/145ad7cd/attachment.html From dbarendt at comcast.net Wed Oct 7 15:39:36 2009 From: dbarendt at comcast.net (Dennis Arendt) Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2009 15:39:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wednesday Birders Message-ID: <06BBB12BF427494EA7C3D72F00F656C1@DennisArendt> The Eugene Wednesday birders went to the Delta Ponds this morning in the glorious sun shine and warm temperatures. The morning started with several beautiful Wood Ducks and a Merlin chasing Crows, then perching for photographs. We did not find any rarities, but it was a great way to spend a Wednesday morning. Here is our list. All numbers are "best guesses". 9 Greater White-fronted Goose (or 27) 30 Cackling Goose 40 Canada Goose 25 Wood Duck 20 Gadwall 1 Eurasian Wigeon (a not-so-bright male) 40 American Wigeon 50 Mallard 8 Northern Shoveler 10 Green-winged Teal 5 Pied-billed Grebe 20 Double-crested Cormorant 6 Great Blue Heron 1 Great Egret 2 Cooper's Hawk (maybe it was the same accipiter seen twice) 1 Merlin 1 Peregrine Falcon 6 Killdeer 1 Spotted Sandpiper (on the river) 8 Greater Yellowlegs (scattered throughout the ponds) 8 Rock Pigeon 1 Anna's Hummingbird 4 Belted Kingfisher 2 Downy Woodpecker 5 Northern Flicker 1 Black Phoebe 20 Western Scrub-Jay 60 American Crow 6 Black-capped Chickadee 16 Bushtit 3 Bewick's Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 20 American Robin 80 European Starling 20 Cedar Waxwing 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 25 Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 Black-throated Gray Warbler 2 Spotted Towhee 6 Savannah Sparrow 4 Song Sparrow 6 White-crowned Sparrow 8 Golden-crowned Sparrow 8 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Red-winged Blackbird 12 House Finch 1 Lesser Goldfinch 30 American Goldfinch Sarah Vasconcellos, Sylvia Maulding, Paul Sherrell, Dave Brown, Don Schrouder, Fred Chancey, Dave Hill, Gary Clue, Ellen Cantor, Tom Mickel, Barry McKenzie and Dennis Arendt -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091007/ab80fc4f/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Oct 7 16:00:43 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2009 16:00:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] a few Coos/Curry Birds of Late Message-ID: <15609.86088.qm@web45313.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> On Sunday the 4th there was a major movement of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS along the coast as noted by both Alan Contreras around Florence and Mike Patterson on the north coast. It was pretty amazing.? I had hardly seen any?Violent-greens in the last couple of weeks then suddenly there were hundreds on Sunday, then none again the next day. Perhaps the last ones of the year. ? On Monday the 5th the count of LAPLAND LONGSPURS on the north spit of Coos Bay was up to three.? Still a few YELLOW WARBLERS and COMMON YELLOWTHROATS around. ? On Tuesday the 6th there were 9 LAPLAND LONGSPURS at Floras Lake in Curry County. Also 25 GWF?GEESE and 6 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS.??I saw a couple PECS there on 10/4 also. ? Time to look at buying some seed to put down at Millicoma Marsh, probably will start doing so in a week or so. ? Oh, and the RED-EYED VIREO on 2 October was found by Larry Mangan who lives on Haynes Inlet in North Bend.? The bird was knocked out long enough for Larry to get a photo then flew off and disappeared.? Tough bird to ever get a photo?of even on its breeding ground-? nice job Larry!!? The photo is on Greg Gillson's website.? I think it may be one of the latest records in OR.? Larry has had some other great yard birds over the past few years, fortunately his place is just inside our Coos Bay CBC circle. ? Merry migration, Tim R Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091007/1a7688e5/attachment.html From andy.frank at kp.org Wed Oct 7 16:08:50 2009 From: andy.frank at kp.org (Andy Frank) Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2009 16:08:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] October 3 pelagic trip results, and Larch Mountain Pygmy-Owl Message-ID: <26FF58FEDDA2463CA210D8FFC87F0031@familyroom> For a 21 second long clip of the Black-footed Albatrosses and Northern Fulmars putting "on a good show as they crowded up to the boat for our chum and fought and screamed at one another for our offerings" as mentioned by Greg Gillson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8xUia-1IXE Make sure to have the sound on to get the full effect. I have some photos of those two species at andyfrank.blogspot.com, just below some photos of a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL that Wink Gross and I found today on Larch Mountain. Left-clicking on the photo enlarges it. Andy Frank From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Wed Oct 7 16:25:51 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (Gerard Lillie) Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2009 16:25:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Tanager in sw. Eugene In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <001501ca47a5$82bcaee0$88360ca0$@lillie@comcast.net> I had one in my yard today, also. Gerard Lillie Mt. Tabor Portland, OR From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of David Irons Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 3:32 PM To: post OBOL Subject: [obol] Western Tanager in sw. Eugene This morning I heard a Western Tanager calling near Churchill H.S. in sw. Eugene. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _____ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091007/91d0654c/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Wed Oct 7 18:59:29 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2009 18:59:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Tanager in sw. Eugene References: Message-ID: <2A61C05BB2974DFB92681BE4A2B855CD@D48XBZ51> This makes two late Western Tanagers in Eugene by voice only. The voice is distinctive, but do Starlings ever mimic them? Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: David Irons To: post OBOL Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 3:31 PM Subject: [obol] Western Tanager in sw. Eugene This morning I heard a Western Tanager calling near Churchill H.S. in sw. Eugene. Dave Irons Eugene, OR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft?s powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091007/3d563764/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Wed Oct 7 19:00:51 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2009 19:00:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] In praise of Portland Birders Night In-Reply-To: References: <97629.60404.qm@web33306.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: >On Oct 6, 2009, at 4:09 PM, ECollins wrote: >>Owen, >>I'm a new subscriber to OBOL, but a 15 year member of Audubon. Can >>you share what "Birder's Night" is about? Elizabeth OBOL -- It occurs to me that Elizabeth has asked a question that many other OBOL members probably wonder themselves. Given the large number of new arrivals to Oregon and new subscribers to OBOL, there are probably many folks who have no idea of what Portland Birders Night is like. So, I would like to hereby put in a huge plug for this monthly event, which I always look forward to as one of the highlights of my month. It's the chance to sit back and watch great photos and videos of birds from every corner of Oregon and all around the world in the company of like-minded birders in a casual social atmosphere. If you've never come to one, make the effort to come one of these days, and you may get hooked! I've not yet been to one of the Eugene Birders Nights, so I can't speak for them, but here's what happened at last night's Portland Birders Night, as an example of what's typical: (1) Tom Shreve unveiled a brand-spanking new giganto-mungous TV screen that he has just donated to Birders Night and Portland Audubon -- and wow, the photos looked great on it. THANK YOU, Tom! (2) Harry Nehls gave us a rundown of current rare bird sightings and the migratory comings & goings of the season. (3) A spontaneous discussion ensued, involving topics such as "Where do the White-tailed Kites go in summer?" and "Why is Sturgeon Lake silting up and what might be done about shorebird habitat on Sauvie Island?" (4) Owen Schmidt led us through the monthly Bird Quiz, this time featuring his photos from several Pacific-coast cruise-ship pelagic trips. (5) Kevin Smith presented fantastic photos of breeding birds from both Aloha and Crooked River Ranch. (6) David Smith showed photos of his recent travels to Adak and Gambell in the Bering Sea that really gave a flavor of what it's like to bird in these harsh and remote locations. (7) Tom Shreve shared impressive photos of birds and wildlife from his tour through Tsavo National Park in Kenya. This was pretty typical. I'd estimate we collectively "visit" every continent, some several times, over the course of a typical year (which can make these get-togethers a helpful resource for planning one's future birding travel.) There is always more that takes place at Birders Night than what Owen mentions in his OBOL alerts, because most of what people share is not planned in advance. In addition, a smaller group of us generally get together for dinner at a nearby pub beforehand, so let us know if you're interested in that. And for the Sept. and Oct. nights, at least, as a bonus you can stop by nearby Chapman School for the Vaux's Swift show while you're out this way, as I did last night. Anyway, it's always a fun and productive time, so come join us sometime, Jay Withgott, Portland At 4:48 PM -0700 10/6/09, Owen Schmidt wrote: >....... it's a fairly wide open forum for nearly anything related to >wild birds and birding in Oregon. Mostly we watch whatever videos >or slides or digital photos that are brought in. Each night is >different from the others. Occasionally we have an announced >"program" if someone steps forward with something pre-prepared. >But we usually enjoy pot pourri and the eclecticism that chance >brings us ............ It's free! > >oschmidt at att.net >Tuesday, October 6, 2009 > > > >On Oct 6, 2009, at 4:09 PM, ECollins wrote: > >>Owen, >> >>I'm a new subscriber to OBOL, but a 15 year member of Audubon. Can >>you share what "Birder's Night" is about? >> >>Elizabeth >> >> >> >>----- Forwarded Message ---- >>From: Owen Schmidt <oschmidt at att.net> >>To: OBOL <obol at oregonbirdwatch.org> >>Sent: Tue, October 6, 2009 3:49:24 PM >>Subject: [obol] Portland Birders Night >> >> >> >>..... tonight! Tuesday, October 6, 2009, 7:30 pm, Portland Audubon >>House, 5151 NW Cornell Road, all are welcome. Bird quiz, >>potpourri ...... maybe a surprise or 2 ...... one never knows this far >>in advance ....... !! >> >>oschmidt at att.net >>Tuesday, October 6, 2009 >> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091007/7c9605c5/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Wed Oct 7 20:15:33 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:15:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] August 23, 2009 offshore birds Message-ID: Tim Rodenkirk reminded me that I had not followed up regarding species and numbers of birds seen off Oregon on August 23. We were 65 miles of the Oregon/California border and 188 miles off the Columbia R. mouth at the end of the day. We didn't record numbers by county. 1 Wilson's Storm-Petrel (Curry Co.) 18 Leach's Storm-Petrels 5 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels 1,080 Buller's Shearwaters many Sooty Shearwaters many Pink-footed Shearwaters 40 Northern Fulmers 14 Black-footed Albatrosses 1,425 Arctic Terns 6 South Polar Skuas 117 Long-tailed Jaegers 45 Pomarine Jaegers 3 Red Phalaropes Jeff Gilligan From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Oct 7 21:21:52 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:21:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 10/07/09 Message-ID: <20091008042309.03790A814B@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 10/01 to 10/07/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 5 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Cackling Goose 2 (105, 10/6) Band-tailed Pigeon 2 (8, 10/7) Mourning Dove 1 (2, 10/1) VAUX'S SWIFT 1 (2, 10/7) Anna's Hummingbird 4 (4) Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 (2, 10/6) DOWNY WOODPECKER 1 (1, 10/2) Hairy Woodpecker 1 (1, 10/5) Northern Flicker 5 (4) Pileated Woodpecker 1 (1, 10/7) Empidonax sp. 1 (1, 10/1) Hutton's Vireo 3 (2, 10/5) Steller's Jay 4 (12, 10/7) Western Scrub-Jay 1 (1, 10/6) American Crow 5 (12, 10/6) Black-capped Chickadee 5 (30) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4 (15, 10/1) Bushtit 2 (6, 10/1) Red-breasted Nuthatch 5 (10) Brown Creeper 5 (3) Bewick's Wren 4 (3, 10/6) Winter Wren 3 (2) Golden-crowned Kinglet 5 (25, 10/1) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4 (3, 9/30) Hermit Thrush 4 (4, 10/7) American Robin 5 (60, 10/6) Varied Thrush 5 (6) European Starling 3 (7, 10/6) Cedar Waxwing 3 (40, 10/6) Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 (15, 10/1) Townsend's Warbler 4 (3) Spotted Towhee 5 (10) Fox Sparrow 1 (1, 10/1) Song Sparrow 5 (12, 10/1) Golden-crowned Sparrow 2 (1, 10/5 & 6) Dark-eyed Junco 5 (20) Purple Finch 2 (1, 10/1 & 6) House Finch 5 (15, 10/7) PINE SISKIN 2 (15, 10/6) LESSER GOLDFINCH 2 (6, 10/6) American Goldfinch 5 (4) Evening Grosbeak 4 (15) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: RED-TAILED HAWK, VIOLET- GREEN SWALLOW, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE Misses (birds found at least 3 days in previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Swainson's Thrush, Western Tanager, Red Crossbill Wink Gross Portland From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Thu Oct 8 00:26:11 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:26:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Test - Please ignore. Message-ID: <20091008002611.wjg4ve4e3kkc440o@webmail2.jimnorton.org> System Update - please ignore. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Thu Oct 8 01:03:20 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:03:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Test - Please ignore. Message-ID: <20091008010320.zg6rfrrfy88c04s8@webmail2.jimnorton.org> Another test - Spam engine rebuilt. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Wed Oct 7 23:08:01 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:08:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Test - Please ignore. Message-ID: <20091007230801.gq797ki3acks8kgg@webmail2.jimnorton.org> System updated.. please ignore. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Oct 7 22:34:24 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 05:34:24 +0000 Subject: [obol] Western Tanager in sw. Eugene In-Reply-To: <2A61C05BB2974DFB92681BE4A2B855CD@D48XBZ51> References: Message-ID: At least around Eugene, a Western Tanager on 7 October is not "late." While they are not passing through by the hundreds (as they sometimes do in Spring), in the past I've had 4-5 tanagers in a day at this time of year. We are nearing the end of their migratory window and another 5-7 days we'll start drifting into late. Two weeks from now, I would track down the source of a tanager call, today I didn't give it a second thought. Birds of Oregon: A General Reference states that stragglers occur through Oct and the bar graph in Birds of Washington shows a solid fairly broad line into early Oct. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: whoffman at peak.org To: llsdirons at msn.com; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Western Tanager in sw. Eugene Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2009 18:59:29 -0700 This makes two late Western Tanagers in Eugene by voice only. The voice is distinctive, but do Starlings ever mimic them? Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: David Irons To: post OBOL Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 3:31 PM Subject: [obol] Western Tanager in sw. Eugene This morning I heard a Western Tanager calling near Churchill H.S. in sw. Eugene. Dave Irons Eugene, OR Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft?s powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091008/0dce1528/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Oct 7 23:33:56 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:33:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 10-8-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * October 8, 2009 * ORPO0910.08 - birds mentioned Snow Goose Eurasian Wigeon Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Swainson?s Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Sabine?s Gull Lewis?s Woodpecker EASTERN PHOEBE Violet-green Swallow Ruby-crowned Kinglet Varied Thrush Northern Mockingbird Bohemian Waxwing American Tree Sparrow Clay-colored Sparrow - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To Report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday October 8. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On October 5 an EASTERN PHOEBE was reported from Calliope Crossing north of Sisters. A heavy surge of migrants arrived following the passage of a cold front during the week. The most obvious were VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, warblers, sparrows and waterfowl. Many RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS were also reported. On October 5 a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was near Florence. The next day one passed the Bonney Butte Hawkwatch Station near Mt. Hood. On October 4 a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen near Florence. 400 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and 7000 SURF SCOTERS passed Boiler Bay October 4. On October 5 a MOCKINGBIRD was in Astoria. On October 6 a flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS was reported from Portland?s Washington Park. Also that day a flock of SNOW GEESE passed over Portland. On October 5 a SWAINSON?S HAWK was west of Newberg. Up to 20 LEWIS?S WOODPECKERS were reported during the week at a prescribed burn south of Salem. On October 1 a SABINE?S GULL was at the mouth of the Deschutes River. A EURASIAN WIGEON was seen October 2 at Hatfield Lake near Bend. An early TREE SPARROW was photographed at Cabin Lake September 28. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091007/d1493b2a/attachment.html From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Wed Oct 7 22:36:03 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:36:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Test - Please ignore. Message-ID: <20091007223603.ktzog4btkcwwgkkw@webmail2.jimnorton.org> Updated many packages on server... just a test. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Thu Oct 8 11:00:26 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (tmacport99 at hotmail.com) Date: Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:00:26 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Mt. Tabor Park, Multnomah County, Oregon on October 08, 2009 Message-ID: <200910081800.n98I0QYc003863@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Tom McNamara by http://birdnotes.net Date: October 8, 2009 Location: Mt. Tabor Park, Multnomah County, Oregon Temperature: 62 degrees fahrenheit Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 10% Precipitation: none Nice sunny a.m to see what is about in the park. Swifts still here, most warbler species....nope today good birding, Tom Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Rock Dove 5 Vaux's Swift 15 Anna's Hummingbird 5 Rufous Hummingbird 1 [1] Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 [2] Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 6 Hutton's Vireo 4 [3] Steller's Jay 7 Western Scrub-Jay 2 American Crow 25 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4 Bushtit 20 Red-breasted Nuthatch 35 Brown Creeper 4 Bewick's Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Swainson's Thrush 1 [4] Hermit Thrush 8 American Robin 25 Varied Thrush 5 Cedar Waxwing 4 Townsend's Warbler 15 Spotted Towhee 1 Fox Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 25 Golden-crowned Sparrow 5 Dark-eyed Junco 45 [5] House Finch 20 Pine Siskin 5 Lesser Goldfinch 6 Footnotes: [1] NOT strictly in the park, but because I'm across the street I fudged it---this one was visiting the nasturtiums on the w/side of house [2] first I've seen in many months in the park; may have been one of the birds Christopher & Adrian reported a few days ago [3] uptick in sightings of these recently and vocalizing (the rasping sound vireos make) [4] heard only, called a couple times [5] continued movement Total number of species seen: 33 From Randy.Moore at oregonstate.edu Thu Oct 8 12:11:12 2009 From: Randy.Moore at oregonstate.edu (Moore, Randy - FW) Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 12:11:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] road to Steen's? References: Message-ID: Hi All, I haven't seen a posting this fall from searchers for black rosy-finches at Steen's Mt., so I'm assuming that something is keeping folks from looking. Anybody have info on the status of the road to the summit? cheers, Randy Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091008/f6be9d9b/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Oct 8 12:26:56 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:26:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] road to Steen's? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: I'm told that the Steens road was nasty washboard all the way up this year. It sure was last year, a truly ugly drive, worst in many years. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: "Moore, Randy - FW" > Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 12:11:12 -0700 > To: > Subject: [obol] road to Steen's? > > Hi All, > > I haven't seen a posting this fall from searchers for black rosy-finches at > Steen's Mt., so I'm assuming that something is keeping folks from looking. > Anybody have info on the status of the road to the summit? > > cheers, > Randy > Corvallis > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From keepersteady at aol.com Thu Oct 8 12:43:02 2009 From: keepersteady at aol.com (keepersteady at aol.com) Date: Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:43:02 -0400 Subject: [obol] unsubscribe, please Message-ID: <8CC1666AEEB11E6-37B8-12A47@webmail-d046.sysops.aol.com> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091008/8fc3f121/attachment.html From mklittletree at comcast.net Thu Oct 8 12:44:36 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (michel Kleinbaum) Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 12:44:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rufous Hummingbird Message-ID: <456AC4A4DD5F4E46B3BC405440933CC7@michel1927> In our bacyard, at noon today, a Rufous Hummingbird was feeding in a patch of nasturniums. Michel Kleinbaum - south Salem From richarmstrong at comcast.net Thu Oct 8 12:43:55 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 12:43:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] road to Steen's? References: Message-ID: 1. we did the entire loop august 13th. i reported to obol at that time that the road up from page springs was fine and part way down the other side was ok. then there was a 10 mile stretch going down to the campground that was bad to worse to terrible (now they were working on it at that time). then the last 10 miles was fine. 2. so i suggested back then that if you wanted to go for rosy finches go from page springs to the top and come back down same way. 3. that said i have no idea what the condition is now. Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan Contreras" To: "obol" Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 12:26 PM Subject: Re: [obol] road to Steen's? I'm told that the Steens road was nasty washboard all the way up this year. It sure was last year, a truly ugly drive, worst in many years. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: "Moore, Randy - FW" > Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 12:11:12 -0700 > To: > Subject: [obol] road to Steen's? > > Hi All, > > I haven't seen a posting this fall from searchers for black rosy-finches > at > Steen's Mt., so I'm assuming that something is keeping folks from looking. > Anybody have info on the status of the road to the summit? > > cheers, > Randy > Corvallis > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Thu Oct 8 13:20:27 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 20:20:27 +0000 Subject: [obol] Steens Mountain---Road to the spumoni snowbirds Message-ID: Hi Randy, I suggest you call the Frenchglen Motel (Le Paris de Harnie Countie) for current road conditions. Here is the number: (541) 493-2825 Should be beautiful this time of year. Je t'aime les montagnes de Steens. Good luck!!! Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From qtnice at juno.com Thu Oct 8 13:22:45 2009 From: qtnice at juno.com (qtnice at juno.com) Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 20:22:45 +0000 Subject: [obol] Steens road Message-ID: <567881912-1255033313-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-860296415-@bda509.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> OBOL, From where I am sitting next to the road under discussion (just above Jackman Park), I can tell you that the north half of the loop is fine. Passenger cars are roaring by quite frequently. I dropped down the south half of the loop yesterday as far as the South Steens campground, and it is nasty in places. For birding purposes you would be fine on the north half of the loop. There was about 4 inches of snow at the top, I would guess, but that is disappearing fast except on south slopes. As far as birds, I'm seeing lots of Horned Larks and Mountain Bluebirds. Two Sharp-shins this morning seemed to be headed directly south. Prairie Falcon yesterday at Wildhorse Lake. I thought I may have heard some rosy-finches at the top yesterday, but I never saw them. The one that got away was a very large owl that flushed off the road last night after dark. I was driving through the area of the scattered aspen thickets just below Fish Lake. 99 percent sure it was a "Great" Owl, and it was definitely gray in the headlights, but I suppose the location indicates that it must have had horns. I may be free for some birding on Sunday in the Burns/Malheur/Steens area, so if anyone is looking to add a birder to your party, let me know. Quinton Nice Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry From woodenapple at juno.com Thu Oct 8 13:25:56 2009 From: woodenapple at juno.com (woodenapple at juno.com) Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 20:25:56 GMT Subject: [obol] Obol: Eugene Rufous Hummer and Bl.-headed Grosbeaks Message-ID: <20091008.132556.2439.0@webmail11.vgs.untd.com> Greetings! We still have at least one RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD and two BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKs in our N. Eugene/Santa Clara area backyard. The grosbeaks showed up almost a month after the main crew had departed. The hummer is the latest record by almost two weeks in 13 years at this location. The grosbeaks have only one later record. Rudi ____________________________________________________________ Find loans exclusively for members of our military. Click now! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTQp6K3DKfoW0Y4xWuk0EfBAnqlRyyMdmsxzF2P10DxDLy8LbpmKEg/ From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Oct 8 13:39:36 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 13:39:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] road to Steen's? Message-ID: <407955.35946.qm@web45308.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I was up there in early September and think the road is in wonderful shape, nothing like the road up into the Pine Forest Range in NV just a few miles south of Fields where it took me 2 hrs. to go 18 miles (using 4x4 low several times).? Egad,?I forgot just how good some roads are!? Yes, a bit wash boardy but it can't be that bad if the top is covered with small cars, large RVs, etc.??I was there late afternoon and had no luck with the rosy-finches, my best luck has always been at sunrise on the east rim.? The washboard has always been much worse on the south half of the loop which?I wouldn't recommend unless you want to see wild horses.? The key to driving washboards with the minimum of?discomfort is to go the right speed which sometimes means faster is better.? However, there are parts of the road that are pretty bumpy at whatever speed you drive. ? Another?thing to keep an eye on now his hunting seasons,?I think the deer rifle season ends Monday or so? ? Should be snowing up there too with the arrival of wet weather which sounds like it should?hit by Monday on the coast. ? Good luck! Tim R Coos Bay --- On Thu, 10/8/09, Alan Contreras wrote: From: Alan Contreras Subject: Re: [obol] road to Steen's? To: "obol" Date: Thursday, October 8, 2009, 12:26 PM I'm told that the Steens road was nasty washboard all the way up this year. It sure was last year, a truly ugly drive, worst in many years. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: "Moore, Randy - FW" > Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 12:11:12 -0700 > To: > Subject: [obol] road to Steen's? > > Hi All, >? > I? haven't seen a posting this fall from searchers for black rosy-finches at > Steen's Mt., so I'm assuming that something is keeping folks from looking. > Anybody have info on the status of the road to the summit? >? > cheers, > Randy > Corvallis >??? >? > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091008/0697225a/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Thu Oct 8 14:29:53 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 14:29:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lincoln Co.: High Elevation Clark's Nutcracker & Blue Grouse Message-ID: Hi, Chuck Philo went up the Rocky Point and Elk Wallow areas of northeast Lincoln County today. At an elevation of about 2,800-3,100 ft, he found 1 Clark's Nutcracker, 5 Blue Grouse, Mountain Quail, 5-6 flocks of Evening Grosbeaks with about 15 in a flock, and many Red Crossbills. His species total was 16, which is very good for that high. He noted that there was a very good cone crop on Noble Firs and Douglas-firs. He also had some bull elk close by. The Clark's is only the 7th Lincoln Co. record, and 6 of 7 records were in October. Our most recent record was in March 2000 about 10 miles east of Logsden. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm From prigge1 at mindspring.com Thu Oct 8 16:13:09 2009 From: prigge1 at mindspring.com (Allen Prigge) Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 16:13:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lewis's and Pileated Woodpeckers, Skinner Butte, Eugene Message-ID: <545A31FA974A4F48863C42C52D225AA3@alrup5ujaxzzmc> This afternoon at about 2:30 at the northwest corner of the Skinner Butte "oval:" First seen was a Lewis's Woodpecker working a dead stub in a Garry Oak. Soon a Pileated woodpecker flew in directly below the Lewis's. The much smaller Lewis's administered a sharp peck to the Pileated which then departed. A short time later I again spotted the Pileated eating Poison Oak berries. Both birds then flew off, not to be seen again. Otherwise, it was not very active on the butte. AAP __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4491 (20091008) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091008/a729d47b/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Thu Oct 8 17:21:25 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:21:25 -0400 Subject: [obol] photo link to Gotwits at Tokeland Message-ID: <8CC168D92682D65-78AC-255F0@webmail-d026.sysops.aol.com> I uploaded more of the photos of the Bar-tailed Gotwit among the Marbled Gotwits at Tokeland. I was surprised how mellow the birds were. They didn't get stressed with the birders that came and went. They didn't seem too bothered by the work crew who came back from lunch and restarted their dredging operation. When one of the workers got a little too close some flew over to the dock, but there wasn't a mass exodus. It was well worth the drive up from Sandy to see them. We washed out at Midway Beach and didn't find Oyehut untill the sun was going down and right into our eyes. And the misquitos were ravenous. Another trip is a must. I've ordered the Birding Washington book, so hopefully we won't loose so much time hunting locations. The Grays Harbor area could keep any birder busy for a week. This first?photo is of a Gotwit that seems to defy gravity. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2633/3993744040_edd92a3a7b_o.jpg This is to the rest of the Bar-tailed Gotwit series. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/sets/72157622419458835/detail/ Johnny Sasko Sandy, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091008/c7a186bf/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Thu Oct 8 17:34:33 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:34:33 -0400 Subject: [obol] sorry for misspelled Godwit as Gotwit Message-ID: <8CC168F6826EA5C-78AC-2581D@webmail-d026.sysops.aol.com> Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most. Johnny -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091008/07fdc4a0/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Thu Oct 8 18:40:27 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 18:40:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge one day auto closure Message-ID: <673624.3571.qm@web55105.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Please be aware of the following: 1) Saturday & Sunday (Oct 10 & 11) is BirdFest and Bluegrass - and more - in the community of Ridgefield, WA 2) Saturday, access to the "Auto Tour Route" on the River 'S' Unit will be by free tour bus ONLY. That's right, you can't drive on the River 'S' Unit that day. 3) According to the events schedule: "This is the first time guided tours will be the only access to River 'S' on Saturday the 10th. With BirdFest growing every year and approximately 4,000 visits during the weekend, the Auto Tour Route can be bumper to bumper during peak visitation." 4) See http://www.ridgefieldfriends.org/birdfest.html for more information Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores From galacres at comcast.net Thu Oct 8 20:17:03 2009 From: galacres at comcast.net (Patrick Gallagher) Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 20:17:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Finley Refuge, Oct. 8 Message-ID: Salem Audubon's field trip to Finley today was enjoyed by 12 people. After a delayed start due to fog (until about 10AM), we had a few highlights. - Black Phoebe at the new photo blind (on the north entrance road, before you reach the old farmstead) - Lewis' Woodpecker in the burned area that is 2/3rds of the distance from the old farmstead to Woodpecker Loop) One seen clearly, and one other possible in flight. Thanks to Molly Monroe for alerting us. - Wrentits (2) at the parking lot to Woodpecker Loop. - 90 elk, only cows and spikes, no bulls, viewed from the parking lot with the porta-potty by McFadden Marsh looking south. A very impressive sight. Patrick Gallagher Salem -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091008/9f560c1b/attachment.html From krallfamily at comcast.net Thu Oct 8 21:17:42 2009 From: krallfamily at comcast.net (kathykrall) Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 21:17:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] birding app for handheld devices Message-ID: <23EA7058-4CC7-442E-B7F0-EFF754A98B58@comcast.net> There's also the Peck bird information manager. It's free, but it requires the Palm operating system- I don't know if there is an iPhone version. http://download.cnet.com/Peck-bird-information-manager-application/3000-18495_4-145609.html Kathy and Mike Krall -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091008/847dc2ab/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Oct 9 01:32:32 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2009 08:32:32 +0000 Subject: [obol] New photo essay of scenery shots posted to BirdFellow Message-ID: Greetings All, I put together a photo essay comprised of scenery shots that I've taken during my birding travels over the past year or so. There are pictures from Oregon, Washington, California, and Baja. It can be viewed at www.birdfellow.com Dave Irons Content Editor BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222984/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091009/3d2d848c/attachment.html From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Fri Oct 9 10:05:39 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:05:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] 500th life bird! Message-ID: <4ACF6D63.2030001@gmail.com> FINALLY! After a full year of trying to get my 500th life bird from 492 I DID IT! And in grand style. A trip to Mexico and the "River of Raptors" in Cardel put me over the 500 mark with a Gray-bellied Martin. Now, I know that is not in the ABA area, but who cares. It is 500. Along with 75 MORE birds in the week I was there I now need 25 more to reach 600 lifers. Oh, well. Here we go again :-) . The trip was a wonder. Thousands (and I mean THOUSANDS) of Broad-winged Hawks and Black Vultures and a spattering of Snail, Swallow-tailed, Hooked-billed, and Mississippi Kites, Gray and Road-side, Zone-tailed Hawks, and a Bat Falcon filled out my list of raptors. The rest of the list of I think 89 life birds will follow when I write my dialog. The guides were super, the venue was terrific, the food scrumptious. The hotels?? Well, let's say they were, mmm, 'basic'. Motel 6 could do a better job of some of them, BUT there were standouts. The Mocombo in Veracruz City was a classic (though it needs a lot of repair as it hasn't been upgraded since it was built in the 50's). The Hotel Bienvenido in Cardel is being up-graded and NEEDS it. That is where the raptor count is centered. The Gan Hotel Dilgencias in Veracruz City is indeed grand, BUT the plumbing and air conditioning - well, it just sucks! The BEST of them all was the Posada del Cafeto in Xalapa. At first glance it is a 'hole-in-the-wall', but once you enter it is just what you would expect of a little Spanish Villa. Beautiful courtyard, well appointed rooms, good amenities, and plenty of HOT water. Now for the food. What can I say but WONDERFUL. Every place we went the food was well above par and in some cases just down-right GREAT! That coming from someone who must watch what I eat. More to come. Kevin Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091009/5d45f9e2/attachment.vcf From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Oct 9 10:24:12 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2009 10:24:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] BC Photos: Murphy's or Solander's Petrel? Message-ID: <9947401DDF894D7D9871F35F0FFC37BA@GREG> I received 3 photos of a dark Pterodroma off Tofino, BC, which I have hosted to my "photos by others" page. http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/_from_others It appears to have more wing flash, a larger bill, and a more pointed tail than I would expect for Murphy's Petrel. But so far, all my experience has been from other people's photos.... Comments solicited (and can someone to forward the photo link to ID Frontiers?). Thanks, Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com Greetings Greg, I don't think we have ever met but I know you are a seabird enthusiast. My brother had this bird on Tuesday 40 miles off Tofino BC. Originally he thought Murphy's Petrel but upon looking at the photos Solander's seems to fit better. Can you comment or do you know anyone that can help out here. The new Albatross, Petrels and shearwaters of the World book by Onley and Scofield would lead me to think Solander's but I have only seen Murphy's twice and never Solander's so I am no expert. Mike Force is thinking Solander's and I think it could be a potential 1st for North America? Hope you can help. Cheers! Rick Toochin Sooke, BC nubicus at shaw.ca From steve at paradisebirding.com Fri Oct 9 11:12:20 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2009 11:12:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sisters BTG warbler et al Message-ID: <9a341ea30910091112t3506c2daq56b5cc9dc98f1474@mail.gmail.com> All, I am a little late in reporting, but earlier this week (Monday) I had a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER mixed in with a flock of YELLOW-RUMPS at Cold Springs campground. Not a late date for the BTG by any means, but a bird I have not seen in a while. WINTER WRENS are scattered throughout the area now, and VARIED THRUSHES have moved into the lower elevations of the forest, with numerous small flocks seen along the 1028 rd in particular. Also, HERMIT THRUSHES, both KINGLETS, and EVENING GROSBEAKS are conspicuous between Sisters and the mixed-conifer forest. I am still finding most of our local WOODPECKERS; all but Red-naped Sapsucker and Lewis's, with THREE-TOES typically elusive and unpredictable. Last week in the GW burn (on the back side of the 1030), I found a mixed flock of actively feeding woodpeckers that included at least 10 BLACK-BACKS, 15 HAIRIES, a DOWNY, a WHITE-HEADED, and a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER; quite a scene! In general, BLACK-BACKS seem easy to find, with vocal birds found at many places in the Dry Creek and 6-mile Butte areas of the GW burn. The Cache Creek basin seems noticeable quieter, but I have not spent as much time there in the last couple weeks (I admit that I have not been around much recently, as I did spend some time in the St. Louis area, where I was tormented with Blue-winged, Golden-winged, Chestnut-sided, and Magnolia Warblers feeding side-by-side (-by-side-by-side?)). On the yard-bird front, I watched a flock of 112 PINYON JAYS fly over the house (east of Sisters) a couple days ago, and we had a HERMIT THRUSH earlier in the week. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and ROBINS dominate all corners of the property, with lesser numbers of GC SPARROWS, RC KINGLETS, and SOLITAIRES. In a very late but notable report, we actually had a WILLOW FLYCATCHER in the yard on August 29; this was definitely a first for the property. I was a bit in disbelief, but I was able to get diagnostic photos of the bird. Enjoy the fall, Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091009/da67d136/attachment.html From archmcc at qwest.net Fri Oct 9 14:45:50 2009 From: archmcc at qwest.net (Arch McCallum) Date: Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:45:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Rare Portland Bird on Oregon Field Guide In-Reply-To: <2D136873-0DC7-453B-A0DD-5E0765EF8A14@gmail.com> References: <0EFBC7C31DB4F24F8CAC48136A1762D7232F2B68E2@MAIL2.rose.portland.local> <2D136873-0DC7-453B-A0DD-5E0765EF8A14@gmail.com> Message-ID: <20091009214557.4F2901A980B@mpls-qmqp-01.inet.qwest.net> Hello All. Thanks to Shawneen for the headsup, and let me add a little to it. The Streaked Horned Lark is found all the way down to Eugene, and also in the Puget lowlands I believe, as well as on islands in the Columbia. Furthermore, I have it from a reliable source that OBOL contributor Randy Moore appears in this segment. My source also indicates that OFG did a nice job on the production and has some great footage of the bird. Don't miss it! Arch McCallum Eugene At 02:28 PM 10/6/2009, Shawneen Finnegan wrote: >A friend just told me about this upcoming show. If you are >interested in the plight of the Streaked Horned Lark, that is native >to Portland, tune to OPB on Sunday, October 18 at 6:30 PM and watch >Oregon Field Guide. > >Shawneen Finnegan >NW Portland > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091009/69339f8e/attachment.html From steve at paradisebirding.com Fri Oct 9 15:06:40 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2009 15:06:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Summer Lk Butter-butts Message-ID: <9a341ea30910091506k6fe3c886w82f7fbd4311305f2@mail.gmail.com> A friend just returned from Summer Lake, and she reports, among other things, thousands of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, pretty much scattered throughout the basin (as well as at Fort Rock), including the burn in the Fremont NF. Fun time of year! Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091009/2b1026ee/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Fri Oct 9 15:19:41 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2009 15:19:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Couple Backyard Birds-Silverton Message-ID: Once upon a time, I would see a very few backyard warblers in the fall but this year I have seen more than ever. Either getting better at finding them or just luckier. I sit near the veggie garden in a chair and watch the sun rise on some Alder trees I planted many years ago. "The Warbler Spot" with a cup of coffee and a pair of binoculars. (When it gets really good, you run for a camera.) BLACK THROATED GRAY WARBLER -1 (followed for 45 minutes this morning and even some non-blurry digital photos.) This is the 3rd one seen this fall in our backyard and the 1st male. RED BREASTED SAPSUCKER - 1 chipping at walnut tree above me and then moved to a Douglas Fir. Had very bright ORANGE CROWNED WARBLER out the kitchen window yesterday. Also a YELLOW RUMPED WARBLER on the back brushline. On the mammal front, coyotes came in last night and really created a fuss at 2 AM in the woodlot. Hope they missed the quail. Haven't seen any sign of them today. John Thomas NE Marion County From gneavoll at comcast.net Fri Oct 9 16:05:29 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2009 23:05:29 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Lincoln's Sparrows at Ridgefield Message-ID: <1962170112.2192961255129529523.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Two crisply plumaged LINCOLN'S SPARROWS in shrubbery by observation blind at Ridgefield NWR this a.m. (10/9/09). George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091009/5ee9ca07/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Fri Oct 9 16:14:26 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:14:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swamp Sparrow, Oak Island (Sauvie Island) Message-ID: <20091009231419.7D803A815B@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> While doing a point count this morning on Oak Island (Sauvie Island), I heard a loud "chip", frequently repeated, coming from the brush near me. Sounded kind of warbler-like but too loud. I had to wait for the 5 minute count period to end before I could investigate (i.e., start "pishing"). Managed to glimpse a dark sparrow with a pale throat patch lurking in the snowberry bushes. Thought perhaps it was a White-throated, but the call wasn't right. Had I been standing in a wetland, it wouldn't have been so hard to ID the call, and I'm pretty sure it was a SWAMP SPARROW. (The fact that I couldn't really see it supports that theory. :-) ) Didn't expect to find one in the dry brush under an oak woodland canopy. There were about 300 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS on Sturgeon Lake with one DUNLIN. (Yes, I tried to make it into a Stilt Sandpiper, but it just wouldn't show any of the marks.) Wink Gross Portland From whoffman at peak.org Fri Oct 9 18:55:53 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2009 18:55:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pelicans Message-ID: Over 1300 Brown Pelicans were at Haquina head around 4 PM this afternoon. Nearly half were at or near the Quarry Cove on the south side. a couple hundred were bathing in or just off the quarry mouth, and were accompanied by 400+ Heermann's Gulls Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091009/efd25f9d/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Fri Oct 9 20:45:13 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2009 20:45:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sept. Lincoln Co. Bird Notes Received Through 9/30 Message-ID: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BIRD FIELD NOTES from the September 2009 Sandpiper 30(7) for Observations Received Through 9/30 by Range Bayer The Sandpiper is a publication of Yaquina Birders and Naturalists, a Lincoln County (Oregon) natural history group. Comments in this column about abundance or seasonality refer to LINCOLN COUNTY only. There is room only for some of the many Lincoln County sightings to be included here of those sent to me or posted to the Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) or Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL) email discussion lists. If you have any Lincoln County field notes, please share them with Range (range.bayer at gmail.com; P.O. Box 1467, Newport, OR 97365; 541-265-2965) by the 20th of the month. Bird field notes columns in the Sandpiper since 1992 are at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations (numbers refer to the site number in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide (http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/): BEAVER CREEK (#78, in part): creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, BOILER BAY STATE WAYSIDE (#59): about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, HMSC (#75): OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of the HMSC, ONA BEACH (#77): State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, THORNTON CREEK: about midway between Toledo and Eddyville along HWY 20, YBNJ: Yaquina Bay North Jetty, YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty. WATERFOWL KB and SS independently glimpsed a mystery SWAN flying low and southward in the Ona Beach/Seal Rocks area the morning of 9/28. Perhaps it was a Tundra Swan, but they usually first appear in late Oct. or November (SemiL). Intriguingly, MP reports that 2 Mute Swans were on the Necanicum in Seaside (Clatsop Co.) the morning of 9/26 and gone that afternoon--both were flight capable. Our previous Mute Swan was at Alsea Bay in 1994 (FN). The first GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE migrated south over Toledo and Thornton Creek on 9/24 (CP; DF). Many were flying so high that they could be barely heard. During migration some often drop out and rest, and a single juvenile white-front was "poking around in the wildflower patch near the kiosk in the HMSC Visitor Center parking area" on 9/26 (JL). In the darkness on 9/27 & 28 over the HMSC, geese were indistinctly heard and could have been white-fronts or CACKLING GEESE (RB). A lone Cackler, probably a dropout from migration, was swimming in the Siletz River near Siletz on 9/25 (PK). BLACK SCOTERS are regulars throughout much of the year at favored locations along the coast. One of those sites is north of Yaquina Head. On 9/5, CL wrote "This is the first day that I've noticed that the Black Scoters are back in the Surf Scoter flock that winters a mile north of Yaquina Head." Our only HARLEQUIN DUCKS were 7 at Seal Rocks during the 9/19 YBNFT (LO). [Image Not Included: Roy Lowe's April 20 photo of a first-year (top left) and two adult Gr. White-fronted Geese flying low over Idaho Flats. It can be seen why hunters call adults "speckle-bellies" or "specks." The speckling pattern looks to differ between adults, though this may only be useful to distinguish individuals if there were a few birds (e.g., a mated pair). The immature does not have a speckled belly.] TUBENOSES-RAPTORS The 9/12 Bird Guide pelagic trip (BGPT) went from Newport to 30 miles west of Depoe Bay to the American Dynasty hake fishing fleet. They found a variety of tubenoses, including 120 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, 1 LAYSAN ALBATROSS, 135 NORTHERN FULMARS, 650 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, 500 SOOTY SHEARWATERS, 1 BULLER'S SHEARWATER, 1 rare MANX SHEARWATER, and 550 FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS. From shore, SOOTY SHEARWATERS were noted from the YBSJ and Yaquina Head on 9/4 (A&CH & ES) and from Boiler Bay on 9/20 & 26 (WH) -- "1000s were feeding on surface baitfish approximately 100 yards SW of the end of the YBSJ" on 9/13 (D & AH). WH also saw 4 Buller's and 2 Pink-footed Shearwaters at Boiler Bay on 9/26. Our only BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was calling over the HMSC on 9/27 & 30 (RB). SQUAWKER, the GREAT BLUE HERON that nearly continuously calls while flying was heard by several birders at Idaho Flats while they were searching for a Hudsonian Godwit in early Sept. (CP; JL; LO) and at the HMSC on 9/9 (RB). A WILD TURKEY surprised PR along North Yaquina Bay Road west of River Bend Moorage on August 5! Our previous report was in Dec. 2006 at Hidden Valley, less than a mile to the east as the crow flies. But there is some uncertainty in identifying Wild Turkeys here as wild or not, since the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife has mostly released turkeys of the Rio Grande subspecies that can also be purchased from turkey breeders and escape or be released (see management plan at www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/management_plans/wild_turkey/). Our only grouse was a dead RUFFED GROUSE in BBe's and CL's Newport backyard on 9/25. Odd to have one there, but tis the season for wandering! A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK remained at the HMSC on 9/12 & 30 (RN & TS; JL; RL). On 9/30, one was also at Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge (SG) and on wires near Beaver Creek (RL). MERLINS were the most-reported falcon this month. HH spotted a Merlin over Idaho Flats on 9/13, JSh & RB witnessed one scoot past them as they were standing near the HMSC Visitor Center Parking Lot on 9/20, and RB saw another fly by his SW Newport apartment on 9/14, 22, & 27. A PEREGRINE FALCON was at Siletz Bay 9/14 (ME) and perched on the dead alder along the HMSC Nature Trail on 9/28 (JL). We had no kestrels. SHOREBIRDS 1 SNOWY PLOVER was near a Newport beach on 9/12 (DB & AM). Since 1999, this is only our 4th record--all were singletons and occurred in June (1), Aug. (1), or Sept. (2); each was a different location (FN). A juvenile PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER visited Idaho Flats on 9/10 (MP); and a Golden-Plover not identified to species was near the YBNJ on 9/12 (DB & AM). A WANDERING TATTLER foraged at YBSJ on 9/13 (D&AH) and Seal Rocks for the 9/19 YBNFT (LO). The biggest news this month was the discovery by A&CH & ES of two juvenile, rare HUDSONIAN GODWITS and 3 MARBLED GODWITS. As a result of their prompt reporting and the Hudsonian's cooperation, many Oregon birders were able to see them. The resulting increased observation effort resulted in many other uncommon birds being discovered. DI identified the Hudsonian's as a juvenile male and a juvenile female that was larger and with a longer bill. The 2 Hudsonian's were noted together through 9/9, and thereafter just one was found until the last reports on 9/17 (ME; JL) and 9/18 (D&AH). This is the third record for Lincoln Co. (SemiL; FN), but the only one confirmed with photos. A RUDDY TURNSTONE was identified at Idaho Flats on 9/7 (RM; LO; SN). RN discovered 2 RED KNOTS near Cutler City (Lincoln City) on 9/13. Knots were last reported on May 21. A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was near the YBNJ on 9/12 (DB & AM). Several were also in lower Beaver Creek during the 9/19 YBNFT, along with 4 WILSON'S SNIPE (LO). The snipe were our first of the season. [Image Not Included: Roy Lowe's Sept. 5 photo of a juvenile Hudsonian Godwit stretching a wing out. In so doing, it reveals a wing pattern and rump and tail coloration that distinguishes it.] [Image Not Included: Roy Lowe's Sept. 5 photo of a juvenile Hudsonian Godwit standing in front of a larger Marbled Godwit. Note that the Marbled Godwit's bill alone appears longer than the Hudsonian's head and bill together. Also note that one could hastily glimpse these birds and mistakenly assume that they are all the same species. It takes patience to note differences!] From shore, 1-30 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were noted on 9/4 at Yaquina Head (A&CH & ES), 9/12 at Lincoln City Sewage Ponds (RN), and 9/14 at Siletz Bay (ME). Offshore, 75 RED PHALAROPES and 350 Red-necks were tallied during the 9/12 BGPT. SKUAS-MARTINS The 9/12 BGPT detected 5-15 SOUTH POLAR SKUAS, POMARINE JAEGERS, PARASITIC JAEGERS, and LONG-TAILED JAEGERS. An apparently weakened or injured PARASITIC JAEGER was at Idaho Flats and near the YBNJ on 9/12 (K, K&JF; HS; DB & AM). Offshore, the 9/12 BGPT found 10 SABINE'S GULLS and 2 COMMON TERNS. Neither species was observed from shore this month. JSi & MA discovered an uncommon FORSTER'S TERN at Idaho Flats on 9/6. This is only our 7th record since 1992--all were singletons except one record of 2 in 1993 (FN). I suspect that they are more frequent than our records indicate but may be misidentified as Common or Arctic terns or overlooked. 3-4 MARBLED MURRELETS were appreciated in the water north of Seal Rocks on 9/5 (KB), 25 were tallied during the 9/12 BGPT, and 7-9 were at Boiler Bay on 9/20 & 26 (WH). Unusually, 2 were also in the channel between the Yaquina Bay jetties near the car turnaround (end of the road for most vehicles) on 9/6 (JSi & MA), an uncommon record of them inside of an estuary. From shore, 2 CASSIN'S AUKLETS visited Yaquina Head on 9/4 (A&CH & ES) and, offshore, 600 Cassin's and 850 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS were numerous during the 9/12 BGPT. The BGPT also found 2 rare SCRIPPS'S race of XANTUS'S MURRELETS! BARRED OWLS were calling at north Beaver Creek on 9/7 & 20 (LO), and a PILEATED WOODPECKER graced Siletz on 9/11 (PK). On 9/6, JSi & MA listened to a calling BLACK PHOEBE on an old post south of where SE 35th Street meets the southwest corner of Idaho Flats. Since 1992, this is only our 8th or 9th onshore record--additionally, a halibut-fishing RL found one 15-16 miles offshore of Newport on 2 June 2007 (FN). We only had 2 records prior to 1993 (SemiL), so it appears that they have become slightly more regular than they used to be, but they are still uncommon to rare here. An uncommon late juvenile WESTERN KINGBIRD was at the Yachats Community Park on 9/5-6 (DI; JSi & MA). EH garners our latest PURPLE MARTIN of the season at South Beach on 9/8. MOUNTAIN ASH & CASCAREA BERRIES On 9/1-2 at his South Beach home, WH noted birds of the following species partaking of his Mountain Ash berries: American Robin, Swainson's Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, Black-headed Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeak, Western Tanager, Northern Flicker, and Wrentit. "I watched a Wrentit pick a fruit with its bill, then hold it under its foot and bite chunks out of it." Mountain Ash fruits on his tree are usually devoured by mid-September. At his north Beaver Creek home on 9/6, LO wrote that the "black berries of our Cascara trees are very popular with robins, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Swainson's Thrushes, and Steller's Jays." CREEPER-MEADOWLARK On 9/6, VO saw 2 BROWN CREEPERS at an alder at their north Beaver Creek home. [Image Not Included: Kitty Brigham's Sept. 2 photo of a juvenile Bushtit on an alder branch with an alder leaf background north of Seal Rocks. Its gray color hints why one of the subspecies was called Lead-colored Bushtit.] On 9/1, DF wrote about his experience at Thornton Creek: "I was out a little before six this morning, and the vocalizations of SWAINSON'S THRUSHES filled the sky from horizon to horizon, so many in number it was impossible to even think of counting them. It will likely be the same way each morning for a couple more weeks. Here on Thornton Creek I usually begin hearing the thrushes overhead in mid-August, and continue to hear them until around the tenth of October. However, the movement peaks in early to mid-September, so now is the time to take in what I consider to be one of Oregon's great birding experiences." 1-2 AMERICAN PIPIT fed along the grass line on the slope of the bluff near beach between Beaver Creek and Surfland in South Beach on 9/14 & 9/22 (BLo; L&VO). A FOX SPARROW arrived at CP's Toledo home on 9/14 and sang for at least 3 days in a row. On 9/30, a LAPLAND LONGSPUR was in a grassy area about a mile east of Mooloch Beach, north of Yaquina Head (CP) and at Boiler Bay (SG). Also on 9/30, JL had 3 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS "perched on a bush top outside my office window at the HMSC, trying out a few flute-like notes." Correction. In the August Sandpiper, I mistakenly listed the date of the Bird Guide Pelagic Trip as Aug. 13--it was on Aug. 8. OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Mark Aron, Daniel Battaglia, Range Bayer, Bob Berman (BBe), Kitty Brigham, CoastWatch (a volunteer project monitoring one-mile segments of the Oregon coast; http://oregonshores.org/coastwatch.php5), Mark Elliott, Karl, Karan, and Jim Fairchild; Darrel Faxon (see some of DF's bird records and his articles at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#thornton_creek and http://www.oregoncoasttoday.com/fieldguide.html), Steve Gordon, Bird Guide Pelagic Trip out of Newport (BGPT; info about pelagic trips, http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/), Dan & Anne Heyerly, Hendrik Herlyn, Adrian and Christopher Hinkle, Wayne Hoffman, Eric Horvath, David Irons, Penelope Kaczmarek, Janet Lamberson, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Cindy Lippincott, Bob Loeffel (BLo), Roy Lowe, Richard Messenger, Ariel Muldoon, Russ Namitz, Steve Nord, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent), Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Mike Patterson, Chuck Philo, Paul Reed, Em Scattaregia, Harv Schubothe, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive at OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Tim Shelmerdine, Joline Shroyer (JSh), Jamie Simmons (JSi), Stacy Strickland, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (http://ybn.yaquina.info/ YBNFT Field Trip led by LO). -- Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Sat Oct 10 01:50:01 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:50:01 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Larger Flocks of Taverner's Geese Arrive in Eugene Area In-Reply-To: <1992684793.43111255162366828.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1805230323.43791255164601700.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> At sunset Friday, two flocks of Taverner's Geese, total ing about 140 birds, came overhead, flying towards the Willamette River, upstream from Clearwater P ark, where many geese go to drink and get some gravel for their gizzards. These were the first larger flocks I've seen this Fall. I could spot none of the smaller ?B. h . minima with them. The two subspecies may have to separately return to the area, before individual B. h . minima start mingling with the flocks of B. h . tavernii. I can't recall ever seeing any individual B. h . tavernii flying with flocks of B. h . minima , however.? The short HD video of them is here:? http://www.vimeo.com/6993884 ? Hopefully, much better videos of both subspecies will be forthcoming in the next month. This raises the question again, about what is the correct common name of B. h . minima, if you want to distinguish them from the other? B.?hutchinsii subspecies? Their common name was previously Cackling Goose, when they were all in the B. canadensis species. Now, all three B.?hutchinsii subspecies that come to O regon, including the Aleutian Geese, are Cackling Geese. In general usage, t wo of them retain the old common names that allow for clearly separate identities, ?but if you use the "Cackling Goose" name for B. h . ?minima, you could be referring to any or all of the subspecies. I'm tired of having to write out "B. h . minima" and "B. h . tavernii", when I want to mention certain subspecies. And I'm not going to say, "Cackling C ackling Goose", either. I made a mistake several day s ago, when I called them "B. m. m inima", but I'll bet that few people noticed. Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091010/0657cd4d/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Oct 10 08:23:20 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:23:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seeking update on WA Bartailed and Sharp-tailed Message-ID: <03CE15F40522462B9075F0C6482A9DA1@cgatesPC> If anyone hears any news about the Bar-tailed Godwit or the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in Washington, would you please be so kind as to forward that information to me? Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091010/1e64bdf4/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Oct 10 10:12:16 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:12:16 +0000 Subject: [obol] Current status of Grasshopper Sparrow in the Meford area??? Message-ID: Greetings All, I'm working on an NAB report and trying to quantify a report of a single Grasshopper Sparrow near Medford last June. BOGR discusses a persistent colony (since 1987) in the Rogue Valley, but I can't recall recent reports (aside from this one) from that area. If someone might shed light on the current status and location (relative to Medford) of this colony, your North American Bird Regional Editor would be most appreciative. Thanks, Dave Irons _________________________________________________________________ Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222985/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091010/2f5f025a/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Oct 10 16:50:57 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:50:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane coast birds Message-ID: I spent most of today in coastal Lane Co. Highlights were first of season NORTHERN shrike (right on time) at crab dock flats, juv. RED-sh Hawk along s jetty Rd and a remarkably orange and clearly non-local SONG Sparrow at the little sump by the rockpile at the s jetty gravel flats. I'll post pics of it later. Shorebirds were essentially nil. I ran into Bill and Zanah Stotz with El Stotzgruppen du jour birding at the crab dock flats, and the total shorebird tally was one Black-belly escorted by one Dunlin. Dogpond was empty. Heavy movements of robins were apparent all along the coast, with some apparent recent arrivals perched out in the dune grass in small flocks. Numbers of RC Kinglet and Myrtle warb definitely up from last weekend. Small groups of DC Corms southbound. About 60 BROWN Pelicans roosting at Heceta Head, with smaller flocks at all other coastal sites. All three loons, incl a breeding-plumage Pacific, on the water at Klootchman wayside. Small numbers of Mew Gulls are in. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Sat Oct 10 17:05:28 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:05:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Goshawk Message-ID: <105462.95237.qm@web39702.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello, Discovered an imm. male goshawk eating one of my pigeons this AM. Best, Dick 15 mi. south of Burns From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Oct 10 18:52:58 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:52:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Song Sparrows Message-ID: I put two Song Sparrow photos from Florence today onto my blog site. They lost some of the orange color in conversion to jpeg for posting, but still show some. I'd be interested to know where this bird came from. I think it is a Rocky Mtn one (M. m. montana). Similar to one I photographed in Umatilla Co. in January 2008. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From danpvdb at yahoo.com Sat Oct 10 19:13:41 2009 From: danpvdb at yahoo.com (Dan van den Broek) Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:13:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Palm Warbler--Marine Science Center Newport In-Reply-To: <1805230323.43791255164601700.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> References: <1805230323.43791255164601700.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <926213.95434.qm@web55301.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Hi All Portland Audubon's School of Birding spent the day on the Central Oregon Coast. At about 1p.m. today we had 1 Palm Warbler on the Nature Trail behind the Marine Science Center. It was seen in a small Sitka Spruce on the east side of the trail. We followed the Palm Warbler to some willows but lost track of it after it flew to some small trees to the north. Dan van den Broek -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091010/85e91805/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sat Oct 10 19:16:41 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:16:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Greater White-fronted Geese at the Yaquina Bay South Jetty Message-ID: Yesterday (Oct. 9) at 5 PM I found a single juv. White-fronted Goose at the "Gull Roost" area half way out the paved road. At 8:45 this morning several dogs were in the area and I saw it (? - one juv. goose) fly along the jetty in the area and apparently perch on the rocks. This evening at 4 PM the area had a group of 10. One was an adult and 9 were juveniles. I think this is too many to likely be one family? The black belly markings on the adult were so extensive that they had coalesced into one big blob with irregular margins. So it was more of a "Black-bellied Goose" than a "Speckle-bellied Goose". They were grazing in the short grass at the edge of the jetty rocks, and were letting vehicles approach within 30 feet, and pedestrians within 50 feet. No dogs were around, but I doubt they would be as tolerant. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091010/bf671f75/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sat Oct 10 19:45:12 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:45:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Calliope Crossing Clean-up - OFO sponsored site. Message-ID: <74A9E488F71C4404B4F6E620AB7157AD@MOM> Birders Eight hardy souls braved the cold and cleaned up around Calliope Crossing . Early am, we did hear a different bird that was being pestered by Robins and Solitaires but did not see it and did not hear that sound again. We did not find the Eastern Phoebe, reported from Monday this week. Those two sentences are related. Birders might be happy to hear that another makeshift crossing has been installed over the water flowing from the work of the beavers. Kim Kathol spotted a perfect footbridge and the heavy lifters put it in place. See how long that one lasts. Volunteers today were Mike Golden, Cindy Zalunardo, Kim Kathol, Mary Yanalcanlin, Jake Schas, John and Ann Gerke, and self. Thanks to Jake who was willing to do the other heavy lifting and haul away the discarded bed frame and springs. Might try this in spring next year, very cold a.m. there today. Bird list below today's date, Calliope. http://birdnotes.net I could have missed some birds, we were split up while working and warm hats covered our ears. Unidentified Accipiter Red-tailed Hawk Hairy Woodpecker White-headed Woodpecker Northern Flicker Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Common Raven Mountain Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Ruby-crowned Kinglet Townsend's Solitaire American Robin Varied Thrush European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red Crossbill Total number of species seen: 21 Good clean birding, Judy jmeredit at bendnet.com From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Sat Oct 10 20:24:25 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:24:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Road to the Steens In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <0BE1C7CF80A34C2F92E9AEC5BFC13FEF@KimPC> I was up on the Steen's on Sept.. 25 and did a lot of looking but found no Black Rosy-Finches. The road going up from Page Springs was VERRRRRY wash boardy. We did not go down the south side of the loop. Kim Boddie Bend From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sat Oct 10 21:44:46 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:44:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pipits, Yamhill Co Message-ID: <10E98A7D1DC744ABB8747A90E61086BF@yourw5st28y9a3> I was watching some Western Bluebirds on Morelli Ln, off Hwy 240, outside Yamhill this morning when I saw 3 American Pipits. There may have been more, but these presented themselves for good viewing. Pamela Johnston From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Sat Oct 10 22:01:49 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (Tom McNamara) Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:01:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Smith & Bybee Eagle(Mult.) this afternoon Message-ID: Took a fairly quick look around at Bybee Lake today.....nothing exceptional inre species present---90+ LB dowitchers, ~6 Ring-billed gulls, 4 Gr. yellowlegs, a single Gr. Egret and a mix of ducks and geese. In the duck mix were N. shoverlers, mallards, wigeon and GW teal. Most of the hundreds of geese were Cacklers--minima with a few bigger Canadas about. I got distracted a bit with a small chickadee flock and the possibilities of exotic accompaniment when I heard a rising roar of Cacklers as the hundreds lifted off. Looking for what spooked them, I got my binos on an adult bald eagle coming in from the N and then decided to locate him in my scope the better to see what ensued......owing to depth perception issues I could not judge whether he was going to try to nail one of the (lower) geese on the wing (that would be wild I thought)...or what. Drama. Real life-- and possible death unfolding, all that stuff. As I watched, he spiraled down in fairly tight gyres and then, with exquisite timing, just plucked a female GW teal off the surface of the lake. I could hardly believe the leisurely quality of the attack, it was like a person taking a pretzel from a bowl. Either a very experienced hunter, a very inexperienced former teal or the coincident nexus of the two in time/space. After that, checked out a couple of the sparsely vegetated lots off Marine Dr. Nada. good birding, Tom _________________________________________________________________ Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222985/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091010/d8221304/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Sun Oct 11 00:11:14 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 03:11:14 EDT Subject: [obol] Spencer Butte Owls Message-ID: Hello All, I biked up to Spencer Butte in South Eugene tonight to see if I could find some owls. I arrived at the Ridgeline Trail and Fox Hollow Road at 6:45 and starting hiking towards the summit. At 7:20, just below the small meadow at the intersection with the trail that leads down to the Willamette Street parking lot, 1/2 mile below the summit, a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL responded to my whistling. Since I had already gone that far, I continued on to the summit. It was too windy to hear anything from up there and was a little tricky coming down in the dark. About 1/4 mile down from the summit, I was treated to a calling NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL. As I was nearing Fox Hollow Road on my way out, an unsolicited BARRED OWL started calling. I was sure it was a bird at the Cascades Raptor Center. I called back to it, but it continued to call from the same location. Out on the road, while loading up my gear on the bike, two BARRED OWLS began to duet from further down the road away from the Raptor Center. A third BARRED OWL began to call directly in front of me from high in the fir trees near the Raptor Center entrance. A poor imitation with my voice caused the Owl fly across the road and start calling from right behind me. Good "Green" Owling, John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091011/d216c15e/attachment.html From tshelmerdine at yahoo.com Sun Oct 11 00:57:39 2009 From: tshelmerdine at yahoo.com (Tim Shelmerdine) Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:57:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coastal Birds, Sat., 10/10 (and Sun., 10/4) Message-ID: <391208.6863.qm@web62107.mail.re1.yahoo.com> I had a nice morning birding the north coast on Saturday.? I started at Ft. Stevens, where I found nothing unusual in the trees between parking lots C and D or along some of the bike paths.? Still, I enjoyed nice comparisons of Hutton's Vireos and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, had about five Townsend's Warblers (never found any numbers of Yellow-rumps) and my first of season Hermit Thrush.? I had a little better luck at Nehalem Meadows in Tillamook County.? In the pasture across the road from the Nehalem Sewage Ponds were 67 WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, a handful of Cackling Geese and some of the large Canadas.? I saw and heard a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK?near the ponds and also had a distant WHITE-TAILED KITE.? All in all, it was just a nice day to be out.? Also. on the late side because I had not planned to report it, last Sunday morning, October 4, a BLACK PHOEBE was in Newport, next to where the culvert from the pond next to the aquarium empties into the bay.? The bird could be seen from the Nature Path that starts (or ends) at the Marine Science Center.? Cheers, Tim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091011/e7578fe3/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Sun Oct 11 10:41:09 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:41:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] White-Throated Sparrow-Silverton Message-ID: Just spotted a tan morph WHITE THROATED SPARROW in our feeder area. Seems very early for one to show up here. John Thomas From tanager at nu-world.com Sun Oct 11 12:21:04 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 12:21:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane County - Fern Ridge - Sunday 10/11/2009: AMERICAN TREE SPARROW Message-ID: <000501ca4aa7$fa694fc0$ef3bef40$@com> 12:15pm 10/11/2009 Dave Irons just called to report that he and Diane Petty are looking at an Am. Tree Sparrow near the observation deck SW of the end of Royal Ave. west of Eugene. Specifically the bird is in the willows at the SW edge of the small pond that lies on the east side of the dike to the east of the observation deck. This pond is ringed by large Cottonwoods, Willows, etc. This is the pond that had the Waterthrush a few years back. Dan Heyerly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091011/49b9d52b/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Oct 11 14:45:48 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:45:48 +0000 Subject: [obol] Lane County - Fern Ridge - Sunday 10/11/2009: AMERICAN TREE SPARROW In-Reply-To: <000501ca4aa7$fa694fc0$ef3bef40$@com> References: <000501ca4aa7$fa694fc0$ef3bef40$@com> Message-ID: Greetings All, When I called Dan Heyerly to tell him about the Am. Tree Sparrow, I neglected to tell him that Diane and I had a Lewis's Woodpecker fly over the oak woodlot just w. of three-way intersection at Royal Ave. and Fisher Rd. (1/2 mile e. of the parking area at the end of Royal Ave). We also had a Sandhill Crane circling overhead at the end of Royal. Assorted shorebirds included: Greater Yellowlegs -- 1 Lesser Yellowlegs -- 6 Western Sandpiper --20 Least Sandpiper -- 6+ Pectoral Sandpiper -- 12 (on the expanse of mud north of road out to the edge of the reservoir). Long-billed Dowitcher -- 400+ (probably a lot more) were in the main pond wsw. of the observation platform. All were flushed by an adult male Peregrine Falcon that strafed the pond. In addition to the American Tree Sparrow, we encountered a couple of Common Yellowthroats, a couple of Lincoln's Sparrows, and a large (200+ birds) flock of American Pipits out on the mud n. of the road. Dave Irons _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091011/13ed47ab/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Sun Oct 11 15:27:09 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:27:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] NW Portland Swainson's Thrush Message-ID: <01194FA4-5A13-48C6-ABB7-A6ADD0AFC922@gmail.com> In my 'hood I had a SWAINSON'S THRUSH calling about 15 minutes ago. It was in vegetation at a corner lot at NW 29th and NW Quimby along with many robins and Cedar Waxwings feeding in the fruiting trees there. About a block from my house coming to a neighbor's feeder was a leucistic Black-capped Chickadee that I saw at my feeders months and months ago. Its back is mostly pure white. Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland From sandycab1 at comcast.net Sun Oct 11 16:32:33 2009 From: sandycab1 at comcast.net (Sandy Cabraser) Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:32:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wood ducks at Delta Ponds Eugene Message-ID: <20091011232626.44E90A815D@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Hi obolers, On 10/3/09 there were wood ducks at Delta Ponds, in Eugene. A large branch had washed into a shallow area providing a more open space for them to perch and made it easier to see them. At least 3 pairs were seen around 4:30 PM. Anyone interested in seeing photos may go to this link:http://picasaweb.google.com/sandy1199ster/200910031WoodDuckHeron# Sandy Cabraser Eugene, OR. From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Sun Oct 11 16:42:05 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:42:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Golden Plover Message-ID: <2b1bbd260910111642xd1ac496tc8874ad6c94979f7@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Vjera Thompson called from Royal Ave. at 4:30 this afternoon. She found a GOLDEN PLOVER associated with 6 BLACK-BELLIES at the end of Royal Ave. She was just east of the first Osprey pole, north of Royal Ave. She was not positive, but her description sounds good for AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091011/b62cd5b1/attachment.html From ed.mcvicker at comcast.net Sun Oct 11 17:25:58 2009 From: ed.mcvicker at comcast.net (Ed McVicker) Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:25:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] NW Portland Swainson's Thrush In-Reply-To: <01194FA4-5A13-48C6-ABB7-A6ADD0AFC922@gmail.com> References: <01194FA4-5A13-48C6-ABB7-A6ADD0AFC922@gmail.com> Message-ID: <4AD27796.6080700@comcast.net> i had one in my garden in SW Portland this afternoon, too. ed mcvicker portland Shawneen Finnegan wrote: > In my 'hood I had a SWAINSON'S THRUSH calling about 15 minutes ago. > > > Shawneen Finnegan > NW Portland > From 5hats at peak.org Sun Oct 11 17:55:14 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:55:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] NW Portland Swainson's Thrush References: <01194FA4-5A13-48C6-ABB7-A6ADD0AFC922@gmail.com> <4AD27796.6080700@comcast.net> Message-ID: <793959F8C13D4F54AF70A8C8E4BF63E0@your5rlp3a9516> Latest record I have of them at Thornton Creek ( Lincoln) is October 23. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ed McVicker" To: "OBOL" Sent: Sunday, October 11, 2009 5:25 PM Subject: Re: [obol] NW Portland Swainson's Thrush >i had one in my garden in SW Portland this afternoon, too. > > ed mcvicker > portland > > Shawneen Finnegan wrote: >> In my 'hood I had a SWAINSON'S THRUSH calling about 15 minutes ago. >> >> >> Shawneen Finnegan >> NW Portland >> > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dbagues at earthlink.net Sun Oct 11 18:14:03 2009 From: dbagues at earthlink.net (=?iso-8859-1?Q?Diane_Bag=FC=E9s?=) Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:14:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birding Apps for Handheld Devices References: <70C1FD509DFE46829BEEF85A913B6058@desktop> Message-ID: <031874FA8CAC4816AC56C6D07E21CF7A@desktop> Thanks for the input. I ended up getting ibird Explorer Pro. It is easy to search and seems pretty comparable to my Thayer's program except for Thayer's wonderful virtue of showing two birds on the same screen, which permits easier comparison. I also got a pretty cool game--bird jamTwitch--to help me improve my ID skills. The NGS program, from what I read, isn't easily searchable and seems not ready for prime time. There also seems to be a good set of programs at birdJam that could really help in learning vocalizations, but that will have to wait for now. Diane ----- Original Message ----- From: Diane Bag??s To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: 10/06/2009 5:55 PM Subject: [obol] Birding Apps for Handheld Devices A couple of years ago I saw a birding app for handheld devices demonstrated at the Verde Valley Birding Festival in Arizona. Can someone tell me what it was I saw, what it runs on, and whether it's any good? How does it compare with a desktop program such as Thayer's? Thank you. Diane Bagues San Leandro, California dbagues at earthlink.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091011/7ed54b38/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun Oct 11 18:42:30 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:42:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry Birds 10/10-10/11/2009 Message-ID: <730628.94460.qm@web45316.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I took a camping/hiking/birding trip the past couple of days, here are the highlights: Mt. Bolivar, area, SE Coos Co, the highest point in the county, Saturday morning: No Mt. Chickadees or nutcrackers this fall, but while on the peak I heard an interesting finch sing a couple times which I think was a CASSIN'S FINCH. ?There is only one county record from a CBC over 30 yrs. ago, so I'm a little careful about the sighting. ?I heard it off the east side of the peak and it was blowing real hard, by the time I got down to where I heard it and played a tape I didn't get any response? ?Lots of Pine Siskins and crossbills though. ?No Townsend's Solitaires anywhere to be found which I think is the only possible bird I could have confused the partial songs with. The real surprise was a flyover, calling LAPLAND LONGSPUR (at 4300 feet!). On Sunday morning I started birding early in Curry County in Brookings but the thick fog, cool temps, and wind really stifled things. I could only come up with a single OC Warbler for all my work. I did find the Chetco Point trail though, very cool! The fog persisted all the way to Port Orford and finally cleared up in Coos County. Anyhow, in Pistol River I found another OC Warbler and a N. MOCKINGBIRD. Pack in Coos late PM on the north spit there were 7 EARED GREBES. That's it- fun weekend with wet weather to hit soon,ENJOY! Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091011/72f84d15/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Oct 11 19:14:59 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:14:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Big Sit at Seaside Cove Message-ID: <4AD29123.4060809@pacifier.com> Steve Warner and I put in about 6 hours atop the restrooms at Seltzer Park, overlooking the Seaside Cove. The weather was cold, but mostly sunny with a nearly flat ocean to watch. We managed 54 species which is about average for the event. Notable species include: HARLEQUIN DUCK CLARK'S GREBE plenty of BROWN PELICANS plenty of HEERMANN'S GULLS BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE POMARINE JAEGER MARBLED MURRELET RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER The Big Sit Website is refusing my login information, so I may not get to compete for the big prizes and bragging rights and stuff. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From Kcparkton1 at aol.com Sun Oct 11 20:19:04 2009 From: Kcparkton1 at aol.com (Kcparkton1 at aol.com) Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:19:04 EDT Subject: [obol] Bald Eagles at Finley WIldlife Refuge Message-ID: At around 10 am today me and my wife were walk north from the Mcfadden's Marsh blind heading through the field when just before we got to the upper most part of the marsh we spotted a bald eagle perched in one of the dead snags. When we started moving closer the eagle flew off and up circling. When we reached the north road about 5-10 min later we spotted another one sitting in a snag. I was able to move around through the brush and get these shots. _http://www.flickr.com/photos/35913342 at N04/_ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35913342 at N04/) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091011/e3409020/attachment.html From woodenapple at juno.com Sun Oct 11 20:57:07 2009 From: woodenapple at juno.com (woodenapple at juno.com) Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:57:07 GMT Subject: [obol] Obol:N. Eugene Slate-colored Junco Message-ID: <20091011.205707.23156.0@webmail11.vgs.untd.com> Even though our winter sparrow/junco flock is just starting to trickle in, a SLATE-COLORED JUNCO showed up already this morning (Sunday) in our N. Santa Clara-area backyard. We usually host one or two in the winter. Rudi ____________________________________________________________ House Rescue Bill Passed $133,000 mortgage under $679/mo. Compare rates and save! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=HVrZ5XV4rcczJLOZh0InDgAAJ1AHcaoQFB_Xw2ggvz9-JEKpAAQAAAAFAAAAAE4JnT4AAAMlAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaTcQAAAAA= From vagabondbirder at yahoo.com Sun Oct 11 21:34:39 2009 From: vagabondbirder at yahoo.com (Richard Messenger) Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:34:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] remove from listserv Message-ID: <355120.22573.qm@web59006.mail.re1.yahoo.com> As I am in Tucson for the winter please remove me from from the Oregon List Serve.? It was my great privilege to get to know many of the fine Or. birders last summer.? Should I find myself back in Or.next summer I will reinstate my List Serve membership,?? If any additional correspondence is required? for List Serve removal please notify me.? ? Best wishes for a great winter of birding ? Richard Messenger? The Vagabond Birder Wherever the RV is parked -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091011/13d8f91c/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Mon Oct 12 06:19:34 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:19:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] N. Mockingbird at Nehalem - 10 Oct. Message-ID: <000601ca4b3e$ad148860$3700a8c0@windypoint99> OBOL, We found a N. MOCKINGBIRD .10 mile south of the entrance to the Nehalem Sewage Treatment Plant Saturday. It was in brambles to the west of Tidelands Road just a few yards of a large blue plastic watering tank. In the fields east of the road in this area were several White-tailed Kites. There were a couple more White-tailed Kites just north of Tillamook along US-101. Along Tidelands Road were 60 Gr. White-fronted Geese. A few Cackling Geese were in with the Canadas. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA steppie at nwinfo.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091012/0ad3d10f/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon Oct 12 06:55:39 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:55:39 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Winter Birds Message-ID: <1628900048.2617331255355738166.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Many of the Juncos and House Finches that winter in my garden showed up in the morning Sunday, October 11. There's been a stiff, cool east breeze funneling through the Columbia River Gorge for a few days. The garden feeding flock is forming, there were Juncos, House Finches, Chickadees, Song Sparrows, Bewick's Wrens and Anna's Hummingbirds. Its a little hard to get numbers with the leaves still on the trees and shrubs. I worked in the Zimmerman Heritage Farm garden on Saturday. There are still 30 or 40 Cedar Waxwings around, lots of finches in the flower patch (we grew Cosmos for them) and some large sparrows making sounds from the cover of the roses and blackberries (probably the Golden-Crowned flock that winters on the grounds). I had lots of gardening to do so I didn't get to watch and follow sounds to the birds as I would have liked to. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091012/ee4458ae/attachment.html From vireogirl at yahoo.com Mon Oct 12 08:52:45 2009 From: vireogirl at yahoo.com (Vjera Thompson) Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:52:45 +0000 (GMT) Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Message-ID: <308269.40290.qm@web56304.mail.re3.yahoo.com> OBOLers, Thanks to Daniel for posting my GOLDEN PLOVER yesterday. After reviewing my shorebird book, I still think it fits best with AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. It was a ways out on the mudflat and the wind kept the scope nice and jittery, not perfect viewing conditions. I tried for the Tree Sparrow with no luck. At least 2 different PEREGRINE FALCONs and a MERLIN strafed the shorebird flocks while I was out there. Happy bicycle birding, Vjera Thompson Eugene, OR vireogirl at yahoo.com or nemesisquail at gmail.com From tanager at nu-world.com Mon Oct 12 10:02:02 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:02:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] (SWOC) Eugene Birders Night - Oct. 12, 2009 Message-ID: <005501ca4b5d$b948fb10$2bdaf130$@com> Eugene birders gather tonight for their monthly roundtable at the former Sacred Heart hospital on Hilyard St. (between E. 11th Ave. and E. 12th Ave.) in East Eugene. 7:00pm. Conference Room A. Look for another, and possibly corrective, announcement from someone that may know the directions and proper label for the meeting room. Free. All are welcome. Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091012/cc08016e/attachment.html From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Mon Oct 12 10:31:28 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:31:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] ECBC Green Ridge Hawk Migration Message-ID: This, 10/10&11< was our last official Hawk Migration Survey weekend oh Green Ridge. The enthusiasm and cool weather were there but the birds did not show up in large numbers. We had 24 migrating raptors on Sat. and 27 on Sunday. We had up to 12 observers on Sat. and 18 on Sunday. We want to thank all the hardy souls who came to Green Ridge to help us, especially the multi-day observers Peter Lowe, Nancy and Sach Esperancillia, Chuc Gates, Steve Dougill,and Judy Meredeth. Special thanks goes to Jay Smith who came from Portland to spend a weekend on the site and special special thanks to Steve Small and Carol Cwiklinski from Tillamook who spent a total of 6 days counting on the site. Last Sunday was the only day we did not operate due to the snow storm. We did however have a visitor after the snow stopped. A large black bear left his tracks in the snow sometime Sun. He/she did not leave a list of raptors he/she saw fly by. Raptors counted: Sat. Sun Bald Eagle 1 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 9 13 Cooper's Hawk 3 1 Red-tailed Hawk 8 6 Rough-legged Hawk 1 0 Golden Eagle 1 1 Merlin 0 1 Unident. Buteo 1 3 Kim Boddie Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091012/76760bcc/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Mon Oct 12 10:43:57 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:43:57 -0400 Subject: [obol] A weekend trip to the Wallowas Oct 10/11 Message-ID: Sam Walker and I did the Wallowas this last weekend. We were at McCully Ck SE of Joseph from 11am-1:30pm Saturday and immediately had a SPRUCE GROUSE in a short tree. A few minutes later 4 more were in a bare spot in the sun under a broad conifer. 2 of them were taking dust baths. At times, you couldn't tell where the head was, it was just one moving ball of feathers. These birds were about 1/3mi up the 2-track from the gate short of the near 180 degree switchback, so not up the mail hiking trail straight south into Eagle Cap Wilderness. There was a large flock of migrants with many Yellow-rumped and 2 Townsend's Warblers and lots of Ruby-crowned Kinglets. A PINE GROSBEAK was calling near where the grouse were and a Ruffed Grouse was flushed near the 180 degree switchback. En route to Hat Point, we had 2 magnificent Golden Eagles soaring right above us and a Prairie Falcon, with an immature calling non-stop. A Northern Shrike was near the Joseph cemetary. We had no Rough-legged Hawks all weekend. Wallowa Lake SP was crowded with people, so no Pygmy-Owls. A late YELLOW WARBLER, a treeload full of Ruby-crowned Kinglets and 2 American Dippers were at the creek crossing at the south end of the lake. 2 Eared Grebes were on the lake, otherwise it was quiet. And cold. It was 52F in Imnaha (el 1800) and the warmth was soothing, but the mercury quickly dropped to below freezing as we ascended towards Hat Point. The views from Hat Point Rd were incredible, as usual. Even if there are no birds at all, this drive is absolutely worth it. We had 2 Ruffed Grouse at MP 8.5 and a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER near MP 12.5 at an opening with a dead tree right next to the road. From the tower at the point proper, we watched 2 smallish gallinacious birds low in flight, dropping down just below the cliffs to the north. This could only have been MOUNTAIN QUAIL. Has anybody seen them up there? On Sunday morning we drove through Golf Course Rd and got stunning views of the peaks to the south, yet all we saw were American Pipits, Horned Larks, Western Bluebirds and a perched up Great Horned Owl. Another Ruffed Grouse was only 1/3mi into trail #1824 at the Hurricane Creek trailhead and 2 Townsend's Solitaire were near the parking lot. The cone crop around Enterprise again looks great, so watch out for those crossbills this winter. We ended the day at Spring Creek where the temperature plummeted quickly into the 20s after the sun went down. While we didn't find any Great Gray Owls, we had all 3 nuthatches, White-headed and Pileated Woodpecker, several Western Bluebirds, heard a Northern Sawwhet-Owl just after sunset and had a great time. On the conditions: It was unusually cold. When we left the Hurricane Creek trailhead at 1:30pm on Sunday, it was still below freezing. Snow levels were just below 5000ft. While the access roads were generally snow free, I would recommend snow shoes for all trails. Hat Point never made it above freezing on Saturday afternoon. There were pretty much no fall colors yet and it was weird to see fully green trees and shrubs in the snow with the freezing temperatures. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091012/00a9c2ee/attachment.html From lesliemeserve at comcast.net Mon Oct 12 12:11:36 2009 From: lesliemeserve at comcast.net (Meserve) Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:11:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared Dove in Arlington Message-ID: <9A96D9FFF4AD4F99B2239CB7B854CC16@LMPC> Hello, In case this particular location has not been mentioned as these doves proliferate, there was a Eurasian Collared Dove at the cemetery in Arlington, Oregon. We heard it immediately as we got out of the car - it was in a pine tree near the entrance. When I approached the tree it flew back to another tree, & then across the road, but returned to the pine once again when I was out of the way. On a happier note, we also heard Sandhill Cranes there to the northeast. Leslie Meserve Washington County, Oregon From dhogaza at pacifier.com Mon Oct 12 12:54:08 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:54:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur management plan meeting tonight Message-ID: <3F78C262-329D-49A3-B7C0-91B6DA69479A@pacifier.com> Since most of us care about Malheur I assume it's OK to post this to the list: ----------- Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Presentation with Refuge Manager Tim Bodeen Tonight! 7pm, Portland Audubon Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is one of the premier sites for birds and birding in the United States. In recent decades the refuge has faced significant management challenges that have vastly reduced its ecological productivity. The refuge is beginning its Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP), which will guide long-range management of the refuge for the next 15 years. Audubon Society of Portland staff Bob Sallinger and Mary Coolidge are participating in this planning process. This presentation with Refuge Manager Tim Bodeen will be a great opportunity to learn about the issues and challenges facing the refuge, find out about the CCP process, ask questions, and offer input. Malheur NWR, first created by Theodore Roosevelt, just passed its centennial mark. It encompasses over 187,000 acres and provides habitat for more than 300 bird species and 50 mammal species. The refuge provides some of the most important breeding and migratory habitat for birds in the United States. Please join us for this important opportunity to learn about the refuge and help shape its future. Location: Heron Hall, Audubon House, 5151 NW Cornell Rd, Portland ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From dinpdx at yahoo.com Mon Oct 12 13:06:09 2009 From: dinpdx at yahoo.com (Dwight) Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:06:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Bonney Butte dark morph Rough-Legged Hawk Photo Message-ID: <55445.7765.qm@web31603.mail.mud.yahoo.com> On Friday 10/9 a DARK MORPH ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen at the Bonney Butte HawkWatch site: http://www.pbase.com/dwight_porter/image/118154634 Good Birding, Dwight Porter Portland, Oregon __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com From Randy.Moore at oregonstate.edu Mon Oct 12 13:10:19 2009 From: Randy.Moore at oregonstate.edu (Moore, Randy - FW) Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:10:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] obol Digest, Vol 19, Issue 12 References: Message-ID: Adam Kotaich and I spent the weekend birding the Lincoln Co. coast. * We saw a marvelous Pacific Golden Plover at the roadside disturbed spot just south of the parking area of the south jetty in Florence (which was chased off by an off-leash dog as I tried to photograph it- grrr), * Calling saw-whet and barn owls at the parking lot of the South Beach campground, * a first of season flyover rough-legged hawk at the HMSC parking lot, * 2 Clark's grebes in the flock of 30 westerns on the south side of the south jetty in Newport, * 9 surfbirds and ~ 15 black turnstones on the north jetty, and a dunlin doing it's best rock sandpiper imitation at the very end of the south jetty, * 3 rhino auklets at a baitfish feeding flock just north of Devil's Punchbowl * 3 gray whales (and almost no birds) at Boiler Bay * and the best look I ever expect to get of harbor porpoises off the south side of the south jetty in Newport- I saw their faces! Other than that, the marvelous weather chased all the birds away, but a glorious day to be on the coast, for sure! Oh yeah, and a really great flight of thrushes going over almost all night at South Beach- I'm assuming these were hermits, but they sound almost identical to Swainson's to me. Anybody have access to some discussion of the difference intheir nocturnal calls (or better yet, anybody have that great CD with all the nocturnal calls from which they might post the two of them for comparison?) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091012/fb331226/attachment.html From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Mon Oct 12 14:16:47 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:16:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Eugene Birder's Night: Tonight Message-ID: <624DDC35-3B7F-44DD-824E-84F35E75AC66@comcast.net> OBOL- Eugene Birder's Night will be Oct 12 (second Monday of each Month) at 7pm. LOCATION : Sacred Heart Hospital (downtown), 1255 Hilyard St; Conference Room A (across the hall from the Auditorium). Directions to Conference Room A: -enter main Lobby from Hilyard St -turn Left and walk down hall (past the cafeteria) to end of hall -turn Right and walk down hall (past Dining Room) to end of hall -turn Right and walk a few steps, then Left down the hall toward the Auditorium -Conference Room A (labelled simply Conference Room) is on the Right (across from a bank of telephones on the Left side of the hall) Parking: Parking lot structure (across Hilyard from the Lobby) charges $1/hour (I think). Street parking is not available on Hilyard per se, but is found on 13th, 12th (West of Patterson), and Patterson streets (street parking free after 6pm). Map is at this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=sacred+heart+hospital+eugene,+or&fb=1&split=1&cid=0,0,17378354515337851834&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image Agenda: usual reporting format and bird discussion Note: we will have reliable access to audio/video support from this point on, so those wishing to bring a disc or laptop to show interesting images, etc should feel free to do so. For a lengthly presentation, please give me a heads-up so we can avoid conflicts. Barry McKenzie Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091012/c493dd6d/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Mon Oct 12 16:47:57 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:47:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Weekend birding Message-ID: Over the weekend I was showing my brother and sister-in-law around Central Oregon and in the process ran into a few good birds. Saturday at Crater Lake there was a pretty obvious movement of raptors. I didn't stay in one place like a true hawk watch, but while visiting various parts of the park I had 1 Merlin, 1 Kestrel, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Red-tails and 2 Bald Eagles. I think the rim shows good potential as a hawk-watch site in future years. At Suttle Lake yesterday I had a late Spotted Sandpiper, some type 7 Crossbills (not the normal type 2's that we commonly get) and a couple of Clark's Grebes in with about 40 Westerns. I had my first Varied Thrush of the "fall" on Wednesday; and the last time I saw the Rufous Hummingbird was on Monday, October 5, following our snow storm. Tom Crabtree, Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091012/f39f9fa5/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Oct 12 18:40:28 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:40:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] movin' around season Message-ID: <4AD3DA8C.80500@pacifier.com> Here are three buteos seen in the past couple days. Two were at Svensen Island and one at the Astoria Airport. http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12365/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From whoffman at peak.org Mon Oct 12 18:44:50 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:44:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Weekend birding References: Message-ID: <8E55F70EF5E84092AC6DF81589D932FD@D48XBZ51> I visited Crater Lake last fall and came to the same conclusion - that the rim had good hawk-watch potential. The places that seemst likely to me were Llao Rock at the north end, an area a little north of Mt. Scott on the east side (more open area), and Rim Village. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: Tom Crabtree To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 4:47 PM Subject: [obol] Weekend birding Over the weekend I was showing my brother and sister-in-law around Central Oregon and in the process ran into a few good birds. Saturday at Crater Lake there was a pretty obvious movement of raptors. I didn't stay in one place like a true hawk watch, but while visiting various parts of the park I had 1 Merlin, 1 Kestrel, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Red-tails and 2 Bald Eagles. I think the rim shows good potential as a hawk-watch site in future years. At Suttle Lake yesterday I had a late Spotted Sandpiper, some type 7 Crossbills (not the normal type 2's that we commonly get) and a couple of Clark's Grebes in with about 40 Westerns. I had my first Varied Thrush of the "fall" on Wednesday; and the last time I saw the Rufous Hummingbird was on Monday, October 5, following our snow storm. Tom Crabtree, Bend ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091012/6273ab87/attachment.html From paul at mahonia.us Mon Oct 12 21:35:25 2009 From: paul at mahonia.us (Paul Bloch) Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:35:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hawaiian birding Message-ID: With short notice we are finding ourselves on the way to Maui Hawaii this Thursday. I have a tropical rain warped copy of "The Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific" by Pratt, Bruner and Berrett, 1987. Which is the current best bird book for Hawaii? What are the must see locations, birds and other bits of natural history? Paul Bloch paul at mahonia.us From Oropendolas at aol.com Mon Oct 12 21:55:26 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:55:26 EDT Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge- Monday Message-ID: Hello All, The AMERICAN TREE SPARROW reported yesterday by Dave Irons was at the Royal Ave. observation platform again this afternoon. One SANDHILL CRANE was on the North side of Royal in the far Northeast corner of the mudflat at the end of Royal. This is only the second time I've seen a Crane on the ground there. An immature PEREGRINE FALCON was keeping the shorebirds stirred up this afternoon. Black-bellied Plover - 7 Killdeer - 15 Wilson's Snipe - 8 Long-billed Dowitcher - Several hundred Greater Yellowlegs - 4 Western Sandpiper - 12 Least Sandpiper - 50 Pectoral Sandpiper - 14 Good Birding, John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091013/0e534f4e/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Mon Oct 12 22:26:12 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:26:12 -0400 Subject: [obol] A weekend trip to the Wallowas Oct 10/11 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I just updated my blog at http://birdmeister.wordpress.com with some Spruce Grouse pictures from the weekend. There's also a documentation quality shot of the Hat Point Three-toed Woodpecker. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR From: greenfant at hotmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:43:57 -0400 Subject: [obol] A weekend trip to the Wallowas Oct 10/11 Sam Walker and I did the Wallowas this last weekend. We were at McCully Ck SE of Joseph from 11am-1:30pm Saturday and immediately had a SPRUCE GROUSE in a short tree. A few minutes later 4 more were in a bare spot in the sun under a broad conifer. 2 of them were taking dust baths. At times, you couldn't tell where the head was, it was just one moving ball of feathers. These birds were about 1/3mi up the 2-track from the gate short of the near 180 degree switchback, so not up the mail hiking trail straight south into Eagle Cap Wilderness. There was a large flock of migrants with many Yellow-rumped and 2 Townsend's Warblers and lots of Ruby-crowned Kinglets. A PINE GROSBEAK was calling near where the grouse were and a Ruffed Grouse was flushed near the 180 degree switchback. En route to Hat Point, we had 2 magnificent Golden Eagles soaring right above us and a Prairie Falcon, with an immature calling non-stop. A Northern Shrike was near the Joseph cemetary. We had no Rough-legged Hawks all weekend. Wallowa Lake SP was crowded with people, so no Pygmy-Owls. A late YELLOW WARBLER, a treeload full of Ruby-crowned Kinglets and 2 American Dippers were at the creek crossing at the south end of the lake. 2 Eared Grebes were on the lake, otherwise it was quiet. And cold. It was 52F in Imnaha (el 1800) and the warmth was soothing, but the mercury quickly dropped to below freezing as we ascended towards Hat Point. The views from Hat Point Rd were incredible, as usual. Even if there are no birds at all, this drive is absolutely worth it. We had 2 Ruffed Grouse at MP 8.5 and a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER near MP 12.5 at an opening with a dead tree right next to the road. From the tower at the point proper, we watched 2 smallish gallinacious birds low in flight, dropping down just below the cliffs to the north. This could only have been MOUNTAIN QUAIL. Has anybody seen them up there? On Sunday morning we drove through Golf Course Rd and got stunning views of the peaks to the south, yet all we saw were American Pipits, Horned Larks, Western Bluebirds and a perched up Great Horned Owl. Another Ruffed Grouse was only 1/3mi into trail #1824 at the Hurricane Creek trailhead and 2 Townsend's Solitaire were near the parking lot. The cone crop around Enterprise again looks great, so watch out for those crossbills this winter. We ended the day at Spring Creek where the temperature plummeted quickly into the 20s after the sun went down. While we didn't find any Great Gray Owls, we had all 3 nuthatches, White-headed and Pileated Woodpecker, several Western Bluebirds, heard a Northern Sawwhet-Owl just after sunset and had a great time. On the conditions: It was unusually cold. When we left the Hurricane Creek trailhead at 1:30pm on Sunday, it was still below freezing. Snow levels were just below 5000ft. While the access roads were generally snow free, I would recommend snow shoes for all trails. Hat Point never made it above freezing on Saturday afternoon. There were pretty much no fall colors yet and it was weird to see fully green trees and shrubs in the snow with the freezing temperatures. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. Get it now. _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091013/1f2fdc58/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: ATT00001 Url: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091013/1f2fdc58/attachment.pl From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Mon Oct 12 23:12:49 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:12:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Audubon Birding Weekend - Baker county sightings Message-ID: <00b501ca4bce$3791d210$6cdb63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: This weekend 20 folks on an Audubon Birding Weekend sponsored by the Audubon Society of Portland enjoyed the crisp air of Baker county and tallied 86 species of birds. Highlights included: PACIFIC LOON -- 2 at Phillips Res Common Loon -- Phillips Res, Unity Res. Eared Grebe -- Phillips Res, Unity Res., Thief Valley Res Canvasback -- Baker Ciyt, Thief Valley Res WHITE-WINGED SCOTER -- Unity Res. Common Goldeneye -- Unity Res Osprey -- Phillips Res, Unity Res Bald Eagle -- Phillips Res, Unity Res Red-tailed Hawk -- many Rough-legged Hawk -- 2 near Baker City Prairie Falcon -- at Baker City airport Pectoral Sandpiper -- Phillips Res Bonaparte's Gull -- Phillips Res HERRING GULL -- Phillips Res COMMON TERN -- Phillips Res EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE -- near Baker City airport Barn Owl -- Baker City Northern Pygmy-Owl -- along N. Fk. Burnt River White-headed Woodpecker -- Phillips Res Northern Shrike -- near Unity Res Clark's Nutcracker -- Phillips Res Violet-green Swallow -- Phillips Res Barn Swallow -- Unity Res Red-breasted Nuthatch -- along N. Fk. Burnt River near Pygmy Owl White-breasted Nuthatch -- along N. Fk. Burnt River near Pygmy Owl Pygmy Nuthatch -- along N. Fk. Burnt River near Pygmy Owl Mountain Bluebird -- Phillips Res, N. Fk. Burnt River, Hwy 203 American Pipit -- Phillips Res, Unity Res., Thief Valley Res. Red Crossbill -- Phillips Res In Union county: Western Bluebird -- on road to, south of, Thief Valley Res. Horned Lark -- Thief Valley Res. Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk -- corner of Airport Rd. & Hot Lk. Rd. We also saw Sandhill Cranes at Ladd Marsh on our way over on Friday. Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan Audubon Birding Weekends (503) 646-7889 http://www.audubonportland.org/trips-classes-camps/adult/weekends From birdmandon at clearwire.net Tue Oct 13 12:17:44 2009 From: birdmandon at clearwire.net (Don Schrouder) Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:17:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] White-throated Sparrow/Eugene Message-ID: <92189EF8-2653-4627-B114-5C525DA9A203@clearwire.net> Newest arrival this morning was a tan striped WHITE-THROATED SPARROW joining the already present WHITE-CROWNED, GOLD CROWNED and JUNCOS in the backyard. Don Schrouder/Eugene birdmandon at clearwire.net From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Tue Oct 13 14:27:07 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:27:07 +0000 Subject: [obol] BLACK TAILED GULL in Tacoma, WA Message-ID: Obolers: Here you go for any chasers!!!! Good luck and good birding, Khanh Tran Subject: Fw: [Tweeters-Alerts] BLACK-TAILED GULL in Tacoma From: Guy McWethy Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:22:51 -0700 (PDT) Hey Tweets, The BLACK-TAILED GULL was perched on the log booms from 12:30 until I left at 2:00. We all had reasonable diagnostic views. It was not even raining when I left! Guy McWethy Renton, WA mailto: lguy_mcw at yahoo.com --- On Tue, 10/13/09, Ryan Merrill wrote: > From: Ryan Merrill > Subject: [Tweeters-Alerts] BLACK-TAILED GULL in Tacoma > To: tweeters-alerts AT u.washington.edu > Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2009, 10:59 AM > Charlie Wright just called.? He's > watching an adult BLACK-TAILED GULL off Marine View Drive in > Tacoma.? The bird is feeding with a flock of California > Gulls beyond the logbooms that are just south and east of > Tyee Marina.? You'll want a scope to see it. > > > The Lapland Longspur that's been posted about the past > couple days is still around today as well. > > Ryan Merrill > Kirkland From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Oct 13 13:37:29 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:37:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Northern Shrike Message-ID: <4AD4E509.9090409@verizon.net> 10/13 Coos Bay North Spit Coos Cty A juvenile NORTHERN SHRIKE was along the foredune road at Coos Bay North Spit. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Oct 13 13:55:04 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:55:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] rediscovered crow species Message-ID: <4AD4E928.5040002@verizon.net> http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20091013/sc_livescience/rarecrowthoughtextinctisrediscovered Last time I did something like this I was informed I was a day late. Maybe this time I'm not. Cheers Dave Lauten From rillo3 at msn.com Tue Oct 13 15:16:59 2009 From: rillo3 at msn.com (Bob ARCHER) Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:16:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Camera on an albatross Message-ID: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/science/13obbird.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=black%20browed%20albatross&st=cse Turns out , they can put a tiny camera on an albatross and let it fly around the ocean to see what it sees. Cool shot of a potential food source. Bob Archer Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091013/afd72797/attachment.html From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Tue Oct 13 14:55:53 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:55:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR - VANCOUVER, BC Message-ID: <20091013145553.kv5rgqehwwckgcsw@webmail2.jimnorton.org> ----- Forwarded message from mike.d.boyd at gmail.com ----- Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:41:48 -0700 From: Mike Boyd Reply-To: Mike Boyd Subject: MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR - VANCOUVER, BC To: jimnorton at jimnorton.org Hello Jim, I am not part of the Oregon listserv, but thought this could be of note for Oregon birders as it wouldn't be too far of a drive for someone from Oregon (as opposed to heading out to the prairies). But I had found a MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR in Stanley Park in downtown Vancouver, BC on Saturday afternoon and it has been seen up until at least 1:30pm today. It is very tame, as you can get within 5ft of it, and it stays within about a 50m stretch of Seawall. It forages by itself on a small grassy patch beside and between a pedestrian and bicycle path that follows the Seawall along the south-central part of the park (see directions and google map link below). I believe the bird to be a hatch-year female (although I would welcome input from others more knowledgeable). It is also the 4th confirmed record for BC, with the last one occurring in 1930. I have a few photos on Flickr as well http://www.flickr.com/photos/43553805 at N08/ Directions: Follow Georgia St from downtown Vancouver into Stanley Park. Take the first right to go east along the south shore. At the first parking area along the left (right at the turnoff for the Aquarium) park here and walk towards the Seawall. It was seen along the grassy patch between the bike and pedestrian pathways. On the Google Map it is directly below the label for the Vancouver Rowing Club. http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=49.29742,-123.132491&spn=0.\\001497,0.003449&t=h&z=18msid=113298999631597136114.000475ae5819f2e0a4e56 Mike Boyd Vancouver, BC ----- End forwarded message ----- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Oct 13 19:08:42 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:08:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur management plan meeting tonight] Message-ID: <1255486122.26223.430.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, Not only is this "OK" by any stretch of the OBOL rules, but allow me to suggest, it ought to be one of the hottest topics on this list! Thanks to both Paul Sullivan and Don Baccus for posting information on the Malheur NWR public meetings, including tonight's meeting in Portland. Leaving aside any ideas of bird conservation, it's obvious that Oregon birders have a recreational interest in what happens at Malheur NWR, as it is the state's singularly greatest birding area. If this were a HUNTING list, the contents of this management plan and this opportunity to voice their views in a public meeting would have been a raging topic for the past three weeks, at least. That's because hunters have learned how to advocate for their own recreational interests. If this were a FISHING list, ditto. So here we are on a BIRDING list, with Don being apologetic about even mentioning this public meeting. Birding, as the main component of wildlife viewing, outranks hunting and fishing in terms of economic impact in Oregon, according to USF&WS data. But where's our voice when the future of prime birding spots is being discussed?!! Maybe some of you are hoping that the professionals within USF&WS will just do the right thing to promote non-game bird habitat at Malheur. That's a mistake on two counts. First, the squeaky wheel get the grease -- and hunters will do the loudest squeaking, because they're organized and are not shy about advocating for their own interests (can't blame 'em!). Second, what I've heard through the grapevine from wildlife professionals is that biological experience on Malheur NWR is very depleted right now. So, if you live in the Portland area, I hope you can still get out to this meeting tonight, see if the proposed plan really makes sense, ask some tough questions, and in general advocate for your own interest as a birder. If like me you can't make it to the meeting, at least read the proposal and send in comments before the deadline which is posted on www.oregonbirds.org/calendar.html. Good birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis Don Baccus wrote: > Since most of us care about Malheur I assume it's OK to post this to > the list: > > ----------- > > Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Presentation with Refuge Manager > Tim > Bodeen > Tonight! 7pm, Portland Audubon > > Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is one of the premier sites for > birds > and > birding in the United States. In recent decades the refuge has faced > significant management challenges that have vastly reduced its > ecological > productivity. The refuge is beginning its Comprehensive > Conservation > Plan > (CCP), which will guide long-range management of the refuge for the > next 15 > years. Audubon Society of Portland staff Bob Sallinger and Mary > Coolidge > are participating in this planning process. > > This presentation with Refuge Manager Tim Bodeen will be a great > opportunity > to learn about the issues and challenges facing the refuge, find out > about > the CCP process, ask questions, and offer input. > > Malheur NWR, first created by Theodore Roosevelt, just passed its > centennial > mark. It encompasses over 187,000 acres and provides habitat for > more > than > 300 bird species and 50 mammal species. The refuge provides some of > the > most important breeding and migratory habitat for birds in the United > States. > > Please join us for this important opportunity to learn about the > refuge and > help shape its future. > > Location: Heron Hall, Audubon House, 5151 NW Cornell Rd, Portland > > ---- > Don Baccus > http://donb.photo.net > http://birdnotes.net > http://openacs.org > From winkg at hevanet.com Tue Oct 13 20:06:28 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:06:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur Management plan meeting Message-ID: <20091014030618.20F7DA815D@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> There WAS a Malheur Management plan meeting at Audubon Society of Portland last night (Oct 12). But there is also one tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct 14, at the Lloyd Center/Doubletree in NE Portland from 6 to 9PM. I believe it's an "open house" format. I agree with Joel: birders must take a more active role in setting the direction for all our state and federal wildlife areas. For more information, see http://www.fws.gov/malheur/pdf/planning_update.pdf Wink Gross, Portland From cgates326 at gmail.com Tue Oct 13 20:35:37 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:35:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Prineville American Avocet Message-ID: At the Prineville Sewer Ponds today I found a winter plumaged AMERICAN AVOCET. Looking back over the last 8 years, I am unable to find another avocet sighting for October. BOGR mentions birds in the big Eastern Oregon wetlands into November but this is a rare sighting for Central Oregon. I made a loop around the ponds and when I returned, the bird was out in the middle of the lake spinning like a giant phalarope. Also present today were: 1 Merlin 700 N. Shovelers 175 Ring-necked Ducks 1 Eared Grebe 50 Yellow-rumped Warblers 8 very cold Barn Swallows Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091013/c0484806/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Tue Oct 13 22:05:33 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:05:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur Management plan meeting References: <20091014030618.20F7DA815D@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: I agree with Wink & Joel. We need to make our input known to the refuge management team. I attended the meeting in Bend and found them remarkably open to input from birders and soliciting our help to improve the birding opportunities on the refuge. Past administrators put in plans that stopped the artificial feeding of birds, stopped watering the orchard area of headquarters and put more areas of HQ off limits. The new director is seeking our help and input (I think that's a first as long as I've been birding in Oregon). It is in our best interests as birders to let him know we appreciate that invitation and we will do our part to make headquarters a better place to bird. Tom Crabtree Bend (aka Ice Station Zebra, tonight anyway) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wink Gross" To: Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 8:06 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Malheur Management plan meeting > There WAS a Malheur Management plan meeting at Audubon Society > of Portland last night (Oct 12). But there is also one tomorrow, > Wednesday, Oct 14, at the Lloyd Center/Doubletree in NE Portland > from 6 to 9PM. I believe it's an "open house" format. > > I agree with Joel: birders must take a more active role in setting > the direction for all our state and federal wildlife areas. > > For more information, see > > http://www.fws.gov/malheur/pdf/planning_update.pdf > > Wink Gross, > Portland > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Wed Oct 14 00:56:37 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:56:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Malheur Management: Written Comment Message-ID: <130797.15673.qm@web51805.mail.re2.yahoo.com> You can also email written comments to: FW1PlanningComments at fws.gov (put "Malheur CCP" in the subject line) regardless of whether or not you attend the meeting. I'm assuming they accept reasonably sized attachments if you're into fancy formatting/photos/diagrams, etc. Unfortunately, it looks like the deadline is just two days away, Oct 15 (the Portland meeting is the last one too). If you feel you could offer more valuable input if you had more time (or know others that could), you may want to request they extend the deadline for public comment. Also, keep in mind that comments can be anonymous if you are feeling in any way hesitant to comment due to your job, funding sources, affiliations, etc (or that of your spouse/family)....I think perhaps this may be one of the most significant hurdles to getting people have valuable input to make comment. I have personally found USFWS to be quite responsive to public input and I'm continually amazed at what people know on this list. In fact, there is such a vast store of experiential knowledge in the OBOL collective gray matter it's humbling almost to the point of being daunting at times. I've often wished it could somehow be condensed and organized into an easily accessible format.....but then I think much of the magic would be lost....as I think birding at the highest level is both art and science rolled into one. At any rate, I am certain there are numerous people on this list who could not only give general comments but could also offer specific concrete ideas/solutions and I believe the USFWS would be quite receptive to that. Keep in mind also that there are other USFWS planning processes in the works in Oregon and Washington that OBOLers might be interested in commenting on: http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/ Cindy Ashy From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Wed Oct 14 03:09:30 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:09:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Tangential Addendum Message-ID: <381902.1484.qm@web51812.mail.re2.yahoo.com> While it's on my mind again, I'd like to share a few of my thoughts about something on OBOL. I've often thought about all the knowledge that exists only in the minds of certain birders, especially our top birders that have been birding the state for decades, and how this may be lost for good in the future if there is no effort to record it now....at least some of it. I know there is a lot of good data collecting/collating going on but I'm really talking about much more than that. I guess I'm thinking more along the lines of an oral history project. In fact, I think this would make a wonderful thesis, especially for someone interested in conservation and/or habitat restoration...and of course there are many other angles. I also think it would make a phenomenal documentary. I'm vaguely remembering one of the watershed councils (possibly the Luckiamute Watershed Council) talking about wanting to do an oral history project with their older citizens to record natural changes to the watershed, land use changes, responses of the wildlife/citizens to these changes, etc....in fact, I remember one of them talking about how he felt like they were racing against the clock to record the information before it was gone forever. A while back, I read a thesis about Oregon Coast lighthouses in which much of the information was obtained from oral histories. However, the only people left to interview when the thesis was done were older people who had been the children of lighthouse keepers. The lighthouse keepers themselves of course were gone and most of their surviving written logs were rather formally written and of course left out much of the information that the grad student was looking for....and reading between the lines she was obviously frustrated by this. For more detailed information, she had to glean what she could from personal letters and other sources but it was scant to say the least. No one thought at the time how important it might be to interview extensively the lighthouse keepers. While I know OBOL is mostly a social medium for sharing bird sightings, my prediction is that one day, perhaps decades from now, or even centuries from now, the OBOL archives will be mined for gold. Posts that people casually make today without much thought will become treasured pieces of information to reconstruct history, reconstruct important changes in habitat, to better understand long term patterns, etc. For me, certain posts about Yaquina Bay, Tillamook Bay, and other degraded shorebird habitat and the reasons it became degraded spring to mind. To my knowledge, OBOL has better information on this by far than any book or published report....and in my mind, there are so many other gems that will await later discovery or rather rediscovery. However, there is so much more that hasn't been posted to OBOL but in lieu of a formal project, it's probably the best we've got. Sorry if this is TOO tangential but at least I did delete about 2/3 of what I wrote before posting :-) Cindy Ashy From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Oct 14 05:43:20 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:43:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur Management plan meeting Message-ID: <1255524200.19846.19.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, OOPS!! My apologies for not paying attention to the date of Don's posting when I saw it in yesterday's OBOL digest, and then not checking the calendar myself before I posted! Thanks to Wink for posting a correction and mentioning *tonight's* open-house public meeting: > Wednesday, Oct 14, at the Lloyd Center/Doubletree in NE Portland > from 6 to 9PM. There is also a "listening post" presentation in Corvallis tomorrow night: > Thursday Oct. 15, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. > Corvallis Audubon Society at First Presbyterian Church, > 114 SW 8th St., Corvallis, OR The comment period does in fact extend through October 31st according to the information in the Planning Update (pdf) file that Wink gave a link to. The Oregon Birding Calendar at www.oregonbirds.org/calendar.html shows this deadline and give a a link to Malheur NWR's planning page with all of this info, so you can check back there if you need a reminder. Also check out the CBC schedule as it continues to shape up -- about 3/4 of the counts are now scheduled! Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis, where yesterday is still today From nepobirds at yahoo.com Wed Oct 14 09:22:10 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:22:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Winter birds Message-ID: <10525.56699.qm@web46001.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> In the last few days we have been visited by the FOS Fox Sparrow and some Yellow-Rumped Warblers (at least 3, all Audubon's). The last few years, they have both come into the yard in mid-late November. Quite early for the yard. Good birding Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area From brownnab at gmail.com Wed Oct 14 09:43:27 2009 From: brownnab at gmail.com (Nancy Brown) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:43:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur Meeting Correction Message-ID: I don't know if anyone has corrected the Monday posting about the Malheur meeting tonight (October 14th), but please note it is not at the Audubon Society. It is at the Doubletree Hotel-Lloyd Center, 1000 NE Multnomah Blvd., Portland, OR from 6-9pm. I have called the Audubon Society to confirm this. Thanks! Nancy Brown NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091014/32c70943/attachment.html From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Wed Oct 14 09:58:25 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:58:25 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Oct 31: Written Public Comment For Malheur CCP Unofficially Extended Message-ID: <928547.89938.qm@web51812.mail.re2.yahoo.com> In a conversation with Sharon Selvaggio and others, I just verified the following: Written public comment for the Malheur CCP will definitely be accepted until: Oct 31, 2009. The original deadline published in early June in the Federal Register was Oct 15 because when it was prepared in April they thought the public meetings would be completed by Oct 1. The USFWS unofficially extended the deadline to Oct 31 because they didn't think it fair to have the deadline so close to the last scoping meeting. However, this was not published in the Federal Register. It was also not posted to the Malheur CCP website at: http://www.fws.gov/malheur/ccp_overview.html and was not listed in their public comment form (you do not have to use this form) linked from this page. They will be posting the unofficial extension to the website soon. So, if you google it, you will find lots of notices for Oct 15 but just ignore that. They also say they will be flexible with the Oct 31 date and if comments are submitted a little after this date they will make every effort to take them into scoping process too. Now if the Navy could just take some lessons from the USFWS (sigh).... A few other comments... The hunting community (i.e. NRA, etc) monitors the Federal Register very closely and disseminates information and calls to action as soon as these notices are posted. Comments from hunters start pouring in almost immediately after the notices are published in the register. I wish there was someone out there doing the same for the birding community. The volume of comments in each category is not the overriding issue when the USFWS analyzes comments. So, for example, if they have 100 times more comments from hunters than birders, that really doesn't matter much, although it is noted. The diversity of the comments is very important....and comments that contain detailed information, specific examples, unique insight, experiential knowledge are given very careful consideration and can really make a meaningful difference. I know this to be true from experience. Cindy Ashy From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Oct 14 10:46:36 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:46:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Follow-up: BC Solander's Petrel Message-ID: The consensus of the 6 October 2009 photos of the dark Pterodroma from 28 miles west of Tofino, BC, seems to be that it represents the first physically documented Solander's Petrel in North America (also called Providence Petrel, P. solanderi). Four photos by Sharon Toochin are here: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/gallery/_from_others It should be noted that there have been a few sight reports of this species from Oregon and the West Coast, but none have met the requirements necessary to add a new species to the North American list. These photos should be the VOE (verifiable objective evidence) necessary to do so. http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/rare_seabirds.htm Illustrations in Harrison's Seabirds book are not totally accurate for Murphy's. See Albatrosses, Petrels & Shearwaters of the World by Onley and Scofield (2007). Differences between Murphy's Petrel and Solander's Petrel: 1) White on face: Murphy's has more white on chin, Solander's equal or more white above bill. 2) Bill: Murphy's appears thinner, Solander's heavy. 3) Tail: Murphy's rounded, Solander's longer and more pointed. 4) Underwing: Murphy's with pale flash on bases of primaries and outer secondaries, Solander's with a dark bar separating the white bases of the primaries from the white bases of the primary coverts. Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From monroemolly at hotmail.com Wed Oct 14 10:53:54 2009 From: monroemolly at hotmail.com (Molly Monroe) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:53:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Finley Big Sit Results Message-ID: We had a gorgeous sunny day on Sunday for our 2nd annual Big Sit. 52 species were counted for the day. Bird highlights include a Black Phoebe, a Lewis' Woodpecker flyby and a perching Peregrine Falcon. Non-birding highlights were a jackrabbit first thing in the morning and a muskrat swimming in the pond next to the circle. Just before dark, there were 98 elk in the field south of Bruce Rd just to the west of our parking spot. For a complete list of our species tallied, check out: http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/funbirds/bigsit/results09/stats.php?find_type=circle&find=Finley+Flyers For a few pictures of the late shift, try: http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/funbirds/bigsit/results09/pictures.php Thanks to all who participated, I appreciate the turnout for such a busy time of year (and special thanks for the yummy brownies)! Molly~ _ ( '< / ) ) //"Endangered species are sensitive indicators of how we are treating the planet and we should be listening carefully to their message EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD Join me -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091014/ca82ab98/attachment.html From gme_btarbox at yahoo.com Tue Oct 13 23:01:21 2009 From: gme_btarbox at yahoo.com (Bryan Tarbox) Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:01:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] RFI: Rock Sandpiper Message-ID: <722171.36175.qm@web31608.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I'm hoping to schedule a February or March pelagic trip out of Newport at some point in the future. I was wondering if anyone could help me decide if March was too late to have much of a chance at Rock Sandpipers? Looking at the Newport trip reports they've had them in February and November and one on March 1st. eBird has pretty sporadic results anywhere from October to April, so I suppose March is as good a time as any??Just to clarify, I'll be spending time looking for the sandpiper from land, not just on the boat. If anyone has any tips on finding one, that would also be greatly appreciated. ? Thanks, Bryan Tarbox College Station, TX -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091013/ae6c951e/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Wed Oct 14 13:12:29 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:12:29 -0400 Subject: [obol] Black-bellied Plover @ Jackson Bottom (Washington Co) Message-ID: A single Black-bellied Plover was mixed in with 50+ Long-billed Dowitchers at the mudflats of the big retention pond (Pintail Pond) at Jackson Bottom Wetlands in Hillsboro over lunch today. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091014/2a99c2c1/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Wed Oct 14 13:25:46 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:25:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: 7:30-8:30 AM (10/14): overcast, wind S 20-30+, swells 10+ 20+ Red-throated Loon 600 Pacific Loon 600 Common Loon 1 Western Grebe 2 Pink-footed Shearwater 1 Short-tailed Shearwater 300 Sooty Shearwater (S) 1 Fork-tailed Storm Petrel 800 Brown Pelican (N) 1200+ Brandt's Cormorant (N) 100+ Pelagic Cormorant (most N) 1 Blue-winged/Cinnamon Teal (female S) 500 White-winged Scoter (most S) 800 Surf Scoter (most N) 6 small shorebird sp. 3 Pomarine Jaeger (S) 1 Mew Gull 300 California Gull (most N) 1 Herring Gull 600 Western Gull (most N) 50 Glaucous-winged Gull 200 Heermann's Gull 25 Common Murre 2 Rhinoceros Auklet Phil philliplc at charter.net From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Oct 14 14:01:55 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:01:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wed morning at Fern Ridge Message-ID: We had a great morning: the birds were plentiful, the falcons were stagy, and the weather was GREAT ! Watching the downpour activating the puddles in the dim light of dawn outside the coffee shop (this sentence could be worse), some of us decided to throw it in while the rest of us decided to bird at least from the lookout platform at Royal. Then we thought of making the rounds to the 3 platforms: Royal, Fir Butte, and Neilson Rd; rain of not. We were awe-struck as we arrived at Royal under sunny, blue skies, fluffy white clouds, and a warm breeze, which stayed that way all morning. The birds were so much fun along the end of Royal, we spent the entire time there, but we did stop off at the platform. The list does NOT include the Tree Sparrow, Golden Plover, or Lewis's Woodpecker, recently reported. Western Grebe - 2 Pied-billed Grebe - 12 American Bittern - 4 Black-crowned Night Heron - 2 (adult and immature flying together). Great Blue Heron - 8+ Great Egret - 20+ Canada Goose - small number Dux not counted Green-winged Teal - several clusters Mallard - "" N. Pintail - 6+ Gadwall - conspicuous Am. Wigeon - higher numbers than others OSPREY - 1 White-tailed Kite - 3 Bald Eagle - 2 perched together on Gibson Is. N. Harrier - 12+ Red-tailed Hawk - 2 Merlin - 1 Peregrine - 1 (the falcons were fun to watch, flushing the shorebirds and waterfowl at high speed.) Ring-necked Pheasant - 1 Am. Coot - 200+ Black-bellied Plover - 30+ Killdeer - 15 Gr. Yellowlegs - 25 Les. Yellowlegs - 4 Western Sandpiper - 5 Least Sandpiper - 300+ Pectoral Sandpiper - 40+ L-b Dowitcher - 200 (could be twice that many) Wilson's Snipe - 5 Ring-billed Gull - 12 Glaucous-winged Gull - 1 Mourning Dove - 1 Belted Kingfisher - 1 N. Flicker - 4 (in town) Am. Crow - 1 at F.R., more in town Black-capped Chickadee - 1 Marsh Wren - 5 Am. Pipit - 200+ Cedar Waxwing - 12 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 12 Com. Yellowthroat - 1 Savannah Sparrow - 2 Song Sparrow - 10 Lincoln's Sparrow - 2 Golden-crowned Sparrow - 3 Red-winged Blackbird - several House Finch - many at feeders on Fir-Butte Rd. Am. Goldfinch - many at feeders and scattered at Royal Dennis Arendt, Kit Larsen, Fred Chancey, Craig Merkel, Dave Brown, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091014/1c99186f/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Wed Oct 14 15:08:55 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:08:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sharp-tailed sandpiper at Ridgefield NWR, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: On Rest Lake I found a sharp-tailed sandpiper with 4 pectoral sandpipers at about noon. The birds are walking in and out of the grass clumps so look carefully. I found the birds from the eastside of Rest Lake. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091014/5f437354/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Oct 14 17:05:23 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:05:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, birds Message-ID: Wink Gross and I visited Fernhill Wetlands this afternoon for an hour between showers. Today is the first day there has been any influx of shorebirds and grebes. The main event is a flock of 2500+ Cackling Goose. Photo from Saturday: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/118304447 Others of note: 1 Western Grebe 2 Horned Grebes 2 Eared Grebes (annual but rather rare http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/118304770) 8 Greater Yellowlegs 3 Pectoral Sandpiper 20 Least Sandpiper 1 Western Sandpiper 35 Long-billed Dowitcher 8 Wilson's Snipe (photo from Monday: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/118254444) Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From jeffandlaurettayoung at comcast.net Wed Oct 14 19:44:44 2009 From: jeffandlaurettayoung at comcast.net (Young) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:44:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, birds In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <01EE881B71494E4FAB1FC7B75A8028FD@youngd82870d81> We went to Fernhill today as well about 4 PM We saw right at dusk two bald eagles swoop over the pond , one smacked a cackling goose on the head and it went under and the other came in and snatched it up , took it up on a piling and proceeded to eat it in a rain of feathers We also saw a juvenile northern harrier hunting Lots of green winged teals, northern shovelers and American Widgeons which were not there this past Sunday the 11 when we were there last. Lauretta and Jeff -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Greg Gillson Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 5:05 PM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, birds Wink Gross and I visited Fernhill Wetlands this afternoon for an hour between showers. Today is the first day there has been any influx of shorebirds and grebes. The main event is a flock of 2500+ Cackling Goose. Photo from Saturday: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/118304447 Others of note: 1 Western Grebe 2 Horned Grebes 2 Eared Grebes (annual but rather rare http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/118304770) 8 Greater Yellowlegs 3 Pectoral Sandpiper 20 Least Sandpiper 1 Western Sandpiper 35 Long-billed Dowitcher 8 Wilson's Snipe (photo from Monday: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/118254444) Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From foglark at att.net Wed Oct 14 19:45:04 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:45:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fw: Black X Say's Phoebe update and stuff (CA) Message-ID: <139181.30076.qm@web80012.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> OBOLers, The remarkable BLACK X SAY'S PHOEBE discovered on last year's Centerville Beach To King Salmon CBC has reappeared in the same place, per the message from Humboldt County birder Ken Burton, below. To access the site, go s. on 101 past Eureka and Humboldt Bay NWR to the Ferndale exit, go over Fernbridge, go about three miles and take a right on Port Kenyon Road. Go through the hamlet of Arlynda Corners and continue along Port Kenyon to Rasmussen. Last winter, the bird hung out at a house along the s. side of the road there. This individual was photographed, video'd, netted and banded, and blood was taken for genetic analysis at HSU. I don't know the results of that testing, but have seen and heard the bird, and can say along with others that it sure looks like such a hybrid. This fall in Humboldt there have been comparatively few vagrant warblers, mostly of the commoner species (AM. REDSTART, B&W, CHESTNUT-SIDED, BLACKPOLL, N. PARULA, TENNESSEE, BLACKBURNIAN, N. WATERTHRUSH), except for an OVENBIRD which appeared at Mad River County Park last week. There have been perhaps a half-dozen "CLAYKES," and the county's 5th and 6th HUDSONIAN GODWITS were found this fall. Two or three TROPICAL KINGBIRDS and two ORCHARD ORIOLES have been reported so far. An Audubon boat trip out of Eureka I co-led with Kerry Ross 10/11 found a FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER and a SOUTH POLAR SKUA, and some participants up front on the way back in got to see a basic-plumaged LONG-BILLED MURRELET. I don't know, but I would guess this is somewhere around the 15th or so to be seen in the county. Most have been reported by MARBLED MURRELET surveyors on boats. I would estimate this one was about 800 m off the South Spit and a mile or so s. of the south Humboldt Bay jetty. I last saw ELEGANT TERNS around the entrance to Humboldt Bay ten days or so ago. A CATTLE EGRET, now quite rare here, was reported from the Eel River delta today, standing on a cow. As many as 148 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS have been around the se. side of Lake Earl n. of Crescent City (Lucas Brug, Alan Barron et al.), and a SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER has been there lately. David Fix Arcata, California ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Ken Burton To: nwcalbird Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 3:27:02 PM Subject: [nwcalbird] BLPH x SAPH update The hybrid Black/Say's Phoebe ("Slack Phoebe"?) found last winter was at the corner of Port Kenyon Road and Rasmussen Lane this morning. This actually was my first encounter with the bird and it is amazing. Even the call, a loud, descending whistle, is hybrid. Ken Burton Arcata __._,_.___ Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Calendar Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe Recent Activity * 2 New MembersVisit Your Group Give Back Yahoo! for Good Get inspired by a good cause. Y! Toolbar Get it Free! easy 1-click access to your groups. Yahoo! Groups Start a group in 3 easy steps. Connect with others. . __,_._,___ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091014/b2f3f8e2/attachment.html From mlvandyk at onlinemac.com Wed Oct 14 20:32:54 2009 From: mlvandyk at onlinemac.com (Marilyn van Dyk) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:32:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Air Travel with Scope and Tripod Message-ID: <5FC3245BB9484B29A7A131817BF19762@Amadeus> I plan to fly to the east coast on Delta Airlines next week. I'd like to take my scope. I can carry the scope and my binos in my carry-on bag. The tripod is 28" long, 4" longer than my one piece of checked baggage. Suggestions for the best way to transport my tripod will be appreciated. Please respond offline to mlvandyk at onlinemac.com. From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Oct 14 21:19:01 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:19:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Some Coos & Curry Birds of Late Message-ID: <803268.45770.qm@web45309.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> After reading Dave Fix's Humboldt report, I was a bit awed as usual as how comparatively slow things are down there this fall, ho-hum Dave. Found out at our local Audubon meeting this evening that Stan Wilson saw a TROPICAL KINGBIRD out on the north spit of Coos Bay this past Sunday. ?He said it was flycatching from a snag in one of the mitigation ponds on the way out to the boat ramp, not sure which one? On Monday I saw a late BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER out there, but don't have much else to report. And, on Sunday in Curry Co., Knute Andersson and Lois Miller found a SAY'S PHOEBE along the Sixes River flat on the way out to Cape Blanco, they have wintered in that location before. Oh, and I really hope things pick up in N. Cal for Dave... Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091014/9d628140/attachment.html From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Wed Oct 14 21:50:19 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:50:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] WA Black-tailed Gull Message-ID: <79A9D494-BB5E-4F9D-BE26-D4061C59D242@comcast.net> OBOL- Oregon birders may be interested to know that the Black-tailed Gull at Tacoma, WA was seen again today. First reported Oct 13, there is much discussion on the Tweeters website: http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/TWET.html Google map to bird: http://bit.ly/SAFNI Access to the bird site is easy; only 15 min off Interstate-5. Took 4.5 hours from Eugene; 2.5 hours from Portland. Barry McKenzie Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091014/ba1d1ec4/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Oct 14 22:00:09 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:00:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 10/14/09 Message-ID: <20091015050009.D8C1CA815D@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 10/08 to 10/14/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 6 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Cackling Goose 2 (30, 10/8 & 11) BUFFLEHEAD* 1 (3, 10/10) COOPER'S HAWK 1 (2, 10/8) Red-tailed Hawk 1 (2, 10/14) Band-tailed Pigeon 1 (6, 10/14) Mourning Dove 1 (1, 10/8) NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL 1 (1, 10/11) BARRED OWL 1 (1, 10/8) Anna's Hummingbird 5 (3, 10/8) Red-breasted Sapsucker 3 (1) Downy Woodpecker 1 (1, 10/12) Northern Flicker 5 (6) Pileated Woodpecker 3 (1, 10/10 & 12) Steller's Jay 5 (5) American Crow 5 (5) Black-capped Chickadee 6 (20, 10/14) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4 (7) Bushtit 1 (1+, 10/13) Red-breasted Nuthatch 6 (8) Brown Creeper 3 (2) Bewick's Wren 4 (2) Winter Wren 6 (2) Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 (5) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 (2, 10/11) Hermit Thrush 2 (5, 10/11) American Robin 6 (25) Varied Thrush 3 (6, 10/8) European Starling 4 (5) Cedar Waxwing 5 (50, 10/8) Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 (1, 10/11) Townsend's Warbler 1 (1, 10/11) Spotted Towhee 6 (8) Fox Sparrow 1 (2, 10/8) Song Sparrow 6 (12) Dark-eyed Junco 6 (25, 10/14) Purple Finch 1 (1, 10/12) House Finch 6 (15) Lesser Goldfinch 3 (2) American Goldfinch 3 (5) Evening Grosbeak 3 (35, 10/8) *Bufflehead is a new species for my dogwalk In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: SHARP-SHINNED HAWK Misses (birds found at least 3 days in previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Hairy Woodpecker, Hutton's Vireo, Golden-crowned Sparrow Wink Gross Portland From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Oct 14 23:37:21 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:37:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 10-15-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * October 15, 2009 * ORPO0910.15 - birds mentioned White-winged Scoter Pacific Loon Brown Pelican Brandt?s Cormorant Sandhill Crane American Golden-Plover American Avocet Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Heermann?s Gull Common Tern Pomarine Jaeger Northern Shrike Tropical Kingbird Clark?s Nutcracker Northern Mockingbird Yellow-rumped Warbler Palm Warbler American Tree Sparrow Swamp Sparrow - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday October 15. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On October 11 a TROPICAL KINGBIRD was on the North Spit of Coos Bay. That day a MOCKINGBIRD was at Pistol River. Another was seen at the Nehalem Sewage Ponds October 10. Large flocks of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were reported during the week from many areas. Heavy southward movements of BROWN PELICANS and HEERMANN?S GULLS were reported along the Oregon coast. On October 9, 13,000 BROWN PELICANS and 400 HEERMANN?S GULLS were at Yaquina Head. On October 13 a NORTHERN SHRIKE was on the North Spit of Coos Bay. A PALM WARBLER is now being seen along the nature trail behind the Marine Science Center on Yaquina Bay. On October 14 three POMARINE JAEGERS and 1200 BRANDT?S CORMORANTS were off Boiler Bay. A CLARK?S NUTCRACKER was seen October 8 in the Lincoln County Coast Range. On October 14 a SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER was at Ridgefield NWR. A SWAMP SPARROW was seen October 9 on Sauvie Island. SANDHILL CRANES are now peaking on the Island. An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, a TREE SPARROW, and a SANDHILL CRANE were at Fern Ridge Reservoir October 11. On October 13 an AVOCET was at the Prineville Sewage Ponds. On October 11 two PACIFIC LOONS and a COMMON TERN were at Phillips Reservoir south of Baker, and a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and a NORTHERN SHRIKE were at Unity Reservoir. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091014/08b8bf04/attachment.html From tyler_hicks at wsu.edu Thu Oct 15 09:07:18 2009 From: tyler_hicks at wsu.edu (Tyler Hicks) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:07:18 -0500 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield Sharp-tailed Still There Message-ID: Obolers & Tweeters, The Ridgefield Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was still present this morning at 8 AM on the east side of Rest Lake in the River 'S' Unit. What a beauty! The bird is best seen from the pullout near the cottonwood cluster. The bird was hanging out with 2 Pectoral Sandpipers and a loose flock of ~20 dowitchers. Finding it can be tricky as the birds move in and out the vegetation. Also present were ~80 Western Sandpipers (left shortly after I arrived) and numerous waterfowl and cranes. Thanks to Bob for finding this bird. My first lifebird in over six months when I picked up Crimson-collared Grosbeak in the RGV. Cheers, Tyler Tyler L. Hicks Ph.D. Student Washington State University Vancouver E-mail: tyler_hicks at wsu.edu Web Page: http://thingswithwings.org "We were certainly uncertain. At least, I'm pretty sure I am." - Modest Mouse _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222984/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091015/f572ecb4/attachment.html From dbarber71 at comcast.net Thu Oct 15 13:28:01 2009 From: dbarber71 at comcast.net (David Barber) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:28:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Air Travel with Scope and Tripod Message-ID: <4AD785D1.4090800@comcast.net> Marilyn, I traveled with my monopod last week and had only one problem. I put it in the overhead bin and forgot to get it. It was behind the bags and I missed seeing it. Fortunately, it was waiting for me when I returned to Portland, but I was unable to use it on the tirp. Next time, I will make sure I have an address label on it AND attach it to my carryon bag. Or maybe you are less forgetful than I am. David Barber Vancouver, WA I plan to fly to the east coast on Delta Airlines next week. I'd like to take my scope. I can carry the scope and my binos in my carry-on bag. The tripod is 28" long, 4" longer than my one piece of checked baggage. Suggestions for the best way to transport my tripod will be appreciated. From pointers at pacifier.com Thu Oct 15 13:44:21 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (pointers at pacifier.com) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:44:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Air Travel with Scope and Tripod In-Reply-To: <4AD785D1.4090800@comcast.net> References: <4AD785D1.4090800@comcast.net> Message-ID: <3566.130.118.152.172.1255639461.squirrel@webmail.iinet.com> hi ... just a hint to pass on ... these folding chairs which appear every summer --- well, their carrybags fit my monopods and my tripods really well ... I buy the chair (less than $10.00 and usually around $5.00) and throw it away and keep the carrybag ... easy and cheap way to carry my monopod around places when I'm not using it as I just sling the bag over my shoulder ... folks might be useful carrying their monopods or smaller tripods on the planes ... plus the fabric case is more obvious when you check the overhead bin when you leave ... a monopod, especially if it is a black one, as David discovered, can easily get overlooked. Lyn > Marilyn, > > I traveled with my monopod last week and had only one problem. I put it in > the overhead bin and forgot to get it. It was behind the bags and I missed > seeing it. Fortunately, it was waiting for me when I returned to Portland, > but I was unable to use it on the tirp. > > Next time, I will make sure I have an address label on it AND attach it to > my carryon bag. > > Or maybe you are less forgetful than I am. > > David Barber > Vancouver, WA > > I plan to fly to the east coast on Delta Airlines next week. I'd like to > take my scope. I can carry the scope and my binos in my carry-on bag. The > tripod is 28" long, 4" longer than my one piece of checked baggage. > Suggestions for the best way to transport my tripod will be appreciated. > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > Lyn Topinka http://englishriverwebsite.com/ http://columbiariverimages.com/ http://ridgefieldbirds.com/ From jim.and.rita at comcast.net Thu Oct 15 14:01:48 2009 From: jim.and.rita at comcast.net (jim.and.rita at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:01:48 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Snow Bunting (NE Portland) Message-ID: <1867887188.4207521255640508442.JavaMail.root@sz0062a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> We got good looks at a Snow Bunting calmly feeding in the cracks in the sidewalk and in the street in the 5100 and 5000 blocks of NE Pacific St. in NE Portland. To reach this location, turn south on NE 52nd Avenue from NE Halsey. Then, turn right (west) on NE Pacific St. just after passing Fraser Park and an old school building that now houses a Head Start/Early Head Start facility. Rita and Jim Coleman -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091015/106585cb/attachment.html From vagabondbirder at yahoo.com Thu Oct 15 15:50:49 2009 From: vagabondbirder at yahoo.com (Richard Messenger) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:50:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Air Travel with Scope and Tripod Message-ID: <914930.12466.qm@web59005.mail.re1.yahoo.com> I have traveled many times wityh my scope and tripod on airlines.? i always carry my optics in my carry on bag.? If I also have a 29" suitcase I put the tripod in it.? If not I remove the head then tie the legs as tight as I can get them with either rope and/or velcro.? If you a box the right size that also helps.??I put the head?in my carry on.? So far I have never had any damage to my tripod. ? Hope this helps. Richard Messenger? The Vagabond Birder Wherever the RV is parked --- On Thu, 10/15/09, David Barber wrote: From: David Barber Subject: Re: [obol] Air Travel with Scope and Tripod To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Thursday, October 15, 2009, 3:28 PM Marilyn, I traveled with my monopod last week and had only one problem. I put it in the overhead bin and forgot to get it. It was behind the bags and I missed seeing it. Fortunately, it was waiting for me when I returned to Portland, but I was unable to use it on the tirp. Next time, I will make sure I have an address label on it AND attach it to my carryon bag. Or maybe you are less forgetful than I am. David Barber Vancouver, WA I plan to fly to the east coast on Delta Airlines next week. I'd like to take my scope. I can carry the scope and my binos in my carry-on bag. The tripod is 28" long, 4" longer than my one piece of checked baggage. Suggestions for? the best way to transport my tripod will be appreciated. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091015/d7e30deb/attachment.html From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Thu Oct 15 15:57:57 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (gerard.lillie at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:57:57 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Snow Bunting (NE Portland) In-Reply-To: <1867887188.4207521255640508442.JavaMail.root@sz0062a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1999790750.4317681255647477377.JavaMail.root@sz0066a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Good find. I just saw the bird with Greg Boyce and Scott Carpenter. Thanks Steve Jaggers for the phone call. Gerard Lillie Mt. Tabor Portland, OR ----- Original Message ----- From: "jim and rita" To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 2:01:48 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [obol] Snow Bunting (NE Portland) We got good looks at a Snow Bunting calmly feeding in the cracks in the sidewalk and in the street in the 5100 and 5000 blocks of NE Pacific St. in NE Portland. To reach this location, turn south on NE 52nd Avenue from NE Halsey. Then, turn right (west) on NE Pacific St. just after passing Fraser Park and an old school building that now houses a Head Start/Early Head Start facility. Rita and Jim Coleman _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091015/f00d9f43/attachment.html From mlvandyk at onlinemac.com Thu Oct 15 16:31:46 2009 From: mlvandyk at onlinemac.com (Marilyn van Dyk) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:31:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Air Travel with Optics Message-ID: Thanks to all of you who sent useful information about your experience with scopes and tripods and air travel and your recommendations for mine. With your help, I believe I've resolved the issue satisfactorily. From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Oct 15 16:40:07 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:40:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Unique Malheur property for sale Message-ID: The Steens Mtn. Resort (right by Page Springs) is for sale. The 4-bedroom home next to it is for sale separately. An amazing spot for the right birders.... -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Oct 15 16:52:15 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:52:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malheur property Message-ID: I forgot to include the contact info for the Steens Mtn Resort and house: Tim Clemens United Country - Clemens Real Estate 235 Hwy 20 N Hines OR 97738 Office, (541) 573-2621 Fax, (541) 573-2500 E-mail:? tclemens at unitedcountry.com -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From rozzienoodle at gmail.com Thu Oct 15 17:07:49 2009 From: rozzienoodle at gmail.com (Jean Thompson) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:07:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] band-tailed pigeons Message-ID: Still have 20-some at the feeding stations, twice a day. Bankruptcy looms. Anyone else still seeing them? -- Jean Thompson rozzienoodle at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091015/6f87baf4/attachment.html From cncschneider at msn.com Thu Oct 15 17:33:19 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:33:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Silverton Area Birds Western Grebe Message-ID: Hi Birders, I took a bike ride out to some local birding spots. The best bird was a WESTERN GREBE motorless species number 102. I found a member of this species last year on Oct. 6th in the same general area. At Webb Lake there were 5 MALLARDS, 15 AMERICAN COOTS, 2 PEID-BILLED GREBES, 3 SAVANNAH SPARROWS, and 15 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES. At Quarry Rd. ponds there were 15 CACKLING GEESE, 12 CANADA GEESE, 5 MALLARDS, 2 PIED-BILLED GREBES, 1 WESTERN GREBE, 1 AMERICAN KESTREL, 1 NORTHERN FLICKER, 1 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, 14 EUROPEAN STARLINGS, 1 SONG SPARROW, 4 GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, and 100 plus BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS. There was also a male TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (first for the fall) in the back yard. Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon From madsteins at hotmail.com Thu Oct 15 17:46:56 2009 From: madsteins at hotmail.com (Don Stein) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:46:56 -0400 Subject: [obol] CACKLING GOOSE, Depoe Bay Message-ID: Between 5-5:30 PM there was a single CACKLING GOOSE (Aleutian) feeding on the grassy common area next to my house near the ocean. Don Stein _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft?s powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091015/488f1960/attachment.html From andrewm25 at earthlink.net Thu Oct 15 17:55:27 2009 From: andrewm25 at earthlink.net (Andrew Marshall) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:55:27 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [obol] OT bino repair question Message-ID: <31742814.1255654527431.JavaMail.root@elwamui-royal.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Hi Folks, Was given a pair of binos recently that apparently have been knocked around a wee bit. They just cant be made to get in focus(no not my eyes). Does any one know of a local (Dallas/Salem, etc) person/company that repairs them and roughly how many arms and legs this will cost? Please respond off-list andrewm25 at earthlink.net. Thank-you! Best wishes Andrew btw: Female rufous hummingbird here in outer Dallas yesterday afternoon looking for the feeder we took in to wash! Talk about bad timing. please stop by my photo albums at http://atlanticsalmonflyguy.myphotoalbum.com/albums.php or find me at webshots under the pseudonym Atlanticsalmonflyguy. Comments are always appreciated. Thank-you! From pbirder at comcast.net Thu Oct 15 18:42:44 2009 From: pbirder at comcast.net (Patty Newland) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:42:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Snow Bunting (NE Portland) In-Reply-To: <1999790750.4317681255647477377.JavaMail.root@sz0066a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> References: <1999790750.4317681255647477377.JavaMail.root@sz0066a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <4AD7CF94.9040401@comcast.net> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091015/e357c5c8/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Thu Oct 15 18:51:43 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:51:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw: "Re: Snow Bunting (NE Portland)" Message-ID: <4AD7D1AF.2080101@pdx.edu> I saw the Snow Bunting between 2:30-45. It was on the parking lot just west of the school mainly hanging out around the grate in the pavement. Nice bird!
Patty Newland

gerard.lillie at comcast.net wrote:

Good find. I just saw the bird with Greg Boyce and Scott Carpenter. Thanks Steve Jaggers for the phone call.


Gerard Lillie
Mt. Tabor
Portland, OR

----- Original Message -----
From: "jim and rita" <jim.and.rita at comcast.net>
To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 2:01:48 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
Subject: [obol] Snow Bunting (NE Portland)

We got good looks at a Snow Bunting calmly feeding in the cracks in the sidewalk and in the street in the 5100 and 5000 blocks of NE Pacific St. in NE Portland. To reach this location, turn south on NE 52nd Avenue from NE Halsey. Then, turn right (west) on NE Pacific St. just after passing Fraser Park and an old school building that now houses a Head Start/Early Head Start facility.

Rita and Jim Coleman

_______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol

_______________________________________________
obol mailing list
obol at oregonbirdwatch.org
http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol
From oschmidt at att.net Thu Oct 15 18:51:57 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:51:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Snow Bunting (NE Portland) References: <1999790750.4317681255647477377.JavaMail.root@sz0066a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <09F540B1-3B1D-46FB-9079-3DAEDE08577E@att.net> ...... Snow Bunting photos from NE Portland this afternoon viewable here: http://web.me.com/olschmidt/SNBU/Index.html Thanks to those who found it, posted it, called on it, and gave directions! oschmidt at att.net Thursday, October 15, 2009 Begin forwarded message: > From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net > Date: October 15, 2009 3:57:57 PM PDT > To: jim and rita > Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Snow Bunting (NE Portland) > > Good find. I just saw the bird with Greg Boyce and Scott Carpenter. > Thanks Steve Jaggers for the phone call. > > Gerard Lillie > Mt. Tabor > Portland, OR > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "jim and rita" > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 2:01:48 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada > Pacific > Subject: [obol] Snow Bunting (NE Portland) > > We got good looks at a Snow Bunting calmly feeding in the cracks in > the sidewalk and in the street in the 5100 and 5000 blocks of NE > Pacific St. in NE Portland. To reach this location, turn south on NE > 52nd Avenue from NE Halsey. Then, turn right (west) on NE Pacific > St. just after passing Fraser Park and an old school building that > now houses a Head Start/Early Head Start facility. > > Rita and Jim Coleman > > _______________________________________________ obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.orghttp://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/ > obol > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091015/a6bd23d0/attachment.html From mmarvin at spiritone.com Thu Oct 15 18:56:51 2009 From: mmarvin at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:56:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] band-tailed pigeons Message-ID: <8EBAAD93-945C-4122-9DC5-C26EC626B471@spiritone.com> OBOL and Jean - Where are you? I'm in SW Portland and am still feeding quite a few Band-tailed Pigeons. I regularly have two or three but yesterday there were at least twenty feeding in the street as well as under and on the feeder. I just picked up a 50# bag of sunflower chips at Audubon Society of Portland today. Wonder how long that will last. Once I get my squirrel baffles installed, it should last a little longer. Good feeding! (and birding) Marcia -- "...they already expect you to make a check to tax deductible charity organizations." -Bob Dylan, "Ballad of a Thin Man" From jim.and.rita at comcast.net Thu Oct 15 19:17:31 2009 From: jim.and.rita at comcast.net (jim.and.rita at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:17:31 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Snow Bunting (NE Portland) - Still There at 6:30 PM In-Reply-To: <122146953.4326511255658641372.JavaMail.root@sz0062a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <2122103082.4331091255659451967.JavaMail.root@sz0062a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> The previously reported Snow Bunting was still present in the 5100 block of NE Pacific St., feeding in front of the house just west of the Head Start/Early Head Start facility, at 6:30 PM. (Jim Coleman and John Davis had watched it for an extended period just prior to this time.) It did fly into nearby trees when a resident walked up the steps to this home (just before Jim and John left the area), but let's hope that it didn't go far and that other interested birders will be able to see it tomorrow. Rita and Jim Coleman -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091016/f7f3b2b2/attachment.html From billbradford1 at gmail.com Thu Oct 15 19:17:25 2009 From: billbradford1 at gmail.com (Bill Bradford) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:17:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Snow Bunting (NE Portland) In-Reply-To: <09F540B1-3B1D-46FB-9079-3DAEDE08577E@att.net> References: <1999790750.4317681255647477377.JavaMail.root@sz0066a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> <09F540B1-3B1D-46FB-9079-3DAEDE08577E@att.net> Message-ID: Great looks at an unexpected bird. My pictures don't match Owen's, but there's a video here in addition to my compact camera pictures if you're interested. http://www.flickr.com/photos/42693729 at N04/sets/72157622594512028/ Bill Bradford On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 6:51 PM, Owen Schmidt wrote: > > ...... Snow Bunting photos from NE Portland this afternoon viewable here: > http://web.me.com/olschmidt/SNBU/Index.html > > Thanks to those who found it, posted it, called on it, and gave directions! > > > oschmidt at att.net > Thursday, October 15, 2009 > > > > > Begin forwarded message: > > *From: *gerard.lillie at comcast.net > *Date: *October 15, 2009 3:57:57 PM PDT > *To: *jim and rita > *Cc: *obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > *Subject: **Re: [obol] Snow Bunting (NE Portland)* > > Good find. I just saw the bird with Greg Boyce and Scott Carpenter. Thanks > Steve Jaggers for the phone call. > > Gerard Lillie > Mt. Tabor > Portland, OR > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "jim and rita" > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 2:01:48 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific > Subject: [obol] Snow Bunting (NE Portland) > > We got good looks at a Snow Bunting calmly feeding in the cracks in the > sidewalk and in the street in the 5100 and 5000 blocks of NE Pacific St. in > NE Portland. To reach this location, turn south on NE 52nd Avenue from NE > Halsey. Then, turn right (west) on NE Pacific St. just after passing Fraser > Park and an old school building that now houses a Head Start/Early Head > Start facility. > > Rita and Jim Coleman > > _______________________________________________ obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.orghttp://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091015/e49ac505/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Thu Oct 15 22:22:58 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:22:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] Clay-colored Sparrow in Seaside Message-ID: <4AD80332.1050309@pdx.edu> Besides the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW we saw today, other notables were a late adult CASPIAN TERN flying south at Cannon Beach. Yesterday Steve Warner saw a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER and a SHORT-EARED OWL at Little Beach on the North Spit of the Necanicum Estuary. The Clayke was a county bird for me! David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Clay-colored Sparrow in Seaside Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:01:22 GMT From: baileydc at pdx.edu To: baileydc at pdx.edu This report was mailed for David C. Bailey by http://birdnotes.net Date: October 15, 2009 Location: Seaside, Clatsop County, Oregon Birding the West bank of the Neawanna Creek in North Seaside between the Neawanna and Roosevelt (Highway 101) I caught a naked-eye glimpse of a small, buffy, and streak-free Sparrow the seemed a likely candidate for CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. Steve Warner, Mike Patterson and I all later re-sighted the bird and confirmed my initial impression. While Mike was there he pointed out an immature RED-NECKED GREBE paddling on the stream. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 50 Mallard 10 Red-necked Grebe 1 [1] Double-crested Cormorant 2 Great Blue Heron 1 Northern Harrier 1 Killdeer 4 Mew Gull 4 California Gull 10 Western Gull 1 Glaucous-winged x Western Gull 2 Rock Dove 10 Belted Kingfisher 1 Northern Flicker 2 Steller's Jay 1 Western Scrub-Jay 1 American Crow 10 Winter Wren 1 American Robin 2 Spotted Towhee 2 Clay-colored Sparrow 1 [2] Fox Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow 3 White-crowned Sparrow 10 Golden-crowned Sparrow 3 House Finch 3 Footnotes: [1] Red-necked Grebe: immature still showing stripe on face. [2] CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: With White-crowned Sparrows; Also seen by Steve Warner and Mike Patterson. Total number of species seen: 26 From craig at greatskua.com Fri Oct 16 08:33:58 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:33:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] band-tailed pigeons Message-ID: <20091016083358.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.6380ff1310.wbe@email.secureserver.net> I still have eight band-tailed pigeons visiting the feeder and bird bath at my house in SW Portland. Last year I never had more than two at my feeder at any one time, and I don't remember them sticking around this late. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] band-tailed pigeons > From: Jean Thompson > Date: Thu, October 15, 2009 5:07 pm > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > Still have 20-some at the feeding stations, twice a day. Bankruptcy looms. > Anyone else still seeing them? > > -- > Jean Thompson > rozzienoodle at gmail.com
_______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From philliplc at charter.net Fri Oct 16 09:20:28 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:20:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <10B8575CB76B4527B114B52221C11354@Phil> 7:15-8:15 AM (10/16): overcast light rain, wind S 10-20, swells 6-8 2 Pacific Loon 25 Common Loon 2 Western Grebe 4 Sooty Shearwater 40 Brown Pelican 50 Brandt's Cormorant 20 Pelagic Cormorant 150 White-winged Scoter (S) 100 Surf Scoter (S) 1 Black Turnstone 3 calidris sp. 5 Mew Gull 500+ California Gull (mixed ages S) 3 Herring Gull 2500+ Western Gull (mixed ages streaming S) 100+ Glaucous-winged Gull (mostly immature S) 300 Heermann's Gull (S) 1 Black-legged Kittiwake 800 Common Murre (S) 2 Pigeon Guillemot 6 Marbled Murrelet 15 Rhinoceros Auklet Phil philliplc at charter.net From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Fri Oct 16 09:45:20 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (gerard.lillie at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:45:20 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] band-tailed pigeons In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <890768863.4565091255711520829.JavaMail.root@sz0066a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> I know what you mean about bankruptcy. I have around 15- 20 coming to my feeders in SE Portland. Gerard Lillie Mt. Tabor Portland, OR ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jean Thompson" To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 5:07:49 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [obol] band-tailed pigeons Still have 20-some at the feeding stations, twice a day. Bankruptcy looms. Anyone else still seeing them? -- Jean Thompson rozzienoodle at gmail.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091016/7805a6a7/attachment.html From acontrer at mindspring.com Fri Oct 16 10:14:47 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:14:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lark Sparrow Florence Message-ID: Just now Friday 10a m found a lark sparrow in the brushy sump where gravel pans begin near end of s jetty rd Florence. Same place as had clay colored a week back. It was also feeding in grass at extreme se corner of pan near cove. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Fri Oct 16 11:08:35 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:08:35 +0000 Subject: [obol] Black tailed Gull PHOTOS Message-ID: Hi all, For those who are interested in this rarity, here are some nice images taken by Jeffrey Cohen of the BLACK TAILED GULL. The bird was originally found by Charlie Wright on 10/13 near Marine View Dr in Tacoma, WA. An amazing find--not only once, but TWICE by Charlie in the past several years!!! Congrat to him and MANY thanks for sharing the cool bird with the rest of the birding community. http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/black_tailed_gull All the BEST, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From alderspr at peak.org Fri Oct 16 12:22:35 2009 From: alderspr at peak.org (Karan & Jim Fairchild) Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:22:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Turkey Vulture, Benton Co Message-ID: Just now had a lone TURKEY VULTURE soaring over our meadow, probably the latest we've had them by at least a week. Nice to see again. Karan Fairchild 6 mi SW Philomath From larry.maurin at gmail.com Fri Oct 16 13:34:11 2009 From: larry.maurin at gmail.com (Larry Maurin) Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:34:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Western Tanager, SE Portland Message-ID: Hi Birders, A late WESTERN TANAGER was seen and heard at the southeast corner of SE 28th and SE Harrison in Portland at 9am this morning, October 16th. No sign of the Snow Bunting seen yesterday in NE Portland. -- ---------------------------------------- Larry P. Maurin Portland, OR larry.maurin at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091016/83687c87/attachment.html From tendon-87282 at mypacks.net Fri Oct 16 17:25:07 2009 From: tendon-87282 at mypacks.net (tendon-87282 at mypacks.net) Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:25:07 -0700 (GMT-07:00) Subject: [obol] Snow Bunting (NE Portland) - NOT Found --(but Eatern Gray Squirrels) Message-ID: <17614940.1255739107370.JavaMail.root@elwamui-milano.atl.sa.earthlink.net> I looked for, but did not find, the snow bunting from noon to 1 pm today (Friday). Another birder (Don) was there a half hour earlier and didn't see the bird. The neighborhood has more bird habitat than I expected with it being a block from I-84. There are lots of mature trees and the backyards have lots of foilage. I did see two Eastern Gray Squirrels in the neighborhood, which are my first for the Portland area. I have read (and it's been discussed on OBOL) there are local introduced Eastern Gray populations in cities in the Northwest, but these are my first here. Mike Bogar Milwaukie, OR >From: "jim and rita" > Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 -08:00 US/Canada Pacific >Snow Bunting (NE Portland) We got good looks at a Snow Bunting calmly feeding in the cracks in the > sidewalk and in the street in the 5100 and 5000 blocks of NE Pacific St. in NE Portland. To reach this location, turn south on NE 52nd Avenue from NE Halsey. Then, turn right (west) on NE Pacific St. just after passing Fraser Park and an old school building that now houses a Head Start/Early Head Start facility. > Rita and Jim Coleman From tendon-87282 at mypacks.net Fri Oct 16 17:26:04 2009 From: tendon-87282 at mypacks.net (tendon-87282 at mypacks.net) Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:26:04 -0700 (GMT-07:00) Subject: [obol] Snow Bunting (NE Portland) - NOT Found --(but Eastern Gray Squirrels) Message-ID: <13359804.1255739164309.JavaMail.root@elwamui-milano.atl.sa.earthlink.net> I looked for, but did not find, the snow bunting from noon to 1 pm today (Friday). Another birder (Don) was there a half hour earlier and didn't see the bird. The neighborhood has more bird habitat than I expected with it being a block from I-84. There are lots of mature trees and the backyards have lots of foilage. I did see two Eastern Gray Squirrels in the neighborhood, which are my first for the Portland area. I have read (and it's been discussed on OBOL) there are local introduced Eastern Gray populations in cities in the Northwest, but these are my first here. Mike Bogar Milwaukie, OR >From: "jim and rita" > Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 -08:00 US/Canada Pacific >Snow Bunting (NE Portland) We got good looks at a Snow Bunting calmly feeding in the cracks in the > sidewalk and in the street in the 5100 and 5000 blocks of NE Pacific St. in NE Portland. To reach this location, turn south on NE 52nd Avenue from NE Halsey. Then, turn right (west) on NE Pacific St. just after passing Fraser Park and an old school building that now houses a Head Start/Early Head Start facility. > Rita and Jim Coleman From windypointandy at dishmail.net Fri Oct 16 17:40:11 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:40:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bay Ocean Spit hike-10 October Message-ID: <000601ca4ec2$6b65b510$3700a8c0@windypoint99> BAY OCEAN SPIT AND TILLAMOOK 10 OCTOBER 2009 We spent most of Saturday hiking Bay Ocean Spit west of Tillamook. Though this 8-mile trek is termed a "death march" in some of the site guides, we like to stretch our legs while birding so find this hike most enjoyable. A nice variety of habitats (freshwater lake, salt marsh, saltwater bay, coastal scrub, alder woodland, Sitka spruce forest, shore pine forest, dunes, beach, and ocean) are met, so we were able to find lots of diversity. By the end of our trek, we had checked off 65 species. The bayside on the incoming tide revealed a huge difference in puddle ducks from our visit on 19 September, then virtually duckless. At least two thousand American Wigeon and a much smaller number of Northern Pintails were dipping in the shallows where there were none several weeks ago. We thought we had timed our start to have a crack at shorebirds on an incoming tide but we were almost too late. We spotted the following just before the mud disappeared and forced the birds elsewhere: Black-bellied Plover - 12 Semipalmated Plover - 5 Long-billed Dowitcher - 8 Western Sandpiper - 3 As on our last visit, the alder woodland 1.2 miles north on the trail was again very birdy. We tallied 28 species here including Brown Creeper, a tad late SWAINSON'S THRUSH, and a brilliant male Townsend's Warbler. Farther, near the end of the spit, we scanned the bay and found numbers of Surf and White-winged Scoters, Greater Scaup and our first-of-fall Red-breasted Mergansers. Once at the jetty, we were surprised to see a flotilla of small fishing boats in the channel and in the nearshore waters off the south jetty. Evidently, fishing was hot! Red-necked Grebe among numerous Brown Pelicans and Heermann's Gulls was our most interesting find here. As we trekked back south along the beach, we encountered shorebirds roosting above the high tide line. Over the span of about a mile we encountered the following: Black-bellied Plover - 130 Semipalmated Plover - 10 Marbled Godwit - 1 Western Sandpiper - 5 Dunlin - 20 Short-billed Dowitcher - 2 We did our best to find a golden plover, indeed I could almost "feel" a golden plover out there! Alas, they were not there or stayed hidden. Heading north, we stopped by rank fields on the north side of Tillamook and had views of two White-tailed Kites. Next we hit the Nehalem Sewage Treatment Plant. The ponds here were full of Northern Shovelers, Ring-necked Ducks and a couple Greater Scaup. We found a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD .10 mile south of the entrance to the Sewage plant. It was in brambles to the west of Tidelands Road just a few yards of a large blue plastic watering tank. In the fields east of the road in this area were several White-tailed Kites. There were a couple more White-tailed Kites just north of Tillamook along US-101. Along Tidelands Road were 60 Greater White-fronted Geese. A few Cackling Geese were in with the Canadas. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091016/337b04c7/attachment.html From glenn_rie at yahoo.com Fri Oct 16 17:43:00 2009 From: glenn_rie at yahoo.com (Rie Luft) Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:43:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Ridgefield Message-ID: <669090.69670.qm@web112219.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper is still at Ridgefield's Rest Lake as of 3pm this afternoon,? along with a number of Pectoral Sandpipers and MANY Dowitchers.? We found it on the eastern side just past the clump of Cottonwoods.? As reported, it was not easy to see among the grasses but one clear view was awarded us, despite the light rain.? An added gift was an Am. Bittern on the bank right near the road, enjoying what looked like worms for its dinner. Two great days what with the Snow Bunting last evening.? Owen Schmidt saw it flex its wings and said it was a female.? It was very confiding and not at all put out by passerbyes - just busily chowing down the seeds found in the narrow grass strip between sidewalk and retaining wall in the residential neighborhood. Rie Luft, Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091016/918b8dfe/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Fri Oct 16 17:44:46 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:44:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Seaside Area-11 October Message-ID: <000d01ca4ec3$0f116d30$3700a8c0@windypoint99> SEASIDE AREA 11 OCTOBER 2009 Sunday morning we walked from the north (Wellington Street) access out to Necanicum Bay. The high tide was actually low and the mudflats were dry and virtually bird less. From the vantage over the river channel we admired an immature Red-throated Loon and a loose flock of Common Mergansers right below us and a Pacific Loon just beyond the breakers. On the opposite shore there were hundreds of Heermann's and California Gulls and a few Brown Pelicans. On our return, the beachgrass-covered rise just a few yards to the west of the bay was evidently providing updrafts (easterly winds) for migrating raptors. We saw four Northern Harriers at one time, several Sharp-shinned and one Cooper's Hawk. At the "Cove" south of Seaside, we walked southwest along the shoreline cobbles to gain a closer view the spectacle of several thousand, seabirds foraging in this area. Brown Pelicans by the score were in a frenzy feeding, many just a few yards offshore. Each pelican, as it scooped up a beakful of water and prey, was "attended" by two or three Heermann's Gulls, thrashing about the pelicans beak. The gulls were anxious to capture some of the "bycatch" as the pelican squeezed its pouch full of water, by tightly pressing its beak to its chest. It was clear that the gulls obtained something edible each time the pelican caught a beakfull by this method. Though other gulls such as California's were numerous, too, along with Westerns, a few Glaucous-winged and their hybrids, and Mew, it seemed only the Heermann's was engaged in this kleptoparasitism. All around the cove were many, many hundreds of Western Grebes, at least several hundred loons, the majority Red-throated, but a few Pacifics and Commons. There were scores of cormorants, too, mostly Brandt's, but lesser numbers of Pelagics and Double-crested. The final common seabird was Common Murre. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091016/c1a4579b/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Fri Oct 16 18:31:44 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David Bailey) Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:31:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Clay-colored Sparrow still in Seaside Message-ID: <4AD91E80.3020506@pdx.edu> I saw the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW again today (16 October 2009) in Seaside. The bird is not showing well though and I had a brief, yet satisfactory look. Mike P. looked all morning without success though. The bird has been seen in a row of wild and exotic shrubbery at the edge of Neawanna Creek wetlands across hwy 101 east from the ball fields of Seaside High School and west of the North Coast Family Fellowship Church (where the Mongolian Plover was seen at Stanley Lake a few years ago). We have seen the sparrow loosely associating with White-crowned Sparrows on the West side of the Neawanna. I did today see the bird fly east across the stream to a spruce tree on the east bank west of the SW corner of the church parking lot. BE ADVISED that where the sparrow has been seen is on PRIVATE PROPERTY and no permission has been granted or should be implied for visiting the area. The site is signed to be developed as a strip mall and the "foundation" has been spread with pit-run rock which has since been colonized by Scotch Broom, Red Alder, and various weedy herbs. The wetland bank of the Neawanna is a restoration site project with caged native plants. David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From Oropendolas at aol.com Fri Oct 16 21:43:58 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:43:58 EDT Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Friday Message-ID: Hello All, I biked by Fern Ridge on my way home from work today and found at least 4 LEWIS' WOODPECKERS, probably 6, maybe more in the oak grove north of Royal Ave. I could see them sallying out from the tree tops from the parking lot, so I walked out to have a closer look. Follow the mowed path across the road from the white picket fence near the end of Royal, north ~ 1/4 mile where it takes a 90 degree turn to the east another 200 yards into the oaks. They were also being quite vocal. I'm not sure I've ever heard Lewis' call before. A kind of squelchy chirp. I watched them for an hour, and there was fairly constant vocalizing from several birds. Here's a link to a few pics. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=4413&id=100000289217347&l=4c253bf86a Good Birding, John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091017/0b23cebd/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sat Oct 17 07:00:04 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 07:00:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Air Travel with Tripod Message-ID: I have been using a small, inexpensive tripod for travelling, to support a small, relatively inexpensive field scope. I liked it because I could carry it on with my other field gear, and the trip would not be compromised if the checked luggage was lost. Until the trip back from Sicily earlier this month, I have not had a problem with it in a backpack I carry onto the plane. In Tokyo last March it was carefully measured (it is a little more than 21 inches long), but they let it through en route to Taiwan. But on the way back from Sicily, at the Catania airport, the security guard determined that it could be used as a bludgeon, and would not let it be carried on, and sent me back to check it. At the baggage counter, though they did not assess a fee for extra baggage, they would not accept it as is, but it had to be ion something. Of course my other bags were already checked and gone, so I paid 8 euros to have it wrapped, and checked it that way. Since the thing only cost $20 new, and one leg got bent in Spain last year, I should have just given it to someone, and been done with it. So apparently there is a small chance - something less than 10% - that any tripod could be a problem in a carry on. It wasn't a really big problem, since we gave ourselves plenty of time. The cost was not really so much, the same as a liter of the house white wine at a tavern overlooking the Mediterranean down the road from Michael Schumacher's castle in Portopalo, but it was a hassle. A few photos from Sicily- but only a few bird pictures - are here: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/SicilySeptember2009# Cheers, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091017/4b342ff4/attachment.html From lcain at astoria.k12.or.us Sat Oct 17 09:16:45 2009 From: lcain at astoria.k12.or.us (lcain at astoria.k12.or.us) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:16:45 GMT Subject: [obol] American Golden Plover Message-ID: <200910171616.n9HGGjfj021576@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Lee Cain by http://birdnotes.net Date: October 17, 2009 Location: Warrenton, Clatsop County, Oregon Wind direction: S Prevailing wind speed: 29-38 km/h gusting to: 39-49 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 100% Precipitation: showers/intermittent rain 0900 hrs, Warrenton Dike by Pre-Marq Center Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Peregrine Falcon 1 American Golden-Plover 1 [1] Footnotes: [1] captured by PEFA right in front of me; falcon saw me then left bird on ground Total number of species seen: 2 From srnord101 at verizon.net Sat Oct 17 10:59:12 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:59:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands - Northern Shrike Message-ID: <000001ca4f53$8957c130$9c074390$@net> OBOL; I was able to squeeze in some birding before the downpour of rain this morning. Most notable was an immature NORTHERN SHRIKE perched along the dike separating Cattail Marsh and Eagle Perch Ponds. This area also had a good number of sparrows, SAVANNAH, LINCOLN'S and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS. Other highlights: 2 EARED GREBES 1 MERLIN 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER 40-50 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS 2 WESTERN SANDPIPERS 6 GREATER YELLOWLEGS 5 WILSON'S SNIPE Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From jdanzenbaker at gmail.com Sat Oct 17 11:24:07 2009 From: jdanzenbaker at gmail.com (Jim Danzenbaker) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:24:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Continuing Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Ridgefield NWR, Clark Cty, WA Message-ID: Hi OBOLers, Shorebirding at Ridgefield NWR (Clark County, WA) this morning was very rewarding with many birds present all over Rest Lake as follows: presumably continuing SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER: 1 (seen from the car from the pullout just south of the three trees east of Rest Lake) Pectoral Sandpiper 6-8 Lesser Yellowlegs 12+ Greater Yellowlegs 2 Long-billed Dowitcher 250+ Western Sandpiper 25+ Least Sandpiper 15+ probable Semipalmated Sandpiper 1 (found just before a Peregrine flyby which shuffled the shorebird deck and sent many of them flying south out of Rest Lake) DUNLIN 6 A Peregrine, Merlin, and two Harriers were also actively shorebirding this morning. Many shorebirds flew out of Rest Lake flying south just before 9am as a result of repeated forays by a Peregrina and several Harriers. -- -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091017/edef3935/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Sat Oct 17 12:03:52 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:03:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Turnstones using "feeder" Message-ID: A few days back we were down in the Point Reyes area where we observed BLACK TURNSTONES feeding at what might be consider an unusual location. We were at the Marshall Store along Tomales Bay off Highway 1 for lunch. Presently, there's a lot of oyster beds in this bay and many folks stop here for an oyster lunch. Once eaten, the oyster shells end up in a plastic tub right next to the store near the entrance door. The store is right at the shore line. I stepped out the door with my lunch and noticed Turnstones in the tubs feasting on pieces of oyster still attached to the shell. They were only a few feet from us and several birds would wander around or feet as we sat at the benches along the shore line. For those of you along the coast where Turnstones are, this could be a possible feeder method for them. Have a photo of a Turnstone in one of the tubs if interested. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091017/2d01c109/attachment.html From rakestraw.john at yahoo.com Sat Oct 17 13:42:04 2009 From: rakestraw.john at yahoo.com (John Rakestraw) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:42:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands: BB Plover, RS Hawk, etc Message-ID: <999204.45619.qm@web65312.mail.ac2.yahoo.com> A group of 30 people took the Backyard Bird Shop/Portland Audubon bird walk at Fernhill Wetlands this morning. We obviously didn't sneak up on anything, but we still had a nice variety of birds. Highlights included: Black-bellied Plover LB Dowitchers Greater Yellowlegs Dunlin Pectoral Sandpiper Spotted Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Wilson's Snipe Red-shouldered Hawk Lesser Goldfinches (many) Eared Grebes Common Mergansers Hooded Mergansers Cheers, John Rakestraw Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091017/29edb0dd/attachment.html From acontrer at mindspring.com Sat Oct 17 13:53:01 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:53:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] S coast update Message-ID: <562BAFAA-7F71-49F9-AE32-5AC7554D4DB9@mindspring.com> I spent Friday en route to Brookings, where this Morning offered two hours of decent birding before a nasty blowing blanket of fog and mist set in. Lots of migrants but nothing rare, Collared-dove now unrare there. Gold beach gullwad had several hundred cal, 125 Heermann's, fifty or so Western, small numbers of mew, one ringbill, zero gwings and 14 adult Black-legged Kittiwakes, a bit of a surprise though they have always liked the gravel bar there. Otherwise 8 g yellowlegs, 2 lb Dow and A mix of ducks Pelicans common everywhere and adults outnumber juvs at all sites. Ratio at Bandon is 3-1 in flock of about 80. I'm in Bandon overnight and will post anything of note. One Ruddy T was on the rocks with blacks yesterday. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sat Oct 17 14:08:36 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:08:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yard migrants, Eugene Message-ID: <81b2a9930910171408r59587c5lc148784f25ece1c4@mail.gmail.com> This morning, a GC KINGLET and a female TOWNSEND'S WARBLER were foraging through the trees in my yard. Both are about a month earlier than what I typically see. It's unfortunate that I was all thumbs with the camera this morning, as both came close to my living room window at one point. The fall flocks of DE JUNCOS have also arrived. My neighborhood hosted a pair this summer, and there are at least 10 visiting my feeders now. My first SLATE-COLORED subspecies of the season visited this morning. As I type this, there is also a RC KINGLET foraging through the trees. A WB NUTHATCH has also been hanging around for most of the day. I first began seeing them in the yard in early August, and I'm pretty sure that both a male and female are present in the neighborhood. Interestingly, they go to great lengths to forage for dropped sunflower seed, but the concept of taking them from one of the many feeders still eludes them. Brandon Eugene From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Sat Oct 17 14:21:04 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:21:04 -0400 Subject: [obol] yard activity Message-ID: Nothing rare. Approx 50 ROBINS filling the lawn getting worms and stripped our small mtn. ash tree bare of berries today. A dozen are now gleaning what fell to the ground. A few CEDAR WAXWINGS were in the tree too. Also -- 2 FLICKERS on lawn and one in the feeder. It's learned to bypass the nail in front of the hole and removes all the seeds in short order. Now what? Ten to 30 BANDTAILS daily. Around 50 misc. finches, sparrows, and juncos have joined the resident birds. Interesting to see so much concentrated activity. Shotgun volleys all morning from Scappoose Bay -- never a secret when waterfowl season arrives. Lona Pierce, Warren in Columbia County _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft?s powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091017/4ee569e7/attachment.html From acontrer at mindspring.com Sat Oct 17 15:56:03 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:56:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] SHARP-tailed Sandpiper Message-ID: <3C66DE65-8E24-488C-90ED-99D6CC5E6B6C@mindspring.com> From Bandon Marsh observation deck at 3:45 Saturday 17th Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Oct 17 17:41:52 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:41:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Baker County Locations Message-ID: <595284D43F3A4E39BC87F96FBB74AFB4@cgatesPC> I've just finished a draft on birding Baker County and I would like to get input on locations that are good for birding in that county. I have the following locations mapped out but would love to hear from anyone who has experience here and has some time to let me know about some of the places that I'm missing. If you know any of these locations to be a poor birding place, that is valuable as well. Thanks. Chuck Gates ECBC Places I have so far: Unity Lake State Park - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 82 B-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 78 C-5 geographic coordinates 44 30' 01" N 118? 11' 08" W Sumpter/Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 82 B-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 78 B-5 geographic coordinates 44 44' 37" N 118? 12' 06" W Phillips Reservoir - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 82 B-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 78 B-5 geographic coordinates 44 40' 19" N 117 59' 59" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.00047628def21607f87a7&ll=44.640811,-117.815323&spn=0.387921,1.056747&z=11 Powder River Recreation Trail - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 B-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 B-6 geographic coordinates 44 40' 14" N 117 58' 39" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.00047628def21607f87a7&ll=44.640811,-117.815323&spn=0.387921,1.056747&z=11 Bowen Valley - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 B-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 B-6 geographic coordinates 44 44' 23" N 117 50' 01" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.0004761686781fcc6430b&ll=44.750147,-117.465134&spn=0.38719,1.056747&z=11 Baker City - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 A-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 B-6 geographic coordinates 44 46' 28" N 117 49' 47" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.0004761686781fcc6430b&ll=44.750147,-117.465134&spn=0.38719,1.056747&z=11 City Information http://www.citytowninfo.com/places/oregon/baker-city Baker Sewer Ponds - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 A-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 B-6 geographic coordinates 44 ' " N 117 ' " W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.0004761686781fcc6430b&ll=44.750147,-117.465134&spn=0.38719,1.056747&z=11 ODFW Highway Pond - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 A-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 A-7 geographic coordinates 44 51' 41" N 117 48' 50" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.0004761686781fcc6430b&ll=44.750147,-117.465134&spn=0.38719,1.056747&z=11 Lake Bob - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 A-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 B-7 geographic coordinates 44 50' 15" N 117 49' 06" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.0004761686781fcc6430b&ll=44.750147,-117.465134&spn=0.38719,1.056747&z=11 Airport Ponds - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 geographic coordinates 44 ' " N 117 ' " W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.0004761686781fcc6430b&ll=44.750147,-117.465134&spn=0.38719,1.056747&z=11 Best Frontage Road & Smith Lake - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 A-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 B-7 geographic coordinates 44 48' 11" N 117 48' 34" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.0004761686781fcc6430b&ll=44.750147,-117.465134&spn=0.38719,1.056747&z=11 Mt. Hope Cemetery - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 A-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 B-7 geographic coordinates 44 46' 01" N 117 49' 23" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.0004761686781fcc6430b&ll=44.750147,-117.465134&spn=0.38719,1.056747&z=11 Kolb Reservoir - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 A-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 B-6 geographic coordinates 44 45' 56" N 117 51' 08" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.0004761686781fcc6430b&ll=44.750147,-117.465134&spn=0.38719,1.056747&z=11 Thief Valley Reservoir - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 87 D-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 75 F-7 geographic coordinates 45 00' 45" N 117 46' 52" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=44.79548,-117.001648&spn=0.773772,2.113495&z=10&msid=108036481085398338899.00047629233755bc4513f National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 B-7 geographic coordinates 44 48' 49" N 117 43' 37" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.0004761686781fcc6430b&ll=44.750147,-117.465134&spn=0.38719,1.056747&z=11 Virtue Flat OHV Area - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 B-7 geographic coordinates 44 48' 28" N 117 42' 57" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.0004761686781fcc6430b&ll=44.750147,-117.465134&spn=0.38719,1.056747&z=11 Love Reservoir - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 B-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 B-8 geographic coordinates 44 45' 38" N 117 30' 54" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.0004761686781fcc6430b&ll=44.680372,-116.592407&spn=0.775313,2.113495&z=10 Hole-in-the-Wall - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 A-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 B-9 geographic coordinates 44 48' 24" N 117 19' 13" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.0004761686781fcc6430b&ll=44.680372,-116.592407&spn=0.775313,2.113495&z=10 New Bridge/Eagle Creek Road - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 A-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 B-10 geographic coordinates 44 48' 06" N 117 11' 22" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.0004761686781fcc6430b&ll=44.680372,-116.592407&spn=0.775313,2.113495&z=10 Eagle Cap Wilderness Area - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 geographic coordinates 44 ' " N 117 ' " W Google Map Snake River Oxbow Reservoir/Hwy 71 - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 88 D-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 88 F-1 geographic coordinates 44 58' 18" N 116 51' 29" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.0004761686781fcc6430b&ll=44.680372,-116.592407&spn=0.775313,2.113495&z=10 Halfway - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 geographic coordinates 44 52' 50" N 117 06' 52" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.0004761686781fcc6430b&ll=44.680372,-116.592407&spn=0.775313,2.113495&z=10 Snake River Homestead Road - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 88 D-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 88 F-1 geographic coordinates 44 58' 37" N 116 51' 36" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.0004761686781fcc6430b&ll=44.680372,-116.592407&spn=0.775313,2.113495&z=10 Snake River Road/Brownlee Reservoir - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 A-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 B-10 Pg 79 geographic coordinates 44 38' 36" N 117 06' 20" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.0004761686781fcc6430b&ll=44.680372,-116.592407&spn=0.775313,2.113495&z=10 Farewell Bend State Recreational Area - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 C-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 D-9 geographic coordinates 44 18' 24" N 117 13' 29" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=44.201897,-116.087036&spn=1.563376,4.22699&z=9&msid=108036481085398338899.0004762a41b181b176640 Brownlee Reservoir & Hewitt Memorial Park - DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 A-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 B-10 geographic coordinates 44 45' 20" N 117 07' 53" W Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108036481085398338899.0004761686781fcc6430b&ll=44.680372,-116.592407&spn=0.775313,2.113495&z=10 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091017/4903f471/attachment.html From davemac at gmail.com Sat Oct 17 17:52:39 2009 From: davemac at gmail.com (Dave MacHamer) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:52:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Great Gray Owl on Grizzly Peak Message-ID: <48048c140910171752s4221b406g5af32f0554c922e7@mail.gmail.com> Observed the owl at 9:30 a.m. flying across the trail about 25 yards ahead of me. It landed on a lower limb of a Douglas Fir and we watched eachother for about a minute before it flew off. LIfetime bird for me and a moment of humility and wonder.david machamer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091017/48f5422a/attachment.html From acontrer at mindspring.com Sat Oct 17 17:57:48 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:57:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bandon update Message-ID: <8DCA5D50-0365-468E-954C-59017F607245@mindspring.com> In addition to the sharp-tailed Sandpiper, the bandon mudflats today held Pectoral 3 Bb plover 135 Dunlin 900 or so Western 40 Least 300 plus Lb Dow 3 Ruddy t 2 Sanderling 200 Sharp tail was last seen close to the grassy island with pecs. It is the brightest one I can recall seeing and really stands out. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone From fdlospalluto at gmail.com Sat Oct 17 18:42:41 2009 From: fdlospalluto at gmail.com (frank lospalluto) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:42:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Malone Springs Area,Klamath Co. Message-ID: <7330d47e0910171842i27b0ab5ahdbf18d4895562ec6@mail.gmail.com> Was working in the Malone Springs area off of Westside Rd. Some nice birds: HOUSE WREN,singing CASSIN'S VIREO,drumming RUFFED GROUSE,all three chickadee species, From dkmunson at wildblue.net Sat Oct 17 19:54:24 2009 From: dkmunson at wildblue.net (Don & Karen Munson) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:54:24 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time) Subject: [obol] Clay-colored Sparrow - Brookings Message-ID: <4ADA8360.00000A.02652@OFFICE> Today there was a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW on what is locally known as Dick & Casey's Jetty. That's the jetty that separates the Chetco River estuary from the sport boat basin. Karen Munson Brookings, Curry County -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091017/2db408b1/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 46417 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091017/2db408b1/attachment.gif From plbirder at bendbroadband.com Sat Oct 17 20:21:17 2009 From: plbirder at bendbroadband.com (plbirder at bendbroadband.com) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 20:21:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Greenridge Raptor Watchpoint Message-ID: Hi all, Had a good day up on the Ridge today. Southwesterly then Westerly winds produced a good flight, though rain curtailed any further action after 4pm. Birds seen: Sharp-shinned Hawk 83 Coopers Hawk 10 Goshawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 9 Osprey 1 Bald Eagle 30 Golden Eagle 3 Merlin 9 Peregine 1 Accipiter sp 1 Eagle sp 1 Total 149 Also, 6 Mountain Quail on the way back was a nice surprise! Peter Low plbirder at bendbroadband.com From whoffman at peak.org Sat Oct 17 21:17:47 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:17:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Turnstones using "feeder" References: Message-ID: <4F9CA88A5A544D4D98B1D3CB4BCA94C5@D48XBZ51> A number of years ago I visited Bonaire, and stayed in a motel with an open-air restaurant on the beach - roof but no walls. Ruddy Turnstones came into the restaurant every mealtime and foraged on spilled food, leftover plates, etc. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: Dennis P. Vroman To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 12:03 PM Subject: [obol] Black Turnstones using "feeder" A few days back we were down in the Point Reyes area where we observed BLACK TURNSTONES feeding at what might be consider an unusual location. We were at the Marshall Store along Tomales Bay off Highway 1 for lunch. Presently, there's a lot of oyster beds in this bay and many folks stop here for an oyster lunch. Once eaten, the oyster shells end up in a plastic tub right next to the store near the entrance door. The store is right at the shore line. I stepped out the door with my lunch and noticed Turnstones in the tubs feasting on pieces of oyster still attached to the shell. They were only a few feet from us and several birds would wander around or feet as we sat at the benches along the shore line. For those of you along the coast where Turnstones are, this could be a possible feeder method for them. Have a photo of a Turnstone in one of the tubs if interested. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091017/abfc8981/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sat Oct 17 21:19:11 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:19:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] S coast update References: <562BAFAA-7F71-49F9-AE32-5AC7554D4DB9@mindspring.com> Message-ID: <635C68E173794277812FD40F3879F54B@D48XBZ51> A 2-pound dowitcher must have been impressive Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan Contreras" To: "OBOL" Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 1:53 PM Subject: [obol] S coast update >I spent Friday en route to Brookings, where this > Morning offered two hours of decent birding before a nasty blowing > blanket of fog and mist set in. Lots of migrants but nothing rare, > Collared-dove now unrare there. > > Gold beach gullwad had several hundred cal, 125 Heermann's, fifty or > so Western, small numbers of mew, one ringbill, zero gwings and 14 > adult Black-legged Kittiwakes, a bit of a surprise though they have > always liked the gravel bar there. Otherwise 8 g yellowlegs, 2 lb Dow > and A mix of ducks > > Pelicans common everywhere and adults outnumber juvs at all sites. > Ratio at Bandon is 3-1 in flock of about 80. > > I'm in Bandon overnight and will post anything of note. One Ruddy T > was on the rocks with blacks yesterday. > > Alan Contreras > Sent from my iPhone > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From whoffman at peak.org Sat Oct 17 21:31:28 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:31:28 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <548A43EC4232405EB97F1E9FF2A52DCD@D48XBZ51> Started a seawatch at Boiler Bay this morning, but quickly got rained out. Watched from 7:50 to 8:05. wind from the south, totally overcast, rain started about 8:00. The highlight was a major southbound movement of Heermann's Gulls: I estimate 3000 passed in that 15 minutes. other highlight: 7 Ancient Murrelets on the water just off the rocks. the list: Surf Scoter 8 White-winged Scoter 2 Pacific Loon 5 Red-throated Loon 2 on water in mixed flock Loon species 10 Brandt's Cormorant 30 Pelagic Cormorant 15 Brown Pelican 5 Heeremann's Gull 3000 California Gull 60 Western Gull present Glaucous-winged Gull 4 Common Murre 35 Pigeon Guillemot 6 Ancient Murrelet 7 On the way home I stopped at the mouth of Rocky Creek just south of Depoe Bay. A mixed flock off there contained an amazing 400 Brandt's Cormorants. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091017/55b9b300/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Sat Oct 17 21:44:35 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:44:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] S coast update Message-ID: <4ADA9D33.3000204@pdx.edu> Yes, but the real question is, how did it taste? Who knew Ray's Food Place stocked Dowitcher? David > Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:19:11 -0700 > A 2-pound dowitcher must have been impressive > > Wayne > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Alan Contreras" > To: "OBOL" > Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 1:53 PM > Subject: [obol] S coast update > > > >I spent Friday en route to Brookings, where this > > Morning offered two hours of decent birding before a nasty blowing > > blanket of fog and mist set in. Lots of migrants but nothing rare, > > Collared-dove now unrare there. > > > > Gold beach gullwad had several hundred cal, 125 Heermann's, fifty or > > so Western, small numbers of mew, one ringbill, zero gwings and 14 > > adult Black-legged Kittiwakes, a bit of a surprise though they have > > always liked the gravel bar there. Otherwise 8 g yellowlegs, 2 lb Dow > > and A mix of ducks > > > > Pelicans common everywhere and adults outnumber juvs at all sites. > > Ratio at Bandon is 3-1 in flock of about 80. > > > > I'm in Bandon overnight and will post anything of note. One Ruddy T > > was on the rocks with blacks yesterday. > > > > Alan Contreras From acontrer at mindspring.com Sat Oct 17 22:08:12 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:08:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] S coast update In-Reply-To: <4ADA9D33.3000204@pdx.edu> References: <4ADA9D33.3000204@pdx.edu> Message-ID: <32ACBCC0-A461-4E54-A69B-60F07CD691F0@mindspring.com> You missed the seasoning: 8 grams of yellowlegs. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone On Oct 17, 2009, at 9:44 PM, "David C. Bailey" wrote: > Yes, but the real question is, how did it taste? Who knew Ray's Food > Place stocked Dowitcher? > David > > >> Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:19:11 -0700 >> A 2-pound dowitcher must have been impressive >> >> Wayne >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Alan Contreras" >> To: "OBOL" >> Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 1:53 PM >> Subject: [obol] S coast update >> >> >>> I spent Friday en route to Brookings, where this >>> Morning offered two hours of decent birding before a nasty blowing >>> blanket of fog and mist set in. Lots of migrants but nothing rare, >>> Collared-dove now unrare there. >>> >>> Gold beach gullwad had several hundred cal, 125 Heermann's, fifty or >>> so Western, small numbers of mew, one ringbill, zero gwings and 14 >>> adult Black-legged Kittiwakes, a bit of a surprise though they have >>> always liked the gravel bar there. Otherwise 8 g yellowlegs, 2 lb >>> Dow >>> and A mix of ducks >>> >>> Pelicans common everywhere and adults outnumber juvs at all sites. >>> Ratio at Bandon is 3-1 in flock of about 80. >>> >>> I'm in Bandon overnight and will post anything of note. One Ruddy T >>> was on the rocks with blacks yesterday. >>> >>> Alan Contreras > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From craig at greatskua.com Sat Oct 17 22:23:16 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:23:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] A few good birds, Wasco and Sherman Counties Message-ID: <20091017222316.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.893ac98869.wbe@email.secureserver.net> I birded the east side of the Cascades today so that I could explore the drier east side forest, ag lands and remnant shrub steppes that I get to visit only occasionally. I stopped briefly at Timberline Lodge to look for finches, and then headed north on Rte 35. From the White River Snow Park, I drove south and east on Road 48 to Tygh Valley and then east across Sherar's Bridge Road to the wheat fields south and east of Grass Valley. I saw several good birds today. I didn't see anything really rare, but it was good to spend some time in habitats different than the the Willamette Valley habitats I typically bird. Here are the highlights: - a flock of 25 migrating MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS along Road 48 southwest of Rock Creek Reservoir, Wasco County; - 5 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS between Rock Creek Reservoir and Wamic, Wasco County; - 1 SNOW BUNTING flushed from the roadside along Smith-Todd Lane east of Grass Valley, Sherman County (this bird wasn't associated with any of the horned larks seen in the area); - 2 NORTHERN SHRIKES east and northeast of Grass Valley, Sherman County; - 1 OSPREY along I-84, just west of the mouth of the Deschutes River, Sherman County; and - 1 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE flying over I-84 in The Dalles, Sherman County. Today was my first time to the Tygh Valley, and in my opinion, the view over the Tygh Valley from Road 48 is one of the most scenic in the state. My non-avian highlight was a a herd of pronghorn in a wheat field along Smith Lane, south of Wasco in Sherman County. Craig Tumer SW Portland From baileydc at pdx.edu Sat Oct 17 23:48:38 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:48:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] A few good birds, Wasco and Sherman Counties Message-ID: <4ADABA46.10202@pdx.edu> Craig, Actually, SNOW BUNTING is rarely encountered in Sherman County, and surprisingly, yours is the only report I have heard of! Surely individuals must migrate through the county and occasionally over-winter, especially given the habitat, and yet I have never seen them there, nor any Longspurs for that matter. Thinking about this I would love to have the time to get over there a few times this Fall and winter and spend time scanning fields specifically for buntings and longspurs to see if it is a more likely an observer effect that they are not encountered more regularly in the county. On another note, The Dalles is in Wasco County, and I hadn't heard that Collared-Doves had made it there. Enjoyed your post, David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Oct 18 08:05:09 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis P. Vroman) Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 08:05:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Turnstones using "feeder" References: <4F9CA88A5A544D4D98B1D3CB4BCA94C5@D48XBZ51> Message-ID: <86D8686BF80A44549743F99AB6BE8876@Warbler> Thanks for sharing Wayne, For one, never would have guess that Turnstones were this friendly, approaching us humans the way they do. Food is a universal attractant among species...it is for me at least. Any OBOL members that like fish tacos...the Marshall Store has some pretty good ones if you down that way. Dennis Subject: Re: [obol] Black Turnstones using "feeder" A number of years ago I visited Bonaire, and stayed in a motel with an open-air restaurant on the beach - roof but no walls. Ruddy Turnstones came into the restaurant every mealtime and foraged on spilled food, leftover plates, etc. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: Dennis P. Vroman To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 12:03 PM Subject: [obol] Black Turnstones using "feeder" A few days back we were down in the Point Reyes area where we observed BLACK TURNSTONES feeding at what might be consider an unusual location. We were at the Marshall Store along Tomales Bay off Highway 1 for lunch. Presently, there's a lot of oyster beds in this bay and many folks stop here for an oyster lunch. Once eaten, the oyster shells end up in a plastic tub right next to the store near the entrance door. The store is right at the shore line. I stepped out the door with my lunch and noticed Turnstones in the tubs feasting on pieces of oyster still attached to the shell. They were only a few feet from us and several birds would wander around or feet as we sat at the benches along the shore line. For those of you along the coast where Turnstones are, this could be a possible feeder method for them. Have a photo of a Turnstone in one of the tubs if interested. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091018/3a3bbbc1/attachment.html From acontrer at mindspring.com Sun Oct 18 10:05:40 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:05:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sharptail yes Message-ID: Tim r relocated sharptail sun am. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone From jdanzenbaker at gmail.com Sun Oct 18 11:17:03 2009 From: jdanzenbaker at gmail.com (Jim Danzenbaker) Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:17:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Turnstones using "feeder" In-Reply-To: <86D8686BF80A44549743F99AB6BE8876@Warbler> References: <4F9CA88A5A544D4D98B1D3CB4BCA94C5@D48XBZ51> <86D8686BF80A44549743F99AB6BE8876@Warbler> Message-ID: Hi Dennis, While on a birding trip to the Seychelles in 1994, I was surprised to see Ruddy Turnstones feeding on bird seed on a platform feeder about 2.5 feet off the ground! Yes, the common demoninator for all of this is FOOD. Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com On Sun, Oct 18, 2009 at 8:05 AM, Dennis P. Vroman wrote: > Thanks for sharing Wayne, > > For one, never would have guess that Turnstones were this > friendly, approaching us humans the way they do. Food is a universal > attractant among species...it is for me at least. > > Any OBOL members that like fish tacos...the Marshall Store has some pretty > good ones if you down that way. > > Dennis > > *Subject:* Re: [obol] Black Turnstones using "feeder" > > A number of years ago I visited Bonaire, and stayed in a motel with an > open-air restaurant on the beach - roof but no walls. Ruddy Turnstones came > into the restaurant every mealtime and foraged on spilled food, leftover > plates, etc. > > Wayne > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* Dennis P. Vroman > *To:* obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > *Sent:* Saturday, October 17, 2009 12:03 PM > *Subject:* [obol] Black Turnstones using "feeder" > > A few days back we were down in the Point Reyes area where we observed > BLACK TURNSTONES feeding at what might be consider an unusual location. > > We were at the Marshall Store along Tomales Bay off Highway 1 for lunch. > Presently, there's a lot of oyster beds in this bay and many folks stop here > for an oyster lunch. Once eaten, the oyster shells end up in a plastic tub > right next to the store near the entrance door. The store is right at the > shore line. > > I stepped out the door with my lunch and noticed Turnstones in the tubs > feasting on pieces of oyster still attached to the shell. They were only a > few feet from us and several birds would wander around or feet as we sat at > the benches along the shore line. For those of you along the coast where > Turnstones are, this could be a possible feeder method for them. > > Have a photo of a Turnstone in one of the tubs if interested. > > Dennis (north of Grants Pass) > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091018/60ef99d5/attachment.html From drheath82 at verizon.net Sun Oct 18 11:24:05 2009 From: drheath82 at verizon.net (Mr David Heath) Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:24:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Turnstones using "feeder" In-Reply-To: <4F9CA88A5A544D4D98B1D3CB4BCA94C5@D48XBZ51> References: <4F9CA88A5A544D4D98B1D3CB4BCA94C5@D48XBZ51> Message-ID: <003501ca5020$2d98e1d0$88caa570$@net> Same thing at the Blue Waters Inn on Tobago. David From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Wayne Hoffman Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 9:18 PM To: Dennis P. Vroman; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Black Turnstones using "feeder" A number of years ago I visited Bonaire, and stayed in a motel with an open-air restaurant on the beach - roof but no walls. Ruddy Turnstones came into the restaurant every mealtime and foraged on spilled food, leftover plates, etc. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: Dennis P. Vroman To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 12:03 PM Subject: [obol] Black Turnstones using "feeder" A few days back we were down in the Point Reyes area where we observed BLACK TURNSTONES feeding at what might be consider an unusual location. We were at the Marshall Store along Tomales Bay off Highway 1 for lunch. Presently, there's a lot of oyster beds in this bay and many folks stop here for an oyster lunch. Once eaten, the oyster shells end up in a plastic tub right next to the store near the entrance door. The store is right at the shore line. I stepped out the door with my lunch and noticed Turnstones in the tubs feasting on pieces of oyster still attached to the shell. They were only a few feet from us and several birds would wander around or feet as we sat at the benches along the shore line. For those of you along the coast where Turnstones are, this could be a possible feeder method for them. Have a photo of a Turnstone in one of the tubs if interested. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) _____ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091018/ab4756d4/attachment.html From sheran at bendbroadband.com Sun Oct 18 12:17:26 2009 From: sheran at bendbroadband.com (Sheran Wright) Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:17:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] A few good birds, Wasco and Sherman Counties References: <4ADABA46.10202@pdx.edu> Message-ID: <532A84142CF64353A2D33D5A596A7087@notebook> My brother lives in The Dalles and has many Euro Collared Doves roosting in a big tree in his yard. Sheran Wright Bend ----- Original Message ----- From: "David C. Bailey" To: Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 11:48 PM Subject: Re: [obol] A few good birds, Wasco and Sherman Counties > Craig, > > Actually, SNOW BUNTING is rarely encountered in Sherman County, and > surprisingly, yours is the only report I have heard of! Surely > individuals must migrate through the county and occasionally > over-winter, especially given the habitat, and yet I have never seen > them there, nor any Longspurs for that matter. Thinking about this I > would love to have the time to get over there a few times this Fall and > winter and spend time scanning fields specifically for buntings and > longspurs to see if it is a more likely an observer effect that they are > not encountered more regularly in the county. > > On another note, The Dalles is in Wasco County, and I hadn't heard that > Collared-Doves had made it there. > > Enjoyed your post, > David > > David C. Bailey > Gearhart, Oregon > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From andydfrank at gmail.com Sun Oct 18 13:19:34 2009 From: andydfrank at gmail.com (Andy Frank) Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:19:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Smith-Bybee Northern Shrike Message-ID: <2ec131a10910181319s27f263b3k56429fb735257e09@mail.gmail.com> There was an adult NORTHERN SHRIKE visible from the end of the dirt path that goes between Smith and Bybee Lakes in North Portland this morning. There were 249 GREAT EGRETS -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091018/f9d9fb30/attachment.html From andydfrank at gmail.com Sun Oct 18 13:22:34 2009 From: andydfrank at gmail.com (Andy Frank) Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:22:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Smith Bybee today Message-ID: <2ec131a10910181322m79e6bbfbo8bb92db6282b4bee@mail.gmail.com> Somehow I hit the send button too soon. Sorry. There was an adult NORTHERN SHRIKE visible from the end of the dirt path that goes between Smith and Bybee Lakes in North Portland this morning. There were 249 GREAT EGRETS with 234 on Smith and 15 on Bybee. Regarding shorebirds, there was a distant flock of peeps, 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS and 6 DUNLIN, all on Smith. And loads of ducks. Andy Frank -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091018/d980c3e4/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sun Oct 18 13:16:33 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:16:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <9F55E841D89B4E61B61A419223369819@D48XBZ51> I conducterd a seawatch at Boiler bay from 8:15 to 10:45 this morning. Spectacular birding! and very different birds than yeasterday. I wish I had dragged myself out earlier. Weather: overcast, but calm. a layer of mist lay over the water, limiting visibility to about 1 mile initially, then retreated, and became more patchy, so that by the end, could see 2+ miles in some directions. Considerable swells, with some residual waves, but became progressively smoother. The highlights were migrating waterfowl, and tubenoses. Aleutian (Cackling) Goose: 2970 southbound Canada Goose 4 - in a flock of Aleutians Green-winged Teal 265 - S Northern Shoveler 60 The most I have ever seen there - 2 flocks Northern Pintail 75 Lesser Scaup 1 Ring-necked Duck 15 - 2 groups Surf Scoter 440 - incl. raft of 90 on water the whole time White-winged Scoter 575 - at least 3/4 drakes Common Loon 8 - 2 on water Pacific Loon 350 - mainly adults altrnate plumage or in molt Red-throated Loon 7 Western Grebe 5 - on the water Sooty Shearwater 100+ Sooty/Short-tailed 400+ saw 2-3 that looked more like Short-tailed, but not definitive Pink-footed Shearwater 18+ Buller's Shearwater 30+ POSSIBLE Greater Shearwater 1 bird had white underparts, dark back. As it flared to land, it showed a white band across the tail base. Seemed a bit smaller than Pink-foot, larger than Sooty. I did not see head pattern or wing linings well, so not at all a definitive look. Northern Fulmar 25+ all dark phase Brown Pelican 475 mostly southbound Double-crested Cormorant 15 Brandt's Cormorant 150 Pelagic Cormorant 250 Dunlin 5 Sanderling 35 peeps 150 Heermann's Gull 45 Mew Gull 35 California Gull 150 Western Gull many - 600+ dark immature big gulls moving s. - mix of Western, Olympic. Herring Gull 3 adults Common Murre 50 mainly on water Pigeon Guillemot 4 on water Gulls and pelicans were feeding on fish schools 1/2-1 mile offshore. the shearwaters were mostly seen when they cruised these flocks, and sometimes landed to feed. Most of the Buller's Shearwaters were in one group, around 8:40. Shearwater counts are very conservative, because of the liklihood of repeat sightings. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091018/4dab19c6/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun Oct 18 15:11:45 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:11:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] STSA's, Cackling Geese, CC Sparrows- S. Coast Stuff Message-ID: <54291.59586.qm@web45304.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Looks like Knute Andersson has a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at his place near Langlois in Curry Co., says it's been there several days. One of the highlight of my morning (10/18) was seeing many thousands of ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE pass overhead on the north spit and at Bandon Marsh. ?I saw 5-10,000 in an hour and a half on the north spit of Coos Bay, some flocks very large, one as large as the width of the spit, about a mile wide. ?Also had a flyover calling golden-plover that was doing a textbook queedle type call- likely an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER. I have seen single LAPLAND LONGSPURS in a couple places on the north spit the past few days. The SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER found by Alan Contreras at Bandon Marsh NWR was a treat also! Amazingly, this species has been seen 9 out of the last 11 years in Coos Co. with a total of 11 records during the period. Bandon Marsh is where 7 of the 11 records have been. There are at least 21 records total in Coos Co. now. Merry migration!Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091018/c1793a43/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Oct 18 15:34:03 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:34:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coast trip Message-ID: Just back from three days on the coast. I too saw and heard a steady movement all three days, especially today, of Aleutians cackling their way south along the beaches. They were all fairly low and very noisy. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News From baileydc at pdx.edu Sun Oct 18 15:59:00 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:59:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Clay-colored Sparrow continues in Seaside Message-ID: <4ADB9DB4.5090707@pdx.edu> Clay-colored Sparrow was seen by several this morning within half an hour of 0930. From alderspr at peak.org Sun Oct 18 16:16:39 2009 From: alderspr at peak.org (Karan & Jim Fairchild) Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:16:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Benton Co Rufous Hummingbird Message-ID: <1404F84615A746B4B9309A55A701BBD0@HOMESTEAD> Hi Obol- Today we had a juvenile RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD at our fuschias, which is about a month later than our previous late date. Fun to see again, I miss them! Karan Fairchild 6 mi SW Philomath From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Oct 18 17:20:16 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:20:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] [Fwd: [birding] CC longspur @ FNWR] Message-ID: <1255911616.26589.0.camel@clearwater> -------- Forwarded Message -------- From: W.Douglas.robinson To: Birding Midvalley Cc: Moore Randy Subject: [birding] CC longspur @ FNWR Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 09:49:05 -0700 A single Chestnut-collared Longspur was with 16 Horned Larks in the southwest quadrant of the large field south of the Bruce Road overlook at Finley today. Have fun Doug _______________________________________________ list mailing list list at midvalleybirding.org http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ From celata at pacifier.com Sun Oct 18 18:02:26 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:02:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Circle Creek, Clatsop Co. - 10/18/2009 Message-ID: <4ADBBAA2.90504@pacifier.com> After ticking the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at Seaside David and Eva Bailey, Michelle and I went to Circle Creek to count salamanders with the following results: 10 Northwestern Salamanders 27 Rough-skinned Newts 1 Columbia Torrent Salamander 1 Oregon Ensatina 18 Western Red-backed Salamanders 4 Dunn's Salamanders 7 Oregon Red-legged Frogs 1 Pacific Tree Frog Photos of the catch at: http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12432/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sun Oct 18 18:05:50 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:05:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red Crossbills - Dee Wright Observatory Message-ID: <81b2a9930910181805p375bbf74u477d2ae31c7b6e5f@mail.gmail.com> The wife and I took a sightseeing trip up Hwy 242 this morning. We stopped off at the Dee Wright Observatory (at McKenzie Pass) and were somewhat surprised to see three RED CROSSBILLS hanging out on the rocks of the structure. They were there for a good 5-10 minutes. I'm assuming that they were just passing through, as there isn't much conifer crop in that vast area of lava flow. Two RAVENS were also briefly present. Brandon Eugene From erikknight05 at comcast.net Sun Oct 18 18:29:13 2009 From: erikknight05 at comcast.net (Erik Knight) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:29:13 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Say's Phoebe - Baskett Slough NWR In-Reply-To: <1930371369.4674261255914793062.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1610377663.4678271255915753305.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> OBOLers, Don't know if this is new but there was a SAY'S PHOEBE along the Narrows at Baskett Slough NWR early this afternoon -- westside, north of Coville Road.? There was also a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK along Livermore Road about .6 miles south of Bethel Road.? full report on birdnotes. -------------- Erik Knight Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091019/651cf5b4/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Oct 18 18:35:21 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:35:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] PHOTOS: Seaside Clay-colored Sparrow, etc. Message-ID: <4ADBC259.60408@pacifier.com> I have posted the two best shots (don't laugh) of the Seaside CLAY-COLORED SPARROW as well as more salamander shots and this week in MUSHROOMS on my flickr site. http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From steve_dougill at hotmail.com Sun Oct 18 19:42:47 2009 From: steve_dougill at hotmail.com (Steve Dougill) Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:42:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Halequin Duck - Deschutes County Message-ID: An ECBC field trip with about 17 folks had a great day in the high lakes of the Cascades in Deschutes County. At Wickiup Res there was 1 HERRING GULL, 2 SURF SCOTER, 200+ COMMON LOONS, 5 HORNED GREBES and 1 RED NECKED GREBE. At Crane Prairie Reservoir we found a late BARN SWALLOW, 1 PACIFIC LOON and 1 female type HALEQUIN DUCK on the fast flowing river entering the reservoir. I think this is a first for Deschutes County. Steve Dougill, Redmond, Deschutes Co., OR EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD Join me -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091018/9d6e4434/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Oct 18 21:32:55 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:32:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook Birdies Message-ID: <12115E2D51AA4ED4B90184D20BDC5855@cgatesPC> I decided to do a short trip in Crook County instead of a longer trip to Wickiup. My loss since they saw Deschutes County's first Harlequin Duck. I started by going to Grizzly Mt. to see if any Snow Buntings were hanging out there (nope). I then went to the Prineville Cemetery (dead), Barnes Butte Lake (nada), and Johnson Creek Reservoir (Tundra Swans). Next I went out to Ochoco Reservoir and Prineville Reservoir. I came back through North Shore Road and ended my day at the Prineville Sewer Ponds. Anyway, I didn't find any rarities but I did find some interesting birds: 43 White-fronted Geese - Prineville Res., Prineville Sewer Ponds, Houston Lake 2 Tundra Swans - 1st of the season at Johnson Cr. Reservoir 4 Wood Ducks - Prineville Sewer Ponds 5 Common Loons - Ochoco Res. 1st of the season 13 Eared Grebes - Prineville Sewer Ponds 27 Western Grebes - Prineville Sewer Ponds, Ochoco Reservoir, Prineville Reservoir, Houston Lake 4 Clark's Grebes - Prineville Reservoir 5 Least Sandpipers - Prineville Sewer Ponds - haven't seen them in a while 4 Collared-Doves - Wainright Rd. 2 Downy WP - North Shore Rd. - Surprisingly hard to find in Crook County. These were my first two of the year 1 Loggerhead Shrike - Grizzly Mt. 49 Ruby-crowned Kinglets - everywhere Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091018/6f0e6bcb/attachment.html From rkorpi at hotmail.com Mon Oct 19 07:42:59 2009 From: rkorpi at hotmail.com (Ray Korpi) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:42:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] Volunteer Needed Message-ID: All, Clark College annually assists with the Science Olympiad locally and holds the Washington State Science Olympiad every few years. This year, an Ornithology category has been added. I was asked to assist, but am unable to make it to the session to train coaches, which is this Saturday, October 24 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm (free lunch for the volunteer at 11 am). If you have an interest in helping, please contact me privately. Thanks Ray K Ray Korpi rkorpi at hotmail.com Vancouver WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091019/506e4007/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Mon Oct 19 08:40:35 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:40:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Turnstones using "feeder" Message-ID: <20091019084035.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.d46916ec83.wbe@email.secureserver.net> On the southernmost island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (the island with the restaurant, gift shop and fishing pier), ruddy turnstones feed like starlings on scraps of food dropped by people and on tidbits tossed out to them. I once saw turnstones eating peanut M&Ms that a kid had dropped. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] Black Turnstones using "feeder" > From: "Dennis P. Vroman" > Date: Sat, October 17, 2009 12:03 pm > To: > > > A few days back we were down in the Point Reyes area where we observed BLACK TURNSTONES feeding at what might be consider an unusual location. > > We were at the Marshall Store along Tomales Bay off Highway 1 for lunch. Presently, there's a lot of oyster beds in this bay and many folks stop here for an oyster lunch. Once eaten, the oyster shells end up in a plastic tub right next to the store near the entrance door. The store is right at the shore line. > > I stepped out the door with my lunch and noticed Turnstones in the tubs feasting on pieces of oyster still attached to the shell. They were only a few feet from us and several birds would wander around or feet as we sat at the benches along the shore line. For those of you along the coast where Turnstones are, this could be a possible feeder method for them. > > Have a photo of a Turnstone in one of the tubs if interested. > > Dennis (north of Grants Pass)
_______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From POsburn294 at aol.com Mon Oct 19 09:49:03 2009 From: POsburn294 at aol.com (POsburn294 at aol.com) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:49:03 EDT Subject: [obol] Another N. Shrike Message-ID: Sunday 2 PM there was a N. Shrike 100 yds south of the entrance to Kelly PT. Park paul osburn -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091019/db330083/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Mon Oct 19 10:03:30 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:03:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: 7:45-8:45 (10/19): overcast intermittent drizzle, wind S 5, swells 3-5 everything moving S unless noted 100 Red-throated Loon 300 Pacific Loon 50 Common Loon 4 Western Grebe zero tubenose 1800 Brown Pelican (steady small flocks) 15 Double-crested Cormorant 200 Brandt's Cormorant (most N) 50 Pelagic Cormorant 60 Aleutian Cackling Goose 1 American Wigeon 1 Northern Shoveler 100 Green-winged Teal 1 scaup sp. 1 Black Scoter 500 White-winged Scoter 4000 Surf Scoter 1 Long-tailed Duck 300 Dunlin 1 Parasitic Jaeger 20+ Mew Gull 1000+ California Gull (mixed ages) 1 Herring Gull 1500+ Western Gull (mixed ages) 100+ Glaucous-winged Gull 2500+ Heermann's Gull (steady 50-100/min, decreasing after 8:30) 200 Common Murre 1 Rhinoceros Auklet + lone large, bright, heavily marked Savannah Sparrow that dropped in briefly on the rocks (one very poor photo) http://philliplc.com/images/bb0905.jpg Phil philliplc at charter.net From ballard at gbbo.org Mon Oct 19 10:26:27 2009 From: ballard at gbbo.org (Jennifer Ballard) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:26:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Short-eared Owls on Hart Mountain NAR Message-ID: <20091019172620.BB8E7A815D@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Hi all, This July/very early August, I saw more Short-eared Owls here than I ever have before, maybe even all put together, including one group of 14. Between me and another person, we totaled at least 40-50. In past years, when I've been lucky, I've maybe seen a handful in this same area, in the same time period (so it's not a matter of me just comparing post-fledging family groups to pre-breeding pairs). Did anyone else find this year to be a strong year for short-ears? While I certainly scared up a good number of voles, it didn't particularly seem that much more than normal - not that ambling through riparian meadows is exactly the best survey method to estimate small mammal populations! Thanks in advance for any input. Happy birding, Jen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091019/80d865f4/attachment.html From jdanzenbaker at gmail.com Mon Oct 19 11:16:38 2009 From: jdanzenbaker at gmail.com (Jim Danzenbaker) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:16:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Battle Ground Night Flight In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi OBOLers, Another Battle Ground Night Flight! Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Jim Danzenbaker Date: Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 11:15 AM Subject: Battle Ground Night Flight To: tweeters tweeters Hi Tweeters, Last night and into this morning, there was a good movement of nocturnal migrants flying south over my yard in Battle Ground, Clark County: Solitary Sandpiper 1 (at about 6:15 this morning - rather late in the season) Varied Thrush - several Swainson's Thrush - several many sparrows Dark-eyed Juncos two calls hat I couldn't even place to family. Daylight unfortunately brought rain. However, once that was over, I recorded the following: American Robin - 100s Yellow-rumped Warbler - 75+ Varied Thrush - 3 Purple Finch - 18 American Pipit - 14 Cedar Waxwing - 61 A flock of 14 Northern Pintail was a surprise and a new year yard bird (#112). Yesterday, two Doublec-rested Cormorants flew over (#111). Yesterday also brought a small raptor flight which included a Red-tailed Hawk, two Cooper's Hawks and one Sharp-shin. Keep your eyes and ears skyward. Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091019/a80e3179/attachment.html From rillo3 at msn.com Mon Oct 19 11:29:49 2009 From: rillo3 at msn.com (Bob ARCHER) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:29:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-tail v N Harrier Ridgefield Message-ID: Hi: I was at Ridgefield yesterday afternoon and saw a Red-tail swoop into a tree and take down a Northern Harrier. Both fell into tall grass and no one flew away. I assume the N Harrier turned into a late lunch. I found Pectoral S, but could not spot the Sharp-tailed. It could have been there, I was having a tough time seeing everything in the grass. Bob Archer PDX -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091019/7ed47af5/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Mon Oct 19 11:43:41 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:43:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Band-tailed Pigeons, Yamhill Co Message-ID: <93AB49E3223E47848F21CCDD393CEA5C@yourw5st28y9a3> Band-tailed Pigeons are still coming to my yard, but in small numbers several times a day, as compared to the flocks of 30 every morning that we saw last week. In fall a lot of them are hatch-year birds, and they seem to have had a productive year, although this is only my impression. As for being sent to the poorhouse by hungry pigeon flocks, we spread a line of half crack corn and half dove and quail mix on the deck railing, and they chow right down. Yesterday I tried giving them some sunflower seed, part shelled and part in the shell, that my cockatiel wouldn't eat. They looked at it and hopped down onto the deck to look for the real food. I'll have to put the rest out for the deer, which are not so picky. Pamela Johnston From pamelaj at spiritone.com Mon Oct 19 11:48:44 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:48:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-tail v N Harrier Ridgefield References: Message-ID: <61452C551E034011B5E5E160A65543A7@yourw5st28y9a3> I recently saw an Red-tail stoop at a low-flying Northern Harrier, but the Harrier put on some speed and kept going, and the Red-tail didn't pursue it. It was unclear whether this was predation or harassment. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: Bob ARCHER To: obol Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 11:29 AM Subject: [obol] Red-tail v N Harrier Ridgefield Hi: I was at Ridgefield yesterday afternoon and saw a Red-tail swoop into a tree and take down a Northern Harrier. Both fell into tall grass and no one flew away. I assume the N Harrier turned into a late lunch. I found Pectoral S, but could not spot the Sharp-tailed. It could have been there, I was having a tough time seeing everything in the grass. Bob Archer PDX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From necurran at earthlink.net Mon Oct 19 15:18:29 2009 From: necurran at earthlink.net (Nancy Curran) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:18:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Townsend Warblers Message-ID: <380-2200910119221829203@earthlink.net> Last week I was seeing a Townsend's Warbler at the birdbath, and today there were two! I don't typically see these lovelies until Jan/Feb. Nice treat for us. I live out near the Royal St. entry to the Fern Ridge area. Nancy Curran -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091019/1e654c54/attachment.html From sbkornfeld at msn.com Mon Oct 19 15:44:21 2009 From: sbkornfeld at msn.com (STEVE KORNFELD) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:44:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon birder does us proud Message-ID: OBOL >From the Maine list serve Subject: Pink-footed Geese<> From: "Rebecca Sumner" Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:39:28 -0400 The Pink Foots were not at Thornhurst Farm this morning (8:30-9:45), but were with a flock of Canadas behind 198 Greeley Rd. They were hunkered down most of the time and hard to see, but they did finally stand up and move about a bit before we left. We would not have found them had it not been for an Oregon birder who had been here last year looking for the Barnacle Goose. He had scoured the area pretty well, and he suggested trying Greeley road. He was the one who found the birds this morning. _______________________________________________That Oregon Birder is Barry McKenzie from Eugene enjoySteve Kornfeld -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091019/751abed6/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Oct 19 16:39:15 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:39:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Finley NWR longspur search & miscellaneous Message-ID: <1255995555.14026.35.camel@clearwater> Hi folks, I was at Finley NWR this morning for an event related to the Willamette Valely Birding trail, so checked out the field to the SW of the Bruce Rd. overlook where Doug Robinson reported a Chestnut-collared Longspur over the weekend, in with a flock of 16 Horned Larks. I found at least two different flocks of HORNED LARKS in the range of 15-20 birds, plus several smaller groups of 4 to 6 birds that appeared to be family groups of the endemic subspecies (hatch-year birds still easy to recognize, looked like a good ratio of youngsters to adults this year). So, I found perhaps 40 to 50 Horned Larks in that field overall. I had good enough looks at most of these to be sure that no longspurs were among them, except for one of the two larger flocks. No doubt the longspur chose to associate with the one flock that I couldn't get a decent look at! I did hear a couple of longspur-like "kiddle" or "kididdle" calls from birds flying over the sparsely vegetated area immediately south of the overlook. About 30 AMERICAN PIPITS were also in the field, along with similar numbers of SAVANNAH SPARROWS, one WESTERN MEADOWLARK, one RED-TAILED HAWK, and a lone MOURNING DOVE. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was calling persistently from the direction of McFadden Marsh, the whole time I was out there. The Horned Larks are favoring the parts of the field that have sparse vegetation (as opposed to the nearly bare, tilled-up parts), particularly in the SW part of the field where it looks like perennial grass was planted last spring. There, the larks are favoring the more weedy patches which makes viewing them a little difficult. When flocks flew, I generally saw 50% more birds in a given flock than I could see on the ground despite some very patient scoping. On most of these, I had good enough looks at the flying birds to be sure all of them were the same species, with the exception of the one big flock which took to the air at the same time as the other big flock. Later on, Molly Monroe & Sallie Gentry & I took a TV news team out the new Homer Campbell Memorial boardwalk trail to Cabell Marsh, which had lots of MALLARDS plus a handful of PINTAILS & GREEN-WINGED Teal, a RUDDY DUCK, 6 DUSKY CANADA GEESE and 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, plus a WESTERN GREBE (just maybe Clark's, as we didn't have a scope along, but at least through bins it looked more like a Western). Molly said that the Duskies had just shown up on the pond by the new headquarters this morning. Molly spotted some distant shorebirds which looked like peeps but that's about as far as we could go. At the north prairie overlook, a WESTERN MEADOWLARK was singing and several WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were flycatching, perching at times on the refuge sign. Really a beautiful day out there. Hopefully Molly can add anything I missed. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From kingbird68 at comcast.net Mon Oct 19 17:25:41 2009 From: kingbird68 at comcast.net (kingbird68 at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:25:41 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Steigerwald National Wildlife Refuge, Clark County, Washington on October 19, 2009 Message-ID: <200910200025.n9K0PfVi008377@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Laura Whittemore by http://birdnotes.net Date: October 19, 2009 Location: Steigerwald National Wildlife Refuge, Clark County, Washington Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 80% Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Cackling Goose Mute Swan Tundra Swan Wood Duck Gadwall Eurasian Wigeon American Wigeon Mallard Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Bufflehead Pied-billed Grebe American Bittern Great Blue Heron Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk [1] Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon American Coot Belted Kingfisher Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren American Robin European Starling Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Footnotes: [1] Juvenile made 6-8 very aggressive passes at feeding pair of Pileated Woodpeckers who held their ground. Total number of species seen: 36 From m.denny at charter.net Mon Oct 19 18:22:36 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:22:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Black Turnstones using "feeder" References: <20091019084035.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.d46916ec83.wbe@email.secureserver.net> Message-ID: <1371DC26F41F455EB8C389CF9B501D03@24FLIGHT> Hello All, Many years ago at Depoe Bay we watched as a Black Turnstone wolfed down white proso millet and rape seed with a large flock of Brewers Blackbirds on the deck near the old whale museum/observatory. See Oregon Birds 18:74 Later Mike From rflores_2 at msn.com Mon Oct 19 18:29:26 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:29:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] no sharp-tailed sandpiper @ Ridgefield NWR, Tonight Message-ID: Went out tonight and could not find the sharp-tailed sandpiper. The water is rising and the habitat is effected. I did find 32 greater and 2 lesser yellowlegs, 2 lb Dowitchers, two dunlin, 2 snow geese, 2 white-fronted geese, a lot of cacklers and Canada geese including about 70 dusky Canada geese. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091019/26f708cb/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Oct 19 18:47:40 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:47:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] What goes with 2 lb dowitcher? Message-ID: <1256003260.14026.111.camel@clearwater> Good that you were able to wash all that down with ruddy t on the rocks. What about after-dinner drinks? Perhaps a hot rum noddy? Joel Alan Contreras wrote: > You missed the seasoning: 8 grams of yellowlegs. after David Bailey wrote: > Yes, but the real question is, how did it taste? Who knew Ray's Food > Place stocked Dowitcher? > David and Wayne Hoffman wrote: > >> Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:19:11 -0700 >> A 2-pound dowitcher must have been impressive >> >> Wayne after Alan C's original posting: >>... Otherwise 8 g yellowlegs, 2 lb Dow and A mix of ducks >>> >>> I'm in Bandon overnight and will post anything of note. One Ruddy T >>> was on the rocks with blacks yesterday. >>> >>> Alan Contreras From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Oct 19 19:40:43 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:40:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrush et al. Coos Co. In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <730893.22516.qm@web45309.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I heard a couple SWAINSON'S THRUSHE'S calls this morning in North Bend. ?I also saw several TURKEY VULTURES near Floras Lake in Curry Co. plus one in Coos Co. and a WESTERN TANAGER at New River in Coos County. ?No ST Sandpiper at Bandon Marsh today from Knute Andersson. Tim RCoos Bay --- On Mon, 10/19/09, Jim Danzenbaker wrote: From: Jim Danzenbaker Subject: [obol] Fwd: Battle Ground Night Flight To: "obol" Date: Monday, October 19, 2009, 11:16 AM Hi OBOLers, ? Another Battle Ground Night Flight! Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com ? ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Jim Danzenbaker Date: Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 11:15 AM Subject: Battle Ground Night Flight To: tweeters tweeters Hi Tweeters, ? Last night and into this morning, there was a good movement of nocturnal migrants flying south over my yard in Battle Ground, Clark County: ? Solitary Sandpiper 1 (at about 6:15 this morning - rather late in the season) Varied Thrush - several Swainson's Thrush - several many sparrows Dark-eyed Juncos ? two calls hat I couldn't even place to family. ? Daylight unfortunately brought rain.? However, once that was over, I recorded the following: ? American Robin - 100s Yellow-rumped Warbler - 75+ Varied Thrush - 3 Purple Finch - 18 American Pipit - 14 Cedar Waxwing - 61 ? A flock of 14 Northern Pintail was a surprise and a new year yard bird (#112).? Yesterday, two Doublec-rested Cormorants flew over (#111).? Yesterday also brought a small raptor flight which included a Red-tailed Hawk, two Cooper's Hawks and one Sharp-shin. Keep your eyes and ears skyward. ? Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091019/c58361ff/attachment.html From stseager at gmail.com Mon Oct 19 20:27:57 2009 From: stseager at gmail.com (Trent Seager) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:27:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chile bird books - recommendations? Message-ID: <3e7e4cb70910192027p7d44a0b8n991d278899ecee13@mail.gmail.com> Does anyone have recommendations on bird books for Chile? I found the following title available, but don't have any experience with them. 1. The Birds of Chile by Araya and Chester 2. The Birds of Chile (Princeton Field Guide) by Jaramillo 3. The Birds of Chile (UK Edition) by Jaramillo I have the Birds of Southern South American and Antarctica, but find that it is not as good as having a country specific book. Thanks for any tips or suggestions! Trent -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091019/0d5f53d5/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Mon Oct 19 20:59:29 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:59:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrush et al. Coos Co. In-Reply-To: <730893.22516.qm@web45309.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <730893.22516.qm@web45309.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Like Knute, no ST sandpiper at Bandon Marsh. Darn wish I did not have to golf yesterday. Also, western tanager call this morning at Bradley Lake in Bandon. ----- Original Message ----- From: Tim Rodenkirk To: obol ; Jim Danzenbaker Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 7:40 PM Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrush et al. Coos Co. I heard a couple SWAINSON'S THRUSHE'S calls this morning in North Bend. I also saw several TURKEY VULTURES near Floras Lake in Curry Co. plus one in Coos Co. and a WESTERN TANAGER at New River in Coos County. No ST Sandpiper at Bandon Marsh today from Knute Andersson. Tim R Coos Bay --- On Mon, 10/19/09, Jim Danzenbaker > wrote: From: Jim Danzenbaker Subject: [obol] Fwd: Battle Ground Night Flight To: "obol" Date: Monday, October 19, 2009, 11:16 AM Hi OBOLers, Another Battle Ground Night Flight! Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Jim Danzenbaker > Date: Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 11:15 AM Subject: Battle Ground Night Flight To: tweeters tweeters > Hi Tweeters, Last night and into this morning, there was a good movement of nocturnal migrants flying south over my yard in Battle Ground, Clark County: Solitary Sandpiper 1 (at about 6:15 this morning - rather late in the season) Varied Thrush - several Swainson's Thrush - several many sparrows Dark-eyed Juncos two calls hat I couldn't even place to family. Daylight unfortunately brought rain. However, once that was over, I recorded the following: American Robin - 100s Yellow-rumped Warbler - 75+ Varied Thrush - 3 Purple Finch - 18 American Pipit - 14 Cedar Waxwing - 61 A flock of 14 Northern Pintail was a surprise and a new year yard bird (#112). Yesterday, two Doublec-rested Cormorants flew over (#111). Yesterday also brought a small raptor flight which included a Red-tailed Hawk, two Cooper's Hawks and one Sharp-shin. Keep your eyes and ears skyward. Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091019/d010bcec/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Mon Oct 19 22:14:20 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:14:20 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Juvenile Green Heron, a Horned Grebe and an odd AM. Wigeon Message-ID: <465367.94373.qm@web46014.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> This afternoon, Michelle and I went to Commonwealth Park in Beaverton. Quite a few different species hanging around, but three of them definitely stuck out for us. The big one for us was a juvenile Green Heron. Not only did we get some great photos of him, we actually got about 4 feet away. He watched us very closely, but didn't fly off. It was awesome! The second was a (we think) Horned Grebe. We are almost certain of the ID. It was the first one that we have seen this year and we've never found one at this park. The photos were at quite a distance but I think we have this right. Please let us know if we are mistaken. The third was an American Wigeon with odd plumage. It's probably nothing, but she definitely stood out from the rest. We have posted the photos from our outing, and the birds in question, on our blog, here: http://portlandbirds.blogspot.com Thanks for your input. Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area From hhactitis at yahoo.com Mon Oct 19 22:49:57 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:49:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Chile bird books - recommendations? In-Reply-To: <3e7e4cb70910192027p7d44a0b8n991d278899ecee13@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <989902.55306.qm@web37002.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Trent, I've never seen the first book, so I have no idea what it is like. I own the Princeton edition of Jaramillo, and although I've never been to Chile (yet), I've spent countless hours drooling over it. It looks like a very good guide to me, and I would recommend it. I assume the UK edition is pretty much identical, except for the cover. Hope this helps Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Mon, 10/19/09, Trent Seager wrote: From: Trent Seager Subject: [obol] Chile bird books - recommendations? To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Monday, October 19, 2009, 8:27 PM Does anyone have recommendations on bird books for Chile?? I found the following title available, but don't have any experience with them. 1. The Birds of Chile by Araya and Chester 2. The Birds of Chile (Princeton Field Guide) by Jaramillo 3. The Birds of Chile (UK Edition) by Jaramillo I have the Birds of Southern South American and Antarctica, but find that it is not as good as having a country specific book.? Thanks for any tips or suggestions! Trent -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091019/79c1990f/attachment.html From pointers at pacifier.com Tue Oct 20 08:19:45 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:19:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gull ID help needed ... Message-ID: <20091020151936.3EB456A5FE@smtp4.pacifier.net> hi ... could use some ID help on these gulls here ... I'm not too good at the youngsters ... my thoughts --- Herring, Heermann (the only one I'm sure of), and Ring-billed ??? http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Images09Oct/columbia_river_at_hammond_three_gulls_10-18-09.jpg thanks, Lyn Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Oct 20 08:34:45 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:34:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Transient Black-throated Sparrow near Albany on Saturday Message-ID: <1256052885.7910.50.camel@clearwater> Hi folks, Tristen Hynes sent me a note to mention that he saw a BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (adult male) on 17 Oct, in a field near North Albany (Benton County). He had a very good look with the bird in view for about 10 minutes, and mentioned details including deep black throat with very distinct white lines above the eye and running down from the bill. The bird was associating with Fox & Song Sparrows. Tristen didn't find the bird there in subsequent days so it seems to have moved on. This is the only fall record for this species that I know of for the mid-Willamette Valley. I thought about Reed Bunting but Tristen was able to rule that out. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From celata at pacifier.com Tue Oct 20 08:59:05 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:59:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gull ID help needed ... In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4ADDDE49.7020404@pacifier.com> (mostly) Western Gull - first cycle (first winter) Heermann's Gull - winter adult California Gull - second cycle (second winter) -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Tue Oct 20 09:16:26 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:16:26 +0000 Subject: [obol] Amazing penquin plays ping pong Message-ID: Simply entertaining, indeed! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpYPSnQWu0k Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From puma at smt-net.com Tue Oct 20 11:02:02 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:02:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Transient Black-throated Sparrow near Albany on Saturday In-Reply-To: <1256052885.7910.50.camel@clearwater> References: <1256052885.7910.50.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: <6B5129C1-3681-4018-A290-0E07A9D3DFD1@smt-net.com> Joel and Obol, In 1984, I had a BLACK-THROATED SPARROW here on the ranch. It stayed for quite a while, and associated with Juncos. At that time I did not know that it was unusual. The Eltzroths of Corvallis were here in Nov. 1988, to check out a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER and told me then, that BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS were unusual for this area. Pat Waldron East of Scio Linn Co. On Oct 20, 2009, at 8:34 AM, Joel Geier wrote: > Hi folks, > > Tristen Hynes sent me a note to mention that he saw a BLACK-THROATED > SPARROW (adult male) on 17 Oct, in a field near North Albany (Benton > County). He had a very good look with the bird in view for about 10 > minutes, and mentioned details including deep black throat with very > distinct white lines above the eye and running down from the bill. The > bird was associating with Fox & Song Sparrows. Tristen didn't find the > bird there in subsequent days so it seems to have moved on. > > This is the only fall record for this species that I know of for the > mid-Willamette Valley. I thought about Reed Bunting but Tristen was > able > to rule that out. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Tue Oct 20 11:19:53 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (barbara.millikan at gmail.com) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:19:53 +0000 Subject: [obol] Amazing penquin plays ping pong In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <0016e64b0bc099dfba047661e88a@google.com> Yes, indeed, however, I notice that among the tags is CGI which means that some part of it was "animated". Caveat emptor. Barbara On Oct 20, 2009 9:16am, khanh tran wrote: > Simply entertaining, indeed! > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpYPSnQWu0k > Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091020/a6a5c16a/attachment.html From stseager at gmail.com Tue Oct 20 11:42:25 2009 From: stseager at gmail.com (Trent Seager) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:42:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chile bird books - recommendations? In-Reply-To: <3e7e4cb70910192027p7d44a0b8n991d278899ecee13@mail.gmail.com> References: <3e7e4cb70910192027p7d44a0b8n991d278899ecee13@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <3e7e4cb70910201142k728247c5p66a185679473ca1d@mail.gmail.com> Thanks to everyone who replied! It is essentially unanimous - the Princeton Guide by Jaramillo. Thanks for all the advice and tips! Trent On Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 8:27 PM, Trent Seager wrote: > Does anyone have recommendations on bird books for Chile? I found the > following title available, but don't have any experience with them. > > 1. The Birds of Chile by Araya and Chester > 2. The Birds of Chile (Princeton Field Guide) by Jaramillo > 3. The Birds of Chile (UK Edition) by Jaramillo > > I have the Birds of Southern South American and Antarctica, but find that > it is not as good as having a country specific book. > > Thanks for any tips or suggestions! > > Trent > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091020/019e3d66/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Oct 20 11:53:31 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:53:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Amazing penquin plays ping pong In-Reply-To: <0016e64b0bc099dfba047661e88a@google.com> References: <0016e64b0bc099dfba047661e88a@google.com> Message-ID: <4ADE072B.9010302@verizon.net> barbara.millikan at gmail.com wrote: > Yes, indeed, however, I notice that among the tags is CGI which means > that some part of it was "animated". > Caveat emptor. > Barbara Animated?!?!! No way! You've got to be kidding me! Here I thought we found the world's best challenge to the Chinese Ping Pong Players, and now you're gonna throw cold water on it and tell us that.....that......that Penguin isn't really playing ping pong at all, nor taking a drink? Really? I mean if Penguins can balance an egg on their feet in negative 70 Celsius conditions with wind blowing 100 mph, then why the heck shouldn't we believe that they can play ping pong with the best of them? Ah, the Digital Age....is anything REAL anymore...........(sigh)........ Cheers Dave Lauten > > On Oct 20, 2009 9:16am, khanh tran wrote: > > > > > > Simply entertaining, indeed! > > > > > > > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpYPSnQWu0k > > > > > > > > Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > obol mailing list > > > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Tue Oct 20 13:29:34 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:29:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Trip South Message-ID: <4ADE1DAE.7040508@gmail.com> Dear Birders, I am ALMOST done editing, printing, saving and uploading my shots from Mexico. I started with over 2700, pared them down to over 200 and then to what you will see (IF you go there) on y web site. I still have to go through my 'Local Color' shots and add some to that file. It has been a labor of love/hate as I am really upset with either my ability to focus OR the camera's. Many photos I thought would be good came out unusable for whatever reason, so my next chore will be to test both cameras and lenses to wee hat happened. At any rate I do have SOME good (enough) shots for you to look through. When you go to my web site at http://www.kevinsmithnaturephotos.com click on Veracruz-'River of Raptors' in the left column. That will get you to the main reason I took the tour sponsored by Nature Conservancy and ProNatura, the BIRDS. Hundreds of THOUSANDS of raptors migrating south from the US and Canada through Mexico. The terrain acts as a funnel, moving birds from the Pacific coast and across North America to the east coast on their migration routes to Central and South America. Because of mountains on one side and water one the other they move east to the Gulf of Mexico, then south through the State of Veracruz. They must all fly over the coastal towns of Cardel and Chichicaxtle. Of course if we were to only watch the migration (like the raptor counter) it might get boring after a while, so we branched out to other locals to see birds we don't have here in Central Oregon. Those and a few others you will find on the above pages. I ask you as someone who is not the greatest birder to help correct any mistakes I have made in identification or spelling. Enjoy and thanks for your help. Kevin Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091020/5796d66d/attachment.vcf From puma at smt-net.com Tue Oct 20 13:37:22 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:37:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Test Message-ID: <25811996-EE9D-47F1-BFFC-D21D8E103F98@smt-net.com> Please delete. From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Tue Oct 20 17:09:49 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:09:49 +0000 Subject: [obol] RFI: Whale watching in Oregon (off-topic) Message-ID: Hi Obol, Does anyone know of a good resource or sites to watch whales in Oregon?? I have a birder couple who will be out here in late June/ early July. Don't know if that is a good time or not. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated. Khanh From whoffman at peak.org Tue Oct 20 17:27:16 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:27:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yaquina Bay Longspurs Message-ID: <0CEF096A13A74270A4861D1C2FA75D13@D48XBZ51> Two longspurs lit briefly at the "gull spot" along the Yaquina Bay South Jetty this afternoon about 4:15. They were flushed by a loose dog befor I got a good look at them. The both were very buffy, and looked as if the underparts might have been buffy as well. I did see a bright buffy-orange supercilium, a thin dark line behind the eye, and a large dark spot below the eye in a buffy face. They both were in typical longspur posture, crouched with their bellies proactically on the ground. I am not that familiar with fall-plumage longspurs, but these seemed unusually buffy for the expected Lapland Longspurs, and made me think of Smith's, but I certainly did not get a good enough look to be sure. Sibley shows first-winter Lapland as fairly buffy, so that may probably is what they were. Also present: 1 Whimbrel on the rocks 1 Female Green-winged Teal on bay, just off jetty 30+ Heermann's Gulls Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091020/52f28380/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Oct 20 18:45:55 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:45:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oregon Seabirds Message-ID: <1E6FEED6D74F41048BD6B76661B2D0AB@GREG> I've created a blog for The Bird Guide Pelagics. http://oregonseabirds.blogspot.com/ Here you'll find pelagic trip announcements and results, ID, status and distribution articles, and news about West Coast seabirds. Initial posts include: Oregon Seabirds (introduction to blog) Trip Results: Perpetua Bank, October 3, 2009 Laysan Albatross Search Trip: March 6, 2010 Manx Shearwater Status in Oregon White-chinned Petrel in California (October 18, 2009 photos) Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From pointers at pacifier.com Tue Oct 20 20:32:55 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:32:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gull ID help needed ... In-Reply-To: <4ADDDE49.7020404@pacifier.com> References: <4ADDDE49.7020404@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <20091021033246.421AA6A54F@smtp4.pacifier.net> thanks ... I've still got a long ways to go on Gull ID ... Lyn At 08:59 AM 10/20/2009, Mike Patterson wrote: >(mostly) Western Gull - first cycle (first winter) >Heermann's Gull - winter adult >California Gull - second cycle (second winter) > >-- >Mike Patterson >Astoria, OR >Things juvenal >http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From range.bayer at gmail.com Tue Oct 20 23:14:32 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:14:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] RFI: Rock Sandpiper In-Reply-To: <722171.36175.qm@web31608.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <722171.36175.qm@web31608.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Hi Bryan, Lincoln County bird records through 1992 (search for "Sandpiper, Rock" at http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/jspui/bitstream/1957/8070/1/vol.%204%20pg.%20395-543.pdf ) indicate that we have had records as late as early May, but they were infrequently reported after March. They were slightly more frequent in February than March. In Lincoln County, Rock Sandpipers are most often reported at Depoe Bay or Seal Rocks (sites #60 and #80, respectively, in the Central Oregon Coast portion of the Oregon Coast Birding Trail guide at http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/ ). Rock Sandpipers have also been seen several times at the Yaquina Bay South Jetty (which would be handy for your pelagic trip; site #71) and Yaquina Head (site #65). With patience, look through the rockpipers (Black Turnstones and Surfbirds) to find one. Good luck with your trip! Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm On Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 11:01 PM, Bryan Tarbox wrote: > I'm hoping to schedule a February or March pelagic trip out of Newport at some point in the future. I was wondering if anyone could help me decide if March was too late to have much of a chance at Rock Sandpipers? Looking at the Newport trip reports they've had them in February and November and one on March 1st. eBird has pretty sporadic results anywhere from October to April, so I suppose March is as good a time as any??Just to clarify, I'll be spending time looking for the sandpiper from land, not just on the boat. If anyone has any tips on finding one, that would also be greatly appreciated. > > Thanks, > Bryan Tarbox > College Station, TX > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm From jamesdouglasnelson at yahoo.com Tue Oct 20 20:50:07 2009 From: jamesdouglasnelson at yahoo.com (James Nelson) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:50:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Mandarin Duck on Summer Creek Message-ID: <175929.2113.qm@web32102.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Carol, ? I have seen the Mandarin Duck between 135th and 130th? on Summer Creek. I spotted him on Oct 18 and Oct 19, '09 from my back deck. ? I'm not an experienced 'bird person' but it was so clear he was different from the wood ducks to?his side. ? I looked for him today, 10/20?but didn't see him. ? Glad to see your post, it means I'm not 'imagining things'. ? James ? P.S. Perhaps I didn't read your post clearly enough, what date did you see the Mandarin Duck? (wonder if he'll hang around) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091020/dfecd90c/attachment.html From dns at efn.org Wed Oct 21 10:50:21 2009 From: dns at efn.org (David Stone) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:50:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mandarin Duck on Summer Creek In-Reply-To: <175929.2113.qm@web32102.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <175929.2113.qm@web32102.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <0D710D94-8389-4653-B9B9-4BD725822016@efn.org> Just a reminder. This list goes out to people all over Oregon (and beyond). When mentioning a location (such as 135th and 130th on Summer Creek.), please name the city or other commonly known location. Thanks. Dave Stone Eugene On Oct 20, 2009, at 8:50 PM, James Nelson wrote: > Hi Carol, > > I have seen the Mandarin Duck between 135th and 130th? on Summer > Creek. > I spotted him on Oct 18 and Oct 19, '09 from my back deck. > > I'm not an experienced 'bird person' but it was so clear he was > different > from the wood ducks to his side. > > I looked for him today, 10/20 but didn't see him. > > Glad to see your post, it means I'm not 'imagining things'. > > James > > P.S. Perhaps I didn't read your post clearly enough, what date did > you see the Mandarin Duck? (wonder if he'll hang around) > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091021/cab78af2/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Oct 21 12:49:29 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:49:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wed morning, Eugene Message-ID: This rainy morning we went to the east end of Alton Baker Park (Day Island). Birding was thin and so were the birders. Best birds were Hairy Woodpecker and Orange-cr. Warblers Great Blue Heron - 5 Pied-billed Grebe - 4 Western Grebe - 1 on the river D-c Cormorant - 1 Merlin - 1 Cooper's Hawk - 1 Rock Pigeon - 5 Ring-billed Gull - 1 Ring-necked Pheasant - 4 Am. Wigeon - 26 Mallard - 15 Les. Scaup - 1 Flicker - 2 Hairy Woodpecker - 1 Scrub Jay - 6 Am. Crow - 30 Brown Creeper - 2 Bushtit - 15 Black-capped Chickadee - 10 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 4 Golden-cr. Kinglet - 4 Am. Robin - 20 Townsend's Warbler - 1 Orange-crowned Warbler - 2 D-e Junco - 5 House Finch - 15 Am. Goldfinch - 15 Spotted Towhee - 1 Song Sparrow - 8 Golden-cr. Sparrow - 6 Fred Chancey, Paul Sherrell, Don Schrouder, Dave Brown, Craig Merkel, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091021/eb376b4d/attachment.html From Sarah.McLellan at BES.CI.PORTLAND.OR.US Wed Oct 21 14:01:04 2009 From: Sarah.McLellan at BES.CI.PORTLAND.OR.US (McLellan, Sarah) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:01:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird of Portland Parks Message-ID: <9D26DACE71E54345ADA98EC88D52C202211E641D3D@MAIL2.rose.portland.local> I'm working for BES and Parks to put together comprehensive bird lists for as many of Portlands parks as I'm able and I'm wondering if anyone wuold be willing to share any information they have regarding what birds are where, in what abundancies and in which seasons. I have a good amount of data for Mt. Tabor, Oaks Bottom, Forest Park and Powell Butte, but any additional information would be outstanding. Please feel free to email me directly- Sarah.McLellan at BES.CI.PORTLAND.OR.US Thanks! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091021/acb88143/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Oct 21 15:19:42 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:19:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bonaparte's Gull during Lunch with the Birds Message-ID: An adult Bonaparte's Gull was present at Hillsboro's Jackson Bottom Wetlands during the weekly Wednesday "Lunch with the Birds" program. Read more about Lunch with the Birds at: http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/ Greg Gillson greg at thebirdguide.com From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Oct 21 15:26:54 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:26:54 +0000 Subject: [obol] Eugene Black-throated Gray Warbler Message-ID: This morning I had an adult male Black-throated Gray Warbler come through my yard. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222985/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091021/feceedf2/attachment.html From David.Helzer at BES.CI.PORTLAND.OR.US Wed Oct 21 15:42:29 2009 From: David.Helzer at BES.CI.PORTLAND.OR.US (Helzer, David) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:42:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] North Portland Black-billed Magpie Message-ID: <0EFBC7C31DB4F24F8CAC48136A1762D72330D1B31C@MAIL2.rose.portland.local> OBOL- Chris Selker (who works for BES, the same City of Portland agency as me) reports a Black-billed Magpie on her lunch-time birding walk today on along the Columbia Slough in North Portland. The bird was in a tree along the levee trail on the north bank of the Slough, near the pump station. This can be accessed from PIR or from the trail along the levee. There is also a foot bridge that crosses the Columbia Slough at the Waste Water treatment plant (Columbia Blvd), there is a little natural area east of the plant with a trail that leads to the bridge. There is also trail access from North Portland road heading east to this location. The bird was at the pump station about half way between Interstate Ave and the footbridge over Columbia Slough. Dave Helzer Environmental Specialist Columbia Slough Watershed City of Portland - Bureau of Environmental Services 503.823.5760 david.helzer at bes.ci.portland.or.us -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: winmail.dat Type: application/ms-tnef Size: 3623 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091021/e0764c5b/attachment.bin From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Oct 21 19:02:05 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:02:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds of Late Message-ID: <992571.32429.qm@web45308.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> On the north spit of Coos Bay this evening, at the lumber mill near the end of Transpacific Parkway, there was a SAY'S PHOEBE, the same location we had our first ever winter record last year. ?Hopefully this bird will stay around for the Coos Bay CBC on Sunday the 20th of December- all invited! The only other bird of note was a late COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. It turns out that the WESTERN TANAGERS heard by both myself and Harv Schubothe on Monday tied for the latest record in Coos Co. ?Also that day, Jason Randolph had a YELLOW WARBLER at his place in Charleston- been around a couple days, getting late for them also. That's all for now,Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091021/fdd3e117/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Oct 21 20:26:46 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:26:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fw:ECBC Wednesday birders to Wickiup and Crane Prairie Res Message-ID: <2533BE63B7D0450BACC44B142F0F61ED@MOM> OBOL > Birders > Eight of us birded all day in the High Lakes area. You guessed > it, our first priority was to look for the HARLEQUIN DUCK and > sure enough, it was still in the stream near where it empties into > Crane Prairie. We had to work for birds at a distance at Wickiup > but were able to find bright CANVASBACKS, a dozen SURF > SCOTERS, two RED-NECKED GREBES, ( all 6 Grebe species > today) 2 CLARKS, four BONAPARTES GULLS and two PACIFIC > LOONS. > Raptors included appearance of a NORTHERN GOSHAWK at > moderate range and PRAIRIE FALCON taking a robin near us. > > Birders today Lindsay Seidenverg, Sherrie Pierce, Cindy Zalunardo, Mike > Golden, Kim Kathol, Howard Horvath, and Judy Meredith > This report was mailed for Judy Meredith by http://birdnotes.net > Larger numbers are estimates, we did NOT count every coot, wigeon etc. >> Greater White-fronted Goose 160 >> Canada Goose 90 >> Tundra Swan 4 >> American Wigeon 400 >> Mallard 200 >> Northern Pintail 2 >> Green-Winged Teal 60 >> Canvasback 2 >> Redhead 10 >> Ring-necked Duck 2 >> Lesser Scaup 2 >> Unknown Scaup 20 >> Surf Scoter 12 > HARLEQUIIN DUCK 1 >> Bufflehead 120 >> Common Goldeneye 3 >> Hooded Merganser 65 >> Common Merganser 75 >> Ruddy Duck 1 >> Pacific Loon 2 >> Common Loon 300 >> Pied-billed Grebe 2 >> Horned Grebe 4 >> Red-necked Grebe 2 >> Eared Grebe 3 >> Western Grebe 100 >> Clark's Grebe 2 >> Double-crested Cormorant 30 >> Great Blue Heron 13 >> Bald Eagle 14 >> Northern Harrier 2 >> Northern Goshawk 1 >> Red-tailed Hawk 1 >> Prairie Falcon 2 >> American Coot 7042 >> Killdeer 2 > Sandpiper sp 2 ( Least or West) >> Greater Yellowlegs 3 >> Long-billed Dowitcher 14 >> Bonaparte's Gull 4 >> Ring-billed Gull 200 >> California Gull 10 >> Unidentified gull 40 >> Belted Kingfisher 1 >> Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 >> Hairy Woodpecker 3 >> Northern Flicker 2 >> Gray Jay 4 >> Steller's Jay 6 >> Clark's Nutcracker 1 >> Common Raven 10 >> Mountain Chickadee 2 >> Bushtit 20 >> Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 >> Brown Creeper 1 >> American Dipper 1 >> Mountain Bluebird 3 >> American Robin 25 >> Varied Thrush 3 >> American Pipit 10 >> Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 >> White-crowned Sparrow 4 >> Golden-crowned Sparrow 3 >> Dark-eyed Junco 3 >> Brewer's Blackbird 4 >> Red Crossbill 8 >> Evening Grosbeak 45 >> >> Total number of species seen: 66 From cgates326 at gmail.com Wed Oct 21 21:48:05 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:48:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Crook Swainson's Hawk Message-ID: <59C61D0C1618426BA3A8767EAF7D2D4E@cgatesPC> JoAnne Bernt discovered a soaring SWAINSON'S HAWK in Powell Butte (Crook County) today. JoAnne has experience with raptors as a migration counter and winter raptor surveyor. She has been with me on many occasions watching Swainson's Hawks in the summer season so I trust this ID. Her post is below (actually a composition from 2 posts). This is the latest record for this species in the last 8 years by 10 days (last year, we had a report from Oct 10 and that was the latest by two weeks). "I saw a Swainson's Hawk just starting to soar at the corner of Rief and Riggs today. A positive ID! No dark on leading front edge of wings, quite pale. Dark at the very tips of the wings. Dark trailing edge of the wings. Dark head and breast. No belly band. slightly dark stripe at the end of the tail. In the National Geographic Birds of North America(my car book) the bird on page 195 looks exactly like it, the light phase. When I cross matched Sibley's, again light adult. Striking dark/copper bib. I did not see his back." Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091021/ac9fab0f/attachment.html From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Wed Oct 21 21:52:40 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:52:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Plover at Newport Message-ID: <000b01ca52d3$7cc3bc20$764b3460$@NET> We worked our way from Pacific City to Newport on Monday. We arrived at Newport while the mudflats were minimal and sat in the 'shack' along the trail at the Hatfield MSC as the tide went out. A flock of peeps with one larger bird came in and worked the mudflat near us for less than 5 minutes before moving on. We could tell through the scope that the larger bird was a PLOVER. Later a group of five Plover that appeared the same came in and worked in front of us for about half an hour as we viewed them from quite a distance through the scope. The best fit with Sibley was an American Golden Plover; a spotted appearance to the dots on the wings, long dark primary tips and spots on the top of the tail under the primary tips occasionally visible. Pictures of the first bird are at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_pix/ Upon returning home and consulting other references it appears the dark primary tips occur on other Golden Plover and Black-bellied Plover as well. The spots just forward of the dark primary tips looked more like the 'dots' shown for the American than the 'triangles' shown in Sibley for the Black-bellied. Discovering no recent posts about plover at Newport I am hoping the photos of the first bird are good enough for others more knowledgeable to ID the bird(s). The photos of the later birds will follow at the same site but are less clear as the light faded toward the end of the day. Tom Shreve Tigard -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091021/b145e2b7/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Oct 21 22:04:34 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:04:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 10/21/09 Message-ID: <20091022050508.BD3F9A815D@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 10/15 to 10/21/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 6 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Cackling Goose 4 (50) NORTHERN HARRIER 1 (1, 10/19) Cooper's Hawk 1 (1, 10/15) Band-tailed Pigeon 3 (3, 10/19) Mourning Dove 2 (2, 10/17) Anna's Hummingbird 5 (2) Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 (2, 10/15) Downy Woodpecker 3 (2) Northern Flicker 6 (4) Pileated Woodpecker 4 (2, 10/15) HUTTON'S VIREO 1 (1, 10/16) Steller's Jay 6 (6, 10/15) American Crow 5 (6) Black-capped Chickadee 6 (25) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4 (10, 10/16) Bushtit 2 (10, 10/18 & 19) Red-breasted Nuthatch 6 (4) Brown Creeper 3 (3) Bewick's Wren 4 (2) Winter Wren 5 (4, 10/18) Golden-crowned Kinglet 6 (15, 10/16) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6 (7, 10/20) TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE 1 (1, 10/15) Hermit Thrush 3 (2) American Robin 6 (30, 10/15) Varied Thrush 4 (5, 10/19) European Starling 6 (12, 10/20) Cedar Waxwing 2 (15, 10/16) Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 (1, 10/15) Spotted Towhee 6 (8) Fox Sparrow 1 (1, 10/19) Song Sparrow 6 (10) Dark-eyed Junco 6 (15) Purple Finch 2 (3, 10/15) House Finch 5 (10) RED CROSSBILL 1 (1, 10/17) Lesser Goldfinch 2 (1, 10/17 & 18) American Goldfinch 4 (3) Evening Grosbeak 3 (2) In the neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: GREAT HORNED OWL Misses (birds found at least 3 days in previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Townsend's Warbler Wink Gross Portland From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Oct 21 23:41:44 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:41:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 10-22-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * October 22,2009 * ORPO0910.22 - birds mentioned Aleutian Cackling Goose Harlequin Duck Surf Scoter Pacific Loon Common Loon Rough-legged Hawk Ruddy Turnstone Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Black-legged Kittiwake Say?s Phoebe Northern Shrike Black-billed Magpie Northern Mockingbird Clay-colored Sparrow Lark Sparrow Black-throated Sparrow CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR Snow Bunting - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday October 22. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On October 18 a CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR was seen at Finley NWR. A heavy southward movement of ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE has been seen along the coast during the week. NORTHERN SHRIKES are now arriving with several being reported. On October 17 a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was in Brookings. A group of 14 KITTIWAKES was in Gold Beach October 16. A SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER was seen during the week at Bandon Marsh. On October 16 a LARK SPARROW was at the South Jetty of the Siuslaw River. A MOCKINGBIRD was seen October 10 near the Nehalem Sewage Ponds. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was in Seaside October 15. On October 21 a MAGPIE was seen along the dike trail east of North Portland Road in North Portland. A SNOW BUNTING was in northeast Portland during the week. On October 18 a SAY?S PHOEBE and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK were at Baskett Slough NWR. A BLACK-THROATED SPARROW was reported October 17 in a field near North Albany. On October 17 a SNOW BUNTING was near Grass Valley. That day a SURF SCOTER was at Haystack Reservoir near Madras. On October 18, two SURF SCOTERS and 200 COMMON LOONS were on Wickiup Reservoir, and a PACIFIC LOON and a HARLEQUIN DUCK were on Crane Prairie Reservoir. On October 21, 12 SURF SCOTERS and two PACIFIC LOONS were at Crane Prairie. On October 14 four RUDDY TURNSTONES were at Summer Lake. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091021/6ef72043/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Oct 22 10:53:26 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:53:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Plover at Newport In-Reply-To: <000b01ca52d3$7cc3bc20$764b3460$@NET> References: <000b01ca52d3$7cc3bc20$764b3460$@NET> Message-ID: <4AE09C16.5080801@verizon.net> Tom The bird appears to me to be a Black-bellied Plover. I base this on size, shape, and general grayish plumage. Golden Plovers are generally much more brown and golden spangled, and are not as large (big headed in particular). Cheers Dave Lauten Tom Shreve wrote: > > We worked our way from Pacific City to Newport on Monday. We arrived > at Newport while the mudflats were minimal and sat in the ?shack? > along the trail at the Hatfield MSC as the tide went out. A flock of > peeps with one larger bird came in and worked the mudflat near us for > less than 5 minutes before moving on. We could tell through the scope > that the larger bird was a PLOVER. Later a group of five Plover that > appeared the same came in and worked in front of us for about half an > hour as we viewed them from quite a distance through the scope. The > best fit with Sibley was an American Golden Plover; a spotted > appearance to the dots on the wings, long dark primary tips and spots > on the top of the tail under the primary tips occasionally visible. > > Pictures of the first bird are at: > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_pix/ > > Upon returning home and consulting other references it appears the > dark primary tips occur on other Golden Plover and Black-bellied > Plover as well. The spots just forward of the dark primary tips looked > more like the ?dots? shown for the American than the ?triangles? shown > in Sibley for the Black-bellied. Discovering no recent posts about > plover at Newport I am hoping the photos of the first bird are good > enough for others more knowledgeable to ID the bird(s). The photos of > the later birds will follow at the same site but are less clear as the > light faded toward the end of the day. > > Tom Shreve > > Tigard > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From range.bayer at gmail.com Thu Oct 22 13:09:41 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:09:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Newport Horned Lark Message-ID: Hi, Today (Oct. 22), Chuck Philo saw a single Horned Lark near a gravel road going into Eureka Cemetery in Newport (917 NE Yaquina Heights Drive), east of the Fairgrounds. In Lincoln Co., we had not one reported since January 2004, when Darrel Faxon found one along the Yaquina Bay South Jetty Road. On Oct. 18, Chuck saw one Marbled Godwit at the "Gull Puddle" along the Yaquina Bay South Jetty road. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm From bcombs232 at gmail.com Thu Oct 22 13:55:50 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:55:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Outdated migration reports, a little news Message-ID: <8ce3a6520910221355l481666feo7801905b50dd7b7f@mail.gmail.com> American Wigeon - I heard my first seasonal flock overhead on the evening of Sept. 20. Golden-crowned Sparrow - A Golden-crowned Sparrow plunged into a historic seasonal roost (my neighbor's hedge) on September 27, the evening before Sheila Chambers first noted Golden-crowned Sparrows in Brookings. Accipiter event - I thought that the 40 or so American Goldfinches had migrated away because on Sunday Oct. 18 only one was around my feeder, along with just a few House Finches and chickadees. Then on Monday, I saw an accipiter swoop through the patio (not much of a look - big enough for either female sharpie or male Cooper's) and realized why they had all gone away. There were a dozen or so yesterday, but today the feeders are empty again. Herons - Yesterday when I was driving near Perkins Peninsula at Fern Ridge Reservoir I saw a Great Egret and a Great Blue Heron get into a small scuffle over the best spot along the side of a channel of water along the north side of the road. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091022/d9b92a23/attachment.html From dan at heyerly.com Thu Oct 22 14:03:26 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Dan Heyerly) Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:03:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Late (?) Rufous Hummingbird (Eugene) 22 Oct. 2009 Message-ID: There was an immature or female Rufous Hummingbird feeding this morning outside our front door when I went to put the recycling bin at the curb. Can't recall a sighting this late in the fall, but then I don't keep records of that kind of thing either. Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091022/b7808df8/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Thu Oct 22 15:03:17 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:03:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Late (?) Rufous Hummingbird (Eugene) 22 Oct. 2009 Message-ID: <81b2a9930910221503m4d1021a2jd196ee14e97b05b@mail.gmail.com> Dan, A female (or possibly immature) Rufous was at my nectar feeder in north Eugene on the 25th and 26th of October last year. This is definitely late, but I get the impression that stragglers are more common than we may think. -Brandon ----- Subject: Late (?) Rufous Hummingbird (Eugene) 22 Oct. 2009 From: "Dan Heyerly" Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:03:26 -0700 There was an immature or female Rufous Hummingbird feeding this morning outside our front door when I went to put the recycling bin at the curb. Can't recall a sighting this late in the fall, but then I don't keep records of that kind of thing either. Dan Heyerly, Eugene From doxies at tymewyse.com Thu Oct 22 15:24:37 2009 From: doxies at tymewyse.com (Julie Edmonds) Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:24:37 -0700 Subject: [obol] Auctions of Historic, Original Bird Artwork Message-ID: Auction to benefit the American Bird Conservancy. Paintings by Paul J. Greenfield. Auction ends Friday, 10/23 at 5pm EST http://www.abcbirds.org/ebay_auction_bird_artwork.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091022/62ba1d99/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Thu Oct 22 15:46:56 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:46:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] White-tailed Kite: Jackson Bottom Message-ID: <646464E2D28E41CDABB44350B60F59F5@GREG> Don Cogswell alerted me to a WHITE-TAILED KITE at Jackson Bottom Wetlands in Hillsboro. I found it near the Gene Pool and managed a poor photo in flight. I spent another 2 hours there without refinding it. The best way might be to park in the back of the Clean Water Services parking lot and scope the prairie from their overlook. White-tailed Kites have been nearly annual in the county since the second record in 1997. The most recent county report of this species was January 2008, so almost 2 years ago. Did find a very rufescent BARN OWL in the willows. The previously reported BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER is still there in the main pond. Another couple told me of a EURASIAN WIGEON, clear in the back, which I also found. http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/118591567 http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/118591620 Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From acontrer at mindspring.com Thu Oct 22 15:47:44 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:47:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gull roosts Message-ID: <12AC4D50-B598-44F9-BBA6-29957EEEEF21@mindspring.com> Where are the most consistent winter gull roosts in Oregon these days? I mean places that are used all the time at proper tides by at least a hundred gulls. The ones that come to mind in my own birding zone are: Siletz spit Yachats river mouth Siltcoos Bastendorff Beach Coquille Spit Rogue mouth Also Fern Ridge, but that is a water roost used mainly at night and is hard to see. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Thu Oct 22 15:56:23 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:56:23 -0700 Subject: [obol] Red-naped Sapsucker at Sheridan Message-ID: <005d01ca536a$e13312e0$a39938a0$@NET> I stopped by the little city park in Sheridan adjacent to the correctional facility to see what all the ducks were on the big ponds. Most were NORTHERN SHOVELER, probably about 500, there were also AMERICAN WIGEON, AMERICAN COOT, a HOODED MERGANSER pair and a couple of dozen RUDDY DUCK. There appears to be no access to the area around the large ponds but they are for the most part visible from the berm around the small fish pond in the city park. The old apple trees between the fish pond and the facility fence produced a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER and a HAIRY WOODPECKER. Also present: Pied-billed Grebe Canada Goose Scaup sp. Mallard Northern Flicker Scrub Jay Black-capped Chickadee Cedar Waxwing Tom Shreve Tigard -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091022/13e72e56/attachment.html From Kcparkton1 at aol.com Thu Oct 22 16:37:03 2009 From: Kcparkton1 at aol.com (Kcparkton1 at aol.com) Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:37:03 EDT Subject: [obol] Question about Cabin Lake viewing blind Message-ID: Just wondering if this is a good time of year to visit the cabin lake viewing blinds near fort rock, oregon and what species would I expect to see. I have never been there and would mostly be going to photograph birds from the blind. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091022/7d7f3a5e/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Thu Oct 22 19:05:56 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:05:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Big murre and loon wreck Clatsop and Long Beaches Message-ID: <4AE10F84.5030508@pacifier.com> There is a big wreck going on right now mostly comprised of COMMON MURRRES and RED-THROATED LOONS. The suspected cause is a dinoflagellate, _Akashiwo sanguinea_. When tossed in heavy surf it produces a sticky soap-like substance that ruins the waterproofing of feathers (much like oil) and birds strand/die due to hypothermia. There should be more on this in newspapers tomorrow. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From alderspr at peak.org Thu Oct 22 19:19:44 2009 From: alderspr at peak.org (Karan & Jim Fairchild) Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:19:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gull roosts References: <12AC4D50-B598-44F9-BBA6-29957EEEEF21@mindspring.com> Message-ID: The mouth of Beaver Creek, the one that comes out at Ona Beach State Park, just north of Seal Rock. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan Contreras" To: "OBOL" Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 3:47 PM Subject: [obol] Gull roosts | Where are the most consistent winter gull roosts in Oregon these days? | I mean places that are used all the time at proper tides by at least a | hundred gulls. | | The ones that come to mind in my own birding zone are: | | Siletz spit | Yachats river mouth | Siltcoos | Bastendorff Beach | Coquille Spit | Rogue mouth | | Also Fern Ridge, but that is a water roost used mainly at night and is | hard to see. | | Alan Contreras | Sent from my iPhone | _______________________________________________ | obol mailing list | obol at oregonbirdwatch.org | http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol | From ninerharv2 at msn.com Thu Oct 22 19:56:40 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE) Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:56:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gull roosts In-Reply-To: <12AC4D50-B598-44F9-BBA6-29957EEEEF21@mindspring.com> References: <12AC4D50-B598-44F9-BBA6-29957EEEEF21@mindspring.com> Message-ID: Alan They are right about this one. While Bandon is my adopted home on the last three years, Newport is a close second. And Ona Beach definitely qualifies.....probably ahead of our spit. Harv ----- Original Message ----- From: Karan & Jim Fairchild To: Alan Contreras ; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 7:19 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Gull roosts The mouth of Beaver Creek, the one that comes out at Ona Beach State Park, just north of Seal Rock. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan Contreras" > To: "OBOL" > Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 3:47 PM Subject: [obol] Gull roosts | Where are the most consistent winter gull roosts in Oregon these days? | I mean places that are used all the time at proper tides by at least a | hundred gulls. | | The ones that come to mind in my own birding zone are: | | Siletz spit | Yachats river mouth | Siltcoos | Bastendorff Beach | Coquille Spit | Rogue mouth | | Also Fern Ridge, but that is a water roost used mainly at night and is | hard to see. | | Alan Contreras | Sent from my iPhone | _______________________________________________ | obol mailing list | obol at oregonbirdwatch.org | http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol | _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091022/838fc583/attachment.html From rarebirdart at verizon.net Thu Oct 22 21:14:42 2009 From: rarebirdart at verizon.net (Lois Miller) Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:14:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] 2010 Bird Calendar is ready Message-ID: <404883.94167.qm@web84203.mail.re3.yahoo.com> I just got?them? from the printer today so I thought I'd send the link if anyone wants to take a look . Always appreciate feedback so I can try to make it better next year ! http://www.loismiller.zoomshare.com/0.html? Lois Miller Port Orford -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091022/a60252e9/attachment.html From rarebirdart at verizon.net Thu Oct 22 21:20:13 2009 From: rarebirdart at verizon.net (Lois Miller) Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:20:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] bird calendar Message-ID: <910544.99485.qm@web84203.mail.re3.yahoo.com> I don't know why there is a little square at the end of the website address but if you copy and paste leave that off....sorry http://www.loismiller.zoomshare.com/0.html ? Lois -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091022/bd07bc66/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Fri Oct 23 00:58:49 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:58:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Big murre and loon wreck Clatsop and Long Beaches In-Reply-To: <4AE10F84.5030508@pacifier.com> References: <4AE10F84.5030508@pacifier.com> Message-ID: Foam from ocean algae bloom killing thousands of birds By Lynne Terry, The Oregonian at http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/10/foam_from_ocean_algae_bloom_ki.html -- Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm On Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 7:05 PM, Mike Patterson wrote: > There is a big wreck going on right now mostly comprised of COMMON > MURRRES and RED-THROATED LOONS. ?The suspected cause is a > dinoflagellate, _Akashiwo sanguinea_. ?When tossed in heavy surf it > produces a sticky soap-like substance that ruins the waterproofing of > feathers (much like oil) and birds strand/die due to hypothermia. > > There should be more on this in newspapers tomorrow. > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Things juvenal > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From winkg at hevanet.com Fri Oct 23 06:12:06 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:12:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swamp Sparrow, Oak Island (Sauvie Island) -- Never mind! Message-ID: <20091023131209.84DECA8136@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Well, serve me up another slice of crow... While birding at Rain River in Tillamook Wednesday with Andy Frank, we heard a sharp, repeated "chip" note that I thought might be a Black Phoebe or Swamp Sparrow. Turned out it was a juvenile WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. This made me realize that the "Swamp Sparrow" I reported from Oak Island two weeks ago was almost certainly a White-throated Sparrow, too. That makes a lot more sense based on the habitat. Guess my aging ears can no longer detect the "metallic" sound in the WTSP's call. (Pass the chutney, please.) Wink Gross Portland From celata at pacifier.com Fri Oct 23 07:18:35 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:18:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - 10/23/2009 Message-ID: <4AE1BB3B.8010700@pacifier.com> Columbia Estuary Report - 10/23/2009 There was a very dull-looking WHITE-THROATED SPARROW hanging out with OREGON JUNCO at the railroad track by Waterhouse Rd (west of Ziak's, Brownsmead Area) Thursday. I also found several flocks of TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS including a flock of 20+ birds above the Astoria Sewage Treatment facility. The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was last reported on Sunday. A PECTORAL SANDPIPER, a DUNLIN and 3 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER were at the South Jetty shorebird flats on Thursday. Still plenty of BROWN PELICANS as well. The big news is the overwhelming wreck of COMMON MURRES and RED-THROATED LOONS along the coast from a least Cannon Beach to Ocean Shore, WA. The smoking gun appears to be the algae _Akashiwo sanguinea_ which is not normally found in large concentrations in northern Pacific waters. Wave action causes the algae to break up forming a soap-like slick which washes the water-proofing off seabirds. Michelle and I spent two hours yesterday afternoon at the North Coast Rehab center helping process birds that were coming in. The facility is nearly at its limit with several hundred murres most of them hatch-year, at least 50 Red-throated Loons also mostly hatch-year and Western Grebes. Lesser numbers of Common Loon and Surf Scoters are also coming in. Most of the loons will be moved to a facility to the south on Saturday. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From acontrer at mindspring.com Fri Oct 23 07:33:21 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:33:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Swamp Sparrow, Oak Island (Sauvie Island) -- Never mind! In-Reply-To: <20091023131209.84DECA8136@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> References: <20091023131209.84DECA8136@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: <7FEF942C-4241-4CC0-BBAD-866D49DD43BC@mindspring.com> Wt Sparrow can also sound like a Downy Woodpecker, I discovered. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone On Oct 23, 2009, at 6:12 AM, Wink Gross wrote: > Well, serve me up another slice of crow... > > While birding at Rain River in Tillamook Wednesday with Andy Frank, > we heard > a sharp, repeated "chip" note that I thought might be a Black Phoebe > or > Swamp Sparrow. Turned out it was a juvenile WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. > > This made me realize that the "Swamp Sparrow" I reported from Oak > Island two > weeks ago was almost certainly a White-throated Sparrow, too. That > makes > a lot more sense based on the habitat. Guess my aging ears can no > longer > detect the "metallic" sound in the WTSP's call. > > (Pass the chutney, please.) > > Wink Gross > Portland > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Oct 23 08:59:32 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:59:32 +0000 Subject: [obol] (no subject) Message-ID: This morning I had a dull hatch-year White-throated Sparrow appear at our feeder along with the usual cast of Golden-crowned Sparrows and juncos. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: It helps you do more. Explore Windows 7. http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_evergreen3:102009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091023/78b8185e/attachment.html From phainopepla at yahoo.com Fri Oct 23 10:34:48 2009 From: phainopepla at yahoo.com (Michael Dossett) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:34:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay Message-ID: <218308.39400.qm@web112501.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Hi everyone, This morning while eating breakfast I was startled by the sound of a Blue Jay calling from the spruce tree off the deck where I have sunflower seeds sprinkled. It called a few times and then started doing an imitation of a Red-shouldered Hawk a few times before it stopped calling. I looked around but all I could find were Steller's Jays chowing down on the seed. About 10 minutes later I heard what I assume to be the same bird giving a very clear Blue Jay call. Finally, a Steller's Jay landed on the deck rail and opened its bill and gave a perfect imitation of a Blue Jay. I've never seen this before, though I suppose I shouldn't be totally surprised. I wonder just where this bird came in contact with Blue Jays to learn this call. The thought crossed my mind that it could be a Steller's Jay from further east that has moved into this area but it was still quite dark out (~7:20) so I couldn't get really great looks at plumage details. I guess now whenever I hear a Blue Jay I should be sure to get visual confirmation of the ID. Has anyone else experienced this? Michael Michael Dossett Corvallis, Oregon www.Mdossettphoto.com phainopepla at yahoo.com From kirkpat at charter.net Fri Oct 23 11:07:30 2009 From: kirkpat at charter.net (Douglas Kirkpatrick) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:07:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Israel birding In-Reply-To: <1359370939.4381721252652321954.JavaMail.root@sz0070a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <88841722CDB44AAE9DC6B7C43B1FEAAA@D7CDFN81> Good Morning, All, I want to thank all the people who gave me suggestions on birding in Israel. We just got back last night after a VERY long day of flying but had a great time. The main purpose of our trip was not birding and I was alone in our group in my search for birds but it was fun. Highlights: Hoopoe (not rare but a real treat to see.) Bonelli's Eagle Palestinian Sunbird Kingfisher (not our Belted type) Rose-ringed parakeet Blackstart Trimstran's grackle I found Collin's Guide to Birds of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East to be quite helpful. If anyone is going over and wants some tips, feel free to contact me. Enjoy. Doug Kirkpatrick Medford From willwright26 at q.com Fri Oct 23 11:23:05 2009 From: willwright26 at q.com (willwright26 at q.com) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:23:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] [birding] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay In-Reply-To: <218308.39400.qm@web112501.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> References: <218308.39400.qm@web112501.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: The pair of Steller's that have been hanging tough despite the constant harassment from Scrub Jays in my yard were doing a wonderful imitation of a Cooper's Hawk this spring/summer. --Will -------------------------------------------------- From: "Michael Dossett" Sent: Friday, October 23, 2009 10:34 AM To: "OBOL" ; "Corvallis birds" Subject: [birding] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay > Hi everyone, > > This morning while eating breakfast I was startled by the sound of a Blue > Jay calling from the spruce tree off the deck where I have sunflower seeds > sprinkled. It called a few times and then started doing an imitation of a > Red-shouldered Hawk a few times before it stopped calling. I looked > around but all I could find were Steller's Jays chowing down on the seed. > About 10 minutes later I heard what I assume to be the same bird giving a > very clear Blue Jay call. Finally, a Steller's Jay landed on the deck > rail and opened its bill and gave a perfect imitation of a Blue Jay. > > I've never seen this before, though I suppose I shouldn't be totally > surprised. I wonder just where this bird came in contact with Blue Jays > to learn this call. The thought crossed my mind that it could be a > Steller's Jay from further east that has moved into this area but it was > still quite dark out (~7:20) so I couldn't get really great looks at > plumage details. > > I guess now whenever I hear a Blue Jay I should be sure to get visual > confirmation of the ID. Has anyone else experienced this? > > Michael > > > Michael Dossett > Corvallis, Oregon > www.Mdossettphoto.com > phainopepla at yahoo.com > > > > > _______________________________________________ > list mailing list > list at midvalleybirding.org > http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ > From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Fri Oct 23 11:45:50 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:45:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Gull roosts Message-ID: <202560.45765.qm@web51805.mail.re2.yahoo.com> The Rogue Brewery roof top and other roof tops around Yaquina Bay :-) Yaquina Head and associated islands. Cindy Ashy From larmcqueen at msn.com Fri Oct 23 12:02:32 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:02:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay In-Reply-To: <218308.39400.qm@web112501.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> References: <218308.39400.qm@web112501.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Michael, I wonder if you did not actually have a Blue Jay making the call, then the Steller's you saw calling like a Blue Jay, picked up on this call. The reason I'm suggesting this is because I had never heard of a Steller's imitating a Red-shouldered Hawk. They habitually do a Red-tailed Hawk, and the Blue Jays imitate Red-shouldered, but never(?) the Red-tailed. Do you think this is a likely scenario? Has anyone heard a Steller's do a Red-shouldered call? Larry -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Michael Dossett Sent: Friday, October 23, 2009 10:35 AM To: OBOL; Corvallis birds Subject: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay Hi everyone, This morning while eating breakfast I was startled by the sound of a Blue Jay calling from the spruce tree off the deck where I have sunflower seeds sprinkled. It called a few times and then started doing an imitation of a Red-shouldered Hawk a few times before it stopped calling. I looked around but all I could find were Steller's Jays chowing down on the seed. About 10 minutes later I heard what I assume to be the same bird giving a very clear Blue Jay call. Finally, a Steller's Jay landed on the deck rail and opened its bill and gave a perfect imitation of a Blue Jay. I've never seen this before, though I suppose I shouldn't be totally surprised. I wonder just where this bird came in contact with Blue Jays to learn this call. The thought crossed my mind that it could be a Steller's Jay from further east that has moved into this area but it was still quite dark out (~7:20) so I couldn't get really great looks at plumage details. I guess now whenever I hear a Blue Jay I should be sure to get visual confirmation of the ID. Has anyone else experienced this? Michael Michael Dossett Corvallis, Oregon www.Mdossettphoto.com phainopepla at yahoo.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Fri Oct 23 12:03:17 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:03:17 -0400 Subject: [obol] Malheur Oct. 20-21 Message-ID: Three of us, in Darrel Whipple's Prius, just returned to the westside on Oct. 22 from a four-day birding trip with two full days at Malheur Wildlife Refuge. Although the summer birds are gone and most fall migrants as well, we had a great time: icy mornings, beautiful days, and great scenery. We practically had the refuge to ourselves. Total just shy of 70 species. Highlights: nice look at a MERLIN at headquarters; a PRAIRIE FALCON on the Hwy 205 tour route, 8 GOLDEN EAGLES, most also along 205; RED-SHOULDERED HAWK at Benson pond; a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK near Riley; 4 TRUMPETER SWANS, one with a green neckband; TUNDRA SWANS arriving the whole time we were at Krumbo pond; SANDHILL CRANES, around 40 flying and 10 at the Buena Vista overlook; CANVASBACK, REDHEAD ducks and EARED GREBES; a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE; TOWNSEND SOLITAIRES (singing) at the Crooked River rest area as well as Page Springs; two flocks of MTN. BLUEBIRDS; RED CROSSBILLS and MTN. CHICKADEE at Clear Lake during lunch on return. Surprises (for me anyway -- I haven't been to Malheur since the '70s): FLICKERS are everywhere -- even in open sage with a couple of juniper here and there; JUNCOS and R-C KINGLETS were also in most habitats; Many YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, especially numerous at Benson Pond; hundreds of CALIFORNIA QUAIL at the Malheur Field Station (the station manager, Duncan, puts out grain for them); GREAT HORNED OWL, with a quail breakfast, sitting on a swallow-type nest box at the field station; a gathering of 18 cock R-N PHEASANTS in a dry cattail pond off the Central Patrol Road (gravel). Nonbird vertebrates: great basin gopher snake at Page Springs; small w. fence lizards at B.V. overlook; coyote; 2 raccoons; mule deer all over the refuge; numerous Nuttall's cottontails and an Ord's kangaroo rat at the field station; least chipmunks; golden-mantled ground squirrels at Clear Lake; and one jackrabbit (at a low in their population cycle). Duncan guided us around much of our second day there, who is knowledgeable about botany, wildlife, geology, music and local issues as well as birds. That was well worthwhile. Lona Pierce, Warren _________________________________________________________________ New Windows 7: Find the right PC for you. Learn more. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pc-scout/default.aspx?CBID=wl&ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_pcscout:102009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091023/834dd7b4/attachment.html From alderspr at peak.org Fri Oct 23 13:06:26 2009 From: alderspr at peak.org (Karan & Jim Fairchild) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:06:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating others References: <218308.39400.qm@web112501.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <0FECEA5D3EFB425DB868ED843954072F@HOMESTEAD> Hi Michael, Yes, but our Steller's Jay was imitating a Clark's Nutcracker. Over their range, STJA overlap with CLNU, but we heard this at our home in the Coast Range, where CLNU have only been reported nearby on top of Marys Peak as vagrants. We did have a one-day wonder Blue Jay visit her (and it was seen and photographed), but after it left we never heard BLJA calls again. Maybe that was not enough exposure, even to the local STJA flock it showed up with. So is there a threshold exposure level for Steller's Jays to pick up new sounds in their environment and adopt them? I say use them because all these imitations seem to be calls from raptors (RSHA, RTHA) or other corvids (CLNU, BLJA) that might raise alarm or attention from passerines. Someone out there maybe knows why jays often announce themselves. And maybe some jays feel a need to have their own unique ring tone. Jim Fairchild ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Dossett" To: "OBOL" ; "Corvallis birds" Sent: Friday, October 23, 2009 10:34 AM Subject: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay | Hi everyone, | | This morning while eating breakfast I was startled by the sound of a Blue Jay calling from the spruce tree off the deck where I have sunflower seeds sprinkled. It called a few times and then started doing an imitation of a Red-shouldered Hawk a few times before it stopped calling. I looked around but all I could find were Steller's Jays chowing down on the seed. About 10 minutes later I heard what I assume to be the same bird giving a very clear Blue Jay call. Finally, a Steller's Jay landed on the deck rail and opened its bill and gave a perfect imitation of a Blue Jay. | | I've never seen this before, though I suppose I shouldn't be totally surprised. I wonder just where this bird came in contact with Blue Jays to learn this call. The thought crossed my mind that it could be a Steller's Jay from further east that has moved into this area but it was still quite dark out (~7:20) so I couldn't get really great looks at plumage details. | | I guess now whenever I hear a Blue Jay I should be sure to get visual confirmation of the ID. Has anyone else experienced this? | | Michael | | | Michael Dossett | Corvallis, Oregon | www.Mdossettphoto.com | phainopepla at yahoo.com | | | | | _______________________________________________ | obol mailing list | obol at oregonbirdwatch.org | http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol | From greenfant at hotmail.com Fri Oct 23 13:33:03 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:33:03 -0400 Subject: [obol] Jackson Bottom White-tailed Kite continues (Washington Co) Message-ID: On my lunch break I ran down to Jackson Bottom where the White-tailed Kite was perched up not far from the Gene Pool, well visible from the Clean Water Services "amphitheater". 3 late Barn Swallows over the main pond, the continuing Black-bellied Plover in the main pond and a single juvie Snow Goose at the Bobcat Wetlands were also of note. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: I wanted more reliable, now it's more reliable. Wow! http://microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/default-ga.aspx?h=myidea?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_myidea:102009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091023/3dd566e0/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Fri Oct 23 16:45:55 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:45:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Camera question Message-ID: <4AE24033.6000602@verizon.net> Knowledgeable OBOLers, Camera question: I have a Canon Powershot A95 digital camera that has suddenly gone on the blink. The screen and photos are nothing but pinkish horizontal lines. So my questions are: does anyone know what is happening? Is it worth fixing? ($89 is the estimate on the Canon webpage to fix it, but I suspect that is their flat rate at looking at the thing) If not worth fixing, what the consensus on a new camera that is very similar to this one? I have enjoyed this little thing quite a bit, but it must be 4 years old or so and I am sure the technology has moved along quite a bit. I hate to get rid of it, it totally frustrates me that I might be being a consumer and throwing this thing out after four years, but I need a camera. Any suggestions from you more knowledgeable camera/digital tech people would be greatly appreciated! Cheers Dave Lauten Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Oct 23 17:09:50 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:09:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gull roosts Message-ID: <1256342990.28470.264.camel@clearwater> Hello Alan & All, The paddleboat pond in Waverly Park in Albany (just off I-5) normally gets a couple of hundred gulls in the winter months. Like Fern Ridge Reservoir this is mainly an evening/nocturnal roost. However, during the day the gulls are usually close by, either scrounging in the parking lots of the local fast-food establishments, or at Grand Prairie Park which is a gulls-n-wigeon specialty site on the Santiam Loop of the Willamette Valley Birding Trail (see www.oregonbirdingtrails.org for directions -- don't expect much but gulls-n-wigeons). This roost is presumably also the main source for the smaller flocks of gulls that show up at Coffin Butte Regional Landfill (near E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area) intermittently during the winter. At least, gulls usually fly out from the landfill toward Albany in the evening, occasionally with a detour past the big-box stores in north Corvallis. Happy birding, Joel P.S. If you're passing through the Albany area this winter and stop by for a bit of birding -- Simpson Park is another good & underbirded spot in town, and of course the Linn Co. grasslands provide good raptor watching this time of year -- please consider patronizing the local businesses and let them know that you're there for the birding. One of the more unique establishments worth a visit is Novak's Hungarian Restaurant, just south of the Southgate Mall, next to the (former?) Joe's store. Even if the shopping mall setting doesn't seem much like Budapest or Vienna, the food and mannerisms of the owner will remind you of those places. Come to think of it, I should have recommended this place for Gerard Lillie's compilation of places to eat while birding! Just be prepared to add a couple of pounds -- at least it'll be food you'll remember. If you're in a hurry, the Burgerville on Hwy 20 (in the same part of Albany) is a step up from most fast food joints, features Oregon ag/fishing products, and ecofriendly practices right down to compostable drinking straws. There are also some good places in the old downtown though sorry to say, some of those have gone out of business in recent months. Honest, I have no commercial stake in these places, but Albany could really use some birding bucks. The Linn Co. unemployment rate is 15.5%, and that just took another jump with today's shocking closure of the Millersburg paper mill, 270 good union jobs. We birders can't hold up local economies on our own but we can make a significant contribution -- and at the same time, let people know that birding is a benefit to their community. -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Oct 23 17:21:21 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:21:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gull roosts & Albany In-Reply-To: <1256342990.28470.264.camel@clearwater> References: <1256342990.28470.264.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: <1256343681.28470.272.camel@clearwater> Oops, I'm informed that the mall in Albany is the Heritage Mall, not the Southgate Mall. Don't know where I got that from. Anyway, look for a big mall, then look at smaller establishments around it and you'll find the restaurants that I mentioned. The gulls will be all around the area. Motorless birding afficionados will be pleased to know that Albany also has a good set of bike paths, including one that leads right past Grand Prairie Park. This is where I plan to add EURASIAN WIGEON and a few more gulls to my motorless year list in December, if I can't find them closer. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri Oct 23 18:21:47 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:21:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <36875.88857.qm@web45307.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Hi Larry et al. While putting seed down at Millicoma Marsh today (that's the east side of Coos Bay), I heard what I thought was a Red-shouldered Hawk, turns out it was a Steller's Jay. ?It did an excellent job of mimicking a Red-shouldered and stayed above the seed doing its imitation off and on. ?While I was there I saw two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS and a third a ways down the trail near a real Red-shouldered Hawk that was perched on a fencepost! Tim RCoos Bay --- On Fri, 10/23/09, Larry McQueen wrote: From: Larry McQueen Subject: Re: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay To: "'Michael Dossett'" , "'obol'" Date: Friday, October 23, 2009, 12:02 PM Michael, I wonder if you did not actually have a Blue Jay making the call, then the Steller's you saw calling like a Blue Jay, picked up on this call.? The reason I'm suggesting this is because I had never heard of a Steller's imitating a Red-shouldered Hawk.? They habitually do a Red-tailed Hawk, and the Blue Jays imitate Red-shouldered, but never(?) the Red-tailed.??? Do you think this is a likely scenario? Has anyone heard a Steller's do a Red-shouldered call? Larry -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Michael Dossett Sent: Friday, October 23, 2009 10:35 AM To: OBOL; Corvallis birds Subject: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay Hi everyone, This morning while eating breakfast I was startled by the sound of a Blue Jay calling from the spruce tree off the deck where I have sunflower seeds sprinkled.? It called a few times and then started doing an imitation of a Red-shouldered Hawk a few times before it stopped calling.? I looked around but all I could find were Steller's Jays chowing down on the seed.? About 10 minutes later I heard what I assume to be the same bird giving a very clear Blue Jay call.? Finally, a Steller's Jay landed on the deck rail and opened its bill and gave a perfect imitation of a Blue Jay. I've never seen this before, though I suppose I shouldn't be totally surprised.? I wonder just where this bird came in contact with Blue Jays to learn this call.? The thought crossed my mind that it could be a Steller's Jay from further east that has moved into this area but it was still quite dark out (~7:20) so I couldn't get really great looks at plumage details.? I guess now whenever I hear a Blue Jay I should be sure to get visual confirmation of the ID.? Has anyone else experienced this? Michael Michael Dossett Corvallis, Oregon www.Mdossettphoto.com phainopepla at yahoo.com ? ? ? _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091023/31366ad2/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Fri Oct 23 18:33:14 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:33:14 EDT Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Birdseed Message-ID: Hello All, A apologize for taking so long to get this message out. Last Sunday, I hauled 25 lbs. of birdseed on my bike out to Royal Ave. and spread it in 3 places; by the trees near the gate, at the last bunch of trees on Royal before the trail to the observation platform and the willows at the observation platform. I made a brief stop there tonight and found some activity the seed near the parking. The other two places seem to have gone undetected. I still have the other half of the bag that I'll take out there in the next week or so. At the seed tonight: Ring-necked Pheasant - 1 Spotted Towhee - 1 Song Sparrow - 4 Golden-crowned Sparrow - 6 Lincoln's Sparrow - 2 Dark-eyed Junco ~ 20 John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091023/db214f63/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Sat Oct 24 10:24:31 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 10:24:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <548DF86A1F9E4AAABF8C5A8FABD1EBBA@Phil> 7:30-8:00 (10/24): mostly clear, wind NE 5-15, swells 6-8 10 Red-throated Loon 2 Common Loon 2 Western Grebe 3 Northern Fulmar 5 Sooty/Short-tailed 200 Brown Pelican (N) 40 Double-crested Cormorant 100 Brandt's Cormorant (N) 25 Pelagic Cormorant 100 White-winged Scoter 1000 Surf Scoter 1 Mew Gull 50 California Gull 200 Western Gull 20 Glaucous-winged Gull 80 Heermann's Gull (N) 400 Common Murre Friday 10/23 there were 60 mostly adult Herring with a flock of 500 gulls at the mouth of the D River. Phil philliplc at charter.net From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Sat Oct 24 11:43:53 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:43:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] NW Portland - Sandhill Cranes & White Pelican flyover Message-ID: Walking outside from my house I heard the familiar sound of Sandhill Cranes high overhead. Running upstairs from my balcony I was delighted to see 46 Sandhill Cranes and amazingly about 40 White Pelicans in separate, but nearby flocks, both riding the same thermal. It was a very wonderful sight to see on a very pretty day. Both were new to the yard list. Yea! Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland From ed.mcvicker at comcast.net Sat Oct 24 11:55:31 2009 From: ed.mcvicker at comcast.net (Ed McVicker) Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:55:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] SW (was NW) Portland - Sandhill Cranes & White Pelican flyover Message-ID: <4AE34DA3.90301@comcast.net> i saw the same group of sandhills from my sw portland garden heading south pretty much over metzger just now (10 minutes after shawneen.) ed mcvicker portland Shawneen Finnegan wrote: > Walking outside from my house I heard the familiar sound of Sandhill > Cranes high overhead. Running upstairs from my balcony I was > delighted to see 46 Sandhill Cranes... > Shawneen Finnegan > NW Portland > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > From larmcqueen at msn.com Sat Oct 24 12:56:18 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:56:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay In-Reply-To: <36875.88857.qm@web45307.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <36875.88857.qm@web45307.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Never underestimate the talents of jays! Thanks, Tim. Anybody ever hear a Blue Jay imitate a Red-tailed Hawk? Thus far, I have heard Red-tail and Cooper's Hawk from Steller's, Red-shouldered from Blue Jay, and Pygmy Owl from Gray Jay (plus their imitation of my imitation of Pygmy Owl). But I have yet to hear Scrub Jay imitate anything, unless they pick up songbird sounds for their quiet sub-song. Larry _____ From: Tim Rodenkirk [mailto:garbledmodwit at yahoo.com] Sent: Friday, October 23, 2009 6:22 PM To: 'Michael Dossett'; 'obol'; Larry McQueen Subject: Re: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay Hi Larry et al. While putting seed down at Millicoma Marsh today (that's the east side of Coos Bay), I heard what I thought was a Red-shouldered Hawk, turns out it was a Steller's Jay. It did an excellent job of mimicking a Red-shouldered and stayed above the seed doing its imitation off and on. While I was there I saw two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS and a third a ways down the trail near a real Red-shouldered Hawk that was perched on a fencepost! Tim R Coos Bay --- On Fri, 10/23/09, Larry McQueen wrote: From: Larry McQueen Subject: Re: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay To: "'Michael Dossett'" , "'obol'" Date: Friday, October 23, 2009, 12:02 PM Michael, I wonder if you did not actually have a Blue Jay making the call, then the Steller's you saw calling like a Blue Jay, picked up on this call. The reason I'm suggesting this is because I had never heard of a Steller's imitating a Red-shouldered Hawk. They habitually do a Red-tailed Hawk, and the Blue Jays imitate Red-shouldered, but never(?) the Red-tailed. Do you think this is a likely scenario? Has anyone heard a Steller's do a Red-shouldered call? Larry -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Michael Dossett Sent: Friday, October 23, 2009 10:35 AM To: OBOL; Corvallis birds Subject: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay Hi everyone, This morning while eating breakfast I was startled by the sound of a Blue Jay calling from the spruce tree off the deck where I have sunflower seeds sprinkled. It called a few times and then started doing an imitation of a Red-shouldered Hawk a few times before it stopped calling. I looked around but all I could find were Steller's Jays chowing down on the seed. About 10 minutes later I heard what I assume to be the same bird giving a very clear Blue Jay call. Finally, a Steller's Jay landed on the deck rail and opened its bill and gave a perfect imitation of a Blue Jay. I've never seen this before, though I suppose I shouldn't be totally surprised. I wonder just where this bird came in contact with Blue Jays to learn this call. The thought crossed my mind that it could be a Steller's Jay from further east that has moved into this area but it was still quite dark out (~7:20) so I couldn't get really great looks at plumage details. I guess now whenever I hear a Blue Jay I should be sure to get visual confirmation of the ID. Has anyone else experienced this? Michael Michael Dossett Corvallis, Oregon www.Mdossettphoto.com phainopepla at yahoo.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091024/87f8a8a7/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Sat Oct 24 13:11:08 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:11:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sandhills on the Move-Silverton Message-ID: Just saw 160+ Sandhill Cranes in 3 loosely associated flocks. Very high to east of us (above Scotts Mills) going south. I thought I heard some several days ago but didn't see them. They sometimes are very high and off to the east over the foothills. Still looking. Perfect day for crane migration w/ northeast wind and clear. John Thomas 5 mi N of Silverton From grantandstacy17 at gmail.com Sat Oct 24 13:31:48 2009 From: grantandstacy17 at gmail.com (Grant Canterbury) Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:31:48 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sandhills and Pelicans on the Move - Portland Message-ID: About noon over North Portland, several large flocks of Sandhill Cranes, totalling two to three hundred birds, were circling in thermals and coasting south to the next one, trumpeting to one another and generally creating a ruckus overhead. They were joined in the first thermal by a flock of about 30 White Pelicans (brilliant in the sunshine), which accomplished the difficult trick of making the cranes look puny by comparison, and one mid-size raptor too high up to identify by eye. - Grant Canterbury From puma at smt-net.com Sat Oct 24 14:19:00 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:19:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sandhill Cranes Message-ID: <128F9D6A-CFC9-4F52-852E-8CDCECF7CA66@smt-net.com> Folks, Saturday, Oct. 24th, around 1:30 pm, I heard flocks of SANDHILL CRANES flying West of our barn. I could not see them, but John Thomas of Silverton did. Pat Waldron East of Scio From johnpam at mtangel.net Sat Oct 24 14:49:51 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:49:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Thinking About Cranes...-slightly off topic Message-ID: Thanks to those folks in Portland reporting crane movements. It is sometimes very hard to hear them out here with their altitude and especially from all the local road noise. So movement in Portland area gives us a "heads up, ears open." I knew it was about time as there was a big movement last year on Oct. 27th here and we are right around that date...Put in a clear day and a NE breeze and -wow!- here they are! Makes me want to get in the car and go south myself. Pat Waldron also heard them. It could have been a different group that maybe went west of our place though.... The White Pelicans would have been a first. Sorry to miss them. Maybe they came over earlier or on a little different flight path. I was outside the entire "window" of crane movement here (usually 11 AM to 1:30 PM) but heard nothing except planes and cars except for the one string of groups around 1:00. This subspecies of Sandhill Crane migrates to California and I wonder how they will do down there with the drought conditions? For the migration paths see: http://www.savingcranes.org/mapsonsandhillcrane.html and drought conditions: http://drought.unl.edu/DM/MONITOR.html Even the main flyway Sandhills are mostly going to areas of drought and some with severe drought in southern New Mexico. The Whooping Cranes were in very big trouble last winter at Aransas NWR due to a extreme drought and lack of food. They are just getting back from nesting grounds in Canada to the same situation again this winter. Here is an updated report on these endangered cranes (scroll to bottom for report): http://www.birdrockport.com/tom_stehn_whooping_crane_report.htm The southern tier of our country badly needs rain. More info on cranes of the world (i.e. "Birds of Heaven") : http://www.savingcranes.org/ Good Birding, John Thomas, NE Marion Co. From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Sat Oct 24 15:07:42 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:07:42 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Camera Advice Message-ID: <1984405776.80421256422062768.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> After five years of use, I wouldn't spend any money having a Canon A95 repaired. Even if it gets fixed, it would still be a well-used camera, with 5 Megapixels and an older and less effective firmware program. I recommend considering the new and mostly well-regarded Canon S90 or G11 models. They have about the same or slightly more?zoom range than the A95. Go to this forum, register for free and ask for some recommendations or don't register and just read the hundreds of detailed comments about these and other Canon models. http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1010 ? Panasonic also has some promising new small cameras this year. I don't recommend any of the smaller, new Sony models, as their picture quality is disappointing. If you want a very long zoom reach and HD video, consider the Sony HX1. Look at the photos and videos I've taken with it on my Flicker and Vimeo albums. Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091024/eed866f7/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Sat Oct 24 17:03:11 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:03:11 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Merlin Message-ID: <937111.17099.qm@web39701.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello, Today at about 3:45PM a merlin came in from very high to chase a flock of sparrows that were circling with my pigeon flock. The pigeons were really afraid, because the merlin is faster, and in addition, can out turn them. It was however only interested in the sparrows, which quickly sought cover. It then landed in a tree top immediately next to the coop. One of the pigeons, not recognizing the perched danger, attempted to land in the same treetop---but at the last instant seemed to realize that perched bird wasn't one of his brethern! This was a great show of flying prowess, the merlin flew up and down and thru the flock at least six times---the sparrows dodging at the last second. My pigeons were effectively corralled, in a manner very similar to how a sheep dog works. After 5 min. it flew away after a different flock of sparrows, but I wanted it to return, "and take a bow" for a great performance. Best, Dick !5 Mi. south of Burns From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sat Oct 24 17:29:36 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:29:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] Camera Advice Message-ID: <81b2a9930910241729g4bda1854l94ff9b4f9c3d6a86@mail.gmail.com> I agree with Steve that Canon and Panasonic are the first places to look for a good "super-zoom." IMO, they've been the best historically. In addition to his suggestions, I'd definitely check out the Pansonic Lumix DMC-FZ35: http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_fz35-review The Panasonics use Lecia glass and give the option to shoot in RAW mode (which is really nice if you're into non-destructive editing). You might also want to look at the Canon SX20 IS, which appears to be a successor to the well-regarded S5 IS: http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/cameraDetail.php?cam=1428 Brandon Eugene ----- Subject: Re: Camera Advice From: Bigrocketman AT comcast.net Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:07:42 +0000 (UTC) After five years of use, I wouldn't spend any money having a Canon A95 repaired. Even if it gets fixed, it would still be a well-used camera, with 5 Megapixels and an older and less effective firmware program. I recommend considering the new and mostly well-regarded Canon S90 or G11 models. They have about the same or slightly more zoom range than the A95. Go to this forum, register for free and ask for some recommendations or don't register and just read the hundreds of detailed comments about these and other Canon models. http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1010 Panasonic also has some promising new small cameras this year. I don't recommend any of the smaller, new Sony models, as their picture quality is disappointing. If you want a very long zoom reach and HD video, consider the Sony HX1. Look at the photos and videos I've taken with it on my Flicker and Vimeo albums. Steve McDonald From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sat Oct 24 18:08:34 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:08:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Curry 'N Coos 10/24/2009 Message-ID: <478778.60743.qm@web45307.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Nice to have some sun between rainy days, here is today's update: ? Knute Andersson reports that the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW is still coming to his feeder near Langlois, been there going on two weeks. ? There was a juvie PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER north of Floras Lake, Curry Co.?early this afternoon, near where Floras Creek turns into New River, it was with 36 Killdeer.? Also in the neighborhood was a single BB Plover and a few Dunlin.? A new Curry bird for me! ? In Coos Co. during the AM the EARED GREBE count?was up to 11 on the N. Spit of Coos Bay and there was another lingering?C. YELLOWTHROAT there. ? Have a good weekend all, Tim R Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091024/623b9738/attachment.html From m.denny at charter.net Sat Oct 24 20:05:00 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:05:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] WW & Umatilla Co. birds Message-ID: <6D65BD3E41764E0B95D280D34E39ED13@24FLIGHT> Hello all, Birded the west end today and found the following: Eurasian Wigeon - 2 drakes at Two Rivers HMU Bonaparte's Gull - 1 at Two Rivers HMU Clark's Grebe - 1 at Two Rivers HMU Tundra Swans - 25 at Casey Pond Hermit Thrush - 1 at Casey Pond Hooded Merganser - 1 at Casey Pond Great Egrets - 7 from delta to Casey Pond Sandhill Crane - 40 flyovers at McNary NWR HQ Yellow-shafted Flicker - 1 at Hood Park along with 25+ Red-shafts. McNary Dam/Umatilla County OR - with Andy and Ellen Stepniewski: Western Gull - 1 first year bird Mew Gull - 2 birds Bonaparte's Gull - 1 Western Grebe - 85+ above the dam Cold Springs NWR, Umatilla Co.: Am. Golden Plover - 1 Black-bellied Plover - 3 Pectoral Sandpiper - 15+ Long-billed Dowitcher - 80+ Dunlin - 2 Lesser Yellowlegs - 15+ Greater Yellowlegs - 1 Western Sandpiper - 8 Spotted Sandpiper - 1 KILLDEER - 700+ Amazing to see! Sandhill Crane - 18 flyover Snow Geese - 24 White-fronted Goose - 1 Cackling Geese - 40 Canada Geese - 2000+ Am. White Pelicans - 46 American Pipits - 10 Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 Cooper's Hawk - 1 Bonaparte's Gull-1 Tundra Swan-5 That is it. Andy and Ellen have headed up into the Tollgate area to look for Boreal Owl this calm cool evening. Later Mike .................................................................................. Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Sat Oct 24 20:58:32 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:58:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Dash to Christmas Valley & Cabin Lake Message-ID: <4AE3CCE8.8090705@gmail.com> Kei and I made a late dash to Christmas Valley to rake advantage of the nice day. Raptors were good, but hardly ANY other birds there or at Cabin Lake (though the guzzlers were full) and only a few Juncos at Fort Rock. Raptors as follows: 23 Red-tailed Hawks 8 Ferruginous Hawks 1 Golden Eagle 3 Rough-legged Hawks 2 Prairie Falcons 2 Northern Harriers 2 Kestrels Kevin & Kei Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091024/1eec208d/attachment.vcf From campbell at peak.org Sat Oct 24 21:53:31 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:53:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Valley bottom Goshawk Message-ID: <9D3B75CBB3CB4DD29B96B260A9808808@maryPC> I found a juvenile Goshawk at Snag Boat Bend (in Linn County) today. When it flushed out of a dense stand of cottonwoods it showed a heavily barred tail and a "checked" pattern on the underwing, so, given it's buteo-like size, I first thought it was a pale, juvenile Red-shouldered hawk. But when I relocated it, perched, it showed a long tail with paler, less-contrasting, narrower bands, and a light terminal band, like the tail of a Cooper's, though it was much too big, and the pale patches on its broad, brown back made me think of a Red-tail Hawk. After it made another short, somewhat sluggish, buteo-like flight to a different perch, I got a view of pale supercillium and heavy, vertical streaks on the breast and belly. Since I first saw it about 15 feet above the shore line, I'd say this bird was about 245 feet above sea level. If I remember right, a few weeks ago someone posted a sighting of a Goshawk on the valley floor. If I remember right, I scoffed at the report--inwardly, at least. I now pass this on to you so that you, too, may have the pleasure. Randy Campbell Peoria Every bird mentioned in this post was identified, or misidentified, without the direct aid of fossil fuels--or electricity--or tobacco, alcohol, licit or illicit drugs, state highway funds, TARP loans, or federal stimulus dollars. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091024/055c7bf0/attachment.html From watice at msn.com Sat Oct 24 22:37:20 2009 From: watice at msn.com (BILL ROSIE TICE) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 05:37:20 +0000 Subject: [obol] Question on Crane Migration Message-ID: Hi Folks, With the southbound movement of Sandhill Cranes, I have to ask if there is some reason why these birds consistantly migrate east of the Willamette River? Are the thermals better over there? Is this a long established hereditary habit? I would say these are a tough bird to find in Yamhill, Polk, and Benton Counties. Bill Tice Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors, and avoiding chores. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091025/5bbd3031/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Sat Oct 24 23:09:27 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:09:27 EDT Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Saturday Message-ID: Hello All, I biked to Fern Ridge at Royal Ave. this afternoon, arrived just in time to see an immature MERLIN streak through the parking lot. Several LEWIS' WOODPECKERS were still present in the oak grove northeast of the parking lot, visible from there. The MERLIN made several unsuccessful passes at the peeps and pipits on the mud at the end of Royal, also took a pass at one of the many NORTHERN HARRIERS present. 17 Harriers were in the grassy area on the north side of Royal. 2 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, an immature PEREGRINE FALCON and one adult BALD EAGLE were near Gibson Island. Watched an adult COOPER'S HAWK explode a tree full of 500 Blackbirds near the observation platform. One lone BARN SWALLOW was also near the platform tonight. Good Birding, John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091025/799daa0d/attachment.html From rriparia at charter.net Sun Oct 25 05:30:20 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 5:30:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sprague River area ranch KLAMCo Message-ID: <20091025083020.HDBE0.7423904.root@mp12> OBOL, I was with Marshall Moser, Bio Consultanat, out on the Flying T Salers Ranch, along with the owners, off of the South end of the Sprague River Rd., just south of OC&E Trail west of Beatty. (or basically, in the Sprague River Valley, west of Beatty, near Bug Butte), on Sat., Oct. 24. Anyway, here's the list of birds and approximate numbers for the species encountered. Observations occured between about 9:30 am and 12:00 noon. Mallard-34, Gadwall-46, Ring-necked Duck-1, Canvasback-21, Green-winged Teal-14, American Wigeon-6, Pied-billed Grebe-5, Western Grebe-17, Tundra Swan-8, Greater White-fronted Goose-1, Killdeer-2, American Coot-36 (might be low), Great Blue Heron-1, Great Egret-1, Ring-billed Gull-1, Gull sp.-2, Bufflehead-2, Northern Harrier-2, Northern Flicker-2, American Robin-375, Cedar Waxwing-7 (near home), Northern Yellow-rumped Warbler-4 (near home), Long-billed Dowitcher-11 (heard for confirmation), Greater Yellowlegs-3, Pectoral Sandpiper-4 (distant and partially hidden, and did not get closer for 100% ID, so not positive), Horned Lark-2, American Pipet-4, Northern Shoveler-18, Ruddy Duck-1, Red-tailed Hawk-6, Great Horned Owl-1 (in barn), Common Raven-4, Townsend's Solitaire-9, Oregon Junco-5 (Marshall), European Starling-25, House Finch-6, Evening Grosbeak-15 (most while on road between entrance gate and Sprague River Rd.), Marsh Wren (heard from trail stop), Pygmy Nuthatch-8 (heard same locations as grosbeaks), Ruby-crowned Kinglet-2, Mountain Chickedee-3, Black-billed Magpie-11 Total Species: 41 and one other possibly (Pectoral Sandpiper)... group didn't get closer for confirmation. Marshall Moser Julie Van Moorhem Mary Ellen Sargent Kevin Spencer Afterwards, a trip to the Cave Mtn. burn near Chiloquin, and above the Sprague River: Black-backed Woodpecker-14, Hairy Woodpecker-7, Downy Woodpecker-4, Northern Flicker-2, and a seemingly late Chipping Sparrow-2. The habitat there was residual Ponderosa Pine stems from an earlier fire, a year earlier. Kevin Spencer Julie Van Moorhem From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Oct 25 08:50:42 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:50:42 -0700 Subject: [obol] [birding] Valley bottom Goshawk & mid-valley phenology In-Reply-To: <9D3B75CBB3CB4DD29B96B260A9808808@maryPC> References: <9D3B75CBB3CB4DD29B96B260A9808808@maryPC> Message-ID: <1256485842.32045.47.camel@clearwater> Hi Randy & All, Actually this is about the right time for immature goshawks to show up on the valley floor. Though rare, there are a cluster of reports right in the 3rd week of October, from the Corvallis area. Some other recent reports that seem to be right on time for the Corvallis-Albany-Lebanon area include Cassin's Finch, Rough-legged Hawk, and Northern Shrike. The Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch on Marys Peak last week was on the early side but also within the normal bounds. Below is a *still preliminary* draft of a fall arrival phenology for this area. This is based primarily on the Audubon Society of Corvallis field notes. Alan McGie compiled fall arrival/migrant data from 1984-1997, and I've filled in additional data for 2000-2007, plus a few from 2009 as it happens. I'm not sure that all of these dates are meaningful since there is a very wide scatter for some species, but others seem to be quite regular. Anyway, here it is for your enjoyment. This table is the basis for the fall migrant/arrival dates that are shown in the Oregon Birding Calendar at: www.oregonbirds.org/calendar.html As a side note, all but one of this winter's CBCs are now scheduled. Also, for anyone who's starting to get depressed at the thought of another rainy Oregon winter, spring migrants are already starting to show up within the 16-week window that the calendar covers! Happy birding, Joel Codes: (M) = migrant species (D) = post-breeding dispersant (I) = irruptive species (W) = wintering species (this is also the default where no code is given) Species N Median Earliest First First Date Date Long-billed Dowitcher 5 Jul 22 Jul 9 Greater Yellowlegs (M) 13 Jul 22 Jun 26 Summer Tanager (2006) 1 Jul 23 Jul 23 Least Sandpiper 6 Jul 27 Jun 18 Caspian Tern (D) 5 Jul 30 Jul 3 Great Egret (D) 7 Jul 30 Jul 10 Western Sandpiper (M) 9 Aug 2 Jun 20 Marbled Godwit (M) 1 Aug 5 Aug 5 Blue-headed Vireo (2005) 1 Aug 11 Aug 11 Solitary Sandpiper (M) 8 Aug 12 Jul 21 Lark Bunting (2005) 1 Aug 13 Aug 13 White-faced Ibis (D) 1 Aug 13 Aug 13 Ruddy Turnstone (M) 1 Aug 13 Aug 13 Bank Swallow (M) 2 Aug 18 Aug 2 Lesser Yellowlegs (M) 13 Aug 19 Jul 14 Semipalmated Sandpiper (M) 4 Aug 20 Aug 3 Black-throated Gray Warbler (M) 6 Aug 20 Aug 7 Wilson's Phalarope (M) 3 Aug 21 Aug 4 Ring-billed Gull (D) 5 Aug 21 Jul 11 Semipalmated Plover (M) 7 Aug 21 Jul 14 Red-necked Phalarope (M) 11 Aug 21 Jul 28 Wandering Tattler (2006) 1 Aug 22 Aug 22 Baird's Sandpiper (M) 8 Aug 22 Jul 27 Brewer's Sparrow (M) 2 Aug 24 Aug 17 Wilson's Snipe 8 Aug 24 Aug 6 Short-billed Dowitcher (M) 2 Aug 25 Aug 12 Black-crowned Night-Heron (D) 6 Aug 25 Jun 25 Black Swift (M) 3 Aug 28 Aug 21 Sanderling (M) 2 Aug 29 Aug 17 Buff-breasted Sandpiper (2005) 1 Aug 30 Aug 30 Eastern Kingbird (M) 1 Aug 30 Aug 30 American White Pelican (D?) 2 Aug 30 Jul 10 Whimbrel (2005) 1 Sep 1 Sep 1 Northern Shoveler 8 Sep 1 Aug 6 Pectoral Sandpiper (M) 14 Sep 4 Aug 19 Black-bellied Plover 6 Sep 5 Jul 22 Mountain Chickadee (I) 4 Sep 6 Jul 4 Indigo Bunting (2009) 1 Sep 7 Sep 7 Northern Pintail 7 Sep 8 Aug 19 Orange-crowned Warbler (gray-headed ssp.) (M) 3 Sep 9 Aug 27 Black-and-white Warbler (2002) 1 Sep 10 Sep 10 American Wigeon 8 Sep 10 Aug 26 Peregrine Falcon 7 Sep 11 Aug 3 Forster's Tern (M) 2 Sep 13 Sep 10 Nashville Warbler (M) 2 Sep 14 Sep 10 Lincoln's Sparrow 19 Sep 14 Aug 28 Common Tern (M) 1 Sep 15 Sep 15 Horned Lark (non-resident ssp.) 4 Sep 15 Sep 9 California Gull (D) 7 Sep 15 Jul 10 Ruddy Duck 8 Sep 15 Aug 4 Green-winged Teal 8 Sep 15 Aug 22 Sabine's Gull (M) 3 Sep 17 Sep 8 Sooty Fox Sparrow 18 Sep 17 Sep 3 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (M) 1 Sep 18 Sep 18 Ring-necked Duck 10 Sep 18 Sep 3 Golden-crowned Sparrow 21 Sep 18 Sep 7 Stilt Sandpiper (M) 2 Sep 18 Sep 7 Lewis's Woodpecker (M) 12 Sep 19 Sep 3 Broad-winged Hawk (M) 2 Sep 20 Sep 10 Horned Grebe (M) 10 Sep 20 Aug 12 Tennessee Warbler (M) 1 Sep 21 Sep 21 Ruff 3 Sep 21 Sep 5 Yellow-rumped Warbler 7 Sep 21 Sep 8 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 15 Sep 21 Sep 5 American Pipit 15 Sep 21 Sep 5 Hermit Thrush 14 Sep 21 Sep 2 Swainson's Hawk (2001) 1 Sep 22 Sep 22 Townsend's Warbler 15 Sep 25 Aug 19 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (M/D?) 2 Sep 25 Aug 10 Lesser Scaup 8 Sep 25 Sep 12 Golden-crowned Kinglet 3 Sep 26 Sep 11 Merlin 18 Sep 26 Aug 4 Ash-throated Flycatcher (M) 1 Sep 27 Sep 27 Double-crested Cormorant 7 Sep 27 Sep 10 Rose-breasted Grosbeak (D?) 2 Sep 28 Jul 18 Cackling Goose 6 Sep 28 Sep 24 Gadwall 8 Sep 29 Sep 5 American Golden-Plover (M) 5 Sep 30 Sep 1 Varied Thrush 6 Sep 30 Sep 20 Northern Wheatear (1988) 1 Oct 3 Oct 3 American Avocet (2003) 1 Oct 4 Oct 4 Eared Grebe (M) 11 Oct 5 Aug 18 Western Grebe (M) 11 Oct 5 Aug 13 Greater White-fronted Goose (M) 15 Oct 5 Aug 25 Rock Wren (M) 2 Oct 8 Sep 18 Common Loon (M) 6 Oct 8 Sep 21 Greater Scaup 7 Oct 9 Oct 5 Sandhill Crane (M) 6 Oct 10 Sep 29 Surf Scoter 6 Oct 10 Oct 5 Savannah Sparrow (migrant ssps.) 1 Oct 11 Oct 11 White-throated Sparrow 19 Oct 11 Sep 18 Red-breasted Merganser (M) 3 Oct 12 Aug 29 Slate-colored Junco 6 Oct 12 Sep 23 Bufflehead 6 Oct 12 Sep 24 Clark's Grebe (M) 3 Oct 13 Sep 14 Western Meadowlark (non-resident birds) 6 Oct 13 Sep 16 Canvasback 7 Oct 14 Aug 16 Pomarine Jaeger (2006) 1 Oct 15 Oct 15 Townsend's Solitaire (M?) 4 Oct 16 Sep 23 Palm Warbler (M) 4 Oct 16 Sep 24 Black-throated Sparrow (2009) 1 Oct 17 Oct 17 Snowy Egret (2003) 1 Oct 17 Oct 17 Clark's Nutcracker (I) 5 Oct 17 Aug 31 Chestnut-collared Longspur(2009) 1 Oct 18 Oct 18 Yellow-shafted Flicker (M) 1 Oct 18 Oct 18 Pine Siskin 3 Oct 18 Sep 14 Dunlin 9 Oct 18 Aug 2 Rough-legged Hawk 19 Oct 18 Sep 3 Dusky Canada Goose (2009) 1 Oct 19 Oct 19 Snow Goose (M) 15 Oct 19 Sep 10 Long-billed Curlew 2 Oct 19 Sep 11 Red-throated Loon (M) 1 Oct 20 Oct 20 Burrowing Owl 9 Oct 20 Sep 25 Prairie Falcon 10 Oct 21 Aug 29 Cassin's Finch 3 Oct 22 Oct 19 Northern Shrike 15 Oct 22 Oct 4 Northern Goshawk 2 Oct 24 Oct 21 Redhead 5 Oct 28 Oct 4 Golden Eagle 6 Oct 28 Sep 16 Harlequin Duck (2004) 1 Oct 29 Oct 29 Short-eared Owl 6 Oct 30 Sep 18 Bonaparte's Gull (M) 7 Oct 30 Aug 3 Snow Bunting 6 Oct 30 Oct 26 American Tree Sparrow 2 Oct 31 Oct 20 Tundra Swan 19 Oct 31 Oct 5 Western Gull (I) 3 Nov 1 Jan 20 Glaucous-winged Gull 4 Nov 1 Oct 21 Say's Phoebe (M) 5 Nov 3 Sep 11 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch 13 Nov 3 Oct 20 Red-necked Grebe (M) 4 Nov 3 Oct 14 White-winged Scoter (M) 3 Nov 4 Oct 22 Pacific Loon (M) 3 Nov 4 Oct 19 Tufted Duck (2006) 1 Nov 5 Nov 5 Barrow's Goldeneye (low elev.) 6 Nov 5 Oct 22 Eurasian Wigeon 16 Nov 5 Oct 19 Blue Jay (2005) 1 Nov 7 Nov 7 Lapland Longspur 4 Nov 7 Sep 20 Loggerhead Shrike (M/W?) 5 Nov 8 Oct 20 Common Goldeneye 6 Nov 10 Oct 30 Cattle Egret (M) 5 Nov 11 Oct 25 Herring Gull 7 Nov 14 Jul 21 Franklin's Gull (2002) 1 Nov 16 Nov 16 Ross's Goose (M/W) 5 Nov 16 Nov 12 Trumpeter Swan 6 Nov 16 Oct 29 Snowy Owl (I) 2 Nov 21 Nov 18 Common Redpoll (I) 3 Nov 23 Nov 14 Mew Gull 3 Nov 26 Oct 1 Ferruginous Hawk 4 Nov 27 Sep 15 Gyrfalcon 6 Nov 29 Sep 19 Northern Mockingbird (2000) 1 Dec 2 Dec 2 Swamp Sparrow 7 Dec 3 Oct 25 Red Phalarope (I) 2 Dec 3 Nov 14 Emperor Goose 3 Dec 8 Dec 4 Pacific Golden-Plover (M/W) 6 Dec 11 Sep 11 White Wagtail (2002) 1 Dec 13 Dec 13 Brant 5 Dec 12 Nov 14 Long-tailed Duck 2 Dec 15 Nov 26 Harris's Sparrow 6 Dec 16 Nov 17 Eurasian Green-winged Teal 1 Dec 19 Dec 19 Slate-colored Fox Sparrow 2 Dec 23 Dec 14 Glaucous Gull 3 Dec 25 Lark Sparrow 1 Dec 27 Dec 27 Mountain Plover 2 Dec 29 Dec 25 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 Dec 29 Dec 11 Thayer's Gull 2 Dec 30 Dec 27 Clay-colored Sparrow 4 Dec 30 Nov 4 Red Fox Sparrow (2006) 1 Dec 31 Dec 31 Sedge Wren (2007) 1 Jan 4 Jan 4 Black Scoter (2007) 1 Jan 13 Jan 13 On Sat, 2009-10-24 at 21:53 -0700, M & R Campbell wrote: > I found a juvenile Goshawk at Snag Boat Bend (in Linn County) today. > When it flushed out of a dense stand of cottonwoods it showed a > heavily barred tail and a "checked" pattern on the underwing, so, > given it's buteo-like size, I first thought it was a pale, juvenile > Red-shouldered hawk. But when I relocated it, perched, it showed a > long tail with paler, less-contrasting, narrower bands, and a light > terminal band, like the tail of a Cooper's, though it was much too > big, and the pale patches on its broad, brown back made me think of a > Red-tail Hawk. After it made another short, somewhat > sluggish, buteo-like flight to a different perch, I got a view of pale > supercillium and heavy, vertical streaks on the breast and belly. > Since I first saw it about 15 feet above the shore line, I'd say this > bird was about 245 feet above sea level. > > If I remember right, a few weeks ago someone posted a sighting of a > Goshawk on the valley floor. If I remember right, I scoffed at the > report--inwardly, at least. I now pass this on to you so that you, > too, may have the pleasure. > > > Randy Campbell > > Peoria > > > Every bird mentioned in this post was identified, or misidentified, > without the direct aid of fossil fuels--or electricity--or tobacco, > alcohol, licit or illicit drugs, state highway funds, TARP loans, or > federal stimulus dollars. > _______________________________________________ > list mailing list > list at midvalleybirding.org > http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Sun Oct 25 09:22:50 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 09:22:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Back in the Flow Message-ID: <4AE47B5A.4060804@gmail.com> To paraphrase Elmer Fudd: I've just wetuwned fwom a "Wivew of Waptows" to a Wivew of Waskley Wobbins! Remember a few years ago when we had 28000 Robins on the Redmond Christmas Count? I think that may be the same this year. We have had a few Robins showing up, but last Wednesday just before our CRR Birders' Meeting the flow really started in earnest. Since then every morning and evening we have had a real 'river' flowing past our home up by the water tower. Hardly a break in the flow for hours (it seems). It is almost the same as the Broad-winged Hawk flow in Veracruz, Mexico. Look to the North with your binoculars and you see them, the Robins, rising out of the trees like so many Locust. They flow past our windows and as far back to the horizon as you can see. We are in for a sh--- winter me thinks. Kevin Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091025/f6a3bf73/attachment.vcf From deweysage at verizon.net Sun Oct 25 10:01:11 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:01:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Camera question Message-ID: <4AE48457.1090803@verizon.net> Obolers I must say thanks to all those who answered my camera question. You people rock! Thanks for all the tips and advice, it really helps a ton. Cheers Dave Lauten From nelson_sm at centurytel.net Sun Oct 25 10:49:47 2009 From: nelson_sm at centurytel.net (Sally Nelson) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:49:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Question on Crane Migration In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <05E552AB5F694948AF0B666FA7A712E4@SallyPC> When we moved here in 1969, cranes consistently migrated over our place 2 miles west of Creswell in large groups. As recently as 1998 flocks rested for the night out in Camas Swale. Now I am lucky to see a few birds flyover the house. Having no data on why, I won't even speculate on reasons for the change. I miss them, though. Sally Near Creswell (south of Eugene) A few feet up in the first coast range foothills ----- Original Message ----- From: BILL ROSIE TICE To: OBOL OBOL Sent: Saturday, October 24, 2009 10:37 PM Subject: [obol] Question on Crane Migration Hi Folks, With the southbound movement of Sandhill Cranes, I have to ask if there is some reason why these birds consistantly migrate east of the Willamette River? Are the thermals better over there? Is this a long established hereditary habit? I would say these are a tough bird to find in Yamhill, Polk, and Benton Counties. Bill Tice Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors, and avoiding chores. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091025/1755ca1b/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Oct 25 11:03:30 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:03:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Late Swainson's Thrush Message-ID: <1256493810.32045.57.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, At dawn yesterday and again this morning, I heard an ungodly yowling/baying sound coming at intervals from E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, across the highway from our place. This morning I opened the window to hear it better. I think it must be coyotes or hunters' dogs, but I'm still not sure, nor am I sure that I want to see whatever makes that sound. Anyway, today while listening for that awful sound, I also heard five very clear "water-drop" calls from a SWAINSON'S THRUSH that must be settled into the cherry thicket just across the highway. Getting sort of late for them though I see from Birds of Oregon: A General Reference that there are records well into November. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From archmcc at qwest.net Sun Oct 25 11:41:29 2009 From: archmcc at qwest.net (Arch McCallum) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:41:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay In-Reply-To: References: <36875.88857.qm@web45307.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <20091025184139.E6033621C76@mpls-qmqp-03.inet.qwest.net> All: Here's my scorecard: Stellers doing Red-tail: pretty much every day in my yard, multiple call-types Stellers doing Red-shouldered: I think so, but can't remember when or where Blue Jay doing Red-shouldered: yes, many times in the Southeast Blue Jay doing Red-tailed: don't think so, but something I'll enjoy being on the lookout for when I'm back there. Thanks to all for an interesting thread. Arch McCallum Eugene At 12:56 PM 10/24/2009, Larry McQueen wrote: >Never underestimate the talents of jays! > >Thanks, Tim. >Anybody ever hear a Blue Jay imitate a Red-tailed Hawk? > >Thus far, I have heard Red-tail and Cooper's Hawk from Steller's, >Red-shouldered from Blue Jay, and Pygmy Owl from Gray Jay (plus >their imitation of my imitation of Pygmy Owl). But I have yet to >hear Scrub Jay imitate anything, unless they pick up songbird sounds >for their quiet sub-song. > >Larry > > >From: Tim Rodenkirk [mailto:garbledmodwit at yahoo.com] >Sent: Friday, October 23, 2009 6:22 PM >To: 'Michael Dossett'; 'obol'; Larry McQueen >Subject: Re: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay > >Hi Larry et al. > >While putting seed down at Millicoma Marsh today (that's the east >side of Coos Bay), I heard what I thought was a Red-shouldered Hawk, >turns out it was a Steller's Jay. It did an excellent job of >mimicking a Red-shouldered and stayed above the seed doing its >imitation off and on. While I was there I saw two WHITE-THROATED >SPARROWS and a third a ways down the trail near a real >Red-shouldered Hawk that was perched on a fencepost! > >Tim R >Coos Bay > >--- On Fri, 10/23/09, Larry McQueen wrote: > >From: Larry McQueen >Subject: Re: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay >To: "'Michael Dossett'" , "'obol'" > >Date: Friday, October 23, 2009, 12:02 PM >Michael, > >I wonder if you did not actually have a Blue Jay making the call, then the >Steller's you saw calling like a Blue Jay, picked up on this call. The >reason I'm suggesting this is because I had never heard of a Steller's >imitating a Red-shouldered Hawk. They habitually do a Red-tailed Hawk, and >the Blue Jays imitate Red-shouldered, but never(?) the Red-tailed. >Do you think this is a likely scenario? > >Has anyone heard a Steller's do a Red-shouldered call? > >Larry > >-----Original Message----- >From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org >[mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Michael Dossett >Sent: Friday, October 23, 2009 10:35 AM >To: OBOL; Corvallis birds >Subject: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay > >Hi everyone, > >This morning while eating breakfast I was startled by the sound of a Blue >Jay calling from the spruce tree off the deck where I have sunflower seeds >sprinkled. It called a few times and then started doing an imitation of a >Red-shouldered Hawk a few times before it stopped calling. I looked around >but all I could find were Steller's Jays chowing down on the seed. About 10 >minutes later I heard what I assume to be the same bird giving a very clear >Blue Jay call. Finally, a Steller's Jay landed on the deck rail and opened >its bill and gave a perfect imitation of a Blue Jay. > >I've never seen this before, though I suppose I shouldn't be totally >surprised. I wonder just where this bird came in contact with Blue Jays to >learn this call. The thought crossed my mind that it could be a Steller's >Jay from further east that has moved into this area but it was still quite >dark out (~7:20) so I couldn't get really great looks at plumage details. > >I guess now whenever I hear a Blue Jay I should be sure to get visual >confirmation of the ID. Has anyone else experienced this? > >Michael > > >Michael Dossett >Corvallis, Oregon >www.Mdossettphoto.com >phainopepla at yahoo.com > > > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091025/b2ee42a0/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Sun Oct 25 12:18:57 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:18:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay References: <36875.88857.qm@web45307.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <20091025184139.E6033621C76@mpls-qmqp-03.inet.qwest.net> Message-ID: <723A91E23C4F40249FD29AF744BC6BF2@1120639> Add one Blue Jay imitating Red-tailed Hawk for me, many times in Missouri. Tom Crabtree, Bend ----- Original Message ----- From: Arch McCallum To: Larry McQueen ; 'Tim Rodenkirk' ; 'Michael Dossett' ; 'obol' Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2009 11:41 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay All: Here's my scorecard: Stellers doing Red-tail: pretty much every day in my yard, multiple call-types Stellers doing Red-shouldered: I think so, but can't remember when or where Blue Jay doing Red-shouldered: yes, many times in the Southeast Blue Jay doing Red-tailed: don't think so, but something I'll enjoy being on the lookout for when I'm back there. Thanks to all for an interesting thread. Arch McCallum Eugene At 12:56 PM 10/24/2009, Larry McQueen wrote: Never underestimate the talents of jays! Thanks, Tim. Anybody ever hear a Blue Jay imitate a Red-tailed Hawk? Thus far, I have heard Red-tail and Cooper's Hawk from Steller's, Red-shouldered from Blue Jay, and Pygmy Owl from Gray Jay (plus their imitation of my imitation of Pygmy Owl). But I have yet to hear Scrub Jay imitate anything, unless they pick up songbird sounds for their quiet sub-song. Larry From: Tim Rodenkirk [ mailto:garbledmodwit at yahoo.com] Sent: Friday, October 23, 2009 6:22 PM To: 'Michael Dossett'; 'obol'; Larry McQueen Subject: Re: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay Hi Larry et al. While putting seed down at Millicoma Marsh today (that's the east side of Coos Bay), I heard what I thought was a Red-shouldered Hawk, turns out it was a Steller's Jay. It did an excellent job of mimicking a Red-shouldered and stayed above the seed doing its imitation off and on. While I was there I saw two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS and a third a ways down the trail near a real Red-shouldered Hawk that was perched on a fencepost! Tim R Coos Bay --- On Fri, 10/23/09, Larry McQueen wrote: From: Larry McQueen Subject: Re: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay To: "'Michael Dossett'" , "'obol'" Date: Friday, October 23, 2009, 12:02 PM Michael, I wonder if you did not actually have a Blue Jay making the call, then the Steller's you saw calling like a Blue Jay, picked up on this call. The reason I'm suggesting this is because I had never heard of a Steller's imitating a Red-shouldered Hawk. They habitually do a Red-tailed Hawk, and the Blue Jays imitate Red-shouldered, but never(?) the Red-tailed. Do you think this is a likely scenario? Has anyone heard a Steller's do a Red-shouldered call? Larry -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [ mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Michael Dossett Sent: Friday, October 23, 2009 10:35 AM To: OBOL; Corvallis birds Subject: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay Hi everyone, This morning while eating breakfast I was startled by the sound of a Blue Jay calling from the spruce tree off the deck where I have sunflower seeds sprinkled. It called a few times and then started doing an imitation of a Red-shouldered Hawk a few times before it stopped calling. I looked around but all I could find were Steller's Jays chowing down on the seed. About 10 minutes later I heard what I assume to be the same bird giving a very clear Blue Jay call. Finally, a Steller's Jay landed on the deck rail and opened its bill and gave a perfect imitation of a Blue Jay. I've never seen this before, though I suppose I shouldn't be totally surprised. I wonder just where this bird came in contact with Blue Jays to learn this call. The thought crossed my mind that it could be a Steller's Jay from further east that has moved into this area but it was still quite dark out (~7:20) so I couldn't get really great looks at plumage details. I guess now whenever I hear a Blue Jay I should be sure to get visual confirmation of the ID. Has anyone else experienced this? Michael Michael Dossett Corvallis, Oregon www.Mdossettphoto.com phainopepla at yahoo.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091025/0d0ccb9d/attachment.html From jbw at oregoncoast.com Sun Oct 25 12:19:01 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara and John Woodhouse) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:19:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] New Yard Bird Message-ID: This morning we were going down to our greenhouse to pick tomatoes and to our surprise we had a BLACK PHOEBE on our back fence We live south of Tillamook back a mile to the east of the Air Museum we have seen them around the area but not close to us. Barbara & John Woodhouse Tillamook From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun Oct 25 13:19:12 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:19:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Coos Tropical-K 10/25/2009 Message-ID: <829792.36691.qm@web45305.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I stumbled upon a TROPICAL KINGBIRD in a North Bend neighborhood this morning. ?It was originally on a powerline in front of the Landmark Church in North Bend which is just west of Hwy 101 along Florida Street (the last light before you cross the McCullough Bridge heading north out of town). ?I first saw the bird at 9AM and I was back again at 10:30AM- it had moved south into the Coos Head Building Supply backlot and was flycatching there and west across the street in a residence backyard. ?I called Barb Griffin and she showed up and took pictures with her new digital camera, looks like I will be the last person in Coos Co. to purchase a digital camera! Anyhow, the bird was very vocal and did the long call note typical of this species so there is no question to its ID (not a Tropical/Couch's Kingbird). ?Who knows how long it's been around? The weather forecast is for rain, rain, and more rain so maybe it'll be around a while longer in this neighborhood. This is my "birthday" bird, they always seem to show up around my B-Day, the 30th of October, and I never get tired of the same old gift! ENJOY,Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091025/51b0e7eb/attachment.html From diana.byrne at comcast.net Sun Oct 25 15:07:17 2009 From: diana.byrne at comcast.net (Diana Byrne) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:07:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sandhill Cranes in NW Portland Message-ID: I also was delighted to see and hear Sandhill Cranes (118 of them) circling high above my house in NW Portland on Saturday around noon. I was tipped off by their sound, and was able to get a snapshot and short video. We are located about 3 blocks south of Pittock Mansion. -Diana Byrne From sandyleapt at comcast.net Sun Oct 25 15:15:34 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:15:34 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Algae Bloom/Sea Bird Rescue? Message-ID: <922572774.319041256508934824.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi Obolees , Does anyone know if volunteers are needed to help wash or rescue birds disabled by the algae bloom along the north Oregon and south Washington coast? I have tomorrow (Monday) off and would be happy to work with any organization that is working on this. I can offer an extra pair of hands and some clean towels for four to six hours, depending on how far I have to travel from Portland. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091025/67363ddd/attachment.html From sbkornfeld at msn.com Sun Oct 25 15:17:02 2009 From: sbkornfeld at msn.com (STEVE KORNFELD) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:17:02 -0700 Subject: [obol] Common Redpoll Message-ID: OBOL, COBOL My wife and I were hiking above Tumalo Falls about 10 miles outside of Bend. The sounds of Evening Grosbeaks drew our attention to a stately Fir that was dripping with around a 100 Grosbeaks. At the top were 5 small finches. Eventually I got adequate looks to ID them as Common Redpolls. When the flock flew, the Grosbeaks and Redpolls went in separate directions. Fun Steve Kornfeld Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091025/563697c1/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Oct 25 17:13:13 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:13:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Algae Bloom/Sea Bird Rescue? Message-ID: <4AE4E999.5030803@pacifier.com> The most recent word on the street is that about of the birds at the North Coast Rehab were shipped to other facilities including Portland Audubon. I suspect that most of the need is at the care centers rather than in beach rescue. I don't know the specifics of working at PAWS, but the number for the North Coast Rehab Center is (503) 338-3954 Algae Bloom/Sea Bird Rescue? From: sandyleapt AT comcast.net Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:15:34 +0000 (UTC) Hi Obolees , Does anyone know if volunteers are needed to help wash or rescue birds disabled by the algae bloom along the north Oregon and south Washington coast? I have tomorrow (Monday) off and would be happy to work with any organization that is working on this. I can offer an extra pair of hands and some clean towels for four to six hours, depending on how far I have to travel from Portland. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From 4cains at charter.net Sun Oct 25 17:17:16 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:17:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Algae Bloom/Sea Bird Rescue? Message-ID: Sandy, I am pretty sure Sharnelle Fee of the Wildlife Center of the North Coast would love any help she can get: Telephone: (503) 338-0331 (might have better luck at this number: Pager: (503) 338-3954 best of luck, Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091025/54a100a3/attachment.html From ErikKnight05 at comcast.net Sun Oct 25 17:05:27 2009 From: ErikKnight05 at comcast.net (ErikKnight05 at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:05:27 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Clark County, Washington on October 25, 2009 Message-ID: <200910260005.n9Q05Rxu009891@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Erik Knight by http://birdnotes.net Date: October 25, 2009 Location: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Clark County, Washington Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 100% Precipitation: showers/intermittent rain from 11:15AM to 3:05PM. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Greater White-fronted Goose 14 [1] Snow Goose 2 [2] Canada Goose Cackling Goose Wood Duck 24 Gadwall 187 American Wigeon 350 Mallard 130 Cinnamon Teal 3 [3] Northern Shoveler 23 Northern Pintail 550 Green-Winged Teal 400 Ring-necked Duck 25 Pied-billed Grebe 7 Great Blue Heron 8 Northern Harrier 3 [4] Red-tailed Hawk 10 American Kestrel 2 Virginia Rail 2 American Coot 101 Greater Yellowlegs 3 Common Snipe 1 Band-tailed Pigeon 55 [5] Mourning Dove 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Downy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 6 Steller's Jay 6 Western Scrub-Jay 10 American Crow 3 Black-capped Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Brown Creeper 2 Bewick's Wren 3 Winter Wren 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin European Starling American Pipit 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 Spotted Towhee 10 Fox Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow 12 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Golden-crowned Sparrow 10 Dark-eyed Junco 6 Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark 1 Brewer's Blackbird Evening Grosbeak 37 Footnotes: [1] SW corner of Rest Lake, others on Carty Unit near North boundary [2] juv pair, SW corner of Rest Lake [3] male & females, Rest Lake [4] females & juvenile [5] Duck Lake, Carty Unit Total number of species seen: 52 From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sun Oct 25 17:59:01 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:59:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Question on Crane Migration References: Message-ID: <964B810E916E431B916ECB5843D24103@yourw5st28y9a3> I looked at Carol Karlen's checklist of Yamhill Co birds and found that the Sandhill Crane sightings are almost all in the spring. But why is that so? Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: BILL ROSIE TICE To: OBOL OBOL Sent: Saturday, October 24, 2009 10:37 PM Subject: [obol] Question on Crane Migration Hi Folks, With the southbound movement of Sandhill Cranes, I have to ask if there is some reason why these birds consistantly migrate east of the Willamette River? Are the thermals better over there? Is this a long established hereditary habit? I would say these are a tough bird to find in Yamhill, Polk, and Benton Counties. Bill Tice Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors, and avoiding chores. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From tyler_hicks at wsu.edu Sun Oct 25 18:01:13 2009 From: tyler_hicks at wsu.edu (Tyler Hicks) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:01:13 -0500 Subject: [obol] =?windows-1256?q?Birding_the_Long_Beach_Peninsula_=26_the_?= =?windows-1256?q?Grebe/Loon_Wreck=FE?= Message-ID: Obolers, Sidra Blake and I birded the Long Beach Peninsula on Saturday and Sunday. The birding was decent with notable species including Black-legged Kittiwake, Eurasian Wigeon, and Pacific Golden-Plover. However, we were also witness to the continued wreck of loons and grebes. We walked approximately 2 km and counted 24 Red-throated Loons, 4 Common Loons, 1 Common Murre, and 25 Western Grebes wrecked on beaches stretching from Cape Dissapointment to Leadbetter State Park. Most were soaked, with a large portion of their feather's waterproofing compromised, and in a weakened state. A few were already dead. We also observed many grebes and loons that were visibly soaked near shore battling the waves and surf. It appeared to us that they were "apprehensive" about beaching themselves (which must be entirely unnatural to a loon or grebe). We also found 4 Red-throated Loons crashed at inland sites (1 in a parking lot, 3 on Hwy 103 scattered between Ocean Park & Oysterville). It appears that they must have been able to get airborne but either due to their feathers being compromised or hypothermia induced fatigue (or both) crashed. While we sampled only a few sections of the beach from Cape Dissapointment to Leadbetter State Park we found over 50 wrecked grebes and loons. Even if the event is localized in southwest Washington, which it appears not to be, the number of birds affected must be a staggering number. In addition, as we found several crashed loons inland, it would suggest that wrecked number censused on the beach may not account for the full number of affected birds. What a drag! I have posted a number of photos of wrecked birds on my blog: http://www.thingswithwings.org/page20/page20.html Highlights are as follows: Sooty Shearwaters - a few from the North Jetty, Cape Disappointment (CD) Dusky Canada Goose - ~ 20 JHB Columbian White-tailed Deer NWR American Wigeon - 3000-5000 (one flock) Willapa Bay, from the WA State Wildlife Office east of Ocean Park Eurasian Wigeon - 2 drakes in the above flock White-winged Scoter - North Lighthouse CD Harlequin Duck - 1 female from North Jetty, CD Hooded Merganser - 2 males, 1 female JHB Columbian White-tailed Deer NWR Peregrine Falcon - several Bald Eagle - many, some feeding on wrecked grebes/loons Black-bellied Plover - 200+ Leadbetter SP PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER - 5 Willapa Bay, from the WA State Wildlife Office east of Ocean Park Semipalmated Plover - 20 Chinook Co. Park Sanderling/Dunlin - 6000-10000, Willapa Bay & Leadbetter SP Black-legged Kittiwake - 1 immature, North Lighthouse CD Barn Owl - 1 roadkill near Sleepy Hollow, WA Black-throated Gray Warbler - 1 Leadbetter SP Cheers, Tyler Hicks Ridgefield, WA Tyler L. Hicks Ph.D. Student Washington State University Vancouver E-mail: tyler_hicks at wsu.edu Web Page: http://thingswithwings.org "We were certainly uncertain. At least, I'm pretty sure I am." - Modest Mouse _________________________________________________________________ New Windows 7: Find the right PC for you. Learn more. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pc-scout/default.aspx?CBID=wl&ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_pcscout:102009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091025/dc499e2c/attachment.html From fitzbeew at gmail.com Sun Oct 25 18:41:27 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:41:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sandhill Cranes, Linn County (Saturday) Message-ID: Obol, I also saw a lot of SANDHILL CRANES flying over on Saturday. I was on a retreat at Camp Koinonea in Linn County and we had three or four flocks of birds fly over. One of the flocks had over fifty birds in it. Very neat site and sound! -Holly Reinhard Corvallis, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091025/9d02bedd/attachment.html From bcombs232 at gmail.com Sun Oct 25 18:41:24 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:41:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge area Sunday afternoon 10-25 Message-ID: <8ce3a6520910251841r69fc6fb2s41b93640d3499451@mail.gmail.com> I drove around the Fern Ridge area and found a few interesting birds late this afternoon. A WHITE-TAILED KITE was using a perch at the west edge of the field at the NW corner of Cantrell and KR Neilsen Roads .. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was perched in a small tree in the brush line about 100 yards west of the Royal Avenue parking lot. The only woodpeckers I found in the oak wood lot near the beginning of the Royal Avenue dead end were a half dozen or so ACORN WOODPECKERS. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091025/af911aba/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Oct 25 18:42:21 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:42:21 -0700 Subject: [obol] seabird wreck Message-ID: <4AE4FE7D.3070202@pacifier.com> It is a natural inclination, when we see birds on the beach, to want to "help" them and many of the birds coming in with this recent wreck do need help. But many of them don't. It is not unusual to see Red-throated Loons on the beach resting, preening, trying to dry out a bit. If you look a Tyler's very excellent picture, you'll notice that many of these birds are alert, bright-eyed and (considering the circumstances) fairly dry. Loons are especially problematic for rehabbers. They don't take food well. Chasing them down so they can be put in a box and taken somewhere may not be in their best interest. Wanting to help is a good thing, but the place to start is at the rehab centers with the birds that are already there. And if they send you out to do a beach sweep: think triage. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From tyler_hicks at wsu.edu Sun Oct 25 19:24:52 2009 From: tyler_hicks at wsu.edu (Tyler Hicks) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:24:52 -0500 Subject: [obol] seabird wreck In-Reply-To: <4AE4FE7D.3070202@pacifier.com> References: <4AE4FE7D.3070202@pacifier.com> Message-ID: Obolers, Mike does make a valid point. Many of the birds we found appeared to be full of energy. On the other hand there were a few birds that were clearly on their last leg. Both Sidra and I were impressed by watching Western Grebes wattle around on the beach and they could make impressive (albeit awkward) distances of 5-10 m before tumbling over. It seemed to Sidra and I (since we observed these birds for some time) that some individuals were going back to sea to feed for a short time and then returning to dry out and warm up but that is just one interpretation. Even more interesting is how much "flocking behavior" was maintained even with beached individuals. We would see loons and grebes scrambling all over the beach just to group together. I would estimate that ~50% of the birds we encountered were in fair shape and seemed likely to recover given that they weren't depredated by coyotes, dogs, raccoons, gulls, or birds of prey or stressed by curious humans and their dogs. Both Sidra and I are wildlife biologists and for that reason we take a more objective view of natural phenomena such as these kind of events and we did little to intervene. Stochastic events such as these do occur naturally and the extent to which man should intervene is a gray area that I think everyone has to define for themselves. However, I'm sure it is debatable whether these algae blooms are independent of anthropogenic effects i.e. climate change, eutrophication. That being said I will admit that it did tear my heart out to see such beautiful animals floundering on the beach when on any other day seen floating on the ocean would bring joy to my life. Well that's my two cents. Wishing life wasn't so complicated, Tyler Hicks Ridgefield, WA Tyler L. Hicks Ph.D. Student Washington State University Vancouver E-mail: tyler_hicks at wsu.edu Web Page: http://thingswithwings.org "We were certainly uncertain. At least, I'm pretty sure I am." - Modest Mouse > Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:42:21 -0700 > From: celata at pacifier.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] seabird wreck > > It is a natural inclination, when we see birds on the beach, to > want to "help" them and many of the birds coming in with this recent > wreck do need help. But many of them don't. > > It is not unusual to see Red-throated Loons on the beach resting, > preening, trying to dry out a bit. If you look a Tyler's very > excellent picture, you'll notice that many of these birds are alert, > bright-eyed and (considering the circumstances) fairly dry. > > Loons are especially problematic for rehabbers. They don't take food > well. Chasing them down so they can be put in a box and taken somewhere > may not be in their best interest. > > Wanting to help is a good thing, but the place to start is at the rehab > centers with the birds that are already there. And if they send you out > to do a beach sweep: think triage. > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Things juvenal > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: Simplify your PC. Learn more. http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_evergreen1:102009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091025/2f5dead3/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sun Oct 25 19:54:05 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:54:05 -0400 Subject: [obol] Long-tailed Duck @ Hagg Lake (Washington Co) Message-ID: Ian Boustead and I found a female LONG-TAILED DUCK with a flock of 11 Surf Scoters at Hagg Lake this afternoon. This flock was first noted off the parking area on the south end of the dam, then again scoped from Rec Area A and just west of it. A scope might be necessary to see this bird. Diagnostic pictures were obtained and are available on request. Also interesting were a first-winter BONAPARTE'S GULL and a late Osprey. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: It helps you do more. Explore Windows 7. http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_evergreen3:102009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091025/31e417be/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Sun Oct 25 21:07:58 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:07:58 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Algae Bloom Sea Birds Message-ID: <510871313.422181256530078345.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Thanks, Looks like I get to go tomorrow afternoon. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091026/2dbab2cb/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Sun Oct 25 21:32:56 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:32:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Douglas Bald Goose chase Message-ID: While driving east from Reedsport along Hwy 38 at the Dean Creek Elk viewing area, I witnessed an adult BALD EAGLE coursing low over the river chasing a CACKLING GOOSE. I was driving parallel to them for 1-2 minutes. They were flying between 45 and 50mph. At one point the eagle was behind by only a truck length, but then the goose started to distance itself. I did not witness the outcome, but suspect goose survival. On the way home, I stopped and counted 15 CACKLING GEESE, 3 minima & 12 aleutian. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091025/aa638205/attachment.html From forcreeks at earthlink.net Sun Oct 25 23:44:47 2009 From: forcreeks at earthlink.net (Steve Berliner) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:44:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] off-topic kingfisher photos underwater Message-ID: <380-220091012664447609@earthlink.net> These are amazing shots of European Kingfisher making a catch underwater, and feeding altricial young in the burrow. Not to be missed. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/11/kingfishers/james-photography Steve Berliner forcreeks at earthlink.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091025/1d5e163c/attachment.html From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Mon Oct 26 00:43:51 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:43:51 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Unusual Mallard Rivalry Display In-Reply-To: <1572909394.279001256542885584.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <117107979.279071256543031742.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> At Alton Baker Park in Eugene, near sunset on Sunday, I saw and heard Mallard drakes giving rivalry displays that I've never observed before. They were exactly the same as I've seen with Green-winged Teal and Gadwalls. Someone else reported seeing the visiting Falcated Duck do the same, a few years ago. This took place in the wide section of the Patterson Slough, just upstream from the developed part of the park, next to Day Island Rd. They were also performing typical Mallard rivalry behavior, but the two different ones were like this: The drakes would wiggle their tails, then rise up in the water with their heads elevated. Then, they would rise up again?and twist their heads to the right, then dip their bills into the water, letting out a sharp, chirping whistle. Another part of this is usually added, when the teal do it, but I saw it only once with these Mallards. It is to arch the back and raise the tail and head, then rotate to the left. An?ordinary behavior I saw, was two drakes swimming rapidly side-by-side, as though they were best buddies. Then, they would turn on each other aggressively. There was lots of chasing and one drake seemed to think he was the Alpha Male of the bunch. I've never heard Mallards chirp or whistle before, in my entire life, but most other drakes of the Anas Genus do this, so perhaps these Mallards pulled up some ancient behaviors, that remained from a common ancestor. Mallards continue to be the most socially active and interesting ducks in their complex relationships. I caught this on HD video, using my Sony HX1, just shortly before sunset on an overcast day. You can view it here: http://www.vimeo.com/7260428 If you go back in my Vimeo album to the one about Green-winged Teal, that I shot about 7 years ago at Stewart Ponds, you'll see the same two-part rivalry displays and hear identical chirps.? http://www.vimeo.com/2003736 ? I was surprised to see this in a small group of Gadwalls at Delta Ponds two years ago, in November. I took a video of it, but now, I haven't been able to locate the footage, but will keep looking for it. Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091026/8dc0f011/attachment.html From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Mon Oct 26 02:28:45 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:28:45 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Interesting Canada Goose Courtship and Rivalry Display In-Reply-To: <1470068509.281541256549168357.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <493284951.281591256549325442.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> On Sunday evening, in Alton Baker Park in Eugene, in the flower garden next to the amphitheatre, I saw a very interesting pair of Canada Geese. They were engaging in the typical courtship display and vocalization, that a mated pair will perform. What made them interesting, is something I've never seen before and I've been living amongst this resident population of geese, since I was 12 years old. Both of them appeared to be males. This is based on their size, body shape, posture, mannerisms and vocalizations. A courting male and female adopt different postures and vocalize with different response notes to each other. Both of these geese?seemed to be ?performing the male part in this. The one that repeatedly drove away an intruding goose, was slightly smaller than the other and this is usually done only by the male. Each of them was larger than females I've seen in this strain of geese. I caught this on HD video, so decide for yourselves, if I'm right: http://www.vimeo.com/7261360 Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091026/86dd3171/attachment.html From pointers at pacifier.com Mon Oct 26 08:15:45 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:15:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] how to eat a rodent ... Message-ID: <20091026151548.B1A0B6A5E9@smtp2.pacifier.net> enjoy ... start with one rodent and get a good grip ... http://ridgefieldbirds.com/Images09Oct/RNWR_great_blue_heron_with_rodent_10-17-09_C.jpg toss it into the air ... http://ridgefieldbirds.com/Images09Oct/RNWR_great_blue_heron_with_rodent_10-17-09_D.jpg oops ... almost missed it !!!! http://ridgefieldbirds.com/Images09Oct/RNWR_great_blue_heron_with_rodent_10-17-09_E.jpg catch it and grip it tight ... http://ridgefieldbirds.com/Images09Oct/RNWR_great_blue_heron_with_rodent_10-17-09_F.jpg stuff it in ... http://ridgefieldbirds.com/Images09Oct/RNWR_great_blue_heron_with_rodent_10-17-09_G.jpg swallow ... http://ridgefieldbirds.com/Images09Oct/RNWR_great_blue_heron_with_rodent_10-17-09_H.jpg burp ... http://ridgefieldbirds.com/Images09Oct/RNWR_great_blue_heron_with_rodent_10-17-09_J.jpg Lyn Vancouver, Washington pointers at pacifier dot com Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From pamelaj at spiritone.com Mon Oct 26 09:17:36 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:17:36 -0700 Subject: [obol] how to eat a rodent ... References: <20091026151548.B1A0B6A5E9@smtp2.pacifier.net> Message-ID: <2D2D691FF81C4DCBB7BBB23CEB5C5421@yourw5st28y9a3> Makes me glad I'm bigger than a vole, or I might be cowering under the bed. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lyn Topinka" To: Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 8:15 AM Subject: [obol] how to eat a rodent ... enjoy ... start with one rodent and get a good grip ... http://ridgefieldbirds.com/Images09Oct/RNWR_great_blue_heron_with_rodent_10-17-09_C.jpg toss it into the air ... http://ridgefieldbirds.com/Images09Oct/RNWR_great_blue_heron_with_rodent_10-17-09_D.jpg oops ... almost missed it !!!! http://ridgefieldbirds.com/Images09Oct/RNWR_great_blue_heron_with_rodent_10-17-09_E.jpg catch it and grip it tight ... http://ridgefieldbirds.com/Images09Oct/RNWR_great_blue_heron_with_rodent_10-17-09_F.jpg stuff it in ... http://ridgefieldbirds.com/Images09Oct/RNWR_great_blue_heron_with_rodent_10-17-09_G.jpg swallow ... http://ridgefieldbirds.com/Images09Oct/RNWR_great_blue_heron_with_rodent_10-17-09_H.jpg burp ... http://ridgefieldbirds.com/Images09Oct/RNWR_great_blue_heron_with_rodent_10-17-09_J.jpg Lyn Vancouver, Washington pointers at pacifier dot com Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From foglark at att.net Mon Oct 26 10:12:59 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:12:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Steller's Jays imitating Red-shouldered Hawks; Sandhill Cranes Message-ID: <156241.44097.qm@web80001.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I can pass along that Steller's Jays imitate Red-shouldered Hawks commonly in northwestern California. They also do it in southwestern Oregon, where I first heard this in 1989 in Coos County. The imitation is usually of three or four notes. It will distract and possibly fool those inexperienced with it, but after you hear it a few times, it doesn't sound much like the real thing. About Sandhill Cranes. I remember in the 1980s that people living in Glide and farther s. at Tiller, e. of I-5 in Douglas County, routinely observed cranes in migration. As I recall, the late Martha Sawyer (d. 1991), who fell just short of her goal of getting to 300 species in Douglas County, never encountered cranes there, and I think it was because she wasn't under their narrow flyway through the county at the right time. Similarly, I worked for seven years in far eastern Douglas County and saw cranes only a few times. Ron Maertz of Glide, can you chip in? The drought may well be affecting them in California, but I think many if not most of the birds wintering there use managed wetlands where the impacts of drought may not be as pronounced as elsewhere. I finally saw my first vagrant warbler of the fall in Humboldt County yesterday, a Palm Warbler at Shelter Cove. It has been an off-year for warblers here this fall, although other birders have encountered a few of the more expected species. I can still remember Martha Sawyer's laugh. She referred to American Goldfinch as giving a "potato chip" call, which in years since I have taught to a lot of people. Thanks, Martha. David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091026/14734d94/attachment.html From lbviman at blackfoot.net Mon Oct 26 10:45:26 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (lbviman at blackfoot.net) Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:45:26 -0700 (MST) Subject: [obol] Camera Advice In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <55889.216.14.250.242.1256579126.squirrel@webmail.blackfoot.net> Also, thanks for the various answers. I sadly recommend avoid Olympus = we have the 18x [optical] P&S from about 3 years ago, and it doesn't have sharp quality of older 10x. In addition, it does not focus well even with hugely contrasty edges at which one aims. LOUSY for birds, esp if jumping around in shrubs, even on the edges... I still personally prefer DSLR and interchangeable lenses, if you can handle the weight and prices... - Jim Greaves From gary.l.ivey at gmail.com Mon Oct 26 12:22:40 2009 From: gary.l.ivey at gmail.com (Gary Ivey) Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:22:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] question on crane migration Message-ID: Bill, I think the cranes primarily fly down the east side of the Willamette Valley because their typical next stop on their way to the Central Valley in California is the Lower Klamath NWR/Butte Valley area in northern California and the east side is more in direct line with that. We put satellite radios on cranes at Ridgefield NWR and Sauvie Island back in 2002 and that is the route they used to head south. If you are interested, I can email a copy of our paper on the birds that migrate through western Oregon. Gary Ivey On 10/26/09, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: > Send obol mailing list submissions to > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > obol-owner at oregonbirdwatch.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of obol digest..." > From hadada at centurytel.net Mon Oct 26 13:38:20 2009 From: hadada at centurytel.net (ron and Polly Maertz) Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:38:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] a wh peli Message-ID: Hi 6 Amer. White Pelicans that were reported a few days ago at Plat I in Douglas county by Keith Phifer are still there today. Probably the same group as last year. Maertz Glide From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Oct 26 14:45:55 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:45:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Birders- It's gotta be a good book... Message-ID: <437131.70106.qm@web45310.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Check out this opening paragraph from a new book by Douglas Brinkley about Teddy Roosevelt.??I was?perusing the new book shelf at the N. Bend library and read the first paragraph of this book and instantly wanted to check it out- see why below! ? The first paragraph from The Wilderness Warrior, Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America (900+ pages, looks like?monster): ? On a wintry morning in 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt arrived at a White House cabinet meeting unexpectedly and with great exuberance.? Something of genuine importance had obviously just happened.? All eyes were fixated on Roosevelt, who was quaking like a dervish with either excitement or agitation- it was unclear which.? Having endured the assassinations of three presidents- Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, and William McKinley- Roosevelt?s so-called kitchen cabinet at least had the consolation of knowing that their boss, at the moment, was out of harm?s way.? Still, they leaned forward, bracing for the worst. ?Gentlemen, do you know what has happened this morning?? Roosevelt breathlessly asked, as everybody leaned forward with bated breath for the bad news.? ?Just now I saw a chestnut-sided warbler- and this is only February!? I think it's going to be a good one, 900 pages and all. ? ENJOY! Tim R Coos Bay ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091026/ab247a20/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Mon Oct 26 14:58:19 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:58:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] question on crane migration References: Message-ID: <0779ABF6E5C9467C853FF99D281F94A1@yourw5st28y9a3> That would help answer why in Yamhill Co we see Sandhill Cranes only in spring. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gary Ivey" To: Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 12:22 PM Subject: Re: [obol] question on crane migration Bill, I think the cranes primarily fly down the east side of the Willamette Valley because their typical next stop on their way to the Central Valley in California is the Lower Klamath NWR/Butte Valley area in northern California and the east side is more in direct line with that. We put satellite radios on cranes at Ridgefield NWR and Sauvie Island back in 2002 and that is the route they used to head south. If you are interested, I can email a copy of our paper on the birds that migrate through western Oregon. Gary Ivey On 10/26/09, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: > Send obol mailing list submissions to > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > obol-owner at oregonbirdwatch.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of obol digest..." > _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From baltman at peak.org Mon Oct 26 15:49:45 2009 From: baltman at peak.org (Bob Altman) Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:49:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birders- It's gotta be a good book... In-Reply-To: <437131.70106.qm@web45310.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <437131.70106.qm@web45310.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <006001ca568e$9d8c1ab0$d8a45010$@org> Another good Teddy Roosevelt story is the time he was walking across the White House lawn in the fall with someone and he picked up a feather and said ?It looks like Fox Sparrows are back.? Bob Altman American Bird Conservancy 311 NE Mistletoe Corvallis, OR 97330 baltman at abcbirds.org phone/fax - 541-745-5339 From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Tim Rodenkirk Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 2:46 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Birders- It's gotta be a good book... Check out this opening paragraph from a new book by Douglas Brinkley about Teddy Roosevelt. I was perusing the new book shelf at the N. Bend library and read the first paragraph of this book and instantly wanted to check it out- see why below! The first paragraph from The Wilderness Warrior, Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America (900+ pages, looks like monster): On a wintry morning in 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt arrived at a White House cabinet meeting unexpectedly and with great exuberance. Something of genuine importance had obviously just happened. All eyes were fixated on Roosevelt, who was quaking like a dervish with either excitement or agitation- it was unclear which. Having endured the assassinations of three presidents- Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, and William McKinley- Roosevelt?s so-called kitchen cabinet at least had the consolation of knowing that their boss, at the moment, was out of harm?s way. Still, they leaned forward, bracing for the worst. ?Gentlemen, do you know what has happened this morning?? Roosevelt breathlessly asked, as everybody leaned forward with bated breath for the bad news. ?Just now I saw a chestnut-sided warbler- and this is only February!? I think it's going to be a good one, 900 pages and all. ENJOY! Tim R Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091026/14673281/attachment.html From jbw at oregoncoast.com Mon Oct 26 16:52:39 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara and John Woodhouse) Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:52:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rehab Hospital Message-ID: <4968DAC8-5E93-42D6-831E-F42668713BC0@oregoncoast.com> This morning the Coast Guard flew a transport plane in to Astoria Airport and around 400 birds were loaded and flown down to a hospital set up to take in oiled birds in california. The Center no longer needs extra volunteers things are almost back to normal. Thank you to everyone. Barbara John Woodhouse Tillamook ( Rehab volunteers ) From celata at pacifier.com Mon Oct 26 17:06:12 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:06:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Rehab Hospital Message-ID: <4AE63974.8050503@pacifier.com> I spent the morning at the rehab center helping to re-package birds for transport. My count (which was probably short by a few birds): WESTERN GREBE 73 COMMON LOON 17 PACIFIC LOON 2 RED-THROATED LOON 33 COMMON MURRE 161 TOTAL 284 Anyway, the count for birds shipped to California was probably closer to 300 than 400. Rehab Hospital From: Barbara and John Woodhouse Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:52:39 -0700 This morning the Coast Guard flew a transport plane in to Astoria Airport and around 400 birds were loaded and flown down to a hospital set up to take in oiled birds in california. The Center no longer needs extra volunteers things are almost back to normal. Thank you to everyone. Barbara John Woodhouse Tillamook ( Rehab volunteers ) -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From dhogaza at pacifier.com Mon Oct 26 17:11:09 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:11:09 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birders- It's gotta be a good book... In-Reply-To: <006001ca568e$9d8c1ab0$d8a45010$@org> References: <437131.70106.qm@web45310.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <006001ca568e$9d8c1ab0$d8a45010$@org> Message-ID: On Oct 26, 2009, at 3:49 PM, Bob Altman wrote: > Another good Teddy Roosevelt story is the time he was walking across > the White House lawn in the fall with someone and he picked up a > feather and said ?It looks like Fox Sparrows are back.? > Dave Marshall tells a story (heard from his father, IIRC) of Teddy Roosevelt visiting Portland, and when he got off his train onto the platform full of local Portland dignitaries, ignored them all and started asking loudly, "Where's Bill Finley? Where's Bill Finley?". I assume everyone knows who William Finley is and why Teddy R was interested in meeting him ... ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From steve at paradisebirding.com Mon Oct 26 17:23:16 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:23:16 -0700 Subject: [obol] Ft Rock Raptor Classes Message-ID: <9a341ea30910261723q30b6381bnb3d25d05149e3bea@mail.gmail.com> Hello all, I will lead instructional tours to Ft. Rock and Christmas Valley nearly every weekend from now through Christmas Bird Count period. I will take a maximum of 7 people per trip. To really learn the raptors, join me for multiple days and get a discount! *ONE-DAY RAPTOR CLASSES* $95/person/day, or $80/person/day if you sign up for multiple days Transportation from Sisters/Bend and instruction included Saturday, October 30 Saturday, November 7 Sunday, November 15 Saturday, December 5 Saturday, December 12 *THANKSGIVING WEEKEND AT SUMMER LAKE* $215/person Transportation and instruction included; pay for your own meals and lodging (reservations held at Summer Lake Lodge) Saturday-Sunday, November 28-29 Pre-register by emailing me at this email address or by calling 541-408-1753. See you in early winter! Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091026/267b440d/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon Oct 26 18:36:07 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:36:07 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Sea Birds Algea Rescue Message-ID: <1465082660.833111256607367557.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi all, Most of the birds were shipped off today. The rehab center still has quite a few birds to care for and a mountain of laundry to do. Check out Channel 8 news, they were on site for a while. I had the privilege of helping to load the last of the birds onto a U-Haul truck. Its my understanding the birds were being flown by the US Coast Guard to a facility in California that was setup to handle wildlife victims of oil spills. It was quite a sight to see so many people changing or placing clean padding into boxes and carriers and then gently loading birds into pet carriers and pet boxes that were then transported to the truck. So, mostly I helped break down boxes and clean up dirty laundry and newspaper to clear a path to the dryer and restore some order to the shed. Then I helped keep four washing machines and the dryer working hard. Wow, what a job the volunteers who staff that rehab center do. They will be cleaning that place up for days. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091027/40658cbe/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Mon Oct 26 21:06:56 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:06:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boreal Owl in the Blue mountains-24 October Message-ID: <000601ca56ba$f579b3a0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> BOREAL OWL IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS 24-25 OCTOBER, 2009 After dark Saturday night we headed north from Tollgate up Forest Road 64 on a clear, calm and cold night. Beyond the Jubilee Lake Campground turnoff, I noted skirts of Subalpine Fir coming down to the ground, my cue we might be in good habitat for Boreal Owl. We stopped every half-mile or so and played a Boreal Owl primary song, then listened for a few minutes with no response save from one Great Horned Owl, an Elk or two, and a pack of Coyotes. Finally, about a mile shy of Boot Springs Camp (5,800 feet elevation), we lucked out and repeatedly heard, often very close by, as if in the adjacent firs, a snappy "skieuw" call from a BOREAL OWL. Content and tired (especially Ellen, having started her day at 3:30 am in Philadelphia!), we called it a night and camped at Boot Springs. We found it a very cold night indeed. The wind picked up through the night, and, combined with the 25 0 F temps, made for a long night in our sleeping bags. We guessed we were not yet acclimated to winter conditions. At dawn the frigid temperatures sent us downhill. We stopped in a few miles south of the Wenaha Tucannon Wilderness Area boundary, at 5,500 feet elevation, on a long downhill stretch. Here, we took in a beautiful vista of mountain slopes mantled in bright golden Western Larch off to the west. A NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL tooted here, awakening the neighborhood chickadees, nuthatches, and creepers, and Red Squirrels. Though the entrance road to Jubilee Campground was closed, Ellen reconnoitered a way to the lakeside trail from FR-64, actually just a few hundred yards away. We enjoyed a walk around this delightful mountain lake on a wide, graded trail. Ellen spotted an American Dipper working tranquil waters by the lake edge, curious, as there is no real running water at the lakes outlet or inlet. Lesser Scaup and Bufflehead rested on their lake, actually a reservoir, though you wouldn't know it, as the shore habitats appear quite natural. We observed the west and north shores are decidedly more "boreal" in aspect (4,800 feet elevation), with abundant Engelmann Spruce and Subalpine Fir while the east and south shores struck us as more montane in character with many Grand Fir and Western Larch, along with spruce. We spotted 25 species on this hike, the best being a AM. THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. Other birds noted on this walk were typical high-elevation forest species for the season: Gray and Steller's Jays, Common Raven, Mountain and Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Cassin's Finch, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, and Evening Grosbeak. Overhead, an adult Golden Eagle flapped with labored wingbeats. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091026/148add5b/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Mon Oct 26 22:51:20 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:51:20 -0400 Subject: [obol] =?windows-1256?q?Long-tailed_Duck_=40_Hagg_Lake_=28Washing?= =?windows-1256?q?ton_Co=29=FE?= In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Ian's picture of the Hagg Lake Long-tailed Duck from yesterday can be viewed at my blog at http://birdmeister.wordpress.com. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR From: greenfant at hotmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:54:05 -0400 Subject: [obol] Long-tailed Duck @ Hagg Lake (Washington Co) Ian Boustead and I found a female LONG-TAILED DUCK with a flock of 11 Surf Scoters at Hagg Lake this afternoon. This flock was first noted off the parking area on the south end of the dam, then again scoped from Rec Area A and just west of it. A scope might be necessary to see this bird. Diagnostic pictures were obtained and are available on request. Also interesting were a first-winter BONAPARTE'S GULL and a late Osprey. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: It helps you do more. Explore Windows 7. http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_evergreen3:102009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091027/4bdfdccc/attachment.html From gneavoll at comcast.net Tue Oct 27 08:38:30 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:38:30 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Cacklers over Portland Message-ID: <1578921192.1026061256657910658.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Rank on rank of CACKLING GEESE passing over downtown at the moment (8:40 a.m.), as they have been for past half-hour, heading south. They're hard to keep up with, but they surely represent several/many thousands. George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091027/16c1e1d0/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Oct 27 09:22:39 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:22:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Camera question Message-ID: <4AE71E4F.3070501@verizon.net> For all the folks who wrote me in my response to my Canon camera question, It was pointed out to me by Paul Osborn that the model I have is under a Service Advisory and may be fixed for free. Despite some folks warning me of Canon repair facilities, so far their costumer service has been very good and they intend on looking at the camera and fixing it for free if the problem is the one that the service advisory addresses. I just wanted to pass along a thanks to everyone for their experience and thoughts, but also wanted to let you all know that so far, Canon is dealing with it in a reasonable manner. If I have any bad, or good, experiences, I will surely let all know. Thanks again Dave Lauten From philliplc at charter.net Tue Oct 27 10:11:46 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:11:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: 7:30-9:30 (10/27): overcast brief squalls, wind NNW 15-30, swells 10+ 400 Red-throated Loon 100 Pacific Loon 2000+ Red-throated/Pacific 20 Common Loon 4 Red-necked Grebe 300 Northern Fulmar (most S, 2 light) 1 Short-tailed Shearwater 500 Brown Pelican (most S) 50 Double-crested Cormorant 300 Brandt's Cormorant (most S) 100 Pelagic Cormorant 1 Mallard 50 Northern Pintail 8 American Wigeon 1 Northern Shoveler 50 Green-winged Teal 15 scaup sp. 2 Black Scoter 800 White-winged Scoter 6000 Surf Scoter 2 Bufflehead 2 Red-breasted Merganser 1 Bonaparte's Gull 500+ Mew Gull 300+ California Gull 10+ Herring Gull 1 Thayer's Gull 1000+ Western Gull (movment both directions) 50+ Glaucous-winged Gull 150 Heermann's Gull 30 Common Murre 1 Rhinoceros Auklet Phil philliplc at charter.net From hadada at centurytel.net Tue Oct 27 11:29:31 2009 From: hadada at centurytel.net (ron and Polly Maertz) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:29:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lew wood Message-ID: Howdy This past week and a half good numbers of Lewis' Woodpeckers have been reported from several valleys location in Douglas county. More than I can remember hearing about. Must be a major movement Maertz Glide From jonysky101 at aol.com Tue Oct 27 11:47:21 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:47:21 -0400 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands photos posted, 2 not sures Message-ID: <8CC254D0D34B64D-2E08-3AC9@webmail-d080.sysops.aol.com> I posted some photos I took at Fernhill last week. There are 2 photos of flyers that I haven't been able to IDwith certainty. This one I think is a Greater Yellow-legs in front of a Long-billed Dowitcher. But I'm not sure. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/4048630646_7ffaa88f5e_o.jpg I believe the larger birds in this shot are a Greater Yellow-legs in front of a Long-billed Dowitcher. I don't know what the smaller birds are. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2490/4047887513_03876ea307_o.jpg I've spent a lot of time in the Shore Birds Guide trying to ID the birds myself instead of just asking for help. And I have learned a lot, but I still have a lot to learn. This link is to the whole set from Fernhill. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/sets/72157622670991670/detail/ As always, I appreciate any help. Johnny Sasko Sandy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091027/f80819d8/attachment.html From dhogaza at pacifier.com Tue Oct 27 11:49:12 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:49:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Birders- It's gotta be a good book... In-Reply-To: <8CC25434671B75A-2E08-2671@webmail-d080.sysops.aol.com> References: <437131.70106.qm@web45310.mail.sp1.yahoo.com><006001ca568e$9d8c1ab0$d8a45010$@org> <8CC25434671B75A-2E08-2671@webmail-d080.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: On Oct 27, 2009, at 10:37 AM, jonysky101 at aol.com wrote: > Because of his photos or his conservation efforts? I love learning > new stuff. Johnny Sasko, Sandy Both, I suspect, since Finley was world-famous for his still and cinema bird photography. But certainly for his conservation efforts - it was Finley who convinced Teddy R to establish the first national wildlife refuge in the west (three arches NWR), and also Klamath (Oregon Audubon, of which Finley was a founder, provided a game warden for Klamath marsh before and after Teddy R declared it a NWR) and Malheur as well ... ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From 5hats at peak.org Tue Oct 27 12:05:18 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:05:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] Finley the photographer Message-ID: <0C13B6160D1C40D68AE1848D5410AA7D@your5rlp3a9516> Obolites, With all due respect to the contributions of William Finley to Oregon ornithology and bird conservation, I really think to give him credit for his photography is unwarranted. If you study the photographs of Finley after the end of his association with Herman Bolhman, you will see a decided decline in quality. Finley has long been held in high regard, and perhaps appropriately so, but the earlier photographs suggest that Bolhman, who seemed to fade from public view, was really the master photographer of the two. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091027/2058cf6a/attachment.html From grantandstacy17 at gmail.com Tue Oct 27 12:21:41 2009 From: grantandstacy17 at gmail.com (Grant Canterbury) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:21:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] White Pelicans over Portland Message-ID: 11:45 on Tuesday morning, a flock of about 35 White Pelicans circling high up in the vicinity of the Hawthorne Bridge, trending toward the south. From puma at smt-net.com Tue Oct 27 14:43:19 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:43:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sandhill Cranes Message-ID: <09B56E1D-A2EB-457A-8249-B245C98BA8A5@smt-net.com> Folks, Waves of SANDHILL CRANES are in migration today, Oct 27. The first I noted was a group of 40 -50 birds at 12:45 pm. It is cloudy and rainy here, with muddy boots, couldn't get to a computer. At 2 pm, another larger group of 200 plus flew over. At 2:15 pm, a large group, with smaller broken groups flew over. Hard to count, lines and groups of maybe 400-500 birds. What I found interesting, was that all the groups today, came from the North, and east of our property. All the groups approaching Snow Peak, even those that were not connected, flew directly west, and I am assuming around the peak, but always to the west. The birds were fairly high, sometimes disappearing in the rain clouds. Maybe Snow Peak is in the clouds today, I can not see it from our property, and they are avoiding hitting the mountain. Just a thought. Although, there may be a very good scientific reason otherwise. Pat Waldron East of Scio From dhogaza at pacifier.com Tue Oct 27 15:22:13 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:22:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Finley the photographer In-Reply-To: <0C13B6160D1C40D68AE1848D5410AA7D@your5rlp3a9516> References: <0C13B6160D1C40D68AE1848D5410AA7D@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: <2799A94C-D6D2-464F-9CE1-393D1432858C@pacifier.com> On Oct 27, 2009, at 12:05 PM, Darrel Faxon wrote: > Obolites, > With all due respect to the contributions of William Finley to > Oregon ornithology and bird conservation, I really think to give him > credit for his photography is unwarranted. If you study the > photographs of Finley after the end of his association with Herman > Bolhman, you will see a decided decline in quality. Finley has long > been held in high regard, and perhaps appropriately so, but the > earlier photographs suggest that Bolhman, who seemed to fade from > public view, was really the master photographer of the two. Yes, that's true, but Finley was the more public face of the two, writing and publishing, and after bohlman and he went separate ways, it was Finley touring the country with films, lecturing, etc. So in terms of fame at the time, it was definitely Finley who was by far the better known. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From puma at smt-net.com Tue Oct 27 15:27:56 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:27:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sea Birds Algea Rescue In-Reply-To: <1465082660.833111256607367557.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> References: <1465082660.833111256607367557.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <9835C54D-C218-4F99-8EDA-78F7EBDDBEDB@smt-net.com> Dear Sandy, Thank you so much for helping out. You are a true conservationist. I would really like to know from you what the process was. Did you get to see how things were done? How were the birds picked up? In the water and on shore. Nets? How did they clean them off, or are they going to do that in California. How did they keep them warm? Did they try to feed them, and if so what did they try and how did they do it. I bet you have a wealth of knowledge to share, and I for one would appreciate your comments. It would be good to report this to OBOL also. I am down with H1N1, but not a bad case. Thank you for being a real hero. Pat Waldron East of Scio On Oct 26, 2009, at 6:36 PM, sandyleapt at comcast.net wrote: > Hi all, > > Most of the birds were shipped off today. The rehab center still > has quite a few birds to care for and a mountain of laundry to do. > Check out Channel 8 news, they were on site for a while. I had > the privilege of helping to load the last of the birds onto a U- > Haul truck. Its my understanding the birds were being flown by the > US Coast Guard to a facility in California that was setup to handle > wildlife victims of oil spills. > > It was quite a sight to see so many people changing or placing > clean padding into boxes and carriers and then gently loading birds > into pet carriers and pet boxes that were then transported to the > truck. So, mostly I helped break down boxes and clean up dirty > laundry and newspaper to clear a path to the dryer and restore > some order to the shed. Then I helped keep four washing machines > and the dryer working hard. > > Wow, what a job the volunteers who staff that rehab center do. > They will be cleaning that place up for days. > > Sandy Leaptrott > NE Portland > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From katandbill at yahoo.com Tue Oct 27 16:27:43 2009 From: katandbill at yahoo.com (Kat & Bill) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:27:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Eugene - Jewel Toned Mallard (?) Message-ID: <147432.63004.qm@web53908.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hi OBOL, We have the prettiest duck in our local duck pond. It's on the west bank bike path between Arbor Drive and Merry Lane off of River Road. This guy is the beautiful dark green that mallards are, but it's over his whole body! There's a stretch down the back that is dark blue/purple. It's a striking looking duck. I've only seen him from above, on the bridge, but I don't see any wingbars, collar or any other color besides the green and blue/purple.? He's a little smaller than the other mallards, has a dark bill and feet, but has the curly mallard tail feathers. ? Any ideas? Or has anyone else seen it? I'll try to get a picture, but it's been so wet lately, I don't want to take the camera out. I'm voting for mallard x peacock. Kidding! Kat in Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091027/afeb32e1/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Tue Oct 27 18:48:24 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:48:24 -0400 Subject: [obol] Hagg Lake Long-tailed Duck continues (Washington Co) Message-ID: This afternoon I played hooky and ran down to Hagg Lake where I eventually refound the female LONG-TAILED DUCK among the 12 Surf Scoters. Another mixed flock had 5 more Surf scoters, including an ADULT MALE. There were 3 BONAPARTE'S GULLS patrolling the lake, 2 adults and the immature reported on Sunday. After sunset I pulled into Fernhill Wetlands and got an EARED GREBE and 4 GREATER SCAUP from the parking lot. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ New Windows 7: Find the right PC for you. Learn more. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pc-scout/default.aspx?CBID=wl&ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_pcscout:102009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091027/d0d0a2e4/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Oct 27 18:56:56 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:56:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Stochastic events and the urge to help (long) Message-ID: <1256695016.15901.179.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, My thanks to Sandy Leaptrott, Mike Patterson, Barbara & John Woodhouse and others who took the initiative to help with the seabird "wreck." It was a very humane thing to do, and I wish that I could have been out there to help along with them. Tyler Hicks raises an interesting philosophical point as to what our human response should be to "stochastic events" such as this. In the jargon of modern science, "stochastic" refers to variations (temporal or spatial) that appear to be random. A "stochastic event" is something a bit outside the usual range of variation, but which is expected to happen occasionally over time (and/or space), consistent with the apparent randomness. Insurance underwriters still call them "acts of God." This algae bloom can be seen as a natural event caused by the processes of nature, albeit an extreme one at least when measured against our collective window of experience. Oceanographers seem to be linking it to weather and ocean circulation processes. These processes in themselves are seen as "stochastic" processes that stem from fundamental instabilities (or at least unpredictability for us humans) in the ways that circulation of air and water (both liquid and vapor) are influenced by driving forces. Whether or not the final twitch of a dying butterfly's wings in Zambia could really give rise to such an event on the Pacific coast of Oregon, for practical purposes the outcome is unpredictable. So "stochasticity" is invoked where once upon a time, God would have been the primary suspect. Very well. Working within the language of modern science, the next question is whether this is a "stationary" stochastic process. In other words, is the expectation of such an event constant across a time scale of (let's say) a few thousand years? Or is there a drift toward more frequent occurrences of such events? There are good reasons to believe that we live in a "nonstationary" stochastic world, due to the things that we industrial-age humans do. To name just a few: - Changes in river flows due to dams; - Changes in nutrient cycles due to inorganic fertilizer use and livestock concentrations; and - Changes in atmospheric carbon due to fossil fuel use. Geophysicists have shown that we've even managed to slow the earth's rotation around its axis, through the redistribution of water across latitude by dams (which changes, minutely but measurably, the angular inertia of the earth). So there's no denying that our impact on the planet is thumping huge. Given all of that, there's good cause (as Tyler pointed out) to suspect that "anthropogenic" causes may be at work, in an unusual disaster such as this one. The extreme evolutionary/rational perspective is to say that humans -- even industrial humans -- are just another product of nature, and thus, anthropogenic effects are also just a part of nature. However, it's also clear that we humans are predisposed to help our fellow creatures when they're clearly in trouble, on such a large scale. Tyler notes the power of this urge, even while trying to maintain scientific dispassionateness. Let me submit, our human -- and humane! -- urge to help our fellow creatures is also a natural process. For those who want to delve into how it may have come about from an evolutionary standpoint, the writings of the late Stephen J. Gould will give insight. For those who would prefer to see it as an "act of God," there are certainly ancient texts in existence that could be used to support that argument. Either way, the urge to help is in itself a powerful force of nature/God, and we do well to follow it. Thanks again to those of you who have done so this week. Good birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camnp Adair area north of Corvallis From puma at smt-net.com Tue Oct 27 19:04:33 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:04:33 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sea Birds Algea Rescue References: <9835C54D-C218-4F99-8EDA-78F7EBDDBEDB@smt-net.com> Message-ID: <82B08196-D8D0-4098-A6C6-EA9EF04D0D06@smt-net.com> > From: Pat Waldron > Date: October 27, 2009 3:27:56 PM PDT > To: sandyleapt at comcast.net > Cc: OBOL > Subject: Re: [obol] Sea Birds Algea Rescue > > Dear Sandy, > > Thank you so much for helping out. You are a True Conservationist. > I would really like to know from you what the process was. > Did you get to see how things were done? > How were the birds picked up? In the water and on shore. Nets? > How did they clean them off, or are they going to do that in > California. > How did they keep them warm? > Did they try to feed them, and if so what did they try, and how > did they do it. > I bet you have a wealth of knowledge to share, and I for one would > appreciate your comments. It would be good to report this to OBOL > also. > > I am down with H1N1, but not a bad case. > > Thank you for being a real Hero. > > Pat Waldron > > East of Scio > > > On Oct 26, 2009, at 6:36 PM, sandyleapt at comcast.net wrote: > >> Hi all, >> >> Most of the birds were shipped off today. The rehab center still >> has quite a few birds to care for and a mountain of laundry to >> do. Check out Channel 8 news, they were on site for a while. I >> had the privilege of helping to load the last of the birds onto a >> U-Haul truck. Its my understanding the birds were being flown by >> the US Coast Guard to a facility in California that was setup to >> handle wildlife victims of oil spills. >> >> It was quite a sight to see so many people changing or placing >> clean padding into boxes and carriers and then gently loading >> birds into pet carriers and pet boxes that were then transported >> to the truck. So, mostly I helped break down boxes and clean up >> dirty laundry and newspaper to clear a path to the dryer and >> restore some order to the shed. Then I helped keep four washing >> machines and the dryer working hard. >> >> Wow, what a job the volunteers who staff that rehab center do. >> They will be cleaning that place up for days. >> >> Sandy Leaptrott >> NE Portland >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091027/1c1faee6/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Oct 27 19:21:04 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:21:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coquille Valley CBC Message-ID: The Coquille Valley CBC (Bandon to Coquille) will be held Saturday, January. We have 13 areas to cover, and space for more observers. All of the areas have either ocean, estuary or good birdy bottomland included. Last year's results can be seen at: http://cvcbc.blogspot.com/ This is a unique area for Oregon birds: last year we found 62 Red-shouldered Hawks and 100 Black Phoebes. Because I'll be unavailable the first two weeks of December this year, I'd like to have most of the teams set up in time for me to send out packets to leaders before Thanksgiving. Last-minute observers are always welcome, of course, but will have fewer choices of area available. Please let me know if you'd like to participate this year. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From puma at smt-net.com Tue Oct 27 19:22:06 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:22:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Fwd: Sea Birds Algea Rescue References: <9835C54D-C218-4F99-8EDA-78F7EBDDBEDB@smt-net.com> Message-ID: <2E124CC0-67B8-4251-B488-9B5E544ED59A@smt-net.com> > From: Pat Waldron > Date: October 27, 2009 3:27:56 PM PDT > To: sandyleapt at comcast.net > Cc: OBOL > Subject: Re: [obol] Sea Birds Algea Rescue > > Dear Sandy, > > Thank you so much for helping out. You are a true conservationist. > I would really like to know from you what the process was. Did you > get to see how things were done? How were the birds picked up? In > the water and on shore. Nets? How did they clean them off, or are > they going to do that in California. How did they keep them warm? > Did they try to feed them, and if so what did they try and how did > they do it. I bet you have a wealth of knowledge to share, and I > for one would appreciate your comments. It would be good to report > this to OBOL also. > > I am down with H1N1, but not a bad case. > > Thank you for being a real hero. > > Pat Waldron > > East of Scio > > > On Oct 26, 2009, at 6:36 PM, sandyleapt at comcast.net wrote: > >> Hi all, >> >> Most of the birds were shipped off today. The rehab center still >> has quite a few birds to care for and a mountain of laundry to >> do. Check out Channel 8 news, they were on site for a while. I >> had the privilege of helping to load the last of the birds onto a >> U-Haul truck. Its my understanding the birds were being flown by >> the US Coast Guard to a facility in California that was setup to >> handle wildlife victims of oil spills. >> >> It was quite a sight to see so many people changing or placing >> clean padding into boxes and carriers and then gently loading >> birds into pet carriers and pet boxes that were then transported >> to the truck. So, mostly I helped break down boxes and clean up >> dirty laundry and newspaper to clear a path to the dryer and >> restore some order to the shed. Then I helped keep four washing >> machines and the dryer working hard. >> >> Wow, what a job the volunteers who staff that rehab center do. >> They will be cleaning that place up for days. >> >> Sandy Leaptrott >> NE Portland >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091027/8c59867e/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Oct 27 19:36:15 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:36:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coquille Valley CBC In-Reply-To: Message-ID: That's Saturday, January 2. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ ? Commentary http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ ? Bird Photos & News > From: Alan Contreras > Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:21:04 -0700 > To: obol > Subject: [obol] Coquille Valley CBC > > The Coquille Valley CBC (Bandon to Coquille) will be held Saturday, January. > We have 13 areas to cover, and space for more observers. All of the areas > have either ocean, estuary or good birdy bottomland included. Last year's > results can be seen at: > > http://cvcbc.blogspot.com/ > > This is a unique area for Oregon birds: last year we found 62 Red-shouldered > Hawks and 100 Black Phoebes. > > Because I'll be unavailable the first two weeks of December this year, I'd > like to have most of the teams set up in time for me to send out packets to > leaders before Thanksgiving. Last-minute observers are always welcome, of > course, but will have fewer choices of area available. > > Please let me know if you'd like to participate this year. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From puma at smt-net.com Tue Oct 27 19:45:20 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:45:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] (obol) Sea Bird Algae Rescue Message-ID: <8CFAAB66-981B-45D8-B00D-AD4994BE56EE@smt-net.com> From: Pat Waldron Date: October 27, 2009 3:27:56 PM PDT To: sandyleapt at comcast.net Cc: OBOL Subject: Re: [obol] Sea Birds Algea Rescue Dear Sandy, Thank you so much for helping out. You are a true conservationist. I would really like to know from you what the process was. Did you get to see how things were done? How were the birds picked up? In the water and on shore. Nets? How did they clean them off, or are they going to do that in California. How did they keep them warm? Did they try to feed them, and if so what did they try and how did they do it. I bet you have a wealth of knowledge to share, and I for one would appreciate your comments. It would be good to report this to OBOL also. I am down with H1N1, but not a bad case. Thank you for being a real hero. Pat Waldron East of Scio On Oct 26, 2009, at 6:36 PM, sandyleapt at comcast.net wrote: Hi all, Most of the birds were shipped off today. The rehab center still has quite a few birds to care for and a mountain of laundry to do. Check out Channel 8 news, they were on site for a while. I had the privilege of helping to load the last of the birds onto a U-Haul truck. Its my understanding the birds were being flown by the US Coast Guard to a facility in California that was setup to handle wildlife victims of oil spills. It was quite a sight to see so many people changing or placing clean padding into boxes and carriers and then gently loading birds into pet carriers and pet boxes that were then transported to the truck. So, mostly I helped break down boxes and clean up dirty laundry and newspaper to clear a path to the dryer and restore some order to the shed. Then I helped keep four washing machines and the dryer working hard. Wow, what a job the volunteers who staff that rehab center do. They will be cleaning that place up for days. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091027/383885e7/attachment.html From campbell at peak.org Tue Oct 27 22:58:06 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:58:06 -0700 Subject: [obol] Apologies to Howard Message-ID: <63CACCA964174D71B966986EF2EABC19@maryPC> It's been pointed out to me that the juvenile Goshawk I found at Snag Boat Bend last Saturday was just where Howard Bruner had reported having heard a juvenile Goshawk (on 10/11). I only vaguely remembered his post (to the mid-valley list) because what most impressed me about it was that someone might have the temerity to ID a Goshawk in such an unlikely location on the basis of a mewing call--even someone like Howard, who has spent a lot of time up in the Cascades. So I promptly forgot almost all the information in his post, and I wasn't looking for a Goshawk when I confirmed Howard's ID. Howard is evidently a much better birder than I am, but that is not a huge revelation to me. If I had heard a mewing call, I would have looked around for a cat. Randy Campbell -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091027/f40e4617/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Oct 28 00:09:10 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:09:10 -0700 Subject: [obol] Recruiting for Forest Grove CBC Message-ID: <4CA732E89B634FEF8200D7A933010B0E@GREG> The Forest Grove CBC will be Saturday, December 26. I am helping Mary Anne Sohlstrom to get parties organized and assigned before the count, as much as possible. This count has lots habitat. So there always seems to be some good areas that don't get adequate coverage for lack of enough participants, and we end up missing rather common birds. Thus, I'll be recruiting special strike teams willing to bird several key areas, searching for specific birds. We need a strike team or two able to walk a couple steeper, perhaps icy, logging roads searching for mostly resident forest birds that are frequently missed on our count: Blue Grouse, Ruffed Grouse, Mountain Quail, Northern Goshawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Hutton's Vireo, Gray Jay, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Western Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, Townsend's Warbler, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, Evening Grosbeak. We'd like two teams on Hagg Lake instead of the usual one team. There are 11 miles of public walkable roads around this lake with good woodland, forest, and meadow lakeshore birding all the way around. Besides some of the forest birds above, Hagg Lake teams search for Eurasian Wigeon, Surf Scoters, Common Loons, Osprey, Pacific Loons, Red-necked Grebes, Eared Grebes, Clark's Grebes, Spotted Sandpipers, and American Dippers. We have identified several blocks in the Pacific University area of Forest Grove with backyards 150 years old and full of bird feeders. Target birds here include Acorn Woodpeckers, White-throated Sparrows, Anna's Hummingbirds, and perhaps unusual neotropical migrants attempting to over-winter. One strike team could cover these in 2 hours and move on to another area. We want to cover Fernhill Wetlands and Jackson Bottom Wetlands more than once during the day, as ducks come and go all day. We'd like special teams with good hearing, above-average ID skills, and high boots to search these wetlands for Virginia Rail, Swamp Sparrow, Wood Duck, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Lincoln's Sparrows, Red-shouldered Hawk, Hooded Merganser, Merlin, White-throated Sparrow, Trumpeter Swan, Marsh Wren, Orange-crowned Warbler, Cinnamon Teal, Greater Scaup, and shorebirds. We'd also like people to stop by at dusk as the gulls gather for their evening roost on Fernhill Lake for at least 8 species of gulls. Anyway, you get the idea. Contact me if you are interested. I'd like to send out teams to scout before the count, too. The count record, I believe is 113 species, but that year (2004?) we also had 10 rather common count week species missed on count day. (If you want infamy, I already have scouted out the locations of 85 Eurasian Collared-Doves within the count circle!) Contact me to request an area, special species, or strike team assignment on the Forest Grove Christmas Bird Count. 120 species is the goal! Greg Gillson greg at thebirdguide.com From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Oct 28 08:18:04 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:18:04 +0000 Subject: [obol] New BirdFellow piece posted Message-ID: Greetings All, Just posted new piece to Birdfellow.com online journal. Dave Irons _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: Simplify your PC. Learn more. http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_evergreen1:102009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091028/9f6e4521/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Wed Oct 28 10:28:42 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:28:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Odd Wigeon Message-ID: <654125.65695.qm@web46015.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> This American Wigeon just looked a little odd to us. It seemed to have different characteristics than other photos we found of the bird. Is this just normal fall/winter plumage? Thanks in advance. The photo is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nepobirds/4053458014/ Seth NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Oct 28 10:41:26 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:41:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Odd Wigeon In-Reply-To: <654125.65695.qm@web46015.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: In molt, from the look of it. Another species that looks odd in early fall is GW Teal, many of which show lateral facial stripes like their grandma was a Garganey. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com > From: Seth Reams > Reply-To: > Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:28:42 -0700 (PDT) > To: > Subject: [obol] Odd Wigeon > > This American Wigeon just looked a little odd to us. It seemed to have > different characteristics than other photos we found of the bird. Is this just > normal fall/winter plumage? Thanks in advance. > > The photo is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nepobirds/4053458014/ > > Seth > NE Portland, OR - Gateway area > portlandbirds.blogspot.com > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From katandbill at yahoo.com Wed Oct 28 11:03:52 2009 From: katandbill at yahoo.com (Kat & Bill) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:03:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] My Jewel Toned Mallard... Message-ID: <307867.15530.qm@web53902.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Is not a mallard! It's a Black East Indies duck. Thanks for the help!? Kat in Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091028/d299f6a0/attachment.html From puma at smt-net.com Wed Oct 28 11:54:54 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:54:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] test Message-ID: <171BA1CF-F652-483F-AEC8-59EA8BF3F49E@smt-net.com> Please delete From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Wed Oct 28 12:10:47 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:10:47 +0000 Subject: [obol] A local birding guide to crow about.....Joel Geier!! Message-ID: Hi Obolers, Here is a cool article regarding one of my favorite Obolers and his contributions for this project. I always appreciate his wonderful insights and postings to OBOL. Kudos to Joel!!!! http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009910260302 Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) www.ktbirding.com From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Oct 28 12:27:57 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:27:57 -0700 Subject: [obol] Straw poll for a revival of the Oakridge CBC Message-ID: <1256758077.4167.71.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, I'd like to find out how many of you would be interested to participate in a revival of the historic Oakridge Christmas Bird Count. Some people from a community trails group in Oakridge-Westfir are very keen to revive this count, which ran from 1971 through 1985. The count had good participation (averaging over 24 participants per count) and set a record for Mountain Quail (230-some) that still stands as the all-time high CBC count. Besides Mountain Quail, I'd expect good numbers of Sooty Grouse and possibly some Spotted Owls on this count, since there's a lot of habitat. Hills Creek Dam & Reservoir are in the circle so they should also get some water birds to go with the forest birds. There is really only one other CBC (Silverton) in this habitat zone, and the CBC would help to fill a 120-mile diameter hole on the map of Oregon's CBCs. The trails group (now called GOATS) started as a coalition of people who were hiking, X-c skiing and/or mountain-biking enthusiasts. I went to one of their meetings a few weeks ago and the place was packed, with at least 30 people, and 10 of them volunteered to serve on the board of their newly formed nonprofit org. So there's a lot of energy in this group, including folks who could really cover some ground in the back country. However, they're not real long on birding experience. So to make this work, they're going to need some more experienced birders from other communities, at least for the first few years. The national CBC organizers are favorable toward restarting this count, and are all set to restore it as a live count in the database. I've offered to coach the Oakridge/Westfir group on the process of organizing sectors & teams, and help with compiling the results if needed. But I think they'll need at least a half dozen experienced birders -- preferably 8 to 10 -- who could lead teams in the field. So that's where you folks come in. Please let me know if you'd be interested for this and/or future years -- and if so, let me know if I can pass on your contact info to Wanda Wilson, the local birder who's hoping to organize this count. Thanks, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Wed Oct 28 12:50:30 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:50:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yard movement Message-ID: <81b2a9930910281250s5204c3f2k2ef1180da8c64cc6@mail.gmail.com> There has been significant movement in and around my yard in north Eugene recently. ?Over the past couple of weekends, I've been able to spot both RC and GC KINGLETS foraging through the pines along my driveway at least once a day. ?This past weekend, flocks of ROBINS, CEDAR WAXWINGS, and STARLINGS were all over the neighborhood, and I conservatively counted 120 AMERICAN GOLDFINCES at my feeders on Sunday. ?(Historically, this is about the time that the Goldfinches begin to thin out.) ?Last night at around 11:30, two WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS were calling from the trees along my driveway and across the street. Good times. Brandon Eugene From deweysage at verizon.net Wed Oct 28 13:42:51 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:42:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bandon Birds Message-ID: <4AE8ACCB.4070603@verizon.net> Yesterday 10/27 a WHITE THROATED SPARROW arrived at our feeder just north of Bandon Coos Cty. We've had a juvenile SHARP-SHINNED HAWK visit the feeder/yard yesterday, and an adult COOPER'S HAWK has been hunting the MOURNING DOVES at the feeder the last few days. I won't go into the ugly details of the kill we witnessed....well the capture and subsequent slow kill..... The RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER has been inconsistently visiting the cherry tree out front. It was here yesterday. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Oct 28 13:44:19 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:44:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wed morning, Eugene Message-ID: We walked along the RR tracks at the Greenhill Rd, near Highway 126, both ways. To the east the view north is Meadowlark Prairie. The RR is lined with brushy, weedy habitat on both sides. A White-throated Sparrow was the first bird we saw. I don't usually list might-haves, but we had two. Sylvia might have had a Great Horned Owl flying away. The other one is at the end of the list in case someone cares to go look for it. California Quail - 20 Turkey Vulture - 3 White-tailed Kite - 7 Red-tailed Hawk - 4 Red-shouldered Hawk - 2 N. Harrier - 5 Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 Kestrel - 1 Canada Goose - distant flocks flying Mallard - 2 Flicker - 6 N. Shrike - 1 Am. Robin - 25 Bewick's Wren - 5 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2 Wrentit - 2 Black-capped Chickadee - 14 Am. Crow - 4 Scrub Jay - 8 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 30+ Am. Goldfinch - 12 House Finch - 18 Purple Finch - 2 Spotted Towhee - 10 Savannah Sparrow - 2 Golden-crowned Sparrow - 16 White-throated Sparrow - 2 Fox Sparrow - 6 Lincoln Sparrow - 2 Song Sparrow - 6 Possible Swamp Sparrow - I had only a glimpse of gray upper face then chestnut wings as it darted for cover. This was less than 100 ft west of the crossing in brush near the grassy wet ditch on the right. Kit Larsen, Sylvia Maulding, Dave Hill, David Brown, Don Schrouder, Paul Sherrell, Fred Chancey, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091028/e4dd902f/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Oct 28 14:26:24 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:26:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Straw poll for a revival of the Oakridge CBC In-Reply-To: <1256758077.4167.71.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: I did Oakridge many times in olden days, when it was sort of a pair with Cottage Grove, which ran about the same years. Oakridge usually offered bad weather and few birds, BUT we have few montane counts and Oakridge offers a chance to generate useful counts of Dipper, chickens, montane finches and woodpeckers. It has had Black-backed Woodpecker and Pine Grosbeak. I have often thought that a series of counts done in certain habitats for a baseline is a good idea, even if they don't run every year. It would be interesting to run a montane count in the north Cascades, Santiam, Willamette Pass and, say, Howard Prairie in the same year a few times to get a comparative baseline. The main problem is how to pick a date that will get enough people, given the overload of counts. Have to avoid Eugene and probably avoid Florence and other counts that draw from Eugene such as Brownsville. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com > From: Joel Geier > Reply-To: > Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:27:57 -0700 > To: Oregon Birders OnLine > Subject: [obol] Straw poll for a revival of the Oakridge CBC > > Hello folks, > > I'd like to find out how many of you would be interested to participate > in a revival of the historic Oakridge Christmas Bird Count. > > Some people from a community trails group in Oakridge-Westfir are very > keen to revive this count, which ran from 1971 through 1985. The count > had good participation (averaging over 24 participants per count) and > set a record for Mountain Quail (230-some) that still stands as the > all-time high CBC count. > > Besides Mountain Quail, I'd expect good numbers of Sooty Grouse and > possibly some Spotted Owls on this count, since there's a lot of > habitat. Hills Creek Dam & Reservoir are in the circle so they should > also get some water birds to go with the forest birds. There is really > only one other CBC (Silverton) in this habitat zone, and the CBC would > help to fill a 120-mile diameter hole on the map of Oregon's CBCs. > > The trails group (now called GOATS) started as a coalition of people who > were hiking, X-c skiing and/or mountain-biking enthusiasts. I went to > one of their meetings a few weeks ago and the place was packed, with at > least 30 people, and 10 of them volunteered to serve on the board of > their newly formed nonprofit org. > > So there's a lot of energy in this group, including folks who could > really cover some ground in the back country. However, they're not real > long on birding experience. So to make this work, they're going to need > some more experienced birders from other communities, at least for the > first few years. > > The national CBC organizers are favorable toward restarting this count, > and are all set to restore it as a live count in the database. I've > offered to coach the Oakridge/Westfir group on the process of organizing > sectors & teams, and help with compiling the results if needed. But I > think they'll need at least a half dozen experienced birders -- > preferably 8 to 10 -- who could lead teams in the field. > > So that's where you folks come in. Please let me know if you'd be > interested for this and/or future years -- and if so, let me know if I > can pass on your contact info to Wanda Wilson, the local birder who's > hoping to organize this count. > > Thanks, > Joel > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Oct 28 15:13:01 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:13:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cover photo Message-ID: For those of you who get the CBC results publication, the white cover is amazing: Noah Strycker's photo of a line of distant penguins walking across the ice, from the first-ever Cape Crozier CBC. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From tc at empnet.com Wed Oct 28 16:17:25 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:17:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Cover photo In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Sounds like the weather we had on the Bend Christmas Bird Count. Tom Crabtree, Bend -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Alan Contreras Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 2:13 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] Cover photo For those of you who get the CBC results publication, the white cover is amazing: Noah Strycker's photo of a line of distant penguins walking across the ice, from the first-ever Cape Crozier CBC. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Oct 28 15:21:19 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:21:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Cover photo In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <999902.16387.qm@web45305.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Lots of penguins on the Bend count Tom? ?You guys have been holding out on us, I'll have to come over for one of your counts! Tim RodenkirkCoos Bay --- On Wed, 10/28/09, Tom Crabtree wrote: From: Tom Crabtree Subject: Re: [obol] Cover photo To: "'Alan Contreras'" , "'obol'" Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 4:17 PM Sounds like the weather we had on the Bend Christmas Bird Count. Tom Crabtree,? Bend -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Alan Contreras Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 2:13 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] Cover photo For those of you who get the CBC results publication, the white cover is amazing: Noah Strycker's photo of a line of distant penguins walking across the ice, from the first-ever Cape Crozier CBC. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091028/b71e89d8/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Wed Oct 28 15:57:12 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:57:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Cover photo Message-ID: <4AE8CC48.7010201@pacifier.com> I blame the regional editor. That buzz-kill keeps deleting the penguins, and jungle fowl, and House Wrens.... Re: Cover photo From: Tim Rodenkirk Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:21:19 -0700 (PDT) Lots of penguins on the Bend count Tom? ?You guys have been holding out on us, I'll have to come over for one of your counts! Tim RodenkirkCoos Bay --- On Wed, 10/28/09, Tom Crabtree wrote: From: Tom Crabtree Subject: Re: [obol] Cover photo To: "'Alan Contreras'" , "'obol'" Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 4:17 PM Sounds like the weather we had on the Bend Christmas Bird Count. Tom Crabtree,? Bend -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces AT oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces AT oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Alan Contreras Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 2:13 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] Cover photo For those of you who get the CBC results publication, the white cover is amazing: Noah Strycker's photo of a line of distant penguins walking across the ice, from the first-ever Cape Crozier CBC. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer AT mindspring.com -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From goosemiller at gmail.com Wed Oct 28 16:43:08 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:43:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Straw poll for a revival of the Oakridge CBC In-Reply-To: <1256758077.4167.71.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: <4ae8d706.9513f30a.43fd.5f79@mx.google.com> Are there geese on Hills Creek Reservoir in December? If so, Craig and I may be interested in participating depending on the date. Marilyn Miller -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Joel Geier Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 12:28 PM To: Oregon Birders OnLine Subject: [obol] Straw poll for a revival of the Oakridge CBC Hello folks, I'd like to find out how many of you would be interested to participate in a revival of the historic Oakridge Christmas Bird Count. Some people from a community trails group in Oakridge-Westfir are very keen to revive this count, which ran from 1971 through 1985. The count had good participation (averaging over 24 participants per count) and set a record for Mountain Quail (230-some) that still stands as the all-time high CBC count. Besides Mountain Quail, I'd expect good numbers of Sooty Grouse and possibly some Spotted Owls on this count, since there's a lot of habitat. Hills Creek Dam & Reservoir are in the circle so they should also get some water birds to go with the forest birds. There is really only one other CBC (Silverton) in this habitat zone, and the CBC would help to fill a 120-mile diameter hole on the map of Oregon's CBCs. The trails group (now called GOATS) started as a coalition of people who were hiking, X-c skiing and/or mountain-biking enthusiasts. I went to one of their meetings a few weeks ago and the place was packed, with at least 30 people, and 10 of them volunteered to serve on the board of their newly formed nonprofit org. So there's a lot of energy in this group, including folks who could really cover some ground in the back country. However, they're not real long on birding experience. So to make this work, they're going to need some more experienced birders from other communities, at least for the first few years. The national CBC organizers are favorable toward restarting this count, and are all set to restore it as a live count in the database. I've offered to coach the Oakridge/Westfir group on the process of organizing sectors & teams, and help with compiling the results if needed. But I think they'll need at least a half dozen experienced birders -- preferably 8 to 10 -- who could lead teams in the field. So that's where you folks come in. Please let me know if you'd be interested for this and/or future years -- and if so, let me know if I can pass on your contact info to Wanda Wilson, the local birder who's hoping to organize this count. Thanks, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.423 / Virus Database: 270.14.36/2465 - Release Date: 10/28/09 09:34:00 From deweysage at verizon.net Wed Oct 28 17:16:47 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:16:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Cty Boobie Message-ID: <4AE8DEEF.1050803@verizon.net> We just got a phone call from Mr. Trodenki (AKA Tim R) and he says Russ and him are looking at a distant Boobie. Not sure of the species or the location except it is on the bay along the Empire waterfront. We are out the door in a few minutes. that would Coos Bay for those who don't know....... Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Oct 28 17:17:26 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:17:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] Washington Co. highlights - Long-tailed Duck, etc. Message-ID: Highlights from wandering around Washington County today included a couple of WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS at Fernhill Wetlands, a MERLIN and several DUSKY CANADA GEESE at Jackson Bottom Wetlands, more DUSKY CANADA GEESE at Hagg Lake, along with the continuing LONG-TAILED DUCK, OSPREY, 4 female SURF SCOTERS, and 4 COMMON LOONS. A photo of the Duck is on the Washington County 2009 birds highlights page: http://thebirdguide.com/washington/WashCo_2009.htm Greg Gillson greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Oct 28 17:59:53 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:59:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Local birding guide to crow about Message-ID: <1256777993.7340.128.camel@clearwater> Hi folks, Thanks to Khanh for the kind words about me and the Willamette Valley Birding Trail project! This has really been a team effort that a lot of you contributed to. I happened to be there to take the call from the reporter, but many birders deserve equal or greater mention for their efforts: Pat Tilley in particular for her work to bring the photos together, and Jackie Nichols, Bill Proebsting, and Mark Greenfield for their long hours on the steering committee. Then there are the photographers who contributed photos, and everyone who nominated sites and helped with site visits, Audubon chapters that mobilized their memberships etc. Right now, with a touch of a flu bug that's making me even more forgetful than usual, is not the time to try to mention everyone's contribution since I'm bound to leave someone out. Like the article states, there must have been at least 40 birders who helped with this project. These things just don't happen from the efforts of one or two or five people. We do aim to get this printed by the new year, with a big editing push in the second half of November. So if you haven't checked out the web version of the guide yet, now's a good time to help us find any remaining glitches. The website: www.oregonbirdingtrails.org will get you to the Willamette Valley brochure and the rest of the Oregon Birding Trails -- including the latest version of the Oregon Cascades Birding Trail, which ECBC volunteers updated this summer. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From sandyleapt at comcast.net Wed Oct 28 18:34:11 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:34:11 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Sea Birds Algea Rescue In-Reply-To: <1772331617.1745101256778568097.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1952167603.1755491256780051045.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi Pat, I am sorry to hear you are down with the flu. So far I've avoided that, although I expect my luck will run out since I see so many people face-to-face over the course of my work day, I meant to acknowledge their hard work in my e-mail. My part in this was really small, I showed up on the last day in the afternoon to support the heroes and conservationists because I figured they were pretty darn tired by Monday. I would have gotten back to you earlier, but I had to think about this a bit. In talking with one of the volunteers who runs the rehab center people just started showing up with birds, and then more people came with birds, and more people came with birds and all of a sudden they realized they had a big event, bigger than anything they had ever experienced. The public just started bringing birds. What do you do? You jump in with both feet. People handling the birds as they packed them into the crates and boxes cradled the struggling birds in one arm and held the bird's beak in the other as another person prepped the box or carrier. The bird was placed into the box, the box closed up and many volunteers carried boxes to the truck. The heroes here are the regular volunteer staff of the wildlife rehab center. They do the fund raising and paperwork that needs to be done so that a facility like this is available when something like this happens. They figure out what to do and coordinate the effort when it does. They also do the cleaning of cages, feeding, caring and giving medical attention to the critters day-in, day-out, week after week, year after year; and did I mention working holidays? Where I come in to this story is that I know from working with a local group of volunteers, how difficult it can be to get all the work done. I saw the news stories on television and I could see the volunteers at the wildlife rehab center in Astoria had a huge, sudden influx of important work to do. I wanted to support their long-term volunteer commitment through this big event. I figured if I could do some of the simple stuff, carry birds to the truck, bring paper, clean towels, boxes to people who were handling the birds, cleanup and laundry that would be great. I'm only sorry I was out of town Saturday and Sunday, because I bet they could have used a hand cleaning, doing laundry, feeding and all the other good stuff they were doing on top of the critters they already had. May I give the folks at the North Coast Wildlife Refuge a standing ovation for all their work. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pat Waldron" To: sandyleapt at comcast.net Cc: "OBOL" Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:27:56 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: Re: [obol] Sea Birds Algea Rescue Dear Sandy, Thank you so much for helping out. You are a true conservationist. I would really like to know from you what the process was. Did you get to see how things were done? How were the birds picked up? In the water and on shore. Nets? How did they clean them off, or are they going to do that in California. How did they keep them warm? Did they try to feed them, and if so what did they try and how did they do it. I bet you have a wealth of knowledge to share, and I for one would appreciate your comments. It would be good to report this to OBOL also. I am down with H1N1, but not a bad case. Thank you for being a real hero. Pat Waldron East of Scio On Oct 26, 2009, at 6:36 PM, sandyleapt at comcast.net wrote: > Hi all, > > Most of the birds were shipped off today. The rehab center still > has quite a few birds to care for and a mountain of laundry to do. > Check out Channel 8 news, they were on site for a while. I had > the privilege of helping to load the last of the birds onto a U- > Haul truck. Its my understanding the birds were being flown by the > US Coast Guard to a facility in California that was setup to handle > wildlife victims of oil spills. > > It was quite a sight to see so many people changing or placing > clean padding into boxes and carriers and then gently loading birds > into pet carriers and pet boxes that were then transported to the > truck. So, mostly I helped break down boxes and clean up dirty > laundry and newspaper to clear a path to the dryer and restore > some order to the shed. Then I helped keep four washing machines > and the dryer working hard. > > Wow, what a job the volunteers who staff that rehab center do. > They will be cleaning that place up for days. > > Sandy Leaptrott > NE Portland > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091029/a22a904c/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Wed Oct 28 18:52:18 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:52:18 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Coos BROWN BOOBY Message-ID: <4AE8F552.9010704@verizon.net> Yes, there is a BROWN BOOB-Y in Coos Bay! Russ, Tim and ourselves saw the bird on a piling on the far west part of the Coos channel, across and slightly northwest of Fossil Point, Empire. Didn't look like it was going anywhere. If you have four wheel drive, a drive down the bay side of the north spit Coos Bay would give very good views, assuming it around in the morning. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Oct 28 18:58:19 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:58:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Chicken evades cougar In-Reply-To: <1256779869.7340.145.camel@clearwater> References: <1256779869.7340.145.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: <1256781499.17898.4.camel@clearwater> P.S. I think this incident might explain the strange sounds that I mentioned a few days ago, along with the Swainson's Thrush report. Our neighbors also mentioned hearing an odd crashing sound back in the brush behind their horse barn yesterday, which they thought might have been a cougar taking down a deer. On Wed, 2009-10-28 at 18:31 -0700, Joel Geier wrote: > Hi folks, > > Don't know how she did it, but one of our hens just came back from the > dead. > > A bit earlier today I found a pullet that this hen had hatched out, on > its own for the first time ever. Then we saw feathers and some tracks of > a COUGAR that must have come over an electric fence into our neighbors' > horse exercise area, where the hen and pullet had been hanging out. > > Around the same time [as this must have happened], our sheep came > barreling from the back yard around > to the front, just after Becky had seen them heading to the back yard > and I went out to chase them away from our garden. > > Now the hen just reappeared on her own and seems OK, though missing a > few feathers off the back. I'm guessing that the cougar nearly nabbed > the hen but missed when I came out of the house to chase the sheep > (though I didn't see it), or else maybe it got zapped by the fence and > that spooked it. One track where the cougar landed in the sand had the > claws extended (right by the feathers) and is sort of smeared sideways > as if the cougar was sliding, while the rest had the claws pulled in. > > So, score one for the ever-wily Buff Orpington hen. Her name is Buffy, > so if any of you were fans of that series, you might enjoy the > back-from-the-dead idea. We really did think that she was a goner -- > what chance does a chicken stand against a cougar? > > Just to mention an actual wild bird in all of this, a GOLDEN-CROWNED > SPARROW was giving alarm notes the whole time we were out there. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed Oct 28 19:10:10 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:10:10 -0400 Subject: [obol] Pileated Woodpecker at Wildwood Message-ID: <8CC265413EE1564-4C94-4B42@webmail-m035.sysops.aol.com> I saw my first Pileated Woodpecker at Wildwood Recreation site this afternoon. I was able to get a couple of decent photos before the woodpeck was attacked by 2 smallish Redtail hawks. But to my surprise, the woodpecker would dodge the attack and simply move to a different tree and start hammering again. It happened 5 times before they were completely out of sight. It was not what I expected. On the way out I got a good look and a Varied Thrush, the first I've seen since early April. Closer to Sandy I came across an American Kestrel. Pretty good birds since I was just out looking to some fall colors. Photos are here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonysky/sets/72157622685717626/detail/ Johnny Sasko Sandy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091028/2bb1b0ca/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Wed Oct 28 19:35:08 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:35:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos BROWN BOOBY Message-ID: I hope to get some better photos tomorrow afternoon (after 3pm). You can email if you're going to be in the area. The bird was roosting with cormorants on the tallest wooden day marker structure between the floating red buoys 10 and 10A. See this link http://maps.google.com/maps?q=43.370457,-124.313234 Fossil Pt. is probably one of the best vantage points if you don't have a 4x4 and need to scope from across the bay. There is a pumphouse and a gravel pulloff just south of the Dairy Queen on Cape Arago Hwy. http://maps.google.com/maps?q=43.358211,-124.308575 Nice county and state bird! Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091028/cda8417e/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Oct 28 19:56:05 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:56:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Booby chase Message-ID: I expect to reach the Booby Zone around 9:00 Thursday morning and I'll have my iphone on: 541-510-6161 for others in the area. I'll post updates to obol as the morning progresses. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Oct 28 21:57:12 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:57:12 -0700 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 10/28/09 Message-ID: <20091029045714.91D44A813A@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 10/22 to 10/28/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 7 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Cackling Goose 5 (900, 10/24) CANADA GOOSE 2 (15, 10/27) NORTHERN PINTAIL 1 (1, 10/27) SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 2 (1, 10/25 & 28) Cooper's Hawk 1 (1, 10/24) RED-TAILED HAWK 1 (1, 10/24) GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL 1 (4, 10/23) Band-tailed Pigeon 2 (1, 10/22 & 28) Anna's Hummingbird 3 (1) Red-breasted Sapsucker 3 (2) Downy Woodpecker 1 (1, 10/28) Northern Flicker 5 (5, 10/25) Pileated Woodpecker 2 (1, 10/24 & 25) Hutton's Vireo 1 (1, 10/28) Steller's Jay 5 (4) American Crow 6 (7) Black-capped Chickadee 7 (30, 10/27) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4 (10, 10/25) Bushtit 2 (15, 10/27) Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 (6) Brown Creeper 3 (2) Bewick's Wren 4 (2) Winter Wren 4 (3) Golden-crowned Kinglet 5 (7) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4 (2) Hermit Thrush 2 (2, 10/24 & 28) American Robin 7 (35, 10/25) Varied Thrush 5 (5) European Starling 3 (5) Cedar Waxwing 1 (8, 10/24) TOWNSEND'S WARBLER 3 (3, 10/24) Spotted Towhee 6 (8) Song Sparrow 6 (12, 10/25) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW 1 (1, 10/28) Dark-eyed Junco 7 (18, 10/24) Purple Finch 1 (2, 10/24) House Finch 4 (12, 10/28) Red Crossbill 1 (1, 10/25) Lesser Goldfinch 1 (1, 10/24) American Goldfinch 3 (2) Misses (birds found at least 3 days in previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Mourning Dove, Evening Grosbeak Wink Gross Portland From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Oct 28 23:31:27 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:31:27 -0700 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 10-29-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * October 30, 2009 * ORPO0910.30 - birds mentioned Cackling Goose Surf Scoter Long-tailed Duck BROWN BOOBY American White Pelican Northern Goshawk Red-shouldered Hawk Sandhill Crane Killdeer Heermann?s Gull Boreal Owl Red-naped Sapsucker Tropical Kingbird Common Redpoll Evening Grosbeak - transcript Hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday October 29. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On October 28 a BROWN BOOBY was seen on a piling in Coos Bay; best seen from Fossil Point. On October 24 there was a conspicuous southward movement of SANDHILL CRANES over the Willamette Valley. Up to 60 WHITE PELICANS were seen with them. Another CRANE movement was reported October 27 along with a major flight of CACKLING GEESE. Migrations along the coast included large numbers of loons and scoters. On October 25 a TROPICAL KINGBIRD was in North Bend. Up to 17 SURF SCOTERS and a LONG-TAILED DUCK are now being seen at Scoggins Valley Park south of Forest Grove. On October 22 a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER was in Sheridan. A GOSHAWK was seen October 24 at Snag Boat Bend NWR south of Corvallis. On October 28 two HEERMANN?S GULLS were at the mouth of Hood River. A flock of EVENING GROSBEAKS at Tumalo Falls near Bend October 25 included five COMMON REDPOLLS. On October 24 a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was near LaPine and 21 SURF SCOTERS were on Wickiup Reservoir. That day over 700 KILLDEERS were at Cold Springs NWR near Hermiston. On October 24 a BOREAL OWL was heard calling near Boot Springs Camp north of Tollgate in the Umatilla National Forest. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091028/3639b8d8/attachment.html From acontrer at mindspring.com Thu Oct 29 08:35:41 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:35:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Booby Message-ID: <70C1AFA5-6286-4EC4-B6FD-2C691EBA598C@mindspring.com> Not at original site 8:30. Birders checking area. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone From acontrer at mindspring.com Thu Oct 29 08:43:40 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:43:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] Booby YEs Message-ID: <9965F72C-6730-47D6-AA03-886D624ECC4D@mindspring.com> Booby found at original site 8:45. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone From acontrer at mindspring.com Thu Oct 29 08:56:05 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:56:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Booby present Message-ID: <82918951-CE5E-4AE9-8D5E-E053A2467E34@mindspring.com> The brown booby is an adult. It is hard to see at first being on far side of the channel. Owen obtained video. Heavy mist comes and goes. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone From acontrer at mindspring.com Thu Oct 29 09:34:52 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:34:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Booby YEs In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Go to the small pullout just south of dairy queen that is maybe a mile and a half north of the Charleston bridge in the Empire area of coos bay. Bird was on the largest nav tower across the channel to the northwest. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone On Oct 29, 2009, at 8:54 AM, "HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE " wrote: > Directions? > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T > > -----Original Message----- > From: Alan Contreras > Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:43:40 > To: > Subject: [obol] Booby YEs > > Booby found at original site 8:45. > > Alan Contreras > Sent from my iPhone > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From ninerharv2 at msn.com Thu Oct 29 10:03:47 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:03:47 +0000 Subject: [obol] Booby YEs Message-ID: Alan reported on the nav tower. Has moved to top of piling in same area. Tall tree directly behind. Trying to digiscope but very dark. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Alan Contreras Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:34:52 To: Cc: Subject: Re: [obol] Booby YEs Go to the small pullout just south of dairy queen that is maybe a mile? and a half north of the Charleston bridge in the Empire area of coos? bay. Bird was on the largest nav tower across the channel to the? northwest. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone On Oct 29, 2009, at 8:54 AM, "HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE "? wrote: > Directions? > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T > > -----Original Message----- > From: Alan Contreras > Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:43:40 > To: > Subject: [obol] Booby YEs > > Booby found at original site 8:45. > > Alan Contreras > Sent from my iPhone > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Thu Oct 29 10:37:17 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:37:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [obol] Apologies to Howard In-Reply-To: <63CACCA964174D71B966986EF2EABC19@maryPC> Message-ID: <928200.78309.qm@web39706.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello, I have heard this mewing from young goshawks, but I've also heard it many more times from both coopers and SShawks. In Alaska, where coopers don't live, I've watched sharpies just fledging---and when more than one individual is calling---my initial impression was of a batch of kittens. So I've heard this call from youngsters of all three of our accipiters. Best, Dick --- On Tue, 10/27/09, M & R Campbell wrote: > From: M & R Campbell > Subject: [obol] Apologies to Howard > To: "Midvalley birding" , "obol" > Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 10:58 PM > > > > > > > > It's been pointed out > to me that the juvenile > Goshawk I found at Snag Boat Bend last Saturday was just > where Howard Bruner had > reported having heard?a juvenile Goshawk (on > 10/11).? I only vaguely > remembered his post (to the mid-valley list)?because > what most impressed me > about it was that?someone might have the temerity to > ID a Goshawk in such > an unlikely location on the basis of a mewing call--even > someone > like?Howard, who has?spent a lot of time up in > the > Cascades.?? So I promptly forgot almost all the > information > in?his post, and I wasn't looking for?a > Goshawk?when I confirmed > Howard's ID.? Howard is evidently a?much > better birder than I am, but > that is not a huge revelation to me.? If I had heard a > mewing call, > I?would have looked around for a cat. > ? > ? > Randy > Campbell????? > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From sandyleapt at comcast.net Thu Oct 29 10:57:33 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:57:33 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] =?utf-8?q?Fwd=3A_Re=3A_The_Daily_Astorian_=E2=80=A2_The_No?= =?utf-8?q?rth_Coast=27s_Newspaper_=7C_Survival_takes_flight_=28video=2C_s?= =?utf-8?q?lideshow=29?= Message-ID: <642316999.1993841256839053668.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi all, here's somthing Virginia of the Wildlife Center sent to people who worked at the wildlife center over the last week or so: Hope you find it as interesting as I did, I'm beginning to see the bigger picture. The Oregonian did a front page story on this algea event too. Subject: Fw: The Daily Astorian ? The North Coast's Newspaper | Survival takes flight (video, slideshow) From: vhuang at yahoo.com Subject: The Daily Astorian ? The North Coast's Newspaper | Survival takes flight (video, slideshow) To: "virhua at gmail.com" Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 2:57 PM I thought you might like to see this information from The Daily Astorian Web site at www.dailyastorian.com. _________________________________________________________________________ Survival takes flight (video, slideshow) HTTP://www.dailyastorian.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&subsectionID=398&articleID=65185&Q=64640.6 Web Posted 10/27/2009 11:04:00 AM Article : Barreling down Oregon Highway 202 in a rain-pelted Subaru Monday, Rebecca Dmytryk explained how an algae bloom off the coast of Oregon and Washington has been crippling seabirds since last week. "It's compromised the structure and alignment of their feathers. Think of it like the shingles on a house - when a few shingles come out, all the elements can pour in. Saturated birds don't float," she said. After considering the thousands of live birds that have washed ashore, Dmytryk then thought of the many more that simply sank at sea. "Double? Triple? Quadruple? All of a sudden the ocean started sucking them under." In a race against the clock, Dymtryk and two others from the International Bird Rescue Research Center had just flown up from California to lighten the load on the overwhelmed Wildlife Center of the North Coast in Astoria. In a day-long cooperative effort that involved a U.S. Coast Guard C-130 cargo plane, Oregon Humane Society volunteers and several dozen local volunteers at the Wildlife Center, about 350 birds were transferred into pet crates and shipped south to McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento. It would take until about 8 p.m. Monday night to get all the birds into the Fairfield, Calif., facility, where rehabilitation and cleaning could begin, Dmytryk said. A crippling 'foam'The algal bloom that hurt the birds is called akashiwo sanguinea, and is relatively new for this part of the coastline. Greg Schirato, regional program manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, said the phenomenon first occurred a few years ago in Monterey Bay, Calif., and then appeared earlier this year off the northern Washington Coast. "In September we saw this event off the Olympic Peninsula ... and we flew in to try to determine which species were effected," he said. While they weren't able to save many birds that time, beach surveys were conducted, preparing them to respond to a future event. That event came much sooner than expected, and hit thousands of red-throated, common and Pacific loons, as well as common murres, Western grebes and surf scoters last week. Losing any bird was tragic, but for Schirato, there was one that was of particular concern. "The common loons are of special interest to us. It's a state threatened species, with less than 12 breeding pairs in Washington," he said. So when Schirato heard of another wave of the sanguinea last week, and the hundreds of birds showing up at the Wildlife Center of the North Coast, he knew that help was desperately needed. The first tripFirst the International Bird Rescue Research Center people made the 13-hour drive up from California on Saturday and shuttled 150 birds down to their facility in a rented truck. With nowhere else to take injured sea fowl in the area, about 125 birds arrived to take the freed up spots over the weekend. And despite an outpouring of help from volunteers, the Wildlife Center was still jammed with birds - many had been there for days and still hadn't been cleaned, Dmytryk said. On Sunday, Dmytryk started making calls to see if an airplane could fly up to Oregon and bring more birds back to the International Bird Rescue Research Center's larger facility in Richland, Calif. First she called commercial cargo carriers, but when they quoted her a $30,000 price tag, the price was just too much. "We can't do that," she told them. But then she thought of the Coast Guard, and an instance in 2008 when a Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued a handful of California condors out of the path of a raging wildfire. "I thought to myself, 'Well, they can just say no.'" Schirato called in the formal request, which was quickly approved by Coast Guard District 11. Just in time, the group was able to get federal and state permits for the Monday transport. Both Schirato and Dmytryk were overjoyed that the Coast Guard could help save the ailing birds. "It was just amazing support that the Coast Guard was able to provide," Schirato said. "We asked and the Coast Guard came through for us. The Coast Guard has been so great," Dmytryk said. The Coast Guard's C-130 cargo plane and its seven-person crew helped load and unload the pallets full of pet crates into the belly of the plane, late in the afternoon. Cmdr. Pete Schichtel headed up the Sacramento-based flight crew. He said they all enjoyed the chance to be able to contribute to the unusual mission's success. "This is the first time I've ever hauled birds. Usually we're looking for fisherman, or someone who has been lost. We really enjoy this," he said. Now, room for moreBarbara Linnett has been working the phones at the Wildlife Center, giving Director Sharnelle Fee a break from the constant ringing and questions of the past week. Linnett had been a weekly volunteer before the algae bloom hit, but is now coordinating the approximately 25 volunteers who are keeping the facility running round the clock. Volunteer turnout has been excellent. "People have really stepped in to do things they probably didn't know they could do," she said. Linnett watched as the birds were tucked, one by one, into crates by the competent hands of Bird Rescue Research Center volunteer Doris Duncan. Some squawked, some pooped, and some cowered as she tucked her left hand under their breast and gently ringed her right hand around beaks as they birds moved from cardboard boxes to portable pet carriers. Linnett thinks that the pace of birds coming in to the center may have slowed over the weekend, but now they'll have room to take more. Before the International Bird Rescue Research Center people came on Monday, temporary pens had been created out of pvc pipe and sheets, assembled in corners and hallways. Even the laundry room held a makeshift corral of common murres among the piles of soiled laundry waiting to be washed. Linnett said donations to the center are still desperately needed, to pay for food, supplies and increased utility costs for the 200 to 300 birds still at the center. "This is so out of our budgetary parameters," she said. She walked through the aisles of birds, pointing out a baby grebe drying out in the warm breeze from a hairdryer. She pointed to its feet, ankles bent like a bow used to shoot arrows. "See their funny little feet? That's why they are on the netting," Linnett said. Keeping the birds out of the water and walking on hard surfaces for days will cause injuries to their fragile bones, Dmytryk said. And leaving them on their feet for too long will most certainly be fatal, she added. "There's a very small window of time to get them rehabbed," Dmytryk said. About 10 hours later, speaking by phone from California, she called the trip a success. "We just unloaded all the birds. Everything worked out great," Dmytryk said. Next comes feeding, medical treatment and washing the birds, she said. And with luck, about 80 percent could be released into the wild within a few weeks. Thanks for visiting www.dailyastorian.com! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091029/ad6df07f/attachment.html From fdlospalluto at gmail.com Thu Oct 29 11:27:43 2009 From: fdlospalluto at gmail.com (frank lospalluto) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:27:43 -0700 Subject: [obol] Yellow-shafted Flicker,Douglas Co.,10/28/2009 Message-ID: <7330d47e0910291127l6024db9cg9f746d674218ad8e@mail.gmail.com> Yesterday there was what appeared to be a 'pure' YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER at the jct. of 138 and the north entrance to Crater Lake. The bird looked fatigued(blown in with the storm) but healthy. Hopefully it did not become a casualty to the traffic. frank lospalluto From robinmcc1 at charter.net Thu Oct 29 12:22:53 2009 From: robinmcc1 at charter.net (robinmcc1 at charter.net) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:22:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brown Booby Message-ID: <20091029152253.XUHTZ.1376062.root@mp06> The bird is still around, it was perched on the tall nav tower across the bay as of 12:00. Thanks to Diane Pettey and Maitreya for helping me see it and still make it back to work before my lunch was over!! -Robin McCreery From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Oct 29 14:41:40 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:41:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] seabird die-off Message-ID: <4AEA0C14.9000001@verizon.net> Folks, Anyone know if any shorebirds were getting affected by the foam/alga bloom? Cheers Dave Lauten From celata at pacifier.com Thu Oct 29 15:06:59 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:06:59 -0700 Subject: [obol] seabird die-off Message-ID: <4AEA1203.5070606@pacifier.com> There were no shorebirds brought to the North Coast Rehab Center. I checked in with the folks at the center today and it looks like the worst of this event is over. Most of the over-flow cages were empty. Birds still at the center (not air-lifted) include (unofficial counts): Western Grebes (8-10) Horned Grebe (1) Pied-billed Grebe (1) Brown Pelican (10-12) Pelagic Cormorant (1) Brandt's Cormorant (1) Northern Fulmar (4-5, light and dark phases) Black-legged Kittiwake (1) Heermann's Gull (1) Surf Scoter (5-6) White-winged Scoter (4-5) Pigeon Guillemot (1) Common Murre (all the ones that were too sick to travel) They also got 2 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS recently. One has already been released. The other was blinded in one eye and will probably not be released back into the wild. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From celata at pacifier.com Thu Oct 29 15:19:38 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:19:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] OT: Youngs River Chinook Message-ID: <4AEA14FA.509@pacifier.com> http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12529/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From jeffgill at teleport.com Thu Oct 29 16:29:51 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:29:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Note on the Brown Booby Message-ID: When it wasn't on the previously described channel marker in Coos Bay we saw it in flight apparently feeding up the bay between the Fossil Point and the sewage treatment plant definitely a better view than when it was perched on the channel marker at a greater distance. Jeff Gilligan From johnpam at mtangel.net Thu Oct 29 16:44:17 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:44:17 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wilson's Snipe-Large Group Silverton Message-ID: Torvend Rd pond had 36 WILSON'S SNIPE this afternoon on a drive-by coming home from Salem. This is the most I have ever seen as we usually have 1-3 along our rural ditch in the winter and that's about it. I have seen up to maybe 18 or so at Torvend Rd pond. How large can the W Snipe groups get in the fall? Good Birding, John Thomas N Silverton From oschmidt at att.net Thu Oct 29 16:53:22 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:53:22 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brown Booby photo posted Message-ID: <1348B61B-F11E-4D35-B0D2-20077AE85BC8@att.net> ..... quick upload of a screen capture from an HD video frame (1080p), shot this morning: http://web.me.com/olschmidt/BRBO/Index.html oschmidt at att.net Thursday, October 29, 2009 From greg at thebirdguide.com Thu Oct 29 17:06:41 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:06:41 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brown Booby photo posted Message-ID: <7AC09CE438CC452095CFD0E96F215E02@GREG> Thanks, Owen, for posting the first photo of the Coos Bay Brown Booby (http://web.me.com/olschmidt/BRBO/Index.html). Russ Namitz filled me in on the discovery of this bird by Suzette Eagler. The details, including a map and a summary of previous Oregon sightings are on the Oregon Seabirds blog: http://oregonseabirds.blogspot.com/ Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Oct 29 17:09:20 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:09:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Booby history Message-ID: My understanding from Russ Namitz is that a crabber saw the booby from a boat, recognized it as something odd, figured out more or less what it was, called Jan Hodder at OIMB who relayed the info to Russ and Tim. I may have the details a little off. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Oct 29 17:04:47 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:04:47 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wilson's Snipe-Large Group Silverton In-Reply-To: Message-ID: I have seen feeding groups of over 200 snipe on two occasions on CBCs. Both times they were in the gooiest part of a pasture full of cows in a coastal setting. This is the time of year to be alert for Jack Snipe. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com > From: John Thomas > Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:44:17 -0700 > To: OBOL > Subject: [obol] Wilson's Snipe-Large Group Silverton > > Torvend Rd pond had 36 WILSON'S SNIPE this afternoon on a drive-by coming > home from Salem. This is the most I have ever seen as we usually have 1-3 > along our rural ditch in the winter and that's about it. I have seen up to > maybe 18 or so at Torvend Rd pond. How large can the W Snipe groups get in > the fall? > > Good Birding, > John Thomas > N Silverton > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From celata at pacifier.com Thu Oct 29 17:13:32 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:13:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Wilson's Snipe-Large Group Silverton Message-ID: <4AEA2FAC.70200@pacifier.com> Both of the alleged Jack Snipe sightings were in large migrant flocks. The Astoria flock was several hundred individuals and they flew in big swarms like real shorebirds... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Oct 29 19:10:07 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:10:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brown Booby directions for an out-of-towner In-Reply-To: <85901BAAFB321F4BA8E7DFD28BC41BB90587CFF3@ATT1-EX2.am.int.amec.com> Message-ID: Greetings oboloids. Even though I live in Eugene, a couple of people have asked me to post directions to the booby. These directions are from memory and all distances are very approximate. There are various online tools to assist travelers. Assuming that you are entering North Bend on Hwy 101 from the north, go about ten blocks south of the bridge and turn west where there are lots of signs saying "State Parks" and "Charleston" and that sort of thing. This street is the main drag that goes to the airport. After maybe a mile and a half, turn south on the main drag that goes to city of Coos Bay; it also has some signage. After a mile or so you come to Newmark St. which is a huge arterial running east and west. Go west in the right lane, which curves naturally. After a couple of miles (pass SW Oregon Community College) you enter the funky old business district of Empire, which is right on the lower bay. The road to Charleston goes left (south) there. Follow it along the bay for a few miles until you pass Pigeon Point Rd on the right. Maybe 3/4 mile further is a Dairy Queen on the right. Immediately south of this the road plunges into a low area. At the bottom there is a partly-paved pullout on the right, on the shore of the bay. It has some kind of electrical shed. >From here, scan the pilings on the far side of the bay. Today the bird was to the northwest, and also occurred as far north as the sewage plant, which you will pass on the way to the DQ. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com > From: "Baker, Greg" > Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:41:13 -0400 > To: > Subject: Brown Booby directions for an out-of-towner > > > Alan, > > I might try to drive down and see this bird on Friday. > > Would you please provide specific directions of where to search? > > Thank you, > > > Greg Baker CIH, CHMM, CSP, LEED AP > > Associate Industrial Hygienist > AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc. > 7376 SW Durham Road > Portland, Oregon 97224 > (T) 503.639.3400 > (F) 503.620.7892 > mailto:greg.baker at amec.com > > > > > The information contained in this e-mail is intended only for the individual > or entity to whom it is addressed. > Its contents (including any attachments) may contain confidential and/or > privileged information. > If you are not an intended recipient you must not use, disclose, disseminate, > copy or print its contents. > If you receive this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by reply e-mail > and delete and destroy the message. From jvanmoo at sisna.com Thu Oct 29 19:11:19 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:11:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Klamath Falls, Thursday Birding Bunch Message-ID: <051FD6BF-A93A-46D6-A5DC-A0B800EC3FC0@sisna.com> Hi Folks, Those of you who didn't attend the Thursday Birding Bunch today (I was the only one who showed up) missed a really good day. I started out at Putnam Pt and saw the usual assortment of ducks, grebes and pelicans. Next I headed to Recreation Creek just north of the Rocky Pt Resort where Larry Wicklund graciously let me look at the PACIFIC LOON (2-juv) from his dock. Great views! I then headed to the Rocky Pt marina and found HERMIT THRUSH, the usual jays, and ducks--some swans (9) were way out and I assume they were Tundra. I next went to Malone Spring and got another H. Thrush and a RUFFED GROUSE at the turn-around down by the boat lauch area. It was very calm and I got great looks from 10' as I slowly drove by. From there I went to FS Rd 3100 and found WINTER WREN (2). Not much of anything at Kimball SP, Wood River Day Use Area, and Wood River Wetlands. I stopped at Hagelstein Park and found a BAND-TAILED PIGEON (juv). It was a great find for me--the only other one I've seen in Klamath County was the one in my yard a few years ago. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem From plaxo at mx.plaxo.com Thu Oct 29 19:55:04 2009 From: plaxo at mx.plaxo.com (Linda Magnuson) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:55:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Linda Magnuson added you as a connection on Plaxo Message-ID: <639a9e5bd1e91f005c5ccbf4ab29d3d1@xpertmailer.com> Linda Magnuson wants to add you as a connection on Plaxo. To view this connection request, go to: http://www.plaxo.com/invite?lang=en&i=84468252&k=1756331048&l=en&src=email&et=1&est=nolevels&etv=sept09c&el=en Thanks! The Plaxo team What is Plaxo? Plaxo is a social utility that works with the tools and services you already use to give you: a smart address book, powered by the people you connect with a single place to see what they???re sharing from all over the web a set of tools to nurture your network and career Don't want to receive emails from Plaxo any more? Go to: http://www.plaxo.com/stop?src=email&et=1&est=nolevels&etv=sept09c&el=en&email=obol%40oregonbirdwatch.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091029/1aedec26/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Thu Oct 29 22:26:00 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:26:00 -0400 Subject: [obol] Backyard birding Message-ID: <8CC273899AB0802-5190-6138@webmail-d045.sysops.aol.com> It was a dismal day today in Sandy, and I'm just not into getting soaked without a real good reason. So I decided to just bird my own back yard. It is a tiny yard, about 50' by 50' with 4 trees. A key feature is a big Rhody bush just 8-10 from my feeders. I took the screen off my window, turned out the light and set up my camera. I was really surprised by the number of species as well as the number of birds. The Dark-eyed Junkos are back in force. I had several squabbles between a handsome Norther Flicker and various European Starlings. Goldfinch by the pounds. Some special appearances by a pair of Spotted Towhees and a Varied Thursh. I know it isn't a big deal, but I had 17 species, and didn't get my sneakers wet. Johnny Sasko Sandy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091030/67f2ee84/attachment.html From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Thu Oct 29 23:53:01 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:53:01 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Wilson's Snipe in Large Groups In-Reply-To: <1591848329.100951256885476582.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <452446470.101001256885581659.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Wilson's Snipe do occasionally join in large flocks and will fly in tight formations, simultaneously changing directions, just like Dunlin. One Winter in Eugene, when snow and ice left only large puddles and ditches with accessible mud for feeding, I saw as many as 500 in one flying group. They had flushed from many different locations, but joined together in flight. There were also as many as 200 Killdeer doing the same thing at the time.? The wintering populations of both these species is quite a bit smaller in this area, at the present. Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091030/20e86e50/attachment.html From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Fri Oct 30 01:05:47 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:05:47 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Another Mallard Rivalry Video & a Question Message-ID: <1486392023.1511256889947384.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> After seeing the unusual rivalry displays of Mallard drakes at a local park recently, I also observed it among Mallards on the Eugene Millrace, just upstream from the Riverfront Parkway Bridge, near Franklin Blvd and Agate St. Here is a video I shot of them a few days ago, late in the evening: http://www.vimeo.com/7324876 ? I also found a pair of Wood Ducks farther upstream and a video of the drake is here:? http://www.vimeo.com/7303937 ?Downstream, below the Onyx St. Bridge, was an unexpected flock of at least 30 Wood Ducks, more than I've ever seen on this stream. My question is, have I just not been observant enough of Mallards in the past, to?have missed seeing?the drakes rearing up and dipping their bills into the water, while making a chirping?whistle and also arching their backs and rotating? Or is this something they have not been doing before or at least not very often? These flocks I've recently observed, seem to be made up of ducks that are mostly from wild ancestry and some of them may be migratory. Only about 25% of them, show signs of domestic Mallard strains. Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091030/17766630/attachment.html From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Sat Oct 31 01:15:54 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:15:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Test - Please ignore Message-ID: <20091031011554.j0uo3ikfkso4sgk8@webmail2.jimnorton.org> Survey says....? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Sat Oct 31 01:06:08 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:06:08 -0700 Subject: [obol] Test - Please ignore Message-ID: <20091031010608.2bkw7sntwkgswcwk@webmail2.jimnorton.org> And the survey says!?? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From lskalnes at me.com Fri Oct 30 22:03:11 2009 From: lskalnes at me.com (Lars Skalnes) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:03:11 -0700 Subject: [obol] Was the Brown Booby seen today 10/30? Message-ID: <5680E797-ED0C-454A-BEB5-6E1039F6B599@me.com> Lars Skalnes 1818 Fircrest Drive Eugene, OR 97403 From Jfitchen at aol.com Fri Oct 30 23:48:35 2009 From: Jfitchen at aol.com (Jfitchen at aol.com) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:48:35 EDT Subject: [obol] Fwd: Booby--YES. Message-ID: Obol, I'm resending this because I think aol was disabled earlier and it may not have gone out (I, at least, did not receive it). No big deal, but for those calculating weekend plans, it might be useful to know the bird was seen Friday afternoon. Sorry if this is a repeat. John ____________________________________ From: Jfitchen To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: 10/30/2009 7:35:24 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time Subj: Booby--YES. Hello Obol, This afternoon a little after 1:00 p.m. under fair skies, my son Matthew and I arrived at the appointed spot in the dip just after the Dairy Queen on the right as you head south on Cape Arago Hwy (thank you Alan Contreras for perfect directions and advice) and ran into Pat Tilley and Marilou Horniday from Salem at the small parking lot by the small power station on the right. We soon located the BROWN BOOBY on the tall navigation structure to the northwest, the one with two vertical orange stripes and the letter "B" in between. It was associated with three juvenile DC Cormorants. The observing is at long distance and requires maximum (at least 50X) optics, but even at distance, the sharply demarcated clean white belly contrasting with the dark head and back was diagnostic, as was the impressive dull yellow bill--longer, deeper and much more substantial than the yellow-orange bills of the cormorants. Because of the way it was perched, we were unable to see the legs and feet. The bird seemed rather sedentary and unperturbed, so hopefully it will hang around for the weekend. Even at long distance it is a spectacular bird; worth the 4-hour drive from Portland. Cheers, John Fitchen Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091031/36695f1b/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Fri Oct 30 20:48:45 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:48:45 EDT Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Friday Message-ID: Hello All, I biked to Fern Ridge at Royal Avenue after work this afternoon. At the extreme East end of Royal, 2 SWAN SP. could be seen far to the Southeast, too far to make out Tundra vs. Trumpeter. A record number, 26 WHITE-TAILED KITES went to roost in the trees / shrubs north of the Royal parking lot at sunset. At least 20 HARRIERS were also in this grassy area North of Royal, about half were adult males. Good Birding, John Sullivan & Laura Jonhson Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091030/832ff2db/attachment.html From Jfitchen at aol.com Fri Oct 30 19:35:24 2009 From: Jfitchen at aol.com (Jfitchen at aol.com) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:35:24 EDT Subject: [obol] Booby--YES. Message-ID: Hello Obol, This afternoon a little after 1:00 p.m. under fair skies, my son Matthew and I arrived at the appointed spot in the dip just after the Dairy Queen on the right as you head south on Cape Arago Hwy (thank you Alan Contreras for perfect directions and advice) and ran into Pat Tilley and Marilou Horniday from Salem at the small parking lot by the small power station on the right. We soon located the BROWN BOOBY on the tall navigation structure to the northwest, the one with two vertical orange stripes and the letter "B" in between. It was associated with three juvenile DC Cormorants. The observing is at long distance and requires maximum (at least 50X) optics, but even at distance, the sharply demarcated clean white belly contrasting with the dark head and back was diagnostic, as was the impressive dull yellow bill--longer, deeper and much more substantial than the yellow-orange bills of the cormorants. Because of the way it was perched, we were unable to see the legs and feet. The bird seemed rather sedentary and unperturbed, so hopefully it will hang around for the weekend. Even at long distance it is a spectacular bird; worth the 4-hour drive from Portland. Cheers, John Fitchen Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091030/ee78d283/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Fri Oct 30 09:49:00 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:49:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brown Booby still present Friday. Message-ID: Just got a call from Judy Meredith. She and others have been watching the booby this morning near where it has been obviously seen. She said that it has "been flying between two towers off Hedge Lane'. Hedge Lane is shown on Google Earth. It is not as far toward Charleston from North Bend as is Pigeon Point and Fossil Point and the Dairy Queen. It isn't far from where some of us saw it from yesterday. Jeff Gilligan From jeffgill at teleport.com Fri Oct 30 09:06:20 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:06:20 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brown Booby still present Friday. Message-ID: Just got a call from Judy Meredith. She and others have been watching the booby this morning near where it has been obviously seen. She said that it has "been flying between two towers off Hedge Lane'. Hedge Lane is shown on Google Earth. It is not as far toward Charleston from North Bend as is Pigeon Point and Fossil Point and the Dairy Queen. It isn't far from where some of us saw it from yesterday. Jeff Gilligan From jeffgill at teleport.com Fri Oct 30 09:57:00 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:57:00 -0700 Subject: [obol] Is OBOL down? Message-ID: I have been trying to post that the Brown Booby is there today (Friday) but I am not seeing the post. From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Oct 30 18:23:13 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:23:13 -0700 Subject: [obol] Return of the Oakridge Christmas Bird Count, December 27th Message-ID: <1256952193.24293.180.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, The Oakridge CBC is now scheduled for December 27th, 2009. That's 24 years after the last one was held, give or take a few days. Wanda Wilson from the newly established Oakridge/Westfir birding group will be organizing the count. I'll help with the compiling for the first go-round, but there is strong "indigenous" momentum for this count so I expect to fade out of the picture quickly. It will be interesting to see how close this count can come to their all-time record count of 235 Mountain Quail (one of four triple-digit counts from the 1970s, any of which would have been the high count for the continent in recent years). As Alan mentioned, this count has also recorded Pine Grosbeak (3 times) and Black-backed Woodpecker (once). It should yield Sooty Grouse and has a good possibility of all three North American Strix owl species, along with a variety of small owls. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has been recorded 9 times! Well, I think that's an artifact of the species split, but I figured it would get your attention. If you're interested in volunteering for this count, please contact Wanda at . The birding group also plans to start reporting regularly throughout the year, so we can look forward to more frequent reports from Hills Creek Dam and other local hotspots. For the nearly complete schedule of Oregon's Christmas Bird Counts (just one more count that hasn't chosen a date yet), see: http://www.oregonbirds.org/calendar.html Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From dan at heyerly.com Fri Oct 30 15:36:30 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Dan Heyerly) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:36:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Any Booby news? Message-ID: <48D0EA8D5FD3448691B76600BD764573@Dan> Thinking of a early morning run, but would like to hear something first . . . Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091030/74101d61/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Oct 30 20:31:14 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:31:14 -0700 Subject: [obol] New Brown Booby photo by Russ Namitz Message-ID: <2F99BF869A494FC1A677895DF1F8E7E1@GREG> The new photo clearly shows this is an adult female. There is a small bit of ID discussion here. http://oregonseabirds.blogspot.com/ Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From jmeredit at bendnet.com Fri Oct 30 18:00:03 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:00:03 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brown Booby Empire - yes 8:00 to 9:00 a.m Message-ID: <2F4C2239AF0441919731764F39305541@MOM> Hi birders Sheran Wright and I left last evening and so were ready to bird in Empire area around daybreak today, Friday. >From a long distance, we could just make out the Booby on the tall tower while we scoped from the sewage treatment plant. It was perched there with cormorants. We went farther south toward Charleston and stopped at a pullout across from Hedge Street, note a prominent geodesic dome style home - and had views of both the tall tower and a shorter tower and could see the bird at closer range. We saw it on the tall tower, then flying up and down and around the bay, and perching and preening on the shorter tower. From that distance we had close enough viewing with scopes to make out light feet and bill and the nice white below and nice brown above. We saw the underside of the wings many times, either while it preened or while it flew around in the channel/bay. Everything we saw matched adult Brown Booby. Just a short distance south of there is the pull out for the Dairy Queen and then the pump station or whatever that little building is. Our view was excellent from the pullout opposite Hedge St. So It appears to be in the same vicinity, exactly where it has been described by several posters. There aren't many places where you can pull over and have a view but all of those described above give a good vantage point of the bay and most of the towers and buoys. Thanks everyone for the great directions and promptly getting the word out to OBOL! Judy jmeredit at bendnet.com From ninerharv2 at msn.com Fri Oct 30 21:25:43 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:25:43 +0000 Subject: [obol] Newport this week Message-ID: Its hard to believe I am leaving Booby frenzy and a staggering display of brown pelicans on the coquille river but I have a week reserved at the Embarcedero starting tomorrow for a week. Anything unusual in Newport/Lincoln County environs. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From namitzr at hotmail.com Fri Oct 30 17:57:29 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:57:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Brown Booby still here 10/30 - PM Message-ID: The bird is still here and hanging out on the two wooden structure that have navigational aides/markers on them. The nav aides are red with a black line down the middle. Both have the letter B in the middle of them. The northern one is taller and is the preferred perch of the booby. Best of luck, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091030/1955f8a3/attachment.html From birdmandon at clearwire.net Fri Oct 30 16:23:29 2009 From: birdmandon at clearwire.net (Don Schrouder) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:23:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brown Booby Message-ID: <3AC9D27F-4C01-4531-AA93-23032D3B63A0@clearwire.net> The BROWN BOOBY was still at it's reliable location this morning near Fossil Point. We watched it sitting and occasionally preening for about 30 minutes before it flew around the bay feeding from 9:45 am to 10:20 am. Perfect weather at the coast today. Don Schrouder with Sylvia Maulding and Paul Sherrell. Also present were the Stotz's from Florence. Don Schrouder birdmandon at clearwire.net From jeffgill at teleport.com Fri Oct 30 11:09:29 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:09:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] FW: last day Malheur NWR planning comments. In-Reply-To: Message-ID: If you email your comments regarding the refuge plan, remember to put "Malheur CCP" in the subject line. My comments to the planning people are below. Jeff Gilligan (I am not starting a debate regarding my comments on OBOL.) ------ Forwarded Message From: Jeff Gilligan Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:04:39 -0700 To: Conversation: Malheur CCP Subject: Malheur CCP 1. Why is Malheur NWR special to me? I have been birding there since 1970 - typically visiting the refuge at least twice per year from my home in Portland, Oregon. In addition, I am interested in bird conservation. 2. Activities I engage in at the refuge: Birding - especially at headquarters and the other locations that tend to attract land bird migrants. 3. Issues I want to address: I am interested in the condition of migrant land bird sites on the refuge and access to them by birders. Principal of those sites is the headquarters grounds. 4. Suggestions: I suggest that the headquarters grounds should be maintained as a diverse combination of trees and shrubs that provide shelter and food to land bird migrants. Maintaining the grounds in a park-like and manicured state should be subsidiary to that purpose. There are plenty of urban parks for people to enjoy. Planting of native trees and shrubs as well as fruiting or insect attracting non-natives varieties are good options in my opinion. Public access should be allowed except where there is a compelling reason to prevent it. Thank you for considering my thoughts. Jeff Gilligan ------ End of Forwarded Message From fitzbeew at gmail.com Fri Oct 30 15:53:04 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:53:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Booby Friday? Message-ID: Obol, Has anyone tried and seen, or tried and failed to see, the Coos Bay Brown Booby today? Thanks for any info. -Holly Reinhard Corvallis, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091030/05c4968a/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Oct 30 16:47:34 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:47:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Y18 comes back! An albatrosses' journey Message-ID: <64826D0631594E2CBEA8E3294FF0E27E@GREG> Last week I reported on a juvenile radio-tagged Short-tailed Albatross that journeyed past Oregon's shores from 25-29 September.... ...On 11 October 2009 a pelagic trip from Half Moon Bay, California photographed one of 7 radio-tagged Short-tailed Albatrosses from Japan. Was it, perhaps, the same bird seen off Oregon two weeks earlier? Yes it was! Read the rest of this story, view the albatross in California with radio transmitter attached, and trace the route on the map that this bird flew during the 5 months since fledging on Mukojima Island in May. Neat stuff! Oregon Seabirds http://oregonseabirds.blogspot.com/ Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From smithdwd at hotmail.com Fri Oct 30 16:00:09 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:00:09 +0000 Subject: [obol] Girl LT DUCK Hagg Lk Message-ID: The girl Long Tail Duck was readily seen(1st bird I saw) at Haaggg Lake about 2pm. It was with 10 Surf Scoters just off the parking lot on the west side of the dam. Best viewed from north end of lot. Thanks Stefan. David Smith _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Keep your friends up to date with what you do online. http://www.microsoft.com/middleeast/windows/windowslive/see-it-in-action/social-network-basics.aspx?ocid=PID23461::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-xm:SI_SB_1:092010 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091030/5c199d61/attachment.html From acontrer at mindspring.com Fri Oct 30 14:27:24 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:27:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Marsh Wren photos wanted Message-ID: <88DB88F8-C14C-4E24-96F9-ABD094733722@mindspring.com> I would like to obtain good photos of Marsh Wren taken in Oregon, especially in fall or winter. These are for my own study, but might eventually be published. No files larger than 9meg, please. Nothing nonoregon, please. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone From puma at smt-net.com Sat Oct 31 04:48:40 2009 From: puma at smt-net.com (Pat Waldron) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:48:40 -0700 Subject: [obol] test Message-ID: <017B7FB9-9B55-42B2-A955-7A1F627B1FB0@smt-net.com> Please delete From gneavoll at comcast.net Sat Oct 31 09:08:36 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:08:36 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Cacklers over Portland redux Message-ID: <551831042.2729311257005316130.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Another major flight of CACKLING GEESE over downtown Portland this a.m., yelping as they go. First flock noted at 5:20; numbers have increased greatly in past half-hour. (It's 9:10 now.) George Neavoll S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091031/1394c1eb/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Sat Oct 31 09:13:52 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:13:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Spanish Head Message-ID: seawatch Spanish Head, Lincoln City 7:30-8:30 (10/31): low ceiling with fog patches, vis about 1.5 miles 300 Red-throated Loon 400 Pacific Loon 4 Common Loon 1 Red-necked Grebe 4 Western Grebe 8 Northern Fulmar 1 MANX-TYPE SHEARWATER (N 3/4 mile) 2 Sooty/Short-tailed 2 Brown Pelican 9 Double-crested Cormorant 60 Brandt's Cormorant 35 Green-winged Teal 7 scaup sp. 22 Black Scoter 100 Surf Scoter 150 White-winged Scoter 1 Common Merganser 6 Red-breasted Merganser 2 calidris sp. 5+ Mew Gull 900+ California Gull (mixed ages S) 3+ Herring Gull 600+ Western Gull 50+ Glaucous-winged Gull 900 Heermann's Gull (thin S movement) 1 Black-legged Kittiwake 1200 Common Murre (S) 17 Rhinoceros Auklet (S) 6 Marbled Murrelet (pairs S) Phil philliplc at charter.net From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Sat Oct 31 09:36:04 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:36:04 -0700 Subject: [obol] Great Egrets over NW Portland Message-ID: <9585996E-3715-4A10-8000-12B6CF4E7641@gmail.com> This morning at approximately 7:30 AM there were four Great Egrets heading south, flying over a bit to the east of the house. Lots of Cacklers going over, looking mostly like Taverner's with some minima. Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091031/b5398ad1/attachment.html From djaques.pel at charter.net Sat Oct 31 10:13:19 2009 From: djaques.pel at charter.net (Deborah Jaques) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:13:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] seabird die-off Message-ID: Dave and Kathy, Shorebirds were certainly in and around the foam, but the only groups apparently debilitated were those that spend most of their time on the water (murres, loons, grebes, scoters). Thank goodness no pelicans! Deborah Jaques Pacific Eco Logic 375 3rd Street Astoria, Oregon 97103 (503) 298-0599 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091031/70bbc135/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Oct 31 10:39:55 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:39:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] "Emergency" backup RBA systems when OBOL's not available Message-ID: <1257010795.24293.261.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, Just a reminder: OBOL is usually reliable thanks to Jim Norton's efforts, so it's understandable that birders forget about other options that are possible. But OBOL does sometimes go down, sometimes when there is a really hot bird out there. Please keep in mind some alternatives for getting out word on urgent reports: 1) The BirdNotes database at www.birdnotes.net which has only gone a handful of times in the last 10 years, and never while OBOL was down. 2) OFO's (Oregon Field Ornithologists') website at www.oregonbirds.org. The latter does not have an automatic reporting facility set up right now, but there may be one in the works. In the short run, if you have some urgent birding news and OBOL is down, please send me an e-mail and I'll post it manually to OFO's website, as long as I'm around. For coastal birds, I'd guess that Greg Gillson might also be amenable to posting updates on his seabird blog at www.thebirdguide.com. So all hope is not lost when OBOL goes down, as long as folks remember to check the alternatives. Happy birding, Joel P.S. When OBOL does go down, it does little good to send a bunch test messages or questions as to whether it's working. That effort would be better spent on contacting the list administrator (Jim), and/or trying one of the above alternative methods to get your report out. If you don't see your posting show up within a few minutes on www.birdingonthe.net (a.k.a. Siler's website), it probably means that OBOL is hung up. -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From namitzr at hotmail.com Sat Oct 31 11:22:31 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:22:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Coos Brown Booby still here 10/31 Message-ID: A number of people from all over the state and even 2 WA birders enjoyed views of the BROWN BOOBY both perched and flying this morning. I watched the bird from 9-11AM. Although it dove several times, I did not see it come up with a fish although I am hopeful that it has enough energy to forage. All foraging attempts were made north of Fossil Pt. In other words, it hasn't yet been seen flying around Charleston or the jetty. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091031/80391a9b/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Oct 31 16:08:46 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:08:46 -0700 Subject: [obol] From the "I didn't expect to see that" department Message-ID: <3452BBF0C65649C5BBA3FB550B1B0677@cgatesPC> Yesterday, my principal informed me that a strange bird had hit the large glass windows in our school and the bird was lying dead on the ground. I went over to investigate and found a freshly killed female Black-headed Grosbeak. The bird was pliable and had all the appearances of a freshly killed bird. The eyes were still moist and all the limbs were flexible and there was no odor of decay. This species usually leaves our area by the middle of September so this was a real surprise. BOGR mentions one record from late December in Crook County so this bird is not a record but is still unexpected. In other bird news from today, I found 2 Surf Scoters on Prineville Reservoir, a Dunlin on the Prineville Sewer Ponds, and the first Rough-legged Hawk of the season at Houston Lake. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091031/46da86c6/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Sat Oct 31 16:25:29 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:25:29 -0700 Subject: [obol] sharpie in Springfield Message-ID: <66AD76B006B5431A9F49522E818C765D@TomsPC> My backyard had a visit from a SHARP-SHINED HAWk this afternoon. It did not catch a dinner but scattered the birds. By the way, how do I get rid of the PIGEONS who have discovered my backyard and hog any seeds falling to the earth? Tom Escue in Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091031/28e3ab3c/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Sat Oct 31 16:44:51 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:44:51 -0700 Subject: [obol] Orange Crowned Warbler - Late Message-ID: One ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER came into our feeder area today. It fed on insects on the nearby shrubs and also on 5 field corn stalks I had allowed to sprout in the feeder area. The surprise -besides being so late here - was seeing it with a corn kernel in its beak! It looked like it tried one and then went back to insects.... It came in several times and really picked over the corn stalks (still alive somehow). This is by far the latest we have seen an OC Warbler here. The last time one showed was 11 days ago. We never have them winter here. John Thomas Silverton From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Oct 31 17:17:35 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:17:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Brooks Sewage Ponds Message-ID: <2E16DE07F4A34A349D06B27737EBE6D8@cgatesPC> Does anyone know if a viewing platform was ever constructed at the Brooks Sewage Ponds in Marion County? If that platform indeed exists, can I get directions to it? Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091031/b28887cb/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Sat Oct 31 17:47:19 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:47:19 EDT Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Saturday Message-ID: Hello All, I biked to Fern Ridge at Shore Lane this afternoon, mostly between rain showers. There were 3 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES at the corner of Fir Butte and Clear Lake Rd. a first for me in this area. At Shore Lane 15 TUNDRA SWANS were close enough for ID. There were 3 EARED GREBES in the narrow channel running South from Shore Lane Park, along with 10 HOODED and 20 COMMON MERGANSERS. About 1000 DUNLIN and 20 BLACK-BELLIES were on the mud North of Gibson Island. Good Birding, John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091031/a46bcf45/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Sat Oct 31 20:31:25 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:31:25 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mockingbird Message-ID: Obolers, The north coast was really quiet today, but at Nehalem Meadows I found two kites, 2 adult Red-shouldered Hawks, and a Mockingbird. The Mocker was in the hedges just west of the Sewage Ponds. Harry Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091031/a701c750/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sat Oct 31 23:46:55 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 01:46:55 -0500 Subject: [obol] Newport area birds: Palm Warbler ... (Lincoln Co) Message-ID: Ian Boustead and I were at the Hatfield MSC in Newport this afternoon. Highlights of a mostly uneventful day were a PALM WARBLER about 40yds north of the shelter, a female Long-tailed Duck, a fly-by White-tailed Kite, 2 Eurasian Wigeon and several Western Meadowlarks. The South Jetty was devoid of any birds except for a Whimbrel and 3 Harlequin Ducks. At the North Jetty we had 2 Marbled Godwits fly-over late in the day and singing Wrentits. A Rough-legged Hawk had been at the intersection I-5 & OR34 (exit 228 of I-5). Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ New Windows 7: Find the right PC for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pc-scout/default.aspx?CBID=wl&ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_pcscout:112009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091101/0631c2e1/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sat Oct 31 23:57:45 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 01:57:45 -0500 Subject: [obol] Newport area birds: Palm Warbler ... (Lincoln Co) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: A picture of the Palm Warbler can be seen at my blog at http://birdmeister.wordpress.com. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR From: greenfant at hotmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 01:46:55 -0500 Subject: [obol] Newport area birds: Palm Warbler ... (Lincoln Co) Ian Boustead and I were at the Hatfield MSC in Newport this afternoon. Highlights of a mostly uneventful day were a PALM WARBLER about 40yds north of the shelter, a female Long-tailed Duck, a fly-by White-tailed Kite, 2 Eurasian Wigeon and several Western Meadowlarks. The South Jetty was devoid of any birds except for a Whimbrel and 3 Harlequin Ducks. At the North Jetty we had 2 Marbled Godwits fly-over late in the day and singing Wrentits. A Rough-legged Hawk had been at the intersection I-5 & OR34 (exit 228 of I-5). Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR New Windows 7: Find the right PC for you. Learn more. _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091101/ab6a0df7/attachment.html From mklittletree at comcast.net Sun Nov 1 08:58:45 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (michel Kleinbaum) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 08:58:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fw: Gyrfalcon carrying adult Herring Gull - Jones Beach Message-ID: <940E4386CAB94BEFB1346516976FF3F3@michel1927> I think most Obolers will like this great Gyr photo. Michel Kleinbaum S. Salem ----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Gochfeld To: michel Kleinbaum Sent: Sunday, November 01, 2009 5:44 AM Subject: FW: Gyrfalcon carrying adult Herring Gull - Jones Beach Michel, I think this is one of the great wildlife photos of a Gyr with a gull taken last week at Jones. The bird was only around for a day. Take with a Nikon D300s and a 300mm lens with a telextender no less. Michael Gochfeld gochfeld at eohsi.rutgers.edu -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Gochfeldlaw at aol.com [mailto:Gochfeldlaw at aol.com] Sent: Fri 10/30/2009 10:57 AM To: Michael Gochfeld Subject: Gyrfalcon carrying adult Herring Gull - Jones Beach PhotoPortfolios.net - Online Photographer Porfolios From lskalnes at me.com Sun Nov 1 10:41:15 2009 From: lskalnes at me.com (Lars Skalnes) Date: Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:41:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Brown Booby still there Message-ID: <1BFC3929-DA89-4B84-9FAE-000F21E1B541@me.com> I am watching the Brown Booby across from Hedge Lane at 10:40 a.m. She has not moved from the usual perch out in the bay during the half hour I have been here. Lars Skalnes Eugene From larmcqueen at msn.com Sun Nov 1 11:48:27 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 11:48:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bluebirds overhead Message-ID: I just heard a group of bluebirds flying over my house on Agate St, University area, east Eugene. Could not locate them, then they were gone. Larry -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091101/c9f8cf3a/attachment.html From pamo at osubookstore.com Sun Nov 1 12:50:16 2009 From: pamo at osubookstore.com (Pam Otley) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 12:50:16 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Klamath Saw-whet, Mt Quail Message-ID: <472552561.157561257108616723.JavaMail.root@mail.mu.oregonstate.edu> Hello, On 10/29, drove the Eagle Ridge Rd on sw side of Upper Klamath Lake. Saw 10 Mountain Quail near the boat launch/picnic area, then drove on to the campground at Eagle Pt and on the hiking trail down to the lake, a Northern Saw-whet Owl flushed out of the thick Oregon Grape foliage and landed only five feet away from us, giving us maybe 20 seconds of eye to eye viewing! Pam Otley Corvallis From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Sun Nov 1 13:11:52 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 13:11:52 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Fw: Gyrfalcon carrying adult Herring Gull - Jones Beach In-Reply-To: <940E4386CAB94BEFB1346516976FF3F3@michel1927> Message-ID: <868115.84163.qm@web39706.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello, This really is a great photo! For this photographer, it might be a while before another photo op like this comes along! Best, Dick --- On Sun, 11/1/09, michel Kleinbaum wrote: > From: michel Kleinbaum > Subject: [obol] Fw: Gyrfalcon carrying adult Herring Gull - Jones Beach > To: "OBOL" > Date: Sunday, November 1, 2009, 8:58 AM > I think most Obolers will like this > great? Gyr photo. > Michel Kleinbaum? S. Salem > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Michael Gochfeld > To: michel Kleinbaum > Sent: Sunday, November 01, 2009 5:44 AM > Subject: FW: Gyrfalcon carrying adult Herring Gull - Jones > Beach > > > Michel,? I think this is one of the great wildlife > photos of a Gyr with a > gull taken last week at Jones.? The bird was only > around for a day.? Take > with a Nikon D300s and a 300mm lens with a telextender no > less. > > Michael Gochfeld gochfeld at eohsi.rutgers.edu > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > From: Gochfeldlaw at aol.com > [mailto:Gochfeldlaw at aol.com] > Sent: Fri 10/30/2009 10:57 AM > To: Michael Gochfeld > Subject: Gyrfalcon carrying adult Herring Gull - Jones > Beach > > > PhotoPortfolios.net - Online Photographer Porfolios > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sun Nov 1 14:10:28 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 22:10:28 +0000 Subject: [obol] Spotted Sandpiper Message-ID: Juvenile spotted Sandpiper on creek feeding into east side of Yaquina Bay. White winger scoter in Bay back by tank. Harv Scubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From steve at paradisebirding.com Sun Nov 1 14:23:04 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 14:23:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ft Rock Raptors Message-ID: <9a341ea30911011423i736e525bj8bd924bfccca4d50@mail.gmail.com> Hello all, I scouted the Fort Rock Valley yesterday to prepare for my upcoming raptor ID classes. In just a few hours, I found 59 raptors of 8 species. I never even got south of Connley Rd, so this tally only covers the Fort Rock Valley (not Christmas Valley or parts south). The species tally is below. To learn more about the one-day classes I'm leading to this region over the next 6 weekends, visit the web page linked here. At the bottom of the description is another link to a detailed list of the birds I found yesterday, categorized by sex, plumage, and age of the individual birds. Rough-legged Hawk - 10 (1 beautiful dark-morph bird) Red-tailed Hawk - 24 (including one dark-morph Harlan's subspecies) Ferruginous Hawk - 9 Prairie Falcon - 6 Northern Harrier - 2 Bald Eagle - 1 Golden Eagle - 1 American Kestrel - 1 Unidentified Buteo sp. - 5 I was a little surprised to have so few eagles. I also did not see any Nor. Shrikes, but it's still early. This is a superb study opportunity, especially for the Buteos, so I hope some of you can join us for a day this fall. Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091101/2b3d1e35/attachment.html From mklittletree at comcast.net Sun Nov 1 14:27:53 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (michel Kleinbaum) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 14:27:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fw: Gyrfalcon carrying adult Herring Gull - Jones Beach Message-ID: <3A4129F88C554E49842010D7D46A2B6C@michel1927> For some reason the link tosee the photo was not highlighted so here it is again with my apologies: PhotoPortfolios.net - Online Photographer Porfolios hopefully it is highlighted on the last line of thismail Michel Kleinbaum ----- Original Message ----- From: michel Kleinbaum To: Michel Kleinbaum Sent: Sunday, November 01, 2009 2:19 PM Subject: Fw: Gyrfalcon carrying adult Herring Gull - Jones Beach ----- Original Message ----- From: michel Kleinbaum To: Dominique Ducamp Sent: Sunday, November 01, 2009 9:14 AM Subject: Fw: Gyrfalcon carrying adult Herring Gull - Jones Beach une photo fantastique! ----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Gochfeld To: michel Kleinbaum Sent: Sunday, November 01, 2009 5:44 AM Subject: FW: Gyrfalcon carrying adult Herring Gull - Jones Beach Michel, I think this is one of the great wildlife photos of a Gyr with a gull taken last week at Jones. The bird was only around for a day. Take with a Nikon D300s and a 300mm lens with a telextender no less. Michael Gochfeld gochfeld at eohsi.rutgers.edu -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Gochfeldlaw at aol.com [mailto:Gochfeldlaw at aol.com] Sent: Fri 10/30/2009 10:57 AM To: Michael Gochfeld Subject: Gyrfalcon carrying adult Herring Gull - Jones Beach PhotoPortfolios.net - Online Photographer Porfolios -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091101/e76791f4/attachment.html From rriparia at charter.net Sun Nov 1 15:35:57 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 15:35:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Klamath CO. SURF SCOTER Message-ID: <20091101183557.1463Q.1503645.root@mp18> Hi, Today, Nov. 1st, an adult, male, SURF SCOTER was seen off of the boat launch at Henzel Park, located at the south end of Agency Lake, along Modoc Point Rd., in Klamath County. Also seen today: BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER- 6 to 7, HAIRY WOODPECKER - 6 to 7, DOWNY WOODPECKER- 4, RED-SHAFTED FLICKER- 1, PINE SISKIN- 15-20, and CASSIN'S FINCH-6 (in the Cave Mountain Burn near Chiloquin)... (falling has begun, so if interested in checking it out, next weekend might be best chance), and on the way up to the burn, near the repeater microwave equipment, SOOTY GROUSE- 3. Wood River Wetland: present for a short time, but saw/heard: RED-SHOULDERED HAWK-1, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE-4, MYRTLE WARBLER-2, among many AUDUBON'S. Henzel Park: SURF SCOTER, 1, adult male, EARED GREBE- 35, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE- 1, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER-1 Kevin Spencer rriparia at charter.net Klamath Falls From jeffgill at teleport.com Sun Nov 1 15:49:58 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:49:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Brown Booby still there Sunday per Gerard Lillie (nt) Message-ID: From cowgirl at harborside.com Sun Nov 1 15:49:47 2009 From: cowgirl at harborside.com (cowgirl at harborside.com) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 23:49:47 +0000 Subject: [obol] Brown Booby Message-ID: <914294838-1257119604-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-1741351538-@bda504.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> Knute Andersson and I are looking at the Booby right now. Thanks to Russ for getting us out here on the North Spit side. It even flew for some nice flight shots !!! Lois Miller Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sun Nov 1 15:53:53 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 23:53:53 +0000 Subject: [obol] Bald Eagle pair just emptied out Yaquina Bay Message-ID: We have extreme low tide but that is not what emptied out Yaquina Bay especially wigeon flock. Bald Eagle pair show no sign of going anywhere. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Nov 1 15:42:49 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:42:49 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lane coast birds Message-ID: I spent most of today in coastal Lane County. Nothing really rare. Highlights: 8 Ancient Murrelets on the water off Klootchman (and a couple more probables flying around). 1 N FULMAR at Klootchman; no other tubenoses. Northern Shrike, Red-shouldered Hawk (now regular) out s jetty road. 14 WF Goose at the stables near Baker Beach Rd. Seems a little late for those in a flock. Huge gull flocks as Cals move. First of season Thayer's at Heceta Head and Yachats. About a thousand Cals at Yachats, 300 at Heceta Head, maybe 500 at Florence. Small numbers of Herring and Mew. ONE Glaucous-wing all day. Small numbers Heermann's mixed in. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Sun Nov 1 16:52:58 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 16:52:58 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Fw: Gyrfalcon carrying adult Herring Gull - Jones Beach In-Reply-To: <3A4129F88C554E49842010D7D46A2B6C@michel1927> Message-ID: <693168.91638.qm@web39704.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Michel, This is an immature gyrfalcon of quite dark coloration. When it moults, it'll be a typical grey gyr---but toward the darker shades. Best, Dick --- On Sun, 11/1/09, michel Kleinbaum wrote: > From: michel Kleinbaum > Subject: [obol] Fw: Gyrfalcon carrying adult Herring Gull - Jones Beach > To: "OBOL" > Date: Sunday, November 1, 2009, 2:27 PM > > > > > > > > > For some reason the link tosee the photo was not > highlighted so here it is > > again with my apologies: > PhotoPortfolios.net - Online Photographer Porfolios > ? hopefully it > is highlighted on the last line of thismail > Michel Kleinbaum > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: michel > Kleinbaum > To: Michel > Kleinbaum > Sent: Sunday, November 01, 2009 2:19 PM > Subject: Fw: Gyrfalcon carrying adult Herring > Gull - Jones > Beach > > > ? > ----- Original Message ----- > From: michel > Kleinbaum > To: Dominique > Ducamp > Sent: Sunday, November 01, 2009 9:14 AM > Subject: Fw: Gyrfalcon carrying adult Herring > Gull - Jones > Beach > une photo fantastique! > ? > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: > Michael > Gochfeld > To: michel > Kleinbaum > Sent: Sunday, November > 01, 2009 5:44 > AM > Subject: FW: Gyrfalcon > carrying adult > Herring Gull - Jones Beach > > > > Michel,? I > think this is one of the great wildlife photos of a Gyr > with a gull taken last > week at Jones.? The bird was only around for a > day.? Take with a Nikon > D300s and a 300mm lens with a telextender no less. > > ? > > Michael Gochfeld gochfeld at eohsi.rutgers.edu > ? > > > > From: Gochfeldlaw at aol.com > > [mailto:Gochfeldlaw at aol.com] > Sent: Fri 10/30/2009 10:57 > AM > To: Michael Gochfeld > Subject: Gyrfalcon carrying adult > Herring Gull - Jones Beach > > > > PhotoPortfolios.net > > - Online Photographer Porfolios > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From RILLO3 at MSN.COM Sun Nov 1 17:08:15 2009 From: RILLO3 at MSN.COM (Bob ARCHER) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 17:08:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Broad-winged Hawk at Sauvie Is Message-ID: There was a Broad-winged Hawk soaring high over Willow Bar Is on Sauvie Island today. It is near the county line on Reeder Rd. It was moving to the south. Bob Archer Pdx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091101/6c2892d0/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sun Nov 1 18:13:54 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 18:13:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] NW Portland Peregrine Message-ID: My husband, Steve Burock, called me around 4PM to say that while walking along NW Front Ave he had seen a Peregrine Falcon by Crosscut Hardwoods. Pamela Johnston From jefflin1 at earthlink.net Sun Nov 1 18:42:47 2009 From: jefflin1 at earthlink.net (Jeffrey Pugh) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 18:42:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Texas birding questions Message-ID: <410-22009111224247171@earthlink.net> Yikes! It's been a long time since I tried to post anything on obol. I hope I haven't messed anything up. Jeff and I are trying to plan a trip to the Corpus Christi area mid-April and are trying to decide whether to camp (preferable, we think), motel, or rent an RV. Can anyone give us information about camping (I've been seeing campground lodging in "screened shelters" at Lake Corpus Christi, but haven't the faintest idea what they are), motels, cabins, or whatever has worked well for you while you birded the area? Or, is there a similar website for Texas birders that I can utilize? Thank you. Linda Smith. jefflin1 at earthlink.net From youngwarriors at hotmail.com Sun Nov 1 18:59:25 2009 From: youngwarriors at hotmail.com (Keith Owen) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 18:59:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Texas birding questions In-Reply-To: <410-22009111224247171@earthlink.net> References: <410-22009111224247171@earthlink.net> Message-ID: My brother and I birded that area about the same time of year back in 2003. Camping can work although I can't recommend a specific campsite. The weather can be rather unsettled that time of year. Beautiful one day and pouring rain with high winds the next; so I would suggest you keep the option of a hotel open. Have fun! It is a great area to go birding. > From: jefflin1 at earthlink.net > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 18:42:47 -0800 > Subject: [obol] Texas birding questions > > > Yikes! It's been a long time since I tried to post anything on obol. I > hope I haven't messed anything up. > > Jeff and I are trying to plan a trip to the Corpus Christi area mid-April > and are trying to decide whether to camp (preferable, we think), motel, or > rent an RV. Can anyone give us information about camping (I've been seeing > campground lodging in "screened shelters" at Lake Corpus Christi, but > haven't the faintest idea what they are), motels, cabins, or whatever has > worked well for you while you birded the area? Or, is there a similar > website for Texas birders that I can utilize? Thank you. > > Linda Smith. > > jefflin1 at earthlink.net > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ New Windows 7: Find the right PC for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pc-scout/default.aspx?CBID=wl&ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_pcscout:112009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091101/01a220a7/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sun Nov 1 19:30:05 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 19:30:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fw: Texas birding questions Message-ID: <8D675E5CD0874010AECB2774F820614D@MOM> OBOL Sorry, but since their mail doesn't allow replies without going through the their spam fighting stuff, here is what I tried to send. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Judy Meredith" To: Sent: Sunday, November 01, 2009 6:51 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Texas birding questions >Check out the birding trails for texas, can google that and get lots of good info. They have both Birding trails and butterfly trails. Should give you a lot of camping or lodging options. Have fun, > Judy in Bend > jmeredit at bendnet.com From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sun Nov 1 17:50:23 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 17:50:23 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Brown Booby still there Sunday pm Message-ID: <727151.52124.qm@web37005.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, the Brown Booby continued to hang out on one of the navigational markers along the bayfront in Barview/Coos Bay (seen from across Hedge Lane and the pumphouse pullout) between 2:30 and 3:30 pm today - distant view were enjoyed by Diane Pettey, Dave Irons and myself. Happy Birding hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091101/9d98e32c/attachment.html From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Sun Nov 1 19:45:21 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:45:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Test - Please ignore. Message-ID: <20091101194521.ehb9bkm53noocgwc@webmail2.jimnorton.org> Test ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sun Nov 1 20:03:28 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 20:03:28 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] RFI unusual sightings, Oaks Bottom, Mult. Co Message-ID: <238335.96063.qm@web55707.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Hello OBOL, I am working on a bird list for Oaks Bottom for the City of Portland. The list covers the refuge and the Willamette River adjacent to the refuge, visible from the Springwater Corridor. I have a lot of information, but would appreciate it if you sent me information on any species that you have seen there that you think might be unusual for that location. Details would be appreciated. Please send information off-list. Thanks in advance for any information you can share! Good Birding! Christopher Hinkle -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091101/80171968/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sun Nov 1 20:13:35 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 20:13:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Klamath Basin Message-ID: <80A086A70FC842289509CD122CF993BA@D48XBZ51> I spent last week at a meeting in Klamath Falls, but had quite a bit of time to bird Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday PM. Friday PM, and Saturday. Saw about 100 species east of the Cascade crest, without spending much time at all looking for songbirds. Highlights: Golden Eagle: 6 sightings of at least 4 birds Prairie Falcon: 8 sightings, probably 7 birds. Rough-legged Hawk: 9 sightings 2 in very interesting plumage. One was black phase - so black that the upper side of the tail had as little white as I have ever seen - only showed when the bird fanned its tail in flight. Other one was a sort of "gray phase" on upperparts, including head; underside with white chest, black belly. Incredible densities of Northern Harriers - once 9 in the air together, and often saw aggressive interactions. White-throated Sparrow - Tule Lake NWR HQ on Oct.25. Female-plumage Passerina Bunting also Tule Lake NWR HQ on Oct.25. Was most likely Lazuli but looked a bit odd. I did noit see it very well, but seemed overly dark - also quite late. Late Tree Swallow Oct. 27, Lower Klamath NWR Juv. Northern Shrike Oct. 31, Lower Klamath NWR Late Yellow-headed Blackbirds - 4-6: Lower Klamath NWR Oct. 30, 31. Sandhill Cranes: 0. With all the reports of Cranes moving down the valley it seems odd that I did not see or hear any. Maybe they all went to Butte Valley? I did not get down there. Goldeneyes: I did not see any until Oct. 31 - 1 female Common on Tule Lake NWR. Then this morning (Nov. 1) 7 drake Barrow's at Moore Park, in a place I had checked all week, so evidently just arriving. Thanks to OBOL I was able to see the Brown Booby on my way home this afternoon. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091101/65c700b6/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sun Nov 1 20:30:15 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 20:30:15 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] recent Portland area sightings Message-ID: <107605.18440.qm@web55705.mail.re3.yahoo.com> We haven't seen anything rare lately, but thought that we'd mention a few birds that we have seen in SE Portland within the past week. A week ago, on Sunday October 25th, we saw a NORTHERN SHRIKE at Powell Butte. It was in a patch of shrubs in the grassy area NW of the top. Most of the shrubs have been cleared to make way for construction on a new reservoir. There is a lot of machinery around and a large area is closed off. On Tuesday, October 27th, Christopher saw 5 SANDHILL CRANES and 2 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS fly over Cleveland High School. Yesterday, October 31st, Adrian and Christopher spent a couple of hours on Mt. Tabor. They saw a HAIRY WOODPECKER at the top. In our experience, they are very unusual in the park. Also, there was a flock of 45 VARIED THRUSHES nearby. There was a MERLIN near the upper reservoir. A number of waterfowl flew overhead including 150 distant CACKLING GEESE, 30 NORTHERN PINTAIL, and 2 COMMON MERGANSERS. Good birding! Have a good month. Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091101/8e10065d/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sun Nov 1 20:35:49 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 20:35:49 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Deschutes River Mouth Message-ID: <905057.34722.qm@web55704.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Today we did a short hike along the east bank of the Deschutes River in Sherman County starting at the state park at the river's mouth. Highlights included an OSPREY that flew past us headed towards the Columbia River, but then circled around and flew back upstream. We also saw a GOLDEN EAGLE, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, SAY'S PHOEBE, and 3 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS on our hike. Adrian saw a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER in a snag next to the highway in The Dalles. Good birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091101/1ebfa31e/attachment.html From ggandrbird at peak.org Sun Nov 1 21:03:24 2009 From: ggandrbird at peak.org (Gail Andrews) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 21:03:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Texas birding questions In-Reply-To: <8D675E5CD0874010AECB2774F820614D@MOM> References: <8D675E5CD0874010AECB2774F820614D@MOM> Message-ID: <001601ca5b79$cea91b80$6601a8c0@tss.oregonstate.edu> Here is the Texbird list info-- TEXBIRDS help file (how to subscribe, etc.) and Texas birding links at: http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds Gail Andrews in Corvallis (same spam blocking issue so sharing with the whole list) From rarebirdart at verizon.net Sun Nov 1 22:49:12 2009 From: rarebirdart at verizon.net (Lois Miller) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 22:49:12 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Todays Brown Booby photos Message-ID: <387862.83972.qm@web84206.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Please don't expect high quality shots here...Very LONG shot and a big crop with?humidity distortion but definitly identifiable. Thanks again to Russ for showing us the way out there !! click on the " more birds " album? http://www.loismiller.zoomshare.com/1.shtml Lois Miller Port Orford ? ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091101/4fe2d619/attachment.html From jimnorton at jimnorton.org Mon Nov 2 02:41:48 2009 From: jimnorton at jimnorton.org (Jim Norton) Date: Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:41:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Test - Please ignore Message-ID: <20091102024148.jmri7lleogw8wcos@webmail2.jimnorton.org> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Norton "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; Right is right even if no one is doing it." -St. Augustine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From deweysage at verizon.net Mon Nov 2 07:17:48 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:17:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Curry gulls and pelicans Message-ID: <4AEEF81C.1090100@verizon.net> I thought I'd mention that as we drove through Curry County on Hwy 101 yesterday Nov 1 there was an enormous flock of gulls and pelicans at Pistol River, numerous more on some rocks just off of Myers Creek, and also a very large flock of gulls at the mouth of Hunter Creek. We didn't stop to scan any, but the sheer size of the flocks, especially at Pistol River, was very impressive. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From pointers at pacifier.com Mon Nov 2 08:45:04 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:45:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hagg Lake sunday In-Reply-To: <387862.83972.qm@web84206.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <387862.83972.qm@web84206.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <20091102164502.B2ED96F051@smtp1.pacifier.net> hi all ... we went to Hagg Lake sunday mid-day ... we didn't spot the Long-Tailed Duck but one of the fishermen said he spotted it near the south side of the dam early sunday morning ... there were quite a few birders out there later in the afternoon but nobody I talked to (we left about 3:30) had seen it yet ... LOTS of other action going on however, even with fisher-persons scattered around ... it was a fun place and even my non-birding husband enjoyed looking at the variety ... and yes, definitely pay your $5.00 at the kiosk to get it ... they DO check ... we paid but we forgot to "display the pass prominently" ... they did check cars and we got a $72.00 ticket ... however the ranger-guy was still in the parking lot when we got back to the car and he came over to talk to us ... we showed him our pass ... he was nice and just gave us a warning to display the pass and he then proceeded to rip up the ticket he had given us ... we thank him !!!!!! Lyn Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From mcdonald-davis at talktalk.net Mon Nov 2 03:12:14 2009 From: mcdonald-davis at talktalk.net (ken davis) Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 11:12:14 -0000 Subject: [obol] birding in oregon Message-ID: Hi All, I, am thinking of a short trip to Oregon next year on a limited time scale say maybe 2 weeks, but I dont know the state at all,{if fact never been to the USA} so I,am looking for some help in where/when to visit. My wife will be with me and unfortuinatley she is not a birder as sutch but loves wild life and the outdoors So any help would be great. Sea watching or pelagics are of interest to me although Raptors and Waders { shorebirds } are cool to . Would also like to get a feel for the state so culture/ food would bevery interesting. K A Davis. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091102/a6aeb21d/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Mon Nov 2 09:55:53 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 09:55:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Manx Shearwater search trip: April 3, 2010 Message-ID: <4FCFC32C71FA4625A9F12DAFAC46201B@GREG> Friends, We have designed a new half day guided pelagic trip from Newport, Oregon for 2010. Billed as a Manx Shearwater search trip, this boat trip travels along the scenic Oregon coast searching for all Oregon's breeding alcids, including Cassin's and Rhinoceros Auklets, Tufted Puffins, and Marbled Murrelets. Then we swing out a few miles to examine flocks of shearwaters. Our target bird is Manx Shearwater. Present from March to December, half of Oregon's sightings have been April-early June, most of the rest have been September-November. We had two glimpses of Manx Shearwaters in 2009, April and September, but these were on longer trips that just quickly passed through Manx habitat. This new trip spends the entire 5 hours leisurely cruising in Manx Shearwater habitat. The price is $85 per person. It is suitable for beginners, the budget conscious, photographers, and rarity seekers. Other rarities possible include Black-vented Shearwater, Thick-billed Murre, Long-billed Murrelet, and Horned Puffin. This trip in April may include Ancient Murrelets and Short-tailed Shearwaters. More information on this trip, including a more complete list of all birds likely, is on our trip description page: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/description.htm#manx Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From cowgirl at harborside.com Mon Nov 2 13:05:53 2009 From: cowgirl at harborside.com (cowgirl at harborside.com) Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 21:05:53 +0000 Subject: [obol] Late birds Message-ID: <342147872-1257196167-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-194566956-@bda504.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> Knute Andersson just called to report a late Osprey heading north and a Lesser Goldfinch at his feeder. He is just south of Langlois Lois miller Port Orford Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Mon Nov 2 13:18:07 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 14:18:07 -0700 Subject: [obol] waiting for the mail Message-ID: While waiting for the mail today the dogs and I got to watch a Sharp shin Hawk hunting in a small bush beside us. The Sparrows were frantic and quite noisy when we pulled up and parked. I rolled the windows down and 2 dog heads popped out to watch the ensuing "party". Nothing phased the hawk, either it didn't care or didn't know what we were. Personally I think it didn't care, dinner was in the offing. It made several tries to go through the top of the bush with no success. Each time some brave LBB left the other side of the bush. It finally found one to make a mistake. I hoped it would eat where it was but there is a dense Juniper tree nearby so it headed for that. Unfortunately it didn't clear the second fence, this is after just clearing my windshield and the first fence around the gas tanks at Burns Jct. I looked around for the victim with no success after the hawk flew into the tree. Our month of Oct. was fun with all the sightings of migrants. We saw, in no particular order, Swainson's Hawks in several different locations in and around Arock and Jordan Valley. A lone Swan,presumably Tundra, in a hay field near Jordan Valley. There were several days with sitings of Sandhill Cranes working the hay fields over. At the house we had quite a few different visitors. The most interesting were the Mountain Bluebirds. There was a small flock,8-12, that were eating bugs from the pasture. They hovered in the air as Kestrels do then dove for a bug, with recovery to the same basic position to try again. We watched them for 20 minutes or more. A Loggerhead Shrike hunted the yard for several days while the grasshoppers were abundant. We saw an Osprey with fish on a power pole at the edge of the property, don't know where he got the fish as it was a good sized one. This bird is seen here quite a bit during the summer. Not sure where he nests. After returning from Madras last Sunday we had 4-6 American Robins in the yard. The weather was cool, partly cloudy and windy. They generally don't stay here long as was very windy with lots of wind during the week. Most of the year we have had Doves eating with the chickens, they are of course EC's. Our resident Ca. Quail have come in for extra food with the chickens. The Northern Harrier has been working up and down the creek off and on. The Chipping Sparrows, Horned Larks and Darkeyed Juncos, Oregon phase, have been closer to the house with the nasty weather we have had. We are having a few days of warm nice weather so all, birds and people are out enjoying it. Karen in true SE Or. south of Burns Jct. in Malheur Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091102/bd25f9fc/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Mon Nov 2 13:20:58 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:20:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tropical Kingbird in Seaside Message-ID: <4AEF4D3A.50403@pdx.edu> Steve Warner of Seaside, Clatsop Co. called this morning to report a TROPICAL KINGBIRD he had just observed at the Creekside Pizzeria restaurant on Hwy 101 in N. Seaside. The bird was on overhead wires there and then was working its way westward into the neighborhood on the the west side of the Necanicum River. I have passed by the are in my car and did not see the bird, but I was doing errands and did not have time yet to stop and bird the area. It is currently sunny here with a light breeze from the southwest. David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon. From archmcc at qwest.net Mon Nov 2 14:10:21 2009 From: archmcc at qwest.net (Arch McCallum) Date: Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:10:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] late entry on Blue Jay mimicry Message-ID: <20091102221027.D633C621CD3@mpls-qmqp-03.inet.qwest.net> >X-Original-To: archmcc at mpls-mailin.inet.qwest.net >Delivered-To: archmcc at mpls-mailin.inet.qwest.net >DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; q=dns; c=nofws; > s=dk20050327; d=earthlink.net; > b=M0yv/HJKkcI5S+bUhsF8gIEY3dGe/0fwmr1ly4EmHItIlFhAycf1opxDR70AbjxF; > >h=Message-ID:Date:From:Reply-To:To:Subject:Mime-Version:Content-Type:Content-Transfer-Encoding:X-Mailer:X-ELNK-Trace:X-Originating-IP; >Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:05:16 -0400 (GMT-04:00) >From: Donald Sutherland >Reply-To: Donald Sutherland >To: archmcc at qwest.net >Subject: RE : Blue Jay repratore >X-Mailer: EarthLink Zoo Mail 1.0 >X-ELNK-Trace: >792d565386a4e92d751359c726eb0da20882e645eb4a691f4d2b10475b571120f02ad7556f77e57f115016a96361720f84c89290fd4f82ea350badd9bab72f9c >X-Originating-IP: 209.86.224.29 > >Hi Arch, >I live in Bend now but spent most of my adult life in the east. I >am currently visiting with my wife's aunt and uncle in central >Ohio. We just returned from a three mile walk down the country road >and observed a blue jay immitating a red-tailed hawk. I have >probably heard 100 blue jays immitate RETH over the years. >red-shouldered too but more localized. I do not have posting >capability on OBOL but you are welcome to share this if you think it >adds to the discussion. > >Peace, >Don Sutherland > >Bend, Oregon - Loving the high desert! >541-383-1603 > > >"My spirit soars with the eagle's cry >And the timberline when night winds sigh >And so it will be until I die." Earl Shaffer From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Mon Nov 2 14:30:56 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (Denise Hughes) Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 15:30:56 -0700 Subject: [obol] Late birds In-Reply-To: <342147872-1257196167-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-194566956-@bda504.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> References: <342147872-1257196167-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-194566956-@bda504.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> Message-ID: <464db1a10911021430n62dbd19br1da7e3005e9be054@mail.gmail.com> Yesterday there was a single Osprey sitting above the Malheur River near Little Valley (between Harper and Vale). The river runs along Hwy 20. Western Bluebirds, Cedar Waxwings, Townsends Solaires and lots of Robins were working the juniper trees on the road to Buelah Reservoir north of Juntura. Raptors in the area were Rough legged Hawks, Harriers, Kestrels and red tailed Hawks. Denise Hughes Caldwell, ID On Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 2:05 PM, wrote: > Knute Andersson just called to report a late Osprey heading north and a > Lesser Goldfinch at his feeder. He is just south of Langlois > Lois miller > Port Orford > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho dhughes55 at clearwire.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091102/d1e03b72/attachment.html From peterpatricelli at comcast.net Mon Nov 2 14:42:41 2009 From: peterpatricelli at comcast.net (Peter Patricelli) Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 14:42:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gyrfalcom carrying Herring Gull - photoshop? Message-ID: <16FE11B7BEF945C89728E2BA65D26D6A@PeterPatricelli> This might not matter to some, but as a photographer, I have a real problem with that picture. The trailing edge of the Herring Gull's lower wing is shading out inapppropriately into the background. It really, really looks like the falcon and/or gull were superimposed on a set background, chosen to highlight the birds in dramatic fashion. I could be wrong, but that does not look kosher. It looks like an amateurly done Photoshop job. A close look at the Hi-res file could answer the question. Too bad, if true. For a photographer, as a beginner, to do something like that and not copt to it bodes poorly for his future. Cheating is cheating. And that would be cheating. Peter Patricelli www.flyfishingfotography.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091102/3de3d210/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Nov 2 14:59:44 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:59:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] 2 possible Long-tailed Ducks on Dexter Reservoir last Wednesday Message-ID: <1257202784.12499.87.camel@clearwater> Hi folks, Just talking to a birder on the phone who thinks she may have seen a couple of LONG-TAILED DUCKS on Dexter Reservoir last week, around Wednesday (so Oct 28th). She didn't want to make a big deal about it since she's not completely sure, but did see a long tail on one of the ducks, and the pattern reminded her of an eider but the bill was too small. She also gave some thought to Bufflehead (but too big for that) and Harlequin Duck which she has seen a few times. She didn't think that Long-tailed Duck was possible here, hence the second-guessing of her identification. The ducks were gone when she went back with a friend a half hour later, but thought I'd mention it in case they're still somewhere on the reservoir. Only a short bike ride from Springfield ;) Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From hadada at centurytel.net Mon Nov 2 15:03:15 2009 From: hadada at centurytel.net (ron and Polly Maertz) Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 15:03:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] osprey Message-ID: <0734CF42270346178204D0928FE41E4F@RonPC> After watching the booby for awhile, we had an OSPREY on the north spit on Sunday. maertz glide From grantandstacy17 at gmail.com Mon Nov 2 15:56:10 2009 From: grantandstacy17 at gmail.com (Grant Canterbury) Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 15:56:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Subject: Gyrfalcon carrying Herring Gull - photoshop? Message-ID: Although my photography experience is meager and I am entirely unfamiliar with the circumstances of this shot, I would note in the photographer's defense that there is a second photograph on the same website that shows the falcon and gull against the same background, but with the grass in focus and clearly in contact with the gull's body. http://www.photoportfolios.net/portfolio/pf.cgi?a=vp&pr=91500&CGISESSID=49c6961f9ab24a396a95099d85f4941d&u=4024 - Grant Canterbury Subject: Gyrfalcom carrying Herring Gull - photoshop? From: "Peter Patricelli" Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 14:42:41 -0800 This might not matter to some, but as a photographer, I have a real problem with that picture. The trailing edge of the Herring Gull's lower wing is shading out inapppropriately into the background. It really, really looks like the falcon and/or gull were superimposed on a set background, chosen to highlight the birds in dramatic fashion. I could be wrong, but that does not look kosher. It looks like an amateurly done Photoshop job. A close look at the Hi-res file could answer the question. Too bad, if true. For a photographer, as a beginner, to do something like that and not copt to it bodes poorly for his future. Cheating is cheating. And that would be cheating. Peter Patricelli www.flyfishingfotography.com From celata at pacifier.com Mon Nov 2 16:04:45 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:04:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Five birds that are not a Tropical Kingbird Message-ID: <4AEF739D.8000106@pacifier.com> Try as I might, I was unable to relocate the TROPICAL KINGBIRD found by Steve Warner this morning. I may have heard it back behind the scary trailer park on the east side of the highway. There were other birds in the area, however.... http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12559/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From deweysage at verizon.net Mon Nov 2 16:06:16 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:06:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos BROWN BOOBY Message-ID: <4AEF73F8.2070708@verizon.net> Kathy and I saw the BROWN BOOBY in Coos Bay Coos Cty at about 3:00 PM from the Pigeon Pt location. It was on the same piling it has been on. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From oschmidt at att.net Mon Nov 2 16:23:38 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 16:23:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tuesday night is Portland Birders Night Message-ID: ...... at Portland Audubon, 5151 NW Cornell, 7:30 pm. Bird quiz, potpourri, video of the Brown Booby and Northern Wheatear. More! Free! All are welcome ..... oschmidt at att.net Monday, November 2, 2009 From jvanmoo at sisna.com Mon Nov 2 16:58:38 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 16:58:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Klamath Falls, 11-2-09 Message-ID: Hi Folks, I finally found a CANYON WREN at Hagelstein Park today. It was making wren noises when I arrived, but I thought it was probably the Bewick's Wren I've seen there on multiple occasions. Then i didn't hear it anymore and after I walked by I heard the noise again and turned to see a wren pop up on a rock and it was immediately recognizable as the Canyon Wren--got to watch it for a couple of minutes hopping this way and that. I've been there numerous times this year looking for it and no luck until today. I also looked for the Surf Scoter Kevin Spencer reported at Henzel Park but despite an hour of scoping I didn't find it. I looked on the Link River trail for the White-throated Sparrow West Stone reported and dipped out there, too. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From jonysky101 at aol.com Mon Nov 2 17:04:05 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:04:05 -0500 Subject: [obol] Dirrections to Commencement Bay Message-ID: <8CC2A38ACBC49EB-608C-4B1C@webmail-d045.sysops.aol.com> George Neavoll and I are heading up to Tacoma to try and find the Black-tailed Gull tomorrow morning. Then back toward Grays Harbor to search the Hoquiam STP area for the other great birds. I'm pretty certain I can find the Hoquiam STP location, but I don't know where Commencement Bay is, nor where the specific log boom is. If some one can help us with specific directions, it would be greatly appreciated. I do know Tacoma a little bit, but nothing about the bay area. Thanks in advance. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091102/9c77efbc/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Mon Nov 2 17:06:12 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 17:06:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Subject: Gyrfalcon carrying Herring Gull - photoshop? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <12A4B9F01F794B4AB5694285889AE6DC@102889> In the immortal words of Jerry Seinfeld, they [the photos] are real and they are spectacular. There has been a great deal written about this incident on the New Jersey equivalent of OBOL. Check this for some of the comments: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NJBD.html . The pictures are real, not photoshopped. Here is a photo from another photographer of the bird: http://gracesgallery.smugmug.com/Other/Gyr-falcon/10140403_F5Fd6#697300495_y 7Di3 The primary focus on the NJ list isn't whether the photos are real or not, but whether he was the one who pressed the Gyr so much that it eventually gave up its prey and flew off, never to be seen again. He was using some pretty heavy duty equipment, a Nikon D300s and a 300mm F 2.8 lens with a 1.7 teleconverter, probably about $7,000 worth of glass and electronics. Tom Crabtree, Bend From slcarpenter at gmail.com Mon Nov 2 17:25:36 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 17:25:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Subject: Gyrfalcon carrying Herring Gull - photoshop? In-Reply-To: <12A4B9F01F794B4AB5694285889AE6DC@102889> References: <12A4B9F01F794B4AB5694285889AE6DC@102889> Message-ID: In addition to the interesting feature of the photo that Peter Patricelli mentions (the gull's wing blending into the ground), I'm left wondering what portion of the Gyrfalcon is it that is showing up right above the gull's head. The falcon's left wing appears to be both pointing up and down at the same time. Or perhaps I don't understand falcon anatomy very well. Also, the difference in relative sharpness (depth-of-field) between the ground and the falcon/gull strike me as interesting. In theory, the grasses in the background, foreground, and directly below the gull could be blurred and the subject sharp, but only if the photographer was panning the camera at the exact same pace as the subject. Possible, for sure, but very difficult, at least for me. There's also an inconsistency in the blurred background/bokeh in a semi-circular region surrounding the gull's head. Of course, different lenses have different bokeh. I would expect a 300mm f/2.8 to not exhibit such an inconsistency, though. But I am not personally familiar with that Nikon lens. I'm referring to the photo at: http://www.photoportfolios.net/portfolio/pf.cgi?a=vp&pr=91499&pi=LUKEEORMAND&CGISESSID=0b1275b84a78a17d951bc8019a166b52&u=28337 Scott Carpenter Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091102/b2217924/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Nov 2 18:17:59 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:17:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Subject: Gyrfalcon carrying Herring Gull - photoshop? Message-ID: <4AEF92D7.7020001@pacifier.com> I'm not sure why we're putting so much time into a Gyrfalcon from New Jersey, but... When one has good light and a good camera, it is possible to stop, motion almost too perfectly. In this case, the "irregularities" are almost certainly an artifact of stopped motion creating a weird effect. The "extra wing" is the alula which is a set of feathers that act as a spoiler for air flowing over the wing in dynamic flight. (see below) http://hippie.nu/~unicorn/tut/img/basics/animalanatomy/wing-feathers.jpeg Birds have muscular control over these feathers (as they do most of their feathers) and can pop the alula out during take-offs and landings. As for the gull wing anomaly, the tip of the wing is up behind the rest of the body "defying gravity" probably because it was caught at the top of an undulation when the shutter snapped. There is not enough contrast between the grass and the wing to make it pop out and, because most photos are 2d representations of a 3d world, our brains try to make it look like the wing and grass are in the same plane and contiguous. The weird wing stuff is an optical illusion. Then, of course, there's the second (and third) photos... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From tsnetsinger at centurytel.net Mon Nov 2 19:07:22 2009 From: tsnetsinger at centurytel.net (Thomas Snetsinger) Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 19:07:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] COOS BROWN BOOBY Monday also PALM WARBLER References: Message-ID: <770FE8677DED4CE3B80C7DF3A54FC893@ivorybilled> OBOL, Walked out on the bayside of the north spit to the area of the day markers where the booby has consistently been seen. I got out there around 10:30 but had to wait until 12:00 for the lighting to provide satisfactory views. I had picked out the bird well before then, but it was badly backlit. It did a nice fly by on the north side of the eastern tower and settled in for a roost on the western tower above the solar panel while I was there. I was pleasantly surprised that the walk was relatively easy with mostly firm sand . . .still it was probably 2 1/2 miles one way to the closest vantage point. On the hike back a PALM WARBLER joined a mixed flock at the eastern edge of the woods where the bayside road/trail heads inland around a small headland ~0.3 miles from the trailhead. I stopped by Simpson Reef (west of Charleston) and the Weyerhaeuser Settling Pond along the north spit, but found nothing in either area more interesting than a PEREGRINE FALCON. Cheers, Tom Snetsinger -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091102/b5997a28/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Mon Nov 2 19:30:16 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 19:30:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Subject: Gyrfalcon carrying Herring Gull - photoshop? In-Reply-To: <4AEF92D7.7020001@pacifier.com> References: <4AEF92D7.7020001@pacifier.com> Message-ID: Well, here are my two cents worth. I shoot thousands of images a year. I use Photoshop somewhat, but always use Lightroom to develope my raw images. I shoot exclusively in raw format. In all the images on this photographers page (Gyr and others) I see the tell tale signs of Lightroom developing techniques. The blues of the sky in all the Gyr photos show alterations in exposure, light saturation, brightness and contrast. He may use a Photoshop add-on that adds lighting that gives the appearance of Flash. It's one I use to accentuate sunlight through clouds. He definitely shoots with his camera in "vivid" mode rather than "natural". That said, it looks like he shoots in raw format too. Anyone who shoots in raw format, has to develop his/her images. Just like the devoted truist who refuses to "go digital" has to develop his/her images with light,filters, timing and chemicals. I see no difference between developing digital or film, both have to be developed to be enjoyed. I do agree that some mention of techniques is "the right thing to do", it is not a capitol offense to omit such information. I choose to let folks know when I go further than just exposure, brightness, filters and cropping. That's my choice. if I take an over or under exposed shot and bring out a decent shot with photoshop, I am proud of doing that. This lets people know my abilities and maybe they will come to me to save a picture for them sometime. As for the Gyr pics, and all his others, I'd love to have his equipment, and his shots are none the less amazing. With all the hardware, glass and developing involved there all sorts of things that can make any given image imperfect. After looking at all his pics I'd say he's pretty darn good, but he needs to learn Lightroom/Photoshop a little better! His images are good in any case. Rich Adney http://avianpics.blogspot.com/ http://adneyvisualarts.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/ > Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 18:17:59 -0800 > From: celata at pacifier.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Subject: Gyrfalcon carrying Herring Gull - photoshop? > > I'm not sure why we're putting so much time into a Gyrfalcon from > New Jersey, but... > > When one has good light and a good camera, it is possible to stop, > motion almost too perfectly. In this case, the "irregularities" are > almost certainly an artifact of stopped motion creating a weird > effect. > > The "extra wing" is the alula which is a set of feathers that act as > a spoiler for air flowing over the wing in dynamic flight. (see below) > http://hippie.nu/~unicorn/tut/img/basics/animalanatomy/wing-feathers.jpeg > Birds have muscular control over these feathers (as they do most of > their feathers) and can pop the alula out during take-offs and landings. > > As for the gull wing anomaly, the tip of the wing is up behind the rest > of the body "defying gravity" probably because it was caught at the top > of an undulation when the shutter snapped. There is not enough contrast > between the grass and the wing to make it pop out and, because most > photos are 2d representations of a 3d world, our brains try to make it > look like the wing and grass are in the same plane and contiguous. The > weird wing stuff is an optical illusion. > > Then, of course, there's the second (and third) photos... > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Things juvenal > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091102/818baebc/attachment.html From davidmandell at earthlink.net Mon Nov 2 19:59:51 2009 From: davidmandell at earthlink.net (David Mandell) Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 19:59:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Bonaparte's Gull swarm Message-ID: <74DC30E7-05B5-4659-80A6-3597034203CB@earthlink.net> On Sunday there were 200-300 Bonaparte's Gulls below the John Day Dam spillway in Sherman Co. I couldn't pull anything different out of the flock, but I can imagine something good showing up there. There were also a good number of California Gulls, a few G-W Gulls and one 2nd calendar Herring Gull. Duck numbers were still pretty low. Lots of Horned and Western Grebes, as well as one Pacific Loon. David Mandell Portland, OR From pamelaj at spiritone.com Mon Nov 2 20:25:44 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 20:25:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] osprey References: <0734CF42270346178204D0928FE41E4F@RonPC> Message-ID: <613C1988776C433BBB0C59303BC3A175@yourw5st28y9a3> An Osprey was also at Hagg Lk in Washington Co. yesterday. Pamela Johnston ----- Original Message ----- From: "ron and Polly Maertz" To: "obol" Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 3:03 PM Subject: [obol] osprey After watching the booby for awhile, we had an OSPREY on the north spit on Sunday. maertz glide _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From ellencantor at gmail.com Mon Nov 2 21:17:12 2009 From: ellencantor at gmail.com (Ellen Cantor) Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 21:17:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Salem Sandhill Cranes Message-ID: <7058c4c60911022117q4278d2f8yfb45532224c62ec5@mail.gmail.com> While kayaking this morning, I saw 3 SANDHILL CRANES flying high and south over the Willamette River near downtown Salem. Other birds of note: 2 WESTERN GREBES, 2 WOOD DUCKS, 2 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, 2 COMMON MERGANSERS, 2 RED-TAILED HAWKS and various usual suspects...a beautiful early November day... Ellen Cantor Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091102/9ecf3407/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Tue Nov 3 06:43:08 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 06:43:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] nice article about birders in LA Times today Message-ID: <9349761A-6A0B-4545-A8BC-0866BBD21624@gmail.com> In today's LA Times is an article about Jo and Tom Heindel, a couple who have devoted their life to birds. Hopefully someday soon they will finish their monograph on the birds of Inyo County that they have been working on for decades. Their son Matt, is a well-known birder and author of many ID articles. Having known the Heindel family since the 1980's they are an inspiration on many levels. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-birders3-2009nov03,0,311565.story Enjoy, Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland From birder at iinet.com Tue Nov 3 07:55:59 2009 From: birder at iinet.com (Sherry Hagen) Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 07:55:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Peru Trip Message-ID: <08B2D014B77A4F34BBF3FA1545277521@112e829d8e93406> My husband and I completed a 3 week birding tour of Peru and returned on October 11. We went with Edison Buenano of www.swordbilledexpeditions.com. We had been on 2 trips to Ecuador with him and he is a terrific birder and guide. What I wanted to report was that all the guides down there use the new Birds of Peru (Princeton Field Guides). This is the one that our very own Larry McQueen painted plates for. Everyone LOVES that book in Peru. They all carry the British edition which was pulished in paperback. So hurray for Larry. Sherry Hagen Vancouver, WA birder at iinet.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091103/0dc1b20a/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Tue Nov 3 08:24:33 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 08:24:33 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Band-Tailed Pigeons Message-ID: <998215.98387.qm@web46001.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> We still have at least 4 Band-Tailed Pigeons hanging out in the yard. Isn't a little late for them to still be here? Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From namitzr at hotmail.com Tue Nov 3 10:01:05 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 10:01:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon birders photo scoping booby Message-ID: Yesterday's World newspaper had a photo of birders gathered to view the Brown Booby in the AM. http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2009/11/02/news/doc4aef7304e1c5b861714126.txt >From left to right: Steve Kornfeld, Paul Sullivan, Carol Karlen, Andy Stepniewski, Diane Cook, unknown Eugene? birder with Thurston hat, Ellen Stepniewski & Peter Low. The booby continues to be seen. A second-hand report that numerous bait fish are still present in the bay fuels the hope that the bird will continue to stick around and remain healthy. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091103/8729770f/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Nov 3 12:33:50 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:33:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - 11/3/2009 Message-ID: <4AF093AE.4060200@pacifier.com> Columbia Estuary Report - 11/3/2009 The TROPICAL KINGBIRD report at Seaside Monday has yet to be seen again. I spent about an hour today in the area to no avail. There are at least 11 (that's eleven) EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES coming to a feeder at Sunset Lake. A flock of GRAY JAYS and 14 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were on the north side of Saddle Mt Sunday. A RUFFED GROUSE was at Olney. Both CHINOOK and COHO SALMON are running in local streams. A NORTHERN SHRIKE and a lingering OSPREY were at Wireless Rd. ORANGE SULFURS and PAINTED LADIES are still being reported any time the sun comes out. Several AUTUMN MEADOWHAWKS were out doing what meadowhawks do at Ft Clatsop today. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From johnpam at mtangel.net Tue Nov 3 13:18:51 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 13:18:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Western Bluebirds At Mary's Peak Message-ID: Pam and I went to Mary's Peak yesterday. Beautiful weather up there with quite a few hikers. Did see 5 WESTERN BLUE BIRDS right at the top and thought we heard a distant N PYGMY OWL. Looked expectantly for Gray Crowned Rosy Finches but struck out totally on the finches for the first time in several years. Also saw some a RED-TAILED HAWK,OR JUNCOS, heard crows, saw 3 CALIFORNIA QUAIL about two miles from the highway entrance to the recreation area. I tried to make them into Mountain Quail but nope. John Thomas From tom-escue at comcast.net Tue Nov 3 15:03:12 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 15:03:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sharpie gets a meal Message-ID: The SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was back in my yard today. I watched it for a while as it patiently tried to locate a HOUSE SPARROW that was hiding in a bush. After several minutes of moving around the bush it instantly sprang into it and flew away with the sparrow in its talons. It all happened in a second or two. Tom in Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091103/b3fc4a4f/attachment.html From timkadlecek at msn.com Tue Nov 3 16:01:28 2009 From: timkadlecek at msn.com (timkadlecek at msn.com) Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 16:01:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] jackson bottom Message-ID: I birded Jackson Bottom in Hillsboro for a few hours this morning. The highlights were a GREAT HORNED OWL and a NORTHERN SHRIKE. There was also a single GREATER YELLOWLEGS along with several LONG BILLED DOWITCHERS in the main pond. Also heard a couple times but could not see a RED SHOULDERED HAWK. Tim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091103/fc1a7140/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Tue Nov 3 16:27:02 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 16:27:02 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Subject: Gyrfalcon carrying Herring Gull - photoshop? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <143057.12907.qm@web39706.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Scott, As far as I can tell only the right wing of the gyr is visable, and that protrusion on the leading edge is the alula of that wing. The small protrusion appearing from the falcon's lower chest is the tip of the outer tail feather (tail fanned) on the left side of the falcon. The wing of the gull lowest to the ground is pointing away from the camera, so it looks too short. I'm not a camera guy, and it never occurred to me that someone would "doctor" a photo and represent it as something it wasn't. Silly me. Best, Dick --- On Mon, 11/2/09, Scott Carpenter wrote: > From: Scott Carpenter > Subject: Re: [obol] Subject: Gyrfalcon carrying Herring Gull - photoshop? > To: "obol" > Date: Monday, November 2, 2009, 5:25 PM > In addition to the interesting feature of > the photo that Peter Patricelli mentions (the gull's > wing blending into the ground), I'm left wondering what > portion of the Gyrfalcon is it that is showing up right > above the gull's head.? The falcon's left wing > appears to be both pointing up and down at the same time.? > Or perhaps I don't understand falcon anatomy very well. > > > Also, the difference in relative sharpness (depth-of-field) > between the ground and the falcon/gull strike me as > interesting.? In theory, the grasses in the background, > foreground, and directly below the gull could be blurred and > the subject sharp, but only if the photographer was panning > the camera at the exact same pace as the subject.? > Possible, for sure, but very difficult, at least for me. > > > There's also an inconsistency in the blurred > background/bokeh in a semi-circular region surrounding the > gull's head.? Of course, different lenses have > different bokeh.? I would expect a 300mm f/2.8 to not > exhibit such an inconsistency, though.? But I am not > personally familiar with that Nikon lens. > > > I'm referring to the photo at: > > http://www.photoportfolios.net/portfolio/pf.cgi?a=vp&pr=91499&pi=LUKEEORMAND&CGISESSID=0b1275b84a78a17d951bc8019a166b52&u=28337 > > > Scott Carpenter > Portland > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From Bob at olccclass.com Tue Nov 3 18:12:35 2009 From: Bob at olccclass.com (Robert Hancy) Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 18:12:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mystery Sparrow Message-ID: <9C44061ABF884F26A0CA75374D28BDFC@Bob3> Greetings - I was out at Sauvie Island on Rentenaar Road and found what I thought was a Chipping Sparrow...then came home (to Scappoose on the other side of the channel) to find this bird...what looks again like a Chipping Sparrow - am I right? Thanks for your help! Bob Hancy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091103/c48bec1d/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Sauvie Island Oct312009 chippingspw.JPG Type: image/jpeg Size: 441913 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091103/c48bec1d/attachment.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Sauvie Island Oct312009 Mysteryspw2.JPG Type: image/jpeg Size: 113610 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091103/c48bec1d/attachment-0001.jpe From brrobb at comcast.net Tue Nov 3 18:20:14 2009 From: brrobb at comcast.net (Roger & Betty Robb) Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 18:20:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Brown Booby Continues, Coos County Message-ID: I found the BROWN BOOBY this morning at 8:20 on marker # 7, closer to Charleston than Empire. Later in the morning the Booby was pack on its usual perch off Hedge Lane. Another bird of note was a CLARK'S GREBE on the ocean at the north spit. Roger Robb Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091103/c046f3ce/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Nov 3 17:37:50 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:37:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Mystery Sparrow In-Reply-To: <9C44061ABF884F26A0CA75374D28BDFC@Bob3> Message-ID: These are juvenile White-crowns, which have colors similar to Chipping but are much larger. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com > From: Robert Hancy > Organization: NWTE > Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 18:12:35 -0800 > To: > Subject: [obol] Mystery Sparrow > > Greetings - > > I was out at Sauvie Island on Rentenaar Road and found what I thought was a > Chipping Sparrow...then came home (to Scappoose on the other side of the > channel) to find this bird...what looks again like a Chipping Sparrow - am I > right? > > Thanks for your help! > > Bob Hancy > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From craig at greatskua.com Tue Nov 3 22:27:05 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:27:05 -0700 Subject: [obol] Band-Tailed Pigeons Message-ID: <20091103232704.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.eccbaaeb3b.wbe@email.secureserver.net> I still have three band-tailed pigeons (2 adults and 1 immature) coming to the feeder in my yard in SW Portland. Two weeks ago, there were 10 jockeying for a position on the feeding tray. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] Band-Tailed Pigeons > From: Seth Reams > Date: Tue, November 03, 2009 8:24 am > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > We still have at least 4 Band-Tailed Pigeons hanging out in the yard. Isn't a little late for them to still be here? > > Seth and Michelle > NE Portland, OR - Gateway area > portlandbirds.blogspot.com > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From slcarpenter at gmail.com Tue Nov 3 23:30:12 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 23:30:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Subject: Gyrfalcon carrying Herring Gull - photoshop? In-Reply-To: <143057.12907.qm@web39706.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <143057.12907.qm@web39706.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: No sightings. Just more, detailed info about manipulation of bird photos. Dick and Mike -- Thank you for the correction about the alula. I completely spaced that one. I see Kestrel alulas all the time, but they are much smaller. :) I stand by my other comments about the interesting/unusual aspects of the photograph, though. I think it is obvious that the photographer took photos of a Gyrfalcon and a Herring Gull, but it is not clear to me that the image he presented is a single image, or a composite of multiple images. Manipulated images are relatively common. Many pro photographers have workshops (and sell books/PDFs) where people pay them to learn the tricks of the trade. These tricks include adding back the end of a wing when it was not in the original photo, or removing "clutter" (other birds, twigs, leaves) from an image. And the software to do this is getting easier to use -- even Lightroom (a relatively inexpensive product) allows you to adjust exposure and perform "healing" on specific areas within a photo. Below are links to some examples of manipulations, as done by Arthur Morris, one of the preeminent bird photographers of our time who consistently produces spectacular images of birds, both with and without manipulations. http://www.birdsasart.com/bn294.htm -- see an "optimized image" with "repaired wing" of the Nazca Booby at about the middle of the page; this optimized image is derived from two separate images http://www.birdsasart.com/bn290.htm -- see before and after of the American Goldfinch photo in about the middle of the page -- twigs and a leg band were removed http://www.birdsasart.com/bn283.htm -- see before and after of the Turkey Vulture photo at the bottom of the page -- "cluttering" objects, including another vulture, removed from photo If you subscribe to his newsletter, you'll get to see such manipulations on amazing images week after week, and the results are usually even more amazing than the source image(s). One issue to look out for when two or more images are merged is whether or not the depth of field (DOF) is consistent throughout the entire image. If you don't know what DOF is, you can see some visual simulators and find links to technical articles about it at: http://www.liquidsculpture.com/dof.htm Keep in mind that the theory behind DOF is not different for digital vs. film -- light behaves the same way regardless of the sensor that is recording the image. My understanding is that the following gear was used in the Gyr photo: Camera body: NIKON D300s (1.5x crop factor) Lens: 300mm + 1.7 TC = 510mm (effective focal length of 765mm when on 1.5x crop body) aperture: f/6.7 shutter: 1/1600s Given this setup, and using the simulators found at the link above, you will find that the DOF as a function of distance between the Gyr and the lens is: distance of 30 ft --> DOF = ~3 inches distance of 50 ft --> DOF = ~8.4 inches distance of 100 ft --> DOF = ~ 34 inches (~ 2 ft 10 inches) By some accounts, it seems as if the photographer was within 30-50 feet of the Gyr. This is certainly supported by the level of detail in the photos given the gear he used. (based on my experiences shooting in the 600-840mm range on both full frame and a 1.6x crop body). Assuming this is true, the DOF should be between 3 and 8 inches. Everything within this DOF should be sharp. The Gyr is very sharp. The gull is very sharp. The extreme wingtip of the gull is not very sharp and the ground is completely blurred. Certainly some part of the ground had to be within the DOF. Of course, it is theoretically possible to have a blurred ground and sharp bird if the lens is tracking the bird at the appropriate pace. But with a shutter speed of 1/1600s, this would be extremely difficult to pull off, assuming the Gyr was even flying that fast. I've personally had decent luck doing this in the 1/15s - 1/60s shutter speed range. I've tried it at much faster shutter speeds (up to 1/500s), too, but they never seem to work for me. In addition to potential DOF issues, a shutter speed of 1/1600s for an effective focal length of 765mm should be sufficient to freeze motion for the gull's wing, undulating or not. In addition, the lens used is a VR (vibration reduction) lens, which means that 1/1600s is probably equivalent to 1/3200s on a non-VR lens, or potentially even faster (due to lens elements moving to compensate for camera/lens shake/motion). So while it is great that people are enjoying that amazing image of the Gyr with the gull, I think it is unfair to simply dismiss Peter Patricelli's comments, or those of any other experienced photographers, by claiming the photo must be genuine due to the amazing capabilities of cameras to freeze motion perfectly. I do not know Peter personally, but I do know what equipment he is using, and I'm guessing based on his equipment and experiences with bird photography, he has a good understanding of the issues raised above, as well as substantial experience both taking photos and reviewing photos. I know that I've taken over 100,000 photos in the last 4 years alone, and that hundreds, if not thousands, of these have been at shutter speeds of 1/1600s and faster (not in Oregon in winter, of course!). I have never seen irregularities that result from these fast shutter speeds. On the contrary, I've seen unexpected "artifacts" show up on the much slower shutter speeds, where motion is not frozen. All of this said, it is not my intention to take away anyone's joy of seeing that beautiful Gyr/gull image, whether it comes from one pure image, or one or more manipulated images. Scott Carpenter Portland On Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 4:27 PM, Richard and Marilyn Musser < mussermcevoy at yahoo.com> wrote: > Hi Scott, > As far as I can tell only the right wing of the gyr is visable, and > that protrusion on the leading edge is the alula of that wing. The small > protrusion appearing from the falcon's lower chest is the tip of the outer > tail feather (tail fanned) on the left side of the falcon. > The wing of the gull lowest to the ground is pointing away from the > camera, so it looks too short. > I'm not a camera guy, and it never occurred to me that someone would > "doctor" a photo and represent it as something it wasn't. Silly me. > Best, Dick > > --- On Mon, 11/2/09, Scott Carpenter wrote: > > > From: Scott Carpenter > > Subject: Re: [obol] Subject: Gyrfalcon carrying Herring Gull - photoshop? > > To: "obol" > > Date: Monday, November 2, 2009, 5:25 PM > > In addition to the interesting feature of > > the photo that Peter Patricelli mentions (the gull's > > wing blending into the ground), I'm left wondering what > > portion of the Gyrfalcon is it that is showing up right > > above the gull's head. The falcon's left wing > > appears to be both pointing up and down at the same time. > > Or perhaps I don't understand falcon anatomy very well. > > > > > > Also, the difference in relative sharpness (depth-of-field) > > between the ground and the falcon/gull strike me as > > interesting. In theory, the grasses in the background, > > foreground, and directly below the gull could be blurred and > > the subject sharp, but only if the photographer was panning > > the camera at the exact same pace as the subject. > > Possible, for sure, but very difficult, at least for me. > > > > > > There's also an inconsistency in the blurred > > background/bokeh in a semi-circular region surrounding the > > gull's head. Of course, different lenses have > > different bokeh. I would expect a 300mm f/2.8 to not > > exhibit such an inconsistency, though. But I am not > > personally familiar with that Nikon lens. > > > > > > I'm referring to the photo at: > > > > > http://www.photoportfolios.net/portfolio/pf.cgi?a=vp&pr=91499&pi=LUKEEORMAND&CGISESSID=0b1275b84a78a17d951bc8019a166b52&u=28337 > > > > > > Scott Carpenter > > Portland > > > > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091103/a01d00d7/attachment.html From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Wed Nov 4 00:32:39 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 08:32:39 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Gyrfalcon & Herring Gull---Alula Photo Message-ID: <186354470.303371257323559208.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> I learned a new word today and I'm going to use it here: Two years ago, I took a photo of two young Bald Eagles in Eugene, that were playing tag. When one came up fast behind the other, it raised its alulas. If you look closely, you can also see the tips of the alulas on the leading bird. The shutter speed was 1/1000th-sec. http://www.flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/913858942/sizes/o/ Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091104/42871b0f/attachment.html From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Wed Nov 4 00:50:33 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 08:50:33 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Alula Photo: Link to a Larger Photo Message-ID: <1155618289.303681257324633183.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> I just loaded a full-sized photo onto my Flickr album, that gives a better look at the alulas of the two Bald Eagles I mentioned in my previous message. The birds were also using their feet as air brakes. http://www.flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/4074753480/sizes/o/ Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091104/ddb6b3c3/attachment.html From henry at formandstructure.net Wed Nov 4 05:29:03 2009 From: henry at formandstructure.net (Henry Horvat) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 08:29:03 -0500 Subject: [obol] Broad Wing Hawk Message-ID: <174DFA2FF9B9794C84FC6231D7B5160D5C272FA0@MAILSC003.mail.lan> OBOL'ers: On Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 31. & Nov. 1, we had a Broad Wing Hawk fly over our property in Scappoose. What alerted me at first was it's vocalization, which was much different from the usual raptors we see, i.e., Am. Kestrel, N. Harrier, and Red Tail Hawk. It sounded more gull like, sort of a higher pitch call similar to a rising peeeee, without the screaming quality of a Red Tail Hawk. It's body shape was rather chunky and it was smaller than a Red Tail Hawk. We did not get a chance to see it land in the White Oaks next door though.It was a satisfying find for a first ever backyard, Columbia Co. and Oregon bird. Henry Horvat Scappoose Bottoms -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091104/25324732/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Wed Nov 4 08:10:43 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 08:10:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Spanish Head Message-ID: seawatch Spanish Head, Lincoln City 6:45-7:45 (11/4), mostly sunny wind SE 5-10 500+ Red-throated Loon 2500+ Pacific Loon (briefly up to 100/min) 30+ Common Loon 2 Red-necked Grebe 80 Western Grebe 1 Northern Fulmar 25 Brown Pelican 3 Double-crested Cormorant 80 Brandt's Cormorant (N) 1 Pelagic Cormorant 8 Green-winged Teal 30 dabbling duck sp. 1 scaup sp. 3 Black Scoter 150 White-winged Scoter (most N) 1000 Surf Scoter 1 Bufflehead 2 Red-breasted Merganser 800+ California Gull 400+ Western Gull 60+ Glaucous-winged Gull 600 Heermann's Gull 400 Common Murre 5 Rhinoceros Auklet Phil philliplc at charter.net From windypointandy at dishmail.net Wed Nov 4 08:52:09 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 08:52:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Bay south to Flores Lake-31 Oct. -1 Nov. Message-ID: <000601ca5d6f$2ece5e70$3700a8c0@windypoint99> COOS BAY SOUTH TO FLORES LAKE 31 OCTOBER-1 NOVEMBER 2009 Report of a BROWN BOOBY in Coos Bay made our initial destination this weekend super easy. Arriving at Fossil Point south of Empire, expert birder-in-residence Russ Namitz pointed out the perched booby to a flock of birders assembled. Our target was across the channel atop a navigation aid about a half-mile distant. Well, that was easy! While there, the bird flew about the channel giving us good views before settling down again on the marker. On another navigational structure we spotted a Peregrine Falcon. A pretty algae-covered boulder 100 yards to our south sported both a Black Phoebe and several Black Turnstones, seemingly an odd admixture but this rock was but a two-second flight from overhanging spruce boughs along the shore. A hundred yards to the east, across the Cape Arago Highway, 20 or so Eurasian Collared-Doves lined wires above a house, hinting a feeder was nearby. We then went on a Tropical Kingbird search along the upper end of Florida Street just east of the north end of Pony Sough. Alas, we weren't going to be as lucky on this second twitch. Ducks in Pony Slough from the bottom of Florida Street included an EURASIAN WIGEON among hundreds of Americans, and a smart Hooded Merganser. In scruffy growth on the far shore north of the airport both White-tailed Kite and American Kestrel revealed rodents aplenty out on those fields. Luck returned to us on our third twitch near the start of the Millacoma Marsh trail, one of our favorite birding trails in Oregon. Here, after I played one or two trills of a Swamp Sparrow song, a sharp chip emanated from the marsh vegetation south of the trail. Ellen spotted the SWAMP SPARROW first. The sparrow, still calling excitedly, flew north across the trail to cattails then dove into brambles and we lost it. Wow! We called other birders nearby (including Carol Karlen and Paul Sullivan), but were unable to coax the bird out, as seems usual for this furtive species at this season. Walking the trail north from the first junction along the main trail, we had repeated views of one or more WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS among a host of other seedeaters, in decreasing order of abundance: Fox, Song, Lincoln's, and Golden-crowned Sparrows, and Spotted Towhees. The Hooker's willows were alive with Ruby-crowned Kinglets along with a few Yellow-rumped Warblers (I heard only Myrtles). A Hermit Thrush called its "ree-ah!" note, too. The brambles were chock full of birds, too. American Goldfinches swarmed about along with a few House and Purple Finches. We next hit Bandon, our favorite shorebird site on the Oregon coast. Spending the entire afternoon along the shore accessed from the observation platform, we tallied 11 species of waders, with a lone Ruddy Turnstone being the only unusual sighting. Most surprising to me were the numbers of Sanderlings on the mudflats, not to mention the Black Turnstones. Here's our list: Black-bellied Plover - 80 Killdeer - 1 Greater Yellowlegs - 3 Ruddy Turnstone - 1 Black Turnstone - 120 Sanderling - 250 Western Sandpiper - 1, yes only one! Least Sandpiper - 750 Dunlin - 750 Long-billed Dowitcher - 60 Wilson's Snipe - 1 In town, on the dock below the Coast Guard building at high tide late Sunday morning, we added several more shorebirds to our list, spotting a pretty, scallop-backed RED KNOT alongside Surfbirds and Black Turnstones, and perhaps the same Ruddy Turnstone we had spotted on the mudflats. On the rocky shore west towards the South Jetty of the Coquille River, were Black Oystercatchers. This brought our shorebird total to 14 species clearly down from the 20 we counted on our last visit in early October, an expected seasonal decline. Across from the mudflats, an adult Peregrine Falcon made passes through the ducks and shorebirds from time to time, putting all birds into wild flight. The other spectacle hereabouts were hundreds of Brown Pelicans and several times that many gulls exploding into flight around the river mouth, why, we couldn't see. Sunday morning's clock change one hour back had me thoroughly disrupted and waking up at 5 am, my usual time, though today only 4 am. What to do? Head up the Coquille River Valley and do some owling! We netted three species: one each of Great Horned, Western Screech-, and Northern Saw-whet while driving east up the North Fork Road, making about 10 stops. We blundered into the Old Railroad Grade Road and decided to take a walk up this quiet gravel road, amidst pleasing mixedwood habitat. Though only 10 miles from the coast, clear indications of more interior habitats are present (Bigleaf Maples and Tanoaks being two prominent examples), increasing opportunities for bird species diversity. We encountered both Hairy and Pileated Woodpeckers and our first-of-fall lowland Varied Thrush among the many chickadees, kinglets, bushtits, and sparrows. Interesting here were WESTERN BLUEBIRDS along with Cedar Waxwings. While driving back to Bandon along OR-42S in bright and warm sunshine, we kept alert for Cattle Egrets in the fields and Tropical Kingbirds on wires but had to be content with a flock of grazing geese, mostly Canadas along with a few Cackling and Greater White-fronts. We saw and heard at least five Red-shouldered Hawks along this loop but decided we needed to get a visual on this bird as we watched a Steller's Jay expertly imitate the hawk! We certainly enjoyed our drive in the Coquille Valley, with its pretty mix of green pastures, brushy hedgerows, and fall color show by maples and cottonwoods. No doubt US-101 around Brookings boasted a similar appeal before subdivision and ranchette development fragmented the coastal meadow habitat along that route. Reflecting on the habitat diversity we had just enjoyed in the Bandon and Coquille Valley it came as no surprise to me that the very juicy Christmas Count circle here has yielded upwards of 155 species and regularly exceeds 145. We then headed south to Flores Lake where we spotted a PALM WARBLER bobbing on the ground about open ground near the blue silos. Many thanks to Tim Rodenkirk for the tip that this site was a reliable microhabitat for this species! We again checked the wide open pastures in the area for Cattle Egret and Tropical Kingbird with no luck. Meadows in this part of the Oregon coast seems to have a much higher proportion of domestic sheep than we have encountered elsewhere in Oregon. Their habit of close-cropping (John Muir referred them as "hoofed locusts" more than a century ago) has resulted in extensive "shortgrass prairie" in this region. I can now see why this area is a regular winter haunt for Lapland Longspur and has yielded other treasures such as Sprague's Pipit. Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091104/0e10b46d/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Wed Nov 4 08:53:07 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 08:53:07 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Alula Photo: Link to a Larger Photo In-Reply-To: <1155618289.303681257324633183.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <495356.86269.qm@web39701.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Steve, I may be incorrect, but I don't think those protruding feathers on these eagles are alulas. I think they may be secondaries. This is especially evident on the trailing eagle. The feather sticking up (trailing bird) on the closet (to the observer) wing seems way out of place for an alula. It's the same on the leading eagle, but not so evident in the photo. Best, Dick --- On Wed, 11/4/09, Bigrocketman at comcast.net wrote: > From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net > Subject: Re: [obol] Alula Photo: Link to a Larger Photo > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2009, 12:50 AM > #yiv2037632730 p > {margin:0;}I > just loaded a full-sized photo onto my Flickr album, that > gives a better look at the alulas of the two Bald Eagles I > mentioned in my previous message. The birds were also using > their feet as air brakes. http://www.flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/4074753480/sizes/o/ > > Steve McDonald > > http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ > http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos > http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 > http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From ninerharv2 at msn.com Wed Nov 4 09:18:00 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 17:18:00 +0000 Subject: [obol] Bald Eagles at Boiler Bay Message-ID: While sea watch at Boiler Bay, two Bald Eagles went to sea quarter mile and back. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Wed Nov 4 09:20:58 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 09:20:58 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Subject: Gyrfalcon carrying Herring Gull - photoshop? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <320666.68979.qm@web39703.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Scott, Thanks for bringing me "up to speed" on tricks (?) used by photogs. I do understand what DOF is, but not the calculations----but that's ok. I can tell you from extensive experience with gyrs that the pictured bird is flying very slowly----either just taking off or about to land. This is how they appear at slow speed (just a few miles per hour). The only part that might be moving much faster are the falcons wing tips. Best, Dick --- On Tue, 11/3/09, Scott Carpenter wrote: > From: Scott Carpenter > Subject: Re: [obol] Subject: Gyrfalcon carrying Herring Gull - photoshop? > To: "obol" > Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 11:30 PM > No sightings.? Just more, detailed info > about manipulation of bird photos. > > Dick and Mike -- Thank you for the correction about the > alula.? I > completely spaced that one.? I see Kestrel alulas all the > time, but they are much smaller. :) > > I stand by my other comments about the > interesting/unusual aspects of the photograph, though.? I > think it is obvious that the photographer took photos of a > Gyrfalcon and a Herring Gull, but it is not clear to me that > the image he presented is a single image, or a composite of > multiple images. > > > Manipulated > images are relatively common.? Many pro photographers have > workshops > (and sell books/PDFs) where people pay them to learn the > tricks of the trade.? These tricks > include adding back the end of a wing when it was not in > the original > photo, or removing "clutter" (other birds, twigs, > leaves) from an > image.? And the software to do this is getting easier to > use -- even > Lightroom (a relatively inexpensive product) allows you to > adjust exposure and perform > "healing" on specific areas within a photo.? > Below are links to some examples of manipulations, as done > by Arthur Morris, one of the preeminent bird > photographers of our time who consistently produces > spectacular images of birds, both with and without > manipulations. > > > http://www.birdsasart.com/bn294.htm > -- see an "optimized image" with "repaired > wing" of the Nazca Booby at about the middle of the > page; this optimized image is derived from two separate > images > > > > > http://www.birdsasart.com/bn290.htm > -- see before and after of the American Goldfinch photo in > about the middle of the page -- twigs and a leg band were > removed > > > http://www.birdsasart.com/bn283.htm > -- see before and after of the Turkey Vulture photo at the > bottom of the page -- "cluttering" objects, > including another vulture, removed from photo > > > > If you subscribe to his newsletter, you'll get to see > such manipulations on amazing images week after week, and > the results are usually even more amazing than the source > image(s). > > One issue to look out for when two or more images are > merged is whether or not the depth of field (DOF) is > consistent throughout the entire image.? If you don't > know what DOF is, you can see some visual simulators and > find links to technical articles about it at:? > http://www.liquidsculpture.com/dof.htm? > Keep in mind that the theory behind DOF is not different for > digital vs. film -- light behaves the same way regardless of > the sensor that is recording the image. > > > My understanding is that the following gear was used in the > Gyr photo: > > Camera body: NIKON D300s (1.5x crop factor) > Lens:? 300mm + 1.7 TC = 510mm (effective focal length of > 765mm when on 1.5x crop body) > > aperture:? f/6.7 > shutter:? 1/1600s > > Given this setup, and using the simulators found at the > link above, you will find that the DOF as a function of > distance between the Gyr and the lens is: > > distance of 30 ft --> DOF = ~3 inches > > distance of 50 ft --> DOF = ~8.4 inches > distance of 100 ft --> DOF = ~ 34 inches (~ 2 ft 10 > inches) > > By some accounts, it seems as if the photographer was > within 30-50 feet of the Gyr.? This is certainly supported > by the level of detail in the photos given the gear he > used.? (based on my experiences shooting in the 600-840mm > range on both full frame and a 1.6x crop body).? Assuming > this is true, the DOF should be between 3 and 8 inches.? > Everything within this DOF should be sharp.? The Gyr is > very sharp.? The gull is very sharp.? The extreme wingtip > of the gull is not very sharp and the ground is completely > blurred.? Certainly some part of the ground had to be > within the DOF.? Of course, it is theoretically possible to > have a blurred ground and sharp bird if the lens is tracking > the bird at the appropriate pace.? But with a shutter speed > of 1/1600s, this would be extremely difficult to pull off, > assuming the Gyr was even flying that fast.? I've > personally had decent luck doing this in the 1/15s - 1/60s > shutter speed range.? I've tried it at much faster > shutter speeds (up to 1/500s), too, but they never seem to > work for me. > > > In addition to potential DOF issues, a shutter speed of > 1/1600s for an effective focal length of 765mm should be > sufficient to freeze motion for the gull's wing, > undulating or not.? In addition, the lens used is a VR > (vibration reduction) lens, which means that 1/1600s is > probably equivalent to 1/3200s on a non-VR lens, or > potentially even faster (due to lens elements moving to > compensate for camera/lens shake/motion). > > > So while it is great that people are enjoying that amazing > image of the Gyr with the gull, I think it is unfair to > simply dismiss Peter Patricelli's comments, or those of > any other experienced photographers, by claiming the photo > must be genuine due to the amazing capabilities of cameras > to freeze motion perfectly. ? I do not know Peter > personally, but I do know what equipment he is using, and > I'm guessing based on his equipment and experiences with > bird photography, he has a good understanding of the issues > raised above, as well as substantial experience both taking > photos and reviewing photos. > > > I know that I've taken over 100,000 photos in the last > 4 years alone, and that hundreds, if not thousands, of these > have been at shutter speeds of 1/1600s and faster (not in > Oregon in winter, of course!).? I have never seen > irregularities that result from these fast shutter speeds.? > On the contrary, I've seen unexpected > "artifacts" show up on the much slower shutter > speeds, where motion is not frozen. > > > All of this said, it is not my intention to take away > anyone's joy of seeing that beautiful Gyr/gull image, > whether it comes from one pure image, or one or more > manipulated images. > > Scott Carpenter > Portland > > > On Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 4:27 PM, > Richard and Marilyn Musser > wrote: > > Hi Scott, > > ? ? As far as I can tell only the right wing of the gyr > is visable, and that protrusion on the leading edge is the > alula of that wing. The small protrusion appearing from the > falcon's lower chest is the tip of the outer tail > feather (tail fanned) on the left side of the falcon. > > > ? ? The wing of the gull lowest to the ground is > pointing away from the camera, so it looks too short. > > ? ? I'm not a camera guy, and it never occurred to > me that someone would "doctor" a photo and > represent it as something it wasn't. Silly me. > > ?Best, Dick > > > > --- On Mon, 11/2/09, Scott Carpenter > wrote: > > > > > From: Scott Carpenter > > > Subject: Re: [obol] Subject: Gyrfalcon > carrying Herring Gull - photoshop? > > > To: "obol" > > > Date: Monday, November 2, 2009, 5:25 PM > > > In addition to the > interesting feature of > > > the photo that Peter Patricelli mentions (the > gull's > > > wing blending into the ground), I'm left wondering > what > > > portion of the Gyrfalcon is it that is showing up > right > > > above the gull's head.? The falcon's left > wing > > > appears to be both pointing up and down at the same > time.? > > > Or perhaps I don't understand falcon anatomy very > well. > > > > > > > > > Also, the difference in relative sharpness > (depth-of-field) > > > between the ground and the falcon/gull strike me as > > > interesting.? In theory, the grasses in the > background, > > > foreground, and directly below the gull could be > blurred and > > > the subject sharp, but only if the photographer was > panning > > > the camera at the exact same pace as the subject.? > > > Possible, for sure, but very difficult, at least for > me. > > > > > > > > > There's also an inconsistency in the blurred > > > background/bokeh in a semi-circular region surrounding > the > > > gull's head.? Of course, different lenses have > > > different bokeh.? I would expect a 300mm f/2.8 to > not > > > exhibit such an inconsistency, though.? But I am not > > > personally familiar with that Nikon lens. > > > > > > > > > I'm referring to the photo at: > > > > > > http://www.photoportfolios.net/portfolio/pf.cgi?a=vp&pr=91499&pi=LUKEEORMAND&CGISESSID=0b1275b84a78a17d951bc8019a166b52&u=28337 > > > > > > > > > > Scott Carpenter > > > Portland > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > obol mailing list > > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From slcarpenter at gmail.com Wed Nov 4 09:24:41 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 09:24:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland's Force Lake: Canvasbacks, etc. Message-ID: I spent a few minutes at Force Lake in Portland on Tuesday, November 3, and saw 19+ CANVASBACKS. Also present were 9+ HOODED MERGANSERS and 6+ COMMON MERGANSERS, as well as Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Mallards. I suspect my counts are low, but given that the divers were all actively diving, I did not have time to do a thorough survey. In my experience, Force Lake is a consistent place in the Portland metro area to get relatively close to Canvasbacks and mergansers without disturbing them, and it can provide from some wonderful photo opportunities. The big downside is the foul odor that permeates the area. Scott Carpenter Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091104/92529cd8/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Wed Nov 4 09:33:23 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 17:33:23 +0000 Subject: [obol] Eagles ruining this digiscoping trip! Message-ID: Just got to Salishan nature trail. Birds everywhere on Siletz, mudflats. Not any more. Another Bald Eagle scattered my potential subjects. Same thing yesterday morning at seal rock, day before at Hatfield. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed Nov 4 12:05:13 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:05:13 -0500 Subject: [obol] Successful trip to find Black-tailed Gull thanks to Hans Message-ID: <8CC2BA140E4ACA8-3588-20C61@webmail-d018.sysops.aol.com> George Neavoll and I headed up from Portland to find the Black-tailed Gull that has been hanging out at Commencement Bay on Tuesday. Thanks to all those who helped with directions we didn't spend too much time seeing unintended sights. When we got to the area where the bird hangs out, we were met by Hans Feddern who was waiting for us. He had given us excellent directions the night before, but we were not expecting him to come out and help us. But he did, he brought his scope and spent a couple of hours helping us to find the gull and then get excellent views. This was a life bird for both of us. Not a big deal for me as I am still in my rookie year, but for George it brought his list closer to 600 as he gets ready to celebrate 60 years as a birder. We went down to Hoquiam STP afterwards, but struck out on the Rarities there. I added 6 birds to my list for the day, which is a very good day for me. George and I talked about how great it is to meet other birders and how helpful they always are. But Hans went way above and beyond helpful, he made the day. Thanks, Hans. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091104/5ac00ceb/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Wed Nov 4 14:12:31 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 14:12:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Curry Gyrfalcon Message-ID: Knute Andersson sent me a good photo of an immature gray-phase GYRFALCON from Curry County on private, non-accessible property. He also saw a Tree Swallow and Turkey Vulture. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091104/a3d01922/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Wed Nov 4 14:21:17 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 14:21:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wing-banded Northern Fulmar Message-ID: I saw a dead, salvaged NORTHERN FULMAR that was color-marked with two zip ties over the left humerus. The lateral tie was red and the medial tie was gray. The bird was found on a beach in Coos Bay, OR. I'm putting this on OBOL in hopes that a researcher will see this information. I will also contact the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center to report the bands. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091104/08591457/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Wed Nov 4 14:29:29 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 14:29:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lane YS FLICKER, Coos BROWN BOOBY continues Message-ID: <2b1bbd260911041429vc950887j3946a5e807a493ac@mail.gmail.com> Obol, At around noon today Lydia Cruz and I observed the Coos Bay BROWN BOOBY. We saw it just south of Pigeon Point after missing it at Hedge Ln. We stopped at Siltcoos Estuary, Lane Co. on the way home. We saw 200+ SANDERLING and 3 dozen+ SNOWY PLOVERS in a loose flock 1/4 mile north of the parking area. There were 8 dark-phase N. Fulmar carcasses on the short walk north. On the way back to the parking lot I spotted a male YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER as we came over the fore dune. It was with 4-5 Red-shafted Flickers in the shore pines just north of the parking lot. I could only see it from about half way up the dune due to the thick pine vegetation. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091104/ea644f3e/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Nov 4 14:43:11 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 14:43:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wed morning, Dexter Res. Message-ID: We found few birds at Dexter Res, but the morning was bright a colorful after an early fog. Our best bird was a single RED-THROATED LOON located in the middle portion of the lake. Red-throated Loon - 1 Ring-billed Gull - 8 Glaucous-winged Gull - 5 (maybe all were G-w X Western Gull hybrids) Canada Goose - 5 Coot - 1000 Mallard - 2 Bufflehead - 40 Redhead - 5 L. Scaup - 20 Horned Grebe - 1 Pied-billed Grebe - 4 Western Grebe - 4 D-c Cormorant - 6 Bald Eagle - 1 Rock Pigeon - 15 Kingfisher - 1 Flicker - 2 Ruby-cr. Kinglet - 2 Golden-cr. Kinglet - heard Raven - 1 Scrub Jay - 2 Brewer's Blackbird - 6 Spotted Towhee - 1 Am. Goldfinch - 2 House Finch - 1 Song Sparrow - 2 Fox Sparrow - 1 Paul Sherrell, Don Schrouder, Sarah Vasconcellos, Craig Merkel, Dennis Arendt, June Persson, Sylvia Maulding, Dave Brown, Fred Chancey, Ellen Cantor, Dave Hill, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091104/dcdf812a/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Wed Nov 4 14:57:03 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:57:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wing-banded Northern Fulmar In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4AF206BF.2070809@verizon.net> Russ Those are color marked dead seabird survey birds. Part of the CCOAST program. In other words, someone has already counted that dead seabird, and in order to not recount them, or to see how often one recounts them, they are marked with colored ties. Cheers Dave Lauten Russ Namitz wrote: > I saw a dead, salvaged NORTHERN FULMAR that was color-marked with two > zip ties over the left humerus. The lateral tie was red and the > medial tie was gray. The bird was found on a beach in Coos Bay, OR. > I'm putting this on OBOL in hopes that a researcher will see this > information. I will also contact the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center > to report the bands. > Good birding, > Russ Namitz > Coos Bay > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From steve at stevenrhalpern.com Wed Nov 4 15:06:32 2009 From: steve at stevenrhalpern.com (Steve Halpern) Date: Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:06:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] fernhill notes Message-ID: <4AF208F8.6010601@stevenrhalpern.com> I got to spend a couple of mornings at Fernhill in Forest Grove. This morning there was a peregrine chasing a couple of yellowlegs. Yesterday there was a nice flock of swans including 3 very distinct juveniles with their reddish/pink bills. There have also been good numbers of pintails and common mergansers along with a smaller group of hooded mergansers n the middle pond. Also of note was a kingfisher which had caught a relatively large (for it) carp and it proceeded to immobilize the struggling fish by smashing the fishes head against a stump repeatedly so that it could eat it. This is a behavior I had seen herons and egrets do before, but never a kingfisher. IF anyone is interested a photo of the peregrine is at: http://www.stevenrhalpern.com/peregrine-IMG_7492.jpg From celata at pacifier.com Wed Nov 4 15:36:21 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:36:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wing-banded Northern Fulmar Message-ID: <4AF20FF5.1040105@pacifier.com> The fulmars you found are part of a long term study of already dead birds found on the beach by COASST ( http://www.coasst.org ). Volunteers walk the beach 1 or 2 times per month measuring and marking birds they find. The goals are to establish a base-line of background deadness, watch for significant changes in that base-line and study how long dead things persist on the beach. Wing-banded Northern Fulmar From: Russ Namitz Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 14:21:17 -0800 I saw a dead, salvaged NORTHERN FULMAR that was color-marked with two zip ties over the left humerus. The lateral tie was red and the medial tie was gray. The bird was found on a beach in Coos Bay, OR. I'm putting this on OBOL in hopes that a researcher will see this information. I will also contact the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center to report the bands. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Wed Nov 4 15:37:18 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:37:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Culver Raptor Route Message-ID: <4AF2102E.8030506@gmail.com> Kei and I just did our foy raptor count for Culver and got 77 birds!! That's 3 birds per mile! Of course there was a clump of 23 birds in one area. As follow: 42 Red-tailed Hawks 11 Kestrels 6 Northern Harriers 15 Rough-legged Hawks 3 Great horned Owls Just to check on another area we went to Hwy 97 and Iris and only found four Red-tails. that area produced some 30+ birds not too long ago. Kevin & Kei Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091104/16ff9408/attachment.vcf From celata at pacifier.com Wed Nov 4 15:59:45 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:59:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Let's play name that prey item Message-ID: <4AF21571.8050802@pacifier.com> http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12573 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From tom-escue at comcast.net Wed Nov 4 16:45:02 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 16:45:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Turkey Vulture Message-ID: <8B175C3A9B7F4A49A728BDFAF4AFF53E@TomsPC> Tuesday afternoon I saw a single TURKEY VULTURE over the Hayden Bridge Road-Harvest Lane area of Springfield. Seems kind of late? Tom Escue -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091104/4b4d8c33/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Wed Nov 4 16:57:44 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 00:57:44 +0000 Subject: [obol] Brants back at Hatfield Message-ID: Spotted half dozen Brants foraging with gulls on Yaquina flats by Hatfield Center. Major temp change between 2:30 and 4. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Wed Nov 4 17:03:56 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 01:03:56 +0000 Subject: [obol] Halloween birding: The search for spooky owls, holy grouse, and angelic snowbirds.... Message-ID: Hi all, Sorry for the delay. My work and tennis schedule has gotten a bit busy. Anyhow, here it is... Sorry that some of my photos are a bit grainy from transferring them to pBASE (since the server crash, things have not been the same). Some of my images remind me of Bev Dolittle paintings. It was definitely not intentional. I am so in the moment just trying to capture the bird without them flying or scurrying away. **************************************************************************************************** This Halloween, Chris Stearns and I decided to bird Hart's Pass one last time before the heavy snow hits. On Friday night, we started out well and clearly heard one BOREAL OWL close to Clover Flats CG near Athanum Meadows in Yakima County. It was a bit frustrating to not see the reclusive owl as it was literally 15 feet above the car. That's the way it goes. It was my 15th owl species for the year for WA so I will take it!! Lower down at around 5800 ft, we heard another faint skiew near the Eagle's Nest CG. Before dusk, we stumbled on a male SPRUCE GROUSE along one of the closed logging road not far from the Grey Rock Trailhead. I understand this is a tough bird to get for Yakima County. Other than that quiet. On Saturday, we proceed to Hart's Pass. We had to hike the last mile to reach the summit due to 3 feet of packed snow. Conditions were cold with poor visibility and 10 degrees temps. Weeks prior, I had found a gorgeous male ptarmigan that was about 99.7% white with some black freckles. In my eyes, it was close but no cigar. Not satisfied, I wanted another attempt of finding a pure white bird! As we approached the summit, 25-30 MPH winds were unforgiving and ground was icy. I usually don't give up but decided to abort Operation Holy Grouse. To drive almost 400 miles and not have a chance to search was very disappointing. Earlier in the morning, we were successfully seeing other nice birds so our spirits were not entirely dampered. We saw up to 50 PINE GROSBEAKS, a nice flock of roughly 150 GRAY CROWNED ROSYFINCHES, a dozen WHITE WINGED CROSSBILLS, and singlets of NORTHERN SHRIKE and SNOW BUNTING. As we descended down about 2.5 miles from Slate Peak, heading towards the Meadows CG, my mind started to wander. What the heck do these birds eat when the food source is frozen or buried?? Hmmm.. I then saw a good patch of dwarf willows and my grouse instincts kicked in. I instructed Chris to back up and let's try here! Chris slowly backs up the rig about 3O feet as I hesitantly got my gear ready to face the harsh conditions outside. About to get out from the car, I see one white dove-like bird in the snow from the corner of my eyes. It was about 40 feet from the car. What the heck?? All I can see are the large black eyes and dark beak. Later another one appeared and more popped out. I need to have my eyes check and help with my id. Later the next day, while attending to some squeaky problems with our car seat near Meadows CG, I looked about 100 yards away and a NORTHERN HAWK OWL flew in from nowhere. It was in hot pursuit of a prey. Moments later, it was joined by an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK that kept skybombing it. We heard both birds vocalize. Way cool... What a special TREAT. It was very exciting and emotional seeing the winter plumaged ptarmigans near an open road in WA!! These birds can scoot and scurry quite fast. I was surprised how fast they can run rather than fly. I finally feel that I have a better knowledge and understanding of their behavior and habits. All the persistence and hard work paid off. The birds were probably forced down by the strong winds and descented almost 800 ft from their usual haunts. I suspect they will come down lower in the next few weeks where there are exposed vegetation for food and cover. We saw them the second day under less windy and sunnier conditions. This time, the birds had ascended up higher (almost near the highest ridge) us to use the stunted firs for shelter. They were roosting near them. I also witnessed and videoed a male white-tailed eating larch needles for food. It is probably a Washington FIRST for documenting these exquisite,white plumaged birds on an open road. It was more exciting than seeing two Northern Hawk Owls in one trip at two different locations. Grouse are often not given enough attention from birders and are overlooked or missed. They are really fascinating birds to study and photographed. Also, their complex beautiful plumages and entertaining breeding displays are a hoot to watch. I am NO expert with these group of birds. The last 3 years has been extremely fun and rewarding to learn, discover and appreciate these fancy chickens. I was one of my best Halloween treats ever!! Don't always keep your eyes and ears skyward, look down at times. You may find some thing cool as well:) **************************PHOTOS:**************************************** http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/snowbirds_in_autumn&page=all Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) www.ktbirding.com From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Wed Nov 4 17:08:52 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 01:08:52 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Air-brakes on Eagles Message-ID: <1962324496.76101257383332709.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> I understand now that an "alula" is the forward-extending part of the wing, corresponding to a thumb. The eagles I showed in my previous photo, had pairs of medium-sized elevated feathers, that were positioned where the wings join the back and seem to be inside the wing covert feathers. The eagles?appeared to be able to raise them and since both feathers came up evenly and were almost vertical, it doesn't seem caused just by an odd flow of air through the gap. Any other such observations or explanations? Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091105/b2590615/attachment.html From mtweel at charter.net Wed Nov 4 17:17:05 2009 From: mtweel at charter.net (Margaret) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 17:17:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] oriole like Message-ID: I had a oriole like bird in my birdbath today. It was a pale yellow with black and white wing bars and a sharp bill. it flew quickly to a large bush and preened. I could just see its undertail fan out and it was quite yellow. I'll watch Thursday after feeding the birds to see if it comes back. We have had orioles here before but not in the Fall. What else could it be? Marg Tweelinckx Cape Meares -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091104/f1c76fef/attachment.html From Kcparkton1 at aol.com Wed Nov 4 17:23:52 2009 From: Kcparkton1 at aol.com (Kcparkton1 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 20:23:52 EST Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Red-shouldered Hawk Message-ID: I think I may have photographed 2 juvenile Red-shouldered hawks today off of Cantrell Rd and Neilsen Rd. I need help with the ID. I also got my first shot of a Northern Shrike, north of the royal ave parking area. I'm still kicking myself because of over exposing the shot. _http://www.flickr.com/photos/35913342 at N04/4076555238/_ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35913342 at N04/4076555238/) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091104/2aed856f/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Nov 4 20:06:07 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 20:06:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Red-shouldered Hawk In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Your hunch is correct. These are both immature Red-shouldered Hawks. The shrike shows the ventral barring more distinctly than most I've seen. The exposures look good to me. Larry _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Kcparkton1 at aol.com Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 5:24 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Red-shouldered Hawk I think I may have photographed 2 juvenile Red-shouldered hawks today off of Cantrell Rd and Neilsen Rd. I need help with the ID. I also got my first shot of a Northern Shrike, north of the royal ave parking area. I'm still kicking myself because of over exposing the shot. http://www.flickr.com/photos/35913342 at N04/4076555238/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091104/ae137adb/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Nov 4 20:20:30 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 20:20:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] oriole like In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Margaret, It sounds to me like you had an oriole. The question is, what species? This time of year and through the winter, it could be any of the N. Am. orioles, so try to get pictures. Do you mean to say that the underside of the tail feathers are yellow? This would be true with most of the female or immature orioles. If you see it again, take notice if you can, of whether the breast and belly are more lemon-yellow or more apricot yellow (orangish). Also, if the bill is straight or slightly curved. Larry McQueen _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Margaret Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 5:17 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] oriole like I had a oriole like bird in my birdbath today. It was a pale yellow with black and white wing bars and a sharp bill. it flew quickly to a large bush and preened. I could just see its undertail fan out and it was quite yellow. I'll watch Thursday after feeding the birds to see if it comes back. We have had orioles here before but not in the Fall. What else could it be? Marg Tweelinckx Cape Meares -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091104/a8058db1/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Wed Nov 4 20:45:11 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 20:45:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] kingfisher bashing prey Message-ID: <001201ca5dd3$310404b0$0ec663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Steve, et al, It is quite common for Kingfishers to bash their prey against a perch to stun it before swallowing it. Once I noticed a Kingfisher sitting on a turnbuckle on an irrigation canal near Enterprise. It was whacking a small fish, which refused to go quietly. The bird would whack the fish several times, then pause. The fish would wiggle. The whacking would continue. After several minutes I decided to count whacks. I got to a number over 50 as I recall. I figured I'd missed as many before I started counting. That was one tough fish. I gave up counting and watched awhile longer. The count surely exceeded 150. Finally, I drove away, leaving fish and the kingfisher still battling it out. Paul T. Sullivan ---------------- Subject: fernhill notes From: Steve Halpern Date: Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:06:32 -0800 ... Also of note was a kingfisher which had caught a relatively large (for it) carp and it proceeded to immobilize the struggling fish by smashing the fishes head against a stump repeatedly so that it could eat it. This is a behavior I had seen herons and egrets do before, but never a kingfisher. From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Nov 4 21:22:23 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:22:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 11/4/09 Message-ID: <20091105052300.755F2A8141@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 10/29 to 11/04/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 7 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) SNOW GOOSE 1 (35, 11/4) Cackling Goose 4 (?[heard only]) Band-tailed Pigeon 2 (1, 11/2 & 3) Anna's Hummingbird 5 (4) Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 (1, 10/29 & 11/1) Downy Woodpecker 3 (2) Northern Flicker 6 (4) Pileated Woodpecker 3 (1) Hutton's Vireo 4 (2) Steller's Jay 7 (4) American Crow 3 (4) Black-capped Chickadee 7 (15) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4 (5) Bushtit 4 (18, 11/4) Red-breasted Nuthatch 6 (5) Brown Creeper 4 (3, 11/2) Bewick's Wren 2 (1, 11/2 & 3) Winter Wren 5 (1) Golden-crowned Kinglet 6 (20, 10/31) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4 (5, 11/3) Hermit Thrush 4 (1) American Robin 7 (20, 10/31) Varied Thrush 7 (5) European Starling 4 (4, 11/4) Cedar Waxwing 1 (15, 10/30) Spotted Towhee 7 (5) FOX SPARROW 2 (1, 10/30 & 11/1) Song Sparrow 7 (12, 10/30) Dark-eyed Junco 7 (25, 10/31) Purple Finch 2 (3, 11/2) House Finch 6 (8) PINE SISKIN 1 (40, 11/4) Lesser Goldfinch 1 (8, 11/4) In neighborhood but not found on dogwalk: GREAT HORNED OWL Misses (birds found at least 3 days in previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Townsend's Warbler, American Goldfinch, Evening Grosbeak Wink Gross Portland From pamelaj at spiritone.com Wed Nov 4 21:29:31 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 21:29:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] kingfisher bashing prey References: <001201ca5dd3$310404b0$0ec663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Message-ID: <80D0774C846E439FA4E0932DB98F4B19@yourw5st28y9a3> There are plenty of invertebrates that get whacked before being swallowed, too. Caterpillars often need a bit of subduing before they go down the hatch. Pamela Johnston From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Nov 4 23:31:56 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:31:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 11-5-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * November 5, 2009 * ORPO0911.05 - birds mentioned Tundra Swan Canvasback Surf Scoter Long-tailed Duck Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Red-throated Loon Eared Grebe MANX-TYPE SHEARWATER BROWN BOOBY White-tailed Kite Northern Harrier BROAD-WINGED HAWK Gyrfalcon Black-bellied Plover Dunlin Bonaparte?s Gull Band-tailed Pigeon Tropical Kingbird Black-billed Magpie Northern Mockingbird Palm Warbler - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 Compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday November 5. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. The Coos Bay BROWN BOOBY continues to be seen. On October 31 and November 1 a BROAD-WINGED HAWK was seen in Scappoose. Most likely the same bird was seen November 1 over Willow Bay on Sauvie Island. A MANX-TYPE SHEARWATER was off Boiler Bay October 31. An immature gray-phased GYRFALCON was photographed during the week in Curry County. On October 31 a PALM WARBLER and a LONG-TAILED DUCK were at Yaquina Bay. That day a MOCKINGBIRD was in Nehalem Meadows. A TROPICAL KINGBIRD was in Seaside November 2. On November 3 about 19 CANVASBACKS, 9 HOODED MERGANSERS, and 6 COMMON MERGANSERS were on Force Lake in North Portland. On October 30 a Magpie was in Molalla. A flock of TUNDRA SWANS were at the Fernhill Wetlands November 3. Fifteen TUNDRA SWANS, three EARED GREBES, 1000 DUNLIN, and 20 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were seen October 31 at Fern Ridge Reservoir. The harrier and kite night roost is now being used at Fern Ridge Reservoir. On October 30, 26 WHITE-TAILED KITES and 20 NORTHERN HARRIERS were recorded there. On November 4 a RED-THROATED LOON was on Dexter Reservoir southeast of Eugene. On November 2 about 300 BONAPARTE?S GULLS were at John Day Dam. Two SURF SCOTERS were seen October 31 on Prineville Reservoir. The next day one was on Agency Lake in the Klamath Basin. A BAND-TAILED PIGEON was along Upper Klamath Lake at Hagelstein Park October 29. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091104/97a9a818/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Thu Nov 5 07:14:51 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 07:14:51 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Curry Gyrfalcon In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <875428.13780.qm@web39704.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Russ, Thanks for the gyrfalcon report. I've tried to figure out a migration pattern for these falcons, but they seem to show up about anywhere. Do you happen to know whether this sighting was along the coast, or was it inland? Thanks again, Dick --- On Wed, 11/4/09, Russ Namitz wrote: > From: Russ Namitz > Subject: [obol] Curry Gyrfalcon > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2009, 2:12 PM > > > > > > Knute Andersson sent me a good photo of an immature > gray-phase GYRFALCON from Curry County on private, > non-accessible property.? He also saw a Tree Swallow > and Turkey Vulture. > > ? > > Good birding, > > Russ Namitz > > Coos Bay > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From tamickel at rio.com Thu Nov 5 08:32:52 2009 From: tamickel at rio.com (Tom & Allison Mickel) Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 08:32:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Birders Night - Peru photos Message-ID: <000301ca5e35$9f36d950$dda48bf0$@com> OBOL, Eugene birders night is the second Monday of the month (9 Nov) at 7PM in conference room A at Sacred Heart Hospital, University District (1255 Hilyard St). Everyone is welcome! We normally start by talking about recent sightings, than afterward I'll be showing photos from a recent trip to southern Peru. To find conference room A: - go in the main entrance on Hilyard St and walk past the information desk - turn left at the first hallway and continue to the end past the cafeteria - turn right at the end of the hallway and continue to the end past the dining room - turn right again and then take the first hallway to the left - conference room A (on the right) is across the hallway from the auditorium (almost to the end of the hallway) Tom Mickel From philliplc at charter.net Thu Nov 5 09:20:26 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 09:20:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <8623BE5CDA9E4ED2B40E5444BABF3188@Phil> 6:45-8:00 (11/5): overcast, wind S15-30, swells 10+ 700 Red-throated Loon 400 Pacific Loon 20 Common Loon 9 Red-necked Grebe (S) 15 Western Grebe 6 Northern Fulmar 25 Brown Pelican (N) 40 Brand't Cormorant 20 Pelagic Cormorant 1 Northern Pintail 70 scaup sp. 10 Black Scoter 3000 White-winged Scoter (S) 400 Surf Scoter 7 Red-breasted Merganser 1 Red Phalarope 10+ Mew Gull 300 California Gull 1 Herring Gull 300 Western Gull 30 Glaucous-winged Gull 500 Heermann's Gull (S) 300 Common Murre (S) 7 Pigeon Guillemot (S) 28 Rhinoceros Auklet (S) Phil philliplc at charter.net From greg at thebirdguide.com Thu Nov 5 09:39:03 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 09:39:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Knute Anderson's photo of Curry Gyrfalcon Message-ID: <2B637909B57440E29E95A073EF4AEE87@GREG> http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/119086450 Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From philliplc at charter.net Thu Nov 5 16:44:31 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 16:44:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] North Siletz Bay 11/5 Message-ID: 3:45 in sustained 30 mph winds gusting to 50 1500 Brown Pelican (95% adult) + very roughly 500 Heermann's 800 Western 800 Cal smaller numbers Herring and G-w Phil From m.denny at charter.net Thu Nov 5 20:18:55 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 20:18:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Late Report for the Record Message-ID: <30CACAF7B1A74A619BBC4434136C3372@24FLIGHT> Hello All, We went after the Brown Booby this last weekend and along the way saw the following species: 30 Oct. 2009 Snow Geese-4 birds one mile east of Phillipi Canyon on the Columbia River in Gilliam Co. 31 Oct. 2009 Pigeon Point, Coos Co. Peregrine Falcon-1 ad. Black Turnstone-45+ Mew Gulls-40 in a flock BROWN BOOBY-1 ad.-watched it plunge dive 3xs from 12-15 feet. 400th Oregon Bird for me. Watched from 1210 hrs to 1315 hrs. a quarter to half a mile out. Northern Fulmar-1 dark morph ad. in the Charleston boat harbor preening. ML took many photos. Winchester Bay, deflation pond Brown Pelican-118 birds Harlequin Duck-1ad. female Black-legged Kittiwake-1ad. Green-winged Teal-4 ad. females on salt water Wrentit-2 near the Umpqua lighthouse. Newport, Lincoln Co. 1Nov.2009 Brown Pelican-15 Whimbrel-1 Clark's Grebe-1 ad. first for us in Lincoln Co. Western Grebe-9 ad. That is it. Later Mike .................................................................................. Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived From dendroicaman at peak.org Thu Nov 5 23:51:21 2009 From: dendroicaman at peak.org (Karl Fairchild) Date: Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:51:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 3-4 Oct Message-ID: <4AF3D579.5020800@peak.org> Hi all, Ulo Kiigemagi and I made a quick trip down for the Brown Booby Tuesday and Wednesday. Highlights: 3 Oct. Pigeon Pt./Fossil Pt. BROWN BOOBY: seen from multiple viewpoints including the small pump house and the Dairy Queen. It was sitting on its normal piling, though it showed some activity toward the end of the hour we watched it (1500-1600) Eurasian Collared-Dove: flock of 30 or so flying around--the range and population expansion of this species is truly phenomenal Great Blue Heron: one rather bold individual hunting the shore near the pump house viewpoint. 4 Oct. Pigeon Pt./Fossil Pt. The Booby was back in its usual haunts, preening and flapping, but didn't go anywhere N. Spit Coos Bay Cal. Gull--60 on the first pond, actively feeding, though I couldn't see what they were after WW Scoter--1, seemed a bit of an unusual spot, made for an interesting combo of ducks with a Wood Duck, N. Shovelers, and 2 Canvasbacks, among the other more usual ducks Barn Swallow-1, seemed a bit late Black Phoebe-2, doing unusual call note that sounded very much like Say's Horned Grebe-6, swimming in a single tight pack Peregrine Falcon-1, sitting on some prey item near the NE corner of the second pond back, possibly a goose (sorry Marilyn :-)) S. Jetty Florence--totally deserted birdwise, but some people in off-road type trucks had pulled up to the very edge of the Dog Pond and looked like they were planning on going mudding in the pond--is this area off limits to motor vehicles? Good Birding all, Karl Fairchild From pat2ly at comcast.net Fri Nov 6 05:38:52 2009 From: pat2ly at comcast.net (Pat Tilley) Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 05:38:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] North Polk County Raptor Run Message-ID: <8C62213C8D6F4525866A0190CBF8A1E5@Desktop> On Tuesday this week, Carol Karlen and I completed the North Polk County Raptor survey for Kathy and Bruce Patterson. Kathy is chasing birds in Australia! Of note, on Fir Villa Rd. we scared up a Red-shouldered Hawk that was in the brush alongside the road. It flew across the road in front of us landing in taller nearby trees. Carol got especially good looks at this remarkable hawk. Totals for the survey are: RTHA: 21 AMKE: 22 NOHA: 9 COHA: 1 (Cooper's Hawk) RSHA 1 Additionally, on Enterprise Rd. was a Lewis's Woodpecker. Other nice finds were about a dozen Tundra Swan on the pond south of Coville Rd. at Basket Slough; American Pipits flying as we passed along Livermore Rd., a Meadowlark along Oak Grove Rd. along with an Acorn Woodpecker just past the church, and on Tucker Pond were several SB Dowitchers, and Hooded Mergansers. It was a beautifully clear, sunny day. Thank you Kathy for asking me to do your route. Good to see that the raptors are slowly returning to the valley. Pat Tilley and Carol Karlen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091106/f5318aea/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Fri Nov 6 10:16:46 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 10:16:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: 6:30-9:30 (11/6): overcast w/incoming squalls, wind SW 15-25, swells 10+ everything moving S unless noted 1000 Red-throated Loon 2000 Pacific Loon 500 Common Loon 127 Red-necked Grebe (singles/groups 2-6 all S) 20 Western Grebe 400 Northern Fulmar (about 10% light) 2 Short-tailed Shearwater 800 Brown Pelican 1 Double-crested Cormorant 150 Brandt's Cormorant (most N) 20 Pelagic Cormorant 5 Canada Goose 1100 Brant (flocks to 80) 150 Northern Pintail 7 scaup sp. 35 Black Scoter 4000 White-winged Scoter (most in first 45 min) 1000 Surf Scoter 8 Red-breasted Merganser 1 Common Merganser 4000+ Red Phalarope (widely scattered S) 9 Pomarine Jaeger 300 Bonaparte's Gull 100+ Mew Gull 800+ California Gull 20+ Herring Gull 3000+ Western Gull (mixed ages) 400+ Glaucous-winged Gull (most imm) 600 Heermann's Gull 500 Common Murre 6 Pigeon Guillemot 8 Marbled Murrelet 8 Rhinoceros Auklet Phil philliplc at charter.net From celata at pacifier.com Fri Nov 6 12:48:34 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:48:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Phalaropes Message-ID: <4AF48BA2.4020308@pacifier.com> Yesterday's storm blew in a few RED PHALAROPES. I picked up a dazed and confused individual at Jeffers Gardens and drove it out to the South Jetty were there were a couple dozen in the Parking lot C ponds. Also at the South Jetty were about 60 LEAST SANDPIPERS and couple good-sized flocks of DUNLIN and SANDERLINGS. BROWN PELICANS do not appear to be lingering this season. There were a few (less than 30) that were flying over the river. None on the beaches. None at the Hammond Boat Basin and (according to Steve Warner) no in the usual Seaside spots. Really angry ocean, but nice weather otherwise... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From range.bayer at gmail.com Fri Nov 6 13:15:44 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 13:15:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yaquina Bay South Jetty Snow Bunting Message-ID: Hi, Chuck Philo saw an exceptionally bright Snow Bunting at the "gull puddle" area of the Yaquina Bay South Jetty this morning (Nov. 6) at 10 AM. -- Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Fri Nov 6 14:59:54 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (barbara.millikan at gmail.com) Date: Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:59:54 +0000 Subject: [obol] BSNWR gray goose Message-ID: <0016e64cb3c4529ac90477bbcd6c@google.com> My husband reports that the last three times he's been to Baskett Slough, there has been one uniformly gray goose mixed in with the Canadas. He says it's about the same size. He'd love to know what it is. Thoughts? Barbara -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091106/a5b333d1/attachment.html From gneavoll at comcast.net Fri Nov 6 16:44:56 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 00:44:56 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Rough-legged Hawk at Ridgefield Message-ID: <67883687.5305061257554696514.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (FOS) at Ridgefield NWR around 12:30 p.m. today (11/6/09). Light morph ad. male type hovering, hunting between Markers 11 and 12. George Neavool S.W. Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091107/8905e88b/attachment.html From Mike_Szumski at fws.gov Fri Nov 6 16:47:33 2009 From: Mike_Szumski at fws.gov (Mike_Szumski at fws.gov) Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 16:47:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Algal bloom off Oregon coast Message-ID: Hi all, An algal bloom remains several hundred meters offshore from Tillamook Oregon to the entrance to Strait of Juan de Fuca. The bloom includes the species of diatom responsible for the wreck of seabirds witnessed several weeks ago. Please let me know if you observe: 1. Any distressed seabirds or shorebirds on the beach 2. Any otherwise healthy birds that appear ?dirty? 3. Any accumulations of foam on the beach The best way to reach me is by cell phone (503-705-5747). I?ve placed photos I took of the earlier incident on our office?s ftp site: http://www.fws.gov/filedownloads/ftp_OFWO/SeabirdDieoff/ We observed hundreds of shorebirds feeding in and around the foam (see photos), but did not find any in distress. That?s not to say they were unaffected by the bloom. When shorebirds are oiled by a spill, few if any are found sick or dead. Thanks for your help, Mike _______________________________ Mike Szumski U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 2600 SE 98th Ave., Suite 100 Portland, OR 97266 phone: 503-231-6179 cell: 503-705-5747 mike_szumski at fws.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091106/e6e4bb9c/attachment.html From gneavoll at comcast.net Fri Nov 6 16:51:46 2009 From: gneavoll at comcast.net (gneavoll at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 00:51:46 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Correction In-Reply-To: <67883687.5305061257554696514.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1673089395.5307091257555106664.JavaMail.root@sz0103a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> That's Neavoll, not "Neavool," in signature line. ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: gneavoll at comcast.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Friday, November 6, 2009 4:44:56 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [obol] Rough-legged Hawk at Ridgefield ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (FOS) at Ridgefield NWR around 12:30 p.m. today (11/6/09). Light morph ad. male type hovering, hunting between Markers 11 and 12. George Neavool S.W. Portland _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091107/a2383b95/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Fri Nov 6 17:27:58 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 17:27:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Brown Booby continues 11/6 Message-ID: The BROWN BOOBY was seen at 4:15pm this afternoon of the tall B navigation marker. It was not seen on any marker/buoy at 2:30, 3:00 or 3:30. By the way, would-be booby watchers might take note that the Hedge Lane pulloff is just under a mile away (~0.97 ml) while the pull off at Fossil Pt. immediately south of DQ is just over 3/4 mile (~0.82 ml). The Fossil Pt viewpoint would save you at least 1.5 football fields of distance. I used a ruler on the monitor while viewing Google maps. The ocean was impressive this afternoon with the high high tide. There were at least 1000 BROWN PELICANS in the bay proper with a small handful of RED PHALAROPES hiding in calmer corners. Seven RED PHALAROPES and 1 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE were at Bastendorff Beach this afternoon. THAYER'S & HERRING GULLS are around. Check here and at Mingus Park. At Cape Arago, there were 12 HARLEQUIN DUCKS in North Cove and several dark shearwaters (presumably Short-tailed) were flying by. Seawatching conditions were tough due to all the spray in the air due to crashing waves. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091106/3580cd02/attachment.html From jvanmoo at sisna.com Fri Nov 6 17:33:28 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 17:33:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Klamath Falls, Thursday Birding Bunch, 11-5-09 Message-ID: Hi Folks, Four of us (Mary Ellen Sargent, Melody Warner, Jean Van Hulzen and I) birded the Rocky Pt area, Odessa CG, and Eagle Ridge on 11-5-09. At a residence in Rocky Pt area the highlight was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW; other birds included EVENING GROSBEAK, PINE SISKIN, GOLDEN- CROWNED AND WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. At Odessa CG we saw PILEATED WOODPECKER, WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER, RED- SHOULDERED HAWK, BELTED KINGFISHER, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE and creepers, kinglets, chickadees. At Eagle Ridge ~400 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER were in the shallows close to shore and DUNLIN (3) were on a small sandbar. About 25 BONAPARTE'S GULLs were also in the area. We all got pretty excited when a PEREGRINE FALCON stooped on the ducks/shorebirds--we didn't see it take anything but everything scattered. Also in this area we saw a CLARK'S NUTCRACKER, AMERICAN AVOCET (35), HAIRY WOODPECKER, BALD EAGLE. I continued birding into the afternoon on the Lower Klamath (OR side) but high winds were blowing the dust around and getting out of the car to scope was not easy--dust in your face, scope shaking, etc. Highlights: SNOW GOOSE (16), HORNED LARK (13), RED-TAILED HAWK (10), ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (5), NORTHERN HARRIER (4 or 5), and one YELLOW- HEADED BLACKBIRD in a mixed flock of Red-winged Blackbirds and a few starlings. All in all, a good day in the field. Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath FAlls From celata at pacifier.com Fri Nov 6 21:08:13 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:08:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Photo: Red-shouldered Hawk Message-ID: <4AF500BD.6090101@pacifier.com> http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12590/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From tetraka at yahoo.com Fri Nov 6 21:48:49 2009 From: tetraka at yahoo.com (Robert Lockett) Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 21:48:49 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] exact date of arrival please Message-ID: <22652.16790.qm@web112415.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Hello friends: ? Welcome to join our company' member club . Everybody here can enjoy our products' member price. All customers can browse through our company's home page---- www.buysell08.com> for latest information . Our products (notebook PC,digital camera,plasma and LCD TV,digital DV,Motos,phones,Mp3/4,and so on) all have low price and high quality in order to attract more new customers to cooperate with us . Hope here is your shopping heaven! Please contact me via e-mail: buysell08 at ymail.com? ? Best regards NO.E4606 ?now:350 EUR ?member:328 EUR Nokia N900 Cell Phone 32GB Unlocked NO.E4618 ?now:550 EUR ?member:495 EUR IBM ThinkPad-Laptop-X200T-CTO-12.1"TFT-SL9400 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091106/121f5fee/attachment.html From tetraka at yahoo.com Fri Nov 6 21:48:49 2009 From: tetraka at yahoo.com (Robert Lockett) Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 21:48:49 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] exact date of arrival please Message-ID: <22652.16790.qm@web112415.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Hello friends: ? Welcome to join our company' member club . Everybody here can enjoy our products' member price. All customers can browse through our company's home page---- www.buysell08.com> for latest information . Our products (notebook PC,digital camera,plasma and LCD TV,digital DV,Motos,phones,Mp3/4,and so on) all have low price and high quality in order to attract more new customers to cooperate with us . Hope here is your shopping heaven! Please contact me via e-mail: buysell08 at ymail.com? ? Best regards NO.E4606 ?now:350 EUR ?member:328 EUR Nokia N900 Cell Phone 32GB Unlocked NO.E4618 ?now:550 EUR ?member:495 EUR IBM ThinkPad-Laptop-X200T-CTO-12.1"TFT-SL9400 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091106/121f5fee/attachment-0001.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Sat Nov 7 07:51:27 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 07:51:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Brown Booby present Saturday AM Message-ID: Russ Namitz called about 7:30 AM on his way to a training session. The BROWN BOOBY was still there this morning, currently best seen from Hedge Lane. It was on the shorter navigation marker with the solar panel. Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland. From jplissner at yahoo.com Sat Nov 7 08:05:43 2009 From: jplissner at yahoo.com (Jonathan Plissner) Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 08:05:43 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] SJCR Snow Bunting & Barview Rock Sandpipers Message-ID: <462368.61082.qm@web45403.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> In search of PacNW specialties with a visiting birding friend, I was witness to Mike Patterson's good deed for a wayward phalarope at the South Jetty of the Columbia yesterday (Friday).? Fifteen minutes after last seeing Mike at the beach on the Columbia side of the base of the jetty, a SNOW BUNTING popped out of the beach wrack (sorry, Mike, I should have gotten your cell #). Further down the coast in the afternoon, we stopped at the Barview Jetty, where a small crowd was watching the impressive surf. Four ROCK SANDPIPERS were present and trying to roost with a group of five black turnstones at the base of the jetty, although no spot was free of the spray on this day. It was the only lifer of the trip for my friend, as marbled murrelets, if present, were unlikely to be (and not) seen under these conditions. We tried at Cape Meares and did observe a couple of NORTHERN FULMAR from the lighthouse (plus a great look at one of the local PEREGRINE FALCONS from the overlook near the parking lot). We wondered about the amount of foam that was present within 100+ meters of the shore almost everywhere we stopped.? Is it all attributable to the algal bloom or does it normally occur to some extent during periods of high surf? We didn't walk any coastal beaches; so, we didn't encounter any stranded birds or carcasses during the day. Jon Plissner plissner2 at hotmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091107/52340806/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Sat Nov 7 09:19:56 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 09:19:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: 6:30-8:30 (11/7): mostly overcast wind SW 5-15 swells 15+ visibility severely limited by incoming fog after 7:30 700 Red-throated Loon 900 Pacific Loon 400 Common Loon 8 Red-necked Grebe 6 Western Grebe 120 Northern Fulmar (shift to 60%+ light) 45 Brown Pelican 1 Double-crested Cormorant 80 Brandt's Cormorant (most N) 15 Pelagic Cormorant 680 Brant 3 Black Scoter 50 White-winged Scoter 800 Surf Scoter 150 Red Phalarope 40 Bonaparte's Gull 500+ Mew Gull 300+ California Gull 4+ Herring Gull 2000+ Western Gull (most in first 45 min, most adult) 300+ Glaucous-winged Gull (mixed ages) 200 Heermann's Gull 5 Black-legged Kittiwake 1000 Common Murre 4 Pigeon Guillemot 16 Marbled Murrelet 1 Rhinoceros Auklet Phil philliplc at charter.net From greg at thebirdguide.com Sat Nov 7 10:02:41 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 10:02:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] snipe hunt Message-ID: <824772B5CE5B4CC29211D4DFFC7B4DA5@GREG> I photographed a Wilson's Snipe "hiding" behind some vegetation. I posted it along with a bit of natural history information. It is "Let's go on a snipe hunt" on the Pacific NW Backyard Birder blog: http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/. Be sure to read the comments by Robert Mortenson. Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From whoffman at peak.org Sat Nov 7 12:24:43 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 12:24:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] South Jetty Yaquina Bay Message-ID: <1E12D64A95134A4789D6F4EA862D5715@D48XBZ51> Hi - In a brief stop at the South Jetty this morning I encountered 5 Corvallis birders, several phalaropes, including 1 Red-necked, the Snow Bunting, a group of Rockpipers that included at least 2 Rock Sandpipers, and at least 10 harlequin Ducks. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091107/a62170d1/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sat Nov 7 13:33:00 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:33:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lower Columbia Birders Trip - 11/7/2009 Message-ID: <4AF5E78C.3020004@pacifier.com> Weather was breezy with intermittent HEAVY showers. We did very little birding away from the cars. Date: November 7, 2009 Location: Clatsop County, Oregon Lower Columbia Birders - Wireless Rd, Astoria Airport, Warrenton, SJCR, Tucker Creek. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Greater White-fronted Goose 40 [1] Snow Goose 1 [2] Canada Goose Cackling Goose [3] American Wigeon Mallard Northern Shoveler Green-Winged Teal Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup 1 Lesser Scaup 70 Surf Scoter 1 Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Pied-billed Grebe 1 Western Grebe 15 Brown Pelican 8 [4] Brandt's Cormorant 1 Double-crested Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Great Blue Heron Osprey 1 Bald Eagle 6 Northern Harrier 5 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 [5] Red-tailed Hawk 5 American Kestrel 3 Merlin 1 American Coot Killdeer Sanderling Least Sandpiper 10 Dunlin 1000 Unidentified Dowitcher 3 Red Phalarope 50 [6] Heermann's Gull 1 [7] Mew Gull Ring-billed Gull California Gull Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Belted Kingfisher Northern Flicker Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet American Robin European Starling American Pipit 4 [8] Yellow-rumped Warbler Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird House Finch House Sparrow Footnotes: [1] GWFG- Many appeared to be (transient) Tule form. [2] SNGO- Juvenile with Cacklers [3] CKGO- At least 5 Aleutian form, all other typical _minima_ [4] BRPE- All fly at Columbia River mouth [5] RSHA- Warrenton near boat basin [6] REPH- Probably undercount, almost all at Parking lot C, SJCR, but 3 at Warrenton Sewage Ponds, plus several roadkills at various locations. [7] HEEG- Single bird at Hammond Boat Basin, possibly injured. [8] AMPI- Wireless Rd. Total number of species seen: 64 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From monroemolly at hotmail.com Sat Nov 7 14:24:31 2009 From: monroemolly at hotmail.com (Molly Monroe) Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 14:24:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] BSNWR gray goose Message-ID: Hi Barbara, I've recently seen this bird with Lesser Canada geese as well as another in with a few thousand cacklers nearby. They are juvenile Lesser Snow Geese. Sibley's says the gray is variable, always dingy gray on upperside. Molly~ Message: 3 Date: Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:59:54 +0000 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com Subject: [obol] BSNWR gray goose To: OBOL Message-ID: <0016e64cb3c4529ac90477bbcd6c at google.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" My husband reports that the last three times he's been to Baskett Slough, there has been one uniformly gray goose mixed in with the Canadas. He says it's about the same size. He'd love to know what it is. Thoughts? Barbara _ ( '< / ) ) //"Endangered species are sensitive indicators of how we are treating the planet and we should be listening carefully to their message EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD Join me -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091107/5a13f5a4/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Nov 7 15:31:21 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 15:31:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fw: Prineville Osprey Message-ID: <83A9A046C709493AA9614FE6179CED70@cgatesPC> This from Ron Halvorson in Prineville. ----- Original Message ----- From: Ron Halvorson To: Charles Gates Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2009 3:28 PM Subject: Osprey Hi, Chuck. I saw an Osprey today (Nov. 7) at Crooked River Park/Les Schwab Fields. This is pretty late, no? What is the latest date you have for Crook County? The masked face, coloring and body shape were indicative, and it was confirmed when I heard its call. -- Ron Halvorson 541-447-6484 ronhalvy at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091107/ebc247e4/attachment.html From dkmunson at wildblue.net Sat Nov 7 16:09:39 2009 From: dkmunson at wildblue.net (Don & Karen Munson) Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 16:09:39 -0800 (Pacific Standard Time) Subject: [obol] Binocular repair Message-ID: <4AF60C43.000005.00608@OFFICE> I have a pair of Swift binoculars that are in need of repair. Can anyone tell me of a good place or web site to find out if they are worth repairing and what to expect to pay? Thanks for any help. Karen Munson Brookings -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091107/43d57827/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 46417 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091107/43d57827/attachment.gif From sheilach at nwtec.com Sat Nov 7 16:33:00 2009 From: sheilach at nwtec.com (sheila) Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 16:33:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Their here! Message-ID: <6524435132AD473181D584BCF94391D2@sheila> Our first winter storm has hit with some fair sized waves and the winter birds are here as well. While on a wave watch trip to Chetco Point I saw BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS chasing one another around the rocks, a WESTERN GULL that ignored the noise, a string of BROWN PELICANS flying north, wet PELAGIC and DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMERANTS on the rocks drying their wings,and I heard a BLACK PHEOBE at the sewage plant. At home on Oceanview drive, the "usual suspects" have arrived, GOLD CROWN, WHITE-CROWN, SONG, a LINCOLINS and a tan morph(as usual) WHITE THROAT SPARROWS, AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, BLACK CAPPED and CHESTNUT BACKED CHICKADEE, HOUSE FINCHES, ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, RUBY CROWN KINGLET, HOSP'S,and flocks of EURASIAN RINGED DOVES and I suspect a SHARP SHINNED HAWK has been scaring the feathers off my HOSPS in their cages. The rain has also arrived but no rare birds so far. Sheila from Harbor Oregon From dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM Sat Nov 7 17:50:03 2009 From: dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM (Cheryl Whelchel) Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 17:50:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fw: [birding] coast---pictures Rock Sandpiper/Snow Bunting Message-ID: I posted pictures from this trip at the following link. http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/ The group consensus for the Phalarope was Red-necked, which the amount of black in plumage seems to support but I still wouldn't mind someone giving me a "lesson" on this bird. The bill just doesn't seem needle like and when the picture is enlarged I see some color at the base????? Also the refrences I checked show white lines on the scapulars which this bird does not seem to show. Cheryl Whelchel Tangent ----- Original Message ----- From: rich armstrong To: corvbird Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2009 4:36 PM Subject: [birding] coast 1. a group of 5 corvallis birders headed to the coast this morning at 530 am. 2. we arrived at boiler bay at 650 and saw 30 foot breakers and churning seas. however it was not raining and not windy. it was difficult to see birds with the mists and breakers, and especially with only 1 scope, but we tried for about 75 minutes. a. 1 dark morph NORTHERN FULMAR seen on the water and flying a little - i think all saw this b. 3 RED-NECKED GREBES flying together c. WESTERN GREBES on the water d. winter plumage PIGEON GUILLEMOT on the water e. many BONAPARTE'S GULLS f. many COMMON MURRES g. i saw all 3 loons, but others probably did not (the only 1 scope problem) h. flocks of BRANT went by close i. the legendary phil pickering was there. he saw at least 2 close kittiwakes that i could not get on to at all. 3. depoe bay had scope looks at BLACK TURNSTONE & BLACK OYSTERCATCHER 4. new port jetty area a. 1 very cooperative immature SNOW BUNTING seen by all at distance of maybe 7 feet b. 2 ROCK SANDPIPERS & about 5 SURFBIRDS & many turnstones on rocks close to the gull puddle c. 1 close WHIMBREL taking a fun bath d. 10+ HARLEQUIN DUCKS, some within 20 feet for great pictures e. 2 WHITEWINGED SCOTERS along with hundreds of SURF SCOTERS f. many BROWN PELICANS & a couple HERRMAN'S GULLS g. pelagic & brandt's cormorants side by side on same rock for great scope comparison h. RED-NECKED PHALAROPES landed next to gull puddle for great scoping i. 5 RED PHALAROPES on the water close j. walking to the jetty was getting sand-blasted so we barely made it to beginning k. a couple brebes we decided were HORNED GREBES l. maybe 10 COMMON LOONS, all in basic plumage 5. we had ZERO RAIN from 7 to 1115, and with essentailly no wind it was a fun morning 6. behind the science center it started to rain a little, but we walked out to the little shed, where it began to pour a. 1 MARBLED GODWIT right in front of us b. 4 SANDELINGS with a few dunlin stopped briefly c. excellent comparison of RING-BILLED, MEW, & CALIFORNIA GULLS, and 1 very dark backed gull we decided was a dark western. d. 1 bald eagle e. a huge raft of surf scoters and bufflehead we could not see well in the rain to look for others with them 7. since it was now terrential rain looking like it would never stopped we drove along the bay and headed home very happy we had over 4 excellent hours. we saw a scaup flock that had at least 2 lessers and many greaters, a couple more white-winged scoters quite a ways inland, and a couple more horned grebes. 8. considering the forcast, and considering we had only 1 scope, it was a very good day. 9. reminder - next saturday is the normal 1/2 day corvallis audubon trip to somewhere around corvallis to be determined. Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 _______________________________________________ list mailing list list at midvalleybirding.org http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091107/9b2d8098/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Nov 7 19:02:20 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:02:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fw: [birding] coast---pictures Rock Sandpiper/Snow Bunting In-Reply-To: Message-ID: The photos are of a Red Phalarope, not a Red-necked, that is mostly molted into nonbreeding plumage. The plain gray back and short bill are diagnostic. The fact that it has blackish here and there is no big deal. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com > From: Cheryl Whelchel > Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 17:50:03 -0800 > To: obol , midvally birding > > Subject: [obol] Fw: [birding] coast---pictures Rock Sandpiper/Snow Bunting > > I posted pictures from this trip at the following link. > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/ ow16/> > > The group consensus for the Phalarope was Red-necked, which the amount of > black in plumage seems to support but I still wouldn't mind someone giving me > a "lesson" on this bird. The bill just doesn't seem needle like and when the > picture is enlarged I see some color at the base????? Also the refrences I > checked show white lines on the scapulars which this bird does not seem to > show. > > Cheryl Whelchel > Tangent > ----- Original Message ----- > From: rich armstrong > To: corvbird > Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2009 4:36 PM > Subject: [birding] coast > > > 1. a group of 5 corvallis birders headed to the coast this morning at 530 am. > 2. we arrived at boiler bay at 650 and saw 30 foot breakers and churning seas. > however it was not raining and not windy. it was difficult to see birds with > the mists and breakers, and especially with only 1 scope, but we tried for > about 75 minutes. > a. 1 dark morph NORTHERN FULMAR seen on the water and flying a little - i > think all saw this > b. 3 RED-NECKED GREBES flying together > c. WESTERN GREBES on the water > d. winter plumage PIGEON GUILLEMOT on the water > e. many BONAPARTE'S GULLS > f. many COMMON MURRES > g. i saw all 3 loons, but others probably did not (the only 1 scope > problem) > h. flocks of BRANT went by close > i. the legendary phil pickering was there. he saw at least 2 close > kittiwakes that i could not get on to at all. > 3. depoe bay had scope looks at BLACK TURNSTONE & BLACK OYSTERCATCHER > 4. new port jetty area > a. 1 very cooperative immature SNOW BUNTING seen by all at distance of > maybe 7 feet > b. 2 ROCK SANDPIPERS & about 5 SURFBIRDS & many turnstones on rocks close > to the gull puddle > c. 1 close WHIMBREL taking a fun bath > d. 10+ HARLEQUIN DUCKS, some within 20 feet for great pictures > e. 2 WHITEWINGED SCOTERS along with hundreds of SURF SCOTERS > f. many BROWN PELICANS & a couple HERRMAN'S GULLS > g. pelagic & brandt's cormorants side by side on same rock for great scope > comparison > h. RED-NECKED PHALAROPES landed next to gull puddle for great scoping > i. 5 RED PHALAROPES on the water close > j. walking to the jetty was getting sand-blasted so we barely made it to > beginning > k. a couple brebes we decided were HORNED GREBES > l. maybe 10 COMMON LOONS, all in basic plumage > 5. we had ZERO RAIN from 7 to 1115, and with essentailly no wind it was a fun > morning > 6. behind the science center it started to rain a little, but we walked out to > the little shed, where it began to pour > a. 1 MARBLED GODWIT right in front of us > b. 4 SANDELINGS with a few dunlin stopped briefly > c. excellent comparison of RING-BILLED, MEW, & CALIFORNIA GULLS, and 1 > very dark backed gull we decided was a dark western. > d. 1 bald eagle > e. a huge raft of surf scoters and bufflehead we could not see well in the > rain to look for others with them > 7. since it was now terrential rain looking like it would never stopped we > drove along the bay and headed home very happy we had over 4 excellent hours. > we saw a scaup flock that had at least 2 lessers and many greaters, a couple > more white-winged scoters quite a ways inland, and a couple more horned > grebes. > 8. considering the forcast, and considering we had only 1 scope, it was a very > good day. > 9. reminder - next saturday is the normal 1/2 day corvallis audubon trip to > somewhere around corvallis to be determined. > Rich Armstrong > 541-753-1978 > _______________________________________________ > list mailing list > list at midvalleybirding.org > http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From celata at pacifier.com Sat Nov 7 19:12:20 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:12:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] coast---pictures Rock Sandpiper/Snow Bunting Message-ID: <4AF63714.3020703@pacifier.com> The phalarope in your photos is a RED PHALAROPE. Lots of Red Phalaropes have been blown in by the recent weather. Sibley does not really do the plumage differences between these two species justice. Many of the birds I've been seeing are young of the year and are still sporting at least a few juvenile feathers. The most reliable feature is the bill size/shape. Red Phalarope's are alway heavy and blunt looking; Red-neck's are thin and pointy. The mantle of a winter Red Phalarope is usually uniform "Glaucous-winged" gray even if there black in the crown, nape and wing-coverts. The gray on a Red-necked Phalarope is usually a shade darker with paler feather fringes and darker centers making it look streaky on the mantle. I have posted some Red Phalarope photos from yesterday, along with a photo I took some years ago of both species standing together at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From 5hats at peak.org Sat Nov 7 19:14:39 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 19:14:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gilliam, Sherman, Wasco Message-ID: Obolites, Just returned from a Nov 5-7 trip to the three counties listed. It was basically uneventful, birdwise, except for a pair of Band-tailed Pigeons at Mosier. Otherwise nothing out of the ordinary, and few birds overall. I was surprised at the small numbers of ducks along the Columbia, from Troutdale to Arlington. Darrel & Laura -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091107/82187abd/attachment.html From sparsons at canby.com Sat Nov 7 19:24:03 2009 From: sparsons at canby.com (sparsons at canby.com) Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 19:24:03 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Red Phalaropes Message-ID: <632afc407f9c08fa22952755f8bc7df5.squirrel@mail.web-ster.com> There were red phalaropes on Tillamook Bay today. I drove along the spit at Bay Ocean, and they were close in, working the area along the road. Total of about 20 birds, mixed adult and juvenile. Here's a link to a couple of photos... http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen_parsons/4084101225/ On 11/4 during the heavy wind, I saw a flock of about 50 brown pelicans working their way down the jaws of the bay into the area around Pirate's Cove. Huge flocks of wigeon. Rafts of 500 or more birds. Steve From Oropendolas at aol.com Sat Nov 7 20:44:50 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 23:44:50 EST Subject: [obol] Dexter Reservoir Message-ID: Hello All, Laura and I biked to Dexter Reservoir Southeast of Eugene today. The highlight was an unexpected 6 hours of rain-free biking and birding. Not much on the lake, but 3 EARED GREBES were in the Northeast corner (west side of the causeway) along with a few BUFFLE'S, RUDDY'S, LESSER SCAUP and about 1000 COOTS. No Loons or Long-tailed Ducks. A calling BLACK PHOEBE was in a pasture on the east side of Jasper Road as we headed out of Springfield just before Bob Straub Parkway. Good Birding, John Sullivan & Laura Jonhson Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091107/327a6d10/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sat Nov 7 20:58:45 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 23:58:45 -0500 Subject: [obol] A banner day at Bayocean Spit (Tillamook Co) Message-ID: The four of us had an incredible day at Bayocean Spit this afternoon hiking the entire 8 or so miles. It was raining most of the time, but we did get stretches where even the sun came out. There also was thunder and lightning. The surf combined with extra high tide made for an incredible spectacle on the outer beach and near the jetty. It started with around 20 RED PHALAROPES on the bay side between the parking lot and the goats about 1mi in. Pictures were easy to obtain as these birds were right at the water's edge. At the south jetty we stumbled upon a 100 bird strong flock of rockpipers with mostly Surfbirds and a few Black Turnstone that had 2 ROCK SANDPIPERS mixed in with. We also flushed 2 Black Oystercatchers from the rocks in the channel near the jetty. Heading south from the jetty along the partially non-existant beach for about 1mi, there is an area of flotsam and rip-rap that often has hunkered down shorebirds. There were a few Dunlin, 50+ Least Sandpiper, 2 Black-bellied and many Semipalmated Plover in that area, but best were 2 SNOW BUNTINGS right in with them. Just as we were crossing from the beach side over to the bay side about where the goats are was a large falcon that I'm almost 100% sure was a brown-phase GYRFALCON. We had seen a Peregrine earlier close to the turnoff to the spit and this bird was much heavier, with broader wings and labored flight. A very large bird, comparable to the 3 Ravens that it was briefly circling with. There was no moustache stripe visible. 4 wrecked Western Grebes were on the beach side in the foam. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091107/5f4c7fae/attachment.html From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Sat Nov 7 21:36:52 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 21:36:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Bay report Message-ID: Dave Irons, Diane Pettey and I drove down to Coos Bay to look for the BROWN BOOBY this morning and saw it on its the taller of the two towers (the metal one) around NOON. We viewed it from Hedge Lane. The number of BROWN PELICANS was really impressive, including the fact that most of them were adults. The weather was reasonable for the most part, except very windy. The very high surf was impressive! Lots of storm watchers out and about. BASTENDORF BEACH: RED-PHALAROPES - 10, including one that was still mainly in juvenile plumage CAPE ARAGO: We spent about 45 minutes seawatching from Cape Arago, hiding out of the powerful south wind as best we could. Highlights were: NORTHERN FULMAR - 2 SOOTY/SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATERS - 2 RED PHALAROPE - ? BRANT - 120 (two separate flocks heading south) There were numbers of cormorants, loons, murres, and gulls sailing by at rapid clips in the winds. Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091107/7ee4d677/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sun Nov 8 11:22:21 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 11:22:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay, South Jetty Message-ID: Seawatch at Boiler Bay from 7:50 to 9:00 today (Nov. 8) with 10 minutes off for a rain-delay. Overcast, breeze from south, substsantial swell and chop, but much better visibility than yesterday. Highlights were a single Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel very close in, a Jaeger (Parasitic or Pomarine), and an adult basic plumage Tufted Puffin. Everyting is southbound, unless otherwise indicated. Brant 98 Greater Scaup 6 Surf Scoter 1200 80 on water White-winged Scoter 265 Red-breasted Merganser 15 Pacific Loon 250 Red-throated Loon 60 Common Loon 25 Red-necked Grebe 12 Western Grebe 20 on water Northern Fulmar 4 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel 1 S. 100m from shore Brown Pelican 65 mostly N. DC Cormorant + Brandt's Cormorant + Pelagic Cormorant + Bald Eagle 1 Ad, perched in Spruce across hwy Red Phalarope 18 Jaeger sp. 1 dark phase imm. south at 1/2 mile Heermann's Gull 85 Mew Gull 14 Western Gull + Glaucous-winged Gull 35 Herring Gull 4 Common Murre 55 some N, some on water Pigeon Guillemot 2 N Tufted Puffin 1 N, 50' off water, at 200M At 10 AM I stopped by the South Jetty, Yaquina Bay. The Snow Bunting is still present. Wayne Hoffman -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091108/1d134342/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sun Nov 8 11:32:20 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 19:32:20 +0000 Subject: [obol] Red Phaloropes in Bandon Message-ID: Red phaloropes in Bandon as well. Two on beach, one in grassy area in Redmnond pond just off road to jetty. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From dlbird at earthlink.net Sun Nov 8 12:16:52 2009 From: dlbird at earthlink.net (Donna Lusthoff) Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 12:16:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gilliam, Sherman, Wasco In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <9C07649A0499462892745ED4BB429E51@Donna> Just for your information, at least in the past, Band-tailed Pigeons are/were quite uncommon in Wasco County. If I recall, I saw or heard them 4 times. Craig Corder had only one during his explorations of Wasco. Glad to hear someone is checking things out in Wasco. Donna Lusthoff -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Darrel Faxon Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2009 7:15 PM To: Obol Subject: [obol] Gilliam, Sherman, Wasco Obolites, Just returned from a Nov 5-7 trip to the three counties listed. It was basically uneventful, birdwise, except for a pair of Band-tailed Pigeons at Mosier. Otherwise nothing out of the ordinary, and few birds overall. I was surprised at the small numbers of ducks along the Columbia, from Troutdale to Arlington. Darrel & Laura -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091108/43ba97bb/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Sun Nov 8 12:42:24 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:42:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Goats???Re: A banner day at Bayocean Spit (Tillamook Co) Message-ID: <4AF72D30.80908@pdx.edu> What are goats doing on Bayocean? > *Subject: A banner day at Bayocean Spit (Tillamook Co)* > From: Stefan Schlick > Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 23:58:45 -0500 > The four of us had an incredible day at Bayocean Spit this afternoon hiking the > entire 8 or so miles. It was raining most of the time, but we did get stretches > where even the sun came out. There also was thunder and lightning. The surf > combined with extra high tide made for an incredible spectacle on the outer > beach and near the jetty. > > > It started with around 20 RED PHALAROPES on the bay side between the parking > lot and the goats about 1mi in. Pictures were easy to obtain as these birds > were right at the water's edge. > > > At the south jetty we stumbled upon a 100 bird strong flock of rockpipers with > mostly Surfbirds and a few Black Turnstone that had 2 ROCK SANDPIPERS mixed in > with. We also flushed 2 Black Oystercatchers from the rocks in the channel near > the jetty. > > > Heading south from the jetty along the partially non-existant beach for about > 1mi, there is an area of flotsam and rip-rap that often has hunkered down > shorebirds. There were a few Dunlin, 50+ Least Sandpiper, 2 Black-bellied and > many Semipalmated Plover in that area, but best were 2 SNOW BUNTINGS right in > with them. > > > Just as we were crossing from the beach side over to the bay side about where > the goats are was a large falcon that I'm almost 100% sure was a brown-phase > GYRFALCON. We had seen a Peregrine earlier close to the turnoff to the spit and > this bird was much heavier, with broader wings and labored flight. A very large > bird, comparable to the 3 Ravens that it was briefly circling with. There was > no moustache stripe visible. > > > 4 wrecked Western Grebes were on the beach side in the foam. > > Stefan Schlick > Hillsboro, OR > From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Nov 8 13:35:12 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:35:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lane coast birds Message-ID: I spent the morning in coastal Lane Co. The weather was blustrous and squallatory and nonconducive to birding, but I saw a bit. 4 RED Phal at north jetty backwater Florence 3 Peregrines 1 ad Bald Eagle at Lily Lake Loads of gulls. Tally for the morning about 6000 California (half at mouth of Siuslaw), 50 herring, 2 Thayer's, plenty of Westerns, very few G-wings, five Heermann's and an astonishly low number of Mew for mid-November, maybe 10 birds all day. I have seen very few first-year Westerns this fall; did they have a bad breeding season? BEWICK's wren in the rocks along the edge of the n jetty backwater was a little odd. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From baileydc at pdx.edu Sun Nov 8 13:59:39 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:59:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Goats???Re: A banner day at Bayocean Spit (Tillamook Co) In-Reply-To: <4AF72D30.80908@pdx.edu> References: <4AF72D30.80908@pdx.edu> Message-ID: <4AF73F4B.7050203@pdx.edu> Thanks to JG and some googling on my own I have answered my question. The curious can go to: http://oregonshores.org/topic.php5?section=0&topic=Tillamook%3A+Bayocean David C. Bailey wrote: > What are goats doing on Bayocean? > > From 4cains at charter.net Sun Nov 8 17:41:51 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 17:41:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gyrfalcon at South Jetty of Columbia River Message-ID: <5FDB1C4D228145B98F348488C99128D9@HAL> Took the dog out to the South Jetty of the Columbia at about 1530 hrs. My son Evan wanted to shoot pics of all the Red Phalaropes, so I went the other way while he headed to the flooded ponds. I should have gone with them -- a dark-phase GYRFALCON was harassing the phalaropes. It was a ways off but he managed to get these photos, now at his Surfbirds site: http://surfbirds.com/blog/townsendi/ . Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091108/1b029bbc/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sun Nov 8 15:23:03 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 15:23:03 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Lane coast Red Phalarope Message-ID: <463461.53196.qm@web37002.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, on a hunch, I swung by the North Jetty in Florence on my way home from the store this afternoon, and it paid off: a lone and very tame RED PHALAROPE was foraging along the shoreline of the flooded crabbing flats. Lots of BROWN PELICANS and assorted gulls there, too. Good birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091108/fc4878d1/attachment.html From mcdonald-davis at talktalk.net Sat Nov 7 07:55:06 2009 From: mcdonald-davis at talktalk.net (ken davis) Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 15:55:06 -0000 Subject: [obol] birding in Oregon Message-ID: A big thanks to all the people who took the time to send me e-mails re the above. Best Regards K A Davis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091107/0878d833/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sun Nov 8 19:30:31 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 22:30:31 -0500 Subject: [obol] A banner day at Bayocean Spit (Tillamook Co) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I added a couple of Snow Bunting pictures to my blog at http://birdmeister.wordpress.com. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR From: greenfant at hotmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 23:58:45 -0500 Subject: [obol] A banner day at Bayocean Spit (Tillamook Co) The four of us had an incredible day at Bayocean Spit this afternoon hiking the entire 8 or so miles. It was raining most of the time, but we did get stretches where even the sun came out. There also was thunder and lightning. The surf combined with extra high tide made for an incredible spectacle on the outer beach and near the jetty. It started with around 20 RED PHALAROPES on the bay side between the parking lot and the goats about 1mi in. Pictures were easy to obtain as these birds were right at the water's edge. At the south jetty we stumbled upon a 100 bird strong flock of rockpipers with mostly Surfbirds and a few Black Turnstone that had 2 ROCK SANDPIPERS mixed in with. We also flushed 2 Black Oystercatchers from the rocks in the channel near the jetty. Heading south from the jetty along the partially non-existant beach for about 1mi, there is an area of flotsam and rip-rap that often has hunkered down shorebirds. There were a few Dunlin, 50+ Least Sandpiper, 2 Black-bellied and many Semipalmated Plover in that area, but best were 2 SNOW BUNTINGS right in with them. Just as we were crossing from the beach side over to the bay side about where the goats are was a large falcon that I'm almost 100% sure was a brown-phase GYRFALCON. We had seen a Peregrine earlier close to the turnoff to the spit and this bird was much heavier, with broader wings and labored flight. A very large bird, comparable to the 3 Ravens that it was briefly circling with. There was no moustache stripe visible. 4 wrecked Western Grebes were on the beach side in the foam. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now. Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now. _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091108/fe29e699/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Sun Nov 8 19:33:40 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 19:33:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos birds 11/8 Message-ID: Storm birds and wave action have severely decreased. I looked at the ocean at the end of Cape Arago and saw a few BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, only 1 RED PHALAROPE, a POMARINE JAEGER and a NORTHERN FULMAR among the nearshore species in 1/2 hr at 11am. The BROWN BOOBY was on its usual perch this afternoon. There was also a RODENKIRK flitting about Millicoma Marsh and the North Spit. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091108/1a020594/attachment.html From gismiller at gmail.com Sun Nov 8 20:21:38 2009 From: gismiller at gmail.com (Craig Miller) Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:21:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lapland Longspur - Hatfield Lake Message-ID: <4AF798D2.7090905@gmail.com> Sunday 8 November 2009 Marilyn and I stopped by Hatfield treatment ponds near Bend this afternoon and found a lone LAPLAND LONGSPUR skulking through the weeds on the southwest side of the front pond. Craig Miller Bend From baileydc at pdx.edu Sun Nov 8 20:40:14 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (baileydc at pdx.edu) Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:40:14 GMT Subject: [obol] Red Phalaropes in the Necanicum Estuary Message-ID: <200911090440.nA94eE2c008999@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for David C. Bailey by http://birdnotes.net Date: November 8, 2009 Location: Necanicum River Estuary, Clatsop County, Oregon An afternoon walk down to Little Beach and across the dune to the ocean shore and back. High tide and not much in the estuary. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Mallard 2 Bufflehead 2 Northern Harrier 2 Red Phalarope 4 [1] Mew Gull California Gull Western Gull Anna's Hummingbird 2 Northern Flicker 1 Steller's Jay 2 American Crow 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2 Winter Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Townsend's Warbler 3 Fox Sparrow 1 Footnotes: [1] Red Phalarope: recent storm refuges no doubt. Total number of species seen: 18 From campbell at peak.org Sun Nov 8 22:01:50 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 22:01:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Linn/Benton Common Loon, other Peoria birds Message-ID: <7EE0E3B886E346FD9CFC1202C5910E1E@maryPC> Tuesday (11/03), we had a COMMON LOON in the slough across the river from our house (and therefore in Benton County). I spotted it not long before sundown, when I stepped through our front door. It stayed about twenty minutes, and when it flew it conveniently crossed into Linn County and onto my county list for this year. This isn't the first Common Loon we've had here in Peoria. Dec. 7, 2007, a Common Loon drifted right by in the middle of the river, apparently taking a rest. Some other recent birds from the Peoria area: EARED GREBE at Halsey sewage ponds, 11/01. Peregrine Falcon at Snag Boat Bend, 11/01. Peregrine Falcon across the river, 11/02. WHITE-TAILED KITE over our house, 11/07. (This is a first for our yard, and a first for me in Linn County, despite the fact that we live less than 5 miles from Finley.) Farther afield--but still in the greater Peoria area--there were eight Barrow's Goldeneyes below the dam at Foster Res. on 11/3, and one EARED GREBE and one HORNED GREBE on the lake. Today I completed a survey of the river between Snag Boat Bend and Willamette Park, including a circumnavigation of Kiger Island--a 10+ mile stretch of river, paddled both up and down. I found: Three Bald Eagles, all adults. Two Rough-legged Hawks. Two Spotted Sandpipers. Six Kingfishers. At least four Black Phoebes--one in our back yard, one on the west side of SBB and one across the river to the east, and one behind Kiger Island. Three BARN SWALLOWS. Many Double-crested Cormorants. Very few ducks--only Mallards (12), Wood Ducks(9?), and one Common Merganser. (In fact, I think I may have seen more duck hunters than ducks. Not a good ratio.) Randy Campbell Peoria No machines were used, or abused, in the finding of these birds. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091108/209242f8/attachment.html From c.n.holcomb at gmail.com Sun Nov 8 23:31:26 2009 From: c.n.holcomb at gmail.com (Neil Holcomb) Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 23:31:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Curry Co. - 11/8/2009 Message-ID: <6e759fac0911082331l5bcd0fbl34932827ed184e80@mail.gmail.com> At the lagoon SOUTH of the Pistol River in Pistol River State Park this morning: Pacific Loon - 1 Double-crested Cormorant - 3 Mallard - 4 American Wigeon - 31 Lesser Scaup - 5, including 1 male with a distinct brown ring at base of neck, ala Ring-necked Duck. Anyone run across Scaup x Ring-necked crosses before? Doesn't seem too unlikely. Bufflehead - 53 Canada Goose - 71 (1 Cackler) Great Blue Heron - 1 Northern Harrier - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Gyrfalcon (dark phase) - 1 Common Raven - 2 About 1030 the Gyrfalcon flew east from the area of the foredune, directly at the head of a flying Great Blue Heron, either making contact with, or near missing, the heron. The heron alarm-called as it evaded the Gyrfalcon, which then flew south along the lagoon's west shore. A large raven began continuously harassing the Gyrfalcon until it rolled onto its back and reached its talons toward the raven, which broke contact and flew west toward the beach. The Gyrfalcon landed on top of the foredune but had just settled on the sand when a raven (same one?) flew at it from the west, and began diving at it. The Gyrfalcon flew south, then out of sight to the west beyond the dune. The Gyrfalcons I've previously seen were grey-phase juveniles in the Willamette Valley. In addition to this bird's large size and the wing and tail shapes, this morning's good light made the heavy brown streaking on the underparts, dark mask, yellow cere and feet and unbarred tail quite visible. In powered flight the wingbeats looked slow and deep, and the bird seemed generally less agile than a Peregrine. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091108/39ec039f/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Nov 9 06:03:28 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 06:03:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon Gyrfalcons Message-ID: <35092477-93D9-4EE0-BBA8-AEAC9FA2B21E@earthlink.net> "I know it's out of fashion, "And a trifle uncool, But I can't help it, I'm a romantic fool..." Now go to Lee Cain's posting and look at Evan Cain's photos of a black Gyrfalcon taken at the Columbia South Jetty today. He apologizes for their quality, but there is absolutely no need. In many ways these are the best bird pictures from Oregon that I've ever looked at. I've seen three Gyrfalcons in Oregon in forty years of birding. I can recall three postings in the last two weeks, roughly, that surely involve three separate birds. All the ones I've seen were gray phase. Among the grungiest birds I can recall, making most sub-adult gulls look neat and glamorous by comparison. I can't think of any other species this charismatic that can look so un-noticeable. Given their penchant for perching on the ground, and flying close to it, I imagine more are missed by Oregon birders than detected. And many detected birds go unreported. After decades of not seeing one, what does one do with a species that has no real field marks? At least for the novice and intermediate birder, it's hard to come up with any markings that definitively set this species apart from numerous more common raptors. It's strictly birding by jiz, which a lot of folks are uncomfortable with when it comes to putting something on their life lists. Someone a few weeks back asked if there was a pattern to Gyrfalcon sightings in Oregon. While they or someone else surmised there was none, my immediate response was "Cackling Geese". Yesterday as I traversed the Tualatin Basin repeatedly, Cackling Geese were seldom out of sight. They have been showing up for three weeks now, about when the Gyrfalcon reports began. There's a junior at Summit High School in Bend named Kellie Schueller who can run the 400m in 55 seconds or less. That's much faster than most men of any age will ever run this event. She doesn't seem to be straining herself at all. As she crosses the finish line 10m ahead of the second place it's hard to notice her legs moving. I get the same visceral response watching her run "the hardest event in track" as I do seeing a Peregrine on the wing. As a Peregrine traverses Netarts Bay or the shorebird pans at Royal Avenue, it doesn't really appear to be beating its wings. I don't know any other bird that makes flying look so effortless. There's a lot of sprinters out there, male and female, who look too heavy to be good at the 400. Then they get on the track and win. They don't make it look easy. They are the Gyrfalcons. Their stride is choppy compared to Kellie or the Peregrines, but they are very fast. It's not a fair contest for the Cacklers, but then there's more where they came from. A lot more every year. I know the number of skilled birders has increased considerably in Oregon in the course of my life. Probably comensurate with the increase in Gyrfalcon reports. But the population of Cacklers has increased by several orders of magnitude at the same time. As I alluded, I'm a romantic and proud of it. I can't offer empirical evidence for the Cackler connection. I didn't even sprout the idea myself, nor can I recall who put the bug in my brain. Most of my daylight hours from November 1 to April 1 are spent in the vicinity of prime Cackler habitat, so my world view is very prejudiced. Whether you are a novice or hold a list of 700, take a look at Evan's pictures. It's about as good as seeing the living bird. Arguably better, in light of the viewing conditions that prevail while Gyrs are in our midst. Lars Norgren From jonysky101 at aol.com Mon Nov 9 06:36:13 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:36:13 -0500 Subject: [obol] Birdinf Newport, are the birds still there? Message-ID: <8CC2F611F057723-830C-5AFF@webmail-m036.sysops.aol.com> I read about the really neat birds that were seen and photographed at the South Jetty in Newport the last few days. The storms off the coast had apparently broght them in. I wasn't able to come over the weekend because that's my work week. But if the birds like the HARLEQUIN DUCKS, RED PHALAROPES and the Snow Buntings are still around I'd head out that way tomorrow or Wednesday to try and find them. I don't have any of them on my list. Does anyone know what the birding is like around Newport now? Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091109/aac8c2a7/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Mon Nov 9 07:06:49 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 07:06:49 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Gyrfalcon at South Jetty of Columbia River In-Reply-To: <5FDB1C4D228145B98F348488C99128D9@HAL> Message-ID: <295061.94737.qm@web39708.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Lee, Thanks for the gyr photos. I can't tell the sex or color phase, or age, but this certainly looks like a gyr to me. In the 2nd. photo, the falcon appears to be packing something. These photos show how much wider the wing of a gyr is compared to a peregrine, and how much more rounded the tip is. Peregrine wing tips are much more pointed, and the tail is shorter. Best, Dick --- On Sun, 11/8/09, Lee and Lori Cain <4cains at charter.net> wrote: > From: Lee and Lori Cain <4cains at charter.net> > Subject: [obol] Gyrfalcon at South Jetty of Columbia River > To: "OBOL" > Date: Sunday, November 8, 2009, 5:41 PM > > > > > > > > Took the dog out to the South Jetty of the Columbia at > about 1530 > hrs.? My son Evan wanted to shoot pics of all the Red > Phalaropes, so I went > the other way while he headed to the flooded > ponds.?? I should have > gone with them -- a dark-phase GYRFALCON was harassing the > phalaropes.? It > was a ways off but he managed to get these photos, now at > his Surfbirds site: http://surfbirds.com/blog/townsendi/?. > ? > Lee Cain > Astoria, Or > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From 5hats at peak.org Mon Nov 9 07:19:29 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 07:19:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon Gyrfalcons References: <35092477-93D9-4EE0-BBA8-AEAC9FA2B21E@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <8955645B463A4900912ED2439424537B@your5rlp3a9516> Lars, Interesting analogy about the different jizz of sprinters. Over the years I have seen four Gyrfalcons in Lincoln County. While most of the time they do appear to be putting more labor into flight than Peregrines, I once saw a gyr at Yaquina Head that impressed me with its power of flight as much as I have ever been impressed. It was perched in a spruce tree on the west edge of the head. From there it flew northeast, gaining in altitude. About the time it soared over the lighthouse it apparently saw something it deemed worthy of pursuit. Without so much as a flap of the wing, it went into a power dive that carried it out of sight in an astonishingly short time. It was a big gyr, and to see a bird so large travelling so fast without apparent effort was impressive indeed. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Norgren Family" To: Sent: Monday, November 09, 2009 6:03 AM Subject: [obol] Oregon Gyrfalcons > "I know it's out of fashion, > "And a trifle uncool, > But I can't help it, > I'm a romantic fool..." > Now go to Lee Cain's posting > and look at Evan Cain's photos of > a black Gyrfalcon taken at the > Columbia South Jetty today. He > apologizes for their quality, but > there is absolutely no need. In many > ways these are the best bird pictures > from Oregon that I've ever looked at. > I've seen three Gyrfalcons in > Oregon in forty years of birding. I > can recall three postings in the last > two weeks, roughly, that surely involve > three separate birds. All the ones I've > seen were gray phase. Among the grungiest > birds I can recall, making most sub-adult > gulls look neat and glamorous by comparison. > I can't think of any other species > this charismatic that can look so un-noticeable. > Given their penchant for perching on the > ground, and flying close to it, I imagine > more are missed by Oregon birders than > detected. And many detected birds go > unreported. After decades of not seeing > one, what does one do with a species that > has no real field marks? At least for the > novice and intermediate birder, it's hard > to come up with any markings that definitively > set this species apart from numerous more > common raptors. It's strictly birding by > jiz, which a lot of folks are uncomfortable > with when it comes to putting something > on their life lists. > Someone a few weeks back asked if there > was a pattern to Gyrfalcon sightings in > Oregon. While they or someone else surmised > there was none, my immediate response was > "Cackling Geese". Yesterday as I traversed > the Tualatin Basin repeatedly, Cackling Geese > were seldom out of sight. They have been showing > up for three weeks now, about when the Gyrfalcon > reports began. > There's a junior at Summit High School > in Bend named Kellie Schueller who can run > the 400m in 55 seconds or less. That's much > faster than most men of any age will ever > run this event. She doesn't seem to be > straining herself at all. As she crosses > the finish line 10m ahead of the second > place it's hard to notice her legs moving. > I get the same visceral response watching > her run "the hardest event in track" as I > do seeing a Peregrine on the wing. As a > Peregrine traverses Netarts Bay or the > shorebird pans at Royal Avenue, it doesn't > really appear to be beating its wings. I > don't know any other bird that makes flying > look so effortless. > There's a lot of sprinters out there, > male and female, who look too heavy to be > good at the 400. Then they get on the track > and win. They don't make it look easy. They > are the Gyrfalcons. Their stride is choppy > compared to Kellie or the Peregrines, but > they are very fast. It's not a fair contest > for the Cacklers, but then there's more > where they came from. A lot more every year. > I know the number of skilled birders has > increased considerably in Oregon in the course > of my life. Probably comensurate with the > increase in Gyrfalcon reports. But the population > of Cacklers has increased by several orders > of magnitude at the same time. > As I alluded, I'm a romantic and proud of > it. I can't offer empirical evidence for > the Cackler connection. I didn't even sprout > the idea myself, nor can I recall who put > the bug in my brain. Most of my daylight > hours from November 1 to April 1 are spent > in the vicinity of prime Cackler habitat, > so my world view is very prejudiced. Whether > you are a novice or hold a list of 700, take > a look at Evan's pictures. It's about as good > as seeing the living bird. Arguably better, > in light of the viewing conditions that > prevail while Gyrs are in our midst. Lars Norgren > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Mon Nov 9 07:42:05 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 07:42:05 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Oregon Gyrfalcons In-Reply-To: <35092477-93D9-4EE0-BBA8-AEAC9FA2B21E@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <114016.68915.qm@web39704.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Lars, I suspect you are correct about the "cackler connection." I've seen gyrs tackle and kill lesser Canada geese, so the cacklers are well within their capabilities. As you pointed out, gyrs are incredibily fast flyers, much faster then peregrines. If you get to see these two birds flying together, it's readily apparent. Peregrines may be as fast (or faster) in a dive, but not in powered level flight. I know a pilot that "paced' an adult female gyr for eight miles. He did not "push" the falcon, and told me it only occasionally glanced at his light airplane. During this eight miles the gyr climbed 300 ft. and maintained a speed of 85 to 90 miles per hour. He commented upon a completely different wing beat, with the tips held backwards, and all the propelling force coming from its shoulders. I know of no bird that a gyr can't "fly down"----and I've watched them catch mallards with ease. I saw an adult bald eagle that was harrassed by an imm. gyr (on a duck), and completely "ran out" of an area. I've seen an adult male gyr "punch" a golden eagle from below, and the eagle fell out of the sky as if someone shot it. The eagle recovered somewhat, and didn't hit the ground too hard. There's lots of reasons to be romantic about these dramatic falcons. Best, Dick --- On Mon, 11/9/09, Norgren Family wrote: > From: Norgren Family > Subject: [obol] Oregon Gyrfalcons > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Monday, November 9, 2009, 6:03 AM > ? ? ? "I know it's out > of fashion, > "And a trifle uncool, > ? ? ? But I can't help it, > I'm a romantic fool..." > ? ? ? Now go to Lee Cain's posting > and look at Evan Cain's photos of > a black Gyrfalcon taken at the > Columbia South Jetty today. He > apologizes for their quality, but > there is absolutely no need. In many > ways these are the best bird pictures > from Oregon that I've ever looked at. > ? ? ? I've seen three Gyrfalcons in > Oregon in forty years of birding. I > can recall three postings in the last > two weeks, roughly, that surely involve > three separate birds. All the ones I've > seen were gray phase. Among the grungiest > birds I can recall, making most sub-adult > gulls look neat and glamorous by comparison. > ? ? ? I can't think of any other species > this charismatic that can look so un-noticeable. > Given their penchant for perching on the > ground, and flying close to it, I imagine > more are missed by Oregon birders than > detected. And many detected birds go > unreported. After decades of not seeing > one, what does one do with a species that > has no real field marks? At least for the > novice and intermediate birder, it's hard > to come up with any markings that definitively > set this species apart from numerous more > common raptors. It's strictly birding by > jiz, which a lot of folks are uncomfortable > with when it comes to putting something > on their life lists. > ? ? ? Someone a few weeks back asked if > there > was a pattern to Gyrfalcon sightings in > Oregon. While they or someone else surmised > there was none, my immediate response was > "Cackling Geese". Yesterday as I traversed > the Tualatin Basin repeatedly, Cackling Geese > were seldom out of sight. They have been showing > up for three weeks now, about when the Gyrfalcon > reports began. > ? ???There's a junior at Summit High > School > in Bend named Kellie Schueller who can run > the 400m in 55 seconds or less. That's much > faster than most men of any age will ever > run this event. She doesn't seem to be > straining herself at all. As she crosses > the finish line 10m ahead of the second > place it's hard to notice her legs moving. > I get the same visceral response watching > her run "the hardest event in track" as I > do seeing a Peregrine on the wing. As a > Peregrine traverses Netarts Bay or the > shorebird pans at Royal Avenue, it doesn't > really appear to be beating its wings. I > don't know any other bird that makes flying > look so effortless. > ? ? ? There's a lot of sprinters out there, > male and female, who look too heavy to be > good at the 400. Then they get on the track > and win. They don't make it look easy. They > are the Gyrfalcons. Their stride is choppy > compared to Kellie or the Peregrines, but > they are very fast. It's not a fair contest > for the Cacklers, but then there's more > where they came from. A lot more every year. > I know the number of skilled birders has > increased considerably in Oregon in the course > of my life. Probably comensurate with the > increase in Gyrfalcon reports. But the population > of Cacklers has increased by several orders > of magnitude at the same time. > ? ? ? As I alluded, I'm a romantic and proud > of > it. I can't offer empirical evidence for > the Cackler connection. I didn't even sprout > the idea myself, nor can I recall who put > the bug in my brain. Most of my daylight > hours from November 1 to April 1 are spent > in the vicinity of prime Cackler habitat, > so my world view is very prejudiced. Whether > you are a novice or hold a list of 700, take > a look at Evan's pictures. It's about as good > as seeing the living bird. Arguably better, > in light of the viewing conditions that > prevail while Gyrs are in our midst.? Lars Norgren > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From calypsobulbosa at gmail.com Mon Nov 9 07:52:23 2009 From: calypsobulbosa at gmail.com (Desiree Johnson) Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 07:52:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Birdinf Newport, are the birds still there? In-Reply-To: <8CC2F611F057723-830C-5AFF@webmail-m036.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CC2F611F057723-830C-5AFF@webmail-m036.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <9759bfe40911090752u2d802cfdrce3e38372437397f@mail.gmail.com> We were in Newport this weekend and saw Harlequin Ducks at the South Jetty and Red Phalaropes on the Bayfront. Desiree & Iain Bend, OR 2009/11/9 > I read about the really neat birds that were seen and photographed at the > South Jetty in Newport the last few days. The storms off the coast had > apparently broght them in. I wasn't able to come over the weekend because > that's my work week. But if the birds like the HARLEQUIN DUCKS, RED > PHALAROPES and the Snow Buntings are still around I'd head out that way > tomorrow or Wednesday to try and find them. I don't have any of them on my > list. Does anyone know what the birding is like around Newport now? > ** > *Johnny Sasko* > *Sandy, Or* > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- everyday is an awesome day -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091109/9571ceb1/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Mon Nov 9 07:52:54 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 07:52:54 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coopers then Goshawk Message-ID: <137344.71631.qm@web39701.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello, On Saturday we noticed an imm. female coop in the hen house----all chickens ok---it was likely chasing sparrows. It was able to free itself. Yesterday a large female imm. goshawk chased my pigeons around until it finally caught one. I was able to get good looks at both of these accipiters for positive ID's. Best, Dick From acontrer at mindspring.com Mon Nov 9 08:02:45 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 08:02:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon Gyrfalcons In-Reply-To: <114016.68915.qm@web39704.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <114016.68915.qm@web39704.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <7B63C431-5D9A-42CE-8494-BC70917C804A@mindspring.com> What impresses me about gyrfalcon in flight is that it can accelerate without seeming to expend much energy, the opposite of a Merlin. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone On Nov 9, 2009, at 7:42 AM, Richard and Marilyn Musser wrote: > Hi Lars, > I suspect you are correct about the "cackler connection." I've > seen gyrs tackle and kill lesser Canada geese, so the cacklers are > well within their capabilities. > As you pointed out, gyrs are incredibily fast flyers, much > faster then peregrines. If you get to see these two birds flying > together, it's readily apparent. Peregrines may be as fast (or > faster) in a dive, but not in powered level flight. > I know a pilot that "paced' an adult female gyr for eight miles. > He did not "push" the falcon, and told me it only occasionally > glanced at his light airplane. During this eight miles the gyr > climbed 300 ft. and maintained a speed of 85 to 90 miles per hour. > He commented upon a completely different wing beat, with the tips > held backwards, and all the propelling force coming from its > shoulders. > I know of no bird that a gyr can't "fly down"----and I've > watched them catch mallards with ease. I saw an adult bald eagle > that was harrassed by an imm. gyr (on a duck), and completely "ran > out" of an area. I've seen an adult male gyr "punch" a golden eagle > from below, and the eagle fell out of the sky as if someone shot it. > The eagle recovered somewhat, and didn't hit the ground too hard. > There's lots of reasons to be romantic about these dramatic > falcons. > Best, Dick > > --- On Mon, 11/9/09, Norgren Family wrote: > >> From: Norgren Family >> Subject: [obol] Oregon Gyrfalcons >> To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> Date: Monday, November 9, 2009, 6:03 AM >> "I know it's out >> of fashion, >> "And a trifle uncool, >> But I can't help it, >> I'm a romantic fool..." >> Now go to Lee Cain's posting >> and look at Evan Cain's photos of >> a black Gyrfalcon taken at the >> Columbia South Jetty today. He >> apologizes for their quality, but >> there is absolutely no need. In many >> ways these are the best bird pictures >> from Oregon that I've ever looked at. >> I've seen three Gyrfalcons in >> Oregon in forty years of birding. I >> can recall three postings in the last >> two weeks, roughly, that surely involve >> three separate birds. All the ones I've >> seen were gray phase. Among the grungiest >> birds I can recall, making most sub-adult >> gulls look neat and glamorous by comparison. >> I can't think of any other species >> this charismatic that can look so un-noticeable. >> Given their penchant for perching on the >> ground, and flying close to it, I imagine >> more are missed by Oregon birders than >> detected. And many detected birds go >> unreported. After decades of not seeing >> one, what does one do with a species that >> has no real field marks? At least for the >> novice and intermediate birder, it's hard >> to come up with any markings that definitively >> set this species apart from numerous more >> common raptors. It's strictly birding by >> jiz, which a lot of folks are uncomfortable >> with when it comes to putting something >> on their life lists. >> Someone a few weeks back asked if >> there >> was a pattern to Gyrfalcon sightings in >> Oregon. While they or someone else surmised >> there was none, my immediate response was >> "Cackling Geese". Yesterday as I traversed >> the Tualatin Basin repeatedly, Cackling Geese >> were seldom out of sight. They have been showing >> up for three weeks now, about when the Gyrfalcon >> reports began. >> There's a junior at Summit High >> School >> in Bend named Kellie Schueller who can run >> the 400m in 55 seconds or less. That's much >> faster than most men of any age will ever >> run this event. She doesn't seem to be >> straining herself at all. As she crosses >> the finish line 10m ahead of the second >> place it's hard to notice her legs moving. >> I get the same visceral response watching >> her run "the hardest event in track" as I >> do seeing a Peregrine on the wing. As a >> Peregrine traverses Netarts Bay or the >> shorebird pans at Royal Avenue, it doesn't >> really appear to be beating its wings. I >> don't know any other bird that makes flying >> look so effortless. >> There's a lot of sprinters out there, >> male and female, who look too heavy to be >> good at the 400. Then they get on the track >> and win. They don't make it look easy. They >> are the Gyrfalcons. Their stride is choppy >> compared to Kellie or the Peregrines, but >> they are very fast. It's not a fair contest >> for the Cacklers, but then there's more >> where they came from. A lot more every year. >> I know the number of skilled birders has >> increased considerably in Oregon in the course >> of my life. Probably comensurate with the >> increase in Gyrfalcon reports. But the population >> of Cacklers has increased by several orders >> of magnitude at the same time. >> As I alluded, I'm a romantic and proud >> of >> it. I can't offer empirical evidence for >> the Cackler connection. I didn't even sprout >> the idea myself, nor can I recall who put >> the bug in my brain. Most of my daylight >> hours from November 1 to April 1 are spent >> in the vicinity of prime Cackler habitat, >> so my world view is very prejudiced. Whether >> you are a novice or hold a list of 700, take >> a look at Evan's pictures. It's about as good >> as seeing the living bird. Arguably better, >> in light of the viewing conditions that >> prevail while Gyrs are in our midst. Lars Norgren >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From celata at pacifier.com Mon Nov 9 08:24:59 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:24:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gyrfalcon buzz-kill Message-ID: <4AF8425B.3020003@pacifier.com> I just talked to Steve Warner, who was also out at the South Jetty yesterday and also saw a large dark falcon chasing phalaropes. His impression was that it is the large dark juvenile female Peregrine that's been hanging out there for the last couple weeks. My impression of the photos (which I relayed to Lee privately) was also that it looked suspiciously similar to the big Peale's juvenile that's been seen routinely over the past couple weeks. I am off to the South Jetty this morning, camera in hand, and will see if I can turn this thing back into a Gyr. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Nov 9 09:26:08 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 09:26:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] South Jetty Falcon Message-ID: Dick spared me the trouble of pointing out the wing shape so clearly visible in Evan's second picture. These are details I never would see in real life. But Mike Patterson rekindles the spark of caution in me. Be it Merlins or Peregrines, we have the constant opportunity in Oregon in winter of confronting any one of many races of these falcons. The Peale's Falcon is not only the darkest, but the largest of the world's many Peregrine races. For anyone accustomed to garden variety Peregrines over the decades, seeing a large female Peale's ought to be disorienting. I know my Dad took one for a Gyr on Siletz Bay, October 31, 1969. As the body of the bird gets heavier, so does the wing=load. I know I was frequently fooled when doing rsptor surveys here in Washington County. Looking at several score Kestral in a few hours, I got worse, not better at calling them. Some had a much more labored wingbeat, and no matter how hard I tried to turn this non-boyant flight into a Merlin, when I got out the scope they all proved to be Kestrals, usually female. The addition of a meal in a falcon (or tierce)'s crop can also seriously alter the in flight giz. This may seem obvious when the meal is a small goose in a Gyr. But what about a full-sized vole inside a Kestral? This is a bird best designed for grasshoppers and crickets. I once saw a Kestral near Silver Lake that could barely get from one fencepost to another with a vole, nearly bumping the ground between each of them. How could it fly normally after swallowing the whole thing? But given the season and location, I see no reason there couldn't be multiple Peregrines AND Gyrfalcons at CRSJ today . Lars From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Mon Nov 9 09:26:52 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 09:26:52 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Oregon Gyrfalcons In-Reply-To: <7B63C431-5D9A-42CE-8494-BC70917C804A@mindspring.com> Message-ID: <623290.70247.qm@web39708.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Alan, I agree with your comparison of merlins and gyrs. Gyrs don't appear to be flying nearly as fast as they are. Only by comparing their speed, to the speed of the quarry under pursuit, does this become appearent. Merlins seem to always have some excess energy to expend on "things" they don't like----like ravens and eagles. Merlins are very fast in their own right, maybe not quite as fast as a gyr, but certainly much faster than a prairie falcon. In eastern Colorado, both prairies and merlins prey on horned larks, and I've seen a prairie chase a merlin that was eating a horned lark; but the merlin could literally fly away from the prairie while carrying the lark! Usually bigger birds are faster than smaller ones of the same type, but I don't think this "holds" for merlins and prairie falcons. Best, Dick --- On Mon, 11/9/09, Alan Contreras wrote: > From: Alan Contreras > Subject: Re: [obol] Oregon Gyrfalcons > To: "Richard and Marilyn Musser" > Cc: "obol at oregonbirdwatch.org" , "Norgren Family" > Date: Monday, November 9, 2009, 8:02 AM > What impresses me about gyrfalcon in > flight is that it can accelerate without seeming to expend > much energy, the opposite of a Merlin. > > Alan Contreras > Sent from my iPhone > > On Nov 9, 2009, at 7:42 AM, Richard and Marilyn Musser > > wrote: > > > Hi Lars, > >? ???I suspect you are correct > about the "cackler connection." I've seen gyrs tackle and > kill lesser Canada geese, so the cacklers are well within > their capabilities. > >? ???As you pointed out, gyrs are > incredibily fast flyers, much faster then peregrines. If you > get to see these two birds flying together, it's readily > apparent. Peregrines may be as fast (or faster) in a dive, > but not in powered level flight. > >? ???I know a pilot that "paced' an > adult female gyr for eight miles. He did not "push" the > falcon, and told me it only occasionally glanced at his > light airplane. During this eight miles the gyr climbed 300 > ft. and maintained a speed of 85 to 90 miles per hour. He > commented upon a completely different wing beat, with the > tips held backwards, and all the propelling force coming > from its shoulders. > >? ???I know of no bird that a gyr > can't "fly down"----and I've watched them catch mallards > with ease. I saw an adult bald eagle that was harrassed by > an imm. gyr (on a duck), and completely "ran out" of an > area. I've seen an adult male gyr "punch" a golden eagle > from below, and the eagle fell out of the sky as if someone > shot it. The eagle recovered somewhat, and didn't hit the > ground too hard. > >? ???There's lots of reasons to be > romantic about these dramatic falcons. > >? ???Best, Dick > > > > --- On Mon, 11/9/09, Norgren Family > wrote: > > > >> From: Norgren Family > >> Subject: [obol] Oregon Gyrfalcons > >> To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > >> Date: Monday, November 9, 2009, 6:03 AM > >>? ? ???"I know it's out > >> of fashion, > >> "And a trifle uncool, > >>? ? ???But I can't help > it, > >> I'm a romantic fool..." > >>? ? ???Now go to Lee > Cain's posting > >> and look at Evan Cain's photos of > >> a black Gyrfalcon taken at the > >> Columbia South Jetty today. He > >> apologizes for their quality, but > >> there is absolutely no need. In many > >> ways these are the best bird pictures > >> from Oregon that I've ever looked at. > >>? ? ???I've seen three > Gyrfalcons in > >> Oregon in forty years of birding. I > >> can recall three postings in the last > >> two weeks, roughly, that surely involve > >> three separate birds. All the ones I've > >> seen were gray phase. Among the grungiest > >> birds I can recall, making most sub-adult > >> gulls look neat and glamorous by comparison. > >>? ? ???I can't think of > any other species > >> this charismatic that can look so un-noticeable. > >> Given their penchant for perching on the > >> ground, and flying close to it, I imagine > >> more are missed by Oregon birders than > >> detected. And many detected birds go > >> unreported. After decades of not seeing > >> one, what does one do with a species that > >> has no real field marks? At least for the > >> novice and intermediate birder, it's hard > >> to come up with any markings that definitively > >> set this species apart from numerous more > >> common raptors. It's strictly birding by > >> jiz, which a lot of folks are uncomfortable > >> with when it comes to putting something > >> on their life lists. > >>? ? ???Someone a few weeks > back asked if > >> there > >> was a pattern to Gyrfalcon sightings in > >> Oregon. While they or someone else surmised > >> there was none, my immediate response was > >> "Cackling Geese". Yesterday as I traversed > >> the Tualatin Basin repeatedly, Cackling Geese > >> were seldom out of sight. They have been showing > >> up for three weeks now, about when the Gyrfalcon > >> reports began. > >>? ? ? There's a junior at Summit > High > >> School > >> in Bend named Kellie Schueller who can run > >> the 400m in 55 seconds or less. That's much > >> faster than most men of any age will ever > >> run this event. She doesn't seem to be > >> straining herself at all. As she crosses > >> the finish line 10m ahead of the second > >> place it's hard to notice her legs moving. > >> I get the same visceral response watching > >> her run "the hardest event in track" as I > >> do seeing a Peregrine on the wing. As a > >> Peregrine traverses Netarts Bay or the > >> shorebird pans at Royal Avenue, it doesn't > >> really appear to be beating its wings. I > >> don't know any other bird that makes flying > >> look so effortless. > >>? ? ???There's a lot of > sprinters out there, > >> male and female, who look too heavy to be > >> good at the 400. Then they get on the track > >> and win. They don't make it look easy. They > >> are the Gyrfalcons. Their stride is choppy > >> compared to Kellie or the Peregrines, but > >> they are very fast. It's not a fair contest > >> for the Cacklers, but then there's more > >> where they came from. A lot more every year. > >> I know the number of skilled birders has > >> increased considerably in Oregon in the course > >> of my life. Probably comensurate with the > >> increase in Gyrfalcon reports. But the population > >> of Cacklers has increased by several orders > >> of magnitude at the same time. > >>? ? ???As I alluded, I'm a > romantic and proud > >> of > >> it. I can't offer empirical evidence for > >> the Cackler connection. I didn't even sprout > >> the idea myself, nor can I recall who put > >> the bug in my brain. Most of my daylight > >> hours from November 1 to April 1 are spent > >> in the vicinity of prime Cackler habitat, > >> so my world view is very prejudiced. Whether > >> you are a novice or hold a list of 700, take > >> a look at Evan's pictures. It's about as good > >> as seeing the living bird. Arguably better, > >> in light of the viewing conditions that > >> prevail while Gyrs are in our midst.? Lars > Norgren > >> _______________________________________________ > >> obol mailing list > >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > >> > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From acontrer at mindspring.com Mon Nov 9 09:28:57 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 09:28:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] South Jetty Falcon In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: The wing shape on the SJCR falcon looks like a gyr to me. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone On Nov 9, 2009, at 9:26 AM, Norgren Family wrote: > Dick spared me the trouble of > pointing out the wing shape so clearly > visible in Evan's second picture. These > are details I never would see in real > life. But Mike Patterson rekindles the > spark of caution in me. Be it Merlins or > Peregrines, we have the constant opportunity > in Oregon in winter of confronting any one > of many races of these falcons. > The Peale's Falcon is not only the > darkest, but the largest of the world's > many Peregrine races. For anyone accustomed > to garden variety Peregrines over the decades, > seeing a large female Peale's ought to be > disorienting. I know my Dad took one for a > Gyr on Siletz Bay, October 31, 1969. As the > body of the bird gets heavier, so does the > wing=load. I know I was frequently fooled > when doing rsptor surveys here in Washington > County. Looking at several score Kestral in a > few hours, I got worse, not better at calling > them. Some had a much more labored wingbeat, > and no matter how hard I tried to turn this > non-boyant flight into a Merlin, when I got > out the scope they all proved to be Kestrals, > usually female. > The addition of a meal in a falcon (or > tierce)'s crop can also seriously alter the > in flight giz. This may seem obvious when the > meal is a small goose in a Gyr. But what about > a full-sized vole inside a Kestral? This is a > bird best designed for grasshoppers and crickets. > I once saw a Kestral near Silver Lake that could > barely get from one fencepost to another with > a vole, nearly bumping the ground between each > of them. How could it fly normally after swallowing > the whole thing? > But given the season and location, I see no > reason there couldn't be multiple Peregrines AND > Gyrfalcons at CRSJ today . Lars > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon Nov 9 09:29:39 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 09:29:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] La Grande Reservoir Message-ID: <57B5F6C07DF0482CB2A6220701789C4B@cgatesPC> Anyone ever bird La Grande Reservoir in Union County? I'm having some difficulty finding directions to this location and would appreciate any help you can give. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091109/4faa4ad0/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Nov 9 12:19:39 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 12:19:39 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos Tropical K's Message-ID: <783407.75192.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Too bad?I wasn't around the weekend of the 30th, but being in southern Florida was pretty darn nice!? On October 31st, Kerry Johnson had 3 TROPICAL KINGBIRDS at Saunder's Lake in Hauser (a few miles north of North Bend right off Hwy 101).? Kerry is the same person who had the 4 Palm Warblers in mid-Sept at the same location.? He said the kingbirds were fun to watch and were around all afternoon but gone by the next day.? All three birds were hanging out in the same spruce with one bird perched on top of the tree.? As the top bird flew out to nab an insect, the bird below would move up to the top and the bird that was flycatching would get in line behind the other two birds and wait its turn to move up to the top and flycatch again! ? I saw one TUNDRA SWAN on the north spit of Coos Bay yesterday late afternoon (11/8).? Fortunately it was airborne as there was rapid fire below as the duck hunters were ripping into a flock of pintails. ? I did get good looks at the BROWN BOOBY again yesterday (11/8) afternoon also, wonder how long it will put up with this cool, wet weather?!? Oh, and thanks to?RUSS NAMITZ?who relocated the bird on the 28th a?few minutes before?I left town for Florida.?I was with him but scopeless, as my scope was already packed away in my suitcase.? I missed another booby when?I left town on?an earlier trip a few years back, but lucked out this time thanks to Russ! ? Have a good one all, Tim R Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091109/db6d13c0/attachment.html From Kcparkton1 at aol.com Mon Nov 9 12:20:44 2009 From: Kcparkton1 at aol.com (Kcparkton1 at aol.com) Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 15:20:44 EST Subject: [obol] Finley & Fern Ridge Report with pics Message-ID: Was at Mcfadden's mash at around 8am to see an either juvenile bald eagle or a golden eagle trying to get a goose on the south side of the road. It was raining and not much light to get a good ID. It perched in a tree about 100ft from the rd for about 5 min. before heading east. The red-shouldered hawks are still hanging around cantrell rd at fern ridge. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091109/05e4657c/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Nov 9 13:08:32 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:08:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] SJCR today - 11/9/2009 (plus Tropical Kingbird) Message-ID: <4AF884D0.90309@pacifier.com> I spent about 2 hours at the South Jetty of the Columbia River this morning looking for suspicious large, dark falcons. I saw an adult PEREGRINE on the trestle, but no others. There are still plenty of RED PHALAROPES, however. COMMON RAVENS and a BALD EAGLE were taking advantage of the bounty. I also saw a NORTHERN HARRIER that looked like it might be interested. Also at the South Jetty were 8-10 LEAST SANDPIPERS and a three WESTERN MEADOWLARKS. On the way home, drove through Wireless Rd and found a TROPICAL KINGBIRD on a wire near the "Implements of destruction" kack at the north end of the road. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From larry.maurin at gmail.com Sun Nov 8 21:23:55 2009 From: larry.maurin at gmail.com (Larry Maurin) Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 21:23:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Wigeon, Westmoreland Park, Portland Message-ID: Hi All, This afternoon, 11/8, there was a female EURASIAN WIGEON at Westmoreland Park in southeast Portland. The bird was at the north end of the park eating grass with other wigeons. There was a good variety of ducks there today including a male REDHEAD, a female CANVASBACK, 2 BUFFLEHEADS, and a LESSER SCAUP. Larry Maurin Portland -- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091108/21457c9d/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Nov 9 15:40:20 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:40:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] PHOTOS: Tropical Kingbird, Leasst Sandpipers and more phalaropes Message-ID: <4AF8A864.1000702@pacifier.com> I have posted photos of phalaropes doing spins, Least Sandpipers not seeing any falcons and the Wireless Tropical Kingbird on a wire. http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From ed.mcvicker at comcast.net Mon Nov 9 17:24:37 2009 From: ed.mcvicker at comcast.net (Ed McVicker) Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:24:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wash. Co. Surf & WW Scoters Message-ID: <4AF8C0D5.5050405@comcast.net> At Hagg Lake this afternoon there were 5 SURF SCOTERS and 1 WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (1st year plumage) on the south side of the lake near the dam. Only other bird of interest was a very wet immature COOPER'S HAWK sitting in a tree top with wings outstretched and tail fanned in the breeze cormorant style. Three crows were making intermittent dive bombing runs at the poor fellow. Ed McVicker Portland From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Mon Nov 9 22:10:27 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 22:10:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Audubon Birding Weekend trip to Klamath Basin Message-ID: <002601ca61cc$a7033b70$85c663d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: The final Audubon Birding Weekend trip (sponsored by Audubon Society of Portland) visited the Klamath Basin Nov. 7-8. We saw ~100 species A big "Thank You!" to Kevin Spencer for helping lead this trip. Highlight species: C - indicates species seen only in the California portion of the Lower Klamath NWR CO - indicates species seen in both CA & OR O - indicates species seen in Oregon only O Snowy Egret - Link River CO Black-crowned Night-Heron - Link River C Greater White-fronted Goose C Snow Goose C Ross's Goose CO Tundra Swan CO Bufflehead -- many everywhere O Common Goldeneye - Link R O Barrow's Goldeneye - Link R C Red-shouldered Hawk - on N side of Stateline Rd, but in CA CO American Coot -- many everywhere C Sandhill Crane - they opened Unit 12 of the Lower Klamath NWR on Sunday and we saw the 2500 reported there O Bonaparte's Gull -- many everywhere O Northern Pygmy-Owl - Moore Park in Klamath Falls O Oak Titmouse - Moore Park in Klamath Falls O Northern Mockingbird - Link River O California Towhee - south of ODF&W office in Klamath Falls O HARRIS SPARROW - seen at Hagelstein county park on Friday by Terry & Carolyn Thompson C Tricolored Blackbird - near Unit 12 of the Lower Klamath NWR Those of us who looked for the Harris' Sparrow at Hagelstein Park did not find it on Sunday. My car stopped to check Odell Lake and found 13 Common Loons there on our way home. Paul T. Sullivan My late friend Frank Conley did not want a memorial service. He said: "There will be a memorial service every day you take yourself, or someone else, out into the great outdoors -- away from the monitors, videos and TVs we see mirrored in our eyes -- and learn something about birds, butterflies, elk, or biscuitroot." -- Frank Conley 1942 - 2005 From 4cains at charter.net Tue Nov 10 00:07:41 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:07:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gyrfalcon at SJCR Message-ID: Some thoughts on why I think Evan's South Jetty bird is NOT a Peregrine Falcon: He didn't immediately call it a GYRF -- I did, after seeing the pics, and after considering his first impressions. Evan's words were, "Dad, I got some shots of a very large falcon." This rang a bell in my head, because he is very experienced (and good) at spotting Peregrine Falcon. and he didn't call it one. He also saw the dark phase Gyrfalcon with me at the same site last year. Second, a close look at the first and third photos on his Flicker site shows the long ratty tail feathers that are often seen on photos of banking or braking GYRF, but seldom on photos of PEFA. (What IS the reason they are often so worn??) Third, the 2nd photo shows the short stout neck and more rounded forehead of a Gyrfalcon (and somewhat in the 3rd photo). Fourth, the 2nd and 3rd photos both clearly show way more rounded wingtips than I have ever seen on any coastal Peregrine. Now, if someone could just reproduce the moment... Ahh, the finer joys of birding..... Birds are SOO different than other forms of nature watching... what if we were arguing about moose? http://www.dfw.state.or.us/news/video_gallery/radio-collared_moose.asp Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091110/92e39bce/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Nov 10 06:45:55 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:45:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Curry CC Longspur 11/9/2009 Message-ID: <305269.47758.qm@web45311.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Terry Wahl left me a message that he had a brief look at a CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR which?I presume was on the family ranch near Cape Blanco.??The first 10 days or so of November is the peak time for this species in Coos Co. also. ? That's it for now, ENJOY! Tim R Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091110/6a059ef8/attachment.html From tetraka at yahoo.com Tue Nov 10 07:11:26 2009 From: tetraka at yahoo.com (Robert Lockett) Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:11:26 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Apologies for spam Message-ID: <297731.53518.qm@web112411.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Obolites, My apologies for the spam sent out under my email address. I made the mistake of using a public PC on a recent trip to Florida to check my email, and only found out after the fact that the PC was running Windows 2000 and no anti-virus software. So it apparently contained a virus or other malware that harvested my email info and has begun sending spam to folks on my contact list. I talked to two administrators of the public PC (it was one of many in a retirement center clubhouse), but got nothing but attitude and ignorance. I have now changed my email password and hope that will put an end to the problem. I would urge any PC users who may have opened my spam message(s) to make sure you're anti-virus software is up to date, and to run a scan of your computer. Again, my apologies. This is very frustrating to all involved. Regards, Bob Lockett Robins Bay, Jamaica -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091110/e8fc7924/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Nov 10 08:06:16 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:06:16 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos Booby- 11/10/2009 Message-ID: <391517.96445.qm@web45307.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Still there, in the same location this morning a little after 7AM and was even fishing when I left.? Day 14.? Saw one Russ Namitz there also and a couple of RED PHALAROPES.? ? Happy birding all! Tim R Coos Bay? ? ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091110/912649d9/attachment.html From 4cains at charter.net Tue Nov 10 08:30:18 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:30:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wireless Kingbird -- no; Bonaparte's instead Message-ID: A spin around Wireless Road just now found no Tropical Kingbird, but I did have a very tame juvenal BONAPARTE'S GULL near the horse barns...and no camera... Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091110/61fb38dc/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Tue Nov 10 09:35:36 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:35:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: 6:45-8:00 (11/10): mostly clear, wind NE 5-15, swells 6-8 1500 Red-throated Loon 300 Pacific Loon 60 Common Loon 450 Brown Pelican (N) 22 Double-crested Cormorant 150 Brandt's Cormorant (most N) 15 Pelagic Cormorant 1 scaup sp. 20 White-winged Scoter 40 Surf Scoter 1 Red-breasted Merganser 1 Dunlin 4 Red Phalarope 6 Bonaparte's Gull 50+ Mew Gull 100+ California Gull 800+ Western Gull (most adult) 80+ Glaucous-winged Gull 800 Heermann's Gull 600 Common Murre 1 Pigeon Guillemot 1 Marbled Murrelet Phil philliplc at charter.net From fabflockfinder at gmail.com Tue Nov 10 09:38:38 2009 From: fabflockfinder at gmail.com (Elias Elias) Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:38:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fwd: 20091110-0840 brown booby at coos bay References: <5E9BD662-BF3B-41CD-9A83-95003A005BF8@gmail.com> Message-ID: <80934A8E-99C5-41DB-8D3D-5C0EFC282EA5@gmail.com> > From: Elias Elias > Date: November 10, 2009 9:29:24 PST > To: Elias Elias > Subject: 20091110-0840 brown booby at coos bay > > 20091110-0840 brown booby > > Hi all > > The brown booby was foraging from 0740 until 0840 in the vicinity of > the red 10A channel marker. I watched the bird from the end of Hedge > lane. At 840 it landed on the wooden structure pictured in the > google map link above. According to my gps this structure is 1.6 > km (1 mi) away from hedge lane. I used a 20x scope with fine views > while it was flying but it was difficult to see after it landed. > > If you continue south to beacon lane there is another pullout with a > white concrete structure with green trim. From here the gps measured > distance is 1.2 km. And the wooden structure is the southern and > shorter B line of sight marker. As near as I can reckon, that marker > is at: 43.369030,-124.314117 (20091110-0840 brown booby) > > Best o luck > > > > > > > > E > Arcata CA > 707-633-8833 > Walkie talkie 559-433-7254 > > Sent from my iPhone -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091110/ec5cae41/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 20091110-0840 brown booby.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 269 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091110/ec5cae41/attachment.vcf -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091110/ec5cae41/attachment-0001.html From lbviman at blackfoot.net Tue Nov 10 10:09:39 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:09:39 -0700 Subject: [obol] Subject line request In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20091110180411.0D9D39B0246@mail.blackfoot.net> Hi all - Would it be possible to include "the" important bird(s) in subject line, rather than county or location? It helps those of us who receive daily summary when we are hunting to see what we might want to chase, when/if we can get to Oregon. Thanks! Happy Veterans' Day: thank a vet whenever you can - Jim Greaves, T Falls MT From greenfant at hotmail.com Tue Nov 10 10:17:05 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:17:05 -0500 Subject: [obol] White-winged Scoter at Hagg Lake continues (Washington Co) Message-ID: As of early this morning, the WHITE-WINGED SCOTER continues with the flock of 5 Surf Scoters at Hagg Lake. The birds were seen on the south side of the lake between the dam pullout and Rec Area C. Looks like this would be the 6th county record. On 11/09, a herd of about 25 elk was notable 0.9mi north of West Union & Jackson School Rd on the east side of the road. This is NE of North Plains. On 11/08, a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was in field with many Killdeer at the NW corner of Roy & Reiling Rd south of Roy. The highlight at Fern Hill Wetlands was an EARED GREBE. Also, there also was a Pied-billed Grebe in flight which I don't see every day. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091110/d7fa0bfe/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Tue Nov 10 11:19:27 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:19:27 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Gyrfalcon at SJCR In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <847083.93480.qm@web39707.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Lee, I think that the gyr's tail feathers appear ratty, but really are just fine. Possibly the tips (and a little more) of these feathers are wet from sitting in wet grass, or struggling with prey in shallow water. Gyrs seem to often perch quite low, sometimes assessing an area while sitting on a mound just a few inches higher then the remainder of the terrain. I relooked at the photos and want to point out that the 9th primary on peregrines is the longest feather, while in gyrs the (if I'm not mistaken) 8th and 7th primaries are the longest (and the same length.) This gives the wing an appearance of a more rounded tip, while the peregrine's is more pointed. Best, Dick --- On Tue, 11/10/09, Lee and Lori Cain <4cains at charter.net> wrote: > From: Lee and Lori Cain <4cains at charter.net> > Subject: Re: [obol] Gyrfalcon at SJCR > To: "OBOL" > Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 12:07 AM > > > > > > > > Some thoughts on why I think Evan's South Jetty > bird is NOT a Peregrine > Falcon:? > ? > He didn't immediately call it a GYRF -- I did, > after seeing the pics, and > after considering his first impressions. Evan's words > were, "Dad, I got some > shots of a very large falcon."? This rang a bell > in my head, because he is > very experienced (and good) at spotting Peregrine Falcon. > and he didn't call it > one.? He also saw the dark phase Gyrfalcon?with > me?at the same > site last year.? > ? > Second, a close look at the first and third photos on > his Flicker site > shows the long ratty tail feathers that are often seen on > photos of banking or > braking GYRF, but seldom on photos of PEFA. (What IS the > reason they are often > so worn??) > ? > Third, the 2nd photo shows the short stout neck > and?more > rounded?forehead of a Gyrfalcon (and somewhat in the > 3rd photo). > ? > Fourth, the 2nd and 3rd photos both clearly show way > more rounded wingtips > than I have ever seen on any coastal Peregrine. > ? > Now, if someone could just reproduce the > moment... > Ahh, the finer joys of birding..... > ? > Birds are SOO different than other forms of nature > watching... what if we > were arguing about moose? http://www.dfw.state.or.us/news/video_gallery/radio-collared_moose.asp? > ? > Lee Cain > Astoria, Or > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From sheilach at nwtec.com Tue Nov 10 14:05:10 2009 From: sheilach at nwtec.com (sheila) Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:05:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] A sharp Sharpie Message-ID: <7ECE72637F714F18BA365CB842ADE15F@sheila> Another sunny day here in Harbor and my little HOSP's are out enjoying the sun. But soon I hear their warning calls and all but one scramble for their hiding places. One male stands it's ground while calling out warnings that a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK is watching them nearby. It's a very small, young SHARP SHINNED HAWK, not much bigger than a ROBIN but a threat nontheless. The small hawk makes several cautious passes at the birds in the cage but is at least smart enough to not smack into the glass. All the other HOSP's remain in the hiding places while the one lone brave male stands it's ground in the face of the threat and cheeps out his warning call. The poor little SHARP-SHINNED HAWK finally gives up and goes to tries to catch something not safe in a cage behind glass. Still at the feeders are flocks of EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES, HOUSE FINCHES, BLACK-CAPPED, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, BREWERS BLACKBIRDS, SCRUB JAYS, WHITE-CROWNED, GOLD-CROWNED, SONG, FOX, WHITE THROATED SPARROWS and fiesty ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS. Calling nearby are COMMON RAVENS, CROWS, and a NORTERN FLICKER. One poor STARLING got too curious about my nice, grass lined nest-box trap today. Sheila from Harbor Oregon From dettinger at bendbroadband.com Tue Nov 10 15:35:08 2009 From: dettinger at bendbroadband.com (ettinger) Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:35:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Late migrants Message-ID: obol, We birded the upper Metolius River today searching for late migrants. The following is the result, not in any particular order: Mallard, female one Spring will come in four months. Dcik Ettinger -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091110/9598d005/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Nov 10 15:48:26 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:48:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - 11/10/2009 Message-ID: <4AF9FBCA.8010009@pacifier.com> Columbia Estuary Report - 11/10/2009 An adult male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE turned up in the hawthorne across the street from Steve Warner's house this morning. A TROPICAL KINGBIRD was at Wireless Rd yesterday, but not re-located again today. A BONAPARTE'S GULLS was in the steadily building gull flocks at Wireless. The large, dark falcon reported from the South Jetty was NOT there again today (but nobody can accuse me of failing in due-diligence) RED PHALAROPE numbers have fallen off, either because they are slowly being consumed by the local carnivores or the weather has improved enough for them to start moving on. Bucky Barnett reports a dark-bodied STORM-PETREL at the East Mooring Basin during the storms this last weekend. He did not notice if it had any white at the rump or not. He has an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER once again coming to his hummingbird feeder. Goose numbers are on the increase. Tule-form GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, several Aleutian-type CACKLING GEESE and a juvenile SNOW GOOSE were mixed in with the expected Duskies, Minima, Tav's and Western along Youngs Bay. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From monroemolly at hotmail.com Tue Nov 10 16:54:15 2009 From: monroemolly at hotmail.com (Molly Monroe) Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:54:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ankeny Aleutian Cackling Geese Message-ID: While surveying at Ankeny today, I found two ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE. Normally I would not be able to easily pick these out of a flock of 5,000 cacklers like the one I was looking through today but one had a blue neck collar which is half the width of collars I normally see. In the same field, there sat a PEREGRINE FALCON on a dirt clod, preening and soaking up some sun. The geese all got up when the falcon flew, but they dropped back down and I was able to relocate the collared goose. I didn't look too closely for more Aleutians but these two were sticking close together. There could be more... The field they were in is the big one to the west of the RR tracks off Wintel Rd. There's a pullout with a couple of trees in it and the geese were fairly close to the road. This is also a great time to view DUSKY CANADA GEESE at Ankeny, there were a few hundred in Eagle Marsh today, over 30 had red collars. At Baskett, there were a few dozen TUNDRA SWANS. I agree with Lisa that it seems like they are later than usual around the refuges. I counted 35 last week and had one blue collar there as well. There was also a juvenile Western or Clark's GREBE in Taverner's Marsh (north of the narrows). It spent alot of the time I was there with its head tucked so was hard to identify, especially with the dingy grey coloring. Molly Monroe~ _ ( '< / ) ) //"Endangered species are sensitive indicators of how we are treating the planet and we should be listening carefully to their message EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD Join me -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091110/5251af13/attachment.html From ligockisas at impeccableimages.com Tue Nov 10 18:42:52 2009 From: ligockisas at impeccableimages.com (Marti Ligocki) Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:42:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] ID help needed Message-ID: Hello OBOL - We're having a mild domestic dispute here about the identity of a bird in an image I took last February (Feb. 2009) at Reifel in British Columbia. The image in question and another with a size reference that might be helpful are at: http://home.comcast.net/~impeccableimg/bird-id/bird-id.htm Thanks for any help. We'll even tell you what each of thinks it is, if you want to know. Marti & Lew Ligocki www.impeccableimages.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091110/18fb3296/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Tue Nov 10 18:58:05 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:58:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] ID help needed In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: This is a female Red-winged Blackbird. The female is appreciably smaller than the male in this species, and it has a sparrow-like plumage that puzzles many. Larry McQueen _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Marti Ligocki Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 6:43 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] ID help needed Hello OBOL - We're having a mild domestic dispute here about the identity of a bird in an image I took last February (Feb. 2009) at Reifel in British Columbia. The image in question and another with a size reference that might be helpful are at: http://home.comcast.net/~impeccableimg/bird-id/bird-id.htm Thanks for any help. We'll even tell you what each of thinks it is, if you want to know. Marti & Lew Ligocki www.impeccableimages.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091110/ca9a9353/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Tue Nov 10 19:13:58 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:13:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Free bird mags only Message-ID: I have 65 pounds of two British bird mags: "Birdwatch" and "Bird Watching". These are popular birding magazines, highly illustrated with photos (mostly) and feature articles that include identification and travel. I quit both subscriptions in 1999. Please respond off-list. Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091110/640729ba/attachment.html From carolk at viclink.com Tue Nov 10 23:49:36 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:49:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lewis's Woodpeckers (Polk Co.) Message-ID: <002b01ca62a3$8aca8580$21430a0a@home> Today while doing my Yamhill Co. raptor route we found seven Lewis's Woodpeckers along West Perrydale Road in Polk County. Location: from Hwy 99W follow Bethel Road to Perrydale. Continue on West Perrydale Road for several miles. After going through three 90 degree turns in the road it straightens out. The woodpeckers were along the next mile which dips down hill then up hill. There is a ranch along the south side of the road, most of the woodpeckers were flying about in the oak trees near this place. We also found two Lewis's Woodpeckers along Pleasant Hill Road near the cemetery. We observed an Acorn Woodpecker busy chasing off these Lewis's Woodpeckers, it was quite oblivious the Acorn Woodpecker was not allowing the Lewis's to sit on their three dead trees. We found a total of 34 Western Bluebirds, most of them were along Muddy Valley Road in Yamhill County, but a few were in Polk County (near 12 Western Meadowlarks). Scattered throughout both counties were 25 Great Blue Herons. Eurasian Wigeon, Hooded Mergansers, American Wigeons, Green-winged Teal, Mallards, and 6 Dowitchers were on Scharf's Pond at the intersection of Tucker & W. Perrydale Roads. Our raptor count: 56 Red-tailed Hawks (last year 72) 74 American Kestrels (last year 86) 4 Northern Harriers (last year 18) 1 Bald Eagle (last year 3) 1 Rough-legged Hawk (last year 6) Good birding, Carol Karlen McMinnville From sandyleapt at comcast.net Wed Nov 11 06:58:05 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:58:05 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Anna's Hummingbirds Message-ID: <1765479737.1435201257951485071.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Good Morning, Just an FYI, the Anna's Hummingbirds in my garden have begun to do dive displays. The adult males are letting females feed in their territory (and at the feeders). They continue to chase the immature males away. It's 6:51 a.m. and I hear the Anna's Hummingbirds scolding something. Seems like they are up very early this morning. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091111/05baf618/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Nov 11 09:55:22 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:55:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Photo: Red Phalarope prey item Message-ID: <11B4FA9578BE4832990255714C545FC3@GREG> The Stepniewski's sent me a photo of a Red Phalarope at Barview, Oregon from November 9, 2009. The phalarope has a prey item in its bill that may be identifiable in the close-up photo crop. What is it? http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/gallery/_from_others Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Nov 11 11:21:08 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:21:08 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos Booby Update 11/11/2009 Message-ID: <448117.93091.qm@web45310.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> It was still in the usual spot seen from Fossil Point off about 2 o'clock across the bay near the tall navigational markers Russ described in his post. ?As Lars Norgren and I watched the bird it flew north up bay and disappeared just after 9AM, lucky we caught it when we did as I have no idea where it goes up bay? ?I would suggest arriving as close to sunrise as possible as I have not had any problems finding it then. Over at Millicoma Marsh I put some more seed down. ?The back trail (before you get to the seed on the main trail) had 9 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, we only saw one at the seed on the main trail but we didn't stay long to really check it out as there were several dog walkers that kept coming through and it started to rain. ?We didn't hear or see any Swamp Sparrows, they've become much less common here as the marsh succession has resulted in a lot of large willows taking over the former cattail habitat that once provided excellent habitat for this species. ENJOY!Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091111/0784f548/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Nov 11 12:38:30 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:38:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wed morning, Eugene Message-ID: This morning we walked along the river from the Rose Garden eastward, crossed the bridge at Valley River and checked some of the Delta Ponds. It was dry going and very wet returning. This was a little over 2 miles of walking. There was a warbler flock actively feeding in trees along the river near the rose garden. We were surprised by lack of finches and waxwings. Check the list: E. Starling - 15 Am. Robin - 2 Hermit Thrush - 1 Bewick's Wren - 2 Bushtit - 20 Black-capped Chickadee - 10 Brown Creeper - 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 3 Golden-cr. Kinglet - 3+ Yellow-rumped Warbler - 35 Townsend's Warbler - 25 Orange-crowned Warbler - 1 alone Am. Crow - 9 Scrub Jay - 12 Steller's Jay - 1 Flicker - 8 Downy Woodpecker - 3 Kingfisher - 2 Rock Pigeon - 20 Merlin - 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 D-e Junco - 40 Golden-cr. Sparrow - 4 Song Sparrow - 12 D-c Cormorant - 6 Great Blue Heron - 2 Shoveler - 3 Wood Duck - 2 Am. Wigeon - 30 Mallard - 50 Common Merganser - 3 Canada Goose - 4 Pied-billed Grebe - 8 Am. Coot - 3 Ring-billed Gull - 20 Glaucous-winged Gull - 5 Fred Chancey, Craig Merkel, Dennis Arendt, Don Schrouder, Dave Brown, Paul Sherrell, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091111/b23e56e0/attachment.html From Randy.Moore at oregonstate.edu Wed Nov 11 13:00:53 2009 From: Randy.Moore at oregonstate.edu (Moore, Randy - FW) Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:00:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Adult northern shrike at Finley NWR, Benton Co. References: Message-ID: Hi All, The last two visits to the prairie overlook at Finley NWR have produced (presumably) the same adult Northern Shrike. It hangs out fairly close to the platform (in the fence row and trees to the east, most often). I think this is the first adult of this species I've seen in the valley. Also keep your eyes out for a very large accipiter in the area- it flew the coop before we could get close enough to it to ID it, but it looked awfully big in the scope.... cheers, randy corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091111/fa014fbe/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed Nov 11 13:54:09 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:54:09 -0500 Subject: [obol] I D problems with Newport Birds Message-ID: <8CC3130A1A72251-52B0-58FB@webmail-d067.sysops.aol.com> I went to Newport yesterday to do some birding and photography. I added some nice birds to my list, but as usual, I have some birds I can't ID, or I'm not sure of my IDs. I did get shots of Surf Scoters, Harlequins Ducks and Black Turnstones. They were great. This first one is a Western Meadowlark, I think. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2584/4095756327_b0bf06e0ac_o.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2742/4095757243_c2da04544a_o.jpg This one I don't know. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2452/4096518360_34db806ca9_o.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2515/4096519264_2552757d73_o.jpg These were at the feeder at Hatfield. I didn't even notice them at the time I took the shot. There were House Finches around the area, but these can't be House Finches, can they? http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2546/4096519834_4f042e8537_o.jpg And last is this guy. I can't find anything in the duck family that looks like him. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2662/4095762243_a2cc5cdb3c_o.jpg -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091111/8ae5c3e6/attachment.html From glenn_rie at yahoo.com Wed Nov 11 13:59:45 2009 From: glenn_rie at yahoo.com (Marie Luft) Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:59:45 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Brown booby Message-ID: <136865.61371.qm@web112216.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> At one pm brown booby was 1 m north of elect. Station opposite hedge ln. Wide turnout on w side of road. Booby on left of two far piling groups at 300 degrees nw. Need 60 scope. Eurasion widgeon mixed in close in with widgeons and 3 marbled godwits. Rie luft Portland Sent from my iPhone From rakestraw.john at yahoo.com Wed Nov 11 14:09:54 2009 From: rakestraw.john at yahoo.com (John Rakestraw) Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:09:54 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands 11/11 Message-ID: <998114.2242.qm@web65312.mail.ac2.yahoo.com> I took a quick walk around Fernhill Wetlands (Birding Oregon p. 61) in the late morning. Most of the wintering geese were off grazing somewhere, but Northern Pintails and Common Mergansers were plentiful. Other highlights: Eared Grebe (photo at http://johnrakestraw.net) Western Grebe Red-shouldered Hawk Cheers, John Rakestraw Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091111/0095424b/attachment.html From 4cains at charter.net Wed Nov 11 14:52:00 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:52:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Baskett Slough NWR Snow Goose, Northern Shrike Message-ID: <38D462755DFA464BA0A4069884D0C6CB@HAL> Made a quick stop at Basket Slough National Wildlife Refuge at about 2:00 PM yesterday on our way to a soccer game. Coming in from the east entrance, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was hovering over the grass field, and a immature SNOW GOOSE was hanging out with LOTS of CACKLING GEESE. Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091111/0195c66b/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Wed Nov 11 15:04:16 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:04:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wallowa County info needed Message-ID: I've mentioned several times that I'm writing an online guide for birding Oregon's 36 counties. I now have drafts of all but two counties. Aaron Skirvin has graciously offered to help with materials for Umatilla County so that leaves just Wallowa County. I would be eternally grateful if any obolers would give me input on your favorite places to bird in Wallowa County. So far I have: Joseph - Enterprise - Chico - Crow Creek Road - Downey Lake - Eggleston Corners - Flora - Grande Ronde River - Imnaha - Jimtown - Joseph - Leap - DeLorme Lewis - Little Sheep Creek Canyon - Lostine River - Paradise - Powwatka - Snake River - Wallowa - Wallowa Lake/ Wallowa Lake State Park - Zumwalt Prairie - Zumwalt Road - Hell's Canyon National Recreation Area - Clear Lake Ridge Nature Conservancy Reserve - Zumwalt Prairie Nature Conservancy Reserve - Joseph Sewage Ponds - Wenaha Wildlife Area - Enterprise Wildlife Management Area - Minam Recreation Area - McCully Creek - Hat Point- Spring Creek - Golf Course Road- Hurricane Creek - Any good places I missed? Chuck Gates ECBC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091111/5f506310/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Wed Nov 11 17:11:24 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:11:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Booby Update 11/11/2009 Message-ID: I just wanted to assuage some fears out there about having to view the Brown Booby at daybreak. This is certainly an excellent time of the day to see the bird perched, but the bird is around all day and I have seen it at almost every hour of the day. Its preferred perches are on the solar panel on the shorter, wooden B navigation marker or, if on the taller, metal tower, the second level from the top behing the sign (only visible from Hedge Ln). I have noticed that it fishes in the early morning, late morning and mid-afternoon (2-4pm). When it is fishing, it flies north (upbay) from its normal B navigation marker perch and courses east and west across the bay searching for food. Occassionally, it flies far enough east in the bay that it is out of sight from either Fossil Pt. or Hedge Ln., but has always come back in my experience. I haven't seen it flying north of the long string of pilings on the east side of the bay that is off of Old Mill Rd (Google maps). I don't think Old Mill Rd is signed and it is certainly not publicly accessible. Also the part of the bay that the booby perches in is supposedly called Hungryman Cove (Google maps). The weather is supposed to cooperate this weekend. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091111/1c9bc6e3/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Nov 11 18:07:48 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:07:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lane coast birds Message-ID: I spent a few hours birding coastal Lane Co today. No surprises and the ocean watching conditions, being almost perfect, revealed almost no seabirds. The only really noteworthy change in the gull movements from Sunday is that Cal numbers dropped at north coast sites and the number of first-winter Westerns went from maybe 5 at Heceta Head to over 100 today, in a flock of perhaps 300 gulls. Western numbers were up at all sites but the influx of juvs was striking. 1 Red Phalarope was at the cove north of the crab dock along s jetty Rd. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Nov 11 18:36:08 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:36:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands 11/11 (plus Bon Gull, Red Phal) Message-ID: <2C9D20BE6BB14C80AC0CB1CAFB65A951@GREG> Late this afternoon I also noted the birds John found (below) at Fernhill Wetlands in Forest Grove. Also there were 3 BONAPARTE'S GULL , a rare annual migrant in the county. I got this photo at dusk and didn't have the camera quite set right for shooting against the sky, so it's dark and grainy: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/119295524 A pale PEREGRINE FALCON was buzzing the evening gull roost in the middle of the lake. A RED PHALAROPE was a surprise in late afternoon sun. http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/119294899 Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com Subject: Fernhill Wetlands 11/11 From: John Rakestraw Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:09:54 -0800 (PST) I took a quick walk around Fernhill Wetlands (Birding Oregon p. 61) in the late morning. Most of the wintering geese were off grazing somewhere, but Northern Pintails and Common Mergansers were plentiful. Other highlights: Eared Grebe (photo at http://johnrakestraw.net) Western Grebe Red-shouldered Hawk Cheers, John Rakestraw Portland From grouse at operamail.com Wed Nov 11 19:05:07 2009 From: grouse at operamail.com (Gr Ouse) Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:05:07 +0100 Subject: [obol] Dog Pond South Jetty Message-ID: <20091112030507.712D87BD6E@ws5-10.us4.outblaze.com> Hello OBOL, In response to a post last week asking if off-road riding is allowed at the Dog Pond at South Jetty of the Siuslaw River. It is not allowed north of South Jetty Road. If you see off-road vehicles at the Dog Pond you can report it to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area Office at 541-271-3611. In addition, if you would like to see the sand access road that parallels South Jetty Road moved further away to create a buffer and make it less likely to encounter off-road vehicles at the Dog Pond you can send comments to Ross Holloway, facilitator for a working group that is currently reviewing designated routes in the dunes off-road riding areas at this email address. rholloway at inciplan.net To learn more about the working group go to the website. http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw/projects/rec-plans-projects/dunes-routes/index.shtml Adele Dawson Florence -- _______________________________________________ Surf the Web in a faster, safer and easier way: Download Opera 9 at http://www.opera.com Powered by Outblaze From whoffman at peak.org Wed Nov 11 19:05:06 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:05:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] South Jetty, Yaquina Bay Message-ID: Early afternoon today (Nov. 11), in a brief visit, I saw 4 Red Phalaropes, 1 Basic-plumage adult Pigeon Guillemot, and 2 adult Ring-billed Gulls (uncommon on the outer coast). I have not found the Snow Bunting since Sunday, despite checking daily. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091111/19079cbf/attachment.html From grouse at operamail.com Wed Nov 11 19:36:10 2009 From: grouse at operamail.com (Gr Ouse) Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:36:10 +0100 Subject: [obol] Tropical Kingbird Message-ID: <20091112033610.CE3B9CBEBE@ws5-11.us4.outblaze.com> Today two Tropical Kingbirds showed up late afternoon near the corner of Ist and Hemlock in old town Florence. I posted a photo on my blog. http://adeledawson.blogspot.com/2009/11/tropical-kingbird.html -- _______________________________________________ Surf the Web in a faster, safer and easier way: Download Opera 9 at http://www.opera.com Powered by Outblaze From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Nov 11 21:45:03 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:45:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 11/11/09 Message-ID: <20091112054506.B0A8EA8158@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 11/05 to 11/11/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 7 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Cackling Goose 2 (50, 11/8) CANADA GOOSE 2 (20, 11/8) GREAT BLUE HERON 1 (1, 11/5) COOPER'S HAWK 1 (1, 11/6) RED-TAILED HAWK 2 (1, 11/7 & 10) GULL sp. 1 (1, 11/11) MOURNING DOVE 1 (2, 11/10) Anna's Hummingbird 5 (3) Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 (1, 11/11) Downy Woodpecker 1 (2, 11/11) Northern Flicker 6 (3) Pileated Woodpecker 2 (1, 11/10 & 11) Hutton's Vireo 1 (2, 11/6) Steller's Jay 6 (7, 11/11) American Crow 6 (7, 11/6) COMMON RAVEN 1 (1, 11/7) Black-capped Chickadee 7 (20) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 6 (12, 11/5) Bushtit 3 (15, 11/10) Red-breasted Nuthatch 6 (8) Brown Creeper 4 (3) Bewick's Wren 2 (2, 11/9) Winter Wren 6 (3) Golden-crowned Kinglet 7 (20, 11/9) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4 (2) Hermit Thrush 4 (3) American Robin 7 (12) Varied Thrush 4 (5, 11/9) European Starling 4 (4) Cedar Waxwing 1 (15, 11/7) Spotted Towhee 7 (6) Song Sparrow 7 (10) Dark-eyed Junco 7 (30, 11/6) House Finch 7 (8) RED CROSSBILL 1 (12, 11/10) Pine Siskin 1 (50, 11/11) Lesser Goldfinch 1 (1, 11/10) Misses (birds found at least 3 days in previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Band-tailed Pigeon, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch Wink Gross Portland From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Nov 11 23:32:22 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:32:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 10-12-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * November 12, 2009 * ORPO0911.12 - birds mentioned Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter BROWN BOOBY Brown Pelican Gyrfalcon Rock Sandpiper Red Phalarope Heermann?s Gull Band-tailed Pigeon Lewis?s Woodpecker Say?s Phoebe Tropical Kingbird Northern Shrike Harris?s Sparrow Lapland Longspur CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR Snow Bunting Bullock?s Oriole - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday November 12. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. The Coos Bay Brown Booby continues to be see. On November 9 a CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR was at Cape Blanco. Recent storms have pushed RED PHALAROPES to shore. Many were seen all along the coast, especially at the mouth of the Columbia River. On November 11 one was inland at the Fernhill Wetlands in Forest Grove. Good numbers of BROWN PELICANS and HEERMANN?S GULLS continue along the coast. During the week GYRFALCONS were reported from the South Jetty of the Columbia River, Tillamook Bay, and at Pistol River. On November 11 two TROPICAL KINGBIRDS were in Florence. Two ROCK SANDPIPERS and a SNOW BUNTING were seen during the week at the South Jetty of Yaquina Bay. On November 7 two SNOW BUNTINGS and four ROCK SANDPIPERS were at Tillamook Bay. On November 10 a male BULLOCK?S ORIOLE was in Seaside. A TROPICAL KINGBIRD was seen November 9 along Wireless Road near Astoria. On November 11 a SAY?S PHOEBE was at Jackson Bottoms in Hillsboro. Five SURF SCOTERS and a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER were seen November 9 at Hagg Lake south of Forest Grove. On November 10 seven LEWIS?S WOODPECKERS were along West Perrydale Road in Polk County. That day a NORTHERN SHRIKE was at Baskett Slough NWR. Another NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen during the week in Finley NWR. Two BAND-TAILED PIGEONS were seen during the week at Mosier. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was at Hatfield Lake near Bend November 8. A HARRIS?S SPARROW was seen November 8 at Hagelstein Park on Upper Klamath Lake. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091111/a0af476a/attachment.html From m.denny at charter.net Thu Nov 12 06:47:26 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:47:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Milton-Freewater Raptor Route Message-ID: <6605454B09F249C9A8E699E4F688575D@24FLIGHT> Hello all, Yesterday we joined Ginger and Rodger Shoemake for the first raptor count of the season - cloudy with rain but not windy. It was an average count for this area: Red-tailed hawk 186 Am. kestrel 61 N. harrier 16 Golden eagle 1 Rough-legged hawk 3 Prairie falcon 1 Sharp-shinned hawk 2 Great Horned Owl 6 TOTAL: 276 Also had 1 Northern Shrike, 42 Eurasian Collared Doves just north of Umapine and 1 Rusty Blackbird. The hills are all covered with wind turbines and more are going up every day - no one knows what these will do to the raptor population. MerryLynn .................................................................................. Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived From fschrock at gmail.com Thu Nov 12 08:25:33 2009 From: fschrock at gmail.com (Floyd Schrock) Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:25:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Barred Owl in SW Portland Message-ID: <390ebd880911120825s41959554t77cb1436a4ba5cb7@mail.gmail.com> A friend of mine, a casual birder and skilled observer, sent me a photo he took recently of a Barred Owl near Multnomah Village, 47th and Carson, in SW Portland. This might be a well-known location for this bird, but I haven't been keeping track. Anyway, birders in the area might want to go look for it, and maybe stake it out for the upcoming CBC. The photo can be seen at http://empids.blogspot.com. -- ==================== Floyd Schrock McMinnville, Oregon USA http://empids.blogspot.com ==================== -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091112/bb48f99f/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Thu Nov 12 10:33:28 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:33:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Newport Area Harlequins, etc & Immature Snow Goose -Torvend Rd Pond Message-ID: We were in Newport yesterday (Wednesday, Nov 11). South Jetty had usual birds including SURF SCOTER, HARLEQUIN DUCKS (4), COMMON LOON, DC CORMORANTS, PELAGIC CORMORANTS, NORTHERN HARRIER (1), & BLACK TURNSTONE (10) on south side of South Jetty by beach. We were out at the beach looking for a GREAT WHITE SHARK that surfers have reported. A warning sign was prominently displayed but it looked like the surfers were going out anyway. The LNG tank area up by Sally's Bend had WESTERN KINGBIRD (3) and singing WESTERN MEADOWLARK (2)along with BELTED KINGFISHER, BUFFLEHEADS (20)and scores of GREAT BLUE HERONS on the mud flats. Yaquina Head had BLACK OYSTERCATCHER (2). BROWN PELICANS were everywhere but especially South Jetty and Yaquina Head (300+) On the way home, we stopped at Torvend Rd Pond west of Silverton about 4:15 PM and saw an immature SNOW GOOSE in the middle of a large group of Cackler's. At home we noticed the post by Lee Cain on seeing an immature Snow Goose at Baskett Slough on Tuesday. (Dipped on THE bird I was looking for: Snow Bunting. Maybe next coast trip. Also, we had our dogs so had to skip the trail by the Marine Science Center.) John Thomas N of Silverton From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Thu Nov 12 10:47:56 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:47:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Florence TROPICAL KINGBIRD continues Message-ID: <2b1bbd260911121047n79790ae7l4353e70b6b300cb8@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Around 10 AM Lydia Cruz and I spotted one of the TROPICAL KINGBIRDS in Florence. We did not see the bird on 1st and Hemlock St., but rather a few blocks away near 2nd and Juniper St. The bird was perched on a telephone wire in an alley that runs between Juniper St. and Ivy St (and paralells 1st and 2nd). The bird was perched when we found it and quickly flew off headed east towards old town and in the general direction of the Dairy Queen. Hendrik Herlyn joined the search, but we had to leave by 10:30 without success. He was still searching. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091112/024ed146/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Thu Nov 12 11:41:32 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:41:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tropical Kingbirds? re: Newport Area Harlequins, etc... Message-ID: <4AFC64EC.4030806@pdx.edu> The three Western Kingbirds reported in Newport (below) are of interest. TROPICAL Kingbird is the more expected Kingbird along the coast in November, and this year the species is making a good showing. Just a heads-up. David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon > *Subject: Newport Area Harlequins, etc & Immature Snow Goose -Torvend > Rd Pond* > From: "John Thomas" > Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:33:28 -0800 > We were in Newport yesterday (Wednesday, Nov 11). South Jetty had usual > birds including SURF SCOTER, HARLEQUIN DUCKS (4), COMMON LOON, DC > CORMORANTS, PELAGIC CORMORANTS, NORTHERN HARRIER (1), & BLACK TURNSTONE (10) > on south side of South Jetty by beach. We were out at the beach > looking for a GREAT WHITE SHARK that surfers have reported. A warning sign > was prominently displayed but it looked like the surfers were going out > anyway. The LNG tank area > up by Sally's Bend had WESTERN KINGBIRD (3) and singing WESTERN MEADOWLARK > (2)along with BELTED KINGFISHER, BUFFLEHEADS (20)and scores of GREAT BLUE > HERONS on the mud flats. Yaquina Head had BLACK OYSTERCATCHER (2). BROWN > PELICANS were everywhere but especially South Jetty and Yaquina Head (300+) > > On the way home, we stopped at Torvend Rd Pond west of Silverton about 4:15 > PM and saw an immature SNOW GOOSE in the middle of a large group of > Cackler's. At home we noticed the > post by Lee Cain on seeing an immature Snow Goose at Baskett Slough on > Tuesday. > > (Dipped on THE bird I was looking for: Snow Bunting. Maybe next coast trip. > Also, we had our dogs so had to skip the trail by the Marine Science > Center.) > > John Thomas > N of Silverton > > From johnpam at mtangel.net Thu Nov 12 12:02:29 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:02:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] TROPICAL KINGBIRD at LNG Tank near Newport- Not Western! Message-ID: HI OBOLers, The birds seen were TROPICAL KINGBIRDS (3). Tim R. says they have a huge "snoz" and my photo shows that feature. We were hung up on not seeing the notch in the tail. One of the Kingbirds chittered his call. I just played both Western and Tropical and if my memory serves me right, it was absolutely the Tropical "chitter" that I heard. Thanks to Khanh and Tim for getting me straightened out on this. Maybe the Salem Audubon group will get over there today and see them on their coast trip. John Thomas From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Thu Nov 12 12:34:21 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:34:21 +0000 Subject: [obol] Tropical Kingbird PHOTO by John Thomas (LNG Newport, Oregon) Message-ID: Obolers: Here is documentation photo taken by John and Pam Thomas of the bird. As Tim R says, the big "snoz" is apparent with this bird. You can also see the slightly notched tail--although not extreme, it may be the way the bird is perched and has it's tail partially fanned. The extremely bright, lemon colored underparts are visible even with the sun washing it out. http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/snowbirds_in_autumn&page=all Thanks to John and Pam for posting and finding a trio of Tropicals!! Good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) www.ktbirding.com From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Thu Nov 12 12:42:59 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:42:59 +0000 Subject: [obol] Tropical Kingbird PHOTO by John Thomas (LNG tank Newport, Oregon) Message-ID: Obolers: Here is documentation photo taken by John and Pam Thomas of the bird. As Tim R says, the big "snoz" is apparent with this bird. You can also see the slightly notched tail--although not extreme, it may be the way the bird is perched and has it's tail partially fanned. The extremely bright, lemon colored underparts are visible even with the sun washing it out. http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/snowbirds_in_autumn&page=all Thanks to John and Pam for posting and finding a trio of Tropicals!! Good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) www.ktbirding.com From grouse at operamail.com Thu Nov 12 14:48:51 2009 From: grouse at operamail.com (Gr Ouse) Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:48:51 +0100 Subject: [obol] Tropical Kingbird Message-ID: <20091112224851.9BF787BD6E@ws5-10.us4.outblaze.com> Hello OBOL, Lisa Honseler and I relocated one of the Tropical Kingbirds around 2:00 PM near the corner of 1st and Juniper. It was in the trees behind the condos near where 1st St dead ends. Adele Dawson Florence -- _______________________________________________ Surf the Web in a faster, safer and easier way: Download Opera 9 at http://www.opera.com Powered by Outblaze From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Thu Nov 12 15:12:27 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:12:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lincoln Co. TROPICAL KINGBIRDS continue Message-ID: <2b1bbd260911121512r2f4bcdadr4bb3999e17a2da5b@mail.gmail.com> Obol, Just received a call from Karl Fairchild who was looking at 2 (possibly 3) TROPICAL KINGBIRDS at the LNG tank near Sally's Bend. Daniel Farrar -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091112/de39a0a8/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Thu Nov 12 16:24:48 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:24:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lower Columbia River raptor count - 11/12/2009 Message-ID: <4AFCA750.5000702@pacifier.com> Columbia River raptor route - includes SJCR, Warrenton, Astoria, Twilight, Svesen, Brownsmead. 3.6hrs 66.2mi Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Bald Eagle 11 [2] Northern Harrier 9 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 [3] Red-tailed Hawk 11 American Kestrel 5 Peregrine Falcon 4 [4] Brown Pelican 83 [1] Greater Yellowlegs 9 [5] Least Sandpiper 40 [6] Dunlin 190 [7] Long-billed Dowitcher 21 [8] Red Phalarope 4 [9] Footnotes: [1] All flying at River SJCR, southward [2] all adults [3] 1 at Warrenton, 1 at Brownsmead [4] SJCR, Warrenton, Twilight, Ziak's, all adults [5] Svensen Island [6] SJCR [7] SJCR [8] Brownsmead [9] SJCR Total number of species seen: 12 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From hhactitis at yahoo.com Thu Nov 12 17:21:42 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:21:42 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Florence Tropical Kingbird - 3rd time's a charm! Message-ID: <823992.44686.qm@web37008.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello OBOLers, after two unsuccessful attempts earlier today, I finally got lucky and found one of the TROPICAL KINGBIRDS at 1st Street and Hemlock in Florence around 4 pm. When I first found the bird, it was flying high, chittering excitedly, and a MERLIN was in very close pursuit. In fact, I was sure the kingbird was a goner, but a few minutes later I spotted it perched in a tall spruce aong Hemlock Street. While I watched it, I was joined by Diane Pettey, Adele Dawson (thanks for finding the kingbirds in the first place!), and Anne ?. I posted a few mediocre pics of the kingbird here (go to the bottom of the album): http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2037767&id=1383356632&l=a510eec5f5 What a nice way to end the day!!! Happy November Birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091112/2b870dad/attachment.html From bdcw at comcast.net Thu Nov 12 17:26:40 2009 From: bdcw at comcast.net (Bob Wilson) Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:26:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] "Birdy" Authors appear at Audubon Wild Arts Festival Message-ID: This is just a quick e-vite to attend Portland Audubon Society's Wild Arts Festival, Nov. 21 and 22 at Montgomery Park (2701 NW Vaughn) in Portland. Birder/authors, including Alan Contreras (Handbook of Oregon Birds AND Afield: Forty Years of Birding the American West), John Rakestraw (Birding Oregon) and the essential Harry Nehls will join other familiar faces from the Oregon field, such as James Davis and Mike Houck. In all, over 30 authors and nearly 100 artists will be present during the weekend. For more information about the event, including a signing schedule, visit www.wildartsfestival.org ; or click here for a two-for-one admission coupon. Bob Wilson -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091112/5c820de7/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Thu Nov 12 19:52:23 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:52:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands: Lincoln's Sparrow, Dusky Canada Geese, Grebes Message-ID: I birded Fernhill Wetlands this morning from 9:40 until 11:05. I did not find the Red Phalarope, Bonaparte's Gulls, or Eared Grebe that were there yesterday. I did see the following: 9 DUSKY CANADA GEESE in the pond across the road from the parking lot, 2 with neck bands (3/8F and 7/1N) 2 WESTERN GREBES 1 HORNED GREBE 2 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, presumably winter residents of the *gracilis* race Also present were ~1,000 or more NORTHERN PINTAILS, ~30+ HOODED MERGANSERS, and ~45+ COMMON MERGANSERS, and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS were well represented. The dominant gull species was MEW GULL. I saw one adult BALD EAGLE carrying nesting material, though I lost track of it as it flew off. The area where the Swamp Sparrow was last year seemed to be less than ideal as compared to last year, though there was plenty of good sparrow habitat in other parts of the wetlands. Photos of one of the LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, along with an accipiter that was hunting in the same area, are online at: http://www.westerngrebe.com/fernhill/ -- I thought the accipiter was a Sharpie when I saw it in the field, though I am starting to second guess that looking at the photos now. I welcome comments on what you think it is, and why. Scott Carpenter Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091112/e9839614/attachment.html From dendroicaman at peak.org Thu Nov 12 20:42:59 2009 From: dendroicaman at peak.org (Karl Fairchild) Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:42:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sally's Bend TROPICAL KINGBIRD, etc. Message-ID: <4AFCE3D3.4000903@peak.org> Hi OBOL, Ulo Kiigemagi and I successfully relocated the kingbirds found yesterday by John and Pam Thomas. They were in the thick wall of blackberries to the west of the main entrance road to the LNG tank and the adjoining low bushes. I believe I saw all 3 birds when I first arrived, but one seemed to split more away from the other two and headed toward the willows/alders to the west. All were generally quite active, flying around, chasing each other, calling, and making high aerial sallies. Fortunately, there were several instances where one of the birds would settle on a tree branch or blackberry cane, allowing for nice, extended views. My Oregon nemesis busted at last! In addition to the TRKIs, I encountered my FOS MEW GULLS (several dozen), a decent sized flock of GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, and BUFFLEHEADS by the hundreds, with a sprinkling of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. Later, at the HMSC nature trail, we had a ridiculously bold GREAT BLUE HERON, a lone RED PHALAROPE lethargically picking the shoreline, and WESTERN GULLS in a clam-feeding frenzy. We certainly found entertainment value in the gulls' arts of harassment and reprisal, piracy, sudden sneak theft and yelling-at-your-pursuer-with-your-beak-crammed-full-with-clam. Several male HOODED MERGANSERS made for an interesting sight in the midst of SURF SCOTERS and WESTERN GREBES. The tide also appeared extremely low, and large flocks of AMERICAN WIGEON, SURF SCOTERS and MEW GULLS were visible in the distance. All in all, a great sunny day at the coast! Good Birding, Karl Fairchild Corvallis, OR From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Nov 13 08:42:15 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:42:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands Accipiter Message-ID: Scott, Don't forget the field mark that is the namesake of the Sharp-shinned Hawk. The Accipiter in your photo appears to be a "blunt-shinned hawk," thus a Cooper's. Actually, the lower part of a bird's leg is not the shin, but the tarsus (foot). (Just like Thick-knees really have thick ankles-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-striped_Thick-knee.) Compare the front of the tarsus on the bird in your photo: http://www.westerngrebe.com/fernhill/ With this one: http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/photos/sharp_shinned_hawk_4.jpg Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From greenfant at hotmail.com Fri Nov 13 11:35:22 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:35:22 -0500 Subject: [obol] RFI: Booby Message-ID: Has the Booby been seen yesterday or today? Please post if you have news. If it's still hanging around, I might embark on the long trek from Portland to go see it tomorrow. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091113/dc72c0fb/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Fri Nov 13 12:10:39 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:10:39 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands Accipiter In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <367379.16902.qm@web39707.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Greg, Great photos of coops and sharpy! I'd like to add just a little to assist in IDing these two. Note the difference in eye shape----sharpies, in my experience, have a more rounded appearing eye. The same applies to their head, the coops being a little more blocky, while the sharpie's is more rounded. An even better way to separate these two is available if you can see the feet and toes (of a perched bird). The toes of these two are much different. The sharpie is what I refer to as a true "sparrow hawk". Their toes are proportionally much thinner and longer, and this is readily seen in the second photo. The coops toes are thicker and proportionally shorter. Hope this is of some assistance to someone. Best, Dick --- On Fri, 11/13/09, Greg Gillson wrote: > From: Greg Gillson > Subject: Re: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands Accipiter > To: "OBOL" > Date: Friday, November 13, 2009, 8:42 AM > Scott, > > Don't forget the field mark that is the namesake of the > Sharp-shinned Hawk. > > The Accipiter in your photo appears to be a "blunt-shinned > hawk," thus a > Cooper's. > > Actually, the lower part of a bird's leg is not the shin, > but the tarsus > (foot). (Just like Thick-knees really have thick > ankles--? > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-striped_Thick-knee.) > > Compare the front of the tarsus on the bird in your photo: > http://www.westerngrebe.com/fernhill/ > > With this one: > http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/photos/sharp_shinned_hawk_4.jpg > > Greg Gillson > The Bird Guide, Inc. > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From philliplc at charter.net Fri Nov 13 13:07:20 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:07:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <5746FA6D387E48E2B5E4250253B0CAD3@Phil> 9:00-12:15 (11/13): post front- partial clearing, wind NNW 15-30, swells 8-10 everything moving south 6000 Red-throated Loon 900 Pacific Loon 50 Common Loon 3 Horned Grebe 26 Red-necked Grebe 350 Northern Fulmar (about equal light/dark) 1 Sooty Shearwater 600 Brown Pelican 25 Double-crested Cormorant 150 Brandt's Cormorant 30 Pelagic Cormorant 2080 Brant (inc.single flock of 370) 5 Mallard 1 Gadwall 250 Northern Pintail 30 American Wigeon 3 Blue-winged/Cinnamon Teal 60 Green-winged Teal 7 Greater Scaup 3 Lesser Scaup 80 scaup sp. 1 Long-tailed Duck 20 Black Scoter 500 White-winged Scoter 13000 Surf Scoter 2 Bufflehead 400 Common Merganser (all female plumage) 240 Dunlin 1000+ Red Phalarope 4 Pomarine Jaeger 1 SOUTH POLAR SKUA 150 Bonaparte's Gull 2000+ Mew Gull 500+ California Gull 50+ Herring Gull 300+ Western Gull 100+ Glaucous-winged Gull 1 Heermann's Gull 1 Black-legged Kittiwake 600 Common Murre 2 Pigeon Guillemot + about 1500 Pelicans on the tip of Salishan Spit at 12:30 Phil philliplc at charter.net From philliplc at charter.net Fri Nov 13 13:11:28 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:11:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay References: <5746FA6D387E48E2B5E4250253B0CAD3@Phil> Message-ID: <78BDB8E493454D1D9DBA8555CD0FD2AD@Phil> make that 400 Red-breasted Merganser, not Common : ) From sengel at audubonportland.org Fri Nov 13 13:50:54 2009 From: sengel at audubonportland.org (Steve Engel) Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:50:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sharpie vs Cooper's - legs and all Message-ID: <200911132150.nADLoltM067316@broadway.hevanet.com> I agree with Greg G. about the photo by Scott C. Leg thickness is a good ID feature for these two species, when available. Cooper's legs equate to "pencil thick" and sharpies to "matchstick thick" (with slight exaggeration) Of course with Accipiters the more field marks the better so also notice the square head appearance caused by the slightly raised "hackles" at the back of the bird's head. Although a Cooper's may not show this 100% of the time I've yet to see a photo of a sharp-shinned that shows it. Also, the eye of a Cooper's is placed forward of the middle of the head and in a sharpie the eye is placed more in the middle of the head. Also, with immature Cooper's, there is a change in the background color of the breast feathers, ever so slightly darker/buffier on the upper half than below. In the pictured bird the change is seen a little less than half-way from the tip of the beak to the top of the legs. The difference is not as prominent as the similar feature in the Lincoln's Sparrow but is the same idea. Sharp-shinned hawks do not show this. Beautiful photos Scott, thanks for sharing. Steve Engel Adult Education Coordinator Audubon Society of Portland 5151 NW Cornell Road, Portland, OR 97210 EMAIL:? sengel at audubonportland.org PHONE:? 503-292-6855 x 119 (main)? 971-222-6119 (direct) web:? www.audubonportland.org HOW TO REGISTER FOR ADULT CLASSES: http://www.audubonportland.org/trips-classes-camps/adult/classes/registratio ninfo From hhactitis at yahoo.com Fri Nov 13 15:05:29 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:05:29 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Florence Tropical Kingbird continues Message-ID: <768804.8948.qm@web37006.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, Adele Dawson and I were able to relocate one of the TROPICAL KINGBIRDS around 1:45 pm today. It was perched in a spruce near the little pumphouse on 1st Street (across from Ivy St.) and later flew off to the NW. The bird called several times, making it easy to find it. Happy Birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091113/871b15b5/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Fri Nov 13 17:21:59 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:21:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Brown Booby still here 11/13 Message-ID: The BROWN BOOBY was roosting on the metal navigation marker at 5pm tonight. I received a second-hand report that a local birder Stan Wilson saw the bird foraging north of TransPacific Lane, west of Hwy 101. This is the northern most part of Coos Bay. I still think searching the part of the bay where the bird has been seen the most is the best bet for out-of-town birders. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091113/a986a285/attachment.html From richarmstrong at comcast.net Fri Nov 13 18:57:34 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:57:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] coos/florence References: <5746FA6D387E48E2B5E4250253B0CAD3@Phil> Message-ID: 1. 4 from corvallis went to florence and coos today. it barely rained late morning and not at all in the afternoon! 2. the TROPICAL KINGBIRD was right at the corner of 1st and hemlock at 10 am and again at 430 pm. 3. the BROWN BOOBY was on its apparently usual tower (with a B on the side) at 1130. 4. there were good numbers of 3 grebes in the channel - RED-NECKED, HORNED , WESTERN. 5. there were 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS on a tower with an osprey nest toward the south. 6. there was 1 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER on a dirt spit looking north. 7. on to winchester bay where we estimated 2500 BROWN PELICANS roosting in an enclosed bay south of the south jetty - an amazing sight. there were also 3 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS in a cove on the way out. 8. at the south jetty in florence there were probably over 1000 california gulls, essentially 100% adults - a very interesting sight. they all got up at once because of an adult bald eagle. Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 From whoffman at peak.org Fri Nov 13 18:47:58 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:47:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sally's Bend TROPICAL KINGBIRD, etc. References: <4AFCE3D3.4000903@peak.org> Message-ID: <0080F410A01F4181B34367A1176E56D6@D48XBZ51> At least 2 were still present today, around noon - same place - big "hedge" of blackberry vines, also foraging in the lower weeds and canes to the north. The area was very birdy today, with huge numbers of House Finches in the vines, also 3 Lincoln's Sparrows, a Wilson's Snipe, Song, Fox, and White-crowned sparrows, Red-winged and Brewer's Blackbirds. I did not have time to dig any deeper, but I suspect more sparrows, etc. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Karl Fairchild" To: "Oregon Birders On Line" Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 8:42 PM Subject: [obol] Sally's Bend TROPICAL KINGBIRD, etc. > Hi OBOL, > > Ulo Kiigemagi and I successfully relocated the kingbirds found yesterday > by John and Pam Thomas. They were in the thick wall of blackberries to > the west of the main entrance road to the LNG tank and the adjoining low > bushes. I believe I saw all 3 birds when I first arrived, but one > seemed to split more away from the other two and headed toward the > willows/alders to the west. All were generally quite active, flying > around, chasing each other, calling, and making high aerial sallies. > Fortunately, there were several instances where one of the birds would > settle on a tree branch or blackberry cane, allowing for nice, extended > views. My Oregon nemesis busted at last! In addition to the TRKIs, I > encountered my FOS MEW GULLS (several dozen), a decent sized flock of > GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, and BUFFLEHEADS by the hundreds, with a > sprinkling of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. Later, at the HMSC nature trail, > we had a ridiculously bold GREAT BLUE HERON, a lone RED PHALAROPE > lethargically picking the shoreline, and WESTERN GULLS in a clam-feeding > frenzy. We certainly found entertainment value in the gulls' arts of > harassment and reprisal, piracy, sudden sneak theft and > yelling-at-your-pursuer-with-your-beak-crammed-full-with-clam. Several > male HOODED MERGANSERS made for an interesting sight in the midst of > SURF SCOTERS and WESTERN GREBES. The tide also appeared extremely low, > and large flocks of AMERICAN WIGEON, SURF SCOTERS and MEW GULLS were > visible in the distance. > > All in all, a great sunny day at the coast! > > Good Birding, > Karl Fairchild > Corvallis, OR > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From dwhipple at opusnet.com Fri Nov 13 19:24:48 2009 From: dwhipple at opusnet.com (Darrel Whipple) Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:24:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Northern Pygmy-owl at Rainier Message-ID: <9F68210392964975877523B7DA7B92A7@DarrelPC> Obolers, Between showers today at 1:30 pm an owl struck a window on our deck, probably in pursuit of the chickadees hanging around our feeders. It was stunned and took about ten minutes to recover, during which time my wife Judy and I noted its features and photographed it through the window. It was a Northern Pygmy-owl, a species that is common here in Northwest Oregon but seldom seen. Contact me if you would like to receive the photo by email. Darrel Whipple Rainier, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091113/3cf314a1/attachment.html From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Fri Nov 13 21:33:06 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:33:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] American Tree Sparrow at Fernhill Wetlands 11/13/09 Message-ID: <005f01ca64eb$f2050d70$d60f2850$@NET> I walked around the northern pond at Fernhill Wetlands near Hillsboro this evening. In addition to the gulls, pintails and mergansers reported earlier there was an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW with the Golden Crowned Sparrows in the bushes and on the road/path on the northern side near the sign that has a roof over it. There were also Great Egrets and a couple of shorebirds whose long slightly drooping bills make me think Dunlin. Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_pix/ Tom Shreve -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091113/0f6527dd/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Sat Nov 14 09:56:10 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:56:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Tree Sparrow map Message-ID: <45398DB31C0A4FEABE47C93E1AE22715@GREG> The American Tree Sparrow that Tom Shreve photographed at Forest Grove's Fernhill Wetlands was here: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=45.509343,-123.083007+(Tree+Sparrow) Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Sat Nov 14 10:24:26 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:24:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] shrikes and swana Message-ID: <83D8D1FBF87F4BEB822ED2EE202937FA@larryPC> We have been seeing a few Northern Shrikes here. While in Arock we had a juvenile observing us. It was unusual to see a brown Shrike. Getting home we dug into the bird books. The bird was quite curious about what we were doing, once his curiosity was satisfied he went on to more sightseeing. There have been several in the yard of both species. They haven't stayed long, just enough to be identified and a meal. Last night while sitting in the hot tub we could hear geese flying overhead. The geese have been flying back and forth from the hay fields to the impoundment NE of us.This morning while doing chores there was lots of calling above us. These turned out to be Swans. There were several small flocks mostly headed South West. Karen in true SE Or. south of Burns Jct. in Malheur Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091114/2519a419/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Sat Nov 14 10:29:26 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:29:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: 6:45-9:15 (11/14) with Wayne Hoffman mostly clear, wind S shifting NNE 5-15, swells 10+ 4000 Red-throated Loon (briefly to 100/min) 150 Pacific Loon 50 Common Loon 1 Horned Grebe 6 Red-necked Grebe 30 Western Grebe 80 Northern Fulmar 1000+ Brown Pelican (800 N before 7:30, smaller numbers feeding/S after) 85 Double-crested Cormorant 80 Brandt's Cormorant 30 Pelagic Cormorant 4 Brant (N) 1 Mallard 1 Lesser Scaup 15 scaup sp. 15 Black Scoter 200 White-winged Scoter 6000 Surf Scoter 4 Bufflehead 20 Red-breasted Merganser 2 Black Turnstone 2 Red Phalarope 18 Bonaparte's Gull 300+ Mew Gull 500+ California Gull (many juv) 50+ Herring Gull (low) 300+ Western Gull 80+ Glaucous-winged Gull 300 Common Murre 4 Pigeon Guillemot 9 Marbled Murrelet 1 Western Meadowlark Phil philliplc at charter.net From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Nov 14 12:18:53 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:18:53 +0000 Subject: [obol] New Red Phalarope photo essay posted to BirdFellow.com Message-ID: Greetings All, I just posted a new piece about Red Phalaropes to the BirdFellow.com online journal. Dave Irons Content Editor BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: I wanted simpler, now it's simpler. I'm a rock star. http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?h=myidea?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_myidea:112009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091114/7ed5dbe1/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Sat Nov 14 12:39:31 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:39:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos BROWN BOOBY - yes Message-ID: Seen by many this morning both flying and perched. In the early dawn, the bird disappeared to the south towards the Charleston boat harbor. It eventually came back, but it is evident that the bird is foraging over a larger area. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091114/ff3082c7/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sat Nov 14 13:24:41 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:24:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] More kingbirds Message-ID: <4AFF2019.8010903@pacifier.com> There were 2 TROPICAL KINGBIRDS along Wireless Rd this morning, one may have been the same bird seen earlier in the week (it droops one wing). More photos for those who haven't yet tired of this season's kingbird-acopea: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From acontrer at mindspring.com Sat Nov 14 13:32:19 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:32:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Newport Tropicals continue Message-ID: <55FD0781-55F1-4A6C-B803-840A6F97C175@mindspring.com> 2Tropicals still present and active in the blackberries halfway down the LNG tank road at Yaquina Bay today. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone From sandyleapt at comcast.net Sat Nov 14 13:52:53 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:52:53 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Late Rufous Hummingbird? In-Reply-To: <1928918961.2727811258235023870.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <57217172.2729481258235573865.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi all, While working in the garden today I heard the distinct wing trill and zee call of a male Rufous Hummingbird. I am going to go sit in the garden for an hour or so to see if I can see or hear it again. I kind of think the sounds came from an odd little hummingbird I decided is an immature male Anna's that has been in the garden since late summer. I have been hearing him do the the male Anna's call but he has always had a funny flight sound, an odd reddish tinge to the edges of his feathers and his tail feathers seem pointed. Last summer I witnessed a male Anna's and a female Rufous performing courtship behavior. Maybe this is the the Rufous x Anna's Hummingbird I have been hoping for. Either way, if I see a Rufous Hummingbird or if I catch the little male Anna's making Rufous hummingbird calls, I'll let you know. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091114/98d362ea/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sat Nov 14 14:36:01 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:36:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay References: Message-ID: One addition: 2 minutes after Phil left a flock of 400 Double-crested Cormorants came by southbound. They were flying about 50' off the ocean just off the rocks. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Phil Pickering" To: Sent: Saturday, November 14, 2009 10:29 AM Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay > 6:45-9:15 (11/14) with Wayne Hoffman > mostly clear, wind S shifting NNE 5-15, swells 10+ > > 4000 Red-throated Loon (briefly to 100/min) > 150 Pacific Loon > 50 Common Loon > 1 Horned Grebe > 6 Red-necked Grebe > 30 Western Grebe > 80 Northern Fulmar > 1000+ Brown Pelican (800 N before 7:30, smaller numbers > feeding/S after) > 85 Double-crested Cormorant > 80 Brandt's Cormorant > 30 Pelagic Cormorant > 4 Brant (N) > 1 Mallard > 1 Lesser Scaup > 15 scaup sp. > 15 Black Scoter > 200 White-winged Scoter > 6000 Surf Scoter > 4 Bufflehead > 20 Red-breasted Merganser > 2 Black Turnstone > 2 Red Phalarope > 18 Bonaparte's Gull > 300+ Mew Gull > 500+ California Gull (many juv) > 50+ Herring Gull (low) > 300+ Western Gull > 80+ Glaucous-winged Gull > 300 Common Murre > 4 Pigeon Guillemot > 9 Marbled Murrelet > 1 Western Meadowlark > > Phil > philliplc at charter.net > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From johnpam at mtangel.net Sat Nov 14 14:39:52 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:39:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Avisys on a Netbook? Anna's Hummers in The Boondocks... Message-ID: Pam has her Avisys listings on a PC laptop. My Avisys listings are on a MacBook running Parallels. This MacBook plus Parallels plus Windows XP plus Avisys sometimes runs smoothly but has lately been giving us the "heebie jeebies" and some headaches. We are seriously considering a dedicated NetBook (ultra small laptop) for Avisys and e-mail on the road BUT wonder if the NetBooks are powerful enough to run this program. Any "Deep Techies" out there that know? I am trying to figure this out on the Avisys website and not finding clear info yet. These little NetBooks don't have a lot of computing power and we don't want to get one that doesn't work. On the bird front, we have several Anna's Hummingbirds back for the second winter we have observed them. Prior to last winter, we didn't think they ever came this far out into the boondocks. So we took down the feeders and stored them. Last winter we kept up one for an experiment (OK, I admit we were looking for a vagrant, a rarity...) and it paid off with Anna's Hummingbirds during the ice and cold. We have an immature male and a female showing up intermittently since the Rufous buzzed south. They are very shy and the male is even more hit and miss than the female. Several flowers are still blooming (!) and this is very strange to say the least : Hardy Fuschia, Cape Fuschia, several types of Salvia, and even a little Jupiter's Beard. I speculate that this helps keep them around. They seem to prefer the flowers over our feeders. Good Birding, John Thomas NE Marion County From whoffman at peak.org Sat Nov 14 14:45:05 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:45:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Newport Tropicals continue References: <55FD0781-55F1-4A6C-B803-840A6F97C175@mindspring.com> Message-ID: Actually there are still 3, but one does not associate much with the other 2. You must have arrived a few minutes after I left. I checked about 10:30 and found none. I rteturned at noon and watched 2 fly in from the patch of willows to the WSW. Just once in about an hour I had 3 in sight together. Also present at the spot: Red-tailed Hawk 1 Wilson's Snipe 1 Belted Kingfisher 2 N. Flicker 2 American Crow 4 Marsh Wren 1 Robin 6 Lincoln's Sparrow 2 Savannah Sparrow 4 Song Sparrow 20+ Fox Sparrow 30+ White-crowned Sparrow 25 Golden-cr. Sparrow 10 Western Meadowlark 3 Red-winged Blackbird 8 House Finch 100+ I placed bird seed in a few places for the sparrows/finches. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan Contreras" To: "obol" Sent: Saturday, November 14, 2009 1:32 PM Subject: [obol] Newport Tropicals continue > 2Tropicals still present and active in the blackberries halfway down > the LNG tank road at Yaquina Bay today. > > Alan Contreras > Sent from my iPhone > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From johnpam at mtangel.net Sat Nov 14 15:08:38 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:08:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Avisys Netbook Addendum Message-ID: I found some info on the Avisys site that somehow I overlooked. He doesn't like NetBooks but seems to support the 1024x600 screen size with his latest upgrade. Anyone using such a set-up? There is no recommendation on the Avisys site except the negative comments about these cheap little laptops and what they won't do. Maybe he's correct and we are going down the wrong path here. Thanks, Sorry for Bit Off Topic Stuff, John Thomas From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Nov 14 15:21:57 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:21:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <7C70CD5A-B2F3-460C-8288-9AEF28BCF144@earthlink.net> On Wednesday (11/11) I saw a flock of 200 D-c Cormorants fly over Safeway about noon in Coos Bay. At a distance I assumed they were Aleutian Geese, given the perfect V of the flock, the season, location, etc.. They were headed sse at about 70m above the ground. I wondered if this was a long-distance, seasonal movement or a local, daily movement. The local tide was high at sunrise and low at mid-day. Around an hour later I observed another flock from the mouth of Pony Slough. It was at the same elevation, headed the same direction and numbered over 300 birds. Lars Norgren On Nov 14, 2009, at 2:36 PM, Wayne Hoffman wrote: > One addition: 2 minutes after Phil left a flock of 400 Double-crested > Cormorants came by southbound. They were flying about 50' off the > ocean > just off the rocks. > > Wayne > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Phil Pickering" > To: > Sent: Saturday, November 14, 2009 10:29 AM > Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay > > >> 6:45-9:15 (11/14) with Wayne Hoffman >> mostly clear, wind S shifting NNE 5-15, swells 10+ >> >> 4000 Red-throated Loon (briefly to 100/min) >> 150 Pacific Loon >> 50 Common Loon >> 1 Horned Grebe >> 6 Red-necked Grebe >> 30 Western Grebe >> 80 Northern Fulmar >> 1000+ Brown Pelican (800 N before 7:30, smaller numbers >> feeding/S after) >> 85 Double-crested Cormorant >> 80 Brandt's Cormorant >> 30 Pelagic Cormorant >> 4 Brant (N) >> 1 Mallard >> 1 Lesser Scaup >> 15 scaup sp. >> 15 Black Scoter >> 200 White-winged Scoter >> 6000 Surf Scoter >> 4 Bufflehead >> 20 Red-breasted Merganser >> 2 Black Turnstone >> 2 Red Phalarope >> 18 Bonaparte's Gull >> 300+ Mew Gull >> 500+ California Gull (many juv) >> 50+ Herring Gull (low) >> 300+ Western Gull >> 80+ Glaucous-winged Gull >> 300 Common Murre >> 4 Pigeon Guillemot >> 9 Marbled Murrelet >> 1 Western Meadowlark >> >> Phil >> philliplc at charter.net >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From greg at thebirdguide.com Sat Nov 14 15:54:54 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:54:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Tree Sparrow remains Message-ID: <65CE82258A32493EB1783F4C265AB1B3@GREG> Washington County's 4th American Tree Sparrow remains along the cottonwoods at the NE corner of Fernhill Lake near the cement pad and sign at the corner of the Mitigation Ponds. David Smith and I laid down some seed piles. Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=45.509343,-123.083007+(Tree+Sparrow) Washington County 2009 bird highlights: http://thebirdguide.com/washington/WashCo_2009.htm A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was present, regularly screaming its repeated flicker-like call, "keer-keer-keer-keer-keer-keer." The very pale PEREGRINE FALCON remains. It is so odd I wonder if it is a falconer's cross with some Asian falcon. It has a white cheek, white streaks through the hind-crown, brown barred back. The underparts are milky brown. Please, someone, tell me it's not a Gyr. Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From coffehound at gmail.com Sat Nov 14 16:10:56 2009 From: coffehound at gmail.com (Demian Ebert) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:10:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] White-headed Black-capped Chickadee Message-ID: I was roasting coffee in the garage this afternoon and watching my bird feeders at the same time. A flock of BC chickadees flew in and started taking sunflower seeds. One bird at a time, one seed at a time. One of them had a pure white crown and upper back. It was a black-capped, but must have been missing some proper pigmenting. Sure made me do a double take though. Demian Sellwood, Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091114/0c6134d8/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Nov 14 17:13:23 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:13:23 +0000 Subject: [obol] White-headed Black-capped Chickadee In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Partial albinism/leucism is somewhat regular with Black-capped Chickadees. Dave Irons Eugene, OR Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:10:56 -0800 From: coffehound at gmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] White-headed Black-capped Chickadee I was roasting coffee in the garage this afternoon and watching my bird feeders at the same time. A flock of BC chickadees flew in and started taking sunflower seeds. One bird at a time, one seed at a time. One of them had a pure white crown and upper back. It was a black-capped, but must have been missing some proper pigmenting. Sure made me do a double take though. Demian Sellwood, Portland _________________________________________________________________ Bing brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MFESRP&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MFESRP_Local_MapsMenu_Resturants_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091115/0c4ac754/attachment.html From bcombs232 at gmail.com Sat Nov 14 17:20:02 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:20:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Florence Tropical Kingbird -yes Message-ID: <8ce3a6520911141720r6a7d7c06n769379d2331edae4@mail.gmail.com> I stood near the intersection of 1st and Hemlock Streets in Florence today around 2:15 p.m. looking back toward Ivy Street, and watched the Tropical Kingbird. It was moving around from treetop to treetop, using both evergreen and deciduous trees, and was calling frequently. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091114/80f67ac5/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Sat Nov 14 17:29:09 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:29:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands: Northern Shrike Message-ID: I tried for the American Tree Sparrow around mid-day, but had no luck, so I walked around Fernhill Wetlands and returned to the Tree Sparrow spot around 4:00. As I approached the Tree Sparrow location from the south, I saw a NORTHERN SHRIKE on the ground right by the sign with the roof over it. The shrike then flew off to the northeast, to the other side of the blackberry bushes. I never saw it again, despite looking for it in the general area for the next 5 minutes or so. Within a few minutes, I was watching the Tree Sparrow, feeding on the ground with several Golden-crowneds, near the junction with the trail that heads north. At around 4:15, they all flew to the northeast, back into the woods. Scott Carpenter Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091114/e2c67e51/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Sat Nov 14 18:14:44 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:14:44 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] shrikes and swana In-Reply-To: <83D8D1FBF87F4BEB822ED2EE202937FA@larryPC> Message-ID: <571025.54713.qm@web39702.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Karen, I had a northern shrike here yesterday, and noticed it as it pushed a flock of sparrows high into the sky. All the sparrows except one were able to stay above the pursuing shrike. That single sparrow dove for cover, the shrike just about a foot behind it. The prey made it to cover but the shrike flushed it out. Then a long and winding chase went thru various trees in our yard, lasting a full minute. The last I saw the shrike, it was hovering above a bush, so I never saw if it was successful. Last winter I witnessed at least a dozen hunting scenarios like this, right here, close to the house. Prior to living in Oregon, I'd only saw this once, in Alaska, with a common redpoll as quarry. Prior to last winter, there were N. shrikes here (during the winter) but I did not see this behavior, which I'm sure I would have noticed. Anyway, I have a question: have you (or other obolers) ever seen shrikes chase sparrows very high into the sky---pursuing any that can't stay above the attacker? Also, I've not noticed loggerheads doing this, and wonder if the northern is somewhat more predatory. Best, Dick --- On Sat, 11/14/09, Larry Cottrell wrote: > From: Larry Cottrell > Subject: [obol] shrikes and swana > To: "obol" > Date: Saturday, November 14, 2009, 10:24 AM > > > > > > > > We have been seeing a few Northern > Shrikes here. While in > Arock we had a juvenile observing us. It was unusual to see > a brown Shrike. > Getting home we dug into the bird books. The bird was quite > curious about what > we were doing, once his curiosity was satisfied he went on > to more sightseeing. > There have been several in the yard of both species. They > haven't stayed long, > just enough to be identified and a meal. > ? > Last night while sitting in the hot > tub we could hear > geese flying overhead. The geese have been flying back and > forth from the hay > fields to the impoundment NE of us.This morning while doing > chores there was > lots of calling above us. These turned out to be Swans. > There were several small > flocks mostly headed South West. > Karen > in true SE Or. > south of Burns Jct. > in Malheur Co. > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From sandyleapt at comcast.net Sat Nov 14 18:38:51 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:38:51 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Late Rufous Hummingbird Message-ID: <1963988854.2785151258252731390.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi all, It has to be a late Rufous. I never did see it, but I also did not hear it again. The bird I hopped might be the hybrid, and many other Anna's were zipping around the garden until the neighbors started lighting M80s. That sort of cleared the birds out for the afternoon. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091115/2e45c158/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Sat Nov 14 19:49:04 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:49:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos birds 11/14 Message-ID: During the local Audubon field trip to Millicoma Marsh, we located a number of different birds of prey. First we saw a hovering WHITE-TAILED KITE. While we were watching it, an immature SHARP-SHINNED HAWK flapped by and moments later a MERLIN was spotted perched in a distant tree. There were 2 adult PEREGRINE FALCONS perched on driftwood in the bay and then a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK screamed in the distance as it cruised around. There were the usual few EURASIAN WIGEON sprinkled in the larger American flock. We also bumped into BC's own Wayne Weber. In the afternoon, Stefan Schlick and I saw a CANVASBACK at the north spit of Coos Bay. On the beach were a couple wrecked NORTHERN FULMARS along with about a dozen SNOWY PLOVERS. About 1100 BROWN PELICANS were roosting on the jetty. The BROWN BOOBY was on the metal navigation marker just before sunset. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091114/f941ef0e/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Nov 14 20:16:55 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:16:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lincoln coast birds Message-ID: I spent the day birding in c. Lincoln Co. with Niko Ranta. We were joined for a bit mid-day by Dan Gibson (visiting from Alaska) and Bob Dickerman (visiting from New Mexico). We found at least two TROPICAL Kingbirds in their usual haunts along the LNG tank access road. That area is stuffed with sparrows. At the south jetty road we found four adult RING-billed Gulls at the puddles along with the usual suspects. Ring-bills are hard to come by on the outer coast. Two PIGEON Guillemots were between the jetties. Three male and one female HARLEQUIN Ducks were very close to the jetty and were being photographed by two OLD COOTS. At the Marine Science Center we walked the trail and found a RED Phalarope and a couple of EURasian Wigeon along with a swarm or BRANT and various DUCKS. One adult BALD Eagle went over. Eckman Lake near Waldport had a great variety of ducks and at least 29 HOODED Mergansers. Three more RED Phalaropes were at the port. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From Oropendolas at aol.com Sat Nov 14 20:31:46 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:31:46 EST Subject: [obol] Motorless Birding Message-ID: Hello All, I biked to Meadowlark Prairie west of Eugene today and walked the RR tracks from the bike path to Greenhill Rd. 1 adult NORTHERN SHRIKE, 3 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS and 5-6 WHITE-TAILED KITES were seen from there. I continued on to Fern Ridge at Royal Ave. There was lots of ACORN WOODPECKER and WESTERN BLUEBIRD activity in the Oak Grove along Royal. In the trees about 1/4 mile north of Royal 2 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS were sallying out from the tree tops, seen from the gate north of the White Fence before the Royal parking lot, while one BLACK PHOEBE was on the white fence. I made a brief stop at Shore Lane, the Lake is really drawn down now. A couple thousand DUNLIN, two BALD EAGLES and 20 TUNDRA SWANS could be seen out on the lake and mud from there. I biked through Alvadore and north on Alvadore Rd. to Kawonu Acres hunting club. One ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was hunting on the west side just north of Franklin Rd., and flock of RING-BILLED and MEW GULLS were poking around in the mud on the east side. One COOPER'S HAWK was perched on a pole near Kawonu Acres. Back to Royal Ave. at sunset, 12 WHITE-TAILED KITES were seen going to roost in the trees north of the Royal Ave. parking lot. One immature NORTHERN SHRIKE was also near there. Good Birding, John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091114/18da8152/attachment.html From m.denny at charter.net Sat Nov 14 20:46:03 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:46:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Umatilla Co. birding Message-ID: <9C01377E94E34785BB1AB89F88BC9B80@24FLIGHT> Hello All, Today on our way through Umatilla Co. on a WOS field trip we saw the following species of interest. McNary area. Snow Geese........34 birds Bonaparte's Gull..4 birds Black-crowned Night-Heron..10 birds Thats it. Later Mike .................................................................................. Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Nov 14 20:56:21 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:56:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Kite at Beaver Creek Message-ID: I forgot to mention in my earlier post a WHITE-tailed Kite today at the marsh on Beaver Cr Rd east of Ona Beach, Lincoln Co. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sat Nov 14 21:27:28 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:27:28 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] SE Portland Northern Goshawk, Redhead Message-ID: <254771.31469.qm@web55704.mail.re3.yahoo.com> This morning we headed up Mt. Tabor (SE Portland). Immediately after entering the SW corner of the park, we noticed a large, loose flock of VARIED THRUSHES flying overhead towards the SW. In less than a minute we counted 64 of them. After that it slowed down a bit, but we continued to see small flocks overhead. By the end of our walk we had counted 104 Varied Thrushes flying overhead and an additional 10 or 12 calling throughout the park. Noteworthy for the Willamette Valley was a NORTHERN GOSHAWK that we saw circle low over the park and head to the north. In the afternoon we walked to Westmoreland Park and nearby Crystal Springs. At Westmoreland Park there were over 120 gulls. Most of them were Glaucous-winged but there were several Ring-billed, Herring, and a Western. For the third time in the past week, we saw a male REDHEAD, female CANVASBACK, and female EURASIAN WIGEON on the main pond. Crystal Springs held the usual variety of ducks, including a Wood Duck x Mallard hybrid. There was also a GREEN HERON. For the past 6 days we've seen 4 juvenile GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at Clinton Park (adjacent to Franklin High School). Good Birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091114/c3c80d17/attachment.html From dlrobbo at comcast.net Sat Nov 14 21:40:56 2009 From: dlrobbo at comcast.net (Doug Robberson) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:40:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Livermore Road Swainson's Hawks Message-ID: Today five of us birded Ankney NWR, Basket slough NWR and West Perrydale Road. Ankney NW Horned Grebe Basket Slough NWR Flotillas of Common Mergansers Red-necked Grebe Livermore Road 2 Swanson Hawks about 1-1.5 miles apart West Perrydale Road (Were Carol K birded yesterday) 15 + Lewis's Woodpeckers Merlin Red-shoulder Hawk Doug Robberson Tigard, OR From whoffman at peak.org Sat Nov 14 16:08:37 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:08:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay References: <7C70CD5A-B2F3-460C-8288-9AEF28BCF144@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <347E1AFE029247A1A901767DA719893F@D48XBZ51> Probably long-distance migration. There is a substantial movement of DC Cormorants south down the coast each fall in late October and November. I have seen as many as a few thousand per day, generally in flocks of 20-150, with occasional larger flocks. They tend to travel just offshore, sometimes on the deck, and sometimes as high as 300'. Some fly at 200' to 1000' over the coastline, but usually within a mile of the beach. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Norgren Family" To: Sent: Saturday, November 14, 2009 3:21 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Boiler Bay > On Wednesday (11/11) I saw a flock of 200 D-c > Cormorants fly over Safeway about noon in Coos > Bay. At a distance I assumed they were Aleutian > Geese, given the perfect V of the flock, the > season, location, etc.. They were headed sse at > about 70m above the ground. I wondered if this was > a long-distance, seasonal movement or a local, daily > movement. The local tide was high at sunrise and low > at mid-day. Around an hour later I observed another > flock from the mouth of Pony Slough. It was at the > same elevation, headed the same direction and numbered > over 300 birds. Lars Norgren > On Nov 14, 2009, at 2:36 PM, Wayne Hoffman wrote: > >> One addition: 2 minutes after Phil left a flock of 400 Double-crested >> Cormorants came by southbound. They were flying about 50' off the >> ocean >> just off the rocks. >> >> Wayne >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Phil Pickering" >> To: >> Sent: Saturday, November 14, 2009 10:29 AM >> Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay >> >> >>> 6:45-9:15 (11/14) with Wayne Hoffman >>> mostly clear, wind S shifting NNE 5-15, swells 10+ >>> >>> 4000 Red-throated Loon (briefly to 100/min) >>> 150 Pacific Loon >>> 50 Common Loon >>> 1 Horned Grebe >>> 6 Red-necked Grebe >>> 30 Western Grebe >>> 80 Northern Fulmar >>> 1000+ Brown Pelican (800 N before 7:30, smaller numbers >>> feeding/S after) >>> 85 Double-crested Cormorant >>> 80 Brandt's Cormorant >>> 30 Pelagic Cormorant >>> 4 Brant (N) >>> 1 Mallard >>> 1 Lesser Scaup >>> 15 scaup sp. >>> 15 Black Scoter >>> 200 White-winged Scoter >>> 6000 Surf Scoter >>> 4 Bufflehead >>> 20 Red-breasted Merganser >>> 2 Black Turnstone >>> 2 Red Phalarope >>> 18 Bonaparte's Gull >>> 300+ Mew Gull >>> 500+ California Gull (many juv) >>> 50+ Herring Gull (low) >>> 300+ Western Gull >>> 80+ Glaucous-winged Gull >>> 300 Common Murre >>> 4 Pigeon Guillemot >>> 9 Marbled Murrelet >>> 1 Western Meadowlark >>> >>> Phil >>> philliplc at charter.net >>> _______________________________________________ >>> obol mailing list >>> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >>> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From lawde13 at cableone.net Sun Nov 15 00:52:58 2009 From: lawde13 at cableone.net (David Lawrence) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:52:58 -0700 Subject: [obol] ID Help Please Message-ID: <3B6DC81A09B04B4C9DAB1A86C62F3BE2@acer684c9a655d> I photographed this bird in late May or early June 1994 near the Paradise Visitor's Center at Mt Rainier in Washington. I've been told it is a Sooty Grouse, a Rock Ptarmigan and a White-tailed Ptarmigan. But nobody has been able to tell me Why they call it what they do. Can anybody here help? http://www.flickr.com/photos/lawde13/4103404948/ Dave Lawrence lawde13 at cableone.net Nampa, ID -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091115/c5ed5895/attachment.html From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Sun Nov 15 02:18:45 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:18:45 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Lesser Canada Goose at Island Park In-Reply-To: <1032953401.82651258280265920.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <74908492.82701258280325311.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Saturday evening at Island Park on the Willamette River, which is about 1.25 miles upstream from the Eugene I-5 bridge, there was what I think is a young Lesser Canada Goose. It was mixed with a flock of resident Western Canada Geese and one Gr. White-fronted Goose. This goose was about the size of a large Taverner's Goose, but had a longer, slightly downslanted bill and longer legs. It had a uniform?shade of color over its body, rather than the varied sections of shade, that most Taverner's Geese have. It was just slightly darker than the Western Canada Geese and it had?only a bit of light color at the top of its breast. Its white cheek patches went continuously under its throat, with just a slight indentation at one point. I very seldom see Lesser Canada Geese in this area. Many of those I've seen, were larger than this one, but there seems to be a lot of variation in their size. The larger geese pecked at it whenever it came near and the small Gr. White-fronted Goose aggressively attacked it. On the island across?a channel of the river, several Steller's Jays were calling. I've never noticed them in this park before. The contingent of Lesser and Greater Scaup and Ring-necked Ducks I usually see in the river by this time of the year, have not appeared. There's a small roost of Double-crested Cormorants in the cottonwood trees at the lower end of the park, where they gather just before dark. There's photos of this goose on my Flickr album, the link shown below and an HD video is here: http://www.vimeo.com/7620761 ?? Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091115/3702912e/attachment.html From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Sun Nov 15 02:35:54 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:35:54 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] ID Help Message-ID: <63375756.83021258281354283.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> David, the bird in your photo looks like a White-tailed Ptarmigan in summertime molting plumage. Here's a webpage about this species, which is said to be the only ptarmigan found south of the Canadian border.? http://fwp.mt.gov/mtoutdoors/HTML/articles/portraits/ptarmigan.htm Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091115/93638c29/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Nov 15 08:09:43 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:09:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Kite at Beaver Creek In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4A6EB77E-4D7C-401E-BECB-E1436FC587A8@earthlink.net> There is probably two square miles of tidal grassland at adjacent Alsea Bay. I say "grassland" because the dominant plant is some kind of fescue. Voles inhabit the place despite regular (but not daily) innundations by the tide. Kites are regular there in winter. I first saw one in 1984 maybe. The area is only accessible by boat. Lars Norgren On Nov 14, 2009, at 8:56 PM, Alan Contreras wrote: > I forgot to mention in my earlier post a WHITE-tailed Kite today at > the > marsh on Beaver Cr Rd east of Ona Beach, Lincoln Co. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From philliplc at charter.net Sun Nov 15 08:16:15 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:16:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <76BDA477056A44218E2E6BCBAC16D921@Phil> 7:00-7:45 (11/15): steady light rain developing, wind S 10-15, swells 6-8 900+ Red-throated Loon (leapfrogging S with many on the water) 10+ Pacific Loon 1 Common Loon 20 Western Grebe 1 Short-tailed Shearwater 300 Brown Pelican (N) 3 Double-crested Cormorant 80 Brandt's Cormorant (N) 15 Pelagic Cormorant 6 Brant (N) 1 scaup sp. 1 Black Scoter 80 White-winged Scoter (N) 50 Surf Scoter 2 Dunlin 3+ Mew Gull 150 California Gull 10+ Herring Gull 300 Western Gull 100 Glaucous-winged Gull 6 Heermann's Gull 800 Common Murre (S) 1 Pigeon Guillemot 1 Rhinoceros Auklet Phil philliplc at charter.net From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Nov 15 09:02:49 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:02:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] ECBC Annual Meeting and Fundraiser Last Night Message-ID: <2C235C8400324F30A1187C71E2BCB341@cgatesPC> The ECBC had its annual meeting and fundraiser last night. 170 people attended and we raised a bundle of money. Jim Anderson entertained the crowd with stories of wildlife rehab and everyone enjoyed free food, booze, and music. We didn't see many faces from the west side this year and that hopefully will change. This is a great event and a good excuse to come to Bend for a birding weekend. You don't have to be a member to attend but you'll likely be one before you leave. Anyway, we had a great time and big kudos to the Patty Mehan and the rest of the people who organized the event. You could really tell that a batch of people worked a very long time on making this a wonderful event. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091115/e6d308d1/attachment.html From 4cains at charter.net Sun Nov 15 09:12:18 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:12:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] ID Help Message-ID: <4AE881A3830C403681C725C42703E62A@HAL> David, I will admit that I have never seen a WTPT, but I have seen many Sooties. and this bird looks much more like that. I disagree with Steve that this is a ptarmigan for the following reasons: --the photo is below timberline; ptarmigan prefer above timberline; prefer open and rocky habitat --no white on the tail (that's a branch, with grass blades in front) and little white is visible underneath --very dark, drab feathers, none of the splotchy barring on typical ptarmigan dark phase plumage --compare to these photos of a Mt. Rainer WTPT: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shyalbatross/sets/72157607188924029/ Can anybody eliminate a molting Spruce Grouse as a possibility? Perhaps Khanh Tran could weigh in -- he has photographed many of all three species. Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091115/445c6e13/attachment.html From steve at stevenrhalpern.com Sun Nov 15 10:02:51 2009 From: steve at stevenrhalpern.com (Steve Halpern) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:02:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] American Tree Sparrow persists at Fernhill Message-ID: <4B00424B.3020000@stevenrhalpern.com> The American Tree Sparrow was still there at Fernhill Wetland in Forest Grove at 9:20am in the NE corner of the big pond by the cottonwood trees and the cement platform. Sun Nov 15 From celata at pacifier.com Sun Nov 15 10:30:38 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:30:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] ID Help Message-ID: <4B0048CE.5060500@pacifier.com> And the primaries should be white in all plumages, and it should have feathered tarsi and all of the dark bits on the breast shouldn't look so smudgy.... Spruce Grouse (around here) should have white spots on the upper-tail coverts and well defined (not smudgy) breast markings. This is a Blue (Sooty) Grouse. Subject: Re: ID Help From: "Lee and Lori Cain" <4cains AT charter.net> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:12:18 -0800 David, I will admit that I have never seen a WTPT, but I have seen many Sooties. and this bird looks much more like that. I disagree with Steve that this is a ptarmigan for the following reasons: --the photo is below timberline; ptarmigan prefer above timberline; prefer open and rocky habitat --no white on the tail (that's a branch, with grass blades in front) and little white is visible underneath --very dark, drab feathers, none of the splotchy barring on typical ptarmigan dark phase plumage --compare to these photos of a Mt. Rainer WTPT: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shyalbatross/sets/72157607188924029/ Can anybody eliminate a molting Spruce Grouse as a possibility? Perhaps Khanh Tran could weigh in -- he has photographed many of all three species. Lee Cain Astoria, Or_______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Sun Nov 15 11:13:15 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:13:15 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] ID Help In-Reply-To: <63375756.83021258281354283.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <761929.3246.qm@web39705.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello, I did not see the photo in question, so cannot assist in this particular ID. I would like to add, however, that whitetail ptarmigan are much smaller than spruce grouse, and very much smaller than blue grouse. They are the smallest grouse in North America, and one of the smallest in the world. In my experience with all three of our ptarmigan, the whitetail occupies the highest elevation habitat, at the extreme vegetative limit. As snow starts to cover their food, they move down in elevation (just to where food remains uncovered). If the snow happens to melt for a few days, they move back to a higher elevation. If snow cover arrives late, the ptarmigan remain at high elevations. Extreme snow depth will drive them (along with rock and willow ptarmigan where they exist)all the way down to sea level. When ptarmigan move out of high country, they are in their winter plumage and essentially white. In winter, whitetail ptarmigan are all white except for their eyes, beak, and toe nails. I hope this is of some assistance to someone. Best, Dick --- On Sun, 11/15/09, Bigrocketman at comcast.net wrote: > From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net > Subject: Re: [obol] ID Help > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sunday, November 15, 2009, 2:35 AM > #yiv799642106 p > {margin:0;}David, > the bird in your photo looks like a White-tailed Ptarmigan > in summertime molting plumage. Here's a webpage about > this species, which is said to be the only ptarmigan found > south of the Canadian border.? http://fwp.mt.gov/mtoutdoors/HTML/articles/portraits/ptarmigan.htm > > Steve McDonald > > http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ > http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos > http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 > http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From lawde13 at cableone.net Sun Nov 15 12:09:44 2009 From: lawde13 at cableone.net (David Lawrence) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:09:44 -0700 Subject: [obol] ID Help Please Message-ID: <609B5AE686224D7D95BEC4AD62E9EDF9@acer684c9a655d> Thanks to all who responded both on-line and privately. Based on all the input I received, I am now more than confident that my bird was a male Sooty Grouse. OBOL is a great resource. I've learned much over the years. Dave Lawrence lawde13 at cableone.net Nampa, ID -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091115/744987ed/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Sun Nov 15 12:56:26 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:56:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oct. Lincoln Co. Bird Notes Received Through 10/30 Message-ID: BIRD FIELD NOTES from the October 2009 Sandpiper 30(8) for Observations Received Through 10/30 by Range Bayer The Sandpiper is a publication of Yaquina Birders and Naturalists, a Lincoln County (Oregon) natural history group. Comments in this column about abundance or seasonality refer to LINCOLN COUNTY only. There is room only for some of the many Lincoln County sightings to be included here of those sent to me or posted to the Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) or Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL) email discussion lists. If you have any Lincoln County field notes, please share them with Range (range.bayer at gmail.com; P.O. Box 1467, Newport, OR 97365; 541-265-2965) by the 20th of the month. Bird field notes columns in the Sandpiper since 1992 are at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations (numbers refer to the site number in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide (http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/): BEAVER CREEK (#78, in part): creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, BOILER BAY STATE WAYSIDE (#59): about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, HMSC (#75): OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of the HMSC, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH (#77): State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SALLY'S BEND (#66): large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty, YAQUINA HEAD OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA (#65): headland north of Newport (vehicle fee, www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/yaquina/files/yh_passes.pdf). WATERFOWL-CLARK'S GREBE JL has the honors of finding the first BRANT this fall--a flock of 6 at Idaho Flats on 10/29! On 10/14, BB saw 40-50 CANADA GEESE flying back and forth over Yachats that were apparently undecided about which way they wanted to go. On 10/26, SaL counted 390 Canada/Cackling Geese standing at the waterline of the beach near Mile 159 between Waldport and Yachats. Migration can be stressful, and 3 GR. WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and 1 NORTHERN SHOVELER were found dead in Sept. along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). Another sign of stress is some dropping out from migration, and WH found a juvenile White-front on 10/9 and 10 on 10/10 along the YBSJ. Some may decide to linger if the habitat is appropriate and perhaps this may be the case for a flock of 20 white-fronts together with a similar number of ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE near Mile 3.5 along north Beaver Creek Road on 10/19 (LO). 1 Aleutian Cackling Goose also dropped out and was feeding on the ground near DS' Depoe Bay home on 10/15. On 10/18, WH estimated a total of 2,970 Aleutian Cackling Geese flying south during a 2.5 hour morning seawatch at Boiler Bay; one of the flocks included 4 CANADA GEESE. It is worth checking out goose flocks to see all species because mixed-species geese flocks occur. PP tallied 60 Aleutians flying south during an hour-long Boiler Bay morning seawatch on 10/19. A female BLUE-WINGED TEAL or CINNAMON TEAL flew south by Boiler Bay on 10/14 (PP)--they are uncommon in fall. On 10/11, LO found a small raft of 5 HARLEQUIN DUCKS just offshore of Seal Rocks. Scoter migration is underway with observations of WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and mostly SURF SCOTERS flying south past Boiler Bay during 8 days in Oct. (PP; WH), though some were also on the water. Not all were going the expected direction: south. On 10/14, most of 800 Surfs were going north (PP). The Surf Scoter peak count was on 10/4, when PP tallied 7,000 in steady strings flying south. Our only BLACK SCOTER report was of a singleton at Boiler Bay on 10/19 (PP). PP detected our first LONG-TAILED DUCK of fall at Boiler Bay on 10/19. On 10/8, CP birded at an elevation of about 2,800-3,100 ft in the Rocky Point and Elk Wallow areas of northeast Lincoln County and discovered MOUNTAIN QUAIL and 5 uncommon BLUE GROUSE. LO flushed a RUFFED GROUSE at north Beaver Creek on 10/16. 2 CLARK'S GREBES were in a flock of 30 WESTERN GREBES on the south side of the YBSJ on 10/10 or 11 (RM & AK). TUBENOSES-PELICAN As many as 2,500 SOOTY SHEARWATERS were regularly noted during Boiler Bay seawatches in Oct., and PP first noted SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATERS on 10/14. 2-150+ PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS and 1-30 BULLER'S SHEARWATERS were recorded during 2 and 3, respectively, of PP's and WH's 8 Boiler Bay seawatches through Oct. 27. WH had a tantalizing look at a possible, rare GREATER SHEARWATER at Boiler Bay on 10/18. At Boiler Bay, PP spotted a FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL on 10/14, and 3-25+ NORTHERN FULMARS were counted during only 2 of 7 Boiler Bay seawatches until 10/27 when PP spotted 300 (2 light-phase) there during a 2 hour morning seawatch. 3 fulmars were also found dead along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO) in Sept. The 10/3 Bird Guide Pelagic Trip (BGPT) out of Newport to Perpetua Bank discovered 350 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, 65 Pink-footed Shearwaters, 100 Sooty Shearwaters, 4 Short-tailed Shearwaters, 40 Buller's Shearwaters, 750 Northern Fulmars, and 8 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels (GG). 75% of the Black-footed Albatrosses and Northern Fulmars were near a small dragger fishing boat about 35 miles off Yachats (GG). AF's video of some of the albatrosses and fulmars coming to the BGPT's chum is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8xUia-1IXE Satellite tracking of a SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS hatched this year on Torishima Island (Japan) revealed that it was along the Oregon Coast during Sept. 25-29--analysis of the satellite map suggests that it was sometimes about 30-35 miles offshore of the Oregon central coast (RS fide GG's http://oregonseabirds.blogspot.com/2009/10/radio-tagged-short-tailed-albatross.html). BROWN PELICANS were in abundance in Oct, with peak counts of 1,300 at Yaquina Head on 10/9 (WH) and 1,800 passing in "steady small flocks" during a 10/19 Boiler Bay seawatch (PP). During the 10/3 BGPT, GG noted that "It was strange to see numerous Brown Pelicans out to 12 miles offshore" and that several hundred were also near the Yaquina Bay bridge. On Sept. 30, 1 was found dead along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). [Image Not Included: Jean Weakland's Oct. 20 photo of Brown Pelicans and gulls along the south side of Alsea Bay, west of the bridge. Jean has lived in that area since 1972 and never before seen such a gathering of pelicans and gulls. "Quite a sight! Meanwhile another huge gathering rested on Bayshore Spit." [Image Not Included: Gloria and Herb Baum's Oct. 6 photo of Brown Pelicans, with breakers in the background at the beach south of Yaquina Head.] GREAT EGRET-MURRELET GREAT EGRET numbers were down this year, and only 3 were counted during RB's census of Yaquina Bay embayments on 10/16--this was also our only report of them this month. Squawker, the nearly continuously calling GREAT BLUE HERON was recognized on 10/8 (JL) and 10/27 (RB) at the HMSC. Will it remain this winter? 2 WHITE-TAILED KITES hunted the grasslands north of Newport Airport on 10/2 (BM) and the new Beaver Creek State Park wetland on 10/11 (LO). A singleton hovered over the cattail marsh of lower Beaver Creek on 10/16-17 (LO). 1 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was at Bi-Mart in north Lincoln City on 9/24 (ME), Three Rocks Road near the Salmon River on 9/25 (ME), the turn-off to South Beach State Park on 10/3 (TSe), and the HMSC Nature Trail on 10/7 (JL). RM & AK reported a flyover ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK of unspecified age class over the HMSC Visitor Center parking lot on 10/10 or 11. Since 1992, we have had single sightings in the fall of 1994 and 1995, spring of 1999, a cluster of sightings during Oct. 2000-March 2001, and a sighting in Nov. 2003, Jan. 2004, and Oct. 2006 (FN). 1 COOPER'S HAWK was at Yachats Community Park on 10/1 (BB) and Saddleback Mountain in NE Lincoln Co. on 10/13 (CP). A MERLIN cruised through SW Newport on 10/2 & 4 (RB). In Yachats, SaL saw one 2-3 times in early Oct. through at least 10/12. Another visited the HMSC briefly on 10/29 (JL). We had no Peregrine reports. The biggest concentration of BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS was 9 on the rocks at the north end of mouth of the Yachats River on 10/27 (SaL). A MARBLED GODWIT lingered at the "Gull Puddle" along the YBSJ road on 10/18 (CP), and our latest WHIMBREL was on the YBSJ rocks on 10/20 (WH). The 10/3 BGPT tallied 10 RED PHALAROPES, 35 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, 3 SOUTH POLAR SKUAS, 1 POMARINE JAEGER, 1 PARASITIC JAEGER, and 4 SABINE'S GULLS (GG). Each of these species is sometimes noted from shore, but the only ones reported from shore this month were 3 Pomarine and 1 Parasitic Jaegers at Boiler Bay on 10/14 and 10/19, respectively (PP). The BGPT found 8 MARBLED MURRELETS (GG), and PP counted 6 at Boiler Bay on 10/16. WH discovered 7 ANCIENT MURRELETS "on the water just off the rocks" at Boiler Bay on 10/17 (WH). PARROT-CLARK'S NUTCRACKER The evening of 9/25, DF was surprised to hear and see an unidentified PARROT in the top of a hemlock tree near his Thornton Creek home between Toledo and Eddyville. DF could not see its coloration, but estimated it was 16 inches long. Exotic, escaped birds are rarely reported these days. RB thinks they were much more common in the 1980's, when LO was called to help identify them. At South Beach State Park, RM & AK heard NORTHERN SAW-WHET and BARN OWLS on 10/10 or 11. LO had our only BARRED OWL -- one hooting at north Beaver Creek on 10/21; they have been scarcer this fall than last year. A RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was active in trees at LO & VO's north Beaver Creek home during 10/16-23. On 10/4, TSh found a rare BLACK PHOEBE near the south end of the HMSC Nature Trail. As noted last month, one was also reported at the southwest corner of Idaho Flats on Sept. 6. These locations are near enough together that the same bird may have lingered in that area during that time. On 10/8, CP birded at an elevation of about 2,800-3,100 ft in the Rocky Point and Elk Wallow areas of northeast Lincoln County and was surprised by a CLARK'S NUTCRACKER. It is only the 7th Lincoln Co. record, and 6 of the 7 records were in October--the exception was our most recent record in March 2000 about 10 miles east of Logsden. ARE YOU BEING WATCHED? When birders go out, we may think we are doing all the watching. But are we? There was a news story this summer on NPR and last year in the New York Times about crows being able to identify individual people (Nijhuis 2008, Inskeep 2009). If so, wouldn't crows be better observers than us because how many crows have we individually identified? Recently, I was talking to a friend who had read or heard about this as if it was a new discovery. But I mentioned about reading a story about Larry Spears, who had a similar experience with nesting Western Gulls that he was banding at the Farallon Islands off San Francisco for Point Reyes Bird Observatory in the 1980's. He wore Halloween masks so that they would leave him alone, and his story was published in their newsletter and in Natural History (Spears 1988). During his studies of gull movements from the Farallons, Larry visited Lincoln County as an eager, though under-funded researcher, where I met him. Then my friend recalled an embarrassing incident that had happened to him about 30 years ago. He was at a fish hatchery and saw swallows perched evenly on a wire. Just to scare them, he threw a rock at them with the intent only to scatter them. He didn't figure there was any chance that he could hit or kill one, but he did. He regretted doing so. When he returned to the hatchery on subsequent days, many swallows would hover over him, and some dive-bombed him. They did this only to him, so they evidently not only individually recognized him but also reacted to him. Sounds like crows, gulls, and swallows are watching us more closely than we are them! References Inskeep, Steve. 2009. The Crow Paradox. July 27 Morning Edition of National Public Radio. This is at www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=106826971 [for more about this, Google "Marzluff crows" or "McGowan crows"] Nijhuis, Michelle. 2008. Friend or Foe? Crows Never Forget a Face, It Seems. August 25 New York Times. This is at www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/science/26crow.html Spear, Larry. 1988. The Halloween Mask Episode: A Gull Researcher Learns the Barefaced Truth about Western Gulls. June issue of Natural History. On 25 Oct. 2009 this is one of the archived links at www.naturalhistorymag.com/htmlsite/index_archivepicks.html HORNED LARK-BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. On 10/22, CP discovered a single HORNED LARK near a gravel road going into Eureka Cemetery in Newport, east of the Fairgrounds. We have not had any reported since January 2004, when DF found one along the YBSJ road. On 10/13, CP saw 5 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS at Gorton Road southeast of Cutler City in Lincoln City. In the past, Western Bluebirds have been uncommon to rare near the coast here, except when we have icy or snowy weather. In blackberries along the paved road to the big green LNG tank at the west side of Sally's Bend, CP found an uncommon NASHVILLE WARBLER as well as many sparrows (including LINCOLN'S SPARROWS) on 10/2. Portland Audubon's School of Birding found a first of season PALM WARBLER along the HMSC Nature Trail on 10/10 (DvdB). Some SAVANNAH SPARROWS nest but different plumaged Savannahs appear during migrations, and PP photographed a lone, large, bright, heavily-marked Savannah at Boiler Bay on 10/19. Two very buffy longspurs landed at the "gull puddle" along the YBSJ on 10/20 (WH). They seemed "unusually buffy" for LAPLAND LONGSPURS, but they were probably first-winter Laplands (WH). A lone juvenile BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK has been lingering at BB's Yachats feeders through at least 10/18. This is over a month later than usual, but BB noticed "that one wing seems to hang a little lower than the other" so it appears to be injured. It is capable of short flights. OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Dan van den Broek (DvdB), CoastWatch (a volunteer project monitoring one-mile segments of the Oregon coast; http://oregonshores.org/coastwatch.php5), Mark Elliott, Darrel Faxon (see some of DF's bird records and his articles at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#thornton_creek and http://www.oregoncoasttoday.com/fieldguide.html), Andy Frank, Greg Gillson, Bird Guide Pelagic Trip out of Newport (BGPT; info about pelagic trips at http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/), Wayne Hoffman, Adam Kotaich, Janet Lamberson, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Sally Lockyear (SaL), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Barry McPherson, Randy Moore, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent), Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, Trent Seager (TSe), SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive at OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Tim Shelmerdine (TSh), Don Stein, Rob Suryan, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (http://ybn.yaquina.info/). From range.bayer at gmail.com Sun Nov 15 13:02:06 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:02:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Newport Tropical Kingbird on Nov. 15--Yes Message-ID: Chuck Philo saw 1 Tropical Kingbird after it landed near a Western Meadowlark near the LNG tank at Newport on Friday Nov. 13. He also saw 1 Tropical Kingbird this morning (Nov. 15) near the LNG tank, as well as a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk perched on one of the utility poles along the Yaquina Bay South Jetty road. Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm From craig at greatskua.com Sun Nov 15 13:15:34 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:15:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] More kingbirds Message-ID: <20091115141534.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.001fbe56c0.wbe@email.secureserver.net> This morning, I tried unsuccessfully to find the tropical kingbirds along Wireless Road. I did find one immature NORTHERN SHRIKE, two SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, and two Aleutian CACKLING GEESE. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] More kingbirds > From: Mike Patterson > Date: Sat, November 14, 2009 1:24 pm > To: OBOL > > > There were 2 TROPICAL KINGBIRDS along Wireless Rd this morning, one > may have been the same bird seen earlier in the week (it droops one > wing). > > More photos for those who haven't yet tired of this season's > kingbird-acopea: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Things juvenal > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From rflores_2 at msn.com Sun Nov 15 13:30:19 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:30:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] ID Help In-Reply-To: <4B0048CE.5060500@pacifier.com> References: <4B0048CE.5060500@pacifier.com> Message-ID: When I first looked at the photo I thought blue grouse (sooty) myself but the bright red eye comb immediately caught my eye. I thought blue's only had a yellowish eye comb? I am asking because I have always assumed that only ptarmigan and spruce had red combs? Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------------------------------------------- From: "Mike Patterson" Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2009 10:30 AM To: "OBOL" Subject: Re: [obol] ID Help > And the primaries should be white in all plumages, and it should > have feathered tarsi and all of the dark bits on the breast shouldn't > look so smudgy.... > > Spruce Grouse (around here) should have white spots on the upper-tail > coverts and well defined (not smudgy) breast markings. > > This is a Blue (Sooty) Grouse. > > Subject: Re: ID Help > From: "Lee and Lori Cain" <4cains AT charter.net> > Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:12:18 -0800 > > David, > I will admit that I have never seen a WTPT, but I have seen many > Sooties. and > this bird looks much more like that. I disagree with Steve that this is a > ptarmigan for the following reasons: > > > --the photo is below timberline; ptarmigan prefer above timberline; > prefer open > and rocky habitat > > --no white on the tail (that's a branch, with grass blades in front) and > little > white is visible underneath > > --very dark, drab feathers, none of the splotchy barring on typical > ptarmigan > dark phase plumage > > --compare to these photos of a Mt. Rainer WTPT: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/shyalbatross/sets/72157607188924029/ > > Can anybody eliminate a molting Spruce Grouse as a possibility? > Perhaps Khanh Tran could weigh in -- he has photographed many of all three > species. > > > Lee Cain > Astoria, Or_______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Things juvenal > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From celata at pacifier.com Sun Nov 15 13:45:35 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:45:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] ID Help In-Reply-To: References: <4B0048CE.5060500@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <4B00767F.4050006@pacifier.com> Orange to red in most SOOTY GROUSE (see Audubon Master Guide) would be a better description. Yellow is a Dusky Grouse thing... Bob Flores wrote: > When I first looked at the photo I thought blue grouse (sooty) myself > but the bright red eye comb immediately caught my eye. I thought blue's > only had a yellowish eye comb? I am asking because I have always > assumed that only ptarmigan and spruce had red combs? > > Bob Flores > Ridgefield, WA > -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Things juvenal http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ From adeledawson at gmx.com Sun Nov 15 15:14:27 2009 From: adeledawson at gmx.com (Adele com) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:14:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Red-shouldered Hawk/ Tropical Kingbird Message-ID: Hello OBOL, There was an adult Red-shouldered Hawk at the Lagoon Trail at Siltcoos Outlet around 2:00 PM today. As I approached it was flying to a perch in a spruce tree across the lagoon. It was where the water starts to narrow up. It seemed to be drying off, spreading it's feathers and ruffling up. Snacking on Nutria perhaps. It flew south towards the river. An adult Bald Eagle also flew by. On my way home I relocated the Tropical Kingbird near the pumping station at 1st and Ivy. It was chittering so it's fairly easy to find. It seems to be more vocal in the afternoon making it easier to locate. That was about 2:45 PM. Adele Dawson Florence From dhughes55 at clearwire.net Sun Nov 15 15:10:36 2009 From: dhughes55 at clearwire.net (dhughes55 at clearwire.net) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:10:36 GMT Subject: [obol] Ontario Raptor Survey Message-ID: <200911152310.nAFNAaj6006304@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Denise Hughes by http://birdnotes.net Date: November 15, 2009 Location: Ontario, Malheur County, Oregon Low temperature: 17 degrees fahrenheit High temperature: 43 degrees fahrenheit Wind direction: NW Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 0% Precipitation: none This route covers a 90 mile survery route that starts in Ontario and heads northwest along hwy 201 to Farewell Bend State Park and continues southeast to the southern area of Ontario. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 67 Mallard 51 Northern Shoveler 7 Northern Pintail 19 Lesser Scaup 23 Bufflehead 38 Common Goldeneye 13 Barrow's Goldeneye 2 [1] Common Merganser 7 Ring-necked Pheasant 5 American White Pelican 1 [2] Northern Harrier 6 Red-tailed Hawk 53 Rough-legged Hawk 5 Golden Eagle 1 [3] American Kestrel 43 Prairie Falcon 1 American Coot 45 Ring-billed Gull 60 California Gull 4 Rock Dove 75 Eurasian Collared-Dove 18 Mourning Dove 42 Northern Flicker 16 Black-billed Magpie 25 American Crow 16 Common Raven 6 Horned Lark 4 European Starling 250 Song Sparrow 15 White-crowned Sparrow 65 Dark-eyed Junco 9 Red-winged Blackbird 55 Western Meadowlark 7 Brewer's Blackbird 50 House Sparrow 35 Footnotes: [1] Snake River near Oasis RV park [2] Snake River between Hwy 201 exit and Exit 353 [3] adult Total number of species seen: 36 From scrapbird at charter.net Sun Nov 15 15:33:11 2009 From: scrapbird at charter.net (Diane Cavaness) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:33:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Rough-legged Hawk in southern Curry Message-ID: <15F90D15E18343269B10BF76035CD733@DianeThinkpad> My husband Gary and Don Munson and I watched a beautiful light morph Rough-legged Hawk hunting over the Rogue River yesterday morning (November 14). Such a bird is an unusual sight on the south coast. Other birds seen on our raptor run along US 101 from Arch Rock north to Euchre Creek: Red-tailed Hawk 8 American Kestrel 1 Northern Harrier 2 Bald Eagle 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Diane Cavaness Brookings -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091115/1417f913/attachment.html From notisj at gmail.com Sun Nov 15 15:36:57 2009 From: notisj at gmail.com (notisj at gmail.com) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:36:57 +0000 Subject: [obol] More kingbirds In-Reply-To: <20091115141534.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.001fbe56c0.wbe@email.secureserver.net> References: <20091115141534.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.001fbe56c0.wbe@email.secureserver.net> Message-ID: <643730305-1258328263-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-542780968-@bda512.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> Suzi Murphy and I just finished observing two Tropical Kingbirds on Wireless Rd. near Astoria. They were hanging out together in front of a couple of buildings, east of the intersection with Young's River Rd, just before Wireless Rd turns north. One of them had a bit of a droopy wing, as Mike Patterson mentioned about one he saw a few days ago. -John Notis Portland .. -----Original Message----- From: "Craig Tumer" Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:15:34 To: OBOL Subject: Re: [obol] More kingbirds This morning, I tried unsuccessfully to find the tropical kingbirds along Wireless Road. I did find one immature NORTHERN SHRIKE, two SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, and two Aleutian CACKLING GEESE. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] More kingbirds > From: Mike Patterson > Date: Sat, November 14, 2009 1:24 pm > To: OBOL > > > There were 2 TROPICAL KINGBIRDS along Wireless Rd this morning, one > may have been the same bird seen earlier in the week (it droops one > wing). > > More photos for those who haven't yet tired of this season's > kingbird-acopea: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Things juvenal > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sun Nov 15 15:44:40 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:44:40 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Eagle Creek (Mult County) Barrow's Goldeneye Message-ID: <639721.91282.qm@web55702.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Hi OBOL, Today we briefly checked out the mouth of Eagle Creek behind Bonneville Dam, Multnomah County. Best find was four BARROW'S GOLDENEYES, three males and a female, amongst 25 COMMON GOLDENEYES and about twenty COMMON MERGANSERS. There were also two distant WESTERN GREBES. Good birding! Christopher and Adrian Hinkle, Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091115/5e25e5d6/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Sun Nov 15 16:33:36 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:33:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] ID Help In-Reply-To: <4B00767F.4050006@pacifier.com> References: <4B0048CE.5060500@pacifier.com> <4B00767F.4050006@pacifier.com> Message-ID: Great! Thanks Mike it had me wondering and I am far more use to seeing blues on the eastside. Thanks Bob -------------------------------------------------- From: "Mike Patterson" Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2009 1:45 PM To: "Bob Flores" Cc: "OBOL" Subject: Re: [obol] ID Help > Orange to red in most SOOTY GROUSE (see Audubon Master Guide) would be a > better description. Yellow is a Dusky Grouse thing... > > Bob Flores wrote: >> When I first looked at the photo I thought blue grouse (sooty) myself but >> the bright red eye comb immediately caught my eye. I thought blue's only >> had a yellowish eye comb? I am asking because I have always assumed that >> only ptarmigan and spruce had red combs? >> >> Bob Flores >> Ridgefield, WA >> > > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Things juvenal > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/11935/ > > From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Nov 15 17:13:45 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:13:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fw: [COBOL] RBA: Black-throated Blue Warbler in Redmond Message-ID: <20F0EBF951D846EC82B5971A249AB969@cgatesPC> This from Steve Dougill in Redmond. ----- Original Message ----- From: Steve Dougill To: cobol at lists.oregonstate.edu Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2009 1:43 PM Subject: Re: [COBOL] RBA: Black-throated Blue Warbler in Redmond A few of us walled the neighborhood in search of the warbler, but no one saw it at all. Initially I saw it well for all of five seconds, out in the open in a small apple tree. No mistaking the bright male plumage. I was standing on the deck and Kelly was inside on the phone tapping on the window to get my attention. Without bins I noticed the blue / gray back and then on viewing with bins, the black throat and upper breast was very distinctive as was the white patch on the wing. What a surprise! If we see it again, I will let everyone know. Steve Dougill, Redmond, Deschutes Co., OR 541.548.4430 EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD Join me > Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:29:39 -0800 > From: gismiller at gmail.com > To: cobol at lists.oregonstate.edu > Subject: [COBOL] RBA: Black-throated Blue Warbler in Redmond > > Hi all, > > Steve Dougill just called, saying he had just seen a Black-throated Blue > Warbler in bright plumage at his residence. He is out looking for it > now, and a couple of birders are on their way to help him look. > > I will send a message with more information (i.e. phone # and address) > if the bird looks like it might stick around. > > Craig Miller > _______________________________________________ > COBOL mailing list > COBOL at lists.oregonstate.edu > http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol > > To unsubscribe, send a message to: > COBOL-request at lists.oregonstate.edu > with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ COBOL mailing list COBOL at lists.oregonstate.edu http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol To unsubscribe, send a message to: COBOL-request at lists.oregonstate.edu with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091115/61d08407/attachment.html From ErikKnight05 at comcast.net Sun Nov 15 17:16:50 2009 From: ErikKnight05 at comcast.net (ErikKnight05 at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:16:50 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, Marion County, Oregon on November 15, 2009 Message-ID: <200911160116.nAG1GooK007852@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Erik Knight by http://birdnotes.net Date: November 15, 2009 Location: Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, Marion County, Oregon Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h gusting to: 6-11 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 100% Precipitation: none from 11:49AM to 2:52PM. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Greater White-fronted Goose 47 [1] Snow Goose 1 [2] Canada Goose Cackling Goose 3000 American Wigeon 19 Mallard 337 Northern Shoveler 42 Northern Pintail 467 Green-Winged Teal 717 Ring-necked Duck 16 Lesser Scaup 7 Bufflehead 19 Hooded Merganser 1 Ruddy Duck 9 Pied-billed Grebe 2 Horned Grebe 1 [3] Double-crested Cormorant 6 Great Blue Heron 4 Great Egret 5 Bald Eagle 2 [4] Northern Harrier 1 Red-tailed Hawk 6 American Kestrel 6 Peregrine Falcon 1 [5] American Coot 19 Killdeer 100 [6] Least Sandpiper 3 Long-billed Dowitcher 6 Common Snipe 1 Mourning Dove 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 6 Western Scrub-Jay 7 American Crow 11 Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit 12 Brown Creeper 1 Bewick's Wren 3 Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin European Starling American Pipit 2 Song Sparrow 12 Golden-crowned Sparrow 2 Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Footnotes: [1] Pintail Marsh [2] seen from Ankeny Hill overlook [3] Pintail Marsh [4] ad pair [5] perched on snags between Frog Pond & Pintail Marsh [6] in field across Wintel Road from Pintail Marsh parking area Total number of species seen: 48 From baileydc at pdx.edu Sun Nov 15 18:00:41 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (baileydc at pdx.edu) Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:00:41 GMT Subject: [obol] Marbled Godwit and Bonaparte's Gulls at the Necanicum Message-ID: <200911160200.nAG20fsa008379@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for David C. Bailey by http://birdnotes.net Date: November 15, 2009 Location: Necanicum River Estuary, Clatsop County, Oregon Birds seen (in taxonomic order): American Wigeon Killdeer 1 Marbled Godwit 1 [1] Bonaparte's Gull 10 [2] Heermann's Gull 50 Mew Gull California Gull Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Glaucous-winged x Western Gull Footnotes: [1] Marbled Godwit: feeding in the middle of the estuary near the large gull flock. There has been at least one in the area the last two weeks. [2] Bonaparte's Gull: seen by Steve Warner Total number of species seen: 10 From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sun Nov 15 18:27:14 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:27:14 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Florence Tropical Kingbird update Message-ID: <67678.2965.qm@web37003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello OBOL, the Florence Tropical Kingbird continued late this afternoon. Oscar Harper and I saw it on a wire along 1st Street at the intersection with Ivy St. It was very vocal, chittering repeatedly. Nice bird to have in the neighborhood (now I just need it to move about 4 blocks to get it on my yard list :-))! Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091115/df7456dc/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Sun Nov 15 19:55:20 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:55:20 EST Subject: [obol] Dexter Reservoir Message-ID: Hello All, I biked to Dexter Reservoir today. More birds were on the lake today than last weekend. Horned Grebe - 6 Eared Grebe - 2 Western Grebe - 8 American Widgeon - 150 Mallard - 10 CANVASBACK - 1 Redhead - 7 Ring-necked Duck - 1 Lesser Scaup - 40 COMMON GOLDENEYE - 3 Bufflehead - 50 Ruddy Duck - 20 Good Birding, John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091115/e91c686b/attachment.html From dkmunson at wildblue.net Sun Nov 15 21:59:05 2009 From: dkmunson at wildblue.net (Don & Karen Munson) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:59:05 -0800 (Pacific Standard Time) Subject: [obol] Gyrfalcon in south Curry County Message-ID: <4B00EA29.00000D.01988@OFFICE> While doing the south Curry County Raptor Run today the highlight of the day was a GYRFALCON at what is locally known as the Winchuck Ponds. An interesting lowlight was the almost complete lack of KESTRELS with only one sighted in the whole route. Normally around 8 would be expected on this route. Also an interesting sighting was 6 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS roadside along South Bank Chetco River Road. No bird feeders were anywhere in the vicinity. Don Munson Brookings -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091115/b4acdf1b/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 46417 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091115/b4acdf1b/attachment.gif From rarebirdart at verizon.net Sun Nov 15 22:26:36 2009 From: rarebirdart at verizon.net (Lois Miller) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:26:36 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Golden Plover Message-ID: <611435.62061.qm@web84207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Knute Andersson and I birded New River in Langlois this afternoon and I took some photos of a Golden Plover.? I can't decide if it's American or Pacific though. If someone wants to look and let me know I would sure appreciate it. I have not seen them often enough in winter plumage to figure it out.. One of these days I'm going to understand shorebirds.....I hope :) Please click on the " photos " section under Golden Plover http://www.loismiller.zoomshare.com/0.html Thanks Lois Miller Port Orford ? ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091115/bec0b752/attachment.html From sparsons at canby.com Sun Nov 15 22:44:14 2009 From: sparsons at canby.com (Steve and Diana Parsons) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:44:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield Raptors Message-ID: We had a couple on nice views of rough-legged hawks at Ridgefield today. There were two birds that I noticed. Also present was a red-shouldered hawk, with a probable juvenile red-shoulder. All birds were near rest lake. Here's a link to the rough-legged. http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen_parsons/4108275994/ The photos of the red-shoulder were not sufficient for publishing. Steve and Diana From birdernaturalist at me.com Mon Nov 16 05:45:46 2009 From: birdernaturalist at me.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:45:46 -0600 Subject: [obol] Golden Plover In-Reply-To: <611435.62061.qm@web84207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <611435.62061.qm@web84207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <268FC6E6-41F6-44A3-ACA9-E7E3EDD3B98C@me.com> Hi All, I'll pipe in and suggest that this is an American Golden-Plover. The grayish overall color and long primary extension beyond the tertials and tail are better for this than Pacific Golden-Plover. An amazing find, by the way. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona http://birdernaturalist.blogspot.com/ Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- On Nov 16, 2009, at 12:26 AM, Lois Miller wrote: > Knute Andersson and I birded New River in Langlois this afternoon > and I took some photos of a Golden Plover. I can't decide if it's > American or Pacific though. If someone wants to look and let me know > I would sure appreciate it. I have not seen them often enough in > winter plumage to figure it out. One of these days I'm going to > understand shorebirds.....I hope :) > Please click on the " photos " section under Golden Plover > http://www.loismiller.zoomshare.com/0.html > Thanks > Lois Miller > Port Orford > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091116/aee46a89/attachment.html From acontrer at mindspring.com Mon Nov 16 06:51:25 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:51:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Golden Plover In-Reply-To: <611435.62061.qm@web84207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <611435.62061.qm@web84207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Looks like an American to me, owing to long primary extension and generally dull color. Legs seem long for American but that mark may not be as useful. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone On Nov 15, 2009, at 10:26 PM, Lois Miller wrote: > Knute Andersson and I birded New River in Langlois this afternoon > and I took some photos of a Golden Plover. I can't decide if it's > American or Pacific though. If someone wants to look and let me know > I would sure appreciate it. I have not seen them often enough in > winter plumage to figure it out. One of these days I'm going to > understand shorebirds.....I hope :) > Please click on the " photos " section under Golden Plover > http://www.loismiller.zoomshare.com/0.html > Thanks > Lois Miller > Port Orford > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091116/abb802aa/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Mon Nov 16 09:53:39 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:53:39 -0500 Subject: [obol] American Tree Sparrow continues at Fernhill (Washington Co) Message-ID: Ran over to Fernhill this morning (11/16) before work and easily refound the American Tree Sparrow feeding on the trail at the previously posted location. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091116/e5b983a4/attachment.html From pat2ly at comcast.net Mon Nov 16 11:53:14 2009 From: pat2ly at comcast.net (Pat Tilley) Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:53:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Polk County Raptor Run - South Message-ID: <0C58EE8556374E79B8102103A8A6B6EF@Desktop> On Saturday, 11/14/09, Carol Karlen and I completed the Raptor Run for Polk County -South. Sunny day yields 134 raptors over 93.5 miles. This area covers, north to south, Independence/Monmouth to Benton County line; east to west, from the Willamette River to the edge of the foothills just east of Dallas, some of Kings Valley, and a few roads east of Helmick Rd. DeArmond Rd. off of Airlie Rd. west of the Suver Junction, had 35 raptors on this one road!! (14 RTHA, 4 AMKE, 13 NOHA, and 4 RLHA) Total results: Results for 11/14/09 are: RTHA: 63 AMKE: 45 NOHA: 14 RLHA: 8 WTKI: 2 ACCIP: 2 (1 Cooper and 1 Sharp-shin) No Falcons, Eagles or Owls. Compared to last year's 11/17/08 run 52 RTHA 45 AMKE 6 NOHA 2 RLHA 2 WTKI 2 Coopers 1 Sharp-shined 23 Tundra Swan. (No Swans 11/14/09) Pat Tilley pat2ly at comcast.net Salem. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091116/2809ec9b/attachment.html From Kcparkton1 at aol.com Mon Nov 16 14:57:40 2009 From: Kcparkton1 at aol.com (Kcparkton1 at aol.com) Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:57:40 EST Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Message-ID: Spent about an hour near Cantrell Rd. this morning. I got some nice shots of a male Northern Harrier feeding in one of the fields. Also saw the Red-shouldered Hawks again along with 2 Northern Shrikes. _http://www.flickr.com/photos/35913342 at N04/_ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35913342 at N04/) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091116/ae1a66bc/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Mon Nov 16 15:07:38 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:07:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] flocks in the wind, Yamhill Co Message-ID: <3217F11DBBF24B8D8DADAB7378ADBCF9@yourw5st28y9a3> I don't know if the breezy conditions caused birds to group into unusually large flocks today, but the two things coincided. Outside Yamhill, a Red-tailed Hawk flying relatively low circles over a grass seed field flushed 70-80 previously invisible Killdeer. A little later about 250 Robins flew over. Starlings were also in big tight flocks several places along my route home, and about 200 Crows passed overhead. Pamela Johnston From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Mon Nov 16 16:07:06 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:07:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Madras Raptor Route Message-ID: <4B01E92A.1030502@gmail.com> Kei and I took advantage of the relatively nice weather (minus 20-30mph gusts) and did our FOY Madras Raptor Route with the following results. 10 Red-tail Hawks 8 Kestrels 6 Northern Harriers 2 Rough-legged Hawks 1 Prairie Falcon Obviously this is where the Culver RTH came from. Kevin -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091116/bfda0dd8/attachment.vcf From windypointandy at dishmail.net Mon Nov 16 16:51:54 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:51:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] MCNARY AND COLD SPRINGS NWR-8 NOVEMBER Message-ID: <000601ca6720$32d36690$3700a8c0@windypoint99> MCNARY WILDLIFE AREA AND COLD SPRINGS NWR 8 NOVEMBER 2009 I spent this very pleasant morning walking the trails at of this US Army Corps area below McNary Dam, then scoping the adjacent Columbia River. For an area of reclaimed gravel borrows, now with marshes and ponds, this is one super birding site. The ponds are fringed with groves of introduced Russian olive trees, full of birds drawn to the berries. Tame waterfowl are a big draw here; I noted 12 species here including 75 Wood Ducks and a handsome group of Hooded Mergansers. Lots of Buffleheads and Common Goldeneyes told me the winter season was at hand. A reliable population of Black-crowned Night-Herons roosting in the trees make this one of the few spots in northeastern Oregon where this heron is easy to find. Sparrows are another attraction. The combination of loamy benchlands grown to tall, oldgrowth big sagebrush, bramble thickets, and Russian olives make this a paradise for seedeaters. The local Pendleton Bird Club folks put out seed at the main trailhead (on Ferry Road). As on 1 January, this patch of bare ground boasted a HARRIS'S SPARROW, this time a beautiful winter adult. Other seedeaters included Golden-crowned, generally an uncommon to rare species in the eastern Columbia Basin. I kept an ear open for Swamp Sparrow, a species that usually winters here in tiny numbers, without luck. The Russian olives were hosting Cedar Waxwing and "Audubon's" Yellow-rumped Warbler (both were mainly flycatching today), Hermit Thrush, American Robin, and, yes, starlings. Vantages of the river below the dam proved good for gulls fishing for fish shredded by turbines. I noted eight species: Bonaparte's (5), Mew (2 adults), Ring-billed (120), California (25), Herring (5), THAYER'S (one 1st-winter), WESTERN (two first year), and Glaucous-winged (two first year). Moving east to Cold Springs NWR, it was obvious geese were the big news, thousands of them.I scoped from the "Closed Entry" row of signs, and panned the lake shoreline to the north and had adequate if distant views of a mass of thousands of Canadas, a handful of Cackling, and 400+ Snow Geese, a high count for this part of Oregon. In with the Canadas was a lone ROSS'S GOOSE, surprisingly rare here as the bulk of the birds must head northeast from Malheur NWR, according to Aaron Skirvin, local expert. Other showy and big white birds included Tundra Swans (15) and Am. White Pelicans (12). Shorebird migration is trailing off: Killdeer (200+), Dunlin (40), and Long-billed Dowitcher (2). Andy Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091116/841a43f9/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Mon Nov 16 18:09:29 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:09:29 +0000 Subject: [obol] Why Phalaropes can be hard to photograph with a cheap camera and unskilled photographer Message-ID: Hi all, I didn't do the bird justice in either presentation but for what it's worth, here it is.... A 45 second, amateur video of RED PHALAROPE swimming, feeding, and walking... Their plumages are so variable this time of year and feet, quite interesting. Videoed on 11/14/2009 at Oceanshores, WA. Apologies for not editing, very raw footage... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plCnARQxcyo If you prefer to see a comparison of red necked vs. red phalarope in non-breeding plumage, here are some shots... Red necked was photographed on 8/15/2009. http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/snowbirds_in_autumn&page=all Good birding, Khanh Tran www.ktbirding.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091117/3630b236/attachment.html From phils at rio.com Mon Nov 16 18:37:19 2009 From: phils at rio.com (Phil and Christina) Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:37:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Florence Tropical Kingbird update In-Reply-To: <67678.2965.qm@web37003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Christina and I saw the Florence Tropical Kingbird in the brushy area near 1st and Ivy Streets at about 11:30 AM this morning. A very handsome bird. Phil Shepard Elmira, OR -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org]On Behalf Of Hendrik Herlyn Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2009 6:27 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Florence Tropical Kingbird update Hello OBOL, the Florence Tropical Kingbird continued late this afternoon. Oscar Harper and I saw it on a wire along 1st Street at the intersection with Ivy St. It was very vocal, chittering repeatedly. Nice bird to have in the neighborhood (now I just need it to move about 4 blocks to get it on my yard list :-))! Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091116/63b46e99/attachment.html From kandj at web4mix.com Mon Nov 16 20:13:06 2009 From: kandj at web4mix.com (kandj at web4mix.com) Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:13:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Powell Butte Raptor Count Message-ID: <18B8F761BA8C46BA80BB2D7ADE3D2F29@HartPersonal> Kay and I spent a great day counting raptors around Powell Butte this last Sunday. Slightly low numbers of red tails, but a great variety of raptors. A beautiful dark phase Rough Legged Hawk, a pair of Golden Eagles about 1 mile from our house. Of course, our resident coopers Hawk started our day. Total numbers: Red Tail 47 American Kestrel 15 Bald Eagle 2 Golden Eagle 3 Rough Legged 6 Prairie Falcon 2 Coopers Hawk 1 Great Horned Owl 3 Other animals of interest. A lone antelope sitting in a cow pasture on Powell Butte Highway. Many of the horses in our area are sporting very colorful blankets, pink, yellow with flowers.... JoAnne Bernt -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091116/0a23b5c9/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Tue Nov 17 01:05:11 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:05:11 +0000 Subject: [obol] Why Phalaropes can be hard to photograph with a cheap camera and unskilled photographer Message-ID: Greetings All, I looked at the series of "comparison" photos that Khanh Tran provides (see links below) and I want to offer some clarifying commentary. When comparing Red-necked and Red Phalaropes it is important to use images that compare not only similarly aged birds, but one should also use images that are taken at the same time of year. Unfortunately, Khanh's images don't meet either of these criteria. His Red Phalarope image, taken 14 November, is of an adult (after hatch-year) in basic plumage (formerly referred to as "non-breeding" or "winter" plumage) and the Red-necked Phalarope is a juvenile (hatch-year) retaining almost all of its juvenal plumage. It is just barely starting to undergo its first pre-basic molt. If you look closely, there are a couple of fresh pale gray feathers on the upperparts. The juv. Red-necked Phalarope (photographed in August) in Khanh's images would look very different if you were to see the same bird today. Separating a juvenile Red-necked Phalarope from a basic-plumaged adult Red Phalarope is not particularly challenging, as one might conclude from looking at the two very different looking birds in Khanh's series of images. However, if one were to compare these two species at the same age and same time of year they can be tricky. Juvenal-plumaged Red Phalaropes (see images in the most recent birdfellow.com journal post) have extensive black on the crown and very dark feathers on the upperparts presenting a look that is very similar to the look of the juv. Red-necked that Khanh posted. Interestingly, the bird I photographed last weekend still retained most of its juvenal plumage with just a few tracts of pale gray feathers. Otherwise, all the hatch-year birds that Diane Pettey, Shawneen Finnegan and I saw on 7 November were well into their pre-basic molt and were showing extensive white (usually mottled) on the forecrown and almost entirely pale gray backs. Although it would be highly unusual to see a Red-necked Phalarope in Oregon this late in the year, if one were to encounter a hatch-year bird of this species it would likely have a mostly pale gray back by this date. It would not look like the August juvenile in Khanh's series of images. An adult Red-necked at this date would also have a mostly gray back (although they show some whitish streaking). The head pattern (mostly white including crown, with dark patch surrounding the eye) of basic-plumaged adult Red and Red-necked Phalaropes are nearly identical. When comparing like-aged Red and Red-necked Phalaropes showing similar plumage patterns, it is important to look at overall structure and the proportions of the bill. Red-necked Phalaropes are very dainty, with very thin necks, and a small head. The bill of a Red-necked is almost needle-like, very thin, and may appear proportionally a bit longer (relative to head size) than the bill of a Red Phalarope. Red Phalaropes have plumper bodies, thicker necks, and proportionally shorter, thicker bill. If seen well, adult Reds will show yellow at the base of the bill and even hatch-year birds can start showing this (not as obvious) as they progress into their first pre-basic molt. Red-necked Phalaropes have all-dark bills at all ages. Most current field guides do a pretty good job of illustrating the basic and juvenal plumages these two species. The National Geographic Guide is probably the most useful because it illustrates transitional juvenal plumages as well as fresh juvenal plumages of both species. I just moved and can't lay my hands on Dennis Paulson's photographic guide to North American shorebirds. However, I did find my copy of "The Shorebird Guide" by O'Brien, Crossley, and Karlson. It shows transitioning juveniles (already into their first pre-basic molt) but fails to show fresh juvenal plumages of either species. The photo of the transitional plumaged Red in the O'Brien, Crossley, and Karlson book seems very strange with lots of reddish-brown on the face, causing me to wonder if the coloration is the result of staining rather than feather pigmentation. The weather of the last 12 hours and the next 12-24 hours will likely deposit another load of Red Phalaropes along the outer coast and a few may even reach inland locales. It's a great time to get out and enjoy close-up views of this species. Who knows what else you might find while you're out. Dave Irons Content Editor BirdFellow.com Eugene, OR From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:09:29 +0000 Subject: [obol] Why Phalaropes can be hard to photograph with a cheap camera and unskilled photographer Hi all, I didn't do the bird justice in either presentation but for what it's worth, here it is.... A 45 second, amateur video of RED PHALAROPE swimming, feeding, and walking... Their plumages are so variable this time of year and feet, quite interesting. Videoed on 11/14/2009 at Oceanshores, WA. Apologies for not editing, very raw footage... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plCnARQxcyo If you prefer to see a comparison of red necked vs. red phalarope in non-breeding plumage, here are some shots... Red necked was photographed on 8/15/2009. http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/snowbirds_in_autumn&page=all Good birding, Khanh Tran www.ktbirding.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: It works the way you want. Learn more. http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_evergreen:112009v2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091117/a9d4789a/attachment.html From acontrer at mindspring.com Tue Nov 17 08:49:57 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:49:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Finley heermann's Message-ID: I just had a text from niko Ranta that there is a heermann's gull at finley nwr. Not sure what area. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone From acontrer at mindspring.com Tue Nov 17 08:55:27 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:55:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Heermann's at mcfadden marsh Message-ID: <7FF391D2-C76C-4814-9938-0C43DA611D57@mindspring.com> The heermann's gull is at mcfadden marsh. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Nov 17 10:00:40 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:00:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon Christmas Bird Count schedule Message-ID: <1258480840.12347.66.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, An almost complete schedule of Christmas Bird Counts, including compiler contact & meeting place information, is now posted in the Oregon Birding Calendar at: http://www.oregonbirds.org/calendar.html If you click on the link for a given count in the calendar, you'll find the details for that count. Thanks to Don Albright's efforts to compile this information. It covers all of the Oregon counts that are planned for this 110th CBC season, except Little Applegate. I'll continue to update this page as we get closer to CBC season, for the inevitable weather-related changes etc. So compilers who are reading this, please keep me posted! Happy early winter birding, Joel P.S. Just for reassurance that Oregon's birding winter isn't so long, you can page down to the bottom of the calendar to see expected dates for early spring migrants. -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Nov 17 10:21:15 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:21:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Curry golden-plover Message-ID: There has been some discussion about the identity of the Curry Co. golden-plover, mainly because the legs seem quite long for American. I think it is an American because it has little gold on it, the white eyeline is very bright and heavy behind the eye and the primary extension is quite long beyond the tail. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From philliplc at charter.net Tue Nov 17 11:25:15 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:25:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: 6:45-10:15 (11/17): partly clear w/brief squalls, wind SSW 15-30+, swells 10+ 6000+ Red-throated Loon (hundreds on the water) 200+ Pacific Loon 300 Common Loon 2 Horned Grebe 30 Red-necked Grebe 30 Western Grebe 1 Sooty/Short-tailed 150 Northern Fulmar (about 2/3 light) 700 Brown Pelican (S) 3 Double-crested Cormorant 150 Brandt's Cormorant (feeding/S) 400 Pelagic Cormorant (feeding/S) 1530 Brant 1 Mallard 27 Northern Pintail 1 Green-winged Teal 1 Redhead 2 scaup sp. 1 Harlequin Duck 150+ Black Scoter 14000 White-winged Scoter (12000 in first hour) 2000 Surf Scoter 45 Red-breasted Merganser zero phalaropes 1 Pomarine Jaeger 20 Bonaparte's Gull 80+ Mew Gull 1200+ California Gull 200+ Herring Gull (low) 3000+ Western Gull (most in first hour) 400+ Glaucous-winged Gull 4 Black-legged Kittiwake 25 Heermann's Gull 2000 Common Murre 6 Pigeon Guillemot 38 Marbled Murrelet (mostly pairs S) Phil philliplc at charter.net From Randy.Moore at oregonstate.edu Tue Nov 17 12:08:00 2009 From: Randy.Moore at oregonstate.edu (Moore, Randy - FW) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:08:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Benton Co. Heerman's gull- question for Alan References: Message-ID: Oh curmudgeonly font of Oregon birding knowledge, can you check your cerebral database and tell us how many Heerman's gulls ever get recorded away from the coast in Oregon? Seems like this might be one of the rarest birds of the year in the valley. Randy Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091117/276cdd96/attachment.html From birdernaturalist at me.com Tue Nov 17 12:21:38 2009 From: birdernaturalist at me.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:21:38 -0700 Subject: [obol] Curry golden-plover In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <70164D50-148F-49FF-A2F4-75369383860A@me.com> Hi All, From the photos given, I think it's impossible to assess the relative leg length of the bird. If it were flying with legs trailing behind, you could judge where the tips of the toes fall in relation to the end of the tail. From a standing position, the apparent leg length will vary depending on the angle of the photo as well as how compressed the belly feathers are. Unambiguous in the photos, however, is the length of the closed wings, their extension beyond the tertials, the number of primary tips visible, and their spacing. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona http://birdernaturalist.blogspot.com/ Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- On Nov 17, 2009, at 11:21 AM, Alan Contreras wrote: > There has been some discussion about the identity of the Curry Co. > golden-plover, mainly because the legs seem quite long for American. > > I think it is an American because it has little gold on it, the white > eyeline is very bright and heavy behind the eye and the primary > extension is > quite long beyond the tail. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Nov 17 12:30:50 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:30:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Benton Co. Heerman's gull- question for Alan In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Your Splendor: Greetings o quasi-academic lark-plucker. Heermann's occurreth rarely indeed in unlittoral nonpelagic Oregon. About a dozen records in the western interior valleys and five or so east-side, according to Birds of Oregon, a glorious tome indeed. His Most Crusty acontrer at mindspring.com > From: Randy Moore > Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:08:00 -0800 > To: obol > Subject: [obol] Benton Co. Heerman's gull- question for Alan > > Oh curmudgeonly font of Oregon birding knowledge, can you check your cerebral > database and tell us how many Heerman's gulls ever get recorded away from the > coast in Oregon? Seems like this might be one of the rarest birds of the year > in the valley. > > Randy > Corvallis > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From hhactitis at yahoo.com Tue Nov 17 13:04:38 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:04:38 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Benton Co. Heerman's gull- question for Alan In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <383390.82385.qm@web37001.mail.mud.yahoo.com> And a FIRST for Benton County, might I add .... His Most Splendorless Sub-crustiness from Coastal Oregon (who's somewhat miffed that he can't chase this most awesome Benton county bird) _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Tue, 11/17/09, Alan Contreras wrote: From: Alan Contreras Subject: Re: [obol] Benton Co. Heerman's gull- question for Alan To: "Randy Moore" , "obol" Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 12:30 PM Your Splendor: Greetings o quasi-academic lark-plucker.? Heermann's occurreth rarely indeed in unlittoral nonpelagic Oregon.? About a dozen records in the western interior valleys and five or so east-side, according to Birds of Oregon, a glorious tome indeed. His Most Crusty acontrer at mindspring.com > From: Randy Moore > Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:08:00 -0800 > To: obol > Subject: [obol] Benton Co. Heerman's gull- question for Alan > > Oh curmudgeonly font of Oregon birding knowledge, can you check your cerebral > database and tell us how many Heerman's gulls ever get recorded away from the > coast in Oregon?? Seems like this might be one of the rarest birds of the year > in the valley. >? > Randy > Corvallis > >? > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091117/753c7a3b/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Tue Nov 17 13:09:14 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:09:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Curry Golden Plover Message-ID: <4B0310FA.1050902@pdx.edu> The bird Lois photographed near New River http://www.loismiller.zoomshare.com/0.html does appear to be an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER as both Rich and Alan have mentioned. I agree with Rich that the leg length while interesting, is difficult if not impossible to assess in the photographs. I don't know that it has been mentioned that the bird is in juvenile plumage, as evidenced by the even-aged feathers throughout. Points favoring identification as American Golden Plover rather than Pacific: 1. Four (rather than fewer) primaries are distinguishable by their tips in which extend beyond the tertials inn the closed wing. 2. White, rather than buffy supercilium 3. Overall dull gray appearance of upperparts 4. Gray barring of neck and sides of breast 5. Very long wings as evidenced by the distance the wing-tips project beyond the end of the tail feathers (different trait than no. 1 above) 6. Appears small-billed and small-headed compared to my recollection of Pacific GP. Unfortunately, identification of these species isn't like that of a "Scarlet Tanger" in a snowfield, so we have to go with the our best guess based on a cobbling together of the traits that point toward one direction or the other. Some of these individuals will not be identifiable to species from the observations and evidence obtained. I await others to chime in on this one. David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon > *Subject: Re: Golden Plover* > From: Rich Hoyer > Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:45:46 -0600 > Hi All, > > I'll pipe in and suggest that this is an American Golden-Plover. The > grayish overall color and long primary extension beyond the tertials > and tail are better for this than Pacific Golden-Plover. An amazing > find, by the way. > > Good Birding, > > Rich > --- > Rich Hoyer > Tucson, Arizona > http://birdernaturalist.blogspot.com/ > > Senior Leader for WINGS > http://wingsbirds.com > --- > > On Nov 16, 2009, at 12:26 AM, Lois Miller wrote: > > > Knute Andersson and I birded New River in Langlois this afternoon > > and I took some photos of a Golden Plover. I can't decide if it's > > American or Pacific though. If someone wants to look and let me know > > I would sure appreciate it. I have not seen them often enough in > > winter plumage to figure it out. One of these days I'm going to > > understand shorebirds.....I hope :) > > Please click on the " photos " section under Golden Plover > > http://www.loismiller.zoomshare.com/0.html > > Thanks > > Lois Mille > > Port Orford > From Randy.Moore at oregonstate.edu Tue Nov 17 13:12:10 2009 From: Randy.Moore at oregonstate.edu (Moore, Randy - FW) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:12:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Benton Co. Heerman's gull- question for Alan References: <383390.82385.qm@web37001.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Yeah, I'm really feeling for you, your sub-crustiness, what with all the annoying tropical kingbirds and buff-breasted sandpipers you have to deal with.... :) ________________________________ From: Hendrik Herlyn [mailto:hhactitis at yahoo.com] Sent: Tue 11/17/2009 1:04 PM To: Moore, Randy - FW; obol; Alan Contreras Subject: Re: [obol] Benton Co. Heerman's gull- question for Alan And a FIRST for Benton County, might I add .... His Most Splendorless Sub-crustiness from Coastal Oregon (who's somewhat miffed that he can't chase this most awesome Benton county bird) _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Tue, 11/17/09, Alan Contreras wrote: From: Alan Contreras Subject: Re: [obol] Benton Co. Heerman's gull- question for Alan To: "Randy Moore" , "obol" Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 12:30 PM Your Splendor: Greetings o quasi-academic lark-plucker. Heermann's occurreth rarely indeed in unlittoral nonpelagic Oregon. About a dozen records in the western interior valleys and five or so east-side, according to Birds of Oregon, a glorious tome indeed. His Most Crusty acontrer at mindspring.com > From: Randy Moore > Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:08:00 -0800 > To: obol > Subject: [obol] Benton Co. Heerman's gull- question for Alan > > Oh curmudgeonly font of Oregon birding knowledge, can you check your cerebral > database and tell us how many Heerman's gulls ever get recorded away from the > coast in Oregon? Seems like this might be one of the rarest birds of the year > in the valley. > > Randy > Corvallis > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091117/3817f86b/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Tue Nov 17 13:16:06 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:16:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tule Goose Message-ID: <4B031296.4030801@pdx.edu> Anyone have a good identification article of photo-essay of Greater White-fronted Goose that focuses on field separation of the subspecies? Field guides are weak on this, yet "Tule Goose" is thrown around loosey-goosey in posts and discussions.//// http://www.tws-west.org/transactions/Wilbur%20%2766.pdf http://www.cvbirds.org/Issues/Tule%20Geese%20Dunn.pdf From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Nov 17 13:47:30 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:47:30 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos Booby Update 11/17/2009 Message-ID: <550242.59663.qm@web45313.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> It was very windy yesterday and quite wet overnight and this morning in Coos Bay with scattered "sucker holes" today. ?I went out during one of these dry periods and found the BROWN BOOBY actively feeding in the bay straight out from the overlook across from Hedge Lane in Empire. Only 33 days until the Coos Bay CBC! ?Also, the bay was littered with BROWN PELICANS, I imagine there must be over 1,000 and they were just everywhere. ?Only saw 1 RED PHALAROPE during the brief break and a few BRANT. ?The bay was stuffed with ducks, loons and grebes in general. Thousands of gulls around also, including a few HEERMANN'S as would be expected with so many pelis around. The tide was high enough that the BLACK TURNSTONES were loitering around the parking area at Fossil Point. ENJOY!Tim RodenkirkCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091117/cf2c97b5/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Nov 17 14:09:22 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:09:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Yellowlegs at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, Benton Co. Message-ID: <1258495762.12347.107.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, During a lunchtime walk today, I saw a LESSER YELLOWLEGS in the company of three Greater Yellowlegs, on the Canal Pond at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area. My copy of /Birds of Oregon: A General Reference/ is packed away but I think that Nov 17th is a rather late date for the species. I'd nearly given up on the possibility to add this one to my "motorless" year list, but there it was -- in place of the Red Phalarope that I was hoping for but didn't find. The usual wintertime contingent of sparrows is now thick in the wildlife area. When the sun came out after some showers, I heard a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW sing briefly, then enjoyed watching five different sparroids bathing in a single mud puddle: SPOTTED TOWHEE, SONG SPARROW, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, SOOTY FOX SPARROW, and OREGON JUNCO. The Lincoln's Sparrow was more nervous than the rest, and barely got wet before it dashed back to cover. It's interesting how, after hunkering down in the rain for hours, sparrows will head straight to the nearest puddle to bathe as soon as the rain lets up. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From grantandstacy17 at gmail.com Tue Nov 17 14:19:12 2009 From: grantandstacy17 at gmail.com (Grant Canterbury) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:19:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Townsend's solitaire - Portland Message-ID: This afternoon Larry Salata spotted a Townsend's Solitaire in the courtyard of the BPA/FWS Federal office building at 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland. It has been hanging out in the hawthorn trees feeding on berries for the last hour or two. A very elegant slim little bird, and one that neither of us recalled having seen before in the metro area. Maybe the winds blew it down from the mountains. - Grant Canterbury From hhactitis at yahoo.com Tue Nov 17 15:31:32 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:31:32 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Curry Golden Plover In-Reply-To: <4B0310FA.1050902@pdx.edu> Message-ID: <425056.35534.qm@web37005.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I fully agree with those who've piped up already: this bird looks very much like an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER to me, for all the reasons pointed out by David, Alan, Rich et al. Nice find, certainly the less-expected species of? the two at this time of year in Oregon (seems to me we had quite a good showing of Americans this fall). Happy Birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Tue, 11/17/09, David C. Bailey wrote: From: David C. Bailey Subject: Re: [obol] Curry Golden Plover To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 1:09 PM The bird Lois photographed near New River http://www.loismiller.zoomshare.com/0.html does appear to be an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER as both Rich and Alan have mentioned. I agree with Rich that the leg length while interesting, is difficult if not impossible to assess in the photographs. I don't know that it has been mentioned that the bird is in juvenile plumage, as evidenced by the even-aged feathers throughout. Points favoring identification as? American Golden Plover rather than Pacific: 1. Four (rather than fewer) primaries are distinguishable by their tips in which extend beyond the tertials inn the closed wing. 2. White, rather than buffy supercilium 3. Overall dull gray appearance of upperparts 4. Gray barring of neck and sides of breast 5. Very long wings as evidenced by the distance the wing-tips project beyond the end of the tail feathers (different trait than no. 1 above) 6. Appears small-billed and small-headed compared to my recollection of Pacific GP. Unfortunately, identification of these species isn't like that of a "Scarlet Tanger" in a snowfield, so we have to go with the our best guess based on a cobbling together of? the traits that point toward one direction or the other. Some of these individuals will not be identifiable to species from the observations and evidence obtained. I await others to chime in on this one. David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon > *Subject: Re: Golden Plover* > From: Rich Hoyer > Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:45:46 -0600 > Hi All, > > I'll pipe in and suggest that this is an American Golden-Plover. The? > grayish overall color and long primary extension beyond the tertials? > and tail are better for this than Pacific Golden-Plover. An amazing? > find, by the way. > > Good Birding, > > Rich > --- > Rich Hoyer > Tucson, Arizona > http://birdernaturalist.blogspot.com/ > > Senior Leader for WINGS > http://wingsbirds.com > --- > > On Nov 16, 2009, at 12:26 AM, Lois Miller wrote: > > > Knute Andersson and I birded New River in Langlois this afternoon? > > and I took some photos of a Golden Plover.? I can't decide if it's? > > American or Pacific though. If someone wants to look and let me know? > > I would sure appreciate it. I have not seen them often enough in? > > winter plumage to figure it out. One of these days I'm going to? > > understand shorebirds.....I hope :) > > Please click on the " photos " section under Golden Plover > > http://www.loismiller.zoomshare.com/0.html > > Thanks > > Lois Mille > > Port Orford >??? _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091117/6018e2de/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Tue Nov 17 15:36:56 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:36:56 +0000 Subject: [obol] Why Phalaropes can be tough to photograph with a cheap camera and unskilled photographer Message-ID: Hi Dave, I think you were missing my intent or point. Your approach of teaching is more pedantic and technical than mine. I simply don?t have time to type out these details in words that can be subjective. I come from a very technical and scientific background (microbiology and biochemistry) so birding is my escape to have FUN. My style is to keep things simple and not overwhelm anyone with alot of details. Initially, I learn best with less details and visuals. If the opportunity allows, I then focus on other minute details when needed. Realistically, most birds in the field often do not allow close approach or extended looks. Thus, zoning on key features can be crucial. I know I was comparing 'apples and oranges' in terms of time frame and its relations to plumage and molting variations of both species. That is why I dated the images. Pictures can say a lot. In this case, I learned a new borrowed word from Tim Rodenkirk: ?It?s all in the SNOZ?. My loyal supporters appreciate my simplicity in denoting very little comments with my images. This allows them to study or confirm their id using other alterative resources if they choose. Color, size, and other fine,structural descriptions can be subjective. Besides, I am not eloquent in relating these into words. I think the cool thing about posting images and information online is that it's free and accessible. Not all birders have the resources in owning many different field guides or books showing plumage variations or other details. When were criterias defined or needed to share photos and experiences?? I suggest before you send a rather condescending, public email and belittle my attempt to share, you should: 1) Brighten your images so the birds can be easier to see. My co-worker made this suggestion. 2) Obtain photos of a red-necked phalarope at the same time frame for comparsion to illustrate your point. I think birders can benefit with having both of us as resources. I am not out to compete with anyone. Anyone who has birded with me knows my willingness to share and unintentionally teach others. I hope some do it vicariously through my photos and trips. I feel extremely fortunate to have a fun escape and rewarding HOBBY. I am just more casual in my approach. Good birding, Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) From birder at iinet.com Tue Nov 17 16:08:05 2009 From: birder at iinet.com (Sherry Hagen) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:08:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Avisys on a Netbook? Anna's Hummers in The Boondocks... References: Message-ID: <0E54DF1ABE0042208764FAA722ADF5B8@112e829d8e93406> You have to be careful which NetBook you get (I think). I ws told some of them are just for internet/email. I bought an Eec PC which the guy recogmended so that I could upload photos to it on the road. I just this past weekend update the Avisys version to "6.J" and it works fine. That was the recommendation on Avisys for Netbooks due to their screen size. It works great. Sherry Hagen Vancouver, WA birder at iinet.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Thomas" To: "OBOL" Sent: Saturday, November 14, 2009 2:39 PM Subject: [obol] Avisys on a Netbook? Anna's Hummers in The Boondocks... > Pam has her Avisys listings on a PC laptop. My Avisys listings are on a > MacBook running Parallels. This MacBook plus Parallels plus Windows XP > plus > Avisys sometimes runs smoothly but has lately been giving us the "heebie > jeebies" and some headaches. > > We are seriously considering a dedicated NetBook (ultra small laptop) for > Avisys and e-mail on the road BUT wonder if the NetBooks are powerful > enough > to run this program. Any "Deep Techies" out there that know? I am trying > to > figure this out on the Avisys website and not finding clear info yet. > These > little NetBooks don't have a lot of computing power and we don't want to > get > one that doesn't work. > > On the bird front, we have several Anna's Hummingbirds back for the second > winter we have observed them. Prior to last winter, we didn't think they > ever came this far out into the boondocks. So we took down the feeders and > stored them. Last winter we kept up one for an experiment (OK, I admit we > were looking for a vagrant, a rarity...) and it paid off with Anna's > Hummingbirds during the ice and cold. > > We have an immature male and a female showing up intermittently since the > Rufous buzzed south. They are very shy and the male is even more hit and > miss than the female. Several flowers are still blooming (!) and this is > very strange to say the least : Hardy Fuschia, Cape Fuschia, several types > of Salvia, and even a little Jupiter's Beard. I speculate that this helps > keep them around. They seem to prefer the flowers over our feeders. > > Good Birding, > John Thomas > NE Marion County > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Nov 17 16:22:03 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:22:03 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Curry Golden Plover In-Reply-To: <425056.35534.qm@web37005.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <258204.71241.qm@web45308.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I don't think there is any question or confusion on the American Golden-plover that Knute Andersson and Lois Miller found except that there was some photos that?Knute took that most didn't see that were not as diagnostic as Lois's photo. ?I think mostly Lois was confused, but I'm sure she is now an expert on golden-plover ID! Curry is a tough county for shorebirds, so any golden-plover is a good find- an American is a really good find! ?Definitely a late one. ENJOY!Tim RodenkirkCoos Bay --- On Tue, 11/17/09, Hendrik Herlyn wrote: From: Hendrik Herlyn Subject: Re: [obol] Curry Golden Plover To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org, "David C. Bailey" Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 3:31 PM I fully agree with those who've piped up already: this bird looks very much like an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER to me, for all the reasons pointed out by David, Alan, Rich et al. Nice find, certainly the less-expected species of? the two at this time of year in Oregon (seems to me we had quite a good showing of Americans this fall). Happy Birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Tue, 11/17/09, David C. Bailey wrote: From: David C. Bailey Subject: Re: [obol] Curry Golden Plover To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 1:09 PM The bird Lois photographed near New River http://www.loismiller.zoomshare.com/0.html does appear to be an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER as both Rich and Alan have mentioned. I agree with Rich that the leg length while interesting, is difficult if not impossible to assess in the photographs. I don't know that it has been mentioned that the bird is in juvenile plumage, as evidenced by the even-aged feathers throughout. Points favoring identification as? American Golden Plover rather than Pacific: 1. Four (rather than fewer) primaries are distinguishable by their tips in which extend beyond the tertials inn the closed wing. 2. White, rather than buffy supercilium 3. Overall dull gray appearance of upperparts 4. Gray barring of neck and sides of breast 5. Very long wings as evidenced by the distance the wing-tips project beyond the end of the tail feathers (different trait than no. 1 above) 6. Appears small-billed and small-headed compared to my recollection of Pacific GP. Unfortunately, identification of these species isn't like that of a "Scarlet Tanger" in a snowfield, so we have to go with the our best guess based on a cobbling together of? the traits that point toward one direction or the other. Some of these individuals will not be identifiable to species from the observations and evidence obtained. I await others to chime in on this one. David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon > *Subject: Re: Golden Plover* > From: Rich Hoyer > Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:45:46 -0600 > Hi All, > > I'll pipe in and suggest that this is an American Golden-Plover. The? > grayish overall color and long primary extension beyond the tertials? > and tail are better for this than Pacific Golden-Plover. An amazing? > find, by the way. > > Good Birding, > > Rich > --- > Rich Hoyer > Tucson, Arizona > http://birdernaturalist.blogspot.com/ > > Senior Leader for WINGS > http://wingsbirds.com > --- > > On Nov 16, 2009, at 12:26 AM, Lois Miller wrote: > > > Knute Andersson and I birded New River in Langlois this afternoon? > > and I took some photos of a Golden Plover.? I can't decide if it's? > > American or Pacific though. If someone wants to look and let me know? > > I would sure appreciate it. I have not seen them often enough in? > > winter plumage to figure it out. One of these days I'm going to? > > understand shorebirds.....I hope :) > > Please click on the " photos " section under Golden Plover > > http://www.loismiller.zoomshare.com/0.html > > Thanks > > Lois Mille > > Port Orford >??? _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091117/51a9d0b7/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Nov 17 16:58:13 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:58:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] local RBA: PACIFIC LOON (Chehalem Creek) Yamhill County Message-ID: A juvenile PACIFIC LOON was at 14726 Springhill Road at 1pm and still at 3pm 11/17. This is a few miles north of the Chehalem Valley Hwy(240? runs between Newberg and Yamhill). This a permanent wetland, quite deep under water at present, not exactly Heerman's Gull, but only the second loon I've seen away from the coast in my life. Lars Norgren From mtweel at charter.net Tue Nov 17 17:15:49 2009 From: mtweel at charter.net (Margaret) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:15:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] T. Kingbird maybe Message-ID: <2D271FA7905C4804844B3D4AC6E5F9EC@Margaret> While waiting for my venetian blinds to be cleaned. I went over to the LNG tank and walked down the road to about halfway. In the many blackberry bushes a yellow bird flew up in the air and quickly went down out of sight. It acted like a flycatcher. So maybe the tropical king bird is still there. I won't add it to my life list as I certainly didn't see it well enough. ( Monday morning). Marg Tweelinckx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091117/e15163ac/attachment.html From phils at rio.com Tue Nov 17 17:26:41 2009 From: phils at rio.com (Phil and Christina) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:26:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] T. Kingbird maybe In-Reply-To: <2D271FA7905C4804844B3D4AC6E5F9EC@Margaret> Message-ID: I got good looks at it in that area about 11:30 AM on Monday. Similar behavior, but it did sit in the open for us for awhile. Phil Shepard -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org]On Behalf Of Margaret Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 5:16 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] T. Kingbird maybe While waiting for my venetian blinds to be cleaned. I went over to the LNG tank and walked down the road to about halfway. In the many blackberry bushes a yellow bird flew up in the air and quickly went down out of sight. It acted like a flycatcher. So maybe the tropical king bird is still there. I won't add it to my life list as I certainly didn't see it well enough. ( Monday morning). Marg Tweelinckx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091117/53b7f195/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Tue Nov 17 17:51:48 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:51:48 +0000 Subject: [obol] Curry Golden Plover Message-ID: Alas, I had tossed out a vote for Pacific based on leg length. Frankly, I thought the bill was larger and certainly thicker than the American. However four primary tips clinches it for American. Harv The number of primaries is four, however and I concede this makes the distinction. Unfortu Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: "David C. Bailey" Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:09:14 To: Subject: Re: [obol] Curry Golden Plover The bird Lois photographed near New River http://www.loismiller.zoomshare.com/0.html does appear to be an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER as both Rich and Alan have mentioned. I agree with Rich that the leg length while interesting, is difficult if not impossible to assess in the photographs. I don't know that it has been mentioned that the bird is in juvenile plumage, as evidenced by the even-aged feathers throughout. Points favoring identification as? American Golden Plover rather than Pacific: 1. Four (rather than fewer) primaries are distinguishable by their tips in which extend beyond the tertials inn the closed wing. 2. White, rather than buffy supercilium 3. Overall dull gray appearance of upperparts 4. Gray barring of neck and sides of breast 5. Very long wings as evidenced by the distance the wing-tips project beyond the end of the tail feathers (different trait than no. 1 above) 6. Appears small-billed and small-headed compared to my recollection of Pacific GP. Unfortunately, identification of these species isn't like that of a "Scarlet Tanger" in a snowfield, so we have to go with the our best guess based on a cobbling together of? the traits that point toward one direction or the other. Some of these individuals will not be identifiable to species from the observations and evidence obtained. I await others to chime in on this one. David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon > *Subject: Re: Golden Plover* > From: Rich Hoyer > Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:45:46 -0600 > Hi All, > > I'll pipe in and suggest that this is an American Golden-Plover. The? > grayish overall color and long primary extension beyond the tertials? > and tail are better for this than Pacific Golden-Plover. An amazing? > find, by the way. > > Good Birding, > > Rich > --- > Rich Hoyer > Tucson, Arizona > http://birdernaturalist.blogspot.com/ > > Senior Leader for WINGS > http://wingsbirds.com > --- > > On Nov 16, 2009, at 12:26 AM, Lois Miller wrote: > > > Knute Andersson and I birded New River in Langlois this afternoon? > > and I took some photos of a Golden Plover.? I can't decide if it's? > > American or Pacific though. If someone wants to look and let me know? > > I would sure appreciate it. I have not seen them often enough in? > > winter plumage to figure it out. One of these days I'm going to? > > understand shorebirds.....I hope :) > > Please click on the " photos " section under Golden Plover > > http://www.loismiller.zoomshare.com/0.html > > Thanks > > Lois Mille > > Port Orford >?? _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From hhactitis at yahoo.com Tue Nov 17 18:03:20 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:03:20 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] South Jetty Florence Message-ID: <993847.59590.qm@web37002.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, I made a quick afternoon dash out to the Siuslaw South Jetty today, hoping for something good blown in by last night's storm. I didn't find too much of note, though. Among the highlights: at least 800 Brown Pelicans on the rocks between the channel and the North Jetty cove, and another 150 or so on the tip of the South Jetty 5 Red Phalaropes 1 female Harlequin Duck off the base of the South Jetty I posted some pictures at http://actitistours.blogspot.com/ On my way back, I briefly stopped to look for the Tropical Kingbird along 1st Street without success. Happy Birding Henrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091117/1ed5603b/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Nov 17 18:21:46 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:21:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] PHOTO ESSAY: Why a duck? Message-ID: <4B035A3A.3020906@pacifier.com> You all may have heard that it rained a bit here on the North Coast yesterday. The fields of Brownsmead were flooded today. http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12750/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Why a duck? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12750/ From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Nov 17 18:58:21 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:58:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Why Phalaropes can be tough to photograph with a cheap camera and unskilled photographer Message-ID: <1258513101.12347.251.camel@clearwater> Dear Khanh, Dave, Tim et al., I would like to draw attention to the proper spelling of the word "SNOZ." According to my upper Midwest upbringing which of course is the only correct one, I know that this should be spelled "SCHNOZZ", no matter what Tim Rodenkirk says. I am also pretty sure that this invalidates every bird report that Mr. Rodenkirk -- all three adumbrations of him -- has or have ever sent in, regardless of his other skills as a birder. Sorry for all of you folks who ticked the Brown Booby based on Tim's identification, but ... well, the guy can't spell the word SCHNOZZ so how can you trust his ID skills? OK, just kidding. What I really think is that Khanh, Dave, and the Tim R Trinity contribute tremendously to birding in Oregon. Each of you have your own styles (three different styles, in Tim's case) and ways of sharing your understanding of birds. There are frequent and inevitable misunderstandings among people who approach birding from different perspectives. But all of you are good at finding birds, sharing what you find, and most importantly, sharing your unique knowledge with other birders. What ticks me off about all three (or is it all five?) of you is that you seem to always be in the field. How you manage that is a mystery, though in Tim's case I'll allow that there might actually be a fourth Tim who keeps up the day job at BLM. Once you're at three, four is not such a stretch. Anyway keep on finding birds & sharing what you know. Rest assured that we birders out here in the ether appreciate it, and we appreciate your unique approaches. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Nov 17 18:26:15 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:26:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Avisys on a Netbook? [mostly non-birding geek stuff] Message-ID: <1258511175.12347.221.camel@clearwater> Hi Sherry, John, Pam & All, As a recent convert to traveling with a netbook, I can't imagine that Avisys version 6 dot anything would pose a serious challenge to the processing power that comes with even a low-end modern processor chip. Granted, I don't use Avisys, but just considering what a bird listing program does, I can't believe it would put any strain on a netbook that's capable of rendering web page graphics. I'm just home from a week-long working trip where I relied exclusively on a Hewlett-Packard 110 Mini (yes, trying to support the local economy in Corvallis at least indirectly). I had some problems loading the Linux Ubunto netbook remix on this just before I left (probably since I was in a hurry), but I was able to run the CygWin Linux emulator and do some serious number-crunching on an elevation database that would make my very fast dual-processor, dual-core workstation at home slow down a bit. I used it for some graphics-heavy presentations using PowerPoint and OpenOffice Impress, without a single hitch. I also compiled all of my groundwater modeling codes inside CygWin, and actually got a few to run, though finally the little Intel Atom chip choked when I asked it to resolve intersections among half a million random polygons. Oh well, my workstation at home also considers that to be a tough problem that requires several *days* of processor time before it comes back with an answer! So, if AviSys doesn't require several hours or days to come back with an answer on your current computer, I think you'd do fine with a netbook. The screen aspect ratio is the only negative that I can think of -- it means that you need to page down to view the average web site at full size. Positives include longer battery life (I was able to keep mine going on batteries through a 9-hour flight) and low power use which means you can run it indefinitely off a cigarette-lighter voltage converter if you're birding out of a vehicle on an extended trip. The small size means that you can actually work in airline economy class without sticking your elbows into the face of the person next to you. Plus it's a lot less weight to lug around -- you could even take it in the field with you while birding, though I can't think of any reason why someone would want to do that. Bottom line, speaking as someone who makes computers work a lot harder than the average computer user, I think a netbook is the way to go. For heavy-duty calculations I'll still rely on my workstation at home, but there's really nothing similar that comes up in ordinary consumer software, and presumably AviSys as well. So ... go for it! Happy birding, Joel -- Sherry Hagen wrote: You have to be careful which NetBook you get (I think). I ws told some of them are just for internet/email. I bought an Eec PC which the guy recogmended so that I could upload photos to it on the road. I just this past weekend update the Avisys version to "6.J" and it works fine. That was the recommendation on Avisys for Netbooks due to their screen size. It works great. Sherry Hagen Vancouver, WA birder AT iinet.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Thomas" To: "OBOL" Sent: Saturday, November 14, 2009 2:39 PM Subject: [obol] Avisys on a Netbook? Anna's Hummers in The Boondocks... > Pam has her Avisys listings on a PC laptop. My Avisys listings are on a > MacBook running Parallels. This MacBook plus Parallels plus Windows XP > plus > Avisys sometimes runs smoothly but has lately been giving us the "heebie > jeebies" and some headaches. > > We are seriously considering a dedicated NetBook (ultra small laptop) for > Avisys and e-mail on the road BUT wonder if the NetBooks are powerful > enough > to run this program. Any "Deep Techies" out there that know? I am trying > to > figure this out on the Avisys website and not finding clear info yet. > These > little NetBooks don't have a lot of computing power and we don't want to > get > one that doesn't work. > From vernd at oregonfast.net Tue Nov 17 21:53:15 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:53:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Off Topic: Steller's Sea Lions Message-ID: <22042AE1-083D-477D-82EF-F208C0CF97FA@oregonfast.net> Hello OBOL, Today at the cove between Heceta Head Light house and Sea Lion Caves, there was a huge number ( I'm going to say 5,000) of Steller's Seal Lions. I made it down the cliff (Undetected down and back up) and got to within a stone's throw of them. The calling was very VERY loud, and left my ears ringing when i got back to the car. A wonderful experience! The opening slide show on my site has a few of the images. Vern Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091117/033534d7/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Nov 17 23:25:21 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:25:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Canada Geese in the Great Grey Universe Message-ID: <2330D073-B436-4169-9EB3-167E518E77EB@earthlink.net> A Eugene birder was trying to identify a goose in Eugene to subspecies, reminding me of a pair of geese at Dawson Corporate Park in Hillsboro last October. Stefan Schlick had reported an Emperor Goose there, and when I arrived I found not only Stefan and the Emperor, but a federal biologist as well. There were Cackling Geese, Western Canada Geese and a pair of fairly dark brown geese, intermediate in size and bill length to the preceding taxa. Both Taverner's Cacklers and Lesser Canada Geese breed over wide areas, hence they show considerable color variations. The field guide illustrations we see invariably illustrate Lesser Canadas as pale= pretty much a down-sized version of B. c. mofitti, the "Western Canada Goose". The biologist told us that Lessers commonly nest at the head of Cook Inlet, where they typically are dark brown. Likewise, Taverner's nesting close to the south coast of Alaska are much darker brown than the subspecies as a whole. Lesser is the smallest "Canada" Goose and Taverner's the largest "Cackling" Goose. In the words of the biologist that evening thirteen months ago, individuals of these two species can be"indistinguishable in the hand" when captured in suburban Anchorage. As someone eager to promote interest in sub=species of white-cheeked geese among amateurs, this is probably a bad anecdote to relate. But I really love it. I was spurred on to post it by Mike Patterson's photo essay of today. The text, understated as always, reminds us that the geese can presumably identify each other. They don't need us to be able to identify them. Returning from business in Newberg I stopped at Fernhill Lake. The gull roost there has finally surpassed 100 birds, for the first time this season. To my delight this meant numerous gulls I couldn't identify to precise species. One was probably a third year HerringXGlaucous-wing Hybrid. Another perhaps a first year bird of the same blend. With gulls, apparently, they sometimes don't need to identify each other. Lars Norgren From range.bayer at gmail.com Wed Nov 18 01:02:25 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:02:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Newport Tropical Kingbirds on Tuesday Nov. 17--Yes Message-ID: Janet Lamberson saw at least 2 tropical kingbirds remaining at the blackberry patch on the road out to the LNG tank today at lunchtime on Nov. 17, so they did not depart after the big storm! Janet also spotted 2 red phalaropes at the Yaquina Bay south jetty gull puddle the morning of Nov. 17. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm From bcombs232 at gmail.com Wed Nov 18 01:03:07 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:03:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Raptor Run Harrisburg-Coburg Message-ID: <8ce3a6520911180103y4c5fb366xc360a67cfd697143@mail.gmail.com> Robin Gage and I did the Harrisburg-Coburg raptor run on Sunday, November 15. The rain sprinkle that lasted a few minutes did not require use of windshield wipers. The mostly cloudy day meant we had excellent viewing conditions. Results: 18 Red-tailed Hawk 34 American Kestrel 2 Northern Harrier 2 Cooper's Hawk 1 Merlin -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091118/e957e490/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Nov 18 06:30:34 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:30:34 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Why Phalaropes can be tough to photograph with a cheap camera and unskilled photographer In-Reply-To: <1258513101.12347.251.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: <848774.79878.qm@web45315.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Joel, ? You da man, definitely the Wizard of Snoz! ? Tim R Coos Bay --- On Tue, 11/17/09, Joel Geier wrote: From: Joel Geier Subject: Re: Why Phalaropes can be tough to photograph with a cheap camera and unskilled photographer To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" Cc: "khanh tran" , "Dave Irons" , "Tim Rodenkirk" Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 6:58 PM Dear Khanh, Dave, Tim et al., I would like to draw attention to the proper spelling of the word "SNOZ." According to my upper Midwest upbringing which of course is the only correct one, I know that this should be spelled "SCHNOZZ", no matter what Tim Rodenkirk says. I am also pretty sure that this invalidates every bird report that Mr. Rodenkirk -- all three adumbrations of him -- has or have ever sent in, regardless of his other skills as a birder. Sorry for all of you folks who ticked the Brown Booby based on Tim's identification, but ... well, the guy can't spell the word SCHNOZZ so how can you trust his ID skills? OK, just kidding. What I really think is that Khanh, Dave, and the Tim R Trinity contribute tremendously to birding in Oregon. Each of you have your own styles (three different styles, in Tim's case) and ways of sharing your understanding of birds. There are frequent and inevitable misunderstandings among people who approach birding from different perspectives. But all of you are good at finding birds, sharing what you find, and most importantly, sharing your unique knowledge with other birders. What ticks me off about all three (or is it all five?) of you is that you seem to always be in the field. How you manage that is a mystery, though in Tim's case I'll allow that there might actually be a fourth Tim who keeps up the day job at BLM. Once you're at three, four is not such a stretch. Anyway keep on finding birds & sharing what you know. Rest assured that we birders out here in the ether appreciate it, and we appreciate your unique approaches. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091118/0ca2871f/attachment.html From mtweel at charter.net Wed Nov 18 07:24:21 2009 From: mtweel at charter.net (Margaret) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:24:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tropical kingbird maybe Message-ID: <19DD60BD91B04F9CBC1F743BD6AA7B0E@Margaret> Sorry, that was Tuesday morning I saw the bird. It rained and hailed afterwards and I left. Janet Lamberson must have seen them just after I left. Glad they are still here. Marg Tweelinckx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091118/9df7a2ab/attachment.html From pointers at pacifier.com Wed Nov 18 07:37:42 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:37:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yellow-shafted Flicker, Lacamas Lake In-Reply-To: <2330D073-B436-4169-9EB3-167E518E77EB@earthlink.net> References: <2330D073-B436-4169-9EB3-167E518E77EB@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <20091118153748.A1B5F6EFA5@smtp1.pacifier.net> hi group ... over the weekend I was looking at some images of a Flicker I shot at Lacamas Lake in early October and realized it was a Yellow-shafted variety ... the books comment on it being an Eastern variety and Great Plains --- I'm now curious as to how common is this variety out here ??? ... is this the kind of bird to jump up in joy about ??? ... is this the kind of bird folks on OBOL and Tweeters want to hear about so they can try and find it themselves ??? ... or is it rather common in spite of where the books say it lives ??? ... here's an image with under tail showing and just hint of red on back of head visible ... Flicker on the right is a red-shafted female ... http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Images09Oct/lacamas_lake_northern_flickers_10-07-09_B.jpg a nice shot of under the wings ... the two birds have switched positions ...they were having an all-out fight BTW and they tumbled and twisted pecking at each other through two trees while we watched ... http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Images09Oct/lacamas_lake_northern_flickers_10-07-09_F.jpg Lyn Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From philliplc at charter.net Wed Nov 18 08:54:32 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:54:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <110B8DFBF97B4590B46EBEAB44D0E07F@Phil> 6:45-8:15 (11/18): mostly clear, wind SSW 10-20, swells 10+ 2500 Red-throated Loon 100 Pacific Loon 60 Common Loon 8 Red-necked Grebe 5 Western Grebe 200+ Northern Fulmar (2/3+ light) 500 Brown Pelican (most N in first 30 min) 600 Brandt's Cormorant (N) 20 Pelagic Cormorant 118 Brant 40 Northern Pintal 5 Black Scoter 70 White-winged Scoter 500 Surf Scoter 3 Red-breasted Merganser 2 Red Phalarope 1 Bonaparte's Gull 40 Mew Gull 300 California Gull 6+ Herring Gull 800 Western Gull 150 Glaucous-winged Gull 4 Heermann's Gull 17 Black-legged Kittiwake (all adult) 16000 Common Murre (most in first 45 min) 1 Pigeon Guillemot 18 Marbled Murrelet (pairs S) 1 Rhinoceros Auklet Phil philliplc at charter.net From jmoodie at cocc.edu Wed Nov 18 09:52:47 2009 From: jmoodie at cocc.edu (Jim Moodie) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:52:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] The birth of a new Galapagos finch species? Message-ID: <69604A6A87BA234584B8C01536FA667D148B932C84@mail2.ad.cocc.edu> My daycare provider actually directed me to this story (nice to know I'm not just another parentie face) and I thought it is worth sharing with the birding community. http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/11/speciation-in-action/ It does provide food for thought: what does it take to be a separate species? Are there speciation events going on locally that are similar to this case (e.g. crossbills)? Perhaps some of us have seen a new species and the population has gone extinct before it could become established or other birders could tick it off! Think of the extra work for the records committee. Come to think of it, I have this small population of Purple Finches that began breeding in my neighborhood here in Bend about five years ago. Let's see, Carpodacus moodiensis flows off the tongue nicely... Cheers, Jim Dr. James Moodie Science Department Central Oregon Community College Bend, OR 97701 541-383-7282 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091118/bbb5ba01/attachment.html From vireogirl at yahoo.com Wed Nov 18 10:30:58 2009 From: vireogirl at yahoo.com (Vjera Thompson) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:30:58 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Eugene Black Phoebe Message-ID: <207364.18404.qm@web56305.mail.re3.yahoo.com> OBOLers, Eddie just had a BLACK PHOEBE show up at his work. He works near the W 11th Canal in west Eugene, not far from Rexius. I remember it wasn't that long ago (by long ago, I mean in the last 10 years) that Lane County birders chased Black Phoebes and now they're near his work and my work (Springfield). Vjera Thompson Eugene, OR vireogirl at yahoo.com From carolk at viclink.com Wed Nov 18 10:46:34 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:46:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] PACIFIC LOON (Yamhill Co.) Message-ID: <000901ca687f$7787bc40$8c76fea9@home> Thanks Lars for reporting this beautiful Pacific Loon in Yamhill County. The location for this loon is 14726 NORTH VALLEY ROAD (not Springhill Rd). Coming from Newberg follow Hwy 240 west to Ribbon Road, turn right and you will reach North Valley Road. Go north on North Valley Rd. till you come to the wetlands covered in water. Parking is a problem, but there is room to park on the right side across a driveway with a cable. Also it is okay to park at the next driveway which is paved as long as you park to one side so you don't block the driveway. Yamhill County Records for Pacific Loon: 1 at Willamina Sewage Ponds, 16 Nov. 94 [JL} 1 at Willamina Fishing Pond, 4 Nov. 06 [QN,FS] Good birding, Carol Karlen McMinnville Subject: local RBA: PACIFIC LOON (Chehalem Creek) Yamhill County From: Norgren Family Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:58:13 -0800 A juvenile PACIFIC LOON was at 14726 Springhill Road at 1pm and still at 3pm 11/17. This is a few miles north of the Chehalem Valley Hwy(240? runs between Newberg and Yamhill). This a permanent wetland, quite deep under water at present, not exactly Heerman's Gull, but only the second loon I've seen away from the coast in my life. Lars Norgren From chaetura at gmail.com Wed Nov 18 11:30:58 2009 From: chaetura at gmail.com (Charles Swift) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:30:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Avisys on a Netbook? [mostly non-birding geek stuff] In-Reply-To: <1258511175.12347.221.camel@clearwater> References: <1258511175.12347.221.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: On Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 6:26 PM, Joel Geier wrote: > Hi Sherry, John, Pam & All, > > As a recent convert to traveling with a netbook, I can't imagine that > Avisys version 6 dot anything would pose a serious challenge to the > processing power that comes with even a low-end modern processor chip. > .... > I think the problem w/ Avisys and Netbooks had to do w/ screen size and resolution, not computing power. This seems to have been resolved in the J release of Avisys 6 as reported here: http://www.avisys.net/UPDATE6.HTM -- Charles Swift Moscow, ID chaetura at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091118/f74951d7/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Wed Nov 18 11:37:35 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:37:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] White-throated Sparrow, Eugene yard Message-ID: <81b2a9930911181137l47bbc615qfa904e3d5e9f8dc@mail.gmail.com> The wife and I moved into a new house in North Eugene this past weekend. Given all of the shrubbery along the backyard fence, I figured that it may be good sparrow habitat. Indeed, we were rewarded with two GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS right off the bat. Earlier this morning, I caught a brief glimpse of what appeared to be a White-crowned Sparrow. After waiting a few minutes, it re-appeared and revealed itself to be a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bIQ8d1HN9MMsh-y0s5TK6A?authkey=Gv1sRgCNn9htLwmcGtOw&feat=directlink http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vAfGGt2iIrhlD_18y0XX6Q?authkey=Gv1sRgCNn9htLwmcGtOw&feat=directlink (Apologies for the photo quality. The windows here are inferior to those at our previous residence.) I realize that WT Sparrows are not unheard of in the valley and out on the coast in the winter, but I was pretty surprised to find one in my backyard. Brandon Eugene From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Nov 18 12:07:01 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:07:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] PACIFIC LOON (Yamhill Co.) In-Reply-To: <959947.1258570604560.JavaMail.root@elwamui-hybrid.atl.sa.earthlink.net> References: <959947.1258570604560.JavaMail.root@elwamui-hybrid.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Message-ID: <4BC5C3C0-49F4-4F40-8EA6-0B20D675CC4D@earthlink.net> An adult eagle was quite low in an ash tree , to the north of the house, yesterday. As I recall, it's a ranch style house and it always slays me to see this eyrie in a tree literally feet from the dwelling. Lars On Nov 18, 2009, at 10:56 AM, donalbri at teleport.com wrote: > > Hi Lars and Carol, > > I stopped by and saw the loon swimming in the sunshine at 10:00 this > morning. As Carol said, it's a beautiful bird. Thanks for > reporting it Lars! > > The deal with the road name is a confusing one. If you're coming > from the north, you'd have every reason to think you're on Spring > Hill Road, but for some reason, the road name changes to North > Valley Road at the old townsite of Dewey, about a mile and a half > north of the Pacific Loon location. > > There's a very large Bald Eagle nest in a fir tree just southwest of > the pond that the loon was on. The eagles seem to be in the area > most times of the year, but I didn't see any this morning. > > Don Albright > Newberg, Oregon > donalbri at teleport.com > > > -----Original Message----- >> From: Carol Karlen >> Sent: Nov 18, 2009 10:46 AM >> To: OBOL >> Subject: [obol] PACIFIC LOON (Yamhill Co.) >> >> Thanks Lars for reporting this beautiful Pacific Loon in Yamhill >> County. >> >> The location for this loon is 14726 NORTH VALLEY ROAD (not >> Springhill Rd). >> Coming from Newberg follow Hwy 240 west to Ribbon Road, turn right >> and you >> will reach North Valley Road. Go north on North Valley Rd. till you >> come to >> the wetlands covered in water. Parking is a problem, but there is >> room to >> park on the right side across a driveway with a cable. Also it is >> okay to >> park at the next driveway which is paved as long as you park to one >> side so >> you don't block the driveway. >> >> Yamhill County Records for Pacific Loon: >> 1 at Willamina Sewage Ponds, 16 Nov. 94 [JL} >> 1 at Willamina Fishing Pond, 4 Nov. 06 [QN,FS] >> >> Good birding, >> >> Carol Karlen >> McMinnville >> >> >> >> >> Subject: local RBA: PACIFIC LOON (Chehalem Creek) Yamhill County >> From: Norgren Family >> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:58:13 -0800 >> >> A juvenile PACIFIC LOON was >> at 14726 Springhill Road at 1pm and >> still at 3pm 11/17. This is a few miles >> north of the Chehalem Valley Hwy(240? >> runs between Newberg and Yamhill). >> This a permanent wetland, quite deep >> under water at present, not exactly >> Heerman's Gull, but only the second >> loon I've seen away from the coast >> in my life. Lars Norgren >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From lbviman at blackfoot.net Wed Nov 18 12:37:30 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:37:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] new species at Galapagos Message-ID: <20091118203156.D38059B023F@mail.blackfoot.net> According to the "save whatever it is from humans" brigades, evolution is over! Guess they're wrong! http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/11/speciation-in-action/ "Darwin was right, but for the wrong reasons" - Anon "The wisdom of Nature's design" - National Audubon Society How is that different from "Intelligent Design"? From sylviam at clearwire.net Wed Nov 18 12:49:09 2009 From: sylviam at clearwire.net (Sylvia Maulding) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:49:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wed Morning Message-ID: <5f916ae60911181249h524b0861gaf7ad18a1ac2d394@mail.gmail.com> Hello OBOL Eleven of us birded Mt. Pisgah west side under sunny skies. Canada Geese Wood Ducks Red-tailed Hawk Mourning Dove Anna's Hummingbird Downy Woodpecker Red-breasted Sapsucker Northern Flicker Hutton's Vireo Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay Crow Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kingler Western Bluebird Robin Yellow-rumped Warbler Spotted Towhee Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco House Finch Dennis Arendt, Dave Brown, Fred Chancy, Dave Hill, Kit Larsen, Sylvia Maulding, Craig Merkel, June Parsson, Roger Robb, Paul Sherrell, Becky Uhler. -- Sylvia Maulding Springfield, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091118/186b0809/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Wed Nov 18 13:43:00 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:43:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] WT Sparrows in Oregon Increasing Rapidly? Message-ID: We have one WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at our feeder and are always thrilled to see them. We never see more than one or two and not every winter. Like one of the small guides says, these are probably the first "rare" birds that backyard birders see; however, it doesn't mean they will ever actually show up! The feeder area at Robert Frost Elementary has never had WT Sparrows in a decade of sightings. It would make my day to be able to show the kids a WT Sparrow right outside their school window. After our first count - including WHITE-THROATED SPARROW- for Project Feederwatch at home on Sun-Mon, I decided to check out what other folks were seeing. It looks like we might have a spike this winter as 12 have already been reported at various feeders with only 26 sites reporting. The total was 3 or 4 for each count last year with many more sites reporting. Previous years are similar to this lower count so it looks like something might be shifting here in OR. The Cornell site is http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/index.html and then you click on "Explore Data" and "Bird Summaries by State/Province" and then go to Oregon. Good Birding, John Thomas NE Marion Co PS Thanks for netbook info from everybody. Much appreciated! -J From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Nov 18 13:52:33 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:52:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] WT Sparrows in Oregon Increasing Rapidly? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: White-throated Sparrows tend to have "peak" years in the state from time to time, when in late fall and early winter, in particular, one can occasionally find small groups of them, especially on the outer coast and at major sparrow patches in the western interior valleys. Look for them mainly with Golden-crowned Sparrows or juncos, not as often with White-crowned Sparrows. They are more willing to go into areas of fairly heavy tree cover than are White-crowns. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com > From: John Thomas > Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:43:00 -0800 > To: obol > Subject: [obol] WT Sparrows in Oregon Increasing Rapidly? > > We have one WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at our feeder and are always thrilled to > see them. We never see more than one or two and not every winter. Like one > of the small guides says, these are probably the first "rare" birds that > backyard birders see; however, it doesn't mean they will ever actually show > up! The feeder area at Robert Frost Elementary has never had WT Sparrows in > a decade of sightings. It would make my day to be able to show the kids a WT > Sparrow right outside their school window. > > After our first count - including WHITE-THROATED SPARROW- for Project > Feederwatch at home on Sun-Mon, I decided to check out what other folks were > seeing. It looks like we might have a spike this winter as 12 have already > been reported at various feeders with only 26 sites reporting. The total was > 3 or 4 for each count last year with many more sites reporting. Previous > years are similar to this lower count so it looks like something might be > shifting here in OR. > > The Cornell site is http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/index.html and then you > click on "Explore Data" and "Bird Summaries by State/Province" and then go > to Oregon. > > Good Birding, > John Thomas > NE Marion Co > > PS Thanks for netbook info from everybody. Much appreciated! -J > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From celata at pacifier.com Wed Nov 18 13:53:28 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:53:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] RAPTOR ROUTE: Youngs Bay - 11/18/2009 Message-ID: <4B046CD8.9060607@pacifier.com> Date: November 18, 2009 Location: Clatsop County, Oregon Youngs River Route - Waluskee, Youngs Bay, Lewis And Clark, Astoria Airport, N.Clatsop Plains. 62.5mi; 2.5 hrs Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Bald Eagle 11 [1] Northern Harrier 3 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 [2] Red-tailed Hawk 2 American Kestrel 6 Peregrine Falcon 1 Footnotes: [1] 4 sub adult [2] Wireless Rd near Schauerman's Total number of species seen: 7 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Why a duck? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12750/ From carolk at viclink.com Wed Nov 18 13:56:17 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:56:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fw: PACIFIC LOON (Yamhill Co.) Message-ID: <004201ca6899$f6c6f740$8c76fea9@home> I need to make a correction on the first reported loon over at the Willamina Sewage Ponds/fishing Pond way back on 16 November, 1994. As some of you know the sewage pond/fishing pond for Willamina is partially in two counties per Bill: "Carol, Nice to find a great bird in one's own county. The first record, for what it is worth, was actually in Polk County. I saw that bird and talked with John, and knowing where the county line is, it was only on the Polk side of the line, in the old fishing pond......................." Bill Tice Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors, and avoiding chores. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carol Karlen" To: "OBOL" Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 10:46 AM Subject: PACIFIC LOON (Yamhill Co.) > Yamhill County Records for Pacific Loon: > 1 at Willamina Sewage Ponds, 16 Nov. 94 [JL} > 1 at Willamina Fishing Pond, 4 Nov. 06 [QN,FS] > > Good birding, > > Carol Karlen > McMinnville > From celata at pacifier.com Wed Nov 18 14:02:47 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:02:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - 11/18/2009 Message-ID: <4B046F07.3040400@pacifier.com> Columbia Estuary Report - 11/18/2009 There were 7 TRUMPETER SWANS at Svensen Island yesterday. Also at Svensen were 75 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 8 GREATER YELLOWLEGS and a whole bunch of LEAST SANDPIPERS too sneaky to get a proper count of. There was a big flock of dowitchers at Jackson Rd as well. An adult SNOW GOOSE was with CANADA GEESE on Jackson Rd, Brownsmead. There are 2 different juveniles in different flocks between Wireless Rd and Capp Rd on the Youngs Bay loop. There are probably 20000 CACKLING GEESE in the dairy pastures around Brownsmead and smaller flocks around Youngs Bay. The recent flooding has pushed the local KILLDEER population in to some really big flocks. Over 100 are hanging out together at Wireless Rd and another big flock of at least 75 is at Jackson Rd, Brownsmead. Storms earlier in the week did not bring in much in the way pelagic species, perhaps the storms predicted for this weekend... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Why a duck? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12750/ From slcarpenter at gmail.com Wed Nov 18 14:27:21 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:27:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] SE Portland ... Redhead Message-ID: The male REDHEAD and female CANVASBACK were still at Westmoreland Park this afternoon, and were keeping company with a female LESSER SCAUP. Scott Carpenter Portland, Oregon On Sat, Nov 14, 2009 at 9:27 PM, m_scatt at yahoo.com wrote: > This morning we headed up Mt. Tabor (SE Portland). Immediately after > entering the SW corner of the park, we noticed a large, loose flock of > VARIED THRUSHES flying overhead towards the SW. In less than a minute we > counted 64 of them. After that it slowed down a bit, but we continued to see > small flocks overhead. By the end of our walk we had counted 104 Varied > Thrushes flying overhead and an additional 10 or 12 calling throughout the > park. Noteworthy for the Willamette Valley was a NORTHERN GOSHAWK that we > saw circle low over the park and head to the north. > > In the afternoon we walked to Westmoreland Park and nearby Crystal Springs. > At Westmoreland Park there were over 120 gulls. Most of them were > Glaucous-winged but there were several Ring-billed, Herring, and a Western. > For the third time in the past week, we saw a male REDHEAD, female > CANVASBACK, and female EURASIAN WIGEON on the main pond. Crystal Springs > held the usual variety of ducks, including a Wood Duck x Mallard hybrid. > There was also a GREEN HERON. > > For the past 6 days we've seen 4 juvenile GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at > Clinton Park (adjacent to Franklin High School). > > Good Birding! > > Adrian and Christopher Hinkle > Em Scattaregia > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091118/c4d943ff/attachment.html From birder at iinet.com Wed Nov 18 14:47:20 2009 From: birder at iinet.com (Sherry Hagen) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:47:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Avisys on a Netbook? [mostly non-birding geek stuff] References: <1258511175.12347.221.camel@clearwater> Message-ID: <6442BE8024414592A54F42026AFB362E@112e829d8e93406> I don't have to page down in Avisys with the "6.00 J" version. After updating to "J", Avisys stated right at the top of it's screen: "Netbook 1024x600" and everything shows on the screen and whatever Jerry Blinn has built into it, it works. I really wanted to take the little gal with me on our recent trip to Peru but I had so much camera equipment already and it was one more weighty thing to pack so I left it home. Wasn't much time to use it anyway. I take it on trips in the states though and here I can usually connect to the internet something pretty much lacking in Peru. The processing power statement referred more to my wanting to download photos from my camera not anything to do with Avisys running properly. But as many people who bird that own cameras, that might be something to check for in a Netbook if you too want to download photos from your camera. Not all Netbooks are created equal in that way. Sherry Hagen Vancouver, WA birder at iinet.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joel Geier" To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" Cc: "Sherry Hagen" Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 6:26 PM Subject: Re: Avisys on a Netbook? [mostly non-birding geek stuff] > Hi Sherry, John, Pam & All, > > As a recent convert to traveling with a netbook, I can't imagine that > Avisys version 6 dot anything would pose a serious challenge to the > processing power that comes with even a low-end modern processor chip. > > Granted, I don't use Avisys, but just considering what a bird listing > program does, I can't believe it would put any strain on a netbook > that's capable of rendering web page graphics. > > I'm just home from a week-long working trip where I relied exclusively > on a Hewlett-Packard 110 Mini (yes, trying to support the local economy > in Corvallis at least indirectly). I had some problems loading the Linux > Ubunto netbook remix on this just before I left (probably since I was in > a hurry), but I was able to run the CygWin Linux emulator and do some > serious number-crunching on an elevation database that would make my > very fast dual-processor, dual-core workstation at home slow down a bit. > I used it for some graphics-heavy presentations using PowerPoint and > OpenOffice Impress, without a single hitch. > > I also compiled all of my groundwater modeling codes inside CygWin, and > actually got a few to run, though finally the little Intel Atom chip > choked when I asked it to resolve intersections among half a million > random polygons. Oh well, my workstation at home also considers that to > be a tough problem that requires several *days* of processor time before > it comes back with an answer! > > So, if AviSys doesn't require several hours or days to come back with an > answer on your current computer, I think you'd do fine with a netbook. > > The screen aspect ratio is the only negative that I can think of -- it > means that you need to page down to view the average web site at full > size. Positives include longer battery life (I was able to keep mine > going on batteries through a 9-hour flight) and low power use which > means you can run it indefinitely off a cigarette-lighter voltage > converter if you're birding out of a vehicle on an extended trip. > > The small size means that you can actually work in airline economy class > without sticking your elbows into the face of the person next to you. > Plus it's a lot less weight to lug around -- you could even take it in > the field with you while birding, though I can't think of any reason why > someone would want to do that. > > Bottom line, speaking as someone who makes computers work a lot harder > than the average computer user, I think a netbook is the way to go. For > heavy-duty calculations I'll still rely on my workstation at home, but > there's really nothing similar that comes up in ordinary consumer > software, and presumably AviSys as well. So ... go for it! > > Happy birding, > Joel > > -- > > Sherry Hagen wrote: > > You have to be careful which NetBook you get (I think). I ws told some > of > them are just for internet/email. I bought an Eec PC which the guy > recogmended so that I could upload photos to it on the road. I just this > past weekend update the Avisys version to "6.J" and it works fine. That > was > the recommendation on Avisys for Netbooks due to their screen size. It > works > great. > > Sherry Hagen > Vancouver, WA > birder AT iinet.com > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "John Thomas" > To: "OBOL" > Sent: Saturday, November 14, 2009 2:39 PM > Subject: [obol] Avisys on a Netbook? Anna's Hummers in The Boondocks... > > >> Pam has her Avisys listings on a PC laptop. My Avisys listings are on a >> MacBook running Parallels. This MacBook plus Parallels plus Windows XP >> plus >> Avisys sometimes runs smoothly but has lately been giving us the "heebie >> jeebies" and some headaches. >> >> We are seriously considering a dedicated NetBook (ultra small laptop) for >> Avisys and e-mail on the road BUT wonder if the NetBooks are powerful >> enough >> to run this program. Any "Deep Techies" out there that know? I am trying >> to >> figure this out on the Avisys website and not finding clear info yet. >> These >> little NetBooks don't have a lot of computing power and we don't want to >> get >> one that doesn't work. >> > > > From cowgirl at harborside.com Wed Nov 18 16:50:17 2009 From: cowgirl at harborside.com (cowgirl at harborside.com) Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:50:17 +0000 Subject: [obol] Mute Swan Curry Message-ID: <838544457-1258592044-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-2131686926-@bda504.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> How unusual would it be to have a Mute Swan with three Tundra's at New River this afternoon ? Lois Miller Port Orford Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From whoffman at peak.org Wed Nov 18 18:04:04 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:04:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Kingbirds, Long-tailed Duck Message-ID: I was able to make brief checks at the LNG Tank site on Yaquina Bay both yesterday (Nov. 17) and today (18th). Yesterday at least 2 Troppical Kingbirds were present and very vocal ( and sounded almost rowdy, rather than melancholy). Today I saw 1 kingbird in willows off to the SW from the blackberry hedge. Yesterday I also had a quick flyby by a nice Ad male Merlin, taiga type. This afternoon at 3:30 a quick visit to the South Jetty Yaquina Bay yielded a nice drake Long-tailed Duck, in fact with a long tail. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091118/6e286639/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Nov 18 18:12:22 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:12:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] SE Portland ... Redhead In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <10F5B4A3-D60B-403C-A4D5-7F4736ADD207@earthlink.net> Over at Westmoreland 2-3pm 1 adult THAYER'S GULL, 1 3rd year THAYER'S GULL, 1 adult HERRING GULL with 125 Olympics. About 10 RING-BILLED GULLS No Mews or Californias Lars Norgren On Nov 18, 2009, at 2:27 PM, Scott Carpenter wrote: > The male REDHEAD and female CANVASBACK were still at Westmoreland > Park this afternoon, and were keeping company with a female LESSER > SCAUP. > > Scott Carpenter > Portland, Oregon > > On Sat, Nov 14, 2009 at 9:27 PM, m_scatt at yahoo.com > wrote: > This morning we headed up Mt. Tabor (SE Portland). Immediately after > entering the SW corner of the park, we noticed a large, loose flock > of VARIED THRUSHES flying overhead towards the SW. In less than a > minute we counted 64 of them. After that it slowed down a bit, but > we continued to see small flocks overhead. By the end of our walk we > had counted 104 Varied Thrushes flying overhead and an additional 10 > or 12 calling throughout the park. Noteworthy for the Willamette > Valley was a NORTHERN GOSHAWK that we saw circle low over the park > and head to the north. > > In the afternoon we walked to Westmoreland Park and nearby Crystal > Springs. At Westmoreland Park there were over 120 gulls. Most of > them were Glaucous-winged but there were several Ring-billed, > Herring, and a Western. For the third time in the past week, we saw > a male REDHEAD, female CANVASBACK, and female EURASIAN WIGEON on the > main pond. Crystal Springs held the usual variety of ducks, > including a Wood Duck x Mallard hybrid. There was also a GREEN HERON. > > For the past 6 days we've seen 4 juvenile GREATER WHITE-FRONTED > GEESE at Clinton Park (adjacent to Franklin High School). > > Good Birding! > > Adrian and Christopher Hinkle > Em Scattaregia > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091118/722bd897/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Nov 18 18:17:37 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:17:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mute Swan Curry In-Reply-To: <838544457-1258592044-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-2131686926-@bda504.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> References: <838544457-1258592044-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-2131686926-@bda504.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> Message-ID: <5842F3DF-8E36-48F0-B614-ED61E8E4DA37@earthlink.net> Seems to be a bit of a trend. I believe a Mute Swan was recorded on Tillamook CBC about 4 years ago. I recall other reports scattered about nw Oregon and sw Washington in the colder months. I think there is a sizeable feral population in British Columbia now. Canada Geese, not native to Europe, now nest in Sweden and migrate to Germany. I don't know if Mute Swans taste better than Skyrats, but prep time per pound is certainly more favorable. Lars Norgren On Nov 18, 2009, at 4:50 PM, cowgirl at harborside.com wrote: > How unusual would it be to have a Mute Swan with three Tundra's at > New River this afternoon ? > Lois Miller > Port Orford > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From rfadney at hotmail.com Wed Nov 18 20:43:51 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:43:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Defective Gulls Message-ID: I stopped in Winchester Bay today while working to attack my nose bag for lunch. While eating and feeding goodies to the resident gull population, I started noticing a few birds with missing appendages. Six out of 32 birds only had one leg. All were missing their right leg, or it was severely deformed. Here is a link to some pics of the gulls in question. Please let me know what you think the reason/s for this may be. http://avianpics.blogspot.com/2009/11/defectives.html Rich Adney http://avianpics.blogspot.com/ http://adneyvisualarts.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/ _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091118/b497985a/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Nov 18 19:36:32 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:36:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Yellowlegs heads west, and a nice surprise in the mailbox today Message-ID: <1258601792.12347.445.camel@clearwater> Hello folks, On a lunchtime walk I encountered the LESSER YELLOWLEGS again, this time at Toketie Marsh (remediation wetland for Coffin Butte Regional Landfill) which is just across the highway from E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area. The bird flew in from the east along with one Greater Yellowlegs. They circled the upper pond together, several times, but found it not to their liking and continued west after a few derisive calls from the Greater Yellowlegs. I enjoyed watching the two of them flying together. The slimmer Lesser Yellowlegs required only a wingbeat or two to squirt past the Greater Yellowlegs, after which its heavier companion would labor to catch up. I wonder if they'll show up at Darrel Faxon's place as their next stop. Back at my driveway, I had a nice surprise waiting in the mailbox: Issue 34:4 of /Oregon Birds/. If you're not a subscriber or if it hasn't landed in your mailbox yet, you can take a peek at: http://www.oregonbirds.org/journal.html to see the contents. Thanks to editor Jeff Harding for another beautiful issue. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From 5hats at peak.org Wed Nov 18 22:33:34 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:33:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <67AA79E3E7294811AD2989F182CAF561@your5rlp3a9516> November 18 12 noon to 12:30 hundreds and hundreds of Brown Pelicans, several thousand in all, and all moving north about 100-200 feet above the ocean. a few Red Phalarope one possible Xantus' Murrelet. small alcid; swimming; very black above, strikingly white below. It was a couple hundred yards off. I was using 10X binoculars. Kept losing sight of the bird between the high swells, and never did get as good a look as I wanted to get. Finally lost sight of it altogether Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091118/73448367/attachment.html From vernd at oregonfast.net Wed Nov 18 23:01:00 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:01:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] OT post Steller's seaLions NOT Message-ID: <1D3F96B1-0FF5-456B-90C0-2EFCEB5E2EB9@oregonfast.net> Hello OBOL, It is with a red face that I sit corrected by Wayne Hoffman who kindly pointed out that my photos of Steller's Sea Lions are actually California Sea Lions. Jeez... No wonder I have a hard time with Peeps. Thanks Wayne for your kind email. Vern Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091118/0b164bfb/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Nov 18 23:33:15 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:33:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 11-19-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * November 19, 2009 * ORPO0911.19 - birds mentioned Trumpeter Swan Tundra Swan Eurasian Wigeon Canvasback White-winged Scoter Common Goldeneye Barrow?s Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser BROWN BOOBY Brown Pelican Northern Goshawk Swainson?s Thrush Gyrfalcon American Golden-Plover Heermann?s Gull Tropical Kingbird Varied Thrush BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER American Tree Sparrow Harris?s Sparrow - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday November 19. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. The Coos Bay BROWN BOOBY continues to be seen. On November 15 a bright BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER was seen in Redmond. It could not be relocated. Large numbers of BROWN PELICANS continue along the central and southern Oregon coast. Three TROPICAL KINGBIRDS were seen during the week in Florence, three at Sallys bend near Newport, and two along Wireless Road near Astoria. On November 15 a GYRFALCON was near Brookings. An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was seen that day at New River near Langlois. On November 17 seven TRUMPETER SWANS were at Svenson Island east of Astoria. On November 14 a movement of 104 VARIED THRUSHES was seen at Mt. Tabor Park in Portland. A GOSHAWK was also there that day. Large flocks of wigeon are now at Westmoreland Park in Portland, including some EURASIAN WIGEON. A TREE SPARROW is now being seen at the Fernhill Wetlands. On November 14 two SWAINSON?S HAWKS were along Livermore Road north of Baskett Slough NWR. A HEERMANN?S GULL was seen November 17 at Finley NWR. On November 15 four BARROW?S GOLDENEYES and 25 COMMON GOLDENEYES were at the mouth of Eagle Creek near Bonneville Dam. A HARRIS?S SPARROW was in Bend November 12. On November 14 a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, 320 TUNDRA SWANS, and 300 CANVASBACKS were on Davis Lake south of Bend. That?s it or this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091118/c09fa2fd/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Thu Nov 19 06:25:14 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:25:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Swainson's Thrush In Peru - Birdbase and Netbook Use Message-ID: I took my netbook, an Acer AspireOne, to Peru a few weeks ago. It is very handy, and powerful enough for whatever you want to run. We found internet connections in most of the hotels we stayed at, including the new "Long-whiskered Owlet" lodge at Abra Patricia. With 140 gigs on the hard drive, there is plenty of room for downloading photos. Of course that isn't the problem it was a few years ago, since SD cards hold so much now. In Moyobamba at the Hotel Puerto Mirador, the WiFi did not reach the rooms, but we could use the internet while in the bar, with excellent Pisco Sours, or around the pool, where there were Rufous-fronted Thornbirds, Hauxwell's Thrushes, Thrush-like Wrens, and once, at the same time, a Lettered Aricari and a Guilded Barbet. I use BirdBase for recordkeeping, and it certainly does well on the netbook. I'm not very good at taking notes, but find it easy to record sightings in BirdBase, though I don't think I remember every little tyranulet or colorful tanager - it would be better to keep track as you go along. Sometimes the names in the book don't correspond to the Birdbase lists, but that is life in the bird world. A few photos from our trip are here, though I have to organize, label and add more: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/Peru2009# There was a Swainson's Thrush outside Tarapoto, to bring it around to Oregon birds. A Thrush-like Antpita popped out while the Swainson's Thrush was there, kind of different company than it keeps here in the north. Good Birding, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091119/5ed3aa49/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Thu Nov 19 09:20:20 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:20:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <030B8B2FA7F2428CB3B8173ACC461BD1@Phil> 7:00-8:30 (11/19): overcast wind S 30+ swells 15+ 3 Red-throated Loon 40 Common Loon 1 Red-necked Grebe 35 Northern Fulmar 150 Brown Pelican (N) 200 Brandt's Cormorant (N) 30 Pelagic Cormorant 1 Brant 1 Harlequin Duck 100+ Black Scoter 12000 White-winged Scoter (assume same group seen 11/17) 200 Surf Scoter 2 Red-breasted Merganser 1 Red Phalarope 5 Mew Gull 400 California Gull 40+ Herring Gull 200 Western Gull 30 Glaucous-winged Gull 6 Heermann's Gull 2 Black-legged Kittiwake 200 Common Murre 25 Pigeon Guillemot (S) 1 Marbled Murrelet North Siletz Bay 8:45 - 500 Pelican 1200 California Gull (almost all adult) 400 Herring (almost all adult) 30 Heermann's Phil philliplc at charter.net From hewatts at ucdavis.edu Thu Nov 19 12:51:16 2009 From: hewatts at ucdavis.edu (Heather Watts) Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:51:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Help finding pine siskins please Message-ID: <4B05AFC4.6050704@ucdavis.edu> I'm a biologist at University of California, Davis studying pine siskins. I'm trying to find locations in OR that currently have large numbers of pine siskins. Any feedback on where pine siskins have been sighted recently would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Heather Watts hewatts AT ucdavis.edu Davis, CA -- Heather E. Watts, PhD Postdoctoral Fellow Department of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior University of California - Davis Davis, CA 95616 From tlove at linfield.edu Thu Nov 19 16:26:18 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:26:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pacific Loon - Yamhill Co Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F121BBEC77C@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> The PACIFIC LOON remains at the spot along North Valley Road, about 1 ? mile north of the Tilikum Retreat Center, easily viewed from the narrow road shoulder. Thanks Lars and Carol for assistance! Tom Love tlove AT linfield DOT edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091119/1d994fa3/attachment.html From rillo3 at msn.com Thu Nov 19 16:47:04 2009 From: rillo3 at msn.com (Bob ARCHER) Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:47:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Point Arena CA Laysan Message-ID: Hi: For those of you that follow "Al", the Laysan Albatross has returned as of yesterday to the Point Arena Harbor, CA. I think it is his 17th or so year. If anyone is heading south for Thanksgiving it might be a fun stop. Bob Archer PDX -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091119/ed897424/attachment.html From m.denny at charter.net Thu Nov 19 17:11:08 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:11:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon Birds Message-ID: <55E38683C23B46AE97286A109A89C630@24FLIGHT> Hello All, I am writing because I must thank Jeff Harding and all those folks that VOLUNTEER to put Oregon Birds together each quarter. WOW does it ever look nice. Greg Gillson's cover photo is crisp and clear. Thank-you all involved and I hope that this regional birders journal gets everyone's support on this list. Later Mike .................................................................................. Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived From vernd at oregonfast.net Thu Nov 19 18:21:28 2009 From: vernd at oregonfast.net (Vern DiPietro) Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:21:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] OT: Wild Arts Festival Message-ID: Hello OBOL, I was disappointed to not be juried into Wild Arts this year, but know that's how it is in the art world. but the upside was No outlay of time , effort or money to be ready for the show in November. WAIT! How about a little spin on life? I got a call Wednesday that there was an opening due to a cancellation. Yeeee Hawwwww.... oh wait... no preparation, and set up in 2 days. Arrrrrrgh I've printed a slew of new work, but haven't matted them. I figure that they can be as prints or I'll mat and ship them. So, I will be there at Wild Arts Festival this weekend, booth 42, upstairs across from the elevators. Please stop by and say hey! Best, Vern http://www.audubonportland.org/support-us/fundraising-events/waf/waf Vern DiPietro Ada Oregon. www.vernondipietrophotographer.com "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind." -- Dr Seuss -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091119/0c0da1b0/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Nov 19 18:39:06 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:39:06 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Oregon Birds In-Reply-To: <55E38683C23B46AE97286A109A89C630@24FLIGHT> Message-ID: <765477.66417.qm@web45310.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Mike and MerryLynn and other OBOLers, We are very lucky indeed to have the fabulous crew working on Oregon Birds, I sure love getting every copy, thanks all of you, we are so lucky to have such a great publication! Tim RodenkirkHappy In Coos Bay --- On Thu, 11/19/09, Mike and MerryLynn wrote: From: Mike and MerryLynn Subject: [obol] Oregon Birds To: "OBOL" Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 5:11 PM Hello All, I am writing because I must thank Jeff Harding and all those folks that VOLUNTEER to put Oregon Birds together each quarter. WOW does it ever look nice. Greg Gillson's cover photo is crisp and clear. Thank-you all involved and I hope that this regional birders journal gets everyone's support on this list. Later Mike .................................................................................. Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091119/c169b8d7/attachment.html From dkmunson at wildblue.net Thu Nov 19 20:47:06 2009 From: dkmunson at wildblue.net (Don & Karen Munson) Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:47:06 -0800 (Pacific Standard Time) Subject: [obol] Brookings area shorebirds Message-ID: <4B061F4A.000005.02360@OFFICE> Of local interest was a LONG-BILLED CURLEW at the mouth of the Winchuck River today. This is not a ho hum bird around here even in the normal spring and fall migration windows. Almost equally as exciting was a SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER out standing in his field on Oceanview Drive pretending to be a Mongolian PL. It was out of the migration window too. Don Munson Brookings, Curry County -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091119/5877e326/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 48428 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091119/5877e326/attachment.gif From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Nov 19 22:47:46 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:47:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Bay as a birding destination, with or without boobies Message-ID: <9B1538F9-3929-4509-B409-C7F8CB595939@earthlink.net> After helping Tim Rodenkirk put out seed at Millicoma Marsh on Armistice Day I sat down at the picnic pavillion there (out of the rain) and made my morning sales calls. I eventually saw a couple, each armed with scope and tri=pod, emerge from the north trail and walk up some steps to their car, which was parked next to the school. I ran over and, noticing the out of state plates, asked if they were in Coos Bay to see the booby. They had heard of no such thing, but were seeking refuge from the rain after watching twelve White=throated Sparrows on the seed Tim has been putting down. They were just thrilled, as one doesn't get to see this sort of thing in Bellingham. Incidental to the sparrows they had seen a White=tailed Kite and a Black Phoebe. They were spending multiple days and nights in Coos Bay then proceeding to the Willamette Valley. They took down notes on how to see the booby, but after the rain stopped they returned to the trails of Millicoma Marsh to look at more Sparrows. I struggled to decide how best to spend the coming free hours left to me. It didn't rain again that day. The agony of choice was almost overwhelming. I had asked Tim about the North Spit, dreaming of Longspurs and Gyrfalcons, Tufted Ducks or Shrikes. He said the flats were under water and the ponds awash in duckhunters. Cape Arago would be a change of pace, but required traversing, anew, the breadth of Oregon's Bay Area in all its commercial shabbiness. For I had started serious use of my favorite scope almost four hours earlier by the Dairy Queen between Empire and Charleston. The Brown Booby Tim Rodenkirk pointed out to me was a mile away. On a postage stamp it wouldn't have filled up the space reserved for the price. A backdrop of spruces on the far shore of the bay helped accent its white belly, while obscuring the chocolate colored back and hood. Against this dark hood its beak, blue as a scaup's bill, was plainly evident as it sat dead center on some steel framework, dwarfed by cormorants. This was at 60X magnification. "Thank goodness it's heavily overcast and 43 on a November morning "I thought. Under most circumstances the whole thing would be an exercise in futility due to heat distortion. About 15 seconds after bringing this Roger Tory Peterson on microfilm into focus, it dropped off the ship channel marker and just feet about the water flew eastward with a wingbeat somewhere between a Gyrfalcon and a Western Gull. In 10 or 20 seconds it was out of sight around some point I didn't know the name of. "Well I'm glad that's out of the way, and so early in the day!" I said to Tim. "Let's go look for Swamp Sparrows!" As luck would have it, Tim had two twenty pound bags of bird seed in his pickup. When doesn't he have two or three twenty pound bags on hand between Halloween and Christmas? If you're a birder in Coos Bay in November, you might consider bringing crutches as a prop if you want to avoid becoming another one of Tim's mules. So here it was noon, and I'm talking to serious birders who are still off the internet. They've photographed tigers in India and spent 30 days on the island of Taiwan, but they couldn't get to the parking lot at the mouth of Pony Slough. There's a fine boat ramp there, big enough to load and unload multiple boat trailers at once. Parking places for the hoards and a regulation bicycle path. But the access road is gated and always locked. I was first there in 1976 and we drove out there about once every two hours. There were always tons of birds and pretty much always some new species. I wondered how long ago my pair of interlocutors had visited the place. Clearly pre-Patriot Act. Although it was lunchtime for most, it was closer to supper for me. I had gotten out of bed at 3, to drive 248 miles from the westernmost Dairy Queen in Washington County to the westernmost Dairy Queen in Coos County. I chose the eastside of Pony Slough for my next destination. It meant prolonged foot travel, which I reasoned might keep me awake. It almost seemed foolish to give up precious hours to the part of Coos Bay I know best, when some novel area was an option. But it was a short drive, and promised ample privacy. Park at the Maritime Museum in North Bend, and follow the well worn path beaten by decades of homeless commuters to the railroad tracks. These were laid and first carried an engine in 1905. Now a scant century later they are abandoned. They go northwest across the eastern two thirds of Pony Slough, before swinging north to cross the estuary. The abandonment proves to be a hindrance to birding. Scots broom, once cut back on a regular basis, is now growing amok. Palm Warblers may still winter here, but there are no gaps between shrubs where they can reveal themselves. And the once sweeping vistas of the slough with its stunning variety of waders, gulls, and waterfowl, are largely blocked. I had had half a mind to bring a bag of birdseed. Evidently pruning loppers would be more useful. To get a look at the scores of shorebirds enjoying low tide I struggled through the broom hedge and down the rip-rap to firm mudflats. With a steep, albeit short, south facing slope at my back I found the temperature extremely pleasant. And watching distant, pink thunderheads scudding before cold fronts quite enjoyable. The tide was now coming up the main channel, but the water in Pony Slough was still flowing downstream at a brisk rate. I followed feeding loons and grebes down with the current, then east, up the main channel and under the swing bridge. There were no rarities, but sunlight and comfort were abundant, a context I don't associate with loons and grebes in basic plumage. It was after lunch and chefs would be free to receive my sales pitch. My client here in North Bend might be free to go chase the booby. A half-dozen gainful and responsible possibilities beckoned, but not as hard as the imaginary call of larks in the starve-acre dunes on the dredge spoils to my south. The sunlight and vigorous cumulous clouds seemed too great a treasure to be squandered. The commonest mistake people make about birding Coos Bay is making it a day trip. If my own highway madness seems a contradiction to this advice, it is because I was there on business. I had anticipated arriving at first light and going down to Fossil Point with my most important vendor. She has taken up birding since we entered into business, but in a fashion I find mildly bizarre. Perhaps it is practiced by millions. She owns no field guide, and shows no interest in mine. When she sees an unfamiliar bird she photographs it, then goes back to the office and searches images on the internet until a match is made. However unorthodox it seems, it can work. She's got pictures of Western Bluebirds along the Trans-Pacific Highway to prove it. At first light her paperwork was in chaos and the booby put on the back burner. By the time I checked back in person, with the westering sun burnishing Virginia Avenue and 101 alike, three of her employees had been diverted from their regular tasks, and the worst day of the year was becoming the worst day of her career. My load of perishables was hours away from being ready, a late dinner at home no longer a possibility. I followed the road back to Charleston, stopping at every public access to the bay. The parking lot of the Empire boat ramps held plenty of gulls too close for a scope, but my brain was getting too dull too process a novel mix of species, a local dialect if you would. The multitude of piers and pilings all hosted at least one bird, but no boobies. Some kind of raptor was directly into the ever lower sun. I drove a short way south and determined it to be an Osprey. This would be a surprise at almost all parts of Oregon in November, but here in Coos Bay it's becoming a fixture. In fits and starts I worked south from Empire until at last I passed Pigeon Point and parked at the pumping station beyond Dairy Queen. The parking space was now in shade, but the whole bay was bathed in intense evening sun. The stanchion preferred by the booby was NORTH, not west,of the observation point, and therefore well lit at 4:17 in the afternoon. And there on the uppermost steel bar was the booby, to the very inch where it was seven and a half hours before. It was no bigger in my scope than before. Some Western Gulls were mingled with the Cormorants now and they were bigger than the booby. It was preening, always a good sign. Apparently it planned to spend the night here. I wished I could. The couple of lunchtime acquaintance were based at Captain John's in Charleston. I stayed there the night before the Count two years ago and would recommend it. Lodging is significantly cheaper than on the north coast, as are the mushrooms. I didn't keep a list of bird species, I never do if it's not a CBC. But my payload may prove more exotic to many readers: 140 pounds of porcini--mostly Boletus edulis, but some Boletus aereus, and even half a kilo of Boletus fibrillosus; nine pounds of Pied-de-mouton(Dentinum repandum); eight pounds of Hedgehog Mushroom (Dentinum umbillicatum), eight pounds of Yellowfoot(Cantharellus tubaeformis) and fortythree pounds of Cauliflower Mushroom. This last species sounds far more delicious by its latinate binomial--Sparassis crispa. And that size harvest is surely a record for the Coos basin. I got home at one in the morning. Gosh darn it if I never did see a Swamp Sparrow. Lars Norgren Only one month 'til the Coos Bay CBC It needs you. The greatest count in Oregon for over three decades. I dipped on the Ruff last year but got my first Red Fox Sparrow. Who knows what awaits you? From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Fri Nov 20 04:00:24 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:00:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Bay as a birding destination, with or without boobies Message-ID: <000701ca69d9$30e58b90$6dc963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Lars, A nicely written piece, very descriptive of a time and place many of us enjoy. One comment about access to Pony Slough: While no one can access the west side of the slough anymore, due to the expansion of the airport security zone, the east side is still available. The hike down from the museum on the RR tracks to the NE side of the slough is one access, as you describe. However, one can also drive to the west end of Florida St. by turning west off Hwy 101 in North Bend. You can park there and walk out to the edge of the bay and scope most of it, depending on the state of the tide. Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan -------------------------------- Subject: Coos Bay as a birding destination, with or without boobies From: Norgren Family Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:47:46 -0800 ... they couldn't get to the parking lot at the mouth of Pony Slough. There's a fine boat ramp there, big enough to load and unload multiple boat trailers at once. Parking places for the hoards and a regulation bicycle path. But the access road is gated and always locked. I was first there in 1976 and we drove out there about once every two hours. There were always tons of birds and pretty much always some new species. I wondered how long ago my pair of interlocutors had visited the place. Clearly pre-Patriot Act. .... I chose the eastside of Pony Slough for my next destination. It meant prolonged foot travel, which I reasoned might keep me awake. It almost seemed foolish to give up precious hours to the part of Coos Bay I know best, when some novel area was an option. But it was a short drive, and promised ample privacy. Park at the Maritime Museum in North Bend, and follow the well worn path beaten by decades of homeless commuters to the railroad tracks. These were laid and first carried an engine in 1905. Now a scant century later they are abandoned. They go northwest across the eastern two thirds of Pony Slough, before swinging north to cross the estuary. The abandonment proves to be a hindrance to birding. Scots broom, once cut back on a regular basis, is now growing amok. Palm Warblers may still winter here, but there are no gaps between shrubs where they can reveal themselves. And the once sweeping vistas of the slough with its stunning variety of waders, gulls, and waterfowl, are largely blocked. I had had half a mind to bring a bag of birdseed. Evidently pruning loppers would be more useful. To get a look at the scores of shorebirds enjoying low tide I struggled through the broom hedge and down the rip-rap to firm mudflats. With a steep, albeit short, south facing slope at my back I found the temperature extremely pleasant. And watching distant, pink thunderheads scudding before cold fronts quite enjoyable. The tide was now coming up the main channel, but the water in Pony Slough was still flowing downstream at a brisk rate. I followed feeding loons and grebes down with the current, then east, up the main channel and under the swing bridge. .... Lars Norgren Only one month 'til the Coos Bay CBC It needs you. The greatest count in Oregon for over three decades. I dipped on the Ruff last year but got my first Red Fox Sparrow. Who knows what awaits you? From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Nov 20 06:58:40 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:58:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Bay as a birding destination, with or without boobies In-Reply-To: <000601ca69d9$2fc9e260$6dc963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> References: <000601ca69d9$2fc9e260$6dc963d8@dell307ac3e2b6> Message-ID: <45F3123D-59DF-4528-BF41-74C12DA65C4C@earthlink.net> The Florida Street neighborhood is also a great place for windshield birding passerines. A Tropical Kingbird was there in October. Whatever n-s street intersects it at the shore, going south to Virginia is unpaved and potholed. It is trimmed with very dense brush and produced White-throated Sparrow on last year's CBC. If you are constrained by a time budget and can't do Millicoma (perish the thought) try the spot. Yeong's, on Virginia Street has some of the best burgers in Oregon, and portions that might make you consider sharing an order. For more elegant dining to celebrate the latest lifer there's Porta, also on Virginia and right in front of the former westside access to Pony Slough. The chef/co-owner was the penultimate chef at the storied Genoa(RIP), for decades the best restaurant in the Pacific nw. Remember, its the south coast and you won't have to pay Pearl District prices(Porta is better than all Pearl District restaurants but one, anyway). Lars On Nov 20, 2009, at 3:59 AM, Paul T. Sullivan wrote: > Lars, > > A nicely written piece, very descriptive of a time and place many of > us enjoy. > > Yes, there are great birders out there who do not have any of the > high-tech toys so commonly used by other voices prominent on the > web: cameras, wireless connections, geeky savvy, etc, etc. They get > to enjoy birds too. > > And there is the new breed who don't use bird books, but operate > with camera and the web exclusively. Folks younger than you and > me. They get to enjoy birds too. > > Then there are the old folks, like you and me, who drive half way > across the state to see a bird in person. We get to enjoy the > birds, too. > > One comment about access to Pony Slough: While no one can access > the west side of the slough anymore, due to the expansion of the > airport security zone, the east side is still available. The hike > down from the museum on the RR tracks to the NE side of the slough > is one access, as you describe. > > However, one can also drive to the west end of Florida St. by > turning west off Hwy 101 in North Bend. You can park there and walk > out to the edge of the bay and scope most of it, depending on the > state of the tide. > > Good birding, everyone, > > Paul T. Sullivan > -------------------------------- > Subject: Coos Bay as a birding destination, with or without boobies > From: Norgren Family > Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:47:46 -0800 > > ... they couldn't get to the parking lot > at the mouth of Pony Slough. There's a fine boat > ramp there, big enough to load and unload multiple > boat trailers at once. Parking places for the hoards > and a regulation bicycle path. But the access road > is gated and always locked. I was first there in > 1976 and we drove out there about once every two > hours. There were always tons of birds and pretty > much always some new species. I wondered how long > ago my pair of interlocutors had visited the place. > Clearly pre-Patriot Act. > .... I chose the eastside of > Pony Slough for my next destination. It meant prolonged > foot travel, which I reasoned might keep me awake. > It almost seemed foolish to give up precious hours > to the part of Coos Bay I know best, when some > novel area was an option. But it was a short drive, > and promised ample privacy. Park at the Maritime > Museum in North Bend, and follow the well worn path > beaten by decades of homeless commuters to the > railroad tracks. These were laid and first carried > an engine in 1905. Now a scant century later they > are abandoned. They go northwest across the eastern > two thirds of Pony Slough, before swinging north > to cross the estuary. > The abandonment proves to be a hindrance to > birding. Scots broom, once cut back on a regular > basis, is now growing amok. Palm Warblers may > still winter here, but there are no gaps between > shrubs where they can reveal themselves. And > the once sweeping vistas of the slough with its > stunning variety of waders, gulls, and waterfowl, > are largely blocked. I had had half a mind to > bring a bag of birdseed. Evidently pruning loppers > would be more useful. > To get a look at the scores of shorebirds > enjoying low tide I struggled through the broom > hedge and down the rip-rap to firm mudflats. > With a steep, albeit short, south facing slope > at my back I found the temperature extremely > pleasant. And watching distant, pink thunderheads > scudding before cold fronts quite enjoyable. > The tide was now coming up the main channel, > but the water in Pony Slough was still flowing > downstream at a brisk rate. I followed feeding > loons and grebes down with the current, then > east, up the main channel and under the swing bridge. > .... Lars Norgren > > Only one month 'til the Coos Bay > CBC It needs you. The greatest > count in Oregon for over three > decades. I dipped on the Ruff > last year but got my first Red > Fox Sparrow. Who knows what awaits > you? > From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Nov 20 08:52:24 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:52:24 +0000 Subject: [obol] Coos Bay as a birding destination, with or without boobies In-Reply-To: <45F3123D-59DF-4528-BF41-74C12DA65C4C@earthlink.net> References: <000601ca69d9$2fc9e260$6dc963d8@dell307ac3e2b6>, <45F3123D-59DF-4528-BF41-74C12DA65C4C@earthlink.net> Message-ID: Lars, Thanks for the Coos Bay/North Bend restaurant reviews. This birder always wonders where to eat when he is off his home turf. Dave Irons > From: gnorgren at earthlink.net > Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:58:40 -0800 > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Coos Bay as a birding destination, with or without boobies > > The Florida Street neighborhood is > also a great place for windshield > birding passerines. A Tropical Kingbird > was there in October. Whatever n-s street > intersects it at the shore, going south > to Virginia is unpaved and potholed. > It is trimmed with very dense brush > and produced White-throated Sparrow > on last year's CBC. If you are > constrained by a time budget and > can't do Millicoma (perish the thought) > try the spot. Yeong's, on Virginia > Street has some of the best burgers > in Oregon, and portions that might > make you consider sharing an order. > For more elegant dining to celebrate > the latest lifer there's Porta, also > on Virginia and right in front of the > former westside access to Pony Slough. > The chef/co-owner was the penultimate > chef at the storied Genoa(RIP), for > decades the best restaurant in the > Pacific nw. Remember, its the south > coast and you won't have to pay > Pearl District prices(Porta is better > than all Pearl District restaurants > but one, anyway). Lars > On Nov 20, 2009, at 3:59 AM, Paul T. Sullivan wrote: > > > Lars, > > > > A nicely written piece, very descriptive of a time and place many of > > us enjoy. > > > > Yes, there are great birders out there who do not have any of the > > high-tech toys so commonly used by other voices prominent on the > > web: cameras, wireless connections, geeky savvy, etc, etc. They get > > to enjoy birds too. > > > > And there is the new breed who don't use bird books, but operate > > with camera and the web exclusively. Folks younger than you and > > me. They get to enjoy birds too. > > > > Then there are the old folks, like you and me, who drive half way > > across the state to see a bird in person. We get to enjoy the > > birds, too. > > > > One comment about access to Pony Slough: While no one can access > > the west side of the slough anymore, due to the expansion of the > > airport security zone, the east side is still available. The hike > > down from the museum on the RR tracks to the NE side of the slough > > is one access, as you describe. > > > > However, one can also drive to the west end of Florida St. by > > turning west off Hwy 101 in North Bend. You can park there and walk > > out to the edge of the bay and scope most of it, depending on the > > state of the tide. > > > > Good birding, everyone, > > > > Paul T. Sullivan > > -------------------------------- > > Subject: Coos Bay as a birding destination, with or without boobies > > From: Norgren Family > > Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:47:46 -0800 > > > > ... they couldn't get to the parking lot > > at the mouth of Pony Slough. There's a fine boat > > ramp there, big enough to load and unload multiple > > boat trailers at once. Parking places for the hoards > > and a regulation bicycle path. But the access road > > is gated and always locked. I was first there in > > 1976 and we drove out there about once every two > > hours. There were always tons of birds and pretty > > much always some new species. I wondered how long > > ago my pair of interlocutors had visited the place. > > Clearly pre-Patriot Act. > > .... I chose the eastside of > > Pony Slough for my next destination. It meant prolonged > > foot travel, which I reasoned might keep me awake. > > It almost seemed foolish to give up precious hours > > to the part of Coos Bay I know best, when some > > novel area was an option. But it was a short drive, > > and promised ample privacy. Park at the Maritime > > Museum in North Bend, and follow the well worn path > > beaten by decades of homeless commuters to the > > railroad tracks. These were laid and first carried > > an engine in 1905. Now a scant century later they > > are abandoned. They go northwest across the eastern > > two thirds of Pony Slough, before swinging north > > to cross the estuary. > > The abandonment proves to be a hindrance to > > birding. Scots broom, once cut back on a regular > > basis, is now growing amok. Palm Warblers may > > still winter here, but there are no gaps between > > shrubs where they can reveal themselves. And > > the once sweeping vistas of the slough with its > > stunning variety of waders, gulls, and waterfowl, > > are largely blocked. I had had half a mind to > > bring a bag of birdseed. Evidently pruning loppers > > would be more useful. > > To get a look at the scores of shorebirds > > enjoying low tide I struggled through the broom > > hedge and down the rip-rap to firm mudflats. > > With a steep, albeit short, south facing slope > > at my back I found the temperature extremely > > pleasant. And watching distant, pink thunderheads > > scudding before cold fronts quite enjoyable. > > The tide was now coming up the main channel, > > but the water in Pony Slough was still flowing > > downstream at a brisk rate. I followed feeding > > loons and grebes down with the current, then > > east, up the main channel and under the swing bridge. > > .... Lars Norgren > > > > Only one month 'til the Coos Bay > > CBC It needs you. The greatest > > count in Oregon for over three > > decades. I dipped on the Ruff > > last year but got my first Red > > Fox Sparrow. Who knows what awaits > > you? > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Bing brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MFESRP&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MFESRP_Local_MapsMenu_Resturants_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091120/3ba0663a/attachment.html From jvanmoo at sisna.com Fri Nov 20 11:17:43 2009 From: jvanmoo at sisna.com (Julie Van Moorhem) Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:17:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] K-Falls, Thursday Birding Bunch 11-19-09 Message-ID: <064916A1-91FA-4C2D-B771-D722936D5D36@sisna.com> Hi Folks, The Thursday Birding Bunch (Marilyn Christian, Dave Potter and I) had a great day. Our first stop was Miller Island (Klamath WMA) where we saw a lot of TUNDRA SWANS, RING-NECKED PHEASANT (2), HORNED GREBE (6), a NORTHERN HARRIER taking a bird with spectacular agility, a NORTHERN SHRIKE and a few ducks, flickers, etc. On our way to the south we cruised along Lower Klamath Lake Rd. and saw many buteos in the fields and telephone poles--most appeared to be RED-TAILED HAWKs (26 that we counted but a lot were too far out to ID). Approximately 120 TUNDRA SWANS were in a flooded field with some ducks. We also saw a NORTHERN HARRIER, an AMERICAN KESTREL and GREAT HORNED OWL (2 in the same tree--maybe a pair). From Lower Klamath Lake Rd we turned west onto Township Rd. Although we probably only travelled about a mile to a mile and a half, we counted 27 RED-TAILED HAWK, and 9 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. Turning south on a road about 1 mile east of Straits Drain we found 3 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, 6 RED-TAILED HAWK and 6 NORTHERN HARRIER. TUNDRA SWANS were present in good number (approx. 130 in two flocks). HORNED LARK were present (~20) but we didn't see any longspurs. Straits Drain yielded 16 RED-TAILED HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (2), 2 BALD EAGLEs and a PRAIRIE FALCON. Another PRAIRIE FALCON was located at the jct of Straits Drain and Township Rd. Back on Lower Klamath Lake Rd heading southeast, we spotted a GOLDEN EAGLE, RED-TAILED HAWK (4), NORTHERN HARRIER (2), an AMERICAN KESTREL, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, another PRAIRIE FALCON, and a FERRUGINOUS HAWK. After leaving Merrill and heading east on the K-Falls-Malin Hwy (OR 39) we spotted another PRAIRIE FALCON, our fourth and last for the day. Heading north out of the Malin area on Harpold Rd. we saw RED- TAILED HAWK (2), a FERRUGINOUS HAWK, RED-TAILED HAWK (8), 4 unidentified buteos and a BALD EAGLE. Heading into Bonanza still on Harpold Rd we saw ~45 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE on telephone wires in one location. Mostly TUNDRA SWAN (~300) were on the pond on Bliss Rd. Coming back into town we cut off from Hwy 140 onto Crystal Springs Rd. (runs west from the Olene Gap on the south side of the Lost River) and found a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK IN a pond beside the road. At first we thought it had hit some wires or something and was dead, but in a few seconds it splashed a bit (I guess it was staking a bath) and took off to a power pole and stood there like an Anhinga holding it's wings out to dry. Quite an unexpected sight. Along the canal at Reeder Rd/ Hill Rd jct we saw 100 COMMON MERGANSERS down by the dam. On Short Rd. we found two flocks of GREAT EGRET (12 in one group and 14 in another group). Along the C Canal at the KID Irrigation area we found GREATER YELLOWLEGS (4) LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (21), and KILLDEER (7). It was definitely a spectacular end for our Birding Bunch for 2009! Good birding y'all, Julie Van Moorhem Klamath Falls From ninerharv2 at msn.com Fri Nov 20 12:18:44 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:18:44 +0000 Subject: [obol] Coos Bay as a birding destination, with or without boobies Message-ID: Lars A beautiful piece. Love the "commercial shabbiness" reference. And it is nice to finally tell it like it is for those coming in from out of town expecting to get up close and personal with the Brown Boobie. Finally, I now understand why I should not regret just missing Tim on every excursion afterall with this mule duty business. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Norgren Family Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:47:46 To: Subject: [obol] Coos Bay as a birding destination, with or without boobies ????? After helping Tim Rodenkirk put out seed at Millicoma Marsh on Armistice Day I sat down at the picnic pavillion there (out of the rain) and made my morning sales calls. I eventually saw a couple, each armed with scope and tri=pod, emerge from the north trail and walk up some steps to their car, which was parked next to the school. I ran over and, noticing the out of state plates, asked if they were in Coos Bay to see the booby. They had heard of no such thing, but were seeking refuge from the rain after watching twelve White=throated Sparrows on the seed Tim has been putting down. They were just thrilled, as one doesn't get to see this sort of thing in Bellingham. ????? Incidental to the sparrows they had seen a White=tailed Kite and a Black Phoebe. They were spending multiple days and nights in Coos Bay then proceeding to the Willamette Valley. They took down notes on how to see the booby, but after the rain stopped they returned to the trails of Millicoma Marsh to look at more Sparrows. I struggled to decide how best to spend the coming free hours left to me. It didn't rain again that day. The agony of choice was almost overwhelming. ?????? I had asked Tim about the North Spit, dreaming of Longspurs and Gyrfalcons, Tufted Ducks or Shrikes. He said the flats were under water and the ponds awash in duckhunters. Cape Arago would be a change of pace, but required traversing, anew, the breadth of Oregon's Bay Area in all its commercial shabbiness. For I had started serious use of my favorite scope almost four hours earlier by the Dairy Queen between Empire and Charleston. The Brown Booby Tim Rodenkirk pointed out to me was a mile away. On a postage stamp it wouldn't have filled up the space reserved for the price. A backdrop of spruces on the far shore of the bay helped accent its white belly, while obscuring the chocolate colored back and hood. Against this dark hood its beak, blue as a scaup's bill, was plainly evident as it sat dead center on some steel framework, dwarfed by cormorants. This was at 60X magnification. "Thank goodness it's heavily overcast and 43 on a November morning "I thought. Under most circumstances the whole thing would be an exercise in futility due to heat distortion. ???? About 15 seconds after bringing this Roger Tory Peterson on microfilm into focus, it dropped off the ship channel marker and just feet about the water flew eastward with a wingbeat somewhere between a Gyrfalcon and a Western Gull. In 10 or 20 seconds it was out of sight around some point I didn't know the name of. "Well I'm glad that's out of the way, and so early in the day!" I said to Tim. "Let's go look for Swamp Sparrows!" ????? As luck would have it, Tim had two twenty pound bags of bird seed in his pickup. When doesn't he have two or three twenty pound bags on hand between Halloween and Christmas? If you're a birder in Coos Bay in November, you might consider bringing crutches as a prop if you want to avoid becoming another one of Tim's mules. So here it was noon, and I'm talking to serious birders who are still off the internet. They've photographed tigers in India and spent 30 days on the island of Taiwan, but they couldn't get to the parking lot at the mouth of Pony Slough. There's a fine boat ramp there, big enough to load and unload multiple boat trailers at once. Parking places for the hoards and a regulation bicycle path. But the access road is gated and always locked. I was first there in 1976 and we drove out there about once every two hours. There were always tons of birds and pretty much always some new species. I wondered how long ago my pair of interlocutors had visited the place. Clearly pre-Patriot Act. ????? Although it was lunchtime for most, it was closer to supper for me. I had gotten out of bed at 3, to drive 248 miles from the westernmost Dairy Queen in Washington County to the westernmost Dairy Queen in Coos County. I chose the eastside of Pony Slough for my next destination. It meant prolonged foot travel, which I reasoned might keep me awake. It almost seemed foolish to give up precious hours to the part of Coos Bay I know best, when some novel area was an option. But it was a short drive, and promised ample privacy. Park at the Maritime Museum in North Bend, and follow the well worn path beaten by decades of homeless commuters to the railroad tracks. These were laid and first carried an engine in 1905. Now a scant century later they are abandoned. They go northwest across the eastern two thirds of Pony Slough, before swinging north to cross the estuary. ????? The abandonment proves to be a hindrance to birding. Scots broom, once cut back on a regular basis, is now growing amok. Palm Warblers may still winter here, but there are no gaps between shrubs where they can reveal themselves. And the once sweeping vistas of the slough with its stunning variety of waders, gulls, and waterfowl, are largely blocked. I had had half a mind to bring a bag of birdseed. Evidently pruning loppers would be more useful. ??????? To get a look at the scores of shorebirds enjoying low tide I struggled through the broom hedge and down the rip-rap to firm mudflats. With a steep, albeit short, south facing slope at my back I found the temperature extremely pleasant. And watching distant, pink thunderheads scudding before cold fronts quite enjoyable. The tide was now coming up the main channel, but the water in Pony Slough was still flowing downstream at a brisk rate. I followed feeding loons and grebes down with the current, then east, up the main channel and under the swing bridge. ?????? There were no rarities, but sunlight and comfort were abundant, a context I don't associate with loons and grebes in basic plumage. It was after lunch and chefs would be free to receive my sales pitch. My client here in North Bend might be free to go chase the booby. A half-dozen gainful and responsible possibilities beckoned, but not as hard as the imaginary call of larks in the starve-acre dunes on the dredge spoils to my south. The sunlight and vigorous cumulous clouds seemed too great a treasure to be squandered. ????? The commonest mistake people make about birding Coos Bay is making it a day trip. If my own highway madness seems a contradiction to this advice, it is because I was there on business. I had anticipated arriving at first light and going down to Fossil Point with my most important vendor. She has taken up birding since we entered into business, but in a fashion I find mildly bizarre. Perhaps it is practiced by millions. She owns no field guide, and shows no interest in mine. When she sees an unfamiliar bird she photographs it, then goes back to the office and searches images on the internet until a match is made. However unorthodox it seems, it can work. She's got pictures of Western Bluebirds along the Trans-Pacific Highway to prove it. ????? At first light her paperwork was in chaos and the booby put on the back burner. By the time I checked back in person, with the westering sun burnishing Virginia Avenue and 101 alike, three of her employees had been diverted from their regular tasks, and the worst day of the year was becoming the worst day of her career. My load of perishables was hours away from being ready, a late dinner at home no longer a possibility. I followed the road back to Charleston, stopping at every public access to the bay. The parking lot of the Empire boat ramps held plenty of gulls too close for a scope, but my brain was getting too dull too process a novel mix of species, a local dialect if you would. The multitude of piers and pilings all hosted at least one bird, but no boobies. Some kind of raptor was directly into the ever lower sun. ????? I drove a short way south and determined it to be an Osprey. This would be a surprise at almost all parts of Oregon in November, but here in Coos Bay it's becoming a fixture. In fits and starts I worked south from Empire until at last I passed Pigeon Point and parked at the pumping station beyond Dairy Queen. The parking space was now in shade, but the whole bay was bathed in intense evening sun. The stanchion preferred by the booby was NORTH, not west,of the observation point, and therefore well lit at 4:17 in the afternoon. And there on the uppermost steel bar was the booby, to the very inch where it was seven and a half hours before. ???? It was no bigger in my scope than before. Some Western Gulls were mingled with the Cormorants now and they were bigger than the booby. It was preening, always a good sign. Apparently it planned to spend the night here. I wished I could. The couple of lunchtime acquaintance were based at Captain John's in Charleston. I stayed there the night before the Count two years ago and would recommend it. Lodging is significantly cheaper than on the north coast, as are the mushrooms. ????? I didn't keep a list of bird species, I never do if it's not a CBC. But my payload may prove more exotic to many readers: 140 pounds of porcini--mostly Boletus edulis, but some Boletus aereus, and even half a kilo of Boletus fibrillosus; nine pounds of Pied-de-mouton(Dentinum repandum); eight pounds of Hedgehog Mushroom (Dentinum umbillicatum), eight pounds of Yellowfoot(Cantharellus tubaeformis) and fortythree pounds of Cauliflower Mushroom. This last species sounds far more delicious by its latinate binomial--Sparassis crispa. And that size harvest is surely a record for the Coos basin. ???? I got home at one in the morning. Gosh darn it if I never did see a Swamp Sparrow.??? Lars Norgren Only one month 'til the Coos Bay CBC It needs you. The greatest count in Oregon for over three decades. I dipped on the Ruff last year but got my first Red Fox Sparrow. Who knows what awaits you? _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Nov 20 13:35:04 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:35:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Runt gull Message-ID: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/119556225 Darrel Faxon sent me a photo of an apparent Western Gull (molting into 3rd year plumage?). He suggested it was shockingly small (see his comments below). Googling "runt gulls" finds many hits from birders discussing apparent small gulls, but not many scientific papers, other than "runt eggs." Kaufman mentioned runt Greater Black-backed Gulls in his Advanced Birding book. Steven Mlodinow wrote a BirdFellow piece on runt birds in July. http://birdfellow.com/journal/2009/07/04/the_midget_frigate_confusion_in_the_baja_sun Measurements listed in Gabrielson and Jewett for Glaucous-winged and Western Gull lengths were about 24-28 inches, while California Gulls were listed as 20-23 inches in length. Greg ----- Original Message ----- From: "Darrel Faxon" <5hats at peak.org> To: "Greg Gillson" Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 11:15 AM Subject: gull photos Greg, Would you mind posting these photos to OBOL? When I first saw this bird yesterday at D River in Lincoln City it gave me a start because it was as small as the smallest California Gulls present. I see no reason not to label it a Western Gull in second winter plumage, but it was incredibly small for that species. Judging from the amount of brown in the wing coverts, I would assume it is behind most birds of similar age in sequence of molt, and surmise it may have been bird which hatched late in the season and is behind in development of both size and plumage. That is only a hypothesis on my part, but I cannot think of any other reason for it to be so small. Anyway, if you don't mind posting the photos, I would appreciate it. Perhaps they will foster some interesting discussion. Darrel From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Fri Nov 20 14:26:22 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (Tom McNamara) Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:26:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Bay as a birding destination, with or without boobies Message-ID: Lars, Echoing some others: a really nice piece. Thanks for taking the time to write it. good birding all, Tom _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091120/1ce9feb7/attachment.html From youngwarriors at hotmail.com Fri Nov 20 14:48:27 2009 From: youngwarriors at hotmail.com (Keith Owen) Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:48:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Runt gull In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: There is a biologist at Walla Walla University in College Place, WA named Dr. Joe Galusha who has been studying a breeding colony of Western Gulls in Puget Sound for many years. If you contacted him he might be able to give you more information on size varition in Western Gulls. > From: greg at thebirdguide.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:35:04 -0800 > Subject: [obol] Runt gull > > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/119556225 > > Darrel Faxon sent me a photo of an apparent Western Gull (molting into 3rd > year plumage?). He suggested it was shockingly small (see his comments > below). > > Googling "runt gulls" finds many hits from birders discussing apparent small > gulls, but not many scientific papers, other than "runt eggs." Kaufman > mentioned runt Greater Black-backed Gulls in his Advanced Birding book. > > Steven Mlodinow wrote a BirdFellow piece on runt birds in July. > http://birdfellow.com/journal/2009/07/04/the_midget_frigate_confusion_in_the_baja_sun > > Measurements listed in Gabrielson and Jewett for Glaucous-winged and Western > Gull lengths were about 24-28 inches, while California Gulls were listed as > 20-23 inches in length. > > Greg > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Darrel Faxon" <5hats at peak.org> > To: "Greg Gillson" > Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 11:15 AM > Subject: gull photos > > > Greg, > Would you mind posting these photos to OBOL? When I first saw this bird > yesterday at D River in Lincoln City it gave me a start because it was as > small as the smallest California Gulls present. I see no reason not to > label it a Western Gull in second winter plumage, but it was incredibly > small for that species. Judging from the amount of brown in the wing > coverts, I would assume it is behind most birds of similar age in sequence > of molt, and surmise it may have been bird which hatched late in the season > and is behind in development of both size and plumage. That is only a > hypothesis on my part, but I cannot think of any other reason for it to be > so small. Anyway, if you don't mind posting the photos, I would appreciate > it. Perhaps they will foster some interesting discussion. > > Darrel > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091120/3f376a8c/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri Nov 20 15:38:58 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:38:58 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Runt gull In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <345547.30009.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Hi Greg, I remember seeing a runt Western type gull in Charleston about a year ago. ?I even called up Russ Namitz. ?I think we determined it was a wymani Western, they are the southern most race and can be a bit smaller. ?I couldn't find much about actual measurements in my Gulls of the Americas though? My two cents,Tim RCoos Bay? --- On Fri, 11/20/09, Greg Gillson wrote: From: Greg Gillson Subject: [obol] Runt gull To: "OBOL" Date: Friday, November 20, 2009, 1:35 PM http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/119556225 Darrel Faxon sent me a photo of an apparent Western Gull (molting into 3rd year plumage?). He suggested it was shockingly small (see his comments below). Googling "runt gulls" finds many hits from birders discussing apparent small gulls, but not many scientific papers, other than "runt eggs." Kaufman mentioned runt Greater Black-backed Gulls in his Advanced Birding book. Steven Mlodinow wrote a BirdFellow piece on runt birds in July. http://birdfellow.com/journal/2009/07/04/the_midget_frigate_confusion_in_the_baja_sun Measurements listed in Gabrielson and Jewett for Glaucous-winged and Western Gull lengths were about 24-28 inches, while California Gulls were listed as 20-23 inches in length. Greg ----- Original Message ----- From: "Darrel Faxon" <5hats at peak.org> To: "Greg Gillson" Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 11:15 AM Subject: gull photos Greg, ? ? Would you mind posting these photos to OBOL?? When I first saw this bird yesterday at D River in Lincoln City it gave me a start because it was as small as the smallest California Gulls present.? I see no reason not to label it a Western Gull in second winter plumage, but it was incredibly small for that species.? Judging from the amount of brown in the wing coverts, I would assume it is behind most birds of similar age in sequence of molt, and surmise it may have been bird which hatched late in the season and is behind in development of both size and plumage.? That is only a hypothesis on my part, but I cannot think of any other reason for it to be so small.? Anyway, if you don't mind posting the photos, I would appreciate it.? Perhaps they will foster some interesting discussion. Darrel _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091120/0293f12d/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Fri Nov 20 16:25:45 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:25:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Commecial shabbyness!?!?! Message-ID: <4B073389.2080402@verizon.net> Commercial shabbyness?!?!?!! How dare you! I can't believe it. Coos Bay is by far the best, coolest, most awesome place in Oregon. Coos County has nothing but the finest. Give me a break. I'm speechless. Ok, I admit, I just got back from New Jersey, and you want to talk about commercial shabbyness???? Yeah, yeah, I'm a little biased. I live here. Heck, I've chosen to stay here. Every silver lining has a touch of grey! Cheers Dave Lauten PS - you take me seriously, well, you do so at your own risk....... ;-) From celata at pacifier.com Fri Nov 20 16:36:15 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:36:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Runt gull Message-ID: <4B0735FF.6020905@pacifier.com> From the photo, this doesn't look remarkably small, but photos, especially those taken through any kind of telephoto can be deceptive.... According to Pyle (vol II): L.o.occidentalis female wing chord 378-409 male wing chord 399-438 L.o. wymani female wing chord 368-407 male wing chord 398-434 Not really much difference. Re: Runt gull From: Tim Rodenkirk Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:38:58 -0800 (PST) Hi Greg, I remember seeing a runt Western type gull in Charleston about a year ago. ?I even called up Russ Namitz. ?I think we determined it was a wymani Western, they are the southern most race and can be a bit smaller. ?I couldn't find much about actual measurements in my Gulls of the Americas though? My two cents,Tim RCoos Bay? -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Why a duck? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12750/ From 5hats at peak.org Fri Nov 20 17:16:44 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:16:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Runt gull References: <4B0735FF.6020905@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <917F5F6004E340EBAA0DD4658D074C43@your5rlp3a9516> Mike, You are right. There was more size discrepancy between those two gulls than is apparent in the photo. Just seconds before I snapped it, the bird was standing right next to a small California Gull, and there was no difference in size between the two. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Patterson" To: "OBOL" Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 4:36 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Runt gull > From the photo, this doesn't look remarkably small, but photos, > especially those taken through any kind of telephoto can be > deceptive.... > > According to Pyle (vol II): > > L.o.occidentalis > female wing chord 378-409 > male wing chord 399-438 > L.o. wymani > female wing chord 368-407 > male wing chord 398-434 > > Not really much difference. > > Re: Runt gull > From: Tim Rodenkirk > Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:38:58 -0800 (PST) > > Hi Greg, > I remember seeing a runt Western type gull in Charleston about a year > ago. ?I > even called up Russ Namitz. ?I think we determined it was a wymani > Western, > they are the southern most race and can be a bit smaller. ?I couldn't > find much > about actual measurements in my Gulls of the Americas though? > > My two cents,Tim RCoos Bay? > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Why a duck? > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12750/ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri Nov 20 18:28:36 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:28:36 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Runt gull In-Reply-To: <4B0735FF.6020905@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <538059.45719.qm@web45307.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> The runt Western that Russ Namitz and I saw was the size of a CA Gull, definitely way small as I remember. ?I think Russ took video? ?The bird looked exactly like a Western, just a miniature. Tim RCoos Bay --- On Fri, 11/20/09, Mike Patterson wrote: From: Mike Patterson Subject: Re: [obol] Runt gull To: "OBOL" Date: Friday, November 20, 2009, 4:36 PM From the photo, this doesn't look remarkably small, but photos, especially those taken through any kind of telephoto can be deceptive.... According to Pyle (vol II): L.o.occidentalis ???female wing chord???378-409 ???male wing chord? ???399-438 L.o. wymani ???female wing chord???368-407 ???male wing chord? ???398-434 Not really much difference. Re: Runt gull From: Tim Rodenkirk Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:38:58 -0800 (PST) Hi Greg, I remember seeing a runt Western type gull in Charleston about a year ago. ?I even called up Russ Namitz. ?I think we determined it was a wymani Western, they are the southern most race and can be a bit smaller. ?I couldn't find much about actual measurements in my Gulls of the Americas though? My two cents,Tim RCoos Bay? -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Why a duck? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12750/ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091120/52c9a6a9/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Nov 20 18:28:42 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:28:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! Message-ID: <1258770522.2443.89.camel@clearwater1> Two words: Compare Tigard. From ninerharv2 at msn.com Fri Nov 20 18:33:57 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:33:57 +0000 Subject: [obol] Commecial shabbyness!?!?! Message-ID: Sorry, Dave! For a minute I thought he was talking about Coos Bay. I admit to living in Coos County as well but in Bandon not in Coos Bay. When I retired from the valley to live on the coast, somehow Coos Bay did not show up on the radar screen. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: DJ Lauten and KACastelein Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:25:45 To: Subject: [obol] Commecial shabbyness!?!?! Commercial shabbyness?!?!?!!? How dare you!? I can't believe it.? Coos Bay is by far the best, coolest, most awesome place in Oregon.? Coos County has nothing but the finest.? Give me a break.? I'm speechless. Ok, I admit, I just got back from New Jersey, and you want to talk about commercial shabbyness???? Yeah, yeah, I'm a little biased.? I live here. Heck, I've chosen to stay here. Every silver lining has a touch of grey! Cheers Dave Lauten PS - you take me seriously, well, you do so at your own risk....... ;-) _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Nov 20 19:49:10 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:49:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] New birding job with Jackson Bottom, Hillsboro Message-ID: <6C6D081F898B4CA6A16EA18744D621B1@GREG> Friends, As many of you may know, I was laid off from my high-tech, high-stress job at Tektronix in Beaverton in August. I have just begun an exciting part time job with the City of Hillsboro's Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve http://www.jacksonbottom.org/. My duties will include public interaction with nature viewers and bird watchers on the 725 acre Preserve, teaching bird classes at the Nature Center, and leading field trips in the Tualatin Valley. The list of bird project ideas seems endless, but I'll be choosing what will be first here in the next few weeks. (A class on ducks seems obvious! I'm already overhauling the bird checklist.) One thing I will initiate immediately is a free bird walk in the mornings during the week. Close-by locales where we could meet include Fernhill Wetlands in Forest Grove, and Jackson Bottom, Rood Bridge Park, and Dawson Creek Park in Hillsboro. These walks would be informal, for an hour or two, perhaps starting about 9 am, or so. If interested in joining me, please send email so we don't have too large of a group size. If you happen to see a good bird at Jackson Bottom write it on the sighting white board outside and come in to the Nature Center and let the staff know--and look me up to see if I'm there to spend some time showing you the best birding spots and talk about ideas for classes, field trips, and projects. A large mitigation project is starting and I hope to have opportunities to influence design of trails and viewing blinds (so you are not looking into the sun at dawn?). Anyway that's the news. Greg Gillson From gismiller at gmail.com Fri Nov 20 19:56:30 2009 From: gismiller at gmail.com (Craig Miller) Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:56:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Lesser Black-backed Gull Sherman Co. Message-ID: <4B0764EE.8020608@gmail.com> Hi all, I just got an e-mail report from Stuart Johnson that he found a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at the John Day Dam. His description looks good for this species. See his e-mail report below: From: Stuart Johnson -- johnstonstuartf at hotmail.com Cathy Flick and I found an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull in with a big raft of gulls (rough est. 100 +, a mix of Ring-billed and California, mainly) on the water above John Day Dam in Sherman Co., OR, at 13:00 this afternoon and we studied it in Cathy's fantastic-optics Swarovski scope (bright images on a cloudy, grey day with a fine sparse spitting of rain drops) through 13:50. It was still with the raft when we left. We saw all the pertinent field marks... very dark, slaty mantle, at least 2x darker than adjacent Californias; yellow legs and feet (seen when it took flight; heels also visible when it was swimming with it's tail towards us); white spots at tips of black primaries; clean white underparts and tail, but with 'dirty' small streaks on head and dark grey / slaty smudge close around eyes, above and at rear, blending into the little dense streaks on the rest of the face. Bill yellow-gold with a red spot on gonys (near tip on lower mandible), but there was no black with the red; bill seemed short for size of gull and it was not massive, but wider, more substantial than adjacent Calif. Gull bills. Overall size was a little larger than Calif. Gull and we noticed that it didn't dwarf Ring-billed Gulls, like a large gull species might. You could see that it's body bulk was heavier than Calif. and Ring-billed, but the length of the gull was not that much greater than those two species. And finally, we did see very clearly the pale creamy eye with black pupil. The Less. Blk-back was with a subadult Ring-billed when we first saw it out nearer the middle of the river (but not deemed to be in Klickitat Co.); slowly they swam in toward our position on a diagonal course and we watched it dozing, preening, bathing, in flight, everything but perched. I was up at John Day Dam on 12 Nov., scoping from the WA side, and noticed the very large raft of gulls over on the Oregon side...so we decided to check out the Oregon side today when we went afield. The Lesser Black-backed could have been present with that big flock of gulls for some time now! Have been keeping an eye out for this species, but wondered if maybe I had been overlooking it, never having seen one before. Thought the dark grey mantle might be very similar to Calif. Gull. Wow, it definitely is not. When the gull flew upriver a short ways to drop down into the big raft of gulls, we easily picked it out just by scanning with binoculars. If any of you have an opportunity to look for it and succeed in seeing it, would you please let me know; I'd like to include your data in the fall season phenology that I compile for the Columbia River Gorge. All the best.............Stuart Johnston From 5hats at peak.org Fri Nov 20 21:54:48 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:54:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! References: <1258770522.2443.89.camel@clearwater1> Message-ID: Woodburn ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joel Geier" To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 6:28 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! > Two words: > > Compare Tigard. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From tsnetsinger at centurytel.net Sat Nov 21 07:25:52 2009 From: tsnetsinger at centurytel.net (Thomas Snetsinger) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:25:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] New birding job with Jackson Bottom, Hillsboro Message-ID: <72F9302DB5F9476CBAE7097DAAD35810@ivorybilled> Greg, Congratulations on the position! It sounds like a perfect fit, and a great opportunity for local and visiting birders to learn more about the birds of their area. Tom Snetsinger -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091121/9d475b3f/attachment.html From dhogaza at pacifier.com Sat Nov 21 07:45:38 2009 From: dhogaza at pacifier.com (Don Baccus) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:45:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! In-Reply-To: References: <1258770522.2443.89.camel@clearwater1> Message-ID: On Nov 20, 2009, at 9:54 PM, Darrel Faxon wrote: > Woodburn SE Foster from 50th to 72nd. ---- Don Baccus http://donb.photo.net http://birdnotes.net http://openacs.org From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Nov 21 08:55:43 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:55:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! In-Reply-To: References: <1258770522.2443.89.camel@clearwater1> Message-ID: <1258822543.24810.31.camel@clearwater1> OK, this seems to be turning into a good example of how a two-word comment can turn into an indefinite thread. Just to make it a little more interesting for a birding list, let me challenge anyone who wants to add their favorite patch of urban blight to the list, also please name the best bird that's ever been found there. For example: Woodburn: Vermilion Flycatcher Coos Bay: Brown Booby just the latest in a long list I can't come up with one for Tigard or SE Foster (Portland), though I did once see a Glaucous Gull in one of Portland's other miserable-looking neighborhoods. Happy birding, Joel From jbw at oregoncoast.com Sat Nov 21 09:33:49 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara and John Woodhouse) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:33:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tillamook East Raptor run Message-ID: We managed to get the run in between storms! Complete overcast with showers. Time 4hrs 45 mins Miles 63 13 Redtailed Hawkes 15 American Kestrels 1 N. Harrier 1 Barn Owl Highlights 17 Great Egrets on Geinger Rd many Bluebirds on Ekloff rd Barbara & John Woodhouse Tillamook From andydfrank at gmail.com Sat Nov 21 09:35:01 2009 From: andydfrank at gmail.com (Andy Frank) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:35:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland Tundra Swans Message-ID: <2ec131a10911210935h629d7934vdf9400a5eb8ae494@mail.gmail.com> This morning on my run while at Pittock Mansion, 8 TUNDRA SWANS flew by. Just beautiful! Andy Frank -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091121/d6869b99/attachment.html From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Sat Nov 21 09:45:32 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:45:32 -0700 Subject: [obol] Jordan Valley raptor run Message-ID: <6C48126311D542EE8CC504DBF3ABD00C@larryPC> We did our first of the season run on 18 &19 Nov. Weather both days was warm with P/C skies, calm to light winds, temps were mid 50's. That makes for lovely days out here. We did the Arock portion on 18th and the rest on the 19th. RTHA-14 AMKE-4 NOHA-3 BAEA-1 GOEA-6 FALC- 2 Prairie Falcons Others seen on the route were- Ring necked Pheasants,scattered in many hay fields,-Black-billed Magpies,Arock and JV hay fields-Ravens all over the area- ducks, Mallard,Widgeon,Gadwall on several ponds-Blackbirds near all cattle herds- Ca. Quail- Northern Flicker. Mule deer were out in several hay fields. While in JV on 20 Nov almost ran over 3 Eurasian Collared Doves foraging in a side street. There were also the regulars Oregon Juncos, Chipping Sparrows, Horned Larks and Starlings. Karen in true SE Or. south of Burns Jct. in Malheur Co. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091121/fcdf77ab/attachment.html From ed.mcvicker at comcast.net Sat Nov 21 09:58:48 2009 From: ed.mcvicker at comcast.net (Ed McVicker) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:58:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Commercial speiciesness (was shabbiness) In-Reply-To: <1258822543.24810.31.camel@clearwater1> References: <1258770522.2443.89.camel@clearwater1> <1258822543.24810.31.camel@clearwater1> Message-ID: <4B082A58.30207@comcast.net> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091121/8163c21d/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sat Nov 21 10:40:22 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:40:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! In-Reply-To: <1258822543.24810.31.camel@clearwater1> References: <1258770522.2443.89.camel@clearwater1>, , , <1258822543.24810.31.camel@clearwater1> Message-ID: here is my two cents worth, Downtown Portland, Peregrine Falcon, near Lloyd Center. Rich Adney http://avianpics.blogspot.com/ http://adneyvisualarts.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/ > From: joel.geier at peak.org > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:55:43 -0800 > Subject: Re: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! > > OK, this seems to be turning into a good example of how a two-word > comment can turn into an indefinite thread. > > Just to make it a little more interesting for a birding list, let me > challenge anyone who wants to add their favorite patch of urban blight > to the list, also please name the best bird that's ever been found > there. > > For example: > Woodburn: Vermilion Flycatcher > Coos Bay: Brown Booby just the latest in a long list > > I can't come up with one for Tigard or SE Foster (Portland), though I > did once see a Glaucous Gull in one of Portland's other > miserable-looking neighborhoods. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091121/7f0b2967/attachment.html From markhamm at charterinternet.com Sat Nov 21 11:34:21 2009 From: markhamm at charterinternet.com (Mark Hamm) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:34:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] merlin 3 times in 4 days, Roseburg Message-ID: <157E6757-C92D-4FB9-BCFA-0334C578EFED@charterinternet.com> I saw a MERLIN 3 times in 4 days. It was on top of the tree over the 'visitors center' sign at the downtown side of the Washington street bridge. Also saw an imm. BALD EAGLE at the douglas county dump. Mark Hamm Roseburg From tc at empnet.com Sat Nov 21 11:42:55 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:42:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! References: <1258770522.2443.89.camel@clearwater1>, , , <1258822543.24810.31.camel@clearwater1> Message-ID: <58F6875DB7DD499FB46D64060B1C1DC5@1120639> Peregrine is a nice bird, but the all-time DOWNTOWN (not lower east side) Portland bird has to be Rustic Bunting. Tom Crabtree, Bend ----- Original Message ----- From: R. Adney Jr. To: OBOL Sent: Saturday, November 21, 2009 10:40 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! here is my two cents worth, Downtown Portland, Peregrine Falcon, near Lloyd Center. Rich Adney http://avianpics.blogspot.com/ http://adneyvisualarts.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/ > From: joel.geier at peak.org > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:55:43 -0800 > Subject: Re: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! > > OK, this seems to be turning into a good example of how a two-word > comment can turn into an indefinite thread. > > Just to make it a little more interesting for a birding list, let me > challenge anyone who wants to add their favorite patch of urban blight > to the list, also please name the best bird that's ever been found > there. > > For example: > Woodburn: Vermilion Flycatcher > Coos Bay: Brown Booby just the latest in a long list > > I can't come up with one for Tigard or SE Foster (Portland), though I > did once see a Glaucous Gull in one of Portland's other > miserable-looking neighborhoods. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091121/047269fd/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sat Nov 21 12:33:54 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:33:54 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds- No Booby 11/21/2009 Message-ID: <588470.13077.qm@web45313.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I couldn't refind the booby either late yesterday afternoon or this morning in its usual haunts. I imagine it could still be around but there is a lot of bay and many navigational aides, pilings, and cormorants! ?We have had some substantial rain and wind since I saw it on Tuesday, with more forecasted. Here are some other birds of late: 11/20Downtown Coos Bay, across from Motel 6- 3 overwintering WILLET.Millicoma Marsh, at the seed on the SIDE trail (the seed on the main trail has been pretty slow)- 13 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS. 11/21- Empire area:1- SNOWY EGRET2- PIGEON GUILLEMOTS3- MARBLED GODWITS5- BRANT2- OSPREYmany scoters, loons and grebes of course. ?BROWN PELICAN numbers were way down from earlier in the week, I only saw a couple dozen compared to about 1,000 on Tuesday. If I see or hear any news on the booby I will report it on OBOL. ENJOY!Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091121/36499b27/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sat Nov 21 13:20:24 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:20:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! References: <1258770522.2443.89.camel@clearwater1>, , , <1258822543.24810.31.camel@clearwater1> Message-ID: <9D716FEBBE0F400D9816176B04CE33CE@D48XBZ51> For downtown Portland wouldn't Slaty-backed Gull trump Peregrine? Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: R. Adney Jr. To: OBOL Sent: Saturday, November 21, 2009 10:40 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! here is my two cents worth, Downtown Portland, Peregrine Falcon, near Lloyd Center. Rich Adney http://avianpics.blogspot.com/ http://adneyvisualarts.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/ > From: joel.geier at peak.org > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:55:43 -0800 > Subject: Re: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! > > OK, this seems to be turning into a good example of how a two-word > comment can turn into an indefinite thread. > > Just to make it a little more interesting for a birding list, let me > challenge anyone who wants to add their favorite patch of urban blight > to the list, also please name the best bird that's ever been found > there. > > For example: > Woodburn: Vermilion Flycatcher > Coos Bay: Brown Booby just the latest in a long list > > I can't come up with one for Tigard or SE Foster (Portland), though I > did once see a Glaucous Gull in one of Portland's other > miserable-looking neighborhoods. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091121/1b42d601/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Sat Nov 21 13:28:55 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:28:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Turkey Vulture Message-ID: OBOLites, I was surprised this morning to see a Turkey Vulture walking around in our pasture at Thornton Creek ( Lincoln). I rarely see the species after the end of September, and had no previous November records. However, upon approaching the bird I realized it has a broken wing. How and why it ended up here on this date is a mystery. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091121/b0ae6ff3/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sat Nov 21 13:32:51 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:32:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tropical Kingbird continues Message-ID: <4B085C83.7070503@pacifier.com> Much to my surprise, I saw a TROPICAL KINGBIRD this morning at the horse barns at Wireless Rd. I thought the recent spat of ill weather might have moved them along, but no. There is also a very good looking adult NORTHERN SHRIKE on Wireless. BONAPARTE'S GULL there yesterday amid the MEW and RING-BILLED GULLS. There was a single BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, 5-6 RED PHALAROPES, a dozen or so LEAST SANDPIPERS and a big flock of DUNLIN at the South Jetty yesterday. More impressive at SJCR were the 1000+ BROWN PELICANS which have suddenly re-appeared after about two-weeks where they were kind of a challenge to find. Did they go south for awhile and come back north? Did they go out to sea and come back near-shore? I don't know. I just count 'em. I don't read their minds. Most were engaged in typical foraging behaviors rather than directed flight to or away from somewhere. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Why a duck? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12750/ From youngwarriors at hotmail.com Sat Nov 21 13:49:03 2009 From: youngwarriors at hotmail.com (Keith Owen) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:49:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! In-Reply-To: <9D716FEBBE0F400D9816176B04CE33CE@D48XBZ51> References: <1258770522.2443.89.camel@clearwater1>, , , , , , <1258822543.24810.31.camel@clearwater1>, , <9D716FEBBE0F400D9816176B04CE33CE@D48XBZ51> Message-ID: In a trashed part of Mill Creek in Walla Walla - Yellow-crowned Night-heron From: whoffman at peak.org To: rfadney at hotmail.com; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:20:24 -0800 Subject: Re: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! For downtown Portland wouldn't Slaty-backed Gull trump Peregrine? Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: R. Adney Jr. To: OBOL Sent: Saturday, November 21, 2009 10:40 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! here is my two cents worth, Downtown Portland, Peregrine Falcon, near Lloyd Center. Rich Adney http://avianpics.blogspot.com/ http://adneyvisualarts.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/ > From: joel.geier at peak.org > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:55:43 -0800 > Subject: Re: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! > > OK, this seems to be turning into a good example of how a two-word > comment can turn into an indefinite thread. > > Just to make it a little more interesting for a birding list, let me > challenge anyone who wants to add their favorite patch of urban blight > to the list, also please name the best bird that's ever been found > there. > > For example: > Woodburn: Vermilion Flycatcher > Coos Bay: Brown Booby just the latest in a long list > > I can't come up with one for Tigard or SE Foster (Portland), though I > did once see a Glaucous Gull in one of Portland's other > miserable-looking neighborhoods. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091121/88b32b67/attachment.html From ed.mcvicker at comcast.net Sat Nov 21 13:57:06 2009 From: ed.mcvicker at comcast.net (Ed McVicker) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:57:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] commercial speciesness (was shabbiness) Message-ID: <4B086232.8070008@comcast.net> sorry for blank message earlier. i'll try again. SE Foster Rd. EASTERN BLUEJAY Tigard (with apologies to Tom Love's Durham pride) HOODED WARBLER (briefly seen by Tom) ed mcvicker portland From lesliemeserve at comcast.net Sat Nov 21 14:44:28 2009 From: lesliemeserve at comcast.net (Leslie Meserve) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:44:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Townsend's Warbler, Washington County Message-ID: <005301ca6afc$2f868b90$8e93a2b0$@net> Hello, Just had a bright male Townsend's Warbler at suet feeder - 1st Townsend's I've seen this season. Leslie Leslie Meserve Washington County Oregon From tlove at linfield.edu Sat Nov 21 15:47:19 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:47:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Commercial shabbiness (Tigard) Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F121BD3084D@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> Tigard (downtown) - Common Redpoll, Northern Mockingbird, Merlin, (Mandarin Duck). Tom Love -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091121/3dcf01a5/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Nov 21 15:47:23 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:47:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Blackback Gull Message-ID: <677F222A-EC1D-4806-8631-1328567FAA2F@earthlink.net> A flock of perhaps 500 gulls spread a mile west to east was in the middle of John Day pool at 11am. They might have been 2 miles from the Oregon shore, and equally far or worse from any exits. The west bound shoulder was too scary to park on for even 10 seconds. Some doughty dingbat was scoping from the eastbound lane, but I didn't have time to make a second loop. Certainly no opportunity to see the whites of its eyes. More if I recover from the latest bout of highway madness. Lars From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sat Nov 21 16:23:27 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:23:27 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Townsend's Warbler Message-ID: <43509.69693.qm@web46001.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> We completely forgot to mention the Townsend's Warbler in our yard on Nov. 9th. That is quite a bit earlier than in the last few years. Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com From tlove at linfield.edu Sat Nov 21 16:30:30 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:30:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tigard/Durham; owl question Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F121BD3085C@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> Thanks, Ed, re Hooded Warbler. But shabbiness or no, it must be said that Durham was created precisely to not be swallowed up by big bad Tigard (or Tualatin) - though incorporated, really an overgrown neighborhood association. We have a Tigard mailing address but Tualatin police, it's all contracted out. BTW, I've been meaning to post about what I thought was a Barred Owl in the neighborhood about a week ago...except that a few nights later a GREAT HORNED OWL called from the same large patch of doug firs/broadleaf maples (GHO regular in the neighborhood, in that patch). Earlier there'd been strange throaty squealing sounds (that doesn't describe it well, and memory fades) that were clearly produced by an owl, but I didn't think GHO could produce such. Tom L -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091121/64459be7/attachment.html From hewatts at ucdavis.edu Mon Nov 16 14:56:52 2009 From: hewatts at ucdavis.edu (Heather Watts) Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:56:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Looking for pine siskins Message-ID: <4B01D8B4.5060201@ucdavis.edu> I'm a biologist at University of California, Davis studying pine siskins. I'm trying to find locations in OR that currently have large numbers of pine siskins. Any feedback on where pine siskins have been sighted recently would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Heather Watts hewatts AT ucdavis.edu Davis, CA From jars at aceweb.com Sun Nov 15 12:14:26 2009 From: jars at aceweb.com (Janice Reid) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:14:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lewis Woodpecker-Roseburg, Oregon Message-ID: <5D95C514F51D4BD4A82DA913479FC1B6@BlancPC> 11/15/2009- North Bank Rd, Roseburg, Oregon. Lewis Woodpecker seen at 11:30 am on the BLM's North Bank Ranch. Got to the west entrance of the N Bank Ranch, 5 miles east of Wilbur, Oregon. Park and walk north along the gravel road about 0.5 km to the port-a-potty and picnic table. Lewis Woodpeckers seen on 2 different occasions. Janice Reid -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091115/115af6a8/attachment.html From kspinks at thprd.org Sun Nov 15 08:32:27 2009 From: kspinks at thprd.org (Kyle Spinks) Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:32:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Barred Owl In SW Portland In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4AFFBC9A.9BD6.0045.1@thprd.org> Hi all, An adult barred owl showed up at the end of the SOLV event at Moonshadow Park on October 10th. Moonshadow is a within a couple miles of Multnomah Village, where Floyd Schrock's owl was noted, so it may be the same owl just hanging out in the neighborhood. It sat on a tree branch about 15 feet up and about 20 feet away, while we talked quietly and one of the volunteers took some great photos. Nice surprise for the end of the day. Kyle Spinks Park Ranger Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District Natural Resources Department 5500 SW Arctic Drive, Suite 2 Beaverton, Oregon 97005 503-629-6305 x2952 >>> 11/12/2009 12:00 PM >>> Send obol mailing list submissions to obol at oregonbirdwatch.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org You can reach the person managing the list at obol-owner at oregonbirdwatch.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of obol digest..." -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sat Nov 21 16:42:58 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:42:58 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Booby Back, more Coos birds 11/21/09 Message-ID: <488723.45280.qm@web45313.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I drove out to the south end of the north spit in the PM. ?The BROWN BOOBY was on its usual perch from 1430-1530, the tallest metal navigational tower off of the Pigeon Point area. Not sure where it was this morning but it may have been in the upper bay somewhere. ?Also seen on my drive out were two NORTHERN SHRIKES, an adult and a HY bird. ?I stopped for a quick ocean scope on the drive out also and saw at least 4 dark shearwaters, one was just offshore past the breakers and looked good for a SHORT-TAILED. Still not in yet were either Long-tailed Duck or Common Goldeneye.? ENJOY!Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091121/514e807a/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sat Nov 21 17:59:06 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:59:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! In-Reply-To: <9D716FEBBE0F400D9816176B04CE33CE@D48XBZ51> References: <1258770522.2443.89.camel@clearwater1>, , , <1258822543.24810.31.camel@clearwater1> , <9D716FEBBE0F400D9816176B04CE33CE@D48XBZ51> Message-ID: I think it's all in what you like to watch, I like to watch raptors! As such, I don't know if the Gull would trump the Falcon, but the Falcon sure would eat the Gull! Rich Adney http://avianpics.blogspot.com/ http://adneyvisualarts.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/ From: whoffman at peak.org To: rfadney at hotmail.com; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:20:24 -0800 For downtown Portland wouldn't Slaty-backed Gull trump Peregrine? Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: R. Adney Jr. To: OBOL Sent: Saturday, November 21, 2009 10:40 AM Subject: Re: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! here is my two cents worth, Downtown Portland, Peregrine Falcon, near Lloyd Center. Rich Adney http://avianpics.blogspot.com/ http://adneyvisualarts.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/ > From: joel.geier at peak.org > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:55:43 -0800 > Subject: Re: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! > > OK, this seems to be turning into a good example of how a two-word > comment can turn into an indefinite thread. > > Just to make it a little more interesting for a birding list, let me > challenge anyone who wants to add their favorite patch of urban blight > to the list, also please name the best bird that's ever been found > there. > > For example: > Woodburn: Vermilion Flycatcher > Coos Bay: Brown Booby just the latest in a long list > > I can't come up with one for Tigard or SE Foster (Portland), though I > did once see a Glaucous Gull in one of Portland's other > miserable-looking neighborhoods. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091121/d2e406bf/attachment.html From jeffandlaurettayoung at comcast.net Sat Nov 21 18:14:19 2009 From: jeffandlaurettayoung at comcast.net (Young) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:14:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Northern Shrike, Fernhill Wetlands, Washington County Message-ID: Hello birders, We birded Fernhill this afternoon and were fortunate to see a Northern Shrike which was the highlight of our trip. He/she was flying back and forth between the posts on the northern boundary of the cultivated field to the northeast of the largest pond and a few trees to the southeast along the road separating this largest cultivated field from the smaller field just to the east. The coordinates of the posts are at: 45 degrees 30' 38.40" N, 123 degrees 04' 44.74 W And the trees are at : 45degrees 30' 34.20"N, 123degrees 04' 41.00W We hope this location description works for folks. Best wishes, Lauretta and Jeff Young -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091121/070a0481/attachment.html From fitzbeew at gmail.com Sat Nov 21 18:39:17 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:39:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Finley, Newport birds (Trop. Kingbird NO) Message-ID: Obol, Jessie Leach, John Orsborn, and I spent day celebrating the end of midterm season by birding Finley NWR, and then on a whim drove over to Newport in hopes of seeing the Tropical Kingbirds. We dipped on the Kingbird (an Oregon nemesis for me), but we had a wonderful time and 59 species overall. Highlights included: (Finley): 2 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 male Hairy Woodpecker 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 female Hooded Merg. (Newport): 1 nice Red or Red-necked Phalarope off the waterfront in old town Newport. John took photos; if possible, I'll post them and ask for identification help. beautiful male Hooded Merg ~5+ Ruddy Ducks 5 Horned Grebes plus a few Westerns 1 Red-shouldered Hawk at Old Town Newport 2 Mew Gulls, also at Old Town Newport 1 beatiful, buoyant BONAPARTE'S GULL dipping into the water and pattering its feet like a storm-petrel. This was a real treat to watch it feeding actively, as it was so graceful and delicate. Overall, a great birding day, even though we did dip on the Tropical Ks. Good birding, Holly Reinhard -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091121/65bff754/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Sat Nov 21 18:54:56 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:54:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] sunday seawatch forecast Message-ID: TONIGHT...S WIND 35 TO 40 KT...VEERING TO W AFTER MIDNIGHT. GUSTS UP TO 55 KNOTS AROUND MIDNIGHT. COMBINED SEAS 15 FT BUILDING TO 23 FT BY MIDNIGHT. RAIN IN THE EVENING...THEN SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT. SUN...W WIND 25 TO 30 KT WITH GUSTS TO 40 KT... EASING TO 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. COMBINED SEAS 15 FT DOMINANT PERIOD 10 SECONDS. SHOWERS LIKELY IN THE MORNING...THEN CHANCE OF SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. Drooling in Lincoln City From heinjv at charter.net Sat Nov 21 19:00:56 2009 From: heinjv at charter.net (Jim & Vikki Hein) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:00:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lewis Woodpecker-Roseburg, Oregon In-Reply-To: <5D95C514F51D4BD4A82DA913479FC1B6@BlancPC> References: <5D95C514F51D4BD4A82DA913479FC1B6@BlancPC> Message-ID: Obol, Keith and Carmalyn Phifer and I took a walk this afternoon also in the North Bank Wildlife area east of Roseburg. We saw 7 LEWIS WOODPECKERS before we got to the parking area and approximately 20 on our 1 1/2 hour walk. It seemed that there was always at least one in view and often 4-5. I have not seen as many in one area. Jim Hein -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091121/fcf18968/attachment.html From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Sat Nov 21 19:05:46 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:05:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Help finding pine siskins please In-Reply-To: <4B05AFC4.6050704@ucdavis.edu> References: <4B05AFC4.6050704@ucdavis.edu> Message-ID: <000101ca6b20$b2e55560$18b00020$@NET> Heather's earlier post reminded me that I haven't seen any Pine Siskins this fall where we had over 50 at a time in Pacific City in early November last year. This year we have had over a hundred American Goldfinches at a time but no siskins yet. The only reports I recall are Wink's and it seems he is seeing increasing numbers. I realize they are irruptive but I wonder if anyone else is seeing them in Oregon, have they shown up on the coast? Tom Shreve -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Heather Watts Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 12:51 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Help finding pine siskins please I'm a biologist at University of California, Davis studying pine siskins. I'm trying to find locations in OR that currently have large numbers of pine siskins. Any feedback on where pine siskins have been sighted recently would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Heather Watts hewatts AT ucdavis.edu Davis, CA -- Heather E. Watts, PhD Postdoctoral Fellow Department of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior University of California - Davis Davis, CA 95616 _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Nov 21 19:24:20 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:24:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sisikins Message-ID: <63262165-FD98-48F6-8995-0872376775B7@earthlink.net> I was without a computer for over a month, and too lazy for notes on paper. Last year I recorded a lone Siskin about Sept 12, all but simultaneous with Brandon Green seeing one in Eugene. I then saw individual birds at about ten day intervals. Absolutely none were here, two miles into the Coast Range on the West Fork of Dairy Creek, until maybe two weeks ago. Then I saw large flocks every few days. I mean forty or fifty birds, on one occasion 100. This is well above the score that typically compose a flock around here. On each occasion they landed in a tree long enough to catch my attention then took off. At some point in early October a Crossbill family visited the yard. It gave the impression of being newly fledged young and two adults. They came down much lower in the trees than on any previous visit since I have lived here (close to 16 years). There was plenty of singing by Crossbills here in late July and throughout August. Lars Norgren Manning From tjanzen at comcast.net Sat Nov 21 19:50:43 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:50:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull update In-Reply-To: <677F222A-EC1D-4806-8631-1328567FAA2F@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <20091122035047.1D117A8136@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear All, I relocated the Lesser Blackback Gull about 1/2 mile east of the John Day Dam about 11:15 am this morning. I found it on the west end of the large gull flock that is present in the area. Paul Sullivan and Carol Karlen arrived just as I was looking at it in the scope. Paul got to look at it briefly, but it flew to unknown parts before Carol got on the bird. Paul, Carol and I then birded the area and we were able to relocate the bird about 1:30 pm about 1 mile east of the dam. The bird was probably in Washington waters for this viewing. We went to get some bread in an attempt to bring the gulls closer to the Oregon side, but we couldn't relocate the bird when we returned. Finally, about 4:15 pm Paul spotted the bird relatively close to the Oregon shore (probably about 400 yards from shore) about 1/4 mile east of the dam. We watched it for about 15 minutes until it started to get dark. Paul, Carol, and I were the only birders in the area that we knew of today, other than apparently Lars Norgren who apparently also drove by and noticed me birding (safely) at a pull off on the south side of the freeway. Thus I was apparently the "doughty dingbat" that Lars referred to below. I don't have anything major to add to Stuart Johnston's excellent description of the bird. The bird was clearly a very dark mantled gull. We never saw the bird in flight and so we never saw the legs of the bird. However, the bird did raise its wings while were looking at it several times and we could see the white mirror in p10. The bird didn't have white mirrors in p6, p7 and p8 (the string of pearls sign) as one would expect for a Slaty-backed Gull. Size wise, the bird seemed to be about the same size as the nearby California Gulls that were also in the vicinity. The bird had some dark streaking on the back of the head and some around the eye as well. Sincerely, Tim Janzen Portland -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Norgren Family Sent: Saturday, November 21, 2009 3:47 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Lesser Blackback Gull A flock of perhaps 500 gulls spread a mile west to east was in the middle of John Day pool at 11am. They might have been 2 miles from the Oregon shore, and equally far or worse from any exits. The west bound shoulder was too scary to park on for even 10 seconds. Some doughty dingbat was scoping from the eastbound lane, but I didn't have time to make a second loop. Certainly no opportunity to see the whites of its eyes. More if I recover from the latest bout of highway madness. Lars From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Sat Nov 21 20:46:46 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:46:46 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Kestrel, Coops, Prairie, Redtail, N. Harrier Message-ID: <611142.58754.qm@web39702.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello, About 7:30AM my wife pointed out a male kestrel sitting on our trash barrel, enjoying a freshly caught house sparrow. About an hour later, an imm. female coopers hawk caught one of my younger pigeons, landing with it in an open area of our lawn. It had not yet started plucking the pigeon, when in stooped an adult male prairie falcon. This caused the coops to drop the pigeon and fly into a tree about 20 ft. away. The falcon repeatedly stooped the pigeon, knocking sometimes about 6 ft. It did this about 6 or 7 times, and I'm rather sure the pigeon was dead. It then perched on a fence post, watching the pigeon and glaring at the coops. After about 5 min. the falcon flew and landed about 6 ft. from the pigeon, and walked over to it and began to feed. The falcon had eaten about half of the pigeon, and the coops could not contain itself any longer, launching an attack, causing the prairie to instantly flush (carrying the pigeon). The falcon was no match for the furious acceleration of this accipiter, and I watched it easily rob the prairie that had recently robbed it! The prairie, now with a good crop of food, flew to a post about 100 ft. away watching the coops nearly "finish up" the pigeon before carrying most of the remaining booty into a tree. At this point, the prairie flew down to where the coops had just been, picking up a pigeon leg, and returning to the post from where he started. Now a second prairie falcon (adult female) came in, and both flew around low while chittering. The male falcon flew away, but the female stayed for a few minutes, spotting that pigeon leg the male had dropped when she arrived. She ate the leg, then flew to the north. About an hour after "all this" a dark adult redtail flew over, and about 30 min. later, a harrier tried to get above the pigeon flock, but was unsuccessful. All this, before noon, without leaving my front deck. Best, Dick From baileydc at pdx.edu Sat Nov 21 20:53:21 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (baileydc at pdx.edu) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:53:21 GMT Subject: [obol] Barrow's Goldeneye at Necanicum Estuary Message-ID: <200911220453.nAM4rLLS010185@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for David C. Bailey by http://birdnotes.net Date: November 21, 2009 Location: Necanicum River Estuary, Clatsop County, Oregon I have yet to see a Common Goldeneye on the coast this season, but the Barrows has been here for a week. Today I finally got a good look at it. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Bufflehead 90 Barrow's Goldeneye 1 Total number of species seen: 2 From baileydc at pdx.edu Sat Nov 21 21:18:22 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:18:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Barrow's Goldeneye at Necanicum Estuary Message-ID: <4B08C99E.1000302@pdx.edu> I should have noted that the BARROW'S GOLDENEYE is a female and I saw it at the mouth of Neawanna Creek which is part of the estuary. Seen just East of the high school track. Today I saw a single RED PHALAROPE winging south against the wind along the tideline on Gearhart Beach. It seems that Steve Warner has put his Kingbirds back into storage for another year. David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sat Nov 21 22:09:36 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:09:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Siskins Message-ID: <81b2a9930911212209h63b6c1b2kb16c3e9e2b69c130@mail.gmail.com> While I haven't seen flocks in anywhere near Lars' numbers, I had hosted them regularly at my previous residence in Eugene up until about two months ago. That included 22 straight months of at least one sighting and at least one local pair breeding in the area over the past two summers (they brought their fledglings to my feeders in May of '08 and June of this year). However, since about mid-September... nada. I have no idea why their numbers have diminished, rather than picked up. My guess is that the seed crops in the Cascades and Coast Ranges are better than average (as Lars' post may suggest). For what it's worth, Ron Pittaway's Winter Finch Forecast cites banding studies that show that Siskins left Ontario this summer for Western Canada. Whether they stay there this winter is unknown, but he notes that the conifer seed crops in Eastern Canada and New England are very good. Either way, this doesn't appear to be a particularly good winter for Siskins if you're in the Valley or outside of their usual breeding range. (That said, I'm sure I'll see 20 of them at my feeders in the morning.) Brandon Eugene ----- Subject: Sisikins From: Norgren Family Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:24:20 -0800 I was without a computer for over a month, and too lazy for notes on paper. Last year I recorded a lone Siskin about Sept 12, all but simultaneous with Brandon Green seeing one in Eugene. I then saw individual birds at about ten day intervals. Absolutely none were here, two miles into the Coast Range on the West Fork of Dairy Creek, until maybe two weeks ago. Then I saw large flocks every few days. I mean forty or fifty birds, on one occasion 100. This is well above the score that typically compose a flock around here. On each occasion they landed in a tree long enough to catch my attention then took off. At some point in early October a Crossbill family visited the yard. It gave the impression of being newly fledged young and two adults. They came down much lower in the trees than on any previous visit since I have lived here (close to 16 years). There was plenty of singing by Crossbills here in late July and throughout August. Lars Norgren Manning _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Nov 21 22:36:39 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:36:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] John Day Pool logistics Message-ID: The immense potential of winter waterbirding in the Columbia Gorge is seriously impaired by the fact that it is mostly freeway. Immediately upstream of the John Day Dam is a rest area on both east and westbound lanes. Having made frequent use of both sides in my mushroom hauling days fifteen and twenty years ago, I imagined hoards of happy human travelers pulling off to throw bread crumbs to our European guest. Pulling off at the eastbound lane this morning, I expected to see lots of expensive glass and the happy owners thereof in the parking lot to my north. But the parking lot was deserted. A flock of birds was clustered a reasonable distance offshore, flashing a bit of white. The next opportunity to drive under the freeway and get westbound is at the west bank of the John Day River, about three miles further east. While driving that way I noticed a distressing number of birds way out in the river, flashing a lot of white. I had a 1:30 deadline back in Portland and hastened on to the exit. The eastbound lanes rarely have a guardrail on the shoulder and as Tim Janzen indicated there is often opportunity to park well away from traffic. Going west it was obvious the birds were all gulls, engaged in a gradual eastward movement. One bird at a time, the flock was going upstream on the wing in desultory fashion. For the entire stretch between the John Day River and the rest area at the dam the shoulder is bounded by a guardrail no more than eight feet from the fog line. In some parts of the gorge the east and west bound lanes are widely separated, but here they are cheek by jowl. Tim's position on the eastbound lane only cost a few extra feet in distance from the gulls. Parking at the rest area, I discovered the first flock of birds to be Western Grebes. The only way to get eastbound again is to continue west to the Rufous exit. The full loop may be a total of fifteen miles. This is desert, and while it was pouring in the Gorge west of Hood River, not to mention my house in Manning, the skies over the John Day Dam were dry. Operation of optical equipment was almost optimal, but I wonder what sustains so many gulls. Lars Norgren such a large number of gulls. There was a sizeable roost of gulls on a sandbar west of Rufous (mp 106) and a bigger group still at the mouth of the Deschutes(mp 100). The shoulder at both these places is a bit wider on the westbound lane, but today the gulls there were all humdrum. From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Sun Nov 22 07:22:28 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (ptsulliv at spiritone.com) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:22:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] John Day Pool logistics Message-ID: <200911221522.nAMFMScA030949@sapphire.spiritone.com> Lars, et al, First, I suspect that the big congregation of gulls at each of the Columbia River dams are taking advantage of the fish chewed up by the turbines. they feed below the dam, then loaf above the dam. Second, let me say a word or two about access points to look at the pool above the John Day dam. I simply mean to add detail to what you have already said. Of course, you can stop at Rufus and visit the area below the dam. The frontage road along the river runs ~4 miles down from the dam. Eastbound, you can stop at the dam. I'm not sure if the pedestrian underpass will let you get to the westbound rest area. Then you can stop on the wide I-84 shoulder a mile further east near the signs that say "wind gusts","rocks", and "65 mph". Finally, you can pull off at the LePage park to view the mouth of the John Day River and use a restroom. Westbound, you can stop at the bottom of the on-ramp to I-84 to look at the gulls on the Columbia River. Then at the top of the ramp you have to pass a rock wall before you can see the river. Where the rocks end and the long guardrail begins, you can park safely. Here you can climb down under the fence, cross the RR tracks, and view the river. A smooth gravel roadway parallels the tracks along the river. Back at your car, you must drive ~2 mi [per DeLorme map] along the guardrail before you reach the rest area at the top of the dam. There you can again get down to the tracks and walk along the river. There is also a boat launch just above the Washington end of the dam. Observers looking from there would need to cross a RR track as well. The LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL is only the 3rd seen in Oregon. It was a first for Carol & me. Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan ---------------------- Subject: John Day Pool logistics From: Norgren Family Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:36:39 -0800 The immense potential of winter waterbirding in the Columbia Gorge is seriously impaired by the fact that it is mostly freeway. Immediately upstream of the John Day Dam is a rest area on both east and westbound lanes. Having made frequent use of both sides in my mushroom hauling days fifteen and twenty years ago, I imagined hoards of happy human travelers pulling off to throw bread crumbs to our European guest. Pulling off at the eastbound lane this morning, I expected to see lots of expensive glass and the happy owners thereof in the parking lot to my north. But the parking lot was deserted. A flock of birds was clustered a reasonable distance offshore, flashing a bit of white. The next opportunity to drive under the freeway and get westbound is at the west bank of the John Day River, about three miles further east. While driving that way I noticed a distressing number of birds way out in the river, flashing a lot of white. I had a 1:30 deadline back in Portland and hastened on to the exit. The eastbound lanes rarely have a guardrail on the shoulder and as Tim Janzen indicated there is often opportunity to park well away from traffic. Going west it was obvious the birds were all gulls, engaged in a gradual eastward movement. One bird at a time, the flock was going upstream on the wing in desultory fashion. For the entire stretch between the John Day River and the rest area at the dam the shoulder is bounded by a guardrail no more than eight feet from the fog line. In some parts of the gorge the east and west bound lanes are widely separated, but here they are cheek by jowl. Tim's position on the eastbound lane only cost a few extra feet in distance from the gulls. Parking at the rest area, I discovered the first flock of birds to be Western Grebes. The only way to get eastbound again is to continue west to the Rufous exit. The full loop may be a total of fifteen miles. This is desert, and while it was pouring in the Gorge west of Hood River, not to mention my house in Manning, the skies over the John Day Dam were dry. Operation of optical equipment was almost optimal, but I wonder what sustains so many gulls. Lars Norgren such a large number of gulls. There was a sizeable roost of gulls on a sandbar west of Rufous (mp 106) and a bigger group still at the mouth of the Deschutes(mp 100). The shoulder at both these places is a bit wider on the westbound lane, but today the gulls there were all humdrum. From jeffharding at centurytel.net Sun Nov 22 09:41:50 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:41:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Linn County Raptor Route 5 - Scio Message-ID: <4C2D5B5CA8E04E7EA23E1D44BDA73E3A@laptop> Bill Thackaberry and I surveyed raptors yesterday in the Scio area, Linn County. We found a new species for the route, a Northern Pygmy Owl, hanging out in hawthorns on a hedge-row, outside the coniferous habitat they are normally associated with. The location was near Larwood Bridge, so fir-clad hills were pretty close anyway. Here are the results: Red-tailed Hawk 19 American Kestrel 29 Northern Harrier 3 Bald Eagle 2 Falcon SP 1 Northern Pygmy-Owl 1 We drove 66 miles and took 5 hours and 20 minutes, not including breaks (Lunch at a Family Restaurant in Scio, a Mexican restaurant that was very nice). The falcon was very distant, and brief. We also glassed the Scio Sewage Ponds, where there was a Common Goldeneye. It was a totally lovely day, Western Meadowlarks were singing at a couple of locations, and we found a couple flocks of Western Bluebirds. An image of the Owl is here: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/Owls#5406795265291213250 Good birding, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/7da0e259/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Sun Nov 22 09:45:55 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:45:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Tigard/Durham; owl question In-Reply-To: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F121BD3085C@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> Message-ID: <388620.89357.qm@web39702.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Tom, About two weeks ago, at dusk, I heard some very unusual sounds and proceeded to investigate (could not identify this bird call). The sound is difficult to describe, but completely unlike anything I've ever heard from a Great Horned Owl. Had I not observed a GHO making these calls (seeing just its outline at dusk), I would never have attributed it to any owl. I quickly attempted to get my wife for verification, but before I could do this, that unusual call stopped, and the owl hooted normally like any adult GHO. These big owls can obviously generate sounds not often heard by humans, and it behooves us all to investigate this whenever the opportunity arises. Best, Dick --- On Sat, 11/21/09, Thomas Love wrote: > From: Thomas Love > Subject: [obol] Tigard/Durham; owl question > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Saturday, November 21, 2009, 4:30 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Thanks, Ed, re Hooded Warbler.? > But shabbiness or no, it > must be said that Durham was created precisely to not be > swallowed up by big > bad Tigard (or Tualatin) ? though incorporated, > really an overgrown > neighborhood association.? We have a Tigard mailing > address but Tualatin > police, it?s all contracted out. > > ? > > BTW, I?ve been meaning to post > about what I thought > was a Barred Owl in the neighborhood about a week > ago?except that a few > nights later a GREAT HORNED OWL called from the same large > patch of doug firs/broadleaf > maples (GHO regular in the neighborhood, in that > patch).? Earlier there?d > been strange throaty squealing sounds (that doesn?t > describe it well, and > memory fades) that were clearly produced by an owl, but I > didn?t think > GHO could produce such. > > ? > > Tom L > > > > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From barbara.millikan at gmail.com Sun Nov 22 09:52:52 2009 From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com (barbara.millikan at gmail.com) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:52:52 +0000 Subject: [obol] Tigard/Durham; owl question In-Reply-To: <388620.89357.qm@web39702.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <0016e649cd84ca855a0478f960ce@google.com> I agree. I identified the really odd sounds I was hearing after dark -- chirping and screechy squawks at Don Boucher's excellent bird sound website: http://www.neighborhood-naturalist.com/bird_sounds/pages/180_robin.htm Check these out and see if you get a match. Barbara On Nov 22, 2009 9:45am, Richard and Marilyn Musser wrote: > Hi Tom, > About two weeks ago, at dusk, I heard some very unusual sounds and > proceeded to investigate (could not identify this bird call). The sound > is difficult to describe, but completely unlike anything I've ever heard > from a Great Horned Owl. Had I not observed a GHO making these calls > (seeing just its outline at dusk), I would never have attributed it to > any owl. I quickly attempted to get my wife for verification, but before > I could do this, that unusual call stopped, and the owl hooted normally > like any adult GHO. > These big owls can obviously generate sounds not often heard by humans, > and it behooves us all to investigate this whenever the opportunity > arises. Best, Dick gonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/0732eca2/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Sun Nov 22 10:06:51 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:06:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! In-Reply-To: <1258822543.24810.31.camel@clearwater1> References: <1258770522.2443.89.camel@clearwater1> <1258822543.24810.31.camel@clearwater1> Message-ID: <4B097DBB.6080307@verizon.net> Hey, I might add that Kathy and I have seen 48 species of shorebird in Coos Cty, and that's not counting a rightly OBRC rejected species. Any other place full of commercial shabbiness can top that? Cheers Dave and Kathy Joel Geier wrote: > OK, this seems to be turning into a good example of how a two-word > comment can turn into an indefinite thread. > > Just to make it a little more interesting for a birding list, let me > challenge anyone who wants to add their favorite patch of urban blight > to the list, also please name the best bird that's ever been found > there. > > For example: > Woodburn: Vermilion Flycatcher > Coos Bay: Brown Booby just the latest in a long list > > I can't come up with one for Tigard or SE Foster (Portland), though I > did once see a Glaucous Gull in one of Portland's other > miserable-looking neighborhoods. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Nov 22 10:19:39 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:19:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Avoiding the Horror of urban Coos In-Reply-To: <4B097DBB.6080307@verizon.net> Message-ID: No one has mentioned that when traveling from Millicoma Marsh to Charleston and the booby zone, you don't have to go through 90 percent of Coos Bay-North Bend at all. You can take the Libby cutoff road that runs from 101 at the extreme s. end of Coos Bay across the peninsula to Barview near the Charleston bridge. It isn't exactly virgin forest, being mostly fourth-growth and the odd elderly double-wide off in a clearing, but it is nominally rural and MUCH faster to Charleston than going clear up through the city and back down. The eastern end runs along Coalbank Slough and can have egrets etc. The western end, just north of the Charleston bridge, is a good place for Collared-Doves, if you like your birds Plump-'n'-Tasty. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com > From: Dave Lauten > Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:06:51 -0800 > To: Joel Geier > Cc: obol > Subject: Re: [obol] Commercial shabbiness!?!?! > > Hey, I might add that Kathy and I have seen 48 species of shorebird in > Coos Cty, and that's not counting a rightly OBRC rejected species. Any > other place full of commercial shabbiness can top that? > > Cheers > Dave and Kathy > > Joel Geier wrote: >> OK, this seems to be turning into a good example of how a two-word >> comment can turn into an indefinite thread. >> >> Just to make it a little more interesting for a birding list, let me >> challenge anyone who wants to add their favorite patch of urban blight >> to the list, also please name the best bird that's ever been found >> there. >> >> For example: >> Woodburn: Vermilion Flycatcher >> Coos Bay: Brown Booby just the latest in a long list >> >> I can't come up with one for Tigard or SE Foster (Portland), though I >> did once see a Glaucous Gull in one of Portland's other >> miserable-looking neighborhoods. >> >> Happy birding, >> Joel >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From deweysage at verizon.net Sun Nov 22 10:20:02 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:20:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Cty BLACK SCOTERS Message-ID: <4B0980D2.8000903@verizon.net> Yesterday 11/22 in the morning Kathy and I went for a walk at Seven Devils Wayside off Seven Devils Road just north of Bandon Dunes Golf Course. It was sunny, calm, and the seas were rocking. I only had my binocs, but after walking north to the first rocky point, I was scanning the ocean and there were numerous seabirds, mainly gulls and pelicans, feeding and swirling about 1/2 mile or so off shore. There appeared to be a number of KITTIWAKES amongst other gulls. But of most interest was in the actual surf about 150 meters off shore, was a group of bobbing scoters. I could make out several male BLACK SCOTERS, and I believe the group of 20-30 scoters was most likely mostly BLACK SCOTERS. I could see a few SURFS in there too, and maybe a WHITE-WING. It was tough as they kept bobbing up and down in the rough surf, but I could clearly see several male BLACKS. This is a place that doesn't get birded and I have never seen Black Scoter off that point before. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Sun Nov 22 11:54:09 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:54:09 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Tigard/Durham; owl question In-Reply-To: <0016e649cd84ca855a0478f960ce@google.com> Message-ID: <655451.99101.qm@web39707.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Barbara, Thanks for connecting me to these GHO vocalizations. I listened to them carefully (and the other owls too), but none are even close to the sounds I heard. As I recall, my immediate thought when I first heard this odd call was, "some sort of shore bird." When I saw it was a GHO making these calls, I thought, "this bird must be sick." However, it's normal "voice" immediately returned; it stayed perched for a while, hooting a regular adult GHO lyric. Anyway, grandpa will keep his hearing aid "turned up". Best, Dick --- On Sun, 11/22/09, barbara.millikan at gmail.com wrote: > From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com > Subject: Re: Re: [obol] Tigard/Durham; owl question > To: "Richard and Marilyn Musser" > Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org, "Thomas Love" > Date: Sunday, November 22, 2009, 9:52 AM > I agree. I identified the really odd sounds > I was hearing after dark -- chirping and screechy squawks at > Don Boucher's excellent bird sound website: > http://www.neighborhood-naturalist.com/bird_sounds/pages/180_robin.htm > Check these out and see if you get a match. > Barbara > > On Nov 22, 2009 9:45am, Richard and > Marilyn Musser wrote: > > Hi Tom, > > > > ? ? About two weeks > ago, at dusk, I heard some very unusual sounds and proceeded > to investigate (could not identify this bird call). The > sound is difficult to describe, but completely unlike > anything I've ever heard from a Great Horned Owl. Had I > not observed a GHO making these calls (seeing just its > outline at dusk), I would never have attributed it to any > owl. I quickly attempted to get my wife for verification, > but before I could do this, that unusual call stopped, and > the owl hooted normally like any adult GHO. > > > > ? ? These big owls can obviously generate sounds > not often heard by humans, and it behooves us all to > investigate this whenever the opportunity arises. Best, > Dick > > > gonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From philliplc at charter.net Sun Nov 22 12:28:50 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:28:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay - Brown Booby Message-ID: 6:45-11:00 (11/22): mostly overcast with brief intense squalls wind W 15-30+, swells 15+ 1500+ Red-throated Loon 800+ Pacific Loon 400+ Common Loon 25 Red-necked Grebe 20 Western Grebe 1 LAYSAN ALBATROSS (good look S just over 1 mile) 3000+ Northern Fulmar (continuous 5-30/min S with many still moving when I left, hundreds within 1/2 mile early, majority dark-end but full spectrum of plumages present in number) 1 Sooty Shearwater 15 Short-tailed Shearwater 800 Brown Pelican (feeding, S) 6 Double-crested Cormorant 400 Brandt's Cormorant (feeding, S) 80 Pelagic Cormorant 1 BROWN BOOBY (probably adult female*) 28 Brant 15 Northern Pintail 1 Harlequin Duck 40 Black Scoter 11000 White-winged Scoter (10k in first hour) 300 Surf Scoter 25 Red-breasted Merganser 2 Common Merganser 3 Red Phalarope 20 Bonaparte's Gull 40 Mew Gull 15000+ California Gull (steady 10-50/min pulsing to 300/min in front of squalls, 90%+ adult) 400+ Herring Gull (probably low) 1500+ Western Gull 400+ Glaucous-winged Gull 1200 Heermann's Gull (feeding, S) 110 Black-legged Kittiwake (3/4 adult) 8000+ Common Murre 8 Pigeon Guillemot 15 Marbled Murrelet 1 Rhinoceros Auklet * seen briefly in front of squall <1/2 mile at ~9:20, drifting slowly S 40-50 feet above the water over a small feeding group of Pelicans/gulls. Recognized immediately by unmistakable shape - 2/3 size of Pelican with long comparatively slender body, long neck, long evenly tapered bill, and very long obviously wedge- shaped dark tail. Upperparts entirely dark brown, belly white, complete solidly dark brown hood extending to lower breast, sharply delineated from white belly. Underwing/bill color didn't register. Wayne Hoffman was also present at the time sitting in his truck, but when I notified him we were unable to relocate it before the squall hit. Phil philliplc at charter.net From celata at pacifier.com Sun Nov 22 13:05:00 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:05:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Astoria Checks In Message-ID: <4B09A77C.4000703@pacifier.com> It blew a bit harder up here on the North Coast than the prognosticators had prognosticated. Our power was out for about an hour this morning and others were without power for a bit longer. For all the west wind there was not much to show for it. I saw a single NORTHERN FULMAR for about a half-hour's watching at the South Jetty. And only one RED PHALAROPE. Hundreds of BROWN PELICANS and a few loons. No ducks, no other tubenoses, no gannets.... Lee Cain reports a LONG-TAILED DUCK at Seaside Cove. I expect he'll have more on this (with photos) later. No interesting accumulations of storm weary beasties around Youngs Bay, either. I posted a few snaps at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Why a duck? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12750/ From jefflin1 at earthlink.net Sun Nov 22 13:34:33 2009 From: jefflin1 at earthlink.net (Jeffrey Pugh) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:34:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Black Phoebe near Glide Message-ID: <410-2200911022213433984@earthlink.net> We had a BLACK PHOEBE flying at its reflection in one of our windows, then perching in a vine maple right outside our living room window today. Linda Smith near Glide Jeffrey Pugh jefflin1 at earthlink.net Why Wait? Move to EarthLink. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/812eb0d4/attachment.html From willclemons at yahoo.com Sun Nov 22 13:35:23 2009 From: willclemons at yahoo.com (Will Clemons) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:35:23 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Saturday Raptors at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge... Message-ID: <205233.82066.qm@web55101.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Carol Ledford, met with my mother (Olive) and I, and together we birded the River "S" Unit at Ridgefield NWR (~4mi W of I-5 at Exit 14 in SW Washington; http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ ). We were there from about 8:30AM until 3PM. Highlights: RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: While we were at the junction of Canvasback Lake and Rest Lake, this beautiful hawk flew from Canvasback lake across the water control canal on the West edge of South Big Lake, and dropped into the grasses on the edge of S Big Lake. Earlier, Ken Meyer had alerted us to the presence of this pretty raptor near the end of the Oregon Ash woodland just before the road leaves Canvasback Lake. It caught some rodent, and took its prize to a nearby tree and began to dine. Before long an adult Red-tailed Hawk in gentle pursuit of a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk cruised by without noticing the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. The Red-shouldered protested loudly (as if to yell - 'hey, cant a hawk eat in peace without folks running through the dining room?'). The RED-SHOULDERED HAWK probably dropped the balance of its meal, and then moved a couple of times ending up in a prime frontal viewing position. We watched it for about 6-8 minutes. COYOTE and RIVER OTTER were also seen. Will Clemons SW of Portland willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores Complete list of 48 species seen / heard: Pied-billed Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Snow Goose (7 seen on Rest Lake) Cackling Goose Canada Goose (Westerns and Duskys on Rest Lake) Tundra Swan Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Ring-necked Duck Bufflehead Hooded Merganser COMMON MERGANSER (1 drake seen on Lake River) RUDDY DUCK (1 seen on Rest Lake) Bald Eagle (only 1 seen - juvenile) Northern Harrier (1 male, + females and juveniles) RED-SHOULDERED HAWK Red-tailed Hawk HARLAN'S RED-TAILED HAWK DARK MORPH RED-TAILED HAWK ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (at least 4 individuals seen on the day) DARK MORPH ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK American Kestrel MERLIN (seen over the S end of Schwartz Lake as it moved over Rest Lake and then disappeared over S Big Lake) American Coot Sandhill Crane (few heard, about 8-9 seen) Killdeer (2 seen on the road right after the sign with the clock) Wilson's Snipe (lots seen on Long lake) Glaucous-winged Gull (seen eating a dead duck out on North Quigley Lake) Downy Woodpecker (seen near R/R tracks) Northern Flicker Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch Bewick's Wren Marsh Wren (2 seen just after the woodland ends - Canvasback Lake) American Robin European Starling Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Purple Finch (maybe 9-10 seen just after the woodland ends - Canvasback Lake) From tlove at linfield.edu Sun Nov 22 13:38:45 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:38:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tigard/Durham; owl question In-Reply-To: <0016e649cd84ca855a0478f960ce@google.com> References: <388620.89357.qm@web39702.mail.mud.yahoo.com> <0016e649cd84ca855a0478f960ce@google.com> Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F121BD30897@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> Thanks, Barbara, for the link to the local birdsounds site. The file GHOw_juv_begging_2.wav was close to what I remember...but there wouldn't be juveniles at this time of year. Is this a courtship/mating sound I wonder - would be about time. Tom Love From: barbara.millikan at gmail.com [mailto:barbara.millikan at gmail.com] Sent: Sunday, November 22, 2009 9:53 To: Richard and Marilyn Musser Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org; Thomas Love Subject: Re: Re: [obol] Tigard/Durham; owl question I agree. I identified the really odd sounds I was hearing after dark -- chirping and screechy squawks at Don Boucher's excellent bird sound website: http://www.neighborhood-naturalist.com/bird_sounds/pages/180_robin.htm Check these out and see if you get a match. Barbara On Nov 22, 2009 9:45am, Richard and Marilyn Musser wrote: > Hi Tom, > > About two weeks ago, at dusk, I heard some very unusual sounds and proceeded to investigate (could not identify this bird call). The sound is difficult to describe, but completely unlike anything I've ever heard from a Great Horned Owl. Had I not observed a GHO making these calls (seeing just its outline at dusk), I would never have attributed it to any owl. I quickly attempted to get my wife for verification, but before I could do this, that unusual call stopped, and the owl hooted normally like any adult GHO. > > These big owls can obviously generate sounds not often heard by humans, and it behooves us all to investigate this whenever the opportunity arises. Best, Dick > gonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/d1d4fc92/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Sun Nov 22 13:43:07 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:43:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetands: Heerman's Gulls, Red Phalarope Message-ID: My husband just called from Fernhill Wetlands to say that he has seen 15 HEERMAN'S GULL and a RED PHALAROPE from the parking lot. Tammy Carpenter -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/b6ff1aec/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Nov 22 13:44:53 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:44:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Paulina Winter Raptor Survey Message-ID: <76FDAC0223174B64B8B3B3571B999ABE@cgatesPC> Steve Dougill and I did the Paulina WRS yesterday and then we stopped in at Guitierrez Ranch to see what was cooking. WRS Results: Red-tailed Hawks - 15 American Kestrel - 2 Northern Harrier - 2 Bald Eagle - 6 Golden Eagle - 2 Rough-legged Hawk - 4 Prairie Falcon - 1 Cooper's Hawk - 1 At Gutierrez Ranch - nothing too exciting 45 Tundra Swans 1 Northern Shrike 2 more Bald Eagles 5 Canvasback 7 Common Goldeneye 3 Collared Doves (Paulina) Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/fc37ea01/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Sun Nov 22 14:13:13 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:13:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetands: Black-Legged Kittiwake, Heerman's Gulls, Red Phalarope Message-ID: He called again. Also saw BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE from the parking lot at Fernhill Wetlands.. Tammy Carpenter On Sun, Nov 22, 2009 at 1:43 PM, Scott Carpenter wrote: > My husband just called from Fernhill Wetlands to say that he has seen 15 > HEERMAN'S GULL and a RED PHALAROPE from the parking lot. > > Tammy Carpenter > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/d5e32cbc/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Sun Nov 22 14:15:56 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis Vroman) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:15:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Heerman's Gull in Jack Co Message-ID: <9D2592A7525144A8925C72FFBFE6B371@your4dacd0ea75> Posted by Howard Sands on the Rogue Valley Audubon's web page. Think a 1st for the County. Dennis "Norm Barrett and Gary Shaffer asked me to post that a Heerman's Gull is at Lost Creek Lake this AM. Go on the Medco Rd and park at the gate. You'll have to walk down to the flats to view the gull. They were able to get photos." -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/256ab3fd/attachment.html From 4cains at charter.net Sun Nov 22 14:43:54 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:43:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Long-tailed duck at Seaside Cove Message-ID: <6D950ADA1D384438A8DC2752DA233C4B@HAL> We found a male LONG-TAILED DUCK at Seaside at the Cove this am, at about 11:30. It was feeding with all three SCOTER species and 2 WESTERN GREBES just off the rocks in front of the parking lot. Evan got some recognizable shots of it in the very active surf, including it's Dr. Seuss-ish tail -- pics at his photo blog(http://surfbirds.com/blog/townsendi) There is also a for-fun Mystery Bird at the blog. Along with a few late HEERMAN'S GULLS and other larids, there were also at least 2 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES were just beyond the first front of breakers. Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/04db264e/attachment.html From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Sun Nov 22 15:42:55 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (Jamie S.) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:42:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Philomath SPs- summary of rarities today Message-ID: <238530.17219.qm@web39508.mail.mud.yahoo.com> The following birds have been noted today at the Philomath Sewage Ponds, Benton Co., today, November 22, by a variety of observers: ? Heermann's gulls - 6 adults floating on the water Leach's storm-petrel - 1 Red-breasted-merganser - 1 female? Red-necked phalarope - 1 Barrow's goldeneye - 1 female (it has been there several days now) Common goldeneye - 1 female (ditto) Bonaparte's gulls - 2 ? Jamie Simmons' Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/462923e4/attachment.html From Kcparkton1 at aol.com Sun Nov 22 16:06:10 2009 From: Kcparkton1 at aol.com (Kcparkton1 at aol.com) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:06:10 EST Subject: [obol] Finley & Fern Ridge_Sat/Sun with pics Message-ID: Sat.&Sun.11/21-11/22 Finley, This was the highlights 3-Juvenile Bald Eagles, 1 perched south of Bruce Rd, 2 harassing the geese on Bruce Rd 4-Rough-legged Hawks, 1 perched north from Bruce Rd., 2 hunting south of Mcfarland Rd. 1 on Hwy 99 (photos) 8-Western Bluebirds at Turtle Flats (photos) 12- Western Meadowlarks near Prairie Overlook in the burn area (photos) Fern Ridge 6-Western Meadowlarks on Cantrell Rd. (photos) 2-Red-shouldered Hawks on Cantrell Rd & Neilsen Rd. (photos) 2-Northern Shrikes on Neilsen Rd. (photos) _http://www.flickr.com/photos/35913342 at N04/_ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35913342 at N04/) Kurt Parkton Eugene, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/505cb22b/attachment.html From markhamm at charterinternet.com Sun Nov 22 16:19:57 2009 From: markhamm at charterinternet.com (Mark Hamm) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:19:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] North Roseburg Raptor Survey/ Lewis' Woodpeckers Message-ID: <3DAD12D9-668C-4A8E-AB73-A4D3B4E439F6@charterinternet.com> Did half of the N. Roseburg WR Survey this morning Sun mixed with rain 46 deg. 50.5 miles 3 hrs 35 min Red-tailed Hawks 23 American Kestrels 9 Bald Eagles 1 Adult White-tailed Kite 2 After the reports by Janice Reid and Jim Hein I kept an eye out for LEWIS' WOODPECKERs. I saw one on North Bank road west of Whistler's Bend Park. As I scanned the tree line for raptors I saw 2 more. I heard even more. As I drove west on N. Bank Rd. I saw several more for a total of 9 seen. I was surprised to see another on Wilbur Cutoff Rd. Other high lights were 2 BLACK PHOEBEs and several BLUE BIRDs Mark Hamm From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Nov 22 16:31:27 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:31:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Leach's SP photos Message-ID: See Doug Robinson's amazing pics of a Leach's S-P flying around at the Philomath sewage ponds today: "Here is a link to some of the photos of the Leach's Storm-Petrel at Philomath poo ponds this morning. http://picasaweb.google.com/W.Douglas.Robinson/LeachSStormPetrel?feat=direct link I recommend braving the rain and checking local lakes and marshes. There are interesting birds moving around. I also had today: Red Phalarope at Cabell Marsh Red-necked Phalarope and Red-breasted Merganser at Philomath poo ponds. Have fun Doug" Note also the latest report I know of in Oregon for Red-necked Phalarope. If it is still there it should be photographed. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From gorgebirds at juno.com Sun Nov 22 16:50:29 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:50:29 GMT Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Gulls Message-ID: <20091122.165029.5984.1@webmail02.vgs.untd.com> Today I accompanied Arden and Sherry Hagen and George Mayfield in a successful search for the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL found on Friday at John Day Dam by Cathy Flick and Stuart Johnston. My three compatriots had searched yesterday without any luck. On this very windy morning when we arrived Arden decided to first check the area below the dam on the Oregon side. We walked out from the furthest upriver restroom to the riverbank where there was a small flock of RING-BILLED GULLS, CALIFORNIA GULLS, one HERRING GULL and a GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL. When the GW Gull moved it revealed a juvenile HEERMAN'S GULL, my first in the Columbia Gorge. When the gulls flew offshore I spotted a darker gull in the flock on the river which was the bird of our quest. We had an opportunity to put a couple of scopes on the bird and had great views of it before it lifted off. We watched it as it flew back and forth along the face of the dam before disappearing. We checked upstream of the dam but most of the river was in whitecaps and the only spot where we could scan the gulls was from the Westbound Rest Area of the wind protected area just above the dam. While we were looking through the hundreds of gulls Bob Hansen and Stuart Johnston drove up to help search. We were unable to re-find it here or below the dam but most of the flock was not visible do to the waves. Sherry did get videos of the bird in flight and used GOOGLE Maps to deduce that it had crossed the state line giving me my 400th Washington life bird. Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Time Card Systems Never calculate time cards by hand again. View our demo to see how. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=ZLQpQeqoVmoMFNgAMZZnOAAAJ1AHcaoQFB_Xw2ggvz9-JEKpAAQAAAAFAAAAANC-vD0AAANSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAhyCAAAAAA= From bwegener8 at comcast.net Sun Nov 22 16:56:18 2009 From: bwegener8 at comcast.net (Brian Wegener) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:56:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tigard/Durham Owl Sounds Message-ID: <4B09DDB2.4000905@comcast.net> Check out this catalog of owl sounds from around the world. They have quite a variety of GHO sounds. http://www.owlpages.com/sounds.php From roygerig at hotmail.com Sun Nov 22 17:43:22 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:43:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ankeny Barn Swallows Message-ID: Feeling like crap and being somewhat housebound with the cold I caught from one of the 135 seventh graders I teach science to every day (yes it is OK to blame 7th graders for stuff and they are usually gracious about it), I drove out to Ankeny NWR south of Salem to see if the recent weather blew anything in like so many others are reporting from around the state. No luck that way, but I did see 7 BARN SWALLOWS from the Wintel Rd. overlook around 3:30 this afternoon. I saw 14 BARS there 2 weeks ago, then none last weekend. 2 SNOW GEESE were just west of the RR tracks on Wintel Rd, and the usual PEREGRINE FALCON was in the trees on the north side of Frog Pond. No phalaropes, Heermann's gulls, Petrels, LBB gulls, BOGU, RBME, etc. The only gulls were about 8 RING-BILLEDs. Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/4d5a2039/attachment.html From larry.maurin at gmail.com Sun Nov 22 18:20:39 2009 From: larry.maurin at gmail.com (Larry Maurin) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:20:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland area gull roosts Message-ID: Hi Everyone, The last few weeks I have been seeing many more gulls around Portland, especially after the strong storms we've been getting this fall. A couple spots that I have found to be productive for gulls have been Willamette Park south of downtown and Westmoreland Park in Sellwood. Willamette Park had about 300 gulls Saturday, mostly California, Glaucous-winged, Olympic, and Mew with a few Ring-billed, Herring, and Westerns mixed in. These gulls roost on the mudflat just north of the boat ramp. On Friday at Westmoreland Park there was predominately Glaucous-winged and Olympic, with some Herring and Ring-billed, and one adult Thayer's Gull. This park seems great for studying gulls up close. Does anyone else know of any areas near Portland where gulls usually gather in numbers and can be studied fairly closely? I've heard the mouth of the Sandy River can be good. Thanks, Larry Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/d4dfb488/attachment.html From erikknight05 at comcast.net Sun Nov 22 18:20:55 2009 From: erikknight05 at comcast.net (Erik Knight) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:20:55 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Photos of Fernhill Heermann's Gulls In-Reply-To: <108757768.5664501258942820092.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <245729286.5664631258942855968.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> OBOL, Here's a link to the photos I was able to take of the HEERMANN'S GULLS on Fernhill Lake, plus somewhat decent photos of the AM TREE SPARROW(before my batteries died). http://picasaweb.google.com/Erik97211/FernhillWetlands#5407116067609614658 -------------- Erik Knight Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/29846b27/attachment.html From godwit513 at msn.com Sun Nov 22 18:23:06 2009 From: godwit513 at msn.com (Ruth Sullivan) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:23:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Gulls References: <20091122.165029.5984.1@webmail02.vgs.untd.com> Message-ID: Hello Wilson , Congratulation on you 400 bird for Washington.This reminded me on the ROSS GULL in November 1994 only this bird was on McNary Dam found by Phil Bartly.Patrick and I saw this Ross Gull on both side of the River in Benton & Umatilla County.I was able to got few photos in flight who was printed in WOS NEWS 35 with a write up by Patrick. "A brief VISITOR" I am sure that you saw this Gull to!!!!!! Cheers Ruth Sullivan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wilson Cady" To: Sent: Sunday, November 22, 2009 4:50 PM Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Gulls > Today I accompanied Arden and Sherry Hagen and George Mayfield in a > successful search for the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL found on Friday at John > Day Dam by Cathy Flick and Stuart Johnston. My three compatriots had > searched yesterday without any luck. On this very windy morning when we > arrived Arden decided to first check the area below the dam on the Oregon > side. We walked out from the furthest upriver restroom to the riverbank > where there was a small flock of RING-BILLED GULLS, CALIFORNIA GULLS, one > HERRING GULL and a GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL. When the GW Gull moved it > revealed a juvenile HEERMAN'S GULL, my first in the Columbia Gorge. When > the gulls flew offshore I spotted a darker gull in the flock on the river > which was the bird of our quest. We had an opportunity to put a couple of > scopes on the bird and had great views of it before it lifted off. We > watched it as it flew back and forth along the face of the dam before > disappearing. We checked upstream of the dam but most of > the river was in whitecaps and the only spot where we could scan the gulls > was from the Westbound Rest Area of the wind protected area just above the > dam. While we were looking through the hundreds of gulls Bob Hansen and > Stuart Johnston drove up to help search. We were unable to re-find it here > or below the dam but most of the flock was not visible do to the waves. > Sherry did get videos of the bird in flight and used GOOGLE Maps to deduce > that it had crossed the state line giving me my 400th Washington life > bird. > > Wilson Cady > Washougal, WA > > > ____________________________________________________________ > Time Card Systems > Never calculate time cards by hand again. View our demo to see how. > http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=ZLQpQeqoVmoMFNgAMZZnOAAAJ1AHcaoQFB_Xw2ggvz9-JEKpAAQAAAAFAAAAANC-vD0AAANSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAhyCAAAAAA= > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Nov 22 19:27:21 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:27:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] 10 Gull Sunday at Fernhill Lake Message-ID: <05BE3652-11A9-4B99-A202-6E16A9F1BC53@earthlink.net> Thanks to Scott Carpenter and his wife for timely posts. Despite intense weather out of the west all night and some of the morning, I never dreamed of checking the nearest gull roost to my residence. Before the sun went behind a cloud, dazzling light illuminated HEERMAN'S GULLS at close range, and a KITTIWAKE in their company. We have the UKs Ian Boustead to thank for spotting the Kittiwake and informing all who would listen. He also found three BONIES, which made 10 species of gull for me, a new high count for one location, simultaneously. Shortly after the early bird larophiles dissembled, Steve Nord noticed the HEERMAN'S GULLS gather into a tight flock and spiral heavenward. They initially tried to beat straight into the prevailing wind(nw) but then fell off towards the west or sw. When I arrived a few Heerman's were checking out the bread and cheerios being dispensed by the Sunday crowd of non-dogwalkers, non-birders, non-birdwatchers. The Kittiwake remained appropriately aloof. Bonaparte's Gull 3 Mew Gull 300 Black-legged Kittiwake 1 Ring-billed Gull 50 California Gull 200 more immatures than before Heerman's Gull 15 Thayer's Gull 50 at least one juvie an order of magnitude more adults than two days ago Herring Gull I probably saw 5 individuals, but made no effort to count them. Could have been 10x that many Glaucous-winged Gull/Olympic Gull 100 Western Gull ditto Herring At least one really clean, convincing individual has been present since first week of November. As with 3 above species, numbers way up post storm Thanks again Carpenters and Ian Lars Norgren From slcarpenter at gmail.com Sun Nov 22 19:36:45 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:36:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands: Non-Gull Species Highlights Message-ID: In addition to the 10 species of gull present at Fernhill Wetlands this evening, including the BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE found by Ian Boustead, the following birds were present: Horned Grebe (3) Western Grebe (4) Red-shouldered Hawk (1) Peregrine Falcon (1) Long-billed Dowitcher (3) Red Phalarope (1) Northern Shrike (1) -- I did not see this bird today, but heard others did American Tree Sparrow (1) White-throated Sparrow (1) -- in the vicinity of the American Tree Sparrow Thank you to the person/people who put out seed for the sparrows -- four of us were treated to excellent views of the Am Tree and White-throated Sparrows amongst the many Golden-crowned Sparrows. Scott Carpenter Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/534eb79c/attachment.html From rfadney at hotmail.com Sun Nov 22 19:48:39 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:48:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] (no subject) Message-ID: What do you all think? Is this a Rough Legged Hawk? I shot these cruddy shots on Diamond Hill road on the 21st. It was about 4:30pm so the light was bad and this was the best I could do from the car at that time. I shot another RLH earlier in the day about 15 miles from the same location, and got definitive shots of it. If these are of another one, that would be a first for me seeing two in one day so close to one another. http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/4126315055/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/4127085588/ Rich Adney http://avianpics.blogspot.com/ http://adneyvisualarts.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/ _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: I wanted simpler, now it's simpler. I'm a rock star. http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?h=myidea?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_myidea:112009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/259e6e0f/attachment.html From tjanzen at comcast.net Sun Nov 22 20:01:38 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:01:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland area gull roosts In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20091123040145.BA2B5A8156@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear Larry, The mouth of the Clackamas River at Clackamette Park generally has a good collection of gulls (ca 50-100) in the winter. There can be small flocks of gulls anywhere along the Willamette River or the Columbia River. Sincerely, Tim Janzen Portland _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Larry Maurin Sent: Sunday, November 22, 2009 6:21 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Portland area gull roosts Hi Everyone, The last few weeks I have been seeing many more gulls around Portland, especially after the strong storms we've been getting this fall. A couple spots that I have found to be productive for gulls have been Willamette Park south of downtown and Westmoreland Park in Sellwood. Willamette Park had about 300 gulls Saturday, mostly California, Glaucous-winged, Olympic, and Mew with a few Ring-billed, Herring, and Westerns mixed in. These gulls roost on the mudflat just north of the boat ramp. On Friday at Westmoreland Park there was predominately Glaucous-winged and Olympic, with some Herring and Ring-billed, and one adult Thayer's Gull. This park seems great for studying gulls up close. Does anyone else know of any areas near Portland where gulls usually gather in numbers and can be studied fairly closely? I've heard the mouth of the Sandy River can be good. Thanks, Larry Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/1e3ec15b/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Sun Nov 22 20:10:27 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:10:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland area gull roosts In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Although not necessarily a gull roosting location, the west side of the Willamette in Portland from the South Waterfront City Park (about where SW Harrison St dead ends near the river) north to the Steel Bridge (NW Glisan St) contained a decent number and variety of gulls last year when the Slaty-backed was in town. The gulls would move around quite a bit depending on where the food handouts were. I once saw a person (appeared to be a non-birder) dump several dozen doughnuts into the river which caused quite a frenzy of gull activity. The gulls would also roost on the bridges -- on the lamps above and the support structures below. Scott Carpenter Portland On Sun, Nov 22, 2009 at 6:20 PM, Larry Maurin wrote: > Hi Everyone, > > The last few weeks I have been seeing many more gulls around Portland, > especially after the strong storms we've been getting this fall. A couple > spots that I have found to be productive for gulls have been Willamette Park > south of downtown and Westmoreland Park in Sellwood. Willamette Park had > about 300 gulls Saturday, mostly California, Glaucous-winged, Olympic, and > Mew with a few Ring-billed, Herring, and Westerns mixed in. These gulls > roost on the mudflat just north of the boat ramp. On Friday at Westmoreland > Park there was predominately Glaucous-winged and Olympic, with some Herring > and Ring-billed, and one adult Thayer's Gull. This park seems great for > studying gulls up close. Does anyone else know of any areas near Portland > where gulls usually gather in numbers and can be studied fairly closely? > I've heard the mouth of the Sandy River can be good. > > Thanks, > > Larry > > Portland > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/f8e4aeec/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Nov 22 20:30:27 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:30:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Attracting gulls Message-ID: One really effective kind of gull-chum to use at flocking sites, that requires no special preparation, is suet blocks that you'd normally stick in your suet cage at home. Sling one of those into a wet, gullish area and it breaks up, with the small bits floating. Unlike bread or bagels or many other kinds of tossables, the full-size thing can't be carried off by one gull, it always comes apart in the air as the gull's bill cuts into it. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sun Nov 22 20:34:10 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:34:10 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Westmoreland Park RED PHALAROPES plus North Portland birds Message-ID: <651821.229.qm@web55702.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Today we went to Smith and Bybee Lakes (North Portland). There were many flocks of chickadees, kinglets, and Yellow-rumped Warblers moving through the cottonwoods, and a few HERMIT and VARIED THRUSHES as well. The viewing platform overlooking Smith Lake was rather uneventful, so we continued to the blind at Bybee Lake. That lake was fairly quiet as well. We meandered out the trail past the blind, and Christopher flushed 4-5 CINNAMON TEAL and a GREAT EGRET. There were 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS, 2 adult BALD EAGLES nearby, and a loud MARSH WREN. Then we spotted a NORTHERN SHRIKE in the top of a small shrub. Just as everybody was distracted by the close-up shrike, Adrian briefly saw a TREE SWALLOW flying overhead. Lastly, a flock of 4 calling HORNED LARKS flew over us; they were headed in the direction of the landfill. Aside from a single Golden-crown, the only sparrows were song and a towhee, which seemed unusual. Next we stopped at the south end of Vanport Wetlands. A quick scan revealed an adult SNOW GOOSE among the Cacklers and Canadas, a male EURASIAN WIGEON, a few CANVASBACKS, plus many other duck species. The water levels were fairly low; there were 37 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS roosting on the exposed mud. Also at Vanport was a WHITE-CROWNED and a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, plus lots of SONG and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS. After reading the OBOL posts about some Heerman's Gulls being reported in the valley, we decided to head over to Westmoreland Park (SE Portland) to see if one of them had happened to drop by. Although there was a large flock of gulls, there was no Heerman's. However, when we reached the casting pond just south of the north pond, Adrian noticed two phalaropes foraging on the far concrete-lined shore and a closer look determined them to be RED PHALAROPES, as we had suspected. Nice county bird! We took many photographs as one of them came withing a few feet of us! Unfortunately the lighting was fading so the photos may be a bit fuzzy. By the way, the male REDHEAD, female CANVASBACK, and female EURASIAN WIGEON were still on the northern pond... looks like they may have settled in for the winter. Sorry that we were not able to post the phalaropes earlier. They were still there when we left when it was getting dark. Hopefully they will hang around for others to see. Good Birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/dc2d1b65/attachment.html From carolk at viclink.com Sun Nov 22 20:34:32 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:34:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] LEACH'S STORM-PETREL in Columbia county Message-ID: <000e01ca6bf6$563f5b40$8c76fea9@home> OBOL: Today we visited Columbia county to look for new birds for my county list. I was hoping for Pacific Loon, Red-throated Loon, Red-necked or Horned or Clark's Grebe, Redhead, any scoter, a Long-tailed Duck, Evening Grosbeak, or some other species I haven't seen. We drove to Woodson, west of Clatskanie, and took Woodson Rd. out to the Columbia River. It was about noon. The big weather system which had come ashore last night had just passed. There is a large dredge spoil area of sand, called Jones Beach, which is used by ORV folks as a playground. We drove into the parking area. The Columbia River was quite rough, a brisk wind was blowing, and a cursory look told me there were no rafts of ducks on the river. Then eagle-eyed Carol spotted a small bird flying low to the water, struggling against the wind, making its way down river. Over the next little while we were able to keep track of the bird, get the scope out and set up on the bird, and get the bird books deployed. As it worked its way downriver, gulls took passes at it, but the bird evaded them. It sat on the water briefly. Then a rain squall hit and wiped out all hope of seeing the bird again. We dove for the car. We had seen a LEACH'S STORM-PETREL heading back to the ocean after the storm. We saw the small swallow-like form, the white rump, the shallowly-notched tail, and the paler carpal bar across the top of the wings. The head was entirely black. The underwing showed a pale flash. The feet did not extend beyond the tail. Not exactly the bird I expected to see in Columbia county! Pacific Loon can wait for another day. Good birding, everyone, Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen P.S. Other nice finds were a Peregrine Falcon and a Kreider's Red-tail on fenceposts in the adjacent wet pastures. From larmcqueen at msn.com Sun Nov 22 20:42:32 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:42:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] (no subject) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Definitely. Larry _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of R. Adney Jr. Sent: Sunday, November 22, 2009 7:49 PM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] (no subject) What do you all think? Is this a Rough Legged Hawk? I shot these cruddy shots on Diamond Hill road on the 21st. It was about 4:30pm so the light was bad and this was the best I could do from the car at that time. I shot another RLH earlier in the day about 15 miles from the same location, and got definitive shots of it. If these are of another one, that would be a first for me seeing two in one day so close to one another. http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/4126315055/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/4127085588/ Rich Adney http://avianpics.blogspot.com/ http://adneyvisualarts.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/ _____ Windows 7: I wanted simpler, now it's simpler. I'm a rock star. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/9fa3cb96/attachment.html From diana.byrne at comcast.net Sun Nov 22 20:58:03 2009 From: diana.byrne at comcast.net (Diana Byrne) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:58:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Westmoreland Park RED PHALAROPES Message-ID: I was also at Westmoreland Park today around 4pm when I saw the 2 RED PHALAROPES, then ran into Adrian and Christopher. We were all able to get very close as the Phalaropes were busy foraging at the edge of the south pond. Video: http://www.youtube.com/user/dianab97330#p/a/u/0/3BHi0FQAANQ -Diana Byrne From rarebirdart at verizon.net Sun Nov 22 21:38:25 2009 From: rarebirdart at verizon.net (Lois Miller) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:38:25 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Snow or Ross ??? Message-ID: <510658.93346.qm@web84202.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Knute Andersson and I found a couple geese this afternoon in Langlois and we thought they might be Ross's as the bill looks very short. Could be Snow but if anyone wants to look at a couple photos and comment we would appreciate the ID help. look in the photos section under White Geese. It was a long shot and a big crop so not the best photos http://www.loismiller.zoomshare.com/0.html Also today we saw lots of Canada geese 6 Tundra Swans That other Swan? :) 4 Bald Eagles Acorn,Piliated,Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers Say's Phoebe 200+ Dunlin with a couple Black Turnstones, Sanderlings,BB Plovers out in a flooded cow pasture. Seemed an odd place for Black Turnstones ? A Merlin kept them quite stirred up as he swooped in every 15 minutes or so. all the other usuals for this area as well ? Lois Miller Port Orford ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/9d485198/attachment.html From acontrer at mindspring.com Sun Nov 22 21:54:18 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:54:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Snow or Ross ??? In-Reply-To: <510658.93346.qm@web84202.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <510658.93346.qm@web84202.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <2513CEBC-04B1-4FDC-9CB2-1B7A287D0BAA@mindspring.com> I am not sure if these are snow or ross's geese. The bills are not large but the head shape is ambiguous and there seems to be some dark where a grin patch should be. The base of the bill looks slightly curved rather than the vertical line of ross's. I lean to snow but I'd be interested to hear other opinions. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone On Nov 22, 2009, at 9:38 PM, Lois Miller wrote: > Knute Andersson and I found a couple geese this afternoon in > Langlois and we thought they might be Ross's as the bill looks very > short. Could be Snow but if anyone wants to look at a couple photos > and comment we would appreciate the ID help. > look in the photos section under White Geese. It was a long shot and > a big crop so not the best photos > http://www.loismiller.zoomshare.com/0.html > Also today we saw > lots of Canada geese > 6 Tundra Swans > That other Swan :) > 4 Bald Eagles > Acorn,Piliated,Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers > Say's Phoebe > 200+ Dunlin with a couple Black Turnstones, Sanderlings,BB Plovers > out in a flooded cow pasture. Seemed an odd place for Black > Turnstones ? A Merlin kept them quite stirred up as he swooped in > every 15 minutes or so. > all the other usuals for this area as well > > Lois Miller > Port Orford > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/cde34a20/attachment.html From haller1234 at msn.com Sun Nov 22 21:57:01 2009 From: haller1234 at msn.com (DON SHARON HALLER) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:57:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] siskins; urban blight Message-ID: Siskins: While elk hunting yesterday saw or heard at least one huge flock of siskins several times. About 11 miles up the Lewis and Clark mainline between the 110 and the 200. Urban blight: (National)An egret from Amtrak in New Jersey on a trip from Philadelphia to Manhattan. (Oregon) A larid flying along 82d Ave, Portland, August 1966,~ 2 am. Had just been forced to move there from Medford. Despair, despair..... Don -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/94443610/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sun Nov 22 22:07:32 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:07:32 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Snow or Ross ??? In-Reply-To: <510658.93346.qm@web84202.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <92463.32517.qm@web37006.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Lois and all, your geese look very small to me, compared to the Canadas nearby. Their bills are very small and stubby, and I can't really detect any "grinning patch". The heads are very rounded, and the overall coloration is very clean white, including head, neck and face - all that makes me lean strongly toward Ross's Geese. Snows tend to have a longer bill (more of a "Canada" profile, wheras these birds have a distinct "Cackler" profile) and often show some yellowish or brownish discoloration on the face. Just my 2 cents worth ... Good birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Sun, 11/22/09, Lois Miller wrote: From: Lois Miller Subject: [obol] Snow or Ross ??? To: "OBOL" Date: Sunday, November 22, 2009, 9:38 PM Knute Andersson and I found a couple geese this afternoon in Langlois and we thought they might be Ross's as the bill looks very short. Could be Snow but if anyone wants to look at a couple photos and comment we would appreciate the ID help. look in the photos section under White Geese. It was a long shot and a big crop so not the best photos http://www.loismiller.zoomshare.com/0.html Also today we saw lots of Canada geese 6 Tundra Swans That other Swan? :) 4 Bald Eagles Acorn,Piliated,Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers Say's Phoebe 200+ Dunlin with a couple Black Turnstones, Sanderlings,BB Plovers out in a flooded cow pasture. Seemed an odd place for Black Turnstones ? A Merlin kept them quite stirred up as he swooped in every 15 minutes or so. all the other usuals for this area as well ? Lois Miller Port Orford ? -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/7c4dd002/attachment.html From 4cains at charter.net Sun Nov 22 22:09:04 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:09:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Snow or Ross ??? Message-ID: <67D595AD931B4082A4FB9AAC715820DB@HAL> These look like ROSS'S GEESE to me. I think the dark line is where the lower mandible is shadowed, rather than a Snow Goose grin patch, which should be fatter in the middle and extend back farther towards the gape. And in the gis category, they have the "cute" look of the Ross's. Nice find! Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/00bff80c/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Nov 22 22:10:11 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:10:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Snow or Ross ??? In-Reply-To: <2513CEBC-04B1-4FDC-9CB2-1B7A287D0BAA@mindspring.com> References: <510658.93346.qm@web84202.mail.re3.yahoo.com> <2513CEBC-04B1-4FDC-9CB2-1B7A287D0BAA@mindspring.com> Message-ID: I have been fooled before at closer range. I agree with Alan that the head shape is ambiguous. A more rounded profile of the pate would make Ross' more a more comfortable ID. Every Ross' I've seen in nw Oregon to date has been a singleton (the first way back in 1976 at Ankeny). About as many times I've seen what appear to be family groups of Snow Geese. Ross' Geese show some predeliction for flocks of Cacklers. But the one that showed up 1/2 mile from my house on a five acre pond deep in the woods was with Western Canada Geese, our largest subspecies of honker. Lars Norgren On Nov 22, 2009, at 9:54 PM, Alan Contreras wrote: > I am not sure if these are snow or ross's geese. The bills are not > large but the head shape is ambiguous and there seems to be some > dark where a grin patch should be. The base of the bill looks > slightly curved rather than the vertical line of ross's. > > I lean to snow but I'd be interested to hear other opinions. > > Alan Contreras > Sent from my iPhone > > On Nov 22, 2009, at 9:38 PM, Lois Miller > wrote: > >> Knute Andersson and I found a couple geese this afternoon in >> Langlois and we thought they might be Ross's as the bill looks very >> short. Could be Snow but if anyone wants to look at a couple photos >> and comment we would appreciate the ID help. >> look in the photos section under White Geese. It was a long shot >> and a big crop so not the best photos >> http://www.loismiller.zoomshare.com/0.html >> Also today we saw >> lots of Canada geese >> 6 Tundra Swans >> That other Swan :) >> 4 Bald Eagles >> Acorn,Piliated,Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers >> Say's Phoebe >> 200+ Dunlin with a couple Black Turnstones, Sanderlings,BB Plovers >> out in a flooded cow pasture. Seemed an odd place for Black >> Turnstones ? A Merlin kept them quite stirred up as he swooped in >> every 15 minutes or so. >> all the other usuals for this area as well >> >> Lois Miller >> Port Orford >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/5d329d1f/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Nov 22 22:13:09 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:13:09 +0000 Subject: [obol] Westmoreland Park RED PHALAROPES In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: As one who grew up birding this and other se. Portland sites, all I can say wow! Westmoreland Park is not a site that I would have thought might ever collect storm-blown Red Phalaropes. Looks like this was a day to be out birding and not working (my sad story). Dave Irons Eugene, OR > From: diana.byrne at comcast.net > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:58:03 -0800 > Subject: Re: [obol] Westmoreland Park RED PHALAROPES > > I was also at Westmoreland Park today around 4pm when I saw the 2 RED > PHALAROPES, then ran into Adrian and Christopher. We were all able to > get very close as the Phalaropes were busy foraging at the edge of the > south pond. > > Video: http://www.youtube.com/user/dianab97330#p/a/u/0/3BHi0FQAANQ > > -Diana Byrne > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: I wanted simpler, now it's simpler. I'm a rock star. http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?h=myidea?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_myidea:112009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/709ced7d/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Nov 22 22:23:13 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:23:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] siskins; urban blight In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Is the Lewis and Clark Mainline a private log hauling road? I imagine most Obol subscribers don't have a clue, let alone the researcher in Davis, Ca.. Mention of the county involved is a concise way of helping the uninitiated. I saw about 20 Pine Siskins land at the top of the tallest Red-cedar by our driveway this morning. In flight they made the usual chorus, but fell silent upon landing. Five minutes later they were still there, virtually undetectable. Two Pine Siskins came out of the east at tree top level, vocalizing. The flock in the tree never responded, and the two birds turned around and flew back the way they came.I have always thought of Siskins feeding on alder seeds. This was the first time cedar had crossed my mind as a food source for them. It probably should have been obvious given the very small size of the seeds. Simultaneously a flock of Crossbills was in the tallest trees (30m,D-fir) next to our house. They were the loudest Crossbills I've ever heard, audible through the closed doors and windows of our living room. Lars Norgren, nw Washington County On Nov 22, 2009, at 9:57 PM, DON SHARON HALLER wrote: > Siskins: While elk hunting yesterday saw or heard at least one huge > flock of siskins several times. About 11 miles up the Lewis and > Clark mainline between the 110 and the 200. > > Urban blight: (National)An egret from Amtrak in New Jersey on a > trip from Philadelphia to Manhattan. > > (Oregon) A larid flying along 82d Ave, Portland, > August 1966,~ 2 am. Had just been forced to move there from > Medford. Despair, despair..... > > Don > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091122/9bef3d0f/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Nov 22 23:16:23 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:16:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lois Miller's white geese Message-ID: <80148784-D892-47BB-A0C5-A576A02BAFED@earthlink.net> Size doesn't matter. It is probably the most abused "field mark". Really just a value judgement highly subject to wishful thinking. The last time I recall resorting to it was when I flushed a rail in the final minutes of daylight of the Coos Bay CBC three years ago. I had never seen a Sora in flight, but deemed it "too small" to be a Sora. Mike Patterson, regional compiler of CBCs in the nw, rightly pointed out what a fecal (my adjective, not his) criterion size was. Tim Rodenkirk flushed a Sora in the same spot about a week later, and heck, I actually did get a glimpse of brown on the creature's back as I was attempting to pull the calipers from the depths of my raingear. The unexpected consequence was that I figured out the rail I flushed south of Bastia on the island of Corsica in April 1978 was a Corn Crake. I know this thirty years after the fact because it was too BIG to be any other species of European rail... But as for geese. The white-cheeked geese in all three photos are Branta canadensis mofitti. I learned them as "Great Basin Canada Geese" back in the sixties. They are now referred to as "Western Canada Geese' in the vernacular. The most widespread breeding subspecies in the western US, I guess maybe the only one south of Canada, "Western"is an appropriate moniker, but it bugs me because the subspecific for Dusky Canada Goose is"occidentalis". Westerns are very big, I'd say 12 pounds on average. Why do you think they call them honkers? They're practically the size of a swan. Put a five pound Snow Goose next to one, and it's going to look really cute. ?he white goose that is. The problem with telephoto/zoom/ cropping is that perspective is the first casualty. Even if one bird in the picture is a species we know very well, such as a Mallard, unless the bird being compared is exactly side by side with the others, the size will be significantly distorted. This came up about two days ago with the runt gull Darrel Faxon photographed at Lincoln City. A few years ago I was at the western gazebo at Fernhill Wetlands, at the nw corner of Cattailess Marsh. In a large flock of Taverner's Cackling Geese I saw three white geese and quickly concluded,"What little white geese! They must be Ross' Geese. I'd better sound the alarm. So many County Lists could be enlarged!" Then I set up my scope and quickly saw the diagnostic black grin patch, not the blue warts of a Ross', on their bills. They really did look smaller than the Cacklers. Taverner's is more or less the largest Cackler, around four or five pounds, and thus the same size as a Snow Goose. The profile of a Ross' Goose should resemble a Cackling Goose, esp. a "true"(minima) Cackler. That means a nearly vertical forehead above its junction with the beak. Several of the white birds in Lois' pictures show a sloping forehead, much like their behemoth buddies. The ones that don't aren't real profiles, rather oblique images. As Alan mentions, the base of the beak in a Ross' Goose should show a nearly vertical feather line. These birds indisputably show a peninsula of feathers intruding into the bill. I'm confident birders three hundred years from now will still be saying"It's so big!""It was so little". It's surely hardwired in the human brain. But I like to think a potential benefit of civilization is the occasional over-riding of our baser instincts. Lars Norgren From llsdirons at msn.com Mon Nov 23 00:33:52 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:33:52 +0000 Subject: [obol] Lois Miller's white geese Message-ID: I would add one caveat to Lars' lengthy discussion of size. There is some optical illusion that causes the most distant objects in a two-dimensional image to look larger than they really are in relation to less distant objects in the same image. It is possible that the apparent size difference between the moffitti Canada Geese (really should be misfitti since they were introduced on this side of the hill) and the two white geese in these images is not as great as it might seem based on these pictures. Though I can't be certain, the head shapes seem too blocky and the bills of these birds seem too long and do show some evidence of a dark grin patch. All of which leads me to lean towards Snow Goose. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > From: gnorgren at earthlink.net > Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:16:23 -0800 > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Lois Miller's white geese > > Size doesn't matter. It is probably the > most abused "field mark". Really just a value > judgement highly subject to wishful thinking. > The last time I recall resorting to it was > when I flushed a rail in the final minutes > of daylight of the Coos Bay CBC three years > ago. I had never seen a Sora in flight, but > deemed it "too small" to be a Sora. Mike > Patterson, regional compiler of CBCs in the > nw, rightly pointed out what a fecal (my > adjective, not his) criterion size was. > Tim Rodenkirk flushed a Sora in the same > spot about a week later, and heck, I actually > did get a glimpse of brown on the creature's > back as I was attempting to pull the > calipers from the depths of my raingear. > The unexpected consequence was that I > figured out the rail I flushed south of > Bastia on the island of Corsica in > April 1978 was a Corn Crake. I know this > thirty years after the fact because it > was too BIG to be any other species > of European rail... > But as for geese. The white-cheeked > geese in all three photos are Branta > canadensis mofitti. I learned them as > "Great Basin Canada Geese" back in the > sixties. They are now referred to as > "Western Canada Geese' in the vernacular. > The most widespread breeding subspecies > in the western US, I guess maybe the > only one south of Canada, "Western"is > an appropriate moniker, but it bugs > me because the subspecific for Dusky > Canada Goose is"occidentalis". Westerns > are very big, I'd say 12 pounds on > average. Why do you think they call > them honkers? They're practically the > size of a swan. Put a five pound Snow > Goose next to one, and it's going to > look really cute. ?he white goose that is. > The problem with telephoto/zoom/ > cropping is that perspective is the > first casualty. Even if one bird in > the picture is a species we know very > well, such as a Mallard, unless the > bird being compared is exactly side > by side with the others, the size > will be significantly distorted. > This came up about two days ago > with the runt gull Darrel Faxon > photographed at Lincoln City. > A few years ago I was at the western > gazebo at Fernhill Wetlands, at > the nw corner of Cattailess Marsh. > In a large flock of Taverner's Cackling > Geese I saw three white geese and > quickly concluded,"What little white > geese! They must be Ross' Geese. I'd > better sound the alarm. So many County > Lists could be enlarged!" Then I set > up my scope and quickly saw the diagnostic > black grin patch, not the blue warts > of a Ross', on their bills. They really > did look smaller than the Cacklers. > Taverner's is more or less the largest > Cackler, around four or five pounds, > and thus the same size as a Snow Goose. > The profile of a Ross' Goose should > resemble a Cackling Goose, esp. a > "true"(minima) Cackler. That means a > nearly vertical forehead above its > junction with the beak. Several of > the white birds in Lois' pictures > show a sloping forehead, much like > their behemoth buddies. The ones that > don't aren't real profiles, rather > oblique images. As Alan mentions, the > base of the beak in a Ross' Goose > should show a nearly vertical feather > line. These birds indisputably show > a peninsula of feathers intruding > into the bill. > I'm confident birders three > hundred years from now will still > be saying"It's so big!""It was so > little". It's surely hardwired in > the human brain. But I like to think > a potential benefit of civilization > is the occasional over-riding of > our baser instincts. Lars Norgren > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Bing brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MFESRP&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MFESRP_Local_MapsMenu_Resturants_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/51ae898c/attachment.html From 4cains at charter.net Mon Nov 23 06:41:51 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:41:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Snow Goose or Ross's??? Message-ID: <94BB105A0A104FF485BA341E132ECF42@HAL> I think somebody may have misunderstood my "cute" comment: I wasn't comparing the white geese size to the Canada's -- but to their own proportions. Think I will play around with some image software and get some measurements and get back to you all, unless somebody beats me too it (I have to go work for pay right now, thou this is way more fun to argue goose id). I still lean to Ross's... Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/5e3a28e5/attachment.html From Bigrocketman at comcast.net Mon Nov 23 06:44:31 2009 From: Bigrocketman at comcast.net (Bigrocketman at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:44:31 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] White Goose Discussion Message-ID: <205770678.208811258987471241.JavaMail.root@sz0001a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> To begin, I'll just say that any visible ID markers aside, these geese in the photos look about halfway between Snow and Ross' Geese. The unlikelyhood of hybrids between the two, leads me to propose that they are young Snow Geese, not yet fullsized. It takes most geese more than a year to reach their largest size or close to it. Lars Norgren points out the confusing fact that the scientific name of the Dusky Goose subspecies is currently occidentalis, while the common name of the moffitti subspecies is Western Canada Goose. To further complicate this, when the Duskies first came in more than?just a small number to the Willamette Valley, in the late 1940s, they were commonly known among hunters and breeders of captive birds, as "Western Canada Geese". This seems appropriate, considering their subspecies name. Giving the "Western" common name to the moffitti subspecies, is on par with the Cackling Goose name confusion, regarding the minima subspecies, which was formerly the only one known as "Cackling Goose". Now, all four of the subspecies are known as Cackling Geese, leaving you to wonder what to use for a common name for the minimas, to?separate them from the Taverner's, Aleutians and Richardson's Geese. About Dave Irons reference to the moffiti subspecies being introduced in the Willamette Valley, there was a moderately large wintering population of them in the Fern Ridge area, until the late 1930s. I speculate, that the extensive and noisy construction of Fern Ridge Reservoir, beginning in 1938, may have been the reason for them leaving for other areas. For 15 years or so, there were no wild geese of any kind on the ground in the Eugene area, except for a few pairs of moffitti here and there, that nested. Steve McDonald http://flickr.com/photos/22121562 at N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos http://video.yahoo.com/people/4019627 http://cid-229807ce52dd4fe0.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Video?uc=2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/91180762/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon Nov 23 07:09:11 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:09:11 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Salish Pond Birds etc.. Message-ID: <1353444413.5844641258988951746.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi all, What does a blue-green algae bloom look like? The east pond was clear with fish visible when we experienced that heat spell in July. The water is now a murky pea green. I guess it actually turned this color back in September or October. I am also wondering how this impacts the birds. I saw someone swimming his dogs in the green water, didn't seem like such a good idea. Last weekend I saw a female Piliated Woodpecker, one Northern Flicker, Song Sparrows, American Coots, Mallards, 2 male Ring-necked Ducks, 7 Pied-billed Grebes, 5 Double-crested cormorants. Heard Red-winged Blackbirds and Anna's Hummingbird. This weekend there were Song Sparrows, Black-capped chickadees, Western Scrub Jays, American Coots, Mallards, 2 male Ring-necked Ducks, 2 Pied-billed Grebes, 2 Double-crested cormorants. It was pretty windy. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/407169c0/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Nov 23 07:09:26 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:09:26 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry Birds of Late Message-ID: <258872.98790.qm@web45309.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I talked to Terry Wahl on Sunday afternoon.? He mentioned seeing a HARRIS'S SPARROW on the family?ranch near Cape Blanco a couple weeks ago.? He also said that he has two SAY'S PHOEBES around, probably overwintering as they have the past few years.? Knute Andersson has seen one near Floras Lake also, probably a third overwintering bird.? Terry also said he has LAPLAND LONGSPURS around, but not as many as in the past few years.? They were pretty thin in Coos Co. this fall also. ? I spent most of Sunday birding around Coos Bay with Frank Mayer and Paula Shannon.? We chased sparrows in obscure locations on the east side of the bay all morning but never did find anything unusual but saw lots of sparrows!? We found 4 EURASIAN WIGEON near Kentuck Inlet including one female.? We then drove out to the end of the north spit of Coos Bay but did not initially find the?BROWN BOOBY?at its usual navigational tower.? After scoping for a while Paula finally found the bird hunting further up the bay.? It eventually made it back to its usual area and we watched it catch quite a few fish. While scoping the bay there we found one female BLACK SCOTER, a species we missed on the CBC last year. We saw a couple NORTHERN SHRIKES again on the drive out to the end of the spit.? A real nice day as we managed to miss most of the showers and had lots of sun. ? Happy Birding all! Tim R Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/a9940350/attachment.html From hkrueger at cableone.net Mon Nov 23 07:29:55 2009 From: hkrueger at cableone.net (J. Harry Krueger) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:29:55 -0700 Subject: [obol] Lois Miller's white geese In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <62692df00911230729l326682eat7c95d115239f35dc@mail.gmail.com> Leaving size aside (which has ably been dealt with already), if these two birds are considered without comparison to the *Branta canadensis moffitti *in the photos, we are left with no other conclusion than to designate them as Snow Geese. As Dave so correctly pointed out the head shape, size (and shape) of bill, and suggested "grin patch," all point to Snow Goose. Also, the base of the bill is much more characteristic of Snow Goose. Although Snow Goose x Ross's Goose does occur, positive id is difficult, and this does not seem to be the case here. J. Harry Krueger Boise, ID On Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 1:33 AM, David Irons wrote: > I would add one caveat to Lars' lengthy discussion of size. There is some > optical illusion that causes the most distant objects in a two-dimensional > image to look larger than they really are in relation to less distant > objects in the same image. It is possible that the apparent size difference > between the *moffitti* Canada Geese (really should be *misfitti* since > they were introduced on this side of the hill) and the two white geese in > these images is not as great as it might seem based on these pictures. > > Though I can't be certain, the head shapes seem too blocky and the bills of > these birds seem too long and do show some evidence of a dark grin patch. > All of which leads me to lean towards Snow Goose. > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > > > From: gnorgren at earthlink.net > > Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:16:23 -0800 > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Subject: [obol] Lois Miller's white geese > > > > > Size doesn't matter. It is probably the > > most abused "field mark". Really just a value > > judgement highly subject to wishful thinking. > > The last time I recall resorting to it was > > when I flushed a rail in the final minutes > > of daylight of the Coos Bay CBC three years > > ago. I had never seen a Sora in flight, but > > deemed it "too small" to be a Sora. Mike > > Patterson, regional compiler of CBCs in the > > nw, rightly pointed out what a fecal (my > > adjective, not his) criterion size was. > > Tim Rodenkirk flushed a Sora in the same > > spot about a week later, and heck, I actually > > did get a glimpse of brown on the creature's > > back as I was attempting to pull the > > calipers from the depths of my raingear. > > The unexpected consequence was that I > > figured out the rail I flushed south of > > Bastia on the island of Corsica in > > April 1978 was a Corn Crake. I know this > > thirty years after the fact because it > > was too BIG to be any other species > > of European rail... > > But as for geese. The white-cheeked > > geese in all three photos are Branta > > canadensis mofitti. I learned them as > > "Great Basin Canada Geese" back in the > > sixties. They are now referred to as > > "Western Canada Geese' in the vernacular. > > The most widespread breeding subspecies > > in the western US, I guess maybe the > > only one south of Canada, "Western"is > > an appropriate moniker, but it bugs > > me because the subspecific for Dusky > > Canada Goose is"occidentalis". Westerns > > are very big, I'd say 12 pounds on > > average. Why do you think they call > > them honkers? They're practically the > > size of a swan. Put a five pound Snow > > Goose next to one, and it's going to > > look really cute. ?he white goose that is. > > The problem with telephoto/zoom/ > > cropping is that perspective is the > > first casualty. Even if one bird in > > the picture is a species we know very > > well, such as a Mallard, unless the > > bird being compared is exactly side > > by side with the others, the size > > will be significantly distorted. > > This came up about two days ago > > with the runt gull Darrel Faxon > > photographed at Lincoln City. > > A few years ago I was at the western > > gazebo at Fernhill Wetlands, at > > the nw corner of Cattailess Marsh. > > In a large flock of Taverner's Cackling > > Geese I saw three white geese and > > quickly concluded,"What little white > > geese! They must be Ross' Geese. I'd > > better sound the alarm. So many County > > Lists could be enlarged!" Then I set > > up my scope and quickly saw the diagnostic > > black grin patch, not the blue warts > > of a Ross', on their bills. They really > > did look smaller than the Cacklers. > > Taverner's is more or less the largest > > Cackler, around four or five pounds, > > and thus the same size as a Snow Goose. > > The profile of a Ross' Goose should > > resemble a Cackling Goose, esp. a > > "true"(minima) Cackler. That means a > > nearly vertical forehead above its > > junction with the beak. Several of > > the white birds in Lois' pictures > > show a sloping forehead, much like > > their behemoth buddies. The ones that > > don't aren't real profiles, rather > > oblique images. As Alan mentions, the > > base of the beak in a Ross' Goose > > should show a nearly vertical feather > > line. These birds indisputably show > > a peninsula of feathers intruding > > into the bill. > > I'm confident birders three > > hundred years from now will still > > be saying"It's so big!""It was so > > little". It's surely hardwired in > > the human brain. But I like to think > > a potential benefit of civilization > > is the occasional over-riding of > > our baser instincts. Lars Norgren > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > ------------------------------ > Bing brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it > now. > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/7e7c0f83/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Nov 23 07:42:47 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:42:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ross's Geese Message-ID: Knute Andersson has sent me an additional photo of the white geese in Curry Co. His shot is a perfect side view and slightly crisper than Lois's. I think they are Ross's. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Mon Nov 23 09:03:09 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (Jamie S.) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:03:09 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Red Phalarope (not red-necked) at Philomath SPs Message-ID: <161148.74681.qm@web39507.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Thanks to Dave Irons, Alan Contreras, and Tim Rodenkirk, (and Lisa Millbank, who posted a photo) we now know that the "very late" red-necked phalarope at the Philomath SPs yesterday was actually?a more expected "blown over the Coast Range" red phalarope in transitional plumage. ? Jamie Simmons Corvallis --- On Mon, 11/23/09, David Irons wrote: From: David Irons Subject: RE: [birding] Philomath sewage treatment ponds To: "Lisa Millbank" , "Mid-Valley Birders" Date: Monday, November 23, 2009, 12:51 AM Hi Lisa, Your image labeled "Red-necked Phalarope" is actually a hatch-year Red Phalarope that is transitioning from juvenile to its first basic (winter) plumage. Note the overall thickness of the bill and the rather thick neck of this bird. Also, it does not show any light (whitish) streaking on the back, which would be shown by a similarly plumaged Red-necked. A Red-necked Phalarope has a thinner neck, a very tiny head, and bill that is often described as 'needle-like" because it is so thin. A Red-necked Phalarope in Oregon at this time of year would be quite unusual, whereas Red Phalarope is the "expected"phalarope in Oregon after Nov 1st. Under normal circumstances I would send this reply to you only, but I noticed that Jamie Simmons' summary of Sunday's rarities at the Philomath STP included a Red-necked Phalarope, which I found very surprising. Separation of Red and Red-necked Phalaropes in transitional hatch-year plumages is an under-appreciated ID challenge and one that is not covered well in some of the popular field guides. Aside from pelagic trips, opportunities to see these two species side-by-side in Oregon are few and far between. I recently published a photo essay about plumage variation in Red Phalaropes at this time of year. It can be viewed at BirdFellow.com. It includes a photo of a bird that is near identical to the one in your image. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: lisaaves at peak.org To: list at midvalleybirding.org Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:45:27 -0800 Subject: [birding] Philomath sewage treatment ponds We took a ride out to the Philomath sewage treatment ponds after hearing all the reports about the unusual birds showing up there. Along with the HEERMANN'S GULLS (who were departing to the west around 4PM), COMMON GOLDENEYE, and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, we saw an EARED GREBE.? The phalarope sure?was a cute, perky?little guy, spinning around and picking up delicious nibbles out of the poo lagoon.? He didn't care at all?as we slowly walked by. (Picture of phalarope at http://groups.google.com/group/mid-valley-nature/browse_thread/thread/45bd91d03f3b33b5) A congregation of?NORTHERN SHOVELERS,?LESSER SCAUPS, RING-NECKED DUCKS, and?AMERICAN WIGEONS seemed to have found a rich food source in the middle of?the south pond.? There were?lots of RUDDY DUCKS,?BUFFLEHEADS, AMERICAN COOTS, and a few HOODED MERGANSERS.?? We missed out on Barrow's Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Leach's Storm-Petrel, and Bonaparte's Gull reported by others today.? I always worry about birds who get blown in by storms or otherwise go off-course.? I'd much rather they got on their way and back to where they want to be,?even if?that means we?don't get to see them. Lisa MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "mhtml:{ed9459b0-80c0-4a30-ad46-d7fec4fa73ce}mid:" claiming to be www.neighborhood-naturalist.com Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now. -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ list mailing list list at midvalleybirding.org http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/c9f5ab23/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Mon Nov 23 09:05:39 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:05:39 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Tigard/Durham Owl Sounds In-Reply-To: <4B09DDB2.4000905@comcast.net> Message-ID: <491262.52924.qm@web39704.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Brian, Thanks so much for putting me in contact with these owl vocalizations. I DID hear one "call" that sounded very similar to the one I heard! In the list under GHO, it is the call referred to as the "Harnk." This was a new GHO sound for me. Best, Dick --- On Sun, 11/22/09, Brian Wegener wrote: > From: Brian Wegener > Subject: Re: [obol] Tigard/Durham Owl Sounds > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sunday, November 22, 2009, 4:56 PM > Check out this catalog of owl sounds > from around the world.? They have > quite a variety of GHO sounds. > > http://www.owlpages.com/sounds.php > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From c.n.holcomb at gmail.com Mon Nov 23 09:11:12 2009 From: c.n.holcomb at gmail.com (Neil Holcomb) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:11:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Curry County Turkey Vulture and Hooded Mergansers - 11/23/09 Message-ID: <6e759fac0911230911n436dafd7k638b3d9ca22bcc4@mail.gmail.com> 3 Hooded Mergansers (2F, 1 imm M) were at the Pistol River Lagoon yesterday, and a Turkey Vulture was soaring along the cliffs at the south side of Cape Sebastian. Neil Holcomb -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/895252b2/attachment.html From freeflightphoto at gmail.com Mon Nov 23 09:11:29 2009 From: freeflightphoto at gmail.com (Freeflight photo) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:11:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bird Releases Message-ID: We have 3 rehab birds that are ready for release and we are looking for current sightings. 1. Northern Fulmar adult . Any sightings along the Oregon coast? 2. Common Murre juvenile. Any sightings along the Oregon coast? 3. Green-winged Teal juvenile. Any sightings Coos Bay-Bandon-Port Orford areas of juveniles or females Thanks. They're good to go and needing to continue their natural lives. Thanks. Don and Leslie, FreeFlight -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/7ad4cf76/attachment.html From douglas.robinson at oregonstate.edu Mon Nov 23 09:19:44 2009 From: douglas.robinson at oregonstate.edu (Robinson, Douglas - FW) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:19:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] [birding] Red Phalarope (not red-necked) at Philomath SPs In-Reply-To: <161148.74681.qm@web39507.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <161148.74681.qm@web39507.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1774A499-0253-44E0-99EF-61FEE24BA62B@oregonstate.edu> Folks There was a red-necked there in the morning. Birds were moving around all day, so the bird later in the day was an arrival sometime later. I got pics of the late bird, as did Lisa, but could not get on the earlier bird; there were much more interesting birds to focus on during the morning. Besides, how logical is it to say that a phalarope in Nov must be a red when there are storm-petrels, heeerman's gulls, and Barrow's goldeneyes there, too--all firsts. Makes no sense to start declaring impossibilities or unlikelihoods. Have fun Doug On Nov 23, 2009, at 9:03 AM, "Jamie S." wrote: > Thanks to Dave Irons, Alan Contreras, and Tim Rodenkirk, (and Lisa > Millbank, who posted a photo) we now know that the "very late" red- > necked phalarope at the Philomath SPs yesterday was actually a more > expected "blown over the Coast Range" red phalarope in transitional > plumage. > > Jamie Simmons > Corvallis > > --- On Mon, 11/23/09, David Irons wrote: > > From: David Irons > Subject: RE: [birding] Philomath sewage treatment ponds > To: "Lisa Millbank" , "Mid-Valley Birders" > > Date: Monday, November 23, 2009, 12:51 AM > > Hi Lisa, > > Your image labeled "Red-necked Phalarope" is actually a hatch-year > Red Phalarope that is transitioning from juvenile to its first basic > (winter) plumage. Note the overall thickness of the bill and the > rather thick neck of this bird. Also, it does not show any light > (whitish) streaking on the back, which would be shown by a similarly > plumaged Red-necked. A Red-necked Phalarope has a thinner neck, a > very tiny head, and bill that is often described as 'needle-like" > because it is so thin. > > A Red-necked Phalarope in Oregon at this time of year would be quite > unusual, whereas Red Phalarope is the "expected"phalarope in Oregon > after Nov 1st. Under normal circumstances I would send this reply to > you only, but I noticed that Jamie Simmons' summary of Sunday's > rarities at the Philomath STP included a Red-necked Phalarope, which > I found very surprising. Separation of Red and Red-necked Phalaropes > in transitional hatch-year plumages is an under-appreciated ID > challenge and one that is not covered well in some of the popular > field guides. Aside from pelagic trips, opportunities to see these > two species side-by-side in Oregon are few and far between. > > I recently published a photo essay about plumage variation in Red > Phalaropes at this time of year. It can be viewed at BirdFellow.com. > It includes a photo of a bird that is near identical to the one in > your image. > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > > From: lisaaves at peak.org > To: list at midvalleybirding.org > Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:45:27 -0800 > Subject: [birding] Philomath sewage treatment ponds > > We took a ride out to the Philomath sewage treatment ponds after > hearing all the reports about the unusual birds showing up there. > Along with the HEERMANN'S GULLS (who were departing to the west > around 4PM), COMMON GOLDENEYE, and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, we saw an > EARED GREBE. The phalarope sure was a cute, perky little guy, > spinning around and picking up delicious nibbles out of the poo > lagoon. He didn't care at all as we slowly walked by. (Picture of > phalarope at http://groups.google.com/group/mid-valley-nature/browse_thread/thread/45bd91d03f3b33b5 > ) > A congregation of NORTHERN SHOVELERS, LESSER SCAUPS, RING-NECKED > DUCKS, and AMERICAN WIGEONS seemed to have found a rich food source > in the middle of the south pond. There were lots of RUDDY DUCKS, > BUFFLEHEADS, AMERICAN COOTS, and a few HOODED MERGANSERS. > We missed out on Barrow's Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Leach's > Storm-Petrel, and Bonaparte's Gull reported by others today. I > always worry about birds who get blown in by storms or otherwise go > off-course. I'd much rather they got on their way and back to where > they want to be, even if that means we don't get to see them. > Lisa > MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "mhtml: > {ed9459b0-80c0-4a30-ad46-d7fec4fa73ce}mid:" claiming to be www.neighborhood-naturalist.com > > Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. > Sign up now. > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > list mailing list > list at midvalleybirding.org > http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ > > _______________________________________________ > list mailing list > list at midvalleybirding.org > http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/bac35c6c/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Mon Nov 23 09:34:09 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:34:09 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] (no subject) In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <837422.86382.qm@web39705.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Rich, These look like rough legged hawks to me. On the second photo, the leg farthest from the viewer reveals a feathered tarsus (if you look closely). This is what gives this raptor its name. In the hand, the tarsus is feathered all the way down to the toes. These birds have very small feet when compared to redtails, as they prey (generally) on small microtenes. Hope this is of some value to someone. Best, Dick --- On Sun, 11/22/09, R. Adney Jr. wrote: > From: R. Adney Jr. > Subject: [obol] (no subject) > To: "OBOL" > Date: Sunday, November 22, 2009, 7:48 PM > > > > > > What do you all think?? Is this a Rough Legged Hawk? I > shot these cruddy shots on Diamond Hill road on the > 21st.? It was about 4:30pm so the light was bad and > this was the best I could do from the car at that > time.? I shot another RLH earlier in the day about 15 > miles from the same location, and got definitive shots of > it.? If these are of another one, that would be a first > for me seeing two in one day so close to one another. > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/4126315055/ > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/4127085588/ > > Rich Adney > > http://avianpics.blogspot.com/ > http://adneyvisualarts.com > http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/ > > > > Windows 7: I wanted simpler, now > it's simpler. I'm > a rock star. > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From philliplc at charter.net Mon Nov 23 09:48:37 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:48:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <194D030442A24F928D00244320A2999F@Phil> 7:00-8:00 (11/23): partly clear, wind S 5-15, swells 6-8 60 Red-throated Loon 10 Pacific Loon 40 Common Loon 2 Northern Fulmar 2 Brown Pelican 20 Brandt's Cormorant 12 Pelagic Cormorant 80 Black Scoter 20 White-winged Scoter 300 Surf Scoter 25 Mew Gull 400 California Gull 40+ Herring Gull 1 Thayer's Gull 150 Western Gull 30 Glaucous-winged Gull 12 Heermann's Gull 2 Black-legged Kittiwake 3500 Common Murre 2 Pigoen Guillemot 4 Marbled Murrelet Phil philliplc at charter.net From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Mon Nov 23 09:58:40 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:58:40 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Tigard/Durham; owl question In-Reply-To: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F121BD30897@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> Message-ID: <50313.38468.qm@web39703.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Tom, It is getting close to GHO courting time, and I had this same identical thought as did you. I do believe that there are GHO youngsters still alive, as I heard one call a couple of weeks ago. But as breeding season gets closer, the adults are not nearly as friendly to their youngsters as they previously were. If there is lots of food (this season food is very low) the adults don't "run off" last seasons young, but allow them to hunt "their" range. There is an adult here that does a lot of nocturnal hooting, and I'll keep the list informed as their season progresses. Best, Dick --- On Sun, 11/22/09, Thomas Love wrote: > From: Thomas Love > Subject: RE: Re: [obol] Tigard/Durham; owl question > To: barbara.millikan at gmail.com, "Richard and Marilyn Musser" > Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sunday, November 22, 2009, 1:38 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Thanks, > Barbara, for the link to the local birdsounds site.? > The file GHOw_juv_begging_2.wav > was close to what I remember?but there wouldn?t > be juveniles at this time of > year.? Is this a courtship/mating sound I wonder > ? would be about time. > > ? > > Tom > Love > > ? > > ? > > > > From: > barbara.millikan at gmail.com > [mailto:barbara.millikan at gmail.com] > > Sent: Sunday, November 22, 2009 9:53 > > To: Richard and Marilyn Musser > > Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org; Thomas Love > > Subject: Re: Re: [obol] Tigard/Durham; owl > question > > > > ? > > I agree. I identified the really odd > sounds I was hearing > after dark -- chirping and screechy squawks at Don > Boucher's excellent bird > sound website: > http://www.neighborhood-naturalist.com/bird_sounds/pages/180_robin.htm > > Check these out and see if you get a match. > > Barbara > > > > On Nov 22, 2009 9:45am, Richard and Marilyn Musser > wrote: > > > Hi Tom, > > > > > > ? ? About two weeks ago, at dusk, I heard > some very unusual > sounds and proceeded to investigate (could not identify > this bird call). The > sound is difficult to describe, but completely unlike > anything I've ever heard > from a Great Horned Owl. Had I not observed a GHO making > these calls (seeing > just its outline at dusk), I would never have attributed it > to any owl. I > quickly attempted to get my wife for verification, but > before I could do this, > that unusual call stopped, and the owl hooted normally like > any adult GHO. > > > > > > ? ? These big owls can obviously generate > sounds not often heard > by humans, and it behooves us all to investigate this > whenever the opportunity > arises. Best, Dick > > > > > gonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > > From cowgirl at harborside.com Mon Nov 23 10:05:40 2009 From: cowgirl at harborside.com (cowgirl at harborside.com) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:05:40 +0000 Subject: [obol] White Geese Message-ID: <2028144836-1258999771-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-764276577-@bda504.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> Knute just called me and the Ross\Snow geese are still in the field on Floras Lake along New River. Langlois Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From tlove at linfield.edu Mon Nov 23 11:38:37 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:38:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Monday morning SE Washington Co. Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F121BD30AFD@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> I took a quick tour of local bodies of water in SE Washington County (Tualatin, Sherwood areas), small to large, including Tualatin River NWR, hoping for lingering storm-related vagrants. Great to be out, lots of wintering waterfowl, but no gulls and nothing out of the ordinary to report. PEREGRINE FALCON and drake EURASIAN WIGEON at TRNWR. Tom Love -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/68573954/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Mon Nov 23 12:08:14 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:08:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yaquina-Siletz Raptor Run (Lincoln Co.) Message-ID: Chuck Philo and Janet Lamberson did the Yaquina-Siletz raptor run on Saturday, 11/21. ?Weather was mostly cloudy with sun breaks and occasional light rain, with light wind from the SW and temperatures of 41-48 F. ?Time was 4.5 hours, 66 miles. Here's what we saw: Red-tailed Hawk ? 10 American Kestrel ?4 Bald Eagle ? ? ? ?4 Red-shouldered Hawk ? ? 1 White-tailed Kite 1 Peregrine Falcon ?1 Cooper's Hawk ? ? ? ? ? 3 Also 1 unid raptor, probably a Red-tailed Hawk. ?It appeared to have a long tail, but the tail was folded as the raptor was pursued by a raven, so may have appeared longer than usual for the species. The size and underwing pattern were pretty much consistent with Red-tailed, but the observers did not note whether the patagial mark was present. The Red-shouldered Hawk was seen among trees along Hwy 229 between Kernville and Strome Park, probably about 10 miles south of Kernville. Janet Lamberson Siletz, OR From Randy.Moore at oregonstate.edu Mon Nov 23 12:58:02 2009 From: Randy.Moore at oregonstate.edu (Moore, Randy - FW) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:58:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] linn co. parasitic jaeger References: Message-ID: Spurred by Doug Robinson's Leach's Storm Petrel at the Philomath poo ponds, I went to check the wetlands along Diamond Hill Rd. in Linn Co. (about 1 mile east of the interstate) very early this morning (11/23), and among a lot of the stuff you'd expect to be there, there was a dark phase parasitic jaeger that had presumably been lingering after having been blown in during the big wind the other night. It's unclear to me how old the bird was, but I'm assuming young-ish as the central tail feathers protruded only about an inch beyond the end of the tail. There were also at least two Lapland Longspurs flying around at dawn. These wetalnds are private and you can't enter the property, but both of these species were easily detectable from the road. The jaeger took off to the north while I was there, and didn't give any indication that it intended to return, but who knows? randy moore Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/f20a4913/attachment.html From Lamberson.Janet at epamail.epa.gov Mon Nov 23 10:56:27 2009 From: Lamberson.Janet at epamail.epa.gov (Lamberson.Janet at epamail.epa.gov) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:56:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yaquina-Siletz Raptor Run In-Reply-To: <057301ca16d6$4ace7fe0$e06b7fa0$@com> References: <057301ca16d6$4ace7fe0$e06b7fa0$@com> Message-ID: Chuck Philo and Janet Lamberson did the Yaquina-Siletz raptor run on Saturday, 11/21. Weather was mostly cloudy with sun breaks and occasional light rain, with light wind from the SW and temperatures of 41-48 F. Time was 4.5 hours, 66 miles. Here's what we saw: Red-tailed Hawk 10 American Kestrel 4 Bald Eagle 4 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 White-tailed Kite 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 Cooper's Hawk 3 Also 1 unid raptor, probably a Red-tailed Hawk. It appeared to have a long tail, but the tail was folded as the raptor was pursued by a raven, so may have appeared longer than usual for the species. The size and underwing pattern were pretty much consistent with Red-tailed, but the observers did not note whether the patagial mark was present. The Red-shouldered Hawk was seen among trees along Hwy 229 between Kernville and Strome Park, probably about 10 miles south of Kernville. Janet Lamberson Siletz, OR From marjmo at comcast.net Sun Nov 22 21:20:12 2009 From: marjmo at comcast.net (marjmo at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:20:12 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Booby Help In-Reply-To: <339606567.5382671258953447413.JavaMail.root@sz0101a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <524039715.5383261258953612060.JavaMail.root@sz0101a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi there... I will be traveling from Portland south onto California for the Thanksgiving holiday.? I decided since I was heading that way that I would make a detour off I-5 & head west via Umpqua hwy to Coos Bay to hopefully get a glimpse of the booby & whatever else that?may grace me with their presence.? Any help with directions?& advice would be greatly appreciated.? Thank you for your time & consideration. Sincerely, ????????? Marjorie -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/c478ae90/attachment.html From foglark at att.net Mon Nov 23 13:16:48 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:16:48 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Langlois geese? Message-ID: <347543.58179.qm@web80012.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I am not sure what the Langlois geese are, but I don't buy that they are both Ross's Geese. While I am one of the last birders to suggest hybridization in the case of puzzling birds, I think we shouldn't be so quick to rule it out. One post-er said that "identification of [these] hybrids is difficult" and that that didn't seem to be the case here. I have to say that seems like an off-handed dismissal. The first three photos to which a link was posted were not good, but appears to show that one of them is NOT a Ross's. Unless the photo is really misrepresentative, it shows one bird having a distinctly rounded lobe of feathering at the base of the bill. In Ross's Goose this is cut straight up-and-down. I have not read a source that states or indicates that this varies in otherwise phenotypically pure Ross's Geese. Indeed, it has been suggested that putative Ross's Geese from out of the normal range which look like that species, but which had bulging feathering at the base of the bill, could be hybrids. This problem has been addressed in the pages of North American Birds magazine, a few years back--possibly a bird from Florida. Anyone recall that photo and caveat? One thing thay troubles me (inasmuch as one could be "troubled") is that the bill shapes of the two birds--again, as shown in the original three photos--appear slightly different from one another (this could be the angle of the shots). One bird's bill looks an awful lot like a Ross's, while the other is just too long. I disagree with Irons' thoughts that both can be identified as Snow Geese based on their bills. Here in Humboldt, where white geese are uncommon but regular, they get looked at a lot, if only because they stand out so dramatically in the flocks of Aleutians they consort with. We do occasionally see birds we cannot assign to species because their bill and/or head shape is not "spot on.". While I would be willing to concede that >99.5% of white geese look phenotypically pure, we ought not try to pin a label on birds that seem not to fit. Note that a theory holds that the exceedingly rare "Blue Ross's Geese" came into existence through the introgression of dark Snow ("Blue") Goose genes into the Ross's population. This suggests that WHITE Snow Goose genes are present in the general Ross's population as well. It is conceivable, and perhaps even likely, that a small minority of all white-morph birds that we might assign to either Snow or Ross's could in fact be hybrids or backcrosses, and that we call them to species because (a) we don't look closely enough and (b) we are willing to "bend" birds that are just a bit "off" because it is in the ancient nature of our left brains to separate and categorize. What I'm suggesting is that, rather than trying to force an ID, sometimes we might just observe and withhold judgment, especially as the birds might not be identifiable. I have not seen the photos Alan Contreras alludes to. Knowing how poor photos can mislead, and how my own mind works or doesn't, I wouldn't be surprised were the other photos to change my thoughts about the geese (and I'll develop a distinct grin patch and a change in the configuration of my facial lines, too). But if all I had to go on were the three photos Lois linked to, I don't think I could identify them. David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/0a28da65/attachment.html From mmarvin at spiritone.com Mon Nov 23 13:22:56 2009 From: mmarvin at spiritone.com (Marcia Marvin) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:22:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hermit Thrush, SW Portland Message-ID: <181E4EF2-9508-4409-8D35-4E0FA1C6CD93@spiritone.com> OBOL - I just had my yard's first Hermit Thrush of the season, foraging in the back among the blowdown from Saturday night's storm. I was looking down on the bird from the deck and noticed a behavior I'd never observed before. I could see the bird's feet, and every few seconds he seemed to "clench" and then release his toes. I took this as possible foraging behavior, maybe to scare up any bugs that might be underfoot. Any other ideas? Nervous condition? Macarena? Good birding! Marcia -- Marcia Marvin * mmarvin at spiritone.com * SW Portland, OR, USA From celata at pacifier.com Mon Nov 23 16:15:53 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:15:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Del Rey body count - 11/23/2009 Message-ID: <4B0B25B9.5080007@pacifier.com> David Bailey and I walked the 2.7km stretch between DelRey Beach Access and the Gearhart Approach this morning to get a sense of the storm related mortality for the most recent event. Dead counts prior to today have been light. Most birds found today were probably washed up within the last 48 hours. Northern Fulmar 42 (34DK;8LT) Leach's Storm-petrel 1 Olympic Gull 1 Cassin's Auklet 1 Red Phalarope 1 The only stuff we saw that was alive were SANDERLINGS and assorted regularly expected gulls. No pelican flew by, no Heermann's Gulls, no gannets... Those who get fidgety about technical stuff can move on to the next email now... David and I spent a good bit of time looking at feather wear on the birds we found. Hatch-year birds have even wear on all feathers, because they come off the nest having grown all their feathers together. Because this is a fairly easy assessment to make, we've noted this in past counts. According to my shiney new copy of Pyle-part II, these hatch-year birds molt earlier than do breeding adults: somewhere in between April and November. Breeding adults molt later: August to January. Second-cycle fulmars apparently retain big blocks of juvenile secondaries and coverts. So, if I'm reading Pyle correctly, this is a second-cycle fulmar wing. http://home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/temp/20091122sm59.JPG All but the outer primaries (P9-10 are missing on both wings) look replaced, but the secondaries are really ratty looking. Normal background fulmar counts favor HY birds this time of year, but today we found quite a few birds with variable amounts of wing molt and many also showed retained secondaries and coverts. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Why a duck? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12750/ From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon Nov 23 16:17:01 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:17:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Crook Birds Message-ID: <73D87589D9BC421DA203BE566A2BA531@cgatesPC> I did some birding in Crook County today warming up for the run to the border for the gull tomorrow. Nothing really crazy but some unusual things were about. Some of these reports are from another time but might be interesting to some. 1 Greater Scaup - female at Prineville Sewer Ponds 1 Ring-necked Pheasant - Near Prineville 3 Horned Grebes - Actually a few days ago at Prineville Sewer Ponds 55 Western Grebes - Prineville Reservoir - Getting late for these guys 1 Turkey Vulture - A week ago 1 California Gull - Prineville Res. 5 Eurasian Collared-Doves - Completely common around Prineville now. 1 Northern Shrike - Prineville Sewer Ponds 10 Cedar Waxwings - Prineville Reservoir 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers - Prineville Reservoir 1 Brown-headed Cowbird in a flock of 1000 Red-wings Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/82736360/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Nov 23 16:27:00 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:27:00 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] [birding] Red Phalarope (not red-necked) at Philomath SPs In-Reply-To: <1774A499-0253-44E0-99EF-61FEE24BA62B@oregonstate.edu> Message-ID: <630529.15769.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Doug, ? Unlikely it is anyhow!? Red-necked Phalaropes are incredibly rare in Oregon in November, just as are species like Western Kingbird, although Red Phalarope and Tropical Kingbird are EXPECTED and not even that unusual, even in the valley for the Red Phalarope.? That said, you may have had a Red-necked Phalarope, but just wanted to let you know that your find would be the latest fall record ever if it was in Coos County.? ? Tim Rodenkirk Coos Bay --- On Mon, 11/23/09, Robinson, Douglas - FW wrote: From: Robinson, Douglas - FW Subject: Re: [obol] [birding] Red Phalarope (not red-necked) at Philomath SPs To: "Jamie S." Cc: "Mid-valley-nature" , "post to list midvalleybirding" , "obol" Date: Monday, November 23, 2009, 9:19 AM Folks There was a red-necked there in the morning. Birds were moving around all day, so the bird later in the day was an arrival sometime later. ?I got pics of the late bird, as did Lisa, but could not get on the earlier bird; there were much more interesting birds to focus on during the morning. Besides, how logical is it to say that a phalarope in Nov must be a red when there are storm-petrels, heeerman's gulls, and Barrow's goldeneyes there, too--all firsts. ?Makes no sense to start declaring impossibilities or unlikelihoods. Have fun Doug On Nov 23, 2009, at 9:03 AM, "Jamie S." wrote: Thanks to Dave Irons, Alan Contreras, and Tim Rodenkirk, (and Lisa Millbank, who posted a photo) we now know that the "very late" red-necked phalarope at the Philomath SPs yesterday was actually?a more expected "blown over the Coast Range" red phalarope in transitional plumage. ? Jamie Simmons Corvallis --- On Mon, 11/23/09, David Irons wrote: From: David Irons Subject: RE: [birding] Philomath sewage treatment ponds To: "Lisa Millbank" , "Mid-Valley Birders" Date: Monday, November 23, 2009, 12:51 AM Hi Lisa, Your image labeled "Red-necked Phalarope" is actually a hatch-year Red Phalarope that is transitioning from juvenile to its first basic (winter) plumage. Note the overall thickness of the bill and the rather thick neck of this bird. Also, it does not show any light (whitish) streaking on the back, which would be shown by a similarly plumaged Red-necked. A Red-necked Phalarope has a thinner neck, a very tiny head, and bill that is often described as 'needle-like" because it is so thin. A Red-necked Phalarope in Oregon at this time of year would be quite unusual, whereas Red Phalarope is the "expected"phalarope in Oregon after Nov 1st. Under normal circumstances I would send this reply to you only, but I noticed that Jamie Simmons' summary of Sunday's rarities at the Philomath STP included a Red-necked Phalarope, which I found very surprising. Separation of Red and Red-necked Phalaropes in transitional hatch-year plumages is an under-appreciated ID challenge and one that is not covered well in some of the popular field guides. Aside from pelagic trips, opportunities to see these two species side-by-side in Oregon are few and far between. I recently published a photo essay about plumage variation in Red Phalaropes at this time of year. It can be viewed at BirdFellow.com. It includes a photo of a bird that is near identical to the one in your image. Dave Irons Eugene, OR From: lisaaves at peak.org To: list at midvalleybirding.org Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:45:27 -0800 Subject: [birding] Philomath sewage treatment ponds We took a ride out to the Philomath sewage treatment ponds after hearing all the reports about the unusual birds showing up there. Along with the HEERMANN'S GULLS (who were departing to the west around 4PM), COMMON GOLDENEYE, and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, we saw an EARED GREBE.? The phalarope sure?was a cute, perky?little guy, spinning around and picking up delicious nibbles out of the poo lagoon.? He didn't care at all?as we slowly walked by. (Picture of phalarope at http://groups.google.com/group/mid-valley-nature/browse_thread/thread/45bd91d03f3b33b5) A congregation of?NORTHERN SHOVELERS,?LESSER SCAUPS, RING-NECKED DUCKS, and?AMERICAN WIGEONS seemed to have found a rich food source in the middle of?the south pond.? There were?lots of RUDDY DUCKS,?BUFFLEHEADS, AMERICAN COOTS, and a few HOODED MERGANSERS.?? We missed out on Barrow's Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Leach's Storm-Petrel, and Bonaparte's Gull reported by others today.? I always worry about birds who get blown in by storms or otherwise go off-course.? I'd much rather they got on their way and back to where they want to be,?even if?that means we?don't get to see them. Lisa MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "mhtml:{ed9459b0-80c0-4a30-ad46-d7fec4fa73ce}mid:" claiming to be www.neighborhood-naturalist.com Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now. -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ list mailing list list at midvalleybirding.org http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ _______________________________________________ list mailing list list at midvalleybirding.org http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/596e5696/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Nov 23 18:15:29 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:15:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] [birding] Red Phalarope (not red-necked) at Philomath SPs In-Reply-To: <630529.15769.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: A Red-necked Phalarope this late would be a week later than any sight record I know of for Oregon, and maybe four weeks past any photo record. Anyone out there have a photo of Red-necked past mid-October? Weird shocking things happen, such as the Pectoral Sandpiper photographed on a British Columbia CBC. That's why the Goddess gave us the digital camera. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com > From: Tim Rodenkirk > Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:27:00 -0800 (PST) > To: Jamie Simmons , Douglas Robinson > > Cc: obol , post to list midvalleybirding > , Mid-valley-nature > > Subject: Re: [obol] [birding] Red Phalarope (not red-necked) at Philomath SPs > > Doug, > ? > Unlikely it is anyhow!? Red-necked Phalaropes are incredibly rare in Oregon in > November, just as are species like Western Kingbird, although Red Phalarope > and Tropical Kingbird are EXPECTED and not even that unusual, even in the > valley for the Red Phalarope.? That said, you may have had a Red-necked > Phalarope, but just wanted to let you know that your find would be the latest > fall record ever if it was in Coos County.? > ? > Tim Rodenkirk > Coos Bay > > --- On Mon, 11/23/09, Robinson, Douglas - FW > wrote: > > > From: Robinson, Douglas - FW > Subject: Re: [obol] [birding] Red Phalarope (not red-necked) at Philomath SPs > To: "Jamie S." > Cc: "Mid-valley-nature" , "post to list > midvalleybirding" , "obol" > > Date: Monday, November 23, 2009, 9:19 AM > > > > Folks > > > There was a red-necked there in the morning. > > > Birds were moving around all day, so the bird later in the day was an arrival > sometime later. ?I got pics of the late bird, as did Lisa, but could not get > on the earlier bird; there were much more interesting birds to focus on during > the morning. > > > Besides, how logical is it to say that a phalarope in Nov must be a red when > there are storm-petrels, heeerman's gulls, and Barrow's goldeneyes there, > too--all firsts. ?Makes no sense to start declaring impossibilities or > unlikelihoods. > > > Have fun > Doug > > > > > > > > On Nov 23, 2009, at 9:03 AM, "Jamie S." wrote: > > > > > > > > > > Thanks to Dave Irons, Alan Contreras, and Tim Rodenkirk, (and Lisa Millbank, > who posted a photo) we now know that the "very late" red-necked phalarope at > the Philomath SPs yesterday was actually?a more expected "blown over the Coast > Range" red phalarope in transitional plumage. > ? > Jamie Simmons > Corvallis > > --- On Mon, 11/23/09, David Irons wrote: > > > From: David Irons > Subject: RE: [birding] Philomath sewage treatment ponds > To: "Lisa Millbank" , "Mid-Valley Birders" > > Date: Monday, November 23, 2009, 12:51 AM > > > > > Hi Lisa, > > Your image labeled "Red-necked Phalarope" is actually a hatch-year Red > Phalarope that is transitioning from juvenile to its first basic (winter) > plumage. Note the overall thickness of the bill and the rather thick neck of > this bird. Also, it does not show any light (whitish) streaking on the back, > which would be shown by a similarly plumaged Red-necked. A Red-necked > Phalarope has a thinner neck, a very tiny head, and bill that is often > described as 'needle-like" because it is so thin. > > A Red-necked Phalarope in Oregon at this time of year would be quite unusual, > whereas Red Phalarope is the "expected"phalarope in Oregon after Nov 1st. > Under normal circumstances I would send this reply to you only, but I noticed > that Jamie Simmons' summary of Sunday's rarities at the Philomath STP included > a Red-necked Phalarope, which I found very surprising. Separation of Red and > Red-necked Phalaropes in transitional hatch-year plumages is an > under-appreciated ID challenge and one that is not covered well in some of the > popular field guides. Aside from pelagic trips, opportunities to see these two > species side-by-side in Oregon are few and far between. > > I recently published a photo essay about plumage variation in Red Phalaropes > at this time of year. It can be viewed at BirdFellow.com. It includes a photo > of a bird that is near identical to the one in your image. > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > > > > From: lisaaves at peak.org > To: list at midvalleybirding.org > Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:45:27 -0800 > Subject: [birding] Philomath sewage treatment ponds > > > > > > > We took a ride out to the Philomath sewage treatment ponds after hearing all > the reports about the unusual birds showing up there. > Along with the HEERMANN'S GULLS (who were departing to the west around 4PM), > COMMON GOLDENEYE, and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, we saw an EARED GREBE.? The > phalarope sure?was a cute, perky?little guy, spinning around and picking up > delicious nibbles out of the poo lagoon.? He didn't care at all?as we slowly > walked by. (Picture of phalarope at > http://groups.google.com/group/mid-valley-nature/browse_thread/thread/45bd91d0 > 3f3b33b5) > A congregation of?NORTHERN SHOVELERS,?LESSER SCAUPS, RING-NECKED DUCKS, > and?AMERICAN WIGEONS seemed to have found a rich food source in the middle > of?the south pond.? There were?lots of RUDDY DUCKS,?BUFFLEHEADS, AMERICAN > COOTS, and a few HOODED MERGANSERS.?? > We missed out on Barrow's Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Leach's > Storm-Petrel, and Bonaparte's Gull reported by others today.? I always worry > about birds who get blown in by storms or otherwise go off-course.? I'd much > rather they got on their way and back to where they want to be,?even if?that > means we?don't get to see them. > Lisa > MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from > "mhtml:{ed9459b0-80c0-4a30-ad46-d7fec4fa73ce}mid:" claiming to be > www.neighborhood-naturalist.com > > > Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now. > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > > _______________________________________________ > list mailing list > list at midvalleybirding.org > http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ > > > _______________________________________________ > list mailing list > list at midvalleybirding.org > http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Nov 23 19:14:19 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:14:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Additional goose photo posted Message-ID: I have posted one additional photo of the Rosslike Geese on my bird blog. The photo is by Knute Andersson. It is the best "flat" side view and shows head and bill shape well. http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Mon Nov 23 19:22:08 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:22:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] ECBC Summer Lake - Wagontire Raptor Survey Message-ID: <0A7C7C24A0D54599B24C60EEAF962DE9@KimPC> I joined Lowell Franks today (Mon.) on the Summer Lake - Wagontire ECBC Raptor Survey. We counted 99 Raptors as listed below. Most of the birds were found on the southern portion between Summer Lake and Valley Falls with scattered birds on the north portion along Abert Lake. Other interesting critters included 200+ Ca. Quail, a N. Shrike, 1 Band Tailed Pigeon, Several Trumpeter and Tundra Swans, 200+ Pronghorns 50+ Mule Deer, and lots of cool temperatures and sunshine. Red-tailed Hawk 52 American Kestrel 3 Northern Harrier 9 Adult Bald Eagle 2 Golden Eagle 2 Rough-legged Hawk 18 Ferruginous Hawk 2 Unident. Buteo 2 Prairie Falcon 7 Great-horned Owl 2 Kim Boddie Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/813d2e83/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Mon Nov 23 20:26:37 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:26:37 EST Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge White Pelicans Message-ID: Hello All, Scoping from the dam, 2 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were the most interesting birds I could find during the 15 minutes of daylight that were left after work today. John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/9709f169/attachment.html From geraldham at comcast.net Mon Nov 23 21:03:49 2009 From: geraldham at comcast.net (geraldham at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:03:49 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Fwd: .........Ridgefield Nat'l Wildlife Refuge In-Reply-To: <1489907765.6269921259038908788.JavaMail.root@sz0058a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <858412185.6270511259039029983.JavaMail.root@sz0058a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: geraldham at comcast.net To: tweeters at u.washington.edu Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 9:01:48 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: .........Ridgefield Nat'l Wildlife Refuge ..................48 degrees and partly-mostly cloudy day at Ridgefield NWR---River-S Unit, just north of Vancouver, Wash. .....a real nice late-autumn day. ...................Hawks everywhere-------RED-TAILED; RED-SHOULDERED; ROUGH-LEGGED; NORTHERN HARRIER; KESTRALS; and 2 BALD EAGLES thrown into the mixture. Good numbers of TUNDRA SWANS; zillions of CANADA GEESE, with some SNOW GEESE with them;; some SANDHILL CRANES and plenty of the usual migrant and resident ducks, grebes, and GR.BLUE HERONS providing a pleasing symphony of sounds. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS; GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS; LINCOLN'S SPARROWS; and MARSH WRENS and a few other unidentified small birds passing over or by---even a few frogs added their accompliments to this symphony. Some RIVER OTTERS didn't have anything to say! A PEREGRINE FALCON was reported several days ago, but I didn't spot one today. ..................A nice day to be up-and-around. About 7-8 cars with birders from the Portland, Ore. Audubon Society were touring the auto route after having visited, I believe, the Carty Unit north of Ridgefieid , Wash.-----along with above-average amount of other visitors for a weekday, as observed at my day-long Monday volunteering at the River-S Unit contact station and a driving patrol of the tour route. Also. volunteers started their Monday winter Canada goose counts today---to help the gov't get valuable statistics on the yearly numbers of several species of Canada Geese--tagged and non-tagged.. .................Cheers...........Gerald Hamilton Brush Prairie, Wash.. geraldham at comcast.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091124/947929b2/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Nov 23 21:03:25 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:03:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] white geese on Alan's website Message-ID: <3900F015-03FC-4A03-8A45-F09348564F5E@earthlink.net> This new picture at first blush reinforces David Fix' comment that the birds are not identical, with one much closer to Ross' than the other. The bird on the viewer's right seems to have a shorter and rounder head--steeper forehead, truly round crown. Different bill shape. Buut notice that its head is turned slightly to its left, that is, toward the viewer. The left bird gives what is presumably a perfect profile. The right bird shows its entire forehead, to the point that the far side of the culmen at the top is almost visible. This angle would inevitably result in a foreshortened head, steeper forehead, higher, rounder crown. I remain no more convinced than before. The bills of both birds are in shadow, obscuring all details of color on my computer screen at least. A larger image would be helpful, which I don't know how to do. Lars Norgren From 4cains at charter.net Mon Nov 23 21:17:35 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:17:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] More Langlois Ross's Goose stuff (ignore if you have work to do) Message-ID: <4422315740594C888177898942AA86AB@HAL> Disclaimer: The following is for serious Langlois Goose Experts only (well okay, so maybe serious is the wrong word...) If you can get it to work, you can see where I had my fun with ImageJ software and forehead angles: http://nwonline.nwresd.org/astoriahs/file.php/126/Writing_Reports/RossSnowComparison.ppt But at the very least you oughta take a look at: http://www.birdcapemay.org/gallery/main.php/birds+of+cape+may/Waterfowl/swans+and+geese/Ross+_l__+Snow+Geese_+adults_+NJ+Dec.jpg.html Okay I think I am done with this subject. Phew!! Lee Cain Astoria, Or http://nwonline.nwresd.org/astoriahs/course/category.php?id=38 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/f50e5419/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Mon Nov 23 21:27:02 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:27:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] phalaropes Message-ID: <9F004D59B11B4F38A30086717BA78872@your5rlp3a9516> All you old timers, Just what , from a historical perspective, is the scoop on Red-necked Phalaropes after November 1? Are the any valid winter records from any time in the past? Just curious. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/0b7c4f08/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Nov 23 21:56:53 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:56:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] More Langlois Ross's Goose stuff (ignore if you have work to do) In-Reply-To: <4422315740594C888177898942AA86AB@HAL> References: <4422315740594C888177898942AA86AB@HAL> Message-ID: I couldn't access the first link. The second one is a picture from New Jersey, where the subspecies of Snow Goose is the GREATER as opposed to our LESSER Snow Goose. The east coast bird is about 50% bigger than Lesser Snow Geese. Look at Sibley p.79, in my edition of the book. Among other things, a Ross' X Lesser Snow Goose head is illustrated. Comment under Greater Snow Goose head:"averages 20 percent longer-billed than Lesser; looks longer- faced with head even more strongly wedge-shaped..." I really like Dave Fix' approach to this thing. It brings to mind the vast number of "Olympic" Gulls I admire on an annual basis. My father is a soils scientist. He spent close to half a century making soils maps. Have you seen them? Very fine, precise lines, surrounding colored areas, coded to soil type. It always looks highly organized, very reassuring. I spent thousands of hours in the field with him while he made maps. Starting with the Alsea basin the summer of my first birthday and continuing to Thunder Basin National Grassland in eastern Wyoming the summer after I graduated from High School. What did he think about the fine lines and sharply separated colors , Jory to the left and Willakenzie to the right? "The Universe is chaos." Lars Norgren On Nov 23, 2009, at 9:17 PM, Lee and Lori Cain wrote: > Disclaimer: The following is for serious Langlois Goose Experts only > (well okay, so maybe serious is the wrong word...) > > If you can get it to work, you can see where I had my fun with > ImageJ software and forehead angles: > > http://nwonline.nwresd.org/astoriahs/file.php/126/Writing_Reports/RossSnowComparison.ppt > > But at the very least you oughta take a look at: > > http://www.birdcapemay.org/gallery/main.php/birds+of+cape+may/Waterfowl/swans+and+geese/Ross+_l__+Snow+Geese_+adults_+NJ+Dec.jpg.html > > Okay I think I am done with this subject. Phew!! > > Lee Cain > Astoria, Or > http://nwonline.nwresd.org/astoriahs/course/category.php?id=38 > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091123/bde6896e/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Nov 24 07:57:35 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:57:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] phalaropes In-Reply-To: <9F004D59B11B4F38A30086717BA78872@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: I am not aware of any photo-documented records after late October. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com > From: Darrel Faxon <5hats at peak.org> > Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:27:02 -0800 > To: obol > Subject: [obol] phalaropes > > All you old timers, > Just what , from a historical perspective, is the scoop on Red-necked > Phalaropes after November 1? Are the any valid winter records from any time > in the past? Just curious. > > Darrel > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From plfer9381 at MSN.com Tue Nov 24 08:40:39 2009 From: plfer9381 at MSN.com (KEITH PHIFER) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:40:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Bay Birds-Red Necked Phalarope Message-ID: On Sunday November 22nd my wife and I went to Coos Bay to see the Brown Booby. We got fantastic views of it fishing in the bay by hiking out on the North Spit. We felt very blessed that we only had to hike out about 1.5 miles before we encountered the Booby instead of having to hike all the way to the towers it seems to like to perch on. On the way back we did run into a Red-Necked phalarope swimming in the bay. It then flew onto the beach where it allowed us to get close enough for me to photograph it with my little digital camera. I will send those pictures to Alan Contreras so he can verify and pass on to anyone who is in the need to know. We also observed at least 2 Common Yellowthroat at Millicoma Marsh near where the seed is on the main path. I didn't expect them to be around this late in the year. Keith Phifer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091124/09baa2b7/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Tue Nov 24 09:24:00 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:24:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yellow-Rumped in Springfield Message-ID: I have a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER at the suet feeder in my urban Springfield backyard this morning. Unusual for this time of year. Comments? Tom Escue -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091124/c597eb41/attachment.html From donalbri at teleport.com Tue Nov 24 11:48:27 2009 From: donalbri at teleport.com (donalbri at teleport.com) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:48:27 -0800 (GMT-08:00) Subject: [obol] Yamhill County Pacific Loon still present Message-ID: <17062883.1259092108042.JavaMail.root@elwamui-rubis.atl.sa.earthlink.net> The juvenile PACIFIC LOON reported in northern Yamhill County last week by Lars Norgren was still present this morning at 10:30 a.m. It was swimming by itself in the sunshine on the pond along North Valley Road, between the driveways numbered 14600 and 14726. The road doesn't have any shoulder in the area, but there is a small pull-off on the east side of the road here. Soon after I pulled up, an adult BALD EAGLE dove into the pond and pulled out a six-inch-long fish, then perched on a fencepole in the middle of the pond and tore the fish to shreds. Gave me great views of the feast! Not much else on the ponds at the location. There were three PIED-BILLED GREBES on the far end of the pond that the loon was on. On another pond about 1/4 mile north there was a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS and a dozen or so AMERICAN WIGEON. Don Albright Newberg, Oregon donalbri at teleport.com From plfer9381 at MSN.com Tue Nov 24 12:36:56 2009 From: plfer9381 at MSN.com (KEITH PHIFER) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:36:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Red-necked Phalarope In-Reply-To: <7BBEB6A2-A686-4DB1-B451-9789BAB44771@mindspring.com> References: <7BBEB6A2-A686-4DB1-B451-9789BAB44771@mindspring.com> Message-ID: After reviewing the Birdfellow article on Red Phalaropes I am starting to second guess myself. The field guides I used did not show these variations in juvenile plumage. I didn't realize Red's could have such a dark cap, or dark streaky appearing back. Though the bill seemed thin to me maybe not thin enough. The neck does seem to be thick when I review my pictures. I'll let Alan make the call if my pictures went through to him Ok. I'm sure it won't be the last time I'm fooled by a different plumage than I have seen before. Keith PS: After reviewing my notes from Sunday other birds in Coos Bay in the North Spit area we saw that might interest people were an Osprey, a Peregrine Falcon, a Merlin, and a White Tailed Kite. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091124/f852717e/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Tue Nov 24 14:16:17 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:16:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Westmoreland Park RED PHALAROPES plus North Portland birds In-Reply-To: <651821.229.qm@web55702.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <651821.229.qm@web55702.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: The two RED PHALAROPES, originally reported by Adrian and Christopher Hinkle, Em Scattaregia, and Diana Byrne, were still present today at Westmoreland Park in SE Portland. They are on the big rectangular pond south of the playground equipment. I found that by sitting or laying down and keeping very still as they headed my way resulted in exceptionally close views of this species -- several times within 1 foot of me. The male REDHEAD and female CANVASBACK continue on the northernmost pond. Also present there were two female COMMON MERGANSERS and several LESSER SCAUPS (1 male, several females) -- close enough to study the nail on their bill. Scott Carpenter Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091124/328b8eeb/attachment.html From Carey_Goss at fws.gov Tue Nov 24 15:03:01 2009 From: Carey_Goss at fws.gov (Carey_Goss at fws.gov) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:03:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Carey Goss/MLHR/R1/FWS/DOI is out of the office. Message-ID: I will be out of the office starting 11/24/2009 and will not return until 11/27/2009. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091124/f5bdcadb/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Nov 24 16:58:49 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:58:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yamhill County Pacific Loon still present In-Reply-To: <17062883.1259092108042.JavaMail.root@elwamui-rubis.atl.sa.earthlink.net> References: <17062883.1259092108042.JavaMail.root@elwamui-rubis.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Message-ID: Still there at 3:59pm today. Lars On Nov 24, 2009, at 11:48 AM, donalbri at teleport.com wrote: > The juvenile PACIFIC LOON reported in northern Yamhill County last > week by Lars Norgren was still present this morning at 10:30 a.m. > It was swimming by itself in the sunshine on the pond along North > Valley Road, between the driveways numbered 14600 and 14726. The > road doesn't have any shoulder in the area, but there is a small > pull-off on the east side of the road here. > > Soon after I pulled up, an adult BALD EAGLE dove into the pond and > pulled out a six-inch-long fish, then perched on a fencepole in the > middle of the pond and tore the fish to shreds. Gave me great views > of the feast! Not much else on the ponds at the location. There > were three PIED-BILLED GREBES on the far end of the pond that the > loon was on. On another pond about 1/4 mile north there was a pair > of HOODED MERGANSERS and a dozen or so AMERICAN WIGEON. > > Don Albright > Newberg, Oregon > donalbri at teleport.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From glenn_rie at yahoo.com Tue Nov 24 17:06:52 2009 From: glenn_rie at yahoo.com (Rie Luft) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:06:52 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull, Red Phalarope, Northern Fulmar Message-ID: <394864.23917.qm@web112203.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Should have been cooking but too nice a day. The LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL is still at John Day Dam as of 12:30pm. Glenn and I looked first for it at the foot of the dam - no luck - but found it on the West-bound rest stop east of the dam. Stuart Johnson's "Wow" regarding its dark mantle is right on - the first thing you see and quite darker than anything else in the area. All as has already been described - its striated head markings, yellow bill with its red gonydeal spot, its light eye, white primary wing spots, white underparts. It was primarily with Ring-billed Gulls. We watched it through the scope for over 5 minutes - definitely on the OR side of the channel - before it flew. I was on the scope so was able to clearly see its yellow legs and single mirror just off the the wing tip. What hasn't been mentioned is the effect of the markings around the eye - gives the gull a "don't mess with me" look. We picked it up again while feeding at the foot of the dam. Thanks to Lars Norgren, Wilson Cady, Paul Sullivan, Tim Janzen and Stuart Johnson for fine directions as to places to best see the flocks. Ideal weather - no wind or white caps, with the gulls nicely spaced in calm sunny waters. Besides the gull, yesterday and today have been stories of lost birds. Stopped by Westmoreland Park and saw a single RED PHALAROPE in the far pond around 3pm. No sign of a second, as reported. Then this past Sunday the Audubon Care Center received a dark adult NORTHERN FULMAR, found by the side of a road in Milwaukie! It was quite dull and unresponsive but after given electrolytes and a warm nights rest it was much more alert yesterday. As it has tubular nostrils which filter sea water for consumption, it cannot be out of sea water for any length of time - the filtration system ceases to function, so we were told, so, after being fed, it was immediately sent down to the Astoria care center where salt water tubs are available. Has Portland ever had a Northern Fulmar sighting? Happy Turkey Day, Rie Luft, Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091124/ad221576/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Nov 24 18:03:32 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:03:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Trumpeter Swans back in Suver area, Polk Co. Message-ID: <1259114612.28860.95.camel@clearwater1> Hello folks, A family group of four TRUMPETER SWANS (two adults, one bigger than the other, and two dusky immatures) were in the field on the NW side of the intersection of Hwy 99W and Airlie/Suver Rd., which is roughly midway between Monmouth and Corvallis. That general neighborhood, from Suver west to Airlie and thence NW to Maple Grove, is an annual winter location for 40 to 60+ Trumpeters. I haven't been checking that area in recent weeks so who knows when they arrived. Normally the earliest arrivals will congregate in flood ponds along the Luckiamute River to the SW of Helmick State Park. Tundra Swans also occur in similar numbers around the neighborhood. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From kosciuch at gmail.com Tue Nov 24 18:57:48 2009 From: kosciuch at gmail.com (Karl Kosciuch) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:57:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] birding the Wallowas Message-ID: Sitting in Union, OR and watching the weather clear, I thought about a post by Khan Tran last November where he had great finds of white-winged crossbill, pine grosbeak, spruce grouse, and rosyfinch in the Wallowas outside of Joseph. Eager to look for some birds and take advantage of clear skies and pleasant weather, my wife and I headed out to the Wallowas in search of birds. In summary, this year is not like the last. We found no grosbeaks or crossbills, and only encountered a handful of mountain chickadees, red-breasted nuthatch, and golden-crowned kinglet at McCully Creek. Despite looking in the larches, following tracks, and sending in the dog, we did not find any grouse at McCully Creek (where can I get one of those lucky chicken charms?). Raptor count was good with golden eagle, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, northern harrier, and rough-legged hawk. We also headed up to Freezeout trailhead and though the birding was slow the scenery was spectacular. Cheers, Karl -- Karl Kosciuch Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091124/b4670739/attachment.html From danpvdb at yahoo.com Tue Nov 24 19:38:40 2009 From: danpvdb at yahoo.com (Dan van den Broek) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:38:40 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Wallowas-Gyrfalcon and Harris's Sparrow In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <404668.19666.qm@web55304.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Hello Portland Audubon's Master Birder 08/09 class took a trip to Northeast Oregon Nov 19-22. We hoped for some early winter specialties. We searched for winter finches but they didn't cross our path. Very windy conditions thwarted our efforts on Friday. There was almost no snow cover in the entire area. We encountered some snow coming home between Enterprise and La Grande. Highlights were good numbers of Cedar Waxwings but no matter how hard we searched we could not find a Bohemian. We came across a great feeding station in Enterprise on the corner of SE 3rd and E. South St. Among the group of Juncos we found a first winter Harris's Sparrow. We also had 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks. One of the hawks had just been released by the owner of the house with the feeder. The owner of the house with the feeders had found it on the ground after it hit the window. We were told by locals that there had been a Gyrfalcon found on Crow Creek Rd. near Rancho Rd. When we didn't find it we continued on to Zumwalt Prairie. Best bird was a Rock Wren on the way back down the canyon. We headed back to Joseph on Rancho Rd. which turns into Dobbin Rd. The Gyrfalcon was located just east of the intersection of Dobbin and 350 the Imnaha Hwy. The next day the Gyr was found again on Dobbin Rd inbetween the Imanaha hwy and Bicenntenial Rd. We also had a Northern Shrike way up on Golf Course Rd. out of Enterprise. We saw many Rough-legged Hawks especially in the area of the Gyrfalcon. Dan van den Broek -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091124/ed6af4ba/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Tue Nov 24 19:50:27 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:50:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tropical Kingbird Tuesday, Nov24, Newport LNG Tank Message-ID: Tropical Kingbird still present at LNG site up by "Sally's Bend." The bird was seen at the NW corner of the fenced area. (Park at last spot by gate. Walk straight west to the Willows and brush at the NW corner of the fenced area.) The bird was flycatching over the creek on the west side of the Willows and brush. It was impossible to see by just parking along the road into the area. Weather was unbelievably great at Newport today. Mid 60's. The bay was like glass with no wind. There were 5 members of Salem Audubon in our group & everybody was pleased to be at the coast.We saw many of the typical birds of the season including Brant Geese, Surf Scoter, White-Winged Scoter, Buffleheads, Black Turnstone, etc at the LNG tank and down at South Jetty and Hatfield Marine Science Center. Good Birding, John Thomas From pamelaj at spiritone.com Tue Nov 24 20:23:37 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:23:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] SE Portland Peregrine Message-ID: <1508499EA1544DBCA148D2DD1CF90552@yourw5st28y9a3> Just before noon today I was waiting for the light to change at SE 122nd and Stark, looking west, when I saw a big pigeon flock flying downward off the power pole they had perched on. Their action was like water being poured out of a bucket and splashing onto the floor. Figuring dramatic moves have dramatic causes, I found the raptor, a dark Peregrine Falcon powering eastward. Pamela Johnston From cgates326 at gmail.com Tue Nov 24 20:25:03 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:25:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull and Black-legged Kittiwake and Loggerhead Shrike Message-ID: <767ee8830911242025t29a01970m65e917bdaaf82679@mail.gmail.com> Dorothy Gates, Cindy Zalunardo, Don Sutherland, and Kim Kathol joined with me in an effort to find the Black-backed Gull. We arrived below John Day Dam around 9:15. We searched the thoroughly. We managed to find at least 2 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES in with the Glaucous-winged, California and Ring-billed Gulls. Around 10:15, we spotted a dark gull dropping down to feed in front of the dam. We got good looks at the bright yellow bill, bright yellow legs, and dark mantle. After about 10 minutes, the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL flew back over the dam to the upstream side of the dam. We packed into the cars and visited the rest area on the dam. We could not relocate the bird so we left. On our way up to the river, we found a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE near Grass Valley. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091124/cc52df86/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Tue Nov 24 21:25:54 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:25:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yaquina Bay Swans Message-ID: Just before noon today (Nov. 24), Janet Lamberson saw two swans flying northward by the EPA building at the Hatfield Marine Science Center, then they circled and flew southeast. "Species undetermined, but they had rusty colored staining on the upper neck." Janet did not hear them calling in flight. Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm From richarmstrong at comcast.net Tue Nov 24 22:15:34 2009 From: richarmstrong at comcast.net (rich armstrong) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:15:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] coast trip References: <767ee8830911242025t29a01970m65e917bdaaf82679@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: nanette & i birded from charleston to newport today. it was sunny and i would even call it warm - fantastic weather! 1. the TROPICAL KINGBIRD was still in florence at the corner of 1st and hemlock at 930. it was actively flycatching and not bothered at all by all the robins and juncos and yellow-rumps. 2. the BROWN BOOBY was on the normal perch at 1030. 3. in the bay were 2 EARED GREBES along with the horned, red-necked, and western grebes. 4. behind the sewage plant was 1 SNOWY EGRET, 3 MARBLED GODWITS, and a bit surprising to us an OSPREY was fishing there. 5. at the slough by the airport there were 20 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, a lot of peeps (presumably least) and dunlin, a few RING-BILLED GULLS, and quite a few GADWALL with all the wigeon. 6. winchester bay still had maybe 150 pelicans (down from the 2500 11 days ago) and a few heerman's gulls. there was 1 WHITE-WINGED SCOTER in the boat harbor. we also found a dead white morph northern fulmar on the beach. 7. a few stops on way north had nothing unusual, but a couple impressive roosts of california gulls. 8. seal rock park had probably 50 rockpipers (surfbirds and turnstones) in poor light. we tried but could not find a rock sandpiper. there were 2 dead dark morph fulmars on the beach there. 9. newport south jetty had a WHIMBREL & MARBLED GODWIT together on a rock in the water - interesting place for a godwit. there was a COMMON GOLDENEYE and a few red-necked grebes (2 with quite a lot of red on the neck). 10. sally's bend still had at least 1 TROPICAL KINGBIRD at 445 and we did not have enough time or light to search for more. there was 1 male EURASION WIGEON among all the americans. Rich Armstrong 541-753-1978 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091124/55d539c4/attachment.html From ed.mcvicker at comcast.net Tue Nov 24 23:07:09 2009 From: ed.mcvicker at comcast.net (Ed McVicker) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:07:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Black-legged Kittiwake vs. Mew Gull Message-ID: <4B0CD79D.7000808@comcast.net> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091124/34e0b170/attachment.html From ed.mcvicker at comcast.net Tue Nov 24 23:13:44 2009 From: ed.mcvicker at comcast.net (Ed McVicker) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:13:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Black-legged Kittiwake vs. Mew Gull Message-ID: <4B0CD928.8090809@comcast.net> I'm puzzled by a gull I saw Monday at Fernhill Wetland in Forest Grove while searching for weekend leftovers. The only goody that seemed to still be there was the BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE. I thought I had picked it out of the gull flock on the water but have since begun to wonder if it wasn't an unusual MEW GULL. That larid trickster god has hold of me so I humbly ask for help.... At the edge of the flock sitting on the water was one gull similar in size and shape to the many Mew Gulls in the flock. Eventually it flew away from the flock on its own. I noted the following that convinced me it was the kittiwake: * bill was dark - blue/black darkening to black at the tip with no yellow tones. Mews were yellow billed. * similar gray mantle to Mews lacking any noticeable pattern. * head was white and clean lacking any smudge. Mews all had some dark smudginess. * eye appeared darker/blacker than the Mews. * wingtips were all black lacking any white in the primaries on top or bottom (seen as it was flying away from the flock.) Mews had small amount of white in black wingtips. * did not see the legs. Upon reading further, I found that collectively these characteristics don't fit any age/stage for a winter kittiwake. A first winter bird with a dark bill should have the bold mantle pattern - not a uniform gray mantle. Adults with the gray mantle should have the a yellow bill. All winter plumages seem to have some smudginess behind the eye or around the nape. Interestingly, the size of the the two species are within an inch in length. Mew wingspan is about 6" longer. So, a couple questions: Has anyone observed Mew Gulls without white spotting in the wingtips? (Grant's _GULLS_ mentioned it rarely occurs in second winter birds. He also mentioned second winter birds rarely occur in North America???) I don't recall seeing any details about age of the kittiwake observed on Sunday. Was it an adult? Thanks for any insights, Ed McVicker Portland ------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From campbell at peak.org Tue Nov 24 23:21:16 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:21:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Peoria Area Birds Message-ID: <1A2E1F7A75054DD192C4FCA66FEB9402@maryPC> We have had two BLACK PHOEBES in our backyard the last couple days--the first time I've seen more than one at a time. Usually their insistent chip-notes make them easy to spot, but these two have been consistently singing short phrases. (Sibley describes it as "sisee, sitsew," and that's pretty close.) In the past two weeks I've seen two Black Phoebes near Snag Boat Bend, one behind Keiger Island, one at the Tangent ponds, and one at the Halsey ponds. That's seven Black Phoebes within ten miles of Peoria on the Linn County side of the river. And, of course, there must be quite a few that I've missed. They aren't rare anymore--but they are still handsome birds. Possibly of interest only to me: I saw eleven white birds with black-tipped wings high over Peoria, flying deliberately and directly southward in V-formation. With the naked eye I thought they could only be Snow Geese, but binocs brought out gull-shaped birds with white on the tips of their primaries. I'm guessing CALIFORNIA GULLS, given the amount of black. I'm not much of a gull watcher, but I've never seen gulls flying in formation like that. More notable than the birds I've seen, maybe, are the birds that have been absent. On Saturday I made my way through a pretty stiff wind to the Tangent ponds, but found only the usual suspects. On Sunday, as soon as the windstorm eased and the rain stopped, I headed to the Halsey Ponds but found nothing notable there, either--not even a lousy Red Phalarope. Also absent, so far, are Burrowing Owls. I checked every past roost that I know of between American Drive and Bell Plain Road, but with no success. Last year, as far as I know, only one owl was reliable here in the Peoria area, until it turned into a pile of feathers beside its favored culvert. Randy Campbell Peoria -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091124/1012e0ba/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Tue Nov 24 23:34:02 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:34:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 11-25-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * November 25, 2009 * ORPO0911.25 - birds mentioned Long-tailed Duck Laysan Albatross Northern Fulmar Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel Leach?s Storm-Petrel BROWN BOOBY Red Phalarope Black-legged Kittiwake Heermann?s Gull LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Parasitic Jaeger Lewis?s Woodpecker Tropical Kingbird Tree Swallow Barn Swallow American Tree Sparrow Lapland Longspur - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Wednesday November 25. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On November 20 an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at the John Day Dam. It has remained and is regularly seen. The Coos Bay BROWN BOOBY continues to be seen. Among a heavy migratory movement off Boiler Bay November 22 were a LAYSAN ALBATROSS and a BROWN BOOBY. The strong storm during the early morning of November 22 brought many coastal birds inland; a LEACH?S STORM-PETREL over the Columbia River near Clatskanie, a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, 15 HEERMANN?S GULLS, and a RED PHALAROPE to the Fernhill wetlands, two RED PHALAROPES to Westmoreland Park in Portland, a NORTHERN FULMAR to Milwaukie, six HEERMANN?S GULLS, a LEACH?S STORM-PETREL, a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, and a RED PHALAROPE to the Philomath Sewage Ponds, a Parasitic Jaeger and two Lapland Longspurs to a private pond south of Brownsville, a HEERMANN?S GULL to Lost Creek Lake on the Rogue River, a FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL to the mouth of Hood River, and a HEERMANN?S GULL to the John Day Dam. On November 22 a LONG-TAILED DUCK was at the cove in Seaside. The Wireless Road TROPICAL KINGBIRD is still being seen near Astoria, and one is still at Sallys Bend near Newport. A TREE SWALLOW was seen November 22 at Smith/Bybee Lakes in North Portland. The TREE SPARROW continues to be seen at the Fernhill Wetlands. Seven BARN SWALLOWS were seen November 22 at Ankeny NWR. Up to 20 LEWIS?S WOODPECKERS were seen during the week at the North Bank Wildlife Area east of Roseburg. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091124/d6e94d32/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Nov 25 06:47:55 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:47:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Kittiwake Message-ID: The bird at Fernhill on Sunday was unmistakable due to a large black crescent at the rear of its face. This is typical of winter kittiwakes. Grant's comment about second year birds not occurring in North America is presumably a reference to the Atlantic subspecies, whose normal range is restricted to the east bank of the pond. It is a vagrant to American shores and thus the source of endless false hopes, private agonies, public embarrassments... The carnival atmosphere of Sunday evening had completely dispelled on Monday. I thanked the Carpenters privately over and over again as I stood in the gloaming with Greg Gillson on Monday evening and regarded the host of usual suspects, shrunk by half from 24 hours previous. I also feel very lucky to have had Steve Nord by my side the night before, otherwise I would have missed the near apocryphal departure of the Heerman's Gulls as I hunched over my scope, glued to the eye=piece. I don't recall ever seeing the exact moment an extra-limital species blew the popsicle stand for greener pastures. The very narrow wings of the Heerman's Gulls, bent at the wrists against a frigid northwest breeze, gave them a rather exotic look. Rather like Frigatebirds, or a highly fanciful representation of bats such as one might see in "A Night on Bald Mountain" in Fantasia. Lars Norgren From greg at thebirdguide.com Wed Nov 25 08:09:50 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:09:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Jackson Bottom Swamp Sparrow, Cornelius Monk Parakeet Message-ID: <0AF22D5B93CC4BB0801732FAA27678C6@GREG> I heard a SWAMP SPARROW yesterday near the footbridge at Kingfisher Marsh at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro. Couldn't get a view of it, however. The back areas are getting close to flood stage, but waters probably peaked yesterday. It is still possible to walk around the deep pond (Pintail Pond) but not farther out to the back view stand. http://www.jacksonbottom.org/images/uploads/trails_map.gif In a "passing the baton" ceremony at the Nature Center, Sarah Pittock, Wetlands Education Specialist, gathered the staff around, reached in a white plastic bag, and handed me... a dead bird. "This is _your_ job now," she said. The bird was found by city workers in Cornelius and brought in for identification. It was a MONK PARAKEET, showing no leg bands or tail feather wear, an apparent first Washington County record. Greg Gillson greg at thebirdguide.com gregg at ci.hillsboro.or.us From slcarpenter at gmail.com Wed Nov 25 08:44:16 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:44:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Black-legged Kittiwake vs. Mew Gull In-Reply-To: <4B0CD79D.7000808@comcast.net> References: <4B0CD79D.7000808@comcast.net> Message-ID: A photograph of the adult Black-legged Kittiwake found on Sunday at Fernhill Wetlands by Ian Boustead is now online at: http://www.westerngrebe.com/BLKI/ My apologies for not making the photo available sooner and for not specifying the age in the original post. Scott Carpenter Portland On Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 11:07 PM, Ed McVicker wrote: > I'm puzzled by a gull I saw Monday at Fernhill Wetland in Forest Grove > while searching for weekend leftovers. The only goody that seemed to still > be there was the BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE. I thought I had picked it out of > the gull flock on the water but have since begun to wonder if it wasn't an > unusual MEW GULL. That larid trickster god has hold of me so I humbly ask > for help.... > > At the edge of the flock sitting on the water was one gull similar in size > and shape to the many Mew Gulls in the flock. Eventually it flew away from > the flock on its own. I noted the following that convinced me it was the > kittiwake: > > - bill was dark - blue/black darkening to black at the tip with no > yellow tones. Mews were yellow billed. > - similar gray mantle to Mews lacking any noticeable pattern. > - head was white and clean lacking any smudge. Mews all had some dark > smudginess. > - eye appeared darker/blacker than the Mews. > - wingtips were all black lacking any white in the primaries on top or > bottom (seen as it was flying away from the flock.) Mews had small amount > of white in black wingtips. > - did not see the legs. > > Upon reading further, I found that collectively these characteristics don't > fit any age/stage for a winter kittiwake. A first winter bird with a dark > bill should have the bold mantle pattern - not a uniform gray mantle. > Adults with the gray mantle should have the a yellow bill. All winter > plumages seem to have some smudginess behind the eye or around the nape. > Interestingly, the size of the the two species are within an inch in > length. Mew wingspan is about 6" longer. > > So, a couple questions: Has anyone observed Mew Gulls without white > spotting in the wingtips? (Grant's *GULLS* mentioned it rarely occurs in > second winter birds. He also mentioned second winter birds rarely occur in > North America???) I don't recall seeing any details about age of the > kittiwake observed on Sunday. Was it an adult? > > Thanks for any insights, > Ed McVicker > Portland > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091125/e0ce87e0/attachment.html From kimdelo at yahoo.com Wed Nov 25 15:37:22 2009 From: kimdelo at yahoo.com (Kimdel Owen) Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:37:22 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Redmond White-tailed Kite Message-ID: <672567.79507.qm@web50211.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Yesterday a couple of my friends here in Redmond, Larry Berlin and Jaymee Dale, mentioned that they saw a White-tailed Kite at there place, just of Maple Street, about last weekend. They said it only stuck around for 5-7 minutes. They saw it hover and were able to give me a pretty good disctiption of the bird. "Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high? On the rock he dwells and makes his home in the fastness of the rocky crag. There he spies out the prey; his eyes behold it afar off." Kimdel Owen Redmond, OR From srnord101 at verizon.net Wed Nov 25 15:39:02 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:39:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull continues, John Day Dam Message-ID: <000001ca6e28$78e6cfa0$6ab46ee0$@net> OBOL; I was below the dam today, between 11:00-12:00, to search for the Lesser Black-backed Gull. I drove to the end of the road that leads to the lower side of the dam. Except for many DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, there were few birds below the dam when I arrived. Soon however a few gulls appeared from downstream, among them was the previously reported LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. I watched it catch 3 small fish, before it flew downstream again. I walked downstream a short distance from that easternmost parking lot and found a gathering of gulls sitting on the calm river. The flock consisted mostly of RING-BILLED and CALIFORNIA GULLS. In this flock was also the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. All the birds rested on the water until about 11:50 when they all took flight. Many returned, but the Lesser Black-backed Gull did not. No idea where it went to. Also present was a WESTERN GULL, whose feet looked surprisingly yellow while in flight, but when the bird was standing, feet were obviously pink. Was nice to see the contrasts between the two dark backed gulls when they were near each other. Also present: 1 BONAPARTE'S GULL 1 HERRING GULL 2 MEW GULLS a few GLUCOUS-WINGED-type GULLS. 1 PACIFIC LOON 2 WESTERN GREBE Many COMMON GOLDENEYE Few BARROW'S GOLDENEYE Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From eager_jay at yahoo.com Wed Nov 25 15:48:00 2009 From: eager_jay at yahoo.com (Jo Yeager) Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:48:00 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Kingfisher in Independence Message-ID: <246723.58579.qm@web51412.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Never until today, after 14 years living just five blocks west of the bridge in Independence, has there been a kingfisher chattering at the goldfish in my little back yard pool. For?two ?hours?it has been circling the koi in two of my close neighbor's pools but spends most of the time at the top of an overhanging tree in my yard. Today I have 6 small goldfish.? Any bets on the Thanksgiving fish census? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091125/16630d58/attachment.html From tamickel at rio.com Wed Nov 25 15:49:55 2009 From: tamickel at rio.com (Tom & Allison Mickel) Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:49:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wednesday morning birding Message-ID: <000001ca6e29$fd897900$f89c6b00$@com> OBOL, The Eugene Wednesday morning birding group went to Thistle Down Farms this morning. The best bird was undoubtedly the MacGillivray's Warbler, that was found in some of the blackberry tangles near the river. Birds seen included: Cackling Goose - a number of flocks Canada Goose - a few mixed in or in small groups Wood Duck - about a dozen American Wigeon - about the same number Mallard - 3 Double-crested Cormorant - 5 Great Blue Heron - 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 4 Killdeer - large flock in the pumpkin patch Wilson's Snipe - 2 California Gull - 1 Rock Pigeon - many large flocks headed south toward Eugene first thing Mourning Dove - 2 Acorn Woodpecker - 6-10 Downy Woodpecker - 1 Northern Flicker - 2 Pileated Woodpecker - 1 Steller's Jay - 2 Western Scrub-Jay - 5 American Crow - 40 Black-capped Chickadee - 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1 White-breasted Nuthatch - 2 Brown Creeper - 2 Bewick's Wren - 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet - 6 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 4 Western Bluebird - 5 Hermit Thrush - 1 American Robin - 25 European Starling - many Yellow-rumped Warbler - 10 MacGillivray's Warbler - 1 Spotted Towhee - 5 Fox Sparrow - 5 Song Sparrow - 12 Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 White-throated Sparrow - 1 White-crowned Sparrow - 5 Golden-crowned Sparrow - 10 Dark-eye Junco - 25 House Sparrow - a few around the buildings Observers - Dennis Arendt, Dave Brown, Fred Chancey, Kit Larsen, Dave Hill, Dave Jones, Sylvia Maulding, Tom Mickel, Roger Robb, Don Schrouder, Paul Sherrell, Randy Sinnott, Sarah Vasconcellos. From cgates326 at gmail.com Wed Nov 25 16:29:13 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:29:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Morrow County birds Message-ID: <48B3CF4F21C846BDBEFDBFEC548604EB@cgatesPC> My wife and I spent almost two full days birding Morrow County. We started in the north and birded the Boardman-Irrigon area on Tuesday and birded around Heppner today. Here are the highlights: 100 Sandhill Cranes flying south high over Umatilla NWR 7 Killdeer at Willow Creek Reservoir Eurasian Collared-Doves in Boardman and Heppner Red-shafted X Yellow-shafted Hybrid Flicker in Heppner SAY'S PHOEBE east of Heppner Cedar Waxwings at the Marina Park in Irrigon Here are the rest: Chuck Gates Powell Butte Canada Goose Gadwall Eurasian Wigeon American Wigeon Mallard Green-winged Teal Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Ring-necked Pheasant Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Western Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Great-blue Heron Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk American Kestrel American Coot Sandhill Crane Killdeer Ring-billed Gull California Gull Rock Pigeon Eurasian Collared Dove Mourning Dove Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Say's Phoebe Northern Shrike Black-billed magpie American Crow Common Raven Horned Lark Red-breasted Nuthatch Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin European Starling Cedar Waxwing Yellow-rumped Warbler Spotted Towhee Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brewer's Blackbird House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091125/1c1434fe/attachment.html From Jfitchen at aol.com Wed Nov 25 16:33:43 2009 From: Jfitchen at aol.com (Jfitchen at aol.com) Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:33:43 EST Subject: [obol] Westmoreland Red Phalaropes persist. Message-ID: Hello Obol, The two RED PHALAROPES originally discovered at Westmoreland Park by Em and the twins were still there at 3:30 this afternoon. As before, they were in the square pond to the south of the swings. Wonderful for close-at-hand looks. Cheers, John Fitchen Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091125/1321b9b5/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Wed Nov 25 16:44:03 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:44:03 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Florence Kingbird etc. Message-ID: <20759.91458.qm@web37003.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, I decided to take advantage of the nice weather and spend part of my birthday looking for birds. Alas, as so often on these beautiful days, the coast was calm and mostly birdless. There was very little going on over the ocean at the Siuslaw South Jetty this morning; no alcids, hardly any gulls, and only 6 BROWN PELICANS (a week ago I had almost 1000 there). Best birds included 5 HORNED GREBES, ca. 15 RED-BREASTED and about 30 COMMON MERGANSERS. This afternoon, Oscar Harper and I saw a PEREGRINE FALCON at the Siuslaw North Jetty, and the TROPICAL KINGBIRD continued at the pump house on 1st Street and Ivy (about 4:30 pm). Happy Fall Birding Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091125/3bf83880/attachment.html From plbirder at bendbroadband.com Wed Nov 25 18:06:36 2009 From: plbirder at bendbroadband.com (plbirder at bendbroadband.com) Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:06:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Crook Birds In-Reply-To: <73D87589D9BC421DA203BE566A2BA531@cgatesPC> References: <73D87589D9BC421DA203BE566A2BA531@cgatesPC> Message-ID: Hello all, Adding to Chucks Crook County Birds. Last Saterday, 11/21 I saw 4 Tri-coloured Blackbirds along Lone Pine Ln North of O'neill hwy. They were in a mixed flock of Brewers, Red-winged Blackbirds and c10 Brown-headed Cowbirds. A low level high speed Merlin burst through the flock, but did not catch any while I was there. Two Rough-legged Hawks were also in the area. Peter Low plbirder at bendbroadband.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091125/724b3510/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- I did some birding in Crook County today warming up for the run to the border for the gull tomorrow. Nothing really crazy but some unusual things were about. Some of these reports are from another time but might be interesting to some. 1 Greater Scaup - female at Prineville Sewer Ponds 1 Ring-necked Pheasant - Near Prineville 3 Horned Grebes - Actually a few days ago at Prineville Sewer Ponds 55 Western Grebes - Prineville Reservoir - Getting late for these guys 1 Turkey Vulture - A week ago 1 California Gull - Prineville Res. 5 Eurasian Collared-Doves - Completely common around Prineville now. 1 Northern Shrike - Prineville Sewer Ponds 10 Cedar Waxwings - Prineville Reservoir 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers - Prineville Reservoir 1 Brown-headed Cowbird in a flock of 1000 Red-wings Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091125/724b3510/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Nov 25 18:37:35 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:37:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull continues, John Day Dam In-Reply-To: <000001ca6e28$78e6cfa0$6ab46ee0$@net> References: <000001ca6e28$78e6cfa0$6ab46ee0$@net> Message-ID: Present from 1:30 to 2pm at same spot. The parking lot closest to the dam is gravel and marked "Day Use". I stood there for several minutes and saw only a few juvenal Ring=bills. Noticing a flock of gulls slightly downstream I drove a very short distance to paved parking. I stood a very brief while on the bank and there it was in front of me, flying at eye level in the brilliant sun. It swooped rather steeply I thought for such a large gull and came back up with what appeared to be a whole Chinook smolt. Within a minute it did the same thing in the same spot, grabbing the fish most delicately, putting only the tip of its beak in the water. Then it flew to the floating flock and remained with them until I left 35 minutes later. Close enough to the bank that it filled up the scope at 20X. This spot is a backwater, or eddy, where the current is gentle, but going upstream. The gulls can float there quite comfortably, and with occasional paddling hold their place on the water. The high bank completely blocked the wind. This is a very pleasant and birdy spot, completely unlike the freeway shoulders above the dam. The freeway noise wasn't even audible. Lars Norgren On Nov 25, 2009, at 3:39 PM, Steve Nord wrote: > OBOL; > > I was below the dam today, between 11:00-12:00, to search for the > Lesser > Black-backed Gull. I drove to the end of the road that leads to the > lower > side of the dam. Except for many DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, there > were few > birds below the dam when I arrived. Soon however a few gulls > appeared from > downstream, among them was the previously reported LESSER BLACK- > BACKED GULL. > I watched it catch 3 small fish, before it flew downstream again. I > walked > downstream a short distance from that easternmost parking lot and > found a > gathering of gulls sitting on the calm river. The flock consisted > mostly of > RING-BILLED and CALIFORNIA GULLS. In this flock was also the LESSER > BLACK-BACKED GULL. All the birds rested on the water until about > 11:50 when > they all took flight. Many returned, but the Lesser Black-backed > Gull did > not. No idea where it went to. Also present was a WESTERN GULL, > whose feet > looked surprisingly yellow while in flight, but when the bird was > standing, > feet were obviously pink. Was nice to see the contrasts between the > two > dark backed gulls when they were near each other. > > Also present: > 1 BONAPARTE'S GULL > 1 HERRING GULL > 2 MEW GULLS > a few GLUCOUS-WINGED-type GULLS. > > 1 PACIFIC LOON > 2 WESTERN GREBE > Many COMMON GOLDENEYE > Few BARROW'S GOLDENEYE > > Good Birding > Steve Nord > Hillsboro, OR > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From 1smooth_move at earthlink.net Wed Nov 25 18:49:47 2009 From: 1smooth_move at earthlink.net (Josh Saranpaa) Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:49:47 -0500 (EST) Subject: [obol] Black-Legged Kittiwake vs. Mew Gull Message-ID: <5772194.1259203787619.JavaMail.root@wamui-junio.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Have you looked into the BONAPARTE'S GULL? The are relatively similar looking to the kittiwake. Though their legs are not black and they DO have the gray mantle during winter. Look them up. Hope this helps! Josh From gorgebirds at juno.com Wed Nov 25 19:53:16 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:53:16 GMT Subject: [obol] Clark County Red-breasted Merganser Message-ID: <20091125.195316.5105.2@webmail23.vgs.untd.com> I found a female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER today, 11/25/09, at Vancouver Lake in Clark County. The bird was in a flock of COMMON MERGANSERS loafing on the floating barrier at Vancouver lake park. The numerous Washington Hawthorns are load with haws (berries) and there were hundreds of AMERICAN ROBINS feasting on them. I'm hoping that some of this fruit lasts for the Sauvie Island OR/WA CBC on December 27. Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Regis University MBA Earn your MBA from Regis University, 100% online. Free info packs! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=3uLyC2f63sl8wL8BIHCC8QAAJ1AHcaoQFB_Xw2ggvz9-JEKpAAQAAAAFAAAAADIkND4AAAMlAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAiHkAAAAAA= From whoffman at peak.org Wed Nov 25 20:00:02 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:00:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tropical Kingbird Message-ID: <38EAB4899DAE419298ECA0C6739C2D8B@D48XBZ51> One Tropical Kingbird was present today about 11:30 at the LNG Tank, Yaquina Bay. The bird was at the NW corner of the security fence surrounding the tank. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091125/346e4662/attachment.html From calidrissp at gmail.com Wed Nov 25 20:03:38 2009 From: calidrissp at gmail.com (Frank Mayer) Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:03:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Curry Shrike, Yellow Shafted Flicker Message-ID: OBOLites, While birding around northern Curry county today I came across a couple of birds of note. A single YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER was at Floras Lake and a NORTHERN SHRIKE was terrorizing sparrows near the Hughes House in Cape Blanco State Park. There was also an impressive flock of gulls at the mouth of the Sixes river that contained mostly G-W Gulls as well as about 8 Heermann's Gulls. All in all a lovely sunny day on the south coast. Frank Mayer From rriparia at charter.net Wed Nov 25 20:07:45 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:07:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tule Lake NWR Message-ID: <20091125230745.R2DWB.9421588.root@mp20> Hi all, Sometimes groups head for the Klamath Basin after or during Thanksgiving time for some great fall birding. I spent a couple of hours on the Tule Lake NWR, CA, this afternoon. Beautiful day. No wind, cool temps, and clear skies. Snow Geese are abundant on Sump 1B, with numerous Blue Snows present. There were some Ross's Geese, and at least one Blue Ross's Goose. One immature Blue Ross's Goose was an unusual look. The usual duck species were also present. Best viewing is from the west side of Sump 1 in the late afternoon with sun at your back. Waterfowl are few on Sump 1A. At Hill Road and the Tour Route entrance there was a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, CALIFORNIA TOWHEE, and BELTED KINGFISHER. A few BONAPARTE's GULLS were seen working the edge of the water along the tour route road on Sump 1A. A probable PEREGRINE FALCON was seen standing on the rocks of the recently completed mitigation tern island on the south side of Sump 1B. It got up once, and stirred numerous waterfowl. It was quite a distance away, but the malar moustache was noticeable, brownish back, tail appeared near same distance as the primaries at rest, breast light colored, and pit not black. GOLDEN EAGLE , immature, seen along southern end gravel section. An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen flying above the marsh/SUMP 1B) along the paved section 2 mi west of kiosk, at sunset. A large number of waterfowl could be seen along Modoc County Line Road north of Sump 1B. Kevin Spencer rriparia at charter.net Klamath Falls, OR From kisutch40 at yahoo.com Wed Nov 25 22:36:49 2009 From: kisutch40 at yahoo.com (Lee Cain) Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:36:49 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Raptor count I-5 Message-ID: <755499.43631.qm@web112301.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> We drove down I-5 today from highway 26 south. Counted 49 red-tails, 8 American kestrels, and only two rough-legged hawks between highway 47 and Cottage Grove. Lee Cain, in Selma now From slcarpenter at gmail.com Thu Nov 26 02:10:04 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:10:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] SE Portland Red Phalaropes - Photos Message-ID: I've put some photos of the two Westmoreland Park RED PHALAROPES on the web at: http://www.westerngrebe.com/REPH/ The phalaropes have been in the pond marked on the map at: http://tinyurl.com/yamnty6 Based on my experience observing them for about 5 hours over the last 3 days, they tend to stay close to the pond edges, and work their way around the pond. They appear to have no fear of people that are still, but will flush when something approaches quickly (joggers, dogs, people walking fast, etc.). When I arrived on Tuesday morning at 8:45, I did not immediately find them on the pond. However, I soon noticed one in flight with a gull in quick pursuit (the gull soon gave up). I then found the other phalarope. I do not know if they were elsewhere when I first arrived, or just not easily seen. Scott Carpenter Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091126/070ffa84/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Nov 26 08:16:37 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:16:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area Message-ID: <000D3452-725C-48C2-8B70-69F2303E41F0@earthlink.net> Before I forget, shortly before leaving the Lesser Black-backed Gull yesterday, a large swarm of gulls swirled off an island about a mile downstream. I raised my binocular and sure enough, a falcon was swooping back up from the river's surface. It was far too distant to determine species. I had used up my allotted time, and I had broken the only scope I had with me, so I didn't pursue it further. I know Peregrines are a common place along the Columbia, but has anyone ever seen them harass gulls? At Fernhill Lake they never acknowledge each other's existence. Then I remember the controversial photo from New Jersey of a Gyrfalcon eating a Herring Gull. Likewise, do Cackling Geese show any deference to Peregrines? Given the time of year, the likelihood of yesterday's falcon being a Gyr strikes me as rather high. The entire south bank of the Columbia from Rufous to the dam is accessible to the public, with frequent parking opportunities. I could have easily spent the day there, there was so much inviting habitat. The ducks and gulls in the eddy below the dam are right next to shore. This is a fabulous chance to see Barrow's Goldeneye, and right alongside Commons. The more sedulous could take the opportunity to compare female Goldeneyes (generally a more risque' activity than gull ID in my experience). The loon was equally close to shore, and everything with the sun at my back, not glaring off the water. Don't be discouraged by heavy rainfall at your westside residence. This spot is in true desert (less than 25cm of precipitation annually). If it's pouring in Portland as you read this, the skies there may be gray, but quite dry. Although nearly 200 miles from the sea, the foot of the dam is almost sea level and the prevailing weather mild. There was snow was down to 1000ft in the grasslands east of The Dalles on Saturday, but Yellow-rumped Warblers were abundant around the parking area at the dam. I was eager to investigate the enormous specimens of Big Sage and Rabbitbrush growing in the area for more passerines. The John Day River debouches three miles east of the dam and the Deschutes less than 10 miles downstream. This has the potential to funnel all manner of landbirds into the area. I look forward to returning to the area at this time of year, hopefully this year. I am told there is an above average steakhouse in Rufous, although things may have changed. Avoid the Subway at Biggs Junction at all costs. If I ever get a worse sandwich in the course of my life I'm contacting Guiness and his book. There's a MacDonald's at the Jct that's 24 hours, walk-in, not drive-up. So if you're in the mood for a heated restroom after owling, be advised. I've never been to the place in Rufous, sorry I don't know the name. It was recommended by my gun-toting, bird-eating friends from Reed College (there were at least three in 1985, hidden amidst the hordes of disheveled vegetarians) who are true gourmands. One of them guided Governor Kitzhaber, Yvonne Choinnard, and a chef knighted by the French government. Lars Norgren From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Thu Nov 26 08:30:28 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:30:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area In-Reply-To: <000D3452-725C-48C2-8B70-69F2303E41F0@earthlink.net> Message-ID: Peregrins do indeed eat gulls. I found a large peregrine eating a recently captured juv California gull this fall. Photos of the fun available upon request. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com > From: Lars Norgren > Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:16:37 -0800 > To: obol > Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area > > Before I forget, shortly before > leaving the Lesser Black-backed Gull > yesterday, a large swarm of gulls > swirled off an island about a mile > downstream. I raised my binocular > and sure enough, a falcon was swooping > back up from the river's surface. > It was far too distant to determine > species. I had used up my allotted > time, and I had broken the only scope > I had with me, so I didn't pursue it > further. > I know Peregrines are a common > place along the Columbia, but has > anyone ever seen them harass gulls? > At Fernhill Lake they never acknowledge > each other's existence. Then I remember > the controversial photo from New Jersey > of a Gyrfalcon eating a Herring Gull. > Likewise, do Cackling Geese show any > deference to Peregrines? Given the time > of year, the likelihood of yesterday's > falcon being a Gyr strikes me as rather > high. The entire south bank of the > Columbia from Rufous to the dam is > accessible to the public, with frequent > parking opportunities. I could have > easily spent the day there, there was > so much inviting habitat. > The ducks and gulls in the eddy > below the dam are right next to > shore. This is a fabulous chance to > see Barrow's Goldeneye, and right > alongside Commons. The more sedulous > could take the opportunity to compare > female Goldeneyes (generally > a more risque' activity than gull > ID in my experience). The loon was equally > close to shore, and everything with > the sun at my back, not glaring off > the water. Don't be discouraged by > heavy rainfall at your westside residence. > This spot is in true desert (less than > 25cm of precipitation annually). If it's > pouring in Portland as you read this, > the skies there may be gray, but quite > dry. > Although nearly 200 miles from the > sea, the foot of the dam is almost > sea level and the prevailing weather > mild. There was snow was down to 1000ft > in the grasslands east of The Dalles on > Saturday, but Yellow-rumped Warblers > were abundant around the parking area > at the dam. I was eager to investigate > the enormous specimens of Big Sage and > Rabbitbrush growing in the area for more > passerines. The John Day River debouches > three miles east of the dam and the > Deschutes less than 10 miles downstream. > This has the potential to funnel all > manner of landbirds into the area. > I look forward to returning to the > area at this time of year, hopefully > this year. I am told there is an above > average steakhouse in Rufous, although > things may have changed. Avoid the > Subway at Biggs Junction at all costs. > If I ever get a worse sandwich in the > course of my life I'm contacting Guiness > and his book. There's a MacDonald's at > the Jct that's 24 hours, walk-in, not > drive-up. So if you're in the mood > for a heated restroom after owling, > be advised. I've never been to the > place in Rufous, sorry I don't know > the name. It was recommended by my > gun-toting, bird-eating friends from > Reed College (there were at least > three in 1985, hidden amidst the > hordes of disheveled vegetarians) > who are true gourmands. One of them > guided Governor Kitzhaber, Yvonne > Choinnard, and a chef knighted by > the French government. Lars Norgren > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Nov 26 08:59:04 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:59:04 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <672868.80066.qm@web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Peregrines eat lots of gulls in Coos Bay, seems to be one of their favorites in fact, particularly CA Gulls. Tim RCoos Bay --- On Thu, 11/26/09, Alan Contreras wrote: From: Alan Contreras Subject: Re: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area To: "Lars Norgren" , "obol" Date: Thursday, November 26, 2009, 8:30 AM Peregrins do indeed eat gulls.? I found a large peregrine eating a recently captured juv California gull this fall.? Photos of the fun available upon request. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com > From: Lars Norgren > Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:16:37 -0800 > To: obol > Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area > >? ? ? Before I forget, shortly before > leaving the Lesser Black-backed Gull > yesterday, a large swarm of gulls > swirled off an island about a mile > downstream. I raised my binocular > and sure enough, a falcon was swooping > back up from the river's surface. > It was far too distant to determine > species. I had used up my allotted > time, and I had broken the only scope > I had with me, so I didn't pursue it > further. >? ? ? I know Peregrines are a common > place along the Columbia, but has > anyone ever seen them harass gulls? > At Fernhill Lake they never acknowledge > each other's existence. Then I remember > the controversial photo from New Jersey > of a Gyrfalcon eating a Herring Gull. > Likewise, do Cackling Geese show any > deference to Peregrines? Given the time > of year, the likelihood of yesterday's > falcon being a Gyr strikes me as rather > high. The entire south bank of the > Columbia from Rufous to the dam is > accessible to the public, with frequent > parking opportunities. I could have > easily spent the day there, there was > so much inviting habitat. >? ???The ducks and gulls in the eddy > below the dam are right next to > shore. This is a fabulous chance to > see Barrow's Goldeneye, and right > alongside Commons. The more sedulous > could take the opportunity to compare > female? Goldeneyes (generally > a more risque' activity than gull > ID in my experience). The loon was equally > close to shore, and everything with > the sun at my back, not glaring off > the water. Don't be discouraged by > heavy rainfall at your westside residence. > This spot is in true desert (less than > 25cm of precipitation annually). If it's > pouring in Portland as you read this, > the skies there may be gray, but quite > dry. >? ? ? Although nearly 200 miles from the > sea, the foot of the dam is almost > sea level and the prevailing weather > mild. There was snow was down to 1000ft > in the grasslands east of The Dalles on > Saturday, but Yellow-rumped Warblers > were abundant around the parking area > at the dam. I was eager to investigate > the enormous specimens of Big Sage and > Rabbitbrush growing in the area for more > passerines. The John Day River debouches > three miles east of the dam and the > Deschutes less than 10 miles downstream. > This has the potential to funnel all > manner of landbirds into the area. >? ? ? I look forward to returning to the > area at this time of year, hopefully > this year. I am told there is an above > average steakhouse in Rufous, although > things may have changed. Avoid the > Subway at Biggs Junction at all costs. > If I ever get a worse sandwich in the > course of my life I'm contacting Guiness > and his book. There's a MacDonald's at > the Jct that's 24 hours, walk-in, not > drive-up. So if you're in the mood > for a heated restroom after owling, > be advised. I've never been to the > place in Rufous, sorry I don't know > the name. It was recommended by my > gun-toting, bird-eating friends from > Reed College (there were at least > three in 1985, hidden amidst the > hordes of disheveled vegetarians) > who are true gourmands. One of them > guided Governor Kitzhaber, Yvonne > Choinnard, and a chef knighted by > the French government. Lars Norgren > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091126/4c5261c3/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Nov 26 09:10:12 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:10:12 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] South Coast Ross's Geese Message-ID: <609114.85660.qm@web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> On Tuesday I had unsatisfying looks at the two ROSS'S GEESE that are hanging near Floras Lake, mostly on private land. ?Knute Andersson and I tried to chase them but the kept moving and I was only able to see them fly over twice and about 3/4 mile away on Floras Lake. This is the 4th Curry record. Today, Thanksgiving, on the east side of Coos Bay up Coos River (the same road out to Millicoma but you take a right on the top of the hill; oh I put seed down on the side trail at Millicoma) there was a juvie ROSS'S GOOSE with 24 Cackling Geese. ?The bird was a bit smaller than the cacklers and the bill was dark and short, overall the bird was very white too. Anyhow, that's the 4th Coos record also. The booby was at its usual spot on the tallest navigational marker with the orange and white B sign (for booby of course) Wednesday at sunset, it hangs out on the backside and can be difficult to pick out sometimes. Off to Thanksgivingland- have a great one all!Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091126/fe1a97df/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Nov 26 09:54:51 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:54:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area In-Reply-To: <672868.80066.qm@web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <672868.80066.qm@web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4B0EC0EB.5020107@verizon.net> I'll third that emotion.......I mean I'll agree, we see Peregrines taking gulls all the time....... Happy T-day everyone. Cheers Dave and Kathy Tim Rodenkirk wrote: > Peregrines eat lots of gulls in Coos Bay, seems to be one of their > favorites in fact, particularly CA Gulls. > > Tim R > Coos Bay > > --- On *Thu, 11/26/09, Alan Contreras //* wrote: > > > From: Alan Contreras > Subject: Re: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area > To: "Lars Norgren" , "obol" > > Date: Thursday, November 26, 2009, 8:30 AM > > Peregrins do indeed eat gulls. I found a large peregrine eating a > recently > captured juv California gull this fall. Photos of the fun > available upon > request. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > > > > > > From: Lars Norgren > > > Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:16:37 -0800 > > To: obol > > > Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area > > > > Before I forget, shortly before > > leaving the Lesser Black-backed Gull > > yesterday, a large swarm of gulls > > swirled off an island about a mile > > downstream. I raised my binocular > > and sure enough, a falcon was swooping > > back up from the river's surface. > > It was far too distant to determine > > species. I had used up my allotted > > time, and I had broken the only scope > > I had with me, so I didn't pursue it > > further. > > I know Peregrines are a common > > place along the Columbia, but has > > anyone ever seen them harass gulls? > > At Fernhill Lake they never acknowledge > > each other's existence. Then I remember > > the controversial photo from New Jersey > > of a Gyrfalcon eating a Herring Gull. > > Likewise, do Cackling Geese show any > > deference to Peregrines? Given the time > > of year, the likelihood of yesterday's > > falcon being a Gyr strikes me as rather > > high. The entire south bank of the > > Columbia from Rufous to the dam is > > accessible to the public, with frequent > > parking opportunities. I could have > > easily spent the day there, there was > > so much inviting habitat. > > The ducks and gulls in the eddy > > below the dam are right next to > > shore. This is a fabulous chance to > > see Barrow's Goldeneye, and right > > alongside Commons. The more sedulous > > could take the opportunity to compare > > female Goldeneyes (generally > > a more risque' activity than gull > > ID in my experience). The loon was equally > > close to shore, and everything with > > the sun at my back, not glaring off > > the water. Don't be discouraged by > > heavy rainfall at your westside residence. > > This spot is in true desert (less than > > 25cm of precipitation annually). If it's > > pouring in Portland as you read this, > > the skies there may be gray, but quite > > dry. > > Although nearly 200 miles from the > > sea, the foot of the dam is almost > > sea level and the prevailing weather > > mild. There was snow was down to 1000ft > > in the grasslands east of The Dalles on > > Saturday, but Yellow-rumped Warblers > > were abundant around the parking area > > at the dam. I was eager to investigate > > the enormous specimens of Big Sage and > > Rabbitbrush growing in the area for more > > passerines. The John Day River debouches > > three miles east of the dam and the > > Deschutes less than 10 miles downstream. > > This has the potential to funnel all > > manner of landbirds into the area. > > I look forward to returning to the > > area at this time of year, hopefully > > this year. I am told there is an above > > average steakhouse in Rufous, although > > things may have changed. Avoid the > > Subway at Biggs Junction at all costs. > > If I ever get a worse sandwich in the > > course of my life I'm contacting Guiness > > and his book. There's a MacDonald's at > > the Jct that's 24 hours, walk-in, not > > drive-up. So if you're in the mood > > for a heated restroom after owling, > > be advised. I've never been to the > > place in Rufous, sorry I don't know > > the name. It was recommended by my > > gun-toting, bird-eating friends from > > Reed College (there were at least > > three in 1985, hidden amidst the > > hordes of disheveled vegetarians) > > who are true gourmands. One of them > > guided Governor Kitzhaber, Yvonne > > Choinnard, and a chef knighted by > > the French government. Lars Norgren > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Nov 26 10:13:19 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:13:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area In-Reply-To: <4B0EC0EB.5020107@verizon.net> References: <672868.80066.qm@web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <4B0EC0EB.5020107@verizon.net> Message-ID: <02394DC0-04D5-4BE0-8F4D-FCAA8C9D5629@earthlink.net> It makes sense. Gulls should be an easy mark for Peregrines. We used to call them Duck Hawks, but the average wingspeed of a duck must be three times that of a gull. I once saw a Peregrine take off from a snag at Alsea Bay and stoop on a flying Horned Grebe. The grebe dove into the water at full speed from 3m above the water. Quite a splash! Lars Norgren On Nov 26, 2009, at 9:54 AM, DJ Lauten and KACastelein wrote: > I'll third that emotion.......I mean I'll agree, we see Peregrines > taking gulls all the time....... > > Happy T-day everyone. > > Cheers > Dave and Kathy > > > Tim Rodenkirk wrote: >> Peregrines eat lots of gulls in Coos Bay, seems to be one of their >> favorites in fact, particularly CA Gulls. >> >> Tim R >> Coos Bay >> >> --- On *Thu, 11/26/09, Alan Contreras //* >> wrote: >> >> >> From: Alan Contreras >> Subject: Re: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area >> To: "Lars Norgren" , "obol" >> >> Date: Thursday, November 26, 2009, 8:30 AM >> >> Peregrins do indeed eat gulls. I found a large peregrine eating a >> recently >> captured juv California gull this fall. Photos of the fun >> available upon >> request. >> >> -- Alan Contreras >> EUGENE, OREGON >> acontrer at mindspring.com >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > From: Lars Norgren > > >> > Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:16:37 -0800 >> > To: obol > > >> > Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area >> > >> > Before I forget, shortly before >> > leaving the Lesser Black-backed Gull >> > yesterday, a large swarm of gulls >> > swirled off an island about a mile >> > downstream. I raised my binocular >> > and sure enough, a falcon was swooping >> > back up from the river's surface. >> > It was far too distant to determine >> > species. I had used up my allotted >> > time, and I had broken the only scope >> > I had with me, so I didn't pursue it >> > further. >> > I know Peregrines are a common >> > place along the Columbia, but has >> > anyone ever seen them harass gulls? >> > At Fernhill Lake they never acknowledge >> > each other's existence. Then I remember >> > the controversial photo from New Jersey >> > of a Gyrfalcon eating a Herring Gull. >> > Likewise, do Cackling Geese show any >> > deference to Peregrines? Given the time >> > of year, the likelihood of yesterday's >> > falcon being a Gyr strikes me as rather >> > high. The entire south bank of the >> > Columbia from Rufous to the dam is >> > accessible to the public, with frequent >> > parking opportunities. I could have >> > easily spent the day there, there was >> > so much inviting habitat. >> > The ducks and gulls in the eddy >> > below the dam are right next to >> > shore. This is a fabulous chance to >> > see Barrow's Goldeneye, and right >> > alongside Commons. The more sedulous >> > could take the opportunity to compare >> > female Goldeneyes (generally >> > a more risque' activity than gull >> > ID in my experience). The loon was equally >> > close to shore, and everything with >> > the sun at my back, not glaring off >> > the water. Don't be discouraged by >> > heavy rainfall at your westside residence. >> > This spot is in true desert (less than >> > 25cm of precipitation annually). If it's >> > pouring in Portland as you read this, >> > the skies there may be gray, but quite >> > dry. >> > Although nearly 200 miles from the >> > sea, the foot of the dam is almost >> > sea level and the prevailing weather >> > mild. There was snow was down to 1000ft >> > in the grasslands east of The Dalles on >> > Saturday, but Yellow-rumped Warblers >> > were abundant around the parking area >> > at the dam. I was eager to investigate >> > the enormous specimens of Big Sage and >> > Rabbitbrush growing in the area for more >> > passerines. The John Day River debouches >> > three miles east of the dam and the >> > Deschutes less than 10 miles downstream. >> > This has the potential to funnel all >> > manner of landbirds into the area. >> > I look forward to returning to the >> > area at this time of year, hopefully >> > this year. I am told there is an above >> > average steakhouse in Rufous, although >> > things may have changed. Avoid the >> > Subway at Biggs Junction at all costs. >> > If I ever get a worse sandwich in the >> > course of my life I'm contacting Guiness >> > and his book. There's a MacDonald's at >> > the Jct that's 24 hours, walk-in, not >> > drive-up. So if you're in the mood >> > for a heated restroom after owling, >> > be advised. I've never been to the >> > place in Rufous, sorry I don't know >> > the name. It was recommended by my >> > gun-toting, bird-eating friends from >> > Reed College (there were at least >> > three in 1985, hidden amidst the >> > hordes of disheveled vegetarians) >> > who are true gourmands. One of them >> > guided Governor Kitzhaber, Yvonne >> > Choinnard, and a chef knighted by >> > the French government. Lars Norgren >> > _______________________________________________ >> > obol mailing list >> > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > to=obol at oregonbirdwatch.org> >> > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > From 5hats at peak.org Thu Nov 26 10:28:08 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:28:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area References: <672868.80066.qm@web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com><4B0EC0EB.5020107@verizon.net> <02394DC0-04D5-4BE0-8F4D-FCAA8C9D5629@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <3371072795754520B7A2846FB48DD392@your5rlp3a9516> Lars, I have seen Peregrines take California Gulls too. I also once saw one capture and kill a Whimbrel on the beach near Waldport. I walked toward it and was surprised to see it take flight, Whimbrel clutched firmly in its talons. I really didn't expect it to be able to carry a bird of that size, but it did so with little apparent difficulty. According to the stats in Sibley there is only about a ten ounce difference in weight between the two species. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Norgren Family" To: Sent: Thursday, November 26, 2009 10:13 AM Subject: Re: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area > It makes sense. Gulls should be an > easy mark for Peregrines. We used to > call them Duck Hawks, but the average > wingspeed of a duck must be three times > that of a gull. I once saw a Peregrine > take off from a snag at Alsea Bay and > stoop on a flying Horned Grebe. The grebe > dove into the water at full speed from 3m > above the water. Quite a splash! Lars Norgren > On Nov 26, 2009, at 9:54 AM, DJ Lauten and KACastelein wrote: > >> I'll third that emotion.......I mean I'll agree, we see Peregrines >> taking gulls all the time....... >> >> Happy T-day everyone. >> >> Cheers >> Dave and Kathy >> >> >> Tim Rodenkirk wrote: >>> Peregrines eat lots of gulls in Coos Bay, seems to be one of their >>> favorites in fact, particularly CA Gulls. >>> >>> Tim R >>> Coos Bay >>> >>> --- On *Thu, 11/26/09, Alan Contreras //* >>> wrote: >>> >>> >>> From: Alan Contreras >>> Subject: Re: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area >>> To: "Lars Norgren" , "obol" >>> >>> Date: Thursday, November 26, 2009, 8:30 AM >>> >>> Peregrins do indeed eat gulls. I found a large peregrine eating a >>> recently >>> captured juv California gull this fall. Photos of the fun >>> available upon >>> request. >>> >>> -- Alan Contreras >>> EUGENE, OREGON >>> acontrer at mindspring.com >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> > From: Lars Norgren >> > >>> > Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:16:37 -0800 >>> > To: obol >> > >>> > Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area >>> > >>> > Before I forget, shortly before >>> > leaving the Lesser Black-backed Gull >>> > yesterday, a large swarm of gulls >>> > swirled off an island about a mile >>> > downstream. I raised my binocular >>> > and sure enough, a falcon was swooping >>> > back up from the river's surface. >>> > It was far too distant to determine >>> > species. I had used up my allotted >>> > time, and I had broken the only scope >>> > I had with me, so I didn't pursue it >>> > further. >>> > I know Peregrines are a common >>> > place along the Columbia, but has >>> > anyone ever seen them harass gulls? >>> > At Fernhill Lake they never acknowledge >>> > each other's existence. Then I remember >>> > the controversial photo from New Jersey >>> > of a Gyrfalcon eating a Herring Gull. >>> > Likewise, do Cackling Geese show any >>> > deference to Peregrines? Given the time >>> > of year, the likelihood of yesterday's >>> > falcon being a Gyr strikes me as rather >>> > high. The entire south bank of the >>> > Columbia from Rufous to the dam is >>> > accessible to the public, with frequent >>> > parking opportunities. I could have >>> > easily spent the day there, there was >>> > so much inviting habitat. >>> > The ducks and gulls in the eddy >>> > below the dam are right next to >>> > shore. This is a fabulous chance to >>> > see Barrow's Goldeneye, and right >>> > alongside Commons. The more sedulous >>> > could take the opportunity to compare >>> > female Goldeneyes (generally >>> > a more risque' activity than gull >>> > ID in my experience). The loon was equally >>> > close to shore, and everything with >>> > the sun at my back, not glaring off >>> > the water. Don't be discouraged by >>> > heavy rainfall at your westside residence. >>> > This spot is in true desert (less than >>> > 25cm of precipitation annually). If it's >>> > pouring in Portland as you read this, >>> > the skies there may be gray, but quite >>> > dry. >>> > Although nearly 200 miles from the >>> > sea, the foot of the dam is almost >>> > sea level and the prevailing weather >>> > mild. There was snow was down to 1000ft >>> > in the grasslands east of The Dalles on >>> > Saturday, but Yellow-rumped Warblers >>> > were abundant around the parking area >>> > at the dam. I was eager to investigate >>> > the enormous specimens of Big Sage and >>> > Rabbitbrush growing in the area for more >>> > passerines. The John Day River debouches >>> > three miles east of the dam and the >>> > Deschutes less than 10 miles downstream. >>> > This has the potential to funnel all >>> > manner of landbirds into the area. >>> > I look forward to returning to the >>> > area at this time of year, hopefully >>> > this year. I am told there is an above >>> > average steakhouse in Rufous, although >>> > things may have changed. Avoid the >>> > Subway at Biggs Junction at all costs. >>> > If I ever get a worse sandwich in the >>> > course of my life I'm contacting Guiness >>> > and his book. There's a MacDonald's at >>> > the Jct that's 24 hours, walk-in, not >>> > drive-up. So if you're in the mood >>> > for a heated restroom after owling, >>> > be advised. I've never been to the >>> > place in Rufous, sorry I don't know >>> > the name. It was recommended by my >>> > gun-toting, bird-eating friends from >>> > Reed College (there were at least >>> > three in 1985, hidden amidst the >>> > hordes of disheveled vegetarians) >>> > who are true gourmands. One of them >>> > guided Governor Kitzhaber, Yvonne >>> > Choinnard, and a chef knighted by >>> > the French government. Lars Norgren >>> > _______________________________________________ >>> > obol mailing list >>> > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> to=obol at oregonbirdwatch.org> >>> > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> obol mailing list >>> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> obol mailing list >>> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Nov 26 10:27:05 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis Vroman) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:27:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area References: Message-ID: <16C9B12275BC46B084671CCEB9CB6FB9@your4dacd0ea75> Feast on Gulls at nest locations too. Once was asked to ID some feathers from a Peregrine nest along the Rogue River. Some were juvenile Gull feathers (undertail coverts). Dennis Subject: Re: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area > Peregrins do indeed eat gulls. I found a large peregrine eating a > recently > captured juv California gull this fall. Photos of the fun available upon > request. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > > > > >> From: Lars Norgren >> Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:16:37 -0800 >> To: obol >> Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area >> >> Before I forget, shortly before >> leaving the Lesser Black-backed Gull >> yesterday, a large swarm of gulls >> swirled off an island about a mile >> downstream. I raised my binocular >> and sure enough, a falcon was swooping >> back up from the river's surface. >> It was far too distant to determine >> species. I had used up my allotted >> time, and I had broken the only scope >> I had with me, so I didn't pursue it >> further. >> I know Peregrines are a common >> place along the Columbia, but has >> anyone ever seen them harass gulls? >> At Fernhill Lake they never acknowledge >> each other's existence. Then I remember >> the controversial photo from New Jersey >> of a Gyrfalcon eating a Herring Gull. >> Likewise, do Cackling Geese show any >> deference to Peregrines? Given the time >> of year, the likelihood of yesterday's >> falcon being a Gyr strikes me as rather >> high. The entire south bank of the >> Columbia from Rufous to the dam is >> accessible to the public, with frequent >> parking opportunities. I could have >> easily spent the day there, there was >> so much inviting habitat. >> The ducks and gulls in the eddy >> below the dam are right next to >> shore. This is a fabulous chance to >> see Barrow's Goldeneye, and right >> alongside Commons. The more sedulous >> could take the opportunity to compare >> female Goldeneyes (generally >> a more risque' activity than gull >> ID in my experience). The loon was equally >> close to shore, and everything with >> the sun at my back, not glaring off >> the water. Don't be discouraged by >> heavy rainfall at your westside residence. >> This spot is in true desert (less than >> 25cm of precipitation annually). If it's >> pouring in Portland as you read this, >> the skies there may be gray, but quite >> dry. >> Although nearly 200 miles from the >> sea, the foot of the dam is almost >> sea level and the prevailing weather >> mild. There was snow was down to 1000ft >> in the grasslands east of The Dalles on >> Saturday, but Yellow-rumped Warblers >> were abundant around the parking area >> at the dam. I was eager to investigate >> the enormous specimens of Big Sage and >> Rabbitbrush growing in the area for more >> passerines. The John Day River debouches >> three miles east of the dam and the >> Deschutes less than 10 miles downstream. >> This has the potential to funnel all >> manner of landbirds into the area. >> I look forward to returning to the >> area at this time of year, hopefully >> this year. I am told there is an above >> average steakhouse in Rufous, although >> things may have changed. Avoid the >> Subway at Biggs Junction at all costs. >> If I ever get a worse sandwich in the >> course of my life I'm contacting Guiness >> and his book. There's a MacDonald's at >> the Jct that's 24 hours, walk-in, not >> drive-up. So if you're in the mood >> for a heated restroom after owling, >> be advised. I've never been to the >> place in Rufous, sorry I don't know >> the name. It was recommended by my >> gun-toting, bird-eating friends from >> Reed College (there were at least >> three in 1985, hidden amidst the >> hordes of disheveled vegetarians) >> who are true gourmands. One of them >> guided Governor Kitzhaber, Yvonne >> Choinnard, and a chef knighted by >> the French government. Lars Norgren >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Nov 26 10:52:08 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:52:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area In-Reply-To: <3371072795754520B7A2846FB48DD392@your5rlp3a9516> References: <672868.80066.qm@web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com><4B0EC0EB.5020107@verizon.net> <02394DC0-04D5-4BE0-8F4D-FCAA8C9D5629@earthlink.net> <3371072795754520B7A2846FB48DD392@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: As I posted two or three winters ago, I saw a Peregrine on top of a very tall utility pole eating a Gadwall. Easily half of Peregrines weigh less than the average Gadwall, although the falcon in question was exceptionally large. As impressive as it would have been to see it carry the duck to the perch, seeing it swallow the leg whole was unforgettable- I mean the WHOLE leg- femur, tarsus, metatarsus and webbed foot--in one gulp. I also felt a twinge of guilt over the cooked chicken's foot I slipped into my pocket at Camp Sherman when Lao mushroom pickers made me their guest of honor. It was about 10pm on midsummer's day and gustatory diplomacy wasn't difficult. Lars On Nov 26, 2009, at 10:28 AM, Darrel Faxon wrote: > Lars, > I have seen Peregrines take California Gulls too. I also once saw > one capture and kill a Whimbrel on the beach near Waldport. I > walked toward it and was surprised to see it take flight, Whimbrel > clutched firmly in its talons. I really didn't expect it to be able > to carry a bird of that size, but it did so with little apparent > difficulty. According to the stats in Sibley there is only about a > ten ounce difference in weight between the two species. > > Darrel > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Norgren Family" > > To: > Sent: Thursday, November 26, 2009 10:13 AM > Subject: Re: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area > > >> It makes sense. Gulls should be an >> easy mark for Peregrines. We used to >> call them Duck Hawks, but the average >> wingspeed of a duck must be three times >> that of a gull. I once saw a Peregrine >> take off from a snag at Alsea Bay and >> stoop on a flying Horned Grebe. The grebe >> dove into the water at full speed from 3m >> above the water. Quite a splash! Lars Norgren >> On Nov 26, 2009, at 9:54 AM, DJ Lauten and KACastelein wrote: >> >>> I'll third that emotion.......I mean I'll agree, we see Peregrines >>> taking gulls all the time....... >>> >>> Happy T-day everyone. >>> >>> Cheers >>> Dave and Kathy >>> >>> >>> Tim Rodenkirk wrote: >>>> Peregrines eat lots of gulls in Coos Bay, seems to be one of their >>>> favorites in fact, particularly CA Gulls. >>>> >>>> Tim R >>>> Coos Bay >>>> >>>> --- On *Thu, 11/26/09, Alan Contreras //* >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> From: Alan Contreras >>>> Subject: Re: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area >>>> To: "Lars Norgren" , "obol" >>>> >>>> Date: Thursday, November 26, 2009, 8:30 AM >>>> >>>> Peregrins do indeed eat gulls. I found a large peregrine >>>> eating a >>>> recently >>>> captured juv California gull this fall. Photos of the fun >>>> available upon >>>> request. >>>> >>>> -- Alan Contreras >>>> EUGENE, OREGON >>>> acontrer at mindspring.com >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> > From: Lars Norgren >>> > >>>> > Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:16:37 -0800 >>>> > To: obol >>> > >>>> > Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area >>>> > >>>> > Before I forget, shortly before >>>> > leaving the Lesser Black-backed Gull >>>> > yesterday, a large swarm of gulls >>>> > swirled off an island about a mile >>>> > downstream. I raised my binocular >>>> > and sure enough, a falcon was swooping >>>> > back up from the river's surface. >>>> > It was far too distant to determine >>>> > species. I had used up my allotted >>>> > time, and I had broken the only scope >>>> > I had with me, so I didn't pursue it >>>> > further. >>>> > I know Peregrines are a common >>>> > place along the Columbia, but has >>>> > anyone ever seen them harass gulls? >>>> > At Fernhill Lake they never acknowledge >>>> > each other's existence. Then I remember >>>> > the controversial photo from New Jersey >>>> > of a Gyrfalcon eating a Herring Gull. >>>> > Likewise, do Cackling Geese show any >>>> > deference to Peregrines? Given the time >>>> > of year, the likelihood of yesterday's >>>> > falcon being a Gyr strikes me as rather >>>> > high. The entire south bank of the >>>> > Columbia from Rufous to the dam is >>>> > accessible to the public, with frequent >>>> > parking opportunities. I could have >>>> > easily spent the day there, there was >>>> > so much inviting habitat. >>>> > The ducks and gulls in the eddy >>>> > below the dam are right next to >>>> > shore. This is a fabulous chance to >>>> > see Barrow's Goldeneye, and right >>>> > alongside Commons. The more sedulous >>>> > could take the opportunity to compare >>>> > female Goldeneyes (generally >>>> > a more risque' activity than gull >>>> > ID in my experience). The loon was equally >>>> > close to shore, and everything with >>>> > the sun at my back, not glaring off >>>> > the water. Don't be discouraged by >>>> > heavy rainfall at your westside residence. >>>> > This spot is in true desert (less than >>>> > 25cm of precipitation annually). If it's >>>> > pouring in Portland as you read this, >>>> > the skies there may be gray, but quite >>>> > dry. >>>> > Although nearly 200 miles from the >>>> > sea, the foot of the dam is almost >>>> > sea level and the prevailing weather >>>> > mild. There was snow was down to 1000ft >>>> > in the grasslands east of The Dalles on >>>> > Saturday, but Yellow-rumped Warblers >>>> > were abundant around the parking area >>>> > at the dam. I was eager to investigate >>>> > the enormous specimens of Big Sage and >>>> > Rabbitbrush growing in the area for more >>>> > passerines. The John Day River debouches >>>> > three miles east of the dam and the >>>> > Deschutes less than 10 miles downstream. >>>> > This has the potential to funnel all >>>> > manner of landbirds into the area. >>>> > I look forward to returning to the >>>> > area at this time of year, hopefully >>>> > this year. I am told there is an above >>>> > average steakhouse in Rufous, although >>>> > things may have changed. Avoid the >>>> > Subway at Biggs Junction at all costs. >>>> > If I ever get a worse sandwich in the >>>> > course of my life I'm contacting Guiness >>>> > and his book. There's a MacDonald's at >>>> > the Jct that's 24 hours, walk-in, not >>>> > drive-up. So if you're in the mood >>>> > for a heated restroom after owling, >>>> > be advised. I've never been to the >>>> > place in Rufous, sorry I don't know >>>> > the name. It was recommended by my >>>> > gun-toting, bird-eating friends from >>>> > Reed College (there were at least >>>> > three in 1985, hidden amidst the >>>> > hordes of disheveled vegetarians) >>>> > who are true gourmands. One of them >>>> > guided Governor Kitzhaber, Yvonne >>>> > Choinnard, and a chef knighted by >>>> > the French government. Lars Norgren >>>> > _______________________________________________ >>>> > obol mailing list >>>> > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> to=obol at oregonbirdwatch.org> >>>> > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> obol mailing list >>>> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> to=obol at oregonbirdwatch.org> >>>> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >>>> >>>> >>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> obol mailing list >>>> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>>> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Thu Nov 26 11:46:11 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:46:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] ECBC Christmas Valley Raptor Survey Message-ID: Yesterday 11/25 Sach and Nancy Esperancilla joined me on the Christmas Valley Raptor Survey. It was a great day out on the desert with sunny skies, very little wind and comfortable temperatures. We counted 89 raptors on the route (see below) plus another 41 raptors going to and from the route. It seems to be a good year for Rough-legged Hawks according to my and other routes in the State. The most unusual sighting for the day was 40+ Eurasian collared Doves in the town of Christmas Valley. I counted 40 in the power line behind the store and they had been coming and going before I made the count so there could have been many more. The most I have ever seen there before was less than 10. We saw 3 Northern Shrikes which was above average and only saw one Bald Eagle which was below average. Raptors Counted Red-tailed Hawk 37 American Kestrel 8 Northern Harrier 3 Bald Eagle 1 Golden Eagle 4 Rough-legged Hawk 25 Ferruginous Hawk 6 Unident. Buteo 4 Prairie Falcon 4 Kim Boddie Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091126/65094a52/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Thu Nov 26 12:16:10 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:16:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] no red-breasted Merg at Vancouver Lake this morning Message-ID: Nothing else to report I will try again tomorrow? Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091126/1f25ed9a/attachment.html From triciasnyder at clear.net Thu Nov 26 12:54:22 2009 From: triciasnyder at clear.net (Tricia Snyder) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:54:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Booby still in Coos Bay? Message-ID: We are braving the Thanksgiving rain to search for the BROWN BOOBY. Does anyone have any advice as so far we tried at the Hedge Rd point and behind DQ and haven't been able to spot it yet despite our use of a spotting scope. Thanks! Tricia Sent from my iPhone From rflores_2 at msn.com Thu Nov 26 13:12:21 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:12:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Western Meadowlarks, late report, Ridgefield NWR, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: On the 25th I had 14 Western Meadowlarks between the east side of Rest Lake and Swartz Lake. We occasionally have sightings throughout winter but 14 is a eye catcher. If others see numbers like this on Ridgefield NWR let me know. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091126/20a2c428/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Nov 26 14:14:04 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:14:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Booby still in Coos Bay? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <9C178F3C-599A-49CC-A5EB-E1EBEE63918E@earthlink.net> As I recall, Tim Rodenkirk saw it from the northshore yesterday, which requires a four-wheel-drive. He wrote that it can perch on its preferred spot in a place that is invisible from the south shore. Lars On Nov 26, 2009, at 12:54 PM, Tricia Snyder wrote: > We are braving the Thanksgiving rain to search for the BROWN BOOBY. > > Does anyone have any advice as so far we tried at the Hedge Rd point > and behind DQ and haven't been able to spot it yet despite our use of > a spotting scope. > > Thanks! > Tricia > > Sent from my iPhone > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Nov 26 14:16:06 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:16:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Western Meadowlarks, late report, Ridgefield NWR, Clark Co, WA In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <3A2E4B80-D431-4115-A411-AA3AC10FAFDB@earthlink.net> I noted similar numbers in the mid- and southern Willamette Valley on the 24th. The first spot was a mile east of EE Wilson, in fully cultivated land. Lars Norgren On Nov 26, 2009, at 1:12 PM, Bob Flores wrote: > On the 25th I had 14 Western Meadowlarks between the east side of > Rest Lake and Swartz Lake. We occasionally have sightings > throughout winter but 14 is a eye catcher. If others see numbers > like this on Ridgefield NWR let me know. > > Bob Flores > Ridgefield, WA > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091126/67c87e62/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Thu Nov 26 15:19:31 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:19:31 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Westmoreland Park RED PHALAROPE Message-ID: <315860.95767.qm@web55708.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Today we walked to Westmoreland Park in hopes of adding the Red Phalaropes to our motorless birding list. We found one RED PHALAROPE on the southern pond. There was no sign of the other one. The REDHEAD, CANVASBACK, and EURASIAN WIGEON were still on the north pond. We have consistently seen the female Eurasian Wigeon on the lake, usually on the north side or up the little creek by the bridge. Surprisingly, there were only about 70 gulls; as usual they were mostly Glaucous-winged, with a few Ring-billed and a Western. On Tuesday we saw both Red Phalaropes at the south pond. There was also a Merlin flying around. Good Birding and Happy Thanksgiving! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091126/8aada389/attachment.html From cncschneider at msn.com Thu Nov 26 15:57:33 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:57:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] White-throated Sparrow, Silverton OR Message-ID: Hi, I just finished eating Thanksgiving dinner and I looked out through the window at my bird feeders and there was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW under the sunflower feeder eating sunflower seeds. This is motorless species number 107 and a new yard bird. Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon From ronaldgp at onlinemac.com Thu Nov 26 16:19:38 2009 From: ronaldgp at onlinemac.com (ronaldgp at onlinemac.com) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:19:38 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull continues Message-ID: I took the family on a minor (180 mile) detour to the Thanksgiving gathering to look for the gull. We arrived under overcast, but dry, skies around 10:00 am. We started looking at the easternmost access point (gravel area) below the powerhouse and fish ladder (Oregon shore). There were quite a number of RING-BILLED GULLS and COMMON GOLDENEYE present, but no dark gull. We did have a BARROW'S GOLDENEYE for comparison, along with COMMON MERGANSER. We moved west to the second paved parking area and birded from the east end. We almost didn't get out of the car, but observed some goldeneye swimming away from us. Since we couldn't see the shoreline proper from where we were, we moved closer. At the water's edge were a number of gulls and goldeneye. After approaching behind the cover of a pine tree about 10:45, scanning the area showed the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL floating in isolation from the other birds in the group. This would be between the third and fourth fishing platform in the Google satellite imagery. As has been noted, it is very striking just how dark it is compared to the other gulls. It cooperated with a short flight to a near shore rock and sat for a while. While putting the camera up to the scope, it took an extended flight towards the powerhouse and returned to the water where originally seen. Another birder observed the whole show with us and we all left with it still there. As Lars mentioned, the location was ideal for comparing the goldeneye species. We had three male and one female BARROW'S in a group alongside more than a dozen (mixed sex) COMMON. Other waterfowl were in quantity along the shore from the dam west to the boat ramp. Farther actually, but the freeway doesn't allow for stopping to look. We observed: RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, MALLARD, AMERICAN WIDGEON, RING-BILLED GULL, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, GREAT BLUE HERON, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN COOT and CANVASBACK. We did not see the Eurasion Widgeon or Black-legged Kittiwake. On the way back, at Mosier, we saw a PEREGRINE FALCON harassing a BALD EAGLE. No prey was observed, but a second eagle was seen joining the action. Not a bad show for freeway speed. Now I hear that there is a less than wild TURKEY to be seen in the next room over.... Good birding, Ron --- Ronald G. Peterson McMinnville, OR From tc at empnet.com Thu Nov 26 18:42:12 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:42:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull continues References: Message-ID: <67B2D093F5774DFBAAC60A559615EC1A@1120639> I was at the John Day dam from 1 to 3pm today. The Lesser Black-backed Gull was present and put on quite a show from 1:30 to 2:30 just below the dam. The bird was actively flying around most of the time. It wasn't feeding, although it did try to attack a Ring-billed Gull and steal it's catch. It would fly a loop from the dam west along the Washington side for 1/4 to 1/2 mile downstream, cross the river towards the Oregon side and then fly back towards the dam. At 2:30 the bird headed west on it's normal route, but continued west till I lost sight of it. Roy Gehrig of Salem was the only other birder there that I saw. Tom Crabtree, Bend From roygerig at hotmail.com Thu Nov 26 18:58:18 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:58:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull and others 11/26 Message-ID: Besides the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, which I first saw around 10 AM, and was present below the John Day Dam until 2 PM when I left (during which a quick trip to Arlington and back along the Columbia mostly produced a couple thousand CANADA GEESE and some WESTERN GREBES, RING-BILLED GULLS, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS), there were some other 'good birds' in the area: WHITE-WINGED SCOTER - 3 - 2 adult males, 1 1st yr male, west of the bridge at Biggs. County listers will understand this lament: the only other scoter I have ever seen in Sherman County, exactly 10 years ago, was also a WWSC. PACIFIC LOON - 4 - 1 near the island below the JDDam, 2 at the end of the road 3-4 miles west of there, 1 under the bridge at Biggs. RED-NECKED GREBE - 2 - both west of the bridge at Biggs. Both the RNGR and the WWSC were being harassed by gulls, in fact I thought a grebe was going to die when a gull grabbed it from behind, before it could dive and bit into its neck. It got away by diving. COMMON LOON 1 - under the Biggs bridge. HORNED GREBE - about 10 A good selection of ducks, including HOODED MERGANSERS, COMMON MERGANSERS, GADWALL, PINTAIL, MALLARD, AMERICAN WIGEON, BOTH SCAUP, RING-NECKED DUCK, BOTH GOLDENEYE, BUFFLEHEAD. Best place to see the gull was at the river edge, behind the restroom just below the dam. I saw a half dozen birders, who all saw the gull, including the Petersons and Tom Crabtree. I don't know the couple who saw the gull earlier, around 9 AM. I was in a hurry, but it was nice to see Crabtree just before I left toward Biggs, then home. As he walked up the GULL was flying right in front of us, and you could actually see most of its field marks even without binoculars. Good timing, Tom. Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: It works the way you want. Learn more. http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_evergreen:112009v2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091126/a0aebf36/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Thu Nov 26 19:06:41 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:06:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] My first week at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Message-ID: <8A0B96F091D048C5929B14D46F46FF7B@GREG> Perhaps you might find my account of my first week on the job as birding instructor at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve interesting. http://nwbackyardbirder.blogspot.com/ Greg Gillson From namitzr at hotmail.com Thu Nov 26 21:18:38 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:18:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Brown Booby viewing Message-ID: Both preferred perching sites on the two B navigation markers are viewable from Hedge Ln, but only the preferred perch on the wooden B navigation marker is visible from Fossil Pt. A 4x4 is not required to see the booby, but it does get you within 1/4 mile of the perch. Some folks have walked down the beach from the north side. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091126/3538ae68/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Nov 27 07:30:52 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:30:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] L B-b G viewing Message-ID: <73F6CAF3-9DFD-49CD-9912-D7B9654EE205@earthlink.net> Roy Gerig offers the most succinct tip--directly north of the restrooms, from the bank. The various segments of parkinglot referred to in various posts do not take up as much space as a football field and one can see the water from them. The restrooms are easily missed upon arrival because they are to the west of the dedicated parkinglot and the water is not visible at that point. There is clearly a strong impulse to drive as close to the dam as possible,but that area has by far the fewest birds. As I mentioned Wednesday, the area next to the restrooms has a good backwater and facilitates loafing. The dead or stunned fish coming off the dam may not surface until some distance downstream due to turbulence patterns. I must concur with all the comments on the distinctive appearance of this gull. You need not be an expert to pick it out of the flock or landscape. Sibley's treatment is also misleading for our Oregon perspective. He is focusing on how to distinguish it from a Greater Black-backed Gull. The only Oregon gull that looks like this Lesser B-b is an adult or third year Slaty-back. Almost as rare as a Lesser B-b in this area, and almost twice the size. To my mind the Sibley picture of a UK Lesser B-b on the wing does not look much like the John Day bird. The picture in the book looks a good deal more like a California Gull- a lighter mantle and more narrow wing-tips than the Black-back at John Day dam. Compared to the Californias and Ring-bills present this bird has quite broad wings, esp. at the primaries. As for eye-color, beak color, leg color, these are icing on an already good cake. One really doesn't need to see them to be convinced. The beak is only yellow at the outer third-those sheath-like scales on the respective mandibles. It's a very intense yellow, verging on orange. The rest of the bill is quite dusky. The feet are pinkish= yellow. Think of the big set of Crayola crayons- the 64 color box I think. There used to be one called "yellow-orange" which I avoided as a child because it seemed unnatural. That's basically what this gull's feet were in the strong sunlight of Wednesday . A great many Goldeneyes, the loon, what-have-you, were in the same spot next to the restrooms, which offers ample parking. Lars Norgren From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Fri Nov 27 09:16:05 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:16:05 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area---Peregrines and Gulls In-Reply-To: <000D3452-725C-48C2-8B70-69F2303E41F0@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <280244.81300.qm@web39703.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Lars, I have seen peregrines harass gulls, but it wasn't during this time of the year. I've seen peregrines, especially youngsters, chase and stoop gulls, in what appeared to be, "only having fun," without a serious attempt to actually capture it. I don't think the gulls understand the falcon is not serious, because if they did, they wouldn't flush. If you are potential prey, you gotta flush every time an attack is launched. Hope this is of some help. Best, Dick (15 mi. south of Burns) --- On Thu, 11/26/09, Norgren Family wrote: > From: Norgren Family > Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Thursday, November 26, 2009, 8:16 AM > ? ???Before I > forget, shortly before > leaving the Lesser Black-backed Gull > yesterday, a large swarm of gulls > swirled off an island about a mile > downstream. I raised my binocular > and sure enough, a falcon was swooping > back up from the river's surface. > It was far too distant to determine > species. I had used up my allotted > time, and I had broken the only scope > I had with me, so I didn't pursue it > further. > ? ???I know Peregrines are a common > place along the Columbia, but has > anyone ever seen them harass gulls? > At Fernhill Lake they never acknowledge > each other's existence. Then I remember > the controversial photo from New Jersey > of a Gyrfalcon eating a Herring Gull. > Likewise, do Cackling Geese show any > deference to Peregrines? Given the time > of year, the likelihood of yesterday's > falcon being a Gyr strikes me as rather > high. The entire south bank of the > Columbia from Rufous to the dam is > accessible to the public, with frequent > parking opportunities. I could have > easily spent the day there, there was > so much inviting habitat. > ? ? The ducks and gulls in the eddy > below the dam are right next to > shore. This is a fabulous chance to > see Barrow's Goldeneye, and right > alongside Commons. The more sedulous > could take the opportunity to compare > female? Goldeneyes (generally > a more risque' activity than gull > ID in my experience). The loon was equally > close to shore, and everything with > the sun at my back, not glaring off > the water. Don't be discouraged by > heavy rainfall at your westside residence. > This spot is in true desert (less than > 25cm of precipitation annually). If it's > pouring in Portland as you read this, > the skies there may be gray, but quite > dry. > ? ???Although nearly 200 miles from > the > sea, the foot of the dam is almost > sea level and the prevailing weather > mild. There was snow was down to 1000ft > in the grasslands east of The Dalles on > Saturday, but Yellow-rumped Warblers > were abundant around the parking area > at the dam. I was eager to investigate > the enormous specimens of Big Sage and > Rabbitbrush growing in the area for more > passerines. The John Day River debouches > three miles east of the dam and the > Deschutes less than 10 miles downstream. > This has the potential to funnel all > manner of landbirds into the area. > ? ???I look forward to returning to > the > area at this time of year, hopefully > this year. I am told there is an above > average steakhouse in Rufous, although > things may have changed. Avoid the > Subway at Biggs Junction at all costs. > If I ever get a worse sandwich in the > course of my life I'm contacting Guiness > and his book. There's a MacDonald's at > the Jct that's 24 hours, walk-in, not > drive-up. So if you're in the mood > for a heated restroom after owling, > be advised. I've never been to the > place in Rufous, sorry I don't know > the name. It was recommended by my > gun-toting, bird-eating friends from > Reed College (there were at least > three in 1985, hidden amidst the > hordes of disheveled vegetarians) > who are true gourmands. One of them > guided Governor Kitzhaber, Yvonne > Choinnard, and a chef knighted by > the French government. Lars Norgren > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From philliplc at charter.net Fri Nov 27 09:52:19 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:52:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: 7:00-9:00 (11/27): mostly overcast, wind N 15-25, swells 10+ 1500+ Red-throated Loon 300+ Pacific Loon 20 Common Loon 1 Red-necked Grebe 6 Western Grebe 3 Northern Fulmar 800 Brown Pelican (S) 150 Brandt's Cormorant (S) 20 Pelagic Cormorant 213 Brant 1 Mallard 30 Green-winged Teal 14 scaup sp. 1 Long-tailed Duck 20+ Black Scoter 400 White-winged Scoter 2500 Surf Scoter 6 Red-breasted Merganser 4 Bonaparte's Gull 10 Mew Gull 500 California Gull 100 Herring Gull 500 Western Gull 200 Glaucous-winged Gull 2000+ larus sp.(feeding trending S on the horizon) 3 Heermann's Gull 2 Black-legged Kittiwake 9000 Common murre (most in first 45 min) 2 Pigeon Guillemot Phil philliplc at charter.net From pointers at pacifier.com Fri Nov 27 10:05:21 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:05:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Townsends Warbler - Vancouver Wa Message-ID: <20091127180520.6D49A6A572@smtp4.pacifier.net> we had a Townsend's Warbler on our suet this morning !!!!!!!!!! ... first one we've seen since last spring ... Lyn Vancouver, Wa pointers at pacifier dot com Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Fri Nov 27 10:48:15 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:48:15 -0700 Subject: [obol] swan and goose Message-ID: <7379BFF9C2E94675984C73605C7198DD@larryPC> While at the neighbors we noticed that they have a young Tundra Swan in the creek right next to the houses. He isn't bothered by the horses, dogs, cows, trucks, or people moving around. In the flocks of geese in the hay fields is a solitary Snow Goose with the Canada's. We haven't seen Snow's in the fall mostly in the spring and in flocks. Our Northern Harrier has been working the creek daily. The Juncos and White-crowned Sparrows are foraging close to the house. The Ca.Quail and EC Doves are still eating with the chickens. Karen in true SE Or south of Burns Jct. In Malheur Co. Note: If you forward this email, please delete the forwarding history, which includes my email address. It is a courtesy to me and others who may not wish to have their email addresses sent all over the world. Erasing the history also helps prevent Spammers from mining addresses and prevents viruses from being propagated -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091127/d9665d56/attachment.html From hatlevis at comcast.net Fri Nov 27 11:37:55 2009 From: hatlevis at comcast.net (Susan Hatlevig) Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:37:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] birdling loops on the internet-Willamette Valley Message-ID: Hi all, We decided to try one of the Willamette Valley birding loops now on the internet about a month and a half ago since we want to get back to more birding than just watching what shows up in the backyard. It was essentially the Luckiamute loop and we stopped at Helmick Park etc. We have driven past that spot a kazillion times to go to Scandi dancing in Salem, and never stopped there. What a sweet place-although no birds really. Some very enormous trees! We didn't get much bird activity all day, but that was okay since it was such great weather with trees in good color. I loved all of the giant cottonwoods at the Luckiamute State Area, once we trekked past all the non-native vegetation! At least now we know how to get to the places on the loop etc.for further exploring at more active times of the year. I told both the owners of Cardwell Hill and Lumos wineries, who are located on the loop that they should check into being sponsors and they are interested. So, whoever is putting this together may want to contact them. I wouldn't doubt that Airlie and Emerson may also want to get in on the act-combine a wine/bird trip! Speaking of the Luckaimute Loop the local paper in Corvallis had an article about a farmer who is selling his land at a lowered cost around Buena Vista to add to the natural area. It was estimated to take about 12 years to convert it from a grass operation to a more natural site. Good news, I'd say. Kudos to those who put the Willamette Valley birding sites on the internet. I'm looking forward to trying them all. Off to wine tasting! Susie in Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091127/fb4022b0/attachment.html From davidmandell at earthlink.net Fri Nov 27 14:32:06 2009 From: davidmandell at earthlink.net (David Mandell) Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:32:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] John Day LBB Gull and Kittiwake Message-ID: <7211C725-B155-46A3-AC7C-1606F3B24345@earthlink.net> In addition to the Lesser Black-backed Gull, there was also an adult Kittiwake below John Day Dam this morning. David Mandell From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Nov 27 14:36:42 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:36:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gyrfalcon at Jackson Bottom, Hillsboro Message-ID: <20091127143642.bwrgnzf9c0ss8swk@webmail.zzz.com> Dennis Manzer reported a GYRFALCON at the north viewstand of Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro, Oregon, just before noon today (November 27). I missed it (so far), but there have been a lot of birds and birders here today. Common Goldeneye 1 male Snow Goose 3 Red-shouldered Hawk Great Horned Owl Anna's Hummingbirds singing Red-breasted Sapsucker (locally rare) Northern Shrike Winter Wren (locally rare) Varied Thrush Greg Gillson From pointers at pacifier.com Fri Nov 27 16:54:04 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:54:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Merganser Vancouver Lake Friday Yes Message-ID: <20091128005403.6F237826D@smtp3.pacifier.net> hi group ... the Red-breasted Merganser spotted wednesday by Wilson Cady, was seen on Vancouver Lake friday early afternoon, near the flow channel ... pix taken ... click on each image to enlarge ... last 2 images show Common Merganser female too !!! http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Birds/red-breasted_merganser.html enjoy, Lyn Vancouver, Wa pointers at pacifier dot com Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From celata at pacifier.com Fri Nov 27 17:23:43 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:23:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Delta Ponds, Eugene - 11/27/2009 Message-ID: <4B107B9F.5080408@pacifier.com> I took a lap around the bike path and sidewalks around Delta Ponds today while waiting for the computer repair store to open so I could get my parents computer disinfected.... A noisy BLACK PHOEBE was hanging around the radio tower at the parking lot. The bird feeders along the river path bustling both kinds of GOLDFINCHES, at least two ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS and both varieties of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER. Closer to Cottage Grove I found an adult RED-SHOULDERED HAWK at the end of 17th Street in residential Cottage Grove about ten blocks from my parent's house. The times, they are a changin'... Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Pied-billed Grebe Great Blue Heron American Coot Mew Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Anna's Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Northern Flicker Black Phoebe [1] Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin Varied Thrush European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Lesser Goldfinch American Goldfinch House Sparrow Footnotes: [1] Hanging out on the radio tower near the parking lot. Total number of species seen: 32 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Why a duck? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12750/ From hnehls6 at comcast.net Fri Nov 27 19:54:18 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:54:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull Message-ID: Obolers, All this talk about the Lesser Black-backed Gull, but no one apparently has aged it. I saw it this morning and feel confident that it is in third cycle plumage. Among other things the underwing coverts are tipped with dusky. Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091127/0b0491c6/attachment.html From ronaldgp at onlinemac.com Fri Nov 27 20:04:08 2009 From: ronaldgp at onlinemac.com (ronaldgp at onlinemac.com) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:04:08 +0000 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull Message-ID: <1481885844-1259381048-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-159210667-@bda543.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> We had come to the same conclusion as Harry, this is a third year individual. In part this is based on the appearance of the bill. It is match to Sibley's illustration. Ron --- Ronald G. Peterson McMinnville, OR Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry From tc at empnet.com Fri Nov 27 20:08:19 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:08:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull References: Message-ID: <7C15C161C835494491EB654317CDA796@1120639> Lesser Black-backed GullI agree, Harry. I overlooked mentioning that in my post yesterday. I must have been suffering from car lag. Tom Crabtree, Bend ----- Original Message ----- From: Harry Nehls To: obol Sent: Friday, November 27, 2009 7:54 PM Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull Obolers, All this talk about the Lesser Black-backed Gull, but no one apparently has aged it. I saw it this morning and feel confident that it is in third cycle plumage. Among other things the underwing coverts are tipped with dusky. Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091127/a21632fa/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Fri Nov 27 20:19:25 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:19:25 +0000 Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Merganser Vancouver Lake Friday Yes/Abundant in Bandon Message-ID: This apparent rarity up north was abundant today on our South Jetty. At least six females, three males. The several hundred brown pelicans hunkered down for the Thanksgiving rains started to fly out about mid afternoon. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Lyn Topinka Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:54:04 To: Subject: [obol] Red-breasted Merganser Vancouver Lake Friday Yes hi group ... the Red-breasted Merganser spotted wednesday by Wilson Cady, was seen on Vancouver Lake friday early afternoon, near the flow channel ... pix taken ... click on each image to enlarge ... last 2 images show Common Merganser female too !!! http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Birds/red-breasted_merganser.html enjoy, Lyn Vancouver, Wa pointers at pacifier dot com Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From slcarpenter at gmail.com Fri Nov 27 23:11:02 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:11:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Baskett Slough NWR - Snow Geese, etc. Message-ID: At Baskett Slough NWR today I came across 4 SNOW GEESE -- 1 adult and 2 immatures together with a flock of several hundred cacklers, and another adult with a flock of several thousand cacklers. DUSKY CANADA GEESE were well represented, too. Also present were 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS. A bit east of the refuge, in a field south of Farmer Rd east of the RR tracks, I came across two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS -- one light morph and one dark morph. The dark morph's tail had several thin black and white bands, a plumage that is well documented in Wheeler's Raptors of Western North America, but one I have not seen before today. In the same field were 3 Northern Harriers, so presumably the field has good numbers of small rodents. Scott Carpenter Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091127/826c13fb/attachment.html From jbw at oregoncoast.com Sat Nov 28 08:12:56 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara and John Woodhouse) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 08:12:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tropical Kingbird Tuesday, Nov24, Newport LNG Tank In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <196B9669-A39E-45E4-BF4C-2351722F748D@oregoncoast.com> Thanks to John t.Thomas for great directions to the T. Kingbird we followed them Wednesday and a couple of minutes after we arrived the bird flew in from the LNG tank direction. It sat for quite a while on top of some willow and then started hawking for insects. this was around 10.30 am. Also present in the willow and seen briefly was a Common Yellowthroat. Barbara and John Woodhouse Tillamook. On Nov 24, 2009, at 7:50 PM, John Thomas wrote: > Tropical Kingbird still present at LNG site up by "Sally's Bend." > The bird > was seen at the NW corner of the fenced area. (Park at last spot by > gate. > Walk straight west to the Willows and brush at the NW corner of the > fenced > area.) The bird was flycatching over the creek on the west side of the > Willows and brush. It was impossible to see by just parking along > the road > into the area. > > Weather was unbelievably great at Newport today. Mid 60's. The bay > was like > glass with no wind. > There were 5 members of Salem Audubon in our group & everybody was > pleased > to be at the coast.We saw many of the typical birds of the season > including > Brant Geese, Surf Scoter, White-Winged Scoter, Buffleheads, Black > Turnstone, > etc at the LNG tank and down at South Jetty and Hatfield Marine > Science > Center. > > Good Birding, > John Thomas > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Sat Nov 28 09:31:28 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (Tom McNamara) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 09:31:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed and found Sibley Guide (from WA state....?) Message-ID: I was one of (apparently) several folks who saw the LBB gull below John Day dam yesterday (Friday); was there about 1:15. When my wife and brimming-with-energy pup arrived, a Tacoma birder, Ryan Wiese (sp?), had already lined out the general location of where he'd seen the bird. Mere minutes later we were scoping it in favorable light. Nice!! Ryan's young daughter's fascination with this larid rarity expired before ours did and so he attentively decamped to keep her on the smiling side. He may well have left a copy of the big Sibley Guide close to where he'd set up his scope. (If not him, some previous birder did). Reckoning a birder "from away" would probably not drive back for it, we took it for safekeeping, hence this post. A favor: would someone who's subscribed to Tweeters forward this so a birder from Tacoma may read this. Ryan or whoever the owner is ....follow the email address crumb trail and let me know (with something obvious in email subject line, please) good birding all, Tom ps. good meeting you Marshall B. _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/bf325275/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Sat Nov 28 09:58:42 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 09:58:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] late report: Fernhill Wetlands: Kittiwake, possible Eastern Towhee Message-ID: I just received email from David Griffin of New Mexico who was here visiting relatives earlier in the week. He spotted another(?) BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE at Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove on Wednesday, November 25. There was a kittiwake seen on Sunday, the 22nd, there, but not seen Monday or Tuesday. My guess this is a different bird. "The bird was a bit smaller than a Mew gull (many of which were on the water that morning), the wings were slimmer and it's flight was more like that of a Sabine's gull and tern-like. There was a dark crescent behind the face and the bird had a light bill." He also saw an odd towhee exactly midway on the eastern side of cattail marsh in a "dense hedgerow," evidently the blackberry tangles there. He wanted to alert birders to be on the lookout for a possible female EASTERN TOWHEE. "I briefly saw a towhee that I thought might have been a female Eastern Towhee. This was at the east edge of the ponds (see map) where the bird climbed up in a brushy tree very briefly and then flew further east to some dense hedgerow (see map). The bird had no spotting on sides, was brown dorsally and rufous underneath." Female western Oregon's towhees tend to be dull blackish-brown, often not much paler than the males. The fact it was brown enough to be noticed as a female could strengthen the possibility of it being something unusual. He also noticed PURPLE FINCHES and a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in this area, which are fairly uncommon but this is the area they usually hang out. This adds to the observer's credibility. Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Sat Nov 28 11:22:02 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:22:02 -0500 Subject: [obol] feeder birds; Scappoose lowlands Message-ID: This morning at feeders: a handful of EVENING GROSBEAKS, which haven't been here for more than a month. Other notable yard birds among the usual suspects were a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and 3 TOWNSEND WARBLERS during the past week.Can hear TUNDRA SWANS at night thru our open window frequently now from Scappoose Bay. On a walk on the CrownZ Trail in the Scappoose lowlands yesterday: thousands of geese in the fields and flying in to land: Definitely Cacklers and Canadian, and unknown what other subspecies were there. A landowner has installed 3 supersized cutouts of bald eagles in one small field. Not sure if it's to protect a crop or reduce geese near the small airport there.Lona Pierce, Columbia County _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: It works the way you want. Learn more. http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_evergreen:112009v2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/3181affd/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Sat Nov 28 11:26:35 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:26:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Washington County, Oregon, fall rarity summary Message-ID: This has been a very productive autumn for birds in Washington County. The following is a summary of rare birds from August through November 27. American White Pelican: 5th county record of up to 13 birds from July 18 to October 8. Long-billed Curlew: 7th county record on August 26. Lewis's Woodpecker: 6th county record from September 4-9. Sabine's Gull: 3rd county record from September 19-24. American Redstart: 1st county record from September 2-3. Long-tailed Duck: 5th county record from October 25-30. White-winged Scoter: 6th county record from October 9-10. Say's Phoebe: 11th county record on October 11. White-tailed Kite: 13th county record from October 22-23. American Tree Sparrow: 4th county record from November 13-present. Monk Parakeet: 1st county record of specimen on November 24. Heermann's Gull: 4th county record on November 22-23. Black-legged Kittiwake: 3rd county record on November 22. Black-legged Kittiwake: 4th county record on November 25. Rare birds with over 10 county records (no longer tracked): Semipalmated Sandpiper on September 21. Surf Scoters, up to 17 birds, from October 25 to November 9. Red Phalarope on November 11 and 22. Swamp Sparrow on November 25. Unconfirmed: Common Poorwill: 1st county record on October 2. Eastern Towhee: 1st county record on November 25. For details on these and others, as well as some photos, please see: http://thebirdguide.com/washington/WashCo_2009.htm Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From acontrer at mindspring.com Sat Nov 28 11:55:12 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:55:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Booby yes Message-ID: Dan heyerly reports the brown booby still on the usual tower at coos bay noon Saturday 28th. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Sat Nov 28 12:27:04 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:27:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lane Co. Myiarchus flycatcher Message-ID: <2b1bbd260911281227v6faaf984vc502f2eee45834ed@mail.gmail.com> OBOL, Today I found a *Myiarchus *flycatcher in my yard near Woahink Lake, Lane Co. Hendrik Herlyn came down and took photos. Our initial impression based on tail pattern and overall color is that it is a hatch year ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER. Hendrik took a series of photos, which should be helpful. The bird was found around 11:30 and was last seen a little after noon. Hopefully photos will be posted soon. -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/8b011339/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Sat Nov 28 12:51:19 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:51:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lower River Rd Vancouver Bottoms, Clark Co, WA white-throated sparrows Message-ID: Went to Vancouver Lake to look for the red-breasted Merganser with no luck. I drove further on Lower River Rd and on the Northend of the Fazio Bros. cattle feedlot I found two white-throated sparrows mixed in with about 100+ gc and wc sparrow flock. Also on Old Lower River Rd next to the old barn I found a very mixed flock of sparrows and there was one white-throated sparrow there as well. All else was quite. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/cf24986b/attachment.html From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sat Nov 28 13:32:03 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:32:03 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Photos of Florence Myiarchus flycatcher posted Message-ID: <90632.98360.qm@web37005.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello all, I posted a bunch of pictures of the Myiarchus flycatcher we observed in Daniel Farrar's backyard south of Florence this morning: http://actitistours.blogspot.com/2009/11/myiarchus-flycatcher-south-of-florence.html Comments are welcome! _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/2b359176/attachment.html From andydfrank at gmail.com Sat Nov 28 13:41:04 2009 From: andydfrank at gmail.com (Andy Frank) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:41:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Thanks, Paul Message-ID: <2ec131a10911281341y5c31623ao305007d16f9dae9f@mail.gmail.com> Today I received Portland Audubon Society's Warbler and read that Paul Sullivan will "take a break" after 13 years of leading Birding Weekends in Oregon and wanted to take the opportunity to provide a public thanks to Paul for having done these trips for so many years. My first reaction is 13 years! That's far more years than I have been birding, and I suspect includes over 100 trips. On these trips Paul introduced me to several beautiful parts of the state I might not have otherwise gone to, and along the way I saw over species of 240 birds, of which 30 were life birds. These trips have provided me with many lasting memories. I noticed how he tried to make sure everyone in the group got good looks at the birds, and did so always with grace and good humor. His relaxed manner allowed people at every skill level to feel comfortable and I know many people developed good friendships by meeting on these trips. Paul, I am very grateful to you for having led these trips, and am appreciative of how this has helped so many Oregon birders. I'd like to also publicly thank Carol Karlen for her knowledge and always good nature on all the trips she helped with over the past few years. You well deserve a rest, but please forgive me if I keep hoping that this truly is just "a break." Andy Frank Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/e42f7149/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sat Nov 28 13:55:34 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:55:34 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Photos of Florence Myiarchus flycatcher posted Message-ID: <621011.84486.qm@web45314.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> The Myiarchus group can be tough to ID, especially with these photos. ?I'd like to know in particular how you eliminated Great-crested and Brown-crested Hendrik and Daniel? ?So, what color did the throat look like? ?How bright was the yellow on the lower belly? ?It looks like the tail had too much rufous for Dusky-capped? ?How bright do the tertial edges look? ?I think other species of Myiarchus besides Ash-throated could be just as likely this time of year although I think Nuttings would be very unlikely. ?Oh, the lower mandible appeared a bit wide on this photo but I can't recall if the Ash-throated would be more narrow than the photos show or not? Just can't get to good of a feel for this bird with the photos you have posted Hendrik. ?So I guess what I am really wondering is how you eliminated the other species? Very cool find Daniel and thanks for sharing the photos Hendrik! Tim RCoos Bay --- On Sat, 11/28/09, Hendrik Herlyn wrote: From: Hendrik Herlyn Subject: [obol] Photos of Florence Myiarchus flycatcher posted To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Saturday, November 28, 2009, 1:32 PM Hello all, I posted a bunch of pictures of the Myiarchus flycatcher we observed in Daniel Farrar's backyard south of Florence this morning: http://actitistours.blogspot.com/2009/11/myiarchus-flycatcher-south-of-florence.html Comments are welcome! _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/493e8a3d/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Nov 28 14:01:47 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:01:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Photos of Florence Myiarchus flycatcher posted In-Reply-To: <621011.84486.qm@web45314.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: I think Great-crested, Brown-crested (especially) and Dusky-capped would all be much yellower below. Dusky capped would have almost no tail rufous. The pattern of rufous on the undertail leans to a juv. Ash-throat or a Nuttings. I don't see anything in the pics that could not be an Ash-throat. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com > From: Tim Rodenkirk > Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:55:34 -0800 (PST) > To: obol , Hendrik Herlyn , > Daniel Farrar > Subject: Re: [obol] Photos of Florence Myiarchus flycatcher posted > > The Myiarchus group can be tough to ID, especially with these photos. ?I'd > like to know in particular how you eliminated Great-crested and Brown-crested > Hendrik and Daniel? ?So, what color did the throat look like? ?How bright was > the yellow on the lower belly? ?It looks like the tail had too much rufous for > Dusky-capped? ?How bright do the tertial edges look? ?I think other species of > Myiarchus besides Ash-throated could be just as likely this time of year > although I think Nuttings would be very unlikely. ?Oh, the lower mandible > appeared a bit wide on this photo but I can't recall if the Ash-throated would > be more narrow than the photos show or not? > Just can't get to good of a feel for this bird with the photos you have posted > Hendrik. ?So I guess what I am really wondering is how you eliminated the > other species? > Very cool find Daniel and thanks for sharing the photos Hendrik! > Tim RCoos Bay > > --- > On Sat, 11/28/09, Hendrik Herlyn wrote: > > From: Hendrik Herlyn > Subject: [obol] Photos of Florence Myiarchus flycatcher posted > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Saturday, November 28, 2009, 1:32 PM > > Hello all, > > I posted a bunch of pictures of the Myiarchus flycatcher we observed in Daniel > Farrar's backyard south of Florence this morning: > > http://actitistours.blogspot.com/2009/11/myiarchus-flycatcher-south-of-florenc > e.html > > Comments are welcome! > > _________________________________ > > Hendrik G. Herlyn > > 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 > > Florence, OR 97439 > > USA > > Phone: 541-997-2730 > > E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Nov 28 14:14:03 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:14:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Phalarope i.d. Message-ID: For those who have not checked it out, I highly recommend the phalarope i.d. photos on the Birdfellow web site: http://www.birdfellow.com/ The photos superbly illustrate the problem with half-molted juvenile Reds being mistaken for Red-necks. This problem is not handled well in field guides. Rule Number One: Look At The Bill. I will be in Australia Nov. 30-Dec. 12, enjoying a bit of summer. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From kirkpat at charter.net Sat Nov 28 14:27:12 2009 From: kirkpat at charter.net (Douglas Kirkpatrick) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:27:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Thanks to Paul; Rogue Valley bluebird In-Reply-To: <2ec131a10911281341y5c31623ao305007d16f9dae9f@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <0D39DFFBF0E74254BBA5A5548A87F11E@D7CDFN81> Ditto and congrats to Paul for a long career of helping other birders, both novice and expert. Also, I saw a bluebird as I was driving down Hwy 66 about 10 miles east of Ashland this morning at about 3500' altitude. It looked like a Mtn BB but I can't rule out a Western. (No, it was not a scrub jay.) Doug Kirkpatrick Medford, OR _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Andy Frank Sent: Saturday, November 28, 2009 1:41 PM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Thanks, Paul Today I received Portland Audubon Society's Warbler and read that Paul Sullivan will "take a break" after 13 years of leading Birding Weekends in Oregon and wanted to take the opportunity to provide a public thanks to Paul for having done these trips for so many years. My first reaction is 13 years! That's far more years than I have been birding, and I suspect includes over 100 trips. On these trips Paul introduced me to several beautiful parts of the state I might not have otherwise gone to, and along the way I saw over species of 240 birds, of which 30 were life birds. These trips have provided me with many lasting memories. I noticed how he tried to make sure everyone in the group got good looks at the birds, and did so always with grace and good humor. His relaxed manner allowed people at every skill level to feel comfortable and I know many people developed good friendships by meeting on these trips. Paul, I am very grateful to you for having led these trips, and am appreciative of how this has helped so many Oregon birders. I'd like to also publicly thank Carol Karlen for her knowledge and always good nature on all the trips she helped with over the past few years. You well deserve a rest, but please forgive me if I keep hoping that this truly is just "a break." Andy Frank Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/84e48d6d/attachment.html From birdernaturalist at me.com Sat Nov 28 14:27:31 2009 From: birdernaturalist at me.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:27:31 -0700 Subject: [obol] Photos of Florence Myiarchus flycatcher posted In-Reply-To: <90632.98360.qm@web37005.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <90632.98360.qm@web37005.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <0BFDB483-E04F-4A8F-92DF-E2015E85428F@me.com> Hi Hendrik and All, I think the colors and head proportions eliminate all but Ash-throated Flycatcher and Nutting's Flycatcher. The color of the secondary edgings is very suggestive of Nutting's Flycatcher. That seems an unlikely candidate for vagrancy as far north as Oregon, but it would be foolish to dismiss it out of hand. If the species had no propensity for vagrancy, we wouldn't have three records for Arizona and one for California, all documented with solid evidence. (Think Streak-backed Oriole at Malheur, while we're at it.) Ash-throated should show a pretty strong contrast between the rufous edges of the primaries with the paler lemony edges of the secondaries. The secondaries of Nuttings grade from the from rufous of the primaries through cinnamon to lemon and cream of the tertial edgings, creating a blended, rather than two-toned effect across the flight feather edges. It's hard to be sure, but I think that's what I'm seeing on these photos. One of the other good field marks is the richness of yellow to the belly. Nutting's is more like Dusky-capped or other typical Myiarchus, and Ash-throated is a much paler, often whitish yellow. That's almost impossible to judge from these photos, which look washed out overall. Try to make it call (use playback), and get some recordings. That was the only way that the Santa Cruz bird of a few years ago was finally confirmed to be an Ash-throated. Nice find, by the way, Daniel! Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona http://birdernaturalist.blogspot.com/ Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- On Nov 28, 2009, at 2:32 PM, Hendrik Herlyn wrote: > Hello all, > > I posted a bunch of pictures of the Myiarchus flycatcher we observed > in Daniel Farrar's backyard south of Florence this morning: > > http://actitistours.blogspot.com/2009/11/myiarchus-flycatcher-south-of-florence.html > > Comments are welcome! > > _________________________________ > Hendrik G. Herlyn > 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 > Florence, OR 97439 > USA > Phone: 541-997-2730 > E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/2049b211/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sat Nov 28 14:33:59 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:33:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Thanks, Paul In-Reply-To: <2ec131a10911281341y5c31623ao305007d16f9dae9f@mail.gmail.com> References: <2ec131a10911281341y5c31623ao305007d16f9dae9f@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <01A0B097138E4983A61111CA4DFE2155@cgatesPC> Imagine the sheer number of people who have been turned on to birding by Paul's 13 years of exploration. I count myself as one of those and am eternally grateful for all the good times I've had in the field, in a car, on a train, on the trail, and at the bar with Paul Sullivan. ? votre sant? Sir Sullivan. ----- Original Message ----- From: Andy Frank To: OBOL Sent: Saturday, November 28, 2009 1:41 PM Subject: [obol] Thanks, Paul Today I received Portland Audubon Society's Warbler and read that Paul Sullivan will "take a break" after 13 years of leading Birding Weekends in Oregon and wanted to take the opportunity to provide a public thanks to Paul for having done these trips for so many years. My first reaction is 13 years! That's far more years than I have been birding, and I suspect includes over 100 trips. On these trips Paul introduced me to several beautiful parts of the state I might not have otherwise gone to, and along the way I saw over species of 240 birds, of which 30 were life birds. These trips have provided me with many lasting memories. I noticed how he tried to make sure everyone in the group got good looks at the birds, and did so always with grace and good humor. His relaxed manner allowed people at every skill level to feel comfortable and I know many people developed good friendships by meeting on these trips. Paul, I am very grateful to you for having led these trips, and am appreciative of how this has helped so many Oregon birders. I'd like to also publicly thank Carol Karlen for her knowledge and always good nature on all the trips she helped with over the past few years. You well deserve a rest, but please forgive me if I keep hoping that this truly is just "a break." Andy Frank Portland ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/cc236205/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Sat Nov 28 14:39:53 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:39:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Photos of Florence Myiarchus flycatcher posted In-Reply-To: References: <621011.84486.qm@web45314.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <2b1bbd260911281439q73cdc840g27f72d2aa32fcfd@mail.gmail.com> Obol, The best photo for viewing the outer tail feathers is the third photo down after the "mouth lining" comment on Hendrik's blog. In this picture you can see the black on the outer webbing does indeed arc over towards the inner webbing. The rufous does not actually extend all the way to the tail tip, which was also noted in the field. This feature is consistent with an adult ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER and pretty well eliminates the other candidate species mentioned. Another feature to point out is that the plumage seemed quite fresh giving the tail feathers an almost creamy edged which you can see in the photo. Overall the bird appeared brownish gray on the upperparts. The underparts were difficult to see as the bird was often perched with its back towards me. What I could see was a soft lemony yellow. It seemed too dull for other Myiarchus sp. A few notes about aging. I feel that I spoke too soon initially. The tail pattern is ok for an adult as are the white edged tertials. HY and adult AT Flycatchers typically have completed a pre-basic molt by now. The fresh feathers indicate this is true on this bird. In short, I am not sure this bird can be properly aged with these photos. Daniel Farrar On Sat, Nov 28, 2009 at 2:01 PM, Alan Contreras wrote: > I think Great-crested, Brown-crested (especially) and Dusky-capped would > all > be much yellower below. Dusky capped would have almost no tail rufous. > The > pattern of rufous on the undertail leans to a juv. Ash-throat or a > Nuttings. > I don't see anything in the pics that could not be an Ash-throat. > > -- > Alan Contreras > EUGENE, OREGON > acontrer at mindspring.com > > > > > > > > From: Tim Rodenkirk > > Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:55:34 -0800 (PST) > > To: obol , Hendrik Herlyn >, > > Daniel Farrar > > Subject: Re: [obol] Photos of Florence Myiarchus flycatcher posted > > > > The Myiarchus group can be tough to ID, especially with these photos. > I'd > > like to know in particular how you eliminated Great-crested and > Brown-crested > > Hendrik and Daniel? So, what color did the throat look like? How bright > was > > the yellow on the lower belly? It looks like the tail had too much > rufous for > > Dusky-capped? How bright do the tertial edges look? I think other > species of > > Myiarchus besides Ash-throated could be just as likely this time of year > > although I think Nuttings would be very unlikely. Oh, the lower mandible > > appeared a bit wide on this photo but I can't recall if the Ash-throated > would > > be more narrow than the photos show or not? > > Just can't get to good of a feel for this bird with the photos you have > posted > > Hendrik. So I guess what I am really wondering is how you eliminated the > > other species? > > Very cool find Daniel and thanks for sharing the photos Hendrik! > > Tim RCoos Bay > > > > --- > > On Sat, 11/28/09, Hendrik Herlyn wrote: > > > > From: Hendrik Herlyn > > Subject: [obol] Photos of Florence Myiarchus flycatcher posted > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Date: Saturday, November 28, 2009, 1:32 PM > > > > Hello all, > > > > I posted a bunch of pictures of the Myiarchus flycatcher we observed in > Daniel > > Farrar's backyard south of Florence this morning: > > > > > http://actitistours.blogspot.com/2009/11/myiarchus-flycatcher-south-of-florenc > > e.html > > > > Comments are welcome! > > > > _________________________________ > > > > Hendrik G. Herlyn > > > > 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 > > > > Florence, OR 97439 > > > > USA > > > > Phone: 541-997-2730 > > > > E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com > > > > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/4a0bbfd6/attachment.html From jdanielfarrar at gmail.com Sat Nov 28 14:43:05 2009 From: jdanielfarrar at gmail.com (Daniel Farrar) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:43:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Photos of Florence Myiarchus flycatcher posted In-Reply-To: <0BFDB483-E04F-4A8F-92DF-E2015E85428F@me.com> References: <90632.98360.qm@web37005.mail.mud.yahoo.com> <0BFDB483-E04F-4A8F-92DF-E2015E85428F@me.com> Message-ID: <2b1bbd260911281443g110fdc3ay711b59d276e2462e@mail.gmail.com> Rich, We considered Nutting's. I think tail pattern is better for AT. Though it did not call and I could not see the color of the mouth lining. I have not been able to relocate the bird today. Daniel Farrar On Sat, Nov 28, 2009 at 2:27 PM, Rich Hoyer wrote: > Hi Hendrik and All, > > I think the colors and head proportions eliminate all but Ash-throated > Flycatcher and Nutting's Flycatcher. The color of the secondary edgings is > very suggestive of Nutting's Flycatcher. That seems an unlikely candidate > for vagrancy as far north as Oregon, but it would be foolish to dismiss it > out of hand. If the species had no propensity for vagrancy, we wouldn't have > three records for Arizona and one for California, all documented with solid > evidence. (Think Streak-backed Oriole at Malheur, while we're at it.) > > Ash-throated should show a pretty strong contrast between the rufous edges > of the primaries with the paler lemony edges of the secondaries. The > secondaries of Nuttings grade from the from rufous of the primaries through > cinnamon to lemon and cream of the tertial edgings, creating a blended, > rather than two-toned effect across the flight feather edges. It's hard to > be sure, but I think that's what I'm seeing on these photos. One of the > other good field marks is the richness of yellow to the belly. Nutting's is > more like Dusky-capped or other typical Myiarchus, and Ash-throated is a > much paler, often whitish yellow. That's almost impossible to judge from > these photos, which look washed out overall. Try to make it call (use > playback), and get some recordings. That was the only way that the Santa > Cruz bird of a few years ago was finally confirmed to be an Ash-throated. > > Nice find, by the way, Daniel! > > Good Birding, > > Rich > --- > Rich Hoyer > Tucson, Arizona > http://birdernaturalist.blogspot.com/ > > Senior Leader for WINGS > http://wingsbirds.com > --- > > On Nov 28, 2009, at 2:32 PM, Hendrik Herlyn wrote: > > Hello all, > > I posted a bunch of pictures of the Myiarchus flycatcher we observed in > Daniel Farrar's backyard south of Florence this morning: > > > http://actitistours.blogspot.com/2009/11/myiarchus-flycatcher-south-of-florence.html > > Comments are welcome! > > _________________________________ > Hendrik G. Herlyn > 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 > Florence, OR 97439 > USA > Phone: 541-997-2730 > E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Daniel Farrar Dunes City, Oregon jdanielfarrar at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/f4319dc3/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sat Nov 28 15:51:24 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:51:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <9C3BC3E9DFE0432DA767AAED608B75EF@D48XBZ51> Seawatch at Boiler Bay this morning, Nov. 28, from 7:45 to 9:35 AM Weather was calm, sunny to partly cloudy (clouds high and thin). Ocean was pretty calm - 3-6' swells, little chop, no whitecaps. Dave Tracy was present most of the watch, sevceral other birders, photographers were present for shorter periods. Red-throated Loon: 3000, mostly northbound Pacific Loon 250, mixed directions Common Loon 4 Western Grebe 30 on water, 1 northbound Red-necked Grebe 1 on water Brown Pelican 450 mostly S DC Cormorant 15 S Brandt's Cormorant 35 mixed Pelagic Cormorant 20 local Aleutian (Cackling) Goose 150 S Scaup sp. 4 N Redhead? 1 pale tawny bird flying S with Surf Scotors was right color, size for female Redhead Surf Scoter 150 both directions White-winged Scoter 200 both directions, quite a few on the water Black Scoter 2 N Red-breasted Merganser 1 S Glaucous-winged Gull Western Gull California Gull Mew Gull Heermann's Gull 3 N Black-legged Kittiwake 8 in feeding aggregation Bonaparte's Gull 4 S Common Murre 45 both directions Pigeon Guillemot 8 Marbled Murrelet 2 1 N, 1 on water Bald Eagle 1 Ad Peregrine Falcon 1 Orca 2 one big bull, with one smaller bull, southbound at 1 mile, 8 AM Steller's Sea Lion 11 swimming N California Sea Lion 5 N -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/a992544e/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sat Nov 28 15:53:53 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:53:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tropical Kingbird Message-ID: <19F6C4D29588471CBE0C08846D263E10@D48XBZ51> Still at least 1 at LNG tank area 2 PM. At one point 1 had one in view and heard vocalization that appeared to come from a different direction, so 2 present or 1 ventriloquist kingbird. Also present in area: 3 Eurasian Wigeons: 1 ad Drake with hen, and 1 hy Drake. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/d8963f6e/attachment.html From di4tbirds at comcast.net Sat Nov 28 16:02:55 2009 From: di4tbirds at comcast.net (di4tbirds at comcast.net) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:02:55 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Northern Shrike,KR Nielson Rd, Eugene In-Reply-To: <1952379404.7372181259452584903.JavaMail.root@sz0050a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1165557425.7373281259452975140.JavaMail.root@sz0050a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> OBOL, Earlier today I drove Cantrell and Nielson Road. There was a Northern Shrike working the field west of Nielson Road just passed the parking area. Two White-tailed kites were also in the area. The largest flock of Red-winged Blackbirds I have ever seen was feeding in the same area as the Shrike. There must have been thousands of birds. Something would alarm them and they would fly to the nearby trees covering all the branches with birds! On Cantrell was one Red-shouldered hawk and several gun shots. I had walked the old road at Fisher Unit earlier and there were several parties of hunters. Not much for birds. Diane Horgan -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091129/41b26596/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sat Nov 28 16:15:04 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:15:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tundra Swan - 11/28/2009 Message-ID: <4B11BD08.8020308@pacifier.com> There were about 75 TUNDRA SWANS in the wetland north of Kalama along I-5 today as we came back north to Astoria. I did not see any at Twilight (Hwy 30), but didn't really have a good view point. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Why a duck? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12750/ From dalpdx at aol.com Sat Nov 28 16:57:52 2009 From: dalpdx at aol.com (dalpdx at aol.com) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:57:52 -0500 Subject: [obol] Northern Cardinal Message-ID: <8CC3EA61CC7BDD3-62C0-53B9B@webmail-m083.sysops.aol.com> I was just curious if anyone has spotted a Cardinal this year. I remember the various sightings around Dayton and Canby last year. Darryl North Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/dc64014e/attachment.html From Kcparkton1 at aol.com Sat Nov 28 18:17:44 2009 From: Kcparkton1 at aol.com (Kcparkton1 at aol.com) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:17:44 EST Subject: [obol] Pileated Woodpecker Lane County Photo's Message-ID: I got some nice shots of 2 Pileated Woodpeckers near my house on Lorane Hwy south of Eugene. Just the other day I had a Pileated and a Hairy Woodpecker both in my yard at the same time. Also saw about 10-12 yellow-rumped warblers near where I took the shots of the Pileated. 1 great horned owl was out at Fern Ridge around 11am. For photo's of everything click here _http://www.flickr.com/photos/35913342 at N04/_ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35913342 at N04/) Kurt Parkton Eugene, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/32235150/attachment.html From dirtgirl16cr125 at msn.com Sat Nov 28 19:05:28 2009 From: dirtgirl16cr125 at msn.com (Cheryl Whelchel) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:05:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Poor pictures of Lesser Black-backed Gull and others Message-ID: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/ I posted a couple of lousy pictures of the gull at the above link. Also several pictures of both Common and Barrow's Goldeneye, and a funny looking grebe. Cheryl Whelchel Tangent -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/5e7f9909/attachment.html From gismiller at gmail.com Sat Nov 28 19:22:34 2009 From: gismiller at gmail.com (Craig Miller) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:22:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull bill color Message-ID: <4B11E8FA.5070108@gmail.com> Hi all, The only description I have seen for the bill color of the LBBG is "Bill yellow-gold with a red spot on gonys (near tip on lower mandible), but there was no black with the red." To avoid confusion, the bill pattern on the bird that has been observed since 25 November is yellow at the tip, red gonys, and smudgy gray over the remainder of the bill to the base. If a bird is also being seen that has an entirely yellow bill except for the red spot, then there may be two Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Craig Miller From gorgebirds at juno.com Sat Nov 28 20:03:23 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 04:03:23 GMT Subject: [obol] Skamania County Birdiing Message-ID: <20091128.200323.2834.1@webmail10.vgs.untd.com> I spent today birding Skamania County with Tom Mansfield and Ken Knittle as Tom worked on his county list. Our first edition to his list came shortly after they picked me up in the morning when we found Slender-billed WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH on Marble Road only about a half of a mile into Skamania County. We stopped along Highway 14 at Cape Horn and within minutes of playing it's call a PEREGRINE FALCON cruised overhead for Tom's county lifer #2. At the Franz Lake NWR overlook there were at least seven noisy TRUMPETER SWANS right along the lake edge below us. We had picked this bird up here last year so though rare in the county it was not an addition to his list. While I was watching these squabbling swans Tom spotted a skinny white bird on the far shore, a GREAT EGRET for #3. Near the restroom on Highway 14 at Beacon Rock State Park, a CANYON WREN responded from only a few yards away to a played call (#4). We drove through the town of North Bonneville finding a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, a nice county bird but not new for his list. Here both Tom and Ken saw a WILSON'S SNIPE flyover, a bird that Tom had seen in county before but new for Ken. I did not get on this bird in time which would have been a county lifer for me. Bonneville Dam had a WESTERN MEADOWLARK and a few gulls but no additions to the list. Rock Creek and the pond on Ryan-Allen Road produced nothing new and the mouth of the Wind River while fairly birdy added no new birds. There were small flocks of ducks on the Columbia River all the way to the Spring Creek Fish Hatchery at the Klickitat County line but there was nothing other than the usual species including many COMMON and BARROW'S GOLDENEYE. We drove down the road leading to Spring Creek Hatchery and found no new birds until we reached the gate and started to make a u-turn when Ken spotted a female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (#5) next to shore. We drove up to Underwood and followed the road back through Willard to Highway 14 without adding any birds to the list. In Underwood we did have a small flock of CALIFORNIA QUAIL at a feeder along Cooper Road. Running low on daylight we headed back West checking spots we had passed over on the way upstream including the lake area north of Bonneville Dam without adding anything. We decide to check the open fields along Marble Road for species such as Northern Harrier and Short-eared or Barn Owls in the fading light. When we got back to my house we played the call of a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL to see if we could elicit a response from my resident birds. The owl only gave one call note and then flew across our deck and fluttered against the dining room window for #6. Tom and Ken then headed back out in hopes of finding a Barn Owl for Tom's 150th Skamania County bird. Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Can you Cook as a Career? Free info on Le Cordon Bleu chef certification degree courses near you http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=whOFLkVFAs5kcZBWfa6q-QAAJ1AHcaoQFB_Xw2ggvz9-JEKpAAQAAAAFAAAAAPT9VD4AAAMlAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAlkAwAAAAA= From tc at empnet.com Sat Nov 28 20:12:39 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:12:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls? References: <4B11E8FA.5070108@gmail.com> Message-ID: <80612F009FC9496DAEF1E79CF7B4F92D@1120639> I compared my photos of Lesser-black Backed Gull with those of Cheryl Whelchel and have to conclude that the bird Criag Miller, Roy Gehrig and I saw is different than the one Cheryl photographed. Based on Harry Nehls' comments, I am guessing he saw the same bird I did,which according to Steve Howell & Jon Dunn's book is described as a third cycle Lesser Black-backed. My photos can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/TCBend/LesserBlackBackedGull# My bird does not have an all yellow bill with a red patch. I would describe it as a grayish base, then a red dot and finally a yellow tip. The wing pattern is different, too, not showing the whit window on the primary that an adult bird would show (and which shows on Cheryl's photos). My bird is most similar to picture 27.19 in Howell & Dunn's book on page 191. Are there two Lesser Black-backs at the John Day Dam? Tom Crabtree Bend, OR From uskestrel at yahoo.com Sat Nov 28 20:29:32 2009 From: uskestrel at yahoo.com (Carol Ledford) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:29:32 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR Saturday Message-ID: <152816.93301.qm@web54205.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Today (Saturday, 11/28), Will Clemons, his mother Olive, and I birded the River "S" Unit at Ridgefield NWR (~4mi W of I-5 at Exit 14 in SW Washington; http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/). ? Highlights included a lone female COMMON GOLDENEYE on Long Lake. She was about 50 yards out from the road in the woody area on the left side of the lake and was actively feeding.? A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen from across the slough near the service gate in the ash woodland.? I caught a quick look at this bird before it went after something on the ground and out of sight. The RED-SHOULDERED HAWK seen the past few weeks was again hanging out near marker #11. ?We watched it ~15 minutes and saw it fly three times and make one attempt to catch something below its perch. Complete list of 55 species seen/heard: ? Pied-billed Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Greater White-fronted Goose Cackling Goose Canada Goose Tundra Swan Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Ring-necked Duck Bufflehead COMMON GOLDENEYE Hooded Merganser RUDDY DUCK Bald Eagle Northern Harrier RED-SHOULDERED HAWK Red-tailed Hawk Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk American Kestrel American Coot Sandhill Crane Wilson's Snipe Gull Sp Mourning Dove Red-breasted Sapsucker Northern Flicker NORTHERN SHRIKE Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Marsh Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin European Starling Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow LINCOLN'S SPARROW Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Purple Finch American Goldfinch ? Carol Ledford Gresham, Oregon ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/b1295c93/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Nov 28 20:40:16 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:40:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Two Lesser Black-backs? Message-ID: <33AB5B8D-7D3C-4EBE-8464-D278C0642301@earthlink.net> The bird photographed by Tom Crabtree is certainly the bird I saw. I was struck at the time by its two-tone bill, which earlier postings hadn't mentioned. I was also puzzled by the single mirror that I didn't see. I figured it was just a confirmation of my inability to distinguish the markings on gulls' wingtips. Note also the bold streaking on the gull photographed by Tom, above all where the neck joins the chest. The mantle on Cheryl's bird also looks different from the one I saw. The bird I saw was less evenly colored, paler in the inner primaries, as if they were worn. Lars Norgren From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Sat Nov 28 21:17:53 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:17:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yes, Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F028272C0@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> I observed a LESSER-BLACK-BACKED Gull this afternoon (3:15 pm) at the John Day Dam and took some pictures. I have blown those up to see the bill on several shots and is not yellow with a red spot. It is a third winter bird. The tip of the bill is yellow and then the red shows up on the lower mandible and the bottom of the upper mandible. There is a hint of yellow above the red area on the upper mandible and the rest of the bill is a smudgy gray-black. The smudgy area extends into the area above the red on the upper mandible and thus is more extensive on the upper mandible, I found a third cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull in Idaho. It was at a landfill and I drove up to it. Same bill pattern. In addition flight shots show no white in the first primary (mirror) while in flight. A very slight bit of white at the tips of the primaries in flight and not readily visible when sitting on the water. The head may show more streaking and smudgy than Cheryl's shots, but the flight shots of the head can be deceiving based on lighting at the time. Cheryl's bird does appear to have darkness due to some streaking, but it is difficult to tell how extensive. My pictures are not that great due to no direct sunlight. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/bf02140f/attachment.html From tjanzen at comcast.net Sat Nov 28 22:10:03 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:10:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls? In-Reply-To: <80612F009FC9496DAEF1E79CF7B4F92D@1120639> Message-ID: <20091129061018.9A49CA8156@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear Tom, The Lesser Black-backed Gull that Paul Sullivan, Carol Karlen, and I saw on Nov. 21 is the bird that Cheryl photographed. There was another relatively dark backed gull that Paul and I also saw at some distance when we were there. We didn't see it at close range since it was sitting out in the middle of the river, but I passed it off as probably being a Western Gull. I don't know if it was the bird you photographed or not because I didn't see that bird all that well. The bird you photographed doesn't have a large mirror in P10, but then 3rd cycle Lesser Black-backed Gulls don't always have large mirrors in P10 from what I have read. If you enlarge photo #13, it would appear that this bird has reddish legs. Possibly the legs appear darker than they should in this picture due to the fact that they are shaded. When you saw the bird in flight did it have yellow legs? The photos of your gull show a bird that is about the same size as the nearby juvenile California Gulls, which would be consistent with the identification as a Lesser Black-backed Gull. The bill size also seems consistent with Lesser Black-backed Gull. Sincerely, Tim Janzen -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Tom Crabtree Sent: Saturday, November 28, 2009 8:13 PM To: Craig Miller; OBOL Subject: [obol] Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls? I compared my photos of Lesser-black Backed Gull with those of Cheryl Whelchel and have to conclude that the bird Criag Miller, Roy Gehrig and I saw is different than the one Cheryl photographed. Based on Harry Nehls' comments, I am guessing he saw the same bird I did,which according to Steve Howell & Jon Dunn's book is described as a third cycle Lesser Black-backed. My photos can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/TCBend/LesserBlackBackedGull# My bird does not have an all yellow bill with a red patch. I would describe it as a grayish base, then a red dot and finally a yellow tip. The wing pattern is different, too, not showing the whit window on the primary that an adult bird would show (and which shows on Cheryl's photos). My bird is most similar to picture 27.19 in Howell & Dunn's book on page 191. Are there two Lesser Black-backs at the John Day Dam? Tom Crabtree Bend, OR From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Sat Nov 28 22:11:48 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:11:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull, E. C. Dove & Golden Eagle Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F028272C1@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> I birded the John Day Dam area this afternoon and observed the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL below the dam. A birder from Eugene, John Mullen (I may not have the last name correct) and I were looking for the gull and even tried above the dam without success. At 3:15 pm I was chumming and the bird flew in while I was throwing bread into the water. John spotted it and I came up the bank and started shooting pictures. It was a life bird for John M. I had seen the bird on November 22, but missed getting pictures because of rain and a nasty wind. The LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL finally sat on the water. It continued to sit on the water and drifted down river. Other birds of interest at the dam and park were a PACIFIC LOON, 3 BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, a single GOLDEN EAGLE and 7 LESSER-GOLDFINCH. In Rufus there were 5 EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/85556912/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Sat Nov 28 22:40:46 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:40:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls? In-Reply-To: <20091129061018.9A49CA8156@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> References: <80612F009FC9496DAEF1E79CF7B4F92D@1120639> <20091129061018.9A49CA8156@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F028272C4@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> Tim and others: The bird I photographed today had yellow legs. In my pictures the legs are clearly yellow, but in some shots, because of reflection off the water they appear reddish, but that is a light trick. Birders from Camas described a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL with a bill like the bird in Cheryl's pictures. They saw it sometime before noon below the dam. They were very clear about what they saw. Their bird was very dark. John F. Gatchet -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Tim Janzen Sent: Saturday, November 28, 2009 10:10 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls? Dear Tom, The Lesser Black-backed Gull that Paul Sullivan, Carol Karlen, and I saw on Nov. 21 is the bird that Cheryl photographed. There was another relatively dark backed gull that Paul and I also saw at some distance when we were there. We didn't see it at close range since it was sitting out in the middle of the river, but I passed it off as probably being a Western Gull. I don't know if it was the bird you photographed or not because I didn't see that bird all that well. The bird you photographed doesn't have a large mirror in P10, but then 3rd cycle Lesser Black-backed Gulls don't always have large mirrors in P10 from what I have read. If you enlarge photo #13, it would appear that this bird has reddish legs. Possibly the legs appear darker than they should in this picture due to the fact that they are shaded. When you saw the bird in flight did it have yellow legs? The photos of your gull show a bird that is about the same size as the nearby juvenile California Gulls, which would be consistent with the identification as a Lesser Black-backed Gull. The bill size also seems consistent with Lesser Black-backed Gull. Sincerely, Tim Janzen -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Tom Crabtree Sent: Saturday, November 28, 2009 8:13 PM To: Craig Miller; OBOL Subject: [obol] Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls? I compared my photos of Lesser-black Backed Gull with those of Cheryl Whelchel and have to conclude that the bird Criag Miller, Roy Gehrig and I saw is different than the one Cheryl photographed. Based on Harry Nehls' comments, I am guessing he saw the same bird I did,which according to Steve Howell & Jon Dunn's book is described as a third cycle Lesser Black-backed. My photos can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/TCBend/LesserBlackBackedGull# My bird does not have an all yellow bill with a red patch. I would describe it as a grayish base, then a red dot and finally a yellow tip. The wing pattern is different, too, not showing the whit window on the primary that an adult bird would show (and which shows on Cheryl's photos). My bird is most similar to picture 27.19 in Howell & Dunn's book on page 191. Are there two Lesser Black-backs at the John Day Dam? Tom Crabtree Bend, OR _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Nov 28 22:44:26 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:44:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls? In-Reply-To: <20091129061018.9A49CA8156@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> References: <20091129061018.9A49CA8156@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: <436F6402-8E7B-4021-8262-9DDAA8F6460F@earthlink.net> I got repeated close looks of the feet and legs in full sunlight. They were pinkish - yellow. At first glimpse I thought I had the wrong bird, they seemed so pink. Nearly all adult gulls below the dam have yellow feet and legs because they are California or Ring-billed. But they have a rather flat yellow, with a greenish or muddy quality this time of year. The contrast was remarkable. Floating on the water in the close company of Californias and Ring-bills it was larger, but only slightly so. Lars Norgren On Nov 28, 2009, at 10:10 PM, Tim Janzen wrote: > Dear Tom, > The Lesser Black-backed Gull that Paul Sullivan, Carol Karlen, and I > saw on Nov. 21 is the bird that Cheryl photographed. There was > another > relatively dark backed gull that Paul and I also saw at some > distance when > we were there. We didn't see it at close range since it was sitting > out in > the middle of the river, but I passed it off as probably being a > Western > Gull. I don't know if it was the bird you photographed or not > because I > didn't see that bird all that well. > The bird you photographed doesn't have a large mirror in P10, but > then 3rd cycle Lesser Black-backed Gulls don't always have large > mirrors in > P10 from what I have read. If you enlarge photo #13, it would > appear that > this bird has reddish legs. Possibly the legs appear darker than they > should in this picture due to the fact that they are shaded. When > you saw > the bird in flight did it have yellow legs? The photos of your gull > show a > bird that is about the same size as the nearby juvenile California > Gulls, > which would be consistent with the identification as a Lesser Black- > backed > Gull. The bill size also seems consistent with Lesser Black-backed > Gull. > Sincerely, > Tim Janzen > > -----Original Message----- > From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Tom Crabtree > Sent: Saturday, November 28, 2009 8:13 PM > To: Craig Miller; OBOL > Subject: [obol] Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls? > > I compared my photos of Lesser-black Backed Gull with those of Cheryl > Whelchel and have to conclude that the bird Criag Miller, Roy Gehrig > and I > saw is different than the one Cheryl photographed. Based on Harry > Nehls' > comments, I am guessing he saw the same bird I did,which according > to Steve > Howell & Jon Dunn's book is described as a third cycle Lesser Black- > backed. > > My photos can be found at > http://picasaweb.google.com/TCBend/LesserBlackBackedGull# > > My bird does not have an all yellow bill with a red patch. I would > describe > > it as a grayish base, then a red dot and finally a yellow tip. The > wing > pattern is different, too, not showing the whit window on the > primary that > an adult bird would show (and which shows on Cheryl's photos). My > bird is > most similar to picture 27.19 in Howell & Dunn's book on page 191. > > Are there two Lesser Black-backs at the John Day Dam? > > Tom Crabtree > Bend, OR > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Sat Nov 28 22:59:03 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (ptsulliv at spiritone.com) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:59:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Thanks -- and Newport bird sightings Message-ID: <200911290659.nAT6x3Vk031406@sapphire.spiritone.com> OBOL: Thank you to those who expressed appreciation of the Birding Weekends that I -- and Carol Karlen -- have led. It has been fun, and we've made many new friends. Yesterday, Friday, we went down to Newport. We found the TROPICAL KINGBIRD on the fence at the NW corner of the LNG compound on the north side of Yaquina Bay. We saw lots of waterfowl on the bay. We searched the area between the jetties, but found no Long-tailed or Harlequin Ducks. We stayed for the night at the Surfrider Motel, just north of Fogarty Creek and less than a mile north of Boiler Bay. We were able to do a seawatch from the comfort of a heated, carpeted room, with breakfast, coffee, fireplace, etc, from 7:30-10:45. We didn't see nearly the number or variety of species reported by the expert observers at Boiler Bay, although we did see the Bald Eagle and the Peregrine. We returned to Newport this afternoon and found a male LONG-TAILED DUCK actively diving near the green channel marker at the base of the north jetty. Perched on the north jetty across from the gull puddle parking area we found a pair of HARLEQUIN DUCKS. Near the boardwalk on the nature trail at the Hatfield Marine Science Center we found a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. (The first time I've seen one there.) In the pond behind the Oregon Coast Aquarium Carol found us an adult BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. Then a COOPER'S HAWK flew over. 'Twas a fine two days at the coast. Good birding, everyone, Paul Sullivan From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Sat Nov 28 23:56:20 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:56:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] FW: Thanks, Paul Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F028272C6@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> Paul has taken birders to the far corners of the beautiful state of Oregon. He is a quiet, kind, patient and thoughtful trip leader who has led perhaps 100's of individuals to appreciate nature and the joys of birding. I base this on reading about his trips and first hand experience when I joined Paul to assist on a trip to Malheur County. Birding has benefited because of his willingness to teach others. The Oregon world of birding is a better place because of Paul's dedicated efforts on behalf of others. Thank you Paul. John F. Gatchet Portland, OR From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Andy Frank Sent: Saturday, November 28, 2009 1:41 PM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Thanks, Paul Today I received Portland Audubon Society's Warbler and read that Paul Sullivan will "take a break" after 13 years of leading Birding Weekends in Oregon and wanted to take the opportunity to provide a public thanks to Paul for having done these trips for so many years. My first reaction is 13 years! That's far more years than I have been birding, and I suspect includes over 100 trips. On these trips Paul introduced me to several beautiful parts of the state I might not have otherwise gone to, and along the way I saw over species of 240 birds, of which 30 were life birds. These trips have provided me with many lasting memories. I noticed how he tried to make sure everyone in the group got good looks at the birds, and did so always with grace and good humor. His relaxed manner allowed people at every skill level to feel comfortable and I know many people developed good friendships by meeting on these trips. Paul, I am very grateful to you for having led these trips, and am appreciative of how this has helped so many Oregon birders. I'd like to also publicly thank Carol Karlen for her knowledge and always good nature on all the trips she helped with over the past few years. You well deserve a rest, but please forgive me if I keep hoping that this truly is just "a break." Andy Frank Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/f268f728/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: ATT625537.txt Url: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091128/f268f728/attachment.txt From tc at empnet.com Sun Nov 29 00:07:59 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:07:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls? References: <20091129061018.9A49CA8156@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> <436F6402-8E7B-4021-8262-9DDAA8F6460F@earthlink.net> Message-ID: I would agree with Lars. The legs appeared to be yellow from some angles and pinkish from others. Most of the time when the bird was close enough and overhead close enough to see the leg color, it tended to be yellow. It only landed on the water once, so I didn't get a chance to see it with its landing gear down, so to speak. When it took off, I was snapping pictures. I will look at those, and if they show anything I will add them to the online gallery. The bird did appear to be slightly larger than the Cali Gulls that were nearby. Tom Crabtree, Bend ----- Original Message ----- From: "Norgren Family" To: Sent: Saturday, November 28, 2009 10:44 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls? >I got repeated close looks of the > feet and legs in full sunlight. They > were pinkish - yellow. At first glimpse > I thought I had the wrong bird, they > seemed so pink. Nearly all adult gulls > below the dam have yellow feet and legs > because they are California or Ring-billed. > But they have a rather flat yellow, with > a greenish or muddy quality this time of > year. The contrast was remarkable. Floating > on the water in the close company of Californias > and Ring-bills it was larger, but only > slightly so. Lars Norgren > On Nov 28, 2009, at 10:10 PM, Tim Janzen wrote: > >> Dear Tom, >> The Lesser Black-backed Gull that Paul Sullivan, Carol Karlen, and I >> saw on Nov. 21 is the bird that Cheryl photographed. There was >> another >> relatively dark backed gull that Paul and I also saw at some >> distance when >> we were there. We didn't see it at close range since it was sitting >> out in >> the middle of the river, but I passed it off as probably being a >> Western >> Gull. I don't know if it was the bird you photographed or not >> because I >> didn't see that bird all that well. >> The bird you photographed doesn't have a large mirror in P10, but >> then 3rd cycle Lesser Black-backed Gulls don't always have large >> mirrors in >> P10 from what I have read. If you enlarge photo #13, it would >> appear that >> this bird has reddish legs. Possibly the legs appear darker than they >> should in this picture due to the fact that they are shaded. When >> you saw >> the bird in flight did it have yellow legs? The photos of your gull >> show a >> bird that is about the same size as the nearby juvenile California >> Gulls, >> which would be consistent with the identification as a Lesser Black- >> backed >> Gull. The bill size also seems consistent with Lesser Black-backed >> Gull. >> Sincerely, >> Tim Janzen >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org >> [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Tom Crabtree >> Sent: Saturday, November 28, 2009 8:13 PM >> To: Craig Miller; OBOL >> Subject: [obol] Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls? >> >> I compared my photos of Lesser-black Backed Gull with those of Cheryl >> Whelchel and have to conclude that the bird Criag Miller, Roy Gehrig >> and I >> saw is different than the one Cheryl photographed. Based on Harry >> Nehls' >> comments, I am guessing he saw the same bird I did,which according >> to Steve >> Howell & Jon Dunn's book is described as a third cycle Lesser Black- >> backed. >> >> My photos can be found at >> http://picasaweb.google.com/TCBend/LesserBlackBackedGull# >> >> My bird does not have an all yellow bill with a red patch. I would >> describe >> >> it as a grayish base, then a red dot and finally a yellow tip. The >> wing >> pattern is different, too, not showing the whit window on the >> primary that >> an adult bird would show (and which shows on Cheryl's photos). My >> bird is >> most similar to picture 27.19 in Howell & Dunn's book on page 191. >> >> Are there two Lesser Black-backs at the John Day Dam? >> >> Tom Crabtree >> Bend, OR >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From davidmandell at earthlink.net Sun Nov 29 08:32:27 2009 From: davidmandell at earthlink.net (David Mandell) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 08:32:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull Message-ID: <6EAEA103-C52C-4F4A-9BBB-9C5DBE104A1B@earthlink.net> This is all getting very curious. The bird I saw on Friday is the same one described by Harry and Tom -- a third cycle bird with a largely dark base to the bill. I first saw the bird standing on the shore, but unfortunately at that point the legs were obscured. I later saw it floating in the water just off shore, where it was close enough to see that the legs were towards the yellowish end of the spectrum. This bird also had a very streaked head, particularly around the eye (which was yellow). I never saw the bird in flight, so I didn't get a good sense of the pattern of mirrors. I would say that the bird was about California Gull size. As all have mentioned, the bird is very dark mantled -- I actually thought it was darker mantled than most of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls I've see in North America. David Mnadell From philliplc at charter.net Sun Nov 29 09:06:17 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 09:06:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls? References: <20091129061018.9A49CA8156@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: <8845580B5501476DB2FF69CF201F1EB4@Phil> >The photos of your gull show a > bird that is about the same size as the nearby juvenile California Gulls I don't think there is enough information in these photos to draw any conclusions, but for what it's worth the juv gulls on the water with the bird in question in Tom's photos are not Cals. One appears to be a Herring, the other a Glaucous-winged hybrid. The pale 2nd- cycle gull also looks more like a Herring than Cal, although hard to tell on that one. In flight Tom's bird does appear more compact and narrow-winged than a typical Western/Slaty-backed. A 3rd-cycle LBBG presumably could have leg color in transition from pinkish to yellow, so I don't think that is an issue either way. Phil From pointers at pacifier.com Sun Nov 29 10:32:05 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 10:32:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sandhill Crane "dance" - Vancouver Lake Lowlands Message-ID: <20091129183202.3838E80C6@smtp3.pacifier.net> Yesterday (sat 11-28) Gene and I went out to see if we could find the White-Throated Sparrows mentioned earlier in the day by Bob Flores ... while they remained hidden to us, I did get to observe two Sandhill Cranes in a field ... one stood still while the other "danced" ... Gene missed it all as he was turning the car around ... so I had a private viewing ... by the time Gene got back the show was over ... I took about 20 pix ... the day was heavy overcast and lighting was horrible but I'm going to show off an image anyways ... the fluid motion of the birds is just a delight ... http://columbiariverimages.com/Birds/Images09Nov/vanlake_lowlands_sandhill_crane_dance_11-28-09.jpg enjoy, Lyn Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From annette24 at comcast.net Sun Nov 29 10:44:15 2009 From: annette24 at comcast.net (annette smith) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 10:44:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yellow beak hawk Message-ID: I was at the Delta Ponds and I saw a hawk low in the trees. I was only 30 feet away and got a good look at it. It was the size of a red tailed hawk but it was molton patterned brown from the top of the head to the tail. It had a yellow beak. I can fiquare out what kind of hawk it was. It wasn't a sharp shin and it wasn't a coopers. It looked at me too. then flew away. It had broad wings. Does anyone have any Ideas as to what kind of hawk it is. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091129/b1f6cac7/attachment.html From lcain at astoria.k12.or.us Sun Nov 29 12:01:56 2009 From: lcain at astoria.k12.or.us (lcain at astoria.k12.or.us) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:01:56 GMT Subject: [obol] Western Bluebirds, Clatsop County Message-ID: <200911292001.nATK1u2v021894@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Lee Cain by http://birdnotes.net Date: November 29, 2009 Location: Lyngstad Heights, Clatsop County, Oregon Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 100% Precipitation: none at about 1100 hrs, at Lyngstad Heights, 3 miles south of Astoria Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Western Bluebird 5 [1] Footnotes: [1] flyover flock, calling, headed north Total number of species seen: 1 From g_g_allin at hotmail.com Sun Nov 29 12:30:23 2009 From: g_g_allin at hotmail.com (John Puschock) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:30:23 +0000 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull In-Reply-To: <6EAEA103-C52C-4F4A-9BBB-9C5DBE104A1B@earthlink.net> References: <6EAEA103-C52C-4F4A-9BBB-9C5DBE104A1B@earthlink.net> Message-ID: Hi all, I just started paying attention to this thread after looking at Tom Crabtree's photos last night. I then tracked down the descriptions of the gull(s) and Cheryl Whelchel's photos. The descriptions certainly sound good for Lesser Black-backed, but I'm not immediately struck by the "Lesser Black-backedness" of the gulls in the photos. Of course the photos were taken under less than optimal conditions, so they probably don't capture the bird very well. For example, the head streaking is probably obscured by overexposure. So I'd like to know if this is true (that the gulls have more head streaking than shown in the photos), or is this how the streaking appeared in life? Is the streaking thin and distinct or broad and smudgy? Also, how much do the primaries project? Let me be clear, I'm NOT saying that these gulls _aren't_ Lesser Black-backeds. I can't think of a reasonable alternative to LBBG off the top of my head. But now y'all got me interested, and I might have to take a look for myself next week if I get a chance. John Puschock Seattle, WA g_g_allin at hotmail.com http://www.zbirdtours.com & http://www.birdtreks.com _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091129/37a6194f/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Sun Nov 29 12:44:25 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:44:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull References: <6EAEA103-C52C-4F4A-9BBB-9C5DBE104A1B@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <40913C985AB74E6AA35D64AB5AF50BA0@1120639> John, The gull that I saw had very heavy head streaking as described by David Mandell and others. It was a very distinct bird. Unfortunately that did not come out too well in the low light and point and shoot camera that I have. As I mentioned, the bird looked identical to one of the pictures in the Howell/Dunn Gulls of North America book. I think you can get an idea of the head streaking on the blown up picture of the bird on the water. I can't comment on primary projection because I never "saw" the bird on the water. I was snapping pictures the whole timeit was briefly grounded. Tom Crabtree, Bend ----- Original Message ----- From: John Puschock To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2009 12:30 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull Hi all, I just started paying attention to this thread after looking at Tom Crabtree's photos last night. I then tracked down the descriptions of the gull(s) and Cheryl Whelchel's photos. The descriptions certainly sound good for Lesser Black-backed, but I'm not immediately struck by the "Lesser Black-backedness" of the gulls in the photos. Of course the photos were taken under less than optimal conditions, so they probably don't capture the bird very well. For example, the head streaking is probably obscured by overexposure. So I'd like to know if this is true (that the gulls have more head streaking than shown in the photos), or is this how the streaking appeared in life? Is the streaking thin and distinct or broad and smudgy? Also, how much do the primaries project? Let me be clear, I'm NOT saying that these gulls _aren't_ Lesser Black-backeds. I can't think of a reasonable alternative to LBBG off the top of my head. But now y'all got me interested, and I might have to take a look for myself next week if I get a chance. John Puschock Seattle, WA g_g_allin at hotmail.com http://www.zbirdtours.com & http://www.birdtreks.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091129/2ffdce27/attachment.html From pamo at osubookstore.com Sun Nov 29 12:58:26 2009 From: pamo at osubookstore.com (Pam Otley) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:58:26 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Newport Long tailed Duck In-Reply-To: <676431366.92431259528196010.JavaMail.root@mail.mu.oregonstate.edu> Message-ID: <10971883.92451259528306747.JavaMail.root@mail.mu.oregonstate.edu> One male Long tailed Duck was diving repeatedly again today, Sunday, at 11:00, seen from the S Jetty, though closer to the N Jetty side. First seen out in the swells at the end of the jetties, then flew east and landed in the water about 50 yds west of the turn-around spot on the S Jetty road. Also, off the gull puddle, 1 Whimbrel and 1 Marbled Godwit were sharing a rock with 4 Black Turnstones. Beautiful, sunny day! Pam Otley From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun Nov 29 13:12:36 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:12:36 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos Geese 11/29/2009 Message-ID: <762648.74837.qm@web45311.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I checked on the geese flock along the Coos River road on the east side of Coos Bay this morning. The ROSS'S GOOSE is still with the 24 CACKLING GEESE but today there was an additional 5 SNOW GEESE. A nice flock, hope they stay around for the Coos Bay CBC which is in three weeks.? Directions for these birds, turn east off Hwy 101 on the south end of Coos Bay where there is a sign to Allegany (just south of the 7-11 when you first come to Coos Bay from the south, the same turnoff to Millicoma Marsh). Follow this road 1 mile to the top of the hill and go right at the intersection. Continue about 2.3 or 2.4 miles to where there is an intersection (one road goes to a bridge over the road and one road goes under the same bridge). There are a few wide spots in the road where you can barely pull off here- the geese have been in the field on the right. The BROWN BOOBY is still around too, it was fishing away around 9AM this morning in its usual spot and the NORTHERN SHRIKES continue on the sand-road out to the south end of the north spit of Coos Bay. Looks like a nice week headed our way, sunny and 50's for a while. ENJOY!Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091129/caff5411/attachment.html From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Sun Nov 29 13:35:10 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:35:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] ECBC Bend-Alfalfa Raptor Survey Message-ID: <4D56BC69CB1E4B5A83BCD3091A891339@KimPC> Yesterday (11/28) I drove the Bend-Alfalfa Raptor Survey route under clear skies, calm winds and temps between 27 and 42 degrees F. There were no unusual sightings but I did find a Northern Shrike in a spot I have been looking for one for 20 years. To me the spot looks like perfect habitat and I have been looking unsuccessfully for years and yesterday there it was. Here are the Raptors counted: Red-tailed Hawk 45 American Kestrel 11 Rough-legged Hawk 6 Prairie Falcon 3 Great-horned Owl 1 Kim Boddie Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091129/0f8da1e5/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Nov 29 15:34:29 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:34:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull In-Reply-To: <40913C985AB74E6AA35D64AB5AF50BA0@1120639> References: <6EAEA103-C52C-4F4A-9BBB-9C5DBE104A1B@earthlink.net> <40913C985AB74E6AA35D64AB5AF50BA0@1120639> Message-ID: <40F7E42D-EB90-47DB-8CA3-E10DCD0E39CB@earthlink.net> The bird I saw had lots of primary projection. Four primary tips visible whenever the wings were folded. A minimum of two beyond the tail tip at all times. The streaking was fine around the eyes, very smudged at the base of the neck- shaped like elongated tear drops or drips of paint. Lars On Nov 29, 2009, at 12:44 PM, Tom Crabtree wrote: > John, > > The gull that I saw had very heavy head streaking as described by > David Mandell and others. It was a very distinct bird. > Unfortunately that did not come out too well in the low light and > point and shoot camera that I have. As I mentioned, the bird looked > identical to one of the pictures in the Howell/Dunn Gulls of North > America book. I think you can get an idea of the head streaking on > the blown up picture of the bird on the water. I can't comment on > primary projection because I never "saw" the bird on the water. I > was snapping pictures the whole timeit was briefly grounded. > > Tom Crabtree, Bend > ----- Original Message ----- > From: John Puschock > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2009 12:30 PM > Subject: Re: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull > > Hi all, > > I just started paying attention to this thread after looking at Tom > Crabtree's photos last night. I then tracked down the descriptions > of the gull(s) and Cheryl Whelchel's photos. The descriptions > certainly sound good for Lesser Black-backed, but I'm not > immediately struck by the "Lesser Black-backedness" of the gulls in > the photos. Of course the photos were taken under less than optimal > conditions, so they probably don't capture the bird very well. For > example, the head streaking is probably obscured by overexposure. > So I'd like to know if this is true (that the gulls have more head > streaking than shown in the photos), or is this how the streaking > appeared in life? Is the streaking thin and distinct or broad and > smudgy? Also, how much do the primaries project? > > Let me be clear, I'm NOT saying that these gulls _aren't_ Lesser > Black-backeds. I can't think of a reasonable alternative to LBBG > off the top of my head. But now y'all got me interested, and I > might have to take a look for myself next week if I get a chance. > > John Puschock > Seattle, WA > g_g_allin at hotmail.com > http://www.zbirdtours.com & http://www.birdtreks.com > > Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091129/ad981816/attachment.html From g_g_allin at hotmail.com Sun Nov 29 15:50:28 2009 From: g_g_allin at hotmail.com (John Puschock) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:50:28 +0000 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull In-Reply-To: <40F7E42D-EB90-47DB-8CA3-E10DCD0E39CB@earthlink.net> References: <6EAEA103-C52C-4F4A-9BBB-9C5DBE104A1B@earthlink.net>, , <40913C985AB74E6AA35D64AB5AF50BA0@1120639>, <40F7E42D-EB90-47DB-8CA3-E10DCD0E39CB@earthlink.net> Message-ID: Hi again, I'm replying to the list so that I don't let any unnecessary uncertainty linger: The descriptions certainly sound good, and perhaps I should say perfect, for Lesser Black-backed. Thanks, John Puschock Seattle, WA g_g_allin at hotmail.com http://www.zbirdtours.com & http://www.birdtreks.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: I wanted simpler, now it's simpler. I'm a rock star. http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?h=myidea?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_myidea:112009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091129/11604beb/attachment.html From birder at iinet.com Sun Nov 29 15:59:49 2009 From: birder at iinet.com (Sherry Hagen) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:59:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull Message-ID: Here are a couple of photos of the Lesser Black-backed Gull at John Day Dam (Oregon) on Nov. 25. I was out of town and could not post them until now. We had checked below the dam and did not see the gull among the others. We did have a BONAPART'S GULL though. We threw out some wheat bread and gulls came to feed but no LBBG. As I was about to the car, I turned for one last look and he had flown in so we got another loaf a bread and I clicked off some photos and video of the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. http://home.comcast.net/~littlebirder/LBBG.htm Sherry Hagen Vancouver, WA birder at iinet.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091129/753a76af/attachment.html From g_g_allin at hotmail.com Sun Nov 29 16:05:17 2009 From: g_g_allin at hotmail.com (John Puschock) Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:05:17 +0000 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: ...And now the photos look perfect for Lesser Black-backed, too! John Puschock Seattle, WA g_g_allin at hotmail.com http://www.zbirdtours.com & http://www.birdtreks.com As I was about to the car, I turned for one last look and he had flown in so we got another loaf a bread and I clicked off some photos and video of the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. http://home.comcast.net/~littlebirder/LBBG.htm Sherry Hagen Vancouver, WA birder at iinet.com _________________________________________________________________ Bing brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MFESRP&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MFESRP_Local_MapsMenu_Resturants_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091130/79f004e1/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Sun Nov 29 16:11:24 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:11:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wintering Chipping Sparrow-Silverton Message-ID: We had a CHIPPING SPARROW in our feeder area this morning. We tried to make it into something else but it was a CHIPPING. Alan C. said they sometimes winter over around Filbert Orchards. We have a couple trees but probably about 2 miles to nearest block of Filberts. We are doing Cornell's FeederWatch today and tomorrow. Can give full listing on Monday night if anybody is interested. We also had one WHITE-THROATED SPARROW following the surprising little C Sparrow. I also think three Eurasian Collared Doves came in while the dog and I took a walk down the brushline. Saw them flying away but not sure they came from our feeder area. Good Birding, John Thomas 5 mi N Silverton From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Nov 29 16:49:58 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:49:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Great picture! I was there Nov 25 at 1:30-2pm and the bird I saw had the same headmarkings but a very different bill. This one also seems to have a darker mantle. Lars On Nov 29, 2009, at 3:59 PM, Sherry Hagen wrote: > Here are a couple of photos of the Lesser Black-backed Gull at John > Day Dam (Oregon) on Nov. 25. I was out of town and could not post > them until now. We had checked below the dam and did not see the > gull among the others. We did have a BONAPART'S GULL though. We > threw out some wheat bread and gulls came to feed but no LBBG. As I > was about to the car, I turned for one last look and he had flown in > so we got another loaf a bread and I clicked off some photos and > video of the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. > > http://home.comcast.net/~littlebirder/LBBG.htm > > Sherry Hagen > Vancouver, WA > birder at iinet.com > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091129/f0c1ae7b/attachment.html From namitzr at hotmail.com Sun Nov 29 16:52:23 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:52:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coastal Tropical Kingbirds, Red Knots Message-ID: The Newport TROPICAL KINGBIRD, at least one of them, was flycatching this morning at the NW corner of the LNG at Sally's Bend. The Florence TROPICAL KINGBIRD was flycatching this afternoon just west of the junction of 1st and Hemlock from a tall Sitka Spruce. In Coos Bay, near the mouth of Pony Slough, there were 3 RED KNOTS feeding with DUNLIN, LEAST SANDPIPERS and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS. As Tim mentioned, the BROWN BOOBY is still around and using the favored metal tower perch. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091129/49fea131/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Sun Nov 29 17:17:23 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:17:23 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Snow Goose? Message-ID: <320185.37033.qm@web46004.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> We were out at Vanport Wetlands and noticed a white goose among all of the Canada Goose. We have uploaded a couple of photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nepobirds/ We think that it was a Snow Goose, but we aren't sure. Any help would be appreciated. ? Sorry for the quality of the photos, but the bird was a few hundred yards away. Another plus to the day was a few Canvasback. ? Thanks in advance for your help! ? p.s. We also saw plenty of ?Am. Wigeons, dozens of Pintails, Mallards, 1 Blue Heron, Pied-Billed Grebes, Scaups (not sure if greater or lesser), Green-Winged Teal, 1?Red-Tailed Hawk, 2 Golden-Crowned Sparrow, a few Black-Capped Chickadee, 1 Downy Woodpecker. Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091129/1bdabad6/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Nov 29 17:53:40 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:53:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Confirmation of 2 L Bb Gulls Message-ID: <8D93FEBE-5AE9-4BF7-B414-95A2874F95C8@earthlink.net> Ian Boustead just emailed me pictures of both individuals, which he took today. Ian is a larophile from the UK who comes to Portland for work several times a year. Obviously a Larophile, to drive 200 miles or more to document what is totally a "trash bird" on his home turf. I can forward the pictures to all interested parties. I was once on dial-up and won't post them. Sorry that my computer illiteracy is such that I can't just post a link. Lars From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Nov 29 17:56:51 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:56:51 +0000 Subject: [obol] Hybrid goldeneye at Newport Message-ID: Greetings, Yesterday (Saturday Nov 28), I spent the day birding the Newport area with Jon Dunn (visiting from California) and Shawneen Finnegan. Jon picked out a hybrid male Barrow's Goldeneye X Common Goldeneye in the channel just west of the bridge over Yaquina Bay. The bird showed an intermediate pattern to the scapulars, with black extending down onto the sides (like a Barrow's), a purple rather than green head sheen, and the white spot below the eye had a slight indentation in back giving it a weak crescent shape. It lacked the tongue of black that normally extends well down onto the upper flanks on a Barrow's. I have images of this bird that were provided by Randy Stafford who was there photographing birds with a huge Canon lens. To see an image of a bird that looks near identical to what we saw, check out the goldeneye photo (left hand bird) that appears in this piece that Steve Mlodinow wrote for the BirdFellow.com online journal. We were among several folks who enjoyed and photographed the Tropical Kingbird at the LNG tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay. Today, Shawneen and I birded our way south from Newport to Florence as we made our way back to Eugene. On Alsea Bay we found a swarm of 3500 California Gull loafing on the bay. Interestingly, nearly all were adults. At Yachats were found about 200 Red-throated Loons scattered about just beyond the breakers and the river mouth (the cove area) had a nice flock of assorted gulls that included Western, Glaucous-winged, Herring, Thayer's, California, Mew, one Heermann's, and an adult Glaucous-winged X Herring hybrid. Clear skies, light winds, and modest temps plagued our birding efforts over the past two days. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Bing brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MFESRP&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MFESRP_Local_MapsMenu_Resturants_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091130/3876504a/attachment.html From kosciuch at gmail.com Sun Nov 29 18:02:42 2009 From: kosciuch at gmail.com (Karl Kosciuch) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:02:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wallowa County Pine Grosbeaks Message-ID: I returned to McCully Creek outside of Joseph, OR on Saturday, Nov 28, 2009 to do a bit of early season snowshoeing and found 4 Pine Grosbeaks in the larches south of the trailhead. I drove Rancho Rd and Dobbins Rd, but did not find the Gyrfalcon that was reported earlier in the week. Karl Kosciuch Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091129/8d40cf8a/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Nov 29 18:24:07 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:24:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull photos Message-ID: <1259547847.6606.51.camel@clearwater1> Hi folks, Just to chime in, Sheri Hagen's photos are conclusive. I see enough of these guys in Sweden that I have them on my personal lists of: (a) birds that I've identified while stuck in traffic jams along E-4 north of Stockholm, (b) birds that I've identified while looking out the window during meetings with Stockholm City Hall in the background, and (c) birds that I've identified while walking on the Baltic ice more than 2 km off the Swedish coast. That said, based on Sheri's photos I would not know how to distinguish between a generic winter adult of the species, and the 3rd year age that has been proposed. Best to leave that to the larophreaques. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Nov 29 18:27:05 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:27:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull photos In-Reply-To: <1259547847.6606.51.camel@clearwater1> References: <1259547847.6606.51.camel@clearwater1> Message-ID: <1259548025.6606.54.camel@clearwater1> P.S. All gulls are "trash birds" wherever one finds them. I can't think of a group of species that fits that appellation more fittingly. I might make an exception for an Ivory Gull. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From ed.mcvicker at comcast.net Sun Nov 29 19:17:26 2009 From: ed.mcvicker at comcast.net (Ed McVicker) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:17:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls Message-ID: <4B133946.1000009@comcast.net> Just back from John Day Dam where I saw both LBB Gulls. After failing to see the gull below the dam while waiting for about an hour with Peter Low and Ian Boustead, I headed up to the I 84 exit at the dam (next pullout east of Rufus) to have a look. The dark mantled adult LLB Gull was easily seen with binoculars from the parking area. It was loafing on the water with mostly Ring-billeds and a couple of Herring/Glaucous-wing types. Through the scope I could see the all yellow bill with red gonys spot. The LLB was about the same size Herring/G-Ws around it, though sleeker looking. After watching it about 45 minutes I decided to head back to the below dam viewing area to inform whoever might be there that I'd seen it up above. When I arrived (about 10 minutes later) the third-year LLB was in the scopes of those present and they had been watching it for about 45 minutes. This bird had the same dark mantle but the bill was colored differently with a dark base and yellow tip with a bit of a red spot. I told the group I had seen the other bird loafing in the slackwater above the dam. Mike Denny (and others) were leaving as I arrived and said they would stop at the overlook and look for the second bird. The Black-legged Kittiwake and a Pacific Loon were also present below the dam this morning. Another Pacific Loon was off Mayer State Park in Rowena (Wasco Co.) in the afternoon. Ed McVicker Portland Norgren Family wrote: > Ian Boustead just emailed me > pictures of both individuals, which > he took today. Ian is a larophile > from the UK who comes to Portland > for work several times a year. Obviously > a Larophile, to drive 200 miles or > more to document what is totally a > "trash bird" on his home turf. I > can forward the pictures to all interested > parties. I was once on dial-up and > won't post them. Sorry that my > computer illiteracy is such that > I can't just post a link. Lars > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > From slcarpenter at gmail.com Sun Nov 29 19:40:25 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:40:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Confirmation of 2 L Bb Gulls In-Reply-To: <8D93FEBE-5AE9-4BF7-B414-95A2874F95C8@earthlink.net> References: <8D93FEBE-5AE9-4BF7-B414-95A2874F95C8@earthlink.net> Message-ID: Ian Boustead's photos can be viewed online at: http://www.westerngrebe.com/LBBGull/ Scott Carpenter Portland On Sun, Nov 29, 2009 at 5:53 PM, Norgren Family wrote: > Ian Boustead just emailed me > pictures of both individuals, which > he took today. Ian is a larophile > from the UK who comes to Portland > for work several times a year. Obviously > a Larophile, to drive 200 miles or > more to document what is totally a > "trash bird" on his home turf. I > can forward the pictures to all interested > parties. I was once on dial-up and > won't post them. Sorry that my > computer illiteracy is such that > I can't just post a link. Lars > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091129/bbe640db/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Nov 29 19:43:59 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:43:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull - never mind Message-ID: <1259552639.6606.65.camel@clearwater1> Guess I haven't been paying close enough attention -- there are two gulls being seen. The one that Sheri Hagen photographed is a typical winter adult in my view. I guess the other one is the 3rd year bird that Harry et al. have been referring to, though I haven't happened across photos of that bird yet. Anyway never mind my comment about not being able to see why the gull in photographs was not an adult bird -- the two-bird theory seems to hold up in this case. Joel From circle2square at yahoo.com Sun Nov 29 19:53:18 2009 From: circle2square at yahoo.com (ECollins) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:53:18 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Fw: Snow Goose? Message-ID: <74548.88802.qm@web33304.mail.mud.yahoo.com> We saw it with the scope and it's definitely a Snow Goose. In the wetland we saw also Gadwalls, Northern Shovelers, and a female Northern Harrier. Along W. Delta Park Road (Mud Slough) were a Red-breasted Sapsucker, a Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, and Hooded Mergansers. Elizabeth ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Seth Reams To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Sun, November 29, 2009 5:17:23 PM Subject: [obol] Snow Goose? We were out at Vanport Wetlands and noticed a white goose among all of the Canada Goose. We have uploaded a couple of photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nepobirds/ We think that it was a Snow Goose, but we aren't sure. Any help would be appreciated. Sorry for the quality of the photos, but the bird was a few hundred yards away. Another plus to the day was a few Canvasback. Thanks in advance for your help! p.s. We also saw plenty of Am. Wigeons, dozens of Pintails, Mallards, 1 Blue Heron, Pied-Billed Grebes, Scaups (not sure if greater or lesser), Green-Winged Teal, 1 Red-Tailed Hawk, 2 Golden-Crowned Sparrow, a few Black-Capped Chickadee, 1 Downy Woodpecker. Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091129/cfae4b6f/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From tc at empnet.com Sun Nov 29 20:01:22 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:01:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Confirmation of 2 L Bb Gulls References: <8D93FEBE-5AE9-4BF7-B414-95A2874F95C8@earthlink.net> Message-ID: <72A8C4DAEA36420CBD86BE841C976072@1120639> Nice job, Ian. Notice how the 3rd year gull has different color legs depending on the light. In the top photo they appear pinkish yellow, but in the middle photo what is visible of the leg is a bright yellow. What photo equipment were you using for these shots, Ian? Tom Crabtree, Bend ----- Original Message ----- From: Scott Carpenter To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2009 7:40 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Confirmation of 2 L Bb Gulls Ian Boustead's photos can be viewed online at: http://www.westerngrebe.com/LBBGull/ Scott Carpenter Portland On Sun, Nov 29, 2009 at 5:53 PM, Norgren Family wrote: Ian Boustead just emailed me pictures of both individuals, which he took today. Ian is a larophile from the UK who comes to Portland for work several times a year. Obviously a Larophile, to drive 200 miles or more to document what is totally a "trash bird" on his home turf. I can forward the pictures to all interested parties. I was once on dial-up and won't post them. Sorry that my computer illiteracy is such that I can't just post a link. Lars _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091129/35b5c724/attachment.html From oschmidt at att.net Sun Nov 29 20:22:19 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:22:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland Birders Night is ... Message-ID: <1A3606B8-8F90-4522-84B7-B2FD797F2F6C@att.net> ..... Tuesday, December 1st, 7:30 pm, at Audubon House, 5151 NW Cornell, Portland. All are welcome. No charge. Bird quiz, potpourri. Bring your bird videos and photos. Come to see what others bring ......... oschmidt at att.net Sunday, November 29, 2009 From m.denny at charter.net Sun Nov 29 21:59:51 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:59:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls References: <4B133946.1000009@comcast.net> Message-ID: <328AE2A92FEF4209A1F9D135E914683F@24FLIGHT> Hello All, It was great to see both Lesser Black-backed Gulls at the John Day dam. We also observed the Black-legged Kittiwake. Both species were new for us in Sherman County and the LBBG was an Oregon State first. Some observations concerning the third cycle LBBG. First off this individual was nearly the size of a Glaucous-winged Gull and did not bring to mind the California Gull sized LBBG we have seen on the Walla Walla River delta over the last 8 years. Now I will admit that I have seen all of 7 LBBG gulls in my life. None of them have appeared as large as this individual. The LBBG above the dam looked just the right size and shape in comparrison to the other 7 LBBGs I have seen. It also lacked any mirrors in the primaries. Later Mike From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Sun Nov 29 22:06:42 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:06:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull 3rd Cycle Pictures Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F028272DD@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> My pictures from yesterday are not nearly as good as Ian's but they do show the third cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull at John Day Dam on September 28, 2009. I finally opened a Flickr account. I hope this works. Here is the link. http://www.flickr.com/photos/45089102 at N05/page2/ John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091129/7e46ce58/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Nov 29 22:43:51 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:43:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls In-Reply-To: <328AE2A92FEF4209A1F9D135E914683F@24FLIGHT> References: <4B133946.1000009@comcast.net> <328AE2A92FEF4209A1F9D135E914683F@24FLIGHT> Message-ID: <8C689CE2-1D99-4834-9411-5F3637DD0041@earthlink.net> Scott Carpenter has posted pictures of the third year bird by Ian Boustead, including one in flight. Could the outer two primaries still be emerging? They look very short, giving the bird a decidedly round-winged appearance. I was struck by this when I saw it on Wednesday. This could account for the absence of the single mirror. Lars Norgren On Nov 29, 2009, at 9:59 PM, Mike and MerryLynn wrote: > Hello All, > > It was great to see both Lesser Black-backed Gulls at the John Day > dam. We > also observed the Black-legged Kittiwake. Both species were new for > us in > Sherman County and the LBBG was an Oregon State first. > > Some observations concerning the third cycle LBBG. > > First off this individual was nearly the size of a Glaucous-winged > Gull and > did not bring to mind the California Gull sized LBBG we have seen on > the > Walla Walla River delta over the last 8 years. Now I will admit that > I have > seen all of 7 LBBG gulls in my life. None of them have appeared as > large as > this individual. The LBBG above the dam looked just the right size > and shape > in comparrison to the other 7 LBBGs I have seen. It also lacked any > mirrors > in the primaries. > Later Mike > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Sun Nov 29 23:30:51 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:30:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yard Birds--Pine Siskins and 5 Woodpecker Species Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F028272DE@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> I observed 25 bird species in and from my yard today here in Gresham. There was a flock of 30 PINE SISKINS that made a morning appearance and then disappeared. It may have been the SHARP-SHINNED and COOPER'S HAWK that were hunting in the area. There were 5 LESSER GOLDFINCH coming to the feeders most of the day. Five woodpecker species included RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, DOWNY WOODPECKER, HAIRY WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER and PILEATED WOODPECKER. I counted 35 MOURNING DOVE which is the highest number observed from my yard. A flock of 18 CEDAR WAXWINGS were flying about as well. The bird activity in the morning was more like a spring day. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091129/9403037f/attachment.html From bheaney at nbend.k12.or.us Mon Nov 30 07:03:54 2009 From: bheaney at nbend.k12.or.us (Brenda Heaney) Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:03:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Remove from mailing list Message-ID: <4B136E56.0F39.003F.0@nbend.k12.or.us> Hello: Please remove me from the subscription list. I have discovered that there are way too many e-mails coming in, and will just check the OBOL website as time permits. Thank you. bheaney at nbend.k12.or.us IMPORTANT NOTICE: The information in this email (and any attachments hereto) is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not use or disseminate the information. If you have received this email in error, please immediately notify me by "Reply" command and permanently delete the original and any copies or printouts thereof. Although this email and any attachments are believed to be free of any virus or other defect that might affect any computer system into which it is received and opened, it is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that it is virus free and no responsibility is accepted by The North Bend School District for any loss or damage arising in any way from its use. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091130/0c65ca6c/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Mon Nov 30 07:12:00 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:12:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls References: <4B133946.1000009@comcast.net><328AE2A92FEF4209A1F9D135E914683F@24FLIGHT> <8C689CE2-1D99-4834-9411-5F3637DD0041@earthlink.net> Message-ID: The outermost 1-2 primaries are still growing on both birds. Phil > Scott Carpenter has posted pictures > of the third year bird by Ian Boustead, > including one in flight. Could the outer > two primaries still be emerging? They > look very short, giving the bird a > decidedly round-winged appearance. > I was struck by this when I saw it > on Wednesday. This could account for > the absence of the single mirror. From tlove at linfield.edu Mon Nov 30 09:17:02 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:17:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] new book on vagrancy (UK) Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F121BD316B4@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> >From the NYC list, of potential interest re Siberian vagrants to the Pacific states: This may interest birders on the list. A new definitive reference work for anyone interested in rare birds is receiving rave reviews in Britain and Ireland and beyond. This book is set to become a modern classic. It is sure to draw in long-distance interest from all those birders in North America who wonder at what journeys their backyard birds undertake when they leave in Fall. It is a new book that I just finished designing and illustrating for a self-published author in the UK and as such hasn't been widely available until now. *Rare Birds, Where and When: An analysis of status and distribution in Britain and Ireland. Volume 1: sandgrouse to New World orioles* is by Russell Slack comes in at 483 pages, is hardback with colour dustjacket, size 8.5 x 5.4 inches. It contains over 220 species and subspecies accounts, 114 graphs, 26 tables and a stack of black and white drawings by Julian Hough, Ray Scally, James Gilroy and Ian Wallace. (ISBN 978-0-9562823-0-9). The cost is $50, plus $11 postage and packing. This book is the most detailed interpretation of passerine and near-passerine rare bird records in Britain and Ireland yet undertaken. Rare Birds Where and When contains a bundle of interest for US and Canadian birders. Hundreds of records of Nearctic birds are listed and discussed; the number and variety of North American birds that make landfall in Europe during fall will amaze North American birders. There are details, too, of many Asian species that arrive as waifs in the Pacific states. This book not only provides a fascinating look into what birders are finding in Europe but also contains insight on identification, taxonomy and banding as revealed by the rarest species on the move over there. As well as all the facts and figures on individual species, there are historical perspectives by Ian Wallace (a great writer and a legendary pioneer of modern birding in Britain) and a fascinating chapter on the science behind vagrancy patterns by ornithologists Dr Alex Lees and Dr James Gilroy (Centre for Ecology, Evolution & Conservation, University of East Anglia) that birders everywhere will value. You can read reviews and explore more details about Rare Birds Where and When at: http://www.rarebirdbooks.co.uk/ There are sample pages you can browse on birds such as Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Ovenbird. Take a look beyond the border! A full Birding World review is at: http://www.rarebirdbooks.co.uk/mall/rarebirdbooks/downloads/BirdingWorld Review.doc Further online reviews can be found on: Surfbirds: http://surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5863 BirdGuides: http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=1724 *Order from website: *http://www.rarebirdbooks.co.uk/ whcih has secure online payment through paypal. Julian Hough, CT, USA jrhough1 AT snet.net www.naturescapeimages.net Tom Love -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091130/0ecd7960/attachment.html From ErikKnight05 at comcast.net Mon Nov 30 09:27:39 2009 From: ErikKnight05 at comcast.net (ErikKnight05 at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:27:39 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Polk County, Oregon on November 29, 2009 Message-ID: <200911301727.nAUHRdQN005566@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Erik Knight by http://birdnotes.net Date: November 29, 2009 Location: Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Polk County, Oregon Wind direction: NW Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h gusting to: 6-11 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 20% Precipitation: none from 11:56AM to 4:21PM. lots of people out. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Snow Goose 9 [1] Canada Goose Cackling Goose Tundra Swan 44 Gadwall Eurasian Wigeon 6 [2] American Wigeon Mallard Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-Winged Teal Ring-necked Duck 9 Bufflehead 23 Common Merganser 18 Ruddy Duck 11 Pied-billed Grebe 5 Double-crested Cormorant 2 Great Blue Heron 5 Great Egret 3 Bald Eagle 3 [3] Northern Harrier 6 Red-tailed Hawk 23 Rough-legged Hawk 1 [4] American Kestrel 11 American Coot 6 Dunlin Long-billed Dowitcher Lewis' Woodpecker 1 [5] Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 6 [6] Black Phoebe 1 [7] Northern Shrike 1 [8] Western Scrub-Jay 8 American Crow 5 Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Brown Creeper 2 Bewick's Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Western Bluebird 8 [9] American Robin 23 European Starling American Pipit 5 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Spotted Towhee 1 Fox Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark 1 Brewer's Blackbird Footnotes: [1] adults & juveniles, Westside of the Narrows on south side of Coville Rd [2] males, female [3] adults, 2nd year bird [4] south side of Coville Road around the Narrows [5] adult, between Baskett Butte & Mt Baldy [6] "Red-shafted X Yellow-shafted" intergrade seen along South side of Baskett Butte [7] vineyards along West end of Smithfield Rd [8] along 99W north of OR 22/99W interchange [9] frequenting grassy areas between Mt Baldy & Baskett Butte, got good photos of several hovering Total number of species seen: 53 From nelsoncheek at charter.net Mon Nov 30 09:56:13 2009 From: nelsoncheek at charter.net (WALTER NELSON) Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:56:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Raptor Survey - Lincoln Co. Message-ID: Yesterday morning (11/29/09) Walt Nelson, Wayne Hoffman, and Rebecca Cheek completed the first-of-season raptor survey for the Lincoln Co. coastal route. Weather was sunny and calm with some patchy fog/haze. We covered 63 miles in 5 hours and found - Red-tailed Hawk 15 Bald Eagle 6 (4 adults, 2 immatures) Northern Harrier 2 Peregrine Falcon 2 Cooper's Hawk 1 Unidentified hawk 1 ______________________ Rebecca Cheek 14399 S. Coast Hwy South Beach, OR 97366 541-867-4699 nelsoncheek AT charter.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091130/fae43db5/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Nov 30 11:19:56 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:19:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] The LBBG & providing a home for rare-bird & other bird photos of interest Message-ID: <1259608796.19880.23.camel@clearwater1> Hello folks, Lars's request for a way to post photos of the Lesser Black-backed Gull finally inspired me to add a long-overdue page to the Oregon Field Ornithologists' website: http://www.oregonbirds.org/birdphotos.html Looks like Scott Carpenter has already facilitated posting of these particular photos on his own website, so thanks Scott for that. But for future similar circumstances, please contact me to add photos to this page. I have this set up now so that I should be able to give nearly instant turnaround, provided that I'm around. Greg Gillson for years has hosted an "Oregon Rare Bird" photo archive on his guiding website at www.thebirdguide.com, and I'd like to thank him that valuable service. However my understanding is that, for the past year or so, Greg has been hoping for OFO to take this on. It does make sense for OFO to shoulder that responsibility; sorry, Greg for taking so long to get around to it! Thanks also to Scott Carpenter, Mike Patterson and the rest who have posted photos on your personal websites in order to facilitate communication. Happy birding, Joel P.S. It occurred to me on waking up this morning that my posting about gulls as "trash birds" may have set a new personal record for lame attempts at humor. It was supposed to have been a reference to their trash-picking habits, but today even I can't figure out why I thought it was amusing last night. So sorry about that, especially all you larophiles out there who have far more patience and insight into this group of species than I've ever mustered. -- Joel Geier Just upwind from the Coffin Butte Regional Landfill, but no longer talking trash about gulls Camp Adair area north of Corvallis. From celata at pacifier.com Mon Nov 30 14:07:09 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:07:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] PHOTOS: Eurasian Wigeon and Coho Message-ID: <4B14420D.2090402@pacifier.com> http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Why a duck? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12750/ From greg at thebirdguide.com Mon Nov 30 17:53:35 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:53:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Craig Miller's LBBG photo Message-ID: <9B7221B00277426CA5EF178A56B96DEB@GREG> Lesser Black-backed Gull at John Day dam by Craig Miller on November 25, 2009: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/119884117 http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/119884118 From andydfrank at gmail.com Mon Nov 30 19:22:39 2009 From: andydfrank at gmail.com (Andy Frank) Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:22:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] one Lesser Black-backed Gull today Message-ID: <2ec131a10911301922x4333eb9bgcceb0f2692bd5868@mail.gmail.com> I thought it might be helpful to share Steve Nord and my experience with the Lesser Black-Backed Gull(s) today for others who may consider going. Some of the logistics have been posted previously but thought I'd include them for completeness. We arrived about 9:30AM at the lower part of the dam by taking I-84 to exit 109, turned left and then followed the road to its end where a right turn takes you to a parking area near the water. There were a few dozen gulls but around, but none of the star attractions. We did see a Pacific Loon. It was still overcast, very windy, and accordingly very cold. After about an hour, we got back on I-84 eastbound, took exit 114 where we made a U-turn at the entrance to the park there and got back on I-84 westbound. We got off at exit 112 which leaves you above the dam. From the parking area, we walked a short distance east along the highway to get past the fence and closer to the gulls. I didn't try to count but there were probably a couple of hundred gulls present. There were several false alarms (some of the California Gulls would initially look very dark, but a change in position would significantly change the apparent darkness) and though the gulls were fairly distant, we got good enough looks to be confident that our star attractions weren't there, so we got back onto the highway to exit 109 and returned to our original spot below the dam. After watching for awhile and getting really cold, we got back in the car and watched from there and around noon Steve was able to pick out a Lesser Black-backed Gull (the adult) flying by from downriver (the west). We got decent looks first with binoculars and then with scopes, but it remained too distant for any photographs. We never saw the 2nd one, or the Bonaparte's or Kittiwake. Andy Frank -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091130/ce0adbf8/attachment.html From m.denny at charter.net Mon Nov 30 20:16:16 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:16:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] one Lesser Black-backed Gull today References: <2ec131a10911301922x4333eb9bgcceb0f2692bd5868@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <9BB3A21FA1834A78B5BF4923546C9921@24FLIGHT> All you need to attract the gulls is bread (or any chum) - a few loaves tossed in the river and you will have dozens of gulls fighting for it - - - MerryLynn -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091130/cf7b21b9/attachment.html From lgoodhew at surfin-g.com Mon Nov 30 22:13:54 2009 From: lgoodhew at surfin-g.com (Larry & Jacque Goodhew) Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:13:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] LBBGull Message-ID: <4B1443A2.3512.18AB0D5F@lgoodhew.surfin-g.com> Hi. We arrived from Walla Walla about 1pm stopped at the upper side of the dam. After much looking we could not find any bird to be the one. We then went down to the lower side of the dam Found Steve Kornfield looking but with no luck. Once we thought we had a LBBG near the dam but we were just not sure at that distance. We then exchanged cell numbers and Steve went to the east side of the dam to look. Knowing we had to leave by 4pm we had about given up. One last look at the gulls just resting along the river. There it was standing along the shore. We called Steve and he returned and we had good looks as it flew a bit then settled on the river again. I think we had the 3ed cycle bird as it still had a bit of black on the bill and also the leges looked almost yellow -pink . The eye was very yellow. Got some good pictures, but not sure how to give you a link to them. Could send to some one who could post them. Steve stayed longer may be he will say more. Larry and Jacque Goodhew Walla Walla, WA From campbell at peak.org Mon Nov 30 22:13:47 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:13:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Linn Co. Gull Message-ID: <5721BFBA9CA14B08AA5B0174BED6251E@maryPC> Regarding MerryLynn's advice, "All you need to attract the gulls is bread (or any chum) -- a few loaves tossed in the river and you will have dozens of gulls fighting for it - - - ": Well, I've hucked loaves into the river by the armload, and they just drift away out of sight. Yesterday at the Brownsville sewage ponds I found a third year WESTERN GULL (darkish mantle and wings, black primaries with no white, heavy bill, broad wings, little streaking on the head and neck, if any.) As far as I know, this was Linn County's most exotic visitor from the coast this fall. Randy Campbell Peoria The gull was motorless and so was I. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091130/87cbac68/attachment.html From anhaiman at ucdavis.edu Mon Nov 30 11:49:07 2009 From: anhaiman at ucdavis.edu (Aaron Haiman) Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:49:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Evening Grosbeak Research Message-ID: <3bd9f3740911301149w6f97cbc0hf3a5e8587c696838@mail.gmail.com> Hi All, I am a graduate student at the University of California, Davis, and I am conducting a study looking into how many subspecies of Evening Grosbeak exist, and what the differences are. I am hoping to band, measure, record flight calls, and possibly take feather or blood samples from as many birds as I can from all over the country. In particular, the plumage and other physical characteristics can be so variable that I will need to measure a lot of birds to see if there is any real statistical difference. What I am hoping for is that while out birding, people will see flocks regularly in a relatively specific spot, that I can then come out to and try to catch the birds. Also, if people have Evening Grosbeaks coming to their bird feeders, I could come and try to catch them there. This is of course assuming that people are both ok with my research and ok with me coming to their homes. The important thing is that the birds be fairly consistent. I am only going to have limited amounts of time to travel to all the places I need to go, so I am trying to get as high a success rate as possible. I can be contacted at this email address anhaiman at ucdavis.edu or by phone at (510) 289-7239. Also, the website for the graduate group I am in is being redone, so in the near future people should be able to go to http://aviansciences.ucdavis.edu/programs/masters.html and read a bit about me. My contact info will also be there. Thank you for your help, Aaron N. K. Haiman Avian Sciences Graduate Group -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091130/371f3871/attachment.html From pmathios at comcast.net Mon Nov 30 13:09:55 2009 From: pmathios at comcast.net (pmathios at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:09:55 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] brant question Message-ID: <2049606551.7884891259615395375.JavaMail.root@sz0125a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> I need to get some good photos and sketches of some brant as they?are a federal duck stamp species for next year's competition.? Is there a good location on the coast to see them at a fairly close range?? Thanks!! Peter Mathios My Website My Daily Paintings (541) 812-0358 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091130/78fc9ced/attachment.html From rlowe at peak.org Thu Nov 26 11:42:14 2009 From: rlowe at peak.org (rlowe at peak.org) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:42:14 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area In-Reply-To: References: <672868.80066.qm@web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com><4B0EC0EB.5020107@verizon.net> <02394DC0-04D5-4BE0-8F4D-FCAA8C9D5629@earthlink.net> <3371072795754520B7A2846FB48DD392@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: <7a89b06a32c7f2770f195cf4b1f33884.squirrel@webmail.peak.org> A number of years ago I was standing in my front yard adjacent to Eckman Lake near Waldport when I saw an adult female peregrine stoop on a female mallard high above the lake. The peregrine struck the mallard then performed a controlled crash into the trees and brush adjacent to the edge of the lake as it could not carry the duck. I'll never forget the look of terror on the duck's face as the peregrine held onto it's breast during the rapid decent. On another occasion, I observed an adult male peregrine take a ruddy duck over Tillamook Bay and it took every bit of lift that the peregrine had to keep the duck several inches above the water. It landed on the edge of the mudflats and proceeded to feast immediately and then dragged the carcasses across the the mudflats as the tide rose. In the Aleutian Islands peregrines have been observed taking Aleutian cackling geese, but obviously can't carry it so it is consumed on site. Roy > As I posted two or three winters ago, > I saw a Peregrine on top of a very tall > utility pole eating a Gadwall. Easily half > of Peregrines weigh less than the average > Gadwall, although the falcon in question > was exceptionally large. As impressive as > it would have been to see it carry the > duck to the perch, seeing it swallow the > leg whole was unforgettable- I mean the > WHOLE leg- femur, tarsus, metatarsus and > webbed foot--in one gulp. > I also felt a twinge of guilt over the > cooked chicken's foot I slipped into my > pocket at Camp Sherman when Lao mushroom > pickers made me their guest of honor. It > was about 10pm on midsummer's day and > gustatory diplomacy wasn't difficult. Lars > On Nov 26, 2009, at 10:28 AM, Darrel Faxon wrote: > >> Lars, >> I have seen Peregrines take California Gulls too. I also once saw >> one capture and kill a Whimbrel on the beach near Waldport. I >> walked toward it and was surprised to see it take flight, Whimbrel >> clutched firmly in its talons. I really didn't expect it to be able >> to carry a bird of that size, but it did so with little apparent >> difficulty. According to the stats in Sibley there is only about a >> ten ounce difference in weight between the two species. >> >> Darrel >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Norgren Family" >> > > >> To: >> Sent: Thursday, November 26, 2009 10:13 AM >> Subject: Re: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area >> >> >>> It makes sense. Gulls should be an >>> easy mark for Peregrines. We used to >>> call them Duck Hawks, but the average >>> wingspeed of a duck must be three times >>> that of a gull. I once saw a Peregrine >>> take off from a snag at Alsea Bay and >>> stoop on a flying Horned Grebe. The grebe >>> dove into the water at full speed from 3m >>> above the water. Quite a splash! Lars Norgren >>> On Nov 26, 2009, at 9:54 AM, DJ Lauten and KACastelein wrote: >>> >>>> I'll third that emotion.......I mean I'll agree, we see Peregrines >>>> taking gulls all the time....... >>>> >>>> Happy T-day everyone. >>>> >>>> Cheers >>>> Dave and Kathy >>>> >>>> >>>> Tim Rodenkirk wrote: >>>>> Peregrines eat lots of gulls in Coos Bay, seems to be one of their >>>>> favorites in fact, particularly CA Gulls. >>>>> >>>>> Tim R >>>>> Coos Bay >>>>> >>>>> --- On *Thu, 11/26/09, Alan Contreras //* >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> From: Alan Contreras >>>>> Subject: Re: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area >>>>> To: "Lars Norgren" , "obol" >>>>> >>>>> Date: Thursday, November 26, 2009, 8:30 AM >>>>> >>>>> Peregrins do indeed eat gulls. I found a large peregrine >>>>> eating a >>>>> recently >>>>> captured juv California gull this fall. Photos of the fun >>>>> available upon >>>>> request. >>>>> >>>>> -- Alan Contreras >>>>> EUGENE, OREGON >>>>> acontrer at mindspring.com >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> > From: Lars Norgren >>>> > >>>>> > Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:16:37 -0800 >>>>> > To: obol >>>> > >>>>> > Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Recreation Area >>>>> > >>>>> > Before I forget, shortly before >>>>> > leaving the Lesser Black-backed Gull >>>>> > yesterday, a large swarm of gulls >>>>> > swirled off an island about a mile >>>>> > downstream. I raised my binocular >>>>> > and sure enough, a falcon was swooping >>>>> > back up from the river's surface. >>>>> > It was far too distant to determine >>>>> > species. I had used up my allotted >>>>> > time, and I had broken the only scope >>>>> > I had with me, so I didn't pursue it >>>>> > further. >>>>> > I know Peregrines are a common >>>>> > place along the Columbia, but has >>>>> > anyone ever seen them harass gulls? >>>>> > At Fernhill Lake they never acknowledge >>>>> > each other's existence. Then I remember >>>>> > the controversial photo from New Jersey >>>>> > of a Gyrfalcon eating a Herring Gull. >>>>> > Likewise, do Cackling Geese show any >>>>> > deference to Peregrines? Given the time >>>>> > of year, the likelihood of yesterday's >>>>> > falcon being a Gyr strikes me as rather >>>>> > high. The entire south bank of the >>>>> > Columbia from Rufous to the dam is >>>>> > accessible to the public, with frequent >>>>> > parking opportunities. I could have >>>>> > easily spent the day there, there was >>>>> > so much inviting habitat. >>>>> > The ducks and gulls in the eddy >>>>> > below the dam are right next to >>>>> > shore. This is a fabulous chance to >>>>> > see Barrow's Goldeneye, and right >>>>> > alongside Commons. The more sedulous >>>>> > could take the opportunity to compare >>>>> > female Goldeneyes (generally >>>>> > a more risque' activity than gull >>>>> > ID in my experience). The loon was equally >>>>> > close to shore, and everything with >>>>> > the sun at my back, not glaring off >>>>> > the water. Don't be discouraged by >>>>> > heavy rainfall at your westside residence. >>>>> > This spot is in true desert (less than >>>>> > 25cm of precipitation annually). If it's >>>>> > pouring in Portland as you read this, >>>>> > the skies there may be gray, but quite >>>>> > dry. >>>>> > Although nearly 200 miles from the >>>>> > sea, the foot of the dam is almost >>>>> > sea level and the prevailing weather >>>>> > mild. There was snow was down to 1000ft >>>>> > in the grasslands east of The Dalles on >>>>> > Saturday, but Yellow-rumped Warblers >>>>> > were abundant around the parking area >>>>> > at the dam. I was eager to investigate >>>>> > the enormous specimens of Big Sage and >>>>> > Rabbitbrush growing in the area for more >>>>> > passerines. The John Day River debouches >>>>> > three miles east of the dam and the >>>>> > Deschutes less than 10 miles downstream. >>>>> > This has the potential to funnel all >>>>> > manner of landbirds into the area. >>>>> > I look forward to returning to the >>>>> > area at this time of year, hopefully >>>>> > this year. I am told there is an above >>>>> > average steakhouse in Rufous, although >>>>> > things may have changed. Avoid the >>>>> > Subway at Biggs Junction at all costs. >>>>> > If I ever get a worse sandwich in the >>>>> > course of my life I'm contacting Guiness >>>>> > and his book. There's a MacDonald's at >>>>> > the Jct that's 24 hours, walk-in, not >>>>> > drive-up. So if you're in the mood >>>>> > for a heated restroom after owling, >>>>> > be advised. I've never been to the >>>>> > place in Rufous, sorry I don't know >>>>> > the name. It was recommended by my >>>>> > gun-toting, bird-eating friends from >>>>> > Reed College (there were at least >>>>> > three in 1985, hidden amidst the >>>>> > hordes of disheveled vegetarians) >>>>> > who are true gourmands. One of them >>>>> > guided Governor Kitzhaber, Yvonne >>>>> > Choinnard, and a chef knighted by >>>>> > the French government. Lars Norgren >>>>> > _______________________________________________ >>>>> > obol mailing list >>>>> > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>>> to=obol at oregonbirdwatch.org> >>>>> > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> obol mailing list >>>>> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>>> to=obol at oregonbirdwatch.org> >>>>> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> obol mailing list >>>>> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>>>> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >>>> >>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> obol mailing list >>> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >>> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From smithdwd at gmail.com Thu Nov 26 08:46:03 2009 From: smithdwd at gmail.com (David Smith) Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:46:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] 1 R Phalarope Westmoreland Message-ID: <458513bf0911260846o6db09a9na6624d60e6966319@mail.gmail.com> After a harrowing 10 second search I found a lone REPH in N end of S pond. It only seemed a little wary when a dog approached and flew once a short distance. I spent 15 min at both ponds and could not locate a 2nd bird. There is quite a collection of weird ducks from the shallow end of the gene pool at this park. I left at 8:30am, on to other Thanksgiving activities:Alice's Restaurant, football, and a dead turkey. Good holidays and birding. David Smith -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091126/d5975784/attachment.html From tlankenau at nwjesuits.org Tue Nov 24 10:41:45 2009 From: tlankenau at nwjesuits.org (Lankenau, Thomas C.) Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:41:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] rock sandpipers Message-ID: <6426BE1010A9134181CC378E5DBC42B9BD7512@sojopex02.NWJESUITS.ORG> I will be near Neskowim/Nestucca/Pac City over Thanksgiving. Any recommendations for sites to check for rock sandpipers or phalaropes? thanks Tom Lankenau -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091124/880aadf9/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Tue Dec 1 07:50:53 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 07:50:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] NORTHEAST OREGON-26-29 NOVEMBER Message-ID: <000601ca729e$19319700$3700a8c0@windypoint99> NORTHEASTERN OREGON 26-29 NOVEMBER 2009 JOHN DAY DAM TO ENTERPRISE. (26 NOVEMBER). We began our trip to the Enterprise area with a detour to John Day Dam. Below the dam, both flying and perched on boulders in the downstream island, we had good looks at one of the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS. Several hundred other large gulls (California, Herring, Glaucous-winged, hybrids, perhaps Westerns) were present. A great start to the weekend! Other goodies included two PACIFIC LOONS (already reported on OBOL) downstream and an assortment of other water birds plus songbirds (Bewick's Wren, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Fox, White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows) in the brushy thickets. As noted by others, this is a birdy area. We noted 40 or so species in our visit of a couple hours. Heading east along I-84, Ellen spotted three Bighorn Sheep on the imposing cliffs east of John Day Dam, always a treat. We then made a bee-line for Enterprise, arriving by mid-afternoon. Thursday afternoon, targeting Gyrfalcon, we concentrated in the open farmland southeast of Enterprise where a gyr had been reported. The area was a large area bounded on the west by the Wallowa Lake Highway (OR-82), on the north by Crow Creek Road, on the south the forest edge south of the Imnaha Highway and east five miles to the edge of cultivation, a big area indeed. Thursday afternoon we slowly covered as many section roads in this area as we had time for finding numerous raptors: Northern Harrier (5), Bald Eagle (6), Cooper's Hawk (2), Red-tailed (55) and Rough-legged (25) Hawks, and Prairie Falcon (3). Late in the afternoon we encountered Mallards feeding in open fields just north of the Imnaha Highway and east of Liberty Road. We chose to hit this spot early the next morning with the idea a gyr might be attracted to the ducks here. Our late afternoon drive also revealed just how numerous Mule Deer were in this region; we counted upwards of 50 in the open fields. No doubt many have moved down-slope for the winter. Three or so White-tailed Deer were a bonus as were several Great Horned Owls, one in a leafless cottonwood, another perched in a bare field in the still-quite-bright afternoon sun. ENTERPRISE AND WALLOWA LAKE. (27 NOVEMBER). Friday dawned stormy and it snowed on and off until mid day. We began on Golf Course Road just north of Enterprise, in rank grassland habitat (Conservation Reserve Program fields) fantasizing we might blunder into a Sharp-tailed Grouse. We soon found this a much quieter scene than on our visit in January. Then, a solid snowpack seem to concentrate birds and we had lots of larks, rosy finches, a few each of Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs. This morning, the only sparrow-sized songbirds we encountered were five GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCHES. Not a single Horned Lark! Big birds included a few Northern Harriers and Common Ravens but no raptors, odd we thought. Our second stop at the Liberty Road "ducky" spot revealed only decoys and a duck hunter so unless the neighborhood gyr found decoys edible, this seemed a poor site to linger in hopes our quarry might appear. A SHORT-EARED OWL, always a joy to watch, did appear and flopped on by, heading east. Still snowing moderately, we continued south into the forest at McCully Creek. The Western Larch component in these woods seems to be good for seed-eating finches but, as it was snowing, we struck out on any birds. Pine Grosbeaks were noted here this very weekend during better weather, according to an OBOL report. The snowfall continued as we drove along Wallowa Lake. We tallied: Common Loon (1), Western (15), Horned (8), and EARED (2) Grebes, a handful of California Gulls, a couple Bald Eagles, plus scads of ducks, mainly Mallards (500+) but also Common (35) and Barrow's (5) Goldeneyes, and Common Mergansers (50). We returned to the fields east of Joseph and luck was with us when a GYRFALCON dashed across Prairie Creek Road and rocketed north, alternating with impressive acrobatics as if chasing something, though no prey was evident, until it perched in a bare field along Liberty Road just north of the Imnaha highway. It stayed only momentarily and then resumed its wild flight east until it disappeared from view in the area of Sheep Creek Hill. Neat but such a brief study of this magnificent bird.we wanted more! Late afternoon on Friday we cruised Enterprise neighborhoods and found, as a recent OBOL message also reported, no winter finches. We carefully scanned every birch tree we encountered for redpolls but came up with only American Goldfinches. One birch tree had a Yellow-rumped Warbler. Cedar Waxwings, American Robins, and Townsend's Solitaires were easy to see in town, especially about Mountain Ash plantings. At least some birds were taking advantage of the abundant berries. We hit the fish hatchery at dusk and took a walk, encircling the main pond on a nice willow-lined trail, hoping for a saw-whet or screech owl. We heard one Great horned Owl. ZUMWALT GRASSLANDS TO BUCKHORN LOOKOUT. 28 NOVEMBER). Saturday dawned gorgeous but very chilly. Before heading out onto the famous grasslands towards the long-abandoned Zumwalt townsite and the Hells Canyon viewpoint beyond, we hit Liberty Road for another try at the gyr, hoping to nail down its daily routine. What if there were ducks aplenty, a veritable gyr buffet! Alas, there were no ducks though flocks flew high overhead in the distance. The famed Zumwalt Grasslands were beautiful with a skiff of snow and hoarfrost encasing every grass blade and head. The road was a lark save for a few foggy stretches. In the fog we encountered the coldest temps of the trip, 8 degrees F! As on Golf Course Road we saw no larks. I mean we were not so greedy as to expect a bunting or longspur. We just wanted to tally a lark! But nada. This begs the question: if we couldn't find a lark on this vast piece of native grassland, historically (meaning "before weeds"), where did the larks winter? In fact we saw only four species of birds on the entire grassland drive: one Golden Eagle, a few magpies and ravens and one kestrel. That was it. Mammals were a completely different story. On a hike (cold) to Findley Buttes, Coyotes wailed from seemingly every distant knoll. Along the drive, we saw a few Mule Deer on steep hillsides but the rolling grasslands seemed the domain of Elk, many hundreds of them. From a high point on the drive (south of Zumwalt) , we noted five large groups, about 1000 in all! One group of 40 seemed all bulls, many with most impressive racks. Other much larger herds seemed to contain mostly antlerless animals. Meeting the open Ponderosa Pine forest north of the grasslands, we stopped several times to see what forest birds were about. Three GRAY JAYS not 100 yards into the forest from the grassland (45.41.141 N 116.56.357 W) seemed odd. We also tallied a Hairy Woodpecker, a few Northern Flicker, Steller's Jays, Mountain Chickadees, all three nuthatches, Brown Creeper, and Red Crossbills. Stretches of snow became a minor challenge on the road on the final mile out to Buckhorn Lookout. The hazy sky of summer, due to forest fires, were only a memory now as we now seemed to see forever. We were truly stirred by the stupendous scene down and into Imnaha and Hells Canyons. Birdlife, however, was sparse. A Golden Eagle and Red-tailed Hawk soared against the castellated layers of basalt. We heard a Pileated Woodpecker from the burned forest far below. Oddly, Chukars called from the same spot. Red Crossbills, in small parties, flew by. We returned to Enterprise via Imnaha, taking the rougher track east down Trail Creek to Camp Creek. This spills into the Imnaha River near Imnaha. This steep descent drops nearly 3,000 feet in elevation taking us right into the heart of the rugged canyon country we had just viewed from afar from Buckhorn Lookout. Cone-laden Douglas-firs mantled higher north-facing slopes, full of Mountain Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and Steller's Jays. Lower down, Ponderosa Pines became more common. These creeks were lined with dense growth of aspens, water birches, alders, and cottonwoods, with a vigorous shrub layer. In these thickets we found our only trip Ruby-crowned Kinglet. This habitat looks to be a great place for May-June birding as habitat quality here appeared very good. At one stop, we noticed a Nature Conservancy sign. Surprisingly, the vast TNC Zumwalt Preserve apparently extends east from the grasslands on the plateaus above and encompasses these canyons, a great deed indeed for this ecosystem. We didn't spend much time around Imnaha but did note a Wild Turkey in an old orchard. GRASSLANDS NORTH OF ENTERPRISE. (29 NOVEMBER). Sunday morning we hit the Liberty Road area a couple miles east of Joseph again in hopes of having a better study of the Gyrfalcon. Again there were no ducks on the ground; is this mainly an afternoon and night feeding area? A couple miles away, we then took a walk up the final half-mile up Prairie Creek Road to the Joseph Cemetery. This walk, bordered by brush, was a good one for chickens: we flushed three Ring-necked Pheasants and a covey of 15 GRAY PARTRIDGES, and heard California Quail. As seems to be the case for the Enterprise area, deer were everywhere. Scoping the fields from the cemetery, we counted 25 Mule Deer and several White-tailed. An area we had not covered this weekend that had proved very good for grassland birds in January (larks, buntings, and longspurs): the loop from OR-82 north of Enterprise west on Leap Road to Parsnip Creek Road, then south to Schoolhouse Flat Road and returning to Enterprise on Golfcourse Road. We predicted lack of snow would limit our success. A couple Horned Larks, three Northern Shrikes, a half-dozen Red-tailed and five Rough-legged Hawks, an American Kestrel, and a dozen each of Black-billed Magpies and Common Ravens was all we found. Mule Deer were more numerous than birds! A final cruise through Enterprise to 406 South Street yielded a HARRIS'S SPARROW across the street (and around a corner) from the feeder where this bird was reported last week on OBOL. Again lots of Cedar Waxwings were around, working the berry-laden Mountain Ash trees. We carefully sifted through these birds for a Bohemian, again with no luck. Heading homeward now we detoured a bit at Lostine and checked out the alders and water birches along this side road to Wallowa. A couple of tall ornamental Paper Birch trees held one lone male COMMON REDPOLL among 20 or so American Goldfinches at the corner of Jim Town Road and Clark Road, great compensation for the general dearth of winter finches this weekend. Heading home, we reached the edge of the Blue Mountains above Pendleton and noted Mt. Adams (150 miles away) and Mt. Rainier (190 miles away) poking above the western horizon, further testimony to the clarity of winter air. Our view thus spanned the entire Columbia Basin. A beautiful vista to end our weekend! Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091201/a608a60e/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Tue Dec 1 10:28:37 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 10:28:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Spanish Head 12/1 Message-ID: <5D31926045BD413FA79B616881C17848@Phil> Seawatch: Spanish Head, Lincoln City 7:45-9:30 clear with thin haze, some fog onshore to the south, wind NE. gulls streaming slowly north with several thousand sitting on the water 2000+ Red-throated Loon (80% N) 100+ Pacific Loon (most N) 3+ Common Loon 1 Red-necked Grebe 30 Western Grebe 150 Brown Pelican (N) 5 Brandt's Cormorant 80 White-winged Scoter (N) 120 Surf Scoter (S) 9 Common Merganser (groups 6 S, 3 N) 50+ Mew Gull 6 Ring-billed Gull (S in close) 8000+ California Gull (90%+ adult) 400+ Herring Gull (assume low, hard to sample in pale Cal flocks) 10+ Thayer's Gull (low) 1500+ Western Gull 400+ Glaucous-winged Gull 200 Heermann's Gull 7 Black-legged Kittiwake 8000+ Common Murre (N with hundreds on the water) 3 Pigeon Guillemot 2 Marbled Murrelet Also tight group of 1000 gulls on the tip of Salishan Spit most of which flushed and flew north while I was there, appeared to be roughly 80/20 Cal/Herring with a few Mew and Thayer's, 95% adult. Phil philliplc at charter.net From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Dec 1 11:14:55 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 11:14:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Photo: unknown hawk Message-ID: <20091201111455.d7hct52ggok8w0cs@webmail.zzz.com> OBOL, Gary Witt photographed a hawk at Ridgefield refuge yesterday. Could it be Swainson's? http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/119905219 Greg Gillson Forest Grove, Oregon greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com ----- Forwarded message from garybwitt at me.com ----- Date: Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:39:41 -0800 From: Gary Witt Reply-To: Gary Witt Subject: HawK ID question To: greg at thebirdguide.com I saw this hawk at Ridgefield yesterday. It was a good sized bird. I would say it is close to, but a little smaller than a red-tailed. I am stumped. I see very light color on the legs, the gray bill and full white under belly and tail so can't give it a name. I thought osprey, rough shouldered or maybe prairie falcon. I hope to get out to Jackson Bottom this week one day at least. Thanks Gary Witt ----- End forwarded message ----- -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: IMG_02572009-11-30 hawk ID.jpeg Type: image/jpg Size: 29152 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091201/4f84ee70/attachment.jpg From pointers at pacifier.com Tue Dec 1 11:27:27 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (pointers at pacifier.com) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 11:27:27 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Photo: unknown hawk In-Reply-To: <20091201111455.d7hct52ggok8w0cs@webmail.zzz.com> References: <20091201111455.d7hct52ggok8w0cs@webmail.zzz.com> Message-ID: <1711.130.118.152.25.1259695647.squirrel@webmail.iinet.com> why are you excluding Red-tail ??? ... Lyn > > OBOL, > > Gary Witt photographed a hawk at Ridgefield refuge yesterday. Could it > be Swainson's? > > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/119905219 > > Greg Gillson > Forest Grove, Oregon > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > > > > > ----- Forwarded message from garybwitt at me.com ----- > Date: Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:39:41 -0800 > From: Gary Witt > Reply-To: Gary Witt > Subject: HawK ID question > To: greg at thebirdguide.com > > I saw this hawk at Ridgefield yesterday. It was a good sized bird. I > would say it is close to, but a little smaller than a red-tailed. I am > stumped. I see very light color on the legs, the gray bill and full > white under belly and tail so can't give it a name. I thought osprey, > rough shouldered or maybe prairie falcon. > > I hope to get out to Jackson Bottom this week one day at least. > Thanks > Gary Witt > > > > ----- End forwarded message ----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Lyn Topinka http://englishriverwebsite.com/ http://columbiariverimages.com/ http://ridgefieldbirds.com/ From lee at leerentz.com Tue Dec 1 12:13:01 2009 From: lee at leerentz.com (Lee Rentz) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 12:13:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Birds of the White Mountains Message-ID: <438D9083-A7FF-4362-99F9-BD4166F4D9B5@leerentz.com> My wife and I took an October trip to Owens Valley, and drove up to camp in the Ancient Bristlecone Pines Forest in the White Mountains. While there, I photographed some of the common birds in the area, including Clark's Nutcrackers feeding on Limber Pine cones and Mountain Chickadees feeding uninvited on our carrot cake muffins. To see these bird photographs, go to: http://leerentz.wordpress.com Lee Rentz Shelton, WA lee at leerentz.com From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Tue Dec 1 12:23:19 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 12:23:19 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Photo: unknown hawk In-Reply-To: <20091201111455.d7hct52ggok8w0cs@webmail.zzz.com> Message-ID: <964246.46772.qm@web39702.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Greg, My initial impression is that this is an adult redtail hawk. I am not certain of my "call" because of the odd camera angle. But I base what I say on the following: The underside of a RT's tail, when folded, and viewed from an angle (like this photo), appears white (adult birds). Also note there is a white tail tip, and a dark subterminal band. Additionally, the cere appears greenish; while the toe diameter and talon length is much more akin to a RT (when compared with a roughlegged, or a Swainson's hawks). The folded wings are correct length for a RT. All these items point towards RT, but I too make mistakes on hawk ID's. Hope this is of some help. Best, Dick --- On Tue, 12/1/09, Greg Gillson wrote: > From: Greg Gillson > Subject: [obol] Photo: unknown hawk > To: "OBOL" > Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 11:14 AM > > OBOL, > > Gary Witt photographed a hawk at Ridgefield refuge > yesterday. Could it be Swainson's? > > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/119905219 > > Greg Gillson > Forest Grove, Oregon > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > > > > > ----- Forwarded message from garybwitt at me.com > ----- > ? ? Date: Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:39:41 -0800 > ? ? From: Gary Witt > Reply-To: Gary Witt > Subject: HawK ID question > ? ? ? To: greg at thebirdguide.com > > I saw this hawk at Ridgefield yesterday. It was a good > sized bird. I would say it is close to, but a little smaller > than a red-tailed. I am stumped. I see very light color on > the legs, the gray bill and full white under belly and tail > so can't give it a? name. I thought osprey, rough > shouldered or maybe prairie falcon. > > I hope to get out to Jackson Bottom this week one day at > least. > Thanks > Gary Witt > > > > ----- End forwarded message ----- > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From celata at pacifier.com Tue Dec 1 14:03:59 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:03:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] QUIZ BIRD - 12/01/2009 (and it's not a gull!) Message-ID: <4B1592CF.4080509@pacifier.com> Taken at Svensen Island this morning http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12881/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Why a duck? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12750/ From steve at paradisebirding.com Tue Dec 1 14:21:44 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 14:21:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wallowas tour in January Message-ID: <9a341ea30912011421p5f9b1e45xa7fd362e5e3f0f7b@mail.gmail.com> Hello All, First and foremost, I apologize to Tweeters if a commercial posting is not allowed. OBOL tolerates about 1 per month from a given birding company, and the exposure is always appreciated. Economic challenges have dramatically affected the birding tour business, and I personally appreciate the suppport any of you have given to Paradise Birding over the year (and our last 12 years in Oregon). We believe birding tourism is an important element of promoting birding and bird conservation across the country, and while it has been difficult to stay afloat over the last 18 months, we will continue to schedule a full slate of programs in 2010. We are proud to offer small-group birding tours in 6 states, Alberta, Sicily, and Mexico, and we hope to see some of you in the new year. I'll keep this message simple to minimize any anxiety caused to those of you who feel it is inappropriate to post such things on the listserves. Andy Stepniewski's excellent posting about his recent trip to NE Oregon inspired me to announce that Paradise Birding will lead our annual tour to Wallowa County, February 10-14, 2010. For details on this and all our tours, please visit the following links: Paradise Birding Fall 2009 Newsletter Paradise Birding December 2009 Newsletter Paradise Birding Web Site Thanks to all, Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091201/7fcf6baa/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Dec 1 15:16:32 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 15:16:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Thursday Bird Walk at Jackson Bottom Message-ID: <20091201151632.w6qotf2kg4gkswgw@webmail.zzz.com> Friends, Please be my guest on an informal bird walk about the Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro, Oregon on Thursday, December 3, 2009. We will start at 9:00 am from the back deck of the Education Center, 2600 SW Hillsboro Hwy, which is south out of Hillsboro on First Street one mile. [From Hwy 26 about 15 miles west of Portland turn off at North Plains and take Glencoe Road south, which becomes First Street in town, then becomes Hillsboro Highway as it leaves south out of town--very easy to find.] We had 75 species recorded on the Preserve last week, including Gyrfalcon, Snow Goose, Varied Thrush, Common Goldeneye, Northern Shrike, and Peregrine Falcon. I just now came in from a long lunch hike and recorded about 40 species. Canvasback and White-throated Sparrow were today's highlights. Hawks and waterfowl are obvious, other birds take a bit of work to pish out of the bushes. It is supposed to remain "mostly sunny" through Thursday, perhaps frost first thing, but warming up to near 45F by lunch time. All trails are open and drying. Wear boots for muddy trails and a few mud puddles (nothing over ankle deep). Hike along the alder woodlands and around the wetland ponds. Anyone can break away at any time; if we walk all the way to the back prairie it would be about 2 to 2-1/2 miles round trip. When finished you may wish to visit the exhibit hall in the Education Center. See the Bald Eagle nest and other displays. Greg Gillson greg at thebirdguide.com From cncschneider at msn.com Tue Dec 1 16:08:39 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 16:08:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Wigeon, Silverton, Marion County Message-ID: Hi birders, I took a bike ride to some local hot spots today. There was a GREEN HERON at the Oregon Garden along with the normal stuff. This is the the third winter this Green Heron has spent at the Oregon Garden. There were 2 GADWALLS with 30+ AMERICAN COOTS on Webb Lake. At Quarry Rd. ponds there were about 500 AMERICAN WIGEONS with 1 EURASIAN WIGEON possibly 2, 15 CACKLING GEESE, 4 COMMON MERGANSERS and 1 LESSER SCAUP. I rushed back home hoping that the Eurasian Wigeon would still be there when I came back with my sister. My wonderful mom drove us out and my sister also got to see it. It was a lifer for both of us and a motorless birding species for me. There also were 3 CANVASBACKS and 30 CANADA GEESE. This is by far the largest number wigeons I have ever seen, it least doubles my previous high count and it is about 350 higher than the Silverton CBC high count. Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Tue Dec 1 18:34:41 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 02:34:41 +0000 Subject: [obol] VIDEO footage of my search for White Tailed Ptarmigans in wholly, white plumage Message-ID: Hi all, Here is a short YOU-TUBE video of my search for the HOLY grouse on 10/31/2009. These birds were documented near Hart's Pass in Northcentral Washington. Ironically, we found the grail birds lower down after hiking and failing to find them at the 7400 ft summit. It was extremely windy and icy on the first day with 25-30 mph winds near the top. We had almost given up and drove down a couple of miles before I told Chris to stop at a small patch of low willows to look. Before getting out of the car, I luckily saw one bird literally frozen on the snow about 25 yards away. Then, two more fancy chickens popped out of nowhere. This is probably a first,documented sighting of them in this exquisite plumage on an open,drivable road in WA. Amazing how they blend in with the snow. The birds remind me of little ghosts walking on the snow. During the middle part of the video you can hear the female communicate with the young as a raven soared by. They immediately hunkered down and froze as the raptor-like bird approached them closely. I got close to getting frost bitten but was so excited that it didn't phase me until 20 minutes later. It felt like little needles poking my hands as the wind was relentlessly cold. Even though they are beautiful in this plumage, I still like their early fall plumage as the contrast is more striking! Thanks to Chris Stearns for taking the video. The ending was not what I wanted to see, but it was sure FUN. Sorry about the wind noise! You might need to adjust the volume accordingly. Hope you will enjoy this somewhat grainy, geeky and goofy video... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7lJaq1kFtw Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) www.ktbirding.com From rfadney at hotmail.com Tue Dec 1 18:58:05 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 18:58:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Photo: unknown hawk Message-ID: I see a Red Tail. It's lacking the rufous below the breast I would expect in a juve Swainsons. I looked at "Raptors from every angle" and "Raptors of Western North and keep going back to RTH. Rich Adney http://avianpics.blogspot.com/ http://adneyvisualarts.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/ > Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 11:14:55 -0800 > From: greg at thebirdguide.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] Photo: unknown hawk > > > OBOL, > > Gary Witt photographed a hawk at Ridgefield refuge yesterday. Could it > be Swainson's? > > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/119905219 > > Greg Gillson > Forest Grove, Oregon > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > > > > > ----- Forwarded message from garybwitt at me.com ----- > Date: Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:39:41 -0800 > From: Gary Witt > Reply-To: Gary Witt > Subject: HawK ID question > To: greg at thebirdguide.com > > I saw this hawk at Ridgefield yesterday. It was a good sized bird. I > would say it is close to, but a little smaller than a red-tailed. I am > stumped. I see very light color on the legs, the gray bill and full > white under belly and tail so can't give it a name. I thought osprey, > rough shouldered or maybe prairie falcon. > > I hope to get out to Jackson Bottom this week one day at least. > Thanks > Gary Witt > > > > ----- End forwarded message ----- > _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live Hotmail is faster and more secure than ever. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/hotmail_bl1/hotmail_bl1.aspx?ocid=PID23879::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-ww:WM_IMHM_1:092009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091201/abfa492f/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Tue Dec 1 18:59:36 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 18:59:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Photo: unknown hawk References: <20091201111455.d7hct52ggok8w0cs@webmail.zzz.com> Message-ID: Hi - I also think it is a Red-tail. I cannot think of a normal plumage of Swainson's with a belly-band like this bird. Some Swainson's have quite a bit of streaking on the underparts, but with more color dark color high on the breast particularly on the sides, tailing off down onto the belly. The white under the chin is unusual for an adult Red-tail, but I think I have seen others with the similar white chins. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg Gillson" To: "OBOL" Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 11:14 AM Subject: [obol] Photo: unknown hawk > > OBOL, > > Gary Witt photographed a hawk at Ridgefield refuge yesterday. Could it > be Swainson's? > > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/119905219 > > Greg Gillson > Forest Grove, Oregon > greg at thebirdguide.com > http://thebirdguide.com > > > > > > ----- Forwarded message from garybwitt at me.com ----- > Date: Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:39:41 -0800 > From: Gary Witt > Reply-To: Gary Witt > Subject: HawK ID question > To: greg at thebirdguide.com > > I saw this hawk at Ridgefield yesterday. It was a good sized bird. I > would say it is close to, but a little smaller than a red-tailed. I am > stumped. I see very light color on the legs, the gray bill and full > white under belly and tail so can't give it a name. I thought osprey, > rough shouldered or maybe prairie falcon. > > I hope to get out to Jackson Bottom this week one day at least. > Thanks > Gary Witt > > > > ----- End forwarded message ----- > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From pointers at pacifier.com Tue Dec 1 19:28:45 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:28:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Photo: unknown hawk - PIX of White-faced RT on 11-22 In-Reply-To: References: <20091201111455.d7hct52ggok8w0cs@webmail.zzz.com> Message-ID: <20091202032846.209146A743@smtp2.pacifier.net> hi all ... here's a pix of a white-faced Red-tailed Hawk taken at Ridgefield on November 22 ... cant say it's the same bird Gary Witt shot, but it's definitely white-faced and it's definitely a Red-tailed Hawk ... http://ridgefieldbirds.com/Images09Nov/RNWR_red-tailed_hawk_white_face_11-22-09.jpg hope this helps some, Lyn At 06:59 PM 12/1/2009, Wayne Hoffman wrote: >Hi - > >I also think it is a Red-tail. I cannot think of a normal plumage of >Swainson's with a belly-band like this bird. Some Swainson's have quite a >bit of streaking on the underparts, but with more color dark color high on >the breast particularly on the sides, tailing off down onto the belly. The >white under the chin is unusual for an adult Red-tail, but I think I have >seen others with the similar white chins. > >Wayne > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Greg Gillson" >To: "OBOL" >Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 11:14 AM >Subject: [obol] Photo: unknown hawk > > > > > > OBOL, > > > > Gary Witt photographed a hawk at Ridgefield refuge yesterday. Could it > > be Swainson's? > > > > http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/image/119905219 > > > > Greg Gillson > > Forest Grove, Oregon > > greg at thebirdguide.com > > http://thebirdguide.com > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Forwarded message from garybwitt at me.com ----- > > Date: Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:39:41 -0800 > > From: Gary Witt > > Reply-To: Gary Witt > > Subject: HawK ID question > > To: greg at thebirdguide.com > > > > I saw this hawk at Ridgefield yesterday. It was a good sized bird. I > > would say it is close to, but a little smaller than a red-tailed. I am > > stumped. I see very light color on the legs, the gray bill and full > > white under belly and tail so can't give it a name. I thought osprey, > > rough shouldered or maybe prairie falcon. > > > > I hope to get out to Jackson Bottom this week one day at least. > > Thanks > > Gary Witt > > > > > > > > ----- End forwarded message ----- > > > > > > >-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > >_______________________________________________ >obol mailing list >obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From Oropendolas at aol.com Tue Dec 1 19:39:16 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 22:39:16 EST Subject: [obol] Brookings Thanksgiving Weekend Message-ID: Hello All, Laura and I spent Thanksgiving weekend on the South Coast in Brookings, here are a few birds we encountered there and en route: 11-26 Bandon Marsh Whimbrel - 1 11-27 Brookings Harbor Long-billed Curlew - 1 possibly the same bird reported on 11-19 by Don Munson? 11-29 Gold Beach Glaucous Gull - 1 first winter 11-29 Bandon Marsh Ruddy Turnstone - 1 a few pics from the trip can be seen at _http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=7183&id=100000289217347&l=c934702364_ (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=7183&id=100000289217347&l=c934702364) John Sullivan & Laura Jonhson Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091201/b557d88e/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Dec 1 21:34:23 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:34:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Australia birds Message-ID: I'm posting a few photos from my ongoing Australia trip as it goes along. I am not doing a long travelogue. If interested see: http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From nepobirds at yahoo.com Wed Dec 2 07:51:25 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 07:51:25 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Gull ID help Message-ID: <454514.54855.qm@web46009.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Good morning to all. Thank you again for your help with the goose ID the other day. We really appreciate it. ? Yesterday, we had a gull land on the telephone pole in our backyard. First time we have ever seen one there and, wouldn't you know it, we can't ID the little bugger. We have tried but we keep second guessing everything. ? The photo is here: portlandbirds.blogspot.com and it's the first photo. It was a larger gull and, if the photo doesn't show it well, it had pink legs/feet. Thanks in advance. Seth Reams NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091202/9829c7a1/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Dec 2 08:07:59 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 08:07:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gull ID help In-Reply-To: <454514.54855.qm@web46009.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <454514.54855.qm@web46009.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <6C4B962D-91DC-4262-AC4A-8FE7C26D909D@earthlink.net> I'm going to stick my neck out and say "Herring Gull". Details later. It's kids to school time now. Lars Norgren On Dec 2, 2009, at 7:51 AM, Seth Reams wrote: > Good morning to all. Thank you again for your help with the goose ID > the other day. We really appreciate it. > > Yesterday, we had a gull land on the telephone pole in our backyard. > First time we have ever seen one there and, wouldn't you know it, we > can't ID the little bugger. We have tried but we keep second > guessing everything. > > The photo is here: portlandbirds.blogspot.com and it's the first > photo. It was a larger gull and, if the photo doesn't show it well, > it had pink legs/feet. Thanks in advance. > > Seth Reams > NE Portland, OR - Gateway area > portlandbirds.blogspot.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091202/1ff84110/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Dec 2 09:09:20 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 17:09:20 +0000 Subject: [obol] Gull ID help In-Reply-To: <454514.54855.qm@web46009.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <454514.54855.qm@web46009.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Seth et al., Though the light conditions make it tough to determine exact eye color and relative darkness of the mantle, this bird appears to be too dark on the back, too heavy-billed, and the eye appears to be dark (rather than light) for this bird to be a Herring Gull. Generally speaking, Glaucous-winged Gull is the most common "lamp post" gull in the Portland area. However, this bird appears to have black or nearly black wingtips, which does not fit Glaucous-winged. The wingtips of a Glaucous-winged match its back color. Additionally, the back color of this bird appear a bit too dark for a Glaucous-winged. All this being said, you will not find a "species" of gull in your field guide that is a good match with this bird. That is because it is a hybrid. Western Gull, which is primarily an outer coastal species and generally speaking the darkest-backed gull you'll see in Oregon, hybridizes extensively with the similar-sized Glaucous-winged Gull resulting in a massive hybrid swarm of Western Gull X Glaucous-winged Gull intergrades. These intergrades are sometimes referred to as "Olympic Gulls" because the primary overlap zone in the breeding ranges of the the two parent species occurs to the north of us on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. The crosses and backcrosses may look mostly like either species or fall somewhere in the middle with features and coloration that might be attributed to either parent species. This bird appears to be a full adult (4th year or older). During winter, when these gulls are in their basic (non-breeding) plumage, adult Glaucous-winged Gulls have grayish-brown mottling on the head and neck (shown by this bird). "Pure" (no obvious evidence of hybridization) basic-plumaged Western Gulls have clean white heads and necks. In terms of general darkness of the upperparts and darkness of the wingtips, this bird appears to fall towards the Western end of the intergrade spectrum, but the smudgy markings on the head and neck tell us that it carries some Glaucous-winged Gull DNA. During the winter months, upwards of 40-50% (sometimes more in certain flocks) of the large pink-footed gulls one sees around Portland and elsewhere in the Willamette Valley are Western X Glaucous-winged intergrades. In general, large gulls (pink-legged/pink-footed species) are quite prone to hybridization and there are a number of different crosses that one may encounter in Oregon. Western X Glaucous-winged crosses are far and away the most common among these. Dave Irons Eugene, OR Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 07:51:25 -0800 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] Gull ID help Good morning to all. Thank you again for your help with the goose ID the other day. We really appreciate it. Yesterday, we had a gull land on the telephone pole in our backyard. First time we have ever seen one there and, wouldn't you know it, we can't ID the little bugger. We have tried but we keep second guessing everything. The photo is here: portlandbirds.blogspot.com and it's the first photo. It was a larger gull and, if the photo doesn't show it well, it had pink legs/feet. Thanks in advance. Seth Reams NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com _________________________________________________________________ Chat with Messenger straight from your Hotmail inbox. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/hotmail_bl1/hotmail_bl1.aspx?ocid=PID23879::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-ww:WM_IMHM_4:092009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091202/002f2b7a/attachment.html From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Wed Dec 2 10:21:15 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 13:21:15 -0500 Subject: [obol] hummer surprise Message-ID: Since I'm not maintaining a hummingbird feeder this cold season, I was surprised a few minutes ago when an ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD was visiting the few flowers blooming on my fuchsia and penstemon shrubs. Anna's are still a relatively uncommon sight around here.Lona Pierce, Warren, Columbia County _________________________________________________________________ Chat with Messenger straight from your Hotmail inbox. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/hotmail_bl1/hotmail_bl1.aspx?ocid=PID23879::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-ww:WM_IMHM_4:092009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091202/4589318d/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Wed Dec 2 12:31:43 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 12:31:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gull ID help Message-ID: <73C22E6156CE4767B28C6337B2E8C31E@Phil> I don't think the mantle shade can be accurately judged in the photo due to underexposure, which makes it tough to pin this one down. I think it could actually be much lighter than it looks. The intermediate/ dark iris, large bill, and large amount of white visible on the underside of the primary stack do suggest it's part Glaucous-winged (assuming it's not a Vega). Olympic is a reasonable suggestion, but the structure and nature of the nape markings seem a little too Herringy to say that with confidence. I think it could just as easily be a Herring x G-w. Cheers, Phil From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed Dec 2 12:33:42 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:33:42 -0500 Subject: [obol] Tropical King Bird, and ID help Message-ID: <8CC41A5DF7881A2-3598-B2DD@webmail-d040.sysops.aol.com> I went to Newport yesterday with hopes of finding the Tropical Kingbird as well some of the other great birds that have been seen there lately. I lucked into the Tropical Kingbird on the road to the natural gas tank. Other than some Golden Crowned sparrows, it was the only birds I saw on the road. I got some shots, poor because the sun was behind the bird, but identifiable, when I frst saw it. I was lucky I took some before trying to get a better angle, as he flew away to a bush farther away and then off to the north. I had him for about two minutes. I would have never been confident of my ID if I had not taken some photos to compare to the book. Here is the best of the bunch. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2545/4153149151_d94d62a02a_o.jpg I also have a shot from the South Jetty that I have been able to ID yet. Here is that shot. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2542/4153909446_2a5f82d8dc_o.jpg I appreciate any help. Johnny Sasko Sandy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091202/72b1d628/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Dec 2 12:58:30 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 12:58:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wed morning Message-ID: The group took the river trail at the Springfield end, eastward (up-river) to Island Park. We had some good sightings. Double-crested Cormorant - 5+ Great Blue Heron - 3 GREEN HERON - 1 at north end of Island Park on the river. Canada Goose - 20 Cackling Goose - 2 Mallard - 35 C. Merganser - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Merlin - 1 Spotted Sandpiper - 3 Ring-billed Gull - 10 Western Gull - at least two good species (not hybrid) Hybrid Western x Glaucous-winged - 2-3 Glaucous-winged Gull - several Anna's Hummingbird - 1 (2 more at my house) Hummer species - 1 Belted Kingfisher - 2 Red-breasted Sapsucker - 2 interacting Hairy Woodpecker - 1 Downy Woodpecker - 1 (all the woodpeckers were in one place) N. Flicker - 3 Scrub Jay - 3 Am. Crow - 8 Black-capped Chickadee - 16 Bushtit - flock of 15 (another flock was in my yard) Brown Creeper - 4 Bewick-s Wren - 2 Golden-cr. Kinglet - 6 Ruby-cr. Kinglet - 2 Am. Robin - 50 Cedar Waxwing - 10 Starling - 45 Townsend's Warbler - 2 Song Sparrow - 8 Golden-cr. Sparrow - 1 Western Bluebird - One bird was calling from the top of a fir on Agate St when I got home: a persistent "Chew" call every few seconds - loud for a bluebird, as if trying to make contact with its flock. It continued to call as I watched for about 10 min, until it flew away. Noteworthy it is to encounter this bird in town, and the second time this season. Craig Merkel, Fred Chancey, Ellen Cantor, Sylvia Maulding, Don Schrouder, Randy Sinnott, Dave Brown, Dave Hill, Paul Sherrell, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091202/e97b5c0f/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Dec 2 13:11:41 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 13:11:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gull ID help In-Reply-To: <73C22E6156CE4767B28C6337B2E8C31E@Phil> References: <73C22E6156CE4767B28C6337B2E8C31E@Phil> Message-ID: <93E6EAE8-40A3-4F83-A4DD-E213C461D906@earthlink.net> It was the nape markings and primary extension that made me say Herring. The bill seems too big for Herring, but the mantle and iris are shaded, hence under- exposed, so I didn't hold those against Herring. The eye has the raptorial Herring look. The crested head shape, if present , can't be distinguished due to camera angle. Naturally, I lOVE the hybrid suggestion. Why didn't I think of it myself? Lars On Dec 2, 2009, at 12:31 PM, Phil Pickering wrote: > I don't think the mantle shade can be accurately > judged in the photo due to underexposure, which > makes it tough to pin this one down. I think it could > actually be much lighter than it looks. The intermediate/ > dark iris, large bill, and large amount of white visible > on the underside of the primary stack do suggest > it's part Glaucous-winged (assuming it's not a Vega). > Olympic is a reasonable suggestion, but the structure > and nature of the nape markings seem a little too > Herringy to say that with confidence. I think it could > just as easily be a Herring x G-w. > > Cheers, > > Phil > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From celata at pacifier.com Wed Dec 2 13:46:42 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:46:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - 12/2/2009 Message-ID: <4B16E042.3010904@pacifier.com> Columbia Estuary Report - 12/2/2009 An OLD-TAILED DUCK was the only interesting thing visible on the ocean from the viewing platform at the South Jetty this morning. East winds make for less than interesting seawatches. I saw NO Brown Pelicans. A scruffy hatch-year WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was in a large ZONO flock at King Avenue. Also on King Avenue was a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK and a sizable flock of WESTERN MEADOWLARKS. A COOPER'S HAWK and a NORTHERN HARRIER at Wireless Rd. The gulls flocks have almost completely disappeared. The female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE continues to be seen by everyone but me along the lower end of the Neawanna in Seaside. A very reliable EURASIAN WIGEON continues at the Neawanna Mill Ponds. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Why a duck? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12750/ From deweysage at verizon.net Wed Dec 2 14:11:49 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:11:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Columbia Estuary Report - 12/2/2009 In-Reply-To: <4B16E042.3010904@pacifier.com> References: <4B16E042.3010904@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <4B16E625.8070405@verizon.net> Mike Patterson wrote: > Columbia Estuary Report - 12/2/2009 > > An OLD-TAILED DUCK was the only interesting thing visible on the ocean > > And who said Mike was the most serious of birders and had no sense of humor.......? ;-) Cheers Dave Lauten From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Dec 2 14:44:41 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 14:44:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gull ID help In-Reply-To: <6C4B962D-91DC-4262-AC4A-8FE7C26D909D@earthlink.net> References: <454514.54855.qm@web46009.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <6C4B962D-91DC-4262-AC4A-8FE7C26D909D@earthlink.net> Message-ID: Seth, Noticing the immature hawk on your website, it looks like a Cooper's to me. Although the tip of the tail looks square, notice the graduated tail feathers, the "flat" crown, and the sharp blackish streaking on the breast, belly, and flanks. An immature sharpy would have brownish streaking, becoming more like orange-brown bars on the flanks. Larry McQueen _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Norgren Family Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 8:08 AM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Gull ID help I'm going to stick my neck out and say "Herring Gull". Details later. It's kids to school time now. Lars Norgren On Dec 2, 2009, at 7:51 AM, Seth Reams wrote: Good morning to all. Thank you again for your help with the goose ID the other day. We really appreciate it. Yesterday, we had a gull land on the telephone pole in our backyard. First time we have ever seen one there and, wouldn't you know it, we can't ID the little bugger. We have tried but we keep second guessing everything. The photo is here: portlandbirds.blogspot.com and it's the first photo. It was a larger gull and, if the photo doesn't show it well, it had pink legs/feet. Thanks in advance. Seth Reams NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091202/ffacb115/attachment.html From loinneilceol at yahoo.com Wed Dec 2 15:07:04 2009 From: loinneilceol at yahoo.com (Leith McKenzie) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 15:07:04 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Gull ID Help Message-ID: <368147.38945.qm@web30402.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Nice shot of a BIG PINK-FOOTED GULL, attempts at classification beyond this are fraught with difficulty, pitting legends like Pickering and Irons against one another, and impossible to achieve with any degree of certainty, unless you would like to catch the BPFG and pluck a feather for DNA analysis. From: Seth Reams Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 07:51:25 -0800 (PST) Good morning to all. Thank you again for your help with the goose ID the other day. We really appreciate it. Yesterday, we had a gull land on the telephone pole in our backyard. First time we have ever seen one there and, wouldn't you know it, we can't ID the little bugger. We have tried but we keep second guessing everything. The photo is here: portlandbirds.blogspot.com and it's the first photo. It was a larger gull and, if the photo doesn't show it well, it had pink legs/feet. Thanks in advance. Seth Reams NE Portland, OR - Gateway area portlandbirds.blogspot.com ? ?Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.? Jonathan Livingston Seagull -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091202/610c9ae6/attachment.html From birdmandon at clearwire.net Wed Dec 2 15:26:48 2009 From: birdmandon at clearwire.net (Don Schrouder) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 15:26:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Post Wed. Morning birds Message-ID: After joining the Wed. morning crew, I decided to keep birding while the beautiful sunshine was available. At Delta Ponds I flushed a COOPER'S HAWK from the shrubs along a pond. On the Willamette River just downstream from the Valley River bike bridge were a group of 8 MEW GULLS feeding in midstream. One cooperative NORTHERN SHRIKE was working the intersection of K. R. Neilson/Cantrel Rd. Also in the area were 4 WHITE-TAILED KITES and one TURKEY VULTURE soaring over Oak Hill. Don Schrouder birdmandon at clearwire.net From andydfrank at gmail.com Wed Dec 2 16:09:36 2009 From: andydfrank at gmail.com (Andy Frank) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 16:09:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sauvie Island today, by bike Message-ID: <2ec131a10912021609k1f2dd1ccrd834a5eb05507fdf@mail.gmail.com> Though pedestrian by standards of other legendary motorless birders such as Randy Campbell and John Sullivan, I biked to Sauvie Island this morning and saw 50 species of birds over the 47 miles. The clear highlight was going to Coon Point and seeing the long-awaited removal of the cottonwoods. There's a tractor still out there so I suspect more work will occur. Hopefully we'll get some good shorebird habitat next year. Many thanks to those who have worked on this. With the extra visibility, one can again see the trees the BALD EAGLES hang out in and today there were 2 adults near eachother. The lake had great displays of large white birds. There were 34 SWANS, 6 GREAT EGRETS, and several hundred more distant SNOW GEESE. There are lots of SANDHILL CRANES around, and one male REDHEAD viewable from the Reeder Road platform in Columbia County. I missed these but was told a MERLIN and a WESTERN MEADOWLARK were by there earlier. Until today I thought WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were common on Oak Island and sporadic elsewhere on the island but today I seemed to find them everywhere. There were 2 PILEATED WOODPECKERS just over the Columbia County line. There are loads of RED-TAILED HAWKS, several NORTHERN HARRIERS, 2 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS and I saw 1 COOPER'S HAWK chasing, and missing, a WESTERN SCRUB-JAY. There also were 11 EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES near 22345 Reeder Rd. Andy Frank Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091202/6ad45c75/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Wed Dec 2 17:13:02 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 17:13:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] VIDEO footage of my search for White Tailed Ptarmigans in wholly, white plumage In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <4b171095.9513f30a.3c39.ffff979d@mx.google.com> That was a great video! Three little white angels the same color as my Fuzzy-Bird. What cool little birds and the ending was a LOL ending! Marilyn Miller -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of khanh tran Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 6:35 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Cc: fsprucegrouse at yahoo.com Subject: [obol] VIDEO footage of my search for White Tailed Ptarmigans in wholly, white plumage Hi all, Here is a short YOU-TUBE video of my search for the HOLY grouse on 10/31/2009. These birds were documented near Hart's Pass in Northcentral Washington. Ironically, we found the grail birds lower down after hiking and failing to find them at the 7400 ft summit. It was extremely windy and icy on the first day with 25-30 mph winds near the top. We had almost given up and drove down a couple of miles before I told Chris to stop at a small patch of low willows to look. Before getting out of the car, I luckily saw one bird literally frozen on the snow about 25 yards away. Then, two more fancy chickens popped out of nowhere. This is probably a first,documented sighting of them in this exquisite plumage on an open,drivable road in WA. Amazing how they blend in with the snow. The birds remind me of little ghosts walking on the snow. During the middle part of the video you can hear the female communicate with the young as a raven soared by. They immediately hunkered down and froze as the raptor-like bird approached them closely. I got close to getting frost bitten but was so excited that it didn't phase me until 20 minutes later. It felt like little needles poking my hands as the wind was relentlessly cold. Even though they are beautiful in this plumage, I still like their early fall plumage as the contrast is more striking! Thanks to Chris Stearns for taking the video. The ending was not what I wanted to see, but it was sure FUN. Sorry about the wind noise! You might need to adjust the volume accordingly. Hope you will enjoy this somewhat grainy, geeky and goofy video... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7lJaq1kFtw Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon) www.ktbirding.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.426 / Virus Database: 270.14.89/2539 - Release Date: 12/01/09 19:32:00 From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Dec 2 18:38:36 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 18:38:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] ECBC Wednesday Birders - Crook County Message-ID: <9CDB1DE3DCCD44C586F5B05CECF0A434@MOM> Birders Thanks to Desiree Johnson for doing the list. It is below. We birded Houston Lake area, ag fields, sewage ponds, cemetary, town neighborhoods and Meadow Lakes Golf course today. No sunshine all day. ?? Banana Belt?? Raptors engaged our attention, waterfowl were everywhere. Nothing rare but we did finally see some Goldeneye. We made an effort to check mountain ash and birch trees to find northern migrants but nothing rare yet. Those full of catkins had both goldfinch. Eurasian Collared Doves were near the Prineville Hospital off Powell Lane. Birders today Desiree Johnson, Cindy Zalunardo, Mike Golden, Mary Oppenheimer and Judy Meredith. Full list below, by http://birdnotes.net Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 140 Gadwall 45 Eurasian Wigeon 1 American Wigeon 230 Mallard 130 Northern Shoveler 85 Northern Pintail 5 Green-Winged Teal 70 Ring-necked Duck 200 Lesser Scaup 3 Bufflehead 33 Common Goldeneye 20 Barrow's Goldeneye 6 Hooded Merganser 5 Common Merganser 13 California Quail 12 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Great Blue Heron 18 Northern Harrier 2 Cooper's Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 28 Ferruginous Hawk 1 Rough-legged Hawk 1 Golden Eagle 1 American Kestrel 11 American Coot 15 Rock Dove 25 Eurasian Collared-Dove 16 Mourning Dove 36 Belted Kingfisher 1 Northern Flicker 9 Steller's Jay 1 Western Scrub-Jay 16 Black-billed Magpie 5 American Crow 1 Common Raven 29 Golden-crowned Kinglet 5 Townsend's Solitaire 12 American Robin 65 European Starling 570 Song Sparrow 7 White-crowned Sparrow 40 Golden-crowned Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco 60 House Finch 55 Lesser Goldfinch 45 American Goldfinch 2 House Sparrow 160 Total number of species seen: 48 Good birding, Judy Meredith jmeredit at bendnet.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ COBOL mailing list COBOL at lists.oregonstate.edu http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol To unsubscribe, send a message to: COBOL-request at lists.oregonstate.edu with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091202/837f29fe/attachment.html From prigge1 at mindspring.com Wed Dec 2 19:13:28 2009 From: prigge1 at mindspring.com (Allen Prigge) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 19:13:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Bay Brown Booby Message-ID: <4186DE1D60B24009B46F844447242E18@alrup5ujaxzzmc> The Brown Booby was still present today at about 11:00am on wooden navigational marker B, seen from the Hedge Lane turnout. AAP __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4656 (20091202) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091202/6c9309e9/attachment.html From gorgebirds at juno.com Wed Dec 2 19:32:34 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 03:32:34 GMT Subject: [obol] John Day Dam Gulls Message-ID: <20091202.193234.5956.0@webmail10.vgs.untd.com> Barry Woodruff and I went up to John Day Dam to search for any of the out of place gulls reported from there the last couple of week. We first checked below the dam and found very few birds there and the area was still in shadow with frost. A couple of loops on the freeway up to the John Day River and back to check the flocks above the dam from both the east bound and west bound lanes did not produce anything. The wind was calm and we had good lighting but the gulls were spread out over a mile long section of the river and at least a thousand feet off shore. At about 2 PM we returned to below the dam and picked up a loaf of bread from the gas station/store at the exit and went up to the restroom area and started chumming. While a small flock of about forty gulls gathered we scan the area down steam picking out a pair of PACIFIC LOONS and enjoying the flocK of COMMON and BARROW'S GOLDENEYE. The first bird of interest to show up in the flock was a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE. Waiting for more birds to come to the bread we began scanning the birds working across the face of the dam without picking up anything new. When we checked the gulls at the chum the adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED was floating inn the middle of the flock and was still there when we left about 45 minutes later. My question about these birds is, How did two members of this species end up at the same place without any sign that they are associating with each other? Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Hotel Hotel pics, info and virtual tours. Click here to book a hotel online. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=h4LEBYp7muhaydB96A4cSgAAJ1AHcaoQFB_Xw2ggvz9-JEKpAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATRAAAAAA= From gismiller at gmail.com Wed Dec 2 20:54:55 2009 From: gismiller at gmail.com (Craig Miller) Date: Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:54:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gull ID help In-Reply-To: <73C22E6156CE4767B28C6337B2E8C31E@Phil> References: <73C22E6156CE4767B28C6337B2E8C31E@Phil> Message-ID: <4B17449F.4050605@gmail.com> Seth, The mantle of this gull contrasts a lot with the white of the underparts, considerably more than the contrast with the black wing tips. This appears to be more than just an artifact of underexposure, making more sense for Western hybrid. Furthermore, Western hybrids are by far the most numerous of the large gull hybrids in Oregon, making it statistically much more likely. Craig Miller Phil Pickering wrote: > I don't think the mantle shade can be accurately > judged in the photo due to underexposure, which > makes it tough to pin this one down. I think it could > actually be much lighter than it looks. The intermediate/ > dark iris, large bill, and large amount of white visible > on the underside of the primary stack do suggest > it's part Glaucous-winged (assuming it's not a Vega). > Olympic is a reasonable suggestion, but the structure > and nature of the nape markings seem a little too > Herringy to say that with confidence. I think it could > just as easily be a Herring x G-w. > > Cheers, > > Phil > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Dec 2 23:27:00 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:27:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 11-3-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * November 3, 2009 * ORPO0911.03 - birds mentioned Ross?s Goose Trumpeter Swan White-winged Scoter Long-tailed Duck Red-breasted Merganser Pacific Loon BROWN BOOBY Gyrfalcon Black-legged Kittiwake LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Glaucous Gull Ash-throated Flycatcher Tropical Kingbird Loggerhead Shrike Northern Mockingbird EASTERN TOWHEE - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday November 3. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. Birders have confirmed that there are now two LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS at the John Day Dam, a full adult and a third year bird. The Coos Bay BROWN BOOBY continues to be seen. A possible EASTERN TOWHEE was reported November 25 from the Fernhill Wetlands. TROPICAL KINGBIRDS continue to be seen in Florence and at Sallys Bend near Newport. Two ROSS?S GEESE were reported near Flores Lake November 24 and another at Coos Bay November 26. On November 29 a first year GLAUCOUS GULL was at Gold Beach. An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was seen November 28 at Woahink Lake south of Florence. On November 29 a LONG-TAILED DUCK was on Yaquina Bay. Another was seen December 2 at the South Jetty of the Columbia River. On November 25 a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was on Vancouver Lake. A MOCKINGBIRD was reported November 27 at Bethany Pond north of Beaverton. On November 25 a KITTIWAKE was at the Fernhill Wetlands. A GYRFALCON was seen November 27 at Jackson Bottom in Hillsboro. TRUMPETER SWANS are now returning to the Airlie area south of Monmouth. On November 26 three WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and four PACIFIC LOONS were near the John Day Dam. Two KITTIWAKES were there November 24. That day a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was near Grass Valley. A GYRFALCON is now being seen east of Joseph. That?s it for this week. -end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091202/e7d93693/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Dec 3 04:55:51 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 04:55:51 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos/Curry Birds of Late including unusual pipit Message-ID: <603455.9836.qm@web45316.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> On Tuesday the 2nd I went out out to the north spit of Coos Bay in the late PM- what a gorgeous day and a beautiful sunset. ?On the beach near the north jetty were around 20 SNOWY PLOVERS mixed in a flock of Sanderlings on the beach. ?In the same area I jumped a HORNED LARK, always a rarity here on the coast. ?Back on the bay side the BROWN BOOBY was at its evening roost on the backside of the tallest metal navigational tower. On the evening of the 1st I saw 7 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS heading over Bi-Mart in Coos Bay about 45 minutes after sunset, now to try and find their roost! Knute Andersson saw upwards of 3,000 BROWN PELICANS at Bandon on Sunday the 30th, I guess they are coming in around sunset in big numbers including last night. Terry Wahl called me last night. ?He saw and heard an unusual pipit at the family ranch near Cape Blanco and was pretty sure it was a SPRAGUE'S PIPIT yesterday the 1st. ?I'm not familiar with their call, only their flight song but Terry sounded convinced. ?He also saw a TURKEY VULTURE, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, a SAY'S PHOEBE, and one of the ROSS'S GEESE that's been around the area. ?Nice day!! Happy Birding all,Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091203/c7082c3f/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Dec 3 06:20:23 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 06:20:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tropical King Bird, and ID help In-Reply-To: <8CC41A5DF7881A2-3598-B2DD@webmail-d040.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CC41A5DF7881A2-3598-B2DD@webmail-d040.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <9CEF3252-7381-4057-A4B2-BD6B06EE9F3B@earthlink.net> Perhaps someone has already responded off-line. I believe the picture from the South Jetty is a Pigeon Guillemot in winter plumage. Kind of a strange looking bird. A few were hanging out in Coos Bay near the Dairy Queen of Brown Booby fame. I had to do a double take as I rarely go to the right places in winter to see them. Lars Norgren On Dec 2, 2009, at 12:33 PM, jonysky101 at aol.com wrote: > I went to Newport yesterday with hopes of finding the Tropical Kingbird as well some of the other great birds that have been seen there lately. I lucked into the Tropical Kingbird on the road to the natural gas tank. Other than some Golden Crowned sparrows, it was the only birds I saw on the road. I got some shots, poor because the sun was behind the bird, but identifiable, when I frst saw it. I was lucky I took some before trying to get a better angle, as he flew away to a bush farther away and then off to the north. I had him for about two minutes. I would have never been confident of my ID if I had not taken some photos to compare to the book. Here is the best of the bunch. > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2545/4153149151_d94d62a02a_o.jpg > > I also have a shot from the South Jetty that I have been able to ID yet. Here is that shot. > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2542/4153909446_2a5f82d8dc_o.jpg > > I appreciate any help. > Johnny Sasko > Sandy > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091203/4a4c3ff3/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Thu Dec 3 08:54:23 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 08:54:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gull ID help Message-ID: <008D989877A94D849AB7FFAAEAE3E3EC@Phil> Sorry for harping on the trivial, but for those interested- > The mantle of this gull contrasts a lot with the white of the > underparts, considerably more than the contrast with the black wing > tips. This appears to be more than just an artifact of underexposure, Again I have to respectfully disagree that any of this can be safely judged in this one shot, particularly given that the "white" underparts appear dingy gray and the primary tips could be somewhat less than solid black. The appearance of mantle shade and mantle/primary contrast are so lighting dependant that they can be tricky to judge even in properly exposed photos, and I think this one could easily be misleading. I would want observer confirmation that it was too dark for a Herring-type before making that assumption. Lighten the photo a little and it does not appear to be. Also, not claiming that it is the case with this particular bird, but worth noting that many Herring-types have a sort of steely tone to the mantle that can tend to appear much darker in photos than in life. >Furthermore, Western hybrids are > by far the most numerous of the large gull hybrids in Oregon, making it > statistically much more likely. It's true that there are significantly more Olympic around, but I'd disagree with the implication that Herring hybrids are unexpected (in season) to the point where it has any relevance towards ID. For all anyone knows they may be abundant. Cheers, Phil From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Dec 3 09:04:12 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 09:04:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gull ID help In-Reply-To: <008D989877A94D849AB7FFAAEAE3E3EC@Phil> References: <008D989877A94D849AB7FFAAEAE3E3EC@Phil> Message-ID: I for one am glad to hear more. Mantle shade is both very useful and very tricky. I would have posted more on that last night if I had been livelier. Once again I'm chiming in at a time of day that offers me no free time. Lars On Dec 3, 2009, at 8:54 AM, Phil Pickering wrote: > Sorry for harping on the trivial, but for those interested- > >> The mantle of this gull contrasts a lot with the white of the >> underparts, considerably more than the contrast with the black wing >> tips. This appears to be more than just an artifact of underexposure, > > Again I have to respectfully disagree that any of this can be safely > judged in this one shot, particularly given that the "white" underparts > appear dingy gray and the primary tips could be somewhat less > than solid black. The appearance of mantle shade and mantle/primary > contrast are so lighting dependant that they can be tricky to judge even > in properly exposed photos, and I think this one could easily be > misleading. I would want observer confirmation that it was too dark > for a Herring-type before making that assumption. Lighten the photo > a little and it does not appear to be. > > Also, not claiming that it is the case with this particular bird, but worth > noting that many Herring-types have a sort of steely tone to the mantle > that can tend to appear much darker in photos than in life. > >> Furthermore, Western hybrids are >> by far the most numerous of the large gull hybrids in Oregon, making it >> statistically much more likely. > > It's true that there are significantly more Olympic around, but I'd > disagree with the implication that Herring hybrids are unexpected > (in season) to the point where it has any relevance towards ID. For all > anyone knows they may be abundant. > > Cheers, > > Phil > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jt_johnson at comcast.net Thu Dec 3 09:18:28 2009 From: jt_johnson at comcast.net (Jim Johnson) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 17:18:28 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Gull ID help In-Reply-To: <1650694298.10151821259860673998.JavaMail.root@sz0014a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <2021189683.10152261259860708356.JavaMail.root@sz0014a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> My two cents on this topic is that we have to be really careful about judging gray tones or the relative brightness of any hue in digital photos. Post-processing performed by the camera and/or the photographer can have the effect of shifting the spectrum (making everything lighter or everything darker)?or expanding/reducing the spectrum ?(making lights lighter and darks darker or making lights darker and darks lighter), and this can be intentional or unintentional. Even if the photographer does no post-processing and simply uses TIFFs or JPGs generated by the camera, keep in mind that the camera is doing the processing to produce those formats. In this case, the camera is a black box since no one (except perhaps the camera manufacturer's engineers ) know how the images were processed. At least with raw images, the person processing the images can describe what was done (in theory). Jim Johnson Vancouver, Washington jt_johnson at comcast.net http://odonata.bogfoot.net/ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Phil Pickering" To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Thursday, December 3, 2009 8:54:23 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: Re: [obol] Gull ID help Sorry for harping on the trivial, but for those interested- > The mantle of this gull contrasts a lot with the white of the > underparts, considerably more than the contrast with the black wing > tips. This appears to be more than just an artifact of underexposure, Again I have to respectfully disagree that any of this can be safely judged in this one shot, particularly given that the "white" underparts appear dingy gray and the primary tips could be somewhat less than solid black. The appearance of mantle shade and mantle/primary contrast are so lighting dependant that they can be tricky to judge even in properly exposed photos, and I think this one could easily be misleading. I would want observer confirmation that it was too dark for a Herring-type before making that assumption. Lighten the photo a little and it does not appear to be. Also, not claiming that it is the case with this particular bird, but worth noting that many Herring-types have a sort of steely tone to the mantle that can tend to appear much darker in photos than in life. >Furthermore, Western hybrids are > by far the most numerous of the large gull hybrids in Oregon, making it > statistically much more likely. It's true that there are significantly more Olympic around, but I'd disagree with the implication that Herring hybrids are unexpected (in season) to the point where it has any relevance towards ID. For all anyone knows they may be abundant. Cheers, Phil _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091203/b2357f27/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Dec 3 09:31:04 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 17:31:04 +0000 Subject: [obol] Gull ID help In-Reply-To: <008D989877A94D849AB7FFAAEAE3E3EC@Phil> References: <008D989877A94D849AB7FFAAEAE3E3EC@Phil> Message-ID: Greetings All, And we wonder why some birders don't look at gulls. I am in complete agreement with Phil on a number of points, thus this is not as someone suggested a clash of either opinion or ego between two people who spend more time than they probably should looking at gulls. These discussions may seem to be about minutiae to some, but they do illustrate that our perceptions of size, color, contrast, etc. can be quite subjective. Phil is beyond correct in pointing out that judging relative darkness or lightness from a single photo is dicey business. I would also agree that it is probably impossible to conclusively eliminate Herring Gull as one of the parents of this bird. Further, our perceptions of structure can be extremely varied, thus it should not necessarily be surprising that where I see Western influence, Phil might see Herring influence. In general this bird strikes me as heavy-bodied, heavy-billed, and not particularly long-winged. The relative coloration and contrast between mantle and wingtip color match what I expect to see on a Western X Glaucous-winged cross. As chance would have it, Shawneen Finnegan and I found a Herring X Glaucous-winged cross at Yachats just last Sunday. We studied the bird at length in excellent light, thus I have a nice recent mental image to measure against this bird. The one certainty with this bird is that it is an intergrade (hybrid or backcross between multiple parent species). Some, including me, would argue that statistically speaking a Western X Glaucous-winged cross is the most likely explanation. However, when we are talking about one bird, the chances are statistically no greater for one cross than another. There are a number of possible crosses that could result in a bird that resembles this one, thus all possible candidates must be considered when assigning odds to a single bird. Since it can't be counted as a new species for Seth and Michelle's life list, there is really no importance in assigning a name to this critter. In the end we are left no alternative except to have meaningless discussions about it. Though meaningless, these discussions do allow us to compare perceptions and they also reveal the pitfalls of identifying birds from a single recorded image. I am always interested to hear the opinions/perceptions of others about these birds if for no other reason than to compare what they think they are seeing with what I think that I am seeing. Phil is a careful student of gulls, hence I'm always interested to hear what he has to say. Whether we are in lock-step agreement or not is of little importance. Neither of us saw this bird in life. I suspect that if we had our conclusions about its parentage would be the same. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > From: philliplc at charter.net > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 08:54:23 -0800 > Subject: Re: [obol] Gull ID help > > Sorry for harping on the trivial, but for those interested- > > > The mantle of this gull contrasts a lot with the white of the > > underparts, considerably more than the contrast with the black wing > > tips. This appears to be more than just an artifact of underexposure, > > Again I have to respectfully disagree that any of this can be safely > judged in this one shot, particularly given that the "white" underparts > appear dingy gray and the primary tips could be somewhat less > than solid black. The appearance of mantle shade and mantle/primary > contrast are so lighting dependant that they can be tricky to judge even > in properly exposed photos, and I think this one could easily be > misleading. I would want observer confirmation that it was too dark > for a Herring-type before making that assumption. Lighten the photo > a little and it does not appear to be. > > Also, not claiming that it is the case with this particular bird, but worth > noting that many Herring-types have a sort of steely tone to the mantle > that can tend to appear much darker in photos than in life. > > >Furthermore, Western hybrids are > > by far the most numerous of the large gull hybrids in Oregon, making it > > statistically much more likely. > > It's true that there are significantly more Olympic around, but I'd > disagree with the implication that Herring hybrids are unexpected > (in season) to the point where it has any relevance towards ID. For all > anyone knows they may be abundant. > > Cheers, > > Phil > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live Hotmail gives you a free,exclusive gift. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/hotmail_bl1/hotmail_bl1.aspx?ocid=PID23879::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-ww:WM_IMHM_7:092009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091203/a6fb258c/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Dec 3 09:38:54 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 17:38:54 +0000 Subject: [obol] New piece posted to BirdFellow.com online journal Message-ID: For those looking to abandon the gull ID thread, I've posted a new piece about yard-listing on the BirdFellow.com online journal this morning. Dave Irons Content Editor BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: Unclutter your desktop. Learn more. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/videos-tours.aspx?h=7sec&slideid=1&media=aero-shake-7second&listid=1&stop=1&ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_7secdemo:122009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091203/b3d2be1e/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Dec 3 14:27:05 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 22:27:05 +0000 Subject: [obol] Link correction to BirdFellow.com Message-ID: Greetings All, I've been informed that the link I set up to lead folks to the BirdFellow.com piece on yard-listing takes you back to Hotmail. Must have typed that URL in by accident. Shouldn't do stuff when I'm rushing out the door to my day job. To reach the piece, click on this link. BirdFellow Yard-listing Article. Dave Irons Content Editor BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Chat with Messenger straight from your Hotmail inbox. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/hotmail_bl1/hotmail_bl1.aspx?ocid=PID23879::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-ww:WM_IMHM_4:092009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091203/1b76863f/attachment.html From vireogirl at yahoo.com Thu Dec 3 14:47:18 2009 From: vireogirl at yahoo.com (Vjera Thompson) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 14:47:18 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Lane County Great Gray Owl Message-ID: <985010.88795.qm@web56307.mail.re3.yahoo.com> OBOLers, One of my co-workers went Christmas tree hunting last weekend and took a photo of an owl that appears to be a GREAT GRAY OWL. I've forwarded the photo to Joel to put on the new OFO photos page. It was seen on Foley Ridge Road, which is off 126 just past the McKenzie Ranger Station. Email me for more specific directions. Good birding, Vjera Thompson Eugene, OR vireogirl at yahoo.com From greg at thebirdguide.com Thu Dec 3 15:40:48 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (greg at thebirdguide.com) Date: Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:40:48 GMT Subject: [obol] Jackson Bottom Wetlands Bird Walk Message-ID: <200912032340.nB3NembO014688@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Greg Gillson by http://birdnotes.net Date: December 3, 2009 Location: Jackson Bottom, Washington County, Oregon Low temperature: 29 degrees fahrenheit High temperature: 36 degrees fahrenheit Wind direction: E Prevailing wind speed: 6-11 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 0% Fifteen people joined me for a 2 mile hike around Jackson Bottom. Highlights included a Canvasback, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin, and Western Meadowlark. Great Egret and Anna's Hummingbird seen after the bird walk only by me. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 45 [1] Cackling Goose 350 [2] Tundra Swan 25 Gadwall 1 Mallard 10 Northern Shoveler 125 Northern Pintail 15 Green-Winged Teal 25 Canvasback 1 Ring-necked Duck 15 Lesser Scaup 1 Bufflehead 45 Ruddy Duck 65 Pied-billed Grebe 3 Double-crested Cormorant 12 Great Egret 1 [3] Bald Eagle 2 Northern Harrier 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 4 American Kestrel 2 Merlin 1 [4] American Coot 3 Glaucous-winged Gull 5 Glaucous-winged x Western Gull 3 Mourning Dove 4 Anna's Hummingbird 1 [5] Downy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 3 Steller's Jay 2 Western Scrub-Jay 7 American Crow 2 Black-capped Chickadee 20 Bushtit 10 White-breasted Nuthatch 3 Brown Creeper 2 Bewick's Wren 5 Marsh Wren 3 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 American Robin 10 European Starling 8 Yellow-rumped Warbler 5 Spotted Towhee 5 Fox Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 20 Golden-crowned Sparrow 2 Dark-eyed Junco 6 Red-winged Blackbird 8 Western Meadowlark 1 House Finch 8 Lesser Goldfinch 2 American Goldfinch 6 Footnotes: [1] Canada Goose: all Dusky, except for 1 Western race [2] Cackling Goose: Taverner's [3] Great Egret: seen after bird walk [4] Merlin: Black form, well seen perched and in rapid flight [5] Anna's Hummingbird: seen after bird walk Total number of species seen: 53 From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Dec 3 17:33:44 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:33:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Vjera's Great Gray Owl photo Message-ID: <1259890424.6526.6.camel@clearwater1> Hi folks, Vjera Thompson's owl photo is now posted at www.oregonbirds.org/birdphotos.html Sorry it took me a couple of hours to get to it as I was out on errands. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis Deep in Beaver Territory From rflores_2 at msn.com Thu Dec 3 18:16:31 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 18:16:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] red-breasted Merganser Vancouver Lake today Message-ID: female was seen at about noon at the flushing channel Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091203/021cf0e2/attachment.html From slcarpenter at gmail.com Thu Dec 3 18:14:18 2009 From: slcarpenter at gmail.com (Scott Carpenter) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 18:14:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland Area Lewis's Woodpecker (Belated Report) Message-ID: I ran into a birder today who told me she saw a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER in Forest Heights (very close to the Multnomah/Washington County line) this past spring/summer. The approximate location where she saw the bird is marked on a map at: http://tinyurl.com/y9fhq7n I was there today and saw no sign of the woodpecker, though I wasn't really looking for it. The woman told me she hadn't seen it in a while. In my conversation with her, it was apparent she knew her woodpeckers, as well as her waterfowl and owls. Scott Carpenter Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091203/062a5ba3/attachment.html From rflores_2 at msn.com Thu Dec 3 18:19:47 2009 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 18:19:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] Cinnamon teal and snow geese, Ridgefield NWR, Clark Co, WA Message-ID: today at Rest Lake there were 8 cinnamon teal (4 female, 4 male) and on Swartz Lake there were 7 snow geese. Bob Flores Ridgefield, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091203/231a987d/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Dec 3 18:24:10 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:24:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] If you want directions to the Great Gray Owl ... Message-ID: <1259893450.6526.16.camel@clearwater1> ... kindly don't ask me, folks! I'm getting requests but I really don't know *anything* other than what I put up on the web page at: www.oregonbirds.org/birdphotos.html I'm just trying to facilitate the sharing of bird photos here, not become a clearinghouse for information about the birds that happen to be featured. Not my job ... I have enough other things to do. If you have questions about a bird featured in a photo on this page (this goes for future photos as well), *please* contact the person who posted about the bird in the first place, not me. Normally you should be able to find their posting in the OBOL archives for the same day. Thanks & happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From mariam at easystreet.net Thu Dec 3 22:33:06 2009 From: mariam at easystreet.net (Maria Michalczyk) Date: Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:33:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Peregrine Falcon or Merlin In-Reply-To: Message-ID: >> I live in Salem and today I think I saw a peregrine falcon close to our seed >> feeder. Is that possible? Do they really come to low areas? It was a small >> hawk type bird, I think it may have been a bit smaller than a flicker..in >> fact at first I thought that is what it was a flicker..and was shocked it was >> some type of bird of prey. It had square type outer wings (almost like they >> had been clipped) but no strips at all on its tail, it was grey and had small >> yellow talons and was delicate and elegant looking. Any ideas..it was >> beautiful. Maria >> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091203/f906bd03/attachment.html From tanager at nu-world.com Fri Dec 4 12:46:49 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 12:46:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull question Message-ID: <000501ca7522$e7103f60$b530be20$@com> I am curious if anyone has looked for/seen the gull in question in the vicinity of the John Day dam in the last couple of days? Dan Heyerly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091204/77557074/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Fri Dec 4 17:44:50 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 17:44:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Siletz Bay 12/4 Message-ID: <94873C8B9C0840C19C24ED46A2590686@Phil> Nice group of gulls was present on the tip of Salishan Spit at dusk with big chunks coming and going. They would not hold still long enough even for a quick block count, but I'd guess peaking around 3000 with another 3000+ visible feeding and trending north just offshore over 1/2 hour period. It was too dark to parse, but a big influx of Glaucous-winged of mixed ages was obvious. Also 70 Pelicans present. http://philliplc.com/images/sb15.jpg Phil philliplc at charter.net From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Fri Dec 4 18:40:49 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:40:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Culver Raptor Route Message-ID: <4B19C831.5060904@gmail.com> It was BEAUTIFUL today around Culver. Temps from 30-40 degrees no wind. Kei and I did the route under sunny skies with the following results in 26 miles. 53 Red-tailed Hawks!! 13 Kestrels 1 Harrier 13 Rough Legged Hawks 3 Prairie Falcons 3 Great Horned Owls 86 Total birds! 14 ECDO Kevin -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091204/cd9024ee/attachment.vcf From cncschneider at msn.com Fri Dec 4 19:12:04 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 19:12:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Wigeon Quarry Ave. Ponds Marion County Message-ID: Hi Birders, I took a walk to Quarry Ave. this afternoon. The large flock of AMERICAN WIGEONS was still on the ponds and there was 1 EURASIAN WIGEON with the flock. Eurasian Wigeon 1 American Wigeon 500 Ring-necked Duck 2 Lesser Scaup 7 Bufflehead 7 Hooded Merganser 4 Common Merganser 10 Pied-billed Grebe 3 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Cooper's Hawk 1 American Kestrel 1 Killdeer 20 Wilson's Snipe 1 Mourning Dove 1 Northern Flicker 1 Western Scrub-Jay 5 Bushtit 10 American Robin 30 European Starling 30 Cedar Waxwing 23 Song Sparrow 4 White-crowned Sparrow 2 Golden-crowned Sparrow 5 Dark-eyed Junco 10 Red-winged Blackbird 20 Brewer's Blackbird 15 House Finch 2 From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri Dec 4 20:31:24 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 20:31:24 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 12/4/2009 Message-ID: <375474.74250.qm@web45307.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> No Booby off the north spit of Coos Bay at the usual spot at sunset, but I imagine it could still be around. ?Freezing temps in the mornings may be the end of this bird but we'll see? I saw it yesterday. I saw my first LONG-TAILED DUCK of the fall on the spit side of the bay at the south end of the north spit of Coos Bay this PM. Back along Coos River on the east side of Coos Bay the ROSS'S GOOSE, 5 SNOW GEESE and the mixed flock of Canada and Cackling Geese were still around just past the three mile marker on the Coos River Road in the early PM. Best seen at high tide I think, at low tide they may fly out onto the bay. At Millicoma Marsh I waited at the seed on the side trail and watched the sparrow flocks come into the seed then fly off. Every few minutes the entire flock of 75+ bird would disappear then they would slowly reassemble and head for the seed and at the peak point I'd try and count WT Sparrows before everyone would fly off again (there are "jumpy" RW Blackbirds mixed in with the flock and they seem to jump every few minutes and take the entire flock with them into the adjacent brush). 14 WTSP on the ground at the same time was my max today while I spent about a half hour watching. ?I didn't check the seed on the main trail and need to add some more manana. Sounds like some real cold weather and wetness headed back our way, we'll see if the booby survives the onslaught. Lots of pelis still around. Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091204/7a8ea6d9/attachment.html From sheran at bendbroadband.com Fri Dec 4 20:49:33 2009 From: sheran at bendbroadband.com (Sheran Wright) Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 20:49:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull question References: <000501ca7522$e7103f60$b530be20$@com> Message-ID: <9E7CB1BA9E3F419C88BB2CE7F4604B54@notebook> I took the long way back to Bend from southern Utah via John Day Dam. This afternoon I took Exit 112 eastbound to the parking lot above the dam & made my way east to get around the fence and down to the river. I purchased a loaf of bread in Arlington, and it sure came in handy. There were a lot of gulls basking in the afternoon sun (2:30 pm when I arrived), but nearly all were far away. I started lobbing wads of bread into the river until one gull finally took notice. Within minutes about a hundred gull were swirling around in the air and sitting on the water. After about an hour I had no more bread and had not seen a LBBG. Then I saw that the adult LBBG was sitting on the water almost in front of me. It apparently sneaked in while I was scanning elsewhere. BTW, there was almost no wind, but it was very cold. Sheran Wright Bend ----- Original Message ----- From: Anne & Dan Heyerly To: obol Sent: Friday, December 04, 2009 12:46 PM Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull question I am curious if anyone has looked for/seen the gull in question in the vicinity of the John Day dam in the last couple of days? Dan Heyerly ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091204/af26bb8e/attachment.html From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Sat Dec 5 05:42:24 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 06:42:24 -0700 Subject: [obol] Jordan Valley area Message-ID: <1430A44929C3404E9E34CAE90D01CC5C@larryPC> I have forgotten to add an unusual bird to our area list. While driving into Arock 10 days ago we saw a Lewis' Woodpecker near Jordan creek. On Sun. Nov 29 we were leaving Arock when we noticed a large flock of mixed ducks flying and settling in the hay fields. While watching we saw a large dark falcon streaking across the valley very intent on the flock. We lost her in the hillside and the rising flock so have no idea if she was successful in her try for dinner. We have seen Prairie Falcons in the area but this one was very dark and a bit larger. A very nice Peregrine, and size said female. We have not been back to Arock since then so don't know if she is still there. In the winter we see many Golden Eagles in this area as it has lots of jack rabbits, Pheasants,ducks and other prey species. On Wed Dec 2 while flying his falcon at the lake on our neighbors ranch Larry saw a brown Gyrfalcon. This one came in and harassed his Peregrine. He called her down successfully and came home. It was not in the area yesterday. This is the first Gyrfalcon we have seen in the area in the 3 yrs. we have lived here.We are 279 mi. south of Joseph, by way of highway, so it is possible to be the bird seen there. We lost a pigeon to a Northern Harrier that hunts the creek. On our raptor run to Burns on Tuesday we saw 2 RTHA and 1GOEA. On the way home coming down Folly Farm hill there was a large flock of AMRO. The large white goose we have been seeing with the Canada Geese next door has moved. It was hard to get close to the flock to get any picture. When it flew the wing tip's were not the definite black as seen on Snow's. They were a dirty gray color. Seen through binoculars there was not a difference in size with the Canada's nearby. We are hoping to see it again. Karen in true SE Or. south of Burns Jct. in Malheur Co. Note: If you forward this email, please delete the forwarding history, which includes my email address. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091205/5e83a52a/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Dec 5 07:06:54 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 07:06:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Baskett Slough raptors Message-ID: Someone reported Swainson's Hawks from Livermore Road a few weeks back, and only a day after I had driven through while headed south on business. I confess to serious sloth and didn't scope the many distant hawks on the ground that day. Friday, Dec 4, I enterred the north end of Livermore Road a few minutes after 3 and when I got to the first artificial wetland on the west saw a hawk flying close to the ground, headed sw. It seemed to have much too long of wings for a marsh hawk, too short of tail. It would flap its wings four or five times, then glide very briefly with a very weak dihedral profile. Pretty much the opposite of a Marsh Hawk-- lots of flapping, almost no gliding. I got out of the car and couldn't relocate it. The lighting had been bad (into the setting sun) and the bird already distant. There was a raptor perched in a small oak to the south of a barn on the horizon. It had too big a head for a hawk, it could only be an owl. I determined that a road going south out of Perrydale would get me closer and offer lighting at my back. It took a long time to relocate the tree. It was really no where near the barn I had been using as a reference point. The owl turned out to be a large clump of dead leaves on an otherwise bare tree. Probably the longest dedicated chase of an inanimate object in my life so far. At this point the head truffelatto called me. His crew was safely out of the woods, but he was no longer displaying the braggadocio of the night before("We'll get you 4 or 5 pounds!"). Back on Livermore Road, at the south end, I encountered the most heavily pigmented Cooper's Hawk I've ever seen. It was perched in a small hawthorn, completely visible from the road. When I got out of the car a falcon appeared from the west in very purposeful flight. As long as I watched it it flapped its wings, only gliding twice, and those times for the equivalent of one or two wingbeats. When it got a mile or more east of me it began soaring, and was at a very great height when I lost track of it. The sun had already set. I would expect a bird to be seeking shelter for the night. Was it trying to prolong the day, watch more of the sunset? It did soar high enough to be back up in the sun while I was in deep shadow. I am a little baffled by the species. Probably a Merlin, although I've never seen one soar. Along 99W, about 100m north of Coville Road a Merlin was in a small tree despite the lateness of the hour. This south end of Livermore Road, say the km immediately north of its junction with Smithfield Road, has yielded more raptors per unit time or area than any place I've visited in the Willamette Basin. Lars Norgren From gdalindy at msn.com Sat Dec 5 07:18:20 2009 From: gdalindy at msn.com (GLEN LINDEMAN) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 07:18:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] CBC - Salem - Sat Dec 19 Message-ID: Merry Christmas to all! The Salem CBC will be held on Sat, Dec 19. If you are interested in helping out, or if you be in the Salem area on that date, please contact me. We will have nice weather this year, and it will be a great day to be birding... - Glen Lindeman, compiler ^'^ (503) 364-6968 gdalindy at msn.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091205/6dbeea22/attachment.html From di4tbirds at comcast.net Sat Dec 5 09:16:39 2009 From: di4tbirds at comcast.net (di4tbirds at comcast.net) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 17:16:39 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Black Scoters and Tropical Kingbird, Newport Message-ID: <122444594.9944251260033399482.JavaMail.root@sz0050a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi All, Got back last night from a few days birding the coast between Florence and Newport. Best birds were on Thursday: two flocks of Black Scoters off Yachats Head and the Tropical Kingbird at Sally's Bend. I have been looking for Black Scoters All Year! There were close enough for very satisfying looks. I also found the Tropical Kingbird in the northwest corner of the fenced area by the Big Tank. Thanks to whoever found it! I watched it fly catching, or big bug catching actually. It caught something much larger than a fly as I observed it. It was very cold for bugs to be flying. It was sunny for my entire coastal excursion but very cold. More windy on Weds. than on Thursday. I did several hours of watching the South Jetty in Newport hoping for a Long-tailed duck. No luck. Several flocks of Surf birds and Black Turnstones at both Seal Rock and Bob Creek. No Rock Sndpipers that I could see. Lots of Pelicans at all stops. No Herrman's gulls. Diane Horgan -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091205/11ce214c/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Sat Dec 5 11:40:55 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 11:40:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: 8:15-10:30 (12/5): with Wayne Hoffman (arrived 8:00) and Andy and Ellen Stepniewski clear, wind NE 5-15, swells 7-9 2000 Red-throated Loon (N) 2000 Pacific Loon (N) 3 Common Loon 60 Western Grebe 400 Brown Pelican (S) 35 Double-crested Cormorant 80 Brandt's Cormorant 30 Pelagic Cormorant 1 Black Scoter 150 White-winged Scoter 100 Surf Scoter 5 Mew Gull 150 California Gull 200 Herring Gull 600 Western Gull 800 Glaucous-winged Gull (50%+ of detected were juv) 4000+ larus sp. (thin blanket of gulls visible feeding/ moving slowly N from 1 mile to the horizon) 1 Heermann's Gull 4000+ Common Murre (N) 3 Pigeon Guillemot 3 Marbled Murrelet At 8:00 most of the gulls from N Siletz Bay were in the air circling at altitude in groups moving slowly to the NE, Glaucous-winged the most numerous sp. Phil philliplc at charter.net From Kcparkton1 at aol.com Sat Dec 5 12:10:45 2009 From: Kcparkton1 at aol.com (Kcparkton1 at aol.com) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 15:10:45 EST Subject: [obol] Bald Eagle pair at Delta Ponds with photos Message-ID: A pair of Bald Eagle's were at the Delta Ponds in Eugene, OR this morning around 10am. They took off flying west towards the Willamette River. Here are a couple pics _http://www.flickr.com/photos/35913342 at N04/_ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35913342 at N04/) Kurt Parkton Eugene, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091205/3feb6a03/attachment.html From eager_jay at yahoo.com Sat Dec 5 13:00:22 2009 From: eager_jay at yahoo.com (Jo Yeager) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 13:00:22 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] kingfisher in Independence Message-ID: <8677.70841.qm@web51407.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Noisy Bird! Love it!? My back yard goldfish count is down to 3 (very cold) goldfish. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091205/427fade6/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sat Dec 5 16:19:49 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 16:19:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lark Sparrow, Newport Message-ID: Andy Stepnewski just called me to report that he and Ellen found a Lark Sparrow in the RV park area at Idaho Point, South Beach, this afternoon. Also the found one Tropical Kingbird still at Sally's Bend, and a Long-tailed Duck off the north side of Yaquina Head. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091205/67f6b9c8/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sat Dec 5 16:31:10 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:31:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lower Columbia Birders - 12/5/2009 Message-ID: <4B1AFB4E.3010001@pacifier.com> The Lower Columbia Birders went to Brownsmead this morning under clear skies and cold temperatures. TUNDRA SWANS have finally returned to the grassy islands off Twilight Eagle Sanctuary. A small flock of 12-15 SNOW GEESE was visible in the channel. A single male REDHEAD was with the large mixed SCAUP flock at Bughole. Two RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS were working the trees just north of the Grange at the big bend. Twilight, Svensen Is and Brownsmead Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Snow Goose [1] Canada Goose Cackling Goose Tundra Swan [2] Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-Winged Teal Canvasback Redhead [3] Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Pied-billed Grebe Western Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Great Egret Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk American Coot Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Dunlin Long-billed Dowitcher Mew Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Belted Kingfisher Red-breasted Sapsucker [4] Northern Flicker Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Marsh Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin Varied Thrush Spotted Towhee Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow Footnotes: [1] Group of 12 visible from Twilight [2] Arrived in the last day or so [3] Male with scaup at Bughole [4] 2 near Brownsmead Grange Total number of species seen: 59 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Why a duck? http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12750/ From whoffman at peak.org Sat Dec 5 17:03:15 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 17:03:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Wigeons Message-ID: <80C35C5ACF8E45D4A311EF0713BE02D2@D48XBZ51> I have been encountering Eurasian Wigeons at higher frequency in Lincoln County this fall than in previous years. In the past, a good rule of thumb was 1 drake Eurasian per 500 American Wigeons (both sexes combined). This year it appears to be no lower than 1 drake Eurasian per 100 Americans. I have also been seeing Eurasian hens, but do not trust myself to identify them at as long a distance or in backlighted situations. Today I found 3 drake Eurasians among about 180 Americans in the NW corner of Sally's Bend (however there were hundreds more Wigeons further east) and one drake Eurasian among 35 wigeons on Eckman Lake, east of Waldport. Last weekend, 2 drake Eurasians and a hen were among 40 wigeons on the west side of Sally's Bend. etc. etc. Are others noticing an increase in the ratio of Eurasians? Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091205/0489ae56/attachment.html From mariam at easystreet.net Sat Dec 5 17:16:05 2009 From: mariam at easystreet.net (Maria Michalczyk) Date: Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:16:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] kingfisher in Independence In-Reply-To: <8677.70841.qm@web51407.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: > Yes but good luck getting a picture. Well you have a different kind of > feeder. LOL > > Noisy Bird! Love it! My back yard goldfish count is down to 3 (very cold) > goldfish. > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091205/23692996/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Sat Dec 5 17:32:59 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 17:32:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pileated Woodpecker & Purple Finch Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F028BF160@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> I enjoyed 23 bird species from my yard today and the PILEATED WOODPECKER in morning sunshine was the most striking bird. In mid-afternoon a lone female PURPLE FINCH came to the feeders repeatedly. This is the first Purple Finch I have seen in my yard this fall now going into winter. The 35 PINE SISKIN were here in the morning, but were gone by 10:00 am. They fed mostly on Black Oil Sunflower Seed swarming the four feeders and sparingly utilized the thistle feeder. They usually swarm to the thistle feeder fighting for position. This morning there was no more than 4-5 birds there at any one time. With 18 feeder ports it can accommodate 20 + birds when you include the seed tray and I thought this behavior somewhat unusual. There were 8 LESSER-GOLDFINCH today. That number is a new high count for my yard. The were 10 STELLER'S JAY in the yard on feeders and in the trees. The elevation here is 800 feet and the high temperature today was 38 degrees. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091205/8ba6ebf5/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Dec 5 18:55:11 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 02:55:11 +0000 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull still at John Day Dam Message-ID: Today Shawneen Finnegan, Dan and Anne Heyerly, Stefan Schlick, Tim Shelmerdine, and I enjoyed the adult Lesser Black-backed Gull from 2:00-4:15PM. Our group (Heyerlys, Finnegan and Irons) arrived at the dam around 8:00AM. Despite searching above and below the dam for a couple hours, we could not locate the gull. After doing some other birding along the river and going to lunch, we returned to the rest area at the dam and once again started scoping the large assemblage of gulls gathered just above (east of) the dam. We immediately spotted the adult Lesser Black-backed and had it in sight almost constantly until we left about 4:15. Apparently this bird has been most readily found during the afternoon hours. For those who opt to "chum" with bread or other gull food, we found it helpful to throw some rocks before throwing bread as the splash seemed to attract the attention of the distant flock. As soon as a few birds started flying towards us then we threw bread, which almost instantly attracted all the birds above the dam. The Lesser Black-backed did not join in the scrum of birds fighting over the scraps of bread we doled out, instead it remained about 40-75 yards out at the back edge of the flock. Despite a lot of searching, we did not see the 3rd year bird. The only other birds of interest were a Pacific Loon and an adult male Peregrine Falcon that we had just below the dam. We also had two immature Snow Geese with Canada Geese on a gravel bar about a mile or so east of the Deschutes R. mouth. The brushy areas along the river bank below the dam held a variety of passerines including: Bewick's Wren -- 1Hermit Thrush -- 3-4Yellow-rumped Warbler -- 30+Spotted Towhee -- 4+Golden-crowned Sparrow -- 3-4White-crowned Sparrow -- 30Fox Sparrow -- 1 SootySong Sparrow -- 15House Finch -- 5American Goldfinch -- 2 Dave IronsEugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Get gifts for them and cashback for you. Try Bing now. http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?q=xbox+games&scope=cashback&form=MSHYCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHYCB_Shopping_Giftsforthem_cashback_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/ecf054d1/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Dec 5 18:55:56 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 02:55:56 +0000 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull still at John Day Dam Message-ID: Today Shawneen Finnegan, Dan and Anne Heyerly, Stefan Schlick, Tim Shelmerdine, and I enjoyed the adult Lesser Black-backed Gull from 2:00-4:15PM. Our group (Heyerlys, Finnegan and Irons) arrived at the dam around 8:00AM. Despite searching above and below the dam for a couple hours, we could not locate the gull. After doing some other birding along the river and going to lunch, we returned to the rest area at the dam and once again started scoping the large assemblage of gulls gathered just above (east of) the dam. We immediately spotted the adult Lesser Black-backed and had it in sight almost constantly until we left about 4:15. Apparently this bird has been most readily found during the afternoon hours. For those who opt to "chum" with bread or other gull food, we found it helpful to throw some rocks before throwing bread as the splash seemed to attract the attention of the distant flock. As soon as a few birds started flying towards us then we threw bread, which almost instantly attracted all the birds above the dam. The Lesser Black-backed did not join in the scrum of birds fighting over the scraps of bread we doled out, instead it remained about 40-75 yards out at the back edge of the flock. Despite a lot of searching, we did not see the 3rd year bird. The only other birds of interest were a Pacific Loon and an adult male Peregrine Falcon that we had just below the dam. We also had two immature Snow Geese with Canada Geese on a gravel bar about a mile or so east of the Deschutes R. mouth. The brushy areas along the river bank below the dam held a variety of passerines including: Bewick's Wren -- 1Hermit Thrush -- 3-4Yellow-rumped Warbler -- 30+Spotted Towhee -- 4+Golden-crowned Sparrow -- 3-4White-crowned Sparrow -- 30Fox Sparrow -- 1 SootySong Sparrow -- 15House Finch -- 5American Goldfinch -- 2 Dave IronsEugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live Hotmail gives you a free,exclusive gift. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/hotmail_bl1/hotmail_bl1.aspx?ocid=PID23879::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-ww:WM_IMHM_7:092009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/6ec8c75a/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Sat Dec 5 18:56:18 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 02:56:18 +0000 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull still at John Day Dam Message-ID: Today Shawneen Finnegan, Dan and Anne Heyerly, Stefan Schlick, Tim Shelmerdine, and I enjoyed the adult Lesser Black-backed Gull from 2:00-4:15PM. Our group (Heyerlys, Finnegan and Irons) arrived at the dam around 8:00AM. Despite searching above and below the dam for a couple hours, we could not locate the gull. After doing some other birding along the river and going to lunch, we returned to the rest area at the dam and once again started scoping the large assemblage of gulls gathered just above (east of) the dam. We immediately spotted the adult Lesser Black-backed and had it in sight almost constantly until we left about 4:15. Apparently this bird has been most readily found during the afternoon hours. For those who opt to "chum" with bread or other gull food, we found it helpful to throw some rocks before throwing bread as the splash seemed to attract the attention of the distant flock. As soon as a few birds started flying towards us then we threw bread, which almost instantly attracted all the birds above the dam. The Lesser Black-backed did not join in the scrum of birds fighting over the scraps of bread we doled out, instead it remained about 40-75 yards out at the back edge of the flock. Despite a lot of searching, we did not see the 3rd year bird. The only other birds of interest were a Pacific Loon and an adult male Peregrine Falcon that we had just below the dam. We also had two immature Snow Geese with Canada Geese on a gravel bar about a mile or so east of the Deschutes R. mouth. The brushy areas along the river bank below the dam held a variety of passerines including: Bewick's Wren -- 1Hermit Thrush -- 3-4Yellow-rumped Warbler -- 30+Spotted Towhee -- 4+Golden-crowned Sparrow -- 3-4White-crowned Sparrow -- 30Fox Sparrow -- 1 SootySong Sparrow -- 15House Finch -- 5American Goldfinch -- 2 Dave IronsEugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live Hotmail gives you a free,exclusive gift. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/hotmail_bl1/hotmail_bl1.aspx?ocid=PID23879::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-ww:WM_IMHM_7:092009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/d11f563f/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Sat Dec 5 19:24:56 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 22:24:56 EST Subject: [obol] Lane Co. Raptor Route #2 Message-ID: Hello All, I conducted this route for the first time this season today. Looks like another good winter for Raptors in the Valley. The 82 mile route took 5 hours, covers the West Eugene Wetlands area and north between Green Hill Road and River Road to Hwy 36 near Junction City then between Hwy 99W and Washburn Road to the Lane County line. Red-tail Hawk- 47 American Kestrel- 49 Northern Harrier- 10 White-tailed Kite- 10 Bald Eagle- 2 (1 adult, 1 immature) Rough-legged Hawk- 2 (both at the north end of the Eugene Airport from Green Hill Rd.) Merlin- 1 Peregrine Falcon- 1 There were also 11 White-tailed Kites north of the parking lot at Fern Ridge, Royal Ave. at sunset. This location is not part of this route. John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091205/45ac494a/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Sat Dec 5 19:29:27 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 22:29:27 EST Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Snow Geese Message-ID: Hello All, 5 Snow Geese, 2 adults and 3 immature were on the ground with ~50 Canada Geese (not Cacklers) at Royal Ave. tonight at sunset. They were ~100 yard west of the gate in the first mowed area north of Royal. John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091205/83ab60e4/attachment.html From scottbmurray at msn.com Sat Dec 5 19:57:23 2009 From: scottbmurray at msn.com (scottbmurray at msn.com) Date: Sun, 06 Dec 2009 03:57:23 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Ridgefield NWR River S Unit, Clark County, Washington on December 05, 2009 Message-ID: <200912060357.nB63vNps021745@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Scott Murray by http://birdnotes.net Date: December 5, 2009 Location: Ridgefield NWR River S Unit, Clark County, Washington Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Greater White-fronted Goose [1] Snow Goose [2] Canada Goose Cackling Goose Tundra Swan Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal [3] Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-Winged Teal Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Ruddy Duck Pied-billed Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk [4] American Kestrel American Coot Sandhill Crane Killdeer Common Snipe [5] Mourning Dove Anna's Hummingbird [6] Belted Kingfisher Northern Flicker Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Marsh Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler [7] Spotted Towhee Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Purple Finch House Finch American Goldfinch Footnotes: [1] 7 on Rest lake [2] 13 on Rest Lake [3] 23 on Long Lake [4] 2 one seen by observation blind and one seen on western side of Rest lake both at same time [5] At 9:15 63 on Long lake either sitting on logs in water or on shore [6] I seen by railroad tracks working Sapsucker holes [7] 4 seen by marker 10 Total number of species seen: 56 From carolk at viclink.com Sat Dec 5 20:41:01 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 20:41:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Northern Shrike Message-ID: <000c01ca762f$4e0a0360$8c76fea9@home> OBOL: This afternoon around 3 o'clock Carol Karlen found the NORTHERN SHRIKE at Fernhill Wetland, south of Forest Grove. It was in the line of trees just east of the mitigation pool, which lies east of the big lake. We put out seed at the NE corner of the big lake, just north of the information signboard, in hopes of drawing out the American Tree Sparrow that was reported earlier. We saw many D-e Juncos, G-c Sparrows, and Mourning Doves on the path, but no Tree Sparrow. There were lots of Pintails, other ducks, a few L-b. Dowitchers & Dunlin, Mew and other gulls at the wetland. We saw an immature Bald Eagle, 7 Tundra Swans, and 2000 pintails at a flooded field about 5 miles south of Fernhill. Good birding, everyone, Carol Karlen & Paul Sullivan From carolk at viclink.com Sat Dec 5 20:50:17 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 20:50:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] status of Bean Goose in Oregon Message-ID: <001301ca762f$afb20360$8c76fea9@home> OBOL: What is the status of BEAN GOOSE in Oregon? I don't see it in Contreras and Herlyn's new Handbook of Oregon Birds. However, I believe I've heard mention of a possible sighting at Sauvie Island. A bird that might be of this species was seen in a flock of cackling/Canada geese near McMinnville yesterday. We went out this morning and searched, but did not find it. There were 400+ cackling geese and 20 Canada geese present. We'll look again in the morning. Good birding, everyone, Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen From 5hats at peak.org Sat Dec 5 20:54:53 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 20:54:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull still at John Day Dam References: Message-ID: <09D09F5519804176ADECA7EDCDA3D741@your5rlp3a9516> David, Since the gulls at the John Day dam formed a scrum, maybe that explains the appearance of a species of gull of European origin. Rugby, anyone? Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: David Irons To: post OBOL Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2009 6:55 PM Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull still at John Day Dam Today Shawneen Finnegan, Dan and Anne Heyerly, Stefan Schlick, Tim Shelmerdine, and I enjoyed the adult Lesser Black-backed Gull from 2:00-4:15PM. Our group (Heyerlys, Finnegan and Irons) arrived at the dam around 8:00AM. Despite searching above and below the dam for a couple hours, we could not locate the gull. After doing some other birding along the river and going to lunch, we returned to the rest area at the dam and once again started scoping the large assemblage of gulls gathered just above (east of) the dam. We immediately spotted the adult Lesser Black-backed and had it in sight almost constantly until we left about 4:15. Apparently this bird has been most readily found during the afternoon hours. For those who opt to "chum" with bread or other gull food, we found it helpful to throw some rocks before throwing bread as the splash seemed to attract the attention of the distant flock. As soon as a few birds started flying towards us then we threw bread, which almost instantly attracted all the birds above the dam. The Lesser Black-backed did not join in the scrum of birds fighting over the scraps of bread we doled out, instead it remained about 40-75 yards out at the back edge of the flock. Despite a lot of searching, we did not see the 3rd year bird. The only other birds of interest were a Pacific Loon and an adult male Peregrine Falcon that we had just below the dam. We also had two immature Snow Geese with Canada Geese on a gravel bar about a mile or so east of the Deschutes R. mouth. The brushy areas along the river bank below the dam held a variety of passerines including: Bewick's Wren -- 1 Hermit Thrush -- 3-4 Yellow-rumped Warbler -- 30+ Spotted Towhee -- 4+ Golden-crowned Sparrow -- 3-4 White-crowned Sparrow -- 30 Fox Sparrow -- 1 Sooty Song Sparrow -- 15 House Finch -- 5 American Goldfinch -- 2 Dave Irons Eugene, OR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Get gifts for them and cashback for you. Try Bing now. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091205/fd17be0e/attachment.html From maguspa at comcast.net Sat Dec 5 21:02:18 2009 From: maguspa at comcast.net (Jerry Vermillion) Date: Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:02:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Overwinter valley hummingbirds Message-ID: <4B1B3ADA.6070600@comcast.net> Seems the time is once again upon us to figure a best way to keep our hummer feeders from freezing. I'd love to hear different techniques that all of you have used successfully so we may all prepare for the freeze. From tc at empnet.com Sat Dec 5 21:24:27 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 21:24:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Overwinter valley hummingbirds References: <4B1B3ADA.6070600@comcast.net> Message-ID: <25C0547C9DB04AD9876DE5467C8AB128@1120639> David Tracy is the champion of this. He has a system with a heat lamp above the hummingbird feeder that keeps the water from freezing. It works over in the frozen wasteland of Bend, so I'm sure it will work in the Valley. I believe he even has it on a thermostat that turns on at a specified temperature. Tom Crabtree, Bend ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jerry Vermillion" To: Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2009 9:02 PM Subject: [obol] Overwinter valley hummingbirds > Seems the time is once again upon us to figure a best way to keep our > hummer feeders from freezing. I'd love to hear different techniques that > all of you have used successfully so we may all prepare for the freeze. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From judie310hansen at comcast.net Sat Dec 5 21:36:27 2009 From: judie310hansen at comcast.net (Hansen Judith) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 21:36:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Overwinter valley hummingbirds In-Reply-To: <25C0547C9DB04AD9876DE5467C8AB128@1120639> References: <4B1B3ADA.6070600@comcast.net> <25C0547C9DB04AD9876DE5467C8AB128@1120639> Message-ID: <4260BDA1-768D-4384-AAFD-9BEB780CD089@comcast.net> We have a floodlight on our back deck light that is aimed at the feeder that we leave on all night. It worked well last year. It is about 15 inches from the feeeder. Judie From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Sat Dec 5 22:54:26 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (Jamie S.) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 22:54:26 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Overwinter valley hummingbirds Message-ID: <755742.76607.qm@web39506.mail.mud.yahoo.com> In the valley, where it is typically above freezing (or not cold enough to freeze a feeder) during the day, simply take the feeder inside after dark and put it back out as soon as you can in the morning. Jamie Simmons Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091205/980a94b4/attachment.html From davect at bendnet.com Sat Dec 5 23:21:54 2009 From: davect at bendnet.com (David Tracy) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 23:21:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Overwinter valley hummingbirds Message-ID: <0087A732-41EF-4B8D-A275-4B1D6191F298@bendnet.com> Here's a link to a picture that shows the setup I use: http://www.flickr.com/photos/72482309 at N00/326920131/ If you are using the OBOL link at www.birdingonthe.net you'll have to replace the AT in the URL address with the symbol for @ (hold the Shift key and the 2 key). Maybe Joel could upload it to OFO's site. The bulb I use is a 125W Infrared "brooding" bulb by Sylvania. It gives off a natural white light and lot of heat without the red tint from the usual heat lamp bulbs. I use a timer when the weather is cold to turn it on before sunrise. Good to at least minus 5F. Dave David Tracy Bend, OR davect at bendnet.com > Subject: Re: Overwinter valley hummingbirds > From: "Tom Crabtree" > Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 21:24:27 -0800 > David Tracy is the champion of this. He has a system with a heat > lamp above > the hummingbird feeder that keeps the water from freezing. It > works over in > the frozen wasteland of Bend, so I'm sure it will work in the > Valley. I > believe he even has it on a thermostat that turns on at a specified > temperature. > > Tom Crabtree, Bend > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jerry Vermillion" > To: > Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2009 9:02 PM > Subject: [obol] Overwinter valley hummingbirds > > > > Seems the time is once again upon us to figure a best way to keep > our > > hummer feeders from freezing. I'd love to hear different > techniques that > > all of you have used successfully so we may all prepare for the > freeze. > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091205/caa099d9/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Sun Dec 6 07:38:35 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Sun, 06 Dec 2009 08:38:35 -0700 Subject: [obol] Overwinter valley hummingbirds Message-ID: <20091206083835.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.9cd3b4a7a2.wbe@email.secureserver.net> The freezing point of a typical sugar water mix is about 27 degrees Farenheit so there's rarely a problem in the Valley. Last winter when we had the unusual cold spell, I brought my feeders in at night and then put them back out at dawn. When the daytime temperatures were really cold, I taped two handwarmers to the glass bottle part of the feeder and wrapped the whole thing in bubble wrap to trap the heat next to the glass. The handwarmers put out enough heat to keep the mixture from freezing. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] Overwinter valley hummingbirds > From: Jerry Vermillion > Date: Sat, December 05, 2009 9:02 pm > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > Seems the time is once again upon us to figure a best way to keep our > hummer feeders from freezing. I'd love to hear different techniques that > all of you have used successfully so we may all prepare for the freeze. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From johnpam at mtangel.net Sun Dec 6 08:00:10 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 08:00:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Overwinter valley hummingbirds In-Reply-To: <20091206083835.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.9cd3b4a7a2.wbe@email.secureserver.net> Message-ID: We used a bright spotlight on the feeder last winter during the extreme cold weather. The east wind through the gorge is very strong even down here and would freeze the feed during the day. The setup was almost identical to David Tracy's. So far with the cold starting just now we have brought two feeders in at night and out in the daytime. We forgot to do this Friday night and had big blobs of ice on Saturday morning so had bring them in and thaw them while hanging out a third feeder. Didn't somebody use LED lights to keep the feeder thawed? That sounds like a lower energy possible solution if it works....Or maybe they were some other Christmas lights with more heat? The wind is blowing hard out there right now with a temp of 32F and a windchill of 23.9 F. One female Anna's is feeding as I write this. God knows how these little birds make it. John Thomas NE Marion Co -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org]On Behalf Of Craig Tumer Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 7:39 AM To: Jerry Vermillion Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Overwinter valley hummingbirds The freezing point of a typical sugar water mix is about 27 degrees Farenheit so there's rarely a problem in the Valley. Last winter when we had the unusual cold spell, I brought my feeders in at night and then put them back out at dawn. When the daytime temperatures were really cold, I taped two handwarmers to the glass bottle part of the feeder and wrapped the whole thing in bubble wrap to trap the heat next to the glass. The handwarmers put out enough heat to keep the mixture from freezing. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [obol] Overwinter valley hummingbirds > From: Jerry Vermillion > Date: Sat, December 05, 2009 9:02 pm > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > Seems the time is once again upon us to figure a best way to keep our > hummer feeders from freezing. I'd love to hear different techniques that > all of you have used successfully so we may all prepare for the freeze. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From philliplc at charter.net Sun Dec 6 09:31:20 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 09:31:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay Message-ID: <8719B41B21CB464F9E80D84879028267@Phil> 7:45-9:00 (12/6): partly clear, wind NE 15-25, swells 5-7 gulls again northbound 600 Red-throated Loon (80% N) 200 Pacific Loon (N) 1 Common Loon 30 Western Grebe 800 Brown Pelican (90% S) 1 Double-crested Cormorant 150 Brandt's Cormorant (N) 10 Pelagic Cormorant 11 Northern Pintail (N) 15 Black Scoter 40 White-winged Scoter 200 Surf Scoter (S) 2 Common Merganser (pair N) 3 Mew Gull 1 Ring-billed Gull 300 California Gull 100 Herring Gull 200 Glaucous-winged Gull 800 Western Gull 1500+ larus sp. 85 Heermann's Gull (all N) 2000 Common Murre (N) 1 Pigeon Guillemot 1 Tufted Puffin (basic, N) Phil philliplc at charter.net From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Dec 6 09:59:48 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 17:59:48 +0000 Subject: [obol] status of Bean Goose in Oregon In-Reply-To: <001301ca762f$afb20360$8c76fea9@home> References: <001301ca762f$afb20360$8c76fea9@home> Message-ID: Hi Carol et al., There are no records of Bean Goose from Oregon. A bird at Scappoose, Oregon (just n. of Sauvie I.) years ago was thought to be a Bean Goose, but was an immature White-fronted Goose. The closest record for Bean Goose is from the Washington coast a few years ago. Dave Irons > From: carolk at viclink.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 20:50:17 -0800 > Subject: [obol] status of Bean Goose in Oregon > > OBOL: > > What is the status of BEAN GOOSE in Oregon? I don't see it in Contreras and > Herlyn's new Handbook of Oregon Birds. However, I believe I've heard > mention of a possible sighting at Sauvie Island. > > A bird that might be of this species was seen in a flock of cackling/Canada > geese near McMinnville yesterday. We went out this morning and searched, > but did not find it. There were 400+ cackling geese and 20 Canada geese > present. We'll look again in the morning. > > Good birding, everyone, > > Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: Unclutter your desktop. Learn more. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/videos-tours.aspx?h=7sec&slideid=1&media=aero-shake-7second&listid=1&stop=1&ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_7secdemo:122009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/f71b7599/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun Dec 6 11:13:34 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 11:13:34 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds of Late Message-ID: <444284.19192.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> The BROWN BOOBY survived overnight temps down to 27F, and was hanging out at its usual haunt this morning (12/6) at 9:30AM on the tallest navigational marker across the bay from Hedge Lane. ?Hopefully its feet weren't frozen to the tower! Only two weeks to the Coos Bay count. The only other birds of note was a SWAMP SPARROW ar Millicoma Marsh yesterday and CLARK'S GREBE and OSPREY in the upper bay near downtown Coos Bay a couple days ago. I hear from Harv Schubothe and Knute Andersson that there is an amazing number of BROWN PELICANS hanging around Bandon, in the several thousand category. I'm headed down there now to do some Christmas shopping with my wife, we'll have to check on the peli flock while we are there. Happy birding all,Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/052bbf17/attachment.html From andydfrank at gmail.com Sun Dec 6 11:29:40 2009 From: andydfrank at gmail.com (Andy Frank) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 11:29:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Vanport Wetlands Long-billed Dowitchers Message-ID: <2ec131a10912061129w7eedc5ch312a049fde0f85e4@mail.gmail.com> On a very chilly bike ride yesterday there were 16 DOWITCHERS (presumably LONG-BILLED) at Vanport Wetlands in North Portland. Most years by now there is no suitable habitat for them around Portland, but the water level at Vanport is much lower than usual for this time of year. Andy Frank -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/b35827cf/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Sun Dec 6 12:10:17 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 12:10:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] status of Bean Goose in Oregon In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <4b1c0fab.9713f30a.6c01.ffffd55d@mx.google.com> I would like to see a wild Bean Goose for my Christmas present this year! If someone sees a Bean Goose please let me know right away at either: gismiller at gmail.com or goosemiller at msn.com Thanks, Marilyn Miller _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of David Irons Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 10:00 AM To: Carol Karlen; post OBOL Subject: Re: [obol] status of Bean Goose in Oregon Hi Carol et al., There are no records of Bean Goose from Oregon. A bird at Scappoose, Oregon (just n. of Sauvie I.) years ago was thought to be a Bean Goose, but was an immature White-fronted Goose. The closest record for Bean Goose is from the Washington coast a few years ago. Dave Irons > From: carolk at viclink.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 20:50:17 -0800 > Subject: [obol] status of Bean Goose in Oregon > > OBOL: > > What is the status of BEAN GOOSE in Oregon? I don't see it in Contreras and > Herlyn's new Handbook of Oregon Birds. However, I believe I've heard > mention of a possible sighting at Sauvie Island. > > A bird that might be of this species was seen in a flock of cackling/Canada > geese near McMinnville yesterday. We went out this morning and searched, > but did not find it. There were 400+ cackling geese and 20 Canada geese > present. We'll look again in the morning. > > Good birding, everyone, > > Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _____ Windows 7: Unclutter your desktop. Learn more. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.426 / Virus Database: 270.14.96/2548 - Release Date: 12/06/09 07:30:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/ff6f6e17/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Sun Dec 6 13:04:36 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 13:04:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] status of Bean Goose in Oregon References: <4b1c0fab.9713f30a.6c01.ffffd55d@mx.google.com> Message-ID: <461CD4C7204C45E1BDD0F8F7F32E80A8@1120639> I hear there is some in Greenland right now. Also Pink-footed Geese in New York City and Maine as well as a Barnacle Goose in the NYC area. If you want a Bean Goose around here you'll have to find it yourself. ----- Original Message ----- From: Marilyn Miller To: 'David Irons' ; 'Carol Karlen' ; 'post OBOL' Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 12:10 PM Subject: Re: [obol] status of Bean Goose in Oregon I would like to see a wild Bean Goose for my Christmas present this year! If someone sees a Bean Goose please let me know right away at either: gismiller at gmail.com or goosemiller at msn.com Thanks, Marilyn Miller ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of David Irons Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 10:00 AM To: Carol Karlen; post OBOL Subject: Re: [obol] status of Bean Goose in Oregon Hi Carol et al., There are no records of Bean Goose from Oregon. A bird at Scappoose, Oregon (just n. of Sauvie I.) years ago was thought to be a Bean Goose, but was an immature White-fronted Goose. The closest record for Bean Goose is from the Washington coast a few years ago. Dave Irons > From: carolk at viclink.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 20:50:17 -0800 > Subject: [obol] status of Bean Goose in Oregon > > OBOL: > > What is the status of BEAN GOOSE in Oregon? I don't see it in Contreras and > Herlyn's new Handbook of Oregon Birds. However, I believe I've heard > mention of a possible sighting at Sauvie Island. > > A bird that might be of this species was seen in a flock of cackling/Canada > geese near McMinnville yesterday. We went out this morning and searched, > but did not find it. There were 400+ cackling geese and 20 Canada geese > present. We'll look again in the morning. > > Good birding, everyone, > > Paul Sullivan & Carol Karlen > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Windows 7: Unclutter your desktop. Learn more. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.426 / Virus Database: 270.14.96/2548 - Release Date: 12/06/09 07:30:00 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/e6b71225/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sun Dec 6 13:45:54 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 13:45:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Overwinter valley hummingbirds Message-ID: <81b2a9930912061345u608de685o110b7a17e0a37687@mail.gmail.com> Temperatures are supposed to dip into the upper teens for the next couple of nights in the south end of the Valley. Of course, that means low-to-mid 20's is more probable, but nectar feeders will certainly freeze in that temperature range. Mine froze solid last night. I don't have an electrical outlet near my feeders, so I'm just going to store my feeder indoors, wrap it in bubble wrap, put it out at twilight tomorrow morning, and thaw it again indoors before I leave for work. In other news, my first-of-the-winter WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW showed up this morning. Brandon Eugene ----- Subject: Re: Overwinter valley hummingbirds From: "Craig Tumer" Date: Sun, 06 Dec 2009 08:38:35 -0700 The freezing point of a typical sugar water mix is about 27 degrees Farenheit so there's rarely a problem in the Valley. Last winter when we had the unusual cold spell, I brought my feeders in at night and then put them back out at dawn. When the daytime temperatures were really cold, I taped two handwarmers to the glass bottle part of the feeder and wrapped the whole thing in bubble wrap to trap the heat next to the glass. The handwarmers put out enough heat to keep the mixture from freezing. Craig Tumer SW Portland From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Sun Dec 6 13:47:05 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 13:47:05 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Off Topic: Ivory Gull on East Coast (Cape May) Message-ID: <805810.17539.qm@web113004.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> I have a google alert set for "ivory gull" and this is the first US sighting that has come through in well more than a year (well, I think the last one was actually southern BC): http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/article_7ab0ca68-e29d-11de-8968-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story From justin.bosler at gmail.com Sun Dec 6 14:17:13 2009 From: justin.bosler at gmail.com (Justin Bosler) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 17:17:13 -0500 Subject: [obol] Off Topic: Ivory Gull on East Coast (Cape May) In-Reply-To: <805810.17539.qm@web113004.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> References: <805810.17539.qm@web113004.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <97d12a010912061417q52d307a6w3dc5a081c9caecd6@mail.gmail.com> Hello Cindy/ OBOL, The Cape May, NJ Ivory Gull is actually the THIRD in the U.S. this year (2009)! In January, there were two different IVGU in Massachusetts, one in Plymouth and one in Gloucester. Good birding, Justin On Sun, Dec 6, 2009 at 4:47 PM, Cindy Ashy wrote: > I have a google alert set for "ivory gull" and this is the first US > sighting that has come through in well more than a year (well, I think the > last one was actually southern BC): > > > http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/article_7ab0ca68-e29d-11de-8968-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -- Justin Bosler Lancaster, PA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/2ea02b06/attachment.html From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Sun Dec 6 14:45:41 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 14:45:41 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Off Topic: Ivory Gull on East Coast (Cape May) Message-ID: <86970.81114.qm@web113014.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Google alerts only work if the bird makes the news :-) From dirtgirl16cr125 at msn.com Sun Dec 6 14:50:14 2009 From: dirtgirl16cr125 at msn.com (Cheryl Whelchel) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 14:50:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Linn County Horned Larks and Merlin Message-ID: While driving backroads in Linn County today I encountered a field with at least 33 Horned Larks. They were in a field about 200 to 300 yards southwest of the in intersection of Tangent Dr and Parker Rd. I also found a Merlin at the Sandridge Cemetery. Link to photo follows. http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/ Cheryl Whelchel Tangent -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/c6facadc/attachment.html From judie310hansen at comcast.net Sun Dec 6 14:57:06 2009 From: judie310hansen at comcast.net (Hansen Judith) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 14:57:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Little Gull - Fern Ridge In-Reply-To: <25C0547C9DB04AD9876DE5467C8AB128@1120639> References: <4B1B3ADA.6070600@comcast.net> <25C0547C9DB04AD9876DE5467C8AB128@1120639> Message-ID: Dave Irons just called to report a Little Gull at Fern Ridge - Watching it from bottom of boat ramp at the very west end of Fern Ridge Dam (parking area - pull out on west end of dam) - it is across the lake (2 miles away) Seen by Dan and Anne Heyerly, Shawneen Finnegan and Dave Irons Judie Hansen From g_g_allin at hotmail.com Sun Dec 6 15:04:57 2009 From: g_g_allin at hotmail.com (John Puschock) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 23:04:57 +0000 Subject: [obol] Off Topic: Ivory Gull on East Coast (Cape May) In-Reply-To: <97d12a010912061417q52d307a6w3dc5a081c9caecd6@mail.gmail.com> References: <805810.17539.qm@web113004.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>, <97d12a010912061417q52d307a6w3dc5a081c9caecd6@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Howdy, I apologize for being too literal, but actually there's been more -- they're regular, though uncommon, in Alaska. But I know what you were getting at is that it's the third for the Lower 48 (and first in NJ since 1986). John Puschock Seattle, WA g_g_allin at hotmail.com http://www.zbirdtours.com & http://www.birdtreks.com Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 17:17:13 -0500 From: justin.bosler at gmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Off Topic: Ivory Gull on East Coast (Cape May) Hello Cindy/ OBOL, The Cape May, NJ Ivory Gull is actually the THIRD in the U.S. this year (2009)! In January, there were two different IVGU in Massachusetts, one in Plymouth and one in Gloucester. Good birding, Justin _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live Hotmail gives you a free,exclusive gift. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/hotmail_bl1/hotmail_bl1.aspx?ocid=PID23879::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-ww:WM_IMHM_7:092009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/b34ba245/attachment.html From Kcparkton1 at aol.com Sun Dec 6 15:14:23 2009 From: Kcparkton1 at aol.com (Kcparkton1 at aol.com) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 18:14:23 EST Subject: [obol] Sad day for birders, Lane county Message-ID: The Great Horned Owl that I have photographed a few different times off of Neilsen Rd. & Cantrell Rd near Fern Ridge Wildlife Refuge. I found dead just about an hour ago. Its in the field just east of the parking area off Neilsen Rd. the body is close to the fence and the road. My wife jumped over the fence and took a few photos of it and rolled it over to make sure it was dead. From the photos it looks like it could be gun shot wounds. I don't know anything else that would have the feathers ruffed up and some meat exposed in a couple areas. If a coyote got it in the night while on the ground it would of ate it. The body is still fresh so it must of been from earlier today or in the night. Maybe the camera in the parking area might have seen something? My wife called the raptor center and they didn't seem to think it was any big deal unless the owl was still alive and they would come out and get it. I was just wondering what everyone else's thoughts were on this. Kurt Parkton Eugene, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/d5cb4ca5/attachment.html From jdanzenbaker at gmail.com Sun Dec 6 15:27:40 2009 From: jdanzenbaker at gmail.com (Jim Danzenbaker) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 15:27:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Off Topic: Ivory Gull on East Coast (Cape May) In-Reply-To: References: <805810.17539.qm@web113004.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> <97d12a010912061417q52d307a6w3dc5a081c9caecd6@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Hi OBOLers, And a beautiful and confiding immature Ivory Gull it is. I was fortunate to be back visiting family in New Jersey for Thanksgiving when the Ivory Gull showed up only 45 minutes from the house. I was able to see many New Jersey birders there too whom I haven't seen for years and they were all smiling as the gull made repeated passes within 15 feet! If anybody decides to try to see it, read the following post from NJBirds: "........it's important to warn potential Ivory Gull chasers that the marina requires all boats to be removed from the water by Dec-15. What this will mean is that there will be no boats fishing, thus no more fish carcases for the gull to feed on for an easy and predictable meal. I expect the food will last into the weekend of Dec-20, but not much longer. What the Gull does at this point is anyone's guess, but it may move on. I would encourage anyone who's waiting to see this bird to go soon. The marina should be open and accessible after Dec-15 because people still work on boats after they get pulled from the water. Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker at gmail.com On 12/6/09, John Puschock wrote: > > > Howdy, > > I apologize for being too literal, but actually there's been more -- they're > regular, though uncommon, in Alaska.? But I know what you were getting at is > that it's the third for the Lower 48 (and first in NJ since 1986). > > John Puschock > Seattle, WA > g_g_allin at hotmail.com > http://www.zbirdtours.com & http://www.birdtreks.com > > > ________________________________ > Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 17:17:13 -0500 > From: justin.bosler at gmail.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Off Topic: Ivory Gull on East Coast (Cape May) > > Hello Cindy/ OBOL, > > The Cape May, NJ Ivory Gull is actually the?THIRD in the U.S. this year > (2009)! In January, there were two different IVGU in Massachusetts, one in > Plymouth and one in Gloucester. > > Good birding, > Justin > > > ________________________________ > Windows Live Hotmail gives you a free,exclusive gift. Click here to > download. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From dan-gleason at comcast.net Sun Dec 6 15:44:44 2009 From: dan-gleason at comcast.net (Dan Gleason) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 15:44:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sad day for birders, Lane county In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <68423135-E451-494A-8B51-26B245303009@comcast.net> " My wife called the raptor center and they didn't seem to think it was any big deal unless the owl was still alive and they would come out and get it." You make it sound at though the Raptor Center doesn't care which is absolutely wrong! They care very much and were upset to hear about this. (I was volunteering there today and know about a call concerning a dead owl. The person making the call did not mention that the bird was shot.) But the owl was dead, which means that there is nothing the Raptor Center can do; you can't rehabilitate a dead bird. If this bird was shot, it is an awful event and it would be nice if those responsible could be caught and prosecuted. However, unless there was a witness, it will be very difficult, if not impossible to find and procecute those responsible. But to make it sound as though the Raptor Center does not care is a great disservice to them. I have seen first hand more than once, that attitudes can get reversed when people see these magnificent creatures up close. The education provided by the Raptor Center does make a difference to children and to adults. I have seen people who thought that raptors were simply "vicious predators" become completely enthralled by these same birds when only inches away. The number of birds taken in by Cascades Raptor Center is over 210 this year, far above the average. Their release rate is greater than 50% which is very high, especially considering the extent of injuries to some birds. The Raptor Center provides outstanding rehabilitation for injured raptors and an excellent education program about these birds. It is one of the most well-respected such centers in the country and deserves our support, not belittling comments. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Dec 6, 2009, at 3:14 PM, Kcparkton1 at aol.com wrote: > The Great Horned Owl that I have photographed a few different times > off of Neilsen Rd. & Cantrell Rd near Fern Ridge Wildlife Refuge. I > found dead just about an hour ago. Its in the field just east of > the parking area off Neilsen Rd. the body is close to the fence and > the road. My wife jumped over the fence and took a few photos of it > and rolled it over to make sure it was dead. >From the photos it > looks like it could be gun shot wounds. I don't know anything else > that would have the feathers ruffed up and some meat exposed in a > couple areas. If a coyote got it in the night while on the ground > it would of ate it. The body is still fresh so it must of been from > earlier today or in the night. Maybe the camera in the parking area > might have seen something? I was just wondering what everyone > else's thoughts were on this. > > Kurt Parkton > Eugene, OR > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/297e8839/attachment.html From mklittletree at comcast.net Sun Dec 6 16:25:33 2009 From: mklittletree at comcast.net (Michel Kleinbaum) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 16:25:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fw: Off Topic: Ivory Gull on East Coast (Cape May) Message-ID: <72169136AABE41259311913E038716C5@MichelPC> for all it is worth, more on the Ivory Gull. Wish I was there. I remember the vultures in N.J. though. Michel Kleinbaum Salem From: Michael Gochfeld Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 3:47 PM To: Michel Kleinbaum ; Kleinbaum Georges Subject: RE: [obol] Off Topic: Ivory Gull on East Coast (Cape May) We just came back from seeing the Ivory Gull. It is very confiding, allowing people to approach within 15 feet. There are lots of dead fish scattered around the marina and the gull has more than enough to eat----for the time being. Michel, I remember once our excitement when we had a couple of Black Vultures sailing over the Garden State Parkway on our way to Cape May. It was very exciting to see a Black Vulture anywhere in those days----exciting indeed. Well now they were almost always in view over Cape May, and almost as numerous as Turkey Vultures. On Thursday we had three Black Vultures over our yard, and a year ago I saw them roosting on the Bear Mountain Bridge. We also had a Swainson's Hawk over Cape May near the Beanery. Two state birds in one day. It was sunny all day, but quite windy and cold. still it was good to get out in the field. I do that so seldom nowadays. LOVE TO ALL FOR THE HOLIDAYS Michael Gochfeld gochfeld at eohsi.rutgers.edu -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Michel Kleinbaum [mailto:mklittletree at comcast.net] Sent: Sun 12/6/2009 5:29 PM To: Kleinbaum Georges; Michael Gochfeld Subject: Fw: [obol] Off Topic: Ivory Gull on East Coast (Cape May) From: Justin Bosler Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 2:17 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Off Topic: Ivory Gull on East Coast (Cape May) Hello Cindy/ OBOL, The Cape May, NJ Ivory Gull is actually the THIRD in the U.S. this year (2009)! In January, there were two different IVGU in Massachusetts, one in Plymouth and one in Gloucester. Good birding, Justin On Sun, Dec 6, 2009 at 4:47 PM, Cindy Ashy wrote: I have a google alert set for "ivory gull" and this is the first US sighting that has come through in well more than a year (well, I think the last one was actually southern BC): http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/article_7ab0ca68-e29d-11de-8968-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- Justin Bosler Lancaster, PA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/44d7d7c2/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Dec 6 16:38:49 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:38:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Dave Tracy's hummingbird feeder warmer Message-ID: <1260146329.20765.115.camel@clearwater1> Hi folks, Not something I ever imagined for a bird photos page, but here's that photo of Dave Tracy's hummingbird feeder setup: http://www.oregonbirds.org/birdphotos.html Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From drheath82 at verizon.net Sun Dec 6 17:33:24 2009 From: drheath82 at verizon.net (David Heath) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 17:33:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] New pix Message-ID: <000601ca76dd$46332f50$d2998df0$@net> I've posted 4 new candid snaps of my resident male Anna's Hummer: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drheath/sets/72157622192618511/detail/ and a couple of pictures of some of the dozen Hooded Mergansers currently on my condo duck pond: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drheath/sets/72157622192618511/detail/ David -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/61da6d5d/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Sun Dec 6 17:47:17 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 17:47:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Little Gull - Fern Ridge In-Reply-To: References: <4B1B3ADA.6070600@comcast.net><25C0547C9DB04AD9876DE5467C8AB128@1120639> Message-ID: A quick glance at the OBRC Accepted Records Website (http://www.oregonbirds.org/obrc_accepted_2009.html) indicates that this is a county first for this species. Good find D., A., S., and D2. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Hansen Judith" To: "Tom Crabtree" Cc: Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 2:57 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Little Gull - Fern Ridge > Dave Irons just called to report a Little Gull at Fern Ridge - > > Watching it from bottom of boat ramp at the very west end of Fern > Ridge Dam (parking area - pull out on west end of dam) - it is across > the lake (2 miles away) > > Seen by Dan and Anne Heyerly, Shawneen Finnegan and Dave Irons > > Judie Hansen > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From llsdirons at msn.com Sun Dec 6 18:07:19 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 02:07:19 +0000 Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge LITTLE GULL Message-ID: Greetings all, As reported earlier by my mom, the Heyerlys, Shawneen Finnegan and I had an apparent adult LITTLE GULL at Fern Ridge Res. near Eugene this afternoon. We discovered the bird as it flew about low over the mudflats along the south side of the main pool (visible from the dam). The bird was probably never closer than about one mile away, but it was clearly a tiny gull with buoyant flight. We saw it in direct comparison to Ring-billed and other larger gull species and it was about 50% the size of the Ring-billeds. During the hour or more we watched the bird it was in flight for all but a couple minutes. For the most part it was flying into a rather stiff wind, thus it did not move very far. It would occasionally drop down to pick something off the surface of the water, but otherwise was about 4-10' off the water. On at least 15 occasions the bird banked to the west and the light angle allowed us to see the diagnostic underwing pattern. Almost the entire undersides of the wings were dark charcoal gray to blackish. The otherwise dark underwings contrasted noticeably with the narrow white border of the trailing edge of the wings and the broader white area on the underside of the wingtips. This bird also had distinctively blunt rounded wingtips, which is a good mark for this species. Other similar-sized gulls (Bonapartes and Black-headed) have more attenuated wingtips. The mantle appeared to be solid pale gray with no other markings. We could see that there was some black on the head, but given the distance we could not make out any distinct pattern. All four of us viewed the bird using an assortment of Kowa, Nikon, and Swarovski spotting scopes that zoomed up to 60X. The bright sun allowed us to zoom up to maximum magnification. We watched the bird from about 2:45 until nearly 4:00PM, when it began spiraling upwards. It quickly gained elevation and we lost sight of it as it disappeared to over the far western edge of the reservoir. Shortly after discovering the bird, it did the same thing climbing very high in the sky, where we lost sight of it. A couple minutes later it reappeared on the mudflats where we had originally spotted it. The bird was not relocated after the second disappearance, but may well still be present. This is the first record of this species and the first for Oregon since 2002. If accepted by the OBRC, it will constitute the 12th record for the state. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Get gifts for them and cashback for you. Try Bing now. http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?q=xbox+games&scope=cashback&form=MSHYCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHYCB_Shopping_Giftsforthem_cashback_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091207/abb22000/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Sun Dec 6 18:10:43 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 21:10:43 -0500 Subject: [obol] Around Washingon County today Message-ID: There was a small flock of 3 COMMON GOLDENEYE at Hagg Lake today (2 males and 1 female), seen from the small pullout just west of the parking lot on the south side of the dam. An AMERICAN DIPPER was at the Scoogins Valley picnic area under the bridge. A brief stop at Fernhill Wetlands yielded an EARED GREBE on the western edge of the big pond. Valley Memorial Cemetery off TV Hwy in Hillsboro had a record 25 Hooded Mergansers late in the day. Hooded Merganser is rare at this location. The U-shaped pond, only 2-4ft deep, is likely to freeze over in the upcoming cold spell. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Chat with Messenger straight from your Hotmail inbox. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/hotmail_bl1/hotmail_bl1.aspx?ocid=PID23879::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-ww:WM_IMHM_4:092009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/654173c6/attachment.html From rcgaines at spiritone.com Tue Dec 1 16:18:24 2009 From: rcgaines at spiritone.com (Ron Gaines) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 16:18:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Photo Unknown Hawk Message-ID: <000601ca72e4$f9339e20$eb9ada60$@com> This bird looks very much like a Red-tail hawk that I photographed at the Ridgefield refuge on 11/17/09. See http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightcarver/4118049120/. The markings on the face and sides as well as the light tail are very similar. Ron Gaines -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091201/6ae1b194/attachment.html From Oropendolas at aol.com Sun Dec 6 19:02:49 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 22:02:49 EST Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge- Royal Ave. Message-ID: Hello All, I biked out to Royal Ave. today and found the 5 SNOW GEESE reported yesterday in the pasture on the south side of the new house at the end of Royal Ave. A LEWIS'S WOODPECKER flew across Royal into the trees behind the "Poor Farm" at the corner of Royal and Fisher Rd. as I passed. There were at least two more LEWO in the Oak Grove 1/4 mile North of Royal. Follow the path across the road from the white fence at the end of Royal north and east into the grove. A MERLIN buzzed the viewing platform while I was there. I wish I would have biked to the dam!! John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/26750504/attachment.html From scrapbird at charter.net Sun Dec 6 19:48:29 2009 From: scrapbird at charter.net (Diane Cavaness) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 19:48:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Illinois/Rogue Valley Birds Message-ID: <7327E967B95C41CBB8A28E2FDC3A86F8@DianeThinkpad> Friday (December 4) found us traveling to Medford for a medical appointment. We made a stop at Lake Selmac and found the following birds in a cold wind: American Wigeon Mallard Green-winged Teal Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Ruddy Duck Great Blue Heron American Coot Belted Kingfisher Red-breasted Sapsucker Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee American Robin Spotted Towhee Purple Finch Early next morning (December 5), with the temperature in the low 20's, thick fog, frost clinging to the trees and shrubs, and the road slick with ice, we had Touvelle State Park in Jackson County to ourselves. I thought that maybe in these conditions, we might work hard to find a few birds. What we found was amazing! Birds everywhere!! Probably a few hundred of them, all out in the open foraging for food. Among them, more Spotted Towhees than I have ever seen in one place. A conservative estimate is 40 or 50 in that wintry park. In the early afternoon, we drove up to Roxy Ann Butte under bright blue skies, looking down on the entire valley buried in fog like a giant lake. We saw these birds in the two parks: Canada Goose Bufflehead Red-tailed Hawk Belted Kingfisher Acorn Woodpecker Red-breasted Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Western Scrub-Jay Black-capped Chickadee Oak Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush American Robin Yellow-rumped Warbler Spotted Towhee California Towhee Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Lesser Goldfinch American Goldfinch Diane Cavaness Brookings -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/7aa80f46/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Dec 6 19:48:13 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:48:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull on the rocks Message-ID: <1260157693.20765.140.camel@clearwater1> Hello folks, Larry Goodhew from Walla Walla sent a photo of one of the Lesser black-backed Gulls (the 3rd year bird I think?) standing on a rock at the John Day Dam. Posted at: http://www.oregonbirds.org/birdphotos.html Please refer to the website and/or contact Larry for further info. Thanks Larry for sharing this photo! Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From namitzr at hotmail.com Sun Dec 6 20:36:01 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 20:36:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult) seen today 12/6 Message-ID: Diane Pettey and I viewed the adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at 11:47am just below the dam. The bird was foraging over the water with other gulls and only lit down on the water a few brief times during our 1/2 hr stay. In the town of Hood River, near Panorama Point, there was WHITE-THROATED SPARROW foraging with Golden-crowned Sparrows. At the boat basin, there was a THAYER'S GULL amongst hybrids on a floating dock. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/ae22da9c/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Sun Dec 6 21:09:07 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 21:09:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Siskins, Wilson's Snipe New Yard Bird Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F028BF16C@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> With constant wind and cold temperatures today bird activity continued all day. In my yard the PINE SISKINS were here most of the day. Instead of 35 there were more like 45 today. They fed from the thistle feeder voraciously filling all the ports unlike their behavior yesterday. A new species for my yard was a WILSON'S SNIPE in the wetland behind my house. I saw it while looking out the window. It looked like it may have been feeding at the thaw along the water's edge. A male PURPLE FINCH came to the feeders today and the birds were very active. Birds were coming to the feeders despite the wind that at times had them swinging violently. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/8748c79c/attachment.html From roygerig at hotmail.com Sun Dec 6 21:31:45 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 21:31:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Marion County Turkey Vulture 12/6 Message-ID: On the way to visit my Mom today, around noon, I saw a TURKEY VULTURE in the north wind drifting south over Ankeny NWR, the gravel viewing pad along Wintel Rd. While I watched, it continued to drift south with the wind. Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: Unclutter your desktop. Learn more. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/videos-tours.aspx?h=7sec&slideid=1&media=aero-shake-7second&listid=1&stop=1&ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_7secdemo:122009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091206/5b8a932f/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Sun Dec 6 22:28:50 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 22:28:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull on the rocks References: <1260157693.20765.140.camel@clearwater1> Message-ID: Joel, That is indeed the third year bird some of us saw at the John Day Dam. Tom Crabtree Snowbound in Bend ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joel Geier" To: "Oregon Birders OnLine" Cc: "Larry & Jacque Goodhew" Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 7:48 PM Subject: [obol] Lesser Black-backed Gull on the rocks > Hello folks, > > Larry Goodhew from Walla Walla sent a photo of one of the Lesser > black-backed Gulls (the 3rd year bird I think?) standing on a rock at > the John Day Dam. Posted at: > > http://www.oregonbirds.org/birdphotos.html > > Please refer to the website and/or contact Larry for further info. > Thanks Larry for sharing this photo! > > Happy birding, > Joel > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > From gorgebirds at juno.com Sun Dec 6 23:10:57 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 07:10:57 GMT Subject: [obol] Off Topic: Ivory Gull on East Coast (Cape May) Message-ID: <20091206.231057.25821.0@webmail23.vgs.untd.com> There is a ABA Bird Alert site at the following address. For some reason the Coos Bay Brown Booby did not make it to the list. http://birding.typepad.com/peeps/ Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Love Spell Click here to light up your life with a love spell! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=Y8RJDLK4I9qxZn4Wz0xfGgAAJ1AHcaoQFB_Xw2ggvz9-JEKpAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARwAAAAA= From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Dec 7 06:52:04 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:52:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] More photos of rarities past & present Message-ID: <1260197524.28367.35.camel@clearwater1> Hello folks, Thanks to Stefan Schlick and Anne Heyerly, there are now also a couple of close-ups of the adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, plus (from Anne) two photos of September's Northern Wheatear, all at: http://www.oregonbirds.org/birdphotos.html Happy browsing, Joel From baybirders at embarqmail.com Mon Dec 7 07:55:02 2009 From: baybirders at embarqmail.com (Carol Cwiklinski & Steve Small) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 10:55:02 -0500 (EST) Subject: [obol] Tillamook west raptors In-Reply-To: <1990074133.3638951260201258256.JavaMail.root@md09.embarq.synacor.com> Message-ID: <20120393.3639161260201302800.JavaMail.root@md09.embarq.synacor.com> Tillamook West Raptor Route Saturday December 5 RTHA???21 AMKE???3 NOHA???1 BAEA???7 RSHA???3 WTKI???4 PEFA???3 SSHA???2 Total 44 Other notable birds four BLPH, and one NOSH Carol Cwiklinski & Steve Small -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091207/54006ce3/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Mon Dec 7 09:24:15 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 17:24:15 +0000 Subject: [obol] Peli count dwindling in Bandon Message-ID: To the relief of many locals fretting that the brown pelicans that have been swarming our jetty may be overextending their stay with the cold weather coming on, many birds appear to be moving on. We still have some left but its at hundred instead of thousands. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From dan at heyerly.com Mon Dec 7 10:58:44 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Dan Heyerly) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 10:58:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Kirk Pond, Lane County - Sunday 12/6/2009 Message-ID: <1651C2DE698A4B7A994FB03E337D8F29@Dan> Obolinks, Lost in memory due to the news about the LITTLE GULL at the Fern Ridge Dam yesterday afternoon, I was going to mention that amongst the 20 or so American Wigeons on Kirk Pond (the pond immediately north of the dam) was one male Eurasian Wigeon. Good birding, Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091207/30282afb/attachment.html From tanager at nu-world.com Mon Dec 7 13:23:09 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 13:23:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Little Gull -NO Message-ID: <003c01ca7783$7a1e55f0$6e5b01d0$@com> Hi All- Just back from Fern Ridge Dam- No LITTLE GULL this AM. Viewing conditions were pretty good- even with the sun on the lake. The southern edge of the pool is mainly frozen with patches of open water. There were a few gulls over there flying about, but all looked like Ring-bills. Several were sitting on the ice and I could only tell that they were gull species because of the back-lighting. I did take the Hubbell (Televue-85) which helped. A Black Phoebe was also found by Daniel Farrar. Thawing at home, Anne Heyerly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091207/c2355702/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Dec 7 13:43:11 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:43:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Chestnut-collared Longspurs at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area Message-ID: <1260222191.28367.116.camel@clearwater1> Hi folks, Just back from a walk that turned up a couple of CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS in the BPA-funded prairie restoration area on the west edge of E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, south of Camp Adair Road. I'll post more of a description in a bit but just to get the directions out quickly: E.E. Wilson is midway between Corvallis and Monmouth on the east side of Hwy 99W. Watch for the enormous landfill (Coffin Butte Regional Landfill) on the west side of the highway, where you should turn east onto Camp Adair Rd. (there is also a signboard there to commemorate the divisions that trained here in WW II when this was the central part of the Camp Adair army cantonment). Go east on Camp Adair Rd. about 1/8 mile, zigzagging through a couple of quick turns. As you pass through the second curve, look for a parking turnout on the right (just before a "handicapped crossing" sign, I know, the language seems a little archaic but that's what it says). This is the parking area for the skeet range so don't be surprised if someone is blasting away with a shotgun ... you may want to bring ear protectors for the first 100 yards. Go about 1/4 to 1/3 mile along the paved roadway that runs south through the wildife area (passing about 7 of the big powerline poles on your right), until you see a grassy opening on your right that opens onto a berm with a wetland to the south. Where I flushed the longspurs is at the west end of this berm, where a little stream drains out of the wetland and runs toward a second wetland to the north. The birds flushed one at a time out into the grassy area to the northwest of this point, which is a planting of western mannagrass, tufted hairgrass and blue wildrye, though what you see this time of year is mainly the European bentgrass that came back, about knee-high. I barely got a look at the first one but just enough to make me think about longspur and pick up a hint of chestnut on the nape. When the second bird flushed I got on the tail right away and could see the triangular-shaped dark center bordered by white, plus general coloration of the back with buffy/ochre & brown streaking and flecks of chestnut. The birds landed in the grass after flights of <50 yards into the wind, and seemed to run on the ground after they landed. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From lbviman at blackfoot.net Mon Dec 7 14:07:50 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:07:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Sad day for birders, Lane County -- GH Owl In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20091207220202.D1DDE9B021A@mail.blackfoot.net> There are other things than bullets that can make open wound on an animal. Jumping to conclusions is irresponsible. Flies, magpies, crows, ravens, jays, and small mammals (mice, skunks, raccoons, cats, dogs, etc) can tear into something that size and leave such wounds - Jim Greaves At 01:00 PM 12/7/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >Message: 10 >Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 18:14:23 EST >From: Kcparkton1 at aol.com >Subject: [obol] Sad day for birders, Lane county >To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >Message-ID: >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > >The Great Horned Owl that I have photographed a few different times off of >Neilsen Rd. & Cantrell Rd near Fern Ridge Wildlife Refuge. I found dead >just about an hour ago. Its in the field just east of the parking area off >Neilsen Rd. the body is close to the fence and the road. My wife jumped over >the fence and took a few photos of it and rolled it over to make sure it was >dead. From the photos it looks like it could be gun shot wounds. I don't >know anything else that would have the feathers ruffed up and some meat >exposed in a couple areas. If a coyote got it in the night while on >the ground >it would of ate it. The body is still fresh so it must of been from earlier >today or in the night. Maybe the camera in the parking area might have >seen something? My wife called the raptor center and they didn't >seem to think >it was any big deal unless the owl was still alive and they would come out >and get it. I was just wondering what everyone else's thoughts were on >this. > >Kurt Parkton >Eugene, OR From larmcqueen at msn.com Mon Dec 7 14:41:10 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 14:41:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] NO Little Gull Message-ID: Dennis Arendt and I braved the cold this morning on Fern Ridge Dam from about 7:30 to 10 am. There was a fair-sized raft of Common Mergansers and a smaller group of Hoodeds, bunches of gulls, at least 15 Bald Eagles and huddles of mixed dabblers, but no single Little Gull. We spotted 4 Euasian Wigeons with the Am. Wigies on Kirk Pond. Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091207/1e3330e8/attachment.html From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Mon Dec 7 14:41:20 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (Gerard Lillie) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 14:41:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bushtit feeding Message-ID: <007201ca778e$6f253050$4d6f90f0$@lillie@comcast.net> Hello All, I observed a feeding style in Common Bushtits I have never seen before. It?s cold and very windy here on Mt. Tabor and a large swarm of Bushtits are frequently at the suet feeder. I looked out to see what species were feeding on the ground and much to my surprise there were 10+ Bushtits on the ground feeding. I grabbed my bins to see what they were doing. All fed in the same way: they were on their bellies on the ground with their legs sticking out in front of them. They held a piece of sunflower seed heart in one of their feet and pecked away at it. After eating most of it they flew off, some to the suet and others to surrounding bushes. In the few hours since I saw this I have not seen them feed this way again. Has anyone else ever observed this style of feeding? It is the first I have seen it and I have been feeding them suet for 20+ years. Also, there have been small numbers of Red Crossbills in the neighborhood and the park for 1 ? weeks now. Good birding, Gerard Gerard Lillie Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091207/2d4f0f5e/attachment.html From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Mon Dec 7 15:23:49 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (Gerard Lillie) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 15:23:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] (no subject) Message-ID: <000c01ca7794$55a3be20$00eb3a60$@lillie@comcast.net> All, I read this on the Arizona/New Mexico list. I thought some would be interested in it. Gerard Lillie Portland, OR Subject: Winter Wrens to be split From: Mike Moore Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 14:52:15 -0700 Hi, Word has leaked that the AOU Checklist committee has voted to split Winter Wren into two species when the next supplement is released in July. The new species will be Winter Wren (the eastern form) and Pacific Wren (the western form). Both occur in Arizona in winter but their distribution is poorly known. The ABC has treated them separately in anticipation of this split for the last year and there are several records of Winter and Pacific Wren documented on the AZFO site. You may want to keep this upcoming split in mind when observing Winter Wrens this winter. More information on this identification challenge can be found here: http://www.azfo.org/gallery/2009/html1/WIWR_Mesa_Moore_20090124.html No word on the other two splits being considered (Inland and Coastal Western Scrub-Jays; South Hills and Red Crossbill). Mike Moore -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091207/8cbccff1/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Dec 7 15:25:36 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:25:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] More on E.E. Wilson longspurs Message-ID: <1260228336.27545.8.camel@clearwater1> Hello folks, Below is more of a description of the Chestnut-collared Longspurs based on my field notes, plus tallies from the rest of the walk. A bit more comment on the habitat: This is supposed to be a wet prairie restoration but the European bentgrasses have given E.E. Wilson staff headaches. Still, it has something of a bunchgrass structure, though rather densed and with very few forbs. I thought it should have been burned again this summer/fall but only the adjoining upland prairie (Roemer's fescue etc.) to the south was burned. The latter area might be another place to look. If starting there, the entrance off of Frontage Rd. might be an easier place to start. Happy birding, Joel This report was mailed for Joel Geier by http://birdnotes.net Date: December 7, 2009 Location: E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area, Benton County, Oregon Low temperature: 22 degrees fahrenheit High temperature: 30 degrees fahrenheit Wind direction: NW Prevailing wind speed: 6-11 km/h gusting to: 12-19 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 0% Precipitation: none Mid-day walk around north part of wildlife area plus prairie restoration area south of Camp Adair Rd. Checked woods by Boy Scout encampment site for Barred Owl photographed on 3 Dec by Bill Proebsting, but not relocated. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Great Blue Heron 1 Red-tailed Hawk 3 Killdeer 30 Common Snipe 4 Mourning Dove 1 Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 10 Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit Bewick's Wren Marsh Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin 80 European Starling 20 Cedar Waxwing 4 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 Spotted Towhee 20 Savannah Sparrow 4 Fox Sparrow 10 Song Sparrow 30 Lincoln's Sparrow 8 White-throated Sparrow 3 [1] White-crowned Sparrow 5 Golden-crowned Sparrow 40 Dark-eyed Junco 30 Chestnut-collared Longspur 2 [2] Purple Finch House Finch American Goldfinch Footnotes: [1] Seen as one group with mixed Golden-/White-crowned flock, in NE corner area where a flock often winters. [2] Flushed one at a time from west end of the berm for the upper wetland in the BPA prairie restoration (Laguna del Ray), where a little stream drains out of the NW corner of the wetland. The birds flushed one at a time out into the grassy area to the northwest of this point (a planting of western mannagrass, tufted hairgrass and blue wildrye, with lots of European hairgrass), about knee-high. The first bird provided only a fleeting look, but long wings and tail and manner of flight, combined with behavior of flushing toward open part of the habitat, and impression of ochre, brown, and chestnut pattern on back with a hint of chestnut at nape immediately made me think of a longspur. Similar in size to song sparrow but very different behavior and jizz. When the second bird flushed (a few seconds behind the first) I focused immediately on the tail and could see the triangular-shaped dark center bordered by white, extending about halfway up the tail where the center turned to streaked tan/brown. Back patterned similar to Song Sparrow but paler with buffy/ochre & brown streaking and flecks of chestnut giving a more colorful look. Both birds gave thin buzzy "tsee-lip" calls as they flew. The birds landed in a relatively open patch of grass after flights of <50 yards into the wind, and seemed to run on the ground after they landed. Impression of second bird in flight was of longish wings for a sparrow, more laconic, strong wingbeats, generally reminiscent of longspurs seen elsewhere. Other species considered included Savannah Sparrow (shape, style of flight wrong), Vesper Sparrow (tail pattern & wing length). Other longspurs eliminated based mainly on tail pattern, secondarily hint of chestnut on nape of first bird and habitat association (relatively dense grass for other longspur species to use). Not a lark or pipit based on shape & manner of flight, calls. Total number of species seen: 34 From dlrobbo at comcast.net Mon Dec 7 15:29:21 2009 From: dlrobbo at comcast.net (Doug Robberson) Date: Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:29:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Location of LBBG Message-ID: I'm going to chase the gull Tuesday. Can someone please tell me where it is located. Thanks Doug Robberson Tigard, OR "Nature is not a competition. It doesn't really matter, when you go out, if you don't identify anything. What matters is the feeling heart." Richard Adams, B. 1920 British Writer From tjanzen at comcast.net Mon Dec 7 15:44:41 2009 From: tjanzen at comcast.net (Tim Janzen) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 15:44:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] (no subject)(Winter Wren split) In-Reply-To: <000c01ca7794$55a3be20$00eb3a60$@lillie@comcast.net> Message-ID: <20091207234445.0F2DDA8158@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Dear Gerard, There is also more information on this topic at http://birding.typepad.com/peeps/. Some of the information from that web site is as follows: "The two Winter Wren groups breed side by side without any hybridization in a narrow zone of contact in northeastern British Colombia. The proposal to split Winter Wren in copied here: 'Deep divergence in mitochondiral DNA (8.8% ND2 maximum likelihood divergence (Drovetski et al. 2004) and singing patterns (Kroodsma 1980) between 'eastern' (Trogoldytes troglodytes hiemalis) and 'western' (T. t. pacificus) subspecies of Winter Wren have led to the suggestion that this species may in fact consist of multiple cryptic species, with the group in western North America being specifically distinct from those in eastern North America and Eurasia (Hejl et al. 2002; Drovetski et al. 2004; Kroodsma 2005).'" Sincerely, Tim Janzen _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Gerard Lillie Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 3:24 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] (no subject) All, I read this on the Arizona/New Mexico list. I thought some would be interested in it. Gerard Lillie Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091207/b3c80eab/attachment.html From scottbmurray at msn.com Mon Dec 7 16:03:06 2009 From: scottbmurray at msn.com (scottbmurray at msn.com) Date: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:03:06 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Ridgefield NWR River S Unit, Clark County, Washington on December 07, 2009 Message-ID: <200912080003.nB8036Vj002111@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Scott Murray by http://birdnotes.net Date: December 7, 2009 Location: Ridgefield NWR River S Unit, Clark County, Washington Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Greater White-fronted Goose Snow Goose Canada Goose Cackling Goose Tundra Swan Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-Winged Teal Ring-necked Duck Pied-billed Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk American Kestrel American Coot Sandhill Crane Common Snipe Herring Gull Great Horned Owl Red-breasted Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Marsh Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin European Starling Spotted Towhee Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Total number of species seen: 48 From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon Dec 7 18:28:17 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 02:28:17 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Salish Pond Northern Shovelers Message-ID: <1629383412.2196451260239297514.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi all, I wandered around Salish Pond in the wind on Sunday the 6th. The ground is frozen and a rim of ice is forming around the pond. I felt sorry for the Ducks and American Coots so I bought them some cracked corn. When I got back with the corn, much to my delight, there were 9 Northern Shovelers patrolling the east pond. This is the first time I've seen them there and the closest I've ever gotten to view a Northern Shoveler. It surprised me to see a number of them swimming along with their eyes closed. They seemed to stay right with the group, I wonder if they shut their eyes against the wind. It was windy enough that a flock of Geese I saw flying overhead hovered in place against the east wind for a moment before turning to the west to move with the wind. I entered my list for Sunday in birdnotes.net. Today (Monday the 7th) during my lunch I went back with more corn. There were American Coots, Mallards, American Wigeon, a Ring-necked Duck and 2 Canvas Backs (male and female I think) and at least one Pied-billed Grebe. No Northern Shovelers. I brought the ducks and coots more corn, they really went for it today. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091208/8aac8ef5/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Mon Dec 7 23:41:10 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 07:41:10 +0000 Subject: [obol] New piece posted to BirdFellow.com Message-ID: Steve Mlodinow has provided a short photo essay about an undersized (runt) California Gull that he photographed in Everett Washington last week. It is now posted to the BirdFellow.com online journal. Dave Irons Content Editor BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live Hotmail gives you a free,exclusive gift. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/hotmail_bl1/hotmail_bl1.aspx?ocid=PID23879::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-ww:WM_IMHM_7:092009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091208/a0bf9673/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Dec 8 00:50:15 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 00:50:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] A lone gull Message-ID: Seth Reams posted a picture of a gull in his backyard, the first he had seen at his residence. The ensuing discussion probably reinforced the aversion most birders have to gull ID. No definitive answer was reached, other than it was a hybrid. Of course the minute I read the inquiry, before going to the link with the picture, I was sorely tempted to call it an Olympic Gull. This hybrid may constitute over 90 % of the gulls floating around Portland in winter. But an experience last fall made me look at the picture first before a hip shot prognostication. On November 3, 2008 I saw a lone gull in the super- market parking lot in Banks. It was the first gull of winter. I drove over to the lamp post it was perched on and found it to be a Herring Gull. At the nearby gull roost on Fernhill Lake when there are 300 gulls present I rarely find as many as 10 Herring Gulls in the flock. Who expects to see a Eurasian Wigeon in Oregon all alone? I recall someone seeing one that way in the Alsea Valley a year or two ago,but it's rather unexpected. One day in January of this year I again saw a lone gull in Banks, and it too proved to be a Herring. While folks were enjoying the Little Gull at Fern Ridge Reservoir this Sunday I saw a lone gull outside the pizza parlor in Banks. It was flying around a lot, and I had two unsympathetic teen-agers in the car. But rather than cave in to group opinion I made a brief search of the town and found it perched on a lamp post at the football field about 1/2 a mile north. It was a Herring Gull. As a teen-aged birder I strived for the most rapid ID possible. See the absolute minimum of field marks, call the species, move on to something else. A lone gull in a parking lot? Why waste any time? Put it down on the list as "Glaucous-winged" and keep going. I would have derided anyone that offered alternate possibilities. Now I see that "gull, sp." is far more accurate when the opportunity to stop and check does not present itself. And if that opportunity arises, by all means check. Lars Norgren From 4cains at charter.net Tue Dec 8 06:08:01 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 06:08:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hummers say BRRR Message-ID: <40BEBE03BC5F4161A30A4A23F0254461@HAL> Don't forget to get up before they do and thaw their feeder out or they're gonna be heard using bad language through the windows! Ours was frozen solid at 0600 hrs and 15 deg F. Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091208/721ed877/attachment.html From baybirders at embarqmail.com Tue Dec 8 07:48:22 2009 From: baybirders at embarqmail.com (Carol Cwiklinski & Steve Small) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 10:48:22 -0500 (EST) Subject: [obol] tillamook west raptors in plain speak Message-ID: <1931820802.3918181260287302880.JavaMail.root@md09.embarq.synacor.com> It is requested that I post bird names in plain speak rather than four letter codes. Here is the info again. Tillamook West Raptor route Saturday Dec 5 Red tailed hawk 21 Amer Kestrel 4 No Harrier 1 Bald Eagle 7 Red-shouldered hawk 3 White-tailed kite 4 Peregrine falcon 3 Sharp-shinned hawk 2 Total 45 Other notables 4 black phoebe and 1 northern shrike. Carol Cwiklinski & Steve Small -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091208/4c3a0a90/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Dec 8 09:15:39 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:15:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Starlings: ever wonder? Message-ID: <4B1E89BB.6000008@verizon.net> Ever wonder whether starlings actually migrate? I suppose they must, considering the huge flocks that winter in some locations. But, last week, suddenly one day at our feeders, a group of about 10 starlings showed up. They are never in our yard. We live in rural Coos Cty north of Bandon. They were here with the large flock of Mourning Doves that is here daily. They all suddenly flushed, possibly due to incoming Accipter. And they left, never to come back again. So, where did they come from, and where did they go? Migrants? Cheers Dave Lauten Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net -- "We need to change our mind frame - our values. Perhaps quality time, love, family values, friendship and respect are preferable to material goods and status? Or maybe humans are too vain. In this problem, I think we are seeing the worst of ourselves in the mirror. We see power struggle and corruption." Rasmus Benestad, The Norwegian Meteorological Institute From gerard.lillie at comcast.net Tue Dec 8 11:12:30 2009 From: gerard.lillie at comcast.net (gerard.lillie at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 19:12:30 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] (no subject)(Winter Wren split) In-Reply-To: <20091207234445.0F2DDA8158@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Message-ID: <1138380641.2036081260299550221.JavaMail.root@sz0066a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Thanks Tim. Aren't you glad the western form will not be named "California Wren"? No disrespect to CA, but they have enough named after them :)? Gerard Subject: Re: [obol] (no subject)(Winter Wren split) Dear Gerard, There is also more information on this topic at http://birding.typepad.com/peeps/. Some of the information from that web site is as follows: "The two Winter Wren groups breed side by side without any hybridization in a narrow zone of contact in northeastern British Colombia. The proposal to split Winter Wren in copied here: 'Deep divergence in mitochondiral DNA (8.8% ND2 maximum likelihood divergence (Drovetski et al. 2004) and singing patterns (Kroodsma 1980) between 'eastern' (Trogoldytes troglodytes hiemalis) and 'western' (T. t. pacificus) subspecies of Winter Wren have led to the suggestion that this species may in fact consist of multiple cryptic species, with the group in western North America being specifically distinct from those in eastern North America and Eurasia (Hejl et al. 2002; Drovetski et al. 2004; Kroodsma 2005).'" Sincerely, Tim Janzen _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Gerard Lillie Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 3:24 PM To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] (no subject) All, I read this on the Arizona/New Mexico list. I thought some would be interested in it. Gerard Lillie Portland, OR _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091208/21cea2b9/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Dec 8 11:44:42 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:44:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] starlings: eat my words Message-ID: <4B1EACAA.4030808@verizon.net> Well, I spoke too soon. The starlings reappeared today, out of nowhere...... Cheers Dave Lauten -- "We need to change our mind frame - our values. Perhaps quality time, love, family values, friendship and respect are preferable to material goods and status? Or maybe humans are too vain. In this problem, I think we are seeing the worst of ourselves in the mirror. We see power struggle and corruption." Rasmus Benestad, The Norwegian Meteorological Institute From sandyleapt at comcast.net Tue Dec 8 12:20:03 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 20:20:03 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Bushtit Feeding Habits Message-ID: <672013066.2487461260303603430.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi Gerald and OBOlees, The Bushtits in my garden feed on the ground. I haven't seen them rest on their bellies, they kind of hop and flit. I have seen them hold a seed in their foot and feed on the seed. I took some underexposed pictures of the behavior last winter during all that snow. The birds would perch in the shrubs using one foot to hold on and the other to hold the food. This year I left all the perennial fall asters (in my garden) standing and let them go to seed. They are very attractive to the Bushtits and Song Sparrows. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091208/cafae92d/attachment.html From sandyleapt at comcast.net Tue Dec 8 12:23:43 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 20:23:43 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Late? Cedar Waxwings Message-ID: <674143571.2489011260303823855.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Today (12/08/09) at 11:30 a.m. I heard and then saw a flock of approximately 20 Cedar Waxwings fly over me. I saw them over the parking lot as I walked into the building where I work. This sighting is in Gresham Oregon. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091208/5826f2da/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Dec 8 12:48:32 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:48:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Camp Adair update (lone gull, no longspurs today) Message-ID: <1260305312.22482.41.camel@clearwater1> Hello folks, Upon stopping by the recycling place at Coffin Butte landfill this morning, I saw a lone gull standing on the ice of the upper remediation pond. It turned out to be a RING-BILLED GULL. After going home to take care of a few chores I went out on a walk, hoping to finally add this species to my motorless year list. But by the time I got back to the landfill, there was just a bit of gull poop where the gull had been standing. So, I now have Ring-billed Gull poop but still no Ring-billed Gull on my motorless list. Along the way I checked for yesterday's longspurs. Today a small wren fluttered weakly away from the same spot, flying very low over the grass, and landed a short distance away. I got excited about the possibility of Sedge Wren, but it turned out to be a MARSH WREN once I tracked it down. I also checked the same patch on the return trip (after checking the side roads west and north of Coffin Butte), and I ran across a fellow named Alex who had just searched the area too. Neither one of us had any luck. Otherwise it was a beautiful morning for a walk, with clear views of Mt. Hood & Mt. Jefferson. If we get temperatures this warm on next Thursday's Hart Mountain CBC, I'll be happy! The word from Hart Mtn refuge headquarters is that it was -13 F there this morning. Our morning low temperature of +14 F seems positively balmy by comparison! That said, the prolonged freezing weather is really concentrating the birds around anyplace with a bit of open water. WILSON'S SNIPE and KILLDEER were having to compete with starlings for thawed swales in the fields, and another Killdeer was walking around on the ice on one of the marshes in E.E. Wilson. Howard Bruner mentioned scarcity of RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS this year. I'd agree that numbers seem a bit low, though I did see a few with sparrow flocks which were likewise concentrated along a few wet ditches and streams. LINCOLN'S SPARROWS seemed more conspicuous than usual; I saw about 10 just walking along Coffin Butte Road for a half mile. Er, that was me walking, not the sparrows! But I did also see two SONG SPARROWS just standing in the middle of a gravel driveway, as if they weren't really sure what to do in this weather. As much as I'd like to see another week or so of this weather so that I can finally get some use out my old long-distance ice skates, for the sake of the semi-hardy birds it's just as well that things are supposed to get back to normal in a couple of days. Meanwhile, it's a great time to be out birding -- lots of sunshine and no hunters to watch out for! Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From dan-gleason at comcast.net Tue Dec 8 14:03:34 2009 From: dan-gleason at comcast.net (Dan Gleason) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 14:03:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Winter Wren split & more In-Reply-To: <1138380641.2036081260299550221.JavaMail.root@sz0066a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> References: <1138380641.2036081260299550221.JavaMail.root@sz0066a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <0A8BEA52-7104-4384-BCF8-D9A6650DA99A@comcast.net> In addition to splitting Winter Wren, there are other proposals by the AOU Checklist committee that may affect our lists. These include splitting Scrub-Jays (woodhouseii and sumichrasti) to full species status, splitting some genera (Pipilo and Aimophila) and recognizing a new species of Red Crossbill. A list of all proposals can be obtained from the AOU at . Note that all of these are simply proposals and must be voted on by the Checklist Committee. Some may be adopted and others will not have enough votes to pass. We won't really know the status until July when the annual supplement is issued. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Dec 8, 2009, at 11:12 AM, gerard.lillie at comcast.net wrote: > Thanks Tim. Aren't you glad the western form will not be named > "California Wren"? No disrespect to CA, but they have enough named > after them :) > > Gerard > > > Subject: Re: [obol] (no subject)(Winter Wren split) > > Dear Gerard, There is also more information on this topic at http:// > birding.typepad.com/peeps/. Some of the information from that web > site is as follows: "The two Winter Wren groups breed side by side > without any hybridization in a narrow zone of contact in > northeastern British Colombia. The proposal to split Winter Wren in > copied here: 'Deep divergence in mitochondiral DNA (8.8% ND2 > maximum likelihood divergence (Drovetski et al. 2004) and singing > patterns (Kroodsma 1980) between 'eastern' (Trogoldytes troglodytes > hiemalis) and 'western' (T. t. pacificus) subspecies of Winter Wren > have led to the suggestion that this species may in fact consist of > multiple cryptic species, with the group in western North America > being specifically distinct from those in eastern North America and > Eurasia (Hejl et al. 2002; Drovetski et al. 2004; Kroodsma 2005).'" > Sincerely, Tim Janzen _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org > [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Gerard > Lillie Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 3:24 PM To: > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] (no subject) All, I read > this on the Arizona/New Mexico list. I thought some would be > interested in it. Gerard Lillie Portland, OR > _______________________________________________ obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/ > listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091208/1ad3891b/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Dec 8 15:05:09 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:05:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] How cold is it? Message-ID: <4B1EDBA5.90603@pacifier.com> A photo essay http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Mistaken Identities http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12932/ From birdmandon at clearwire.net Tue Dec 8 15:28:00 2009 From: birdmandon at clearwire.net (Don Schrouder) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 15:28:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] N. Mockingbird/Lane Co. Message-ID: <2F0D3920-1F99-49D3-B7F3-9FA4A80E7B62@clearwire.net> Three of us decided to take an auto tour around the airport and northward to the county line this afternoon and had several good sightings. The best bird was a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD located on Cox Butte Rd where it crosses the Long Tom River. It was hanging out in one of the large oaks on the northwest side of the bridge just underneath the BLUEBIRDS in the mistletoe. It actually went into the mistletoe to apparently feed on something while we watched. Other good birds today were a SHORT EARRED OWL circling over a couple of Red tails just north of the airport on Greenhill Rd. Also present in the northern fields were a group of 150 TUNDRA SWANS. The Owl was working its way south and did not appear to be feeding as it remained high and working south over the airport. We had a total of 3 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, a BALD EAGLE, 2 RED- SHOULDERED HAWKS, many KESTRELS, RED-TAILS, NORTHERN HARRIERS, and a flock of about 125 AMERICAN PIPITS on Vaughn Rd. Good Birding, Don Schrouder with Paul Sherrell and Sylvia Maulding From tc at empnet.com Tue Dec 8 15:47:14 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 15:47:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Winter Wren split & more In-Reply-To: <0A8BEA52-7104-4384-BCF8-D9A6650DA99A@comcast.net> References: <1138380641.2036081260299550221.JavaMail.root@sz0066a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> <0A8BEA52-7104-4384-BCF8-D9A6650DA99A@comcast.net> Message-ID: To expand on Dan's comments, here are the explanations for each of the changes: http://www.aou.org/committees/nacc/proposals/2009-A.pdf . The new crossbill would be the "South Hills Crossbill" referring to a population in Southern Idaho. The proposal starts "The Crossbills (Loxia) are a taxonomic nightmare" and ends with "The Red Crossbills are a complicated mess." I will second that notion.. Tom Crabtree Bend _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Dan Gleason Sent: Tuesday, December 08, 2009 2:04 PM To: OBOL OBOL Subject: [obol] Winter Wren split & more In addition to splitting Winter Wren, there are other proposals by the AOU Checklist committee that may affect our lists. These include splitting Scrub-Jays (woodhouseii and sumichrasti) to full species status, splitting some genera (Pipilo and Aimophila) and recognizing a new species of Red Crossbill. A list of all proposals can be obtained from the AOU at . Note that all of these are simply proposals and must be voted on by the Checklist Committee. Some may be adopted and others will not have enough votes to pass. We won't really know the status until July when the annual supplement is issued. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason at comcast.net 541 345-0450 On Dec 8, 2009, at 11:12 AM, gerard.lillie at comcast.net wrote: -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091208/52cfe8d1/attachment.html From darhawk500 at msn.com Tue Dec 8 16:16:26 2009 From: darhawk500 at msn.com (D Scott) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 16:16:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Colorado? OBOL? Message-ID: Fellow Birders, Is there an OBOL for the Denver area of Colorado? I can't seem to find it. I am moving very soon to the southern part of Denver and would like to switch to that area if possible. I am sure that there will be much more activity here in Oregon, but it will be fun to explore new species out in Colorado. Sad to leave the Chestnut Back chickadees behind:( Any help is appreciated thanks, Derek Scott Sherwood, OR Bird Photos here http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottstudiophotography/ _________________________________________________________________ Get gifts for them and cashback for you. Try Bing now. http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?q=xbox+games&scope=cashback&form=MSHYCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHYCB_Shopping_Giftsforthem_cashback_1x1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091208/dca4cd8a/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Tue Dec 8 16:44:17 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 16:44:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Colorado? OBOL? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Derek, You are in luck. There are actually two groups in the Denver area. I'm not sure of the politics, but they seem to compete. One is COBirders, which can be found here: http://home.att.net/~birdertoo/ and COBirds, which can be found here: http://www.cfo-link.org/birding/COBirds.php . Here are a couple of other links you might find useful: Colorado Field Ornithologists: http://www.cfo-link.org/ Colorado County Birding: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/ The last address is a really nice site that has every county broken down into bird finding guides and species lists. Chuck Gates is currently working on a project that would follow that approach for Oregon. Enjoy your new home. It's a fun place to bird. I miss seeing 5 types of Junco's on a daily basis in the winter. Be sure to check out the Fawnbrook Inn on the way to Estes Park. It's the best place in North America for seeing Rosy Finches. Tom Crabtree Bend _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of D Scott Sent: Tuesday, December 08, 2009 4:16 PM To: Oregon Bird watch blog Subject: [obol] Colorado? OBOL? Fellow Birders, Is there an OBOL for the Denver area of Colorado? I can't seem to find it. I am moving very soon to the southern part of Denver and would like to switch to that area if possible. I am sure that there will be much more activity here in Oregon, but it will be fun to explore new species out in Colorado. Sad to leave the Chestnut Back chickadees behind:( Any help is appreciated thanks, Derek Scott Sherwood, OR Bird Photos here http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottstudiophotography/ _____ Get gifts for them and cashback for you. Try Bing now. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091208/3cd7100a/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Dec 8 17:11:50 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:11:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Colorado? OBOL? Message-ID: <4B1EF956.2010104@pacifier.com> If memory serves, there's a lot of "competition" in the Colorado Birding community, including dueling records committees. It's been a while since I needed to pay attention, so there may have been some sort of reconciliation or (at least) a truce, but things were quite polarized and pyrotechnical... Re: Colorado? OBOL? From: "Tom Crabtree" Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 16:44:17 -0800 Derek, You are in luck. There are actually two groups in the Denver area. I'm not sure of the politics, but they seem to compete. One is COBirders, which can be found here: http://home.att.net/~birdertoo/ and COBirds, which can be found here: http://www.cfo-link.org/birding/COBirds.php . Here are a couple of other links you might find useful: Colorado Field Ornithologists: http://www.cfo-link.org/ Colorado County Birding: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/ The last address is a really nice site that has every county broken down into bird finding guides and species lists. Chuck Gates is currently working on a project that would follow that approach for Oregon. Enjoy your new home. It's a fun place to bird. I miss seeing 5 types of Junco's on a daily basis in the winter. Be sure to check out the Fawnbrook Inn on the way to Estes Park. It's the best place in North America for seeing Rosy Finches. Tom Crabtree Bend -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Mistaken Identities http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12932/ From rfadney at hotmail.com Tue Dec 8 18:29:52 2009 From: rfadney at hotmail.com (R. Adney Jr.) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 18:29:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] How cold is it? In-Reply-To: <4B1EDBA5.90603@pacifier.com> References: <4B1EDBA5.90603@pacifier.com> Message-ID: Great pics Mike, I drove by Fern Ridge today about 9:30 am and got a kick out of the Egrets (hunkered down) and the Herons braving the water! Rich Adney http://avianpics.blogspot.com/ http://adneyvisualarts.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/adneyvisualarts/ > Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 15:05:09 -0800 > From: celata at pacifier.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] How cold is it? > > A photo essay > > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Mistaken Identities > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12932/ > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Chat with Messenger straight from your Hotmail inbox. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/hotmail_bl1/hotmail_bl1.aspx?ocid=PID23879::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-ww:WM_IMHM_4:092009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091208/4d1baac4/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Tue Dec 8 19:55:19 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 19:55:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Starlings: ever wonder? References: <4B1E89BB.6000008@verizon.net> Message-ID: <243FB3FEFC4D43C0A4027AD5BD83BEFB@your5rlp3a9516> Dave, Starlings are certainly migratory here at Thornton Creek. After they finish nesting in August, they all leave, and I don't see any for several months. Then around the end of November, about thirty or forty of them show up and spend the rest of the winter and into breeding season. I don't have any idea where they go, but sometimes wonder if it is not perhaps further than one might expect. The reason I am inclined to think it might be is that from time to time I hear them giving vocalizations mimicking birds not native to the northwest. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "DJ Lauten and KACastelein" To: "Oregon Birders On Line" Sent: Tuesday, December 08, 2009 9:15 AM Subject: [obol] Starlings: ever wonder? > Ever wonder whether starlings actually migrate? I suppose they must, > considering the huge flocks that winter in some locations. But, last > week, suddenly one day at our feeders, a group of about 10 starlings > showed up. They are never in our yard. We live in rural Coos Cty north > of Bandon. They were here with the large flock of Mourning Doves that > is here daily. They all suddenly flushed, possibly due to incoming > Accipter. And they left, never to come back again. So, where did they > come from, and where did they go? Migrants? > > Cheers > Dave Lauten > Bandon OR > deweysage at verizon.net > > -- > "We need to change our mind frame - our values. Perhaps quality time, > love, family values, friendship and respect are preferable to material > goods and status? Or maybe humans are too vain. In this problem, I think > we are seeing the worst of ourselves in the mirror. We see power struggle > and corruption." Rasmus Benestad, The Norwegian Meteorological Institute > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Dec 8 20:46:23 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:46:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Starlings: ever wonder? Message-ID: <1260333983.21952.89.camel@clearwater1> Hello folks, If any of you are missing your local STARLINGS, check Coffin Butte Regional Landfill in Benton County. There are upward of 10,000 there now, and there could well be 100,000 by the time we try to count them for the Airlie CBC. In the immortal words of Ted Nugent, "I don't know where they come from, but they sure do come." Speaking of starlings, today while scoping some duck decoys that were frozen in place on the wetlands of the Cold Creek Hunting Club (north of Coffin Butte and Robison Rd., just across the line into Polk County), I was very surprised to hear a Western Wood-Pewee's "pyeeer!" call from the nearby residence. Well of course it was a starling, just as for the Sora whinny that I heard at E.E. Wilson the day before. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From jbw at oregoncoast.com Wed Dec 9 06:20:42 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara and John Woodhouse) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 06:20:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tillamook East raptor Run Message-ID: <9539A034-7888-4ACE-9C97-AF0339F2FB82@oregoncoast.com> Run goes from Yellow Fir road in the south to Freddies in the north. Mostly on the east side of 101, except for Tillamook River rd to Ekloff Rd on the west and back to 101 via Genger rd. Temperature 11 F to 32 F Clear Sky moderate wind. 1 !/2 hours 62 miles Redtail Hawks 11 Kestrels 5 Northern Harrier 1 Bald eagles 2 (adults) Red shouldered Hawk 1 Merlin 1 Total 22 last month 32 From jbw at oregoncoast.com Wed Dec 9 06:57:23 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara and John Woodhouse) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 06:57:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tillamook East Raptor run Message-ID: OOPS that should have read 4 1/2 hours not 1 1/2 hours. Barbara Woodhouse From kit at uoregon.edu Wed Dec 9 08:36:06 2009 From: kit at uoregon.edu (Kit Larsen) Date: Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:36:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Peru birding Message-ID: <200912091635.nB9GZfhI028656@smtp.uoregon.edu> Several Eugene birders took a birding trip to Peru a few months ago, visiting to coast, the sacred valley around Cusco, Manu National Park, and Abra Malaga. We will give a slide show presentation of the trip at the Eugene birders night on Monday, Dec 14. Anyone interested is welcome to come. The directions to the location are convoluted. Barry McKenzie usually includes them in his note about the meeting. Kit Larsen Eugene Eugene Birders night - SWOC - Monday Dec 14, 7pm LOCATION : Sacred Heart Hospital (downtown), 1255 Hilyard St; Conference Room A (across the hall from the Auditorium). Directions to Conference Room A: -enter main Lobby from Hilyard St -turn Left and walk down hall (past the cafeteria) to end of hall -turn Right and walk down hall (past Dining Room) to end of hall -turn Right and walk a few steps, then Left down the hall toward the Auditorium -Conference Room A (labelled simply Conference Room) is on the Right (across from a bank of telephones on the Left side of the hall) Parking: Parking lot structure (across Hilyard from the Lobby) charges $1/hour (I think). Street parking is not available on Hilyard per se, but is found on 13th, 12th (West of Patterson), and Patterson streets (street parking free after 6pm). Map is at this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=sacred+heart+hospital+eugene,+or&fb=1&split=1&cid=0,0,17378354515337851834&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image From dpvroman at budget.net Wed Dec 9 09:29:49 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis Vroman) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 09:29:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Jack Co Bullock's Oriole Message-ID: <005491309DA4489A94E54E2BBF3F8324@your4dacd0ea75> Dave Webb's message from the Rogue Valley web page: "Saw one today in my yard feeding on a big pine and visiting a hummer(oriole) feeder hung around from 10.30-till at least 3.00. Located on bear creek across from the expo. First time Ive seen one in December." Also, Oriole reported on 12-01-09 in Talent. Dennis, north of Grants Pass -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091209/1b520d67/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Wed Dec 9 09:43:44 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis Vroman) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 09:43:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Jack Co Bullock's Oriole References: <005491309DA4489A94E54E2BBF3F8324@your4dacd0ea75> Message-ID: <8314594AEBB24D9584F78D25C2E877A4@your4dacd0ea75> Should have indicated that "today" (for the Bear Creek bird) was 12-08-09. Dennis Subject: [obol] Jack Co Bullock's Oriole Dave Webb's message from the Rogue Valley web page: "Saw one today in my yard feeding on a big pine and visiting a hummer(oriole) feeder hung around from 10.30-till at least 3.00. Located on bear creek across from the expo. First time Ive seen one in December." Also, Oriole reported on 12-01-09 in Talent. Dennis, north of Grants Pass ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091209/d62920e9/attachment.html From birdmandon at clearwire.net Wed Dec 9 11:48:06 2009 From: birdmandon at clearwire.net (Don Schrouder) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 11:48:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Mockingbird/Lane Co. Message-ID: <3B5EC38B-5DF0-4182-9A39-1B0B6EEE52AA@clearwire.net> I just need to make a minor correction as to the exact location. I stated that the bird was on the nw corner of the bridge over the Long Tom on Cox Butte Rd. when the actual bridge was the first one over the water way a couple hundred yards before getting to the Long Tom bridge when heading west on Cox Butte from Washburne Lane. Don Schrouder From steve at paradisebirding.com Wed Dec 9 13:19:29 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 13:19:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Winter Malheur Birds Message-ID: <9a341ea30912091319n13aeb10yee06ad3581fa905e@mail.gmail.com> Hello all, Over the last week or so, the following birds were reported from Malheur: SORA - Crane Pond; single juvenile feeding out in the open; there are only single Dec and Jan records for the refuge MERLIN - Whitzel Corral; about 15 winter records for Harney County VARIED THRUSH - HQ; 4 prior winter records for the refuge SNOW GOOSE - HQ; present last week through this Monday; no records between 12/20 and 1/29 HAIRY WOODPECKER - HQ; uncommon in winter LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE - Diamond Ln; uncommon in winter AMERICAN GOLDFINCH - almost daily flyovers at HQ; occasional in winter Other reports included lots of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS and a few NORTHERN SHRIKES. Many FLICKERS around, and a flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS at HQ last week. Two pairs of HOODED MERGANSERS and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK were seen on the Blitzen River at Krumbo Rd. An adult COOPER'S HAWK was around at HQ during the week, one day chasing off a juvenile COOPER'S HAWK. A large controlled burn on the south shore of Malheur Lake attracted many raptors, according to the fire crews. A lone AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was reported Monday flying high and due south. Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091209/7e29c7a6/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Wed Dec 9 13:52:34 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:52:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Now that's a Gyrfalcon! Message-ID: <4B201C22.90904@pacifier.com> While doing the Columbia River raptor count today I came across a GYRFALCON at Brownsmead near Aldrich Point. http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Mistaken Identities http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12932/ From ed.mcvicker at comcast.net Wed Dec 9 13:56:06 2009 From: ed.mcvicker at comcast.net (Ed McVicker) Date: Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:56:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Thrushes and Beautyberry Message-ID: <4B201CF6.2070501@comcast.net> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091209/a920a7b5/attachment.html From jmeredit at bendnet.com Wed Dec 9 14:09:48 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 14:09:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] ECBC Wednesdayers around Bend - DUNLIN Message-ID: <2A73EAA65F8E41D0831A2B4EEB3FDCD7@MOM> Birders > Six of us birded Hatfield, Farewell Bend Park, 1st Street Rapids > and Marion's feeders. There was a small amount of open water here > and there. > > The bird of the day for out of season was a DUNLIN at Hatfield. > It was feeding very busily along the open channel of water between > the back pond and the overflow pond. It paid no attention to us > and allowed very close views, to confirm ID with it's extra long > drooping beak, plain back, dark legs and size when Song Sparrows > were around it. Dunlin in December when it has been below zero > for a few nights is pretty odd we thought. In "the valley" you might expect to find them at this time of year, but not in central Oregon. > > It was so cold but we kept moving and managed enough time > out of the car to find birds here and there. We did hear one > vocalization that we never tracked down, at Hatfield where there > was one Raven and the loose flock of Pinyon Jays. The sound > made was like a Pheasant or Chukar or grouse but we found > nothing but the corvids. Another mystery, more to learn. > > Birders today, Barbara Retzlaff (visiting from Seattle), Howard > Horvath, Marion Davidson, Don Sutherland, Mike Golden and > Judy Meredith. > > Birdnotes list below. http://birdnotes.net > River had large concentrations of ducks around small body of > open water. Hatfield had a little open water at the back pond but > very few ducks. Water moving between back pond and overflow. > Canada Goose - plus 3 domestic crosses, Farewell Bend most of the geese. > Trumpeter Swan ( introduced) > American Wigeon > Mallard > Northern Pintail > Green-Winged Teal > Ring-necked Duck > Lesser Scaup > Bufflehead > Hooded Merganser - 5 at Farewell Bend. No Commons seen. > Ruddy Duck - Hatfield > Pied-billed Grebe > Great Blue Heron > Bald Eagle - 2 adults Hatfield, one 3 or 4 yr Erickson/Powell Butte Hwy. > Red-tailed Hawk > Dunlin - AMAZING active bird at water flowing from back pond to overflow. > It had ice on it's wings. It fed very close to us for confirmation of ID. No other shorebirds around anywhere today. Long droopy bill, plain > back, larger, longer than Song Sparrow, had dark legs. > Rock Dove > Mourning Dove > Belted Kingfisher > Downy Woodpecker - alders along 1st street. > Northern Flicker > Steller's Jay > Western Scrub-Jay > Pinyon Jay - Loose flock 50 to 60 at Hatfield. > Black-billed Magpie > American Crow > Common Raven > Mountain Chickadee > Pygmy Nuthatch > American Dipper - 3 birds, just below dam at 1st street. One was singing > away and swimming, feeding among the ice covered rocks and icy > water. > Western Bluebird - 15 or so birds 1st street, feeding on berries of > mistletoe in junipers. > Townsend's Solitaire > American Robin > European Starling > Song Sparrow > Golden-crowned Sparrow > Dark-eyed Junco > Red-winged Blackbird > House Finch > Lesser Goldfinch - Marion's feeders > American Goldfinch - alders along 1st street rapids trail. > House Sparrow > > Total number of species seen: 41 - not counting Trumpeters. > Good birding, Judy Meredith, jmeredit at bendnet.com From scottbmurray at msn.com Wed Dec 9 16:29:53 2009 From: scottbmurray at msn.com (scottbmurray at msn.com) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:29:53 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Ridgefield NWR River S Unit, Clark County, Washington on December 09, 2009 Message-ID: <200912100029.nBA0TrlM008349@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Scott Murray by http://birdnotes.net Date: December 9, 2009 Location: Ridgefield NWR River S Unit, Clark County, Washington Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Greater White-fronted Goose 15 Canada Goose Cackling Goose Tundra Swan 316 [1] American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal 2 [2] Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-Winged Teal 22 Bufflehead 2 [3] Hooded Merganser 11 [4] Common Merganser 9 [5] Ruddy Duck 16 Pied-billed Grebe 4 Double-crested Cormorant 5 [6] Great Blue Heron 12 Great Egret 3 Bald Eagle 4 [7] Northern Harrier 6 Red-tailed Hawk 18 [8] Rough-legged Hawk 1 American Kestrel 3 American Coot Killdeer 3 Common Snipe 17 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 Downy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 2 Steller's Jay 3 Western Scrub-Jay 2 American Crow 2 Black-capped Chickadee 7 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 3 Brown Creeper 1 Bewick's Wren 1 Marsh Wren 5 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 American Robin 7 European Starling Spotted Towhee 4 Fox Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 27 Lincoln's Sparrow 2 [9] Golden-crowned Sparrow 87 Dark-eyed Junco 2 Purple Finch 11 House Finch 17 American Goldfinch 9 Footnotes: [1] one with blue neck band with white letters P790 [2] 2 males on N. Quigley with a flock of Coots [3] on lake river [4] on lake river [5] on lake river [6] Fly over [7] 2 Adult 2 Juv. [8] One dark Morph almost black [9] 2 seen by entrance to kiwa Trail Total number of species seen: 51 From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Dec 9 17:11:19 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 17:11:19 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos CBC Scouting report- booby, avocet and more Message-ID: <384634.17547.qm@web45311.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Hi All, Not sure if this made it to OBOL, sorry about the double post if my other e-mail eventually gets posted. Here is my latest scouting report for the?Coos Bay CBC?which is happening Sunday the 20th. ?By the way, I have the fewest people I have ever had as a compiler at this point. Let me know if you are interested in helping out, there are lots of really birdy areas with minimal coverage. N. Spit of Coos Bay, 20's, late PM on Tuesday 12/8/09:Many ducks on the unfrozen old aeration pond out there (all the other fresh water was frozen) and no hunters around, highlights included:4- CINNAMON TEAL (one male w/ three females, a real rarity on the Coos count)41- CANVASBACK250+?RUDDY DUCKS150-?RING-NECKED DUCKSand several other species including lots of wigeon, shovelers, pintail, and scaup. Also a calling SORA south of the side dike of the aeration pond. Pony Slough, from behind Tai's Dynasty Restaurant, SE side of the slough, early AM, 12/9/2009, 20's:1-?AMERICAN AVOCET?(this is the 4th Coos December record, two of the first three overwintered here at Pony Slough in 98/99 & 2000/2001) Near Bi-mart, Coos Bay, AM:I finally found the roost of several very elusive BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS I have been watching fly over Bi-Mart after sunset lately. ?Imagine finding 3 birds in a couple 25 foot tall Sweet Gums! They are rapidly losing their leaves so these birds will need to find better cover soon. Millicoma Marsh, AM:1-?RED FOX SPARROW?coming to the seed on the side trail (the seed with lots of WT Sparrows). Eatside Nieighborhoods near Millicoma, AM:7- CEDAR WAXWINGS (a tough bird on the Coos count) Fossil Point, Empire, PM:1- BROWN BOOBY- its still alive!!!! ?Seen on the smaller navigational tower sitting atop of the solar panel, no doubt bagging some rays. Also seen from here in the bay was a male REDHEAD, a real tough duck to find in recent years in Coos Co. ?In addition I saw my first COMMON GOLDENEYES of the winter and there were two E. COLLARED-DOVES across the street. Behind the Empire Sewage Treatment Plant, early PM:1-?SNOWY EGRET3- MARBLED GODWITSand a good assortment of gulls including Mew, Ring-billed, Western, Glaucous-winged, Olympic, Thayers, Herring, and CA. That's it for now,Merry Happy!Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091209/223fe614/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Dec 9 18:29:18 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 18:29:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wed morning Message-ID: Beacon Road to Hileman Landing County Park, walked to edge of ThistleDown Farms, drove accross River Rd on Beacon to Meadowview west of 99, birded by car around the Eugene Airport. Harlan's Hawk was on north side of Meadowview west of Greenhill. The early birds were hunkered down in frosty bushes until the sun brightened up the landscape. Many raptors basically in one field near the airport. The swans were just south of Meadowview. Because we were eventually in two cars, the list below may not include everything seen by everyone. Cackling Goose - 10,000 + Canada Goose - much less Tundra Swan - 65 Mallard - 2 Green-winged Teal - 3 Am. Wigeon - 5 Great Blue Heron - 1 Great Egret - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 8 Harlan's (Red-tailed) Hawk - 1 in definitive plumage Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 Rough-legged Hawk - 3 N. Harrier - 3 Merlin - 1 Kestrel - 10 Bald Eagle - 1 Turkey Vulture - 2 Killdeer - 12 Wilson's Snipe - 4 Sandpiper sp. - 1 Flicker - 1 Black Phoebe - 1 Am. Pipit - 30 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1 Am. Robin - 50+ Starling - 200 Golden-cr. Kinglet - 10 Black-capped Chickadee - 8 Brewick's Wren - 1 Raven - 2 Crow - 1 Scrub Jay - 10 Steller's Jay - 30 D-e Junco - 40 Golden-cr. Sparrow - 40 White-cr. Sparrow - 25 Song Sparrow - 15 Fox Sparrow - 2 Spotted Towhee - 4 House Sparrow - 2 House Finch - 2 Red-winged Blackbird - 2 Brewer's Blackbird - 20+ W. Meadowlark - 15 Lesser Goldfinch - 2 Paul Sherrell, Dennis Arendt, Sylvia Maulding, Craig Merkel, Dave Brown, Tom Mickel, Don Schrouder, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091209/a69fe220/attachment.html From plbirder at bendbroadband.com Wed Dec 9 20:36:40 2009 From: plbirder at bendbroadband.com (plbirder at bendbroadband.com) Date: Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:36:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fwd: [COBOL] White-winged Crossbills Message-ID: Peter Low plbirder at bendbroadband.com -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: plbirder at bendbroadband.com Subject: [COBOL] White-winged Crossbills Date: Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:31:57 -0800 Size: 6428 Url: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091209/b1a8ef60/attachment.mht From smithdwd at hotmail.com Wed Dec 9 20:42:15 2009 From: smithdwd at hotmail.com (david smith) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:42:15 +0000 Subject: [obol] Wallowas and SE OR Dec 4-8 Message-ID: Don Coggswell and I did our 3rd annual winter trip east. We encountered clear weather with -8 as the low south of Burns. Notables, 4 Dec: John Day dam: LBBGull below the dam, mid am; it flew N&W high above and over the dam. Wallowa Cty:Gray Partridge: a dozen flushed along west end(gully area) of School Flat Rd. GC Rosy Finch: about 20 further east along a small barn(same place as last year). 5, 6 Dec: NE of Joseph 2 Prairie Falcons,"lots" of Bald eagles, RT, and RL Hawks. No Kestrels nor Gyrfalcon. Wallowa Lake: 20 CO Goldeneye, N end, 3 Barrow's, S end(dock), 1000's of Mallards along E shore. Joseph and Enterprise: less then 100 Cedar WWings; no BOWWings. Adult Merlin, 5th and South, Joseph. 3 Gray Partridge flushed at Kinney Lake; Don followed them through the snow to see their "black bellies".. "Your"Collared Doves-every small town we passed through. No Horned Larks, Snowbuntings, nor Am Tree Sparrows. Farewell Bend(Malheur Cty) area: 100's of CO Goldeneye(no Barrow's), 1 Mute Swan 2 miles S of park, LH Shrike. 7 Dec: Ontario Sewage Pond: 100's of waterfowl including 2 Tundra Swan(1st winter), Ho Mergansers, Am Wigeon, L Scaup, 3 Snow geese, a dozen male Barrow's,... Bully Crk Res: 100's waterfowl,(2) W Grebe, 1/2 frozen, 1/2 empty. Juntura: NO Shrike, Chukar Park: Robins and Solitaires.8 Dec(cold at MNWR): Steve Schunk at HQ(winter volunteer), Am Tree Sparrow(adult) at MFStation. David Smith _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Friends get your Flickr, Yelp, and Digg updates when they e-mail you. http://www.microsoft.com/middleeast/windows/windowslive/see-it-in-action/social-network-basics.aspx?ocid=PID23461::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-xm:SI_SB_3:092010 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091210/a24248d3/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Dec 9 20:52:12 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 20:52:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] wed morning addendum Message-ID: I forgot bluebirds. How could I? There were at least 5. Larry -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091209/ac0f1d16/attachment.html From LCain at astoria.k12.or.us Wed Dec 9 21:56:51 2009 From: LCain at astoria.k12.or.us (Lee Cain) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 21:56:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Band-tailed Pigeon Message-ID: <515DDA9BF1AC1E42829D6CD2AA9FC401014F9F7AE81C@asdxcng.intra.astoria.k12.or.us> Strange but true: My General Biology students launched off on Project Feeder Watch today. While we were training on bird ID through the windows of the Applied Science Center, a BAND-TAILED PIGEON flew down to the trout ponds to check out of the 12 millet-type pop-bottle feeders that the kids built and hung (the place looks like a Christmas tree!). I don't recall ever seeing a BTPI at this time of the year around here, though I know they show on some CBC's. Lee Cain >//////> >//////> >//////> >//////> Aquatic Biology/Integrated Science Astoria High School 1001 West Marine Drive Astoria OR 97103 503-325-3911 vm 301 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091209/9294b0a3/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Wed Dec 9 22:47:14 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:47:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Trumpeter Swans in Seaside all day Message-ID: <4B209972.8080909@pdx.edu> 9 December 2009 Necanicum Estuary: Seaside: Clatsop Co. Steve Warner called me this morning to report three swans that "looked like TRUMPETERS," he had scoped from the estuary overlook immediately west of Seaside High School (home of the Gulls). My daughter Eva and I later joined Steve and Neil Maine on the spit accessed from the north end of Franklin Street in Seaside. We scoped the three birds and indeed they all appear to be TRUMPETER SWAN. All three birds were in all-white plumage. One of the birds had pale tarsi and feet (tannish to pinkish; not bright), one had just a bit of pale on its legs; the third had legs that were all jet-black. I wondered if the paler-legged birds might be juveniles. All three were first swimming in the channel and then came out of the water onto the island that has formed this fall between the Gearhart and Seaside spits. I was able to see that none of the six legs had an bands fitted to them. At sundown the three swans were still in the middle of the estuary, and appeared to be roosting in the channel for the night. In other news, the two ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS coming to my feeder are lucky to have me thawing it out each night. The below freezing weather has correlated with increased activity at my two suet blocks: Three TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, both red-feathered and yellow-feathered NORTHERN FLICKERS, VARIED THRUSHES, FOX SPARROWS, many RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, and CHICKADEES. NO Pine Siskins so far.this season. COMMON GOLDENYES are frequenting the Necancium Estuary (which includes the Necanicum River to south to Ave U and Neawanna Creek to south to Ave S) and I may have seen the female BARROW'S again upstream of where Neawanna Creek flows under Hwy 101. David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Dec 9 23:38:48 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:38:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 12-10-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * December 10, 2009 * ORPO0912.10 - Birds mentioned BEAN GOOSE Snow Goose Trumpeter Swan Cinnamon Teal Long-tailed Duck BROWN BOOBY Brown Pelican Turkey Vulture Gyrfalcon American Avocet Dunlin LITTLE GULL Heermann?s Gull LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Short-eared Owl Red-breasted Sapsucker Tropical Kingbird Northern Mockingbird Clay-colored Sparrow Lark Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Bullock?s Oriole White-winged Crossbill - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday December 9. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On December 6 an adult LITTLE GULL was flying over Fern Ridge Reservoir. It could not be relocated. A possible BEAN GOOSE was seen December 4 among a goose flock near McMinnville. The LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS continue to be seen at the John Day Dam. The Coos Bay BROWN BOOBY also continues. The continuing cold weather is apparently driving the BROWN PELICANS and HEERMANN?S GULLS southward. Quite a few are still being seen all along the coast. A LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen December 4 on the North Spit of Coos Bay. That day 14 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were at the Millicoma Marsh bird seeds. On December 9 an AVOCET was at Coos Bay. On December 5 a LARK SPARROW was at the Idaho Point RV Park on Yaquina Bay. The Sallys Bend TROPICAL KINGBIRD continues to be seen. Three TRUMPETER SWANS were aat Seaside December 9. On December 9 an adult gray phase GYRFALCON was photographed at Brownsmead east of Astoria. On December 3 eight CINNAMON TEAL and seven SNOW GEESE were at Ridgefield NWR. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen during the week at a North Portland feeder. A TURKEY VULTURE was over Ankeny NWR December 6. Two were near Eugene December 9. A MOCKINGBIRD and a SHORT-EARED OWL were near Eugene December 8. On December 8 a BULLOCK?S ORIOLE was at a feeder near Grants Pass. On December 8 a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was in Bend. A DUNLIN was seen December 9 at Hatfield Lake near Bend. A flock of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS was seen December 9 near Mt. Bachelor. On December 2 a brown GYRFALCON was south of Burns Junction in Malheur County. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091209/2e62842f/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Dec 10 05:21:07 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:21:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Airlie/Suver Trumpeter flock update Message-ID: <1260451267.5521.7.camel@clearwater1> Hello folks, The number of swans at the junction of Hwy 99W and Airlie/Suver Rd. between Monmouth and Corvallis (s. Polk Co.) continues to increase. On the way back from a lunchtime trip to Monmouth yesterday, I came up with a quick head count of 38 TRUMPETER SWANS including about 10 immature birds, and the remainder (about a dozen) TUNDRA SWANS. So looks like the Trumpeter flock is just about up to full strength now, compared with past years. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From cgates326 at gmail.com Thu Dec 10 06:20:07 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:20:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] WW Crossbills near Bend Message-ID: <7105A7DF62C842999D72E89B19712206@cgatesPC> This from one of our best birders here in Central Oregon: Hi, I went xc skiing this afternoon at Dutchman Flats Snow Park. It was around 1pm, and just as I was about to start off, a flock of about 10 White-winged Crossbills passed overhead calling. I continued in thier direction but did not relocate them. I went as far as Todd Lake, and did not hear or see any Red Crossbills. There was a few small groups of Pine Siskins scattered around, plus 5 Chestnut-backed Chickadees among the usual. The Snow Park is west of Bend on Century Drive at the base of Tumalo Mountain and oppisite Mount Bachelor Ski area. Peter Low plbirder at bendbroadband.com _______________________________________________ COBOL mailing list COBOL at lists.oregonstate.edu http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol To unsubscribe, send a message to: COBOL-request at lists.oregonstate.edu with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091210/511839b2/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Thu Dec 10 08:11:04 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:11:04 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Now that's a Gyrfalcon! In-Reply-To: <4B201C22.90904@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <565541.67974.qm@web39704.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Mike, No doubt about this one! I see this falcon as an adult because of its general grey coloration of the dark feathering, and its yellowish feet. It has obviously just finished eating because of its very large crop, and the blood still on its face. Would not attempt to distinguish which sex without a frame of reference. Great photos, and I'm rather certain this species has no difficulty with this cold weather. Best, Dick --- On Wed, 12/9/09, Mike Patterson wrote: > From: Mike Patterson > Subject: [obol] Now that's a Gyrfalcon! > To: "OBOL" > Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 1:52 PM > While doing the Columbia River raptor > count today I came > across a GYRFALCON at Brownsmead near Aldrich Point. > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Mistaken Identities > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12932/ > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From celata at pacifier.com Thu Dec 10 08:52:20 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:52:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Raptor Count: Lower Columbia - 12/9/2009 Message-ID: <4B212744.2070202@pacifier.com> Columbia River Route - SJCR, Warrenton, Astoria, Twilight, Svensen Is and Brownsmead. 3.5hrs; 62.7mi Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Bald Eagle 6 Northern Harrier 5 Red-tailed Hawk 15 Gyrfalcon 1 [1] Peregrine Falcon 2 Footnotes: [1] Gray-phase adult, near Aldrich Pt. Photographs Total number of species seen: 5 -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Mistaken Identities http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12932/ From fitzbeew at gmail.com Thu Dec 10 09:57:15 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:57:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] RFI: Tropical Kingbird in Newport? Message-ID: Obol, I was wondering when was the last time someone saw the Tropical Kingbird in Newport. I am thinking of making a run over there tomorrow. Please reply offline. Holly Reinhard Corvallis, OR fitzbeew at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091210/084a2812/attachment.html From ninerharv2 at msn.com Thu Dec 10 13:10:40 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:10:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] FW: Band-tailed Pigeon Message-ID: > From: ninerharv2 at msn.com > To: LCain at astoria.k12.or.us > Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:12:39 +0000 > Subject: Re: [obol] Band-tailed Pigeon > > The morning has produced a wide variety of birds in Bandon. At the Youth Center thus far I have noted 3 bandtailed, a flock of about 40 starlings and a number of flickers. At breakfast time, we had a great horned owl surveying the surrounding perched at the top of a lone pine tree at Bradley Lake for all to see. > > Harv Schubothe > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T > > -----Original Message----- > From: Lee Cain > Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:56:51 > To: > Subject: [obol] Band-tailed Pigeon > > Strange but true: > > My General Biology students launched off on Project Feeder Watch today. While we were training on bird ID through the windows of the Applied Science Center, a BAND-TAILED PIGEON flew down to the trout ponds to check out of the 12 millet-type pop-bottle feeders that the kids built and hung (the place looks like a Christmas tree!). > > I don't recall ever seeing a BTPI at this time of the year around here, though I know they show on some CBC's. > > Lee Cain > >//////> >//////> >//////> >//////> > Aquatic Biology/Integrated Science > > Astoria High School > 1001 West Marine Drive > Astoria OR 97103 > 503-325-3911 vm 301 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091210/32874421/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Thu Dec 10 13:12:46 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:12:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Spanish Head 12/10 Message-ID: brief seawatch Spanish Head, Lincoln City 8:15-8:45, clear, light E wind 600 Red-throated Loon (steady N) 30 Pacific Loon (N) 10 Western Grebe 380 Brown Pelican (continuous small flocks N) 1 Double-crested Cormorant 5 Brandt's Cormorant 20 White-winged Scoter 60 Surf Scoter 150 Mew Gull (moving S in close) 2+ Ring-billed Gull 15 California Gull 80 Herring Gull (many juv) 80 Western Gull 150 Glaucous-winged Gull (70%+ juv) 6000+ larus sp*. (spread thinly spanning the horizon most 2+ miles out, most resting, feeding, with some lesser N movement) 6 Heermann's Gull (N) 500+ Common Murre (80% N) 1 Rhinoceros Auklet * flocks resting on Lincoln City beaches this week have been dominated by Glaucous-winged and Herring. Phil philliplc at charter.net From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Dec 10 15:17:39 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:17:39 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 12/10/2009 Message-ID: <927938.5227.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> The AMERICAN AVOCET was in the SE corner of Pony Slough again this morning, seen well from behind Tai Dynasty Restaurant. Knute Andersson reported a SNOW GOOSE from the airport this morning, he is probably in MA by now. ?The airport runways can be seen very well from the BLM office and from a gravel road that goes uphill just before the new entrance into the airport. I walked around the Telegraph Hill neighborhoods this morning doing some scouting for the area I'll cover on our CBC. ?I was worried the cold weather would make finding ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER ?difficult. Not so, I found 4 of them, good spot for them though. I also saw a few LESSER GOLDFINCHES, another somewhat hard to find count bird. The ROSS'S GOOSE, 5 SNOW GEESE, and flock of Cacklers are still in the pastures up Coos River near the Allegany bridge. That's it for today,Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091210/5a2e6b24/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Thu Dec 10 17:50:07 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:50:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Collared-Dove flock in Clatsop Co. Message-ID: <4B21A54F.7040103@pdx.edu> I counted a dozen (minimum) EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES WERE a few hundred meters down Lewis Ave from Sunset Beach Road (and Sunset Beach Bakery) coming to a residential feeding station today. I had noticed one bird there earlier in the week and went back by there again today to have a determined look. David David C. Bailey Gearhart, Oregon From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Dec 9 13:59:59 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 13:59:59 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos CBC Scouting report- booby, avocet and more Message-ID: <593578.94474.qm@web45301.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Hi All, Here is my scouting report for the Coos Bay CBC which is happening Sunday the 20th. ?By the way, I have the fewest people I have ever had as a compiler at this point. Let me know if you are interested in helping out, there are lots of really birdy areas with minimal coverage. N. Spit of Coos Bay, 20's, late PM on Tuesday 12/8/09:Many ducks on the unfrozen old aeration pond out there (all the other fresh water was frozen) and no hunters around, highlights included:4- CINNAMON TEAL (one male w/ three females, a real rarity on the Coos count)41- CANVASBACK250+ RUDDY DUCKS150- RING-NECKED DUCKSand several other species including lots of wigeon, shovelers, pintail, and scaup. Also a calling SORA south of the side dike of the aeration pond. Pony Slough, from behind Tai's Dynasty Restaurant, SE side of the slough, early AM, 12/9/2009, 20's:1- AMERICAN AVOCET (this is the 4th Coos December Coos record, two of the first three overwintered here at Pony Slough in 98/99 & 2000/2001) Near Bi-mart, Coos Bay, AM:I finally found the roost of several very elusive BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS I have been watching fly over Bi-Mart after sunset lately. ?Imagine finding 3 birds in a couple 25 foot tall Sweet Gums! They are rapidly losing their leaves so these birds will need to find better cover soon. Millicoma Marsh, AM:1- RED FOX SPARROW coming to the seed on the side trail (the seed with lots of WT Sparrows). Eatside Nieighborhoods near Millicoma, AM:7- CEDAR WAXWINGS (a tough bird on the Coos count) Fossil Point, Empire, PM:1- BROWN BOOBY- its still alive!!!! ?Seen on the smaller navigational tower sitting atop of the solar panel, no doubt bagging some rays. Also seen from here in the bay was a male REDHEAD, a real tough duck to find in recent years in Coos Co. ?In addition I saw my first COMMON GOLDENEYES of the winter and there were two E. COLLARED-DOVES across the street. Behind the Empire Sewage Treatment Plant, early PM:1- SNOWY EGRET3- MARBLED GODWITSand a good assortment of gulls including Mew, Ring-billed, Western, Glaucous-winged, Olympic, Thayers, Herring, and CA. That's it for now,Merry Happy!Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091209/bc2909c0/attachment.html From mtweel at charter.net Thu Dec 10 20:21:13 2009 From: mtweel at charter.net (Margaret) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:21:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] snipe yard bird Message-ID: <7D0C83397D6D46988D135CCC7BF6FD57@Margaret> I have a new yard bird today (Thurs). Two common snipe were poking in our yard this afternoon. I think the weather has something to do with their being further from Cape Meares Lake. I've had a virginia rail and phalaropes in past years when we have had extreme weather changes. Marg Tweelinckx -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091210/4c7a83ed/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Fri Dec 11 05:47:22 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:47:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 12/09/09 Message-ID: <20091211134733.886C1A8158@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 12/03 to 12/09/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week (11/5 to 11/11) are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 3 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Cackling Goose 1 (50, 12/8) NORTHERN PINTAIL 1 (3, 12/5) Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 (1, 12/5 & 8) Northern Flicker 3 (2) Pileated Woodpecker 1 (1, 12/5) Hutton's Vireo 2 (1, 12/5 & 6) Steller's Jay 1 (1, 12/8) American Crow 1 (1, 12/8) Black-capped Chickadee 3 (8) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 1 (2, 12/6) Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 (4) Winter Wren 3 (1) Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 (2, 12/6) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 (2, 12/5) Hermit Thrush 1 (4, 12/8) American Robin 3 (30, 12/6) Varied Thrush 3 (15, 12/8) Spotted Towhee 2 (3, 12/8) Song Sparrow 3 (6, 12/8) Dark-eyed Junco 7 (30, 12/6) House Finch 2 (8, 12/6) Red Crossbill 1 (1, 12/8) Wink Gross Portland From celata at pacifier.com Fri Dec 11 08:20:06 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:20:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] From the Regional Editor: CBC season Message-ID: <4B227136.7010508@pacifier.com> The Christmas Bird Count Season officially begins next week. I hope everyone has already marked several dates on their calendars. Several compiler have expressed concern about fielding enough counters. Please consider expanding your horizon by picking a count you've never been to before. It is looking to be a GYRFALCON year. This species has been reported as far south as the south coast of Oregon. Please familiarize yourselves with the fieldmarks for this species, particularly the dark form which can be confused with dark form Peregrine Falcons. I have updated the Regional Editor's Page and CBC FAQ. I am once again depending on the efforts of Michael Hobbs, Don Albright and Joel Geier to gather all the dates and contact information for the region. Please also look over the FAQ which includes a list of species which we'd like to see details on, should they be encountered. http://home.pacifier.com/~mpatters/cbc/cbc_WAOR_reg.html -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Mistaken Identities http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12932/ From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Fri Dec 11 08:26:52 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:26:52 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Winter Malheur Birds In-Reply-To: <9a341ea30912091319n13aeb10yee06ad3581fa905e@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <432244.56748.qm@web39705.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Stephen, Thanks for your report. I find it interesting that here in Harney Co. there have only been about 15 records of merlins, as I've already seen three so far this fall. Best, Dick 15 mi. south of Burns --- On Wed, 12/9/09, Stephen Shunk wrote: > From: Stephen Shunk > Subject: [obol] Winter Malheur Birds > To: "obol" > Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 1:19 PM > > Hello all, > Over the last week or so, the following birds were > reported from Malheur: > ? > SORA - Crane Pond; single juvenile feeding out in the > open;?there are only single?Dec and Jan records for the > refuge > MERLIN - Whitzel Corral; about 15 winter records for > Harney County > VARIED THRUSH?- HQ; 4 prior winter records for the > refuge > SNOW GOOSE - HQ; present last week through this > Monday; no records between 12/20 and 1/29 > HAIRY WOODPECKER - HQ; uncommon in winter > LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE - Diamond Ln; uncommon in > winter > AMERICAN GOLDFINCH - almost daily flyovers at HQ; > occasional in winter > ? > Other reports included lots of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS and > a few NORTHERN SHRIKES. Many FLICKERS around, and a?flock > of CEDAR WAXWINGS at HQ last week.?Two pairs of HOODED > MERGANSERS and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK were seen on the Blitzen > River at Krumbo Rd. An adult COOPER'S HAWK was around at > HQ during the week, one day chasing off a juvenile > COOPER'S HAWK. A large controlled burn on the south > shore of Malheur Lake attracted many raptors, according to > the fire crews. A lone AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was reported > Monday flying high and due south. > > ? > Steve Shunk > -- > Stephen Shunk > Paradise Birding > Sisters, OR USA > www.paradisebirding.com > 541-408-1753 > > > > > -- > Stephen Shunk > Paradise Birding > Sisters, OR USA > www.paradisebirding.com > 541-408-1753 > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From henry at formandstructure.net Fri Dec 11 08:30:51 2009 From: henry at formandstructure.net (Henry Horvat) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:30:51 -0500 Subject: [obol] St Helens - Scappoose Raptor Run Message-ID: <174DFA2FF9B9794C84FC6231D7B5160D5E8FFE38@MAILSC003.mail.lan> OBOL'ers: On 12/10/09 I did the St. Helens - Scappoose Raptor Run and had a very cooperative Peregrine Falcon up in a tree on Honeyman Road. I was actually able to get out of the car and look up at it from the road. There were also two Rough Legged Hawks in the fields instead of the single bird that has been seen each winter. Canada Goose numbers were around 18,000, with large flocks flying in to join the other flocks in the agricultural fields. Viewing conditions were: clear skies, zero wind, and a temp. of 23 degrees F. Henry Horvat Scappoose Bottoms -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091211/dfa1ec21/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Dec 11 08:39:48 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:39:48 +0000 Subject: [obol] From the Regional Editor: CBC season In-Reply-To: <4B227136.7010508@pacifier.com> References: <4B227136.7010508@pacifier.com> Message-ID: Greetings all, In response to Mike Patterson's plea for helping out on a count you've never been on, I would encourage folks to consider the Brownsville CBC, which will be run on Dec. 26th. I've now done this count about six years running (maybe more) and it has become one of my favorites. Last year, my mom and I found an Emperor Goose less than 30 minutes into our day. This area is definitely "raptor alley." Gyrfalcon is certainly a possibility and Prairie Falcon and Golden Eagle are found on this count nearly every year. I've cc'd Barbara Combs (the count's compiler) at the top of this post, so you can glean her e-mail address if you would like to contact her about participating. Brownsville is less than 1.5 hours from Portland and roughly a half hour drive from Eugene, Corvallis, and Salem. Hope to see you there, Dave Irons Eugene, OR > Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:20:06 -0800 > From: celata at pacifier.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] From the Regional Editor: CBC season > > The Christmas Bird Count Season officially begins next week. > I hope everyone has already marked several dates on their > calendars. Several compiler have expressed concern about > fielding enough counters. Please consider expanding your > horizon by picking a count you've never been to before. > > It is looking to be a GYRFALCON year. This species has been > reported as far south as the south coast of Oregon. Please > familiarize yourselves with the fieldmarks for this species, > particularly the dark form which can be confused with dark form > Peregrine Falcons. > > I have updated the Regional Editor's Page and CBC FAQ. I am > once again depending on the efforts of Michael Hobbs, Don Albright > and Joel Geier to gather all the dates and contact information > for the region. Please also look over the FAQ which includes a > list of species which we'd like to see details on, should they > be encountered. > > http://home.pacifier.com/~mpatters/cbc/cbc_WAOR_reg.html > > -- > Mike Patterson > Astoria, OR > Mistaken Identities > http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12932/ > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091211/2dfff6c1/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Fri Dec 11 11:38:02 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:38:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos WT Sparrows Message-ID: <4B229F9A.7050706@verizon.net> In past years we've always had 2 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS at our feeder just north of Bandon, Coos Co. Today, I just counted 4 at once. The yard is full of AMERICAN ROBINS today also. Finally above freezing! Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net -- "We need to change our mind frame - our values. Perhaps quality time, love, family values, friendship and respect are preferable to material goods and status? Or maybe humans are too vain. In this problem, I think we are seeing the worst of ourselves in the mirror. We see power struggle and corruption." Rasmus Benestad, The Norwegian Meteorological Institute From watice at msn.com Fri Dec 11 15:21:08 2009 From: watice at msn.com (BILL ROSIE TICE) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:21:08 +0000 Subject: [obol] Out and about in Polk County Message-ID: Hi Folks, I needed to get out of the house today, so not having to work, I first headed over to BSNWR. The entire water surface wherever I looked was covered with ice. There were a few flocks of CANADA and CACKLING GEESE, but I did not see any Dux. Upon exiting the refuge I saw a new bird for the refuge: EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE. How exciting. I suppose it was just a matter of time. I next went over to Livermore Rd and walked the first mile and back, looking for sparrows. Nothing unusual, but I got great looks at some WESTERN MEADOWLARKS. Next I drove west on Livermore hoping to find a flock of HORNED LARKS to scan through for longspurs. I did find a flock of at least >200 of them, so figured I would be there for a while as they were in short grass and hard to see. While doing so Bruce and Kathy Patterson stopped by while on a county raptor run, and while we were chatting a TURKEY VULTURE flew nearby, a nice addition for their raptor list. A few minutes later I did find one LAPLAND LONGSPUR, but after it flew could not relocate it. The place is about 1/2 mile south of the lower/wet area along Livermore, maybe 2 miles from Perrydale Rd. Just watch for the flock of HORNED LARKS. After that I found a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER at the small pond a couple miles west of Perrydale, at the traditional place where this species is found in irruptive years. A little farther down the road that parallels this road was a PEREGRINE FALCON on a power pole, who was quite obliging. Next good birds were 2 more LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS on West Perrydale Rd, about 5-6 miles out where the large oaks are present. Twas a nice day to be out, a little chilly, but no wind. I hope it thaws out prior to the upcoming CBCs, or else the waterfowl numbers might be quite low. Bill Tice: Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors, and avoiding chores. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091211/293dee02/attachment.html From ensatina3 at hotmail.com Fri Dec 11 16:10:52 2009 From: ensatina3 at hotmail.com (Bobbett Pierce) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:10:52 -0500 Subject: [obol] yard Message-ID: The EVENING GROSBEAKS are still showing up in small numbers at the feeders, but are very irregular right now. They appear once every week or so among the ~20 other regular yard species. Also getting a SLATE-COLORED among the juncos.Lona Pierce, WarrenColumbia County _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft?s powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091211/ab5b72a8/attachment.html From pamelaj at spiritone.com Fri Dec 11 16:27:00 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:27:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] the Steller's Jay telegraph Message-ID: <01EBC4B345B94E7797F82B58C58E8D36@yourw5st28y9a3> Steller's Jay has been a very frequent yard bird here, but they were absent from sometime in September until this week. I heard one close by last Friday, saw 3 by the feeders on 12/9, and then had 13 eating seed off the ground the following day. Since then they have been arriving before direct sunlight hits the ground and eating whatever they can find. I haven't seen this pattern yet this winter, but in the past they streamed in from the same direction each morning, calling to each other. Pamela Johnston Yamhill Co From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Fri Dec 11 16:39:44 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:39:44 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Curry Black Scoters 12/11/2009 Message-ID: <954974.13845.qm@web45310.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Was down walking the beach between Floras Lake and Blacklock Point today. ?This has been a great location for BLACK SCOTERS the past few years. ?There was a large flock of scoters there as usual, mostly Blacks, probably 100+. ?Also, BROWN PELICANS moving south the whole time we were walking the beach, in the many hundreds as well as thousands of gulls moving south and a steady trickle of Pacific and RT Loons. Warmed up a bit, but I imagine its snowing low in the Coast Range now. ENJOY!Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091211/8bb1aa4f/attachment.html From sasdhill at comcast.net Fri Dec 11 16:42:00 2009 From: sasdhill at comcast.net (Sasdhill@comcast.net) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:42:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Seeking Thailand birding advice. Please do not reply on OBOL. Message-ID: Your responses to sasdhill at comcast.net would be appreciated. Please do not reply on OBOL. I will be travelling on a tour to Thailand the last week of February and first week of March. I would like to take between 1 to 3 single-day birding side trips. All the trips I have seen on line are prohibitively expensive for my budget (between $300-$800). I am hoping some of you have experience with the area and can suggest safe, reliable, but less expensive alternatives. [For instance, do local TATs have such information? Do the local hotels have good contacts?] I am hoping for opportunities more in the $100-$125 range. The three possible starting locations would be my hotel when at Bangkok, Chiang Rai, and Chiang Mai. I am only a beginning birder so I need an English-speaking, experienced local birder who has transportation, possibly to some of the National Parks. Fine to be with other birders on the trip. Your insights would be very welcome. Thanks! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091211/44890d2f/attachment.html From lesliemeserve at comcast.net Fri Dec 11 17:12:44 2009 From: lesliemeserve at comcast.net (Leslie Meserve) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:12:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Frozen Fernhill, Washington County Message-ID: <000001ca7ac8$36549080$a2fdb180$@net> Hello, Most of Fernhill Lake frozen (people were walking out on the ice which didn't look too safe, but no one fell in while I was there) this afternoon. A few gulls were perching on it - other ponds also mostly frozen except to far SE ponds from SE viewing stand where there were many NORTHERN PINTAILS, & about 70 TUNDRA SWANS. At one point the sky was full of Northern Pintails - evidently looking for a place to set down. . Got a quick glimpse of the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (spotted by Mike Screen) looking SE from the SE corner of Fernhill Lake & Cattail Marsh. American Kestrel, a few Redtails also seen. Lots of sparrows on path by NE corner of Fernhill Lake as you approach Dabbler's Marsh, but mostly Golden-Crowns with a few Song Sparrows, a Junco or 2, joined by 1 House Finch. Leslie Leslie Meserve Washington County Oregon From greg at thebirdguide.com Fri Dec 11 17:29:49 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:29:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] OSU pelagic birding questionnaire Message-ID: <195C7E4B1B6E45B6B07CCDA80A944BE7@GREG> Chris Eardley at Oregon State University is working on "non-consumptive" recreational ocean use questionnaire. This study may be used to understand pelagic birding as it relates to access to and importance of Marine Important Bird Areas or future Marine Reserves. It is likely that very few policy-makers know about pelagic birding. Here's your chance to explain its importance to such decision makers. For more information and to contact Chris Eardley, see: http://oregonseabirds.blogspot.com/ Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg at thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com From range.bayer at gmail.com Fri Dec 11 17:54:56 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:54:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Newport Western Bluebirds & Toledo Eurasian Collared-Dove Message-ID: Hi, Today, Chuck Philo saw a flock of 11 Western Bluebirds flying and calling over the Newport Starbucks, north of the intersection of HWY 101 and HWY 20. In past years, they have appeared along the Lincoln County coast and even at Yaquina Head during freezing temperatures. Today, Chuck also found 1 Eurasian Collared-Dove in Toledo near JC Thriftway. This is our first record of them in December. Yesterday (Dec. 10), Chuck noted a sudden influx of 8-9 American Robins at his Toledo home. Flocks of robins appear to come and go in winter. Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm From raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Fri Dec 11 17:58:12 2009 From: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com (Jeff Fleischer) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:58:12 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Benton Count North ECBC raptor survey Message-ID: <167035.22430.qm@web50903.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hi Everyone, I did my first survey of the winter for this route which is part of the East Cascades Bird Conservancy's Statewide Winter Raptor Survey Project. The area covers from Granger Ave north of Corvallis north to the Polk County line and from Independence Hwy west to Rifle Range Rd off of Tampico Rd just west of the Coffin Butte Landfill. It goes through EE Wilson Wildlife Area and runs along the north side of Coffin Butte along Robison Rd. The survey took 4 hours 40 minutes and covered 54.5 miles. Weather was cold with nearly 100 % high overcast clouds. Virtually no wind and basically pretty good viewing conditions throughout the route. Following are today's results followed by Dec 08's data for comparison.... Red-tailed Hawk 82 (88) American Kestrel 32 (26) Northern Harrier 10 (10) Rough-legged Hawk 7 ( 6) UNID Buteo -- ( 1) PEREGRINE FALCON 1 -- WHITE-TAILED KITE 2 ( 2) Cooper's Hawk 2 ( 1) Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 ( 1) Unident. Accipiter 1 -- TOTALS 138 135 Today's totals continue to maintain the record levels of raptors a year ago which were the highest totals for this route since the project started 6 winters ago. RTHA numbers today were the third highest total recorded on this route, highest being 92 found in Jan 09. As usual, highest concentration of birds was along Robison Rd with 20 RTHA, 4 AMKE, 7 NOHA, 6 RLHA, and both WTKIs found in the open perennial grass fields and refuge marshland north of the road. Smaller solid concentrations of RTHAs were found on Soap Creek Rd south of Tampico Rd and on Ryals Ave off of Independence Hwy. Seeing 4 accipiters in one day was also a treat :) Best bird of the day was the PEREGRINE FALCON located flying then perching on a power pole in the center of the Pettibone Dr / Granger Ave loop. I first saw the bird flying east while I was going west on Pettibone Dr. The bird appeared overall dark so I could not distinquish any color or patterns but it was a large falcon and the wing cadence suggested Peregrine. I watched it land on a particular power pole and then had to be patient as I continued with the survey until I got around to the south of the bird while on Granger Ave. What little sun that was shining perfectly lit up the front of the bird and my guess as to species was then confirmed as I was able to see it still perched on the same pole about 20 minutes after first seeing it fly and land on the pole. This was the first record for this species on this route and it totally made my day :) Jeff Fleischer Project Coordinator - Winter Raptor Project East Cascades Bird Conservancy Albany, OR From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Fri Dec 11 18:05:39 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:05:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Madras Raptor Route Message-ID: <4B22FA73.1060305@gmail.com> Kei and I did the Madras Raptor Route for December today as the weather man said it saw going to get nasty tonight and through the weekend. Results as follows: 30 Red-tails 20 Kestrels 5 Harriers 2 Rough-leggeds 1 Cooper's 1 Merlin 3 Great Horned Owls Kevin & Kei Smith PS: Not much for the CBC -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091211/a4855ed6/attachment.vcf From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Dec 12 05:43:40 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:43:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] A gross of gulls Message-ID: <29ABC854-694E-4254-A525-F5544CAD6222@earthlink.net> Tuesday, November 24, I was going to Eugene. Naturally I made frantic preparations so that I might depart early and thereby make the trip in four hours instead of two. This was the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, when Autumn still had a hint of Summer to it. I left the Territorial Highway at Ferguson Road and headed east. This is midway between Monroe and Cheshire, a few miles west of Junction City. At the junction with Washburn Lane there was a flock of about 100 gulls in a pasture. They were all Ring-billed Gulls and all adult. In my younger days I would have looked at ten or twelve, assumed all 100 were Ring-billed, then hurried on. But I dragged out the scope and began scanning the flock. There was a head, and only a head, between some of the Ring-bills feet. Evidently there was a dip in the field. I climbed onto the roof of the car and saw 150 gulls. I had hoped the head belonged to a Black- bellied Plover. I knew all along it was a Mew Gull, but recall someone seeing Black-bellies over near Coburg or Harrisburg last winter. Scanning the new portion of the flock revealed four Mew Gulls, each separate from the others, evenly mixed with Ring-bills. This is a species easily missed on most inland CBCs. I know a lot of people aren't up to pulling uncommon gulls out of the flock. But what about teal? How many times have you tallied "100 Green- winged Teal" and quickly moved along? Five minutes spent scanning the flock might reveal a Cinnamon Teal, probably the only one on the Count. The number of Cackling Geese wintering in our state grows ever higher. The task of accurately estimating the number of Cacklers in a flock makes some of us weary just thinking about it. But how about scanning the flock,which just might be hiding a Brant? Your area not good for waterfowl? Check Goldfinch flocks which may be hiding a Pine Siskin. Pine Siskin flocks which might hide a Redpoll. I know scanning is grunt work, and many folks like to think of a CBC as recreational. This is a technique which potentially adds five or ten species to the Count without superhuman effort. I'm not suggesting you enter the field at midnight in hopes of finding an owl or two. I'm not proposing a three mile hike through the frozen brush in false hopes of a Mountain Quail or Sooty Grouse. Just put in some extra minutes in the course of the routine. The gull flock I saw was immediately north of Club Kowanu, or the like. I can't recall the name. It sounds far more Swahili than Kalapuyan at any rate. This private hunt club has always been worth a stop for me. It is just northeast of the MOCKINGBIRD Don Schrouder reported this week. Anyone intrigued by this bird should bear in mind that the neighborhood has great birding and beautiful landscape. It's halfway between Finley and Fern Ridge, and worlds away from that blasphemy known as Hwy 99 that connects Eugene to Junction City. If arriving from the north, leave 99 at Monroe where it veers left over the Long Tom. By going straight you are entering the Territorial Highway, I believe the oldest road in Oregon still in use. After several miles of ever more delightful countryside you will come to Ferguson Road. Go east (left ) and in a mile or so you come to the north end of Washburn Lane. The hunt club is presumably of similar origin to the place on Diamond Hill Road north of Coburg where federal funds have paid for private farmland to be converted to wetland. The place on Washburn Lane has a lot of trees and shrubs as well as the predominant wet grassland. When I was there the Tuesday before Thanksgiving I saw my first ROUGH=LEGGED HAWK of winter. It was in a distant oak and I might have missed it if it weren't being harassed by a WHITE- TAILED KITE. I'd not seen White-tailed Kites do this before. WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were wide- spread, feeding along the westside of Washburn Lane. The eastside has also been taken out of cultivation. Cox Butte Road passes along the south edge of this reverse development. This provides a way back to the Territorial Highway , or for those coming from the south, a way to the wetlands. A variety of roads between 99 and Territorial Highway connect this area to points south, all traveling through fairly open landscapes with a history of good birds in winter and early spring. There is no place to park on Washburn Lane but traffic is quite light. Cox Butte is, to my knowledge, the northernmost natural occurence of California Black Oak (Quercus kellogii). From anzatowhee at yahoo.com Fri Dec 11 10:50:21 2009 From: anzatowhee at yahoo.com (Harry Fuller) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:50:21 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Dead ducks Message-ID: <420556.28538.qm@web112012.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Dec. 8 I counted five ead Shoveler females on the Cannon Beach beachnear Haystck Rock. All were freshly dead. Stavation due to weather? Harry Fuller www.towhee.net for birding Oregon & Northern California bird updates at : http://atowhee.wordpress.com/ green tech blog: http://blogs.zdnet.com/green/ From anzatowhee at yahoo.com Fri Dec 11 10:51:40 2009 From: anzatowhee at yahoo.com (Harry Fuller) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:51:40 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Hearty heron Message-ID: <269274.27020.qm@web112014.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> An unusual wintering Green Heron was on the tiny portion of Ashland Pond that was NOT frozen over. He was eating cold fish for breakfast. The Green Herons mostly migrate, but there are always a few that winter west of the Cascades. Harry Fuller www.towhee.net for birding Oregon & Northern California bird updates at : http://atowhee.wordpress.com/ green tech blog: http://blogs.zdnet.com/green/ From jbw at oregoncoast.com Sat Dec 12 10:21:46 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara and John Woodhouse) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 10:21:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Dead ducks In-Reply-To: <420556.28538.qm@web112012.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> References: <420556.28538.qm@web112012.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <0EAC5517-B89C-4E2C-84B8-8D702F675C2F@oregoncoast.com> Aren't shovelers fresh water ducks we only see them on fresh water here in the Tillamook area. Which makes you wonder what they were doing on the beach. Barbara & John Woodhouse Tillamook On Dec 11, 2009, at 10:50 AM, Harry Fuller wrote: > Dec. 8 I counted five ead Shoveler females on the Cannon Beach > beachnear Haystck Rock. All were freshly dead. Stavation due to > weather? > > > Harry Fuller > www.towhee.net > for birding Oregon & Northern California > bird updates at : http://atowhee.wordpress.com/ > green tech blog: http://blogs.zdnet.com/green/ > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From m.denny at charter.net Sat Dec 12 11:03:37 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:03:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] SNOWY OWL - Netarts Message-ID: <485DB970608B455688D424308AF3474E@24FLIGHT> Andy and Ellen Stepniewski just called from Netarts - they are a couple blocks up from the water in town looking over to the spit watching a very white Snowy Owl on a dwarf Sitka spruce among beach grass. Andy asked me to post in case anyone wants to go take a look. >From very cold and snowy Walla Walla, MerryLynn Denny .................................................................................. Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived From range.bayer at gmail.com Sat Dec 12 11:06:38 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:06:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Snowy Owl at Netarts Bay Message-ID: Hi, At about 10:40 AM this morning, Andy and Ellen Stepniewski saw a SNOWY OWL that looks like an adult at Netarts Spit. Andy telephoned Wayne Hoffman, who was out, but Carol Cole relayed on the message to me. The Snowy was visible from high points on Netarts Spit. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Dec 12 11:44:11 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:44:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hybrid Wigeon in Beaverton Message-ID: At 9 am today a hybrid (EurasianX American) Wigeon was at Amberglenn Corporate Park. This is just west of Oregon Graduate Institute. A very attractive bird with rusty head feathers except in front of the eye where it is gray, and limited green on the face. Lars Norgren From mimz607 at gmail.com Sat Dec 12 12:28:28 2009 From: mimz607 at gmail.com (Marcia Maffei) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:28:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Red Fox Sparrow Message-ID: <3a9150c50912121228q4c03f097q9ec2da4065fad26e@mail.gmail.com> A red fox sparrow landed in my yard today. Looks like it might be rare for our area? I'm trying to get a picture through my scope.......we'll see. North Eugene Marcia Maffei 541-607-7037 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091212/40fca865/attachment.html From glenn_rie at yahoo.com Sat Dec 12 12:36:10 2009 From: glenn_rie at yahoo.com (Rie Luft) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:36:10 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Blue-winged Teal, Am. Shovelers, Great Egret Message-ID: <277323.60040.qm@web112220.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Have been experiencing interesting sightings just off our houseboat deck in the Holgate Channel in the past several days. Due to Oaks Bottom being nearly frozen over we're getting waterfowl here that we don't generally see on our river - a raft of about 80 N. Pintails; another smaller raft of 15 A. Wigeon in amongst Canadas and Cacklers with a single BLUE-WINGED TEAL amongst those; 12 N. SHOVELERS showed up briefly as did a GREAT EGRET. Who knows what the rest of the day will bring? The BWTE really took me by surprise but it's not a bird to confuse easily with anything else and saw all the markings except for the rear white patch, as his rear was blocked by Widgeons. Unfortunately the flock of Widgeons, along with the Blue-winged Teal and most of the geese, took off down stream so have no idea where anyone could look for it. We don't normally see N. Shovelers this late either. Was talking to a birder in Wisconsin yesterday and he said they've been seeing a number of warbler species at local feeders in the snow, among them the Bay-breasted and Yellow-rumped - totally caught by the early storm in their later than normal migration from the north, so I'm thinking that's what's happened with the BWTE. I'm posting this with the hope that perhaps someone will come across it somewhere on the Willamette, although with our warmer temps the ponds are most likely reopening. Rie Luft, Portland ________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091212/b794b29a/attachment.html From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Sat Dec 12 12:51:52 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:51:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Observations Message-ID: <4B240268.4070409@gmail.com> In the past few days I have seen some interesting stuff. Rock Pigeons can fly for extended periods of time at 60 miles per hour (as seen on our Madras Raptor Count). I was watching the lesser Goldfinches at our feeder and one looked strange. In my binoculars it seemed to have THREE eyes! Two normal ones and on just above the left one. I grabbed my camera and started shooting. Looking at what I had just taken on the camera's screen it REALLY looked like an extra eye. It even showed high lites from the sun like the normal one. I was almost ready to post it on the web, but just to be SURE I put the photos up on the big-screen. What I THOUGHT was an extra turned out to be that portion of the head in molt! Just a little round black spot WITH high lites in the right place. What a KICK! Birds sure can be interesting! Kevin Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091212/9648f417/attachment.vcf From whoffman at peak.org Sat Dec 12 13:14:40 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:14:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay - Eider Message-ID: I did a seawatch at Boilder Bay from 8:45 to 9:45 AM, when I ended in drizzle. Up to that point it was overcast, calm, with little swell. Bird numbers were low, but very good variety. King(?) Eider 1 notes below Black Scoter 1 drake Surf Scoter 40 mostly S White-winged Scoter 25 both directions and on water Common Loon 15 S, 4 on water Red-throated Loon 45 S, 70 N Pacific Loon 20 S, 30 N Western Grebe 27 on water Red-necked Grebe 1 on water Brown Pelican 160 trending south. Over 50 came in from the west, first seen 2+ miles out Cormorants all three species present, no real movement Herring Gull 1 Thayer's Gull 1 lit on rocks Western Gull + Glaucous-winged Gull + California Gull + Mew Gull 3 Common Murre 150 S Pigeon Guillemot 1 N Ancient Murrelet 2 S Rhinoceros Auklet 1 S Steller's Sea Lion 6 N Eider: first seen at 1 mile+, flying NE low to water. Was a big, heavy-bodied duck with a big head, overall dark but with a whitish chest. It lit on the water 3/4 mile out, then departed to the south. The plumage was that of an immature male, but I couild not see anough at that distance to distinguish between King and Common Eiders. I could not see any white on the back, but cannot be sure it was not there. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091212/a9e7f068/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Sat Dec 12 13:18:54 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:18:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pale-bellied Brant Message-ID: At 10:45 AM I found a pale-bellied Brant at the Yaquina Bay South Jetty. The bird was swimming off the gull roost area, and looked a little "different" It flushed and flew out, and lit in the channel, difting west on the outgoing tide. I thought i saw pale belly in flight but could not be sure, so I watched it until a boat flushed it, and then clearly saw the pale underparts, with sharp even demarcation from dark chest. It appeared to be an adult (by neck markings). It lit again on the water at the edge of the channel. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091212/3fe4b820/attachment.html From jbw at oregoncoast.com Sat Dec 12 15:06:46 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara and John Woodhouse) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:06:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Snowy Owl at Netarts Bay In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <3CCDFB90-3548-4859-A417-2AE91E84BCC9@oregoncoast.com> Could we get better directions at to where the Snowy Owl was seen we live in Tillamook and would like to look for it tomorrow sunday. Barbara & John Woodhouse. On Dec 12, 2009, at 11:06 AM, Range Bayer wrote: > Hi, > > At about 10:40 AM this morning, Andy and Ellen Stepniewski saw a > SNOWY OWL that looks like an adult at Netarts Spit. Andy telephoned > Wayne Hoffman, who was out, but Carol Cole relayed on the message to > me. The Snowy was visible from high points on Netarts Spit. > > Cheers, > > Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Dec 12 16:47:33 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:47:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Netarts Spit Message-ID: It sounds like someone was standing at a high point on the north shore of the bay and scoping the dunes of the spit. The north end of the spit is within a few 100m of the inhabited shore and therefore parts are readily visible. But this spit is essentially an island. Maybe 2 1/2 miles long without any path from Cape Lookout State Park. My daughter and I have tried repeatedly to get to the end but never preservered. It's a true wilderness version of the Bay Ocean Spit. Folks coming from afar might want to await the details. Lars Norgren From range.bayer at gmail.com Sat Dec 12 17:03:51 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:03:51 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pale-bellied Brant In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi, At 4 PM, I found what appeared to be the same pale-bellied Brant that Wayne described, but it was then alone feeding along the rock shelf on the northwest side of the Yaquina Bay Bridge. From a distance, the larger whitish sides are pronounced. There appeared to be some duskiness along the center of the breast that was only visible when it briefly turned directly in my direction, but it was drizzly with poor light and distant (I was viewing at 45X), so it might be lighter than it appeared. This pale-bellied Brant appears healthy, but it was alone. I censused 217 Brant where they are typically found in winter, 1-2 miles east of the Bridge at Yaquina Bay embayments at about 3:45 PM. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm On Sat, Dec 12, 2009 at 1:18 PM, Wayne Hoffman wrote: > At 10:45 AM I found a pale-bellied Brant at the Yaquina Bay South Jetty. > The bird was swimming off the gull roost area, and looked a little > "different"? It flushed and flew out, and lit in the channel, difting west > on the outgoing tide.? I thought i saw pale belly in flight but could not be > sure, so I watched it until a boat flushed it, and then clearly saw the pale > underparts, with sharp even demarcation from dark chest.? It appeared to be > an adult (by neck markings).? It lit again on the water at the edge of the > channel. > > > Wayne > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From jbw at oregoncoast.com Sat Dec 12 18:30:13 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara and John Woodhouse) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:30:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Netarts Spit In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <10E68935-7260-457F-B295-53B6F178E1D2@oregoncoast.com> The way to get to the end of the spit has to be done at low tide along the beach side. Barbara & John Woodhouse. On Dec 12, 2009, at 4:47 PM, Norgren Family wrote: > It sounds like someone was standing > at a high point on the north shore of the > bay and scoping the dunes of the spit. The > north end of the spit is within a few 100m > of the inhabited shore and therefore parts > are readily visible. But this spit is essentially > an island. Maybe 2 1/2 miles long without any > path from Cape Lookout State Park. My daughter > and I have tried repeatedly to get to the > end but never preservered. It's a true wilderness > version of the Bay Ocean Spit. > Folks coming from afar might want to > await the details. Lars Norgren > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From greenfant at hotmail.com Sat Dec 12 21:11:51 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:11:51 -0500 Subject: [obol] A bunch of dicky birds in Washington Co, mostly Hagg Lake Message-ID: I went over to Hagg Lake again late this morning. While I don't really have anything special to report, I nevertheless would like to post the notes below in light of the upcoming Forest Grove CBC. >From the pullout just west of the parking area at the south end of the dam, I managed to get a single Greater Scaup, and a drake Eurasian Wigeon was in a large flock of Americans. The Eurasian was actively calling. There are thousands of ducks at the lake right now, yet most of them are hugging the icy shoreline and will only be seen when walking or approaching the shoreline. A Dunlin and a weird mutant Green-winged type Teal with neither horizontal nor vertical white stripe were seen from the Disk Golf access along with a Horned Grebe and a Common Loon. I did NOT see the American Dipper at Scoggins Valley Picnic Area today, but this spot has definitely changed a lot from a week ago. Large sections of the creek are now ice-coated. A large songbird flock including 4 Townsend's Warblers and one Townsend's x Hermit Warbler hybrid were at Rec Area A. Walk down about 100yds from the gate to where the road comes in from the west and pish. A Hutton's Vireo and a Hermit Thrush also were also in the flock. Good scope views of a Peale's Peregrine Falcon were obtained just east of Roy along Harrington Rd. An area just north of a commercial lot about 500ft north of Gordon & Commercial in North Plains had 2 Lincoln's Sparrows. A Fox Sparrow and 2 Lesser Goldfinches were at my feeder this morning. This in is Orenco just south of Orenco Elementary. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091213/027fcc59/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Sat Dec 12 21:21:00 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:21:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lesser Goldfinch, Pileated Woodpecker, Cedar Waxwing Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F0290DC4A@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> There were 26 bird species seen from or in my yard today. There were 10 LESSER GOLDFINCH. A PILEATED WOODPECKER was in the neighborhood again. A flock of 24 CEDAR WAXWINGS was flying about. They scattered and 4 landed in a tree and were striking in color against the gray sky. The first FOX SPARROW of the season showed up at my feeder. A (SLATE-COLORED) DARK-EYED JUNCO was present as well. There were 55 PINE SISKIN which is an increase of 10 from last weekend. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091212/8b4bb54d/attachment.html From barrymckenzie at comcast.net Sun Dec 13 00:03:13 2009 From: barrymckenzie at comcast.net (Barry McKenzie) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:03:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Birder's Night: Monday, Dec 14 (Birds of Peru) Message-ID: <508B579B-A343-432C-8AB2-FAD32697146F@comcast.net> OBOL- Eugene Birder's Night is Monday, Dec 14 (second Monday of each Month) at 7pm. AGENDA: usual bird chat, then photo presentation: Birds of Peru (Kit Larson, Dennis Arendt, et al) from a recent trip there WHO: all are welcome LOCATION : Sacred Heart Hospital (downtown), 1255 Hilyard St; Conference Room A (across the hall from the Auditorium). Directions to Conference Room A: -enter main Lobby from Hilyard St -turn Left and walk down hall (past the cafeteria) to end of hall -turn Right and walk down hall (past Dining Room) to end of hall -turn Right and walk a few steps, then Left down the hall toward the Auditorium -Conference Room A (labelled simply Conference Room) is on the Right (across from a bank of telephones on the Left side of the hall) Parking: Parking lot structure (across Hilyard from the Lobby) charges $1/hour (I think). Street parking is not available on Hilyard per se, but is found on 13th, 12th (West of Patterson), and Patterson streets (street parking free after 6pm). Map is at this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=sacred+heart+hospital+eugene,+or&fb=1&split=1&cid=0,0,17378354515337851834&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image Note: we will have reliable access to audio/video support from this point on, so those wishing to bring a disc or laptop to show interesting images, etc should feel free to do so. For a lengthly presentation, please give me a heads-up so we can avoid conflicts. Barry McKenzie Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091213/b26c0426/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Sun Dec 13 10:16:30 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:16:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Boiler Bay, D River 12/13 Message-ID: <31665F2C55FB46D9BB02E88EBA03B34D@Phil> Boiler Bay 7:45-8:30: mostly overcast, wind N 5, swells 3-5 300 Red-throated Loon (80% N) 100 Pacific Loon (N) 3 Common Loon 10 Western Grebe 600+ Brown Pelican (almost all in strings moving N right on the apparent horizon near the limit of visibility, somewhere between 4-6 miles out) 150 Brandt's Cormorant (N) 10 Pelagic Cormorant 6 Black Scoter 200 Surf Scoter 50 White-winged Scoter 2 Mew Gull 40 California Gull 10 Herring Gull 120 Western Gull 20 Glaucous-winged Gull 800+ larus sp. (trending N) 17 Heermann's Gull (N) 500+ Common Murre (80% S) 1 Pigeon Guillemot 9:00-9:30: D River mouth Lincoln City, 9 sp gull present in small flock 1 Glaucous (juv) 8 Heermann's 170 Cal (95% adult) 80 Herring (mixed ages with many juv) 4 Thayer's 4 Ring-billed 6 Mew + a few Western/G-w/ugly juv-dominated Glaucous-winged influx of this past week not apparent today. Phil philliplc at charter.net From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sun Dec 13 12:34:27 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:34:27 +0000 Subject: [obol] Bandon South Jetty WhiteWinged Scoter, Ruddy Turnstones Message-ID: South Jetty looked empty a moment ago except for raft of wigeons. Just got two white winged scoters, ruddy turnstone flyby, redbreasted merganser, surf scoter. Pond has ducks wigeons, mallards, shovelorsn gadwalls. Harv Schubothe Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From campbell at peak.org Sun Dec 13 13:00:25 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:00:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Linn Co. White Gyr Message-ID: At 11:00 today, a large, white falcon cruised through west Peoria at tree-top level, passed within 180 yards of me, and quickly disappeared out of sight to the south. I spent the next 1 1/2 hours trying to find it in the top of a tree in the vicinity of Snag Boat Bend. This bird is white enough, and big enough, that in the sunshine it should be visible for miles, so this is a heads-up to birders in the central Linn/Finley area. I will post a few more details later since white Gyrs are rare around here--and rare to me. Randy Campbell Peoria -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091213/5dad2cde/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Sun Dec 13 13:41:50 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:41:50 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hybrid flicker, eastern Washington County, OR Message-ID: <20091213144150.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.4bfab9bfa7.wbe@email.secureserver.net> Today, I noticed at least one hybrid flicker (and possibly two) at my feeders. The bird looks mostly like a red-shafted flicker, but it has a red nape crescent and orangish-colored undersides to the flight feathers. I got a few poor quality photos of the bird before it flew away. After a few minutes, a hybrid flicker returned, but this bird appeared to have a less-extensive nape crescent. I've put two of the better photos on my Picasa site for anyone interested. The photos have been cropped so they're a little out of focus. http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=craigPDX&target=ALBUM&id=5414831601333942961&authkey=Gv1sRgCO61qq68_42MvAE&feat=email Good birding. Craig Tumer SW Portland -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: picasaweblogo-en_US.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2868 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091213/dff4032e/attachment.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: email.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 5066 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091213/dff4032e/attachment.jpg From jbw at oregoncoast.com Sun Dec 13 15:37:19 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara and John Woodhouse) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:37:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Snowy Owl NO Message-ID: <4CC44984-98BC-4C49-9D8B-05039A5419DA@oregoncoast.com> Once the roads had thawed and we were able to get over to Netarts, we scoped all around and no sign of an Owl. We stated at the end of Crab St by the Terrimore Motel and scanned the North end of the spit we then tried Vista which is high up but no view then we tried scoping at the entrance to Netarts Beach and finally we have a friend up high on Pearl St and scoped from her balcony still no Owl. However this doesn't mean it wasn't there because if it was on driftwood on the Ocean side of the spit there is no way you could see it from land. The best hope would be if you could get a ride over in a boat and check out the Beach side otherwise it would be a long hike out along the beach from Cape Lookout at low tide. Barbara & John Woodhouse Tillamook From jefflin1 at earthlink.net Sun Dec 13 15:41:00 2009 From: jefflin1 at earthlink.net (Jeffrey Pugh) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:41:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hooded Mergansers Message-ID: <410-220091201323410984@earthlink.net> Obol: On my way back from the dump this afternoon, I saw a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS on the North Umpqua River along Wild River Drive just east of the Frear Bridge (North Bank Road). Linda Smith jefflin1 at earthlink.net Why Wait? Move to EarthLink. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091213/e876b765/attachment.html From jbw at oregoncoast.com Sun Dec 13 15:50:27 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara and John Woodhouse) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:50:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Snowy Owl Yes Message-ID: I have just had a phone call from Marg Tweelinckx that she has seen the Snowy from beside the Terimorre Motel it is over on the spit in the top of a scrub pine to the left of a white sign sounds as if he may have come back to the spot he was seen yesterday. From katandbill at yahoo.com Sun Dec 13 16:10:39 2009 From: katandbill at yahoo.com (Kat & Bill) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:10:39 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Yard Birds of Late Message-ID: <667685.81788.qm@web53907.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hi OBOL, We've had some interesting yard birds lately. Here they are in no particular order: Northern Flicker intergrade Taiga subspeciesChestnut-backed ChickadeeRuby-crowned KingletTownsend's WarblerWhite-breasted NuthatchBald Eagle Must be winter! Kat and Bill in Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091213/b28bcbf8/attachment.html From cheron.ferland at mac.com Sun Dec 13 16:23:47 2009 From: cheron.ferland at mac.com (Cheron Ferland) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:23:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] smorgasbord of waterbirds in oakridge (cheron ferland) Message-ID: several white "beacons" caught my eye today in the gravel ponds behind the willamette mountain mercantile as i pulled into the ray's parking lot off of hwy. 58. a closer look and a spotting scope verified a nice range of waterbirds that kept me there a lot longer than my thin winter coat was prepared for. lynda kamerrer and i were there around 2 p.m. today and saw the following: 11 greater white-fronted geese 1 Canada goose (i'm pretty sure it is a cackling subspecies) -- this bird hangs out with the white-fronted geese who are often found grazing in the oakridge high school track field) ~70 ring-necked ducks 5 buffleheads 4 American wigeons 13 hooded mergansers 6 double-crested cormorants 4 American coots i often find a similar collection of birds on the old mill ponds on the east end of town, however they've been frozen the past few days (providing ice skating habitat for my friends and i) so i suspect these birds may relocate now that the mill ponds are thawing out. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cheron Ferland 48163 E. 1st St. Oakridge, OR 97463 541.654.1122 cheron.ferland at mac.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091213/a4d2c5ff/attachment.html From anzatowhee at yahoo.com Sat Dec 12 10:40:48 2009 From: anzatowhee at yahoo.com (Harry Fuller) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 10:40:48 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Dead ducks In-Reply-To: <0EAC5517-B89C-4E2C-84B8-8D702F675C2F@oregoncoast.com> Message-ID: <681021.88257.qm@web112013.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> My suspicion is they were frozen out of their normal feeding and wintering ponds by the unusual cold an dsomehow found themselves literally at sea or eating seaweed and getting sick from the salt...an autopsy woulod be useful Harry Fuller www.towhee.net for birding Oregon & Northern California bird updates at : http://atowhee.wordpress.com/ green tech blog: http://blogs.zdnet.com/green/ --- On Sat, 12/12/09, Barbara and John Woodhouse wrote: > From: Barbara and John Woodhouse > Subject: Re: [obol] Dead ducks > To: "Harry Fuller" > Cc: "obol" > Date: Saturday, December 12, 2009, 10:21 AM > Aren't shovelers fresh water ducks we > only see them on fresh water here in the Tillamook area. > Which makes you wonder what they were doing on the beach. > > Barbara & John Woodhouse > Tillamook > > > > > On Dec 11, 2009, at 10:50 AM, Harry Fuller wrote: > > > Dec. 8 I counted five ead Shoveler females on the > Cannon Beach beachnear Haystck Rock.? All were freshly > dead.? Stavation due to weather? > > > > > > Harry Fuller > > www.towhee.net > > for birding Oregon & Northern California > > bird updates at : http://atowhee.wordpress.com/ > > green tech blog:? http://blogs.zdnet.com/green/ > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > From jboosk at hotmail.com Sun Dec 13 13:07:55 2009 From: jboosk at hotmail.com (Jarod Jebousek) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:07:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Polk Co. Swainson's hawk Message-ID: At 1100 today there was a Swainson's hawk at Hwy 22 and 99W near Baskett Slough NWR. It was northwest of the interchange on a fence post. It flushed as I drove by so I got a look at it perched and in flight. -jarod _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091213/f152fb93/attachment.html From vireogirl at yahoo.com Sun Dec 13 17:48:21 2009 From: vireogirl at yahoo.com (Vjera Thompson) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:48:21 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Fern Ridge Tree Swallow Message-ID: <301388.29401.qm@web56308.mail.re3.yahoo.com> OBOLers, Eddie and I took advantage of the "warm" weather this afternoon to go for a ride out to the end of Royal. We were hoping to find something we needed for the motorless list, but no luck. We had a TREE SWALLOW fly over at the platform and head south across the expanse of frozen water. Lots of hawks and WHITE-TAILED KITES scattered around. One RED-SHOULDERED HAWK near the parking area. We enjoyed watching a GREAT BLUE HERON walking on the ice, not a common sight here. Complete list is on birdnotes.net. Vjera & Eddie Thompson Eugene, OR vireogirl at yahoo.com From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun Dec 13 18:12:44 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:12:44 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] No Booby plus other Coos Birds of Late Message-ID: <329824.49249.qm@web45309.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> We ?(Audubon Field Trip) looked for the booby yesterday (12/12) without luck, I looked extensively today also without luck, I suspect it is now history but we'll see what we uncover on next Sunday's Coos Bay CBC. Conditions were warm and sunny both yesterday and today in the PM, with no sign of the bird. It was last seen on the 10th when it was 20F and it was sitting on the tall navigational tower where it normally hung out. The Audubon Field trip on Saturday 12/12 to the Empire and Charleston areas of Coos Bay had the following highlights:AMERICAN AVOCET at Pony Slough (still there today)BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE flying around the lower bay near CharlestonA HEERMANN'S GULL in the bay with 60+ pelisa male HARLEQUIN DUCK near Charleston in the bay Today, Sunday, 12/13 I saw the following birds:AMCoos Bay Waterfront across from Motel 6- 5 WILLETSFerry Road Park neighborhood (corner of Chappell Parkway and Ferry St.- many feeders in yard)- 14 EURASIAN-COLLARD RATSMillicoma Marsh- 1 RED FOX SPARROW at the seed on the side trail and a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT nearby.Catching Slough Pastures along Coos River east side of Coos Bay (3.1 mile marker)- a mixed flock of 30+ CACKLING AND CANADA GEESE, 5 SNOW GEESE, ONE ROSS'S GOOSE, and 36 GREAT WHITE-FRONTED GEESE in the same vicinity but along Catching Slough road. PMFossil Point, Empire area, Coos Bay: 3 EARED GREBES and 2 PIGEON GUILLEMOTS.South end of the N. Spit. of Coos Bay- 1 LONG-TAILED DUCK (mid channel between Fossil and Pigeon Points) and one NORTHERN SHRIKE on the drive out. That's it for now!Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091213/d5aa5d4a/attachment.html From potrzebie at clear.net Sun Dec 13 17:54:25 2009 From: potrzebie at clear.net (potrzebie at clear.net) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:54:25 GMT Subject: [obol] Census Count: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Clark County, Washington on December 13, 2009 Message-ID: <200912140154.nBE1sPaI006367@host-231.colo.spiretech.com> This report was mailed for Erik Knight by http://birdnotes.net Date: December 13, 2009 Location: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Clark County, Washington Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 100% Precipitation: haze or fog from 11:35AM to 3:36PM. Everything frozen over except for a small portion of Rest Lake. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Canada Goose 200 Trumpeter Swan 3 [1] Tundra Swan 477 [2] Wood Duck 1 Gadwall 8 American Wigeon 1 Mallard Northern Shoveler 166 Northern Pintail 9 Canvasback 1 [3] Common Merganser 2 Ruddy Duck 15 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Great Blue Heron 15 Bald Eagle 7 [4] Northern Harrier 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 8 [5] Rough-legged Hawk 1 [6] American Kestrel 2 American Coot 146 Sandhill Crane Killdeer 1 Greater Yellowlegs 2 Unidentified gull 1 [7] Belted Kingfisher 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 3 Northern Flicker 4 Steller's Jay 7 Western Scrub-Jay 21 American Crow 1 Black-capped Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 White-breasted Nuthatch 4 Brown Creeper 3 Bewick's Wren 3 Winter Wren 3 Marsh Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin 17 Varied Thrush 7 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Spotted Towhee 30 Fox Sparrow 7 Song Sparrow 28 Lincoln's Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 1 [8] Golden-crowned Sparrow 52 Dark-eyed Junco 4 Red-winged Blackbird 1 Western Meadowlark 7 [9] Footnotes: [1] Carty Unit [2] Most seen on Carty Unit [3] male, Rest Lake [4] ad pair on Carty Unit; adult, 3rd year pair and juv pair on River S Unit [5] "Harlan's" adult seen on River S Unit [6] River S Unit [7] would repeatedly attack injured pintail in unfrozen section of Rest Lake [8] Carty Unit, North side of plankhouse [9] North side of observation blind parking area Total number of species seen: 54 From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sun Dec 13 18:19:09 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:19:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yard Birds of Late Message-ID: <81b2a9930912131819h607a8052x360649d0d3136d51@mail.gmail.com> This weekend's thaw brought the first-of-the-winter TOWNSEND'S WARBLER and a RC KINGLET to my yard. I've also been hosting a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW for the past week. (The WHITE-THROATED SPARROW that appeared about a month ago is now long gone.) Brandon Eugene ----- Subject: Yard Birds of Late From: Kat & Bill Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:10:39 -0800 (PST) Hi OBOL, We've had some interesting yard birds lately. Here they are in no particular order: Northern Flicker intergrade Taiga subspeciesChestnut-backed ChickadeeRuby-crowned KingletTownsend's WarblerWhite-breasted NuthatchBald Eagle Must be winter! Kat and Bill in Eugene From plfer9381 at MSN.com Sun Dec 13 20:11:20 2009 From: plfer9381 at MSN.com (KEITH PHIFER) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:11:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Bay Birds Message-ID: My wife and I also drove around the Coos Bay area today. We saw some of the same things Tim Rodenkirk did but also had a few other birds I thought I would mention. At Millicoma Marsh we missed the Red Fox, but were able to see several of the White Throated Sparrows. There were also a pair of Yellowlegs out on a log on the bay side. Cape Arago area produced what seems to be its usual Harlequin ducks, and Black Oystercatchers. But a Peregrine Falcon was positioned right over the trailhead that heads toward Simpson Reef and allowed us to walk right underneath. We hiked down to the bay across from Driftwood RV park because we spotted numerous shorebirds from the highway. We counted 3 Marbled Godwits, saw over a dozen Black Bellied Plovers, many Sanderlings, numerous Dunlins, and a single Black Turnstone flew by. We also missed seeing the Brown Booby this trip although we didn't search for it specifically. Keith -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091213/c0925495/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sun Dec 13 20:34:59 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:34:59 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] SE Portland Pintail hybrid and Virginia Rails Message-ID: <58064.11360.qm@web55704.mail.re3.yahoo.com> This afternoon we birded at Oaks Bottom (SE Portland) and briefly checked nearby Westmoreland Park. At Oaks Bottom, we found quite a few birds. Somehow we missed Golden-crowned Sparrows, but otherwise there was a good variety of passerines. A pair of WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, now somewhat expected at Oaks Bottom, were seen and heard from the Sellwood Park parking area. A PILEATED WOODPECKER was seen and heard on the north side of the refuge. We saw it from the Springwater Corridor where the outlet of the lake is. We also saw it near there the day before Thanksgiving. Although temperatures were in the upper 30's, the lake was still very frozen. Small openings in the ice were visible from the trail that goes along the east side of the lake. We saw hundreds of ducks, about half of which were GREEN-WINGED TEAL. We looked for Common Teal but didn't find any; we saw a possible hybrid the day before Thanksgiving. Also, we saw three different VIRGINIA RAILS. All of them were in the semi-open and were easily seen from the trail on the east side of the lake. We've heard Virginia Rails at Oaks Bottom before, but have never seen them there before today. At Westmoreland Park we only saw a few gulls (Ring-billed and Glaucous-winged). On the pond we saw a female EURASIAN WIGEON, 5 CANVASBACKS, and a male REDHEAD. There was also a gorgeous male MALLARD x NORTHERN PINTAIL hybrid, the first one that we can remember seeing. How common are they? Good Birding! Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091213/21dee636/attachment.html From lou2bal at yahoo.com Sun Dec 13 20:43:38 2009 From: lou2bal at yahoo.com (Lou Balaban) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:43:38 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Common Snipe -- New Yard Bird, Roseburg Message-ID: <847098.29094.qm@web54106.mail.re2.yahoo.com> I looked up from the breakfast table Friday, 12/11, and saw a Common Snipe probing the apartment complex lawn two feet off our patio. He stuck around for a half hour or so and then was gone. ? Lou Balaban Roseburg Douglas County -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091213/751fdd35/attachment.html From tanager at nu-world.com Sun Dec 13 21:35:06 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:35:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lane County Raptor Route 1 Message-ID: <002501ca7c7f$31e06200$95a12600$@com> Greetings, Dan & I did the Lane Cty Raptor Route 1* today under mainly sunny skies. Numbers were a bit low in some areas probably due to the cold weather last week. Fern Ridge Res. and even most slow moving water was still frozen. 31 Red-tail Hawk average 19 Am. Kestrel below average 13 N. Harrier ? significantly below average 18 Bald Eagle above average ? numbers have been increasing over the years (4 immature) 3 Rough-legged Hawk ? average 9 Red-shouldered Hawk - above average ?numbers have been increasing and seen over a wider area 10 White-tailed Kite ? average 1 each- Coopers Hawk, Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Peregrine Falcon ? average 1 Turkey Vulture ? below average from recent years Other species of note Lewis? Woodpecker ? corner of Fisher Butte Road and Royal ave. (as posted by J. Sullivan last weekend) Black Phoebe ? on Bond Road ?new location- but they are popping up all over! NO ducks, mergansers, gulls, floaters due to frozen lakes/ponds/puddles Good birding, Anne Heyerly *Raptor Route 1 starts at KR Nielsen Rd on the south of Fern Ridge Res. and wraps around Fern Ridge with side trips on Childers/Merryman/Bond west of the Eugene Airport, Meadowview and Greenhill north of the airport and then to HWY 36 to Alvadore Road and Franklin road. Scoping spots are at KR Nielsen Goose check station, Royal Ave, Shore Lane Park, Fern Ridge Dam, Jeans Rd trailer park and ? mi north of the intersection of Alvadore Rd and Franklin Rd. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091213/5b9406b9/attachment.html From campbell at peak.org Sun Dec 13 21:56:57 2009 From: campbell at peak.org (M & R Campbell) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:56:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Details about the White Gyr Message-ID: <5AFB91BD8F894C8FB75CD1D2EC4DA591@maryPC> Because I didn't get to watch it for more than a few seconds, and because I don't trust snapshot identifications, I thought I ought to describe what I saw of the bird that I saw. About 11:00 this morning here in Peoria, I spotted something white flying behind some short trees 250 yards to the northeast. I followed it with my binocs as it flew out from behind the trees and headed southward. It looked pure white, and, from the size of it, my first thought was Snowy Owl, but the wings seemed too pointed. It flew without much effort at about treetop height--30 ft--and its jizz was of a raptor with a small head and thick neck. It was directly east of me, and not more than 180 yards away, when I decided that it would look like a large falcon if only it weren't white. It disappeared behind trees and haze a couple hundred yards and a few seconds later. In all, I watched it for about a quarter mile, but for only a few seconds. The sun was shining at the time, but I wasn't able to pick up any color beside white, so my ID is based mostly on the bird's shape and apparent size as well as its color. If the bird had been gray instead of white, I think I would have put it down as a probable Prairie Falcon. I can't think of anything that I could have mistaken for a white Gyr, but as Sibley says "unmistakable, but beware..." David Irons recently advertised the Brownsville CBC by describing central Linn County as "raptor alley." I occurs to me now that a Gyrfalcon would be the 17th species of raptor that I've seen between the Willamette River and the Brownsville foothills--in this year alone. I'm not sure that we have more raptors per acre, but you can see a long way across the grass fields. Randy Campbell Peoria Oh, yeah: I was taking a walk at the time. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091213/91d09c24/attachment.html From henry at formandstructure.net Mon Dec 14 05:35:20 2009 From: henry at formandstructure.net (Henry Horvat) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:35:20 -0500 Subject: [obol] Albino Canada Goose Message-ID: <174DFA2FF9B9794C84FC6231D7B5160D759FFF7A@MAILSC003.mail.lan> OBOL'ers: On Sunday, 12/13/09 I observed a mostly white Canada Goose among a flock of about 2,000 Canada Geese at the corner of Dike road and Honeyman Road in the dikelands of Scappoose. The entire body was an off white coloration with the neck a light brown. It had the typical white cheek patch. Henry Horvat Scappoose Bottoms -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091214/b7366003/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Dec 14 07:07:25 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:07:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Noble Woods City Park Message-ID: I dropped one of my children off at Century High School in Hillsboro on Saturday then stumbled onto an impressive urban woodland. Noble Woods is on the banks of Rock Creek, a navigable body of water at this point. The canopy is dominated by Grand Fir (Abies grandes) which I had not seen in the Tualatin Basin before. Abundant Salal as a ground cover, which I had never seen on the floor of the Tualatin Valley before. The most noteworthy bird while I was there was WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. These were in the very tall Oregon Ash trees growing in all the wet spots. The quantity and variety of birds detected was excellent considering it was sunrise on a very cold, very gray morning. The main parking lot is on Baseline west of Cornelius Pass Road. I used another parking lot where Borwick meets Century Blvd at the se corner of the park. As a final botanical note, I found High Oregon-grape(Berberis aquifolium) and Low Oregon-grape(Berberis nervosa) growing side by side. This is only the second time I've seen that in three decades of paying attention. The other place was BZ Corners in Skamania County Washington. Lars Norgren From windypointandy at dishmail.net Mon Dec 14 07:48:03 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:48:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Netarts Spit Snowy Owl-12 December Message-ID: <002801ca7cd4$dd5beaa0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> Hi OBOLers, Saturday 12 December we were rounding the bend on southbound on OR-131 (the Three Capes Highway),coming from Cape Meares. At the point where Netarts Spit first comes into view we swung into a sandy pullout and scoped a gathering of gulls on the spit. Finishing this exercise, I turned to scan the spit with my bins. A distant white blob on a dwarf conifer caught my attention. We trained our scopes on this and immediately thought Snowy Owl. It still wasn't sharpeven in our scopes, so not definitely the real McCoy. I've seen leucistic Red-tailed Hawks that were this white and head shape was not really clear. Ellen stayed at this spot while I reconnoitered a better vantage. From Vista Drive, on a hilltop in Netarts, I found a sliver of a view between two houses and the blob came into sharp focus as a SNOWY OWL! I raced back for Ellen and we returned. The homeowner was curious so we shared with him the owl and invited us out to his front yard. From this wonderful vantage we spent a happy half hour scoping our prize and the many waterbirds in the bay below. Based on the Collins (Princeton in USA) Bird Guide to Europe, which illustrates the most plumages of this owl of the field guides we have, I judge this to be an adult male bird. Checking distances on Google Earth, it looks like we were 2 miles from the owl on the Cape Meares Highway, and maybe 1.25 miles from Vista Drive, much too far for good photos. And, as several have said, getting out there is a real wilderness hike, 10 miles return! Andy and Ellen Stepniewski Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091214/8d6aa3a5/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Dec 14 08:42:47 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:42:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] on determining age in Snowy Owls Message-ID: <4B266B07.6020206@pacifier.com> Adult Snowy Owls move south at lower frequencies than to juveniles. So one would expect to see younger birds rather than adults in a non-irruptive year. Ageing isn't all that straight-forward, either. I would invite folks to check out the article below for a more complete analysis of this topic. http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/JFO/v051n02/p0149-p0160.pdf Of course we do seem to be in a Gyrfalcon irruption year and at least two (possibly 3) adults have been reported. We may be at the front edge of a Snowy Owl irruption, too. We'll know more when we look back on things in February... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Mistaken Identities http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12932/ From tc at empnet.com Mon Dec 14 08:58:56 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:58:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] on determining age in Snowy Owls In-Reply-To: <4B266B07.6020206@pacifier.com> References: <4B266B07.6020206@pacifier.com> Message-ID: <41709D27B9F64E0A8003EE81C9D31DC6@102889> Make it another adult, Mike. A good friend of mine who is a decent birder reported an adult Gyr in the Frederick Butte/Hampton area two weeks ago on his way back from Boise. I would expect you'd be on the beachfront of a Snowy Owl invasion if we have one. If you get a bunch, don't hoard them all, send a few our way. Tom Crabtree, Bend -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Mike Patterson Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 8:43 AM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] on determining age in Snowy Owls Adult Snowy Owls move south at lower frequencies than to juveniles. So one would expect to see younger birds rather than adults in a non-irruptive year. Ageing isn't all that straight-forward, either. I would invite folks to check out the article below for a more complete analysis of this topic. http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/JFO/v051n02/p0149-p0160.pdf Of course we do seem to be in a Gyrfalcon irruption year and at least two (possibly 3) adults have been reported. We may be at the front edge of a Snowy Owl irruption, too. We'll know more when we look back on things in February... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Mistaken Identities http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12932/ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From philliplc at charter.net Mon Dec 14 10:16:44 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:16:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Spanish Head 12/14 Message-ID: 7:30-8:30: wind 15-20 S everything moving S gulls mostly streaming just offshore 300+ Red-throated Loon 50+ Pacific Loon 3 Western Grebe 3 Brown Pelican 5 Brandt's Cormorant 8 Black Scoter 30 White-winged Scoter 400 Surf Scoter 1 Red-breasted Merganser 2 Mew Gull 3000 California Gull (roughly 80% adult w/many juv) 120+ Thayer's Gull 500 Herring Gull (majority adult w/many juv) 300 Western Gull 200 Glaucous-winged Gull (majority adult) 1 Glaucous Gull (juv) 15 Heermann's Gull (inc 1 alternate adult) 200 Common Murre 2 Pigeon Guillemot Saw another 2000+ gulls over 1/2 hour at D River, with as many as 1000 on the beach and hundreds coming off the lake, 80% Cal. 10 Ring-billed and up to 12 Heermann's present. Phil philliplc at charter.net From greenfant at hotmail.com Mon Dec 14 11:35:04 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:35:04 -0500 Subject: [obol] Albino Canada Goose at Scappoose Bottom (plus some more birds) In-Reply-To: <174DFA2FF9B9794C84FC6231D7B5160D759FFF7A@MAILSC003.mail.lan> References: <174DFA2FF9B9794C84FC6231D7B5160D759FFF7A@MAILSC003.mail.lan> Message-ID: I also saw this interesting goose yesterday. It was too late in the day to get a picture. Otherwise at Scappoose Bottom, there was a single Greater White-fronted Goose in the same flock. I also had 2 Rough-legged Hawks and 3 Northern Shrikes (2 adults and one immature) in the usual areas, but no Short-eared Owls. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR From: henry at formandstructure.net To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:35:20 -0500 Subject: [obol] Albino Canada Goose OBOL?ers: On Sunday, 12/13/09 I observed a mostly white Canada Goose among a flock of about 2,000 Canada Geese at the corner of Dike road and Honeyman Road in the dikelands of Scappoose. The entire body was an off white coloration with the neck a light brown. It had the typical white cheek patch. Henry Horvat Scappoose Bottoms _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft?s powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091214/d48883c2/attachment.html From adeledawson at gmx.com Mon Dec 14 11:36:24 2009 From: adeledawson at gmx.com (Adele com) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:36:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Barred Owl in Florence Message-ID: There was a BARRED OWL on the wire at the corner of 1st and Hemlock in Florence last evening around dusk (5:10PM). It flew east but was called down to a large spruce tree on Hemlock with a recording. Adele Dawson Florence From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Dec 14 12:51:02 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:51:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Netarts Message-ID: <52329828-D83F-488D-A4D7-14F0BDFC2C09@earthlink.net> Netarts Bay is unique among Oregon's bays in that is not an estuary, unless one stretches the definition and counts Whiskey Creek. Presumably the Tillamook and / or Nestucca Rivers entered the ocean here at one time, then got shunted north or south by glacial activity. Netarts Spit was the site of the first large scale dune stabilization scheme in the state. Its "success" led to the resulting model being applied from Hell to Breakfast to the Snowy Plovers' eternal chagrin. Scholars at the McClaren School for Boys planted 1.5 million European Beach Grass plugs on the spit, followed by Scots' Broom, and at long last, a native plant- Shore Pine. This has been a highly temporary victory over Nature, as the spit nearly breached during a winter storm a few years back in the middle of Cape Lookout State Park. A fair amount of loose sand has also been blowing up onto the south side of the Cape Meares massif, where benighted "developers" and their naive clients built some over= the=top vacation homes. Several of these castles on the sand have already met their demise. Peregrines nest on both Cape Meares and Cape Lookout. Netarts Bay provides fabulous feeding opportunities for them and migratory falcons as well. A recent proposal to expand oyster farms in this bay is distressing at best. While many may deride the spit as "wasteful" because it is not readily accessible to the commonest kinds of public recreation, I find this adds an intense element of romance to one of the best stretches of coastline in the continental United States. Just knowing it is there, largely untrod by humans, only an hour's drive from my own abode, is very satisfying. Who knows how many Snowy Owls have passed through there undetected. The traffic on the Three Capes Scenic route is orders of magnitude lower than Hwy 101. Even if a successful sighting of the current owl is a distant one, I wouldn't discourage folks from trying. It's good place to take non=birders along, as long as they appreciate relatively pristine landscapes. Lars Norgren From jbw at oregoncoast.com Mon Dec 14 14:05:58 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara and John Woodhouse) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:05:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Snowy Owl Yes Message-ID: <49013F2C-40F9-4385-BE3F-21BDD095AF22@oregoncoast.com> The Snowy Owl was easy to see today from several different spots in Netarts. We started at the Terrimore Motel on Crab St if you look from the cliff there out towards Cape Lookout and then come along to the left {north) along the shore pines right at the back of the row it sits very high on one. We also saw it from a friends house on Pearl St. It is also seen from the south end of Pearl St where it turns a sharp bend if you park facing the bay it is almost straight opposite you. It is a very white bird much whiter than the Cape Mears one one the Fort Stevens ones. I hope it hangs on for the Tillamook CBC saturday. Barbara & John Woodhouse Tillamook From sparsons at canby.com Mon Dec 14 14:39:40 2009 From: sparsons at canby.com (Steve and Diana Parsons) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:39:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] OT ?: Ridgefield PUMA Message-ID: On the Ridgefield species board, there is an entry for a PUMA. I don't know if someone saw a Cougar, or there's a Purple Martin straying through... Does anyone have any information? From johnpam at mtangel.net Mon Dec 14 14:49:41 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:49:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Chipping Sparrow, WT Sparrow, and Hermit Thrush At Feeder Area. Message-ID: Hello OBOLers, We are well into the Cornell FeederWatch. We have had a CHIPPING SPARROW here for two weeks now. Alan C. says they winter over sometimes but we were really surprised on that bird! One WHITE-THROATED SPARROW is being seen along with (1) FOX SPARROW, (1) WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, (3-4) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, (2) SONG SPARROWS, and many Juncos, House Finch, etc...(1)RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET is also around the flocks & sometimes the GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS show up at the edge of the woods near the feeder area. ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS continue (up to 4 at times). A HERMIT THRUSH hopped out of a rhodendron bush yesterday and really surprised me for a new yard bird and FeederWatch bird. It seemed to be looking for insects, worms in the grass....Pam thought she had seen it a couple days ago lurking alongside the house. We had a huge flock of Cedar Waxwings (up to 150) that left after the Starlings (5-10 thousand) cleaned up the last of the grapes in the nearby vineyard about 10-12 days ago. The only member of the woodpecker family coming in near the feeder area is a NORTHERN FLICKER. The Downy on the brushline refuses to come close. Maybe the COOPER'S HAWKS that have hammered the feeder area since mid-summer have kept it away. The female is especially active and noisy. Oh, yeh, we also have 18 or so CALIFORNIA QUAIL and I am really happy to see our local "wild chickens" again! A pair of GREAT HORNED OWLS are carrying on in the woodlot and the screech of a BARN OWL was also heard a couple days ago back near their nestbox in the outbuilding. John Thomas 5 mi N of Silverton From valleybirder at gmail.com Mon Dec 14 15:00:27 2009 From: valleybirder at gmail.com (Mike) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:00:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Was it a Yellow Warbler? Message-ID: During these recent sub-zero days I've had what I think was a Yellow Warbler visiting my Hummingbird feeders which I kept thawed. I didn't notice it before the cold snap, or today. Seemed somewhat common so I didn't take a pic. Mike H. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091214/393bc742/attachment.html From fabflockfinder at gmail.com Mon Dec 14 15:25:24 2009 From: fabflockfinder at gmail.com (Elias Elias) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:25:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Netarts In-Reply-To: <52329828-D83F-488D-A4D7-14F0BDFC2C09@earthlink.net> References: <52329828-D83F-488D-A4D7-14F0BDFC2C09@earthlink.net> Message-ID: thanks for the background. I passed through the area in the beginning of November and found myself enchanted. Elias Elias Arcata CA 707-633-8833 559-433-7254 walkie-talkie Sent from Arcata, California, United States On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 12:51, Norgren Family wrote: > ? ?Netarts Bay is unique among > Oregon's bays in that is not an > estuary, unless one stretches the > definition and counts Whiskey Creek. > Presumably the Tillamook and / or > Nestucca Rivers entered the ocean > here at one time, then got shunted > north or south by glacial activity. > Netarts Spit was the site of the first > large scale dune stabilization scheme > in the state. Its "success" led to > the resulting model being applied > from Hell to Breakfast to the Snowy > Plovers' eternal chagrin. > ? ?Scholars at the McClaren School > for Boys planted 1.5 million European > Beach Grass plugs on the spit, followed > by Scots' Broom, and at long last, a > native plant- Shore Pine. This has been > a highly temporary victory over Nature, > as the spit nearly breached during a > winter storm a few years back in the > middle of Cape Lookout State Park. > A fair amount of loose sand has > also been blowing up onto the south > side of the Cape Meares massif, > where benighted "developers" and > their naive clients built some over= > the=top vacation homes. Several of > these castles on the sand have > already met their demise. > ? ?Peregrines nest on both Cape > Meares and Cape Lookout. Netarts > Bay provides fabulous feeding > opportunities for them and migratory > falcons as well. A recent proposal > to expand oyster farms in this bay > is distressing at best. While many > may deride the spit as "wasteful" > because it is not readily accessible > to the commonest kinds of public > recreation, I find this adds an > intense element of romance to one > of the best stretches of coastline > in the continental United States. > Just knowing it is there, largely > untrod by humans, only an hour's > drive from my own abode, is very > satisfying. > ? Who knows how many Snowy Owls > have passed through there undetected. > The traffic on the Three Capes Scenic > route is orders of magnitude lower > than Hwy 101. Even if a successful > sighting of the current owl is a > distant one, I wouldn't discourage > folks from trying. It's good place > to take non=birders along, as long > as they appreciate relatively > pristine landscapes. Lars Norgren > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Dec 14 17:08:25 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:08:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Noble Woods City Park Message-ID: <1260839305.18054.123.camel@clearwater1> Hi Lars & All, Thanks for the good account of Noble Woods City Park, including the botanical observations and note on White-breasted Nuthatch using Oregon ash! This site is included as Site T9 on the Tualatin Loop of the Willamette Valley Birding Trail thanks to a recommendation from Annette Lange Hildebrand. Those interested in following your lead can look for directions in the guide at www.oregonbirdingtrail.org/wvtrailguide.htm Apparently one can get to the Baseline entrance using TriMet Bus 47 (getting off at Baseline & NE 63rd). I'm currently compiling edits for a revised version of the trail guide, which we aim to have out in print at the start of the new year. So now is an excellent time to send in comments and corrections. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From steve at paradisebirding.com Mon Dec 14 17:10:46 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:10:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sisters and Santiam CBCs need you! Message-ID: <9a341ea30912141710p1266ee0aj9959242244228f21@mail.gmail.com> Hello all, I am once again coordinating the Sisters and Santiam Pass Christmas Bird Counts. Details are below. Please email me if you are interested in participating and include the following: - # in your party - type of car you are driving - whether you are willing to ski or snowshoe *11th Annual Sisters CBC, Sunday 12/20 *Meet at the Gallery Restaurant in downtown Sisters at 7:30 a.m. Countdown party at the Gallery Restaurant at 4:30 p.m. Highlights: 3 recent burns in the count circle give us a chance for record-breaking woodpecker counts. PDF of birds tallied for 1999-2007 *14th Annual Santiam Pass CBC, Friday 1/1/2010* Meet at the Santiam Sno-Park on Santiam Pass at 8:30 a.m. Countdown party upstairs at the Hoodoo Ski Area Lodge at 4:30 p.m. Highlights: start your New Year with a Three-toed Woodpecker, plus night-skiing after the countdown! See you in the snow this winter! Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091214/fd8fe8eb/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Mon Dec 14 18:50:19 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:50:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Back from Australia Message-ID: I have returned from Australia, having seen about 215 species there in roughly six days of birding, an amazing time. The list and photos of some are posted at http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com/ For those with an interest in music, I was able to have lunch with Colin Brumby, one of the world's greatest living composers. See notes at http://oregonreview.blogspot.com/ My guide for the five-day birding tour was Barry Davies of Gondwana Guides, and he was excellent. His knowledge base and personal style is rather like Jon Dunn of the U.S. (relaxed, knowledgeable about local history and politics as well as birds), though Barry's personal history is rooted in Australia's conservation movement and he is much more of a hiker. His web site is: http://www.gondwanaguides.com.au/index.htm -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From namitzr at hotmail.com Mon Dec 14 19:13:42 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:13:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] FW: Odd stint on Netarts Bay In-Reply-To: <000801ca7cd8$c50f39d0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> References: <000801ca7cd8$c50f39d0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> Message-ID: It could have been an odd Least Sandpiper or a lone Western in a flock of Least Sandpipers, BUT I thought I would pass this along to the group for any birders looking for the Snowy Owl to keep their eyes and ears open. See message below. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay From: windypointandy at dishmail.net To: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com; namitzr at hotmail.com Subject: Odd stint on Netarts Bay Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:15:58 -0800 Hi guys, We were driving south along the east side of Netarts Bay about 11 am on Saturday (12 December). The tide was starting to ebb so basically no mud was exposed. We blundered into a small flock of Least Sandpipers, south of Netarts maybe 2 miles.This flock was flighty and soon took off, calling typical Least calls. A second later, a separate bird took off, calling a bizarre buggy note, a call I've not heard before but have learned is diagnostic of Temminck's Stint. I immediately tried to relocate this bird but the flock was flighty and as they flew again, I was unable to distinguish anything odd about this bird. The light was poor so I could easily have missed an odd tail pattern on this bird. What lingers in my brain is this bizarre, trilly (reedy) call, a call I'm certain I've never heard before. I know this area is not your backyard but perhaps you could pass this message on to the wader geeks that cover this area. I'm not familiar enough with the area to know who the right contact is for Netarts Bay. Being past migration, possibly the bird can be relocated and nailed down. Thx, Andy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091214/0830dbef/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Mon Dec 14 21:15:24 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:15:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Nov. Lincoln Co. Bird Notes Received Through 11/30 (Long) Message-ID: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BIRD FIELD NOTES from the November 2009 Sandpiper 30(9) for Observations Received Through 11/30 by Range Bayer The Sandpiper is a publication of Yaquina Birders and Naturalists, a Lincoln County (Oregon) natural history group. Comments in this column about abundance or seasonality refer to LINCOLN COUNTY only. There is room only for some of the many Lincoln County sightings to be included here of those sent to me or posted to the Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) or Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL) email discussion lists. If you have any Lincoln County field notes, please share them with Range (range.bayer at gmail.com; P.O. Box 1467, Newport, OR 97365; 541-265-2965) by the 20th of the month. Bird field notes columns in the Sandpiper since 1992 are at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations (numbers refer to the site number in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide (http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/): BEAVER CREEK (#78, in part): creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, BOILER BAY STATE WAYSIDE (#59): about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, ECKMAN LAKE (#84): lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, HMSC (#75): OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of the HMSC, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH (#77): State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SALLY'S BEND (#66): large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, THIEL CREEK: creek about 3.5 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge, YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty. ONLINE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DATABASE NOT INFALLIBLE National Audubon's database of Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) at http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/hr/index.html is a great resource for us to look up CBC results! However, using the online database, JL wondered about the report of 497 American Kestrels for the January 3, 1976 Yaquina Bay CBC. There were no flags on the data, yet a total of 497 kestrels for a Yaquina Bay CBC is beyond incredible. For example, only a total of 6 were reported during 2 Raptor Routes and supplemental observations this month (see below). RB looked in the paper copy of this CBC (1976 American Birds 30:578) and read that no kestrels were reported during that CBC and that there were 497 American Coots. But the online CBC version indicates no coots were recorded during that CBC. So, the number of kestrels and coots appears to have been switched during inputting the data for that Yaquina Bay CBC. The National Audubon's CBC web page http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/hr/index.html states "Currently our CBC historical database is undergoing another round of proofing of the data. A large dataset such as this requires continual proofing, and we welcome any reports of apparent irregularities." On 10/30, RB emailed the CBC contact (cbcadmin at audubon.org) that he found through their "Contact Us" link on their web page but has not yet received a response or acknowledgement. The bottom line--the online CBC database is wonderful! But be cautious in interpreting online reports, especially those that appear unusual by checking the paper copy of the CBC to see if there may have been an error in inputting data into the online database. WATERFOWL Migration can be strenuous on birds, and 1 ALEUTIAN CACKLING GOOSE and 1 CACKLING GOOSE were found dead in Oct. along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). On 11/28, WH reported 150 Aleutians flying south during a Boiler Bay seawatch, our only report of them for November. LO had 20 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, including one exceptionally light-colored, in flooded fields at about Mile 3.5 on north Beaver Creek Road on 10/19. On 11/20, 19 were still in the same area, including the light goose. On 11/24, WH was not able to locate the light goose, but he surveyed 28 CANADA GEESE swimming downstream of the causeway at Seal Rock Stables (about Milepost 1.6 along South Beaver Creek Road) and 35 or so White-fronted Geese grazing in the pasture just south of the barn at the Stable. On 11/24, 2 SWAN sp. flew north before circling and flying southeast over Idaho Flats (JL). During a 11/13 Boiler Bay seawatch, 3 BLUE-WINGED TEAL or CINNAMON TEAL flew by (PP). They are unusual here in winter. JL found the first BRANT at Yaquina Bay on 10/29 (6). They had increased to about 50 on 11/9 (JL), 146 on 11/13 (RB), and 202 on 11/28 (RB). Numbers of Brant regularly winter in Oregon only at Tillamook, Netarts, and Yaquina Bays, but large numbers were seen during Boiler Bay seawatches heading south, presumably to California or Mexico, since they were many more than were found at Yaquina Bay (see following Table). During his 11/13 seawatch, PP noted a single flock of 370 heading south past Boiler. On 11/20, JL detected a Brant at Idaho Flats with a metal leg band and a plastic leg band with yellow numbers on black - the number looked like it read "+45" --be on the lookout for this and other Brant with color bands and report them to the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/homepage/recwobnd.cfm). Hopefully, we can learn more about this individual Brant and how long it stays! Flyby REDHEADS during Boiler Bay seawatches included a singleton on 11/17 (PP) and a possible female on 11/28 (WH). HARLEQUIN DUCKS were appreciated at Yaquina Bay during 7 days--the peak count at the YBSJ was 10+ on 11/7 (WH; RA & 4 other Corvallis birders). 3 were also at another favored location, Seal Rocks, on 11/12 (LO), and a singleton passed Boiler Bay on 11/17 & 19 (PP). ---------------------------------------- Table. Seawatches with 90 or more Brant during Nov. 2009. Seawatch No. of Date Time (PST) Brant Observer ---------------------------------------- 11/6 0630-0930 1,100 PP 11/7 0630-0830 680 PP 11/8 0750-0900 98 WH 11/13 0900-1215 2,080 PP 11/17 0645-1015 1,530 PP 11/18 0645-0815 118 PP 11/27 0700-0900 213 PP ---------------------------------------- On 10/31, a female LONG-TAILED DUCK was near the HMSC (SSc & IB), and singletons were also noted during Boiler Bay seawatches on 11/13 & 27 (PP). On 11/18, WH found a drake with a long tail at the YBSJ, and a male was actively diving near the Yaquina Bay jetties on 11/28 & 29 (PS & CK; PO). On 11/28, JD, DI, and SF appraised a hybrid male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE x COMMON GOLDENEYE in the channel just west of the Yaquina Bay bridge. A flock of 21 HOODED MERGANSERS with only 2 adult males graced Logsden Lake across from Logsden Store on 11/2 (BLl), and at least 29 were at Eckman Lake on 11/14 (AC & NR). GROUSE-TUBENOSES SaL observed a RUFFED GROUSE at HWY 101 Milepost 166 in Yachats on 11/18. An uncommon CLARK'S GREBE was with 9 WESTERN GREBES at Newport on 11/1 (M&MD). On 11/22, PP detected a LAYSAN ALBATROSS just over a mile offshore and probably an adult female BROWN BOOBY less than a half mile offshore during his 11/22 Boiler Bay seawatch. A Laysan is rare from shore, and a Brown Booby is rare in Oregon. Beached NORTHERN FULMAR numbers picked up in Oct. with 17 along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). The heavy storms as we had in early Nov. often bring many fulmars close to shore, which happened this year. 2-80 were recorded during 6 of 12 Boiler Bay seawatches, but many more were recorded during the other 6 seawatches (see following Table). Usually the color-phase of most fulmars here are dark, but light-phase fulmars were common during many seawatches (see Table). A MANX-TYPE SHEARWATER glided north past Spanish Head (Lincoln City) on 10/31 (PP). Shearwater numbers were down dramatically from Oct. with only 1-2 Sooty or Short-tailed Shearwaters noted during 3 Boiler Bay seawatches, except on 11/22, when PP counted 1 Sooty and 15 Short-taileds. ----------------------------------------- Table. PP's Boiler Bay Boiler Bay Seawatches with more than 100 Northern Fulmars. No. of Estimate of Date Time (PST) Fulmars Light-phase ----------------------------------------- 11/6 0630-0930 400 10% 11/7 0630-0830 120 60+% 11/13 0900-1215 350 50% 11/17 0645-1015 150 67% 11/18 0645-0815 200+ 67+% 11/22 0645-1100 3,000+ less than 50%* * Continuous 5-30/min south; hundreds within 1/2 mile early; majority dark but full spectrum of plumages present. ----------------------------------------- WH found a FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL only about 100 yards from shore at Boiler Bay on 11/8. PELICANS-HERONS BROWN PELICANS were reported throughout Nov. as they usually are. However, they seemed more numerous than usual with 1,500 at north Siletz Bay/Salishan Spit on 11/5 & 13 (PP), and 1,000+ (including 800 flying north) during a 11/14 Boiler Bay seawatch (PP & WH). Extraordinary numbers appeared in bays, with 385+ at dusk on the first rocky finger west of the Yaquina Bay Bridge on 11/13 (RB) and 400+ at dusk on 11/19 at Idaho Flats with more coming in (JL). Usually they roost along the coast at night--what did the pelicans that came into the bay at dusk do at night when high tide flooded their roosts? Each fall flocks of "faux" geese migrate south along the coast. These flocks of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS appear at first glance and sometimes even at second glance to be geese. This fall our only report of southbound Double-crests was by WH on 11/14 who saw a flock of 400 flying south past Boiler Bay. Our only GREAT EGRETS (7) were at Yaquina Bay embayments on 10/31 (RB). They have been less abundant and less frequent in 2009 than in recent years. A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON called about an hour after sunset over the lagoon north of the HMSC Visitor Center Parking Lot on 11/1 (RB), and CK & PS found an adult at the west log pond between the HMSC and the Oregon Coast Aquarium on 11/28. RAPTOR ROUTE RESULTS Oregon Winter Raptor Surveys give a good relative index to the abundance of different wintering raptor species and are coordinated by the East Cascades Birds Observatory (ECBC) (http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=73). The Lincoln County Raptor Coast Route is about 63 miles and runs along Hwy 101 from the north side of Alsea Bay to Taft area of Lincoln City, with nearby inland valleys. It was conducted during 5 hours on 11/29 by WH, WN, & RC. The Inland or Yaquina River-Siletz Raptor Route is about 55-73 miles long and runs from the HWY 101 Kernville exit along HWY 229 south to HWY 20, then along Business HWY 20 through Toledo and down the Yaquina River along north Yaquina Bay Road, with some digressions and can include Hidden Valley. It was done during 4.5 hours on 11/21 by JL & CP. For both Routes, Red-tailed Hawks were the most numerous raptor. Bald Eagles were the second-most abundant on the Coast Route, but were tied for second with kestrels with Cooper's Hawk a close third on the Inland Route. A Red-shouldered Hawk was a surprise as none were recorded during the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 Winter Raptor Routes. ----------------------------------------- Lincoln County Raptor Routes Coast_________ Inland_______ 11/29 11/21 ----------------------------------------- No. Harrier 2 0 White-t. Kite 0 1 Sharp-sh. Hawk 0 0 Cooper's Hawk 1 3 accipiter sp. 0 0 Red-shld. Hawk 0 1 Red-tail. Hawk 15 10 hawk sp. 1 0 Bald Eagle ad. 4 0 " subadults 2 0 " unknown 0 4 Merlin 0 0 Am. Kestrel 0 4 Peregrine Fal. 2 1 RAPTOR SUM 27 24 ----------------------------------------- [Image Not Included: Jack Doyle's Nov. 8 photo of an adult Red-shouldered Hawk perched on a snag at Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge.] RAPTORS On 11/28, DF was surprised by a TURKEY VULTURE walking around in his pasture at Thornton Creek, midway between Toledo and Eddyville. On closer examination, he determined that it had a broken wing. This is about 6 weeks later than usual, and for records through 1992 our latest was on Nov. 16 in 1992 (Semi). TS had our latest OSPREY--one hunting King Slough at Yaquina Bay on 10/31. A WHITE-TAILED KITE was at the HMSC on 10/31 (SSc & IB), Beaver Creek marsh on 11/14 (AC & NR), and the Inland Raptor Route. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was at the HMSC or South Beach during 5 days from 10/31-11/28 (TS; CP; BO; SSt; PS & CK). Another was at Gorton Road southeast of Lincoln City on 10/17 (ME), Siletz Bay NWR on 11/8 (JD), Newport on 11/21 (HR, JLe, & JO), and about 10 miles south of Kernville along Hwy 229 on the 11/21 Inland Raptor Route. Besides those on Raptor Routes, PEREGRINE FALCONS included one in Toledo twice in late Oct. and on 11/1 (CP), an adult circling over toward King's Slough in Yaquina Bay on 11/1 (TS), one at Road's End north of Lincoln City on 11/10 (ME), a juvenile near the back gate to the HMSC on 11/11 (SSt & TD), one at the HMSC Nature Trail bridge that "actually stayed perched and let me get a good look from about 30 ft. away" on 11/12 (SSt), one during the 11/21 YBNFT led by DD, and another at or near Boiler Bay on 11/28 (WH; PS & CK). On 11/11-13, A & SL saw a single Red Phalarope at the start of the HMSC Nature Trail. On 11/13, they made one last stop at the HMSC and "soon found the Red Phalarope at the same location, feeding and swimming adjacent to shore. As we both watched with our binoculars, the phalarope seemed to 'fall over', and then a moment later we both gasped as we realized it had been snatched by a Peregrine Falcon! We watched in shock and amazement as the peregrine flew with the struggling phalarope in its talons, and then reached back with its beak to deliver a fatal peck, eventually disappearing to the west, over the roof of the HMSC. We wonder if the strange 'falling over' we observed was the phalarope trying to dive to evade the falcon, but the water was too shallow?" The phalarope may have realized too late that it could not fly away, so "falling over" (a form of ducking), if timed at the right moment, could have caused the peregrine to miss it and given it a chance to fly away before the peregrine could return. But it sounds like it may have fell over too soon, and the peregrine was able to compensate. Our only MERLIN was an adult male Taiga-type on 11/17 near the LNG tank (WH). Besides those seen during the Inland Raptor Route, our only AMERICAN KESTRELS were singletons at Bayview Pasture on the north side of Alsea Bay on 11/1 and at about Mile 1.8 on North Beaver Creek Road on 11/3 (RC). SHOREBIRDS-BARN OWL Our only report of ROCK SANDPIPERS was 2 with other rockpipers at the YBSJ on 11/7 (RA & 4 other Corvallis birders; WH). A single WHIMBREL frequented the Yaquina Bay jetties or Newport area on 10/31 (SSc & IB), 11/1 (M&MD); 11/7 (RA and 4 other Corvallis birders); 11/24 (R&NA); and 11/29 (PO). 1-2 MARBLED GODWITS lingered at the Yaquina Bay jetties, sometimes near the Whimbrel, on 10/31 (SSc & IB), 11/24 (R&NA), and 11/29 (PO). A Marbled Godwit was also at Idaho Flats on 11/7 (RA & 4 other Corvallis birders). The early November storms were hard on RED PHALAROPES, which were blown onshore. Peak counts during Boiler Bay seawatches were 4,000+ on 11/6 and 1,000+ on 11/13 (PP). On 11/17, a neighbor brought BB a shaky Red Phalarope that was unable to maintain itself and soon died. BB found that it was not oiled and had no injuries, but it had no breast fat. As BB suggested, the storms probably depleted it of energy and fat stores. PP discovered a rare SOUTH POLAR SKUA during his 11/13 Boiler Bay seawatch. 1-9 POMARINE JAEGERS graced the 11/6, 13 & 17 Boiler Bay seawatches (PP), and a Pomarine or a PARASITIC JAEGER was there on 11/8 (WH). An adult TUFTED PUFFIN in winter plumage passed about 200 yards off Boiler Bay on 11/8 (WH). 1-38 MARBLED MURRELETS were tallied during each of 11 Boiler Bay seawatches in Nov. (PP; WH). There were no reports of Ancient Murrelets. Our first records of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were in May/June 2006. In 2007, we had a smattering of sightings in May and one record in August, and in 2008, there were some records in April/May. 2009 has been an exceptional year with records starting early in March, and we had our first-ever Nov. records. On 11/8, JL saw 5 in the magnolia tree in the front yard of the house across the street (HWY 20 bypass) from the Thriftway store in Toledo and writes "That's the same area where two have been seen occasionally this past spring and summer - maybe a family! It might be a good place to check for that species for the Christmas Bird Count." On 11/11. TW discovered 6 on a roof at Cafe Mundo in Nye Beach (Newport) and noted that they seemed to be a mix of adults and juveniles. Our only BARN OWL was near Idaho Point on 10/31 (TS). BELTED KINGFISHER WINTER PROJECT Some bird species that we assume to be permanent residents throughout the year in Lincoln Co. are partially migratory. This means that even though some individuals are present in winter, others migrate away. Often in partial migration, all or most females migrate, while males remain. We may not appreciate how many species are partially migratory because we see some birds of a species throughout the year and assume that the species is a permanent resident. We also may assume that lower numbers in winter are only a result of mortality rather than migration of part of the population. The Belted Kingfisher account (2009) in the Birds of North America Online notes "Most U.S. populations are partial migrants. Capable of surviving winter temperatures throughout much of North American if open water (and hence food) is available; interior populations, particularly in Alaska and Canada, withdraw entirely. Age or sex of nonmigratory individuals not known." Belted Kingfishers appear to be partially migratory in Lincoln Co. In winter, kingfishers seem fewer in numbers along the coast or in estuaries and appear to be generally absent inland. In Nov. 1993-Jan. 1994, we sought records of males and females and their location. A total of 13 males and 7 females were reported, with almost all near the coast. This sex ratio of about 2:1 is not statistically significantly different from a 1:1 ratio, but this may be because there were too few reported for a robust statistical test. CP found the furthest one inland at Olalla Lake (about 7 miles from shore) on Jan. 23. Things can change in 16 years, so it is time for an update! Changes could be from the passage of time and/or this winter may be harsher or milder than in 1993/1994, which may affect their abundance and the ratio of males and females. So please look for Belted Kingfishers in Lincoln Co. this Dec. and January, and please report the location and number of males and females that you see to RB! If you look for kingfishers at inland locations where you found them in summer, please report if you looked but could not find any. Negative reports (i.e., no kingfishers) are helpful to determine that kingfishers are absent. Otherwise, a lack of reports could also result from no or little observation effort. Thanks! [Image Not Included: Greg Gillson's (http://thebirdguide.com) photo of a female Belted Kingfisher from Chester Co. [PA] Parks & Recreation http://dsf.chesco.org/ccparks/cwp/view.asp?A=1554&Q=631592 Female Belted Kingfishers have a red band across the chest below a blue band and red feathers along their flanks--males only have the blue band.] FLICKER-HOUSE FINCH TS reported our only NORTHERN FLICKER with yellow-shafts (a hybrid red-shafted X yellow-shafted or yellow-shafted) that lingered in late Oct. near Idaho Point (Yaquina Bay). LO had our only RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, which continued around his north Beaver Creek home until at least 11/12. On 11/14, JG saw a PILEATED WOODPECKER in Sandpiper Village, near HWY 101 north of Waldport. It flew across the road ahead, perched in a large wax myrtle, and raked its open bill along one of the wax myrtle branches. It let JG approach to within about 10 feet. J&PT found 3 TROPICAL KINGBIRDS at the willows, brush, and blackberries to the northwest of the LNG fence in Newport on 11/11. Thanks to their prompt reporting, at least 33 people saw them, making these Tropical Kingbirds the most widely seen in Lincoln Co.! 3 were last reported on 11/14, 2 were last noted on 11/18, and the latest report of a singleton in Nov. was on 11/29 (RN). After 1999, 1 Tropical Kingbird has been reported here each fall, except in 2003 and 2008; in 2000, there may have been a second one (FN), so 3 was very unusual! GRAY JAYS seem to like the remains of deer or elk carcasses, so maybe that is why they sometimes come to suet feeders? A few years ago, RL observed Gray Jays feeding on the fat in deer gut piles left out in the woods by hunters. On 11/17, within about a minute of a wheel barrel full of elk carcass, hide, and trimmings being dumped near Waldport the first Gray Jay landed on the remains and within in minutes there were 4 Gray Jays feeding (RL)! This is the first time that RL had seen Gray Jays in that area. This is the time of year when they sometimes show up in lowland areas where they are absent during the nesting season. VARIED THRUSHES appeared to arrive near Thiel Creek and Newton Hill between Toledo and Siletz early this year on 11/15 (BLo; JL). DD found a dead one south of Depoe Bay on Oct. 15, but not a live one until 11/20. Our first of season PALM WARBLER graced the HMSC Nature Trail on 10/31 (SSc & IB). The juvenile BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK with the injured, drooping wing continued to visit BB's Yachats feeder often through at least 10/31. On 11/6, CP found the first of season SNOW BUNTING at the Gull Puddle at YBSJ and promptly reported it so others could enjoy it. Consequently, RA & 4 other Corvallis birders and WH saw it on 11/7 "at a distance of maybe 7 feet." It was last observed on 11/8 (CP; WH). On 11/13, "huge numbers" of HOUSE FINCHES hung out in the blackberry vines north of the LNG fence (WH), and 100+ were there along with 6 species of sparrows (Lincoln's, Savannah, Song, Fox, White-crowned, and Golden-crowned) on 11/14 (WH). Such large numbers of House Finches are often missed or not reported here in winter, though they used to be of regular occurrence on the South Beach Peninsula. OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Rich & Nanette Armstrong Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Ian Boustead, Rebecca Cheek, CoastWatch (a volunteer project monitoring one-mile segments of the Oregon coast; http://oregonshores.org/coastwatch.php5), Alan Contreras, Dick Demarest, Mike & MerryLynn Denny, Jack Doyle, Todd Dunkirk, Jon Dunn, Mark Elliott, Darrel Faxon (see some of DF's bird records and his articles at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#thornton_creek), Shawneen Finnegan, Jill Grover, Wayne Hoffman, David Irons, Carol Karlen, Janet Lamberson, Jessie Leach (JLe), Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Aaron & Sara Liston, Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Sally Lockyear (SaL), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Russ Namitz, Walt Nelson, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent), Bob Olson, John Orsborn, Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Pam Otley, Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, Niko Ranta, Holly Reinhard, Stefan Schlick (SSc), Trent Seager, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive at OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Stacy Strickland (SSt), Paul Sullivan, John & Pam Thomas, Tom Wainwright, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (http://yaquina.info/ybn/; YBNFT Field Trip led by DD). -- Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Mon Dec 14 21:22:21 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:22:21 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] on determining age in Snowy Owls Message-ID: <733782.17282.qm@web113013.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Ages ago I posted a link to site that showed a really good pic of Snowy Owl specimens lined up from lightest to darkest. Does anyone have that link? I can't find it now. Here's another one (not quite as good): http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/snowy.htm Besides the differences in "whiteness" between males and females: Females thicker barring less extensive bib (they show one exception) mostly complete bars on tail Males thinner lighter barring more extensive bib tail bars incomplete Any chance this might be one of the owls that visited Oregon as a juvie? Cindy Ashy From madsteins at hotmail.com Tue Dec 15 00:02:03 2009 From: madsteins at hotmail.com (Don Stein) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:02:03 -0500 Subject: [obol] BROWN PELICANS, Depoe Bay Message-ID: 12/14 10:30 AM to 5 PM My wife and I intermittently counted 625 BROWN PELICANS flying south past Little Whale Cove in flocks of 4-80. This morning 2 KILLDEER foraged for several minutes on the grassy common area beside our house. Don Stein Kate Madison Depoe Bay _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222984/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091215/3aeff4e0/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Tue Dec 15 01:00:39 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:00:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coquille valley CBC Message-ID: We are still short one team for the Coquille Valley CBC to be held Saturday, January 2 in sunny, calm weather in the Bandon-Coquille area. Contact me if you are interested. I'll be attending the Medford CBC this weekend. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From baybirders at embarqmail.com Tue Dec 15 07:42:33 2009 From: baybirders at embarqmail.com (Carol Cwiklinski & Steve Small) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:42:33 -0500 (EST) Subject: [obol] Netarts Snowy Owl Yes Message-ID: <2072248533.5485601260891753930.JavaMail.root@md09.embarq.synacor.com> Yesterday, Monday Dec 14th between 1100 and 1300 hrs the owl was on Netarts spit. It could be seen either from the small parking lot next to the boat dock or from the road along the bay westward. It was perched on the top of a small shrub or shore pine and remained in the same place for at least 1-1/2 hours. Carol Cwiklinski & Steve Small -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091215/6ba88967/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Dec 15 08:44:07 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 08:44:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] From the Regional Editor: weather Message-ID: <4B27BCD7.7020705@pacifier.com> Today is the first day of the CBC season, but most of the real action starts this weekend. The good news: no ice or snow, and PROBABLY no gale force winds. The rest of the story: it will probably be rainy... LONG TERM...WET WEATHER PERSISTS THROUGH THE EXTENDED PERIOD. AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH LEVELS A RIDGE IN PLACE OVER THE ROCKIES THU AFTERNOON. THIS SYSTEM IS FOLLOWED BY A SECOND FRONT CONTINUING THE WET TREND. BY SAT AFTERNOON...MODELS DISAGREE ON WHETHER THERE WILL BE A RIDGE BUILDING BEHIND THE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT OR IF ANOTHER SYSTEM FALLS FROM THE NORTH TO IMPACT THE PAC NW. ECMWF SHOWS A BRIEF BREAK POSSIBLE BY FRI NIGHT AS THIS RIDGE AMPLIFIES. GFS CONTINUES WITH WET CONDITIONS IN THE FORECAST. EITHER WAY...MORE SLOW MOVING SYSTEMS ARE EXPECTED. HOWEVER...THEY MAY STALL AS THEY TRY TO CROSS THE CASCADES...WINDY CONDITIONS AND HEAVY RAIN FALL ARE POSSIBLE DURING THIS TIME. EXPECT SNOW LEVELS TO RISE TO NEAR 8000 FT THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND FALLING SLOWLY THROUGH THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK. Personally, I prefer doing counts under overcast skies and "normal" winter temperatures. Too much sun means backlit birds in 50% of the directions one looks. And more often than not, sun means cold with east winds. The birds stay hidden. The rain (without too much wind)creates habitats in pastures and fields, concentrates passerines in shrubby places and just seems to produce more interesting stuff. We can't all guarantee sunny and 70F the way those folks who run the Coquille count can, so I hope you all have picked at least one count for this weekend... rain or shine. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Mistaken Identities http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12932/ From donalbri at teleport.com Tue Dec 15 10:36:35 2009 From: donalbri at teleport.com (Don Albright) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:36:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Upper Nestucca CBC--Yesterday Message-ID: <9FC1905E19584F15B4A0024651DB98A0@ownerPC> The first day of the Christmas Bird Count was actually yesterday, December 14, and the Upper Nestucca CBC was Oregon's first count of the season. This count is located in the relatively birdless, but very scenic, Coast Range of Tillamook and Yamhill Counties. We had approximately 16 counters in the field, plus two feeder watchers. It looks like we ended up with a total of 51 species, which is just one species short of the record for this count, plus two additional count week species. Weather was in the 30's most of the day, cloudy all day, with a cold rain blowing in from about 2 pm onward. There was an inch or two of snow on the ground at elevations above 2200' or so, but most of the count circle is below that elevation. Streams in the count circle were running clear and low. The few ponds we have in the count circle were still mostly covered with ice. Birds of note: RED CROSSBILLS are present in large numbers in the Coast Range this winter. We recorded 419 of them, easily topping the old count record of 298. These five species won't sound very interesting for a western Oregon CBC, but they're hard to find in the Coast Range: YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER--one found by Jack Hurt for the third count record in the 26 years the count has been run. WILSON'S SNIPE--three found; the fourth record for the count. PURPLE FINCH--one by John Notis and Jesse Leavitt, the third record for the count. MOURNING DOVE--Observed by Dave and Linda Leavitt at their feeder. The second count record. KILLDEER--Jack Hurt found three for the seventh count record. MOUNTAIN QUAIL--not quite rare on this count, but always a good find. Grant and Karen Hoyt heard one for the seventh count record. AMERICAN DIPPERS were vocal along the Nestucca River and other streams. We counted 12 of them. NORTHERN PYGMY OWL--Regular in the Coast Range, but never easy to find. We found two of them, including one that came to my calling to give me great looks. WESTERN SCREECH OWL--Our only nocturnal owl in about three hours of owling effort. One was found by John Notis along Willamina Creek for the 8th count record. There were no gulls in the count circle, and ducks were almost absent due to the standing water being frozen. Mallard has been found 17 years on this count, but not this year. The only ducks were a single COMMON MERGANSER and a single HOODED MERGANSER. Count week birds included a BARRED OWL that I watched catch a mouse in the Nestucca River drainage on Friday (this species has never been found on count day); and a flock of WESTERN BLUEBIRDS in a clearcut in the Nestucca drainage on Friday (recorded only three times for this count). Many thanks to Linda Leavitt, who once again hosted us in her warm house and prepared a hearty feast for us for after the count. And thanks to Linda Fink for doing a large part of the recruiting and organizing of this count as she does every year. And of course thanks to the intrepid volunteers who spent the day in the field. I'll have all the numbers for the count added up within a few days. I can send them along to anyone who requests them. Don Albright Newberg, Oregon donalbri at teleport.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091215/b573c337/attachment.html From steve at paradisebirding.com Tue Dec 15 11:20:09 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:20:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] OBOL archives? Message-ID: <9a341ea30912151120l19886c8di9a7e8072bb534eea@mail.gmail.com> All, I am trying to find any OBOL archives from prior to 2001. Any ideas? Thanks, Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091215/979b83f0/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Tue Dec 15 11:42:31 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:42:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] OBOL archives? In-Reply-To: <9a341ea30912151120l19886c8di9a7e8072bb534eea@mail.gmail.com> References: <9a341ea30912151120l19886c8di9a7e8072bb534eea@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <70D88B54528C4196A2A77174B9011F5F@102889> Steve, Try this http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ . It goes back to 1999. Tom Crabtree Bend _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Stephen Shunk Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 11:20 AM To: obol Subject: [obol] OBOL archives? All, I am trying to find any OBOL archives from prior to 2001. Any ideas? Thanks, Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091215/b3843976/attachment.html From andhunt at comcast.net Tue Dec 15 12:42:43 2009 From: andhunt at comcast.net (Helen Hunter) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:42:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] unsibscribe Message-ID: <7F9D1793532D499EB5A4D66AD9EE6358@yourd0f670b45a> Please unsubscribe me from OBOL list. Thank you. Bill Hunter (it may be under Helen Hunter). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091215/a01b694e/attachment.html From valleybirder at gmail.com Tue Dec 15 16:46:10 2009 From: valleybirder at gmail.com (Mike) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:46:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Was it a Yellow Warbler? In-Reply-To: References: <182059.45654.qm@web45303.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: I got some photos but they're not great. I can't figure out what it is. Vireo? Any help is appreciated. Thanks. Mike Image Image Image Image On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 6:38 PM, Michael Higgins wrote: > It's too bad I didn't take a pic. > I'm not very good at identification but this bird did not exhibit (to me, a > novice) the characteristics or colors of either the Yellow-rumped or the > Townsends (relying exclusively upon various field guides and my extremely > limited experience). > Thanks for your help Tim. > I'll be sure to grab the camera if I see it again. > > Mike Higgins > > > On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 6:03 PM, Tim Rodenkirk wrote: > >> Mike, >> >> No Yellow Warblers around this time of year, wonder what it was? Sure it >> wasn't a Yellow-rumped Warbler, that would be much more likely or even a >> Townsend's Warbler? I suspect the chances of a Yellow Warbler coming to a >> feeder in December in Oregon are very very very slim. >> >> Mt two cents, >> Tim R >> Coos Bay >> >> --- On *Mon, 12/14/09, Mike * wrote: >> >> >> From: Mike >> Subject: [obol] Was it a Yellow Warbler? >> To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> Date: Monday, December 14, 2009, 3:00 PM >> >> >> During these recent sub-zero days I've had what I think was a Yellow >> Warbler visiting my Hummingbird feeders which I kept thawed. >> I didn't notice it before the cold snap, or today. Seemed somewhat common >> so I didn't take a pic. >> >> Mike H. >> >> -----Inline Attachment Follows----- >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> >> >> > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091215/d7443627/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Dec 15 17:14:00 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:14:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Was it a Yellow Warbler? Message-ID: <1260926040.18054.282.camel@clearwater1> Hi Mike & OBOLers, If it looked sort of like a Yellow Warbler but is still around in December, my first guess would be an Orange-crowned Warbler as a few do winter in the valley. If you think it might be a vireo, then how about Ruby-crowned Kinglet? >From today's posting it looks like you tried to post some photos directly to OBOL but they didn't come through. If you send me those directly, I'll put them up on the Oregon Birds photo gallery at www.oregonbirds.org, and maybe we can sort this one out together. Thanks & happy birding, Joel During these recent sub-zero days I've had what I think was a Yellow Warbler visiting my Hummingbird feeders which I kept thawed. I didn't notice it before the cold snap, or today. Seemed somewhat common so I didn't take a pic. Mike H. I got some photos but they're not great. I can't figure out what it is. Vireo? Any help is appreciated. Thanks. Mike Image Image Image Image From tc at empnet.com Tue Dec 15 17:18:36 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:18:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Was it a Yellow Warbler? In-Reply-To: References: <182059.45654.qm@web45303.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <700D189A4F0C481FAA545948441FFED8@102889> Looks like an Orange-crowned Warbler to me. _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Mike Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 4:46 PM To: Tim Rodenkirk; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Was it a Yellow Warbler? I got some photos but they're not great. I can't figure out what it is. Vireo? Any help is appreciated. Thanks. Mike Image Image Image Image On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 6:38 PM, Michael Higgins wrote: It's too bad I didn't take a pic. I'm not very good at identification but this bird did not exhibit (to me, a novice) the characteristics or colors of either the Yellow-rumped or the Townsends (relying exclusively upon various field guides and my extremely limited experience). Thanks for your help Tim. I'll be sure to grab the camera if I see it again. Mike Higgins On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 6:03 PM, Tim Rodenkirk wrote: Mike, No Yellow Warblers around this time of year, wonder what it was? Sure it wasn't a Yellow-rumped Warbler, that would be much more likely or even a Townsend's Warbler? I suspect the chances of a Yellow Warbler coming to a feeder in December in Oregon are very very very slim. Mt two cents, Tim R Coos Bay --- On Mon, 12/14/09, Mike wrote: From: Mike Subject: [obol] Was it a Yellow Warbler? To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Monday, December 14, 2009, 3:00 PM During these recent sub-zero days I've had what I think was a Yellow Warbler visiting my Hummingbird feeders which I kept thawed. I didn't notice it before the cold snap, or today. Seemed somewhat common so I didn't take a pic. Mike H. -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091215/f6398479/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Tue Dec 15 17:38:59 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:38:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Was it a Yellow Warbler? Message-ID: <4B283A33.6060508@pacifier.com> Looks like Image Image Image Image because I read OBOL from Siler and follow the don't post images to the listserver rule... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Mistaken Identities http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12932/ From philliplc at charter.net Tue Dec 15 17:42:41 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:42:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Siletz Bay 12/14-15 Message-ID: 12/14 3:00-3:30 in very tight virtually pure group - 1000 Cal 400 Herring 400 Mew (all 90%+ adult) 12/15 2:30-4:15 gulls concentrated on the spit plus thousands more spread throughout both north and south bay - conservatively 9000 Cal (90%+ adult) 1200 Herring (90%+ adult) 600 Western (mixed ages) small numbers G-w, Mew, Thayer's 40+ Heermann's (inc 2 alternate adult) 3 Glaucous (1 adult 2 juv, all huge) 800 Brown Pelican http://philliplc.com/images/sb16.jpg http://philliplc.com/images/sb17.jpg http://philliplc.com/images/sb18.jpg Phil philliplc at charter.net From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Dec 15 18:12:33 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:12:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Was it a Yellow Warbler? Message-ID: <604C7643-257B-4C1E-9526-00D2C0044FDD@earthlink.net> Looks like an Orange-crowned to me. I only saw my first winter Orange-crowned last December--the Peoria bird, and it felt like quite an accomplishment. I still can't get over their occurrence here in the cold season. There again, they start showing up in northern Oregon around March 20 when it's no warmer than now. And we typically burn as much or more firewood at my house in April as November. The similarly plumaged Old World Warbler, the Chiff Chaff, makes its initial appearance in northern France and southern England at a similar date. It's currently 48 degrees here, 35 degrees warmer than a few days ago, and the woods are full of large moths. They were in my headlights the whole two miles from the Sunset Highway to home. Lars Norgren Manning. Oregon From johnpam at mtangel.net Tue Dec 15 18:39:09 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:39:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Was it a Yellow Warbler? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Orange-Crowned Warbler. John Thomas -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org]On Behalf Of Mike Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 4:46 PM To: Tim Rodenkirk; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] Was it a Yellow Warbler? I got some photos but they're not great. I can't figure out what it is. Vireo? Any help is appreciated. Thanks. Mike Image Image Image Image On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 6:38 PM, Michael Higgins wrote: It's too bad I didn't take a pic. I'm not very good at identification but this bird did not exhibit (to me, a novice) the characteristics or colors of either the Yellow-rumped or the Townsends (relying exclusively upon various field guides and my extremely limited experience). Thanks for your help Tim. I'll be sure to grab the camera if I see it again. Mike Higgins On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 6:03 PM, Tim Rodenkirk wrote: Mike, No Yellow Warblers around this time of year, wonder what it was? Sure it wasn't a Yellow-rumped Warbler, that would be much more likely or even a Townsend's Warbler? I suspect the chances of a Yellow Warbler coming to a feeder in December in Oregon are very very very slim. Mt two cents, Tim R Coos Bay --- On Mon, 12/14/09, Mike wrote: From: Mike Subject: [obol] Was it a Yellow Warbler? To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Date: Monday, December 14, 2009, 3:00 PM During these recent sub-zero days I've had what I think was a Yellow Warbler visiting my Hummingbird feeders which I kept thawed. I didn't notice it before the cold snap, or today. Seemed somewhat common so I didn't take a pic. Mike H. -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091215/e9840561/attachment.html From valleybirder at gmail.com Tue Dec 15 19:34:18 2009 From: valleybirder at gmail.com (Mike) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:34:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Was it a Yellow Warbler? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Thanks everyone! Mike -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091215/29d77ef5/attachment.html From m.denny at charter.net Tue Dec 15 19:44:05 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:44:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Northern Umatilla Co. Raptor Route Message-ID: <1116D85318274552990178C348B840C6@24FLIGHT> Hello All, On 13 Dec. MerryLynn and I once again had the privilege of participating in the raptor route run and established by Ginger and Rodger Shoemake. This entire route starts in the western face of the Blue Mountains and runs west out into the southern Walla Walla Valley in northern Umatilla County. This was a great day out in the field with outstanding friends. Raptor numbers were above average with 3-5 inches of snow over all areas searched. Micro-tine numbers appear to be building. We located and counted the following raptors........ Red-tailed Hawk.........239 birds Am. Kestrel.................52 birds Northern Harrier..........23 birds (only 1 male) Bald Eagle...................1 third yr. Golden Eagle...............1 sub.ad. Rough-legged Hawk....3 birds Prairie Falcon..............2 birds Sharp-shinned Hawk...1 ad. Coopers Hawk............2 birds Northern Goshawk......2 ad. Great Horned Owl.......3 birds TOTAL.......................329 raptors That is it until next month! Merry Christmas!! Later Mike .................................................................................. Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived From marciafcutler at comcast.net Tue Dec 15 20:54:56 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:54:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Central Benton Co. Raptor Run results Message-ID: <135D513E-C240-4FA5-A0D3-F168719F2A73@comcast.net> Jan Landau and I did the central Benton County raptor run yesterday, Dec. 12, 2009. The weather was cloudy but dry and temperatures were in the 40s. However many small streams and wetlands were still frozen over. Even Cabell Marsh (Finley NWR) only had a small open area of water. Overall the number of raptors was down considerably from the previous December. However, there was a large, probably record number of Bald Eagles and also 2 Red-shouldered Hawks (uncommon so far on this route). We saw a large, very light raptor just west of the old Headquarters at Finley, but it was quickly chased out of sight by a Red-tailed Hawk and we were unable to confirm whether it was a Gyrfalcon. Jan noted that it had a darker cap to the head and my impression was that the back was gray-colored. The undersides of the wings were white and the wings were pointed like a falcon, the breast and belly were also quite light and the tail was long. Here are the results - last December's numbers are in brackets Red-tailed Hawk - 30 [37] American Kestrel - 20 [24] Northern Harrier - 3 [14] Bald Eagle - 7 Adults [1], 2 Immature [0] Rough-legged Hawk - 2 [8] Red-shouldered Hawk - 2 [0] White-tailed Kite - 1 [1] Peregrine Falcon - 2 [0] Merlin - 1 [0] [Prairie Falcon -1] Large raptor - 2 Buteo sp. - 1 A comparison of several of the roads really illustrates where the numbers of raptors were less Airport Rd - 5 [10] Llewellyn Rd - 4 [6] Greenberry Rd - 8 [19] Marcia F. Cutler Corvallis From whoffman at peak.org Tue Dec 15 21:34:01 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:34:01 -0800 Subject: [obol] Newport Jaeger Message-ID: At noon today I found a dark-phase Pomarine Jaeger sitting on the ground in the shelter of a clump of grass at the South Jetty. It flushed when a jogger went by. It had tail streamers about 2" longer than the rest of the tail feathers, broad and blunt-tipped. Wayne -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091215/bd3fed72/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Dec 16 00:36:30 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:36:30 +0000 Subject: [obol] New piece about CBC strategies posted to BirdFellow.com Message-ID: Greetings All, David Fix has written a new piece for the BirdFellow online journal. It focuses on birding strategies that one can use during Christmas Bird Counts and other winter birding. The new article was posted tonight. Dave Irons Content Editor BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091216/972d7279/attachment.html From lbviman at blackfoot.net Wed Dec 16 08:57:53 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:57:53 -0700 Subject: [obol] Was it a Yellow Warbler? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20091216165158.15DB19B0223@mail.blackfoot.net> Mike - any warbler coming to feeders, other than Yellow-rumped and perhaps Yellowthroat, Orange-crowned and Townsend's, is worth photographing north of California this time of year (also, Pine warbler is possible - one was at a feeder on CBC in Eureka MT last winter; in MT, ANY warbler is noteworthy in winter. If you obtain a photograph, it could help with the ID - Jim Greaves, Thompson Falls At 01:00 PM 12/15/2009, obol-request at oregonbirdwatch.org wrote: >Message: 5 >Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:00:27 -0800 >From: Mike >Subject: [obol] Was it a Yellow Warbler? >During these recent sub-zero days I've had what I think was a Yellow Warbler >visiting my Hummingbird feeders which I kept thawed. >I didn't notice it before the cold snap, or today. Seemed somewhat common so >I didn't take a pic. >Mike H. From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Dec 16 09:53:51 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:53:51 +0000 Subject: [obol] Was it a Yellow Warbler? In-Reply-To: <20091216165158.15DB19B0223@mail.blackfoot.net> References: , <20091216165158.15DB19B0223@mail.blackfoot.net> Message-ID: Good Morning All, Several folks correctly identified Mike Higgins' warbler as an Orange-crowned, but there was little if any discussion of why they arrived at that conclusion. Here are a couple good clues that support this bird being an Orange-crowned. Secondary Edges -- In all plumages other than adult male, Yellow Warblers show somewhat conspicuous whitish edges to the outer webs of the secondaries when the wings are folded. Though the photos aren't perfect, I think they are good enough that we would notice paler secondary edges if this bird showed them (it doesn't). Orange-crowned Warblers have rather uniform olive green wings when folded with no noticeable paler feather edges. Wingbars -- Yellow Warblers do not have wingbars in the traditional sense, but in most plumages they show paler tips to the greater and median (wing) coverts that create diffuse wingbars. Orange-crowned Warblers rarely look like they have wingbars. This bird shows no suggestion of wingbars. Eye arcs vs. eyering -- In at least one of the images Mike's bird shows pale yellow arcs above and below the eye that create a partial eyering look. The eyering is broken by a weak dark eyeline in front of and behind the eye. Yellow Warblers (all plumages) have a much plainer face with no suggestion of an eyeline. In all plumages they have a complete very pale yellow to white eyerings. This eyering doesn't show well on adults because the eyering color (pale yellow) does not contrast much with the otherwise yellow face. However, on young birds the eyering is more whitish and the overall color of the face tends to be dingier olive/gray/brownish, so the whitish eyering stands out. Finally, the overall color of Mike's bird--rich olive greenish--is not a good match for Yellow Warbler. First-year Yellow Warblers are highly variable in color ranging from dull grayish olive to tawnier yellowish tan. They are usually paler below than above and paler still on the throat. As pointed out by Jim Greaves, any warbler (other than Yellow-rumped, Orange-crowned, Townsend's, or Common Yellowthroat) coming to a feeder this time of year should be photographed. In addition to the Pine Warbler in MT that Jim mentions, there was a Pine Warbler at LaGrande, Oregon last winter. Oregon has had some other vagrant warblers show up at feeders during mid-winter including, Ovenbird, Prothonotary, and Black-throated Blue. Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091216/e8b418e0/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Wed Dec 16 12:16:32 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:16:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Thick-billed Murre at North Coast Rehab center Message-ID: <4B294020.7000601@pacifier.com> I received an email from Josh Saranpaa this morning alerting me to a bird they had at the North Coast Rehab Center they were pretty sure was a THICK-BILLED MURRE. I went out today to check and sure enough they had one swimming around in the recovery pool with a mess of COMMON MURRES. It was originally picked up on 11/19/2009 during the last big winter storm set, but went unidentified until they got it out of the indoor enclosure pens and into the pre-release swim pens. Vitals: Ex Culmen 42.5mm Nalospi 34.6mm Bill depth 13.4mm Tarsus 44.2mm Wing chord 183mm Bill length and plumage details suggest this is a hatch-year bird. The gonys to bill tip distance seems atypical for Thick-billed, but this is almost certainly an artifact of age as the bill is clearly still growing (note the corrigations). All plumage details support Thick-billed. Photos of this bird as well as photos of a remarkable nearly white NORTHERN FULMAR at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Mistaken Identities http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12932/ From woodenapple at juno.com Wed Dec 16 12:33:57 2009 From: woodenapple at juno.com (woodenapple at juno.com) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:33:57 GMT Subject: [obol] Obol: Eugene Orange-crowned Warbler Message-ID: <20091216.123357.3381.0@webmail10.vgs.untd.com> Greetings, Obolists! We, too, have had an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER in our N. Eugene/Santa Clara-area backyard. It's been around for almost three weeks and frequents the suet. Interestingly, it wasn't to be seen during last week's cold snap. We incorrectly surmised that it had either thought the better of its choice of a winter abode or hadn't survived the cold. Rudi ____________________________________________________________ Weight Loss Program Best Weight Loss Program - Click Here! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=8CMWJf-zcreJveYXKa6regAAJ1AHcaoQFB_Xw2ggvz9-JEKpAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEUgAAAAA= From jbw at oregoncoast.com Wed Dec 16 15:19:26 2009 From: jbw at oregoncoast.com (Barbara and John Woodhouse) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:19:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Snowy Owl count week yes Message-ID: <09B502BB-A611-4F33-954C-92DE4AB71852@oregoncoast.com> We checked on the Snowy Owl today and found him sitting most obligingly on the same shore pine as usual. This is the first day of our count week for Tillamook so hopefully he will still be there Saturday. At least he will be a count week bird!! Barbara & John Woodhouse Tillamook From brrobb at comcast.net Wed Dec 16 15:51:36 2009 From: brrobb at comcast.net (Roger & Betty Robb) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:51:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wed Morning - Eugene Message-ID: <0266BE44BB2A4E428B4EF041CE4E8C7E@RROffice> The Wed morning group took advantage of good weather and birded from the oak grove just west of Royal and Fisher Rds, west to the fence before the parking area and north and east to the next oak grove. Highlights included 2 NORTHERN SHRIKES, an immature near the end of Royal and an adult north of Royal; a SNOW GOOSE with a small flock of Cacklers north of Royal and 6-8 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS, 5-7 in the oak grove about 1/3 mile north of Royal and 1 near the oak grove on Royal. Our list was as follows: 1 Snow Goose 200 Cackling Geese 100 Canada Geese 1 Great Blue Heron 3 Great Egret 2 Bald Eagle 4 Northern Harrier 3 Redtail 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Turkey Vulture 2 Ring-necked Pheasant 1 Killdeer 6 Gull sp (CA or RB) 6-8 Lewis's Woodpecker 10 Acorn Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 4 Northern Flicker 10 Western Scrub-Jay 30 American Crow 10 Common Raven 2 Northern Shrike 12 Western Bluebird 30 American Robin 300 Starling 10 Black-capped Chickadee 1 Brown Creeper 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Bewick's Wren 1 American Pipit 5 House Finch 10 Yellow-rumped Warbler 30 Golden-crowned Sparrow 10 White-crowned Sparrow 6 Song Sparrow 3 Lincoln's Sparrow 20 Dark-eyed Junco 2 Spotted Towhee 300 Red-winged Blackbird 100 Brewer's Blackbird 10 Western Meadowlark 1 House Sparrow Roger Robb with Dennis Arendt, Paul Sherrell, Don Schrouder, Sylvia Maulding, Craig Merkel, Fred Chancey, Sara Vasconcellos, Randy Sinnot, Dave Brown, Becky & June -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091216/86dc79f9/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Wed Dec 16 17:13:46 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:13:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bonneville Dam Message-ID: <78CFDB19BD1B48569AE8A03907C87542@cgatesPC> A while back, Paul Sullivan and others gave a very detailed and useful description of how to bird the John Day Dam. I'm wondering if some local experts might be able to do the same for the Bonneville Dam? I'm looking at it from Google and it looks like a good place to bird. I would also like to include a good description in my Multnomah County site guide. Chuck Gates -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091216/bd4e992d/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Wed Dec 16 17:29:21 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:29:21 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] AMAZING bird sighting- North Bend 12/16/2009 Message-ID: <200235.74044.qm@web45310.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I just witnessed one of the most amazing and gut-wrenching bird extravaganzas?I have ever seen.? Here is the story. ? I have been keeping an eye on the AMERICAN AVOCET at Pony Slough since it showed up several days ago.? I checked early today and didn't see it in its usual spot at Pony Slough in North Bend so?I decided to stop back later when the tide was out.? I went back at around 4PM but to the east side of the slough at the end of Florida St. where?I had seen it foraging late yesterday.? I got there and couldn't find it. What?I did find was a pair of adult PEREGRINE FALCONS, one obviously bigger than the other.? They were together, about 20-30 feet above a thin stream of water in the middle of the slough.? They were working in tandem diving on a gull.? The bird was diving under water as the falcons dove at it.? The falcons were working together like synchronized swimmers though.? The female?would?stoop down?at the gull but it would go under water, the male would then zip down and hover right over where the bird went down.? After hovering for 20-30 seconds the male would then circle back behind the female and the female would wait for the bird to pop up then screech down and try and nab it.? After each unsuccessful dive by the female the male was immediately behind it hovering just over where the bird dove with its talons ready to grab it if it popped up.?This happened just two or three times or so in rapid succession?before?I?realized the gull was actually the AVOCET!!? My stomach tightened and?I watched the avocet dive and dive and dive and dive.? It must have gone under 20 times and stayed down for?as much as?30 seconds or more each time, popping up?30 or 40 feet away from where it went down each time.? The falcons were absolutely relentless though, they never gave up and repeatedly hounded the avocet.? Finally?the avocet?popped up and one of the?falcons grabbed it and it was all over. ? No avocet on the Coos Bay CBC this year! ? Oh, across from the BLM office in North Bend, above the entrance to the airport, I found a PALM WARBLER hunkered down in a brush pile with several WC Sparrows and one WT Sparrow today. This is the first one?I have seen this fall, hopefully it will stay out of harm's way between now and Sunday. ? Wow! Tim R Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091216/846181b0/attachment.html From srnord101 at verizon.net Wed Dec 16 17:48:13 2009 From: srnord101 at verizon.net (Steve Nord) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:48:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Wetlands, Common Teals Message-ID: <000001ca7eba$ff000a50$fd001ef0$@net> OBOL; The bodies of water at Fernhill Wetlands are still covered with ice, thick enough to support large stones that people have thrown onto the ice surface. Small pockets of open water exist in the Mitigation Ponds, and in a flooded farm field west of the parking area. These areas supported some waterfowl, but far less then has been present in recent weeks. In the flooded farm field, was a large number of CACKLING GEESE (mostly "Taverner's") NORTHERN PINTAIL and GREEN-WINGED TEAL. In this flock I also found 2 male COMMON TEAL (Eurasian Green-winged Teal). I was present near sunset in hopes to seeing the large gull flock that typically gathers here at dusk, but I suspect the frozen lake held little attraction to many gulls. However a small gathering was present: MEW GULL 14 RING-BILLED GULL 4 CALIFORNIA GULL 1 HERRING GULL 2 TAHEY'S GULL 2 GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL 2 WESTERN GULL 1 Good day for raptors: RED-SHOULDERED HAWK 1 RED-TAILED HAWK 4 BALD EAGLE 2 (adults, male and female) AMERICAN KESTREL 1 PEREGRINE FALCON 1 Also seen: CANVASBACK 6 RING-NECKED DUCK 3 HOODED MERGANSER 3 COMMON MERGANSER 1 RUDDY DUCK 4 Good Birding Steve Nord Hillsboro, OR From ronaldgp at onlinemac.com Wed Dec 16 19:31:40 2009 From: ronaldgp at onlinemac.com (Ronald G. Peterson) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:31:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fernhill wetlands, Wash. Co. Message-ID: <4B29A61C.3030903@onlinemac.com> I was by Fernhill about 2:30 pm today, and having noted the iced ponds, drove on. Traversing Fernhill Rd. south located many of the usual birds from the ponds in shallow rain-generated ponds in the cultivated fields. Along highway 47 from Springhill Rd. south yielded the most birds. Common merganser was present on the first pond to the west where I usually don't see diving ducks. On Lake Wapato (or the beginnings of same in the fields to the east) were most of the dabbling ducks from Fernhill. All flushed before I drove alongside due to a bald eagle passing through. It was like watching the starling and blackbird flocks in the fall: a huge ball of birds. Gliding along underneath was the eagle. A nice treat at road speed headed for home. Ron --- Ronald G. Peterson McMinnville, OR From fitzbeew at gmail.com Wed Dec 16 21:19:15 2009 From: fitzbeew at gmail.com (Holly Reinhard) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:19:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] RFI: Place to stay for Coquille CBC? Message-ID: Obol, If this isn't allowed, somebody let me know. David Schas and I will be participating in the Coquille CBC on Sat. 2 January. We will be driving down from the Eugene area, and were hoping to find a fellow birder's place to crash in the Coquille area Friday night. If you would not mind doing this, I will bring you home-made cookies. Thanks, and let me know via e-mail or cell. -Holly Reinhard Corvallis fitzbeew at gmail.com cell (541) 579.0594 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091216/71bf841c/attachment.html From bcombs232 at gmail.com Wed Dec 16 21:40:07 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:40:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harrisburg Coburg Raptor Run December 14 Message-ID: <8ce3a6520912162140x191d8b4cl906098a75b9f5d41@mail.gmail.com> Robin Gage and I did the Harrisburg-Coburg Raptor Run December 14. We got a later than planned start due to some icy road conditions early in the day. We traveled 67.6 miles in 3 hours and 18 minutes. We rushed to beat the rain, but it overtook us. We conducted the end of the route in a light rain and darkened skies for about an hour after 3:00 p.m. Fortunately, we travel back over some roads for the second time during the last part of the route so we often do not add birds along those roads, anyway. Birds seen: 26 Red-tailed Hawk 26 American Kestrel 2 Northern Harrier 5 Bald Eagle (did not find BAEA in November) 5 Rough-legged Hawk ( 4 in the same field, all about 50 yards apart along the edge of a flock of sheep) 1 Merlin 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk We rushed through the route and did not spend time looking for other species. In November, I forgot to mention that we found 3 BLACK PHOEBES. Two were in the Detering Orchard area and one was in the same location at the corned of Coburg Bottom Loop and Funke Road where we found one on a survey in a previous year. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091216/c6b86807/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Wed Dec 16 22:41:37 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:41:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yaquina Bay Hybrid Goldeneye is still here Message-ID: Today (Dec. 16) at 123:30 a hybrid drake goldeneye was swimming with 2 Bufflehead hens in the Newport harbor, visible from Bay Blvd., near the Local Ocean restaurant. The tide was extremely high at the time. Presumably this is the same individual that was reported a week or so ago at the fishing pier. Wayne Hoffman -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091216/ef0da5ff/attachment.html From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Dec 16 23:30:58 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:30:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 12-17-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * December 17, 2009 * ORPO0912.17 - birds mentioned Brant Trumpeter Swan Blue-winged Teal KING EIDER Brown Pelican Turkey Vulture Swainson?s Hawk Ferruginous Hawk Gyrfalcon Heermann?s Gull California Gull Herring Gull Glaucous Gull Pomarine Jaeger Band-tailed Pigeon Snowy Owl Horned Lark Tree Swallow Sage Thrasher Red Fox Sparrow Lapland Longspur - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday December 17. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. On December 12 an EIDER, probably a KING, was seen off Boiler Bay. A SNOWY OWL is now being seen on Netarts Spit across from the town of Netarts. Heavy gull movements have been reported during the week. On December 16 a concentration on Siletz Spit included 9000 CALIFORNIA GULLS, 1200 HERRING GULLS, 3 GLAUCOUS GULLS, 40 HEERMANN?S GULLS, and 800 BROWN PELICANS. On December 10 three BAND-TAILED PIGEONS were in Bandon and one was in Astoria. On December 12 a pale-bellied BRANT was at Yaquina Bay. A dark phased POMARINE JAEGER was seen December 15 on the South Jetty of Yaquina Bay. On December 12 a BLUE-WINGED TEAL was near Oaks Bottom in southeast Portland. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was found December 11 among a flock of about 200 HORNED LARKS along Livermore Road near Baskett Slough NWR. A TURKEY VULTURE was also seen there that day, and on December 12 a SWAINSON?S HAWK was along Livermore Road. There are now about 38 TRUMPETER SWANS in the Airlie area south of Monmouth. On December 13 a white GYRFALCON was near Peoria south of Corvallis. A red FOX SPARROW was seen December 12 in Eugene. On December 13 a TREE SWALLOW was over Fern Ridge Reservoir. On December 11 a SAGE THRASHER was north of Madras near Gateway. A FERRUGINOUS HAWK was seen December 16 at the Redmond Sewage Ponds. That?s it for this week - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091216/4c8dc7ce/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Thu Dec 17 00:17:52 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:17:52 +0000 Subject: [obol] AMAZING bird sighting- North Bend 12/16/2009 In-Reply-To: <200235.74044.qm@web45310.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <200235.74044.qm@web45310.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: I watched a similar episode several years ago with the one and only Willet that I've ever seen at Fern Ridge. An immature Peregrine Falcon dive-bombed it dozens of times as the Willet sat neck deep in the water and submerging itself every time the young Peregrine swooped past. After a while the Peregrine gave up and the Willet survived. Dave Irons Eugene, OR Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:29:21 -0800 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] AMAZING bird sighting- North Bend 12/16/2009 I just witnessed one of the most amazing and gut-wrenching bird extravaganzas I have ever seen. Here is the story. I have been keeping an eye on the AMERICAN AVOCET at Pony Slough since it showed up several days ago. I checked early today and didn't see it in its usual spot at Pony Slough in North Bend so I decided to stop back later when the tide was out. I went back at around 4PM but to the east side of the slough at the end of Florida St. where I had seen it foraging late yesterday. I got there and couldn't find it. What I did find was a pair of adult PEREGRINE FALCONS, one obviously bigger than the other. They were together, about 20-30 feet above a thin stream of water in the middle of the slough. They were working in tandem diving on a gull. The bird was diving under water as the falcons dove at it. The falcons were working together like synchronized swimmers though. The female would stoop down at the gull but it would go under water, the male would then zip down and hover right over where the bird went down. After hovering for 20-30 seconds the male would then circle back behind the female and the female would wait for the bird to pop up then screech down and try and nab it. After each unsuccessful dive by the female the male was immediately behind it hovering just over where the bird dove with its talons ready to grab it if it popped up. This happened just two or three times or so in rapid succession before I realized the gull was actually the AVOCET!! My stomach tightened and I watched the avocet dive and dive and dive and dive. It must have gone under 20 times and stayed down for as much as 30 seconds or more each time, popping up 30 or 40 feet away from where it went down each time. The falcons were absolutely relentless though, they never gave up and repeatedly hounded the avocet. Finally the avocet popped up and one of the falcons grabbed it and it was all over. No avocet on the Coos Bay CBC this year! Oh, across from the BLM office in North Bend, above the entrance to the airport, I found a PALM WARBLER hunkered down in a brush pile with several WC Sparrows and one WT Sparrow today. This is the first one I have seen this fall, hopefully it will stay out of harm's way between now and Sunday. Wow! Tim R Coos Bay _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091217/0747415a/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Dec 17 04:35:52 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:35:52 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] AMAZING bird sighting- North Bend 12/16/2009 In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <690272.21205.qm@web45304.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I have seen single birds hunting like Dave described many times, but never two working together so efficiently. ?These birds could probably take out any bird (of reasonable size) they wanted on Pony Slough. ?Their method of hunting was amazing, and very effective. As I mentioned, they were relentless and would not give up, I realized fairly quickly while watching the spectacle that the avocet was doomed. These are likely the pair that nest close by. I have wondered why we have not had any large waders overwinter at Pony Slough in recent years. ?Long-billed Curlews use to be regular and Whimbrel occasional. ?Haven't seen either overwinter in 5+ years, maybe this pair has been picking off the large waders for a while? Tim RCoos Bay --- On Thu, 12/17/09, David Irons wrote: From: David Irons Subject: RE: [obol] AMAZING bird sighting- North Bend 12/16/2009 To: "Tim Rodenkirk" , "post OBOL" Date: Thursday, December 17, 2009, 12:17 AM I watched a similar episode several years ago with the one and only Willet that I've ever seen at Fern Ridge. An immature Peregrine Falcon dive-bombed it dozens of times as the Willet sat neck deep in the water and submerging itself every time the young Peregrine swooped past. After a while the Peregrine gave up and the Willet survived. Dave Irons Eugene, OR Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:29:21 -0800 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: [obol] AMAZING bird sighting- North Bend 12/16/2009 I just witnessed one of the most amazing and gut-wrenching bird extravaganzas?I have ever seen.? Here is the story. ? I have been keeping an eye on the AMERICAN AVOCET at Pony Slough since it showed up several days ago.? I checked early today and didn't see it in its usual spot at Pony Slough in North Bend so?I decided to stop back later when the tide was out.? I went back at around 4PM but to the east side of the slough at the end of Florida St. where?I had seen it foraging late yesterday.? I got there and couldn't find it. What?I did find was a pair of adult PEREGRINE FALCONS, one obviously bigger than the other.? They were together, about 20-30 feet above a thin stream of water in the middle of the slough.? They were working in tandem diving on a gull.? The bird was diving under water as the falcons dove at it.? The falcons were working together like synchronized swimmers though.? The female?would?stoop down?at the gull but it would go under water, the male would then zip down and hover right over where the bird went down.? After hovering for 20-30 seconds the male would then circle back behind the female and the female would wait for the bird to pop up then screech down and try and nab it.? After each unsuccessful dive by the female the male was immediately behind it hovering just over where the bird dove with its talons ready to grab it if it popped up.?This happened just two or three times or so in rapid succession?before?I?realized the gull was actually the AVOCET!!? My stomach tightened and?I watched the avocet dive and dive and dive and dive.? It must have gone under 20 times and stayed down for?as much as?30 seconds or more each time, popping up?30 or 40 feet away from where it went down each time.? The falcons were absolutely relentless though, they never gave up and repeatedly hounded the avocet.? Finally?the avocet?popped up and one of the?falcons grabbed it and it was all over. ? No avocet on the Coos Bay CBC this year! ? Oh, across from the BLM office in North Bend, above the entrance to the airport, I found a PALM WARBLER hunkered down in a brush pile with several WC Sparrows and one WT Sparrow today. This is the first one?I have seen this fall, hopefully it will stay out of harm's way between now and Sunday. ? Wow! Tim R Coos Bay Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091217/c4736b91/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Dec 17 06:44:48 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:44:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA correction, SWAINSON'S HAWK Message-ID: <2F626997-F565-45DA-82F6-F6409F6BB1D5@earthlink.net> In Harry's weekly RBA summary a Swainson's Hawk is again located at Livermore Road, which is north of the center of Baskett Slough NWR, running parrelel to 99W two or three miles to its west. This is where two Swainson's Hawks were reported, perhaps before Thanksgiving. I think the recent sighting was made se of BSNWR near the jct of 99W and Hwy 22. I want to encourage people to keep a lookout throughout this part of Polk County. If memory serves me, Swainson's Hawks winter in northern Argentina but a small population is now well documented wintering in California's Central Valley. When I was a teenager frequent reports of Swainson's Hawks were generated at Finley in the winter, none of them verified. At the time Fred Ramsey was both field notes editor of the Chat and compiler for the Corvallis CBC. At one point he instructed a team assigned to the Finley area,"I don't want you to report more than TWO Swainson's Hawks today." I believe it was Lynn Topinka that posted good pictures of a juvenile Swainson's at Ridgefield NWR last winter, which then stuck around long enough for others to see. There was also a credible report of Swainson's Hawk from the Tangent area. Was that last winter also? While Lynn's pictures provided excellent documentation of this species' occurrence, what really struck me was how non-distinctive this juvenile bird appeared. In my usual non-analytical point and shoot style of ID I called it either a 'Tail or 'Shoulder and probably would have driven right by it in my quest for a Baikal Teal. Lars Norgren From winkg at hevanet.com Thu Dec 17 07:16:43 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:16:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 12/16/09 Message-ID: <20091217151713.53928A8136@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 12/10 to 12/16/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week (a short week--nasty and brutish, too) are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 6 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) BALD EAGLE 1 (1, 12/10) RED-TAILED HAWK 1 (1, 12/14) GULL sp. 1 (1, 12/12) MOURNING DOVE 3 (2, 12/13) ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD 4 (2) DOWNY WOODPECKER 1 (2, 12/12) Northern Flicker 5 (3) Pileated Woodpecker 1 (1, 12/12) Hutton's Vireo 1 (1, 12/12) Steller's Jay 6 (6, 12/12) American Crow 3 (5, 12/12) Black-capped Chickadee 6 (15, 12/14) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2 (1, 12/14 & 16) Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 (3) Winter Wren 3 (1) Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 (5, 12/16) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 (2, 12/12) Hermit Thrush 6 (5, 12/10) American Robin 6 (15, 12/10 & 12) Varied Thrush 5 (8, 12/10) EUROPEAN STARLING 2 (2, 12/14) CEDAR WAXWING 2 (1, 12/10 & 14) Spotted Towhee 5 (6, 12/14) FOX SPARROW 1 (1, 12/12) Song Sparrow 6 (8, 12/14) Dark-eyed Junco 6 (25, 12/14) House Finch 4 (8, 12/10) Red Crossbill 1 (1, 12/10) Wink Gross Portland From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Dec 17 08:08:59 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:08:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] AMAZING bird sighting- North Bend 12/16/2009 In-Reply-To: References: <200235.74044.qm@web45310.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4B2A579B.3000906@verizon.net> I once watched a flock of Marbled Godwits in Humboldt Co come under attack from a Peregrine and the entire flock dove instead of flew. It was rather amazing to watch 35 MAGO all go under water at the same time. They all made it. Cheers Dave Lauten David Irons wrote: > I watched a similar episode several years ago with the one and only > Willet that I've ever seen at Fern Ridge. An immature Peregrine Falcon > dive-bombed it dozens of times as the Willet sat neck deep in the > water and submerging itself every time the young Peregrine swooped > past. After a while the Peregrine gave up and the Willet survived. > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:29:21 -0800 > From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: [obol] AMAZING bird sighting- North Bend 12/16/2009 > > I just witnessed one of the most amazing and gut-wrenching bird > extravaganzas I have ever seen. Here is the story. > > I have been keeping an eye on the AMERICAN AVOCET at Pony Slough since > it showed up several days ago. I checked early today and didn't see > it in its usual spot at Pony Slough in North Bend so I decided to stop > back later when the tide was out. I went back at around 4PM but to > the east side of the slough at the end of Florida St. where I had seen > it foraging late yesterday. I got there and couldn't find it. What I > did find was a pair of adult PEREGRINE FALCONS, one obviously bigger > than the other. They were together, about 20-30 feet above a thin > stream of water in the middle of the slough. They were working in > tandem diving on a gull. The bird was diving under water as the > falcons dove at it. The falcons were working together like > synchronized swimmers though. The female would stoop down at the gull > but it would go under water, the male would then zip down and hover > right over where the bird went down. After hovering for 20-30 seconds > the male would then circle back behind the female and the female would > wait for the bird to pop up then screech down and try and nab it. > After each unsuccessful dive by the female the male was immediately > behind it hovering just over where the bird dove with its talons ready > to grab it if it popped up. This happened just two or three times or > so in rapid succession before I realized the gull was actually the > AVOCET!! My stomach tightened and I watched the avocet dive and dive > and dive and dive. It must have gone under 20 times and stayed down > for as much as 30 seconds or more each time, popping up 30 or 40 feet > away from where it went down each time. The falcons were absolutely > relentless though, they never gave up and repeatedly hounded the > avocet. Finally the avocet popped up and one of the falcons grabbed > it and it was all over. > > No avocet on the Coos Bay CBC this year! > > Oh, across from the BLM office in North Bend, above the entrance to > the airport, I found a PALM WARBLER hunkered down in a brush pile with > several WC Sparrows and one WT Sparrow today. This is the first one I > have seen this fall, hopefully it will stay out of harm's way between > now and Sunday. > > Wow! > Tim R > Coos Bay > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- "We need to change our mind frame - our values. Perhaps quality time, love, family values, friendship and respect are preferable to material goods and status? Or maybe humans are too vain. In this problem, I think we are seeing the worst of ourselves in the mirror. We see power struggle and corruption." Rasmus Benestad, The Norwegian Meteorological Institute From AdeleDawson at gmx.net Sun Dec 13 21:30:43 2009 From: AdeleDawson at gmx.net (Adele Dawson) Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:30:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Barred Owl Message-ID: There was a BARRED OWL on the wire at the corner of 1st and Hemlock this evening about dusk (5:10 PM). It flew east but was called in with a recording to a large Spruce on Hemlock, then flew over to the east where there are some large conifers. Adele Dawson Florence -- HOMEPAGE: http://www.adeledawson.com/ BLOG: http://adeledawson.blogspot.com/ From adamus7 at comcast.net Thu Dec 17 11:46:37 2009 From: adamus7 at comcast.net (Paul Adamus) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:46:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] for this Sunday, consider Airlie-Albany CBC Message-ID: <616654ABC6604119AAF390B832AEFBF8@paulb8b133e5f2> In the Willamette Valley, the only Christmas Bird Count happening this Sunday is the Airlie-Albany CBC, now in its 12th year. We welcome anyone who'd like to participate, either alone or paired with someone who's done this count before. To kick off the day we'll meet at 7 a.m. at the office of the EE Wilson Wildife Area, about 9 miles north of downtown Corvallis. Take the road opposite the Coffin Butte landfill and go east about 0.5 mile, then left up a long driveway to the office. You'll get to meet the other birders and receive a checklist and maps. We typically get 110-130 species. Please email me in advance if you might come or have questions. Cheers! Paul Adamus & Joel Geier -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091217/b839d5fb/attachment.html From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Thu Dec 17 13:23:34 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:23:34 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] AMAZING bird sighting- North Bend 12/16/2009 Message-ID: <460906.96340.qm@web51508.mail.re2.yahoo.com> That is heartwrenching to watch Tim, especially when it's a less common bird....I'm almost always rooting for the attackee, while most of the time others seem to root for the raptor. I've seen the same strategy used by eagles on bufflehead several times....with the added trick of first making an initial flyover to identify the slowest one to respond and then targeting that one for the relentless team tag....and I've seen this trick used on murres many many times....in fact, one breeding season, it seemed to happen with most eagle attacks at Yaquina Head. Cindy Ashy From dpvroman at budget.net Thu Dec 17 14:06:00 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis Vroman) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:06:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] N. Grants Pass Raptor survey Message-ID: <705352A058B24E1CB4EA1D3A8FF71CA4@your4dacd0ea75> The 1st North Grants Pass Raptor survey was accomplished today (12-17-09) Distance traveled: 37.9 miles; Survey time: 3 hours Weather: low overcast, with dense fog at times in the foothills; good visibility in valley flatlands. Results: Red-tailed Hawk - 13 American Kestrel - 4 Red-shouldered Hawk - 3 White-tailed Kite - 6 Not much species diversity today, raptors or other birds. Fog may have blocked visibility of distance birds. The majority of the birds were seen in the valley flatlands. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091217/9cf860a0/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Thu Dec 17 16:49:07 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:49:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Siletz Bay etc. Message-ID: <79E6CE351E8940E4946D5E87443046AA@Phil> Siletz Bay - 9/16 4:00: 6-7000 gulls in the bay with 25-50/min. funneling over, 80% Cal 600+ Brown Pelican 9/17 10:00: down to 1000 gulls mostly Cal with 5-15/min. going over no pelicans + male Barrow's Goldeneye paired with apparent female Barrow's with mostly dark bill. http://philliplc.com/images/sb19.jpg http://philliplc.com/images/sb20.jpg D River - 9/17 3:00: 26 Heermann's (mostly adult some transitioning into alt, 1 juv) 11 Ring-billed http://philliplc.com/images/sb21.jpg Phil philliplc at charter.net From sparsons at canby.com Thu Dec 17 17:56:24 2009 From: sparsons at canby.com (Steve and Diana Parsons) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:56:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Dark Hawk- ID assistance please Message-ID: I was dodging raindrops at Ridgefield today and stumbled across this very dark hawk perched high in the ash tree forrest. I tagged it as a dark redtail, but i am having second thoughts that it might be a dark rough-legged. Your comments/assistance is appreciated... http://www.flickr.com/photos/35425630 at N03/4194157978/ Regards, Steve From larry.maurin at gmail.com Thu Dec 17 18:34:16 2009 From: larry.maurin at gmail.com (Larry Maurin) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:34:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Dark Hawk- ID assistance please Message-ID: Hi Steve, I think Rough-legged Hawk can be eliminated because this bird shows no trace of white in the head and has a bill that is relatively large in proportion to the rest of the bird. You can tell the bird is a juvenile because of its light iris color. I think it is either a dark morph 'western' *B. j.calurus*red-tailed hawk or a dark morph harlan's hawk. It fits the overall size and shape of a red-tail well. According to 'Raptors of Western North America' by Brian Wheeler, Juvenile *B.j. harlani* and *B.j.calurus* dark-morph birds are "not readily separable except by tail tip." He goes on the say that in juv. Harlan's, "a black 'spike' runs along the feather shaft from the black subterminal band to the tip of most or all retricies." Apparently, this feature at the very tip of the tail is diagnostic in Harlan's Hawk's. Other than that it may be nearly impossible to separate the two. My two cents, Larry Maurin Portland * Subject: Dark Hawk- ID assistance please* From: Steve and Diana Parsons Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:56:24 -0800 I was dodging raindrops at Ridgefield today and stumbled across this very dark hawk perched high in the ash tree forrest. I tagged it as a dark redtail, but i am having second thoughts that it might be a dark rough-legged. Your comments/assistance is appreciated... http://www.flickr.com/photos/35425630 AT N03/4194157978/ Regards, Steve _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- ---------------------------------------- Larry P. Maurin 626.315.0610 larry.maurin at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091217/fc420c44/attachment.html From stpilot_fly at yahoo.com Thu Dec 17 20:00:31 2009 From: stpilot_fly at yahoo.com (David Schas) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:00:31 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Antone CBC Message-ID: <702959.91998.qm@web65616.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> Hey all, A reminder to everyone that the Antone CBC is Tuesday, December 22. If you are interested in partaking in this?count, please contact me asap. Thank you, and?Happy?Counting? David Schas (20) Corvallis, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091217/37fb3706/attachment.html From sparsons at canby.com Thu Dec 17 20:59:28 2009 From: sparsons at canby.com (Steve and Diana Parsons) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:59:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Leucistic Canada Goose - Ridgefield Message-ID: For the second year in a row, I encountered a canada goose with a mottled neck. I have no idea if it is the same bird, or this is just an occurrence that afflicts a bird every now and then. Here's a link... http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen_parsons/4194307132/in/photostream/ From henry at formandstructure.net Fri Dec 18 06:48:11 2009 From: henry at formandstructure.net (Henry Horvat) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:48:11 -0500 Subject: [obol] Red Shouldered Hawk Message-ID: <174DFA2FF9B9794C84FC6231D7B5160D75A00C20@MAILSC003.mail.lan> OBOL'ers: In Scappoose Bottoms, at the Ellis farm fields, (Honeyman Road), I saw a Red Shouldered Hawk on a fence post. This is only the second time in 19 years that I have seen this species in Scappoose Bottoms. Also, a little birding tip: I was in the car with the passenger side window rolled down so I could look at this bird. I decided to get out and use the car as a blind and use the roof of the car to steady my binoculars. I made the mistake of taking my eye off the bird as I turned to open the car door. Once I got out and stood up to face the bird, it was gone. So keep your eye on the ball! Henry Horvat Scappoose Bottoms -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091218/1e6bd78c/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Fri Dec 18 07:38:48 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 07:38:48 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Dark Hawk- ID assistance please In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <206846.21152.qm@web39708.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Steve, I will hazard a guess that this is a dark-morph rough-legged hawk. I say this because the beak is somewhat diminutive (when compared to a RT). Also there is a little bit more feathering around the cere, and I believe a RT's face is somewhat more bare. I have seen "dark chocolate" rough-legs that don't show lighter markings and they really make IDing them tough. When RL's land in trees, they often land near the top, grabbing a thin branch and bending it over. I don't ever recall seeing a RT do this. Redtails seem to prefer a more substantial perch---like the one in your photo. Anyway, these are some factors to consider. Best, Dick --- On Thu, 12/17/09, Steve and Diana Parsons wrote: > From: Steve and Diana Parsons > Subject: [obol] Dark Hawk- ID assistance please > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Thursday, December 17, 2009, 5:56 PM > I was dodging raindrops at Ridgefield > today and stumbled across this? > very dark hawk perched high in the ash tree > forrest.???I tagged it as? > a dark redtail, but i am having second thoughts that it > might be a? > dark rough-legged.? ? Your comments/assistance is > appreciated... > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/35425630 at N03/4194157978/ > > Regards, > > Steve > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From Katherine_Fuller at blm.gov Thu Dec 17 16:02:12 2009 From: Katherine_Fuller at blm.gov (Katherine_Fuller at blm.gov) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:02:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Katherine A Fuller is out of the office. Message-ID: I will be out of the office starting 12/17/2009 and will not return until 12/27/2009. I will respond to your message when I return. From dlrobbo at comcast.net Fri Dec 18 08:42:32 2009 From: dlrobbo at comcast.net (Doug Robberson) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:42:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Head discoloration Message-ID: What cause the head discoloration in swans, iron oxide or tannin? Doug Robberson Tigard, OR From dougnlaura at cvcable.com Fri Dec 18 12:14:06 2009 From: dougnlaura at cvcable.com (Doug and Laura) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:14:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] vultures & condors Message-ID: <20091218121407.9E9626DC@dm52.mta.everyone.net> I've seen two vultures along Clear Lake Road between Hwy 99 and Green Hill Road in Eugene on Nov. 30th and again on Dec. 12th. It seems like they might be hanging around. I am headed to Monterey with the family after Xmas and would love to see a condor in the wild. The info on the web is surprisingly scant mostly mentioning Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park as a good local. Has anyone seen any condors down in that area or north of there along the coast? Thanks, Doug Barrett -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091218/2f6267ba/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Fri Dec 18 12:20:33 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:20:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] Newport Bayfront Kingbird on Dec. 17 Message-ID: Hi, At 9 AM yesterday (Dec. 17), Eli Adam used 10X binocs to watch a kingbird fly out and catch a wasp along the Newport Bayfront near the intersection of Bay Boulevard and Eads Street. From the traffic light on the east side of Newport at the intersections of HWY 20 and John Moore Road, turn south down the hill at John Moore Road, drive down past the Elks and the former Yaquina View School to the bottom and cautiously turn right (westward) onto Bay Boulevard. Continue about 2 blocks westward to the intersection with Eads Street. Eli noted that the kingbird was very visible flying out for insects and perching on wires. Eli did not determine if it was a Tropical or Western Kingbird, but a Tropical Kingbird is much more to be expected this time of year here. This is also only about 1.5 miles northwest of the LNG Tank area where John Thomas found the 3 Tropical Kingbirds, and a singleton was last reported on Dec. 5. So perhaps one of those near the LNG tank moved into Newport. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm From TASGENL at COMCAST.NET Fri Dec 18 13:40:19 2009 From: TASGENL at COMCAST.NET (Tom Shreve) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:40:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] RFI collared Aleutian Geese Message-ID: <002601ca802a$b26c1550$17443ff0$@NET> I talked to Shawn Stephensen of the USFWS as he was counting geese including the Semidi Islands Aleutian Geese in Pacific City last week. Some of the geese are later than usual for arrival in their normal fields. Shawn would be interested in any sightings outside of the Pacific City area of Aleutian Cackling Geese with red or green plastic neck bands. Green neck bands were placed on some Semidi Islands birds in the summer of 2008 (earlier years for the red bands). There was an unconfirmed report of one of these birds near Coos bay. It would be especially helpful if it is possible to read the 3 digit number on the band as well. Blue neck bands are not the Semidi birds but are of interest also. Respond off list to this posting or Email reports to: Shawn_Stephensen at FWS.gov For those interested in a little background the Semidi Islands in the Aleutians lost much of their populations of Aleutian Cackling Geese when Arctic Fox were introduced for fur trapping. A residual population that remained on a couple of islands has not rebounded as fast as most of the other Aleutian geese. The Semidi geese number about 150 individuals and winter near Pacific City, feeding in pastures during the day and roosting on the Haystack Rock or on the ocean near Cape Kiwanda at night. Local farmers and landowners have generally cooperated in accommodating the needs of the Semidi birds and the Nestucca Bay NWR has acquired and manages one of the two pastures they frequent. About 10% of the total population of Dusky Canada geese also come to the Nestucca Bay NWR. The Dusky population has declined fairly steadily since the 1964 earthquake in Alaska made their breeding grounds in the Copper River Delta more accessible to predators. Shawn has authored a report: 'White-cheeked Geese Surveys at Nestucca, Nehalem , and Tillamook Bays, Oregon 2008-09' which is available electronically in pdf form from him or I will forward the pdf to anyone interested. It is oriented largely to the details of how many geese were seen where and when. Some of the information above is from that report but I have combined it with my recollections from other sources so any inaccuracies have probably come from me. Thanks for any help you can give, perhaps this is something else to watch for on the CBC counts. Tom Shreve Tigard TASGENL at Comcast.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091218/5c46b8c9/attachment.html From cncschneider at msn.com Fri Dec 18 14:40:12 2009 From: cncschneider at msn.com (Carl & Christine Schneiders) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:40:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tough Green Heron, Oregon Garden, Marion County Message-ID: Hi Birders, The Oregon Garden's resident GREEN HERON survived the frigid conditions last week. I did not see the heron but I spoke with someone who works there and she said it was seen Thursday. I'm surprised the heron survived/stayed through the 4 days of subfreezing weather and 2 nights of single digit temperatures. Matthew Schneider Silverton, Oregon From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Dec 18 14:45:02 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:45:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] dark buteo ID Message-ID: <7B436F7E-4F0A-4A15-A063-EFDEC2DE19FE@earthlink.net> I notice that the tips of the primaries do not reach the bottom of the tail. I think the primary tips of a Rough-leg are as long as the tail on a perching bird. Although the Red-tail is a bigger hawk it has a shorter wingspan than Rough-legs. Lars Norgren From dpvroman at budget.net Fri Dec 18 15:11:47 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis Vroman) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:11:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] dark buteo ID References: <7B436F7E-4F0A-4A15-A063-EFDEC2DE19FE@earthlink.net> Message-ID: Have to admit, this is a tough Hawk for sure. Sibley's mentions that with "Harlan's" Red-tailed Hawk, the wingtips do not reach tail tip (as compared to "Western" Red-tailed Hawk). The photo of the bird in question doesn't appear to have wingtips even near to tail tip. Rough-legged Hawk appear to have wingtips that are at least as long at the tail (when bird perched). Perhaps it's just my screen, or something not true to the real bird with the photo, but to me, the very tip of the tail appears to have a trace of rufous color, which I would think a Rough-legged should have. ...anyway, my thoughts on this particular bird. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) Subject: [obol] dark buteo ID > I notice that the tips of > the primaries do not reach the > bottom of the tail. I think the > primary tips of a Rough-leg are > as long as the tail on a perching > bird. Although the Red-tail is a > bigger hawk it has a shorter > wingspan than Rough-legs. Lars Norgren > _______________________________________________ From Randy.Moore at oregonstate.edu Fri Dec 18 15:30:23 2009 From: Randy.Moore at oregonstate.edu (Moore, Randy - FW) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:30:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Steve's ridgefield hawk References: Message-ID: My two cents on Steve's hawk (see below for original post) is that it almost has to be an adult or sub-adult Harlan's Hawk. * It's tail is the wrong color for any western red-tail, and it's body color is the right black for Harlan's but would be way out in the tail (no pun intended) of the distribution for western. * It's wingtips are way too short for rough-legged and would be unusually short for western red-tail. * It also has a small head and bill, a thing I associate with Harlan's in comparison with other red-tails (but which I haven't seen mentioned elsewhere, so take that with a grain of salt). * The tail is relatively unmarked dark gray, which is one of the huge number of tail variations that Harlan's shows, but no other red-tail (or rough-legged) ever shows that I know of. * it should have a completely different tail pattern, significantly longer wings, and white lores if it were a dark phase rough-leg. * even though the eye suggests juv., the tail says adult or subadult. subadults often have light irides, and adults sometimes do. happy cbc season! randy corvallis Message: 4 Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:56:24 -0800 From: Steve and Diana Parsons Subject: [obol] Dark Hawk- ID assistance please To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes I was dodging raindrops at Ridgefield today and stumbled across this very dark hawk perched high in the ash tree forrest. I tagged it as a dark redtail, but i am having second thoughts that it might be a dark rough-legged. Your comments/assistance is appreciated... http://www.flickr.com/photos/35425630 at N03/4194157978/ Regards, Steve -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091218/bfb71f4c/attachment.html From kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com Fri Dec 18 15:34:53 2009 From: kevinsmithnaturephotos at gmail.com (Kevin Smith) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:34:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] BirdsEye App. Message-ID: <4B2C119D.4060008@gmail.com> Is anyone using the new iPhone BirdsEye application yet? Do you like it? What did it cost? Etc, etc? Thanks, Kevin Smith -- Kevin Smith Crooked River Ranch, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: kevinsmithnaturephotos.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 107 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091218/677b7f8d/attachment.vcf From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Fri Dec 18 15:53:27 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:53:27 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Steve's ridgefield hawk In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <685572.79531.qm@web39703.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Randy, I relooked at the photo in question, and you bring up a good point about the grey in the tail----I had not seen this, and realize it's not just the camera---the tail DOES have grey in it. This would indicate a harlans. I thought about the wing length (should have mentioned this) because there is some variation as seen on pp 94&95 of A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors by Wheeler and Clark. If a RT is perched "straight up" the wing tips are about as long as the tail, but if it's "leaned over" somewhat, the tips appear shorter. You guys that think it's a RT make some good points---and I appreciate that. Best, Dick --- On Fri, 12/18/09, Moore, Randy - FW wrote: > From: Moore, Randy - FW > Subject: [obol] Steve's ridgefield hawk > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Date: Friday, December 18, 2009, 3:30 PM > obol Digest, > Vol 21, Issue 18 > > > > My two cents on Steve's > hawk (see below for original post) is that it almost has to > be an adult or sub-adult Harlan's Hawk.? > > > > > It's tail?is the wrong color > for any western red-tail, and it's body color?is > the right black for Harlan's but would be way out in the > tail (no pun intended) of the distribution for > western.? > > It's wingtips are way too short for > rough-legged and would be unusually short for western > red-tail.? > > It also has a small head and bill, a > thing I associate with Harlan's in comparison with other > red-tails (but which I haven't seen mentioned elsewhere, > so take that with a grain of salt).? > > The tail is relatively unmarked dark > gray, which is one of the huge number of tail variations > that Harlan's shows, but no other red-tail (or > rough-legged) ever shows that I know of. > > it should have a completely different > tail pattern, significantly longer wings,?and white > lores if it were a dark phase rough-leg. > > even though the eye suggests juv., > the?tail says adult or subadult.? subadults often > have light irides, and adults sometimes > do. > happy cbc season! > randy > corvallis > ? > ? > Message: 4 > Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:56:24 -0800 > From: Steve and Diana Parsons > Subject: [obol] Dark Hawk- ID assistance please > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Message-ID: > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; > delsp=yes > > I was dodging raindrops at Ridgefield today and stumbled > across this? > very dark hawk perched high in the ash tree > forrest.?? I tagged it as? > a dark redtail, but i am having second thoughts that it > might be a? > dark rough-legged.??? Your > comments/assistance is appreciated... > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/35425630 at N03/4194157978/ > > Regards, > > Steve > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Fri Dec 18 19:30:17 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:30:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] ECBC Christmas Valley Raptor Survey Message-ID: <6D74731CB4E64A358E8C490E89605DFE@KimPC> The week before Christmas in Christmas Valley. Lowell Franks and I had another great day out on the desert looking for Raptors and anything else we could find. We counted 98 Raptors on the 82 mile route under partly cloudy skies, calm - light winds, temps. from 33 to 49 degrees F. and did all this in 6 1/4 hours. We saw 10 species and all but 1 had 2 or more birds. WE saw another 46 raptors in the basin going to and from the survey route. The total day produced 67 Red-tails, 11 adult Bald Eagles and 12 Golden Eagles. We also found 9 Coyotes, approx. 150 Pronghorns, 1 N. Shrike, and 1 Cackling Goose along with lots of regulars. Species Counted on Route Red-tailed Hawk 49 American Kestrel 7 Northern Harrier 3 Bald Eagle 7A Golden Eagle 3 Rough-legged Hawk 13 Ferruginous Hawk 4 Unid. Buteo 3 Prairie Falcon 5 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Cooper's Hawk 3 Kim Boddie Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091218/e59a303f/attachment.html From oschmidt at att.net Fri Dec 18 19:36:22 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:36:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tillamook Bay area today Message-ID: Seen at Netarts Bay today: Snowy Owl, Barrow's Goldeneye, Harlequin Duck, Long-tailed Duck, White-throated Sparrow .... plus usuals .... all within Count circle .... meet at the new Denny's on Hwy 101 in Tillamook tomorrow 6:30 am ..... Sent from my iPhone oschmidt at att.net From raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Fri Dec 18 20:42:59 2009 From: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com (Jeff Fleischer) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:42:59 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Philomath Raptor Route Message-ID: <83300.18124.qm@web50908.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Obolers, Today I conducted the Philomath raptor route survey as part of the East Cascades Bird Conservancy's statewide Winter Raptor Survey Project. This area covers the territory bounded on the north by West Hills Rd, on the south by Decker Rd, on the west by Hwy 34, and on the east by 53rd ST/Bellfountain Rd. It took 3 hours 5 minutes to cover the 44.7 miles. This was the first time that I actually conducted the survey, I am filling in for my normal volunteer this winter. Following is what I found (last years December numbers are in (): Red-tailed Hawk 31 (7) 31 is a new high count replacing 17 found in Jan 06 American Kestrel 23 (8) 23 is a new high count replacing 15 found in Dec 07 Northern Harrier 4 (1) ties the high count found in Mar 08 Bald Eagle 3 adults (1 no age) Red-shouldered Hawk 3 (1) 3 is a new high count replacing 1 found in Dec 08 Cooper's Hawk 3 (0) 3 is a new high count replacing 1 found on several surveys Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 (0) TOTAL BIRDS 68 (18) this total doubles the previous high of 34 found in Jan 08 Conditions for seeing birds were excellent and the best birds for me for the day were the three RSHAs, one being found on Clement Mill Rd near the scouting facility and a beautiful adult pair perched on trees at the intersection of Fern Rd and Grange Hall Rd south of town. After conducting this survey, I drove west to Alsea and did the first survey on this new route. Results will be reported separately. Jeff Fleischer Project Coordinator ECBC Winter Raptor Survey Project From gnorgren at earthlink.net Fri Dec 18 21:01:21 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:01:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] Philomath Raptor Route In-Reply-To: <83300.18124.qm@web50908.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <83300.18124.qm@web50908.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <50F8AEC4-1B7A-4B75-A1A8-8824A9E08E4C@earthlink.net> I grew up at the corner of West Hills Road and 53rd Street. From 1969 to 1976, when I was limited to a bicycle, this raptor route constituted perhaps 80% of the birding I did. In those 100s of hours I never saw a Bald Eagle, at any season. And Red-shouldered Hawks? There hadn't been a confirmed record in the state of Oregon. Worldwide the prognosis for biodiversity is pretty grim, but in our little corner of the world I am constantly finding my wildest childhood dreams surpassed. Lars Norgren On Dec 18, 2009, at 8:42 PM, Jeff Fleischer wrote: > Obolers, > > Today I conducted the Philomath raptor route survey as part of the East Cascades Bird Conservancy's statewide Winter Raptor Survey Project. This area covers the territory bounded on the north by West Hills Rd, on the south by Decker Rd, on the west by Hwy 34, and on the east by 53rd ST/Bellfountain Rd. It took 3 hours 5 minutes to cover the 44.7 miles. This was the first time that I actually conducted the survey, I am filling in for my normal volunteer this winter. Following is what I found (last years December numbers are in (): > > > Red-tailed Hawk 31 (7) 31 is a new high count replacing 17 found in Jan 06 > > American Kestrel 23 (8) 23 is a new high count replacing 15 found in Dec 07 > > Northern Harrier 4 (1) ties the high count found in Mar 08 > > Bald Eagle 3 adults (1 no age) > > Red-shouldered Hawk 3 (1) 3 is a new high count replacing 1 found in Dec 08 > > Cooper's Hawk 3 (0) 3 is a new high count replacing 1 found on several surveys > > Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 (0) > > TOTAL BIRDS 68 (18) this total doubles the previous high of 34 found in Jan 08 > > Conditions for seeing birds were excellent and the best birds for me for the day were the three RSHAs, one being found on Clement Mill Rd near the scouting facility and a beautiful adult pair perched on trees at the intersection of Fern Rd and Grange Hall Rd south of town. > > After conducting this survey, I drove west to Alsea and did the first survey on this new route. Results will be reported separately. > > Jeff Fleischer > Project Coordinator > ECBC Winter Raptor Survey Project > > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Fri Dec 18 21:17:29 2009 From: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com (Jeff Fleischer) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:17:29 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Alsea Raptor Route Survey Message-ID: <443885.43608.qm@web50903.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Obolers, Today, I completed the first survey for this new route as part of the East Cascades Bird Conservancy's statewide Winter Raptor Survey Project. The Alsea area is uniquely made up of small valleys tucked in abrupt mountainsides covered with Douglas Fir and Alder. The route consists of several roads leading off of Hwy 34 which connects the Willamette Valley to Waldport on the coast. I spent 2 hours 20 minutes covering 28.6 miles. My main interest in starting this route stems from some information that I received late last winter regarding White-tailed Kite sightings along Hwy 34 around Alsea. I did a cursory survey last March and found several kites so I decided to put a route together in this area to get these beauties into the project database. I wasn't disappointed today! Following are the totals for my effort today: Red-tailed Hawk 7 American Kestrel 7 Northern Harrier 1 Bald Eagle 2 adults White-tailed Kite 6 Cooper's Hawk 2 UNID accipiter 1 TOTAL BIRDS 26 I found the WTKIs in three different locations - one was perched in a fir tree just north of Honey Grove Rd, three were perched in fir trees to the south of Hwy 34 just east of Alsea, and two were perched in a Christmas tree farm just south of Hwy 34 west of Alsea across from Winney Rd. These are predictable locations for anyone wishing to relocate them. Best strategy is to scan solid blocks of fir trees south of Hwy 34 if you are looking around mid morning to mid afternoon. Their white color really stands out against the dark green fir trees. Early in the morning and late in the afternoon is when they come down into the valley floor to hunt and are much closer for you to view. After I finished the route at Campbell County Park west of Alsea, on my way back along Hwy 34 I saw the Winney Rd birds again (they were still perched on a couple Christmas trees) and two of the birds that were found east of Alsea had moved down to the valley floor and were actively hover hunting in the fields. Another good road to check out is Fudge Rd which is a couple miles due south of Alsea off of the Alsea-Deadwood Hwy. I saw them there last spring and it is a good possibility that the two I saw there then were ones that I saw east of Alsea today. Doing this route in conjunction with the Philomath route earlier in the day provided some great raptor viewing. Both routes combined allowed me to see: Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Northern Harrier Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk White-tailed Kite Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Fun day :) Jeff Fleischer Project Coordinator ECBC Winter Raptor Survey Project From tmacport99 at hotmail.com Fri Dec 18 22:31:09 2009 From: tmacport99 at hotmail.com (Tom McNamara) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:31:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield dark buteos Message-ID: Annet and I were at Ridgefield today and saw the hawk that Steve P. saw and photographed. Our view of the bird was in flight. From what I saw of the overall blackish coloring, the very pale, very obviously contrasting tail and the view of underwing covert pattern I'm comfortable calling it a Harlan's. Just to stir the pot a tad: there is, within a couple hundred yards of where we saw the Harlans', a dark morph RT. Seen from afar it looks, obviously, quite ....um, dark! But eventually, with better views, the russet tail and the dark brown, not blackish, plumage readily serve as IDers. Also saw a couple river otters which could about qualify as being "ecologically naive" such was their indifference to our not-so-distant presence. Tom _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft?s powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091218/656f7411/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Dec 19 04:00:10 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:00:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Alsea Raptor Route Survey In-Reply-To: <443885.43608.qm@web50903.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <443885.43608.qm@web50903.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <16706D29-5FFA-44B2-8E78-4E9A9EEF8CD8@earthlink.net> I pruned Christmas trees two miles south of Alsea in the summer of 1982. A pair of White-tailed Kites were nesting there at the time. Lars Norgren On Dec 18, 2009, at 9:17 PM, Jeff Fleischer wrote: > Obolers, > > Today, I completed the first survey for this new route as part of the East Cascades Bird Conservancy's statewide Winter Raptor Survey Project. The Alsea area is uniquely made up of small valleys tucked in abrupt mountainsides covered with Douglas Fir and Alder. The route consists of several roads leading off of Hwy 34 which connects the Willamette Valley to Waldport on the coast. I spent 2 hours 20 minutes covering 28.6 miles. > > My main interest in starting this route stems from some information that I received late last winter regarding White-tailed Kite sightings along Hwy 34 around Alsea. I did a cursory survey last March and found several kites so I decided to put a route together in this area to get these beauties into the project database. I wasn't disappointed today! Following are the totals for my effort today: > > Red-tailed Hawk 7 > > American Kestrel 7 > > Northern Harrier 1 > > Bald Eagle 2 adults > > White-tailed Kite 6 > > Cooper's Hawk 2 > > UNID accipiter 1 > > TOTAL BIRDS 26 > > I found the WTKIs in three different locations - one was perched in a fir tree just north of Honey Grove Rd, three were perched in fir trees to the south of Hwy 34 just east of Alsea, and two were perched in a Christmas tree farm just south of Hwy 34 west of Alsea across from Winney Rd. These are predictable locations for anyone wishing to relocate them. Best strategy is to scan solid blocks of fir trees south of Hwy 34 if you are looking around mid morning to mid afternoon. Their white color really stands out against the dark green fir trees. Early in the morning and late in the afternoon is when they come down into the valley floor to hunt and are much closer for you to view. After I finished the route at Campbell County Park west of Alsea, on my way back along Hwy 34 I saw the Winney Rd birds again (they were still perched on a couple Christmas trees) and two of the birds that were found east of Alsea had moved down to the valley floor and were > actively hover hunting in the fields. Another good road to check out is Fudge Rd which is a couple miles due south of Alsea off of the Alsea-Deadwood Hwy. I saw them there last spring and it is a good possibility that the two I saw there then were ones that I saw east of Alsea today. > Doing this route in conjunction with the Philomath route earlier in the day provided some great raptor viewing. Both routes combined allowed me to see: > > Red-tailed Hawk > American Kestrel > Northern Harrier > Bald Eagle > Red-shouldered Hawk > White-tailed Kite > Cooper's Hawk > Sharp-shinned Hawk > > Fun day :) > > Jeff Fleischer > Project Coordinator > ECBC Winter Raptor Survey Project > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Sat Dec 19 09:30:45 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:30:45 -0700 Subject: [obol] Dec. raptor run Message-ID: <94B09FEBF5AD446780937EA5C3577497@larryPC> We did Jordan Valley raptor run on Thurs. Dec.18. The weather was warm 40-46 degrees partly cloudy and light winds.It took 4.5 hrs. and 158 mi. RTHA-17 AMKE-5 NOHA-2 BAEA-4 2adults 2 subadults GOEA-9 RLHA-7 FEHA-2 FALC-6 Prairie falcons ACCIP- 2 Goshawks Total raptors-54 Also seen on the route were- small group of American Goldfinches if you count our yard, they were at the feeder just before we left to do the count- Ravens,as always- 1 Crow, walking along the road, he was in the same area when we came home-Magpies, in several spots- Starlings and Blackbirds near all the ranches and cows- Assorted Ducks at hay fields and any open water, which wasn't much- 3 Great Blue Herons,2 on Jordan Creek in Danner and 1 in Arock-Ringed-necked Pheasants in Rome and Arock- Rome also had a large amount of Canada Geese, one hay field was covered with geese and there were smaller flocks scattered on adjoining fields. While in Jordan Valley we saw 1 Flicker and numerous EC Doves in the trees. There were Passerines scattered throughout the route, mainly consisting of Chipping Sparrows, Horned Larks and Oregon Juncos. On 19 Dec. on my trip to Jordan Valley I saw 5 GOEA, 1 BAEA, 1FEHA and 2or 3 RTHA. It looks like our eagles have arrived. Karen in true SE Or south of Burns Jct. in Malheur Co. Note: If you forward this email, please delete the forwarding history, which includes my email address. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091219/db56109c/attachment.html From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Sat Dec 19 11:38:19 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:38:19 -0700 Subject: [obol] Bird full names Message-ID: <994E986D24A54BA5BB32F30A7412DFEE@larryPC> I received a request to use the birds name not the 4 letter code as the writer had a hard time identifying the bird. I apologize for that as I too had a hard time with identification when we first started OBOL. I have seen several requests to use the full name many times in the past few years. With all the new birders it will probably help. So for those that don't know the letter code here is what I saw-Redtail hawks-17,American Kestrel-5, Northern Harrier-2, Bald Eagle-4( 2 adults 2 subadults),Golden Eagles-9, Rough-Legged Hawk-7,Ferruginous hawk-2, Prairie Falcons-6, Accipiter- 2 Goshawks. I hope this helps the new members of OBOL. Karen in true SE Or. south of Burns Jct in Malheur Co. Note: If you forward this email, please delete the forwarding history, which includes my email address. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091219/93d41b2e/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Sat Dec 19 13:00:57 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:00:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Netarts Pelicans Message-ID: <6FADEB4DA150419CBEF2E096E46A8F98@Phil> This morning I had planned to do a seawatch in association with the Tillamook CBC, but the entire coastline was densely socked in with no improvement by 10:30. Disgustingly warm. I did see at dawn on the beaches adjacent to and within the mouth of Netarts Bay - 1150 Bown Pelican 1000 Western Gull 300 Glaucous-winged 9 Heermann's only a few each Herring, Thayer's, Cal During return- tight flock of 600 Cal + 6 Heermann's at mouth of D River. Phil philliplc at charter.net From jonysky101 at aol.com Sat Dec 19 14:22:10 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:22:10 -0500 Subject: [obol] Brant in Newport Message-ID: <8CC4F10D76C2C2C-39C0-DD8D@webmail-d083.sysops.aol.com> I just saw on the Rare Bird report that Brant were listed in Newport. Is this unusual? I took photos of about 25 of them near Hatfield center the 1st day of December this year. Some are posted here. http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4198537700_746f3a0d6d_o.jpg Johnny Sasko Sandy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091219/b5dba1bd/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Sat Dec 19 14:25:17 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:25:17 -0500 Subject: [obol] 3 different geese at Fernhill Wetlands Message-ID: <8CC4F1146D3B835-39C0-DE46@webmail-d083.sysops.aol.com> I took this shot at Fernhill a couple weeks ago. Is the white goose a Snow goose? I didn't see any black on the tail at all. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2500/4197793777_3f8000f31e_o.jpg Johnny Sasko Sandy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091219/e66941fa/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sat Dec 19 15:23:14 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:23:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] 3 different geese at Fernhill Wetlands Message-ID: <4B2D6062.1090402@pacifier.com> The big Gray one is a domestic "Gray" Goose (known in song and story for dying, due to poor animal husbandry on the part of Aunt Rhody). If I were in a generous mood, I might call it a Greylag, but that wouldn't make its origin any less questionable. The prominent presence of a barnyard goose automatically raises questions about all the other birds, especially the white one, which is not a Snow Goose (the lack of black wing tips is the least of its problems). I think we can assume in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that the birds that look like Canada Geese are Canada Geese and I will further stipulate that they are probably of wild origin (though Canadas are kept as farm animals and could be escaped or released birds). The white bird is shaped enough like a Canada Goose that I suspect it is a pigment challenged Canada. The bill is albino pink, we cannot see the legs and the eye color is undeterminable in the photo. I would prefer not to get into an albino vs leucistic discussion. Let's just say it's white ain't normal. If we assume that it's not a mutant, than it's probably a "selective breeding" experiment and came from the same farm as Gray Goose. But I'm willing to be talked out of it. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Mistaken Identities http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12932/ From range.bayer at gmail.com Sat Dec 19 15:32:23 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:32:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] Brant in Newport In-Reply-To: <8CC4F10D76C2C2C-39C0-DD8D@webmail-d083.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CC4F10D76C2C2C-39C0-DD8D@webmail-d083.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: Hi Johnny, Black Brant (Branta benicla nigricans, formerly Branta nigricans) are regularly at Tillamook, Netarts, and Yaquina Bays from late fall through spring. Your photo is a good photo--Brant often keep their distance! The Brant in your photo have black-bellies and are Black Brant. The RBA "On December 12 a pale-bellied BRANT was at Yaquina Bay" is for a Brant with a pale belly that Wayne Hoffman found west of the Yaquina Bay Bridge, and I relocated. Brant with pale-bellies are rarely reported here and used to be called Atlantic Brant. Atlantic Brant were a separate species from Black Brant until 1976 when the AOU put both into the same species (Brant bernicla) . P. 76 of Sibley's Guide to Birds has drawings of black, intermediate, and pale-bellied Brant and http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brant/ has some photos of the differences. Happy Holidays! Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm On Sat, Dec 19, 2009 at 2:22 PM, wrote: > I just saw on the Rare Bird report that Brant were listed in Newport. Is > this unusual? I took photos of about 25 of them near Hatfield center the 1st > day of December this year. Some are posted here. > > http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4198537700_746f3a0d6d_o.jpg > > Johnny Sasko > Sandy > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Dec 19 15:49:35 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:49:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fernhill Three Geese Message-ID: <2062E2D6-DA33-47F0-A17A-E1652A5731FF@earthlink.net> I'm pretty sure the white one is a Greylag. It has been around for three years that I know of. I saw it just west of Hwy 47 south of Dilley this Friday morning. It's a strong flyer. With the Forest Grove CBC coming up on Saturday, let's all be on the lookout for black wingtips on white geese. Lars Norgren We could use a lot more participants on the count. The weather promises to be awesome. From cheron.ferland at mac.com Sat Dec 19 18:47:26 2009 From: cheron.ferland at mac.com (Cheron Ferland) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:47:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] redheads on dexter lake and one female canvasback in oakridge (lane county) [cheron ferland] Message-ID: <11349AB8-DE04-4E88-AE3C-81994E4A7FB7@mac.com> What a fantastic day to bird! It was sunny everywhere I went today in the cascades. Dexter Lake: I spent several hours there mostly at the covered bridge parking area scoping ducks below and above the causeway. I saw a lot of interesting birds but the most notable were 6 Redheads (4 drakes, 2 hens). They were mixed in amongst a larger raft of lesser scaup but as soon as i scanned across, they're big heads stood out clearly as something different and this is a duck I'm very familiar with from my time on the east coast (I'm almost shy to admit I was also once a duck hunter!). I was also pleased with three different species of grebe -- Horned, Western, and Pied-billed. Then back in Oakridge, I was treated to an adult female Canvasback...again, another bird I am familiar with from the east coast. I worked on this species years ago in the Chesapeake Bay so there is no doubt in my mind on this bird. Too bad no drake. Here's a full species list of the birds i encountered on Dexter Lake today: Redhead (4 drakes, 2 hens) Lesser Scaup Ring-necked Duck Bufflehead Mallard American Wigeon Horned Grebe Western Grebe Pied-billed Grebe Canada Goose Ring-billed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Common Raven Rock Dove American Coots after Dexter Lake, I scouted one of the upcoming Oakridge CBC routes along FSR 5820 and 2102 and encountered the following: Chestnut-backed Chickadee Dark-eyed Junco Ruffed Grouse Varied Thrush Red-tailed Hawk Pileated Woodpecker on to the old mill ponds in Oakridge: Bufflehead Ring-necked Duck American Wigeon Mallard Double-crested Cormorant Common Raven American Crow American Kestrel Belted Kingfisher Spotted Towhee Western Scrub-jay and lastly, the gravel pit ponds behind the Mercantile, across Hwy. 58 from Ray's in Oakridge: Canvasback (1 adult female) Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Ring-necked Ducks American Wigeon Greater White-fronted Goose Cackling (Canada) Goose American Coot Double-crested Cormorant Respectfully, ~ Cheron Ferland ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cheron Ferland Oakridge, OR 97463 cheron.ferland at mac.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091219/c5095f97/attachment.html From foglark at att.net Sat Dec 19 20:23:41 2009 From: foglark at att.net (David Fix & Jude Power) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:23:41 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Arcata (CA) CBC Message-ID: <355132.85720.qm@web80003.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> The Arcata CBC was done Sat. 12/19 in mostly clear weather. Noteworthy birds included Sooty and Short-tailed Shearwater, Ross's Goose, Blue-winged Teal, Canvasback, Redhead (these two ducks are scarce in North Humboldt Bay), Cattle Egret, Tundra Swan, Osprey, Lesser Yellowlegs, Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone (at Manila), Red Knot, Short-billed Dowitcher, 2 Pomarine Jaegers, 50+ Heermann's Gulls (and lots of Brown Pelicans), Black-legged Kittiwake, Ancient Murrelet, Rhino Auklet, Barred Owl (hills above town), Gray Jay (same), 3 N. Mockingbirds (more than normal), Cassin's Vireo, Nashville Warbler, Palm Warbler, N. Waterthrush (Arcata Marsh logpond; returning), Am. Redstart (Woodley I. opposite downtown Eureka), and 2 Bullock's Orioles. Several thousand Aleutian Cackling Geese were in pastures near Bayside. It's unclear whether these flocks are actually wintering. A Ferruginous Hawk was in its usual winter territory near the lower Mad River, and the regular wintering Forster's Terns were noted in ne. North Bay. We did well with pelagic birds considering that no boat went out. "Sooty" Fox Sparrow numbers were low. A bird tentatively identified as an Am. Golden-Plover was reported, but has not been confirmed; it was said to have markedly long primary projection and "cold" areas where the same would be "warm" or buffy in Pacific. I don't believe Am. Golden-Plover was ever been reliably reported on a California CBC. Not counting that bird, the count recorded about 180 species. David Fix Arcata, California -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091219/c8946f6a/attachment.html From brrobb at comcast.net Sat Dec 19 21:15:24 2009 From: brrobb at comcast.net (Roger & Betty Robb) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:15:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Florence CBC Message-ID: The Florence count was held today in balmy conditions as promised. Fog was present in some, but not all coastal areas. Highlights included CINNAMON TEAL (1st), CLARK'S GREBE, BROWN PELICAN (500+ including 420 at Heceta Head), OSPREY, VIRGINIA RAIL (30+), SORA, HEERMAN'S GULL (found by 3 groups), BARRED OWL (missed by several birders including me, but heard by Adele this evening), BLACK PHOEBE (10+, by far our highest count), GRAY JAY, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. Many thanks to all participants who enjoyed the fine weather after several damp years. Roger Robb -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091219/d5b57a91/attachment.html From oschmidt at att.net Sat Dec 19 21:36:39 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:36:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] 45th Tillamook Bay CBC highlights Message-ID: ......... unofficial 135 species (129 average), hampered by thick fog and light rain through most of the count circle through most of the day. First species: Barred Owl and Eurasian Collared Dove. First miss: Western Meadowlark. Over a thousand Brown Pelicans. Ten Black Phoebes. The Snowy Owl on Netarts spit finally became visible around 3:00 pm or so. Feeder watcher forms to be mailed Monday may change things. Owen Schmidt, Compiler oschmidt at att.net Saturday, December 19, 2009 From billbradford1 at gmail.com Sun Dec 20 10:58:52 2009 From: billbradford1 at gmail.com (Bill Bradford) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 10:58:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Johnson Lake - PDX Message-ID: There was a REDHEAD consorting with a half dozen CANVASBACKS on Johnson Lake (off Glass Plant Road) near PDX this morning. I hope it stays around for a couple of weeks for the Count. There were also YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER near the benches, where it seems to hang out most winters. Sadly the GH Owls have not been around for a couple of years at Johnson Lake. I assume they have been driven out by the mega-litterers that camp on the peninsula. There was a GH OWL at Whitaker Ponds a few weeks back, but it hasn't been visible lately. Bill Bradford Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091220/7bb5a67f/attachment.html From sandycab1 at comcast.net Sun Dec 20 12:05:36 2009 From: sandycab1 at comcast.net (Sandy Cabraser) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:05:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Where to find Swans of any sort near Klamath or Sacremento, CA Message-ID: <20091220200537.DA6C2A8156@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Hi OBOL, Can anyone direct me to where to find any swans in either the Klamath basin or near Sacremento, CA. this time of year? I'm trying to find a place to do a photo shoot of swans this winter. Any help is appreciated. sandycabraser Eugene, OR. From tc at empnet.com Sun Dec 20 14:27:58 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:27:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bend CBC Message-ID: 2009 Bend CBC Despite the best weather in Bend CBC history (a valley-like low of 45 and a near-record high of 58) the count had its lowest total since 1986. A record high 29 counters tallied 74 species for the day, far below the average of 92.9 for the decade. With three nights with below zero temperatures a week and a half before the count and the resulting freezing of the river contributed heavily to the low numbers. Waterbirds were among the biggest misses with no Gadwall, Shoveler, Pintail, Redhead, Canvasback, Lesser Scaup, Barrow's Goldeneye, Ruddy Duck, Mute Swans or Coots. Other big misses were Northern Shrike and White-breasted Nuthatch. Many landbird numbers were low and many species seen prior to the cold snap were not seen on the count. Good finds on the count were Tricolored Blackbird, a first count record and Sora, the second count record. Species setting how count records were Trumpeter Swan 9, Sharp-shinned Hawk 18, Red-tailed Hawk 75, Western Scrub Jay 210, American Crow 155, and Pygmy Nuthatch 402. Count lows were set by Great Blue Heron and Clark's Nutcracker. Tom Crabtree Bend, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091220/aec1eb35/attachment.html From davebrownbirder at yahoo.com Sun Dec 20 14:56:56 2009 From: davebrownbirder at yahoo.com (Dave Brown) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:56:56 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Cantrell Road Lane County Message-ID: <957408.90333.qm@web59912.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> Went east on Cantrell Rd. from Centrel Rd. and saw four Turkey Vulture's in one thermal. I have been seeing two at a time lately. That was near the west end. On down just before turning left onto Nielson Rd. looking north I saw ten?Common Raven in one bunch on the ground just standing around,but as Dave Brown Alvadore drove north on Nielson I came upon single raven's all the way down to the pull out by the curve. One was feeding on what was left of a dead sheep. About 17 or so Raven's all together. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091220/a184ee0d/attachment.html From pppahooie at comcast.net Sun Dec 20 17:47:05 2009 From: pppahooie at comcast.net (pppahooie at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:47:05 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Remember, you are invited to the Sauvie Island CBC next Sunday 12/27/09. Message-ID: <1078219915.1566591261360025728.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> We'll meet at Our Daily Bread at the east end of the St John's bridge at 7:00 AM. If you'd like to participate come meet us there. If you have questions before that, please contact: pppahooie at comcast.net ?or karen.bachman at tonkon.com or phone: 503-289-3605 (home) or 503-802-2057 (work through Wed this week). All the other counts seem to be bringing in good reports, I suspect Sauvie will too. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091221/43510750/attachment.html From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sun Dec 20 18:14:55 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:14:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Oxbow Park Golden Eagle Message-ID: <901815.65405.qm@web55706.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Yesterday we went hiking at Oxbow Park, which is along the Sandy River in Multnomah County. In addition to PILEATED AND HAIRY WOODPECKERS (both heard only), 4 AMERICAN DIPPERS, 5 COMMON GOLDENEYE, and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER, we found a juvenile GOLDEN EAGLE. It was landed on a sandbar, and was being harassed by a HERRING GULL. After a few minutes it flew off and landed in a nearby alder tree. It was surprising because they are tough to find in Multnomah County, and Oxbow Park doesn't seem like the most likely location for them. Maybe it came down the Sandy River drainage from Mt. Hood. Good Birding, Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091220/870588e2/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Sun Dec 20 18:15:00 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:15:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] Preliminary numbers- Columbia Estuary Message-ID: <4B2EDA24.4030606@pacifier.com> We had better than expected weather today with intermittent showers and variable winds. Weather was most challenging out on the open beach and jetties. We found a below average 115 species. Gull numbers were down and the heavier than usual duck hunting in the area moved most of the ducks out into the middle of the bay where they were hard to see even with scopes. Best birds include a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at Wireless Rd and BLUE-WINGED TEAL at Camp Rilea. There were only a few BROWN PELICANS at the mouth of the Columbia (compared to more than 50 seen on Friday). We missed Red-throated Loon, Long-billed Dowitcher, crossbill and Purple Finch. Along with several less common species that disappeared between yesterday and today. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Mistaken Identities http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12932/ From m_scatt at yahoo.com Sun Dec 20 18:19:41 2009 From: m_scatt at yahoo.com (m_scatt at yahoo.com) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:19:41 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Mt. Tabor bird count Message-ID: <791604.14976.qm@web55705.mail.re3.yahoo.com> For four years in a row now, we have done an all-day bird count at Mt. Tabor Park in SE Portland. It's kind of like a mini-CBC. Today we did our count for 2009 and had 39 species. Highlights included: Canada Geese (90 on the reservoir), Cackling Geese (2 on reservoir), Greater White-fronted Geese (4 on the reservoir), Mallard (48 on reservoir), Bufflehead (3, well below average, on reservoir) Merlin (1), Hutton's Vireo (4 which is about average), Hermit Thrush (7, above average), Cedar Waxwing (22), Townsend's Warbler (9 which is about average), and Red Crossbill (2). We had 16 Anna's Hummingbirds, so apparently they did okay during the cold spell earlier this month. The Canada Geese usually hang out at nearby Clinton Park and roost at the reservoir during the night, but for some reason they were there in the afternoon today. For over almost two months, there have been four White-fronted and 2-3 Cackling Geese with the flock at Clinton Park. We missed Bald Eagle for the first time. The past three counts all had one which is incredible for Mt. Tabor. On the other hand, a more surprising miss was Pine Siskin. We've seen them all over town recently, except at Mt. Tabor! Good Birding, Adrian and Christopher Hinkle Em Scattaregia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091220/82115992/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Sun Dec 20 20:53:01 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:53:01 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Prelim Coos Bay CBC Results 12/20/09 Message-ID: <857587.12150.qm@web45312.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> We had a bit of sun in the AM before the wind and rain hit in the PM which saved the day! The number of participants was the lowest in the 12 years I've compiled the count but we still were able to hit the 150 mark, we are tentatively at 150-151. ?Should be fun to see if the Coquille Valley count can also break 150, it would be great two have two Coos Co. counts break the 150 barrier in the same year, which has never happened before. Here are the highlights: a ROSS'S GOOSE- 1st Count Record, plus several SNOW GEESE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, and CACKLING GEESEA 1st winter female BULLOCK'S ORIOLE- 2nd count record with photos for our regional editor : )a couple hundred (not sure on total) BROWN PELICANseveral HEERMAN'S GULLSone GLAUCOUS GULLone OSPREYa BARROW'S GOLDENEYE2- BARN SWALLOWS1- RED PHALAROPE1- ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER1- RHINO AUKLET (no Marbled or Ancient Murrelets)also several each of CEDAR WAXWING, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, and LESSER GOLDFINCH (tough birds on this count). ?Other good finds, but not really rare, were REDHEAD and BLACK SCOTER. ?Barely there were one SWAMP SPARROW and one NORTHERN SHRIKE. Sounds like a record number of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES also, close to 100 but I haven't counted yet. Count week misses include: COOPER'S HAWK, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, PALM WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and MOUNTAIN QUAIL. Other misses include: BRANT (there has been ONE around), SNOWY EGRET (also had been one around) and SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. THANKS to Lyn & John Topits for hosting yet another really fun countdown dinner, and also thanks to all who participated, especially those of you (over half of the participants), who came from out of town. Peace and Joy!Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091220/33d18f6b/attachment.html From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Sun Dec 20 23:38:12 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:38:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] 112 Pine Siskins, N. Saw-whet Owl, Cooper's Hawk pictures Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F0295B6A7@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> Yesterday (Saturday) there were 60 PINE SISKIN, but today there were 112 coming to my neighbors as well as my feeders. The were everywhere more reminiscent of buzzing bees than birds at the height of their feeding frenzy. I was able to count them because of their sitting in the trees and gathering at the feeders. Yesterday there were 24 CEDAR WAXWINGS feeding on large red berries, but today there were 44 CEDAR WAXWING. There were 29 seen and heard birds from my yard yesterday. I heard NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL and at least two GREAT HORNED OWLS. PILEATED WOODPECKER showed up both days with a bird landing on the backyard fence briefly. COOPER'S and SHARP-SHINNED HAWK showed up both days. I have included pictures of the COOPER'S HAWK as he tried unsuccessfully to get sparrows out of a hedge. At one point I thought the hawk might go after one of the squirrels that come to the feeders. COOPER'S HAWK PICTURES AT: http://www.flickr.com/photos/45089102 at N05/page2/ You may have to click on the second set of pictures to get to the Cooper's Hawk. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091220/f36ecbd2/attachment.html From steve at paradisebirding.com Mon Dec 21 10:40:14 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:40:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sisters CBC Results Message-ID: <9a341ea30912211040x70e6628dy9e9ad0e66062a686@mail.gmail.com> Hello all, In contrast to the Bend CBC on Saturday, the 11th annual Sisters count on Sunday had below average participation with overcast and sprinkly weather, but many species counts well above average, including 9 all-time highs and 4 new species. Bird of the day was definitely the pair of PINE GROSBEAKS seen near the Lower Three Creeks Sno-Park. The new Black Butte burn on the east flank of the butte is almost entirely within the count area, giving us three relatively recent burns in the circle and new records for HAIRY and WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS, with 74 and 21 individuals, respectively, plus our 3rd ever THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. Another interesting phenomenon we encountered, especially considering that nearly all water was frozen a couple weeks ago, was a collection of unusual species and some high counts for numerous waterbirds, including our 2nd-ever PIED-BILLED GREBE, SNOW GOOSE, and NORTHERN SHOVELER; 3rd-ever PINTAIL; 4th-ever GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and HOODED and COMMON MERGANSERS; and other diving-duck numbers well above average. Interestingly, the dabblers were nearly all seen either flying or in fields (not on water). A summary is below. Good luck on all your counts! Steve Shunk 2009 SISTERS CBC TALLY *Overall Numbers* 76 species tied for 2nd highest; 68 average 5522 total individuals, 7th highest; 6172 average *Unusual Species* CINNAMON TEAL, 1st time ever EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, 1st ever; 24 birds counted, this species having just moved into Sisters over the last year or so LINCOLN'S SPARROW, 1st ever PINE GROSBEAK, 1st ever AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER, 3rd time ever PILEATED WOODPECKER, 4th ever LESSER GOLDFINCH, 2nd ever *11-Year High Counts* 731 MALLARD, 605 in one field; destroyed the previous record of 179, average of 90 13 AMERICAN KESTREL, ties record, 5 avg 74 HAIRY WOODPECKER, 61 previous, 18 avg 21 WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER, 14 previous, 8 avg 12 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, 10 previous, 3rd ever 40 WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, 23 previous, 9 avg 8 GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, 7 previous, 3 avg 30 CASSIN'S FINCH, 12 previous, 5th ever 67 PINE SISKIN, 63 previous, 15 avg *Notable Low Counts* GREAT BLUE HERON, only the 3rd time missed NORTHERN HARRIER, 3rd time missed MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, RB NUTHATCH, and GC KINGLET well below avg, but PYGMY NUTHATCH way above avg. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, 3rd time missed WESTERN BLUEBIRD, 2nd time missed, 4th time missed -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091221/9f24c610/attachment.html From raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Mon Dec 21 11:30:37 2009 From: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com (Jeff Fleischer) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:30:37 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Albany area sighting for Albany-Airlie CBC Message-ID: <640991.85116.qm@web50902.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Obolers, Yesterday, Paul Sullivan and I covered the Bowman / Simpson Park areas and the Dever - Connor area north of Albany for the Albany - Airlie CBC. We came up with 70 species of birds with most of these being expected winter regulars. We did find a few "good" birds though which spiced up the day :) 1. We found 2 groups of EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES, one a group of 9 along Front St in east downtown Albany and another group of 20 at the quarry area in the extreme NE part of the Dever - Connor area on Hoefer Dr. This is the area where a Harris Sparrow was found several years ago. 2. We found a roosting GREAT HORNED OWL in the Bowman Park area. It was perched in some scrubby trees near the edge of the Willamette River. 3. We found one BLACK PHOEBE at the Albany Water Works facility on NE Waverly Dr near the entrance to Simpson Park. It fluttered down and landed on a pole in one of the water tanks, stayed there for about a minute, then flew off west towards the river, never to be seen again. 4. We found one adult PEREGRINE FALCON flying right over us no more than 75 feet off the ground through one of the older housing areas off of Conser Rd in the Dever - Connor area just north of the paper mill. It was being mobbed by several blackbirds as it headed south. 5. We found a group of 10 GREAT EGRETS feeding in a perennial grass field off of Conser Rd along Groshong Rd in the Dever - Conner area. 6. We found one male EURASIAN WIGEON amongst a flock of about 50 American Wigeon on one of the lakes in Simpson Park. 7. We saw one white goose flying with a group of about 400 Canada Geese flying south over the Willamette River near Bowman Park. It was too high up and we were trying to look through the tops of trees to ID the bird but we could not, a good one that slipped away! Those are the highlights of our portion of the CBC :) Jeff Fleischer Albany From dpvroman at budget.net Mon Dec 21 11:46:09 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis Vroman) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:46:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Grants Pass CBC Message-ID: Still working on summary. Appears about 100 species total (in with the average). Many counters noted that most species were found, but in low numbers compared with past years. Noted this with the section I have done since I don't know when. No outstanding finds, with the exception of a couple of male CINNAMON TEAL (tough to mistake male Cinnamons). Since the counts start in 1983, these were the first documented. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091221/4eff1b12/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon Dec 21 11:56:40 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:56:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Crook County Rosy-Finch Message-ID: I drove up to the top of Grizzly Butte north of Prineville and found a single Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch along the road just below the area where the snow blocks the road. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091221/6cf80f07/attachment.html From celata at pacifier.com Mon Dec 21 12:30:48 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:30:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Clay-colored Sparrow and Baird's Sandpiper still round Message-ID: <4B2FDAF8.4080108@pacifier.com> I kind of expected to re-find the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW reported yesterday by Lee and Evan Cain (I saw it yesterday also, as did Jim Johnson and David Bailey). I got saw for the record shots in less than perfect light this morning. http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226259 at N06/ More surprising was re-finding the BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. I saw a big flock of DUNLIN light in the middle of the pasture across from the cyclone fence and put my spotting scope on it. As I watched more birds flew in until the flock was about 2000 birds. Toward one end, I spotted a bird that really stood out. It wasn't all that much smaller than a Dunlin. What was striking was the color: brighter, paler, buffier. It had a straight, black bill, too short for Dunlin. The face was buffy-brown with a slightly darker crown. It had a buffy looking breast, a brownish band at mid-breast which blended to a paler tone toward the neck and throat. I was too far away to get good looks at the back, but the coverts were brown. There were at least 2 Least Sandpipers in the flock, both notably smaller and darker brown. I did not see any Westerns in the flock though Lee and Evan saw Westerns yesterday. Western are also smaller, should show a longer look, decurved bill (relative to head size) and should be pale grayish with a brighter white belly. Lee got quite close yesterday and HEARD the bird as well as seeing it. He has also written up details and will (probably) make another attempt at photos. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Mistaken Identities http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12932/ From davebrownbirder at yahoo.com Mon Dec 21 14:00:12 2009 From: davebrownbirder at yahoo.com (Dave Brown) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:00:12 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Eugene birders keep eye open for possible Blackburnian Message-ID: <858843.38192.qm@web59907.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> A friend told me today of a Warbler in thier feeder that she looked up in her bird book that only fit a male Blackbunian Warbler. Very orange where it has has orange on the throat and eye stripe. It only came to thier feeder twice. Not seen since. Dave Brown Alvadore -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091221/cfbf66ac/attachment.html From davebrownbirder at yahoo.com Mon Dec 21 15:55:50 2009 From: davebrownbirder at yahoo.com (Dave Brown) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:55:50 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Blackburnian Warbler possible questions I left out Message-ID: <810462.36735.qm@web59911.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> I have been getting some e-mail asking things I left out like where and what was it feeding on. It was in a mobol home park just off hwy#99?in northwest Eugene. It was feeding on a white high energy suit cake. And seen either Friday or Saturday. Dave Brown? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091221/a5aded00/attachment.html From kcparkton1 at aol.com Mon Dec 21 17:03:41 2009 From: kcparkton1 at aol.com (kcparkton1 at aol.com) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:03:41 EST Subject: [obol] Sun. Fern Ridge & Finley Message-ID: <9e30.7d6905f9.386174ed@aol.com> Highlights at Finley were a Cooper's Hawk adult male just south of the new office along the rd. 8- Western Bluebirds near praire overlook Male & Female Hooded Merganser at Turtle Flats Fern Ridge Neilsen Rd. 1- Merlin, first one I have seen in this area this year. I also got some great shots of a couple female Harriers hunting in the last hour or so of daylight _http://www.flickr.com/photos/35913342 at N04/_ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35913342 at N04/) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091221/f9c9e518/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Dec 21 17:39:29 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:39:29 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Curry Birds 12/21/2009 Message-ID: <474832.93883.qm@web45302.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> What a day on the coast, raining sideways most of the day, with hail, cool temps etc. ?This afternoon I grabbed our dogs and headed down to Floras Lake during a prolonged sucker hole. ?Saw lots of weather on the drive down. ?It was nice when we left the parking area at Floras Lake- we headed north to New River, only about a mile or so in bright sunlight. RED PHALAROPES drifted past headed south as we headed north, I counted 27 in the hour or so we hiked. ?When we got to New River there was a TUNDRA SWAN hanging with a Canada and more in the adjacent fields across the river, 25 total including some birds in the fields on the way out back to Hwy 101. ?It poured on the hike back with sleet, hail, gusty winds and a really cool double rainbow, doesn't get much nicer! At the Blue Silos on the way out to Hwy 101 the sun came out again and the overwintering SAY'S PHOEBE was calling from the powerline right on the road there, a nice end to a most enjoyable afternoon walk. Merry Solstice all!Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091221/94c951a6/attachment.html From mlvandyk at onlinemac.com Mon Dec 21 18:59:25 2009 From: mlvandyk at onlinemac.com (Marilyn van Dyk) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:59:25 -0800 Subject: [obol] Bluebirds and Kite Message-ID: On my way home to McMinnville from lunch in Salem this afternoon I drove through Baskett Slough Refuge and saw two flocks of Western Bluebirds, one with 6 birds on Colville Road near the turn west from the trailhead to the butte and one with 10 birds on the gun club property on Smithfield. There was a White-tailed Kite on the west side of Livermore Rd @1/3 of a mile from its junction with Smithfield Rd. Marilyn van Dyk From andrewm25 at earthlink.net Mon Dec 21 19:03:32 2009 From: andrewm25 at earthlink.net (Andrew Marshall) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:03:32 -0500 (EST) Subject: [obol] a lone American Oystercatcher Message-ID: <7242462.1261451012700.JavaMail.root@mswamui-valley.atl.sa.earthlink.net> seen yesterday, Sunday that is, picking among the rocks slightly north of Overleaf Lodge area beach, at about 1015hrs. Was there for about half an hour and allowed me good views with my new binos. I had spotted a trio of Black Oystercatchers earlier, with a mixed bunch of the usual gulls, and had the Nat. Geo ed. 3 along as company. The black head, neck and shoulders, white belly and wingbar, and the weird bill shape were blatantly obvious, and besides, I know what an oystercatcher looks like, black or otherwise. Pretty obvious birds really. please stop by my photo albums at http://atlanticsalmonflyguy.myphotoalbum.com/albums.php or find me at webshots under the pseudonym Atlanticsalmonflyguy. Comments are always appreciated. Thank-you! From rriparia at charter.net Mon Dec 21 19:33:13 2009 From: rriparia at charter.net (Kevin Spencer) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:33:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Klamath Falls CBC and update Message-ID: <20091221223313.AXQHT.1036569.root@mp11> Hello, Saturday, December 19th, was the Klamath Falls Christmas Bird Count. It was hard to believe that it was "winter". It was so nice I saw some boys playing basketball outside wearing tank-tops! Some areas had slow starts with some thick fog. I was up higher and it got up to nearly 50 degrees. With one feeder watcher still left to report, the tentative species total is 110. Some of the highlights include: American White Pelican-3, Red-shouldered Hawk-4, Chukar-1, Western Bluebird-35, Purple Finch-1, Greater Scaup-1, Northern Mockingbird-2 (same ones as last year, and thought to have possibly bred), Hermit Thrush-5, White-headed Woodpecker-2, Northern Goshawk-1 (seen along Hill Road at base of Stukel Mountain), Horned Lark-1, Rock Wren-1, Black Phoebe-1, California Towhee-4, Glaucous-winged Gull-3, Virginia Rail-2, and Sora-1 ( seen along Wingwatchers Trail and really emphasizes the sunny day). Common Goldeneye had a high number with over 2200 seen, mostly at Lake Ewauna. Mountain Quail: twelve seen at a feeder. The only Hairy Woodpecker came from a feeder watcher. Misses included: Winter Wren, with woodpecker numbers noticeably low in all of the areas. Two count week species so far: Double-crested Cormorant and Dunlin. Kevin Spencer Klamath Falls, Oregon rriparia at charter.net From djaques.pel at charter.net Mon Dec 21 20:11:42 2009 From: djaques.pel at charter.net (Deborah Jaques) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:11:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] northern limit for pelicans? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Happy Winter Solstice Oregon Birders, Was out on the Columbia today by boat today and surprised to see Brown Pelicans at the mouth of the Columbia again. I thought they had left these parts for the winter. C.Strong, C.Clumpner and I counted several hundred birds there hunkered down in a hail storm. Will be interesting to see what the Christmas bird counts tell us this year about late December pelican distribution along the coast. From ed.mcvicker at comcast.net Mon Dec 21 21:25:40 2009 From: ed.mcvicker at comcast.net (Ed McVicker) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:25:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] American Oystercatcher Message-ID: <4B305854.2090501@comcast.net> hi andrew, couldn't get through your spam filter to respond privately. great find for the oregon coast. by now you have probably been bombarded by others asking for details and are probably aware how unusual this sighting is (i can't find any record of one recorded in oregon previously.) can you give us more info on the location (where is overleaf lodge?), access to the site, and what you mean by a weird bill shape? was it on the rocks where you might expect a black oystercatcher to be seen? did it remain after the half hour you saw it or did it move away? was it associating with any other birds? ed mcvicker portland From namitzr at hotmail.com Mon Dec 21 21:48:45 2009 From: namitzr at hotmail.com (Russ Namitz) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:48:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Clay-colored Sparrow and Baird's Sandpiper still round Message-ID: Great find on the Baird's Sandpiper. For those who don't know, there were no documented records for Baird's Sandpiper in Oregon for the winter until now. The latest date here in Coos County is Nov. 20th. Good birding, Russ Namitz Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091221/09c76b28/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Mon Dec 21 22:23:17 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:23:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] American Oystercatcher References: <4B305854.2090501@comcast.net> Message-ID: <9E7F08D86E3B40A19C534DC44838F60D@1120639> Ed is correct, there are no Oregon records for American Oystercatcher. I don't recall any for Washington, either. This would be a major find, so any details on where it was seen would be greatly appreciated by a bunch of Oregon birders. Tom Crabtree, Bend, ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ed McVicker" To: "OBOL" Sent: Monday, December 21, 2009 9:25 PM Subject: Re: [obol] American Oystercatcher > hi andrew, > > couldn't get through your spam filter to respond privately. > > great find for the oregon coast. by now you have probably been > bombarded by others asking for details and are probably aware how > unusual this sighting is (i can't find any record of one recorded in > oregon previously.) can you give us more info on the location (where is > overleaf lodge?), access to the site, and what you mean by a weird bill > shape? was it on the rocks where you might expect a black oystercatcher > to be seen? did it remain after the half hour you saw it or did it move > away? was it associating with any other birds? > > ed mcvicker > portland > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From oschmidt at att.net Mon Dec 21 22:30:13 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:30:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] American Oystercatcher records In-Reply-To: <9E7F08D86E3B40A19C534DC44838F60D@1120639> References: <4B305854.2090501@comcast.net> <9E7F08D86E3B40A19C534DC44838F60D@1120639> Message-ID: <3AF21097-951F-4A05-BF0C-0674F154D11A@att.net> ........ there is one record, from October 1986, for 2 birds at Bandon, but the record is "not accepted" by the Oregon Bird Records Committee -- according to the OFO website (see text below). oschmidt at att.net Monday, December 21, 2009 American Oystercatcher. Haematopus palliatus. 286-86-01 Bandon, Coos Co., 2 birds, apparently adults, on 11 October 1986. Not accepted because other species of black and white oystercatchers could not be eliminated on the basis of the description obtained under foggy conditions. On Dec 21, 2009, at 10:23 PM, Tom Crabtree wrote: > Ed is correct, there are no Oregon records for American Oystercatcher. I > don't recall any for Washington, either. This would be a major find, so any > details on where it was seen would be greatly appreciated by a bunch of > Oregon birders. > > Tom Crabtree, Bend, > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Ed McVicker" > To: "OBOL" > Sent: Monday, December 21, 2009 9:25 PM > Subject: Re: [obol] American Oystercatcher > >> hi andrew, >> >> ****** >> by now you have probably been >> bombarded by others asking for details and are probably aware how >> unusual this sighting is (i can't find any record of one recorded in >> oregon previously.) ****** >> ed mcvicker >> portland >> _______________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091221/5eb90ca7/attachment.html From acontrer at mindspring.com Mon Dec 21 22:50:34 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:50:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oystercatcher site Message-ID: I think the place the oystercatcher was seen is north end of yachats near smelt sands park. Not sure. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone From ninerharv2 at msn.com Mon Dec 21 22:55:34 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 06:55:34 +0000 Subject: [obol] Oystercatcher site Message-ID: That would be my guess as well as there is a lodge or Bed/Breakfast by that name there. Still having problem understanding why Bandon record was not accepted. I mean what other black and white oystercatchers could they have been confused with? Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Alan Contreras Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 06:50:34 To: Subject: [obol] Oystercatcher site I think the place the oystercatcher was seen is north end of yachats? near smelt sands park. Not sure. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From 4cains at charter.net Mon Dec 21 22:54:37 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:54:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Baird's Sandpiper Details Message-ID: Sorry for this being a bit slow in coming, but Christmas preparations being inevitable... As Mike P. already mentioned, Evan I were lucky enough to not only find a the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW on Sunday's Columbia Estuary CBC, but also located a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER about 40 meters away, in the cow pastures on Wireless Road, south of Astoria. SANDPIPER DETAILS: It was definitely a calidrid sandpiper. Most of the time that the bird was on the ground it was about 10 m from us. I was using 8.5 X 44 Swift Audubon binoculars, but the bird also stood out to the naked eye. It was hanging out in a mixed flock of mostly DUNLIN with a few WESTERN SANDPIPERS and 3 LEAST SANDPIPERS. In flight and on the ground I got very good comparisons to the other species. Its size was about half-way between the larger Dunlin and the smaller Westerns and Leasts. It stood out for this reason from the rest of the birds. Another difference was the fairly crisp border on the breast between the upper mottled brown feathers and the white lower breast. It had paler plumage on the sides of the neck than the Dunlin. It also stood out because it was generally paler than either, and it tended to feed or stand at the edge of the flock. Overall the plumage was scalier-appearing than the Dunlin, with a shorter, straight black bill. What first caught my attention was the repeated "kreeep" calls from this individual I heard every time the flock lifted off the puddles. The birds were jumpy because of our presence and the erratic gunfire from nearby goose and duck hunters. Almost every time the flock lifted we would hear the call. It was a louder and lower pitch than a typical Least Sandpiper call, but similar. I have seen at least 8 basic plumage Baird's Sandpiper in the spring and fall migrations in Oregon, and this bird matched Baird's in every respect, including the one thing that always stands out for me: the bill seems very black in comparison with a sort of light spot at the base of the culmen that other calidrids don't seem to have, at least not that shows up so distinctively. We saw the bird about two more times in flight between puddles - each time it flew mostly at the edges of the flock, but was discernibly different even when its position shifted to the center of the flock. Evan almost had a photo from about 5 meters but just as he was about to shoot the nearby duck hunters' guns caused the flock to lift off again and resettle. We did not find it today when we looked (gave up minutes before Mike re-found it!) but will try for a photo again tomorrow am. Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091221/8cad56a1/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Dec 21 23:13:10 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:13:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oystercatcher site In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <547B8E3E-388F-4DE2-8F6F-F91686C6A3C3@earthlink.net> The Eurasian species nests on Kamchatka and is highly migratory. But the likelihood of birds in Oregon coming north from the coast of Mexico as the Wilson's Plover (also at Bandon) surely did must be many orders of magnitude higher. Lars Norgren On Dec 21, 2009, at 10:55 PM, HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE wrote: > That would be my guess as well as there is a lodge or Bed/Breakfast by that name there. Still having problem understanding why Bandon record was not accepted. I mean what other black and white oystercatchers could they have been confused with? > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T > > -----Original Message----- > From: Alan Contreras > Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 06:50:34 > To: > Subject: [obol] Oystercatcher site > > I think the place the oystercatcher was seen is north end of yachats > near smelt sands park. Not sure. > > Alan Contreras > Sent from my iPhone > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From g_g_allin at hotmail.com Mon Dec 21 23:25:13 2009 From: g_g_allin at hotmail.com (John Puschock) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 07:25:13 +0000 Subject: [obol] American Oystercatcher In-Reply-To: <9E7F08D86E3B40A19C534DC44838F60D@1120639> References: <4B305854.2090501@comcast.net>, <9E7F08D86E3B40A19C534DC44838F60D@1120639> Message-ID: Hi all, Keep in mind that hybrid oystercatchers aren't unusual in Southern California. See the following paper for more info on that subject: Jehl, J. R., Jr. 1985. Hybridization and evolution of oystercatchers on the Pacific Coast of Baja California. Neotropical Ornithology, A.O.U. monograph 36: 484-504. And while it would be _much_ less expected, make sure it's not a Eurasian Oystercatcher! I believe there are only two records for North American, both from Newfoundland, but hey, you never know. John Puschock Seattle, WA g_g_allin at hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/0f1490b0/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Mon Dec 21 23:27:34 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:27:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Oystercatcher site Message-ID: <20091222002734.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.3eba674641.wbe@email.secureserver.net> American and black oystercatchers are known to hybridize in western Mexico, and some hybrids can look very similar to American oystercatchers. Any black-and-white oystercatchers on the Oregon coast should be carefully scrutinized. Craig Tumer SW Portland > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: Re: [obol] Oystercatcher site > From: Norgren Family > Date: Mon, December 21, 2009 11:13 pm > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > The Eurasian species nests on > Kamchatka and is highly migratory. > But the likelihood of birds in Oregon > coming north from the coast of Mexico > as the Wilson's Plover (also at Bandon) > surely did must be many orders of magnitude > higher. Lars Norgren > On Dec 21, 2009, at 10:55 PM, HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE wrote: > > > That would be my guess as well as there is a lodge or Bed/Breakfast by that name there. Still having problem understanding why Bandon record was not accepted. I mean what other black and white oystercatchers could they have been confused with? > > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Alan Contreras > > Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 06:50:34 > > To: > > Subject: [obol] Oystercatcher site > > > > I think the place the oystercatcher was seen is north end of yachats > > near smelt sands park. Not sure. > > > > Alan Contreras > > Sent from my iPhone > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Dec 22 00:18:15 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:18:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oystercatcher taxonomy Message-ID: I was tempted to mention the hybrids in my first posting. There is also a species of all black oystercatcher on the west coast of Africa. I believe they show a similar pattern to the Mexican coast, with regular hybridization. My friend Julio described it as clinal and questioned separating the species. This discussion occurred in the mid 70s when examination at the genetic level was in its infancy. The definition of species has gone through a great deal of give and take over the decades as well. The Olympic Gull is clinal in its pattern of hybridization from Yaquina Head to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, but I don't think anyone has ever proposed lumping the parent species. Lars Norgren From celata at pacifier.com Tue Dec 22 08:59:44 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:59:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oystercatchers, lumping and splitting Message-ID: <4B30FB00.6010007@pacifier.com> It turns out that oystercatchers have a lot in common with large white-headed gulls.... I've spent the morning sifting through the on-line literature on oystercatcher phylogenetics (so you don't have to) and guess what? it's complicated. There are currently 11 generally recognized species (5 pied, 5 Black and one mixed), though as many as 21 have been recognized historically. One of the 5 black ones is considered extinct and another is on the critical list. Oystercatchers world-wide are very closely related. Early mtDNA work suggested that there were no consistent genetic markers. The vocalizations of American and Black Oystercatchers are pretty much indistinguishable and all oystercatchers hybridize indiscriminately at the population boundaries. There are some who argue that they should all be lumped. And some have argued specifically that the Pacific form of American Black Oystercatcher is a clinal intermediate (hybrid) between American and American Black Oystercatcher. Most "pied" individuals north of the recognized range for the Pacific form show characteristic suggestive of significant hybridization (reduced white in wings, black barring or streaking on the breast and belly). HOWEVER Recent follow-up studies using multiple genetic markers do should distinct clads separating Eurasian/Australian oystercatchers from American Oystercatchers. Of these researchers found lots of evidence of hybridization (especially in the Eurasian group). Much of the hybridization was determined to be recent. This pattern is typical of groups isolated during the last ice age then reunited post-ice age. The conclusion reached in this recent study argues for 9 or 10 species. though it does not elaborate on which 9 or 10. EVEN IF the individual reported from Yachats turns out to be hybrid, it's a very cool find AND WARRANTS THE SAME KIND ATTENTION AND DOCUMENTATION, LOVE AND RESPECT WE WOULD GIVE TO ABA LISTABLE BIRD. Go see it and take lots of picture and post 'em for those of us at home. -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Mistaken Identities http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/12932/ From tc at empnet.com Tue Dec 22 09:02:58 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:02:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] FW: American Oystercatcher Message-ID: <6497CA58BD024C70958A789AB51A19BB@102889> I received this reply from Andrew Marshall about the American Oystercatcher he reported from Yachats yesterday. Here is a link to the Overleaf Lodge's maps and directions page: http://www.overleaflodge.com/Overleaf_Lodge/Map__Directions/ Tom Crabtree Bend -----Original Message----- From: Andrew Marshall [mailto:andrewm25 at earthlink.net] Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 5:37 AM To: Tom Crabtree Subject: Re: [obol] American Oystercatcher Yachats, sorry bout that, the one word that would have helped. Was tired from driving last night 120 miles on 101then 20 from the coast. where exactly, 804 trail that runs along the ocean. My crew is doing noxious weed control there. It did not stay, or, rather, I had to get back from break, and when I looked later it was not there. Weird bill shape, an oystercatcher bill, looked like a flattened butter-knife. It was in between the really big rocks, on large cobble, at the surf line initially, then kept poking around in the tiny little inlet between the huge rocks. Did not get a photo, did not think to get one. I have seen black oystercatchers before, and being with out a camera except on my cell, which would have shown a dot among dots... I was not thinking really, just wet, cold, tired and thinking that was a bloody weird looking oystercatcher, sort of like what I have seen on the east coast. Wonder what it is doing here? Nat geo didnt mention it as belonging here, but with the wind and such, and it has wings, it can fly, why shouldn't it get here if it wanted to right? pass this along to obol please, I gotta go to work and may not be back in touch for a few days... this 120 mile one way commute is a strain. dont have time to reply to everyone who has emailed. -----Original Message----- >From: Tom Crabtree >Sent: Dec 21, 2009 10:23 PM >To: Ed McVicker , OBOL >Cc: Andrew Marshall >Subject: Re: [obol] American Oystercatcher > >Ed is correct, there are no Oregon records for American Oystercatcher. I >don't recall any for Washington, either. This would be a major find, so any >details on where it was seen would be greatly appreciated by a bunch of >Oregon birders. > >Tom Crabtree, Bend, > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Ed McVicker" >To: "OBOL" >Sent: Monday, December 21, 2009 9:25 PM >Subject: Re: [obol] American Oystercatcher > > >> hi andrew, >> >> couldn't get through your spam filter to respond privately. >> >> great find for the oregon coast. by now you have probably been >> bombarded by others asking for details and are probably aware how >> unusual this sighting is (i can't find any record of one recorded in >> oregon previously.) can you give us more info on the location (where is >> overleaf lodge?), access to the site, and what you mean by a weird bill >> shape? was it on the rocks where you might expect a black oystercatcher >> to be seen? did it remain after the half hour you saw it or did it move >> away? was it associating with any other birds? >> >> ed mcvicker >> portland >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol >> > please stop by my photo albums at http://atlanticsalmonflyguy.myphotoalbum.com/albums.php or find me at webshots under the pseudonym Atlanticsalmonflyguy. Comments are always appreciated. Thank-you! From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Dec 22 09:03:17 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:03:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Overleaf Lodge Message-ID: <4B30FBD5.3090108@verizon.net> Folks I did a quick search on Overleaf Lodge and indeed it is at the north end of Yachats. Looks like plenty of rocky shoreline in front of it. Cheers Dave Lauten -- "We need to change our mind frame - our values. Perhaps quality time, love, family values, friendship and respect are preferable to material goods and status? Or maybe humans are too vain. In this problem, I think we are seeing the worst of ourselves in the mirror. We see power struggle and corruption." Rasmus Benestad, The Norwegian Meteorological Institute From hatlevis at comcast.net Tue Dec 22 09:25:49 2009 From: hatlevis at comcast.net (Susan Hatlevig) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:25:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] swans around Grass Valley to Chico area, other birds etc. Message-ID: <1F663EC8C299483CAE54F1F7CD4880BF@homeflydmyur2h> Hi, I just responded to Sandy that we happened to be driving back from Grass Valley, CA yesterday and took Woodruff Lane to Hwy 70-there are lots of rice fields filled with water and thousands of Tundra Swans. Since we had a long drive ahead of us we didn't have time to stop for long, not to mention it was pouring rain. There were lots of other waterfowl too. My husband and I took a trip down Hwy 101 (and Hwy 1) and then over to Grass Valley last week. We stopped at a restaurant in Yachats for lunch where the river comes out. I forget exactly where it is, but it's right on the main drag. There were lots of gulls swimming up the river, dipping into it and taking big gulps of fresh water. At the viewpoint for the Heceta lighthouse we stopped for a moment. I heard this incredible noise and then realized the beach below was packed with sea lions-and I mean packed. What a sound! At Gold Beach the first day was horizontal rain and extremely high winds. Everything was hunkered down riding out the storm. We had our handy Oregon Birding Trails publication for the Coastal areas and tried out a few spots the next day when it had calmed down a bit. Still too much wave action on the beach to safely walk there. So, we did a bit of driving around further inland-beautiful, pastoral area where we saw more killdeer in one field than I've ever seen. Also lots of robins and Western bluebirds. Down the road a bit at where the Pilot River hits the beach we spied a Peregrine Falcon eating "lunch", feathers being plucked were flying away in the wind. First time for both of us to see a Peregrine. At another site we saw big groups of Am. Oystercatchers congregating on the rocks. Ravens cavorting and playing in the wind. At Fort Bragg we did a hike into the Russian Gulch park and spied lots of ruby-crowned kinglets and chestnut-backed chickadees. My husband saw a pair of Gray Jays and we also saw Stellars, of course. The next morning at Mac Kerricher park we traversed the pond (again, not enough time), we had a very close up look at Double-crested Cormorant as it was perched on a tree. It was cool to see its webbed feet wrapped around the branch and that beautiful blue-green eye set off by the melon-yellow face. I watched a young pied-billed grebe swallow a whole crawfish all at once. Again lots of yellow-rumped warblers, kinglets, acorn woodpeckers, a hairy woodpecker, ring-billed and bufflehead ducks. Brown pelicans on the water. Nothing exotic, but a beautiful morning. Not to mention river otters, one of which had also snagged a crawfish. However, the docent who lives there swore he had spied a Baltimore Oriole at his RV site. He seemed pretty knowledgeable about his birds too, but he wanted to get photos to verify it before reporting. At the edge of Clear Lake we stopped to get a bite to eat and I was idly looking around when I caught site of 7 black-crowned night herons roosting in a tree. Just around dusk we were driving through Marysville (I think) on Hwy 20 through city traffic and saw big roosts of crows forming on all the trees around. Not to mention hundreds of rock doves congregating on the top of one particular gas station roof cover over the pumps-it was probably warmer due to all of the lights! Again, I am very thankful for the birding trail guides. The coastal guide was full of places to bird and I'm looking forward to having the others in my car. So far we've been downloading info from the website too. We're hoping to go back to a few places next spring using the coastal guide. Kudos to all who have worked on these. Susie in Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/28fe0ac6/attachment.html From oschmidt at att.net Tue Dec 22 09:35:47 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:35:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] American Oystercatcher no Message-ID: <8DC9A965-E664-42D5-A84D-3D1676DC64BC@att.net> Just spent the last hour or so on the rocks at Yachats .... possibly up to 6 Black Oystercatchers .... always nice to see .... none white- bellied ..... Sent from my iPhone oschmidt at att.net From dan at heyerly.com Tue Dec 22 09:56:19 2009 From: dan at heyerly.com (Dan Heyerly) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:56:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Co. Ross's Goose + Douglas Co. Red Phalaropes Monday 21 Dec. 2009 Message-ID: Anne and I birded our way home to Eugene from Coos Bay on Monday. We passed north through Douglas County to Florence and then headed east. The Ross's Goose was in its "normal" location in the pastures south of Coos River Rd. at approximately milepost 3.1. We were in the Winchester Bay area during the period of time when the storm front moved through. It was raining sideways, and mixed in with the rain were numerous Red Phalaropes. Some were in the large parking lot where all the boats and RVs are sometimes parked, some were injured and resting alongside the road, and some were feeding in the bay and freshwater ponds along the ATV play areas. Wild weather on the SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR! That means that Spring and Summer are on the way. There was one male Eurasian Wigeon in the Waite Pasture area east of Cushman on Hwy. 126 (Lane Co.). That means that EUWI is a 'count week' bird for Florence. Good Birding! Dan Heyerly, Eugene -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/a0f4b2bd/attachment.html From jeffgill at teleport.com Tue Dec 22 09:56:47 2009 From: jeffgill at teleport.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:56:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] American Oystercatcher records In-Reply-To: <3AF21097-951F-4A05-BF0C-0674F154D11A@att.net> Message-ID: There is also a sight record from Idaho ? a bird that was seen with stilts if I recall correctly. I knew the observer who is very reliable in my experience. I don?t know if the record was accepted by an Idaho committee. On 12/21/09 10:30 PM, "Owen Schmidt" wrote: > > > ........ there is one record, from October 1986, for 2 birds at Bandon, but > the record is "not accepted" by the Oregon Bird Records Committee -- according > to the OFO website (see text below). > > oschmidt at att.net > Monday, December 21, 2009 > > American Oystercatcher. Haematopus palliatus. > 286-86-01 Bandon, Coos Co., 2 birds, apparently adults, on 11 October 1986. > Not accepted because other species of black and white oystercatchers could not > be eliminated on the basis of the description obtained under foggy conditions. > > > > > > On Dec 21, 2009, at 10:23 PM, Tom Crabtree wrote: > >> Ed is correct, there are no Oregon records for American Oystercatcher. I >> don't recall any for Washington, either. This would be a major find, so any >> details on where it was seen would be greatly appreciated by a bunch of >> Oregon birders. >> >> Tom Crabtree, Bend, >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Ed McVicker" >> To: "OBOL" >> Sent: Monday, December 21, 2009 9:25 PM >> Subject: Re: [obol] American Oystercatcher >> >>> hi andrew, >>> >>> ****** >>> by now you have probably been >>> bombarded by others asking for details and are probably aware how >>> unusual this sighting is (i can't find any record of one recorded in >>> oregon previously.) > ****** >>> ed mcvicker >>> portland >>> _______________________________________________ > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/3eea3efd/attachment.html From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Tue Dec 22 10:06:20 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:06:20 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] American Oystercatcher Message-ID: <11179.74321.qm@web51504.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Very cool! I was waiting for one these to show up :-) I think it would be interesting for anyone looking for the American Oystercatcher in the Yachats area to also take a very close look at the apparent Black Oystercatchers...to look for subtle....even very subtle signs of introgression...I'm sure introgressed individuals may show differences in behavior as well as morphology...and this is where I've seen Black Oystercatchers foraging like American Oystercatchers (one technique) several times...quickly and forcefully probing their ENTIRE beak into the sand and then forcefully bobbing their head up and down....I reported my first sighting of this to OBOL and got back a few responses from others who have seen this but it certainly isn't that common....and it is very common in American Oystercatchers....and I've since seen it in Yachats much more than other places, even given the fact I'm not in Yachats THAT often....I also saw it once somewhere between Newport and Waldport... question(s): Will this bird be counted as a new Oregon bird by the OBRC if it is found to have any degree of introgression....even a "small" amount....or if the OBRC can't rule out hybrization....i.e. what are the cut-offs to counting it as a new species or not? Can someone give me examples of where hybridization this has been an issue before? In California, they have a "test" called the "Jehl index" to determine whether or not an apparent American Oystercatcher shows any introgression with Black Oystercatcher or not...to distinguish introgression from normal background variation...I imagine pretty subjective still... This also brings up an interesting conservation issue...with habitat shrinking, especially along shorelines, closely related species are thrown together more and are hybridizing more....oystercatchers are a good example of this... Cindy Ashy From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Dec 22 10:16:45 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:16:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] American Oystercatcher records In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: One species of Pied Oystercatcher is a widespread breeder on the steppes of central Asia. And I mean on the steppes, not the adjacent alkaline playas. We've gotten our share of Mongolian Plover.... Lars Norgren On Dec 22, 2009, at 9:56 AM, Jeff Gilligan wrote: > There is also a sight record from Idaho ? a bird that was seen with stilts if I recall correctly. I knew the observer who is very reliable in my experience. I don?t know if the record was accepted by an Idaho committee. > > > On 12/21/09 10:30 PM, "Owen Schmidt" wrote: > >> >> >> ........ there is one record, from October 1986, for 2 birds at Bandon, but the record is "not accepted" by the Oregon Bird Records Committee -- according to the OFO website (see text below). >> >> oschmidt at att.net >> Monday, December 21, 2009 >> >> American Oystercatcher. Haematopus palliatus. >> 286-86-01 Bandon, Coos Co., 2 birds, apparently adults, on 11 October 1986. Not accepted because other species of black and white oystercatchers could not be eliminated on the basis of the description obtained under foggy conditions. >> >> >> >> >> >> On Dec 21, 2009, at 10:23 PM, Tom Crabtree wrote: >> >>> Ed is correct, there are no Oregon records for American Oystercatcher. I >>> don't recall any for Washington, either. This would be a major find, so any >>> details on where it was seen would be greatly appreciated by a bunch of >>> Oregon birders. >>> >>> Tom Crabtree, Bend, >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Ed McVicker" >>> To: "OBOL" >>> Sent: Monday, December 21, 2009 9:25 PM >>> Subject: Re: [obol] American Oystercatcher >>> >>>> hi andrew, >>>> >>>> ****** >>>> by now you have probably been >>>> bombarded by others asking for details and are probably aware how >>>> unusual this sighting is (i can't find any record of one recorded in >>>> oregon previously.) >> ****** >>>> ed mcvicker >>>> portland >>>> _______________________________________________ >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol at oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/838f57db/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Tue Dec 22 10:20:12 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:20:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Tree Swallow: Jackson Bottom Message-ID: <20091222102012.6gg9dqywikg00ccs@webmail.zzz.com> A lone TREE SWALLOW was separately spotted yesterday (12/21) by Joe Blowers and Sarah Pinnock at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro. The RED-SHOULDERED HAWK is seen nearly daily. Another RED-SHOULDERED HAWK remains at Fernhill Wetlands in Forest Grove. A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW showed up at the new feeders at Jackson Bottom today (12/22). Tomorrow begins the count week for the Forest Grove CBC, which will be held on Saturday, December 26. Meet at 7 am at Elmer's at 390 SW Adams in Hillsboro. The weather looks decent yet, 45F and mostly cloudy. No rain or flooding or ice or dense fog in the forecast. Greg Gillson From range.bayer at gmail.com Tue Dec 22 10:27:14 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:27:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oystercatcher--Map for Overleaf Lodge Message-ID: Hi, For a map to see directions to Overleaf Lodge, go to http://maps.google.com/ and search for "Overleaf Lodge, Yachats, Oregon." It is near HWY 101 and north of Smelt Sands Wayside at the north end of Yachats. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm From eelliott-smith at usgs.gov Tue Dec 22 10:34:50 2009 From: eelliott-smith at usgs.gov (Elise Elliott-Smith) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:34:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] American Oystercatcher In-Reply-To: <11179.74321.qm@web51504.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <11179.74321.qm@web51504.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Hi all, Thanks for all the information about the potential American Oystercatcher or hybrid! As many of you likely know, the USFWS and USGS monitor breeding Black Oystercatchers in Oregon with the help of many volunteers. However, we do not yet know much about their wintering locations, behavior, etc. so any information (flock sightings, unusual behavior, etc.) is useful. We are also in the dark about whether oystercatchers that breed in Oregon are residents and whether the wintering population of Oregon oystercatchers includes birds that breed elsewhere. Regarding Cindy's comments, none of our volunteers have ever reported seeing an oystercatcher with any white on it during our breeding surveys and until now I had not heard of hybrids north of southern California. We have received many reports of oystercatchers probing in the sand but this is relatively unusual and more information on this behavior would be welcome. Thanks! Elise ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Elise Elliott-Smith USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center 3200 SW Jefferson Way Corvallis, OR, 97331 (541)750-7390 eelliott-smith at usgs.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/16f3c9c3/attachment.html From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Tue Dec 22 10:43:08 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:43:08 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] American Oystercatcher In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <394522.94670.qm@web51504.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hi Elise, I know for certain that hybrids have been found in the Monterey Bay (and central coast) area and I've heard of reports from Northern California as well. Some of the signs they look for are very subtle and may not be noticed by volunteers unless they are told very specifically what to look for. As you move north in CA, the signs get more subtle overall. Cindy Ashy --- On Tue, 12/22/09, Elise Elliott-Smith wrote: > From: Elise Elliott-Smith > Subject: Re: [obol] American Oystercatcher > To: "Cindy Ashy" > Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org, obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org, "Liz Kelly" > Date: Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 12:34 PM > > > Hi all, > > Thanks for all the > information about > the potential American Oystercatcher or hybrid! ?As > many of you likely > know, the USFWS and USGS monitor breeding Black > Oystercatchers in Oregon > with the help of many volunteers. ?However, we do not > yet know much > about their wintering locations, behavior, etc. so any > information (flock > sightings, unusual behavior, etc.) is useful. ?We are > also in the > dark about whether oystercatchers that breed in Oregon are > residents and > whether the wintering population of Oregon oystercatchers > includes birds > that breed elsewhere. > > > > Regarding Cindy's > comments, none of > our volunteers have ever reported seeing an oystercatcher > with any white > on it during our breeding surveys and until now I had not > heard of hybrids > north of southern California. ?We have received many > reports of oystercatchers > probing in the sand but this is relatively unusual and more > information > on this behavior would be welcome. > > > > Thanks! > > Elise > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > Elise Elliott-Smith > > USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center > > 3200 SW Jefferson Way > > Corvallis, OR, 97331 > > (541)750-7390 > > eelliott-smith at usgs.gov > > From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Dec 22 10:50:39 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:50:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] American Oystercatcher In-Reply-To: <394522.94670.qm@web51504.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <394522.94670.qm@web51504.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <197C15B5-E8AE-4B95-8930-7097DC336372@earthlink.net> Sounds very clinal to me. Some graduate student should work up a grant proposal to create a hybrid index for the group. Lars On Dec 22, 2009, at 10:43 AM, Cindy Ashy wrote: > Hi Elise, > > I know for certain that hybrids have been found in the Monterey Bay (and central coast) area and I've heard of reports from Northern California as well. Some of the signs they look for are very subtle and may not be noticed by volunteers unless they are told very specifically what to look for. As you move north in CA, the signs get more subtle overall. > > Cindy Ashy > > --- On Tue, 12/22/09, Elise Elliott-Smith wrote: > >> From: Elise Elliott-Smith >> Subject: Re: [obol] American Oystercatcher >> To: "Cindy Ashy" >> Cc: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org, obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org, "Liz Kelly" >> Date: Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 12:34 PM >> >> >> Hi all, >> >> Thanks for all the >> information about >> the potential American Oystercatcher or hybrid! As >> many of you likely >> know, the USFWS and USGS monitor breeding Black >> Oystercatchers in Oregon >> with the help of many volunteers. However, we do not >> yet know much >> about their wintering locations, behavior, etc. so any >> information (flock >> sightings, unusual behavior, etc.) is useful. We are >> also in the >> dark about whether oystercatchers that breed in Oregon are >> residents and >> whether the wintering population of Oregon oystercatchers >> includes birds >> that breed elsewhere. >> >> >> >> Regarding Cindy's >> comments, none of >> our volunteers have ever reported seeing an oystercatcher >> with any white >> on it during our breeding surveys and until now I had not >> heard of hybrids >> north of southern California. We have received many >> reports of oystercatchers >> probing in the sand but this is relatively unusual and more >> information >> on this behavior would be welcome. >> >> >> >> Thanks! >> >> Elise >> >> >> >> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >> >> Elise Elliott-Smith >> >> USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center >> >> 3200 SW Jefferson Way >> >> Corvallis, OR, 97331 >> >> (541)750-7390 >> >> eelliott-smith at usgs.gov >> >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Tue Dec 22 10:52:52 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:52:52 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Jehl Index: was: Re: American Oystercatcher Message-ID: <225378.47266.qm@web51503.mail.re2.yahoo.com> For completeness sake, here's a link to the Jehl Index: http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/jehl.txt Cindy Ashy From hnehls6 at comcast.net Tue Dec 22 10:51:24 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:51:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Rock Sandpiper Message-ID: Don?t like to get into subspecies ID too much, but the Rock Sandpiper I found on Barview Jetty last Saturday could have been the nominate subspecies ?ptilocnemis?. There has been quite a bit of interest in this subspecies in recent years. It is rarely reported south of Alaska. This bird had rather pale gray plumage, the nape and back were almost pearly. All feathers were conspicuously edged with dull white. It was much paler than any other Rock Sandpiper I have seen in the area and stood out from the much darker Surfbirds it was with. If interested keep an eye out for this bird, it is something to study. Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/bd9bb490/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Tue Dec 22 11:07:40 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:07:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sharp-shinned Message-ID: I had another visit from the SHARP-SHINNED that visits my backyard occasionally. After observing for a couple of minutes it jumped into the usual bush and took a HOUSE-SPARROW easily. The sparrow seemed to die almost instantly. The hawk waited a while then flew off quickly. I marvel at how efficient a hunter it is. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/0b56be66/attachment.html From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Tue Dec 22 11:10:54 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:10:54 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] American Oystercatcher Message-ID: <225414.58011.qm@web51508.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Lars, It's definitely clinal...well known in CA. I forgot to mention that the "black" on Black Oystercatchers gets progressively lighter as you go south.....on males anyway, or at least more noticeable. Cindy Ashy From kimdelo at yahoo.com Tue Dec 22 11:58:17 2009 From: kimdelo at yahoo.com (Kimdel Owen) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:58:17 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Crooked River Grasslands raptor route Message-ID: <744450.2035.qm@web50201.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Yesterday I did the Crooked River Grasslands raptor route. The day was mostly cloudy and windy with a few showers. Still I found a good number of raptors. Red-tailed Hawk 33 American Kestral 10 Northern Harrier 4 Golden Eagle 2 Rough-legged Hawk 6 Prairie Falcon 1 Long-eared Owl 1 Also seen 4 Northern Shrikes, 3 Greater White-fronted Geese. "Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high? On the rock he dwells and makes his home in the fastness of the rocky crag. There he spies out the prey; his eyes behold it afar off." Kimdel Owen Redmond, OR From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Dec 22 12:16:10 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:16:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Airlie-Albany CBC results Message-ID: <1261512970.1896.341.camel@clearwater1> Hi folks, Here are results from Sunday's Airlie-Albany CBC, which was organized by Paul Adamus. 32 volunteers came up with a total of 115 species. Weather was mixed, with intermittent showers early in the day that allowed for fairly good birding, but steady rain in the later part of the afternoon. Rain before dawn and after sunset meant owling was mostly futile. Provisional tallies are listed below, with some of the more notable species highlighted. Happy birding, Joel -- Pied-billed Grebe 34 Double-crested Cormorant 60 Great Blue Heron 47 GREEN HERON 1 Great Egret 20 Tundra Swan 96 Trumpeter Swan 43 Canada Goose 3558 Cackling Goose 24867 Canada/Cackling Goose 10764 WHITE GOOSE sp. (Snow/Ross's?) 1 Wood Duck 21 Green-winged Teal 2187 (one at Ankeny was nailed by a Peregrine Falcon) CINNAMON TEAL 1 Mallard 712 Northern Pintail 1899 Northern Shoveler 124 Gadwall 32 Eurasian Wigeon 11 American Wigeon 562 CANVASBACK 2 REDHEAD 1 Ring-necked Duck 175 Lesser Scaup 29 Bufflehead 93 Hooded Merganser 39 Common Merganser 25 Ruddy Duck 238 TURKEY VULTURE cw Bald Eagle 7 (5 ad, 2 imm) GOLDEN EAGLE 1 White-tailed Kite 3 Northern Harrier 44 Sharp-shinned Hawk 10 Cooper's Hawk 7 Red-shouldered Hawk 5 Red-tailed Hawk 183 HARLAN'S RED-TAILED HAWK 1 at NW edge of circle Rough-legged Hawk 11 American Kestrel 117 MERLIN 1 PRAIRIE FALCON 1 Peregrine Falcon 5 Ring-necked Pheasant 1 Wild Turkey 86 California Quail 105 American Coot 127 Killdeer 286 low count? Dunlin 178 Wilson?s Snipe 11 mostly scattered singles Mew Gull 14 Ring-billed Gull 65 Glaucous-winged Gull 1 Gull sp. 1 surprisingly few large gulls Rock Pigeon 275 Mourning Dove 387 EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE 41 numbers keep growing Western Screech-Owl 1 Great Horned Owl 12 Anna's Hummingbird 15 Belted Kingfisher 13 Acorn Woodpecker 30 Red-breasted Sapsucker 8 RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER(?) 1 in E.E. Wilson, still trying for a photo to rule out hybrid. Downy Woodpecker 44 Hairy Woodpecker 13 Northern Flicker 283 Pileated Woodpecker 6 BLACK PHOEBE 3 separate sectors near Willamette R. BARN SWALLOW 1 Ankeny NWR Horned Lark 3 low count? Steller's Jay 102 W. Scrub Jay 487 Gray Jay cw American Crow 536 Common Raven 65 Black-capped Chickadee 784 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 116 Bushtit 205 Red-breasted Nuthatch 48 White-breasted Nuthatch 26 Brown Creeper 52 Bewick's Wren 205 Winter Wren 77 Marsh Wren 3 Golden-crowned Kinglet 384 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 101 Western Bluebird 176 American Robin 2140 Varied Thrush 4 low count? WRENTIT 25 numbers increasing yearly; this used to be a hard one to find. American Pipit 158 Cedar Waxwing 8 NORTHERN SHRIKE 3 European Starling 8171 Hutton's Vireo 8 Yellow-rumped Warbler 292 Townsend's Warbler 6 Spotted Towhee 528 Savannah Sparrow 17 CHIPPING SPARROW 2 NW part of circle Fox Sparrow (Sooty/undiff) 251 FOX SPARROW (gray-headed form) 2 Song Sparrow 974 Lincoln's Sparrow 81 good numbers SWAMP SPARROW 1 North Luckiamute Coop. Mgmt Area Golden-crowned Sparrow 545 White-crowned Sparrow 201 White-throated Sparrow 17 Oregon Junco 1967 SLATE-COLORED JUNCO 1 Red-winged Blackbird 662 Western Meadowlark 32 Brewer's Blackbird 1027 Brown-headed Cowbird 27 EVENING GROSBEAK 37 RED CROSSBILL 18 Purple Finch 66 House Finch 362 Pine Siskin 52 Lesser Goldfinch 43 American Goldfinch 88 House Sparrow 200 -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com Tue Dec 22 12:44:38 2009 From: shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com (Shawneen Finnegan) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:44:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR: Bewick's Swan at Rest Lake Message-ID: Here is a heads up that there is a large adult swan at Ridgefield that is showing a lot of yellow on the bill, that appears to be a Bewick's Swan. Jim Danzenbaker called me from the southeast corner of Rest Lake at Ridgefield NWR a just now. The bird is sleeping and rarely lifting its head. It is with other Tundra Swans. He is parked about 200 yards south of the lone tree. He also reports the Harlan's Hawk in the vicinity. Shawneen Finnegan NW Portland, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/a0b0d4fc/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Tue Dec 22 13:45:37 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:45:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon County Site Guides Message-ID: <90D5BEF825FE4FBCADBED3A2C6B04B04@cgatesPC> Since March, I've been working on developing a comprehensive birding guide for each of Oregon's 36 counties. I've logged over 500 hours, created 443 Google maps, and located GPS Coordinates and DeLorme page numbers for over 1100 birding sites in the state. I have now reached a point where I can do no more without help from the birding community at large. I'm calling on my friends, my acquaintances, and people I've never met to help me finish this valuable birding resource. I need the following services to complete this project and get it up on the web by next month: 1) I need one or more people from each county to read each county guide and critique the locations I've selected. I need to know if there are important sites I neglected to mention or if some of the sites I've included are not worth including in a comprehensive site guide. Some people have already done this but one final run through would be appreciated. 2) I need county experts to check the directions I have created and make sure I don't send someone over a cliff by accidentally saying left instead of right. 3) I need print editors to read each guide and suggest edits for spelling, punctuation, and usage. 4) I need people to try the links I have established and identify the ones that don't work. 5) Though most of the county checklists have been finalized, I still need local experts to help me finalize semi-official species lists for Clackamas, Gilliam, Harney, Hood, Moro, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and Wheeler counties. So, why should you help? I started this project after an ECBC meeting. Tom Crabtree came up with the original idea and after some discussion, I agreed to take a shot at it. It was understood that I would get no salary and would relinquish complete control for the project to the ECBC. This was to be a project done by volunteer birders, for the birding community, and as a public service. I decided to make every effort to do as much of the tedious detail work myself so future volunteers wouldn't be discouraged by those less than pleasant tasks. That's what prompted me to do all the maps, GPS Coordinates, and DeLorme referencing. Since I know many of the people on OBOL, I had, and still have, confidence that many of you will step forward and help finish this website. No other state has a site guide this comprehensive. Unlike a print guide, the online guide will be a pliable, dynamic document able to absorb changes in locations within a few hours of the change instead of waiting years for a print update. It's going to be incredibly useful to all of you that like to travel the state and find birds. It will be a wonderful resource for those of you who have always wanted to go to the Owyhee, or Calliope Crossing, or Tryon Park but just didn't know how to locate these or other sites. It will be a great resource for those people who have never heard of those or most of the other sites on the list as it will allow people to expand into areas of the state hitherto unknown to them. In short, it's going to be a great and useful resource for everyone. That's why you should help. What do you get out of helping? Anyone who offers help as an editor, will be listed as a co-author for that particular county site guide. You will get the satisfaction of knowing that you helped with a very important project and you will get to contribute to the timely production of this website. Pick a county with which you are familiar. Offer to take on one or more of the above 5 tasks for one or more of the 36 counties. If you're not sure you can help, read a county guide anyway and then decide. Help Oregon be the first state with a complete birding guide. Have the satisfaction of helping the birding community as a whole. I'll include the counties and how many locations I have for each. This may help you decide if you can help with this project. I look forward to hearing from you. Chuck Gates ECBC County # of Locations Baker 29 Benton 27 Clackamas 26 Clatsop 41 Columbia 12 Coos 30 Crook 24 Curry 22 Deschutes 35 Douglas 40 Gilliam 21 Grant 17 Harney 43 Hood 19 Jackson 40 Jefferson 27 Josephine 31 Klamath 58 Lake 23 Lane 61 Lincoln 48 Linn 40 Malheur 45 Marion 24 Morrow 12 Multnomah 36 Polk 26 Sherman 25 Tillamook 20 Umatilla 20 Union 30 Wallowa 30 Wasco 32 Washington 22 Wheeler 46 Yamhill 28 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/1f264d7b/attachment.html From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Dec 22 13:59:35 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:59:35 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Mostly Final Coos Bay CBC results Message-ID: <315046.14465.qm@web45304.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Here are excerpts from a letter?I sent out to all the participants on the Coos Bay CBC.? We had 28 or 29 in the field? and seven feeder watchers.? Weather was decent about half the night enabling us some good owling from midnight to 3AM and also the morning was OK, the afternoon was windy and rainy. Temps were mostly in the 50's. This was year 37 of the Cos Bay count. We had 152 species. ? The following is a list of our more uncommon/rare finds: ? 1st Count record: 1- ROSS?S GOOSE ? 2nd Count record: 1- first winter female BULLOCK?S ORIOLE 1- RED FOX SPARROW?(not counted as a species unless the Coquille count is close)?? 3rd Count record: 2- BARN SWALLOWS ? 4th Count record: 1- male BARROW?S GOLDENEYE 84(!)- EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES? ? 5th Count record: 5- SNOW GEESE (ties for the record high number) 6thCount record: 41- CACKLING GEESE (our highest count ever) 8th Count record: 1- GLAUCOUS GULL 10th count record: 34- GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE (the highest total ever also) ? ? The following are count week species (not seen on count day but seen up to three days before or three days after the count day): MOUNTAIN QUAIL COOPER?S HAWK RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER COMMON YELLOWTHROAT PALM WARBLER ? Next is a list of our biggest ?misses? (besides count week birds): BRANT (one in bay recently) SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (?!) ROCK SANDPIPER (has been scarce in recent year, found four times in last 10 yrs.) BONAPARTE?S GULL (seen 30 of the first 36yrs.) PIGEON GUILLEMOT (two in bay recently) ? New high numbers were set for the following species: GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE SNOW GOOSE (tie) CANADA GOOSE CACKLING GOOSE HARLEQUIN DUCK (tie) WESTERN GREBE PEREGRINE FALCON (tie) HEERMANN?S GULL MEW GULL CALIFORNIA GULL OLYMPIC GULL (Western x Glaucous-winged hybrid) EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (numbers have exploded all over Oregon) BARN OWL (tie) STELLER?S JAY AMERICAN GOLDFINCH HOUSE SPARROW ? T'was a blast!! ? Happy CBCing all, Tim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/5591215a/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Tue Dec 22 14:00:09 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:00:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon County Site Guides In-Reply-To: <90D5BEF825FE4FBCADBED3A2C6B04B04@cgatesPC> References: <90D5BEF825FE4FBCADBED3A2C6B04B04@cgatesPC> Message-ID: <4B314169.5020008@verizon.net> Folks, Well, THANK YOU CHUCK. Wow. That's awesome. Will the OBOL community please all rise and give Chuck a standing ovation for an incredible amount of work, for FREE! Let's collectively find every freaking adjective and kind word we can come up with to say how super unbelievable blown away cool this is. I bow to thee. I'd be glad to review Coos if either birdboy wonders Tim who knows better than anyone Rodenkirk or Russ who can't seem to find a Curlew Sandpiper Namitz doesn't do it. Three Major Super Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Charles Gates wrote: > Since March, I've been working on developing a comprehensive birding > guide for each of Oregon's 36 counties. I've logged over 500 hours, > created 443 Google maps, and located GPS Coordinates and DeLorme page > numbers for over 1100 birding sites in the state. I have now reached > a point where I can do no more without help from the birding community > at large. I'm calling on my friends, my acquaintances, and people > I've never met to help me finish this valuable birding resource. I > need the following services to complete this project and get it up on > the web by next month: > > 1) I need one or more people from each county to read each > county guide and critique the locations I've selected. I need to know > if there are important sites I neglected to mention or if some of the > sites I've included are not worth including in a comprehensive site > guide. Some people have already done this but one final run through > would be appreciated. > 2) I need county experts to check the directions I have created and > make sure I don't send someone over a cliff by accidentally saying > left instead of right. > 3) I need print editors to read each guide and suggest edits for > spelling, punctuation, and usage. > 4) I need people to try the links I have established and identify the > ones that don't work. > 5) Though most of the county checklists have been finalized, I still > need local experts to help me finalize semi-official species lists for > Clackamas, Gilliam, Harney, Hood, Moro, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and > Wheeler counties. > > So, why should you help? I started this project after an ECBC > meeting. Tom Crabtree came up with the original idea and after some > discussion, I agreed to take a shot at it. It was understood that I > would get no salary and would relinquish complete control for the > project to the ECBC. This was to be a project done by volunteer > birders, for the birding community, and as a public service. I > decided to make every effort to do as much of the tedious detail work > myself so future volunteers wouldn't be discouraged by those less than > pleasant tasks. That's what prompted me to do all the maps, GPS > Coordinates, and DeLorme referencing. Since I know many of the people > on OBOL, I had, and still have, confidence that many of you will step > forward and help finish this website. No other state has a site guide > this comprehensive. Unlike a print guide, the online guide will be a > pliable, dynamic document able to absorb changes in locations within a > few hours of the change instead of waiting years for a print update. > It's going to be incredibly useful to all of you that like to travel > the state and find birds. It will be a wonderful resource for those > of you who have always wanted to go to the Owyhee, or Calliope > Crossing, or Tryon Park but just didn't know how to locate these or > other sites. It will be a great resource for those people who have > never heard of those or most of the other sites on the list as it will > allow people to expand into areas of the state hitherto unknown to > them. In short, it's going to be a great and useful resource for > everyone. That's why you should help. > > What do you get out of helping? Anyone who offers help as an editor, > will be listed as a co-author for that particular county site guide. > You will get the satisfaction of knowing that you helped with a very > important project and you will get to contribute to the timely > production of this website. > > Pick a county with which you are familiar. Offer to take on one or > more of the above 5 tasks for one or more of the 36 counties. If > you're not sure you can help, read a county guide anyway and then > decide. Help Oregon be the first state with a complete birding > guide. Have the satisfaction of helping the birding community as a > whole. > > I'll include the counties and how many locations I have for each. > This may help you decide if you can help with this project. I look > forward to hearing from you. > > Chuck Gates > ECBC > > County # of Locations > Baker 29 > Benton 27 > Clackamas 26 > Clatsop 41 > Columbia 12 > Coos 30 > Crook 24 > Curry 22 > Deschutes 35 > Douglas 40 > Gilliam 21 > Grant 17 > Harney 43 > Hood 19 > Jackson 40 > Jefferson 27 > Josephine 31 > Klamath 58 > Lake 23 > Lane 61 > Lincoln 48 > Linn 40 > Malheur 45 > Marion 24 > Morrow 12 > Multnomah 36 > Polk 26 > Sherman 25 > Tillamook 20 > Umatilla 20 > Union 30 > Wallowa 30 > Wasco 32 > Washington 22 > Wheeler 46 > Yamhill 28 > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- "We need to change our mind frame - our values. Perhaps quality time, love, family values, friendship and respect are preferable to material goods and status? Or maybe humans are too vain. In this problem, I think we are seeing the worst of ourselves in the mirror. We see power struggle and corruption." Rasmus Benestad, The Norwegian Meteorological Institute From hatlevis at comcast.net Tue Dec 22 14:12:36 2009 From: hatlevis at comcast.net (Susan Hatlevig) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:12:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] correction-Black not Am Oystercatchers on our trip down Hwy 101 Message-ID: Oh, my.I meant to type Black Oystercatchers instead of American. This is in regard to the groups we saw going down Hwy 101 last week! After all the hoopla about American vs Black, I realized I had been sloppy! Sorry. Susie in Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/8e633e9f/attachment.html From goosemiller at gmail.com Tue Dec 22 14:18:54 2009 From: goosemiller at gmail.com (Marilyn Miller) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:18:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon County Site Guides In-Reply-To: <90D5BEF825FE4FBCADBED3A2C6B04B04@cgatesPC> Message-ID: <4b3145ce.9413f30a.5f4a.6309@mx.google.com> Chuck: Wow, wow, wow. Thank you for your enormous amount of work that went into this. Marilyn Miller _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Charles Gates Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 1:46 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] Oregon County Site Guides Since March, I've been working on developing a comprehensive birding guide for each of Oregon's 36 counties. I've logged over 500 hours, created 443 Google maps, and located GPS Coordinates and DeLorme page numbers for over 1100 birding sites in the state. I have now reached a point where I can do no more without help from the birding community at large. I'm calling on my friends, my acquaintances, and people I've never met to help me finish this valuable birding resource. I need the following services to complete this project and get it up on the web by next month: 1) I need one or more people from each county to read each county guide and critique the locations I've selected. I need to know if there are important sites I neglected to mention or if some of the sites I've included are not worth including in a comprehensive site guide. Some people have already done this but one final run through would be appreciated. 2) I need county experts to check the directions I have created and make sure I don't send someone over a cliff by accidentally saying left instead of right. 3) I need print editors to read each guide and suggest edits for spelling, punctuation, and usage. 4) I need people to try the links I have established and identify the ones that don't work. 5) Though most of the county checklists have been finalized, I still need local experts to help me finalize semi-official species lists for Clackamas, Gilliam, Harney, Hood, Moro, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and Wheeler counties. So, why should you help? I started this project after an ECBC meeting. Tom Crabtree came up with the original idea and after some discussion, I agreed to take a shot at it. It was understood that I would get no salary and would relinquish complete control for the project to the ECBC. This was to be a project done by volunteer birders, for the birding community, and as a public service. I decided to make every effort to do as much of the tedious detail work myself so future volunteers wouldn't be discouraged by those less than pleasant tasks. That's what prompted me to do all the maps, GPS Coordinates, and DeLorme referencing. Since I know many of the people on OBOL, I had, and still have, confidence that many of you will step forward and help finish this website. No other state has a site guide this comprehensive. Unlike a print guide, the online guide will be a pliable, dynamic document able to absorb changes in locations within a few hours of the change instead of waiting years for a print update. It's going to be incredibly useful to all of you that like to travel the state and find birds. It will be a wonderful resource for those of you who have always wanted to go to the Owyhee, or Calliope Crossing, or Tryon Park but just didn't know how to locate these or other sites. It will be a great resource for those people who have never heard of those or most of the other sites on the list as it will allow people to expand into areas of the state hitherto unknown to them. In short, it's going to be a great and useful resource for everyone. That's why you should help. What do you get out of helping? Anyone who offers help as an editor, will be listed as a co-author for that particular county site guide. You will get the satisfaction of knowing that you helped with a very important project and you will get to contribute to the timely production of this website. Pick a county with which you are familiar. Offer to take on one or more of the above 5 tasks for one or more of the 36 counties. If you're not sure you can help, read a county guide anyway and then decide. Help Oregon be the first state with a complete birding guide. Have the satisfaction of helping the birding community as a whole. I'll include the counties and how many locations I have for each. This may help you decide if you can help with this project. I look forward to hearing from you. Chuck Gates ECBC County # of Locations Baker 29 Benton 27 Clackamas 26 Clatsop 41 Columbia 12 Coos 30 Crook 24 Curry 22 Deschutes 35 Douglas 40 Gilliam 21 Grant 17 Harney 43 Hood 19 Jackson 40 Jefferson 27 Josephine 31 Klamath 58 Lake 23 Lane 61 Lincoln 48 Linn 40 Malheur 45 Marion 24 Morrow 12 Multnomah 36 Polk 26 Sherman 25 Tillamook 20 Umatilla 20 Union 30 Wallowa 30 Wasco 32 Washington 22 Wheeler 46 Yamhill 28 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.430 / Virus Database: 270.14.117/2581 - Release Date: 12/22/09 08:09:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/45577da0/attachment.html From rockawaybirder at yahoo.com Tue Dec 22 14:33:12 2009 From: rockawaybirder at yahoo.com (Ilene Samowitz) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:33:12 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Oregon County Site Guides Message-ID: <879407.17616.qm@web31814.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Ilene Samowitz www.ilenesamowitzphoto.com ________________________________ From: Ilene Samowitz To: Marilyn Miller Sent: Tue, December 22, 2009 2:31:48 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Oregon County Site Guides Thanks so much for doing this. I'd be happy to do 1-5 as needed for Tillamook. Ilene Samowitz Seattle, WA Rockaway Beach, OR www.ilenesamowitzphoto.com ________________________________ From: Marilyn Miller To: Charles Gates ; obol Sent: Tue, December 22, 2009 2:18:54 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Oregon County Site Guides Chuck: Wow, wow, wow. Thank you for your enormous amount of work that went into this. Marilyn Miller ________________________________ From:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Charles Gates Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 1:46 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] Oregon County Site Guides Since March, I've been working on developing a comprehensive birding guide for each of Oregon 's 36 counties. I've logged over 500 hours, created 443 Google maps, and located GPS Coordinates and DeLorme page numbers for over 1100 birding sites in the state. I have now reached a point where I can do no more without help from the birding community at large. I'm calling on my friends, my acquaintances, and people I've never met to help me finish this valuable birding resource. I need the following services to complete this project and get it up on the web by next month: 1) I need one or more people from each county to read each county guide and critique the locations I've selected. I need to know if there are important sites I neglected to mention or if some of the sites I've included are not worth including in a comprehensive site guide. Some people have already done this but one final run through would be appreciated. 2) I need county experts to check the directions I have created and make sure I don't send someone over a cliff by accidentally saying left instead of right. 3) I need print editors to read each guide and suggest edits for spelling, punctuation, and usage. 4) I need people to try the links I have established and identify the ones that don't work. 5) Though most of the county checklists have been finalized, I still need local experts to help me finalize semi-official species lists for Clackamas, Gilliam, Harney, Hood, Moro, Union , Wallowa, Wasco, and Wheeler counties. So, why should you help? I started this project after an ECBC meeting. Tom Crabtree came up with the original idea and after some discussion, I agreed to take a shot at it. It was understood that I would get no salary and would relinquish complete control for the project to the ECBC. This was to be a project done by volunteer birders, for the birding community, and as a public service. I decided to make every effort to do as much of the tedious detail work myself so future volunteers wouldn't be discouraged by those less than pleasant tasks. That's what prompted me to do all the maps, GPS Coordinates, and DeLorme referencing. Since I know many of the people on OBOL , I had, and still have, confidence that many of you will step forward and help finish this website. No other state has a site guide this comprehensive. Unlike a print guide, the online guide will be a pliable, dynamic document able to absorb changes in locations within a few hours of the change instead of waiting years for a print update. It's going to be incredibly useful to all of you that like to travel the state and find birds. It will be a wonderful resource for those of you who have always wanted to go to the Owyhee, or Calliope Crossing, or Tryon Park but just didn't know how to locate these or other sites. It will be a great resource for those people who have never heard of those or most of the other sites on the list as it will allow people to expand into areas of the state hitherto unknown to them. In short, it's going to be a great and useful resource for everyone. That's why you should help. What do you get out of helping? Anyone who offers help as an editor, will be listed as a co-author for that particular county site guide. You will get the satisfaction of knowing that you helped with a very important project and you will get to contribute to the timely production of this website. Pick a county with which you are familiar. Offer to take on one or more of the above 5 tasks for one or more of the 36 counties. If you're not sure you can help, read a county guide anyway and then decide. Help Oregon be the first state with a complete birding guide. Have the satisfaction of helping the birding community as a whole. I'll include the counties and how many locations I have for each. This may help you decide if you can help with this project. I look forward to hearing from you. Chuck Gates ECBC County # of Locations Baker 29 Benton 27 Clackamas 26 Clatsop 41 Columbia 12 Coos 30 Crook 24 Curry 22 Deschutes 35 Douglas 40 Gilliam 21 Grant 17 Harney 43 Hood 19 Jackson 40 Jefferson 27 Josephine 31 Klamath 58 Lake 23 Lane 61 Lincoln 48 Linn 40 Malheur 45 Marion 24 Morrow 12 Multnomah 36 Polk 26 Sherman 25 Tillamook 20 Umatilla 20 Union 30 Wallowa 30 Wasco 32 Washington 22 Wheeler 46 Yamhill 28 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.430 / Virus Database: 270.14.117/2581 - Release Date: 12/22/09 08:09:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/07b4e7b3/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Tue Dec 22 14:51:32 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:51:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Newport Bayfront Kingbird on Dec. 17--Yes on Dec. 22 Message-ID: Hi, Eli Adam and Amy Kocourek saw the Tropical Kingbird again today (Dec. 22) at about 12:30 foraging very close/in the street (SE Eads). Directions: it is along the Newport Bayfront near the intersection of Bay Boulevard and Eads Street. From the traffic light on the east side of Newport at the intersections of HWY 20 and John Moore Road, turn south down the hill at John Moore Road, drive down past the Elks and the former Yaquina View School to the bottom and cautiously turn right (westward) onto Bay Boulevard. Continue about 2 blocks westward to the intersection with Eads Street. Happy Holidays! Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Range Bayer Date: Fri, Dec 18, 2009 at 12:20 PM Subject: Newport Bayfront Kingbird on Dec. 17 To: Oregon Birders OnLine , "Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing" Hi, ? ? At 9 AM yesterday (Dec. 17), Eli Adam used 10X binocs to watch a kingbird fly out and catch a wasp along the Newport Bayfront near the intersection of Bay Boulevard and Eads Street. ?From the traffic light on the east side of Newport at the intersections of HWY 20 and John Moore Road, turn south down the hill at John Moore Road, drive down past the Elks and the former Yaquina View School to the bottom and cautiously turn right (westward) onto Bay Boulevard. ?Continue about 2 blocks westward to the intersection with Eads Street. ?Eli noted that the kingbird was very visible flying out for insects and perching on wires. ? ? Eli did not determine if it was a Tropical or Western Kingbird, but a Tropical Kingbird is much more to be expected this time of year here. ?This is also only about 1.5 miles northwest of the LNG Tank area where John Thomas found the 3 Tropical Kingbirds, and a singleton was last reported on Dec. 5. ?So perhaps one of those near the LNG tank moved into Newport. ? ?Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm From bettyehunt at aol.com Tue Dec 22 15:00:22 2009 From: bettyehunt at aol.com (bettyehunt at aol.com) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:00:22 -0500 Subject: [obol] northern limit for pelicans? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <8CC5171AC9FFEFC-57BC-1D94F@webmail-m092.sysops.aol.com> I had a lone Brown Pelican grounded on the edge of my driveway about a mile inland yesterday. It didn't appear injured, but didn't fly either - just walked away when approached. It was dead this morning in the same location. Bettye Hunt Waldport -----Original Message----- From: Deborah Jaques To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Mon, Dec 21, 2009 8:11 pm Subject: [obol] northern limit for pelicans? Happy Winter Solstice Oregon Birders, Was out on the Columbia today by boat today and surprised to see Brown elicans at the mouth of the Columbia again. I thought they had left these arts for the winter. C.Strong, C.Clumpner and I counted several hundred irds there hunkered down in a hail storm. Will be interesting to see what he Christmas bird counts tell us this year about late December pelican istribution along the coast. _______________________________________________ bol mailing list bol at oregonbirdwatch.org ttp://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/49dadbc1/attachment.html From smithdwd at gmail.com Mon Dec 21 20:34:17 2009 From: smithdwd at gmail.com (David Smith) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:34:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Snowy Owl/ Mon ECDove coastal Message-ID: <458513bf0912212034y53fbed6bj3e01071eba5ebcc9@mail.gmail.com> The Netarts Snowy Owl was present; visible from the Terri More Motel about 1:30 today. As I drove near the RR underpass, leaving Tillymuck, I noticed a Your Call Dove on a wire. A couple years ago people were all over the Coos bay neighborhood triangulating a single ECDove; there were near 100 on the Coos Bay CBC. Anyone seen them reliably in Lincoln County? David Smith -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091221/cb42af1b/attachment.html From tlove at linfield.edu Tue Dec 22 15:17:33 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:17:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] County site guides - Yamhill Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F121C8AA3A3@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> Thanks Chuck for this amazing effort. I nominate Carol Karlen to head up reviewing site guide for Yamhill County. Tom Love -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/9eca872f/attachment.html From tom-escue at comcast.net Tue Dec 22 15:32:40 2009 From: tom-escue at comcast.net (Tom Escue) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:32:40 -0800 Subject: [obol] Townsend's Warbler Message-ID: <71C78470BBEC4AD5A67160A60D990198@TomsPC> I had what I'm sure was a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER in my back yard this afternoon for a second. A nice winter surprise for my location. Tom Escue Springfield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/ab8a84ac/attachment.html From tc at empnet.com Tue Dec 22 15:47:22 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:47:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon County Site Guides In-Reply-To: <90D5BEF825FE4FBCADBED3A2C6B04B04@cgatesPC> References: <90D5BEF825FE4FBCADBED3A2C6B04B04@cgatesPC> Message-ID: <23DF5878CF7746248C6CD5290809C993@102889> Fantastic job, Chuck. When I had the idea for this I thought it would take us several years to get to the point we are today. You have gone way above and beyond the call of duty on this project. Count me in on steps 1, 3 & 4 for Deschutes, Crook & Jefferson Counties at a bare minimum. I will do the directions on step 2 as I am able in the field. I will also take a look at other counties as I go birding around the state. Tom P.S. As a head start on proofreading, it is Hood River County. _____ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Charles Gates Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 1:46 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] Oregon County Site Guides Since March, I've been working on developing a comprehensive birding guide for each of Oregon's 36 counties. I've logged over 500 hours, created 443 Google maps, and located GPS Coordinates and DeLorme page numbers for over 1100 birding sites in the state. I have now reached a point where I can do no more without help from the birding community at large. I'm calling on my friends, my acquaintances, and people I've never met to help me finish this valuable birding resource. I need the following services to complete this project and get it up on the web by next month: 1) I need one or more people from each county to read each county guide and critique the locations I've selected. I need to know if there are important sites I neglected to mention or if some of the sites I've included are not worth including in a comprehensive site guide. Some people have already done this but one final run through would be appreciated. 2) I need county experts to check the directions I have created and make sure I don't send someone over a cliff by accidentally saying left instead of right. 3) I need print editors to read each guide and suggest edits for spelling, punctuation, and usage. 4) I need people to try the links I have established and identify the ones that don't work. 5) Though most of the county checklists have been finalized, I still need local experts to help me finalize semi-official species lists for Clackamas, Gilliam, Harney, Hood, Moro, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and Wheeler counties. So, why should you help? I started this project after an ECBC meeting. Tom Crabtree came up with the original idea and after some discussion, I agreed to take a shot at it. It was understood that I would get no salary and would relinquish complete control for the project to the ECBC. This was to be a project done by volunteer birders, for the birding community, and as a public service. I decided to make every effort to do as much of the tedious detail work myself so future volunteers wouldn't be discouraged by those less than pleasant tasks. That's what prompted me to do all the maps, GPS Coordinates, and DeLorme referencing. Since I know many of the people on OBOL, I had, and still have, confidence that many of you will step forward and help finish this website. No other state has a site guide this comprehensive. Unlike a print guide, the online guide will be a pliable, dynamic document able to absorb changes in locations within a few hours of the change instead of waiting years for a print update. It's going to be incredibly useful to all of you that like to travel the state and find birds. It will be a wonderful resource for those of you who have always wanted to go to the Owyhee, or Calliope Crossing, or Tryon Park but just didn't know how to locate these or other sites. It will be a great resource for those people who have never heard of those or most of the other sites on the list as it will allow people to expand into areas of the state hitherto unknown to them. In short, it's going to be a great and useful resource for everyone. That's why you should help. What do you get out of helping? Anyone who offers help as an editor, will be listed as a co-author for that particular county site guide. You will get the satisfaction of knowing that you helped with a very important project and you will get to contribute to the timely production of this website. Pick a county with which you are familiar. Offer to take on one or more of the above 5 tasks for one or more of the 36 counties. If you're not sure you can help, read a county guide anyway and then decide. Help Oregon be the first state with a complete birding guide. Have the satisfaction of helping the birding community as a whole. I'll include the counties and how many locations I have for each. This may help you decide if you can help with this project. I look forward to hearing from you. Chuck Gates ECBC County # of Locations Baker 29 Benton 27 Clackamas 26 Clatsop 41 Columbia 12 Coos 30 Crook 24 Curry 22 Deschutes 35 Douglas 40 Gilliam 21 Grant 17 Harney 43 Hood 19 Jackson 40 Jefferson 27 Josephine 31 Klamath 58 Lake 23 Lane 61 Lincoln 48 Linn 40 Malheur 45 Marion 24 Morrow 12 Multnomah 36 Polk 26 Sherman 25 Tillamook 20 Umatilla 20 Union 30 Wallowa 30 Wasco 32 Washington 22 Wheeler 46 Yamhill 28 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/b41e6917/attachment.html From birdmandon at clearwire.net Tue Dec 22 16:06:43 2009 From: birdmandon at clearwire.net (Don Schrouder) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:06:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yachats Oystercatcher/no Message-ID: <3F528A96-E430-46E6-AAFB-780D83DCF72A@clearwire.net> We spent a couple of hours looking for the AM. OYSTERCATCHER today with no luck. Walked up and down the trail along the coast from town to the beaches north of all the rocks and back without success. Did have a total of 8 Black however. Also found many BLACK TURNSTONES, SURF BIRDS, SANDERLINGS, some CALIFORNIA GULLS, HERRING GULLS, and one HEERMAN'S GULL along with several BROWN PELICANS moving south. Lots of sea foam from the heavy seas but little wind and some showers and some sun. Don Schrouder with Paul Sherrell and Sylvia Maulding. From john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org Tue Dec 22 16:35:04 2009 From: john.gatchet at oc.npuc.org (John Gatchet) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:35:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon County Site Guides In-Reply-To: <90D5BEF825FE4FBCADBED3A2C6B04B04@cgatesPC> References: <90D5BEF825FE4FBCADBED3A2C6B04B04@cgatesPC> Message-ID: <41450F4C98633F449B0D441BFA16956F0295BC0E@npuceb.NPU.NA.SDA> Chuck has contacted me previously several times asking for information. He is being modest when he says he has logged 500 hours. I think he has spent more time than this if not doing actual work then planning. CHUCK, THANK YOU FOR THIS SIGNIFICANT WORK THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY ADD TO OREGON BIRDING!! I am familiar with Malheur County and will be glad to read the county guide, critique locations and add to sites if needed. I am willing to proofread as well. I will look at directions for accuracy, but will not be able to do an onsite visit to the county. John F. Gatchet Gresham, OR ________________________________ From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Charles Gates Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 1:46 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] Oregon County Site Guides Since March, I've been working on developing a comprehensive birding guide for each of Oregon's 36 counties. I've logged over 500 hours, created 443 Google maps, and located GPS Coordinates and DeLorme page numbers for over 1100 birding sites in the state. I have now reached a point where I can do no more without help from the birding community at large. I'm calling on my friends, my acquaintances, and people I've never met to help me finish this valuable birding resource. I need the following services to complete this project and get it up on the web by next month: 1) I need one or more people from each county to read each county guide and critique the locations I've selected. I need to know if there are important sites I neglected to mention or if some of the sites I've included are not worth including in a comprehensive site guide. Some people have already done this but one final run through would be appreciated. 2) I need county experts to check the directions I have created and make sure I don't send someone over a cliff by accidentally saying left instead of right. 3) I need print editors to read each guide and suggest edits for spelling, punctuation, and usage. 4) I need people to try the links I have established and identify the ones that don't work. 5) Though most of the county checklists have been finalized, I still need local experts to help me finalize semi-official species lists for Clackamas, Gilliam, Harney, Hood, Moro, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and Wheeler counties. So, why should you help? I started this project after an ECBC meeting. Tom Crabtree came up with the original idea and after some discussion, I agreed to take a shot at it. It was understood that I would get no salary and would relinquish complete control for the project to the ECBC. This was to be a project done by volunteer birders, for the birding community, and as a public service. I decided to make every effort to do as much of the tedious detail work myself so future volunteers wouldn't be discouraged by those less than pleasant tasks. That's what prompted me to do all the maps, GPS Coordinates, and DeLorme referencing. Since I know many of the people on OBOL, I had, and still have, confidence that many of you will step forward and help finish this website. No other state has a site guide this comprehensive. Unlike a print guide, the online guide will be a pliable, dynamic document able to absorb changes in locations within a few hours of the change instead of waiting years for a print update. It's going to be incredibly useful to all of you that like to travel the state and find birds. It will be a wonderful resource for those of you who have always wanted to go to the Owyhee, or Calliope Crossing, or Tryon Park but just didn't know how to locate these or other sites. It will be a great resource for those people who have never heard of those or most of the other sites on the list as it will allow people to expand into areas of the state hitherto unknown to them. In short, it's going to be a great and useful resource for everyone. That's why you should help. What do you get out of helping? Anyone who offers help as an editor, will be listed as a co-author for that particular county site guide. You will get the satisfaction of knowing that you helped with a very important project and you will get to contribute to the timely production of this website. Pick a county with which you are familiar. Offer to take on one or more of the above 5 tasks for one or more of the 36 counties. If you're not sure you can help, read a county guide anyway and then decide. Help Oregon be the first state with a complete birding guide. Have the satisfaction of helping the birding community as a whole. I'll include the counties and how many locations I have for each. This may help you decide if you can help with this project. I look forward to hearing from you. Chuck Gates ECBC County # of Locations Baker 29 Benton 27 Clackamas 26 Clatsop 41 Columbia 12 Coos 30 Crook 24 Curry 22 Deschutes 35 Douglas 40 Gilliam 21 Grant 17 Harney 43 Hood 19 Jackson 40 Jefferson 27 Josephine 31 Klamath 58 Lake 23 Lane 61 Lincoln 48 Linn 40 Malheur 45 Marion 24 Morrow 12 Multnomah 36 Polk 26 Sherman 25 Tillamook 20 Umatilla 20 Union 30 Wallowa 30 Wasco 32 Washington 22 Wheeler 46 Yamhill 28 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/897a2d9e/attachment.html From md at teleport.com Tue Dec 22 17:02:59 2009 From: md at teleport.com (Sumner Sharpe) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:02:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] northern limit for pelicans? In-Reply-To: <8CC5171AC9FFEFC-57BC-1D94F@webmail-m092.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CC5171AC9FFEFC-57BC-1D94F@webmail-m092.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <025901ca836b$ac311e80$04935b80$@com> Several hundred pelicans flew past Arch Cape last Friday - heading south. From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of bettyehunt at aol.com Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 3:00 PM To: djaques.pel at charter.net; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: Re: [obol] northern limit for pelicans? I had a lone Brown Pelican grounded on the edge of my driveway about a mile inland yesterday. It didn't appear injured, but didn't fly either - just walked away when approached. It was dead this morning in the same location. Bettye Hunt Waldport -----Original Message----- From: Deborah Jaques To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Mon, Dec 21, 2009 8:11 pm Subject: [obol] northern limit for pelicans? Happy Winter Solstice Oregon Birders, Was out on the Columbia today by boat today and surprised to see Brown Pelicans at the mouth of the Columbia again. I thought they had left these parts for the winter. C.Strong, C.Clumpner and I counted several hundred birds there hunkered down in a hail storm. Will be interesting to see what the Christmas bird counts tell us this year about late December pelican distribution along the coast. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/579214c2/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Dec 22 18:26:57 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:26:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Snowy Owl/ Mon ECDove coastal In-Reply-To: <458513bf0912212034y53fbed6bj3e01071eba5ebcc9@mail.gmail.com> References: <458513bf0912212034y53fbed6bj3e01071eba5ebcc9@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <23686178-475E-4123-9C74-D0C4F464FDF1@earthlink.net> If memory serves me right Cindy Ashy had them in sight of her residence in Newport two or three years ago. There is now a flock of a dozen or so on someone's roof in downtown Banks. Lars On Dec 21, 2009, at 8:34 PM, David Smith wrote: > The Netarts Snowy Owl was present; visible from the Terri More Motel about 1:30 today. As I drove near the RR underpass, leaving Tillymuck, I noticed a Your Call Dove on a wire. A couple years ago people were all over the Coos bay neighborhood triangulating a single ECDove; there were near 100 on the Coos Bay CBC. Anyone seen them reliably in Lincoln County? David Smith _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From lgoodhew at surfin-g.com Tue Dec 22 18:34:41 2009 From: lgoodhew at surfin-g.com (Larry & Jacque Goodhew) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:34:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] site guide Message-ID: <4B311141.30758.39DBB077@lgoodhew.surfin-g.com> Thanks Chuck what a job! I can help on Umitilla Co. should have time to check out the sites. Larry Goodhew Walla Walla From gorgebirds at juno.com Tue Dec 22 19:43:59 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:43:59 GMT Subject: [obol] Ridgefield NWR swan Message-ID: <20091222.194359.21227.1@webmail02.vgs.untd.com> After Jim Danzenbaker contacted me I hurried out to the Ridgefield NWR to see the swan he found with extensive yellow on the bill. Luckily Jim and the swan were still waiting for me at the southwest end of Rest Lake. It took me a while to locate the bird in the groups scattered across the wetlands. There was extensive yellow on the bill but it did not extend beyond the nostrils. What was puzzling was when I lost track of the bird in the milling flock I could locate it by looking for the largest bodied bird in the flock and waiting for it to raise it's head. A few TRUMPETER SWANS were present and this bird seemed to be at least the size of them unlike what would be expected from a "Bewick's" TUNDRA SWAN, which should be much smaller. I hope this bird sticks around so that we can get better views. Jim thought there might have been two different birds on the lake before I arrived so check the other flocks on the River "S" Unit for any swans with a lot of yellow on the bill. Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Weight Loss Program Best Weight Loss Program - Click Here! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=ZyPZJFRXCnybu96v4APWdQAAJ1AHcaoQFB_Xw2ggvz9-JEKpAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEUgAAAAA= From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Dec 22 20:27:07 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:27:07 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos Birds 12/22/09 Message-ID: <462623.2488.qm@web45302.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I went down to Charleston this afternoon and saw the male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE that Harvey Schubothe found on the Coos Bay CBC- nice find Harvey! ?It is a gorgeous bird and easy to see but in a totally obscure spot in Charleston in the back of the boat building yards, a spot I had never knew existed until Harvey gave me specific directions. ?Another great find that wouldn't have happened without having people from out of town pounding the area. Also found a couple of count week birds for the Coos Bay CBC- two Pigeon Guillemots off Fossil Point in the Empire area of Coos Bay and two Brant from the opposite side of the bay off the east end of the south end of the north spit of Coos Bay- actually right under the navigational aid where the booby was. That makes 7 count week birds for the Coos Bay CBC. Merry happy,Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/584d1fc6/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Tue Dec 22 20:30:22 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:30:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] no oystercatcher Message-ID: Obolites, Checked all the rocky areas between the Yachats River Mouth and the north end of trail 504 where the rocks end without seeing an oystercatcher of any kind. Met Barry McKenzie and his wife, and last I knew they hadn't seen one either. Darrel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/7988ea12/attachment.html From jrichter at hevanet.com Tue Dec 22 20:48:57 2009 From: jrichter at hevanet.com (John Richter) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:48:57 -0800 Subject: [obol] Northern Shrike at Powell Butte, Multnomah County Message-ID: <03E970E0-DEA4-4038-AB21-8A554242DAA3@hevanet.com> OBOLers- At Powell Butte, today, I saw a Northern Shrike on the south side of the the peak, perched on highest parts of shrubs and trees. The lack of a thick black mask over its larger beak differentiated it from possibly being a Loggerhead. Also location, but I would think that location would not be reliable on it's own. Other birds seen were: Stellar's Jay 5 Lots of American Crows Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 American Robin 2 Black-capped Chickadee 4 Northern Flicker 17 Scrub Jay 7 American Kestrel 1 Spotted Towhee 1 Fox Sparrow 3 Dark-eyed Junco 16 Rock Pigeon 4 Red-Tailed Hawk 1 Ring-necked Pheasant 1 Starling 32 Song Sparrow 3 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Brown Creeper 1 Varied Thrush 3 Northern Shrike 1 Much of the the low vegetation has been cut. The orchard of old trees on top is intact. The city is putting in another underground resevoir so there is a lot of heavy machinery moving about on the the northern plateau. Anyway, I was happy to see the Shrike. I would be curious to hear what others have to say about telling the difference between Northerns and Loggerheads. Bird-on! John Richter From range.bayer at gmail.com Tue Dec 22 21:31:58 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:31:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Snowy Owl/ Mon ECDove coastal In-Reply-To: <458513bf0912212034y53fbed6bj3e01071eba5ebcc9@mail.gmail.com> References: <458513bf0912212034y53fbed6bj3e01071eba5ebcc9@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Hi David, Rebecca Cheek and Walt Nelson photographed the first Eurasian Collared-Dove reported in Lincoln County in May 2006. In 2007, we had a smattering of sightings in May and one record in August. In 2008, there were some records in April/May. 2009 has been an exceptional year with records starting early in March and throughout the summer, and we had our first-ever November (flocks of 5 and 6 in Toledo and Newport, respectively) and December records. (Search at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent). Looks like 2009 is the year that they have become established in Lincoln County. Happy Holidays! Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm On Mon, Dec 21, 2009 at 8:34 PM, David Smith wrote: > The Netarts Snowy Owl was present; visible from the Terri More Motel about > 1:30 today. As I drove near the RR underpass, leaving Tillymuck, I noticed a > Your Call Dove on a wire. A couple years ago people were all over the Coos > bay neighborhood triangulating a single ECDove; there were near 100 on the > Coos Bay CBC. ?Anyone seen them reliably in Lincoln County? David Smith > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > From 4cains at charter.net Tue Dec 22 22:09:12 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:09:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Clay-colored Sparrow continues Message-ID: I found the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW again today at noon, hanging out in the same thicket on north Wireless road, just east of K Manufacturing. Though I looked for the Baird's Sandpiper I did not find any shorebirds in that area. About 30 minutes later, while running on the airport dike, I found out where all the peeps were -- about 3000 DUNLIN and few WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS were on the mudflats of Youngs Bay. If there was a Baird's in that bunch, I had to let it go, as I had no optical equipment with me. Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091222/59bf54c4/attachment.html From jeffharding at centurytel.net Wed Dec 23 06:30:53 2009 From: jeffharding at centurytel.net (Jeff Harding) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:30:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oystercatcher Habitat Message-ID: <0F08FB2342304FEF887DC6D104084646@laptop> Folks looking for a white-bellied oystercatcher may not want to confine the search to rocky coastal habitats. In Oregon we are used to oystercatchers only on the rocks, but the American and Eurasian Oystercatchers are not so fussy. Eurasian Oystercatchers can be seen well inland. I was surprised to see my first ones in Norway on plowed fields. American Oystercatchers are more bound to the immediate coast, but use sandy beaches as well as rocky sites. While Cindy Ashy discussed behavior on sandy sites, it has not otherwise been made clear that there are different habitat requirements for the species. Here is my photo of an American Oystercatcher on a beach in Peru last October: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/Peru2009#5417945179998974306 The album also has a photo of a Blackish Oystercatcher, the southern cone version of our own Black Oystercatcher. Also, Andrew Marshall doesn't mention the color of the back. American Oystercatchers are pretty brown on the back, unlike Eurasian Oystercatchers. Are the American Oystercatchers in Southern California and Mexico blacker on the back than other subspecies? It has been a long time since I've seen one in North America. Cheers, Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091223/b9e8d6b9/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Wed Dec 23 06:39:43 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:39:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oystercatcher Habitat References: <0F08FB2342304FEF887DC6D104084646@laptop> Message-ID: Jeff, I was aware of the potential for oystercatchers of other species than American Black to be found on sandy beaches or grassy areas. I looked in those areas too when I was at Yachats, but didn't see any. I do not, however, think that just because several of us did not find the bird yesterday that it is not necessarily still in the area. The tide was really high during my visit yesteday, so perching spots were limited. It could easily have been tucked away in some out of sight place. Also, if it has a preference for rocky areas, it may have moved north to Seal Rock or south along the Lane County Coast. There is a lot of habitat out there. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: Jeff Harding To: 'obol' Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2009 6:30 AM Subject: [obol] Oystercatcher Habitat Folks looking for a white-bellied oystercatcher may not want to confine the search to rocky coastal habitats. In Oregon we are used to oystercatchers only on the rocks, but the American and Eurasian Oystercatchers are not so fussy. Eurasian Oystercatchers can be seen well inland. I was surprised to see my first ones in Norway on plowed fields. American Oystercatchers are more bound to the immediate coast, but use sandy beaches as well as rocky sites. While Cindy Ashy discussed behavior on sandy sites, it has not otherwise been made clear that there are different habitat requirements for the species. Here is my photo of an American Oystercatcher on a beach in Peru last October: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffharding06/Peru2009#5417945179998974306 The album also has a photo of a Blackish Oystercatcher, the southern cone version of our own Black Oystercatcher. Also, Andrew Marshall doesn't mention the color of the back. American Oystercatchers are pretty brown on the back, unlike Eurasian Oystercatchers. Are the American Oystercatchers in Southern California and Mexico blacker on the back than other subspecies? It has been a long time since I've seen one in North America. Cheers, Jeff ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091223/9026ebde/attachment.html From oschmidt at att.net Wed Dec 23 07:40:37 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 07:40:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Yaquina Bay today Message-ID: <38FDE09C-D6E5-448C-A51A-C49D719A9ABE@att.net> No American Oystercatcher at Yachats this morning, but I saw Wayne Hoffman, who mentioned a possible "pale-bellied form" of Brant he found and photographed last weekend at Yaquina Bay. Thanks, Wayne! This afternoon I found that bird and obtained photos and videos .... 2 of the videos can be seen here: http://web.me.com/olschmidt/Yaquina/Home.html Also on the Bay was a single Red Phalarope. Photo at the same site. While at Yaquina Bay, checking my email, I saw a message from Range Bayer, who mentioned a Tropical Kingbird seen earlier today at the intersection of Bay Boulevard and Eads Street. Thanks, Range! I found that bird and obtained photos and video ..... 1 of the videos can be seen at the same site. Be aware that High Definition videos take up a lot of bandwidth, so the page loads very slowly .......... oschmidt at att.net Tuesday, December 22, 2009 From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Wed Dec 23 08:20:57 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:20:57 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Oystercatcher Habitat Message-ID: <341230.41652.qm@web51508.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Recently, there was a discussion of the "beer in hand" approach to birdwatching and I think that may be what we need here....a stake out of certain sandy areas with the preferred invertebrate buffet and wait for the bird to come to you...my top pick in this case for the stake out would be the mouth of the Yachats River but there are also other sandy stretches north and south of that area with the right type of invertebrates too. Since you can't see what's in the substrate, it's sometimes hard to know exactly when the tide is at the right level to expose the best invertebrates so staking out an area out might be the best bet....the slope at the mouth of the Yachats River is very gentle so the sand stays soupy longer and the invertebrate zones seem rather wide.... Cindy Ashy From raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Wed Dec 23 08:33:29 2009 From: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com (Jeff Fleischer) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:33:29 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Corvallis CBC sector 3 highlights Message-ID: <786069.36241.qm@web50901.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Obolers, Yesterday I covered sector 3 in Linn County for the Corvallis CBC. This area is loosely bounded on the north by Harvest Dr, on the east by Hwy 99E, on the south by Green Valley Rd, and on the west by the Willamette River. It consists mainly of wide open agricultural lands with intermittent oak groupings. Best birds of the day came right at dusk along Davis Rd. I saw 3 NORTHERN HARRIERS dive bombing something in the field and as I got nearer to the action, up popped a PRAIRIE FALCON. The chase was on for a bit before the NOHAs forced the PRFA back to the ground along the road edge. The three then patrolled the airspace above the falcon for about 15 minutes before finally leaving it alone. Lots of vocalizing went on during the seige :) The action allowed me to scope the PRFA quite well and it was a beautifully marked adult bird, NICE! While I was looking at the PRFA I was also checking out the extensive grass field to the east of the road for SHORT-EARED OWLS and wasn't disappointed as two of them obliged me for the count :) They spent their time sacheting around the field looking for food. At one point, one of them landed and started a prolonged calling episode while watching the other one flying around closeby. In the same area were several RED-TAILED HAWKS, a couple of AMERICAN KESTRELS, and one adult BALD EAGLE. Nice place to watch raptors during a pretty nice sunset last night :) Other birds of interest were 5 ACORN WOODPECKERS in a couple of the oak groves, 175 HORNED LARKS in two groups, 26 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS in a couple of areas (several were seen hover hunting like kestrels), 95 AMERICAN PIPITS in two flocks, and 29 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS in several areas. The YRWAs really responded to pishing and seemed to be everywhere yesterday. SAVANNAH SPARROWS were well represented around the sector, a total of 139 being counted. Another fun day of CBCing :) Jeff Fleischer Albany, OR From hhactitis at yahoo.com Wed Dec 23 09:05:55 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:05:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Oregon County Site Guides In-Reply-To: <90D5BEF825FE4FBCADBED3A2C6B04B04@cgatesPC> Message-ID: <328373.30381.qm@web37008.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Chuck, ? I'd be happy to serve as editor/proofreader etc. for the Benton Co. site guide. However, since I am currently without a working vehicle, I may need some local help in checking your driving directions. ? Thanks for all the work you put into this project! ? Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com --- On Tue, 12/22/09, Charles Gates wrote: From: Charles Gates Subject: [obol] Oregon County Site Guides To: "obol" Date: Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 1:45 PM Since March, I've been working on developing a comprehensive birding guide for each of Oregon's 36 counties.? I've logged over 500 hours, created 443 Google maps, and located GPS Coordinates and DeLorme page numbers?for over 1100 birding sites in the state.?? I have now reached a point where I can do no more without help from the birding community at large.? I'm calling on my friends, my acquaintances, and people I've never met to help me finish this?valuable birding resource.? I need the following services to complete this project and get it up on the web by next month: ? 1) I need one or more people from each county to read?each county?guide and critique the locations I've selected.? I need to know if there are important sites I neglected to mention or if some of the sites I've included are not worth?including in a comprehensive site guide.? Some people have already done this but one final run through would be appreciated. 2) I need county experts to check the directions I have created and make sure I don't send someone over a cliff by accidentally saying left instead of right. 3) I need print editors to read each guide and suggest edits for spelling, punctuation, and usage. 4) I need people to try the links I have established and identify the ones that don't work. 5) Though most of the county checklists have been finalized, I still need local experts to help me finalize semi-official species lists for Clackamas, Gilliam, Harney, Hood, Moro, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and Wheeler counties. ? So, why should you help?? I started this project after an ECBC meeting.? Tom Crabtree came up with the original idea and after some discussion, I agreed to take a shot at it.? It was understood that I would get no salary and would relinquish complete control for the project to the ECBC.? This was to be a project done by volunteer birders, for the birding community, and?as a public service.? I decided to make every effort to do as much of the tedious detail work myself so future volunteers wouldn't?be discouraged by those less than pleasant tasks.? That's what prompted me to do all the maps, GPS Coordinates, and DeLorme referencing.? Since I know many of the people on OBOL, I had, and still have, confidence that many of you will step forward and help finish this website.? No other state has a site guide this comprehensive.? Unlike a print guide, the online guide will be a pliable, dynamic document able to absorb changes in locations within a few hours of the change instead of waiting years for a print update.? It's going to be incredibly useful to all of you that like to travel the state and find birds.? It will be a wonderful resource for those of you who have always wanted to go to the Owyhee, or Calliope Crossing, or Tryon Park but just didn't know how to locate these or other sites.? It will be a great resource for those people who have never heard of those or most of the other sites on the list as it will allow people to expand into areas of the state hitherto unknown to them.? In short, it's going to be a great and useful resource for everyone.? That's why you should help. ? What do you get out of helping?? Anyone who offers help as an editor, will be?listed as a co-author for that particular county site guide.? You will get the satisfaction of knowing that you helped with a very important project and you will get to contribute to the timely production of this website. ? Pick a county with which you are familiar.? Offer to take on one or more of the above 5 tasks for one or more of the 36 counties.? If you're not sure you can help, read?a county?guide anyway and then decide.? Help Oregon be the first state with a complete birding guide.? Have the satisfaction of helping the birding community as a whole.? ? I'll include the counties and how many locations I have for each.? This may help you decide if you can help with this project.? I look forward to hearing from you. ? Chuck Gates ECBC ? County # of Locations Baker? 29 Benton 27 Clackamas 26 Clatsop 41 Columbia 12 Coos 30 Crook 24 Curry 22 Deschutes 35 Douglas 40 Gilliam? 21 Grant 17 Harney 43 Hood 19 Jackson 40 Jefferson 27 Josephine 31 Klamath 58 Lake 23 Lane 61 Lincoln 48 Linn 40 Malheur 45 Marion 24 Morrow 12 Multnomah 36 Polk 26 Sherman 25 Tillamook 20 Umatilla 20 Union 30 Wallowa 30 Wasco 32 Washington 22 Wheeler 46 Yamhill 28 -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091223/8956f074/attachment.html From range.bayer at gmail.com Wed Dec 23 11:52:16 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:52:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Waldport Rose-breasted Grosbeak Message-ID: Hi, Maggie and Mike Rivers had an adult male Rose-breasted Grosbeak at their feeder just off Crestline Drive in Waldport on Monday, Dec. 21. Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm From range.bayer at gmail.com Wed Dec 23 12:22:45 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:22:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon County Site Guides In-Reply-To: <90D5BEF825FE4FBCADBED3A2C6B04B04@cgatesPC> References: <90D5BEF825FE4FBCADBED3A2C6B04B04@cgatesPC> Message-ID: Hi Chuck, Thanks for doing this very worthwhile project! I volunteer for Lincoln County. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm On Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 1:45 PM, Charles Gates wrote: > Since March, I've been working on developing a comprehensive birding > guide for each of Oregon's 36 counties. I've logged over 500 hours, created > 443 Google maps, and located GPS Coordinates and DeLorme page numbers for > over 1100 birding sites in the state. I have now reached a point where I > can do no more without help from the birding community at large. I'm > calling on my friends, my acquaintances, and people I've never met to help > me finish this valuable birding resource. I need the following services to > complete this project and get it up on the web by next month: > > 1) I need one or more people from each county to read each county guide and > critique the locations I've selected. I need to know if there are important > sites I neglected to mention or if some of the sites I've included are not > worth including in a comprehensive site guide. Some people have already > done this but one final run through would be appreciated. > 2) I need county experts to check the directions I have created and make > sure I don't send someone over a cliff by accidentally saying left instead > of right. > 3) I need print editors to read each guide and suggest edits for spelling, > punctuation, and usage. > 4) I need people to try the links I have established and identify the ones > that don't work. > 5) Though most of the county checklists have been finalized, I still need > local experts to help me finalize semi-official species lists for Clackamas, > Gilliam, Harney, Hood, Moro, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and Wheeler counties. > > So, why should you help? I started this project after an ECBC meeting. > Tom Crabtree came up with the original idea and after some discussion, I > agreed to take a shot at it. It was understood that I would get no salary > and would relinquish complete control for the project to the ECBC. This was > to be a project done by volunteer birders, for the birding community, and as > a public service. I decided to make every effort to do as much of the > tedious detail work myself so future volunteers wouldn't be discouraged by > those less than pleasant tasks. That's what prompted me to do all the maps, > GPS Coordinates, and DeLorme referencing. Since I know many of the people > on OBOL, I had, and still have, confidence that many of you will step > forward and help finish this website. No other state has a site guide this > comprehensive. Unlike a print guide, the online guide will be a pliable, > dynamic document able to absorb changes in locations within a few hours of > the change instead of waiting years for a print update. It's going to be > incredibly useful to all of you that like to travel the state and find > birds. It will be a wonderful resource for those of you who have always > wanted to go to the Owyhee, or Calliope Crossing, or Tryon Park but just > didn't know how to locate these or other sites. It will be a great resource > for those people who have never heard of those or most of the other sites on > the list as it will allow people to expand into areas of the state hitherto > unknown to them. In short, it's going to be a great and useful resource for > everyone. That's why you should help. > > What do you get out of helping? Anyone who offers help as an editor, will > be listed as a co-author for that particular county site guide. You will > get the satisfaction of knowing that you helped with a very important > project and you will get to contribute to the timely production of this > website. > > Pick a county with which you are familiar. Offer to take on one or more of > the above 5 tasks for one or more of the 36 counties. If you're not sure > you can help, read a county guide anyway and then decide. Help Oregon be > the first state with a complete birding guide. Have the satisfaction of > helping the birding community as a whole. > > I'll include the counties and how many locations I have for each. This may > help you decide if you can help with this project. I look forward to > hearing from you. > > Chuck Gates > ECBC > > County # of Locations Baker 29 Benton 27 Clackamas 26 Clatsop 41 > Columbia 12 Coos 30 Crook 24 Curry 22 Deschutes 35 Douglas 40 Gilliam 21 > Grant 17 Harney 43 Hood 19 Jackson 40 Jefferson 27 Josephine 31 Klamath 58 > Lake 23 Lane 61 Lincoln 48 Linn 40 Malheur 45 Marion 24 Morrow 12 > Multnomah 36 Polk 26 Sherman 25 Tillamook 20 Umatilla 20 Union 30 Wallowa > 30 Wasco 32 Washington 22 Wheeler 46 Yamhill 28 > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091223/b292c99b/attachment.html From jonysky101 at aol.com Wed Dec 23 12:32:54 2009 From: jonysky101 at aol.com (jonysky101 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:32:54 -0500 Subject: [obol] Birding 1st anniversary today, thanks to all Message-ID: <8CC52263D72433A-21E8-4B02@webmail-d081.sysops.aol.com> I've been birding one year today. I have 188 birds on my life list right now. I have learned so much this year, which proves you can teach an old dog new tricks. I would like to thank all my friends on OBOL for taking the time to answer my multitude of questions. And to thank all the birders who have shared their knowledge personally, especially George Neavoll and Greg Gillson. I have been so many places this year that I had never even heard of before birding. And I have many more on my "must see" list for next year. I can't wait for Christmas to be over so I'll have time to go birding again. Thank you everyone, and Merry Christmas to all. Johnny Sasko Sandy, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091223/330b6a47/attachment.html From romain at frontiernet.net Wed Dec 23 11:57:02 2009 From: romain at frontiernet.net (Romain Cooper) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:57:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Preliminary summary-Illinois Valley CBC Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20091222182341.03606a48@frontiernet.net> Hello all, We held the 12th consecutive Illinois Valley (Josephine Co.) CBC on Sunday, Dec. 20th. Weather turned out rather nice. Bird numbers were generally low as was species diversity. Low participant turnout. Rain was coming down hard until about 10am but then we had mild, dry weather until about 3pm when showers resumed. 8 surveyors detected 86 species (91 is the 12 year average). No really noteworthy birds were found. Numbers of Canvasback, Fox Sparrow, and Lesser Goldfinch were especially low. A record high 58 Eurasian Collared Dove were located (had 8 last year). On a more optimistic note (regarding introduced, invasive species), no one could find a House Sparrow in the count circle though we tried. With the mostly pleasant weather, the birding was super enjoyable. I have an excel file that shows the results of this and past counts. If anyone is interested, let me know and I'll send it to you as an attachment. Cheers, Romain Romain Cooper 10398 Takilma Road Cave Junction, OR 97523 541-592-2311 From bcombs232 at gmail.com Wed Dec 23 14:09:12 2009 From: bcombs232 at gmail.com (Barbara Combs) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:09:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] Brownsville Christmas Bird Count Message-ID: <8ce3a6520912231409p63c4cfc7q231292edb0965aef@mail.gmail.com> Today is the first day of the count period for the Brownsville (Oregon!) Christmas Bird Count. If you find any unusual or difficult to find birds in the Brownsville Christmas Bird Count Circle from today through Tuesday, December 29, please let me know. If you would like to participate in the count, there are still some openings on some of the teams. It would be helpful if you let me know in advance that you.will be coming, but you may also show up at the pre-count meeting at the Pioneer Villa restaurant (Brownsville exit, just east of I-5) at 7:00 a.m. on December 26. -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Lane County, OR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091223/058b17b0/attachment.html From larmcqueen at msn.com Wed Dec 23 14:23:52 2009 From: larmcqueen at msn.com (Larry McQueen) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:23:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene Wed morning Message-ID: This morning was cold but we had some surprises in the fog. We parked at the fair-grounds and walked both westward and eastward along the Amazon canal, hoping to find some out or season flycatcher or warbler. We found the following: Great Blue Heron - 1 Green Heron - 1 Mallard - 120 Cackling Goose - 101 Hooded Merganser - 5 Cooper's Hawk - 1 Ring-billed Gull - 20 Western Gull - 1 Glaucous-winged Gull - 10 Western X Glauc.wg. hybrid - 5 Rock Pigeon - 10 Downy Woodpecker - 3 Scrub Jay - 20 Am. Crow - 25 Black-capped Chickadee - 3 Ruby-cr. Kinglet - 1 at my feeder Am. Robin - 4 Euro. Starling - 200 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 4 Townsend's Warbler - 1 at my feeder Spotted Towhee - 3 Song Sparrow - 8 White-throated Sparrow - 1 White-crowned Sparrow - 4 D-e Junco - 30 Brewer's Blackbird - 50 House Finch - 2 Les. Goldfinch - 30 Am. Goldfinch - 2 House Sparrow - 40 Fred Chancey, Dennis Arendt, Sylvia Maulding, Roger Robb, Dave Jones, Dave Brown, Paul Sherrell, Don Schrouder, and Larry McQueen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091223/1f1f7393/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Wed Dec 23 14:48:02 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:48:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Trumpeter Swan-Yamhill County Message-ID: <3B1FD9BB-597C-4E34-8B2A-AB7D6C53E2EE@earthlink.net> About 10am I heard a Trumpeter Swan from the driveway of Ayers Creek Farm, just off Spring Creek Road, north of Flett Road. This is a few miles se of Gaston, barely over the Yamhill County line. At 12:30 there were a minimum of 170 swans visible from Phillips Tractor (MP 28) on Hwy 47. The overwhelming majority are Tundra Swans, but there is a long history of a family sized group of Trumpeters wintering in the Wapato Lake area. Lars Norgren From susanl at speedyquick.net Wed Dec 23 13:06:40 2009 From: susanl at speedyquick.net (Susan Lindstedt) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:06:40 -0500 Subject: [obol] correction-Black not Am Oystercatchers on our trip down Hwy101 References: Message-ID: <015d01ca8413$d2fde4a0$6401a8c0@COMPUTER911F6D> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3FnpaWQJO0 ----- Original Message ----- From: Susan Hatlevig To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 5:12 PM Subject: [obol] correction-Black not Am Oystercatchers on our trip down Hwy101 Oh, my.I meant to type Black Oystercatchers instead of American. This is in regard to the groups we saw going down Hwy 101 last week! After all the hoopla about American vs Black, I realized I had been sloppy! Sorry. Susie in Corvallis ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Internal Virus Database is out of date. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.0/1959 - Release Date: 02/18/09 20:55:00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091223/a0b09db8/attachment.html From masohlstrom at msn.com Wed Dec 23 17:42:44 2009 From: masohlstrom at msn.com (M A SOHLSTROM) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:42:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Trumpeter Swan-Yamhill County In-Reply-To: <3B1FD9BB-597C-4E34-8B2A-AB7D6C53E2EE@earthlink.net> References: <3B1FD9BB-597C-4E34-8B2A-AB7D6C53E2EE@earthlink.net> Message-ID: Whooo-Hooo! Count Week Trumpeter Swan for the Forest Grove CBC! Go, Lars.... Oh, does everyone know that the Forest Grove CBC is Saturday, December 26? And that it is one of the finer CBC's in Oregon being run that day? Of course, Brownsville is the only other count on Saturday.... Interested in helping out? Need to work off a few of those Christmas calories? Contact Greg Gillson at greg at thebirdguide.com for details. For the record - I want to thank Greg for stepping up and organizing the Forest Grove count this year! It is great to have him working on this - he has put in a LOT of effort to get people recruited and revise our maps and sectors. THANKS, GREG - your hard work is going to provide some great results! Mary Anne Sohlstrom Forest Grove CBC Compiler (and it seems, that other than going birding, all I'll be doing this year is crunching the numbers!) ----- Original Message ----- From: Norgren Family To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2009 2:48 PM Subject: [obol] Trumpeter Swan-Yamhill County About 10am I heard a Trumpeter Swan from the driveway of Ayers Creek Farm, just off Spring Creek Road, north of Flett Road. This is a few miles se of Gaston, barely over the Yamhill County line. At 12:30 there were a minimum of 170 swans visible from Phillips Tractor (MP 28) on Hwy 47. The overwhelming majority are Tundra Swans, but there is a long history of a family sized group of Trumpeters wintering in the Wapato Lake area. Lars Norgren _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091223/970af525/attachment.html From birdernaturalist at me.com Wed Dec 23 18:08:54 2009 From: birdernaturalist at me.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:08:54 -0700 Subject: [obol] Glaucous-winged or Hybrid? Message-ID: <4658B33A-5BB1-452C-BBF5-2E953D7843F0@me.com> Hi Oregon Gull People, The following link will take you to a photo of a gull that was hanging out in the Puerto Pe?asco harbor this past weekend. It was the most Glaucous-winged Gull-looking thing we encountered for the CBC there this past Saturday, but I had some reservations about its purity. I would be interested in the comments of those of you with frequent and recent experience with this species. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Cy0v1DIlcfo/SzLJKF89ArI/AAAAAAAACu8/rojtQQ08FmQ/s1600-h/Glacous-winged+Hybrid.jpg There are other photos available in the blog, the URL of which is in my signature. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona http://birdernaturalist.blogspot.com/ Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona http://birdernaturalist.blogspot.com/ Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- From calliope at theriver.com Wed Dec 23 18:08:34 2009 From: calliope at theriver.com (Rich Hoyer) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:08:34 -0700 Subject: [obol] Glaucous-winged or Hybrid? Message-ID: <06F2BACD-FCAB-4DBE-B61F-444D108EB525@theriver.com> Hi Oregon Gull People, The following link will take you to a photo of a gull that was hanging out in the Puerto Pe?asco harbor this past weekend. It was the most Glaucous-winged Gull-looking thing we encountered for the CBC there this past Saturday, but I had some reservations about its purity. I would be interested in the comments of those of you with frequent and recent experience with this species. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Cy0v1DIlcfo/SzLJKF89ArI/AAAAAAAACu8/rojtQQ08FmQ/s1600-h/Glacous-winged+Hybrid.jpg There are other photos available in the blog, the URL of which is in my signature. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona http://birdernaturalist.blogspot.com/ Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- From joel.geier at peak.org Wed Dec 23 18:44:55 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:44:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hart Mountain CBC last Thursday Message-ID: <1261622695.1856.323.camel@clearwater1> Hi folks, Oregon's most rural CBC took place last Thursday at Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in Lake County. Craig and Marilyn Miller from Bend made their way to Blue Sky and Hot Springs areas through snow and slush; DeeLoris Benson (from Lakeview) and I (from Corvallis) worked the base of the escarpment and the now-dry Warner Wetlands, and Marla Bennett (of Hart Mountain) covered the northern part of the circle including Flagstaff Lake (also dry) and the wide-open spaces atop the fault block. The most exotic bird of the day was a VARIED THRUSH found at Blue Sky by Craig & Marilyn. We all saw lots of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS including a few dark morphs. My personal highlight was finding a DIPPER up DeGarmo Canyon, the first one I've seen on the east side of the Warner Valley. Waterfowl were few but, as is fitting, Marilyn spotted the only GEESE for the count. As Dee and I rolled back into headquarters, we found Craig out looking for SHORT-EARED OWLS along the main road, not far from a beautiful COYOTE that was mousing along the creek. Thanks to Craig, after grabbing a beverage I was able to walk back out and notch my first "beverage-in-hand" Short-eared Owl, though since there was no place to put the beverage down, I couldn't call it a "beverage-at-hand" bird per Jeff Harding's rules (sure hope you're reading this, Jeff, since no one else will appreciate the finer points!). Dee, Craig, Marilyn & I later tried owling at Hot Springs Campground. We encountered some sonic challenges as Hart Mountain seems now to be part of an evening exercise area for fighter-jet pilots. However, a couple of us saw a small owl flying around and heard just barely enough to peg it as a Northern Saw-whet Owl. Marilyn also picked up a Great Horned Owl in the distance, to add to one that Dee spotted roosting at a ranch place in the day. While dealing with the small owl we also saw a weird, pulsing glow in the night sky off toward Lakeview which still has us mystified. It lasted only a second or two, but most of us saw it. Hart Mountain is that kind of place -- you expect to go home with a few mysteries unsolved. Most mysterious is how few Oregon birders join this count, despite some of the most amazing accommodations offered by any count in Oregon. Thanks again to Marla for making these available! There's simply nothing in the state that compares to walking out under that clear, starry sky late at night, hearing nothing but your own breathing, and knowing that you have a cozy warm dwelling to go back into. Happy birding, Joel Tallies: Tundra Swan 11 standing in ankle-deep water on frozen Hart Lake. Canada Goose 3 Chukar 35 California Quail 3 Bald Eagle 7 Northern Harrier 15 Red-tailed Hawk 6 Ferruginous Hawk 1 Flagstaff L. area Rough-legged Hawk 24 Golden Eagle 2 American Kestrel 2 Prairie Falcon 2 Great Horned Owl 2 Short-eared Owl 2 Headquarters meadow Northern Saw-whet Owl 1 Hot Springs Downy Woodpecker 1 DeGarmo Canyon Hairy Woodpecker 7 Northern Flicker 6 Northern Shrike 5 Black-billed Magpie 10 Common Raven 21 Mountain Chickadee 10 Blue Sky Bushtit 39 Red-breasted Nuthatch 12 all nuthatches were at Blue Sky White-breasted Nuthatch 5 Pygmy Nuthatch 2 Brown Creeper 2 Blue Sky Canyon Wren 5 DeGarmo Canyon American Dipper 1 DeGarmo Canyon just below waterfall Mountain Bluebird 1 Townsend's Solitaire 41 American Robin 78 Varied Thrush 1 Song Sparrow 8 Dark-eyed (Oregon)Junco 13 House Sparrow 11 -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis, a long way from Hart Mountain From philliplc at charter.net Wed Dec 23 19:06:19 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:06:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Glaucous-winged or Hybrid? Message-ID: <8019A54282C8472BB1BC7913A4503EA1@Phil> I'd have no real reservations about the Glaucous-winged. It's a bit dark but not obviously too dark for what is considered pure or close enough. Primaries/tertials/mantle are all close to uniform. Covert pattern is fine. White fringes to the primarires are prototypical of 1st-cycle Glaucous-winged. State of scapular molt matches many 1st-cycle in Oregon right now. I see no obvious signs of introgression. Not so sure about the Western on the same page, although It's hard to know how much "hood" is allowable on a bird that isn't quite mature. The underside of the primary stack appears quite pale for a pure Western, although that could just be an artifact of the contrasty lighting. Cheers, Phil >Hi Oregon Gull People, The following link will take you to a photo of a gull that was hanging out in the Puerto Pe?asco harbor this past weekend. It was the most Glaucous-winged Gull-looking thing we encountered for the CBC there this past Saturday, but I had some reservations about its purity. I would be interested in the comments of those of you with frequent and recent experience with this species. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Cy0v1DIlcfo/SzLJKF89ArI/AAAAAAAACu8/rojtQQ08FmQ/s1600-h/Glacous-winged+Hybrid.jpg There are other photos available in the blog, the URL of which is in my signature. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona http://birdernaturalist.blogspot.com/ From larry.maurin at gmail.com Wed Dec 23 19:08:27 2009 From: larry.maurin at gmail.com (Larry Maurin) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:08:27 -0800 Subject: [obol] Netarts SNOW Update Message-ID: Hi Obolers, Today I walked out the Netarts spit and saw the SNOWY OWL around 2pm up close and got some photos. After looking at the photos, it looks like the bird is an adult male due to the almost pure white head and upper breast, as well as the width and crispness of the black markings on the wing coverts. I will try to post photos soon so we can get some other opinions. I tried to find the bird by scoping from the Terimore Motel around 9:30am with no luck. When I walked out the spit, the owl was on the spruce tops just behind the foredune, north of a major pond/hollow area about 1/2 mile south of the end of the spit. I also saw 2 BARROW'S GOLDENEYES with a flock of commons near the bay entrance. Good birding, Larry Maurin Portland -- ---------------------------------------- Larry P. Maurin 626.315.0610 larry.maurin at gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091223/779eb976/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Dec 23 22:16:15 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:16:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 12/23/09 Message-ID: <20091224061644.529B1A8156@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 12/17 to 12/23/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 5 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) CACKLING GOOSE 2 (250, 12/22) CANADA GOOSE 1 (11, 12/22) NORTHERN PINTAIL 1 (80, 12/23) SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 1 (1, 12/17) BAND-TAILED PIGEON 1 (9, 12/17) Anna's Hummingbird 3 (2) Northern Flicker 4 (3) Pileated Woodpecker 1 (1, 12/17) Hutton's Vireo 1 (1, 12/22) Steller's Jay 4 (3) American Crow 5 (4) Black-capped Chickadee 5 (15) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4 (3) BUSHTIT 1 (15, 12/23) Red-breasted Nuthatch 5 (5) BROWN CREEPER 1 (2, 12/23) Winter Wren 3 (2) Golden-crowned Kinglet 3 (8) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 (2, 12/23) Hermit Thrush 4 (3) American Robin 4 (18, 12/18) Varied Thrush 3 (4, 12/23) Spotted Towhee 5 (5) Song Sparrow 5 (10) Dark-eyed Junco 5 (30) "Slate-colored Junco" 1 (1, 12/23) House Finch 5 (12, 12/22) Misses (birds seen at least 3 days during previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Mourning Dove Wink Gross Portland From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Dec 23 23:40:22 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:40:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland OR 12-24-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * December 24, 2009 * ORPO0912.24 - birds mentioned Ross?s Gull Blue-winged Teal Cinnamon Teal Barrow?s Goldeneye Brown Pelican Turkey Vulture Golden Eagle Prairie Falcon AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER Baird?s Sandpiper Red Phalarope Red-naped Sapsucker Say?s Phoebe Tropical Kingbird Common Raven Tree Swallow Barn Swallow BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER Clay-colored Sparrow ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK Bullock?s Oriole Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Pine Grosbeak - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday December 24. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls 503-233-3976. On December 20 an AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER was reported from Yachats. It could not be relocated. A male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was at a Waldport feeder December 21. A bright BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER was reported during the week at a Eugene feeder. Good numbers of BROWN PELICANS continue along the coast with 1150 on the Netarts Sand spit December 19. Several Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) during the week found tardy CINNAMON TEAL. On December 21 a SAY?S PHOEBE and 27 RED PHALAROPES were near Flores Lake. The December 20 Coos Bay CBC found a ROSS?S GOOSE, a female BULLOCK?S ORIOLE, a BARROW?S GOLDENEYE, two BARN SWALLOWS, and a RED PHALAROPE. The Newport TROPICAL KINGBIRD continues to be seen. On December 17 a pair of BARROW?S GOLDENEYES were on Siletz Bay. On December 20 a BAIRD?S SANDPIPER and a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW were along Wireless Road near Astoria. A BLUE-WINGED TEAL was seen that day at Camp Rilea. On December 20 a GOLDEN EAGLE was at Oxbow Park east of Troutdale. A TREE SPARROW was seen December 21 at Jackson Bottom in Hillsboro. Four TURKEY VULTURES and 17 RAVENS were seen December 20 near Fern Ridge Reservoir. The December 22 Airlie/Albany CBC recorded a GOLDEN EAGLE, a PRIARIE FALCON, a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, and a BARN SWALLOW. On December 20 two PINE GROSBEAKS were south of Sisters. A GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH was seen December 21 on Grizzly Butte north of Prineville. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091223/bb6621f7/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Dec 24 05:59:47 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:59:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] The new and improved CBC Message-ID: <95C4350E-84E6-4F48-8968-15AFC0938CAB@earthlink.net> If you participate in CBCs I highly recommend David Fix' latest contribution to BirdFellows, David Irons online journal. Scroll back to last Wednesday (December 16, appropriately Beethoven's birthday) and there is a link posted by Dave Norte. Or just google Birdfellow. I would have endorsed this piece with all my heart the minute it came out save for a major medical emergency in my family. I first met the fantastic Mr Fix at the countdown supper for the 1979 Corvallis CBC. He was in the company of Harry Nehls. Their very presence at the Youth Cabin of the First Congregational Church was a newsworthy event. The Corvallis Count doesn't attract a lot of hired guns. Certainly not in those days when its species total hovered in the low 90s, making it the undisputed poor country cousin to Eugene and Sauvie Island. We Corvallis counters were always quite satisfied with a sub-100 total, and I don't recall anyone with the hubris to propose setting a goal at the century mark. About two years ago Corvallis set a new record of 127, which tied or beat Eugene that year. Absolutely, positively, unimaginable three decades earlier. Look at the totals of other lowland counts on the Westside and the same trend is evident. They all surpass the century mark every year now, and can all reasonably aspire to ten dozen on occasion. To a limited extent this is due to passive agents. Species such as the sapsuckers and white-cheeked geese have been split by the AOU. Classic southern species have expanded their ranges. The Skyrat has staged its gentle and largely silent invasion. But above all else, a new generation of birders has brought a better way to count into practice. Four or five years ago I invited myself onto Alan Contreras' Eugene CBC team. It was the same area I had first been a team leader for at the age of sixteen. What a watershed, to see a master at work. I quickly realized just how @#%& lame my conduct of counts had been up to that point. In a minimum period of time, with next to no miles on the odometer, Alan squeezed about 65 species out of the southwest corner of Fern Ridge Reservoir. I recalled being on the Newport Count in 1975 when our team covered the north and south jetties and the Marine Science Center, barely making it to 60 by the last light of day. At one point in Zumwalt Park, a single Fox Sparrow exposed itself at the edge of a very sparse (Knee high) blackerry patch. Alan proceeded to toot and pish until fifty birds of six different species were on top of the canes, swearing back at him in their respective vernaculars. This group included multiple Wrentits. I don't know the details of Fix and Nehls' day afield in Linn County back in 1979, but it yielded two Pygmy Owls in a count area better known for Prairie Falcons and Burrowing Owls. I imagine they had been coaxing sparrows out of the brush at the time. Surely no Pygmy Owls had been recorded on the right bank of the Willamette before then. I had spent the day in the bushes south= west of Philomath. Pygmy Owl had been my responsibility. The fact that I failed, as always, to produce one was completely balanced by the three Hutton's Vireos I counted; at the time a regularly missed species on the Corvallis CBC. The current article by Dave "Sur" has been quite independently of me recommended to Coquille CBC participants by Alan Contreras, whom I also first met at the Youth Cabin of the First Congregational Church of Corvallis about 1975. In those days we were issued a mimeographed map of our area (how many readers have never heard of, let alone seen a mimeograph?) which showed the public roads and boundaries to the sector. We then drove the roads at twenty miles an hour, counting juncos and robins until the roads were all used up and hours of daylight remained. We had a very good time driving past a score of good species that were always there and always missed. By "we" I do not mean to include or in any other way impugn Alan. He was already well down the birding trail that my benighted bird*watching* roll models had yet to set foot on. Given the lavish discretionary time budget of teen=agers, it should not be surprising that I was awarded an area of my own on the 1976 Eugene Count. I took the dog down from Planet Borevallis the night before and slept in the rented room of a friend's older brother who had conveniently gone home for the holiday. He instructed me to hide the key under the garbage can when I left in the morning. Someone whose name I've long forgotten picked me up in the dark of morning and we proceeded to the tip of the Zumwalt Peninsula, the closest one can drive to the middle of Fern Ridge Reservoir whether full or empty. Somehow I'd gotten my hands on a scope. I doubt it belonged to my chauffeur as he bordered on full novice status. But one must never underestimate the organizational skills of Alan Contreras. When I revisited this point five years ago with Alan we were five or six observers with four or five scopes. More significantly, Alan tok us there at 2pm. The fog had burned off and the precious sun was at our backs, illuminating the 100s of fascinating birds on the edge of the winter pool. Nothing fortuitous about it, all malice of forethought. My visit in 1976 was done first thing in the day. As is usually the case on winter mornings at that fag end of the Willamette Basin, grungy cloud bellies were grazing our coiffures. However dark it may have been, I was still scoping into the rising sun, giving us the maximum disadvantage. Minutes into scanning I stepped aside and threw up. "Don't get sick", admonished my sole companion, a trifle late I thought. "I'm afraid I don't have much choice", was my admittedly trite response. I returned to scanning. I have no recollection what we found. Certainly not the dozens of Bald Eagles that now roost on these stump-studded flats. Later in the day we stumbled on a pair of Wrentits, at that time in the Eugene CBC they were restricted to the LCC campus, so this sonstituted a sort of range extension. No tooting or pishing whatsoever. In fact, I think they were the fruit of a dedicated Long-eared Owl search in a stand of dense Douglas-fir reprod. As quixotic as this may sound, I had actually found a perfectly cooperative Long-eared Owl in such pole timber a month earlier on this very peninsula while leading a field trip. Mobbing Steller's Jays gave the owl away that day. Of course on count day no Asio was served up on a platter. Back then the boundary of the area (No 14 these days?) extended to the right bank of Coyote Creek. We made our final stop of the day along West 11th street and perused the ash swale to its north. Two Long-eared Owls flushed together, screeching as they flew. This was a lifer for my companion, who subsequently declined my offer of gas money, citing the owls as more than adequate compensation. Younger birders will surely appreciate my relief, as the bus ticket must have been close to ten dollars return, out of an annual budget around $100. It turned out that Long-eared Owl was a new species for the Eugene Count. Quite a surprise, when one considers the number of participants (among the top ten in the nation) and abundance of appropriate habitat. There was also a kind of symmetry, as I put Long-eared Owl on my life list during the Dallas Count two years earlier, where it was also a new species for the count. This anecdote seems to contradict my disparagement of my efforts. But it is given to illustrate my own contribution to the art and science of bigger and better CBCs. In my father's words "dogged persistence". Or what I have come to call the duck hunters' ethos. As long as its still legal shooting hours, stay in the blind. My socks may have gotten wet at sun rise and my gloves lost at noon. The thought of winding up three score of decoy anchors, dripping with salt water, with bare hands, is daunting indeed to a ten-year old. But until the times up, don't give up. I know I'm turning an ostensibly pleasurable activity into a job, but then some people have been known to enjoy their work. And I assure you that Dave Fix' tips will make your next CBC more fun. I don't know how many really good birds, often the best bird , I've seen in the final 15 minutes of the Count. Then there's the Coos Bay CBC two years ago. Eddie and Vjera drove back to Eugene when the downpour began at 2:30. I slogged on until legal shooting hours ended. And the result of my dogged persistence? I added House Sparrow to the day's list. Lars Norgren From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Thu Dec 24 07:55:47 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (ptsulliv at spiritone.com) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 07:55:47 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA story Message-ID: <200912241555.nBOFtltN012047@sapphire.spiritone.com> This is the story of a RBA from some time ago. A nest was found by local people who weren?t particularly birders. How they found it is a bit of a fanciful story. It was in a barn. This was before the days of digital photography and the internet, so we only have verbal descriptions, written some time after the sighting. However, as the story goes, three guys from the records committee did come and confirm the sighting. Since then lots of people have visited the site. People who didn?t chase have announced that they don?t believe the sighting. True believers are intense in their devotion to the whole thing, making pilgrimages to the site. Many artist renderings of the nest have been produced over the years. You?ve probably seen one. The female is usually described as looking like a Mountain Bluebird, bright blue above and paler blue below. The male at the nest was generally said to be brown, and there were questions whether he was just a foster parent. The fledgling was naked. There have been long discussions about a hybrid mating in this case. Learned voices have expounded on the case, and vigorous arguments have ensued. Wars have been fought over it. Conservationists wanted to make the site a preserve, and politicians have battled over control of the location. For years this whole thing has given fundraisers a fertile field for their endeavors. Education and tourism folks have gotten into the act too. The young bird grew up and birders who watched the case came away with different assessments of the whole story. It was a male, and again, verbal descriptions are all we have. There is no DNA evidence or offspring to bolster the species assignment of the young bird. Most reports describe the behavior of the bird rather than his appearance. He has been described as both tough and gentle. It kind of depends on the disposition of the person telling the story. The important thing to take away from this story is: First, people are people and will react in predictable ways to a sighting like this. Second, go see the bird and find your own peace in the sighting. Happy holidays, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan From carolk at viclink.com Thu Dec 24 08:11:11 2009 From: carolk at viclink.com (Carol Karlen) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 08:11:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA story Message-ID: <000b01ca84b3$bcb3e8c0$8c76fea9@home> OBOL: Due to internet forces beyond my understanding, the posting "RBA story," which I sent from my home account, via the SpiritOne website, did not appear on Silier's website. Neither did my name. Only the subject line appeared. It does show up in the OBOL archives. Go figure. Here, for those who only read OBOL on Siler's site is the text of that posting. ============================== RBA Story This is the story of a RBA from some time ago. A nest was found by local people who weren't particularly birders. How they found it is a bit of a fanciful story. It was in a barn. This was before the days of digital photography and the internet, so we only have verbal descriptions, written some time after the sighting. However, as the story goes, three guys from the records committee did come and confirm the sighting. Since then lots of people have visited the site. People who didn't chase have announced that they don't believe the sighting. True believers are intense in their devotion to the whole thing, making pilgrimages to the site. Many artist renderings of the nest have been produced over the years. You've probably seen one. The female is usually described as looking like a Mountain Bluebird, bright blue above and paler blue below. The male at the nest was generally said to be brown, and there were questions whether he was just a foster parent. The fledgling was naked. There have been long discussions about a hybrid mating in this case. Learned voices have expounded on the case, and vigorous arguments have ensued. Wars have been fought over it. Conservationists wanted to make the site a preserve, and politicians have battled over control of the location. For years this whole thing has given fundraisers a fertile field for their endeavors. Education and tourism folks have gotten into the act too. The young bird grew up and birders who watched the case came away with different assessments of the whole story. It was a male, and again, verbal descriptions are all we have. There is no DNA evidence or offspring to bolster the species assignment of the young bird. Most reports describe the behavior of the bird rather than his appearance. He has been described as both tough and gentle. It kind of depends on the disposition of the person telling the story. The important thing to take away from this story is: First, people are people and will react in predictable ways to a sighting like this. Second, go see the bird and find your own peace in the sighting. Happy holidays, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan From tc at empnet.com Thu Dec 24 09:32:41 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 09:32:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] Glaucous-winged or Hybrid? In-Reply-To: <4658B33A-5BB1-452C-BBF5-2E953D7843F0@me.com> References: <4658B33A-5BB1-452C-BBF5-2E953D7843F0@me.com> Message-ID: Rich, It looks like a pure GW to me. However the valley folks have more experience with "Olympic" Gulls than I get in Bend, so I would defer to their expertise. Tom Crabtree, Bend -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Rich Hoyer Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2009 6:09 PM To: OBOL Subject: [obol] Glaucous-winged or Hybrid? Hi Oregon Gull People, The following link will take you to a photo of a gull that was hanging out in the Puerto Pe?asco harbor this past weekend. It was the most Glaucous-winged Gull-looking thing we encountered for the CBC there this past Saturday, but I had some reservations about its purity. I would be interested in the comments of those of you with frequent and recent experience with this species. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Cy0v1DIlcfo/SzLJKF89ArI/AAAAAAAACu8/rojtQQ08FmQ/s1 600-h/Glacous-winged+Hybrid.jpg There are other photos available in the blog, the URL of which is in my signature. Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona http://birdernaturalist.blogspot.com/ Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona http://birdernaturalist.blogspot.com/ Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com --- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From nelsoncheek at charter.net Thu Dec 24 09:36:54 2009 From: nelsoncheek at charter.net (WALTER NELSON) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 09:36:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Green Heron - Lincoln Co. Message-ID: Yesterday late afternoon I heard an unfamiliar call overhead and looked up to behold a Green Heron flying over our yard, on a southeast course that would take it to the Pumphouse Creek marsh a quarter mile away. Astonishing sighting, for me anyway - I had the idea they move out in winter. We do occasionally have flyovers in summer by birds that appear to be commuting between roosts and the marsh. The call that got my attention was a fairly loud "kok-kok" with a ringing quality, like a crow channeling a rooster. Our location is 6 miles south of Newport on Hwy 101. Rebecca Cheek South Beach, OR 97366 nelsoncheek AT charter.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091224/33750ca4/attachment.html From andrewm25 at earthlink.net Thu Dec 24 09:38:20 2009 From: andrewm25 at earthlink.net (Andrew Marshall) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:38:20 -0500 (EST) Subject: [obol] oystercatcher- no :-( Message-ID: <32716855.1261676300798.JavaMail.root@mswamui-valley.atl.sa.earthlink.net> My crew and I worked the 804 trail just north of Overleaf lodge yesterday, all day from 8am to 4pm. Weather was lovely with great surf, lots of sealions off shore, gulls aplenty and crows. Saw a thrush that resembled a Swainsons. It ran and hopped a little on the trail about 10 or so feet from us before going back into the shore pines again and out of view. maybe 30 seconds total time. I looked all over the place for the oystercatcher but did not see it, or any shore bird in fact. Scoters off shore, but I did not have my binos with me so they were just black duck-like birds. As I said originally, I didn't think this bird was a big deal. It is not a bird I can add to my life list, having seen it repeatedly on the east coast, and its Eurasian counterpart in Europe. I regret that now as I would have tried to get a picture with the cell at least, and paid just a little more attention to it otherwise, for the sake of OBOLites at least. In regards to its back, I was above it part of the time, and the lighting in the nook it was in was not great. It was dark, the whole back/shoulders/neck/head looked very dark, black or at the very least dark dark brown. Everything was wet, it was windy, foamy and misty with intermittent sideways rain. It was at least out of the wind, I wasn't, but we were both wet. Dunno if this helps much... would have been nice if some of you who visited yesterday had stopped and introduced yourselves. I should have liked to meet you and put face to name. best wishes and happy holidays Andrew please stop by my photo albums at http://atlanticsalmonflyguy.myphotoalbum.com/albums.php or find me at webshots under the pseudonym Atlanticsalmonflyguy. Comments are always appreciated. Thank-you! From andrewm25 at earthlink.net Thu Dec 24 09:49:24 2009 From: andrewm25 at earthlink.net (Andrew Marshall) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:49:24 -0500 (EST) Subject: [obol] Holiday Rant/Discussion point Message-ID: <17397562.1261676964613.JavaMail.root@mswamui-valley.atl.sa.earthlink.net> There has been a lot of talk of the H word lately. Hybrids... I for one am not all that fond of the hybrids idea. It seems every time there is a bird that is not quite text-book A or B, some one pulls out the hybrid card, rather then looking at the bird who is possibly a late moulter, or is ill, wet, different age group or just not the local variation found in the book you happen to be holding at the time. It may just happen to have its feathers out of place, sort of like a 'bad hair day' type thing. And the effect of being wet, especially soaked through does awful things to birds colour and shape, and posture. I know all this from working with feathers most of my life, and from observing birds in very wet conditions (decades of Puget Sound winters) and living on a turkey farm where we have about a hundred wilds that show up, get good and soaking wet in a rainstorm and suddenly turn into weird looking Black Spanish with barred wings and funny tails, or some of our other non-wild breeds. I know there are some birds that have a propensity towards interbreeding, especially at habitat/range boundaries. Apparently Larids are very promiscuous, and may even be just one giant species, with many sub species.. I saw an article on that concept in the late 1970's concerning Atlantic gulls. I know mallard drakes will try anything once including other drakes, or so it seems in the population I used to observe on Greenlake in Seattle, and I have seen wild turkey toms trying milk-jugs, trash can lids (black plastic ones) and mole/gopher hills, but really, how serious is the hybrid phenomena that it seems to be occurring more and more with all sorts of species. What is happening to the birds that they are suddenly abandoning their genetic programming/instinctive behavioural signal recognition patterns and mating outside their species? So I am interested in what you all have to say about this seemingly increasing in frequency problem of interspecies mating. please stop by my photo albums at http://atlanticsalmonflyguy.myphotoalbum.com/albums.php or find me at webshots under the pseudonym Atlanticsalmonflyguy. Comments are always appreciated. Thank-you! From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Dec 24 10:10:10 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:10:10 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hybrids for the holiday Message-ID: <6078D597-705F-427F-93FB-6B11ADF8C9BB@earthlink.net> I doubt that hybrids are getting more frequent. It's a question of consciousness. People are looking more carefully. There are probably cases like the suburbanization of southern California that have brought Anna's and Costa's Hummingbirds together. I also would like to second Mike Patterson's appeal for equal love and appreciation for the hybrids. They frequently are condescended to by listers. That aspect of listing makes me vaguely uncomfortable. If you can't "count" it, it doesn't matter. That smacks of reification= perceived by leftists of the seventies as one of the ultimate sins. Since the seventies a vigorous debate on the definition of species has been under way and hybridization is no longer the listers' bugbear it used to be. I have long destained my pink half of the drainpipe and your international border. Hybrids are a constant reminder that species are frequently just constructs of the human brain, and as such I celebrate them. Lars Norgren From paul at furzwo.com Thu Dec 24 12:04:50 2009 From: paul at furzwo.com (Paul Buescher) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:04:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Why we stand around and watch Message-ID: <6D9B1148F0414E45AA28C540FB3FEBC2@paul> A friend sent this to me so I could explain once again to my NBS (nonbirding spouse) why I spend so much time watching one bird. Merry Christmas to all. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MynXtR2mRU Warm Regards Paul Buescher Ps: Only Common Mergansers on North Portland Harbor channel. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091224/fd92b2f9/attachment.html From tanager at nu-world.com Thu Dec 24 13:30:00 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:30:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA erratum Message-ID: <005601ca84e0$3f9d3ad0$bed7b070$@com> Lest anyone have heart palpitations when reading the species list of the Portland RBA put on the net earlier today by Harry Nehls, the first species listed reads "Ross's Gull", but I would be willing to wager a Franklin that Harry meant Goose (Thought I was going to say "Harry meant Sally" didn't you?). Happy Holidays! Dan Heyerly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091224/db6b98a0/attachment.html From larry.maurin at gmail.com Thu Dec 24 15:50:18 2009 From: larry.maurin at gmail.com (Larry Maurin) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:50:18 -0800 Subject: [obol] Netarts SNOW Update - photos Message-ID: I just posted photos of the Netarts SNOWY OWL I took yesterday. http://picasaweb.google.com/Larry.Maurin/SnowyOwlNetarts12232009# Larry Maurin Portland Hi Obolers, Today I walked out the Netarts spit and saw the SNOWY OWL around 2pm up close and got some photos. After looking at the photos, it looks like the bird is an adult male due to the almost pure white head and upper breast, as well as the width and crispness of the black markings on the wing coverts. I will try to post photos soon so we can get some other opinions. I tried to find the bird by scoping from the Terimore Motel around 9:30am with no luck. When I walked out the spit, the owl was on the spruce tops just behind the foredune, north of a major pond/hollow area about 1/2 mile south of the end of the spit. I also saw 2 BARROW'S GOLDENEYES with a flock of commons near the bay entrance. Good birding, Larry Maurin Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091224/703669ed/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Dec 24 17:28:53 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:28:53 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA clarification on Red-naped Sapsucker Message-ID: <1261704533.1807.142.camel@clearwater1> Hello folks, Not nearly as big a deal, but the Red-naped Sapsucker mentioned in the RBA (found by Rich & Nanette Armstrong and Tristen Gholson, in E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area) is not quite a done deal since we're trying to rule out sapsucker hybrids (or rule in, if you like the H word). The bird is rather shy and mostly sticking to trees within deciduous thickets, so it's been hard to get a complete view of the bird, let alone a diagnostic photo. The basic head pattern indicates Red-naped or Yellow-breasted. Two of the four people to see it so far have seen some red on the nape which strongly points to Red-naped. Several of us have seen red on the throat, and I thought I picked up a black border cleanly demarcating the red throat, with grungy yellowish on the breast & flanks below that. In a brief profile view, the amount of white on the head seemed to me to be on the long end for Red-naped, and more like Yellow-bellied. What adds to the puzzle is that the bird's underparts seem to retain juvenal plumage (at least a couple of us have that impression) though the head pattern is clearly adult. I'm told that hatch-year Red-naped Sapsuckers are supposed to be fully molted by now, while Yellow-bellied should retain juvenal plumage through its first winter. So this may be where the H word comes in. The bird is staying in the area immediately south of the wildlife area headquarters, mainly on the south side of Camp Adair Road, and has been seen there on the 20th, the 22nd, and the 24th. Our hope is that sooner or later, someone will come up with a diagnostic photo to help decide where this bird belongs on the Yellow-breasted -- Red-naped -- Red-breasted sapsucker continuum. A NORTHERN SHRIKE and a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK have been regular in the same area, and are much easier to get clear views of. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From deweysage at verizon.net Thu Dec 24 18:07:06 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:07:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] probably Coos Gyrfalcon Message-ID: <4B341E4A.4030501@verizon.net> Dec 24 Today I was walking along Seven Devils Wayside beach at the far north end and saw what I am fairly certain was a GYRFALCON. A large dark falcon flushed off the driftwood and flew north away from me. I got on it and noted a very large, barrel chested falcon with a fairly slow wingbeat, heavily streaked grayish-brown on the breast, belly, and underwings. I did not get a great look at the side of the head, but it did not have from what I could see any helmet appearance. It was hard to note any eye markings as it flew away from me. Based on the size of the chest and body, and the overall streaking, I am fairly certain the bird was a Gyrfalcon. It would have been nice to get a perched view or if it circled, but it banked right and headed up a ravine and was gone. This would be north of Bandon on the beach at the far north end of Seven Devils Wayside, Coos Cty. Merry All!!! Cheers Dave Lauten Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net -- "We need to change our mind frame - our values. Perhaps quality time, love, family values, friendship and respect are preferable to material goods and status? Or maybe humans are too vain. In this problem, I think we are seeing the worst of ourselves in the mirror. We see power struggle and corruption." Rasmus Benestad, The Norwegian Meteorological Institute From dendroicaman at peak.org Thu Dec 24 20:42:04 2009 From: dendroicaman at peak.org (Karl Fairchild) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:42:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] possible Gyr--Tillamook Co. Message-ID: <4B34429C.20504@peak.org> Hi all, I received a secondhand report of an apparent white phase GYRFALCON near the blimp hangars in Tillamook recently (exact date not specified). The observer described a large, white falcon (with some dark flecking on the back), about 25% larger than the harrier it was interacting with. I'm afraid I don't have any more specific details than that. Sounds credible and intriguing for anyone who might be in the area. Enjoy the holiday! Karl From marciafcutler at comcast.net Thu Dec 24 20:58:52 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:58:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Corvallis CBC Results Message-ID: The Corvallis CBC was held on Tuesday, December 22d and participants enjoyed a pleasant day, dry and above freezing, as they spread out to count all the birds. The following information is preliminary as I do not have details from several of the teams yet. The species total is 121, which is a bit above average, but below the previous 2 years. There were no new species or particularly unusual birds. However, there were no bad misses either. Notable bird species include: Greater White-fronted Goose Canvasback Greater Scaup Common Goldeneye Mountain Quail White-tailed Kite Red-shouldered Hawk - new high (7) Golden Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Prairie Falcon Spotted Sandpiper Dunlin Eurasian Collared-Dove - 2d year, new high (8) Spotted Owl - NW Corvallis (please don't ask me for the specific location) Barred Owl Saw-whet Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black Phoebe Gray Jay Townsend's Solitaire Orange-crowned Warbler Chipping Sparrow Brown-headed Cowbird Red Crossbill Evening Grosbeak Gulls were in short supply with 1 Mew Gull being the only gull species identified. Shorebird numbers were also low with no Least Sandpipers or Dowitchers reported. Merry Christmas bird counting, Marcia F. Cutler From dpvroman at budget.net Fri Dec 25 12:46:23 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis Vroman) Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2009 12:46:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] S. Grants Pass raptor survey Message-ID: The 1st South Grants Pass Raptor survey was accomplished today (12-24-09) Distance traveled: 26.8 miles; Survey time: 2.75 hours Weather: low to mid-level overcast (distant visibility poor). Results: Red-tailed Hawk - 18 American Kestrel - 5 Red-shouldered Hawk - 5 White-tailed Kite - 4 Peregrine Falcon - 1 Two Eurasian Collared-Doves at junction of Redwood Avenue and Boundary Road (sw GP area). First time sighting for this location. No other unexpected species noted. Dennis (north of Grants Pass) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091225/ca37a722/attachment.html From Carey_Goss at fws.gov Fri Dec 25 15:03:30 2009 From: Carey_Goss at fws.gov (Carey_Goss at fws.gov) Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:03:30 -0700 Subject: [obol] Carey Goss/MLHR/R1/FWS/DOI is out of the office. Message-ID: I will be out of the office starting 12/25/2009 and will not return until 01/01/2010. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091225/2c7a5060/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Dec 25 15:04:33 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:04:33 -0800 Subject: [obol] E.E. Wilson sapsucker appears to be a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Message-ID: <1261782273.4830.30.camel@clearwater1> Hello folks, OK, the photo is pathetic since it turns out that I have no idea how to point a pocket digital camera with the viewfinder on the back. But among the various nice shots of tree branches and sky, here is a clip from one that turned out to have a sapsucker right at the bottom edge of the photo. http://www.oregonbirds.org/BirdPhotos I did have better views through binoculars today and am now pretty well convinced that the sapsucker hanging around the south side of E.E. Wilson headquarters, originally found by Rich & Nanette Armstrong and Tristen Gholsen during Sunday's Airlie-Albany CBC, is a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. The impression I had of a crisper, adult head pattern must have been a trick of the gloom in the brief view I had on the 22nd. In my views today, the impression of lots of white on the head holds up, but the darker parts of the head pattern are brownish rather than black, while the lighter parts are a grungy white. I had a clear, extended view of the back of the bird's head today. The nape is pale (grungy white). The darker feathers on the bird's crest jsut above this did look as if they might be red in less direct light (it was very bright light today, and I couldn't see colors well from that angle), so that might give an impression of a red nape in a quick view. In a side view with its throat shaded, the bird had a patch of red on the throat, bordered by a fairly broad blackish-brown swath covering the rest of the "shield" area, with grungy yellowish gray on the lower breast, flanks and belly. The back is mottled brown and white, with mottled black and white showing on the folded primaries and tail. It would be nice to get some better photos by someone with a better camera or who at least knows how to point one in the right direction. But everything I saw today points to this being a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, including its generally juvenal appearance at this time of year. Happy birding, Joel P.S. Sorry for any confusion caused by my reference to "Yellow-breasted" Sapsucker, which I guess would be a different sort of hybrid altogether. Thanks Rich for straightening me out on that. -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From joel.geier at peak.org Fri Dec 25 15:17:35 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:17:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] [birding] E.E. Wilson sapsucker appears to be a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker In-Reply-To: <1261782273.4830.30.camel@clearwater1> References: <1261782273.4830.30.camel@clearwater1> Message-ID: <1261783055.4830.31.camel@clearwater1> Sorry, photo link should be: http://www.oregonbirds.org/birdphotos.html There is also a photo of an interesting scrub-jay from Gene Dershewitz. Happy birding, Joel From dirtgirl16cr125 at msn.com Fri Dec 25 15:39:28 2009 From: dirtgirl16cr125 at msn.com (Cheryl Whelchel) Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:39:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] [birding] E.E. Wilson sapsucker appears to be a Yellow-belliedSapsucker-PICTURES In-Reply-To: <1261782273.4830.30.camel@clearwater1> References: <1261782273.4830.30.camel@clearwater1> Message-ID: Rich Armstrong called me about 1:30 to say Joel had finally had a good look at the bird, so I ran out and took these 15 pictures. I hope they are good enough to positively validate Joel's ID. http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/ Cheryl Whelchel ----- Original Message ----- From: Joel Geier To: Oregon Birders OnLine ; MidValley Birds Sent: Friday, December 25, 2009 3:04 PM Subject: [birding] E.E. Wilson sapsucker appears to be a Yellow-belliedSapsucker Hello folks, OK, the photo is pathetic since it turns out that I have no idea how to point a pocket digital camera with the viewfinder on the back. But among the various nice shots of tree branches and sky, here is a clip from one that turned out to have a sapsucker right at the bottom edge of the photo. http://www.oregonbirds.org/BirdPhotos I did have better views through binoculars today and am now pretty well convinced that the sapsucker hanging around the south side of E.E. Wilson headquarters, originally found by Rich & Nanette Armstrong and Tristen Gholsen during Sunday's Airlie-Albany CBC, is a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. The impression I had of a crisper, adult head pattern must have been a trick of the gloom in the brief view I had on the 22nd. In my views today, the impression of lots of white on the head holds up, but the darker parts of the head pattern are brownish rather than black, while the lighter parts are a grungy white. I had a clear, extended view of the back of the bird's head today. The nape is pale (grungy white). The darker feathers on the bird's crest jsut above this did look as if they might be red in less direct light (it was very bright light today, and I couldn't see colors well from that angle), so that might give an impression of a red nape in a quick view. In a side view with its throat shaded, the bird had a patch of red on the throat, bordered by a fairly broad blackish-brown swath covering the rest of the "shield" area, with grungy yellowish gray on the lower breast, flanks and belly. The back is mottled brown and white, with mottled black and white showing on the folded primaries and tail. It would be nice to get some better photos by someone with a better camera or who at least knows how to point one in the right direction. But everything I saw today points to this being a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, including its generally juvenal appearance at this time of year. Happy birding, Joel P.S. Sorry for any confusion caused by my reference to "Yellow-breasted" Sapsucker, which I guess would be a different sort of hybrid altogether. Thanks Rich for straightening me out on that. -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis _______________________________________________ list mailing list list at midvalleybirding.org http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091225/f73bd134/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Fri Dec 25 15:51:46 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:51:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] [birding] E.E. Wilson sapsucker appears to be a Yellow-belliedSapsucker-PICTURES In-Reply-To: Message-ID: I think this looks fine for a juv Yellow-bellied. There is a tiny bit of red showing, but it is at the rear of the cap as far as I can tell. The huge amount of white on the wings and back is indicative of Yellow-bellied, as is the widespread heavy white streaking on the crown and the whole upper part of the head, which is found on juv YB but not on juv Red-naped. And of course it is just barely starting to get some adult feathers, and a Red-naped should have been done with that and looking like an adult by the end of October. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com > From: Cheryl Whelchel > Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:39:28 -0800 > To: Joel Geier , obol , > MidValley Birds > Subject: Re: [obol] [birding] E.E. Wilson sapsucker appears to be a > Yellow-belliedSapsucker-PICTURES > > Rich Armstrong called me about 1:30 to say Joel had finally had a good look at > the bird, so I ran out and took these 15 pictures. I hope they are good > enough to positively validate Joel's ID. > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/ ow16/> > > Cheryl Whelchel > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Joel Geier > To: Oregon Birders OnLine ; MidValley > Birds > Sent: Friday, December 25, 2009 3:04 PM > Subject: [birding] E.E. Wilson sapsucker appears to be a > Yellow-belliedSapsucker > > > Hello folks, > > OK, the photo is pathetic since it turns out that I have no idea how to > point a pocket digital camera with the viewfinder on the back. But among > the various nice shots of tree branches and sky, here is a clip from one > that turned out to have a sapsucker right at the bottom edge of the > photo. > > http://www.oregonbirds.org/BirdPhotos > > I did have better views through binoculars today and am now pretty well > convinced that the sapsucker hanging around the south side of E.E. > Wilson headquarters, originally found by Rich & Nanette Armstrong and > Tristen Gholsen during Sunday's Airlie-Albany CBC, is a YELLOW-BELLIED > SAPSUCKER. > > The impression I had of a crisper, adult head pattern must have been a > trick of the gloom in the brief view I had on the 22nd. In my views > today, the impression of lots of white on the head holds up, but the > darker parts of the head pattern are brownish rather than black, while > the lighter parts are a grungy white. > > I had a clear, extended view of the back of the bird's head today. The > nape is pale (grungy white). The darker feathers on the bird's crest > jsut above this did look as if they might be red in less direct light > (it was very bright light today, and I couldn't see colors well from > that angle), so that might give an impression of a red nape in a quick > view. > > In a side view with its throat shaded, the bird had a patch of red on > the throat, bordered by a fairly broad blackish-brown swath covering the > rest of the "shield" area, with grungy yellowish gray on the lower > breast, flanks and belly. The back is mottled brown and white, with > mottled black and white showing on the folded primaries and tail. > > It would be nice to get some better photos by someone with a better > camera or who at least knows how to point one in the right direction. > But everything I saw today points to this being a Yellow-bellied > Sapsucker, including its generally juvenal appearance at this time of > year. > > Happy birding, > Joel > > P.S. Sorry for any confusion caused by my reference to "Yellow-breasted" > Sapsucker, which I guess would be a different sort of hybrid altogether. > Thanks Rich for straightening me out on that. > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > > > > _______________________________________________ > list mailing list > list at midvalleybirding.org > > http://midvalleybirding.org/mailman/listinfo/list mailman/listinfo/list> > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/ l/obol/> > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From tanager at nu-world.com Fri Dec 25 16:23:20 2009 From: tanager at nu-world.com (Anne & Dan Heyerly) Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:23:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lane Co. possible Trumpeter Swans 12/25/2009 Message-ID: <000501ca85c1$a303d480$e90b7d80$@com> Obolinks, Anne, I, and her father Gerd Esche took a spin out through the fields and near-freezing fog NW of Eugene this afternoon. Unfortunately we left the scope at home. If anyone is out that way in the next day or so, check out the group of five swans that were grazing/resting out in the field approximately 150 meters to the south of Meadowview Rd. at MP 2. This spot is approximately one mile west of the intersection of Greenhill and Meadowview Rds., and is right where a flood channel passes under the road running from the SE to the NW. A much larger group of swans, presumably Tundra Swans, were out in the field approx. one-quarter mile SW of the Greenhill Rd./Meadowview Rd. intersection. Good Birding, Dan Heyerly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091225/1b20e0b7/attachment.html From llsdirons at msn.com Fri Dec 25 20:24:19 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 04:24:19 +0000 Subject: [obol] New piece looks back at the first year of the BirdFellow.com online journal Message-ID: Earlier today I posted a retrospective piece about the first year of the BirdFellow.com online journal. For longtime Oregon residents there is a reference (and birding connection) to the Portland Trailblazers 1977 NBA Championship team. Dave Irons _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091226/f2851897/attachment.html From acontrer at mindspring.com Fri Dec 25 21:12:22 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2009 21:12:22 -0800 Subject: [obol] Possible COSTAs humm in eug Message-ID: <045C1DC1-5F51-4587-AB23-ACC1D6AA0C08@mindspring.com> At my feeder today was an imm hummer with no tail that may be a Costa's. It has an odd molt pattern on throat, with dark feathers coming in only under the bill, a sort of black-chinned Sparrow look. I obtained a few pics. Rich thinks probably Costas. If you are in the area check it out. 795 e 29th ave. Eugene. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Dec 26 08:00:26 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 08:00:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] New photos on OFO website: Semipipettish Plover and albinistic scrub-jay In-Reply-To: <1261783055.4830.31.camel@clearwater1> References: <1261782273.4830.30.camel@clearwater1> <1261783055.4830.31.camel@clearwater1> Message-ID: <1261843226.4830.61.camel@clearwater1> Hi folks, Anne Heyerly sent in some photos of a puzzling plover that was seen during the Bandon shorebird festival and OFO Annual Meeting back in August. Offline discussion of this bird was inconclusive as to whether it was a leucistic Semipalmated Plover or a Piping Plover. Perhaps Anne or Dan can provide more context since I've forgotten most of what they told me about this bird a while back. Also in the category of odd birds, there is a photo of a Western Scrub-Jay with white feathers in the wings, seen by Gene Dershewitz on his goat dairy near Jefferson (Marion Co.). Gene said that the bird acts like a normal scrub-jay in all other respects. These and previously posted photos are at: http://www.oregonbirds.org/birdphotos.html The photos are arranged in taxonomic order, with the plover currently at the top and the scrub-jay down toward the bottom. I plan to introduce more of a filing system as the number of photos is getting to be a bit much to search through. However this page will remain as the main gateway, so you can bookmark that url for future photo discussions. Happy browsing, Joel P.S. As for the jay, I can't help but think that this is the closest thing that Oregon will ever see to a magpie-jay ... though you never know what will show up next in Peoria!I can't help but think that this is the closest thing Oregon will ever see to a "magpie-jay," though you never know what will show up next in Peoria. -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Dec 26 08:37:31 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 08:37:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eugene hummer Message-ID: I think the tailless hummer at my feeder is an Anna's, not a Costa's, but I'll keep staring at it. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From winkg at hevanet.com Sat Dec 26 09:52:06 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 09:52:06 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland CBC is Saturday, Jan 2! Message-ID: <20091226175200.36774A8159@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> The 84th Portland Christmas Bird Count will be held Saturday, Jan 2, 2010. Great way to get started on your year list! We especially need help in NW Portland, where there's excellent opportunity for heroic birding: ravens, grouse, owls, crossbills, grosbeaks--birds not normally found anywhere else on the count. If you can help out in NW Portland, please contact Sam Pointer at 503-655-9107 or OCMossBack at aol.com. Of course, we welcome more participants, both field observers and feederwatchers, in all areas of the Portland count. Last year we found 120 species, breaking the record set the previous year. We'd love to break the record three years in a row! Will you help us? For more info, see the Audubon Society of Portland's website at http://www.audubonportland.org/local-birding/christmas_count/cbc09 Thanks, Wink Gross, compiler Portland Christmas Bird Count From withgott at comcast.net Sat Dec 26 09:57:09 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 09:57:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] tillamook co. coast birds Message-ID: Hi Obol -- A couple of relaxing holiday days poking around the Tillamook Co. coast, 23rd-25th, produced the following: SNOWY OWL at Netarts Spit was visible from the deck of the Terimore Motel on the afternoon of the 23rd and all morning on the 24th, but not on the morning of the 25th. The Terimore is a very convenient base for coastal birding and hiking, and we can recommend it. A LONG-TAILED DUCK was on Netarts Bay, northish end, 24th. A couple of BARROW'S GOLDENEYES were among the Commons off the Terimore. A couple of RED-NECKED GREBES were on Netarts Bay EURASIAN WIGEON among the wigeon on S. end of Tillamook Bay PEREGRINE FALCONS over Tillamook and along Cape Lookout trail. Looked briefly for potential Gyrfalcon mentioned by Karl Fairchild with no luck, but occurs to us that blimp hangar would actually be a suitable perch for one, reminiscent of Arctic nesting cliffs, with good hunting grounds all around. One I saw in Boston several years back hung out regularly on a large building like this. Perhaps might be worth checking at dusk or dawn as a roost site. BLACK SCOTERS at Cape Meares and Cape Kiwanda SURFBIRDS N. of Oceanside THAYER'S GULLS from the Terimore BLACK PHOEBES at Blue Heron Cheese shop and on Tillamook River Road GRAY WHALES migrating past end of Cape Lookout, very far out. RIVER OTTER in Tillamook River at wildlife pulloff on 131. Happy holiday birding, everyone, Jay W, Portland From withgott at comcast.net Sat Dec 26 10:09:15 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 10:09:15 -0800 Subject: [obol] yamhill horned grebe Message-ID: ... Forgot to mention that on our way back home yesterday there was a Horned Grebe at the Sheridan Sewage Ponds in Yamhill County, along with a good & abundant mix of waterfowl species. From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Dec 26 10:35:49 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 10:35:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hummer pics posted Message-ID: For those inclined to gaze upon pics of the juv hummer in my yard in Eugene, I have posted five pics at: http://contrerasbirds.blogspot.com There are more pics available but they are all pretty much the same views. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From oschmidt at att.net Sat Dec 26 12:19:14 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 12:19:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA Hooded Oriole Message-ID: <9670C30F-24CC-413C-BFBC-6A4526CD4E45@att.net> .... Bob Stites just called to say that he and Pam Johnston, Ed McVicker, and Patti Bernardi just found a Hooded Oriole coming to a feeder at 412 South First Street in Gaston, OR. oschmidt at att.net Saturday, December 26, 2009 From lbviman at blackfoot.net Sat Dec 26 12:21:26 2009 From: lbviman at blackfoot.net (Jim Greaves) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 13:21:26 -0700 Subject: [obol] EE Wilson sapsucker; species comparisons In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20091226201523.9841D9B01FC@mail.blackfoot.net> It would be nice to see brighter and clearer images of the EE Wilson sapsucker, especially its back. Crisp white parallel spotted "lines" on Red-naped versus grungy/dingy more dispersed markings on YbSa - I have images of the 3 likely west coast species here for comparisons: http://blackfoot.net/~larkwick/Sapsuckers_Woodpeckers.html Hope they are helpful - Happy Festivus! - Jim Greaves, Thompson Falls MT From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sat Dec 26 12:30:09 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 12:30:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA HOODED ORIOLE Message-ID: Bob Stites and Patty Bernardi reported a HOODED ORIOLE in Gaston, the bird has been there for 3 weeks. They saw it on the Forest Grove CDC. Location: On Cottenwood Street, one block in from W Hwy 47 in Gaston. It is at a White house on the corner of Cottenwood Street. There is a garage, and a hummingbird feeder hanging on the front porch. The owner is friendly and has let people see the bird from inside his garage to view the bird in his backyard. Steve Burock reporting for Pamela Johnston From tsnetsinger at centurytel.net Sat Dec 26 12:48:16 2009 From: tsnetsinger at centurytel.net (Thomas Snetsinger) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 12:48:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] HOODED ORIOLE 12/26 Gaston Message-ID: OBOL, I got a call from Greg Gillson around 1215 asking me to post. A male HOODED ORIOLE was found today coming to a feeder at 412 1st St. in Gaston. This is a few miles south of Forest Grove. Good luck, Tom Snetsinger -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091226/92b1f1fa/attachment.html From hatlevis at comcast.net Sat Dec 26 12:49:50 2009 From: hatlevis at comcast.net (Susan Hatlevig) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 12:49:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Finley on Christmas Day, south of Corvallis Message-ID: <7B88CE0F9BDF46DB90EFC9FFB021C820@homeflydmyur2h> There were a few of us braving the chilly air overlooking the pond from the new blind. Really appreciate that this was put in. Also cruised out past Woodpecker Loop lane, then down Bruce Rd. Overall spotted Tundra swans, pintails, Am. Widgeons, Canada Geese, mallards, a few nutria, a coyote with an injured left front foot-it looked healthy but ran on 3 legs. About 12 hooded mergansers. There was a bunch of peeps of some sort on the logs in the big pond but they were back lit. Maybe sandpipers? We're off for another go at birding while the weather is clear and sunny today. Susie in Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091226/b60d5579/attachment.html From ronaldgp at onlinemac.com Sat Dec 26 14:25:53 2009 From: ronaldgp at onlinemac.com (ronaldgp at onlinemac.com) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 22:25:53 +0000 Subject: [obol] Hooded Oriole - YES Message-ID: <1902280618-1261866354-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-723268643-@bda064.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> Alerted by OBOL email at 1:00 and arrived on site at 1:40. The bird not present, but Owen Schmidt was. We looped around the south side of the house to search the nearby trees and blackberries. At 1:45, the oriole flew north from the blackberry hedgerow across the street and into the bush at the northwest corner of the back of the house. All three of us then had good views of it. Owen got photos for the record. Now can we get a quicker response time than 1.5 hours? Just kidding. Many thanks to those who reported and posted for the rest of us. I'll be sending a Christmas card with thanks to the landowner. Ron Peterson McMinnville, OR Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Dec 26 14:36:08 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 14:36:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] E.E. Wilson Y-b Sapsucker -- the H question Message-ID: <1261866968.1855.80.camel@clearwater1> Hi folks, After some good feedback from Steve Shunk I went back out to try to get some dorsal photos of the E.E. Wilson sapsucker. I'm getting a little bit better at pointing the camera in the right direction, so today's photos at: http://www.oregonbirds.org/birdphotos.html are almost passable. But it's still a little pocket camera with autofocus, and the bird likes to forage high up, so this is still not likely to impress anyone used to working with an SLR camera and a real zoom lens (alas, I busted the last one I owned many years ago, and won't buy another until there are no kids' dental bills to worry about). The photos are at full resolution but cropped to save bandwidth. Doug Robinson came by with more impressive-looking camera equipment, so hopefully his photos came out a little better. Steve pointed me to some interesting info on Red-naped x Yellow-breasted Sapsuckers at: http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/natural/birds/projects/sapsuck.htm including this field scoring sheet: http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/natural/birds/projects/_pdf/score_sheet.pdf With my cruddy photos I can't rule out some trace of Red-naped ancestry, but the bird seems to be strongly on the Yellow-bellied end of the spectrum. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Dec 26 14:50:07 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 14:50:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hooded Oriole - YES In-Reply-To: <1902280618-1261866354-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-723268643-@bda064.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> Message-ID: Ron, I have a few extra copies of the new Handbook of Oregon Birds. Glad to send one to the oriole host if you send me address. I'll mark it "from Oregon Field Ornithologists" or the like. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com > From: > Reply-To: > Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 22:25:53 +0000 > To: obol > Subject: [obol] Hooded Oriole - YES > > Alerted by OBOL email at 1:00 and arrived on site at 1:40. The bird not > present, but Owen Schmidt was. We looped around the south side of the house > to search the nearby trees and blackberries. At 1:45, the oriole flew north > from the blackberry hedgerow across the street and into the bush at the > northwest corner of the back of the house. All three of us then had good > views of it. Owen got photos for the record. > > Now can we get a quicker response time than 1.5 hours? Just kidding. Many > thanks to those who reported and posted for the rest of us. I'll be sending a > Christmas card with thanks to the landowner. > > Ron Peterson > McMinnville, OR > Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sat Dec 26 15:57:50 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:57:50 -0800 Subject: [obol] Fw: RBA HOODED ORIOLE Message-ID: <5437856756ED41F19A11E7A614E61BB5@yourw5st28y9a3> ----- Original Message ----- From: "pamela johnston" To: "obol" Sent: Saturday, December 26, 2009 12:30 PM Subject: [obol] RBA HOODED ORIOLE Bob Stites and Patty Bernardi reported a HOODED ORIOLE in Gaston, the bird has been there for 3 weeks. They saw it on the Forest Grove CDC. Location: On Cottenwood Street, one block in from W Hwy 47 in Gaston. It is at a White house on the corner of Cottenwood Street. There is a garage, and a hummingbird feeder hanging on the front porch. The owner is friendly and has let people see the bird from inside his garage to view the bird in his backyard. Steve Burock reporting for Pamela Johnston _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From pamelaj at spiritone.com Sat Dec 26 15:59:16 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:59:16 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hoooded Oriole Message-ID: <5C913570DF124E48A568F49B3FB9443F@yourw5st28y9a3> Bob Stites and Patty Bernardi reported a HOODED ORIOLE in Gaston, the bird has been there for 3 weeks. They saw it on the Forest Grove CDC. Location: On Cottenwood Street, one block in from W Hwy 47 in Gaston. It is at a White house on the corner of Cottenwood Street. There is a garage, and a hummingbird feeder hanging on the front porch. The owner is friendly and has let people see the bird from inside his garage to view the bird in his backyard. Steve Burock reporting for Pamela Johnston From hhactitis at yahoo.com Sat Dec 26 16:14:29 2009 From: hhactitis at yahoo.com (Hendrik Herlyn) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:14:29 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] E.E.Wilson sapsucker - yes Message-ID: <111307.50521.qm@web37006.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello OBOL, ? Jamie Simmons, Oscar Harper and I relocated the probable YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER at E.E.Wilson this afternoon around 3:30. It was in the tall trees just south of the headquarters building, on the north side of the road, but it also flew into the dense thicket to the southwest. ? The plumage details we were able to observe all seem consistent with Yellow-bellied. I did not see any trace of red in the nape. ? I took some pictures, will post them later, as time (and internet access) allows. ? Good birding ? Hendrik _________________________________ Hendrik G. Herlyn 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 Florence, OR 97439 USA Phone: 541-997-2730 E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091226/a1372946/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Dec 26 16:38:52 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:38:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] New birds Message-ID: Here are some new species that I have discovered while working on a project to convert old scanned field notes to a searchable modern format. The combination of OCR software used by the original scanners and the pdf conversion to Word has so far produced a number of new bird names. Below I offer my interpretations of those that seem especially noteworthy. Gadwail ? those strange marsh sounds are finally explained. Mountain Quaff ? no wonder those coast-range chickens always sound soused. Flesh-looted Shearwater ? they nest in burrows with bones and old pirate treasure. Now to find the site. Black-crowned Nigh Heron ? it is close by, but you can't see it because it is dark outside. Here's to a great 2010 with lots of great birding ! -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sat Dec 26 16:58:18 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:58:18 +0000 Subject: [obol] Hooded Oriole - YES Message-ID: Ron The only way we are going to ever reduce response times is to require all OBOL posts to come from the field with Blackberrys, iPhones or similar cell phones, not from home computers hours away. Great response time here. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: ronaldgp at onlinemac.com Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 22:25:53 To: Subject: [obol] Hooded Oriole - YES Alerted by OBOL email at 1:00 and arrived on site at 1:40.? The bird not present, but Owen Schmidt was.? We looped around the south side of the house to search the nearby trees and blackberries.? At 1:45, the oriole flew north from the blackberry hedgerow across the street and into the bush at the northwest corner of the back of the house.? All three of us then had good views of it.? Owen got photos for the record. Now can we get a quicker response time than 1.5 hours?? Just kidding.? Many thanks to those who reported and posted for the rest of us.? I'll be sending a Christmas card with thanks to the landowner. Ron Peterson McMinnville, OR Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From fdlospalluto at gmail.com Sat Dec 26 17:30:51 2009 From: fdlospalluto at gmail.com (fdlospalluto at gmail.com) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 01:30:51 +0000 Subject: [obol] Agency Lake Raptor Run,Klamath Co.,12/24/09 Message-ID: <406016930-1261877454-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-389293621-@bda320.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> Survey conducted under sunny skies,light winds and temp @30F Red-Tailed Hawk 75 American Kestrel 3 Northern Harrier 4 Bald Eagle 2adults,6subadults Rough-legged Hawk 7 Prairie Falcon 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 84 miles in 4hrs 20min frank Sent from my U.S. Cellular BlackBerry? smartphone From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Dec 26 18:48:36 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:48:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hooded Oriole & response time Message-ID: <1261882116.1855.318.camel@clearwater1> Harvey Schubothe wrote: > The only way we are going to ever reduce response times is to require all OBOL > posts to come from the field with Blackberrys, iPhones or similar cell phones, > not from home computers hours away. Hi Harvey & All, I'd just as soon not go there. Most or all of us birders are compulsive enough, that having a low-tech layer keeps us sane. I hate to mention it since it may catch me some flak, but a couple of weeks ago I was faced with a decision whether to run back to my house just 1/4 mile away to report a couple of Chestnut-collared Longspurs, or continue my walk to get the exercise & de-stressing time which is the main point of my birding walks. I chose to keep going on the walk. Partly this was because I knew that with a bird like this, it's going to be hard to relocate no matter how fast I get the word out. But (here's the selfish part!) when I'm out for a walk I just want to be out in the natural world and enjoy it. So I finished my walk which went on for an hour or two, and only then posted my report on all the relevant list-servs. No one else got to see the birds so I feel bad about that, but it wasn't a matter of reporting time since I got another view myself, two days later. Even after putting out an RBA, it was still a matter of being in the right place at the right time. To me, the real magic of birding is that this stuff happens. Sometimes you see or hear amazing things. If you can share what you find, it makes you happy. Technology (like digital cameras, blackberries etc.) is great for sharing a bit of that magic, but it only goes so far. At worst, it serves up an expectation of finding something that has moved on, or is hard to re-find. I'm not a complete Luddite but I do think there needs to be some separation between our offices and our souls, or we lose. When I was back in Minnesota a few years ago for the funeral of the aunt who raised me through my teenage years, and, along with my older son, I saw my lifer American Woodcock in a flooded grove belonging to some old neighbors who were kind enough to help with lodging arrangements, I really didn't want to do anything but enjoy the bird. It turns out to have been a rare bird for that county (which makes sense to me, since I roved all over that landscape for 7 years as a teen and never saw one), but should I have felt obligated to put out an RBA? Time was when birders were happy to get reports when the field notes came out three months afterwards. Our modern hyperconnectivity makes us expect more rapid turnaround -- but is it healthy? Here in Camp Adair, the E.E. Wilson sapsucker is still there and seems to be a good Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, despite delays in reporting. The longspurs are long gone, sorry about that. The Northern Shrike, Red- shouldered hawk, several Swamp Sparrows and close to a dozen White- throated Sparrows around the neighborhood are probably still around. My hunch is that there are still more birds out there to be found, but no one will find them by scanning their Blackberries or checking their e-mail. Bottom line, why are you reading this while you could be out birding, or at least owling? Why am I even typing this? Anyway tomorrow's a new day: ENJOY whatever birds you find! Then if you feel like sharing, let the rest of us know -- but only when you're done enjoying the birds and have a chance to pass on your finds. Technology is OK when it helps us to enjoy life and our world, but not when it becomes an obligation. Above all, happy birding! Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From ronaldgp at onlinemac.com Sat Dec 26 19:03:05 2009 From: ronaldgp at onlinemac.com (Ronald G. Peterson) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:03:05 -0800 Subject: [obol] Response time Message-ID: <4B36CE69.50601@onlinemac.com> Oops, I meant the comment regarding the response time on a sighting as total sarcasm, not with any sense of seriousness. I am constantly impressed with the effort others will go to in order for the rest of us to be aware of an unusual sighting. A total of an hour and a half between the first sighting of the day and when I was made aware of, and able to locate, the bird 20 miles away from my house is simply amazing. Granted, that is being stated by a 40+, but I don't think we have any reason to expect a faster turn around, technology or no. My apologies for not being clear in the original post. Again, my hat is off to those who take the time to advise others who can post to OBOL when they are in the field and unable to do so for themselves. Ronald Peterson McMinnville, OR From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Sat Dec 26 19:15:52 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:15:52 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Need ID Help: Hooded Gull in Portland? Message-ID: <781270.4272.qm@web51503.mail.re2.yahoo.com> I saw a gull a few days ago in Portland that has me puzzled as to what it could have been. I did not have bins but it was flying low and it circled back so I saw it twice. It looked like a small hooded gull....not like a tern but I wouldn't bet my life on that as I realize Caspian Terns can look like a small gull...and also the hood seemed more complete. I know for sure it had a dark solid hood, the tail was completely white/light (I took special note on this on the second flyover), and the wings were fairly dark but not as dark as the hood. It was also definitely in the small gull category. Wouldn't Bonaparte's Gulls be hoodless this time of year? Any ideas? Cindy Ashy From kcboddie at bendbroadband.com Sat Dec 26 19:19:32 2009 From: kcboddie at bendbroadband.com (Kim Boddie) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:19:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] ECBC Bend - Alfalfa Raptor Survey Message-ID: Garth and I braved the fog this morning and drove the Bend-Alfalfa survey route. Everything from ground to tree tops was covered with hoar frost. It made the tree perching birds easy to find with the white background. For the bald eagles, instead of looking for that white head, you found the dark body. Red-tails were out in good numbers again this month and the other species were close to or below average. The temperature was between 20 and 24 degrees F. with calm to light winds and the skies were low clouds/fog around Bend and the sun was out in Alfalfa. Raptors counted by Species; Red-tailed Hawk 56 American Kestrel 8 Bald Eagle 3A, 1S Golden Eagle 2 Rough-legged Hawk 2 Prairie Falcon 2 Cooper's Hawk 1 Great-horned Owl 2 ----kim Bend -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091226/64d29f2f/attachment.html From greg at thebirdguide.com Sat Dec 26 19:40:24 2009 From: greg at thebirdguide.com (Greg Gillson) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:40:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] Photos: HOODED ORIOLE Message-ID: <22CBAAB6CBB644BC9555F9C8400966E7@GREG> My photos of the Gaston Hooded Oriole found today (12/26) by Ed McVicker, Patti Bernardi, and Pamela Johnston are here: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/hooded_oriole Oh, and the rest of the Forest Grove CBC? Unofficial countdown tally is 122 species, smashing the previous high of 114. Great weather! Great birds! Lots of counters! Greg Gillson Forest Grove, Oregon From hnehls6 at comcast.net Sat Dec 26 19:45:20 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:45:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Burrowing Owl In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon ------ Forwarded Message From: bruce paige Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:13:04 -0800 To: Harry Nehls Subject: Re: [Tweeters] RBA: Portland, OR 12-24-09 My wife and I just returned from a trip along the Oregon coast. On Dec. 24, we observed and photographed a burrowing owl near Umpqua. According to most field guides, this would be somewhat out of range for the species, particularly during the winter. Would this be a significant observation to pass along? Thanks, Bruce and Sharon Paige Sequim, WA ------ End of Forwarded Message -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091226/c0e6c4d9/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sat Dec 26 19:54:12 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:54:12 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA Arctic Loon Hagg Lake Washington County Message-ID: I saw this bird while the Hooded Oriole was raising a fuss. Visibility today was at an all time high, while most days up to now have been foggy. Hopefully someone can track this loon down an confirm it. I was at a tremendous distance, and when I managed to get closer, the angle of the sun was less desirable. Hagg Lake access is about one mile north of Gaston, so out of towners can contemplate stoning two birds. There were two loons, side by side at times. One was indubitably a Common. The other was about the same size. It had prominent white flanks. I'm pretty fried from the day's exertions, but here's an effort to explain viewpoints. Go up the east side of the lake past boat ramp A and past Nelson Road. There will be extensive grassy areas going down to the water, with a big parking pullout and trash can, even a picnic table. One can scope the water from here. I was looking north towards the head of the lake. There's a gate just south of this parking pullout with a trail going into a planted field. This field offered better vantage, but much of the water was obscured by brush. About a mile north Tanner Creek enters, creating a sizeable bay. After crossing Tanner Creek the road climbs to another parking pullout where a trail has been recently made. This leads down to the shore with scoping possibilities in many directions. Across the lake is boat ramp C (I'm guessing), it's got a huge gazebo on stilts. This would have allowed scoping the loon from a similar distance, with the best sun angles around mid-day. I'll attempt a more lucid posting after a night's sleep. My scope is inferior to most, and photos aren't an option. I hope someone chasing the oriole can find this bird too. Lars Norgren From hnehls6 at comcast.net Sat Dec 26 20:02:19 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 20:02:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Great Gray Owl In-Reply-To: <846bb8990912251438m582ab905k2202ed3438dda4d3@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Obolers, This a report of a Great Gray Owl in Gresham. It was accompanied by a very poor photo of the bird. It wasn?t good enough for verification, but good enough to rule out most anything else. Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon ------ Forwarded Message From: Susan Hughes Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2009 14:38:49 -0800 To: Harry Nehls Subject: Re: Owl This was on the Gresham Butte trail which is just behind my house. The trail runs through about 2 miles of woods and stretches between Towle and Regner Rd. in SW Gresham. The date was Dec. 23rd and it was about 10:00 am but it was a VERY dim and misty day. Fog like pea soup.? ------ End of Forwarded Message -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091226/70a0f08f/attachment.html From scottbmurray at msn.com Sat Dec 26 20:16:58 2009 From: scottbmurray at msn.com (SCOTT MURRAY) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 20:16:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA alert Common Redpoll Hagg Lake Washington County Message-ID: Today while doing doing the East side Of Hagg lake for the Forest Grove CBC I had 1 Common Redpoll on the North end of the Lake just south of the SW Stepian Road cutoff at the first turn out. It was down along the lake shore in the weeds ,willows, and brush. I am very familiar with the species from my time living in Northern Minnesota. For comparison nearby there was House Finches and Black-capped Chickadees the Redpoll was smaller than the house Finch. It was a male, the red Crown cap was visible as was the yellow bill with the dark brown coloring around base of bill. the pink on the breast also ran down the flanks which were also brown streaked.the Rump was streaked Brown with not trace of red. Sorry about the late post but anyone who has been to Hagg lake knows there is no cell phone reception there not to mention the fact that my Auto was at the other end of the lake, by the time I made it to my Auto it was almost 4 and time to meet back up with the rest from the CBC count. Any questions feel free to e-mail me and I will answer them. Good Birding Scott Murray scottbmurray at msn.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091226/802abf45/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Sat Dec 26 20:51:11 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 20:51:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hagg Lake redpoll & Arctic Loon Message-ID: <1261889471.1855.377.camel@clearwater1> Hi folks, Funny how this stuff pops up. Two birders, opposite ends of Hagg Lake which is not all that big as lakes go. Equally great finds, and no cell phone or Blackberry reception in either case. Get out there and bird, it's the only way to find 'em! Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From masohlstrom at msn.com Sat Dec 26 20:59:37 2009 From: masohlstrom at msn.com (M A SOHLSTROM) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 20:59:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Other Forest Grove CBC Highlights Message-ID: All - We had one other great bird on the Forest Grove CBC today - a PRAIRIE FALCON NW of Verboort and then again later in the afternoon just east of the intersection of Harrington Rd & Dersham Rd. Kudos to Greg Gillson for recruiting and organizing the volunteers. We had an all time high count of COUNTERS 31) as well as species (122)! To follow up on posts from Lars Norgren - the ARCTIC LOON was a 1st count record and from Scott Murray - the COMMON REDPOLL was also a 1st count record, although we had one for count week a few years ago. The Prairie Falcon was a 3rd count record. Coupled with the SUNNY weather the count was a SHINING success. 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URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091226/b6fdc907/attachment.html From oschmidt at att.net Sat Dec 26 21:10:42 2009 From: oschmidt at att.net (Owen Schmidt) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:10:42 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hooded Oriole photos posted Message-ID: Click here: http://web.me.com/olschmidt/HOOR/Home.html ...... 4 photos, thanks to Bob Stites, Ed McVicker, Pam Johnston, and Patti Bernardi! oschmidt at att.net Saturday, December 26, 2009 From jmeredit at bendnet.com Sat Dec 26 21:56:29 2009 From: jmeredit at bendnet.com (Judy Meredith) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:56:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Response time References: <4B36CE69.50601@onlinemac.com> Message-ID: <866E5DB3A07E4CF0AA651EA247045340@MOM> Maybe some details are goofed up but in January 1996, yes, almost 14 years ago, news came out on OBOL from Greg Gillson via a device he was beta testing, a Palm device or Blackberry type gizmo, that Steve Dowlan had just seen about 40 White-winged Crossbills at the Santiam Snow Park, in some Englemann Spruce trees. A mixture of central Oregon and Will valley birders converged on the site within about an hour and we all saw the birds. We marveled at the amazing speed getting the news from birder in the field to birders at home throughout the state, reading it on OBOL. What also hasn't changed is the generosity of birders in OBOL-land to share findings even if it comes a bit later. This whole speed thing still requires someone holding technology in the hand while out birding. I also agree with Joel, sometimes you just need to be outdoors and it doesn't work to run home or run to the car for a communication device. When it does happen though, it can be amazing! good birding judy jmeredit at bendnet.com From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Dec 27 00:07:03 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:07:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] close call for a Screech Owl Message-ID: <1FDB51BB-C8F0-418A-886E-A6257A129113@earthlink.net> When the weather gets below freezing my walk-in refrigerator runs too warm. I drove to the shop at a quarter past eleven tonight to check on things before I went to bed. A short distance down the county road I had a grey blur enter my peripheral vision, then heard a gentle thump. I made a note to check that stretch of road on the way home. Less than ten minutes later (the shop is 3km from the house) I returned and there was a brown, amorphous clump in the middle of the road. I stopped when it was even with my front bumper, then rolled back a few feet. It wasn't until I got out and began walking up to it that I could see any detail. Two yellow eyes, two horn-like tufts of feathers. It remained motionless until my feet were inches from it. I assumed it was injured. How should I keep it until the rehabilitation center was open? Thinking it would be less traumatized if I wrapped it in my coat, I took it off. As I leaned down the owl took off effortlessly and landed in the nearest roadside branches. That was certainly a relief. This is only the second Screech Owl I've seen here since moving in 15 years ago, although we hear them several times every year. My children and I often see small mammals scurry across the road in our headlights. These small beasts surely do the same when there are no car headlights. I wonder if the owls focus their hunting on the road, as any mouse or shrew trying to cross would be highly vulnerable for all of 5m. The surrounding woods are full of moss, ferns, and much more. Lars Norgren, Manning From ninerharv2 at msn.com Sun Dec 27 09:48:56 2009 From: ninerharv2 at msn.com (HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE ) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:48:56 +0000 Subject: [obol] Hooded Oriole & response time Message-ID: Joel In my post, I was not advocating that all OBOL posts should come from the field via an electronic post. I simply argued that if response time is all that you want, that is the direction we need to go. And, that is a big if. As you point out, many major finds do hang out for more than a day. Recent examples include the brown booby, the lesser black backed gull and the snowy owl. That being said, I need to take issue with one of your observations, that the blackberry or i phone or even cell phone have something to do with the office. These tools may have originated for office use. BUT......I did not get a Blackberry until last Christmas, three years after I retired from State government work. My wife, also in her sixties, got her I phone a couple of months before I did. And its not just posts from these smart phones that you are seeing on OBOL. How often do we see our friends in Eugene simply using their cell phones to call a fellow birder and ask them to post on OBOL what they had just seen at Fern Ridge? You could have done the same with your longspurs if you had your cell phone and could have kept right on enjoying your walk. The reality is that cell phones are getting more prevalent. Many people are dumping their landlines because they can do far more with their cells and do not want to pay for both services. And the smart phones are becoming more and more of a birding tool. You can get bird call apps that you can use in the field to flush rails, soras and the like. You can use it for navigation and posting precise coordinates. You can even load bird guide sites. I have used a link to an electronic Sibley and my wife's iphone has a bird guide application. In birding, all of the tools we use keep getting more refined: our optics, our bird guide (my neighbor showed his 1987 Peterson to me yesterday), our bird calls (my wife's iphone recording sounds a whole bunch better than my imitation of a rail). These electronic devices are just more tools for our arsenal, not office gadgets. Finally, on another issue, posts from the field can make difference for those passing through an area. Two quick examples: I had just returned from Newport when someone posted in the evening what they saw during the day. Sure would have helped if they would have posted it when they saw it and I was still up there. Second, when I return to Bandon from Forest Grove, Salem or Corvallis, what some birder is finding at the time easily influences the route I take home. Harv Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Joel Geier Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 02:48:36 To: Cc: Subject: Re: Hooded Oriole & response time Harvey Schubothe wrote: > The only way we are going to ever reduce response times is to require all OBOL > posts to come from the field with Blackberrys, iPhones or similar cell phones, > not from home computers hours away. Hi Harvey & All, I'd just as soon not go there. Most or all of us birders are compulsive enough, that having a low-tech layer keeps us sane. I hate to mention it since it may catch me some flak, but a couple of weeks ago I was faced with a decision whether to run back to my house just 1/4 mile away to report a couple of Chestnut-collared Longspurs, or continue my walk to get the exercise & de-stressing time which is the main point of my birding walks. I chose to keep going on the walk. Partly this was because I knew that with a bird like this, it's going to be hard to relocate no matter how fast I get the word out. But (here's the selfish part!) when I'm out for a walk I just want to be out in the natural world and enjoy it. So I finished my walk which went on for an hour or two, and only then posted my report on all the relevant list-servs. No one else got to see the birds so I feel bad about that, but it wasn't a matter of reporting time since I got another view myself, two days later. Even after putting out an RBA, it was still a matter of being in the right place at the right time. To me, the real magic of birding is that this stuff happens. Sometimes you see or hear amazing things. If you can share what you find, it makes you happy. Technology (like digital cameras, blackberries etc.) is great for sharing a bit of that magic, but it only goes so far. At worst, it serves up an expectation of finding something that has moved on, or is hard to re-find. I'm not a complete Luddite but I do think there needs to be some separation between our offices and our souls, or we lose. When I was back in Minnesota a few years ago for the funeral of the aunt who raised me through my teenage years, and, along with my older son, I saw my lifer American Woodcock in a flooded grove belonging to some old neighbors who were kind enough to help with lodging arrangements, I really didn't want to do anything but enjoy the bird. It turns out to have been a rare bird for that county (which makes sense to me, since I roved all over that landscape for 7 years as a teen and never saw one), but should I have felt obligated to put out an RBA? Time was when birders were happy to get reports when the field notes came out three months afterwards. Our modern hyperconnectivity makes us expect more rapid turnaround -- but is it healthy? Here in Camp Adair, the E.E. Wilson sapsucker is still there and seems to be a good Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, despite delays in reporting. The longspurs are long gone, sorry about that. The Northern Shrike, Red- shouldered hawk, several Swamp Sparrows and close to a dozen White- throated Sparrows around the neighborhood are probably still around. My hunch is that there are still more birds out there to be found, but no one will find them by scanning their Blackberries or checking their e-mail. Bottom line, why are you reading this while you could be out birding, or at least owling? Why am I even typing this? Anyway tomorrow's a new day: ENJOY whatever birds you find! Then if you feel like sharing, let the rest of us know -- but only when you're done enjoying the birds and have a chance to pass on your finds. Technology is OK when it helps us to enjoy life and our world, but not when it becomes an obligation. Above all, happy birding! Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sun Dec 27 10:15:54 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 10:15:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Response time and birder communication In-Reply-To: Message-ID: The question of what tools birders ought to use on a regular basis is a very good one and has been the subject of articles in various birding journals over the years. Certainly anyone who was birding in the 1960s and 1970s, as I was, can't help but be in awe of what kind of communication we have today. Even so, my iPhone simply doesn't work in lots of places because the ATT network is not very good outside urban areas. In fact, it doesn't work in parts of urban Eugene. My previous Verizon-based phone had similar issues, though not necessarily in the same places. The question of what techtoys are available is a bit different than the question of what *obligations* a birder has to others who are interested in birds. The answer really has to be "none," except perhaps for a general obligation of honesty. I am always disappointed to hear about a bird "too late" to go see it, but we can't really expect people to be connected all the time or to base their daily decisions on the need to be able to communicate all the time. Sometimes it isn't possible (try your phone from the rock-walled northern Lane County coast sometime) and other times it just isn't convenient. That said, the birding community has displayed some spectacular attempts to share birds in a timely fashion. The Hooded Oriole notices were wonderful. The recent findings of Brown Booby, LBB Gull and Northern Wheatear were also very well communicated and I got to see two of those. Lots of people do make a reasonable effort to share their birds quickly, for which we can all be thankful. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com > From: HARVEY W SCHUBOTHE > Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:48:56 +0000 > To: Joel Geier , obol > Subject: Re: [obol] Hooded Oriole & response time > > Joel > > In my post, I was not advocating that all OBOL posts should come from the > field via an electronic post. I simply argued that if response time is all > that you want, that is the direction we need to go. > > And, that is a big if. As you point out, many major finds do hang out for more > than a day. Recent examples include the brown booby, the lesser black backed > gull and the snowy owl. > > That being said, I need to take issue with one of your observations, that the > blackberry or i phone or even cell phone have something to do with the office. > These tools may have originated for office use. BUT......I did not get a > Blackberry until last Christmas, three years after I retired from State > government work. My wife, also in her sixties, got her I phone a couple of > months before I did. > > And its not just posts from these smart > phones that you are seeing on OBOL. How often do we see our friends in Eugene > simply using their cell phones to call a fellow birder and ask them to post on > OBOL what they had just seen at Fern Ridge? You could have done the same with > your longspurs if you had your cell phone and could have kept right on > enjoying your walk. > > The reality is that cell phones are getting more prevalent. Many people are > dumping their landlines because they can do far more with their cells and do > not want to pay for both services. And the smart phones are becoming more and > more of a birding tool. You can get bird call apps that you can use in the > field to flush rails, soras and the like. You can use it for navigation and > posting precise coordinates. You can even load bird guide sites. I have used a > link to an electronic Sibley and my wife's iphone has a bird guide > application. > > In birding, all of the tools we use keep getting more refined: our optics, our > bird guide (my neighbor showed his 1987 Peterson to me yesterday), our bird > calls (my wife's iphone recording sounds a whole bunch better than my > imitation of a rail). These electronic devices are just more tools for our > arsenal, not office gadgets. > > Finally, on another issue, posts from the field can make difference for those > passing through an area. Two quick examples: I had just returned from Newport > when someone posted in the evening what they saw during the day. Sure would > have helped if they would have posted it when they saw it and I was still up > there. Second, when I return to Bandon from Forest Grove, Salem or Corvallis, > what some birder is finding at the time easily influences the route I take > home. > > Harv > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T > > -----Original Message----- > From: Joel Geier > Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 02:48:36 > To: > Cc: > Subject: Re: Hooded Oriole & response time > > Harvey Schubothe wrote: > >> The only way we are going to ever reduce response times is to require all >> OBOL >> posts to come from the field with Blackberrys, iPhones or similar cell >> phones, >> not from home computers hours away. > > Hi Harvey & All, > > I'd just as soon not go there. Most or all of us birders are compulsive > enough, > that having a low-tech layer keeps us sane. > > I hate to mention it since it may catch me some flak, but a couple of weeks > ago > I was faced with a decision whether to run back to my house just 1/4 mile > away > to report a couple of Chestnut-collared Longspurs, or continue my walk to get > the exercise & de-stressing time which is the main point of my birding walks. > > I chose to keep going on the walk. Partly this was because I knew that with a > bird like this, it's going to be hard to relocate no matter how fast I get > the > word out. But (here's the selfish part!) when I'm out for a walk I just want > to be out in the natural world and enjoy it. So I finished my walk which went > on for an hour or two, and only then posted my report on all the relevant > list-servs. > > No one else got to see the birds so I feel bad about that, but it wasn't a > matter of reporting time since I got another view myself, two days later. > Even after putting out an RBA, it was still a matter of being in the right > place at the right time. > > To me, the real magic of birding is that this stuff happens. Sometimes you > see > or hear amazing things. If you can share what you find, it makes you happy. > Technology (like digital cameras, blackberries etc.) is great for sharing a > bit of that magic, but it only goes so far. At worst, it serves up an > expectation of finding something that has moved on, or is hard to re-find. > > I'm not a complete Luddite but I do think there needs to be some separation > between our offices and our souls, or we lose. > > When I was back in Minnesota a few years ago for the funeral of the aunt who > raised me through my teenage years, and, along with my older son, I saw my > lifer American Woodcock in a flooded grove belonging to some old neighbors > who were kind enough to help with lodging arrangements, I really didn't want > to do anything but enjoy the bird. It turns out to have been a rare bird > for that county (which makes sense to me, since I roved all over that > landscape for 7 years as a teen and never saw one), but should I have felt > obligated to put out an RBA? > > Time was when birders were happy to get reports when the field notes came > out three months afterwards. Our modern hyperconnectivity makes us expect > more rapid turnaround -- but is it healthy? > > Here in Camp Adair, the E.E. Wilson sapsucker is still there and seems to > be a good Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, despite delays in reporting. The > longspurs are long gone, sorry about that. The Northern Shrike, Red- > shouldered hawk, several Swamp Sparrows and close to a dozen White- > throated Sparrows around the neighborhood are probably still around. My > hunch is that there are still more birds out there to be found, but no > one will find them by scanning their Blackberries or checking their e-mail. > > Bottom line, why are you reading this while you could be out birding, or > at least owling? Why am I even typing this? Anyway tomorrow's a new day: > ENJOY whatever birds you find! Then if you feel like sharing, let the rest > of us know -- but only when you're done enjoying the birds and have a > chance to pass on your finds. Technology is OK when it helps us to enjoy > life and our world, but not when it becomes an obligation. > > Above all, happy birding! > Joel > > -- > Joel Geier > Camp Adair area north of Corvallis > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From deweysage at verizon.net Sun Dec 27 11:00:48 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:00:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Burrowing Owl In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4B37AEE0.3050402@verizon.net> Harry, Thanks for the owl news, now if we can only figure out where the heck the bird was! "Umpqua" is a small word for a very large area! There are multiple locations down there where one could imagine seeing a BUOW. Maybe Bruce could forward us a little more info a very good bird?!?! Cheers Dave Lauten Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net Harry Nehls wrote: > > Harry Nehls > Portland, Oregon > > > ------ Forwarded Message > *From: *bruce paige > *Date: *Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:13:04 -0800 > *To: *Harry Nehls > *Subject: *Re: [Tweeters] RBA: Portland, OR 12-24-09 > > My wife and I just returned from a trip along the Oregon coast. On > Dec. 24, we observed and photographed a burrowing owl near Umpqua. > According to most field guides, this would be somewhat out of range > for the species, particularly during the winter. Would this be a > significant observation to pass along? > > Thanks, > > Bruce and Sharon Paige > Sequim, WA > > ------ End of Forwarded Message > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -- "We need to change our mind frame - our values. Perhaps quality time, love, family values, friendship and respect are preferable to material goods and status? Or maybe humans are too vain. In this problem, I think we are seeing the worst of ourselves in the mirror. We see power struggle and corruption." Rasmus Benestad, The Norwegian Meteorological Institute From range.bayer at gmail.com Sun Dec 27 11:48:55 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:48:55 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lincoln Co. Ruddy Turnstone, Pelicans, Bluebirds. Lane Co. Heermann's Gull Message-ID: Hi, Mike Denny telephoned and reported that he and MerryLynn saw: Yesterday, Dec. 26: 1 Ruddy Turnstone was with 55 Surfbirds and 35 Black Turnstones at the north end of Yachats. They did not find an American Oystercatcher, but they observed 2 Black Oystercatchers. They also counted 25 Brown Pelicans at the Yaquina Bay South Jetty, and, in Lane Co., 1 Heermann's Gull at the mouth of Bob Creek. This morning, Dec. 27: 7 Western Bluebirds were near the brambles north of the big green LNG tank at the west side of Sally's Bend in Newport and 6 Gray Jays were at 928 Newport Heights Drive off SE 3rd Street in Newport. Good birds for this time of year! Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm From fdlospalluto at gmail.com Sun Dec 27 12:00:27 2009 From: fdlospalluto at gmail.com (fdlospalluto at gmail.com) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:00:27 +0000 Subject: [obol] Agency Lake RR Message-ID: <687647147-1261944028-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-51406081-@bda320.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> Made a mistake yesterday that I discovered when completing spreadsheet, 71 Red-tailed Hawks not 75 Frank Sent from my U.S. Cellular BlackBerry? smartphone From range.bayer at gmail.com Sun Dec 27 12:49:07 2009 From: range.bayer at gmail.com (Range Bayer) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 12:49:07 -0800 Subject: [obol] 15-17 Black Oystercatchers north of Yaquina Head on Dec. 23 Message-ID: Hi, At about 12:30 PM on Dec. 23, Cindy Lippincott and Bob Berman noted 15-17 Black Oystercatchers on a series of encrusted mudstone bars located between Yaquina Head and the Schooner Creek beach access at NW 68th (Newport). Cindy and Bob add that "we almost always see 3-4 feeding oystercatchers there when they're around at all. This was an unusually high concentration. We don't go on that beach at high tide--there isn't any beach remaining--so this isn't a high-tide roost." Tide predictions can vary some according to the source of information, but http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tides09/tab2wc1b.html#132 predictions for the Yaquina Bay Bar which should be close to those at Cindy's and Bob's site was for a predicted low tide of +3.3 ft at 11:00 AM, and the next high tide was predicted to be at 4:10 PM, with a height of + 5.7 ft. So this was not much of a low tide (the average low tide or Mean Low Tide is about +1.5 ft), and maybe that was a factor in why they were there--the low tide areas below Mean Low Tide were not available for them for foraging. Usually every winter we get reports of 10 or more Black Oystercatchers along the Lincoln Co. Coast, and my recollection is that most reports have been for high tide roosts. Oystercatcher researcher Elise Elliott-Smith has also requested receiving reports of 10 or more anywhere along the Oregon Coast, and this report is also going to her. Information about date, time, location, and tide stage as well as the number of oystercatchers are important in helping to understand large winter concentrations. Cheers, Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Dec 27 14:34:38 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:34:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hooded Oriole continues with intriguing Hummer Message-ID: The HOODED ORIOLE was at the house on Cottonwood Street in Gaston at noon today. I first saw it perched on the top of blackberries across the street. It was quite comfortable and remained there in plain view for five minutes or more. It appeared about 15 minutes after I parked. While talking to the man who maintains the feeders the oriole flew into the yard. Five minutes earlier a hummingbird that looks just like the one in Alan's yard in Eugene caught my attention from the east end of the blackberries. It was quite vocal, make junco-ish noises that I don't associate with an Anna's. It perched extremely close to me, at waist height and I noted primary tips at or beyond the tip of the tail. After giving me a lengthy study it zoomed across the street in pursuit of a second hummer. It had not reappeared by the time I left. This is one of the more impressive feeder systems I've ever seen in Oregon, attracting a huge number and variety of birds. Waves of birds were visible crossing the streets to and from the house as I drove into the neighborhood. Lars Norgren From gnorgren at earthlink.net Sun Dec 27 14:47:34 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:47:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hagg Lake on Sunday Message-ID: <3ADE9B8E-5B54-452F-98FD-937577D9F82B@earthlink.net> The bird life on this winter pool is surprisingly dynamic. The upper bays of the lake were deserted compared to yesterday. New was a very clean Western Gull, but no loons in sight, and many fewer Western Grebes. The Ruddy Ducks that had been close to the dam were today at the other end of the lake. On the way back from boat ramp C I found the Common Loon very close to the last pullout before the facility at the west end of the dam. I was running short of time, but looked extensively from that single viewpoint and saw no other loons. When Harry Nehls first saw the Common Loon yesterday it was in flight, and flew about extensively before landing. One wonders if it had flown from another part of the lake or another body of water. Boat ramp C on the west shore of the reservoir probably offers the best overall scoping of the whole lake. A grassy area north of the parking lot is close to the road. Parking at the gate and walking into the paved boat ramp is a bit of a walk. Lars Norgren From tunicate89 at yahoo.com Sun Dec 27 14:53:12 2009 From: tunicate89 at yahoo.com (Cindy Ashy) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:53:12 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] How To See 10 or More Black Oystercatchers Message-ID: <499621.69615.qm@web51501.mail.re2.yahoo.com> There have been periods in my life that I have spent long hours at Yaquina Head....at times going almost every day...in fact, it was a favorite spot of mine to work out of my vehicle and take breaks walking the headland....it is a spot I know very well....and what you see depends very much on how long you stay. I can say with 100% certainty that more than 10 oystercatchers hang out near Yaquina Head during the winter and can be seen in these numbers on all sides of Yaquina Head, including the north side, if you have patience and persistence (I have seen them several times in these numbers a little further north where Cindy and Bob saw them too...and often from Trespass Cove....I think they hang out closer to the cove than down where Cindy and Bob live). However, if you do like most people and just pull up, hop out of your car, race over to a viewing platform, stay no more than half an hour (most people stay far less time than this, including birders) while getting turned into a human popsicle in the burrrrrrrr cold often gale force wind, and then jump back in your warm comfy car and leave....well, you're likely to miss the 10 or more oystercatchers hanging out because they're hidden during that brief sliver of time that you are there.....although, odds are still pretty good you'll see one or two. I guess this is another plug for the "beer in hand" method of birding, although hot coffee would be more desirable. Cindy Ashy From bescoles at msn.com Sun Dec 27 15:38:41 2009 From: bescoles at msn.com (Barbara Scoles) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 15:38:41 -0800 Subject: [obol] White Throated Sparrow in Tigard Message-ID: Hi All, If this is not an unusual siting, let me know. I had never seen a white throated sparrow before. He was feeding in our backyard among the juncos, kicking leaves around. He had the tan stripes on his head and a definite white patch on his throat. By the time I grabbed my camera, he was gone. We are hoping he returns with the juncos at some point. Our house backs up to Dairy Dell Creek in Tigard. Regards, Barbara Scoles -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091227/807a65cc/attachment.html From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Sun Dec 27 16:25:58 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:25:58 +0000 Subject: [obol] RFI: Binocular repair shop in Portland, Oregon Message-ID: Hi Obolers, I just dropped my binoculars and now there are double images. They are Audubon Swifts. I am COL (crap-out-of-luck) or are they repairable?? If so, any recommendations. Thanks in advance and HAPPY NEW YEAR! Khanh Tran www.ktbirding.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091228/9af101d1/attachment.html From withgott at comcast.net Sun Dec 27 17:04:44 2009 From: withgott at comcast.net (Jay Withgott) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:04:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Washington Co. birds, 27 Dec Message-ID: Hi Obol -- Dennis Paulson and I birded Washington County today, shamelessly feasting on leftovers from the previous day's scrumptious-sounding CBC. Not sure whether we added any count-week birds, but here goes.... HOODED ORIOLE - Yes, in morning, with other good & sundry folk PRAIRIE FALCON - Yes, at 2 pm, on Harrington Rd just E of jct w/ Dersham/Kerkman Rd. Redpoll - No. Arctic Loon - No; just 1 Common Loon 3 TREE or VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS (very distant, but we could confirm they weren't Barn), flying over middle of Hagg Lake, and then taking off toward the south) 1 SWAMP SPARROW - Heard only, little bugger, along dike along southernmost water at Fernhill Wetlands. 3 GREATER SCAUP, with 2 Lesser Scaup, at Hagg Lake. Horned Grebes - Hagg Lake Western Grebes - Hagg Lake Canvasback - Fernhill Wetlands Great Egret - Fernhill Wetlands Thayer's Gull - Fernhill Wetlands Eurasian Collared Doves - Gaston Jay W, Portland From glenn_rie at yahoo.com Sun Dec 27 17:25:51 2009 From: glenn_rie at yahoo.com (Rie Luft) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:25:51 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Hooded Oriole, Am Tree Sparrow Message-ID: <584825.7141.qm@web112214.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> In a dash fit in-between packing, we caught the HOODED ORIOLE in the side yard large shrub behind the holly bush in Gaston. It then came to the feeder near there. Wonderful looks. In a return stop at Fernhill Wetlands, separate from but not far from a flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows, an AM TREE SPARROW showed itself in the brush quite close to the path between Fernhill Rd and the 1st lake to the right of the gazebo. Please excuse if this was picked up in the CBC count. Haven't been able to read all the entries. Rie Luft, Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091227/44e8ea83/attachment.html From scottbmurray at msn.com Sun Dec 27 17:28:11 2009 From: scottbmurray at msn.com (SCOTT MURRAY) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:28:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] Red-tailed Hawk passenger Ridgefield CBC Message-ID: Hello All< This morning while helping with the Ridgefield/Sauvie Island CBC I was counting at the railroad tracks just before you cross over the Bridge, there was a Red-tailed Hawk eating something on the tracks when a Train a came the Hawk flew up and into the side of the train then fell to the ground at the side of the tracks. After the train went by I went to check on the Hawk it was alive but injured so I decide to take it to a rehabilitation Center. Now the Adventure begins The Hawk was alert and in no mood to be messed with after a few tries to get ahold of it I finally managed to pick it up and get it to my pickup. Placing it on the front floorboards on the passenger side where it seemed content to lay. thanks to George and Cindy Mayfield for giving me the number to Portland Audubon Society I called and informed them I was bringing the Hawk to them. All went well until shortly after I got on I-5 the Hawk jumped and assumed a defensive pose and claimed everything with in reach off limits. Not to bad we just kept a eye on each other and all went well until it was time to leave the Freeway. The Hawk took offense of me trying to shift gears and would try to bite my hand every time I shifted. At least ten stop signs and at least fifty tries by the Hawk we arrived at Portland Audubon where when asked to bring him in I declined gracefully as I didn't like the look in his eyes. They checked him out he has a cracked upper Beak and the flight feathers on one wing are damaged but they told me he doesn't seem to have any broken Bones they will X-ray him to make sure. When I returned to my truck I found a couple feathers and a small pile of you know what I guess the pile was his way of telling me what he thought of being my passenger. We both learned something the Hawk learned to stay away from trains and I learned to Speed shift a Ford f150. Yes I did return to the CBC count 52 species and one close encounter for the Day. CBC's are fun and I will remember this one. Good Birding Scott Murray -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091227/aa3c5371/attachment.html From brandon.green18 at gmail.com Sun Dec 27 17:31:20 2009 From: brandon.green18 at gmail.com (Brandon Green) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:31:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Intergrade Northern Flicker and Yard Flocking Message-ID: <81b2a9930912271731k56169002j638fe0c53a6af058@mail.gmail.com> Just before noon today, I noticed two male NORTHERN FLICKERS in my neighbor's apple tree, one of them being a Red- x Yellow-shafted Intergrade. I was able to get a decent shot of the intergrade... http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2803/4219900875_bc2bf7619a_b.jpg What's interesting is that back in July at my old residence (two miles away), I also briefly hosted a male Red-shafted that was accompanied by a young juvenile Intergrade... http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2603/3739312371_4ced9ba92c_b.jpg It's difficult to tell by the relative boldness of the red coloring, but I'm wondering if these may be the same two birds. (It's nice to think that they followed me to my new home, anyway.) In addition, flocks of a few hundred STARLINGS and ROBINS have been hanging out in my neighborhood (near Coburg and Beltline) all weekend. I counted 200 Starlings in my backyard this afternoon. Barf. Cedar Waxwings were also hanging out in the aforementioned apple tree yesterday, though in more modest numbers. Happy Holidays... Brandon Eugene From lcottrell at fmtcblue.com Sun Dec 27 18:35:01 2009 From: lcottrell at fmtcblue.com (Larry Cottrell) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 19:35:01 -0700 Subject: [obol] Gray-crowned Rosy Finches Message-ID: We took friends to Leslie Gulch today. There was not many birds or animals out and about. Weather in the gulch was cold but not wintery. Temperature was 26 with no wind and in the lower part there was no snow. On our way out we saw several Northern Flickers. Almost at the top we ran into a large flock of Gray-crowned Rosy Finches. There were close to 300 in the first flock. They were working their way down the gulch feeding around and under sage brush. Farther up the road we saw another flock over the ridge, it was only about 50. On the way home we saw 14 Rough-legged Hawks and 12 Golden Eagles. Karen in true SE Or. south of Burns Jct. in Malheur Co. Note: If you forward this email, please delete the forwarding history, which includes my email address. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091227/c9582105/attachment.html From gorgebirds at juno.com Sun Dec 27 19:01:37 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 03:01:37 GMT Subject: [obol] Response time and birder communication Message-ID: <20091227.190137.16892.0@webmail06.vgs.untd.com> I, along with Mr. Contreras remember the days of calling the RBA phone number every Thursday for Harry Nehl's weekly report. If there was something you wanted to chase you had to write the directions down as fast as you could. I used to have to call it repeatedly to catch it all. I finally solved this issue by getting a miniature microphone that I could hold to the phone and record the information on a cassette tape recorder (at least it wasn't an eight-track). We even actually used to relocate birds found days earlier on an occasional basis. A report on the same day of the sighting is good enough for me since even though I am retired I seldom can just drop things and chase a bird halfway across the state. I am thankful for the birding community's willingness to share finds, ideas, and their favorite birding spots. Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Criminal Lawyer Criminal Lawyers - Click here. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=T9DxQuyumd9g3Kqh-QHSiwAAJ1AHcaoQFB_Xw2ggvz9-JEKpAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAiFgAAAAA= From gorgebirds at juno.com Sun Dec 27 19:31:15 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 03:31:15 GMT Subject: [obol] Vancouver Lake Message-ID: <20091227.193115.16892.3@webmail06.vgs.untd.com> On Dec. 27, Eric Bjorkman and I covered the Vancouver Lake Lowlands for the Sauvie Island CBC. Our best bird of the day was a male RUSTY BLACKBIRD feeding on spilled grain along the railroad tracks in the Port of Vancouver industrial area. The bird was in a mixed flock of BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS, STARLINGS and BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS at the end of X street Southwest of the sewage treatment plant. Other birds of interest were a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK at the boat launch at the end of LaFramboise Road and three SHORT-EARED OWLS over the fields just north of the WDF&W access beyond Vancouver Lake Park on the Erwin Reiger Memorial Highway. Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Hotel Hotel pics, info and virtual tours. Click here to book a hotel online. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=pKgk1mESuriYVjCll9D18wAAJ1AHcaoQFB_Xw2ggvz9-JEKpAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATRAAAAAA= From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Dec 27 20:19:59 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:19:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oakridge CBC quick results Message-ID: <1261973999.1863.102.camel@clearwater1> Hello folks, Just back from the Oakridge CBC which was a big success with more than 20 volunteers, many of them on their first CBC, plus some veteran birders who helped by sharing their experience for the day. Despite freezing rain which put a damper on pre-dawn owling, the weather during the day was good and we ended with a total of 64 species. The most unusual bird was probably an EARED GREBE found on Hills Creek Reservoir by Craig & Marilyn Miller's team (along with a WESTERN GREBE). Two GADWALL found earlier this week by Cheron Ferland et al. were still around, though the Canvasback seems to have moved on. Two teams found WRENTITS, a species that didn't show up on the historic Oakridge CBC (1970s & 1980s). A total of 11 MOUNTAIN QUAIL were found by two teams. That doesn't come close to the all-time, all-world record of 235 set by this count in CBC Season #78, but it shows that Oakridge still has Mountain Quail. RUFFED and SOOTY GROUSE were also found so we covered all of western Oregon's the native chicken species. Our biggest miss might have been HOUSE SPARROWS. There are some in town but no one saw them. Honest, we looked for them. Also interesting was that only one AMERICAN ROBIN was found for the day. They just haven't been around. In the oddball department, an albinistic SOOTY FOX SPARROW with white primaries is in some scruffy blackberries SW ofthe fish hatchery. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From joel.geier at peak.org Sun Dec 27 20:23:26 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:23:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Cell phones are a birder's best friend Message-ID: <1261974206.1863.106.camel@clearwater1> P.S. On the utility of cell phones in the field: I brought along my wife Becky's cell phone today, but it didn't work for most of the day. When my team crested Quis-Quis Ridge in 4 inches of fresh snow, it rang to let me know that Becky's sister in California had left a message an hour earlier, just to say hi. Then the reception disappeared again until 3 PM when I was back at the hatchery, and the phone rang. It was Becky, calling to see if I was OK, since she couldn't get through to the cell phone. So having the cell phone created more stress in this situation than if I'd left home without it. I still haven't figured out what the danged things are good for, since they never work in the places where I most like to go birding. It was the same story last winter at Hart Mountain and at Antone. So, sorry for the late report since the cell phone didn't work, but there's a HUTTON'S VIREO in with a flock of CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES up there if anyone wants to chase it, tire chains advised ;) -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From gorgebirds at juno.com Sun Dec 27 20:52:14 2009 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:52:14 GMT Subject: [obol] Clark County Rusty Blackbird Direction Correction Message-ID: <20091227.205214.15670.0@webmail05.vgs.untd.com> The directions to the Clark County RUSTY BLACKBIRD should have read at the west end of W I6th along the railroad tracks in the Port of Vancouver, not X street which was supposed to remind me to check the road name. This end of the "road" is more of a entrance to several industrial operations and has been a consistent spot to find flocks of blackbirds feeding on spilled grain heading for loading into cargo ships. Wilson Cady Washougal, WA ____________________________________________________________ Nutrition Improve your career health. Click now to study nutrition! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=mPeURrtpip7G1EDpZ0MYwgAAJ1AHcaoQFB_Xw2ggvz9-JEKpAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASQwAAAAA= From madsteins at hotmail.com Sun Dec 27 21:35:53 2009 From: madsteins at hotmail.com (Don Stein) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:35:53 -0500 Subject: [obol] SHOREBIRDS, MOOLACK BEACH Message-ID: LATE POST: 12/26, 3:30-4:15 PM, Moolack Beach, half mile north of Lighthouse. Seen feeding over a 250 ft. length of two encrusted bars. BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS: 15 SURFBIRDS: 16 BLACK TURNSTONES: 13 SANDERLINGS: 9 On the bar, not at edge of waves. Flying south. BROWN PELICANS: 7 In surf: SURF SCOTERS: 74 Kate Madison and Don Stein Depoe Bay _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222984/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091228/4ba8660a/attachment.html From marciafcutler at comcast.net Sun Dec 27 21:39:19 2009 From: marciafcutler at comcast.net (Marcia F. Cutler) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:39:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Linn Co. Lewis's Woodpecker Message-ID: <476AB840-499B-4844-A76F-C35E7B286BE7@comcast.net> Yesterday, during the Brownsville CBC, my team found 2-3 Lewis's Woodpeckers in the large oak grove on the east side of Bond Lane. Bond Lane runs north from Hwy 228 just west of I-5. The oak grove is about 2/3 the way down the paved part of the road. We found these birds late morning. Marcia F. Cutler Corvallis From rarebirdart at verizon.net Sun Dec 27 21:50:00 2009 From: rarebirdart at verizon.net (Lois Miller) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:50:00 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] happy holidays Message-ID: <526687.68207.qm@web84206.mail.re3.yahoo.com> I know this is a bit late but my grandbaby was here for Christmas and I could not put him down to make a card : )?? I went looking for the perfect photo op to make a card and started in my yard...but...no Partridge in my pear tree.....then tried to find the two Turtle Doves that had been over on Jackson st.?? nooooo? long gone.....ever try to find three French hens in Curry County ?? haha as the day went on I finally found the right scene.....it looked something like this http://www.loismiller.zoomshare.com/1.shtml/Christmas%2009 ? Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone in OBOL land !!!! Lois Miller Port Orford ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091227/dca2ad4d/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 7 swans.jpg Type: image/pjpeg Size: 173813 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091227/dca2ad4d/attachment.bin From khanhbatran at hotmail.com Sun Dec 27 22:42:42 2009 From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com (khanh tran) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 06:42:42 +0000 Subject: [obol] RFI: Binocular repair shop in Portland, Oregon Message-ID: Thanks for the quick replies! I was hoping for a quick fix from a local shop and avoid sending them to Swift. Based on other replies, this will take 4-8 weeks to get them back. As Ryan Merrill says: I'm COOL for now since I see twice as many birds as any one else :) Good birding, Khanh Tran www.ktbirding.com From: khanhbatran at hotmail.com To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Subject: RFI: Binocular repair shop in Portland, Oregon Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:25:58 +0000 Hi Obolers, I just dropped my binoculars and now there are double images. They are Audubon Swifts. I am COL (crap-out-of-luck) or are they repairable?? If so, any recommendations. Thanks in advance and HAPPY NEW YEAR! Khanh Tran www.ktbirding.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091228/f47dcabf/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Dec 28 07:04:38 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 07:04:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Images of Hooded Oriole in Gaston, Oregon, Dec 27,2009 In-Reply-To: <0KVC00GHHGO5ZJNC@vms173017.mailsrvcs.net> References: <0KVC00GHHGO5ZJNC@vms173017.mailsrvcs.net> Message-ID: <1262012678.1863.131.camel@clearwater1> Hi folks, Don Nelson has provided some beautiful photos of the Gaston Hooded Oriole for the Oregon Bird Photos page at: http://www.oregonbirds.org/birdphotos.html Thanks Don, for adding a splash of color to this page! Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Dec 28 07:47:43 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 07:47:43 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Port Orford CBC 12/27/09 Message-ID: <770507.19656.qm@web45315.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> The weather was quite windy with scatter showers in the AM and mostly rain in the PM. The best bird(s) were two TRUMPETER SWANS seen with the Tundra Swan flock along the road into Floras Lake, I guess there was a Mute Swan with them earlier in the day also (not with them when I saw the flock). ?Other birds of interest included a SAY'S PHOEBE at the Blue Silos. ?Terry Wahl has two overwintering on his ranch also, but didn't see them. Also one PALM WARBLER, close to 200 BROWN PELICANS, 2 ST/SOOTY SHEARWATERS and ?5 HEERMANN'S GULLS.? Total species was 125 but that should go up to around 130 with reports from a couple other areas that were not in yet ?during the countdown. Merry New Year!Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091228/11136df5/attachment.html From jamessims at nu-world.com Mon Dec 28 08:26:48 2009 From: jamessims at nu-world.com (Jim) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:26:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] Sora Message-ID: The day before Christmas 5 of us spotted a Sora at the Walterville pond. Christmas day Daphene was able to get a picture of it. http://www.redbubble.com/people/daphene/art/4370468-1-special-find Ann Bartley Walterville -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091228/059f34a9/attachment.html From pppahooie at comcast.net Mon Dec 28 10:49:00 2009 From: pppahooie at comcast.net (pppahooie at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:49:00 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Preliminary Sauvie Island CBC results - OR side only In-Reply-To: <213542580.3488731262025734889.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <389634164.3490821262026140909.JavaMail.root@sz0162a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> We had an excellent group of counters who noted 98 bird species in our area (Sauvie Island, Scappoose, St Helen's and the West Hills) >From the West Hills, Red Crossbills were reported for the first time in many years.?? 30 Western Meadowlarks were seen by one group on the east side of Sauvie Island. A seredipitous volley of shooting convinced 3 Short-eared Owls to relocate in the middle of the day right in front of the Honeyman Loop (Scappoose) counters.? Oh for those moments when we are focused in a good direction! Surprising misses:?Gadwalls,?Scaup,?Ruddy Ducks, Ring-necked Pheasant, most shorebirds, and with the exception of Wink's, Jack's & Jeff's 2 YRW, no other?warblers were observed. I hope you've read Wilson's and Scott's emails; the WA side seems to have had some good birds (Rusty Blackbird, Red-shouldered Hawk) and adventures.? (Santa take note: Scott could use a pair of heavy duty work gloves.) I'll post more details after I've merged the reports from OR & WA.? (I'm eager to hear from Tammy & Wilson.) Karen Bachman Compiler, Sauvie Island CBC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091228/009a09f5/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Mon Dec 28 13:58:32 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:58:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oakridge CBC article Message-ID: <1262037512.1863.396.camel@clearwater1> Hi folks, Nice article and an exceptional photo from the Oakridge CBC in today's Eugene Register-Guard, see: http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/24297886-41/oakridge-ferland-bird-guard-register.csp Well, you'd expect the Eugene paper to be good at covering Ducks! The last Oakridge CBC was in the mid-1980s, not 1960s, but everything else in the article looks pretty good. Happy birding, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From sandyleapt at comcast.net Mon Dec 28 14:43:53 2009 From: sandyleapt at comcast.net (sandyleapt at comcast.net) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:43:53 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [obol] Western Meadow Lark and Rough-legged Hawk In-Reply-To: <1658770277.5743241262039709936.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <1488283909.5746421262040233475.JavaMail.root@sz0040a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Hi OBOLies, Went for a walk today along the Columbia River. I started at the Multnomah County Boat Ramp/Broughton Beach and walked up a little way past the Sea Scout Base. Given how desolate it was last year for the Portland CBC I thought I'd go see what I could find in this nice weather. I only counted birds north of Marine Drive. 1 Bald Eagle 1 Red-tail Hawk 1 American Kestral 1 Rough-legged Hawk - a large hawk hovering for what seemed like forever without the benefit of the east wind. Underside of wings had the correct pattern of light and dark. Legs appeared to be feather down to the ankles. 2 Pied-billed Grebe 2 Horned Grebe 1 Common Merganser 5 Common Golden Eye uncountable Lesser Scaup with a number of Greater Scaup mixed in 2 American Coots 3 Double-crested Cormmorants 1 Great Blue Heron 12 American Pipits 1 Western Meadow Lark Ring-billed Gull and some other gulls. The original purpose of my trip today was to take pictures of gulls and then figure out what kinds I saw. I was surprised by the bright orange-red gape and ring around the nice medium yellow eyes of some of these birds. Sandy Leaptrott NE Portland -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091228/b2bd1ab3/attachment.html From ronaldgp at onlinemac.com Mon Dec 28 14:46:36 2009 From: ronaldgp at onlinemac.com (ronaldgp at onlinemac.com) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:46:36 +0000 Subject: [obol] Hooded Oriole continues Message-ID: <2063578673-1262040396-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-772054996-@bda064.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> Fifteen minutes ago we were again treated to continuing views. About 8 others we here with lenses and cameras. 412 First St, Gaston Views from front of house, right side on the hummingbird feeder and adjacent bushes. Patience yielded well illuminated pictures of it on top of the rear bush when viewed from Cottonwood St. (south of house). Ron Peterson McMinnville, OR Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Mon Dec 28 14:59:00 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:59:00 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Winchester Bay Burrowing Owl 12/28/09 Message-ID: <524999.75296.qm@web45305.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I followed up on the report of a BURROWING OWL near "Umpqua". ?I wasn't quite sure of the location so I contacted?Bruce Paige?who found the bird and got better directions. ?I have more exact directions below for anyone interested. ?The bird is safely across the road from an area that gets heavy ATV use. Not an area I would generally bird either, nice find by Bruce for sure! Back in Coos Bay I took a walk with our dogs out on the north spit of Coos Bay under blue skies and warm temps, warm enough so their was a hatch of gnat type insects, they were pretty thick. ?The birds from the walk that stick out in my mind the most were two we missed on the recent Coos Bay CBC, a fly-over callingSemipalmated Plover?and an?American Bittern. The later is tough to find in the winter, and is sort of an expected miss on our CBC. Directions: ?Take Hwy 101 south out of Winchester Bay and you immediately head up a?steep hill. ?Near the top of the hill on the west side of the road there is a road to the Umpqua lighthouse and OHV area. ?Turn and follow this past the lighthouse and eventually down to aT-intersection with a road that is right along the?Umpqua River(at this point). Turn left and head south on the main road. ?Continue to Half Moon Bay Campground and still stay on the main road. ?From this campground it is 1.2 miles to the bird. ?It has been on the west side of the road on a small log surrounded by dense beach grass. Have fun!!Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091228/ce354a5f/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Dec 28 16:04:28 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:04:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hooded Oriole continues In-Reply-To: <2063578673-1262040396-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-772054996-@bda064.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> References: <2063578673-1262040396-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-772054996-@bda064.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> Message-ID: <418C5FB7-1365-411B-8A37-842A56018706@earthlink.net> Please keep an eye out for the hummingbird in the blackberry row. There is a good chance it's a Costa's. Some good photos might resolve it. Alan Contreras posted a link to pictures of a nearly identical one at is abode on Dec 26, with the difference that the Gaston bird has a tail. Lars Norgren On Dec 28, 2009, at 2:46 PM, ronaldgp at onlinemac.com wrote: > Fifteen minutes ago we were again treated to continuing views. About 8 others we here with lenses and cameras. > > 412 First St, Gaston > > Views from front of house, right side on the hummingbird feeder and adjacent bushes. Patience yielded well illuminated pictures of it on top of the rear bush when viewed from Cottonwood St. (south of house). > > Ron Peterson > McMinnville, OR > Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From iain.t.morris at gmail.com Mon Dec 28 16:16:23 2009 From: iain.t.morris at gmail.com (Iain Morris) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:16:23 -0800 Subject: [obol] E.E.Wilson sapsucker - yes In-Reply-To: <111307.50521.qm@web37006.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <111307.50521.qm@web37006.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <971B30F4-4E22-49E8-A323-F9AFFFBEB3F5@gmail.com> The sapsucker remains in the same location as below, and flies across the street (south) occasionally. Great to run into the Bend crew at the base of the tree! Here are some photos for your further entertainment and debate (sorry, they are cropped and a little soft at that distance). http://www.flickr.com/photos/iainmorris/sets/72157622965402921/ -Iain On Dec 26, 2009, at 4:14 PM, Hendrik Herlyn wrote: > Hello OBOL, > > Jamie Simmons, Oscar Harper and I relocated the probable YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER at E.E.Wilson this afternoon around 3:30. It was in the tall trees just south of the headquarters building, on the north side of the road, but it also flew into the dense thicket to the southwest. > > The plumage details we were able to observe all seem consistent with Yellow-bellied. I did not see any trace of red in the nape. > > I took some pictures, will post them later, as time (and internet access) allows. > > Good birding > > Hendrik > > _________________________________ > Hendrik G. Herlyn > 435 Laurel Street, Apt. 2 > Florence, OR 97439 > USA > Phone: 541-997-2730 > E-Mail: hhactitis at yahoo.com > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091228/00e90348/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Mon Dec 28 16:53:08 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:53:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] RFI EE WILSON HQs Message-ID: When I was growing up in Corvallis the ODFW had an office at the sw corner of Adair Village. Is that the place the sapsucker is being seen? I drive by there often and always notice a convenience store and drive-up coffee. Is this sharing the space, or has ODF&W moved? Sorry if I missed pertinent information earlier. Lars Norgren From jblowers at ix.netcom.com Mon Dec 28 17:04:45 2009 From: jblowers at ix.netcom.com (Joseph Blowers) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:04:45 -0800 Subject: [obol] Prairie Falcon in Washington County Message-ID: <7258A417-99C1-4B8A-9E48-AC488F8608C2@ix.netcom.com> This morning about 9 AM I saw the Prairie Falcon that had been reported on the Forest Grove CBC. It was perched in some cottonwoods in the middle of a field approximately one-quarter mile east of the intersection of Harrington and Milne Roads east of the little town of Roy. Joe Blowers P.S. Then I went to Gaston and was rewarded with good views of the Hooded Oriole about 11 AM. No sign of the possible Costas Hummingbird. From woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com Mon Dec 28 18:09:49 2009 From: woodpecker97330 at yahoo.com (Jamie S.) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:09:49 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] E. E. Wilson WMA HQ location Message-ID: <845187.7770.qm@web39506.mail.mud.yahoo.com> The headquarters for E. E. Wilson WMA (Wildlife Management Area) is located on Camp Adair Road which goes east from Hwy 99W opposite where Coffin Butte Rd. goes west. (Google maps shows Camp Adair Rd. also as Pheasant Farm Rd.) The ODF&W office is a different entity... I think it's still there, (east of the convenience store?)? in Adair Village (which is south of E. E. Wilson WMA). Jamie Simmons Corvallis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091228/d0bcaf67/attachment.html From cgates326 at gmail.com Mon Dec 28 19:21:58 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:21:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Eurasian Wigeons at Basket Slough Message-ID: <49B80C3230BD485791AE976E9B6F2B28@cgatesPC> In between seeing Hooded Orioles and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, a crew of us from Central Oregon made a quick stop at Basket Slough. There were 2 Eurasian Wigeon drakes on Coville Road on the west side of the road at the south pond. Chuck Gates -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091228/bb2f7a6a/attachment.html From ptsulliv at spiritone.com Mon Dec 28 22:35:02 2009 From: ptsulliv at spiritone.com (Paul T. Sullivan) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:35:02 -0800 Subject: [obol] Gaston... in Yamhill county Message-ID: <005301ca8851$12de0870$fddb63d8@dell307ac3e2b6> OBOL: A little story. Paul & Carol arrived at the south end of Gaston at 8:30 on Saturday morning and noted the Yamhill county line on the south end of town in front of the post office. They knew that the main drag, Hwy 47, ran a little west of north. That meant that Cottonwood Street, off Hwy 47, ran a little south of due west. They turned up Cottonwood St., made a U-turn and parked at the end of the blackberry hedge on the south side of Cottonwood Street, facing the garage of 412 1st Street. After a while, the HOODED ORIOLE suddenly flew from the 1st Street yard across to the hedge behind the car. Jay & Dennis appeared in pursuit of the bird. It quickly flew around the end of the hedge to the south side, which faced a vacant lot south of Cottonwood Street. Paul went down into the lot, spotted the bird about half way along the bramble thicket, and called Carol to come see. At the same time Jay & Dennis appeared at the far end of the hedge on the west end of the vacant lot. They all found and watched the beautiful bird. Then it disappeared into the hedge. A short while later Jay, Paul & Carol were back on Cottonwood Street when Dennis shouted from the other side of the hedge, "The bird just flew north!" The group convened in the vacant lot. "Which way did it go?" "It went that way (pointing)." "That's south." "Oh. I'm all confused." "That's good. It may have crossed the county line into Yamhill county." A knowing look came across Dennis' face. "Where's the county line." "Right about here." Dennis did a little dance, like he'd stepped on broken glass. Jay & Dennis went south along the west edge of the vacant lot, to the end of the arbor vitae there, and peered into the blackberry thicket. Carol stood in the middle of the vacant lot watching. Eventually, the foursome gathered again in the middle of the lot. "There it is! Flying!" Carol saw it. Paul saw it. It had come up from south of the vacant lot and flew over the group to the hedge. A while later it was back in the yard at 412 1st Street, Gaston, Washington county, OR. Nice. Back home, looking at MapQuest they confirmed that the south end of the vacant lot on the south side of Cottonwood Street is Yamhill county. Take the link http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Gaston&state=OR&zipcode=97119&country=US Move Gaston to the center and zoom in on the corner of 3rd and Cottonwood. See the county line. Then click on the aerial view button. You'll see the vacant lot, with houses to the south and west. The arbor vitae on the west edge of the vacant lot extends south of the county line. A nice little spice to a beautiful bird. Two counties. ;-) ;-) ;-) Good birding, everyone, Paul Sullivan From llsdirons at msn.com Mon Dec 28 23:37:44 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 07:37:44 +0000 Subject: [obol] Hooded Oriole continues Message-ID: I would offer that if the hummingbird at the Gaston, Oregon residence hosting the Hooded Oriole looks "nearly identical" to the hummingbird that Alan Contreras had in his yard, it is an Anna's Hummingbird and not a Costa's. It seems that whenever a small-looking, somewhat lighter bellied green-backed hummingbird appears folks are quick to call it a possible Costa's. Separating these two species is not overly difficult. If you find yourself struggling to make it a Costa's, it likely isn't one. Kind of like trying to turn a Greater Yellowlegs into a Lesser. Once you see an actual Lesser, it's a slam-dunk. I looked very briefly at images of Alan's bird and had no doubt that it was an Anna's. While hummingbirds can be exceptionally plastic in terms of their apparent structure (especially in cold weather), their plumage is not so plastic. At all ages, Anna's are somewhat dingy below. Young birds, particularly newly-fledged individuals, can be quite a bit paler below than adult females, but they still show greenish and grayish tones on many of the feathers on the underparts. In my experience they don't ever look clean white below, which Costa's do. Finally, it should be noted that Anna's Hummers are notorious for nesting during almost all months of the year (at least at some latitudes) and if I'm remembering correctly there are some odd nesting dates for the Pacific Northwest, thus it is possible that we could be seeing hatch-year Anna's now. Dave Irons Eugene, OR > From: gnorgren at earthlink.net > Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:04:28 -0800 > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > Subject: Re: [obol] Hooded Oriole continues > > Please keep an eye out for the > hummingbird in the blackberry row. > There is a good chance it's a Costa's. > Some good photos might resolve it. Alan > Contreras posted a link to pictures of > a nearly identical one at is abode on > Dec 26, with the difference that the > Gaston bird has a tail. Lars Norgren > On Dec 28, 2009, at 2:46 PM, ronaldgp at onlinemac.com wrote: > > > Fifteen minutes ago we were again treated to continuing views. About 8 others we here with lenses and cameras. > > > > 412 First St, Gaston > > > > Views from front of house, right side on the hummingbird feeder and adjacent bushes. Patience yielded well illuminated pictures of it on top of the rear bush when viewed from Cottonwood St. (south of house). > > > > Ron Peterson > > McMinnville, OR > > Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _________________________________________________________________ Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222985/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091229/38cbf61c/attachment.html From acontrer at mindspring.com Tue Dec 29 06:08:58 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 06:08:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hooded Oriole continues In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Anna's has nested in January in the rogue valley, so presumably could nest any time when conditions were right. I originally thought it could be a Costa's because of its small size and short tail. When I realized that it HAD no tail, the optical illusion disappeared. Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone On Dec 28, 2009, at 11:37 PM, David Irons wrote: > I would offer that if the hummingbird at the Gaston, Oregon > residence hosting the Hooded Oriole looks "nearly identical" to the > hummingbird that Alan Contreras had in his yard, it is an Anna's > Hummingbird and not a Costa's. It seems that whenever a small- > looking, somewhat lighter bellied green-backed hummingbird appears > folks are quick to call it a possible Costa's. Separating these two > species is not overly difficult. If you find yourself struggling to > make it a Costa's, it likely isn't one. Kind of like trying to turn > a Greater Yellowlegs into a Lesser. Once you see an actual Lesser, > it's a slam-dunk. > > I looked very briefly at images of Alan's bird and had no doubt that > it was an Anna's. While hummingbirds can be exceptionally plastic in > terms of their apparent structure (especially in cold weather), > their plumage is not so plastic. At all ages, Anna's are somewhat > dingy below. Young birds, particularly newly-fledged individuals, > can be quite a bit paler below than adult females, but they still > show greenish and grayish tones on many of the feathers on the > underparts. In my experience they don't ever look clean white below, > which Costa's do. > > Finally, it should be noted that Anna's Hummers are notorious for > nesting during almost all months of the year (at least at some > latitudes) and if I'm remembering correctly there are some odd > nesting dates for the Pacific Northwest, thus it is possible that we > could be seeing hatch-year Anna's now. > > Dave Irons > Eugene, OR > > > From: gnorgren at earthlink.net > > Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:04:28 -0800 > > To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > Subject: Re: [obol] Hooded Oriole continues > > > > Please keep an eye out for the > > hummingbird in the blackberry row. > > There is a good chance it's a Costa's. > > Some good photos might resolve it. Alan > > Contreras posted a link to pictures of > > a nearly identical one at is abode on > > Dec 26, with the difference that the > > Gaston bird has a tail. Lars Norgren > > On Dec 28, 2009, at 2:46 PM, ronaldgp at onlinemac.com wrote: > > > > > Fifteen minutes ago we were again treated to continuing views. > About 8 others we here with lenses and cameras. > > > > > > 412 First St, Gaston > > > > > > Views from front of house, right side on the hummingbird feeder > and adjacent bushes. Patience yielded well illuminated pictures of > it on top of the rear bush when viewed from Cottonwood St. (south of > house). > > > > > > Ron Peterson > > > McMinnville, OR > > > Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry > > > _______________________________________________ > > > obol mailing list > > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > > > _______________________________________________ > > obol mailing list > > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. Sign > up now. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091229/2b083ad2/attachment.html From henry at formandstructure.net Tue Dec 29 08:30:49 2009 From: henry at formandstructure.net (Henry Horvat) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:30:49 -0500 Subject: [obol] Shorebirds at Scappoose Bottoms Message-ID: <174DFA2FF9B9794C84FC6231D7B5160D75C507CB@MAILSC003.mail.lan> OBOL'ers: I've been walking and driving Scappoose Bottoms almost every day to try to find the last few new birds of the year for this area. My Scappoose Bottoms year list stands at 124. Nothing much new lately but there were two Greater Yellowlegs and eight Dunlin almost beyond spotting scope range in the Ellis farm fields. I also saw twelve Greater White Fronted Geese in the fields. At the pond on East Columbia across from the water treatment facility there were about 700 ducks, mostly N.Pintail, Am. Wigeon and Green Wing.Teal, with a few Gadwall. I got some good looks at two Brown Creepers in the trees. Henry Horvat Scappoose Bottoms -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091229/bad88dbb/attachment.html From greenfant at hotmail.com Tue Dec 29 10:56:25 2009 From: greenfant at hotmail.com (Stefan Schlick) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:56:25 -0500 Subject: [obol] Gaston Hooded Oriole continues Message-ID: The Hooded Oriole was again seen in the blackberry hedge off Cottonwood and the yard of the house with the feeder this morning. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222985/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091229/f571c098/attachment.html From 4cains at charter.net Tue Dec 29 10:57:38 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:57:38 -0800 Subject: [obol] Douglas County (WA) GYRFALCON Message-ID: <63C5EE66D97A469C95D8EF2EEB6DEA6C@HAL> During our family vacation, Evan and I went for a raptor count in Eastern Washington's Douglas County on Sunday -- numbers were very low but we got very lucky with a gray-phase GYRFALCON. First I saw a RED-TAILED HAWK had a CHUKAR on a power pole, then dropped it as we drove up. The Gyr came streaming in from the side and tried to take it, but the Chukar managed to hide under the sagebrush. The Gyrfalcon perched on a nearby sprinklerhead. Then it became a waiting game, with the Chukar finally making a break for it across the road. This gave Evan some great shots with his camera, and he will be posting these along with some ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK photos later today to SurfBirds.com Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091229/b0c529d9/attachment.html From falcosparveriusjf at gmail.com Tue Dec 29 11:12:54 2009 From: falcosparveriusjf at gmail.com (RJ FEELY) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:12:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] INTERGRADE N FLICKERS Message-ID: <90a4ffbc0912291112u48efd251iaa7b646f56a2a4b8@mail.gmail.com> There are also N. Flicker intergrades here, in The Dalles. Both male & female have a "faded" red crescent on the nape of the neck (yellow shaft trait), with both having the orange wing feathers, & male having the traditional red mustache. They inhabit a church attick, in cold/snowy weather, for shelter. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091229/e69fcb52/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Sat Dec 26 16:43:29 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:43:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] New phone Message-ID: Some of you will get this message more than once, sorry. And some of you don't care, sorry again. As of December 30, my longtime home phone number 342-5750 will cease to exist. My home phone will be 541-510-6161, which is my iPhone. My office phone will continue to be 541-687-7478. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From BBPaige at nikola.com Sun Dec 27 11:11:31 2009 From: BBPaige at nikola.com (bruce paige) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:11:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Burrowing owl, Umpqua R. Message-ID: Some members have requested more detailed information about the owl observed on Dec. 24. It was seen at 8:30 AM about half way along the Oregon Dunes NRA paved road just south of the Umpqua River mouth. The turn off of Highway 101 is just south of Reedsport, and it follows the river to the jetty before it turns south and enters the Recreation Area. The owl was within 30 ft. west of the road, and only flew a few feet behind some beach grass rather than leaving the area, so it may still be around. Attached is a photo. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Burrowing Owl, Oregon Dunes NRA.jpeg Type: image/jpg Size: 520901 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091227/c1601bc0/attachment.jpg From ceardley at coas.oregonstate.edu Mon Dec 28 09:38:24 2009 From: ceardley at coas.oregonstate.edu (Chris Eardley) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 09:38:24 -0800 Subject: [obol] OSU study seeks pelagic birders and other ocean recreationalists Message-ID: Hi gang. I'm looking for pelagic birders, whale watchers, and other Oregon ocean recreationalists to take a survey for my master's research project. Please see below: Thanks for your help, Christopher Eardley *Getting to Know Oregon?s Recreational Ocean Users* A first-of-its-kind study in the state, Oregon State University is conducting research focusing on the ?non-consumptive? ocean recreational users of Oregon-including divers, surfers, kite boarders, windsurfers, boaters/sailors, kayakers, and boat-based nature viewers. The project hopes to better understand these communities in learning about their needs, perspectives, composition, and contributions. Presently, there is a void in available information on these groups. The information gathered will be used to create a profile of these recreational communities to potentially serve as a foundation for informing policy decisions. This project seeks to ensure that the present void in information on these ?non-consumptive? recreational ocean users is filled to facilitate their representation in future decision-making regarding Oregon?s oceans. As a stakeholder of Oregon?s ocean resources, your participation is *highly valued*. Participation in the study is voluntary, limited to Oregon residents over the age of 18, and will involve the completion of a mail questionnaire. Help us to serve you! To participate please contact Chris Eardley, an Oregon State University graduate student, at ceardley at coas.oregonstate.edu. *Please mention which ocean recreational group(s) you belong to and provide your mailing address for receiving the questionnaire.* All information gathered will be presented as a whole, in a summarized form. We will not seek any sensitive information, no identities will be made public, and mailing information will not be shared with third parties. Let?s work together. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091228/3f10fb0e/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Getting to Know Oregon's Recreational Ocean Users-an OSU study.doc Type: application/msword Size: 26624 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091228/3f10fb0e/attachment.doc From steve at paradisebirding.com Mon Dec 28 07:24:09 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 07:24:09 -0800 Subject: [obol] Malheur RBA: Broad-winged Hawk Message-ID: <9a341ea30912280724g2da56828s33d0ffbea9c4f6b7@mail.gmail.com> Hello all, Yesterday at about noon I found a juvenile BROAD-WINGED HAWK in the P Ranch area of Malheur Refuge, Harney County. The bird sat in the relative open for some time, long enough for me to get a few digiscoped photos. It was in the willows south of the road from Frenchglen to Pg. Spgs and east of the Center Patrol Road. My immediate impression of the bird as a tiny buteo caught my attention enough to stop, and the plumage was unlike any of the many Red-shouldered hawks I have seen, which would be the more expected small buteo. For those that have Wheeler's Raptors of Western North America, the bird looked like those in plates 255 and 258, and it was a little less marked than 256. My 2 best photos can be found here: Broad-wing Back Shot Broad-wing Belly Shot I was excited to find a PINE SISKIN earlier in the morning, since it is rare in winter (found 7 times in the 50-year P Ranch CBC history and about twice in the 30-year Sodhouse CBC history), but I guess that record takes second place for the day. Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091228/0f08f10b/attachment.html From nepobirds at yahoo.com Tue Dec 29 12:48:43 2009 From: nepobirds at yahoo.com (Seth Reams) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:48:43 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Band-Tailed Pigeons Message-ID: <456330.86710.qm@web46016.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> We just had a flock of 9 Band-Tailed Pigeons come into the yard. We haven't seen them for a while now.?Maybe they are just?overwintering or, perhaps, early/late? It was a real treat to see them, whatever the answer. ? Here's a few photos: portlandbirds.blogspot.com Seth and Michelle NE Portland, OR - Gateway area -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091229/8fe3f340/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Tue Dec 29 13:07:39 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:07:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] E. E. Wilson WMA HQ location & Adair trivia Message-ID: <1262120859.1863.831.camel@clearwater1> Jamie, Lars & All, Pheasant Farm Rd --- that's a new one on me! Was that a historic name for Camp Adair Rd? You won't see it on any signs, even if Google maps says so. But yes, the ODF&W office is still at the south end of Adair Village, next to Adair Wildlife Area which is a separate, smaller wildlife area not connected to E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area. It is *NOT* the place to look for the yellow-bellied Sapsucker. For the sapsucker, go to E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area headquarters. Here's a link to a map (modified, with permission from ODFW staff) that shows the EEW HQ location and various birding spots that occasionally get mentioned: http://www.oregonbirds.org/Images/EEWWA_birding_features.gif I was working on more of a site guide, but will put this up on the OFO website in the meantime. ODF&W used to call these places "Game Management Area" and then "Wildlife Management Area," but now the official name is just "Wildlife Area." The ODF&W office and entrance to the Adair Wildlife Area are kitty-corner from the Adair Village convenience market and cafe (used to be AV Market and Tavern before a fire about two years ago), which is in the old fire station for the U.S. Navy Hospital that later became OSU graduate student housing. The drive-through coffee shop with palm trees etc. is new, as is the Adair Village Police Department next door (who seem to be staking out Hwy 99W now to raise revenue for the town, so watch out!). The Adair Wildlife Area will soon be enclosed by Adair Village, if & when development ever starts on the Santiam Christian/Dorothy Weigel Trust annexation that will double the size of Adair Village. This has been approved and passed through the LUBA appeals process, but the economic slowdown seems to have put the project on hold. Birders may be interested to know that the east part of the Adair Wildlife Area was swapped to the Weigel Trust by ODF&W in trade for what is now part of the North Luckiamute Cooperative Management Area (adjacent to Luckiamute State Natural Area), since become famous as a site for Sedge Wren, Harris', Red Fox & Swamp Sparrows, etc. Happy birding, Joel P.S. On some GPS mapping systems, you'll see a phantom town called Wells or Wellsdale close to where the E.E. Wilson headquarters now stand. This was a small town that existed here prior to WW II. The name was changed from Wells to Wellsdale (or vice versa?) at some point to avoid confusion with another town. Wellsdale was leveled when the Army moved in and built Camp Adair in the space of a few weeks. One local farmer told me that his family had just built a new house at the time the land was requisitioned. The contractor who built the roads for Camp Adair offered to hitch up several bulldozers, and they skidded the house off of Camp Adair land, over field and stream, to a place about a mile to the SW where it still stands (though no longer occupied). They didn't even need to pack -- they just left the furniture and everything as it was in the house and moved the whole package. The contractor did it for free, since he figured to make a pile of money on the camp construction. -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From scottbmurray at msn.com Tue Dec 29 13:15:46 2009 From: scottbmurray at msn.com (SCOTT MURRAY) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:15:46 -0800 Subject: [obol] European Birds Message-ID: Hello All, Just a couple of Minutes ago I was talking to a birding friend from Germany on the Phone he was telling me that he had Common Chaffinch, Brambling, Eurasian Siskin, European Goldfinch, and Redwings at his feeders. I looked out at my feeders here in NE Portland and what do I have European House Sparrow, European Starling, And Eurasian Collared Doves at my feeder. I told him to come and get his birds back. He declined and told me to keep them. Good Birding Scott murray -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091229/97f9d7b9/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Tue Dec 29 13:30:32 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:30:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] map Message-ID: <0ED3AF9A-8C3E-47D4-B491-1D37F6066A43@earthlink.net> It worked out great. I'm pleased beyond description. Thanks many times again. Lars From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Tue Dec 29 15:00:56 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:00:56 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos Rose-breasted Grosbeak 12/27/09 Message-ID: <820852.47118.qm@web45303.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I just received a text message today, sent to me on Sunday.? Barb Taylor, who lives in the Glasgow section of North Bend, had a male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK at her place Sunday afternoon.? She left town shortly after seeing the bird and will not be back until late Thursday, but there is a couple staying at?there place who?I talked to today.? I asked them to watch for the bird, as they are still feeding a lot of birds from what?I hear.? They were going to look up RB Grosbeak in their bird book and let me know if it's still around.? If it is,?I will pass that info along. It is interesting that the first record of this species was a bird coming to Hilda Reiher's feeder in Glasgow in January of 1973!? This is about the 15th record for the county. ? It's raining cats and dogs out here now, Merry New Cheer! Tim R Coos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091229/7382a85f/attachment.html From dpvroman at budget.net Tue Dec 29 15:45:13 2009 From: dpvroman at budget.net (Dennis Vroman) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:45:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] 1st Williams/Applegate raptor survey results Message-ID: <92275A393F604C5D87CCBC15BF711908@your4dacd0ea75> The 1st Williams/Applegate Raptor survey was accomplished today (12-29-09) Distance traveled: 36.8 miles; Survey time: 3.0 hours Weather: mid-level overcast (distant visibility somewhat impaired). Results: Red-tailed Hawk - 18 American Kestrel - 5 White-tailed Kite - 1 Peregrine Falcon - 1 Merlin - 1 No unexpected non-raptor species; a few W.Meadowlarks around Williams. A few scattered snow flakes managed to fall from the sky here and there along the route, but nothing serious. Have about an inch outside our place now...glad I got this survey done! Dennis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091229/a6269ca7/attachment.html From 4cains at charter.net Tue Dec 29 15:45:37 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:45:37 -0800 Subject: [obol] Washington Gyrfalcon photos Message-ID: <6D54A825CFCD4896AB591C5EF647EEBB@HAL> Evan's pics of the Douglas County GYRFALCON and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS are now up and can be seen at http://surfbirds.com/blog/townsendi . Forgot to mention that the Gyrfalcon-Red-tailed Hawk-Chukar episode was on the Palisades-Waterville road. Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091229/2c17ed17/attachment.html From philliplc at charter.net Tue Dec 29 16:35:59 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:35:59 -0800 Subject: [obol] Lincoln City Gulls 12/29 Message-ID: D River 3:30 800 Cal 300 Herring (many juv) 40+ Thayer's 1 Heermann's (alt adult) North Siletz Bay 4:00 2500 Cal 500 Herring small numbers Thayer's 100 Mew 1 Glaucous (juv) 2 Heermann's (alt adults) no Pelicans Phil philliplc at charter.net From cgates326 at gmail.com Tue Dec 29 21:23:08 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:23:08 -0800 Subject: [obol] Thanks to the site guide volunteers Message-ID: <121059AD5AC749B68C3FBE6F46F8AA72@cgatesPC> There was a wonderful outpouring of kindness and volunteerism following my solicitation for help with the state-wide county site guide. We now have editors working on every county except Hood River County (any takers?). I have at least text editors looking at all the other counties. I could still use some people with experience in Hood River, Wheeler, and Lake counties to check the route descriptions and map links. If you would like a project in the next two weeks, Wheeler, Lake and Hood River could use your help. I wanted to publicly thank the large number (60 and counting) of people who volunteered to help with this project. We will benefit from some real experts and it was very heartening to have a bunch of people who have no experience in an area but still offer to help with text editing and link checking. The end product will truly be a Oregon birding community document. Thanks to all. Chuck Gates East Cascades Bird Conservancy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091229/9fbf5621/attachment.html From dhewitt37 at gmail.com Tue Dec 29 22:49:44 2009 From: dhewitt37 at gmail.com (David Hewitt) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:49:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Winter Wings Festival, Klamath Falls, Feb 12-14 2010 -- Join Us! Message-ID: <653eaf880912292249l701e17dr7dc30151721b6957@mail.gmail.com> Where Will You Be in 45 Days? We hope in Klamath Falls, Oregon attending the 2010 Winter Wings Festival! We have 3 full days of birding and nature-related activities scheduled for Presidents' Day weekend (Feb 12-14), including guided field trips, workshops, presentations, a packed line-up of photography activities, and free family fun. We're especially excited to have Scott Weidensaul, Bill Clark, and Rick Sammon joining us this year. Scott will provide the keynote presentation following the banquet on Saturday; his presentation is based on his book "Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds", which was a finalist for the 2000 Pulitzer Prize in nonfiction. The complete program and a PDF of the festival brochure are available at our web site: http://www.WinterWingsFest.org Online registration is expected to go live at the web site either later this week or early next week. Be sure to keep your eyes on the site, as activities sell out quickly, some within just hours! Over 600 people registered for the festival in 2009. You can also register by mail; the registration form is posted on the web site as a PDF. Over 100 species of birds can be found in the Klamath Basin of southern Oregon and northern California during winter. Six national wildlife refuges, covering nearly 200,000 acres, attract an impressive variety of waterfowl and raptors, many in astounding numbers. Whether you are a beginning birder, a life-long birding enthusiast, or a budding naturalist, there is something for you at the Winter Wings Festival in the Klamath Basin this winter! -- Dave Hewitt Klamath Falls From llsdirons at msn.com Wed Dec 30 01:19:31 2009 From: llsdirons at msn.com (David Irons) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:19:31 +0000 Subject: [obol] Jim Danzenbaker journal entries featured at BirdFellow.com Message-ID: Greetings All, Over the next four weeks Jim Danzenbaker will providing regular posts to BirdFellow.com recounting his travels to Antarctica with Cheesmans' Ecology Safaris. Jim has been a leader on these trips for more than a decade, thus his photos and writings should be very entertaining. His first journal entry from this trip is now up on our site. Dave Irons Content Editor BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091230/f7074f4d/attachment.html From windypointandy at dishmail.net Wed Dec 30 08:27:54 2009 From: windypointandy at dishmail.net (Andy Stepniewski) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 08:27:54 -0800 Subject: [obol] Brownsmead to Netarts Bay-25-27 December Message-ID: <000a01ca896d$174922b0$3700a8c0@windypoint99> BROWNSMEAD TO NETARTS BAY 25-27 DECEMBER 2009 Friday morning we hit the headland at Ecola State Park at first light planning to do some seawatching. We were greeted by a wild scene of wave crests whipping sideways from a stiff east wind. The weather geeks said the winds were gale force in the Columbia Gorge. They were still plenty strong here on the coast making a seawatch useless. We saw only a few gulls flying acrobatically in the wind. Our next stop was the thicket on Wireless Road near Astoria hoping to spot the reported Clay-colored Sparrow. The northeast wind kept all sparrows out of sight. I can see why this bit of habitat attracted this prairie sparrow, a waist high thicket with a cultivated "grassy prairie" off to the north. We then headed east of Astoria about 10 miles to explore a new area for us, the pasturelands adjacent to the Columbia River surrounding Brownsmead. Some of the fields were flooded and thus attractive to ducks; we saw Northern Shovelers in numbers on a few fields along with a few Northern Pintails, American Wigeons, Mallards, and Am. Green-winged Teal. We found a modest number of raptors hunting the fields or birds here: Northern Harrier (5), Bald Eagle (4), Red-tailed Hawk (6), American Kestrel (2), and Peregrine Falcon (1). Driving side roads we gained a nice view of the Columbia River from atop the dike at the north end of Bug Hole Road. Off in the river we saw ice-bordered marshy islands with many hundreds of waterfowl. In the shallows were Tundra Swans Mallards, Northern Pintails, Mallards, and American Wigeon. In deeper waters of mid channel we noted hundreds of Greater Scaup and a sprinkling of Bufflehead. We also spotted a few Western Grebes. If what we saw is representative of the lower Columbia River, this is a rich area, indeed, for wintering waterfowl. Returning to US-30 and Knappa, we chose a different route passing by the Ziak Wildlife Refuge, a private reserve and on the Oregon Coast Birding Trail. Several thousand puddle ducks were crowded together on the big ponds, with 150 + Gadwall being a higher proportion than I'm used to in the region. There were also a few Trumpeter Swans, apparently kept birds "looking" wild, but are a mere few miles from really wild wintering birds. Lastly, we noted a NORTHERN SHRIKE on an overhead wire by scruffy pastures, our first for the Oregon coast this winter. We lingered by Red Alder and Black Cottonwood growth in the bottomlands and had good fortune with woodpeckers: Red-breasted Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, and Downy and Pileated Woodpeckers. A variety of forest songbirds including chickadees, kinglets, and both Winter and Marsh Wrens, and sparrows helped swell our list here to over 60 species, a pleasing total for a short visit. After dark we drove south to Tillamook. Saturday at first light we again tried a seawatch, this time from Cape Meares. Once again, we struck out as the northeast wind was even wilder than Friday's at Ecola State Park. We managed a handful of Common Murres, lots of gulls, cormorants, and a few Brown Pelicans. We spent most of the day around Netarts Bay. A LONG-TAILED DUCK female a couple miles south from the bay entrance was only our second for the state this winter. It was consorting with a loose flotilla of Surf Scoters, Common Goldeneyes, Buffleheads, and Red-breasted Mergansers. Southward in the bay, we counted several thousand puddle ducks: Northern Pintail, Mallard, Am. Green-winged Teal, and American Wigeon. As the tide ebbed, mudflats became exposed and I noted a fair-sized flock of small shorebirds hugging the west side of the bay: Dunlin (250) and Sanderlings (15). We then began a trek out to Netarts Spit at mid-day with the goal of getting photos of OUR Snowy Owl. The only shorebirds I saw along the beach were a couple Least Sandpipers flushed from the beach cobbles. The big news on this hike was the jellyfish "wreck." The beach was littered with dead pancake-shaped jellyfish five to six inches across. I estimated 12-13 per lineal foot, so along the five-mile long spit were roughly 1/3 million dead jellyfish! I turned back after several miles so as not to get caught by darkness. Ellen, more fleet-of-foot, pressed on. This turned out to be a good strategy as I birded the bayside, including the fish hatchery that offers a good vantage of Netarts Bay. From near the tip of the spit, Ellen phoned and said she couldn't locate the owl so I went to the high point on Vista Drive in Netarts and got permission with the friendly homeowner we met a few weeks ago to scope for the owl. I soon found the SNOWY OWL tucked in a vale of Shore Pines just east of the dune crest. The bugger was hiding well! I directed Ellen to the spot and she was able to sneak a photo or two. Though we first saw this bird perched out in the open here in full sun, perhaps sun plus a stiff wind had sent it into hiding. While directing Ellen to the owl I heard and saw Anna's Hummingbirds, Bushtits, Bewick's and Winter Wrens, Black-capped and Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Spotted Towhees, making this a good yard for twit birding, too. On her return I met Ellen at the north end of the bayside trail as it hits the bay. This inside route, first through overgrown Shore Pines, then spongy Salicornia and marsh vegetation, is definitely not as straightforward as the beach walk! Sunday morning found us again at Cape Meares with the fantasy of Ancient Murrelet or Short-tailed Shearwaters. The wind was less than on the previous mornings, but still hindering birding. Too, visibility was not good due to refraction and blowing mist. What impressed us mightily were the impressive-sized swells marching landward. Indeed, there was a high surf alert and every couple minutes a rogue wave crashed against the cape with a crack like thunder, startling us. How small is man in the immensity of nature! We did see lots more birds than on our two previous mornings at headlands: Common Murres, gulls, cormorants, and Brown Pelicans. Black Oystercatchers piped their wonderful calls from the cliffs below. But, no other alcids or shearwaters. Golden-crowned Kinglets were perhaps the most interesting bird about as a small troop foraged right on the manicured lawn beneath the Sitka Spruce on the trail descending towards the lighthouse. We've noted this species picking about the lawn here like sparrows at dawn at least three time during the last month. Several Hermit Thrushes came out onto the lawn for a view, too. Poking around Tillamook Bay, we hit pastureland and dairies with other fantasy birds on our mind: Cattle Egret, Iceland Gull, Rusty Blackbird, and Common Grackle. "I say "nothing ventured, nothing gained," though all these birds are very rare to casual in Oregon. Our best birding came at the north end of Olson Road at Dougherty Slough where we counted at least five EURASIAN WIGEON among several thousand Americans. We had good luck with raptors while birding the Tillamook fields: Bald Eagle (5), Northern Harrier (1), Cooper's Hawk (1), Red-shouldered Hawk (1 immature), Red-tailed Hawk (10), American Kestrel (3), and Peregrine Falcon (1). A Barn Owl called outside the Best Western at night. Gulls were not as numerous as on some of our visits. A flooded field by Blue Heron French Cheese Company had Mew (10), Ring-billed (250), Western (15), Glaucous-winged (35) and 20 or so hybrid Gulls. The next field east had 200 grazing Cackling Geese. Bayview Jetty proved good for views of a three Black Turnstones, 25 Surfbirds and two ROCK SANDPIPERS. Ellen had an ever-so brief view of the two birds together and noted one was distinctly lighter than the other. Studying these birds was tough as crashing waves sent the rockpipers scurrying every minute or so. Nehalem Meadows, always, a good stop, held 40 Greater White-fronted Geese, 300 Cackling Geese, and two White-tailed Kites. We poked around the dairy once again for a rare blackbird coming up with the usual Red-winged and Brewer's plus cowbirds and starlings. Nearby was a loose flock of 25 Eurasian Collared-Doves. OBOL had electrifying news of a HOODED ORIOLE in Gaston, just south of Forest Grove. We hit this spot on our journey home and soon saw this beautiful bird hitting each of the three hummingbird feeders. Apparently most all past winter reports of this species in Oregon are from hummer feeders (Birds of Oregon: a field companion). We also admired 25 or so Lesser Goldfinches, a pair each of White-breasted Nuthatches, and Purple Finches, among House Finches at the very busy seed feeders. Anna's Hummingbirds zipped around the feeders elegantly, quite in contrast to the sloppy slurping by the oriole (how many times a day do these feeders need refilling?). As we were leaving a Merlin dashed by and we scoped flooded fields in the vale below noting Tundra Swans, hundreds of Northern Pintails and a handful of other duck species (Mallard, Am. Green-winged Teal, Am. Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead), and raptors (Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, and Northern Harrier) to make this home, during a half-hour, a 30-species stop for us, darn good yard birding! Andy and Ellen Stepniewski. Wapato WA windypointandy at dishmail.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091230/ba5b30c8/attachment.html From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Dec 30 09:04:39 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:04:39 -0800 Subject: [obol] Portland CBC count week starts today Message-ID: <20091230170441.42FBFA8155@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> The "Count Week" for the Portland Christmas Bird Count runs from today, Wed, Dec 30, through Tuesday, Jan 5. If you are in the Portland CBC circle (see Google map at http://tinyurl.com/ydbjhu9 ) and find anything OBOL-worthy, please let me know. In addition, the following "common backyard birds" can be elusive: Band-tailed Pigeon Western Screech-owl Hutton's Vireo Orange-crowned Warbler Brown-headed Cowbird Red Crossbill Evening Grosbeak Please let me know if you see any of these during Count Week. Even better, find them on Count Day (Saturday, Jan 2) and we can add it to the total. Thanks for your help! Wink Gross, compiler Portland CBC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091230/e875ea1d/attachment.html From mussermcevoy at yahoo.com Wed Dec 30 09:43:28 2009 From: mussermcevoy at yahoo.com (Richard and Marilyn Musser) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:43:28 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Washington Gyrfalcon photos In-Reply-To: <6D54A825CFCD4896AB591C5EF647EEBB@HAL> Message-ID: <484851.84887.qm@web39701.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Lee, Very nice gyr photos. I'd guess this bird to be at least four years old, because of its dark yellow feet----just in case anyone is interested. Best, Dick --- On Tue, 12/29/09, Lee and Lori Cain <4cains at charter.net> wrote: > From: Lee and Lori Cain <4cains at charter.net> > Subject: [obol] Washington Gyrfalcon photos > To: "OBOL" > Date: Tuesday, December 29, 2009, 3:45 PM > > > > > > > > Evan's pics of the Douglas County GYRFALCON and > ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS are now > up and can be seen at http://surfbirds.com/blog/townsendi?.? > > Forgot to mention that the Gyrfalcon-Red-tailed Hawk-Chukar > episode was on the > Palisades-Waterville road. > ? > Lee Cain > Astoria, Or > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From tlove at linfield.edu Wed Dec 30 09:45:29 2009 From: tlove at linfield.edu (Thomas Love) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:45:29 -0800 Subject: [obol] Amer. Oystercatcher - old report Message-ID: <48AAF0D003D67944931DDDC72D022F121C8AA998@exchangedb.wfo.linfield.edu> Given the recent sighting of AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER near Yachats, I thought I'd pass along a sighting by Peg Goldie, longtime Portland Audubon board member and Birdathon leader: "saw a pair of American Oystercatchers at Gleneden Beach, Oregon, probably something like 8 years ago. I was alone, had no camera, and no way to prove I'd seen them, but they were only a few feet away from me, standing on the sand, and they remained there as I walked by. I'd imagine they were less than 10 feet away from me, and there was absolutely no mistaking their field markings." She is not sure what season it was. Tom Love -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091230/9f795234/attachment.html From baileydc at pdx.edu Wed Dec 30 10:17:26 2009 From: baileydc at pdx.edu (David C. Bailey) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:17:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Heerman's Gulls in Seaside Message-ID: <4B3B9936.5030207@pdx.edu> Many HEERMAN'S GULLS are still in the Seaside area. A GLAUCOUS GULL was also with the several hundred gulls on the beach between The Cove and the Turnaround at Broadway. I was with family, so wasn't birding 100%, but I did not see and Brown Pelicans offshore with the swarms of gulls that were also flying over the waves. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Seaside (City of) Beach, Clatsop County, Oregon on December 30, 2009 Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:40:35 GMT From: baileydc at pdx.edu To: baileydc at pdx.edu This report was mailed for David C. Bailey by http://birdnotes.net Date: December 30, 2009 Location: Seaside (City of) Beach, Clatsop County, Oregon Incidental to a walk south on the beach from the turnaround to the Seaside Cove. Large numbers of gull were on the beach and flying about the near shore waters. Birds seen (in taxonomic order): Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni) 35 [1] Mew Gull (Larus canus) California Gull (Larus californicus) Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) Thayer's Gull (Larus thayeri) Western Gull (Larus occidentalis) Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) 1 Glaucous-winged x Western Gull (Larus glaucescens x occidentalis) Unidentified gull (Larus sp.) 1000 Footnotes: [1] Heermann's Gull: some adults were in full alternate plumage; several were immature birds. Total number of species seen: 10 From steve at paradisebirding.com Wed Dec 30 10:27:19 2009 From: steve at paradisebirding.com (Stephen Shunk) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:27:19 -0800 Subject: [obol] Santiam CBC Friday Message-ID: <9a341ea30912301027s74bc9181o70440e4b9328404f@mail.gmail.com> Hello all, If you think birding is more important than football, we could sure use you this Friday, January 1, on Santiam Pass, Oregon's highest Christmas Bird Count. There is no better way to start your 2010 year-list than with a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER (or any of the other 8 woodpecker species on the list for this count). Who knows, you might even find a PINE GROSBEAK, LONG-TAILED DUCK, TRUMPETER SWAN, or SPOTTED OWL, all of which have been found on this count in the past. We also know there are WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS up there, and you could be the one to add this species to our list. Here are the details: Meet at 830 am at Santiam Sno-Park Countdown at 4 pm at the bar at Hoodoo Ski Area lodge Optional Night skiing at Hoodoo Ski Area We especially need XC skiers and snowshoers, but we will accommodate any and all birders who are willing to make the trek to the summit. You could ski at Hoodoo all day and just count the birds you find around the ski area. Bring the whole family! You could bird at the Hoodoo sledding hill or at Santiam Sno-Park. Someone has to tally all those Gray Jays! *It has also been scientifically proven that the most effective cure for a hangover is to be outside the next day, surrounded by a Cascades winter wonderland!* If you want to join the party, respond directly to this email or call my number below. We hope to see you on Santiam Pass this Friday! Steve Shunk -- Stephen Shunk Paradise Birding Sisters, OR USA www.paradisebirding.com 541-408-1753 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091230/bb8e666d/attachment.html From raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com Wed Dec 30 10:33:21 2009 From: raptorrunner97321 at yahoo.com (Jeff Fleischer) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:33:21 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] ECBC Crabtree-Shelburn raptor survey Message-ID: <227918.91459.qm@web50908.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Obolers, Yesterday I did the East Cascades Bird Conservancy's Crabtree-Shelburn raptor survey here in northern Linn County. The route covers the area north of Crabtree off of Hwy 226, east of Jefferson, and north and west of Scio through the Shelburn area to the north edge of Linn County just south of Stayton. In general it is bordered on the west by the North and South forks of the Santiam River so agricultural fields and bottomland drainage is the norm for this route. It took me 4 hours and 45 minutes to cover the 54.6 miles. I started off in light fog that did not hamper my visibility and then progressed through a wild weather day which included no precipitation, light snow and hail, light rain, and some denser fog. Despite the weird weather, I had a very successful survey with a total of 8 species found, including a new species for the route which I will mention in a minute. I really enjoy doing these surveys as they not only give me a chance to get out and look around the county for raptors but every once in awhile provide me with an unforgettable experience that spices up my life a little :) I had been driving along, minding my own business and counting raptors, finding the normal Red-tails and Kestrels, and being blessed with seeing a couple Bald Eagles and one really nice adult Cooper's Hawk when I got to the portion of the route where I turn east off of Densmore Rd onto Jefferson-Scio Hwy near the North Santiam River. J-S Hwy is pretty fast paced so I really have to concentrate on the habitat with quick focused glances while at the same time being aware of oncoming traffic at 55 mph. Anyway, I was about a quarter mile west of where Kelly Rd intersects J-S when I saw a buteo perched on a fencepost right next to the road. My immediate thought was another Redtail but as I got even with the bird I realized that its back was covered with white spots and the bird was noticeably smaller. Sure enough, when I turned around at the next driveway and got back to the bird, it was an immature RED-SHOULDERED HAWK! I have never seen this species in this area of the county before, let alone on this particular route so I was pretty happy :) It remained on the post for about a minute while I had a chance to scope it from a distance. As it was perched, I could also see the white markings on the primaries which became quite evident when it finally decided to fly off into a line of low trees and shrubs about 50 yards off the road. The quick wingbeats of the bird were also evident as it flew to new cover. Needless to say, this bird made my day! Shortly there after, I enjoyed some dense fog, a little snow and hail, and some more fog before things cleared up for the latter part of the route. Another good bird found on Cole School Rd near the intersection with Queener Rd and Mertz Dr was a beautiful adult MERLIN perched at the top of a lone oak tree out in the middle of a grass field. I got really nice scope views of this bird from Queener. All in all a great day for counting raptors! Here is the list that I found.... Red-tailed Hawk 23 American Kestrel 26 Northern Harrier 1 Bald Eagle 1A, 2S RED-SHOULDERED HAWK 1 Merlin 1 Cooper's Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Any time that I can find a bird per mile on these surveys means I have been fairly busy which makes for a good survey and a fun time :) Jeff Fleischer Albany, OR From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Dec 30 10:54:36 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:54:36 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ashland CBC In-Reply-To: <9a341ea30912301027s74bc9181o70440e4b9328404f@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Ashland has restarted its count as of Monday Jan 4, and reaches 5000 feet near Hyatt Lake. It will be interesting to see what they find at higher elevations compared to Santiam. I say restarted, but the last ones, done by four people, were in 1940-41. I will be attending that count after Coquille Valley. -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com > From: Steve Shunk > Reply-To: Steve Shunk > Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:27:19 -0800 > To: COBOL , obol > Subject: [obol] Santiam CBC Friday > > Hello all, > If you think birding is more important than football, we could sure use you > this Friday, January 1, on Santiam Pass, Oregon's highest Christmas Bird > Count. There is no better way to start your 2010 year-list than with a > THREE-TOED WOODPECKER (or any of the other 8 woodpecker species on the list > for this count). Who knows, you might even find a PINE GROSBEAK, LONG-TAILED > DUCK, TRUMPETER SWAN, or SPOTTED OWL, all of which have been found on this > count in the past. We also know there are WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS up there, > and you could be the one to add this species to our list. > > Here are the details: > Meet at 830 am at Santiam Sno-Park > Countdown at 4 pm at the bar at Hoodoo Ski Area lodge > Optional Night skiing at Hoodoo Ski Area > We especially need XC skiers and snowshoers, but we will accommodate any and > all birders who are willing to make the trek to the summit. You could ski at > Hoodoo all day and just count the birds you find around the ski area. Bring > the whole family! You could bird at the Hoodoo sledding hill or at Santiam > Sno-Park. Someone has to tally all those Gray Jays! > *It has also been scientifically proven that the most effective cure for a > hangover is to be outside the next day, surrounded by a Cascades winter > wonderland!* > > If you want to join the party, respond directly to this email or call my > number below. We hope to see you on Santiam Pass this Friday! > Steve Shunk > -- > Stephen Shunk > Paradise Birding > Sisters, OR USA > www.paradisebirding.com > 541-408-1753 > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From lizzyann at gmail.com Wed Dec 30 12:03:26 2009 From: lizzyann at gmail.com (Liz Pusch) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:03:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Harlequin Duck Message-ID: <789621760912301203h202f26bfy1929655b0a90a493@mail.gmail.com> Monday at the Simpson Reef viewpoint at 12:30 pm there were a few birds to be seen along with the usual Harbor seals and Sea Lions. There were 15 Black Oystercatchers, 12 Brown Pelicans, a Great Blue Heron and a gorgeous male Harlequin Duck. -- Liz Pusch -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091230/c0a74222/attachment.html From acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM Wed Dec 30 12:40:03 2009 From: acontrer at MINDSPRING.COM (Alan Contreras) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:40:03 -0800 Subject: [obol] Ashland CBC Message-ID: I have been asked for contact information for anyone interested in joining the new Ashland CBC on Monday, January 4. It is my understanding that this is a "test run" count. Contact: Harry Fuller anzatowhee at yahoo.com 541-488-8077 -- Alan Contreras EUGENE, OREGON acontrer at mindspring.com From davebrownbirder at yahoo.com Wed Dec 30 14:02:56 2009 From: davebrownbirder at yahoo.com (Dave Brown) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:02:56 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Eugene Wed. morning Birding Group Message-ID: <153148.90696.qm@web59912.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> Out of the five in the coffee shop,only three of us got into one vehicle and went around Hwy#36 and Vogt Road,Mill Iron and Meadowview looking for the five swan that are not hanging with the rest. We found the group on meadowView but not the one's we thought might be Trumpeter's. We then went High Pass Rd. to Washburn Lane to Cox Butte Road to Territorial Hwy. We went to Fern Ridge Dam and walked a ways into Richardson Park and scoped some Gull's and alot of D.C. Cormorant's and two Loon (spec.) and some far out ducks maybe Scaup (spec.)We had a mass of Dunlin flying around. List below ? Bald Eagle 7 Red-tailed Hawk 8 A. Kestrel 8 N. Harrier 4 W. Bluebirds 4 E. Starling 10 A. Robin 8 Song Sparrow 1 C. Raven 7 E.C.Dove 1 A.Crow 6 Scrub Jay 4 N. Flicker 2 Canada Goose 12 Cackling Goose 30 Tundra Swan 30 N. Shoveler 4 Bufflehead 4 Western Gull 1 Ring-billed Gull 20 Great Blue Heron 2 Great Egret 2 D.C Cormorant 900 Dunlin 1000 ? Craig Merkel? Fred Chancey and Dave Brown -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091230/c7f3e87b/attachment.html From johnpam at mtangel.net Wed Dec 30 16:18:58 2009 From: johnpam at mtangel.net (John Thomas) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:18:58 -0800 Subject: [obol] Hooded Oriole Today in Gaston Message-ID: We saw the Hooded Oriole today in Gaston at about 12:15. There was a lot of snow (4-5") but it was melting fast enough to allow slushing through on the streets for a view of the bird. We were surprised at the amount of snow on that side of the valley. Noah Stryker was also present and we were very pleased to have a nice chat with him. On the way back, we stopped at Champoeg St Park to look for Western Bluebirds and take a break. We saw a group of 5 Western Meadowlarks that were perched temporarily in the top of tree and lots of the common valley birds but no Bluebirds on our pass through the park. Good Birding John Thomas (w/ Pam and Anna) Silverton From Oropendolas at aol.com Wed Dec 30 18:01:35 2009 From: Oropendolas at aol.com (Oropendolas at aol.com) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:01:35 EST Subject: [obol] West Eugene - Short-eared Owl Message-ID: Hello All, There was one SHORT-EARED OWL hunting over Meadowlark Prairie at 4:30 this afternoon. It was to the southeast from the parking lot on Green Hill Road. John Sullivan Springfield, Oregon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091230/bac4a2ec/attachment.html From deweysage at verizon.net Wed Dec 30 19:20:43 2009 From: deweysage at verizon.net (DJ Lauten and KACastelein) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:20:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Saw Whet Owl Message-ID: <4B3C188B.1090801@verizon.net> 12/30 Bandon Coos Cty This evening there was a NORTHERN SAW WHET OWL hooting in our yard. I called it in with my own whistles and it flew across the yard. After landing it proceeded to "saw-whet" a bunch of times, obviously irritated. We haven't heard the "saw-whet" much, so that was neat. This is the second time in the past few nights said owl was hooting around the yard. That's about 5 miles north of Bandon. Cheers Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein Bandon OR deweysage at verizon.net -- "We need to change our mind frame - our values. Perhaps quality time, love, family values, friendship and respect are preferable to material goods and status? Or maybe humans are too vain. In this problem, I think we are seeing the worst of ourselves in the mirror. We see power struggle and corruption." Rasmus Benestad, The Norwegian Meteorological Institute From fdlospalluto at gmail.com Wed Dec 30 20:08:35 2009 From: fdlospalluto at gmail.com (frank lospalluto) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:08:35 -0800 Subject: [obol] Malin Raptor Run,Klamath Co.,12/30/09 Message-ID: <7330d47e0912302008x65a08e18h239fd3f491dd4c85@mail.gmail.com> Under calm and mostly sunny skies, some snow-covered roads and fields: 48 miles in 3 hrs Red-tailed Hawk 60 American Kestrel 11 Northern Harrier 5 Rough-legged Hawk 4 Ferruginous Hawk 1 Bald Eagle 1 adult Prairie Falcon 2 Happy New Year! frank From celata at pacifier.com Wed Dec 30 20:23:28 2009 From: celata at pacifier.com (Mike Patterson) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:23:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] My three CBC's Message-ID: <4B3C2740.4010907@pacifier.com> I finished up the last of the Christmas Counts I'm likely to do this season with the Wahkiakum Count yesterday. Andrew Emlen tells me that the preliminary species total is 102. Cold, bustery weather with an especially uncomfortable wind chill kept the number low and gull poor (among other weird shortages). I wax nostalgic on my nearly 40 years a-counting at: http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR Columbia Estuary Christmas Bird Count http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/northcoastdiaries/13091/ From winkg at hevanet.com Wed Dec 30 20:25:20 2009 From: winkg at hevanet.com (Wink Gross) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:25:20 -0800 Subject: [obol] Pittock, NW Portland, week ending 12/30/09 Message-ID: <20091231042520.894F3A8155@server2.midvalleyhosting.com> Here is the summary of my morning dogwalks from NW Seblar Terrace to the Pittock Mansion for the week 12/24 to 12/30/09. Species neither seen nor heard the previous week are listed in ALL CAPS. Additional information about my dogwalk, including an archive of weekly summaries and a checklist, may be found at http://www.hevanet.com/winkg/dogwalkpage.html We did the walk 5 days this week. Species # days found (peak #, date) Cackling Goose 2 (30, 12/25) Canada Goose 2 (6, 12/29) BALD EAGLE 1 (2, 12/26) PEREGRINE FALCON 1 (1, 12/26) Anna's Hummingbird 2 (1, 12/25 & 30) RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER 1 (1, 12/28) Northern Flicker 3 (3) Pileated Woodpecker 1 (1, 12/29) Hutton's Vireo 2 (1, 12/25 & 30) Steller's Jay 5 (2) American Crow 4 (3) COMMON RAVEN 1 (2, 12/29) Black-capped Chickadee 5 (10) Chestnut-backed Chickadee 1 (3, 12/25) Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 (3) Brown Creeper 1 (1, 12/28) Winter Wren 4 (1) Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 (1, 12/25 & 30) Hermit Thrush 3 (1) American Robin 4 (25) Varied Thrush 4 (3) EUROPEAN STARLING 3 (3) CEDAR WAXWING 2 (16, 12/28) Spotted Towhee 4 (4) Song Sparrow 5 (6) Dark-eyed Junco 5 (15) "Slate-colored Junco" 1 (1, 12/25) House Finch 4 (9) LESSER GOLDFINCH 2 (9, 12/25) Misses (birds seen at least 3 days during previous 2 weeks but not found this week): Mourning Dove, Ruby-crowned Kinglet Wink Gross Portland From pamelaj at spiritone.com Wed Dec 30 20:51:21 2009 From: pamelaj at spiritone.com (pamela johnston) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:51:21 -0800 Subject: [obol] off topic- owls in Hungary Message-ID: <45A41E0768C540298CB4C581BF98D758@yourw5st28y9a3> My friends who are in Hungary for a while sent me several photos of a surprisingly large group of owls day roosting in weeping willows there. One of them is close enough to offer a chance at an i.d. Anyone who can withstand my rough attempts at sending a picture is welcome to have a look. Pamela Johnston From m.denny at charter.net Wed Dec 30 22:30:32 2009 From: m.denny at charter.net (Mike and MerryLynn) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:30:32 -0800 Subject: [obol] Oregon Coast Birding Message-ID: <3A88172DF25540A1B5143DE14D252BF5@24FLIGHT> Hello All, Just a short note on several birds we located while birding along the Lincoln and Lane County coast lines. Had beautiful weather, cold but clear. Would also like to thank Range Bayer for posting some of the species we located earlier. Birds of Interest seen: Red Phalarope-3 , south jetty Yaquina Bay, 25 Dec Western Meadowlark-1 south jetty, YB, 25 Dec. Ten Mile Creek, Lane Co., 26 Dec. Hermit Thrush-9 birds Hairy Woodpecker-1 bird Am. Dipper-2 birds DePoe Bay, Lincoln Co. 28 Dec. Townsends Warbler-1 ad. female Band-tailed Pigeon-1 ad. Newport Res., Lincoln Co. Boiler Bay, Lincoln Co. 28 Dec.2009-9:15-11:30 AM Brown Pelican......14 Birds headed south Black Turnstone....1 bird Rhino Auklets........3 birds Glaucous-winged Gull...63 birds, 70% sub-adults Pigeon Guillemot...4 birds Pacific Loon..........18 birds Red-throated Loons...4 birds Pelagic Cormorant.....12 birds. Gaston, Washington Co. Hooded Oriole......1 ad. male, 28 Dec. Anna's Hummingbirds..2 females That is it. Later Mike .................................................................................. Mike and MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley If you have not birded, you have not lived From pointers at pacifier.com Wed Dec 30 23:05:31 2009 From: pointers at pacifier.com (Lyn Topinka) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:05:31 -0800 Subject: [obol] Dark RT-Hawk at Ridgefield "revisited" In-Reply-To: <3A88172DF25540A1B5143DE14D252BF5@24FLIGHT> References: <3A88172DF25540A1B5143DE14D252BF5@24FLIGHT> Message-ID: <20091231070531.477937B37@smtp3.pacifier.net> hi all ... in early December folks were discussing dark colored Red-tailed Hawks at Ridgefield ... Harlans or Dark Morph ??? ... I shot pix of a dark RT during the CBC on sunday ... here's the pix ... I'm thinking Dark Morph because of lack of any white on the chest, and he's not a black color but a beautiful chocolate brown ... http://ridgefieldbirds.com/Images09Dec/RNWR_red-tailed_hawk_dark_morph_12-27-09.jpg http://ridgefieldbirds.com/Images09Dec/RNWR_red-tailed_hawk_dark_morph_12-27-09_B.jpg now I've seen a rich dark brown hawk on-and-off throughout the late fall ... came up with some pix from November 4 ... this may or maynot be the same hawk as shot sunday, but it sure is close ... I've put the November pix together in a composite ... http://ridgefieldbirds.com/HoldingPen/RNWR_possible_dark_morph_RTHawk_11-04-09.jpg opinions ??? thanks, Lyn Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com From hatlevis at comcast.net Wed Dec 30 23:29:00 2009 From: hatlevis at comcast.net (Susan Hatlevig) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:29:00 -0800 Subject: [obol] News from Antarctica In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <148BC682EC33446E9A432C6FCC28B1EE@homeflydmyur2h> Wow-this is exciting for me to be able to hear about this trip. I have 2 very good friends, Mary & Steve, who are on this voyage! They used to live in Corvallis but now live in San Diego and Steve's been doing photography now that he's retired. Susie in Corvallis From hnehls6 at comcast.net Wed Dec 30 23:36:48 2009 From: hnehls6 at comcast.net (Harry Nehls) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:36:48 -0800 Subject: [obol] RBA: Portland, OR 12-31-09 Message-ID: - RBA * Oregon * Portland * December 31, 2009 * ORPO0912.31 - birds mentioned Trumpeter Swan ARCTIC LOON Brown Pelican Gyrfalcon Prairie Falcon Sora Heermann?s Gull Burrowing Owl Great Gray Owl Short-eared Owl Say?s Phoebe Palm Warbler American Tree Sparrow ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK RUSTY BLACKBIRD HOODED ORIOLE Common Redpoll - transcript hotline: Portland Oregon Audubon RBA (weekly) number: 503-292-6855 To report: Harry Nehls 503-233-3976 compiler: Harry Nehls coverage: entire state Hello, this is the Audubon Society of Portland Rare Bird Report. This report was made Thursday December 31. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls at 503-233-3976. A bright male HOODED ORIOLE is now being seen in Gaston south of Forest Grove. Turn off Hwy 47 in Gaston on to Cottonwood Street and drive one block to First Street. It is coming to hummingbird feeders at 412 S. First Street. On December 27 a male RUSTY BLACKBIRD was seen in the Port of Vancouver Industrial Area near Vancouver Lake. A male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was seen December 27 in the Glascow Section of North Bend. An ARCTIC LOON was reported December 26 on Hagg Lake south of Forest Grove. Good numbers of BROWN PELICANS and HEERMANN?S GULLS continue along the coast. On December 24 a light phase GYRFALCON was at the Blimp Hangers at the Tillamook Airport. The same day another GYRFALCON was seen at the Seven Devils Wayside north of Coos Bay. On December 27 two TRUMPETER SWANS, a SAY?S PHOEBE, and a PALM WARBLER were near Flores Lake. On December 24 a BURROWING OWL was along the Oregon Dunes NRA Roadway near the South Jetty of the Umpqua River. On December 27 three SHORT-EARED OWLS were in Scappoose Bottoms and another three were near Vancouver Lake. On December 23 a GREAT GRAY OWL was photographed on the Gresham Butte Trail in Gresham. The Fernhill Wetlands TREE SPARROW was seen again December 27. A PRAIRIE FALCON was seen December 26 north of Forest Grove. A COMMON REDPOLL was seen that day at the north end of Hagg Lake. On December 24 a SORA was seen at the Walterville Pond east of Springfield. That?s it for this week. - end transcript -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091230/4856d9af/attachment.html From rkorpi at hotmail.com Thu Dec 31 08:30:28 2009 From: rkorpi at hotmail.com (Ray Korpi) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:30:28 -0800 Subject: [obol] Columbia River Yesterday Message-ID: I did some light scouting for the Portland CBC yesterday afternoon. Besides a lot of slush, I found the following along the Columbia River: 1 Pacific Loon 3 Horned grebes 2 Western Grebes Loads of Scaup--mostly lessers with some greaters--mostly east of the Sea Scout Base yesterday 1 Great Egret I did not get out for much small-bird birding as things were pretty slushy still everywhere RK Ray Korpi rkorpi at hotmail.com Vancouver WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091231/85e47d6a/attachment.html From joel.geier at peak.org Thu Dec 31 09:14:43 2009 From: joel.geier at peak.org (Joel Geier) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:14:43 -0800 Subject: [obol] Birding calendar & motorless birding updates Message-ID: <1262279683.14277.450.camel@clearwater1> Hello folks, As 2009 winds down, there are still a few Christmas Bird Counts that you can join. A tree-planting event is also planned for Snag Boat Bend next Saturday, Jan 9. For more info please visit: http://www.oregonbirds.org/calendar.html If you're starting to anticipate post-CBC bird deprivation disorder, hopefully the list of spring migrants just a few rows down the calendar will bring some cheer. Randy Campbell informs me that his amazing motorless year effort is finished, with Varied Thrush as the last of 210 bird species (who would've thought!). You can see how it came out at: http://www.oregonbirds.org/Listing/motorless.html We're still waiting for a year-end report from other motorless participants -- good luck if you're out bicycling in this weather! Tomorrow's a new day and a new year, looking forward to see what it brings! Happy birding in the New Year, Joel -- Joel Geier Camp Adair area north of Corvallis From 4cains at charter.net Thu Dec 31 10:15:30 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:15:30 -0800 Subject: [obol] Baird's Sandpiper continues Message-ID: <12F9504202694997969E1D59AD388AD2@HAL> While running on the Astoria Airport Dike trail near the Hwy 101 causeway yesterday at noonish, I had a lone calidrid buzz almost right over my shoulder -- it was larger than a Western or Least (though it was alone and so not comparable) and it was calling "preep" loud and clear repeatedly. I am fairly certain (as one can be without binocs) that it was a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER -- though I can't be certain it was the same one that we found on the CBC, I think probably so. This was in the same area where about a week ago I thought I might have spotted it with thousands of other sandpipers, but when I was also without binocs... I have tried running with those Swift Audubon 8.5 X 44's , but it is a bit of a drag... Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091231/4417e5de/attachment.html From kimdelo at yahoo.com Thu Dec 31 16:02:04 2009 From: kimdelo at yahoo.com (Kimdel Owen) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:02:04 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Madras CBC Message-ID: <142970.50089.qm@web50202.mail.re2.yahoo.com> An unoffical CBC was held at Madras yesterday checking out the possibilties of a regular count there. Eleven people covered the area and found 70 species in spite of fog and snow. Best finds were Common Redpoll in Warm springs, Dunlin, And four Yellow-rumped Warblers. Following the count everyone who helped decided to make this a regular count starting next year. "Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high? On the rock he dwells and makes his home in the fastness of the rocky crag. There he spies out the prey; his eyes behold it afar off." Kimdel Owen Redmond, OR From tc at empnet.com Thu Dec 31 16:36:17 2009 From: tc at empnet.com (Tom Crabtree) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:36:17 -0800 Subject: [obol] Madras CBC In-Reply-To: <142970.50089.qm@web50202.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <142970.50089.qm@web50202.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Kim, One of the National Audubon rules is that count circles cannot overlap. Doesn't the Madras circle overlap that of the Utopia Count? Tom -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Kimdel Owen Sent: Thursday, December 31, 2009 4:02 PM To: OBOL OBOL; COBOL Subject: [obol] Madras CBC An unoffical CBC was held at Madras yesterday checking out the possibilties of a regular count there. Eleven people covered the area and found 70 species in spite of fog and snow. Best finds were Common Redpoll in Warm springs, Dunlin, And four Yellow-rumped Warblers. Following the count everyone who helped decided to make this a regular count starting next year. "Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high? On the rock he dwells and makes his home in the fastness of the rocky crag. There he spies out the prey; his eyes behold it afar off." Kimdel Owen Redmond, OR _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol From philliplc at charter.net Thu Dec 31 16:43:11 2009 From: philliplc at charter.net (Phil Pickering) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:43:11 -0800 Subject: [obol] NY eve pelicans Message-ID: <3F42192DA2714F449B66C6C8218D532F@Phil> Siletz Bay 3:30: 300 Brown Pelican 3000+ Gulls (mostly Cal/Herring) 2 Heermann's Phil philliplc at charter.net From roygerig at hotmail.com Thu Dec 31 16:52:44 2009 From: roygerig at hotmail.com (Roy Gerig) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:52:44 -0800 Subject: [obol] Dallas CBC results Message-ID: The Dallas CBC was held Tuesday, Dec. 29. In keeping with recent years of bad to very bad birding conditions, we had medium or heavy fog all morning, and when the fog finally started to thin so you could see a freezing rain started, then heavy snow after that. It was 31 degrees when we started, 31 at noon and a little below freezing when I left Dallas around 5:30. Most people quit early, dropped off their data at the restaurant and went home while they could. There were only a few minutes around noon when you could see far enough to see things like ducks out in wet fields. I guess that's why we have CBCs though, to go try to find all the birds in a circle during the worst weather of the year. My count shows that 18 observers, some for only a half day, found 98 species of birds. Biggest misses were Bushtit, Dunlin, Long-billed Dowitcher, DC Cormorant, Marsh Wren, Varied Thrush. Other misses, not quite as glaring, were: any other geese than White-cheeked, Least Sandpiper, California and Herring Gull, Townsend's Warbler. 'Good' birds included: Prairie Falcon (this count usually comes up with at least one), White-tailed Kite (same), Ruffed Grouse (2 in Falls City, usually missed), Western Gull, Saw-whet Owl (2, we don't often get this one), Wrentit (4 - they've arrived just south of us, but are still just getting here), American Dipper (2), Northern Shrike (getting scarcer and scarcer around here). Almost missed (only one bird of each seen): Hairy Woodpecker, Rough Legged Hawk, Hutton's Vireo, White-throated Sparrow, Pied-billed Grebe, Eurasian Wigeon, Kite, Prairie and Peregrine Falcon, Greater Yellowlegs, Norther Shrike, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher. Usually more of most of these are seen. In another category we saw 52 Eurasian Collared-doves in at least 7 different locations. Roy Gerig, Salem OR _________________________________________________________________ Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222985/direct/01/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091231/7af50b5c/attachment.html From 4cains at charter.net Thu Dec 31 16:52:56 2009 From: 4cains at charter.net (Lee and Lori Cain) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:52:56 -0800 Subject: [obol] Wireless Rd. Eurasian Teal Message-ID: Lots of flooded pastures full of puddle ducks after the last 24 hrs of rain and wind - a quick drive around Wireless Road today at about 1530 hrs produced one EURASIAN TEAL drake hanging out with the locals near the horse barns. Evan got this identifiable photo, but the lighting was not ideal. http://surfbirds.com/blog/townsendi Lee Cain Astoria, Or -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091231/567b950b/attachment.html From craig at greatskua.com Thu Dec 31 17:09:52 2009 From: craig at greatskua.com (Craig Tumer) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:09:52 -0700 Subject: [obol] Hooded Oriole - YES! and Hagg Lake Birds Message-ID: <20091231180952.3bd901d66b2d769bd36646c62e7e74c3.8b63c7f27a.wbe@email.secureserver.net> I saw the Hooded Oriole at 412 1st Street in Gaston between 2:00 and 2:20 this afternoon. Thanks to John Fitchen who spotted it in the large shrubs to the north of the house. We watched it for ten to fifteen minutes or so, and just before we left at 2:20, the oriole flew to the east - probably to the blackberries and other brush on the east sife of Rte 47 (we lost site of it as it dropped below the roofline of the house to the east). After leaving Gaston, I did a quick loop around Hagg Lake to look for waterfowl. Highlights at Hagg Lake were six western grebes, one red-necked grebe, and a tooting northern pygmy-owl. I got a loon in my scope just before it dove, but I wasn't able to relocate it to confirm its identity. Good birding and Happy New Year. Craig Tumer SW Portland From garbledmodwit at yahoo.com Thu Dec 31 18:22:08 2009 From: garbledmodwit at yahoo.com (Tim Rodenkirk) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:22:08 -0800 (PST) Subject: [obol] Coos Frigatebird? 12/31/2009 Message-ID: <785673.55502.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> I received a call about 4:25 PM from a local birder, Bob Fields, who said he had just had a quick glimpse of what he thought was a frigatebird flying over his house headed towards the east part of Coos Bay near the casino? He said the bird had pointy long, narrow wings (to narrow to be an Osprey) and was long-tailed (he didn't notice any fork in the tail but has seen frigatebirds before in the Bahamas) and very dark colored and very large was pretty certain it was not any of the usual bay birds. ?He said the bird never flapped it's wings in the brief look he had. ?I mentioned that frigatebirds had a forked tail, which he didn't see, but he was thinking he could have missed it or that it may not have looked forked from the few second look he had. I am a bit uncertain about the whole thing but decided to run out and check the east bay and he did also. ?I arrived at dark and didn't see much but conditions were poor and the light was gone. Bob said he was going to check the east bay in the morning, I think I'll check the Charleston area. ?It was blowing like mad and raining hard when he called, so who knows what he saw? ?I thought I'd mention it in case anyone coming through town manana may want to keep an eye on the bay. I have real reservations about such unusual out-of-season reports and had the same feeling with the booby, so I'll give it the benefit of a doubt and we'll see if anything resurfaces... By the way, where do frigatebirds roost when not flying, would they use navigational towers like a booby would? Merry happy,Tim RCoos Bay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091231/269759c9/attachment.html From acontrer at mindspring.com Thu Dec 31 18:27:52 2009 From: acontrer at mindspring.com (Alan Contreras) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:27:52 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Frigatebird? 12/31/2009 In-Reply-To: <785673.55502.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <785673.55502.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <0E9B0963-49B8-4B81-B91A-AC80347EFFB2@mindspring.com> The frigate at charleston many years ago roosted on top of ship masts in the basin, as i recall. This report is perfectly plausible under current conditions, but really, you could send it down to bandon! Alan Contreras Sent from my iPhone On Dec 31, 2009, at 6:22 PM, Tim Rodenkirk wrote: > > I received a call about 4:25 PM from a local birder, Bob Fields, who > said he had just had a quick glimpse of what he thought was a > frigatebird flying over his house headed towards the east part of > Coos Bay near the casino? He said the bird had pointy long, narrow > wings (to narrow to be an Osprey) and was long-tailed (he didn't > notice any fork in the tail but has seen frigatebirds before in the > Bahamas) and very dark colored and very large was pretty certain it > was not any of the usual bay birds. He said the bird never flapped > it's wings in the brief look he had. I mentioned that frigatebirds > had a forked tail, which he didn't see, but he was thinking he could > have missed it or that it may not have looked forked from the few > second look he had. I am a bit uncertain about the whole thing but > decided to run out and check the east bay and he did also. I > arrived at dark and didn't see much but conditions were poor and the > light was gone. Bob said he was going to check the east bay in the > morning, I think I'll check the Charleston area. It was blowing > like mad and raining hard when he called, so who knows what he saw? > I thought I'd mention it in case anyone coming through town manana > may want to keep an eye on the bay. I have real reservations about > such unusual out-of-season reports and had the same feeling with the > booby, so I'll give it the benefit of a doubt and we'll see if > anything resurfaces... > > By the way, where do frigatebirds roost when not flying, would they > use navigational towers like a booby would? > > Merry happy, > Tim R > Coos Bay > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol at oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091231/69629e29/attachment.html From 5hats at peak.org Thu Dec 31 18:50:34 2009 From: 5hats at peak.org (Darrel Faxon) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:50:34 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Frigatebird? 12/31/2009 References: <785673.55502.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1691F943E49D4A19B88A2A108A15D7A3@your5rlp3a9516> Tim The first frigatebird report for Oregon was one at Tillamook Rock light, on February 18, 1935. I don't have the exact date of another which showed up at Yaquina Bay a few years back, but it was during the same time frame the Ross's Gull was there, which was February 19 and following. Now why is it that you folks down in Cooz Bay can come up with boobies and frigatebirds, but can't arrange to have them stick around long enough or show up soon enough for the CBC? Well, in any case, if you get tired of them, send them north a couple of counties. So far I have managed to miss both species here. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: Tim Rodenkirk To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Thursday, December 31, 2009 6:22 PM Subject: [obol] Coos Frigatebird? 12/31/2009 I received a call about 4:25 PM from a local birder, Bob Fields, who said he had just had a quick glimpse of what he thought was a frigatebird flying over his house headed towards the east part of Coos Bay near the casino? He said the bird had pointy long, narrow wings (to narrow to be an Osprey) and was long-tailed (he didn't notice any fork in the tail but has seen frigatebirds before in the Bahamas) and very dark colored and very large was pretty certain it was not any of the usual bay birds. He said the bird never flapped it's wings in the brief look he had. I mentioned that frigatebirds had a forked tail, which he didn't see, but he was thinking he could have missed it or that it may not have looked forked from the few second look he had. I am a bit uncertain about the whole thing but decided to run out and check the east bay and he did also. I arrived at dark and didn't see much but conditions were poor and the light was gone. Bob said he was going to check the east bay in the morning, I think I'll check the Charleston area. It was blowing like mad and raining hard when he called, so who knows what he saw? I thought I'd mention it in case anyone coming through town manana may want to keep an eye on the bay. I have real reservations about such unusual out-of-season reports and had the same feeling with the booby, so I'll give it the benefit of a doubt and we'll see if anything resurfaces... By the way, where do frigatebirds roost when not flying, would they use navigational towers like a booby would? Merry happy, Tim R Coos Bay ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091231/986a1c11/attachment.html From whoffman at peak.org Thu Dec 31 19:13:04 2009 From: whoffman at peak.org (Wayne Hoffman) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:13:04 -0800 Subject: [obol] Coos Frigatebird? 12/31/2009 References: <785673.55502.qm@web45306.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <1691F943E49D4A19B88A2A108A15D7A3@your5rlp3a9516> Message-ID: Frigatebirds in flight often hold their tails together, so that they show a single very long "spike". They like to roost above the ground, although in a some places they roost on the ground. Usually, on trees, on channel markers, masts, etc. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: Darrel Faxon To: Tim Rodenkirk ; obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Thursday, December 31, 2009 6:50 PM Subject: Re: [obol] Coos Frigatebird? 12/31/2009 Tim The first frigatebird report for Oregon was one at Tillamook Rock light, on February 18, 1935. I don't have the exact date of another which showed up at Yaquina Bay a few years back, but it was during the same time frame the Ross's Gull was there, which was February 19 and following. Now why is it that you folks down in Cooz Bay can come up with boobies and frigatebirds, but can't arrange to have them stick around long enough or show up soon enough for the CBC? Well, in any case, if you get tired of them, send them north a couple of counties. So far I have managed to miss both species here. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: Tim Rodenkirk To: obol at oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Thursday, December 31, 2009 6:22 PM Subject: [obol] Coos Frigatebird? 12/31/2009 I received a call about 4:25 PM from a local birder, Bob Fields, who said he had just had a quick glimpse of what he thought was a frigatebird flying over his house headed towards the east part of Coos Bay near the casino? He said the bird had pointy long, narrow wings (to narrow to be an Osprey) and was long-tailed (he didn't notice any fork in the tail but has seen frigatebirds before in the Bahamas) and very dark colored and very large was pretty certain it was not any of the usual bay birds. He said the bird never flapped it's wings in the brief look he had. I mentioned that frigatebirds had a forked tail, which he didn't see, but he was thinking he could have missed it or that it may not have looked forked from the few second look he had. I am a bit uncertain about the whole thing but decided to run out and check the east bay and he did also. I arrived at dark and didn't see much but conditions were poor and the light was gone. Bob said he was going to check the east bay in the morning, I think I'll check the Charleston area. It was blowing like mad and raining hard when he called, so who knows what he saw? I thought I'd mention it in case anyone coming through town manana may want to keep an eye on the bay. I have real reservations about such unusual out-of-season reports and had the same feeling with the booby, so I'll give it the benefit of a doubt and we'll see if anything resurfaces... By the way, where do frigatebirds roost when not flying, would they use navigational towers like a booby would? Merry happy, Tim R Coos Bay ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol at oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091231/2059f177/attachment.html From gnorgren at earthlink.net Thu Dec 31 19:17:49 2009 From: gnorgren at earthlink.net (Norgren Family) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:17:49 -0800 Subject: [obol] Frigatebird Message-ID: I notice it was 58 degrees at North Bend this afternoon. It went from 37 to 51 in central Washington County around 4pm. So there's clearly a mass of very southern air entering the state. Makes it all the more plausible. Lars Norgren From cgates326 at gmail.com Thu Dec 31 20:32:14 2009 From: cgates326 at gmail.com (Charles Gates) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:32:14 -0800 Subject: [obol] Prineville CBC Results Message-ID: <7C9E088B8941429FA840155FEE7A55D7@cgatesPC> The Prineville CBC started with a blinding snow storm but ended with warm southern winds and lots of good birds. The following numbers are where we are with a few feeder watchers yet to report: 1) We added 2 new species to the count. In 27 years, we have never had Wild Turkey or Cinnamon Teal and we had both this year. 2) High Counts = Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler (very surprising due to low open water), Northern Harrier, Ferruginous Hawk (tied), Eurasian Collared-Dove (old record was 77....new record 287), Scrub Jay, Dark-eyed Junco. 3) Lower than Average = Most waterfowl, Bald Eagle (7), Flicker (47), Steller's Jay (5), Mt. Chickadee (7), Red-breasted Nuthatch (1), Mt. Bluebird (2), House Finch (378) 4) Rare for the count = Eurasian Wigeon, Redhead, Mt. Quail, BH Cowbird 5) Complete and embarrassing misses - Great Horned Owl 6) Species Tallied = 80 (9th best) 7) Individual Total = 17477 (8th best) Nice effort by everyone. Chuck Gates Powell Butte -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20091231/cfb20454/attachment.html From davehelzer at mac.com Thu Dec 31 20:47:26 2009 From: davehelzer at mac.com (David Helzer) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:47:26 -0800 Subject: [obol] Rough-legged Hawk - Portland Airport Message-ID: Gabe McNassar with PDX Wildlife reports a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK is present at PDX and has been hanging out for a while. This will be a good bird for the CBC Saturday, if it sticks around. Dave Helzer Portland, Oregon From davehelzer at mac.com Thu Dec 31 20:50:13 2009 From: davehelzer at mac.com (David Helzer) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:50:13 -0800 Subject: [obol] Slate-colored Juncos - NE Portland Message-ID: <17A01C9E-055C-4F2C-9A74-3DC147B9BA2D@mac.com> OBOL: I have had a pair of SLATE-COLORED JUNCOS hanging out in my yard since Halloween weekend. They are mixed with a flock of about 15 Oregonians. I live near NE 26th and Alberta. Dave Helzer Portland Oregon